1 . Sitting and eating quietly on his father’s lap, the 18-month-old was oblivious to the infection in his veins (血管). But his father a strong farmer, knew only too well. It was the same one that killed his wife four month ago, leaving him alone with four children. The man started to cry.

“When my wife died, I thought, well, it is from Cod, but at least I have him.” he said. Then I learned he is sick, too. I asked if there was medicine and the doctors said no.

HIV and AIDS have quietly arrived in this land. They remain almost completely underground, hidden in ignorance (无知) and shame.

The father of the infected 18-month-old said his village teacher had never talked about AIDS. Nearly a year of tests on the father have found no HIV, and the old children are clear, but his smallest child tested positive (阳性) at ten months.

Six years earlier, his wife lost a baby and have several transfusions in Pakistan. After she became sick and was found to be infected, “I told the family her blood was not good and to avoid eating with her.” he said. “And I told them not to kiss his son, he burst into tears.”

“I don’t know what to do.” he said: “I have sacrificed so much since my marriage. I mortgaged (抵押) half my land to pay for her medical care.”

The father can do little for his son but keep his secret. There are no AIDS treatment centers in Afghanistan, only a single secret clinic in the capital that just monitors the disease, and no drugs are available.

1. The underlined part “was oblivious to” in Paragraph 1 can best be replaced by ________.

A．was shocked by

B．was afraid of

C．was curious about

D．was unaware of

2. What happened to the man?

A．He was diagnosed with AIDS just now

B．He has no money to support the family

C．His wife died of AIDS four weeks ago

D．His youngest son was infected with AIDS

3. It can be inferred from Paragraph 5 that ________.

A．the wife had several blood transfusions

B．the family knew how to avoid AIDS

C．the farmer had little knowledge about AIDS

D．the family loved the youngest son most

4. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A．There are several AIDS treatment centers in Afghanistan

B．The farmer will keep his son’s disease unknown to others

C．The farmer sold his house to pay for his wife’s medical care

D．Afghanistan’s medical conditions have been greatly improved.

2 . New research into a little-known text written in ancient Greek shows that “stressed poetry”, the ancestor of all modern poetry and song, was already in use in the 2nd century CE, 300 years earlier than previously thought. It has been found sculpted on twenty precious stones and as a graffito (雕画) in Cartagena, Spain.

In its shortest version, the nameless four-line poem reads “They say what they like; let them say it; I dont care.” Other versions extend with “Go on, love me; it does you good.” The poem, unparalleled (绝无仅有的) so far in the classical world, consists of lines of 4 syllables (音节), with a strong accent on the first and a weaker on the third. This allows it to come into the rhythms of numerous pop and rock songs. So it became popular across the eastern Roman Empire and survives.

By comparing all of the known examples for the first time, Cambridges Professor Tim Whitmarsh noticed that the poem used a different form of rhythm to that usually found in ancient Greek poetry. As well as showing signs of the long and short syllables characteristic of traditional “quantitative” poem, this text employed stressed and unstressed syllables. The new study, published in The Cambridge Classical Journal, also suggests that this poem could represent a “missing link” between the lost world of ancient Mediterranean oral poetry and song, and the more modern forms that we know today. A lot of popular poetry in ancient Greek takes a similar form to traditional high poetics. This poem, on the other hand, points to a distinct and rich culture, primarily oral.

1. Where was the “stressed poetry” discovered?

A．In Greece.	B．In Spain.
C．In Britain.	D．In Mediterranean.

2. What does “it” in paragraph 2 refer to?

A．A syllable.	B．A strong accent.
C．The four-line poem.	D．The content of the poem.

3. What can be learned from the last paragraph?

A．A missing link between poems was found finally.

B．A lot of popular poetry in ancient Greek was then popular in the world.

C．The stressed and unstressed syllables distinguished the poem from others.

D．The ancient Mediterranean oral poetry and song was older than the poem.

