1 . A satellite is an object in space that orbits around another. It has two kinds — natural satellites and artificial satellites. The moon is a natural satellite that moves around the earth while artificial satellites are those made by man.

Despite their widespread impact on daily life, artificial satellites mainly depend on different complicated makeups. On the outside, they may look like a wheel, equipped with solar panels or sails. Inside, the satellites contain mission-specific scientific instruments, which include whatever tools the satellites need to perform their work. Among them, high-resolution cameras and communication electronics are typical ones. Besides, the part that carries the load and holds all the parts together is called the bus.

Artificial satellites operate in a systematic way just like humans. Computers function as the satellite’s brain, which receive information, interpret it, and send messages back to the earth. Advanced digital cameras serve as the satellite’s eyes. Sensors are other important parts that not only recognize light, heat, and gases, but also record changes in what is being observed. Radios on the satellite send information back to the earth. Solar panels provide electrical power for the computers and other equipment, as well as the power to move the satellite forward.

Artificial satellites use gravity to stay in their orbits. Earth’s gravity pulls everything toward the center of the planet. To stay in the earth’s orbit, the speed of a satellite must adjust to the tiniest changes in the pull of gravity. The satellite’s speed works against earth’s gravity just enough so that it doesn’t go speeding into space or falling back to the earth.

Rockets carry satellites to different types and heights of orbits, based on the tasks they need to perform. Satellites closer to the earth are in low-earth orbit, which can be 200-500 miles high. The closer to the earth, the stronger the gravity is. Therefore, these satellites must travel at about 17,000 miles per hour to keep from falling back to the earth, while higher-orbiting satellites can travel more slowly.

1. What is Paragraph 2 of the text mainly about?

A．The appearance of artificial satellites.	B．The components of artificial satellites.
C．The basic function of artificial satellites.	D．The specific mission of artificial satellites.

2. What is the role of computers in artificial satellites?

A．Providing electrical power.	B．Recording changes observed.
C．Monitoring space environment.	D．Processing information received.

3. How do artificial satellites stay in their orbits?

A．By relying on powerful rockets to get out of gravity.

B．By orbiting at a fixed speed regardless of gravity’s pull.

C．By changing speed constantly based on the pull of gravity.

D．By resisting the pull of gravity with advanced technologies.

4. Why do satellites in higher-earth orbit travel more slowly?

A．They are more affected by earth’s gravity.

B．They take advantage of rockets more effectively.

C．They have weaker pull of gravity in higher orbits.

D．They are equipped with more advanced instruments.

2 . Frank Lloyd Wright probably is the greatest architect that the United States has ever produced. He was very gifted and had a natural ability to design buildings. His buildings were not only beautiful, but they were also practical and useful. They fit their purposes very well. Wright’s churches, for example, make people feel like thinking and praying. His office buildings make people enjoy working, and his houses make people feel comfortable at home. However, Frank Lloyd Wright’s beautiful, practical and useful buildings are not the only reason that he is famous. There is another reason.

Frank Lloyd Wright is called the greatest American architect because he started an American style in architecture. Most of the architecture in the United States before Wright was really European, not American. Wright’s buildings do not look like old European buildings. They have their own style. Wright’s ideas about style are still used in the United States and in other parts of the world.

The most important idea in Frank Lloyd Wright’s Style of Architecture is that a building must fit its purpose and the land around it. His houses are often called “grass-land houses” because their lines are similar to the lines on the grassland. Both the lines of the grassland and the lines of Wright’s house are parallel (平行的) to the horizon, the place where earth and sky seem to meet. They are horizontal lines. Most European style houses, in contrast, have many vertical lines that form 90°angles with the horizon.

1. Which of the following best describes the character of the houses that Wright designed?

A．They were very large and beautiful.

B．They could be used as churches.

C．They were beautiful and fitted their purposes.

D．They were beautiful in design but not practical in use.

2. Frank Lloyd Wright’s style in architecture was _________.

A．learned from some European countries

B．not only used in the U.S.

C．no longer popular

D．somewhat similar to the European style

3. What’s the most important idea in Wright’s style?

A．Architectural design should match natural surroundings.

