1 . Catherine decided to rescue Khan after seeing him at the animal shelter. Khan was a(an)
One day,
In one last
While Khan was at the
| A．experienced | B．abused | C．fierce | D．trained |
| A．As | B．Because | C．Since | D．Although |
| A．rolled | B．climbed | C．cycled | D．walked |
| A．recommended | B．examined | C．introduced | D．teased |
| A．bond | B．circle | C．boundary | D．habit |
| A．however | B．instead | C．therefore | D．otherwise |
| A．guide | B．lift | C．drag | D．push |
| A．nothing | B．everything | C．something | D．anything |
| A．away from | B．near | C．before | D．across from |
| A．moving | B．looking | C．trembling | D．working |
| A．strike | B．follow | C．touch | D．protect |
| A．in relief | B．in surprise | C．in horror | D．in excitement |
| A．test | B．attempt | C．pull | D．fight |
| A．passed | B．held | C．put | D．threw |
| A．landed | B．stood | C．jumped | D．waited |
| A．got out | B．worked out | C．turned out | D．came out |
| A．shelter | B．hospital | C．gate | D．back |
| A．believe | B．guarantee | C．remember | D．accept |
| A．Surprisingly | B．Interestingly | C．Naturally | D．Thankfully |
| A．unwilling | B．able | C．invited | D．forbidden |
2 . When I was a child, I often saw my Grandma throwing bread that was no longer fresh to birds. Not surprisingly, this attracted few birds. Later on, we discovered bird food at the local store. Feeding garden birds in the UK has come a long way since then. Today, the birds can enjoy many kinds of food: from plant seeds to sunflower hearts and from cakes to meat balls. All this comes at a huge cost of about £200m a year. Sometimes, I wonder if we might be feeding our garden birds better than our kids. But maybe it’s worth it. Our generosity is having an important effect on the behavior and even evolution of these birds.
Take the goldfinch for example. In the 1960s, this was a rare bird. Today, goldfinches can be seen in many gardens. Other new visitors include the spotted woodpecker, which has left its usual woodland for food on bird tables. Evolution is meant to progress slowly: over thousands of years. Yet during the past few decades, the beaks of many kinds of birds have become longer because birds with longer beaks can get more food, and then are more likely to live on.
Actually, the British habit of feeding garden birds goes back much further. During the sixth century, St Serf of Fife fed a robin in his garden; during the winter of 1890, workers in London were seen giving their lunches to songbirds. The real change took place in the 1980s, when a few farsighted businessmen realized that encouraging the British to be more generous to garden birds can help them make money. Therefore, various kinds of bird food and modern bird feeders were produced. As a result, the number of species using garden feeding stations increased very quickly, from about 10 to over 100. Then, in 2005, Springwatch came, which turned our love of garden birds into an entertainment show.
Is bird feeding completely good for birds? Not everyone thinks so. Studies by the Zoological Society of London have shown that by bringing together many birds, bird feeders may help the spread of disease. In Australia, some bird experts believe—probably wrongly—that bird feeding creates a “dependence culture”.
But we shouldn’t forget one major benefit of feeding garden birds—it connects millions of people to the natural world. This is especially important for people who seldom reach the wider countryside. As I write this, there comes some noise outside my window: several birds were singing and flying around in my garden. It’s a sight I could only imagine years ago, when feeding garden birds just meant throwing hard bread to them.
1. What does the author mean by saying the underlined part in Paragraph 1?| A．Feeding garden birds is a huge waste of money. |
| B．We spend quite a lot of money on the food of garden birds. |
| C．We should care more for our kids rather than garden birds. |
| D．Feeding garden birds can bring more joy than feeding kids. |
| A．These birds have given up traditional woodland. | B．Food for these birds becomes richer and better. |
| C．Longer beaks mean more chances of survival. | D．These birds grow faster than ever before. |
| A．It is completely good for birds. |
| B．It may help the spread of disease. |
| C．It connects more and more people to the natural world. |
| D．It may reduce birds’ ability to find food by themselves. |
| A．Annoyed. | B．Pleased. | C．Surprised. | D．Bored. |
With all her big brothers and sisters off to school, our farm became a lonely place for our three-year-old daughter, Becky. She longed for playmates. We promised to buy her a puppy but in the meantime, “pretend” puppies popped up nearly every day.
I had just finished washing the lunch dishes when the door slammed and Becky rushed in, cheeks flushed with excitement. “Mama!” she cried, “Come see my new doggy! I gave him water two times already. He’s so thirsty!”
