1 . We moved to Elmont in 1956. I was 4 years old. Elmont was a wonderful place to grow up. There were lots of kids，great schools and we had a big yard. Having grown up a city kid, my father, Nicholas Denaro, believed that grass was not just to look at, but that children were meant to play on it. We played games and badminton there. A white fence separated our backyard from a small wood. My friends and I jumped the fence and climbed trees.
My father had the most amazing hands. He could fix anything. He gave those amazing hands to his son, my younger brother, Frank, who also became handy around the house. But my father saved his green fingers for me. He grew flowers, tomatoes, strawberries and figs and he shared his love of gardening with me.
Fourteen years ago, I went to a local nursery and purchased a fig tree for Dad for Father’s Day. My mother, Bridget Denaro, called it the best gift I could have given him. He planted it exactly in the middle of the front yard.
He loved that tree and enjoyed delicious figs every year, except just after Sandy hit in 2012. He was so disappointed when cold weather just after the superstorm froze all the remaining figs.
In 2015，my father died of aspirating pneumonia (呼吸性肺炎) at 97. We sold our family home of 61years last year. We left behind Dad's tree, full of figs waiting to ripen. We briefly-considered taking it with us, but decided that his Father's Day fig tree belonged in Elmont. The new owners generously allowed me to take some branches so that I could have a precious reminder of my much-loved father and the Elmont home.
1. What can we learn about the author from the first paragraph?| A．She grew up in a city. | B．She only liked climbing trees. |
| C．She had a happy childhood. | D．She was naughty and stubborn. |
| A．How to garden well. | B．How to play games. |
| C．How to color fingers. | D．How to fix everything. |
| A．He was ill in hospital. | B．The cold hit the fig tree. |
| C．The tree didn’t bear figs. | D．He moved to another city. |
| A．To show her love of figs. | B．To share her childhood. |
| C．To remember her father. | D．To introduce her experience. |
2 . For several months, Cara has been working up the courage to ask her mother about what she saw on the Internet. Not long ago, the 11-year-old found out that her mother had been posting her photos in her blog, without her agreement, for much of her life. "There are pictures I don't like of myself. It would be an embarrassment(令人尴尬的事)if my friends see those photos online," she said. "Now I'm even worried anytime someone has a phone out around me. I'm afraid that my photos could be taken and posted somewhere."
Not all kids feel the same when finding out they've been living a life online. Some are happy. In the fourth grade, Nate searched his name and found that he was in a news report about his making a beautiful kite in his third-grade class. He was really happy with that and he decided to search online every few months, hoping to find other things about himself online.
"I was surprised, really surprised," he said. "It made me feel famous."
He even kept saying, "Oh, I'm in a news report online." Although his friends knew that, many of his friends refused to stay close to him.
Like most other kids, Cara and Nate grew up in a society rich with social media. While many kids may not yet have accounts(账户)themselves, their parents, schools, sports teams, and organizations have been building an online presence for them since their birth. According to a study from the Levin College of Law at the University of Florida, 92 percent of kids under the age of 2 already have their own life online.
"The blog posts are sure to follow the children into adulthood," says the study. "Therefore, we have to be careful about putting the children's personal information online."
1. Why does Cara want to stop her mother putting her pictures online?| A．She is not a very pretty girl. | B．Her friends keep laughing at her. |
| C．She does not like being photographed. | D．Some of the pictures are embarrassing. |
| A．They felt really happy for him. | B．Many of them stayed away from him. |
| C．Many of them did not believe him. | D．They also opened their own accounts. |
| A．parents should keep their kids away from the Internet |
| B．pictures should not be put online without kids' agreement |
| C．kids should not tell their stories of success to their friends |
| D．putting kids' information online might lead to some problems |
| A．By giving examples. | B．By reasoning. |
| C．By following time order. | D．By comparing. |
3 . A simple mosquito bite can mean serious illness or death. So we spray large areas with chemicals to wipe out mosquitoes. But this has a bad influence on the whole ecosystem and your health. Now there’s a new device (装置), which claims to keep you and your loved ones mosquitofree：
What are we talking about?
Mosquitron, a brand new type of bug (虫子) catcher, designed by two German engineers, is perfect for clearing your home of all annoying and dangerous flying pests!
How does it work?
◆It is easy to set up; plug it in — and away you go!
◆It lures (引诱) the flying pests near using a safe, completely harmless UV light.
◆A reverse fan sucks the insects through a oneway trapdoor.
◆Once trapped in the drying basket, they are dried to death by the fan within 2 minutes.
◆You can simply empty the dead bugs into the trash, without even touching them.
◆No need for batteries or any chemicals.
How much does it cost?
