1 . Reading poems is not exactly an everyday activity for most people. In fact, many people never read a poem once they get out of high school.

It is worth reminding ourselves that this has not always been the case in America. In the nineteenth century, a usual American activity was to sit around the fireside in the evening and read poems aloud. It is true that there was no television at that time, nor movie theatres, nor World Wide Web, to provide diversion. However, poems were a source of pleasure, of self-education, of connection to other people or to the world beyond one’s own community. Reading them was a social act as well as an individual one, and perhaps even more social than individual. Writing poems to share with friends and relations was, like reading poems by the fireside, another way in which poetry has a place in everyday life.

How did things change? Why are most Americans no longer comfortable with poetry, and why do most people today think that a poem has nothing to tell them and that they can do well without poems?

There are, I believe, three factors: poets, teachers, and we ourselves. Of these, the least important is the third: the world surrounding the poem has betrayed us more than we have betrayed the poem. Early in the twentieth century, poetry in English headed into directions unfavourable to the reading of poetry. Readers decided that poems were not for the fireside or the easy chair at night, and that they belonged where other difficult-to-read things belonged.

Poets failed the reader, so did teachers. They want their students to know something about the skills of a poem; they want their students to see that poems mean something. Yet what usually occurs when teachers push these concerns on their high school students is that young people decide poems are unpleasant crossword puzzles.

1. Why is reading poems thought to be a social act in the nineteenth century?

A．Because it built a link among people.

B．Because it helped unite a community.

C．Because it was a source of self-education.

D．Because it was a source of pleasure.

2. What does the underlined word “diversion” in Paragraph 2 mean?

A．Stories.

B．Changes.

C．Amusements.

D．Concentrations.

3. What is the main cause of the great gap between readers and poetry?

A．Students are poorly educated in high school.

B．Poems have become difficult to understand.

C．Students are becoming less interested in poetry.

D．TV and the Internet are more attractive than poetry.

4. What does the author try to tell us by writing the text?

A．The history and changes of poetry.

B．The correct way for teachers to teach poetry.

C．The failure of poetry in people’s life nowadays.

D．The reason why people aren’t keen on poetry today.

2 . New Zealand plans to put a price on sheep and cow burps (打嗝) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (排放). If the plan is passed, New Zealand will become the first country to tax (征税) farmers on each burp of their cattle, since the burps give out methane (甲烷) into the atmosphere.

“There is no question that we need to cut the amount of methane we are putting into the atmosphere, and an effective emissions pricing system for agriculture will play a key part in how we achieve that,” Climate Change Minister James Shaw said.

Animal agriculture is one of the leading causes of global warming. It is reportedly responsible for at least 14.5% of the world’s emissions. Moreover, cows are by far the biggest contributors. This is so because they produce 40% of global methane when they burp, fart (放屁) and produce waste. Also, methane is 80 times more warming than CO₂ although it’s shorter-lived in the atmosphere.

New Zealand, which has a population of five million people, has around 10 million cattle and 26 million sheep. “Almost half the country’s total greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture, mainly methane,” the draft plan explained.

The “burp tax” is expected to take effect in 2025. Mr. Shaw wants farming to be more environmentally friendly. He also wants farmers to change the way they farm. He wants them to feed their animals on seaweed instead of grass. This will produce fewer emissions. Mr. Shaw also said farmers can reduce the tax they pay by planting more trees. Another suggestion is for cows to wear special masks.

New Zealand’s farmers support the government. They want to do their bit to help the environment.

1. Why will cattle’s burps be taxed?

A．To raise more money.	B．To feed more cattle.
C．To limit cattle’s price.	D．To better the environment.

2. Which is a fact about New Zealand according to the text?

A．Its cows produce 40% of global methane.

B．Its agriculture affects greenhouse gas emissions.

C．It is responsible for at least 14.5% of the world’s emissions.

D．There is 80 times more methane than CO2.

3. What can farmers do to pay less tax according to Mr. Shaw?

A．Plant more trees.	B．Correct their way to farm.
C．Feed their animals on grass.	D．Wear special masks when farming.

4. Which can be the best title of the text?

A．New Zealand reducing greenhouse gas emissions

B．New Zealand’s greenhouse emissions and animal farming

C．New Zealand introducing a new tax to help the environment

D．New Zealand’s farmers joining in the fight against climate change

3 . One Monday afternoon in April, 45-year-old Rene Compean set out for a hike in Angeles National Forest in Southern California.

