6 . Traffic lights are red, yellow and green. They are very important signals (信号). Traffic lights are usually placed at busy street corners to help control traffic. Sometimes, they are on streets near schools and shops, too. Most young children are taught what each of the colored lights means, so everybody can stay safe.

The first traffic signals were used for trains. The signals were put alongside railway tracks (轨道). The color red was used to mean “stop” because it warned people of danger. A red light was also the easiest color to see from a distance. Train drivers could see the red “stop” light ahead and had enough time to slow down and stop their trains. A green light was used to mean “take care” and a white light meant “go”.

However, there were many dangerous accidents on the train tracks. Some train drivers thought a star shining in the night sky was a white light that meant “go”. So the signals were swapped. The “go” light was changed to green and the “take care” light was changed to white.

During these times, people travelled by train or in carts pulled by horses. Years later, when cars were built, people began to drive them because they could travel much faster than horses. However, the road rules for drivers were not very clear and many people were hurt crossing the roads. Yellow warning signs had to be placed beside the roads to remind drivers to take care and allow people to cross safely.

Today, towns and cities all over the world have traffic lights. Red and green lights match the signals used on the railways. Yellow lights are easy to see, so they are used to warn drivers that they should slow down and prepare to stop.

1. Why was the color red used to mean “stop”?

A．It gave people a warning of danger.

B．It was the first color people thought of.

C．It reminded people of traffic rules.

D．It helped trains run smoothly.

2. What does the underlined word “swapped” in Paragraph 3 mean?

A．Designed.

B．Suggested.

C．Compared.

D．Exchanged.

3. In which order did the “take care” light develop?
a. A white light.            b. A green light.          c. A yellow light.

A．a—b—c	B．b—c—a
C．b—a—c	D．a—c—b

4. What is the passage mainly about?

A．The importance of traffic lights.	B．The meanings of traffic lights.
C．The advantages of traffic lights.	D．The history of traffic lights.

7 . School buses are familiar to most people. However, Sam Balto, an elementary school teacher, creates a brand-new ______ of school buses in Portland, Oreg. ______ loading kids into the yellow vehicles, he involves them in a school “bike bus”. The bike bus ______ differently from the way school buses do. There’re two meetup locations for kids. After the two groups ______, the children cycle to school together.

Though popular in some areas, bike buses are still ______ in the U.S. Balto’s idea for that began as an initiative for Earth Day, which surprisingly became a ______, with most students in Balto’s school participating. Then he decided to ______ . Now ______ the bike bus in action. “Kids ______ the ride. Parents notice on bike bus mornings, kids get up and out of home ______. They’ re eager to be with friends,” said Balto. Actually, its ______    go beyond promoting socializing. The physical activity helps ______ kids’ strength and it’s also climate action.

Right now, Balto feels it’s ______ to offer the bike bus once a week and he’s relying on volunteers and seeking official ______. “It can be a daily way to transport kids if cities or schools pay adults to lead it,” Balto explained. If possible, he encourages other Portland schools to ______ them. “More kids across the city should have such pleasant experiences.”

1.

A．signal

B．approach

C．version

D．function

2.

A．As for

B．Rather than

C．Regardless of

D．Apart from

3.

A．operates

B．moves

C．appears

D．matches

4.

A．agree

B．gather

C．return

D．begin

5.

A．complex

B．necessary

C．practical

D．rare

6.

A．hit

B．reminder

C．task

D．routine

7.

A．upgrade

B．manage

C．continue

D．examine

8.

A．indicates

B．witnesses

C．reflects

D．changes

9.

A．understand

B．join

C．share

D．enjoy

10.

A．consciously

B．freely

C．actively

D．naturally

11.

A．aims

B．benefits

C．features

D．challenges

12.

A．build up

B．draw on

C．get back

D．let out

13.

A．uncertain

B．unsafe

C．inexpensive

D．inadequate

14.

A．guidance

B．announcement

C．investment

D．permission

15.

A．recommend

B．accompany

C．assist

D．follow

9 . On the eve of this week’s rail strikes, it was reported that the industry bosses are planning to weed out paper train tickets and close almost 1,000 station ticket offices in England. The transport secretary, Grant Shapps, has made no secret of his desire to see costs saved in this way. Some stations sell only a handful of tickets each week and the vast majority of transactions(交易) have moved online.

In the name of cost-cutting, station ticket offices are likely to follow the telephone booth on the comer and become memory. For those who have grown used to the benefits of organizing travel via smartphones, there will be little to feel sorry for. But for people without online access or skills―who tend to be older, poorer, and more fragile-another social barrier will have been built.

From medical appointments to payment apps for parking, more and more key services are now delivered digitally. As this revolution takes place, the interests of a significant minority are being ignored to some extent. In the case of health and social care, for example, it will often be those most in need of assistance who are least able to employ electronic devices.

The debate over ticket offices offers an opportunity to reflect more broadly on the increasing role of technology in our social landscape. The unavoidable trend towards technology is predictable, but its possible consequences need to be managed with more care. With the expanding range and increasing complexity of digital requirements, the aged are gradually withdrawing from increasing social services in their lives. Ros Altmann, the former pensions minister, recently wrote of being contacted by an elderly woman who no longer drives to her local park, because she cannot download the car parking app required.

Much more needs to be invested in helping gain easy online access. Alternative offline options must be maintained for important services. Contactable telephone numbers of relevant staff should always be available. These will cost more. But that is the price of digital transformation.

1. Why are the station ticket offices in England planned for closure?

A．To cut down some expenses.	B．To minimize the use of public transportation.
C．To increase related job opportunities.	D．To make changes to the paper train tickets.

2. Why does the author mention “the telephone booth” in Paragraph 2?

A．To indicate ticket office s will become a thing of the past.

B．To miss the old memories when telephone booths were in use.

C．To show tick el offices are more fashionable than telephone booths.

D．To describe the negative impact of telephone booths on ticket offices.

3. Which of the following suggestions is NOT mentioned about digital transformation?

A．Necessary phone services.	B．More diverse online services.
C．More convenient online access.	D．Alternative of l line transactions.

4. What is the passage mainly about?

A．The importance and classification of digital services.

B．The views and attitudes of the elderly towards technology.

C．The advantages and shortcomings of station ticket offices.

D．The division and inconvenience caused by digital transformation.

10 . 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。

Bullet trains tailored (量身定做) for the high-speed railway network linking the Indonesian cities of Jakarta and Bandung are unveiled (公开) in Eastern China, marking an important milestone of the project     1     preparing for the line’s scheduled opening, China Railway International says.

A total of 11 sets of bullet trains and an inspection train, all adopting Chinese standards, are showcased in Qingdao, Shandong Province. They     2     (ship) to Indonesia soon.

According to China Railway International, a subsidiary (子公司) of China State Railway Group,     3     is overseeing the project, the trains, designed and developed by CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co, Ltd, are based on     4     (advance) and mature technologies of China-made Fuxing bullet trains which operate at the speed of 350 km per hour. The CRRC has also made    5     (change) to adapt to the local environment and routes, as well as incorporating (融入) Indonesia’s cultural elements     6     (give) passengers more comfortable traveling experience.

The 243-kilometer-line,     7     landmark project of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative,     8     (begin) construction in 2018 and is expected to open to traffic in June, 2023.

With trains capable of     9     (reach) speeds of up to 350 km per hour, the line will cut the journey between Jakarta and the capital of Indonesia’s West Java Province from over three hours     10     just 40 minutes.