1 . COVID — 19 has greatly affected the lives of people across the world. It has challenged and changed people’s lifestyles. It has also helped us think about our relationships with others.

Changing our lives

● COVID - 19 has made people think harder about their relationship with nature. It has also raised questions about urban lifestyles. The sharing economy, working in open offices, living in crowded apartments and the food industry’s use of reusable products have made the perfect storm for a pandemic.

● Although the sharing economy might be good — it’s cheaper to rent than to own — sharing spaces and objects are great ways to spread the virus. How does one do “social distancing” when they are expected to share cars, bikes, apartments and even the same offices?

● The trend of using open offices, which can save space, is working against us. In this type of office, workers don’t have their own desk — everything is shared. Sometimes, computers and chairs are also shared, which is not hygienic (卫生的). Fortunately, more workers are working from home during the pandemic, but that won’t last forever.

● Reusability is a common practice in the restaurant industry. Reusable cups and chopsticks are often used. Unfortunately, reusable products increase the chance of spreading disease. For example, Starbucks recently stopped refilling customers’ reusable cups in order to stop the spread of the virus.

●People like to be social. But the virus has made this more dangerous. We have to be careful about how we interact with others for now. Perhaps we need to rethink about our lifestyles to reduce the spread of future pandemics.

1. According to the author, the strong point of the sharing economy is that ________.

A．it lasts longer

B．it costs less

C．it’s popular

D．it’s hygienic

2. Paragraph 4 is mainly talking about ________.

A．how working at home won’t last long	B．how shared offices can save space
C．the hygienic problems of open offices	D．the sharing economy trend

3. According lo the author, restaurants can spread the virus easily because ________.

A．everything is shared in many restaurants	B．they use too much disposable tableware
C．many restaurants have poor hygiene	D．cups and chopsticks are often reused

4. The author probably agrees that ________.

A．we need to change some of our lifestyles	B．the sharing economy won’t last forever
C．no one can stay out of the sharing economy	D．we shouldn’t stay away from shared products

2 . Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passages coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.

I am speaking to you at what I know is an increasingly challenging time. A time of disruption in the life of our country; a disruption that has brought grief to some, financial difficulties to many, and enormous changes to the daily lives of us all.

I want to thank everyone on the NHS front liens,     1    care workers and those carrying out essential rules, who selflessly continue     2    day-to-day duties outside the home in support of as all.

I am sure the nation will join me in assuring you that what you do     3    (appreciate) and every hour of your hard work brings us     4     (close) to a return to more normal times.

I also want to thank these of you who are staying at home, thereby helping to protect the vulnerable and sparting many family the pain already     5     (feel) by those who have lost loved ones.

Together we are tackling this disease, and I want to reassure you that if we remain united and resolute, we will overcome it.

I hope in the years to come everyone will be able to take pride in     6    they responded to this challenge. And those who come after us will say the Britons of this generation were as strong as any.

The moments when the United Kingdom has come together to applaud its care and essential workers will be remembered     7    an expression of our national spirit; and its symbol will be the rainbows drawn by children.

Across the Commonwealth and around the world, we have seen heart-warming stories of people     8     (come) together to help others, be it through delivering food parcels and medicines, checking on neighbours, or converting businesses to help with the relief effort.

And though self-isolating at times     9    be hard, many people of all faiths, and of none, are discovering that it presents an opportunity to slow down, pause and reflect, in prayer or meditation.

But now, as then, we know, deep down, that it is the right thing to do.

We will succeed - and that success will belong to every one of us.

We should take comfort that while we may have more still     10     (endure), better days will return: we will be with our friends again: we will be with our families again: we will meet again.

But for now, I send my thanks and warmest good wishes to you all.

3 . Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passage coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word. for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.

For perhaps the first time in the history of modern education, millions of primary and secondary students may begin the new school year from home. Pupils in England should return to schools in September, but Covid-19 cases     1    （rise）, so this may not be possible. Scientists also warn that there will be many more cases when pupils return to schools. Some parents may choose not to send their children back    2    their family’s safety.

Teachers are worried about children who    3    （fall） behind in their school work. Parents and carers are feeling anxious about the need to balance work and home schooling, But an experiment by an 18th-century French schoolmaster, Jackboot, may help them to worry less about home schooling.

Jackboot had to teach in Belgium. His pupils spoke only Flemish, and he spoke only French. He gave his students a novel    4    （write）in his mother tongue and a French dictionary. He encouraged them to teach themselves. It worked.

Learning does not only happen when someone older put information into the learner’s mind. Think about how often children and even adults learn from trial and error, from learning to ride a bike to    5    （use） a new technology. Learning happens when you ask children difficult questions at the dinner table, encourage them to build a tree-house or find things for themselves on Wikipedia.

In the 18th century, when only the sons of rich men got a school education, Jackboot wanted to show    6    poor children could learn. Parents could teach them by encouraging and asking questions. It’s the same today.    7     students have the right resources    8    （explore） ideas for themselves, many people can “teach”-including carers and parents during a pandemic（流行病）. However, some poorer students will do worse    9    they do not have access to the Internet.

Jackboot showed that learning does not only happen in a classroom and that human beings are learning beings: they know hardly anything at birth    10    seek out and develop incredible capacities. That should make us less worried about children during this difficult time and more hopeful about ourselves.