1 . What if your parents are too busy to cook dinner, so they give you a bag of candy…?
That’s exactly what some parents did in the 1920s in America. Back then, stores sold more kinds of candy than they do now. Most people thought it was as good for them as a healthy dinner. Many scientists also thought candy was good for people’s health.
Now, of course, we know that sugar isn’t good for us. But could it really be that bad if it tastes so delicious? Sadly, yes.
“Everyone loves sugar,” says Dr. Robert Lusting, a sugar expert. “But sugar has a dark side.” Take breakfast, for example. Sugary cereal (谷类植物) gives you energy, but only for a short time. Then you start to feel sleepy. Foods like oatmcal (麦片) and fruit give your body energy for hours. And eating a lot of sugar can cause health problems, including serious illnesses. These days, more and more children are getting illnesses caused by eating too much sugar.
The good news is that changing your diet can help—and fast. Lusting recently did a study that helped overweight children eat less sugar. All of the children who cut out sugar had fewer health problems in just 10 days.
Knowing the risks of eating too much sugar can help you make healthy food choices. Does this mean you have to give up sugar completely? No. It just means you should make sure you are eating plenty of healthy foods, like fresh fruit and vegetables. Most of us can eat candy sometimes, but just make sure it’s not your dinner.
1. In the 1920s in America, candy ___________.| A．came in fewer kinds than today |
| B．was often eaten after dinner |
| C．cost a lot more than today |
| D．was regarded as healthy |
| A．Energy. | B．Food. |
| C．Nutrition. | D．Vitamin. |
| A．Kids Like Candy | B．The Truth about Sugar |
| C．The Importance of Breakfast | D．Dangers of Being Overweight |
2 . Language learning apps are very popular now and offer opportunities to learn vocabulary and practice grammar. But there has been a discussion about just how effective such apps can be.
Among the most popular apps are Duolingo and Busuu. A former research found positive results on the use of them. But it mainly concentrated on studies with learners who had signed up for language courses and these apps worked as an after-class support, so the results were not always reliable. A recent study of 4,095 Busuu users has been carried out to find out if users can actually learn a language with an app.
Busuu provides learning materials for 12 different languages. It offers special models where some contents are ready for use for free while some contents are not. We find that its users are an even mix of men and women. More than half consider themselves to be at the beginner level because there is a reduction in users as their language levels go up. Most people use the app because of personal interest, or because they want to study or live abroad. Female users are likely to use it less often but for longer periods of time than male users.
Feedback in the app is highly thought of. More than 92% of the users say that the app has met their expectations and 86% consider the app as very good or good. In fact, more than 80% of the users surveyed strongly agree that using the app has helped them improve their knowledge of the language they are learning.
Besides, language learning apps also create an environment where mistakes are only known to the users, and this can address the performance nervousness that many learners suffer from when asked to speak a foreign language. So language teachers should encourage their students to use them to do the grammar work, leaving precious class time for more language communication.
1. What's the reason why the results of the former research weren't always reliable?| A．It was only carried out before class. |
| B．It only considered users of a limited（有限的）kind. |
| C．It just focused on positive results. |
| D．It used out-of-date methods. |
| A．All the contents are free to use. |
| B．Most users consider it satisfying. |
| C．It's used by more advanced learners. |
| D．It's more popular with female learners. |
| A．Deal with. | B．Write down. |
| C．Turn to. | D．Speak of. |
| A．Students won't suffer nervousness in learning languages by using Busuu. |
| B．Language learning apps are effective and satisfactory to language learners. |
| C．Language learning apps are very popular with most language teachers. |
| D．Students should be required to use apps for homework after class. |
3 . There is a huge need for shark fins (鳍) in Asian countries. As a result, many sharks are caught and killed. According to reports, sharks are being killed at an shocking rate (速度) of up to 273 million worldwide every year.
Some experts predict that if the killing continues at the current rate, many shark species will be lost forever. It can be very dangerous. Sharks are very important and they should be protected.
