1 . Bricks are one of the oldest known building materials, dating back thousands of years. But researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have found a new use for bricks: as energy storage units. A team of engineers and chemists have found a way to transform an ordinary house brick into a pseudo-battery — allowing it to conduct and store electricity. The bricks are powerful enough to illuminate（点亮）an LED light bulb and cost only about $ 3 to make.

“I love the idea of adding value to things that are inexpensive, things that are affordable, things that we kind of take for granted, ”said Julio D’Arcy, an assistant professor of chemistry at Washington University and one of the researchers on this project.

The brick battery relies on the reddish pigment（色素）known as iron oxide, or rust, that gives red bricks their color. The scientists pumped the bricks with several gases that react with iron oxide to produce a network of plastic fibers. These microscopic fibers coat the empty spaces inside the bricks — and conduct electricity.

“What we’re trying to do is: we’re trying to make specialized plastics that are only used on the nano（纳米）scale — where we use very little of the plastic, and we can actually insert that plastic inside construction materials. ” The study is in the journal Nature Communications.

In the future, D’Arcy says, a brick wall could potentially serve a double purpose: providing structural support and storing electricity generated from renewable energy sources, such as solar panels.

The technology is still at least a few years away from being ready for the commercial market. And right now the energy storage capacity of the bricks is still pretty low — about 1 percent of a lithium battery. But the team is now testing ways to improve brick performance — because it looks like you can teach an old brick new tricks.

1. What appeals to Julio D’Arcy listing bricks as their subjects?

A．Their low expense.	B．Their common existence.
C．Their additional value.	D．Their internal composition.

2. What is the last step of making a brick conduct electricity?

A．Pump the brick with gases.

B．Color the brick red.

C．Produce microscopic fibers.

D．Cover its inner vacancy with microscopic fibers.

3. What will the future bricks be like according to the passage?

A．Construction materials possessing low energy storage capacity.

B．Construction materials generating renewable energy resources.

C．Construction materials used for electricity storage.

D．Construction materials with built-in common plastic.

4. Which word best describes the author’s attitude to the technology?

A．Skeptical.	B．Objective.
C．Conservative.	D．Controversial.

2 . I once heard this tale in India, where it is told as if true—though any naturalist would know it couldn’t be. The country is India. A colonial official and his wife are giving a large dinner party. They invite army officers and their wives, and a visiting American naturalist.

A spirited discussion springs up between a young girl who says women are no longer the jumping on a chair at the sight of a mouse and an army officer who disagrees and says, “A woman’s   reaction in any crisis is to scream. And a man has more control than a woman.”

The American scientist does not join in the argument but sits and watches the faces of the other guests. As he stares, he sees a slight strange expression come over the face of the hostess. She gestures to the servant standing behind her chair and whispers to him. The servant’s eyes widen. He turns quickly and leaves the room. Of the guests, none except the American notices this or sees the servant place a bowl of milk on the balcony just outside the open glass doors.

In India, milk in a bowl means only one thing: bait (诱饵) for a snake. The American understands there must be a snake in the room. His eyes move across the room but see nothing. He realizes the snake can only be in one place — under the table.

His first reaction is to jump back and warn the others. But he knows any sudden movement will frighten the animal into striking. He speaks quickly, the tone of his voice so arresting that it quietens everyone. “I want to know what control everyone here has. I will count three hundred—that’s five minutes — and not one of you is to move a muscle. Ready!”

The 20 people sit like stone images while he counts. He is saying, “—two hundred and eighty—”   When out of the corner of his eyes, he sees the snake make for the bowl of milk. Four or five screams ring out as he jumps to close the balcony doors.

“There is your proof!” the host shouts. “A man has just shown us perfect self-control.”

“Just a minute,” the American says, turning to his hostess, “How did you know that snake was in the room?” With a faint smile coming across her face she replies: “Because it was lying across my foot.”

1. What can we conclude from the passage?

A．Women are afraid of mice.

B．The army officer’s opinion is wrong.

C．The American suggests playing a game for entertainment.

D．The hostess has had previous experience catching snakes.

