1 . Camille Mahlknecht, 9, has some big fun planned for this weekend. She and other residents of Agoura Hills, California, plan to pick up trash during their city’s annual cleanup. At the same time, Wissam Raed,12, will be busy volunteering too. Thousands of miles away in Lebanon, Wissam plans to put on a play at an orphanage and bring potted plants to elderly people at a senior citizen center.

Some other children like Nathan White, 10, have personal reasons for volunteering. Nathan’s grandmother died of a heart attack. To help raise money for medical research, Nathan participated in Jump Rope for Heart. He and five other boys took turns jumping rope for two and half hours and collected more than US$1200 in donations for the American Heart Association.

Millions of children around the globe lend a hand to their communities every year. Schools and parents also contribute to the rise in youth service. For example, many schools offer community service activities for students to join. Teachers either combine volunteer work with classroom lessons or make service work a requirement. Parents, on the other hand, encourage their kids to volunteer and do it with them.

Community service is particularly important in this depression time. As the need for monetary support and other aid has increased, many charitable organizations have experienced a significant drop in donations. Camille and other children who volunteer thousands of hours annually can fill in some of the gaps.

According to research, kids who start volunteering are twice as likely to continue doing good deeds when they are adults. So, grab a paintbrush, a trash bag, or whatever you need to help your community. You’ll love how you feel after helping others. Even dirty work can be lots of fun, if it’s for a good cause.

1. What’s the writer’s purpose of writing this passage?

A．To recommend youth service programs to schools.

B．To ask charity organizations to serve the community.

C．To urge children to take part in volunteering activities.

D．To propose alternatives for doing community services.

2. What is the main idea of the 3rd paragraph?

A．Community service is gaining popularity among children.

B．Families and schools help to make community service popular.

C．Children now depend more on their teachers than on their parents.

D．Nathan White had a special reason to raise money for medical research.

3. Why is community service important in a time of depression?

A．It raises money for school activities.

B．It teaches children to take care of the sick.

C．It gives charity organizations some needed help.

D．It encourages parents and teachers to work together.

4. What can be inferred from the passage?

A．Community service can help prevent juvenile delinquency (青少年犯罪)．

B．Children will probably leave school and work as volunteers.

C．Organizing sports events for the school is a kind of community service.

D．Children who do volunteer work are more likely to grow up to be caring adults.

2 . Some beaches are perfect for relaxing, while others offer activities like hiking and water sports. Visit these beautiful beaches for an unforgettable vacation.

Cannon Beach

If your perfect beach vacation spot features postcard-worthy scenery and peace, look no further than Cannon Beach. In this Pacific Northwest town, you can even build a fire on the beach to relax beside while watching the sun set. When you need a break from the beach, grab a bike and head downtown to explore its art galleries, shops and restaurants.

Horseshoe Bay Beach

For a one-of-a-kind beach experience, head to Horseshoe Bay Beach on Bermuda’s South Shore. Known for its pink sand, this beach is a popular destination for families looking to play in the calm blue-green waters and build blush-colored sandcastles. Adventure seekers can also take part in the self-guided island bicycle tour or engage in exciting water sports.

Mohegan Bluffs

This beach is famous for its natural beauty. Upon arrival, pause to admire your surroundings and learn about its ties to the native people, their ancient traditions, and connection to the land, adding depth to your beach experience. Then, take the 141 steps down to the sand to sunbathe. After that, climb back up to visit the Southeast Light for an up-close view of its 18th-century lighthouse.

South Beach

This tropical district on Florida’s Atlantic Coast is world-renowned for its powdery white sand. Although technically part of the Miami Beach area, South Beach stands out due to its Art Deco architecture seen in everything from the beachfront lifeguard towers to the high-rise buildings along the famed Ocean Drive.

1. What similarity do Cannon Beach and Horseshoe Bay Beach share?

A．The chance to cycle around.	B．Their lively artistic scene.
C．The unique water sports.	D．Their distinctive sand color.

2. Who is most likely attracted to Mohegan Bluffs?

A．Those seeking water sports.	B．Fans of modern lighthouses.
C．Those interested in local culture.	D．Enthusiasts of mountain climbing.

3. What sets South Beach apart from the rest of the Miami Beach area?

A．Its beach sand.	B．Its architectural style.
C．Its ocean drive.	D．Its high-rise buildings.

3 . When we recall a memory, we bring back specific details about it. But we often also experience a vivid feeling of remembering the event. Memory researchers call these processes objective and subjective memory. A new study shows they can function independently and involve different parts of the brain.

