1 . This Is How Scandinavia Got Great

Almost everybody admires the Nordic model. Countries like Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland have high economic productivity, high social equality, high social trust and high levels of personal happiness.

Nordic nations were ethnically homogeneous(同质的) in 1800, when they were dirt poor. Their economic growth took off just after 1870, way before their welfare states were established.     1    

The 19th-century Nordic elites did something we haven’t been able to do in our country recently. They realized that if their countries were to prosper they had to create truly successful “folk schools” for the least educated among them. They realized that they were going to have to make lifelong learning a part of the natural fabric of society.

    2     The German word they used to describe their approach, bildung, doesn’t even have an English equivalent. It means the complete moral, emotional, intellectual and civic transformation of the person. It was based on the idea that if people were going to be able to handle and contribute to an emerging industrial society, they would need more complex inner lives.

Today, Americans often think of schooling as the transmission of specialized skill sets — the student can read, do math and recite the facts of biology.     3     It is devised to help them understand complex systems and see the relations between things — between self and society, between a community of relationships in a family and a town.

The Nordic educators worked hard to cultivate each student’s sense of connection to the nation. Before the 19th century, most Europeans identified themselves in local and not national terms.     4     The idea was to create in the mind of the student a sense of wider circles of belonging — from family to town to nation — and an eagerness to assume shared responsibility for the whole.

That educational push seems to have had a lasting influence on the culture. Whether in Stockholm or Minneapolis, Scandinavians have a tendency to joke about the way their sense of responsibility is always nagging at them. They have the lowest rates of corruption in the world. They have a distinctive sense of the relationship between personal freedom and communal responsibility.

A．Bildung is the way that the individual matures and takes upon him or herself ever bigger academic responsibility.

B．What really launched the Nordic nations was generations of phenomenal educational policy.

C．Bildung is designed to change the way students see the world.

D．But the Nordic curriculum conveyed to students a pride in, say, their Danish history, folklore and heritage.

E．They look at education differently than we do.

F．The Nordic educators also worked hard to develop the student’s internal awareness.

2 . There was a time when we thought humans were special in so many ways. Now we know better. We are not the only species that feels emotions, or follows a moral code. Neither are we the only ones with personalities, cultures and the ability to design and use tools. Yet we have all agree that one thing, at least, makes us unique: we alone have the ability of language.

It turns out that we are not so special in this aspect either. Key to the revolutionary reassessment of our talent for communication is the way we think about language itself. Where once it was seen as an unusual object, today scientists find it is more productive to think of language as a group of abilities. Viewed this way, it becomes apparent that the component parts of language are not as unique as the whole.

Take gesture, arguably the starting point for language. Until recently, it was considered uniquely human - but not any more. Mike Tomasello of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, and others have collected a list of gestures observed in monkeys and some other animals, which reveals that gestures plays a large role in their communication. Ape(猿) gestures can involve touch, vocalising or eye movement, and individuals wait until they have another ape’s attention before making visual or auditory gestures. If their gestures go unacknowledged, they will often repeat them.

In an experiment carried out in 2006 by Erica Cartmill and Richard Byrne from the University of St Andrews in the UK, they got a person to sit on a chair with some highly desirable food such as banana to one side of apes and some undesirable food such as vegetables to the other. The apes, who could see the person and the food from their enclosures, gestured at their human partners to encourage them to push the desirable food their way. If the person showed incomprehension and offered the vegetables, the animals would change their gestures - just as a human would in a similar situation. If the human seemed to understand while being somewhat confused, giving only half the preferred food, the apes would repeat and exaggerate their gestures - again in exactly the same way a human would. Such findings highlight the fact that the gestures of the animals are not merely inborn but are learned, flexible and under voluntary control - all characteristics that are considered preconditions for human-like communication.

