1 . Opera is an art form that celebrates the human voice. No other art form creates excitement and moves the heart in the way that opera does, especially when performed by a great singer. Opera is an important part of the Western classical music tradition. It uses music, words, and actions to bring a dramatic story to life. Opera started in Italy at the end of the 16th century and later became popular throughout Europe. Over the years, it has responded to various musicals. In recent decades, much wider audiences have been introduced to opera through modern recording technology. Some singers have become celebrities thanks to performing on radio, on TV, and in the cinema.

However, in recent years, opera has been facing serious challenges. One current challenge to opera is economic. The shortage of money raises the broader question of how much should be paid to support opera singers and other artists. Society seems to accept the large salaries paid to business managers and the multi-million-dollar contracts given to sports athletes. But what about opera singers? Somehow, people have the idea that artists can be creative only if they suffer in poverty, but this is unrealistic. If artists, including opera singers, lack the support they need, valuable talent is wasted.

Not only the shortage of money, but also the way money is managed in the opera world has led to hardships. Principal (主要的)singers are generally paid performance fees once they complete a show. They typically receive nothing during the many weeks of rehearsal (排练) before a show starts.

Another problem faced by opera is how to meet the demands of audiences who are influenced by popular entertainment. Pop singers are often judged as much on the basis of how they look as how they sound. These demands may be unrealistic and possibly harmful. Opera singers simply cannot make a sound big enough to fill a large theater or concert hall without a microphone if their body weight is too low. Emphasizing physical appearance over singing ability may cause audiences to miss out on the human voice at its best.

There are no easy solutions to opera's problems and there are many different opinions about the value of opera. However, every year many young people register for music courses with hopes and dreams of developing their talents in this special art form. The fact that opera has survived many obstacles and continues to attract the rising generation shows that it remains a respected art form full of value.

1. Which of the statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A．Opera singers' life stories are dramatic.

B．Opera will soon appear on TV and in films

C．Opera fans thank celebrities for performing.

D．Opera develops by adapting to new conditions.

2. What can we know from Paragraphs 2 and 3?

A．Opera singers are financially insecure.

B．Opera singers waste their valuable talent.

C．Opera singers get paid before the show.

D．Opera singers perform better if they are poor.

3. What does the author try to say in Paragraph 4?

A．Popular culture has had a positive influence on opera.

B．Audiences know best how opera should be performed.

C．Microphones should be used to make opera more enjoyable.

D．Opera singers' voices should be valued more than their looks.

4. What would be the best title for this passage?

A．The Economic Challenge to Opera	B．Opera Faced with the Difficulties
C．Opera as Part of Popular Culture	D．The Historical Context of Opera

2 . At 5:30 am, carer（护工）Ivy Bowen's clock wakes her up. She puts on her uniform, and then walks to a bus stop to the hospital where she works. Two hours and two buses later, the 68-year-old arrives at 8:00 am, half an hour before her shift（轮班）.

For Tracey Griffiths and her son Carl, this half an hour has been life-changing. Because for nearly two years, Ivy has spent that time bringing Carl cups of tea and chatting. Thanks to these chats, as well as Ivy's devotion and caring skills, Carl has begun speaking again after four years of silence.

Four years ago, a serious accident left Carl unable to move and talk. When he did finally speak, one of his first words, unsurprisingly, was "Ivy". "Ivy is there and it makes a huge difference. Thanks to her, Carl's speech is coming on by leaps and bounds," says Tracey.

Ivy should have retired（退休）two years ago but she is still there, because she wants to be, and so do the hospital's managers and her grateful patients. Ivy is now in charge of 25 patients at the hospital. She makes tea and coffee for families as well as patients, and makes sure that everyone in her care gets enough fresh water. She also helps with feeding, giving creams or anything else that might need doing.

Ivy's great wish to improve the lives of patients has driven her to find other ways, in which she can help them out. For Ivy, the recipe for good care is simple. "Treat everyone as you would like to be treated yourself," she says. "I love everything about working at the hospital. To be able to come in, have a chat and change someone's day a bit, it means a lot."

1. When should Ivy Bowen begin her work every morning?

A．At 5:30.	B．At 7:30.
C．At 8:00.	D．At8:30.

