2 . Waking up with “morning breath” is quite normal, and it usually goes away after eating and drinking, or brushing your teeth. Your breath can also smell different after drinking coffee or alcohol, or eating spicy food, garlic or onions—sometimes you may think you've got bad breath when actually it's quite okay.

However, if you're concerned or embarrassed about halitosis（口臭）—ongoing bad breath, a trip to the doctor or dentist should be in order, because there could be something else going on with your health.

Your mouth is the first place to investigate the origin of bad breath. When smell-causing bacteria attack food after eating, they release strong-smelling sulphur（硫）. People with halitosis may have more of these bacteria present in their mouth. Additionally, not cleaning, or brushing your teeth properly leads to a build-up of harmful substances on the teeth, and can cause some swelling and strong smell in the mouth. Medical conditions that reduce the amount of saliva（唾液）in the mouth can cause problems too. That's because saliva keeps the mouth just wet, reducing strong smell.

Strong-smelling breath can be a symptom of medical conditions such as mouth or throat infections. A pear-smelling breath caused by high blood sugar, which occurs as a result of uncontrolled diabetes（糖尿病）, can also indicate some other serious diseases.

If you're worried how your breath smells at close range, nutritionist Katrina Pace comes to the rescue with simple tips. "Keep away from sharp-tasting food, drink and alcohol," Katrina said. "Drinking water regularly and chewing fresh parsley（欧芹）can also help."

1. When should we see a doctor about a bad breath?

A．After eating sharp-tasting food.	B．When waking up with morning breath
C．After drinking coffee or alcohol.	D．When having continuous smelly breath.

2. What does paragraph 3 mainly talk about?

A．The causes of bad breath.	B．The effects of medicines
C．The importance of saliva.	D．The necessity of teeth-brushing.

3. What can we learn from paragraph 4?

A．Strong-smelling breath may result in diabetes.

B．Mouth infections are a symptom of bad breath.

C．Pear-smelling breath may be a sign of some diseases

D．Throat infections are caused by strong-smelling breath.

4. In which section of a newspaper may this text appear?

A．Business.

B．Health

C．Education

D．Entertainment.

3 . Chuan cuisine(川菜), or Sichuan cuisine, is one of the eight major cuisines of China, originating from Sichuan. Chuan cuisine is world famous for its spiciness, but there's more than that.

Chuan cuisine often gives people the impression of being hot and spicy, which is true due to the cold and wet winter weather in the province, situated in southwest China. This distinct spicy flavor is from the use of strong pepper, chilies, garlic, thick broad-bean sauce(豆瓣酱) and other unique Sichuan ingredients such as ginger, mustard, etc. Some famous Sichuan dishes are as follows.

Kung Pao Chicken

Kung Pao Chicken is a traditional Sichuan cuisine, which is made from diced chicken (鸡丁) dried chilies and peanuts. Its tenderness of chicken, crispness of peanuts, and moderate spiciness are widely welcomed by the public. In the western countries, Kung Pao Chicken is widely spread and has become the representative sample of Chinese food, just like what pasta is for Italian cuisine.

Mapo Tofu

Mapo Tofu is actually sauteed(煎炒的)tofu in hot and spicy sauce. It is named after the lady Chen Mapo，who created its cooking method. The ingredients of Mapo Tofu include tofu，minced(切碎的) beef or pork，chilies and Sichuan pepper, which highlight the characteristics of Sichuan cuisine——hot and spicy.

Husband and Wife Lung Pieces

Husband and Wife Lung Pieces contains no lung. Named by the couple who created it in 1930s，it is actually sliced beef and ox organs in chili sauce. Seasonings(调味品) include Sichuan's local spicy oil, pepper, sesame (芝麻) seeds and other spices.

Sichuan Hotpot

Sichuan is nationally famous for its hotpot. Hotpot is a stew of meat and vegetables cooked in a simmering pot of soup stock and can be roughly divided into two types, spicy and clear (not spicy). But with dozens of seasonings, it also has hundreds of different flavors.

1. Why is Chuan cuisine so spicy?

A．Because of the high temperature.

B．Because of the cold weather.

C．Because of the bad location.

D．Because of the dry weather.

2. Which of the following dishes may be clear?

A．Kung Pao Chicken.	B．Mapo Tofu.
C．Husband and Wife Lung Piece.	D．Sichuan Hotpot.

3. In which column of a newspaper can we read this text?

A．Travel and transport.	B．History and geography.
C．Food and drink.	D．Interests and hobbies.

4 . Sleep Struggle

One in every five young people has a sleep problem, so you're not alone. Getting enough sleep has become as important as eating vegetables and exercising regularly. It's very important for your body.

Most young people only get seven hours of sleep each night, when they actually need nine hours. And making up for lost sleep during the week by sleeping on weekends doesn't really work. In fact, sleeping late on weekends may actually do you more harm than good, if you have sleep problems.