In a study of the east coast of the United States, 11 species of sharks were eliminated from their range. Of the 14 species of ocean life that those sharks used to eat, the populations of 12 exploded and caused great damage to the ecosystem. For example, the cownose ray (鳐) population was no longer kept under control by sharks and so grew out of control. As a result, the rays destroyed the population of bay scallops (扇贝), their favorite food. The scallop fishery, which had been in good condition for over 100 years, was destroyed completely. Also, the removal of the scallops most likely had an effect on water quality as they were no longer there to perform their function (功能) of cleaning the water.
Sharks tend to eat very efficiently (高效地), going after the old, sick, or slower fish in a population, keeping that population healthy. Sharks help keep many populations of ocean life to the right size so that those prey (猎物) species don’ t do harm to the ecosystem by becoming too populated. The ocean ecosystem is made up of very complex (复杂地) food webs. For the most part, sharks are at the top of these webs and are considered by scientists to be “keystone” species, meaning that removing them may cause the whole structure to fall apart. Therefore, we should protect sharks because doing so is to protect the whole ecosystem.
1. According to the passage, in Asian, people kill sharks mainly because ________.| A．sharks are dangerous for people | B．there are too many sharks |
| C．shark fins are in great need | D．sharks often attack swimmers |
| A．Fed. | B．Removed. | C．Charged. | D．Protected. |
| A．water quality improved as well | B．bay scallops grew out of control |
| C．there are more food for shark | D．the local scallop fishery was harmed |
| A．They can’t find enough food to feed on. |
| B．They never eat the old, sick or slower fish. |
| C．Their large populations can harm the ecosystem. |
| D．They play a key role in keeping the ecosystem healthy. |
4 . In the year 2017, the world lost many great musicians. Their deaths were felt over the world and country music star Keith Lionel Urban honored these musicians in a very special way. During a New Year’s Eve concert, Keith talked about all the greats that passed away and how some of them were music and life coaches or examples to him. That was when Keith decided to put together a mixture of songs from all of these artists.
At the concert, pictures of some of the most eminent people in the music industry appeared across the screen. As their pictures appeared, Keith sang the songs that the artists were best-known for. Each performance was truly moving, and the audience loved it. Instead of thinking it was a sad moment, everyone was able to think about how much joy these artists brought to the music industry.
Keith sang a few lines from songs by Chris Cornell, Gregg Allman, Chuck Berry, Don Williams, Glen Campbell and Troy Gentry. The audience cheered aloud whenever he changed from one song to another. It was amazing how smoothly he played through the different styles of music. It was a perfect interpretation of his gift.
When he got to the final song, he invited his wife to join him on stage to dance and close out the night. Then his two daughters joined their parents. It was really an unforgettable performance.
Music truly has the ability to touch a special place in our hearts and even if we do not know these artists personally, their songs have meant a lot to many of us. I am sure those artists would have been so proud to hear him sing their music. It is a way to honor those late artists and celebrate the joy they brought to our lives!
1. Keith got the idea of honoring the great musicians when he ________.| A．saw their pictures at a concert | B．heard a song of a lost musician |
| C．knew their stories from his coaches | D．talked about their influence on him |
| A．Controversial. | B．Outstanding. |
| C．Shallow. | D．Modest. |
| A．It showed his musical talent, |
| B．It did not show his real style. |
| C．It made the audience feel sad about the musicians’ deaths. |
| D．It set a good example to other artists and musicians. |
| A．Keith’s Little Secret |
| B．Keith’s Sad Moment |
| C．Keith’s New Year s Wishes to Artists Worldwide |
| D．Keith’s Way to Say Goodbye to Late Musicians |
5 . Jack worked for the Canadian government. One day, he was told to learn more about wolves. Do wolves kill lots of caribou (北美驯鹿)? Do they kill people?
