1 . In 1997, the Net Book Agreement in the UK ended. The Agreement existed between UK bookshops and publishers, and fixed minimum prices for all books. With the end of the Agreement, books began to be discounted, and now they are much more affordable for British people. One of the reasons for British libraries having fewer visitors is that books can now be so cheap to buy. Sales of books in the UK are always relatively healthy.
The UK has always been famous for its stories of magic. Shakespeare wrote fantastical plays: The Tempest and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, for example. There was also a lot of fantasy in the work of H.G. Wells, who published The Time Machine in 1895. Everyone’s heard of J.K. Rowling and the humorous, deceased in 2015, Terry Pratchett. You might also have heard of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy too, as the first book was made into the film The Golden Compass, starring Nicole Kidman.
The UK is known for its "detective fiction" and "murder mysteries". A couple of the most famous British authors of this kind are of course Sir Arthur Conan Doyle who started the Sherlock Holmes stories in 1887, and Agatha Christie, who created the detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. And there are many contemporary popular British authors of crime fiction: P.D. James, Ian Rankin, Colin Dexter.
Leading contemporary British novelist Will Selfa1, author of eleven literary novels, says the novel is dying. But I don't think there’s any need to call in Sherlock Holmes to look into this particular death just yet. Are bookshops dying out because of websites like Amazon? Not really. The British are bibliophiles and love to read in bookshops, particularly when there is a coffee bar within the store. So, are libraries completely disappearing in the UK? Well, nearly 500 libraries have closed down in the last five years. But that isn't just because of reader demand, it's also down to government cuts in public spending and the library is adapting: most now offer computer access and training as well as books for reading. Finally, 62 per cent of British parents read their children bedtime stories and none of us can see that tradition changing soon. So long live the book!
1. Why don't British people use libraries as much as they used to?| A．Because there are no coffee bars in libraries. |
| B．Because people don't read as much as in the past. |
| C．Because books are cheaper than they used to be. |
| D．Because the government cuts in public spending. |
| A．Will Selfal. | B．H.G. Wells. |
| C．P.D. James. | D．Agatha Christie. |
| A．Some murder mysteries in the UK. | B．Some famous detectives in the UK. |
| C．Some popular books in the UK. | D．Some famous authors of crime fiction. |
| A．They will become unpopular. | B．They will become more popular. |
| C．They will be replaced by computers. | D．They will stay popular. |
2 . When we were very small, we realized that having friends was important.Some of us even had imaginary (想象中的) friends.The need for friends continued as we grew into our teens.Friends played a big part in forming our personalities.As adults, it is still important for us to have friends.
True friends are people who like us though we made mistakes and who listen to us and tell us the truth.Friends support our decisions and tell us when we're foolish.They laugh with us and share our sadness.They are our partners and share interests with us.They stimulate us when we are feeling down.They are people we aren't afraid of telling our secret wishes to or what is really on our minds.
Friends are our supporters.When you can depend on friends, you feel safe and warm.Friends offer acceptance and emotional (情感的) support.At times, they also help with our everyday lives, cooking a meal, doing chores, or giving us a lift when we need one.Friends also are there to offer advice，an ear to listen, or a shoulder to cry on.
Friends also help us reduce stress.Not only do they listen to us when we feel stressed, but they also discuss what is stressing us.Sharing interests and doing activities with friends help us forget about problems at work or at home.For a short time, we can lose ourselves in a pleasant activity and perhaps laugh and breathe more easily.
1. What is the best title for the passage?| A．How to Reduce Stress |
| B．How to Make New Friends |
| C．The Importance of Friends |
| D．The Qualities of Good Friends |
| A．educate | B．encourage |
| C．surprise | D．dislike |
| A．people should make friends anytime |
| B．friends are people who allow you to cry |
| C．a friend helps you in many ways |
| D．good friends are always difficult to meet |
3 . Nao, a small robot, looks like a person. If Nao begged you not to shut it off, what would you do? Would you follow its wishes?
Scientists did a study to see how people treat’ robots that act like people. Eighty-nine people volunteered for the study. They were asked to help to improve Nao’s social skills by finishing two tasks with it
The tasks with the robot didn’t matter, though. What the scientists really wanted to see was how the participants (参与者) reacted once the tasks were over. They were asked to talk with Nao and finally shut Nao off but it was not easy to do. Some people did not want to turn the robot off while others take a long time to do it.
People often communicate with non-human objects such as TVs and computers nowadays. But robots seem more human than TVs. Robots can show social characters themselves, like speaking with human voices or taking the shape of a human body. Scientists said people might have seen Nao’s cries as a sign of independent thought. In turn, this could have led people to see the robot as having human-like characters.