It’s now ＄179.99. It may seem expensive at first, but when you consider most devices need regular, expensive refills and don’t work for more than 10 minutes, this is a pretty good deal. In fact, competitor products using the same UV technology are priced at over ＄250! Now you can buy it from the supplier’s website with 50% off and with free shipping for a limited time by clicking here. Note: The device can only be returned or exchanged if it arrives damaged, and you must pay in advance.
1. What is the characteristic of a Mosquitron?| A．It is easily recharged. |
| B．It is batterypowered. |
| C．It is almost silent when operating. |
| D．It kills mosquitoes with UV light. |
| A．A high discount. | B．A cheap delivery. |
| C．Return without reasons. | D．Cash on delivery. |
| A．A review. | B．An advertisement. |
| C．An instruction. | D．A report. |
4 . A first-year undergraduate student in Chengdu, recently complained online that her mother refused to raise her monthly allowance to 4, 500 yuan （ $ 633） even when she said her current allowance 2,000 yuan was not enough to cover her expenses, sparking a debate on how much money a college student needs per month. One expert shares his views on the issue with China Daily: Students should pursue education, not comfort.
Even for a college student studying in a first -tier city in China, 2, 000 yuan is enough to cover all his or her monthly expenses. In fact, for a college student in Chengdu a monthly allowance of 2, 000 yuan is more than enough. According to a survey conducted by a bookkeeping platform, the average monthly expense for an undergraduate in cities other than Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou was less than 2, 000 yuan in 2019; for Chengdu, it was 1, 900 yuan.
Claiming that she can hardly afford new clothing and cosmetics with her 2, 000 yuan monthly allowance, the undergraduate student in Chengdu criticized her mother for refusing to raise her pocket money. Her “meager” allowance, she said, prevented her from buying branded goods that her hostel-mates enjoyed.
By the time a person enters a college, she or he should have developed a healthy consumption habit. And a youth should adjust her or his consumption according to her or his family income. On a deeper level, the money they spend in college should depend on how much they value their parents’ hard work. Besides, some college students could take up part-time jobs to meet their monetary needs if they feel their parents don't or can’t send them enough money. In this way they can also learn to meet the requirements of life in the future and develop healthy consumption ion habits. More importantly, they should always bear in mind that education is their top priority in college.
1. What's the expert' s attitude to the issue about the undergraduate student?| A．supportive. | B．neutral. | C．He was critical. | D．He was unconcerned. |
| A．less than 2, 000 yuan | B．633 dollars | C．more than 2, 000 | D．1, 900 yuan |
| A．Empty. | B．Fruitful. | C．Mean. | D．Pitiful. |
| A．College students should keep their expenses in line with their family conditions. |
| B．College students should deal with their living expenses problems reasonably. |
| C．College students consumption level is determined by their parents. |
| D．College students should take up a part-time job to cover their expenses. |
5 . Amazing Kids’ Magazine is proud to announce that we will be hosting a Wild Jungle Writing Contest this fall! Send us your best jungle-themed stories using this starter: “I had no idea why they were standing there.”
This contest is open to grades K-12, with three groups of K-3, 4-8, and 9-12. Three winners from each age group will be chosen to win Amazing Kids’ prizes, along with an official certificate confirm their winning entry. All participants will receive a certificate of participation in the contest.
Submit (提交) all entries by September 30 to be considered! Email editor@amazing-kids.org for more questions about rules and specifications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How should I format my entry?
A: Stories should be written in English, with submissions of less than 1,200 words. Please submit your entry as a Microsoft Word document.
Q: How do I submit my entry?
A: E-mail your submission to editor@amazing-kids.org. Each e-mail submission will receive a return message confirming that the essay was received.
Q: Is there just one prize?
A: No. Nine separate prizes will be given out, with a cash value of $20 for first place, $15 for second place, and $10 for third place in each age group. Certificates of participation will also be awarded to each participant in the contest.
1. Which of the following stories suits the contest most?| A．A couple lost their way in the forest. |
| B．Two brothers met a bear while searching the forest. |
| C．A teenager caught a thief in a cave. |
| D．A soldier saved a drowning boy. |
| A．a cash value of $15 | B．a thank-you letter |
| C．a prize and a certificate | D．only an official certificate |
| A．Announcement. | B．Summary. |
| C．News. | D．Guide. |
6 . If you were bringing friends home to visit, you could show them the way. You know the landmarks — a big red house or a bus-stop sign. But what if you were swimming in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean? Could you still find your way home？A loggerhead turtle（海龟）could.
According to Dr. Ken Lohmann, loggerheads have a magnetic（磁力的）sense based on Earth's magnetic field. It helps them locate the best spots for finding food and their home beaches.
Scientists already know that several other animals, such as whales and honeybees, can detect（探测到）magnetic fields. The difference between them and loggerheads, however, is the way they learn to use their magnetic sense. Young whales and honeybees can learn from adults. Loggerheads are abandoned as eggs.
