1 . As the traditional Middle Autumn Day draws near, there are many moon cakes to choose from besides ham-pled cakes. Flower-pied, especially rose-pied moon cakes are preferred a lot by visitors to Yunnan. Baked with almost the same materials-flour, eggs, cooking oil, sugar, and honey etc, why do rose pastries (糕点) enjoy a high popularity?
The answer lies in the roses locally grown in Yunnan and used for making teas and cooking. The bushes can be found with ease in many parts of China, but Yunnan-which is known as “Kingdom of Plants” —— tops others in this respect. You might have noticed that 70 percent of fresh flowers traded in China have come from Yunnan province.
Among the dim sum —— like snacks of Yunnan, rose cakes can be a highlight. Cakes of this kind begin to be widely sold as early as April in stores, because farmers usually harvest the fresh rose crops for orders placed by food companies. You may also find dried roses sold all the year round in big stores.
In historical records, the flower-pied cakes were first prepared by a master chef in the Qing Dynasty about 300 years ago. Sweet, fragrant, and believed to be “good for improving women beauty”, these cakes were once widely sold in Kunming and even the north of China such as Tianjin.
However, not all the rose flower is used for making cakes. The petals (花瓣) of such roses, and only the petals, are valuable in this regard, and that is mainly why they (rose cakes) are a little pricier than others. There are also records saying that rose-pied cakes were paid to the Qing Dynasty’s Qian Long Emperor as a gift.
Personally, I prefer rose cakes than any others. As for ham cakes, I really don’t like the taste. If you try ham cakes, it tastes quite weird, salty and sweet.
1. Why are rose-pied moon cakes so popular?| A．They go well with tea. |
| B．They are made with flour. |
| C．They can improve women beauty. |
| D．They are made with the best roses. |
| A．Rose cakes are the most expensive. |
| B．Rose cakes stand out from the others. |
| C．Rose cakes are ordered by many companies. |
| D．Rose cakes are best when served with dim sum. |
| A．They are prepared by master chefs. |
| B．They were bought by emperors as gifts. |
| C．They are widely sold home and abroad. |
| D．They are more expensive than other cakes. |
| A．Tell the history of moon cakes. |
| B．Introduce a special kind of moon cakes. |
| C．Encourage readers to buy flower moon cakes. |
| D．Compare traditional moon cakes with rose moon cakes. |
2 . The next generation of robots will be able to see objects, will have a sense of touch, and will make critical decisions.
Engineering skilled and computer technology are developing artificial vision for robots. With the ability to “see”, robots can identify and inspect one specific class of objects out of a pile of different kinds of materials. One robot vision system uses of electronic digital cameras containing many rows of lights sensitive materials measure the intensity of light and convert the light rays into a range of numbers. The numbers are part of a gray-scale system in which brightness is measured in a range of values. One scale ranges from 0 to 15, and another from 0 to 255. The 0 is represented by black. The highest number is white. The numbers in between represent different shades of gray. The computer then makes the calculations and converts the numbers into a picture that shows an image of the object in question. It is not yet known whether robots will one day have vision as good as human vision. Technicians believe they will, but only after years of development.
Engineers working on other advances are designing and experimenting with new types of articulated (有关节的) metal hands and fingers, giving robots a sense of touch. Other engineers are writing new programs allowing robots to make decisions such as whether to abandon defective parts in finished products. To do this, the robot will also have to be capable of identifying those perfect and defective parts.
These future robots, assembled (装配，组合) with a sense of touch and the ability to see and make decisions, will have plenty of work to do. They can be used to prospect for minerals on the ocean floor or in deep areas of mines too dangerous for humans to enter.
They will work as gas station attendants, firefighters, house-keepers, and security personnel. The robot business will continue to grow also. Financial analysts believe this business will soar from a $ 100 million-industry at the start of the 1980s to a $5-billion industry by the early 2010s. Anyone wanting to understand the industry of the future will have to know about robots.
1. Why is it so important for robots to be able to “see”?| A．Because they can criticize human factory personnel. |
| B．Because they can make critical decisions. |
| C．Because they can work as human beings. |
| D．Because they have a strong desire. |
| A．Because robot-business will grow rapidly. |
| B．Because robots will be very useful. |
| C．Because robots will become very popular in industry. |
| D．For they can make a lot of money. |
| A．Having a noticeable or desire effect. |
| B．Unquestionable and undoubted. |
| C．Imperfect, having serious errors. |
| D．Not enough in quantity. |
| A．Future Robots Will Have Plenty of Work to Do. |
| B．Future Robots Will See, Touch, and Think. |
| C．Engineers Care Designing New Types of Robots. |
| D．Future Robots Will Have Visions as Good Human Vision. |
3 . Twenty years ago, I was a school bus driver. Charlie, who was eight years old, became a rider. All the students had stories to tell me but Charlie ignored me.
