1 . Sometimes in life, we keep making the same mistakes over and over again, without learning a lesson, till reality strikes us. Other times, some decisions are very hard, so we often end up feeling we could have gone the other way.
Successful people don't just gain confidence after achieving success. Instead, they have made achievements as they always believe in themselves.
If you agree to do things even if you don't want to, you will welcome more stress in your life. This is why you must be able to and have the courage to turn someone down in a polite way whenever you are not totally ready to do something you are asked to.
Be responsible for your life.
Stay away from people who always drag you down.
We tend to be with people who inspire us or who make us feel better, but sometimes we end up spending time with those who don't appreciate us .
| A．Be brave and willing to say “No”. |
| B．Then what we are left with is regret. |
| C．Accomplish the more urgent tasks-first. |
| D．It is time to cut those people out of your life. |
| E．Avoid things that prevent your concentration. |
| F．It's your responsibility to take charge of your life, so don't always rely on others to determine what your life will be like. |
| G．To overcome all the obstacles in your way, you need to trust yourself to get out of your comfort zone and that requires confidence. |
2 . I know that some of you are still adjusting to being back at school. But I’m here today because I have something important to discuss with you. I’m here because I want to talk with you about your education and what’s expected of all of you in this new school year.
And this isn’t just important for your own life and your own future. What you make of your education will decide nothing less than the future of this country. The future of our country depends on you. What you’re learning in school today will determine whether we as a nation can meet our greatest challenges in the future.
You’ll need the knowledge and problem-solving skills you learn in science and math to cure diseases like cancer and to develop new energy technologies and protect our environment. You’ll need the insights and critical-thinking skills you gain in history and social studies to build our country. You’ll need the creativity and ingenuity you develop in all your classes to build new companies that will create new jobs and boost our economy. We need every single one of you to develop your talents and your skills and your intellect so you can help us old folks solve our most difficult problems.
The circumstances of your life — what you look like, where you come from, how much money you have, what you’ve got going on at home — none of that is an excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude in school. That’s no excuse for talking back to your teacher, or cutting class, or dropping out of school. There is no excuse for not trying.
Where you are right now doesn’t have to determine where you’ll end up. No one’s written your future for you, because here in our country, you write your own future. You make your own future. Whatever you resolve to do, I want you to commit to it. I want you to really work at it.
1. What can we learn from the first two paragraphs?| A．Students adjust to their new schools easily. |
| B．Students wish they could be still on holiday. |
| C．Students decide to live up to their expectations. |
| D．Students influence the future of the whole country. |
| A．Problem solving. | B．Creativity. |
| C．Critical thinking. | D．Independent thinking. |
| A．Opportunities in creating new jobs. |
| B．Great challenges in this new school year. |
| C．The strategies of protecting environment. |
| D．The responsibilities for students’ own education. |
| A．Talk back to our teachers at all time. |
| B．Have a negative attitude in school occasionally. |
| C．Devote ourselves to whatever we are intended to do. |
| D．Make excuses for neglecting homework if necessary. |
3 . A narrow region of the eastern Pacific Ocean has been getting colder for the past 30 years, challenging global trends and confusing many scientists. Over at least three decades, the region has cooled by roughly half a degree, which has been causing scientists to wonder how long that will hold.
The unusual phenomenon, known as the “cold tongue” is affecting a vast area of ocean west of South America. Scientists are not entirely certain what is keeping the “cold tongue” cool. Richard Seager, from the Earth Observatory at Columbia University, said one factor appears to be trade winds in the equatorial (赤道) region, which carry warm water away from the surface, stimulating cooler water to rise. “The trade winds blow from east to west across the tropical Pacific Ocean,” Seager said. “As the waters are driven away from the surface, water flows up from below. And since the waters below the surface are cold, this creates the ‘cold tongue’.”
Yet despite the effect of these winds, the “cold tongue” has puzzled scientists, because advanced climate computer models suggest that the waters should have been warming for decades at a faster rate than the rest of the Pacific due to rising greenhouse gas emissions (排放).
Pedro DiNezio of the University of Colorado Boulder, considers “It’s the most important unanswered question in climate science”. Scientists can’t predict when it will end or start warming since the cause is unknown. According to New Scientist, this has huge worldwide implications, including determining California’s permanent drought and Australia’s wildfires. More profoundly still, “it could even alter the extent of climate change globally”, the site said, “by understanding how sensitive Earth’s atmosphere is to rising greenhouse gas production”.
Despite this, the overall ocean temperatures are rising. Solving the puzzle of the “cold tongue” isn’t about proving climate models wrong. Rather, the “cold tongue” is the last big piece of the puzzle. Fit that in and we can build a more accurate picture of how life will change in a warming world-and how best to prepare for that future.
