1 . The Simics were living in a village near Arandjelovac in central Serbia (塞尔维亚). They were saving to buy 10 hectares (0.1 km2) of land and increase the size of their family farm. Everything was going well, they said. While waiting for the seller, they put the money on the table in the living room, but forgot to lock the front door.
"We got up early and counted the money, because the man whom we wanted to buy from was supposed to come. We put the money on the table in the living room, so we could sign the contract (合同) and pay the man. Then we went to the dining room to have breakfast," Milena Sirnic told Arandjelovac Info, the local newspaper.
"My father-in-law (公公) opened the front door and went outside to feed the farm animals, like every morning. But he did not notice the front door was still open," she added. "That was the cause of our bad luck."
Belka is one of the goats that the family had owned for a couple of years. It entered the house through the open door and began to eat the money on the table.
"When we heard the noise, my husband got up to check and almost had a heart attack. Belka ate almost all the money! Only 300 euros or so was left, and the rest was eaten or shredded (咬碎)," Milena explained as she cried.
"Belka brought us to ruin," Milena said. She added that her husband had not spoken a word since, choosing to sit and stare at the wall all day.
As Milena Simic was telling the story to the local reporters, Belka was being turned over the fire. The Simic family decided to deal with the loss by holding a feast, with the cause of their bad luck as the main dish. And they invited the reporters to stay for the meal.
1. What does the underlined word "That" refer to in the third paragraph?| A．Milena's forgetting to feed Belka. |
| B．Belka's turning the house upside down. |
| C．Milena's entering the house from the front door. |
| D．Belka's father-in-law's leaving the front door open. |
| A．Belka ruined the Simic family. |
| B．Belka destroyed the farm by accident. |
| C．Belka got injured in the living room. |
| D．Belka was eating the money which was on the table. |
| A．To satisfy the local journalists. |
| B．To reduce their unpleasant feelings. |
| C．To thank Belka for doing the family a favour. |
| D．To celebrate the successful business of their farm. |
| A．Belka was killed by the Simic family. |
| B．Milena's husband lost all hope in his life. |
| C．The Simic family asked the reporters for advice. |
| D．The Simic family decided not to buy any land again. |
| A．A TV program. | B．A new TV set. | C．A TV interview. |
| A．The music. | B．The scenery. | C．The acting. |
4 . Alysa Liu is an ice skater In 2016, the then 10-year-old girl became the youngest intermediate figure skating (花样滑冰) champion in U. S. history. In 2018, Liu became the youngest to compete in and win the U. S. junior championships.
In January, 2019, she made history again at the Geico U. S. Womens Figure Skating Championships. At the championships, things were initially going well for the defending U. S. champion Bradie Tennell. But later Tennell had a falling in her performance. Meanwhile, Liu became the first and youngest U. S. woman to land three triple axels (三周半跳) in competition.
Though Liu made them look easy, triple axels are extremely challenging. The skater has to jump from the outside edge of one skate, turning in the air. “Double” or “triple” refers to the number of rotations (旋转) the skater completes before landing. The term is a little misleading given that the skater has to do an extra half rotation, meaning that for a triple, the skater is actually completing 3.5 rotations. To be successful, the skater has to have both incredible body strength and control.
When asked about her great performance, Liu thought it was not worth showing off. And she was enthusiastic about preparing for bigger games. But Liu was ineligible to compete at the 2019 World Figure Skating Championships in Japan due to the minimum age requirement of 15. However, that didn’t bother her.
Liu fell in love with ice skating during her first lesson at a center. She showed such talent that Laura Lipetsky, who was teaching the group lessons, asked her father to let her receive private lessons. Lipetsky said, “She wanted to learn, and I wanted to guide.” The two have been inseparable since then. In 2017 Laura sent Liu to the University of Delaware for a certain analysis that researchers have created to help outstanding American skaters improve their jump techniques.
Liu has been homeschooled since the age of 10. She gets her homework done between daily practices, and usually eats dinner in the car on her way home. Though that might appear to be a lot for someone so young, Liu takes it happily.
