1 . It had long been troubling a little boy that his desk mate could rank 1st in the class every time while he failed to: he only ranked 21st.

At home, he asked his Mom, “Mom, am I more stupid than others? I feel I am as hardworking as him, but how come I always fall behind?”     1    

In another test, the son ranked 15th, and his desk mate remained 1st. Back home, he raised the same question.     2     However, was this answer in her son’s best interest? Thank goodness she did not open her mouth.

There were times she wanted to tell him, “Your father and I used to be outstanding. Why aren’t you just as clever?” But she stopped because she felt it was cruel to blame him and that she needed a better answer.

    3     To reduce the burden on her son who was suffering from the pains of unsatisfied grades and rankings, Mom decided to take him to the sea. During the trip, she managed to give out an answer.

Now, the son no longer worries about his rankings, because, with the 1st ranking, he is admitted to a top university.     4     In the lecture, he mentioned a valuable experience, “…When my mother and I was lying on the beach, she pointed to the front and said, ‘Do you see the seabirds over there? When the waves come near, little birds can rise quickly while it would take longer for clumsy sea-gulls to complete the process. However, have you noticed birds that finally fly across the endless ocean are none other than clumsy sea-gulls?’     5    ” The moving speech affected many mothers present into tears, including his mother.

A．Feeling sad for her son’s failure, mom scolded him.

B．Mom really wanted to tell her son that intelligence differs.

C．Hearing the words, she went wordless, not knowing how to explain.

D．You might be a bit slower, but you will be the one who will make it!

E．Mom was so proud of her son’s success as to often share her experience.

F．Back to his high school, he was invited to give a speech to the students and parents.

G．Time flying swiftly, despite great efforts, he was still unable to keep up with his desk mate.

2 . The rapid growth in skyscrapers worldwide has led to a high demand for window washers since most of these buildings feature large glass panes (窗格) to highlight their breathtaking views.

Though the job offers a handsome salary, dangling alongside multi-story structures is dangerous, and accidents are not uncommon. However, if Israel-based company Skyline Technologieshas its way, the dangerous chore may soon be taken care of by Ozmo, an intelligent window cleaning robot.

"As a society, we've become too comfortable watching people hanging off the sides of 30-story buildings," says Yaron Schwarez, co-founder and CEO of Skyline Robotics. "No salary could justify allowing people to put their lives in the hands of a system of ropes."

Much like humans, Ozmo is placed on platforms suspended from the buildings and uses its arms and brushes to clean the dirt on the glass panes. A 3D map of the building's surface programmed into its system allows the robot to skillfully handle obstacles as it moves up and down the structure. Computer vision and touch sensors enable it to move out of the way in case of unexpected events, such as the sudden opening of a window.

Unlike current window washers, the robot cleaner does not require soap to clean the glass. Instead, it uses distilled water (蒸馏水) and a process called dirt absorption to do the job. Schwarez explains, "We use pure water to absorb and remove the salts, the minerals, the oils, and the dirt from the building. We are environmentally-friendly."

Ozmo is also expected to be much more efficient than humans. While it currently takes three cleaners 480 hours each to clean the windows of a 40-story glass building, the robot will single-handedly complete the task in just 80 hours. However, unlike other robots, Ozmo will not replace human workers. It will only make their jobs safer by lifting them to the role of supervisors, who will be remotely controlling the operation from below.

Whether Ozmo, which is still undergoing testing, does as good a job as human remains to be seen.

1. Which of the following can best replace the phrase "has its way" in paragraph 2?

A．Succeeds.	B．Hesitates.
C．Struggles.	D．Exists.

2. What can we learn about Ozmo from the passage?

A．It requires chemicals to clean.

B．It has trouble crossing obstacles.

C．It operates with great efficiency.

D．It works without human helpers.

3. What is the author's attitude towards the future application of Ozmo?

A．Optimistic.

B．Doubtful

C．Unconceded.

D．Objective.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Ozmo: a Double-edged Sword.

B．Ozmo: a Smart Window Cleaner.

C．Window Washing: a Dangerous Job.

D．Window Washing: a Blessing in Disguise.