1. It is agreed that compared with all the other animals, only human beings ________.

A．own the ability to show their personalities

B．are capable of using language to communicate

C．have moral standards and follow them in society

D．are intelligent enough to release and control emotions

2. According to the passage, humans are not so special in language ability because language ________.

A．involve some abilities that can be mastered by animals

B．is a talent impossibly owned by other animals

C．can be divided into different components

D．are productive for some talented animals

3. What can we learn from that experiment by Cartmill and Byrne?

A．Apes can use language to communicate with the help of humans.

B．Repeating and exaggerating gestures is vital in language communication.

C．Some animals can learn to express and communicate through some trials.

D．The preferred food stimulates some animals to use language to communicate.

4. What is probably the best title of the language?

A．Language involves gestures!	B．Animals language - gestures!
C．So you think humans are unique?	D．The similarity between humans and apes.

3 . Saturday 28 April, 2001: Denis Tito was setting off on his holiday. Mr. Tito’s journey was certainly unusual. So was the transport he chose and the price of his trip.

The 60-year-old multi-millionaire from New York was sitting on board a Russian spaceship. He was on a journey to the International Space Station. It might have been a routine trip for the two astronauts who were traveling with him, but for him it was certainly no ordinary journey. Dennis Tito was the first tourist ever in space, and he had paid the sum of $ 20 million to go there. As the spacecraft left the earth’s atmosphere, Tito drank a glass of fruit juice to celebrate and looked down at the earth’s blue-green surface. Two minutes later, he was sick. Luckily, it was only a minor problem. He soon recovered, and from then on enjoyed a smooth journey. When he arrived at the space station, there was a big smile on his face. “A great trip!” he commented. “I love space.”

For a long time space travel was something for heroes. But all this is going to change. Companies like ProSpace are investing large amounts of money in space travel. They want space and space travel to belong to the public, not just governments. There are other plans, like voyages through space from one side of the world to the other. Maybe we will be able to depart from New York at nine o'clock in the morning, and arrive an hour later --- in Tokyo! Such a schedule would allow the business travel to return to New York on the same day, and still have eight hours for a meeting!

1. Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?

A．Business Travelers.	B．Space Tourists.
C．A space Exploration.	D．A frightening Adventure.

2. According to the passage, Dennis Tito ________.

A．enjoyed his trip very much.	B．was too sick to eat anything in space.
C．suffered a lot during the trip.	D．didn’t think the trip was worthwhile.

3. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

A．Tito was the first American tourist in space.

B．Tito contributed all of his wealth to his space trip.

C．Tito visited the Russian Space Station during his trip.

D．Space travel has become a routine for Tito since then.

4. It can be expected from the passage that ________.

A．space travel will belong to the public instead of governments.

B．airplanes will some day reach the speed of space vehicles.

C．we will be able to circle the earth within less than an hour.

D．travel between two places on earth will be made through space.

4 . Social Integration — Welcoming the Newcomers

Social integration is the process through which minority groups interact, come together or are incorporated within a community, Increased social integration helps reduce conflict and tension in society, and it can help the new migrants feel more connected to their new community. How do different groups remain relatively cohesive in society?

A few countries around the world have adopted integrated frameworks for their economic, social, political and cultural policies with regard to accepting these migrants into the local society.     1    . This is to allow them to achieve their full potential in life. There are still ongoing efforts to integrate different cultures and races, and the governments have encouraged their immigrants to take an active part in social, cultural, economic and political activities.

Integration takes place in neighbourhoods. work places, schools and public places where people from diverse backgrounds spend most of their time.     2     Especially among the younger children, being in the same class as their foreign counterparts will teach the local children the meaning of tolerance and empathy. Participation in sports, community engagement and volunteer work are also other possible ways that eliminate discrimination and other forms of intolerance. From participating in arts programmes to being parent volunteers in schools, these platforms provide opportunities for people to interact and work towards a common cause. Sports programmes have also been used to encourage social integration. In fact, sport can strengthen social networks and promote non - violence and respect. In these ways, meaningful relationships among those of different ages, racial groups or faiths are built on the basis of common interests.