“The study distinguishes between how well we remember and how well we think we remember, and shows that decision making depends primarily on the subjective evaluation of memory evidence,” says psychologist Denis Guetta.

The researchers tested objective and subjective memory. After showing volunteers a series of images of common objects, the researchers showed them pairs of images and asked them to determine which of the two they had seen before. They were asked to rate the memory as “recollected” (vivid and detailed), or “familiar” (lacking detail). Some tests showed similar image pairs, others unrelated pairs. This setup measured objective memory based on recognition and subjective memory based on vividness.

The researchers also used fMRI (功能性磁共振成像) to measure brain activity during this task. The results showed higher levels of objective memory with pairs of similar images, but participants claimed vivid memories more with dissimilar pairs. They were more likely to base their decision about whether to keep or clear an image on memory feeling rather than accuracy. For example, a person could have a vivid memory of going to an event with friends. Some of the actual details of that memory might be a bit off, but they may feel it is a vivid memory, so they might decide to go out with the same people again.

The fMRI data showed that objective and subjective memory engaged varied regions of the brain. The regions involved in subjective experiences were also involved in decision making, supporting the connection between the two processes.

“By understanding how our brains give rise to vivid subjective memories and memory decisions, we are moving a step closer to understanding how we learn to evaluate memory evidence to make effective decisions in the future,” says researcher Analiz William.

1. How does the author introduce the topic of the text?

A．By analyzing problems.	B．By giving examples.
C．By interpreting findings.	D．By defining concepts.

2. What were the volunteers asked to do during the study?

A．To draw the images they had previously seen.

B．To compare details of objects they had been shown.

C．To categorize their memory as recollected or familiar.

D．To recall specific emotions related to the images shown.

3. What does the research find out about decision making?

A．Both types of memory have great influence on it.

B．Our vivid memory helps us make wise decisions.

C．It mainly relies on subjective memory evaluation.

D．It’s decided by the accuracy of objective memory.

4. What is Analiz William’s attitude towards the study?

A．Optimistic.	B．Tolerant.
C．Doubtful.	D．Dismissive.

4 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，’使之构成一篇完整的短文。

A Birthday Surprise

I stood at the kitchen window watching Papa as he sat in the old, wooden lawn chair staring out at the lake. Ralph, his old black dog, lay on the ground at his side. Papa’s hand absently stroked (抚摩) the head of his old companion as they dreamed the dreams of old men and old dogs in the evening sun. “He does this day after day?” I asked Mama.

She nodded, sadness filling her eyes. “I don’t know what to do for him. There is a strong desire in his eyes that I can’t satisfy -a desire for the past. The past can’t be brought back to the present. Once days are gone, they are gone forever,” Mama sighed.

“I’m going down to talk to him,” I said.

I called out to Papa and handed him a cup of coffee. “What are you and Ralph thinking about all these hours you spend out here?” I asked,

“We’re not thinking,” he said softly. “We’re wishing.” I sat on the grass beside his chair. “Wishing for what?” “For the impossible, I suppose,” he sighed. “You always told me that nothing was impossible if you wanted it badly enough and were willing to work hard for it,” I reminded him.

He laughed softly, but there was no amusement in the sound. “But Ralph and I have come to learn that when you reach our age, some things are actually impossible.” “Maybe I can help you. What do you want so badly?” I asked.

Papa grinned (咧嘴大笑), and his eyes shone brightly at the thought of his dream becoming a reality. “Ralph and I want to fix up the old boat and go out on the lake again. We used to spend all day out on the lake, fishing, drinking beer and eating sandwiches,” Papa said.

Yes, I remember. When I was young, Papa and Ralph often enjoyed themselves on the lake on weekends. They’d start for home when the sun went down, totally satisfied with themselves and with life. Now, Papa was almost eighty-five years old and had a heart condition, so Mama was horrified by the idea of him going out on the lake again at first. But eventually I managed to convince her.

注意：
1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

After Mama agreed, I persuaded my friends to join in my secret plan.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

On the day of Papa’s birthday, we were all eager to give him a surprise.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5 . 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。

More young people are trying their hand at farming the soil. Guo Lan, 29, works in a vegetable greenhouse on his organic farm     1     (locate) in the suburban district of Hefei, East China’s Anhui province. It is the eighth time this summer that Guo has failed to grow vegetables     2    using chemicals. Despite trying various homemade pest solutions, such as plant ash and mixtures of pepper and alcohol, the vegetable     3     (leaf) were still being eaten by insects. “I will not give up     4     (try),” the 29-year-old accountant-turned-farmer says. He is determined to turn his farm into     5     organic one, cultivating fruits and vegetables with the same flavors as those from his childhood memories.

