1 . Hands-on basketball
The boy was only nine years old when he designed a “hands-on basketball”. Chris Haas had the idea when he saw his friends miss lots of baskets. His basketball has painted hands on it. The hands show you where to put your hands when you throw the ball. Today people use his invention around the world.
Wristies
At age 10, Kathryn Gregory was playing outside one day in the cold. Her wrists (手腕) began to hurt from the cold so she decided to find a way to keep both her hands and wrists warm during the winter. In 1994, she invented Wristies: fuzzy sleeves (毛绒袖子) that can be worn underneath gloves to protect your wrists from the cold. She worked with her mom to get the idea off the ground and now the product is sold worldwide.
Makin’ Bacon
Abbey Fleck was 8 years old when she noticed how much time her parents spent soaking up bacon fat (吸干培根油脂) after cooking. She realized that it might be easier to hang bacon while it cooks. That way you wouldn’t need paper towels and it would even make the bacon healthier. She then worked with her father to design a dish that hangs bacon while it cooks. Now people can see her invention in many supermarkets.
Braille
Louis Braille had an accident when he was three. The accident left him blind. At that time, it was hard for blind children to read. They had to touch raised letters. But it was difficult to tell a Q from an O, an R from a B, and so on. When he was fifteen, Louis invented an alphabet (字母表) that used raised dots. The Braille alphabet was a big success!
1. Whose invention is related to sports?| A．Chris Haas’. | B．Kathryn Gregory’s. |
| C．Abbey Fleck’s. | D．Louis Braille’s. |
| A．It was invented in 1994. |
| B．It was named after its inventor. |
| C．It helps people eat more healthily. |
| D．It reduces the cases of cooking accidents. |
| A．They were invented by kids. |
| B．They came into being by chance. |
| C．They were designed to help others. |
| D．They brought wealth to their inventors. |
2 . Who is a genius? This question has greatly interested humankind for centuries.
Let’s state clearly: Einstein was a genius. His face is almost the international symbol for genius. But we want to go beyond one man and explore the nature of genius itself. Why is it that some people are so much more intelligent or creative than the rest of us? And who are they?
In the sciences and arts, those praised as geniuses were most often white men, of European origin. Perhaps this is not a surprise. It’s said that history is written by the victors, and those victors set the standards for admission to the genius club. When contributions were made by geniuses outside the club—women, or people of a different color or belief—they were unacknowledged and rejected by others.
A study recently published by Science found that as young as age six, girls are less likely than boys to say that members of their gender(性别)are “really, really smart.” Even worse, the study found that girls act on that belief: Around age six they start to avoid activities said to be for children who are “really, really smart.” Can our planet afford to have any great thinkers become discouraged and give up? It doesn’t take a genius to know the answer: absolutely not.
Here’s the good news. In a wired world with constant global communication, we’re all positioned to see flashes of genius wherever they appear. And the more we look, the more we will see that social factors(因素)like gender, race, and class do not determine the appearance of genius. As a writer says, future geniuses come from those with “intelligence, creativity, perseverance(毅力), and simple good fortune, who are able to change the world.”
1. What does the author think of victors’ standards for joining the genius club?| A．They’re unfair. | B．They’re conservative. |
| C．They’re objective. | D．They’re strict. |
| A．They think themselves smart. |
| B．They look up to great thinkers. |
| C．They see gender differences earlier than boys. |
| D．They are likely to be influenced by social beliefs |
| A．Improved global communication. |
| B．Less discrimination against women. |
| C．Acceptance of victors’ concepts. |
| D．Changes in people’s social positions. |
| A．Geniuses Think Alike | B．Genius Takes Many Forms |
| C．Genius and Intelligence | D．Genius and Luck |
3 . When almost everyone has a mobile phone, why are more than half of Australian homes still paying for a landline (座机)?
These days you’d be hard pressed to find anyone in Australia over the age of 15 who doesn’t own a mobile phone. In fact plenty of younger kids have one in their pocket. Practically everyone can make and receive calls anywhere, anytime.
Still, 55 percent of Australians have a landline phone at home and only just over a quarter (29%) rely only on their smartphones according to a survey (调查). Of those Australians who still have a landline, a third concede that it’s not really necessary and they’re keeping it as a security blanket — 19 percent say they never use it while a further 13 percent keep it in case of emergencies. I think my home falls into that category.
More than half of Australian homes are still choosing to stick with their home phone. Age is naturally a factor (因素)— only 58 percent of Generation Ys still use landlines now and then, compared to 84 percent of Baby Boomers who’ve perhaps had the same home number for 50 years. Age isn’t the only factor; I’d say it’s also to do with the makeup of your household.
Generation Xers with young families, like my wife and I, can still find it convenient to have a home phone rather than providing a mobile phone for every family member. That said, to be honest the only people who ever ring our home phone are our Baby Boomers parents, to the point where we play a game and guess who is calling before we pick up the phone (using Caller ID would take the fun out of it).
