1 . The holidays can be a difficult time to stay on track with your fitness goals.     1    . Even the most disciplined people can find it difficult to stick to their fitness routines during the holiday season. Here are some expert-recommended tips that can help you stay on track.

    2    .

Planning is the best way to make sure you don’t lose track of your goals. Plan your workouts for the week and mark them in your schedule to assure they are a part of your day.

Exercise early.

    3    . Make sure workouts are in the morning and you’ll set yourself up for a productive day. Then you can enjoy holiday activities and time with family without worrying about when you’ll have time to exercise.

Keep moving.

Research shows that getting up for just five minutes every 30 to 60 minutes and performing light activities reduces the risk of heart disease risk factors. Small efforts to get moving can help your overall health during the holidays. In addition to staying active, try to avoid sitting for long periods of time, such as when watching football games or eating.     4    .

Think out of the box.

The holidays are busy, but do your best to avoid the “all or nothing” mentality when it comes to physical activity.     5     — like taking a family walk around the neighborhood before opening Christmas presents.

A．Plan ahead

B．Plan out your route before you go

C．Exercising in the morning is one of the biggest tips

D．Remember: too much sitting is harmful to your health

E．Your schedule will be filled with family gatherings and celebrations

F．Get creative with exercise and make physical activity a family affair

G．Rather than skipping the gym altogether, make time for a quick workout

2 . It is late autumn—millions of gardeners across the northern hemisphere, pulled on their thickest sweaters, spent hours clearing large piles of leaves and packed them into plastic bags at the end of driveways.

In the US alone, nearly 10 million tonnes of garden waste go to landfill every year. That is a large amount of effort, not just from an environmental viewpoint but from that of our aching backs, too. So where does this advice come from? Well, it largely comes from the belief that thick fallen leaves can make plants under them unable to breathe, especially shorter grass. They shut down important photosynthesis (光合作用) and get in the way of the growth of the shorter grass. However, this received wisdom has recently been questioned by researchers at Wisconsin University.

The key finding of their new research was that although clearing fallen leaves is one of the most common gardening practices, it makes very little sense. In natural ecosystems, fallen leaves help return nutrients necessary for healthy plant growth to the soil, which greatly improves soil condition. Removing leaves year after year breaks this ecological (生态的) balance. Letting some leaves stick around to cover your garden is a great way to help your grass and the local ecosystem.

They further explained that if up to 50percent of your grass lawn (草坪) is covered by fallen leaves, you might as well go back indoors and put your feet up. The advantages of this light leaf coverage far outweigh the disadvantages—the leaves will quickly break down and help next year’s lawn grow far better than if you had cleared them. Only at over 50 percent coverage do the Wisconsin researchers recommend clearing.

So why not consider leaving the leaves? Save time, carbon and effort, and in exchange get a healthier lawn from this garden waste—that seems like a pretty good deal. And how many plastic bags could be saved by simply not binning fallen leaves every year? In the US alone, about 700 million.

1. What does the author describe in paragraph 1?

A．An amazing autumn game.	B．A common sight in gardens.
C．A hot attraction in the north.	D．An extreme weather event.

2. What is the received wisdom?

A．Fallen leaves need not be cleared.

B．Fallen leaves protect shorter grass.

C．Fallen leaves block photosynthesis.

D．Fallen leaves are hard to break down.

3. The new research finds clearing fallen leaves makes little sense, because ________.

A．it ruins city image	B．it breaks gardening rules
C．it affects local economy	D．it causes ecological damage

4. What’s the author’s attitude to Wisconsin University’s study?

A．Doubtful.

B．Positive.

C．Unclear.

D．Worried.

3 . Here is a timetable of courses in Children’s Palace.

