1 . Thrift stores are a refuge (避难所) for countless items from landing in garbage piles. Value Village, for example, saves more than 650 million pounds of clothing from landfills each year, making it one of the largest recyclers of used garments in the world. Their stores give a second life to 1.8 million pounds of clothes every day, which is equal to 600 mid-sized cars. Almost 100 percent of clothing and textiles are recyclable, yet 85 percent of it ends up in landfills. It’s estimated that the average person throws away 70 pounds of clothing a year.

Lindsay Coulter is the so-called “Queen of Green” with the David Suzuki Foundation, educating people on how to live a greener life by making changes around the house. She says that donating and shopping at thrift stores is an excellent way to exercise all three of the three Rs: reduce, reuse and recycle. She says, “Whether it’s a purse or a pair of shoes, it’s really worth considering going to thrift stores as another point of contact to help reduce your consumption.”

Coulter points out that since landfills are air-tight, textiles take longer to break down. “I’d imagine things like an old towel, a rag or an old T-shirt will last a really long time,” she says. The beauty of thrift shopping is that the supply is never-ending, so if you don’t find what you’re looking for one day, it’s likely to show up in no time.

One person who knows this quite well is Jodi Jacyk, costume specialist in the theatre and film department at the University of British Columbia. She says the majority of items for the university’s productions are purchased second-hand. Because of her shrinking budget, items like clothing and shoes are thrifted from Value Village. “We are constantly thrifting and we re-use costumes for many years. Thrift shopping is a much easier, cheaper way to do things.” she says.

The next time you need to lighten your closet, take the opportunity to go thrift shopping to lighten both your carbon footprint and your financial burden at the same time.

1. What is a “thrift store” according to the text?

A．It donates used items.	B．It deals with daily garbage.
C．It exchanges new clothes.	D．It sells second-hand items.

2. Why did Lindsay Coulter advise shopping at thrift stores?

A．To make a change of lifestyle.	B．To be friendly to environment.
C．To reduce the cost of the family.	D．To collect money for the Foundation.

3. What do we know about Jodi Jacyk?

A．She’s known as “Queen of Green”.	B．She doesn’t plan her expenses carefully.
C．She practices thrift shopping.	D．She complains about her shrinking budget.

4. What is a suitable title for the text?

A．Go Green Your Household Items

B．Give a Second Life to Our Clothing

C．Donation Is the Virtue We Should Treasure

D．Three Rs to Lighten Your Financial Burden

2 . My husband and I were enjoying wandering through the stores in a shopping center. We went into a shop that sold ______ items in hopes of finding a few last-minute ______ gifts. The pleasant smell of handmade soaps teased our noses as we walked through the door.

As I walked through the store, I ______ a wooden plaque (牌匾) hanging on a wall. I turned to ______ and nodded my head “yes” at the ______ on the plaque. Moving on, I enjoyed looking at other items some salesmen dressed in Santa Clauses in the store carried. ______, I found myself being ______ back to the plaque.

Standing in front of the plaque, I felt like a child who, when ______ through the sandpit (沙坑), finds some ______ treasure: a shining coin or a lost toy. Here among the other handmade items, I found a very ______, yet heart-touching treasure hidden in a message. A message I needed.

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to ______ in the rain.”

How often in our daily lives have we put conditions on our ______? When we get the house ______ off, then we can be happy. When things ______ with the kids, then we’ll be able to do more together. There is so little joy for the here and now in the uncertainties of the whens and thens.

Looking at the plaque, I found ______ unknowingly live the plaque’s message. I slipped off my ______ in a light rain and began walking ______ through the water. Maybe my neighbors thought that I had lost my last wisdom, but I don’t ______. For in that moment, I was alive. I wasn’t ______ about bills, the future or any other day-to-day cares.

The plaque now hangs in my living room. I walk past many times each day and ______ pause to ask myself: “So, am I dancing in the rain?”

I think I am. I know I try to. One step at a time, I am learning to dance in the rain.

1.

A．healthcare

B．clothing

C．cooking

D．handmade

2.

A．Christmas

B．birthday

C．wedding

D．housewarming

3.