I sighed, another of Becky’s dogs.
“Please come, Mama.” She pulled my jeans, her brown eyes begging, “He’s crying — and he can’t walk!” “Can’t walk?” An unexpected change! All her previous imaginary dogs could do amazing things such as balancing a ball on the end of its nose and dancing on a tightrope. Why suddenly a dog that couldn’t walk? “All right, honey,” I said. By the time I tried to follow her, Becky had already disappeared into the bushes. “Where are you?” I called.
“Over here by the oak stump (橡树桩). Hurry, Mama!”
I parted the branches and raised my hand against the glare of the sun. A numbing chill ( 寒 战 ) gripped me. There she was, sitting on her heels, cradled (抱着) in her lap was the unmistakable head of a wolf!
“Becky,” My mouth felt dry. “Don’t move.” I stepped closer. Pale-yellow eyes narrowed. Black lips tightened. Double sets of two-inch sharp teeth were exposed. Suddenly the wolf trembled. Its teeth clacked, and a painful cry rose from its throat.
“It’s all right, boy,” Becky comforted lovingly. “Don’t be afraid. That’s my mama, and she loves you, too.”
注意：
1. 所续写短文的词数应为 150 左右;
2. 至少使用 5 个短文中标有下划线的关键词语;
3. 续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好；
4. 续写完成后，请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语。
Paragraph 1:
Taking a closer look, I found the wolf stuck deep inside the stump.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2:
With Becky safe in my arms, I ran to our doctor Brian for help.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4 . Mercy, my parents’ naughty dog, would run around the house all day long. So when they brought home a Christmas tree, they
One early morning before Christmas, my mother passed the
Seeing Mercy
Mercy provided the
| A．handled | B．created | C．expected | D．ignored |
| A．regret | B．astonishment | C．horror | D．disappointment |
| A．react to | B．look for | C．take back | D．give away |
| A．barely-decorated | B．well-furnished | C．thoroughly-cleaned | D．faintly-lit |
| A．unwrapped | B．gone | C．moved | D．prepared |
| A．burglars | B．neighbors | C．friends | D．doctors |
| A．placed | B．removed | C．noticed | D．fixed |
| A．clues | B．events | C．scenes | D．symbols |
| A．living room | B．kitchen | C．backyard | D．bedroom |
| A．painted | B．folded | C．burnt | D．torn |
| A．cards | B．leaves | C．notes | D．gifts |
| A．helped | B．recovered | C．improved | D．failed |
| A．privately | B．deliberately | C．clumsily | D．temporarily |
| A．healthy | B．safe | C．calm | D．loyal |
| A．added | B．printed | C．destroyed | D．fastened |
| A．answer | B．advice | C．information | D．service |
| A．proudly | B．guiltily | C．happily | D．curiously |
| A．commented | B．described | C．read | D．told |
| A．concluded | B．explained | C．confirmed | D．changed |
| A．challenge | B．adventure | C．experiment | D．reminder |
Mountain gorillas (大猩猩) are close biological cousins to humans. Over the past decade, people have made an extra effort to help
Mountain gorillas are
6 . Pacific Asia Travel Association is warning people travelling to East Asia and the West and Central Pacific region about the ongoing threat of typhoons coming from the Pacific. The region covered by this warning includes countries in East Asia and the West and Central Pacific. Typhoons in these areas of Pacific may occur all the year round. However, historically, the most active months are June through November. Travellers in the region should pay attention to local weather reports and take appropriate action as needed.
People traveling abroad in these areas during the typhoon season may be forced to delay their travel or return home because of damages to airports and limited flight availability. In the event of a typhoon, you should be aware that you may not be able to leave an affected area within 24 to 48 hours or more. We recommend that you buy travel insurance to cover unexpected expenses during an emergency.
You may meet with uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous conditions after storms pass while you wait for transportation back home. In many places, typhoons are often accompanied by damaging high tides and flooding. If you are living close to the ocean, you may be at higher risk. Landslides and mudslides are also serious concerns during heavy periods of rain. Be sure to check with local authorities for safety and security updates. Because weather conditions can damage local facilities, security personnel and other emergency responders may not be able to assist you at all times.
Minor storms in these areas can develop into typhoons very quickly, limiting the time available for you to move safely. Please tell your family and friends where you are and keep in close contact with your operator, hotel staff, and local officials for evacuation (疏散) instructions in the event of a weather emergency. Protect your travel and identity documents against loss or damage as the need to replace lost documentation could delay your return home.
