4 . Whether you feel like taking a road trip, or you just need some fun, you’ll enjoy this list of popular tourist attractions.

Alabama: Gulf Coast Beaches

If Alabama wasn’t the location for your next summer beach vacation, you may want to reconsider. There are 32 miles of white sands that have washed down from the Appalachian Mountains for thousands of years. That’s probably why over six million people visit Alabama’s Gulf Coast beaches every year. Ten dollars per person.

Alaska: Kenai Fjords Wildlife Cruise

Alaska is the place to go for spotting breathtaking (令人惊叹的) wildlife. In fact, the number of visitors who travel to Alaska to see wildlife has increased 45 percent. The Kenai Fjords Wildlife Cruise will bring you up close to whales, sea lions, and sea birds. A five-hour trip that starts at noon and covers 55 miles of sea will be the best $98 you’ve ever spent.

Arkansas: Hot Springs National Park

Skip the beach and choose a new type of relaxation at Hot Springs National Park. It’s America’s oldest national and the smallest national park. There’s a no-booking policy, perfect for travelers rolling through. Doors open at 8 a.m., so get there early!

Connecticut: Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History

Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History is a must stop if you’re traveling nearby Yale University. It attracts plenty of people and has many collections including New England birds, dinosaurs, Greek and Roman antiquities, and even an Egyptian mummy. Adults pay $13 for entry, but if you want to visit for free, go on a Thursday.

Don’t miss the four best tourist attractions.
1. Why do many people go to Alabama’s Gulf Coast beaches?

A．It has a good and convenient location.	B．It has a history of thousands of years.
C．It has tens of miles of white sands.	D．The Appalachian Mountains are beautiful.

2. When should you get to the Kenai Fjords Wildlife Cruise if you want to visit it?

A．Five hours before it opens.	B．Five hours after it opens.
C．Before 8 a.m.	D．Before twelve o’clock at noon.

3. What is special about Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History?

A．Many people go there to see collections.	B．You needn’t pay for it on certain days.
C．It makes you not want to leave.	D．It’s very beautiful and attractive.

5 . Many disaster-relief programs transport tons of supplies, such as food, water and heavy equipment, by road using large trucks. But some supplies may weigh just a few kilograms or less. For example, a package might contain a few doses of life-saving medicine.

The parachutes (降落伞) that carry these packages from planes are often made of nylon (尼龙). After one use, these parachutes are usually discarded. Because nylon is a polymer (聚合物), it does not decompose quickly. Therefore, Natalie looked for a greener alternative.

Nylon is strong, but a parachute used only once for light packages does not need to be that strong. Paper might be good enough, thought the teen. Plus, a paper parachute can be folded into a tiny package, just like a fabric parachute. Moreover, she notes there are many different ways to fold the unopened paper parachute.

Natalie came up with several folded designs and tested them. Her first models were small, so she could test them indoors. Two were triangular (三角形的). Two more were rectangular (长方形的). One of the rectangular ones opened most smoothly, she found. It also fell and landed most steadily as it dropped through the air. “Such features can be important when the goal is to deliver a package to the ground softly and accurately,” she says.

Natalie showcased her designs at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. Natalie’s single-use paper parachutes are not harmful to the environment. They are also less expensive than parachutes made from more traditional materials. A nylon parachute of the same size as her design would cost about $31, she says. One made from silk, another common parachute fabric, would cost almost $16. But a parachute made from paper would likely cost less than $1, Natalie estimates.

1. Why are many relief supplies mentioned in the first paragraph?

A．To list an example.

B．To answer a question.

C．To lead in the topic.

D．To make a comparison.

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

A．Go bad.

B．Break down.

C．Run away.

D．Bend down.

3. Which of the following paper parachute is fit for delivering packages softly?

A．A small one.

B．A big one.

C．A rectangular one.

D．A triangular one.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Reducing Environmental Impact with Paper Parachutes

B．Eco-friendly Paper Parachutes for Disaster Relief

C．The High Cost of Traditional Parachutes

D．A Teen’s Quest for Better Disaster Relief

6 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

My heart sank when I received the news—no salary again. How would I manage the increasing bills, the groceries and my children’s needs? The future seemed hopeless. With a heavy heart, I hurried to pick up my two children, my mind racing wildly.

