1 . A woman whose sports car was stolen with her dog in it put up notices all over the area that made it clear getting back her pet was more important than her car.
“Whoever did this can keep my car. Please let Benjerman come home,” the notice said.
It is not known whether the thief showed any pity, but almost 30 hours after the 1 pm theft Friday, Kimberly Atkins of Dover and Benjerman, a 12-year-old black retriever(猎犬), were reunited after police located them in Barrington.
“He’s hungry, he’s dirty, but he’s very happy to be home,” Atkins said.
The car was found at about 5 pm Saturday off Route 125 in a swampy area frequented by off-the-road cars and dirt bikes. However, the police couldn’t control Benjerman, and they had to call Atkins to come and get him.
Atkins said the thief cared for Benjerman a little by providing him with some dry cat food. She believed Benjerman ended up drinking some muddy water in the area.
She said they have been together for nearly 11 years after she took him back from a society shelter in Dallas, Texas.
Before Benjerman was found, Atkins and several friends put up notices all over the city and in Somersworth. They also contacted animal shelters throughout southern New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
The notice stated there was a reward, and also that the dog needed medication(药物治疗). Any caller could remain anonymous(匿名的).
Atkins had parked the car outside a hardware store with the keys inside and gone in to rent a carpet cleaner.
“It was 10 minutes and I came out and my car was gone along with Benjerman in broad daylight,” Atkins said. The car thief threw Atkins’ wallet and other personal items out of the car before escaping from the scene.
1. What would be the best title for the passage?| A．A car with a dog was stolen |
| B．Lucky dog was returned to his owner |
| C．Stealing cars: a most important social problem |
| D．Woman wants dog back more than stolen car |
a. Notices were put up saying there was a reward.
b. Atkins saw Benjerman again.
c. Police found Atkins’ car.
d. Atkins took Benjerman back from a society shelter.
e. Atkins hired a carpet cleaner in a hardware store.
| A．d, e, a, b, c | B．d, e, a, c, b |
| C．e, a, d, b, c | D．e, a, c, d, b |
| A．the dog was treated extremely badly by the thief |
| B．car stolen accidents happen frequently nowadays |
| C．the dog was found because of the reward |
| D．the thief stole the car easily |
| A．Benjerman was sent back immediately after Atkins put up the notices. |
| B．Atkins and her friends made a great effort to look for Benjerman. |
| C．The thief gave the dog back but kept the sports car. |
| D．The dog was back at 1 pm on a Friday. |
| A．Benjerman | B．Thief |
| C．Atkins | D．Atkins’ friends |
2 . If you have ever talked about your dreams with your friends, you may have noticed something interesting. Some of your friends rarely remember their dreams, while others can describe their dreams very clearly. Why do people remember dreams differently?
The answer is simple: they are two different types of dreamers --- low—recall dreamers and high-recall dreamers.
According to researchers at the Lyon Neuroscience Research Center in France, high-recall dreamers reported they remembered their dreams almost every day while low — recall dreamers said they only remembered their dreams once or twice a month, reported Live Science.
Perrine Ruby, a lead scientist at the research center in Lyon, studied 41 people （21 high-recall dreamers and 20 low-recall dreamers） and recorded their brain activity.
She found that a part of the brain called the temporo-parietal junction （前颞顶叶交 界处）was more active in high-recall dreamers. This was true both when they were sleeping and awake.
This area of the brain is responsible for collecting and processing information from the outside world. This means that high-recall dreamers are more sensitive to what is happening around them. For example, when they are awake, they respond more strongly to hearing their own names. When they are sleeping, they tend to be woken up more easily by sounds and movements.
By closely studying people's brain activity, Ruby found that high-recall dreamers have twice as much "wakefulness during sleep as low-recall dreamers do. And it is during these short periods of wakefulness that the brain memorizes dreams.
This is not hard to understand. Just try to think of your own sleeping experience. If you are restless during the night, you are more likely to remember your dreams, but if you sleep well and soundly, you tend to remember very little in the morning. This is because “you never get a chance to remember”, Robert Stick gold, a Harvard Medical School researcher, told The Washington Post.
