1 . Market traders and street vendors （摊贩）are making a comeback across China, and this time they find themselves equipped with a new set of digital skills essential to navigating the vast consumer market. To revitalize （复兴）retail stands, in a move aimed at stimulating domestic spending and stabilizing employment, the country's leading e-commerce platforms are lending a helping hand, offering services like accessible financing backed by technologies.

Domestic wholesale site 1688. com is among the first group of tech players with such offerings. At the heart of the action plan is an effort to link street vendors directly with factories, effectively avoiding middlemen and saving time and costs.

According to general manager Wang Hai, numerous small-scale merchants on the site have managed to gain the upper hand in price negotiations, while manufacturers are more willing to mass-produce as the economy of scale serves to reduce costs, thus creating a win-win situation.

“Data analytics also kicks in, giving traders some insight into current consumer trends so that they no longer need to operate their business purely based on intuition （直觉），and they can avoid stockpiling,“ Wang said. For instance, the most sought-after categories in markets are daily necessities _? underwear , digital gadgets and beauty products, according to the company, whereas the most passionate buyers come from Guangdong, Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces.

Meanwhile, to stabilize employment _, e-commerce major JD. com vowed to add a number of job positions that either require flexible working hours, allow working from home or are designed to promote startup businesses. For posts related to delivery, warehouse management and packaging, priority is given to people from poverty-stricken areas.

“The COVID-19 outbreak will accelerate the digital transformation of the real economy, and individual traders and smaller stores are no exception,^” said Xu Lei, CEO of JD's retail unit. "We have the capability and, more importantly, the responsibility to inject vitality （活力）into these entities, thus contributing to the economic rebound （回弹）and stabilizing employment.

1. What can we learn about e-commerce platforms like 1688. com?

A．They have an advantage in price negotiation.

B．Their efforts help street vendors cut the cost.

C．They increase production through technology.

D．Their services are financed by the government.

2. How does data analytics benefit traders?

A．By improving traders' business intuition.

B．By helping traders find out market trends.

C．By telling traders when to stockpile goods.

D．By aiding traders in controlling the market.

3. Who is more likely to get a delivery job from JD?

A．A person experienced in driving a truck.	B．A person willing to start a new business.
C．A person from an underdeveloped village.	D．A person preferring flexible working hours.

4. Which column of a newspaper is the passage probably taken from?

A．Culture.	B．World.
C．Lifestyle.	D．Business.

2 . “Tomorrow we will see the Golden Gate Bridge,” said Peter. “I have never seen a golden bridge before.”

Peter's father smiled, but said nothing.

The next morning, his father took Peter to the bridge. Peter first saw it from far away. How big it looked! But then he saw the bridge was red!

“The bridge isn't golden!” he said. “Why is it called the Golden Gate Bridge?”

“It isn't named for its color,” said his father. “It is named for the Golden Gate.”

“What is the Golden Gate?” asked Peter.

“A gate is either an opening, or the thing that closes the opening,” said his father.

“ The Golden Gate is an opening in the land. Water from the sea comes through this opening into San Francisco Bay.”

“Oh,” said Peter. “And the bridge goes over the opening. But why is the opening called the Golden Gate?”

“Years ago men came to California to look for gold,” his father said. “Many came by ship. They came into the bay through that opening. For them it was a gate to gold. They named it the Golden Gate.”

“Well,” said Peter, “I still think the bridge should look golden.”

When getting home, he sent a letter to a California paper. he said:” Red is not the right color for the Golden Gate Bridge. The bridge should look golden, the way most people think it does.”

Peter sent $14.78 with his letter. “The money is to help paint the bridge gold, ” he wrote.

Many people read Peter's letter in the newspaper and things began to happen! Some people sent money. A big company gave real gold to make gold paint. A paint company made the paint.

But some people still wanted the bridge to be red!

Will the Golden Gate Bridge ever be golden? It will, if enough people feel as Peter does. How do you feel about it?

1. Why did father smile when hearing his son’s words?

A．His son had never seen a red bridge before.

B．His son was too delighted to visit the bridge.

C．His son was about to see the bridge tomorrow.

D．His son misunderstood the color of the bridge.

2. What is the Golden Gate Bridge named for?

A．The color of the bridge.

B．The shape of the bridge.

C．The location of the bridge.

D．The function of the bridge.