1. What may happen to travelers in a typhoon?| A．They may be forced to leave home. |
| B．They may be offered free travel insurance. |
| C．They may fail to get the latest weather reports. |
| D．They may stay in the affected area for over 48 hours. |
| A．Why travelers should keep in touch with others. |
| B．What travelers should do when a typhoon comes. |
| C．How travelers can move from the affected area safely. |
| D．When travelers need the travel and identity documents. |
| A．An official notice. | B．An introduction to an association. |
| C．A feature story. | D．A document from a travel agency. |
It was the hottest time of the year in southern California. Steve, a star basketball player at the University of California, with his cousin Zach, had planned a camping trip in the Great National Forest for their summer vacation.
The boys packed clothes and supplies into a bag, and began their great adventure with the dog Brady early in the morning. Upon arrival, Steve pulled over to the side of the road along the bank of the river. “A wonderful place for fishing,” Steve exclaimed in delight. Zach nodded in agreement.
At high noon, the sun was scorching hot. With a good harvest of fish, the boys marched into the forest with Brady following them. After a long walk, they found a clearing that was ideal for a campsite (野营地). The camp was set up immediately as Steve knew all the tricks of an experienced wilderness camper. An afternoon nap was absolutely a special treat in mid-summer. However, the boys were waken up by the fierce barks of Brady. Outside, heavy smoke filled the air and wind-blown flame was skipping from the top of one tree to another. The long dry summer turned the forest into a tinderbox. In a little while, Steve and Zach were inside their tent packing their belongings.
“Let’s go! We can make it back to the river!” They headed down against the fire-wind in the direction of the river. But Brady barked a sharp warning. Ahead of them lay a thick curtain of smoke across the track. They would never make it through that. Steve was uneasy for it was hard to find a safe way to escape in the heavy smoke.
Brady lifted his head and sniffed the smoke-laden wind. Next moment, the dog bounded away and disappeared down a sharp slope. The boys shouted for him, but he didn’t come back. Steve couldn’t blame Brady for panicking. He himself wanted to run even though he didn’t have a clue which way.
注意：1. 所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2. 至少使用5个以上的短文中标有下划线的关键词语
3. 续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好；
4. 续写完成后，请用下划线标出所使用的关键词语。
Paragraph 1:
Steve and Zach hadn’t gone far when there was a familiar bark.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2:
Brady pulled again, in spite of the boy’s disbelief, urgently.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
8 . As the Hubble Space Telescope celebrates 25 years in space this week, NASA and its international partners are building an even more powerful tool—the James Webb Space Telescope. This telescope will be 100 times more powerful than Hubble.
“JWST will be able to see back to about 200 million years after the Big Bang,” NASA said on its website. “What the Webb will really be doing is looking at the first galaxies of the universe,” Mark Clampin said. “We will also be able to look in very dark parts of the universe where stars are being born.”
Inside a large clean room where no dust can harm the telescope, a team of engineers dressed in white, work on building the JWST. The space telescope will weigh 6.4 tons. Its main mirror will be 6.5 meters in diameter(直径), three times as large as Hubble’s. JWST will carry four instruments, including cameras and spectrometers(分光仪) that can catch extremely weak signals.
“The Webb will have 70 times the light-gathering capacity of Hubble. So the combination of the large size and the infra-red(红外线的) capacities will allow us to observe this epic of the universe past,” explained Matt Greenhouse.
Even more the telescope should further the search for life elsewhere in the universe by opening a new window on planets outside the solar system—known as exoplanets—that might have water and orbit their stars at a suitable distance to prevent freezing or boiling. “Webb is big enough to have a high probability of finding evidence of life in the atmosphere of exoplanets,” said Greenhouse.
Unlike the Hubble Space Telescope, which circles the Earth, the JWST will go even further, to a place 1.5 million kilometers away in space. That distance will keep the telescope cold, prevent it from being blinded by its own infra – red light and shelter it from radiation. The heavy telescope is scheduled to launch from French Guiana in October 2018. “Just as Hubble rewrote all the textbooks, Webb will rewrite it again,” said Greenhouse.