What happens if you don't get enough sleep? If your sleep problem continues for a few nights, you could suffer serious problems. Lack of sleep can affect learning and memory. Worse，if your sleep difficulties last a long time，that could lead to anxiety（焦虑）. Therefore，you've got to have some healthy sleep habits. Below are some suggestions:

* Go to bed at the same time—including weekends, if possible.

* Wake up around the same time every morning. When you sleep late just one morning during the week, it may disturb your body clock. This will make it hard for you to sleep that night.

* Do something relaxing before going to bed.

* Exercise during the day. Don't exercise right before going to bed.

* Avoid drinking. Alcohol（酒精）makes you excited. This prevents you from falling asleep or wakes you up during the night.

* Don't smoke. Smoking is always bad for the body. Smoking before bedtime keeps you awake.

If trying these tips over a couple of weeks does not help you, consult your doctor. Do not take any medicine without first asking your doctor. Many of them have strong side effects.

1. The passage suggests that people with sleep problems should      .

A．eat vegetables and exercise regularly

B．make up for lost sleep on weekends

C．follow a fixed timetable for sleep

D．sleep seven hours every day

2. According to the suggestions, which of the following makes it easier for you to fall asleep?

A．Getting up earlier than usual in the morning.

B．Listening to soft music before going to bed.

C．Drinking alcohol before going to bed.

D．Doing exercise in the evening.

3. What should you do if these tips don't work on you over a period of time?

A．Just keep trying.

B．Turn to a doctor for help.

C．Try some medicines.

D．Wait for your sleeping problems to get better.

4. Where is the text most likely from?

A．A diary.	B．A novel.
C．A travel guide.	D．A magazine.

5 . Nola （August 21, 1974 -November 22, 2015） was a northern white rhino who lived at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park near Escondido, California. At her death, she was one of only four remaining northern white rhinos in the world. The other three lived in Kenya. World Rhino Day, held on September 22, is to raise awareness（意识）of the less than 30,000 other rhinos left on Earth.

“Rhinos need our help today, not tomorrow. "Nola's lead keeper Jane Kennedy said. "Last year we lost over 1,200 rhinos just in South Africa. If we continue to lose more than 1,000 rhinos a year, in 10 to 20 years all the rhinos on the earth will be gone."

Unfortunately, most animals are in danger of dying out because of humans. Kennedy says, “Humans have either poached （偷猎）animals, or because there are over seven billion of us, we've taken up too much of the world's resources." Poachers illegally hunt rhinos for their horns （角）.They sell the horns for thousands of dollars per pound, to be used for art, jewelry, and decorations. Experts believe that one rhino is poached every eight hours.

In 1975, the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research started the Frozen Zoo, a program through which researchers have collected cell samples（细胞样品）from more than 8,000 different types of animals, including the northern white rhino. Scientists hope that by studying the rhino cells, they will get greater understanding of it, and will find ways to increase its numbers.

At the San Diego Zoo, children and adults are welcome to visit and speak with zookeepers to learn about rhinos. For more information, go to www.worldrhinoday.org.

1. What is the purpose of setting up a World Rhino Day?

A．To honor a rhino named Nola.

B．To draw people's attention to rhino protection.

C．To let people know the importance of wildlife protection.

D．To tell people there are still a great number of rhinos left on Earth.

2. What can we infer from paragraph 2?

A．Rhinos will die out soon.

B．The number of rhinos is increasing.

C．Rhinos are under good protection.

D．Immediate action should be taken to protect rhinos.

3. What's the main cause for the decrease of rhinos, according to Kennedy?

A．Human beings' technology.	B．The limited natural resources.
C．The pollution of the environment.	D．Diseases found on their horns.

4. In which part of a newspaper can you read such a passage?

A．Science.

B．Sports.

C．Education.

D．Business

6 . The 15-day Spring Festival is the biggest holiday of the year for many Chinese to leave from their jobs to travel home and see their loved ones. But along with gathering come a lot of traditions aimed at making sure the year ahead is lucky and happy.

Here are some key dos and don’ts that many Chinese follow before and after the Lunar New Year.

DOs
Set off fireworks

The more fireworks or firecrackers you set off, the better.

Not only do you light up the night sky with a symphony of color, but the loud banging sounds are thought to scare off evil spirits.

Eat dumplings

Eating dumplings is a popular tradition in northern China because dumplings not only taste good but also look like pieces of gold.

Clean your home

Sweep, mop, vacuum, steam-do anything and everything to make sure your home is clean before the midnight on Lunar New Year eve. The aim here is to free your home from any bad luck that’s accumulated over the past year.

DON’Ts
Wash or cut your hair

Leave your hair as it is on the first day of the New Year.