3. According to the passage, what did Peter feel when his father told him the origin of the Golden Gate Bridge?

A．Astonished.	B．Puzzled.
C．Determined.	D．Frustrated.

4. What did people do after reading Peter’s letter？

A．A firm made a gold paint by using real gold.

B．The government painted the bridge golden.

C．Some people were against the change of the color.

D．Some people raised money for the golden bridge.

3 . Each year, half a million people die from brain aneurysms（动脉瘤）—when a blood vessel（血管）bursts in the brain. An aneurysm is a bulge（膨胀）in a blood vessel that can burst. If that happens in the brain, it can be deadly. For survivors, physical disabilities are often severe. They may include memory problems, loss of balance, trouble speaking and even blindness. But new technologies are increasing survival rates and reducing disabilities.

Beaumont Bacon is a survivor who makes light of her experience because she is a comedian（喜剧演员）. She uses humor to make others laugh. Now she’s working on a new show. Michael Alexander is her doctor. He operated on Beaumont Bacon after her attack. “She had bleeding in the frontal area of her brain, so right above the eyes. The part that was in the brain was about maybe the size of an egg. So, that’s a fairly large bleed.”

Ms. Bacon had a better chance at survival than most people because of Dr. Alexander. He directs the Neurovascular Center in Los Angeles. The center offers new technologies that include placing a catheter（导管）into an aneurysm, then threading wires to promote blood clots（血栓）. This technique reduces the chances of another burst blood vessel. “You don’t have to open up the skull（头盖骨）or open up the brain to do surgery. It’s all done from inside the blood vessels. So it reduces the amount of blood loss, and the recovery is much faster.”

For Beaumont Bacon’s recovery, the hospital worked to prevent problems commonly found in patients with a burst aneurysm. The problems include brain swelling that can shut down blood vessels. She spent a month in a coma（昏迷）—unable to communicate with doctors, friends and loved ones. But with a year of treatment, she recovered. Now, she is making people laugh.

1. What do you know about aneurysms?

A．No technologies can treat them nowadays.

B．They may cause severe disabilities.

C．Few people die from them every year.

D．They are deadly wherever they happen.

2. The new technology has the following benefits EXCEPT that ________.

A．it is much faster for the patient to recover

B．it brings no problems after the operation

C．it reduces the amount of blood loss

D．it doesn’t need to open up the brain to operate

3. It can be known from the passage that Beaumont Bacon ________.

A．was always in an unconscious state after the operation

B．recovered soon after the treatment

C．returned to work after the treatment

D．was the first to try the new technology

4. The author shows the effect of the technology by ________.

A．providing an example	B．making comparisons
C．offering data	D．giving explanations

4 . It was “Disabilities Day at the Capitol ” and I was there, along with hundreds of Georgians, hoping to get the attention of our legislators (立法者). My thoughts ran back to the days when I was struggling to deal with my hearing loss learning, often dependent on others to help me hear. Now I stood under the gold dome of the Georgia Capitol, a member of the disabled community claiming the rights of people with disabilities.

After the rally (集会) I followed the crowd across the street to a free lunch. Although the crowd was huge, I managed to find a place to sit. I introduced myself to the young woman on my right, Kendall. However, with my hearing loss and her serious speech disorder, a conversation with her was next to impossible.

After a few moments, I realized that Kendall’s personal attendant (护工) was not present. I asked if anyone knew where she was and found out there had been a family situation and the attendant had to leave. “But,” I said, “who’s going to feed Kendall?” My thoughts were racing: someone had to help Kendall. In admitting her need I had to at once declare my responsibility to help.

Surprisingly, Kendall spoke clearly with her eyes. It was those eyes that spoke to me that day as we were waiting for lunch. I asked if I might serve her lunch. She nodded “Yes!” and her eyes said “Thank you!”

Helping Kendall that day shows an important belief of my life: We need each other. With or without a disability, it is our need for each other that makes us have a good life.

1. What’s the author’s purpose in attending “Disabilities Day at the Capitol”?

A．To defend the rights of the disabled.	B．To have a free lunch with friends.
C．To deal with his hearing problem.	D．To give support to the legislators.

2. Why couldn’t the author make a conversation with Kendall?

A．Because they were in a noisy crowd.	B．Because they didn’t know each other.
C．Because they spoke different languages.	D．Because they both had certain disabilities.

3. How did the author help Kendall?

A．By calling her family.	B．By feeding her lunch.
C．By admitting her need.	D．By finding her attendant.

