1 . Joseph Salmon, 17, was practising ice fishing with his mom on a lake in Iowa. Suddenly, Salmon saw a jeep, driven by an old man, Thomas Lee, ________ off the ice and into the water. As soon as Salmon saw it a short distance away, he called 911 and ran over to help. For a(n) ________, he was right standing on the ________.

Then another young man waved at Lee and tried to ________ to him to get out of the jeep. However, it seemed that Lee, ________, didn’t really know what to do next, just sitting on the seat. ________, he couldn’t move at all.

Things looked extremely ________. As Salmon and the young man became ________ in face of the emergency, more people came. Then someone found there was an animal in the jeep. Salmon immediately jumped into the ________, got to the jeep and tried opening the back door. It was locked, and he had to ________ the back window and ________ to get Lee out, whose foot was ________ because of being caught between the center console (控制台) and the seat. So Salmon gently pushed Lee back towards the front. Just then, four more passers-by ________ over to help pull Lee and his dog to safety.

Finally, the rescue workers arrived. Lee was transported to a nearby hospital. Neither he nor his dog was injured while Salmon was only treated for a minor ________ from the broken glass. How ________ they were!

1.

A．fall

B．shake

C．show

D．push

2.

A．reason

B．strike

C．instant

D．error

3.

A．border

B．blackboard

C．street

D．shoreline

4.

A．drive

B．signal

C．return

D．explain

5.

A．at a loss

B．at no cost

C．in shame

D．in relief

6.

A．Therefore

B．Instead

C．Somehow

D．Otherwise

7.

A．reliable

B．promising

C．vague

D．urgent

8.

A．aggressive

B．anxious

C．patient

D．peaceful

9.

A．ship

B．pool

C．river

D．water

10.

A．handle

B．drag

C．break

D．purchase

11.

A．hesitated

B．sought

C．declined

D．regretted

12.

A．motionless

B．artificial

C．flexible

D．obvious

13.

A．held

B．took

C．washed

D．rushed

14.

A．mistake

B．scratch

C．procedure

D．resource

15.

A．fortunate

B．elegant

C．ridiculous

D．sensitive

2 . Reshaping the world for a fossil fuel-free future means working quickly. Climate scientists say carbon emissions must stop by 2025 to minimize environmental damage. And by designing computational materials together with makers who can build and test them quickly, scientists can rapidly develop technologies like more powerful solar cells and car batteries.

Michael is the name of a supercomputer devoted to just one task―discovering the ultimate battery system. Researchers at University College London will use Michael to digitally build and test prototypes (原型) in every new material and type of cell possible to improve battery life, performance and price.

Finding a resilient (弹性的) design for solid-state batteries would be a huge breakthrough for electric vehicles and energy storage. Lighter, longer-lasting and cheaper solid-state technology could vastly improve vehicle range and charging time. And the energy from solar and wind power could be more efficiently stored until ready for use.

Scientists working in the US and the UK led the way in the 1970s in developing the lithium-ion (锂离子) battery used in today’s electric cars, laptops and cameras, But commercial units were only developed once the Japanese electronics giant pushed the technology forward for mass production. Partnerships between companies and universities could ultimately crack solid-state battery design. Oxford University and some companies are looking to win the international race to create a durable product. But they are only one among many.

Replacing liquid used in lithium-ion batteries with a solid conductor may take large digital processing. Electric vehicle makers are working with a computer giant to find successful designs that may include cheap and plentiful materials found in seawater. An electric vehicle maker is partnering with NASA to open a solid-state battery plant that uses no rare or expensive metals. The plan is to create a large database of materials that can be mixed and matched for the best combinations.

But computational materials may be needed in virtually every industry. And by rapidly classifying millions of substances on their ability to conduct electricity, their toughness, or the way they reflect light, AI and supercomputers can speed up the process of creating materials for just about anything.

1. What message does paragraph 1 convey?

A．It’s too fast to design computational materials.

B．It’s too late to reshape the fossil fuel-free world.

C．Developing green energy can reduce carbon emissions.

D．Developing technology can speed up carbon emissions.

2. What are solid-state batteries expected to be like?

A．Heavy and solid.	B．Light but breakable.
C．Less-costly and workable.	D．Expensive but efficient.

3. Why does the author mention Oxford University in paragraph 4?

A．To show the weakness of mass production.

B．To show the good trend of the cooperation.

C．To show the difficulty of the battery design.

D．To show the development of British technology.

4. What can be the best title for the text?

A．Michael Is Devoted to Storing Solar Energy

B．Companies and NASA Will Push Technology Forward

C．Electric Vehicle Makers Are Struggling to Solve Air Pollution

D．Supercomputers and AI Can Create Future Low-carbon Industries

3 . My 5-year-old daughter Kai walked around a bus stop, picking up candy wrappers and plastic bottles and throwing them in the waste bin. We were a visiting family here, but she was cleaning the sidewalk, which didn’t shock me, nor was I _________ when strangers looked at us.

