1 . A man in Laruns, southwestern France, whistling as a form of speech. Like others in the Canary Islands and elsewhere, local people have learned to whistle their language to communicate across long distances. Linguists are studying whistled speech to help understand which sound elements are essential to comprehension.
Whistled speech has arisen in at least 80 languages around the world, especially in rugged, mountainous terrain or dense forest, where ordinary speech doesn't carry far enough.
Whistled speech can be understood up to 10 times as far away as ordinary shouting can, Meyer and others have found. That lets people communicate even when they cannot easily approach close enough to shout. On La Gomera, for example, a few traditional shepherds still whistle to one another across mountain valleys that could take hours to cross.
Whistled languages work because many of the key elements of speech can be mimicked in a whistle, says Meyer.
Learning to whistle a language you already speak is relatively straightforward. Diaz Reyes's Spanish-language whistling students spend the first two or three months of the course learning to make a loud whistle with different pitch. "In the fourth or fifth month, they can make some words," he says. "After eight months, they can speak it properly and understand every message."
In essence, people listening to whistled speech are piecing together its meaning from fragments of the full speech signal. Linguists know surprisingly few details about how the brain does this.
Despite their interest to both linguists and casual observers, whistled languages are disappearing rapidly all over the world, and some have already vanished. Modernization is largely to blame, says Meyer, who points to roads as the biggest factor. “That’s why you still find whistled speech only in places that are very, very remote, that have had less contact with modernity, less access to roads,” he says.
1. Why are the linguists studying whistled speech?| A．To think of it as a special language. |
| B．To have a knowledge of how to use it. |
| C．To know how people understand it well. |
| D．To know the sound elements. |
| A．By giving examples. | B．By making comparison. |
| C．By analyzing facts. | D．By introducing a topic. |
| A．It’s a developed language. | B．It’s a widely-used language. |
| C．Linguists are still studying it. | D．Linguists find it easy to learn. |
| A．Existed. | B．Arisen. |
| C．Disappeared. | D．Improved. |
2 . With three million residents, the Ajegunle district in Lagos, Nigeria is one of the country’s most densely populated slums (贫民窟). Its residents struggle to obtain clean water and sanitation (卫生设备), resulting in rubbish that litters the streets. Access to education is also an issue for many families, and they are unable to afford the fees to send their children to school. But with the help of a new grassroots project, these problems are being settled all at once. Known as the Recycle Pay project, plastic waste acts as money to allow parents to pay a portion of their kid's school fees.
The organizations, African Clean Up Initiative and WeCyclers, created the Recycle Pay project and partnered with the Morit International School in Ajegunle to make it happen. They’ve made it easy for parents to take advantage of this project. They simply need to bring a bag of plastic waste to a fixed spot and have it weighed. The weight is then translated into a value of money and deducted (扣除) from the fees owed to the school. It’s a positive outcome for everyone—the environment is a little bit cleaner and there’s less financial hardship on the family.
Parents are thrilled with the arrangement as it ensures that their children can continue their education. “I struggle to pay for school fees, sometimes I pay half the price and later pay the remaining balance,” explains parent Sherifat Okunowo to the BBC. “But with the introduction of this project, the plastic has made it easy for me to pay school fees.”
The school’s principal says, “It has really reduced the burden on parents. We now collect fees faster—the school wins, the children win, the parents win, everybody wins.”
1. The living situation in this area is bad except ________ .| A．it is hard to walk safely at night | B．it is hard to get a healthy environment |
| C．it is difficult to have clean water | D．it is difficult to have complete education |
| A．Sell the plastic rubbish to get money. |
| B．Take a bag of plastic rubbish to a fixed place. |
| C．Pay all the school fees by selling plastic waste. |
| D．Ask their children to take a bag of waste to school. |
| A．The locals can get clean water. | B．The environment can become tidy. |
| C．People can earn some extra money. | D．The school can get enough plastic. |
| A．The project is worth supporting. |
| B．The students can hand in their fees on time. |
| C．The school needs money to go on running. |
| D．The school will win more matches in the future. |
3 . Jacob Kohut finally had a break during his 12-hour shift standing guard outside the U.S. Capitol. He could have spent his break napping or joking with fellow National Guardsmen. Instead, he sat in the back of a Humvee, flute(长笛) in hand, teaching students via his laptop how to play Beethoven’s Ode to Joy.
Kohut has been in the military for 11 years as part of the 257th Army Band, playing several musical instruments. He also has been a band teacher for more than a decade, and for the past five years, he’s taught music at Canterbury Woods Elementary School in the morning and Frost Middle School in the afternoon.
