1 . Have you ever wondered what happens to your mobile phones and laptops after you throw them out to make way for a newer model? According to its latest Global E-Waste Monitor, India is the third top producer of e-waste in the world. E-waste in Indian landfill goes on to pollute soil and groundwater, affecting food supply systems and water sources.

Thankfully, the country has a new group of artists who are changing these thrown mechanical items-from mobile phones to old televisions- into large murals (壁画) and artworks to creatively show their concern for the waste problem.

Over the past quarter of a century, Mumbai’s Haribaabu Naatesan has transformed hundreds of tonnes of e-waste into art, integrating elements from nature and industry. “I get my waste material from friends, relatives and neighbours who know my interest in e-art and send me bags of thrown electronic appliances,” says Naatesan. Over his career, he has created huge murals for several companies. He has also showed his work at the India Art Fair, as well as several other national displays.

Another artist Vishwanath Davangere has also long worked with e-waste. He likes to take apart old laptops and reassemble (重新组装) them into birds, animals and plants. After retirement, he started pursuing this hobby more seriously and started selling his creations across the world. His most outstanding works include a robotic Egyptian statue with glowing red eyes and a Milky Way made from keyboard keys. He hopes to enable others to reconsider their own consumption habits and make more environmentally conscious choices.

“By giving e-waste a second chance, I aim to raise awareness about the environmental impact of electronic waste.” says Davangare, who today has a collection of more than 600 eco-art objects.

1. Why do the artists create artworks from E-waste?

A．To promote their artistic career.	B．To update electronic appliances.
C．To make profits for several companies.	D．To express their environmental concern.

2. What can we learn about Naatesan from paragraph 3?

A．His creations are displayed globally.	B．He gains support from people around.
C．He has been creating e-art for 10 years.	D．His works integrate technology and history.

3. Which of the following best describes Davangere?

A．Reliable.

B．Confident.

C．Devoted.

D．Generous.

4. Which can be a suitable title for the text?

A．E-waste Recycling Sweeping the World	B．Environmental Problems Worrying Indians
C．An Art Movement Turning Trash into Cash	D．Indian Creatives Transforming E-waste into Art

2 . Released on Aug 30, a three-episode web series titled Escape From the British Museum has gone viral online for its touching and innovative narrative (叙事). The series follows the journey home of a Chinese jade teapot that has come to life as a girl. She runs away from the British Museum and comes across a Chinese journalist who helps the artifact return to China. The series, created by two Chinese vloggers, aims to raise broader awareness of Chinese artifacts that were stolen or looted (掠夺) from China and are displayed or stored in the British Museum.

The video series echoes the Chinese people’s call for the British Museum to return these Chinese artifacts. However, some UK media outlets said that the video series promotes nationalism (民族主义). In fact, every country whose artifacts are displayed or stored in the British Museum wants them back. These countries, such as Greece, Nigeria and Sudan, have already issued their demands for the return of artifacts. It’s fair enough to say these demands are shared. They can correct centuries-old wrongs by having the UK return artifacts to their rightful homes.

An opinion in the UK newspaper The Telegraph said that if the British Museum gives back its collection of artifacts, then nationalism will win over humanity’s common heritage. It also said that the artifacts were “lawfully acquired (合法取得)” by the UK. By “lawfully acquired”, does the writer mean the artifacts were acquired with the “help” of machine guns and warships? Or does he mean that the cultural artifacts of African, Asian and American countries should be kept in the hands of looters, rather than in their land of origin?

1. What is the video series Escape from the British Museum mainly about?

A．Cultural artifacts looted by the UK.

B．Hidden dangers in the British Museum.

C．The arguments about the British museum.

D．The journey of a Chinese artifact coming home.

2. What does the video series aim to highlight?

A．Protests against UK’s nationalism.

B．The beauty of Chinese cultural artifacts.

C．The desire of stolen artifacts to be returned.

D．Efforts made by Chinese activists to get artifacts back.

3. What’s the author’s purpose in mentioning countries like Greece, Nigeria and Sudan?

A．To show the UK did something wrong in the past.

B．To stress China’s demands are shared by many countries.

C．To emphasize former colonized countries have grown stronger.

D．To highlight diverse artifacts are housed in the British Museum.

