1 . Horseshoes(马蹄铁) are both a game and a good luck charm(小挂件).     1     Exactly why they wear shoes, however, isn’t quite as widely known. Now let me explain it to you.

Horses can safely walk on their own four hooves(蹄).     2     For wild horses, this process typically happens at a good, gradual rate as they walk on natural land. They don’t really need human-made horse shoes.

    3     Such horses perform a variety of functions across a variety of surfaces--and there are a variety of reasons why many need shoes. For some, especially those that pull carriages or bear other loads, their hoof walls might wear down more quickly than they can grow back, which horseshoes can help prevent. Others might need horseshoes for traction(摩擦力) if they’re frequently exposed to icy, wet, or muddy surfaces.

    4     Horses can suffer from such medical conditions. Some horses just have naturally weaker hooves. In all these cases, horseshoes can not only help horses walk better but also keep them healthy.

That said, there are horses that wear no shoes at all, or only need to wear them sometimes. As a result, many horse owners refuse to give their horses horseshoes. A lot of times people talk about barefoot versus shod (穿鞋的) as if it’s a competition. But it’s not one or the other.     5    

A．It’s what’s best for the horse.

B．They wear down their hoof walls as they go.

C．Many people wonder why horses wear shoes.

D．Human-made shoes are quite necessary for some horses.

E．Some medical conditions also require horses to wear shoes.

F．However, home-raised horses are in quite a different situation.

G．As a result, most people know what horses’ “shoes” look like.

2 . Last summer, the story about a CEO who encouraged employees to take mental health days spread online. It led to many media stories about the importance of taking care of your mental health including taking a mental health day when you need one.

But what about kids? Should you let your child take a mental health day from school? The answer isn’t a simple yes or no. It’s important for kids to power through some discomfort, like going to school even when they’re afraid of giving a presentation, or when they don’t have their math homework done. There’s a lot of value in showing them that they’re stronger than they think. But when they’re feeling so bad that they’re struggling to function, and going to school is likely to make it worse, a mental health day might be just what the doctor ordered.

Letting kids take the occasional(偶尔的) mental health day-maybe once or twice a year-could make them believe that taking care of their minds is vital, just as they should take care of their bodies. It can also be a great opportunity to help them sharpen their emotional skills and build the mental muscles they need to stay strong.

A good way to spend a mental health day is to use the time to do the following things.

Solve a problem. If your child is stressed out by a specific problem, you might be able to turn a mental health day into a problem-solving opportunity.

Practice self-care. If your child is exhausted or overworked, an occasional day off may help him recuperate. It could be an opportunity to develop healthier habits, like going to sleep earlier, eating nutritious (有营养的)food, and getting plenty of exercise.

See a professional. If your child is struggling to attend school, seek professional help. Schedule an appointment with your pediatrician(儿科医生)to talk about your child’s mental health needs. A physician may refer you to a mental health professional if it’s necessary.

1. What did people do after reading the story about a CEO?

A．They decided to take more days off work.

B．They realized mental health needs care too.

C．They decided to read some media stories about him.

D．They became worried about employees’ mental health.

2. Which of the following shows the author’s opinion?

A．All children need a mental health day.

B．Kids need a mental health day less than adults.

C．Schools should arrange regular mental health days.

D．A mental health day is sometimes necessary for children.

3. What does the underlined word “recuperate” in Paragraph 6 mean?

A．Recover.	B．Think.
C．Sleep.	D．Exercise

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

A．When do kids need mental health days?

B．Why do people need mental health days?

C．How can kids make use of mental health days?

D．Should kids be allowed to take mental health days?

3 . Best friends since seventh grade, Torrie Norwood, 16, and Azarria Simmons, 17, had just spent a Saturday night out when they decided to head home. As they drove back to their hometown of St. Petersburg, Florida, another car crashed into them. After a while, Torrie opened her eyes and realized that the car had pushed hers into a tree in the middle of someone’s front yard.

Then the screaming started. “It’s gonna blow! ” yelled the gathering crowd as the pickup truck went up in smoke. Torrie’s door wouldn’t open, but her window had been knocked out during the crash, so she had an obvious escape route.

“Everyone ran down the street because we all thought the car was going to blow up, ” Torrie says. “But then I turned around, and I didn’t see Azarria running with us. I had to run back to the car to see if she was still in there and she was. ”

Things didn’t look good. “She was unresponsive (无反应的) in the back seat, ” says Torrie. “I had to drag her out because she wasn’t moving or breathing. There was glass and blood everywhere.“ Luckily she managed to pull her out. Torrie told a bystander to call 911 and got to work. Then she started CPR (心肺复苏) on her friend. After 30 chest compressions (挤压) and two rescue breaths, Azarria began to show signs of life. Just then, the paramedics (急救人员) rolled up ready to rush Azarria to the nearest hospital.