3 . Considered to be not only an outstanding businesswoman, but also a leader that all of us can learn from, Shazi Visram is a daughter of immigrants who took life-changing risks in order to create a better world for their children. For as long as she can remember, she has wanted to be a part of something bigger than herself. Ms. Visram has always sought to create abundance and pay it forward-the question was: how? Her journey took her to Columbia Business School, where she had an "Aha! Moment" while listening with a sympathetic ear to a friend's concern about the difficulty of finding the time to make her own baby food, and the lack of healthy options in traditional baby food. In that moment, Happy Family was born.

Ms. Visram made it her mission to create a progressive business that could positively affect the health of our children while giving back to those in need and also supporting sustainable(可持续的) agriculture. Under Ms.' Visram's guidance, Happy Family has continued to grow, announcing a partnership with Groupe Danone, a global company whose mission is to bring health through food to people everywhere. The partnership will raise the bar for children's nutrition in the US, combining their shared   devotion to social responsibility.

Ms. Visram's accomplishments have earned her the respect and admiration of her peers and colleagues. Happy Family was recognized as one of the fastest growing companies in the country by Inc. Magazine.

In addition to her MBA from Columbia Business School, Ms. Visram holds a BA in history from Columbia College. In addition, she works with the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship as an instructor to young and ambitious entrepreneurs (企业家) from low-income communities.

1. What can be inferred about Shazi Visram?

A．She traveled a lot when she was young.

B．She has been ambitious since an early age.

C．She was born into a wealthy immigrant family.

D．She took risks to create a better life for her family.

2. What gave Shazi Visram the inspiration for Happy Family?

A．The concern of a friend.

B．Her journey to a big company.

C．Her concern about poor children.

D．The lack of traditional baby food.

3. What's Paragraph 2 mainly about?

A．The nutrition levels of children.

B．Shazi Visram's contributions to society.

C．The importance of sustainable agriculture.

D．Happy Family's partnership with Groupe Danone.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．A woman who is recognized for running a business

B．A woman who holds two degrees and instructs others

C．A woman who raises the bar for children's nutrition

D．A woman who creates abundance and pays it forward

4 . Most people aren’t good at creative problem solving for two reasons: First, they are not trained in how to be creative. Second, they don’t understand group strength well enough to harness(驾驭) their power to maximize group creativity.

A key element of creativity is applying existing knowledge to a new problem. The more people getting involved in solving it, the more knowledge there is to work on it. Unfortunately, research shows that the traditional brainstorming methods fail to achieve that goal. When groups get together to exchange ideas, they actually come up with fewer ideas overall than if they each had worked alone.

To fix this problem, you should consider the two stages of group problem-solving: divergence(分散) and convergence(集中). Divergence happens when the group considers as many different potential solutions as possible. Convergence happens when the various proposed solutions are evaluated and reduced to a smaller set of candidate solutions to the current problem.

The essential principle of group creativity is that individuals working alone diverge, whereas group members working together converge. In groups, once a member states a potential solution, it makes others think about the problem similarly. That is why groups working together diverge less than individuals working alone.

Therefore, be aware of when to diverge and when to converge. For example, early in the problem-solving process, have group members work alone to write down statements describing the problem. Then get them back to discuss their descriptions. The group discussion will lead everyone to accept one or a small number of these statements to work on—this is healthy convergence.

When starting to generate solutions, you again want divergence. Have people work alone to start. Then collect people’s initial ideas and send them around to others and allow the divergence to continue as everyone individually builds on the ideas of other members. Finally, let the group discuss the resulting ideas. This discussion will gradually lead the group to converge on a small number of candidate solutions.

This simple method works effectively, because it respects what individuals and groups do best.

1. We can infer that the traditional brainstorming methods ______.

A．enable people to form more ideas together

B．greatly encourage group creativity

C．actually limit group creativity

D．prevent people’s involvement in the problems

2. According to Para. 4, when a member presents an idea, others tend to _____.

A．think the other way round	B．follow his way of thinking
C．be more confident in their own ideas	D．be less willing to share their own ideas

3. What should group members first do early in the problem-solving process?

A．Discuss the problem.	B．Put down group statements together.
C．Simplify the problem.	D．Write down their individual descriptions.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．A simple way to make group thinking more effective

B．Difficulties in organizing group thinking

C．Differences between divergence and convergence

D．Advantages of group thinking over individual thinking

5 . The killdeer, a small bird known for its high-pitched call, could lead to the cancellation of one of Canada’ biggest music festivals.

