1 . Why you may wonder, should spiders be our friends? Because they destroy so many insects, including some of the greatest enemies of the human race. Insects would make it impossible for us to live in the world; they would devour (吞食) all our crops and kill our cattle, if it were not for the protection we get from insect-eating animals. We owe a lot to the birds and beast who eat insects, but all of them put together kill only a very small amount of the number destroyed by spiders. Moreover, unlike some of the insect eaters, spiders never do the least harm to us or our belongings.
Spiders are not insects, as many people think, nor even nearly related to them. One can tell the difference almost at a glance, for a spider always has eight legs and an insect never more than six.
How many spiders are engaged in the work on our behalf? One authority on spiders made a research on spiders and found that there were more than 2,250,000 in one acre; that is something like 6,000,000 spiders of different kinds on a football field. Spiders are busy for at least half the year in killing insects. It is impossible to make more than the wildest guess at how many they kill, but they are hungry creatures, not content with only three meals a day. It has been estimated that the weight of all the insects destroyed by the spiders in Britain in one year would be greater than the total weight of all human beings in the country.
1. Spiders should be our friends, because ________.| A．they only eat harmful insects |
| B．they are great insect-eating animals |
| C．they destroy insects without hurting us in any way |
| D．they include some of the greatest enemies of the human race |
| A．that there were more than 2,250,000 insects in a grass field in the south of England |
| B．that every football field in England had 6,000,000 spiders of different kinds |
| C．the number of different spiders in England was very big |
| D．that the weight of all the insects destroyed by the spiders is more than the weight of human. |
| A．fed | B．discouraged | C．disappointed | D．satisfied |
| A．all the year | B．for most of the year. |
| C．in the summer month. | D．for more than six months of each year. |
| A．Spiders, the greatest insects-eating animals, protect us from being destroyed by harmful insects and they should be our friends. |
| B．Spiders are not insects but in fact animals. |
| C．There are great numbers of spiders engaged in destroying harmful insects on behalf of the human race. |
| D．Birds and beasts can’t compare with spiders as destroyers of insects. |
2 . Here were the simple instructions given by a Harvard University assistant professor to people participating in a recent science study: “Imagine the following scene. Visualize it in your mind’s eye, as vividly as you can: a person walks into a room and knocks a ball off a table.”
The professor, Tomer Ulman, then asked those in the study about their mental images: “Did you see how big the ball was? How about the person’s hair color?” Most participants visualized the former but not the latter. Ullman and his colleagues term this absence of details “noncommitment” to mental imagery (意象).
Brain imaging studies show that mental imagery engages the same neurons (神经元) in similar ways as perception (感知). Visualizing things seems to have much in common with actually seeing them. But if mental images are indeed pictures, why do they lack such simple details?
Ullman and colleagues conducted a series of experiments in which participants visualized the ball and table scene and were then presented with the questions selected by the researchers. The findings show 78% of participants did not visualize at least two details. People are often unaware of how little detail their mental images contain until asked. They don’t notice how much they don’t notice. It has nothing to do with a person forgetting the contents of a mental image, and it also is found in people with vivid imaginations.
“Nearly everyone can tell you size of the ball but not the person’s hair color,” Ullman says. “It’s like we have one hierarchy when we construct images, first we build space high up and then things like color are further down.” This is the same with Kosslin’s “skeletal image” theory, in which the overall shape is first generated and other details are then added as needed.
“There are imagery-based systems for interviewing people who witnessed a crime to guide them through trying to visualize it as accurately as possible,” Kosslyn says. Imagination is an issue, but understanding noncommitment better could help develop ways of getting more accurate eyewitness evidence, he says. “That’s worth a lot.”
