1 . Navy officer Allen Parton suffered a serious head injury while on duty in the Gulf War. It left him in a wheelchair, unable to talk, and he lost half of his life’s memories. He couldn’t remember his children’s first steps, their first days at school, and their being born. Allen didn’t even recognize his children. And he lost the ability to feel any emotion. He had two attempts at killing himself in the process of recovery.
But all changed when coming across a dog named Endal, who failed his training to be an assistance dog and needed a home. Endal saw something on the floor by Allen's wheelchair, ran across the training centre, picked it up and put it in Allen's lap. He wanted a treat, a reward, praise, anything, but he got no reaction. Then he ran over to the mock-up supermarket, took a tin off the shelf, put it in Allen’s lap. Surprisingly, that made Allen’s brain switch on and he smiled for the first time in a long time. And it was the start of their relationship.
Endal became his 24-hour companion, helping with every practical aspect of his life.
Then one night, which showed the dog’s devotion, Allen and Endal were both hit by a car. Although Allen had been knocked unconscious out of the wheelchair and Endal had been hurt by the vehicle as well, he got up, pulled Allen into the recovery position, and he pulled out the blanket from under Allen's wheelchair and covered him with it.
Legs bleeding, he ran to a nearby hotel and sounded the alarm. Before that, he found Allen’s mobile phone in the dark, and he brought it to his face.
And for what he did to his owner he won the Victoria Cross Award.
The dog saved Allen’s life, his marriage, and brought him back to his children.
1. Which of the following statements is true?| A．Allen graduated from a famous navy school. |
| B．The serious injury left Allen in a wheelchair. |
| C．Allen once wanted to kill himself during the war. |
| D．Endal used to be an assistance dog. |
| A．The dog. | B．The supermarket. |
| C．The tin. | D．The dog’s behaviour. |
a. covered Allen with the blanket
b. pulled Allen into the recovery position
c. brought Allen’s mobile phone to his face
d. sounded the alarm
e. came to a nearby hotel
| A．b→a→e→d→c | B．b→a→c→e→d |
| C．a→b→c→e→d | D．a→b→e→d→c |
| A．ability | B．cuteness | C．knowledge | D．devotion |
2 . Now is the time to act on climate change. We need to cut carbon emissions (排放), and knowing this, it is easy to be pessimistic. Strangely, I’m feeling the opposite. And that’s mostly because of one factor: Batteries. It isn’t obvious but over the last decade or so, just as we’ve watched our computers get faster and screens get thinner, batteries have greatly improved too.
According to the European Patent Office, the number of battery patents filed grew by an average of 14 percent every year between 2005 and 2018. Energy storage is getting better and better, as more companies are discovering new chemistry and processes to make them work more efficiently.
And the results of all of this work are astonishing. Energy density—the amount of power that can be stored in the same sized battery—has doubled in the last decade. And the costs of batteries have fallen a lot too.
Brilliantly, because electric batteries are improving so noticeably, we can already see the results. Last September, 15 percent of all new vehicle registrations were pure electric vehicles. So the change is starting to happen.
It’s conceivable that in the not-too-distant future, alongside other essentials in our homes like a boiler and a fusebox, we might also have an enormous battery in the garage. This would take power from the grid (电网) or maybe even solar panels on the roof, and power appliances and lights in our homes at the times when demand for electricity is high.
So, given how much technology has improved batteries over the last decade, I can’t help but be strangely optimistic about the future. Batteries may not be as flashy (显眼的) as phones, rockets or other new technologies, but when it comes to technology to fight climate change, they’re definitely leading the charge.