As another research project at the University of Turku in Finland showed, dream content can also affect our memory. Negative dreams are easier to recall than ordinary dreams. Nightmares （噩梦）are often recalled because they are emotionally negative, and such dreams evoke fear.
1. What can we know about high-recall dreamers according to the article?| A．They have very little brain activity when they sleep. |
| B．They can remember their dreams clearly. |
| C．They don't know how to describe their dreams. |
| D．They remember their dreams twice a week. |
| A．have higher quality sleep |
| B．have more sleepless nights |
| C．are more easily woken at night |
| D．respond faster when hearing their names |
| A．To explain Ruby's findings. |
| B．To attract readers' interest in future studies. |
| C．To show the advantages of being a low -recall dreamer. |
| D．To suggest what to do to become a low — recall dreamer. |
| A．Ordinary dreams can help our brain rest. |
| B．Dreams are often affected by our emotions. |
| C．Nightmares often happen when we don't sleep well. |
| D．Negative dreams are more likely to be recalled. |
| A．approve of | B．define | C．result in | D．extend |
3 . A mum saved her daughter's life with her newly learned first aid skills. Sonya Hall, 33, of Denny Avenue, Lancaster, had only just attended one first aid class the day before when she found herself needing to use the skills on her three-year-old daughter Tilly.
Sonya, who also has son Emmen, six, attended the first aid course at Lune Park Children's Centre in Lancaster. Then she was faced with every parent's worst nightmare when Tilly went blue in the face and stopped breathing. But thanks to her newly acquired skills, Sonya saved Tilly's life.
Sonya said, “Tilly was playing with her brother and they were fighting over a toy. Emmen won the fight. Tilly fell backwards and her head was hit. She was face down and shaking and at first I thought she was upset. But then I saw she was blue in the face and had stopped breathing. I reacted without thinking and immediately started using the first aid skills I had learned the day before which were so fresh in my mind. I began doing mouth-to-mouth and chest compression(胸外按压). It probably took about a minute before Tilly started breathing again, but to me it felt like a lifetime.”
After getting Tilly breathing again, Sonya called an ambulance and the doctors came. Since then, Tilly has been diagnosed with Reflex Anoxic Seizure(反射缺氧发作). Sonya said, “The seizure can happen when there's any unexpected pain, fear or fright. It's just so lucky that the day before it happened, I had been practicing first aid."
The Empowering Parents First Aid course is run by Lancashire Adult Learning. Sonya said, “I am just so glad I did the course and I learnt the first aid skills. I always feared I would not know what to do in a crisis situation, but luckily I had the knowledge and skills to deal with it.”
1. What happened to Tilly?| A．She was knocked down by her brother. |
| B．She fell on the floor and hit her head. |
| C．She was hit by a toy on the head and felt upset |
| D．She was hit by her brother and stopped breathing. |
| A．be crying | B．recognize her failure |
| C．pretend to be hurt | D．be very angry |
| A．Tilly's illness would last all her life. |
| B．Sonya was very nervous and frightened. |
| C．It was very difficult to give first aid. |
| D．It was a long time before Tilly got breathing again. |
| A．enjoyable | B．excited | C．grateful | D．awkward |
| A．Mum saves girl with first aid | B．How to practice first aid |
| C．The importance of first aid | D．Mums should attend first courses |
4 . Active Challenge
Weight loss camp for girls aged 13-18in Canada
Location：Beautiful Bear Creek Outdoor Center Near Ottawa，Ontario
Season：July 2nd-August 28th
Capacity：40 Activities include：hiking，rafting，canoeing，yoga，cooking，camp skills，mountain biking，nutrition classes，swimming，fitness classes etc.
Choose what you like!
Active Challenge is a weight loss program specially for young women. The burden of being overweight is heavier than just the extra pounds. We use outdoor adventures to challenge the girls，to give them something to draw strength from.
Because you'll be losing weight alongside young women just like you，you'll find no one laughing at you and you'll help each other. At Active Challenge you'll make lifelong friends with young women of your own age and learn to love new adventurous activities.
