Holidays with friends can be great fun and a good way of getting to know each other better.
Choose a place to visit. Going abroad will cost more but be a more exciting experience. Don’t go abroad if this is the first time you organize(组织)the holidays.
Collect your friends. Work out how many people you will be able to plan the trip for.
Meet up. Everyone will have their own idea of what the trip to be like, you should have a meeting.
Book transport(交通). When you decide on your hotel, you will know the dates of your stay and will be able to book transport, such as trains, buses and airplanes. Booking transport earlier can help you save some money.
2 . In most cases, people pick the easy way out: the path of least resistance. Yet it’s the hard choice—the path of most resistance—that is more beneficial and provides most success in the long run.
How do these paths differ? What are the dangers of an easy life? What are the rewards of a hard life? How do you start taking the path of most resistance? Let’s cover all these questions.
Taking the path of least resistance means choosing the easiest available option, with little regard for its long-term consequences. For example, you eat whatever you like, whenever you like, and in whatever amount you like. This is often combined with avoiding physical activity because it’s too exhausting and uncomfortable. It may feel nice at first but all that indulgence has a very high price. In that case, it’s guaranteed being fat. Most people in the modern world follow this path, and this is why so many people struggle with a lack of self-discipline, good habits, etc.
The path of most resistance is about choosing the option that will lead to more personal growth, even if it means suffering in the early stages of the process. For example, it may cost you a lot to quit watching TV for hours on end. But over the long term, you’ll free up a lot of time that will lead to a more satisfying life than that of a couch potato.
At first sight, this approach is unappealing. It requires effort, loss of pleasure, and leads to potential suffering. Yet, on the other side of all that lies a world of more confidence, self-discipline and mental recovery. In the end, they do more than just making up for the fleeting superficial pleasures.
We’re lazy by nature. If we can do something more easily and comfortably, we’ll always choose that path over the one that’s harder. This tendency is an extremely powerful force, even when scientific research makes it clear that it’s bad for us.
1. What is the purpose of the questions in paragraph 2?| A．To introduce the content. |
| B．To explain a phenomenon. |
| C．To share the issues related. |
| D．To comment on the easy-path choice. |
| A．A serious weakness of humans. |
| B．A decision without full information. |
| C．A habit of acting to pleasures. |
| D．A choice made with careful thinking. |
| A．Their lack of exercise. |
| B．Their low level of self-discipline. |
| C．The consumption of too much fat and sugar. |
| D．The abnormal development of society. |
| A．Oversleeping on weekends. |
| B．Taking your favourite sport regularly. |
| C．Quitting a well-paid job and taking a low-paid one. |
| D．Eating something you dislike to balance your diet. |
Climate change has caused a rise in sea levels. This has increased the amount of salt in fresh water
However, Marc Van Rijsselberg, a farmer in the Netherlands is now using a
He teamed up with scientists from the Free University and divided a farm
The water levels and the levels of salinity were controlled by computerized measuring
He found that potatoes grew better than the other vegetables in the combination of sea and fresh water. Mr. Van Rijsselberg said four kinds of these potatoes would be sent to Pakistan
4 . Thomas Andrews was born in Belfast in 1813, son of a merchant. He was described as “a modest, silent boy with a great capacity for general knowledge”. He had published the first of his many scientific papers in the Philosophical Magazine entitled “On the action of a flame urged by the blowpipe on other flames” at age 14. Shortly after this his second publication “On the detection of Baryta or Strontia when in union with Lime” appeared in the same journal.
He started his formal study of chemistry in 1828 at Glasgow University under Thomas Thomson and continued it later in Paris. There he worked in the laboratories of J. B. Dumas and L. J. Thenard, where he learned chemical analysis from these most distinguished French analytical chemists. Returning to Dublin, he took a B. A. degree at Trinity College Dublin before completing his medical studies in Edinburgh. At 23 he became a physician in Belfast, as well as professor of chemistry at the Belfast Academical Institute. His medical commitments in the next ten years meant he had little time for experimentation but he still managed to publish a number of scientific papers.
