1 . A wildlife photographer was waiting, hoping to get a shot of a relatively rare bird, a particular kind of heron(鹭). He’d waited several frustrating hours in the woods, but with no luck at all. Suddenly, to the photographer’s delight, a heron settled on a branch right in front of him. The photographer raised his camera and took the shot. Feeling particularly pleased, the photographer looked at the image. To his astonishment, he saw that behind the heron, his photograph had also captured a very, very rare woodpecker flying past. He hadn’t seen it, but without even trying, he’d photographed an even rarer bird than the one he was aiming for. This is an example of serendipity.

Cases of serendipity can be found in numerous fields, such as science. Back in the 1800s, a man called Wellswas at a demonstration (演示) of laughing gas. After being given the gas, the patient started laughing, as expected. But then he suddenly fell over and cut his le g rather badly. To everyone’s surprise, the man reported that he couldn’t feel any pain. Wells hadn’t been looking for it, but he’d made a medical discovery — certain gases reduce and can even almost eradicate pain. Had Wells not been there that night, anesthesia (麻醉) might have taken longer to be discovered.

Most of us can probably think of at least one example of serendipity in our own lives. Jane, a friend of mine,was trying to come up with an idea for an article but got completely stuck. Frustrated, she decided to go out to a local café. As she was sipping her coffee, she heard two people talking behind her. A man was telling a story that sounded so unbelievable that she knew it had to be true. She asked the people if she could interview them for the article. They agreed and her article turned out to be one of the top trending articles of the week.

1. The word “serendipity” in paragraph 1 means the fact of __________.

A．observing rare birds in person	B．achieving important aims in time
C．finding valuable things by chance	D．taking interesting photos by mistake

2. What surprised Wells at the demonstration?

A．The gas’s hidden damage.	B．The gas’s pain-killing effect.
C．The patient’s scientific discovery.	D．The patient’s balance-losing moment.

3. Why did Jane go to the café?

A．To take a break.	B．To meet a friend.
C．To write an article.	D．To do an interview.

4. What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?

A．To explain a concept.	B．To promote a culture.
C．To introduce a person.	D．To recommend a method.

2 . Travel with us to the heart of Fiordland National Park and take in the beauty and vastness of remote Doubtful Sound on our Wilderness Cruise (乘船游览). It will take your breath away as you experience its deep wilderness.

There’s no direct road access, so you’ll start with a boat ride across the picturesque Lake Manapouri , followed by a coach (大巴) trip over the epic Wilmot Pass through Fiordland’s rain forest and into the Sound. Along the way, you’ll pause to experience the dense Fiordland rainforest and view Doubtful Sound glistening below. The isolation makes this field a very special place. Only those in the know get to see it. In Doubtful Sound, you’ll board our spacious, purpose-built ship Patea Explorer for a 3-hour cruise.

Things you should know
●Check in 30 minutes prior to your Coach Transfer from Queenstown to Manapouri.
●A highlight is the coach trip through Fiordland’s rainforest and over Wilmot Pass.
●During the cruise, our knowledgeable and friendly nature guides will point out landmarks and provide all the information about the native wildlife you come face to face with, including dolphins, fur seals, and occasionally penguins.
●The trip duration:8 hours.
Extra information
●Picnic lunches available for pre-purchase (预购) up to 7 pm the day before your cruise.
●Snacks and drinks available for purchase on board(cash only).
●Licensed bar on board(cash only).
What to bring

Non-slip shoes/boots, waterproof jackets, warm sweaters, sunscreen, sunglasses, insect repellent and cameras.

1. What can tourists do during the cruise on Patea Explorer?

A．Pick personal guides.	B．View local wildlife.
C．Admire Lake Manapouri.	D．Enjoy free drinks and lunches.

2. How long does the whole trip last?

A．30 minutes.

B．3 hours.

C．7 hours.

D．8 hours.

3. Where is the text probably taken from?

A．A park guidebook.

B．A cruise journal.

C．A boarding notice.

D．A travel brochure.

3 . 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。

For adults who celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year, it’s a time for tying up loose ends, and     1     (look) to the year ahead. But for the younger generation, myself     2     (include), there’s only one thing on our minds: the Tray of Togetherness.

For those who haven’t had the     3     (please) of fighting with their brothers or sisters over the last White Rabbit sweet, the Tray of Togetherness is a platter (大浅盘), each compartment (分格) holding an array of candies, fruits, nuts, and coins. It     4     (be) a part of Chinese New Year celebrations for centuries.    5     (tradition), the tray is made of wood, and on the inside it is divided     6     six or eight compartments to indicate fortune, because these are lucky Chinese numbers.

Each item in the tray has     7     (it) own special symbolic meaning. If you pick melon seeds, for example, you’ll be granted with wealth and happiness. Candied melon indicates good health and growth, coconut brings happy friendships and unity,    8     nuts represent a long life with strong family ties.

Of course, the Tray of Togetherness is about more than just the sweets     9     it contains. In some regions of China, the platters     10     (bring) out for marriages and other festivities, thanks to their ability to well bring people together.

4 . At six o’clock sharp the curtain rises at Southside Cultural Center, in Reno. Two hundred audience members, including the mayor of Reno, look to the stage. Dozens of actors break out into the first number of The Lion King.

But this is not your typical production. The gifted cast is made up of homeless children living at the Volunteers of America family shelter in Reno. The children have been given a chance to live their dreams onstage, thanks to volunteer acting coach Nasya Mancini. “I see so much of myself in these kids,” says Nasya. “I tell them their current circumstance doesn’t have to be their destiny (命运) . If they are determined, they can do anything they want.”

