1 . Finally came Wednesday! I walked onto campus feeling nervous even though I had walked on these same grounds for two years because my junior high school is next door. Everything looked and felt different now that I was in senior high.

I looked at my schedule. First period-German. Our German teacher was very friendly and I liked her from the beginning. What I didn’t like, though, was that I was surrounded by students from other grades, with only five familiar faces.

Then I had to walk all the way across campus and up three flights of stairs to get to my second period-biology. Our biology teacher is Ms Campeau, and I think that she will teach us a lot this year because she is very to the point. She also has her unique way of saying be quiet; she says“alligator”. She explained that she is the king, or should I say queen, of the class because alligators are the “king of the swamps (沼泽)”.

My third class was English. After surviving two periods without too much of a challenge, I began to feel good. However, the third period changed everything. Mr Valassidis, my English teacher, told us that we would have to write 40 essays (文章) and read AP-level books such as The 0dyssey this year. I love reading and writing, but 40ESSA YS?AP-level books? Now I was scared. He also talked about how important it was to be focused. Last year was not a very “focused” year for me. While doing homework, I was often talking on the phone, or busy with a conversation online. I planned on stepping it up this year because I wanted to stay an honours student.

1. What did the author mainly write about in this passage?

A．Her new teachers.

B．Her plan for the new year.

C．Her first day of senior high.

D．Her schedule for Wednesday.

2. What should students do when Ms Campeau says“alligator”?

A．Sit still.	B．Stop talking.
C．Look at the blackboard.	D．Listen carefully.

3. How did the author find her first two classes?

A．Unattractive.	B．Informative.
C．Very tiring.	D．Pretty easy.

4. Why did the author feel scared during the third period?

A．She couldn’t focus on her work.

B．She found the class demanding.

C．She didn’t like the teacher.

D．She did poorly at school.

2 . After years of observing human nature, I have decided that two qualities make a difference between men of great achievement and men of average performance — curiosity and discontent. I have never known an outstanding man who lacked either. And I have never known an average man who had both.

Together, these deep human urges (驱策力) count for much more than ambition. Galileo was not merely ambitious when he dropped objects of varying weights from the Leaning Tower at Pisa and timed their fall to the ground. Like Galileo, all the great names in history were curious and asked in discontent, “Why? Why? Why?”

Fortunately, curiosity and discontent don’t have to be learned. We are born with them and need only to recapture them. “The great man,” said Mencius, “is he who does not lose his child’s heart.” Yet most of us do lose it. We stop asking questions. We stop challenging custom. We just follow the crowd. And the crowd desires only the calm and restful average.

Most of us meet new people, and new ideas, with hesitation. But once having met and liked them, we think how terrible it would have been, had we missed the chance. We will probably have to force ourselves to waken our curiosity and discontent and keep them awake.

How should you start? Modestly, so as not to become discouraged. I think of one friend who couldn’t arrange flowers to satisfy herself. She was curious about how the experts did it.

The way to begin is to answer your own excuses. You haven’t any special ability? Most people don’t; there are only a few geniuses. You haven’t any time? That’s good, because it’s always the people with no time who get things done. Harriet Stowe, mother of six, wrote parts of Uncle Tom’s Cabin while cooking. You’re too old? Remember that Thomas Costain was 57 when he published his first novel, and that Grandma Moses showed her first pictures when she was 78.

However you start, remember there is no better time to start than right now, for you’ll never be more alive than you are at this moment.

1. In writing Paragraph 1, the author aims to ________.

A．present an argument

B．make a comparison

C．reach a conclusion

D．propose a definition

2. What does the example of Galileo tell us?

A．Scientists tend to have varied ambitions.	B．Trial and error leads to the finding of truth.
C．Creativity results from challenging authority.	D．Greatness comes from a lasting desire to explore.

3. What can you do to recapture curiosity and discontent?

A．Observe the unknown around you.	B．Develop a questioning mind.
C．Lead a life of adventure.	D．Follow the fashion.

4. What can we learn from the last two paragraphs?

A．Gaining success helps you become an expert.

B．The genius tends to get things done creatively.

C．Lack of talent and time is no reason for taking no action.

D．You should remain modest when approaching perfection.