B．A building must have grassland around it.

C．American style in architect should be different from the European’s.

D．Design should be more important than use.

4. Which of the following is NOT true about Wright’s “grass-land houses”?

A．The lines of “grass-land houses” are similar to lines on the grassland.

B．The lines of “grass-land houses” are horizontal.

C．The color of the lines of “grass-land houses” is green.

D．They are different from European style houses.

5. The best title for this passage would be _________.

A．How to Make Your Houses More Beautiful

B．“Grass-land” houses Designed by Wright

C．The Differences Between the American and European Styles in Architecture

D．The Style of Wright’s Buildings and his Influence on American Architecture

3 . A study has found that elephants possess a sense of smell that is likely the strongest ever identified in a single species, according to a study by Japanese scientists last week.

The African elephant’s genome (基因组) contains the largest number of olfactory receptor (嗅觉感受器) genes—nearly 2, 000—says the study in the journal Genome Research.

Olfactory receptors are aware of smells in the environment.

That means elephants’ sniffers (嗅探器) are five times more powerful than people’s noses, twice that of dogs, and even stronger than the previous known record-holder in the animal kingdom: rats.

“Apparently, an elephant’s nose is not only long but also superior, ”says lead study author Yoshihito Niimura of the University of Tokyo.

Just how these genes work is not well understood, but they likely helped elephants survive and navigate their environment over the ages.

The ability to smell allows creatures to find mates and food—and avoid predators.

The study compared elephant’s olfactory receptor genes to those of 13 other animals, including horses, rabbits, guinea pigs, cows, rodents and chimpanzees.

Primates (灵长类) and people actually had very low numbers of olfactory receptor genes compared to other species, the study found.

“This could be a result of our decreased reliance on smell as our sight improved, ” Niimura says.

1. Why do African elephants have the strongest sense of smell?

A．Because their noses are very superior.

B．Because they have more olfactory receptor genes.

C．Because they are very strong.

D．Because they have long noses.

2. Whose sniffer is the most powerful?

A．Human.

B．Dog.

C．Rat.

D．Elephant.

3. What makes elephants survive and guide their environment over the years?

A．Their genes.

B．Their noses.

C．Their legs.

D．Their ears.

4. Which is NOT the purpose of the ability to smell of the elephants?

A．To find mates.	B．To have fun.
C．To find food.	D．To escape from hunters.

5. What’s the main idea of the passage?

A．People find elephants are very useful.

B．People like elephants’ noses.

C．Elephants possess “superior” sense of smell.

D．Elephants are smarter than other animals.

4 . Jack is a retired worker from Rio de Janeiro. Now he is sharing a close relationship with a penguin which is ______ to South American’s Patagonian region. For the past five years, the penguin seems to have ______ his natural migrating route just in order to be able to ______ Jack several times a year.

The unusual ______ began in 2011, when Jack found the bird, nicknamed Jinling, trapped in oil on the beach near his house. He brought the penguin home, ______ him up, and offered him a good meal and a shady spot to ______. Since then, the penguin has ______ stayed away from Jack for too long.

The kind man tried to get the penguin to ______ to the open sea after he got better, ______ the bird just kept coming back. He even took him out in a boat, far from ______ and let him loose in the ocean, but by the time he got back home, with ______, he saw Jinling was already waiting for him.

______ penguins migrate thousands of miles between Patagonia and Rio de Janeiro, Jinling doesn’t stay away from Rio for more than four months at a time. He always runs back to Jack’s little ______ by the sea, sometimes ______ as long as eight months to a year with the old man. And he is a little ______, too – it seems that he can’t stand other animals getting anywhere close to his ______.

The local fishermen show their kindness to the penguin and they think it is a great ______ not only for Jack himself but also for all the villagers. Jinling has been regarded ______ the village mascot (吉祥物) since 2012. However, some are ______ about this unusual relationship thinking about Jinling’s identity. But good friendship will last for long regardless of the ______, isn’t it ?

1.

A．native

B．loyal

C．reliable

D．accustomed

2.