The Chinese character for hair is the same first character in the word for prosperity(发达).

This means washing or cutting it off is seen as washing your fortune away.

Clean post-New Year

Cleaning of any kind on the first day is strictly forbidden.

You clean your home to avoid any bad luck before the New Year - now you want to be sure not to wipe, sweep or wash away any of the good luck that arrives after midnight.

Buy books

It’s bad luck to buy them during the 15-day Spring Festival.

The Chinese word for "book" (shū) sounds exactly the same as the word for "lose’"-so buying a book is considered an invitation to bad luck.

Also, avoid giving books as gifts to anyone, because it’d be like wishing bad luck upon them.

1. Why is the Spring Festival the best time for many Chinese people according to the text?

A．They can enjoy a lor of delicious dishes.

B．They can get together with their family members.

C．It’s time for them to say good-bye to the past year.

D．The festival will bring them good luck and happiness.

2. You are expected to do the following on the first day of the New Year EXCEPT        .

A．setting off fireworks	B．enjoying tasty dumplings
C．cleaning your home	D．leaving your books untouched

3. In which section of a newspaper can we see the passage?

A．Advertisement.	B．Literature.
C．Culture.	D．Travel.

7 . Are Superheroes Good Role Models?

Superheroes are everywhere. But what effect, if any, do superheroes have on our behavior? Some experts believe superheroes may have a particularly important influence on children.

Children have very limited control over many areas of their lives. Therefore, pretending to be a superhero allows a child to act out and process any anxiety that they have, and thereby overcome or reduce hidden fears, says Dr. Amy Bailey, a clinical psychologist.

Bailey adds, "The risk to superhero play is that sometimes children’s behavior can become out of control and turn into chaotic play as a child becomes completely lost in these roles." She advises parents to keep children away from more aggressive（暴力的）shows and to have children focus on "other positive characteristics of their favorite hero, such as their clever thinking and care of others". Concern over the possible effect of aggressive behavior has led to some schools banning（禁止）superhero play from the classroom.

Other psychologists（心理学家）share this concern. Some point to the change of the superhero over time, and are dissatisfied with modern images. "There is a big difference in the movie superhero of today and the comic book superhero of yesterday" says Sharon Lamb. She compares the selfish, playboy millionaire Tony Stark（Iron Man）to a superhero of the past, such as Superman. Superman she points out, had a real job as a newspaper reporter and was devoted to fighting injustice（不公平）. More recent characters such as Iron Man "take advantage of women, show off wealth, and show their manhood with high-powered guns".

Jeff Greenberg, a social psychology professor, has his own idea of modern superheroes. According to him, superheroes give children confidence and can deliver a positive moral message. Many superheroes-such as Spider-Man or Superman-use their powers to protect the weak. And more modern superheroes such as Daredevil, who is blind, and Charles Xavier（Professor）, who is disabled, bring diversity（多样性） and present positive images of disability.

1. What can we learn from the passage?

A．Superheroes can have a negative effect on children.

B．Superheroes always encourage children to be confident.

C．The idea of the superhero remains the same over time.

D．Children should be kept away from superhero movies.

2. What do the underlined words "this concern" refer to?

A．The ban on superhero play in classroom.

B．The possible effect of aggressive behavior.

C．The various characteristics of superheroes.

D．The belief of children in superhuman strength.

3. In which part of the passage does the writer talk about the positive way of superheroes?

A．Paragraph 1 to Paragraph 2.

B．Paragraph 1 to Paragraph 3.

C．Paragraph 3 to Paragraph 5.

D．Paragraph 1 to Paragraph2 & Paragraph 5.

4. Which column（栏目）might this passage come from in a newspaper?

A．Science Research.	B．Breaking News.
C．World Screen.	D．Environment.

8 . Share your poems, get feedback (反馈) for your poetry, and enter poetry contests (竞 赛). Choose from the following poetry contests that you can enter. Get feedback for every poem that you write including your contest entries.

How It Works

As a member, you will get feedback for everything you write. You can enter poetry contests with cash prizes. You will be ranked ( 分等级). Write and see how the feedback you receive influences your rank. Since the year 2000 we have been helping writers improve their writing skills.

Poetry Contests in May

Friendship across cultures

Write a story about a friend that opened your world to another culture.

Deadline: Today!

Technology wars

Write a story on the topic provided in the announcement.

Deadline: Today!

Lyrics make the song

Poetry Contests in June

Pen your newest, and best, song lyric masterpieces and enter them into this contest.

NO POETRY ALLOWED FOR THIS CONTEST!

Must be song lyrics only.

Deadline: June 1st

Unexpected romance

Write a story that brings two people together, two people who don't necessarily realize that they belong together but the audience is rooting for them. Write a story for a cash prize.

