1 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What are the highest temperatures in Northern India now?

A．About 35℃.

B．Almost 40℃.

C．Over 47℃.

2. How many Indian people died in 2016 due to heat-related illnesses?

A．About 200.

B．About 1,000.

C．About 2,000.

3. What will be done under extremely high temperatures?

A．Government projects will be done at night.

B．Bottles of water will be sold at low prices.

C．School days will be reduced.

4. What will the weather be like late this month in India?

A．Cooler.

B．All the same.

C．Hotter.

2 . It was the day of the big cross-country run. Students from seven different primary schools in and around the small town were warming up. I looked around and ______spotted David. I walked over and asked him why he wasn’t with the other______. He hesitated and then said he had decided not to______.

What was wrong? He had worked so hard for this event! I quickly searched for the school’s ______ and asked him what had happened. He said that kids from other schools would ______David. After making sure that David could run if he ______ to, I decided to have a talk with David.

David had a brain ______ which prevented him from walking or running like other children, but he always participated to the ______of his ability in whatever they were doing. That was why none of the children thought it ______ that David had decided to join the cross-country team. It just took him ______— that’s all. As a special education teacher at the school, I was familiar with the ______ David faced and was proud of his strong ______.

I came up to David and ______ him. Finally, he was determined to______ the race. Half an hour later, the race ______, but he had only gone a few meters before he tripped and ______on the ground. My heart ______. As I started to shout encouragement, other voices around me took up the ______. “Come on David, you can do it!” David picked himself up and started again. Needless to say, David ______ last. And he raised his arms high as he ______ the finish line to wild cheers and applause.

1.

A．gradually

B．temporarily

C．finally

D．quietly

2.

A．friends

B．partners

C．schoolmates

D．children

3.

A．walk

B．run

C．go

D．leave

4.

A．adviser

B．headmaster

C．doctor

D．coach

5.

A．care for

B．laugh at

C．worry about

D．take in

6.

A．wanted

B．agreed

C．decided

D．informed

7.

A．injury

B．disease

C．activity

D．image

8.

A．best

B．least

C．most

D．worst

9.

A．unnecessary

B．unusual

C．possible

D．natural

10.

A．hours

B．days

C．shorter

D．longer

11.

A．danger

B．threat

C．challenges

D．risks

12.

A．body

B．power

C．support

D．determination

13.

A．awarded

B．rewarded

C．encouraged

D．touched

14.

A．participate in

B．break off

C．take charge of

D．sign up for

15.

A．paused

B．stopped

C．delayed

D．started

16.

A．lay

B．sat

C．fell

D．dropped

17.

A．sank

B．beat

C．hurt

D．died

18.

A．board

B．call

C．sport

D．match

19.

A．finished

B．smiled

C．left

D．abandoned

20.

A．monitored

B．searched

C．crossed

D．observed

3 . On a cold morning in May, I received a fascinating email from a high school friend. inviting me to a 10-day all-female surfing adventure in Portugal. The offer was irresistible, and I instantly knew my answer was yes.

The trip seemed simple enough. Ten women, ranging from 30 to 45 years old, all strangers, will gather on the Portuguese coast to embrace the challenge of surfing the Atlantic waves.

As a travel enthusiast, I quickly sought permission from my boss for this once-in-a- lifetime journey.

Through my 33 years, I’ve observed a common adult tendency: we often limit ourselves to refining skills we already possess. There’s a certain pride in improving our expertise, becoming increasingly knowledgeable in our chosen fields, yet unintentionally, this focus often leaves other skills undeveloped and leads to neglecting other areas of potential growth.

Two days later, I arrived in Ericeira, a charming surf town, where I met my surfing group. Despite our different personalities and backgrounds, we were all united in a persistent desire to challenge ourselves, learn, tackle and grow.

The shores at Ericeira, where the beginners learn to surf, are shallow and covered with slippery rocks. They make for softer waves but are difficult to navigate (驾驭).

