2 . It is well known that smoking is harmful to health. It is unfortunate that despite some individuals who choose not to smoke, they remain to be victims of various diseases caused by cigarette smoking.

Cigarette smoke contains thousands of dangerous chemicals that are unhealthy for both smokers and non-smokers. Secondhand smoke refers to the smoke from the burning end of a cigarette and the smoke breathed by smokers. More than 126 million Americans are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke at home, at work, and in enclosed public spaces.

The Deadly Effects

Secondhand smoke can cause heart disease and lung cancer in non-smoking adults. Breathing secondhand smoke for even a short time increases risk for those diseases.

Children and infants are especially attacked by the poisons in secondhand smoke. Almost 3 million children in the United States under the age of six breathe secondhand smoke at home at least four days per week.

Secondhand smoke is a known cause of the sudden infant death syndrome, breathing problems, ear infections, and asthma attacks in infants and children.

Secondhand smoke in the home environment can slow the lung growth of exposed children. Older children whose parents smoke get bronchitis and pneumonia more often than the children of non-smokers. Wheezing (气喘) and coughing are also more common in children who breathe secondhand smoke.

Protecting Yourself and Others

The only way to fully protect yourself and loved ones from the dangerous chemicals in secondhand smoke is through 100 percent smoke-free environments. Opening a window; sitting in a separate area; or using ventilation (通风), air conditioning, or a fan cannot get rid of secondhand smoke exposure. If you are a smoker, the single best way to protect your family is to quit smoking.

1. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT the possible result of smoking?

A．Heart disease.	B．Pneumonia.
C．Lung cancer.	D．High blood pressure.

2. Which of the following are more vulnerable to secondhand smoke?

A．Adults.	B．The elderly.
C．Cancer patients.	D．Children and infants.

3. As a smoker, what should you do to protect your family from the harm of secondhand smoke?

A．Use an air conditioner.	B．Try to avoid smoking.
C．Stay in a separate room.	D．Open the windows for ventilation every day.

4. What’s the best title for the passage?

A．Smoking is harmful to health	B．Anti-smoking campaign is launched
C．Secondhand smoke: the real danger	D．Create a smoke-free environment

3 .                                                                                                                  Break Your Bad Habits

Nowadays in real life, many people have all kinds of bad habits, but getting rid of them takes a bit more effort. Whether they’re “traditional (like biting your nails, snacking on junk food, gossiping, or twirling your hair) or more hi-tech (like texting), bad habits all have one thing in common: They’re hard to break. You can do it, though.

So if you’re ready, gather your willpower, follow these steps, and wave goodbye to that bad habit forever!

Step 1     1    

Make a note every time you engage in your habit. Write down the time and where you are, as well as how you’re feeling. Are you bored, angry, or sad? The more you understand the reason behind your habit, the more control you’ll have over it.

Step 2 Pay attention to when your bad habit pops up.

Do you see any patterns in your journal? Do you always bite your nails before a test? Are you more likely to eat junk food, like chips or candy, when you’re doing your homework? If you notice a pattern of your habit,     2     For example, if you bite your nails when you’re stressed, try to find other ways to calm yourself, like taking slow, deep breaths.

Step 3 Replace your bad habit with a good.

Instead of biting your nails or twirling your hair, keep your fingers busy drawing or knitting. If gossip is your problem, challenge yourself to say nice things about people. Each time you substitute your new activity for your old one,     3    

Step 4 Stay focused.

Write down a promise to yourself: “I will stop biting my nails” or “I will stop texting so much”. Make a list of the days of the week, and place a gold star next to each day that you don’t engage in your habit. If you can’t get through a whole day at first,     4     Before you know it, you’ll have a whole page of gold stars!

Step 5 Keep at it.

Maybe you’ve heard the expression “Old habits die hard”? Well, it’s true! It usually takes three weeks to a month to break a bad habit. So if you mess up one day, don’t give up!     5     Eventually you’ll have more successes than failures.

Remember, if you put your mind to it, you can do anything—even break that bad, bad habit!

A．Keep a journal for a day (or two).

B．He has the bad habit of biting his nails.

C．Just go right back to trying again the next day.

D．I want to stop, and sometimes I even quit for a day.

E．you’ll be one step closer to breaking that bad habit.

F．break each day down into smaller segments of time.

G．start thinking about ways you can change the pattern.

4 . The best trips with friends are the ones that are well-planned. Here are a few tips on planning an incredible trip with friends and making memories that last.

    1     Someone might be looking to rest and relax on a beach, while another person might be looking to enjoy as much nightlife as possible. Figure out what everyone wants and find out what everyone’s top three destinations are, and research places that have all of your common interests.

Nothing puts a damper on (使扫兴) vacation planning with friends than arguments over money.    2     Meeting at a friend’s house or talking over dinner can reduce what can sometimes be an awkward discussion by group texts or emails.    3     When the major (主要的) costs are out of the way, don’t forget about smaller joint (共同的) expenses like taxis and tips.

