3 . Rain beat against the window, matching my mood. I should have known that my new job at the hospital was too good to be true. Throughout the day, rumors (传言) warned that the newest employee from each department would be laid off. I was the newest one in the training department.

My boss appeared. “You probably know we’re cutting back,” he said. “Administration wants us to offer outplacement classes to help those employees find other jobs, showing them how to act in an interview, for example.” “Fine,” I answered unwillingly, not knowing what else to say.

I decided to go home early that day. In the hall, I met the lady who brought us cookies every Friday. She was a little woman with gray hair. Only her head and the top of her green apron (围裙) were visible over the cart (小车) loaded with cleaning supplies. At least she had a job!

At the final meeting, laid-off workers formed a line at the door. A colleague whispered, “I can’t believe our Cookie Lady is being laid off. We’ll miss her as much as we’ll miss her cookies.” When the colleague spoke to her in Spanish, I knew my classes would be useless for her and I realized how much better off I was than this poor woman.

I decided to do something for her. I wrote to a newspaper expressing how I felt about the unselfishness of the Cookie Lady who needed a job. A few days later, my article appeared in the newspaper and the Cookie Lady was allowed to stay in her position. On the same day, I received a letter, which seemed so unlikely that I read it twice. “An editor of a local magazine likes your piece and wants you to call her next time you’re looking for work…”

1. How did the author feel on that rainy day?

A．Nervous.

B．Excited.

C．Embarrassed.

D．Proud.

2. What was the author asked to do?

A．Take care of patients.	B．Leave earlier that day.
C．Help the laid-off workers.	D．Give up the job in the hospital.

3. How did the author help the Cookie Lady?

A．He offered her a high-paid job.	B．He gave her advice on job hunting.
C．He made her story known to others.	D．He taught her how to pass an interview.

4. What does the story tell us?

A．Good deeds have their rewards.

B．A friend in need is a friend indeed.

C．Little people can make a big difference.

D．Love brings more joy to people than work does.

4 . Top Silk Road Attractions

Terracotta Warriors (兵马俑)

Type: History Museums, Historic Sites

Recommended Length of Visit: 3 hours

As the eighth wonder of the ancient world, it has a history of more than 2, 200 years. Oriental mummies (东方木乃伊) wait for you to discover their mystery.

Mogao Grottoes (莫高窟)

Type: Buddhism, Historic Sites

Recommended Length of Visit: 3 hours

Considered as the eastern Louvre Museum, Mogao Grottoes is a glorious treasure of ancient Buddhist cave art. The history of Mogao Grottoes can be traced back to the “Five Hu — 16Kingdoms” period (AD 304-439).

Big Wild Goose Pagoda (大雁塔)

Type: Culture & History, Buddhism

Recommended Length of Visit: 2 hours

For hundreds of years, this great pagoda has always been the symbol of Xi’an. It is famous for the great traveler Xuanzang of Tang Dynasty who traveled from China to India to learn the Buddhism and got back to China with many precious Buddhist scriptures (佛经).

Qinghai Lake

Type: Lake

Recommended Length of Visit: 5 hours

Known as the largest inland lake, as well as the largest salt water lake in China, it is the most visited and famous attraction in Qinghai Province. Here, you not only enjoy the fantastic natural beauty, but also experience the amazing culture here.

Please click here to add the attraction to your favorite list. Let us plan a private Silk Road Tour for you!

1. What do Mogao Grottoes and Big Wild Goose Pagoda have in common?

A．Both contain ancient Buddhist cave art.

B．Both are related to history and Buddhism.

C．Both are known as the symbol of Xi’an.

D．Both were constructed during the Tang Dynasty.

2. Which of the following provides tourists with breathtaking natural scenery?

A．Terracotta Warriors.	B．Mogao Grottoes.
C．Big Wild Goose Pagoda.	D．Qinghai Lake.

3. Where is this text most likely from?

A．A novel.	B．A storybook.
C．A website.	D．A magazine.

5 . Every day, millions of people surf the Internet, and there are countless websites for them to visit. Here are four popular websites for online users.

https://www. cracked. com

If you’re old enough, you might remember Cracked, the monthly magazine that was founded in 1958. Although the magazine is no longer printed, the website hutps://uwww. crached. com is still alive. The content(内容)of Cracked is humorous and tries to tell readers something new and unexpected.

https://www. buzzfeed. com

Are you looking for links to big news on the Internet? Look no further than hutps://www. buzafeed. com. Each day the website offers the latest stories and pictures that are crazily spread. BuzzFeed covers different topics and its articles are written by staff members, site users, and partner sites like The Huffington Post and The Daily Beast.

https://www. reddit. com

Reddit calls itself“the front page of the Internet”, and that is exactly what it is. Just as many people used to read the newspaper while eating breakfast, one to two million Internet users read Reddit every morning to get their daily news. The content of this website comes entirely from the public, with users uploading(上传) videos, links, stories, pictures, etc.

https://imgur. com

Do you know many of the funny pictures, GIFs and emojis(表情符号) that hit your Facebook come from Imgur? It’s a free website where users upload 1. 5 million pictures each day. Imgur users are especially fond of pictures of cute animals and beautiful natural wonders. And it is free to read and use. You can download any photo you like.

