1 . We've long known that crows exhibit extraordinary intelligence. These birds have inspired legends for centuries. But the more scientists know about their brain structure and behaviors, the more crows seem to resemble humans.

John Marzluff, a professor from the University of Washington, has been studying crows for decades. He's explored the exceptional size and function of crow brains, their long life and lifestyle. “Big brain, long life and sociality, those are really linked features,” Marzluff says. “You put those together, and it should sound pretty familiar.”

To top that off, just last fall other researchers determined that crows seem to exhibit a level of consciousness shown only in humans and very few of our mammal relatives. The breakthrough study published in Science showed that crows have an ability to draw on subjective experiences from the past in order to solve a task. This means the birds keep new information, or memories, in the front of their brains for extended periods, and use it in reasoning and dealing with new situations they meet.

That is, for people and crows alike, the forebrain deals with higher tasks, including reasoned decision-making, problem-solving and executive function. Taken together, these findings help explain the problem-solving and tool use in crows. The New Caledonian crow, for example, has recently gained welcome for not only tool use, but its ability to make compound tools out of various materials. These birds have been known to make hooks and sharp spears that they use to catch insects in hard-to-reach places. In research labs, they've successfully bent wire to grab baskets with food inside.

“They understand the concept of hooking and-pulling and spearing and what tools are needed to do that,” Marzluff says. These reasoning skills appear to be significantly more advanced than primitive tool use—such as using rocks to break open shells and other food—that researchers have observed in some other animals.

1. What does Marluff mean by saying “it should sound pretty familiar”?

A．He knows how to study crows.	B．He was very familiar with crows.
C．The way crows live is related to humans.	D．Crows have features similar to those of humans.

2. What can we infer about crows according to the passage？

A．They can draw pictures.	B．They like to eat insects.
C．They use tools creatively.	D．They existed for centuries.

3. What makes Marzluff think crows are more advanced than other animals?

A．Crows' special size.	B．Crow's better reasoning skills.
C．Crows' longer life.	D．Crows' way of raising babies.

4. Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A．Crows, Like No Other	B．Legends of Crows
C．Crows, More Humanlike	D．Evolution of Crows

2 . For better or worse, many of us never forget those typical British school days—and with a site that now has over 32, 200 educational institutions as well as a growing number of users, you won't have to.

SchoolMates is a nice networking platform which offers a refreshing alternative to traditional social media in that the focus is on building more meaningful relationships and encouraging interaction between users. While social media sites are customarily designed to form an interactive online community, SchoolMates aims to help people find friends from their past.

“At SchoolMates, our mission is simple. We've created a platform aimed specifically to help people reconnect and keep in touch with former classmates,” explains founder and CEO Chris Goodwin. “Our site encourages people to revive those special relationships from their youth, letting them look back to the ‘good old days’ of summer holidays spent with friends, memorable school trips, as well as less memorable moments like those awful school lunches.”

SchoolMates brings together more than 32, 000 schools, colleges, academies and universities across England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales and is aimed to help users get back in touch with former classmates. Aimed at the 35 plus age group, which represents 50% of the population, the easy-to-use website enables users to recall and share conversations, jokes, stories, memories and photographs.

Chris was diagnosed with a tumour at the age of 18. He couldn't move and could only sit in a wheelchair. Determined to conquer the world of the Internet and own a successful online business since completing his studies in computer science, he did not let his disability become an excuse to give up on his dreams; he had a successful business career before going on to start up SchoolMates.

1. Why did Chris Goodwin found SchoolMates?

A．To make old classmates closer.	B．To increase the number of users.
C．To help people make new friends.	D．To replace traditional social media.

2. What does the underlined word “revive” in Paragraph 3 mean?

A．Review.

B．Retell.

C．Check.

D．Control.

3. What can we learn from Paragraph 4?

A．SchoolMates' target group is age-free.	B．It's easy for users to search for information.
C．SchoolMates designed to be user-friendly.	D．SchoolMates has the biggest number of users.