When the Queen’s College opened in 1845, he became its first professor of chemistry, as well as its Vice-President. As an outstanding experimentalist, he was the first to show that ozone is another form of oxygen. Using narrow-bore, thick glass capillary tubes (毛细管), to contain gases under extreme conditions of temperature and pressure, he was able to show that Boyle’s Law did not apply in these extreme conditions. He established the crucial concept of critical temperature and critical pressure. His discoveries led to the liquefaction of all gases, some of which had previously been thought not to be able to exist as liquids. Internationally recognized, he was elected to many scientific academies, and in 1867, became president of the British Association for the Advancement of Science.
1. What can be known about teenage Thomas Andrews?| A．He was a faithful reader of Philosophical Magazine. |
| B．He was nationally famous. |
| C．He had strong interest in science. |
| D．He was excellent in every subject. |
| A．To complete one of his papers. |
| B．To learn from French scientists. |
| C．To earn a B.A. degree in chemistry. |
| D．To further his medical studies. |
| A．To analyse a phenomenon. |
| B．To demonstrate an old theory. |
| C．To introduce Andrews’ discovery. |
| D．To illustrate a chemistry experiment. |
a．Thomas Andrews became a physician in Belfast.
b．Thomas Andrews published his first paper in a magazine.
c．Thomas Andrews studied chemistry at Glasgow University.
d．Thomas Andrews was appointed Vice-President of the Queen’s College.
| A．d-a-b-c | B．b-a-d-c | C．d-b-a-c | D．b-c-a-d |
5 . Sometimes, you just can’t help it. Maybe you’re watching a sad movie, or thinking about the friend who moved away. Next thing you know, you feel pressure in your throat, your eyes are watering, and you have tears running down your cheeks.
According to Ad Vingerhoets, a professor of psychology at Tilburg University, in the Netherlands, who is one of the few scientists in the world who have studied crying, there are three types of tears. Basal tears are the first type. They act as a protective barrier between the eye and the rest of the world. Next are reflex tears. They wash your eyes clean when something gets in them. Finally, there are emotional tears. “These are released in response to emotional states,” explains Vingerhoets.
Scientists believe crying has something to do with how humans developed and learnt to depend on each other. “Humans are very complex social creatures,” says Lauren Bylsma, a professor at the University of Pittsburgh, in Pennsylvania. “It seems that tears serve to arouse help and support from others,” she says.
Vingerhoets agrees, “I think that the reason why humans shed tears (流眼泪) has something to do with our childhood.” He says, “That’s the time when we are still dependent on adults for love and protection and care. The major advantage of emotional tears is that you can target them at a specific person.” Vingerhoets says this ability could have come in handy in prehistoric times, when humans were living among dangerous animals. Tears were a safer way to get attention. “In this case. it is better to use a silent signal to ask for help,” he says.
Vingerhoets and Bylsma do frequent studies to better understand why humans cry. According to Bylsma, there is still much more to discover. “It’s surprising,” she says, “how much we still don’t know.”
1. Which of the following is reflex tears?| A．Tears when eyes are dry. | B．Tears moved by a story. |
| C．Tears released when crying. | D．Tears when dirt gets into eyes. |
| A．seek help wisely | B．aim tears at someone |
| C．cry emotionally | D．appeal to other people |
| A．have learned enough about tears | B．are working together to study tears |
| C．think positively of the effects of tears | D．hold different opinions about the causes of tears |
| A．The reason behind tears. | B．The components of tears. |
| C．The types of tears. | D．The opinions about tears. |
6 . John von Neumann was the oldest of 3 children of a banker, and his speed of learning new ideas and loving problems stood out early. At 17, his father tried to persuade him not to become a mathematician because he might lead a poor life being a mathematician, so von Neumann agreed to study chemistry as well. In 1926, at 23, he received a degree in chemical engineering and a Ph. D. in mathematics. From then on, mathematics provided well enough for him, and he never had to turn to chemistry.
In 1930, von Neumann visited Princeton University for a year and then became a professor there. His first book was published in 1932. In 1933, the Institute for Advanced Study was formed, and he became one of the 6 full-time people in the School of Mathematics (Einstein was one of the others).
