1 . Volunteering offers great help to people in need, but the benefits (好处) can be even greater for you, the volunteer.
Volunteering is good for your mind and body.
If you’re considering a new job, volunteering can help you get experience in your area of interest and meet people in the field.
| A．Volunteering increases self-confidence |
| B．Volunteering connects you to others |
| C．Even if you're not planning on changing your job |
| D．While some people are naturally outgoing |
| E．It provides many benefits to both mental and physical health |
| F．Many people volunteer in order to make time for hobbies outside of work |
| G．Volunteering can also reduce the risk of heart disease |
The discovery of Machu Picchu | |
The Incas Between 1438 and 1532 the Incas built an empire with a population of about 12,000,000 people on the west coast of South America. They had no system of writing, so little is known about their everyday lives. But we do know these things: ● they built large cities in the mountains ● they built houses with huge square stones ● they built 23,000 kilometers of roads through the mountains ● they did not have wheels so everything was carried by animals or people | It was early morning on 24 July, 1911. A young American archaeologist named Hiram Bingham was in a small hotel in Peru, in the Andes mountains. He was there because he wanted to find a lost Inca city. He was not the first. Before Bingham, other explorers had looked for the city, but they hadn’t found it. Bingham has always been attracted by the Incas. He was a university professor and had studied their civilization for many years. Bingham and some scientists had travelled all the way to Peru from the USA, and had gone up to the city of Cuzco. From Cuzco, they had travelled higher up into the mountains, to about 1,800 meters, and they had spent the night in the hotel. The hotel owner had told Bingham about a ‘lost’ city not far away. On the morning of 24 July, Bingham and a guide went out in the heavy tropical rain and climbed another 60 meters. On the way, they met a ten-year-old boy who led them through the jungle to a wall. They climbed over it and there it was. Machu Picchu—the lost city of the Incas. In his book ‘The discovery of Machu Picchu’ Hiram Bingham wrote: ‘Suddenly I was standing in front of the walls of a ruin and houses from the best quality of Inca art… I found brilliant temples, royal houses, a big square and tens of houses. It looked like a dream.’ |
| A．They left behind no written records. |
| B．They lived along the coast of America. |
| C．They invented vehicles without wheels. |
| D．They built roads leading to other empires. |
| A．To study an endangered civilization. |
| B．To find local people that once lived there. |
| C．To confirm other explorers’ previous findings. |
| D．To look for an ancient city that used to be there. |
| A．The book ‘The discovery of Machu Picchu’ was completed. |
| B．A little boy went through the jungle by accident. |
| C．The city of Cuzco was rediscovered. |
| D．Bingham found Machu Picchu. |
3 . On a bright morning on the warm sands of Hawaii, US, I made what could possibly be one of the unwisest choices of my life. I decided to follow in the footsteps of my friends... who were jumping off of a cliff (悬崖) – into water, of course.
It was over 30 feet (9 meters) high, extremely rocky and completely terrifying. There were only two ways to get up the cliff: either swim out in the ocean to an area where you could scale (攀登) a slippery sea wall that had crevices (裂缝) to grasp, or traverse (穿过) across sharp rocks to reach the point on the cliff where it was safe to take the leap of faith into the water. Both routes had their risks yet were also safe enough to use, so eventually, I chose the latter.
It was probably wiser to swim out to sea and climb up the wall, which, sadly, I learned too late. To my disappointment, crossing the rocks was much more difficult than I had originally thought. It took me a while to walk across the first stretch of rocks near the water, mostly because the rocks were damp due to waves crashing against them, and because there were huge insects that were crawling (爬行) across them. The rest of the time I was just focused on making sure I kept my footing. So far, no one had been injured by climbing or jumping off the rocks, so I was determined to get up there safely as well. Surprisingly, I did.
