2 . Americans spend billions on vitamins, multivitamins for their health, but a review of numerous studies concluded there is little to no evidence that some of those vitamins prevent heart disease, cancer or death.

The report, released by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force last week, concluded that “recent evidence is not enough” to determine whether vitamins actually help or hurt your health, based on 84 studies, 52 of which were done since 2014. Vitamins examined included vitamins A, B, C, D and E, as well as other multivitamins.

“Our suggestion is neither for nor against taking vitamins, or combinations of those nutrients (营养物质). We just don’t have enough evidence,” said Dr. John Wong, a doctor in the Department of Medicine at Tufts Medical Center who was involved in the report.

While the finding is that vitamins don’t have any benefits to “healthy, non-pregnant (未怀孕) adults”, it doesn’t apply to “children, people who are pregnant or may become pregnant, or people who are hospitalized.”

The Task Force admitted it makes sense that people would take vitamins in hopes of health benefits, as some shortage may lead to illness. But experts agreed the best way to get good health and prevent cancer is a balanced diet and regular physical activity.

“The suggestion across all organizations about vitamins is to eat a balanced diet, and then the key tends to be on plenty of fruit and vegetables and less junk foods,” Wong said.

Wong added people should refer to their health doctors to determine if any vitamins are worth taking. He said this suggestion should also serve as a need to further research into proving the official benefits and risks for each vitamin.

1. Why can’t we say whether vitamins really benefit or harm health?

A．Because they really have no benefit.

B．Because many studies have proved it.

C．Because evidence is not enough at present.

D．Because Dr. John Wong wasn’t involved in the research.

2. Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?

A．Vitamins are of no benefit to anyone.

B．Vitamins are beneficial to healthy adults.

C．Children can’t take vitamins though they are in hospital.

D．People could take vitamins if lack of vitamin may tend to illness.

3. Which is the best way to avoid cancer according to the Task Force?

A．Taking enough vitamins.

B．Eating more packaged foods.

C．Following their health doctor’s advice.

D．Having a balanced diet and doing exercise.

4. Which can be suitable title for the text?

A．Taking Vitamins: No Benefit to People

B．Doctor’s Advice on Buying Vitamins

C．Taking Vitamins: Likely to Waste Money

D．Americans Spending More Money on Vitamins

3 . Steph Clemence always intended to go to college. But life has a(an) _________ throughout her early childhood years to _________ barriers. Growing up, she led a nomadic (漫游的) life because her mother, who remarried several times, was always on the _________. By the time of high school, Steph had lived in 25 places.

When her stepfather died in a car accident, leaving her mother to support three daughters on a(an) _________ income, paying for college became a serious question. But she still tried to figure out what to do with a life so _________ her plan for schooling.

The _________ came one afternoon when she was cleaning her bedroom. She _________ a thick document where she found a handout titled “Mrs. Clark’s Book List” by her high school English teacher Dorothy Clark.

It wasn’t homework, but it could be a(an) _________ for those not able to receive higher education due to _________ problems like her. The teacher had spent months creating a list of 153 books whose contents would be as __________ as a two-year study at an arts college.

Steph studied the list. Each of those books __________ her to learn more. The reading list was also a(an) __________ in her everyday life, even __________ with her on vacations to find out the next book. She never did get to college, but has now only four books left before __________ the list. She wishes she could thank Mrs. Clark for how reading the __________ on the list has changed her life.

1.

A．efficiency

B．motivation

C．exception

D．tendency

2.

A．hold back

B．set up

C．give away

D．carry on

3.

A．display

B．move

C．threat

D．mission

4.

A．precise

B．independent

C．modest

D．initial

5.

A．breaking away from

B．taking hold of

C．giving in to

D．going in for

6.

A．situation

B．answer

C．procedure

D．emergency

7.

A．spotted

B．folded

C．loaded

D．assigned

8.

A．hard rock

B．far cry

C．field work

D．road map

9.

A．flexible

B．foundational

C．financial

D．temporary

10.

A．qualified

B．reliable

C．sufficient

D．delightful

11.

A．confirmed

B．sharpened

C．stimulated

D．bounced

12.

A．origin

B．treat

C．concept

D．constant

13.

A．discussing

B．traveling

C．whispering

D．flashing

14.

A．completing

B．forecasting

C．revealing

D．declaring

15.

A．remarks

B．works

C．proofs

D．zones

5 . Parks around the world

Hyde Park, London, England

There are many parks in London. Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in central London, which covers over 350 acres. There are paths for people on bicycles and there are often open - air concerts held in the park.

Park Güell, Barcelona, Spain

In this park, designed by Antony Gaudi, there are different houses in different colours. There are also things like a colourful dragon. At the top of the park is a terraced area where you can get a wonderful view of the city of Barcelona and the sea.

Stanley Park, Vancouver, Canada

Vancouver is a city near the sea and mountains. There is beautiful Stanley Park in the city centre, covering an area of one thousand acres. It is the largest park in North America. There are First Nations totem poles (图腾柱) in the park.

