1 . The damage that aging does to a body extends all the way down to the cellular level. But the damage increased by cells in older muscles is especially severe, because the cells do not reproduce easily and they become weaker as their mitochondria (线粒体), which produce energy, reduce in energy and number. A study, however, suggests that certain sorts of exercise may remove some of what time can do to our mitochondria.

Exercise is good for people, as everyone knows. But scientists have surprisingly little understanding of its cellular impacts and how those might vary by activity and the age of the exerciser. So researchers recently conducted an experiment on the cells of 72 healthy but sedentary (久坐的) men and women who were 30 or younger or older than 64. After baseline measures were established for their aerobic (有氧的) fitness, their blood-sugar levels and the gene activity and mitochondrial health in their muscle cells, the volunteers were randomly assigned to a particular exercise program.

Some of them did weight training several times a week; some did interval training three times a week on exercise bicycles; some rode exercise bikes at a appropriate pace for 30 minutes a few times a week and lifted weights lightly on other days. A fourth group, the control, did not exercise. After 12 weeks, the lab tests were repeated. In general, everyone experienced improvements in fitness and an ability io regulate blood sugar.

But more unexpected results were found in the biopsies (活组织检查) muscle cells. Among the younger subjects who went through interval training, the activity levels had changed in 274 genes, compared with 170 genes for those who exercised more appropriately and 74 for the weight lifters. Among the older group, almost 400 genes were working differently now, compared with 33 for the weight lifters and only 19 for the appropriate exercisers.

It seems exercise could help contain the decline in the cellular health of muscles associated with aging, especially if it was intense, says Dr. Sreekumaran Nair, the study's senior author. In fact, older people's cells responded in some ways more strongly to intense exercise than the cells of the young did - suggesting, he says, that it is never too late to benefit from exercise.

1. Which of the following is the best title for the text?

A．Exercise Might Benefit Aging Muscles.

B．Exercise Might Increase Aging Muscles.

C．Exercise Might Do Harm to Mitochondria.

D．Aging Mainly Occurs in the Cellular Level.

2. What can we know about the experiment mentioned in Paragraph 2?

A．Volunteers can   not be good at exercising.

B．All volunteers must have the same baseline.

C．It was carried out among the youth of different sexes.

D．Volunteers received a random particular exercise program.

3. How does the author develop Paragraph 3?

A．By analyzing every group's different data.

B．By comparing every group's training time.

C．By listing every group's different training.

D．By describing every group's training results.

4. What can be inferred from Paragraph 4?

A．The experiment did not get expected results.

B．Riding exercise bikes has no influence on the volunteers.

C．Weight lifting is the most useful training among these exercises.

D．Interval training brings stronger influence to the elder than to the youth.

5. Which can replace the underlined word ''contain''?

A．Change.

B．Stop.

C．Record.

D．Cause.

2 . It was late, about 10:15 p.m. Janice Esposito got off the train at Bellport, New York, went to her car and started driving home. She was so familiar with the route that she almost drove automatically: turned left to the Station Road, then another left onto Montauk Highway, and then — bam! When Esposito’s car had just crossed the railroad tracks, it hit another vehicle and was plashed back onto the tracks. Injured but mostly shocked by the crash and by the airbags that popped up, she was stuck in the vehicle.

As it happened, Pete Dipinto was just about to go to sleep when he heard a sharp noise and saw the accident not far outside his bedroom window. As a volunteer firefighter and retired teacher, Dipinto who was 65, fetched a flashlight and rushed out without hesitation. “Any firefighter would have done what I did. We're always on duty.” he said.

At first, he spoiled the other car in the accident. After making sure that the driver was all right, Dipinto looked around and discovered Esposito’s car straddling (跨立于) the railway tracks. And then he heard die bell ring, which signaled a train’s arrival.

Dipinto rushed to Esposito’s car and broke the window on the driver’s side. Esposito looked up at him, with her eyes glazing over, “I don't know where I am.” she said.

“You’re on the railroad tracks,” Dipinto yelled. “I have to get you off right now!” The train was running toward them at a speed of some 105, kilometers per hour. The driver’s door cannot be opened due to the collision, so Dipinto quickly ran to the other side and managed to open the door. He put the airbags aside, seized her arms, pulled her toward him across the passenger seat until finally got her out and walked her to safety as swiftly as possible. Several seconds later, the train crashed into the vehicle. It was like a Hollywood movie, Dipinto told reporters the next day.

“Last night?” said Gregory Miglino Jr. Chief of the Department in South Country Ambulance, the hero arrived in pajamas (睡衣), not in a fire truck.”