3 . 为了弘扬中国传统文化和艺术，学校美术老师Ms. Zhou将举办在线讲座，介绍四幅中国名画和中国画的创作技巧。学校将组织留学生观看，假定你是学生会主席李华，请代表学生会写一封通知。
内容包括：
1.讲座内容；
2.观看理由；
3.时间和观看方式。
注意：
1.写作词数应为80左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

Notice

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

the Students’ Union

4 . 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。

It was announced that China had achieved success in drilling combustible ice(可燃冰), a frozen     1     (mix) of water and natural gas, from the South China Sea.     2     (official) known as methane hydrates (甲烷水合物), combustible ice produces a high amount of energy when burnt and its chemical reaction produces nothing but dioxide and water.

Combustible ice, both clean and energy-intensive,     3     (consider) the fuel of the future. Many countries, including the United States and Japan,     4     (conduct) research on combustible ice recently, but extracting (提取) it from the bottom of the sea has been a common problem     5     (trouble) all of them. But the Chinese team succeeded     6     drilling combustible ice for nearly eight days,     7     was a big breakthrough.

However, it is too early     8     (say) a new energy source has been found. The world’s total combustible ice reserves are estimated to be about 21,000 trillion cubic meters, which, if extracted, could meet the world’s gas demands for 1,000 years.     9     the successful test of drilling combustible ice does not mean it can be extracted for industrial use. China has to solve many problems before it can use combustible ice as a source of energy. It’s thought that only by 2025 at     10     earliest might people be able to see realistic commercial values.

5 . I enjoy feeding birds in my garden. About three years ago, a baby chipmunk (花栗鼠) which I named Chip came to this festive display. Over that summer, I watched it ______. The next summer, the chipmunk was back, and I wondered whether it would ______ me to feed it by hand or let me pet it. Before Chip would approach, I’d ______ its favorite food, bend down and keep very still. I’d leave my open hand______, unmoving, so the animal would know I wouldn’t ______ it. I continued doing this for a few weeks.

Finally, late in that second summer, Chip did show more trust. One day as I offered a seed with my fingertips, it approached and ______ took the seed into its mouth. It never bit my fingers. I was happy that Chip and I had make a(n) ______ of trust.

After about two months of this ______, I went further. With my index finger, I ______ its back once gently. I’m not even sure Chip felt it, but it didn’t ______. I then moved my two fingers slowly and gently over it. ______, Chip stayed calm, eating seeds, before running quickly back into the bush. Today, the chipmunk comes out of hiding when I call its name, and lets me pet its soft, silky body.

A friend once mentioned that after she ______ a dog, she noticed that her high blood pressure had approached ______ without medication, and she became calmer and could handle stress better. I think I, too, feel calmer from my interactions with Chip. I’ve also developed a greater ______ for nature and its creatures and the opportunity to observe, protect and save wildlife. Most of all, I am amazed by the ______ of a tiny chipmunk to meet me halfway in trust.

1.

A．eat

B．grow

C．play

D．jump

2.

A．praise

B．beg

C．inspire

D．trust

3.

A．put off

B．put up

C．put down

D．hang up

4.

A．in public

B．in place

C．in return

D．in turn

5.

A．grab

B．remove

C．bite

D．throw

6.

A．cautiously

B．aggressively

C．comfortably

D．confidently

7.

A．promise

B．breakthrough

C．introduction

D．experience

8.

A．education

B．discovery

C．routine

D．resolution

9.

A．knocked

B．brushed

C．rocked

D．touched

10.

A．run away

B．rush out

C．give away

D．turn up

11.

A．However

B．Again

C．So

D．Therefore

12.

A．walked

B．adopted

C．abandoned

D．lost

13.

A．safety

B．original

C．logic

D．normal

14.

A．sympathy

B．motivation

C．mercy

D．respect

15.

A．capacity

B．contribution

C．memory

D．comfort

6 . Though the spread of good reproduction of works of art can be culturally valuable, museums continue to promote the special status of original work. Unfortunately, this seems to place severe limitations on the kind of experience offered to visitors.