2. Choose the right order of the events given in the passage.
a. The American’s eyes sweep the room but he sees nothing.
b. The American suggests the guests playing a game.
c. Following the instructions, the servant puts out some milk.
d. The hostess is staring ahead, a slight strange look appearing.
e. The American shuts the balcony doors safely, and several screams are let out.
f. The snake edges its way to the bowl of milk.

A．d,c,a,b,f,e	B．a,b,c,e,f,d
C．d,f,a,b,c,c	D．f,e,c,a,d,b

3. Who has real self-control according to the passage?

A．The American.	B．The army officer.
C．The girl.	D．The hostess.

4. What may be the best title for the passage?

A．A Heated Argument	B．A Striking Dinner Party
C．An Unbelievable Story	D．A Smart Hostess

3 . The word "orange" describes both a color and a fruit. Which one came first might be surprising. "Orange" when used as the name of the fruit came before "orange" as a word to describe color. While the shade itself existed before the fruit, there was not a name in the English language for the color. Before the introduction of the fruit to English-speaking countries, the color was usually described as a shade of red or yellow.

In the early 16th century, Portuguese traders brought oranges from India to Europe. The Europeans had not seen the bright colored fruit before and didn't have a name for it. The fruits were named "narancia" by Italians and "narange" by the French and were sometimes referred to as "golden apples" by English speakers.

"Orange" was first used in a phrase to describe shades of colors, including in a third-century Greek text translated into English, in 1576. It describes Alexander the Great's servants as dressed in "orange colour velvet （天鹅绒）In 1578, a Latin-American dictionary defined "melites" as "a precious stone of orange color”. While orange represents the color of the objects, it needed the word "color" to follow it in order for the meaning to be clear. In the mid-1590s, Shakespeare described a beard as "orange tawny", one of the first instances of "orange" without the word "color" as part of the expression. Tawny is a brown color often used on its own. Orange was not yet a color, just a shade of brown.

In 1616, in an account describing varieties of tulips （郁金香）that can be grown, orange was used as a stand-alone color. When Isaac Newton performed his experiments on the color spectrum （色谱），he listed it as one of the seven basic colors. After almost half a century, orange   was recognized as a color on its own.

1. Which is the right time order of the appearance of "orange"?

A．As a fruit→as a color→the shade itself.

B．The shade itself→as a color→as a fruit.

C．The shade itself→as a fruit→as a color.

D．As a color→the shade itself→as a fruit.

2. What were oranges called by the British in the early 1500s?

A．Melites.	B．Narange.
C．NaranciA.	D．Golden apples.

3. Which of the following would be the right usage of "orange" in the 16th century?

A．My ball is a melite.	B．The ball is orange colour.
C．The orange ball is beautiful.	D．I have an orange ball.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．How to plant oranges	B．The spread of oranges
C．Orange used as a color	D．Shakespeare and oranges

4 . One night in March, five years ago, during happy hour at a bar in my hometown, I made a surprise announcement to my friends: I was going to shut down my law practice and attempt to travel around the globe in a year. What’s more, I would do it without taking any flights or making a single advance reservation of any kind. My announcement drew mixed reactions from my friends. Some offered support and encouragement, while others were more doubtful.

Once I’d said the words, there was no turning back. It took months to shut down my law practice and get things in order. Once I set off on my adventure in October 2016, I found that travelling without using planes was not easy. Trying to circle the globe in 16 months (it took me a bit longer than the initial 12 months I planned) made it even tougher. Even so, travelling overland was the most awe-inspiring way to truly understand the immensity of our wonderful planet.

I took three consecutive overnight buses to travel 3,000 km through Argentina, from Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city, to the capital Buenos Aires. I would look out the windows for hours on end at the completely unspoiled plains, as if humans had never touched it.

It took seven consecutive days and nights on trains to get from Moscow to Beijing, each day spent gazing out the windows for hours as the West Siberian Plain swept by. Sometimes, I wouldn’t see a village or a human being for 10 hours. Later in my journey, it took 22 days on a cargo freighter to get from New Zealand through the Panama Canal and back to Philadelphia, to finish my round-the-world adventure.

