1 . Research led by the University of Leeds has found that children do better at primary school if their fathers regularly spend time with them on interactive engagement activities like reading, playing, telling stories, drawing and singing.

Analyzing primary school test scores for five-and seven-year-olds, the researchers used a representative sample of nearly 5,000 mother-father households in England from the Millenium Cohort Study, which collected data on children born during 2000—2002 as they grew up.

According to the research, dads who regularly drew, played and read with their three-year-olds helped their children do better at school by age five. Dads being involved at age five also helped improve scores in seven-year-olds’ Key Stage Assessments.

Dr Helen Norman, who led the research, said, “Mothers still tend to assume the primary carer role and therefore tend to do the most childcare, but if fathers actively engage in childcare too, it significantly increases the likelihood of children getting better grades in primary school. This is why encouraging and supporting fathers to share childcare with the mother, from an early stage in the child’s life, is critical.”

Dads’ involvement impacted positively on their children’s school achievement regardless of the child’s gender, ethnicity, age in the school year and household income, according to the report. There were different effects when mums and dads took part in the same activities—the data showed that mums had more of an impact on young children’s emotional and social behaviors than educational achievement.

The researchers recommend that dads carve out as much time as they can to engage in interactive activities with their children each week. For busy, working dads, even just ten minutes a day could potentially have educational benefits.

1. How did researchers draw their conclusion?

A．Through experiments.	B．By making comparisons.
C．By doing surveys.	D．Through data analysis.

2. What should a father do to improve his kid’s school performance?

A．Create a wonderful learning environment.

B．Meet all the kid’s demands.

C．Care for the kid with the mother.

D．Focus on the kid’s study.

3. In which aspect does a mother influence a kid more than a father does?

A．Emotion management.	B．Educational achievement.
C．Intelligence development.	D．Physical health.

4. What can be inferred from the text?

A．Father takes on more responsibilities in kids’ development.

B．Children benefit from reading and playing.

C．Father plays a more important role than mother.

D．Father sharing childcare makes for kids’ schooling.

2 . Today, people use the Internet to shop, play games, make friends and read the news. Many young people can’t imagine life without it.     1     In fact, the Internet has been used for a much longer time than most people think.

In 1957, the United States was in the middle of the Cold War. The Soviet Union (苏联) had sent up the first satellite (卫星), named Sputnik, into space. This meant the Soviets were ahead of the U. S. in technology. Americans were afraid.     2     One of the ideas was a network (网络) that would let people across the country communicate by using computers.

    3     It was first tried out in 1969. For another twenty years, it was used only by scientists who worked with the U. S. government and by some engineers. Then, in 1990, the army of America gave the control of the Internet to the National Science Foundation.     4    

The biggest change in the way that people use the Internet came in 1992. For the first time, the Internet was opened to the general public, creating what is now known as the World Wide Web.     5     Today, no one government controls the Internet and it just gets bigger and bigger. It makes our world different.

A．The network took more than ten years to develop.

B．Soon, people began finding all kinds of different things they could do on the Internet.

C．Most older people, on the other hand, think the Internet is only 10 or 15 years old.

D．People began to be fond of the Internet.

E．They didn’t know what to do.

F．The Internet then became available to colleges all over the United States and to scientists across Europe.

G．Scientists in the army of America started developing ideas for protecting the country.

3 . Mundi, a 41-year-old female elephant, was orphaned (使……成为孤儿) at a young age, captured, and sold to the Mayaguez Zoo in Puerto Rico. The animals housed at the zoo were in such bad shape that they were being moved to various shelters under an order from the US Department of Justice.

Mundi was the zoo’s major attraction. Her departure caused so much argument that armed guards came to see her off the island. She was so popular that people lined the streets to say goodbye.

Mundi’s new home is certainly beautiful. After living in the zoo for 35 years with no other elephants, Mundi met Bo and Tarra, with whom she’s now sharing 850 acres. She was first housed in a separate place, but she and the other elephants could see each other, and they started getting along quickly. Soon, Mundi was no longer separated from the others. Tarra immediately acted as a big sister and mentor to Mundi, while Bo became her playmate. Now, they spend a lot of time together and the public can watch their interaction and learn about their behaviors on the shelter’s official website.

Carol Buckley, the founder of Elephant Aid International, first imagined setting up the Georgia shelter after meeting Tarra in 1974, when the elephant was less than a year old. At the time, Tarra belonged to the owner of a tire store, who used her to advertise the place.

