1 . Humans have been living and working on the space station for 20 years. Their meals are packaged, though sometimes astronauts receive fresh treats from resupply missions. The longer that packaged food is stored, the more it loses nutrients like vitamin C and vitamin K.

Astronauts have successfully grown 10 different crops on the space station since 2015 and had the chance to sample each one. The International Space Station hosted a party for astronauts on Friday as they celebrated the harvest of the first Chili (辣椒) grown in space. The crew finally had a chance to taste the peppers after initially kicking off the plant experiment on the space station in July.

Plant Habitat-04 is one of the most complex plant experiments on the orbiting laboratory to date because peppers take much longer to grow than the previous experiment plants. After growing for four months, the peppers were harvested on Friday.

Peppers provide a great source of vitamin C, as well as other key nutrients. Pepper plants self-pollinate, so they are easy to grow, and they are a pick-and-eat crop that doesn’t have to be cooked. They are also safe to eat raw.

A side effect of life in zero gravity is that astronauts often lose some of their taste and smell, so spicy or well-seasoned foods are a favorite. Adding fresh greens or peppers to the menu allows astronauts to liven up their regular meals. But growing and tending to the plants can also produce other benefits.

Astronauts have described the joy from seeing—as well as smelling and caring for—leafy green plants on the space station that remind them of Earth.

“Growing colorful vegetables in space can have long-term benefits for physical and psychological health,” said Matt Romeyn, principal investigator for the experiment.” We are discovering that growing plants and vegetables with colors and smells helps to improve astronauts’ well-being.”

1. What does underlined “kicking off” in the 2nd paragraph mean?

A．Launch.

B．Complete.

C．Quit.

D．Announce.

2. What makes Plant Habitat-04 one of the most complex plant experiments?

A．The technology.	B．Growing process.
C．The varieties of plants.	D．Growing time required.

3. Why are peppers added to the menu for astronauts?

A．They are delicious.	B．They restore their appetite.
C．They help kill diseases.	D．They improve their memory.

4. What is the suitable title for the text ?

A．The Fun in the Space Life

B．The Common Goal in the Space Mission

C．The First Chili Peppers Grown in Space

D．A Research Finding from the Space Mission

2 . It was a dark and cold night. The taxi driver didn’t have even one passenger all day. When he went by the railway station, he saw a young man coming out with two bags in his hands. So he quickly opened the door of the car and asked, “ Where do you want to go, sir?”

“To the Star Hotel,” the young man answered. When the taxi driver heard that, he didn’t feel happy any more. The young man would give him only three dollars because the hotel was not far from the railway station. But suddenly he had an idea. He took the passenger through many streets of the big city.

After a long time, the car arrived at the hotel at last. “You should pay me fifteen dollars,” the car driver said to the young man. “What? Fifteen dollars! Do you think I’m a fool? Only last week, I took a taxi from the railway station to this same hotel and I only gave the driver thirteen dollars. I know how much I have to pay for the trip. I won’t pay you one dollar more than I paid to the other driver last week.

1. When did this story happen?

A．In the morning	B．In the afternoon
C．At noon	D．At night

2. The driver felt very ____when he saw the young man coming out of the railway station.

A．sad	B．sorry
C．happy	D．worried

3. The driver took the passenger through many streets to ______.

A．make the young man happy

B．let the young man have a good look at the city

C．show the young man around

D．get more money from the young man

4. From the article, we know that the young man _______

A．knew the way from the station to the hotel	B．had never been to the hotel before
C．didn’t want to stay in the city	D．didn’t know the city very well

3 . There are always some persons in your life who touch your soft heart with kindness.

As a little girl, my favorite thing was _______. And when I thought about _______ I wanted to be when I grew up, I figured I’d be a librarian, just because the two librarians changed my life.

At that time, the town library limited the number of books a person borrowed _______ two once a week. I _______ the books in just three days. So to read more, I was _______ about what books to choose. The librarian, Mrs. Tonne, was a warm person. Every time I went into the library, she greeted me, _______. When learning about my trouble, she often _______ some better books. Thanks to her help, I _______ a lot from these books.

Gradually, I developed an interest in writing, _______ poems. When I was in fourth grade, our school librarian, Mrs. Ketelsen, encouraged me to write more. When my poem was not accepted, she ________ me with comfortable words. Once she helped ________ some poems I’d written about dinosaurs to Highlights magazine. It was my first published writing!

Later, at the University of Iowa, ________ I majored in journalism, my dream was different. I realized that I was shy about interviewing people, which made me ________. When I recalled Mrs. Tonne and Mrs. Ketelsen, I made a decision without ________ to be devoted to writing. And now I am an editor at Reader’s Digest.

Whenever I think of the help from them, how ________ I am. It is their kindness that makes me what I am.