A．chose

B．noticed

C．appreciated

D．recognized

4.

A．bargain over it

B．pay for it

C．take a second look

D．take a break

5.

A．painting

B．price

C．handwriting

D．message

6.

A．However

B．Therefore

C．Besides

D．Thus

7.

A．persuaded

B．required

C．drawn

D．driven

8.

A．passing

B．digging

C．breaking

D．jumping

9.

A．unpacked

B．unexpected

C．unusual

D．unbelievable

10.

A．simple

B．secret

C．ancient

D．shocking

11.

A．wander

B．walk

C．dance

D．relax

12.

A．happiness

B．honor

C．pride

D．success

13.

A．turned

B．put

C．taken

D．paid

14.

A．show up

B．settle down

C．fade away

D．step forward

15.

A．myself

B．my neighbors

C．the customers

D．the salesmen

16.

A．gloves

B．clothes

C．raincoat

D．shoes

17.

A．barefoot

B．barehanded

C．bareheaded

D．barebacked

18.

A．agree

B．complain

C．care

D．understand

19.

A．confident

B．sorry

C．regretful

D．worried

20.

A．occasionally

B．frequently

C．by chance

D．from time to time

3 . Soldiers and other military people wear uniforms with various other symbols to indicate their status. But in the business world everyone wears more or less similar suits, and you cannot tell at a glance who ranks higher or lower than another. So how do people in the business world show their superiority?

An attempt to study this was made by two researchers using a series of silent films. They had two actors play the parts of an executive and a visitor, and switch roles each time. The scene had one man at his desk playing the part of an executive, while the other, playing the part of a visitor, knocks at the door, opens it and approaches the desk to discuss some business matter.

The audience watching the films was asked to rate the executive and the visitor in terms of status. A certain set of rules about status began to emerge from the ratings. The visitor showed the least amount of status when he stopped just inside the door to talk across the room to the seated man. He was considered to have more status when he walked halfway up to the desk, and he had the most status when he walked directly up to the desk and stood right in front of the seated executive.

Another thing that affected the status of the visitor in the eyes of the observers was the time between knocking and entering. For the seated executive, his status was also affected by the time between hearing the knock and answering. The quicker the visitor entered the room, the more status he had. The longer the executive took to answer, the more status he had.

1. The experiment designed by the two researchers aimed at finding out ________.

A．how business is conducted by all executive and a visitor

B．how businessmen indicate status

C．how to tell businessmen at a glance

D．how to tell the differences between an executive and a visitor

2. Which of the statements can best sum up the passage?

A．The executive has a higher status than the visitor.

B．Military people wear uniforms but the businessmen do not

C．A study revealing a set of rules about the status of businessmen.

D．It is a good method to use a series of silent film in research.

3. Having entered the room, the closer the visitor approaches the executive, ________.

A．the less it affected his status	B．the lower his status
C．the more it affected his status	D．the higher his status

4. The longer the seated man was in answering the knock, ________.

A．the higher his status was	B．the less it affected his status
C．the lower his status was	D．the more it affected his status

4 . Our brain is a wonderful and complicated organ.     1    

In recent years, scientists have discovered new ways to study the brain. They can now watch the activities of different parts of our brain while it is at work. We can think of these techniques as new windows on our minds.

    2     It can take pictures of your brain in much the same way as an X-ray machine can take pictures of your bones. This method makes use of the fact that whenever a part of your brain becomes more active, it uses more oxygen.

If someone were to use this technique to study your brain, your head would be surrounded by a machine that includes a big magnet (磁铁).     3     With the help of a computer, it turns these signals into pictures. By taking pictures every few seconds, scientists can tell which parts of your brain become active when you think of something, such as multiplying ten three times.

    4     Without stored memories, we would not be able to remember words we have learned or find our way home.

Everything we learn must be stored as memories in our brain.     5     Once a change is made, it must remain, even after the effort to learn has stopped.

A．One new research method is called FMRI.

B．This device can discover tiny signals coming from oxygen.

C．Most of our memories are stored away out of our awareness.

D．Storing memories is one of the most important jobs our brain does.