Rene parked his car near the Buckhorn Campground and headed up a trail in the Mt. Waterman area. Later, he texted a picture of setting foot on a rock to a friend, and the unclear image ended up saving his life!

A few hours into the hike, Rene took a wrong turn because a path marker was missing due to recent forest fires. He realized he was lost and texted his friend for help, explaining that he had no idea where he was and his phone was about to die. Unfortunately, he didn’t have location services on his mobile phone, so search and rescue teams couldn’t find him using GPS.

Rene was reported missing around 6 p.m. Temperatures dropped rapidly in the mountains, and rescuers searched through the night with no success.

When they set out in search of Rene the next morning, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office posted Rene’s picture to their social media pages, asking the public to help them identify the area.

Thankfully, the photo made its way to satellite mapping enthusiast Benjamin Kuo. As luck would have it, Ben has “a very strange hobby” that came into use in this situation. “I love taking a look at photos and figuring out where they’re taken,” Ben explained.

He studied the area below Rene’s legs for clues and came up with coordinates (坐标) for where he thought the hiker was. He then provided the details to the Sheriff’s Office. Thankfully, Ben’s coordinates had exactly pointed out his location! Believe it or not, officials found the hiker within three-quarters of a mile of the GPS coordinates Ben sent them. A helicopter was sent to the site, and there was Rene, tired out and cold from his night outside but otherwise unharmed.

1. What made it difficult for search and rescue teams to find Rene?

A．Fires broke out in the forest.	B．The path marker was not correct.
C．Rene couldn’t be located by GPS.	D．Rene’s picture was not clear enough.

2. Why did the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office post the picture on social media?

A．To help locate Rene’s position.	B．To attract the attention of the readers.
C．To seek satellite mapping enthusiasts.	D．To inform people of Rene’s getting lost.

3. Why could Benjamin exactly figure out where Rene got lost?

A．Because he loved hiking and taking photos.

B．Because he was quite familiar with the area.

C．Because he was sent to the site by a helicopter.

D．Because he was good at finding clues from photos.

4. What mainly led to Rene eventually being rescued?

A．The bravery and calmness of Rene.	B．The extraordinary talent of Benjamin.
C．The excellent photography skill of Rene.	D．The search and rescue teams’ rich experience.

4 . Exercise is an important part of staying healthy — both physically and mentally. Studies show that it can help strengthen the body’s natural defenses against disease.     1     For many people, it is also a part of their daily routine, making them feel better about themselves.

    2     However, because of the current restrictions and social distancing, some ways of exercising have changed or are simply gone. So, people are changing how they exercise during this coronavirus pandemic (新冠疫情).

Those who only exercise indoors might now consider moving their exercise routine outdoors.

    3     “Simply walk outside in nature,” Khabbaza said. “People can use this as an opportunity to exercise in other ways.” But in areas with stay-at-home orders or enforced social distancing, exercising outside may not be as simple as it sounds.     4    

Gyms, recreation centers and exercise studios are not open. So, some people are turning online to exercise. The physical fitness industry is also moving to online training. The Associated Press news agency contacted industry representatives and other people. Beth Berglin is the director of a charitable group in Miami, Florida. Before the pandemic, her exercise routine involved going to actual camp-style classes four mornings a week.     5     Instead, she is staying active through online classes.

A．So people fancy outdoor activities.

B．Now, the area where she trains is shut.

C．But exercise does not just keep us healthy.

D．Getting enough exercise at difficult times is vital.

E．What if people are not allowed to go out due to the pandemic?

F．How do people change their exercise mode from indoor to online?

G．This is the advice of Joe Khabbaza, a heart specialist at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.

5 . Small amounts of exercise could have a great effect on happiness.

According to a new review of research about good moods and physical activities, people who work out even once a week or for as little as 10 minutes a day tend to be more cheerful than those who never exercise. And any type of exercise may be helpful.

A number of past studies have noted that physically active people have much lower risks of developing depression and anxiety than people who rarely move.

Fewer past studies explored links between physical activity and upbeat emotions, especially in people who already were psychologically healthy, and those studies often looked at a single age group or type of exercise.

