2 . Retired couple May Proctor, 71, and her husband Rod, 73, have transformed their garden into a fairyland(仙境) themed light show for local kids to enjoy. May and Rod came up with the concept last year but this time is to be the biggest display yet. The mystical (神秘的) garden is open for children to walk through and upon entry they will find a “fairy world” filled with pizza shops, very small shops and a magical forest. This year the home itself has been transformed according to Alice in Wonderland.

May says she is a fairy fan and that the huge amount of decoration is worth it for the magic. “I’ve always liked to make a bit of a magical garden, but this year I’ve just been excited.” she said.“Especially it’s just magic at night, absolutely amazing.”

An ex-dinner lady, May Proctor, the native, said she and her husband never planned on doing the light display this year. Then as autumn approached, the couple felt that they had to show something. So they decided again to go on to create a light display.

The topic for this year’s fairy display—Fairy Lane in Wonderland—is inspired by the mystical world of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland.

Throughout the house and garden, visitors will go down a rabbit hole into a fantastic kingdom. “Last year it was just outside, but this year it’s inside, and it’s just amazing,” May explained.

“Outside, I’ve made my own fairies and they were hung with the flowers, so it looks like a real Christmas fairyland. But inside, we’ve got some stage properties—so we’ve got a mirror with all Alice in Wonderland features around it. The kids absolutely love it, but I only let ten to twelve inside at a time due to the pandemic (流行病), where they can sit down and have their pictures taken.”

1. What can we know about May Proctor from Paragraph 1?

A．She lives in a fairy land.

B．She is familiar with Alice in Wonderland.

C．She has many small shops in the town.

D．She has many children and grandchildren.

2. How did May Proctor feel about the light display this year?

A．Satisfied.

B．Regretful.

C．Worried.

D．Expected.

3. How can visitors go into the show place?

A．Walking through the house.

B．Walking through the garden.

C．Going down a rabbit hole.

D．Going through a magic mirror.

4. Why did May only allow several kids to get inside at a time?

A．The garden was really small.

B．She was concerned about their health.

C．The hole is too narrow to get into.

D．There were not many kids enjoying the display.

3 . Everybody knows that Massachusetts is a great place to see fall leaves. But surely there   are other places to catch the leaves turning green to reddish-golden? The short answer is yes.

Aspen, Colorado

Aspen—as its name suggests—doesn’t fail to impress with its backdrop of majestic snow-capped mountains. Head to the Maroon Bells to look into mirror-like lakes to see double: on a calm day, the mountains and trees are reflected in the still waters.

Bavaria, Germany

Take a trip into a Brothers Grimm fairytale. Not only can you catch breathtaking views—such as castles emerging from red, green and golden trees—but you can experience the region’s fall traditions, such as the “Almabtrieb” event, bringing in the cattle from the grasslands, and local parish (教区) fairs, called “Kirchweih-Feste” where beer is everywhere.

Catskills, Upstate New York

If spotting fall in one state isn’t enough, head to the Catskills, where you can see five states at once. Head to the Northern Catskills of Greene County, to the “Five State Lookout” in Windham, where you can view treetops in New York, Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, as well as beautiful scenery of the Hudson River Valley.

Edinburgh, Scotland

This city is made for fall with its tree-lined streets and big open parks. Head to Princes Street Gardens, which is home to some of the city’s most typical monuments, such as the storybook-style Gardeners’ Cottage and the Scott Monument, or take a hike through Holyrood Park, marveling as the russet tones (红褐色) cover the rolling hills which climb up to the famed Arthurs Seat offering full views of the city and beyond.

1. What is a special view of the Maroon Bells?

A．Typical monuments in Scottish style.

B．Beautiful castles among golden trees.

C．Clear lakes with reflections of surroundings.

D．Mountains completely covered with snow.

2. In which place can people see five states at the same time?

A．Aspen, Colorado.	B．Catskills, Upstate New York.
C．Bavaria, Germany.	D．Edinburgh, Scotland.

3. Why does the author write the text?

A．To explain how to develop hobbies in the fall.

B．To stress the importance of traveling in the fall.

C．To introduce some places to appreciate fall leaves.

D．To describe how lo enjoy fall leaves with your own eyes.

4 . Think back to the last time you shopped for fruits and vegetables. You may have noticed some items labelled with the word “organic”.     1    

“Organic” refers to the way food is grown. To be labelled as organic, food production must meet strict guidelines. These can be different depending on where you live. In the United States, organic foods must be grown or raised without using pesticides or chemical fertilizers.

    2     That changed after the Industrial Revolution. During the 20^th century, many ideas that were used by factories and big businesses were put into action on farms. This helped some farms grow larger and produce more.

The organic movement was started to get back to the old traditional ways of farming. Why? Many believe the chemicals and pesticides used in modern farming can be harmful to your health.     3     And those who support the organic movement also point to its benefits for the environment.

Have you ever compared organic and non-organic foods at the grocery store? If so, you know that organic food tend to cost more. This happens for many reasons. Organic farming produces fewer crops.     4     Additionally, organic farms spend more money taking care of the animals they raise. These and other factors drive the cost of organic food up.

Is organic food worth the extra cost? Some people believe it is. They may think it tastes better or just prefer to eat food that has not been grown using chemicals.     5    They are still trying to find a major difference between organic and non-organic food in terms of safety, nutrition, or taste. Still, others argue that the environmental benefits of organic food make it worth the price.

A．Have you ever wondered what that means?

B．The cost of production is also usually higher.

C．For most of history, almost all food was organic.

