1 . I've loved my mother's desk since I was just tall enough to see above the top of it as mother sat doing letters. Standing by her chair, looking at the ink bottle, pens and white paper, I decided that the act of writing must be the most wonderful thing in the world.

Years later, during her final illness, Mother kept different things for my sister and brother. "But the desk,” she said again, “is for Elizabeth."

I never saw her angry, never saw her cry. I knew she loved me; she showed it in action. But as a young girl, I wanted heart-to-heart talks between mother and daughter.

They never happened. And a gulf opened between us, I was "too emotional". But she lived "on the surface".

As years passed, I had my own family. I loved my mother and thanked her for our happy family, I wrote to her in careful words and asked her to let me know in any way she chose that she did forgive me.

I posted the letter and waited for her answer; none came.

My hope turned to disappointment, then little interest and, finally, peace. It seemed that nothing happened. I couldn't be sure that the letter had even got to Mother. I only knew that I had written it, and I could stop trying to make her into someone she was not.

Now the present of Her desk told me, as she'd never been able to, that she was pleased that writing was my chosen work. I cleaned the desk carefully and found some papers inside — a photo of my father and a one — page letter, folded and refolded many times.

Give me an answer, my letter asks, in any way you choose. Mother, you always chose the act that speaks louder than words.

1. The passage shows that___________.

A．Mother was cold on the surface but kind in her heart to the author

B．Mother was too serious about everything the author had done

C．Mother cared much about the author in words

D．Mother wrote to the author in careful words

2. The underlined word "gulf "in the passage means_________.

A．deep understanding	B．difference between ideas
C．free talks	D．part of the sea

3. What did Mother do with her daughter's letter asking for forgiveness?

A．She had never received the letter.

B．For years, she often talked about the letter.

C．She didn't forgive her daughter at all in all her life.

D．She read the letter again and again till she died.

4. What's the best title of the passage?

A．My letter to Mother	B．Mother and Children
C．My Mother's Desk	D．Talks between Mother and me.

2 . Welcome to SummerCamps.com; find and book the very best summer camps. Your children are precious so we offer the highest quality of camps that will meet each child’s needs and interests.

Catalina Sea Camp

Sea Camp offers three one-week sessions to boys and girls aged 8-13 and two three-week sessions to teens aged 12-17. Our hand-picked instructors create an atmosphere of fun and excitement while leading campers to a host of ocean adventures, marine(海洋的) biology, and social summer camp activities.

Address: Toyon Way, San Bruno, California 94066

Phone: 800-645-1423

Camp Cayuga

Camp Cayuga is a private summer camp for children aged 6 to 16. The camp is on a 350-acre land in the Pocono Mountains of Northeast Pennsylvania, just outside the village of Honesdale. It’s a 3-hour drive from New York City to Philadelphia.

Address: 321 Niles Pond Road-Suite ISC, Honesdale, Pennsylvania 18431

Phone: 908-470-1224

Camp Rockmont

Camp Rockmont is a Christian summer camp for boys, aged 6-16, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Rockmont’s duty of developing boys into healthy young men is accomplished through age-appropriate skills, activities, and challenges that help campers to know themselves better.

Address: 375 Lake Eden Road, Black Mountain, North Carolina 28711

Phone: 828-686-3885

Primitive Pursuits Overnight Camps

Primitive Pursuits Overnight Camps offer week-long Summer Adventure Overnight Camps in New York’s Finger Lakes to your children aged 11-15. Campers experience a week of nature-based skills training, inspiring challenges, and fun activities under the guidance of skilled instructors.

Address: 611 County Rd 13, Van Etten, New York 14889

Phone: 607-272-2292

1. If a boy is curious about sea creatures, which camp should he go to?

A．Catalina Sea Camp

B．Camp Cayuga

C．Camp Rockmont

D．Primitive Pursuits Overnight Camps

2. Where should a girl of 7 go for camping?

A．Toyon Way, San Bruno.

B．611 County Rd 13, Van Etten.

C．375 Lake Eden Road, Black Mountain.

D．321 Niles Pond Road- Suite ISC, Honesdale.

3. You can find this passage from           .

A．a magazine	B．the Internet
C．a textbook	D．a newspaper

3 . Confucius, a famous teacher , was a politician and philosopher who lived in “Spring and Autumn Period”. During his lifetime, he planted the seeds for China’s transformation by teaching thousands of people. Today, he is thought to be one of the world’s greatest teachers.

Confucius grew up in a poor family. As he grew up, Confucius worked to help his mother earn money. When he wasn’t working, he would read. His favorite thing to do was to learn. His mother saw this and did her best to help him learn. One day, rich families noticed how smart he was and offered him jobs counting their money and keeping track of their crops.