Buckley ultimately became an advocate for elephants worldwide and designed the retirement home in Attapulgus to address their needs. Attapulgus was selected as the location for the shelter because its climate allows the elephants to be outdoors most of the time, almost year-round.

1. What can be inferred about the animals in Mayaguez Zoo?

A．They lived a normal life.	B．They were not welcome.
C．They were not well treated.	D．They were living happily.

2. Why were armed guards sent to see Mundi off?

A．To prevent possible accidents.	B．To protect the animals around.
C．To say goodbye to Mundi.	D．To show their respect for Mundi.

3. What was Tarra doing when Buckley first met her?

A．Taking care of Mundi.	B．Buying tires for her owner.
C．Working as a store keeper.	D．Advertising a tire store.

4. What makes Attapulgus a shelter for elephants?

A．Its small space.	B．Its weather pattern.
C．Its special design.	D．Its convenient transportation.

4 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Stephen Koss was a math teacher in a New York high school near Manhattan's Chinatown. About a fourth of his students were Chinese. One day, some of them asked him if he would like to be the advisor of their Asian Culture Club since according to the school's rules, a new club must have a teacher taking     1     (responsible) for it. Stephen said yes, and that yes changed his life.

He became interested in Chinese history and culture and began to listen to Chinese songs, watch Chinese movies, and read Chinese books. The students noticed this and advised him     2     (visit) China. Finally, in the summer of 2001, Stephen Koss     3     (arrive) in China. He visited all the prime tourist     4     (destination) : Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, and the other big cities. But he thought Suzhou was the most     5     (impress) one. In Suzhou, people talked to him when he walked in the streets, introducing themselves. He recalled that experience: “They were very open     6     foreigners.”

Stephen traveled between China and America, spending the summers in Suzhou,     7     opened a new world for Stephen. He visited historical sites, guest-taught at a local high school, and watched the local opera. He went beyond Suzhou,     8     (explore) the countryside on his bike and visiting the water towns in the region— ancient towns known for their rivers, bridges and canals (运河) .     9     (eventual) , Stephen decided to stay in Suzhou and he became     10     Suzhou local.

5 . Soft skills are the skills you own that go beyond your technical, measurable abilities.     1     Although soft skills are more personality-based, you can still improve them. Here are some steps to help you improve your soft skills.

Arrive at work on time.

Time management is an important soft skill to have in the workplace.     2     Following a schedule can give you the ability to meet goals, finish work on time and stay organized, which are all skills that lead to more productivity and can help you stand out from your peers (同龄人) .

Work through conflict.

    3     But it's how you work through it that matters. When conflict occurs, think of alternative ways to solve it so you can continue your relationship with colleagues, learn from each other and continue to be productive as teammates.

Observe others.

One of the strongest ways you can improve your soft skills is by observing others around you.     4     Observe the way they complete a task, including how they interact with others and their individual process, which may involve many soft skills.

Get outside of your comfort zone.

As with anything you want to improve, it’s important to step outside of your comfort zone and take on something new. This may be a new environment, new responsibilities or a leadership role. You can even offer to be the one in your group who gives the project presentation.     5    

A．Place yourself in an unfamiliar environment.

B．In that way you can improve your public speaking skills.

C．It’s not uncommon for there to be a conflict in the workplace.

D．Effective communication is a helpful soft skill in the workplace.

E．A great way to improve this skill is by arriving to work on time.

F．They focus more on your social, leadership and problem-solving skills, among others.

G．This can mean paying attention to managers, colleagues and even employees from other areas.

6 . A team of students in the Netherlands has designed and built a tough car that’s completely powered by the sun. The car, called Stella Terra, is the first solar-powered car that can travel off-road for long distances without needing a recharging station.

Students at Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands have been working on solar-powered cars for years. In order to create a car that could deal with the kind of tough driving, the students had to design the entire car, from top to bottom.

On top, of course, were the solar panels (电池板) . Most solar panels are only about 20% efficient. That means they waste about 80% of the sunlight they get. But the Stella Terra’s solar panels are 97% efficient. They waste far less sunlight than even the best solar panels you can buy.

Stella Terra can carry two people, and has a top speed of 90 mph. The car weighs just 2, 600 pounds. That’s about two-thirds the weight of a typical car. On the bottom, the team designed a suspension (悬架) system to help the car deal with the bumps (颠簸) and heavy shaking that come when driving over bumpy surfaces.

The team recently took the car on its biggest test— a challenging 620-mile (1, 000-kilometer) test drive across Morocco. The car had to travel through forests as well as dry riverbeds. It had to drive across desert sand and up mountain roads. The car succeeded in doing all of this— and all without ever stopping at a charging station.