Our cleanup project began when we drove past an empty field one day and Kai _________ the field was covered by _________ balloons. We had read about how animals could _________ balloons for food. “Stop,” Kai said, and I _________. Surprisingly, we found the field was full of much trash _________ the balloons. “Can we come back and clean it?” Kai asked. Then each Friday, we returned to have a(n) _________ cleaning.

However, it seems we can never _________ the trash completely. I feel something close to _________! Why are we making kids clean up our __________? It has everything to do with the planet we adults are leaving for kids. Plastic pollution is globally distributed and microplastics have even been discovered in human blood. It is not a __________ story that we have created trash but our next generation cleans up them.

Now Kai hopes to become a marine biologist to protect sharks one day. She still has many years to __________, if adults get serious about solving plastic pollution. We shouldn’t leave our next generation a __________ planet and expect them to save it.

The last time our family was at the beach, we still picked up plastic bottles. Most __________, though, we saw an octopus (章鱼) playing around our feet, a __________ of a harmonious habitat worth protecting.

1.

A．embarrassed

B．discouraged

C．concerned

D．frightened

2.

A．apologized

B．confirmed

C．spotted

D．explained

3.

A．loose

B．magic

C．processed

D．abandoned

4.

A．trade

B．mistake

C．replace

D．change

5.

A．pulled over

B．blew up

C．turned down

D．gave in

6.

A．due to

B．ahead of

C．other than

D．instead of

7.

A．official

B．serious

C．optional

D．regular

8.

A．deliver

B．remove

C．track

D．produce

9.

A．stress

B．comfort

C．anger

D．pride

10.

A．mess

B．platform

C．court

D．house

11.

A．scary

B．pleasant

C．historic

D．real

12.

A．decide

B．struggle

C．survive

D．contribute

13.

A．safe

B．giant

C．distant

D．sick

14.

A．personally

B．memorably

C．technically

D．universally

15.

A．promise

B．threat

C．reminder

D．favor

4 . “Should I go? I do have a lot of work to do.” The question came from my daughter, Tracy, a college senior, who was debating whether or not to go with her roommates on a Saturday to drive to the beach and enjoy some unseasonably warm March weather.

On the one hand, sand, sunshine, and perhaps some fried food were prizes she deserved after a hard-won year of college life; on the other hand, her thesis (论文) conclusion wasn’t going to write itself. As a rather type A student, Tracy was unsure if she should go, and had asked my opinion.

As I read her text, I remembered my own college road trips in the 80s. At that time, four of us theater students, anxious and disappointed about the posting of a cast list, had driven out to the countryside through apple orchards (果园). We stopped at the side of the road to climb over a stone wall to grab some apples from a tree, taking off laughing, and ending the trip with ice-creams. I still remember sitting at a picnic table with the kind of laughter that you hope will never end.

I texted my daughter back, “Take the day off and go to the beach. The thesis can wait.” Actually, I wanted to text her much more than that. I wanted to tell her that college is for so many things—academic and personal growth and challenges, all-night study sessions, paper deadlines, and office hours. But it’s also for road trips with your roommates and a chance to extricate every bit of stress and responsibility for a few hours.

College is for the memories that you don’t think are anything special right now. But someday, one of you will say, “Hey, remember that time on the beach?” And those precious memories are worth more than any thesis conclusion ever could be.

1. Why did Tracy hesitate to go to the beach?

A．She was kind of stay-at-home.	B．She had to complete her paper.
C．She worried about the weather.	D．She didn’t invite her roommates.

2. What made the author and his classmates decide to take a road trip at college?

A．Their demand for spiritual relief.

B．Their desire to test their new car.

C．Their need to experience country life.

D．Their plan for seeking play materials.

3. What does the underlined word “extricate” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．Take on.

B．Think of.

C．Go through.

D．Shake off.

4. What does the author want to convey in the text?

A．Good friends always make life happier.

B．Stress from college life can play its part.

C．College memories are more than academic achievements.

D．Academic achievements absolutely come first at college.

5 . Unusual Castles Around the World

Whether a fantastic achievement of architecture or just a try to appeal to the public intentionally, the four curious castles below are far from ordinary.

Kelburn Castle, Largs, Scotland

When viewed from some sides, Kelburn Castle looks like a typical Scottish castle. But on the building’s south side, the stone tower and walls are covered in cartoon-style graffiti (涂鸦). The castle’s graffiti is the work of four artists. The graffiti took 1,500 cans of paint to create.

