1 . Once they reach a certain age, lots of women find motherhood exhausting, but not Brooklyn-based Nina Keneally. The 63-year-old still has lots of “mothering skills” that she's actually more than happy to rent out through a unique service called “Need a Mom”. Her motto is “When you need a mom—Just not YOUR mom.”

A former theatrical producer and drug-rehab adviser from Connecticut, Nina now spends all her time using her motherhood experience and her associate degree in helping individuals in New York. For $40 an hour plus expenses, Nina will listen to all your problems, offer advice(free from "I told you so"), help you plan and shop for a dinner party, sew your buttons back on, bake you a cake, and do all sorts of other things a real mother might do. She^’ll even buy and wrap a present for your actual mother.

Nina and her husband moved to Bush wick, Brooklyn, from Connecticut two years ago, after 30 years of raising their own two sons. And she realized early on that young adults back home were different in many ways, “The young men in Connecticut have other goals — it's all about jobs, houses, permanent relationships," she said. "They go into almost a young middle age. But here, it's a more dramatically artistic lifestyle,^” However, more freedom also leads to more problems, and Nina often found herself giving advice to young men who reached out to her in yoga studios and cafes.

“As I started to live in the neighborhood, do yoga and frequent coffee shops, I've noticed that a lot of young people in the neighborhood wanted to talk to me about what was going on in their lives," she told Bush wick Daily. Like this man who was upset over lasing a job and ended up pouring his heart out to Nina over a cup of coffee. She ended up rewriting his resume. Soon, so many young people were approaching her that Nina realized she could really help them by being a mother-figure, a substitute mom in their lives. And that's how Need a Mom was born, It's a fairly new business and she's had about six customers so far, ail from Bush wick.

1. What does Nina's motto imply in Paragraph 1?

A．She trusts no one but her mom.	B．She can teach you how to be a mom.
C．She will offer guidance like a mom if necessary.	D．She can take care of your mom now and then.

2. What will Need a Mom really do for you?

A．To cure your mother of severe illness.

B．To buy an apartment in Brooklyn.

C．To complete an essay before due day.

D．To offer suggestions in dealing with social activities.

3. Why did Nina begin her new career according to the passage?

A．She noticed many young adults faced with problems and wanted to help.

B．She was persuaded by her husband when she moved from Connecticut.

C．She received plenty of complaints over coffee with an upset man.

D．She noticed her potential of dealing with troublesome young men.

4. What would be the best title of this passage?

A．Bea Good Mom	B．Rent a Substitute Mom
C．Assign a Responsible Mom	D．Impress a Skillful Mom

2 . Do People Need Small Talk to Be Happy?

Psychologists have long said that connecting with others is an important part of happiness, but just how much conversation we require is under examination. In one study, researchers found that small talk made up only 10% of the conversation related to happiness.     1     Scientists believe that small talk can promote bonding. Late last year, Princeton researchers reported that small talk kept closeness with loved ones, and wasn't merely the stuff of awkward exchanges with strangers.

Still, chatting with strangers can brighten our morning. In a series of experiments, psychologists gave Chicago passengers different directions about whether to talk with fellow passengers-something they typically avoided.     2     None of the chatters reported being rejected.

    3     People who smiled at, made eye contact with, and briefly spoke with their Starbucks baristas reported a greater sense of belonging than those who rushed through the transaction.     4     One report found that when volunteers broke the silence to chat with gallery goers, the visitors felt happier and more connected to the exhibit than those who were not approached.

Of course, some people are better than others at turning small talk into something bigger. In one study, people who were rated “less curious” by research had trouble getting a conversation roiling on their own, and had greater luck building closeness with others when they were supplied with questions that encouraged personal disclosure. But people who were considered "curious” needed no help when transforming conversations about ordinary things into personal exchanges.     5    

A．A good way to approach small talk is to focus on a few broad topics.

B．A “curious mindset”, the author concluded, could lead to “positive social interactions”.

C．But don't play down small talk.

D．When done well, small talk is fun rather than dull, and relaxing rather than requiring effort.

E．Those told to chat with others reported a more pleasant journey.

F．Small talk can also help us feel connected to our surroundings.

G．The same is true of gallery goers.

3 . Mother Nature is a cruel mistress. Why? Read on to find the answer.

Venice

This iconic city is sinking rapidly. The canals that make up the streets of Venice rise 2 mm every year, making relics of history go under the surface of water and destroying architecture. Experts warn that without intervention, this city will disappear back into the water at an even faster rate, consumed by rising sea level from melting polar ice caps.

