1 . As globalization continues to make the world a smaller place, and goods become more accessible across borders, concerns about food safety in the AsiaPacific region have steadily risen over the years. An APEC forum is being held in Beijing, to find ways to better address the problem.
156 participants from 19 APEC economies and 4 nonAPEC members attended the APEC Food Safety Cooperation Forum, which has been actively looking for ways to strengthen food safety standard in the region, without affecting trade.
“As consumers are faced with more varieties of food, the potential food safety risk also becomes bigger.This forum has helped APEC economies to cooperate in supervision(监督), exchange information, and improve the overall food safety standard in the AsiaPacific region,” said director of China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision Wu Qinghai.
For the first time the forum has brought together highlevel regulators, academics, and industry stakeholders to talk about their respective roles in safety supervision.They say governments alone cannot shoulder this heavy duty.
In China, the continuous food safety problems have greatly hurt consumers’ confidence in domestic products; therefore more turned to imports. However, problems related to quality of those imported goods also began to show. In July this year, more than 400 batches (批) of food imported from 35 countries and regions were found substandard by the country’s top quality supervisor.
Governments and industries have been brought closer by this forum.As food moves more freely beyond borders, this forum is hoped to promote safety control cooperation, so APEC members can better benefit from the economic integration(经济一体化).
1. The last but one paragraph tells us that ________.| A．the Chinese customers are more satisfied with their food safety |
| B．food imported from other countries is indeed high in quality |
| C．many Chinese customers would rather buy some foreign food |
| D．there are only 35 countries and regions exporting food to China |
| A．send a letter about | B．deal with | C．deliver a speech on | D．call off |
| A．People can buy foreign food more easily than ever. |
| B．The more varieties of food, the bigger the potential food safety risk. |
| C．Food safety problems have appeared many times before this forum. |
| D．Governments have started their cooperation with academies and industries before this forum. |
| A．It has greatly influenced the economy in the area. |
| B．It has long been able to put every side’s efforts together. |
| C．It helps to bring government regulators and industries together. |
| D．It has found ways to deal with safety problems. |
2 . When you set a foot outside of your door to drop trash, go to a social event or go for a walk, thoughts like “I hope I don’t see anyone I know” or “please don’t talk to me” may run through your mind. I’ve also said such things to myself. Sometimes the last thing you want to do is to talk with someone, especially someone new.
Why do we go out of our ways to avoid people? Do we think meeting new people is a waste of time? Or are we just lazy, thinking that meeting someone new really is a trouble?
Communication is the key to life. We have been told that many times. Take the past generations, like our parents, for example. They seem to take full advantage of that whole “communication” idea because they grew up talking face to face while Generation-Y grew up staring at screens. We spend hours of our days sitting on Facebook. We send messages to our friends and think about all of the things we want to say to certain people that we don’t have the courage to do in reality.
Nowadays, we are so caught up in our little circle of friends—our comfort zone. We love it that they laugh at our jokes, understand our feelings and can read our minds. Most importantly, they know when we want to be alone. They just get us.
Holding a conversation with someone new means agreeing with things that you don’t really believe and being someone you think they want you to be—it is, as I said before, a trouble. It takes up so much energy, and at some point or another, it is too tiring.
But meeting new people is important. Life is too short, so meet all the people you can meet, make the effort to go out and laugh. Remember, every “hello” leads to a smile—and a smile is worth a lot.
1. What do we learn about the author?| A．He likes to meet someone new. | B．He feels stressed out lately. |
| C．He’s active in attending social events. | D．He used to be afraid of talking to others. |
| A．They rely on the Internet to socialize. | B．They are less confident in themselves. |
| C．They have difficulty in communicating. | D．They are unwilling to make new friends. |
| A．They think it troublesome. | B．They are busy with their study. |
| C．They fear to disappoint their friends. | D．They want to do meaningful work. |
| A．To stress the importance of friends. |
| B．To give tips on how to meet new people. |
| C．To encourage people to meet new people. |
| D．To display the disadvantages of Generation-Y. |
3 . I am sitting at the table in my favorite Boston bookstore-café, laptop open, writing. Ten minutes ago I ordered coffee. The server—a young, dark-haired woman with a broad smile and glasses—stopped and quietly said, “I just want to tell you how much your TED talk meant to me, you helped me find out what I really wanted to do with my life—go to medical school—and then you helped me do what I needed to do to get there. Thank you.”
