1 . Every week in China, millions of people will sit in front of their TVs watching teenagers compete for the title Character Hero, which is a Chinese-style spelling bee. In this challenge, young competitors must write Chinese characters by hand. To prepare for the competition, the competitors usually spend months studying dictionaries.

Perhaps the show’s popularity should not be a surprise. Along with gunpowder and paper, many Chinese people consider the creation of Chinese calligraphy(书法) to be one of their primary contributions to civilization. Unfortunately, all over the country, Chinese people are forgetting how to write their own language without computerized help. Software on smart phones and computers allows users to type in the basic sound of the word using the Latin alphabet. The correct character is chosen from a list. The result? It’s possible to recognize characters without remembering how to write them.

But there’s still hope for the paint brush. China’s Education Ministry wants children to spend more time learning how to write.

In one Beijing primary school we visited, students practice calligraphy every day inside a specially decorated classroom with traditional Chinese paintings hanging on the walls. Soft music plays as a group of six-year-olds dip brush pens into black ink. They look up at the blackboard often to study their teacher’s examples before carefully attempting to reproduce those characters on thin rice paper. “If adults can survive without using handwriting, why bother to teach it now?” we ask the calligraphy teacher, Shen Bin. “The ability to write characters is part of Chinese tradition and culture,” she reasons. “Students must learn now so they don’t forget when they grow up.” says the teacher.

1. What can we learn about the Character Hero?

A．It’s open to people of all ages and all walks.

B．It’s the most-viewed TV programs in China.

C．It aims to spread Chinese culture to the world.

D．It draws great public attention across the country.

2. Why are Chinese people forgetting how to write the characters?

A．Chinese people don’t refer to dictionaries very often.

B．Chinese people no longer use brush pens or practice calligraphy.

C．Chinese people are using the Latin alphabet instead of the characters.

D．Chinese people needn’t write by hand as often with the help of technology.

3. .According to Shen Bin, being able to write characters by hand is_________.

A．necessary for adults to survive in China

B．a requirement made by the Education Ministry

C．helpful to keep Chinese tradition and culture alive

D．an ability to be developed only when you are students

4. Where does this text probably come from?

A．A news report.	B．A science report.
C．An advertisement.	D．Children’s literature.

2 . British birdwatcher are used to bad news. House sparrow numbers have fallen from an estimated 30m to 10m since 1966. Curlews （杓鹬）have become a rare sight, their numbers sharply declining by 50% in 15 years. Cuckoos（布谷鸟）， once-frequent visitors from Africa, have decreased by 63% in the south-east in the past two decades. Earlier springs that confuse migrant birds, more efficient farming and the transformation of ruined buildings (good for nesting) into modern homes have all contributed to these woes.

But data released by the British Trust for Ornithology(BTO), a research charity, suggest some are rising. Tracking bird populations by means of regular surveys, the figures give the clearest picture of 49 species across Britain.

Blackcaps（黑顶林莺）, small woodland birds native to Germany and eastern Europe, are unwilling to return after their summer short visits: Since 1967 numbers have increased by 177%. The little egret（小白鹭）, a white heron-like bird, arrived from continental Europe in 1989 and now numbers over 5,000. Wood pigeons（斑尾林鸽）, once found shyly singing in forests, have bravely moved into cities and suburbs.

Environmental and agricultural changes have helped as well as confused birds. Modern farming techniques allow grain to be planted in the autumn rather than the spring; that helps wood pigeons feed in winter. Warmer winters mean rivers and ponds are less likely to freeze, providing the little egrets with food. James Pearce-Higgins of the BTO says that blackcaps benefit particularly from the increasing popularity of berry bushes in people’s gardens.

Birders complain nonetheless. Some of the species booming, such as carrion crows（食腐乌鸦）and buzzards（秃鹰）, are disliked. And migrant birds that extend their visits may provide competition for some bird natives. They are “muscling in and getting the first claim on breeding sites”, says Richard Cowser of the Sussex Ornithological Society.                                        I like their human counterparts（同行）, residents of a small island stricken by global winds, British birds will have to learn to compete.