How attached are you to your landline? How long until they go the way of gas street lamps and morning milk deliveries?
1. What does paragraph 2 mainly tell us about mobile phones?| A．Their target users. | B．Their wide popularity. |
| C．Their major functions. | D．Their complex design. |
| A．Admit. | B．Argue. |
| C．Remember. | D．Remark. |
| A．They like smartphone games. | B．They enjoy guessing callers’ identity. |
| C．They keep using landline phones. | D．They are attached to their family. |
| A．It remains a family necessity. |
| B．It will fall out of use some day. |
| C．It may increase daily expenses. |
| D．It is as important as the gas light. |
4 . My father was born in a small town in the US.He wasn't sure what he wanted from
It’s easy to feel lonely
Getting along well sometimes seemed
This is why road trips were like
| A．move | B．life | C．experience | D．belief |
| A．live up | B．struggle on | C．get out | D．walk around |
| A．because | B．if | C．until | D．when |
| A．wasted | B．worked | C．spent | D．chatted |
| A．better | B．easier | C．safer | D．cleverer |
| A．break down | B．cool off | C．clear up | D．turn over |
| A．available | B．alternative | C．necessary | D．impossible |
| A．arguments | B．fights | C．embarrassments | D．amusements |
| A．settle | B．rest | C．sit | D．watch |
| A．sharing | B．respect | C．communication | D．tolerance |
| A．silence | B．doubt | C．return | D．disappointment |
| A．unusual | B．common | C．free | D．mobile |
| A．earned | B．expected | C．missed | D．valued |
| A．on | B．by | C．like | D．beyond |
| A．friend | B．service | C．route | D．chance |
要点:1. 生活中的具体体现;
2. 好处；
3. 有待改进之处。
要求:字数120字左右。
参考词汇:移动支付mobile payment
Dear Smith，
I’m Li Hua,
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours sincerely,
Li Hua
6 . Music and art festivals are fun and exciting events. If you're panning to go to a festival, it's important to plan your trip carefully to ensure that you re safe and have a good time.
■Bring clothes to keep warm or cool
In addition to your fun festival clothing, pack a raincoat, some light tank tops, and a sweater or sweatshirt. Don't forget longer pants for cool evenings or bad weather. In general, it's best to leave your umbrella at home because they can be dangerous in large crowds.
■Get a cheap tent and sleeping bag for multi - day festivals
A majority of people end up throwing their tent away after long festivals, since they normally break from the use. Pick up a less expensive tent with enough room for you and your friends and pack a comfortable seeping bag for yourself, 1f you don't want to camp at the festival, remember to book an AirBnb or a hotel room nearby!
■Place a first aid kit in a proper place
Before the festival, buy a small first aid kit with band aids, and any medication that you need to take, in case you get minor injuries or a headache. Keep it in a proper place that's easily accessible, like your tent or car.
1. Why should umbrellas be left at home?| A．They take up too much space. | B．The weather will be terrible. |
| C．They might hurt someone. | D．Travelers prefer raincoats, |
| A．Sell them. | B．Return them. | C．Pack them up. | D．Throw them away. |
| A．It should be put at hand. | B．It ought to be big enough. |
| C．It must contain all medicines. | D．It has to be placed in the car. |
Some time after 10,000 BC, people made the first real attempt to control the world they lived
Farming produced more food per person
By about 6000 BC，people
This style of farming lasted for quite a long time. Then，with
8 . A single cigarette sold on a street corner may not cost a lot; however, the whole costs of smoking are huge.
First, consider the cost of human life. The World Health Organization says about 10 people die of a tobacco-related disease every minute. That speed adds up to almost six million people dying of such diseases every year.
Most of these preventable（可预防的）deaths happen in low-income and middle-income countries. The World Bank says each of these countries has a total national income（收入）of less than $12,746.
The World Health Organization says tobacco kills 6 million people yearly — a number that is expected to rise to 8 million by 2030 unless immediate action is taken.
For most people, stopping smoking is hard. Many began smoking as teenagers. They are used to it. Also, tobacco contains the powerful drug nicotine.
Studies show people who want to stop smoking can do so with different treatments. Some get help from electronic cigarettes, medicine or nicotine patches that reduce their desire for the drug.
But smoking costs more than the life of a person. It can affect the health of the whole country. The World Health Organization says low-income countries depend heavily on taxes from cigarettes. They use the money, in part, to pay the costs of health care for tobacco-related diseases.
But the illegal trade in tobacco products is further testing the economies of low-income countries. WHO officials say the illegal trade earns about $31 billion every year.
Douglas Bettcher is the director of the WHO’s Department for the Prevention of Non-communicable Diseases. He calls the illegal trade a monster with many heads. He says the trade enables young people to buy cigarettes at low prices, become addicted to tobacco and suffer from serious health problems. It also increases crime and reduces taxes.
