1 . When you purchase fresh-cut flowers, do you think about where they came from? It might make sense to think they were grown somewhere nearby. The reality, though, is that the cut flower trade is increasingly international. Today, thanks to airplanes and high-tech cooling systems, even the most delicate flower can be exported, and sold in a florist thousands of kilometers away from where it was grown.
The country that dominates the world cut flower trade is the Netherlands. It handles about 60 percent of the world’s cut flowers. The Netherlands is also a world leader in developing new flower varieties. Dutch companies and the government invest a considerable amount of money in flower research. Their scientists look for ways to lengthen a flower’s vase life, to strengthen flowers to prevent them from being damaged while traveling, and also to strengthen the natural fragrance of the flowers.
Despite the Netherlands’ dominance of the flower market, there are many places with a better climate for growing flowers, and the climate of Ecuador is almost perfect. Mauricio Davalos is the man responsible for starting Ecuador’s flower industry. “Our biggest edge is nature,” he claims. “Our roses are the best in the world.” Every year, Ecuador sells about 500 million flowers to the U.S. alone. The industry has brought employment op portunities and a stronger economy to regions of the country. “My family has TV now. There are radios,” says Yolanda Quishpe, 20, who picked roses for four years.
To others, the increasingly international nature of the flower trade is very bad news. In recent years, local growers in the U.S. faced huge competition from international flower companies, and many lost their businesses, Lina Hale, an independent rose grower in California, said her father had predicted the situation. “I see a freight train coming down the track,” he warned her, “and it’s coming straight towards us.”
1. What is the main idea of the first paragraph?| A．Cut flowers can survive a long trip. | B．You should buy flowers from local florists. |
| C．Flowers you buy come from far away places. | D．Few thinks about where they buy your flowers. |
| A．Dutch companies and the government | B．airplane and high-tech cooling companies |
| C．Ecuador’s local flower growers and pickers | D．American businessmen and their government |
| A．end | B．advantage |
| C．challenge | D．difference |
| A．He could predict a train was soon to arrive. |
| B．He knew his business would be threatened. |
| C．He thought customers wouldn’t want roses. |
| D．He thought trains were the new way to move flowers. |
2 . Almost everyone has heard the expression, “the calm before the storm”. It is usually used to describe a peaceful period just before a very stressful situation or a tense argument. British sailors coined the phrase in the late 1600s; they noted that before certain storms the seas would seem to become static and the winds would drop.
But why is it often so calm before a storm?
Science has given us the answer. According to US infotainment (资讯娱乐) website HowStuffWorks, a calm period occurs because many storms, such as tornadoes and hurricanes, draw in all the warm and humid air from the surrounding area. As this air rises into the storm clouds, it cools and acts as “fuel for the storm, like petrol in a car”. Once the storm has taken all the energy it can from the air, it is pushed out from the top of the storm clouds and falls back down to ground level. As the air descends, it becomes warm and dry. Warm, dry air is stable, so once it covers an area, it causes a calm period before the storm. This same process also causes the “eye of the storm” in hurricanes and tornadoes. In these conditions, the calm occurs in the center of the storm because of the strong rotating (旋转的) winds.
The Weather Network has a tip for working out how far away a storm is. First, count how many seconds there are between a flash of lightning and a clap of thunder. Roughly three seconds equal one kilometer. So, for example, if you count nine seconds, the storm is about 3 kilometers away. A good gauge (评估) is that if your count is below 30 seconds, you should seek shelter straight away.
However, due to the complexity of storm system, not all storms are preceded(先于) by calm. Given the right conditions, some storms announce themselves with heavy rain and chilling winds.
So, your best bet is to keep yourself updated with weather reports for any predictions regarding a coming storm in your area. That’s the most reliable and sensible way to predict the next display of nature’s temper.
1. The underlined word “static” in Paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to ______.| A．violent | B．quiet |
| C．fast-changing | D．warm |
| A．Three kilometers. | B．Four kilometers. |
| C．Five kilometers. | D．Six kilometers. |
| A．It is not always quiet before a storm. |
| B．Storms have a big influence on life. |
| C．Heavy storms don’t usually last for a long time. |
| D．Weather reports may fail to predict a storm. |
3 . The International Day of Disabled Persons, an international celebration declared by the United Nations since 1992, is observed on December 3, aiming to promote an understanding of disability issues and get support for the rights of people with disabilities. The day takes place annually and focuses on a different issue each year. In South Africa, December 3 also marks the beginning of the Disability Awareness Month.
