1 . When my old dog developed major health problems, I knew that watching him fail would be painful, but I wasn’t prepared for the powerful lessons he’d offer in the last year of his life.
Chance was 14 when the problems started. First, he developed a cancer that left him whistling for breath. Then came cataracts（白内障）in both eyes, arthritis（关节炎）in his legs, and a series of mini-strokes（小中风）that threw off his balance. Any one of these misfortunes would have left me begging for relief, but Chance became calmer as the disabilities piled up.
When leg pain left him frozen on the floor, unable to rise for a quick pat as I came home, he didn’t complain. He just lay there patiently, signaling me with his hammering tail, each movement spelling out the value of waiting for the things you want. When his cataracts made steering impossible after dark, he’d stand calmly until I could guide him inside, proving how easy it is to find happiness if you let go of your pride and insecurities and learn to lean on those who love you. When mini-strokes had him walk unsteadily like a drunk, he taught the value of persistence. For days after each attack, he’d fall as he moved about. Yet again and again he’d try to walk, each day moving a few more steps until finally he was able to get outside and back by himself.
There were lessons in so much of what he did, but the key one surely was the importance of obtaining all the joy possible from each experience whether it’s a day lazing under a warm sun or a few minutes appreciating a favorite meal.
For most of our life together, Chance was always rushing ahead, searching out new adventures, then circling back to let me know what lay around the next turn. As an old dog, he did the same thing, using his attitude, instead of his once - fast legs, to show the way.
1. Chance suffered very much from all the diseases he had except for _______.| A．having problem with breath | B．walking around awkwardly |
| C．having trouble drinking | D．losing his eyesight in darkness |
| A．Living in the present and enjoying what we have |
| B．Learning to depend on those who we love and trust |
| C．That we should expect good things to happen patiently |
| D．That we should persevere in what we believe is worth trying |
| A．people might suffer from different diseases when they grow old |
| B．people could face aging with courage and dignity |
| C．pets would become calmer for lack of energy in their last days |
| D．pets and masters should stick together helping each other in difficulty |
| A．Bitter. | B．Appreciative. |
| C．Proud. | D．Sympathetic. |
2 . I wanted to be a journalist. But my parents reminded me that math makes money, so off to engineering school I went In my post-university young-adult life, I've managed to become ^traditionally successful." As a female engineer, I worked for a big oil company and owned a home. My life was laid out in front of me. and I didn't like what I saw.
So, I did what any respectable 24-year-old would do and left my life behind. I said goodbye to my boyfriend and pulled out my suitcase. I threw myself alone into the world with the grace and beauty of a baby deer taking its first steps with skateboards under its feet. I bloodied my knees mountain biking through the red rocks of Utah. I spent four days struggling through Yellowstone with 50 pounds on my back. Two Peruvian women along my Andean journey taught me how to roast coffee and helped me practice Spanish. It wasn't Vienna's cultural museums; it was a sunny piece of grass beside the Danube river with someone from my hostel （青年旅社） who quickly became a friend. It wasn't Yellowstone's Old Faithful geyser （间歇喷泉）launching into the air; it was charging through Montana's ordinary landscape playing music so loud that the car windows shook. The truth is, I didn't actually need to be abroad to have almost any of my favorite experiences. They were just small everyday moments that happened to happen abroad, leading me to realize that the true value of my flight tickets were not the landmarks, but rather becoming an active participant in my own life.
I now spend less time online shopping and more time lying alone on the floor listening to an album cover — to — cover. I ask my friends how they're doing. Sometimes I surprise them with flowers to see them smile. I tell everyone to have a good day.
1. What can we learn, about the author from Paragraph 1 ?| A．She found her work challenging. |
| B．She was dissatisfied with her life. |
| C．She preferred math to journalism. |
| D．She dared not talk back to her parents, |
| A．To prove the importance of travel. |
| B．To express her joy with new friends. |
| C．To show what she learned from the travelling. |
| D．To introduce the landmarks she was interested in, |
| A．She has become more independent. |
| B．She begins to enjoy her daily life more. |
| C．She begins to value her family's opinion. |
| D．She has become more interested in foreign cultures. |
| A．We shouldn't think life is better elsewhere. |
| B．Interest is the best teacher in choosing jobs. |
| C．Travel is the best way to spend your holidays. |
| D．The importance of travel |
3 . From driving to landing on moon, more and more human tasks are being taken over by artificial intelligence(AI-人工智能). It will make everyday tasks easier and bring benefits to different industries.
And yet, like any other technology, AI will also bring risks and dangers. When people mention that AI could be dangerous, they think of the situation in films where an AI program decides to kill or enslave all humans. While this possibility is unlikely for now, there are many other dangers that AI could bring to mankind.
