1 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。

1. Which family holiday does the man recommend?

A．The one on the 18th.

B．The one on the 19th.

C．The one on the 20th.

2. Where will the woman probably go?

A．France.

B．Spain.

C．Greece.

3. What do we know about The Hotel Playa?

A．It is a five-star hotel.

B．It has its own beach.

C．It has a swimming pool.

2 . Why does the man choose the guitar?

A．He wants to be different.

B．He wants to be like his friends.

C．He thinks it is cool to play the guitar.

3 . A new study establishes that environmental damage caused by corn production results in 4,300 premature deaths annually in the United States, representing cost of $39 billion.

The paper, published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Sustainability, presents how researchers have estimated for the first time the health damages caused by corn production using detailed information on pollution emissions, pollution transport by wind, and human exposure to increased air pollution levels.

The study also shows how the damage to human health of producing a litre (升) of corn differs from region to region and how, in some areas, the health damages of corn production are greater than its market price.

“The deaths caused per litre in western corn belt states such as Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska tend to be lower than in eastern corn belt states such as Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio,” said lead researcher Jason Hill.

It’s important for farmers to have this information so that they can carry out practices that reduce the environmental influence of the crops they grow. Farmers can greatly improve the environmental profile of their corn by using precision agriculture tools and switching to fertilizers that have lower ammonia (氨) emissions. The study’s results also suggest potential benefits from improving nitrogen use efficiency, switching to crops requiring less fertilizer, and changing the location where corn is grown.

Aware that changes in practices can take time and planning, Hill suggests farmers could be offered motivation to switch to crops that demand less applied nitrogen while still offering market and nutritional benefits.

Hill said, “The number of deaths related to corn production could be reduced through these key strategies”.

1. Which of the states has the lowest death rate caused by corn production?

A．Nebraska.	B．Illinois.
C．Indiana.	D．Ohio.

2. Which of the following is not advised to do for farmers to reduce the environmental impact of corn?

A．Improve nitrogen use efficiency.

B．Plant crops with no fertilizer.

C．Change the corn’s location.

D．Using precision agriculture tools.

3. What is Jason Hill’s attitude to preventing deaths caused by corn production?

A．Indifferent.	B．Optimistic.
C．Pessimistic.	D．Neutral.

4. In which part of a website will you find this text?

A．Health and lifestyle.

B．Art and design.

C．Science and environment.

D．Fashion and business.

4 . Even though these monuments are extremely well known, they hold secrets that not many people are aware of.

Empire State Building

On the 103rd floor of the Empire State Building in New York, there is a secret observation deck that not a lot of people know about. To access the balcony, you have to take a series of elevators and then a very steep, narrow staircase. The observation deck isn’t open to the public, but many celebrities have been photographed there.

Eiffel Tower

There is a secret apartment and office at the very top of the Eiffel Tower that has just recently become open to the public. In 1889, Gustave Eiffel, the engineer of this famous Paris landmark, built himself a private apartment and office. It has been restored and has wax models of Gustave, his daughter, and American inventor Thomas Edison on display.

Statue of Liberty

There is actually a room in the torch of the Statue of Liberty that showcases breathtaking views of the city. People used to be able to visit that room until 1916 when German agents blew up a nearby wharf (码头). The explosion sent broken pieces into the raised arm of Lady Liberty, making the staircase up to the hidden room unsafe.

Disneyland

Hardcore Disney fans might think they know all of the secrets of the park, a famous U.S. landmark, but many haven’t heard of Club 33. This exclusive restaurant is hidden behind an unmarked door in Disneyland’s New Orleans Square. If you want to dine here on your next trip to Disneyland, don’t get your hopes up. It costs $25,000 to join the club, plus an annual fee of $12,000.

1. What do the monuments have in common?

A．They are all in Europe.

B．They all have skyscrapers.

C．They are all the best-known.

D．They all hide little-known secrets.

2. Which of the four has the easiest access?

A．Disneyland.	B．Eiffel Tower.
C．Statue of Liberty.	D．Empire State Building.

3. Which can be used to replace the underlined word “exclusive” in the last paragraph?

A．Attractive.	B．Expensive.
C．Wonderful.	D．Beautiful.

5 . “May 17, 2157

Dear diary,

Today, Tommy found a real book!...”

“What’s it about?” Margie asked.

“School.” replied Tommy, turning the yellow pages.

“Why would anyone write about school? I hope they can take my geography teacher away.”

“It’s not our school. This is the old sort that they had centuries ago.”

“Anyway, they had a teacher.” Margie said, reading the book over his shoulder.

“Sure, they had a teacher, but it wasn’t a regular teacher. It was a man.”

“A man? How could a man be a teacher?”

