1 . My school appeared on the news last week because we had made an important change in our local area. Our class had planted a large garden in what was once only a vacant lot. It was a lot of work but it was all worth it. I got blisters(水泡) from digging, and we all got insect bites, too.
I learned a lot about gardening and collaboration(合作), and then I learned about the media. Our teacher telephoned the TV station and informed them of what we had accomplished. She spoke with the producer. The producer checked with the directors, but they said there were plenty of stories similar to ours. They wanted to know what was special about our particular garden, since many schools plant them.
The teacher explained that, after going on the Internet to learn about the prairie(大草原), we had made a prairie garden. We had gone to a prairie and gotten seeds from the plants, and then we planted them. We did not water the garden, but we did weed it. We decided to let nature water it with rain, since that was how prairies grew in the past. We sent a picture of the garden to the news station. In the picture, the grass was so high that it stood taller than the fourth grade students.
As a result, the producer sent a reporter to our school. He interviewed the headmaster and asked him many questions about the garden. After that, they interviewed us, and we explained to them what we had learned through this project.
That night, we watched the news, and there we were. The news reporter told our story. It was only two minutes long, but it was us. We were famous. All that work, all those blisters, it was worth it. We knew that when we saw the garden every day, but now we knew that the whole city thought so, too.
1. What seemed to be the TV directors’ initial reaction to the garden?| A．They were excited. | B．They were surprised. |
| C．They were worried. | D．They were uninterested. |
| A．Weeds were allowed to spread naturally. |
| B．The grass grew faster than common grass. |
| C．The seeds came from the plants of a prairie. |
| D．Underground water was used for the plants. |
| A．We got blisters on our hands. | B．Our hard work was worthwhile. |
| C．The garden would be famous. | D．The project would be finished. |
| A．Annoyed. | B．Curious. | C．Proud. | D．Regretful. |
2 . As we all know, most animals only perform tricks when given treats. However, Kim, the world’s first spider to learn a skill, needs no stimulus (刺激物) to do what she loves—jumping from different heights and distances— upon the instruction of a team of scientists from the University of Manchester.
While the idea of training a spider might sound evil, the researchers’ motives were purely scientific. They are trying to unlock the secrets behind the jumping spiders’ extraordinarily high leaps to catch prey (猎物) or to escape their enemies. A better understanding of the spiders’ leaps would help experts develop more efficient flying and jumping robots.
The scientists found that Kim could gather enough force in her legs to jump more than six times the length of her own body from a stationary position. What was even more amazing was that she always landed perfectly. For shorter distances, Kim used a lot of energy, resulting in quick leaps, which the researchers believe probably increases her chances of catching fast-moving prey. The farther the distance, the less extra energy was used, resulting in slower but precise leaps.
Previous studies have indicated that spiders use both their muscles and hydraulic (液压的) pressure—a mechanism by which blood is transferred to their extended legs—to push them off the ground. However, in Kim’s case, her leg muscles alone appeared to be generating enough force for the liftoff. The researchers now intend to do further research to comprehend fully not just the spiders’ jumping technique, but that of other insects as well. “We are familiar with robots that are aimed at taking over human functions, but there are millions of insects in the world that perform specific functions that we have interest in adapting to robotics,” says Nabawy, the leading engineer of the researching team.
