1 . Welcome here! The Southern Spring Home&Garden Show will be held at the conference center of The Park Expo. This show will last from Wednesday (March 2) to Sunday (March 6, 2022).

Admission: Adults $10.00. Teenagers under 15 free with a paying adult.

Join Lincolnton’s own Tammie Davis as she performs her original country songs at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 5th.

Special Days: The Spring for Kids First Night Gala benefiting the Council for Children’s Rights will take place from 7 p.m. to 10 p. m. on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, Tickets are $50 and include an access to Freedom Hall, where you can enjoy delicious food, beverage (饮料) and entertainment free of charge.

Seniors Day (55+): Wednesday is for them. Cost is $ 7.00 but without coupons (优惠券)．

Hours: Wednesday, Thursday&Sunday:10 a.m.—5 p.m.; Friday & Saturday:10 a.m.—9 p.m.

Wheelchairs are available on a first-come-first-served basis for you. The cost is $1.00 and you are required to leave a valid driver’s license or ID.

Parking: All Day Parking $ 6.00; Half Day Parking $ 3.00; Every Hour Parking $ 1.00 For More Information: Come to visit Mardee Woodward in person.

E-mail:mwoodward@southernshows.com Telephone: 704-376-4085

1. We can learn from the text that the show will       .

A．take place in a private house	B．offer free parking
C．have the only one singer	D．last only five days

2. How much is the admission for a family of two grown-ups and a child aged 16?

A．$30.

B．$10.

C．$20.

D．$40.

3. We can infer from the text that________.

A．old people can visit the show only on Wednesday

B．there are not enough wheelchairs for the disabled

C．the disabled can use the wheelchairs free of charge

D．kids’ tickets on Wednesday don’t include beverage

2 . Most city parks are places where you can escape from big, ugly structures of metal and stone. The Manhattan High Line is different. Raised 25 feet above the ground, this large metal structure once supported a rail line. The line opened in 1934 to bring trains directly into factories. It was hardly used after the 1960s, and much of it was torn down. However, one part remained in a region of Manhattan called Chelsea. Chelsea was becoming high-class as restaurants, art galleries and apartments were built, but the ugly railway structure remained as a dead weight. Everyone knew that at some time, it would have to be removed.

But the High Line was not destroyed. In fact, now the old rail line serves as one of the most peaceful places in the city, It holds an elevated park, with beautiful gardens and great views of the city. The idea to turn the rail line into a park came from Joshua David and Robert Hammond. In 1999, they attended a meeting to decide how to deal with the High Line. David and Hammond were the only people at the meeting interested in saving the historical structure. Later on, when they asked railway officials to take them up to look at the High Line, they saw a mile and a hall of wild flower growing in the middle of the city, and they realized that the High Line had potential to become a park. There was growing interest in improving city centers, and so the project quickly developed and money for construction was easily collected.

The first part of the High Line opened in 2009 and immediately became popular with tourists and locals alike. Each part of the park has a different atmosphere. Some areas are like balconies(阳台) with wonderful city views. Where the rail line goes between buildings, trees are thickly planed. Other sections have wide lawns(草坪) and walkways planed with wild flowers. Only the final section remains the way it has been for the last fifty years.

1. What is the text mainly about?

A．Closing a train line.	B．Improving city transport.
C．Protection of cultural relics.	D．An unlikely place for a park.

2. What does the underlined part “a dead weight” in paragraph 1 mean?

A．something with historical interest

B．something with potential to be better

C．something which is a danger to people

D．something useless which slows progress.

3. Why did David and Hammond originally want to save the High Line?

A．They wanted to reopen the train line.

B．They thought it had historical value.

C．They were interested in improving the city.

D．They thought it would become a good park.

4. Why were people easily persuaded by David and Hammond’s idea?

A．They wanted to make cities nicer places.

B．They wanted to see the wild flowers, too.

C．They knew the project would bring in much money.

D．They realized the High Line was historically important.

5. What can we learn about the High Line from the text?

A．Only part of the line remains.

B．The railway companies still use the line.

C．It began to become popular in the 1960.

D．It was designed by David and Hammond.

3 . If you've got a reliable Internet connection, smart lights are a cheap way to make your home very cool. Here are four of them.