1. The underlined word “woes” in Paragraph 1 probably means____________.

A．Tragedy

B．construction

C．damage

D．migration

2. What might not be the reason for the increase of birds?

A．The access to people’s gardens.	B．Modern farming methods.
C．The different environmental patterns.	D．Rebuilding of abandoned houses.

3. Which of the following statements is correct according to the passage?

A．All bird lovers are satisfied with the situation of birds increasing.

B．Migrant birds lengthening their stays cause threat to the local birds.

C．Black caps whose home is Germany and eastern Europe refuse to stay in Britain.

D．More than 5000 little egrets arrived in Britain from continental Europe in 1989.

4. Where might this article come from?

A．A travel brochure.	B．An annual report.
C．A personal journal.	D．A magazine article.

3 . If you don't use it, you lose it. At least, that's how the old saying goes. It refers to the idea that something which does not get used regularly quickly falls into a state of decline. Muscles, for example, will waste away without use. In order to resist this, people take regular exercise to keep their skills sharp.

Well, what about the brain? As we age, our brains can naturally begin to decline. In some cases, this can lead to certain mental conditions such as dementia(痴呆)，which I'm sure you will agree, no one wants. However, all is not lost because these days it's relatively easy to train your brain. Smart phones and apps have put programmes into our hands that can test, maintain and even improve our memories, mathematical skills and a lot of other mental abilities. With a little practice every day, we can keep our brains nice and sharp, right?

Well, no, actually. According to a report from the Global Council on Brain Health, even though many people thought it was important to play online games, such as puzzles and mind games, which are designed to improve brain health, the evidence of the benefits was “weak to non-existent”.

There are other ways to promote the old grey matter. It recommends seeking out new activities that challenge the way you think and are socially engaging，while leading to a healthy lifestyle. Among their suggestions are practising tai chi, taking photography classes, learning new technologies, gardening, art projects or volunteering.

There's more good news, too, James Goodwin, chief scientist at Age UK has said that brain decline is not inevitable (不可避免的）. As long as the activities are “new to you and require your concentrated attention”, they can provide benefits for brain health. So, hurry up, get out there and try something new. Maybe it's time to try that hobby you've always wanted to do. And as for me? I'm off to learn the piano.

1. From which is the text probably taken?

A．A biology textbook.	B．A healthy magazine.
C．A travel brochure.	D．A research paper.

2. Which has the closest meaning of the underlined words “socially engaging”？

A．Making more shopping.	B．Avoid brain decline.
C．Doing exercises alone.	D．Going out with friends.

3. Which of the following can better keep your brain healthy according to the author?

A．Trying something new.	B．Using smart phone regularly.
C．Playing games online.	D．Doing what you are good at.

4. What does the passage mainly tell us?

A．Advantages of trying something new.

B．Disadvantages of using smart phones.

C．Ways to keep our brain as sharp as possible.

D．How to spend time meaningfully at an old age.

4 . Due to climate changes, Arctic ice is breaking up earlier in the spring, and its area is decreasing. This is creating problems for polar bears that make their homes off northern Alaska and in Hudson Bay.

Polar bears off Alaska normally hunt and raise their young on ice sheets that float on the ocean. But as the ice has melted, the polar bears have been forced to spend more time on land. There, they have begun to frequent beaches, feeding on the remains of whales caught by native hunters. For polar bears, this food is less nutritious than seals that they normally catch on ice sheets. The shrinking (减少) ice has also forced more polar bears into the ocean. In the past, they only had to swim short distances between ice sheets. But as the ice has shrunk, polar bears have been forced to swim longer and longer distances in the open ocean. This poses a severe danger during rough weather, and an increasing number of drowned polar bears have been observed.

In Hudson Bay, the ice breaks up three weeks earlier in the spring now than it did 20 years ago. Polar bears on Hudson Bay fast (绝食) during the summer, waiting for ice to form in the fall to hunt. Every year, the summer gets longer, and the bears get skinnier. Over the past 25 years, the average weight of the female bears has dropped 68 kg. This loss affects their ability to reproduce, and already the number of births has dropped by 15 percent. Unless the bears can learn to survive these climate changes, these giants of the ice may one day disappear.

