1 . On the morning of my 60-year-old day, I decided to complete at least one act of kindness for each coming day. Unexpectedly, I did two
This morning, I chose a small local coffee shop
Then this afternoon, while
The second one happened when I walked back home. I
| A．absolutely | B．exactly | C．suddenly | D．closely |
| A．as for | B．except for | C．rather than | D．more than |
| A．bill | B．ticket | C．super | D．book |
| A．required | B．accepted | C．checked | D．given |
| A．waiter | B．teacher | C．expert | D．athlete |
| A．riding | B．smiling | C．talking | D．standing |
| A．pay for | B．adapt to | C．apply for | D．take away |
| A．agree | B．argued | C．answered | D．refused |
| A．promised | B．explained | C．chatted | D．shouted |
| A．bravery | B．memory | C．pressure | D．kindness |
| A．hope | B．freedom | C．patience | D．help |
| A．balanced | B．moved | C．waited | D．sat |
| A．break | B．flash | C．drop | D．shake |
| A．drag | B．cross | C．stop | D．leave |
| A．repairman | B．policeman | C．passer-by | D．driver |
| A．right | B．all | C．OK | D．impossible |
| A．natural | B．strange | C．surprising | D．quick |
| A．belief | B．performance | C．chance | D．response |
| A．anxious | B．confident | C．good | D．special |
| A．limit | B．return | C．tell | D．support |
2 . Some 128 baby squids from Hawaii are in space for a study. The baby Hawaiian squids come from the University of Hawaii's Kewalo Marine Laboratory. They are about 7.6 centimeters long. There are plenty of these tiny animals in Hawaiian waters. The squids will come back to Earth in July. They rode on a SpaceX spacecraft along with thousands of kilos of supplies for the International Space Station on June 3.
Jamie Foster is conducting the study as a researcher at the University of Hawaii with the help of Dr. Margaret McFall-Ngai, a member of the National Academy of Sciences. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser newspapers reported that she studies how spaceflight affects the squids. The research, started in 1989, can help scientists learn about human health during long trips in space.
Squids have a relationship with natural bacteria that help them control their giving off light. Margaret said, “When astronauts are in low gravity, their bodies' relationship with bacteria changes. Bacteria are very important to the human body and health. The relationship of humans with bacteria is disturbed in low gravity, and Jamie has shown that it is true in squids," said Margaret. "And, because it's a simple system, she can get to the bottom of what happens."
“As astronauts spend more and more time in space, their immune systems don't function well,” Jamie said. "Their immune systems don't recognize bacteria easily. They sometimes get sick. Understanding what happens to the squids in space could help solve health problems that astronauts face."
She said, "The immune system does not work properly on long spaceflights. If humans want to spend time on the moon or Mars, we have to solve health problems to get them there safely.”
1. What's the purpose of the research?| A．To know the situation in space. | B．To study squids' living conditions. |
| C．To check astronauts' immune systems. | D．To help solve astronauts' health problems. |
| A．They have a relationship with space. |
| B．T hey can control their giving off light. |
| C．They have something in common with people. |
| D．They can solve the problems of natural bacteria. |
| A．Uncaring. | B．Positive. | C．Uncertain. | D．Curious. |
| A．In a novel. | B．In a history book. | C．In a travel brochure. | D．In a science magazine. |
3 . Nowadays, taking no notice of protecting the environment leads to problems including global warming. While discussing with my daughter about going green, I remembered the daily practices in most households in India. What we did was actually helping our environment and also protecting our resources. We did all this naturally, without even realizing its importance.
We preferred reusing pens in the past. We used to have ball pens used again and again by changing the refills and we also used ink pens, which were refreshed now and then by filling ink in them when required. There was no such thing as a use-and-throw pen. We loved the process of cleaning the writing instruments. However, today, plastic pens that do not last long are ruling the stationery（文具）shops.
We recycled and reused newspapers without really thinking twice about it. Newspapers were kept carefully during those days because they were an important material used for packing and storing. Today plastic bags have become important, All these materials pollute our land and water and prevent all conservation(保护)efforts.
Public transport was a common thing in the old days and it was so much fun. Nowadays.no one seems to have the patience to take public transport and many consider it too silly for them. So people take their cars out every day and pollute the environment, thinking it makes the m look cool. Vehicular (车辆的) pollution in cities is the biggest contributor to environmental problems.
I am not against the usage of modern technologies. In fact, it has helped make our life casier. While we can use the same technology to go green instead of polluting the environment, we should also go back to a few old traditions that are ecofriendly.
