1 . For the past 10 years I have been cycling on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Every summer vacation, I spend a month biking across the plateau.

In 2014, I set out on a cycle route with five other people in the far west of the Tibet autonomous region. Our 2,000-kilometer route started in Lhasa in the east, passed through the northern part of the prefecture (辖区) and ended in the west.

Titled the “top of the Roof of the World”, the plateau, which has a small population, has incredible scenery. Travelers can see the snowy mountains, clean blue lakes, lots of animals during the day, and clear, starry skies at night.

The route consists of dirt, even broken stones and paths, which have been formed over time by passing vehicles. Animal attacks are a potential risk in the wild. One night, we had to camp near a forest where there were potential animal attacks, especially from wolves. We found a house in a locked yard, but no one answered our calls from the gate. It was the time of the seasonal migration, so maybe the people had moved to another place for better water and grass. Then we had to camp outside. One of us was very experienced and careful. He placed some hay bales (干草捆) alongside the wall and said that if something dangerous happened, we could use them to jump into the yard and shelter (躲避) in the house.

Luckily, we didn’t meet any wolves or other animals, though we could hear them calling. Animal attacks remain a major cause of injuries on that route. Before the trip, we read online that a traveler had been bitten by wolves. The temporary “step” our companion built made us feel safer.

1. Which one is true according to the first two paragraphs?

A．The author often take part in recycling race.

B．Whenever the spring comes, the author will recycle to Tibit.

C．In 2014’s cycling route, the author set out from Lhasa.

D．In 2014’s cycling route, the author rode eastern form west.

2. What does Paragraph 3 mainly talk about?

A．Why the plateau is called the “top of the Roof of the World”.

B．Why it’s hard to travel around the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

C．The small population of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

D．The beauty of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

3. What does the underlined word “potential” mean in Paragraph 4?

A．Slight.

B．Terrible.

C．Possible.

D．Additional.

4. Why did one of them put hay bales beside the wall?

A．To make them feel safer.

B．To keep themselves warm.

C．To feed cows for the villagers.

D．To help the villagers make a fire.

2 . For most of us, a large part of our work requires us to look at the screen for a long time.     1     Sadly, too much screen time can cause eye damage and affect our mood. While it is impossible to escape the screen completely, there are ways to reduce the time you place your eyes and brain under the screen strain.

    2     But constant chatting means our eyes are down on our phones and other devices for long. If possible, try and schedule phone calls with distant loved ones and make face-to-face catch-up with closer relatives. “In-person meetings provide a sense of connection and empathy that is difficult to replace via video,” Paul Axtell, corporate trainer and author of the book Meetings Matter, told The Washington Post.

Keeping up to date on your social media channels is fun and socially very important for many users. But these channels can also be a big time waster for many people.     3     The next step is to gradually reduce this, particularly on days when screen usage is high for other reasons.

If you live with someone else, you can try to take on your screen time together. Establish certain areas in your home, or time periods in the day, where you both agree to stay off of your phone.     4     Consider doing some hobbies together, like cooking dinner or playing a board game.

One of the biggest tech no-no’s that people commonly commit is bringing phones, computers, and more into bed with them. Don’t charge your phone next to your bed, as it will cause you to check for messages or even the time if you wake up during the night.     5    

A．One of the useful strategies is setting clear boundaries.

B．Try to limit how much time per day you will spend on social media.

C．You need regain control over the time spent on these digital devices.

D．Many of our online time-killing activities also add to the screen time.

E．Looking at the phone’s screen just before bed can affect your sleep too.

F．During that time, you can enjoy some face-to-face communication instead.

G．The Internet gives us various ways to stay in touch with friends and family.

3 . Avett Ray is a little boy with a disability. It may seem ______ for other kids. However, that’s not the case for Avett Ray. Actually , this six-year-old boy shows that he has a ______ far beyond kids of his age.

The young piano genius (天才) was born ______ . But he hasn’t been held back by the difficulty. Though he can’t see, he taught himself to play the piano by ear. He ______ this when he was less than two years old, which shocked his parents. Now he has a piano teacher to help him improve his ______ . His excellent performance _______people, so they invited him to perform. He _______. After all, he wants to influence others using his example , so he welcomes every _______.

