1 . Further research is needed to __________ why and what these results mean practically for human health.

A．figure out

B．give out

C．mark out

D．try out

2 . A few weeks earlier, my pastor (牧师) had called upon me to be one of ten team leaders to help with the church’s upcoming fundraiser for building improvements. Though I said yes, this was definitely outside my _________.

Each team leader needed to find five to seven people to _________. I already had three team members. I only needed a couple more. _________ the crowd, I noticed Beth. I thought she might have time for the project. I explained everything to her. She listened _________ and agreed that the church needed some _________, and then she said, “I’ll happily donate towards the improvements, but I had the _________ to say no.”

I stood there shocked by her _________. I wasn’t upset about her refusal. _________, I was completely awed (充满敬畏的) by the way in which she _________ it. “I’m giving myself the right to say no.” It had never __________ me that I could say no when asked to help out or volunteer for a project. I was afraid that by saying no, they would __________ me.

Beth had just opened up an entirely new world to me, and I __________ it was time that I gave myself right to say no as well. The next time I was asked to __________ in a project that I didn’t feel was a good fit, I __________, just like Beth had taught me. I discovered that there were no hard __________ when I said no, and it gave me the necessary free time to do a better job with other projects.

1.

A．common practice

B．safety rule

C．comfort zone

D．rock bottom

2.

A．examine

B．follow

C．concentrate

D．participate

3.

A．Scanning

B．Greeting

C．Introducing

D．Inquiring

4.

A．partly

B．attentively

C．accidentally

D．aimlessly

5.

A．improving

B．recovering

C．attempting

D．risking

6.

A．chance

B．right

C．time

D．power

7.

A．application

B．comment

C．response

D．performance

8.

A．Therefore

B．Somehow

C．Otherwise

D．Instead

9.

A．made

B．put

C．got

D．took

10.

A．struck

B．shocked

C．satisfied

D．amazed

11.

A．get hold of

B．catch up with

C．think less of

D．put up with

12.

A．pretended

B．guessed

C．assumed

D．realized

13.

A．assist

B．interview

C．explore

D．observe

14.

A．nodded

B．agreed

C．doubted

D．declined

15.

A．bottoms

B．principles

C．feelings

D．rules

3 . You should not give up an outdoor exercise routine just because it is windy or rainy. Having the right kit will __________ make it a better experience.

A．patiently

B．definitely

C．partly

D．slightly

4 . Winter seems to drag on endlessly this time of year, so it’s only natural to start thinking about getting away, and the sunny south of France is calling your name!

Avignon

If you’re looking for history, then visit the town center of Avignon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you want to learn even more about this attractive town, then take a tour— it is often guided by a local expert. Hear the history first-hand and come away with a greater understanding as to how the town came to be.

Chateau

Nothing says French countryside more than a chateau surrounded by acres of vineyards. There are wines to choose from. You can also explore the surrounding natural beauty on a horse ride, and they even run vineyard tours on horseback for a truly unique experience. Be sure to bring back a bottle or two of the Chateau des Bertrands wine so you can share a glass with friends as you tell them all about your trip.

Magnificent Marseille

The oldest city in France, starting out as an ancient Greek colony (殖民地), with its rich history, can keep every holidaymaker happy. A unique way to see as much as possible of what this great city has to offer is to book onto a segway tour. See the sights of the Museum Marseilles, Cathédrale La Major, and the historic Le Panier, while you walk around the streets.

Cannes

With amazing blue waters, fresh seafood, and mild winters, it’s an attractive destination to visit all year round. If you want a beach day, we’d recommend the Plage du Midi, easily accessible from the center of town. If you want to make the most of the Mediterranean Sea, don’t just look at it — sail on it!

1. What makes Avignon different from the other three places?

A．Its beautiful scene.

B．Its mild weather.

C．Its rich history.

D．Its guided expert.

2. What does the author suggest visitors do when travelling in Chateau?

A．Ride a horse.

B．Take local wines.

C．Buy a gift.

D．Taste some snacks.

3. Who may favor Cannes most?

A．Beach lovers.

B．Museum goers.

C．Enthusiastic hikers.

D．Sports players.

5 . A group of clams (河蚌) recently caught people’s attention after an article was posted by China Science Communication online. Although these clams are usually regarded as nothing more than delicious food, they work to monitor the local water quality in Poland.

Gruba Kaska pumping station, which stands in the River Wisla, helps provide millions of liters of water to Warsaw, the capital of Poland. However, one particular concern for the water quality has been heavy metals, and researchers sought help from nature to solve this problem.

Clams are sensitive to pollutants in their environment as they filter (过滤) water to feed on microorganisms. They shut their shells immediately after detecting “dangerous” water.

