1 . At Girls Build summer camp in Oregon, girls are learning how to use power tools like saws and drills. The camp is filled with construction excitement. Wearing hard hats and tool belts (腰带) wrapped twice around their tiny waists, girls are working on everything from pouring concrete planters to covering the roof of a sandbox. With every project they turn a pile of raw material into an actual structure.
Hughes, the camp’s director, says the girls can produce professional-quality products. She is a carpenter (木匠) with a degree in social work. While she’d like to see more women in the trade and the gender (性别) imbalance even out, she says more than any future career, it’s a sense of mastery and fearlessness the instructors are trying to pass along to the kids. “If something breaks, I want them to have the confidence to open that up,” Hughes says. “It’s our mission and objective to inspire curiosity and confidence in girls through the world of building.”
Alifanz, who sent her 8-year-old twins to Girls Build, says, “There’s not nothing they can’t do, but there’s nothing they can’t try. And that’s a lot for them to take away in a week.” Knowledge like that changes how they see the world built around them and they show appreciation of the actual effort that goes into making the world work.
But other parents ask the obvious question—is pairing pre-teens and power tools a good idea? Hughes stresses Girls Build is very concerned with safety, and instructors consider girls’ ages when pairing them with tools.
9-year-old Aleeyah takes pride in mastering these practical skills many adults are lacking. “I like it when you can be your own self, and it brings out who you really are,” says Aleeyah.
These girls are learning many things can be built, taken apart, and put back together. They don’t have to fit themselves into the designed world—they can build a world that fits them. And that knowledge is a pretty powerful tool to have in their belts.
1. Why are girls taught hands-on building skills in the camp?| A．To enhance girls’ social position. |
| B．To boost girls’ faith in their capacity. |
| C．To stimulate girls’ interest in woodwork. |
| D．To prepare girls for construction-related jobs. |
| A．Service. | B．Expense. | C．Security. | D．Discipline. |
| A．Knowledge is power. |
| B．It’s never too late to mend. |
| C．There’s no such thing as a free lunch. |
| D．One must first sharpen one’s tools to do good work. |
| A．A fictional novel. | B．A career guidebook. | C．A project handbook. | D．A popular magazine. |
2 . John “Charlie” Veron-widely known as “the Godfather of Coral Reef (珊瑚礁)”-is a celebrated expert who has personally discovered nearly a quarter of the world’s coral species and has spent the past 45 years diving Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. But now the 73-year-old is raising the alarm about its future. The Great Barrier Reef, one of the natural wonders, is 2, 300 kilometers long and is the only living organism that can be seen from space. It is considered a World Treasure Site due to its biodiversity (生物多样性)with 30 species of whales, dolphins and sharks. Within the reef itself, there are also a number of tiny organisms and fishes.
However, its health is threatened. After the recent mass bleaching (白化)events, Veron dived in many areas of the Great Barrier Reef to see the damage for himself. “I was seeing and feeling it and it was absolutely shocking, ” he says.
Veron says the mass bleaching events in the past few years-and the possibility of losing one of nature’s greatest treasures-were a wake-up call for the world in the wider battle against climate change, which, together with the rising sea temperature, is considered the greatest threats to the reef.
Fortunately, earlier this year, the Australian government announced nearly 400 million dollars in new funding towards scientific projects designed to help the reef.
There has been criticism in Australia about the slow process for the funding. “It won’t be wasted, though,”Veron says. “As scientists will be able to create a sort of seed bank to protect the species until the climate is good enough to rebuild the reef. What the scientists hope to do is to help nature along a bit after the big carbon dioxide increase is over and it starts to come down.”
