1 . Humans have been living and working on the space station for 20 years. Their meals are packaged, though sometimes astronauts receive fresh treats from resupply missions. The longer that packaged food is stored, the more it loses nutrients like vitamin C and vitamin K.

Astronauts have successfully grown 10 different crops on the space station since 2015 and had the chance to sample each one. The International Space Station hosted a party for astronauts on Friday as they celebrated the harvest of the first Chili (辣椒) grown in space. The crew finally had a chance to taste the peppers after initially kicking off the plant experiment on the space station in July.

Plant Habitat-04 is one of the most complex plant experiments on the orbiting laboratory to date because peppers take much longer to grow than the previous experiment plants. After growing for four months, the peppers were harvested on Friday.

Peppers provide a great source of vitamin C, as well as other key nutrients. Pepper plants self-pollinate, so they are easy to grow, and they are a pick-and-eat crop that doesn’t have to be cooked. They are also safe to eat raw.

A side effect of life in zero gravity is that astronauts often lose some of their taste and smell, so spicy or well-seasoned foods are a favorite. Adding fresh greens or peppers to the menu allows astronauts to liven up their regular meals. But growing and tending to the plants can also produce other benefits.

Astronauts have described the joy from seeing—as well as smelling and caring for—leafy green plants on the space station that remind them of Earth.

“Growing colorful vegetables in space can have long-term benefits for physical and psychological health,” said Matt Romeyn, principal investigator for the experiment.” We are discovering that growing plants and vegetables with colors and smells helps to improve astronauts’ well-being.”

1. What does underlined “kicking off” in the 2nd paragraph mean?

A．Launch.

B．Complete.

C．Quit.

D．Announce.

2. What makes Plant Habitat-04 one of the most complex plant experiments?

A．The technology.	B．Growing process.
C．The varieties of plants.	D．Growing time required.

3. Why are peppers added to the menu for astronauts?

A．They are delicious.	B．They restore their appetite.
C．They help kill diseases.	D．They improve their memory.

4. What is the suitable title for the text ?

A．The Fun in the Space Life

B．The Common Goal in the Space Mission

C．The First Chili Peppers Grown in Space

D．A Research Finding from the Space Mission

3 . There are always some persons in your life who touch your soft heart with kindness.

As a little girl, my favorite thing was _______. And when I thought about _______ I wanted to be when I grew up, I figured I’d be a librarian, just because the two librarians changed my life.

At that time, the town library limited the number of books a person borrowed _______ two once a week. I _______ the books in just three days. So to read more, I was _______ about what books to choose. The librarian, Mrs. Tonne, was a warm person. Every time I went into the library, she greeted me, _______. When learning about my trouble, she often _______ some better books. Thanks to her help, I _______ a lot from these books.

Gradually, I developed an interest in writing, _______ poems. When I was in fourth grade, our school librarian, Mrs. Ketelsen, encouraged me to write more. When my poem was not accepted, she ________ me with comfortable words. Once she helped ________ some poems I’d written about dinosaurs to Highlights magazine. It was my first published writing!

Later, at the University of Iowa, ________ I majored in journalism, my dream was different. I realized that I was shy about interviewing people, which made me ________. When I recalled Mrs. Tonne and Mrs. Ketelsen, I made a decision without ________ to be devoted to writing. And now I am an editor at Reader’s Digest.

Whenever I think of the help from them, how ________ I am. It is their kindness that makes me what I am.

1.

A．reading

B．painting

C．exploring

D．creating

2.

A．how

B．why

C．where

D．what

3.

A．of

B．to

C．from

D．between

4.

A．published

B．edited

C．presented

D．finished

5.

A．under the weather

B．in the air

C．at a loss

D．on the rocks

6.

A．shouting

B．smiling

C．crying

D．dancing

7.

A．exchanged

B．recommend

C．designed

D．adapted

8.

A．reflected

B．devoted

C．expected

D．benefited

9.

A．extremely

B．fortunately

C．especially

D．slightly

10.

A．inspired

B．challenged

C．contented

D．tricked

11.

A．admit

B．send

C．revise

D．settle

12.

A．although

B．because

C．when

D．since

13.

