1 . 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, used one word that best fits each blank.

A poet, painter, and architect, as well as a sculptor, Michelangelo Buonarroti famously said, “T saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free”. He was considered the greatest artist of his time and is still seen as one of the greatest of all time. And one of his marvelous works stretches across the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, which     1    (get) the annual checkup right now. For a whole month each year, from 5:30 to midnight, when all the tourists are gone, a team from the Vatican comes in to clean up, check for damage and report on the health of some of The world's most treasured art. It’s a painstaking process: scaffolding must be erected and taken down each night and     2    not be attached to the walls to avoid damaging the paintings.

One of the biggest problems of the Sistine Chapel is humidity. 25,000 visitors a day posed a risk for the paintings. When we visit the Sistine Chapel, we bring in humidity and we heat the environment like a bulb, 80-watt bulb. To combat humidity, there are 30 hidden sensors     3     (measure) temperature, air circulation and the number of visitors in the chapel.

The famous frescoes painted in this chapel are over 500 years. Back then, there was no artificial lighting. And being the pope's private chapel, far fewer people came through here as well. So cleaning and restoration wasn't really a priority then. Today, with new technology and lighting, not only     4    (be) there better cleaning but it also has revealed to restorers the true colors used by Michelangelo.

After a cleaning and restoration in the 1990s the world was shocked     5    (discover) that Michelangelo actually used vivid greens, purples and reds because for centuries it was assumed that he painted in dark, subdued tones. But that was only the accumulation of dirt and grime.     6    you're in the Sistine Chapel, look out for little black marks, squares and triangles on some of the paintings. They're called witnesses, deliberately     7    (leave) as evidence for future restorers to give an idea of just how dark the paintings were before.

    8    (make) sure the colors stay vibrant, a color team measures any changes to tone by taking pictures of the frescoes with a multi-wavelength camera     9    is then analyzed by a computer. Dr, Fabio Morresi is in charge of color analysis, t4We can see the color of every single pixel and compare it throughout the years. It's important because we can detect any changes even before they are visible     10    the human eye. "

2 . You've decided to try advertising your business with post cards. The idea came to you from the post cards you receive from other businesses. You like the idea because it seems easy to do and economical. However, you've never tried this before so you question whether this method will bring you _________.

All Forms of Advertising Work! However, you have to clearly understand how the advertising medium _________and realize that each form has its limitations along with costs associated with it.

Advertising in any medium has always been about _________ and getting your name remembered. It's called “Branding”. Study businesses that use television commercials. They are _________ repeating their business message 1000 times a day. They are the best free examples to watch and learn from.

_________, you can conclude that the more your prospects see your name or message repeated, the easier it is for them to get to know you and what you offer. Then it becomes an easier task to get them to buy from you. So how does post card advertising work? You create an ad on a(n) _________ in your favorite graphics（图像） or word program. Then use the mail merge feature（邮件合并功能） in the program to insert mailing addresses automatically. As long as you haven't set up your address book, you would need to do this before you do a mail merger. Print out the cards, stamp them and then mail them out. If done _________ and repeatedly, your customer base will grow. These are the simple mechanics of post card advertising.

How much should you send out? I would start small and build from that. This gives you the ability to spend a little at a time while _________ how much each mail out converts. This keeps your advertising costs down and _________.

Start with 500 post cards a month. Only target customers you know that would use your product and/or services. Then I would repeat the mail out to the same group over the next 1-2 years. Even if they do not buy the first or second time after they've received your card, they are beginning to get to know you and your product and/or services. As time goes by, your chances of convert them to a buyer __________. There is also a good chance that those you target may pass your offer onto someone else.

1.

A．advertisers

B．customers

C．applicants

D．spectators

2.

A．purchases

B．involves

C．functions

D．guides

3.

A．repetition

B．exaggeration

C．creativity

D．imagination

4.

A．constantly

B．scarcely

C．enormously

D．obviously

5.

A．However

B．Moreover

C．Therefore

D．Instead

6.

A．letter

B．envelope

C．book

D．post card

7.

A．smoothly

B．rapidly

C．correctly

D．patiently

8.

A．measuring

B．publicizing

C．estimating

D．admiring

9.

A．conventional

B．manageable

C．approachable

D．considerable

10.

A．disappear

B．drop

C．maintain

D．increase

3 . 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. directly	B. conventional	C. sorted	D. sustainable	E. landfilling	F. supply
G. dating	H. undoubtedly	I. viewed	J. packaging	K. cardboard

Recycling can be defined as the process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects. It can save material and help lower greenhouse gas emissions. The aim of recycling is to avoid     1     waste disposal. It contributes to the prevention of the waste of potentially useful materials and reduces the consumption of fresh raw materials, thereby reducing: energy usage, air pollution, and water pollution from     2    . This practice has been around throughout the history of mankind,     3     from the fourth century BC.

