1 . Everything to Know About Ho Chi Minh City

When to Go

Ho Chi Minh City is at its finest during dry seasons, between November and March. Lunar New Year (called Tét in Vietnam), which lands between the end of January and mid-February, is a unique time. The city empties out, as everyone travels home for the holiday, and as a result travelers might be limited by shorter opening hours at shops and restaurants. However, it is a quiet time of year married with nice weather.

Celebrate

In the days before Tét, flower traders sail their loaded long boats down river and settle in Binh Dong, District 8, to sell their flowers before the holiday. Walking through the crowds you can admire the beauty of various flowers.

What to Eat

Pho rolls may be the darlings of traveling TV chefs (厨师) but for vegetarians (素食者) there’s no beating the Banh Mi Oopla made with fried eggs, soy sauce and lightly pickled (腌制的) carrots.

If ever there needed to be an excuse to eat chocolate, Marou Chocolate is a perfect choice. Marou is a Vietnamese chocolate company that buys cacao directly from nearby farms and pays double prices to encourage growers to produce high-quality cacao through environmentally-friendly practices.

Souvenir to Take Home

Take a walk down Le Cong Kieu, nicknamed(别名) Antique Street in District 1, and pick up a pair of stylish glasses, brass sculptures or other strange tchotchkes. Old, hand-painted posters on Ton That Thiep are both beautiful to look at and provide an understanding of the wartime Vietnamese culture.

1. Why are the tourists advised to go to Ho Chi Minh City during Tet?

A．The weather is pleasant.

B．Shops will be open for longer hours.

C．It is more convenient to travel around.

D．Tourists can celebrate Tet with the local people.

2. What may vegetarians take special interest in?

A．Pho roll.	B．Binh Dong .
C．Banh Mi Oopla.	D．Ton That Thiep.

3. Which of the following are related to the wartime culture in Vietnam?

A．The glasses.	B．The posters .
C．The tchotchkes.	D．The sculptures.

2 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Where did the man get the news about the floods?

A．From the newspaper.

B．From the radio.

C．From the Internet.

2. How did the soldiers help the flood-affected families?

A．By supplying them with free food.

B．By settling them down in safe places.

C．By cleaning out water in their houses.

3. What does the man think of the woman’s suggestion?

A．It’s stupid.

B．It’s touching.

C．It’s good.

3 . Cameron is no ordinary dog, and not just because he was born on Valentine's Day. To Maggie, a first grader at Burgundy Farm Country Day School, the dog who spends most days on campus is more like a friend. When Cameron is near, Maggie feels "really, really, happy," she said, "I feel safe around him, she added.   "He '11 lie down and ask   me to scratch his tummy," she explained, because Cameron likes Maggie.

Cameron is one of a handful of dogs at Burgundy, a K-8 private day school in Alexandria, Virginia. Dogs started showing up there when the head of school, Jeff Sindler, brought his clumsy Labrador, Luke, to the main office building where Sindler works. After Luke died, Sindler adopted Cameron and brought him to campus, too, where the dog Maggie described as really cute" became a school favorite.

“They don’t care if you are good at basketball or a great reader, or popular," Sindler said. “They just want to be loved — equal opportunity," he added. "Cameron and the other dogs on campus—are always fastened with a rope and with their owner一go a long way toward improving students' social and emotional well-being," he said. They reduce tension and ease anxiety, and inspire happy feelings from students.

“They bring out some important emotions/' he said, “and are especially helpful to children and adults who struggle in social communication, Children often came from challenging backgrounds: many lived in poverty, or had to travel through dangerous neighborhoods to get to school, or shared a too-crowded home. When these emotionally needy children met the dogs, they relaxed and were more prepared to learn.

Just as important, dogs on school grounds set a positive, welcoming tone. They help preserve the school climate that is accepting, supportive and curious・"Dogs are one way to hold on to Sindler said, adding that "schools should be fun and exciting, and dogs can be a big part of that."

For Sindler, including Cameron was all part of an effort to create a safe environment where learning could flourish.

