1 . Lucy Hughes, a 24-year-old English inventor, has used skin and scales (鳞)from fish to create a new kind of plastic that will break down in about six weeks. Her invention won this year's James Dyson Award.

Ms. Hughes was very aware of how wasteful many products are. Plastic items (物品)，for example, are often made from new plastic, used once for a short time, and then thrown away. She decided to challenge herself to make something out of waste instead.

Fishing is a big business in England, and the University of Sussex where Ms. Hughes studied wasn't far from the coast. She spent some time studying the fishing business, and the things that were thrown away. She was amazed by the amount of waste from fish that gets thrown away.

After some tests, Ms. Hughes decided that the fish skin and scales seemed like the most likely parts for her product. But then she needed something to bind (hold the material together) with. She found that red algae (红藻)was the best binder.

Ms. Hughes called her finished product “MarinaTex”, which is clear and feels like plastic, but stronger than regular plastic of the same thickness. MarinaTex is also cheap to make since it's made from fish waste. Ms. Hughes says that the waste from one Atlantic cod (a fish) could make 1,400 bags. The process of making MarinaTex also doesn't use much energy. Most importantly, MarinaTex doesn't take hundreds of years to break down.

Ms. Hughes thinks that one of the best uses for MarinaTex will be in some kinds of food packaging where plastic is currently being used. Ms. Hughes is looking forward to moving ahead with her idea. She wants to try to make her recipe for making her plastic even better. She hopes the award money will help her with the process of getting MarinaTex into use as quickly as possible.

1. Why did Lucy Hughes invent MarinaTex?

A．To turn waste into treasure.

B．To win James Dyson Award.

C．To gain people's wide attention.

D．To help the local fishing business.

2. What is MarinaTex's greatest advantage over traditional plastic?

A．It is of higher quality.

B．It is more convenient to use.

C．Its production cost is fairly low.

D．It can break down in a short time.

3. What can we know from the last paragraph?

A．MarinaTex has been put to practical use.

B．Lucy Hughes hopes for more fund support.

C．Lucy Hughes intends to improve her invention.

D．MarinaTex will replace regular plastic in food packaging.

4. What can be the best title for the text?

A．Red Algae: the Best Binder to Hold Materials

B．Young Inventor Creates Plastic from Fish Skin

C．Fish Waste Has Affected the Environment Seriously

D．Lucy Hughes: an English Inventor Won James Dyson Award

2 . Last year a group of friends and I began a project called The World Needs You. Its aim is to show how ____ it is to make a positive difference in our community. Over the holidays, we collected hats, ____ and other cold-weather equipment for the “store” at an elementary school, where students can “buy” things with ____ earned through good behavior. It was a ____ way to get these items to children whose families might not be able to ____ them.

“Do the children need anything else?” I asked the coordinator(协调人) when we sent our ____ to him.

“Umbrellas!” she said. “Most of our ____ have to walk to school, and when it rains they come in very ____.”

Of course! I thought. It doesn’t snow much here, ____ we do have a lot of cold rainy days. Parents who are poor might not buy ______. My friends and I began to ____: We sent e-mails, called people and ____ the project at social events. Everyone had the same ____: “I’ve never thought about that before!” We collected more than 50 umbrellas for the school ____ April showers. We were very satisfied. ____, the kids will be singing in the rain!

1.

A．lucky

B．easy

C．wealthy

D．quick

2.

A．glasses

B．needles

C．gloves

D．bowls

3.

A．rewards

B．pleasure

C．tips

D．love

4.

A．common

B．scientific

C．simple

D．good

5.

A．own

B．use

C．accept

D．afford

6.

A．donations

B．screens

C．luggage

D．staffs

7.

A．customers

B．kids

C．teachers

D．employees

8.

A．concerned

B．angry

C．wet

D．nervous

9.

A．but

B．so

C．and

D．or

10.

A．candles

B．umbrellas

C．tickets

D．houses

11.

A．weep

B．recover

C．work

D．understand

12.

A．suffered from

B．made out

C．talked up

D．looked into

13.

A．response

B．level

C．pay

D．height

14.

A．in need of

B．in favor of

C．for lack of

D．in time for

15.

A．Surprisingly

B．Hopefully

C．Interestingly

D．Luckily

3 . Some people feel they don’t have time to volunteer, seeing it as an activity that only benefits others.     1     This is how volunteering can change your own life.

★When you volunteer, you are making a direct influence on the people affected by volunteering, but the impact goes far beyond the fact that you are helping people. When you volunteer, you provide connection for others and yourself.     2    

★Volunteering helps learn new skills to improve your career outlook. It might be discovering how to use one program well.     3     Whatever volunteer experience you gain, there will be many chances to learn new practical, social and communication skills. They will help you grow as a human being.

