2 . On July 14, 2017, Maryam Mirzakhani, Stanford professor of mathematics and the first female winner of the Fields Medal in Mathematics, died at the age of 40.

The news was especially hard-hitting for a generation of younger academics who have always held Maryam to be a role model whose example is helping redefine (重新定义) women’s status in science and especially in mathematics. What was fun was that Maryam always tried to avoid the media’s spotlight. Despite being the first woman to gain such high status in the world of mathematics — winning what’s often called the “Nobel Prize of Math”— her modesty (谦逊) and simplicity stood out to those who knew her.

Maryam originally wanted to be a writer, a passion of hers that never faded away even during her postgraduate studies. However, she found an even greater joy in how rewarding it felt to solve mathematical problems. As a student, she was the first female member of Iran’s national team to participate in the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), and she won two gold medals in two years, which is still a record.

She received her bachelor’s degree in Iran and later studied at Harvard. In 2014, Maryam was recognized with the Fields Medal, the highest-ranking award in mathematics. Her work focused on curved surfaces like sphere (球体). Her achievements have applications in other scientific fields including engineering and material science. Unfortunately, at that time she was already fighting against the breast cancer.

Maryam’s legend (传奇) may continue to grow after her early death. Still only 20 percent of full-time math teachers at U.S. universities are women. The example of a woman who rose to the top of this still very male field may help inspire math’s next generation.

In the same way people think of Marie Curie or Jane Goodall as scientific pioneers, Maryam Mirzakhani will go down in history as a pioneer as well as a mathematical genius.

1. What made Maryam famous worldwide?

A．Everlasting love for writing.

B．Hiding behind the media’s spotlight.

C．Fighting for women’s equal social status.

D．Being the first female winner of Fields Medal.

2. What is the main idea of paragraph 3?

A．Maryam’s early experience.

B．Maryam’s life achievements.

C．Maryam’s individuality.

D．Maryam’s life dream.

3. What can we learn about Maryam from the text?

A．She stopped working when she was fighting against cancer.

B．She encouraged the younger generation in mathematics.

C．She applied mathematics to material science.

D．She got her bachelor’s degree at Harvard.

4. Which of the following can best describe Maryam Mirzakhani?

A．Able and modest.	B．Tough and energetic.
C．Talented and outgoing.	D．Determined and generous.

5 . Time has always been of great interest to scientist...

Theory 1: According to Caltech cosmologist Dr Sean Carroll, the flow of time from past to future may be the symptom of our Universe having emerged from another universe that existed before the Big Bang and then gave birth to our own. Theory 2: In 1967, two American theorists came up with an equation describing the quantum state of the whole Universe. Known as the Wheeler-DeWitt equation, it includes many key features of the universe, such as its size. But one aspect is absent: time. Some theorists believe this implies that time only exists in our minds. Theory 3: According to theorist Prof Lee Smolin at the Perimeter Institute, Canada, the existence of life in the Universe is the result of the laws of physics evolving to their current state over an unlimited number of previous universes. If true, this means that our very existence is proof that time does exist. Theory 4: Dark energy, the mysterious anti-gravitational force that drives the expansion of the Universe, may be linked to the existence of the arrow of time. Last year, two cosmologists at the Yerevan Physics Institute showed that dark energy leads to the growth of entropy, a measure of disorder, in the Universe.

1. Which theory doesn’t include time?

A．Theory 1.

B．Theory 2.

C．Theory 3.

D．Theory 4.

2. According to the passage, which of the following statements is true of dark energy?

A．It increases in strength with gravity.	B．It is what keeps the universe in order.
C．It is what makes the universe get bigger.	D．It leads to the existence of multi-universities.

3. All the four theories imply that ________.

A．time does stay flexible	B．time does remain constant
C．time does go forth and back	D．time does exist in some way

6 . Characteristics of an excellent scientist

The dictionary defines a scientist as a person having professional knowledge on one or more sciences, especially natural science or physical science.    1     Let’s look at some characteristics of an excellent scientist.

Curiosity

An excellent scientist must be very curious about things. Scientists such as Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse discovered things mainly because they wanted to know how things work.    2    

Patience

Becoming a scientist takes a long time.     3     Even if you think you have received some education on science, you still have a lot of scientific research to do. If you’re an instant-gratification type of person, this may not be the best choice for you.

