1. Who taught Heather to surf?
| A．Her father. | B．Her coach. | C．Her friend. |
| A．In New York. | B．In Los Angeles. | C．In San Diego. |
| A．She got a board for free. |
| B．She hurt herself on the beach. |
| C．She was in love with surfing. |
| A．By hitting it with her surfboard. |
| B．By shouting to others for help. |
| C．By swimming out of its way. |
1. Why does the man talk to the woman?
| A．To book a ticket. | B．To call off a flight. | C．To change a reservation. |
| A．$ 4,112. | B．$ 4,479. | C．$ 8,591. |
| A．Staying a night in the hotel for free. |
| B．Access to nearby tourist attractions. |
| C．A chance for entertainment at any time. |
1. What does the man give the speech for?
| A．To introduce the sales and marketing director. |
| B．To congratulate the employees on their achievement. |
| C．To express his gratitude for everyone’s hard work. |
| A．More vacation days. | B．Three new products. | C．An extra payment. |
| A．The teamwork of the employees. |
| B．The development of their product. |
| C．The performance of the team. |
1. What did David do last night?
| A．He played volleyball. | B．He watched television. | C．He read the newspaper. |
| A．At 2:30. | B．At 3:00. | C．At 3:30. |
| A．Give David a call. | B．Talk with her mom. | C．Take a piano lesson. |
| A．It can make legs slim. |
| B．It can make you put on weight. |
| C．It can build up the body. |
6 . English businessman Richard Branson made history on July 11, 2021 as he and three other crewmates became the world’s first space tourists. The flight was made by a spacecraft named VSS Unity that was built by Branson’s company, Virgin Galactic. The flight lasted slightly more than an hour, and took Branson and crew to an altitude (海拔) of 53.5miles above the Earth, just a little above the boundary (边界) of space which lies 50 miles above the Earth.
At that height, the atmosphere turns into the black of outer space and the Earth becomes a bent ball of blue. Travelers also exhibit weightlessness as there is no gravity, the force that keeps our bodies walking on the Earth’s surface. Therefore, Branson and his fellows were able to float around in VSS Unity while enjoying the views. They were able to do that for three minutes before the spacecraft began its downward journey. It landed back at Virgin Galactic’s space port in New Mexico, United States, which is the same place from where it had taken off 90 minutes before.
On landing back, Branson said, “I have dreamt of this moment since I was a kid but honestly, nothing could prepare you for the view of the Earth from space. It was just magical. I’m just taking it all in, and it’s unreal.”
July 11’s flight is the start of space tourism for one and all. In early 2022, customers who can afford a ticket for a quarter of a million dollars can line up for a seat on a trip to space. And guess what — they will have a choice of spacecraft. Jeff Bezos, who owns a famous company, is all set to launch himself into space on July 20 on board a spacecraft built by his new branch company Blue Origin. Blue Origin will also carry tourists to space.
1. What is Richard Branson famous for?| A．His success in tourism. |
| B．His company of Virgin Galactic. |
| C．His spaceship named VSS Unity. |
| D．His first commercial space travel in history. |
| A．Unbelievable. | B．Adventurous. | C．Regrettable. | D．Worthless. |
| A．Take a spacecraft of Virgin Galactic. |
| B．Pay $250,000 for the rocket tour. |
| C．Pass the fitness test for astronauts. |
| D．Line up for a position in Blue Origin. |
| A．Humans will move to other livable planets. |
| B．Ordinary people will soon land on the moon. |
| C．Private rocket space travel is growing gradually. |
| D．Some companies abandon their proper business. |
7 . When we’re stressed, the brain sends a signal to the adrenal medulla (肾上腺髓质). That signal causes many unpleasant symptoms. Until recently, most scientists believe that muscles have nothing to do with stress because they don’t influence how the brain and the adrenal medulla communicate. In fact, Strick, a leading neuroscientist at the University of Pittsburgh, says he has long been suspicious of claims that exercises building muscles like yoga can decrease stress. “I need to see that there’s a connection; that there’s a real biological basis,” he says.
