1 . Future living: what will the home of tomorrow look like?

What will our homes be like in the future? Growing cities, shrinking living spaces, and climate change are major challenges     1    (face) urban planners and architects. We’re sharing three trends with you     2     will shape the home we live in tomorrow.

Energy efficient and carbon neutral

One of the greatest challenges for homes of the future is our increasing energy consumption, something that cannot be covered by fossil fuels going forward.     3    the impact of climate change becoming notable, it’s perfectly understandable that the buildings of the future could function as environmentally friendly power plants. Solar collectors and heat storage systems allow     4     are known as ‘plus-energy buildings’ to produce 100 percent renewable energy for emission-free operation.

The trend to downsizing

Living more efficiently not only means improving energy use and reducing one’s own carbon footprint, but also building to save space. Rooms     5    (design) to be multifunctional when there’s not a dedicated room available for every potential purpose. Modular and flexible furnishing systems that can be adapted to the individual floor space and room zones will replace     6    (fix) structures, ensuring that there’s room for everything even in a small space.   

Trends for living and working under one roof

Over the last few months, the office     7    (become) a feature in many people’s homes. For a number of years now, the home office has been evolving from a make-do desk into a comfortable long-term solution. This development means we need to ask     8     how we should construct our living spaces to allow us to concentrate and work productively.   

    9     you rent or own your own home in the future, what’s clear is that the home of tomorrow will be smarter, more flexible, and more sustainable. It will offer us space     10    (live), sleep and work both indoors and outdoors.

2 . What Makes a Nobel Laureate?

Are there any predictors that point to who will be selected as Nobel laureates?

Is brilliance in childhood a predictor? When the 2006 chemistry laureate, Roger Kornberg, was asked what he wanted for Christmas, he said, “A week in the lab.”     1    . Mario Capecchi (medicine, 2007) was an abandoned child on the streets of wartime Italy.

    2    . Five of Enrico Fermi’s (physics, 1938) postdoctoral students went on to win the Nobel Prize. Otto Warburg (medicine, 1931) advised an American doctoral student, “If you wish to become a scientist, you must ask a successful scientist to accept you in his laboratory.”

Experts often recommend that people specialize in one field of work or research to maximize their chances of success.     3     If you look at the careers of Nobel Prize winners, you’ll find that they are unusually likely to be “creative polymaths.” That is, they purposely integrate formal and informal expertise from widely varied disciplines to yield new and useful ideas and practices.

There remains one quality that is essential. It is what Leon Lederman (physics, 1988) called “compulsive dedication.”     4    . Take Marie Curie (physics, 1903; chemistry, 1911) and her husband Pierre (physics, 1903). The Curies were assigned a shed with a leaking roof and a dirt floor, where they worked for years, freezing in winter and sweltering in summer. “And yet,” Marie Curie wrote in her biography of her husband, “it was in this miserable old shed that the best and happiest years of our life were spent, entirely dedicated to work.”

A．What distinguishes Nobel laureates is passion for their work, work that engages their hearts as well as their heads.

B．But early privilege is not essential.

C．The typical Nobel laureate in science is a male born into a middle-class family.

D．In many Nobel laureates’ autobiographies, they pay tribute to an outstanding mentor.

E．In fact, Nobel laureates are mostly down-to-earth and discreet.

F．Yet recently published researches indicate that successful innovators take a broader path.

3 . Our culture has caused most Americans to assume not only that our language is universal, but that the gestures we use are understood by everyone. We do not realize that waving good-bye is the way to ask a person from the Philippines to one’s side, or that in Italy and some Latin-American countries, curling the finger to oneself is a sign of farewell.

Those private citizens who sent packages to our troops occupying Germany after World War II and marked them GIFT to escape duty payments did not bother to find out that “Gift” means poison in German. Moreover, we like to think of ourselves as friendly, yet we prefer to be at least 3 feet or an arm’s length away from others. Latins and Middle Easterners like to come closer and touch, which makes Americans uncomfortable.

Our linguistic and cultural blindness and the informality with which we take notice of the developed tastes, gestures, customs and languages of other countries, are losing us friends, business and respect in the world.

Even here in the United States, we make few compromises to the needs of foreign visitors. There are no information signs in four languages on our public buildings or monuments; we do not have multilingual guided tours. Very few restaurant menus have translations, and multilingual waiters, bank clerks and policemen are rare. Our transportation systems have maps in English only and often we ourselves have difficulty understanding them.

When we go abroad, we tend to cluster in hotels and restaurants where English is spoken. The attitudes and information we pick up are conditioned by those natives—usually the richer—who speak English. Our business dealings, as well as the nation’s diplomacy, are conducted through interpreters.

For many years, America and Americans could get by with cultural blindness and linguistic ignorance. After all, America was the most powerful country of the free world, the distributor of needed funds and goods.