When he was called up for duty, “my first thought was, what about my kids?” says Kohut. “The last thing these students need is a disturbance in their teaching. I would rather teach the class, even if that means I ’m tired.” When on duty, Kohut’s days began in the morning with teaching his elementary class remotely, finishing the lesson mere minutes before his Guard shift started at 10. Am. Later in the day, during his break, he would go online to teach his middle school students.
Diane Leipzig, the principal of Canterbury Woods Elementary, assured Kohut she would find an alternative teacher to cover his classes while he protected the Capitol, but he insisted on continuing to teach. Leipzig wasn't surprised. “He would do anything for his students.” she says, “He is an excellent example. He teaches our kids the importance of practice, and determination.”
As the 11 instruments played by his virtual students synchronized(同步)in a song, the familiar melody of Ode to Joy rang through the Humvee. At that moment, Kohut realized there wasn't a timelier tune to teach his students."It's a symbol of unity and peace," he says. “And that's what the world needs right now.”
1. How did Kohut usually spend his break time?| A．He led his music class through a laptop |
| B．He would have a sound sleep |
| C．He taught students to play instruments on campus. |
| D．He told jokes with his colleagues. |
| A．He teaches anything to students. |
| B．He is replaced by an alternative teacher. |
| C．His duty as a soldier conflicted with his teaching |
| D．He makes a great impact on students |
| A．Caring and demanding. | B．Devoted and passionate |
| C．Cooperative and creative. | D．Ambitious and intelligent |
| A．A soldier for politics education | B．Struggling for Unity and Peace |
| C．A music teacher for the country | D．Fighting for Country and Beethoven |
4 . I went with my husband to Roatan for our vacation, a tropical island off the north coast of Honduras, where tourists can swim with dolphins at Anthony’s Key Resort.
The Roatan dolphins are kept in a roped-off pen(围栏). The cheapest “swim” with the dolphins costs $ 89. Kissing costs extra. The tourists line up and, one after another, get photographed while being “kissed” by a dolphin. The tourist bends down a bit, the trainer lifts an arm, the dolphin comes up and for a few seconds holds its bottlenose to the tourist’s face. The picture is ready for purchase when the tourists exit through the gift shop.
These tourists must love dolphins, but what kind of love is that? At sea these highly intelligent creatures are always on the move, traveling thousands of miles. They are complex social creatures that need a lot of space to live in.
Yet Teri Bolton, the head trainer at Anthony’s Key Resort, defends the pen as a suitable habitat. “We feel this is the closest to keeping things as natural as possible”, she said. “You’re getting a window into how these animals really are.”
The discussion about this tourist behavior can be found on the Internet. Some people try to justify their desire, saying the fence of the pen is low; the dolphins could jump over it if they wanted to, and therefore they’re staying in captivity(圈养)by free will. One contributor to the discussion said, “Dolphins are social creatures. Jumping over the fence would mean leaving the females and their babies. Besides, by now they are used to captivity with three meals a day. Jumping over the fence would be like asking you to jump out of a spaceship alone onto Mars.”
But visiting any institution that keeps dolphins in captivity means supporting the concept of captivity. It’s like wearing a fur coat and then justifying it by saying it’s OK because the animals are already dead.
Remember that you cannot buy love, and if you try to buy dolphin love, you hurt the ones you love. In fact, a dolphin’s kiss has nothing to do with love, just as a dolphin’s smile has nothing to do with happiness. While many claim that dolphin encounters provide healing(治疗）)qualities and help you to feel better, the opposite is true for the supposed healers.
1. How much does a tourist pay for a dolphin’s kiss?| A．More than $ 89. | B．Less than $ 89. |
| C．As much as $ 89. | D．It’s free of charge. |
| A．It’s like a prison. | B．It’s like a spaceship. |
| C．It’s no fun for the dolphins. | D．It’s suitable for the dolphins. |
| A．Dolphin lovers. | B．Unhealthy people. |
| C．Dolphins in the wild. | D．Dolphins in captivity. |
| A．Are Dolphins As Smart As Humans? |
| B．Swimming with Dolphins: Is It Love or Not? |
| C．Dolphins—Creatures with Feelings |
| D．Kissing—A New Way to Communicate with Dolphins |
5 . Accessible Adventures Near Global Airports
Adventure doesn’t have to mean inaccessible destinations. You may try one of these outdoor experiences. They’re all reasonably close to an airport, so your destinations are easy to reach.
Camp by Boat on California’s Anacapa Island
Airport: Los Angeles International Airport
Trips to Anacapa Island can be arranged year-round, and the rocky shores are popular places for camping and bird watching. This is truly remote, though—there are no goods, services, or accommodations on the island, so be prepared to be fully self-sufficient when you take a boat at the Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard, just north of Los Angeles. From Los Angeles International Airport, you can take a bus for the scenic trip to the harbor.
