1 . We know it can be hard to put your phone to bed before you sleep. However, if you’re trying to improve your sleep, you really should ditch your phone at least an hour before bedtime. Luckily, our experts can help.

Scientific evidence suggests that the blue light emitted from your phone, tablet, computer, and TV suppresses (抑制) your body’s production of melatonin, a hormone (荷尔蒙) that plays an important role in your sleep cycle. Melatonin release in the evening helps you relax before bedtime. A 2013 study that analyzed technology use and sleep patterns with data from a National Sleep Foundation poll found that using devices like phones was tied to more sleep disruption than electronics that aren’t interactive.

Many of us use the excuse that our mobile devices serve as our wake-up calls, or keep them nearby to use meditation apps. If you want to use your phone as an alarm, consider setting it a couple of hours before you turn in for the night, and then setting the phone itself to bedtime mode for the rest of the evening.

Here’s another groundbreaking idea: You could get a real alarm clock. After reviewing them at Reviewed, we recommend the Sharp Dream Caster. Not only is it easy to set a wake-up time, the clock includes white noises and rain noises to help you sleep, plus a number of volume settings to pick what works best for you.

But an alarm clock won’t help you avoid doom-scrolling through social media. Take things a step further by avoiding using electronic devices. You can try reading a book (one made of paper), taking a bath or drinking a cup of chamomile tea.

Finally, if you want to keep up your meditation practice screen-free, consider the Morphée. It looks like a little music box and comes with a variety of breathing exercises and soundscapes to help you get to sleep.

1. What does the underlined word “ditch” in paragraph 1 probably mean?

A．Set aside.

B．Pick up.

C．Show off.

D．Turn to.

2. What may be caused by the suppression of melatonin?

A．Relaxing yourself before bedtime.

B．Sleeping less than you normally would.

C．Adapting to your sleep cycle more easily.

D．Reducing the pressure from screen use.

3. Why is the Sharp Dream Caster recommended?

A．It is sold at a lower price.	B．It can predict a heavy rain.
C．It is controlled by cellphone.	D．It helps put your eyes together.

4. What is suggested for better sleep according to paragraph 5?

A．Making the best of the eco-friendly products.

B．Making a change according to circumstances.

C．Establishing a bedtime routine without electronics.

D．Keeping a consistent bedtime and wake-up time.

2 . Paris, the capital of France, has some attractive bridges. These are four of the most beautiful bridges in Paris: some in iconic (标志性的) places you’ve seen in the movies, and others in quiet places that you’ll delight in discovering.

Pont des Arts

Connecting the Louvre Museum to the Institut de France, the Pont des Arts, first built by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1804 and reconstructed in the 1970s, is a bridge only for people walking that is beloved by tourists and locals alike. In the spring and summer months, Parisians and visitors come here for lazy picnics overlooking the Seine.

Pont Marle

This lovely but little-known bridge is a gateway between the Marais district on the right bank and a natural island on the Seine River. The current stone structure dates to around 1670, following a fire on its wooden structure that destroyed much of the original bridge and the houses that once stood on it. It has remained much the same since the 18th century, making it one of Paris’ oldest bridges.

Pont Alexandre Ⅲ

The Pont Alexandre Ⅲ is probably the most attractive of Paris’ many bridges. Built between 1896 and 1900, it connects the des Invalides with the gardens of the Petit Palais. It’s after dark that you can best appreciate its delicate statues and other decorative elements.

Pont Neuf

First built in 1578 by King Henry Ⅲ, Pont Neuf has seen numerous reconstructions and changes over the centuries. But it conserves its Roman-inspired arch (拱形) structures. This is a lovely bridge that offers easy and picturesque access to the left and right bank. Have some ice cream, explore the lovely riverside paths and enjoy views of Notre Dame Cathedral.

1. What is special about the Pont des Arts?

A．It has been rebuilt many times.	B．It is one of Paris’ oldest bridges.
C．It is a bridge only for people walking.	D．It is the most attractive bridge in Paris.

2. Which is the oldest among the four bridges?

A．Pont des Arts.	B．Pont Marie.
C． Pont Alexandre Ⅲ	D．Pont Neuf.

3. Where is the text probably from?

A．A guidebook.	B．A health magazine.
C．A news report.	D．A book review.

3 . More people than ever are interested in learning to speak Chinese. The challenge that many face is finding the best resources to learn this new language. Fortunately, there are 4 amazing tools that can make learning Chinese much easier.

