1 . When water is cold, people will find it uncomfortable to swim. Wetsuits(潜水服）can help keep people warm.
The wetsuit doesn't have a long history. According to studies, the wetsuit only began during WWII when Italians started wearing wetsuits that were made of rubber. And it was widely believed in 1951, Hugh Bradner began working to improve the equipment.
Now there are many kinds of wetsuits. Contrary to what some may think, wetsuits do not work by keeping the diver(潜水员）dry; they are designed to let water into the suit. This thin layer of water is trapped（保存）between the diver and the suit. And it's allowed to move between the skin of the diver and the inside layer.
Wetsuits can also differ in thickness. They range from about 0. 5mm to 8mm in thickness. It's true that thicker wetsuits are more likely to affect your movement.
| A．But they're much better at giving you warmth. |
| B．As for the difference, wetsuits can differ in size. |
| C．The history of the wetsuit is an interesting story. |
| D．This led to the development of a kind of new wetsuit. |
| E．Many wetsuits are very light and easy to wear and take off. |
| F．As a result, the water gradually warms up to body temperature. |
| G．And they can provide protection from the sun and cuts from rocks. |
When I was a kid, my parents were busy working so they enrolled (登记) me in the Spartak Tennis Club in Moscow. Every day after school my parents would take me to Spartak and I would be there until maybe nine o'clock. All we did was play tennis, eat, do homework, have fun and hang out. It was basically my second family.
In that second family was a woman who was like a mother to me, my first coach, Larissa. I still refer to her as my second mother. She taught me everything I know about how to play tennis, but she’s also a wonderful person. She’s kind and patient, which is not what you expect from one of the top tennis coaches in Russia.
Her program when I was little was based on tricking us into doing our exercises. She would put a candy under the cones (锥形物), and we would try to hit the targets with balls, you got to have an ice cream.
Of course we worked hard and I didn’t let her down.
My second-ever tournament was the Moscow Championships, and I won. Afterwards Larissa came up to me and said, “Congratulations, Enjoy today because tomorrow it’s back to work.” She was always telling us to celebrate and have fun with any particular achievement but to always remember there is something more you can do, something more you can achieve.
Now every time I go back to Russia I go to Spartak to see Larissa. We look at all the pictures from all the birthday parties and tournament and celebrations. It is really cool to have someone like her in my life. Larissa is still coaching, but we don’t talk much about tennis any more. We just talk.
1. Why did the author go to Spartak every day? (no more than 15 words)2. What does the author think of his coach? (no more than 10 words)
3. What’s Paragraph 3 mainly about? (no more than 10 words)
4. What does the underlined phrase “let her down” in Paragraph 4 mean? (no more than 5 words)
5. What can you learn from Larissa? (no more than 25 words)
Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg says he will read a book every two weeks, and he’s invited people all around the world to join him.
The “year of books” is Mark Zuckerberg’s 2015 goal. The billionaire is famous for his quirky New Year’s plans. Two years ago, he challenged himself to meet a new person a day. Last year he attempted to write a “thank-you note” every day. He said, “Although I’m very busy, I always have many strange ideas and I still have time to achieve my goals. If you set a goal, you must try your best to make it come true.”
It will come as no surprise that he’s already launched a Facebook page — entitled “A year of books” — to serve as the reading group’s discussion center. Over 62,000 people from all around the world have liked the page in the first 24 hours. Many of them expressed their desires to join Mark Zuckerberg in reading a book every two weeks in their message of the page.
“I hope all the people who participate in the discussion actually have read the books and have relevant points to add. The group will keep it continuously focused,” he stressed on his Facebook page. “With the development of technology, fewer people in the world read books. I do hope people read more books in their spare time rather than surf the Internet or play with their mobiles,” he added on his Facebook page.