Tears in my eyes, I asked, “What’s your name?”
“Fetaine,” she said. Then we talked for the next ten minutes about Fetaine’s challenges in the past and new-found excitement about her future.
Everyone who communicates with me is special and memorable, but this kind of communication happens far more often than I’d ever have expected: a stranger warmly greets me, shares a personal story about how they successfully dealt with difficulties, and then simply thanks me for my part in it. They are women and men, old and young, poor and wealthy. But something connects them: all have felt powerless in the face of great pressure and anxiety(焦虑), and all discovered a quite simple way to free themselves from that feeling of powerlessness.
For most writers, the book comes first, then the responses. For me, it was the other way around. First, I performed experiments that led to a talk I gave at the TEDGlobal conference in 2012. In that talk, I discussed some interesting findings about how we can quickly increase our confidence and decrease(减轻) our anxiety in challenging situations. I also shared my own troubles and how I learned to become more confident. Soon after the twenty-one-minute video of the talk was posted on the Internet, I began hearing from people who had seen it.
Of course, watching my talk didn’t magically give Fetaine the knowledge she needed to do well on Medical College Admission Test. But it may have helped her get out of the fear that could have prevented her from expressing the things she knew.
1. What happened in the Boston bookstore-café?| A．The writer waited ten minutes for her coffee. |
| B．The writer came across a friend of hers. |
| C．A waitress expressed her thanks to the writer. |
| D．A waitress encouraged the writer to give a TED talk. |
| A．They once faced problems and felt helpless. |
| B．They shared personal stories about strangers. |
| C．They were famous but under great pressure. |
| D．They were afraid to communicate with others. |
| A．How to increase confidence. | B．How to perform meaningful experiments. |
| C．How to overcome anxiety in a talk. | D．How to find interesting things in life. |
| A．She gave Fetaine power to look to the future. |
| B．She helped Fetaine with her knowledge. |
| C．She advised Fetaine to go to medical school. |
| D．She helped Fetaine to get a good job. |
4 . English is full of funny expressions that don’t always make sense. Idioms are phrases and sentences that do not mean exactly what they say. Even if you know the meaning of each word, you may not understand the idiom because you don’t understand the culture behind it. Here are some English idioms based on animals.
When children jump around and act silly, their parents may tell them to stop “monkeying around”.To “monkey around” means to do things that are not useful or serious, or to simply waste time.
Many American families have and love pet dogs. But for some unknown reason, Americans use “dog” in a phrase that means to feel unwell. If you are “as sick as a dog”, you’re really, really sick.
Sometimes you may also hear cats mentioned in conversations, “I told you to keep that secret, but you have just ‘let the cat out of the bag’!” You probably guessed it — that idiom means to reveal a secret or tell facts that were previously unknown.
Dogs and cats don’t always get along, but they appear side by side in a commonly used idiom. When it rains heavily, people might say it’s “raining cats and dogs”．
Heavy rain often ruins people’s plans for outdoor activities. But on a lovely day, you can have a picnic. If a swarm (一群) of tiny bugs love your food and start to hover (盘旋) around you, it would be really annoying. That experience perfectly explains why people often tell someone who keeps bothering them to “stop bugging me”．
Idioms are very common in both spoken and written English. If you want to have a better understanding of English, you have to learn idioms.