Avett Ray is very ______ about spreading his music. In fact, he asked his mom to send his videos to Adele, a ______, so that he could ask her for some advice. It is her songs that ______ him, making him decide to do something good. He hopes to use his gift to make others accept and ______ people like him. Avett Ray’s mom even ______ a book called Cotton Candy Clouds to teach people how to show support for them. “Avett Ray is a character in the book, although he appears in a small part of the book,” his mom said. “ ______ , he couldn’t see clouds, so I wrote this book to let him see them. The book says everybody is made ______ and that we’re all born with our own gifts and can do something.”

1.

A．strange

B．easy

C．unlucky

D．unfair

2.

A．gift

B．dream

C．choice

D．task

3.

A．perfect

B．blind

C．strong

D．smart

4.

A．controlled

B．shared

C．used

D．began

5.

A．goal

B．skills

C．time

D．scores

6.

A．changed

B．educated

C．amazed

D．helped

7.

A．agreed

B．admitted

C．doubted

D．tried

8.

A．moment

B．suggestion

C．band

D．chance

9.

A．active

B．careful

C．nervous

D．certain

10.

A．director

B．manager

C．singer

D．fan

11.

A．calmed

B．served

C．persuaded

D．encouraged

12.

A．understand

B．comfort

C．protect

D．believe

13.

A．borrowed

B．found

C．wrote

D．bought

14.

A．Simply

B．Clearly

C．Gradually

D．Usually

15.

A．special

B．brave

C．ordinary

D．equal

4 . When we talk about protecting the environment and sustainability, we focus on factories and industries that produce cars, household objects, and materials used in production. However, the carbon footprint of the fast fashion industry is sizeable and should not be overlooked.

Fast fashion has seen quite the rise recently, with stores spreading far and wide all over the world. They mass-produce one collection after the other, always on trend, and always encouraging consumers to follow the said trend. However, what about the impact this kind of business model has on the environment?

The clothing industry is the second-highest polluter of water. Factories of fast fashion poured poisonous chemicals into clean water supplies because clothing production is a land-and water-intensive industry, responsible for 10% of all carbon release globally. Even after the clothes are produced in factories, they can still affect the environment. For example, polyester (涤纶) can release plastic microfibres into the water system, which contributes to the already existing plastic problem.

The fashion industry is indeed causing great harm to the environment; moreover, the clothes being made are not meant to last. In most cases, the quality is not there, and the clothes are only used a few times before being discarded. Before the rise of fast fashion, clothes were made to last and were not meant to have the high turnover that clothes have.

There are many designers who are committed to mass-producing their clothes in sustainable ways. Some big brands are also trying to make improvements in the materials they use and the mass-producing process, but big efforts are needed if we are going to see a change. What we as consumers can do is shop consciously and consider how the clothes have been made and whether we truly need that piece or not.

1. What can be inferred about fast fashion from the first two paragraphs?

A．It stresses offline sales.	B．It affects the environment seriously.
C．It is a sustainable industry worldwide.	D．It is popular among young consumers.

2. What is the impact of polyester mentioned in paragraph 3?

A．It makes clothing last long.	B．It reduces carbon footprint.
C．It results in water pollution.	D．It lowers the production cost.

3. What does the underlined word “discarded” in paragraph 4 probably mean?

A．Thrown away.

B．Picked up.

C．Passed down.

D．Turned in.

4. What should consumers do to protect the environment according to the text?

A．Support big fashion brands.	B．Stop buying long-lasting clothes.
C．Think twice before shopping for clothes.	D．Change dressing styles frequently.

5 . When I was young, my mother was very much concerned for my happiness and was always there to support me. We had healthy boundaries (界限). When my own turn came for being a mother, I was determined to do so.

But as my daughter and I sat down to choose courses for the seventh grade, I felt the boundaries begin to fall. Students were allowed three electives (选修课) each term. Several of these were year-long courses—band, orchestra, yearbook and Spanish, and the rest were random (随机的) — technology education, drama, leadership and PE. I hated PE in my own school days.

We read the elective options carefully and sweet relief flooded through me. “You can sign up for band, yearbook and Spanish, and you won’t have to take PE ever,” I told her. I settled back into my chair, a weight taken off my chest. My daughter, however, frowned. “But I’m not sure I want to take Spanish. And I want to do the leadership class... and try drama!”