Confucius did this until he was 30 years old, but he always wanted to do more. He didn’t like the way rulers treated their subjects. He wanted to find a way to help people who were less fortunate than he was. Later, he founded the philosophy “Confucianism”. Confucianism states that by educating yourself, loving your family, and respecting tradition you could become a better person. Confucius believed a person could achieve these things by practicing self-discipline. For the rest of his life, Confucius traveled and taught the people of China about self-discipline and the importance of education. He even opened China’s first school that taught both the poor and the wealthy as equals. Although he became very famous among China’s lower classes, the rulers of China never accepted his teachings. Eventually, his philosophy of self-discipline helped China unite under one ruler and finally find peace. Today, Confucius is celebrated all over the world for his philosophy of education, equality, and peace over war, money, and injustice.

1. What can we know about Confucius from the passage?

A．He was once a farmer guiding people farming.	B．He was born in a politician family.
C．He once acted as a math teacher.	D．He devoted himself to social change.

2. The underlined word “subjects”(in paragraph 3) can be replaced by _______.

A．themes.

B．courses.

C．people.

D．tests.

3. According to the author, which is the most important to keep peace?

A．Self-discipline.

B．Self-confidence.

C．Respect.

D．Equality.

4. What is the writer’s attitude towards Confucianism?

A．Doubtful

B．Supportive

C．Disappointed

D．Hopeful

4 . Teenagers who travel around the world alone have been making headlines quite often. A young person alone in a dangerous situation attracts attention and sponsors. Young sailors also attract various views. For example, Jessica Watson was asked by the government to cancel her voyage, yet the Prime Minister called her “a hero for young Australians” when she returned. It seemed there is confusion about the competence and independence of young people.

The popular psychologists tell us that teenage brains are likely to make wrong judgments. But such ideas often do not apply to specific individuals. Between the ages of 14 and 18, teenagers vary greatly in their abilities. The amount of independence that each is allowed should be determined not simply by their age but by discussion with the related, responsible adults. Some teens are certainly inexperienced and capable of childish mistakes, but the ones who attempt dangerous journeys normally do so by winning the confidence of hard-headed and well-qualified adult supporters.

But it’s also wrong to think that any 16-year-old can desire to get achievements as unusual as Jessica Watson’s. Watson calls herself “an ordinary girl who had a dream”. Her intention is to encourage teenagers but this idea can have the opposite effect of making them feel not good enough because great achievements are beyond them. Should all teens have such dreams? Actually, individuals face varying circumstances that restrict their dreams.

Teenagers who travel around the world alone should not be judged by preconceived (事先形成的) views about young people. Nor should young “ordinary” teenagers feel pressure to long for extraordinary personal goals. In fact, I believe the example of solo sailing overstresses individualism. The teenage years are when most of us “ordinary” people learn that we can achieve great things in cooperation with others.

1. What can we learn about Jessica Watson?

A．She was criticized by the government.

B．She eventually canceled her voyage.

C．She has traveled around the world.

D．She made a successful voyage.

2. What can be inferred about teenagers from the text?

A．They have similar abilities.

B．They make decisions on their own.

C．They always make wrong judgments.

D．They need supports of responsible adults.

3. Who does the underlined word “them” in Paragraph 3 refer to?

A．Parents.	B．Teenagers.
C．Psychologists.	D．Adults.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Divided Opinions on Young Adventurers

B．Problems Faced by Adventurous Teens

C．Various Ways to Become Independent

D．Pressure to Achieve Personal Goals

5 . As the coronavirus (冠状病毒) outbreak continues, many Americans are fearful of using public transportation. They are also looking for ways to get exercise without going to a gym. So, it may not be surprising that the pandemic (疫情) has led to a major increase in bicycle sales.

In the US, bicycles at big stores have sold out. And small bicycle stores cannot keep up with demand for “family-style” bicycles: the low-cost, easy-to-ride models. “The bicycle industry is seeing its biggest sales increase since the oil crisis of the 1970s,” said Jay Townley, an industry expert. He compared the sale of bicycles to the rush to buy products like toilet paper at the start of the pandemic.

The rise in bicycle sales is not happening just in the US. Italy has created bicycle paths for the growing number of people who want to avoid public transportation. In London, city officials plan to ban cars from some central roads. Bike shop owners in Manila say demand is even stronger than what they see at Christmas time.

Of course, you can only buy a bicycle if you can find one. In the US, the shortages now mean it may take many months to get a bicycle. High demand is not the only reason for the shortage. Many bicycle factories were shut down to stop the spread of COVID-19. The increase in bicycle demand began in March as countries began to close down. In April, the sale of bicycles increased 200 percent in the US.

Joe Minutolo is the co-owner of Bar Harbor Bicycle Shop in Maine. He said he hoped the increased sales meant a change in the way people think about transportation. “People are having a chance to rethink things,” he said, “Maybe we’ll all learn something out of this, and something really good will happen.”