4. Which of the following best describes Chris Goodwin?

A．Smart.

B．Ambitious.

C．Generous.

D．Demanding.

3 . World's Best Places to Visit

With a world full of fascinating destinations, choosing the perfect vacation spot can present a challenge. This list of the world's best places to visit is here for you.

South Island

New Zealand's South Island fills with splendid scenery at every turn. Here, you can admire the Fiordland National Park from hiking routes or a boat on Milford Sound, the eighth wonder of the world. At night, journey to the Mount John Observatory to stare at the starry skies. You can also explore two of the most accessible glaciers   in the world on the island's west coast or enjoy delicious food and wine.

Paris

Paris, the City of Light, draws visitors from around the globe who come to see impressive attractions like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. But what travelers really fall in love with are the city's unusual cafes, energetic markets, trendy shopping districts and unmistakable charm. Get lost wandering along Paris' streets, or eat a croissant and relax on the banks of the Seine for hours.

Bora Bora

Though this French Polynesian island may be small, its complete tropical beauty makes up for it. Here, you'll find beautiful beaches and thick jungles. The island's volcano, Mount Otemanu, makes for a great photo-op and the enthusiastic locals can help you catch the island's best sights during an off-road hike. To relax, head to Matira Beach for clear water and soft sand. Although a trip to Bora Bora is very expensive, most travelers say it's worth every penny.

1. Which spot best suits people who enjoy astronomy?

A．South Island.

B．Paris.

C．Bora Bora.

D．Mount Otemanu.

2. What's probably the main attraction in Paris?

A．Light.

B．Rivers.

C．City life.

D．Architecture.

3. What do South Island and Bora Bora have in common?

A．High travel costs.	B．Cozy purchasing styles.
C．Friendly residents.	D．Charming natural scenery.

4 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

While English speakers look back to the time of Shakespeare and Milton 400 years ago as a Golden age, Chinese look back far     1     (far), to the Tang dynasty 1, 200 years ago as their Golden age of literature.

A key feature of Chinese poetry is     2     it is concise (简洁的). Each character places a thought, an impression, an image. Emphasis is put on use of rhythm and sometimes in a     3     (balance) look of the characters so that it is     4     (visual) pleasing on paper.

Amazing 48, 000 poems have survived from the many Tang dynasty poets. After the Tang, poets struggled     5     (establish) a modern style that was not rooted in the glories of the past. Later the style of the Song dynasty did become a popular form. So many people enjoy such     6     (popular) because it was more fluent and less rigid than that of the Tang.

Many poems contain specific events from Chinese history, and that makes understanding these poems     7     challenge to non-Chinese. Translating Chinese poems into English     8     (cause) all sorts of problems. For many years, writers have tried to convey the spirit of poems     9     different ways. Although much is lost in translation, the core (核心) meaning can     10     (catch) and appreciated.

5 . If not for the kindness of a stranger, Jamaican hurdler (跨栏运动员) Hansle Parchment may not be a Tokyo Olympic gold medalist today.

The 31-year-old athlete took the _________ bus on the day of his semifinal race._________ in enjoying music, he didn't realize it.

“By the time I _________, I realized, ‘No, this bus is not going the right way. ’I'm not familiar with these _________,” he said.

Running out of time quickly to _________ another bus to the right place is almost impossible. The hurdler explained how he met a games volunteer who paid his taxi fare to get him to his _________. Because of her, he made it with enough time to _________—and then compete in the men's 110-meter race that _________ him gold and his best time of the season.

Parchment was _________ to share the victory with the person who helped him. Parchment boards the bus that __________ him to the same area — this time __________—and rides back to find the stranger named Trijana Stojkovic.

He __________ her, pulls out his medal and thanks her. “You were __________ in me getting to the final that day,” he tells her,__________ her the medal for her to see.