E．Keeping that information in our brain means our brain changes.

F．When we need them, they can be “copied” and placed for immediate use.

G．Scientists have been working for centuries to understand how it works.

5 . 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。

August anxiety: why we get anxious at the end of summer

As summer gives way to autumn, many of us long for warmth and sunlight. It is common for some of us     1     (feel) upset when the days get shorter. People call this phenomenon autumn sadness.     2     autumn sadness is a common seasonal feeling we have as sunlight comes in shorter supply, for some people, it takes on a more serious form     3     (know) as seasonal affective disorder, or SAD.

SAD, a form of depression,     4     (general) starts in late autumn or early winter and goes away in spring and summer. People who have SAD typically oversleep, overeat, and lose interest in activities they once     5     (enjoy). In general, almost all people suffering from SAD feel sad, helpless, and even desperate.

Addressing SAD often requires medical help. Light therapy is a common and effective treatment. Patients     6     (advise) to expose themselves to sunlight or man-made light that imitates natural sunlight. Light therapy can help regulate patients’ hormones and get their     7     (life) back on track.

Moreover, living a healthier life, such as maintaining a regular sleep schedule, taking part in regular physical activities, and having     8     balanced diet, can help manage SAD. It is worth     9     (notice)that, according to the National Institute of Mental Health of the US, in most cases, SAD begins in young adulthood. So, while embracing knowledge in books and classes, don’t forget to embrace the sunlight outdoors and obtain energy     10     nature!

6 . 假定你是攀枝花市某中学高三学生李华。你的英国笔友John最近在中国环球电视网(CGTN)英语频道看到一个有关中国成语的节目片段，, 他对此非常感兴趣，发来邮件请你介绍汉语中的成语知识。请你用英语给他回信，要点如下：
1. 介绍一则汉语成语及其内容；
2. 该成语的寓意；
3. 掌握成语对于学好汉语的意义；
4. 请他介绍一些英语成语。
注意:
1. 词数100词左右;
2. 可适当增加细节, 使行文连贯。
Dear John,

It’s great to hear from you. I feel proud to know that you start to be interested in Chinese idioms.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Best regards,

Li Hua

7 . How hardships make you stronger

Past hardships can help you carry on in the face of current stress. People who experienced a medium level of hardship reported better mental health and higher life satisfaction over time compared to both those who reported a high history of hardship and those with no history of hardship.     1    

They can bring growth after sufferings. We may find it difficult to believe the suffering experiences will eventually lead to some type of growth.     2     . Post-traumatic (创伤后的) growth is the experience of positive change after going through a significantly stressful event. Researchers have discovered two common themes that people tend to report after experiencing a stressful event: spiritual growth and improved personal strength.

They build self-efficacy. Self-efficacy is the belief or the confidence in your ability to overcome difficulties and succeed.     3     . First, pick an area of confidence or a skill you want to develop. The best way to improve that skill is to learn by doing. If you want to improve your public speaking skills and ability, then you need to practice speaking in public.     4     Back to the public speaking example, you could watch video clips of great speakers on YouTube and take notes on how they tell stories or use humor. Lastly, you can improve by being coached by a credible and respected source. Meanwhile, you could turn to the people for help who can give you feedback as you work toward your goals.

They help you transform stress into a challenge. How you think about stress matters enormously in terms of how you process it.     5     , while others are able to see it as a challenge. With a challenge response, you get additional energy. In fact, people who are able to think about stress more like a challenge and less like a threat report less depression and anxiety, higher levels of energy, work performance and life satisfaction.

A．Some people view stress as a threat

B．It’s developed in three specific ways

C．The next best way to improve is to learn by observing others

D．The fact is that we can get the ability to become stronger after a difficult situation

E．That is because past struggles can help you become stronger in the following ways

F．Your world feels out of control right now and your stress levels are at an all-time high you face

G．The past struggles against hardships, even small ones, can help you step out of the trouble

8 . Some of us are better at helping others than we are at looking after ourselves. Maybe you are like this. Maybe you know someone who is. These are people who-are easy to have Super-Helper Syndrome (综合征) where you feel it is a must to help others but don’t look after your own needs.     1    , so that you can take action before you reach a state of breakdown.

