1 . Do you like running enough to make it a habit? Tierney Wolfgram does; she has made running a lifelong career and isn't stopping.
In February, the 16-year-old from a high school, US, competed at the 2020 US Olympic Trials. She finished the marathon(42.195 km)with a time of 2:42:47 as the youngest competitor in the race and ranked 76th out of 390 runners. However, the cross-country(越野的)season was postponed to winter because of the COVID-19. So she jumped at the opportunity to train for another race-the Parkway Marathon in California. In November, Wolfgram broke the Women's American Junior marathon record with her time of 2:31:49. The old record was 2:34:32, which had stood since 1984.
“I'm completely stunned, ”said Wolfgram's coach. “I knew she was going to break it, but she really showed out！”
During the run, Wolfgram once hit a wall pretty hard, but she overcame it to finish. “I guess I can say I gave it my all, ”she told Runner's World. “When I finished, all I was thinking was I felt super happy,” Wolfgram said This was only her third marathon. In 2018, when Wolfgram was 15 years old, she ran her first marathon just because she wanted to see if she had the ability to do it. “I believed that I would get faster as the distances got longer. . . I'm still glad that I did it. ”
When preparing for that first marathon, she ran up to 120 miles per week. Although her parents didn't have any background in running, they helped Wolfgram train. At first, her dad would take her out in the morning and run about 13 miles. The distance would gradually increase each day. On top of her runs in the morning, she would do cross-country practice after school.
Now Wolfgram will consider attending the Olympics Games in 2024 after it's scheduled.
1. What can we learn about Wolfgram from Paragraph 2?| A．She was the champion at the 2020 US Olympic Trials. |
| B．She put off the cross-country season for the COVID-19. |
| C．She broke an Olympic marathon record in November. |
| D．She prepared for the Parkway Marathon in California. |
| A．Doubtful | B．Worried. | C．Shocked. | D．Interested |
| A．Her parents' encouragement. | B．Her desire to prove she could do it. |
| C．Her coach's support and help. | D．Her hope to break the national record |
| A．Sports. | B．Lifestyle | C．Culture. | D．Opinion |
2 . "Smile!" I shouted, holding a yellow sign up on a busy street in Seattle. We were three thousand miles away from home on a Random Acts of Kindness and Volunteerism Road Trip. We had two aims. One was to try out our new "Smile!" signs and see how much kindness and joy we could spread in Pike Place Market. The other was to raise $80 by doing street performances, enough for gas to Portland and a small hotel room.
We weren't sure how people would react (回应) to our signs. I nervously raised up our signs and shouted, "Hi, there!" to a young couple. They looked over and felt confused. Then they read our signs and broke into a smile. Before long, some tourists wanted to take a photo with us and some strangers stopped to ask us about our signs.
In fact, we paid so close attention to our "Smile!" project that we forgot the other aim. Before we knew it, the sun was setting, and we had no money for our trip to Portland. We sat down to watch a blind musician play the guitar while thinking about what to do. He was packing up when a passing crowd kicked down his change bowl. He stumbled (绊倒) into the crowd. We rushed to help him, but another man moved more quickly to help him.
Once the musician had his money safely returned, we ran over to meet the strange helper and said, "We just wanted to praise you for your good deed." He smiled, looking at our signs. "Your trip reminds me of something similar I once did when I was young," he said. "Look! I'd like to donate (捐赠)." We told him, "No, thanks! We are fine. We've collected plenty of money." We lied. "Please let me donate. It will make me feel like I'm a part of this adventure," he insisted. And then the stranger opened his wallet and pulled out four $20 bills. The money was exactly what we had intended to raise that day. We were astonished. It seemed as if he had known somehow.
1. What's the main purpose of the road trip?| A．To spread kindness and joy. |
| B．To invite more people to join in the trip. |
| C．To raise money for a trip to Portland. |
| D．To encourage people to take happy photos. |
| A．Disappointed. | B．Worried. | C．Interested. | D．Moved. |
| A．Because he felt pity for the author. |
| B．Because he wanted to join in the project. |
| C．Because he hoped to help the homeless. |
| D．Because he felt sorry for his impoliteness. |
| A．Tired. | B．Satisfied. | C．Frightened. | D．Surprised. |
3 . Reducing plastic waste isn't easy because the cheap material is found in almost every household item. Now, a delicious and nutritious solution has come up to help reduce our dependence on this environmental hazard.