It’s fun to get lost in the excitement of booking things and crossing off your checklist of to-dos.    4     It’s important to provide a window of opportunity for everyone to comfortably share their opinions and concerns about trip decisions.

Despite all the late-night planning and lunchtime meetings, some situations will be totally out of your hands.    5     Remind everyone not to focus narrowly on a few dollars, and whatever you do, don’t ever let arguments get out of control.

A．Pick the right destination.

B．Book a cheap flight or hotel.

C．It’s important to choose the right group of people.

D．You need to discuss big costs like flights and hotels at first.

E．When it comes to discussing money, talk about it face to face.

F．So lower your expectations a tiny bit when things don’t go your way.

G．But don’t forget to communicate with your friends to see if anyone has any worries.

5 . A company, called Mario Cucinella Architects, has made the House of Music, a solar-powered ( 太阳能的) building in Pieve di Cento that celebrates the town’s long-standing musical tradition. Designed to represent an orchestra ( 管弦乐队), the building is made up of nine small music rooms that connect to a central open space. The curved oak front not only helps to make sound louder like an instrument’s music box, but also ensures high levels of energy efficiency (效率).

Finished in 2017 after four years of planning and building, the House of Music of Pieve di Cento is located in the former Lamborghini (a famous Italian car company) production area that had been changed into a park. The recently completed building gets an advantage from a cycling path that connects the House of Music to the town center and beyond to an area to the south. There is also a wooden bench running around the building and creating resting places facing the park.

To prevent heat, cold, or noise from passing through the building, Mario Cucinella Architects used a special design for the House of Music. The flat roofs are topped with a series of curved and raised disks (圆盘) that help make unwanted sunlight change its direction and are engineered to bring more natural air into the building. The energy-efficient design was influenced by the architects’ (建筑师的) study of the site.

The nine music rooms open up to a central outdoor space that serves as a meeting area. The architects noted, “The House of Music’s outside lighting makes it a comforting place that encourages people to continue to do musical activities after the earthquake that shook the area in 2012.”

1. What was the purpose of building the House of Music?

A．To praise the town’s musical tradition.	B．To remember a famous local musician.
C．To attract people outside the town to visit.	D．To tell people about the importance of music.

2. What do we know about the House of Music?

A．It started to be built in 2017.	B．It is located in the town center.
C．It is supported by a famous car producer.	D．It is connected with other areas by a cycling path.

3. The architects designed the lighting mainly in order to         .

A．encourage people to keep up their musical activities	B．warn people of the danger of earthquakes
C．make the building noticeable and attractive	D．make full use of energy

4. What is this text mainly about?

A．The history of the House of Music.

B．The advantages of solar-powered buildings.

C．An introduction to the solar-powered House of Music.

D．A discussion about the future development of solar-powered buildings.

6 . Cambry Nelson is paralyzed (瘫痪的) and has used a wheelchair for years. Still, she didn’t let it stop her from exploring the areas she could get to in her chair, but it came at the expense of some serious shoulder pain. Wanting to help Cambry live life to the fullest, her husband Zack created a DIY off-roading wheelchair.

The chair was made from two electric bikes put together with a seat in the middle. The thick tires ( 轮胎) made it easy for Cambry to move over uneven ( 不平坦的) ground and the fact that it was electric left her arms feeling a lot less painful.

The couple discovered that the chair cost much less (while most off-roading wheelchairs “cost as much as a car,” their chair cost around $4, 000) and had more power than a lot of off-roading wheelchairs on the market. So, they decided to make a business of it.

They call it “Not A Wheelchair.”

It’s designed to fit through (most) doorways as well as to fit into the back of a truck, jeep, or small SUV when it breaks down. As for power, it can go about 12 mph and has enough battery (电池) life to last anywhere from 10 to 35 miles. It also has specially designed space to hold whatever you may want to take along with you on your journey.

When ordering your chair, you get to customize it with your favorite color! Even better? It’s made out of bike parts so you don’t need to take it to a special repair shop if it is in need of repair.

Cambry said, “There are things I’ve never done before and things I stopped thinking about doing because at one point I thought I couldn’t,” and that the chair Zack made her completely changed her attitude. Since taking it off-road, she said, “I like to think it’s just more proof (证明) that difficulties can always be dealt with. Sometimes it just takes a new idea, a creative mind, and a lot of perseverance.”

1. Why did Zack design “Not A Wheelchair”?

A．To make a business of it.

B．To help his wife see the world.

C．To make people with special needs travel more easily.

D．To make use of his old bikes that couldn’t work properly.

2. How is “Not A Wheelchair” different from most off-roading wheelchairs on the market?

A．It is cheaper.	B．It is smaller in size.
C．It comes with the most popular color.	D．It can go as fast as 35 miles per hour.

