1 . Hell comes to Pearl Harbor

It was Sunday, December 7,1941. As usual, the wake­up call came at 5:45 a.m. The men aboard the warship USS Arizona stretched and rubbed their eyes. Seaman Russell Warriner was awakened by Quartermaster Louis Conter. Russell made his bed and helped clean the huge, shared room. The men went to the washroom, dressed in their uniforms and sat down to breakfast. It looked like it would be a normal day on board the ship.

But nobody ate their breakfast: at that moment, there was a huge crashing sound from above. The ship shook violently and the men looked at each other in horror. Above their heads, hundreds of Japanese planes circled like eagles. They were diving down to drop bombs on Pearl Harbor. The scream of their engines was deafening. As bombs thundered all around, clouds of black smoke rose into the sky and hung over the sea. Russell felt his blood freeze, but he quickly came to himself and rushed up to the deck. Moments later, a bomb hit the USS Arizona and Russell was thrown more than 100 meters across the ship. He suffered serious burns on his hands, arms and legs, and watched many of his friends die.

Louis, meanwhile, also standing on the deck, was lucky not to be thrown into the sea. With only minor injuries, he was able to help others who were severely burnt and in terrible pain. After receiving the order to abandon ship, Louis saved more men from the water, dragging them into the lifeboat. In the chaos and confusion after the attack, the US Navy sent a message to his family that Louis had been killed in the attack. Luckily, he was able to get in touch with them before the message arrived. Despite his remarkable actions, Louis did not think that he was a hero. “The heroes are the ones that gave their lives that day,” he said.

Russell was saved from the water, but he was badly burnt, bleeding heavily. Fortunately, he was taken to hospital and survived. For many years, Russell refused to talk about what happened that morning, describing it simply as “hell”. His wife Elsa said, “When he opened up later on, he always mentioned the horror of it.”

Louis and Russell would never forget the terrible scene of the attack, but they were fortunate enough to be among the few survivors from the Arizona. Nobody had expected the bombing. Japan had hatched a plot to launch a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, so the attack began without warning and without declaring war on the United States. The attack destroyed nearly 20 American ships and over 180 airplanes. In total, more than 2,000 American people were killed and over 1,000 others were wounded that day. More than 1,000 people aboard the Arizona lost their lives. Out of 37 sets of brothers, Russell and his brother were the only full pair to survive the attack．

The surprise attack came as a great shock to the whole nation. The next day, President Roosevelt delivered his famous Pearl Harbor Speech, in which he described December 7 as “a date which will live in infamy” and asked that the US Congress declare war on Japan. In response to the attack and the president’s address, the United States joined the Second World War.

Today, the USS Arizona lies where it sank: in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Its location is marked with a memorial shaped like a bridge, which crosses the ship’s sunken remains . Each year, more than two million people visit the memorial. They come to see the shadow of the ship at the bottom of Pearl Harbor, to learn about the attack, to show respect for those who had lost their lives in the attack and to pray for world peace. Although about eight decades has passed, the attack on Pearl Harbor, one of the darkest episodes in American history, will never be forgotten.

1. When did Japanese planes attack Pearl Harbor?

A．In the morning.	B．At noon.
C．In the afternoon.	D．At midnight.

2. What can we know about Russell and Louis from the passage?

A．Russell lost his hands, arms and legs in the attack.

B．Russell was seriously burned in the attack.

C．Louis’s family were sad to hear that he was killed.

D．Louis was proud of his remarkable actions.

3. Which of the following words can best describe Louis?

A．Kind and skilled.

B．Helpful and clever.

C．Brave and clever.

D．Brave and modest.

4. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to Paragraph 5?

A．Many American ships and airplanes were destroyed in the attack.

B．More than 1,000 people aboard the Arizona were killed.

C．2,000 Americans were killed and 1,000 others were wounded in the war.

D．Both Russell and his brother survived the attack.

3 . 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。

World Philosophy Day is every year on the third Thursday of November. The day is     1     (celebrate) the importance and role of philosophy in our lives. This year, it fell on Nov 18.

