1 . Perhaps thousands of people have searched for a bronze chest full of gold and jewels hidden in the Rocky Mountains between Santa Fe and the Canadian border hidden by a millionaire adventurer. At least four people died in their search for the treasure.
But it's all over now. Fenn's Treasure has been found. The 89-year-old adventurer named Forrest Fenn, who created the treasure hunt, announced the news via his website. “I don't know the person who found it, but the poem in my book led him to the precise spot,” Fenn wrote. “The treasure was confirmed by a photograph the lucky finder sent me.”
Forrest Fenn, the man who started the hunt, lives in Santa Fe. He was a pilot in the Vietnam War and later accumulated his wealth as a dealer in art and antiques. Fenn was diagnosed(诊断) with cancer in 1988 and had planned to die peacefully in the woods with his treasure. But when his cancer became less serious, he changed his plan, eventually writing the poem that described his dream resting place, which is where he hid the treasure. The poem appeared in a memoir called The Thrill of the Chase. Fenn said that the chest wouldn't be found by accident; only a treasure hunter who correctly interpreted the clues(线索) would find it.
Several treasure hunters went missing while attempting to find the chest, including hunter Jeff Murphy and Mike Petersen, both of whom went missing in Yellowstone National Park in 2017. Fenn said that he had never been to the Yellowstone National Park, and that the treasure was not in a dangerous place. "It was in the thick forest of the Rocky Mountains and had not been moved from the spot where I hid it more than 10 years ago," Fenn wrote on his website. It is illegal to remove anything from a national park, which would cause trouble in legally claiming the treasure if it was found there.
1. What contributed to the finding of the treasure?| A．Fenn's announcement. | B．A poem in Fenn's book. |
| C．Fenn’s vivid description. | D．A photo on Fenn's website. |
| A．Who Forrest Fenn was. | B．Where Fenn hid the treasure. |
| C．How the treasure hunt began. | D．What Fenn did to find the treasure. |
| A．It was in Yellowstone National Park. |
| B．It was found by someone by chance. |
| C．It was moved from one place to another. |
| D．It was in Fenn's chosen resting place. |
| A．Taking. | B．Burying. | C．Protecting. | D．Acknowledging. |
2 . By now, most of us have picked up at least one pandemic hobby. And there's a seemingly common pandemic hobby trend: People who haven't been able to go anywhere are making imaginary travel plans. Maybe you're among those who have spent hours researching locations-even though you're not actually planning to travel.
It turns out that you aren't alone. People who seem to be sticking to public safety recommendations are still planning trips they don't intend to book. And, when I suddenly found myself addicted to an imaginary girls' trip to Joshua Tree, I wondered whether this was a healthy distraction.
"It's an escapist imagination," said Regine Galanti, a psychologist, adding that there's nothing wrong with escapism during a global pandemic.
On the one hand, distractions are often beneficial right now. We are a full year into living with COVID-19 as a pandemic, and that means you've probably had to navigate a range of emotions like discomfort, sadness, or even boredom. So any hobby that doesn't harm anyone or endanger your well-being is probably a worthy attempt.
Even if vacation planning is your happy place, Dr. Galanti suggests you "actually think about what you're trying to achieve." Why? "Maybe what you're saying is, I need a vacation from work," Dr. Galanti explains. "Then take three days off even if you are not going anywhere. "When you figure out what you're looking for, you might be able to find a small socially distanced adventure in your backyard or a quiet place. Vacation planning is a good way to spend some time, but there might be an even better way to get what you're desiring.
Anyway, when uncertainty is all around us, creating things to look forward to isn't a terrible idea. And when things are safer, you'll have all your plans in place.