So for the new review, the Michigan researchers found, exercise was strongly linked to happiness. The type of exercise did not seem to matter. Some happy people walked or jogged. Others practiced yoga-style posing and stretching. And the amount of exercise needed to influence happiness was slight. In several studies, people who worked out only once or twice a week said they felt much happier than those who never exercised. In other studies, 10 minutes a day of physical activity was linked with happy moods.

But because most of the studies in this review were observational, it is not possible yet to establish whether exercise directly causes changes in happiness or if the two just happen to occur together often. In that case, exercise would not have helped to make people happy; rather, their happiness would have helped to make them exercisers

1. Who is the least happy, according to the passage?

A．People who work out once a week.

B．People who only run for ten minutes a day.

C．People who never exercise.

D．People who practice yoga-style posing.

2. What did researchers find in past studies?

A．The links between physical activities and happy emotion.

B．The relationship between exercise and depression.

C．Exercise can cause anxiety.

D．Exercise can never affect our moods.

3. What kind of exercise can affect happiness according to the Michigan research?

A．Jogging.

B．Yoga.

C．Walking.

D．Any exercise.

4. What will the researchers do next?

A．Study whether exercise directly changes happiness.

B．Show the reasons for happiness.

C．Tell people how to exercise.

D．Recommend some forms of exercise.

6 . Now several cities and states are considering passing laws when it comes to people who walk while texting (发短信). A law passed in Honolulu allows police officers to fine pedestrians(行人) between $15 and $99 for staring at their phones while crossing the street.

“Unluckily, we’re a major city with more pedestrians on the crosswalks, particularly our old people, than almost any other city in the country,” said Honolulu mayor Kirk Caldwell at a meeting. “So, passing a law is necessary and timely.”

The town of Montclair, California, took it one step further and passed a law making it illegal to talk, text or use earbuds (耳塞) on the phone when crossing the street. For the first time, people will be given a warning, and after that, the fine is $ 100. What’s more, farther north in Ontario, under the “Phones Down, Heads Up Act”, pedestrians can be fined if caught crossing the road while holding and using the phones. Fines start at $ 50.

This movement to pass such laws has a reason: Pedestrian deaths are on the rise. According to the National Safety Council, there were 5,987 pedestrian deaths—the highest number since 1990. This problem isn’t new, nor is it limited to deaths. There are a rising number of injuries from texting while crossing a street.

According to research, texing resulted in a higher rate of incidents than failure to look right or left when crossing. By comparison, talking on the phone led to only a slight increase of accidents and listening to music had no influence on safety. The results were published in the journal Injury Prevention.

So, in the opinion of David Canepa, a member of the Board of Supervisors in San Mateo Country, California, the government should tell people where to look when they’re walking down the street. He said, “At the end of the day, people will understand the value of public safety. Making the laws will save lives.”

1. What is Kirk Caldwell trying to talk about in the second paragraph?

A．The increasing traffic accidents.	B．People’s dependence on phones.
C．The reason for passing the law.	D．Old people’s bad situation.

2. What do we know about pedestrians using phones on crosswalks?

A．All of them will receive a warning first.

B．They’re fined at most 50 dollars in Ontario.

C．They’re fined at most 99 dollars in Honolulu.

D．They’re fined more than 100 dollars in California.

3. Which of the following is most dangerous according to research?

A．Texting while crossing roads.	B．Making calls when crossing roads.
C．Enjoying music when crossing roads.	D．Crossing roads without looking left or right.

4. What can we infer about David Ganepa’s opinion on the laws?

A．They are hard to understand.	B．They are helpful for people.
C．They are against people’s wishes.	D．They are well received by pedestrians.

7 . Recently, there is a view on the Internet that “the rise of pig price will lead to the rise of other food prices, thus leading to a substantial rise in overall prices”. It should be said that this judgment is not scientific. We should objectively understand the position of pork price in the overall price and its possible linkage effect.

At present, the main problem faced by the pork price is the lack of pork production capacity, which has nothing to do with inflation and will not lead to inflation. The rise of pork price only affects the upstream and downstream of pig industry and other related products such as meat, but has limited impact on the overall price. At present, China's agricultural product supply is sufficient; the production capacity of consumer goods is constantly improving; the service supply is more diversified, and the monetary policy remains stable, which provides a solid foundation for the stable operation of prices.

