1 . Computer programmer David Jones earns ￡35 000 a year designing new computer games, yet he cannot find a bank ready to let him have a credit card. Instead, he has been told to wait another two years, until he is 18. The 16-year-old works for a small firm in Liverpool, where the problem of most young people of his age is finding a job. David’s firm releases two new games for the fast growing computer market each month.
But David’s biggest headache is what to do with his money. Even though he earns a lot, he cannot drive a car, take out a mortgage (抵押贷款), or get credit cards. David got his job with the Liverpool-based company four months ago, a year after leaving school with six O-levels and working for a time in a computer shop. “I got the job because the people who run the firm knew I had already written some programs,” he said. David spends some of his money on records and clothes，and gives his mother 50 pounds a week. But most of his spare time is spent working.
“Unfortunately, computing was not part of our studies at school,” he said. “But I had been studying it in books and magazines for four years in my spare time. I knew what I wanted to do and never considered staying on at school. Most people in this business are fairly young, anyway.” David added, “I would like to earn a million and I suppose early retirement is a possibility. You never know when the market might disappear.”
1. In what way is David different from people of his age?| A．He has a handsome job. |
| B．He cannot have a credit card. |
| C．He graduated with six O-levels. |
| D．He often goes out with friends. |
| A．How to get more spare time. |
| B．Buying a car suitable for him. |
| C．How to deal with his income. |
| D．Releasing two new games each month. |
| A．He received lots of job offers. |
| B．He lost interest in school studies. |
| C．He was eager to help his mother. |
| D．He wanted to earn his own living. |
| A．Positive | B．Critical | C．Worried | D．Hopeless |
2 . It has been four years since the Flashfood App was set to hit Canadian grocery stores and make it easier for shoppers to buy soon-to-expiry (保质期) food at a discount. Much to my delight, I heard it advertised recently on a radio station and figured it’s time for an update, especially since people became more aware of food waste’s role in the climate crisis.
The first thing I did was download the App. I hadn’t done it before because it was limited to a few locations, but now it’s all over Canada. I could see immediately that many brands of yogurt are all marked down 50 percent. Users pay for the food using the App, and then pick it up at a marked location in the store. There is no need for you to worry about them actually being bad.
It makes sense for retailers to get behind this App because it offers a win-win situation for everyone involved. Flashfood sells 75% of the products made available through its App while saving consumers an average of 50% on those grocery items, and it has 300,000 active users right now. That number is expected to grow naturally as Flashfood partners with more grocers.
“As a food retailer, we are in the business of providing food, not wasting it. The Flashfood program allows us to provide our customers with a convenient and environmentally sustainable (可持续的) way to purchase food. Loblaw sells 77% of the items it puts on Flashfood, moving an average of ＄800 to ＄1,000 worth of goods weekly at each of its largest stores,” said Gord Chem, senior VP with Loblaw’s Real Canadian Superstores.
I love looking for discount deals at the grocery store and always keep an eye out for the hot pink clearance stickers. But it’s always random, and I never know what I’m going to get from week to week. The appeal of Flashfood is that I can see what’s available, pre-purchase it, and leave it off my shopping list.
1. What can we know about the food on the Flashfood?| A．It’s delivered directly to the customers. | B．Much of it is charged at half the price. |
| C．Users can pay for it in the marked store. | D．It’ll be a month away before it goes bad. |
| A．beneficial | B．popular | C．creative | D．reliable |
| A．By listing some examples. | B．By making a comparison. |
| C．By explaining the cause. | D．By introducing the result. |
| A．Customers can buy much cheaper food on a recent app. |
| B．A win-win situation has been set for Canadians involved. |
| C．Canadians have a smart approach to reducing food waste. |
| D．Canadians adopt a new way of protecting the environment. |
3 . From the moment you open your eyes in the morning, you can feel sweat (汗水)running down your body, even if you’re barely moving at all. That’s what most people in China felt like this summer. In fact, the entire northern hemisphere(半球 )saw high temperatures in July. The Arctic Circle(北极圈) was no exception(例外). Temperatures in the city of Norilsk, which is in the Arctic Circle, reached a record high of 32 ℃, The Atlantic reported. Temperatures there are usually just 10 ℃ at this time of the year.
The heat wave in the Arctic is mainly a long-term result of global warming, according to the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences. In fact, while the whole world is getting warmer, the Arctic is warming twice as fast as the rest of the planet. This is called the polar amplification effect(极地放大效应).
The most direct impact(影响) of Arctic warming is the melting of Arctic ice. According to NASA, Arctic sea ice is now disappearing at a rate of 13. 2 percent every 10 years. NASA said that if this continues, the Arctic will have no ice by the year 2040. This has put some Arctic animals, like polar bears, in danger. The ice that the bears live on has shrunk(缩小), the Toronto Star reported.
