1 . The beach may seem like an inviting place to run on a cool summer morning, but is running on the sand good for your body? It can be, but it’s important to be aware of the challenges that some beach runners experience before you get ready.
Running on the beach can be a good thing. It’s certainly different from running on a track or a pavement. For starters, sand can be a challenge because it has an uneven(不平坦的) surface. As you push off, you’re going to lose some of your push as the sand moves. So, you’re not going to be able to push yourself forward as you would on a track or a pavement. But this unevenness has an upside: It gives your body an extra workout, forcing you to exercise muscles that don’t get as much use during runs on firm surfaces. For example, your feet, ankles and lower back might feel sorer and more tired than usual after a beach run just because the surface is constantly moving and changing step to step.
You also might feel sore afterward because beaches tend to slope (倾斜) down to the water. If you’re going for a long run on the beach, you might notice that one side of your body might feel sorer because you’re putting more pressure on it due to the slope.
Some beach runners prefer to run barefoot-- not wearing anything on feet. However, if you’re not used to barefoot running, start slowly and don’t run long distances at first. That’s because running barefoot uses more different muscles than running with shoes does, and it’s important to strengthen these muscles and adapt your feet. If you want to run barefoot and as long as you run carefully enough into it, go for it!
Running on the sand can be a smart choice for you, because running on softer ground surfaces can reduce muscle damage.
1. Why is it difficult to run on the beach for starters? ________| A．The soft surface makes people fall over easily. |
| B．It’s hard to keep one’s balance on its hard surface. |
| C．People need to run carefully on its smooth surface. |
| D．Running on its uneven surface takes much effort. |
| A．Challenge. | B．Advantage. | C．Reason. | D．Character. |
| A．Positive. | B．Critical. | C．Doubtful. | D．Uncaring. |
| A．a primary school textbook | B．a tourist guide |
| C．a sports magazine | D．a scientific report |
Early in the morning I went to the ocean beach to play my guitar.The usually crowded beach was deserted except for two people.On one side of the boardwalk (木板人行道)was a woman who was cleaning the beach with a broom;on the other side was a lone figure sitting and staring at the sea.I chose a spot between them and began to play.
As I played,the woman with the broom swept her way right next to me.She stopped sweeping and leaned on her broom,smiling at me.She appeared to be homeless with dirty mismatched clothes.
"You sure play beautiful music,” she said.“I think my friend would like your music.I want to hire you to play for her.” She pointed to the lone figure staring out at the ocean, then produced a few coins from her pocket.“I don’t have much,and I know you’re worth a lot, but if I give this to you, will you play a song for her?She’s going through a lot.I know the music will make her feel better.”
I told her I’d be happy to play for free.
As we walked over to her friend,the Broom Lady told me that her friend had not talked for weeks.We approached,and the Broom Lady introduced me,“Annie,I got you a present to cheer you up.It’s a guitar man who is going to play a song specially for you.”
Annie didn’t move.She was wearing dark sunglasses and had an old coat pulled up to cover most of her face.
I sat next to Annie and played.As I played I put every thought into having good things happen for this woman.I played for quite a while.
Suddenly,Annie turned toward me and said,“You make it so beautiful.I can feel it inside my heart.”
Paragraph 1:
She took off her sunglasses.
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Paragraph 2:
When I stopped playing and looked up,I was shocked to see a small crowed around us.
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3 . Engineering researchers at the University of Waterloo are successfully using a robot to help keep children with learning disabilities focused on their work. This was one of the key results in a new study that also found both the youngsters and their instructors valued the positive classroom contributions made by the robot.
“Overall, the findings demonstrate that the robot has a positive effect on students,” said Dr. Kerstin Dautenhahn, a professor of electrical and computer engineering.
Educators have in recent years explored the use of social robots to help students learn, but most often, their research has focused on children with autism (孤独症). As a result, little work has been done on the use of socially assistive robots for students with learning disabilities.
Along with two other Waterloo engineering researchers and three experts from the Learning. Disabilities Society in Vancouver, Dautenhahn decided to change this, conducting a series of tests with a small humanoid (仿人的) robot called QTrobot.
Dautenhahn said the robot’s ability to perform gestures using its head and hands, accompanied by its speech and facial features, makes it very suitable for children with learning disabilities.