Monday Space Course 19: 00-20: 00 (once a week for one month) Dr. Li (the teacher from Hope School) More knowledge about the outer space. Place: Room 106	Saturday Coconut Shell Carving (椰雕) Course 14: 00-16: 00 (once a week for three months) Hainan Coconut Shell Carving. Join us to learn it. Call Ms. Yao at 88882023. Place: Room 108
Wednesday Photography Course 18: 30-19: 30 (once a week for two months) Mr. Song will show you how to take good pictures. Bring your own camera. Place: Room 218	Sunday Chinese Shadow Puppetry (皮影戏) Course 15: 00-17: 30 (once a week for three months) Tell the story of Heroes of the Marshes (水浒传) by Mrs. Zhang. Place: Room 308

1. You can learn more about the outer space ________.

A．on Monday	B．on Saturday
C．on Wednesday	D．on Sunday

2. If you’re interested in Coconut Shell Carving, you can learn from ________.

A．Dr. Li

B．Ms. Yao

C．Mr. Song

D．Mrs. Zhang

3. In ________, we can have the Photography Course.

A．Room 106

B．Room 108.

C．Room 218

D．Room 308

4 .

1. If Tom lost a set of keys，he can        .

A．call 657-9845

B．e-mail cindygreen@sina.com

C．call 965-7743

2.          is in the Lost and Found box.

A．A pencil box

B．A schoolbag

C．A baseball

3.          lost a dog.

A．Jane

B．Cindy

C．Henry

4. Which of the following is TRUE?

A．Jane’s family name is Green.

B．There is a pencil in Cindy’s schoolbag.

C．Jane’s telephone number is 657-9845.

5 . Liu Xiuxiang was born in a poor family. When he was 4, his father died. His mother developed mental (精神的) health problems. When he was 10, his elder brother and sisters left and never returned. To make a living, Liu collected rubbish, and in high school he worked 18 hours a day during summer vacations. However difficult it was, he never gave up his study.

In 2007, Liu failed the Gaokao. He got lost. He wondered if he should continue studying. After working in a bathhouse for about 50 days, he decided to go back to school. In 2008, he finally passed the Gaokao and went to university.

After graduation, he became a history teacher in his hometown. “I want to come back to tell the children, who are as poor and lost as I was, that education has changed my life.” Liu set a good example for them to take control of lives through education.

Now Liu gives speeches around the country. His story inspires (鼓舞) many students and encourages people to help those from poor families. Since 2012, he has helped more than 1,900 students and called on more teachers to work in poor areas to improve the quality (质量) of education.

Liu was titled “the most beautiful teacher” in 2020. His story moves us a lot.

1. How long did Liu Xiuxiang work during summer vacations in high school?

A．4 hours a day.

B．10 hours a day.

C．12 hours a day.

D．18 hours a day.

2. The underlined word “lost” in Paragraph 2 probably means “________”.

A．丢失的

B．错过的

C．迷路的

D．迷茫的

3. Liu Xiuxiang set a good example for the children to take control of lives through ________.

A．speeches

B．money

C．education

D．jobs

4. The passage is written in order of ________.

A．space

B．time

C．persons

D．opinion

6 . With low or no-carbohydrate diets rising in popularity in recent times, the potato is now regularly overlooked in favour of other vegetables. In fact, research literature has previously indicated potatoes may have a detrimental effect on health, such as increasing the possibility of developing Type2 diabetes(糖尿病).

However, new research done by Edith Cowan University (ECU) has shown while potatoes may not have all the same benefits as some other vegetables, such as lowering risk of Type 2 diabetes, health issues associated with potatoes may actually be due to how people are preparing them and what they’re eating them with.

A recent analysis of this study led by Dr Nicola Bondonno from ECU’s Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute found people who consumed the most vegetables were 21 percent less likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than those who consumed the least amount of vegetables. PhD candidate Pratik Pokharel carried out work on the analysis and said while potatoes didn’t have the same impact on Type 2 diabetes, they also didn’t have any negative effect.

“In Denmark, people consume potatoes prepared in many different ways. In our study, we could distinguish between the different preparation methods. When we separated boiled potatoes from mashed potatoes(土豆泥), fries or crisps, boiled potatoes were no longer associated with a higher risk of diabetes: They had a zero effect,” said Pokharel.

