1 . Life will probably be very different in 2050. First of all, it seems that TV channels will have vanished by 2050. Instead, people will choose a programme from a “menu” and a computer will send the programme directly to the television. By 2050, music, films, programmes, newspapers and books will come to us in the similar way.
In many places, agriculture is developing quickly and people are growing fruit and vegetables for export. This uses a lot of water. Therefore, there could be serious shortages of water. Some scientist predict that water could be the cause of wars if we don’t act now.
In the future, cars will run on new, clean fuels (燃料) and they will go very fast. Cars will have computers to control the speed and there won’t be any accidents. Today, many cars have computers that tell drivers exactly where they are. By 2050, the computer will control the car and drive it to your destination. Also, by 2050, space planes will fly people from Los Angeles to Tokyo in just two hours.
Some big companies now prefer to use robots that do not ask for pay rises or go on strike, and work 24 hours a day. They are also easy to control. And they never argue with people. They can be easily used in a variety of places — factories, schools, offices, hospitals, shops and homes.
Scientists will have discovered how to control genes (基因). Scientists have already produced clones (克隆) of animals. By 2050, scientists will be able to produce clones of people and decide how they look and how they behave. Scientists will be able to do these things, but should they?
1. Which of the following best explains “vanished” underlined in paragraph 1?| A．Settled. | B．Spread. | C．Disappeared. | D．Decreased. |
| A．Robots can work in different places. |
| B．Robots have much to be improved. |
| C．Robots work for humans for free. |
| D．Robots have many advantages. |
| A．He probably disagrees with the idea of human cloning. |
| B．He is looking forward to using of cloning technology. |
| C．The scientists have already discovered how to control genes. |
| D．The scientists will face many difficulties of controlling genes. |
| A．High-tech Cars | B．Life in the Future |
| C．Is Cloning Really Good? | D．Are You Ready for the Future? |
2 . When you step into a new environment, you must have a strong wish to fit in. Fitting in means making more friends, having more influence on others and getting more chances to live a happier life.
Be confident. Confidence attracts most people. Everyone is special and there is only one person like you in this world. Spend some time thinking about your strong points.
Be kind to everyone. Kindness is the bridge to your own happiness. When people notice your kindness, they will return it one day. Always give more than you receive, and think more of others than of yourself.
Do smile to everyone every day. It makes both you and others feel happy.
If you follow what is mentioned above, you will be accepted by people around you. As a result, you will fit in very well and enjoy your new life.
| A．Be active in group activities. |
| B．A pleasant smile costs the least and does the most. |
| C．Here is some advice that can help you. |
| D．If so, you will be able to build up confidence step by step. |
| E．A person who cares for others is popular everywhere. |
| F．However, everybody needs friends. |
| G．Even so, it often leaves one to wonder if we fit in well. |
3 . Quietly sitting there reading, I found myself suddenly listening to the train guard’s announcements (通知). Train travelers will surely agree that when the guard (列车长) makes an announcement, whether it’s the recorded message or the guard’s message, few people listen to it, because it’s often quite dull or hard to understand. This one was different. I noticed that other passengers appeared to be listening, too. Not only that, everyone was smiling!
Why was so much attention being paid to this message? As best I can recall the guard said something along these lines, “Good Morning Ladies, Gentlemen and Children, this is the 7: 35 a.m. from Penrith to Central and you’ll be pleased to know that we are right on time. And what a lovely morning it is in Sydney today. The sun is shining, birds are singing, and all’s right with the world. I trust you have a great day wherever you’re going. Thanks for catching my train this morning and I hope to see you again soon.”
Quite a few people (obviously previous strangers) started talking to one another about the guards excellent message and how good it had made everyone feel. I started thinking about this, and then I found the young guard and said “Were you the guard on the 7: 35 a.m. from Penrith?” The guard seemed a bit stunned at first, replying, “Yes, yes.” “Well, I really appreciate your announcement. Thank you for your extremely good message, which gave me and the other passengers such a good start to the day. Please keep doing it.” I said.
There are two messages for me in what happened that day. Firstly, when people are happy in their work, it shows in what they do and say. Secondly, the story attaches much importance to the benefits that accumulate (积累) from thanking people for something they’ve done, particularly when it’s not expected. Can you imagine the conversation that guard would have when he got home?
1. Why do few train travelers listen to the announcements?| A．The messages are unattractive. |
| B．The guard’s voice is not clear. |
| C．They usually feel sleepy. |
| D．They are absorbed in books. |
| A．Patient. | B．Frightened. |
| C．Surprised. | D．Excited. |
| A．The beautiful weather. | B．The recorded message. |
| C．The train from Penrith. | D．The unexpected appreciation. |
| A．An Intelligent Guard. |
| B．A Boring Train Story. |
| C．A Different Train Announcement. |
| D．A Lovely Morning in Sydney. |
4 . When I was 12 years old, I already knew that my teen years were going to be the worst years of my life. I was a total outsider, bullied (欺凌) at school. I felt completely alone in my small town.