Building on promising earlier research, the researchers divided 16 students with learning disabilities into two groups. In one group, students worked one on-one with an instructor only. In the other group, the students worked one-on-one with an instructor and a QTrobot. In the latter group, the instructor used a tablet to direct the robot, which then autonomously performed various activities using its speech and gestures. While the instructor controlled the sessions, the robot took over at certain times to lead the students.
Besides introducing the session, the robot set goals and provided self-regulating strategies, if necessary. If the learning process was getting off- track, the robot used strategies such as games, riddles and physical movements to redirect the students back to the task.
“Students who worked with the robot,” Dautenhahn said, “were generally more engaged with their tasks and could complete their tasks at a higher rate compared to the students who weren’t assisted by a robot.
1. What can we know about Dautenhahn’s research?| A．It seeks to provide a treatment for autism. |
| B．It attempts to replace teachers with robots in teaching. |
| C．It intends to educate students to be creative and productive. |
| D．It studies the effects of robots on students with learning disabilities. |
| A．The role the robot played. |
| B．The process of the research. |
| C．The outcomes of the two groups. |
| D．The range of the participants involved. |
| A．It warned the student directly by speech. |
| B．It assigned tasks for the student to complete. |
| C．It informed the instructor to intervene in the learning process. |
| D．It attracted the student’s attention through interesting activities. |
| A．Robots promote students’ academic performance greatly. |
| B．There is great potential for using robots in the education system. |
| C．Teachers are defeated by robots when it comes to motivating students. |
| D．Students are becoming more independent with the assistance of robots. |
4 . Westminster Abbey is one of the most famous religious buildings in the world. Here are some of the famous people buried at Westminster Abbey.
Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens, who died in 1870, is buried in Poets’ Corner, the resting place and remembrance location for writers of all kinds.
Dickens is known for many of his works, and A Christmas Carol and A Tale of Two Cities are two of his most widely known works. It was popular opinion among the people and his fellow writers that Dickens should be buried in Westminster Abbey.
Stephen Hawking
Hawking was a scientist, physicist, and author, who died in 2018. Carved onto his stone is a series of rings, surrounding a darker central ellipse (椭圆). The ten characters of Hawking’s equation express his idea that black holes in the universe are not entirely black but send out a glow that would become known as Hawking radiation.
His epitaph (墓志铭) reads, “HERE LIES WHAT WAS MORTAL OF STEPHEN HAWKING”.
Laurence Olivier
Famous actor Laurence Olivier is also buried in Westminster Abbey. Born in 1907, his career began on the stage in England, and he eventually became a film legend until his death in 1989.
It’s well known that he had won Academy Awards, while also being honoured with special Oscars. Olivier’s grave is located in the South Transept in Poets’ Corner of the Abbey, in front of Shakespeare’s memorial.
Isaac Newton
Sir Isaac Newton is considered one of the most important scientists of all time. He was a physicist, mathematician, and astronomer. He formulated the Law of Motion as well as the Law of Universal Gravitation.
Artist William Kent designed Newton’s complex funerary monument, and it was sculpted by Michael Rysbrack.
1. When did the author of A Christmas Carol die?| A．In 1870. | B．In 1907. | C．In 1989. | D．In 2018. |
| A．They won Academy Awards. | B．They were buried in Poets’ Corner. |
| C．They were praised by Shakespeare. | D．They were famous actors and writers. |
| A．Charles Dickens’s. | B．Stephen Hawking’s. |
| C．Laurence Olivier’s. | D．Isaac Newton’s. |
The Story of an Umbrella
Carla is a freshman in the science department of a university in her city. Due to her poor family, she saves everywhere and studies hard.
One weekend, she was going to the bookstore to buy a badly needed book. Suddenly the rain poured down.
Without an umbrella, Carla ran for cover when it started to rain. Finally, she decided to buy a beautiful umbrella,
The prices of various umbrellas ranged from a few dollars to tens of dollars. She fell in love with a read umbrella. But she had only $10.
“I can give you seven dollars for that umbrella,” she said shyly to the smiling salesgirl.
“OK. Young lady. This is your lucky day. The umbrella is yours,” the salesgirl agreed. She opened the red new umbrella above her head, and the rain beat on it.
Carla went to the bookstore she used to go to. She carefully placed her beloved umbrella next to another old and black one.
There are no other customers in the store except a girl of her height and age. While Carla was talking to a shop assistant, the girl left the shop.
When Carla left, Carla found her own umbrella missing.
There was only the old and black umbrella which had a pattern of yellow ducks.
“This is not my lucky day,” Carla walked to the city square.
