1 . A British friend told me he couldn’t understand why Chinese people love eating sunflower seeds(嗑瓜子) as a snack so much.“I’ve met a lot of older Chinese and many have a crack in their front teeth, I believe that’s from cracking the seeds,”he said.

I had never noticed the habit, but once he mentioned it, I suddenly became more aware, I realized that whenever I’m watching TV or typing a report, I always start mindlessly cracking sunflower seeds. My friend doesn’t like sunflower seeds, and, to him, it seems unnecessary to work so much just to get one small seed.

When we were young, the whole family would usually get together for Chinese New Year. Then, we all lived close to one another, usually in a small city, and sometimes even neighbors would go door-to-door on Chinese New Year’s Eve to check out what every household was making.

I remember my parents would be in the kitchen cooking. Out in the living room, a large table would already be laid out, complete with fancy tablecloth, ready-made dumpling fillings, and dishes full of candy, fruits and sunflower seeds. Some of the dishes were to be offered to our ancestors later, while others were for neighbors and children to eat before the evening feast. I must have learned how to crack sunflower seeds back then.

I don’t think it’s right to criticize one’s choice in food or eating habits, no matter how strange they may seem.

It’s not only in China. When I went abroad, I found people had all sorts of strange habits when it came to food. In Denmark, they put salted red fish on bread and eat it for dinner, no matter how much it ruins your breath. They think it’s a delicacy(美味佳肴), and it’s connected to their certain culture. I think it’s a wonderful tradition.

1. What did the writer become aware of?

A．She had ever typed a report about seeds.

B．She had various snacks while watching TV.

C．She had a habit of cracking sunflower seeds.

D．She damaged her teeth by eating sunflower seeds.

2. What does the writer prove by mentioning Chinese New Year?

A．The families get together for it.	B．Eating sunflower seeds is related to it.
C．The traditions of celebrating it disappear.	D．Children can eat delicious food on that day.

3. What’s the writer’s attitude to Denmark’s way of eating bread?

A．Indifferent.

B．Critical.

C．Understandable.

D．Doubtful.

4. What idea does the writer want to express in this passage?

A．It is good to form healthy eating habits.

B．Eating habits come from a certain culture.

C．Changing your eating habits will change your life.

D．One kind of food doesn’t necessarily suit everyone.

2 . One form of social prejudice (偏见) against older people is the belief that they cannot understand or use modern technology. Activities like playing computer games, going on the Net and downloading MP3s are only for the youngsters. Isn’t it unfair that older people enjoying a computer game should be frowned upon (反对) by their children and grandchildren?

Nowadays older people have more control over their lives and they play a full part in society. Moreover, better health care has let more people in their sixties and seventies feeling fit and active after retirement. Mental activity, as well as physical exercise, can contribute to better health. Playing computer games is a very effective way of exercising the brain. So that’s why grey gamers are often seen now.

When personal computers were first introduced, most older people didn’t believe they would ever get familiar with them. Now computers have been around for a few generations and retired people have gradually become more relaxed about using them for fun. Gamers over 65 prefer playing puzzle games and card games. Kate Stevens, aged 72, says, “I find it very relaxing. It’s not very demanding, but you still need to concentrate.”

Another development that has favored “grey games” is a change in the type of video games available on the market. There’s a greater variety of games to choose from, including more intellectual and complex strategy and simulation (模拟) games. For example, Internet Chess and Train Simulator are among the most popular of these. Train Simulator is based on real — world rail activities. Players can choose from a variety of challengers, such as keeping to a strict timetable and using helper engines during a winter storm.

Some people argue that “grey gamers” simply don’t have the skills required for computer games, and that teenagers are better. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Most computer games require the kind of analytical thinking that improves with practice, which means that the “grey gamers” may well be far better than the young. In games where speed is the main consideration, older people would be at a disadvantage because they may have slower reaction. time. On the other hand, “grey gamers” have a preference for slower — paced, mind challenging games.

1. The second paragraph is intended to___________.

A．show the best way to exercise the brain	B．stress the importance of good health
C．explain why grey gamers exist	D．teach how to play video games

2. What was older people’s attitude towards personal computers at first?

A．Doubtful.

B．Concerned.

C．Enthusiastic.

D．Supportive.

3. The method the author uses to develop Paragraph 4 is___________.

A．offering numbers

B．giving examples

C．making comparisons

D．providing details

4. The underlined part in Paragraph 5 probably means___________.

A．mind challenging games are not suitable for older people

B．teenagers should improve their skills with practice

C．playing computer games requires analytical thinking

D．older people may perform well in computer games

3 . According to a new US study, couples who expect their children to look after them in old age should hope they have daughters because daughters are twice as loving as sons generally.