From afar, the spot that people were jumping off from looked like no big deal. It didn’t appear to be too high or too scary to leap from, but I was very wrong about that. It was surreal (离奇的) standing on top of the cliff and looking out at the ocean that lapped at the rocks below me. However, I wasn’t in the mood to stay standing at the edge of a cliff and thinking about my very poor life choices, so I decided to complete the inevitable (不可避免的) task as soon as I could. Without a second thought, I jumped off the cliff.
Time seemed to slow as I plummeted (骤降) down towards the sparkling blue sea. It was more terrifying than any roller coaster (过山车) I had ridden before, but also more fun. I hit the water with a painful “smack!” because I had landed wrong, but I loved it! I ended up deciding to give it another go.
Jumping off a cliff.
1. What was the main reason the author had difficulty crossing the first stretch of rocks?| A．The cliff was too steep. |
| B．There were insects on the damp rocks. |
| C．She badly injured her foot. |
| D．There were big waves. |
| A．She jumped off without any fear. |
| B．She tried to climb back down. |
| C．She jumped into the water nervously. |
| D．She enjoyed the beautiful scenery. |
| A．It was easy and relaxing. |
| B．It was fascinating but frustrating. |
| C．It was challenging but interesting. |
| D．It was cool and calming. |
| A．To recommend a way of entertainment. |
| B．To encourage people to go on an adventure. |
| C．To compare two different ways to get up a cliff. |
| D．To share her experience of jumping off a cliff. |
4 . Known as “ships of the desert”, camels have long been used for transport across the sands. However, for people in the United Arab Emirates (阿拉伯联合酋长国), camels are also beauty pageant contestants (选美比赛选手).
They have strict criteria (标准) to judge a camel’s beauty, including the size of its head, the length of its neck and whether its mouth can cover its teeth. Not every camel is blessed with (赐予) pretty lips or a long neck, so locals have turned to cloning.
Reproductive Biotechnology Center in Dubai, UAE, is the only clone facility in the Gulf, according to CCTV. “We have so much demand for cloning camels that we are not able to keep up,” the center’s scientific director, Nisar Wani, told AFP.
“We are now producing plenty, maybe more than 10 to 20 babies every year. This year we had 28 pregnancies (怀孕) so far; last year, we had 20,” Wani said.
“Beauty queens” are the most popular order. Clients will pay between $54,500 to $109,000 (about 350,533 to 701,066 yuan) to duplicate (复制) a camel. “The price of the camel is determined according to its beauty, health and how well-known the breed (品种) is,” Saud al-Otaibi, who runs a camel auction (拍卖) in Kuwait, told AFP.
Beauty pageants are not the only driver of the camel cloning industry. Many customers want to reproduce camels that produce large amounts of milk. “We have cloned some camels that produce more than 35 liters of milk a day,” Wani told AFP. “Normal camels produce an average of 5 liters a day.”
On April 8, 2009, Dubai claimed the world’s first cloned camel, Injaz. From the minute Injaz was born, there was no going back.
The center is producing “racing champions, high milk-producing animals ... and winners of beauty contests”, added Wani.
Cloning animals comes with concerns. Some scientists worry that continued use of this technology could lead species to extinction via “genetic bottleneck (种群遗传瓶颈效应)”, which happens when species lack genetic diversity .Cloning is also costly and incredibly hard to get right–up to 90 percent of attempts to clone animals end in failure, according to Wired, a US magazine.
1. What can we learn about camels in the UAE?| A．A beauty contest for camels is held annually. |
| B．They are no longer used for transport in desert. |
| C．Only those that meet the beauty criteria will be raised. |
| D．Cloned camels are in great demand. |
| A．10 | B．20 |
| C．28 | D．32 |
| A．To save camels from extinction. |
| B．To get healthier breeds of camels. |
| C．To get camels that are more beautiful and more productive. |
| D．To overcome the genetic bottleneck of camels. |
| A．It could lead to extinction of the species. |
| B．Not many people could afford the high cost. |
| C．It could take scientists many attempts to succeed. |
| D．It could cause some genetic diseases. |
5 . Sunscreen protects our skin from sunburn. But did you know that it is harmful to coral (珊瑚) living in the ocean？
Some chemicals in sunscreen, such as benzophenone (二苯甲酮), can kill coral. Every year, about 4,000 to 6,000 tons of sunscreen will flow into coral areas, according to the US National Park Service.
