1 . It was “Disabilities Day at the Capitol ” and I was there, along with hundreds of Georgians, hoping to get the attention of our legislators (立法者). My thoughts ran back to the days when I was struggling to deal with my hearing loss learning, often dependent on others to help me hear. Now I stood under the gold dome of the Georgia Capitol, a member of the disabled community claiming the rights of people with disabilities.
After the rally (集会) I followed the crowd across the street to a free lunch. Although the crowd was huge, I managed to find a place to sit. I introduced myself to the young woman on my right, Kendall. However, with my hearing loss and her serious speech disorder, a conversation with her was next to impossible.
After a few moments, I realized that Kendall’s personal attendant (护工) was not present. I asked if anyone knew where she was and found out there had been a family situation and the attendant had to leave. “But,” I said, “who’s going to feed Kendall?” My thoughts were racing: someone had to help Kendall. In admitting her need I had to at once declare my responsibility to help.
Surprisingly, Kendall spoke clearly with her eyes. It was those eyes that spoke to me that day as we were waiting for lunch. I asked if I might serve her lunch. She nodded “Yes!” and her eyes said “Thank you!”
Helping Kendall that day shows an important belief of my life: We need each other. With or without a disability, it is our need for each other that makes us have a good life.
1. What’s the author’s purpose in attending “Disabilities Day at the Capitol”?| A．To defend the rights of the disabled. | B．To have a free lunch with friends. |
| C．To deal with his hearing problem. | D．To give support to the legislators. |
| A．Because they were in a noisy crowd. | B．Because they didn’t know each other. |
| C．Because they spoke different languages. | D．Because they both had certain disabilities. |
| A．By calling her family. | B．By feeding her lunch. |
| C．By admitting her need. | D．By finding her attendant. |
| A．We need each other to live a good life. |
| B．We should support people with disabilities. |
| C．People with disabilities should help each other. |
| D．People with disabilities should learn to be independent. |
2 . If your fingers get chilly all year round—even in the peak of summer—you’re not alone. Many people get cold hands during all of the seasons, due to a number of causes, from genetic to chronic illnesses.
Common reasons include being elderly and thin. If your hands are regularly cold or numb, however, it’s a good idea to see a doctor to rule out more serious causes. Cold hands are one of the symptoms of both anemia (贫血症) and hypothyroidism (甲状腺机能减退). Diabetes, which reduces blood circulation, can also trigger it. And if your heart is weak from heart disease, your body may prioritize sending blood to your core over your limbs.
For many others, cold hands are a sign they have a largely harmless condition called Raynaud’s disease. When any of us goes out in the cold, our bodies activate the muscles in our smallest blood vessels to make them even smaller—a survival mechanism to keep blood, and thus warmer temperatures, in our core. For people with Raynaud’s, this reaction is too strong, and instead of just a bit less blood going to their fingers, far too little gets there.
Raynaud’s is more common in women, and it most often develops before the age of 30. In fact, if you develop Raynaud’s when you’re older—usually after 40—it can be a sign of another underlying issue. That could be a smaller problem—a previous incident of frostbite (冻伤) or a sign of a more serious autoimmune condition, like lupus (狼疮).
For the majority of people living with Raynaud’s, medication won’t be necessary. However, a rare, more severe form of Raynaud’s affects less than one in 1,000 people. In these cases, blood can become completely blocked, causing sores on the hands. If they go untreated, it can lead to gangrene (坏疽) and, very rarely, amputation (截肢).
1. What’s the purpose of paragraph 1?| A．introduce a topic | B．present an argument |
| C．describe the characters | D．clarify his writing purpose |
| A．diabetes | B．heart disease | C．aging | D．obesity |
| A．It appears when blood vessels in your body overreact to high temperatures. |
| B．Males never suffer from it before the age of 30. |
| C．In some cases, it can be a sign of some health issues. |
| D．For most people, it is a serious health problem. |
| A．The reasons why people have cold hands |
| B．Ways to treat Raynaud’s disease and prevent cold hands |
| C．Medical research on Raynaud’s Disease |
| D．Disadvantages of cold hands |
3 . The shadow play is a typical traditional entertainment that has survived and thrived over the centuries. It is taken as an earliest ancestor of modern cinema.
