1. How did the speakers feel about visiting the park?
| A．Tired. | B．Happy. | C．Disappointed. |
| A．Study for an exam. | B．Attend a party. | C．Go to the movies. |
| A．A romantic movie. | B．A comedy. | C．A horror movie. |
2 . TOEFL and IELTS have been the main choices for English ability testing in higher education admissions (录取) for international students until now. In recent years, several companies have developed new English language tests that are low-cost and easy to use.
Duolingo set up its own test of English language ability. Jennifer Dewar works as an official (行政人员) at Washington University, which is one of the hundreds of universities in and outside the U.S. that now take the test results for international admissions. Duolingo created the test to make higher education available to more people worldwide.
The TOEFL and the IELTS cost between about $180 and $240. They are only given in several centers around the world. Some test-takers have to travel to take the tests, adding to the costs. However, Duolingo offers its test entirely over the Internet for $49. All test-takers need is a computer with a microphone, listening device and self-facing camera.
David Payne is a president for Educational Testing Service, which runs the TOEFL test. He agrees that improving availability of higher education is important. But he says general English knowledge isn’t the only thing universities require. Universities need to know how successful a student will be in using the level of academic (学术的) English that their teachers will expect of them. But Duolingo may fail to show that. Payne said, “The tests for the academic market should provide the value that’s necessary for making an important decision. And saving money doesn’t seem worth it.”
In a word, universities have to do their research to decide if any new tests work as well as traditional ones in their cases. It really comes down to a question for the universities about what’s available, what the products show, and if they’re satisfied with their choices. In general, having choices is important.
1. What do we know about the Duolingo test?| A．It could be taken anytime. | B．It requires little of test takers. |
| C．It makes English learning much easier. | D．It is accepted by many U.S. universities. |
| A．To show Duolingo is popular. | B．To show Duolingo’s advantages. |
| C．To show us how to take a Duolingo test. | D．To show TOEFL and the IELTS are difficult. |
| A．Students’ ability to use academic English. | B．Students’ grades of different tests. |
| C．The general English knowledge. | D．The ability to make a decision. |
| A．Consider new tests first. | B．Create more test choices. |
| C．Choose tests after careful research. | D．Use both TOEFL and Duolingo tests. |
1. What is the conversation mainly about?
| A．Fighting fires. | B．Detecting fires. | C．Using fires. |
| A．Around 50. | B．About 400. | C．Over 8600. |
| A．Size of a car. | B．Size of a plane. | C．Size of a sports field. |
| A．Saving animals. | B．Saving the trees. | C．Saving humans. |
4 . Humans can race to get out of a hurricane’s path. Some animals can sense a hurricane coming and leave quickly, but there are animals that can’t simply get out of the way. Here are the various effects of hurricanes on animals.
Birds may be able to sense air pressure and other changes in the environment, which encourages them to get out of harm’s way. Some birds will even speed up their migration (迁徙) leaving earlier than usual if a serious hurricane is approaching. However, strong winds can push birds hundreds of miles away from their home. Young or weak birds can become separated from the rest of their group and often have difficulty making it home.
Fish can also be affected. After Hurricane Andrew in 1992, about 184 million fish died in south Louisiana’s Atchafalaya Basin alone. Strong winds blew leaves off trees, blowing them into wetlands. The rotting (腐烂的) organic material to extremely low levels of oxygen in the water, killing the fish. Some fish will often find sheltered areas during hurricanes, but they’re not always safe. Dolphins have occasionally been blown to shore during big hurricanes.
There are many other dangers that come with hurricane-related water. Sharp rise of saltwater onshore can harm wildlife and plants that live in the freshwater and can’t bear the salt content.Heavy rain can also affect the balance of fresh and salt water in some areas, harming the creatures that live in them.
Many animals lose their regular food supply when a hurricane arrives, as strong winds and rains destroy trees of fruits, nuts and berries. During Hurricane Andrew, about one-quarter of Louisiana’s public oyster seed (牡蛎种苗) grounds were destroyed. Because the oysters were an important food source for some birds on Louisiana’s barrier Islands, the birds suffered mass death as a direct result of the hurricane.
1. What can we learn from paragraph 2?| A．Birds are adapting to a changing climate. |
| B．Birds can sense the coming of a hurricane. |
| C．Birds migrate at certain times of every year. |
| D．Birds’ habitats are destroyed by hurricanes. |
| A．Poisonous leaves. | B．Air pollution. |
| C．A lack of oxygen. | D．The loss of shelters. |
| A．Ocean ecosystem is destroyed. |
| B．Sea salt production is reduced. |
| C．Many animals move away from their habitats. |
| D．There would be less fresh water on the earth. |
| A．Animals suffer more than humans during a hurricane |
| B．What happens to animals during a hurricane? |
| C．Why do animals migrate earlier than usual? |
| D．Animals might face serious threats |
5 . “I was dead for 67 minutes. It’s a miracle that I’m here today.” Those are the words of Bruce Richardson, who survived a cardiac arrest (心脏骤停) in July 2016 thanks to the quick actions of his friends and the first responders who refused to give up.