Ski Snowy Slopes（斜坡）Just Outside Tokyo
Airport: Tokyo International Airport or Narita International Airport
It’s easy to find adventure just minutes after arriving in Japan, a country known for its bullet trains and efficient transportation. Make your way from either airport to Tokyo Station, and you’ll be just an hour and a half away from the snow-packed slopes of Gala Yuzawa.
Getting to the popular ski slopes is simple. It’s served by the bullet-train station, and you can buy tickets and rent equipment only a few steps from the stop. Gala Yuzawa can be crowded, but it also has everything you need for a winter adventure.
Ride the Great Southern Rail from Adelaide to Darwin
Airports: Adelaide Airport and Darwin International Airport
See the red soil of Australia on The Ghan, a train line that stretches from Adelaide to Darwin. This interstate passenger train follows the route of ancient camel drivers and provides out-of-this-world views. The train trip takes three or four days without any stops.
Both the initial and final train stations on this route are close to airports—Adelaide Parklands Terminal is just about 5 kilometers from Adelaide Airport and Darwin Railway Station is about 16 kilometers from Darwin International Airport.
1. How can you get to the Channel Islands Harbor from the airport?| A．By bus. | B．By boat. | C．By air. | D．By train. |
| A．Winter. | B．Spring. | C．Summer. | D．Autumn. |
| A．Dozens of kilometers. | B．Thousands of kilometers. |
| C．About five kilometers. | D．About sixteen kilometers. |
1. 最喜欢的汉语书籍；
2. 书中让你印象最深刻的人物；
3. 你的理由。
注意：
1. 写作词数应为100左右；
2. 可适当增加细节，使行文连贯。
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7 . I wrote a book called Standing Up for Standing Out on the topic of being different. It was inspired by John Schwartz, a writer for The New York Times, who once said that being
Growing because of trials can be
This made me
As I mentioned in my new book, our differences do
| A．addicted | B．forced | C．applied | D．exposed |
| A．goes through | B．goes off | C．goes around | D．goes by |
| A．weaker | B．wiser | C．lazier | D．healthier |
| A．resist | B．gain | C．deliver | D．create |
| A．obvious | B．serious | C．slight | D．sensitive |
| A．contributed | B．turned | C．transferred | D．compared |
| A．response | B．respect | C．regard | D．relation |
| A．At | B．By | C．Without | D．On |
| A．shell | B．sand | C．scar | D．salt |
| A．select | B．describe | C．celebrate | D．recall |
| A．teachers | B．parents | C．friends | D．brothers |
| A．completely | B．gradually | C．reasonably | D．regularly |
| A．construction | B．thought | C．consideration | D．trial |
| A．encouraging | B．correcting | C．improving | D．understanding |
| A．depending | B．focusing | C．calling | D．turning |
| A．meaningless | B．surprising | C．influential | D．carefree |
| A．hobbies | B．chances | C．decisions | D．hardships |
| A．remind | B．shape | C．embarrass | D．weaken |
| A．shocking | B．frightening | C．inspiring | D．disappointing |
| A．growth | B．happiness | C．gladness | D．depression |
8 . Scientists may have evidence that our personality plays into our eating habits. People who are open and extroverted (外向的) eat more fruits and vegetables than others, according to new research.
The new report, published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, analyzed the eating habits of more than 1,000 young adults ages 17 to 25. Researchers gave participants a test to measure for the “Big Five” personalities: openness to experience, conscientiousness (尽责性), extroversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism (神经质). Then they asked some participants to keep a food diary for 21 days and others for 13 days, in hopes of encouraging more people to complete the task.
Participants who scored higher than average for openness ate about 4.5 more servings of combined fruits and vegetables per week than those less open ones. They also consumed less unhealthy food, such as potato chips or fries. Extroversion also had a positive effect on fruits and vegetable consumption, though not as strongly as openness did, while conscientiousness was a weak predictor of produce consumption.
Of course, the study only found an association between the characteristic and eating habits, rather than a direct causation. It’s likely that people who are open to new experiences take those same attitudes toward food, study author Tamlin Conner, a professor at the University of Otago, told The Huffington Post. Their personality may make them more eager to try new fruits and vegetables. But it’s also possible that eating healthy foods can cause anyone to feel more like an extrovert: Another of Conner’s studies found that in the short term, eating more fruits and vegetables resulted in more feelings of motivation, which she says are key characteristics of extroversion.
So, you want to eat better? Start eating like an open, extroverted person. “Try to take an attitude of openness, especially toward unusual healthy foods,” Conner said. “Go to the store, and pick something new. Practice behaving like an open person.”