1. According to Paragraph 1, which is right about idioms?| A．Expressions which are based on animals. |
| B．Expressions with rich cultural background. |
| C．Expressions that always make sense. |
| D．Expressions which are easy to understand. |
| A．Children jump around and waste time. |
| B．Children do something useful and serious. |
| C．Children play with monkeys with their parents. |
| D．Children spend time playing with their family pets. |
| A．Dogs and cats always get along nicely. |
| B．Bugs can be used to show your annoyance. |
| C．Americans believe cats can give away secrets. |
| D．Americans use the idiom “as sick as a dog” to describe a healthy man. |
| A．By sharing experiences. |
| B．By making comparisons. |
| C．By giving examples. |
| D．By listing figures. |
5 . Many people like to explore the Internet. Exploring the Internet is one of the most important activities of the day. The Internet brings the outside world closer to people’s homes. Some people say the world is smaller than before because of the Internet.
What’s going on in other countries? How do people live in places far away? Is there a good sports game somewhere? What’s life like in the deepest part of the sea? If you want to answer all these questions, just come to the Internet. Of course, people can also learn through reading or listening to the radio. But with the Internet they can learn better and more easily. A lot of information can be collected at a great speed.
Can we go shopping without leaving home? Can we see a doctor without going to the hospital? Can we study without going to school? All these things seemed to be impossible, but now they have become true.
The Internet helps us to open our eyes. The Internet also helps to open our minds. The Internet often gives us new ideas. In a word, it helps us in many ways. Great changes have taken place in our life since the use of the Internet.
1. Some people say the world is smaller than before because ___________ .| A．all people like to search the Internet |
| B．the Internet makes the search smaller in size |
| C．the Internet brings the outside world closer to them |
| D．exploring the Internet is one of the most important activities of the day |
| A．the Internet is new to us |
| B．something is wrong with our minds |
| C．our minds can be opened only by the Internet |
| D．we can learn more with the help of the Internet |
| A．know a good sports match somewhere |
| B．cook the meal |
| C．know a lot of information |
| D．see a doctor and study all kinds of subjects |
| A．The Internet can get the information faster than reading. |
| B．Without leaving home, we can get the money from the bank by radio. |
| C．People can learn better and more through the Internet. |
| D．People often learn a lot of new ideas from the Internet. |
6 . “More and more consumers across the country are using cashless payment methods. The rapid development of third⁃party mobile payment tools is helping to encourage cashless payment across the country,” said Dong Ximiao, a researcher at Renmin University of China.
Although there were 3.4 billion third⁃party payment accounts in total in China in 2016, China is not the first country to seek a cashless society. Developed countries like Sweden, Denmark and Singapore are also seeing that increase.
However, the rapid development of the cashless payment does not mean there are no challenges or criticisms. Alibaba’s Hema store has come under the spotlight (成为焦点) recently. The media said that consumers couldn’t buy goods in cash there, which would be considered illegal.
Alipay and WeChat Pay, the nation’s two major third⁃party mobile payment tools, also launched campaigns this month to encourage more people to use cashless payment methods, which caused concern over whether cash will soon disappear.
“Some offline sellers refuse to accept cash, which influences the natural circulation (流通) of cash,” said Dong. He stressed that a cashless society would not mean that cash would completely disappear. “Also it’s important to remember that nearly half of China’s population live in the country, and they are unable to enjoy innovation (革新) brought by the Internet,” said Dong. “And when it comes to China’s senior citizens, most of them prefer to use cash in their daily lives,” he added.
“It’s ridiculous (荒谬的) to question digital payment tools’ contribution to financial development. In the long term, various payment methods will be used by consumers, and merchants should respect consumers’ payment habits,” Dong noted.
1. What does the underlined word “that” in Paragraph 2 probably refer to?| A．The economic activity. | B．A large amount of payment. |
| C．The development of the economy. | D．The cashless payment. |
| A．It fights against illegal activities. |
| B．Customers are not permitted to use cash there. |
| C．It provides comprehensive services. |
| D．It starts campaigns to encourage mobile payment. |
| A．The cashless payment should be limited in the countryside. |
| B．The innovation from payment is ridiculous in fact. |
| C．Various payment methods should be supported. |
| D．The digital payment should replace cash completely. |
| A．Innovation on the Internet | B．Cash or cashless? |
| C．Payment online should replace cash | D．Is the circulation of cash dying? |
7 . Not all heroes wear capes(斗篷) and Steve Montelongo proved the statement. While he doesn’t consider himself a hero, he has saved the lives of three people during the last two decades.