Ethical (道德的) qualities

In order to truly discover and use knowledge for the greater good, a scientist must have a desire to improve people’s life as well as the environment, since they are linked and they can affect one another in the long run.     4     Sticking to an old belief contradicted with evidence is dishonest. However, that belief shouldn’t be changed without powerful evidence.

Working habits

    5    He/She can work well alone or in groups, depending on what’s needed and also needs to communicate thoughts on paper and verbally. Networking connects him/her with colleagues working on similar projects where he/she may discover something new.

A．To make discoveries, you have to think differently.

B．There are very few jobs that take longer than this one.

C．It also defines a scientist as someone who uses scientific methods.

D．A scientist must report findings honestly regardless of personal interests or public opinion.

E．One of the main places that many scientists work in is the research laboratory.

F．An excellent scientist even takes notes of the smallest observation and keeps it in mind.

G．Without a drive to ask questions or even wonder, a scientist will never get to the first stage of the scientific process.

7 . “I want to work full-time in China, honey.” An overseas call awakened the wife from sound sleep. “Why?” asked the wife with surprise, in a drowsy (昏昏欲睡的) voice, from the other side of the ocean.

In the United States, he had a great future ahead. At the age of 36, he became the youngest professor in the history of the Department of Molecular Biology at Princeton University, for his academic achievements. At 40, he became a tenured (终身的) chair professor at Princeton.

When everything seemed perfect and admirable to others, he firmly decided to say goodbye to Princeton University, to an affluent life in the United States, and return to China.

The news spread explosively. Many expressed confusion, many persuaded him, many made fun of him, and still many waited to have a good laugh at him.

He said patriotism is the plainest feeling of a person. Who doesn’t love his motherland, after all? In his heart, the American dream is already something past; the Chinese dream is rising.

After returning to China, he devoted all his energy, worked like crazy, and determined to do something big. He formed a life science research team. Every day, he works 12 to 16 hours at his laboratory. He is Shi Yigong, nicknamed “Da Niu” (someone with extraordinary achievements) by Tsinghua students. His given name, Yigong, comes from an idiom that means “devoted to public interest whole-heartedly”. “So far as I’m concerned, awards are of no special meaning.” Shi says calmly.

In his 18 years of study in the United States, he never forgot his Chinese dream. In the next 18 years, the Chinese dream will be more beautiful and greater by the efforts of Shi Yigong and the likes of him.

1. Why was Shi determined to return to China?

A．To serve his motherland.	B．To reunite with his wife.
C．To live a quieter life.	D．To make more money.

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

A．Normal.

B．Miserable.

C．Wealthy.

D．Adventurous.

3. What can we know about Shi Yigong?

A．His decision was well-received.	B．He doesn’t care much about fame.
C．He is the youngest professor in history.	D．His Chinese dream will be realized in 18 years.

4. Why is Shi Yigong called “Da Niu” by his Tsinghua students?

A．To support his life science research.	B．To praise his honesty.
C．To introduce his endless energy in work.	D．To show his unusual achievements.

9 . 阅读下面材料，在题后空白处填入适当的内容（每空一词）或括号内单词的正确形式。

Albert Einstein, the genius behind the theory of relativity, has recently been making headlines again. However, this time it is not for a new scientific breakthrough,    1     for a handwritten note he gave a bellboy 95 years ago.

In October 1922, Einstein was delivering a series of lectures in Japan     2     he received a telegram informing him that he     3     (award) the Nobel Prize for Physics. Though     4     (please) at the news, the Nobel winner decided to continue with his Japanese trip instead of     5     (head) to Stockholm to accept the honor.

While in Tokyo, he penned     6     note in German,saying “A quiet and humble life will bring more     7     (happy) than the pursuit of success...” Perhaps he had no loose change to tip a bellboy coming to deliver the message, he gave him the note, and told him,“Maybe if you are lucky, the note     8     (become) more valuable than just a regular tip. ”

Earlier this year, the bellboy’s nephew decided to hand it to Jerusalem-based Winner’s Auctions (拍卖) and Exhibitions. The note was then put up for auction,    9     might bring the owner a surprising $1.56 million     10     a European buyer. It was a record for an auction of a document in Israel and the wild-haired scientist deserved it.