“In our study, people who ate the most potatoes also consumed more butter, red meat and soft drinks-foods known to increase your risk of Type 2 diabetes,” said Pokharel. “We should separate potatoes from other vegetables in regard to messaging about disease prevention but replacing refined grains such as white rice and pasta(意大利面食)with potatoes can improve your diet quality because of fibre and other nutrients found in potatoes.”

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

A．Magical.

B．Protective.

C．Fantastic.

D．Negative.

2. What may contribute to the bad reputation of potatoes according to ECU’s research?

A．The effects they have caused.	B．The ways they are consumed.
C．The places where they are planted.	D．The results previous studies have shown.

3. Which of the following have little effect on Type 2 diabetes?

A．Fries.

B．Crisps.

C．Boiled potatoes.

D．Mashed potatoes.

4. What is Pokharel’s attitude towards potatoes?

A．Critical.

B．Opposed.

C．Indifferent.

D．Objective.

7 . Here are some fantastic parks in San Antonio.

Brackenridge Park

The park was first established in 1899 and has been popular with both locals and visitors ever since. Towering trees and peaceful riverbanks will greet guests along the park’s paths, and the facilities include playgrounds, museums, a miniature train, a Japanese tea garden, and one of the oldest golf courses in the city.

Friedrich Wilderness Park

In the park, you’ll find about 10 miles of paved(铺过的)and unpaved trails(路线), with a little something for everyone. From rocky climbs to deep canyons, and enchanting forests to open views, there’s no shortage of natural beauty. The area is nationally famous for birdwatching.

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

The park is the state’s only one on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Site. It covers quite a large area, so it’s best to make it a full-day or at least a half-day trip so you can be sure to cover everything. While the Alamo is a separate attraction, you will get to enjoy the architectural wonders of Mission Concepcion, Mission San Jose, Mission San Juan, and Mission Espada. They’re all connected by a hike and bike trail, with plenty of stops along the way to picnic, climb trees, and refill water. Admission is free!

Eisenhower Park

Just a 20-to 30-minute drive from the city center, the park puts the best landscapes in the Texas Hill Country on full display, holding 6 miles of hiking trails, both paved and unpaved. Explore dried creek beds, look out over plunging canyons, and enjoy full views of San Antonio down below. You can also find playgrounds for the little ones, picnic tables, and barbecue facilities.

1. What is Friedrich Wilderness Park well-known for?

A．Birdwatching.	B．Ancient buildings.
C．A Japanese tea garden.	D．Unpaved hiking paths.

2. Which park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

A．Brackenridge Park.

B．Friedrich Wilderness Park.

C．San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.

D．Eisenhower Park.

3. What are some of the features of Eisenhower Park?

A．Golf courses and bicycle trails.

B．Museums and no entrance fee.

C．Birdwatching and playgrounds.

D．Hiking trails and barbecue facilities.

8 . In China, there are a lot of traditional festivals like Spring Festival, Mid-Autumn Day and Tomb-Sweeping Day. Mid-Autumn Day is very popular._________ that day, Chinese people usually get together and_________moon cakes. The moon cakes are round_________usually have some meat or nuts in it. They also eat nice food and drink some juice. After that, they often_________TV. Today is Mid-Autumn Day. In my family, my father is_________his car, he will drive to work tomorrow. He loves his_________very much. My mother is looking at the moon, and_________me a story of Chang’e. She likes the big moon. My sister Lingling is_________her American friend Jenny. Jenny is 14 years old, too. She is now in New York in_________with her parents. She is telling__________what she is doing on Mid-Autumn Day. We all love our Mid-Autumn Day.

1.

A．In

B．At

C．On

D．For

2.

A．drink

B．has

C．eat

D．cut

3.

A．but

B．or

C．so

D．and

4.

A．see

B．watch

C．look

D．talk

5.

A．opening

B．driving

C．washing

D．sweeping

6.

A．cat

B．son

C．moon cakes

D．car

7.

A．saying

B．speaking

C．talking

D．telling

8.

A．calling

B．using

C．connecting

D．sending

9.

A．China

B．America

C．England

D．Canada

10.

A．him

B．her

C．their

D．our

9 . How I Study English

I often hear some students say English is difficult, and it gives them a headache. So they can’t learn it well. But English is very easy for me. I’m good at it. I’m very glad to tell you something about how I study English.