The team is very proud of their car, but they won’t be upset if car companies start to copy their ideas. In fact, they hope that the Stella Terra will help inspire car companies to work on similar projects. But despite their success, the students think it will take five to ten years before car companies are able to build a similar car. “We are pushing the technology forward,” said Wisse Bos, the team's manager.

1. What do we know about Stella Terra?

A．It is a self-driving car.	B．It has high energy efficiency.
C．It is the first solar-powered car.	D．It is not allowed to run on the road.

2. What effect does the suspension system have on the car?

A．It increases the car’s speed.	B．It reduces the car’s weight.
C．It makes the car run smoothly.	D．It improves the car’s energy efficiency.

3. How do the students respond to car companies’ copying their ideas?

A．They are worried about it.

B．They are protective of their design.

C．They are planning to re-evaluate their design.

D．They are happy to see car companies adopt their ideas.

4. Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A．Solar-Powered Cars Have a Long History

B．Students Create a Tough Solar-Powered Car

C．Solar-Powered Cars Are the Future of Transportation

D．Efficient Solar-Powered Cars Have Reached Customers

7 . For the creatively minded, snow represents a large blank canvas (空白画布) for art. But often, it’s limited to snowmen or other snow statues. Simon Beck had a different idea, and over the course of a decade he has carved a path for himself in the snow art world. He creates large land art by walking across soccer-field-sized areas covered in untouched snow. Combined with light and shadow (影子) , his artistic designs can only be fully appreciated when viewed from above.

Beck, 59, a former map maker turned into a snow artist, thanks to his decision late in life to pursue his hobby.

            “It started just as a joke one day really,” Beck explained. “After skiing one day, I decided to make a drawing on snow to seek pleasure...”

“I really had no idea how good it would look when I made that first drawing, but it really went beyond my expectation,” he said of his first ever creation that he looked down on from a ski lift.

To create this work, Beck stepped his way through the snow using only snowshoes and a ski pole for measurement with nothing else but the image of a design idea in his head. It was not challenging at all due to his previous work experience. But as his designs developed and became more complex(复杂的), Beck said he began to start drawing them on paper first.   

Beck’s paintings have become a huge hit since his work was first shared.

“Most of the time I had been doing failed careers, and people around me are asking what's the quickest way of getting rid of (摆脱) this person,” Beck said. “And for the first time, I felt people actually wanted me. I felt like a more valued member of society.”

1. Where does Simon Beck create art?

A．On maps.

B．On canvas.

C．On soccer fields.

D．On snowfields.

2. Why did Beck create his first drawing?

A．To have fun.	B．To prove his talent.
C．To entertain the skiers.	D．To develop a new hobby.

3. How did Beck feel about his first artwork?

A．Surprised.

B．Unsatisfied.

C．Annoyed.

D．Indifferent.

4. What contributed to Beck’s art creation?

A．His passion for skiing.	B．His competitive nature.
C．His dream to be an artist.	D．His experience of making maps.

8 . While electronics can make life easier and more entertaining, the devices aren’t easy on the environment.

As newer, more advanced devices come out, huge amounts of old electronics are thrown away, instead of being recycled. These items often end up in landfills, where the chemicals inside them may be a danger to the environment. Electronics can contain noxious materials like lead or mercury (汞) . If these materials get into the ground or water, the pollution can cause serious problems.

Most electronics require rare metals. These metals must be mined (开采) from the earth. Often the mining process creates serious pollution. In many cases, these materials are getting harder and harder to find. If more e-waste was recycled, many of those rare metals could be taken from old electronic devices instead of being mined. A group known as WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Forum) is trying to make people more aware of the problems of e-waste. WEEE says that the rare metals and other materials that get thrown out as e-waste every year are worth about $ 57 billion.

Recently, WEEE asked researchers from the United Nations to study a kind of e-waste that’s often not noticed because people don’t consider the items to be electronics. The WEEE calls this type “invisible” e-waste.

The surprising type leading the invisible e-waste group was toys. Worldwide, about 7. 3 billion electronic toys are thrown away each year. In all, toys make up about 35% of invisible e-waste. But the problem is far larger than just toys. The report also shows that other everyday items like alarms, power tools, and computer cables (电缆) are also big sources of invisible e-waste. The UN report says that 36% of the world’s invisible e-waste comes from these three types.

WEEE is hoping that as more people and governments become aware of e-waste, they will make a much greater effort to make sure electronics get reused or recycled.

