1 . As a college student in Boston, I formed the habit of buying used books. I enjoy the hunt, the good price and the unrecognized treasures. I find old textbooks, ex-bestsellers, and books on subjects I’ve never heard of and now must learn all about. I don’t search for rare books, first editions, or leather-bound editions but books that are worth reading.
Rereading, for me, is a pleasure during retirement. The theater and the concert hall become less appealing to me, along with crowds. Staying alone and reading books have become extremely important to me. Literature needs the flesh of experience to have its full effect. Different books offer me insights and ways of expressing that stuck in my mind as grains of sand in an oyster now shine like pearls. My taste in books improves with age.
While packing for a move, which occurs at intervals of five to seven years, I clear my shelves and pick my books. I abandon a few, later regret my decisions, and look for them again. Several years ago, I got rid of books related to my job-architecture. Some were design guides, reference books, product catalogs, and things that went out of date. Some were historical or centered on a period or an architect. These had given me many hours of pleasure. Will I ever open their covers again? Certainly. I held on to the red bulk of Sir Banister Fletcher’s A History of Architecture and books on Paris, Rome, and Boston.
I gave away drafting equipment and instruments. I threw out rolls and rolls of paper, and old drawings of projects completed long ago, some of which had even been damaged. This time, I stay put in a cottage that suits my status and I’ve moved on in spirit. No doubt I will acquire more used books and throw away more books as passions grow and fade, like feathers changing with the seasons.
1. What does the author consider most important when choosing used books？| A．Their appealing covers. | B．Their reasonable prices. |
| C．Their excellent content. | D．Their collection value. |
| A．He has a small circle of friends. | B．His attitude towards work changes. |
| C．His communication skills improve. | D．He has a deeper understanding of life and books. |
| A．To show some books are worth reading repeatedly. |
| B．To recommend Sir Banister Fletcher’s books. |
| C．To suggest we avoid making poor decisions. |
| D．To explain his love for architecture. |
| A．He will stop throwing away used books. |
| B．He likes updating his collection of used books. |
| C．He is bad at using advanced drafting equipment. |
| D．He enjoys leading an active life in the countryside. |
2 . Chen Yuzhu, a 29-year-old young man, opened his first Chinese beef rice noodles restaurant in 2014 in the neighborhood of New York City’s Queens borough. He then took the flavor of his childhood memory to three other states in the US, building a recognized brand.
Actually, he started his own catering (餐饮) business after he lost his job and found noway out. It was at that time that beef rice noodles of his home village flashed in his mind.
However, the early days of setting up his business were not that easy. He frequently worked 18 hours a day, transported food at 2 am and promoted (推销) the restaurant near the New York City subway entrance by yelling, “Special noodles from my hometown, Guizhou!” But it didn’t work well. During the first two weeks. daily sales were only $200 at most, which wasn’t enough to pay the rent. He felt so anxious that he tried every possible means. Two months later, his Chinese beef rice noodles finally gained great popularity. His store has become hot spots for vloggers (视频博主) and he has made himself famous among locals as the“Rice Noodle Prince”.
“At first, running restaurants was for survival, but then I felt a sense of achievements. I became more open, inclusive and made a lot of friends. And the process to learn, make efforts and get inspired was really cool.” Chen said.
1. For what purpose did Chen Yuzhu plan to open the restaurant at first?| A．To make a living. | B．To promote special Chinese food. |
| C．To become very wealthy. | D．To gain popularity. |
| A．Shy. | B．Cautious. | C．Generous. | D．Determined. |
| A．Chen Yuzhu sold noodles at the New York City subway entrance. |
| B．The noodles were rather welcome during the first two weeks. |
| C．Chen Yuzhu met with a lot of difficulties when he started his business. |
| D．The noodles Chen Yuzhu sold were delivered from Guizhou. |
| A．Chen Yuzhu has made a lot of Chinese friends. |
| B．Making a lot of money is due to his family’s support. |
| C．Chen Yuzhu has really benefited a lot from his business. |
| D．Chen Yuzhu wants to open more restaurants in the future. |
3 . It has been found in South Australia that a worm-like creature about the size of a grain of rice is the oldest ancestor on the family tree that includes humans and most animals. The creature lived about 535 million years ago. It is considered to be an evolutionary step forward for early life on Earth.
Researchers have been working hard to find evidence of the common ancestor of most animals. Developing its body structure and organization successfully allowed life to move in specific, purposeful directions. This includes everything from worms and dinosaurs to amphibians(两栖动物) and humans. But for our common ancestor, they knew that fossils(化石) of the tiny, simple creatures they imagined would be nearly impossible to find because of its size and soft body. Then, they turned to fossilized burrows(动物洞穴), dated to the Ediacaran Period, found in South Australia.