1. What may be the cause of the “cold tongue”?| A．The arrival of ocean currents. |
| B．Trade winds in the equatorial regions. |
| C．The change in the direction of water flow. |
| D．The temperature differences between sea and land. |
| A．It has lasted for many years. | B．It forms a minor ocean ecosystem. |
| C．It contradicts the global warming trend. | D．It mirrors increasing carbon emissions. |
| A．It can help predict droughts in California. |
| B．It contributes to adjusting ocean temperatures. |
| C．It can help improve the accuracy of climate models. |
| D．It offers insights into dealing with future climate events. |
| A．To stress the effect of climate change. |
| B．To introduce an unusual phenomenon. |
| C．To explain reasons for strange natural disasters. |
| D．To appeal to people to pay more attention to the ocean. |
4 . Reasons why you should learn how to surf
It gives you an exciting experience.The feeling of riding the waves is one you can never describe until you have experienced it. While surfing, you’ll be in a peaceful state as you wait for the next big wave. It can be difficult to explain why, but the whole experience is indeed calm and exciting at the same time.
Surfing is a physically challenging sport that requires you to use your entire body, making it almost an extreme fitness activity. Every surfing session will certainly make you exercise your whole body. So, expect to have aching muscles after your first surfing session.
There is no denying the fact that healthy and fit people are confident with their bodies.
Learning a new skill with a group leads to a sense of accomplishment, and learning how to surf is no different. Although it’s natural to go surfing alone at times, no surfer has surfed without acquaintances (熟人), friends, or club mates. It’s a given for people who surf to share experiences with others, both locally and globally.
It gives you moments with nature.Like some other sports, surfing allows you to have time with nature.
| A．These two qualities come hand in hand |
| B．It allows you to grow your social circle |
| C．Surfing also gives you a sense of freedom |
| D．Don’t worry, though, as this feeling is entirely natural |
| E．It has a rich and varied history and contemporary culture |
| F．That will translate to how you handle your personal and professional life |
| G．When people learn to surf, they become more connected with the natural environment |
5 . A dog’s behavior is far more influenced by environment and upbringing, according to a new study published in the journal Science.
Lead author Kathleen Morrill, a Ph. D. candidate at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and her numerous co-researchers surveyed owners of 18,385 dogs and examined 2,155 dogs’ DNA as part of the citizen science project Darwin’s Ark.
For the project, participants were given a battery of surveys to fill out about their dogs. They then received a DNA kit to collect their dogs’ saliva (唾液) and send it back to the lab for DNA testing. The information was stored in a large database that was freely shared with researchers around the world. In return, curious dog owners were sent a DNA and breed (品种) profile of their dogs.
With the data provided to them by citizen scientists, Morrill and her team presented a number of interesting findings, but the biggest was this: Breeds offer little predictive value for individuals, explaining just 9% of variation in behavior.
The researchers broke down dog behavior into eight categories: comfort level around humans, case of stimulation or excitement, affinity (喜爱) toward toys, biddability (also known as response to human training), how easily the dog is affected by a frightening stimulus, comfort level around other dogs, engagement with the environment, and desire to be close to humans. Of these behavioral characteristics, biddability and toy affinity were most linked with breeds, but the associations were slight.
The study’s findings call into question laws that target specific, supposedly “dangerous”, breeds. More than 900 cities in the U.S. currently have some breed-specific laws.
“We now have demonstrated that breed-specific laws are ineffective at protecting the public or reducing dog attacks,” Elinor Karlsson, a senior author of the study, said. “Any dog has the potential to be dangerous, regardless of its size or breed background. Because of this, dogs should not be declared dangerous based on their appearance. Instead, they should be assessed as individuals based on their behavior.”
1. How did the researchers carry out the project?| A．By using survey responses. |
| B．By interviewing dog owners face to face. |
| C．By analyzing the data offered by the university. |
| D．By comparing breed profiles of different dogs. |
| A．Engagement with the environment. | B．Response to human training. |
| C．Ease of stimulation or excitement. | D．Comfort level around humans. |
| A．A dog’s behavior is more individualistic. |
| B．Breed-specific laws should be carried out effectively. |
| C．Dog attacks have posed a deadly threat to humans. |
| D．Categorizing dogs should be based on their appearance. |
| A．Don’t ignore your dogs | B．Don’t raise dangerous dogs |
| C．Don’t judge a dog by its breed | D．Don’t evaluate a dog by its behavior |
6 . Joseph Bologne, also known as the Chevalier de Saint-Georges, is perhaps the most famous musician and composer you’ve never heard of.