The 80-year-old man was in the right place at the right time, when he pulled a man out of his sinking car after he had accidentally driven into a river. Montelongo jumped to the man’s help without any hesitation(犹豫) or regard to his own health.
The accident happened while the elderly man was taking his granddaughter home after a dentist’s appointment. They had stopped at a traffic light when the girl saw the car fall into the river. Montelongo got out of his car to check out the scene and instantly noticed that water had begun rushing into the vehicle of the trapped driver. He walked into the river and managed to open the automobile’s back door, which fortunately was unlocked. As the water began to rush into the car faster, the 80-year-old managed to pull the 62-year-old Jack Swarts from the car by his shirt.
He later said in an interview—“I don’t consider myself a hero. I was just a man that got put in the right place at the right time”—words from a genuine modern-day good person.
This, however, wasn’t Montelongo’s only act of heroism. Nearly 20 years ago, he helped two of his neighbors get to safety as their house was caught in a fire. He was 62 years old at the time and had to kick open his neighbor’s front door to pull out 80-year-old Kathirne Mattox and 79-year-old Wayne Maxwell. During the rescue, Montelongo suffered chest pains and had to be hospitalized but made a quick recovery (恢复). He was awarded the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission medal for this bravery and act of heroism.
1. What does the underlined part in paragraph 1 mean?| A．Heroes like special clothes. | B．Everyone wants to be a hero. |
| C．Heroes deserve to be praised. | D．Ordinary people can be heroes. |
| A．By managing to start the car. | B．By pulling him out of the car. |
| C．By clearing the car of water. | D．By giving him first aid treatment. |
| A．He is modest. | B．He is brave. |
| C．He is responsible. | D．He is clever. |
| A．A hero is a man of confidence. |
| B．Care is an important part of courage. |
| C．For what they ought to do, such a person is brave. |
| D．The most terrible enemy is the lack of strong faith. |
8 . Ian McKenna was in third grade when he learned that many kids at his school weren’t getting enough to eat at home. He wanted to help, but local volunteer organizations turned him away, saying he was too young. So he decided to find his own solution. For years, he had been gardening with his mother, and they often sent their vegetables to the neighbors. “I’m good at gardening,” said McKenna. “Why not plant a garden at school so that kids in need can take food home?”
McKenna persuaded his school to set aside space for a garden; then he asked the community for donations of seeds and equipment. Other students donated their time. Within months, McKenna’s garden was producing lettuces, tomatoes and cucumbers for students and their families. Now, several years later, McKenna’s Giving Garden project has expanded to five area schools in addition to his own backyard garden. For most of his gardening activities, McKenna wears the same T-shirt in different colors, with his personal motto on it: BE A GOOD HUMAN. To him, that means helping in any way you can, no matter what your age.
“Even a smile might change someone’s life,” he said. “It lets them know that they are important. It can make their day.”
When COVID-19 hit the U. S., McKenna redoubled his efforts, cooking up to 100 meals to distribute (分发) them to the hungry on the weekends. When social distancing meant that volunteers couldn’t work on their community garden, he started offering online classes and a gardening hotline so families could grow at home. While gardening is his core focus, McKenna says he is always looking for new ways to help the hungry.