Machu Picchu

These Incan ruins have drawn adventurous tourists into the mountains of South America. The forces of natural erosion have been accelerated by tourism and this landmark laces severe influence from increasing foot traffic. The Peruvian government suggested a cable car that would cut out the intense hike up to the ruins, making the site instantly accessible to millions, but the future of Machu Picchu remains uncertain.

Glacier National Park

Perhaps you've heard that the ice caps are melting. But nowhere is more apparent in the United States than in Glacier National Park. Estimates indicate that the glaciers that are part of the beauty of this national landmark will disappear entirely in the next two decades.

The Great Barrier Reef

Unfortunately, hidden from view beneath the waves, the Great Barrier Reef has been rapidly dying off. Nearly fifty percent of coral which once occupied a large area is gone, destroyed by pollution and disease.

1. What can we learn about Machu Picchu?

A．It is losing its attraction to tourists.	B．It's famous for cable cars.
C．It's well preserved by the locals.	D．It bears a heavy burden of tourism.

2. Which place probably needs visitors to dive into the water to enjoy its beauty?

A．Venice	B．Machu Picchu
C．Glacier National Park	D．The Great Barrier Reef

3. According to the passage, what do the above attractions have in common?

A．They all have a long history.	B．They're all threatened by climate change.
C．They're all in danger of disappearing.	D．They're all well-known for natural scenery.

4 . 阅读下面材料，在空格处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。

It was my first day in Hangzhou, the Chinese city famous for its natural beauty and history and I didn't have much time to spare. I wanted to see     1     much of the city as possible in the two days     2     I was to return to Guangzhou. My first task was to decide where to go and     3     to get there. I took out my guide book in which there was a lot of information about the city's well-known tourist     4    (attract) and started to read. At that moment an attractive young lady     5     noticed my book, came up to me and introduced     6    (her). She said her name was Miss Bai. She kindly offered to show me     7     the city. I was delighted and was about to accept her proposal when she suggested we first     8    (go) to the West Lake and walk along the Broken Bridge. I quite liked the idea of visiting the West Lake but wasn't so sure about crossing the Broken Bridge.    9     it was broken, did she expect me to jump across？And I couldn't swim, so if I fell in then I would drown. That was definitely not an attractive idea so I politely declined her invitation,     10    (close) my book and walked away.

5 . Food blogs, celebrities, and nutritionists all advocate the benefits of eating organic (有机的) fruits and vegetables. But a new study published in Science Advances paints a more complex picture. While organic produce is likely slightly healthier to eat and, in some ways, more sustainable to grow, there are also downsides.

Organic fruits and vegetables typically cost more than conventional ones. To get a certificate as organic, farmers must meet specific criteria, including growing produce without the use of genetic engineering and chemical inputs. Without these methods, the growing process typically requires more labor, time, and money, a cost that is passed down to consumers.

It’s true that in many ways, organic is more sustainable than conventional farming. But when it comes to environmental concerns such as greenhouse gas output and water loss, the comparison gets complex. Organic farms produce less greenhouse gas output per acre. However, because they are barred from using genetic engineering, pesticides (杀虫剂), and other methods that increase efficiency (效率), organic farms also produce an estimated 19% to 25% less yield than conventional farms. While there isn’t a whole lot research on the topic, the few studies that do exist suggest green gas output and water loss might actually be higher on organic farms, on a per unit basis, says study author Verena Seurfert.

In addition, while organic produce is likely more nutritious than conventional fruit and vegetables, there’s not a lot of evidence to support the claim that these often slight differences influence consumer health. The same is true for pesticide remainder. In developed countries, where pesticide use is tightly regulated, there’s no scientific consensus on how these often slight differences influence human health.

Still, Seurfert stresses that if you can afford to eat organic, you should do so. Organic farms provide safer work environments for workers, plus they support great biodiversity. The real takeaway from her study is not that organic is bad but that the practice needs more studies to increase yield without lowering sustainability.

But if you can’t afford to buy organic produce, don’t stress too much, particularly from a nutritional perspective.

1. What does the underlined word “downsides” in Paragraph 1 most probably mean?

A．Dangers.

B．Drawbacks.

C．Benefits.

D．Differences.

2. Which key factor makes it hard to compare organic farming and conventional farming when it comes to environmental concerns?

A．The yield.

B．The price.

