1 . 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| A．minor. | B．unknown. | C．obvious. | D．serious. |
| 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. |
2 . Very often, when we see young people sitting there, looking at the screen of a mobile phone and smiling, we may think nothing is wrong. But when we come to the question “how much time do they actually spend on media（传播媒介）daily?”, the answer is surprising: young people spend about nine hours every day using media, and this only includes media used for enjoyment.
Today's young people seem to have become crazy multitaskers. They often use media when doing other activities. Some watch TV when doing homework, some text（发短信）, and some others listen to music. But what do young people think of this? A research showed that two thirds of them believed watching TV or texting had no influence on their schoolwork. Half of them thought using social media made no difference. However, researches have given a different answer: “media multitaskers” did worse in tests.
Scientists did a research among more than 400 students. It shows that those who text a lot have more trouble sleeping and do worse in their study. In another research, students who didn't text during a lesson took down a lot more notes than those who were texting. A similar research also found that students who texted when doing schoolwork had lower overall（总体的）grades.
According to a research, if a kid uses social media a lot, especially at night, he or she will sleep worse and feel more nervous and depressed（消沉的）. On the one hand, young people stay up late to check messages and information. They may also be woken up by messages they receive. On the other hand, even the light from a screen could influence their sleep. Some other researches also show that children who use media at night go to bed later, get fewer hours of sleep each week, and become sleepy more easily during the daytime.
1. The underlined word “multitaskers” in Paragraph 2 refers to people who _________.| A．ask a lot of questions |
| B．use different media for learning |
| C．have several mobile phones |
| D．do several tasks at the same time |
| A．become more worried |
| B．get more excited |
| C．take fewer notes in class |
| D．sleep much better |
| A．Social media is very popular among young people. |
| B．Using media too much has a bad influence on young people. |
| C．The use of social media has both advantages and disadvantages. |
| D．Mobile phones are the main tools students use for school learning. |
3 . On a steamy July day in Bayonet Point, Florida, Gene Work and his brotherinlaw, Mark Rouco, were renewing Gene’s lawn.It had grown brown and patchy in the heat, and the homeowners’ association had threatened to heavily fine him if the situation wasn’t improved.The new sod(草皮) was sitting in the driveway on four pallets, but the job was slowgoing.Gene, then 40, wasn’t feeling right.He went inside to take a break and collapsed on the couch, clutching his chest.His wife,Melissa Work, called 911 quickly.
Even though he was staring down death, Gene had one thing on his mind:that lawn.If the sod wasn’t put down that day,it would die.“While he was having his heart attack, literally in and out of consciousness,he kept begging me to have it put down because he didn’t want it to go to waste,” Melissa wrote in a Facebook post.
Soon Pasco County Fire Rescue arrived and took Gene and Melissa to the hospital,leaving Rouco behind to tackle the yard.Within an hour,he had managed to remove the old grass.He was about to lay the new sod,which he feared would take him well into the night,when two emergency vehicles appeared.Seven men—the same ones who had treated his brother—got out.Gene had told them how badly he’d wanted to get the sod down,so they had returned to help.The job was done in under two hours.
Meanwhile, Gene had surgery to insert stents(支架) in his heart,alleviating a potentially deadly blockage.He’s home now,fully recovered—and enjoying his beautiful lawn.
The Works are still amazed that those EMTs(Emergency medical technician) went above and beyond their job description.“These men,” Melissa told tampabay.com，“saved Gene’s life,and then came back to save his grass.That’s just so awesome.”
1. Why did Gene want to renew his lawn?| A．It was in bad condition. |
| B．He was fined by the association. |
| C．The sod grew too slowly. |
| D．He disliked the color of the lawn. |
| A．perform their duties |
| B．help with Gene’s lawn |
| C．check Gene’s house |
| D．send Gene back from hospital |
| A．Removing. | B．Causing. |
| C．Easing. | D．Expanding. |
4 . Life for miners on the goldfields in Victoria, Australia during the 1850s was quite difficult.The name to a miner at that time was “digger”.Few diggers actually found any gold and even fewer struck it rich.Mostly diggers struggled in poor conditions.They struggled with the weather and living conditions in an often poor environment and they were often ill-equipped.
The worst thing about being a digger was the requirement to pay for a mining licence（许可证）.This licence allowed a miner to search for gold.Without the licence a digger had to pay money as a punishment.The police always went to mining camps to check mining licences.Few miners could afford the money to get a licence and hated the law which they believed was unjust.In June 1854 Governor Hotham announced that the police would carry out mining licence checks twice a week.This made the miners outraged and set them towards armed rebellion（叛乱）against the police.