4. Whats the best title for the text?

A．Ancient Greek “pop culture” discovery rewrites the history of poetry and song

B．The unparalleled poem made ancient Greek culture more attractive

C．Ancient Greek poetry lay the foundation of modern culture

D．Four syllables are still popular in modern poetry and song

3 . 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。

I knew that my first day of senior high school would be challenging. I was nervous that my classmates changed during the summer, making them much     1    (intelligent) and look different and making me think if I was     2       only one who hadn’t changed. Anyway, I would go all out to make a good first       3    (impress). On Monday, I walked into the school in my eagerness     4    (explore) it. I saw a lot of people going to the gym one by one, so I went as well. Then I     5    (tell) by a helpful girl volunteer that my first period was math. I was     6    (frighten) that I got this class for the first period because I was weak in math. With butterflies     7     my stomach, I walked into the classroom.     8    (see) me, the math teacher in neat clothes     9    (smiling) said, “Welcome to my class. Just sit wherever you’d like.” My math teacher was very nice to me, and I liked her from the start. I became confident about myself,     10     made me believe that I would learn math well with her teaching me.

4 . At the school Art Festival, I was asked to design the costumes for three school plays. Everyone was________to see the actors wear my costumes on stage. This experience has made me realize that I am really good at____and have a talent for fashion design, which has inspired me to________fashion design as my job. That way, I can____work with my interests and strengths. To find out how to_____the field of fashion design, I did some____about what kind of education and skills I might need. I________that many premier fashion designers studied at fashion design institutes in London, Paris or Milan. I also keep a(n)________on job ads for the fashion industry to see what abilities or _____designers should have.

After much thought, I decided to________these skills and get the right qualifications by studying art at university. While I am there, I would like to work part-time for a fashion design company in order to________from other designers. Actually, I don’t have to wait until I go to university to swing into________as there will be a workshop in my city next month which I am hoping to________

After graduation, I will____a job as a fashion designer. One day, I hope to start my own________company.

1.

A．determined

B．amazed

C．awkward

D．expected

2.

A．drawing

B．acting

C．sculpture

D．communication

3.

A．challenge

B．admire

C．pursue

D．aid

4.

A．provide

B．compare

C．create

D．combine

5.

A．get into

B．get through

C．get over

D．get from

6.

A．training

B．research

C．quiz

D．schedule

7.

A．checked

B．persuaded

C．recognized

D．forecasted

8.

A．head

B．eye

C．back

D．foot

9.

A．flexibility

B．standards

C．drawbacks

D．qualities

10.

A．apply

B．demonstrate

C．improve

D．acquire

11.

A．learn

B．result

C．benefit

D．obtain

12.

A．motion

B．action

C．position

D．operation

13.

A．attend

B．equip

C．design

D．organize

14.

A．conduct

B．submit

C．land

D．perform

15.

A．accounting

B．consulting

C．cleaning

D．clothing

5 . Humanities departments(人文院系)in America are once again being cut down. Earlier this month, the State University of New York(SUNY)StonyBrook announced a plan to abandon several of the college’s well-known departments for lack of fund. The University of Pittsburgh has cut its German and classics.     1    In the UK, Middlesex University decided to gradually get rid of philosophy department. In June 2015, the Japanese minister of education sent a letter to the presidents of the national universities of Japan, suggesting they close their graduate and undergraduate departments in the humanities and social sciences and focus on something more practical.

These are hard times. Instead of Shakespeare or French, there will be(perhaps there already are)college classes in how to cut corporate spending.     2    But the only opportunity has been lost if they are denied the opportunity to study foreign languages, the classics, literature, philosophy, music, theater and art in the university. When else in their busy lives will they get that chance?

    3    . Essays explain why we need these subjects, and what their loss will mean. These areas of learning provide us with the ability to think critically and independently; to see both sides of an issue;to look beneath the surface of what we are being told; to appreciate the ways in which language can help us understand one another more clearly.

I don’t believe that the humanities can make you a decent person.     4    . Studying philosophy teaches us about those who have gone before us. A foreign language brings us closer to those with whom we share the planet. The humanities touch those aspects of awareness that we call intellect and heart.     5    

A．These subjects are under attack

B．Students need practical skills to find jobs

C．Defenses of the humanities have appeared

D．This problem has also arisen internationally

E．Therefore, courses in the humanities are beneficial

F．It helps us learn how to think and live in a harmonious society

G．But they can expand our sense of what humans can accomplish and create

6 . It’s well-known that humor can benefit us both physically and mentally. The idea that laughter is the best medicine has been around since ancient times. In his 1905 book, Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious, Sigmund Freud argued that humor is the highest of the psyche’s defense mechanism (机制), capable of turning anxiety into pleasure.