Legend has it that more than 2,000 years ago，Emperor Wudi of the Western Han Dynasty was very depressed over the death of his favorite concubine（妃子）.To help him get over his sadness, a minister made a puppet out of cotton and silk in the likeness of the concubine and projected its shadow on a curtain for the emperor to see. The show brought the emperor some comfort. He somehow believed the shadow was his lover’ spirit. This is thought to be the beginning of the shadow play.
One mouth tells stories of thousands of years；a pair of hands operates millions of soldiers. This is how the shadow puppeteer works. Nicknamed “the business of the five”，a shadow puppet group is made up of five people. One operates the puppets, one plays a Suona and a Yueqin, one plays the Banhu, one is in charge of percussion（打击乐器）instruments, and one sings.
During performances, “actors” are held close to a white curtain with their colored shadows cast on it by a strong light from behind. The operator plays five puppets at the same time，each of which has three threads. Ten fingers handle fifteen threads. Moved by guiding sticks，the puppets play roles with musical accompaniment. The popularity of shadow play in some way lies in the equipment being light and easy to carry, the small number of people needed for a performance, and the flexible requirements for performance places. The plays can be quite dramatic and, when it comes to fairy tales or kungfu stories, the "actors" may be made to ride on clouds or perform unusual feats, to the great enjoyment of the audience, especially children.
The design of the figures follows traditional moral evaluation. The audience can tell a figure’s character by seeing his mask. Like the masks in Beijing Opera, a red mask represents honesty, a black mask, loyalty, and a white one, betrayal.
Nowadays, the shadow play has been industrialized and developed a series of tourist products for the promotion of Chinese culture and tourism.
1. What is the second paragraph mainly about?| A．A love story of Emperor Wudi. | B．How to please an Emperor. |
| C．The origin of the shadow play. | D．How to make a cotton puppet. |
| A．when roles are played without music |
| B．because the equipment is light to carry |
| C．when the puppets give lively performances |
| D．because the number of the operators is small |
| A．The Rapid Development of Beijing Opera |
| B．Shadow Puppetry: Traditional Arts and Crafts |
| C．The Business of the Five: A Shadow Puppet Group |
| D．Traditional Characters and Masks in Beijing Opera |
| A．Negative. | B．Doubtful. |
| C．Positive. | D．Unconcerned. |
4 . There’s one easy thing you can do every day to live longer and happier, according to a recent study, and it has nothing to do with diet, exercise, or cutting out bad habits.
A review of nearly 150 studies with more than 300,000 participants found that having active social circles decreases your chances of dying by 50 percent, regardless of age, gender or medical history. “When we’re social, we live longer.” Dr. Kelli Harding noted, “Loneliness is more of a risk factor to health than other known risk factors, like high blood pressure and obesity.”
The findings are written up in Dr. Harding’s new book，The Rabbit Effect, which is about how kindness, rather than laughter, may be the best medicine. The book gets its title from a famous 1978 study of the relationship between cholesterol（胆固醇）and heart health in rabbits. Researchers accidentally discovered that those rabbits that received the most affection from their human handlers lived much longer than the others.
We live in a world where most of our social interactions happen through our phones. But to get the health benefits of a more active social circle, you don’t have to throw away your device and join a book club. More casual interactions with neighbors, shop owners, and others you meet every day can do the trick. Increasingly，those relationships can start online. That’s where Nextdoor comes in. The stated purpose of the company is “to cultivate a kinder world where everyone has a neighborhood they can depend on”.
When asked for advice on one thing you can do to live longer and happier, Dr. Harding said it perfectly, “Be kind. It’s actually pretty amazing how much each person can make the world a better，kinder，healthier place. It really takes very little and you never know the impact you have on somebody.”