But all that is past. American dollars no longer buy all good things, and we are slowly beginning to realize that our proper role in the world is changing. A l979 Harris poll reported that 55 percent of Americans want this country to play a more significant role in world affairs; we want to have a hand in the important decisions of the next century, even though it may not always be the upper hand.

1. It can be inferred that Americans being approached too closely by Middle Easterners would most probably________.

A．stand still

B．scream out

C．step forward

D．draw back

2. The author gives many examples to criticize Americans for their ________.

A．cultural self-centeredness	B．casual manners
C．indifference towards foreign visitors	D．blindness to native culture

3. In countries other than their own, most Americans ________.

A．are isolated by the local people

B．are not well informed due to the language barrier

C．tend to get along well with the natives

D．need interpreters in hotels and restaurants

4. The author’s intention in writing this article is to make Americans realize that ________.

A．it is dangerous to ignore their foreign friends

B．it is important to maintain their leading role in world affairs

C．it is necessary to use several languages in public places

D．it is time to get acquainted with other cultures

4 . This is a page from a college information handbook. It tells you where you can find various college services and facilities.

WHERE TO FIND HELP IN THE COLLEGE

Here is the location of some important college services and facilities.

Rooms numbered 100-130 are on the first floor and those numbered 200-300 on the second floor of the main college block.

Student Services Centre                  114

The staff members are available to advise on career choice and applications for higher education.

Accommodation Office                    115

Mrs J Wardle is available each afternoon from 1:30 to 4:30 to help students with problems relating to housing.

Medical Room                           119

Mrs Wright, the college nurse, is available each morning from 9:30 to 12:00 a.m. The college doctor is in attendance on Wednesday mornings.

Sports Office                                207

Mr B Murie can provide information about sporting and keep-fit activities.

Student Union Office                    222

A range of services and advice (travel,party etc.) are provided.

Food Service                                127

Mr G Nun is the manager and will do his best to help if you require special diet.

Library                                        215

Besides books this also has photocopying (复印), video, audio-visual and computing facilities.

Self Access Language Learning Centre       203

Students can attend on a drop-in basis from 9:00 a.m.to 4:15 p.m.

1. Where should you go for help if you fail to find a place to live in?

A．Room 115.

B．Room 207.

C．Room 222.

D．Room 119.

2. If you would like to search for some information on the Internet, you can go to        .

A．Food Service

B．Student Services Centre

C．Library

D．Medical Room

3. It can be learned from the information handbook that        .

A．a (预订) is necessary in the Self Langunge Learning Centre

B．a foreign student may go to Room 127 to ask for a supply of some special food

C．the college nurse is available for some time after noon

D．students can do some sports in Room 207

5 . Directions: Complete the following passage by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. contact   B. serve     C. weakening   D. form   E. consciously   F. swell G. leisurely   H. proportion   I. randomly   J. grasp   K. normal

Why do fingers get wrinkly after a long bath or swim?

We know skin wrinkles as you get older or when you pinch it between two fingers. But it’s been somewhat of a mystery why skin gets wrinkly and even sometimes changes color after you take a     1     bath or spend too long in the swimming pool.

Often people assume that these wrinkles form because the skin absorbs water, which makes it     2     up and buckle. To be honest, I did too for a long time.

But researchers back in the 1930s discovered that in people with nerve damage in their fingers, the post-bath wrinkles didn’t     3    . Wrinkly fingers can’t just be due to water absorption then, or this would be a universal phenomenon, no matter how well your nerves are or aren’t working.

To explain what is happening, first you need to know a bit about the autonomic nervous system – the involuntary part of how your body works. Functions like breathing, blinking, your heart pumping or your pupils constricting in the sun all happen without your needing to     4     control them, thanks to the autonomic nervous system.

It also automatically controls the expansion and contraction of your blood vessels. This contraction of your blood vessels is also what causes the skin to wrinkle after a lengthy swim.

When your hands and feet come into     5     with water for more than a few minutes, the sweat ducts (汗腺管) in your skin open, allowing water to flow into the skin tissue. This added water decreases the     6     of salt inside the skin. Nerve fibers send a message about lower salt levels to your brain, and the autonomic nervous system responds by constricting the blood vessels.

When tiny blood vessels inside the skin contract, they pull the skin’s surface down, forming the wrinkles you see after a long bath.

But does this skin wrinkling-when-wet     7     any purpose?

Researchers have found that wrinkled skin has added grip underwater in comparison to unwrinkled skin. Better grip lets you     8     objects more firmly. It makes walking along an underwater surface easier, with less likelihood of slipping.

Prolonged immersion in water makes skin more likely to break, but this     9     can take weeks to occur. Just don’t stay in the swimming pool too long and your pruney digits will go back to     10     once you’ve dried off.