2. What's Ivy's main duty in the hospital?

A．To chat with the patients.	B．To give creams to the patients.
C．To feed all the patients.	D．To provide water for the patients.

3. Who was Carl?

A．Ivy's son.	B．Ivy's patient.
C．The nursing director.	D．A famous doctor.

4. What can we infer from the underlined sentence in Paragraph 3?

A．Carl has great difficulty in keeping silent.

B．Carl makes a huge difference to Ivy's career.

C．Carl is too afraid to see the carers as well as doctors.

D．Carl has made progress in speaking with the help of Ivy.

3 . Nowadays, we can read almost all "truths" on social media sites. But are they really reliable? Sites such as the micro-messaging service, the social networking site and the photo-sharing app Instagram might "misrepresent the real world", according to a study by computer scientists from McGill University and Carnegie Mellon University.

The scientists warn that gathering information about public views and trends from these sites is unwise. There are still large parts of the population who do not take part in social media activities. Also, there's a risk that many social media users are under-represented. Instagram, for example, appeals to younger adults in urban areas while Pinterest is used mainly by females aged 25 to 34. And only 5 percent of the micro-messaging service users are over 65 years old, according to the study. However, this is not the only issue, according to the scientific team. The design of a website can influence how people behave online, creating what the researchers call "Internet bias". For example, micro-blogging sites such as Weibo promote "popular" stories. It saves time for some but it also limits readers' choice of what they see. In the end, many people open those stories and make them more "popular". But it's not because they choose those stories. Rather, it is because the content is right in front of them.

Besides, it's possible that not everyone on your social networks is real. There might actually be a few fake accounts among them. Fake "bots" pretend to be humans and are often included when measuring or predicting human behaviors online.

The findings might be more important than you would think, since many social media studies are used to inform and justify decisions and investments among the public and in industry and government, according to Derek Ruths, an assistant professor of Computer Science at Mc Gill University.

If the team is right, you might have to think carefully next time you say, "It's true, you know; I read it on Weibo."

1. Why does the author mention the micro-messaging and Instagram?

A．Because they are the best social media sites today.

B．Because they are not in favor of the current study.

C．Because the public are sharing truths on these sites.

D．Because information on these sites may not be reliable.

2. How is the passage developed?

A．By giving examples.	B．By making comparisons.
C．By dividing into groups.	D．By analyzing causes.

3. Which word can best describe the author's attitude toward information on social media sites?

A．Ambiguous.

B．Favorable.

C．Disagreeable.

D．Cautious.

4. What's the author's main purpose in writing the passage?

A．To analyze why information gathered from social media sites may not be trustworthy.

B．To remind readers of things they should watch out for when using social media.

C．To point out the advantages and disadvantages of social media.

D．To recommend popular social networking sites for readers.

4 . Many children first learn the value of money by receiving an allowance. The purpose is to let children learn from experience at an age when financial mistakes are not very costly.

The amount of money that parents give to their children to spend as they wish differs from family to family. Timing is another consideration. Some children get a weekly allowance. Others get a monthly allowance.

In any case, parents should make clear what, if anything, the child is expected to pay for with the money.

At first, young children may spend all of their allowance soon after they receive it. If they do this, they will learn the hard way that spending must be done within a budget. Parents are usually advised not to offer more money until the next allowance.

The object is to show young people that a budget demands choices between spending and saving. Older children may be responsible enough to save money for larger costs, like clothing or electronics.

Many people who have written on the subject of allowances say it is not a good idea to pay your child for work around the home. These jobs are a normal part of family life.

Paying children to do extra work around the house, however, can be useful. It can even provide an understanding of how a business works.

Allowances give children a chance to experience the three things they can do with money. They can share it in the form of gifts or giving it to a good cause. They can spend it by buying things they want. Or they can save it.

1. What is special about children learning financial management by experience?

A．They learn more quickly.

B．They are not as likely to make mistakes.

C．Their mistakes won't matter so much.

D．They have plans made by their parents.