In February 2018, a group of AI experts got together to discuss the possible misuse of AI. What they found was that “Every AI advance by the good guys is an advance for the bad guys, too”. Their main worry was that criminals could use AI for many bad purposes, including using AI to create websites that could steal people’s personal information. Another possible risk was faster hacking(黑客)—AI programs could be taught to find weaknesses in software and break into computer systems. Some other risks were as dramatic as the ones we see in books and movies. For example, long-distant attacks could be made easier through the use of AI. And, finally, there were some worries on imitating voices as well. It is possible that AI could be used to make false photos and videos. In china, tech giant Baidu has developed a program called Deep Voice that can “clone” anyone’s voice by studying a 3.7-second audio sample (声音样本).
Many people in the tech world have expressed worry about AI. People like US businessmen Bill Gates and Elon Musk have called for the industry to be more strictly controlled, as there are few laws currently governing the use of AI. Famous British Physicist Stephen Hawking even thought AI could finally cause the end of mankind. “Once humans develop artificial intelligence, it will take off and redesign itself at an alarming rate. Humans…couldn’t compete and would be replaced.”
1. What cannot possibly be done by AI right now?| A．Driving cars. | B．Landing on moon. |
| C．Playing games. | D．Ruling all humans. |
| A．Every coin has two sides. | B．Prevention is better than cure. |
| C．Risk nothing, gain nothing. | D．One’s meat is another’s poison. |
| A．One. | B．Two. |
| C．Three. | D．Four. |
| A．To show Hawking’s perfect prediction. |
| B．To strengthen the high position of Hawking. |
| C．To help readers understand the serious situation. |
| D．To introduce the famous scientist--Stephen Hawking. |
| A．Risks and dangers of AI. | B．Guidance of AI usage. |
| C．Advantages and disadvantages of AI. | D．Development of AI industry. |
Too much TV-watching can harm children’s ability to learn and even reduce their chances of getting a college degree, new studies suggest in the latest effort to examine the effects of television on children.
One of the studies looked at nearly 400 northern California third-graders. Those with TVs in their bedrooms scored about eight points lower on math and language arts tests than children without bedrooms TVs.
A second study, looking at nearly 1,000 grown-ups in New Zealand, found lower education levels among 26-year-olds who had watched lots of TV during childhood. But the results don’t prove that TV is the cause and don’t rule out that already poorly motivated youngsters(年轻人) may watch lots of TV.
Their study measured the TV habits of 26-year-olds between ages 5 and 15. Those with college degrees had watched an average of less than two hours of TV per weeknight during childhood, compared with an average of more than 2.5 hours for those who had no education beyond high school.
In the California study, children with TVs in their rooms but no computer at home scored the lowest, while those with no bedroom TV but who had home computers scored the highest.
While this study does not prove that bedroom TV sets caused the lower scores, it adds to accumulating findings that children shouldn’t have TVs in their bedrooms.
1. According to the California study, the low-scoring group might ________.| A．have watched a lot of TV | B．not be interested in math |
| C．be unable to go to college | D．have had computers in their bedrooms |
| A．Poorly motivated 26-year-olds watch more TV. |
| B．Habits of TV watching reduce learning interest. |
| C．TV watching leads to lower education levels of the 15-year-olds. |
| D．The connection between TV and education levels is difficult to explain. |
| A．More time should be spent on computers. |
| B．Children should be forbidden from watching TV. |
| C．TV sets shouldn’t be allowed in children’s bedrooms. |
| D．Further studies on high-achieving students should be done. |
| A．Computers or Television |
| B．Effects of Television on Children |
| C．Studies on TV and College Education |
| D．Television and Children’s Learning Habits |
5 . Summer is the most popular season to visit Texas since there is so much to see and to do. While visiting the Lone Star State this summer, don’t miss visiting some of these attractions and taking part in some of Texas’ best summer vacation activities.
Visit SeaWorld
There are sea life shows，adventure camps，thrilling rides and a water park. A great many activities are waiting for you at SeaWorld.
Windsurf at South Padre
With miles of shallow (浅的)，calm water in the Lower Laguna Madre and strong winds conning off the Gulf of Mexico，South Padre Island is a windsurfer’s dream.
Swim at Barton Springs
Barton Springs is in the famous Zilker Park. It was formed when Barton Greek was built. Since its opening, Barton Springs has become one of the most popular swimming pools in the state.
Take part in an outdoor adventure
In the scenic Texas Hill Country, Lake Buchanan Adventures offers different kinds of activities, including boating, hiking, camping and more.