It was an early summer morning, a typical Saturday. Bruce volunteered as usual in the community center. “I had no symptoms that there was any problem. It was a completely normal morning; I felt fine,” he shared. “I was visiting with friends. Then, I passed out. What happened next I know from what others have told me.”
Bruce’s friend, Jack, had learned how to perform CPR, and he quickly began chest compressions. Another friend, Doug, dialed 911 and the operator walked him through compressions until first responders arrived. Once the ambulance arrived, the paramedics tried five times to restart Bruce’s heart with an AED. By this time, Bruce had been without a heartbeat for over 30 minutes, often when time of death is called. On the phone with an emergency room doctor. one of the paramedics was instructed to try two AEDs simultaneously (同时). It worked; Bruce’s heart began to beat again. Incredibly, he awoke the next day and was able to communicate. After a week, Bruce made a full recovery and left the hospital.
Since Bruce’s cardiac arrest, he has since been able to resume a normal life with some differences. He now is a passionate CPR advocate. He has shared his story in the news, and last year he was a guest speaker at the Association’s Indianapolis Heart & Stroke Ball to encourage people to spread the message of CPR. Finally, Bruce shared his story in a video now being used to promote American Heart Association Hands-Only CPR kiosks installed around the country.
1. What made Bruce’s survival from a severe heart attack possible?| A．The doctor’s first aid without delay. |
| B．His friends’ proper guidance on performing CPR. |
| C．His volunteer experiences in the community center. |
| D．The instant actions of his friends and the first responders. |
| A．To advocate the application of CPR. | B．To appeal to more people to volunteer. |
| C．To share his struggle for a normal life. | D．To enhance people’s awareness of fitness. |
| A．Hard work will pay off one day. | B．The knowledge of first aid counts. |
| C．Learning to live in the present matters. | D．Ease your mind when panic arises. |
| A．A research paper. | B．A book review. |
| C．A news report. | D．A course advertisement. |
6 . On March 7, 1907, the English statistician Francis Galton published a paper which illustrated what has come to be known as the “wisdom of crowds” effect. The experiment of estimation he conducted showed that in some cases, the average of a large number of independent estimates could be quite accurate.
This effect capitalizes on the fact that when people make errors, those errors aren’t always the same. Some people will tend to overestimate, and some to underestimate. When enough of these errors are averaged together, they cancel each other out, resulting in a more accurate estimate. If people are similar and tend to make the same errors, then their errors won’t cancel each other out. In more technical terms, the wisdom of crowds requires that people’s estimates be independent. If for whatever reasons, people’s errors become correlated or dependent, the accuracy of the estimate will go down.
But a new study led by Joaquin Navajas offered an interesting twist (转折) on this classic phenomenon. The key finding of the study was that when crowds were further divided into smaller groups that were allowed to have a discussion, the averages from these groups were more accurate than those from an equal number of independent individuals. For instance, the average obtained from the estimates of four discussion groups of five was significantly more accurate than the average obtained from 20 independent individuals.
In a follow-up study with 100 university students, the researchers tried to get a better sense of what the group members actually did in their discussion. Did they tend to go with those most confident about their estimates? Did they follow those least willing to change their minds? This happened some of the time, but it wasn’t the dominant response. Most frequently, the groups reported that they “shared arguments and reasoned together”. Somehow, these arguments and reasoning resulted in a global reduction in error. Although the studies led by Navajas have limitations and many questions remain, the potential implications for group discussion and decision-making are enormous.
1. What is paragraph 2 of the text mainly about?| A．The methods of estimation. | B．The underlying logic of the effect. |
| C．The causes of people’s errors. | D．The design of Galton’s experiment. |
| A．the crowds were relatively small | B．there were occasional underestimates |
| C．individuals did not communicate | D．estimates were not fully independent |
| A．The size of the groups. | B．The dominant members. |
| C．The discussion process. | D．The individual estimates. |
| A．Unclear. | B．Dismissive. | C．Doubtful. | D．Approving. |
7 . As cities balloon with growth, access to nature for people living in urban areas is becoming harder to find. If you’re lucky, there might be a pocket park near where you live, but it’s unusual to find places in a city that are relatively wild.
Past research has found health and wellness benefits of nature for humans, but a new study shows that wildness in urban areas is extremely important for human well-being.
The research team focused on a large urban park. They surveyed several hundred park-goers, asking them to submit a written summary online of a meaningful interaction they had with nature in the park. The researchers then examined these submissions, coding (编码) experiences into different categories. For example, one participant’s experience of “We sat and listened to the waves at the beach for a while” was assigned the categories “sitting at beach” and “listening to waves.”
Across the 320 submissions, a pattern of categories the researchers call a “nature language” began to emerge. After the coding of all submissions, half a dozen categories were noted most often as important to visitors. These include encountering wildlife, walking along the edge of water, and following an established trail.