1. What is the purpose of scientists’ researching the jumping spider?| A．To have fun and relax. | B．To help develop robots. |
| C．To get rid of spiders. | D．To protect this species. |
| A．To jump high enough. |
| B．To land more precisely. |
| C．To catch fast-moving prey. |
| D．To increase chances of escape. |
| A．Jumping technique. | B．Leg muscle. |
| C．Further research. | D．Energy for liftoff. |
| A．Jumping Techniques Used by Jumping Spider |
| B．Jumping Spider Inspired Creating Robots |
| C．Animals Perform Tricks if Provided with Treats |
| D．The World’s First Spider That Jumps on Demand |
3 . Recently, few samples of mice with diabetes(糖尿病)in an experiment showed signs of recovery. Then there arose much discussion regarding the morality of such animal-testing procedures, especially since many unfortunate samples lost lives. Is it moral and necessary to make sacrifices to benefit the majority? Or are these procedures merely an immoral and unnecessary waste of lives
Some people assume that it is acceptable to make sacrifices for the greater benefits because it can provide a more accurate insight to promote the progress of science. Through the test，we are able to obtain more accurate and reliable results that can lead to beneficial scientific progress to help the majority. Scientists believe that sacrificing real animal samples can give more accurate insights compared to abstract computer modeling. For example, researchers who have conducted experiments on mice for Parkinson's disease have found more promising results which could reverse the symptoms of this previously incurable disease. Therefore, the long-term benefits are more important than the short-term sacrifices.
However, others have argued that these acts are morally inappropriate especially since we have advanced to the point where there are more moral alternatives at present. They believe that everything has an alternative as long as effort and money are placed. With the presence of better and more moral alternatives, there is no reason and moral room to sacrifice, even if it is for the larger benefits.
In all，the samples' sacrifice is unavoidable due to their potential to attain great scientific progress. Research has shown that the cases having better and more moral alternatives are in rare exception, and most alternatives actually end up compromising other moral boundaries in- stead. However, if there exist such alternatives to some of the scientific procedures, we should try.
1. Why does the author use two questions in paragraph 1?| A．To present diabetes. | B．To introduce the topic of the text. |
| C．To remind readers to focus on their health. | D．To show sympathy for the dead people. |
| A．Morality. | B．Progress. | C．Sacrificing samples. | D．Relieving the symptoms of the disease. |
| A．Mice-testing experiments are illegal. |
| B．There is no moral debate about animal testing. |
| C．Scientists decide not to use animals for experiments. |
| D．Researchers still have to sacrifice animals for science. |
| A．Have Animal Experiments Made Progress? |
| B．Researches Are Fighting for Animal Rights |
| C．Is It Necessary to Sacrifice Animal Samples? |
| D．More Effort and Money Will Be Spent on Animals |
4 . The great-grandmother is learning English with the help of her family when she is at the age of 91. She hopes to use the language at next year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo. Takamizawa was one of the more than 200, 00 people who requested to volunteer for Tokyo’s 2020 Games. English is not required for service, but it is a useful skill for volunteers to have.
But Takamizawa had not been able to learn the language when she was young. Takamizawa said that she was in high school when World War Two started. She said, “In my second year there, English was banned because it was the enemy language.”
Takamizawa said her grandchildren helped persuade her that she was not too old to learn. “When I talked to my grandchildren about my wish, they said, ‘It’s not too late. We will teach you one word a day’ ”. Natsuko is Takamizawa’s granddaughter and main English teacher. Natsuko sends a new English word to her grandmother’s phone every day. They also often work together directly on phrases that Takamizawa will need for the Olympics. “Welcome to Tokyo, this is the Olympic stadium, how can I help you?” Takamizawa answers when asked to say an English phrase she has learned. Natsuko explains that she wanted to give her grandmother something to enjoy. “I can clearly see her English is getting better. It’s my joy now.”
The EF English Proficiency Index is a measure of the level of English spoken in a country. Japan ranks 49th among countries where English is not the first language. This situation is slowly changing as younger generations welcome English. However, Takamizawa believes real change will not happen unless Japanese people become more open to the rest of the world. With around 500 days to go until the games begin, the whole Takamizawa family is ready to welcome the world to Tokyo.
1. Why couldn’t Takamizawa learn English when she was young?| A．Because English was useless. |
| B．Because she was too young to learn English. |
| C．Because English was forbidden to learn. |
| D．Because she was unwilling to learn English. |
| A．Takamizawa gets strong support from her family. |
| B．Takamizawa’s grandchildren love her a lot. |
| C．Natsuko is Takamizawa’s granddaughter and only English teacher. |
| D．Natsuko teaches Takamizawa English mainly by talking with her. |
| A．English is not the first language in Japan. |
| B．The level of English spoken in Japan is relatively low. |
| C．Younger generations in Japan welcome English. |
| D．Japanese people become open to the rest of the world. |
| A．Where there is a will, there is a way. | B．It is never too late to learn. |
| C．The early bird catches the worm. | D．Two heads are better than one. |
5 . Is there a way to turn back the aging process in people? For centuries, people have been looking for a “fountain of youth.” The idea is that if you find a magical fountain, and drink its water, you will not age.
