1 . Have you ever been in a bathroom, dressing room or another private area with a mirror and had that feeling that someone is watching you? You can check to see if a mirror is transparent by observing how it is installed and using a few simple techniques to determine if there’s a wall behind it.
Check out the lighting. For a two-way mirror to be effective, the light on the mirrored side needs to be 10 times brighter than the light on the other side. If the lighting is dimmer, it’s possible to see through the glass to the observation area. Look around and determine whether the lighting seems extraordinarily bright.
Sound it out. The sound of tapping a two-way mirror has also been described as bright or sharp as opposed to a thud (砰的一声) from an everyday mirror. Tap on the surface of the mirror with your knuckle (指节).
| A．Turn off the lights. |
| B．Try to look through the glass. |
| C．Observe how the mirror is installed. |
| D．If so, you might be looking at a two-way mirror. |
| E．There are some accurate ways to tell if a mirror is two-way or not. |
| F．A normal mirror will produce a dull, flat sound, since it’s placed in front of a wall. |
| G．People standing on the other side of the wall can observe someone looking in the mirror. |
3 . The age range between about 13 and 19 is an important time in an individual’s life.
First, participate in extra-curricular activities. Schools give students opportunities for staying active. Pick an activity that appeals to you such as athletics, academic clubs, or special-interest clubs. Extra-curricular activities build character through team work, time-management, and competition. Don't be too worried if you aren't very good at what you like, for the important thing is passion.
Besides, volunteer.
Third, use your summer for academic programs. Getting a head start at college could mean sacrificing your summer vacation. Various universities offer programs for future college students based on interests such as journalism, photography, art, sports, etc.
Finally, know when to ask for help and advice. Being responsible and independent does not mean being alone.
| A．Make sure your maturity level and interests are leveled. |
| B．Making and meeting goals can motivate you to progress. |
| C．Huge steps are taken within that period. |
| D．They give teenagers the chance to earn college credits. |
| E．Offering help is a symbol of kindness. |
| F．It will drive you to put in your best effort. |
| G．Taking on new tasks and meeting goals will be hard work. |
4 . You have probably heard the saying, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade (柠檬水).” Since lemons are considered bitter and lemonade is considered sweet, the saying tells you to make the best out of a bad situation.
Unluckily, when something bad happens, it’s not uncommon for most people to talk about it to anyone who’ll listen, and complain about life. “Why me?” That’s like getting a bag of lemons and thinking, “Lemons taste bad! I’d rather have chocolate!” If you don’t make anything with the lemons, they will go bad. But what if you did something with them? What if you made lemonade? Isn’t it possible to do something similar with a bad situation?
Here’s an example. You’re about to go to the cinema when you discover you have a flat tire (瘪胎). You consider this a terrible thing for you are really looking forward to enjoying the movie. Now you’re very upset, hating the tire, the car, and your life. But what if you called AAA (美国汽车协会) and got your tire fixed? What if you did some reading, or had coffee with a friend instead? A bad experience can be turned into something positive. Almost anything can work itself out into something better. You can’t change what has happened, so make the best of it. I’m not saying it will be easy. The easy thing to do is complain about your bad situation and not consider what it could be turned into.
Next time when something unfortunate happens, stop and think, “How can I turn this around? How can I make it a positive experience?”
1. What do we know about the saying in the first paragraph?| A．It is encouraging. | B．It is funny. |
| C．It is boring. | D．It is unreasonable. |
| A．Accept it. | B．Complain about it. |
| C．Find out the reasons. | D．Ask others for help. |
| A．there is a flat tire happening sometimes | B．it doesn’t matter to make mistakes |
| C．how to turn something bad into good | D．turning to others for help is necessary |
| A．Trying hard to solve it. | B．Laughing your way through it. |
| C．Thinking more about its goods. | D．Turning it into a positive experience. |
With the International Conference on Food Loss and Waste closed on Saturday in Jinan, Shandong Province, the country has sent a signal to
The current world grain production is about 2.8 billion tons a year. Therefore, the loss of only one percentage
In recent years, China
We cannot end hunger
6 . The Best National Parks to Visit in Winter
While most parks tend to draw families in the summer and fall, there are also ideal spots for adventurous winter trips.
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
The country’s oldest and best-known national park takes on an almost otherworldly atmosphere in winter: the air filled with rolling steam, the strong colors of hot springs, the surrounding white landscapes, let alone the impressive wildlife during this time, like bison, wolves, and playful red foxes. Just book a guided hiking tour to get a ranger’s perspective on the park and local people.
Joshua Tree National Park, California
With its giant red rocks and unique trees, you’ll feel like stepping onto a foreign planet as you spend hours hiking the Panorama Loop or Maze Loop. The park is recognized as an International Dark Sky Park, featuring virtually zero light pollution and the country’s best views of a starry sky.