Guided by our amazing coaches, together, we faced the waves. Sometimes, it poured with rain, and the waves crashed around us, but we were still out there. And with every slip and fall, words of encouragement filled the air.

Honestly, I probably spent most of my days frozen to the bone, but that didn’t matter because a new level of genuine joy and personal achievement had been unlocked.

Learning a new skill taught me the humbleness that can come from doing badly at something new, and the pride that develops when you finally manage to grasp something you’ve been working on.

While surfing might not be my calling, trying it out inspired me to take more risks in life, to step outside of my comfort zone and to never stop believing in myself. You never know what you’re capable of if you don’t go out there and try.

1. What motivated the author to join the surf trip to Portugal?

A．The opportunity to improve existing skills.

B．The need to reconnect with a high school friend.

C．The chance to undertake work duties in Portugal.

D．The desire to embrace a challenge and learn a new skill.

2. What is the author’s view on adults focusing on mastering one field?

A．It narrows one’s abilities.	B．It is essential for career success.
C．It disrupts one’s work-life balance.	D．It develops creativity and exploration.

3. Which of the following words best describe the author’s surfing experience?

A．Tough but rewarding.	B．Boring and uneventful.
C．Difficult and frustrating.	D．Relaxing but unpredictable.

4. What can be inferred about the author?

A．She used to lack confidence in herself.

B．She became more willing to take risks.

C．She went on to become an expert surfer.

D．She discovered the surfing was her true calling.

5. What wisdom did the author gain from the experience with surfing?

A．The value of pushing your limits and trying new things.

B．The need to seek professional training in all new skills.

C．The benefit of traveling with unknown companions.

D．The importance of being an expert in one field.

4 . I love making art and looking at artworks. I’ve found myself wondering how we gain pleasure from art. And now neuroaesthetics, a combination of neuroscience (神经科学) and aesthetics (美学), may provide an answer.

Neuroaesthetics is a relatively young field of research on what happens in the brain when we make aesthetic assessments. Researchers use brain imaging technique to see which brain areas light up when we view paintings that we consider beautiful. Similar research has been done to understand the “neuronal fireworks” that occur when we look at inspiring sculptures, attractive faces, impressive dance, etc.

But why do we find some art beautiful and other art ugly? According to research, it all comes down to the “aesthetic triad (三元组合)”.

The first part of the triad is sensory-motor. This involves perceiving things like colours, shapes and movements. Movement in art has an interesting role. If you see a painting of a movement, like of a man pulling his arm away after being bitten by a dog, you feel like going through a similar experience. The part of your brain that controls your own movements lights up in response.

Second is emotion-valuation. This is how a piece of art makes you feel, and whether or not you appreciate or enjoy that feeling. The part of the brain related to pleasure is activated in response to something we find beautiful. This system can be affected in fascinating ways, as found by research using transcranial magnetic stimulation(TMS) (经颅磁刺激). If TMS is applied to a specific part of your brain behind your forehead that is particularly important for decision-making, you suddenly like different kinds of art. Such stimulation produces significant changes in aesthetic appreciation of faces, bodies and artworks.

The third part is meaning-knowledge. This is to do with how we can connect with a piece of art and what meaning we can create in it. Art is deeply personal, because when two people see the same artwork, our perception can create vastly different experiences of meaning. If we find meaning, then we often find pleasure. We also get enjoyment from the knowledge of how something was made. For the images that an artist creates, viewers will probably get far more enjoyment once they know the process used to create them.

Informed by neuroaesthetics, the next time I create my art I will value the process even more, enjoying the activation of the aesthetic triad in my brain as I admire the vivid images that I have created.

1. What does “neuronal fireworks” in Paragraph 2 refer to?

A．A beautiful painting or sculpture.

B．The lighting-up of specific brain areas.

C．An advanced brain imaging technology.

D．The aesthetic assessment of modern art.

2. What effect does movement in art produce on the viewers?

A．Certain part of their brain is activated.