I broke in on her words with more practical wisdom. “You can’t pick the electives you want, though. They’re organized randomly. So you might get drama and leadership..., or you might get gym class or technology education. You might get the classes you want, and you might not. Is it worth risking having to take PE?” Finally, she chose to take the chance and signed up for band, yearbook and one period of the unknown elective. I reminded myself she was not me.

Watching your child walk into the trap of middle school is worse than experiencing it yourself. Motherhood, after all, is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. I am not going into the seventh grade again. It is my daughter’s turn. She is her own person, and while she is delicate and easily hurt, she is also stronger and more confident than I was.

1. What is the function of paragraph 1?

A．To present a fact.	B．To provide an example.
C．To introduce the topic.	D．To make a comparison.

2. Why did the author feel relaxed after reading the elective options?

A．Drama was her daughter’s favorite.	B．Her daughter followed her advice.
C．There were many year-long courses.	D．PE was optional for her daughter.

3. What did the author think of her daughter’s option?

A．It seemed organized.	B．It was uncertain.
C．It was made at random.	D．It sounded reasonable.

4. What does the author want to say in the last paragraph?

A．Motherhood is rewarding.	B．Mothers should learn to let go.
C．Children should ask for help if necessary.	D．Children are too young to make a decision.

6 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容(1个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。

Once upon a time there were two boys living in a palace,     1     job was serving the King. And one boy liked a girl so much that he wanted to give her a present.

One day, he saw a big vase filled with     2     loveliest flowers. He decided to take one to the girl every day, with the thought that no one would see him do so. But one day, the King noticed how few flowers     3     (leave) in the vase and was so angry that he commanded (命令) everyone in the palace to come to the hall.

Before they all arrived, the other boy told the boy     4     (be) quiet, because the King would be     5     (terrible) angry with him. The boy was     6     (frighten) with fear, but when the King came near, he decided to tell the     7     (true).

As soon as the boy admitted having taken the flowers, the King went red with anger, but after     8     (hear) what the boy had done with the flowers, the King said     9     a smile, “I couldn’t have thought of a better use for my flowers.” Then from that day, the boy became one of the King’s most     10     (depend) friends.

7 . Gossip is the sharing of personal information about someone else who is not present. All of us have probably caught ourselves, from time to time, allowing ourselves to enjoy the pleasure of gossiping more than we would like to admit. Someone says the words, “Don’t tell this to anyone.”     1     We all know that we shouldn’t talk behind someone’s back, but gossip is so common.

Gossip has some characteristics (特点). First, gossip is an activity that is done with other people.     2     Second, the information shared is always about someone who is not present in the conversation, or about someone whom we believe to be absent. Third, when we gossip, we not only share facts, but also make some judgments about the person.

Researchers studied volunteers, including women and men, to find out some facts about gossip. They found that most gossip was neutral (不偏袒的).     3     Most of this gossip was about people they knew of. Negative gossip was twice as common as positive gossip. Over three-fourths of the gossip was simply discussing someone else.

    4     Outgoing people gossip more than quiet people. People who are wealthier and well-educated gossip more than people who have less money and education.     5     On average, people spent about 52 minutes a day gossiping. The study showed that gossip is everywhere.

A．We can’t do it alone or only in our head.

B．Women gossip more than men, but only neutrally.

C．So people express their angry feelings by gossiping.

D．What’s more interesting is who gossips and how much.

E．And the information was interesting for the present people.

F．But moments later, we may tell it to someone else with the exact same warning.

G．It means people were simply sharing information about a person who wasn’t present.

8 . For those in search of safe, non-medicine sleep aids (助手), sound machines are a popular choice. The National Sleep Foundation recently found that 5% of Americans sleep with a “sound conditioner”. It can be a fan, phone app, or other noise-producing machines.

Michael Grandner, director of the Sleep and Health Research Program at the University of Arizona, says a sound conditioner is a lifesaver if you live where loud nighttime noise is common. But even if your bedroom is very quiet, sound machines can still be helpful if you’re the type of person unsettled by a total absence of noise, or if you’re a light sleeper who wakes from even the softest sound.