2. When the writer says some young children "will learn the hard way that..." in Para. 4, he means ________ .

A．they will know how hard it is to learn budget

B．they will have an easy time learning the lesson

C．what they will learn is absolutely true

D．their parents will teach them a hard lesson

3. Judging from the article, it is all right if a couple give their son an allowance ________ .

A．regularly twice every month

B．whenever he has run out of money

C．telling him to ask for permission before spending

D．without telling him what to spend on

4. The writer would agree to encourage the kids to ________ to deal with a tight budget.

A．borrow money from others	B．ask their parents for more money
C．get paid for their household routines	D．earn money by extra work

5 . The Adventures of Amilya Rose: The Lie

By Chavonne D. Stewart, Jasmine Mills, published in 2014

Enter for a chance to win a copy of the book.It is the first book in a surprising series of children’s books. That’s fun and exciting and teaches kids valuable lessons.

Chester and Gus

By Cammie McGoven, published in 2017

Chester has always wanted to become a service dog. When he fails his certification test, though, it seems that dream might never come true－until a family adopts him to be a companion for their ten-year-old son, Gus. But Gus acts so differently from anyone Chester has ever met. He never wants to pet Chester. Chester’s not sure how to help Gus, but he’s determined to figure it out and show he’s the right dog for the job.

Invisible Emmie

By Terri Libenson, published in 2017

The novel tells the story of two totally different little girls in a class — quiet, shy and artistic Emmie and popular, outgoing, athletic Katie — and how their lives unexpectedly connected one day, when an embarrassing note falls into the wrong hands. Emmie eventually learns to speak up for herself, realizing that being social isn’t as impossible as she thought.

Ocean Meets Sky

By Terry Fan, Eric Fan, published in 2018

“Young readers will be attracted.”— The Washington Post.

Finn lives by the sea and the sea lives by him. Every time he looks out of his window, it’s a constant reminder of the stories that his grandfather told him about the place where the ocean meets the sky. Finn’s grandfather has gone but Finn knows the perfect way to honor him. He’ll build his own ship and sail out to find this magical place himself! And when he arrives, maybe he’ll find something he didn’t know he was looking for.

1. What can we know about The Adventures of Amilya Rose: The Lie?

A．It’s the first children’s book in 2015.

B．It’s only for children’s fun.

C．It may be gained for free.

D．It’s mainly about teachers’ lessons.

2. Which book is related to the loss of loved ones?

A．The Adventures of Amilya Rose: The Lie	B．Ocean Meets Sky
C．Invisible Emmie	D．Chester and Gus

3. Who wrote the story about the relationship between classmates?

A．Chavonne D. Stewart and Jasmine Mills	B．Cammie McGovern
C．Terry Fan and Eric Fan	D．Terri Libenon

6 . People long ago thought bad spirits (神灵) caused disease. Sometimes they cut a hole in the sick person's head to let the bad spirit out. Others thought that illness was a punishment from the gods. The Greeks in old times were the first to understand that bad spirits and gods do not cause disease.

Hippocrates, called the father of medicine, and another Greek named Galen believed that disease was caused by our body fluids (液体) which are not balanced. Doctors used bleeding as a treatment for almost all illnesses. The doctor cut blood vessel (血管) and got out some blood. They thought this brought the fluids back into balance.

Doctors performed surgical operations (外科手术). About half of the surgical patients died from infection (感染) . Operating rooms were dirty, and surgeons did not even wash their hands. Things got better after Pasteur and Koch. British surgeon Joseph Lister showed how to make operating rooms clean.

Operations once had to be done quickly because there was so way to put patients to sleep. A doctor and a dentist first used ether (乙醚) in the 1s. Ether and other drugs let surgeons put patients to sleep during operations. These drugs, called anesthetics, reduce pain during surgery. With anesthetics, surgeons learned how to perform longer operations to save lives.

Medical researchers are now looking for ways to cure diseases caused by problems with genes. Genes are made of DNA. If something goes wrong with its DNA, the gene can make trouble. Some problems with genes appear at birth. Others happen later on. Doctors do not yet have good treatments for diseases caused by genetic problems.

Doctors and researchers are also working to prevent diseases by helping people lead healthy lives. They tell us to eat nutritious food, exercise, avoid smoking, and have regular physical checkups.