The first hint of trouble for Ottawa’s Bluesfest, an outdoor festival that draws around 300,000 people each year, came last week after workers at the site found one of the birds. It had laid four eggs nearby, effectively claiming the main stage area as its nesting ground. “This is one of the most challenging problems we’ve been presented with, but we feel we can work through this,” said Mark Monahan, executive director of the festival.

“Anything that changes the schedule has a major effect, so we’re taking it very seriously.” The discovery meant that government officials rushed to protect the nest and the eggs, hiring a security guard to watch over them 24 hours a day. Environmentalists were also brought in.

“We don’t know when the eggs might hatch,” said Monahan. What is known is that the young killdeer will likely leave the nest soon after they are hatched, leading many to hope that the eggs hatch in the next day or so.

The festival is now seeking permission from Environment Canada to relocate the nest some 50 meters away or take it to a wildlife center. Moving the nest would also ensure the bird and its young would be protected during the festival’s 11-day run, said Monahan. It’s highly likely that the festival’s thousands of attendees would cause huge problems for the bird and its eggs.

Monahan was confident that the festival would go on as planned, however. “Most of the people we’re working with are looking for a positive solution,” Monahan said. “There is no one saying that the festival can’t go on.”

As news of the dilemma spread, it left residents divided. Some supported the bird, saying that moving the nest might result in the eggs being abandoned. Others expressed annoyance that protecting the eggs of the small bird, which is widespread across North America, was risking an annual festival that contributes millions of dollars to the local economy.

The killdeer’s tendency to build its nest in open fields or flat areas has caused issues in other areas of the US: earlier this year, construction on a health center in Wisconsin was temporarily stopped after a killdeer and its four eggs were discovered.

1. Which is TRUE about Bluesfest?

A．It is the first music festival in Canada.

B．It is an important event for music lovers.

C．It is a music festival held every two years.

D．It is a challenging outdoor activity in Ottawa.

2. What was especially challenging for Bluesfest this year?

A．Pressure from the government.

B．Disagreements with the public.

C．The need to protect the bird’s eggs.

D．The lack of experience in hosting the event.

3. How did the festival plan to deal with the problem?

A．Move the nest to another place.

B．Ask government officials for help.

C．Seek advice from environmentalists.

D．Hire security guards to protect the eggs.

4. What was Monahan’s attitude toward hosting the festival?

A．Negative.	B．Indifferent.
C．Unsure.	D．Positive.

6 . Seasonal pumped hydropower storage（SPHS），an already established yet infrequently used technology ,could be an affordable and sustainable solution（解决方法）to store energy and water annually, according to new IIASA research published in the journal Nature Communications. Compared with other mature storage solutions, such as natural gas, the study shows that there is considerable potential for SPHS to provide highly competitive energy storage costs.

Seasonal pumped hydropower storage means pumping water into a deep storage reservoir（水库）, built parallel to a major river, during times of high water flow or low energy demand. When water is not enough or energy demand increases，stored water is then released from the reservoir to generate electricity.

The new study is the first to provide a global, high-resolution analysis of the potential and costs for SPHS technology. In their analysis, researchers assessed the theoretical global potential for storing energy and water seasonally with SPHS, focusing on the locations with the highest potential and lowest cost. They found that the technology would be particularly effective in the Himalayas, the Andes, Alps，and the Rocky Mountains, as well as mountainous regions in the Middle East, Brazil, Asia, and Russia, and many other locations around the world.

The study also addresses some of the potential environmental concerns related to hydropower. Because SPHS reservoirs are deep and constructed parallel to, rather than within the course of a river, the environmental and land use impacts can also be up to 10 to 50 times smaller than conventional hydropower plants.

Hunt, lead author of the study, says, “With the need for a change to a more sustainable world with lower CO2 emissions（排放），renewable energies and energy storage will play a major role in the near future. Given the vast untapped（未开发的）and cheap potential of SPHS, it will soon play an important role in storing energy and water on a yearly basis.”

1. What is the strength of SPHS based on the new IIASA research?

A．It’s costly.	B．It’s out-dated.
C．It’s rarely used.	D．It’s inexpensive.

2. What do researchers concentrate on when assessing the use of SPHS?

A．Environmental protection.	B．High profits.
C．Suitable places.	D．Water flow.

3. What do we know about the SPHS reservoirs in Paragraph 4?

A．They damage the river.