1. What does the underlined word “noxious” mean in paragraph 2?

A．Harmful.

B．Critical.

C．Powerful.

D．Abnormal.

2. How can we reduce the impact of rare metal mining on the environment?

A．Looking for alternative options.	B．Recycling rare metals from e-waste.
C．Buying rare metals from other countries.	D．Reducing the production of electronic devices.

3. Which items account for the highest percentage of “invisible” e-waste?

A．Toys.

B．Alarms.

C．Power tools.

D．Computer cables.

4. What is WEEE’s hope for the future of e-waste?

A．That e-waste will soon no longer be a problem.

B．A global law on electronic devices will be issued.

C．E-waste will be burned to avoid damage to the environment.

D．Everyone will play a part in the reusing and recycling of electronics.

9 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

Tom’s love for soccer ran deep, and he played the game with a passion that was infectious (有感染力的) to everyone around him. But there was one thing that upset him-his worn-out soccer shoes. These shoes had been passed down to him by his older brother, and they were falling apart. With his birthday drawing near, Tom secretly wished for a new pair of soccer shoes to lift his spirits so that he could have a good performance in the game. However, he was well aware of his parents’ constant struggles to make ends meet and knew that such a wish might remain a dream forever.

One sunny afternoon, Tom and his best friend, David, were at school, watching an exciting soccer match. The exciting run and shout, the determination on the athletes’ faces, and their fine equipment were enough to make anyone’s heart race. It was at this moment that Tom said about his biggest birthday wish. He took a long deep breath and said, “How I wish I could have a new pair of soccer shoes for my birthday, but I know it’s impossible.”

David, sitting beside him, couldn’t help but overhear Tom’s words. The idea of helping his best friend achieve this long-held dream began to form in his mind. After school, David ran home and couldn’t wait to share the idea with his mother.

“Mom, I really want to do this for Tom. He’s been playing with those old shoes for so long. It would mean the world to him,” David explained seriously.

His mother smiled warmly, proud of her son’s compassion (同情) . “David, it’s a wonderful idea. It’s not just about the gift; it’s about the thought and effort you’re putting into making Tom’s day special.”

As David thought about how to earn the money, his mother suggested, “You know, David, there are various ways you can earn some extra money to save for the soccer shoes. Many of our neighbors are looking for someone to help with lawn mowing (刈草坪) and other services. Some even need help with newspaper delivery. You can offer your services and earn money that way.”

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。

David’s eyes lit up as he realized the potential.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The day of Tom’s birthday finally arrived, and David couldn’t wait to surprise his best friend.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

10 . When I was a child, I loved skateboarding. It brought me endless ______ . But after graduating from college and entering the workforce, the pressures of my job gradually led me to ______ this pastime. Several years later, while walking around in a park, I ______ a group of children skateboarding. It was like a clear ______ of my own childhood passion.

As I watched those kids ______ glide (滑行) on their skateboards, it was as though the wheels of time were turning backward. The ______ of the wind in my hair, the sense of freedom, and the excited feeling of skateboarding came rushing back. I longed to ______ those moments.

______ by the young skaters, I made a life-changing decision. I dusted off (拂去尘土) my skateboard, which had been quietly ______ in my store room for years, and took it to the local skate park. It was a bit ______ at first. But with each passing day, I ______ my balance, and the pure (纯粹的) joy of skateboarding returned.

Skateboarding became my ______ from the stress of work. It reminded me of the beauty of life’s simple ______ and how important it is to hold onto the things that make us ______ happy. My rediscovered love for skateboarding was a powerful ______ in treasuring the wonderful moments life has to offer.

1.

A．strength

B．honor

C．trouble

D．joy

2.

A．commit to

B．set aside

C．take up

D．bring back

3.

A．imagined

B．recognized

C．spotted

D．remembered

4.

A．reminder

B．symbol

C．experiment

D．summary

5.

A．intentionally

B．formally

C．calmly

D．skillfully

6.

A．secrets

B．memories

C．directions

D．characteristics

7.

A．reduce

B．balance

C．relive

D．exchange

8.

A．Inspired

B．Asisted

C．Recommended

D．Embarrassed

9.

A．functioning

B．flashing

C．rolling

D．resting

10.

A．difficult

B．efficient

C．boring

D．natural

11.

A．lost

B．valued

C．assessed

D．regained

12.

A．return

B．separation

C．escape

D．suffering

13.

A．hardships

B．pleasures

C．routines

D．adventures

14.

A．occasionally

B．nearly

C．truly

D．gradually

15.

A．exam

B．lesson

C．speech

D．training