A．passed

B．built

C．changed

D．finished

3.

A．serve

B．visit

C．impress

D．comfort

4.

A．thought

B．adventure

C．experience

D．friendship

5.

A．warmed

B．cleaned

C．cheered

D．covered

6.

A．rest

B．swim

C．run

D．breathe

7.

A．never

B．always

C．soon

D．already

8.

A．adapt

B．respond

C．return

D．travel

9.

A．thus

B．since

C．and

D．but

10.

A．city

B．land

C．goal

D．destination

11.

A．sadness

B．pleasure

C．satisfaction

D．surprise

12.

A．Because

B．If

C．Although

D．Until

13.

A．house

B．boat

C．company

D．pool

14.

A．saving

B．wasting

C．reducing

D．spending

15.

A．naughty

B．foolish

C．selfish

D．stubborn

16.

A．owner

B．colleague

C．companion

D．couple

17.

A．disaster

B．gift

C．teacher

D．encouragement

18.

A．for

B．of

C．to

D．as

19.

A．careless

B．worried

C．confident

D．angry

20.

A．species

B．age

C．hobby

D．space

5 . In the city I live in, we have a small local national park full of trees. I like that place very much, although I do wish it was bigger.

One day, I was walking around in the park along a path (小路) when I saw a beautiful squirrel (松鼠) lying in the middle of the path. I stopped and found that there was something wrong with one of its legs.

Just at that time, a man with two little kids was behind me. They were my neighbors. They were going up the same path. I said hello to them. The dad asked me, “Why are you standing still here?” I said,“Look! Here is a beautiful squirrel, but....” Noticing the squirrel, one of the kids shouted, “Quickly dad, catch it for me. I want to put it in my birdcage.” His brother nodded, asking their dad to catch the squirrel.

Then I stopped them.“Please wait. Do you really want to catch it and put it into the birdcage?” My neighbor said, “Yes. I will catch it and take it home.” I said angrily, “Animals are our friends and this is the last place in our city that the squirrel can live in. We must protect them. If we are kind to this tiny animal then we can start to be kind to bigger ones.” My neighbor smiled and said,“You misunderstood me. I will take it home and cure (治疗) it and when it is well, I will take it back to the park and set it free. Do you come long with me?”After hearing his words, I became happy. I followed him with the injured squirrel to his home. A few days later, when the squirrel was well, we took it back to the park and sent it free.

I felt glad that we did a good thing. We should protect animals.

1. Where did the author see the squirrel?

A．In his back yard.	B．In a small birdcage.
C．In a local park.	D．In his neighbor’s home.

2. What do you know about the squirrel?

A．It was injured.	B．It was lost.
C．It was dead.	D．It was dirty.

3. How did the author feel when hearing the neighbor’s words at first?

A．Doubtful.

B．Excited.

C．Anxious.

D．Angry.

4. What happened to the squirrel in the end?

A．It was killed.

B．It was sold.

C．It was sent back to the park.

D．It was kept in the birdcage.

5. The story inspires people to ________.

A．treat animals friendly

B．communicate with kids sometimes

C．go to local parks more often

D．get along well with neighbors

6 . I was suddenly awakened at about 4 a.m. by a strange experience which I did not understand at first. I was _________ for a few seconds, as though I was in a cradle (摇篮). I heard _________ sounds in which I could identify the tinkling of pots, the rattling of windows, and certain deep rumbling noise _________ from the earth. After a few moments I realized, to my _________, that it was the earthquake.

Others too in my house and neighborhood must have _________ it at the same time or a little earlier, because we all jumped up from our beds in a second and _________ out of our houses. The quake of the earth had stopped; yet we stood in the open for an hour, extremely _________ about another quake. There was nip (寒冷) in the air that early morning, and the electric lights had _________. People stood in darkness, talking about the earthquake and praying (祈祷) to God that it might not be _________.

The quakes of the earth caused no damage in Mumbai. For several hours next morning we thought, with __________ to Nature, that the disaster had been __________ on the whole. But at about noon, bad news came that all the houses in parts of Latur had been __________ to the ground and hundreds of human lives __________.

