1 . The cotton harvest is about to get underway in the Texas High Plains, the windswept region that grows most of the crop in the nation’s top cotton-producing state. But Barry Evans, a third-generation cotton grower, has already walked away from more than 2,000 acres (英亩) of his bone-dry fields. “It just didn’t come up. We hardly had anything,” said Evans.

Extreme heat and a lack of rainfall have severely damaged much of this year’s cotton harvest in the U.S., which produces about 35% of the world’s crop. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) forecast that more than 40% of what U.S. farmers planted in the spring would be abandoned because of drought. Nowhere is this more apparent than the flat, dry stretch of Texas. The USDA says Texas cotton farmers are likely to abandon nearly 70% of their spring planting. That has been the worst harvest since 2009.

The region normally receives around 18 to 20 inches of rain per year, but saw less than three inches of rain from August through the summer, as nearly all of Texas baked under drought. Much of the cotton grown in the region needs rain. Even those with irrigated (灌溉的) fields are expecting low yields (产量) this year.

The losses in cotton could cost the Texas High Plains $1.2 billion after farmers receive federal (联邦的) crop insurance payments, estimates Darren Hudson, director of the International Center for Agricultural Competitiveness at Texas Tech University. That leaves out others who depend on the crop, such as cotton gins (轧棉机) and storehouses. “Any time you have a bad year in cotton, it has a role to play in the overall economy,” Hudson said.

Fortunately, most cotton farmers in this part of Texas plan to use cotton seed varieties that can resist drought. Varieties are continuously developed and will be adjusted to generate high yields if dry conditions continue. “Even though it’s drought resistant,” Hudson added, “we still have to have a little bit of help from Mother Nature.”

1. What are the statistics in paragraph 2 mainly about?

A．The impact of extreme weather on U.S. farmers.

B．The world’s cotton distribution.

C．USDA’s measures to address drought.

D．The amount of U.S. cotton harvest in 2009.

2. What does Hudson stress in paragraph 4?

A．Texas is unfriendly to cotton farmers.	B．Cotton is vital to the American economy.
C．Farmers depend much on Mother Nature.	D．Cotton gins are unaffected by cotton losses.

3. What will cotton farmers most likely do next?

A．Build effective irrigation systems.	B．Apply for federal crop insurance.
C．Switch to growing a different crop.	D．Use further improved cotton seeds.

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

A．Drought pushes cotton prices to a new high.	B．The world’s cotton supply keeps falling.
C．Texas cotton takes a hit during drought.	D．Drought impacts the quality of cotton.

2 . Despite demonstrating a love of the written word, many readers tend to devote most of their time to consuming books in one or two specific genres (体裁). Of course, you want to read books that bring you joy, but it’s well worth adding some variety to your reading list.     1    

You can improve your vocabulary.

When you read a wide variety of books, it’s not uncommon to come across unfamiliar words and phrases. Sometimes you can get enough con text from the sentence to understand the meaning; other times you’ll need to consult a dictionary for clarification.     2    

You can discover a new favorite genre.

You undoubtedly have a favorite genre or two now, but what if you’re missing out on others because you’re not adding any variety to your reading list?     3     However, by varying your reading material, you could end up enjoying a particular type of book just as much as others you read on a regular basis.

    4    

When you add a wide selection of titles to your reading list, you can start to see people, places, and historical events in a new perspective. For example, reading a nonfiction book about a group of people in another country can have a greater understanding of cultures unlike your own.

You can get inspiration from surprising places.

It’s amazing how expanding your reading list can provide you with inspiration when you need it most. Of course, some genres are meant to provide encouragement, motivation, and support, such as self-help books and Memoirs (回忆录).     5     They’re able to do so nevertheless. By picking up a book from a genre you wouldn’t normally read, you may be motivated to finally write your own novel, travel to a faraway place, or even just take up a new hobby.

A．You can know many new people.

B．You can develop a broader outlook.

C．There are many benefits of reading different genres.

D．Having a comprehensive vocabulary serves you well.

