1 . Walled Cities Of The World
There are numerous historical walled cities across the world, whose walls date back several centuries. These walls were fortification (碉堡), a necessity throughout medieval eras for defense. They have been preserved as historical monuments and popular tourist attractions in the modern time.
York, England
The city of York is a medieval city situated in the north of England. Historically, the city was ruled by the Romans, Angles, and the Vikings before being incorporated as part of the Kingdom of England in 954. Located in the city are walls built in 71 AD which have been restored and extended with time.
Xi’an, China
The city of Xian is one of the oldest cities in China. It prospered economically as the eastern last station of the Silk Road. The existing walls were originally built in 770 BC and reconstructed in the 14th century under the Ming Dynasty. The walls are well preserved and are a major tourist attraction in the city.
Quebec City, Canada
Quebec City was a colonial (殖民地的) town which was fortified by the settling Europeans. The walls began to be built in 1608 under both British and French regimes (政权). A fort was constructed by the British as an additional defensive measure and remains undamaged to date. The city’s fortifications were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
Mexico City, Mexico
Historically, the City of Mexico gained importance as the Aztec Capital. The Spanish then drove out the Aztecs and rebuilt it as the Spanish Capital. The walls protecting the city were built in 1521. Mexico City is also home to numerous colonial-era buildings which together with the walls are major tourist attractions in the city.
1. Which city has walls of the longest history?| A．York, England. | B．Xi’an, China. |
| C．Quebec City, Canada. | D．Mexico City, Mexico. |
| A．They were once colonies of other countries. |
| B．They were once the capital of the Aztec empire. |
| C．Their walls were once built under British regime. |
| D．Their walls were once damaged after construction. |
| A．Culture. | B．Entertainment. | C．Science. | D．Society |
2 . As a little kid, I was addicted to math. Since my father was often doing math with my elder sister, I
When it came time for the
One day, the teacher had
She
| A．picked up | B．concentrated on | C．missed out | D．forgot about |
| A．at hand | B．on purpose | C．in advance | D．behind schedule |
| A．term | B．class | C．number | D．content |
| A．called | B．pushed | C．taught | D．invited |
| A．paper | B．brain | C．score | D．method |
| A．sister | B．father | C．mother | D．friend |
| A．words | B．volunteers | C．notes | D．problems |
| A．copy | B．clean | C．solve | D．read |
| A．excited | B．proud | C．helpful | D．anxious |
| A．hurriedly | B．formally | C．happily | D．patiently |
| A．said | B．heard | C．noticed | D．followed |
| A．Now | B．Yet | C．Soon | D．Once |
| A．frightened | B．satisfied | C．confused | D．surprised |
| A．explain | B．send | C．correct | D．make |
| A．styles | B．names | C．praises | D．results |
3 . Cheapest Islands in the World to Visit
Grand Bahama Island, The Bahamas
As the northernmost of the 700 islands of the Bahamas, Grand Bahama dishes up plenty of cheap activities alongside its white-sand beaches. Visiting Lucayan National Park, which is home to both beloved Gold Rock Beach and one of the largest underwater cave (洞穴) systems in the world, is an affordable trip. There are hotel rooms at $80 a night.
Madeira, Portugal
Though closer to mainland Africa, Madeira is a part of Portugal known for its breathtaking natural beauty. Visitors can find hotels starting at $85 a night, and enjoy plenty of low-cost activities, like rowing a boat around the volcanic Porto Moniz natural swimming pools, and admiring the never-ending views around the island. No wonder it’s been called the “Hawaii of Europe”.
Dominican Republic
Looking for one of the least expensive Caribbean islands? The Dominican Republic is full of affordable surprises. In Santo Domingo, walk around Zona Colonial, the historic heart of the country’s capital, you’ll find castles, cathedrals (教堂), cobblestone streets, and cafés around every corner. During the low season (summer), you can find hotel deals starting at $33 a night.
Sri Lanka
Do you want to spend just $25～50 a day? Then go to Sri Lanka. Since the South Asian island country is one of the largest tea producers in the world, start with a tea factory tour on a peaceful hike. Taking a train ride through the hills from Kandy to Badulla or from Colombo to Galle is an enjoyable and affordable way to see the countryside.