The destruction caused by the earthquake at Latur proved the __________ of man in the face of an unexpected natural disaster. He still has much to achieve in dealing with Nature. Isn’t it a(n) __________ that he is wasting away the natural resources and energies?

1.

A．attacked

B．comforted

C．rocked

D．sheltered

2.

A．pleasant

B．strange

C．fascinating

D．fluent

3.

A．coming

B．flashing

C．reflecting

D．tracking

4.

A．annoyance

B．joy

C．relief

D．horror

5.

A．warned

B．recognized

C．impacted

D．prevented

6.

A．jumped

B．walked

C．rushed

D．struggled

7.

A．anxious

B．excited

C．curious

D．hopeful

8.

A．blown up

B．come out

C．died down

D．gone off

9.

A．expected

B．forgiven

C．repeated

D．stopped

10.

A．admiration

B．gratitude

C．regret

D．satisfaction

11.

A．generous

B．impressive

C．harmless

D．tough

12.

A．burned

B．frozen

C．thrown

D．ruined

13.

A．lost

B．cured

C．discovered

D．rescued

14.

A．power

B．creativity

C．helplessness

D．limit

15.

A．fact

B．pity

C．honor

D．wonder

7 . 阅读下面的短文，并根据短文内容回答后面的问题。

69-year-old Xia Boyu recently became the oldest double amputee (双侧截肢者) to climb Mount Qomolangma. That is amazing, but even what is more impressive is the fact that he did it after he tried four times.

Xia Boyu’s first try to reach the top of Mount Qomolangma was in 1975, as part of an expedition (远征) by the Chinese Government. With only 250 meters to go from reaching the top, the team was stopped by bad weather. To make sure that everyone made it back alive, the team decided to turn back and finish their dream another time.

On the way, Xia Boyu gave his sleeping bag to one of his teammates who was in worse shape than him. Unluckily, this selfless act made him lose both his feet to frostbite (冻伤).

In 1996, Xia Boyu got cancer. But it also didn’t stop the mountain climber from realizing his dream of climbing the world’s highest peak. “Climbing Mount Qomolangma is my dream, ” Xia said. “I have to realize it. It also stands for a personal challenge, a challenge of fate. ”

Over twenty years after losing his feet, Xia Boyu trained to get his body ready for another try at climbing Mount Qomolangma. In 2014, he tried again, but finally had to turn back because of bad weather. The same thing happened the following year, as well as in 2016.

In 2018, Xia Boyu finally reached the top of Mount Qomolangma on his fifth try. He thus became only the second double amputee to climb the world’s highest mountain top, after Mark Inglis from New Zealand, who did it in 2006, and the first to do it from the Nepal (尼泊尔) side.

Answer the following questions with no more than 7 words.
1. How many times did Xia Boyu try to climb Mount Qomolangma?     
________________
2. Who is the first double amputee to climb the world’s highest mountain top?
________________
3. When was Xia Boyu’s first try to reach the top of Mount Qomolangma?        
________________
4. Why did Xia Boyu give up trying while climbing Mount Qomolangma in 2014?
________________
5. What happened to him after Xia Boyu gave his sleeping bag to his teammate?
________________

8 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（不多于3个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。

Do you ever stop and think about this big, beautiful world we live in? It's home     1     so many people and animals. We all live in this amazing place, so we all have the     2     (responsible) to take care of it, too.

A long time ago, I started thinking about what I could do to help take care of the planet. I wondered     3     I could use my talents for good. I love creating websites and making art and designing clothes. That was what     4     (inspire) me, at the age of 8, to start an online company. I donate part of my profits to organizations     5     (try) their best to save our environment. After I launched my business, I started getting     6     (invite) to give presentations to young people about my company and the environment. I also talk about something else that     7     (be) meaningful.

One thing I've learned is that a lot of people feel like     8     small contribution to any cause is just a drop in the bucket and won't make a difference. But that's not true!     9     (actual) when it comes to saving our environment, every small action counts. The     10     (tiny) thing is better than the greatest intention.