1. How many daily practices are mentioned in the text?| A．One. | B．Two. | C．Three. | D．Four. |
| A．Use plastic bags. |
| B．Go to school by bus. |
| C．Use use-and-throw pens. |
| D．Throw newspapers away. |
| A．Summarize the above paragraphs. |
| B．Add some background information. |
| C．Introduce a new topic for discussion. |
| D．Show some reasons to the readers. |
| A．Follow Old Traditions |
| B．Go Green Then and Now |
| C．The Environment Is Worsening |
| D．Modern Technologies Are Harmful |
4 . Living on the Florida Emerald Coast, people view a hurricane as a common thing. So it is not unusual for a family to have several full gas cans and bottled water stored in their houses all summer.
Though unwilling to evacuate from a hurricane, on September 15,my family was forced to leave our home for my grandfather's house several miles away. We spent the early part of that evening watching the hurricane draw closer on the Weather Channel. Around nine o'clock, a loud sound shook the house, turned over the roof and carried it off. Soon came an indoor rainstorm.
Realizing the damage, my grandfather began to be afraid. The storm had started, but he still ran out into the heavy rain and wind to see how much of the roof was left. We got him back inside. I had never seen him so scared. Mom finally asked him to lie down in his room.
The leak had progressed rapidly. It soon became a race against time to protect what was saved. Some people may think it necessary to save material things, but I hoped to save those items with emotional value, such as the photos. I still feared the storm, but I more feared the influence it brought.
The next morning, it started to clear up. Thankfully, my family weathered the storm, though the same could not be said for the house. Only the wooden beams remained, but inside many of his things were safe. My mom and I had worked tirelessly through the night.
It was late, but we were still unwilling to go to bed. We discussed the rebuilding of the house. Under the beautiful sky, we suggested looking after my grandfather more often in the future. After this disaster, I realized the truth that the hurricane itself was not so terrible if we loved each other.
1. Why do the people store full gas cans and bottled water?| A．To save much money. | B．To watch a hurricane easily. |
| C．To protect their houses well. | D．To be prepared for hurricanes. |
| A．Frightened. | B．Surprised. | C．Calm. | D．Angry. |
| A．Prepared well for. | B．Waited patiently for. |
| C．Came safely through. | D．Suffered seriously from. |
| A．Family love is powerful. | B．Take things as they come. |
| C．Good health is over wealth. | D．Lost time is never found again. |
5 . When planning a travel recently, are you still considering the standard tourist destina-tions like Machu Picchu, Mt Qomolangma, which are always overvisited? Get off the beaten path and explore parts of the world you’ve never dared to experience before!
Hiking Paradise in Oceania
Made up of 10 islands, two large and eight smaller ones, it is packed with natural wonders long deep narrow boles in the ocean floor, grand waterfalls and amazing beaches. It’s essential for outdoor enthusiasts There’s enough hiking too, from World War Ⅱ heritage(文化遗产) tracks to a “cloud rainforest” hike and a hike up to the peak of Mount Alava.
Watching Red Crabs(螃蟹) in Australia
Technically a part of Australia, Christmas Island is occupied by around 50 million red crabs. Head to this remote island, and you will witness the incredible scenes of their annual migration(迁移), Plus remember to keep an eye out for dolphins and whale sharks that wan-der around the coastline. It’s not an easy place to get to, but the near-deserted beaches and friendly community make it worth the adventure.
Camping in Volcano Craters in Africa
Camping on the edge of an extinct wolcano crater is pretty excited when it comes to wild adventures. Not only are the sunsets and sunrises unbelievably beautiful at Tanzania’s Ngor-ongoro Crater, but visitors can spot a huge variety of wildlife: hippo, elephants, buffalo, zebra, leopard… There’s no fencing at the Simba Campsite, so there may be a visitor or two during the night.
1. What highlights Hiking Paradise in Oceania?| A．The variety of wildlife. | B．Visitors at night. |
| C．The scenes of red crabs | D．Spectacular waterfalls |
| A．The sunsets and sunrises | B．The friendly community. |
| C．The migration of whale shark | D．The amazing ocean holes. |
| A．A research paper. | B．A health magazine |
| C．A travel brochure. | D．A news report. |
6 . Fireflies, also known as lightning bugs or glow worms, are found throughout the world, and some places where fireflies gather have become tourist attractions, drawing huge crowds. But it has been found that all this excitement around fireflies comes with its own risks.