1. What led to McKenna’s decision to help the kids in his own way?| A．His school’s support. |
| B．His mother’s suggestion. |
| C．Being good at gardening. |
| D．Being refused by volunteer groups. |
| A．It helps students only. |
| B．It is funded by schools. |
| C．It earns great profits every year. |
| D．It started with the support from many sides. |
| A．Caring. | B．Outgoing. |
| C．Honest. | D．Interesting. |
| A．Ian McKenna, Growing a Food Project |
| B．Ian McKenna, an Experienced Gardener |
| C．The Giving Garden Project, a Challenging Task |
| D．The Giving Garden Project, a Universal Solution |
9 . As for long-distance travel, there are some wonderful destinations that actually offer you great value for your money, especially for those who do not hope to empty their pockets after a holiday.
Tokyo, Japan
Food lovers should go to this busy city which has the lowest cost of eating out — you can even buy two evening meals (three dishes for each), with a bottle of wine, for just under ￡34. For sightseeing there are plenty of free museums and attractions, while tour bus ticket prices start from as little as ￡11.56.
Bangkok, Thailand
Thailand’s capital is second to none as the best value long-distance city. Although there isn’t a big difference in all prices compared to the other cities, it is accommodation that really makes it stand out. If you’re only stopping for a long weekend, then be sure to pay a visit to the breathtaking temples.
Beijing, China
The Chinese capital stands out with the total price of ￡337.49. If you only have one cultural day out during your stay, make it a trip to the Forbidden City. There are some beautiful buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties. At the same time they’re home to priceless artificial objects from ancient Chinese emperors’ families.
Dubai, UAE
Although Dubai does have a reputation for being quite the splurge (挥霍) when it comes to holidays and if you’re going to enjoy shopping or experience the roller-coasters, it is in fact quite worth the money. The city also offers some cheaper prices across its museums, galleries and attractions as well as airport transfers.
1. What can you enjoy in Tokyo, Japan?| A．Free bus rides. |
| B．Eating out cheap. |
| C．Visiting galleries free. |
| D．Priceless man-made objects. |
| A．Tokyo. | B．Bangkok. |
| C．Beijing. | D．Dubai. |
| A．Dubai is not a good place for shopping. |
| B．Historical buildings spread everywhere in Dubai. |
| C．Being on vacation in Dubai costs tons of money. |
| D．The roller-coasters there are the best in the world. |
10 . Do you have any travel plans in the near future? Or are you looking for the safest place to travel? If your answer is yes, this travel guide will provide some places you can visit. In this guide, we will discuss their culture, food, and other things you should expect.
New Zealand
New Zealand has proven to be the world’s safest place to travel after Iceland and it is known for its wonderful dishes such as Fish and Chips, Hokey Pokey ice cream, etc. Whangarei Falls is a 26.3-metre high waterfall with a beautiful view that makes it one of the most photogenic waterfalls.
Belize
A visit to Belize would give you experiences such as world-class diving, explorations of jungles, etc. When you are in Belize, you should try the following foods: Rice and Beans, Tamales, Stewed Chicken, Fry Jacks and lots more. Belize is known for Mayan ruins and caves and jungle adventures, and it is also known as “Mother Nature’s Best Kept Secret”.
Greenland
Greenland is said to be a place where you do not have to worry about crime, so you need not worry too much about your safety. It is located between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, and it is the world’s largest island. Major tourist offers in Greenland include trips on hiking, tours on dog sledding, watching icebergs, etc.
Tunisia
Tunisia is said to be one of the most visited African countries. Some attractive places include its great capital city Tunis, the beach resorts of Mahdia and Kasbah Square in Tunis. Tunisia is popular for its beaches which have pocket-friendly expensive items. Tunisians are always willing to help. Some of the delicious dishes that Tunisians enjoy include Tabouna Bread, Tajine Maadnous, Tunisian Meat Dishes, etc.
1. What can visitors enjoy in New Zealand?| A．Mayan ruins. |
| B．Golden beaches. |
| C．The beautiful waterfall. |
| D．Jungle adventures. |
| A．New Zealand. | B．Tunisia. |
| C．Greenland. | D．Belize. |
| A．Tunisians are both warm and friendly. |
| B．It’s famous for its delicious dishes. |
| C．Tunis is the world’s largest port city. |
| D．It offers first-class hiking experiences. |
