1 . Tet is the most important holiday in Vietnam and there are many customs telling people what to do and what not to do during the holiday.

Returning all borrowed things

Before Tet, people should return all the things, including money, that they have borrowed from others. It is believed that people should not start a new year with borrowed things, otherwise in that year they would not be able to make both ends meet.

House-sweeping

One thing people should avoid doing is sweeping the house or emptying the rubbish basket especially on the first day of the new year. People believe that if you sweep the floor, all the luck and money will f low out of your house. So when visiting one’s house in Tet, you should not drop anything onto the floor and make it dirty.

Giving lucky money

On the first day of Tet, adults (those who have already got married and have income) are supposed to prepare some lucky money to give the kids when visiting their relatives as a symbol of luck for the coming new year. People are also supposed to say best wishes to others. These activities are done with the expectation that luck and good things are brought to everyone.

Gift-exchanging

Gift-exchanging is another common custom during the Tet holiday, which is used mostly in business. The process of giving and receiving gifts help to improve the relationships between business partners. The popular presents are cookies, chocolates, fruit baskets, wine, soft drinks or other kinds of treats. Usually, people can buy a pack of gifts in the shops which includes many different kinds of food.

1. What should people avoid doing on the first day of Tet?

A．Visiting others’ home.	B．Spending money.
C．Throwing away rubbish.	D．Exchanging gifts.

2. Who are most probably supposed to give lucky money?

A．Teenage brothers.	B．Sisters studying at college.
C．Unemployed aunts.	D．Married and well-paid uncles.

3. Which are mentioned as proper business gifts during Tet?

A．Cookies, cash and chocolates.	B．Fruit, wine and soft drinks.
C．Chocolates, drinks and clothes.	D．Chocolates, fruit and books.

2 . Many dishes make up the world of Garifuna food, but hudutu is probably its signature (明显的特色). The dish is closest to Yolanda Castillo’s heart.

The head chef of Chicago’s Garifuna Flava, Castillo developed a love for food earlier. It was in her native country of Belize that she learned the secrets of making hudutu. “My mom showed me the traditional way of cooking our Garifuna food.” she says.

After moving to Chicago with her husband, Castillo stayed true to her roots, gathering family members for grand meals. Not a single visit happened without someone praising Castillo’s ability to copy her mother’s traditional Garifuna recipes.

“My husband would always say, ‘One day, I’m going to open a restaurant for her.’” Castillo says. In 2008, the couple’s restaurant, Garifuna Flava, opened its doors in Chicago. In addition to Garifuna food, Garifuna Flava serves up Belizean food like rice and beans. “It’s amazing to see how many people from around the world have been here to taste our Garifuna food.” she says.

“Garifuna food, in particular, tells us a Caribbean story and a Central American story,” says López Oro, whose work focuses on later generations of Garifuna immigrants.(移民) “It gives us an opportunity to really think about the generational history of Garifuna migration.”

Though hudutu requires much work, Castillo uses a food processor to speed things up. The more hudutu she’s able to make, the more she’s able to sell—increasing the possibility of introducing the food to a wider, ever-hungry audience.

“I think people are really devoted to making hudutu a household name,” says López Oro, referring to the dish and the urgency many Garinagu feel about protecting their history, in part, through their food’s most famous dish.

1. What did Yolanda Castillo do after settling in Chicago?

A．She gathered families every weekend.	B．She maintained the traditions of the food.
C．She developed a true love for cooking.	D．She got married with Rhodel Castillo.

2. What can we know about Garifuna Flava?

A．It has received diners from many countries.	B．It was passed down from Castillo’s mother.
C．It primarily serves people rice and beans.	D．It has already become a tourist attraction.

3. What can we infer about Garifuna food from the words of López Oro?

A．It is easy for people to cook by themselves.	B．It has been well-protected throughout history.
C．It inspired him to study the Garifuna history.	D．It reflects the mixture of different cultures.