Unlike any other weight loss program，Active Challenge is designed so you'll lose weight and have the strategies and skills to keep the weight off forever. Active Challenge does not put you on a diet. We follow the Canada Food Guide to healthy eating and exercise appropriate portion control. We help you develop healthy habits.
The staff at Active Challenge combine experienced outdoor adventure professional with highly qualified clinicians. All of us are absolutely devoted to helping you achieve lasting behavioral change and weigh loss. Most of all we are devoted to having a great time doing it.
Pre-Camp：Upon registration in Active Challenge，a registration package will be sent out to you with forms to be completed before camping as well as program preparation materials，an introduction to Active Challenge and pre-program personal challenge assignments to get you on your way toward a healthier you.
Post-Camp：Our post program is designed to keep you focused and remind you of the goals that you set during the camp. We will send you home with your personal meal and exercise plan and keep in touch with you for a full three months after the camp ends through letters，emails and phone calls，tracking your progress and giving you strategies and support.
1. Why are outdoor adventurous activities held for girls？___| A．To lose weight quickly | B．To have fun. |
| C．To make them stronger. | D．To keep fit. |
| A．Friendly and supportive. | B．Competitive and challenging. |
| C．Cold but exciting. | D．Lonely but safe. |
| A．should go to buy the program preparation materials |
| B．will be in informed how to get prepared for the program |
| C．should learn some skills and strategies to lose weight |
| D．will have to finish some challenging tasks at home |
| A．the end of November | B．girls can keep weight off forever |
| C．the beginning of the next year | D．girls achieve success in their lives |
| A．To explain the popularity of Active Challenge. |
| B．To share skills and strategies of losing weight. |
| C．To introduce the importance of losing weight. |
| D．To invite girls to join in Active Challenge. |
5 . I hear some actors keep a sad thought or memory tucked away to help them with scenes where they might need to cry. I think we should each try to find the opposite; a happy memory, something to lift us up on those inevitable down days. I’m saying this because I think I just found mine!
I had some work in Glasgow today. I was on a really tight schedule, which meant I would have no time for myself (or my own work) all day. I was having one of those days, the train was completely packed out and the conversation going on around me seemed to be particularly inane. On top of all that, I had a bit of a headache.
Walking briskly across the concourse, I fished some change from my pocket. There was usually someone at the exit selling The Big Issue (a magazine that helps homeless folk earn a living).
As the crowd parted ways at the bottom of the concourse, I saw someone selling the Big Issue. You had to be homeless to sell the Big Issue. She really looked like she’d been sleeping rough. Her clothes were ragged and she obviously hadn’t had a scrub up for quite a while.
As I approached the exit, I saw that she was also rocking from side to side. At first I thought maybe she was trying to keep warm against the biting wind. But she wasn’t, she was moving in time to a tune. I couldn’t hear her, but I could see her lips moving.
As I got closer, I saw a white cane hanging from her elbow and noticed that she had sunken eyes. She was blind, dirty and living on the streets. I came closer and through the noise of the traffic and the commuters I heard her sing the immortal line, “… and I think to myself, what a wonderful world!”
I bought her last magazine for twice what I’d originally intended. She thanked me, then she picked up her stuff and went tapping off along the pavement - still singing!
So, I have my happy memory for the day. And I think it will stay with me a long, long time. Feel free to borrow it if you like.
1. Why do some actors keep a sad thought or memory according to the passage?| A．Because some of them always feel unhappy | B．because they are scolded by the director |
| C．Because it helps meet the needs of their roles | D．Because they can’t find a happy memory |
| A．Made | B．exchanged | C．pull into | D．took out |
| A．Only those homeless people can sell the magazine |
| B．The author heard her singing as he came close to the exit |
| C．The girl selling the magazines was blind, dirty and homeless |
| D．The author never heard what the girl was singing |
| A．the author had a headache because of his busy work |
| B．the author bought more magazines than planned to |
| C．the girl went away as soon as she sold out magazines |
| D．the author felt unhappy because he missed his train |
| A．A happy Memory to Lift You Up |
| B．An Unforgettable Day I Experienced |
| C．The Roses in Her Hand: the Flavor in Mine |
| D．A Bird in the Hand is Worth than Two in the Bush. |
6 . People who have got rhythm might have an advantage when it comes to language and reading skills. A new study shows the brains of people who can move to a musical beat react to speech on a more consistent basis than those who can't. Researchers also find that musical training can sharpen the brain’s response to language.