    3     still, countries have also acknowledged that human movement across borders cannot be stopped. Instead, it should be better managed so that migration is safe, legal and beneficial for everyone.     4     Indeed, the government and local communities play a key role in integrating these newcomers and empowering them to contribute to their new communities, while maintaining their identities.

A．Social integration is no doubt a continuous changing process.

B．Formal education is one common platform that brings together diversified groups.

C．Integration also takes place in various arts programmes which are supported by local community.

D．Concerted efforts are made to ensure there are equal opportunities for migrants regardless of their backgrounds.

E．Societies are better off if they promote social integration through common practices that reduce tension, discrimination and poverty.

F．Social integration should be guided in reasonable steps and stimulated by local governments.

6 . It's the best kept secret of modern science: 16 years of the Human Genome Project suggest that genes play little or no role in explaining differences in intelligence. While genes have been found for physical features, such as height or eye colour, they are not the reason you are smarter (or not) than your sisters and brothers.     1    .

Very likely, you will simply not believe this and are sure from your own experience that it's "a bit of both" nature and nurture. But those genes that have been found only explain 1%-5% of any psychological characters.    2    . It's something scientists call “missing heritability”. Robert Plomin, one of the world's leading geneticists, told the Guardian last year. "I have been looking for these genes for 15 years and I don't have any."

Of course, babies are born different and biological transmission of traits (特征传送) does occur - it's just not genetic. For instance, there is abundant evidence that autism (自闭症) may be due to what happens during pregnancy, prematurity or difficulties during the birth itself.    3    . But it has been proven many times over that the right kind of nurture can correct it.

    4    . It means that most babies have the potential to succeed in conventional terms in exams and careers. There is no inherent (先天的) reason why children from low-income families cannot succeed as much as those from affluent homes.

A．Neither are they why you are less smarter than your brothers and sisters

B．Nor are they why you are like your high-achieving or dull parents

C．Your genes decide your achievement

D．This is not just my opinion

E．About a third of babies are born "difficult" for these reasons

F．That it's not genes is extremely good news

7 . Elephant Sanctuary

Guests are guided in small groups on foot through the sanctuary. Guides will provide in-depth information and insight into African elephants. You will be introduced to our elephants in the forest area, where you will be able to touch and interact with them.

You will experience the special relationship between the elephant handlers and their elephants. Start a short walk with the elephants (trunk-in-hand) and see where the elephants sleep. Guests learn about the inner structure of the elephants and will feed them. On some hot days you may even see the elephants swimming.

Enjoy a drink from the cash bar on the main deck before departure.

Remember to wear flat walking shoes, sun hats and bring your camera.

Departure times

Morning tour: 06:30 and 08:00

Afternoon tour: 12:00 Duration: 6-8 hours

Price: $ 33 (1),$20 (2-3), $ 17 (4-13+people)

Entrance fees, return transport included

Not included: Elephant ride

1. Which of the following is true?

A．Tourists can feed the elephants and swim with them on hot days

B．Before departure, tourists can enjoy some drinks free of charge.

C．The pricing system encourages tourists to bring their babies along.

D．In the forest, visitors can have a close contact with elephants.

2. The word “Sanctuary” probably means“________”.

A．Park

B．Information Center

C．Shelter

D．Refugee

3. What is the passage mainly about?

A．Introduction to the elephants in the wild.

B．Promotion of a giant animal and the living environment.

C．Advertisement of handlers and their elephants.

D．A visit to a scenic spot.

8 . MIT chemistry professor Daniel Nocera led research on the artificial leaf project, says he and his colleagues took their cues from plants, which are literally buzzing with electricity.

“What happens is that sunlight comes in and hits the leaf and then the leaf immediately takes that sunlight and makes a wireless current,”says Nocera.