6 . People’s creativity knows no bounds. There is always something new being developed that promises to improve people’s quality of life. These two inventions promise to do just that.

Riding a bicycle is an enjoyable activity. Most people wear a helmet to protect their heads as accidents do happen and can be deadly. Helmets protect to a degree, but now a Swedish company has something even better. Meet Hövding 3, an airbag for cyclists that blows up to protect the head in an accident. A scientific study shows that it protects the head much better than a traditional bike helmet. The Hövding 3 airbag is worn around the neck like a collar. If the cyclist is in an accident, the airbag fills with air in 0.1 seconds.

The Hövding 3 is easy to use. Just charge it up, zip it around your neck and activate it. It can also be linked to your smartphone. Then if you have an accident, the Hövding app will notify your selected contacts. At €349 (about USS380) the device isn’t cheap, but if it saves your life, it’s worth it.

Have you ever heard of electronic skin, also known as e-skin? Just as your skin can feel things, electronic skin can “feel,” too. Made of special materials that are stretchy, e-skin can twist and stretch without breaking. It can also detect changes in temperature, pressure and wetness wherever it is used. E-skin is being combined with wearable health monitors, making them last longer and more comfortable for the wearer.

E-skin can be put on robots that need to “feel” their environment and help them interact with the world around them. This is exactly how humans use their sense of touch to feel and respond to different stimuli (刺激物). For example, e-skin can be used to make prosthetic limbs (义肢) feel pressure and temperature changes. This would allow the person to have a better sense of touch, feel and control of the limb.

Scientists and engineers are still working on improving the technology behind e-skin. They want to make it even more sensitive and responsive.

1. The expression “knows no bounds” in the first paragraph most probably means “________”

A．shows no changes	B．has no limits
C．promises no drawbacks	D．gets no bad results

2. Unlike a traditional helmet, the Hövding 3 ________.

A．is very much complicated to use	B．is a life-saving but low-cost device
C．can inform the contacts of the injured	D．can injure the wearers with its airbag

3. Which of the following statements about electronic skin is true?

A．It has been mass-produced recently.

B．It lacks flexibility and is easily worn out.

C．It loses its sense of temperature in the sea.

D．It is highly similar to human skin in function.

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

A．new inventions are changing our lives

B．the two technologies are already quite perfect

C．the future of modern technologies is uncertain

D．robots play a key role in scientific experiments

7 . From birth, every person needs other human beings. Babies need to be cared for to survive. Their first _________ usually come from parents and brothers or sisters. As children grow up, _________, they spend more time with others. And they may or may not feel connected to the people they see every day. Some people feel different from or rejected by their neighbors, people they work with or even their families. People who don’t feel like they belong often feel _________, even when others are around.

People find different ways to meet their natural desire to _________ a group. Some rely on their families _________ others find communities based on other interests. These can include religious beliefs, shared goals, life experiences or popular culture.

You need others for many _________. Community members can offer advice or practical help when you go through difficult times. You can also grow as a person from helping others. And belonging helps give a sense of meaning as you become part of something bigger than yourself.

So what can you do if you _________ a sense of belonging? The first step will usually be to make a mindful effort to _________ others. You could join groups based on interests you share. Or you could contact an individual with whom you have something in common and decide when to meet up. This may be uncomfortable _________, but as with most things, it becomes easier with practice. Focusing on others more than on yourself may help. Ask questions that show you __________ others’ lives. This will help them feel valued. If you are shy, it will spare you from having to talk about yourself too much.

Finding community requires a(n) __________ to accept others. But it is also important to remain __________ to yourself. If you hide your thoughts and feelings to fit in, you won’t feel like you belong.

Finding a place where you belong may not be easy, but it will help you live a happier life.

1.

A．feelings

B．needs

C．connections

D．belongings

2.

A．indeed

B．meanwhile

C．furthermore

D．however

3.

A．interested

B．different

C．lonely

D．involved

4.

A．build up

B．believe in

C．benefit from

D．belong to

5.

A．while

B．although

C．as

D．when

6.

A．reasons

B．occasions

C．difficulties

D．senses

7.

A．lose

B．lack

C．show

D．maintain

8.

A．catch up with

B．reach out to

C．count on

D．object to

9.

A．at first

B．in other words

C．to some extent

D．on average

10.

A．concentrate on

B．care about

C．give way to

D．make comments on

11.

A．anxiety

B．arrangement

C．willingness

D．hesitation

12.

A．polite

B．kind

C．patient

D．true

8 . Directions: Complete the following passage by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. amused       B. common       C. complete       D. disconnecting       E. means F. mission       G. perform       H. positive       I. prepared       J. spreading K. struggle

The world of live action role-playing

For many people, the days of playing make-believe (假扮) ended in childhood. But for some, the game of make-believe lives on in Live Action Role-Playing, or LARP. This is a game where people act out characters in a(n)     1     plot. A gamemaster creates the plot and then puts together an event where people     2     the story. Those who find a particular plot interesting sign up for the event. Then the gamemaster, or the players themselves, make up their characters for the story. At the event, each person comes in costume and behaves as their character.