1. What does noncommitment to mental imagery refer to?| A．Imagining a scene in one’s mind vividly. |
| B．Remembering the size of a ball exactly. |
| C．Picturing things in one’s mind partially. |
| D．Forgetting a person’s hair color entirely. |
| A．They fail to realize. |
| B．They have poor memories. |
| C．They lack rich imagination. |
| D．They think in a wrong way. |
| A．Grade. | B．Order. | C．Height. | D．Standard. |
| A．The potential value of the research. |
| B．The further prospect of the research. |
| C．The importance of looking for a witness. |
| D．The difficulty in finding evidence of a crime. |
3 . Every day since the owners of the Fun shop posted the announcement on Facebook last month, customers have been streaming into the Middle burg store, some with tears in their eyes, to ask if the news really was true.
After 66 years, the family-owned retailer that’s old almost anything you could think of, the “Macy’s of Middle burg” as one customer put it, indeed was closing. “This news hurts my heart,” one Facebook commenter wrote. “It won’t be the same here without y’all,” another offered. And a post echoing the feelings of many loyal customers began: “Nooocoooo. You are the last store that sells what’s left of what is right in the world.”
Since Nancy opened the business in 1956, the shop has been a mainstay on the main street in this pretty hunt country 50 miles west of Washington. What she wanted, her daughters Page and Betsy said, was a store that brought joy to her customers. The name was a clue to her goal.
Famous people have shopped at the store, but it wasn’t celebrities who made the store what it became. And whatever customers were looking for, the Fun shop either had it or would order it for you. Anna Dees, 85, started shopping there in the mid-1960s and visited it on a recent weekday afternoon. “And there is nothing in the world like the personal service here.”
In a world where nothing seems to stay the same for long, a family store that bridged generations offered reassurance that the past wasn’t flying too fast. So its closing is a big blow to the area, particularly its longtime residents. When the store closes, Littleton, 49, a seventh-generation middle burg resident who now serves as the town’s mayor said, an era of the town will come to an end.
“It’s really now that we’re seeing and realizing we have had an impact and we’ve made a difference,” Betsy said. “My mother would just be thrilled because that was her goal.”
1. What can we learn about the Middle burg store from the first two paragraphs?| A．It sells second-hand items. | B．It has received mixed reviews. |
| C．It is like glue to customers. | D．It needs the support of customers. |
| A．A quick checkout. | B．Celebrities’ regular visits. |
| C．Perfect after-sales service. | D．Attentive customer care. |
| A．Its sustainability philosophy. | B．Its proper time management. |
| C．Its lasting original intention. | D．Its open and adventurous spirit. |
| A．Old shopping habits die hard. | B．Fun bridges locals’ friendship |
| C．Nancy tears away from Fun shop. | D．Fun shop’s closing saddens customers |
4 . One night, as I was driving down the road, I found something was sitting in the middle of the road. A few seconds later, I realized I was looking at a large turtle (海龟). Afraid of it being crashed by cars, so I pulled over, ran across the road and dragged the turtle to safety. But I’d made one big mistake.
I had heard that the best way to pick up a turtle without hurting it was picking it by the tail in order not to get bitten. So I’d made that big mistake. While the turtle turned out OK generally, I was determined to figure out how to move a turtle properly. I needed to find someone who dealt with turtles. I found the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre. I talked to Dr. Sue, its Executive and Medical Director.
Dr. Sue told me that the organization dealt with a number of aspects of turtle conservation, including rescue, settlement, birth programs, research, and education. Sue explained that southern Ontario is home to a vast majority of turtles in Canada, but is also one of the vastest road networks of the country.
“Ninety percent of injured turtles brought in are caused by cars. These turtles spend a lot of time on land. And they do travel many kilometers on land for a variety of reasons, to find a nesting spot, or to hang out for the summer or winter. Turtles know where they want to go. So, just keep them going in the direction they want to go and you may have saved a turtle’s life,” Dr. Sue said.
Once an injured turtle arrives at the center, there are medical facilities (设备) ready to go, including an X-ray machine. That’s when the team gets to work with healing injuries, and help their patient.