World War Ⅱ hugely changed von Neumann’s areas of interest. Until 1940 he had been a great pure mathematician. During and after the war, he became one of the best mathematicians who put mathematical theories into practice. During the last part of the war, he became interested in computing machines and made several fundamental contributions. After the war, von Neumann continued his work with computers, and was generally very active in government service. He received many awards, was president of the American Mathematical Society and was a member of the Atomic Energy Commission. He died of cancer in 1957.
Von Neumann made several great contributions and any one of them would have been enough to earn him a firm place in history. He will be remembered as one of the greatest minds of the 20th century.
Von Neumann really was a legend in his own time, and there are a number of stories about him. His driving abilities is a part of his legend. He reported one accident this way: “I was driving down the road. The trees on the right were passing me in an orderly fashion at 60 miles per hour. Suddenly one of them stepped in my path.”
1. According to the text, von Neumann’s father believed that _________.| A．a mathematician needed a good memory |
| B．von Neumann had the ability to learn two subjects at the same time |
| C．von Neumann had the gift for solving problems at a high speed |
| D．a mathematician couldn’t earn a lot of money |
| A．25. | B．26. | C．29. | D．32. |
| A．He lost interest in chemistry. |
| B．He began to research how to put mathematics into practice |
| C．He realized the importance of engineering. |
| D．He left college and served at the government department. |
| A．humorous | B．intelligent | C．brave | D．calm |
7 . In the past decade, the use of social media has grown in a way that no one could have guessed. It has turned some teenagers into celebrities (名人) and turned the famous into the infamous, overnight.
A key feature of social media, however, is its volatility. Trends come and go, disappearing almost as quickly as they appeared. So, what were the key social media trends of 2019?
Short video apps such as TikTok and its Chinese equivalent Douyin, took the world by storm. The Telegraph reported that TikTok was ranked 8th on Apple’s App Store in April. And Douyin had more than 300 million domestic monthly active users in June, CNBC said.
Why are these short videos — which are rarely longer than a few minutes — so popular? Jiang Yige, Singapore-based analyst at FengHe Fund Management, has a theory. Short videos are “just right to fill in the little gaps in our busy schedules”, he told CNBC.
These videos — apart from being very convenient — are important to teenagers because they allow them to express themselves, according to Teen Vogue.
The sense of community that users of short video apps get is another appealing feature. Liza Koshy, a user of the US app Musically who has over 2 million followers, said that she was thrilled when anyone said that her video had “inspired” him. “It’s really cool...because I think that as short video creators that’s what we all expect,” she added.
Live streaming is another feature of our social media life that now seems as natural as sunrise. It’s a pretty neat idea: You can watch anyone, anywhere, live.
However, China has taken live streaming to a whole new level. In China, more than 100 million viewers monthly watch a live streaming video. Forbes thought that a number of factors had led to the popularity of live streams. Among them is viewers’ ability to interact while remaining anonymous.
However, the boom in social media may be having side effects too. Fake news is one serious problem it arguably causes. Material shared on these platforms is often not checked for accuracy. The most basic content can be false and can sway users one way or another. We use social media all the time; that doesn’t mean that we understand the influence it is having on us. We should be mindful of both the time we spend on it and its impact on our minds.
1. The underlined word “volatility” in Paragraph 2 possibly means “being ”.| A．changeable | B．steady |
| C．promising | D．violent |
| A．they are very convenient |
| B．they help people kill time |
| C．they provide a sense of community |
| D．they allow people to express themselves |
| A．The information from social media is highly reliable. |
| B．When it comes to social media, people know short videos the best. |
| C．People can’t communicate with each other without social media. |
| D．There is still much room for social media to make improvement. |
| A．Rapid Development of Social Media |
| B．Key Social Media Trends of 2019 |
| C．Short Videos Taking the World by Storm |
| D．Live Streaming — A New Feature of Social Media |
It was a dream born in fire. Andrea Peterson was 5 when she was trapped on the ledge (窗台) of a burning building.
“Throw the kid down!” said one of the firemen below, whose eyes are firm and courageous, along with professional rescue techniques. Seeing this, little Andrea jumped into lifesaving arms and a life-long ambition: She wanted to fight fires as her rescuers did.
She told that to the men who had saved her, and they laughed naturally the way grown-ups do when a kid says he wants to be an astronaut or a sports star. But this was back in a time when little girls weren’t even allowed to fantasize (幻想) about such grand goals.