Determination is something Nasya knows all about. She was born prematurely and was given little chance of survival. But Nasya kept fighting. Her very name means “miracle” in Hebrew. Nasya was small, but quickly proved that her talents were as big as her will to survive. She started dancing at two. By six she’d been spotted by an acting coach, who encouraged her parents to enroll her in drama classes. “There was something about being onstage,” Nasya says. “It made my spirit come alive.” She decided that she was going to be an actor.

However, her enthusiasm didn’t sit well with some of her schoolmates. They teased (嘲) her, “You’re a shrimp. You’re not even pretty.” Nasya came home in tears. Her mother hugged her and told her to ignore it. By high school, Nasya was winning awards in theater competitions. She also provided community service by teaching drama to the children at the shelter. Nasya wanted the kids at the shelter to discover the confidence that acting could give. The best way to do that, she decided, was to put on a big play.

The production was a hit. The kids took several curtain calls. Donations to the shelter rolled in. Nasya reminds the kids of something she knows with every part of her spirit to be true: “Believe in yourself. The world is your stage.”

1. What was special about the play The Lion King?

A．It was staged at the local shelter.	B．It was starred by Nasya Mancini.
C．It was performed by homeless kids.	D．It was funded by the mayor of Reno.

2. Which of the following best describes Nasya?

A．Creative and modest.	B．Talented and caring.
C．Determined and humorous.	D．Confident and demanding.

3. Why did Nasya decide to put on the play?

A．To collect public donations.	B．To build the kids’ confidence.
C．To win a local theater competition.	D．To complete her community service.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Volunteers Make a Difference.	B．Rising from Shelter to Stage.
C．The Lion King Is Roaring Back.	D．Sharing Her Dream with Homeless Teens.

9 . Each day, I woke up with a mental list of the tasks I had to complete. My routine was ________ : class, soccer practice, and sleep. I adapted well to it. However, my life ________ on the day of the final game.

As I ________ the center of the field, I ________ myself that I would give this game my all as if it were my ________ game.

The whistle sounded, and the ball was kicked in my direction. ________ the ball, I crossed it, just in time for my teammate to meet it and pound it right into the ________ .“Goal!”The game had started out ________. But the game grew intense as the score was tied at 1-1, until I had the ball with one minute ________. I needed to put the ball in the net, and I did just that, making the ________ score 2-1. But it didn’t go exactly as planned. To block my shot, my opponent ________ me in midair. But instead of heading the ball, her body ________ mine, leaving me unconscious in the middle of the field.

I went through a very difficult operation, followed by a long,________ road to recovery. I couldn’t play soccer any more. It did turn out my last game. Yet, looking back on the situation in its entirety, I have no ________. I said I would give it 100 percent. I did just that, and finally, I came out a ________.

1.

A．strange

B．boring

C．old

D．simple

2.

A．improved

B．began

C．changed

D．continued

3.

A．explored

B．approached

C．discovered

D．decorated

4.

A．warned

B．begged

C．taught

D．promised

5.

A．last

B．professional

C．lucky

D．favorite

6.

A．Missing

B．Receiving

C．Throwing

D．Avoiding

7.

A．field

B．corner

C．center

D．net

8.

A．well

B．safely

C．late

D．normally

9.

A．delayed

B．left

C．wasted

D．lost

10.

A．extra

B．average

C．final

D．former

11.

A．challenged

B．identified

C．threatened

D．injured

12.

A．passed by

B．fell behind

C．crashed into

D．guarded against

13.

A．painful

B．dangerous

C．lonely

D．special

14.

A．losses

B．regrets

C．comments

D．fears

15.

A．master

B．leader

C．winner

D．survivor

10 . Everywhere I look, there are new buildings under construction. The neighborhoods that I knew as a boy, filled with beautiful old buildings, have mostly disappeared, and in their place, modern, high-rise buildings have appeared. There is good reason for this. Residents want all the conveniences of modern living. However, how can our children understand and maintain their cultural identity if we erase so much of the physical evidence of it?

The arguments for preserving historic buildings are not simply about an emotional attachment to the past. There are also good economic arguments in favour of preservation. The renovation (修缮) and preservation of historic districts can become an economic engine, drawing tourists and small businesses to the area. For example, in Dubai, the historic Al Bastikiya district draws thousands of tourists every year from all over the world. It also attracts local residents, eager to learn about their city's past.

Some have argued that historic preservation is too expensive, but many recent projects have demonstrated that this is not necessarily the case. In fact, renovation of an existing structure for adaptive reuse can cost about £40 per square metre less than even the most basic new construction, while preserving the beauty of the original building. And, although it is often claimed that old buildings have a more significant environmental footprint than new construction because they aren’t very energy efficient, architects and environmental experts maintain that the greenest building is the one that is already built. New construction almost always has a more serious environmental impact (影响) because it requires the use of all-new materials that must be transported, often over long distances, instead of recycled materials that are already on site. We recycle so many other things. We can and should recycle buildings, too.

Historic preservation is an option that opens many possibilities; demolition (拆毁), in contrast, is irreversible. Once these treasures are lost, they are lost forever, an important link in our heritage that can never be recovered.

1. What drives people to replace old buildings with new ones?

A．Their dislike of old buildings.	B．Their pride in cultural identity.
C．Their concern about young generations.	D．Their desire for modern comforts.

2. What does the example of Al Bastikiya show?

A．Historic renovation costs much money.

B．Local governments support small businesses.

C．Historic preservation brings economic benefits.

D．International tourism promises economic recovery.

3. What can be inferred about renovating old buildings from paragraph 3?

A．It uses green materials.	B．It damages architectural beauty.
C．It reduces enviromental impact.	D．It worries environmental experts.

4. What is the author’s attitude towards historic preservation?

A．Positive.

B．Doubtful.

C．Disapproving.

D．Objective.