1. What can we know about the accident from Paragraph 1?

A．Esposito’s car hit another vehicle.

B．Esposito drove too fast.

C．Esposito didn’t know the route well.

D．A running train crashed into Esposito’s car.

2. How was Janice Esposito right after the accident?

A．She felt all right.

B．She was badly hurt.

C．She got stuck in the car.

D．She completely lost her consciousness.

3. What does the underlined word “collision” mean in Paragraph 5?

A．Moving object crashes into something.

B．To be moving slowly in the same direction.

C．A strong disagreement between two groups.

D．An idea occurs when two different cultures conflict.

4. How was Janice Esposito rescued from her car?

A．Through the window on the driver’s side.

B．Through the door on the driver’s side.

C．Through the window on the passenger’s side.

D．Through the door on the passenger’s side.

5. What did Gregory Miglino Jr. mean by “the hero arrived in pajamas, not in a fire truck”?

A．Dipinto was not a professional firefighter.

B．Dipinto rushed to save life without thinking about himself.

C．Dipinto was a special firefighter who liked wearing pajamas.

D．Dipinto was unable to find a fire truck when the accident happened.

4 . A Teacher’s Lifesaving Call

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Julia Koch began what was only her second year as a first grade teacher in a virtual classroom.

One September afternoon a few weeks into the school year, she received a call from Cynthia Phillips, who was having technical difficulties with her granddaughter’s tools for online learning.

Koch immediately knew something was wrong with Phillips. The two women had spoken numerous times before, but Koch had never heard the grandmother sound quite like this. Her words were so jumbled that Koch could barely understand her, though she was able to make out that Phillips had fallen four times that day.

Koch called her principal, Charlie Lovelady, who assured her that he would call and check on Phillips himself.

Just like Koch, Lovelady could barely understand Phillips. He suspected she might be having a stroke—he recognized the signs from when his own father had suffered one. Lovelady was able to make out the word “kids” and immediately became concerned that Phillips’s two grandchildren, aged six and eight, were probably home alone with her—she   is   their primary guardian—and scared. Lovelady asked his office manager to send an ambulance to the grandmother’s home. Then Lovelady called two deans in the school district, to tell them what was going on, both of whom dropped everything and drove to the family’s home.

When they pulled up less than ten minutes later, the EMTs(急救人员)were treating Phillips while the two girls, looking visibly shaken, were outside with a neighbor.

The quick response from Koch and Lovelady saved Phillips’s life. She arrived at the hospital in time to get treatment and before chronic damage occurred.

“If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be here,” said Phillips from her hospital bed about a month after her stroke.

Thanks to an extended stay in the hospital, she has regained most of the movement throughout her body except for one hand and a portion of her mouth, which affects her speech.

1. When did the story happen?

A．When Koch was in her first grade.

B．When the grandchildren were having online classes.

C．When Lovelady was with his own father.

D．When the EMTs were giving medical help to Phillips.

2. Why did Koch know that Phillips was in trouble?

A．Because Phillips’s voice sounded strange.

B．Because Phillips had seldom called Koch.

C．Because Phillips spoke a strange language.

D．Because Koch could not hear very clearly.

3. How did Lovelady know that Phillips might be having a stroke?

A．By calling the hospital for advice.

B．By visiting Phillips in person.

C．By recognizing the signs he knew.

D．By asking the office workers for help.

4. The underlined word “chronic” in Paragraph 7 may best be replaced by ____.

A．minor.

B．unknown.

C．obvious.

D．serious.

5. What is one of the bad effects the stroke left on Phillips?

A．She could not move about properly.

B．She could not speak clearly.

C．She could not have meals properly.

D．She could not use her hands as before.

5 . One summer during high school, my mom volunteered me to help Grandpa research our family tree. Great, I thought, imagining hours spent pawing through dusty, rotting boxes and listening to boring stories about people I didn't know. "You'll be surprised," my mom promised, "Family histories can be very interesting."

In truth, Grandpa didn't want to limit my work to just research, hoping to also preserve our family memories. He'd discovered a computer program that helps digitally scan old pictures and letters to preserve their contents before they crumble from old age. Grandpa wanted me to help him connect the scanner and set up the computer program. He could type documents and send emails, but had never used a scanner.

Soon after, I became fascinated with my relatives' lives. I asked Grandpa to tell the story behind every picture and letter we scanned. The stories, which turned out not to be boring at all, helped me not only understand but also relate to my relatives. I became so hungry for more information that Grandpa needed additional props to keep me satisfied. He showed me a chest filled with random stuff, all covered in dust.