One limitation is the way the museum presents its exhibits. Art museums are called “treasure houses”. We are reminded of this before we view a collection by the presence of security guards who keep us away from the exhibits. In addition, a major collection like that of London’s National Gallery is housed in numerous rooms, where a single piece of work is likely to be worth more than all the average visitor possesses. In a society that judges the personal status of the individual so much by their material worth, it is difficult not to be impressed by one’s own relative “worthlessness” in such an environment.

Furthermore, consideration of the “value” of the original work impresses the viewer that since these works were originally produced, they have been assigned a huge value in terms of money by some person more powerful than themselves. Evidently, nothing the viewer thinks about the work is going to alter that value, and so today’s viewer is discouraged from trying to extend that immediate and self-reliant kind of interpretation which would originally have met the work.

The visitor may then be struck by the strangeness of seeing such a variety of paintings, drawings and sculptures brought together in an environment for which they were not originally created. This “displacement effect” is further heightened by the huge volume of exhibits.

This is particularly distressing because time seems to be a vital factor in the appreciation of all art forms. Operas, novels and poems are read in a prescribed time sequence, whereas a picture has no clear place at which to start viewing, or at which to finish.

Consequently, the dominant critical approach becomes that of the art historian, a specialized academic approach devoted to “discovering the meaning” of art within the cultural context of its time. This is in harmony with the museum’s function, since the approach is dedicated to seeking out and conserving “authentic”, “original” readings of the exhibits.

1. The writer mentions London’s National Gallery to illustrate ______.

A．the undesirable cost to a nation of maintaining a huge collection of art

B．the conflict that may arise in society between financial and artistic values

C．the negative effect a museum can have on visitors’ opinion of themselves

D．the need to put individual well-being above large-scale artistic schemes

2. Today viewers may be unwilling to criticize a work because they ______.

A．lack the knowledge needed

B．fear it may have financial implications

C．have no real concept of the work’s value

D．feel their personal reaction is of no significance

3. Unlike other forms of art, the appreciation of a painting does not ______.

A．involve direct contact with an audience

B．require a specific location for performance

C．need the involvement of other professionals

D．call for a specific beginning or ending

4. Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?

A．Original work: killer of artistic appreciation

B．Original work: reduction to value of art works

C．Original work: substitute for reproduction

D．Original work: art historians’ bread and butter

7 . Travel allows us to experience the world. But as we travel, we are also leaving our footprint on every place we visit. This is why culturally immersive (沉浸) travel is so important. Because the wrong kind of travel negatively affects the world. One of the reasons we started this blog was to help others travel better and feel comfortable getting off the beaten path, interacting with locals, and take you “Beyond the traditional Bucketlist”, if you will.

People who only get 2-weeks off per year are often just looking for an easy destination with a beach to relax on. This isn’t travel. This is a vacation. But “Immersive Travel” or “Cultural Travel” is an entirely new type of trip. It is about experiencing and preserving the various traditions around the world. It’s about being open to new experiences and willing to step into another’s shoes. Cultural travel is jumping in with both feet and leaving your idea about what your trip should be behind you. It’s eating local dishes and sleeping in guesthouses. It’s building genuine connections with locals. It’s learning about the history of a country and leaving your trip with a greater understanding of the place you came to see and the people who live there.

Often times in today’s age, “travelers” will visit a country just to snap some photos of the famous sights to post on Instagram or to drink the night away, or even just to relax on a tropical beach. But that kind of vacation can be harmful to the very communities you’re traveling to.

Beyond supporting the local communities and the preservation of local customs and traditions, you’ll also experience some personal benefits through cultural travels. There’s simply no way to travel this way with a closed mind. You’ll get to know different cultures intimately and understand them a lot better. You’ll also become less judgmental of others the more you travel.

1. What’s the author’s purpose in writing the first paragraph?

A．To stress the negative influence of travel.

B．To describe the importance of cultural travel.

C．To recommend a totally different type of travel.

D．To convey his unique feelings about cultural travel.

2. What does the underlined word snap in paragraph 3 mean?

A．look

B．give

C．take

D．show

3. According to the author, today’s travelers tend to_________.

A．establish close connections with the locals during the travel

B．choose a tourist attraction for adventure and exploration

C．show more interest in the history of a travel destination

D．post the photos taken in the journey on the social media

4. What can be inferred about the culturally immersive travel?

A．It is focused on studying local people’s lifestyle.

B．Its travelers should be open-minded and understanding.

