1 . Dogs are our friends. Taking your dog to work with you can be great for ______. That was what Steyaert, who sells women’s clothing in an outdoor market learned after ______ her dog Nelson there. At first, she did so just to prevent him from being ______ during the day. She put a blanket in front of her stand so that Nelson could sit there ______and take in everything around him.

Soon Steyaert realized that Nelson’s presence would ______ shoppers walking by. “He lifts his paw to greet people,” Steyaert said. “He knows how to steal their ______. And people’s behaviour made me ______. I never thought passers-by would pet a stranger’s dog so often.”

The ______ Nelson gets from strangers passing by varies from simply turning their heads to showing great love. Many people have ______ him over the years. Steyaert, in turn, has gained more ______ within her community. “It happens often that people ______ me through Nelson,” Steyaert said.

Besides interesting many shoppers, Nelson has also ______ some people. For example, one day a girl passing by asked Steyaert if she could pet Nelson. She told Steyaert that her dog had just passed away and that it was ______ to see and pet Nelson. That encouraged Steyaert to ______ her influential act of taking Nelson to her workplace.

While Nelson’s presence in the market contributes to Steyaert’s sales, it’s their ______ that benefits much more from it. “He’s my best friend and always at my side,” Steyaert said.

1.

A．health

B．business

C．education

D．exercise

2.

A．training

B．losing

C．bringing

D．buying

3.

A．alone

B．dirty

C．lazy

D．impolite

4.

A．quietly

B．comfortably

C．curiously

D．freely

5.

A．terrify

B．attract

C．rescue

D．annoy

6.

A．hearts

B．customers

C．seats

D．dreams

7.

A．anxious

B．disappointed

C．hopeless

D．surprised

8.

A．skill

B．encouragement

C．attention

D．knowledge

9.

A．befriended

B．chosen

C．forgotten

D．raised

10.

A．income

B．power

C．trust

D．fame

11.

A．guide

B．recognize

C．contact

D．praise

12.

A．healed

B．followed

C．partnered

D．admired

13.

A．interesting

B．difficult

C．heartwarming

D．discouraging

14.

A．change

B．continue

C．reconsider

D．record

15.

A．influence

B．impression

C．competition

D．relationship

2 . Chemists have spent the past century trying to make plastics break down in seawater. Most plastics take centuries to fully break down in the ocean.     1     However, this may change. Scientists have designed a new kind of plastic that can break down in seawater within weeks, not decades or more.

    2     It is known as polylactide (聚乳酸) or PLA. It’s made by linking many building blocks into a long string. Scientists had hoped PLA would quickly break down in the environment. And in some places it does, but not in seawater. After three years in the ocean, LA remains largely unchanged.

Timo Rhein Berger is a PhD student at the University of Twente in the Netherlands.     3       For part of that work, he became part of a team that just added some biology-inspired breaking points to PLA. They put those breaking points to places where monomers (单体) in the PLA molecules are linked. Then, they soaked (浸泡) their samples in artificial seawater. In this way, they measured how fast the PLA broke down. As the team had hoped, seawater attacked the weakened links between monomers. That could tear the PLA chain apart.     4    

When the researchers weakened 15% of PLA’s monomer links, the PLA broke down entirely within just two weeks. When they weakened only 3% of the links, the breakdown took about two years.     5     This can be achieved by adjusting how many weakened links it has.

A．Plastics are useful.

B．Scientists created the now-popular plastic in the1930s.

C．So researchers have much confidence in their efforts.

D．That’s why plastics make up 80% of ocean trash.

E．His work has focused on speeding PLA’s breakdown.

F．This means the team can design how quickly PLA breaks down in seawater.

G．The more breaking points researchers added, the faster the PLA broke down.

3 . Off southern California seashores, the newcomers are starting to approach and they desire the nice and comfortable waters nearer to shore, which mean many beachgoers who at the moment are enjoying themselves have by no means seen the white sharks earlier. “When the little guys begin to pop up, everybody hurries to determine what is happening,” stated Douglas J. MeCauley, a marine science professor.

A brand-new mission applying artificial intelligence (AI) referred to as SharkEye might help maintain observations of those fearsome fish at the beach and help our community share the ocean more safely with sharks. It was developed by Dr. MeCauley’s lab, using a small drone (无人机)—an unoccupied air vehicle equipped with a video camera. It once worked well in San Diego State College where scientists used it to study shark migrations.