E．Others, however, aren’t designed specifically to inspire readers.

F．Either way, you’re able to store the definition in your mind for later use.

G．Sure, you’ll likely find that not every genre is your cup of tea-and that’s okay.

3 . Every year, thousands of K-12 students visit the University of Georgia (UGA) through the Experience UGA program. Hosting these students is made possible by the Experience UGA ambassadors (大使), a team of UGA students trained to support the program. They help create and support the field trips and introduce school children to college with interactive and educational visits that are grade-level specific. For example, every second grade group tours the Ramsey Student Center to learn about health-related topics, and all seventh graders explore UGArden to learn about nutrition and agriculture.

“Each year I realize the impact I’m making on students,” said Leslie Oroyemi, who is beginning her third year as an Experience UGA ambassador. “I love reaching younger populations and engaging with them. It’s nice to see them grow and discover different interests.”

This was the first year that Oroyemi has been an ambassador for second grade trips, and she said it has become her favorite. Her favorite part of the day is teaching second graders how easily germs (病菌) spread through a game of tag (捉人游戏) — those with “germs” have chalk on their hands and go around trying to touch and “infect” others. The kids then learn how important hand washing is to prevent the spread of germs.

Camille Holcomb is beginning her second year as an ambassador. She said working with different ages means connecting with them differently. The second graders are excited about everything, while the seventh graders are more reserved (保守的). Holcomb learned that connecting with the older students works best in between the activities — being personable and asking questions while walking around campus. Holcomb also learned that some friendly competition helps engage the more reserved students.

“Each ambassador is very fervent about giving back to the community and holds a special skill that contributes to creating a wonderful experience for students during each grade level trip,” said Aiyana Egins, coordinator of Experience UGA. “I look forward to seeing the impact they will have on students this year.”

1. What do the ambassadors do for K-12 students?

A．Convince them to join the UGA program.	B．Organize educational visits for them.
C．Show them around famous colleges.	D．Encourage them to apply to UGA.

2. What impressed Oroyemi most as an ambassador for second graders?

A．The kids’ interest in health-related topics.	B．The wide variety of field trips.
C．The kids’ rich knowledge about germs.	D．The interactive game of tag.

3. What does Holcomb emphasize about her work?

A．No pains, no gains.	B．Every little helps.
C．Different methods matter.	D．Easier said than done.

4. What does the underlined word “fervent” in the last paragraph mean?

A．Enthusiastic.

B．Sensitive.

C．Curious.

D．Concerned.

4 . Delivery workers will finally be able to charge their electric bicycles — and themselves — at new stations created out of repurposed news stands in New York City, Senator (参议员) Chuck Schumer announced on Monday.

The repurposed news stands, the first of their kind in the nation, will feature charging stations safe for e-bike batteries, bike parking, and a place for delivery workers to rest or ride out bad weather.

“You’ve been riding this bike a long time. You need a break. Maybe you’ve got to make a phone call. Maybe you have to take care of your personal needs, any of these things,” Schumer said. “They’re constantly out on the street, no place to rest, no shelter to protect them — imagine it’s pouring rain, or even snow and you still got to do this,” he said. “And so we’re going to take underutilized (未利用的) public space on our streets like this news stand right behind us. Very simple.”

And the stations, which will be designed by Manuel Mansylla, will not contain bathrooms — which were once a flashpoint (焦点) for delivery workers who were banned from using the restrooms at some of the very restaurants from which they were delivering food.

But thanks to new city laws that went into effect at the start of this year, including requiring restaurants to allow delivery workers to use their restrooms, that’s thankfully not the main concern anymore, said Gustavo Ajche, a delivery worker. “The bathroom is different. There’s no problem with that any more what we need here is more parking spaces,” he said.

Not everyone loves the idea of news stands being repurposed for e-bike charging stations. “After car chargers on the sidewalk, this is another facility of the city taking pedestrian (行人) space to create charging stations,” said Christine Berthet of CHEKPEDS, the pedestrian advocacy group that has long called for the creation of more public space for pedestrians.