The rebellion at the Eureka diggings in 1854 is often referred to as the Eureka Stockade.Led by Peter Lalor, the diggers constructed a wall preventing people from going through and burned their unfair licences as a form of rebellion.The miners said, “We stand truly by each other to protect our rights.”
The diggers lost the battle of the Eureka Stockade but they won the legal battle that their rebellion led to.In 1855 the Victorian Government introduced a mining tax（税）, as a tax on gold found, to take the place of the unfair miner’s licence which had to be paid no matter whether the miner found gold or not.In Australia’s history the Eureka Rebellion is the only time armed rebellion has been used to change unfair laws.
1. What is a digger in the next?| A．A gold miner. | B．A citizen in Victoria. |
| C．A machine for digging. | D．A rebellious Australian. |
| A．The weather on the goldfields. |
| B．Having to pay a mining tax. |
| C．Having to pay for a licence. |
| D．Poor living conditions. |
| A．Angry. | B．Worried. | C．Doubtful. | D．Ashamed. |
| A．The miners won. | B．It resulted in a new tax. |
| C．The wall was brought down. | D．It led to the introduction of new licences. |
5 . Saving Money
Where you save your money often depends on what you are saving for. If you are saving to buy a dictionary or to go to a concert, then you probably keep your money somewhere in your room.
If you are saving for a big purchase like a mountain bike or a school trip, where would you save your money?
One place to save money is the bank. Putting your money in a savings account will help your money earn more money. If you put your money in a piggy bank (猪形储蓄罐子), one year later you'll still have the same amount of money you put in. If you put your money in a savings account, one year later, you'll have more money than you put in. Why?
When you keep your money in a bank, your money earns interest. Interest is the amount of money a bank pays you to use your money. The bank uses your money (and the money of other people, too) to loan money to people and businesses.
The bank will send you a statement several times a year. A bank statement tells you how much money there is in your account. It also tells you how much interest you have earned. If you leave your money in the bank, you can watch it grow!
Another way you can save money is to buy a certificate of deposit or CD. If you have some money that you don't need to use for a long time, this is a good way to make your money grow.
You can buy a CD at a bank. You agree not to use the money for a certain period of time. That period might be from six months to five years. You can't touch your money during that time. If you do, you must pay a penalty, or fee.
Since the bank is using your money for that time period, it will pay you interest. You will earn more interest with a CD than in a savings account. Can you guess why? It's because you promise to leave your money in the bank for a certain period of time. Banks pay different rates of interest. So, you may want to compare rates in newspaper ads before buying a CD.
1. Which way will help your money earn more money?| A．Putting your money in your room. | B．Putting your money in a piggy bank. |
| C．Putting your money in your pocket. | D．Putting your money in a savings account. |
| A．a bank lends to people | B．a bank loans to businesses |
| C．a bank pays you | D．a bank uses |
| A．the amount of money you have in the bank |
| B．the current rates of interest |
| C．the current rates of exchange |
| D．the best way to save your money |
| A．"deposit" | B．"borrow" |
| C．"use" | D．"cash" |
6 . “Serena, don’t forget your promise to me that you will mow (割) Mrs Matin’s yard this weekend,” said Dad, “Don’t let me down.” Serena was the oldest child in the family, and one of her chores was to mow their yard. Mrs Martin, their elderly neighbor, was unable to take care of her yard, so Serena’s dad had volunteered Serena for this job. Since Mrs Martin’s yard was not very big, Serena knew the job would go quickly.
However, she still resented her dad’s promise.
“Why didn’t you ask me first?” Serena had complained.
“Did you ask me first when you volunteered me to be in the school festival last fall?” asked Serena’s father.
“Well, no, I didn’t ask you first, but you would have done those things anyway. You’re always willing to help.”
“I try when I can,” Dad answered.
“Serena, we have known Mrs Martin for a very long time. She has often helped our family. Now we can do something for her. Besides, the feeling you get from helping someone makes you wonder who is really helping whom.”
“I don’t know, Dad,” said Serena. “The only feeling I get from mowing our yard is tired.”
“Just you wait and see,” said Dad.