Keeping prices, especially the prices of important people's livelihood commodities, basically stable is related to the basic life of the people. In the face of rising pork prices, the state's policy of ensuring supply and stabilizing prices continues to increase. From choosing the right opportunity to put frozen meat reserve to starting the price subsidy mechanism, from rectifying the improper restriction and prohibition measures to protecting the land for pig farms, from special financial support to financial insurance escort, all departments are taking measures. With the gradual effectiveness of the measures, the price of pork will be stable in the future. It is worth noting that the data of the Ministry of Commerce on September 10th shows that the increase of pork wholesale price has fallen back from the previous week (from September 2nd to 8th).

1. From the first paragraph of the article, what’s the correct point of view we can get?

A．The rise of pig price will lead to the rise of other food prices, which will lead to the sharp rise of overall prices.

B．The rise of pig price will lead to the decrease of other food prices, which will lead to the sharp decline of overall price.

C．People should objectively understand the position of pork price in the overall price and its possible linkage effect.

D．It is not important to understand the position of pork price in the overall price and the linkage effect it can produce.

2. According to the second paragraph, we can know why the price of pork is rising?

A．The reason for the rise of pork price is related to inflation.

B．The reason for the rise of pork price is related to the death of pigs.

C．The reason for the rise of pork price is related to market demand.

D．The reason for the rise of pork price is related to the lack of pork production capacity.

3. According to the third paragraph of the article, what will be the price of pork in the future?

A．The price of pork will keep rising.	B．The price of pork will probably be stable.
C．The price of pork will not be stable.	D．The price of pork will never be stable.

4. The most suitable title for this article is _______.

A．The Price of Pork Is Rising.

B．What will People Do in the Face of Rising Pork Prices?

C．The Impact of Rising Pork Prices.

D．The Impact of Rising Pork Prices on People.

8 . In 1999, journalist Nicholas D. Kristof reported a surprising encounter on a tiny African island. Here, Kristof met a number of elderly men who told him that they were descendants of Chinese sailors many centuries ago. Their ancestors had traded with local Africans, who had given them giraffes to take back to China.     1    

Six centuries ago, a large number of Chinese ships crossed the sea, then travelled west to East Africa.     2     These seven great expeditions brought a vast web of trading links under Chinese government control.

    3     Most of the trading involved spices (香料), wood, and medicines. Zheng He brought them back to the capital. Although these goods were mainly presented to the emperor for his consumption and disposal, foreign ambassadors who came to China were permitted to trade with locals in the capital for handsome profits, which also allowed ordinary Chinese to benefit from international trade.

    4     In the regions they visited, Zheng He and his fleet (船队) remained a long-lasting theme in popular Southeast Asia folk tales. Two surviving records of the expeditions provide detailed accounts of unique Chinese navigation technologies of the time, leaving Chinese rich maritime legacy (遗产) to later generations.

However, the Chinese expedition never sought to establish colonial rule over these oceans by military force.     5     China’s maritime dominance disappeared suddenly in the 1430s because of domestic changes, and the overseas expeditions were eventually ended by the court. All this happened only decades prior to the occurrence of the great age of European discovery and exploration.

A．Seven times, the treasure fleets set off for the unknown.

B．Zheng He’s great voyage started at the port of Nanjing.

C．Aside from the economic impact, there was more cultural print.

D．The actual economic impact of the expedition was difficult to evaluate.

E．Zheng He traded China’s products for foreign luxuries and daily products.

F．It was intended to facilitate international and trade relationships with others.

G．If it’s true, this remote village is evidence of an astonishing episode of maritime exploration in China.

9 . The US Ambassador to the UK officially launched a ship named Mayflower on Wednesday, 400 years to the day after a wooden ship with that name sailed from an English port and changed the history of two continents.

Unlike the merchant ship that carried a group of European settlers to a new life across the Atlantic Ocean in 1620, the new Mayflower named by U S Ambassador Robert Wood Johnson has no crew or passengers. It will cross the sea powered by sun and wind, and controlled by artificial intelligence (AI).

Johnson said the high-tech ship, developed jointly by British-based research organization ProMare and US tech giant IBM, showed that “the pioneering spirit of the Mayflower really lives on”. “We’re heading out with the same spirit of adventure and determination and hope for the future as the original colonists (殖民者),” said Johnson.