1. What service can delivery workers expect from the repurposed news stands?

A．Charging their phones.	B．Selling them e-bike batteries.
C．Repairing their bikes.	D．Offering them shelter.

2. What do Schumer’s words in paragraph 3 highlight about the repurposed news stands?

A．They are underutilized.	B．They are necessary.
C．They are simple to construct.	D．They are gaining popularity.

3. How do the new city laws issued this year affect delivery workers?

A．They get more parking spaces.	B．They can use car chargers on the sidewalk.
C．They can use restaurant bathrooms.	D．They get extra pay for working in bad weather.

4. What is Berthet’s attitude toward the repurposed news stands?

A．Critical.

B．Unclear.

C．Tolerant.

D．Favorable.

5 . Last December I was invited to an interview for Structural Repair Engineer at Airbus. I wanted to make the best of this ________.

It was time to take my first round of interviews. They ________ to asking questions. Surprisingly, no questions were from any of those concepts I’d prepared. They asked me ________ questions based on my experience. The interview was so ________. In addition to this, one of the interviewers was staying in the building right next to the one in which I was living and he ________ me. Everything went so well that I felt the job would be mine.

As expected, they called me and asked for my ________ expectations and I said $50,000 a year. They also asked me to ________ my past three months’ payslips (工资单) before attending the next interview. I ________ and after ten days I received those documents. That was when the call for my second round of interviews ________.

This round also went well and I was expecting a (n) ________ reply. They said within three days they’d let me know the result. Ten days passed; I felt sad and ________. I was thinking if I didn’t get this job, I wouldn’t have any more strength to ________ again when my cell phone rang suddenly. A(n) ________ awaited miracle (奇迹) happened; the call was from Airbus HR. The manager said, “________! You’ve got the job. We’ve decided to give you $80,000 …” Hurray! All the wait was ________!

1.

A．choice

B．repair

C．opportunity

D．mission

2.

A．set off

B．got down

C．set out

D．got on

3.

A．practical

B．tricky

C．reliable

D．strange

4.

A．tiresome

B．popular

C．useful

D．easy

5.

A．mentioned

B．recognized

C．followed

D．satisfied

6.

A．salary

B．accommodation

C．welfare

D．career

7.

A．write

B．submit

C．finish

D．reserve

8.

A．continued

B．appealed

C．applied

D．refused

9.

A．failed

B．changed

C．slipped

D．came

10.

A．positive

B．interesting

C．correct

D．amusing

11.

A．ashamed

B．annoyed

C．lost

D．shocked

12.

A．escape

B．ask

C．relax

D．try

13.

A．occasionally

B．highly

C．poorly

D．instantly

14.

A．Congratulations

B．Help

C．Cheers

D．Sorry

15.

A．similar

B．worthwhile

C．fortunate

D．long

6 . Summer Art Classes

Afro-Atlantic Histories (Ages 9—12)

Students will explore storytelling through artworks in the exhibition Afro-Atlantic Histories and will highlight moments of their lives through their own artistic creations. Taught by artist Fernando Isai Garcia, this program will take place indoors, June 12—16.

Art & Ecology—Our Friends the Plants (Ages 6—8)

Explore the fantastic world of plants! Let’s look at how artists have “used” plants, and been inspired by their colors and shapes. Combine art, and science to learn about plants. Taught by artist Beatriz Jaramillo, this program will take place outdoors, July 10—14.

Making Comics (Ages 10—14)

We’ll view, discuss, and sketch (给……画素描) artworks to learn about different aspects of visual storytelling, and then, in the studio, we’ll continue to learn about storytelling while making our own comics. We know you’ve got a story to tell! Taught by artist Shannon Green, this program will take place indoors, July 17—21.

Art in Action (Ages 5 and under)

Children will make art with a focus on the process as much as the results. We’ll explore bubble prints (泡泡印画) and blow painting. Come ready for an experience that will blow your artistic mind! Taught by artist Katie Lipsitt, this program will take place indoors, July 31—August 4.