1. What is the author’s attitude towards cutting carbon emissions?| A．Doubtful. | B．Favorable. | C．Unclear. | D．Anxious. |
| A．It’ll make them more environment-friendly. |
| B．It’ll make people use electricity at will. |
| C．It will slow the development of pure electric vehicles. |
| D．It’ll cause the prices of batteries to rise. |
| A．Unacceptable. | B．Astonishing. | C．Possible. | D．Unreliable. |
| A．Carbon Emissions Result in Climate Change |
| B．Now Is the Time to Act on Climate Change |
| C．How Battery Technology Can Save the Planet |
| D．How Much Technology Has Improved Batteries |
3 . There are 156 known species of glass frogs living throughout the neotropics. Recent advancements in genetics are giving researchers a revealing look into the lives of these one-inch-long tree dwellers, some of which are the size of a paper clip.
Scientists have discovered, for example, that male glass frogs in some species are stellar parents — a rare trait among vertebrates (脊椎动物). Males of at least 24 species not only protect their eggs from predators but also actively care for them. While the embryos (胚胎) develop, males of some species, such as the sun glass frog sit atop their egg clutch "like a chicken," keeping the eggs hydrated until they hatch into tadpoles (蝌蚪).
New research is also discovering how the glass frog's transparent belly forms. It's suspected that young glass frogs physically rearrange the insides of their cells and tissues to become transparent adults. Fluid between the tissue cells may also contain a substance that allows light to travel through.
Another mechanism that may allow glass frogs to blend into the green leaves on which they doze during the day is called "a biological mirror", a kind of shield or covering of crystals in many of their tissues, which reflects up to 30 percent of the light that normally reaches them. Those crystals amplify the light signal, and the frog's green looks brighter.
Many scientists studying glass frogs arc motivated by the fact that some of their subjects are disappearing—and fast. Agriculture, cattle grazing, and mining projects in the Andes are taking over the frogs' already fractured forest homes.
"As soon as they are discovered, many species are declared endangered," Guayasamin, a biologist in Ecuador, says "yet there could be an advantage in conserving such isolated ponulanons." All could be inspired to work together to set aside frog-rich patches of land as reserves, ensuring that these delicate creatures have a solid chance at survival.
1. What can we know about glass frogs?| A．They are regarded dangerous. | B．They are small animals. |
| C．They are of different colors. | D．They live in the water. |
| A．Strange. | B．Ambitious. |
| C．Excellent. | D．Different. |
| A．They physically change their cells. | B．They contain transparent fluid. |
| C．Crystals in their tissues reflect light. | D．Light signal makes them greener. |
| A．Stopping cattle grazing. | B．Building frog reserves. |
| C．Improving frog popularity. | D．Planting more forest trees. |
4 . Paws walk across my keyboard, and my cat Monty lies on my lap, unaware of the world beyond our garden fence. In these uncertain times of the pandemic, the company of animals is needed more than ever. To the joy of our cats, dogs and all pets in between, staying at home is an opportunity to give them our undivided attention. In return, they provide us with a much-needed source of happiness.
Pet ownership is well known to help settle anxiety, reduce loneliness and lift moods. Even as we spend an unprecedented（空前的）amount of time in isolation（隔离）, pets are still acting as channels to building a sense of community as people share pictures of their beloved companions online in an effort to raise spirits.
It is in such times that we realize just how much our pets matter as part of the family. As a long-term cat lady, I have never questioned that a pet is a precious member of the household. Our pets can be as valuable as our human family members in teaching us about ourselves and how to approach the world. In short, our animals' love and loyalty are unique.
As such, the death of a pet can feel as sad as that of a close friend or family member. The grief（悲痛）remains something that is often seen as shameful, and many admit to demanding time off work without being honest about why. However, with the loss of a pet comes an emptiness where their unconditional love once was, and moments in the day once dedicated to their care become suddenly unoccupied.
Vet and author James Herriot wrote, "If having a soul means being able to feel love, loyalty and thankfulness, animals are better off than a lot of humans." Pets are an additional member of the family, and now more than ever, they can serve as models for the kind of basic humanity we ought to be extending to an unstable world.