About one and half years ago, Zhang Baoxin, 17, who studies at Guangdong Experimental High School, read about this in an article. Then she had an idea – to make an environmentally friendly sunscreen to protect the marine environment.
To make this happen, Zhang read lots of literature and then put forward a new formula (配方). She mixed natural plant oils with safe and commonly-used sunscreen ingredients, such as titanium dioxide (二氧化钛) and zinc oxide (氧化锌) powder .
She tested about 10 kinds of plant oils, including jojoba oil (荷荷巴油) and coconut oil, to figure out whether they can take in sunlight. She then used a microscope to find out if the oil could be mixed with the powder. After trying about 20 formulas, Zhang found a jojoba oil formula that is effective, cheap and easy to make.
Zhang wrote a paper to explain her findings with her experimental process and data. The project made Zhang a nominee (候选人) of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize, an award to celebrate teenagers who help solve major water challenges. She was the only nominee from the Chinese mainland in 2020.
After this successful experiment, Zhang made some samples (样品) and printed out flyers (传单) for her new formula. She gave them out to people at swimming pools and water parks. “With my formula, anyone can make sunscreen at home. You just need a blender to mix the oil and the powder,” she said.
Zhang wants to study environmental science in college. “I want to use my knowledge to make a better world,” she said.
1. What inspired Zhang to make a new kind of sunscreen?| A．Her desire to protect sea species. |
| B．Her wish to study environmental science. |
| C．A book published by the US National Park Service. |
| D．A project at Guangdong Experimental High School. |
| A．Features of the new sunscreen. |
| B．Differences between different ingredients. |
| C．The process of developing the new sunscreen. |
| D．Difficulties Zhang met when making the new sunscreen. |
| A．She was accepted into a famous university. |
| B．She won the Stockholm Junior Water Prize. |
| C．She handed out her samples to people. |
| D．She continued to make other environmentally friendly products. |
| A．Curious and cheerful. |
| B．Helpful and sociable. |
| C．Diligent and cautious. |
| D．Creative and responsible. |
6 . As we slide even closer to Father's Day during these pandemic （流行病）times, I can’ t help but feel super privileged to tell you about one extraordinary dad. He's a dad so good that after he was done raising his own kids, he took to YouTube to do some more dadding to millions of complete and total strangers in need.
Rob Kenney's childhood had a theme that, sadly, is not at all uncommon for American kids: fatherlessness. His father left his family when he was just twelve years old, and statistics say that lines up with the experience of about 25% of kids today. Many lessons a dad would teach a kid, he just had to learn on his own. However, Kenney swore that his own kids would not have that experience, and after successfully raising two kids into two adults, he's branching out to help fatherless kids just like him in the coolest way possible.
Kenney has started a YouTube channel called “Dad, How Do I?" to show fatherless kids a variety of “how to' s" over the everyday tasks of living. From “how to tie a tie" to "how to shave your face" to "how to check your car's oil" , Kenney’s videos are readily understood, though almost entirely unedited.
In the past week, thanks to some viral posts on Twitter and Facebook by influencers, Kenney's channel has gone from a handful of subscribers to 1.97 million! It just goes to show you how much his " Practical 'Dadvice' for everyday tasks" is needed and appreciated by fatherless kids everywhere --- not to mention adults who just simply don ' t know how to do stuff. The viewers ' comments on Kenney's YouTube channel can move even the hard-hearted to tears.
