1 . When Simon Cane was in the second grade, he began learning about all the ways humans have an impact on the environment and really took those classroom lessons to heart in a way that set him apart from his schoolmates at his elementary school, P. S. 81, in the Bronx. “He told me we drove too much and made too much pollution,” his dad, Jonathan Cane, told Runner’s World. So Simon convinced his parents to start hanging their clothes to dry, taking the stairs instead of elevators, and other “green” measures.
“For much of kindergarten and first grade I rode my bike to Simon’s school with him on the back,” Jonathan said. “We had a lot of fun being outdoors. We’d stop to give our dog treats and generally enjoyed it.” As Simon got bigger, though, it wasn’t practical for him to ride on his father’s back, but it also didn’t make sense to ride together — both because of safety concerns and because there was no place to put away Simon’s bike. So, most of the time they drove the 1. 5 miles to school.
But in 2019, when Simon was going into third grade, the 8-year-old came up with a new way to help the planet: running the 1. 5 miles to P. S. 81. And Jonathan promised his son he’d join him for as long as he wanted.
“We did a test run one day in August, and decided to give it a go. To be honest, I thought he’d blink (眨眼)after it got really cold or rainy, but he never did,” Jonathan said. He recalled one day when the weather was particularly bad. “It’s really raining out there today,” he told Simon. “And Simon said, ‘Well then we’re going to get wet!’ He took pride in toughing it out, and it became a really fun family routine.”
Since the start, Simon has run with his dad and their black dog, Lola, and has even inspired his mom, Nicole Sin Quee, to join in. They soon became known as “the family that runs to school”.
1. What makes Simon different from his classmates?| A．Washing his clothes by himself. | B．Taking many classes after school. |
| C．Raising strange questions in class. | D．Taking green measures to protect the environment. |
| A．By car. | B．By cycling. | C．By running. | D．By school bus. |
| A．Simon has trouble with his eyesight. | B．Simon is really stubborn and inflexible. |
| C．Simon is much tougher than expected. | D．Simon didn’t get support from his father. |
| A．The Best Way to Go to School |
| B．Father and Son Run for the Environment |
| C．A Teenager Keeps Running to Inspire Father |
| D．Three Inspiring Running Athletes to Protect the Environment |
2 . A blow-fly (绿头苍蝇) was looking for an ideal place to lay eggs, like rotting meat, so that when her little maggots (蛆) were born, they could feed on the meat.
As she turned a corner in the grassland, she smelt something stinking in the air. The smell of rotten meat! With great joy she perched on it and laid her eggs. She was happy that her children would have enough food to eat.
The blow-fly did not know she had made a great mistake. What she had sat upon was not meat but a flower, which stinks. It is called a carrion flower (牛尾草). So, when the blow-fly’s eggs hatched and the little maggots came out, they had nothing to eat. They died of starvation.
The carrion flower is one of the many flowers which give out dirty smells to attract flies. The Rafflesia stinks like rotting meat, while the tropical Lords and Ladies flower gives out a smell like rotting fish.
They do it for a special reason. Unlike mating birds, these plants cannot move from their place. But it is important for the male cell of one plant to get in touch with the female cell of another plant. Once that is done , the seed of the plant will bloom and give birth to another plant.
The plant uses its stink to attract flies. As soon as the blow-fly sits on the flower, it is captured by the flower with strong hair. When the hair falls, the fly is free to fly, but it takes some pollen (花粉) with it. And goes and sits on another plant. The male cell of one plant meets the female cell of the other. The seed gets new life.
1. What does the underlined word “stinking” in paragraph 2 refer to?| A．Moving around. |
| B．Shaking in the wind. |
| C．Being in full bloom. |
| D．Giving out bad smell. |
| A．They feed on the flower. |
| B．They die of hunger. |
| C．They become blow-flies again. |
| D．They become food of the flower. |
| A．To get food for itself. |
| B．To kill the flies. |
| C．To get their maggots. |
| D．To let the flies help with its reproduction. |
| A．The blow-fly only lays eggs on a carrion flower. |
| B．The carrion-flower and the blow-fly benefit each other. |
| C．The blow-fly falls victim to the carrion flower in the end. |
| D．The blow-fly helps the carrion flower in an important way. |
3 . Recent studies suggest that people who suffer multiple brain injuries are at significant risk for developing chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain disorder that causes a variety of dangerous mental and emotional problems to arise weeks, months, or even years after the initial injury. These psychological problems can include depression, anxiety, memory loss, inability to concentrate and so on. The majority of people who develop these issues are athletes who participate in popular high-impact sports, especially football.