But by starting to do volunteer work when I was 14, I turned my problem into a passion for helping others. The opportunity to practice kindness made me feel like my life had a greater purpose. The more positive energy I shared, the more kindness and appreciation I received. I realized that my purpose in life would be to reach out to people, specifically teenagers, and help them feel less alone.
Books were my true friends back then. I was so thankful that the authors wrote those books. The kindness they offered me with their books saved my life. One of my biggest dreams was to become an author so I could write books that would help other teenagers the way those books helped me.
After surviving terrible experiences at school and at home, I made a choice to take the optimistic, positive road in the next steps of my journey. My dream career, one I thought was only possible for the authors I loved, is what I am doing now. I have been a full-time author of teen novels since 2007 and am grateful for this amazing opportunity to reach out to readers every single day.
Kindness saved me when I needed help the most. Even small acts of kindness can change someone’s life. You never know what someone else is going through. But by practicing daily kindness, you become an architect of positive change.
1. What was the author’s life like when he was 12?| A．Boring. | B．Peaceful. | C．Painful. | D．Meaningful. |
| A．It made him popular in his town. | B．It helped him find the meaning of life. |
| C．It helped him understand others’ lives better. | D．It helped to shape his dream career. |
| A．He was inspired by his teacher. | B．He could pass positive energy to readers. |
| C．He wanted to share his school experiences. | D．He found he had a talent for writing. |
| A．Say “no” to bullies bravely. | B．Make positive changes in their lives. |
| C．Treat others with kindness in daily life. | D．Learn to care more about others’ feelings. |
5 . Produced by Hunan Satellite TV, Where Are We Going, Dad? invites five male celebrities from different fields and their children to spend quality time together in new environments while accomplishing various survival tasks.
Since it first aired in January, 2013, Where Are We Going, Dad? has been sweeping the whole nation and has become Chinas most popular show averaging more than 600 million viewers each week and 640 million downloads online. Even the China Daily, the official mouthpiece of the Chinese government praised its success, “The deep affection on display in the show is heart-warming. But what accounts for the show’s popularity?
Part of the appeal is the chance to peek into the lives of popular Chinese celebrities and their children. Audiences are delighted to watch the failed attempts of celebrity dads making dinner, combing hair, and disciplining children. At the same time, the cute kids themselves and their authentic and entertaining behaviors are very impressive and attractive.
“Another reason for the success of the show lies in the fact that it is a reexamination of the father’s role in traditional Chinese culture,” said the general director of the show. In a society. Still influenced by the concept that “men rule outside and women inside”, many Chinese fathers are poor at expressing their feelings toward their children. Usually they appear strict and distant. But on the show, we see fathers are much gentler on their kids and more involved in their upbringing. This show raises an important question for modern Chinese society — what is the role of fathers in today’s China?
A fascinating part of the show is that you can see many parenting styles. The five fathers on the show all have very diverse parenting styles, which is great because it shows people there isn’t just one way to raise a child. But Chinese parents increasingly realize that discussing and respecting their children’s choices may be a more appropriate way to prepare them for modern society. Meanwhile, the show can remind adults of their own childhood and the love of father. For those parents, they will rethink their own responsibility as parents and understand their kids better.
1. The chief function of the underlined sentence (in Paragraph 2) is ________.| A．to sum up the main idea of the paragraph |
| B．to introduce a new topic |
| C．to arouse reader’s interest |
| D．to express strong feelings |
| A．Traditionally children are not to be brought up by mothers alone in China. |
| B．Modern Chinese fathers wonder how to treat their children. |
| C．The role of fathers is changing in China. |
| D．More and more mothers go out to work. |
| A．People are curious about the celebrities’ life and their kids. |
| B．The show makes people reconsider father’s role in today’s China. |
| C．The show displays various parenting styles. |
| D．The audience think highly of the celebrities parenting styles on the show. |
| A．Why Is Where Are We Going, Dad? So Popular? |
| B．The Celebrities in Where Are We Going, Dad. |
| C．What Is the Role of Fathers in Today’s China? |
| D．Various Parenting Styles in China |
6 . 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. |
7 . How to Get Teens to Establish Sleeping Habits
Although you might not be able to control all of the factors that interfere (干预) with your sleep, you can adopt habits that encourage better sleep. Start with these sleep tips.
1.
2. Keep electronic gadgets(设备) out of your teen’s bedroom. Have your teen leave her phone and other devices in the living room or kitchen when she goes to bed. If your teen brings her phone or tablet to bed with her, she might stay up late checking her social media pages or sending texts.
3. Set up a pre-bedtime schedule.
4. Make your teenager’s room ideal for sleep by keeping it dark and cool.
| A．After this, she will sleep soundly. |
| B．Create a sleep schedule with your teenager. |
| C．Sleeping well is very important for teenagers. |
| D．Stick to the sleep schedule, even on weekends. |
| E．Hang up curtains or blinds to block out light from the windows. |
| F．The bright light from the screen also makes it difficult for people to fall asleep. |
| G．About an hour before a teenager goes to bed, turn off the television, computer and other gadgets. |
8 . Antoinette “Toni” Harris is making history on and off the field. The 22-year-old sophomore (大二学生) from East Los Angeles College has become the first woman to be offered a full scholarship.