The research by Angelina Grigoryeva, from Princeton University, found that, while women provide as much care for their elderly parents as they can manage, men do as little as they can get away with and often leave it to female family members.

Her analysis of the family networks of 26, 000 old Americans concluded that gender （性别）is one of the most important things that decide whether or not people will actively care for their elderly parents.

In a paper presented at the annual conference of the American Sociological Association in San Francisco, she concludes that simply having a sister makes men likely provide less care. Using data from the University of Michigan Health and Retirement Study, a study which has been recording those people over 50s for the last decade, she analyzed that women provide an average of 12. 3 hours a month of care for elderly parents while men offer only 5. 6 hours.

“Sons reduce their relative caregiving efforts when they have a sister, while daughters increase theirs when they have a brother.”

“This suggests that sons pass on parent caregiving responsibilities to their sisters.”

In the UK, the 2011 Census showed that there are now around 6.5 million people with caring responsibilities, a figure which has risen by a tenth in a decade.

But many are doing so at the risk of their health. The census showed that those who provide 50 hours or more of care a week while trying to hold down a fulltime job are three times more likely to be struggling with ill health than their working counterparts who are not carers.

1. According to the passage, what’s the key factor to decide if people will actively care for the old?

A．Education.

B．Gender.

C．Career.

D．Income.

2. The US study finds that ________.

A．having a sister makes men less likely to look after their parents

B．sons are twice as likely as daughters to care for parents in old age

C．sons are unwilling to leave caregiving responsibilities to their sisters

D．sons and daughters seem to give equal care to their parents

3. What does the author stress in the last paragraph?

A．People should give up their jobs to care for the elderly.

B．Many care providers work longer hours than others.

C．Many care providers have potential health problems.

D．People shouldn’t pass on caring responsibilities to others.

4. The author develops the text by ________.

A．explaining social networks of careers

B．describing people’s experiences

C．analyzing various researches and data

D．comparing different gender

4 . Love your parents

Even if you think that your parents are mean-spirited at times, loving your parents is a normal and fulfilling （满意的）part of life. You love them for the fact that they created you, raised you, and are in part a source of who you are. Here are some ways to love your parents.

    1     A gentle "good morning" and "I love you" will warm a coldest heart. Remember that they brought you into this world. Without your parents, you might sill wander at an unknown corner in an unknown world.

Respect them more and cherish（珍惜）these moments. You can use these moments to learn from them when you're off on your own. It's OK to get angry but angry actions don't help you or your parents. Act calmly, cool off, journal about your feelings, or talk to a friend.     2    

Obey their requests. It will make your attitude better and earn you more respect from them. It may seem like you are going through hell when you don't get what you want or you have to clean. However, you had better remember they keep a roof over your head when it's cold, raining, snowing, or too hot. Understand that parents are human beings and make mistakes.     3     Since you can forgive your friends, why not forgive your parents?

Keep company with them. Do things with your parents like watching TV, or go somewhere with them.       4     Listen to their old stories and learn from them. You will find they are your teachers in this way or another.

Some people simply may not be able to love their parents. .    5     Look for help if you are being abused violently. Parents do not have a right to harm you.

A．There can be realistic reasons for this, family violence for example.

B．Anyway, spend as much time with them as you can.

C．Tell them you love them every morning.

D．Forgiveness is the key.

E．Parents will turn express their love to you.

F．After this, share your feelings with your parents.

G．Please remember parents are as important as friends.

5 . 假如你是李华，你校英语报正在举办“大国科技推动者”主题征文比赛，请你写一篇英语短文，介绍你最敬佩的一名科学工作者，内容包括：
1.人物简介；
2.令人敬佩的原因。
注意：
1. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
2. 词数：100左右
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7 . Being stuck at home doesn’t mean that learning stops. In fact, it's just the opposite. Here are some activities and resources to foster (促进) kids' imagination and build their curiosity at home.

Let's Get down to Science

The science lab at school may be closed, but kids can still put on goggles and a white lab coat and learn at home. This Test Tube Experiment Kit will make them feel like a genius in no time. Kids will get the chance to learn about basic chemistry, physics, and more by creating pop-resistant bubbles, bouncy balls, and other objects.

To Infinity (无穷) and Beyond

Earth is a part of the Milky Way, but do kids know how many galaxies there are in the universe? There are so many fun and fascinating things to learn about space that the possibilities truly go to infinity and beyond. A great way to start your child's educational space adventure is with this Discovery Real Life Sticker and Activity Book: Space.