1. What does the new research focus on?| A．Food and health. | B．Personality and health. |
| C．Eating habits and health. | D．Eating habits and personality. |
| A．It asked participants to share their food diaries. |
| B．It was carried out among old people. |
| C．It involved five personalities. |
| D．It lasted for a month. |
| A．Openness to experience. | B．Extroversion. |
| C．Conscientiousness. | D．Agreeableness. |
| A．Consulting an extrovert about foods. |
| B．Making friends with open people. |
| C．Going on a balanced diet. |
| D．Trying new healthy foods. |
9 . Christmas is a lovely time of year if you are lucky enough to be well, to have friends and family around you and to feel in control of your life. However, for many people it is a time that they are afraid of. As the nights draw in during the winter, many older people talk about how much more difficult it is to be on their own.
In a recent interview, Jacqueline Wilson expressed her concerns about children also feeling worried. But I was heartened by her suggestion in another interview that she hopes her books will reassure (使……消除疑虑) children going through a difficult time and make them feel as if they’re not alone.
If reading can, as Jacqueline suggests, provide reassurance and a sense of connection, it has never been more important. Reading could transform one in four adults who experience mental health issues in their lifetime, the 850,000 people in the UK living with dementia (痴呆症) and the one in ten older people who feel lonely.
We always know that a book could be a great Christmas present, but can it also change our lives? Our research at The Reading Agency suggests that it can. We have found evidence to show that reading can benefit our well-being and help us make social connections.
People who read regularly are more satisfied with life and more likely to feel that the things they do are worthwhile; reading for pleasure can also increase sympathy, improve relationships, reduce symptoms of depression and improve well-being.
We are developing a new programme, Reading Friends, which will use reading to connect weak older people. In researching the programme, we found that reading with others can help older people build social networks.
Read a book with your children, parents or grandparents over Christmas; make a new year’s resolution to start a reading group with friends, and introduce reading to your community. You could be giving them the gift they most want this year.
1. What did Jacqueline Wilson worry about?| A．Children feeling lonely. |
| B．Old people being given less care. |
| C．Reading becoming less important than before. |
| D．More and more people suffering from dementia. |
| A．Adults. | B．Children. | C．Friends. | D．Old people. |
| A．To call on people to read together. |
| B．To show the importance of reading. |
| C．To ask people to buy what they want for Christmas. |
| D．To encourage readers to share their feelings with others. |
| A．Reading helps people make friends |
| B．A book is not just for Christmas |
| C．The best Christmas present |
| D．Health benefits of reading |
10 . I was telling a Londoner recently about the North Yorkshire coast. “I really must go one day,” she said, sounding uncertain. “But we’ve already booked for Mexico next year — we’re going whale-watching.”
Sean Baxter, a fisherman, has been encouraging me to search whales out for years. This was another reason why I failed to mention the Yorkshire whale: I had never seen them myself. How could Yorkshire ever compete with famous places such as: Kaikoura, Anacortes and Isle St Marie? Baxter was sure that it could. There was only one way to test it out.
We went in September, accompanied by wildlife guide Richard Baines. No birds escaped his eye. For Baxter, though, the birds had added value. “They will lead us to the whales.”
The waves drew us towards deeper water. I was looking at every shadow in the water, but found nothing. An instant later, a great black minke whale (小须鲸) burst upwards for a breath, and then it went down. The whole sequence (连续动作) lasted only a second.
“That’s a young whale,” shouted Baxter. “He will do that three times — watch out over there.”
We waited and waited, but the creature remained below. My excitement died down gradually and I was sure our moment had gone. Then, half an hour later, the whale came up again. Now, it was racing towards the boat. “He’s going under us,” shouted Baxter. I could see it clearly. I'm sure it was taking a good look at our boat and its crew (船员). Then it went down.
As the hours went by, I became familiar with the ways of different whales. Some swam purposefully, ignoring the boat; others rose higher in the water. The young would rush over, like puppies, keen (热切的) to play. I felt as if I had discovered an intelligent alien from space living at the end of my garden. Now I'm hooked (着迷的); I can't wait to get out there again. Maybe I will get lucky and see more whales.
1. Why did the author go to the North Yorkshire coast?| A．He admired its fame. |
| B．He planned to compete in a local game. |
| C．He was persuaded by a woman Londoner. |
| D．He wanted to see the Yorkshire whale for himself. |
| A．He is a local fisherman. | B．He lives by bird hunting. |
| C．He is familiar with wild animals. | D．He works as a wildlife guide in Mexico. |
| A．It was brief. | B．It was below the boat. |
| C．It could be seen clearly. | D．It attracted some other whales. |
| A．He planned to do research on whales. |
| B．He will go to Yorkshire next year. |
| C．He has keen interest in aliens. |
| D．He fell in love with whales. |
