2 . At school last Thursday, I sat next to a girl who was coughing. I covered my mouth to protect myself from the cold. However, the moment I got home, I knew those germs (病菌) had gotten to me. I had a headache. My mom checked my temperature. Sure enough, I had a fever. My dad asked me to stay home from school until I got better. I was feeling down because I had a science test the next day, and I didn’t want to miss it.
The next day, my dad took me to the doctor’s. The doctor said I had the flu (流感). He advised me to get a lot of rest, drink hot and take some medicine. While at home, I slept most of the day. When I woke up, I tried to study for my science test. However, I couldn’t stay awake long enough to study. At that moment, resting was more important than studying.
After being home from school for four days, I finally felt better and returned to my classroom. My teacher, Mrs. Jenkins, gave me the science test I had missed earlier. She sent me into another classroom to finish it while my class went over the answers together. I knew I was going to have a lot of makeup work, but at least I was feeling healthy enough to take the test. Great!
1. The writer got sick because__________.| A．he slept little every night |
| B．he studied hard for a test |
| C．he got germs inside him at school |
| D．he had a headache |
| A．Worried | B．Happy | C．Bored | D．Nervous |
| A．The flu got me! | B．Go back to school! |
| C．A strict teacher | D．A science test |
3 . The Biggest Events in the States
Mardi Gras
Mobile, Alabama
Attendance: One million
Believe it or not, the Mardi Gras celebration in Mobile is even older than the one in New Orleans since this Gulf Coast city has much of the same French and Cajun culture as the latter. The celebration dates back to 1703 and includes nearly a month of parades, running from mid-January up through Late February.
Mount Marathon Race
Seward, Alaska
Attendance: 40, 000
This 103-year old tradition is the 10th-oldest foot race in America, but it’s by far the most scenic. The short-but-dangerous competition is held every July 4, racing up the side of Seward’s Mount Marathon through cliffs, waterfalls, and breathtaking views of southeast Alaska. Once at the top, racers look back down to the finish line with top finishers completing the three-mile roundtrip in just over 40 minutes.
Little Rock Riverfest
Little Rock, Arkansas
Attendance: 100, 000—200, 000
This annual music festival held along the Arkansas River has been running for over 40 years, bringing some of the biggest names in rock music. The festival runs every Memorial Day weekend, and this year featured Peter Frampton, Young the Giant, and Highly Suspect.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Norwich, Connecticut
Attendance: 300,000
In just five short years, little Norwich, Connecticut, has developed one of the biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the country, with an estimated 300, 000 people coming to this town of 40, 000 for bagpipes, beer, and plenty of Irish food. The mile-long parade is held on March 4, the early date giving people with other St. Patrick’s plans the chance to have two holidays, which might be a big reason for its popularity.
1. What do Mobile and New Orleans have in common?| A．They are coastal cities. |
| B．They have large populations. |
| C．They are related to French culture. |
| D．They enjoy a history of about 300 years. |
| A．It has the most participants of all. |
| B．Racers see striking scenery along the way. |
| C．Racers run great risks on the mountaintop. |
| D．It is the oldest marathon event in America. |
| A．Mardi Gras. | B．Little Rock Riverfest. |
| C．Mount Marathon Race. | D．St. Patrick’s Day Parade. |
A skywell, or “tian jing” in Chinese, is a typical feature of a traditional home in Southern and Eastern China. They are commonly seen in homes
Since decades ago, the government
The fact that skywells still exist today shows
5 . How to stay healthy on holiday
Taking time to relax on holiday may be good for our health.
Plan before you go
Besides the stress of organizing your break in the first place, there’s the added anxiety of remembering to buy and pack everything you need, as well as getting where you need to go on time. To avoid this, as soon as you’ve booked your holiday, list the travel documents you’ll need. Check you have them and they’re valid (有效的). Then start packing several weeks in advance, giving yourself time to buy some daily necessities.
Try to forget the cares of everyday life. You can achieve this by ensuring you don’t check emails or social media, or feel obligated to use it to record your best holiday moments. Ideally, turn off notices, limit your screen time and try to focus on the present moment. That will enable you to relax and make special memories.