The world is facing an enormous biodiversity crisis, which includes an apparent decline in insect populations. For fireflies, facts like habitat loss, light pollution, and repellant (驱虫剂) might all be threatening population numbers. In some instances, their popularity might also contribute. In the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, for example, huge crowds of people gather each summer, with their iPhone flashlights and stepping feet threatening the rare firefly show that they've graveled to see.
There are over two thousand known firefly species, and lots of different firefly lifestyle. Tourists' flashlights can confuse fireflies as they try to communicate through their own flashes, and insect repellant ban also be disruptive (破坏的), since a lot of fireflies rely not just on light, but chemical smells to find their mates. Without the right preventive measures, visitors can also disrupt the earlier parts of the insects' life cycle. People are stepping on larvae (幼虫) and the females that are down on the ground laying eggs. And more indirect factors, like polluting tour motorboats and tourist constructions, can also help destroy the fireflies' habitat.
Broadly speaking, touristed firefly habitats should be managed with fireflies' full life cycle in mind---which might mean creating roped-off areas, or building raised walkways to prevent people from stepping on larvae, in addition to minimizing factors like light pollution that disrupt their more obvious mating actions. It is necessary to train firefly guides, center local communities in decision-making, and educate visitors.
If you happen to be interested in protecting fireflies, there are some really, really simple things that you can do. First, when you go to a firefly tourist site, stay on on the paths. Also, get comfortable in the dark. And if you need to use mosquito repellant, spray yourself before you arrive.
1. What is the purpose of taking the firefly show for example?| A．To clarify a light pollutions effect on fireflies. | B．To explain why the habitats of fireflies are losing. |
| C．To show agricultural chemicals' dangers to fireflies. | D．To prove fireflies reputation does harm to themselves. |
| A．By catching many fireflies | B．By disturbing firefly lifestyle. |
| C．By dismissing firefly shows. | D．By feeding fireflies on wrong food. |
| A．Shut off all kinds of light. | B．Get as close as possible. |
| C．Spray insect repellant. | D．Shout to express excitement. |
| A．The Rare Firefly Show in the World | B．Famous Fireflies Tourist Attractions |
| C．Fireflies Population Decline for tourism | D．The Global Enormous Biodiversity Crisis |
7 . Jeffrey Hall, a teacher of Communications from the University of Kansas (KU) , has used his research to define the exact amount of time necessary to make friends with someone. He's also found how long it will take to deepen a relationship. His new study found that it takes around 50 hours of time together to go from being someone's acquaintance to casual friend. It takes about 90 hours to go from being casual friends to friends, and more than 200 hours before considering someone a close friend or best friend.
But it isn't spending just any kind of time together that deepens a friendship—hours spent working together, for example, don't count as much as hours spent getting to know someone by hanging out, joking around, playing video games, and doing more playful activities. The study explains that these kinds of activities help us to form a deeper connection with someone. “We have to put that time in，” Hall said. “You can't make friends without any effort.”
The results of the study come from analysis of 355 responses to an online survey from adults who said they had moved in the last six months and were looking for new friends in their new environment. Survey participants were asked about new relationships as well as hours spent together and activities they did. They were then asked to rate their resulting relationships according to one of four stages: acquaintance, casual friend, friend and close friend.
The main conclusion that Hall came to is that making close friends takes serious effort. So if you want to have some best friends, you have to know that spending time with someone is the most important thing.
1. How long does it take to turn an acquaintance into a friend?| A．About 50 hours. |
| B．About 90 hours. |
| C．About 140 hours. |
| D．About 200 hours. |
| A．Time spent working together. |
| B．Time spent finding new friends. |
| C．Time spent helping a new friend. |
| D．Time spent doing fun things together. |
| A．Trying to understand your friend's feelings. |
| B．Enjoying quality time with your friend. |
| C．Treating a new friend like a close one. |
| D．Being generous to your friend. |
| A．To solve a relationship problem. |
| B．To introduce a teacher from KU. |
| C．To present the findings of a new study. |
| D．To discuss the importance of friendship. |
8 . Many of the highest-scoring students owe their success to some surprisingly simple habits. It's not about brains, or about the amount of time spent studying.
♦Schedule your time. When a teacher assigns a long paper, you can draw up a timetable, dividing the project into small pieces so it isn't so challenging. It's like eating a steak.
♦Study anywhere or everywhere. When you learn English words, you can post a vocabulary list by the cupboard. Learn a new word every day while brushing your teeth. Study time was strictly a matter of personal preference.