As newborn loggerheads have no adults to learn from, what helps them figure out how to use their magnetic sense? Lohmann thinks one of the cues was light on the sea.
Baby loggerheads hatch only at night. However, a small amount of light reflects off the ocean. The light makes that region brighter. Heading toward the light helps them get quickly out to sea, where they can find food. Lohmann tested whether newborn loggerheads use this light source to set their magnetic “compasses”（罗盘）. He and his team put some newborns in a water tank and recorded which way they swam. Around the tank, the scientists created a magnetic field that matched the Earth’s. They set a weak light to the east of the magnetic field. Then they let the newborns go.
At first, the newborns swam toward the light. After the scientists turned off the light, the turtles that had seen the light in the east always swam toward east. When the researchers reversed（颠倒）the magnetic field, these turtles turned around and swam toward the new "east".
This and the follow-up experiments all showed that loggerheads use light from the outside world to set their magnetic "compasses" and then remember the "correct" direction. If a turtle hatches on a brightly-lit beach, that would damage its magnetic sense forever and make survival hard for the turtle.
Lohmann's work has led others to protect the habitat of this endangered species. Yet many questions about these creatures remain unanswered, and researchers have a lot to study.
1. Loggerheads and whales differ in the way they______.| A．detect magnetic fields | B．recognize landmarks |
| C．learn to find directions | D．bring up their young |
| A．the light | B．other unknown factors |
| C．the magnetic field | D．the light and the magnetic field |
| A．It enables researchers to keep track of turtles. |
| B．It contributes to the studies of the magnetic field. |
| C．It helps protect the loggerheads' living environment. |
| D．It offers a new solution to environmental pollution. |
| A．Comparison of Loggerheads and Other Animals |
| B．Experiments on Loggerheads |
| C．The Survival of the Sea Turtle |
| D．The Loggerhead's Built-in "Compass" |
7 . Late last year, I needed to transport some furniture from our house to my son’s flat in central London. I should have paid a man to do it, but foolishly confident in my driving ability, I decided to hire a lorry and drive it myself.
Moving the lorry backward in my yard, I crashed into a small shed, causing permanent damage. Fortunately, I owned the shed. I loaded up with the furniture and set out. By now it was rush hour. My nerves broke down, as I drove the huge lorry through the streets nervously.
At last I arrived at Charlotte Street and found an available parking space. I moved the lorry into it only to notice three people at a pavement cafe waving to me. I got out, trembling violently, like one who had just finished a stormy Atlantic crossing. “You’ve hit the car parked behind you,” they said. I examined the car. There were white scratches on its front face. It bore a disabled sign. So, now I was a bad driver and a bad man. Under the severe look of the three, I left an apologetic note on the damaged car’s windscreen, giving my phone number.
I unloaded the furniture, dripping the sweat, wanting only to escape from the monster. I drove it back to its base at Edgware. On arrival, the boss told me I must fill it up with petrol before returning it. “Just charge me,” I cried, still shaking with fear. He stared at me with understanding. No doubt he’d witnessed others in this state before. “How about I drive you to a petrol station, you fill up, and I drive it back?” he asked.
He danced the great lorry through the traffic so carefully that it would have shamed me if I had not been so grateful.
1. The man felt ______ to have delivered the furniture himself.| A．grateful | B．regretful |
| C．proud | D．confident |
| A．he caused a terrible traffic accident |
| B．driving the lorry was too difficult for him |
| C．he was afraid to see the three people |
| D．the furniture was too heavy for him |
| A．he made the traffic accident on purpose |
| B．he parked the big lorry on the pavement |
| C．he shouldn’t have driven the lorry himself |
| D．he shouldn’t have caused trouble for the disabled |
| A．it was exciting to drive a lorry | B．it was hard to avoid accidents |
| C．being too confident is foolish | D．the boss was expert in driving |
8 . Chinese tourists prefer hotels and restaurants that offer free Wi-Fi when traveling abroad. Most Chinese tourists instantly update their social networks using their mobile phones. They send photos and short videos to friends and family when traveling abroad.
About 10 percent of outbound (出境的) Chinese tourists get expensive marring charges (漫游费) by using 4G-powered smart phones. About 90 percent of Chinese travelers consider free Wi-Fi indispensable when traveling abroad. They often use phone apps to create travel routes and book hotels, which requires large data flows that can be expensive without Wi-Fi.
But free Wi-Fi is not always available, even in regions with advanced telecommunications, such as the United States and Europe. Portable Wi-Fi costs 15~50 yuan a day, depending on the country. It’s cheaper in South Korea, Japan and Thailand. The Wi-Fi services increase rapidly thanks to reasonable pricing and smooth surfing.