1. What is the main idea of paragraphs 1 and 2?| A．How to play with pets. | B．How keeping a pet benefits humans. |
| C．How the author started to keep a pet. | D．How pets keep people away during isolation. |
| A．They are as precious as our family members. | B．They are only secondary to family members. |
| C．They are more like teachers than friends. | D．They help us take care of our family. |
| A．They feel puzzled about its death. |
| B．They consider it a private family thing. |
| C．They are annoyed by the feeling of emptiness. |
| D．They feel embarrassed about their sadness over it. |
| A．Pets can teach us to be better humans. | B．Pets need more attention now than ever. |
| C．Pets and humans have little in common. | D．Pets can act as a tool to calm the world. |
5 . One of the greatest challenges in caring for such intelligent animals as chimpanzees(猩猩) is providing them with enriching experiences. Every day, the chimpanzees at Project Chimps receive morning and evening food-based enrichment devices, but caregivers are always looking for more ways to keep the chimps mentally engaged. With 79 chimpanzees, each with their distinctive personality, care staff often find that different chimps react differently to new enrichment.
Last year, we began inviting musicians to perform for chimps to see what they may respond. A violin performance received quite the response. Additional musicians were lined up to visit but the coronavirus has stopped the activities, which we hope to resume in the near future.
This past week, we brought an electric piano for the chimps to investigate. Some chimps, like twins Buttercup and Clarisse, were immediately interested and could not wait to tap out a few notes. Others, like Emma, were more interested in trying to take it apart.
29-year-old Precious has very little tolerance for the piano. She sat off to the side for a few minutes, but eventually she decided enough was enough. She called an end to the enrichment session by throwing a handful of waste at the piano. Receiving her message loud and clear, we removed the piano.
We could never have guessed how 33-year-old Luke would react to it. As with many retired lab chimpanzees, Luke has some anxiety issues. He seems particularly distrustful of anything new, including people, food, and enrichment. But when we presented the chimps with the piano, Luke was the first to investigate. We could not believe our eyes—this usually anxious chimpanzee bravely chose to explore something new!
To us at Project Chimps, this is what it is all about: giving chimpanzees the freedom to choose. We are honored to be part of their journey.
1. Why do chimpanzees respond differently to new enrichment?| A．They are of different skins. | B．They have natural curiosities. |
| C．They have their unique characters. | D．They are as intelligent as monkeys. |
| A．Buttercup. | B．Emma and Clarisse. |
| C．Luke. | D．Precious. |
| A．Postpone. | B．Continue. |
| C．Control. | D．Dispose. |
| A．Luke has cured his anxiety problems. |
| B．Luke was the first to get involved in the investigation of the piano. |
| C．Luke lost interest in all the instruments. |
| D．Luke was too old to learn anything new. |
6 . Vietnam aims to solve the relations between economic development and cultural preservation. Vietnamese cultural departments and activists have tried to preserve the historical and cultural relics in the country.
Vietnam now has more than 40,000 historical relics. These relics of various forms and history are treasures for future generations.
However, hundreds of relics are severely damaged due to the negative influence of time, war and human activities. Head of Hanoi Relics Management Board, Nguyen Doan Tuan, says rescue work must preserve the relics' soul: "We cannot replace ruined construction with new materials. We must preserve its shape, size and style. We need to pay attention to every brick replaced so that it looks exactly like the original."
Most relics have to rely on tourist fee for repair and rescue work. Director of Van Mieu Cultural and Science Center, Dang Kim Ngoc, says that the relics must be promoted widely to attract more visitors and bring in more income for repair and preservation: "We provide constant guide services for visitors so that they understand more about our relics. At the same time, a natural surroundings of the relic has been ensured, including the grass field and garden to improve its scenic value "
The local government agreed that the relics must be turned to the community for shared efforts in the preservation work. Director of Vietnam Revolution Museum DangQuoc Quan, said that the community must be guided in the preservation and protection, "The UNESCO aims to let local community take part in the preservation of relics. We have seen limitations in the preservation of relics, especially festival related groups of buildings. This requires management and guidance by the government.”