Although pretty much anything goes in LARP, nearly every event involves players completing a(n)     3     together. A gamemaster writes a goal into the plot and usually prepares challenges for the players. For example, a character may hold up the mission, making it hard to     4     the goal. LARP events can be as long as the gamemasters want them to be. They can last anywhere from a few hours to several days.

The genius of LARP is that each event can be any kind of story. The most     5     ones come from fantasy, historical, horror or science fiction genres (体裁). With such a variety of story types, LARP attracts all kinds of people. Some players enjoy LARP as a(n)     6     to practice creating or costume-making. Other players enjoy the challenge of going into different worlds and using their brains to solve puzzles. There are also those who simply want to have fun and make friends.

One     7     LARP players have is coming out of their LARP experiences and returning to the real world. This is especially common after a long event. Most players experience a “bleed,” which describes parts of their LARP experience     8     into their everyday life. Since all the senses — seeing, hearing, touching, smelling and tasting — are at work,     9     becomes difficult. However, researchers agree that the overall effects of LARP are     10    . People of different backgrounds come together to grow their skills, play and express creativity.

9 . Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passage coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word or a phrase that best fits each blank.

Color my world

Once there was a girl named Rose. Rose always felt blue because she lived in a dull, gray village     1     life was black and white. She longed for adventure,     2     her life was as plain as a brown paper bag.

One day while walking down the street, she saw Eric, a former classmate, in     3     red car, and he caught her eye. He looked very happy. He stopped and said, “Hop in, let’s paint the town red!”

Rose was a little hesitant, but Eric’s infectious (有感染力的) spirit and the sight of the car’s shiny red outer     4     (excite) her. They drove off into the sunset and found     5     in a city that was lively and full of color. The buildings     6     (paint) in all shades of the rainbow. The streets were alive with people     7     (dress) in colorful clothing.

As they drove through the city, Rose saw a rainbow in the sky, and she felt as if she were on cloud nine. Eric took her to a party, and she danced     8     she was red in the face.

When the party was over, Eric drove Rose home. But it wasn’t until she was walking to her door that she came up with a great idea. She realized that she needed to stop     9     (chase) rainbows and add some color to her gray existence. She decided to live her life in full color.

The next day, Rose took a walk in the village. She noticed that the trees were green, and the flowers bloomed in many colors. She realized that her village was not as dull as she had thought. Rose noticed a shop     10     sold paint. She purchased some and painted her house     11     (bright) color she could find. She was very happy     12     the result. Her neighbors were amazed at the transformation and decided to paint their houses bright colors,     13    .

Before long, the whole village was painted in bright colors, and it seemed that a rainbow     14     (fall) upon it. It was a red-letter day for everyone! Rose realized that looking at things in a different light had made all the difference.

10 . Directions: Fill in each blank with a proper word chosen from the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. adulthood     B. betting     C. alternative     D. direct     E. drown     F. opting G. place     H. tearing     I. engage     J. sense     K. state

The post millennial generation best known as Gen Z — individuals now in their teens and early 20s — looked on as their parents lost jobs during the Great Recession. They’ve seen older millennial siblings     1     in student debt. Since they could eat solid food, they’ve watched on promising techonology displace another, and, along with older generations, have questioned everything from the gig economy to the     2     of democracy. Now they’re entering     3     with a willingness to experiment.

“The old systems we used to rely on aren’t working anymore, but new systems haven’t necessarily been put in     4    ,” says Melissa Lavigne-Delville, founder of the trends and research firm Culture Co-op, which specializes in generational attitudes. “Parents aren’t even sure about how to     5     their children, because too much is up in the air.”

According to a survey by her firm, 78% of Gen Z-ers say getting a four-year degree no longer makes economic     6    , and hundreds of programs, from apprenticeships to boot camps, have cropped up to offer a(n)     7     path. New types of work are possible too. Research has found that teenagers are getting their driver’s licenses later and doing less traditional work-for-pay than previous generations. But while they might not be     8     tickets at the local cineplex, they may be starting a popular YouTube channel from their bedroom. Culture Co-op found that nearly 60% of Gen Z-ers, ages 13 to 22, say they are doing some form of freelancing. Dew, for one, didn’t have a job in high school but did teach himself to code and is building websites on the side while he attends MissionU.

Jumping into the freelance economy means taking an uncertain path, as is     9     one’s future earnings on an educational program no one has tried before. Almost $2 billion has been invested in “last mile training” efforts like MissionU, but many young people are still     10     for college.