1 . After Scott Kelly spent a year in space, his genetic expression changed, according to a NASA study that compared the bodily changes between the astronaut and his identical twin, who stayed on Earth while Kelly was aboard the International Space Station. About 7 percent of Kelly’s gene activity has yet to “return to normal” — almost two years after his yearlong spaceflight mission came to an end. Kelly has since retired from NASA.
The Twins Study，as it’s been called，looked at what happened to Kelly — both physiologically and psychologically :— before，during and after his trip in space，and then compared that data to Kelly’s twin brother，Mark Kelly，also a retired NASA astronaut.
Unlike his brother who spent months at a time in space，Mark’s missions were on the shorter side. His last — and longest — mission，which took place in 2011，lasted 15 days.
“By measuring large numbers of the brother’s metabolites，cytokines (代谢物、细胞活素）and proteins，researchers learned that spaceflight is associated with oxygen deprivation (匮乏）stress， increased inflammation (炎症），and nutrient changes that affect gene expression，” NASA said.
Although most of the biological changes Kelly experienced in space disappeared in the hours and days (and in some cases? weeks) after his return to Earthy, NASA said some changes appear to have continued. While 93 percent of his genetic expression has returned to normal, several hundred “space genes” still have changed activity levels，the data suggests， which, NASA said, could indicate “longer-term changes” in genetic expression caused by the stresses of spaceflight.
NASA said the research could provide important knowledge of the effects of long-term spaceflight on the human body, and that it will influence its planning for a mission to Mars, which would see astronauts spending some three years in space.
Reacting to the news of the study results, Kelly expressed amazement at his body’s changes， and also used the opportunity to make fun of his brother. “This could be good news,” he joked on Twitter. “I no longer have to call Mark my identical twin brother anymore.”
1. What can be learnt about Mark Kelly?| A．He’s still working for NASA. |
| B．He has only been to space once. |
| C．He hasn’t gone on a spaceflight mission yet. |
| D．He never stayed in space for a whole month. |
| A．They’re dangerous to astronauts. |
| B．Most of them won’t last very long. |
| C．They’re mainly caused by psychological stress. |
| D．Some can occur during short-term spaceflight. |
| A．It involved many twin participants. |
| B．It ended soon after Scott Kelly’s last spaceflight. |
| C．It only studied Scott Kelly’s physical changes. |
| D．It will be valuable to NASA’s Mars mission. |
| A．Mark Kelly will lose his twin brother soon. |
| B．Scott Kelly always looks on the bright side. |
| C．Scott Kelly doesn’t like his twin brother. |
| D．Scott Kelly seems to have a sense of humor. |
2 . When Amanda Moore noticed that the new student from Mexico always sat alone at lunch, she decided to befriend Rafael Anaya. She also noticed that he
Actually, Rafael always
The next day Amanda handed the letter to Rafael and waited for his
Amanda’s mother felt
| A．appeared | B．happened | C．struggled | D．managed |
| A．prepare | B．join | C．leave | D．pay |
| A．saved | B．cost | C．earned | D．proved |
| A．wept | B．listened | C．chatted | D．laughed |
| A．bad | B．curious | C．glad | D．doubtful |
| A．painfully | B．hurriedly | C．carefully | D．correctly |
| A．arrival | B．comment | C．appreciation | D．reply |
| A．sitting | B．waiting | C．working | D．singing |
| A．put up with | B．work on | C．show off | D．look forward to |
| A．popularity | B．difference | C．choice | D．plan |
| A．competition | B．typing | C．travel | D．communication |
| A．easier | B．quicker | C．simpler | D．harder |
| A．English | B．psychology | C．math | D．Spanish |
| A．widely | B．deeply | C．gently | D．wisely |
| A．discussion | B．suffering | C．friendship | D．donation |
Today after work, as I was driving home, I realized my brake wasn’t working. I started to panic and managed to pull over，
4 . Where to stay during an art holiday in St Ives, Cornwall
St Ives, one of the most impressive locations in the world, has long been attracting artists. Since 1938 we have been running art classes in Cornwall in Porthmeor studios overlooking the ocean.
There is a plentiful selection of places to stay, with the majority within walking distance to St Ives School of Painting.
NO RISK POLICY: Please reserve your place for a course and if you don’t find suitable accommodation within 48 hours we will refund you in full.