The word “philosophy” comes from Greek,     2    (mean)“love of wisdom". Through philosophy, we try to find answers to basic questions about the world and     3     (we).

It may sound broad and profound, but in fact it arises out of our     4     (curious) and is shown     5    all aspects of our daily lives. Take the turtle in Kung Fu Panda as an example. He once said that: "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is     6     it's called the present." He provides us with a new perspective of time. Can we say he is not a philosopher?

Philosophy     7     (bring) great social development so far. For thousands of years, people were doing what they     8     (tell) to. No one questioned if it was right or wrong.     9    2,500 years ago, Greek philosopher Socrates started to ask “Why?" and “Is this the best way?"     10     (gradual), humans entered a time of active and rational (理性的) thinking.

4 . The remains of a huge building from ancient Greece have been discovered by underwater researchers working at a site of a historic battle that took place 2,500 years ago.

The monumental construction was found in the shallow waters off the coast of Salamis during excavation (挖掘) work that took place in June and July last year. The Greek Culture Ministry, which announced the discovery, said it dates back to the time of the Battle of Salamis — a naval battle between Greek and Persian states. Underwater researchers were carrying out a study of the area when they found the remains in the shallow waters. They believed it was a large public building that was used until the late Roman times, in the third century C.E.

The researchers said it would likely have been one of the main public buildings in the area. The team found many other features relating to the building and marble sculptures. This, the ministry said, appears to date back to the fourth century B.C.E.

During the 2018 study, the researchers used a new technique where a flexible barrier was constructed, allowing them to drain (排水) the area being excavated, get a better view of the site and take samples of the remains, helping them date the building.

The discovery of the building is important as it is helping the researchers reconstruct the geography of the area 2,500 years ago. At this time — 480 B.C.E.— the Battle of Salamis took place in the straits between Salamis Island and mainland Greece. Following successful invasions (入侵) by the Persian army, the Greek ships had withdrawn to Salamis. At this point Themistocles, a politician and general, convinced Greek friends to fight, a report of the battle by the U.K.’s Cardiff University notes. The Persians thought they had the advantage. They entered the straits of Salamis with a view to blocking the entrance. However, their large ships failed to operate well in the tight waterways and the Greeks were victorious. After this win, the Greeks defeated the Persians in several other key battles, ending the period of invasion.

1. What can be learned about the huge building?

A．It was ruined during a naval battle.

B．It was still used after Roman times.

C．It was built after the Battle of Salamis.

D．It was discovered in the shallow waters.

2. What’s paragraph 4 mainly about?

A．Why the researchers built a barrier.

B．How the researchers drained the area.

C．Why the researchers dated the building.

D．How the researchers conducted the study.

3. What’s the meaning of studying the remains?

A．It tells people of a great politician’s achievements.

B．It shows why the Persian army carried out invasions.

C．It helps the researchers know what the area used to be like.

D．It confirms the report by the U.K.’s Cardiff University.

4. What do we know about the Battle of Salamis?

A．It ended with the Greeks’ victory.

B．It put an end to the Persians’ invasion.

C．It took place in the mainland of Greece.

D．It forced the Persians to abandon their ships.

6 . Once Popular Sports in Ancient Capital Xi'an

The ancient capital Xi'an in Northwest China's Shaanxi province is holding the National Games. As the capital of 13 dynasties throughout Chinese history, the ancient city has never been far from sports. Starting from the Western Zhou Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty, the city has held many sports events.

Cuju: Origin of modern soccer

Cuju was an ancient Chinese competitive game involving kicking a ball through an opening into a net. As the ancestor of soccer, it first appeared in the renowned ancient Chinese historical work Zhan Guo Ce（“Strategies of the Warring States”）, which describedCuju as a form of entertainment among the general public. Later, cuju was commonly played in the army for military training purposes, during the Han Dynasty.