“Growing tasty and healthy food     6     (be) my dream since I was a teenager. I know     7     challenging it can be, but if you take the soil     8     (serious), I believe it will pay off,” Guo says. He adds that farming is not a business that can make quick money, but for him, it has become an uplifting activity that brings back memories of spending time on the farm with     9     (he) parents as a child. Guo’s passion for organic farming and commitment to producing healthy food will surely inspire more young people to explore     10     (sustain) agriculture.

6 . For most of history, people lived in small groups of up to 150 people. Then villages and small towns developed, offering safety and support through the sharing of resources. As time passed, urban living brought additional advantages such as better jobs, schools and healthcare. Larger towns also gave people more chances to meet and interact. This is important.     1    

Today, over half of the world’s population currently lives in towns and cities. But this has resulted in a strange paradox (悖论). Although social opportunities are one reason people choose to live in large cities, research suggests that city life can be lonely.     2     People from all over the world can join online communities and make virtual friends without leaving their home.

The development of virtual communities can be traced back to the 1860s. Back then, telegraph operators exchanged messages and gradually formed friendships over long distances.     3    

Later, in the 1960s, radios started to provide a means of short-distance communication and developed communities with their own unique language and usernames.

    4     Computers were not very powerful yet, so people could post messages and share news and stories but not music or photos. Still, people loved being able to make friends online and then hang out with them. As technology became more powerful, online communities for fun, education and business emerged, where people could explore a virtual 3D world, have online lessons, and even buy things with virtual money.

These days, there are thousands of virtual communities and that number keeps growing. Many people believe they will become more important.     5     Particularly, they’re concerned that posting personal information online might lead to a loss of privacy. So perhaps the future will be more like the past. People will spend most of their time in real communities.

A．This trend, however, is not likely to continue.

B．As Aristotle said, the nature of humans is to be social.

C．That may explain why virtual communities are so popular.

D．The first popular online communities developed in the 1980s.

E．Before cell phones existed, radio was an easy way to communicate.

F．Nevertheless, others worry about problems with these communities.

G．This is among the earliest examples of virtual community interactions.

7 . Human history is full of horse stories like guiding cowboys home on foggy nights and taking wounded soldiers through battle zones. Such sensible and highly trained horses made Elina Jatel, a computer scientist and roboticist, think of robots. “A horse that can take a rider home on its own would be the highest level of autonomy,” Jatel says. “You trust them with your life.” She was drawn to learning how such relationships form and if it could help improve human-robot interactions.

For a year, Jatel engaged herself in the horse world. She watched classes in horse training, and she also talked with students, instructors, trainers and horse owners. Along the way, Jatel even learned to ride.

Horses learn signals from their trainers on how to comfortably interact with people. People, too, must learn their part. Riders must learn what a horse wants or feels based on its behavior, and what signals to use to direct horses to perform in desired ways. Jatel found some similarities, here, to working with robots. People must learn how to direct robots to do specific tasks. They also must learn what to do when robots don’t perform as planned. The goal is to program robots that will respond predictably to inputs from people. But like horses, autonomous robots also should be able to respond on their own as conditions change. For example, a self-driving car must stop to avoid hitting something, even if some human mistakenly tells it to keep going.

Trainers and riders work with horses to build respect. Horses show that respect by matching their pace to a human or giving someone who is leading them a safe degree of personal space. Trainers begin their work with a horse by getting them to show signs of respect in basic interactions, Jatel says. Later, trainers will develop more complex interactions. Gradually, a horse’s respect can grow into trust.

But that trust is not given. And there may be a similar limitation with robots. What would it mean for robots and people to respect and trust each other? For now, she adds, this is largely uncharted territory. But she’s looking to build a path.

1. What drew Elina Jatel’s attention to horses?

A．Horses’ amazing performance.	B．Long history of horse training.
C．Horse-human interdependence.	D．Her horse-riding experience.

2. What are the robots of the highest autonomy designed to do?

A．To act like real horses.	B．To show respect to humans.
C．To follow instructions from humans.	D．To make independent and sensible decisions.