♦
♦Learn how to read fast.
| A．Get organized. |
| B．Review properly. |
| C．You should chew it one bite at a time. |
| D．The best way to improve your reading efficiency is speed-reading. |
| E．Some straight-A students work late at night when the house is quiet. |
| F．You can read the whole book like swallowing the steak if you do try to. |
| G．Here's a handful of their secret ways that will help you become a straight-A student. |
9 . More than 100 scientists traveled to faraway places to collect wild crop seeds in an effort to help battle climate change. The scientists have been likened to the hero of the Indiana Jones movies. Like him, they had to face blood-sucking creatures and fierce tigers. Sometimes, they had to use elephants for transportation because they couldn't find any other means of transportation.
A report on the project was published last week. It described the results of a six-year search to collect thousands of wild seeds. The seeds could be important in feeding a growing human population at a time when rising temperatures are affecting crop production in some areas.
The scientists traveled on foot, by four-wheeled vehicles, boat and riding horses and they even rode elephants to reach faraway areas. They collected 4,644 seed samples of 371 wild relatives of 28 crops. Many of those wild relatives are said to be endangered.
The Crop Trust, a nonprofit organization that works to save different kinds of crops, was directing the project. The group was working in partnership with Britain's Royal Botanic Gardens and Millennium Seed Bank. Additional financial support came from Norway. The project is believed to be the largest organized international effort yet to collect and protect crops' wild relatives.
Some relatives of widely grown crops have developed so they can survive usual and severe conditions such as low rainfall, flooding, extreme temperatures and poor soils. Scientists say the wild crops offer a largely unused source of diversity for protecting crops against climate change.
Some crops are threatened because of destruction of forests, conflict and expanded cities. Experts say losing this diversity could endanger food security around the world. A United Nations report says that food supplies are under severe threat. The report notes that the number of animal and plant species are quickly disappearing as the world deals with how to feed a rising population.
1. What happened to the scientists during the journey to collect the seeds?| A．They sowed many wild crop seeds. |
| B．They met with some dangers and difficulties. |
| C．They discovered many unknown plant species. |
| D．They solved many issues caused by global warming. |
| A．They grow widely all over the world. |
| B．Some of them have adapted to extreme climates. |
| C．They can take the place of the present non-wild crops. |
| D．Some of them are endangered due to developed tourism. |
| A．Natural disasters endanger food security. |
| B．Animal and plant species are becoming diverse. |
| C．The lack of food supplies causes a population decline, |
| D．Human activity has a negative effect on some crops. |
| A．New Varieties of Crops Will Be Developed |
| B．Animal and Plant Species Are Rapidly Disappearing |
| C．The Crop Trust Is Working on Studying Wild Plants |
| D．Scientists Collect Wild Seeds for Climate Change Fight |
10 . This afternoon, a friend asked if she could come by to spend some time with me in stillness.
Two days back, she got the news that her grandmother passed away on the other side of the globe. They were very close, and due to some duties in the coming days, she couldn't leave right away to be by her side.
I am a priest. Although we are opposite sex and I actually don't know her well, there was a resonance in values that connected us. She had attended a few gatherings that some friends and I hosted, and her attendance had always added a gentle and friendly atmosphere to the circle, and in the talks she'd find herself in. I was touched by the way she asked for help — and her intention to spend time in silence and in a sacred space to honor and connect with her grandmother.
I was very busy that day, and I was already behind on a few deadlines. I had hoped to work late on to catch up. But it was so clear to stop and make time for this. This friend has such a modest personality, and I could tell it had been an uncertain couple of days since she received the news. “Of course, come by please,” I told my friend.
When she arrived a couple of hours later, I handed her a cup of tea. It was 5:30 pm. She had wanted to sit in silence to honor her grandmother first, but because she had missed eating lunch, she gently brought a container of leftovers to share an early dinner instead.
I listened to her memories and stories. Her grandmother was the joyous community elder and had experienced the peaks and valleys in life with a lightness of heart.
After the meal, we sat together in stillness for an hour. When it was over, daylight had been absorbed by the night sky.
1. What did the author's friend request him to do?| A．Stay with her for some time. | B．Tell her some stories. |
| C．Spend some time in her home. | D．Go to have an early dinner with her. |
| A．Wise. | B．Easy-going. | C．Warm-hearted. | D．Helpful. |
| A．To drink tea. | B．To eat food. | C．To have lunch. | D．To recall her grandmother. |
| A．At dawn. | B．At noon. | C．In the afternoon. | D．In the early evening. |