3. What should people do when “Not A Wheelchair” needs repairing?

A．Do the repairing on their own.	B．Take it to a common repair shop.
C．Leave it to someone in a special repair shop.	D．Ask the producer to change it for a new one.

4. How did Cambry change after using “Not A Wheelchair”?

A．She developed an interest in design.	B．She fell in love with outdoor activities.
C．She became more creative in her work.	D．She took a new attitude towards difficulties.

7 . During our four days in Sydney, the first thing on my wish list was to record the symbols of this city, the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, at sunset (日落). Thankfully, my family was very patient with me, as we watched the sunset over and over again while I recorded the exciting moments on my camera.

We first arrived at the Queen Victoria Building, or QVB, which has been called one of the most beautiful places to go shopping. From the QVB we walked down to the Circular Quay, our first look at the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

Then the next day, we went to the Taronga Zoo, located across the harbour (港口) from the Circular Quay. There are many Australian animals as well as lions, tigers, and Asian elephants. The best part of the zoo is the ferry (渡船) ride to get there and the view along the way.

For one of the best sunset views, we paid a visit to Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair, a famous viewpoint of the Sydney Harbour. I felt like a true photographer, making my very patient and understanding family wait in the cold for almost two hours while I filled my memory card with photos of the wonderful sunset.

Our time had to come to an end. We spent our last night at the Sydney Opera House café, playing cards, drinking wine, and watching the sunset.

If you would like to know where not to stay in Sydney, then do not go to the Central Railway Hotel. This hotel, one of the few that were cheap enough to fit into our budget, was loud, dirty, and crowded. We were always checking the windows, since so much noise was coming in from the streets. The only good thing was its location, being a five-minute walk from Central Station, a hub (中心) of Sydney.

1. What did the author want to do most in Sydney?

A．Go shopping with his family.	B．Visit the Sydney Opera House.
C．Watch unique animals in Australia.	D．Photograph famous structures at sunset.

2. What did the author think of his trip to Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair?

A．It was record-breaking.	B．It was a waste of time.
C．It was worthwhile.	D．It was very painful.

3. What made the author choose the Central Railway Hotel to stay?

A．Its good location.

B．Its quietness.

C．Its low price.

D．Its cleanness.

4. Which was the author’s travel route in Sydney?

A．The QVB → the Sydney Opera House → the Taronga Zoo → Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair.

B．The QVB → the Taronga Zoo → Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair → the Sydney Opera House.

C．The Harbour Bridge → the Taronga Zoo → Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair → the QVB.

D．The Circular Quay → the QVB → the Taronga Zoo → Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair.

9 . What would you like to drink? It’s likely the first thing your server will ask when you sit down for a restaurant meal. Whether you ask for it or not, a glass of water usually comes with lemon slices. But be warned: despite all the health benefits of lemon water, you might want to tell your server to leave a lemon slices out.

A 2007 study in the Journal of Environmental Health tested 76 lemons from 21 restaurants for germs(细菌)and had some pretty frightening findings. Nearly 70 percent of the lemon slices had germs. Even though lemon is a natural germ-killer, it can still be polluted by germs. Another ABC research testing one lemon at 10 different restaurants found that half the lemon slices had human waste.

Lemon slices are more likely to have germs than the food you order on a plate because restaurant health standards are likely to be less strict for garnishes(装饰菜). The ABC research noticed that restaurant workers often cut lemons without gloves. If they didn’t scrub their hands completely after using the bathroom, there was a good chance that they could leave the germs on the lemon slices in your drink.

But before you start giving servers an angry look when you see them carrying lemon water, you should know that the garnish won’t necessarily make you sick. The authors of the 2007 study admitted there haven’t been any diseases linked to lemons. And expert Philip Tierno, leader of the ABC research, said, “Your immune system(免疫系统)will usually protect you from getting sick from lemon water.” “The usual course will probably result in no disease, but there is a possibility,” DrTierno said. “You can’t live in a bubble. Your immune system is usually pretty good.”

Still, if you’re concerned, just request your server to bring your water with no lemon slices. Don’t skip the lemon water at home though, because drinking lemon water has huge health benefits. Just make sure to wash the lemon before putting it in your glass.

1. How does the author introduce the topic of the text?

A．By telling a story.

B．By raising a question.

C．By giving an example.

D．By listing scientific facts.

2. What did the 2007 study find?

A．Germs grew faster in lemons.

B．The lemon was a natural germ-killer.

C．Most tested lemons had germs.

D．Few people noticed unsafe restaurant food.

3. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the underlined word “scrub” in Paragraph 3?

A．Dry.	B．Clean.
C．Move.	D．Examine.

4. What may Philip Tierno agree with?

A．People can drink lemon water in restaurants.

B．Lemon water in restaurants will become less popular.

C．Cooks should wear gloves while preparing garnishes.

D．Homemade lemon water is healthier than that in restaurants.