1 . Earlier this year, we asked our readers to vote for their favorite children's museums. Shortly after announcing the winners, these museums had to close their doors to help protect their communities from the spread of COVID-19. But they also bring some of their programming online.

The Magic House | St. Louis, Missouri

The folks at The Magic House in St. Louis are sharing their expertise through their Magic at Home series. Each edition features a project that kids and their parents can do with household materials, like making a banjo or animal figures.

City Museum | St. Louis, Missouri

While the City Museum is closed to visitors, the museum staff, artists and historians have launched City Museum on Air. This series takes place each weekday with an eclectic lineup of programming - everything from free art classes, storytelling sessions and museum tours at upcoming exhibits.

Kohl Children's Museum | Glenview, Illinois

This winning children's museum calls itself "The place where awesome lives," and would-be visitors can bring that awesome into the home through its library of online teaching resources, story time sessions and "Home Zone" projects. Kids can learn how to fold paper airplanes, learn about the physics of wheels or make their own recycled paper.

1. What results in the closing of children's museums?

A．The spreading of a disease.	B．The decrease of would-be visitors.
C．The readers' votes on museums.	D．The development of digital programming.

2. When is online programming of City Museum accessible?

A．At weekends.	B．At any time.
C．On weekdays.	D．On holidays.

3. What do The Magic House and Kohl Children's Museum have in common?

A．Stressing hands-on experience.	B．Demonstrating how 4 wheel works.
C．Offering story-telling courses.	D．Teaching how to copy animal figures.

2 . In the late 1960s, the anthropologist (人类学家) Edmund Carpenter arrived in New Cuinea armed with mirrors, videos and Polaroid cameras, and a mission: to disrupt (扰乱) the minds of members of the Biami tribe, who had never seen full reflections or images of themselves. "After their first astonished response---covering their mouths and ducking their heads---they stood frozen, staring at their images." Carpenter's devices disturb that inner image, causing discomfort. But not for long. Within days, the villagers groomed (打扮) themselves openly before mirrors and began taking Polaroid shots of each other.

It's unclear if the People of Biami were really as unfamiliar with mirrors as Carpenter thought. But in any case, what's striking isn't how strange their reaction seems, but how related. Do you know how it feels when you make a pleasant remark in a lift, but nobody responds? Or when two people greeting each other misjudge whether to go for a handshake, a hug or a social kiss? That's the same awkwardness: "self-consciousness tinged with uncertainty", as Dahl defines it. Suddenly, I see I'm viewed not as a friendly conversationalist, but as a strange person who talks in the lift.

As awkwardness feels unpleasant, it's natural to want to overcome it. Dahl's initial motivation for writing her book Cringeworthy: A Theory of Awkwardness, was to get over her own awkwardness. But after a journey through various awkward experiences, she makes a persuasive case for celebrating it. We live in an era with more opportunities than ever to do so. But awkwardness breaks that false appearance, exposing the imperfect life behind it. It creates a strange kind of social bond---how much in common we have when seeing that behind the disguise (伪装) ---we're all just trying our best to seem perfect.

The awkward you, then, are the real you, the one without the defensive performance. Dahl even indicates that taking a friendlier attitude toward awkwardness might help us make the connections with people holding different ideas.

1. How did the people of Biami feel when they first saw themselves in the mirror?

A．Shocked at their reflections.

B．Satisfied with their images.

C．Curious about their look.

D．Ashamed of their appearance.

2. Which of the following awkwardness is "self-consciousness tinged with uncertainty"?

A．You slip over just to the face of your girl in dream.

B．You are caught cheating but get nothing in an exam.

C．You are found standing in pubic with your trousers zip open.

D．You're refused when offering your seat to a seemingly pregnant woman.

3. What causes you to feel embarrassed from time to time?

A．Not knowing anything novel.

B．Seeking perfection.

C．Avoiding pressure from others.

D．Lacking courage to face some problems.

4. What can be inferred to solve our awkwardness?

A．Treat others in a friendly way.

B．Connect with your friends regularly.

C．Express yourself honestly with no defensive cover.

D．Get ready to guard against any threat from others.

3 . One afternoon, I took my daughter to go ice skating. I grew up ice skating, a(n)________much like riding a bike. And she was eager to learn. We________stepped onto ice that was more slippery than I ________. No sooner did our blades（冰刀）________the frozen area than both my daughter and I felt ourselves hurtling（猛冲）toward the ground. I feared my daughter falling again and asked her to stay aside watching but she ________. At that moment, her friend pirouetted（单脚尖旋转）toward us. She said, "Falling is part of any new________I'll help her to skate！"My daughter looked at me with ________ eyes and I agreed.