Although new sports regulations and improvements in helmet technology can help protect players, amateur leagues, the sports media, and fans all bear some of the responsibility for reducing brain injuries. In response to the growing understanding of this danger, the National Football League (NFL) has revised its safety regulations. In an effort to diminish the amount of head and neck injuries on the field. NFL officials began enforcing stricter penalty calls for helmet-to-helmet contact, leading with the head, and hitting a defenseless player. Furthermore, as of 2010, if a player’s helmet is accidentally wrenched from his head during play, the ball is immediately whistled dead. It is hoped that these new regulations, coupled with advances in helmet design, will reduce the number of brain injuries, and thus curb further cases of CTE.
However, new regulations at the professional level cannot protect amateur players, especially young people. Deadly cases of CTE have been reported in victims as young as 21. Youth, high school and college leagues should also adopt safety rules even stricter than those of the NFL. Furthermore, young athletes should be educated about the serious dangers of head injuries at an early age. Perhaps the most important factor in reducing the number of brain injuries, however, lies not with the players,the coaches, or the administrators, but with the media and fans. Sports media producers have become accustomed to showcasing the most aggressive tackles and the most intense plays. NFL broadcasts often replay especially violent collisions while the commentators marvel at the players physical prowess. Some sports highlights television programs even feature weekly countdowns of the “hardest hits”. When the media exalts such dangerous behavior, professionals are rewarded for injuring each other on the field and amateurs become more likely to try to imitate their favorite NFL athletes. Announcers, commentators, television producers, and sportswriters should engage in a collective effort to cease glorifying brutal plays. In turn, fans should stop expecting their favorite players to put their lives on the line for the purposes of entertainment.
1. Based on information in the passage, it can be inferred that all of the following statements are true except that____________.| A．brain injuries can lead to various mental and emotional problems |
| B．NFL officials have done little to address the problem of CTE |
| C．it is not enough to adopt new regulations to reduce brain injuries at the professional level |
| D．sports media is to blame for encouraging brutal plays that often result in brain injuries |
| A．inconsistent application of safety regulations for all levels. |
| B．lack of education about the dangers of head injuries. |
| C．amateur players’ desire to imitate professionals. |
| D．the adoption of stricter safety rules by youth, high school, and college leagues. |
| A．praises |
| B．criticizes |
| C．shows |
| D．mentions |
| A．share his knowledge about CET caused by brain injuries |
| B．warn his readers against playing football to avoid brain injuries |
| C．call public attention to the new regulations adopted by NFL |
| D．convey his ideas about the problem of CET |
4 . Need a fall fix? Try one from these great places.
Mackinac Island, Michigan
The only way to reach this famed car-free island is by boat and ferry, and once visitors arrive, they are attracted by the history, scenery and fall colors, a throwback to years past, a little town, and there's a big state park as well," Blackwell says. "You're allowed to have boats all around the island."
Tellico Lake, Tennessee
With nearly 400 miles of shoreline, this waterway flowing out of the Great Smoky Mountains is largely unexploited, well-protected in its natural state. Fall visitors find a range of colors reflecting in the clean waters, says Blackwell, who vacationed in the area with his family as a child. "The thick forest there just allows you to see more greenery and wildlife."
Dillon Reservoir, Colorado
With an hour from Denver, this lake is home to what claims to be the nation's highest sailing club, at an altitude of more than 9,000 feet. Marinas in the towns of Dillon and Frisco make it easy to get out on the water and to see the bright yellows and golds of fall leaves. "People are surprised that there's boating in- Colorado, and you can see the mountains just before the snowfall," Blackwell says.
