1 . Reading books can exercise your brain. Kids who started reading at an earlier age go on to perform better on certain intelligence tests, such as analyses of their vocabulary size. As one gets older, it might help slow down or even cease cognitive decline.     1     Many Americans don't read frequently. It's time to reverse this trend to give your brain gray matter a good workout.

    2    When you have some down time—you're waiting for a friend, sleeping lightly on the way from or to work, or doing a task that doesn't require your full attention—you can open your text instead of pulling up your favorite smartphone game.     3     While paper is still the clear winner in the court of public opinion, science hasn't proven that physical books are better than digital ones.

Academic research has mostly focused on the ability to remember. A study took place in a laboratory setting： Students all read the same text, but some looked at the words on paper and others viewed an on-screen PDF. It turned out that no meaningful difference between the two media existed. As for audiobooks, they affected the brain gray matter somewhat differently.     4    

Ultimately, if you hope to get a reading habit going, you shouldn't dismiss paper digital, or audio—    5     Don't be afraid to change things up depending on the occasion.

A．Audiobooks still affect your thoughts and feelings.

B．Go with what makes the most sense for your needs.

C．Words on a page can improve the emotional intelligence.

D．This brings about a great debate: pages vs screens vs audio.

E．Keep a book, e-reader, or audiobook app on you as you go about the day.

F．Despite this, the overall book-reading time for Americans is on the decline.

G．However, they stimulated the brain just as deeply as black-and-white pages.

2 . A new study, published this week in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science, reveals that non-human animals' tears are not so different from our own. The chemical similarities are so great, in fact, that the composition of other species' tears—and how they're adapted to their environments-may provide insights into better treatments for human eye disease.

Previously, scientists had studied closely only the tears of a handful of mammals, including humans, dogs, horses, camels, and monkeys. In the new study, Brazilian veterinarians analyzed the tears of reptiles and birds for the first time , focusing on seven species.

Tears, which are released from tear tubes, form a film over the eye that's composed of three ingredients: mucus, waler, and oil. The mucus coats the eyes surface and helps to attach the film to the eye, the water is a natural salty solution containing crucial proteins and minerals, and the oil prevents the eye from drying out.

Humans are the only known species to produce emotional tears; the expression "crocodile tears," which refers to a person's phony display of emotion, comes from the mysterious tendency of crocodiles to release tears as they eat.

But tears play key roles beyond weeping, notes Lionel Sebbag at Iowa State University, who was not involved in the new research. They help with vision by lubricating and clearing the eye. They also protect the eye against infection and provide nutrition to the cornea, the eye's clear outer layer, which lacks blood tubes, he says.

Learning how reptiles and birds' use tears may also inspire new medications for conditions such as dry eye, which occurs when tear tubes don't produce enough oil. The disease, common in cats, dogs, and people, can sometimes lead to blindness.

1. What is paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．The source of tears.	B．The composition of tears.
C．The classification of tears,	D．The definition of tears.

2. What does the underlined word "phony” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．Tricky.

B．Regretful.

C．Cold.

D．False.

3. Which statement does Lionel Sebbag agree with?

A．Weeping contributes to eye disease.	B．The cornea has rich blood tubes.
C．Tears oil and clear the eyes.	D．More tears mean better vision.

4. What might be the best title for the text?

A．Tears, a barrier to eyes	B．A better treatment for eye disease
C．Non-human tears promise new cures	D．Other species’ tears are similar to humans'

3 . At present, the rapid development of our society is forcing people to rush.     1     However, it’s better for people to take their time and live their life at a slower pace than to hurry to get things done.

The main reason for not working in a hurry is that we may make mistakes. When people do their jobs or other things in a hurry, they can’t make a sound decision and probably have regrets later. As the saying goes, “Haste makes waste（欲速则不达）.”     2     We should not make mistakes by doing work hurriedly.

Slowing down the pace of life helps people enjoy their life better. For example, taking a train to some place certainly will take more time than taking a plane. However, taking a train gives people enough time to get to know a lot of new friends. Moreover, it allows people to fully enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way.     3    

Finally, a slower pace of life provides better health conditions for us. As is known to all, being in a hurry bothers people and raises their stress.     4     According to some studies people who have a quicker pace suffer more diseases, and tend to live much shorter than those whose life is not tense.

    5     Yet, too much stress can’t bring enjoyment, friends and good health to individuals. Therefore, it’s a good idea to take your time and live your life at a slower pace sometimes.

A．Should we work quickly?

B．Rushing does no harm to us actually.

C．People have got used to being in a hurry.

D．Working quickly can bring more material benefits.

E．We should think carefully before making a decision.

