1 . Yangsigang Yangtze River Bridge, the double-deck suspension (悬浮) bridge with the longest span in the world, opened to traffic on Tuesday after five years’ construction, according to a statement from the constructor.
It is reported that the bridge is 4. 13 kilometers long, with 12 lanes in both directions on the main I bridge. It is a long-span suspension bridge with the largest volume in the world, China Railway Major Bridge Engineering Group said. The bridge connects the Hanyang and Wuchang and its opening will ameliorate the urban expressway system, relieve traffic pressure across the river, and drive development in the area, according to the company.
On both sides of the upper deck of the bridge, there is a two-meter-wide footpath, with eight rest and sightseeing areas, where people can enjoy the river scenery. The lower level is designed with two non-motorized lanes, each 2. 5 meters wide. A 1. 5-meter wide walkway is also a feature of each side of the floor so pedestrians (行人) can walk on the lower level without getting caught in the rain.
Chief designer of the bridge, Xu Gongyi, said, “Considering navigation and traffic volume, the main span of the bridge is 1, 700 meters, which is the second-largest in the world and also the largest in bridges of double-deck structure.”
According to Luo Ruihua, project manager of the bridge, the Yangsigang Yangtze River Bridge has set several records in the process of its construction. The designed tension of each of the two main cables (钢索) is 65, 000 tons.
From 2014 to 2019, builders have shown the world the speed of China. The bridge not only enhances Wuhan’s reputation as a “bridge museum”, but also represents a super project of a new era.
1. What does the underlined word “ameliorate” in paragraph 2 mean?| A．Keep. | B．Start. | C．Improve. | D．Show. |
| A．By giving examples. | B．By making comparisons. |
| C．By describing its principles. | D．By using data. |
| A．It will attract many foreigners to Wuhan. |
| B．It is friendly to pedestrians. |
| C．The cost of its construction is low. |
| D．It is the longest bridge of the world. |
| A．Negative. | B．Admiring. | C．Uncertain. | D．Grateful. |
2 . Now, it is winter and as you have probably noticed, virus are everywhere—runny noses, sore throats, nothing quite like the common cold to make you feel so uncomfortable. But experts believe that there is no link between cold weather and catching colds. So why are we particularly easy to catch colds this season?
Internal Medicine expert, Dr Meenakshi Jain of Max Hospital says, “One reason could be that people are likely to stay indoors, so the virus can spread easily. Also the virus grows strong and healthy under wet conditions.”
The common cold can be caused by any of up to 250 kinds of virus. The most common group of them is the kind of virus that hits the nose, which is called rhinovirus. Rhinoviruses cause a third and a half of all common colds.
“This kind of virus is spread through the nose and respiratory passages (呼吸道)，by touch, and by contact with particles (微粒) in the air that are created by sneezing or coughing,” says Dr Jain.
There is no way to treat the common cold. However, there are some tips that can help. Wash your hands regularly, so that germs get killed. Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth, which can limit your chances of infection (传染). Don’t share drinking glasses with anyone as this will prevent the spread of the virus. Drink lots of water. Make sure to eat enough fruits to boost your immune system (免疫系统). Get enough sleep and you’ll certainly become stronger.
1. What does the writer think will make you suffer most?| A．The common cold. | B．The winter. |
| C．Sore throats. | D．Runny noses. |
| A．the cold weather in the winter | B．the condition of the human body |
| C．the virus that hits people’s nose | D．the warm temperature in the room |
| A．damage | B．treat | C．change | D．improve |
| A．some ways for the virus to spread |
| B．the common cold can not be treated |
| C．exercise is important to people’s health |
| D．some tips on how to keep the cold away |
3 . Johnny Cash was born in 1932 in the southern state of Arkansas. His parents were poor cotton farmers. As a school boy, he began writing songs and he performed on radio programs. After high school, he joined the United States Air Force and served as a radio operator in Germany.