1. What causes the increase in bicycle sales?

A．Shortage of public transportation.

B．Outbreak of the coronavirus.

C．People’s desire to defeat disease.

D．People’s fear of natural disasters.

2. What change has the pandemic caused in Italy?

A．More bikes are sold than at Christmas time.

B．“Family-style” bicycles are in great need.

C．Cars are banned from some central roads.

D．New bicycle paths have been built.

3. What can we know from Paragraph 4?

A．It’s impossible to buy a bike.

B．Bike factories were closed in April.

C．High demand for bikes began in March.

D．It takes many months to produce a bike.

4. What is Joe Minutolo’s attitude towards the increased sales of bicycles?

A．Doubtful.

B．Positive.

C．Uncertain.

D．Critical.

6 . International Volunteering in New Zealand

If you’re visiting New Zealand and would like to volunteer, DOC (Department of Concentration) welcomes you to get involved.

Before you come to New Zealand

You do not need a work visa to volunteer with DOC. You can volunteer on entry to New Zealand as long as you do not receive payment or benefits.

You may need a police certificate

Depending on the volunteer work you do with us, you may be required to provide a police certificate to DOC. Your police certificate would need to be written and certified in English. It’s easier for you if you get a police certificate before you leave your country.

How to get a new police certificate if you’re already in New Zealand. (Click here)

International students

Volunteering with DOC is an option to gain experience. However, DOC does not offer opportunities to students who study at universities outside New Zealand, or other education providers outside New Zealand.

Insurance

For all volunteers with DOC, we strongly advise you gel comprehensive (综合的) travel insurance and unlimited medical cover. DOC does not accept responsibility for any:

● personal medical or accident events.

● loss or damage to personal items of equipment, or other associated costs while you're volunteering with DOC.

1. What may you offer to DOC if you want to volunteer as a foreigner in New Zealand?

A．A police certificate	B．A work visa.
C．A university diploma.	D．A driver license.

2. Who cannot volunteer with DOC in New Zealand?

A．An American official who is travelling in New Zealand.

B．An English college student who has just been visiting his uncle in New Zealand.

C．A Chinese exchange student in the University of Auckland in New Zealand.

D．A Chinese businessman with some volunteering experiences.

3. Where is this passage probably from?

A．A story book.	B．A newspaper.
C．A travel guide book.	D．A website.

7 . As a dropout myself, I often feel it is my duty to defend my fellow non-scholars. Common wisdom would have you believe we are the “bad kids", the future criminals, the worst sort of people. But not all dropouts are likely to deal drugs,steal goods from a shop, or shoot pool all day.

My own favorite place to go when skipping school was always the public library. My early retirement meant that at last I had the time to read everything I wanted to. I found reading Thomas Pynchon's Gravity's Rainbow a lot more interesting than reading about Sir Isaac Newton and the falling apple.

Best of all was the time I finally had to myself. I felt liberated. I had been in school nearly my whole life. I wanted to find out for myself who I was,and until I did,everything else felt like a waste of time.

However, after nearly three years, a series of strange thoughts began to make me anxious and unsure. Images of myself at the age of 35 began to haunt(缠扰）me in my sleep. And a voice in my head began asking over and over,"Who is paying the hot water bills? Who buys the microwave pizza?"The answer, of course, was my poor old parents. Sure,I was having an enjoyable time doing plenty of nothing, discovering myself and all, but that's unfair to them. What parents long to see their child drop out of school,with no plans for the future? Could they be expected to support me forever? Certainly not. I immediately moved out of the house and out of town, in search of a future for myself.

And it is here, in my new home of San Francisco, that I have decided to do what was once unthinkable: go back to school. I plan to take adult education classes and then apply for City College. On the one hand, I can hardly believe I'm doing it: a return to desks, chalkboards, and clocks that tell you when to stop thinking about one thing and start thinking about another. But at City College, I'll be able to take film production, semiotics, and sociology—just because I want to know about them.

So next time you see a dropout, be sympathetic. And please don't push him to do something he doesn't want to do. It never works. He'll come around when he's ready.

1. It is commonly believed that dropouts are_____.

A．bad kids from birth

B．interested in studying drugs

C．very likely to commit crimes

D．responsible for defending non-scholars

2. What did the author find most enjoyable after dropping out of school?

A．Living in comfort with his parents.

B．Reading in the public library.

C．Escaping the pressure from school.

D．Having time for self-discovery.

3. Why did the author move to San Francisco?

A．To fight for his own future.

B．To apply for City College.

C．To break away from his parents.

D．To live up to his parents' expectations.

4. What does the author suggest people do to deal with dropouts?

A．Push them to the limit.

B．Open their hearts to them.

C．Try to be understanding.

D．Encourage them to be friendly.