Perusing through their belongings, I felt I was opening a window into the world of my relatives, a world long since gone. Grandpa showed me a bundle of letters he had sent to Grandma from the front lines of World War II and I could almost smell the gunpowder. I turned the pages of my great-grandmother's recipe book and could picture her cooking in her kitchen. All of the people who had been merely names to me now had faces to match.

Later, Grandpa admitted, "I probably could have done this project myself. I just wanted someone to share it with." I can't thank him enough for sharing the experience and making me appreciate the family members who have made me the person I am. I will cherish family memories and hope that someday will be able to pass them down to my own grandchildren.

1. Which of the following can best describe the author's first impression of research?

A．Delightful.	B．Tiresome.
C．Surprising.	D．Interesting

2. What does the underlined word "crumble" in paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．Come to life.	B．Tear apart.
C．Fall to pieces.	D．Break through.

3. Why did Grandpa give the author a chest?

A．To show him a bundle of letters.	B．To keep him away from boredom.
C．To give him something to sort out.	D．To fulfill his desire to know more.

4. What can we learn about Grandpa from the passage?

A．He used to serve in the army.	B．He knew nothing about computer.
C．He buried the letters under gunpowder.	D．He loved sharing what he had with others.

5. The best title of the passage is _______.

A．Precious family memories	B．My grandpa and his belongings
C．My grandpa and his family tree	D．Helping my grandpa in summer

6 . Maybe no one forgets their first bicycle and there is no exception to a woman like me. Mine was a Schwinn coaster bike, second-hand, painted a distinctive red and yellow by its previous owner. I remember riding too fast down the big hill on Springfield Avenue. I knew at once that the world was mine to explore.

A couple of years later, when I was 11, my grandmother visited from England, bringing me a bike. It was a shiny dark green, with three gears (齿轮) and hand brakes. As the owner of the first English bicycle my neighbors had ever seen, I was, for a time, almost a star.

Unlike my coaster bike, it was light and responsive — riding it felt like flying. I rode it past big stone houses with their huge yards and trees. I rode past brick row houses. I rode alone and with groups of friends.

That beloved bike went with me to college, carrying me to the library and to classes. Beyond transport, it was often a prop (道具): pushing it along as I walked the college paths made me feel less self-conscious. Somehow, conversation flowed more easily on either side of a bike.

After college, I lived abroad for a time. Returning from London, I discovered to my horror that my parents had sold my bike. They didn’t even know who had bought it.

For years after that, I didn’t have a bicycle that was specifically mine. Teaching in a New England prep school, I simply rode whatever bikes its graduates had left behind. I rode around the little town on bikes which slipped in and out of gear, with brakes that often failed.

I did not take any of those bikes with me when I moved south to the coastal town where I now live. But after a while I missed riding. Finally, on a fall day, I bought a bicycle. Called a comfort bike, it has wider tires than my old bike and seven gears. But it is green — a brighter green bike.

Still, I was a bit apprehensive. I was out of practice and a lot older. I brought the bike home and put on my helmet — I’d never worn a helmet before. Then I got on the bike. After a tentative, slightly shaky start, I fell exactly as I was on that long-ago day on Springfield Avenue: free. Soon I was riding along. It seemed that everyone I passed smiled and waved or call out, great day for a bike ride! And I knew they all remembered their first bike and how it had set them free. I wanted to call back to them, “I still can!”

1. According to the article, the author’s beloved bike ________.

A．was a red and yellow coaster bike

B．made her the envy of all her friends

C．was her birthday gift from her grandmother

D．made her shy and awkward at times at college

2. While pushing the English bike along, the author________.

A．felt bored	B．felt special
C．became talkative	D．became lost in thought

3. When she was teaching at a prep school, the author ________.

A．didn’t like her once-beloved bike

B．got out of the habit of riding bikes

C．loved exploring the little town by riding around

D．rode bikes that had been recommended to her by graduates

4. What does the underlined word “apprehensive” in Paragraph 6 mean?

A．Dissatisfied.

B．Excited.

C．Shocked.

D．Fearful.

5. What was the author’s main purpose in writing this article?

A．To describe the different bikes she has been riding alone.

B．To recall the joy and freedom she has enjoyed thanks to riding.

C．To inform us of the fun and benefits of riding bikes with others.

D．To tell us about how she grew up through her riding experiences.

9 . The playing field is never even or equal. Your skills and attitude play a major role in the outcome. Knowing what you can do to have an advantage can make the difference between success and failure.