Lake Monroe, Indiana
The state's largest lake is surrounded by more than 13,000 acres of protected forest and three recreation areas, making it an ideal place to see fall colors, particularly from oaks and the tulip poplar, the state tree. "It's a gem (宝石)in southern Indiana," says Blackwell, who grew up in the area. "There are lots of different activities: canoeing, kayaking and fishing."
1. What is special about Mackinac Island?| A．It's like a modern city. | B．Visitors can take a car around for free. |
| C．Visitors can see various wildlife there. | D．Limited means of transport are offered. |
| A．Mackinac Island, Michigan. | B．Tellico Lake, Tennessee. |
| C．Dillon Reservoir, Colorado. | D．Lake Monroe, Indiana. |
| A．Blackwell once travelled there. |
| B．They are all famous tourist destinations. |
| C．They are surrounded by thick forests. |
| D．Visitors can enjoy fall colors there. |
5 . The bed should be reserved as a place for sleep，but people tend to read an iPad a lot in bed before they go to sleep．
Charles Czeisler，a professor at Harvard Medical School，and his colleagues got a small group of people for an experiment．For five days in a row，the people read either a paper book or an iPad for four hours before sleep．Their sleep patterns were monitored all night．Before and after each trial period，the people took hourly blood tests to paint a day-long picture of just how much melatonin（褪黑激素）was in their blood at any given time．
When subjects read on the iPad as compared to the paper books，they reported feeling less sleepy at night and less active the following morning．People also took longer to fall asleep on the iPad nights，and the blood tests showed that their melatonin secretion（分泌）was delayed by an hour and a half．
The researchers conclude in today's journal article that gives the rise of e-readers and the increasingly widespread use of e-things among children and adolescents，more research into the"long-term consequences of these devices on health and safety is urgently needed．"Czeisler and colleagues go on，in the research paper，to note"Reading an iPad in bed may increase cancer risk．"
However，software has been developed that can reduce some of the blue light from the screens of phones and computers according to time of day，and there are also glasses that are made to filter（过滤）short wavelengths．While they seem like a logical solution for the nighttime tech users，it needs more research．
1. In Charles Czeisler's experiment，all the subjects were asked to ______ ．| A．sit in a row and receive the strict tests |
| B．have their sleep patterns observed all night |
| C．read a paper book and an iPad at the same time |
| D．have their blood tested per hour during the trial |
| A．feel less sleepy and tired in the day |
| B．fall asleep more easily after reading |
| C．have a lot more melatonin secretion |
| D．become less energetic the next morning |
| A．remove the blue light from your devices completely |
| B．help prevent eyes being harmed by short wavelength |
| C．weaken the harm done by doing nighttime e-reading |
| D．be used in all the e-things widely and safely |
| A．No e-reading in bed before sleep |
| B．New software for night e-readers |
| C．Wrong behaviors before bedtime |
| D．No games on iPad in bed． |
6 . The City of Toronto currently delivers three public art programs: the Public Art & Monuments Collection, the Percent for Public Art Program and StreetARToronto (StART). The programs have had a transformative effect on the city’s vitality, gathering a collection of public art that is of international significance.
Pubic Art & Monuments collection
The City commissions (委托制作) and accepts donations of high-quality public art works and monuments that are relevant to their prospective community, and enrich the urban experience of Toronto’s residents and visitors. These City-owned works of public art and historical monuments enhance public spaces all over Toronto.
Percent for Public Art Program
The governing principle for the Percent for Public Art Program is that art is a public benefit to be enjoyed and experienced by residents and visitors through the city. The privately-owned art is intended to make building and open spares more attractive and interesting and to improve the quality of the pubic spaces. The Program requires that the artwork must be clearly visible at all times from publicly accessible areas.
StreetARToronto
StreetARToronto (StART) is a series of programs designed specifically for streets and public spaces. Launched in 2012 as part of the City’s Graffiti(涂鸦)Management Plan, StART has been successful in reducing graffiti vandalism and replacing it with colourful, community-engaged street art.
StART programs encourage active transportation (walking and cycling), make out streets more beautiful and safer, showcase local artists and more.