B．Their experience of pain is reduced.

C．Their aesthetic sense is sharpened.

D．Their body reactions are delayed.

3. The application of TMS to the brain described in Paragraph 5 leads to__________.

A．raised memory capacity

B．enhanced painting skills

C．changed artistic taste

D．improved decision-making ability

4. According to the author, what increases our enjoyment of a piece of art?

A．Knowing how it is created.

B．Having a pleasant personality.

C．Learning how science develops.

D．Understanding the meaning of life.

5. What is the author’s purpose in writing the passage?

A．To propose an abstract theory of art making.

B．To reveal the beauty of science in an artistic way.

C．To share some personal understanding of artworks.

D．To introduce a new research field for art appreciation.

5 . Humor is so much more than silly situations and funny words. It is about the places we live in, the people who are with us, the events we experience and the problems we face. These humorous English stories will make you laugh first, then think. Here are some funny stories in English to get you started!

“Hunting the Deceitful Turkey” by Mark Twain

Good for: Intermediate to advanced students

Considered one of the funniest turkey tales in American literature, Twain tells a true incident where he tries to shoot a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner.

The story is a humorous account of his failure. It also relates to the American holiday of Thanksgiving, where turkey is the main dish in the feast (宴会).

Since the story was written in 1906, you might read some words which are not commonly used anymore. For instance, the word “swindler” means “cheat” or “fraud.” It might be helpful to have access to a good English dictionary while you read this.

“Let’s Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir” by Jenny Lawson

Good for: Mature intermediate learners

Have you ever felt that you did not fit in, or that you were strange or awkward? The author of this book felt like that throughout her life.

There are tales about her sister going to school in a bird costume, her “message-board” cat, her relationship and more. Her story is equal parts funny and enlightening (something which makes you aware).

The core message is that the moments that embarrass us are really the ones that define (界定) us. If you are still unsure about the book, you can read this article by The Washington Post.

“The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year” by Sue Townsend

Good for: Intermediate learners

Eva, the main character, is disappointed with her family. When her children leave home, she climbs into bed and stays there.

She refuses to be a dutiful wife to her indifferent (漠不关心的) husband, and she stops being an ideal mother to her careless children. Soon, unexpected things start happening. The true face of every person in the household starts to come out.

The novel is funny but also seeks to question traditional family roles. For a more detailed overview, read this review by The Guardian.

1. Which book is for intermediate learners?

A．Let’s Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir.

B．The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year and Let’s Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir.

C．Hunting the Deceitful Turkey and Let’s Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir.

D．Hunting the Deceitful Turkey and The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year.

2. What can we learn about Hunting the Deceitful Turkey?

A．It is not a real story.

B．Twain failed to catch the turkey in the end.

C．The language in this story is simple and easy to understand.

D．You can use this book as a good English dictionary.

3. What is the key information of Let’s Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir?

A．The writer’s sister always goes to school in a bird costume.

B．The writer always fails to fit in with society.

C．The writer is always unsure whether she will overcome an embarrassing moment.

D．In difficult or uncomfortable situations, people may reveal their true selves and learn and grow from them.

4. What is the writer’s purpose in writing The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year?

A．To make fun.	B．To describe Eva’s bad family life.
C．To question traditional family roles.	D．To expect the unexpected.

5. Which of the following is the passage probably taken from?

A．An English stories site.	B．A residency contract.
C．A library brochure.	D．A technical instruction book.

6 . Do you find yourself pulling away from others, especially if you’ve experienced a deep disappointment? Maybe the most ______ thing most of us can do is to be with people when we don’t feel like being around anybody.

A man who lost his wife to cancer found himself wanting to be ______ . He dropped out of his community and ______ all of the activities he and his wife were used to for year. He ______ socializing at work and returned ______ home to an empty house after work. He turned down ______ from friends and co-workers.