SharkEye has been carrying out examinations over the past two summers at Padaro Beach in Santa Barbara County. It is a well-liked space for surf camps, which additionally turns out to be a nursery for young white sharks, featuring comfortable waters and adequate diet. Young sharks are usually sighted between April and October; however, hotspot locations and numbers can vary year by year. Adult sharks tend to spend more time offshore, but they can be sighed closer to the coast in the late fall through to February.

With SharkEye, a pilot launches a drone that travels along a preprogrammed path in the sky. It stays about 120 feet high, permitting it to rapidly scan a big space of the ocean. Meanwhile, it can be sufficient to keep away from bothering marine life. Researchers in the SharkEye program combine the visual data collected by the drone with relevant information on the temperature of the ocean and migratory patterns in order to create predictions about the likelihood of great whites showing up on a certain day, near a certain section of the beach.

Chris Keet, an area surf retailer, who provides summer season camps and personal classes at Padaro Beach, is now changing his enterprise(企业经营) based mostly on the SharkEye information. After SharkEye recorded 9 sightings of sharks in July, Mr. Keet determined to cancel a two-decade-old summer season custom—campers dive and swim out.

1. What does the underlined word “newcomers” in Paragraph 1 refer to?

A．Drones.

B．Swimmers.

C．Sharks.

D．Professors.

2. What is the new task for SharkEye?

A．Observing shark migrations.	B．Guaranteeing beachgoers’ safety.
C．Preserving endangered marine life.	D．Exploring potential ocean resources.

3. What can be learned about Padaro Beach?

A．It features an abundant supply of energy.	B．It can almost be called a shelter for sharks.
C．It is a surf camp known for its friendly sharks.	D．It offers evidence of harmony between humans and sharks

4. What is probably the best title for the text?

A．Drones monitor sharks’ arrival.	B．The pros and cons of SharkEye.
C．Businessmen turn technology into profits.	D．The application of AI technology to marine life.

4 . The wonderful multiple-award winning producer, writer, and director Norman Lear, who is 100, was recently interviewed by a TV host, who asked him what advice he would give to younger people as a successful man. Without missing a beat, Lear said, “Learn to let things that bother you go.”

Those few words are some of the most powerful in the world. I know that if people could just learn to do it, murder and divorce rates would fall dramatically, and I would be out of a job.

Learning to let go of what bothers you is a dream for many people, each of us has our own personal demons (魔鬼) to fight. The big question is: how do you let go of them? There is no one solution that works for everyone, because we’re all different. Psychotherapy(心理疗法) may help some people who hold on to negative thoughts, while others don’t respond to such treatments.

Even after you’ve worked on this, you may have to deal with the after-effects of a traumatic experience. It’s hard to forget, for example, that someone held a gun to your head or broke your heart. Truly letting go means not forgetting what happened but rather leading to live with it, because no one can completely forget their past and it’s no use avoiding the unfortunate past. But each day is a chance to start anew.

Elvira, an actress, was disturbed by PTSD, a mental disorder. Medication didn’t help. She got counseling from some good people and did her own work, but she would still wake up in a state of anxiety every morning. When we started working together, I asked her to imagine, as often as she could, that the discomfort she was feeling was the negativity leaving her body. Whenever a negative thought entered her mind, she would repeat this visualization exercise and would soon begin to feel okay again.

Learning to let go of things that bother you frees you from the feeling that you don’t deserve good things coming your way. It takes effort, but it’s worthwhile.

1. What advice did Norman Lear share with younger people?

A．Being professional in multiple fields.	B．Being enthusiastic about one’s career.
C．Having an optimistic attitude to bad things.	D．Showing great love and caring for the young.

2. What message is conveyed in Paragraph 3?

A．Annoying dreams share certain similarities.	B．Strategies for letting go vary between individuals.
C．It’s necessary for us to let go of negative thoughts.	D．It’s normal for us to receive psychological treatments.

3. What may the author encourage those bothered by traumatic experiences to do?

A．Move forward with bad memories.	B．Avoid things related to past traumas
C．Try hard to forget unpleasant experiences.	D．Mark the boundary between the present and the past.

4. What does the author mainly want to show by the example of Elvira?

A．An effective technique for battling against anxiety.

B．The way how mental disorders affect people’s life.

C．The process of treating mental disorders is painful.

D．Actresses are more likely to suffer mental disorders.

5 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。续写词数应为150词左右。

Years ago, I bought a printer from a local store. Though I had read the instruction book carefully, I still didn’t know how to use it. So one afternoon, I went to the store to see if I could get any help. Luckily, Carlos, the kind young man who had sold me the device before, stood behind the counter, serving a gentleman. Carlos was quick and efficient, so I knew the wait wouldn’t be long.