HelloTalk

This is an app that connects anyone interested in learning a foreign language to a native speaker who is willing to engage in conversation with learners, and help them practice and master their new language. It includes a voice-to-text feature that is perfect if you cannot understand your conversation partner. The text- to-voice feature that is included helps you to learn the proper pronunciations.

iTalki

No tool is going to take the place of one-on-one interaction(互动) with a real person. This is why iTalki is one of the most popular online language learning systems. If you join the iTalki community, you will be connected with an instructor who is a native speaker. They will work with you one on one to improve your vocabulary and conversational language skills.

FluentU

FluentU has made a wide variety of videos for your viewing pleasure. Each one is in Chinese and is a real-world movie or video. With FluentU, you can interact with the videos, pause and get pronunciation and definition information. In addition to this, there are quizzes(小测验) added to the videos to help you evaluate your own progress.

Pleco

This mobile app was designed specifically to help users learn Chinese. It includes an OCR reader that can be used to scan(扫描) Chinese language characters for translation, the ability to translate Chinese words from other apps and web pages, a document reader and an audio translator. It also comes with several dictionaries and the ability to create flashcards.

1. What’s the advantage of iTalki over other tools?

A．Providing one-on-one instruction.	B．Providing various learning videos.
C．Providing the text-to-voice feature.	D．Providing interesting playing games.

2. What do HelloTalk and FluentU have in common?

A．They offer the most famous learning tools.	B．They record your learning process directly.
C．They help you improve your pronunciation.	D．They provide you with various funny videos.

3. Which tool can translate Chinese words from web pages?

A．HelloTalk.

B．iTalki.

C．FluentU.

D．Pleco.

4 . There’s no doubt that football is the global sport. Though basketball, tennis, and other sports are popular too, nothing comes close to football. Being played in every country in the world, football provides dozens of superstars. The numbers are greater when compared to any other sport, and this drives the popularity of football up. Have you ever wondered when the sport started and became popular?

Football has its origin (起源) in China and has a history of more than 2,000 years. However, modern football originally appeared in Britain in the 19th century. Folk football matches had been played before in many cities and towns, but never on a professional level.

Football became a winter sport game played in different schools. The rules were carried out by each school, and this made it difficult for players to play an official game with each other. It all changed in 1849 at the University of Cambridge that invented a set of standard rules known as the Cambridge rules of football. From that moment, a new star sport was born.

By the early 20th century, football had spread all across Europe. In 1904, FIFA was set up. There are seven original members, including France, Denmark and Spain, FIFA became the governing body for many associations in Europe.

England’s international success improved the popularity of the sport in the country. The league (联赛) in Britain was set up in 1992. From the 1990s, it became a truly impressive piece of football organization, becoming the world’s top football league in the process.

Football is obviously the most popular sport in the world. It is impossible for any other sport to take its place, especially with leagues spending billions of pounds every year to stay in the focus.

1. What is the author’s purpose of writing paragraph 1?

A．To describe the level of football.

B．To introduce the topic of the text.

C．To debate the main idea of the text.

D．To introduce famous football leagues.

2. Where did modern football first start?

A．In China.	B．In France.
C．In Britain.	D．In Spain.

3. Why was it difficult to play an official game before 1849?

A．The rules always changed.

B．There were no common rules.

C．The season made players hard to win.

D．Officials made players misunderstand the rules.

4. How is the text mainly developed?

A．By time order.	B．By space order.
C．By listing numbers.	D．By giving examples.

5 . As I walked onto the soccer field I had a knot(结) in my stomach. I was too shy to _________ the year before but decided to go for it this year.

When the coaches came, I felt as if I was going to pass out. With no _________ ability I began to wonder why I was _________ here. Everyone immediately took a ball and began to _________. I stood there, not knowing what to do. My friends came over to _________ me a few quick moves and drills. I had fun and _________ enjoyed playing. Every other girl on the team was far more skilled than I. The moment I _________ that to myself, I was fine.

This _________ has stuck with me all through high school. Without _________ it, I learned a valuable lesson about myself. __________ I tried out for the soccer team, I always wanted to be __________ at everything. Previously(以前), I would do anything to achieve the high __________ I set for myself. I was so stressed out over schoolwork that I never had fun. I decided it was time for a (n) __________.