His friends became ______ . One came by to visit and invite him over for supper the next evening. The two old friends sat in comfortable chairs by a ______ . The visitor extended the dinner invitation and ______ him to come, “You may need to ______ others to share your pain.”

The man responded that he felt better ______ staying with other people. “And ______ ,” he said, “it’s just too difficult to get out anymore.”

They sat in ______ for a while, watching the wood burn in the fireplace. Then the visitor did a(n) ______ thing. He took tongs (火钳) by the fireplace, reached into the fire, pulled out a ______ coal and laid down by itself on the earth. “That’s you,” he said.

The man sat in silence, ______ the red-hot ember. Neither man looked ______ as the once hot coal gradually transformed into a black lump. After some moments, the man said, “I get the ______ , my friend. I’ll be over tomorrow evening.”

We cannot ______ in any healthy way by ourselves. The leaf needs the branch. The branch needs the trunk. The trunk needs the roots. And the roots need the rest of the tree. We are ______ . And in that connection life and vitality (活力) are found.

1.

A．exciting

B．common

C．difficult

D．obvious

2.

A．independent

B．cheerful

C．sociable

D．alone

3.

A．enjoyed

B．refused

C．looked back to

D．took part in

4.

A．quit

B．reduced

C．kept

D．became fond of

5.

A．hurriedly

B．hopefully

C．straight

D．eagerly

6.

A．greetings

B．visits

C．kindness

D．invitations

7.

A．annoyed

B．alarmed

C．disappointed

D．curious

8.

A．warm fireplace

B．beautiful garden

C．bright window

D．TV set

9.

A．inspired

B．told

C．encouraged

D．required

10.

A．inform

B．expect

C．leave

D．allow

11.

A．while

B．without

C．regardless of

D．because of

12.

A．besides

B．otherwise

C．generally

D．therefore

13.

A．turn

B．silence

C．tears

D．talks

14.

A．frightening

B．heartwarming

C．unusual

D．interesting

15.

A．black

B．burnt

C．dark

D．flaming

16.

A．watching

B．holding

C．admiring

D．ignoring

17.

A．down

B．away

C．ahead

D．around

18.

A．point

B．invitation

C．news

D．notice

19.

A．think

B．understand

C．escape

D．survive

20.

A．welcomed

B．concerned

C．connected

D．affected

7 . This national park is the unique area __________ live both wild Siberian tigers and Siberian leopards.

A．where	B．which
C．as	D．who

8 . Unfortunately, Tom’s computer as well as two bags, ______ on the bus yesterday.

A．have been stolen	B．has been stolen
C．was stolen	D．were stolen

9 . A new project aims to create a computer replica (复制品) of an entire city. It will allow experts to perform real-time resilience (适应力) testing to see how is infrastructure (基础设施) will perform in the face of challenges such as climate change and population growth.

Known as the “digital twin”, the technology has already been adopted by Formula One teams and engine makers like Rolls Royce, but its use to this degree didn’t exist.

A partnership between Newcastle University and Northumbrian Water will recreate Newcastle based on data from across the city and test its resilience in possible emergencies. Professor Chris Kilsby said, “You can try lots of things with the twin in the case of a city. I think of it as a replica that you can play with and do unimaginable things to see what would happen. The changes can be seen immediately — from observing what would happen if the river Tyne rises by a few meters to what the city would look like if the population has aged over a certain period of time. It could also be used to model human behavior, for example, determining the most likely roads people would use in the event of a food.”

Newcastle University is working on a data platform with lots of dynamic parts like traffic, water, population, etc. Much of the data is coming from the university’s Urban Observatory project, which has monitors all over the city checking pollution, water quality and biodiversity.

In 2012 an event known locally as the “Toon monsoon” took place, with a month’s worth of rain falling in two hours during the evening rush hour, causing £ 8 m worth of damage. The Toon monsoon caused a breakdown to the city because we just didn’t design anything for that sort of event. There was no one to blame. The city just couldn’t resist the heavy rain.