The researchers say their discovery provides the first biological link between the ability to keep a beat and how the brain responds to speech, something that can have important value for reading skills. To gather materials for their research, the team got more than 100 teenagers who lived in Chicago, Illinois. The teens were given two tests. First, they were instructed to listen to and tap their fingers along to the beat. The researchers calculated low accurately their young volunteers were able to tap along to the musical timekeeper. Second, the teen subjects were linked to an EEG device, which measures electrical activity in the brain. The EEG device was focused on an area of the brain that not only processes sound, but is also connected to parts of the brain responsible for motor-movement. The researchers recorded the brainwaves as their teen subjects listened to the synthesized speech sound, which was repeated irregularly for half an hour. The researchers were able to find out how the nerve cells in that particular region of the brain responded every time the synthesized sound was played.“Across this population of adolescents, the more accurate they were at tapping along to the beat, the more consistent their brains' response to the letter unit was,” said Nina Kraus.
While past studies have showed the links between reading skills and a person’s ability to keep a beat, the researchers said their new findings show the hearing system is what provides a common basis for those links. “Rhythm is naturally a part of music and language.” Nina said.
1. According to the first paragraph, what can get the brain’s reaction to language more effectively?| A．Rhythm. | B．Reading skills. |
| C．Language. | D．Musical training. |
| A．It shows how the brain works. |
| B．It is very important for reading ability. |
| C．It shows how the brain reacts to speech. |
| D．It is helpful to researchers' findings. |
| A．persons or animals that are studied in an experiment or a research |
| B．areas of knowledge studied in a school, college, and so on |
| C．things that are being discussed in a conversation or a book |
| D．persons or things that are the main features of works of art |
| A．reading skills may make language learners keep a beat |
| B．the hearing system may be useless while a person is learning to read |
| C．the hearing system may separate sound from meaning while a person is reading |
| D．the hearing system may be used while a person is reading or taking musical training |
| A．Moving to a musical beat is more popular. |
| B．Experts are expanding their studies on rhythm. |
| C．Rhythm might help us improve our reading skills. |
| D．Experts find the links between the hearing system and reading. |
7 . Are you smarter than your parents and grandparents? According to James Flynn, a professor at a New Zealand university, you are! Over the course of the last century, people’s IQ test scores have gotten steadily higher — on average, three points higher each decade. This improvement is known as the “Flynn effect”, and scientists want to know what is behind it.
IQ tests are designed to measure general intelligence rather than knowledge. Flynn believes that intelligence partly comes from our parents and partly is the result of our environment, but the improvement in test scores has been happening too quickly to be explained by heredity (遗传). So what occurred in the 20th century to help people achieve higher scores?
Scientists have proposed several explanations for the Flynn effect. Some suggest that the improved test scores simply reflect an increased exposure to tests in general and the learning of test-taking techniques that help us perform better on any test. Others have pointed to better nutrition. Babies now are born larger, healthier, and with more brain development than in the past. Another suggested explanation is a change in educational styles, with teachers encouraging children to learn by discovering things for themselves rather than just memorizing information, which improves their problem-solving skills.
Flynn has limited the possible explanations after carefully examining test data and discovering that the improvement in scores has taken place in only certain parts of the IQ test. Test-takers are not doing better on the math or vocabulary sections of the test; they are doing better on the sections requiring reasoning and problem solving. For example, one part of the test shows a set of shapes, and test-takers must find the patterns and connections between them.