1. Why is the Great Barrier Reef considered a treasure site?| A．It is a natural wonder. |
| B．It can be seen from space. |
| C．It has a rich variety of species. |
| D．It is home to a great many fishes. |
| A．Climate change is threatening biodiversity. |
| B．The Great Barrier Reef is in danger of extinction. |
| C．Scientists have found major factors in the reef’s blenching. |
| D．Veron has made great contributions to environmental protection. |
| A．Uncaring. | B．Doubtful. | C．Uncertain. | D．Positive. |
| A．A news report. | B．A travel guide. |
| C．A research plan. | D．A journal entry. |
As a single mother, I’ve never doubted my daughter Jane’s dream to be a singer on the stage. At an early age, she was crazy about singing. Whenever she had a chance, she would sing to her heart’s content. Her sweet and charming voice tended to get people around attracted to her songs.
Living in a small city, I took several odd jobs, determined to do everything in my power to support her. Soon after Jane attended school, her music teacher Mary noticed her talent by chance and volunteered to give her some guidance on how to sing. Jane practiced so hard that before long she made great progress in singing.
Unfortunately, one noon a year later, Jane was crossing the street when a careless driver knocked her down. She was rushed to hospital. When I hurried there, the doctor told me that my daughter would probably not stand on her own feet. I froze with shock, feeling as if I had been thrown into a dark world. Weak and dizzy, I was about to fall to the ground when someone took hold of me.
It was Mary, who got the news and raced here. She comforted me, saying firmly, “Grace, Jane needs you. You must stay calm and strong.” I nodded. Having calmed down, I entered the ward with Mary.
That night, Jane recovered her consciousness (知觉) and opened her eyes. Holding her hand, I said, “My dear, everything would be fine.” Mary comforted her gently, “I know you are a strong girl, Jane. Don’t worry. We’ll be standing by you.” I was heartbroken to see tears streaming down Jane’s cheeks.
After two months, we returned home from hospital. Her teachers and friends frequently visited her. Jane eventually accepted the fact that she would have to get around in a wheelchair. Never did she refer to the subject of singing again. I knew she was a nice and understanding girl, who was afraid that talking about her original dream would upset the two of us.
注意：1.续写词数应为150左右；2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
One day, however, Mary came with good news.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________When the host announced it was Jane’s turn, she was wheeled onto the stage.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________4 . In Iceland, these green houses melt into the natural landscape, a technique that first appeared with the arrival of British settlers during the 9th through 11th centuries. Unlike their previous warm and wet climate, wood was rare and slow to regenerate. Turf (草皮) became their first pick to make shelters.
Across Europe, turf bricks — widely available — were cut from local bogs (沼泽) and transported for use at higher lands. The turf was then laid over a wooden structure to form walls and a thick roof — to keep cold out from tough northern climates. Turf walls were replaced as frequently as every 20 years, and even up to 70 years.
It is difficult to find out its precise origins in the archaeological record. However, evidence of similar constructions can be found in many countries throughout the ages. Historic records suggest that up to 50 percent of Icelandic houses were partly comprised of turf until the late 19th century. As populations began to gather in cities like Reykjavik, wood buildings replaced stones and earth architecture. After fires burned up the city in 1915, concrete became the material of choice. In 1918 Iceland gained independence from Denmark, setting in motion a wave of nationalism that threatened the survival of turf houses. Advocates of modernization argued that Reykjavik paled in comparison to the grand architecture that graced the skylines of Paris, Berlin, and London. Traditional techniques were criticized as “rotten Danish wood” from a troubled era, and there was a campaign to clear them in favor of modern buildings — a move later criticized by many as destruction of cultural heritage.
A tourism boom in the latter half of the 20th century encouraged Iceland to reexamine the value of traditional architecture. Do Icelanders still live in turf houses? The quickest way to answer this question would be no. You might still see an occasional grass roof but that has everything to do with architecture and Icelanders wanting to hold on to their beloved heritage rather than any need for turf as insulation (隔热) material.