Since the first celebration, people with disabilities have gained recognition of their rights by States across the globe and of their rightful place in society. But there is still much work ahead of us to turn those legal rights into a true revolution, in which diversity is fully accepted and lived.
The estimated one billion people living with disabilities worldwide face many obstructions of inclusion in many key aspects of society. As a result, people with disabilities can’t enjoy the equal rights as normal people, which include employment, education as well as social and political participation. The right to participate in public life is essential to create stable democracies, active citizenship and reduce inequalities in society.
In many cases, people with disabilities must be able to fulfill their role in society. It is important to focus on the ability and not on the disability of an individual. It is important to note that disability is part of the human condition, and that all of us either are or will become disabled to one degree or another during the course of our lives.
By promoting empowerment, real opportunities for disabled people are created. This supports them in setting their own priorities. Empowerment involves investing in them-in jobs, health, nutrition, education, and social protection. When disabled people are empowered they are better prepared to take advantage of opportunities, and they can more readily accept their civil responsibilities.
1. What is the International Day of Disabled Persons meant for?| A．To raise money for the disabled. | B．To stress the value of the disabled. |
| C．To make an international celebration. | D．To make able-bodied people care about the disabled. |
| A．Barriers | B．Chances | C．Decisions | D．Regrets |
| A．Their number is too large. | B．Few of them seek legal rights. |
| C．They can’t be fully accepted by society. | D．They think poorly of their role in society. |
| A．The author is worried about the disabled. | B．The disabled will have a brighter future. |
| C．What society has done is far from enough. | D．The disabled must fight hard for their rights. |
4 . People born in winter are more likely to suffer mental health disorders, according to a recent study carried out by researchers at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee.
Researchers raised baby mice from birth to weaning in either “summer” light cycles of 16 hours of light and 8 hours of dark or “winter” cycles of 8 hours of light and 16 hours of dark. A third group experienced 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark a day.
Then half the winter mice stayed in a winter cycle, while half switched to a summer schedule. The summer mice were similarly split. The mice raised in equal periods of light and dark were split into three groups, one of which stayed on the 12hour schedule, one of which joined the winter group, and one of which joined the summer group.
After 28 days, it turns out the summerborn mice behaved the same whether they stayed on the summer cycle or switched to winter. But among the winterborn mice, those that stayed in winter kept their previous schedule, while those that switched to summer stayed active for an extra hour and a half, which indicates that mice born and weaned in a winter light cycle showed dramatic disruptions in their biological clocks.
The finding is the first of its kind in mammals, and it could explain why people born in winter are at higher risk for mental health disorders.
“We know that the biological clock regulates mood in humans,” said study researcher McMahon. “If the mechanism similar to the one that we found in mice operates in humans, then it could not only have an effect on a number of behavioral disorders, but also have a more general effect on personality.”
1. What’s the main idea of the text?| A．The biological clock regulates mood in humans. |
| B．Being born in winter has a negative effect on people’s mental health. |
| C．People born in winter are at higher risk for physical health disorders. |
| D．The length of light will influence the behavior of the mice. |
| A．divided | B．torn |
| C．hit | D．ended |
| A．A jobhunter. | B．A student in the university. |
| C．A newlymarried couple. | D．An experienced dentist. |
5 . The Kirtland’s warbler（莺）has required protections since the foundation of Endangered Species Act (ESA), but that’s about to change. The Fish and Wildlife Service（FWS）today announced it is removing the songbird from the endangered species list
“The effort to recover the Kirtland's warbler is a successful example of how to save endangered species,” said Margaret Everson, director of FWS. “The Kirtland's warbler has responded well to active management over the half century.” In 1971, the Kirtland’s warbler population declined to approximately 201 singing males and was restricted to six counties. By 2015, the population reached 2,383 singing males and had spread geographically. FWS noted the frequent and persistent singing of male warblers during the breeding season made counting possible.
“The primary threats identified at listing and during development of the recovery plan have been managed,” said FWS. Modern wildfire suppression（扑灭）practices greatly altered the natural disturbance system, which enabled the growth of the jack pine forests favored by the species, FWS noted. Michigan state has replanted approximately 90,000 acres of Kirtland's warbler habitat over the past 30 years. Timber （木材）incomes offset the cost of replanting jack pine needed to support a survivable bird population.