1. What is the main purpose of the programs?| A．To host an art competition. | B．To display Toronto’s art collection. |
| C．To attract residents and visitors. | D．To improve the city’s appearance. |
| A．They are donated by artists. | B．They are owned by the city government. |
| C．They are free to experience. | D．They are replacing graffiti. |
| A．Community services. | B．Streets and pubic spaces. |
| C．Privately -owned buildings. | D．Green travel means. |
7 . I just had a snowstorm that piled up eight inches of snow. It truly was a winter wonderland, and there was white beauty everywhere. Since I didn't have anything to do that day, I really enjoyed it.
But then the second snowstorm arrived that night, piling additional inches of snow on top of the snow banks that were already there. And then on the evening news, the weather cast gave us a notice that still another snowstorm was headed our way. Then I felt despondent. I had things to do and places to go. After days of being snowbound, I felt like I was under house arrest. I was stuck.
A place stuck isn't a fun place to be, whether it's from a snowstorm or from life circumstances such as a bad relationship, bills that seem to tower over our heads, or situations where we see no way out. All of us will feel stuck at one time or another, but it's how we respond that makes the difference.
I had a friend named Hannah. She was stuck in the heartbreaking world of infertility (不孕). She longed for a child more than anything. Instead of accepting defeat, she acted sincerely. Think about Nelson Mandela in a dark prison. It was a seemingly hopeless place, but instead of becoming depressed or bitter, he kept fighting for freedom. Yes, he kept fighting to get the success.
Circumstances cannot define us, but our reactions do. Each of those men and women learned important lessons in their "stuck" situations, and we can as well.
1. What does the underlined word" despondent" in paragraph 2 mean?| A．Unhappy. | B．Unusual. | C．Ambitious. | D．Energetic. |
| A．Summarize the previous paragraphs. |
| B．Provide some advice for the readers. |
| C．Introduce some background information. |
| D．Form a connecting link of the context. |
| A．To introduce two great celebrities. |
| B．To introduce the way to be famous. |
| C．To show their different circumstances. |
| D．To show how to respond to difficult situations. |
| A．Don't be defeated by failure |
| B．Don't be trapped by snow |
| C．Enjoy the white beauty |
| D．Keep calm in the winter |
8 . It was a lifesaving task as thrilling as any in the months-long battle against the wildfires that have torn through the Australian bush. But instead of a race to save humans or animals, a specialized team of Australian firefighters was bent on saving invaluable plant life: hidden groves (树林) of the Wollemi pine, a prehistoric tree species.
Wollemi pines peaked in abundance 34 million to 65 million years ago, before a steady decline. Today, only 200 of the trees exist in their natural environment. The trees are so rare that they were thought to die out until 1994. That’s the year when David Noble, an officer with the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service, came across a grove of large trees he didn’t recognize.
Noble brought back a few branches and showed them to other biologists and botanists. A month later, Noble returned to the grove with some scientists. It was then that they realized what they had found: “a prehistoric tree species that has outlived the dinosaurs.” the American Scientist explains. So when Australia’s wildfires started burning toward Wollemi National Park in recent weeks, firefighters from the parks and wildlife service put a carefully planned operation into action.
Large air tankers dropped fire retardant (阻燃剂) around the pines. Firefighters set up an irrigation (灌溉) system around the trees to keep them wet. “If the fire did go through, we wanted it to be a cool burn as opposed to a hot burn to give them the best chance of survival,” Kean said. The fire did sweep through the groves where these trees have somehow survived for millions of years. For a few days, the smoke was so thick that it wasn’t clear whether the plan had worked. At last the smoke eased off. A few trees had been burned by the flames, and two died. But the efforts had paid off. “Finally,” Kean said, “we were able to get in there and see that, thank goodness, the trees were saved.”