Camp and hike in Big Bend Park
Big Bend offers a great number of outdoor activities in an old way. Backpacking, mountain biking, fishing, boating, hiking, nature watching and camping - you name it. If it can be done outdoors, it can be done in Big Bend.
Enjoy saltwater fishing
Saltwater fishing in Texas is as good as anywhere else in the USA. More and more fishermen have been discovering this in recent years and packing their bags and rods (鱼竿)to make good use of Texas, world - class saltwater fishery.
1. The underlined phrase “the Lone Star State” in Paragraph 1 is another name for .| A．Texas | B．San Antonio | C．South Padre | D．Gulf of Mexico |
| A．sea life shows | B．adventure camps |
| C．climbing | D．exciting rides |
| A．San Antonio. | B．South Padre. |
| C．Barton Springs. | D．Texas Hill Country. |
6 . One day I was walking around in a national park when I saw a beautiful tarantula (狼蛛) crossing a path. I just stopped and decided to observe its walking.
Behind me there was a family going up the same way and they also noticed the tarantula. Without doubting it, a kid shouted, ''Quick, Dad, kill it. '' His brother also encouraged their dad to do that.
Then I stopped their dad. ''Wait. This is the last place the tarantula has to live in. Do you really want to kill it? ''
''Well, it's dangerous and we have kids here…''
''Why not stand still and let it cross safely? Then you can go and admire the rest of the park. ''
After some discussions I persuaded them to stand still and watch. Soon, the tarantula crossed and hid into the bushes.
Their dad thanked me and said, ''You're right. I was about to make a mistake. '' The children even said good bye to the tarantula and they learned something too.
1. What did the family want to do on seeing the tarantula?| A．To watch it. | B．To kill it. |
| C．To stand by. | D．To hide away. |
| A．Dangerous. | B．Interesting. |
| C．Powerful. | D．Beautiful. |
| A．To stop it quickly. | B．To greet it politely. |
| C．To let it cross safely. | D．To drive it into the bushes. |
| A．Stay calm in time of danger. |
| B．Enjoy the beauty of nature. |
| C．Stay away from animals. |
| D．Treat the wildlife kindly. |
7 . Washing windows on a skyscraper is a dirty job. Hanging off the side of a building can also be dangerous, notes Oliver Nicholls, 19. So this 12th-grader invented a robot to handle the job.
Some recent incidents inspired his project. In one, a couple of high-rise window washers were standing on a platform that fell down. No one died, but the pair was seriously injured. Oliver also witnessed someone fall and break his leg while cleaning a glass awning (雨篷) over the entrance to a building.
The new robot is about the size of a medium-sized picnic cooler and weighs 12 to15 kilograms. It's designed to hang off the side of a building from ropes, just as current window－washing platforms do. A hose（软管）carries water to the robot. A cable (电缆) delivers it electric power. The computer controls the robot up-and-down movements by adjusting the ropes from which the robot hangs. When the robot needs to move from one window to another, a set of propellers（螺旋桨） starts to work. They push the robot a short distance away from the building, while the ropes slide along a railing（栏杆）to carry the robot over to the next window. Then, as a different set of propellers holds the robot tight against the window, the cleaning cycle repeats. Oliver tested his robot by cleaning sample windows he'd built in his backyard. The robot’s propellers can hold the robot against a building even in winds as high as 45 kilometers per hour, the teen reports. He performed those tests using his family’s leaf blower.
Besides limiting the chance of injury, this window-washing robot could save building owners a bit of money. If commercialized, Oliver estimates it would cost about ＄11,000. That's about the same cost as hiring a crew to clean a 7-story building. So Oliver suspects his robot might be able to pay for itself after cleaning just one such building.
1. What encouraged Oliver to develop his project?| A．His interest in housework. | B．The accidents he experienced. |
| C．The high costs of washing windows | D．Risks facing high-rise window washers. |
| A．It carries water itself. | B．It is supported by a platform. |
| C．It hangs from ropes while working. | D．It can produce power while working. |
| A．To record its working speed | B．To see its wind-resistance ability |
| C．To test whether it could remove the windows | D．To know if it needed a different set of propellers |
| A．It is costly but time-saving. | B．It still has many limitations. |
| C．It has huge commercial potential | D．It has become a favorite of building owners |
8 . Taj Mahal (泰姬陵), one of the Seven Wonders of the World, was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. Exploring the beauty of this cultural relic along with the first rays of the sunlight, you’ll find yourself in a fantastic view. People have described the entire relic as a polished (抛光的) jewel in the morning sunshine.
Here is a route for you to enjoy the beautiful relic. The lowest price guarantee (保证) is $29.00.
Stop at: The hotel in New Delhi
Pick up from the hotel in New Delhi at 3:30 am and drive to Agra.