Bologne was born in 1745 on the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, son of an enslaved (使成为奴隶) Senegalese woman and a white plantation owner. Bologne’s father was eager for him to acquire a good education and he was sent to France to be schooled in literature and fencing. As well as showing great skill in sport, Bologne was intelligent and appealing.
As if being handsome, clever and a champion athlete wasn’t enough, Bologne was also a seriously skilled musician and composer. His main instrument was the violin, and in 1761, he was made a member of the Royal Guards as a soldier and musician. It is around this time that he became known as the Chevalier de Saint-Georges in recognition of his skill as a fencer and horseman. He was then invited to join the incredibly distinguished Concert des Amateurs as the first violinist and became its leader in 1773.
Although things were going very well for Bologne, he still experienced apparent racism. Some of the opera s leading women campaigned against having what they called “a mixed-race person” in charge of the opera. Despite this attempt to undermine his career, he fell into favour with the influential playwright Madame de Montesson, who put him in charge of her private theatre and introduced him to her husband, the Duke of Orleans. When the French Revolution (革命) broke out in 1789, Bologne sided with the revolutionaries. However, he was later imprisoned for 18 months and ultimately died in 1799 due to a severe leg injury.
Shortly after Bolognes death, Napoleon reinstated slavery in the French colonies and also banned Bologne’s music in an attempt to erase him from French history. However, Afro-Caribbean communities in France, and on Guadeloupe and Martinique have been working tirelessly to keep his legacy alive and Joseph Bologne is now enjoying a long overdue and richly deserved revival.
1. What can we learn from paragraph 2 about Bologne?| A．He was a man of determination. |
| B．He was passionate about literature. |
| C．He received great support from his father. |
| D．He had a difficult and troubled childhood. |
| A．His military service. |
| B．His exceptional athletic abilities. |
| C．His noble birth. |
| D．His musical achievements. |
| A．Bologne faced significant discrimination. |
| B．Bologne’s talents were a threat to the opera. |
| C．Bologne shouldn’t have joined the private theatre. |
| D．Bologne’s leadership suffered from a lack of foresight. |
| A．It’s being recognized and celebrated. |
| B．It’s receiving conflicting opinions. |
| C．It’s leading to a revolution in music. |
| D．It’s still being overlooked in France. |
7 . Sharks
Engage yourself in the world of Sharks! In this great exhibition created by Australian Museum experts, visitors will go back in time to meet sharks’ ancient ancestors, come face-to-face with life-size shark models ranging from the 50cm epaulette shark to the 8m whale shark, explore the contents of a shark’s stomach, play with a whale shark and uncover its extraordinary adaptation with interactive displays.
Visitors are advised to pre-book their preferred session time in advance to avoid disappointment.
Purchase your tickets now at Ticketek.com.au.
Ticket prices
Adult: $29
Child (3-15 years old): $17.50
Family (admits 4) 2A+2C / 1A+3C: $76
AM Member: 50% off; first visit FREE
Exhibition highlight
Extraordinary adaptations
In your mouth, you have 16 teeth in one neat row. The white shark has 300 teeth in five rows and can easily replace teeth lost while hunting and eating.
And what do you know about sharks amazing skin? It’s not skin at all. Sharks are covered in tiny denticles, which are closer to teeth than anything else!
You’ll see:
• The biggest fish - a life-size model of a whale shark, which can grow to 16m long.
• The fastest shark-a life-size model of the shortfin mako shark, which can reach speeds of up to 70km/hour and jump as high as 9m out of the water.
• A wet sample of the third-smallest shark-the Moller’s Lanternshark, reaching just 46cm long.
• A life-size model of the 270-million-year-old Helicoprion, known as the buzzsaw shark.
• Real, touchable shark samples from the Australian Museum collection.
1. What can visitors do in the exhibition?| A．Take part in making shark models. |
| B．See what’s inside a shark’s stomach. |
| C．Interact with an epaulette shark in person. |
| D．Consult Australian Museum experts about sharks. |
| A．$35. | B．$58. | C．$76. | D．$93. |
| A．The whale shark. | B．The buzzsaw shark. |
| C．The shortfin mako shark. | D．The Moller’s Lanternshark. |
8 . Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD, 创伤后应激障碍) is a mental disorder that develops among people who have experienced or observed traumatic things such as wars, disasters or other violent events. At the heart of PTSD is a memory that cannot be controlled. It can affect the everyday lives of its sufferers in forms such as flashbacks, nightmares and anxiety.
A new study done by researchers from Yale University and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City suggests that patients with PTSD process their traumatic memories differently than regular memories.