★    4     Volunteering provides you with a chance to get to know like-minded people. If you have a volunteer job that you both care deeply about, it’s likely that you meet those who have a lot in common as well. Whatever your passions and interests are, you can likely find a volunteer organization where you’ll be able to find your friends.

With these positive reasons to volunteer, it’s almost a form of self-care.     5     Find an organization involved in something you are crazy about and sign up as a volunteer. You never know just how much it will benefit you in the long term.

A．So what are you waiting for?

B．However, it can have a huge influence on yourself as well.

C．When you volunteer, you easily make friends with other volunteers.

D．Good connection with others is the most necessary thing all people need.

E．Studies show lasting happiness and lower sadness rates among volunteers.

F．Is it great to help those less fortunate while seeing the world at the same time?

G．It can also be a chance to practice your second language skills with native speakers.

4 . A young Jewish girl begins a diary just as World War II is about to break out in Europe. She records the details of her daily life, but more than that. Eventually, the diary comes to a heartbreaking end with the girl shot to death by the Nazis. However, it’s not the story of Anne Frank. This is Renia’s Diary, a journal that was hidden for years in a safe box. Now it’s coming to light with the help of Renia’s sister and niece.

For a long time, Elizabeth didn’t even know that her older sister Renia had kept a diary as a teenager in Poland. Then suddenly one day in the 50s, Elizabeth got the diary and started to read it. She was totally stunned and couldn’t get very far. “It was too painful to read it,” Elizabeth recalls. “I just put it in the basement and didn’t think about it.”

Alexandra, Elizabeth’s daughter, grew up knowing about the locked diary. As Alexandra got older, she was more interested in it. “If I could read this diary, maybe I’ll explore some things from the past,” she thought.

She got the diary from its hiding place. When she read it, Alexandra was shocked. “It’s the description of a wonderful girl who showed great courage in terrible times. My aunt’s world comes to life as the diary shifts between a teenage girl’s daily life and the war.”

Elizabeth and her daughter Alexandra are excited that the diary will be published. “It is a story that needs to be heard now more than ever. We should never repeat the same types of racism(种族主义) and hate that lead to violence,” Alexandra says.

1. Why was Renia’s Dairy unknown to the world for so many years?

A．The story is not as famous as Anne Frank’s.

B．It was lost in the war and no one found it.

C．Alexandra was afraid to read it.

D．Renia’s sister kept it a secret.

2. What does the underlined word “stunned” mean in Paragraph 2?

A．Embarrassed.	B．Bored.
C．Excited.	D．Shocked.

3. Why was Alexandra so interested in Renia’s Diary?

A．She was curious about her aunt’s experience.

B．She wanted to comfort her mother.

C．She planned to publish her aunt’s dairy.

D．She decided to prove how strong Renia was.

4. What’s the best title of the passage?

A．A girl fighting against the racism and hate

B．Renia’s Diary is to come to light

C．Discovering the history of a Jewish family

D．A Jewish family in World War II

5 . Bacteria are an annoying problem for astronauts. The microorganisms(微生物) from our bodies grow uncontrollably on surfaces of the International Space Station, so astronauts spend hours cleaning them up each week. How is NASA overcoming this very tiny big problem? It’s turning to a bunch of high school kids. But not just any kids. It is depending on NASA HUNCH high school classrooms, like the one science teachers Gene Gordon and Donna Himmelberg lead at Fairport High School in Fairport, New York.

HUNCH is designed to connect high school classrooms with NASA engineers. For the past two years, Gordon’s students have been studying ways to kill bacteria in zero gravity, and they think they’re close to a solution(解决方案). “We don’t give the students any breaks. They have to do it just like NASA engineers,” says Florence Gold, a project manager.

“There are no tests,” Gordon says. “There is no graded homework. There almost are no grades, other than ‘Are you working towards your goal?’ Basically, it’s ‘I’ve got to produce this product and then, at the end of year, present it to NASA.’ Engineers come and really do an in-person review, and...it’s not a very nice thing at times. It’s a hard business review of your product.”

Gordon says the HUNCH program has an impact(影响) on college admissions and practical life skills. “These kids are so absorbed in their studies that I just sit back. I don’t teach.” And that annoying bacteria? Gordon says his students are emailing daily with NASA engineers about the problem, readying a workable solution to test in space.

1. What do we know about the bacteria in the International Space Station?

A．They are hard to get rid of.	B．They lead to air pollution.
C．They appear in different forms.	D．They damage the instruments.