4. Why does Castill o use a food processor to make hudutu?

A．To promote Garifuna food more efficiently.	B．To follow health tendency in the food industry.
C．To increase the real income of her restaurant.	D．To improve the appeal of hudutu worldwide.

3 . Which is more important for parents, making more money to give the kids a better life or spending more time with them? It is a problem for parents and it is not easy to decide. A new study shows that today’s parents are spending more time with their children than parents in the past. According to the study, today’s college-educated mothers spend about 21.2 hours a week taking care of their children. But women with less education spend about 15.9 hours. Before 1995, it was only 12 hours.

Dads are spending more time on ball games. Before 1995, fathers with college educations only spent about 4.5 hours a week playing with their children. Today, it increases to 9.6 hours a week. For fathers with high school education, the time goes up from 3.7 hours to 6.8.

These days, parents don’t care more about the cleaning or the cooking. They are trying their best to spend time with their families. As for the kids, they don’t mind how much time their parents spend with them. They just want to enjoy the time their parents do be with them.

So, take part in the kids’ activities when you are with them, such as helping with homework or playing soccer with them.

1. How long do college-educated mothers spend taking care of their kids a week?

A．About 9.6 hours.	B．About 12 hours.
C．About 15.9 hours.	D．About 21.2 hours.

2. What can we know from the new study?

A．Women with less education spend about12 hours staying with their kids,

B．Mothers in the past spent less time staying with kids than mothers these days.

C．Mothers with college education are lazier than those with less education.

D．Dads spend more time staying with their kids than mothers do.

3. How long did fathers with college education spend with kids a month before 1995?

A．About 4.5 hours.	B．Less than 9 hours.
C．About 13.5 hours.	D．About 18 hours.

4. What do kids care about according to the text?

A．They care about how much money their parents can make.

B．They care about how much time their parents spend with them.

C．They care if their parents are really with them.

D．They care if their parents can give them a better life.

4 . Besides getting out into nature yourself, the next best thing is to take it all in through the pages of a book. But where to start? Check out our natural history book recommendations.

Living as a Naturalist
By Liu Huajie, China

Have you ever wanted to get down to the level of plants and see the world through their “eyes”? Living as a Naturalist invites you into this world. This book makes natural history accessible and attractive. It interprets ancient Chinese educational and philosophical ideas of knowing about nature from a natural history perspective. It also introduces key figures in the West’s approach to the subject. This is all done with a humorous and engaging writing style while featuring beautiful images of plants and animals.

My First Summer in the Sierra
By John Muir, US/UK

In the summer of 1869, John Muir, a 31-year-old Scottish immigrant, joined a group of shepherds in the foothills of California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range for an adventure that proved life-changing for him. During those four months, he kept a diary while following a flock of sheep, painting a glorious picture of idyllic forests and majestic mountain peaks. This diary was titled My First Summer in the Sierra, which inspired thousands of Americans to visit the area. It later became the well-known Yosemite National Park.

The Peregrine
By J. A. Baker, UK

In 1965, John A.Baker gave up his work and lived on his earnings, devoting all his time to observing the peregrine falcon(游隼). From autumn to spring, Baker tracked the comings and goings of a pair of peregrine falcons in eastern England by bicycle and on foot, documenting their lives and the environment they live in. Like the bird itself, Baker has a keen eye for detail. The bird’s most exciting moments, like fast flying and hunting prey, are brought to life by Baker. In his eyes, the most important aspects of natural history and its documentation are patience, passion and observation.

1. What is included in Living as a Naturalist?

A．Stories about shepherds.	B．Drawings of western figures.
C．Pictures of creatures.	D．Theories about natural science.

2. What does My First Summer in the Sierra lead to?

A．Immigrants’ pursuit of an independent life.	B．The popularity of natural history books.
C．John’s dedication to animal protection.	D．People’s affection for the region.