B．They are environmentally friendly.

C．They are similar to traditional hydropower plants.

D．They can be effective in many places globally.

4. What’s the future for SPHS according to Hunt?

A．Promising.	B．Panicking.
C．Discouraging.	D．Demanding.

7 . Sir David Attenborough is set to host a brand new natural history series, named A Perfect Planet. The noted documentarian is back, and will be starring in a five-part BBC One series which will take a look at “the intricate（复杂）systems” that allow Earth to boom.

The show is set to explain how the planet operates, looking at everything from ocean currents to solar energy to the weather, and risking all around the world, from India to the Arctic.

Plus, in showing how the earth works, the documentary will also seek to display how animals adapt to their natural environments as they continue to change. As ever, it sounds like a truly fantastic watch.

It won’t be a surprise to hear that the new Attenborough series is set to feature some wonderful film scenes, too.

Speaking of the brand new series, from Our Planet producers Silverback Films, Sir David said: “Oceans，sunlight, weather and volcanoes - together these powerful yet fragile forces allow life to flourish（茂盛）in astonishing diversity. They make Earth truly unique-a perfect planet. Our planet is one in a billion, a world filled with life. But now, a new determining force is changing the face of Earth: humans. To preserve our perfect planet we must ensure we become a force for good.”

While an exact first-show date has not yet been announced, the show is set to land on BBC One later this year.

1. What do we know about Sir David Attenborough?

A．He will direct the series.	B．He will host a space series.
C．He enjoys a good popularity.	D．He will explore all around the world.

2. A Perfect Planet covers the following EXCEPT______.

A．fantastic shots

B．performances of film stars

C．animals’ adaptation to environmental change

D．how the natural forces in the world work overall

3. In Sir David’s opinion, who/what is mainly responsible for changing the face of the planet?

A．Man.	B．The animal.
C．Climate change.	D．The power of nature.

4. In which part of a website will you find the text?

A．Health and Lifestyle.	B．Sports and Games.
C．TV and Films.	D．Fashion and Beauty.

8 . More than two decades after it went missing, a ceremonial crown has found its way home to Ethiopia. The country’s prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, expressed his _______ to the Dutch officials who helped with its_______ – and to the man who_______ it, Sirak Asfaw, who went to the Netherlands in the 1970s for political reasons.

Sirak played a big role in the_______ journey of the fancy crown. He used to host different people from Ethiopia in his Dutch house. In 1998, one of the_______ asked him to look after a crown. But after _______ it was of Ethiopian origin, he refused to give it back and _______ it should be sent back to Ethiopia.

However, he didn’t _______ the authorities in power in Ethiopia at the time so he kept it at home. “To_______ such a treasure then was very hard to do,” he said. “I ended up in such a(n)__________ situation, not knowing who to tell or what to do with this________ artwork.”

It was not until the reform-minded Abiy Ahmed took office in 2018 that Sirak________ decided to come forward. He________ Arthur Brand, a famous Dutch specialist in the recovery of stolen art, and     Brand, who has described the __________ as “one of the most exciting finds of my career,” then ________ Sirak to give it to local authorities.

So the________ reached out to the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the ministry helped them work out the________ of returning the artwork to Ethiopia – where it hadn’t been seen since early 1990s. ________, after 21 years hidden in a Dutch________, the crown is now back in Ethiopia. This is the amazing achievement of returning the treasure to its________ place.

1.

A．wish

B．preference

C．appreciation

D．enthusiasm

2.

A．return

B．search

C．development

D．protection

3.

A．repair

B．made

C．found

D．bought

4.

A．short

B．unusual

C．dangerous

D．pleasant

5.

A．experts

B．officials

C．ministers

D．guests

6.

A．admitting

B．suggesting

C．announcing

D．realizing

7.

A．advised

B．insisted

C．concluded

D．imagined

8.

A．trust

B．respect

C．urge

D．disappoint

9.

A．take away

B．hand over

C．take possession of

D．make use of

10.

A．risky

B．awkward

C．unique

D．unstable

11.

A．precious

B．foreign

C．unknown

D．illegal

12.

A．randomly

B．unwillingly

C．eventually

D．hesitantly

13.

A．interviewed

B．praised

C．recognized

D．consulted

14.

A．reform

B．incident

C．crown

D．leader

15.