From that day on, Charlie was a trial. If a fight broke out I didn’t have to turn my head to know who had started it. If a girl was crying, the chances were Charlie had pulled her hair. No matter how I spoke to him, he wouldn’t say a word. He’d just stare at me with his eyes.
Toward the end of that year, the kids on my bus gave me a small medal with the words “To the Best Bus Driver Ever ”. I put it up on the dashboard (仪表盘).
One day, when I got on the bus I realized that the medal was gone. One boy said, “Charlie was the first one on the bus. I bet he took it.” Other children also said, “Yeah! Charlie did it!” I asked Charlie, “Have you seen the medal?” “I don’t know what you are talking about,” he said. All the children shouted, “Check his pockets.” I asked Charlie to come forward. I stuck my hand into one of his pockets. I felt it. Charlie stared at me for a long time. I was about to pull the medal out of Charlie’s pocket when I stopped myself. “It must have fallen off before I got here,” I said to the kids. Without a word, Charlie returned to his seat. That summer Charlie moved away.
Some years later, when I was in a department store, someone called my name. It was Charlie. To my surprise, he hugged me. He pulled an old key chain which was actually the medal from his pocket and gave it to me. “You were the only one who didn’t give up on me. Thank you! You are so beautiful!” he said.
1. It can be known from the passage that Charlie was ______.| A．a trouble maker | B．an easy-going boy |
| C．proud of what he had done | D．an honest boy with few words |
| A．the small medal | B．the dashboard |
| C．an old key chain | D．Charlie’s pocket |
| A．He hated her and stared at her without a word. |
| B．He thought highly of her and was grateful to her. |
| C．He appreciated her but he was too shy to say it out. |
| D．He respected her because she was the best driver. |
| A．Brave and generous | B．Helpful and impatient |
| C．Caring and kind – hearted | D．Polite but dishonest |
How is everything going? I have been in Leeds for more than 3 months. I miss you all so much during this time, especially at this turning of the year. I still remember the Christmas and New Year party we had together last year. It is a pity that I cannot celebrate this great festival with you this year, but I hope I can share my happiness with you through this letter.
After I entered in the British University, I realized that the foundation course I have taken is extremely important and helpful. Actually, most of the content of my present module has already been covered by IFY. Therefore, it is not difficult to follow the lectures and tutorials. Compared to the other Chinese students who took the foundation course in Britain, we are in a better stage in terms of both academic English and the knowledge of re levant subjects. More importantly, the IFY course has fully prepared us for the new style of study here. I would like to thank Juliet, Paul, Net, Scott and Chris with all my heart, because without your help, I wouldn’t be able to cope with the study in Britain.
I would also like to thank Cynthia, Sophia, Cathy and all the other staff in Qingdao ACE Programme. Thanks for your help in the last year, and thanks for your advice on my choice of university. It is you who make studying abroad possible for me.
The last one year’s study in IFY course was one of my most pleasant memories. While coping with the challenges of life in Britain, I always think back to the time when I was with you. I cannot forget every lectures and tutorials, and I cannot forget the times that we played together. You are not only my teachers, but also my good friends . I will miss you all. Hope I can see you when I go back to Chin a in summer.
Wish you every success in your life and keep good mood every day!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Love,
Phoebe
1. This letter was written by ________.| A．a Chinese student now in China |
| B．a Chinese student now in Britain |
| C．a Britain student now in China |
| D．a Britain student in Britain |
| A．a course opened in British universities |
| B．a course opened only in summer |
| C．a foundation course taken before going to British universities |
| D．a foundation course taken while in British universities |
| A．start with | B．deal with | C．go on with | D．go with |
| A．happy | B．thankful | C．sorry | D．respectful |
5 . Dog walkers should show consideration, not just for the dog in their home or car, but also for their environment. Doing so will help keep the local area clean and pleasant, especially for people out walking their dog or taking children to the park.
A considerate dog walker will take steps to prevent their pets from producing waste wherever they want to. Dog waste is particularly unpleasant and should be avoided at all costs. Not only is it nasty to walk in a dirty area, but it is also a serious health risk. Dog fouling ( 污垢) is a criminal offence in the UK and carries a maximum fined ￡1,000 if the case goes to court (法庭). Dog walkers should always be prepared to pick up after their dog by carrying dog waste bags or even plastic carrier bags that can be used. Do not run the risk of allowing your dog to make a public area dirty by always having a steady supply of bags with you during dog walks. Carrying a single bag during a walk is not always enough, as some dogs will need to go twice or perhaps even three times during walks.