Seconds later, an elderly lady lifted her walker onto the sidewalk out front. Without saying anything, Carlos jumped over the counter, rushed across the store, opened the door, and helped her come inside. The lady sat next to me as Carlos continued to serve his first customer. I learned from their conversation that the poor guy had missed a lot of work because his wife had been hospitalized for cancer. Knowing that, Carlos got him a 45-day extension(延长期)on his payment. The man thanked Carlos tearfully and walked out of the store.

After learning about my trouble, Carlos carefully explained to me how to use the printer. He even told me that I could call him anytime and that he would come to my house to help in case 1 still couldn’t fix the problem. I was deeply moved.

When Carlos finished serving me, he started to talk to the lady with the walker. Surprisingly, she was there to bring Carlos some cookies to thank him for being so nice to her the previous day. I was in the store for only ten minutes, but in that small amount of time, I’d seen so much humility(谦逊)and consideration. That night at work, I kept thinking about Carlos--how he called each customer by name, and how he made everyone feel like his family. Carlos was a salesman, but he wasn’t caring about money as much as making us feel valued. I just couldn’t get over his kindness.

Paragraph 1:
The next day, I sat in front of my computer and sent an email to Carlos’s boss.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2:
However, when I entered the store again months later, Carlos didn’t work there anymore.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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。

Ancient Greek athletes and modern athletes differ greatly in their dressing.

In ancient Greece, competing without clothes     1    (be) once fashionable. Legend has it that     2     Olympic athlete named Orsippus was running     3     his loincloth (缠腰布) slipped off. Rather than stopping     4    (hide) his shame, Orsippus held on straight to the end and won the race. That spirit made Orsippus’ actions in the race a model to be followed.

However, when it comes to the modern Olympics, clothing not only serve as a sign of a truly civilized society, but also plays an essential part     5     athletes’ performance. It can hold the muscles in place and allow the power of muscles to be     6    (exact) directed to the task at hand. Very smooth clothing can also reduce the     7    (resist) that the body suffers when moving through air or water. One of the convincing     8    (example) comes from swimming.

In fact, the sport very nearly becomes a competition in engineering rather than just in the     9    (athlete) abilities of the human body. When swimmers competing at the 2008 Beijing Olympics broke 25 world records, there were 23 of them by athletes wearing a specialized full-bodysuit     10    (call) the LZR Racer.

7 . If you’re considering volunteering in South Africa with beautiful nature and wild animals, you’re probably wondering: What does an average working day look like? What are the costs of the program?     1     Here, we will answer a few related questions.

    2    

The organizations that you will volunteer for usually have resources for assistance in place. In addition, most countries have an embassy or consulate (领事馆) in Cape Town , Pretoria, or Johannesburg where you can find support in case of problems.

Benefits of volunteering experiences to individuals

    3     You will learn a lot from the organizers, the local community, and those you work with You’ll be able to gain insights into the culture, daily lives, and the history of South Africa. You’ll be able to improve communication and other skills while meeting new people and making new friends. Plus, volunteering work can look great on your CV.

Best places to volunteer in South Africa

Cape Town is one of the most popular places to volunteer in South Africa. Being in an urban environment as well as being near nature provides different volunteer opportunities related to marine conservation (保护), education, and animal care. Durban and Johannesburg are also good options for volunteer work.     4    

Costs of volunteering in South Africa

Most volunteer programs require fees for training, housing, and meals.     5     You should also consider flights to and from your home country, which are not included in the program fees. Some volunteer programs may provide financial aid, and you can apply for volunteer scholarships.

A．Volunteer support in South Africa

B．Places to hang out in your spare time

C．Will I be working together with other volunteers?

D．Do you have a better understanding of the local places?

E．Volunteering in South Africa will be an unforgettable experience.

F．It takes a volunteer $700-$800 per week to take part in a volunteer program there.

G．If you want to work on environmental conservation, Kruger National Park can be a great choice.

8 . In patients with metabolic(新陈代谢的) diseases, elevated(升高的) fat levels in the blood create stress in muscle cells-a reaction to changes outside the cells that could damage their structure and function. Researchers have discovered that these stressed-out cells could give off a kind of signal.

The signals, known as ceramides(神经酰胺), may have a protective benefit in the short term because they are part of a mechanism(机制) designed to reduce stress in the cells. But in metabolic diseases, which are long-term conditions, the signals can kill the cells, make symptoms severer, and worsen the illness.