1. What achievement did Alysa make at the age of 13?| A．She won the U. S. junior championships. |
| B．She was allowed to compete in the 2019 championships in Japan. |
| C．She became an intermediate figure skating champion. |
| D．She defeated the defending U. S. champion Bradie Tennell. |
| A．The requirements for figure skating. | B．The difficulty of carrying out triple axels. |
| C．The skills needed in skating rotations. | D．The differences between double axels and triple axels. |
| A．Lacking time. | B．Lacking confidence. |
| C．Having no qualification. | D．Showing little enthusiasm. |
| A．She was good at teaching group lessons. |
| B．She instructed Liu’s father in figure skating. |
| C．She made a contribution in Liu’s progress in sports. |
| D．She didn’t obtain great support from Liu and her father. |
5 . The Crystal Palace was a cast iron and plate glass structure originally
The exhibition took place from 1 May to 15 October 1851, and more than 14, 000
The introduction of the glass sheets method into Britain by Chance Brothers in 1832 made
It has been said that the name of the building
After the exhibition, the palace was moved to an area of South London known as Penge Common. It was rebuilt at the top of Penge Peak next to Sydenham Hill. It stood there from June 1854 until its
| A．built | B．hidden | C．abandoned | D．trapped |
| A．exhibitors | B．travelers | C．journalists | D．buyers |
| A．display | B．collect | C．place | D．purchase |
| A．Invented | B．Designed | C．Discovered | D．Produced |
| A．weight | B．price | C．size | D．depth |
| A．easy | B．difficult | C．possible | D．convenient |
| A．use | B．method | C．technique | D．technology |
| A．material | B．roof | C．structure | D．glass |
| A．amused | B．frightened | C．attracted | D．protected |
| A．hang | B．insert | C．waste | D．require |
| A．removed | B．resulted | C．came | D．rose |
| A．appealing | B．getting | C．relating | D．referring |
| A．hurt | B．disappearance | C．influence | D．destruction |
| A．renamed | B．reconsidered | C．recalled | D．reviewed |
| A．sells | B．celebrates | C．demands | D．contains |
6 . Zheng He was one of China's most famous explorers. Towards the end of the fourteenth century, his fleet (舰队) sailed to countries far away.
Zheng He had over 300 ships, some of which were over 150 meters long, and could carry up to 1 ,000 people. Besides, the ships carried gold, silver, silk, china and other treasures to give as gifts to the rulers of other countries. Some ships even had earth on board so that the sailors could grow their crops for food.
On Zheng He's first voyage(航海), he set sail across the Indian Ocean. His fleet travelled many days far away from land. One day, they were hit by a storm. All the sailors thought the fleet was going to sink. Then a strange light appeared and after that,the storm passed. The strange light was probably electricity from the thunderstorm (雷雨),but the sailors in Zheng He's fleet believed it was a sign of protection from the gods. With the belief, they were happy to follow Zheng He wherever he led them.
Zheng He completed seven famous voyages between 1405 and 1433. He visited many countries in Asia and Africa. He brought back many gifts from the countries he visited, such as medicines, pearls (珍珠) and strange animals. The most famous of them were a giraffe and a zebra.
In 28 years of travelling, Zheng He had managed to share the glory of China with many different countries. When he died in 1435,the stories of his travels made him one of China's most famous sailors.
1. On Zheng He's first voyage, he set sail across ________ Ocean.| A．the Atlantic | B．the Indian |
| C．the Pacific | D．the Arctic |
| A．use it as a gift |
| B．use it for exchange |
| C．plant trees for shade |
| D．grow their own crops for food |
| A．his leadership | B．his fame |
| C．the belief in gods' protecting them | D．a heavy storm |
| A．a monkey and a tiger |
| B．a giraffe and a zebra |
| C．gold and silver |
| D．medicines and pearls |
| A．The Glory of China |
| B．Zheng He's Life |
| C．Zheng He and His Voyages |
| D．China's Most Famous Explorers |
7 . Wonderful Destinations You Can Explore in the World
While travel is still just a dream for many, we know that some of you are now eager to pencil in your next adventure. We are now taking bookings for our 2021 and 2022 tours, offering the following destinations.
The Dolomite Mountains in Italy
8 days; September 6, 2021
Go on a gentle outdoor tour through the impressive Dolomite Mountains where scientists investigate several scientific phenomena including geology, ecology, deep time and astronomy.
The gateway to the solar system in Iceland
8 days; November 20, 2021
Visit the sites where scientists test space mission in the world. You will visit remote lava fields, glaciers and Mars rover (巡视器) test sites to explore how technology can help us research other worlds, as well as adapt to our own climate challenges.
The Fjords of Norway
7 days; January 18, 2022
Explore the Fjords of Norway as you start the winter voyage to watch the wonderful northern lights and underwater life of the Arctic. Learn about the science behind the northern lights, watch whales from the sea, try your hand at dog sledding or simply relax around a campfire under the stars.
The volcanic fields in Italy
8 days; September 3, 2021
Experience the beauty and power of two of the world’s most impressive active volcanoes on Mount Etna and Mount Stromboli. Explore the Aeolian Islands of Lipari and Vulcano while enjoying scenic landscapes and Italian warmth.
Whether you are ready to book or just want to carry on dreaming for now, we expect you to enjoy looking through some of the new tours we have created. For more information on all our new tours for 2021 and 2022, visit www. new scientist. com/tours.