The government gave Jack lots of food, clothes and guns. Then they put him on a plane and took him to a lonely place. The plane landed, put him down and left. There were no houses or people in this place. But there were lots of wolves.
People tell horrible stories about wolves. They say wolves like to kill and eat people. Jack was afraid when he thought of these stories. He always took his gun with him.
Then one day, he saw a group of wolves. There was a mother wolf with four baby wolves. A father wolf and another young wolf lived with them.
Jack watched these wolves every day. The mother was a very good mother. She gave milk to her babies. She gave them lessons about life. They learned how to catch food. The father wolf got food for the mother. The young wolf played with the children. They were a nice and happy wolf family. Jack did not need his gun any more. In a short time, he got along well with the family. Jack watched them for five months.
Later, Jack wrote a book about wolves. He wanted people to understand them and not to kill them.
1. Where did the government take Jack?| A．To a lonely place. | B．To a quiet island. |
| C．To a noisy city. | D．To a small village. |
| A．The father wolf. | B．The mother wolf. |
| C．The young wolf. | D．The government. |
| A．exciting | B．boring |
| C．terrible | D．funny |
| A．Two. | B．Three. | C．Four. | D．Five. |
| A．give more room to them | B．hunt and kill them |
| C．give more food to them | D．understand them and stop killing them |
6 . My mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s (老年痴呆症) last summer. Suddenly, it was difficult for me to accept that the roles were now changed — my mother became my child, and I became her mother. I became impatient, argued with her, once I even yelled at her. Gradually, I was used to this kind of life. Now I am able to deal with her and the situation better. I have learned a lot of life lessons from the experience.
My mother reacts very sensitively to my feelings. That is typical of Alzheimer’s patients. When I visit her, feeling hectic and tense, she reacts immediately, takes on my mood, and becomes nervous and negative. But when I appear cheerful and attentive, she is happy. This has taught me to pay more attention to my own feelings when I am with other people.
Through the illness my mother has developed a childlike tactlessness (不得体). Eating out in restaurants, for example, is a bit embarrassing when she shouts at the waiter that the food is so bad or talks about people at the next table in a loud voice. Of course I make sure that my mother doesn’t hurt anyone, but I’ve stopped complaining about others and have become more tolerant.
I have also learned that everything has special value. When my mother got sick I didn’t want to burden my two daughters with it. They are young and have enough going on with their education, and starting their careers. I felt that it was simply my job as my mother’s daughter. The most wonderful discovery I’ve made through my mother’s disease may be that my children not only offer to help me, but that they take care of my mother on their own actively. They visit her often, play cards with her, and look at photo albums together with her. It shows me that it’s all worth it.
1. What does the underlined “hectic” in the Paragraph 2 mean?| A．delighted. | B．touched. |
| C．surprised. | D．stressed. |
| A．Being particular about clothes. | B．Being curious about feelings. |
| C．Being afraid of strange people. | D．Being sensitive to others’moods. |
| A．They are naughty. | B．They are considerate. |
| C．They are traditional. | D．They are selfish. |
| A．How I Cared for My Sick Mother. | B．How I Became More Tolerant. |
| C．What I Have Learned from Alzheimer’s. | D．Why I Am Feeling stressed. |
7 . Cruz Genet, 11, and Anthony Skopick, 10, couldn’t agree. Were the birds out on the ice ducks or geese? So on a cold January evening last year, the two friends ventured (冒险) onto the frozen pond near their homes in Frankfort, Illinois, to get a better look. First, they threw a rock onto the ice to test it, Cruz told NBC 5 Chicago. “Then we stepped on it.” Convinced the ice would hold their weight, Anthony took a few steps, but then he fell through the seemingly frozen surface.
Cruz rushed to help his panicked friend. However, the pond swallowed him, too. Cruz managed to lift himself out of the extremely cold water and onto a more solid section. He then gingerly worked his way toward Anthony. But the ice didn’t hold, and he fell in again. This ime, he couldn’t get out.
