1 . A punctual (准时的) person is in the habit of doing a thing at the proper time and is never late in keeping an appointment.

    1    He is always in a hurry and in the end loses both time and his good name. A lost thing may be found again, but lost time can never be regained. Time is more valuable than material things.    2    . The unpunctual man is forever wasting and mismanaging his most valuable assets as well as the assets of others’. The unpunctual person is always complaining that he finds no time to answer letters or return calls or keep appointments promptly.     3    He knows that he cannot get through his huge amount of work unless he faithfully keeps every piece of work when it has to be attended to.

Failure to be punctual in keeping one’s appointments is a sign of disrespect towards others. If a person is invited to dinner and arrives later than the appointed time, he keeps all the other guests waiting for him.     4    .

Unpunctuality, moreover, is very harmful when it comes to doing one’s duty, whether public or private. Imagine how it would be if those who are put in charge of important tasks failed to be at their proper place at the appointed time.    5    

A．However, the man who really has a great deal to do is very careful with his time and seldom complains because he lacks it.

B．The unpunctual man, on the other hand, never does what he should do ahead of time.

C．The unpunctual man, on the other hand, never does what he has to do at the proper time.

D．A man who is known to be habitually unpunctual is never trusted by his friends or fellow men.

E．In fact, time is life itself.

F．All guests present ought to be respected by the host.

G．Usually this will be regarded as a great disrespect to the host and all other guests present.

2 . Building with 3D printing technology is sparking widespread interest in the construction industry. Besides reducing waste and our impact on the environment, it can speed up construction from weeks, or months, to days. To see how the technology can change the world around us, here are some projects that highlight bold ideas in 3D print building.

Instant Neighborhood

Community building takes on new meaning with the creation of a neighborhood of 3D printed homes in Tabasco, Mexico, aimed at tackling global homelessness. American non-profit New Story and tech company ICON built each concrete house from start to completion in 24 hours. New Story says its aim is to provide shelter for people without homes around the world.

Nested Housing

Shamballa is the idea of Italian 3D print construction company WASP. This project uses soil and straw to build a home in days that cost only 48 Euros in materials and energy. Its round designs are based on the wasp (黄蜂) nest. Each home features a laboratory with a desktop 3D printer for making furniture, artistic objects and more.

Think Schools

African island state Madagascar is hosting one of the world’s most forward-thinking school building projects. Non-profit Thinking Huts is using 3D print technology to provide schools where children have little or no access to education. Schools are built using local materials and low carbon concrete in under a week.

Concrete Steps

Researchers at the Swiss University ETH Zurich used concrete 3D printing to build the 16 metre long curved Striatus footbridge in a couple of days. The project used 500 layers of concrete and 53 hollow blocks, held in place by compression (压缩). This reduces materials by up to 70 per cent, and the entire bridge can be pulled down and recycled.

1. What could be the inspiration behind the design of Nested Housing?

A．A featured laboratory.	B．A forward-thinking school.
C．A round wasp nest.	D．A long stone bridge.

2. Which 3D construction project can be torn down and reused?

A．Instant Neighborhood.	B．Concrete Steps.
C．Think School.	D．Nested Housing.

3. What do these four 3D building projects have in common?

A．They use local materials.	B．They make construction faster.
C．They are affordable to the homeless.	D．They are high in cost.

5 . Although most games have winners and losers, the goal of sports is not to win every game. The real goals include getting exercises, having fun, and learning important social skills, like sportsmanship.

Good sportsmanship is all about respect. Good sports respect the other players on their team. They respect the players on opposing teams. They respect coaches and they also respect the referees (裁判) or other officials involved in their games.     1     They shout at their teammates and they talk back to coaches or referees.

Kids usually learn sportsmanship — good and bad — from the adults in their lives.     2     If parents and coaches show disrespect to other fans, referees, or each other, kids will likely act the same way on the field.

    3     some of them are very basic and easy to do, like shaking hands with other players before a game. Other examples may take a little more courage, such as acknowledging a great play made by the opposing team.

Learning good sportsmanship is important because it helps you develop an attitude of graciousness (礼貌) and respect that will carry over into all the other areas of your life!     4     Being a good sportsman in the classroom will eventually lead to being a good sportsman in the workplace.

So be a good sportsman in whatever you do!     5     When others see you acting in a way that makes it clear that winning isn’t the most important thing, you can move on to focusing on the important things, like having fun, getting exercise, and improving your skills.

A．Good sportsmanship can be shown in many ways.

B．On the contrary, bad sportsmanship is all about disrespect.

C．The example you set can be a powerful teaching tool for others.

D．Players’ parents and coaches set examples that kids tend to follow.

E．we can be good sports by encouraging others but not laughing at them.

F．Starting as a good sportsman earlier will help you be a good sport as you get old.

G．If you’re a good sportsman on the field, you’ll also likely be a good sportsman in the classroom.

6 . If you want to know something about British life, their spirit, and even their humor, watching some classic British films will certainly help. Here are some recommended to you.