1. Why did the author stop the car?| A．To help the turtle. | B．To see the thing clearly. |
| C．To prevent a car accident. | D．To find something good. |
| A．It got hurt by people previously. | B．It lost its direction. |
| C．It was run over by a car. | D．It was injured a little bit by the author. |
| A．Leaving the turtles alone. | B．Making Ontario home to turtles. |
| C．Changing the road conditions. | D．Helping turtles find nesting spots. |
| A．The director. | B．The turtle. | C．The author. | D．The driver. |
5 . What your dinner photos on Instagram say about you
Posting pictures on Instagram is a modern day version of writing a journal. It’s all about creating a connection between ourselves, our lives, friends, family and the wider public.
Each day, at least 95 million posts are shared on Instagram.
If someone posts photos of a meal that they have just cooked, the message they’re trying to convey is that they are a capable person. For example, if someone is on a health kick, they often seek social approval. If they’ve made a really healthy meal, they will typically post it with hashtags like diet or health, which tie into other people’s experiences.
There is also a growing trend of people taking photos of their food when they dine out at a restaurant.
If people are on a diet or trying to eat a bit better, they can use platforms like Instagram to track what they’ve been eating. It’s a way of motivating other people as well as holding themselves responsible, while subconsciously saying, “
| A．There are some reasons to post photos online. |
| B．I’m the sort of person who takes care of myself. |
| C．I would take responsibility seriously in my diet. |
| D．It’s the same idea as wanting to feel part of a community. |
| E．The types of content we choose to post hold significance. |
| F．It generally implies an attempt to associate with luxury and taste. |
| G．We have a fundamental need to be part of something bigger than ourselves. |
1. When was Yuan Xin admitted to Wuhan University of Science and Technology?
| A．In 2014. | B．In 2015. | C．In 2016. |
| A．He lost his left arm. |
| B．He has received a doctor’s degree. |
| C．He came second in a competition in 2019. |
| A．He is warm-hearted. | B．He is hard-working. | C．He is optimistic. |
7 . Hunter Shamatt lost his wallet while he was on a flight from Omaha to Denver earlier this month. Upon realizing that his wallet was lost, he
Two days after the flight, however, Hunter was
Hunter’s mother, Jeannie, posted a photo of the
“I saw he was just a kid, 20 years old. He had a salary in there, and he’s
Brown says that he often tries to do good things without any recognition; that’s why he didn’t sign his
| A．ordered | B．checked | C．contacted | D．caught |
| A．Though | B．Since | C．While | D．Unless |
| A．surprised | B．amused | C．anxious | D．frightened |
| A．next to | B．except for | C．along with | D．instead of |
| A．search | B．detail | C．value | D．return |
| A．sender | B．wallet | C．package | D．letter |
| A．accepted | B．taken | C．sent | D．collected |
| A．identified | B．considered | C．introduced | D．known |
| A．agreeing | B．struggling | C．volunteering | D．deciding |
| A．thankful | B．careful | C．thoughtful | D．regretful |
| A．exchange | B．proposal | C．performance | D．action |
| A．remembered | B．assumed | C．admitted | D．performed |
| A．address | B．mark | C．phone number | D．full name |
| A．questioning | B．disturbing | C．praising | D．surprising |
| A．confidence | B．strength | C．appreciation | D．proud |
8 . Children running to school are now more likely to get a table device (平板设备) than a pencil case, according to a study.
Researchers found that 55 percent of children are given a new iPad as they head back to school, compared to only 45 percent who get a new pencil case.
It also showed fewer kids walk to school now, dropping from 81 percent in their parents’ schooldays to just 63 percent now, with a third of kids preferring to use a scooter (滑板车) to make it to the school gates.
And most children now listen to music on the way to school instead of chatting with friends as their parents used to. However, one thing that hasn’t changed about going to school is the excitement.
68 percent of parents said they rushed back to school to be friends they hadn’t seen for the six-week break. Only 23 percent of children rush back to school to chat with friends now.
This is because modern kids chat with friends during the holiday on WeChat or QQ, so they already know what their schoolmates have been up to.