1.

A．reading

B．painting

C．exploring

D．creating

2.

A．how

B．why

C．where

D．what

3.

A．of

B．to

C．from

D．between

4.

A．published

B．edited

C．presented

D．finished

5.

A．under the weather

B．in the air

C．at a loss

D．on the rocks

6.

A．shouting

B．smiling

C．crying

D．dancing

7.

A．exchanged

B．recommend

C．designed

D．adapted

8.

A．reflected

B．devoted

C．expected

D．benefited

9.

A．extremely

B．fortunately

C．especially

D．slightly

10.

A．inspired

B．challenged

C．contented

D．tricked

11.

A．admit

B．send

C．revise

D．settle

12.

A．although

B．because

C．when

D．since

13.

A．relaxed

B．satisfied

C．impressed

D．upset

14.

A．hesitation

B．tension

C．exception

D．argument

15.

A．concerned

B．relieved

C．grateful

D．regretful

4 . Safe and Easy Workouts for Seniors

As you get older, it’s important to remain active and not to forget your health. There are plenty of all-time best exercises for weight loss, but not all are perfect for older individuals hoping to break a sweat.     1    

You might believe that certain workouts, like pushups (俯卧撑), are only for the young. In fact, they can be changed to best suit someone’s desired difficulty level.     2     Keep your back straight and bend your elbows, bringing your chest toward the wall, and press back. Repeat as desired.

Overhead arm raises can benefit seniors with joint (关节) pain. Using a weighted object such as a bottle of water, position yourself shoulder-width apart. With your shoulders back and arms lifted to 90 degrees, breathe out as you lift the bottles over your head and breathe in as you lower your arms.     3    

Endurance workouts increase your breathing and get your heart pumping. Dancing can improve the health of your heart and lungs and keep you healthy as you perform daily tasks.     4     The goal is to build up to at least 150 minutes of activity a week that makes you breathe hard.

    5     Higher daily step counts have also been linked with lower all-cause mortality (死亡率). It can also keep you healthy as you observe nature in your own backyard. Schedule a daily walk into your everyday routine. This simple activity can keep your heart healthy, keep you energetic and improve your mood.

A．Taking a walk outside can change your life.

B．Drink enough water each time you work out.

C．Start close to the wall, hands touching the wall.

D．Put on your favorite song(s) and move to the beat.

E．If they seem too light, find a slightly heavier object.

F．Regular exercise is a must to everyone, seniors included.

G．So here are some perfect workouts for seniors aged 50 and up.

5 . My body hit the water with a pounding and I suddenly felt afraid that terrible things could happen. Water gushed（涌出）through my mouth and left its salty taste. My feet touched the ground as I attempted to float back up to the surface. I could see the speed boats in the distance and I started to panic.

I saw something gray from a distance coming closer and closer. As it approached me, I realized that it was not a good one-it was a SHARK! Its fin（鳍）was moving closer and I attempted to swim as fast and as far away from it as possible. My heart beat faster and faster as my body got all stiff（僵硬的）. I looked behind me and saw the huge sharp teeth pointing directly at me. As I turned away, I heard jaws shut with a mighty bite! The shark turned away and left me alone.

I looked at my feet and saw bright red blood flow into the water. I cleaned it with some water and a thought went into my mind-sharks love blood, and that was not good for me. I knew more fins were surrounding me from every direction. I was stuck in the middle of the ocean, surrounded by about ten sharks and they were all heading for me.

They all stared at me with their white sharp teeth sticking out, ready to attack. Slower and slower they got ready to bite. Just then I heard an engine heading my way and I saw a speed boat pushing some heavy waves away. As it came closer, I saw a tall man driving it. The engine roared in my ears and it began to scare the sharks away.

As they swam away, I began to make my way back to the shore. The boat sped towards me and I slowly climbed on it. With relief we headed back towards the shore.

1. What did the author do when the first shark came close to him/her?

A．He/She hit the shark.	B．He/She tried to swim away fast.
C．He/She dived deep into the water.	D．He/She stayed in the water quietly.

2. Why did the sharks finally swim away without attacking the author?

A．The engine drove them away.	B．A man scared them away.
C．They couldn't find the author.	D．They found a new target.

3. How did the author feel in the end?

A．Frightened.

B．Nervous.

C．Anxious.

D．Relaxed.

4. Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A．An Exciting Trip	B．A Helpful Speed Boat
C．An Unforgettable Experience	D．A Brave Tall Man

6 . The world has spent a long time living with the pandemic. But many people have become lazy about protecting their safety. Are you spending time indoors and unmasked with trusted friends? Or eating in restaurants or making more trips to the grocery store? New types of COVID-19 mean you should try to cut back on exposure. And where you can, double down on basic safety.     1    .     .

