1 . When you visit Kinderdijk, one of the most visited villages in the Netherlands, you step right into the middle of Dutch history.

Kinderdijk lies in the Alblasserwaard, where the Lek and Noord rivers meet together. Much of the village is near or even below sea level. Although there are canals and dykes (堤坝), the lowlands of the village are still at risk of flooding (洪灾). Among the most deadly floods was Saint Elisabeth’s flood in 1421, which killed thousands after the dykes broke in several places. To deal with this kind of problem, the Kinderdijk windmills (风车) were built around 1740 to move water from the lower areas to higher ground and into the river.

Nineteen of the 20 Kinderdijk windmills remain and were named a UNESCO World Heritage (遗产) Site in 1997. Of the 19 windmills, 16 still have millers who live inside and control the huge sails (翼板) in the wind. These windmills continue to help manage the Netherlands ongoing fight to stay above water.

For tourists, boat tours are offered along the canals and walkways lead from the visitor center to the windmills. Two windmills serve as museums, filled with old millers’ items and photos. You can climb up inside to see how the windmills work. The windmills also are working, so be prepared to feel the whole building shake when the sails turn in the wind.

Each year, about 500,000 people visit the Kinderdijk windmills and the buildings have become a must-see on any trip to the Netherlands. There are some windmills north of Amsterdam that “were built for tourists, but we’re a historical site where tourists come, so it’s the other way around,” says Kinderdijk communications manager Peter Paul Klapwijk. “Tourism is a good way to support our site.”

1. Why were the Kinderdijk windmills built around 1740?

A．To protect dykes.	B．To produce clean water.
C．To prevent floods.	D．To keep the sea level from rising.

2. What can we learn about Kinderdijk windmills?

A．Most of them are working as before.

B．Most of them have become museums.

C．Several of them have been sold to millers.

D．Several of them were destroyed long ago.

3. How does Peter Paul Klapwijk feel about so many tourists visiting the windmills?

A．Fearful.

B．Worried.

C．Excited.

D．Surprised.

4. What does the text mainly introduce?

A．The history of Kinderdijk

B．A famous historical site

C．An amazing village of canals

D．The traditions of the Netherlands

2 . Country Walks

Hope village

A leisurely (悠闲的) way to spend an hour or two is by visiting the busy village of Hope with its lovely country gardens. A gentle walk towards the hills will soon bring you to excellent views.

Country Park

The Lime House here attracts thousands of visitors, but this is a pleasant walk away from the crowds, through parkland, woods and up onto the hills. Popular with bird-watchers. Allow three hours. The house was built in 1570.

Cornford

This is an easy walk through a little-known valley. See the 200-year-old buildings from the cloth-making industry which now stand empty.

Devonshire Park

Allow at least half a day, or make it a full day by visiting the adventure playground and farmyard. Stop at the cafe (open all day) or enjoy the fantastic gardens. Guided walks are available (可获得的) for small groups.

Howden lake

This two-hour walk attracts thousands of visitors. Children can go sailing on the lake with trainers.

Stanton

This walk is certainly for very fit walkers only—the paths get very slippery (滑的) after rain. Allow six hours and start early! You’re unlikely to meet another person all day. Be sure to pack food—you’ll be up on the hilltops all day.

Strines

You need to be used to walking to successfully complete this seven-hour walk through the wildest scenery in the area. Follow a little-known footpath to the highest point for miles.

Langsett

This is an exciting walk along easy paths, which are crowded at weekend. And it s a popular place for family picnics. Guided walks start from the near village (10am Sundays) and visit 800-year-old woodland.

1. What is special about Country Park?

A．It is in a little-known valley.

B．It includes a house for making cloth.

C．It should be booked ahead of time.

D．It enjoys popularity among bird-watchers.

2. What do Devonshire Park and Langsett have in common?

A．They offer guided walks.

B．They are open for half a day.

C．They are for small groups.

D．They have adventure playgrounds.

3. Which of the following is only suitable for very strong walkers?

A．Cornford.

B．Stanton.

C．Hope Village.

D．Howden Lake.

3 . As new technology is introduced, there are many who worry about its influence on our current and future lifestyles－particularly when it comes to jobs. It is a current belief that with the rise of automation and artificial intelligence (AI), many people’s jobs, and therefore their livelihoods, are likely to be lost.

Automation in the workplace is nothing new. Machines have been performing dull tasks on our behalf for years, allowing us to escape many repetitive jobs. A recent report from the McKinsey Global Institute states that nearly two thirds of all jobs could have at least 30% of their activities automated by 2030. However, McKinsey also believes that this new technology will also ‘create new occupations that do not exist today, much as technologies in the past have done.’ As the horse gave way to the car, hostlers (马夫) became mechanics and mechanised fields drove up wages and created more long-term roles than it destroyed.