3. What makes The Peregrine a success?

A．Great patience and subtle observation.

B．The humorous and engaging writing style.

C．The concept of “wilderness” rooted in Baker’s heart.

D．Practical examples of living harmoniously with the bird.

5 . Soft skills can make a huge difference to your life. They include being a good listener, working with other people and showing a positive attitude.     1     Happy and successful people are likely to have most, if not all, of the soft skills listed below.

    2     Being able to work harmoniously in a team is a skill of vital importance. Whether you work in a factory or an office, it’s certain that you are part of a team. You must learn how to get on with others. If you’re a team leader, you must also know how to motivate and inspire your members.

Work for the ideal work-life balance.     3     In fact, those who are crazy about earning money are often far from happy. For most things in this world, balance is the key. It is understandable that you want to work hard and earn a lot of money at the same time. But just ensure that you leave enough time and energy to enjoy the rewards.

See the best in others. Ask yourself if you have this quality. Many people don’t have it. However, having this skill is awesome. Seeing the best in others means that you can help them develop to the best of their potential.     4    

Have the eagerness to learn. Where would we be without learning? From our birth to adulthood, we constantly learn new things.     5     And they often complain that they have difficulty adapting to the changes in their lives. So to stay young, happy and satisfied, renew your enthusiasm for learning.

A．Communicate clearly and effectively.

B．Happiness is not dependent on money.

C．Understand the power of teamwork.

D．However, as we get older, many people stop learning.

E．Having a friendly personality helps you make new friends.

F．It also means that you can quickly build trust with other people.

G．Without them, you’ll struggle to find work, partners and happiness.

6 . It is a small step for a plant, and a giant leap for plant kind. A sprouting (发芽) cotton seed on China’s Chang’e-4 lunar lander is the first plant ever to grow in another world, indicating a new era for life in space.

Seeds, including cotton, arabidopsis (拟南芥), oilseed rape (油菜) and potato were carried to the Moon as a part of biological experiment, along with fruit fly eggs and some yeasts (酵母).

Pictures sent back by the probe show the cotton seeds sprouting on January 7, 2019, a few days after Chang’e-4 landed on the far side of the Moon.

The organisms (生物) are in a sealed can, protected from the extreme temperatures and radiation on the surface. “Understanding how to grow plants in space will help lay the foundation for human settlement on the Moon,” a scientist leading the experiment told the South China Morning Post.

The six organisms are intended to form a mini-ecosystem, with the plants making oxygen and food to sustain the fruit flies. Yeasts could process the flies’ waste and dead plants to provide another food source.

In a future human settlement, potatoes could provide food, rapeseed could be a source of oil and cotton could be used for clothing. A study in 2014 reported that plants could sprout and grow in lunar soil for 50 days without any additional nutrients (营养物). Over longer periods, human waste could help support plants’ nutritional needs.

These lunar green shoots aren’t the first plants in space. Astronauts on the International Space Station have grown crops including peas, radishes and cucumbers. They got their first bites of space-grown romaine lettuce in 2015.

The China National Space Administration eventually hopes to put humans on the Moon. “We are studying the program of sending astronauts to the Moon, but it’s still in very early stages,” a deputy director told the South China Morning Post. “We haven’t got the approval yet.”

1. When might Chang’e-4 land on the far side of the Moon?

A．On January 7, 2019.	B．On January 3, 2019.
C．On February 28, 2014.	D．On February 3, 2015.

2. What is the benefit of growing plants on the Moon?

A．It helps scientists understand the ecosystem in space.

B．It helps people living on the Moon feed themselves.

C．It helps support plants’ nutritional needs in space.

D．It helps set the basis for establishing settlements on the Moon.

3. What can we learn from the passage?

A．Oxygen created by plants provides a food source.

B．The purpose of these organisms is to form a small ecosystem.

C．The yeast hardly plays a role in dealing with fruit flies’ waste.

D．The organisms can resist extreme heat and cold in the environment.