4. What does the author intend to tell us through the text?

A．We need each other to live a good life.

B．We should support people with disabilities.

C．People with disabilities should help each other.

D．People with disabilities should learn to be independent.

5 . If your fingers get chilly all year round—even in the peak of summer—you’re not alone. Many people get cold hands during all of the seasons, due to a number of causes, from genetic to chronic illnesses.

Common reasons include being elderly and thin. If your hands are regularly cold or numb, however, it’s a good idea to see a doctor to rule out more serious causes. Cold hands are one of the symptoms of both anemia (贫血症) and hypothyroidism (甲状腺机能减退). Diabetes, which reduces blood circulation, can also trigger it. And if your heart is weak from heart disease, your body may prioritize sending blood to your core over your limbs.

For many others, cold hands are a sign they have a largely harmless condition called Raynaud’s disease. When any of us goes out in the cold, our bodies activate the muscles in our smallest blood vessels to make them even smaller—a survival mechanism to keep blood, and thus warmer temperatures, in our core. For people with Raynaud’s, this reaction is too strong, and instead of just a bit less blood going to their fingers, far too little gets there.

Raynaud’s is more common in women, and it most often develops before the age of 30. In fact, if you develop Raynaud’s when you’re older—usually after 40—it can be a sign of another underlying issue. That could be a smaller problem—a previous incident of frostbite (冻伤) or a sign of a more serious autoimmune condition, like lupus (狼疮).

For the majority of people living with Raynaud’s, medication won’t be necessary. However, a rare, more severe form of Raynaud’s affects less than one in 1,000 people. In these cases, blood can become completely blocked, causing sores on the hands. If they go untreated, it can lead to gangrene (坏疽) and, very rarely, amputation (截肢).

1. What’s the purpose of paragraph 1?

A．introduce a topic	B．present an argument
C．describe the characters	D．clarify his writing purpose

2. According to the text, which of the following is not the cause of cold hands?

A．diabetes

B．heart disease

C．aging

D．obesity

3. What do we know about Raynaud’s disease?

A．It appears when blood vessels in your body overreact to high temperatures.

B．Males never suffer from it before the age of 30.

C．In some cases, it can be a sign of some health issues.

D．For most people, it is a serious health problem.

4. What will the author talk about in the following paragraph?

A．The reasons why people have cold hands

B．Ways to treat Raynaud’s disease and prevent cold hands

C．Medical research on Raynaud’s Disease

D．Disadvantages of cold hands

6 . China is set to join a growing number of countries that are taking strict measures on single-use plastic items, with multiple bans expected to come into force gradually within the next six years.

The new policy, announced Sunday, will first take effect in major cities, where many of the non-biodegradable（非生物降解的）plastics found in the world’s oceans originally come. The distribution of plastic bags is supposed to stop in large Chinese cities by the end of the year, whereas smaller cities and rural areas have until 2022.Among other items are single-use straws and many disposable（一次性的）items. The effort was described as a global “war on plastic”.

Between 1950 and 2015, plastic production has risen from 2 million tons annually to 381 million worldwide, which has seen a rise in policies to reduce dependence on plastics. Extremely strict steps have been taken in many places.

Last August, the Pakistani government banned all single-use plastic bags in the country’s capital region, home to some 1.5 million people. While environmental protection groups celebrated the move, industry representatives warned it would come at a huge financial cost “They should first find new jobs for the plastic factory workers and then ban the bags,”38-year-old fruit seller Nazeer Abbasi told The Washington Post last year.

Last spring, the European Parliament voted to ban many single-use plastic items-including plates, straws and cups — by 2021. It also voted to increase recycling targets. Many E.U. member states already have built systems to encourage customers to return plastic bottle for recycling.

1. What are the multiple bans targeted at?

A．Recyclable glass bottles.

B．Reusable shopping bags.

C．Degradable plastic straws.

D．Disposable plastic plates.

2. How will China carry out the new policy?

A．By banning plastics once for all.	B．By taking measures step by step.
C．By conducting it in big cities only.	D．By performing it in small cities first.

3. How does Nazeer Abbasi feel about the workers according to paragraph 4?

A．He’s worried.	B．He’s annoyed.
C．He’s puzzled.	D．He’s disappointed.

4. Why does the author write this text?

A．To explain the causes of plastic pollution.

B．To offer tips about Chinese plastic production.