Some dog owners are not willing to admit that their pets is a challenge or troublesome. Rather than dislike the suggestions that dogs should be kept under control, you should see it as your duty to protect other dogs, children and anyone else from harm. Do know troublesome behaviors such as aggression (攻击) towards other dogs or children and make every effort to keep your dog under control. Avoid areas where you know other dogs or children will be. They can do this by showing respect for other people’s property, picking up after their dog and by keeping challenging dogs under control.
1. The writer advises dog walkers to show consideration mainly for having_____.| A．a clean car | B．a comfortable home |
| C．a good environment | D．a very pleasant park |
| A．Highly unpleasant or annoying. | B．Very boring and tiring. |
| C．Specially disappointing | D．Surprising or astonishing. |
| A．fined more than ￡1,000 | B．ordered to pick it up at once |
| C．ordered to give one one waste bag | D．considered to break the law. |
| A．To keep their dogs under control. | B．To try to make their dogs keep clean. |
| C．To stop their dogs from being harmed. | D．To respect other people’s property. |
6 . Research has shown that when we volunteer — where we devote ourselves to helping others — we actually end up benefiting too. Our happiness grows. We feel more satisfied with life. We even have more energy and creativity. Basically,we have more to give.
I’ve noticed a pattern with my friends. Sometimes,they get into the habit of gossiping about others. They will constantly complain about their bosses or coworkers. It seems as if they get caught in this loop(闭环) of complaining,and their frustration distracts them in other parts of their life. When this happens,they become uninterested in new events or become annoyed by their colleagues or things that happen at work.
Meanwhile,I’ve also seen other friends go out of their way to help someone on their team or to help out on a project that have very little — or even nothing — to do with their main work. Although it seems like they won’t receive anything in return,my friends benefit from these interactions. My friends have told me about the stronger relationships they’ve built at work and the fun they had working on new and interesting projects. They’ve told me about how the people they helped before have returned the favor later on. Not only that,but they have even talked about times where their boss recognized them for their work or when they were informed in advance about upcoming projects.
We often think that when we help someone else,we aren’t doing anything for ourselves. But we actually often end up getting back just as much as we give. When we step in to help someone,we often turn out to be helping ourselves as well.
| Research shows when we help others，we end up | Our happiness grows. We feel more satisfied. We are more We | We have more to give. We often turn out to be |
7 . University degrees represent a significant financial investment. So, from the very beginning we encourage you to take a long-term review and to think about what you want to do after you graduate. That way, you can construct the most appropriate combination of courses in order to acquire the required knowledge and skills.
Over 70% of our graduate students attain a graduate level position six months after graduating.
What guidance will I receive?
Together with Career Services, we will help you
● find out about the career opportunities available
● choose the most suitable options for you
● make effective job applications
● plan and manage your future career.
What skills will I learn ?
Employers will be looking for highly skilled recruits. A language study course does not just teach you facts, but also a range of skills, for example:
● the practical skills of carefully listening to and transcribing(转录) languages
● the analytical skills of describing and comparing languages or styles of languages
● the intellectual skills of examining and evaluating theories
● various changing skills
Our graduates are well prepared for careers which use these skills and others based on them, such as problem-solving, critical evaluation of evidence, attention to detail.
Lancaster Award
Achieve the Landscape Award, a certificate developed in partnership with employers to help you make the most of your time at Lancaster and to demonstrate the skills you have developed along the way. The Lancaster Award will help you stand out from the crowd and improve your future employment prospects.
What do students go on to do with a degree from our department?
Here are some typical areas that will be of interest to you once you’ve taken a degree from our department:
● Education: teaching in schools, colleges and universities in Britain, and teaching English as a foreign language abroad
● Journalism and media, public relations
● Publishing
● Management
● Higher degrees and research
1. What is the purpose of the Careers Service?| A．To introduce their career courses and level positions. |
| B．To present a significant financial investment |
| C．To help graduates plan and manage future career. |
| D．To make readers interested in their career service |
| A．It will make the graduate earn more money later. |
| B．It will help the graduates have a brighter future in career. |
| C．It will show the graduate’s communicative skills. |
| D．It will keep your work going more easily. |
| A．High income and management. |
| B．Education and employment prospects. |
| C．Future employment prospects. |
| D．Higher degrees and research. |
8 . For better eyesight (视力), doctors advise limiting (限制) the hours of screen time and encourage having enough eye resting time.
However, another study shows that sitting in front of computer or TV screens for long hours is not the only reason for myopia (近视). An Australian research team studied young children in Sydney and Singapore to find the reasons for myopia. The research team found that there were less children who had myopia in Sydney than those in Singapore, even though they spent more time in front of computer and TV screens. The major finding is that children in Sydney spend longer hours on outdoor sports than those in Singapore.