But while the bird is falling off the ESA list, officials note that it remains a “conservation-dependent species." Conservation of the Kirtland's warbler will continue to require a harmonious approach for carrying out future conservation work, like partnerships and sufficient funding, FWS stated. Under the Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1966, the Kirtland's warbler was federally listed as an endangered species in 1967.
“This remarkable bird has a most impressive, exemplary success story that illustrates effective conservation and cooperation at work,” added Heather Good, executive director of Michigan Audubon. Shawn Graff, vice president of American Bird Conservancy's Great Lakes program, pointed out the delisting （除名）is “cause for celebration and proof that the Endangered Species Act works.”
1. The passage is probably taken from_____.| A．a science fiction | B．a news report |
| C．a biography | D．a novel |
| A．Make up for. | B．Add to. |
| C．Fix. | D．Estimate. |
| A．Ample funding. | B．Cooperative work. |
| C．The foundation of FWS. | D．The control of wildfire. |
| A．The male Kirtland's warblers seldom sing in the breeding season. |
| B．Heather Good was not very satisfied with the conservation work. |
| C．The Kirtland's warbler was listed as an endangered species only in one state. |
| D．Margaret Everson thought highly of the conservation of the Kirtland's warbler. |
6 . Feeding bread to the ducks is a fond pastime for many of us, reminding us of our happy childhood trips to the local park. But did you know that bread actually poses a danger to birds, as well as the environment? Eating it can cause our feathered friends to develop a condition called Angel Wing, which is when too much bread makes birds’ feathers grow too quickly. This additional weight puts a strain on their muscles, causing their wings to twist and drop open, and if not treated fast, they can lose the ability to fly.
“Angel Wing can be remedied if we reach birds before it has developed too severely,” says Caroline Simpson, a trustee of UK charity Swan Lifeline, which has rescued and treated more than 30,000 birds over the last 20 years. “Otherwise the consequence can be awful—such as amputations(截肢)of the wing.” Adult swans can also develop gut and heart disease, so it’s important we do our bit to prevent this by feeding wild birds with the right kind of food.
Bread can also cause harmful changes to the natural ecosystem. Rotting bread at the bottom of rivers and lakes allows bacteria to breed, spreading disease and attracting rats and other vermin to our waterways. It can result in algal(藻类的)blooms and the presence of a mould(霉菌)called Aspergillus too, which has the potential to kill waterfowl(水禽)and other wildlife if it gets into their lungs.
But this doesn’t mean we have to stop fun trips to feed the ducks. Giving birds the right food-like frozen peas, sweetcorn and lettuce leaves-is good for both them and the environment. So, next time you visit your local park, take a healthier alternative with you and do your bit to protect our precious wildlife.
1. The underlined word “remedied” in Paragraph 2 probably means .| A．reduced | B．expected | C．caused | D．corrected |
| A．Harmful creatures will be drawn to waterways. |
| B．Water birds will be overfed and risk losing their bodily functions. |
| C．The water will be enriched thanks to the nutrients in bread. |
| D．The eco-balance at the bottom of rivers or lakes will be disturbed. |
| A．stop people from feeding waterfowl. |
| B．instruct people how to raise waterfowl. |
| C．warn people of the danger threatening waterfowl. |
| D．promote a safe and healthy way to feed waterfowl. |
7 . Five American teenagers were officially named the 2018 National Student Poets on Thursday at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. The award is the highest honor for young poets in the United States and the students represent states from all over the country. The teenagers were first chosen in August from among thousands of award-winning young poets in the United States
Virginia McEnery leads the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, which plays a part in choosing the national student poets. She says poetry is powerful because it is open to everyone. “It’s so democratic, you don’t need more than a pencil and piece of paper and everyone likes it.” McEnery says she hopes the national student poet program will support the winners not only as writers, but as activists
Many of the student poets have already held literary leadership positions, McEnery said. “For many of them, they are working for their library or they’ re running the literary magazine for their school or one of them is actually in the scholastic awards program for her state.”
As national student poets, the five young people will give presentations, performances and training on poetry and literature. They will also improve the services of libraries and museums, and volunteer in their communities. In addition, each poet will receive an award of ＄5,000 and the opportunity to learn from poet and teacher Glenis Redmond. And, they will meet with Tracy K. Smith, the current poet laureate(桂冠诗人) for the United States.
McEenery says she has seen for herself how programs to support students’ creative expression can change young people’s lives. “It’s such a hard time to be a teenager, social movements are happening in real time as they are growing up. What better, smarter, wiser thing can a young person do than try to write about it?”