8 . Putting children in daycare helps working parents take their minds off childcare.     1    

How daycare negatively affects children is related to many factors. One study has suggested that some children who spend long hours in daycare centers experience more stress than those who spend more time in a setting with a mother.

Another study has shown that children who are shy have a higher level of the hormone cortisol (皮质醇) which is released when an individual shows signs of stress.     2     And as a result the child may not mix well with the other children and the teachers at the daycare center, a situation that can cause stress.

Another negative impact of daycare is that there is less communication between a mother and her child.     3     So it is essential for a child to develop a deep bond with his or her mother, since this will lay the foundation for all the relationships he or she will form later on in life. Children who spend a lot of time with their mothers experience healthy social and emotional development, while long hours in daycare can disrupt this bonding. Children who lose out on precious mother-child bonding are observed to have behavioral problems as they grow older.

Children in daycare centers also feel unprotected compared to children at home. In a daycare center, when one caregiver attends to more than one child at the same time, she may not be able to look deeply into why a child is mixing well or not.     4     Another negative aspect of daycare is that children there are more likely to fall ill if they come in contact with sick children.

    5     Well-maintained daycare centers contribute a great deal to the overall development of a child by providing a structured environment. Children become more social by interacting with other children of the same age, and learn new activities that are not always available if they are brought up only at home.

A．But daycare has its disadvantages.

B．Look for a daycare center that is well-maintained.

C．However, the advantages of daycare cannot be ignored.

D．This is because a shy child will not open up freely in public.

E．Babies become extremely attached to their primary caregivers.

F．In such cases, a child may become either completely quiet or aggressive.

G．You can cut the time in daycare centers by making alternative childcare arrangements.

9 . Financial Education-Awareness Dilemma

When it comes to financial education, the majority of today's youth will regard it as a necessity for certain specific people who want to make their career in the financial world.     1     Actually, elementary financial education is a must for all, as money transaction is an essential part of our day-to-day life.

Suppose you have $100 in a saving account that pays simple interest at the rate of 2%per year. lf you leave the money in the account, how much will you have accumulated after 5 years: more than $102, exactly $102, or less than $102? The test might look simple, but only half of the people surveyed gave the correct answer.

    2    The explanation goes as follows: People with low levels of financial literacy suffer from that lack of knowledge at every stage of their lives. Researchers on this subject say people with a high degree of financial literacy are more likely to plan for their retirement.     3    

On the contrary, people who have a lower degree of financial literacy tend to borrow more, accumulate less wealth, and pay more in fees related financial products. They are less likely to invest, more likely to experience difficulty with debt, and less likely to know the terms of their mortgages and other loans. Thus, the cost of this financial ignorance is very high.     4    

What   is the solution?     5     Like reading and math, financial education must become part of the core curriculum in our schools. Likewise, parents should engage in regular, constructive conversations about money matters. This will give their kids a solid foundation for financial well-being, which will keep on giving returns throughout the course of their lives.

A．Financial education must start early.

B．However, they miss an important point.

C．Why does each of us have to face a financial challenge?

D．Why does financial literacy matter so much in our society'?

E．Rich people are generally better educated on financial management.

F．Besides, these people have more than double the wealth of people who don’t.

G．For example, they frequently make late credit card payments, overspend their credit limit, etc.

10 . In ancient Greece, Socrates was a widely-recognized wise man. One day one fellow met the great philosopher and said, “Do you know what I just heard about your friend?”

“Hold on a minute,” Socrates replied. “Before telling me anything I’d like you to pass a little test. It’s called the Triple Filter Test.”. “Triple filter?”. “That’s right,” Socrates continued. “Before you talk to me about my friend, it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what you’re going to say. That’s why I call it the triple filter test.

The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?” “No,” the man said, “actually I just heard about it and…”. “All right,” said Socrates. “So you don’t know if it’s true or not.

Now let’s try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?” . “No, on the contrary…”. “So,” Socrates continued, “you want to tell me something bad about him, but you’re not certain it’s true.

You may still pass the test though, because there’s one filter left: the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?” “No, not really.”

“Well,” concluded Socrates, “if what you want to tell me is neither true nor good nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?”

Well we can always participate in loose talks to curb our boredom. But when it comes to your friends its not worth it. Always avoid talking behind the back about your near and dear friends.

1. Why did Socrates stop the fellow when he wanted to tell him about his friend?

A．Because he didn’t know the fellow.

B．Because he wanted to tell the fellow something first.

C．Because he knew the fellow wouldn’t tell him something useful.

D．Because he wanted the fellow to think twice before speaking.

2. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?

A．Socrates was a great philosopher in Ancient Greece.

B．The fellow wanted to tell Socrates something bad about his friend.

C．Socrates was curious to hear what the fellow wanted to tell him.

D．It’s not a good idea to gossip about our friends behind the back.

3. What does the underlined “curb” mean in the last paragraph?

A．increase	B．describe
C．reduce	D．hide