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
A significantly lower number of visitors in winter means you can take in unblocked views of the South Rim, and get to see the rare beauty of the Grand Canyon dusted with snow. For those adventurous and daring, it is recommended to hike the Bright Angel Trail and take the chance to see the canyon’s wintertime wildlife, including mule deer, elk, and bald eagles.
Virgin Islands National Park, St. John
Surprise! Not all wintertime national park trips need to involve snow. Virgin Islands National Park is most famous for its white-sand beaches. You can also hike inland to visit old sugar plantations, or venture out to the water to swim along with sea turtles and manta rays. You will definitely enjoy a different winter here.
1. Which park will one choose if he/she is interested in stars?| A．Yellowstone National Park. | B．Joshua Tree National Park. |
| C．Grand Canyon National Park. | D．Virgin Islands National Park. |
| A．We can have a poor view of the South Rim there. | B．It lies in an area with rolling steam and hot springs. |
| C．There is a slight decline in visitor numbers in winter. | D．The Bright Angel Trail is challenging in cold weather. |
| A．Hiking. | B．Skiing. | C．Swimming. | D．Hunting. |
8 . Standing in front of the bike shop, Dave stared at the shiny red bicycle in the window. He could
He rode on and stopped at Peck’s clothing store. The coat he planned to buy his mother for her birthday was still on sale. Dave knew she would
Dave looked at his old bike. Two years ago, he found some old bicycles at the
As Dave passed the junkyard, he noticed a newer-looking bike tire. He started
Arriving home, Dave put the used tires and the handgrips on his
The next morning, when Dave and his mom got to the park, about thirty kids had already
Bang! The riders rushed off. Dave
As the announcer awarded Dave the medal and the check for fifty dollars, he asked, “What are you going to do with the prize money, Dave?”
“It’s a
| A．picture | B．spot | C．keep | D．prefer |
| A．desperately | B．definitely | C．seldom | D．never |
| A．criteria | B．ends | C．budgets | D．expenses |
| A．junkyard | B．port | C．school | D．court |
| A．enter | B．lose | C．win | D．abandon |
| A．throwing away | B．going through | C．carrying out | D．bringing back |
| A．advanced | B．unique | C．right | D．fancy |
| A．hired | B．used | C．purchased | D．recycled |
| A．contributions | B．discoveries | C．profits | D．changes |
| A．rode | B．separated | C．gathered | D．recovered |
| A．while | B．but | C．so | D．or |
| A．held back | B．concentrated on | C．gave in to | D．broke away from |
| A．succeeded | B．arranged | C．offered | D．managed |
| A．Eventually | B．Causally | C．Roughly | D．Naturally |
| A．reward | B．credit | C．surprise | D．promise |
10 . Who says you have to stay indoors when the temperatures drop? Here are favourite places to explore this winter.
Athens, Greece
In Athens, every November temperatures stay around the mid-20s, so have a trip to the Parthenon and Acropolis. A full afternoon is also necessary for exploring the Museum of Cycladic Art and its exhibitions — recently it has hosted Picasso’s.
In the streets of the Pysrri district is a hidden hole in the wall, from which one can go down to the basement restaurant, Diporto.
Huaraz, Peru
To some, Peru gives people images of students in printed shorts on a tour of Machu Picchu. There’s obviously so much more to do in the UNESCO World Heritage (遗产) site. Any hike through the surrounding Huascaran National Park will make you feel like you’ve stepped into The Lord of the Rings.
April and November are considered “shoulder season”, which means fewer clear days but you can enjoy the trails (路线) with fewer people.
Edinburgh, UK
Yes, it’s probably going to be freezing cold. Hot coffee steam up in a pleasing, romantic fashion in cafes. People can take a few minutes’ walk from the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.
For simple Scottish dishes there’s neighbourhood inn, the Little Chartroom. And the Sheep Heid Inn has been long enough to have served Mary, Queen of Scots. In the eight bedrooms at the 18th century Rock House, each is a mixture of ancient details and current fashion.
Valletta, Malta
Flights from the UK to Malta’s capital are only around £30, making it one of the best destinations for a November trip. This tiny city has a temperature of 17 or so and has changed itself into a year-round city break with artistic cafes, hotels and newly opened galleries — Muza opened last year and houses the former National Gallery collection.
1. Which place has exhibited Picasso’s works lately?| A．Muza. | B．National Gallery. |
| C．The Museum of Cycladic Art. | D．Scottish National Portrait Gallery. |
| A．Athens. | B．Valletta. | C．Huaraz. | D．Edinburgh. |
| A．It served the Queen of Scotland. | B．It combines ancient and modern styles. |
| C．It has at least eight kinds of rooms. | D．It offers Scottish local specialties. |