C．To share his own ideas about plastic recycling.

D．To introduce different bans on single-use plastics.

7 . There’s one easy thing you can do every day to live longer and happier, according to a recent study, and it has nothing to do with diet, exercise, or cutting out bad habits.

A review of nearly 150 studies with more than 300,000 participants found that having active social circles decreases your chances of dying by 50 percent, regardless of age, gender or medical history. “When we’re social, we live longer.” Dr. Kelli Harding noted, “Loneliness is more of a risk factor to health than other known risk factors, like high blood pressure and obesity.”

The findings are written up in Dr. Harding’s new book，The Rabbit Effect, which is about how kindness, rather than laughter, may be the best medicine. The book gets its title from a famous 1978 study of the relationship between cholesterol（胆固醇）and heart health in rabbits. Researchers accidentally discovered that those rabbits that received the most affection from their human handlers lived much longer than the others.

We live in a world where most of our social interactions happen through our phones. But to get the health benefits of a more active social circle, you don’t have to throw away your device and join a book club. More casual interactions with neighbors, shop owners, and others you meet every day can do the trick. Increasingly，those relationships can start online. That’s where Nextdoor comes in. The stated purpose of the company is “to cultivate a kinder world where everyone has a neighborhood they can depend on”.

When asked for advice on one thing you can do to live longer and happier, Dr. Harding said it perfectly, “Be kind. It’s actually pretty amazing how much each person can make the world a better，kinder，healthier place. It really takes very little and you never know the impact you have on somebody.”

1. What do we know about The Rabbit Effect?

A．Its title comes from a study.	B．It's a report about heart health.
C．Laughter could cure diseases.	D．Rabbits could help live longer.

2. What’s the purpose of Nextdoor?

A．To advocate online shopping to save time.

B．To offer the neighborhood sports facilities.

C．To settle the arguments among the families.

D．To create a harmonious community to rely on.

3. What does the underlined phrase “do the trick” in Paragraph 4 mean?

A．Improve health and wellness.	B．Set up online relationships.
C．Build a happy and warm family.	D．Keep away from bad habits.

4. What can be inferred from Dr. Harding’s words in the last paragraph?

A．We can look for a kind neighborhood.

B．We should be kind to animals in the wild.

C．Every small act of kindness can make a difference.

D．All kinds of social activities can make a better world.

8 . Polar bears have captivated(迷住) humans since the beginning of recorded time. Writings dating back to 57 C. E. in ancient Rome describe flooded amphitheatres where polar bears and seals competed against each other ( not much of a fight, as it turns out). Kings of ancient Egypt and early Norway were the first to keep polar bears captive, and the fascination with them has held through the centuries. Ad campaigns all over the world feature polar bears to sell everything from bottled water to transportation systems to soda.

A Coca-Cola ad campaign in the 1990s added "adorable" to the polar bear's image. The ads featured a clumsy, animated cub that bridged the natural wariness between polar bears and penguins to share a nice, cold bottle of Coke. Polar bears don't actually have a natural affinity for penguins, as the two don't live in any of the same regions and never see each other. But still, cute is cute.

Polar bears' shocking whiteness, ferocity and sheer size make them icons of purity and power. Males can grow up to 10 feet tall (3 meters) and weigh up to 1,500 pounds (680 kilograms). A single bear can take on a 2,500-pound walrus, and hang on to the massive catch with 2-inch claws (5 centimeters). They walk hundreds of miles across ice sheets every winter, following their prey.

In the Arctic, polar bears are at the top of the food chain, and it’s not just because of their size. They're so well-adapted to their environment that they experience no change in body temperature at minus 34 degrees Fahrenheit ( minus 37 Celsius). However, the incredible survival mechanisms that let them thrive in frigid winters may prove to be their undoing. Because of global warming, winters are getting less cold and polar bears are dying. Some scientists project that if climate trends continue, 30 percent of the current polar bear population will be wiped out by 2050. What’s life like for an animal that needs such extreme cold to survive? Let's head to the Arctic and see how polar bears live on the ice.

1. What does the underlined word in the first paragraph refer to?

A．A place for fighting.	B．A place for entertainment.
C．A place for eating.	D．A place for jogging.

2. Which of the followings about polar bears is NOT true?

A．They have a close relationship with penguins.

B．They are favored by ad campaigns.

C．They will walk hundreds of miles to follow their prey.