For thousands of years, humans have lived In a world where they are the only ones who could have conversations, the study said. Our brains have learned to react to social situations in a certain way. But our brains are not used to telling the difference between the real people and fake (假的) people. The robot expresses feelings and desires, which gets people to want to treat the robot as if it was alive.
1. What’s the purpose of the study?| A．To test how fast human-like robots do tasks. |
| B．To improve human-like robots’ facial expressions, |
| C．To invent human-like robots to keep people company. |
| D．To learn how people might respond to human-like robots. |
| A．They had feelings for Nao. | B．They refused Nao’s requests. |
| C．They shut Nao off immediately, | D．They praised Nao’s social skills. |
| A．Humans are born to be creative. |
| B．Humans dislike robots in some ways. |
| C．Humans don’t often deal with human-like robots. |
| D．Humans prefer dealing with lifeless objects. |
| A．healthy lifestyles | B．popular science |
| C．historical events | D．successful people |
4 . My mother, a nurse at Stony Brook University Hospital, worked at night so that she could come home in time to send me to school. She’d sleep during the day and be ready when we returned home before heading out again in the evening. This went on for 23 years. She never complained (抱怨). No matter how tired she was, she always had enough energy to be my mom
She often had to work on holidays, even on New Year’s Eve, which made me unhappy. However, before holidays she always decorated the inside and outside of our house. She’d also have cookies baked in the oven, a holiday-themed movie in the VCR, and music playing throughout our house for us. But when it was time to go to work, there was no room for debate. “Why do you have to work on this day of all days?” I’d ask sadly. “They need me, too, dear son.” She’d say.
For a long time I didn’t understand why she should care so much about those sick strangers. Recently, as my grandmother became ill, I found myself spending more time in the hospital. The scenes I saw in the hospital made me see the different side of my mother. The nurses checked the heart, blood and oxygen levels to make sure patients were comfortable. They lifted patients in and out of bed and helped them to the bathroom. Beyond their duties, the nurses showed consideration (体贴) for each patient.
What I saw helped me understand why my mother was devoted to her occupation (职业). I was filled with more admiration for my mother.
1. Why did the author’s mother work in the evening?| A．To decorate their house. | B．To enjoy a movie. |
| C．To take him to school. | D．To sleep during the day. |
| A．The author wished his mother could stay home on holidays. |
| B．The mother loved her patients more than her son. |
| C．Nurses are paid a double salary working on holidays. |
| D．Only people with mercy on patients would make good nurses. |
| A．The things his mother did during holiday. |
| B．His mother’s tiredness after work. |
| C．His mother’s helping patients to the bathroom. |
| D．What he saw when he looked after his sick grandma in the hospital. |
5 . Britain was a rich country a hundred and fifty years ago. There were a few very rich people who received money from land or investment (投资), and did not need to work. They used to have large numbers of servants to look after them. There were also many middle-class people, who worked as businessmen or as doctors or lawyers. They usually had several servants to clean their houses and cook their meals. But there were also many poor people, and there was a big gap between the rich and the poor. The poor had very difficult lives. Many worked as servants. They used to be paid little, and they had to work long hours. But at least they lived in a warm house and were well fed.
Those who worked in factories were often less lucky. They used to work many hours a day, in dangerous and unhealthy conditions. But, even so, they did not use earn enough to feed their families. They often lived in slums (贫民窟) which were built cheaply by the factory owners. The worst paid people were those who worked on the farms. At certain times of the year, they did not use to earn anything because there was no work for them to do.
Life for the poor was not always bad. There were kind farmers and factory owners who helped their workers. And many people cared for the poor. One of them was Charles Dickens, the famous British writer. When he was young, his family was always short of money. His father was a clerk, who used to spend more than he earned. When Dickens was eleven, his father was sent to prison; and Dickens had to work in a factory. At this time, very young children used to work in factories and mines(矿), and clean chimneys.
1. According to the passage, lawyers were middle-class people who ________.| A．used to be paid little | B．used to have large numbers of servants |
| C．used to have several servants | D．worked in dangerous and unhealthy conditions |
| A．it was not a busy season | B．they were lazy |
| C．they could not work hard | D．they asked for high pay |
| A．that he stole things from a shop or a factory |
| B．not mentioned in the passage |
| C．that he made much money |
| D．that he was accused (指控) of killing |
6 . Sunshine Secondary School offers after-school clubs and activities from Monday to Friday. These activities are offered to all of the students at no cost. The school decides to give its students chances to become successful lifelong learners.