Clothes are another big area for change. Children like to choose clothes on their own now. What’s more, their clothes are always in style.
The after-school life has also changed. More than half of parents had a daily bedtime story in their childhood, while a third of modern children watch daily cartoons on the Internet instead now.
1. How do students feel about returning to school now?| A．Upset. | B．Excited. | C．Sad. | D．Disappointed. |
| A．They don’t miss their friends. |
| B．They have seen their friends during the holiday. |
| C．It is not the right time for them to chat with each other. |
| D．Children get in touch with their friends during the holiday. |
| A．More children walk to school now. |
| B．Children’s clothes are always in style now. |
| C．Most children now chat with their friends on the way to school. |
| D．Children don’t know about their friends’ life during the holiday. |
| A．Talk with their parents. | B．Watch cartoons. |
| C．Listen to bedtime stories. | D．Do their homework. |
9 . The journey my daughter Cathy has had with her swimming is as long as it is beautiful. Cathy suffered some terrible
The team practice,
From that day on, Cathy kept swimming and didn’t
Then came to final awards ceremony at the end of the year. Cathy didn’t expect any award but was still there to
| A．loss | B．illness | C．pressure | D．failure |
| A．firstly | B．simply | C．frequently | D．finally |
| A．improve | B．train | C．join | D．contact |
| A．found | B．made | C．created | D．enhanced |
| A．however | B．therefore | C．instead | D．otherwise |
| A．save | B．utilize | C．waste | D．survive |
| A．afraid | B．ready | C．free | D．nervous |
| A．set off | B．show up | C．take off | D．give up |
| A．attend | B．miss | C．ban | D．forget |
| A．trusted | B．experienced | C．determined | D．season |
| A．beginner | B．winner | C．partner | D．learner |
| A．cheer on | B．respond to | C．compete with | D．run after |
| A．getting | B．going | C．nearing | D．drawing |
| A．will | B．humor | C．honesty | D．wisdom |
| A．cared about | B．taken up | C．gotten across | D．gone through |
10 . Many people, some even at a very young age, set the goal of graduating from college. One American woman in Texas waited a long time for her chance to reach that goal.
The woman, 85-year-old Janet Fein, received her bachelor’s degree (学士学位) from the University of Texas in December, 2018. Fein has had a full life. She raised five children and then had a career as a secretary (秘书) until she retired at age 77. But even then, she was not ready to take it easy and rest during a well-earned retirement. She decided to major in sociology (社会学). Fein grew up in the Bronx area of New York City. In high school, she just wanted to finish and get a job. After graduating early, at the age of 16, she went to work as a secretary.
Fein has had a full life. She raised five children and then had a career as a secretary (秘书) until she retired at age 77. But even then, she was not ready to take it easy and rest during a well-earned retirement. She decided to major in sociology (社会学).
After getting married, she spent 18 years staying home with her children. She held several jobs throughout her life, including being a secretary at a Dallas hospital. That is the job she retired from in 2011. She received an associate degree (专科学位) in 1995. But she also wanted to earn a bachelor’s degree. Fein took part in a state program that lets people who are 65 and older take free classes at public universities in Texas.
She kept going to class even as her health condition worsened. During her studies, it became necessary for her to use a walker to get around and she needed oxygen (氧气) too. She also developed knee problems. So, Fein took online classes to finish the last part of her degree requirements.
Renee Brown is one of Fein’s care-givers. She says Fein has also inspired her. At 53, she plans to begin nursing school to further her career. Brown says Fein told her, “Renee, you can do it. If I can do it you also can do it, and you will feel so good about it.”
1. When did Janet Fein start to work?| A．In 1949. | B．In 1995. | C．In 2018 | D．In 2012. |
| A．Secretary. | B．Sociology. | C．History. | D．Health. |
| A．Shocked. | B．Disappointed. | C．Encouraged. | D．Employed. |
| A．Practice makes perfect. | B．When in Rome, do as the Romans do. |
| C．A friend in need is a friend indeed. | D．It is never too late to learn. |