The digital twin will allow the city not only to react in real time to such strange weather events, but also to test its resilience in endless potential future emergencies.

Chris Jones, research and development manager at Northumbrian Water, imagined the project’s “amazing possibilities”, saying that in time it could be applied to any city with accessible data.

1. What do we know about the “digital twin” from the first two paragraphs?

A．It is not new to us.	B．It is a computer system.
C．It predicts extreme weather.	D．It has met with many challenges.

2. What are Professor Chris Kilsby’s words mainly about?

A．The development of the digital twin.	B．People’s test of possible emergencies.
C．The many functions of the digital twin.	D．The numerous changes in the environment.

3. What will Newcastle University do in the project according to the passage?

A．Offering big data about the city.	B．Advocating the new technology.
C．Making up the loss caused by flood.	D．Working out plans for future emergencies.

4. Why is the “Toon monsoon” mentioned here?

A．To draw people’s attention to the terrible loss of the city.

B．To warn people of the potential harm of heavy rain.

C．To indicate the new project’s significance.

D．To show the digital twin’s weakness.

5. What is Chris Jones’ attitude towards the “digital twin”?

A．Cautious.

B．Opposed.

C．Neutral.

D．Supportive.

10 .

A STRAIGHTFORWARD INCOME? INVEST IN HIGHWAYS. Discover why now may be a good time for municipal bonds In today’s particularly unstable economy, aiming for secure sources of income is more relevant than ever. Tax-free municipal bonds (市政债券) (often issued to fund major infrastructure projects for example highways) offer two significant benefits. They can provide historically low risk, and income from bonds is federally (联邦地) tax free. With municipal bonds, investors are paid back the full-face value of their investment at maturity (or earlier, if called) unless the bond defaults, or fails to pay. This historically low risk is essential for many investors, particularly those in, or close to, retirement. In August of 2019, Moody’s Investor’s Service found that rated investment-grade municipal bonds had an average increasing 10-year default rate of just 0.10% between 1970 and 2018. Therefore, they can be an important part of your investment. Income from municipal bonds is not subject to federal income tax and, depending on where you live, may also be free from state and local taxes. Tax-free income can be a big attraction for many investors. Since 1990, Hennion & Walsh has specialized in investment-grade, tax-free municipal bonds. The company supervises over $3 billion in assets (资产) in over 16,000 accounts, providing individual investors with discipline, personal service and integrity. In case you want to know more about the benefits of tax-free municipal bonds, we now have an offer for you. Our specialists have created a helpful Bond Guide for investors. It’s free and comes with no obligation (义务) at all. FREE BOND GUIDE without cost or obligation CALL (800) 318-4850 In the Bond Guide, you’ll learn: The benefits and risks of municipal bonds Strategies for smart bond investing Municipal bond facts every investor should know© 2021 Hennion & Walsh Inc. Securities offered through Hennion & Walsh Inc. Member of FINRA, SIPC. Investing in bonds involves risk including possible loss of principal, i.e. the original amount of money invested. Income may be subject to state, local or federal alternative minimum tax. When interest rates rise, bond prices fall, and when interest rates fall, bond prices rise. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

1. It can be learnt from the leaflet that ______.

A．no taxes of any kind are put on municipal bonds

B．Investment in municipal bonds is relatively safe

C．Hennion & Walsh are billionaire investors

D．interest rates and bond defaults go hand in hand

2. Which of the following is true about Bond Guide?

A．It shares risk-free bond investing skills.

B．It recommends bond investing specialists.

C．It offers a guaranteed investment return.

D．It proposes investing plans for reference only.

3. It can be inferred from the leaflet that municipal bonds are ______.

A．issued particularly in hard times

B．intended for Hennion & Walsh Inc.

C．sheltered by the government in a way

D．subject to the major infrastructure projects

4. Who would be the most likely target readers of this leaflet?

A．Municipal bond administrators.

B．Federal tax calculators.

C．The copyright owners of the Bond Guide.

D．Senior-citizen investors.