Parchment also shows his __________ by giving Stojkovic a Jamaican Olympic polo shirt and __________ the money she had given him. And the thanks didn't __________ there: Jamaica's Ministry of Tourism sent an official __________ to visit the island.

Stojkovic later posted a picture of herself __________ the shirt on her Instagram: “This is a great __________from dear Handle. Perfect!” she wrote.

1.

A．regular

B．wrong

C．punctual

D．final

2.

A．Lost

B．Experienced

C．Skillful

D．Successful

3.

A．looked up

B．calmed down

C．walked around

D．went ahead

4.

A．seats

B．athletes

C．citizens

D．surroundings

5.

A．follow

B．grab

C．drive

D．order

6.

A．bus

B．island

C．race

D．house

7.

A．cheer up

B．think over

C．take off

D．warm up

8.

A．earned

B．sent

C．awarded

D．offered

9.

A．hesitant

B．satisfied

C．careful

D．determined

10.

A．turned

B．delivered

C．drew

D．welcomed

11.

A．mistakenly

B．precisely

C．casually

D．intentionally

12.

A．approaches

B．invites

C．interviews

D．convinces

13.

A．right

B．vital

C．wise

D．friendly

14.

A．saving

B．returning

C．handing

D．leaving

15.

A．gratitude

B．ambition

C．regret

D．concern

16.

A．counting

B．checking

C．repaying

D．bidding

17.

A．cancel

B．spread

C．stop

D．continue

18.

A．notice

B．invitation

C．decision

D．agenda

19.

A．displaying

B．advertising

C．holding

D．wearing

20.

A．comfort

B．help

C．gift

D．blessing

6 . TOKYO, Japan—Maki Kaji, 69, the creator of the popular numbers puzzle Sudoku whose life's work was spreading the joy of puzzles, has died of cancer.

Known as the “Godfather of Sudoku,” Kaji created the puzzle to be easy for children and others who didn't want to think too hard. Its name is made up of the Japanese characters for “number” and “single,” and players place the numbers 1 through 9 in rows, columns and blocks without repeating them.

Ridiculously, it wasn't until 2004 that Sudoku became a global hit, after a fan from New Zealand got it published in the British newspaper The Times. Two years later, Japan rediscovered its own puzzle as a “reimport.”

Kaji traveled to more than 30 countries spreading his enjoyment of puzzles. Sudoku championships have drawn some 200 million people in 100 countries over the years. Sudoku was also never trademarked (注册) except within Japan, driving its overseas craze.

Born in the main northern island of Hokkaido, Kaji started Japan's first puzzle magazine after dropping out of Keio University in Tokyo. He founded Nikoli in 1983, and came up with the name Sudoku about the same time. In recent years, Sudoku, believed to be the world's most popular pencil puzzle, has come out in digital versions.

“Our mission (使命) is to seek Kaji's wishes and possibilities,” said Yoshinao Anpuku, who succeeded Kaji as Nikoli's chief executive (执行官). Major Japanese newspaper Mainichi credited Kaji for starting the puzzle sections at bookstores, as well as introducing the word “Sudoku” into the Oxford English dictionary.

1. What does the author think is ridiculous?

A．Kaji was the Godfather of Sudoku.	B．Kaji set up a puzzle magazine.
C．Sudoku first became popular overseas.	D．Sudoku was spread widely and quickly.

2. What can we say about Maki Kaji?

A．He liked traveling a lot.	B．He failed to enter the university.
C．He was a top player in Sudoku.	D．He was committed to Sudoku spreading.

3. What can be inferred about Sudoku from the passage?

A．It's not for old people.	B．It's registered abroad.
C．It was named after Kaji.	D．It went all over the world.

4. What does the last paragraph mainly talk about?

A．What Kaji wishes for.	B．Why Kaji was great.
C．Who is Kaji's follower.	D．How Kaji achieved his goal.