During photosynthesis, the energy in sunlight splits water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen joins with carbon dioxide to make sugar, an essential fuel for plant growth. In Nocera’s laboratory, scientists replicated that chemical process using a silicon device about the size and shape of a playing card, only thinner. It's coated with nickel and cobalt catalysts that when exposed to water and ultraviolet light, accelerate a chemical reaction.

“So you can literally just take this bottle of water and we could take the chip, put the chip inside the bottle of water, and go holding it up in the sun and you would start seeing hydrogen and oxygen bubbles coming up.”

The hydrogen is then recombined with the oxygen in a fuel cell to produce electricity. Nocera’s work builds on previous research. John Turner of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory pioneered the concept in 1998 using materials too expensive and unstable for commercialization.

Nocera says his so-called practical artificial leaf uses less expensive materials, is more stable and more efficient than that earlier design. He says the challenge is to collect the gases coming off the silicon and store them until the energy is needed. “That has to be engineered still,” he adds. “We don't know how to do that. It will be something that we will start doing pretty soon. You’ll be storing a fair amount of energy because this system is working at the efficiency more or less of the solar cell.”

In laboratory experiments, Nocera's solar cell prototype operated continuously for 45 hours without a drop in electrical output. Nocera notes that it works in any type of water. “So you can use natural water sources, which for us is a big deal, because if you are in rural parts of the world. especially where they are poor, it is really costly to bring in pure water and so, the fact that you can go over there' to a puddle and pick the water up and begin using it, is something that is very powerful for us."

Nocera believes the artificial leaf could be especially useful as an inexpensive source of electricity for low-income populations in developing countries. The goal, Nocera says, is to make each home its own power station. He predicts a commercial version of the artificial leaf will be on the market within three years.

1. MIT chemistry professor Daniel Norcera's research is different from John Turner's mainly in that________.

A．Norcera's research outcome is too commercialized

B．Norcera has found a cheaper and steadier material

C．Norcera's working system is like the solar cell

D．Norcera's research is original and unprecedented

2. The next step for Nocera's laboratory to do is probably to find out________.

A．an efficient way of storing gases coming off the silicon

B．a feasible system that is as efficient as solar cell

C．a silicon device that can accelerate the chemical reaction

D．how to spread the cheap source of electricity in developing countries

3. The biggest advantage of Nocera's research is that________.

A．It is convenient for every home to own a power station

B．It can change the ordinary water into pure water

C．It has a commercial value for poor populations

D．It can recycle waste water and thus eco-friendly

4. What is probably the best title of the passage?

A．Plants Can Produce Cheap and Steady Electricity

B．Storage of Energy Is a Tough Challenge

C．Artificial Leaf Tuns Sunlight into Electric Power

D．Inexpensive Source of Electricity Is Finally Available

9 . Mr. Everest is no longer an inaccessible giant. More than 4,000 people have stood on the world's highest peak since 1953. Last year alone, more than 650 people made it to the top.

But as the crowds have grown, so too has the list of stories coming from the mountain: long lines over train, and conflict over the value of Sherpas.

For people who want a more drama-free climbing experience, the globe is filled with other peaks worth tackling.

There are literally 13 other mountains over 8,000 meters and some get virtually no attention. They are very challenging mountains that would be an equal feather in someone's hat to climb with many routes still to be discovered, unlike Everest." Mountains taller than 8,000 meters (more than 26,000 feet) are rare and exceptionally challenging to climb, purely for the lack of oxygen at such height. Above 8,000 m, it becomes so difficult to breathers that climbers call it the “death zone."

The Himalayas contain all 14 of the world's 8,000 meter-plus peaks, which are among Nepal, China, India and Pakistan. Among those, Everest is not only the tallest. It's also accessible by hiking for about a week and a half after flying into Lukla.

From there, the mountain is loaded with equipment, including a cell phone tower and Sherpas who fix ropes for Western climbers. That makes the climb far less technical than it otherwise would be.