For 15 years, scientists knew the burrows were created by the creature. There was no evidence of what made the burrows and lived in them until researchers decided to take a closer look at the burrows. Geology professor Mary Droser spotted impressions shaped like ovals(椭圆形) near the burrows.
A 3-D laser scan revealed the impressions containing evidence of a body shaped and sized like a rice grain, with a noticeable head and tail which suggested it had muscles. The muscles would have enabled the creature to move and create the burrows, like the way a worm moves. And the size of the creature matched with the size of the burrows they found.
1. What does the underlined word “It” mean in the first paragraph?| A．A family tree. | B．A grain of rice. | C．A worm-like creature. | D．An evolutionary step. |
| A．They developed the creature in the expected way. |
| B．They studied a large number of worms and dinosaurs. |
| C．They observed the burrows close up. |
| D．They went back to the Ediacaran Period some years ago. |
| A．3-D laser scan. | B．The impressions. | C．Some good ovals. | D．More burrows. |
| A．The researchers worked very hard in the burrow. |
| B．The worm-like creature may be animals’ ancestor. |
| C．It is very difficult to name a new kind of creature. |
| D．Australian people like fossils of many creatures. |
4 . Easier is better with the Jitterbug.
The easy-to-use Jitterbug Flip has big buttons and an exclusive 5Star® Urgent Response button on the keypad.
EASY TO USE The large bright screen and simple YES and NO buttons make navigating the menu simple. Plus, the powerful speaker ensures every conversation will be loud and clear.
EASY TO ENJOY Wherever you go, a built-in camera makes it easy to capture and share your favorite memories. And with a long-lasting battery, you won't have to worry about running out of power.
EASY TO BEPREPARED In any uncertain or unsafe situation, simply press the 5Star® button and a highly-trained Urgent Response Agent will confirm your location, evaluate your situation and get you the help you need, 24/7.
The Jitterbug Flip is one of the most affordable cell phones on the market. For a limited time, get 25% off. Plus, get more minutes with our great new rate plans!
Powered by the nation's largest and most dependable wireless network.
| Why the Jitterbug Flip is your best choice for a new cell phone: | ||||
| No long-term contracts | Free U.S.-based customer service | Keep your current phone number | No hidden monthly fees | Affordable, flexible plans |
To order or learn more,call1-800-358-3219 or visit us at greatcall.com/Flip
1. Which function is the most important for one who is in an unsafe situation?| A．The 5Star® button. | B．The large bright screen. |
| C．The powerful speaker. | D．The built-in camera. |
| A．An office lady fond of fashions. | B．A businessman showing himself off. |
| C．A young man interested in high-tech. | D．An old lady with a bad sense of sight. |
| A．Keep your old phone number. | B．Stick to a two-year contract. |
| C．Visit greatcall.com/Flip. | D．Pay monthly fees in time. |
5 . When A33, a theater in Beijing, hosted a new stand-up comedy show（脱口秀), to the surprise of the organizers, nearly 250 people turned up and laughed together. Six years ago, that would have been unbelievable. Indeed, there were even cases of shows having more performers than viewers.
Wan Da, one of the performers, said, “Many people are worried about the future of stand-up comedy, a genre (类型) that is very popular in the U.S. after its introduction in China. Can it adapt itself here? But as the results show, there is no need to worry. We have survived and carried on some of the best American traditions.”
Programs such as Rock& Roast, a comedy talk show competition, which are thought to help people reduce their pressure, drive audiences to offline performances for a real laugh. “Generally, our audiences are in the 20-35 age group, but recently some older people are reported to go to the theatre,” said Song Qiyu, a performer and founder of Beijing Comedy Center.
Compared to traditional Chinese comedy performances, the stand-up comedy has a lower bar as it doesn't require years of professional training. This allows everyone to take part. Work experience and personal observations of life are the sources of their inspiration. Different lives and jobs make the performances varied, giving them unique individual colors.
Joe Wong, a humorist from Jilin province, whose performance in Washington, D.C. in 2010 attracted much attention across China's social media, is happy to see the development of the industry in China. However, he has a warning, too: There is huge space for the genre in China, but we should be careful of growing too fast as the market still needs good works.
In China, many fresh college graduates join. Through their efforts, the industry will improve its standards and popularity as well as influence.
