1 . At the age of 60, my father was hit by a car when he walked to a nearby supermarket to buy vegetables. After
Since I was his only child, it was my
Dad became the
It is eight years since the
| A．lying | B．waiting | C．staying | D．sleeping |
| A．Luckily | B．Amazingly | C．Unfortunately | D．Regularly |
| A．slowly | B．strangely | C．lightly | D．seriously |
| A．turn | B．duty | C．favor | D．habit |
| A．stopping | B．performing | C．accepting | D．planning |
| A．so | B．though | C．if | D．before |
| A．cleverest | B．oldest | C．bravest | D．kindest |
| A．repaired | B．designed | C．answered | D．cleaned |
| A．useless | B．wrong | C．dangerous | D．impolite |
| A．foolish | B．big | C．shy | D．foreign |
| A．show | B．lend | C．share | D．sell |
| A．graduation | B．invention | C．mistake | D．accident |
| A．weight | B．age | C．height | D．look |
| A．tiring | B．relaxing | C．amusing | D．interesting |
| A．perfect | B．important | C．easy | D．happy |
2 . Making an advertisement for television often costs more than a movie. For example, a two-hour movie costs $6 million to make. A TV commercial can cost more than $6,000 a second. And that does not include the cost of paying for air time (播送时间). Which is more valuable, the programme or the ad? In terms of money—and making money is what television is all about—the commercial is by far the more important.
Research, market testing, talent, time and money—all come together to make us want to buy a product. No matter how bad we think a commercial is, it works. The sales of charm went up once the ads began. TV commercials actually buy their way into our head. We, in turn, buy the product.
And the ads work because so much time and attention are given to them. Here are some rules of a commercial ad making. If you want to get the middleclass buyers, make sure the announcer has a tough, manly voice. Put some people in the ad who work with their hands. If you want to sell products to upperclass audience, make sure that the house, the furniture, and the hairstyle are the types that the group identifies with. If you want the buyer to feel superior to the character selling the product, then make that person so stupid or silly that everyone will feel great about himself or herself.
We laugh at commercials. We don’t think we pay that much attention to them. But evidence shows we are kidding ourselves. The making of a commercial that costs so much money is not kid stuff. It’s big, big business. And it’s telling us what to think, what we need, and what to buy. To put it simply, the TV commercial is a form of brainwashing.
1. TV commercials are more important than other programmes to television because ________.| A．they bring in great profits |
| B．they require a lot of money |
| C．they are not difficult to produce |
| D．they attract more viewers than other programmes |
| A．persuade people to buy the product |
| B．show how valuable the product is |
| C．test the market value of the product |
| D．make them as interesting as TV movies |
| A．the middleclass buyer likes to work with his hands |
| B．the more stupid the characters, the more buyers of the product |
| C．ad designers attract different people with different skills |
| D．an upperclass buyer is more interested in houses and furniture than a middleclass buyer |
| A．few people like to watch TV commercials |
| B．TV commercials are a good guide to buyers |
| C．TV commercials often make people laugh |
| D．people do not think highly of TV commercials |
3 . The second Sunday in May is a volunteer day in my neighborhood. Last year, my neighbors and I decided to
The day before we went to the hospital, many of us were feeling quite
We arrived early at the hospital and were greeted
It was then time to start making cards—we brought crayons, glue and shiny things to
We left the
| A．exchange | B．volunteer | C．recover | D．live |
| A．cakes | B．soccers | C．toys | D．cards |
| A．annoyed | B．nervous | C．familiar | D．hopeless |
| A．children | B．neighbors | C．actors | D．athletes |
| A．illegally | B．warmly | C．equally | D．secretly |
| A．worrying | B．disappointing | C．confusing | D．encouraging |
| A．ice | B．promise | C．law | D．record |
| A．touch | B．rescue | C．excite | D．frighten |
| A．choose | B．buy | C．use | D．identify |
| A．proud | B．relaxed | C．sad | D．upset |
| A．limited | B．traditional | C．positive | D．confident |
| A．younger | B．better | C．worse | D．cooler |
| A．school | B．city | C．hospital | D．lake |
| A．anxiety | B．tears | C．pain | D．smiles |
| A．strength | B．friendship | C．imagination | D．creativity |
4 . Looking for something entertaining to do? Check out some awesome festivals around the world.
Koninginnedag — The Netherlands
Koninginnedag or Queen’s Day is a national holiday in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Although the birthday of the current Queen, Beatrix, is actually during the winter, she has celebrated it on April 30th, the country’s official “Queen’s Day” since 1949. Orange is the national color, and the streets become a sea of feather boas(围巾) and body paint as crowds gather in the plazas and on boats in the rivers. Amsterdam is the center of this outdoor party, with many live music events, but nearly every town is alive with orange on this day.