1. What's the author's main purpose of writing the text?| A．To celebrate Father's Day. |
| B．To introduce a kind father. |
| C．To stress the major role fathers play. |
| D．To warn people against the pandemic. |
| A．To make a name for himself. |
| B．To set an example to his kids. |
| C．To direct parents to bring up their kids. |
| D．To teach fatherless kids to do everyday things. |
| A．Complex. | B．Well edited. |
| C．Slightly abstract. | D．Straightforward. |
| A．The popularity of his channel. |
| B．His thanks to enthusiastic posters. |
| C．The necessity of updating his videos. |
| D．His comments on hard-hearted viewers. |
7 . Staying with family members or receiving professional care? Seniors in Harbin have a new choice to enrich their life in retirement(退休), as harbin.dbw.cn reported.
The seniors can take a bus to a day-care nursing home every day between 8 am and 5 pm, just like others go to work, and go back home to be with their families in the evening.
In the nursing home, they will receive professional care, have lunch, take part in activities such as calligraphy(书法) and singing, and take university courses designed for them.
According to a research, there were 1.75 million seniors by the end of 2015. Less than 10 percent choose to stay in the nursing home while most live at home. Loneliness and shortage of care are the major problems facing the stay-at-home seniors.
"After my mother passed away, I struggled to take good care of my father," said Zhou, an office worker.
Those who have retired parents agree that their parents spend a boring and lonely day at home, watching TV all day and filling their stomach with food. The situation becomes worse in winter when elders are unable to go out due to the cold.
However, the cost of such nursing homes is different from person to person but stands at around 2,000 yuan ($290). Another problem is the shortage of facilities (设施). Even if two seniors share a room in the nursing home, the city still lacks(缺少) at least 100,000 such rooms.
1. In the day-care nursing home, the seniors can ________.| A．go to work | B．stay with their families |
| C．attend university | D．get professional care |
| A．A lot of seniors choose to live at home. |
| B．They are lonely and short of care at home. |
| C．Their children won’t take care of them. |
| D．They are unable to go out especially in winter. |
| A．People have no trouble attending their retired parents. |
| B．The day-care nursing home is getting popular among seniors. |
| C．The price of staying in the nursing home remains the same. |
| D．Two seniors must share one room in the day-care nursing home. |
8 . NASA selects university teams for space exploration
The moon's permanently shadowed areas, nearly 384, 400 kilometers away from home, are the closest water source outside the earth. The craters have been dark since billions of years ago. But now with student-developed technologies, more about them can be discovered.
Through the competitive Breakthrough, Innovative and Game-changing (BIG) Idea Challenge and the Space Grant project, NASA has awarded nearly $ 1 million to eight university teams. They will build sample lunar payloads (装备) and demonstrate innovative ways to study the moon's darkest areas.
"Its an exciting time for NASA and students across the country," said Drew J. Hope, Program Manager of Game Changing Development program. "Thanks to our partnership with the Office of STEM Engagement, this is the most money NASA has awarded in a student challenge directly connected to Artemis."
The chosen teams will work out ways to gather data in and around the craters, generate wireless power for future infrastructure, and enable autonomous mobility even in the most extreme environments. The research results could benefit NASA's Artemis Program and be used to study the moon ahead of a human landing in 2024 or help establish sustained presence by 2028. Each team will receive different amounts of grants, based on the concept and budget they propose. They will develop and test the technologies in simulated(模拟的environments with the awards during the following 10 months, showing they are prepared for a possible lunar mission as early as 2023.Then in November 2020, a panel of NASA and industry experts will examine the teams' research and development results at a face-to-face design review.
"One of the most exciting things about this challenge is that several of the concepts, if proven to be valuable as a result of these awards, could eventually be integrated and operated together on the surface of the moon," according to Chad Rowe, Acting Manager of Space Grant project." These students are part of the Artemis generation and they are helping fulfil NASA'S mission needs today, while developing relevant hands-on experience that will prepare them for aerospace careers after graduation.