Recyclable materials include many kinds of glass, paper, and     4     metal, plastic, tires, and electronics. The composting(堆肥) or other reuse of biodegradable waste- such as food or garden waste- is also     5     as recycling.

Materials to be recycled are either brought to a collection center or picked up from the roadside, then     6     cleaned, and reprocessed into new materials for manufacturing.

In the strictest sense, recycling of a material would produce a fresh     7     of the same material- -for example, used office paper would be changed into new office paper. However, this is often     8     difficult or too expensive (compared with producing the same product from raw materials or other sources), so “recycling” of many products or materials involves their reuse in producing different materials instead. Another form of recycling is the rescue of certain materials from complex products, either due to their intrinsic（内在的） value or due to their dangerous nature.

Much of the difficulty in recycling comes from the fact that most products are not designed with recycling in mind. The concept of     9     design aims to solve this problem. Now scientists suggest that every product and all     10     they require should have a complete “closed-loop” cycle mapped out for each component- a way in which every component will either return to the natural ecosystem through biodegradation or be recycled indefinitely.

4 . I am Canadian, so I started learning French when I was 10 years old. But my entire experience with the language was in the classroom. All of that changed, however, during my last summer of high school. At age 17, I flew across the country by myself for the first time! I was headed to Quebec to live in the province(省)with a French-speaking host family. I would learn French at a local college.

When I arrived, I met my host family. They didn't speak any English. Though nervous, I introduced myself as best I could.

On the first day of school, all of us students were given a test to determine our language level. We also signed a contract promising to speak only French all summer. This even included times we communicated with our other English-speaking classmates.

The struggle to communicate in a second language was harsh but exhilarating. I made a lot of new friends, ordered food from restaurants and even saw a movie in French. I didn't understand most of it, but I loved the whole amazing experience.

On the weekends, my classmates and I took trips to different locations around the province. On one trip, we went whale watching on the St. Lawrence River. Even though it was raining, we could see giant whales swimming around our boat.

The most memorable part of our trip was a visit to historic Quebec City. I walked along the cobblestone (鹅卵石) streets and took pictures of the European-style buildings, and I learned about an important battle that took place nearby. I also got to enjoy a “beaver tail”-a special local food. It was truly an Eastern Canadian treat!

By the end of summer, I was communicating pretty fluently. I couldn't wait to go back to school and talk with my French teacher. Being fully immersed (沉浸) in a French-speaking environment was a valuable learning experience. At the time, I had no idea that I'd end up living abroad for more than 10 years. I'll never forget that first experience that paved the way for my future adventures.

1. What left the author the deepest impression?

A．Visiting historic Quebec City.	B．Speaking French with classmates.
C．Introducing herself to the host family.	D．Watching whales on the St. Lawrence River.

2. The word “exhilarating” in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to “________”.

A．ironic

B．pleasant

C．dramatic

D．embarrassing

3. Which of the following is the best title for the passage?

A．My First Experience with a Host Family

B．My Struggle to Learn a Foreign Language

C．An Unforgettable Learning Experience Abroad

D．A Foreign Language Experience in My Own Country

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. anxiety   B. prepared   C. abnormally   D. plastic     E. benefits F. engaged   G. ensure     H. quality       I. guidelines   J. entirely

Cosmetic Surgery in London

Cosmetic surgery is a medical discipline focused on enhancing the aesthetic and social appeal of patients by changing the shape and proportion of their body parts. Unlike     1    surgery, which involves necessary surgical intervention to reconstruct damaged bodily and facial imperfections, cosmetic surgery is a(n)     2    elective procedure.

Despite that, the medical community strongly believes that cosmetic surgery is capable of providing a host of valuable     3    to patients. Beyond the obvious aesthetic appeal, cosmetic surgery can greatly influence the emotional and psychological stability of patients. A successful cosmetic surgery can improve the     4    of life of patients through an increase in social acceptance and self-confidence, improvements in career prospects and interpersonal relationships, and management of mental health disorders such as depression and     5    .

In the United Kingdom, cosmetic surgery has become increasingly popular with the general public, even if the numbers pale considerably when compared against the United States. In 2016, 30,750 Britons     6     in cosmetic surgical procedures. Cosmetic surgery in the UK is governed by the Medical Act 1983, and is regulated by the General Medical Council (GMC). Doctors are expected to follow a GMC     7     for any cosmetic interventions. In addition, the Royal College of Surgeons has also     8     a professional standard code to assist doctors who provide cosmetic interventions to patients.