Jiaodi: Chinese-style wrestling

Sumo, known as Japan's “national sport”, actually started in ancient China. Sumo was called jiaodi or jiaoli in ancient times. Ancient jiaodi,a Chinese-style wrestling, was performed by athletes wearing ox horns and wrestling with each other imitating wild oxen. During the Sui and Tang dynasties, jiaodi was highly favored by emperors. In the Tang Dynasty, jiaodi was part of military training and a kind of entrainment and athletic sports.

Jiju: Ancient polo

Jiju is a sport which uses a stick to hit balls while riding on a horse, pretty similar to modern polo. It was popular in the royal court and among common people in the Tang Dynasty. There were many fields for playing polo in the court and it was also a major military training program in the army. In the Tang Dynasty capital, there were formal polo courts, such as the stadium pavilion in Chang' an palace.

Archery

During ancient times, the origin of archery was closely related with hunting and defense. Ancient archery was not only an athletic event,a military training program, and an entertainment activity, but also part of education. As early as in Zhou Dynasty, the archery was listed as one of the six practical disciplines, also called the Six Arts, becoming an important and competitive form.

1. Which was popular in the army during the Han Dynasty?

A．Cuju.	B．Jiaodi.
C．Jiju.	D．Archery.

2. How did people play Jiju in Tang Dynasty?

A．Only by riding a horse.

B．By hitting balls wearing ox horns.

C．By kicking a ball through an opening into a net.

D．By hitting balls while riding on a horse with a stick.

3. What did the four games have in common?

A．They were only for entertainment.

B．They all disappeared late gradually.

C．They were military training programs.

D．They all originated from Han Dynasty.

7 . 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.

The first underground in the world

During the first half of the 19th century, people in London were conveyed to and around the city centre by horse­drawn buses, trams, cabs and carriages. But the vehicles resulted in traffic jams,     1    led to the development of the underground system.

In 1854, the government     2    (give) approval to the construction of an underground railway. However, because     3    lack of money the digging was postponed until 1860. Then, another section was opened. As     4    (good) ways of digging tunnels were developed, more and more underground lines were constructed. Having seen the disadvantages of the underground lines     5    (belong) to different companies, Charles Yerkes undertook improving this situation by placing all the lines under the authority of     6    same board.

During World War Ⅱ， the underground system had some     7    (usual) uses, such as bomb shelters. After World War Ⅱ， it     8    (enlarge) to meet the need.

And the last line     9    (add) was constructed in honour of the 25th anniversary of Elizabeth Ⅱ becoming the queen. Today the network of the underground system has expanded     10    (great) and become more popular.

8 . In 1944, 730 representatives from 44 allied (同盟) nations met in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, just as World War Ⅱ was ending. They were attending an important conference. This mostly forgotten event shaped our modern world because the Bretton Woods Conference agreed on the establishment of an international banking system.

To make sure that all nations would be successful, the United States and other allied nations set rules for a postwar international economy. The Bretton Woods system created the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The IMF was founded as a kind of global central bank from which member countries could borrow money. The countries needed money to pay for their war costs. Today, the IMF promotes international trade by guaranteeing the stability of the international currency and financial system.

The Bretton Woods system also set up the World Bank. Although the World Bank shares similarities with IMF, the two institutes remain distinct. While the IMF keeps an orderly system of payments and receipts between nations, the World Bank is mainly a development institution. The World Bank initially gave loans to European countries ruined by World War Ⅱ, and today it lends money and technical assistance specifically to economic projects in developing countries. Its goal is to “bridge the economic divide between poor and rich countries.”

These two specific accomplishments of the Bretton Woods Conference were major. However, the Bretton Woods system particularly benefited the United States and it placed the U.S. dollar as the global currency. A global currency is one that countries worldwide accept for all trade, or international transactions (交易) of buying and selling. Because only the U.S. could print dollars, the United States became the primary power behind the IMF and the World Bank. Today, global currencies include the U.S. dollar, the euro (European Union countries), and yen (Japan).

The years after Bretton Woods have been considered the golden age of the U.S. dollar. More importantly, the conference deeply shaped foreign trade for decades to come.