There are four humor styles. Affiliative humor refers to jokes about things that might be commonly considered funny, which is usually employed to improve relationships or make others laugh. If you’ve ever shared a funny picture with a coworker, you’ve used affiliative humor. Self-enhancing humor involves being able to laugh at yourself, often used as a way for you to deal with stress or difficulties and feel better as a result. Aggressive humor is laughing at the expense of others, which often involves sarcasm (讽刺), teasing, and criticism. Self-defeating humor is the art of putting yourself down to gain favor from your peers, which is possibly used by someone who’s targeted by bullies.

Each style of humor actually carries a different influence, when it comes to mental health. Julie Aitken Schermer, a psychological researcher at The University of Western Ontario, says people using self-enhancing humor are less likely to show signs of loneliness and poor relationships with others. By contrast, both aggressive and self-defeating humor styles can hint at trouble. “We find that self-defeating humor is the most concerning style as it is also linked with loneliness and feelings of not mattering. Those with an aggressive humor style may not experience loneliness as much, however, since they rely on group dynamics (群体动力) in order to make fun of their peers,” says Schermer.

Even if you tend to favor more negative humor styles, there’s no reason to lose heart. Schermer says people can develop a positive, self-enhancing humor style by concentrating on the lighter and more humorous aspects of life. As author Kurt Vonnegut once wrote, “Laughter and tears are both responses to worries and anxieties. I prefer to laugh, since there is less cleaning up to do afterward.”

1. Why is Sigmund Freud’s book mentioned in Paragraph 1?

A．To show the importance of mental health.	B．To stress the role of humor.
C．To persuade people to stay positive.	D．To introduce ancient jokes to us.

2. According to the text, which kind of humor may you use to relieve pressure?

A．Affiliative humor.	B．Self-enhancing humor.
C．Aggressive humor.	D．Self-defeating humor.

3. What does the underlined phrase “hint at” probably mean in the third paragraph?

A．Signal.

B．Explain.

C．Prevent.

D．Solve.

4. Which of the following will Kurt Vonnegut probably agree with?

A．Humor is difficult to control.	B．Crying is a good way of relief.
C．Humor is a double-edged sword.	D．Laughter is the best cure for stress.

7 . Let’s face it: Life is hard. But it doesn’t have to be, especially if you have the following products. From a workout mirror to a water purifier, your day today routine is about to get a lot easier.

Tempo Move

$495 SHOP. TEMPO. FIT

Tempo makes exercise truly convenient from your own home. You may recognize it as one of the many workout mirrors on the market, but the new tempo move system allows you to easily connect your phone and their apps to a TV, and follow along with all their wonderful classes.

VIVE Flow

$499 AT VIVE. COM

Vive goggles will bring an extremely accessible and refreshing approach to the VR world. The Vive goggles are, well, a pair of goggles not unlike something you’d wear to snowboard. They’re extremely lightweight with a lightning fast set-up that’s suitable for things like watching Netflix, or meditation (冥想). It’s the calmest headset I’ve ever worn and uses cameras to let you control everything with just your hands.

Hisense 75”U 80X0GR 8K ULED Roku TV

$1, 800 AT BEST BUY

8K sounded like a luxury, but now that brands like Hisense, which focus on a more affordable version, have got some time with the tech. You can finally bring the deep color output and astonishing detail into your living room. Calling it “afordable“ may be a little overstate, but compared to most 8K TVs which all run over $5, 000, it’s the most cost-efficient version of the tech we’ve got.

LARQ Water Purifier

$139 AT LIVELARQ. COM

Larq just made your water cleaner with light technology. The best part is that it somehow manages to taste clean and fresh too. And while I thought it may be a trick, I’ve forced friends, family, and strangers to compare, and they all agree. Even if you don’t care about clean water, you’ll care about that, right?

1. What can be inferred about Vive Goggles?

A．They are user-friendly.	B．They help keep track of weight.
C．They are intended for snowboarders.	D．They can control everything.

2. What is special about Hisense 8K TV?

A．Its look is luxurious.

B．Its tech is advanced.

C．It is economical.

D．It features deep color.

3. Where is the text probably taken from?

A．A consumer review.	B．A science report.
C．An online advertisement.	D．A product introduction.

8 . 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。

NASA has discovered the eighth planet of a star system, similar to our solar system. The star, Kepler-90, is over 2,500 light years away and larger and     1     (hot) than our sun. It is the first star known to have as many planets as our solar system.

The Kepler-90 star system is much more compact (紧凑的) than our solar system. The outermost planet     2     (orbit) the star at about the same distance as the earth goes around the sun. Its inner planets are smaller and rocky     3     the outer ones are larger and made up of gas.