Notting Hill

After the success of his film Four Weddings and a Funeral, writer and producer Richard Curtis captured the essence of being British in 1999’s Notting Hill. Set against the background of affluent (富足的) West London, the film became popular for its charming and funny portrayal(刻画) of a British nobody trying to impress a Hollywood star.

The Full Monty

This 1997 film is a Sheffield-based comedy about six unemployed men who form a group to make money for a better life. Despite its hummer, the film dives deeper into some serious issues surrounding working-class culture. The Full Monty is an uplifting film that gives an insight into the work and life of the working class in Britain.

Trainspotting

Danny Boyle’s 1996 comedy-drama Trainspotting is about a group of Scots in the 1980s, based on the book by Irvine Welsh. With a cast of truly great actors including Ewan MeGregor, the tale impressed the audience globally. It rapidly became a critical success.

Monty Python’s Life of Brian

Featuring a jam-packed cast of comedic stars. Monty Python’s Life of Brian tells the story of a young man who is in a case of mistaken identity. The film reflects the unusual and wonderful British sense of humour. As a film guaranteed to entertain, Monty Pythons Life of Brian is not to be missed by those looking for an insight into what makes the British laugh.

1. What can the audience learn about by watching The Full Monty?

A．Hardships of comedic stars	B．Daily life of people in West London
C．Unique experiences of some Scots.	D．Life of the British working class.

2. What kind of film does Monty Python’s Life of Brian belong to?

A．A comedy film.	B．A science fiction film.
C．An action movie	D．A horror movie.

3. Which of the following films is adapted from a book?

A．Notting Hill.	B．The Full Monty.
C．Trainspotting.	D．Monty Python’s Life of Brian.

7 . Classical music is one of the most complex, and beautiful forms of music. It can be enjoyed by people of all ages, and can be appreciated in many different ways.

    1     These elements include melody, harmony, rhythm, dynamics, and timbre. Melody is the primary musical element, and is what people typically think of when they think of music.     2     Rhythm is the organization of time, and is created by the pulse or beat of the music. Dynamics are the changes in volume, and timbre is the quality of the sound.

Once you have a basic understanding of these elements, you can start to appreciate classical music on a deeper level.     3     Pay attention to the four elements mentioned above. Understand the story it is telling. Try to find out how the different sounds work together. Feel the beat, and sense the changes in volume. Try to appreciate the different sounds.

    4     Seeing the musicians play, and watching the conductor guide the orchestra can be an amazing experience. You can watch videos of classical music performances online, or attend a live concert.

Finally, classical music can be appreciated through its history and culture. Learning about the musicians, the pieces, and the different movements in classical music can help you understand and appreciate it more.     5    

A．One way to do this is by listening to it more closely.

B．If you are a music enthusiast, you might have heard the term; music appreciation.

C．There are also many books and articles about classical music that can help.

D．It is important to first understand the different elements that make it up.

E．The secret to classical music is; it’s just music.

F．Harmony is created by two or more melodies playing together.

G．You can also appreciate classical music by watching it being performed.

8 . Eliana Yi dreamed of pursuing piano performance in college, never mind that her fingers could barely reach the length of an octave (八度音阶). Unable to fully play many works by Romantic-era composers, including Beethoven and Brahms, she tried anyway — and in her determination to spend hours practicing one of Chopin’s compositions which is known for being “stretchy”, wound up injuring herself.

“I would just go to pieces,” the Southern Methodist University junior recalled. “There were just too many octaves. I wondered whether I was just going to play Bach and Mozart for the rest of my life.”

The efforts of SMU keyboard studies chair Carol Leone are changing all that. Twenty years ago, the school became the first major university in the U.S. to incorporate smaller keyboards into its music program, leveling the playing field for Yi and other piano majors.

Yi reflected on the first time she tried one of the smaller keyboards: “I remember being really excited because my hands could actually reach and play all the right notes,” she said. Ever since, “I haven’t had a single injury, and I can practice as long as I want.”

For decades, few questioned the size of the conventional piano. If someone’s hand span was less than 8.5 inches — the distance considered ideal to comfortably play an octave — well, that’s just how it was.

Those who attempt “stretchy” passages either get used to omitting notes or risk tendon (腱) injury with repeated play. Leone is familiar with such challenges. Born into a family of jazz musicians, she instead favored classical music and pursued piano despite her small hand span and earned a doctorate in musical arts.

A few years after joining SMU’s music faculty in 1996, the decorated pianist read an article in Piano and Keyboard magazine about the smaller keyboards. As Leone would later write, the discovery would completely renew her life and career.

In 2000, she received a grant to retrofit a department Steinway to accommodate a smaller keyboard, and the benefits were immediate. In addition to relieving injury caused by overextended fingers, she said, it gave those with smaller spans the ability to play classic compositions taken for granted by larger-handed counterparts.

Smaller keyboards instill many with new confidence. It’s not their own limitations that have held them back, they realize; it’s the limitations of the instruments themselves. For those devoted to a life of making music, it’s as if a cloud has suddenly lifted.