Researchers in New York did not find an actual fountain of youth, but they may have found a way to turn back the aging process. It appears that the answer may be called the hypothalamus, which is part of your brain. It controls important body activities, including growth, the way we process food and so on. Researchers found that hypothalamus neural stem cells (干细胞) also influence how fast aging takes place.
Dongsheng Cai was the leading researcher in a study on aging in mice. He and his team reported their findings. “when the hypothalamus starts aging, particularly the loss of hypothalamus stem cells, so does the body.” he said.
Using this information, the researchers began trying to activate (激活) the hypothalamus in laboratory mice. The results show that the treatment slowed aging in the animals. “When we injected the hypothalamus stem cells to the middle-aged mice, the mice aged slowly and they could also live longer.”
But these results were just from studying mice in a laboratory. If the mice can live longer, does that mean people could have longer lives? The next step is to see if the anti-aging effects also work in human beings. If so, they say the findings could lead to new ways to help doctors identify and treat age-related health problems.
1. Why does the author mention the “fountain of youth” in the first paragraph?| A．To explain what the “fountain of youth” is. |
| B．To introduce the hypothalamus. |
| C．To show how to find the “fountain of youth”. |
| D．To help people find the “fountain of youth”. |
| A．The brain. | B．The aging process. |
| C．Hypothalamus. | D．The stem cell |
| A．They have found a way to turn back the aging process. |
| B．The brain controls growth, reproduction and the way we process food. |
| C．The decrease of hypothalamus stem cells can lead to aging. |
| D．The finding has been applied to human beings. |
| A．The Secret of Youth |
| B．A New Discovery about Aging |
| C．The Ways of Slowing Down Aging |
| D．Hypothalamus — the Fountain of Youth |
6 . Last week, at a construction site near Austin, Texas, workers heard the cries of a puppy（小狗）. They went around the construction site trying to figure out where these cries were coming from. They figured the puppy was trapped somewhere. Then they realized it was actually coming from the sky. High above their heads, a puppy was flying through the air-in the claws of a hawk（鹰）. At that very moment, the bird suddenly let go and the tiny screaming puppy-no older than 6 weeks old-fell to them.
Aside from a few minor. wounds on his head, the puppy was surprisingly unhurt. The workers quickly brought him to a medical clinic, and from there, the puppy found his way into the care of the Austin Animal Center. "We don’t know where he came, from-whether he was born as a stray（流浪狗）or whether he was in a home and got out, ” Olohan, communications director for the Austin Animal Center, explains.
The paratrooper got a new name that came naturally: He would be called Tony Hawk. Considering his tininess-not much bigger than a mouse-Tony Hawk probably seemed like a good idea to a hungry hawk. Tony Hawk’s fears calmed down soon after he found himself on the ground, mostly because he found a foster home to ease him into his new life. In a month or so, he will be looking for a forever home.
Olohan thinks he won’t wait long. "We’ ve had plenty of interest, tons of applications for him,"she says. "He’s certainly not going to have a problem finding a home. "So a tiny puppy without a past found himself free from the claws-thanks to the warm, caring hands that will help him shape a brand-new future.
1. What happened to the little puppy?| A．He fell from a building. | B．He was caught by a hawk. |
| C．He was trapped somewhere. | D．He was seriously wounded. . |
| A．They took him to medical care. | B．They found a foster home for him. |
| C．They protected him from bird attack. | D．They got some information about his past. |
| A．A stray. | B．A mouse. | C．The hawk. | D．The puppy. |
| A．He is very fierce. | B．He will be adopted soon. |
| C．He has adapted to new life. | D．He faces a lot of problems. |
7 . My challenge for you is this： to read a book for 15minutes every single day for a month.