2. What is the purpose of the HUNCH program?

A．To strengthen teacher-student relationships.

B．To sharpen students’ communication skills.

C．To allow students to experience zero gravity.

D．To link space technology with school education.

3. What do the NASA engineers do for the students in the program?

A．Check their product.	B．Guide project designs.
C．Adjust work schedules.	D．Grade their homework.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．NASA: The Home of Astronauts

B．Space: The Final Homework Frontier

C．Nature: An Outdoor Classroom

D．HUNCH: A College Admission Reform

6 . VAR technology has been used in U.S. sports for years. Now it is fully combined with the global game of soccer and made its debut(首次亮相) at the 2018 World Cup this summer.     1    . It is actually a team who work together to review certain decisions made by the main referee by watching video replays.

The VAR team supported the referees from a centralised video room. The operators selected and provided the best angles from the relevant broadcast cameras plus two additional offside cameras.     2    . They will communicate with the referees only for clear and obvious errors or serious missed incidents. The referee can delay the restart of play at any time to communicate with the VAR team.     3    , the referee would start an official review. Then they will make a decision based on the information received from the VAR team.

    4    . Some fans believe that VAR causes too many interruptions, disrupting the flow of the game. But others just want a fair match and to see the correct call no matter what. They argue disruptions already take place as angry players crowd around a referee following a controversial decision.     5    . With much money put into modern football, governing bodies are now under great pressure to see that the correct decisions are made on the pitch and VAR is a sure step in that.

A．If one team is likely to win a game

B．VAR stands for video assistant referee

C．It is hard to avoid and VAR is necessary

D．Once they decide an incident is reviewable

E．Throughout a match they are constantly checking for mistakes

F．The use of video technology is a hot topic among football watchers

G．VAR can serve to remove such scenes and get the game moving again

7 . If you are travelling in Britain, besides so many world-class things to see and do in London, planning a day trip away from it can also be worthwhile.

Stonehenge

Stonehenge consists of a group of huge standing stones. The 5,000-year-old stones are one of the world’s biggest mysteries that no one has figured out yet. While exploring Stonehenge, you can imagine wildly and decide for yourself how the stones came to be there and why. Although you can’t touch the stones, you can walk among them and feel the changes of seasons.

Windsor

Most people visit Windsor to see Windsor Castle, where the Queen spends most of her time. The castle itself could keep you busy for days. The best way to appreciate Windsor Castle is to approach via the Long Walk, a straight road where there are no cars, but you might see some deer.

Oxford

Oxford is best known for its world-famous university. The large student population keeps the atmosphere young and fresh, though there’s no shortage of history if you want it. 30 colleges make up the university itself. A tour of the colleges is a must—Harry Potter fans will recognize various locations used in the movies.

Bath

Founded by the Romans, who used the area’s springs to create a spa retreat（水疗中心）, Bath’s now the best tourist attraction of Southwest England. Visitors never miss the Roman Bath Complex, which is divided into four main parts—the Bath House, the Sacred Spring, the Roman Temple and the museum, which displays fascinating finds from the historical ruins of the city.

1. What remains a mystery about Stonehenge?

A．How long it has been there.	B．Why the stones can’t be touched.
C．How the stones came there.	D．Why it changes with seasons.

2. If you want to visit some shooting sites of Harry Potter, you should go to ________.

A．London	B．Oxford University
C．Windsor Castle	D．Bath House

3. We can learn from the text that ________.

A．London is no longer a popular tourist destination

B．visitors will be received by the Queen in Windsor Castle

C．the large number of college students adds freshness to Oxford

D．the historical ruins of Bath is not worth visiting

8 . If you are already making the time to exercise, it is good indeed! With such busy lives, it can be hard to try and find the time to work out.     1     Working out in the morning provides additional benefits beyond being physically fit.

Your productivity is improved. Exercising makes you more awake and ready to handle whatever is ahead of you for the day.     2    

Your metabolism(新陈代谢) gets a head start.     3     If you work out in the mornings, then you will be getting the calorie(卡路里) burning benefits for the whole day, not in your sleep.

    4     Studies found that people who woke up early for exercise slept better than those who exercised in the evening. Exercise energizes you, so it is more difficult to relax and have a peaceful sleep when you are very excited.

    5     If you work out bright and early in the morning, you will be more likely to stick to healthy food choices throughout the day. Who would want to ruin their good workout by eating junk food? You will want to continue to focus on positive choices.

There are a lot of benefits to working out, especially in the mornings. Set your alarm clock an hour early and push yourself to work out! You will feel energized all day long.