Indoor and outdoor sports both make the eyes pay attention to more distant (远处的) objects, which stops the eyes from changing original shape. But outdoor sports may be better than indoor sports for myopia. Because natural light is good for eye growth and vitamin (维他命) D from the sunlight might be useful to it. Many doctors suggest that every child get its first eye test when he/she is about two and half years old, and even if his/her sight seems good enough. It is necessary for myopic(近视的) children to wear glasses to stop headaches, trouble reading and so on. It is also important that schools invite doctors to test their students’ eyes.
If that is not possible, school teachers should at least encourage parents and children to have regular eye examination and wear glasses. And parents should remember not only to limit the total screen time for their children, but also to encourage them to spend time outdoors.
1. What did the Australian research team study for?| A．To find the reasons for myopia. |
| B．To find the ways to treat myopia. |
| C．To learn to choose right glasses. |
| D．To improve children’s eyesight. |
| A．Because the children in Sydney watch TV less. |
| B．Because the children in Sydney have more eye resting time. |
| C．Because the children in Sydney use computer less. |
| D．Because the children in Sydney do more outdoor sports. |
| A．Sydney children don’t study hard. |
| B．Singapore children do few exercise. |
| C．Room light does harm to children’s eyes. |
| D．Outdoors activities do more good to eyes. |
| A．Children should have eye tests as soon as they reach school age. |
| B．Looking more at distant objects can help the eyes keep their original shape. |
| C．Doing outdoor sports with no glasses is good for myopic children. |
| D．Children should limit their time in the sun to protect their eyes. |
9 . We are spending too much time on social media today. So what if you make a habit of spending no more than ten minutes a day?
•
Don’t waste your efforts by being on every platform (平台). Instead, choose only one platform to start. Make sure that you enjoy it.
•Choose the right time.
Find your best time to use social media.
•Engage (参与).
Be wise in deciding what you want to talk about.
| A．Make it easy. |
| B．Only use one platform. |
| C．Be sure not to give away your personal information. |
| D．Your topic should help you express your point of view. |
| E．Actually, you can achieve a lot of things within ten minutes. |
| F．There’s no sense picking YouTube if you hate creating videos. |
| G．Habits are easier to form when they take place at the same time every day. |
10 . Directory of camps for kid and teens. Find the best overnight, residential and sleepaway camps for this summer.
*Game On! Sports Camp 4 Girls
Girls Only - Day Camp
Chicagoland Area, Illinois, USA - (847) 229-9959
Game On! Sports 4 Girls is the best organization committed to empowering young girls through sports. Our unique & fun programming, all-girl environment, and staff of passionate role models foster the “GIRLSTRONG” crucial to every girl’s development as an athlete and a person.
*International Riding Camp
Girls Only - Overnight Camp
Greenfield Park NY, New York, USA - (845) 647-3240
Located 90 miles NW of NYC. 2, 4 and 8 week sessions, Mother Daughter week. Horse shows, jumping, three hours riding daily. Beginners welcome. Tennis, water skiing, jet skiing, arts and crafts. Swim your horse in the ocean! Organic food menu. One week Equestrian(马术)Teen Tour of Russia.
*All Tournament Players Park
Boys Only - Day Camp
Marietta, Georgia, USA - (678) 384-6500
Baseball, volleyball, softball, and basketball camps for all levels.
*Ak-O-Mak
Girls Only - Overnight Camp
Ahmic Harbour, Ontario, Canada - (705) 387-3810
Ak-O-Mak: “B ound by tradition and inspired by the future”. Founded in 1928, as North America’s first competitive swim camp, Ak-O-Mak is dedicated to providing the perfect combination of traditional camp experience and sport activity. Instruction provided in over 25 sports/activities.
*Michigan Tech Sports Camps
Both boys and girls - Day and Overnight Camp Houghton, Michigan, USA - (888) 829-9688
Basketball, cheer, skating, football, ice hockey, mountain biking, soccer, tennis & volleyball.
*Endicott College Sports Mania
Both boys and girls - Day and Overnight Camp
Beverly, Massachusetts, USA - (978) 232-2312
The Endicott College Sports Mania Day Camp is a dream come true for the child who loves sport.
1. Which number should you call if you want to improve your swimming skills?| A．(847) 229-9959. | B．(845) 647-3240. | C．(678) 384-6500. | D．(705) 387-3810. |
| A．International Riding Camp. | B．All Tournament Players Park. |
| C．Ak-O-Mak. | D．Michigan Tech Sports Camps. |
| A．Enjoying horse performances. | B．Practicing cooking organic meals. |
| C．Riding horses through the day. | D．Travelling to Russia for a week. |