That’s when I saw it—a wallet, lying on the sidewalk. It was as if fate had thrown me a lifeline (救生索). Hope came to me as I approached it. The wallet was large, and when I opened it, my eyes widened in disbelief at the sight of a large amount of cash inside it. I hesitated for a moment, torn between the immediate relief that this money promised and the morality (道德) of keeping it.

Curiosity led me to search through the wallet. The things it contained were a photo and a couple of business cards. No matter how much I wanted to take the contents, my moral principles and inner voice told me not to do this. The decision became clear; I couldn’t keep this money. It wasn’t rightfully mine.

I picked out a business card. The name and number were there. With a deep breath, I dialed the number and explained my find to the voice on the other end. The voice came, completely emotionless, warning that they would come to me. He hung up without even saying “thank you”. I was angry with the impoliteness. I even regretted my decision, but my conscience (良知) did not allow me to go back on my choice. I had told the voice where I lived and went to get my children.

Shortly after we arrived home, a large black car suddenly pulled up to our house. The driver got out and knocked on the door. When I opened it, the driver told me that the owner of the wallet wanted me to personally hand over his wallet.

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。

I didn’t want to do so, but I agreed to go with the driver at last.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

He wanted to reward me for my honesty and kind act.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

On 12th January 2007, an experiment     1     (conduct). About a thousand morning commuters (通勤者) passing through a subway station in Washington, D.C. were treated to a free mini-concert     2     (perform) by violinist Joshua Bell, who played for about 45 minutes on his Stradivarius violin. Bell reportedly paid 3.5 million dollars for the violin. However, only 7 people stopped and stayed to listen for a while. About 27 gave him money but continued to walk at their normal pace. He collected $52.17. When he finished     3     (play) and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any     4     (recognize). No one noticed that one of the best musicians in the world had played one of the most difficult pieces ever written with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars.

When some children would stop     5     (listen), their parents would grab them and quickly take them away. The experiment was     6     (clear) disappointing but raised some     7     (interest) questions such as “In an ordinary setting at an inconvenient time, would beauty be recognized by most people?” Three days earlier, in fact, Bell had played to a full house at Boston’s Symphony Hall,     8     tickets went for over $100.

This experiment gives way to a comparison of     9     public’s awareness of art in different settings.     10     pressure, it also reminds us of the challenge of adapting to surroundings. Furthermore, it makes us aware of how our intentions and expectations can influence our perception of worth.

8 . The 17-year-old Roman was about to leave the foster (寄养) care system as he turned 18. All Roman ever wanted was to have his family ________. But just in time, he was ________ as a child by Brad and Renee. This was a ________ for him, as he had nowhere else to go.

Roman had been in and out of nineteen ________ foster homes since he was 11. Seeing his upcoming 18th birthday, Brad and Renee wanted to give him stability (稳定) before he ________ the foster care system.

Roman had ________ stayed with Brad’s family when he was 12, but he wasn’t ready to be part of a family at that time due to his ________ of being abandoned (拋弃).

Years later, Roman reconnected with the family and expressed his ________ to live with them again. In December, the family decided to welcome Roman and ________ the happy news with him on Christmas Day. Roman ________ a special stocking, symbolizing his adoption (领养) into the family. Everyone cried tears of ________ with Roman.

They ________ time to officially adopt him before his 18th birthday. Finally, on October 17, just one day before his birthday, Roman officially became a member of this family. Now, living in a peaceful and loving home, he finally has the chance to ________ the childhood moments he never had.

The family’s ________ to open their hearts and home to Roman shines a light on the great difference a ________ and supportive family can make in a young person’s life.

1.

A．nearly

B．lately

C．forever

D．probably

2.

A．accepted

B．touched

C．attracted

D．recognized

3.

A．revision

B．regret

C．goal

D．wonder

4.

A．suitable

B．different

C．advanced

D．responsible

5.

A．fled

B．quit

C．left

D．ran

6.

A．shortly

B．extremely

C．happily

D．equally

7.

A．sign

B．pressure

C．challenge

D．fear

8.

A．plan

B．willingness

C．chance

D．ability

9.

A．connected

B．compared

C．shared

D．charged

10.

A．received

B．saw

C．damaged

D．sold

11.

A．surprise

B．excitement

C．disappointment

D．joy

12.