He returned to the United States in 1954 and formed a band with two friends and performed at local events. They began recording for Sun Records in Memphis. One of the songs Cash wrote became the first country music hit record for the company. It was “Cry, Cry, Cry.”
Johnny Cash performed all across the United States and Canada. By 1958, Johnny Cash was a successful recording artist, songwriter and singer. He was invited to perform at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee.
Johnny Cash won many awards, including eleven Grammy Awards and the Kennedy Center Honors. He was elected to both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He also received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
He died on September 12, 2003, in Nashville at the age of seventy-one.
Fans say that Johnny Cash's music was important because it told simple stories about life and death. They say he cared about social issues and continued to express support for those who are poor and without political power. One of the last songs he recorded was one made popular by the rock and roll group Nine Inch Nails. It is called “Hurt.”
1. Johnny Cash returned to the United States after ________.| A．he finished high school | B．he formed a band |
| C．he served in US Air Force in Germany | D．his song Cry, Cry, Cry became famous |
| A．Johnny Cash performed his famous song Cry, Cry, Cry at the Grand Ole Opry |
| B．Johnny Cash didn't care about social problems |
| C．Johnny Cash's music was only loved by his fans |
| D．the Grand Ole Opry is a place where famous singers hold their concerts. |
| A．Beat | B．Failure | C．Strike | D．Success |
| A．he won many awards in his lifetime |
| B．he often performed in the Grand Ole Opry |
| C．his songs expressed support for the poor people with no political power |
| D．his songs were sung by the rock and roll group Nine Inch Nails |
4 . It was about seven years ago. I just picked up my threeyearold daughter from the nursery. I was weighed down with shopping bags, and with my daughter’s things. We arrived at a pedestrian crossing and she pressed the button. In the distance, I heard alarms, told my daughter to wait and watched a police car approaching.
Little did I know, as the_green_man flashed, that my daughter had begun to run into the road. I watched the police car speed toward us—that’s when you sounded your horn and waved wildly to me. My daughter was about a meter from the path of the police car, hidden from their view by your car.
I screamed her name and ran toward her. She stopped and was shocked by the rush of the police car as it sped past. She wondered why you had blown your horn, asking, “Mom, why was that woman so rude？” not realizing you had saved her life.
She wondered why I picked her up and burst into tears. My legs gave way as I reached the other side of the road. I should have followed my “wait” with a hand on her shoulder, or an explanation of why we were ignoring the green man this time, especially as I had in effect conditioned her to cross the road at the sight of the green flash.
I beat myself up for months, and still do, with flashbacks and horrible assumptions about what might have been. But for your sounding your horn, seeing what I hadn’t seen, I would have been left a mother on the other side of the road, totally broken. I apologize for putting you in that position—I can imagine that it upset you, too. You saved her life and I am so grateful.
1. What does the underlined part “the green man” in Paragraph 2 refer to?| A．A pedestrian. | B．A policeman. |
| C．A traffic sign. | D．A button. |
| A．To stop the police car. |
| B．To show her impatience. |
| C．To greet passing pedestrians. |
| D．To draw the mother’s attention. |
| A．The mother didn’t regret what had happened. |
| B．The daughter didn’t follow the traffic rules. |
| C．The woman responded quickly and properly. |
| D．The police drove beyond the speed limit. |
| A．Angry and shocked. | B．Scared but relieved. |
| C．Guilty and confused. | D．Grateful but sad. |
5 . Thomas Cheatham had planned to study Latin during his time at Hebron High School in Texas. But when he learned that the school district was going to offer a Mandarin(普通话) class, he quickly changed his mind.
“I thought Mandarin would be more beneficial than Latin,” said Cheatham, who is now in his second year of studying the language.
He speaks Mandarin to order food at Chinese restaurants and can read social media posts from his Chinese-speaking friends. While it’s a difficult language to master, the high school junior, who plans to study computer engineering, thinks it will be important for his career. “Chinese is a good language to know, especially with China becoming a growing power,” he said.