1. What’s the major purpose of building the James Webb Space Telescope?| A．To replace the 25-year-old Hubble Space Telescope. | B．To find aliens outside the solar system. |
| C．To rewrite all the textbooks. | D．To look at the first galaxies of the universe. |
| A．Hubble can see back to about 200 million years after the Big Bang. |
| B．JWST is 100 times more powerful than Hubble. |
| C．JWST will be sent out of the solar system. |
| D．JWST is 70 times heavier than Hubble. |
| A．About 2 meters. | B．About 3 meters. | C．About 1 meter. | D．About 6 meters. |
| A．Planets outside the solar system. | B．Planets outside the earth-moon system. |
| C．Planets without water or atmosphere. | D．Planets in the first galaxies. |
Be careful what you say around your dog．It might understand more than you think．
A border collie named Rico recognizes the names of about 200 objects, say researchers in Germany．The dog also appears to be able to learn new words as easily as a 3-year-old child．Its word-learning skills are as good as those of a parrot or chimpanzee．
In one experiment, the researchers took all 200 items that Rico is supposed to know and divided them into 20 groups of 10 objects．Then the owner told the dog to go and fetch one of the items and bring it back．In four tests, Rico got 37 out of 40 commands right．As the dog couldn't see anyone to get clues, the scientists believe Rico must understand the meanings of certain words．
In another experiment, the scientists took one toy that Rico had never seen before and put it in a room with seven toys whose names the dog already knew．The owner then told Rico to fetch the object, using a word the dog had never heard before．
The correct object was chosen in seven out of ten tests, suggesting that the dog had worked
out the answer by process of elimination（排除法）．A month later, Rico remembered half of the new names, which is even more impressive．
Rico is thought to be smarter than the average dog．For one thing, Rico is a border collie, a breed （品种）known for its mental abilities．In addition, the 9-year-old dog has been trained to fetch toys by their names since the age of nine months．
It's hard to know if all dogs understand at least some of the words we say．Even if they do, they can't talk back．Still, it wouldn't hurt to sweet-talk your dog every now and then．You might just get a big, wet kiss in return!
1. From paragraph 2 we know that __________．
| A．animals are as clever as human beings |
| B．chimpanzees have very good word-learning skills |
| C．dogs are smarter than parrots and chimpanzees |
| D．dogs have similar learning abilities as 3-year-old children |
| A．Rico is smart enough to get all commands right |
| B．Rico can recognize different things including toys |
| C．Rico has developed the ability of learning mathematics |
| D．Rico won't forget the names of objects once recognizing them |
| A．Rico has a better memory partly because of its proper early training． |
| B．The purpose of the experiments is to show the border collie's mental abilities． |
| C．The border collie is world-famous for recognizing objects． |
| D．Rico is born to understand its owner's commands． |
| A．To train your dog． | B．To talk to your dog． |
| C．To be careful with your dog． | D．To be friendly to your dog． |
10 . The snow in Antarctica is turning green and scientists say climate change may be to blame. According to a study at the Cambridge University, microscopic algae blooms (藻类爆发) across the surface of the snow is slowly turning Antarctica’s winter white landscape green. Although microscopic, scientists say they’re able to see the “green snow” from space when the algae blooms all together.
Researchers created a large-scale map of green snow algae along the Antarctic coast using a combination of satellite data and on-the-ground observations over the course of two summers. The study found that the green snow algae bloomed in warmer areas where the average temperatures are just above 0℃ during the southern hemisphere’s (半球的) summer months from November to February.
“As Antarctica warms, we predict the overall mass of snow algae will increase,” said Dr Andrew Gray, lead author of the paper, and a researcher. Researchers say larger blooms of algae can be found north of the Antarctic and South Shetland Islands, where it can spread to higher ground as the snow melts.
The team also discovered some sea birds and mammals influenced the distribution of algae. Over 60% of algae blooms were found within three miles of a penguin settlement. Scientists hypothesize this may be due to their droppings, which act as a “highly nutritious fertilizer.”
“This is a significant advance in our understanding of land-based life on Antarctica, and how it might change in the coming years as the climate warms,” said Dr. Matt Davey in the University of Cambridge’s Department of Plant Sciences, who led the study.
1. What is turning the Antarctic snow green?| A．The melting of snow. |
| B．The blooming algae. |
| C．The beautiful landscape. |
| D．The balanced temperature. |
| A．North of the Antarctic. |
| B．West of the South Pole. |
| C．South of the Antarctic. |
| D．Around the southern hemisphere. |
| A．Confirm. | B．Support. | C．Assume. | D．Warn. |
| A．Penguins feed on microscopic algae. |
| B．Antarctic algae grow under the snow. |
| C．Ground observation lasted for four months. |
| D．Animal droppings contribute to the algae blooms. |