D．They may be dying out due to warm weather.

3. Polar bears are at the top of the food chain in the Arctic mainly because their      .

A．large size	B．adorable image
C．good adaptability	D．shocking whiteness

4. What can be inferred from the fourth paragraph?

A．The current polar bear population will be wiped out by 2050.

B．Polar bears can only live in frigid winters.

C．Warm weather makes no sense to polar bears.

D．Polar bears’ mechanism makes them live in any environment.

9 . Activities to Get You Outdoors While Traveling

Many of us would enjoy getting outside and escaping our day to day with some fresh air while traveling. But where do you start? Try out a few of these activities and you’re sure to find a new outdoor hobby to help you enjoy nature on your next holiday.

Horseback Riding

Many people may shy away from this, excusing lack of experience with horses, but most operators have horses for riders of any experience including none if they meet the physical requirements. Horses can take you greater distances in a shorter time, covering areas that would be difficult or inaccessible otherwise.

Fly-Fishing

For an excuse to stand in a river enjoying the sounds, smells and scenery of some of the most beautiful places, try fly-fishing. Fishing is a perfect activity to enjoy with children, grandparents or whoever. With enough practice, you may even catch a delicious big fish.

Cycling + Mountain Biking

On the path or the road, spending time on a bike allows you to slow down and leisurely take in the scenery around you. Mountain biking can give you the biggest excitement, while road cycling may offer a more peaceful and calming experience. Travel with your bike or rent one at your travelling places, and your possibilities for exploration have already increased.

Rock Climbing

For a more physical and challenging experience outdoors, try your hand at rock climbing. You can get a feel for climbing in a gym, but its real rewards lie in putting those skills to use outside. Many popular travel places have great climbing within a day trip distance.

1. Who can take a horseback ride?

A．Anybody who wants to take a horse ride.

B．Travelers without experience of horse riding.

C．Those who have the basic physical conditions.

D．The explorers who like to travel in dangerous places.

2. Which activity is fittest for all the families?

A．Fly-Fishing.	B．Rock Climbing.
C．Horseback Riding.	D．Cycling + Mountain Biking.

3. What do mountain biking and road cycling have in common?

A．Allowing travelers to fully enjoy the scenery.

B．Slowing down the travel to have an enough rest.

C．Getting the travelers to have the biggest excitement.

D．Offering a more peaceful and comfortable experience.

10 . My name is Matthew. I'm not someone who has many secrets，because I'm a terrible liar. But there is one huge secret that I kept for years- -I failed my driving test. I had never failed a test before, and had never even come close. Driving made me anxious , but my parents told me I had to. They signed me up for driving lessons. I had gotten a perfect score for my written permit exam , but getting behind the wheel was a different story.

But when October 30th rolled around ,my pride set in. I wanted to be like everyone else at my school , showing off the brand new license they'd gotten. Looking back on that special day,I can't remember if I was nervous. What I do remember is starting the test , pausing at a stop sign after a few seconds , and being asked by the instructor to pull over. I had received an auto-fail since my pause was indeed a pause and not a real stop. I wasn't upset that I was leaving without a license, but I was scared everyone would know that I had failed. So when I got to class, I told everyone I didn't want to take the test on my birthday.

One Friday a month later, I went to the test spot again and passed. Later that night I drove for the first time by myself, which brought to me an amazing feeling I've never experienced——but sill, I couldn't imagine ever telling anyone the truth. So I didn't. It wasn't until midway through college that I came clean. It turned out plenty of my college friends had failed too! And I gathered enough courage to speak the fact out. Yes ,I had also failed.

Now I realize failure and imperfection are two things everyone has to experience , without which one couldn't make a true man.

1. What can we learn about Matthew?

A．He was a slow learner of driving.	B．He relied heavily on his parents.
C．He was afraid of taking exams.	D．He was bored with telling lies.

2. Why did the instructor ask Matthew to pull over?

A．To put an end to his lest.	B．To check his parking skills.
C．To give him a second chance,	D．To show him a better way of driving.

3. W hat made Matthew feel extremely worried after his first attempt?

A．Failing to get a driving license.	B．Missing his birthday celebration.
C．Making his parents disappointed.	D．Losing face before his classmates.

4. W hat did Matthew learn from his own experience?

A．Honesty is the best policy.	B．Failure is a way to grow up.
C．Truth stands the test of time.	D．Imperfection is another form of perfection.