4. What is the author’s attitude toward the opinion in The Telegraph?

A．It’s totally unacceptable.	B．It’s a little bit reasonable.
C．It lacks enough evidence.	D．It shows the writer’s ignorance.

3 . I have struggled with feelings of unworthiness since forever. My most painful moments were at parties. My friends made fun of me because I was rhythmically (有节奏地)__________ and I couldn’t get my__________ body to imitate the latest dance moves. I was never chosen to dance. I felt like I didn’t__________.

Around age 12, I decided that the way to__________ these feelings of unworthiness was perfection. If I was just perfect then I would fit in. But this strategy didn’t__________.My self-esteem (自尊心) was high when I got good grades and felt__________, but crashed when I didn’t do well__________, or was left out.

After several years of spiritual growth, it__________ me that for many of us, self-worth is tied to our__________. We experience low self-worth__________ we fail or lose approval. So I have begun to cultivate an unconditional self-worth. It’s not about doing things perfectly.__________, “Unconditional self-worth” is the______ that you deserve to be alive, to be loved and cared for.

The__________ to unconditional self-worth is not always easy. It takes courage to free yourself from the __________ you’ve placed on your worth. But this journey is beautiful and worth taking. So I challenge you to embrace yourselves and find your metaphorical (隐喻的) __________ floor and move freely.

1.

A．adjusted

B．bothered

C．challenged

D．compromised

2.

A．twisted

B．annoyed

C．limited

D．awkward

3.

A．belong

B．appeal

C．match

D．deserve

4.

A．solve

B．cure

C．release

D．arouse

5.

A．sustain

B．work

C．hatch

D．dismiss

6.

A．included

B．excluded

C．inspired

D．appreciated

7.

A．internally

B．academically

C．professionally

D．contemporarily

8.

A．occurs to

B．happens to

C．calls on

D．knocks on

9.

A．desires

B．strengths

C．accomplishments

D．harmony

10.

A．as well as

B．as soon as

C．as much as

D．as far as

11.

A．Still

B．However

C．Meanwhile

D．Rather

12.

A．definition

B．resolution

C．sense

D．pose

13.

A．discovery

B．access

C．journey

D．experience

14.

A．emphasis

B．burden

C．demand

D．conditions

15.

A．valley

B．forest

C．dance

D．balcony

4 . With such a wide range of platforms and devices available to the everyday reader, the physical book, while not yet extinct, may end up going that way. Why?     1    .

With a rapid increase in digital reading platforms, reading is no longer a common problem for bookworms.     2     They’re designed to simplify the process of reading on the go. You can select a book, track your progress, and even submit reviews. With no need to carry around physical books, readers are much more likely to pick up where they left off whenever and wherever they may be.

Readers can also carry around their favourite books within an e-reader. Common examples include the Amazon Kindle, Onyx Boox, and PocketBook. These hand-held devices offer fantastic portability, readability and variety.     3     They are much smaller and lighter than physical books, making them an ideal option for those always on the go.

Social media has had a great effect on our reading habits. It governs our daily life. With physical books no longer a key form of entertainment for children, it has been replaced with digital alternatives. Social media and video games have replaced the ways in which we traditionally read and tell stories.     4    .

As is known to us all, technology has changed the ways in which we read at home as well as in the classroom.     5     Exposure to the digital potential of reading is introduced at an early age. Virtual learning platforms have also exploded in popularity in recent years. Technology in the classroom is no longer a luxury but a necessity to keep up with the modern age.

A．There are a number of apps out there.

B．Books and lessons are delivered online.

C．We are still reading but just in a different way.

D．Lots of people find it difficult to fit reading into their daily routine.

E．Some e-readers also allow users to access the Internet for various purposes.

F．There’s nothing worse than realizing you have forgotten your favourite book.

G．Here are some ways technology has transformed our reading habits in recent years.

5 . For even the most city citizens, a quick escape into nature is always a welcome breath of fresh air. Try looking for an urban garden nearby — they often hide themselves just around the corner. Click here to know more of the coolest gardens in cities around the world.

Sky Garden

As London’s highest public garden, this social space offers splendid 360-degree views of the city. With a restaurant, observation decks and beautiful plant life, there is something for everyone in this city-center escape from urban life.

