2 . Many kids and teenagers have cell phones in their hands. However, is it really necessary for them to have phones at school? Here are the pros and cons.

Pros

They can get in touch when necessary. The main benefit of having a phone is that your children can get in touch with you whenever they need to.    1    They can call the emergency services if necessary. If your children are in immediate danger, they can use their phones to call not only you but the emergency services. This is of great benefit and could potentially save your children’s lives.

    2    As long as your children remember to do this, their phones won’t cause distraction in class. Giving them a standard instead of a smartphone will also reduce the risk of distraction.

Cons

The latest smartphones can almost double as a computer. It means they offer far more of a distraction to kids than they used to.    3    All these characteristics could disturb your children’s concentration if they play with them in class.

Cell phones could interrupt lessons. Many children, even though they are asked to do so, forget to turn off their phones during lessons and their phones may make sounds.    4     Besides the distraction problem, cell phones can also be used to look up answers on the Internet.    5     The possibility of children having access to these during exams could be attractive for them.

A．Cell phones can be turned off or put on mute.

B．Children use ordinary phones instead of smartphones.

C．This allows you to feel they are safe.

D．Without cell phones, campus life would be less colourful.

E．They have some other functions — a calculator and the ability to save notes.

F．This not only annoys other pupils, but also prevents them from learning well.

G．Nowadays, children can not only text and make calls with their phones, but also play games, surf the Internet and listen to music.

3 . According to a new US study, couples who expect their children to look after them in old age should hope they have daughters because daughters are twice as loving as sons generally.

The research by Angelina Grigoryeva, from Princeton University, found that, while women provide as much care for their elderly parents as they can manage, men do as little as they can get away with and often leave it to female family members.

Her analysis of the family networks of 26, 000 old Americans concluded that gender （性别）is one of the most important things that decide whether or not people will actively care for their elderly parents.

In a paper presented at the annual conference of the American Sociological Association in San Francisco, she concludes that simply having a sister makes men likely provide less care. Using data from the University of Michigan Health and Retirement Study, a study which has been recording those people over 50s for the last decade, she analyzed that women provide an average of 12. 3 hours a month of care for elderly parents while men offer only 5. 6 hours.

“Sons reduce their relative caregiving efforts when they have a sister, while daughters increase theirs when they have a brother.”

“This suggests that sons pass on parent caregiving responsibilities to their sisters.”

In the UK, the 2011 Census showed that there are now around 6.5 million people with caring responsibilities, a figure which has risen by a tenth in a decade.

But many are doing so at the risk of their health. The census showed that those who provide 50 hours or more of care a week while trying to hold down a fulltime job are three times more likely to be struggling with ill health than their working counterparts who are not carers.

1. According to the passage, what’s the key factor to decide if people will actively care for the old?

A．Education.

B．Gender.

C．Career.

D．Income.

2. The US study finds that ________.

A．having a sister makes men less likely to look after their parents

B．sons are twice as likely as daughters to care for parents in old age

C．sons are unwilling to leave caregiving responsibilities to their sisters

D．sons and daughters seem to give equal care to their parents

3. What does the author stress in the last paragraph?

A．People should give up their jobs to care for the elderly.

B．Many care providers work longer hours than others.

C．Many care providers have potential health problems.

D．People shouldn’t pass on caring responsibilities to others.

4. The author develops the text by ________.

A．explaining social networks of careers

B．describing people’s experiences

C．analyzing various researches and data

D．comparing different gender

4 . Have you seen people who take pictures of food for more than 10 minutes before eating? My friend Stella is such an example. Every time we went to a restaurant she would not take a bite until all the dishes we ________ were on the table. Then she would spend five minutes in ________ the dishes in a seemingly random but in fact ________ order. Then the most important part: taking pictures. After that, she would choose one of the ________ and click in the filter app. The food eventually looked 10 times more delicious than it really was, but we had no ________ to really enjoy it—it all went cold, actually Stella’s real life is much less elegant. For example, she hates to wash the dishes, so she leaves them in the sink for days.

Many people care too much about others’ opinions and try too hard to ________ others. They find it hard to be ________ and to accept themselves, and thus they are afraid to show their ________ life on social media. What they are trying to prove is ________ what they lack in reality. But this will not bring any ________ to reality, as they still ________ the same old pattern of life.

If they really want an elegant life, they should put more ________ into achieving it ________ fabricating it. Being more confident, ________ themselves and trying their best to be better are much more meaningful than ________ their life on social media.

1.

A．ordered

B．served

C．offered

D．prepared

2.

A．cooking

B．washing

C．setting

D．collecting

3.

A．messy

B．arranged

C．casual

D．missed

4.

A．dishes

B．restaurants

C．tables

D．pictures

5.

A．chance

B．choice

C．excuse

D．reason

6.

A．comfort

B．please

C．inspire

D．discourage

7.

A．independent

B．generous

C．responsible

D．confident

8.

A．real

B．secret

C．peaceful

D．healthy

9.

A．rarely

B．hardly

C．exactly

D．nearly

10.

A．difficulty

B．change

C．guidance

D．harm

11.

A．question

B．dislike

C．doubt

D．follow

12.

A．effort

B．ambitions

C．feeling

D．money

13.

A．other than

B．more than

C．rather than

D．less than

14.

A．identifying

B．accepting

C．persuading

D．amusing

15.

A．simplifying

B．ruining

C．beautifying

D．worsening

5 . You probably know who Marie Curie was, but you may not have heard of Rachel Carson. Of the outstanding ladies listed below, who do you think was the most important woman of the past 100 years?