Eat and drink well and mindfully
Get active
Try a new activity. Consider walking and swimming or tennis.
| A．Ignore all the barriers in life |
| B．Get rid of the digital addiction |
| C．But there’s a physical reason for this |
| D．However, too much relaxation also has opposite effects |
| E．Part of the fun of going away is experiencing the cuisine of other places |
| F．On departure day, leave more time than you need to get to an airport or port |
| G．If you’re somewhere hot, it’s best to work out in the early morning or evening |
6 . With the rising cost of living, a growing number of adult children are moving back in with their parents. While lots of parents will enjoy the chance to spend more time with their grown-up children, having them move back in can also cause some problems.
Sit down and talk
While the situation is clearly hard for the parents, Counselling Directory member Octavia Landy advises them to take a step back. “
When things get heated, it can be easy to just storm off and not really hear each other out. But every effort needs to be made, on both sides, to properly listen. “As parents, you need a cool head,” suggests Landy. “Bring the conversation back to the matter at hand, and listen to your kids.”
Set clear boundaries (界限)
“Boundaries and communication lie at the heart of this difficult situation,” says Landy. “At the moment, it feels as if no boundaries will lead to a sense of anger on your part. Consider what your boundaries look like.
Ask yourself what you need to feel happy in your home
Landy suggests parents ask themselves what they need to feel happy and safe in their home—and the answer might be a difficult one to come to terms with. “It might mean that you need to ask your kids to leave,” she says. “
| A．So, what can parents do |
| B．Put everything in good order |
| C．Be prepared to listen patiently |
| D．Are they cheered by the news from home |
| E．You’d better set a proper time for a family meeting |
| F．Work together to set basic rules and a timeline to be reviewed |
| G．If you fear your kids get homeless, then address these fears directly |
1. adj.焦虑的；不安的
2. on average
3. n. 志愿者
4. immediately
5. vi. & vt.申请；请求 vt. 应用；涂
6. donate ...to
7. n. 智慧;才智
8. worthwhile
9. vt. 欣赏；重视；vi.增值
10. positive
8 . Finding a California condor in the wild would be the most unusual treat. perhaps even more unusual than finding a wolf in Yellowstone National Park. In fact, the wolf was what opened my eyes to the fact that humans could bring an animal back to the place where it had disappeared.
In 1987, there were only 27 California condors left, none of which were in the wild, only in captive breeding programs, It was those breeding programs that contributed to their population rise, enough that by 1991 some of them could be freed into the wild.
Still, the hope of seeing a California condor, which remains an endangered species, is very low, let alone getting a photo of one. California condor population dropped mostly due to human factors, such as poaching and living areas destruction-these are challenges California condors still face today.
Although this is just a bird’s-eye view of the challenges California condors face and there are many others, it is part of why the opportunity to work with the US Fish and Wildlife Service team and their partners helping their recovery is so special to me as a photographer. I am not only able to photograph the birds in their wild living areas, but also understand and record how difficult the work is of those people on the front lines of the protection.
I am grateful for the work of the team, and my hope is that California condor population will continue to rise allowing future generations an opportunity I never had when I first got here-to look to the sky and see one flying around.
1. What helped the increase of the California condor population in 1987?| A．Rules for hunters. | B．Captive breeding programs. |
| C．The improved natural environment. | D．The enlargement of wild living areas. |
| A．It is difficult. | B．It is easy. | C．It is boring. | D．It is dangerous. |
| A．He guided ways for them. | B．He made records by photos. |
| C．He helped the birds to recover. | D．He rebuilt the birds’ living areas. |
| A．New Way, New Hope | B．Wolves and California Condors |
| C．A Photo of a California Condor | D．The California Condor’s Coming Back |
9 . English history is vast, from its rule under the Romans to the rise, heights and decline of the British Empire. When choosing a book to recommend on my country’s history, I wanted something that could summarize this sweeping history but didn’t get stuck in the details of things that hold me back from thoroughly engaging with this truly rich history. Then, I found Dominic Haynes’ A Brief History of England. It had just what I was looking for and was a real joy to read.