LIFX

The biggest feature: you don't need a separate hub to control your smart lights. They connect via Wi-Fi and you can stick the lights anywhere. The LEDS create up to 16 million colors and are programmable, so you can create custom lighting patterns through the smartphone app. You can also set up a lighting schedule and make changes with your voice through Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant. $70.

Sylvania

The Sylvania LED light strip(灯带) is Apple HomeKit-enabled, meaning you can change colors and settings with Apple's smart voice assistant Siri or through the app. The only feature Sylvania does not include -- one that LIFX does -- is the ability for the lights to automatically rotate(转换) through colors. With these lights, you can only adjust brightness and change colors. $39.

If you use an Android phone, make sure to get an Android version. It has the same functions but is also compatible

(兼容的) with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. $52.

Eve

The Eve LEDS can be extended with additional strips and reach up to 32.8 feet. The LEDS produce a full range of whites and colors and are compatible with Apple HomeKit -- therefore voice controlled with Siri. This setup requires no extra hub. The starter version is available for $80 and extension strips are available for $50.

Minger

Mingers Wi-Fi connected strips of LEDS are 16.4-feet-long and can be controlled via the Govee app on your smartphone or with Amazon Alexa. The company doesn't recommend connecting multiple strips. $29.

1. How is LIFX different from Sylvania?

A．It is voice controlled.	B．It is intended for Android phone users.
C．The brightness of its lights can be adjusted.	D．The colors of its lights can change automatically.

2. If someone has a budget of $30, which of the following can they buy?

A．LIFX.

B．Sylvania.

C．Eve.

D．Minger.

3. What do the four lights have in common?

A．They are powered by the sun.

B．They an be extended with additional strips.

C．They work well with smart home assistants.

D．They are developed by smartphone companies.

4 . Miep Gies, the woman who hid the Dutch girl Anne Frank’s diary from the Nazis to become one of the world’s most-read books, died after a brief illness at the age of 100.

It was Gies who guarded Anne’s diary, and presented it to the girl’s father, Otto, when he returned from the Auschwitz concentration camp(奥斯威辛集中营) at the end of World War Ⅱ—the only one of his family to survive.

In her diary, Anne Frank wrote about her teenage life hiding from the Nazis in Amsterdam from 1942 to 1944, when the Nazi police discovered her and her family’s hiding place. The diary, first published in 1947, has been translated into 70 languages.

Anne Frank expressed a great wish to live on after her death. Miep Gies saw it as her duty to help in making this happen.

Born in Vienna in 1909, Gies moved to the Netherlands at the age of 11. In 1933, she began working for Otto Frank at his trading company. At great risk to her own safety, she and four other helpers brought food and supplies to the Frank family hiding in a secret office building for more than two years.

When she turned 100, Gies tried to play down her own role. “I’m not a hero,” she said. “It wasn’t something I planned in advance. I simply did what I could to help.”

Every day she received letters from all over the world with questions about her relationship with Anne Frank and her role as a helper. Gies received many honors for her role, including from the Netherlands, Germany and Israel.

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

A．Only Miep Gies helped the Frank family.

B．Anne’s father Otto survived World War Ⅱ.

C．Anne’s hiding place was discovered in 1943.

D．Miep Gies wasn’t highly honored until her death.

2. By saying “Gies tried to play down her own role”, the writer means Gies ________.

A．didn’t play a role in saving the diary.	B．regretted saving the diary.
C．was proud of what she had done.	D．thought she was overpraised.

3. What’s the best title for the passage?

A．Woman who saved Anne’s diary dies at 100.

B．Anne Frank’s diary.

C．Survivors of World War Ⅱ.

D．The story of Miep Gies and Anne Frank.

5 . My challenge for you is this: to read a book for 15 minutes very single day for a month.

Let me explain a bit, by telling you where the challenge came from. I have many things in common with my dad, like music taste and sense of humor, but sadly reading isn’t one of them. I can happily spend a whole day with a book, but my dad can’t read a book for longer than about 5 minutes. He reads emails, websites and papers for work, but not books. He's busy, so I think siting down to read for just 15 minutes a day is a good way to relax and to introduce him to reading. My dad is by no means the only person who avoids books. I know lots of people would rather relax on their computers or in front of the TV. Everyone is different and has their own interests, but I think there’re lots of benefits of reading, which screen-based activities don’t have.