The World Health Organization is strongly suggesting that the United Nations member states sign an agreement to end the illegal trade in tobacco products. Eight countries have agreed to the agreement. But the agreement of 32 other countries is still needed for it to become an international law.
1. According to the passage, people dying of a tobacco-related disease are mostly from ______.| A．developed countries | B．high-income countries |
| C．less developed countries | D．the United Nations |
| A．Destroying the environment. | B．Being bad to human life. |
| C．Affecting the whole country’s economy. | D．Causing the illegal trade. |
| A．Some action has been taken by the WHO. |
| B．The harm of the illegal trade in tobacco products. |
| C．Young people who are addicted to smoking may commit a crime. |
| D．An agreement to end the illegal trade in tobacco products is being signed. |
| A．Smoking Costs More than You Think |
| B．Different Ways to Stop Smoking |
| C．The Illegal Trade in Tobacco Products |
| D．Immediate Action to Stop Smoking |
9 . When her classmates were having a good time, Molly sat at the picnic table alone. She remained embarrassed around her classmates. She seemed unsure of what to do or say, yet I could see her eyes longing for acceptance. Many students had already decided that her friendship would not be worth（值）the energy required to overcome the embarrassment. Others laughed at her. Most ignored her—except for one.
Brianna was making the other students laugh, as usual. “Brianna, do you see Molly down there? Would you mind walking down there and inviting her to come up here with the rest of us? I said.
Brianna sighed. I could tell she didn’t want to waste her precious time to do what I was asking of her, but I also knew her heart. She often thought of others before herself—a rare character for anyone, much less a kid.
Knowing this choice was hard for her, I pulled out a D-buck, our class currency（货币）. Though this was not the ideal way to deal with this situation. I needed her cooperation（合作）. “Here, I’ll pay you for your time.” I said to her. She offered an insincere smile, grasped the green paper, and headed down the hill.
As the rest of the children screamed and laughed, my eyes locked on Brianna as she neared the picnic table. Molly could be difficult to get along with, and I wouldn’t have been surprised if she sent Brianna back alone, refusing her invitation. When she encouraged herself to a standing position, I sighed with relief.
Minutes later, I felt a tap on my shoulder. “Here. Mrs. D.” Brianna handed me the D-buck. “Why?” I asked. “I shouldn’t keep this.” Her eyes fell to her feet, guilt showing from her quiet voice. “I don’t want Molly to think I only went to get her so I could earn the money. She’s my friend.”
A moment later, they were all laughing again, and who should I see among them, laughing for the first time that week? Molly.
1. According to the author, what was Molly like?| A．She ignored the jokes from other kids. |
| B．She felt embarrassed at being laughed at. |
| C．She desired to be accepted by other kids. |
| D．She had no interest in making friends. |
| A．Her talent. | B．Her cooperation. |
| C．Her honesty. | D．Her kindness |
| A．Worried. | B．Satisfied. |
| C．Excited. | D．Confused. |
| A．To avoid losing it one day. |
| B．To get a pure friendship with Molly. |
| C．To make friends with her teacher. |
| D．To escape from being punished by her teacher. |
10 . As life in cities worldwide becomes more expensive, urban designers are using modern technology to help citizens avoid traffic jams, and shorten the time needed for bus waiting and other things. Technology is also used to cut costly waste.
In Santander, a Spanish port city, parking is easy to find. As one car drives away, an underground sensor shows that a parking space is now free. 400 sensors send messages to signs on streets, and GPS devices direct drivers to the nearest available parking spaces, reducing traffic jams. Trash is collected only when the bins are full and bus stop signs show exactly when the next bus is coming. The public parks are watered only the soil gets dry. All this is made possible by 20,000 sensors installed on buildings, street posts and even buses. They are part of the “smart city” project, launched by the University of Cantabria seven years ago.
University researchers like Luis Munoz regularly meet with locals to discuss how to make their city even smarter. “They propose when they have ideas and sometimes even develop by themselves. Here, we give them the opportunity to see these ideas happen in real life,” said Munoz. For example, the university helped a woman create an app that outlines the easiest route for walking with a baby stroller. Another provides information to residents about their water consumption and sends an alarm to their phone if there is a leak.
The Santander smart project is attracting the attention of larger cities in Europe and elsewhere that are looking for smart solutions to urban problems.
1. What is the life like in Santander?| A．It is meaningful. | B．It is full of freedom. |
| C．It is likely to change fast. | D．It is effective and convenient. |
| A．By offering some original or fresh ideas. |
| B．By showing him around the city. |
| C．By installing sensors themselves. |
| D．By using as little water as possible. |
| A．A university. | B．A phone. |
| C．An easy route. | D．An app. |
| A．A Worldwide Problem | B．A Smart City Project |
| C．A Creative Researcher | D．A Trend in Urban Design |