Cohort Hostel (旅社)：Cool，contemporary hostel accommodation in the centre of St Ives. Beds from £20/night. WiFi, Courtyard, Bar, Lounge, TV Room, Fully equipped kitchen, Safe dorms and Private rooms.
Tel： 01736 791664
Beachside Guest House： 50 yards from the School and Porthmeor Beach. 4 Rooms, all ensuite rooms (浴室套房). Prices from £75/night for a double en-suite room.
Tel： 07810 127812
West by Five： Impressive Edwardian townhouse built above Porthmeor Beach to take full advantage of the ocean views. Five minutes' walk from the school. Offering four beautifully appointed en-suite rooms. Visit England 5-star guest accommodation award. Prices from £70 per night.
Tel： 01736 794584
Tregony ： A 4-star townhouse with spectacular panoramic (全景的)sea-views， overlooking Porthmeor Beach and The Island. Offering 5 stylish rooms (4 en-suite), only 5 minutes walk from the School. Prices for single occupancy start from £60 per night.
Tel： 01736 791851
The Sail Lofts ： Self-catering apartments, a few steps to the beach and just around the corner from the School.
Tel: 01736 799175
Granny’s: Self-catering fisherman’s holiday cottage，2 beds，situated in the heart of St Ives.
Tel；01736 797139
Wallis Cottage: Stay in the home of the famous artist Alfred Wallis (1855 〜1942). Comfortable self-catering cottage, perfect for two and very close to the School.
Tel：01252 703272
1. Where would you most probably stay when traveling to St Ives on a tight budget?| A．In Tregony. | B．In West by Five. | C．In Cohort Hostel. | D．In Beachside Guest House. |
| A．They all have comfortable en-suites. |
| B．They are all 4 or 5-star accommodation places. |
| C．They are all close to St Ives School of Painting. |
| D．They all provide spectacular panoramic sea-views. |
| A．07810 127812. | B．01736 794584. |
| C．01736 799175. | D．01252 703272. |
5 . People who play drums regularly for years differ from unmusical people in their brain structure and function. The results of a study by researchers from Bochum suggest that they have fewer, but thicker fibers in the main connecting tract between the brain hemispheres(半球). In addition, their motor brain areas are organized more efficiently. This is the conclusion drawn by a research team headed by Dr. Lara. It was published in the journal Brain and Behavior, online on 4 December 2019.
The researchers were interested in drummers because their movement control far surpasses that of untrained people. "Most people can only perform fine motor tasks with one hand and have problems playing different rhythms with both hands at the same time," explains Lara, "Drummers can do things that are impossible for untrained people."
The team intended to gain new insights into the organization of complex motor processes in the brain by identifying the changes in the brain caused by this training. The researchers tested 20 professional drummers who have played their instrument for an average of 17 years and currently practice for more than ten hours per week. They examined them using various MRI imaging techniques that provide insights into the structure and function of the brain. They then compared the data with measurements of 24 unmusical control subjects. Both groups had to play drums to test their abilities and were then examined in the MRI scanner.
Drummers presented clear differences in the front part of the corpus callosum(胼胝体)responsible for motor planning. The data indicated that the drummers had fewer but thicker fibers in this important connecting tract. This allows musicians to exchange information between the hemispheres more quickly than the controls.
Although drummers might be good at motor coordination, they are less active in motor tasks than that of control subjects. This phenomenon indicates that a more efficient brain organization in the areas leads to less activation in professionals.
1. Which has the closest meaning with the underlined word in Paragraph 2?| A．Correspond with. | B．Go beyond | C．Differ from. | D．Fall behind. |
| A．By analyzing previous study. |
| B．By organizing complex motor tasks. |
| C．By testing their abilities and scanning the brains. |
| D．By comparing amateur drummers and unmusical people. |
| A．They are more active in motor tasks. |
| B．They can play rhythms more quickly. |
| C．They have better imagination and insights. |
| D．They have more efficient brain organization. |
| A．Playing drums changes the brain. |
| B．Playing drums can be trained. |
| C．Playing music makes you active. |
| D．Playing music brings benefits. |
6 . Everyone can smile when they are on cloud nine. Everyone can cry when the weather is blue. But it takes a strong person to smile when he or she has every reason to cry!