Melting ice can also cause sea levels to rise in the long term. Since 1993, sea levels have risen at a rate of 3. 2 cm every 10 years, the Guardian reported. Some countries, such as Tuvalu(图瓦卢) in the South Pacific Ocean and Maldives(马尔代夫) in the Indian Ocean, are at risk of disappearing into the sea.
1. Which of the following is true?| A．Some countries in the ocean will disappear in 10 years. |
| B．China is the hottest in the northern hemisphere this summer. |
| C．The temperatures in Norilsk used to be lower than this summer. |
| D．The world gets warmer because of the heat wave in the Arctic. |
| A．The heat wave in the Arctic. |
| B．The result of global warming. |
| C．Getting warmer in the world. |
| D．The Arctic getting warm faster. |
| A．The polar will become dangerous. |
| B．Sea levels rise in the long term. |
| C．There will be an end of water shortage. |
| D．There will be no ice in the world by 2040. |
| A．Heat hits Arctic. |
| B．Arctic animals are in danger. |
| C．The world became hotter than before. |
| D．Some countries may disappear into the sea. |
4 . When I met her， I had a lot of anger inside of me. I've lived my whole life in Spanish Harlem， but in my neighborhood， there are shoot﹣ups（枪击）all the time. I know kids who have been shot or beaten up I have friends who ended up in prison. I could have ended up that way， too. but Ms. Clark wouldn't let that happen.
Ms. Clark worked long hours， making sure I did my work. My grades rose. In fact， the scores of our whole class rose. One day， she took our class to see The Phantom of the Opera， and it was the first time some kids had ever been out of Harlem. Before the show， she treated us to dinner at a restaurant and taught us not to talk with our mouths full. We did not want to let her down.
Ms. Clark was selected as Disney's 2015 Teacher of the Year. She said she would draw three names out of a hat； those students would go with her to Los Angeles to get the award. But when the time came to draw names， Ms Clark said， "You're all going. "
On graduation day， there were a lot of tears. We didn't want her class to end. In 2016. she moved to Atlanta， but she always kept in touch. She started giving lectures about education， and wrote a bestselling book based on her classroom rules， The Essential 55. In 2018， Ms Clark took some of us on a trip to South Africa to deliver school supplies and visit orphanages （孤儿院）. It was the most amazing experience of my life.
1. Why was the writer angry when he first knew Ms. Clark？| A．Because Ms Clark taught boring classes. |
| B．Because he lived in a danger area. |
| C．Because Ms Clark was once in prison. |
| D．Because he was ever beaten up. |
| A．With sympathy. |
| B．As her guests. |
| C．With caution. |
| D．As her children. |
| A．Education system. |
| B．Safety rules. |
| C．Classroom teaching. |
| D．Travel arrangements. |
| A．A leading writer. |
| B．A demanding educator. |
| C．A devoted mother. |
| D．An unforgettable teacher. |
5 . Chicago's Open Books ﹣ a 13﹣year﹣old organization ﹣ tries to put books into every child's hands citywide, starting at birth. The group, which sells donated books online to raise money for its programs, has teamed with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library to expand its reach to children who most need libraries of their own. In just a few months, Open Books has accepted nearly 1, 000 children into the program. The process behind the Imagination Library is simple. Parents fill out a form to sign up their children to have a free book mailed to each child every month, from birth to age 5.
This means a child can receive up to 60 books, chosen by a group of early education experts, before he or she enters kindergarten. "Our job is to get children served, and to raise money so that we're paying the cost of the books and they remain free to parents, " said Eric Johnson, Open Books' director. That's one reason Open Books chose to team up with the Imagination Library ﹣ because Parton has the ability to get high﹣quality books at the lowest cost, Johnson said.
The imagination Library has started in the underserved and low﹣income neighborhoods of Austin, Garfield Park, Little Village and North Lawndale. Parents in those neighborhoods can sign up their children now. Open Books will continue to expand the Imagination Library to other neighborhoods soon, so other Chicagoans should be patient.