Clubs and activities | Time | Place | Advisor(导师) |
Art Club | Tuesday and Thursday 15:00 — 17:00 | Art Room | Ms Wang |
Chess Club | Monday and Wednesday 15:00 — 17:00 | Chess Room | Mr Zhang |
Choir(合唱队) | Friday 15:00 — 17:00 | Music Room | MsYao |
Dancing Club | Friday 15:00 — 17:00 | Dance Studio | Ms Liang |
Drama Club | Tuesday and Thursday 15:00 — 17:00 | Music Room | Ms Qing |
Dress Design | Monday and Wednesday 15:00 — 17:00 | Workroom | Ms Wang |
Football Team | Friday 15:00 — 17:00 | Football Field | Mr Chen |
Web Design | Monday 15:00 — 17:00 | Computer Room | Mr Ye |
Other helpful clubs and activities, as you like. | |||
1. Why does the school offer its students the clubs and activities?
| A．To give the students abilities to learn. |
| B．To make the students get ready for work. |
| C．To help the students spend their free time. |
| D．To make some money. |
| A．Music and dancing. | B．Sport and singing. |
| C．Computers and design. | D．Dress and art. |
| A．Dancing Club. | B．Chess Club. |
| C．Drama Club. | D．Art Club. |
7 . Where in the world would you most like to live? According to an annual statistics by the Economist Intelligence Unit, you should think about Vienna The magazine again rated it as one of the world's “most livable” cities. Winning for the second year in a row, the Austrian capital scored top marks for all three categories: culture, environment and infrastructure.
Culture
Beating more popular cities like London and New York, Vienna has culture as its trump card (王牌). Whether your passion is art, music or history, Vienna has something for you. The Kunsthistorisches national museum has one of Europe's largest art collections, including the world's largest collection of works by Dutch artist Pieter Bruegel the Elder. Meanwhile, the Hofburg Imperial Palace is free to explore. Music lovers can enjoy Vienna's Annual Summer Night Concert, played by the Vienna Philharmonic (爱乐乐团). It attracts over 10.000 people-what else can you expect from the home of Mozart?
Environment
As well as being a cultural mecca (胜地), Vienna's environment are world-class. The city has many green areas, such as the Neue Donau hiking tail, and an average PM 2.5 level of just 18, which is far below the international standard, according to the WHO.
Infrastructure
This was, in part, achieved by Vienna's transport system. In 2013 the government introduced the euro-a-day system to get more people to use regional trains. It worked! Over half of the residents have annual travel cards, making it both reliable and cheap by European standards. Not to mention, you can take a tram and get up close with Vienna's architectural landmarks, like the Burg Theatre and St. Stephan's Cathedral. Austrian author Karl Kraus famously said, “The streets of Vienna are paved with culture, the streets of other cities with asphalt (柏油).” So if you're looking for a safe cultural city, Vienna could be your best choice.
1. Where can a music lover go in Vienna?| A．To the Kunsthistorisches National Museum. | B．To the Hofburg Imperial Palace. |
| C．To the Vienna's Annual Summer Night Concert. | D．To the St. Stephan's Cathedral. |
| A．Vienna was awarded as one of the world's “most livable” cities for the first time. |
| B．Vienna is one of the popular cities which are full of cultural atmosphere. |
| C．The PM 2.5 level in Vienna is just above the international standard. |
| D．People can visit Vienna's architectural landmarks by using regional trains. |
| A．Vienna is an ancient city with modem facilities. |
| B．People can experience different lifestyles in Vienna. |
| C．Vienna is not as developed as other cities. |
| D．Vienna is a destination for people who like culture. |
8 . The triathlon is a demanding sport. Many say that it is a real test of an athlete’s body and mind. It is difficult because it is three sports in one. It includes swimming for 13. 86 kilometers, bicycling for 180 kilometers, and running for 42. 2 kilometers. The top triathletes finish all three events in about 8 hours.
This sport is a real challenge. First, it takes time to train for competitions. Some people spend up to 8 months training for the race. Second, it takes money to compete. The equipment is not cheap. Bicycles for this event can cost up to$10, 000. Top-quality swimming gear (用具) and running shoes are expensive. Third, athletes must have strong minds. It takes willpower (意志力) to push themselves to keep training to reach their goal.
The triathlon is a recent sport. Triathlons began in California in the early 1970s. In 1978, competitors held the first professional triathlon race in Hawaii. In 1982, this race became famous because of the televised performance of Julie Moss. It was her first competition. Exhausted, she was running toward the finish line. Suddenly, 3 meters before the line, she fell down. She tried to get up, but she kept falling. She finally crawled (爬) across the finish line. She lost that year, but she tried again. Finally, in 1985, she won. This was the start of the triathlon's popularity.