1. Why did people use turf to build houses in the past?| A．It matched nature perfectly. | B．It could be changed often. |
| C．It was long-lasting and accessible. | D．It was a request by settlers. |
| A．People packed into Reykjavik. | B．Traditional architecture was in favor. |
| C．Turf houses were almost unable to exist. | D．Concrete became a new building material. |
| A．It starts coming to life. | B．It will live on. |
| C．Its material will improve. | D．It is out of date. |
| A．Iceland’s turf stretches brightly across Europe |
| B．Iceland’s turf — An important building material |
| C．Iceland’s turf houses — An exceptional example |
| D．Iceland’s turf houses survive beautifully with nature |
5 . When he was 7, Diebedo Francis Kere left his native village Gando at the insistence of his father so that he might learn to read and write. Gando had neither a school nor electricity nor running water. Kere returned home on holidays, and at the end of every visit, the women villagers would reveal a penny tucked in their waistbands — often their last penny — that they’d give him as a parting gift. The pennies were their way of contributing to the boy’s education.
It was a worthwhile investment: Kere is now an architect, and in 2001, he did return to Gando to build his first education building, Gando Primary School. Kere settled on a method of fortifying (加固) locally made clay bricks with concrete and created a floating, double-roof system that allows hot air to rise out of the building and cool air to come in. Colorful shutters (百叶窗) allow teachers to direct sunlight into the room depending on the hour of the day. Most significantly, the school was built by village members — who helped produce the bricks, build the walls and polish the mud floors. This not only allowed the village to build a new school in a timely and economical fashion but it also taught marketable construction techniques to untrained laborers.
For this work and other high-profile projects, Kere became the first African architect to win the Pritzker Architecture Prize. “Francis Kere’s work shows us the power of materiality rooted in place. It is sustainable to the earth and its residents — in lands of extreme scarcity (缺乏),” announced Tom Pritzker, chairman of the award.
Of his work, Kere said in a statement, “It is not because you are rich that you should waste material. It is not because you are poor that you should not try to create quality.”
1. What does the underlined word “tucked” mean in the first paragraph?| A．Spread. | B．Chosen. | C．Occupied. | D．Hidden. |
| A．It was made from modern materials. | B．It was built together by local residents. |
| C．It reflected the villagers’ high techniques. | D．It was equipped with good air conditioners. |
| A．His African origin. | B．His living environment. |
| C．His sustainable projects. | D．His education background. |
| A．Critical and careful. | B．Generous and cautious. |
| C．Curious and responsible. | D．Ambitious and creative. |
When the last customer left KFC, it was already 10:30 pm. Adam, an 18-year-old college student, dragged himself home. He had been working at KFC for over a month that summer vacation.
Entering his room, Adam found his younger brother Bill sitting on the edge of his bed with an uneasy expression on his face.
“Sorry, Adam. I … I did something wrong,” Bill sprang up and said nervously.
“What is it?”
“This afternoon I sneaked (溜) out for a ride on your motorcycle and accidentally hit our neighbor Osman Brook’s car. I was so scared and I … I hurried home in panic.”
“Is the car seriously damaged?”
“The left headlight got broken.”
“It’s truly your fault and it’s really dangerous to ride a motorcycle at your age. Besides, it’s illegal,” Adam raised his voice, obviously annoyed. Hearing this, Bill lowered his head and bit his lips hard.
“Anyway, it’s no use crying over spilt milk. I will deal with it tomorrow. Now you go to bed and have a good sleep.”
The next morning when Adam got up, Bill was still sleeping soundly. Adam was more determined about what he ought to do as an elder brother.
After breakfast, Adam took out all the money he had earned and went out of the house with it. In the yard he saw his motorcycle, on whose side the scratches (划痕) were clearly visible. Adam shook his head and sighed slightly. Then he squared his shoulders and quickened his pace to Osman’s house.
When he arrived, he was welcomed by Osman’s wife Mary, who told him that Osman had gone to the garage to have his car repaired.
“I have something important to tell him. Can I wait until he comes back?” Adam requested eagerly.