While a few women have been offered (partial scholarships to serve as kickers on collegiate teams, Harris is the first to receive a full scholarship to play a skilled position on the field. It’s a landmark for the sport to be sure, but for Harris, breaking glass ceilings is something she’s been doing since she was six-years-old.
“I had a coach who had told me before that I would never get to the next level because I was a lot smaller and not as fast as the other guys. So that moment taught me to never give up.” Harris tells CNN. “From that moment on I told myself no one’s ever going to decide what I am going to do with my life. That’s my decision.”
Instead, she went on to play for East Los Angeles college, helping her team go 4-6 after battling back from health problems.
During last month’s Super Bowl, the defensive back appeared in a Toyota commercial (商业广告). In it Harris can be seen putting in work on the field, facing opponent (对手) twice her size and lifting tires in the air. It is an inspiring part.
“In the end you’ve got to push yourself,” Harris tells ESPN. “I’m going to focus on my goal. My final goal is to be very good at a four-year university and the first female NFL player, I know I can get there.”
1. What made Harris special?| A．she plays well as a kicker on the football field |
| B．She is the first woman to receive a full football scholarship |
| C．She is one of fey women players in her college |
| D．She works well as a skilled player on the |
| A．she lost heart for a moment | B．she determined to practise more |
| C．She lacked the power of exercise | D．She realized she decided on her future |
| A．Harris was at a disadvantage in size | B．Harris got treated badly by opponents |
| C．Harris liked lifting tires | D．Harris was twice as big as her opponents |
| A．Playing constantly in her university | B．Keeping up with others in her university |
| C．becoming the first woman NEL player | D．working as a female coach in NFL. |
9 . One of my wonderful memories is about a Christmas gift. Unlike other gifts, it came without wrap (包装).
On September 11th, 1958, Mum gave birth to Richard. After she brought him home from hospital, she put him in my lap, saying, “I promised you a gift, and here it is.” What an honour! I turned four a month earlier and none of my friends had such a baby doll of their own. I played with it day and night. I sang to it. I told it stories. I told it over and over how much I loved it!
One morning, however, I found its bed empty. My doll was gone! I cried for it.Mum wept and told me that the poor little thing had been sent to a hospital. It had a fever. For several days, I heard Mum and Dad whispering such words as “hopeless”, “pitiful”, and “dying”, which sounded ominous.
Christmas was coming. “Don’t expect any presents this year,” Dad said, pointing at the socks I hung in the living room.“If your baby brother lives, that’ll be Christmas enough.” As he spoke, his eyes filled with tears. I’d never seen him cry before.
The phone rang early on Christmas morning. Dad jumped out of bed to answer it. From my bedroom I heard him say, “What? He’s all right?” He hung up and shouted upstairs. “The hospital said we can bring Richard home!”
“Thank God!” I heard Mum cry.
From the upstairs window, I watched my parents rush out to the car. I had never seen them so happy. And I was also full of joy. What a wonderful day! My baby doll would be home. I ran downstairs. My socks still hung there flat. But I knew they were not empty; they were filled with love!
1. What happened to the author on September 11th, 1958?| A．He got a baby brother. |
| B．He got a Christmas gift. |
| C．He became four years old. |
| D．He received a doll. |
| A．Impossible. | B．Boring. |
| C．Difficult. | D．Fearful. |
| A．Excitement. | B．Happiness. |
| C．Sadness. | D．Disappointment. |
| A．A sad Christmas day. |
| B．Life with a lovely baby. |
| C．A special Christmas gift. |
| D．Memories of a happy family. |
10 . “Tell me the story of me, Momma,” my daughter Sophie always asks when we sit on my grandmother’s rocking chair at the end of the day. “The first time I saw your beautiful face, it was nearly covered by a blue-and-white hat. You were surrounded by a soft blue blanket (毛毯). All I could see was a rosy face.” “And I looked like a tiny fairy baby?” she asks. “You did, and you weren’t older than a minute,” I always answer. “The nurse handed a tiny little girl to me, and I was so surprised because you felt so light. I thought if I threw off the blanket, I’d find no baby there at all, only air.”
From that moment, I became a mother. But that moment was just special and magical as if she’d come from my body directly into my arms. From that day on, she was my daughter in every way that mattered.
It’s easy sometimes to forget there was another mother out there with whom I share my title. Sophie’s birth mother, who was also my friend, lost her life to cancer not long after giving birth to Sophie. And I’ll never forget that it was her difficult decision — her tears and her pain — that made me a mom.
As my daughter grows, she will understand that sometimes life is a relay race (接力赛), and you never know who in this world will hand you your baton (接力棒). It could be someone you know for years, or it could be someone who you even never meet, someone you will never be able to repay for giving you the life you always wanted.
1. How does the author start the text?| A．By remembering her grandmother. | B．By asking her daughter questions. |
| C．By describing her past life. | D．By showing a conversation. |
| A．Disappointed. | B．Worried. | C．Thankful. | D．Surprised. |
| A．Taking up the baton | B．Being thankful for life |
| C．Two mothers’ love | D．The mystery of Sophie’s birth |