1. What do we know about The Rabbit Effect?| A．Its title comes from a study. | B．It's a report about heart health. |
| C．Laughter could cure diseases. | D．Rabbits could help live longer. |
| A．To advocate online shopping to save time. |
| B．To offer the neighborhood sports facilities. |
| C．To settle the arguments among the families. |
| D．To create a harmonious community to rely on. |
| A．Improve health and wellness. | B．Set up online relationships. |
| C．Build a happy and warm family. | D．Keep away from bad habits. |
| A．We can look for a kind neighborhood. |
| B．We should be kind to animals in the wild. |
| C．Every small act of kindness can make a difference. |
| D．All kinds of social activities can make a better world. |
5 . Activities to Get You Outdoors While Traveling
Many of us would enjoy getting outside and escaping our day to day with some fresh air while traveling. But where do you start? Try out a few of these activities and you’re sure to find a new outdoor hobby to help you enjoy nature on your next holiday.
Horseback Riding
Many people may shy away from this, excusing lack of experience with horses, but most operators have horses for riders of any experience including none if they meet the physical requirements. Horses can take you greater distances in a shorter time, covering areas that would be difficult or inaccessible otherwise.
Fly-Fishing
For an excuse to stand in a river enjoying the sounds, smells and scenery of some of the most beautiful places, try fly-fishing. Fishing is a perfect activity to enjoy with children, grandparents or whoever. With enough practice, you may even catch a delicious big fish.
Cycling + Mountain Biking
On the path or the road, spending time on a bike allows you to slow down and leisurely take in the scenery around you. Mountain biking can give you the biggest excitement, while road cycling may offer a more peaceful and calming experience. Travel with your bike or rent one at your travelling places, and your possibilities for exploration have already increased.
Rock Climbing
For a more physical and challenging experience outdoors, try your hand at rock climbing. You can get a feel for climbing in a gym, but its real rewards lie in putting those skills to use outside. Many popular travel places have great climbing within a day trip distance.
1. Who can take a horseback ride?| A．Anybody who wants to take a horse ride. |
| B．Travelers without experience of horse riding. |
| C．Those who have the basic physical conditions. |
| D．The explorers who like to travel in dangerous places. |
| A．Fly-Fishing. | B．Rock Climbing. |
| C．Horseback Riding. | D．Cycling + Mountain Biking. |
| A．Allowing travelers to fully enjoy the scenery. |
| B．Slowing down the travel to have an enough rest. |
| C．Getting the travelers to have the biggest excitement. |
| D．Offering a more peaceful and comfortable experience. |
6 . Do you want to get home from work knowing you have made a real difference in someone’s life?
If yes，don’t care about sex or age! Come and join us, then you’ll make it!
Position: Volunteer Social Care Assistant
(No Pay with Free Meals)
Place: Manchester
Hours: Part Time
We are now looking for volunteers to support people with learning disabilities to live active lives! Only 4 days left. Don’t miss the chance of lending your warm hands to help others!
Role:
You will provide people with learning disabilities with all aspects of their daily lives. You will help them to develop new skills. You will help them to protect their rights and their safety. But your primary concern is to let them know they are valued.
Skills and Experience Required:
You will have the right values and great listening skills. You will be honest and patient. You will have the ability to drive a car and to communicate in fluent written and spoken English since you’ll have to help those people with different learning disabilities. Previous care-related experience will be a great advantage for you.
1. The text is meant to ________.| A．leave a note | B．send an invitation |
| C．present a document | D．carry an. advertisement |
| A．You’ll make others’ lives more meaningful with this job. |
| B．You’ll arrive home just in time from this job. |
| C．You’ll earn a good salary from this job. |
| D．You’ll succeed in getting this job. |
| A．to get some financial support |
| B．to properly protect themselves |
| C．to learn some new living skills |
| D．to realize their own importance |
| A．The one who can drive a car. |
| B．The one who has done similar work before. |
| C．The one who has patience to listen to others. |
| D．The one who can use English to communicate. |