“Well, he just told the boys and girls things and gave them assignments and asked them questions.”

“A man isn’t smart enough.”

“Sure, he is. My father knows as much as my teacher.”

Margie wasn’t prepared to argue about that. She said, “I wouldn’t want a strange man in my house to teach me.”

Tommy laughed. “The teachers didn’t live in the house. They had a special building and all the kids went there.”

“And all the kids learned the same thing?”

“Sure, if they were the same age.”

“But my mother says a teacher has to be adjusted to fit the mind of each boy and girl it teaches and that each kid has to be taught differently.”

“If you don’t like it, you don’t have to read the book.”

“I didn’t say I didn’t like it,” Margie said quickly.

They weren’t even half-finished when Margie’s mother called, “Margie! School!”

“Not yet, Mamma.”

“Now!” said Mrs. Jones.

Margie said to Tommy, “Can I read the book some more with you after school?”

“Maybe,” Tommy said.

Margie went into the schoolroom, right next to her bedroom, and the mechanical teacher was on waiting for her.

The screen was lit up, and it said, “Please insert yesterday’s assignments in the proper slot.”

Margie was still thinking about the old schools they had when her grandfather’s grandfather was a little boy. All the kids from the whole neighborhood came, laughing and shouting in the schoolyard, sitting together in the schoolroom, going home together at the end of the day. They learned the same things, so they could help one another on the assignments and discussed them.

And the teachers were people…

1. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

A．Margie doesn’t like her school.

B．It’s common to read paper books in 2157.

C．Online learning is what Margie wants.

D．Tommy feels his father is smarter than his teacher.

2. Which of the following is TRUE about a school in 2157?

A．There are only female teachers at school.

B．Teachers give no assignments to students.

C．A special building is constructed for teachers.

D．Students learn different things at their own pace.

3. What does the underlined word “slot” probably mean?

A．Envelope.	B．Opening.
C．Screen.	D．Schoolroom.

4. What can we learn about Margie’s feelings about old schools?

A．Longing.	B．Objection.
C．Suspicion.	D．Tolerance.

6 . “友善”是中华民族的传统美德，你校以“友善”为主题举办英语征文比赛,内容包括：
1. 日常生活中的友善行为；
2. 友善行为的意义或价值；
3. 提出倡议。
注意：
1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
参考词汇：传统美德traditional virtues
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7 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Liu Ruying,     1     grandfather is a huge fan of Peking Opera, has been interested in Peking Opera for much of her young life. Her grandfather is a great influence     2     her. At the age of 8, she     3    (begin) to practice the classic art. It wasn’t easy for a little girl     4    (experience) the difficult training, as performances combine martial arts, dancing and acrobatics(杂技).

“Sometimes I was tired,“ she said. ”I had to balance my studies and other     5    (course) I was interested in, such as dance. But the great charm(魅力) of Peking Opera made me always practice it.”

When Liu got the news that her region would have a cultural exchange with other countries, she had the idea of     6    (introduce) Peking Opera to the world in English. With     7     help of her mother, she took part in the activity after several months of practice.

“I     8    (extreme) love traditional Chinese culture,” she said. “Peking Opera has a long history of about 200 years and     9    (consider) a treasure of our nation. We should let     10    (we) make great efforts to carry forward our culture and protect the cultural diversity of the world.”

8 . With gas prices rising and airport security lines snaking longer than ever, why not book your next domestic vacation on a train? Compared to other alternatives, it’s comfortable and relaxing. Here is some advice on how to make a trip by rail as pleasant as possible.

Plan ahead. Most long-distance trains, especially the sleeping car accommodations, sell out very quickly.     1     But no matter when you travel, it’s a good idea to make your reservations at least 90 days in advance.

Use a travel agent. Consider turning your travel plan over to a travel agent and letting him double-check all the details, make suggestions, and then handle the actual reservations. A good one can sometimes find you discounted tickets.     2     Then you won’t have to walk through several cars on a moving train three times a day for your meals.

Bring a blanket. When you’re riding on trains, you won’t be provided with a blanket for free, even if your trip is an overnight one.     3     In the summer in particular, the air conditioning can make them quite cold.

Arrive early. Most trains operate just once a day and some run only three times a week, so missing yours can be a disaster.     4     Note: The times listed on the schedules are departure times, not arrival times.

Have fun.     5     Read a book, knit, do a crossword puzzle, or simply watch the world unfold outside the window. To calculate your speed as you do, divide 3,600(the number of seconds in an hour)by the number of seconds it takes you to travel one mile(the distance between two mileposts). If it takes the train 53 seconds to travel one mile, you’re going 67.92 mph.

A．Train trips aren’t for impatient types.

B．You’ll have views from both sides of the train.

C．The temperature on rail cars is often hard to control.