Seconds later, my daughter________. I gasped as she struggled to get up. Then I watched her________for her friend's hand, get back on her________, and skate off only to fall three paces later. Over time, her falling became________ . When they finally came back to the benches, my daughter exclaimed in ________ : "Mama! I fell 22 times!" I spent the next hour watching my daughter________the rink. After falling, she got up by clinging to the wall and started to glide until she could make it all the way around without a single fall.________my daughter stepped off the rink, with a ________ smile, "Mama! I did it! I did it!"

1.

A．course

B．skill

C．experience

D．story

2.

A．stably

B．hurriedly

C．awkwardly

D．skillfully

3.

A．imagined

B．expected

C．noticed

D．remembered

4.

A．touch

B．press

C．cut

D．hit

5.

A．succeeded

B．nodded

C．refused

D．laughed

6.

A．system

B．attempt

C．discovery

D．road

7.

A．eager

B．worrying

C．promising

D．surprised

8.

A．advanced

B．backed

C．stopped

D．fell

9.

A．look

B．send

C．care

D．reach

10.

A．legs

B．feet

C．back

D．hands

11.

A．less frequent

B．less likely

C．more painful

D．more graceful

12.

A．anger

B．shock

C．fear

D．delight

13.

A．seek

B．circle

C．leave

D．approach

14.

A．Finally

B．Hardly

C．Quickly

D．Slowly

15.

A．kind

B．wide

C．forced

D．relieved

4 . My father used to judge restaurants by their bread baskets. His reasoning: If you can't get little things right, how can you be_______ with big things?

I feel that way about commas (逗号). One sign that something has gone wrong in a piece of writing is the sight of commas_______ used around the page. My _______ students often insert a comma wherever they might pause between words to take in air. Then again, another sign of poor writings is the opposite: a comma desert, no pauses to be_______ .

Such abuses usually _______ that my students don't grasp the usage of this mark. But commas are _______. They are like the fine stitches (缝线) on an expertly sewn garment: invisible, yet vital to holding the_______ together. In dialogue, commas can _______ life or death: ''Kill ducks! '' vs ''Kill, ducks! '' Their absence or _______ creates or destroys a great article.

Then again, I shouldn't judge my students so severely.   I also failed to ________ the quiet dignity of the comma unit, in graduate school,________ I taught writing to first-year students. I remember the program head, a firm, white-haired woman, fixing me with her stare and saying, ''You have no idea where the commas go or why. '' I felt ________ . How could I have misunderstood something so basic?

Well, the thing is, commas aren't so basic and learning to________ them to their full potential takes years. Oscar Wilde once joked about what a ____________day of writing involved: spending the morning __________ a comma, and in the afternoon, on mature reflection, putting it back in.

1.

A．forced

B．trusted

C．inspired

D．persuaded

2.

A．rarely

B．properly

C．carelessly

D．consistently

3.

A．law

B．history

C．writing

D．engineering

4.

A．found

B．ignored

C．discussed

D．removed

5.

A．expect

B．ensure

C．indicate

D．deny

6.

A．simple

B．strange

C．confusing

D．important

7.

A．body

B．piece

C．case

D．show

8.

A．prove

B．include

C．mean

D．support

9.

A．progress

B．concept

C．restriction

D．presence

10.

A．explain

B．question

C．possess

D．recognize

11.

A．when

B．once

C．unless

D．whether

12.

A．amused

B．scared

C．ashamed

D．exhausted

13.

A．use

B．select

C．identify

D．remember

14.

A．free

B．hard

C．short

D．common

15.

A．pointing at

B．looking for

C．picking up

D．taking out

5 . For decades, China had wanted a Nobel Prize in science. Tu Youyou, a researcher who helped to develop a malaria（疟疾）medicine, finally won the country that honor.

In fact, Tu is not the only scientist in China who is catching the world’s attention. In 2016, the Nature journal published a list of the top 10 science stars in China. Gao Caixia and Cui Weicheng are two of them.

Gao Caixia has been devoted to genetic engineering for her whole career. She is known for using CRISPR-Cas9, the revolutionary gene-editing technique that is sweeping through biology labs around the world – in crops.