Let me explain a bit, by telling you where the challenge came from. I have many things in common with my dad, like music taste and sense of humor, but sadly reading isn't one of them. I can happily spend a whole day with a book, but my dad can't read a book for longer than about 5 minutes. He reads emails, websites and papers for work, but not books. He's busy, so I think sitting down to read for just 15minutes a day is a good way to relax and to introduce him to reading.
My dad is not the only person who avoids books. I know lots of people would rather relax on their computers or in front of the TV. Everyone is different and has their own interests, but I think there are lots of benefits to reading, which screen﹣based activities don't have.
Firstly, it's better for your eyes. Looking at screens can be very stressful for your eye muscles, and clearly you should avoid looking at screens for an hour before bed, to get a good night's sleep．
One thing I personally love reading, is being transported to another world﹣I often forget the time or things around me! Reading is a great way to switch off before you go to bed, because you think more about the world of the book, rather than the real world, so you can truly relax. I know you can be transported to a different world in a film or a TV show, but I think books do it better．
I also enjoy hearing what people are doing and finding out what they think. Reading gives me the chance to get to know hundreds of new people! It also teaches you to see things from other people's point of view, and understand other people's decisions or opinions. With a book, you can hear everything a character is thinking or feeling﹣you really can be inside someone else's head!
So give it a go! Take 15 minutes when you are waking up, going to bed, eating lunch, or having a coffee. If you read a lot, why not try 15 minutes of an English book, or pass the challenge on to someone else? Good luck, and happy reading!
1. The author mentions his father in the text to show ．| A．his father is busy |
| B．reading is important |
| C．his father likes reading |
| D．many people have no habit of reading |
| A．his personal experience |
| B．some scientific experiments |
| C．his father's personal advice |
| D．knowledge from books |
| A．helping readers sleep well |
| B．making readers feel relaxed |
| C．transporting readers to a different world |
| D．reminding readers of the real world |
| A．Negative． |
| B．Uncertain． |
| C．Supportive． |
| D．Doubtful． |
Study Techniques
You should always study in the same place. You shouldn’t sit in a position that you use for another purpose. For example, when you sit on a sofa to study, your brain will think it is time to relax. Don’t watch TV while you are studying. Experts warn that your concentration may be reduced by 50 percent if you attempt to study in this way. Always try to have a white wall in front of you, so there is nothing to distract (make less concentrated) you. Before sitting down to study, gather together all the equipment you need. Apart from your textbooks, pens, pencils and knives, make sure you have a dictionary. If your study desk or table is needed when you are not studying, store all your equipment in a box beside it.
Your eyes will become tired if you try to read a text which is on a flat surface. Position your book at an angle of 30 degrees.
Be realistic and don’t try to complete too much in one study period. Finish one thing before
beginning another. If you need a break, get up and walk around for a few minutes, but try not to telephone a friend or have something to eat.
Test-taking Skills
All your hard work will be for nothing if you are too nervous to take your test. Getting plenty
of rest is very important. This means do not study all night before your test! It is a better idea to have a long-term study plan. Try to make a timetable for your study which lasts for a few months.
Exercise is a great way to reduce pressure. Doing some form of exercise every day will also
improve your concentration. Eat healthy food too.
When you arrive in the examination room, find your seat and sit down. Breathe slowly and
deeply. Check the time on the clock during the test, but not too often. Above all, take no notice of everyone else and give the test paper your undivided attention.
1. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
| A．You should study in a different place every day, so you don’t get bored. |
| B．Your concentration will improve if you study and watch TV at the same time. |
| C．Check the time during the exam at a certain time. |
| D．Staying up all night and studying is tiring, but you will learn a lot using this method. |
| A．Your study desk or table. | B．Your textbook. |
| C．Your dictionary. | D．The equipment you need. |
| A．You shouldn’t look at everyone else during the test. |
| B．You will have enough energy to deal with your study and exams by eating healthy diet. |
| C．You’ll concentrate more if there is nothing to distract you. |
| D．If you feel tired during study, you can walk around for a few minutes. |
9 . Tayka Hotel De Sal
Where: Tahua, Bolivia
How much: About $95 a night
Why it’s cool: You’ve stayed at hotels made of brick or wood, but salt? That’s something few can claim. Tayka Hotel de Sal is made totally of salt—including the beds (though you’ll sleep on regular mattresses (床垫) and blankets).The hotel sits on the Salar de Uyuni, a prehistoric dried-up lake that’s the world’s biggest salt flat. Builders use the salt from the 4,633-square-mile flat to make the bricks, and glue them together with a paste of wet salt that hardens when it dries. When rain starts to dissolve the hotel, the owners just mix up more salt paste to strengthen the bricks.
Green Magic Nature Resort
Where: Vythiri, India
How much: About $240 a night
Why it’s cool: Riding a pulley(滑轮)-operated lift 86 feet to your treetop room is just the start of your adventure. As you look out of your open window—there is no glass!—you watch monkeys and birds in the rain forest canopy. Later you might test your fear of heights by crossing the handmade rope bridge to the main part of the hotel, or just sit on your bamboo bed and read. You don’t even have to come down for breakfast—the hotel will send it up on the pulley-drawn “elevator”.
Dog Bark Park Inn B&B
Where: Cottonwood, Idaho
How much: $92 a night
Why it’s cool: This doghouse isn’t just for the family pet. Sweet Willy is a 30-foot-tall dog with guest rooms in his belly. Climb the wooden stairs beside his hind leg to enter the door in his side. You can relax in the main bedroom, go up a few steps of the loft in Willy’s head, or hang out inside his nose. Although you have a full private bathroom in your quarters, there is also a toilet in the 12-foot-tall fire hydrant outside.
Gamirasu Cave Hotel
Where: Ayvali, Turkey
How much: Between $130 and $475 a night.
Why it’s cool: This is caveman cool! Experience what it was like 5,000 years ago, when people lived in these mountain caves formed by volcanic ash. But your stay will be much more modern. Bathrooms and electricity provide what you expect from a modern hotel, and the white volcanic ash, called tufa, keeps the rooms cool, about 65℉in summer.(Don’t worry—there is heat in winter.)
1. What is the similarity of the four hotels?| A．Being expensive. | B．Being beautiful. |
| C．Being natural. | D．Being unique. |
| A．The building of Dog Bark Park Inn B&B. |
| B．The name of a pet dog of the hotel owner. |
| C．The name of the hotel. |
| D．The name of the hotel owner. |
| A．Tayka Hotel De Sal |
| B．Green Magic Nature Resort |
| C．Dog Bark Park Inn B&B |
| D．Gamirasu Cave Hotel |
I believe a common(普遍的) problem with Chinese students’ learning English is that they were not taught to think in English. They have an idea spoken in English and want to translate the idea into Chinese, then they think in Chinese of the proper reply and translate it into English. After a long period of speaking the language, one begins to think in the foreign language naturally. You will learn faster if you begin to think in English at the very beginning of your study. Many students ask me: What can I do to improve my spoken English?
My reply is: The more English you speak, the better English you will speak. There are many things you can do to improve your spoken English. Of course, the best way is to live where English is spoken as a language of the country.
1. The cries of American and Chinese babies are _______.
| A．different | B．the same |
| C．not like each other | D．like each other |
| A．some teachers didn’t teach students to think in English |
| B．teachers never gave the students the way of learning English |
| C．students didn’t remember the way teachers taught them |
| D．teachers didn’t want their students to think in English |
| A．Chinese students | B．English students |
| C．Chinese teachers | D．English teachers |
| A．You must think in English all the time. |
| B．You should always translate English into Chinese. |
| C．After speaking English for a long time, you may probably think in English naturally(自然地). |
| D．The best way of learning English is to live in America. |