“Hello!” a young man smiled at her. But Carla didn’t know this young man. She walked away quickly. But the young man still followed the old and black umbrella. She looked at the young man angrily.
“Marissa, I’m sorry,” he said to her. “I am late.”
“I’m not Marissa!” Carla shouted, staring.
“You’re not Marissa?” the young man pointed at the black umbrella with yellow ducks, saying, “That’s her umbrella.”
“Oh!” said Carla. “Who is Marissa?”
“I don’t know Marissa. I’ve only seen a picture of her holding this umbrella. My name is Paul, a junior in college. I’m majoring in law. I came here today to give her some legal advice. Marissa works with my cousin,” said he.
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’m not Marissa!” said Carla again.
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It was the very new red umbrella she had bought.
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6 . How to make sure you enjoy your trip
A trip is a planned destination where one arranges in advance in which the main purpose is to search for adventure and to create a memorable moment. Here are the steps on how to make sure your trip is enjoyable.
● Plan it well.
Trips are ideally planned for it to go well.
● Pack necessities.
Bring what you need. Trips are short journeys and belong to the sub-level of travelling. Pack only the things you need.
● Be safe.
To be cautious is smart. No matter what you are up to, surfing, cliff diving, snowboarding, scuba diving, etc., it is always recommended to be safe.
●
You may see delays, a different culture, lifestyle, food, and even a shortage of cash. Sometimes, this is all what travel is about—experiencing things with a new perspective(观点，看法). Once you expect to experience new things, you’ll be a happy traveller and free from stress.
● Save the memory.
| A．Travel with an open mind. |
| B．Get prepared for everything new. |
| C．Seize the moment by taking photos. |
| D．This is all we expect from travelling. |
| E．Take some time ahead to make a plan for your trip. |
| F．It is important to wear protective equipment when advisable. |
| G．It is easy to get tired if you have too many things in your package. |
7 . L. Bean Quad backpack
If you need a backpack that can carry large and small objects and is comfortable to wear, this is the backpack for you. The reasonable price and customers’ 100% satisfaction makes this a great buy any way you look at it. While it’s not the most beautiful backpack on the planet, it does look nice at first sight.
Kanken 15” backpack
This Kanken bag is a great choice for school kids of grade one to six or adults with narrow shoulders. Weighing under 450g, it’s easy and comfortable to carry this bag around. The simple design with a lot of eye-catching colors may have you fall in love with it at once.
Timbuk2 Command backpack
If you want to safely carry your laptop and look stylish, the Timbuk2 Command backpack is the one for you. The soft back is made for a comfortable wearing experience. The clean coloring and lines of the bag may make you more “grown-up”.
Amazon Basics backpack
With a lowest price among all these backpacks, the Amazon Basics backpack is a great choice for college students on a tight budget. There are tons of storage choices in this backpack, so it’s easy to forget exactly where you placed a certain object. It is a basic black backpack with a few designs and is never going to appear on a fashion T stage.
1. What makes L. Bean Quad backpack attractive?| A．The color and the design. |
| B．The style and the quality. |
| C．The cost and the public praise. |
| D．The lightweight and the simplicity. |
| A．Kanken 15” backpack. |
| B．L. Bean Quad backpack. |
| C．Amazon Basics backpack. |
| D．Timbuk2 Command backpack. |
| A．Fashion. | B．Price. | C．Comfort. | D．Storage. |
8 . China Small Group Tours
◆Tour Route 1: 11 Days Private Beijing - Lhasa - Xi’an - Shanghai
Tour Highlights:
Must-see sights in China — the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Terracotta Warriors
Follow us on a Buddhist pilgrimage to Tibet & appreciate the profound culture
Have a leisurely walk or an exciting bicycle ride on the time-honored City Wall of Xi’an
View the soaring city skylines and feel the pulse of modern Shanghai
From $ 2, 459 per person
◆Tour Route 2: 11 Days Private Bejing - Xi’an - Chonqing - Yangtze River Cruise - Yichang - Shanghai
Tour Highlights:
Must-see sights in China — the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Terracotta Wariors
Try biking on the Ming Dynasty City Wall of Xi’ an, or tour by electric car
Enjoy the Three Gorges (三峡) scenery on Yangtze River & feel totally relaxed
From $ 1, 879 per person
◆Tour Route 3: 12 Days Private Bejing - Shanghai - Xi’an - Guilin - Yangshuo - Guilin - Hong
Kong
Tour Highlights:
Must-see sights in China — the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Terracotta Warriors