1. Which of the following can best describe the content of Cracked?

A．Serious and classical.	B．Formal and influential.
C．Funny and surprising.	D．Traditional and educational.

2. What does BuzzFeed mainly offer?

A．The funniest pictures.	B．The most humorous articles.
C．The latest videos.	D．The hottest news.

3. Which website should you visit if you want to collect lots of emojis for free?

A．https://www. crached. com.	B．https://imgur. com.
C．https://www. buzfeed. com.	D．https://www. reddit. com.

6 . There was once a boy called Mario who loved to have lots of friends at school. However, he wasn’t sure whether or not his classmates were his true friends, so he asked his grandpa. The old man answered, “I have just exactly what you need; it’s in the attic (阁楼). Wait here for a minute.”

Grandpa left, soon returning as though carrying something in his hand, but Mario could see nothing there. “Take it. It’s a very special chair. Because it’s invisible (无形的) it’s rather difficult to sit on, but if you take it to school and you manage to sit on it, you’ll be able to tell who your true friends are.”

Mario took the strange invisible chair and went to school. At break time he asked everyone to form a circle, and he put himself in the middle, with his chair. “Nobody move. You’re about to see something amazing,” Mario said.

Then Mario tried sitting on the chair. He missed and fell straight onto his backside. Everyone had a pretty good laugh. Mario wouldn’t be beaten. He kept trying to sit on the magic chair, and kept falling to the ground... until, suddenly, he tried again and didn’t fall. This time he sat, hovering (悬停) in mid-air.

Looking around, Mario saw George, Lucas, and Diana — three of his best friends — holding him up, so he wouldn’t fall. At the same time, many others he had thought of as friends were doing nothing but make fun of him, enjoying each and every fall.

Leaving with his three friends, Mario explained to them how his grandpa had so cleverly thought of such a good idea. Now he knows that those who take joy in our misfortunes (不幸) when we are in difficulty are not our true friends.

1. What did Mario’s grandpa take from the attic?

A．An invisible chair.	B．An old chair.
C．A real chair.	D．Nothing.

2. Why did Mario’s grandpa give him the invisible chair?

A．To see whether Mario could sit on it.

B．To test who were Mario’s true friends.

C．To let Mario have fun with his classmates.

D．To test whether Mario was popular at school.

3. How was Mario able to hover in mid-air?

A．He saw the invisible chair suddenly.

B．He managed to sit on the chair finally.

C．His friends held him up with their hands.

D．His classmates gave him a chair to sit on.

4. What does the story tell us?

A．Never laugh at our friends.

B．True friends can help us do magic.

C．True friends are those who care for us.

D．Having too many good friends isn’t a good thing.

7 . Unbelievable Stories of Animals Acting Just Like Humans

Horses are picky eaters

Horses have an even better sense of smell than humans do. When horses raise their noses and open their nostrils (鼻孔), their nervous system allows them to sense smells we can’t sense. This might explain why they refuse dirty water and carefully move around meadows, eating only the tastiest grasses, experts say.

Whale says thanks

In 2018, a whale expert spotted a humpback whale trapped in a fishing net and spent an hour freeing it. Afterward, in an hour-long display of thanks, the whale swam near their boat and leaped into the air about 40 times.

Pandas like to be naughty

Is there anything more lovely than a baby panda, except maybe a human baby? In fact, baby pandas sometimes behave like human babies. They sleep in the same positions and value their thumbs. Pandas are shy by nature for its shy behaviors such as covering its face with a paw or ducking its head when confronted by a stranger.

A cat honors its owner

Paper towels, and a plastic cup are just a few of the gifts that Toldo, a devoted three-year-old gray-and-white cat, has placed on his former owner Iozzelli Renzo’s grave every day since the man died in September 2018. Renzo adopted Toldo from a shelter when the cat was three months old, and the two formed an inseparable bond. After Renzo passed away, Toldo followed the coffin to the cemetery, and now “stands guard” the grave for hours at a time.

1. What can horses do to pick delicious grasses?

A．Feel them.

B．Taste them.

C．Smell them.

D．Observe them.

2. What do the whale and the cat have in common according to the passage?

A．They are clever.

B．They have a grateful heart.

C．They are active and lovely.

D．They have a good sense of smell.

3. Which of the following acts like a human baby according to the passage?

A．The whale

B．The cat.

C．The horse.

D．The panda.

8 . How to plan your routes to avoid busy places

Whether you are a beginner or already a regular runner, these apps will come in handy for planning routes that avoid busy places on your next run

Strava

Just put in whether you’re running or cycling, how far you’d like to go and whether you’re keen to avoid hills, the app will then suggest a number of routes near you, based on where other runners have been. It is a good way to see running routes you might not have explored.

Komoot

As you plan the route, it’ll work out the distance of your run and give you the option to input your running speed, allowing the app to work out how long the route shall take you.