Studies show that a home﹣based library can lead to a child's school success ﹣ and on average a middle﹣class family has about 13 books for each child, Johnson said. Yet, in Chicago and nationwide, more than 60 percent of low﹣income households have no children's books. "That's an important difference, since a child's greatest brain growth takes place from birth to age 5, and by age 3, almost 85 percent of a child's brain is already formed, " Johnson said. "The possibility to get kids 'kindergarten ready' is endless. "
1. What does Open Books do for children under 5？| A．It encourages them to visit libraries. |
| B．It builds some kindergartens for them. |
| C．It mails them each a free book monthly. |
| D．It gives them money for books monthly. |
| A．The director of Open Books. |
| B．Experts in early education. |
| C．Children themselves. |
| D．Children's parents. |
| A．Every family should have a home﹣based library. |
| B．Each child should finish 13 books before kindergarten. |
| C．More attention should be paid to early children's mental development. |
| D．Children should be well prepared for kindergarten as early as possible. |
| A．To show his love of children's books. |
| B．To introduce an Open Books program. |
| C．To share his childhood reading experience. |
| D．To advertise Parton's Imagination Library. |
6 . Great Activities for Nature Lovers
Hiking
One of the easiest and most accessible ways to get close to nature is by setting out on a good old fashioned hike. Hiking generally doesn’t require any fancy equipment or special skills, just a piece of map and a thirst for adventure. This activity can be as relaxing as you make it.
Backcountry Camping
Why limit yourself to just a day hike when you can have a full weekend (or longer) adventure? Backcountry camping involves packing your tent, sleeping gear, food, and water on your back to set up camp in a remote location. If you’re an experienced hiker and camper, this is an excellent way to test your survival skills and explore the wilderness.
Mountain and Road Biking
Unlike long hikes through the woods, biking allows you to cover more ground and travel farther in nature. Mountain biking typically involves riding up and down steep slopes, between trees, and over rocks. If this sounds too intense or your tires aren’t suited for rugged terrain, consider taking a road bike on paved trails through forest preserves or along country roads.
Gardening
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to travel beyond your own backyard to experience the beauty of nature every day. If your personality is less adventurous or your mobility restricted, consider planting a garden to grow your own vegetables, fruits, herbs, or flowers. There’s something truly satisfying about mixing up a salad with fresh ingredients you grew yourself. One of the best parts about spending time in nature is that it doesn’t have to break your budget and anyone can do it.
1. What does hiking need for hikers?| A．A world map. | B．A strong desire. |
| C．Practical skills. | D．Necessary equipment. |
| A．To a backyard. | B．To a forest. |
| C．To a mountain. | D．To a distant place. |
| A．Hiking | B．Backcountry Camping |
| C．Gardening. | D．Mountain and Road Biking |
7 . 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. |
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 |
| A．The American. | B．The army officer. |
| C．The girl. | D．The hostess. |
| A．A Heated Argument | B．A Striking Dinner Party |
| C．An Unbelievable Story | D．A Smart Hostess |
8 . Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, has an ancient competition with Chongqing, a city to its south-east. Residents of Chongqing accused their Chengdu cousins of being pompous (自大的). The people of Chongqing were hotheads, Chengdu residents shot back. Both cities share a love of spice-laden Sichuan cuisine, which in recent decades has occupied Chinese dinner tables. But they are at war over which has the best Sichuan hotpot—a type of DIY-cooking that involves boiling vegetables and slices of meat with chillies and numbing peppercorns.
A private museum in Chongqing, opened several years ago, makes the case for the Chongqing-style hotpot. It describes how it developed from a method used to make cheap offcuts of meat taste delicious. But Chengdu is playing catch-up. In January the city sold a plot of land on condition that the developer build a hotpot museum on part of it.
The two cities are among many in China with their own styles of hotpot. Hotpot restaurants in China are more profitable than other kinds. Haidilao, a well-known Sichuan-based hotpot chain, raised nearly $1bn when it was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (股票交易所) in September.
Not all Chinese warm to hotpot. Some older Sichuanese refuse to be connected with it. They complain that it is causing overuse of chilli in other dishes that cover up the original genuine flavours.
But Chengdu’s plans for a museum suggest that Sichuan hotpot is not only growing in popularity, but is also becoming symbolic. If it can set the West on fire, officials may hope it will become a delicious new source of Chinese soft power. There will be plenty of glory for both Chengdu and Chongqing to take pride in if that happens.
1. Why are Chengdu and Chongqing competing with each other?| A．Because Chengdu people think Chongqing people are pompous. |
| B．Because Chengdu residents like to shoot back in battles. |
| C．Because they both think they are better at eating spicy food. |
| D．Because they both believe they have the best Sichuan hotpot. |
| A．To compete with Chongqing. | B．To advertise Sichuan cuisine. |
| C．To show their love for hotpot. | D．To keep the hotpot tradition. |
| A．The two cities have competed only in recent decades. |
| B．More hotpot museums will be built in the future. |
| C．Hotpot is already a source of Chinese soft power. |
| D．People hold a high expectation for hotpot culture. |
| A．Growing Popularity of Hotpot in Two Cities |
| B．Two Cities’ War Over Tastiest Sichuan Hotpot |
| C．“No Hotpot, No Happiness” True in Food Business |
| D．Private Museum in Chongqing Opened First |
9 . I had always heard that North Americans value independence, and that Europeans value, togetherness. But I never fully understood it until 2 months ago, when I left my Ph.D. lab in Canada for a 4-month research in a lab in France. On my first day, Pierre — a Ph.D. student whose desk is across from mine — tapped me on the shoulder and asked: "Coffee?" I nodded and followed him down the hallway to the common room, where other grad students were filing in. I sat there, cautiously sipping the bitter liquid five times stronger than my normal Americano and trying hard not to reveal my uncultured tastes, while lab chatter（闲聊）filled the air.