Firstly, it’s better of your eyes. Looking at screens can be very stressful for your eye muscles, and clearly you should avoid looking at screens for an hour before bed, to get a good night’s sleep.

I personally love reading in that I can be transported to another world—I often forget the time or things around me! Reading is a great way to switch off before you go to bed, because you think more about the world of the book, rather than the real world, so you can truly relax. I know you can be transported to a different world in a film or a TV show, but I think books do it better.

I also enjoy hearing what people are doing and finding out what they think. Reading gives me the chance to get to know hundreds of new people! It also teaches you to see things from other people's points of view, and understand other people's decisions or opinions. With a book, you can hear everything a character is thinking or feeling—you really can be inside someone else’s head!

So give it a go! Take 15 minutes when you're waking up, going to bed, eating lunch, or having a coffee. If you read a lot, why not try 15 minutes of an English book, or pass the challenge on to someone else? Good luck, and happy reading!

1. The author mentions his father in the text to show _______.

A．reading is important	B．his father is very busy
C．his father likes reading	D．many people have no habit of reading

2. What is the text mainly based on?

A．Knowledge from books.	B．Some scientific experiments.
C．The authors personal experience.	D．The author's father's personal advice.

3. What does the underlined word “it” in paragraph 5 refer to?

A．Helping readers sleep well.	B．Making readers feel relaxed.
C．Reminding readers of the real world.	D．Transporting readers to a different world.

4. What is the author's attitude towards reading?

A．Doubtful.

B．Objective.

C． Supportive.

D．Disapproving.

5. Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A．15-minute Reading Challenge.	B．Tips for Reading English Books.
C．The ways to Improve Reading Skills.	D．Having a Coffee While You Read.

6 . Dyson, a company best known for its innovative(创新的) line of vacuums and fans, is apparently also interested in providing urbanites with a convenient way to filter(过滤) air pollution. The company recently applied for a patent (专利) in the UK for a pair of headphones that takes in polluted air through ear cups and directs the filtered product to an integrated mouthpiece. Dyson’s engineers behind the invention describe it as a more convenient alternative to traditional face masks.

“In locations with particularly high levels of air pollution, many people have recognized the benefits of reducing their exposure to these pollutants and have therefore taken to wearing face masks with the aim of filtering out at least a portion of the pollutants present in the air before it reaches the mouth and nose,” the inventors write in the invention summary. “However, as these face masks typically cover at least the users mouth and nose, they can make normal breathing more laborious.”

So how does Dyson imagine this equipment working? As you might have guessed for a company that specializes in innovative ways to move air, the ear cups contain small fans that spin at 12, 000 rotations per minute. This provides enough suction(抽吸) to draw in about 1.4 liters of air per second. The air is then filtered to remove pollutants and pushed to a partially-transparent mouthpiece at the front of the user. As a way to reduce the noise of the fans, the headphones also include adaptive noise canceling with an integrated microphone and speakers.

While it’s unknown whether this patent will ever develop into an actual product, it's unfortunately something that many people could use. In its “state of Global Air 2019” report, the non-profit Health Effects Institute ( HEI) listed air pollution as the fifth leading cause for death worldwide, ahead of malnutrition, alcohol use, and physical inactivity.

So are Dyson’s air-purifying headphones straight out of some dystopian(反乌托邦的) science fiction films? You bet. But it’s increasingly our reality that much of the world is living and breathing in cities where that unthinkable future is already playing out. Necessity in the face of such awful man-made pollution will eventually push something similar to market. Whether humanity takes the hint(暗示) and does something to make them useless is sadly less certain.

1. What is the disadvantage of tradition face masks according to Dyson’s engineers?

A．They keep fresh air out.	B．They need regular cleaning.
C．They make breathing difficult.	D．They take too long to filter the pollutants.

2. Why is the HEI’s report mentioned?

A．To show the necessity of the new invention.	B．To show its contribution to the new invention.
C．To explain why people tend to go after new things.	D．To explain why people worldwide have a shorter life.

3. What does the author want to imply in the last paragraph?

A．Air-purifying headphones are not new.	B．Dyson’s invention will be of little use.
C．Human action should come before the technology.	D．Dyson's engineers got inspiration from sci-fi films.