According to Flynn, this visual intelligence improves as the amount of technology in our lives increases. Every time you play a computer game, you are exercising exactly the kind of thinking and problem solving that helps you do well on one kind of intelligence test. So are you really smarter than your parents? In one very specific way, you may be.
1. According to the passage, the “Flynn effect” is ________.| A．an increase in IQ test scores over time |
| B．a method used to measure intelligence |
| C．the influence of technology on intelligence |
| D．a theory that connects intelligence to experience |
| A．To list the findings of Professor Flynn’s research. |
| B．To provide possible explanations that disprove Flynn’s ideas. |
| C．To outline different theories explaining the increase in IQ scores. |
| D．To describe how research was carried out in the measuring of intelligence. |
| A．exposing children to fewer tests |
| B．giving children clearer teaching instructions |
| C．getting children to memorize lots of information |
| D．encouraging children to find out things themselves |
| A．have discouraged people from taking exercise |
| B．have helped improve people’s visual intelligence |
| C．have made young people become less intelligent |
| D．have caused young people to have poorer vocabularies |
| A．Development of technology contributes to intelligence improvement on math. |
| B．Not all aspects of intelligence have increased. |
| C．The IQ test pattern should be changed. |
| D．The language ability of people has improved. |
8 . You can choose happiness regardless of your circumstances. You can choose to be happy no matter what challenges life brings you. Let the following simple strategies guide you back to your natural happy state.
Make lemonade when life gives you lemons.
Besides happiness, trouble will also be part of life. It’s how you choose to react to your situations that make the difference. If you look at something hard enough, you’ll see the positive side of it.
Do what you love doing.
Do you have a lifelong dream or desire? If so, start working towards it. Taking baby steps towards a goal will help you feel like you’re accomplishing something. You’ll find drive and determination to reach that goal when it’s something you love doing.
Use one of your talents.
One reason why so many people are unhappy is that they’re not doing what they’re called to do with their God-given talents. Each of us has a purpose in life. You have natural talents to help you achieve your purpose, so use your talents effectively.
Call a friend who you know is positive and cheerful.
Talk about your feelings and listen to their advice. Usually, people allow themselves to go deeper and deeper into self-depression. The truth is that you don’t have to be sad. You can decide to be happy. You just have to make up your mind to do so.
Gratitude is the quickest cure for sadness.
When you focus on what’s wrong with your life, you forget to look at what’s right and good. Take a step back and reflect on your life. Do you have children or family to be thankful for? Yes, they may not be the person we’d like them to be, but imagine life without them. Now, be thankful that you have them in your life.
Let your feelings out on paper.
Often you’ll find that just getting your feelings down on paper will allow you to work through them, helping you feel better about yourself and your beautiful life!
1. The first paragraph is used to _______.| A．expect readers to ignore themselves |
| B．start a discussion among readers |
| C．introduce the topic to readers |
| D．carry out a challenge among readers |
| A．trouble is part of life |
| B．lemonade is very delicious |
| C．life is full of sweetness and bitterness |
| D．lemons can only be used to make lemonade |
| A．diverse | B．natural |
| C．excellent | D．learned |
| A．Be grateful. | B．Do many activities. |
| C．Call a cheerful friend. | D．Use one of your talents. |
| A．excited | B．depressed |
| C．bad-tempered | D．kind-hearted |
9 . Fallingwater is a house built over a waterfall in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Frank Lloyd Wright, America’s most famous architect, designed the house in 1935. It instantly became famous, and today it is a National Historic Landmark.
Guided House Tour
This tour features all the major rooms of the house and lasts about one hour. Photography is not permitted during this tour. The Guided House Tour allows children six-year-old and older to enjoy the house with their parents.
Adults — $$ 20.00 with advance purchase
— $$ 23.00 when purchased on site
Youth (ages 6〜12) — $$ 14.00 with advance purchase
— $$ 17.00 when purchased on site
Daily from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, except Wednesday.
In-Depth Tour
The tour is best if you desire a greater understanding of what Wright was seeking to create with his masterwork. The number of visitors on each tour is limited and photography is permitted for personal use only. Children nine years and older may accompany adults on this tour.