The boys were up to their necks in icy water and quickly losing feeling. Any chance of their freeing themselves was slipping away. Cruz was sure that he was going to die.
Anthony’s older sister had seen the boys fall through the ice and started screaming, wishing someone to save them.
John Lavin, a neighbor driving nearby on his way to the grocery store, heard her. He quickly pulled over. Seeing the boys, he grabbed (抓住) a nearby buoy (救生圈), kicked off his shoes, and ran into the cold water, struggling his way through the ice. Lavin made his way to Cruz and Anthony and pulled them back to land.
The boys were taken to the hospital, where doctors discovered that their five- minute stay in the water had lowered their body temperature nearly ten degrees. Fortunately, they have fully recovered, though they are still a little amazed by their fearless neighbor. “Just to think,” says Cruz, “if he hadn’t been there, I could have died.”
1. Why did the boys venture onto the frozen pond?| A．To have a better look at the frozen pond. |
| B．To catch the birds in the pond with rocks. |
| C．To find out what the birds on the ice were. |
| D．To test the thickness of the ice in the pond. |
| A．Casually. | B．Proudly. |
| C．Firmly. | D．Cautiously. |
| A．Anthony’s older sister’s cry for help. | B．Cruz’s loud and frightening scream. |
| C．Their shoes along the nearby pond. | D．Their neighbors’ pulling them back. |
| A．Hard-working and helpful. | B．Warm-hearted and courageous. |
| C．Curious and selfless. | D．Active and generous. |
8 . It’s normal for teens to want to stay connected with friends and social circle, but what about that happening in the middle of the night? The Journal of Youth Studies recently published new research showing that one in five teens from 12 to 15 regularly wake to spend all night on social media (社会媒体). Not surprisingly, the research also showed that these social night owls were three times more likely than others to feel tired at school and that girls were more likely than boys to be called to office.
The blue light produced by cell phones and computers makes the brain to stay awake, so it's easy to see why a teen might be up all night. A study in Psychological Science showed the same brain reaction: when teens saw large numbers of “likes” on their posts, they stayed awake with excitement as if they had eaten chocolates or won money. Besides not catching up on sleep and interrupting their sleep cycle, teens may never fully enter deep sleep that may be responsible for brain development and learning.
Considering about 72 percent of children from 6 to 17 sleep with some electronic media in their bedrooms, parents need to set rules sooner rather than later.
“Providing access (使用机会) to social media is a favor that children can earn and also lose,” Janie Feldman, an expert who treats sleep disorders (紊乱), reminds parents, “The bad effect is clear. So teens and parents should discuss and agree on its use, timing and access. When teenagers agree to the rules, it’s easier for parents to control how much time they use the phones or computers.”
1. What does the underlined part “night owls” in paragraph 1 refer to?| A．Girls often called to office. |
| B．Teens who stay up late on social media. |
| C．Teens who are busy with their homework at night. |
| D．Boys regularly waking in the middle of the night. |
| A．They are too excited to go to sleep. |
| B．They fall asleep easily and happily. |
| C．They are too excited to go to school. |
| D．They decide to make more good friends. |
| A．Making rules about media access together with their children. |
| B．Getting their children to do homework through computers. |
| C．Encouraging their children to stay connected with online friends. |
| D．Stopping their children from using cell phones. |
| A．Deep sleep makes a big difference to brain development. |
| B．Kids are trying to win back the trust of their parents. |
| C．Social media may have a bad effect on all kinds of people. |
| D．Social media may cause teens’ sleep disorders. |
9 . One in five women and one in eight men are becoming more tired and less productive, according to a new Australian study on mobile phone use.
Led by the Queensland University of Technology in Australia, researchers surveyed 709 mobile phone users across the country aged 18 to 83 and asked them a series of questions based on a similar study 13 years ago. Identifying a phenomenon "technoference (科技干扰)", researchers discovered a significant increase in people blaming their devices for losing sleep, becoming less productive and even getting more aches and pains".