Predjama Castle, Predjama. Slovenia

Predjama Castle was built directly into the mouth of a cave located halfway up a little over 123-meter cliff (悬崖) face. Although the site dates back to at least the 13th century, the current building was reconstructed during the 16th century. The impressive castle holds the Guinness World Records for the largest cave castle in the world.

Swallow’s Nest, Gaspra, Crimea

It’s common for castles to be built near the edge of a cliff, but few look so unsafe as the Swallow’s Nest in Crimea, which extends out over the Black Sea. The foundation of this small castle, which measures 20 meters in length and 10 meters in width, extends beyond the edge of the 40-meter cliff. The current stone building was once a wooden structure.

Trosky Castle, Troskovice, Czech Republic

On the top of two volcanic mouths is Trosky Castle, which dates back to the end of the 14th century. Along with the towers on each peak, the castle is also built on the ridge (山脊) that connects the peaks. After a defensive stronghold during war time, the castle was abandoned. The government took control of the site in 1925 and the remains of its walls are now carefully maintained.

1. What highlights Kelburn Castle?

A．Its history.

B．Its location.

C．Its design.

D．Its function.

2. What do Predjama Castle and Swallow’s Nest have in common?

A．They were once rebuilt.	B．They were abandoned.
C．They are cave castles.	D．They are the same length.

3. Which castle lies on the volcanic rock?

A．Kelburn Castle.	B．Predjama Castle.
C．Swallow’s Nest.	D．Trosky Castle.

6 . Have you ever had this kind of childhood memory: a family sits together casually, drinking and tasting tea after lunch or dinner?     1    

After being spread to different parts of the world,     2     Now tea has finally received top-level global recognition as a shared cultural treasure of mankind. On Nov. 29, “traditional tea processing techniques and associated social practices in China” was added to the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage.

Traditional tea processing techniques and associated social practices in China consist of the knowledge, skills and practices concerning the management of tea plantations (茶园) as well as the picking of tea leaves, manual processing, drinking, and sharing of tea, noted UNESCO.

    3    The most commonly used skills ranging from shaqing (杀青) to xunzhi (窨制). Chinese tea is divided into mainly six categories: green, black, yellow, oolong, white and dark. All of them follow their own processes for tea making. Practices of greeting guests with tea are shared among multiple ethnic groups and provide a sense of identity and continuity.    4    It means boiling tea at a stove — a social tea activity popular among young Chinese people.

Weilu zhucha is a replacement in the cold seasons for the camping craze. Sitting around a stove, boiling some tea, people chat, admire the scenery and immerse themselves in traditional Chinese culture by boiling tea together in person. “    5    Whenever we want some snacks, we sit around a stove and boil tea,” an Internet user commented.

A．Take tea making for example.

B．This can be fully shown by weilu zhucha.

C．tea is common in Chinese people’s daily lives.

D．It’s good to feel the warm atmosphere when boiling tea.

E．China now has 43 items on the intangible cultural heritage list.

F．tea has delighted and fascinated the world for a thousand years.

G．This has been a daily activity for Chinese people throughout their history.

7 . 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。

It is true that educational tours can benefit students in various ways. Though the primary purpose of educational tours is     1     (educate) students, they are also used as part of the classes to cover a wide range of life skills, including teamwork, time management, and communication. This is because educational tours allow students to share experiences     2     (practical) and use them to improve their career prospects (前景). If you are setting up an educational tour, you should spend some time     3     (research) useful information on this. For example, you should focus much attention     4     the means of transportation, the budget and the number of students.

The     5     (important) of educational tours to students can     6     (stress) in various ways. First of all, this tour provides a     7     (value) opportunity for each other to exchange and learn skills. On educational field tours, students feel the sense of enjoyment     8     can offer them a fresh perspective (视角), learn new things and witness different aspects. This opens up endless possibilities of understanding the world. Going on educational tours     9     (mean) to have a major educational element, including giving students the chance to build closer bonds with their classmates, experience     10     new environment and enjoy a day away from the classroom.

8 . From amusement parks to delicious chocolate factories, and everything in between, there are numerous activities and attractions to offer excitement and adventure to kids and big kids! Just take a look at these fun places in Germany.

Europa Park

Localed in Rust, in south-western Germany, Europa-Park is the second most popular theme park resort(度假胜地)in Europe, following Disneyland Paris. With more than 100 attractions and shows, playing here is undoubtedly one of the best things to do with kids in Germany. Whether kids want to sail with the “African Queen” and have fun by discovering foreign animals, or experience the “4D Magic Cinema”, the opportunities are endless.