4. What would be the best title for the text?

A．A pioneer of innovation is in a dilemma.

B．Risks that could lead to death are still rising.

C．Air pollution is no longer an age-old problem.

D．A high-tech product might be needed in smoke-choked cities.

7 . Can you imagine a world without music? Studies show that public schools across the country are cutting back on music classes to save money. Worse, some schools have never had music classes to begin with. But without them, students’ academic growth and emotional health could suffer. In fact, music classes are necessary for all students in schools.

Recent studies by Brown University have shown that students who received music education classes were better in math and reading skills than those without music classes. Another study by The College Board found that students taking music and art classes got higher points. Students’ academic success seems to depend on their taking part in music education.

Music programs in public schools also help to add to a student’s sense of pride and self­confidence. Teens today have too many learning tasks. Besides, they have family problems, self­confidence problems, relationship troubles, and choices about drugs and alcohol. All of these can stop academic success, but music education can help. A study by The Texas Commission on Drug and Alcohol Abuse found that students who took part in school music programs were less likely to turn to drugs. Music programs encourage students to work together to produce an excellent performance.

Music crosses language, class, cultural and political boundaries (界限). Music allows students from different countries to connect. For example, at a school talent show, a new Japanese student played a piano duet (二重奏) with an American classmate. Although they could not communicate verbally (口头上) , they were able to read the music in order to play the duet. Two students from different cultures worked as a team with self­confidence and common purpose through music.

The gift of music is priceless. We need to be sure to have necessary music classes for all students. The world is losing its music, and putting music into schools is the first step to get it back.

1. The two studies seem to show that ________.

A．students with great success attended music lessons

B．not all students took part in music lessons

C．music plays an important role in students’ success

D．students having music classes are better in all lessons

2. The example in Paragraph 4 mainly suggests that ________.

A．Japan has a good international relationship with America

B．different cultures have different styles of music

C．music makes cross­country communication possible

D．Japanese and American students are good at playing the piano

3. What is the best title for the text?

A．Music — a bridge to understanding

B．How to get music back

C．The importance of listening to music

D．Music education in schools

8 . My friend Jason and I wanted to do something to help other people who are less fortunate and help us grow at the same time. After we decided that we would volunteer in Nepal, I did some research on the Internet and I found Volunteer Nepal and felt strongly that it was the right choice for us.

While making our plans, Jason and I realized that others might like the opportunity to be a part of our experience. So before leaving for Nepal, we asked the people we know whether they would be interested in donating(捐赠)cash or goods to Nepal Orphans(孤儿)Home.

One friend, whose family owns a chain called Drake Supermarket, told others about it. His effort paid off. We received donations that filled 29 boxes with sporting goods, toys, coloring books, pencils, children's books, and more. The boxes were later taken to Drake's warehouse where I prepared them for shipment. Drake agreed to ship them to Nepal for free.

The boxes had arrived at the Volunteer House when we arrived there. The next day, Jason and I unpacked the boxes. The children from the orphanages lined up and were each able to choose a gift. This process took about an hour, but the looks on their faces and the happiness that we saw in their eyes made it one of the best days of our life.

We visited the orphanages there in the following days. Being with the children at the orphanages was both sad and wonderful. I'm sure that anyone who has volunteered will understand what I mean by that. My experience as a volunteer was very rewarding(有益的).It has changed me as a person and the way I viewed life in the past.

1. The writer did some research on the Internet probably to________ .

A．get in touch with some students

B．find an organization for volunteers

C．decide in which country to volunteer

D．find some friends to volunteer with him

2. What did Drake Supermarket do to help the writer?

A．It donated many sporting goods.

B．It helped call Nepal Orphans Home.

C．It helped keep the boxes at a low price.

D．It helped ship the boxes to Nepal for free.

3. What can we learn from Paragraph 4?

A．The children were very happy to receive the gifts.

B．The writer didn't expect the kids would love the gifts.

C．The writer and his friend took the gifts to the orphanages.

D．The children had never received gifts from others before.

4. The writer thinks that his experience as a volunteer was________ .

A．useless

B．helpful

C．boring

D．disappointing

9 . The idea of using a public bathroom with see through walls may sound like the stuff of nightmares. But a famous Japanese is hoping to change that view, using new technology to make restrooms in Tokyo parks more inviting.