1. Why do people make imaginary travel plans during the pandemic?| A．To develop a new hobby. | B．To stay safe and sound. |
| C．To be distracted from reality. | D．To get ready for future travel. |
| A．Express. | B．Balance. | C．Adapt to. | D．Deal with. |
| A．Objective. | B．Negative. | C．Supportive. | D．Unclear. |
| A．Figures. | B．Lifestyle. |
| C．Food and recipe. | D．Science and technology. |
3 . Vincent Van Gogh, for whom color was the most important form of expression, was born in Holland in 1853. Brought up in a religious and cultured atmosphere, Van Gogh was highly emotional and lacked self-confidence. Between 1860 and 1880, when he finally decided to become an artist, Van Gogh had worked unsuccessfully as a clerk in a bookstore and an art salesman. He remained in Belgium to study art, determined to give happiness by creating beauty. One of his famous paintings is The Potato Eaters (1885)．
In 1886, he went to Paris to join his brother Théo. In Paris, Van Gogh studied with Cormon, later met Pissarro, Monet, and Gauguin, and began to lighten his very dark palette(调色板)．His nervous temperament made him a difficult companion and night-long discussions combined with painting all day undermined his health. He decided to go south to Arles where he hoped his friends would join him and help found a school of art. Gauguin did join him but with bad results. Near the end of 1888, an incident led Gauguin to finally leave Arles. Van Gogh ran after him with an open razor, was stopped by Gauguin, but ended up cutting a part of his own ear off. Van Gogh then was sent to a mental (精神的) hospital for treatment.
In May of 1890, he seemed much better and went to live in Auvers-sur-Oise under the watchful eye of Dr Cachet. Two months later he was dead, having shot himself “for the good of all”．During his brief career he had sold one painting. Van Goghˈs finest works were produced in less than three years. His great fusion (融合) of form and content is powerful, dramatic and emotional, for the artist was completely absorbed in the effort to explain either his struggle against madness or his comprehension of the spiritual essence (精华) of man and nature.
1. Gauguin finally decided to leave Van Gogh probably because ________.| A．Van Gogh didnˈt like Gauguin at all |
| B．something was wrong with Van Gogh |
| C．Gauguin cut off one of Van Goghˈs ears |
| D．Gauguin hated to be a teacher at the school |
| A．he couldnˈt do his work well |
| B．he was confident about himself |
| C．he did a good job in a bookstore |
| D．he was one of the successful artists |
| A．harmed | B．improved |
| C．challenged | D．punished |
| A．His pride and kindness. |
| B．His cruelty and failure. |
| C．His honesty and strength. |
| D．His struggle and viewpoints. |
4 . The summer before my 10th birthday my father and mother moved our family of nine children to a farm! We had always lived in a small city, in the house my dad bought from my grandparents. But he wanted fresh air, healthy food and lots of room for his children to play. He'd worked multiple jobs at a time and saved for many years…and could finally afford a place in the countryside. Now a minor concern: the house had no running water or electricity. But there were 150 acres to run around in, walk through the woods in, swim a stream in, and otherwise yell, sing and laugh in every day!
That first year my dad put in electricity, because my mom simply announced, “I won't have kerosene lamps with children running around!” Indoor plumbing had to wait another year(an outhouse came with the property). Different friends, who my dad knew from work, asked if he'd take their large dogs who couldn't run free in the city. So we all now played with a big orange-brown boxer and a sporty German Shorthaired Pointer, who we simply named Billy and Molly. Absolutely all our clothes were hand-me-downs, bananas and oranges were “exotic” fruit that we'd see at holidays, and there was ONE birthday party a year! We'd take turns once every 10 years a child would have his/ her own party!
We thought we were rich. My mother was always singing, yelling hugging, or praying. And she told us we were blessed with plenty! To this day, each of my brothers and sisters remember those years as an abundance of chores, laughter, arguing, making peace, and playing together! Every challenge was a game aimed to outwit, and any failure was chance to learn. Money was so scarce, but joy was everywhere.