D．That’s particularly true during busy summer months.

E．You might have to wait longer than 24 hours to catch the next one.

F．Chances are the cost will be a lot less than the cost of one bedroom.

G．He may also book you in a sleeping car that’s right next to the diner.

9 . There are many resorts in the world. Make your Branson, Missouri vacation easy by booking a complete vacation package with general attractions, shows and more. Located in the rolling hills of the Ozarks, Branson also features numerous outdoor activity options for a varied vacation experience.

Two-night Branson Getaway Package

When planning a wonderful holiday to Branson, book the Two-night Branson Getaway Package, which includes two nights of staying, dinner and a show at the Dolly Parton’s Stampede, and admission to the traditional Acrobats (杂技) of Shanghai!

Price: Adult: $156.

Children: Ages 3-19: $81.22, Ages 0-2: Free.

Branson Dolly Parton’s Stampede Getaway

Whether you are planning a weekend holiday in Branson or a short mid-week trip, you will love the Branson Dolly Parton’s Stampede Getaway, which includes two nights of staying and Dolly Parton’s Stampede Dinner and Show!

Price: Adult: $ 156.

Children: Ages 3-19: $73.01, Ages 0-2: Free.

Silver Dollar City Package

Have the ultimate vacation in Branson with the Silver Dollar City Package, which includes two nights of staying, a two-day pass to Silver Dollar City, and dinner and a show aboard the Showboat Branson Belle!

Price: Adult: $315.

Children: Ages 3-19: $74. 00, Ages 0-2: Free.

Branson’s Fun for Kids Vacation

For an exciting vacation in Branson that children will simply love, book Branson’s Fun for Kids Vacation, which includes two nights of staying, admission to the Branson’s Wild World VIP Animal Adventure, Escape Mini Golf & Jungle Arcade, Hamners’ Unbelievable Magic Show, Fritz’s Adventure, a one-day pass to Silver Dollar City and admission to the Dolly Parton’s Stampede!

Price: Adult: $ 474.

Children: Ages 3-19: $68.78, Ages 0-2: Free.

1. Which vacation package will you choose if you want to watch a Chinese traditional art?

A．Silver Dollar City Package.	B．Branson’s Fun for Kids Vacation.
C．Two-night Branson Getaway Package.	D．Branson Dolly Parton’s Stampede Getaway.

2. How much should a couple with twins aged four pay for the Silver Dollar City Package?

A．$389.

B．$463.

C．$704.

D．$778.

3. Which of the following is available in the four vacation packages?

A．Two nights of staying.	B．Silver Dollar City tickets.
C．A show at the Dolly Parton’s Stampede.	D．Admission to the Acrobats of Shanghai.

10 . When The Alchemist was first published twenty-five years ago in my native Brazil, no one noticed. A bookseller in the northeast corner of the country told me that only one person purchased a copy the first week of its publication. It took another six months for the bookseller to unload a second copy. And who knows how long it took to sell the third. At the end of the year, my original publisher decided to cancel our contract. I was forty-one and upset.

But I never lost faith in the book. Why? Because it was me in there, all of me, heart and soul. I was living my own fantasy. A man sets out on a journey, dreaming of a beautiful or magical place, in search of some unknown treasure. At the end of his journey, the man realizes the treasure was with him the entire time. I was following my personal legend (传奇) and my treasure was my talent to write. And I wanted to share this treasure with the world.

I started knocking on the doors of other publishers. One opened, and the publisher on the other side agreed to give The Alchemist a second chance. Slowly, through word of mouth, it finally started to sell — three thousand, then six thousand, ten thousand — book by book, gradually throughout the year.

Eight months later, an American visiting Brazil wanted to translate the book and help me find a publisher in the United States. But it still took some time to sell, slowly finding its audience in the United States by word of mouth, just as it did in Brazil. And then one day, Bill Clinton was photographed leaving the White House with a copy. Then people from different walks of life were suddenly talking about it.

The Alchemist became a phenomenon. The book hit the New York Times bestseller list and stayed there for more than three hundred weeks. It has since been translated into more than eighty different languages, and is widely considered one of the ten best books of the twentieth century.

1. How many books did the writer sell in the first year?

A．One.

B．Two.

C．Three.

D．Unknown.

2. Why did the writer have faith in his book?

A．It’s about treasure seeking.	B．It’s a fantasy story.
C．It’s about his talent to write.	D．It’s a mirror of his life.

3. What finally helped the book become popular in the US?

A．The door-to-door sale.	B．Good word of mouth.
C．A photo with the book.	D．An American publisher.

4. Which of the following is the best title?

A．A Personal Legend	B．Time Tries All
C．The Alchemist	D．All Roads Lead to Rome