Nguyen ThiMinh Ly from the Department of Heritage says the community should be guided in proper behaviors towards relics: "This will ensure the protection of cultural relics in later generations. Creative restoration（修复）must be based on previous values.”
Experts have called for a systematic（系统的）guidance by the state in local level preservation while promoting creative thinking in restoration for each relic.
1. From which is the passage probably taken?| A．A school report. | B．A geography research paper. |
| C．A health magazine. | D．A newspaper report. |
| A．Poor building materials. | B．Human activities. |
| C．War influence. | D．The passing of time. |
| A．turn to advanced countries for financial help |
| B．care less about the natural environment of the relics |
| C．make full use of the money raised by the local people |
| D．encourage the community to join in the rescue work |
| A．Vietnam Is a Scenic Country |
| B．All of Relics in Vietnam Are In Ruins |
| C．It's a Good Idea to Replace the Ruined Construction with a New Style |
| D．Experts Call for a Systematic Way to Preserve Relics |
7 . Super Typhoon Mangkhut to Hit Philippines, Southeast Asia
As the United States prepares for Hurricane Florence, an even bigger ocean storm, Super Typhoon Mangkhut, is set to hit Southeast Asia. The storm also threatens the Philippines and Hong Kong.The super typhoon, known as Ompong in the Philippines, has winds of up to 250 kilometers per hour. That is considered a category 5 hurricane in North America, the most severe level.
More than 4 million Filipinos live in areas the storm could affect. Emergency officials say nearly 48,000 houses in high-risk areas are made of light materials and could be damaged by the powerful winds.
Experts say Super Typhoon Mangkhut could cause landslides and flooding across the northern Philippine island of Luzon.
The super typhoon is expected to reach the Philippines Saturday at the start of the harvest season in Luzon. The island is a major agricultural producer and farmers are trying to save their crops.
Forecaster Meno Mendoza shows the path of Super Typhoon Mangkhut, locally named “Typhoon Ompong,” as it approaches the Philippines at the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration in Manila, Sept, 12, 2018.
Mangkhut already has hit the U.S. — island territory of Guam. The Pacific Daily News reported the storm flooded streets, brought down trees and cut electrical service. About 80 percent of the island was without power but service restarted by Thursday morning.Mangkhut is the 15th storm to hit the Philippines and the most powerful to hit Asia this year. Last week, Typhoon Jebi (飞燕) struck Japan killing more than 10 people.
This is adapted for Learning English based on AP and other reports. Mario Ritter was the editor.Write to us in the Comments Section.
1. What’s the meaning of the underlined word Mangkhut in Chinese?| A．芒果 | B．飞燕 | C．山竹 | D．曼谷 |
| A．One. | B．Two. | C．Three. | D．Four. |
| A．In an English learning magazine. | B．In a newspaper. |
| C．On the Internet. | D．In a TV Program. |
| A．Mangkhut has already hit the Philippines and Hong Kong. |
| B．Mangkhut has hit Japan last week. |
| C．Among the hurricanes mentioned in the passage, Mangkhut is the most powerful. |
| D．The houses in high-risk areas are very strong. |
8 . A volcano burst in New Zealand December 9, 2019, killing at least five people and leaving many more missing.
News reports said at least 18 people were injured in the eruption of White Island volcano, about 50 kilometers off New Zealand’s main North Island. Some of the injured suffered severe burns. About 50 people, including New Zealanders and foreign visitors, were feared to have been near the volcano at the time of the eruption, Reuters news agency reported. Travel groups often make day visits to White Island.
Police said in a statement there were no signs of life on the island after helicopters and other aircraft carried out search and rescue operations. “Police believe that anyone who could have been taken from the island alive was rescued at the time of the evacuation(撤离),” the statement said. Large clouds of ash and steam could be seen shooting thousands of meters into the air after the explosion.