1. Why did the author's family move to a farm?| A．They had to work on the 150-acre farm. |
| B．They couldn't afford the house in the city. |
| C．They succeeded to a house from grandparents. |
| D．They believed living there was beneficial to them. |
| A．Their life was more comfortable. | B．Their house was short of space. |
| C．Their dogs are quieter than the author's. | D．They greatly envied the author’s father. |
| A．Prepare. | B．Win. | C．Manage. | D．Avoid. |
| A．Simple but happy. | B．Wealthy and cheerful. |
| C．Poor and misery. | D．Rich but disappointed. |
5 . Handwashing is one of the easiest ways to protect against disease, but lack of running water is a problem for 3 billion people in the world, according to the World Health Organization(WHO) and UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund. Tippy taps are one way. Sometimes, the little things make such a big difference. These low-cost handwashing stations are helping people stay healthy.
There are different ways to build and use tippy taps. But the basic tools include a plastic water bottle, sticks, and rope. Hang the bottle from a branch or pole. Press a foot pedal to tip the bottle and release water. Then wet your hands and scrub with soap for at least 20 seconds. Done!
In Uganda, Faridah Luanda has been teaching her neighbors how to make tippy laps. Washing hands is very difficult in her neighborhood because they don't have access to washing facilities. When COVID-19 started and people were told to clean their hands frequently, they needed to be creative. Luanda and her neighbors have set up 800 tippy taps in the community. “We are helping ourselves,” Luanda says “Children, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable people—they cannot be left behind.”
In Guatemala, people have set up nearly 400 tippy laps. Each cost about $12 to make.
Tippy taps are also being used in the United States. Kids from the Lake & Park School, in Seattle Washington, heard about the project. They raised $4,000 to support it. In Tucson, Arizona, they' re helping the homeless. Two were set up at a shelter called Sister Jose Women’s Center. COVID-19 forced the shelter to close. But workers continued to give out food. They needed a way to let people wash their hands before eating. The tippy tap is such a simple solution.
1. What does the author think of tippy taps?| A．They are invented by the WHO | B．They can ease the water shortage. |
| C．They are money-saving and effective. | D．They are too expensive to popularize. |
A． | B． | C． | D． |
| A．Lazy. | B．Weak | C．Dirty. | D．Foolish. |
| A．The homeless. | B．The school children. |
| C．The volunteer workers. | D．The patients in hospital. |
6 . The idea of using a public bathroom with see through walls may sound like the stuff of nightmares. But a famous Japanese is hoping to change that view, using new technology to make restrooms in Tokyo parks more inviting.
“There are two things we worry about when entering a public restroom, especially those cated at a park,” according to architect Shigeru Ban’s firm. “The first is cleanliness, and the second is whether anyone is inside.”
The newly-invented transparent walls can turn off both of those worries, Ban says, by showing people what awaits them inside. After users enter the restroom and lock the door, the room’s walls turn a powdery paste) shade and are no longer see-through.
Ban’s are sure to make for great conversation among visitors to the park-and they’ll stand out even more after dark. “At night, the facility lights up the park like a beautiful lantern,” the architect’s website says.
The group is behind the Tokyo Toilet project, world-famous architects to create toilets “like you’ve never seen. The project’s eye catching toilets are part of a plan to put people ar ease when isiting a public bathroom. The project may seem silly, but the 16 architects who are reimagining public toilets are some of the brightest names in Japanese architecture. The list includes four Pritzker Prize winners-Ban, Toyo Ito, Tadao Ando and Fumihiko Maki-along with international stars such as Kengo Kuma and Sou Fujimoto. The fashion designer Nigo is also contributing.
Ban’s colorful public bathrooms opened to the public this month in two parks: Yoyogi Fukamachi Mini Park and Haru-no-Ogawa Community Park. Other bespoke commodes will be opening in coming months.
1. Why are people often worried before entering a public restroom?| A．Its lock is usually useless. |
| B．It’s usually at a huge distance. |
| C．It’s not always clean. |
| D．It’s always occupied. |
| A．Easy to see through. |
| B．Not easy to see through. |
| C．Full of bright colors. |
| D．Thick and strong. |
| A．It’s and silly. |
| B．It’s rewarding and. |
| C．It has won the Pritzker Prize. |
| D．It’s the fruit of colleqtive wisdom |
| A．Should the public restrooms be upgraded? |
| B．The new high-tech walls of public restrooms are coming. |
| C．How do we live with see-through public facilities? |
| D．Some famous architects designed a silly project. |
7 . I sat here at that same desk and stared at the computer. I waited patiently for ideas to come to me, thinking about exam questions for a school test I would give to my English students tomorrow. My wife was off to a reunion somewhere, but I wasn't alone. Our two children kept me company. Ten-month-old Edward spent most of his day looking at some cards and other different pieces of paper. But Meghan was different from her younger brother.