Wear masks

The N95 mask is the gold standard. It may cost too much or be hard to find. A cloth mask does a good job of filtering particles that cause infection.     2     — two cloth layers with a filter in the middle. Double masking is the best answer when you find yourself around strangers. The KF94 mask is a good bet.

    3    

If you go to the store two or three times a week, cut back to once a week. If you have been spending 30 to 45 minutes in the grocery store, cut down your time in the store.     4    . If you are waiting in line, be mindful of staying at least six feet apart from the people ahead and behind you. Try using delivery services or curbside pickup.

Spend less time indoors with people who are not from your household. If you must spend time with others, wear your best mask. Be sure any space is well ventilated (通风)(open windows and doors). Keep the visit as short as possible.     5    

The coronavirus vaccine may or may not be the solution. As of now, you are the best answer. Take care. Do not let your guard down!

A．Wash your hands frequently

B．Spend less time with others

C．The best mask has three layers

D．Don’t stay outdoors alone for a long time

E．If the market is crowded, come back later

F．It is still best to minimize your social activities

G．Here are two important ideas about how to stay safe

7 . it’s...that...强调句型
是因为天气不好足球赛被推迟了。
________the football match was put off.

8 . They use Mr./Mrs. with the family name.句子的定语是：________

A．They

B．use

C．the family

D．name

9 . There are many movies that you can focus on if you want to improve the way you are learning. Choose one of the movies below and the results will be great in the end!

The King’s Speech

The King's Speech tells the story of a man forced to speak to the world with a stammer (口吃).That movie is filled with lots of encouraging information and is a wonderful movie for those who love language classes.

Inside Job

Inside Job is an Oscar-winning film by Charles Ferguson. It provides a detailed analysis of the global financial crisis of 2008. which caused millions of people to lose their jobs and homes in the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. It's a movie for students who want to learn more about the economic market.

Whiplash

Whiplash is a story of a young drummer who wants to realise his dreams although he doesn't receive any help from the people around him. It\s an interesting movie that will help art students better understand how much hard work can help them realise their dreams.

A Beautiful Mind

A Beautiful Mind is a 2001 American film based on the life of John Nash, a Nobel Prize winner with schizophrenia (精神分裂症).It follows his journey from the point where he is not even aware he has schizophrenia, to the point where Nash and his wife find a way to manage his condition. It includes some interesting physics elements that will help you quite a lot.

1. Which film will you choose if you are interested in economic development?

A．The King’s Speech.	B．Inside Job.
C．Whiplash.	D．A Beautiful Mind.

2. What may Whiplash bring to art students?

A．Making efforts.	B．Asking for help.
C．Keeping an interest.	D．Being understandable.

3. What is special about A Beautiful Mind?

A．It focuses on interesting scenic spots.

B．It describes the progress in medicine.

C．It is based on the story of a real person.

D．It records the selection of Nobel Prize winners.

10 . Below is a list of popular movies, which are not only fun to watch, but they give us a lesson.

Booksmart

Booksmart stars (由……主演) Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever as two high school seniors who feel they haven’t experienced the typical (典型的) high school experience. So they attend different parties held by their classmates, but get into more trouble than they’ve experienced in their lives.

Stream Booksmart on Amazon $13. 99

Mean Girls

Mean Girls, written by Tina Fey, is regarded as one of the best teenage movies ever. The film stars Lindsay Lohan as Cady, a student from Africa. On her first day of school, Cady gets to know Regina George, the most popular girl in school. While she’s happy to be in the cool crowd at first, Cady realizes that popularity isn’t what she imagines.

Stream Mean Girls on Amazon $8. 99

She’s All That

She’s All That is taken from George Bernard Shaw’s play Pygmalion. It was considered one of the best teenage movies in the 1990s and reached number one at the box office in its first week. The film stars Freddie Prize Jr. as Zach, a popular student who becomes unpopular when his cheerleader friend leaves him for a reality TV star.

Stream She’s All That on Amazon $15. 99

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

The Perks of Being a Wallflower, based on Steven Chbosky’s novel of the same name, is a coming-of-age film about a teenager named Charlie and his struggle with anxiety. The film, which is considered one of the best teenage movies ever, follows Charlie throughout his first year of high school.

Stream Perks of Being a Wallflower on Amazon $9.99

1. What topic is Mean Girls about?

A．Friendship.	B．Difficult culture.
C．Being popular.	D．Typical school life

2. Which film is suitable for anxious freshmen?

A．Booksmart.	B．Mean Girls.
C．She’s All That.	D．The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

3. What do the films have in common?

A．Their leading actors are girls.	B．They are mainly about teenagers.
C．They were made in the 1990s.	D．They are of the same price on Amazon.