1. What is the similarity between Eliana Yi and Carol Leone?

A．Their interest in jazz extended to classical music.

B．Short hand span used to restrict their music career.

C．They both joined SMU’s music faculty years ago.

D．Romantic-era composers’ music was easy for them.

2. Why did SMU initiate an effort to scale down the piano?

A．To reduce the number of octaves.

B．To incorporate Bach into its music program.

C．To provide fair opportunities for piano majors.

D．To encourage pianists to spend more hours practicing.

3. How did Yi probably feel when she played the retrofitted piano?

A．Confident.

B．Frustrated.

C．Challenging.

D．Determined.

4. Which of the following is the best title of the passage?

A．Who Qualifies as an Ideal Pianist?

B．Traditional or Innovative Piano?

C．Hard-working Pianists Pays off

D．The Story behind Retrofitted Pianos

9 . San Francisco Fire Engine Tours

San Francisco Winery Tour
Running: February 1st through April 30th

This delicious tour goes through the city on its way to Treasure Island where we will stop at the famous Winery SF. Here you can enjoy 4 pours of some of the best wine San Francisco has to offer.(Included in tickets price)

Departing from the Cannery: Tour times upon request.
Duration(时长): 2 hours
Price: $90
Back to the Fifties Tour
Running: August 16th through August 31st

This tour transports you back in time to one of San Francisco’s most fantastic periods, the 1950s! Enjoy fun history as we take you through San Francisco for a free taste of ice cream.

Departing from the Cannery: 5:00 pm and 7:30 pm
Duration: 2 hours
Price: $90
Spooky Halloween Tour
Running: October 10th through October 31st

Join us for a ride through the historical Presidio district. Authentic fire gear(服装) is provided for your warmth as our entertainers take you to some of the most thrilling parts of San Francisco.

Departing from the Cannery: 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm
Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Price: Available upon request
Holiday Lights Tour
Running: December 6th through December 23rd

This attractive tour takes you to some of San Francisco’s most cheerful holiday scenes. Authentic fire gear is provided for your warmth as you get into the holiday spirit.

Departing from the Cannery: 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm
Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Advance reservations required.
1. Which of the tours is available in March?

A．San Francisco Winery Tour.	B．Back to the Fifties Tour.
C．Spooky Hallowen Tour.	D．Holiday Lights Tour.

2. What can tourists do on Back to the Fifties Tours?

A．Go to Treasure Island.	B．Enjoy the holiday scenes.
C．Have free ice cream.	D．Visit the Presidio district.

3. What are tourists required to do to go on Holiday Lights Tour?

A．Take some drinks.	B．Set off early in the morning.
C．Wear warm clothes.	D．Make reservations in advance.

10 . While Europe is a popular getaway among many people, London is definitely a year-round destination. There are some fantastic episodes for the visitors while in London. Here we pick some free iconic activities.

The guard handover ceremony

Watching Changing the Guard outside Buckingham Palace is a good choice for people, which is an exhibition of British ceremony. This is where one member of Queen’s Guards exchanges duty with the old guard. Both guards are dressed in traditional red uniform and bearskin hats, and the handover is accompanied by a Guards band. Changing the Guard takes place at 11:30 am. It is held daily from May to July, and on alternate (间隔的) dates throughout the rest of the year.

Geffrye Museum

A very unique experience, the Geffrye Museum, located in 18th century almshouses (救济院), gives an interesting perspective into the lives of the British middle classes from the 1600s to the present day. Explore a series of room sets and complete with furnishings and textiles (纺织品) from each phase.

Bank of England Museum

The Bank of England Museum traces the history of the bank from its foundation by Royal Charter in 1694 to its role today as the country’s central bank. There are many items you have never expected to see.

Sir John Soane’s Museum

Sir John Soane was an architect. During his lifetime he collected some valuable antiques from all four corner s of the globe. They are now on exhibition in Sir John Soane’s Museum which gives a real insight into the life of this outstanding Victorian gentleman.

Hogarth’s House

Hogarth was very famous and criticized 18th century society in his engravings (雕刻), such as A Harlot’s Progress, A Rake’s Progress and Marriage-a-la-Mode. As the name suggests, Hogarth’s House is where he lived before he died in 1764, and it’s here that you’ll find the largest collection of his paintings on public display.

1. What can you do if the visitors watch the ceremony of Changing the Guard?

A．They need to pay when watching the ceremony.

B．They can appreciate some music at the ceremony.

C．The ceremony is held at 11:30 am every day all around the year.

D．Changing the Guard involves two flocks of guards every time.

2. What can they know about the British people if the visitors wander in the Geffrye Museum?

A．The political life.

B．The social life.

C．The home life.

D．The cultural life.

3. What can we learn from the five iconic attractions in London?

A．The Bank of England Museum is no longer the central bank of the UK.

B．Sir John Soane was a painter living in the Victorian era.

C．Sir John Soane’s Museum is a good venue to see old and valuable objects.

D．Hogarth’s paintings were criticized by other painters of his period.