3 . I have always found the Chinese to be a very polite people. In particular, Chinese frequently compliment (称赞) foreign friends on their language skills, knowledge of Chinese culture, professional accomplishments, and personal health. Curiously, however, Chinese are as loath to accept a compliment as they are eager to give one. As many of my Chinese friends have explained, this is a sign of the Chinese virtue of modesty.

I have noticed a difference, though, in the degree to which modesty is emphasized in the United States and China. In the US, we tend to place more emphasis on “seeking the truth from fact”, thus, Americans tend to accept a compliment with gratitude.

Chinese, on the other hand, tend to reject the compliment, even when they know they deserve the credit or recognition which has been awarded them. I can imagine a Chinese basketball fan meeting Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls. He might say, “Mr. Jordan, I am so happy to meet you. I just want to tell you, you are the best basketball player in the world; you’re the greatest!” to which Jordan would probably respond, “Thank you very much. I really appreciate it! I just to try to do my best every time I step on the court.” If an American met Deng Yaping, China’s premier pingpong player, he might say much the same thing: “Ms. Deng, you’re the best!” but as a Chinese, Deng would probably say, “No, I really don’t play all that well. You’re too much kind.”

Plainly, Americans and Chinese have different ways of responding to praise. Ironically, many Americans might consider Ms. Deng’s response the less modest, because it is less truthful—and therefore less sincere. Americans generally place sincerity above manners; genuine gratitude for the praise serves as a substitute for protestations of modesty. After all, in the words of one of my closest Chinese friends, modesty taken to the extreme is pride.

1. What does the underlined word “loath” in paragraph 1 refer to?

A．Polite.

B．Uncertain.

C．Curious.

D．Unwilling.

2. Why does the author mention Michael Jordan and Deng Yaping?

A．To note they do as much as they can each time they play against others.

B．To remind readers they are the best players in basketball and table tennis.

C．To explain they deserve the credit or recognition for their great contributions.

D．To show they as Chinese and Americans are different in accepting praise.

3. Why do Americans consider Ms. Deng’s response the less modest?

A．They think sincerity matters the most.	B．They think her reply is against the fact.
C．They think she is too modest to believe.	D．They think manners is more important.

4. In what column can you find this passage in a newspaper?

A．Education.

B．Sports.

C．Culture.

D．People.

4 . Our ships boast a sea of vacation possibilities for every guest. Like the chance to learn Italian, salsa dancing (萨尔萨舞), or the recipe (食谱) for a perfect martini (马提尼酒). To conquer the rock climbing wall and ice skate on the equator. Or slow things down with a hot stone massage (按摩) and duty-free designer shopping. See, do and learn more at sea than you ever thought possible.

North Star

The exclusive North Star promises to heighten your worldview. Simply step into the North Star’s closed, jewel-shaped capsule and gently climb over 300 feet above sea level. Take in breathtaking views of the ocean, the ship, and the exciting destinations that we visit.

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean is teaming up with World Wildlife Fund to save our oceans and protect sea life. Join us in making a difference by symbolically adopting a sea turtle or get involved with numerous other activities both on board and ashore, like the Walk for Sea Turtles. Together we can turn the tide.

SeaPlex

SeaPlex is not only the largest indoor active space at sea, but also the most modern and creative. By day, experience a circus school and flying trapeze (高空秋千), as well as a full-size regulation (正规的) basketball court. By night, the first-ever bumper car (碰碰车) and roller skating offerings at sea will deliver thrills, with music provided by a floating DJ booth that hovers above the activity happening below.

Rock Climbing

Rise to the occasion and take on our signature rock climbing wall. From beginners to speed climbers, everyone can enjoy an unparalleled view from 40 feet above deck. Included in your fare, no reservation required.

1. If you are willing to have a good view of the ocean or sea from above, what should you try?

A．North Star.	B．Royal Caribbean.
C．SeaPlex.	D．Rock Climbing.

2. Who are especially interested in SeaPlex?

A．People who are fond of eating delicious food.

B．People who want to have a turtle as a pet.

C．People who want to save some money.

D．People who want to listen to music while playing.

3. Where is this article probably taken from?

A．A letter.	B．An advertisement.
C．A personal diary.	D．A newspaper article.