A．trained

B．ordered

C．allowed

D．encouraged

16.

A．pair

B．police

C．specialists

D．authorities

17.

A．costs

B．details

C．challenges

D．advantages

18.

A．Gradually

B．Ridiculously

C．Thankfully

D．Undoubtedly

19.

A．hotel

B．office

C．museum

D．apartment

20.

A．right

B．strange

C．public

D．hiding

9 . Cold showers are common practice in many countries and have been around for much longer before we were spoiled with in-home water heaters. Many health benefits are associated with taking cold showers, the most popular one being improved circulation (血液循环). Cold water hitting the body causes blood to move closer to the inner organs to keep them warm.    1    

Also, those who take a cold shower in the morning are most likely to be more energetic than people who take a hot shower.     2       This, in turn, increases your oxygen intake and heart rate, leading to improved awareness and a more energetic state.

Besides, as you take a cold shower, your body struggles to stay warm by increasing its metabolic (新陈代谢) rate.    3     These cells are responsible for protecting your body and increasing your immune system, making you less likely to be affected by disease.

Additionally, as the cold water shocks the nervous system, the nerves send a signal to the brain and activate the part of the brain responsible for releasing hormones that reduce depression.

    4     Having a shower with cold water will close pores (毛孔) in your skin and also make your hair appear smooth, shiny and healthy.

    5     Turn that tap to cold every now and then, boost your health, and save some pennies on the heating bill in the process.

A．So, what are you waiting for?

B．Do you believe in these benefits of cold showers?

C．That act increases the overall blood circulation in your body.

D．Lots of white blood cells will soon disappear from your body after that.

E．This results in the body producing more white blood cells as it thinks it’s under attack.

F．A less obvious benefit of cold showers may be discovered when you look in the mirror.

G．The sudden touch of cold water will surprise the body, leaving you taking a deep breath.

10 . Lazer loves running, and although he experiences a series of potentially fatal heart problems, he always cherishes a new finish line to inspire his _______.

By 2008, Lazer had undergone six heart _______, and the last one left him _______. In an attempt to feel_______, he decided to_______ his diet and, at the suggestion of a friend, started drinking more nutrient-packed juices._______, he began to feel good enough to _______ his sneakers and hit the_______again.

“After _______ the hospital, my goal was not to ________. I wanted to live my life as I desired, and that meant to ________ running and be in the best shape that I can,” he says. “I wasn’t going to be sedentary and sit on a sofa and ________ the remote. The big thing for me was that I wanted my own life. I was going to do everything I could to get my life back.”

To Lazer, that meant running, since it was such a big part of that life. ________, just months after that sixth surgery in 2008, he was back________ the starting line of the Las Vegas 26.2. And this past November, he crossed the finish line of his 18^th ________ race.

Lazer ________ running as one of the main reasons he’s lived well beyond that one-year prognosis he got back in 2004. “I believe I started running ________ knowing that if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be living too ________,” he says. “Running is a part of who I am—I am ________ to be the best that I possibly can be. It’s such a huge part of my life that my life seems out of order if I’m injured or I can’t run. It’s kind of my ________.”

1.

A．recovery

B．champion

C．competition

D．growing

2.

A．hurts

B．broken

C．surgeries

D．rehabilitation

3.

A．devastated

B．debilitated

C．strove

D．hesitated

4.

A．brighter

B．higher

C．happier

D．stronger

5.

A．pick up

B．add up

C．switch up

D．turn up

6.

A．Eventually

B．Normally

C．Quickly

D．Strangely

7.

A．put up

B．lace up

C．take on

D．control with

8.

A．master

B．disease

C．competitor

D．road

9.

A．getting out of

B．returning to

C．running out of

D．dropping out

10.

A．achieve

B．compromise

C．change

D．promote

11.

A．train

B．find

C．continue

D．start

12.

A．switch

B．play

C．fiddle

D．press

13.

A．Besides

B．However

C．But

D．So

14.

A．from

B．at

C．on

D．about

15.

A．consecutive

B．successful

C．ordinary

D．special

16.

A．doubts

B．credits

C．hopes

D．ponders

17.

A．somehow

B．anyone

C．somebody

D．anyhow

18.

A．late

B．long

C．painful

D．relaxed

19.

A．thinking

B．struggling

C．braving

D．striving

20.

A．drug

B．life

C．anchor

D．entire