“Of course. He should be home soon,” Mary invited Adam in, served him a cup of coffee and began chatting with him.
After half an hour, the door opened and in came Osman. Having said hello to each other, Osman and Adam both sat down on the sofa.
注意：1.续写词数应为150左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Adam cleared his throat and began to speak.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Just then, there came a knock at the door.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________“Sun, sun, sun, here it comes…”
Danny sang while his fingers pressed and pulled skillfully at the guitar strings, delivering a slow and peaceful tune. A circle of audience had formed, nodding and moving slowly to the song.
Lying at the feet of the street performer was his most adoring fan: One-Eyed, a white stray (流浪) dog with pieces of brown. Danny felt the name was suitable considering its physical disability. Usually, One-Eyed would bark loudly as Danny performed. Much to his annoyance, people often mistook the pair as owner and pet. At this time, Danny would reply, “My dog? No!”, eyes rolling at the idea. How he wished the dog would leave him alone instead!
On a snowy night, while Danny was performing, a bird flew downward, landing into the midst of the crowd. It cooed happily as if to harmonize with Danny. Unfortunately, that did not sit well with One-Eyed, which immediately bounced at it and the bird flew away desperately.
The unexpected chaos upturned Danny's hat, which could have been filled with notes and coins from his appreciative audience, leaving it ignored on the ground. "Argh! The hateful dog!” Danny broke down, thinking to himself, “Either the dog goes or I go!”
On the next night, Danny tried to find a new place and chanced upon the park. For a while his earnings were good unsurprisingly as there was a steady flow of visitors. However, that didn't last long. One-Eyed came along and appointed itself as Danny's guardian. "Argh! Here comes the hateful dog again!" That night, Danny hadn't made enough money he should have, all thanks to the troublesome dog.
Danny was almost mad with One-Eyed. “What should I do? Call an animal shelter?” Torn by this problem, he walked aimlessly by the lake of the park. With all his mind focused on how to get rid of the dog, Danny didn't watch his steps. Suddenly, he slipped and fell into the lake accidentally. Struggling in the icy water, he cried for help desperately, almost choking to death. Sensing the approach of death, Danny got into overwhelming panic.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Just then, a familiar barking was heard in the distance.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________“My hero! Thank you for saving me,” Danny said gratefully with watery eyes.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________A GIFT FOR GRANDPA
Summer vacation was coming. Jack and his brother Berlin were filled with excitement as they thought of visiting their grandparents again.
The big day came at last. After the happy family got ready, they set out for the grandparents’ eagerly. On the way, the brothers were excitedly talking about the fun they had with grandparents.
A little blue house with a tall white chimney finally appeared. Behind the property was the forest carrying their good memories with Grandpa. They arrived at the driveway, at the end of which Grandma was waiting for them joyfully.
Jack and Berlin each gave Grandma a big hug and then swept to the living room, shouting excitedly “Grandpa, we are back!”
Seeing his grandsons, Grandpa was wild with joy and tried to get up with all his strength from the chair but in vain. A helpless expression flashed on his face. Grandma explained that his health was declining rapidly and maybe couldn’t stand up on his own forever. But Grandpa declared stubbornly (倔强地), “I can!” Certainly, he was stuck in his boyish way. Mum and grandparents were happy to meet again after a long time. They sat together and chatted about what happened recently.
The brothers were soon bored with adult conversation, went out and wandered into the forest. Tall trees stretched up to the heavens with large branches crossing each other, while young ones rose straight like soldiers. Grandpa was once a great explorer full of wisdom. He could tell where the birds came from only by their calls and songs. The trees, birds, lizards, lots of bugs...How many merry moments they spent with Grandpa in the kingdom!
But now Grandpa couldn't get up. This made them worried. “We’d think out a way to cheer him up.” Jack said. “Grandpa is a bird lover, and we can catch him a bird.” Berlin suggested. “But he hates birds being caged!” Jack shook his head.