1. What makes the dog Cameron really special?

A．His rare species	B．His particular birthmark.
C．His attractive appearance.	D．His friendly nature.

2. How do dogs on campus improve students' social and emotional well-being?

A．By playing fetch together fondly.

B．By offering them comfort equally.

C．By playing basketball together freely.

D．By walking a long way together happily.

3. What does the underlined word"that" in paragraph 5 refer to?

A．A positive tom.	B．The school ground.
C．A welcoming attitude.	D．The school atmosphere.

4. What’s the purpose of the passage?

A．To encourage schools to bring in more dogs.

B．To explain why dogs help students with learning.

C．To introduce a way to help students grow healthily,

D．To explore the possibility to challenge no-dog rules.

4 . China has completed its home-grown BeiDou Navigation (导航) Satellite System (BDS) with the successful launch of two more BDS-3 satellites, 19 in all, and has started providing services to countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) since the end of 2018. The BDS, which will compete against the US’ Global Positioning System (GPS), will provide high-precision, reliable positioning, navigation and timing services anywhere in the world by the end of 2020.

The Belt and Road Initiative is an ambitious effort to improve regional cooperation and connectivity in a trans-continental range. The initiative aims to strengthen infrastructure (基础设施), trade, and investment links between China and some 65 other countries. It is also expected to increase Beijing’s influence in these countries.

“This is a key step for the BDS developing from a Chinese home system to a regional and then a global navigation system,” said Yang Changfeng, chief designer of the BeiDou system. China plans to launch another 11 BDS-3 satellites between the end of 2018 and 2020. China developed the BDS through a unique technological approach, contributing Chinese wisdom to the theory and construction of international satellite navigation systems.

Altogether 18 BDS satellites have been sent into space in 2018, making this year the most intensive launch of the BDS satellites. They improved their work efficiency by reforming the management process. The number of satellite staff at the launch center has been reduced by nearly half, and the testing time before launch has been shortened by nearly a third. In the CAST production base in Beijing, several BDS satellites are being manufactured at the same time. They try to improve intelligent manufacturing capability, and cut down production times. Construction of the BDS-3 system has accelerated.

Once the BDS is fully completed, it will be the fourth global satellite navigation system after the US GPS system, Russia’s GLONASS and the European Union’s Galileo. India too, is building its navigational system called the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), with an operational name of NAVIC.

1. When can the BDS offer global services?

A．In 2018.

B．In 2019.

C．In 2020.

D．In 2025.

2. What can the BDS do now?

A．Take the place of the GPS of the USA.

B．Watch anyone anywhere in the world.

C．Control the Belt and Road countries.

D．Serve the Belt and Road Initiative.

3. What does paragraph 4 mainly talk about?

A．The unique characters of the BDS.

B．The Chinese technology of the BDS.

C．The efforts of the staff of the BDS.

D．The difficulties the BDS has to deal with.

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

A．China’s BDS is approaching its goal step by step

B．China’s BDS has become the fourth global satellite navigation system

C．China’s BDS helps BRI increase Beijing’s international influence

D．The unique technological approach makes China’s BDS outstanding

5 . 根据所给的汉语或提示词写出其正确形式。
1. Contrary to popular ________ (观点), there is no evidence that your looks make much difference to your life.
2. No official ________ (permit) has been given for the event to take place.
3. This population shit is bringing problems as well as________ (利益).
4. Fruit juices can be ________ (harm) to children’s teeth.
5. There were men, women and small children, some dressed in ________ (rag).
6. In the spring the place is ________ (拥挤的) with skiers.
7. There will be live________ (entertain) at the party.
8. Her mother lived in a________ (附近的) town.
9. The town walls were built as a ________ (defend) against enemy attacks.
10. We will do everything ________ (维持）peace.

6 . 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。

Over the past 50 years, scientists     1     (wonder) how the universe began. Lots of     2     (theory) have been put forward, of which the Big Bang theory is the most     3     (wide) accepted.     4     (compare) with other ideas, the Big Bang theory was very difficult to understand. When the theory made its first     5     (appear) in Physics Review, both the scientists     6     the public felt puzzled.