“There are two things we worry about when entering a public restroom, especially those cated at a park,” according to architect Shigeru Ban’s firm. “The first is cleanliness, and the second is whether anyone is inside.”

The newly-invented transparent walls can turn off both of those worries, Ban says, by showing people what awaits them inside. After users enter the restroom and lock the door, the room’s walls turn a powdery paste) shade and are no longer see-through.

Ban’s are sure to make for great conversation among visitors to the park-and they’ll stand out even more after dark. “At night, the facility lights up the park like a beautiful lantern,” the architect’s website says.

The group is behind the Tokyo Toilet project, world-famous architects to create toilets “like you’ve never seen. The project’s eye catching toilets are part of a plan to put people ar ease when isiting a public bathroom. The project may seem silly, but the 16 architects who are reimagining public toilets are some of the brightest names in Japanese architecture. The list includes four Pritzker Prize winners-Ban, Toyo Ito, Tadao Ando and Fumihiko Maki-along with international stars such as Kengo Kuma and Sou Fujimoto. The fashion designer Nigo is also contributing.

Ban’s colorful public bathrooms opened to the public this month in two parks: Yoyogi Fukamachi Mini Park and Haru-no-Ogawa Community Park. Other bespoke commodes will be opening in coming months.

1. Why are people often worried before entering a public restroom?

A．Its lock is usually useless.

B．It’s usually at a huge distance.

C．It’s not always clean.

D．It’s always occupied.

2. What does the underlined word “transparent” mean in the third paragraph ?

A．Easy to see through.

B．Not easy to see through.

C．Full of bright colors.

D．Thick and strong.

3. What do we know about the project from the last two paragraphs?

A．It’s and silly.

B．It’s rewarding and.

C．It has won the Pritzker Prize.

D．It’s the fruit of colleqtive wisdom

4. Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A．Should the public restrooms be upgraded?

B．The new high-tech walls of public restrooms are coming.

C．How do we live with see-through public facilities?

D．Some famous architects designed a silly project.

10 . This was the first real task I received in my new school. It seemed simple: go on the Internet and find information about a man named George Washington. As I searched the name, I found that there were two famous people having the same name who looked completely different! One invented hundreds of uses for peanuts(花生), while the other led some sort of army across America. I stared at the screen, wondering which one my teacher meant. I called my grandfather for a golden piece of advice; let the coin decide. I flipped(掷) a coin and Ah! Tails (背面)! My report would be about the great man who invented peanut butter, George Washington Carver.

Weeks later, I stood in front of the classroom and proudly read my homework. But things started to get strange. I looked around the room, only to find my classmates with big smiles on their faces and tears in their eyes and my stone-faced teacher. I was completely lost. “What could be causing everyone to act this way?”

Oh well, I dropped the paper and sat down at my desk, burning to find out what I had done wrong. As a classmate began his report, it all became clear, “My report is on George Washington, the man who started the American War of Independence.” The whole world became quiet! How could I know that my teacher meant that George Washington?

Of course, my subject result was awful. Sad but fearless, I decided to turn this around. I talked to the headmaster Miss Lancelot, but she said firmly: No re-dos; no new score. I felt that it was not fair, and I believed I deserved a second chance. So I threw myself heartily into my work for the rest of the school year. Ten months later, I sat in the headmaster’s office again, but this time a completely different conversation. I smiled and flashed back to the terrible moment at the beginning of the year as the headmaster told me I was good enough to skip(跳过) the 6th grade and started the 7th grade next term.

1. The task I received was to find information about ________.

A．uses for peanuts

B．American War of Independence

C．George Washington

D．my headmaster Miss Lancelot

2. People in the class acted strangely because ________.

A．I was too proud of my homework

B．I mistook what the homework was about

C．the whole world suddenly became quiet

D．the teacher’s face turned to a stone

3. We can infer(推断) from the passage that ________.

A．the headmaster didn’t like the writer at all

B．the writer’s classmates felt sad at his mistake

C．the writer knew little about American history

D．the writer’s grandpa was a very wise man

4. Which of the following proverbs can best describe the main idea of this story?

A．Seeing is believing.

B．Where there is a will, there is a way.

C．One is never too old to learn.

D．A friend in need is a friend indeed.