In 2016, Strick decided to study the connection between muscles and stress by using a method he pioneered. Strick invented a process where he could put a virus into an organ to track the neural network s that connect the brain and the muscles. “So we injected (注入) the adrenal medulla with a virus, and we tracked it back into the brain and then mapped which areas influenced the adrenal,” he says. “And that’s where the surprise came.” Essentially, Strick discovered that our stress response is controlled by more than just the ‘thinking’ part of the brain. Other parts of the brain, including those controlling our muscles, are also sending signals to the adrenal medulla. And the area of the brain that communicates with the adrenal receives signals from the core muscles as well. So, strengthening those muscles, Strick says, can adjust our stress.
When we’re tapping away at a computer in a chair all day, many of us feel more mentally stressed. Strick recommends strengthening the core muscles so that sitting upright all day becomes more natural. “Slump, and then sit up straight,” he says “And see what the difference they make to your mood.”
Strick also says this discovery was a wake-up call for his own health. He credits his children, who persuaded him to try yoga years ago. “And I once said, come on, give me a break. I don’t have time,” he says. “But as it turns out, they’re right.”
1. What can we learn about Strick’s study?| A．He referred to other researchers’ methods. |
| B．He observed the influence a virus has on the adrenal. |
| C．He got the result similar to that of previous studies. |
| D．He found the part of the brain managing muscles can affect stress. |
| A．Sink into a chair. | B．Stand up all of a sudden. |
| C．Stare at something carefully. | D．Do intense physical exercise. |
| A．Favorable. | B．Intolerant. | C．Doubtful. | D．Unclear. |
| A．Why We Are So Easily Stressed | B．Benefits of Doing Sports Like Yoga |
| C．Ways of Strengthening Our Muscles | D．Our Muscles Can Affect Our Mood |
8 . Self-driving cars may sound like something from a futuristic sci-fi novel. However, with advanced trials expected from 2021, they are a lot closer to reality than you may think, and they could really help you.
Connected and automated vehicles (also known as CAVs), are vehicles that could perform many of the functions of today’s human drivers in the future. Aware of the potential benefits of the technology from improving road safety and reducing traffic congestion (拥塞), to enabling greater travel independence-the U. K. government has been encouraging the technology.
“However, we won’t get there unless those designing the technology engage properly with a wide range of transport users,” said lain Forbes, head of the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles.
FLOURISH, one initiative that received government backing, has helped to advance the successful implementation of CAVs in the U. K. by developing services and capabilities which maxi-mise the benefits of driverless vehicles for users and transport authorities.
The project was a collaboration between small and medium companies and large businesses across multiple industries, universities, local authorities and the not-for-profit sector, to investigate how these vehicles might benefit older adults and those with mobility-related conditions.
Mervyn Kohler, an Age U. K. spokesman, believes FLOURISH’s approach will be key to the positive impact self-driving cars have on older adults. “The project’s connectivity findings will also help the users of the future to make real-time journey decisions, responding to live information,” Tracey Poole, FLOURISH’s project manager and transport planning specialist says: “Not only will these vehicles be more inclusive; they will also be safer, more efficient and more environmentally friendly.”
Although safety is one of the big prizes associated with the introduction of self-driving cars, with the vast majority of collisions caused by human error, concerns about their safety are common.
The government is keen to understand the public’s view on CAVs and continues to survey public attitudes. It is also taking big steps towards establishing how our laws and regulations might need to change to support the safe use of self-driving cars.
1. What is the advantage of self-driving cars?| A．They guarantee road safety. |
| B．They remove traffic jams. |
| C．They provide more freedom of traveling. |
| D．They get over the elder’s dependence on drivers. |
| A．Awards. | B．Achievements. |
| C．Realization. | D．Characteristics. |
| A．Collisions between self-driving cars can’t be avoided. |
| B．Self-driving cars are more eco-friendly than today's cars. |
| C．There is still a way to go before self-driving cars hit the road. |
| D．People are not worried about the safety problems of self-driving cars. |
| A．CAVs: a substitute for today’s human driver |
| B．How do CAVs help people less able to travel? |
| C．FLOURISH: a new project on self-driving cars. |
| D．Could self-driving cars soon be a reality? |
9 . In a heart-pounding display of courage and quick thinking, a 65-year-old crane operator became an unexpected hero as he rescued a man trapped on top of a towering building engulfed in flames.