1. What can you do in Lucayan National Park?| A．Visit a huge castle. | B．Enjoy the beautiful beach. |
| C．Swim in Porto Moniz. | D．Go on a tea factory tour. |
| A．It requires booking. | B．It has historic sites. |
| C．It is famous for tea. | D．It is closed in summer. |
| A．Dominica. | B．The Bahamas. | C．Portugal. | D．Sri Lanka. |
4 . Have you still remembered what happened when you went to school on the first day? I still remember my interesting first day of school. On that day, I hurried to my science class in the morning and found a seat in the back. I waited there for 15 minutes before the bell rang. The science teacher told us about some class rules. No one talked to me; nor did I talk to anyone else. I was one of those very shy girls. After the science class, I had an English class. I thought it would be boring but it turned out to be very funny. When the classes of the morning ended, I went to lunch. I sat outside the dining room with no one to talk to and no food because I was too nervous to join the lunch line. I kept looking around hoping to see someone I knew but I never saw anyone.
Lunch ended and I went to have my art class. I was the first one there and not even my teacher was there yet. So I sat at my desk and started drawing some pictures. I didn’t notice the rest of the class walking in or the girl that was standing behind me till I was surprised by the voice, “So what are you drawing?” It was a girl who had really long hair. She ended up being my best friend and one of the kindest and liveliest girls I know.
In the next class meeting, the teacher asked us to talk about the past holiday. I was glad to make some new friends in the class. The first day of high school was hard for me but I got through it.
1. According to the writer, the English class was __________ .| A．boring | B．useful | C．hard | D．interesting |
| A．wasn’t hungry | B．forgot the lunchtime |
| C．was afraid to stand in line | D．didn’t like the dining room |
| A．got to know a lively girl | B．talked about her past holiday |
| C．met someone she knew before | D．drew some pictures about her class |
| A．She sat in the front row. | B．She made some new friends. |
| C．She learned some class rules. | D．She was 15 minutes late for it. |
5 . By now, most people know they should be eating more vegetables. But are there ways to get more from the vegetables you already eat? A research shows that when it comes to vegetables, it’s not only how much we eat, but also how we prepare them, that decides the vitamins and other nutrients that enter our body.
Many studies show that people who eat lots of vegetables have less heart disease, and eye problems and even cancer. But raw vegetables are not always best. The researchers found that 198 Germans who eat raw food were short of lycopene, the matter found in tomatoes and other red vegetables. “There is an idea that raw foods are always going to be better,” says Steven K. Clinton, a professor at Ohi o State University. “For fruits and vegetables, sometimes a little bit of cooking can be helpful.”
A number of factors decide how the vegetables do good to people’s health before they reach the table, including where and how they were grown and stored before being bought. No single cooking way is best. Some nutrients are easily lost in cooking if they are cooked in different ways.
Vitamins C and B are often lost. In January, another report said that boiling was better for carrots than frying or serving them raw. Frying was the worst way to cook.
What cooked with the vegetables can also be important? When the vegetables were cooked with fat, the diners can get more nutrients. Fat can also make the taste of vegetables better, meaning that people will eat more of them. Putting on some other things that make it taste better—a little salt—can make the food taste better.
1. The writer mainly wants to tell us that ________.| A．people should eat more vegetables |
| B．the way people eat vegetables is important |
| C．eating vegetables is good for us |
| D．how much vegetables one should eat |
| A．have the eyes problems | B．have heart disease |
| C．be in need of lycopene | D．hate eating tomatoes |
| A．the place where the vegetables are grown |
| B．the way how the vegetables are stored |
| C．the way how the vegetables are prepared |
| D．the price at which the vegetable are sold |
| A．It’s better to cook vegetables with fat |
| B．the more fat in the cooking, the fewer vegetables people will eat |
| C．It’s better to cook the vegetables without salt |
| D．the fat will increase the nutrition of the vegetables |
6 . It was a gloriously sunny day in Switzerland and we were driving over the Alps. Our daughter was singing in the back; she was happy to have just passed her latest exams. We’d just survived a trip, going down a mountain.
In the Alps, whichever way you go, you’re traveling on tiny mountain roads with lots of switchbacks . And as soon as we reached the first hairpin, we realized there was something seriously wrong with our brakes. They didn’t work.