3. What will Jatel’s future research most probably focus on?

A．The limitations of robots.	B．Trust between robots and humans.
C．Path toward higher robot efficiency.	D．Similarities between horses and robots.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．History of Human-Horse Relationship	B．Secrets of Human-Animal Interactions
C．The Role of Trust in Human-Robot Partnerships	D．Horses as the Inspiration for Autonomous Robots

8 . 英国一所友好学校的师生将到你校访问。你将作为学生代表在欢迎晚会上致辞，并赠送学生们自制的文创礼物。请你用英语写一篇欢迎辞，包括以下内容：
1．表示欢迎；
2．介绍礼物。
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。
Good evening, dear friends! …
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9 . I vividly remember the day when my husband and I set off on a new journey to Tanzania. He had been ______ a position there as a Civil Engineer. Accompanying him, my aim was to find a job shortly after. As you can imagine, I was very excited, even rather ______, as I’d never been abroad before. So, my first ______ was to get settled in this small town called Dodoma in the middle of Tanzania.

As we got off the train, however, at six in the morning, a lady came rushing along the ______ towards us. Completely out of breath, she said, “We’ve heard you’re from England and our school ______ needs an English teacher — please say you’ll help us.” I felt tired and ______ a shower after the journey. Though shocked by her ______, for some reason or other, I agreed to ______ it!

I washed, changed, had a quick bite to eat and was ______ to the two local teachers and my ______ at 8 o’clock. It felt like being thrown into the deep end, as my teaching timetable began ______ at 8:30! Although I’d hardly had time to get my breath, I never ______ my sudden decision.

Though my entry into this ______ was unexpected, I found joy in teaching those youngsters and gradually became part of the local community in the following years. I’ve been fortunate to ______ lifelong friendships, which has left a lasting ______ on both my students and myself.

1.

A．awarded

B．offered

C．allowed

D．presented

2.

A．disappointed

B．dissatisfied

C．unconcerned

D．uneasy

3.

A．priority

B．worry

C．action

D．response

4.

A．river

B．platform

C．sidewalk

D．channel

5.

A．probably

B．suddenly

C．desperately

D．occasionally

6.

A．longed for

B．waited for

C．heard about

D．worried about

7.

A．remark

B．interruption

C．suggestion

D．request

8.

A．keep

B．take

C．forget

D．quit

9.

A．introduced

B．recommended

C．assigned

D．compared

10.

A．colleagues

B．assistants

C．students

D．interviewers

11.

A．exactly

B．finally

C．immediately

D．smoothly

12.

A．expected

B．regretted

C．delayed

D．dropped

13.

A．career

B．country

C．agreement

D．relationship

14.

A．value

B．strengthen

C．renew

D．harvest

15.

A．comment

B．record

C．impact

D．impression

10 . You are what you think. Whatever you are doing right now is determined by your thinking. All your emotions and desires are influenced by your thinking. The problem is that when you are not aware of your thinking, you have no chance of correcting it if it is poor. When thinking is subconscious, you are in no position to see any problems in it. And, if you don’t see any problems in it, you won’t be motivated to change it. What’s worse, few people realize the powerful role that thinking plays in their lives, so they don’t gain significant command of it. As a result, most people are in many ways victims of their thinking.

Consider your success as a student. The single most significant variable in determining your success as a student is the quality of your thinking. Your instructors will play a role in your learning, but even the best teachers cannot get into your head and learn for you. If you lack the intellectual skills necessary for thinking well through course content, you will not be successful in school.

Here is the key question we are putting to you in this book. If the quality of a person’s thinking is the single most significant determinant of both happiness and success, why not take the time to learn from the best thinkers?

This book will inform you of the tools that the best thinkers use and will illustrate the activities and practice you can use to begin to emulate them, and take control of your destiny as a thinker. Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of these thinking aids, helping you discover the power of your own mind and of your potential to think systematically about your thinking.

This book, as a whole, introduces you to the tools of mind that will help you reason well through various challenges you face. If you take these ideas seriously and practice using them, you can improve the quality of your thinking and ultimately, the quality of your life.

1. Why do many people lack motivation to change their poor thinking?

A．They are victims of emotions.	B．They are unaware of the need.
C．They think highly of themselves.	D．They lack the academic guidance.

2. What plays the most crucial role in school success?

A．The course content.	B．The school environment.
C．The commitment of teachers.	D．The quality of an individual’s thinking.

3. What does the underlined word “emulate” mean in paragraph 4?

A．Make friends with.

B．Win over.

C．Follow the example of.

D．Look up to.

4. The book is organized according to ________.

A．types of life challenges	B．varieties of thinking tools
C．determinants of life value	D．ideas of different thinkers