1. What do the first two destinations have in common?| A．They are main lava fields. |
| B．They focus on science. |
| C．They open on the same day. |
| D．They are space mission bases. |
| A．Feed whales from the sea. |
| B．See the wonders of the Arctic. |
| C．Enter the gateway to the solar system. |
| D．Explore sea life in the company of scientists. |
| A．In Mars rover test sites. |
| B．In the Fjords of Norway. |
| C．On Mount Etna and Mount Stromboli. |
| D．On the Dolomite Mountains and Aeolian Islands. |
8 . Places to see in Sweden
Sweden is a classic and attractive tourist country. There are a number of attractive castles and museums spreading across the country. The pleasant climate is the soul of Sweden. The country is at its best during the summer and early fall, during which it comes alive. Tourists can enjoy many sporting activities, and skating and skiing are two of the most famous ones. Here, we recommend the best places to see to make your visit to Sweden memorable for a lifetime.
Cities to visit in Sweden
The top tourist attractions in Sweden include these cities that will astonish you and open your eyes to a different world.
Stockholm, which is built on fourteen islands, is the capital of Sweden. The city has a long list of museums which are visited by millions every year. These all remain closed on Monday. They include The Royal Palace, Aquaria （水族馆） Water Museum, Swedish Museum of Architecture, Museum of Dance and so on. They are must-see places in Sweden.
Helsingborg is also known as the “Pearl of the Oresund （厄勒海峡）”. It is surrounded by seas: the Kattegat Sea, the Oresund and the Baltic Sea. Charming costal places are the best features of Helsingborg.
Lund, Kiruna, Landskrona, Gothenburg, Gotland and Malmo are the other popular cities in Sweden.
Lakes in Sweden
Lake Vanern
The largest lake in Sweden, Lake Vanern, has an area of 5, 655 km2. It contains 20, 000 small islands and rocks. This lake is home to a variety of birds and nearly 35 species of fish.
Lake Vattern
Lake Vattern covers 1, 912 km2 and is 128 metres deep. The lakeside is where hot air ballooning festivals and the annual 300-kilometer cycling take place.
National Parks
Padjelanta National Park
Padjelanta National Park, set up in 1962, is the largest national park in Sweden. It has plenty of wildlife to attract visitors.
Serek National Park
The wilderness of Serek National Park covers an area of 1, 970 km2. This beautiful place has a wonderful combination of mountains and glaciers （冰川）.
1. What do we know about Stockholm from the text?| A．It is the capital of Sweden. |
| B．It is surrounded by three seas. |
| C．There are fourteen islands near the city. |
| D．The museums there are closed on Wednesday. |
| A．The Royal Palace is next to it. |
| B．There are both mountains and glaciers in it |
| C．It is the best place for skating and skiing. |
| D．It is larger than any other national park in Sweden. |
| A．Beside Lake Vattern. | B．Beside Lake Vanern. |
| C．In Serek National Park. | D．In Padjelanta National Park. |
9 . If knowledge is power, then books are fuel and libraries are power stations! Here are four amazing libraries that can get you positively charged.
New York Public Library—New York
Opened in 1911, New York Public Library was the largest marble building in the world. Over the years the library has a collection of 53 million items, including rare first edition books, 300 million pages of historical newspapers and around 40 ,000 restaurant menus dating back to 1850!
Chetham's Library— Manchester
Founded in 1653, Chetham's Library is a free public library with the longest history in the UK. The building itself is even older —built in 1421, it's one of the most well—protected medieval buildings in England!
With 100 ,000 + books lining the shelves, the special atmosphere of the library attracts students and scholars alike to attend guided tours offered throughout the year.
The Library of Congress Washington, D. C.
Located on Capitol Hill, the Library of Congress is considered the national library of the US and the second largest library in the world. The library has around 168 million items, adding 10 ,000 to this number every day.
Need to catch up on the news? The Library of Congress, which was founded in 1800, holds the world’s largest newspaper collection, with some dating back as far as 1659!
The British Library—London
The British Library was founded in 1973. With around 170 million items spread across 750 km of shelving, it's the largest library in the world. And this number is continually growing and 8 km of shelving has to be added every year! This is partly because the British Library must receive a copy of every publication produced in the UK and Ireland, by law.
1. Where can you visit the oldest library?| A．In New York. | B．In London. |
| C．In Manchester. | D．In Washington, D. C. |
| A．Its large area. |
| B．Its various functions. |
| C．Its building materials. |
| D．Its newspaper collection. |
| A．The legal rule. | B．The public's help. |
| C．The printing skills. | D．The librarians' efforts. |
Have you ever asked yourself why children go to school? You will
We send our children to school to prepare them
There is more in education