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

A．Living on the Moon

B．Flying to the Moon

C．Garden on Moon’s Far Side

D．Human Settlement on Moon’s Far Side

7 . If you have mice in your house, you are not alone.     1     Having mice doesn’t mean your house is dirty. It is one of the challenges of every house owner.

When we are trying to catch a mouse, the first that comes to our mind is a mouse trap (夹子).     2     Mice travel along walls for safety. Don’t touch the trap too much because you will leave your smell on it.

    3     Usually, mice will not visit your house when they hear there is a cat inside. It will also help you fight against the mice.

Be careful when using poison (毒药) to kill the mice.     4     It’s dangerous because the mice may touch your food and pollute it.

Mice can get into the houses through tiny holes. The best way to have a mouse-free house is to close any possible entry (入口).

    5     If there is nothing there for them to eat, they won’t possibly stay.

A．Keep a cat as a pet in your house.

B．Cheese is the favorite food of mice.

C．Every house may have mice for some reason.

D．Leave the poison out of your children’s reach.

E．Don’t leave even a small piece of food outside.

F．It will kill them, but you may not be able to find the dead mice.

G．Put a small piece of cheese under the trap, and put it near the wall.

8 . Warrumbungle National Park

Travel six hours northwest of Sydney, and you’ve reached the astronomy capital of Australia. Warrumbungle National Park is a nature and star-lover’s dream. This land is home to the Southern Hemisphere’s first Dark Sky Park, which means you’ll be treated to nights of no light pollution and out of this world stargazing. Besides, the Warrumbungles has several adventurous hikes. The Breadknife and Grand High Tops walk is considered one of the best in Australia!

Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park

Ku-Ring-Gai Chase is the second oldest national park in Australia. We love this park for its proximity (邻近) to Sydney (a quick 45-minute drive from the city), significant Aboriginal (澳大利亚土著的) sites and breathtaking scenic views. There are many walks you can do here. You can also go kayaking (皮划艇), stopping at some of the secluded beaches that line the park.

Bouddi National Park

Located on the Central Coast, Bouddi National Park is one for beautiful landscapes and beaches. Just 90 minutes from Sydney, Bouddi is a hidden treasure. The beautiful water makes this park an ideal destination during summer, but it also provides a fantastic point for whale watching over the winter. You can experience Bouddi National Park on a day trip. Pack your picnic goods and head on the 8.5 km (one-way) Bouddi Coastal Walk — it’ll give you a perfect taste of the best of what the park has to offer!

Dorrigo National Park

As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Dorrigo National Park is one to explore! Located just shy of four hours from Byron Bay, the park is part of the Gondwana Rainforests and has been made over millions of years. You’d be right then to expect some of the most stunning waterfalls here. For one of the best experiences, head to the Skywalk lookout. This elevated walkway will take you right into the heart of the rainforest, providing soaring views 21 meters over the rainforest all the way to the coast.

1. If you were a fan of stargazing and hiking, which park would interest you most?

A．Bouddi National Park.	B．Dorrigo National Park.
C．Warrumbungle National Park.	D．Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park.

2. What can you enjoy at Bouddi National Park?

A．Going kayaking.	B．Watching whales.
C．Visiting Aboriginal sites.	D．Seeing breathtaking waterfalls.

3. What do you know about Dorrigo National Park?

A．It is the oldest national park in Australia.	B．It offers a perfect view of the Gondwana Rainforests.
C．It’s about four hours drive from Sydney.	D．It’s known for adventurous hikes along the coast.

9 . Life is like a roller coaster, and every point has ups and downs. People plan something, but luck and sometimes misfortunes lead them toward a different destination. However, passionate individuals are not scared of such uncertainties. They set goals, welcome challenges, overcome obstacles, and eventually achieve what satisfies them.