1. When will the outdoor program take place?

A．June 12—16.

B．July 17—21.

C．July 10—14.

D．July 31—August 4.

2. Which class is suitable for a 13-year-old teen?

A．Making Comics.	B．Art in Action.
C．Afro-Atlantic Histories.	D．Art & Ecology—Our Friends the Plants.

3. What is Katie Lipsitt expert at?

A．Using plants to create art.	B．Visual storytelling.
C．Sketching artworks.	D．Blow painting.

7 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

When John pulled into his mother’s driveway with his young daughter, Lily, the sight of the familiar lychee (荔枝) tree welcomed them. “Look, Lily,” John said, pointing to the towering tree in the front yard. “It’s the family tree.”

Lily smiled as John treated the tree as if it were a real family member, patting its trunk (树干) affectionately. As they were admiring the tree, the screen door opened and out stepped Grandma Mei, bathed in the warm Florida sunlight. Grandma Mei, who came from the province of Guangdong in China, was known for her green thumb, particularly when it came to lychees.

Seeing her granddaughter, Grandma Mei adjusted her baseball cap and asked if Lily was ready for some lychees. But Lily hesitated, for the fruit’s appearance was unlike any other fruit she had tried before. With a laugh, Grandma Mei gave her a gentle hug. “More lychees for me then, John,” Grandma Mei said.

“Let’s get busy!” John said with enthusiasm, rubbing his hands together. “Family tree’s waiting.”

Hearing Dad calling the tree by name, Lily couldn’t help laughing. “Laugh if you want, Lily, but this tree is really family. On cold nights, before family tree was fully grown, Grandma Mei used to take my blanket and throw it over that tree.” Grandma Mei nodded, adding that she had to protect the tree from bad weather so that it would become a big strong tree and grow fruit for the whole family.

John, eager to start the day’s work, began climbing the tree, determined to harvest the best lychees for the family. Lily watched in amazement, noticing the clusters (簇) of lychees, their skin rough yet inviting.

As John skillfully cut through the branches with a cutter, Lily expressed her concern for the well-being of the tree. John explained to her that cutting the ends of branches won’t hurt family tree. Instead such behaviour made it healthier and stronger.

注意：
1.续写词数应为150左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

Lily’s hesitation towards the fruit gradually shifted to curiosity and she wanted to try it.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Later in the afternoon, they all sat under the tree, surrounded by boxes filled with lychees and sharing stories related to lychees.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Placed among the busy streets of Washington, D. C. is a large public garden that many Americans have never heard of. The U. S. National Arboretum (植物园) includes     1     collection of flowering plants called azaleas, a field of native plants named ferns, and flowering trees in the dogwood tree area. The garden     2     (establish) by Congress in 1927. It plays a leading part in researching and developing plants like trees, shrubs, flowers, and grasses.

Government scientists are in charge of the 180-hectare area. Their main goal is     3    (strengthen) the U. S. economy by making sure an important kind of agriculture,     4     (call) the nursery industry, continues to perform well. The most recent numbers from the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) show that the ornamental and landscape plant industry creates billions of founds in sales each year.

The arboretum is home to one of the     5     (large) collections of preserved seeds in the world. The National Arboretum Herbarium (植物标本)     6     (house) around 700,000 ex-ample seeds. They include seeds from plants that the USDA considers as     7    (economical) important. Scientists collect many genetically different seeds within a kind of plant from both native and non-native plants. The reason     8     collecting that data is that scientists protect plants from harmful situations like climate change, changed environments, or other new and possible risks.

While the scientists do their work, the public     9     (explore) plants is free to visit the arboretum. Though many people may not know it, the arboretum has had a hand in developing a number of plants     10     are part of American landscaping.

9 . Pandemic (流行病) lock-downs (封锁) might be common, but not all our movements are limited. This has led to a rise in dance, as people search for connection. Live classes online have increased rapidly, headed by the likes of dance legend Debbie Allen. Living rooms are becoming party scenes thanks to live-streaming (视频直播) dance parties by celebrity dancers Diplo and D-Nice.