Glen Edwards, a crane operator from Egham, was expressing his gratitude after a tense rescue operation in Reading last Thursday. Edwards found himself in a challenging situation as he navigated circling winds to save a man trapped by smoke and flames on a building. The dramatic rescue unfolded amid thick black smoke, making visibility nearly impossible
When the alarm sounded, Edwards, who had a concrete skip on his crane, wasted no time the moment he spotted the distressed man waving his coat. Employing his experience and knowledge of the area, Edwards attached a metal cage to the crane, carefully considering his options for the rescue. However, the challenging conditions, with smoke sheltering his view, added an extra layer of difficulty to the operation.
With a colleague providing guidance and a concerned crowd watching from below, Edwards skillfully operated the crane to rescue the man. The onlookers erupted in cheers and applause as the man was safely lifted to the ground.
Reflecting on the intense experience, Edwards remarked, “It seemed to pass a long time until the man got inside. The adrenaline (肾上腺素) was pumping.” He admitted to experiencing shaking after the rescue, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
Despite the successful operation, Edwards is yet to meet the man he saved, humorously noting, “He’s got to take me across the road for a drink!”
The heartwarming part of this story is the overwhelming support Edwards has received from well-wishers. A fund-raising page was set up to “buy Edwards a beer as a sign of gratitude,” initially aiming for £5,000 but now standing at an impressive ₤9,100. The community’s response has left Edwards deeply moved. He stated, “It means a lot; some of the comments have been absolutely fantastic.”
1. What does the underlined word “distressed” in paragraph 3 probably mean?| A．Brave. |
| B．Painful. |
| C．Enthusiastic. |
| D．Disappointed. |
| A．Warm and Curious. | B．Caring and ambitious. |
| C．Professional and humorous. | D．Gifted and generous. |
| A．Sharp tools make good work. |
| B．One good turn descries another. |
| C．Actions speak louder than words. |
| D．Hope for the best,but prepare for the worst. |
| A．A diary entry. |
| B．A medical magazine. |
| C．A news report. |
| D．A first-aid essay. |
Bonnie raised her granddaughter alone after the girl’s parents died. She hated her granddaughter’s art and wanted her to stop drawing. But everything changed when Mr. Henderson, a famous cartoonist, appeared at her doorstep.
One day, Bonnie called out to Amy as she took the chicken out. “Dinner is ready, honey! Come soon!” But Amy didn’t answer.
Bonnie finished setting the table and served them dinner, but she still didn’t hear a response from Amy. “Amy? Honey, your dinner is getting cold! Are you coming?” she asked her 10-year-old granddaughter again.
When Amy didn’t respond, Bonnie climbed the stairs to the girl’s room and pushed the door open. Amy sat at her desk, with her headphones on. At first, Bonnie thought Amy was studying, but then she noticed the drawing sheet on the table in front of Amy. Bonnie frowned (皱眉) in anger.
“Amy!” Bonnie screamed, and the girl turned around and removed her headphones.
“Granny? I… I was just…” Amy said.
Bonnie stormed up to Amy’s desk, and the little girl tried to cover the drawing, but it was too late.
“Did you finish your math homework, little girl? Mrs. Warren called me today. And she told me you’ve been ignoring her assignments!” Bonnie said angrily.
“I’ll finish the homework,” Amy said. “I was planning on doing it once I finished the sketch (素描) I was working on, Granny.”
“I’m tired of that hobby of yours, Amy! You’re no longer doing those drawings!” Bonnie went on. “Those things you draw are not going to help you in the future! You finish your dinner, and then you’ll be doing your homework. You’re not leaving the house to play with your friends until you finish your homework. Am I clear?” Bonnie said and stormed out of Amy’s room.
Minutes later, Amy walked into the kitchen and quietly sat at the table. They began eating dinner in silence. Bonnie was already in a terrible mood, so she didn’t ask about Amy’s day like she usually did. Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150个左右；2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Amy answered the door and was surprised to see Mr. Henderson.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Bonnie hesitated for a long time and decided to ask Mrs. Warren for advice.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