The researchers did brain scans of 28 PTSD patients. I hey asked the patients to listen to recorded narrations of their own memories. Some of the recorded memories were neutral, some were simply “sad”, and some were traumatic.
They found that when the patients listened to the sad memories, the hippocampus (海马体), which is responsible for forming memories, was activatea. But when they listened to the traumatic memories, a different area, called the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC. 后扣带回皮质), was engaged. The PCC is not a memory region. Instead, it regulates internal experiences, such as daydreaming.
The more severe PTSD symptoms are, the more active the PCC is. “The brain doesn’t look like it’s in a state of memory; it looks like it is a state of present experience.” Daniela Schiller, one of the authors of the study, told The New York Times. “That means people with PTSD feel as though they’re experiencing the traumatic event again in the present moment, rather than thinking back on it like atypical memory.”
The new finding might hold hope for new PTSD therapies (治疗). Future therapies are expected to focus on helping PTSD patients return their traumatic memories to the hippocampus so that they can treat them as regular and non-disruptive (非破坏性的) memories. Changing the ways of thinking could help the brain reduce the feeling of immediate threat caused by trauma, according to Ilan HarRaz-Rotem, one of the paper’s authors.
1. What is the core issue regarding PTSD according to the text?| A．An uncontrollable memory. | B．Brain damage. |
| C．Anxiety disorders. | D．Nightmares. |
| A．Their hippocampus was closed. |
| B．Their internal experiences were blocked. |
| C．Their PCC area became active. |
| D．Their regular memory function improved. |
| A．memory recall | B．daydreaming |
| C．current experience | D．boredom |
| A．Controlling the hippocampus. |
| B．Removing the feeling of threat. |
| C．Normalizing their traumatic memories. |
| D．Changing their brain structure. |
9 . The opening of California’s commercial crab season, which normally starts in November, is delayed once again to protect whales searching for their prey (猎物) along the coast.
California has been affected by a marine heat wave since May. The Blob, as this mass of warm water has become known, is squeezing cooler water preferred by whales and their prey close to shore, where fishermen set their traps. This crowding can lead to tangle (缠结) between whales and fishing equipment, endangering the animals’ lives and requiring rescue missions.
In a new study, scientists say they can now use global temperature models, commonly used in climate science, to predict up to a year in advance when hot ocean temperatures raise the risk of tangles between whales and fishing equipment.The tool analyzed in the new study, called the Habitat Compression Index, works by feeding sea-surface temperature measurements into an equation (方程式) that estimates the likelihood of whale habitat shrinking closer to shore.Regulators and fishermen agree that the new forecasting research could help them walk the tightrope between protecting whales and protecting local livelihoods (生计).
Mr Ogg, a commercial fishing boat captain, describes himself as a conservationist who doesn’t want to see whales harmed.“Fishermen have a big motivation to protect the natural environment,” he said, “because that’s where they make their living.” Previously, the challenge was adapting to changing conditions and fishing regulations on short notice, especially for smaller business owners and their crews.“One of the biggest problems we had was the unpredictability,” Mr Ogg said, “We were living from week to week then.”
Though scientists have shown the Habitat Compression Index can now forecast months in advance, state officials would probably wait to see conditions in real time before making decisions about the crab fishery, said Ryan Bartling, an environmental scientist at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
1. What do the whales come to shore for according to the first two paragraphs?| A．Safety. | B．Shelter. | C．Leisure. | D．Food. |
| A．To take a risk. | B．To join in an act. |
| C．To strike a balance. | D．To walk on a rope. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Indifferent. | C．Cautious. | D．Pessimistic. |
| A．How climate data gives whales room to swim |
| B．What causes the decrease in whale population |
| C．Why global temperature models are in great need |
| D．Whether to protect whales or the local livelihoods |
10 . Everyone feels lazy from time to time, but sometimes you get stuck in an anxious mood.
Practice mindfulness.
Set yourself up for success. Be honest about what motivates you, and what distracts you. Set up your environment and your schedule so that you can easily stick to your goals. Also, do your best to balance working hard and getting proper rest. Set deadlines for yourself, but be flexible.
Make a checklist to check off small tasks. Every bit of progress that you make is worthy of a celebration.
| A．Practice more positive self-talks. |
| B．Reward yourself for achievements. |
| C．Learn to focus on the present moment. |
| D．Everyone encounters failures, so don’t get discouraged. |
| E．Keep track of all you’re accomplishing so you can pat yourself on the back. |
| F．Sometimes you have to adjust your expectations because you underestimated a task. |
| G．What you’re experiencing is totally normal, and you can change your habits for the better. |