The plan is to select books about various topics and cultures. “The Bible” and “Quran” (《可兰经》) have been popular suggestions among hundreds of other titles. The first book is “The End of Power” by Moisés Naím, a former Foreign Policy editor. It’s a 300-page deep dive into the changing nature of leadership today that was published in March 2013.
1. What is Mark Zuckerberg’s New Year’s plan in 2015? (No more than 10 words)2. What does the underlined word “quirky” most probably mean in English? (1 word)
3. Why did Mark Zuckerberg start a page named “A year of books”? (No more than 10 words)
4. What is the book “The End of Power” about? (No more than 10 words)
5. What do you think of Mark Zuckerberg? Give your reasons. (No more than 25 words)
4 . Biking is an amazing family activity, but finding a route that can accommodate a wide-range of ages can be a challenge.
Lee McNeil and his family are crazy about biking. They have seven children, from 4 to 24 years old. When looking for a route, they look for enough protection from traffic, good surface condition, easy access and interesting views.
With that in mind, here are some great routes for biking with your whole family, as are suggested by McNeil.
Iron Horse Trail
This is the McNeil family’s favourite ride. The route is 26 miles and goes through the 2.1mile Snoqualmie Tunnel.
“Beautiful views, the thrill the tunnel, and places to stop and watch the rock climbers make it special,” McNeil said. “All our kids have taken their turn at braving the black tunnel bravely for the first time, which we celebrate it at the end of the ride.”
How to get there: If you prefer, check http://bit.ly/Mlt9y4 for more information.
Centennial Trail
The Centennial Trail runs for 23 miles from Snohomish to Bryant. The trail is wide and smooth, and is safe for kids as it is off the roads. A nice stop is Lake Cassidy east of Marysville. A dock on the lake is fun to explore. It also has picnic tables and washrooms for a convenient lunch time stop.
How to get there: The trail can be accessed from a number of trailheads. For a map, go to http://bit.ly/L5qCeY.
Cascade Trail
The Cascade Trail follows an abandoned Burlington Northern railroad grade for 23 miles between Sedro-Woolley and Concrete. Because it’s on a railroad grade, the slope is gentle and it makes for an easy family ride.
McNeil said it is a “beautiful ride up the Skagit Valley, with lots of places to watch wildlife along the river.”
How to get there: Go to http://bit.ly/PR4wOW to see a map showing the trail, parking areas and bus stops .
Other good choices
Snoqualmie Valley Trail: http://l.usa.gov/nWGWO
Guemes Island: http://bit.ly/LJ3RxL
Burke-Gilman Trail: http://l.usa.gov/s33li
1. We can learn from the passage that Lee McNeil ________.| A．has a large family |
| B．often travels with his family |
| C．teaches his children how to bike |
| D．spends lots of money on bike rides |
| A．Cascade Trail | B．Iron Horse Trail |
| C．Centennial Trail | D．Burke-Gilman Trail |
| A．see a small valley | B．go through a tunnel |
| C．have a picnic for lunch | D．watch the rock climbers |
| A．http://bit.ly/Mlt9y4 | B．http://bit.ly/LJ3RxL |
| C．http://bit.ly/L5qCeY | D．http://bit.ly/PR4wOW |
| A．ask people to learn from Lee McNeil |
| B．tell people how to make a family ride |
| C．introduce some routes for family rides |
| D．encourage more people to ride bikes |
5 . Food waste is a growing problem both in America and across the globe. In North America alone about 30-40% of food ends up as rubbish each year. While much ends up as rubbish, over 48 million Americans live in households that do not have enough food! Now, concerned citizens are trying to raise awareness of the issue with some creative ideas.
In New York’s Westchester County, students at 18 schools join in a program called We Future Cycle. Started by Anna and Ashley in 2014, it teaches kids to recycle, compost (堆肥), and most importantly control food waste in an easy and efficient manner.