David Christian, the co-founder of Evoware, says the idea of creating the biodegradable (生物降解的) products came from concern at the country’s high pollution rate. Indonesia is home to four of the world's worst polluted rivers. Since single-use packaging is a large contributor to the problem, Evoware decided to deal with that first.
After investigating various materials, the company settled on seaweed. Unlike corn, commonly used for biodegradable containers, seaweed does not require resources like water or large amounts of space. Since Indonesian farmers already harvest more seaweed than they can sell, it's easy for the company to find the material.
Though they will not reveal their production process, Evoware says the seaweed packaging contains no chemicals and is safe to consume. The company has also invented single-use cups, which can break down 30 days after they're thrown away.
While replacing plastic with the seaweed products may seem appealing to most of us, it is a hard-sell in Indonesia. According to Christian, ''The awareness to reduce single-use plastic is still very low. This makes our bioplastic unnecessary.” Also a factor is the cost, which is higher than using plastic. Hopefully, Evoware will succeed in convincing Indonesians and people worldwide that switching to their products will be helpful to protecting our beautiful planet.
1. What problem did Evoware decide to deal with first?| A．Ways to clean the four worst polluted rivers. |
| B．What nutritious materials for people to use. |
| C．How to deal with single-use packaging. |
| D．Means to contribute to the country's economy. |
| A．It didn't require much space and was easy to get. |
| B．It could be found everywhere in his country. |
| C．It was most commonly used for packaging. |
| D．It grew thickly in most of the polluted rivers. |
| A．Their seaweed products have won government support. |
| B．Sometimes it's hard to get people to reduce the use of plastics. |
| C．Their new products have received worldwide popularity. |
| D．The cost of making seaweed products will be lowered soon. |
| A．Something lasting long. | B．Something hard to accept. |
| C．Something easy to get. | D．Something commonly seen. |
4 . Some people say global English is no longer just controlled by British or American English,but is running free and developing uniquely local forms.Can you figure out the following terms?
“I like your smile,but unlike you put your shoes on my face.”This is a way of saying“Keep off the grass.”Or“people mountain,people sea”,which means“very crowded”.
These examples are what we call Chinglish.When it comes to Chinglish,if all you know is“good good study,day day up”,you will be considered“out man”.
Nowadays,more Chinglish words have been created,for example,a Chinese idiom is translated as“smilence”,a combination by the English word smile and silence.
Chinglish usually offers a humorous look at misuses of the English language in Chinese street signs,products,and advertising.They are favoured by some English speaking tourists and visitors.Dominic Swire has been living in Beijing for a couple of years.“I think many Chinese people complain about the Chinglish and badly translated English.But you know,sometimes for us foreigners,it’s actually quite charming to see them.I think if the translations of English in China were all perfect,then something would be lost from Chinese culture.”
However,Chinglish will probably become a“cultural relic”in the near future.Beijing has made a comprehensive plan to improve foreign language services and correct Chinglish within five years.“It is very ridiculous to see Chinglish on the signs in some scenic spots.And they are a kind of barrier for communication between Chinese and people from other countries,”a Beijinger said.
Some Chinese university experts side with Chinglish.They argue that English has absorbed elements from other languages such as French and Spanish in its growth,and now it’s Chinese’s turn.
1. What can we call Chinglish?| A．English words which get new Chinese meanings. |
| B．The Chinese words which are difficult to translate. |
| C．The words combining English vocabulary and Chinese grammar. |
| D．The local words preventing foreigners from learning Chinese well. |
| A．Saying nothing but to smile. | B．Smiling without being noticed. |
| C．Laughing at somebody. | D．Knowing little about speech. |
| A．It can show the humour of Chinese. | B．It will attract more foreign tourists. |
| C．It helps him to learn Chinese well. | D．It seems part of Chinese culture. |
| A．Because it has become a unique bridge between Chinese and English. |
| B．Because Chinglish is a chance to enrich Chinese and English. |
| C．Because it improves the understanding between Chinese and foreigners. |
| D．Because Beijing is determined to get rid of Chinglish signs. |
5 . Earth Day falls on 22 April and it began in 1970. It has grown into a global event recognized by over 192 countries. Devoting a special day to helping Earth is a way to demonstrate how much we care about the future of our planet. If you like, there's always a way for you to get involved in Earth Day celebrations. But you don’t have to wait for Earth Day to show your love for the planet we call home.The following are what you can do for our mother Earth.