1. What is Arctic ice doing earlier each year?

A．It's freezing.	B．It's hardening.
C．It's melting.	D．It's expanding.

2. What is true of polar bears that are spending more time on land in Alaska?

A．Their young are dying.	B．Their diet is changing.
C．Their health is improving.	D．Their families are growing.

3. What does the writer imply about female polar bears in Hudson Bay?

A．They are having fewer young now.	B．They suffer from various sicknesses.
C．They don't need stronger protection.	D．They can't find enough good males.

4. In which publication would you most likely find this passage?

A．Medical News.	B．Society Today.
C．Wildlife Journal	D．Design Magazine.

5 . Schuylerville High School students have a broad range of interests, which are reflected by the number of clubs and organizations in which our pupils participate. Here are some of the most popular clubs.

Environmental Club

Open to students in grades 9-12

Advisor: Mrs. Flores

The High School Environmental Club is open to all students interest increasing environmental awareness throughout the school. Activities include: recycling, environmental competitions, volunteering with green schools and outdoor events. This run student club collects and recycles paper products throughout the school building.

Freshman Class

Open to students in grades 9-10

Advisor: Mr. winslow

The freshmen class participates in several activities throughout the year to raise money for the class account. The class officers meet once a month to discuss business that affects the entire class. All members of the freshman class are encouraged to participate in some type of community service during the year.

Literary magazine

Open to students in grades 10-12

Advisor: Mr. Sgambati

Members of the Literary Magazine collect, edit and often contribute to the body of student work. Literary Magazine meetings will also give students the opportunity to share and receive feedback on the creative pieces that they re working on, as well as the chance to learn about writing practices and strategies.

Mock Trial Team

Open to students in grades 11-12

Advisor: Mrs. Lewis

Mock Trial is an after-school activity that helps students develop useful knowledge about the law. Students play out all the roles and use general rules of evidence and fact explanations in a school court. They will work with a real lawyer and an advisor to further understand the court process.

1. At which club can you take part in the community service?

A．Environmental Club.	B．Freshman Class.
C．Literary Magazine.	D．Mock Trial Team.

2. What does Mock Trial Team aim to do?

A．To encourage students to be lawyers.	B．To develop students’ writing skills.
C．To explain all kinds of facts at school.	D．To help students learn more about laws.

3. Where is this text most likely from?

A．A news report.	B．A school website.
C．A research paper.	D．A science magazine.

6 . If Confucius(孔子)were still alive today and could celebrate his September 28 birthday with a big cake, there would be a lot of candles. He'd need a fan or a strong wind to help him put them out.

While many people in China will remember Confucius on his special day, few people in the United States will give him a passing thought. It's nothing personal. Most Americans don't even remember the birthdays of their own national heroes.

But this doesn't mean that Americans don't care about Confucius. In many ways he has become a bridge that foreigners must cross if they want to reach a deeper understanding of China.

In the past two decades, the Chinese studies programs have gained huge popularity in Western universities. More recently, the Chinese government has set up Confucius Institutes in more than 80 countries. These schools teach both Chinese language and culture. The main courses of Chinese culture usually include Chinese art, history and

philosophy(哲学). Some social scientists suggest that Westerners should take advantage of the ancient Chinese wisdom to make up for the drawbacks(缺陷)of Western philosophy. Students in the United States, at the same time, are racing to learn Chinese. So they will be ready for life in a world where China is an equal power with the United States. Businessmen who hope to make money in China are reading books about Confucius to understand their Chinese customers.

So the old thinker's ideas are still alive and well.

Today China attracts the West more than ever, and it will need more teachers to introduce Confucius and Chinese culture to the West.

As for the old thinker, he will not soon be forgotten by people in the West, even if his birthday is.