Coming into the bend, the only way my husband could slow us down was by using the handbrake. The problem with mountain roads is that there are very few places to turn around or pull to the side of the road safely. And we’d just left a car park, which meant there wouldn’t be another parking area for a while.
All we could do was continue down the mountain, in our heavy motorhome which was gaining speed, trying hard to slow without working brakes. There were 180-degree bends every 200 meters or so — and each one was completely terrifying.
We didn’t know if or when the handbrake would give out, and then we would be in big trouble — there aren’t any barriers to stop you going over the edge on these roads.
I’m grateful my husband was driving and that he was able to deal with it. Yes, our handbrake was ruined. No, we didn’t care. At the bottom of the mountain, we were lucky to find a small town with a garage. There, we quickly discovered the cause — our brake liquid had totally disappeared!
When we bought the motorhome three months earlier, we’d been assured it had just received a full service and a vehicle test. We did our own checks, too, but we never thought to check the brake liquid.
It turned out that it hadn’t been changed for years and was mostly water — which meant it had changed into gas over the past 48 hours as the brakes got hot going up and down the mountain until it was gone. Thankfully, the garage was able to replace it and they also changed the handbrake for us.
1. Why did the author’s daughter sing?| A．She was happy at the Alps scenery. | B．She would go on a trip in Alps. |
| C．She had just passed her exams. | D．She survived a disaster with her parents. |
| A．Make the motorhome gain speed. | B．Look for a car park quickly. |
| C．Pull the motorhome to the side of road. | D．Slow down the motorhome by using handbrake. |
| A．The destroyed handbrake. | B．The edge of the roads. |
| C．The barriers to stop cars. | D．The motorhome they bought. |
| A．Its tires. | B．Its brake liquid. | C．Its handbrake. | D．Its wheels. |
7 . Exercising regularly not only helps you keep slim, but also improves your overall health and well-being. Different exercises produce different results, as they focus on alternate parts of the body. There are four broad exercise categories: endurance, strength, flexibility, and balance. Many people often only focus on one exercise type, but including all four in your workout will produce better results and reduce your risk of injury.
Endurance
Endurance exercises increase your breathing and heart rate. By doing endurance exercises, you are working to keep your heart, lungs, and blood-flow system healthy while improving your total fitness. Over time these activities will make everyday activities seem easier.
Strength
If you want to build up your muscles, then strength exercises, which are also known as “resistance training”, are right for you. Even the slightest increase in strength can make a huge difference in your ability to carry out daily tasks. Developing strong muscles also reduce your risk of weak bones.
Flexibility
Flexibility exercises help stretch your body’s muscles. This allows for more freedom of movement for other exercises and can also improve your range of motion, posture, ability to breathe deeply, and blood flow. Also, it reduces the muscle tension caused by stress.
Balance
Balance exercises help prevent falls and are especially important to older adults, helping them stay independent. Most good balance exercises are ones that keep you constantly moving with your feet on the ground. Heel-to-toe walking and standing on one foot are simple ways to improve balance.
1. How can a person benefit most from their exercise routine?| A．By combining different exercise types together. |
| B．By having enough rest between their workouts. |
| C．By concentrating on one training aspect at a time. |
| D．By increasing the frequency of their training gradually. |
| A．Strength and Balance. | B．Flexibility and Balance. |
| C．Endurance and Strength. | D．Endurance and Flexibility. |
| A．Arms. | B．Legs. | C．Waist. | D．Neck. |
My aunt Sandy is a very kind-hearted woman. She loves animals so much that she found a job in an emergency vet clinic（兽医诊所）after graduating from college. There she could help a lot of injured pets.
One day, a rescue worker brought in a homeless cat. The cat had numerous injuries and needed immediate medical aid. No one in the vet clinic wanted to rescue the cat but Sandy. All the others didn't think the cat would survive. And they suggested putting the cat to death.
But Sandy didn't want to give up. She always believes that every animal deserves a chance. Holding the cat in her arms, she was determined to rescue her.