1. What are the university teams supposed to do?| A．Explore the mystery of space. | B．Participate in a competition. |
| C．Develop technologies to study the moon. | D．Challenge NASA'S Artemis program. |
| A．Aid. | B．Funds. | C．Tests. | D．Chances. |
| A．2020. | B．2023. | C．2024. | D．2028, |
| A．They can land on the moon |
| B．They can get paid while doing the job. |
| C．They can work In NASA after graduation. |
| D．They can gain experience for their future aerospace careers. |
9 . The bell rang. Jada sighed, slowly moved from the lockers where she had been leaning, and headed down the hall to her chemistry class. Honors Chemistry! Jada couldn't believe that her mom was making her take the class because Jada's counselor had said that she had real talent in science.
Jada had to admit that she liked science and that last year's class was a breeze, but come on, Honors Chemistry? She wouldn't know anyone in the class, and they probably wouldn't know anyone like her.
The good thing about being late is that it shortened the period a bit. The bad thing is that it made her seem like she was making a grand entrance. To make matters worse, the only two seats left in class were at the lab table at the very front of the room.
Jada held her breath and walked in. Everyone's eyes were on her. She just knew it. They were staring at her coal black hair（freshly dyed）, her black lipstick, her black fingernail polish, and her thrift-store black leather jacket. All she saw were polo shirts and khaki pants.
This can't get any worse, Jada thought. But at least she didn't get shouted at by the teacher. He was too busy talking to a new kid. A HUGE new kid, maybe 6'4". He had to weigh at least 250 pounds. A football player, probably. She hated football players. They thought they were so great. That group of jocks that hung out by the cafeteria always made fun of her.
The new kid made his way over to her table with his head down. He had to squeeze into the seat, and his legs wouldn't fit under the lab table. He shot Jada a glance and turned red.
Mr. Martin, the teacher, began class with this announcement: "Okay, everyone. I know most of you know each other from last year's Honors Physical Science class." Jada sighed loudly. "But just take a minute and introduce yourself to the person sitting at your table. You'll be partners. You'll be working closely together all year."
Jada rolled her eyes and stared straight ahead. Then she heard a surprisingly soft voice from next to her. "Hi, I'm Robert. I'm new here."…
1. What can be learned about Jada from the first two paragraphs?| A．She thought this year's chemistry class would be a breeze. |
| B．She wasn't willing to take the Honors Chemistry class. |
| C．She was angry that her mother made her go to school. |
| D．She found she didn't like science as she thought. |
| A．reveal how different she was from her classmates |
| B．explain why she was late for school that morning |
| C．give readers a general impression of science students |
| D．imply that she felt sorry for making a grand entrance |
| A．the new kid | B．Jada's classmates | C．Jada's teacher | D．football players |
| A．He was rude. | B．He liked sports. | C．He was shy. | D．He looked sad. |
10 . Five Things You Should Always Do on a Monday
From scheduling a surgery to buying a house, there’s something to be said for the first day of the week.
Schedule a surgery
Researchers already know that the morning is the safest time of day to go under the knife. It’s when hospital staffs are most alert and least likely to make a mistake.
Fill up your gas tank
If you drove a lot over the weekend and need to fill your tank, wait until Monday morning to hit the gas station.
Gossip with your coworkers
The Monday blues are real, and scientists guess that one reason we get them might date back to our caveman day.
Head to the gym
A resarch suggests that we may be more likely to follow through with our professional goals if we start on a Monday rather than a Thursday. The personal goal for the week, such as trying a new exercise, reading a book, or learning a new song on the guitar can provide you motivation during your busy week.
Now that you know what to do on a Monday, you'll be successful.
| A．Start a diet |
| B．Make a priority to-do list |
| C．If you do, you’ll almost definitely get better deal |
| D．It’s the perfect opportunity to hit your goals at the gym |
| E．But don’t worry if your surgeon only has spots on Thursday |
| F．That same earlier-is-better approach applies to days of the week as well |
| G．Humans are social animals,and we need feel comfortable in our place in a “tribe” |