Azarria survived the accident, thanks to Torrie’s quick actions. But she couldn’t have saved her friend’s life if she hadn’t received CPR training. That’s an important lesson for everyone who hasn’t done that yet. “I feel like CPR training should be a requirement in schools, ”Torrie says. “It is something we can use for the rest of our lives.”

1. What did Torrie realize when she opened her eyes?

A．She had caused a traffic accident.

B．She was in an accident with her friend.

C．Her car had damaged someone’s house.

D．Her car hit a tree because of her carelessness.

2. Why did Torrie run back to the car?

A．She was no longer worried about her safety.

B．She left something important in it.

C．She was worried about her friend.

D．She was concerned about her car.

3. Which of the following best describes Torrie?

A．Curious and generous.	B．Patient and kind.
C．Courageous and calm.	D．Modest and talented.

4. What does the author most probably want to show through the story?

A．We should call for help when in danger.

B．We should drive very carefully.

C．It’s necessary to help others.

D．It’s important to learn CPR.

4 . Many people are interested in visiting national parks around the world. Here are some of the best national parks to visit worldwide.

Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy

Gran Paradiso National Park is located in Italy and was at first a game reserve until 1922 when the owner made it a national park. The park is popular for wildlife watching: keep an eye out for bears that weigh up to 100 kg. There are also plenty of old villages to explore at the park, including Above Noasca with its beautiful houses.

Hemis National Park, India

In the Indian valleys of Ladakh you can find Hemis National Park, one of Asia’s most well-known natural habitats for snow leopards (雪豹). The park was named after a 400-year-old monastery (修道院) and has an altitude (海拔高度) that ranges between 3, 000-6, 000 meters: the highest in the country.

Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

Croatia’s most popular tourist attraction, Plitvice Lakes National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most famous national parks in the world. It’s located halfway between Zagreb and Zadar and features must-see lakes and waterfalls, of which there are 16 to admire. You won’t be disappointed if you’re hoping to spot a few animals: deer, bears, wolves and rare bird species populate the woodland.

Vanoise National Park, France

Nature lovers and sporty types enjoy Vanoise National Park, thanks to its hiking and skiing trails. It includes two parts, one with skiing resorts (旅游胜地) and another central area in the heart of the mountain. There are many small villages located in the area with skiing resorts, while the rest of the park features beautiful landscapes and around 100 peaks.

1. Who would most probably be drawn to Gran Paradiso National Park?

A．Game players.	B．Bird watchers.
C．Wildlife lovers.	D．Hunters of big animals.

2. What do we know about Hemis National Park?

A．It’s best known for its monastery.	B．Snow leopards can be seen there.
C．It has existed for over 400 years.	D．It’s easy to get there on foot.

3. Where would you go if you want to try skiing?

A．Hemis National Park.	B．Vanoise National Park.
C．Plitvice Lakes National Park.	D．Gran Paradiso National Park.

5 . What makes a word real? Who has the power to make those kinds of official decisions about words? Those are the questions many people have in mind. When most people say a word isn’t real, what they mean is that it doesn’t appear in a dictionary. That, of course, raises some other questions, including, who writes dictionaries?

Now, dictionaries are good resources, but they are changeable. If you ask dictionary editors, what they’ll tell you is that they’re just trying to keep up with people as people change the language. They’re watching what people say and what people write and trying to figure out what’s going to stick and what’s not going to stick.

Every January, dictionary editors go to the American Dialect Society Meeting every year, where among other things, they decide on the word of the year. There are about 200 or 300 people who come. Some of them are the best known linguists(语言学家) in the United States. In the past, some of the winners have been “staycation” to describe a vacation spent at home and “tweet” to describe a post made on the social networking service Twitter.

So how does a word get into a dictionary? It gets in because people use it and people keep using it, and dictionary editors are paying attention to people. If a community of speakers is using a word and knows what it means, it’s real. That word might be informal and that word might be a word that you think is illogical(不合逻辑的) or unnecessary, but as long as people are using the word, it is real. I hope that what you can do is to find language change not annoying but fun and interesting, just the way dictionary editors do. I hope you can enjoy being part of the creativity that is continually remaking our language and keeping it alive.

1. Why do dictionaries change over time?

A．Speakers keep changing language.

B．Linguists often make up new words.

C．Dictionary editors change every year.

D．Words in the dictionary are out of date.

