1 . Once upon a time, a daughter complained to her father that her senior high school life was unhappy and that she was tired of struggling with homework all the time.
Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Once the three pots began to boil, h placed potatoes, eggs and coffee beans in them. After 20 minutes, he took them out, putting the potatoes and eggs in a bowl and the coffee in a cup.
Turning to his daughter, he said, “Look closer, and touch the potatoes.” She did and noted that they were soft. He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After puling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, he asked her to taste the coffee. Its good smell brought a smile to her face.
“Father, what does this mean?” she asked. He then explained that the potatoes, the eggs and the coffee beans were in the same adversity (逆境)—the boiling water. However, each one reacted differently.
The strong and hard potato became soft and weak in boiling water. The egg was fragile, with the thin outer shell protecting its liquid until it was put in the boiling water. Then the inside of the egg became hard. However, the coffee beans were unique. After they were exposed to the boiling water, they changed the water and created something new. “Which one do you want to be like,” he asked. “When adversity knocks on your door, how will you respond?”
In life, challenges happen to us all, but the only thing that truly matters is what happens within us.
1. Why did the girl complain to her father?| A．Because of her tiring job. | B．Because of her hard school life. |
| C．Because of her father’ s busy work. | D．Because of the food her father cooked. |
| A．The girl liked the coffee best. |
| B．The father was good at cooking. |
| C．Different people have different reactions to adversity. |
| D．The girl didn’t like the potatoes and eggs. |
| A．thick | B．hard | C．strong | D．easily-broken |
| A．Challenges and responses. | B．Adversities and a chef. |
| C．A chef and coffee beans. | D．Father and daughter. |
2 . How to deal with your homework
Write it down.
Create a homework station. Find somewhere comfortable and quiet to do your homework.
Do homework as early as possible. Don’t leave homework to the last minute.
Treat yourself. You can easily get tired by sitting through an hour or two of homework without stopping. Once you finish homework for a subject, take a small break (no more than 15 minutes). Either taking a walk or finding something to eat will do. But do not turn on the TV, or you’ll never go back to your study.
| A．Use your time wisely. |
| B．Start as soon as you get home. |
| C．Start with your hardest homework. |
| D．Do not burn the midnight oil, either. |
| E．Never do your homework in front of the TV. |
| F．After short breaks, return to finish the rest of your homework. |
| G．Keep a homework notebook where you record all your homework. |
3 . Patrick never does homework. “Too boring,” he says. He always plays baseball and basketball after school. His teachers tell him, “Patrick! Do your homework, or you can’t learn anything.” But what can he do? He hates homework.
One day, his cat was playing with a little “doll”. He found it wasn’t a doll at all, but a man of the smallest size. The man called, “Save me! Don’t give me back to that cat. I have magic. I will help you if you save me!”
How lucky he was! Here was the answer to all of his problems. So he said, “If you help me to do my homework until the last day of school, I will get good grades.” The man agreed. He began to do Patrick’s homework. The man didn’t always know what to do and he needed help. “Help me! Help me! ”he said. And Patrick had to help. Day after day, Patrick had to work harder. Finally the last day of school arrived and the man was free to go. As for homework, Patrick didn’t hate doing it any more. Patrick got his A’s. His teachers and classmates were all surprised. Who really helped Patrick?
1. Patrick likes ________ after school.| A．doing sports | B．doing some reading |
| C．doing his homework | D．learning things |
| A．It means “Patrick got the teachers’ help”. | B．It means “Patrick got good grades”. |
| C．It means “Patrick got more friends”. | D．It means “Patrick got more problems”. |
| A．Patrick never hates doing his homework. |
| B．The man sometimes didn’t know what to do when he helped Patrick. |
| C．The man didn’t go until the last day of school. |
| D．Patrick finally started to like doing homework. |
| A．the man liked to play with the cat |
| B．the man never helped Patrick do his homework |
| C．Patrick’s classmates always helped him do his homework |
| D．in fact, Patrick helped himself |
4 . In the long history of about 5,000 years, numerous Chinese traditional festivals were celebrated in honour of gods or some significant days, some of which are passed down from generation to generation and people always practice special traditional activities in each festival.
The Qingming Festival
The Qingming Festival is on the 15th day after the Spring Equinox (春分), around April 4 or April 5 every year.
The Double Ninth Festival
The Winter Solstice (冬至)
The winter solstice is on around December 22 or 23 of the solar calendar each year. From that day on, the daytime will be longer and longer.