The disaster immediately raised questions about why people were permitted to visit White Island. Scientists had noted a rise in volcanic activity in recent weeks.
The GeoNet agency follows volcano and earthquake activity in New Zealand. On November 18, it raised the alert level on White Island from 1 to 2. A level of 5 represents a major eruption. The agency also said at the time that volcanic tremors(微震) had increased from weak to moderate in past weeks.
1. How many injuries and deaths in the eruption of White Island volcano?| A．23 | B．less than 23 | C．73 | D．more than 23 |
| A．There were no people alive on the island. |
| B．There were still some signs of life. |
| C．There were some animals living on the island. |
| D．All living things were still on the island as usual. |
| A．The disaster | B．The GeoNet agency | C．Whit Island | D．New Zealand |
By Tan Bowen/ People's Daily app
11:37, December 09,2019
Adorable baby giant pandas are always curious about the world and love to play around. Recently, in southwest China’s Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, a baby panda was caught on camera getting his head stuck behind a log.
The panda tried to pull his head through the gap at first but couldn't manage to pass through it. Later, the breeder came to rescue him by pushing his bottom instead and nagged this little cutie constantly like a mother, but the baby panda continued to act cute, melting all panda lovers’ heart!
Click on this video to see the warm and sweet interaction between the breeder and the naughty baby panda!
Video source: panda
1. What was wrong with the baby giant panda?
| A．The panda was sleeping in a tree. | B．The panda was hit by another. |
| C．The panda got itself stuck behind a log. | D．The panda was dying. |
| A．The passage was written by Tan Boweng. |
| B．The baby panda mentioned in the passage is a female one. |
| C．The baby panda mentioned in the passage is a male one. |
| D．The baby panda pulled his head through the gap successfully. |
| A．Click on the video. | B．Click the Button of“Say something”. |
| C．Find a note book. | D．Buy a computer first. |
10 . Desperate to protect his farmland from a group of troublesome monkeys, a farmer in Karnataka, India decided to paint his dog to look like a tiger in the hope that it would frighten the monkeys away.
Srikant Gowda, a farmer from Karmataka’s Shivamogga region, recently made international news headlines after it was reported that he used hair dye (染发剂) to paint his watchdog in the clear lines of a tiger. The dog already had a red hair color, so all he had to do was add the black lines and some white lines to give it the tiger look. It wasn’t that Gowda had always wanted to own a tiger, but that he hoped the make-up would help the dog drive away the monkeys destroying his crops.
The Indian farmer told reporters that he got the idea four years ago when he visited Uttara Kannada and encountered a fanner in Bhakal who was using a fake (假的) tiger doll to scare away monkeys. It seemed silly but he tried himself and was surprised to see that it actually worked. However, he was convinced that the toy tiger wouldn’t fool the monkeys for long, so he decided to try something else as well.
Last year Gowda not only used hair dye to make his watchdog look like a small tiger, but he also placed large posters of real tigers and his own fake tiger all over his farmland, hoping that they would keep the monkeys running away. The “paint job” in fact doesn’t harm the dog. It’s actually hair dye and lasts up to a month before fading away. According to The Youth, Srikanl Gowda’s method was so successful that it inspired other Indian farmers to follow his steps.
1. What can we infer about the monkeys from Paragraph 1?| A．The monkeys are afraid of the dog. |
| B．The monkeys do damage to the farm. |
| C．The monkeys like to play tricks on the farmers. |
| D．The monkeys have trouble protecting the farmland. |
| A．He painted some red lines. | B．He cleaned the dog with paint. |
| C．He added some black lines and white lines. | D．He attached a tiger doll to the dog. |
| A．From a friend. | B．From a journey. |
| C．From a doll shop. | D．From international news. |
| A．The monkeys will leave the farm forever. |
| B．The tigers will have a threat to monkeys. |
| C．There will be more dogs painted like tigers. |
| D．The paint job will last for only a month. |