2. Who has the right to decide the word of the year?

A．New words inventors.	B．American Officials.
C．Dictionary editors.	D．Famous linguists.

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

A．Taking a holiday while working.	B．Working online at home.
C．Staying at home for the moment.	D．Going on a vacation at home.

4. What is the author’s attitude towards language changing?

A．Worried.

B．Positive.

C．Uninterested.

D．Confused.

6 . As Gwen Erickson approached 97, she began raising one of America’s most popular, yet endangered butterflies—the monarch butterfly (帝王蝶). She managed to _________ 27 butterflies last year and this year the _________ has gone up to 61.

The whole process is a little _________, beginning with collecting eggs from the milkweed leaves that grow in her backyard. Four days after Erickson placed the eggs in jars on her living room table, the caterpillar (毛毛虫) appeared, and then, within several weeks, formed a chrysalis (蛹). Two weeks later the beautiful butterflies _________. Erickson then released the butterflies into the wild, but a couple seemed a little _________ to leave their loving home and _________ the senior by flying around the house.

Erickson remembered her first attempt to raise _________ and said she hoped it could enable her grandchildren to _________ an interest in these beautiful insects. However, it’s she who has found the _________ in raising butterflies in the end.

Erickson doesn’t like to talk about herself and what she does, but she does so this time as she wants to ____________ others to care for this endangered species. Happily, a friend and her son have joined her in her new-found ____________. Hopefully, we will see a(n) ____________ in those decreasing numbers.

This new ____________ is a fine example of people caring for the smaller things in life. It ____________ us that it’s never too late to be ____________ in life.

1.

A．steal

B．donate

C．keep

D．photograph

2.

A．number

B．size

C．range

D．variety

3.

A．money-saving

B．labor-demanding

C．energy-efficient

D．time-consuming

4.

A．sped up

B．turned up

C．woke up

D．grew up

5.

A．impatient

B．delighted

C．surprised

D．unwilling

6.

A．accompanied

B．attended

C．greeted

D．impressed

7.

A．flies

B．pests

C．butterflies

D．bees

8.

A．regain

B．develop

C．remove

D．express

9.

A．decoration

B．fossil

C．herb

D．pleasure

10.

A．allow

B．encourage

C．arrange

D．invite

11.

A．passion

B．exit

C．species

D．fiction

12.

A．opportunity

B．result

C．change

D．inspiration

13.

A．hobby

B．version

C．rumour

D．exercise

14.

A．promises

B．reminds

C．upsets

D．strengthens

15.

A．polite

B．generous

C．optimistic

D．purposeful

7 . Emotional regulation (情绪管理) is taking any action that changes the intensity of an emotional experience.     1    . It refers to the ability to effectively control our emotions through various approaches. We are expected to manage our emotions in ways that are socially acceptable. There are a number of skills that can help us self-regulate our emotions.

    2    

Emotions happen fast. We don’t think “now I will be angry” — we just suddenly have fires in our eyes and become extremely angry. So the number one skill in regulating difficult emotions is to pause. Take a breath. Slow down the moment between trigger (触发) and response.

Noticing what you feel

An equally important skill involves the ability to become aware of what you’re feeling. Dr. Judson Brewer, MD Ph. D. recommends practices for becoming more curious about your own physical reactions. In what parts of your body are you noticing feelings? Is your stomach upset? Is your heart racing?     3    . Looking into what is happening to you physically can also draw away your focus and reduce the intensity of the emotion.

Naming what you feel

After noticing what you feel, the ability to name it can help you get control of what is happening. Ask yourself: What would you call the emotions you’re feeling? Is it anger, sadness, or disappointment?     4    .

Accepting the emotion

    5    . Rather than beating yourself up for feeling angry or scared, recognize that your emotional reactions are acceptable. Try to practice self-sympathy and give yourself respect. Recognize that experiencing emotions is a normal human reaction.

A．Creating space

B．Predicting what you feel

C．It doesn’t mean preventing or avoiding emotions

D．Emotions come and go so that you barely notice them

E．Identifying emotions will help you share your feelings with others

F．Emotions are a normal and natural part of how we respond to situations

G．Your physical reactions can reflect what you are experiencing emotionally

8 . A small group of paleontologists (古生物学家) recently discovered 10 species of ancient mammals previously unknown to science with the help of an enormous number of helpers at their dig site: ants.

The study of ancient mammals sheds new light on the diversity of mammals that existed in North America around 33 million to 35 million years ago, when the climate was changing drastically. It also pays attention to the harvester ants, with which researchers have long had a love-hate relationship. “The ants are not fantastic when they’re biting you,” said Samantha Hopkins, a professor of Earth Sciences at the University of Oregon. “But I’ve got to appreciate them because they make my job a whole lot easier.”