“It’s an evolution of work,” says Ian Barkin, a robotic process automation specialist. As low-skilled jobs are taken on by AI, people will need to learn new skills. “This calls on us to focus on up-skilling. Technology can lead to job reductions but it doesn’t have to,” says Barkin.

Whether or not robots and AI will leave us all jobless remains to be seen. Current views on the subject are mixed. Increased automation could indeed lead to a loss of some jobs, but at the same time is likely to create many more as new skills are required. Will they balance out?

1. How do many people feel about the influence of AI?

A．Quite delighted.	B．Quite surprised.
C．A sense of fear.	D．A sense of pride.

2. What might be McKinsey’s attitude to the rise of automation?

A．Doubtful.	B．Negative.
C．Critical.	D．Approving.

3. What does the underlined word “up-skilling” in paragraph 3 mean?

A．Taking risks.	B．Improving ourselves.
C．Adapting to the world.	D．Thinking positively.

4. Which can best express the author’s view on automation?

A．Every coin has two sides.

B．Where there is life, there is hope.

C．It’s better to do well than to say well.

D．A bad workman quarrels with his tools.

4 . Will Traditional TV Ever Be Replaced by Streaming?

For a long time, people had to listen to the radio to get news, drama, and music at home. This all changed with the development of the television in the early 20th century.    1    Since then, British TV viewers have enjoyed the launch of commercial TV, the addition of Channel 4, and then Channel 5, and finally the birth of paid services through satellite and cable.

A Slow Decline

While the uptake of TV ownership exploded, the decline of television's dominance has been slow and has been going on for the past decade.     2     Streaming services have given us access to more content than was ever possible, including back catalogues of classic shows and blockbuster movies.

Changing Viewing Habits

In the UK, adults are spending more time watching content on YouTube and streaming services than ever before. In 2018, these figures were 30 minutes and 26 minutes per day respectively.     3    

Still the King

    4    For example, in 2018 UK adults continued to watch BBC One for an average of 41 minutes per day, more than any streaming service.

Average viewing time for all traditional TV channels continues to decline though, despite much larger quantities of original content being produced by these organisations.     5    

While the traditional TV networks have seen a decline, the television set itself doesn't look like it's going anywhere any time soon.

A．This has been the trend for the last couple of decades.

B．The original content has included massively popular shows.

C．Suddenly, we were able to see what was going on, not just listen along.

D．The traditional TV channels are taking away audiences from streaming services.

E．Most major TV channels have their own catch up streaming service.

F．While demand for streaming services is up, TV continues to be the most watched overall.

G．Today, we have the power to watch whatever, whenever, wherever we want.

5 . If you’ve ever had to chop an onion，you probably know that it’s one of the most annoying cooking experiences．It just fills your eyes with tears．Scientists and farmers have been working on a solution to this problem for decades，and they’ve apparently come up with a tearless onion．

Called the“Sunion”，this new vegetable is the result of a natural cross-breeding program that’s been going on farms in Nevada and Washington since the 1980s．It’s supposedly a sweet，mild-tasting onion that doesn’t leave that strong，pungent aftertaste，but what really sets it apart from most other onion varieties is that it doesn’t cause teary eyes when it’s chopped．

When you cut into a normal onion，it releases a compound called lachrymatory-factor synthase，and’when that hits your eyes，your body produces tears．Now，the interesting thing about regular onions is that the amounts of lachrymatory-factor synthase increase the longer the vegetables are stored，so the older they，the more you cry．In Sunions，on the other hand，the levels of that annoying compound drop the more time goes by，until it no longer has any effect on your eyes when you cut it．

That’s what Sunion growers are claiming anyway，but reports from those lucky enough to have tried them seem to confirm these claims．The Huffington Post had three of its reporters chop some Sunions，and apparently，none of them shed a single tear．According to the Washington Post，they don’t have the pungency of regular onions and are so sweet that you can eat them“like popcorn”．

So the good news is that tearless onions are now a real thing．The bad news is that they are currently only grown in Washington and Nevada，and even though they are sold nationwide，they are still in relatively short supply．The first Sunion batches hit the shelves of grocery stores in December，but we’11 probably start seeing them in most grocery shops and supermarkets in the next few years，as more people learn about them．

1. What is special about the Sunion?

A．It’s easily chopped．	B．It’s sweet and tastes strong．
C．It’s tearless and mild．	D．It’s grown nationwide in the USA．

2. How does the author introduce the Sunion in Paragraph 3 ?

A．By comparison．	B．By telling a story．
C．By giving examples．	D．By asking questions．

3. What does the underlined word“pungency”in Paragraph 4 mean?

A．Round shape．	B．Strong smell．
C．Special character．	D．Medical function．

4. What can we conclude from the last paragraph?

A．The Sunion has been largely on the market．

B．The Sunion is still on trial at present．

C．The Sunion will soon be grown worldwide．

D．The author is confident about the future of the Sunion．

6 . Located in the southern part of the Yangtze River Delta (三角洲) in Wuxi, Taihu Lake is the third largest freshwater lake in China. With a surface area of about 2, 338 square kilometers, it is a famous scenic spot in China.