At first, Gao was unwilling to take up gene editing using CRISPR-Cas9 because her lab at the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology in Beijing had already created mutations（变异）in 82 genes using an older type of technology. But after thinking carefully about it, she decided to give it a try.

After a year of hard work, her lab finally succeeded. Gao worked on genetic engineering in wheat, a crop that is famous for being difficult to work with. Now she is considered one of the best in the world at engineering wheat.

Cui Weicheng is the developer of China’s record-setting Jiaolong submersibl（e   潜水器）. He is now a professor at Westlake University. In 2012, Cui rode inside China’s Jiaolong submersible and reached a depth of more than 7,000 meters in the Pacific.

Thanks to Jiaolong and the 57-year-old developer, China is now one of only a few nations that can explore the deep sea. Jiaolong can travel deeper than any other manned research submersible currently in use, which shows China’s increasing ambition and leadership in deep-sea research.

1. Why is Tu Youyou mentioned at the beginning of the passage?

A．To show one of China’s long-held dreams.

B．To stress the importance of the Nobel Prize.

C．To praise Tu Youyou for her contributions.

D．To introduce more top Chinese scientists.

2. Why did Gao Caixia work on wheat?

A．Because she failed in her attempt to study other crops.

B．Because she was expert at wheat engineering.

C．Because wheat is hard to be genetically engineered.

D．Because wheat is the most widely planted crop in China.

3. What is Cui Weicheng’s biggest contribution to China?

A．He teaches about sea at a university.

B．He developed Jiaolong submersible.

C．He is devoted to genetic engineering.

D．He reached the bottom of the ocean.

4. What is the best title for the passage?

A．China’s Science Stars	B．China’s Nobel Prize Dream
C．Gao Caixia－China’s Crop Engineer	D．Cui Weicheng－China’s Deep Diver

6 . After bikes and umbrellas are made sharable across China, some companies started eyeing the fitness market, so shared gym rooms have hit the streets in Beijing.

Unlike regular gyms that provide large, open spaces for many members to share at the same time, the newly built shared gym rooms are small, stand-alone rooms for a person to use, often set up near living communities.

Every four-square-meter room is equipped with a treadmill (跑步机), an air cleaner, a mirror, a television and an air conditioner, and users can let down the curtains for privacy. When exercising, users can listen to music, watch movies and check emails by connecting to the Internet by the screen fixed on the treadmill. There’s no shower or washbasin.

Similar to using a shared bike, users can locate a shared gym room by smartphone application, book a room in advance and then need to scan (扫描) a QR code for use. A refundable deposit (保证金) of 99 yuan is required, and users are charged 0.2 yuan per minute.

The shared gym rooms are created by Misspao, a Beijing-based technology company founded in July. Within two weeks since it was founded, the company has already got two rounds of funding valued over 100 million yuan, Yicai Global reports. The idea of the shared fitness experience is not entirely nascent. Last December, the Shanghai-based technology company VRUN set up shared treadmills in office and apartment buildings.

The sharing economy is still becoming popular in China. According to Yicai Global, confident investors are pouring millions into sharing start-ups. In March, the State Information Center published a report which predicts that the total value of China’s sharing economy will see a yearly growth of 40% in the coming years, and it is expected to contribute around 10% to the country’s GDP by 2020.

1. What makes the shared gym room different from the regular one?

A．Offering open spaces.	B．Standing in the living zone.
C．Holding one person at a time.	D．Having some advanced equipment.

2. What can we learn about the shared gym room from the text?

A．Users can have a shower in it after exercise.

B．Users who want to use it need a smartphone.

C．Users who use it first need to pay for 99.2 yuan.

D．Users’ privacy can’t be protected while they are exercising.

3. What does the underlined word “nascent” probably mean in Paragraph 5?

A．Simple.

B．Popular.

C．Satisfying.

D．New.

4. What is the author’s purpose of writing the text?

A．To introduce shared gym rooms.

B．To advertise a technology company.

C．To predict the future of the sharing economy.

D．To persuade people to support the sharing economy.

7 . The cognitive health and development of boys may be affected by their mothers’ body mass index (BMI) (体重指数) while pregnant with them, according to research from Columbia University and the University of Texas at Austin.