Learn more about the environment.
Earth Day is a good time to make a commitment to learning more about the environment and how you can help to protect it. Read articles to get up to date on the current issues affecting the environment,like pollution, water shortage and climate change. Or, learn about a region you’ve never thought about before, like the Arctic, the deserts or the rainforests. Not sure where to start? Check out your local news sources for information about environmental issues in your own backyard.
Join an environmental group.
Think about the issues that concern you the most and if you haven't done so already, join a local group that undertakes activities to help protect the environment in your area. Earth Day is a great day to start getting involved In almost any community, you'll find local groups that do the following.
Host clean-ups of local rivers, lakes or seashores.
Plant trees and grow flowers or vegetables in community gardens.
Protect wildlife habitats under threat.
Spread the word
Everyone who has environmental knowledge can share with others. It's a good way to talk about the environment with people who may not think about it that much. Talk to your parents, friends,teachers, siblings, and anyone else you'd like to know about the issues you care about most.
1. The underlined word"demonstrate"in paragraph 1 can be replaced by “______”.| A．display | B．make sure | C．lead to | D．throw light on |
| A．checking out local news |
| B．planting trees in community gardens |
| C．sharing environmental knowledge with others |
| D．using public transport like buses |
| A．tell us what we can do to protect Earth |
| B．inform us of the information about Earth Day |
| C．tell us the background of Earth Day |
| D．tell us the significance of Earth Day |
6 . 
Many years ago,an experiment in education was carried out in secret at a school in England.The school had two classes for children of the same age.At the end of the school year an examination was held,in order to select the children for the classes of next year.However,the results of the exam were never made known.In secret,based on their performance in the exam,the higher performing and lower performing children were divided equally between the two classes.Only the headmaster and the psychologists knew the truth.Teachers for the next year were carefully selected for equal ability and experience.Even the classrooms were chosen with similar facilities(设备)．Everything was made as equal as possible,except for one thing:one was called“Class A”，the other,“Class B”．
In everyone's minds the children in Class A were the clever ones,and the kids in Class B were not so clever.Some of the parents of the Class A children were pleasantly surprised that their children had done so well and rewarded them with presents and praise,while the parents of some of the Class B kids complained that their children did not work hard enough and took away some of their rewards.Even the teachers taught the Class B kids in a different manner,not expecting so much from them.For a whole year the illusion existed.Then there was another end of year exam.
The results were not surprising.The children of Class A performed so much better than those of Class B．In fact,the results were just as if they had been the top half chosen from last year's exam.They had become“Class A”children.And those in the other group,though equal the year before,had now become“Class B”kids.That was what they were told for a whole year,that was how they were treated,and that was what they believed—so that was what they became.