Coffee breaks are a routine part of work life here. The chatter sometimes turns to serious scientific topics. But mostly, the meetups offer a chance to unwind — to share stories about life inside and outside the lab and to connect with people who understand what you're going through.
The lighthearted atmosphere and sense of community is a welcome contrast to my life in Canada, where I spent most of my workdays all alone. I went into the lab each morning with set goals for my day. At lunch, I'd keep my eyes glued to my computer while I shoveled（大量送入）forkfuls of salad into my mouth, trying to power through my to-do list.
Our lab held weekly meetings where we'd take turns presenting our latest, work and getting feedback from colleagues. But we didn't take daily coffee breaks. My labmates and I were too busy collecting data and publishing papers.
Looking back now, I realize how much we were missing. Researchers need community because good ideas don't just come from reading literature and thinking deep thoughts; it's helpful to bounce ideas off others, particularly in a nonthreatening environment. It's also helpful to have a spot to share the day-to-day ups and downs of life as a grad student. How else are you supposed to know that you're not the only one suffering from challenges like anxiety?
1. What can we learn about the author from the first paragraph?| A．He has a European dependent personality. |
| B．He was ill at ease in the new environment. |
| C．He was ashamed of his uncultured background. |
| D．He is too vain to work with other grad students. |
| A．break away from his work life in Canada. |
| B．get involved in serious scientific topics. |
| C．relax and exchange ideas with people. |
| D．collecting data from his colleagues. |
| A．Demanding but satisfactory. |
| B．Impersonal but efficient. |
| C．Challenging and tiresome. |
| D．Stressful and independent. |
| A．Why Scientists Should Take Coffee breaks? |
| B．Coffee Inspires Creativity in Scientists |
| C．Lighthearted Atmosphere Counts |
| D．North American Life VS. European Life |
10 . I’ve been teaching college for many years. I’ve long grown used to the torn jeans, slippers, shorts in the dead of the Maine winter, and ball caps worn backward. Still, when one of my students showed up in pajama (睡衣) bottoms, I couldn’t help asking, “Did you just roll out of bed?” He responded: “Five minutes ago.”
I'm familiar with the school of thought that says that how students dress is unrelated, so long as they’re learning. I put it in the same category as “Grammar and spelling don’t matter, so long as they’re expressing themselves”. I wonder about the wisdom of blurring (模糊) the line between bed and desk.
I smile when I think back on the occasions that my parents associated with needing to look respectable. Once, when I was 14 and my brother was 12, my father announced that he was taking us into Manhattan (just a subway ride away) to see the play. My brother and I were excited at the hope, but were shortly discouraged when my father directed us to put on our best clothes, including jackets and ties. “But why?” I begged, not wanting to change out of my comfortable jeans, T-shirt, and sneakers. “Because,” he said, “we’re going to New York.” I can still see the stars in his eyes as he said these words.
So yes, I do want my students to be comfortable. But I also want to pay my respects to those students who believe that appearances count.
I think of the woman — a somewhat older student — I had in class a few years back. She was someone to whom science did not come easily: She worked determinedly for respectable grades on every homework. But I was struck by how tastefully she dressed, day after day.
Once, I said, “You always looked so nice.” Immediately, she answered, “I’ve waited 12 years to return to school, and I dress up to remind myself to be serious about it.”
And, I might add, she seemed perfectly comfortable to me.
1. What phenomenon is described in the first paragraph?| A．Students care little about class attendance. |
| B．Students show their personality through dress. |
| C．Students tend to ignore their personal appearance. |
| D．Students make it a habit to be late for school. |
| A．Ambiguous. | B．Supportive. |
| C．Doubtful. | D．Disapproving. |
| A．They considered personal appearance important. |
| B．They looked after their children with great care. |
| C．They often paid a visit to New York. |
| D．They preferred dressing formally on a subway. |
| A．To feel comfortable at class with others. |
| B．To show her serious attitude towards learning. |
| C．To impress others with respectable clothes. |
| D．To hide her embarrassment at poor homework. |