The study, which was published in the journal BMC Pediatrics on Friday, observed 368 subjects from low-income African American and Dominican women during the second half of their pregnancies, and then evaluated their children three and seven years later. Researchers found that the sons of women whose BMIs indicated that they were overweight or obese when they became pregnant were more likely to show less developed athletic skills as 3-year-olds and lower intelligence as 7-year-olds compared to boys whose mothers were at “normal” weights during pregnancy.

Among boys, the study found, mothers’ overweight and obesity connected with IQ scores between 4.6 and almost 9 points lower than those of boys whose mothers’ weights were in the “normal” range before pregnancy. Researchers did not observe the same phenomenon among daughters whose mothers had been obese.

“These findings aren’t meant to shame or scare anyone,” Elizabeth Widen, assistant professor of nutritional sciences at UT Austin and one of the study’s co-authors, said in a press release. “We are just beginning to understand some of these interactions between mothers’ weight and the health of their babies.”

Why mothers’ obesity appeared to affect childhood IQ was unclear, but earlier research has suggested that there is a relationship between a mother’s diet and her child’s later IQ, according to Columbia University. Researchers did not control for what the mothers ate, the press release noted.

The study’s authors wrote that because childhood IQ has been shown to be an indicator of later success in life, studying how a mother’s obesity could affect the IQ of her child is worthwhile.

1. How did researchers carry out the study?

A．By measuring mothers’ body mass index.

B．By watching mothers and babies for years.

C．By comparing 3-year-old babies with 7-year-olds.

D．By evaluating the health of mothers and their babies.

2. What’s the main purpose of the study?

A．To show links between mothers’ weight and babies’ IQ.

B．To make those overweight mothers shameful and scared.

C．To warn some fat mothers to keep a balanced diet.

D．To persuade more obese mothers to lose weight.

3. What do the researchers think of the study?

A．Doubtful.	B．Worrying.
C．Significant.	D．Interesting.

4. In which section of a newspaper may the text appear?

A．Entertainment.	B．Novel.
C．Education.	D．Health.

8 . Point Reyes

At Point Reyes you will find trails, historic buildings and visitor centers where visitors can enjoy all aspects of the unique area. Visitors can enjoy camping, hiking and biking. Point Reyes National Park also features the Point Reyes Lighthouse and visitor center, and at the visitor center you can learn all about the lighthouse(灯塔)and for the very adventurous tourists a trip down the 308 stairs to the lighthouse is a great option.

Big Sur

Big Sur is a region in California with many wonders to offer visitors. The Los Padres National Forest is an excellent destination for hiking. Throughout the forest there are many trails, including trails allowing visitors to walk along the coastline. In addition, Big Sur is also a fantastic destination for wildlife viewing. This region is one of the few places where the majestic bird can be seen.

Yosemite National Park

Located in central California, Yosemite National Park is an amazing destination for recreational enthusiasts, especially rock climbers. Climbers travel from around the world to take on the challenges presented at Yosemite. There are many other recreational activities to enjoy, including biking, hiking, backpacking and many more. Yosemite Valley has a wide range of attractive sights, and waterfalls.

Joshua Tree National Park

Located in southeastern California, Joshua Tree has some amazing sites to see. There are many nature trails, hiking trails, as well as options for mountain biking and rock climbing. Visitors to Joshua Tree can enjoy the beautiful desert ecosystem. At Joshua Tree you can look into the dense star clouds of the Milky Way, and see clearly. These star clouds are especially dense and bright to the south near the horizon.

1. How do tourists visit the Point Reyes Lighthouse?

A．By bike.	B．On foot.
C．By air.	D．By boat.

2. What can tourists do in Big Sur?

A．Enjoy historic buildings.	B．Hunt birds.
C．Sec the sea.	D．Climb rocks.

3. Where can you go if you'd like to experience the desert ecosystem?

A．Point Reyes.	B．Big Sur.
C．Yosemite National Park.	D．Joshua Tree National Park.

9 . The Lake District Attractions Guide

Dalemain Mansion & Historic Gardens

History, Culture & Landscape(景观). Discover and enjoy 4 centuries of history, 5 acres of celebrated and award-winning gardens with parkland walk. Owned by the Hasell family since 1679, home to the International Marmalade Festival. Gifts and antiques, plant sales, museums & Mediaeval Hall Tearoom.

Open:29 Mar-29 Oct，Sun to Thurs.

Tearoom，Gardens & Gift Shop:10:30-17:00(16:00 in Oct).