Based on this, the researchers selected eight clams at a time and recorded the natural opening of their shells. After the clam “employees” become accustomed to the local water, they are placed in a specially designed container. With sensors stuck onto their shells, the clams are connected to a system that records how wide the shells are open. If four or more clams close their shells at the same time, an alarm will be set off and the water supply will be shut down. The result is reliable because the creatures are considering many different factors at the same time, according to ZME Science.

Animals have long been helpers for human activities. Farmers in north Queensland, Australia, have been ordering different species of dung beetles to help clean up cattle waste, according to ABC News. As the number of cattle grows, their waste increases, leading to an enormous population of flies and a worsening environment. Dung beetles, however, take the waste and bury it. This way, they help improve soil quality.

Similarly, cockroaches are used to deal with kitchen waste at several firms in China, according to a report of The Beijing News. About 300 million cockroaches are fed 15 tons of food waste on a daily basis, and they themselves are a good protein resource for livestock.

1. Why did the researchers turn to nature for help?

A．To solve the food shortage.	B．To attract people’s attention.
C．To supervise the water quality.	D．To remove heavy metals sooner.

2. What is the paragraph 4 mainly about?

A．The reason for the study.	B．The result of the research.
C．The purpose of the study.	D．The process of the study.

3. How can dung beetles help farmers?

A．By cleaning up food waste regularly.

B．By dealing with cattle’s waste properly.

C．By digesting and burying the waste of flies.

D．By using kitchen waste to improve soil quality.

4. What can be the best title for the text?

A．Animals, Good Helpers of Humans	B．Three Kinds of Amazing Animals
C．A Special Way to Test Water Quality	D．Animals, Far More than Tasty Food

6 . A 420-meter white steel tube running alongside a railway line in the northern Netherlands could be the start of a new kind of transportation for people and goods. The tube from Hyperloop Center is the heart of the new transport technology that opened recently in Veendam. Developers from Hyperloop Center will be testing the changing technology there over the coming years.

Hyperloop technology was once supported by business leader Elon Musk. Its supporters say it is far faster than short flights, high-speed rail, and trucks. When Musk first presented the idea, he said it could transport people the nearly 645 kilometers between Los Angeles and San Francisco in 30 minutes. But since then, progress has been slow to get from an idea to the real world.

Sascha Lamme is the center’s director. He expects to have the first Hyperloop route by 2030. He said, “There are already preparations being done for such routes in for example Italy or India.”

Robert Noland is a professor at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University in New Jersey. He told The Associated Press that policy makers go after big ideas of the future but they should invest in simpler transportation structures. He added, “It costs too much to build.” But Lamme noted that they have not added all of the ways they can reduce costs over the next ten years.

The test center’s tube is made up of 34 separate sections mostly 2 and a half meters wide. A piece of equipment next to the tube removes air in the tube to reduce the pressure inside the tube. That reduces air resistance and permits capsules to travel at such high speeds. A capsule built by Dutch hyperloop company Hardt Hyperloop will be tested next month. It receives financial support from private investments, local and national governments, and the European Commission.

While testing continues in Veendam, hyperloop developers hope that routes for their technology will be coming. Lamme stated that getting government authorization (授权) for building routes is their main hardship they encountered. And he said finding new financial support to test and show the technology is what is needed to make this happen.

1. What does Hyperloop Center aim to do?

A．Build a 420-meter white steel tube.	B．Develop a new transport technology.
C．Ask for donations from the local company.	D．Meet the challenges of the new technology.

2. What is the benefit of Hyperloop technology compared to traditional vehicles?

A．It’s more eco-friendly.	B．It’s cheaper.
C．It’s more efficient.	D．It’s much safer.

3. What is Robert Noland’s attitude towards Hyperloop’s future?

A．Unclear.

B．Indifferent.

C．Approving.

D．Doubtful.

4. What is the main difficulty about building routes according to Lamme?

A．Finding some new financial supports.	B．Gaining the government’s approval.
C．Travelling at a very high speed.	D．Running along a railway line.

7 . A service was held __________ __________ __________ those who had died in the fighting.
为了纪念那些在战斗中牺牲的人而举办了一场仪式。

8 . Her mother __________ __________ a week before and she had tried to stay in the house for as long as possible.
她的妈妈一星期以前刚过世，她本来想一直待在家里。

9 . __________ __________ his book, Simon didn’t even notice me come in at that time.
西蒙沉浸在他的书中，甚至没有注意到我在那个时候进来。

10 . When Mary __________ __________ __________ __________ Tom at a young age, she was sure that she would marry him.
当玛丽年轻时爱上汤姆时，她确信自己会嫁给他。