She followed a daily routine that needed much time and was difficult. It included certain basic tasks: watching the fish, sweeping the carpet in her room, sitting for a few minutes on the bottom shelf of the bookcase to determine whether she still fitted there, checking regularly on Edward or jumping on the sofa.
I could do my own work fairly well during most of these chores. Unfortunately, I had not counted on the “Bib-bibs, bib-bibs”. “Bib-bibs, bib-bibs” shrieked Meghan, and her eyes were alive with expectation. She insisted that I go with her to the window. “No, Meghan,” I answered irritably. “Not now. Go away and leave me alone.”
She left without any attempt to bother me. I could finish the test easily without interference. However, I saw her standing quietly with tears running down her cheeks. She had two fingers of her right hand in her mouth and watched me type. She caught sight of the birds from time to time.
At this moment, only for a moment, I saw a little girl crying because I didn't have time for her, realizing somehow it was the sitting next to each other that meant everything. I put away the blank paper and stood up.
1. What can we learn about the author from paragraph 1?| A．He has two daughters. | B．He's tired of his present job. |
| C．He often stays alone at home. | D．He works as an English teacher. |
| A．Meghan's naughtiness. | B．Meghan's favorite hobbies. |
| C．Meghan's cleverness. | D．Meghan's daily diet. |
| A．Amazedly. | B．Angrily. | C．Nervously. | D．Warmly. |
| A．To call his wife come back. | B．To get some paper from the drawer. |
| C．To watch the birds with his daughter. | D．To stop his daughter from making noise. |
8 . Many adults rely on caffeine to get them through the day. But that’s the last thing kids need, according to the governments of England and South Korea.
England woke up to the news that the government is preparing to ban the sale of energy drinks like Red Bull to children.
The ban only applies to England, but Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can all follow suit if their administrations wish. In March, several major supermarket chains announced they would ban the sale of energy drinks to children under 16. Meanwhile, South Korea announced plans to ban the sale of coffee in schools by September 14.
The first reason for the ban is the high level of caffeine in the energy drinks, which has been linked to health problems for children, including head and stomach aches, as well as sleep problems.
A 250ml can of Red Bull contains about 80mg of caffeine, roughly the same as a similarly sized cup of coffee, but three times the level of CocaCola.Monster Energy, which is often sold in larger cans of 500ml, contains 160mg of caffeine.
Energy drinks often also have higher levels of sugar than soft drinks.Sugared energy drinks have 60% more calories and 65% more sugar than normal soft drinks and sugar is one of the largest causes of obesity.
British national official for education, Darren Northcott, described the drinks as “legal highs” that helped to fuel bad behavior in schools.
In addition to limiting kids’ access to caffeine and energy drinks, the South Korean government has also banned TV commercials for fast food, sugary snacks and highcaffeine beverages during times when most children’ s programs air.
South Koreans drink an average of 181 cups of coffee a year, by far the most in Asia.That is more than the 151 consumed per person in the UK but less than the average of 266 cups in the US.
1. Which part of the UK will be the first to ban the sale of energy drinks to children under 16?| A．England. |
| B．Scotland. |
| C．Wales. |
| D．Northern Ireland. |
| A．Paragraph 5 provides numbers for Paragraph 4. |
| B．They are parallel. |
| C．Paragraph 4 presents an argument. |
| D．Paragraph 4 provides reasons for Paragraph 5. |
| A．Reduce. | B．Settle. | C．Encourage. | D．Ignore. |
| A．Caffeine in Energy Drinks |
| B．Reasons for the Ban on the Sale of Energy Drinks |
| C．Coffee Sales in the UK and South Korea |
| D．England and South Korea Ban Caffeine for Kids |
9 . Children born in the past four decades had the luxury of being the center of their parents’ attention. The entire family’s resources were poured into their education and well-being.