F．Besides, rushing can be bad for one’s physical health.

G．However, rushing will make us lose chances to enjoy our lives.

4 . As the pandemic separates us from loved ones, many of us are trying to stay connected through texting, email, and social media, even taking the opportunity to reconnect with long-lost friends.

But if our goal is to feel closer to people and enjoy our conversations more, we’d better pick up the phone, according to a new study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology.

In the study, participants (参与者)imagined having a conversation with a friend they hadn't been in touch with for at least two years and made predictions (预测) about how it would feel to connect by phone versus(对比)email. "We think it's going to be awkward to talk to somebody, but that just turns out not to be the case," says lead author Amit Kumar. "Instead... people form stronger connection when they're talking on the phone than when communicating over email. ”

The same result held true when the researchers had participants do a conversation exercise with strangers using either video chatting, audio(声音的),only chatting, or text-chatting. People who used media that included the voice had more satisfying exchanges and felt closer to their new friends than the text-chatters.

Why? Likely it's because our voices communicate a variety of emotions, helping others to read us better and to feel like they really know us. Hearing someone's voice helps understand each other better —in some cases, even better than video chatting.

So, while texting can be useful, it's not the best way to get the most out of socializing. If we're looking for greater happiness and connection, we should give someone a call.

1. What do the underlined words “the case” in Paragraph 3 refer to?

A．Stronger connection is possible.

B．Predictions agree with the results.

C．Talking on the phone is awkward.

D．Communication over e-mail is effective.

2. Why do participants communicating with voice feel closer?

A．They can talk more quickly.

B．Voices show more emotions.

C．Voices are easier to understand.

D．They are more familiar with voice.

3. How do researchers get the study result?

A．By quoting experts' words.	B．By telling stories.
C．By making comparisons.	D．By introducing theories.

4. What is considered the best way to connect with someone?

A．Text chatting.	B．Sending emails.
C．Making calls.	D．Writing letters.

5 . Salad seeds（生菜种子）that went on a round trip to outer space and back grew at a slightly slower rate than the ones on earth, scientists have found, thanks to thousands of young people who helped conduct an out-of-this-world experiment.

The project started in 2015, when British astronaut （宇航员）Tim Peake took a million rocket seeds with him on his journey to the International Space Station （ISS）. The seeds spent six months there before they were sent back to Earth in 2016. In a message sent from the ISS, Peake said the science experiment was to find out if the conditions in space affected the seeds' ability to grow.

Around 600,000 pupils at 8,600 schools in the UK were then asked to grow the rocket seeds that had been to space, along with regular seeds that had never left the planet. Peake described the experiment as "one of the largest and most inspirational experiments of its kind".

The results of the study, which have just been published, found that the space seeds grew more slowly than the ones that had stayed on Earth. Researchers on the experiment said this was due to the stresses of space travel, such as the zero-gravity （零重力）atmosphere and high levels of cosmic rays（宇宙射线）,which slowed the growth of the plants.

Now researchers are hopeful that if the seeds are properly protected, it might be possible to grow plants during future space tasks to other planets. Dr Jake Chandler, from University of London, who led the study, said,“ The possibility of eating home-grown salad on Mars may be one small step closer.

1. Why did Tim Peake take seeds to ISS?

A．To explore the secret to gravity.

B．To have astronauts grow salad in ISS.

C．To promote young kids，interest in salad.

D．To test the space's influence on seeds growth.

2. How did Tim Peake feel about the experiment?

A．Encouraged.

B．Disappointed.

C．Confused.

D．Concerned.

3. From which part of a website is the text probably taken?

A．Health.

B．Science.

C．Educatn.

D．Business.

4. What could be the best title of the text?

A．Space study, a hot topic

B．Salad growing, a hit among students

C．Your salad, grown on Mars, may soon be a reality

D．Man's exploration to Mars, a big step forward

6 . My Ph. D. adviser called me into his office, saying I needn't bring my notebook. After 15 minutes of listing my positive things, he looked me in the eye and said,“You are fired from the lab.”

I had moved to Israel from my native India the year before, excited to experience a new culture and study for a Ph. D.   At first things went well in my new lab. Then, 3 months before I was fired, I ran into some problems. I made a few mistakes in the lab that slowed my research, but I wasn't aware that my adviser noticed them, and he never spoke to me about any concerns. I’m still not sure why he fired me, but I guess it was because of those mistakes. He wasn't confident that I could complete my research in time as we'd planned.