1. What can we learn about the stand-up comedy from Paragraph 2?| A．It develops well in China. | B．It is created by Americans. |
| C．It faces an uncertain future. | D．It is very popular in Beijing. |
| A．They have a gift for talking. | B．It needs plenty of performers. |
| C．It needs no special backgrounds. | D．Most people have a sense of humor. |
| A．Learning from America. | B．Offering quality content. |
| C．Keeping creating works. | D．Employing fresh graduates. |
| A．The stand-up comedy: a rising industry | B．A33: a quickly growing comedy theatre |
| C．Why does the stand-up comedy get popular? | D．How does the stand-up comedy survive in China? |
6 . Some colors that people see late at night could cause signs of the condition mental health experts call clinical depression. That was the finding of a study that builds on earlier study findings. They show that individuals who live or work in low levels of light overnight can develop clinical depression.
Doctors use the words “clinical depression” to describe severe form of depression. Signs may include loss of interest or pleasure in most activities, low energy levels and thoughts of death or suicide.
In the new study, American investigators designed an experiment that exposed hamsters to different colors. The animals were separated into 4 groups. One group of hamsters was kept in the dark during their nighttime period. Another group was placed in blue light, a third group slept in white light. While a fourth was put in red light. After four weeks, the researchers noted how much sugary water the hamsters drank. They found that the more depressed animals drank the less amount of water.
Randy Nelson, who heads the Department of Neuroscience at Ohio State University, says animals that slept in blue and white light appeared to be the most depressed. “What we saw is these animals didn’t show any sleep disruptions at all but they did have messed up circadian clock genes (生物钟基因)and they did show sign of depression whereas if they were in the pale red light, they did not.” He says there’s a lot of blue in white light, which explains why the blue light and white light hamsters appear to be more depressed than the hamsters that see red light or darkness.
Mr Nelson has suggestions for people who work late at night, or those who like to stay up late.
“My recommendation is if you are just living a typical mostly active life during the day, mostly inactive at night, you need to limit exposure to TVs which are quite bluish in the light they give off and computer screens and things like that. You can get filtered glass, you can get filters (过滤器) on your computer screen and filters on your eReaders to put it more in the reddish light.”
1. How did the researchers carry out the study?| A．By examples. | B．By comparison. |
| C．By reasoning. | D．By explanation. |
| A．Hamsters appear to be more upset. |
| B．The animals had messed up circadian clock genes. |
| C．These animals showed some sleep disruptions. |
| D．Animals in blue and white light appeared the most depressed. |
| A．Stay up late. | B．Be in bluish light. |
| C．Limit exposure to TVs. | D．Get filters on your electronic equipment. |
| A．In a science magazine. | B．In a fashion brochure. |
| C．In a research report. | D．In a book review. |
7 . Whether you’re trying to persuade your kid to turn off the TV or your boss to give you a raise, how do we win the bargaining game? By being persuasive!
Purpose
For example, do you want a 20 percent salary increase? Do you want your kid to limit video games to 45 minutes a day? Having a clear purpose in mind makes you confident because being clear does not allow for confusion or mixed messages.
Preparation
This step is commonly overlooked (忽略) as we make request What’s the why behind your purpose? For example, if you want a raise, how much money are people in your role being paid at different companies? How have you gone above and beyond in your position over the past twelve months?
Presenting benefits
When we want someone to do something, we want to present the decision in their best interest. Once I was bargaining a conference room in a nice hotel and wanted to pay less. I didn’t mention my limited budget. I didn’t talk about my needs. What I did was to tell the manager that my guests would come to her hotel, see its amazing facilities, and even consider hosting their own conferences there.
Patience
We are too likely to quit and leave dissatisfied from any bargaining. After more than ten years in sales, I can tell you that the best salesmen are patient enough. It’s true that success is a patience game.
| A．Have a clear purpose. |
| B．Persuasion is more effective than force. |
| C．She realized more money was coming her way. |
| D．However, most people leave the party too early. |
| E．List all the reasons that best support your request. |
8 . Family Travel: On the Road Again
The classic road trip is more popular than ever. Here are few places to visit.
Colo Roads
The Colorado Tourism Office has made it easy for road-trippers to explore the state’s 24 Scenic &Historic Byways. A new microsite includes an interactive map that lets travelers explore options by region, interest or season. Travelers seeking inspiration can also get trip suggestions within more than 150 Colo-Road Trip plans. The plans offer suggestions for historic attractions, active adventures and cultural opportunities.
The Beartooth Highway
Visitors who travel his amazing road experience the beautiful scenery (风景) of Montana, Wyoming and Yellowstone Park, home to the Absaroka and Beartooth mountains. The 68-mile highway introduces road explorers to one of the most different ecosystems reachable by car. Extremely beautiful, the road shows wide plateaus (高原) painted with blue icy lakes, forested valleys, waterfalls and wildlife.