The newly discovered planet, Kepler-90i, is     4     (probable) rocky and similar to our earth, but because of its closeness to its home star, it has     5     average surface temperature of about 400°C. It moves around the star once every 14.4 days.

The discovery was made on data     6     (provide) by the Kepler space telescope. Launched in March 2009, the telescope has constantly been looking     7     certain sections of the universe in search of new stars and planetary systems. Up to now, over 2,000 new systems     8     (discover).

    9     (help) analyze the data, NASA has been relying on artificial intelligence software supplied by Google. This software examines weak     10     (signal) of light when objects pass in front of a star. The new way of examining data is expected to find even more new planets in the future.

9 . When you look up at the blue sky or gaze across blue ocean, you might think that the color blue is common in nature. But among all the colors found in rocks, plants and flowers, or in the fur, feathers, scales and skin of animals, blue is surprisingly scarce.

But why is the color blue so rare? The answer stems from the chemistry and physics of how colors are produced — and how we see them. Were able to see color because each of our eyes contains between 6 million and 7 million light-sensitive cells called cones (椎体). There are three different types of cones in the eye of a person with normal color vision, and each cone type is most sensitive to a particular wavelength of light: red, green or blue. Information from millions of cones reaches our brains as electrical signals that communicate all the types of light reflected by what we see, which is then interpreted as different shades of color.   

When we look at a colorful object, “the object is absorbing some of the white light that falls onto it; because its absorbing some of the light, the rest of the light that reflected has a color,” science writer Kai Kupferschmidt said.

“When you see a blue flower — for instance, a cornflower — you see the cornflower as blue because it absorbs the red part of the spectrum (光谱),” Kupferschmidt said. Or to put it another way, the flower appears blue because that color is the part of the spectrum that the blossom rejected.

In the visible spectrum, red has long wavelengths, meaning it is very low-energy compared with other colors. For a flower to appear blue, it needs to be able to produce a molecule (分子) that can absorb very small amounts of energy, in order to absorb the red part of the spectrum.

Generating such molecules — which are large and complex — is difficult for plants to do, which is why blue flowers are produced by fewer than 10% of the worlds nearly 300,000 flowering plant species.

1. What does the underlined phrase “stems from” probably mean?

A．Varies from.

B．Results from.

C．Leads to.

D．Amounts to.

2. What happens when people see a colorful object?

A．Cones divide colors into three types.

B．The colors are divided into three types.

C．Part of white light is absorbed by the object.

D．Light-sensitive cells are most sensitive to dark colors.

3. Which of the following is the feature of red light?

A．Its wavelengths are shorter.	B．It can be seen everywhere.
C．It seems more vivid than others.	D．It has low-energy relatively.

4. How can a plant make its flowers look blue?

A．To reflect most red light.

B．To blossom in the shade.

C．To avoid generating large molecules.

D．To produce molecules to absorb red spectrum.

10 . My smartphone gave me access to music, information and videos. I would repeatedly refresh my email, shop online and look through the latest bad news. I’d often complain. I felt trapped by it.     1     I bought a phone with no touch screen. I can’t get access to social media. The benefits are fantastic.

I am more connected in my relationships.

Earlier, while texting with a friend who had moved, I finally got frustrated (懊丧的) and called her. I realized I hadn’t spoken to her since her move.     2     I learned that when people connected voice to voice, they felt more bonded.

I consume news on my own.

    3     But that didn’t happen. Instead of spending hours sifting (筛) through feeds, I use my laptop to selectively visit a handful of news sources. With the saved time, I’m reading more books. I realized being “in touch” with society doesn’t require constant monitoring of the Internet.

    4    

During the lock-downs, I filled boredom by visiting stores sending newsletters to my email. I found myself repeating lines from department store copywriters. Every time I clicked “buy”, I’d get a dopamine (多巴胺) hit. Now I’m online about 10 times less, I’m more thoughtful about what I need and I’ve had the time to take up knitting and needling—making what I once would have “added to cart”.

I am calmer.

When I first quit using my phone, I’d search for it at times. I went through withdrawals. Thankfully, that sense of dependence is false. I’ve found you can find other ways to do all the things.     5    

A．I shop less online.

B．So I decided to change.

C．I spend my time with my family.

D．But over time, I became worried about its role in my life.

E．I worried that I would miss out important discussions of the day.

F．It made a difference to hear both the awe and sadness in her voice.

G．It’s not always convenient, but I’m much calmer without my smartphone.