Kiley, from Maryland, is an author, fashion model, motivational speaker and entrepreneur. Since 3 years old, her life has proven to be a journey of surgeries. She was forced to have two permanent ostomies (造口术), causing her to have ostomy bags for the rest of her life.
Carrying not one, but two ostomy bags is not something you would want anyone to go through especially your own child. As a single father, Jay is Kiley's biggest advocate. When Kiley was 10 years old, she gave a special Father's Day gift to her father to express her gratitude, which was to dance with him at her talent show at school. In the video, the little girl was smiling from ear to ear. They danced along the song, Overcomer of American Idol's Mandisa. "You're an overcomer. Stay in the fight till the final round." True to the lyrics, Kiley is a strong and inspiring overcomer.
At only fifteen, Kiley set up Enhancing Children's Lives Organization, a foundation dedicated to helping low-income children, providing them with backpacks filled with school supplies, shoes clothing and even food.
She has been a fashion model for over 7 years, yes with two ostomy bags. She is helping cancer survivors and inspiring ostomy patients. Looking at the outer appearance, one would not tell she lives with these adversities. She has proven that not even the biggest problem in the world could wipe away the smile from her face!
Kiley wrote in one of her books, "I used to say, ‘Why me? Why cancer? Why ostomy bags?’ Now I say, ‘Why not me?’ Just because you have some difficulties in life doesn't mean you can't make it. We have the ability to make a difference, to change lives."
1. Why did Kiley decide to dance with her father at school?| A．To show off her talent. |
| B．To win her dad's support. |
| C．To promote Father's Day. |
| D．To show thanks to her dad. |
| A．Medical care. |
| B．Full scholarship. |
| C．School necessities. |
| D．Better education |
| A．Optimistic and inspiring. |
| B．Strong-willed and realistic. |
| C．Creative and independent. |
| D．Confident and ambitious. |
| A．Health is money. |
| B．Smile has power. |
| C．Hard work pays off. |
| D．Cherish the time. |
It was about 10 o'clock on Friday morning and the skies were clear. It was a rare holiday for Matt Wilkinson who was a professional surfer and his best friend John, a professional swimmer. They were paddling on their boards near Sharpes Beach in Australia.
“It’s a nice and beautiful holiday. Wilkinson, let’s have a surfing competition. Although I am a swimmer, I am also a potential surferJohn said to Wilkinson when they had a break on the shore. “Come on! I’m full of confidence.” John held his surfboard and then walked towards the ocean. Wilkinson had to agree with his friend and carried his surfboard walking slowly after John. When these two friends were preparing in the ocean, Wilkinson looked around and said to John, “John, I heard a splash and a strange noise.” Wilkinson looked around again but couldn’t see anything. “Come on, let’s begin,” John said.
What these two friends didn’t know was that a shark quickly surfaced and began stalking the surfing world champion, at one point only inches away. But one person saw the shark. That was Beau Monks. Drone operator Beau Monks was using a drone to observe the waters when he saw the animal, which appeared to be more than 6 feet long. Beau Monks followed it and caught the scene in the video. The shark sort of came out of nowhere and then it went right up to Wilkinson. It moved pretty fast. Within 10 seconds it was at the surfer and it was going to hurt Wilkinson's leg. But five seconds later, it was gone. Beau Monks immediately informed the lifeguards and everyone on the beach.
“Attention, attention, please! There is a shark. Please get off the ocean as soon as possible,” Beau Monks used the speaker on the drone to get everyone out of the water.
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。
Wilkinson and John were very surprised when they heard the warning.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Wilkinson considered himself lucky, though.
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8 . The Indian government declared an “emergency situation” in New Delhi on Sunday as air pollution hit dangerous new highs and people had the selfies(自拍) to prove it.
Officials announced a series of measures to fight against smog in the capital city, including halting construction projects, closing a coal-fired power factory for 10 days and washing the dusty roads. The citizens，meanwhile，took “smog selfies” as they walked through dirty air which could taste and smell. Some selfie photographers joined hundreds of protesters in downtown New Delhi to demand that the government deal with the deadly smog.
New Delhi, already one of the world’s dirtiest cities, is experiencing its worst smog in nearly two decades. The city saw levels of PM2.5 of more than 900 micrograms per cubic meter on Saturday. That’s more than 90 times the level that the World Health Organization considers safe and is 15 times higher than the Indian government’s standards.