Increased fat in the blood has long been known to damage tissues and organs, contributing to the development of cardiovascular(心血管的) and metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes(糖尿病). The condition can be caused by obesity(肥胖), rates of which have increased greatly worldwide since 1975. In 2016, there were more than 650 million adults aged 18 and above with obesity.

Rescarch supervisor Lee Roberts said, “Our discovery may form the basis of new approaches to preventing the development of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, such as diabetes in overweight people with elevated blood fat.”

In the lab, the team copied the blood fat levels observed in humans with metabolic diseases by exposing certain muscle cells to a fatty acid. The cells began to pass on the ceramide signal. When these cells were mixed with others that had not been previously exposed to fat, the researchers found that they communicated with each other, transporting the signal in packages called extracellular vesicles. The experiment was reproduced in human volunteers with metabolic diseases and got comparable results.

Professor Roberts said, “The research gives us a novel perspective on how stress develops in the cells of individuals with obesity, and provides new ways to consider when we’re trying to develop new treatments for metabolic diseases. With obesity becoming an increasingly widespread disease, the burden of associated chronic(慢性的) diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, necessitates new treatments. We hope the results of our research open a new avenue for research to help address this growing concern.”

1. What is special about ceramides?

A．They are released by healthy cells.

B．They are harmful to cells in the long term.

C．They are designed to reduce the fat levels in the blood.

D．They are beneficial to the treatment of metabolic diseases.

2. What does the author want to show in Paragraph 3?

A．The difficulty of dealing with obesity.

B．The consequence of chronic diseases.

C．The general health condition of young people.

D．The increasing rates of obesity around the world.

3. What can we know about the experiment done on human volunteers?

A．It aimed to find the cause of metabolic diseases.

B．It identified a new cell in volunteers with obesity.

C．It proved stressed-out cells could affect healthy cells.

D．It indicated cells’ communication patterns for the first time.

4. What’s the text mainly about?

A．How cells respond to the stress from high blood fat.

B．How our body distinguishes stressed-out cells from others.

C．How muscle cells communicate with each other effectively.

D．How our body starts the self-protection system to repair cells.

9 . George Headley would have been a dentist in the USA rather than one of the greatest cricketers (板球运动员) if he had got his papers from Panama on time. The Indian legend was born in Colón, Panama and a period of unemployment in Jamaica caused him to begin the process of seeking a career elsewhere.

The delay, however, gave Headley time to make his first-class debut (首次亮相) for Jamaica against the visiting Lord Tennyson’s XI from England. These were his scores in the three first-class games in the series: 16, 40, and 71. The rest, as they say, is history. Yet, consider what might have occurred if his documents had arrived on time and he had migrated to America. There would have been a missing chapter in cricket.

Headley’s ta le brings to the fore the role that happenstance (偶然情况) plays in life. In the song A Different Comer, George Michael lamented (哀叹) that a romantic union went wrong and suggested that it might have been better if circumstances had worked to prevent their first meeting: “Take me back in time; maybe I can forget. Turn a different corner and we never would have met.”

Our lives are the result of much planning and deliberate action. But they are the result of chance as well. “The harder I practice, the luckier I get” is a quote normally used by sportsmen to discount the occurrence or consequence of luck. Athletes like to think that whatever success they’ve had is only down to them. To admit otherwise is to devalue the skills and efforts.

The changes in luck are a large part of why we watch sports. It fosters uncertainty, which, in turn. enhances interest in the process and the result. On any given day, the underdog can be at the champion. Whenever that occurs, luck is likely to have played some significant part, and sport is better for it.

1. What decision did George Headley make before getting his papers?

A．To complete his official documents in Panama.	B．To sharpen his cricket skills in Jamaica.
C．To get a degree in medicine in the USA.	D．To work as a dentist in the USA.

2. What can we say about the delay of Headley’s papers?

A．It affected his debut performance.	B．It became a turning point in his life.
C．It benefited the England cricket team.	D．It led to a missing chapter in cricket.

3. Why did the author mention the song A Different Corner?

A．To stress the importance of chance.

B．To explain the necessity of planning ahead.

C．To show the significance of the first impressions.

D．To illustrate a love-hate relationship with friends.

4. What does George Headley’s career story mainly tell us?

A．Practice makes perfect.	B．Little people can make a big difference.
C．Efforts and chances are equally important.	D．Nothing is impossible to a willing heart.

10 . 请发挥想象，憧憬未来，写一篇短文，描述五年后的你的学习、工作或生活。词数100左右。
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