My kids tell me it's unfair to play with the big children. I tell them that's right. Unfairness is a good thing. There is more to be gained by the effort when things seem unfair. It is true that many things in the world are unfair. But unfair things usually can be a boon to you. For example, the early bird catches the worm. It is unfair that the bird that sleeps in misses out on breakfast but it is nice to know that if it gets up early it is sure to get the worm.

I always try to explain to my kids that complaining about how unfair something is will get them nowhere. Instead, make the most out of it and get on the other side of it. Once you do that you are in the advantage. Above all, you have to focus on gaining that unfair advantage and in order to do that, build your inner strength, When you empower （武装） yourself, you are gaining skills or abilities, confidence and self-esteem （自尊）.

You should look at your place in the world. Where do you want io be financially, spiritually, emotionally, and physically ? You are creating your own story when you empower yourself.

You can build all the advantages that you need to live the life that you want. If you haven't yet, you need to make a list of all the things you want to experience in your new life. This will help you focus on building advantages so that you never have to say that it's Not Fair. When you do this then you will be able to realize that unfairness is a good thing and you will want to teach those around you to see unfairness in this way too.

1. What does the underlined word "boon" in Paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．Something that is very terrible.	B．Something that is very helpful
C．Something that is very kind	D．Something that is very scared

2. What can we infer from the example of the playing field used by the author?

A．The author wants to introduce his topic

B．The author wants to support his opinion

C．He wants tell us that having an advantage is needed

D．He wants to show skills and attitudes are important in playing games

3. What is the best way to deal with unfairness according to the author?

A．Just accept it.	B．Thy to change it.
C．Simply ignore it.	D．Make good use of it.

4. You are told to look at your place in the world in order to ________.

A．make yourself better	B．be proud of yourself
C．have more confidence	D．know others' advantages

5. What is the text mainly about?

A．The way to live a happy life.	B．The right attitude to unfairness.
C．Being patient enough to succeed.	D．Staying calm when treated badly.

10 . Thanks to its harsh environment, Antarctica remained largely untouched by humans for many millennia, allowing a thriving ecosystem to evolve. However, since the 1990s, the last true wilderness on the planet is becoming an increasingly popular destination for adventure-seeking tourists. Now, a new study declares that the visitors may be leaving behind harmful bacteria which could devastate the area's native bird population.

Humans can infect animals with illnesses such as the flu. Researchers, however, believed that the Antarctic animals were immune to the danger due to the continent's extreme weather. However, microbiologist Marta Cerda-Cuellar was not convinced.

She and some colleagues decided to examine waste samples from Antarctic birds for evidence of human bacteria. To ensure the waste was not polluted, the scientists had to collect it from the birds themselves.

The results of their study revealed the presence of several types of human bacteria in the bird waste. This included a common strain (品种) of bacteria that causes food poisoning in humans. The researchers say the bacteria strains were resistant to commonly-used human antibiotics, indicating they were brought in by the visitors, rather than migratory birds (候鸟).

“These strains, which are a common cause for infections in humans and livestock, do not usually cause death outbreaks in wild animals," says Gonzalez-Solis. "However, the emerging or invasive pathogens (病原体) that arrive to highly sensitive populations could have severe consequences and cause the local collapse and extinction of some populations." The researcher also fears the presence of these bugs could foreshadow the arrival of other, more deadly, pathogens as the number of tourists people increases.

Experts believe the only way to prevent the mass destruction of the birds is to impose stricter regulations or, at least, put the ones already in place into effect. For example, while the Antarctica Treaty requires visitors to carry their waste back home to safeguard the pristine environment, the regulation is rarely enforced. Nowadays, some officials are taking steps to save the vulnerable birds before it's too late.

1. What problem is Antarctica facing according to Paragraph 1&2?

A．The increasing number of tourists.	B．The worsening wilderness.
C．The replaced native bird population.	D．The spread of infectious illnesses.

2. What does the underlined word "devastate" mean?

A．Destroy.

B．Increase.

C．Protect.

D．Benefit.

3. Why did the scientists need to catch some Antarctic animals?

A．To treat their illness.	B．To get their waste.
C．To raise them as pets.	D．To study their lifestyles.

4. What did the scientists prove in their study?

A．Bacteria can be killed by human antibiotics.

B．Extreme weather keeps Antarctic animals healthy.

C．Humans bring bacteria to Antarctica.

D．Antarctic animals are immune to human bacteria.

5. What is the author's attitude towards the prospect of bird population in Antarctica?

A．Indifferent.

B．Doubtful.

C．Ambiguous.

D．Optimistic.

6. In what section in a newspaper can you find the passage?

A．Entertainment.

B．Travel.

C．Nature.

D．Education.