1. How did the Greeks in the past treat patients?

A．They used four fluids to clean the body.

B．They had some blood taken out of the body.

C．They balanced the patients with water.

D．They asked spirits and gods for help.

2. Why did about half of the surgical patients in the past die?

A．Ether was used properly

B．Patients were infected.

C．Surgeons performed longer operations.

D．Doctors didn't use operating rooms.

3. What can anesthetics be used to do?

A．Help a person sleep well.

B．Cut open part of body as a knife.

C．Make part of body free of sense or pain.

D．Save one's life if the operation fails.

4. What can we conclude from the text?

A．Good lifestyle helps one prevent diseases.

B．Any problem with genes happens before one is born.

C．Genetic treatment is the best way to remove diseases.

D．Regular physical checkups were popular in the past.

5. Which is the best title of the text?

A．How doctors cured diseases

B．Medicine around the world

C．Development of surgical operations

D．Treatment of diseases past and present

7 . An early spring morning I woke up with a strange thought "Something's gonna happen." The weather was beautiful and the morning promised a perfect day. I was still in bed, enjoying the sun and fresh air. Suddenly, the phone rang. I got it and a strange voice said: "Good morning. Are you sleeping yet?"

I wondered who it was. It was a nice woman's voice with a special accent. She told me that she wanted to see me and hung up. That phone call made me think a lot. A few minutes later 1 forgot this. 1 had breakfast and went out for a walk. The smell of spring was hovering in the air. The weather was warm. I was walking through the park, enjoying the beautiful nature.

Just then. I saw a young boy picking up a wallet from the ground. It seemed to me that I had seen this wallet before. First, I thought that he had dropped it, but his next actions made me think the opposite. The boy took the wallet carefully. cleaned it, and put it into his pocket. After that, he ran as quickly as he could. I didn't know what to do, so I began to scream loudly. I hoped there would be somebody nearby to catch him. But there was nobody around. I ran after him, but he disappeared somehow.

Then I reached in my pocket and realized that this wallet was mine. I felt very hopeless—no money, no keys, nothing. Maybe I had dropped it. That was a very awful day.

Suddenly, while I was sitting on a bench, a fascinating young woman appeared. She asked: "What has happened to you? Where have you been?" It was the same voice which I had heard that morning on the phone. The special accent I had heard on the phone. The same special accent! I couldn't believe my eyes. She was standing in front of me, trying to tell me something.

At that moment I felt someone shaking me and saying: "Wake up, wake up. It's getting late. Wake up!"

I opened my eyes and saw my mother. What a pity! No fascinating young lady, no park, nothing. I jumped out of bed immediately and checked where my wallet was. Thank God! It was there. It had only been a bad dream.

1. Why did the author begin to scream loudly?

A．He met something scary.

B．He wanted to have the boy caught.

C．He wanted the boy to stop running

D．He wished the fascinating woman to appear.

2. How did the author make out the woman's voice?

A．It was gentle.	B．It was from his find.
C．It was special accent.	D．It often appeared on his phone.

3. What does the underlined word "hovering" in Paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．Staying in one place	B．Waiting in an uncertain way.
C．Rising last in the sky	D．Flying away quickly.

4. What actually happened to the author's wallet?

A．He lost it in the park	B．It was still in his pocket.
C．The boy took it away.	D．His mother hid it

5. Who was the young woman on the phone?

A．The author's friend	B．The author's mother.
C．The young boy's sister	D．There's no such woman.

8 . A new report has concluded that advertising managers are becoming increasingly interested in children. Studies show that children influence about 50 percent of things that families buy, so they’re an attractive target for advertisers.

John Taylor, the author of the report, says:“Advertisers can reach their target in many ways. They can, for example, show an ad many times during school holidays, they can make the TV advertisements a little louder than the programmes to attract attention, or they can sponsor programmes and show their advertisements just before the programme begins.”

Most advertisements aimed at children are short, imaginative and often in the form of animated cartoons(动画片).“Children love the ads and watch them in the same way as any entertainment programmer,”Taylor says.