1. According to the text,it is a fact that________．| A．the Class A kids worked harder |
| B．the Class A kids had better facilities |
| C．kids in the two classes had equal ability |
| D．teachers of Class A were more experienced |
| A．reward system. | B．false impression |
| C．teaching plan | D．old tradition |
| A．Because they didn't work hard. |
| B．Because they had lost selfconfidence. |
| C．Because their teachers were irresponsible. |
| D．Because what they learned was too difficult. |
| A．great ambitions | B．natural talents |
| C．strong determination | D．outside influence |
7 . Various animals are respected and even worshipped(崇拜)in different cultures．In Hinduism, for example, cows are valued for their gentle nature．However, in ancient Egypt, crocodiles(鳄鱼) were regarded as living representations of the god Sobek．
During the serious drought in the 15th century, the Mossi were led to an undiscovered pond by the crocodiles．This not only allowed the Mossi to survive, but also led to the founding of the village Bazoulé．
As the villagers owe their survival to the crocodiles, they now care for and live side by side with them．The villagers even bury the crocodiles and hold funerals for them after their death．The crocodiles are not only regarded as protectors of Bazoulé，but also fortunetellers that give best wishes to the villagers．It seems that the worship of the crocodiles has paid off．For over 70 years, there has never been a death from a crocodile attack in Bazoulé．It’s normal for women to wash their clothes in the water and gather plants nearby．And it is also normal to see children playing around the water where the crocodiles live．
Naturally, this strange relationship between the villagers and crocodiles has attracted a lot of attention．Tourists from all over the world come to the village, hoping to catch sight of this unlikely bond between humans and crocodiles．Visitors have the opportunity to buy a chicken, with which they can attract the crocodiles out of the water．You can pose for pictures, and if you’re brave enough, you can sit on a crocodile’s back just like the local children usually do．
The village is trying to develop its tourism, but unfortunately, it was found to be threatened by global warming．Lower annual rainfall means that the pond will vanish one day．Perhaps the legends are true, and when this happens，the crocodiles will lead the Mossi to a new water source．
1. Why were the Mossi so grateful to the crocodiles?| A．They never did harm to the Mossi． |
| B．They once happened to help the Mossi． |
| C．They led the Mossi back to their homes． |
| D．They provided clean drinking water for the Mossi． |
| A．The crocodile attacks cannot cause any death． |
| B．The villagers get along well with the crocodiles． |
| C．The crocodiles can bring good luck to the villagers． |
| D．The crocodiles can protect the villagers from danger． |
| A．Move． | B．Freeze． | C．Narrow． | D．Disappear． |
| A．More and more tourists will visit the village． |
| B．The crocodiles will probably move to a new place． |
| C．Villagers will take measures to protect the crocodiles． |
| D．The crocodiles in the village are becoming less and less． |
8 . A new study has found that ride-sharing services result in much more pollution than other kinds of private and public transportation. Ride-sharing trips also draw passengers away from more environment friendly methods of travel, like public transportation, walking or biking, the study found.
Several studies in recent years have suggested that ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft can worsen traffic problems in cities. The new study represents an attempt to center on how ride-sharing services affect pollution.
Overall, the researchers reported that ride-sharing trips now "result in a 69 percent more climate pollution on average than the trips they replace." The study notes that the same passengers could have chosen to travel by bus, train, bike or on foot.
One of the big reasons they give for this result is that ride-sharing vehicles are often driven with no passengers in the car. This happens when drivers are either waiting for rider requests, are on the way to pick up passengers. This situation, known as "deadheading," takes up about 42 percent of all ride-sharing driving activity, the study found. The researchers said that deadheading results in about 50 percent more carbon dioxide than one person driving in a private vehicle.
Both Uber and Lyft have said in the past that most studies on the subject overstate (夸大）the effects of their services on pollution. Uber told Reuters news agency in a statement it had no comment on the latest report and that the study made misleading claims about ride-sharing. Meanwhile, the company said it would work directly with cities to address climate changes, promoting sharing trips and other means of transportation.
1. Which of the following is the best title of the passage?| A．Ride-sharing becomes a new trend that can’t be avoided. |
| B．Ride-sharing industry is met with criticism. |
| C．Ride-sharing services increase pollution. |
| D．Ride-sharing services need improvement. |
| A．a driving process where the driver is not carrying passengers |
| B．a potential risk that the driver may lose control of the vehicle |
| C．a period of driving hours when vehicles produce more carbon dioxide |
| D．a situation in which a driver has too many passengers to pick up |
| A．barking up the wrong tree | B．not seeking the truth from facts |
| C．killing two birds with one stone | D．beating around the bush |
| A．Ride-sharing attracts exactly the same number of people as traditional means of transport. |
| B．the study was conducted to prove the influence of ride-sharing services on modern cities |
| C．ride-sharing service is not an environmentally friendly way to travel |
| D．the new report has forced Uber to make big changes to achieve its goal |
9 . A research suggests that speaking more than one language may delay different kinds of dementia(痴呆) that is the loss of mental ability. In fact, researchers say, speaking two languages appears to be more important than the level of education in defending against dementia.