Take a Walk on the Wild Side

Biology class is in session! Here's kids' chance to get up close and personal with a great white shark without putting on a wetsuit. This 4D Great White Shark Anatomy Kit allows them to get an inside look at what makes these predators of the deep so powerful. And then take an even deeper dive into a shark's world with I'm a Shark.

Let your kid take advantage of this time at home and find new ways to keep exploring the world around him.

1. What is common among these activities above?

A．They are all performed outdoors.

B．They are all associated with physics.

C．They all recommend some resources for kids to study.

D．They are all carried out by the way of experimenting.

2. Which resource favors children interested in stars?

A．The Test Tube Experiment Kit.

B．Discovery Real Life Sticker and Activity Book: Space.

C．The 4D Great White Shark Anatomy Kit.

D．I'm a Shark.

3. What's the shared goal of the activities?

A．To gain financial benefits.	B．To save kids from boredom.
C．To explore new technologies.	D．To inspire kids to study at home.

8 . Bright Side did some research in many places throughout the world on where you can buy a house for 1 dollar or for free!

Roubaix , France

If you like France, Roubaix located in the north of France is just for you. The local authorities want it to be populated and attractive. You can buy a small house in the industrial district for just $1. The buyer is supposed to live in this house for 3 years.

Buffalo, USA

Buffalo offers whoever qualifies to buy a house for $1. All you need is to be a lawful citizen of the city and invest an amount of money into its decoration. Doing this, the authorities are hoping to make the city beautiful again without spending money.

Liverpool, UK

In Liverpool, most of houses were abandoned by the working class during the years of unemployment. The government is trying to sell the houses for just $1. If you want to buy such a house, it has to be your first deal on buying property (不动产).

Candela, Italy

If you still have any doubts about spending $1 on a house, you should know: the government will pay you some money, if you move to Candela. In order to be paid, you need to become a permanent citizen and have an income of $7,500 per year. If moving alone, you will get $800, and if you are going with your family, the pay can be four times as much as only one person .

For more information of other cities, please Click Here.

1. Why do the authorities of Buffalo provide a house for people with $1?

A．To improve the lives of poor people.	B．To make the city attractive at no cost.
C．To solve the problems of employment.	D．To attract people to the industrial areas.

2. What is required to buy a house for 1 dollar in Liverpool?

A．You need to be an unemployed citizen.

B．You should live in the house for 3 years.

C．You must make it the first house purchase.

D．You have to repair and decorate the house.

3. How much money can you get if moving to Candela with a whole family?

A．$3,200.	B．$1.
C．$800.	D．$7,500.

9 . With the development of our society, cellphones have become a common part in our lives. Have you ever run into a careless cellphone user in the street? Maybe they were busy talking, texting or checking updates on WeChat without looking at what was going on around them. As the number of this new "species" of human has kept rising, they have been given a new name—phubbers (低头族).

Recently a cartoon created by students from China Central Academy of Fine Arts put this group of people under the spotlight. In the short film, phubbers with various social identities bury themselves in their phones. A doctor plays with his cellphone while letting his patient die. A pretty woman takes a selfie (自拍) in front of a car accident site. And a father loses his child without knowing about it while using his mobile phone. A chain of similar events will finally lead to the destruction(毁灭) of the world.

Although the ending of the film sounds unrealistic, the damage phubbing can bring is real. Your health is the first to bear the effect and the result of it. "Always bending your head to check your cellphone could damage your neck," Guangming Daily quoted doctors' words. "The neck is like a rope that breaks after long-term stretching." Also, staring at cellphones for a long time will damage your eyesight gradually, according to the report.

But that's not all. Being a phubber could also damage your social skills and drive you away from your friends and family. When getting together with family or friends, many people prefer to play their cellphones while others are chatting happily with each other and this creates a strange atmosphere, Qilu Evening News reported.

It can also cost your life. There have been lots of reports on phubbers who fell to their death, suffered accidents, and were robbed of their cellphones in broad daylight.

1. Why does the author give the example of a cartoon in Paragraph 2?

A．To suggest phubbers will destroy the world.

B．To call for people to go walking without phones.

C．To tell people the bad effects of phubbing.

D．To advise students to create more cartoons like this.

2. According to the passage, what risks may a phubber have?
① Destructing the world.
② Affecting his social skills.
③ Damaging his neck and eyesight.
④ Getting separated from his friends and family.

A．①②④

B．②③④

C．①③④

D．①②③④

3. What's the author's attitude towards phubbing?

A．Supportive.

B．Confident.

C．Disapproving.

D．Unconcerned.

4. What will be talked about in the following paragraph?

A．Ways to avoid the risks of phubbing.	B．Bad effects of phubbing.
C．Daily life of phubbers.	D．Behaviours of phubbers.