“You’ll be a good mommy,” the firemen told her. “You’ll be a good teacher, maybe you’ll be a nurse, but you can never be a fireman.”
Indeed, life sidelined her ambitious dream. She was studying for a degree in aviation technology (航空科技) and that’s where she met her husband, Dennis. Unfortunately, Dennis was diagnosed with cancer. Peterson spent 31 years caring for the man she loved, and in 2007, when Dennis was about to leave, he was at peace but worried for her. “But what are you going to do?” “I’ll be fine,” she told him.
At 61, she attended a course for emergencies. She went on an ambulance ride-along from time to time. It turned out to be a life-and-death situation, which reminded her of the childhood experience back in the fire. But every time she saw people who were in need were successfully rescued, Peterson felt that long-ago childhood calling. She earned her emergency medical technician license and responded to fire calls with the ambulance. She found that her years of tending to Dennis had prepared her for dealing with the variety of hurts and ills. The inside calling echoed increasingly stronger.
注意：1．续写词数应为150左右；
2．请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
After a year, she signed up for a training unit for firefighters.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Finally came the written and physical fitness test day.
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The annual Halloween arrived, during which kids dressed in traditional clothes went to neighbors’ houses to ask for candy.
Allison lived in a small town. That day after dinner, Allison put on her dress her father had just bought for her. The dress was cheap and second-hand because her family was poor. But Allison still thanked her dad and said, “Everyone will love my dress!” Then, she left for neighbors’ houses to ask for candy.
On the way, she came across Anna and her friends and wanted to join them. “No! Look at your dress! It’s ugly!” Anna said. Her friends also laughed. “Look at our dresses, especially mine! It’s new and beautiful,” Anna added. Her friends nodded, and in some way they were right. Anna’s dress was shiny and looked expensive. She always had the best clothes because her parents were rich.
Allison was shocked and sad. The kids not only disliked her dress but made fun of it. “You can’t come with us!” Anna stressed. “We would never hang out with you!” The other kids agreed and laughed. They all left to start collecting candy for the night while Allison was left alone, embarrassed in the middle of the street.
Anyway, she knew all the neighbors. She often helped around carrying their groceries and helping them with their gardens. People around there knew her. She didn’t need to hangout with Anna or her friends. “I’ll go just alone,” the little girl said to herself and started walking.
She as well as Anna and her friends walked in the same direction: towards their first neighbor Mrs Vaughan’s house. But Allison walked behind and kept her distance from them. And she stopped when Anna and her friends were near Mrs Vaughan’s house.
Just then, Mrs Vaughan looked out of her window. She noticed that Allison was being excluded by Anna and her friends. She knew it was probably because of Allison’s poor dress. She immediately felt pity for Allison, who often helped her and other neighbors. She decided to give Allison much more candy as a reward and teach Anna and her friends a lesson.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
When Anna and her friends knocked on her door, Mrs Vaughan opened it.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Anna looked up and said, “Our clothes are more beautiful! But you gave Allison more candy! Why?”
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________10 . During my stay at the University of Michigan, one of the senior professors asked me to join a seminar on culture and emotion. In a general
When I lived in North Carolina, my new friends came over to
We think about emotions as feelings deep inside us, but in
| A．analysis | B．state | C．letter | D．round |
| A．understated | B．interesting | C．dramatic | D．proud |
| A．set | B．fit | C．evaluate | D．recommend |
| A．approach | B．situation | C．topic | D．course |
| A．curiosity | B．pity | C．disappointment | D．embarrassment |
| A．play | B．dine | C．work | D．perform |
| A．support | B．noise | C．fun | D．arguing |
| A．sank | B．melted | C．raced | D．opened |
| A．harmonious | B．normal | C．strong | D．distant |
| A．date | B．shape | C．place | D．sight |
| A．reliable | B．good | C．serious | D．careful |
| A．gratitude | B．respect | C．admiration | D．affection |
| A．total | B．advance | C．detail | D．reality |
| A．unbelievable | B．pure | C．invisible | D．powerful |
| A．level | B．culture | C．standard | D．value |