1. What do we know about Wollemi pines?| A．Scientists searched for them in the wild. |
| B．They used to grow in parts of Australia. |
| C．There were a considerable number of them long ago. |
| D．Firefighters and biologists cooperated to keep them alive. |
| A．been superior to. | B．been related to. |
| C．died earlier than. | D．existed longer than. |
| A．It was cool to drop retardant over the fire. |
| B．It wasn’t clear whether the trees were saved. |
| C．It helped the trees survive to keep them wet. |
| D．It worked best for the trees to keep a hot burn. |
| A．An investigation into Wollemi pines. |
| B．A hard-won battle against the wildfires. |
| C．Constructing a firefighting system for the trees. |
| D．Saving world’s rare pine species from wildfires. |
9 . 3D printing is becoming more and more popular. We are now able to create things we need very quickly and easily using 3D printers. But can you imagine printing food?
Some scientists are trying to revolutionize the dining experience by doing this. They hope that having a 3D printer in the kitchen will be as common as the microwave oven or blender.
Scientists say that it’ll be quite easy: you simply have to select a recipe and put the raw food ‘inks’ into the printer. You can also modify the instructions to make the food exactly how you want it. This means that it would be very quick and easy to create tasty and nutritious meals.
Using 3D printers to create your meals would also be saving the environment. There would be less need for traditional growing, transporting and packaging processes as food production would be a lot more efficient. For example, alternative ingredients (原料) such as proteins from algae, beetroot leaves and insects could be converted into tasty products.
Printing food could also help people who suffer from dysphasia (a swallowing disorder). They could program the printer to print softer versions of their favorite foods so that they would not have trouble in swallowing them.
However, some people think that a future of 3D food printing would be a disaster. It could take away many jobs, including those from growing, transporting and packaging food. Imagine a world where there was no need for farming or growing crops and the same tastes could be printed from a raw “food ink”. Likewise, traditional cafes and restaurants might lose business. Also, there are concerns about the nutritional value of printed food: is it really possible to be get the nutrients we need from food-based inks and gels (凝胶)?
What’s more, cooking and eating together with family and friends has long been a traditional and enjoyable activity. It is hard to imagine a world where the pleasure of cooking is dead and meals can be created at the touch of a button.
1. Which of the following best describes 3D food printing?| A．Quick and popular. | B．Easy and efficient. | C．Nutritious and tasty. | D．Soft and convenient. |
| A．Traditional food would disappear. | B．Many people could lose their jobs. |
| C．It would affect the people’s health. | D．We could all eat the same food. |
| A．3D food printing will replace traditional cooking. | B．The future of 3D food printing is uncertain. |
| C．It would hurt our tradition of food culture. | D．3D food printing would be a failure. |
10 . We have introduced solo (单独的) holidays for anyone travelling on their own without children. Now solo travelers can enjoy fantastic group holidays in beautiful locations hosted by a member of our staff.
Beach Break in Istria, Croatia: 7 to l1 May 2019
A 4-night solo beach holiday on the pretty Croatian peninsula. Relax by the pool or on the beach of our superior 4-star adult only hotel, complete with a wonderful spa. This solo trip is offered with a varied programme, including boat trips to the ancient city of Rovinj and the pretty coastal town of Porec and a visit of the historic seafront city of Pula. Read more.
Short Break in Slovenia: 17 to 20 October 2019
A short solo holiday to show you the best of Slovenia in 3 days. It includes a wine tasting evening, a visit of Slovenia's elegant capital with its charming old town and a boat trip on Lake Bled and the ancient Predjama Castle. Our 4-star hotel is worth a visit in itself with its amazing inside and impressive views of Lake Bled. Read more.
City Break in Vienna, Austria: 28 November to 1 December 2019
Join us on a solo city break to Vienna where pretty squares turn into magical Christmas markets. Your local tour guide will take you around pretty cobblestone lanes and show you the historic highlights of Vienna, followed by evenings in Viennese restaurants, walks around the Christmas markets and a tasting of the best Austrian wines. Read more …
1. Who are the solo holidays intended for according to the passage?| A．Travelers of all ages. | B．Adults traveling alone. |
| C．Families with children. | D．Newly married couples. |
| A．Short Break in Slovenia. | B．Beach Break in Istria. |
| C．A coastal visit of Porec. | D．City Break in Vienna, Austria. |
| A．Boat trips. | B．4-star hotels. |
| C．Historic highlights. | D．Wine-tasting. |