C．It is a specific way to make judgments of other cultures.

D．Its major concern is preserving local traditions and customs.

8 . Ammie Reddick from East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, was only 18 months old when she had the accident that had scared her for life. The curious child reached up to grab the wire of a hot kettle in the family kitchen and poured boiling water over her tiny infant frame.

Her mother Ruby turned round and, seeing Ammie horribly burnt, called an ambulance which rushed her daughter to a nearby hospital. Twenty percent of Ammie’s body had been burned and all of her burns were third-degree. There, using tissue taken from unburned areas of Ammie’s body, doctors performed complex skin transplants to close her wounds and control her injuries, an operation that took about six hours. Over the next 16 years, Ammie underwent 12 more operations to repair her body.

When she started school at Maxwelton Primary at age 4, other pupils made cruel comments or simply wouldn’t play with her. “I was the only burned child in the street, the class and the school,” she recalled, “some children refused to become friends because of that.”

Today, aged 17, Ammie can only ever remember being a burned person with scars; pain is a permanent part of her body. She still has to have two further skin transplants. Yet she is a confident, outgoing teenager who offers inspiration and hope to other young burns victims.

She is a member of the Scottish Burned Children’s Club, a charity set up last year. This month, Ammie will be joining the younger children at the Graffham Water Center in Cambridge shire for the charity’s first summer camp. “I will show them how to get rid of unkind stares from others,” she says. Ammie loves wearing fashionable sleeveless tops, and she plans to show the youngsters at the summer camp that they can too. “I do not go to great lengths to hide my burns scars,” she says, “I gave up wondering how other people would react years ago.”

1. What did other children do when Ammie first went to school?

A．They were friendly to her.

B．They showed sympathy to her.

C．They were afraid of her.

D．They looked down upon her.

2. Ammie will teach the younger children at the Graffham Water Center to _______.

A．face others’ unkindness bravely	B．hide their scars by proper dressing
C．live a normal life	D．recover quickly

3. What can be inferred from Ammie’s attitude towards her pain?

A．She was frightened to mention her scar.

B．Her mother inspired her a lot to become confident.

C．She was willing to face her pain and encouraged those with similar experience.

D．She was shocked that pain would be a permanent part of her body.

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

A．A Seriously Burned Girl Survives

B．Ways to Get Rid of Unkind Stares

C．Permanent Scars And Pain For a Girl

D．A Seriously Burned Angel of Hope

9 . There is an old saying in China that goes, “The days of the Sanjiu period are the coldest days. ”Sanjiu period", which is in Minor Cold, refers to the third nine﹣day period(the 19th to the 27th day) after the day of the Winter Solstice (冬至). There are many different customs related to Minor Cold in China.

Eating hotpot

During Minor Cold people should eat some hot food to benefit the body and defend against the cold weather. Winter is the best time to have hotpot and braised mutton with soy sauce. But it is important to notice that too much spicy food may cause health problems.

Eating huangyacai

In Tianjin, there is a custom to have huangyacai, a kind of Chinese cabbage, during Minor Cold. There are large amounts of vitamins A and B in huangyacai. As huangyacai is fresh and tender, it is fit for frying, roasting and braising.

Eating glutinous rice(糯米饭)

According to tradition, the Cantonese eat glutinous rice in the morning during Minor Cold. Cantonese people add some fried preserved (腌制的) pork, sausage and peanuts and mix them into the rice.

Eating vegetable rice

In ancient times, people in Nanjing took Minor Cold quite seriously, but as time went by, the celebration of Minor Cold gradually disappeared. However, the custom of eating vegetable rice is still followed today. The rice is steamed and is unspeakably delicious. Among the ingredients(原料), aijiaohuang (a kind of green vegetable), sausage and salted duck are the specialties in Nanjing.

1. What is a special custom in Tianjin in Minor Cold?

A．Eating hotpot.	B．Having vitamin A and B pills.
C．Having huangyacai.	D．Buying cabbage.

2. How do the Cantonese eat glutinous rice?

A．They fry and toast it.	B．They eat it for dinner.
C．They steam it with soy sauce.	D．They mix it with many other things.

3. This text may be taken from the ________ column of a newspaper.

A．art

B．fashion

C．culture

D．science