5 . Imagine that you found a wallet in the street containing a stranger 's contact details but no cash. Would you go out of your way to return it to its owner? Now imagine that the same wallet contained a few banknotes. Would that change your response? Alain Cohn of the University of Michigan and his colleagues have taken such behavioral economics around the world.

In different countries Dr. Cohn's research assistants entered public buildings like banks, museums and police stations. They handed in a fake wallet to an employee in the reception area, saying they had found it on the street outside, before making a hurried exit. Each wallet was a see-through plastic card case containing three identical business cards with a unique email address and a fake native's name, a shopping list and a key. Most importantly, some wallets also included $13.45, while some had no cash. Then, the team simply waited to see who would email the “owner” about returning the wallet.

In 38 of the 40 countries, the wallets with money in them were returned more often than those without: 51% compared with 40% for the cashless. While rates of honesty varied greatly between different countries, the difference within individual countries between the two return rates was quite stable around 11 percentage points. In addition, wallets containing a larger sum of money ($94.15) were even more likely (by about another ten percentage points) to be returned than those with less, although the “big money” experiment was done in only three countries.

With greater temptation (诱惑), then, comes greater honesty - at least when it comes to lost wallets and small cash. Interestingly, though, when Dr. Cohn and his team surveyed a sample of 299 volunteers, most of them predicted that the more money there was in a wallet, the more likely it was that it would be kept.

A certain doubt about the motivation of others is probably good for survival, so the response of the general population may be understandable. But is the warm inner satisfaction coming from “doing the right thing” also a powerful reason? As this study shows, such thought is real and universal

1. What does Dr. Cohn's research team try to find out?

A．How long it usually takes before a lost wallet is returned.

B．How people of different occupations react to lost w alts.

C．How people behave differently at public and private places.

D．How people respond to lost wallets of varying amounts of cash.

2. What is the second paragraph mainly about?

A．Work division in the team.	B．Detailed arrangements.
C．Contents inside the wallets.	D．Preparations made in advance.

3. What does Dr. Cohn's research find about rates of honesty?

A．They drop with bigger money.	B．They vary from country to country.
C．They are quite the same globally.	D．They are stable, unrelated to money.

4. From which is the text probably taken?

A．A research paper.	B．A travel brochure.
C．A psychology magazine.	D．An economy newspaper.

6 . 2019-nCoV, a cousin of the SARS virus, has infected more than 10000 people since the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December. Scientist Leo Poon, who first decoded the novel virus, thinks it likely started in an animal and spread to humans.

“What we know is that it causes pneumonia (肺炎) and then doesn’t respond to antibiotic (抗生素) treatment, which is not surprising, but then in terms of death rate, SARS kills 10% of the individuals,” Poon, a virologist at the School of Public Health at The University of Hong Kong, said.

2019-nCoV can make people sick, usually with a mild to moderate upper respiratory tract illness (上呼吸道疾病), similar to a common cold. Coronavirus symptoms include a runny nose, cough, sore throat, possibly a headache and maybe a fever, which can last for a couple of days. For those with a weakened immune system, the elderly, there’s a chance that the virus could cause a lower, and much more serious, respiratory tract illness like a pneumonia orbronchitis (支气管炎).

There are a handful of human coronaviruses that are known to be deadly.

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (中东呼吸综合征), also known as the MERS virus, was first reported in the Middle East in 2012 and also causes respiratory problems, but those symptoms are much more severe. Three to four out of every 10 patients infected with MERS died, according to the CDC.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, also known as SARS, is the other coronavirus that can cause more severe symptoms. First identified in Guangdong Province in southern China, according to the WHO, it causes respiratory problems but can also cause diarrhea (腹泻), fatigue (疲劳), shortness of breath, respiratory distress (呼吸窘迫) and kidney failure (肾衰). Depending on the patient’s age, the death rate with SARS ranged from 0-50% of the cases, with older people being the most vulnerable (易受伤害的).

Viruses can spread from human contact with animals. Scientists think MERS started in camels, according to the WHO. With SARS, scientists suspected civet cats were to blame.