1. For what purpose was the Bretton Woods Conference held?

A．To shape our modern world.	B．To set up IMF and the World Bank.
C．To help allied nations to pay for their war costs.	D．To guarantee the success of all allied nations.

2. What does the difference between IMF and the World Bank mainly lie in?

A．Their accomplishments.	B．Their functions.
C．Their founders.	D．Their influence.

3. What does the underlined part “These two specific accomplishments” in paragraph 4 refer to?

A．The foundation of IMF and the World Bank.	B．The international currency and financial system.
C．Currency cooperation and financial stability.	D．Developing countries and the entire word.

4. It can be inferred that________.

A．Bretton Woods increased U.S. economic influence around the world

B．the IMF and the World Bank work closely together to guarantee success

C．the conclusion of World War Ⅱ had little influence on events at Bretton Woods

D．the conference organizers recognized the need for markets to function in-dependently

9 . On July 31, 1697, a French lawyer named Jacques Sennacques wrote a message to remind a cousin in the Netherlands to send him a relative’s death certificate. To prevent others from reading the message, the note was carefully folded, or “letter locked.” The technique was used before the invention of envelopes. However, for reasons unknown, the note never reached the recipient and was instead stored in a postmaster’s trunk, where it remained undetected for centuries. Now, a team of international researchers has deciphered (破译) the contents of the over 300-year-old sealed letter — without opening it!

The chain of events leading to this technology began in 2015 when MIT expert Jana Dambrogio got a call from Daniel Starza Smith, a researcher at King’s College London. “He asked me, ‘What would you do if I told you there was a trunk with 600 unopened letters?’”

The trunk had once belonged to 17th-century postmaster Simon de Brienne. Historians believe the post office stored the undelivered letters. That’s because, in the 17th century, it was the recipient, not the sender, who bore the postage cost. When Brienne died in 1707, he donated the trunk of letters to an orphanage. Somehow, the trunk eventually made its way to the postal museum, where it lay until recently.

Since opening the letters would destroy them, Dambrogio and her team decided to develop technology to unseal them virtually. They began by using a high-resolution X-ray scanner to create a detailed three-dimensional image of a sealed letter. While the writing inside showed up very clearly, the numerous layers of folded paper pressed close together caused the words to overlap (重叠).

To solve the issue, the researchers created sophisticated algorithm (算法) capable of deciphering the writing in the cleverly folded letter, crease by crease. The virtual opening allowed the team to read the contents “while preserving letter locking evidence.” The algorithm took almost five years to perfect. Once perfected, they used it to open four locked letters and fully decode(解码) the one from Sennacques.

1. What can we learn from the first paragraph?

A．Quite a few people could write letters.	B．Envelopes were not invented in 1697.
C．Jacques Sennacques was a postmaster.	D．Researchers couldn’t figure out the letter.

2. Why did the post office store the undelivered letters?

A．To get paid.	B．To find the senders.
C．To save the cost.	D．To scan the letters.

3. We can conclude that the folded letters________.

A．were badly damaged	B．were all decoded
C．remained very fresh	D．were very fragile

4. How did the researchers decode the letter from Sennacques?

A．Physically.

B．Chemically.

C．Occasionally.

D．Digitally.

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。

Thousands of years ago, the West Lake in Hangzhou was connected to the sea. The Qiantang River, not far away from the West Lake,     1    (enter) the sea in the eastern part of this area. The solid material such as sand, stones and mud carried by the river     2    (eventual) settled at the bottom and blocked the connection between the West Lake and the sea,     3     (make) it an inland water.

Since the ninth century AD, the breathtaking scenery of the West Lake in all seasons     4    (appear) time and again in poems, stories and legends.     5     impresses people most is that there are about 630 legends of the West Lake alone. Su Dongpo wrote a poem to praise the West Lake     6     compared it to Xizi, a Chinese legendary     7    (beautiful). From then on, the West Lake got another elegant name — Xizi Lake.

In 2011, West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou was included     8     the World Heritage List. It is now visited by an endless stream of     9    (visitor) from home and abroad. Perhaps some of them will add     10    (they) own stories to West Lake’s wealth of literature.