Map my run

Map my run gives runners the option to plan their own route, or the ability to search through popular running routes near you, which is even more helpful for beginners. The app gives you the option of saving your favourite routes and accessing them on the app if you get lost mid-run.

OS Maps

Another hugely popular map-building platform, OS Maps is pretty high tech when it comes to planning a running route. You’ll need a subscription to get some of the features, but using the free app you can find local running routes. There are almost two million routes stored in the routes database, and many of them are free.

1. What is special about Strava?

A．It can be used to play music.	B．It is pretty high technology.
C．It can plan cycling routes.	D．It works out the running distance.

2. Which is the best choice for beginners to plan their own route?

A．Map my run	B．Komoot
C．Strava	D．OS maps

3. What’s the purpose of the text?

A．To teach running skills to users.

B．To share running experience online

C．To introduce four apps about running.

D．To show the increasing popularity of running.

9 . From ancient times, Chinese people love food made of flour, like dumplings, noodles, and pancakes, to name just a few. And in the hands of skilled artisans, flour can be made into lovely models of people or animals to be enjoyed and played with, which brings a unique kind of pleasure. This art form is called dough figurine (面塑). Among the various art styles of dough figurines, Beijing’s Dough Figurine Lang is a unique folk art, which is filled with the rich history and customs of the capital city. In 2008, it was included in the list of national intangible cultural heritage.

It was created by Lang Shao’an. Most of the dough figurines are animals and characters from legends,historical stories,and local operas. The finished product is either put at the end of a thin stick or on a table for display. Some are mostly for children to eat or play with, with simple forms and vivid decorations, while some are fine pieces of artwork for display only. For this reason, during the making process they are often mixed with additives (添加剂) to better preserve the finished products.

Lang Jiaziyu, born in 1995, is the third-generation inheritor of Dough Figurine Lang. When he was 15, he created Beijing Olympic Mascots shaped dough figurines which were highly praised. He looks a bit more fashionable than other folk artisans. In his skilled hands, pop culture icons are popular with young people.

Like most of the other intangible cultural heritage handicrafts in China, Dough Figurine Lang does not get as much attention from the public. Few young people are willing to take the time to master a skill that does not make money, which has led to a decline in the number of those who are committed to the handicraft. Good handicrafts need the devotion of artisans from one generation to another.

1. What is special about Dough Figurine Lang?

A．It reflects Beijing’s history and culture.

B．It is created by many famous artists.

C．It shows people’s lifestyles and welfare.

D．It is popular with both tourists and the locals.

2. Why do artisans add additives to dough figurines?

A．To make them taste more delicious.

B．To keep their colors brighter and lasting longer.

C．To help shape dough into various forms.

D．To better preserve their finished products.

3. What is the third paragraph mainly about?

A．Suggestions for other folk artisans.

B．Lang Jiaziyu’s accomplishments as an artisan.

C．Different art styles of dough figurines.

D．The popularity of modern dough figurines.

4. What is the main purpose of the passage?

A．To call on more people to master such a skill.

B．To appeal to people to buy the dough figurines.

C．To persuade people to protect national cultural heritage.

D．To teach people some ways to appreciate the handicraft.

10 . Over the last ten years, our lives have dramatically changed as a result of new technologies. For many of us, the ways we live and do business have changed forever.

The appearance of these new technologies has produced a new division of the global workforce, allowing people to work from the comforts of home or while traveling and exploring the globe. These new found freedoms and flexibility have changed the way we look at our lifestyles. Today, heading to the office may mean remaining at home, sitting in a favorite coffee shop or on a chair by the beach. The ability for many people to work is simply at our fingertips.

What does this mean for the future of our lifestyles and business? It means the lines will continue to cross between home life, work, family and social experiences. The task of balancing our lifestyle and daily activities will become essential. New tools will continue to help people manage busy plans, and assist in performance and business management.

This increase in technology will create a great need for person-to-person connection. We are already seeing a rise in social activities to take the place of meeting people online and having regular face-to-face engagement. Finding a healthy social balance will be key to enjoying the freedom and flexibility of working on the Internet.

In addition to the growing number of people in the remote workforce, educational programs and home schooling platforms are seeing similar growth. When living nearby work or school are no longer important factors, the doors to the world are open wide. These are major shifts in our lifestyle definitions and they will directly impact how we exist and interact in the world in our future lifestyles.

1. What does the author think of the effects of new technologies on our work?

A．They allow flexible work options.

B．They change our attitudes to work.

C．They affect our choices of career.

D．They provide more secure jobs.

2. What can we infer about our work in the future?

A．The workplace will become fixed.

B．We will work in the office more.

C．More of our work will be computer-based.

D．We don't need face-to-face communication.

3. Why are living nearby work or school no longer important factors?

A．The growth of remote work and online education.

B．Because people like different lifestyles.

C．The ways of people interacting with each other.

D．The new standard of the definition of family.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．The Advantage of Working from Home

B．The Future Changes of Lifestyle

C．The New Ways of Communication

D．The New Trend in Future Education