C．The water loss.

D．The labor.

3. Which of the following will the author most probably agree with?

A．Farmers, work environment should be improved.

B．Organic produce should be made more efficiently.

C．It isn’t wise for consumers to buy organic products.

D．Pesticide remainder does no harm to people’s health.

4. In the author’s opinion, why should we support organic produce?

A．It’s environmentally friendly.	B．It’s more nutritious.
C．It helps keep the variety of plants.	D．It’s safer for consumers.

6 . It’s 5:00 in the morning when the alarm rings in my ears. I roll out of bed and walk blindly through the dark into the bathroom. I turn on the light and put on my glasses. The house is still as I walk downstairs while my husband and three kids sleep peacefully. Usually I go for a long run, but today I choose my favorite exercise DVD. Insanity. Sweat pours down my face and into my eyes. My heart races as I face my body to finish each movement. As I near the end of the exercise, I feel extremely tired, but a smile is on my face. It’s not a smile because the DVD is over, but a smile of success from pushing my body to its extreme limit.

Some people enjoy shopping, smoking , food, work, or even chocolate. But I need exercise to get through each day. Some shake heads when they see me run through the town. Others get hurt when I refuse to try just one bite of their grandmother’s chocolate cake. They raise their eyebrows, surprised by my “no thank you,” or by my choice to have a salad. Over the years , I have learned it’s okay to just say “no.” I shouldn’t feel sorry for refusing food that I don’t want to eat.

So what drives me to roll out of bed at 5:00 a.m.? What gives me the reason to just say no to ice cream? Commitment. A commitment to change my life with a way that reduces daily anxiety, increases self-confidence and energy, extends life and above all improves my body shape. This is the point where a smile appears on my face as I look at myself in the mirror or try on my favorite pair of jeans that now fit just right. It’s through commitment and sweat that I can make a difference within myself inside and out.

1. Why is there a smile on the author’s face in the morning?

A．Because she sees her family sleeping peacefully.	B．Because she finishes her favorite exercise.
C．Because she enjoys the interesting DVD.	D．Because she feels a sense of achievement.

2. What does the underlined word “commitment” in the last paragraph mean?

A．Good health.

B．Firm belief.

C．A strong power.

D．A regular habit.

3. What can we learn about the author from the text?

A．She acts in a strange way.	B．She wants to look different from others.
C．She aims to develop a good body shape.	D．She has difficulty getting along with others.

7 . A characteristic of American culture that has become almost a tradition is to respect the self-made man — the man who has risen to the top through his own efforts, usually beginning by working with his hands. While the leader in business or industry or the college professor occupies a higher social position and commands greater respect in the community than the common laborer or even the skilled factory worker, he may take pains to point out that his father started life in America as farmer or laborer of some sort.

This attitude toward manual (体力的) labor is now still seen in many aspects of American life. One is invited to dinner at a home that is not only comfortably but even luxuriously (豪华地) furnished and in which there is every evidence of the fact that the family has been able to afford foreign travel, expensive hobbies, and college education for the children; yet the hostess probably will cook the dinner herself, will serve it herself and will wash dishes afterward; furthermore the dinner will not consist merely of something quickly and easily got from contents of various cans and a cake or a pie bought at the nearby bakery. On the contrary, the hostess usually takes pride in careful preparation of special dishes. A professional man may talk about washing the car, digging in his flowerbeds, painting the house. His wife may even help with these things, just as he often helps her with the dishwashing. The son who is away at college may wait on table and wash dishes for his living, or during the summer he may work with a construction gang on a highway in order to pay for his education.

1. What can we infer from Paragraph 1?

A．In America, people tend to have a high opinion of the self-made man.

B．In America, people can always rise to the top through their own efforts.

C．In America, college professors win great respect from common workers.

D．In America, people feel painful to mention their fathers as labors.

2. Why does the hostess mentioned in the passage cook dinner herself?

A．Because servants in America are hard to get.

B．Because she takes pride in what she can do herself.

C．Because she can hardly afford servants.

D．Because it is easy to prepare a meal with canned food.

3. What does the underlined phrase “wait on table” in the second paragraph mean?

A．Work in a furniture shop.	B．Keep accounts for a bar.
C．Wait to lay the table.	D．Serve customers in a restaurant.

4. What is the passage mainly about?

A．A respectable self-made family.

B．American attitude toward manual labor.

C．Characteristics of American culture

D．The development of manual labor.