After breakfast, Serena made her way to Mrs Martin’s yard. She was good at her job and soon had Mrs Martin’s yard looking tidy. Mrs Martin came outside with a big glass of orange juice and offered it to her. Serena stopped her work and gratefully enjoyed the drink, while Mrs.Martin talked to her about all of the flowers in her yard. Seeing the joy in Mrs Martin’s eyes, Serena began to understand how much the yard meant to Mrs. Martin.
After finishing her drink, Serena returned to work with a new attitude. A warm feeling began to spread through her body. Her dad was right. It was hard to tell who was helping whom!
1. The underlined word “resented” (Paragraph 2) means___________.| A．understood | B．welcomed |
| C．broke | D．disliked |
| A．Through Dad’s words. | B．Through Serena’s actions. |
| C．Through Mrs Martin’s behaviour. | D．Through the author’s statement. |
| A．Annoyed. | B．Surprised. |
| C．Guilty. | D．Pleased. |
| A．Serena likes the job of mowing her family’s yard. |
| B．Mrs. Martin and Serena did the work together. |
| C．Mrs Martin shared her love for the yard with Serena. |
| D．Dad volunteered himself to take part in the school festival. |
7 . With the cost of college rising in the U.S.， some students are washing their hands of the American education system, grabbing their passports, and seeking cheaper degrees abroad. The number of students doing so has increased 2 percent annually in recent years, according to the Department of Education.
In 2009， Jessica Fuller, then 25， was employed at a small private university in Philadelphia as a clerk in an office. Bored with her job and becoming increasingly interested in healthcare industry, Fuller knew she would need a master's degree in public health for her dream career.
At first, Fuller wanted a school in New York and Pennsylvania, but with many programs costing over 30， 000 per year for tuition alone, she decided on an option she could better afford-the Netherlands. A similar degree in health economics cost less than 17， 000 for a one-year program.
To finance her education at Erasmus University in Rotterdam, Fuller took out$30,000 bank loan through her mother's credit, which covered tuition fees, as well as air travel and living expenses for her year abroad.
The cost may be lower, but is the quality of education overseas just as good as an American university？ Jessica Fuller says in her case, yes she found a consulting job with Marsh Inc. as an International Knowledge Manager shortly after she graduated from Erasmus University, and said that the university——and its location——were definitely a factor.
"Many Erasmus professors were world-famous experts in their fields, "said Fuller. "Considering the variety of the students, the class discussions were very robust. Having an ' international 'advantage made a huge difference.
1. Why did Jessica Fuller want to study for a master's degree？| A．She could afford tuition at Erasmus University. |
| B．Her job required more professional skills. |
| C．She was bored with healthcare industry. |
| D．Her interest was public health. |
| A．using her own credit card |
| B．having a part-time job |
| C．getting a scholarship from the university |
| D．obtaining a loan from a bank |
| A．awkward and fruitless | B．strong and vigorous |
| C．peaceful and pleasant | D．brief and informal |
| A．choose to study overseas | B．look for jobs abroad |
| C．seek education of higher quality | D．take a one-year program |
8 . How to keep a good figure may be important to you. In fact, your house may have an effect on your figure. Experts say the way you design your home could play a role in whether you pack on the pounds or keep them off. You can make your environment work for you instead of against you.
Open the curtains and turn up the lights. Dark environments are more likely to encourage overeating, for people are often less self-conscious(自觉的)when they're in poorly lit places-and so more likely to eat lots of food. If your home doesn't have enough window light, get more lamps and flood the place with brightness.
Mind the colors. Research suggests warm colors fuel our appetites(食欲). In one study, people who ate meals in a blue room consumed 33 percent less than those in a yellow or red room. Warm colors like yellow make food appear more appetizing, while cold colors make us feel less hungry. So when it's time to repaint, go blue.
Don't forget the clock-or the radio. People who eat slowly tend to consume about 70 fewer calories per meal than those who rush through their meals. Begin keeping track of the time, and try to make dinner last at least 30 minutes. And while you're at it, actually sit down to eat. If you need some help to decelerate, turn on relaxing music. It makes you less likely to rush through a meal.
Downsize the dishes. Big serving bowls and plates can easily make us fat. We eat about 22 percent more when using a 12-inch plate instead of a 10-inch plate. When we choose a large spoon over a smaller one, total intake jumps by 14 percent. And we'll pour about 30 percent more liquid into a short, wide glass than a tall, skinny glass.