Those who stay committed to their broad goals and find satisfaction even in unplanned circumstances are truly victorious. One true example of such people comes from a woman passionate about spreading happiness and helping others. Nicole Thornes is a mother, a former police officer, and now serving society as a death doula (陪护师).

Nicole joined the police academy intending to be helpful to society. She believed that a police officer has the opportunity to eliminate crime, bring justice, and create a better society for everyone. Although she became a mother during her studies and her responsibilities were increased due to children, she didn’t give up on her passion. Nicole could have called off her studies, but her passion for serving society didn’t let her step down. With great efforts, she finally became a police officer and gave her contributions to law enforcement and the betterment of society. She was not only a police officer making full commitment to the society but also a mother who played her responsibilities in the best way possible.

Everything went according to her plans, but uncertainty called off her journey as a police officer. Nicole suffered from an injury in a mission that ended her career in the police force. But her dreams and passion did not let her stop. She became a death doula to continue her dream. She chose this field after her grandfather’s death, when she couldn’t bear the pain of losing him. Being a death doula, she is now providing comfort to the dying and their families during difficult times. She aims to spread prosperity in people’s lives and help them overcome all the obstacles she faced throughout her life.

1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?

A．Life is full of ups and downs.

B．People are at the mercy of changes.

C．Uncertainties lead life to a different direction.

D．Fulfillment comes from making the best of the uncertainties.

2. What is Nicole’s original career commitment?

A．To conduct her duty well and better the society.

B．To cater to the children’s requirements and needs.

C．To accompany the senior through the darkest time.

D．To release people’s pain from losing the loved ones.

3. Why did Nicole leave her police post?

A．Because of the arrangement of the office.	B．Because of the injury she got at work.
C．Because of the change of interest.	D．Because of the danger of the job.

4. What brought Nicole to her new career?

A．The appeal of the people in sorrow.	B．The push of getting a new job to survive.
C．The passion in accompanying the sick ones.	D．The sorrowful pain of losing her beloved family.

10 . The mystery of how groups of fire ants survive floods has puzzled biologists for many years. But now scientists have worked out how the ants stick together in order to build a kind of raft (筏) that helps them to float easily for days.

The fire ant lives in the rainforests of Brazil, where heavy rainfall can cause flooding twice daily. In order to stick together as a colony (群体) during these floods, the fire ants hook (钩) their legs and mouths together to create a living and breathing material that floats for hours, or even weeks, if necessary, until floods go down.

These so-called fire-ant rafts contain nearly 200 bodies per square inch; they can grow to be as large as garbage bin lids (盖) in the case of large colonies, but more often, they grow to the size of small plates. The ants gather themselves quickly in response to an emergency, and can organize thousands of bodies in less than two minutes, according to study researcher David Hu. “They are all acting together, and there are so many of them that they are really becoming a single material.” said Professor Hu.

They found that living fire ants within a raft always changed their positions in response to forces, such as the push of a stick or a drop of rain in nature. “This responsiveness allows the fire ants to deal with small rocks or bursts of waves while floating.” Hu said.

The raft is also self-healing, so that if one ant is removed from the raft, others move in to fill the space.

When in danger of drowning, a colony of the tiny creatures-thousands of them-will save themselves by joining forces and forming a raft. Though insects do insect things, we human beings could learn a thing or two about teamwork from the awesome fire ant.

1. What is the main idea of the passage?

A．Tiny creatures can survive disasters.

B．Fire ants work together to survive floods.

C．Teamwork is important for human.

D．Rafts help fire ants live in nature.

2. How can the fire ants stick together?

A．By joining a colony.	B．By floating for a long time.
C．By hooking parts of their bodies.	D．By living and breathing together.

3. What can we know about the fire-ant rafts?

A．They can be formed in a short time.

B．They are usually the size of garbage bin lids.

C．They will be separated in case of forces.

D．They move to some spaces when in danger.

4. Where is the passage most probably from?

A．A news report.	B．A brochure.
C．A story book.	D．A magazine.