8 . 假设你是新华中学的学生李华，你原来的外籍教师Professor Johnson已经回到了英国。请你用英语给他写一封电子邮件，包括以下内容：
1. 感谢他对你的帮助；
2. 介绍你最近的学习和生活；
3. 邀请他和家人来中国过春节(the Spring Festival)
注意：
1. 词数100字左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
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9 . When Christopher Columbus landed on the then unnamed Costa Rica in 1502, he saw many Indians wearing gold earrings. So he thought the land must be rich in gold. He named the place Costa Rica, which means “rich coast” in Spanish.
Though little gold was found, Costa Rica today is indeed rich with coffee and bananas. Coffee is the most important product in Costa Rica and most of it is exported (出口) to other countries like America and West Germany. Bananas are the country’s second most important export.
Costa Ricans also grow many other crops such as fruits, corn and beans for their own use. Costa Ricans love colors and their houses are painted in bright colors.
Education is very important to the Costa Ricans. Almost every village has a school and education is a must for children between seven and fourteen years of age. Boys and girls go to separate (单独的) schools. Classes begin in March and end in November. The other three months of the year are harvest time and the children have to help their parents to pick coffee beans.
1. What’s the main idea of the first paragraph?

A．How Columbus found Costa Rica.

B．How Costa Rica got its name.

C．What the Costa Ricans wore.

D．What language the Costa Ricans spoke.

2. The Costa Ricans may NOT paint their houses ______.

A．pink and red	B．grey and black
C．blue and green	D．yellow and orange

3. In Costa Rica, boys and girls between seven and fourteen ______.

A．must go to school

B．study in the same school

C．do not have to go to school at all

D．can choose to stop schooling at any time

4. From December to February, school children in Costa Rica ______.

A．have lessons every day

B．have their examinations

C．help their parents pick coffee beans

D．help their parents decorate their houses

10 . 阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从1-20各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项
I finished my last work of the week and could hardly wait to get home, take off my nursing shoes, and relax.
As I ____ my car, I saw one of my ____standing by the bus stop. I thought it would only take a couple of extra minutes to give her a ride home, and ____, it was too cold to be standing outside on the coldest ____ in January. I didn’t know where she lived, but I was ____ I would be able to find my way back.
We ____ about our work as I drove and ____ we knew it, we arrived at her house. I started driving back. ____ looked familiar, but at first that didn’t ____ me. But soon I ____ something wrong. I recognized nothing. But I told myself to stay ____
I was ____ neighborhoods, streets and even streetlights. I no longer knew where I was now. How could I be so stupid! I looked down at my ____ It was now 2:30 a.m. My gas was slowly running out. I ____ the car and turned off the engine. In total defeat, I put my head down on the wheel, ____ Then I raised my head and saw a(n) ____ down the road in front of me. I turned my headlights on. A car! I drove a little ____, got out of my car and knocked on the window of that car. An elderly man ____ rolled his window down.
I said that I didn’t know how to get back into town. In silence, he started driving. I ran back to my car and drove behind him. Finally I ____a familiar street. As I turned to head home, the car disappeared. Then I ____ my driveway (车道) when the warning light for my gas tank (汽油箱) turned on.
Though so many years have passed, I still thank the old man from my deepest heart.1.

A．discovered

B．approached

C．parked

D．searched

2.

A．patients

B．classmates

C．students

D．workmates

3.

A．yet

B．still

C．but

D．besides

4.

A．night

B．morning

C．afternoon

D．noon

5.

A．afraid

B．happy

C．confident

D．sorry

6.

A．worried

B．cared

C．talked

D．explored

7.

A．before

B．if

C．as

D．though

8.

A．Everything

B．Nothing

C．Anything

D．Something

9.

A．attract

B．delight

C．bother

D．enjoy

10.

A．escaped

B．existed

C．imagined

D．realized

11.

A．quiet

B．calm

C．silent

D．brave

12.

A．across

B．over

C．within

D．beyond

13.

A．wheel

B．engine

C．watch

D．seat

14.

A．drove

B．deserted

C．washed

D．stopped

15.

A．helpless

B．excited

C．satisfied

D．delighted

16.

A．shadow

B．truck

C．lady

D．animal

17.

A．faster

B．nervously

C．closer

D．back

18.

A．unlikely

B．slowly

C．carefully

D．equally

19.

A．came

B．mistook

C．recognized

D．missed

20.

A．pulled into

B．drove away

C．ran across

D．fount out