Many experts agree that proficiency(熟练) in a language spoken by a billion people worldwide will give American students an edge in the global economy.
“People are looking at China as our next economic competitor, and interest in Mandarin is growing fast,” said Marty Abbott, director of the American Council(议会) on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. “We’re seeing it in all parts of the country.”
Abbott predicts that as many as 100,000 students are now studying Mandarin in public and private schools throughout the US. She said the US government has designated (指定) Mandarin as an “important needs” language and provides professional development programs for teachers. “Our government wants to increase our language ability for national security and economic competitiveness,” Abbott added.
At the same time, the Chinese government is spreading knowledge of the Chinese language and culture through Confucius Institutes set up in many US states. For example, the Confucius Institute at the University of Texas in Dallas has been the home of a Confucius Institute for 10 years. It sponsors Confucius Classrooms at 21 local public and private schools, where tens of thousands of students are learning Mandarin.
1. Why did Thomas Cheatham decide to study Mandarin instead of Latin?| A．Mandarin was easier to learn than Latin. |
| B．Mandarin could be helpful to his future career. |
| C．Mandarin might help him learn more about China. |
| D．Mandarin could enable him to study computer engineering. |
| A．a slight advantage | B．the outside limit |
| C．a sharp tone of voice | D．an exciting quality |
| A．Mandarin should be taught in classrooms throughout the US. |
| B．Those skilled at Chinese will be the most competitive in the future. |
| C．The US government’s policy has helped popularize Mandarin in the US. |
| D．Americans learn Mandarin because they worry about their national security. |
| A．The rising popularity of Mandarin among American students. |
| B．The great benefits of learning Mandarin for American students. |
| C．The influence of China’s growing power on American education. |
| D．The effect of Confucius Institutes in promoting Mandarin in the US. |
6 . A hybrid electric vehicle (混合动力车) or HEV is a vehicle driven by the combination of petrol engine and electric motor. Terrence has been driving a HEV for five years. He really doesn’t understand why more people aren’t accepting them. “I probably spend about $ 7 a day on petrol,” the taxi driver told news. com. au. In his previous conventional vehicle Terrence said he was spending up to $ 30 a day on petrol, meaning he saves almost $ 6000 every year.
The Toyota spokesman said this was quite a high saving and official tests estimate (估计) an average driver would only save about 33 percent off their current bill. This means a driver paying $ 30 a day on petrol would see their bill drop to about $ 20 using the hybrid. “A taxi driver that drives in built-up areas and spends little time on highways will notice a higher fuel saving,” he said. “Low speeds allow the electric motors to be used more and the petrol engine used less.”
While some people are skeptical about how reliable hybrids are, Terrence said he had never run out of power. His Camry cost about $ 34,000 and so after five years, it’s nearly paid for itself. “For cab drivers, it’s a real advantage because of the cost-effectiveness,” he said. Terrence has no complaints about the car. “I love it, the calm and quietness of it, the simplicity of it—you just jump in and go. The maintenance（保养）is really low. But the only difficulty is finding someone to service the car as there are not many experienced mechanics（机修工）.”
Terrence said it’s “extraordinary” that more drivers aren’t buying more hybrid electric vehicles and that governments are not encouraging this more. “I think people have a view that you have to plug it in, which is not true. A lack of information about the cars may be stopping people from taking the plunge. It’s not promoted at all for the public to understand—it’s simplifying the actual owning of a car—you don’t have to do so many things to own it and run it, it’s just so much simpler. Why wouldn’t the government promote such a thing?”