Research supports the idea that a little background sound can help people fall asleep. For a study in the journal Sleep Medicine, the researchers asked sleepers to listen to recorded hospital sounds either with or without a white noise machine. They found that those who slept with the white noise machine were hardly affected by the hospital sounds, while others who slept without white noise were easily awakened.

There’s also so-called “pink noise” and “brown noise”, which can sound similar to white noise. “I don’t think there’s enough evidence yet to say one type is better than another,” says Michelle Drerup, a sleep psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic. “I know from talking with my patients that some people prefer natural sounds, like a rainstorm. But others don’t want a sound at all when they sleep,” she says. “It all comes down to the individual (个人).”

For some, the best sound might be none. “Biologically (生物学上), you don’t need this sound to sleep,” says Michael Grandner, “and if you use it every night, you can get so used to it that you can’t sleep without it.” Most sleep experts agree. “I wouldn’t suggest people use sound machines to sleep unless they’re reporting difficulties with outside noises,” an expert says.

1. According to the text, who should sleep with a sound conditioner?

A．Those who fall asleep fast.

B．Those who wake up easily.

C．Those who live in a quiet street.

D．Those who are afraid to sleep alone.

2. What does Michelle Drerup think of the best type of sound for sleep?

A．Pink noise and brown noise are better.

B．Sleeping without any noise is the best.

C．It all depends on personal preferences.

D．Natural sounds are the best for people.

3. What is most experts’ suggestion?

A．To use sound machines as little as possible.

B．To see a doctor with your sleeping problems.

C．To find a very quiet place to treat sleeping problems.

D．To break the habits of sleeping with sound machines.

4. What’s the main idea of the text?

A．Most Americans have a bad sleep.

B．White noises are good for humans.

C．Sound conditioners are a safe, non-medicine sleep aid.

D．Not everyone should sleep with white noise machine.

9 . Things to do in London this weekend

Sheep & Wool Fayre, Sunday 11 am

Sheep & Wool Fayre is one of Spitalfield’s City Farm’s biggest community events and this year it’s still going ahead virtually (虚拟地) celebrating all woolly things with all its usual shows and competitions.

Order take-away pints（一品脱的啤酒）

Buy a pint and head for some of that daily exercise — or a rest — in the park. Just remember: parks in the capital are still largely closed right now, so check their opening hours ahead of time. And many parks close at 5 pm or 7 pm each evening.

Royal Botanic Gardens, all weekend

The world-famous Royal Botanic Gardens has been allowed by the government to welcome visitors. Of course, it will be going under strict social distancing rules and all visitors, including members, will have to book tickets online ahead of time.

Camden Market, Saturday 10 am

Camden Market — along with the rest of London — has been closed because of COVID-19 for the last two months, but it is opening its stores again. Head along to pick up some top-quality things — only fresh produce will be sold at this time. When you visit, there will be strict social distance rules.

Maltby Street Market, all weekend

Outdoor markets have been officially allowed to be re-opened to the public — but with strict social distance rules in place. Maltby Street Market is making a comeback today. For now, it’ll be returning as the “Maltby St. Produce Market”, having “a small number of carefully selected fresh produce traders”.

1. Which can only be enjoyed online right now?

A．Sheep & Wool Fayre.	B．Royal Botanic Gardens.
C．Camden Market.	D．Maltby Street Market.

2. What makes Royal Botanic Gardens different from the others?

A．It’s open to all visitors.

B．Local government runs it.

C．It is very well-known in the world.

D．Tickets must be booked beforehand.

3. What can people probably buy at the re-opened markets according to the text?

A．Top-quality clothes.	B．Wool products.
C．Fresh produce.	D．Pints.

10 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. Who was going to give a party for Mary?

A．Mr Green.

B．Mary’s friends.

C．Mrs Green.

2. How old was Mary going to be?

A．Thirty.

B．Twenty.

C．Thirteen.

3. What did Mrs Green buy for the party?

A．Some fruit like apples, oranges and bananas.

B．Some food like cakes, bread and meat.

C．Some drinks like tea, coffee and milk.

4. When did the party begin?

A．At three o’clock.

B．Before three o’clock.

C．After three o’clock.