A．You will stick to your diet.

B．Your quality of sleep improves.

C．You prefer healthy food to fast food.

D．There is no reason you should exercise in the morning.

E．You can keep your head clear for 4-10 hours after exercise.

F．After you exercise, you continue to burn calories throughout the day.

G．If you are planning to do exercise regularly, or you’re doing it now, then listen up!

9 . No one is born a winner. People make themselves into winners by their own _________

I learned this lesson from a(n) _________ many years ago. I took the head _________ job at a school in Baxley, Georgia. It was a small school with a weak football program.

It was a tradition for the school’s old team to play against the _________ team at the end of spring practice. The old team had no coach, and they didn’t even practice to ___________ the game. Being the coach of the new team, I was excited because I knew we were going to win, but to my disappointment we were defeated. I couldn’t _________ I had got into such a situation. Thinking hard about it, I came to _________ that my team might not be the number one team in Georgia, but they were ___________ me. I had to change my _________ about their ability and potential.

I started doing anything I could to help them build a little ____________. Most important, I began to treat them like ____________. That summer, when the other teams enjoyed their ____________, we met every day and ______________ passing and kicking the football.

Six months after suffering our ______________ on the spring practice field, we won our first game and our second, and continued to ____________. Finally, we faced the number one team in the state. I felt that it would be a ____________ for us even if we lost the game. But that wasn’t what happened. My boys beat the best team in Georgia, giving me one of the greatest ____________ of my life！

From the experience I learnt a lot about how the attitude of the leader can ____________ the members of a team. Instead of seeing my boys as losers, I pushed and ______________ them. I helped them to see themselves ____________, and they built themselves into winners.

Winners are made, but born.

1.

A．luck

B．tests

C．efforts

D．nature

2.

A．experiment

B．experience

C．visit

D．show

3.

A．operating

B．editing

C．consulting

D．coaching

4.

A．successful

B．excellent

C．strong

D．new

5.

A．cheer for

B．prepare for

C．help with

D．finish with

6.

A．believe

B．agree

C．describe

D．regret

7.

A．realize

B．claim

C．permit

D．demand

8.

A．reacting to

B．looking for

C．depending on

D．caring about

9.

A．decision

B．attitude

C．conclusion

D．intention

10.

A．pride

B．culture

C．fortune

D．relationship

11.

A．leaders

B．partners

C．winners

D．learners

12.

A．rewards

B．vacations

C．health

D．honor

13.

A．risked

B．missed

C．considered

D．practiced

14.

A．defeat

B．decline

C．accident

D．mistake

15.

A．relax

B．improve

C．expand

D．defend

16.

A．shame

B．burden

C．victory

D．favor

17.

A．chances

B．thrills

C．concerns

D．offers

18.

A．surprise

B．serve

C．interest

D．affect

19.

A．encouraged

B．observed

C．protected

D．impressed

20.

A．honestly

B．individually

C．calmly

D．differently

10 . There is no doubt that many parents want to mold (塑造)their child to be better, faster, smarter and more skilled. Even though human parents can’t do that, a robot that builds its own children can. Scientists at the University of Cambridge in England have created a mother robot that not only creates its own children, but tests out their performance.

The mother robot analyzes(分析)the performance of each of the “children” it creates, and passes down good characters to the next generation

For example, as the mother creates them and puts them to work, she measures how they’re behaving, and she uses data from this behavior to create the next generation of robots.

The mother robot can actually build hundreds of child robots and see the performance of these child robots. And if their performance is good, keep their design for the next generation. And if bad, just let it go.

“We program the robots based on some functions that define(规定)the reward the robots are going to get, depending on the construction that they make. They cannot change their own reward. For the child robot, the longer the distance the robot walks, the better the reward it receives,” said Fumiya Iida, the lead researcher.

After several generations, the “children” were running twice as fast.

“The mother robot produced 500 robots to see which one is good and which one is bad,” said Iida.

The researchers believe that the machines can be used in a car factory, for example, where robot cameras examine each ear in production line, find out any mistakes, and then design a better car.

1. What is special about the mother robot?

A．It can analyze data

B．It can create child robots

C．It’s smarter than human mothers

D．It can build and improve its own children.

2. How does the mother robot mold her own children to be better?

A．It teachers them how to behave better.

B．It reprograms the bad ones after analyzing their performance

C．It copies hundreds of child robots and then chooses the best ones.

D．It keeps the good characters for the next generation to create a better robot.

3. What is the key point in influencing the child robot to receive a reward?

A．Size	B．Distance.
C．Behavior	D．Speed.