1. How much does an average driver save each day by driving a hybrid, according to the Toyota spokesman?| A．$ 30 | B．$ 20 |
| C．$ 10 | D．$ 7 |
| A．speed | B．power |
| C．price | D．service |
| A．understandable | B．wonderful |
| C．doubtful | D．unbelievable |
| A．The difficulty in servicing the car. |
| B．The restriction of the government. |
| C．The lack of information about HEV. |
| D．The inconvenience with charging the car. |
7 . Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens are to start a war on gray-headed flying foxes. These super bats have invaded one of Australia’s most famous public spaces. Officials have said the animals are destroying trees and have to move on.
These unwanted guests at Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens look like tiny foxes with wings. Officials have estimated there are about 11,000 of them living in the harbor-side park. After inspecting damage to dozens of trees they now believe there are twice as many as previously thought. Branches have been breaking under the weight of these furry invaders and their droppings have been poisoning plants.
Help may well be at hand, however, in the shape of the ordinary garbage bin. The gardens’ director Dr. Tim Entwistle hopes the unpleasant sounds of crashing bin lids will agitate the flying foxes and force them to move on. “The way to disturb them is to use noises, so we’ve used the loud noises made by rubbish bins in the past. You can also use speakers as long as you move the noise around, and what we’ll do is to have a series of noises, at the beginning and end of the day. What we’ve found in the past is that the flying foxes leave the gardens and go somewhere else,” said Tim.
The gray-headed flying fox is Australia’s largest bat. It flies around at night using its eyes and a powerful sense of smell to search for fruit and flowers. Officials at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney have said they’re optimistic the unwelcome colony can be uprooted. If and when the bats do move to other parts of the city they will of course then become someone else’s problem.
1. Why do people want to get rid of the flying foxes?| A．Because the gardens are important public places. |
| B．Because they are polluting the city. |
| C．Because many garbage bins have been damaged by them. |
| D．Because they’re threatening the survival of trees and other plants. |
| A．Shooting them. | B．Making loud noises. |
| C．Shaking the trees hard. | D．Cutting some trees down. |
| A．excite | B．kill |
| C．disturb | D．discourage |
| A．The bats will still stay in the gardens. |
| B．Some other areas will have to deal with the bats. |
| C．The grey-headed flying fox often eats trees. |
| D．The damage caused by the bats is serious. |
8 . If you are a fruit grower — or would like to become one — take advantage of Apple Day to see what’s around. It’s called Apple Day but in practice it’s more like Apple Month. The day itself is on October 21, but since it has caught on, events now spread out over most of October around Britain.
Visiting an apple event is a good chance to see, and often taste, a wide variety of apples. To people who are used to the limited choice of apples such as Golden Delicious and Royal Gala in supermarkets, it can be quite an eye opener to see the range of classical apples still in existence, such as Decio which was grown by the Romans. Although it doesn’t taste of anything special, it’s still worth a try, as is the knobbly(多疙瘩的) Cat’s Head which is more of a curiosity than anything else.
There are also varieties developed to suit specific local conditions. One of the very best varieties for eating quality is Orleans Reinette, but you’ll need a warm, sheltered place with perfect soil to grow it, so it’s a pipe dream for most apple lovers who fall for it.
At the events, you can meet expert growers and discuss which ones will best suit your conditions, and because these are family affairs, children are well catered for with apple-themed fun and games.
Apple Days are being held at all sorts of places with an interest in fruit, including stately gardens and commercial orchards(果园). If you want to have a real orchard experience, try visiting the National Fruit Collection at Brogdale, near Faversham in Kent.
1. What can people do at the apple events?| A．Attend experts’ lectures. |
| B．Visit fruit-loving families. |
| C．Plant fruit trees in an orchard. |
| D．Taste many kinds of apples. |
| A．It is a new variety. |
| B．It has a strange look. |
| C．It is rarely seen now. |
| D．It has a special taste. |
| A．A practical idea. |
| B．A vain hope. |
| C．A brilliant plan. |
| D．A selfish desire. |
| A．To show how to grow apples. |
| B．To introduce an apple festival. |
| C．To help people select apples. |
| D．To promote apple research. |