Particulate(微粒的) matter comes from vehicles, coal factories, burning trash piles, dust and other sources. New Delhi’s severe pollution was initially blamed on the widespread bursting of firecrackers during the festival Diwali. But images published by NASA last week suggested that crop burning in the neighboring states of Punjab and Haryana could be the reason for the increasing levels of PM2.5. New Delhi’s chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal, said that farmers in those states begin burning straw at the start of every winter to clear their plants for planting wheat.
The pollution can lead to lung cancer, heart disease and related illnesses, particularly in growing children. Kejriwal said people should avoid going outdoors until the pollution levels drop and should work at home as much as possible. Of course, they should put down the selfie sticks, too.
1. What does the underlined word “halting” in Paragraph 2 meap?| A．Stopping. | B．Encouraging. | C．Protecting. | D．Changing. |
| A．The poor condition in New Delhi has led to a strike. |
| B．New Delhi is one of the most polluted cities in the world. |
| C．A lot of people especially children died of smog in New Delhi. |
| D．Kejriwal suggested that people stop working to deal with smog. |
| A．Images of people living in New Delhi. |
| B．Levels of PM2.5 in most cities of India. |
| C．Sources of particulate matter in New Delhi. |
| D．Measures taken by the New Delhi government. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Supportive. | C．Uncaring. | D．Opposed. |
9 . It’s polite of you to say thank you when you are given something, and this is particularly important when you receive an award at a ceremony.
Speeches are used as a platform to make a political statement or just to raise someone’s profile(形象)
When the clock is ticking, it’s hard to say everything you want,
You may expect an actor to be a good speaker and able to perform on stage in front of an audience.
| A．Preparation is key |
| B．Words can’t express everything |
| C．But for others, such as sports people |
| D．But if you are one of the lucky winners |
| E．So it’s important to get the words right |
| F．Finishing a speech quickly makes you a popular person |
| G．Thus it’s important to convey your messages effectively |
10 . The pandemic (流行病）has left a lot of families in financial difficulty. Not only have many found it difficult to pay bills, they’ve also had to deal with huge unpaid debts. Thankfully, one very kind-hearted doctor, Omar Atiq, from Arkansas decided to forgive the $ 650,000 debt that his patients still had to pay.
Dr. Omar Atiq closed his clinic in Pine Bluff after 30 years of offering patients radiation therapy (治疗），and CAT scans. While putting his affairs in order，with the help of a debt collection agency, Dr. Atiq realized that his patients were really struggling to pay off their debts. “So my wife and I，as a family，thought about it andlooked at forgiving all the debts. We saw that we could do it and then just went ahead and did it.”
The reasoning behind the decision comes from his understanding toward those he's seen suffer throughout his years as a doctor： “Since I started practicing，I’ve always been rather uncomfortable with sick patients not only having to worry about their own health, quality of life, their longevity，their families and their jobs but also money. That’s always concerned me.” Atiq’s wife, Mehreen, shares his caring nature and supported her husband in his decision.
So Omar sent the following letter at Christmas to around 200 of his patients： Although various health insurances pay most of the bills for the majority of patients，the deductibles (自负额） and co-pays can be burdensome. Unfortunately, that is the way our health care system currently works. My clinic has decided to forgive all the debts owed to the'clinic by its patients.
Omar, the father of four children who are also doctors or becoming doctors, seems to have always put the patients first. “I have never refused to see a patient，not for lack of health insurance or funds nor for any other reason. Tve always considered it a high honor and privilege to be someone’s physician — more important than anything else，’’ Omar shared with the local media.
1. When did Atiq realize his patients’ inability to pay off their debts?| A．As the debt collection agency helped him. |
| B．When he was collecting the debt in person. |
| C．After he clearly knew the details of the debt. |
| D．After he found out the pandemic was serious. |
| A．His responsibility. | B．His wife’s support. |
| C．His sympathy. | D．His medical practice. |
| A．He values his patients and his job. |
| B．He works together with his children. |
| C．He will start another clinic in the future. |
| D．He thinks that being a doctor is profitable. |
| A．Dr. Atiq has made a very important decision. |
| B．Dr. Atiq removes his patients' financial burden. |
| C．Dr. Atiq has contributed a lot to the medical field. |
| D．Dr. Atiq has set a good example for all the doctors. |