However，when the same resources are split between two children，the amount distributed to each one is going to shrink.
According to the Hangzhou Daily，when there are two children in the family，parents tend to choose public schools instead of private schools，which are usually more expensive. Each child is enrolled in fewer after-school training classes.
But having a second child may cure some deep-rooted problems in China’s traditional family education.
Having two children in the family can help to prevent one child being spoiled by too much attention，according to People’s Daily. It also spares the only child from the pressure of shouldering parental expectations all alone. Taking care of a sibling also enables children to gain a sense of responsibility，cooperation，obedience and caring.
China’s public education system is also expected to shift. Currently，there are not enough vacancies in kindergarten and schools to accommodate the potential increase in children.
“It’s not only the enrollment capacity of educational institutions that will feel the pressure. People are also placing more emphasis on the quality of education，”Peng Xizhe， director of the Population and Development Research Policy Center at Fudan University，told China Education Daily.
He predicts the government may have to invest more to support the educational system as a result of the new family planning measure.
1. What can children benefit from a two-child family?| A．They can have less pressure. |
| B．They can study in private schools. |
| C．They can get much more attention. |
| D．They can take more after-school training classes. |
| A．hold | B．adapt | C．solve | D．consider |
| A．People are placing more emphasis on the quality of education. |
| B．The government may have to invest more to support the educational system. |
| C．The new family planning measure will challenge the current educational system. |
| D．The educational institutions will feel the pressure that their capacity is not enough. |
| A．To show benefits of owning two children. |
| B．To persuade people to bear more children. |
| C．To encourage people to have only one child. |
| D．To introduce the impact of two-child policy. |
10 . Perhaps you have ever heard the saying: Change is the only constant. Everyone, without doubt, goes through changes in their life, whether it is a physical state of aging or a mental state of emotional maturity. However, some are afraid to make the conscious decision to move or they think it's too late to have a fresh start.
I have a friend named Jack. At the age of 37, he is a Senior Manager at one of the Big Four. He has a great salary, owns his own apartment and enjoys the fine things in life, but not without the heavy burdens that his job brings. On the surface, it looks like he has got life figured out. Yet when I once asked if he was happy with his work, he answered that he some- times wished to quit his job to do something less stressful. But he’d become accustomed to this lifestyle and felt that it would be too late to give it up to achieve a new ambition.
For him, the risks are too high, so whether he can't abide his present job or not, he has to choose to suck it up. You might have come to a similar situation as Jack’s or you might be a Jack. You're now facing a wall. No matter what it is—the stress of your job or the terrible feeling, it’s time that you had to decide whether you'll tear down that wall or continue to let it enclose you. I suggest pushing back the boundaries and breaking the fixed patterns. Why do you feel it's too late to start over? That is simply because you're comparing yourself with others—younger or more successful individuals. In fact, you should compare yourself with the older version of you.
Don't become that person who lets life pass by only to regret it when you are making your way into old age. Don't let your life plateau（停滞不前）and waste away in the daily chores. Don't give up the potential you still have hidden and be locked away by your current state. Now, you’d better bravely start going after the things you want to do, without abandoning your dreams, ambitions and responsibilities.
1. What kind of people does Jack represent according to the author?| A．Those leading a happy life. |
| B．Those having an easeful career. |
| C．Those thinking it's too late to change. |
| D．Those having a high ambition to work. |
| A．Value. | B．Recommend. | C．Understand. | D．Tolerate. |
| A．Let life stand still. |
| B．Enjoy the present job. |
| C．Have a small goal in life. |
| D．Consider ourselves as a failure. |
| A．Everyone Can Meet a Jack |
| B．Don't Try to Control Yourself |
| C．Never Think Change Is Too Late |
| D．You Should Make Alteration Earlier |