More than 100 million Chinese went abroad last year, and the10 percent who used Wi-Fi services spent an average of 150 yuan, and it’s expected to grow largely. But the travel agencies business may become out of date in five to eight years, because more locations are offering free Wi-Fi. In the meantime, it is reported that more for-profit models should be introduced and offer more services for outbound travelers in the future.
1. Why do Chinese travelers prefer hotels and restaurants with free Wi-Fi when traveling abroad?| A．They want to have their phones updated. |
| B．They are fond of using phone apps to create their travel routes. |
| C．They prefer to experience the Wi-Fi service in different countries. |
| D．They'd like to share what they have seen with their friends and-family. |
| A．Necessary. | B．Useless. | C．Expensive. | D．Amazing. |
| A．Travel websites will stop offering free Wi-Fi services to travelers. |
| B．Travel website Tuniu intended to compete with Ctrip and launched its Wi-Fi phone service. |
| C．The Wi-Fi costs less when traveling in some Asian countries than in European countries. |
| D．The demand for Wi-Fi transmitters is growing in pace with 4G-smart phones. |
| A．It will be useless when for-profit models are introduced. |
| B．It will be used by more than 100 million Chinese next year. |
| C．It will grow in the future but will be outdated in a couple of years. |
| D．It will offer more non-profit services for outbound travelers. |
9 . When on vacation, what do you look for in a hotel? Maybe you want a comfortable bed, luxurious facilities or a convenient location. However, if you want something out of the ordinary and wish to go beyond the ordinary,these spectacular hotels offer a stay you won't soon forget!
Hippo Point
For those who prefer an overnight stay with some four-footed-or two-winged-guests, Hippo Point in Kenya offers unique housings on the East African plains. The nine-storey tower on a private estate and wildlife sanctuary rate as one of the top 10 resorts in the world. Guests enjoy incredible views of Olodian Bay while observing the densest population of hippos in Africa. More than 520 species of birds flock around the lake, their calls echoing in the air. After a restful night's sleep, you'll find a delicious breakfast waiting on an outside patio.
The Poseidon Undersea Resort
Nestled in a Fijian lagoon, the Poseidon Undersea Resort boasts the world's first seafloor suite 12 meters below the surface of the ocean. By day, people enjoy golf, tennis and water sports or learn to pilot a three-passenger Triton submarine to explore the pristine(原始的)ocean depths.
1. The first paragraph talks about_______.| A．comment | B．argument | C．background | D．explanation |
| A．can’t sleep well for the calls of birds |
| B．can climb a nine-story tower too bserve hippos |
| C．can walk around the lake to catch birds |
| D．can enjoy the beauty of Olodian Bay |
| A．the Poseidon Undersea Resort | B．Hippo Point |
| C．the Magic Mountain Hotel | D．Sala Silver mine |
10 . After the examination, the doctor told my parents my sight (视力) would get worse and that I would lose my sight finally. On the way home from hospital, no one said a word. One day, would I only imagine the scenery（景色）beyond the glass rather than see it?
That September, I entered middle school. Most nights I had homework that included a pile of books to read. To keep up with other children, I took great trouble to finish the task. With my nose a couple of inches from the page, I was tired easily.
However, then I did not have audio books and electronic devices (设备) like kids do now. Instead, Mom volunteered to read out loud. Mom worked part-time, cleaned the house, cooked and spent time with Grandma. In spite of being so busy, she showed up in my room like clockwork. She put on her reading glasses. Mom always thought those glasses made her look old. To me, she looked like a teacher.
In my room, Mom's voice competed with the ticking of the clock. Being forced to focus on (集中) listening, I found a way to keep my marks up and compete with the other kids. When the teacher asked a question, I raised my hand with confidence. Teachers praised me for having a good memory. Reading removed (消除) my fear for my failing sight, reading also made me curious about other people's challenges and how they managed. Though I could not use my eyes to fix on each passage, my mind lit up with every new book.
True to what the doctor said, the worst came, but thanks to Mom, my sense of hearing now allows me to “see”. This was the most precious（珍贵的）gift from a mother to her child.
1. The author and his parents keep silent on their way home from hospital because_________.| A．what the doctor said was worrying |
| B．the author failed in the exam |
| C．they were tired |
| D．they focused on the scenery along the road |
| A．being confident |
| B．getting help from his teacher |
| C．listening attentively |
| D．competing with his classmates |
| A．The author's eyes recovered finally. |
| B．Reading helped the author a lot. |
| C．The author's mother quitted her job to look after him. |
| D．Reading made the author more sensitive. |
| A．My eyesight trouble |
| B．An unforgettable experience |
| C．My good hearing |
| D．A precious gift from mother |