Like the Mayflower in 1620, the new ship will travel from Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Massachusetts. The ship’s launch in Plymouth is one of several Mayflower commemorations. They involve British, Americans and Dutch institutions — many of the 17th-century colonists had left England for Holland before the voyage — and the Wampanoag people, who had lived for thousands of years in what is now New England. In 1620, the Wampanoag helped the exhausted Mayflower settlers survive their first winter. But soon colonial expansion and new diseases were having a big impact on North America’s Native Indians. Wampanoag stories have been marginalized (使边缘化) on past Mayflower anniversaries (周年纪念), but they are playing a big part in events and exhibitions this time around. “The story of the Mayflower is one that really can’t be told without telling also the story of the Wampanoag,” said Paula Peters, a Wampanoag writer.

The Mayflower Autonomous Ship is intended to explore parts of oceans too difficult or dangerous for people to reach. Andy Stanford-Clark, Chief Technology Officer for IBM in the UK and Ireland, said the ship’s launch “is a very exciting stage of the journey toward crewless shipping” that could pave the way for AI-driven commercial ships and research ships.

The 50-foot ship will go through six months of sea trials and make short trips before setting out on its trans-Atlantic trip to measure ocean health: assessing the impact of climate change, measuring micro-plastic pollution and studying populations of whales and dolphins.

1. What do we know about the new Mayflower?

A．It is a wooden ship.

B．It is powered by clean energy.

C．It will carry a large load of goods.

D．It will carry a small number of passengers.

2. What does the new Mayflower represent according to Johnson?

A．The sufferings of the British people in history.

B．The friendship between the US and the UK.

C．The long-lasting bravery of humankind.

D．The development of high technology.

3. What change can the launch of the new Mayflower bring?

A．It will seek help for Native Americans.

B．It will bring Wampanoag stories to light.

C．It will encourage more and more sea exploration.

D．It will help describe the colonists’ journey in detail.

4. What is the practical use of the new Mayflower?

A．It can protect commercial ships.

B．It can carry out certain surveys.

C．It can save animals stuck in water.

D．It can get rid of underwater dangers.

10 . Unlike early space travelers, today’s astronauts enjoy various freeze-dried meals, snacks, and desserts that can be commonly found on Earth. However, delicious as the food is, it pales in comparison with a freshly-cooked meal. Now astronauts at the International Space Station (ISS) may soon be able to have freshly-baked cookies to eat, thanks to a newly-acquired space oven.

The oven built by NanoRacks—a space company that helps develop experiments for the ISS—was sent to the ISS on November 2,2019. It’s specially designed to withstand the space station’s microgravity environment. Mary Murphy, a NanoRacks manager who helped develop the space oven, says the biggest challenge was keeping the cookie dough from floating inside the oven.

To solve the hurdle, the inventors decided to keep the cookie dough inside a sealed tray that can be placed directly into the oven. Once the cookies are baked, the plate is automatically transported to an integrated cooling vent(出口) which can only be accessed once the treats are at room temperature.

Murphy says, “What is so interesting about this is that it’ll be the first time that something will be baked in space. What will the cookies look like? While we don’t know for sure how the experiment will turn out, we’re looking forward to finding out and learning how to best bake food products in space.”

While the cookies’ appearance has been revealed, their taste will remain a mystery for some time. That’s because the freshly-baked space treats have been returned to Earth to undergo testing to ensure they’re safe to consume.

1. Why is the cookie dough kept inside a sealed tray when baked in the oven at the ISS?

A．To make it baked more easily.	B．To prevent it floating in the oven.
C．To make it convenient to take out.	D．To connect it with a cooling vent.

2. What is Mary Murphy mainly talking about in Paragraph 4?

A．Their interest in doing the experiment.	B．The expectation of the space oven.
C．The challenges they are faced with.	D．Their devotion to the research.

3. Why do the cookies need testing after they are baked?

A．To confirm their appearance.	B．To ensure that they’re delicious.
C．To make sure of their security.	D．To know if they are nutritious.

4. What may be the best title for the text?

A．A special space oven is launched into the ISS.

B．A company has developed a special space oven.

C．Freshly-cooked space food is available due to a space oven.

D．Astronauts may soon enjoy freshly-baked cookies.