First, I think an interest(爱好) in English is very important. When I was in Grade One, we had a new subject—English. It was fresh for me. I was interested in it, so I worked hard at it. Soon we had an English exam and I got a very good mark. How happy I was! After that, I learned English harder and harder. Our English teacher often teaches us English songs, the songs sound nice. I often think how interesting English is!

Second, I think English is a foreign language. I should learn it well in the following ways: Listen to the teacher carefully, speak bravely, read aloud and have a good vocabulary(词汇). Then practice again and again, never be tired. And I also have a good habit: Asking whenever(不论何时) I have a question, I must make it clear by asking our English teacher. How happy I am when I understand!

Besides this, I often read English stories, jokes and easy novels. From these I know English is not only interesting, but also useful. They help me understand a lot of things. So to do more reading is an important way to learn English well.

And I also do some exercises from our class magazines, and I often write English diaries. English has become a close friend of mine.

Now I have learned English for more than two years. I always keep the first position in our school. From these words, I hope every student can learn English well.

1. Why do some students often “have a headache”?

A．Because they are easy to catch cold.	B．Because it’s often very cold.
C．Because they think English is easy.	D．Because they don’t think English is easy.

2. The writer tells us that we should be         in English if we want to learn it well.

A．bored	B．interested
C．surprised	D．strict

3. The sentence “I got a very good mark” means “        ”.

A．I got a good way

B．I had a good idea

C．I did badly in the exam

D．I did well in the exam

4. The writer thinks English is interesting because        .

A．English is full of stories

B．English is full of jokes

C．his teacher often teaches them nice English songs

D．of nothing

10 . With the Forbidden City and Jingshan Park to its east, Zhongnanhai to its south, Beihai Park, also known as Northern Sea Park, is one of the oldest, largest and best-preserved ancient imperial gardenst (皇家花园) in China located in the center of Beijing.

Beihai Park is said to be built according to a traditional Chinese legend. The story is that once upon a time there were three magic mountains called “Penglai”, “Yingzhou” and “Fangzhang”. Gods in those mountains had a kind of medicine which would help humans gain immortality (永生). Consequently, many emperors constantly sought those mountains. I For example, Emperor Qin Shihuang had sent people to look for the magic mountains but they failed. Emperor Wudi, the fifth emperor of the Western Han Dynasty did similar things.

It was believed that different mountain-water combinations in ancient Chinese architecture led to totally different effects. So from then on, almost every emperor during the succeeding dynasties would build a royal garden with one-pool-with-three-hill layout near his palace. Beihai Park was surely built after this traditional style: the water of Beihai with Zhongnanhai is the Taiye Pool; the Jade Flowery Islet, the island of the Circular City and the Xishantai Island represent the three magic mountains.

Actually, Beihai Park was initially built in the Liao Dynasty (916-1125) and was repaired and rebuilt in the following dynasties including Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing. The large-scale rebuilding in the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) generally established the present scale and pattern. In 1925, it was first opened to the public, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world every year.

It is enjoyable to walk around the various scenic areas in Beihai Park. There are many places to visit, including the Bai Ta, Five-Dragon Pavilions, Nine-Dragon Wall, Yong’an Temple and so on. There is also a classy restaurant called Fangshan Restaurant where the Empress Cixi once dined.

1. Where is Beihai Park?

A．Near the ocean.	B．In the south of Zhongnanhai.
C．To the west side of Jingshan Park.	D．In the uptown area of Beijing City.

2. What is the similarity between Emperor Qin Shihuang and Emperor Wudi of Han according to the text?

A．They loved to listen to stories.	B．They both pursued immortality.
C．They were mountain-climbing lovers.	D．They were the first emperor of their dynasties.

3. How old is Beihai Park?

A．Less than 100 years old.	B．About 500 years old.
C．About 1, 000 years old.	D．Nearly 2, 000 years old.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．A famous park.	B．Historical palaces.
C．An unforgettable legend.	D．Ancient architectural styles.