Because of the recent increase in virtual events, geographically separated groups of strangers are moving in the same direction to the same rhythm without speaking a word. Recent research has shown that even our earliest ancestors (祖先) recognized the social benefits of dance.

According to a recent study published in the Public Library of Science’s Genetics Journal, creative dancers share two similar genes with good social communicators. These researchers believe our prehistoric ancestors who were good dancers used those skills for a close relationship and social interaction. We dance to celebrate harvests, ask for much-needed rain and bring healing.

In the Guadeloupe Islands, dance was once one of the only means of communication for an entire population. West Africans were brought over to the French Caribbean as slave (奴隶) labor. Members from various places speaking different languages began to find common ground in rhythms and dances. This art form became Gwoka. Each Gwoka rhythm shows a specific human experience, such as love, sadness and the celebration of Carnival (狂欢节).

I learned to speak a bit of this language at a Guadeloupean folk dance school. Gwoka shared similarities to the Bomba dance that I had tried in Puerto Rico. Bomba, in turn, had reminded me of the tambu in Aruba. As I continue to dance with more people, I build more links in a global chain of movement and rhythm.

So, in this new times of COVID -19, I’m not surprised how dance has been the solution for hundreds of thousands of people around the world.

1. What mainly leads to the popularity of dance during pandemic lock-downs?

A．People’s thirst for connection.

B．Worldwide geographical limitation.

C．Online classes given by famous dancers.

D．Live-streaming parties thrown by celebrities.

2. Why did our prehistoric ancestors dance according to the researchers?

A．To show an experience.	B．To build relationships.
C．To share genetic qualities.	D．To celebrate important events.

3. What does Paragraph 4 mainly talk about?

A．The origin of Gwoka.	B．The celebration of Carnival.
C．Slave trades in the French Caribbean.	D．Means of communication of West Africans.

4. What is the author’s attitude to dance in COVID-19?

A．Doubtful.

B．Astonished.

C．Carefree.

D．Understandable.

10 . Are you bored with the same old walls? Do you wish to give your bedroom the much-needed changes? Have a look at the designs given below, and get inspired.

A Leaf from Nature!

The first idea that we shall be looking at is all about painting leaves on your walls. If you are someone who feels that the ideal way to relax and unwind is to spend time in nature, then this design is “the one” for you. However, patterns of leaves can only be used on green walls; if you use them on any other color, the effect will never be the same!

Decor Tip: To stress this look on your walls, choose wooden furniture that is dark brown or black

Clouds in the Sky!

If you’re looking for a cool, quiet design for the walls of kids’ bedrooms, then go for one that has clouds floating in a clear blue sky. If you wish to be a little more creative, you can place birds, airplanes etc. around the clouds. In the images given alongside, you can see that a yellow clock has been used creatively to represent the sun. Similarly, you can use elements of home decor to add to the effect of the wall art.

Decor Tip: To keep the look as close to nature as possible, use shades of blue on your walls

A Portrait of Yourself!

If you’re fond of personalized coffee cups and key chains, then a personalized wall is just night for you! Putting up an enlarged photograph of yourself on your bedroom wall can be a signature style in itself. Do you have a particular photograph that is really close to your heart? It can be a photograph of you with your spouse, your parents, or your circle of friends.

Decor Tip: Use lights to add a real shine to the photograph on the wall.

1. What is the author’s purpose in writing this text?

A．To introduce the importance of the walls of bedrooms.

B．To introduce the wall design ideas for the bedrooms.

C．To introduce the ways of changing the walls of bedrooms.

D．To introduce how to paint a comfortable wall.

2. According to the passage, who may prefer the design “A Leaf from Nature!”?

A．A person who wants to relax in nature.	B．A child who likes small animals.
C．A girl who likes leaves.	D．An artist who likes painting scenery.

3. What should you do when choosing the design “Clouds in the Sky!”?

A．Paint a clock as the sun.	B．Use blue shades on the wall.
C．Choose black wooden furniture.	D．Put your big photos on the wall.