The first few days after I was fired were especially difficult. I spent hours staring at my computer screen, unable to get anything done. One day all I could do was sit on a beach, crying. I tried to change his mind with promising results, but he stuck to his decision. I could not break the news to my family in India, as the fear of disappointing them overwhelmed （压垮）me. I soon got into a state of sadness and anxiety. Meanwhile, the date for me to leave the country was drawing near, as my visa required me to be registered as a student. I was lonely and without hope.

Around that time, I watched Dasvidaniya, a Bollywood movie that's about a man who has 3 months to live. One line from the movie stuck out to me :“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade（柠檬水）” .What kind of lemonade could I make out of my present situation? My desire to complete a Ph. D. was never in doubt. After much reflection, I told myself that one failed attempt was not the end of the world, and that I needed to give it another try. With renewed confidence, I emailed expected advisers and applied to other programs. Within 2 months, I landed an offer from a Ph. D. program in Italy. I accepted it and relocated to Europe, happy that my goal of completing a Ph. D. was alive once again.

I’m thankful that I didn't give up on my dream and that I found another professor willing to take me on.

1. What is Paragraph 2 mainly about?

A．The personality of the adviser.

B．The author's problems in study.

C．The possible reason for the author's being fired.

D．The author's difficulty in adapting to a new culture.

2. What did the author do after being fired?

A．He applied for a new visa.

B．He got addicted to computer games.

C．He tried to change the adviser's mind.

D．He shared the news with his family in India.

3. What kind of "lemonade” did the author make out of the difficult situation?

A．Persuading the adviser to let him stay.

B．Being responsible for different programs.

C．Holding the belief to get a doctor's degree.

D．Getting accepted by another Ph. D. program.

4. What lesson can we learn from the story?

A．Direction is more important than effort,

B．Turn to movies for comfort when in trouble.

C．A doctor’s degree is important for the future.

D．Difficulties in life can be turned into something positive.

7 . Before the December holiday craze and celebrations start, November is an ideal time to visit the southeast states to enjoy mild temperatures and unique festivals and events.

South Carolina Pecan Festival in Florence

Head to downtown Florence for this popular annual community event held the first Saturday of November. There are stages with live music, over 250 food and craft vendors, art exhibitions, amusement rides, antique tractor show, car show, and pecan cooking competition with celebrity judges.

Seagrove Pottery Festival in North Carolina

This yearly festival features hand-made pottery, colonial crafts, and pottery-making demonstrations. Pottery collectors can pick up some limited-edition pieces signed and dated by local potters. Always the weekend before Thanksgiving, the event starts on Friday, with a duration of three days.

Mule Day in Calvary, Georgia

Labeled as the largest one — day festival in southwest Georgia, this annual event, always held the first Saturday in November, features a sunrise breakfast, mule parade(骡子游行)，flea market with hundreds of booths, a barbecue and fish fry, regional entertainment, and more. Mule Day celebrates the mules’ significant contribution to the area’s agriculture.

Veterans Day Parade in Birmingham, Alabama

Veterans Day, a federal and state holiday in the United States, is always celebrated on November 11th. There are events throughout the Southeast, including parades and ceremonies on or close to Veterans Day.

1. What can people do at Pecan Festival?

A．Appreciate art works.

B．Watch music shows on screen.

C．Drive modern tractors and cars.

D．Buy food cooked by celebrities.

2. Why is Mule Day celebrated?

A．To boost the local market.

B．To advocate cooking skills.

C．To enhance the importance of economy.

D．To honor mules for their role in agriculture.

3. Which festival falls on November 11th?

A．Pecan Festival.	B．Pottery Festival.
C．Mule Day.	D．Veterans Day.

8 . Non-Credit Courses

The Pre-College Program offers non-credit courses. Students will experience college-level courses given by some of our college’s leading experts and will receive written feedback (反馈) on their work at the end of the course. Pre-College students will also receive a grade of Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory and a certificate of completion at the conclusion of the program.

All non-credit courses meet from 9:00 a. m.-11:30 a. m. daily and may have additional requirements in the afternoons or evenings.

COURSE: Case Studies in Neuroscience

·June 11— July 2

·Leah Roesch

Using student-centered, active-learning methods and real-world examples, this course is designed to provide a fuller understanding of how the human brain works.

COURSE: Psychology of Creativity

·June 15—June 28

·Marshall Duke

Why are certain people so creative? Is it genetic (遗传的), or a result of childhood experience? Are they different from everyone else? This popular psychology course highlights the different theories of creativity.

COURSE: Creative Storytelling

·June 21 — July 3

·Edith Freni

This college-level course in creative storytelling functions as an introduction to a variety of storytelling techniques that appear in different forms of creative writing, such as short fiction and playwriting.