A．raced against

B．swept off

C．carried away

D．left out

13.

A．promote

B．enjoy

C．identify

D．remember

14.

A．measure

B．dream

C．decision

D．power

15.

A．close

B．loving

C．safe

D．rich

9 . To get kids into science for the long term, new findings suggest it’s best to engage them alongside their families. The finding runs counter (背道而驰) to the current framework, in which children attend science-related summer camps and after-school programs apart from their families. That approach may reduce the long-term potential of what they learn.

“Most kids have interest in science,” says lead author Megan Ennes. “For them, it’s about curiosity and wonder, but research shows that as they make their way through middle school, there’s a significant decline. So we want to focus on the finding so that we can build a support system around it.”

In partnership with North Carolina State University, the researchers based their study on a family science program hosted at three museums. Over the course of ten months, families met on weekends for science themed events. Afterward, the participants attended an activity led by professionals in science, technology, engineering or math, allowing families to experience what it’s like to work in those fields.

During an event with a focus on local wildlife, a bird expert helped families capture birds with nets and unite the ones that hadn’t been caught before to monitor their populations. “After the bird banding, one of the parents took it home so they could continue talking about birds at home,” Ennes says. “Our goal isn’t to persuade students to become scientists. But if we can help families see science as something they do for fun together, then we can help ensure they have a lifelong engagement with it.”

“Some of the greatest challenges and opportunities our society is faced with will be solved by teams rather than by individuals,” Ennes says. “Helping families see science as something they do together with a community can help build 21st-century skills needed to be successful in science and society. It also builds a supportive network to allow youth and families to explore new careers and lifelong hobbies related to science.”

1. Why did the researchers carry out the study?

A．Most children show no interest in science.

B．Children are curious about many things.

C．Students should be encouraged to love their families.

D．Middle school students reduce their interest in science.

2. What can the families do in the study?

A．Experience the work in science.	B．Host events about science.
C．Share the information in science.	D．Visit three museums for free.

3. What is the aim of the study?

A．To get students into science for the long term.	B．To monitor the number of some birds.
C．To make more students want to be scientists.	D．To encourage students to learn to love wildlife.

4. What do Ennes’ words in the last paragraph show?

A．Students will face great challenges and chances.

B．It’s hard for students to solve problems by themselves.

C．It’s good to let students engage in science with families.

D．The community is good for science development.

10 . There are hundreds of great national nature reserves in China. Now feast your eyes on the following amazing ones.

Qinghai Lake National Nature Reserve

Qinghai Lake, China’s largest saltwater lake in Qinghai Province, is a key body of water for lots of animals and birds. As an important stopover, migratory birds (候鸟) would rest in this area during their movement trip every year. The reserve became a national nature reserve in the year of 1997.

Bayanbulak National Nature Reserve

The only Bayanbulak Wetland, in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is at the foot of Tianshan Mountains, which makes itself suitable for migratory birds. Bayanbulak means “rich spring water” in Mongolian, meaning that the area is rich in water. Every year, swans (天鹅) from different places fly here for nesting, which became a national swan reserve in 1986.

Rongcheng Swan National Nature Reserve

As one of the largest wintering places for swans in China, this reserve in Shandong Province mainly protects whooper swans (大天鹅), which make it different from other nature reserves. In 2007, it was changed into a national nature reserve. Now every year, thousands of whooper swans arrive here to spend the winter, making it an important resting and wintering place for themselves.

Sanya Coral Reef (珊瑚礁) National Marine Nature Reserve

This reserve focuses on protecting coral reefs and their living environment in Sanya City, Hainan Province. In 1990, it became a national nature reserve. This reserve is on the coast, so the area of the reserve has good water quality and many kinds of creatures,

1. What do the first reserve and the second reserve have in common?

A．The area of wetland.	B．The geography of them.
C．The year of becoming the national reserve.	D．The friendly environment for migratory birds.

2. What makes the Rongcheng Swan National Nature Reserve special?

A．Its saltwater lake.	B．The whooper swans.
C．Its rich spring water.	D．The warm climate.

3. Which place best suits coral lovers?

A．Bayanbulak National Nature Reserve.	B．Qinghai Lake National Nature Reserve.
C．Rongcheng Swan National Nature Reserve.	D．Sanya Coral Reef National Marine Nature Reserve,