Thai Elephant Day — Thailand
Thai Elephant Day is a national holiday in Thailand. Thai Elephant Day has been celebrated on March 13th of every year since 1998. Because the elephant is the national animal of Thailand, they are highly respected and treasured. During the festivals elephants are honored during a ceremony in which they are fed bananas, other fruit, and sugarcane.
The Fire Festival — Shetland
On the last Tuesday in January the entire town of Lerwick, Shetland goes up in flames. At the festival, you’ll find yourself sitting, dancing, or stumbling around the largest bonfire you’ve ever seen in your life. The festival lasts only one day but takes the entire year to plan. Be prepared for an evening of singing, dancing, and fast-paced activity, and don’t worry about making it to work the next day — it’s a national holiday!
Holi — India
Holi, he Festival of Colors, is a Hindu celebration full of joy and one of India’s most important holidays. On the day of the last full moon of the lunar month, usually late February or early March, the air is full of bright colored powder. The festival is celebrated differently throughout the country, with bonfires and music, but the cheerful spirit is common throughout Hindu communities around the world.
1. What do we know about Koninginnedag?| A．It is celebrated on the day of the current Queen’s birthday. |
| B．It is not celebrated outside the city of Amsterdam. |
| C．Everyone must wear orange clothes to celebrate it. |
| D．It has a history of more than seventy years. |
| A．show people’s respect for their Queen |
| B．show Thai people’s respect for elephants |
| C．ask people to protect endangered animals |
| D．help people relax by singing and dancing |
| A．Because people are allowed to sleep at work the next day. |
| B．Because the activities are too simple to get people tired. |
| C．Because people don’t have to go to work the next day. |
| D．Because the festival ends very early at night. |
5 . I grew up with two elder sisters. If I wasn’t courteous (礼貌) to them, they’d fix me. So courtesy wasn’t really
My sisters made the most of every chance to train me how to be a courteous
Years later I went away to college. The first time I walked into the library, I noticed a woman walking behind me and I
As I stood there, another lady
“Thanks!” she said brightly. “It’s nice to see we still have a few gentlemen around here!”
Of course, if I were REALLY a gentleman, I would have
Courtesy brings pleasant, refreshing light to our lives whether we are the giver, the receiver or just an interested observer. Courtesy doesn’t
| A．important | B．available | C．delightful | D．optional |
| A．colleague | B．assistant | C．companion | D．gentleman |
| A．dresses | B．chairs | C．dishes | D．mouths |
| A．answered | B．unlocked | C．held | D．forced |
| A．Instead | B．Even so | C．Unexpectedly | D．Sure enough |
| A．impatient | B．speechless | C．anxious | D．desperate |
| A．fear | B．excitement | C．embarrassment | D．envy |
| A．in advance | B．in a flash | C．once more | D．by chance |
| A．approached | B．passed | C．pulled | D．entered |
| A．regretted | B．refused | C．reached | D．hesitated |
| A．doubt | B．relief | C．guilt | D．curiosity |
| A．offered | B．agreed | C．promised | D．waited |
| A．thought | B．process | C．feeling | D．advice |
| A．correspond with | B．lead to | C．go against | D．hold on to |
| A．necessarily | B．normally | C．casually | D．naturally |
6 . My father always loved gardening. Growing prize-winning vegetables was a serious matter for my father for another 20 years after his retirement.
Growing vegetables was a business for my dad. Dates when everything was planted were carefully
Mum
As one crop was
Then came that fateful day. My dad’s 19
Of course, Dad kept gardening, just in a more
| A．recorded | B．arranged | C．fixed | D．changed |
| A．complained about | B．set aside | C．brought out | D．longed for |
| A．shade | B．rest | C．meal | D．drink |
| A．sheltered | B．harvested | C．cooked | D．attached |
| A．discovered | B．updated | C．designed | D．celebrated |
| A．take up | B．comment on | C．show off | D．pick up |
| A．delight | B．feeling | C．trick | D．reward |
| A．occupied | B．involved | C．interested | D．stuck |
| A．different | B．enthusiastic | C．lucky | D．outstanding |
| A．performances | B．prizes | C．ideas | D．entries |
| A．pick | B．guard | C．plant | D．choose |
| A．announced | B．whispered | C．cheered | D．requested |
| A．voice | B．idea | C．right | D．chance |
| A．careful | B．skillful | C．relaxing | D．casual |
| A．parties | B．conversations | C．jobs | D．trips |
7 . Cities are noisy, dirty, and full of traffic jams. But they don’t have to be that way. In a “smart” city, electronic sensors collect data on everything from traffic patterns and electricity usage to noise and light levels. Computer programs continuously analyze this data to find patterns and report important information. If you lived in a place like this, you’d be able to find out what’s happening at any location, right now. You might want to know how many people are at the local park, or how windy it is at the beach, or whether you’ll run into any construction projects as you bike to school. A smart city could deliver instant answers via an app on your mobile device.