COURSE: Sports Economics

·July 19 — August 1

·Christina DePasquale

In this course we will analyze many interesting aspects of the sports industry: sports leagues, ticket pricing, salary negotiations, discrimination, and NCAA policies to name a few.

1. Who is the text intended for?

A．The general public.	B．College freshmen.
C．Educational experts.	D．High school students.

2. Which course can you take if you are free only in June?

A．Sports Economics.	B．Creative Storytelling.
C．Psychology of Creativity.	D．Case Studies in Neuroscience.

3. Whose course should you choose if you are interested in creative writing?

A．Leah Roesch’s.	B．Edith Freni’s.
C．Marshall Duke’s.	D．Christina DePasquale’s.

9 . I went snowboarding in France with my little brother and what we lacked in skill was made up for in enthusiasm. That day, fresh snow had been falling. We stopped near the top of an off-path section. I let my brother disappear into the trees ahead, figuring I would soon catch up.

I began to pick up speed when I was suddenly thrown off balance. Just as I was regaining control, I ran into the trunk of a large tree. It was like hitting a solid wall. The pain was instant.

I quickly realized the situation could get very serious. Nobody would be coming past. There was no phone signal. It was snowing and cold. If I waited, I would probably be rescued eventually. But the chance of freezing to death before that happened was too high for me to risk staying put.

I managed to get the board off from my feet and moved it under my stomach so I was lying on it. I faced down the mountain and used the board to slowly drag and slide my body down the steep, tree-lined slope (斜坡).

It took about two hours before a skier found me and I got help. I couldn't feel my hands or my toes from the cold, but the relief at knowing I was safe was massive.

I had broken one of my backbones, so I had an operation where the doctors inserted plates. The constant pain was unbearable, but it wasn't as bad as seeing the pain and worry I put my family through.

The recovery road was tough, but I was lucky. Gradually, I was able to walk, then swim, then cycle and then run. I haven't been back to the slopes yet, but it might happen someday— I will, however, choose the paths.

1. How did the author feel at the start of snowboarding?

A．Confident.

B．Amused.

C．Nervous.

D．Panic.

2. Why did the author choose to go ahead after the accident?

A．He was cold and hungry.

B．He preferred to challenge himself.

C．He was aware of the risks of waiting.

D．He wanted to catch up with his brother.

3. What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A．Follow the safer path.

B．Do more sports activities.

C．Receive training in the future.

D．Never go snowboarding again.

4. What is the purpose of this text?

A．To share a lesson.	B．To keep a diary.
C．To recommend a sport.	D．To make a comment.

10 . A student-led push to get solar panels installed at a middle school in Tacoma is receiving national recognition from a clean energy nonprofit organization called Generation 180. The girls involved are advocating and fundraising for the project.

Sammy Firkins, Gwen Newport and Annie Son will talk about their idea to generate solar electricity at Jason Lee Middle School in a panel discussion organized by Generation 180. In 2019, the three of them teamed up with their science teacher, Kathy Hall, to push for solar panels to be installed. Hall, who uses solar power at her own house, said it’s long been a dream of hers. The school would be the first in the Tacoma district to use solar energy.

The girls presented their idea to Gov. Jay Inslee’s STEM Education Innovation Alliance meeting in early 2019 and received enthusiastic support. They then spoke to the Tacoma school board and obtained buy-in from the district, though they were told the district did not have the roughly $ 200,000 for the 277 solar panels and that they would have to fundraise. They’ve since raised more than half that amount through grants and individual donations.

Gwen Newport said she’s always cared a lot about environmental issues and that she’s troubled that climate change does not get the attention it deserves. “At this point, I feel like it’s kind of been given to my generation almost as our responsibility now and so being able to be a part of this project and take action is really important to me,” she said.

The solar panels have not been installed at the school yet. But Hall said she estimates that the project will reduce the school’s power costs by about $ 14,000 a year, and that it also will serve an educational purpose. “We will have live data always streaming available so that people can see how the panels are working and how they relate to the amount of electricity we’re using, and it will be an incredible learning tool,” she said.

1. What is Generation 180?

A．It is the name of the girls’ team.

B．It is a project to use solar power.

C．It is a nonprofit environmental group.

D．It is a student-led push to install solar panels.

2. What is the third paragraph mainly about?

A．The girls raised enough money for the project.

B．The Tacoma school board rejected the project.

C．The girls made great efforts to fulfill the project.

D．The district covered the expenses of solar panels.

3. How does Gwen Newport feel about climate change?

A．Confident.

B．Concerned.

C．Relieved.

D．Content.

4. What is the main purpose of the project?

A．To advocate for donations.

B．To serve as a learning tool.

C．To protect the environment.

D．To cut down the school’s expenses.