Lunch areas at those schools are equipped with three clearly marked bins— compost, recycle and share. While the first two are common in schools, the third is rare. This is the bin where kids can put their unwanted drinks, fruits, and even untouched sandwiches. Food there is available for any student that wants them. Whatever remains at the end of the day is given to the local soup kitchen or food bank. Anna says the three bins have helped reduce the number of trash bags produced at the mid-day meal from an average of 22 to just 2!
To ensure kids form similar habits at home, the non-profit has created plans to educate families about the importance of sorting waste into the proper streams of recycling, composting, and food to donate. They also urge parents to have open conversations with their kids about food choices.
Kids are not the only ones that waste food. Adults are equally bad, if not worse! To fight that, Brooklyn-based Josh founded Salvage Super Club in 2014. The randomly organized dinners promise customers a multi-course meal for merely 50 dollars per person. The delicious food is made from perfectly safe ingredients (成分) that are past their prime and, therefore, headed for the compost or trash bin.
1. The underlined word “awareness” in Paragraph 1 probably means__________?| A．understanding | B．hope |
| C．doubt | D．value |
| A．Use dustbins instead of plastic bags for left-over food. |
| B．Put their unwanted food in the bins and learn to share. |
| C．Get the children to educate their parents at home. |
| D．Only get single-course food for 50 dollars when eating out. |
| A．Parents are to blame for the children’s bad habits. |
| B．Parents do not encourage children to save food. |
| C．Parents are as wasteful as children about food. |
| D．Parents have set an example for the children. |
| A．More information about food bank. | B．How to improve food production. |
| C．The importance of saving food. | D．Other creative ways to save food. |
6 . Fast walkers may live longer than dawdlers (缓慢的人)— regardless of their weight, a new study suggests.
Researchers at Leicester University analyzed data on 474, 919 people with an average age of 52 in the UK Biobank between 2006 and 2016. They found women who walked briskly had a life expectancy of 86.7 to 87.8 years old, and men who kept up the pace had a life expectancy of 85.2 to 86.8. Slow walkers hadn’t much encouraging prospects (前景): women had a life expectancy of 72.4, and men of 64.8 years old, if they were more leisurely in their movements. According to the paper, published last week, that ratio held true even if the fast walkers were severely overweight. It does not necessarily mean fast walkers will live longer. Experts say it suggests walking speed could be a simple way for doctors to judge their patients’ general health alongside other tests.
It is hardly the first study holding up walking speed as a powerful evidence that appears to improve and determine our health.
In 2011, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published a study by Stephanie Studenski, who found the same: walking speed was a reliable predictor of life expectancy.
In 2013, US researchers found walking pace was linked to lower heart disease risk and longer life expectancy. In 2018, a study from the University of Sydney found picking up your walking pace to even an “average speed” could cut your risk of premature death by a fifth.
And Tom Yates, the physical activity professor at Leicester who's behind the latest study, has been publishing findings on this connection for years.
In 2017, he analyzed the same UK Biobank data and found walking speed appeared to affect the risk of dying from heart disease — concluding that the slowest walkers were twice as likely to suffer a heart-related death compared to quick walkers.
1. What does the underlined word “briskly” in paragraph 2 probably mean?| A．Casually. | B．Quickly. | C．Actively. | D．Energetically. |
| A．Most fast walkers are overweight. |
| B．Fast walkers have a simple way of living. |
| C．Walking speed can help doctors know about their patients’ general health. |
| D．Doctors will surely have better ways to cure their patients of their illness. |
| A．Walking slowly is bad for people's health. |
| B．Walking speed can predict a person’s life expectancy. |
| C．People won't die early by increasing their walking pace. |
| D．Lower heart disease risk is determined partly by walking pace. |
| A．Fast Walkers May Have a Long Life Expectancy |
| B．Life Expectancy Is Determined by Exercise |
| C．Researchers Try to Improve Life Expectancy |
| D．The Public Doubt Researches on Walking Speed |
7 . With no end in sight to the coronavirus pandemic(新冠疫情), it looks like protective face wear is here to stay.