Sandy was good at treating injured animals. Thanks to her, the cat survived. She took good care of the cat and she gradually recovered. However, it wasn't the end of the story. Because of the operation performed on her face, the cat always wore a sad expression and looked really ugly. Those who came to the clinic to adopt pets didn't want her.
The staff at the vet clinic suggested getting rid of the cat. But Sandy didn't agree. She wanted to adopt the cat herself, but there was a problem—her husband was allergic（过敏）to cats. So Sandy couldn't take her home.
Thinking the cat might have to be homeless, Sandy was very sad. She had tried very hard to rescue her so she didn't want to lose her. She tried to persuade people around her to adopt the cat, but they didn't show any interest in such an ugly cat.
注意：1. 续写词数应为100左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
One day, a girl about ten years old entered the vet clinic and looked around.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
However, Sandy just didn't understand why the little girl wanted to have the cat.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
9 . Howard walked across the vast desert planning to walk through it for one month. Twenty
“I’ll be able to walk out of this
Now, he only had a (n)
One day and one night passed quickly , but the desert still seemed to have no end, and hunger, thirst and
A small pear became the
To keep hope is one of the best ways to achieve
| A．years | B．months | C．weeks | D．days |
| A．smooth | B．hopeless | C．impossible | D．terrible |
| A．forest | B．desert | C．garden | D．village |
| A．once | B．ever | C．never | D．always |
| A．Before | B．After | C．When | D．Since |
| A．sewed | B．covered | C．matched | D．cleaned |
| A．tied | B．put | C．pulled | D．equipped |
| A．rain | B．fog | C．sandstorm | D．snowstorm |
| A．apple | B．pear | C．orange | D．banana |
| A．at most | B．at least | C．on time | D．on purpose |
| A．to | B．on | C．of | D．about |
| A．shock | B．joy | C．fear | D．excitement |
| A．Altogether | B．Besides | C．Therefore | D．However |
| A．stand up | B．look up | C．give up | D．put up |
| A．eating | B．cooking | C．watching | D．keeping |
| A．sadness | B．injury | C．hope | D．interest |
| A．when | B．until | C．while | D．if |
| A．died | B．survived | C．breathed | D．coughed |
| A．success | B．failure | C．agreement | D．experience |
| A．everything | B．anything | C．something | D．nothing |
10 . Though there are filters which can change digital photographs to make them similar to a painting, obvious differences still exist.
A brand-new painting AI has been made public recently. Much like the pupils of the old masters, the new AI studies the work of great painters like Vermeer and Van Gogh and learns to reproduce their works.
The AI, named “PaintBot”, is the creation of a team of researchers from the University of Maryland, the Bytedance AI Lab and Adobe Research.
PaintBot can not only reproduce the work of different artists but create new works based on photographs in the chosen painter's characteristic style.
To train the AI to imitate a given artist's technique, the researchers would present it with between 3 and 10 reference paintings. With each reference painting it studies, the AI gradually learns to recognize the various characteristics of the given artist's technique, including the stroke colour, position and size—along with the order in which each brushstroke should be made.
PaintBot uses a technique known as reinforcement learning. During the learning process, the AI would practice reproducing reference paintings, which it would then compare with the original work to see how similar the two were and if it was improving its imitation of the artist's style. It takes around six hours for the AI to learn to imitate a given painter.
Once the AI has mastered a particular artist's technique, the researchers could present it with a new image to reproduce in the same style. The AI then uses what it has learnt to produce a new painting, putting down each brushstroke one at a time.
After being trained in a given style, PaintBot takes only around five minutes to produce each of its digital masterpieces.
The way that PaintBot's compositions are built up from thousands of individual brushstrokes makes the AI's works more realistic than those online filters.
1. What do we know about filters used to change digital photos?| A．They are well received. | B．They are not good enough. |
| C．They are really fantastic. | D．They are disliked by people. |
| A．It mixes techniques of different artists. | B．It learns from the artist on the spot. |
| C．It just imitates the color of the given paintings. | D．It follows the given style of the paintings. |
| A．Lifelike. | B．Valuable. | C．Advanced. | D．Original. |
| A．The Most Intelligent AI Painter PainBot | B．A Brand-new Painting Reproduced By AI |
| C．PainBot Creates More Realistic Paintings | D．How PainBot Imitates Artists’techniques |