Most species of harvester ants live in subterranean caves that sit beneath a small hill of dirt. They strengthen the dirt by covering it with bits of rock and other tough materials. The ants have been known to travel over a hundred feet from their caves and to dig six feet deep in pursuit of materials that help secure their caves. The materials include fossils. Harvester ants can carry materials 10 times to 50 times the weight of their body, although they do not weigh very much, so the heaviest fossil they can collect weighs less than the average pill.

Given the size, harvester ant hills are hot spots for what scientists call microvertebrate (微型脊椎动物) fossils, which are animal fossils too small to see without a microscope. For over a century, scientists like Dr. Hopkins have found sediment (沉积物) off the sides of harvester ant hills in search of these fossils, making it easier to find large numbers of fossilized mammal teeth without spending hours in the field sifting through sand and dirt.

1. What is the purpose of the passage?

A．To compare two different species.

B．To provide evidence for discoveries.

C．To introduce a kind of ant as a helper.

D．To promote awareness of mammal protection.

2. Which aspect may influence the diversity of mammals in the past?

A．Climate change.	B．Ant numbers.
C．Cave materials.	D．Dirt locations.

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

A．Coastal.

B．Suburban.

C．Mountainous.

D．Underground.

4. What can we learn about the harvester ants from the last two paragraphs?

A．Their caves are miles deep.	B．Materials with fossils are their food.
C．They can carry pills around.	D．Fossils may be found around their hills.

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。

Almost all of my holidays were spent with my grandpa. My grandpa was a retired army officer and the years in the army had made him a very tough person, which helped him a lot in fighting with cancer for a long time. Silver and golden stars on his shoulders and medals on his chest in grandma’s old photo albums reflected the marks of his distinguished service and numerous adventures. Grandpa had fine qualities and was a real personality. He was strict with his family, me included, as well as himself.

In our ancestral house there was a big pond as was common in bygone Bengali homes with lots of trees and bushes. Both my grandparents were fond of our so-called garden. One morning our new neighbor saw my grandpa planting two trees on both sides of our main gate, which still stand tall today. Across the street our new neighbor also got the same kind of tree and planted the trees exactly on both sides of his gate too.

My grandpa didn’t often give enough amount of water to his plants and didn’t always give his full attention to them, while our neighbor gave a lot of water to his plants and looked after them too well. My grandpa’s plants were simple but looked good. But our neighbor’s plants were much fuller and greener.

Normally, during April and May, we have short but violent thunderstorms called “Kalboishakhi”. One late evening during a Kalboishakhi we had showers with strong winds, which continued right throughout that night. Next morning along with my grandparents I came out to inspect the damage to our garden. I saw our neighbor was there in his garden too, but looked upset as his plants were uprooted. But, our plants were not damaged and were standing firm on the ground.

注意：
1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式作答。
Seeing this, our neighbor was surprised and curious.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Grandpa’s explanations not only convinced the neighbor, but made me realize something.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10 . Some people love a great thunderstorm; others are frightened by the first flash of lightning or sound of thunder.     1     But there are easy steps you can take to protect your home and your life from lightning.

Protect Electronics from Severe Weather

    2     It can follow the wires or phone lines into your room—ruining computers, TVs and other electronics. One protection against electronics being “fried” by lightning is simply to unplug them whenever a rain or a storm is coming. Disconnect Internet and satellite dish connections no matter where they are.

Reduce the Risk of Fire

Lightning rods (避雷针) can protect a building from catching fire.     3     They just provide a path for the electricity to reach the ground more safely. The rods at the top of the building are only the first part of a good system. When lightning strikes, the electricity needs to move to the ground. Wires conduct electricity from the lightning rods to metal rods buried in the ground.     4    

Understand Lightning

When lightning hits the ground, a tree, a tower or even a building, it may also spreads along the ground, so being near something that’s struck by lightning is almost as dangerous as being hit directly by lightning.     5     The Empire State Building gets struck by lightning around 20 times every year. Its lightning rod protects the structure, as well as the people inside.

A．It can even strike the same spot more than once.

B．You might want to consider protecting an entire building.

C．When this happens, anything in its path could be in danger.

D．But the chance of lightning striking your house doesn’t change.

E．Each connection must be secure so lightning doesn’t jump to the building.

F．Lightning hitting your roof or nearby power lines is terrible but not worst.

G．Whether you love or hate them, thunderstorms produce dangerous lightning.