In China, this festival is in late January or early February, the last day of the lunar year. People celebrate it by having a family reunion dinner, setting off fireworks and staying up late. Breaking the dishes and bowls is a thing all the people are afraid of, but if you did it, you should say “Sui sui ping an!”
| A．The Spring Festival |
| B．New Year’s Eve |
| C．People will go to commemorate (纪念) their ancestors |
| D．People always visit their friends and relatives |
| E．It is celebrated on Sep. 9th of the lunar calendar, around in October of the solar calendar |
| F．It’s a holiday which is regarded as important as the Spring Festival |
| G．It is a double-meaning word, meaning you will be safe during the new year |
Name | Personal Information |
Fei Junlong | Born in 1965 in Jiangsu, China An astronaut (宇航员) Traveled in Shenzhou VI in outer space with Nie Haisheng from October 12th to October 17th, 2005. |
Jay Chou | Born in 1979 in Taiwan, China A popular singer Favorite music: Hip-Hop |
Alfred Nobel (1833-1896) | Born in Sweden A scientist Known for the Nobel Prizes |
Helen Keller (1880-1968) | Not able to see or hear Worked hard and became one of the famous writers in America Wrote a lot, such as The Story of My Life |
| A．two | B．six | C．seven | D．nine |
| A．writer | B．singer | C．astronaut | D．scientist |
| A．sport | B．song | C．prize | D．book |
6 . San Francisco Fire Engine Tours
San Francisco Winery TourRunning: February 1st through April 30th
This delicious tour goes through the city on its way to Treasure Island where we will stop at the famous Winery SF. Here you can enjoy 4 pours of some of the best wine San Francisco has to offer.(Included in tickets price)
Departing from the Cannery: Tour times upon request.Duration(时长): 2 hours
Price: $90
Back to the Fifties Tour
Running: August 16th through August 31st
This tour transports you back in time to one of San Francisco’s most fantastic periods, the 1950s! Enjoy fun history as we take you through San Francisco for a free taste of ice cream.
Departing from the Cannery: 5:00 pm and 7:30 pmDuration: 2 hours
Price: $90
Spooky Halloween Tour
Running: October 10th through October 31st
Join us for a ride through the historical Presidio district. Authentic fire gear(服装) is provided for your warmth as our entertainers take you to some of the most thrilling parts of San Francisco.
Departing from the Cannery: 6:30 pm and 8:30 pmDuration: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Price: Available upon request
Holiday Lights Tour
Running: December 6th through December 23rd
This attractive tour takes you to some of San Francisco’s most cheerful holiday scenes. Authentic fire gear is provided for your warmth as you get into the holiday spirit.
Departing from the Cannery: 7:00 pm and 9:00 pmDuration: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Advance reservations required.
1. Which of the tours is available in March?
| A．San Francisco Winery Tour. | B．Back to the Fifties Tour. |
| C．Spooky Hallowen Tour. | D．Holiday Lights Tour. |
| A．Go to Treasure Island. | B．Enjoy the holiday scenes. |
| C．Have free ice cream. | D．Visit the Presidio district. |
| A．Take some drinks. | B．Set off early in the morning. |
| C．Wear warm clothes. | D．Make reservations in advance. |
7 . The number of people in my house has grown from six to seven recently. A young man from Spain has come to spend six weeks with us. He is not an ordinary young man; he’s actually my second cousin, and is here to spend time with this side of the family, and of course, to learn English.
Thankfully, he is the same age as my youngest son, and is very fun-loving. I’m sure that he will pick up a lot of English while he plays with my kids. That was actually how I picked up a lot of Spanish when I was a child. My mother would take me to Mallorca in Spain, to spend about a month in the summers. Because children play so much, and are less inhibited(拘束的) than adults, they absorb language like little sponges (海绵). Well, that’s what happened to me, and I’m very thankful for the experience.
So far, we have taken my cousin to Seattle for a couple of days, and down to a local river to look for gold. Today, I plan on taking him to the museum in the town of Cashmere which is excellent. He will get his first view of Native American life, and be able to walk through some of the original pioneer houses of this area. Like most boys who are thirteen, he is very curious and constantly asks questions. Of course, I don’t always have the answers! Coming to the U.S. is a big step for him, especially being so young. Mind you, he is a world traveller. His mother is an air hostess and is able to get cheap airline tickets, so they travel internationally all the time. So he is extremely comfortable in airports, and understands the routines of getting from one place to another. I hope that his being here will encourage my children to spend time in Spain, and also become international travellers.
1. Why does the young man come to America?| A．To spend the summer holiday. | B．To meet his mother. |
| C．To learn English. | D．To go to school. |
| A．11 years old. | B．13 years old. | C．15 years old. | D．16 years old. |
| A．Helpful. | B．Boring. | C．Unnecessary. | D．Unimportant. |
| A．The young man’s mother is a pilot. |
| B．The young man often travels by plane. |
| C．The writer’s children enjoy travelling to Spain. |
| D．The young man has ever seen Native American life before. |
8 . Afternoon tea became popular about 150 years ago, when rich ladies invited their friends to their houses for a cup of afternoon tea. Usually taken in the late afternoon, it is also called “low tea” as it is served at a low table. Since this isn’t a meal, but rather like a late afternoon snack, finger foods such as sandwiches, scones and pastries are common. People are taking tea not only to get what their bodies need or satisfy hunger, but to take time to relax, chat and enjoy the company of dear friends. In England, the traditional time for tea is four or five o’clock in the afternoon and no one stays after seven o’clock.