Deadline: June 15th

*Click the following link to get more information: https://www.poetrylovers.cn/

1. Which of the following statements about the contests in May is NOT true?

A．They are topic-based.

B．They offer feedback to every entry.

C．The contestants can write whatever they like.

D．Entries are due when this announcement comes out.

2. If you want to take part in “Lyrics make the song”, you _______ .

A．can’t hand in a poem

B．should sing a song

C．get an opportunity to win a cash prize

D．must enter your work before July 3rd

3. Where does this text probably come from?

A．A writing guide book.	B．A poetry magazine.
C．A newspaper.	D．A website.

9 . Market traders and street vendors （摊贩）are making a comeback across China, and this time they find themselves equipped with a new set of digital skills essential to navigating the vast consumer market. To revitalize （复兴）retail stands, in a move aimed at stimulating domestic spending and stabilizing employment, the country's leading e-commerce platforms are lending a helping hand, offering services like accessible financing backed by technologies.

Domestic wholesale site 1688. com is among the first group of tech players with such offerings. At the heart of the action plan is an effort to link street vendors directly with factories, effectively avoiding middlemen and saving time and costs.

According to general manager Wang Hai, numerous small-scale merchants on the site have managed to gain the upper hand in price negotiations, while manufacturers are more willing to mass-produce as the economy of scale serves to reduce costs, thus creating a win-win situation.

“Data analytics also kicks in, giving traders some insight into current consumer trends so that they no longer need to operate their business purely based on intuition （直觉），and they can avoid stockpiling,“ Wang said. For instance, the most sought-after categories in markets are daily necessities _? underwear , digital gadgets and beauty products, according to the company, whereas the most passionate buyers come from Guangdong, Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces.

Meanwhile, to stabilize employment _, e-commerce major JD. com vowed to add a number of job positions that either require flexible working hours, allow working from home or are designed to promote startup businesses. For posts related to delivery, warehouse management and packaging, priority is given to people from poverty-stricken areas.

“The COVID-19 outbreak will accelerate the digital transformation of the real economy, and individual traders and smaller stores are no exception,^” said Xu Lei, CEO of JD's retail unit. "We have the capability and, more importantly, the responsibility to inject vitality （活力）into these entities, thus contributing to the economic rebound （回弹）and stabilizing employment.

1. What can we learn about e-commerce platforms like 1688. com?

A．They have an advantage in price negotiation.

B．Their efforts help street vendors cut the cost.

C．They increase production through technology.

D．Their services are financed by the government.

2. How does data analytics benefit traders?

A．By improving traders' business intuition.

B．By helping traders find out market trends.

C．By telling traders when to stockpile goods.

D．By aiding traders in controlling the market.

3. Who is more likely to get a delivery job from JD?

A．A person experienced in driving a truck.	B．A person willing to start a new business.
C．A person from an underdeveloped village.	D．A person preferring flexible working hours.

4. Which column of a newspaper is the passage probably taken from?

A．Culture.	B．World.
C．Lifestyle.	D．Business.

10 . China now has 52 sites included on the UNESCO World Heritage list, some of which may give you some clues on your next travel plan.

Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor

The Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor is located in Lin Tong County, near Xi’an city, capital of Shanxi province. A total of 8,000 life-size terracotta warriors, chariots and horses, and hundreds of bronze weapons have been unearthed from it. It is believed that it is a major archaeological find, called the eighth wonder of the world, paralleling Egypt’s pyramids.

Kulangsu, a Historic International Settlement

Kulangyu Island, known in the local dialect as Kulangsu, is located on the entry of the Jiulong River, facing the city of Xiamen , influenced by Western culture in the 19th century, especially music. With such a harmonious blend of Western music and Eastern culture, Gulangyu is naturally referred to as the “island of music”.

Qinghai Hoh Xil

Hoh Xil, located in the north-eastern end of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is China’s largest and the world’s third largest uninhabited area. Hoh Xil, with high altitude and fierce weather, no people to live there, is a paradise for wildlife and home to more than 230 species of wild animals including endangered species such as the Tibetan antelope.

Huangshan Mountain

Huangshan, known as “the loveliest mountain of China”, lies in the south of Anhui province in eastern China. The scenic area covers 154 sq km, famous for its peaks, rocks, pines, clouds and springs, with a rich cultural heritage.

1. Where will you go if you are interested in history during your stay in Xi’an?

A．Qinghai Hoh Xil.

B．Kulangsu.

C．Mausoleum.

D．Huangshan.

2. What is special for Kulangsu compared with the other three World Heritages mentioned in the passage?

A．Its beautiful scenery.

B．Its value in Archeology.

C．Its unique natural living environment for wildlife.

D．Its mixture of Western music and Eastern culture.

3. Where may the passage be taken from ?

A．A science fiction.

B．A history textbook.

C．A travel guidebook.

D．An entertainment magazine.