The BeltLine

In a massive, 22-mile loop (环线) around the city, the BeltLine connects many Atlanta neighborhoods with parks, trails, restaurants and art shows. Although it is still under construction, the sections that are open to the public act as alternative space to enjoy the outdoors.

Jardins de Rubió i Lluch

This walled, shady garden is in the courtyard of the historic Hospital de la Santa Creu. Decorated with lilac and mandarin trees — and string lights in the evenings — this small garden square is the perfect place to sip a coffee away from Barcelona’s crowded atmosphere.

Dumbarton Oaks

The garden at this historic estate in Georgetown was listed as one of the 10 best gardens in the world by National Geographic in 2014. It has both a formal, carefully manicured (修剪整齐的) garden as well as a naturalistic garden — allowing visitors the ability to choose what they want to see.

1. Where is the passage taken from?

A．A magazine.

B．A website.

C．A newspaper.

D．A book.

2. Which garden best suits people who enjoy overlooking the city?

A．Sky Garden.	B．The BeltLine.
C．Jardins de Rubió i Lluch.	D．Dumbarton Oaks.

3. What do the four gardens have in common?

A．They are all mixtures of entertainment and art.

B．They are all mixtures of urban and rural gardens.

C．They are all good places for people to get close to nature.

D．They are all quiet places for people to enjoy a relaxed dinner.

6 . 根据短文内容和所给中文提示，在空白处写出单词的正确形式(每空一词)。

With the    1    (发展) of economy, people are    2    (遭受) more and more     3    (自然的) disasters. Due to the strongest typhoon called “Dussuri”, there was a heavy rain in many areas and it caused great losses,    4    (尤其) in the north China. The roads were    5    (覆盖) with water and thousands of houses were     6     (破坏). In case of disasters, we are supposed to keep    7    (镇静的) and try to escape in time.

The bad weather may have something to do with the worsening of environment. People may think that big things must be done to protect the environment. Many forget protecting it begins with small things. For example, it’s a good idea to use reusable bags instead of     8    (塑料的) bags. You can also save electricity by turning off lights before leaving a room. Never use    9    (木制的) chopsticks when you buy takeaway food. All these small things can add up and make a big     10    (差异).

7 . 用方框中所给单词的适当形式填空，每词仅用一次。

down        base            concerned       stick       win

1. We should ________to our dream no matter how difficult it is.
2. The _______of the speech competition has been decided by the five teachers.
3. Tim has been feeling _______because of his low test scores.
4. Lucy hasn’t been back home and the family are all______about her safety.
5. The film that is _____ on a true story is popular with young people.

8 . Studies show that females usually have better handwriting than males. University of Warwick researchers note that “Girls are generally better handwriters than boys. Girls also usually write faster than boys”. But why do females have better handwriting than males? There are a number of reasons.

Handwriting differences may be because of cultural label. Researchers asked boys and girls aged 7 and 8 to model after each other’s handwriting. When modeling after writing, boys tried to make theirs “smaller and neater” while all the girls said that they had made their handwriting larger, and half of them said they had made it less tidy. Do females work hard to write neater because there is an expectation that they have neat handwriting? Are females encouraged to write better because there is an expectation?

Handwriting may be influenced by the writer’s female hormones (激素). Babies before they are born receive various amounts of female hormones with males receiving less and females more. One sign of female hormone effect is the relative length of a person’s index finger to ring finger (called the “2D: 4D rate”). This study found that the higher the 2D : 4D rate for right-handed female writers,the neater their handwriting is.

Neural development differences between males and females may be the reason for the differences. During the early school years, when kids are learning to shape letters, the neural fibers that control fine motor skills in boys’ brains usually haven’t matured (成熟) as much as girls’ have. Boys’ brains finally catch up and their handwriting gets better than before, but it’s still usually not as neat as that of the girls. That’s because women usually have more neural connections between the two sides of the brain, which also helps with correctness.

1. What’s the purpose of paragraph 1?

A．To introduce the topic.	B．To list some reasons.
C．To summarize the text.	D．To provide examples.

2. According to paragraph 2, compared with girls’ handwriting, boys’ handwriting is         .

A．neater

B．larger

C．more correct

D．longer

3. Why is boys’ handwriting second to girls’ even when their brains mature?

A．Boys’ handwriting is too large to be neat.

B．Boys’ 2D: 4D rate becomes higher and higher.