    1     It crosses Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, where you can see great natural beauty along the lake. The best place to view the beautiful lake is on the Turtle Head Islet, a small island stretching into the water, whose shape is really like the head of a turtle sticking out from the water. Taihu Lake and the surrounding magnificence will attract you when you climb onto the islet. When the soft breezes blow, waves roll and the hills in the distance look like a landscape painting.     2     The Turtle Head Islet Park is mainly made of the natural landscape, with man-made additions. Flowers and trees can be seen everywhere.     3     All efforts make the park graceful and elegant.

Besides the natural scenery of Taihu Lake, there are many ruins of historic sites. You can see the Grand Canal of the Sui Dynasty (581 —619), the islets in the lake along with the coastal places in the east.     4    

Taihu Lake has an abundant source of fish. Traveling there, you can taste the famous delicious food known as “Taihu Lake Three Whites”.     5     The feast is generally prepared in the boat as one floats on the peaceful waters of Taihu Lake. It is very well worth a visit.

A．The scene is really charming.

B．They are white shrimp, whitebait and whitefish.

C．Taihu Lake supplies plenty of water to the area nearby.

D．Taihu Lake is just like a bright pearl set in the Yangtze River Delta.

E．You feel like walking in the wonderland, forgetting to return home.

F．Various kinds of architecture are placed among the trees and bushes.

G．The north and the west are both the cradles (摇篮) of the Wuyue culture.

7 . Tips on Learning a New Language Before Travelling

Whenever you travel to a foreign place, it is helpful knowing a bit of the local language.    1    But speaking the local language shows you care and it will help you mix with the locals easily. To learn a language, you do not have to take full time classes. You can follow some of the tips to pick up some basics quickly before that trip.

Practise. The more you study the language, the better.    2    Think of it like learning an instrument or training for a marathon. The amount of time you'll need depends on the language you're learning, how often you practice and your learning style.

    3    One good way to practise is to use the language you’re learning. And who is better to speak a language with than a native speaker who can train you better and correct your mistakes? Find one on the internet or in real life and strike a conversation with them. There are some free language exchange websites where you can find native speakers to practise with.    4    

Download a language app. Your app store offers a vast amount of options for language learning. Apps like Google Translate, Duolingo, Bilingual or Hi Native can help you to learn languages quickly.    5     But they are not necessarily the best choice if you're short on time and trying to master the basics. They can also help a lot when you're struggling to communicate while on vacation.

A．Speak to native speakers.

B．Constantly use the language.

C．You can also find a private class to attend.

D．Trips can help make the process fun and easy.

E．Learning a language doesn't happen overnight.

F．Those apps can help you learn the language effectively.

G．You may not know how to pronounce the words correctly.

8 . A computer program has been used to predict how people are feeling when they type.

In a study participants were asked to type a particular phrase and the program then estimated if they were happy, sad and so on. Surprisingly it was correct 70 per cent of the time, and the findings could lead to smarter artificial intelligence in the future.

The study published in the journal Behavior and Information Technology was carried out by researchers at the Islamic University of Technology in Bangladesh, reports Live Science.

In the research 25 people ranging from 15 to 40 years old were asked to retype two paragraphs from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland written by Lewis Carroll. They also had to enter their emotional state every 30 minutes while doing their regular activities on the computer. This allowed the program an opportunity to understand how their emotions changed their typing style.

Moods tested were joy, fear, anger, sadness, hate, and shame. The result was that the program could identify(识别) a person' s mood correctly 70 per cent of the time. It was most successful in identifying joyfulness with an 87 per cent success ratio, while sadness was the least successful at 60 per cent. The researchers found that the participants were less likely to input (输入) data when they were in a bad mood, which may explain the inexactness of the second result.

However, the findings could have great importance for artificial intelligence, and it may allow computers to get along with us in a friendlier manner, “If we could build any system that is intelligent enough to communicate with humans that is, it can identify user emotions and change its behavior accordingly then using machines could be more effective and friendly.” the researchers wrote.