D．Many people are willing to pay more for organic food.

E．Some also think organic foods are naturally more nutritious.

F．Are you wondering if organic food is right for you?

G．Scientists have studied organic and non-organic foods for many years now.

5 . Jeremi was doing homework when he heard a thump (重击声). A bird had flown into the window and fallen onto the balcony. Jeremi rushed to check. Just when he was about to open the door, it flew away.

Not all birds are so lucky. According to a study , between 365 million and a billion birds are killed each year in the United States by flying into glass.

“Birds don’t mean to fly into buildings. It’s the reflectivity of the windows that tricks them,” says Christine Sheppard, director of the glass-collisions program at the American Bird Conservancy. “When birds see reflections of trees — to them, they are just more trees that they can fly into.”

Sheppard and others, including environmentalists and building designers, work to make buildings bird-friendly to lower the number of bird collisions. One method is to use less glass. Another is to cover a glass building with some kind of screen. A third method is to use special glass.

Officials agreed to use patterned glass to take the place of some glass in 2009. Building designer Piselli worked on the project. “We need to consider what humans need and what birds need,” Piselli says. He notes that with glass, “ the main thing is to put something on it that birds can see, so they are not tricked by reflections and people can still enjoy daylight through the glass.”

Work on the Javits Center project was completed in 2014. “We ended up bringing down collisions by more than 90%,” Piselli says.

1. Why did the author think the bird was lucky?

A．It wasn’t hurt by an enemy.	B．It could fly freely in the sky.
C．It wasn’t killed after hitting the window.	D．It received good care from its owner.

2. Why do birds fly into buildings according to Christine Sheppard?

A．They need to stop to have a rest.

B．They want to play tricks on humans.

C．They’re trying to get inside the buildings.

D．They’re confused by reflections in the windows.

3. What is paragraph 4 mainly about ?

A．Reasons for making friends with birds.	B．Ways to make buildings safer for birds.
C．The disadvantages of glass windows.	D．Great examples of new high buildings.

4. How did the Javits Center project turn out?

A．It was very successful.

B．It was unacceptable to bird lovers.

C．It took longer to complete than expected.

D．It played a big role in stopping air pollution.

7 . Amazing places need visiting

From man-made marvels such as the Great Wall and Taj Mahal to natural wonders like the Grand Canyon and Iguazu Falls, these amazing sites should be at the top of your travel list.

No.1 The Great Wall is generally considered as a symbol of China. The Great Wall of China is one of the wonders in the world, too. The Chinese call it the wall of 10,000 Li, which goes from the east to the west.

No.2 The Taj Mahal is universally recognized as the greatest building in India. Emperor Shah Jahan ordered to build this architecture for being used as the tomb of his wife.

No.3 The Grand Canyon has been there over the past six million years by Colorado River activity. It is one of the longest and deepest valleys in the world. Its red rocks make it a must-see -before-you-die place. Want to bring your four-leg friend along? The Grand Canyon is also among the best pet-friendly national parks!

No.4 The Great Barrier Reef, off the coast of Queensland Australia, is the largest living thing on earth. It’s so huge that you can see it from outer space! This 1,429-mile ecosystem is home to many sea creatures, including around 400 kinds of coral, 1,500 species of fish. Not surprisingly it is one of the best places for scuba divers.

1. If you plan a trip to enjoy Indian architecture, which is the best place to go?

A．The Great Barrier Reef.	B．The Great Wall.
C．The Taj Mahal.	D．The Grand Canyon.

2. According to this passage, diving lovers would like to go to ________.

A．India

B．China

C．America

D．Australia

3. Where can we read this passage?

A．A travel magazine.	B．A science fiction.
C．A newspaper.	D．An essay.

8 . I often find myself drawn to books that explore rural settings. Here are a few books that I've read and loved.

Rush Oh!

by Shirley Barrett

Rush Oh! is one of the most touching books I’ve read. It follows the Davidsons, a whaling family from Wales. After the death of her mother, Mary Davidson has many worries: her five siblings（兄弟姐妹）and caring for her father. The author Barrett’s exploration of this world and her characters are bittersweet and humorous.

Questions of Travel

by Michelle de Kretser

Questions of Travel, is a portrait of Ravi, a Sri Lankan refugee（难民）who flees to Australia after his wife and son’s death, and Laura, a young woman who moves to London and back again. The writing is beautiful and touching. Never before have I read Sydney brought so vividly to life.

The Life and Loves of Lena Gaunt

by Tracy Farr

Lena Gaunt, in her 80s, looks back on her long and fascinating life. She has eventually traveled widely as a player of an instrument. Lena Gaunt reveals the parts of her life that gave he joy—her music, her daughter, Grace, and her lover-as well as those touched by the sadness of loss.

Too Easy

by J. M. Green

Too Easy is an irresistible novel starring Stella Hardy, a social worker in Melbourne. When one of Stella's clients is murdered and a neighbor goes missing, Stella begins to investigate. The plot sets a cracking pace through police investigations and journeys to Western Australia.

1. Which of the following is set in Sydney?

A．Rush Oh!	B．The Life and Loves of Lena Gaunt
C．Too Easy	D．Questions of Travel

2. What is the book The Life and Loves of Lena Gaunt mainly about?

A．Bittersweet teenage experiences.	B．Attractive musical instruments.
C．Heart-shaking investigations.	D．Happiness and sorrow in life.

3. What is the main purpose of this text?

A．To recommend excellent writers.	B．To analyze book qualities.
C．To introduce good works.	D．To express personal values.