According to the theory, the universe began with a “Big Bang” which threw matter in all directions. Several billion years after the “Big Bang,” dusts began to settle into what     7     (call) the earth. Then water began to appear on     8     (it) surface, making it possible for life to develop.

The Big Bang theory is just one of the efforts to explain     9     happened at the very beginning of the universe. But it has left too many questions unanswered. For example, many scientists believe that there exists dark matter in the universe, but how to prove it is still     10     question.

7 . While it is impossible to live completely free of stress, it is possible to prevent stress as well as reduce its effect when it can’t be avoided.     1    

● Do some exercise.

    2     Running, walking, playing tennis, and working in your garden are just some of the activities you might try.

●     3    

You should make every effort to eat well and get enough rest. If you easily get angry and can’t sleep well enough, or if you’re not eating properly, it will be more likely that you will fall into stressful situations. If stress repeatedly keeps you from sleeping, you should consult a doctor.

● Spare time for yourself.

Schedule time for both work and entertainment. Don’t forget, play can be just as important to your happiness as work. You need a break from your daily routine to just relax and have fun. Go window-shopping or work on a hobby.     4    

● Make a list of things to do.

Stress can result from disorganization and a feeling that “there’s so much to do, and not enough time”.     5     Instead, make a list of everything you have to do, then do one thing at a time, checking off each task as it is completed. Set out to do the most important task first.

A．Look after yourself well.

B．Sleep as much as you can.

C．Here are some useful ways to deal with stress.

D．Give yourself some time to do what you want to do.

E．You can do many important things in your spare time.

F．Focusing on many things at a time may make you achieve nothing.

G．Try some exercise or physical activities when you often feel stressed.

8 . America is full of entertainment and is rich in amusement parks. The following are some of the best amusement parks that you can take a trip to, especially if you’re a tourist or on a vacation to America.

Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Orlando (Florida)

If you are looking for amusements and trying to run away from the stress of your life, this theme park is just the thing that would make your weekend exciting! Yes, your weekend would be perfect for visiting this amusement park as the rich activities in the park are sure to wear you out and you’ll need the next day to sleep it off before returning to work. This amusement park consists of five theme lands—Seuss Landing, Jurassic Park, The Lost Continent, Toon Lagoon and Marvel Super Hero Island.

Walt Disney World, Orlando (Florida)

This is the best choice for those searching for excitement and danger. Besides a large number of recreational activities, Disney World offers a lot of beautiful sights and scenery. A total of four different Disney theme parks, several water parks, shopping areas, concert venues, restaurants and food joints make this amusement park more of an amazement park! This theme park is definitely worth a visit in a lifetime!

Cedar Point, Sandusky (Ohio)

This park covers an area of 364 acres. The roller coasters, 75 other rides, 10 daily shows and a water park are something you must be carefully considering trying. As one of the best amusement parks in America, Cedar Point is an exciting experience for those who are looking for excitement as well as for those who need a quiet break from life’s stress. No doubt this is one of the best theme parks in America.

1. Which of the following is made up of five theme lands?

A．Universal’s Islands of Adventure.	B．Walt Disney World.
C．Jurassic Park.	D．Cedar Point.

2. What can people do at Cedar Point?

A．Go shopping.	B．Watch daily shows.
C．Eat all kinds of food.	D．Enjoy beautiful scenery.

3. Why did the author write the text?

A．To explain why these parks are famous now.

B．To tell people how to have fun when visiting these parks.

C．To encourage people to go to these parks to enjoy themselves.

D．To let people know more about the history of these parks.

9 . For the past two years I have been travelling and living abroad. Home has become more of a feeling than a place. I feel at home when I am with my family in London, but I also feel at home in Italy with friends I love. Home is no longer a picture of a house with a front door and some windows. It is more complicated than that.

This is one of the reasons that celebrating the new year has become very important for me. I do not care about "New Year’s resolutions(愿望)” - living abroad has made me constantly reconsider what kind of person I want to be and how I will live my life, so I don't feel the need to plan for change: I live for change.