Duration (时长): 4 hours
Stop at: Taj Mahal
Note: Taj Mahal remains closed on Friday.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop at: Agra Fort
After visiting Taj Mahal, go on to visit Agra Fort, which was built in 1565 A. D. by Great Mughal Emperor Akbar.
Duration: 1.5 hours
Stop at: Mughal Spicy Restaurant
After the end of Agra fort, move towards Mughal Spicy Restaurant to have lunch. It provide you with delicious food of this city.
Duration: 1 hour
After the trip, our assistant will drive you back towards Delhi.
For more information, you can visit our website www. viator. com.
1. Taji Mahal is closed on ________.| A．Friday | B．Thursday |
| C．Wednesday | D．Monday |
| A．4 hours. | B．1.5 hours. |
| C．2 hours. | D．1 hour. |
| A．A geography textbook. |
| B．A historical report. |
| C．A travel website. |
| D．A design magazine. |
9 . Exercise helps to keep us in good health. Doctors at the American Heart Association suggest getting at least 150 minutes of proper physical activity every week. Many people exercise for a few minutes every day or every other day. So, getting 150 minutes every week is easy.
But what about those times when you are sick? If you do not feel well, should you keep following your exercise habit? Health experts answer these and other questions.
Edward R. Laskowski is a doctor at the Mayo Clinic. He and other experts have a general rule of yes about exercising when you are sick. It is usually fine to exercise, he explains, if your symptoms （症状）are all “above the neck". These signs may include a runny nose, a blocked nose, sneezing or a minor sore throat.
Geralyn Coopersmith is a physical fitness trainer who has written several books on exercise and nutrition. Both Coopersmith and Dr. Laskowski suggest taking a break from exercising if signs of your illness appear "below the neck". Pay special attention to symptoms such as chest congestion, extreme cough or pain in the stomach.
There are other symptoms that can tell you to avoid exercise. They include: a higher than normal body temperature, a sense of feeling extremely tired, and widespread muscle pain.
Both Coopersmith and Dr. Laskowski suggest listening to your body. If you feel really bad, take a break and let your body rest. If you don't feel too bad, these experts both suggest reducing the amount of exercise. For example, if you usually run, take a quick walk instead.
1. How long should people do exercise to keep healthy?| A．About 150 minutes per day. | B．Around 100 minutes per day. |
| C．At least 150 minutes per week. | D．No more than 100 minutes per week. |
| A．When your left leg is broken. | B．When you have a runny noses. |
| C．When you have a blocked nose. | D．When you have a minor sore throat. |
| A．Be careful with your cars. | B．Learn to take advice of others. |
| C．Pay attention to body signals. | D．Listen to music to keep healthy. |
| A．Practice makes perfect. | B．Nothing seek, nothing find. |
| C．Put your heart into exercise. | D．Act according to your abilities. |
10 . Sports can help you keep fit and get in touch with nature. However, whether you are on the mountains, in the waves, or on the grassland, you should be aware that your choice of sport might have great influence on the environment.
Some sports are resource-hungry. Golf, as you may know, eats up not only large areas of countryside, but also tons of water. Besides, all sorts of chemicals and huge amounts of energy are used to keep its courses(高尔夫球场) in good condition. This causes major environmental effects. For example, in the dry regions of Portugal and Spain, golf is often held responsible for serious water shortages in some local areas.
In fact, there are many environment friendly sports. Power walking is one of them that you could take up today. You don't need any special equipment except a pair of good shoes; and you don't have to worry about resources and your purse. Simple and free, power walking can also keep you fit. If you walk can regularly, it will be good for your heart and bones. Experts say that 20 minutes of power walking daily can make you feel less anxious, sleep well and control your weight better.
Whatever sport you take up, you can make it greener by using environment friendly equipment and buying products made from recycled materials. But the final goal should be "green gyms". They are better replacements(代替物) for traditional health clubs and modern sports centers. Members of green gyms play sports outdoors, in the countryside or other open spaces. There is no special requirement for you to start your membership. And best of all, it's free.
1. What do we know about golf from the passage?| A．It is popular in Portugal and Spain. |
| B．It needs water and energy to keep its courses green |
| C．It pollutes the earth with chemicals and waste. |
| D．It causes water shortages around the world. |
| A．it uses fewer resources |
| B．it improves our health |
| C．it is an outdoor sport |
| D．it is recommended by experts |
| A．Playing basketball in a gym. |
| B．Motor racing in the desert. |
| C．Cycling around a lake. |
| D．Swimming in a sports center. |
| A．To show us the function of major sports. |
| B．To encourage us to go in for green sports. |
| C．To discuss the major influence of popular sports. |
| D．To introduce different types of environment friendly spors. |