There’re concerns about advertising aimed at young people. The concerns are shared by Sarah Durham, a writer and journalist specializing in media analysis. “The most worrying thing is that children don’t think carefully when they see television advertisements. They’re less critical than adults and don’t usually realise the advertisement has a persuasive message, to encourage them or their parents to spend as much money as possible on the product or service,”she says.

There’re also concerns over the vast sums of money that junk food producers spend on advertising to persuade children to buy their food products. Many advertisements, argues Durham, sell food that is a lot higher in fat, salt and sugar than healthier alternatives. “Many companies target children with offers of free toys, models of cartoon characters and gimmicky（耍花招的）packaging.”

Government approaches to controlling advertising to children vary. In Sweden, one of the strictest countries where advertising is concerned, TV advertising to children under the age of 12 is banned. Greece bans television advertisements for children’s toys between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. Denmark and the Netherlands also have legal controls whereas France, Britain and Germany prefer self-regulation（自动调节）．

Some countries are not as certain as the Swedes that advertising to children is harmful. The French argue that children need to see many advertisements so that they can develop their ability to think as they grow up. The belief is that advertising will help children to be more aware of its persuasive power.

1. What does John Taylor mainly talk about in Paragraph 2?

A．Ways in which advertisers reach children.

B．The time children spend watching television.

C．Examples of successful advertising to children.

D．The serious problems of advertising to children.

2. Why is Sarah Durham concerned about advertising aimed at children?

A．TV ads limit children’s imagination.

B．TV ads affect children’s brain development.

C．Children lack the good sense to make decisions.

D．Children may spend lots of time watching television.

3. What does Durham say about the food advertised?

A．It’s tasty.	B．It’s cheap.
C．It’s unhealthy.	D．It’s ready­made.

4. What is the French’s attitude toward advertising to children?

A．Doubtful.	B．Relaxed.
C．Objective.	D．Unfavorable.

9 . 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.

2. What can you enjoy if buying a Mosquitron online now?

A．A high discount.	B．A cheap delivery.
C．Return without reasons.	D．Cash on delivery.

3. What type of writing is this text?

A．A review.	B．An advertisement.
C．An instruction.	D．A report.

10 . Our house was across the street from a hospital. We rented the upstairs rooms to outpatients at the clinic. One summer evening as I was preparing supper, there was a knock at the door. I opened it to see a truly awful looking man hardly taller than my eight-year-old daughter.

But the frightening thing was his swollen face. He told me he’d been hunting for a room since noon but no one seemed to have a room. For a moment I hesitated, but his next words convinced me: “I could sleep on the porch（门廊）. My bus leaves early in the morning.”

I went inside and finished getting supper. When we were ready, I asked him to join us. “No thank you. I have plenty.” And he held up a brown paper bag. When I had finished the dishes, I went out to talk with him a few minutes.

He told me he fished for a living to support his daughter, who was hopelessly disabled, and her five children. He didn’t tell it by way of complaint; in fact, he was grateful that no pain accompanied his disease. He thanked life for giving him the strength to keep going.

At bedtime, we put a camp small bed in the children’s room for him. When I got up in the morning, the bed linens were neatly folded and the little man was out on the porch. He refused breakfast, but just before he left, he smiled, “Your children made me feel at home. Grownups are bothered by my face, but children don’t seem to mind.” I told him he was welcome to come again.

In the years he came to stay overnight with us there was never a time that he did not bring us fish or vegetables. Other times we received packages. Knowing that he must walk three miles to mail these, and knowing how little money he had made the gifts more precious. I know our family always will be grateful to have known him; from him we learned what it was to accept the bad without complaint and the good with gratitude.

1. What actually led to the old man’s failure to get a room before?

A．His fishing job.	B．His ugly appearance.
C．His disabled daughter.	D．His lack of money.

2. Why did the author finally accept the old man?

A．He was in very bad condition.

B．He might attack her unless accepted.

C．He wouldn’t bother them too much.

D．The author had a big family to support.

3. What can we learn from the text?

A．The old man often came to ask for help ever since.

B．The old man actually didn’t eat anything for supper.

C．It was not easy for the old man to send the author gifts.

D．The author’s help taught the old man to live independently.

4. Which is the best title for the text?

A．A precious gift!

B．A silent complaint!

C．A stubborn fisherman!

D．An incredible meeting!