1. Who conducted the study?

A．Lewis Carroll.	B．Islamic University of Technology.
C．Live Science.	D．Behavior and Information Technology.

2. What were people asked to do during the research?

A．Input words and emotional state.	B．Change their typing styles.
C．Change their feelings frequently.	D．Show their natural feelings.

3. Why is the result about sadness not so correct?

A．People usually hide their unhappy feelings.

B．The program cannot recognize sadness clearly.

C．The program cannot calculate the data correctly.

D．It's more difficult to collect data when people are sad.

4. What's the importance of the research result?

A．It helps people develop smarter machines.

B．It helps people speed up their typing speed.

C．It will inspire similar studies on people's mood.

D．It clearly explains the relationship between mood and typing.

9 . An increase of just 2°C in global temperatures could make the world considerably drier and more desert-like, new research has warned.

More than a quarter of the world's land surface, home to more than 1.5 billion people, would become more arid and droughts and wildfires could be widespread. Limiting global warming to 1.5℃ would dramatically reduce the percentage of the Earth's surface affected, scientists found.

“Aridification (干旱化) would emerge over 20 to 30 percent of the world's land surface by the time the global temperature change reaches 2℃”，said Dr Manoj Joshi from the University of East Anglia’s School of Environmental Sciences and one of the study's co-authors.

The research team studied projections from 27 global climate models and identified areas of the world where aridity will greatly change. The most affected areas are parts of South East Asia, Southern Europe, Southern Africa, Central America and Southern Australia. These areas are home to more than .20 percent of the world's population — that’s over 1.5 billion people.

The study looked at the current rate of global temperature increase and compared it to data from before the industrial revolution. The world has already warmed by 1℃since then. Two thirds of the affected regions could avoid significant aridification if warming is limited to 1.5℃, researchers found.       

The Paris Agreement, which was first signed in 2015, is an international agreement to control climate change. It hopes to hold the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2℃ and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5℃.

But the local protectionism makes it possible that the world may become drier and the horrific scenes of the Californian wildfires may become more common. The fire burned more than 440 square miles of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties and destroyed more than 1,000 structures after breaking out in early December.

1. What should we do to prevent aridification?

A．We should limit the temperature rise to 2°C.

B．We should limit the temperature rise to 1.5°C.

C．We should limit the industrial development.

D．We should limit the global population.

2. Which country is most likely to be affected by aridification?

A．China.

B．Russia.

C．Canada.

D．Philippine.

3. Why does the author mention the Californian wildfires in the text?

A．To show the harm of aridification.

B．To emphasize the loss of the fire.

C．To support the local protectionism.

D．To tell us wildfires are common.

4. What is Dr Manoj's attitude towards the global temperature change?

A．Indifferent.

B．Approving.

C．Concerned.

D．Unclear.

10 . The skin under the eyes is delicate, which is why it sometimes appears sunken and has darker coloring than elsewhere on the face. Aging and health problems play a role in sunken eyes but other factors can contribute too, so it may affect younger people as well.

Dehydration

The most common cause of sunken eyes is dehydration, or not having enough water in the body. Consuming too much coffee, soda, and prepackaged drinks may increase production of urine, which may lead to dehydration.

Vitamin shortages

Shortages of vitamin C, vitamin K, and iron can cause eyes to become sunken. Vitamin C helps with absorbing iron and decreasing bruising, while vitamin K is responsible for blood thickening, the lack of which may cause unhealthy skin. Easy bruising and unhealthy skin will result in sunken eyes.

Weight loss

Most people tend to lose weight in their face first. Sometimes, the weight loss is sudden enough to make blood vessels below the eyes easy to see, and the skin clear, producing the appearance of sunken eyes. Sudden weight loss may also cause nutritional shortages, which can lead to sunken eyes.

Not enough sleep or poor-quality sleep can cause sunken eyes and a person’s DNA or the habit of smoking can also contribute to sunken eyes. Most cases of sunken eyes relate to the quality of an individual’s nutrition and healthy living. When these causes are corrected, sunken eyes can be resolved without further treatment. This means that causes can be avoided or treated in good time to prevent the recurrence of sunken eyes.

1. What can we do to prevent dehydration according to the text?

A．Have certain drinks less.	B．Refuse coffee.
C．Drink more water.	D．Say no to soft drinks.

2. What will lead to bruising below the eyes?

A．Lack of vitamin K.	B．Water shortages.
C．Lack of vitamin C.	D．Nutritional shortages.

3. Which of the following should be avoided for people losing weight?

A．Pale faces.	B．Sudden weight loss.
C．Clean skin.	D．Narrow blood vessels.