Today, triathlons are much more popular among ordinary athletes. People of all ages can compete, as long as they are in good physical condition. In fact, it has become a great family sport. Triathletes are special people who have time in their lives for careers (事业) and families. Most are highly educated and earn top salaries (薪水) in their jobs. Many triathletes are happily married. In fact, two-thirds of triathletes say that their training has a positive influence on their marriages. Today, the triathlon is an Olympic sport and a respected event worldwide.
1. What is Paragraph 2 mainly about?| A．The origin of the triathlon. | B．The rules of the triathlon. |
| C．The reasons why the triathlon is hard. | D．The steps to prepare for the triathlon. |
| A．The influence of TV in Hawaii. |
| B．The live broadcast on the Internet. |
| C．The form of the sport—three in one. |
| D．The unbelievable performance of an athlete. |
| A．supportive | B．unfavorable | C．uncertain | D．worried |
9 . The human brain remembers negative experiences more easily than positive ones. Our brains have developed in this way because threats, like dangerous animals, have a more immediate effect on people’s survival compared to positive things like food or shelter. As a result, you clearly know what makes you unhappy, but do you know what makes you happy?
Research suggests that our level of happiness is partly shaped by the choices we make. If you’ve been chasing wealth, fame, power and some material things, you may be looking for happiness in the wrong places. Psychologists suggest that the following habits can make people happier.
People who own close relationships tend to be happier than those who do not. The number of our friends is not important. What matters is the quality of our relationships. Relationships that bring happiness usually consist of the sharing of feelings, acceptance, mutual (双方的) respect and trust.
People who exercise regularly can improve both their physical and mental well-being. Some research has shown that exercise can be as effective as some medicine in treating depression.
If we are so interested in an activity, we may lose track of time, and we can be in a state of flow. The activity could be playing the piano, surfing the Internet or playing a game… People who experience flow in their work or life tend to be happier.
People are more likely to be happy if they know what their strengths are and can use them regularly. People are especially happy when they can set goals and use their strengths to achieve them.
People, who think positively by being grateful, mindful and optimistic, are more likely to be happy. Being grateful means being thankful. Being mindful means considering, focusing on, and enjoying the experiences of the present moment. Being optimistic means being hopeful about the future.
1. Why do Human brains remember negative things more easily?| A．Because negative things tend to affect human survival immediately |
| B．Because negative things are easy to remember |
| C．Because negative things are much more important than other things |
| D．Because negative things can make people live much happier |
| A．making friends | B．doing sports | C．playing the violin | D．chasing power |
| A．We should think more about our future. |
| B．We should be positive in our life and work. |
| C．We should focus on everything in our life. |
| D．We should only enjoy the present moment. |
| A．Why people remember positive things easily. |
| B．Why people remember negative things easily. |
| C．Some habits that make people happy. |
| D．The habits the people form in their life. |
10 . A hobby is any activity a person likes to do in his spare time. So those who get busy in their activity never get bored in their free time. Hobbies vary from person to person. Hobbies are of different kinds. They can be indoors or outdoors. Some are costly and some are cheap. Pursing a particular hobby is a matter of personal choice.
My favorite hobby is coin collection. It is also one of the oldest hobbies of the world and is also called “hobby of the Kings”, as in the old times, it was only done by kings and elite(精英)class of the society. It started for me some years back when my father used to come back from his foreign tours and give me coins of different countries. I started collecting then in my money box and after that I always used to wait for my new coins as much I used to wait for my father.
Since then, it has become my favorite hobby. This hobby has given me information about different countries of the world. I have got to know about important personalities of the different countries.
This hobby has made me be responsible to take care of important things at very young age. I have learnt dealings of different currencies(货币)on my foreign tours and save money for my favorite hobby. I feel extreme pleasure in showing my collection to others. It has also taught me this lesson that A LIFE WITHOUT A HOBBY IS JUST LIKE FOOD WITHOUT SALT.
1. What decides a person’s hobby?| A．Whether he has free time. |
| B．It is up to the person himself. |
| C．Whether the hobby is expensive or cheap. |
| D．Whether the hobby can be indoors or outdoors. |
| A．In the past, only the kings and upper class could collect coins. |
| B．The king could collect coins from all over the world. |
| C．Only the king could collect coins. |
| D．Kings had enough money to collect coins. |
| A．the author goes to foreign countries to collect coins |
| B．collecting coins has changed the author’s life greatly |
| C．the author likes to save money |
| D．the author’s father used to go abroad |