1. People in bright house will .| A．eat less food | B．digest food better |
| C．have good feelings | D．be less conscious |
| A．Put up. | B．Slow down. | C．Give in. | D．Go up. |
| A．Eating slowly helps consume more calories. |
| B．Cold color can help increase people's appetite. |
| C．Fast music can do better to people at mealtimes. |
| D．People had better use small size plates to keep in shape. |
| A．Effects of Putting on Music | B．Ways to Make Room Relaxing |
| C．How to Make Home Help With Diets | D．Importance of Keeping Healthy |
9 . Last year，my oldest son Matthew went off to college. Things at home were not as“busy”as they used to be. We still had our 15-year-old son Gabriel with us，but we missed having Matthew around.
My wife soon had a crazy idea. “Let’s get a dog. ”she suggested. I wasn’t exactly thrilled with the idea，but I agreed. I mean，what better way to replace a kid that has gone off to college than to get a dog.
When we got to the animal shelter，it seemed like every dog was a pit bull(比特犬). I'd had many bad experiences with pit bulls as a child，so I didn’t want to take one of them home with me.
While I walked along the rows and rows of cold metal cages，a dog caught my eye. He was scared，and looked like he’d given up on life. There was only one problem：he was a pit bull.
As he looked at me with his big，beautiful eyes，I could see into his soul. I could see how scared he was and that he just wanted a happy life. I couldn’t just walk away—I had to at least go over and look at him. I approached his cage，and he just sat there，looking at me. I stuck my finger through the hole in the cage and petted him on the head. I expected him to get mad，but he didn’t.
I knew that this dog had never felt love before，and that he was enjoying every bit of the love I could give him in that moment. Tears began to stream down my face because I felt everything that this poor creature was feeling right then. He just wanted to be loved；he just wanted a home and a family.
It’s been a year since we took the dog home，and our lives have been changed forever.
Now，his favorite thing to do is give us kisses with his giant tongue every morning. He is always there to greet us when we come home with a huge smile. He’s shown us more love than any other living creature on Earth ever had before. And every time I look into his eyes I see love，compassion(同情)and gratitude—things I never thought that a pit bull was capable of feeling.
1. Why did the author’s wife want to get a dog?| A．Because she likes pit pull. |
| B．Because she thought it was a crazy idea. |
| C．Because she wanted the dog to replace her kid. |
| D．Because their kid went to college. |
| A．Accepted. | B．Excited. |
| C．Frightened. | D．Delighted. |
| A．They missed having Matthew around even more. |
| B．They found it hard to get along with him. |
| C．They lived a life full of love. |
| D．They regretted adopting him. |
| A．To share a warm story about adopting a pet. |
| B．To stress the benefits of keeping a pet. |
| C．To suggest people keep a pet of their own. |
| D．To give advice on how to keep a pet. |
10 . No one is born a winner. People make themselves into winners by their own efforts.
I learned this lesson from an experience many years ago. I took the head coaching job at a school in Baxley, Georgia. It was a small school with a weak football program.
It was a tradition for the school's old team to play against the new team at the end of spring practice. The old team had no couch, and they didn't even practice to prepare for the Game. Being the coach of the new team, I was excited because I knew we were going to win, but to my sadness we were beaten. I couldn't believe I had got into such a situation. Thinking hard about it, I came to realize that my team might not be the number one team in Georgia, but they were depending on me. I had to change my attitude about their ability and confidence.
I stared doing anything I could to help them build a little pride. Most important,I began to treat them like winners. That summer, when the other teams enjoyed their vacations. We met every day and practiced passing and kicking the football.
Six months after suffering our failure on the spring practice field. we won our first game and our second, and continue to improve .Finally, we faced the number one team in the state.I felt that it would be a victory for us even if we lost the game. But that wasn't what happened. My boys beat the best team in Georgia, giving me one of the greatest thrills of my life !
From the experience I learned a lot about how the attitude of the leader can influence the members of a team. Instead of seeing my boys as losers, I pushed and encouraged them. I helped them to see themselves differently, and they built themselves into winners.
Winners are made, not born.
1. Who did the author think would become the winners at first?| A．The old team. | B．Their own team. |
| C．The number one team. | D．The other team |
| A．Before their training. | B．During the spring practice. |
| C．At the start of the vacation. | D．Six months after their failure. |
| A．Interests | B．Fears | C．Excitements | D．Concerns |
| A．By building up their confidence. | B．By giving them a lecture. |
| C．By buying them a book. | D．By changing the leader. |
| A．Time is money. | B．Winners are born. |
| C．Losers are always beaten. | D．Practice makes perfect. |