House:11:15-16:00(15:00 in Oct)

Town: Pooley Bridge & Penrith
Abbot Hall art Gallery & Museum

Those viewing the quality of Abbot Hall’s temporary exhibitions may be forgiven for thinking they are in a city gallery. The impressive permanent collection includes Turners and Romneys and the temporary exhibition programme has Canaletto and the artists from St Ives.

Open: Mon to Sat and Summer Sundays. 10:30 -17:00 Summer.10:30 -16:00 Winter.
Town: Kendal
Tullie House Museum & Art Gallery

Discover, explore and enjoy award-winning Tullie House, where historic collections, contemporary art and family fun are brought together in one impressive museum and art gallery. There are four fantastic galleries to visit from fine art to interactive fun, so there’s something for everyone!

Open: High Season 1 Apr – 31 Oct: Mon to Sat 10:00 – 17:00, Sun 11:00 – 17:00.

Low Season 1 Nov – 31 Mar: Mon to Sat 10:00 – 16:30, Sun 12:00 – 16:30.

Town: Carlisle
Dove Cottage & The wordsworth Museum

Discover William Wordsworth’s inspirational home. Take a tour of his Lakeland cottage, walk through his hillside garden and explore the riches of the collection in the Museum. Visit the shop and relax in the café. Exhibitions, events and family activities throughout the year.

Open: Daily, 09:30 – 17:30 (last admission 17:00).

Town: Grasmere

1. When is the House at Dalemain Mansion & Historic Gardens open on Sundays in July?

A．09:30-17:30.

B．10:30-16:00.

C．11:15-16:00.

D．12:00-16:30

2. What can visitors do at Abbot Hall Art Gallery & Museum?

A．Enjoy Romney’s works.

B．Have some interactive fun.

C．Attend a famous festival.

D．Learn the history of a family

3. Where should visitors go if they want to explore Wordsworth’s life?

A．Penrith.

B．Kendal.

C．Carlisle.

D．Grasmere.

10 . Space Hotel Promises Guests A Truly Out-Of-This World Vacation

Looking for a true out-of-his-world vacation? Then you are in luck! On Thursday, Aprils, Texas-based start-up Orion Span announced they were taking reservations for Aurora (极光) Station, the world's first luxury hotel in space, which is expected to launch in 2021 and begin welcoming visitors by 2022.

The pill-shaped space station, which begins construction in 2019, will measure 43.5 feet long and 14.1 feet wide—about the size of a large private jet's cabin—when completed. It will accommodate four guests in two private suites (套房) and two crew members, most likely former astronauts. Flying about 200 miles above Earth, Aurora Station will circle the planet once every 90 minutes, enabling guests to enjoy 16 spectacular sunrises and sunsets daily, as well as scores of the breathtaking northern and southern auroras that the hotel is named after.

While admiring the beauty of our planet, tourists can eat non-astronaut food and drinks or entertain themselves with playing cards. Those hoping to do something more worthwhile will be able to engage in astronaut—like experiments such as growing food in a special environment. The Wi-Fi enabled spacecraft will make it easy for guests to share their experiences with friends and family members on Earth. At the end of the week and half-long vacation, returning guests will be treated to a special "hero's welcome", similar to the one experienced by astronauts returning from a real mission.

Before the once-in-a-lifetime trip, guests will have to undergo the three month-long special training learning how to move in a weightless environment, along with the basics of spaceflight and orbital mechanics. Also, before you start packing your bags, you will have to pay $9.5 million for the 12-day round-trip vacation.

While several companies are planning to build hotels in space, Orion Span hopes to transform sections of used rockets floating in space into hotel rooms, instead of crowding the already messy skies with additional man-made objects.

1. What can be learned about Aurora Station?

A．People can visit it now.

B．Its construction will last for about 5 years.

C．It can only hold four people in this station.

D．It looks like a pill with the size of a small plane.

2. Why is the station named Aurora Station?

A．Because the hotel is lit up by the auroras of the Earth.

B．Because the station will give off auroras while travelling

C．Because guests can enjoy fantastic auroras of the Earth.

D．Because the station will run around the auroras of the Earth.

3. What can guests do in a space hotel?

A．Communicate with their family.	B．Enjoy astronaut food and drinks.
C．Cook meals like they are at home.	D．Receive welcome as a real hero.

4. What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A．There is little room for people to live on the earth.

B．Too many space crafts have aroused people's concern.

C．Space hotels will be necessary in the near future.

D．Used rockets floating in space are easy to be recycled.