Naming each nature experience creates a usable language, which helps people recognize and take part in the activities that are most satisfying and meaningful to them. For example, the experience of walking along the edge of water might be satisfying for a young professional on a weekend hike in the park. Back downtown during a workday, they can enjoy a more domestic form of this interaction by walking along a fountain on their lunch break.
“We’re trying to generate a language that helps bring the human-nature interactions back into our daily lives. And for that to happen, we also need to protect nature so that we can interact with it,” said Peter Kahn, a senior author of the study.
1. What phenomenon does the author describe at the beginning of the text?| A．Pocket parks are now popular. | B．Wild nature is hard to find in cities. |
| C．Many cities are overpopulated. | D．People enjoy living close to nature. |
| A．To compare different types of park-goers. | B．To explain why the park attracts tourists. |
| C．To analyze the main features of the park. | D．To find patterns in the visitors’ summaries. |
| A．Walking is the best way to gain access to nature. |
| B．Young people are too busy to interact with nature. |
| C．The same nature experience takes different forms. |
| D．The nature language enhances work performance. |
| A．Language study. | B．Environmental conservation. |
| C．Public education. | D．Intercultural communication. |
8 . From learning about protecting wild animals and natural habitats to reading about the effects of recycling, books are perfect for showing people how to get involved. Here are four of such books.
Tall Trees
Describing the wildlife that lives in Northern California’s redwood forests, it turns story time into a counting lesson as readers count all the creatures in the forests. Readers will also love remembering Tony Frederick’s playful poetry about the animals of the forest.
Save the Bees
Bethany Stahl has a whole series of “Save the...” books, and they all have great lessons for readers. The explanations are fun and perfect for animal lovers who want to learn how to make a difference. On her website, she even has links to free books, which are great resources for parents or teachers.
My Friend Earth
The message of this book, written by Patricia MacLachlan, is beautiful and simple, encouraging kids to learn about Earth and all that it does. It has acute die-cut (模切) design, which is fun for little hands to explore, although those under 4 might need some help. It covers a wide range of topics and will help kids gain an appreciation for everything from rain and wind to bears and birds.
Thank You, Earth
The author of this book, April Pulley Sayre, has written many award-winning books, and this one is truly special. It was written in a letter format (格式), thanking Earth for so many great natural moments. You’ll find beautiful pictures in this book.
1. Whose book includes poems about wildlife?| A．April Pulley Sayre’s. | B．Bethany Stahl’s. |
| C．Patricia MacLachlan’s. | D．Tony Frederick’s. |
| A．Tall Trees. | B．Save the Bees. |
| C．My Friend Earth. | D．Thank You, Earth. |
| A．It has a special theme. | B．It is in the form of a letter. |
| C．It is based on real events. | D．It targets at teenagers. |
9 . As people continue to use the Internet more, they share more information about themselves. It is important to protect yourself and stay safe online.
Besides, although our generation is often thought of as experienced in using social media, many people use the same password for their logins (登录).
While these tips can help you stay safe from getting hacked, you may still be hacked.
| A．First, you should keep your devices safe. |
| B．All things can cover the world in a moment. |
| C．It makes you wonder if they mean what they say. |
| D．Social media is also an easy place to learn more about you. |
| E．When this happens, it is important to change your passwords at once. |
| F．And make sure not to share sensitive information like your birthday or age. |
| G．This makes it easy for hackers to get your information with just one password. |
10 . My 15-year-old boy is a high achiever. He is very bright, pursuing everything he does with devotion and determination. And he is a great kid; honest, kind, faithful and caring.
Like a lot of kids who are high achievers, he is a perfectionist and very easy to fall into anxiety. That is manifested in his study, and other things he does as well. For example, he loves tennis but he is often worried about losing in the game. Now he has to stop competing because the pressure he puts on himself is becoming unhealthy. He still plays, but playing socially rather than competitively means that it’s an outlet for him rather than a source of stress.
He does not manage stress well. He puts so much pressure on himself to the point of worrying himself sick over just about every assessment. And he gets so negative about it, everything I say to him is met with negativity, every suggestion with a response that it won’t work, and honestly it’s depressing and tiring.
To help my son, I had a patient conversation with him, and he finally followed my advice about physical exercise to ease stress. Whenever he was under a lot of pressure, I would run with him for half an bour and do some push-ups to relax the pressure. Gradually, he became less nervous in the later exams and his scores became more and more stable.
Pressure from grades and perfectionism can be really hard to manage when it comes to schooling. As kids, what they need is effective communication and sincere encouragement. So I have always told and shown my son that we’re proud of him, and that pride doesn’t merely depend on top grades.
1. Which of the following best explains “manifested” underlined in paragraph 2?| A．Exchanged. | B．Explored. | C．Achieved. | D．Reflected. |
| A．He is a high achiever. | B．He’s easy to fall sick. |
| C．He hopes to release stress. | D．He wants to win the game. |
| A．His son fails to handle stress properly. | B．His son becomes tired of stress. |
| C．His son is good at some sports. | D．His son is doing well at school. |
| A．Taking up a new hobby. | B．Hanging out with some friends. |
| C．Doing some exercise with him. | D．Talking to friends as much as possible. |