C．Boys’ brains don’t get enough exercise like girls do.

D．Boys usually have less neural connections inside the brain.

4. Which is the best title for the text?

A．Who perform better in handwriting?

B．Is handwriting well a difficult task?

C．Are girls cleverer than boys?

D．Why do we need to write well?

9 . A staycation is a vacation when you do not travel at all. Some people use a staycation to just stay at home, and others prefer to experience the attractions around them without travelling very far.

There are many choices for staycations. Any town or city has plenty of choices for things to do if you know where to look. If the weather is nice, you can visit the local gardens or forests for a hike. You can look online for several historic places and create your own history tours. Of course, you can also visit other attractions in the areas like museums, restaurants, parks, beaches and so on.

Others take the term “staycation” word for word and do not leave their houses at all. Some choices for this can include taking time off to cook a great meal and enjoy it together, or spending all day at a pool.

Just as a coin has two sides, staycation has both its advantages and risks. Since you are not travelling or staying in a hotel, a staycation can be unbelievably cheap. You are also saving by not driving very far and by not taking an airplane anywhere. Travel costs have become really expensive, so the farther you go, the more expensive it is. By staying close to home, you cut that cost by quite a bit. Finally, any stress that you feel with travel, whether that is from driving long distance or looking for an airport, will completely disappear.

1. What is the purpose of the text?

A．To introduce the general information on staycations.

B．To compare staycations with other vacations.

C．To provide different ways of staycations.

D．To advise people to have staycations.

2. When taking staycations, people         .

A．usually travel to cities far away

B．spend all day eating and sleeping

C．visit famous attractions of different cities

D．either relax at home or travel near their homes

3. What will probably be discussed in the following paragraph?

A．How to have a staycation safely.	B．Why people prefer a staycation.
C．What risks a staycation has.	D．When to take a staycation.

10 . In the hospital the lift opened and I saw my dad in a stretcher (担架), his eyes closed and an oxygen mask over his mouth. He was fastened (固定) _______to the stretcher so that he would not _______.Then, all I wanted was to_______him, wake him up, take him home and want him to_______me with chocolates and kiss me on my forehead.

My dad had an accident in the building site, which caused _______damage to his spinal cord (脊髓).The doctor told me there was almost no_______that he could ever walk again. I was_______.The thought of the pain from which my father, who was so kind, helpful and caring, greatly suffered during the_______made me really sad.

My dad_______ a lot of weight after the operation (手术) and then he was ________ to ICU. But he was sent back home two weeks later because of our __________ of money. At home he was confined (限制) to his chair and my heart hurt so much __________I saw this.

One day two months later, I heard my dad call my name. I rushed out of the room and was surprised to see him __________there, holding the wall, like a__________.Therefore, just as he taught me to__________ in my childhood, I was teaching him. I supported him and __________him to be brave as I was there. At last he moved the first step with great __________.

With three months passing, my dad got better again and my joy was __________.I trust my father because in my eyes he’s really an iron man who __________loses hope. His spirit of perseverance (毅力) will always be a great__________ to me!

1.

A．suddenly

B．tightly

C．slowly

D．differently

2.

A．take off

B．put off

C．turn off

D．fall off

3.

A．free

B．ask

C．touch

D．move

4.

A．charge

B．raise

C．surprise

D．upset

5.

A．emotional

B．slight

C．enough

D．great

6.

A．reality

B．possibility

C．condition

D．suggestion

7.

A．cold-blooded

B．absent-minded

C．heart-broken

D．badly-wounded

8.

A．accident

B．mistake

C．situation

D．position

9.

A．carried

B．gave

C．gained

D．lost

10.

A．led

B．abandoned

C．sent

D．promoted

11.

A．lack

B．care

C．use

D．value

12.

A．whichever

B．however

C．wherever

D．whenever

13.

A．lying

B．sitting

C．standing

D．crying

14.

A．hero

B．child

C．friend

D．stranger

15.

A．walk

B．study

C．speak

D．read

16.

A．forced

B．encouraged

C．urged

D．persuaded

17.

A．ambition

B．intelligence

C．confidence

D．difficulty

18.

A．necessary

B．important

C．boundless

D．meaningless

19.

A．never

B．seldom

C．always

D．sometimes

20.

A．creation

B．decision

C．invitation

D．inspiration