When it comes to human-to-human transmission of 2019-nCoV, often it happens when someone comes into contact with the infected person’s secretions (分泌物). Depending on how virulent (有毒的) the virus is, a cough, sneeze or handshake could cause exposure. The virus can also be transmitted by touching something an infected person has touched and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes. Caregivers (护理人员) can sometimes be exposed by handling a patient’s waste, according to the CDC.

1. Which of the following can explain the underlined word “decoded”in paragraph 1?

A．found or discovered something.

B．put something into a code.

C．changed something into ordinary language.

D．changed something into a form that can be processed.

2. Which of the following statements is true?

A．Antibiotic treatment has some effect on 2019-nCoV.

B．2019-nCoV usually causes severe illness similar to a pneumonia or bronchitis.

C．Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia, MERS and SARS are all caused by corona viruses.

D．2019-nCoV spreads just by getting close to the infected person.

3. What type of writing is the passage?

A．An instruction.	B．A news report.
C．An advertisement.	D．A scientific paper.

7 . Whether you're looking for antiques, food, collectors' items or just random junk, our rich heritage has produced some of the finest markets in the world. Here are 3 of them.

Edinburgh Farmers’ Market

Traders have long sold their goods in the shadow of the city’s spectacular castle, which dates back to 1130—－and it’s a tradition that shows no sign of abating. Edinburgh Farmers’ Market takes place on Castle Terrace every Saturday and attracts a huge crowd with its locally sourced goods. The market is now in its 15th year and champions the very best in Scottish produce, from knitwear to organic water buffalo and lobster.

Ford Airfield Market

Looking for an old-style prosthetic leg, a ventriloquist’s dummy, or even a suit of armour? The chances are you will find what you are after—and plenty of other random stuff—at one of the hundreds of stalls here. A market and two huge car-boot sales are held throughout the week all year round, come rain or shine.The market has been running for 25 years and is a well-known treasure trove for antiques experts looking for a bargain.

St George’s Market

Follow your nose along May Street in Belfast and the smells of delicious home-made food from across the globe will land you in St George’s Market. With three different weekly markets accompanied by fresh food and live music, St George’s was once voted the best in the UK. When Belfast became an important port in the 17th century, the range of goods grew and trading thrived.

1. What is special about Edinburgh Farmers’ Market?

A．It lasts a long time.

B．It provides local products.

C．It offers all kinds of food.

D．It attracts antiques experts.

2. When was the trading at St George’s Market booming?

A．It the year of 1130.

B．Fifteen years ago.

C．In the 17th century

D．Twenty-five years ago.

3. Where is this text most likely from ?

A．A diary.	B．A novel.
C．A website.	D．A magazine.

8 . Smart Home Products for Living a Connected Life

What makes something a smart home product? Generally, it’s defined by its ability to connect to a Wi-Fi network, allowing users to interact（互动）with it from their smartphones.We’ve rounded up some cool, diverse offerings that you’ll love to have in your home.

Nest Cam IQ

walmart.com

$299.00

The Nest Cam IQ is a beautifully designed home security camera that can recognize faces. It can warn you if there’s a stranger in your home. The device also supports two-way communication via built-in microphones and a powerful speaker.

Logitech Harmony Elite

amazon.com

$249.99

The Logitech Harmony Elite is one of the best universal remote controls available on the market. It can control just about every piece of electronics you own（it supports over 270，000 devices！）in every room of your house or apartment, including TVs，streaming devices, and sound systems.

Apple HomePod

bhphotovideo.com

$349.00

The Apple HomePod has better audio quality than any other smart speaker available today. Available in white or space gray, the Siri-powered device also allows you to control a number of devices with your voice.

August Smart Lock Pro

amazon.com

$279.99

The August Smart Lock Pro is compatible（兼容的）with most locks. A mobile app allows you to manage access to the lock, check its usage history, and get informed when someone opens the door. You can control it and check on the state of your door with voice commands.

1. What can the Nest Cam IQ help you do？

A．Properly use your smartphone camera

B．Control electronics with your voice.

C．Check the locks of your house.

D．Keep your home safe.

2. Which device can help you operate almost all your electronic equipment remotely？

A．Nest Cam IQ.

B．Apple HomePod.

C．August Smart Lock Pro.

D．Logitech Harmony Elite.

3. Which column of a website is the text most probably taken from？

A．Technology.

B．News.

C．Society.

D．Education.