    2    . Many helpers are keen on helping others despite extreme tiredness and take this for granted. Are you tired all the time? Do you have no time for yourself? Do you suffer muscle tension or headache? Do you feel weight down?

It may bring hate. It’s easy to say you don’t want anything in return, but the reality is that it’s hard going indefinitely if you get little reward. At least you deserve thanks and recognition.     3    .

It may bring exploitation(剥削). If you never express any needs, then it’s easy and convenient for other people to act as if you don’t have any.     4    . If you give the impression that you want nothing in return, you get nothing in return. That’s why it’s important to take a hard look at whether some of the people you are helping are exploiting you.

It may bring self-criticism.     5    . Do you criticize yourself for not helping enough? Do you criticize yourself for experiencing the other three negative impacts of the Super-Helper Syndrome: for feeling tired, hateful, or exploited?

A．It may bring burnout

B．It’s vital to spot the signs early

C．It may result in serious diseases

D．Helpers’ guilt typically operates on two levels

E．You will feel angry about others if you receive none

F．And it’s also convenient for other people to take advantage of your help

G．It’s important to take care of your own mental health as well as helping others

9 . 假定你是攀枝花中学高三学生李华。上周你参加了学校举办的主题为“Stories of China Told in English”的英语演讲比赛。请你在兴奋之余，根据以下要点写封邮件给你的英国笔友John，介绍本次活动的情况：
1.演讲比赛基本情况（主题，时间，地点等）；
2.你的参赛情况；
3.你的收获。
注意：1.词数100词左右；
2.可适当增加细节，使行文连贯。
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10 . For motorcycle enthusiasts, nothing beats the excitement of riding your motorcycle on the open highway with the wind on your back. With gas prices going up. motorcycles are economical and a much greener way to travel.

Along with the benefits comes the risk of personal injury if an accident occurs. After all, you’re not protected by steel like you are while driving your car. But besides wearing a helmet, the latest safety innovations are personal airbags that you can wear.

Airbags have been protecting people in car accidents for decades. Now, a Swedish company, Mo’cycle, has made jeans that can be filled with air for motorcycle riders. The jeans are designed to offer protection for the rider’s lower body in case of an accident. The airbag jeans look like conventional pants and are reusable. They are made of a special material which is stronger and weighs less than steel. The airbag component is removable and the jeans can be washed, dried, and worn again.

The jeans help to reduce damage from roadways after a fall. The airbags help cushion(缓冲) the rider if he or she falls off the motorcycle. Mo’cycle teamed up with airbag technology company Helite to design and produce the airbags. The airbags are actually built into the jeans and are triggered(触发) in milliseconds if the rider is separated from the vehicle.

This innovative technology is designed to safeguard motorcycle riders by protecting the lower body areas that have not been previously covered, like the riders’ upper legs, the lower waist, and especially the tailbone! According to the company, “It is revolutionary to use airbag technology to protect the lower part of the backbone, because backbone injuries are what disable motorcycle riders.”

Mo’cycle’s airbag jeans are on sale on the company’s crowdfunding campaign along with an airbag vest and a complete protection package. Making the roads safer for motorcyclists is certainly a worthy effort. So the next time you have an urge to ride, make sure you put on protective device before you hit the open road.

1. Why are airbags in cars mentioned in Paragraph 3?

A．To illustrate how to use airbags.

B．To compare cars and motorcycles.

C．To introduce the topic of airbag jeans.

D．To show the best way to protect drivers.

2. What does Paragraph 4 mainly tell us about the airbag jeans?

A．Their production and sales.	B．Their designs and appearance.
C．Their materials and components.	D．Their functions and working principle.

3. What do we know about Mo’cycle’s airbag jeans from the last paragraph?

A．They are available.	B．They need to be improved.
C．They keep passers-by safe.	D．They inspire an urge to ride.

4. What can be the best title of this text?

A．Safety Rules for Motoreyelists	B．Airbag Jeans for Motorcyclists
C．Risks that Motorcyclists Face	D．Innovation in the Clothing Industry