Why Do People Keep Climbing Mt. Everest? “It's certainly not the easiest climb because of the height, ”said Alan Amette, a mountaineer and Everest blogger in Fort Collins, Colo. I hate the word 'easy' for any 8,000-meter mountain. A better word is achievable. Everest is achievable.”

One emerging alternative to Everest is K2, the world's second tallest mountain -- at 8,611 m(28,251 feet) to Everest's 8,848 m (29,029 feet). But for every four or so people who have summited K2, one person has died trying, Arnette said, for a total of 300 successful climbs and 81 deaths.

On Everest, by comparison, the ratio of successes to deaths is about 24 to one with more than 6,000 summits and about 250 deaths. K2 is a "loose" mountain with lots of rock fall and avalanche(雪崩) activity, Amette said. Its main route also goes up the east side, making climbers get affected by incoming storms.

1. The term “Death Zone" is used to describe an area________.

A．that is 8,000 meters high with the shortage of oxygen

B．where there is the highest rate of death in mountain-climbing

C．where climbers are unable to breathe

D．where breathers are very likely to die due to the height.

2. Which of the following is true of the Himalayas?

A．They cover as many as four countries.

B．They contain ten peaks over 8,000 meters.

C．Everest is its tallest and easiest peak to climb.

D．Everest is its peak with good technical support.

3. K2 is more challenging to climb than Mt Everest in that________.

A．more people died in mountain-climbing.

B．more natural disasters occur due to its loose quality.

C．there are more snow storms happening on average.

D．storms are more unpredictable at the peak.

4. What is the passage mainly about?

A．Introduction to mountain climbing.

B．The challenges of the tallest mountains.

C．Climbing the most challenging mountains in the world.

D．How to overcome difficulties as mountaineers.

10 .

The changing population throughout the globalizing world, in particular an increase in the aging population and a decrease in birth rates, is disturbing housing markets.

Since 1970, global average income per person has increased, with a few exceptions as in 2009 and 2015, and inequality has also widened among and within nations. The International Monetary Fund’s Global House Price Index collapsed in 2008 before climbing again to reach pre-crisis levels. Due to these population and financial trends, household structures have changed with increased preference for smaller, shared living quarters and less home ownership worldwide. Analysts increasingly focus on mapping and predicting effects of globalization on housing markets and individual decisions.

Countries at the forefront of globalization, namely the United States and China, as well as rapidly globalizing countries like India, expect their aging populations to double by the year 2050. Coupled with changes to the family structure, especially a childbirth rate nearly halved since 1950 and more two-income households, decisions involving the housing stock are more complex than ever before.

The three countries may share a common challenge: Their governments are not well prepared for rapid growth in their graying populations. Out of the three, the United States could be most affected, as the primary-mode of senior care in China and India is in-home care. If family support remains the top choice for senior care, this could prevent India and China from the possible negative effects of the inadequate public and private planning. In-home care involves family members covering the cost and accommodation of senior members. About 65 percent of US elderly in need of assistance rely on family and friends, and non-family senior care is relatively new for India and China.

1. Which of the following is TRUE according to paragraph 1 and 2?

A．The housing markets are mostly affected by the decrease in birth rates and rise in death rates.

B．Inequality has widened among and within nations due to the rapid globalization of the households.

C．The population and financial trends led to increased preference for smaller, shared accommodations.

D．Analysts think globalization has decisive effects on housing markets and individual decisions.

2. What can be inferred from the last two paragraphs and the illustration?

A．The aging populations of the three countries are expected to decrease by 2050.

B．Non-family senior care probably remains the best choice for the elderly in America.

C．China will probably have the largest percentage of the senior population by 2050.

D．The three giants in terms of population must avoid the challenges from their citizens.

3. The best title for the passage is ______________.

A．The challenge for the aged	B．Shelter for an aging world
C．The rapid growth of population	D．Comparison on globalization