New Year’s Eve has become my time to reconnect with the friends that makes me feel at home. Every year we try to reunite wherever we are and remember the time when we knew each other so well that we felt like a family. It is a moment to reconnect and get to know each other again. Last year, we travelled to a cottage in Ireland where we had no internet and no neighbours. In the middle of the countryside, away from our big and constantly changing lives, we were able to become like a little family again.

This year, we went to Barcelona. It was a very big change. We were surrounded by culture and life and joy. There were bars and parties. It was different, but one thing stayed very much the same-I felt at home again and we felt like a family again.

A lot of people feel that New Year’s Eve cannot live up to expectations. Ideas such as the "New Year's kiss" and "resolutions" create a lot of pressure for people to have a night to remember, a night that will change their lives and perhaps make the next year one worth living. I think those people are missing the point. If Christmas is about family, why can't New Year be about friends?

1. What does the underlined word "It" in Paragraph I probably mean?

A．Family.	B．Living abroad.
C．Home.	D．Staying with friends.

2. Why doesn't the author care about "New Year's resolutions"?

A．New Year’s resolutions cannot be reached.

B．His lifestyle makes him always ready for change.

C．It's meaningless to make any big changes in life.

D．Making New Year's resolutions creates much pressure.

3. What does the author try to convey through his experiences in Ireland and Barcelona?

A．Life is peaceful and enjoyable.

B．Living abroad is a happy experience.

C．Staying with friends makes one feel at home.

D．Travelling abroad enriches one's life experience.

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

A．New Year's Celebration:How?	B．True Friendship: What?
C．Living Abroad: Comfortable or Complicated?	D．Change:Plan it or Make it?

10 . We all know that water is tasteless. But it happens from time to time: you pick up the bottle of water you didn’t finish yesterday, and it tastes strange. Most often, you tend to drop the bottle in the trash bin, believing that the water has gone bad. But is it true?

According to Time, of course not, taste has little to do with quality of water.

According to Time, when water is exposed to the air for 12 hours, carbon dioxide interacts with the H2O in the water, and the pH value lowers slightly. As a result, the water has a different taste.

“But it’s most likely safe to drink,” Norwegian expert Truls Krogh told Science Nordic. “If the water is covered and of good quality to start with, in principle it can last a thousand years. That’s because when water is fresh, it contains little organic matter. As long as water is held in clean glasses or bottles, no pollutants will enter it to harm our health.”

People in countries like the US, the UK and Australia usually drink tap water. According to Time, if tap water is drunk within six months, the chlorine (氯气) in the water will be enough to kill any bacteria and keep it safe to drink.

However, there are also some exceptions. If you accidentally put your fingers into water or store water in unclean containers day after day, microorganism (微生物) will enter the water.

With the help of surrounding temperature, and sunlight streaming through windows, these microorganisms multiply quickly. Sooner or later, the water will be in the charge of the unfriendly bacteria. And if you drink the water too often, then you’re more likely to be ill.

And what about water in plastic bottles? Heat and plastic are a bad combination, US researcher Kellogg Schwab stresses. When plastic bottles are used at high temperatures, they produce a chemical called BPA. BPA is something that affects hormones (荷尔蒙) and research has tentatively linked it to “several health damage, including heart disease and cancer”, Time reported.

Schwab suggests replacing disposable (一次性的) plastic bottles with the refillable containers made of metal or glass to deal with BPA.

1. The purpose of the first paragraph is to ________________.

A．show an example	B．draw a conclusion
C．analyze a phenomenon	D．introduce a topic

2. Which of the following may Truls Krogh agree?

A．If the water tastes different, we shouldn’t drink it.

B．The water held in a clean container is likely safe to drink.

C．Although kept fresh, water may still have much organic matter.

D．Covered water can last for a thousand years.

3. What can we infer from the passage?

A．BPA does little harm to our health.

B．Tap water is always safe to drink.

C．Microorganisms are easy to produce in the heat.

D．Disposable plastic bottles have been banned already.

4. What can be the best title of the passage?

A．Why Water is Tasteless	B．How to Get Clean Water
C．Does Water Really Go Bad?	D．Learn to Protect Water