Singapore, a city in Southeast Asia, already uses sensor systems. All 11,000 taxis in the city regularly report their speed, location, and direction through their GPS systems. Cameras throughout the city take pictures of traffic conditions. Website and apps share information about what’s happening on the city's roads, right now.
In New York City, some trashcans have sensors that send out an alert when they need to be emptied. These sensors also collect weather information. The city of Chicago plans to install dozens of sensors in 2016. The project, called “Array of Things,” will capture data on the current levels of light, noise, rain, heat, and wind around the city.
Originally, project organizers planned to check for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth signals coming from cell phones. But this plan made many citizens uncomfortable. Some worried that the sensors would dig into personal data on their phones or even identify individuals as they walked past. Organizers said they would not identify or track anyone, but they still changed the plan. Sensors will now analyze images from a camera in order to count people. Images will be deleted after the count is complete.
What do you think? Life in a smart city sounds convenient. But some of the data the city tracks may be about you. How much information are you willing to share?
1. Which is NOT the main feature in a “smart” city?| A．Electronic sensors. | B．Computer programs. |
| C．Mobile apps. | D．Construction projects. |
| A．Environment. | B．Weather. |
| C．Transport. | D．Photography. |
| A．The signals made them uncomfortable. |
| B．Citizens worried about their privacy. |
| C．Sensors couldn’t analyze some images. |
| D．Organizers always tracked the citizens. |
| A．Entertainment. | B．Nature. |
| C．Society. | D．Technology. |
Two of naturalist Charles Darwin’s notebooks that were believed to have been stolen from Cambridge University’s library have been returned, two decades
The notebooks, the 19th-century scientist’s famous 1837 “Tree of Life” sketch(草图)
On March 9. 2022 the books reappeared,
The university’s director of library services Jessica Gardner said her feeling of
The notebooks can now return to their place at Cambridge, next
9 . I stare at the row of jars filled with my parents’ homemade tomato sauce. Every time I
I have been saving these jars like
On a weekend of every September, my parents would take the tomatoes
My parents would make more than just sauce every
These traditions were hard to
I can’t keep these jars forever. But every time I go to reach for one,
What will it feel like to use that last jar? It would
| A．say | B．wonder | C．suspect | D．guess |
| A．friends | B．antiques | C．treasures | D．containers |
| A．compares | B．counts | C．differs | D．happens |
| A．grabbed | B．begged | C．displayed | D．collected |
| A．laid | B．passed | C．wrapped | D．pressed |
| A．make | B．break | C．separate | D．save |
| A．jars | B．bags | C．boxes | D．cases |
| A．holding | B．moving | C．closing | D．leaving |
| A．weekend | B．fall | C．holiday | D．attempt |
| A．slowly | B．gently | C．expertly | D．deliberately |
| A．control | B．maintain | C．complete | D．stay |
| A．joy | B．meal | C．machine | D．sauce |
| A．something | B．someone | C．willpower | D．self-knowledge |
| A．impatient | B．critical | C．mean | D．practical |
| A．put an end to | B．run into | C．start off | D．open up |
10 . Spring is in the air. Birds are singing and beginning to build their nests. It happens every year like clockwork. But by comparing recent observations with century-old eggs preserved in museum collections, scientists involved in the study were able to determine that about a third of the bird species are nesting and laying eggs nearly a month earlier than they did a hundred years ago. And as far as the researchers can tell climate change is responsible.
“Egg collections are such a fascinating to for us to learn about bird ecology over time,” says John Bates, director of the Field Museum. The eggs, with the contents removed, are stored in small boxes and accompanied by labels, saying what kind of bird they belong to, where they're from, and precisely when they were collected
Fidino, an ecologist at Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo, built a model for studying the historical and modern data about the egg collections. He found a surprising result: among the 72 bird species studied, about a third are nesting and laying their first eggs 25. 1 days earlier than they did a century ago.
Given that the climate crisis has dramatically affected so many aspects of biology, the researchers looked to rising temperatures as a potential explanation for the earlier nesting and laying. The changes in temperature are seemingly small but lead to different plants blooming and insects emerging—things that could affect the food available for birds. So birds have to move their egg-laying dates to adapt.
In addition to serving as a warning about climate change, Bates believes the study highlights the importance of museum collections, particularly egg collections. “They’re heavy with data about the past, and they can help us answer important questions about our world today,” he said.
1. How did the scientists conduct the study?| A．By doing field research. | B．By analyzing data. |
| C．By referring to documents. | D．By doing interviews. |
| A．They are labeled on exhibition. |
| B．They were collected a century ago. |
| C．They are used for educational purpose |
| D．They were specially processed for storage. |
| A．Rising temperatures change birds’ habits. |
| B．Rising temperatures affect food available for birds. |
| C．Climate change leads to great changes to plants and insects |
| D．Climate change should be to blame for birds’ early laying |
| A．Beneficial. | B．Instructive. | C．Inspiring. | D．Surprising. |