But who says it can’t be stylish?
Throughout the pandemic, designers have been bringing out their face masks— luxury(奢华) versions include Off-White’s popular $95 Arrow logo face mask and Burberry’s vintage check cotton design, selling for £90 ($115).
And now, Louis Vuitton is taking it a step further, making a luxury face shield(护罩) that’s designed to be “both stylish and protective”, the French fashion house said.
The “eye-catching” LV Shield changes from clear to dark in sunlight, protecting wearers from the sun. It also has golden studs with Louis Vuitton’s logo and an elastic headband(松紧带). The visor(面盔) can also be worn upward as a classic cap.
The shield has not yet been priced, but as a high-end fashion brand, it may not be cheap. Other Louis Vuitton head wear, including hats and sunglasses, sell for hundreds of dollars.
The face shield will be sold online and at select Louis Vuitton stores starting on October 30th.
In April, Louis Vuitton joined the global effort to make personal protective equipment to support health care workers on the front lines of the pandemic. The company said it had repurposed several of its workshops across France to “produce hundreds of thousands of non-medical face masks” for health care workers.
The company also said it was giving away thousands of hospital clothing to six Paris hospitals in need of protective suits.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not recommend using face shields as masks, because it is not clear what level of protection they provide.
1. What is the idea of Louis Vuitton designing the luxury face shield?| A．To reduce pressure on faces. |
| B．To cut the cost of face masks. |
| C．To make the wearers feel protected and fashionable. |
| D．To bring out a classic face mask |
| A．It changes from dark to clear at night. |
| B．It has golden studs with Arrow logo. |
| C．It has an elastic headband. |
| D．The visor can be worn downward. |
| A．It is attractive. | B．It’s cheap. |
| C．It is unfashionable. | D．It’s perfect. |
| A．Uncaring. | B．Doubtful. | C．Thankful. | D．Supportive. |
8 . One afternoon, while staying with friends at their house there, my husband and I decided to go for a walk along the traffic-free country road in the area. We met a beautiful Golden Retriever. He seemed exceptionally friendly so we stopped to play with him, throwing a stick which he retrieved（取回）several times happily. When we continued our walk, he followed us. I couldn't deny that we were enjoying his company.
After about twenty minutes, we found ourselves walking along a dirt road in an unfamiliar area. One house, almost hidden by tall trees, seemed somehow strange. I wanted to get as far away from that place as possible.
Just then, the door to the house opened and five dogs rushed out, barking as they ran toward us. I felt terrified and couldn't move. All of a sudden, our new friend appeared between the dogs and us. He faced them-all five of them-barking and baring his teeth. I was amazed to see the attacking dogs stop in their tracks ten feet away from him. Our protector held them there while we escaped.
At a safe distance, we looked back and saw the five dogs heading back toward their house. But the Golden Retriever was nowhere in sight. I felt an ache in my heart; I missed our friend already.
With a feeling of emptiness, we made our way back to the house, hoping the whole way that we would see him again. But it was not to be.
When I told our friend about the encounter, her eyes flew wide open as she exclaimed, "It was an angel!"
To this day I have no doubt, A four-legged angel protected us.
1. While meeting the house hidden by tall trees, the author may feel| A．curious | B．frightened | C．peaceful | D．exited |
| A．Loyal. | B．Brave. | C．Cruel. | D．Lovely. |
| A．A Romantic Walk | B．A Beautiful Encounter |
| C．A Four-Legged Angel | D．A Terrible Experience |
9 . Amazon has made a new version（版本）of its cheapest Kindle e-reader with an improved screen and a reading light, a feature previously held back for its more expensive e-readers.
Costing $10 more than the previous generation, at $69.99, the new Kindle has a 6in e-ink display with an adjustable front light to make the screen readable in the dark. “Customers consistently tell us how much they appreciate having a front light on Kindle e-readers so they can read in any environment, ” said Erie Saarmio, the European head of Amazon e-readers. He added that this was the first Kindle under S100 with a built-in adjustable front light.