1. The opening paragraph is mainly intended to______________.

A．provide some key facts about Confucius

B．attract the readers' interest in the subject

C．show great respect for the ancient thinker

D．prove the popularity of modern birthday celebrations

2. We can learn from Paragraph 4 that American students___________.

A．have a great interest in studying Chinese

B．take an active part in Chinese competitions

C．try to get high scores in Chinese exams

D．fight for a chance to learn Chinese

3. What is the best title for the passage?

A．Forgotten Wisdom in America

B．Huge Fans of the Chinese Language

C．Chinese Culture for Westerners

D．Old Thinker with a Big Future

4. The passage is likely to appear in__________.

A．a personal biography	B．a history paper
C．a cultural newspaper	D．a philosophy textbook

7 . The Best Family Reunion Spot in Every State

The location for your family reunion could make the event. Choose one of these unique and comfortable spots in every state.

Alabama—Doublehead Resort, Town Creek

You can’t beat the waterfront cottages available at Doublehead Resort. Each has a washer and a full kitchen. A cottage can sleep ten people, making this resort the perfect relaxing location for your family reunion. This could be the setting for another funny family vacation story.

Arkansas—Whitney Mountain Lodge, Garfield

This Northwest Arkansas hotel has a breathtaking view of Beaver Lake. Located between the Rockies and the Appalachians, this peaceful site is the perfect place to escape with your family. They have three private dining rooms, all available for rent for your events. Arkansas might not be the first family reunion destination that comes to mind, but it has one of the coolest hidden sightseeing.

California—The Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort, Solvang

If budget isn’t an issue, book a family reunion at the Alisal Guest Ranch Resort in the Santa Ynez Valley. This 10,000-acre cattle ranch (牧场) is the ideal reunion spot for horse-back-riding families, and there’s also a spa for the family members who would prefer to relax.

Delaware—Cape Henlopen State Park, Lewes

Enjoy a beachside reunion at one of Delaware’s most scenic state parks. The pavilion (大帐篷) is available for rent, so make your base camp at the group site as you have fun at the two beaches and 18-hole golf course. You can also climb up to a former military bunker (碉堡) for a brief history lesson.

1. What is Doublehead Resort special about?

A．The weather.	B．The sightseeing.
C．Its stories.	D．Its cottages.

2. Which spot offers history education?

A．Doublehead Resort.	B．Whitney Mountain Lodge.
C．Cape Henlopen State Park.	D．The Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort.

3. In which section of a magazine can you read the text?

A．Daily life.	B．Travel guide.
C．Entertainment.	D．Environment.

8 . Organic food is very popular. It is also expensive. Some organic food costs twice as much as non-organic food, but new parents and pet owners are willing to pay up to 200% more for organic food. However, there are people who think it is a waste of money.

There is one main difference between organic and non-organic food. Organic farms do not use agricultural chemicals, such as pesticides. In many countries organic foods have special labels. These guarantee that the products are natural.

Some people think organic means locally grown. Originally this was true. Over time organic farming became more difficult. The demand for organic food grew larger than the supply. Small companies had to sell out to large companies. There weren't enough organic ingredients, such as grain and cattle. This made it difficult for many organic companies to stay in business. Today, many large companies have an organic line of products.

Is organic food more nutritious? This is part of the debate. Many farmers and consumers believe it is. They think agricultural chemicals cause health problems such as cancer. Many health professionals disagree. Few studies prove that organic foods prevent health problems. Health specialists worry more about bacteria, such as E.coli and salmonella. These can get into contact with organic and non- organic food. Doctors recommend washing produce very carefully. Handling meat carefully is important too.

Most people agree that naturally grown food tastes better. Is tastier food worth the extra money? This is a matter of opinion. Whether it is healthier or not may require more research. However, organic consumers argue it is better to be safe than sorry.

1. What is probably the major concern of organic food consumers?

A．Price.	B．Safety.
C．Freshness.	D．Variety.

2. What is the doctors’ suggestion?

A．Grow your own food.	B．Reduce the use of pesticides.
C．Make sure the food is clean.	D．Buy large companies’ products.

3. Which of the following do most people agree on organic food?

A．It tastes better.	B．It is easier to grow.
C．It contains more fat.	D．It is more nutritious.

4. Where does this text probably come from?

A．A recipe book.	B．A chemistry paper.
C．A medical report.	D．A health magazine.