According to the study's lead author Dr Oscar, the issue is so bad that 24 percent of women and 15 percent of men are now considered to be " problematic mobile phone users". "When we talk about technoference, we're referring to the everyday intrusions (侵入)and interruptions that people experience due to mobile phones and their usage," he said. "Our survey found technoference had increased among men and women. For example, self-reports relating to the loss of sleep and productivity showed that these negative outcomes had significantly increased during the last 13 years. This finding suggests that mobile phones are potentially increasingly affecting aspects of daytime functioning due to lack of sleep. "
Compared to a 2005 study, "technoference" issues for 18 to 24-year-old experienced a surprising 40. 9 percent rise, while those aged 25 to 29 also recorded a dramatic increase of 23. 5 percent.
Oscar said that with the number of smartphone users around the world expected to surpass 2. 5 billion before the end of this year, the problem of "technoference" could get even worse. "The speed and depth of smartphone take-up makes our population particularly vulnerable to some of the negative consequences of high mobile phone use." he said. "Rapid technological innovations have led to dramatic changes in today's mobile phone technology, which can improve the quality of life for phone users but also result in some negative outcomes. "
1. How are people affected by technoference according to the text?| A．It makes people addicted to communicating online. |
| B．It pushes people to work at a fast pace. |
| C．It causes people to sleep less at night. |
| D．It brings negative outcomes to people of all ages. |
| A．Young women. | B．Young man |
| C．Children. | D．Seniors. |
| A．Widely spread. | B．Easily hurt. |
| C．Deeply devoted | D．Absolutely accustomed. |
| A．The increasing side effects of smartphones. |
| B．Ways to solve technoference problem. |
| C．Smartphones and people's happiness. |
| D．The popularity of smartphones. |
10 . A year ago, I paid no attention to English idioms (习语), though my teacher emphasized (强调) the importance again and again. But soon, the importance of English idioms was shown in an amusing experience.
One day, I happened to meet an Englishman on the road, and soon we began to talk. As I was talking about how I was studying English, the foreigner seemed to be astonished. Gently shaking his head, shrugging his shoulders, he said, “You don’t say!” “You don’t say!” I was puzzled. I thought, perhaps this is not an appropriate topic (适当的话题). “Well, I’d better change the topic.” So I said to him. “Well, shall we talk about the Great Wall? By the way, have you ever been there?” “Certainly, everyone back home will laugh at me if I leave China without seeing it. It was magnificent.” He was deep in thought when I began to talk like a tourist guide. “The Great Wall is one of the wonders in the world. We are very proud of it.” Soon I was interrupted again by his words: “You don’t say!” I couldn’t help asking, “Why do you ask me not to talk about it?” “Well, I didn’t request you to do so,” he answered, greatly surprised. I said, “Didn’t you say ‘you don’t say’?” Hearing this, the Englishman laughed to tears. He began to explain, “You don’t say’ actually means ‘really!’ It is an expression of surprise. Perhaps you don’t pay attention to English idioms.” Only then did I know I had made a fool of myself.
Since then I have been more careful with idiomatic expressions. Remember: what the English teachers said is always right to us students.
1. At first, when I heard “You don’t say”, I thought the foreigner meant __________.| A．he was only interested in the Great Wall | B．I had talked too much |
| C．he was not interested in the topic | D．I had to stop talking |
| A．laughed at | B．attacked |
| C．organized | D．stopped |
| A．The Englishman left China without seeing the Great Wall. |
| B．The Englishman visited the Great Wall and thought it worth visiting. |
| C．The Englishman wanted me to act as his guide. |
| D．The Englishman wanted to see the Great Wall after I talked about it. |
| A．I became more careful with everything to do with English idioms |
| B．the Englishman became a real food. |
| C．I felt very peaceful |
| D．I thought the Englishman had made me a fool |