Like most high school students, my __________ with more responsibilities and worries, began to change as I got older. Balancing school and sports has not been easy. But through it all, I have become a __________ person. No longer do I __________ that I have to be perfect. Although my athletic ability doesn’t __________ a ticket to universities, I have other good __________ that make me important. Knowing that I have put 100% __________ into everything I do and am honest with myself, I am completely __________ with the person I am.

1.

A．give up

B．pass by

C．try out

D．walk away

2.

A．logic

B．sports

C．language

D．communication

3.

A．just

B．even

C．never

D．always

4.

A．warm up

B．make up

C．calm down

D．turn around

5.

A．ask

B．pass

C．show

D．throw

6.

A．nearly

B．really

C．hardly

D．partly

7.

A．kept

B．expressed

C．proved

D．admitted

8.

A．match

B．activity

C．experience

D．performance

9.

A．checking

B．realizing

C．practicing

D．considering

10.

A．When

B．After

C．Unless

D．Before

11.

A．quick

B．clever

C．perfect

D．pleased

12.

A．speed

B．record

C．position

D．standard

13.

A．break

B．escape

C．change

D．holiday

14.

A．life

B．team

C．friends

D．coaches

15.

A．better

B．kinder

C．warmer

D．quieter

16.

A．beg

B．feel

C．pretend

D．imagine

17.

A．add

B．buy

C．deserve

D．promise

18.

A．ideas

B．attitudes

C．creations

D．qualities

19.

A．effort

B．money

C．brain

D．trust

20.

A．happy

B．strict

C．careful

D．patient

6 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容(1个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。

Good friends always make life seem much easier and better. In our busy lives, sometimes when we feel     1    (stick) and isolated, it is our friends who spend their time     2    us. Though it might be     3    (necessary) to know the definitions of a good friend, it is important to know the qualities of a good friend and the skills to be a good friend!

Full acceptance is     4    key element of any human relationship. To be a good friend, you must     5    (full) accept your friend with his/her faults. An important test of friendship is the reliability of a friend.

If you look horrible in that dress you     6    (buy) last week, a true friend will always tell you! Honesty is essential in any relationship. True friends,     7    often speak from their minds, are ready to give you a taste of the bitter truth. Often when you feel sad or depressed, you need not ever explain to your friend     8    you are feeling bad. A true friend knows when you are upset. Understanding without words is     9    (high) level of friendship. To be a good friend requires patience     10    (understand) your friend.

7 . A sunny afternoon before Christmas, a little girl was decorating a box with a gold wrapping paper to put it under the Christmas tree. Money was tight, so the girl’s father _________ her for wasting almost all roll of that _________ paper.

However, the next morning the girl _________ the gift to her father. “This is for you, Daddy.” she said. He opened the box and found it _________, so he became angry again. “Don’t you know, that when you give someone a _________ it is supposed that there would be something inside it.” he said _________. The little girl looked at her father with _________ in her eyes. “Daddy, this box is not empty, I _________ it with my kisses, all for you.”

The father was extremely _________. He felt so embarrassed that he could just put his __________ around his little daughter and beg for her __________. For many years of his life the man kept that golden box near his bed. Wherever he felt __________ and downhearted he opened the box and thought of __________ that the little child had put into it.

Each of us have been __________ a present of unconditional love from our children, family, friends and God. It is the most precious __________ that anyone could hold.

1.

A．praised

B．punished

C．admired

D．contacted

2.

A．expensive

B．common

C．cheap

D．lovely

3.

A．emailed

B．sent

C．brought

D．put

4.

A．beautiful

B．full

C．amazing

D．empty

5.

A．box

B．gift

C．paper

D．package

6.

A．anxiously

B．fluently

C．seriously

D．calmly

7.

A．excitement

B．tears

C．fire

D．stars

8.

A．designed

B．exchanged

C．filled

D．arranged

9.

A．surprised

B．proud

C．shy

D．annoyed

10.

A．ears

B．hands

C．eyes

D．arms

11.

A．forgiveness

B．carelessness

C．kindness

D．blindness

12.

A．alone

B．happy

C．sad

D．excited

13.

A．heart

B．love

C．anger

D．stress

14.

A．given

B．requested

C．attracted

D．impressed

15.

A．source

B．topic

C．confidence

D．treasure

8 . A music column by New Music Friday is from https: //www.npr.org, sharing the best albums released every Friday. Readers can enjoy and download the album’s title track online. The column is well enjoyed by the music explorers. Here are some recent hits.