9 . When Sarah Wishnia received an iPad from her daughter, “It was like Greek to me.” Max Rosenblum showed her how to socialize on Facebook and shop on Amazon with her new device.With Max's help, Elena learned to give orders to Siri, Mike familiarized himself with Waze and Honey began searching for information about movies, restaurants and books on her smartphone.Max is 16, a rising junior in Davie. His students are residents of Coral Gables, fascinated by technology and eager to learn about this brave new frontier. Max began offering his tech coaching for seniors a year ago, after he helped his grandmother with her iPhone and iPad. He taught her how to text and use Faccbook. He also downloaded a Scrabble app for her to play. “She loved it,”he said, not without a trace of pride.

That experience inspired him and his parents, Adam and Heather. They reached out to a connection at Coral Gables and launched a website, techmaxed. com. He also recruited(招募)other teens to teach the one-on-one lessons in Coral Gables. These youths go to the retirement communities at least once a month. Though teaching a class might appear to be more expedient,soon Max found out that group sessions simply didn't work.“People are at different levels,and it was hard to teach that way," he said. “It's much better to give them individual help.” “Most people come more than once,” he added. “I have my regulars.”

“First he showed me how to get my email on the phone,” Rosen, 88, said, “and then he wrote up a short step-by-step guide for me so I could remember.” Max admits that teaching older adults takes time, but he figures he's also paying it forward.

“Maybe when I'm 87 and there's new technology,”   he said, “somebody will teach me, too.”

1. What can we infer about Sarah Wishnia when she received the iPad?

A．She had no interest in it.	B．She could not shop on Amazon.
C．She had some difficulty using it.	D．She managed to use it by herself.

2. Why did Max begin teaching seniors to use smart devices?

A．Because he was familiar with the new frontier.

B．Because he enjoyed talking with senior residents.

C．Because he wanted to apply the new technology.

D．Because he got inspired after teaching his grandma.

3. Which of the following best explains “expedient” underlined in paragraph 2?

A．Exhausting.	B．Practical.
C．Profitable.	D．Creative.

4. Where is this text most likely from?

A．A science book.	B．A travel guide.
C．A local newspaper.	D．A product introduction.

10 . Los Angeles is always a popular holiday destination. To fully enjoy your travel there, you should know its food, weather, and also traffic. While driving in L. A. is similar to that in other areas, there are a few specific rules to note.

HOV lanes (车道)

On many L. A. freeways, one or more lanes at the far left are used as high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes. They usually have limited access and you can only enter or exit where there is a break in the double yellow line. Most HOV lanes require a minimum of two people in the car; some require three. Vehicles towing trailers (拖车) are NOT allowed in the HOV lane, regardless of how many people are in them.

Toll (收费) lanes

On certain freeways, the HOV lanes are double-purposed as toll lanes for people driving alone who have a FasTrak, an electronic toll collection system. Therefore, you also have to have one in that lane as a HOV, which is inconvenient if you’re just visiting. FasTrak is in effect on parts of the 110 freeway between the 405 and 10 freeways, and on parts of the 10 freeway east of Downtown L. A.

Cell phones

It is against the law to talk on a cell phone while driving without using a hands-free device. Holding a cell phone to your ear while driving will land you with a ticket.

Alcohol

Driving under the influence is taken seriously in L.A. The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.08%, but you can be charged with lower levels if they show you can’t function normally. Placing an opened bottle of alcohol in the passenger area while driving (or sitting) is illegal. Any opened container of alcohol has to be transported in the trunk.

1. What do you know about HOV lanes?

A．They encourage people to share cars.

B．They are on the far right of freeways.

C．They are intended for larger vehicles.

D．They allow cars to enter over the double yellow line.

2. Which is surely against the road rules in L. A.?

A．Driving on the 110 freeway with a FasTrak.

B．Putting the cell phone in the car while driving.

C．Riding with an opened bottle of alcohol in back seats.

D．Going below the blood alcohol limit of 0. 08%.

3. Where is the text most probably taken from?

A．A traffic law.	B．A road map.
C．A guidebook.	D．A report.