This very British tradition is said to have been started in the 1840s by Duchess Anna Maria, wife of the 7th Duke of Bedford, England. During the long time between an early lunch and a very late dinner, she experienced what she called “a sinking feeling” at about 4 or 5 in the afternoon. So she asked her serving girl to bring her a pot of tea, a little bread and butter and cake in her room. She found this arrangement so pleasing that she began asking her friends to join her.
High tea, a term often mixed with afternoon tea, usually takes the place of supper. In the past the British working population did not have afternoon tea. They had meals at about noon and after work between five and seven o’clock. The table would be set with dinner foods like meat, bread, butter, potatoes, cheese and of course tea. It was called “high tea” because it was eaten at a high dining table rather than a low tea table.
How much do people enjoy the afternoon tea moment? As a famous writer named Henry James said, “There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.”
1. How does the term “low tea” come about?| A．The tea is served in the late afternoon. | B．The tea is provided to treat friends. |
| C．The tea is drunk at a low table. | D．The tea is enjoyed to relax. |
| A．Duchess Anna Maria. | B．The 7th Duke of Bedford. |
| C．Henry James. | D．Some unknown working people. |
| A．A feeling of being annoyed. | B．A feeling of hunger. |
| C．A feeling of missing friends. | D．A feeling of shyness. |
| A．To show the difference between afternoon tea and high tea. |
| B．To tell us that afternoon tea is in fact a ceremony. |
| C．To tell us how the name “afternoon tea” comes out. |
| D．To show how popular afternoon tea is among people. |
9 . Blue Grotto, Italy
Despite its name, it is actually not a grotto(洞穴)but a sea cave, about 60m long. What makes it one of the most beautiful caves in the world is the blue color, as its name suggests. When you enter inside, you can see it is filled with weird blue light. This color is formed by the unique combination of the rocks, the entrance, the clear water and the whole shape. In fact, you can’t identify where the source of the blue light is.
Son Doong Cave, Vietnam
This is known as the largest cave in the world, not because of its length—in fact, it is just about 5km long. But its size comes from its enormous passages and caves, reaching 200m in height. In addition, there is an underground river, making the cave even more impressive.
Marble Caves, Chile
Located far from any road, the caves are accessible only by boat. This is the most beautiful cave structure in the world, in which crystal clear water is literally lightened by dazzling(使目眩)blue ice walls. A magical, fabulous, unreal and almost unearthly sight! The caves are best seen from September to February and earlier in the morning when the sunlight streams inside.
Reed Flute Cave, China
Its name comes from the reeds beside its entrance that have been used for making flutes(长笛). It is not too long and not too deep-only about 500m in length. What makes this cave more special is the history. It has been known since ancient times. And when you enter inside, you can see a lot of inscriptions(碑文)dating back to medieval times, starting from the times of the Tang Dynasty (around 792 AD).
1. What is Blue Grotto most famous for?| A．Its long history. | B．Its strange shape. | C．Its clear water. | D．Its amazing color. |
| A．At noon in March. | B．At night in October. |
| C．At sunrise in December. | D．In the morning in August. |
| A．The Blue Grotto. | B．Son Doong Cave. |
| C．Marble Caves. | D．Reed Flute Cave. |
10 . A new product from Google may help people solve their sleep problems, but some privacy rights groups are concerned. Google showed off its newest Nest Hub home assistant device(设备)on Tuesday. In addition to recognizing your voice, showing pictures, videos, news and weather, it can also track your sleep.
The basic model costs about $100 and the sleep-tracking technology will be available for free for the rest of 2021. The sleep tracker makes Google’s product different from a similar home assistant from Amazon.
If you put the Nest Hub beside your bed, it can follow your sleep. That is because of a new computer chip called Soli, which can sense motion(运动). Some people may like the new technology because they would not have to wear another device to bed. Some companies make products people can only wear on their wrist to track their sleep.
Google says the new Nest Hub will create reports each week that show how long and how well a person sleeps. It will also show if they snore(打鼾), cough or wake up often. The company said it studies 15,000 people over the course of 110,000 nights to develop the technology.
For people who want to know more about their sleep, the device sounds like a good idea. But, people who pay attention to privacy are worried about what Google might do with the information it is gathering.
Google recently bought FitBit, a company that makes a health tracker people can wear on their wrist. Technology experts think Google may find a way for the Nest Hub to work with the FitBit. Google says the sleep tracker has a lot of privacy protections. For example, it will only work if the user turns it on. The company also said, “it will not use a person’s sleep information to try to sell advertising.”
1. What can be learned about the Nest Hub?| A．It is designed for users to wear on their wrist. |
| B．It cannot offer information about weather condition. |
| C．It is a sleep tracker developed by Amazon. |
| D．It can provide some data about users’ sleep. |
| A．Disturbing sleep. | B．Letting out personal privacy. |
| C．Lacking advanced technology. | D．Worsening personal physical problems. |
| A．The Nest Hub will be improved. | B．Google will give up its technology. |
| C．Sleep information will be made full use of. | D．Privacy protections will be strengthened. |
| A．Tech Companies Care About Privacy |
| B．Google’s Technology Makes Your Sleep Safer |
| C．A Device Has Been Made for Sleep Research |
| D．Google’s New Device May Track Your Sleep |