Ueno Park, Tokyo, Japan

Ueno Park is an old park in the city of Tokyo and there are hundreds of beautiful cherry trees. In April and May every year, the trees are pink or white.

Chapultepec Park, Mexico City, Mexico

This is the largest urban park in Latin America. It's a very important green space in this big city. Containing nine museums, a zoo, an amusement park, and a variety of green recreational spaces, Chapultepec Park is an invaluable place for the city residents and its visitors.

1. What can visitors do in Park Güell ?

A．Enjoy cherry trees.

B．Feed animals.

C．See the sea.

D．Ride bicycles.

2. Where can you find a park with many museums?

A．London.

B．Barcelona.

C．Vancouver.

D．Mexico.

3. Which park of the following may attract a flower lover most in spring?

A．Chapultepec Park.

B．Ueno Park.

C．Stanley Park.

D．Hyde Park.

6 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

We believe that acts of kindness can change the world for the     1     (good). On April 28,       2     (country) across the world will unite with one common goal:to stand for kindness together. Pay It Forward Day helps conduct a series of goodness     3     (feel) across the globe.

Pay It Forward Day, a worldwide celebration of kindness,     4     (create) in 2010 in the United States, working hard to bring forward     5     concept of paying it forward to the world at large. We are excited that we now have over 80 countries     6     (participate)   in Pay it Forward Day with over 100 state and city proclamations.

Of course,     7     we all hope is that people pay kindness forward every day and make each day a little bit brighter. We believe that small acts, when multiplied by millions of people can     8     (definite) have a deep impact on the world—and on April 28th we’ll set out to prove it! For this year's international Pay it Forward Day(PIFD)we are aiming to inspire over 10 million acts of kindness around the world. Imagine the     9     (different) that would make! Join us     10     paying it forward and help spread the word about this important day!

7 . From the heartland to urban parks, school kids were released onto the baseball diamond. There was a time when baseball was the only summer game. But with competition from soccer and lacrosse, the clap of leather gloves is not as omnipresent as it used to be. Still, America’s game is a place for young boys to prove themselves.

Some boys were born athletic but Tim seemed to be growing in the opposite way: thin shoulders and no meat on his bones. But he loved baseball. And game after game, strikeout after strikeout piled up in the stat sheet. The desire was there, but the body doesn’t respond to dreams and wishes. The strikes continued.

Tim practiced his swing every day. His teammates encouraged him. His coach worked with him. Even opposing teams wished for a hit, just one hit for a boy who seemed to deserve it more than any other kid in the world.

What teammates and even the coach never saw was a gray van that pulled up each game in the parking lot adjacent to left field. Inside was Tim’s father, too weak from cancer to get out of the van. It’s a tough to watch your kid strike out, even tougher when you don’t have the strength to pitch to him.

At the end of the season, Tim stood at the plate as determined as ever. On the first pitch, the bat fell from his shoulder in a downward swing and somehow made contact. The ball dribbled down the third-base line, and Tim galloped to first. He stood on the bag wearing a smile as big as the outfield. He didn’t have the chance to advance, and when the pitcher retired the final out, Tim ran straight into left field, climbed the fence and dove into the front seat of a gray van, into the arms of a frail father whose wish for his son had finally materialized.

Sometimes it is more than a game.

1. What does the underlined word “omnipresent” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?

A．Outstanding.

B．Exciting.

C．Replaceable.

D．Common.

2. We can learn from Paragraph 3 that _____.

A．Tim's efforts won others’ respect

B．everyone believed Tim deserved a strikeout

C．Tim's coach was very satisfied with his performance

D．Tim's teammates often complained about his performance

3. What can we learn from this passage?

A．Nobody supported Tim playing baseball.

B．Tim and his father love each other deeply.

C．Tim won the game through constant efforts.

D．Tim played baseball only to satisfy his own vanity.

4. Which message does Tim’s experience convey?

A．Easier said than done.	B．One good turn deserves another.
C．Where there is a will, there is a way.	D．One false step makes a great difference.

8 . Nothing says “I love you” like a homemade gift. But imagine if this specially-crafted gift actually ended up changing the world! Before they became popular items used by millions of people, these inventions were inspired by incredible acts of love.

Garbage Disposal

John W. Hammes, an architect from Wisconsin, created the In-Sink-Erator in 1935. Hammes got the idea after watching his wife spend time wrapping food in newspaper and throwing it out. The In-Sink-Erator is a device, installed under a kitchen sink between the sink’s drain and the trap. The disposal unit shreds food waste into pieces small enough generally less than 2 mm in diameter to pass through plumbing.

Magnetic Shirt Buttons

Maura Horton’s husband, Don, was a football coach who had Parkinson’s disease. One day, after Don struggled to button his shirt before a game, Horton decided there needed to be a better clothing option for people suffering from disability. So, Horton designed a shirt with magnetic buttons in 2012. It will finally allow everyone to dress, and undress themselves efficiently.