The book is a whistle-stop tour through the whole of English history, from its earliest people to the movement of settlers from Europe. It looks at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, Elizabeth I’s reign (统治) and the lasting impact of Shakespeare. Then it touches on the English Civil Wars and the shift of rule from kings and queens to the parliament (议会) running the country and the establishment of the political parties of the Whigs (辉格党) and Tories (托利党) still functioning today in some form as the currently ruling Conservative Party (保守党). It also covers the Napoleonic Wars and the world wars and even contemplates (思考) England’s post-Brexit (脱欧后的) present and future.
This really is quite the sweeping tome. However, it’s very short. This means it’s easy to navigate and get a hold of a huge amount of history, but it also means it’s very light on the details. At times, this can be frustrating, as there are parts where it feels like just another paragraph or page would really elevate this book. But for an introduction to English history or perhaps a reminder or refresher, it’s great and particularly useful as it is likely to fill in some gaps in your knowledge.
Furthermore, because of the pace of the book, there’s not a dull moment. It’s a real page-turner, covering the succession (交替) of kings and queens, wars, famines (饥荒) and changes in the social order of the country at home and the country’s influence across the world.
One reviewer on Amazon described the book as “a small masterpiece”, and said, “This is a great book for anyone who wants to get a crash course in English history or for those who want a quick reference to that subject.”
So, jump in, dear readers, and get a hold of what made England what it was, what it went on to be, and where it may stand in our global future.
1. What is the main focus of Dominic Haynes’ A Brief History of England?| A．Detailed exploration of England’s political parties. |
| B．An introduction to the British Empire’s rise and fall. |
| C．A brief overview of England’s historical shifts and events. |
| D．In-depth analysis of England’s post-Brexit policies. |
| A．Its pace is slow and frustrating. |
| B．There’s a shortage of information on wars. |
| C．It dives too deeply into political complexities. |
| D．It lacks detailed information due to its shortness. |
| A．A book that is exciting to read. | B．A book that has lots of pages to turn. |
| C．A book that is easy to understand. | D．A book that is complicated. |
| A．Jump into the UK’s past. | B．The ebb and flow of the UK. |
| C．The significance of studying the UK’s history. | D．The UK, you always live in people’s hearts. |
10 . For as long as I can remember, I’ve had animals in my life. These days, there are four small companions: three dogs and an eight-year-old brown Burmese cat called Soo. I love them all dearly and they are the best company possible. They greet me warmly each time I come home, never complain and never get angry or argue with me. I have, though, discovered recently, after all these years of never being without a pet, there are unexpected risks of living with animals.
This year, I’ve spent four weeks in hospital, thanks to the cat. I felt such a fool telling the doctors that the terrible bruising (擦伤) and growing lump (肿块) in the middle of my right foot was due to my cat misbehaving.
It was a Sunday night. I’d had friends for lunch and was in the kitchen clearing up. I’d emptied and washed a heavy glass ashtray (烟灰缸), which I’d placed on the side. Soo knows she’s not allowed on the kitchen surfaces. Yet, she jumped up, marched towards the ashtray, and knocked it off. I like to think she didn’t know my foot was directly in her line of fire, but it was. I cried with pain. I couldn’t see any obvious wound and the ashtray survived the fall. I thought nothing more of it.
I’ve never seen such bruising as appeared the next day, but I carried on. I had work to do. It wasn’t too painful and surely the bruising would go away eventually. I carried on like that for a couple of weeks until a visit from my son, who thought the lump had grown and could be infected, so demanded I take a trip to the hospital.
As for forgiveness, there’s nothing to forgive. It’s my fault the ashtray was too close to the edge. There’ll still be treats and toys prepared for my pets under the Christmas tree.
1. What has the writer found recently about having pets?| A．Pets are the best company possible. | B．Pets may bring danger to their owners. |
| C．Pets never complain or argue with people. | D．Dogs and cats are great pets in people’s life. |
| A．I was grateful to my cat Soo. | B．I was made fun of by doctors. |
| C．I only suffered some bruising. | D．I stayed in hospital for several weeks. |
| A．My son took my wound more seriously. |
| B．Soo didn’t knock off the ashtray on purpose. |
| C．It happened when I was cooking in the kitchen. |
| D．I took a trip to the hospital right after the accident. |
| A．Love them all to bits. | B．Hate their misbehaviors. |
| C．Understand their feelings. | D．Complain about their company. |