California Dreaming
For impressive coastal scenery and seaside breezes, drive the car for a trip up or down our western shore. Begin in Santa Monica, California, and wind your way past the Hearst Castle. Other road trip options include a tour which features the best surf spots, or uncover the strange attractions you’ll find in the California desert.
The Lighthouse Trail
Travel the 375 miles between Kittery and Calais, Maine, visit lighthouses along the way, and learn about the dangers that sea-going ships and seamen experienced along the Northeastern coast. Hear stories of the difficult and lonely life led by those who kept the lights burning brightly. If possible, visit the Maine Lighthouse Museum, where hands-on exhibits for children provide a good break.
1. How can travellers get trip suggestions about Colo Roads?| A．By drawing an interactive map. |
| B．By searching on a new microsite. |
| C．By attending Colorado cultural events. |
| D．By calling the Maine Tourism Office. |
| A．Colo Roads. | B．The Beartooth Highway. |
| C．Califoria Dreaming. | D．The Lighthouse Trail. |
| A．It ends at a lighthouse museum. |
| B．It is a lighthouse-themed journey. |
| C．It involves many strange attractions. |
| D．It offers experienced seamen as tour guides. |
9 . Most polar bears could disappear by the end of the century, scientists say. Global warming is to blame. According to a study published this month in Nature Climate Change, most polar bear populations will be in serious decline by 2080. The cause is melting sea ice.
Polar bears hunt seals on the ice. Without ice, the bears must wander on the shore, where they are spending more and more time away from their main food source. That means the animals could starve.
“There’s not enough food on land to sustain a polar bear population,” Péter K. Molnár told the New York Times. He is the study’s lead author.
Lack of food leads to another problem: Mother bears may not be fat enough to produce milk for their cubs. Some bear populations could stop having babies, leading to a rapid decline in numbers.
Arctic sea ice usually melts in the spring and summer, then grows in the winter. But now, the ice is taking longer to grow back. Weather statistics say the Arctic is warming twice as fast as the rest of the planet. Ice in the region has declined 13% every 10 years since the 1970s.
The Arctic is home to roughly 25,000 polar bears. Scientists have long known that the animals are in danger. This study, which looked at 13 of the world’s 19 polar bear populations, is the first to identify when they could disappear.
But the study also notes that it is still possible to slow Arctic melting. The world can reduce the burning of fossil fuels and lower the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. It would have to be a drastic reduction. Bringing emissions to only a moderate level will still mean the loss of some polar bears.
Saving the bears is up to us, Holland says. “I believe that there is hope,” she says. “But humans need to act quickly to turn that hope into a reality.”
1. Why are polar bears in danger of disappearing?| A．Lack of seals. | B．Global warming. |
| C．Less milk for cubs. | D．The loss of home. |
| A．Reduce. | B．Suffer. | C．Support. | D．Increase. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Neutral. | C．Negative. | D．Positive. |
10 . Could bike share programs lead to greater cycling safety?
In April 2015, Philadelphia introduced a bike share program. By 2019, there were more than 1,300 bikes and 400 pedal-assisted electric bicycles available. People used them for about 50,000 trips a month.
Before the introduction of the bike share program, the rate of bicycle-car accidents had been gradually increasing. By May 2015, the month after the introduction of the program, the rate was twice that of January 2010.
But the researchers, writing in the American Journal of Public Health, found that from that time through the end of 2018, the rate decreased by an average of 13 percent a year, despite the increases over those years in the number of bicycles on city streets, and even though Philadelphia made no major basic construction changes, like adding many protected bike lanes (自行车道).
The lead author, Ghassan B. Hamra, an assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, said it appeared that there is safety in numbers: the more bikes on the road, the more car drivers adapt to their presence, and the safer cyclists may be.
“We all know that bike riding is a healthy activity, physically and mentally,” he said, “but there might be concerns that if you introduce a bike share program there will be negative consequences. We saw no evidence of that in Philadelphia.”
1. What has happened to the number of bicycle-car accidents with the introduction of the bike share program?| A．It has increased. | B．It has reduced. |
| C．It remains the same. | D．It is unknown. |
| A．Many protected bike lanes have been added. |
| B．Car drivers are more used to their presence. |
| C．More people take up bike riding as a healthy activity. |
| D．Negative consequences have appeared. |
| A．He is in favor of it. | B．He disapproves of it. |
| C．He brought it in. | D．He is concerned about it. |
| A．Sharing bikes, cutting accidents | B．Problems with sharing bikes |
| C．Basic construction changes | D．Share program in Philadelphia |