$ 65.00 per person (Available by advance ticket purchase only)
Daily from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Sunset Tour
As afternoon turns to evening, the changing light allows you to see Fallingwater from an entirely new perspective. The number of visitors is limited and photography is permitted for personal use only. Children under nine-years-old are not permitted on this tour.
$ 110.00 per person (Available by advance ticket purchase only)
May, June, & September — Saturdays at 4:30 pm
July & August — Fridays and Saturdays at 4:45 pm
Brunch Tour
The guests join their guide for brunch before they leave. Children nine years and older may accompany adults on this tour. Please allow three hours total for this experience.
$ 115.00 per person (Available by advance ticket purchase only)
May through September — Saturdays & Sundays at 9:00 am
1. Today ______ is a National Historic Landmark.| A．Frank Lloyd Wright | B．a house in Southeastern Pennsylvania |
| C．Fallingwater | D．a famous architect |
| A．$ 48 | B．$54 |
| C．$ 63 | D．$ 51 |
| A．Guided House Tour. | B．In-Depth Tour. |
| C．Brunch Tour. | D．Sunset Tour. |
| A．The number of visitors is not limited. | B．It is not accessible in August. |
| C．It is only open for teenagers. | D．The ticket isn’t available on site. |
| A．They encourage advance tickets | B．They offer brunch free of charge |
| C．They forbid visitors taking photos | D．They have the same price of tickets |
One of the most fun and fulfilling things during the season is to throw a Halloween party and boogie through the night with friends and family. When pumpkins, witch's hats and spiders make their annual appearance you can tell Halloween is approaching.
Whether it's a party for children or just one for adults, there are so many great treats, games, music and activities that you can enjoy yourselves in the city.
Dark Mirror-themed Party
With a scary theme - Dark Mirror (黑暗之镜), Lan Kwai Fong Chengdu this year will host a big Halloween party on October 31st with these elements: Ghost Parade, Haunted House, Costume Contest and so on. Participants could enjoy live music show, dance and play “trick or treat” games in the public outdoor area.
Venue：Lan Kwai Fong Chengdu, 1 Shuijing Street
Halloween Carnival Party
The Chengdu Happy Valley Amusement Park is to host a Halloween Carnival Party that features magic performances, live rock bands performance and lots of wicked events for participants. The Halloween season in the park will last till November 11 with admission from 80 to 150 yuan.
Venue: 16 Xihua Avenue
Beer Nest Halloween Party
The Beer Nest I and Beer Nest II will be decorated in a haunted (闹鬼的) house style and there will be scary movies playing on the big screens of the Beer Nest II. Entertaining activities, such as food & drink specials, live DJs, cool music and Spooky Kids Workshops, will be held and a professional markup artist from Sweden will be there for those who want to make an impression Halloween night.
Halloween E-sports Night Party
The Halloween E-sports Night to take place on October 31 is one of the highlights of the E-sports Cartoon and Animation Festival to be held in Chengdu Eastern Suburb Memory on October 31-November 1. It will offer relevant activities including cosplay showcases, e-sports competition and live music shows as a platform to communicate with celebrated anime artists and cartoon lovers.
Venue：4 Mid-section，South Jianshe Road
1. How can we tell Halloween is approaching?| A．People are eating pumpkins. | B．Witch's hats are sitting on the head. |
| C．Spiders are weaving nets at the corner. | D．Families or friends are getting together. |
| A．Dark Mirror-themed Party. | B．Beer Nest Halloween Party. |
| C．Halloween Carnival Party. | D．Halloween E-sports Night Party. |
| A．Cosplay. | B．Food. |
| C．Music. | D．Magic. |
| A．Make cartoon shows. | B．Attend E-Game competitions. |
| C．Learn to arrange cosplay shows. | D．Exchange ideas with anime artists. |
| A．The party will be held in two places one after another. |
| B．Scary movies will be played in the public outdoor area. |
| C．A Sweden artist is expected to bring joy to the party. |
| D．The party will be decorated in a traditional Chinese way. |