The new Kindle not only has a similar light to the Kindle Paperwhite, but also mirrors its design from 2015. It is 8. 7mm thick, making it 0. 4mm thinner than the previous version, but it weighs 174g instead of 16lg now. Amazon says its size and weight till make it easy to read while holding in one hand. The new Kindle also relinquishes the previous touch system for a more modern touch screen, the same technology used in smart phones and Amazon’s Kindle Paperwhite, which should be more responsive. Amazon says the redesigned e-reader still has a six-week battery life based on 30 minutes of reading a day with Wi-Fi turned off.
Amazon’s audiobooks（有声读物）, first introduced with the Kindle Oasis in 2016, can also be used in the new Kindle. It has enough storage（存储）to hold 14 audiobooks or thousands of e-books as is standard with Amazon’s e-readers.
1. How has the new Kindle been improved?| A．By making it lighter. | B．By adding a reading light. |
| C．By improving its appearance. | D．By increasing its storage space. |
| A．Adjusts to. | B．Keeps on. | C．Gives up. | D．Stands for. |
| A．They both have a six-day battery life. |
| B．They both support Amazon's audiobooks. |
| C．They both have to be used with Wi-Fi turned on. |
| D．They’re both equipped with an improved screen. |
| A．Some new features of Amazon’s Kindle e-readers. |
| B．The popularity of Amazon’s cheapest Kindle. |
| C．The improvement of Amazon’s cheapest Kindle. |
| D．Different versions of Amazon’s Kindle e-readers. |
10 . Istanbul citizens have a new way to pay for rides on public transport. You might expect this payment method would have something to do with a smart phone app, but you’d be wrong. Some of Istanbul’s train stations now have vending machines that offer fare credit in exchange for recycling plastic bottles or cans.
To take advantage of this unusual offer, riders need a stored-value transit card (储值公交卡). Since these cards offer discounted fares, almost all riders have them. Passengers can drop their plastic bottles into a machine of this kind, which will give a value to the recycled materials based on their structures and sizes. This vending machine then adds that value to the recycler’s card. After that, the machine cuts the bottles or cans into pieces to prepare them for processing.
Can you pay for your ride with nothing but cans and bottles? It’s possible. According to The New York Times, you’d need more than two dozen standard-size plastic bottles to earn a free trip, so most recycling efforts lead to a discounted fare instead of a free trip.
The first recycling machines were fixed at the ITU-Ayazaga subway station. The city plans to introduce at least 100 more machines in stations and other public places like schools in the near future, according to Lonely Planet. Though the transit cards, called Istanbul Cards, are for subways, you can also use them on other forms of public transport like buses.
Turkey produces the most waste of any European country after Germany and France. Unlike these two countries, recycling is very limited in Turkey. The vending machines are one way that the city plans to encourage recycling. Istanbul’s high technology efforts are the latest in what seems to be becoming a trend.
1. Why are stored-value transit cards popular with Istanbul citizens?| A．They make it convenient to pay their daily fees. |
| B．They make it cheaper to travel by local public transport. |
| C．They help worldwide people to protect the environment. |
| D．They help the citizens use vending machines more easily. |
| A．In Paragraph 1. | B．In Paragraph 2. |
| C．In Paragraphs 3 and 4. | D．In Paragraphs 4 and 5. |
| A．It should take more recycling measures against waste. |
| B．Its waste production ranks No. 1 worldwide. |
| C．Its recycling machines are everywhere. |
| D．It doesn’t recycle its waste at all. |
| A．Istanbul Needs More Recycling Machines |
| B．Environmental Issues Are Serious in Istanbul |
| C．Recycling for Fares Program Lets You Ride for Free |
| D．Your Recyclables Can Reduce Your Subway Fare Here |