Fairy Tale Road

A family trip along Fairy Tale Road will be a magical adventure. This is one of Germany’s most attractive drives which takes you through 370 miles of beautiful countryside. It inspired many fairy tales we love today. Along the way, you will discover sleepy villages and numerous attractions. And if you plan your visit well, you might even catch an open-air performance of The Pied Piper in Hameln or Cinderella in Polle.

Neuschwanstein Castle

If your kids love Disney movies, they will never forget a trip to the palace that inspired Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle. Located in the Bavarian Alps, Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the top attractions in Germany. The castle was built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria in 1869 entirely for pleasure. Your children’s imaginations will run wild as they discover the magical rooms. You can always hop on a charming horse-drawn carriage to reach the top.

Cologne Chocolate Museum

Let your kids go into the world of chocolate at the delicious Chocolate Museum in Cologne. They don’t need a golden ticket to make their sweet dreams come true in this 4,000-square-meter chocolate wonderland. There are nine exhibition areas that allow visitors to learn about the culture and history of chocolate. Moreover, there are plenty of delicious cakes and chocolate specialties to enjoy at the museum cafe. And before you go, ring up to check for your reservations (预订).

1. What’s special about Fairy Tale Road?

A．It has a great landscape along the way.

B．It once attracted some famous writers.

C．It gives fairy tale shows all year round.

D．It allows kids to enjoy modern city playgrounds.

2. What is mentioned about Neuschwanstein Castle?

A．It is the oldest palace in Germany.

B．It was built to show the strength of the country.

C．It used to be the entertainment place for royal families.

D．It has been turned into Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle.

3. Which place will kids prefer to visit if they have a sweet tooth?

A．Europa Park.	B．Fairy Talc Road.
C．Neuschwanstein Castle.	D．Cologne Chocolate Museum.

9 . 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。

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention (《世界遗产公约》), Beijing held    1     event titled “The Next 50 Years: World Heritage Where Challenges and Development Coexist”, during which experts discussed how    2       (make) the sites more accessible and sustainable for future generations.

Since joining the World Heritage Convention in 1985, the number of world heritage sites in China    3     (grow) to 56, including the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the Grand Canal,    4     (allow) the nation to rank second in the world. And over the past decade, China has added 15 new world heritage sites, six of    5     have been included in the relevant lists of intangible cultural heritage (非物质文化遗产).

Chinese experts said that the 56 listed world heritage sites reflect the country’s    6     (abundance) heritage and that China’s cultural heritage achievements over the past 10 years can be seen in many aspects.

For example, in 2013, the Tianshan Mountains    7     (list) on the World Heritage List. The beauty of Tianshan lies    8     its snow-capped mountains and glacier-capped peaks. It is really an outstanding example of a mountain ecosystem with a    9     (diverse) of landform features and ecosystems.

Experts said that the world heritage application is just a means to perform better protection. We should behave more    10     (responsible) to conserve the heritage of all humanity.

10 . Books are excellent gifts. Here are four of the year’s most talked-about titles.

Ordinary Monsters | By J. M. Miro

Miro has temporarily abandoned literary fiction in favour of a new series of historical fantasy novels. Ordinary Monsters is about a group of children with magical gifts who come together and pool their powers to escape the bad shape-shifting man that’s going after them.

Son of Elsewhere: A Memoir in Pieces | By Elamin Abdelmahmoud

The soundtrack to The O. C., a drama series, and the strange beauty of Highway 401 were important factors in developing selfhood of Abdelmahmoud. This book describes his own experience of moving from Khartoum, Sudan, to Kingston, Canada, in the early 2000s at age 12.

A Magic Steeped in Poison | By Judy I. Lin

Harry Potter has his magic stick. And Ning, the heroine of Lin’s first novel, has tea, which in her world carries magical properties. Lin has created a pleasing Young Adult fantasy rich in Chinese mythology (神话). In this book, Ning enters a competition to find the most gifted tea master, Shennong.

A Ballet of Lepers | By Leonard Cohen

Unlike many other posthumous (死后出版的) works, you can count on Cohen’s to be worth your wait. Before his death, he said that the novel contained in the book, which was never published, was likely better than The Favourite Game, a novel he published during his lifetime. This book also includes a radio play script (剧本) and a handful of short stories.

1. Which book is a mirror of the author’s life story?

A．Ordinary Monsters.	B．Son of Elsewhere: A Memoir in Pieces.
C．A Magic Steeped in Poison.	D．A Ballet of Lepers.

2. What do the first and third books have in common?

A．They are about teamwork.

B．They are based on an imaginary world.

C．They both involve Chinese characters.

D．They draw inspiration from other novels.

3. What can be inferred about A Ballet of Lepers?

A．It is a collection.	B．It is Cohen’s best novel.
C．It is a fantasy novel.	D．It is adapted from a play.