A．relaxed

B．satisfied

C．impressed

D．upset

14.

A．hesitation

B．tension

C．exception

D．argument

15.

A．concerned

B．relieved

C．grateful

D．regretful

7 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. When will the man arrive at the hotel?

A．On December 23.

B．On December 24.

C．On December 25.

2. How long will the man stay?

A．For one night.

B．For two nights.

C．For three nights.

3. How much will the man pay in total?

A．$590.

B．$1，080.

C．$1，180.

4. What kind of room does the man book?

A．A room with twin beds.

B．A room with a double bed.

C．A room without an ocean view.

8 . My body hit the water with a pounding and I suddenly felt afraid that terrible things could happen. Water gushed（涌出）through my mouth and left its salty taste. My feet touched the ground as I attempted to float back up to the surface. I could see the speed boats in the distance and I started to panic.

I saw something gray from a distance coming closer and closer. As it approached me, I realized that it was not a good one-it was a SHARK! Its fin（鳍）was moving closer and I attempted to swim as fast and as far away from it as possible. My heart beat faster and faster as my body got all stiff（僵硬的）. I looked behind me and saw the huge sharp teeth pointing directly at me. As I turned away, I heard jaws shut with a mighty bite! The shark turned away and left me alone.

I looked at my feet and saw bright red blood flow into the water. I cleaned it with some water and a thought went into my mind-sharks love blood, and that was not good for me. I knew more fins were surrounding me from every direction. I was stuck in the middle of the ocean, surrounded by about ten sharks and they were all heading for me.

They all stared at me with their white sharp teeth sticking out, ready to attack. Slower and slower they got ready to bite. Just then I heard an engine heading my way and I saw a speed boat pushing some heavy waves away. As it came closer, I saw a tall man driving it. The engine roared in my ears and it began to scare the sharks away.

As they swam away, I began to make my way back to the shore. The boat sped towards me and I slowly climbed on it. With relief we headed back towards the shore.

1. What did the author do when the first shark came close to him/her?

A．He/She hit the shark.	B．He/She tried to swim away fast.
C．He/She dived deep into the water.	D．He/She stayed in the water quietly.

2. Why did the sharks finally swim away without attacking the author?

A．The engine drove them away.	B．A man scared them away.
C．They couldn't find the author.	D．They found a new target.

3. How did the author feel in the end?

A．Frightened.

B．Nervous.

C．Anxious.

D．Relaxed.

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

A．An Exciting Trip	B．A Helpful Speed Boat
C．An Unforgettable Experience	D．A Brave Tall Man

10 . Safe and Easy Workouts for Seniors

As you get older, it’s important to remain active and not to forget your health. There are plenty of all-time best exercises for weight loss, but not all are perfect for older individuals hoping to break a sweat.     1    

You might believe that certain workouts, like pushups (俯卧撑), are only for the young. In fact, they can be changed to best suit someone’s desired difficulty level.     2     Keep your back straight and bend your elbows, bringing your chest toward the wall, and press back. Repeat as desired.

Overhead arm raises can benefit seniors with joint (关节) pain. Using a weighted object such as a bottle of water, position yourself shoulder-width apart. With your shoulders back and arms lifted to 90 degrees, breathe out as you lift the bottles over your head and breathe in as you lower your arms.     3    

Endurance workouts increase your breathing and get your heart pumping. Dancing can improve the health of your heart and lungs and keep you healthy as you perform daily tasks.     4     The goal is to build up to at least 150 minutes of activity a week that makes you breathe hard.

    5     Higher daily step counts have also been linked with lower all-cause mortality (死亡率). It can also keep you healthy as you observe nature in your own backyard. Schedule a daily walk into your everyday routine. This simple activity can keep your heart healthy, keep you energetic and improve your mood.

A．Taking a walk outside can change your life.

B．Drink enough water each time you work out.

C．Start close to the wall, hands touching the wall.

D．Put on your favorite song(s) and move to the beat.

E．If they seem too light, find a slightly heavier object.

F．Regular exercise is a must to everyone, seniors included.

G．So here are some perfect workouts for seniors aged 50 and up.