Then a bright idea came to Jack’s mind. “Why not make a cane (拐杖) out of a young tree!”
注意：1.续写词数应为150左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Berlin thought it was a good idea.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Jack and Berlin handed the cane to Grandpa.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________9 . I once coached volleyball for a group of kids for the Special Olympics. One particular Tuesday night, after warming up, the kids began their
His family
On this particular Tuesday night, as I had done so many times before, I simply told him that we'd love to have him
As the volleyball lesson
At the end of that Tuesday night, as I watched Brian and the other kids leave the volleyball court
| A．discussions | B．studies | C．moves | D．preparations |
| A．chair | B．corner | C．darkness | D．crowds |
| A．exploring | B．comparing | C．emerging | D．alternating |
| A．struggled | B．competed | C．agreed | D．integrated |
| A．Naturally | B．Obviously | C．Literally | D．Unfortunately |
| A．limited | B．unique | C．remarkable | D．permanent |
| A．looked down | B．shut down | C．slowed down | D．calmed down |
| A．strict | B．accurate | C．patient | D．efficient |
| A．join | B．help | C．choose | D．support |
| A．ceased | B．started | C．suspended | D．progressed |
| A．hidden | B．engaged | C．interested | D．involved |
| A．excited | B．hugged | C．approached | D．encountered |
| A．anger | B．fear | C．pride | D．doubt |
| A．behind | B．together | C．fast | D．late |
| A．contribution | B．promise | C．chance | D．difference |
10 . Eric Moussambani is the first swimmer from Equatorial Guinea to compete in the Olympics. He found his passion for swimming shortly after high school. At the time, he didn’t know how to swim, but he knew it was a sport he wanted to pursue.
Unfortunately, there were no standard swimming pools in his country. Eventually, he found a hotel pool where he could only swim three hours a week. When he couldn’t use the pool, he trained in rivers and the sea, with the local fishermen guiding him on how to use his legs and arms.
After about eight months of swimming, Eric gained entry into the 2000 Summer Olympics through a program designed to encourage sports development in developing countries.
In Sydney, Eric saw an Olympic-size swimming pool for the first time. It was so big that Eric said he was so frightened to compete in it. In preparing for his event, Eric trained at the same time as the US team and took the opportunity to study their techniques closely. A South African coach gave him a pair of competition trunks (泳裤) and some goggles (护目镜), which were what he needed badly.
On September 19, 2000, Eric stepped out for the men’s 100m freestyle competition. With his two fellow competitors stopped from taking part for making false starts, Eric suddenly found himself racing on his own. “I swam the first 50m really well,” said Eric after the competition. “I focused all my energy on telling myself to keep going.” After turning for the second length, however, Eric began to pay for spending so much energy on the first. As his legs stiffened (变僵硬), he felt he was going nowhere. “It was then that I heard the crowd shouting, encouraging me to ‘Go, go, go’. It gave me the strength to make it to the end.”
Eric finished the race with a time of 1:52.72, the slowest recorded time in Olympic history. But the audience did not care. They cheered him as if he had broken the world record. To this day, Eric is still an Olympic hero.
1. What is true about Eric before he participated in the Sydney Olympics?| A．He had nobody to teach him how to swim. |
| B．He had never trained in a standard swimming pool. |
| C．He developed his love for swimming from his childhood. |
| D．He entered the Olympics by beating all the other competitors. |
| A．Eric had made full preparations for his event. |
| B．The US team offered to teach Eric some techniques. |
| C．Eric was eager to compete in the Olympic swimming pool. |
| D．Eric didn’t even have proper equipment for the competition. |
| A．Inspiring. | B．Competitive. | C．Successful. | D．Meaningless. |
| A．His outstanding talent for swimming. |
| B．His strong willpower to reach his goal. |
| C．His record-breaking performance at the Olympics. |
| D．His great achievements in the world’s sports development. |