The best releases out Sept. 30

By Stephen Thompson, Keanna Faircloth, Bob Boilen, Tarik Moody

It’s been five years since Björk last released an album, but now the Icelandic icon (偶像) is back with a deeply inventive set called Fossora. Every sound on the record feels as if it’s springing into the mix from a different direction, as her energetic voice shares space with everything from bass clarinets (低音单簧管) to the voices of Björk’s own creation. Fossora was inspired, at least in part, by the death of the singer’s mother, but joy also exists.

The best releases out Sept. 16

By Cyrena Touros, Christina Lee, Tarik Moody, Stephen Thompson

The superstar K-pop girl group BLACKPINK is one of the biggest pop juggernauts in the world, with billions of streams and massive world tours to its name. Born Pink, its second full-length album, promises to further promote BLACKPINK’s domination of the U.S. charts.

The best releases out Sept. 9

By Christina Lee, Ann Powers, Stephen Thompson, Cyrena Touros

Ari Lennox experienced a huge breakthrough with 2019’s much-loved Shea Butter Baby, but her new album age/sex/location promises to be even bigger. She’s been trying many her singles for many months now, and even dropped a five-song EP last Friday, but the album is finally here. It somehow sounds modern even if it recreates the most unforgettable R&B sounds of the’90s and early’00s.

1. Why is Björk’s mother mentioned?

A．She gave Björk an energetic voice.

B．She helped Björk to record the new album.

C．Her death gave Björk some inventive ideas.

D．Her leaving delayed the release of Fossora.

2. What do we know about Ari Lennox’s new album?

A．It is made up of five songs.

B．It is adapted from Shea Butter Baby.

C．It is intended for single music-lovers.

D．It is trying to make another breakthrough.

3. Who has worked on all the three new albums?

A．Stephen Thompson.	B．Tarik Moody.
C．Christina Lee.	D．Ann Powers.

9 . A man was travelling abroad in a small red car. One day he left the car and went shopping. When he came back, its roof was badly damaged.

Some boys told him that an elephant had damaged it. The man did not believe them, but they took him to a circus which was near there. The owner of the elephant said, “I am very sorry! My elephant has a big, round, red chair. He thought that your car was his chair, and he sat on it!”

Then he gave the man a letter, in which he said that he was sorry and that he would pay for all the damage.

When the man got back to his own country, the customs officers would not believe his story. They said, “You sold your new car while you were abroad and bought this old one!” It was only when the man showed them the letter from the circus man that believed him.

1. A man was travelling abroad ________.

A．in a big bus

B．in a green jeep

C．in a red car

D．in a red taxi

2. The car was damaged because ________.

A．there was a traffic accident	B．the circus man broke it
C．it rushed into a shop	D．the elephant sat on it

3. The circus man said that ________.

A．he would pay for part of the damage	B．he would pay for all of the damage
C．he wouldn’t pay for the damage	D．he would buy a new car

4. When the man got back to his country, the customs officers ________.

A．would check his new car	B．only checked his car
C．searched him	D．wouldn’t believe what he had said

5. It was only ________ that made the officers believe him.

A．the letter from the circus man	B．a newspaper from the country
C．the certificate of his	D．the letter from the government

10 . Uncle Wang works in a book shop in the middle of the city. The shop is not far from his home. It is about one kilometre away. So Uncle Wang seldom goes to work by bus. Heusually goes bike there by bike, sometimes on foot. It takes him twenty minutes to get there by bike and forty minutes on foot. Today his bike is broken. He wants to walk there. Now he is having breakfast. He leaves home at ten minutes to eight and he walks to work twenty minutes earlier. His work starts at half past eight in the morning and finishes at a quarter to five in the afternoon.

1. What does Uncle Wang do?

A．He sells books.	B．He grows flowers.
C．He makes shoes.	D．He works in a hospital.

2. Why does he seldom go to work by bus? Because ________.

A．there is no bus	B．his shop is not far from his home
C．he likes riding a bike	D．his shop isn't in the middle of the city

3. How long does it take him to walk to his book shop?

A．Twenty minutes

B．Forty minutes

C．Ten minutes

D．Half an hour

4. What time does he usually leave home by bike?

A．At ten minutes to eight	B．At half past eight
C．At ten minutes past eight	D．At twenty minutes past eight

5. He usually gets back home from work at in the afternoon at ________.

A．4:45

B．5:15

C．4:55

D．5:05