1. What does the underlined word “democratic” in paragraph 2 most probably mean?| A．special | B．useful | C．popular | D．interesting |
| A．The award is the highest honor for young poets in the world. |
| B．The five young people will improve the services of library and museums. |
| C．The programmes to support students’ creative expression changed young people’s lives. |
| D．The teenagers were first selected from among many award-winning young poets in USA. |
| A．negative | B．positive | C．uncaring | D．doubtful |
8 . People often ask how I decide where to go, and I usually get hesitated with my response, as I don’t actually have an answer to that. For more than three years, I have been making movements with the universe, traveling from location to location at seemingly random intervals.
A friend of mine posted a Facebook status asking if anybody was interested in a job teaching English in China. So I jumped on a coming plane. Walking into my first class, I was bombed by 16 strange children who couldn’t understand a single word out of my mouth. When I walked out of my last class, six months later, I had made a personal connection with them. Some of my students could barely speak Chinese or English. But somehow, through determination and force, we connected.
Every class was not only a lesson in English, but in good fellowship, being a role model, being a parent, and being a friend. I became a father to some, an older brother to others. I was loved and adored, feared and hated. I had to learn discipline, and not only how to deal it out, but how to discipline and conduct myself as a role model. But in between the discipline, I had to make learning a fun experience. And they forgave me when I yelled or got upset. And when they threw temper or bruised their knee or missed their mommy, I forgave them, kissed their bruises better, and gave them a shoulder to cry on.
Teaching English in China is, by far, the most emotionally rewarding and fulfilling thing I’ve ever challenged myself to do. I have walked away from this job with a softened heart, knowing that I have made a difference in so many lives. I want that. I want my teachings to be reciprocal because they taught me how to unconditionally open my heart and how to be a more 1oving and patient person.
1. What can we learn about the writer before he came to China?| A．He didn’t have a fixed job. | B．He was a professional writer. |
| C．He worked in a travel agency. | D．He taught in a language school. |
| A．Hard. | B．Exciting. |
| C．Touching. | D．Inspiring. |
| A．He was casual and patient. |
| B．He was responsible but sensitive. |
| C．He was cautious but bad-tempered. |
| D．He was self-reflective and considerate. |
| A．Beneficial. | B．Interacted. |
| C．Encouraging. | D．Acceptable. |
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1. From the passage, we can learn that the EP __________.| A．runs without any noise | B．makes people get sleepy |
| C．doesn’t burn up oxygen | D．is unsuitable for children and pets |
| A．separately | B．equally |
| C．quickly | D．continuously |
| A．persuade people to buy the product |
| B．advise people to save on heating bills |
| C．report the new development of portable heaters |
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10 . The cultures of the East and the West are really different from each other a lot. This is because the culture systems are two separate ones on the whole.
The origin (起源) of the Eastern culture is mainly from two countries: China and India. Both of the two cultures are developed by rivers — the Yellow River in China and the Hindu River in India. They helped the two cultures develop for centuries and form their own styles.
When the two mother rivers gave birth to the Eastern culture, another famous culture was up on the Mesopotamian Plain — the Mesopotamian Civilization. This civilization later on developed into the cultures of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. And these two are well-known as the base of the European culture. Like the Chinese culture, the European culture also crossed waters. When the British settled down in America, their culture went with them over the Atlantic Ocean. So the American culture doesn’t have much difference from the European culture.
At the same time, some other differences add to the cultural differences. Take the language system for example. In the East, most languages belong to the pictographic (象形) language while the western languages are mostly based on the Latin system. Other causes like human race differences count as well. But what’s more, due to the far distance and the steep areas between the East and the west, the two cultures seldom communicate until recent centuries. So they grew up totally in their own ways with almost no interference from the other.
The differences are everywhere. They are obvious and make people’s ways of thinking and their views of the world different. But different cultures make the world of 21st century more colorful. The cultural difference should not be the obstacle (障碍) to the civilization of human being. It ought to be the driving force of our going farther.
1. What is the text mainly about?| A．The origin of cultures. | B．Culture differences. |
| C．Language systems. | D．Colorful world. |
| A．Both of the two cultures have a very long history. |
| B．They have the same mother rivers as the Chinese culture. |
| C．The early settlers from Britain brought their culture to America. |
| D．Both the British and the American live along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. |
| A．difference | B．influence |
| C．confidence | D．environment |
| A．A diary. | B．A magazine. |
| C．A novel. | D．A guidebook. |