It turned out that travelling with no reservations was far less difficult than I had imagined. Pulling into a city on a bus with a backpack, looking in a guidebook for a few suggestions of accommodations, and then finding an empty room was never much of a problem anywhere. It also kept me flexible and open about all my travel plans, which is advice I give everyone who asks—plan far less than you think you should.

1. The author’s trip was special in that        .

A．he made it at the expense of giving up his job	B．it hardly cost him anything
C．he did not make advance booking or travel by air	D．it was a global trip

2. The author most probably returned to the United States in        .

A．June 2017	B．December 2018
C．October 2017	D．February 2018

3. What’s the correct order of the places that the author travelled to?
①Moscow ②Philadelphia ③New Zealand ④Ushuaia ⑤Beijing ⑥Buenos

A．⑤④①⑥③②	B．④⑥①⑤③②
C．④⑤①⑥③②	D．⑤①⑥④③②

4. What does the author think of his around-the-world tour?

A．challenging but pleasing	B．dangerous but wonderful
C．boring and disappointing	D．costly and painful

5 . Planning to go to a gym? If you are one of those who have spent many days planning to join a gym or to attend it regularly, then why not choose some home exercises? Here are some home exercises without equipment.

Jumping jacks

This one is the best home workout without weights, which is a great exercise that will work your hands and legs. Perform this exercise by standing with your feet placed together and arms at your sides. Now tuck in your abs (收腹) and jump by bending your knees. At the same time, move your feet apart as much as you can and raise your hands to bring into line with your shoulders. While you come back you must be in a starting position, feet together, hands at sides and knees bent. You must land on your heels and again jump.

Jogging

Jogging is one of the best home exercises without weights. You don’t need to have a lawn or jogging track at home to perform this exercise. There are many benefits of jogging. It will work your entire legs. Moreover, it is a classic cardiovascular (心血管的) workout. Make sure you wear jogging footwear even if you are jogging at home to avoid any stress on your feet. Also, you can gradually increase the jogging time and speed.

Rotating (旋转) exercise

Start by rotating your wrists, clockwise (顺时针方向地) and anticlockwise. Now, alternately rotate your feet in the same fashion. Now place both your hands on the shoulders and start rotating your shoulders clockwise and anticlockwise. Place an exercise mat and lie flat on your back. Now lift your left leg and rotate it clockwise; do not bend your knees. Now rest the left leg, lift your right leg and rotate it

Anticlockwise

It is necessary to set a perfect mood for exercise which will help you stick to the exercise routine and excitement. Make sure you wear proper exercise clothes to perform the workout with ease. Also, putting on your favorite music will make your exercise session more lively. If you get bored with exercises, just dance, after all it’s also one of the best home exercises.

1. While jogging at home, you__________.

A．may exercise your body entirely

B．had better choose a pair of proper shoes

C．should find a space as the jogging track first

D．must stick to a fixed time and speed

2. What is the right order of your body parts to move during rotating exercise?

A．Hands-legs-back-legs.

B．Wrists-hands-feet-shoulders.

C．Wrists-feet-shoulders-legs.

D．Hands-shoulders-knees-legs.

3. To carry out home exercises continuously, you need_________.

A．a good mood and atmosphere

B．a good coach

C．a professional teacher

D．a good timer

7 . If you ever find yourself trapped in the wilderness without food, you'll have to figure out how to feed yourself. Many plants in the wild are edible, but many are also poisonous. So it is necessary to learn how to determine whether the plants you find can be eaten safely.

Avoid using this method without careful planning. Some plants can be deadly, and even if you follow these guidelines perfectly, there is always a chance that a plant will make you seriously ill. Prepare yourself for wilderness outings by learning about the local plants, and carry a guidebook to help you identify plants. Even if you are unprepared and cannot find food you know to be safe, remember that, depending on your activity level, the human body can go for days without food, and you’re better off being hungry than being poisoned.