Surgical Gloves

William Stewart Halsted, M.D. (1852 – 1922) was a renowned U.S. surgeon who is often called the “Father of Modern Surgery.” Known for his strict adherence to sterile working conditions, Halsted invented a rubber glove that allowed surgeons to lessen the transfer of germs during their work. Yet the origin of why he created them is more romantic than you would think. Halsted’s wife, Caroline, was a nurse who suffered from dermatitis during her work. According to the Washinton Post, Halsted invented the gloves especially for her and gave them to her as a gift after their marriage.

1. According to Paragraph 3, we know that _____.

A．only specific groups can use magnetic shirt buttons

B．ordinary buttons made Horton's husband lose the game

C．the designer of magnetic shirt buttons had Parkinson's disease

D．magnetic shirt buttons were originally designed for the disabled

2. Why did William design surgical gloves?

A．To treat surgical diseases.	B．To improve work efficiency.
C．To protect his wife from infection.	D．To be the father of modern surgery.

3. What do the three inventions have in common?

A．They were inspired by love.	B．They were designed to save time.
C．They were created to change the world.	D．They were invented in the 20th century.

9 . Hannahs daughter Isla has spent half her life home. Lockdown began when she was seven months old. Parks were a ______: the only places where Hannah could ______ her daughter there was more in the world than their flat. Lockdown ______ Hannah, an opera singer, and her husband, a director, months of work. They ______ every other day they would go out to a park, finding some ______ in the world. Hannah read maps for new places of green to ______. Every time they would find something new. Hannah says, “When we ______ this time, we’ll remember it as the year we three sat ______ on a million pretty places of grass.”

About five months later, lockdown ended. For months parks were almost ______. The only sounds were the footsteps of lone figures and the sound ______ from their headphones. Then came chats as people started ______ in twos. Summer arrived with speakers sending out loud music. ______, cheers, different kinds of instruments and shouts ______ the “noise” as impromptu (即兴的) concerts returned. Parks are really ______ to show people’s reactions to lockdown. Some people may feel depressed, but ______ people like Hannah and her family can be always seen everywhere.

1.

A．shelter

B．symbol

C．blessing

D．bonus

2.

A．teach

B．show

C．caution

D．remind

3.

A．offered

B．saved

C．owed

D．cost

4.

A．determined

B．thought

C．expected

D．explained

5.

A．adventure

B．harmony

C．beauty

D．truth

6.

A．explore

B．record

C．protect

D．remember

7.

A．look back on

B．look forward to

C．look up to

D．look down on

8.

A．apart

B．still

C．alone

D．together

9.

A．dynamic

B．distant

C．strange

D．silent

10.

A．leaking

B．falling

C．drawing

D．originating

11.

A．debating

B．wandering

C．dining

D．celebrating

12.

A．Actually

B．Occasionally

C．Eventually

D．Usually

13.

A．flooded

B．became

C．represented

D．joined

14.

A．measures

B．windows

C．signs

D．excuses

15.

A．ambitious

B．enthusiastic

C．optimistic

D．calm

10 . Skeleton is one of the three sliding sports at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, alongside the luge(单雪橇)and bobsleigh(大雪橇). With only six medals up for grabs, skeleton has the fewest events at the Winter Games—which means competition will be fierce.

The sport of skeleton has its roots in the most popular winter pastime: sleighing. In the mid-19^th century, British and American holidaymakers built the first toboggan(平底雪橇)run in Davos in 1882, and thus the sport of sleighing began.

Two years later, in 1884, the famed Cresta Run—a natural ice skeleton racing toboggan track—was built in St. Moritz, Switzerland(the course has hosted the annual Grand National championships since 1885).

In 1892, a new sledge made entirely of steel was introduced, and some claim that its bony appearance gave the sledge and the sport the name ‘skeleton’.

Men’s skeleton was first introduced on the Olympic program in the 1928 Games in St. Moritz. But due to the sport only being available at the Cresta Run at the time, it fell into obscurity(默默无闻)while the luge and bobsleigh grew in popularity. However, in 2002, the skeleton was reintroduced as a men’s and women’s event at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, and has remained a part of the Olympic program ever since.

While Great Britain has the most medals(nine)in skeleton competition at the Olympics, the top spot belongs to the United States(eight medals)by virtue of having four silvers to Great Britain’s one(both nations have three golds, while Britain has five bronze medals, and the United States one).

Great Britain is the only nation to have won a medal every time skeleton has featured at the Olympic Games, and has won at least one medal in each of the five contests of women’s skeleton since its introduction.

1. How many events does skeleton have in the Olympics?

A．Two.

B．Three.

C．Five.

D．Six.

2. When did skeleton first appear?

A．In 1882.

B．In1885.

C．In1892.

D．In 1928.

3. Why did skeleton fall into obscurity?

A．Because its material steel was rare.

B．Because there was only one run for it.

C．Because only men could take part in it.

D．Because it was not on the Olympic program.

4. What makes America top Great Britain in skeleton at the Olympics?

A．The number of medals.	B．The composition of medals.
C．The virtue of the athletes.	D．The times of hosting the Olympics.