A study in India examined the effect of knowing more than one language in delaying the first signs of several dementia. Researchers studied nearly 650 people whose average age was 66. 240 of those studied suffered from Alzheimer's, the most common form of mental decline(下降). 391 of the subjects spoke two or more languages. Researchers found the dementia began about four-and-a-half years later in those who spoke two languages compared to those who spoke only one language. The level of education had no effect on the age at the first sign of dementia.
Thomas Bak, from the Centre of Cognitive Aging at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, who helped to organize the study, suggests that individuals who speak more than one language train their brains by moving back and forth between different words and expressions. He also believes this effort improves what scientists called executive(执行的) functioning, which often weakens in people with dementia. He states that researchers found there was no extra gain in speaking more than two languages.
Mr Bak says it does not appear important whether you learn another language at a young age or later in life. It's not something that “you missed the boat when you do not do it as a baby.” It is something that is still quite useful and powerful when you do it as an adult.
1. The finding of the study is that .| A．learning more than one language can cure dementia |
| B．the level of education matters in defending against dementia |
| C．speaking two languages may delay kinds of dementia |
| D．people who suffer from dementia will lose mental ability |
| A．notices that were put on about the study |
| B．people who were studied in the study |
| C．questions that were asked in the study |
| D．methods that were used in the study |
| A．when you learn one more language makes no difference |
| B．people's executive functioning often strengthens with age |
| C．the more languages one speaks, the less chance of getting dementia |
| D．it is much easier to learn one more language at a young age |
| A．a research plan | B．a business magazine |
| C．a book review | D．a health magazine |
10 . One of the most successful, influential and beloved women in American history, Eleanor Roosevelt once said that she had one regret: she wished she had been prettier. Who hasn’t felt the same way? We are all too aware of our physical imperfections. To overcome them, we spend billions upon billions every year. Why do we care so much about how we look? Because it matters. Because beauty is powerful. Because even we learn to value people mostly for being kind and wise and funny, we are still moved by beauty.
Aristotle said, “Beauty is a greater recommendation than any letter of introduction”. It’s not fair, but it’s true. We simply treat beautiful people better than we do others. Attach a photograph of a beautiful author to an essay, and people will think that it is more creative and more intelligently written than exactly the same essay accompanied by the photo of a homely author. As children, beautiful people are more likely to become favorites with parents and teachers. Later, they are more likely to get good jobs. Attractive people in need are more likely to receive help from strangers.
These days, women and men both rely on advanced technology to improve their beauty. Wrinkles can be stretched away with a face lift. Special injections can make lips look young and plump (丰满的). Besides being a sign of youth, good skin also means that the person is likely to be healthy. Still, it is possible to go too far. At the end of the 19th century, some women even had their ribs (肋骨) removed so they’d have that perfect narrow waist.
Our sensitivity to physical beauty is not something we can control at will. We are born with it. Experiments showed that even small infants prefer to look at attractive faces. Before they have met a single supermodel, before they have watched a single TV show, before they have opened up a single fashion magazine, they are drawn to the same faces which adults have judged to be attractive.
There are more important things in life than beauty. But as Nancy Etcoff says, “We have to understand beauty, or we will always be enslaved by it.” If you aim to be wise and kind and funny, it doesn’t mean that you can't also try your best to look beautiful. There’s no reason to feel guilty about being moved by beauty’s power. It moves us all.
1. Which of the following proverbs has the opposite meaning of Aristotle’s sentence in Paragraph 2?| A．Never judge a book by its cover. | B．Act on second thoughts. |
| C．Leave your luck while winning. | D．Great minds think alike. |
| A．attractive | B．plain | C．beautiful | D．handsome |
| A．People are all slaves to beauty. |
| B．Beauty can ensure good jobs. |
| C．Advanced technology helps improve beauty. |
| D．People value beauty over other virtues. |
| A．The Power of Beauty | B．Huge Costs of Beauty |
| C．Bad Effects of Beauty | D．Various Ways to Beauty |