Testing the plant in your mouth is dangerous, so go forward very slowly and carefully. First, hold a small portion of the prepared plant part against your lip for 3 minutes. Do not put the plant in your mouth. If you notice any burning, tingling (刺痛), or other reactions, discontinue testing. Second, place another small portion of the plant part on your tongue. Hold the plant on your tongue without chewing for 15 minutes. Discontinue testing if you notice any reaction. Third, chew the plant and hold it in your mouth for 15 minutes. Chew the plant well, and do not swallow. Discontinue testing if you notice any reaction. Fourth, swallow the small portion of the plant. Wait 8 hours. Do not eat or drink anything during this period except purified water. If you feel sick, immediately throw up what you eat and drink plenty of water. If activated charcoal (活性炭) is available, take that with the water.

1. What’s the meaning of the underlined world “edible” in paragraph 1?

A．Suitable for using as food.	B．Widely spread.
C．Existing in large quantities.	D．Not widely known.

2. What can we know from paragraph 2?

A．Planning is unnecessary when using the method.

B．Not all plants in the wild can serve as food generally.

C．Suffering hunger can be more dangerous than testing plants.

D．Following the method perfectly can ensure safety.

3. Which is the correct order of testing plants in the mouth?
① wait and see ② chew it in the mouth③ put it on the tongue④ put it against lips ⑤ swallow it

A．③④②①⑤

B．④③②①⑤

C．③④②⑤①

D．④③②⑤①

4. Where might the passage come from?

A．A student’s diary.

B．A science report.

C．A guide book for camping.

D．A doctor’ s notebook.

8 . She Walked Through Fire

On Thanksgiving weekend, the Heffelmire family gathered for a meal at their home. After dinner, the family went down to the finished basement to relax except Charlotte’s father, Eric, who was in the garage to fix his truck．

Around 8 p.m., Charlotte decided to check on her dad. She walked through the kitchen. When she opened the side door to the garage, black smoke rose up into the kitchen. She could barely make out her father lying on his back, trapped under the truck. He’d removed the front passenger-side tyre and raised the truck on a jack（千斤顶）. The truck had slipped off the jack, and now the whole weight of the wheel was on his chest and shoulders．

Charlotte ran to the front of the truck and struggled to lift it. Eric was still conscious, and he yelled, “You got it! One more try!” She tried again and was able to tip the truck backward just enough for her to pull her dad by the shirt with both hands from under the truck．

She dragged him across the garage and 20 feet down the driveway. Then she ran back to the garage, which had burst into flames. “I was afraid the car was going to explode,” says Charlotte, so she climbed into the truck, which faced forward, turned the key, and pressed the gas pedal（油门）. The car slowly rolled out, the metal wheel scratching loudly against the concrete．

Safely on the driveway, Charlotte stopped the truck and ran back to the basement. “There’s a fire! Everybody get out!” she yelled as she picked up her three-month-old niece and ran out. Outside, she handed the baby to her mom, and then ran around to the burning garage. She picked up a garden hose（水管）and sprayed the fire while calling 911．

A few minutes later, firefighters and an ambulance arrived. Charlotte was treated for second-degree burns on both her feet and face. Her dad had injuries on his chest and shoulders, as well as minor burns on his face. The garage and the house were damaged but the family survived．

The Heffelmires are staying in an apartment while their house is rebuilt. “Charlotte is a remarkable kid,” says her dad. Charlotte, however, simply says, “ I was saving my family and my house. I wasn’t going to let my dad die.”

1. Eric got trapped because_________

A．the truck slipped off the jack.

B．the wheel fell off the truck.

C．the front tyre was removed.

D．the kitchen was on fire.

2. Which of the following is the correct order of the events？

a. Charlotte called the firefighters．

b. Charlotte saved Eric from under the truck．

c. Charlotte drove the truck out of the garage．

d. Charlotte warned the family to leave the house．

A．b, c, a, d	B．a, b, d, c
C．b, c, d, a	D．a, c, b, d

3. As a result of the fire，________

A．the house was not fit to live in.

B．the truck exploded.

C．the three-month-old baby was injured.

D．Charlotte was burned on her chest and shoulders.

4. It can be inferred from the passage that Charlotte is__________

A．proud and clear-headed.

B．calm and quick-minded.

C．modest and easy-going.

D．independent and self-centered.