Experience the Bund, classical garden, modern and old in contrast in Shanghai
Feel the lively atmosphere & explore busy markets freely in Hong Kong
Walk into a local family, learn to cook Chinese food & dine with the hosts in their home
From $ 2, 499 per person
◆Tour Route 4: 12 Days Private Bejing - Xi’an - Chengdu - Guilin - Shanghai
Tour Highlights:
Must-see sights in China — the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Terracotta Warriors, Giant Pandas
Come to Chengdu, the hometown of giant pandas to visit and observe the cute creature
Cruise on the meandering Li River & admire Guilin landscape
Walk into a local Chinese family, interact & dine with the hosts in their home
From $2, 079 per person
1. What do Tour Route 1 and Tour Route 2 have in common?| A．They have cycling activities. |
| B．They include a visit to Tibet. |
| C．Visitors enjoy the Three Gorges scenery. |
| D．Visitors pay the same amount of money. |
| A．Tourists can travel by bike. |
| B．Tourists can visit a huge dam. |
| C．Tourists can dine with a family. |
| D．It is the most expensive of the four. |
| A．Tour Route 1. |
| B．Tour Route 2. |
| C．Tour Route 3. |
| D．Tour Route 4. |
It was exam time at Marc’s school. Every day, their teachers gave them loads of homework and told them the test was very important and that they ought to spare no effort to perform well in it. Everyone followed the teachers’ instructions and made preparations for it, except Marc. He just turned a deaf ear to it. He thought he would rather play football than study.
His mum and dad repeated the importance of revision for exams over and over again. They told him that he should be working hard preparing for the test. But the weather was sunny and he thought he had better things to do.
“Shall we go to the park?” he said to his friend Huck one afternoon. “It’s a nice day. We could play football and kick around.” Huck shook his head. “I’m supposed to review my lessons,” he said. “I’m going home to do some math.”
Marc was amazed. “You’d rather do math than play football?”
“Math is important. Besides, my mum says she will buy me a mountain bike if I do well in the math exam.”
“That’s crazy,” said Marc. Huck shrugged (耸肩) and replied, “Wait until I beat you in the test and you will watch me riding past on my mountain bike!”
“You won’t beat me,” said Marc.
“Oh yes, I will.”
“Oh no, you won’t! That will never happen. Just wait and see!”
For the first time ever, Marc wanted to perform well. He couldn’t bear it if his friend came top and he did badly. So when he got home, he opened his math book. But there was so much to do. All of a sudden, he felt like he’d forgotten everything he had learned that year! He didn’t know where to start. When his sister Lily came in, he was sitting expressionlessly by the desk, just staring out of the window.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150左右;
2. 请按如下格式作答。
“You don’t look happy, Marc. What’s wrong?” she said.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________On the day of the exam, Marc went to school with great confidence.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Horses are picky eaters
Horses have an even better sense of smell than humans do. When horses raise their noses and open their nostrils (鼻孔), their nervous system allows them to sense smells we can’t sense. This might explain why they refuse dirty water and carefully move around meadows, eating only the tastiest grasses, experts say.
Whale says thanks
In 2018, a whale expert spotted a humpback whale trapped in a fishing net and spent an hour freeing it. Afterward, in an hour-long display of thanks, the whale swam near their boat and leaped into the air about 40 times.
Pandas like to be naughty
Is there anything more lovely than a baby panda, except maybe a human baby? In fact, baby pandas sometimes behave like human babies. They sleep in the same positions and value their thumbs. Pandas are shy by nature for its shy behaviors such as covering its face with a paw or ducking its head when confronted by a stranger.
A cat honors its owner
Paper towels, and a plastic cup are just a few of the gifts that Toldo, a devoted three-year-old gray-and-white cat, has placed on his former owner Iozzelli Renzo’s grave every day since the man died in September 2018. Renzo adopted Toldo from a shelter when the cat was three months old, and the two formed an inseparable bond. After Renzo passed away, Toldo followed the coffin to the cemetery, and now “stands guard” the grave for hours at a time.
1. What can horses do to pick delicious grasses?| A．Feel them. |
| B．Taste them. |
| C．Smell them. |
| D．Observe them. |
| A．They are clever. |
| B．They have a grateful heart. |
| C．They are active and lovely. |
| D．They have a good sense of smell. |
| A．The whale |
| B．The cat. |
| C．The horse. |
| D．The panda. |