Please note that this website was created to provide readers with a general description of cosmetic surgery in London and the whole country in general. While we make every effort to     9     the accuracy of the content available here, this website should not be used as a substitute to the advice of a qualified medical professional. Please consult a doctor before committing to any surgical procedure.

6 . 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 that best fits each blank.

Penfriends for Life

“Hi, George! My name is Lori. I'm twelve. How are you? How are you doing in school?”

Back in the 1970s, there was a trend in the United States     1     (call) “chain letter.” Teens sent out letters to strangers in the hope of getting more back. In this way Lori Rubin started a lasting friendship     2     George Ghossn.

It was November 1975,     3    Lori was in the sixth grade and George was an eighth-grader. In his reply to Lori's first letter, George introduced himself and his family, and a school photo     4     (include), too. Since then, the two     5     (continue) exchanging handwritten letters about once a month.

Lori and George, however, didn't meet in person or even speak on the phone until 2017.     6     (excite) at the sight of each other, they hugged and cried together.

George said Lori's letters were beautiful. “No matter how sad I felt, her words could always bring me out of the darkness     7     she always knew the perfect thing to say,” said he.

Though the value of letter-writing is ignored by many young people today, Lori sees     8     as a form of art. Letter-writing takes a lot of time, so it allows her to dig deep into her soul     9     (express) what she is feeling. Both she and George have saved almost all of the letters they have exchanged.

Now, George and Lori have been talking on the phone and on social media more often. However, one thing will never change. They said they would never stop     10     (exchange) handwritten letters with each other.

7 . More Clarity Needed on Wage Debate

These days, the minimum wage has become something of a big issue in America.     1     For supporters, 16.5 million low-wage workers could see an increase in their weekly earnings and 900.000 people could rise above the poverty line.

Gap Inc. has decided to increase the minimum hourly rate it pays employees to $9 this year and then S10 next year. The company's announcement will effect 65.000 Gap employees by 2017. Clearly (iap officials believe the money they invest in higher wages will pay off in increased sales and customer satisfaction. There's certainly nothing wrong with that.     2    

Also last week, Wal-Mart found itself at the center of the wages gossip when it was reported that the company was looking at supporting an increase in the minimum wage.     3    

Wal-Mart spokeswoman Brooke Buchanan said the company remains neutral on the idea of a minimum wage increase, but "obviously it’s something that we look at closely, as any other company would". She said that more than 99 percent of company associates are paid above the cunent minimum wage. It has been discussed how increased income ibr low-wage workers might translate into increased spending. So it's reasonable to say that a company like Wal-Mart could see a jump in sales if the minimum wage rose.     4     "That is assuming that consumer behavior would be. 'If they have more money, they'll spend more money." she said. "That isn't always necessarily true. If we had a crystal ball, we could guess what consumer behavior would be i:i the future if a minimum wage increase goes through. But you just can't."

A．That turned out to be not exactly correct.

B．But Buchanan warned against such an assumption.

C．But a number of business organizations say it should remain untouched.

D．But what works for a clothing company might not work for a different one.

E．Raising the minimum wage is identified as a key way to address the income gap.

F．For opponents a wage increase, increasing the minimum wage could reduce total employment by about 500.000 jobs.

8 . 许多人怀疑这位著名画家是否配得上这样的名声。（汉译英）

9 . 3D打印技术将彻底改变我们生产医疗设备和治疗病人的方式。(revolutionize) (汉译英)

10 . Directions: Read the following passage. Summarize the main idea and the main point(s) of the passage in no more than 60 words. Use your own words as far as possible.

The Value of Honesty

According to a common saying. “honesty is the best policy.” But in daily life, honesty can be difficult. Lying sometimes seems like a good way to impress people or avoid blame for mistakes. Some people lie out of habit, without even realizing they are doing it. But despite all this, honesty really is worth the effort.

One obvious reason for honesty is that lies are difficult to maintain because they are harder to remember than the truth. If you make up a story, you have to remember all the details. And the more lies you tell, the more stories you have to remember. There's always a chance that the person you lied to will find out the truth. Is the gain from lying really worth the risk? But if you commit to telling the truth, you will never have trouble remembering. This saves you effort and makes conversations less stressful for you.

Another obvious reason to avoid lying is that lying can harm others. People who believe your lies might make bad decisions because of them. And a lie about someone else could destroy that person's reputation. On a personal level, if your friends find out you lied to them, their feeling will be hurt. They will question whether they can trust you or wonder whether you care about them. In contrast, if you always tell the truth, you will develop a reputation for honesty. This will help you in every area of your life. Business deals, friendships, family and romantic relationships all develop on trust.

Honesty, however, doesn't mean that you have to say everything you think. Sometimes it's best to remain silent if your words might hurt someone else. Honesty means that when you speak, you tell the truth without holding any information back.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________