Jane Addams (1860-1935)

Anyone who has ever been helped by a social worker has Jane Addams to thank. Addams helped the poor and worked for peace. She encouraged a sense of community (社区) by creating shelters and promoting education and services for people in need. In 1931, Addams became the first American woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

Rachel Carson (1907-1964)

If it weren’t for Rachel Carson, the environmental movement might not exist today. Her popular 1962 book Silent Spring raised awareness(意识) of the dangers of pollution and the harmful effects of chemicals on humans and on the world’s lakes and oceans.

Sandra Day O’Connor (1930-present)

When Sandra Day O’Connor finished third in her class at Stanford Law School, in 1952, she could not find work at a law firm because she was a woman. She became an Arizona state senator (参议员) and in 1981, the first woman to join the U. S. Supreme Court (最高法院). O’Connor gave the deciding vote in many important cases during her 24 years on the top court.

Rosa Parks(1913-2005)

On December 1,1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, Rasa Parks would not give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger. Her simple act landed Parks in prison. But it also set off the Montgomery bus boycott (抵制). It lasted for more than a year, and kicked off the civil-rights movement. “The only tired I was, was tired of giving in,” said Parks.

1. What is Jane Addams famous for in history?

A．Her social work.	B．Her teaching skills.
C．Her efforts to win a prize.	D．Her community background.

2. What was the reason for O’Connor’s being refused by the law firm?

A．Not having training in law.	B．Her little work experience in court.
C．Her identity as a woman.	D．Her poor financial conditions.

3. Who made a great contribution to the civil-rights movement in the U.S.?

A．Jane Addams.	B．Rachel Carson.
C．Sandra Day O’Connor.	D．Rosa Parks.

4. What can we infer about the women mentioned in the text?

A．They are highly educated.	B．They are truly creative.
C．They are pioneers.	D．They are peace-lovers.

6 . Hard work really does pay off. Scientists find that perseverance（坚持不懈）leads to better grades and higher achievements in school.

“Being passionate（热情的）is not enough to ensure academic success,” says researchers, who ought of "courage" as a key to success. This is also regarded as effort in reaching long-term goals, and determination to continue one's efforts in spite of hardships.

Researchers think that the finding could help create new training to help children develop the skill and help ensure their future success.

Researchers from the Academy of Finland studied more than 2,000 students from Helsinki. They were followed through their academic career from 12 to 16, the sixth grade until the ninth grade in local school years. Researchers found that the factor that best predicts courage was related to goals, with previous academic achievements playing no role in developing the skill.

Professor Katariina Salmela-Aro, who led the study, said, “Courage means a young person is really interested in his or her studies and does not give up easily. A key element of courage is high perseverance when facing difficulties and hardships. The important finding is that these factors are the key to success and well-being. Our study shows the power of courage.”

Professor Salmela-Aro also thinks it is important to develop new practices and qualities to improve courage in teenagers. She added, "Young people should see everyday school work as part of their life in a broader context and establish achievable goals for themselves. Schools must also serve as a place where it is safe to fail and learn to deal with setbacks. One must not be discouraged by setbacks, but draw strength and new energy from them.

1. What can we learn about the research?

A．It takes at least three years	B．It helps students make progress.
C．It meets many difficulties	D．It follows 2,000 students abroad.

2. What should students do according to the researchers?

A．Focus on former grades	B．Achieve their dreams
C．Try all their best	D．Forget sadness

3. What does the underlined word "setbacks" in Paragraph 6 mean?

A．strengths.	B．difficulties.
C．weaknesses.	D．efforts

4. Which is the text probably taken from?

A．A picture book.	B．A literature book.
C．A geography textbook.	D．An educational magazine

8 . The New York Aquarium offers diverse sea animals and nice viewing experience to all our guests. Whether you're observing penguins, swimming underwater to look at coral reefs(珊瑚礁), or cheering for California sea lions at the theater, you'll find plenty to see and do during your visit. Your underwater adventure is waiting for you! This summer, go to Coney Island to learn about the underwater world at the New York Aquarium.

Just off Coney Island in Brooklyn, the New York Aquarium features more than 300 marine (海生的) species, such as dolphins and seals. Meet some of our mammals and fish, and learn something useful about them.

Summer hours May 28—Sept.5	10:00 am—6:00 pm, Monday—Friday 10:00 am—7:00 pm, Weekends & Holidays
Fall hours Sept.6—Nov.6	10:00 am—5:00 pm, Monday—Friday 10:00 am—5:30 pm, Weekends & Holidays
Winter hours Nov.7—Mar.31	10:00 am—4:30 pm, Daily
Spring hours Apr.1—May 27	10:00 am—5:00 pm, Monday—Friday 10:00 am—5:30 pm, Weekends & Holidays

Total Experience Ticket

Adult $18.00

Child (Aged 3-12) $14.00

Senior (65+) $15.00

Group (at least ten visitors) $8.00 per person

*Include admission to our 4D Theater plus general admission.

*Children under 3 are free!

*To enjoy the group rate, you must make a reservation at least two weeks in advance of your group's visit. Please call 718-741-1818.

A Special on Friday Afternoon

Admission on Fridays beginning at 3: 00 pm isby donation. The suggested donation is $ 13 for adults, $9 for children, and $ 10 for seniors. Every dollar you give supports our work in caring for animals at the aquarium.

Aquarium Parking

Car $13.00

Bus $13.00

Please note:

*Due to rising costs, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) reserves the right to change all fees without notice.

* All buildings and exhibitions in this aquarium are accessible in a wheelchair.

*For further information, please call718-265-3454.

1. Six adults (including a man of 68) and two children (aged 2 and 10) are going to visit the New York Aquarium on Sunday. They will have to pay ________.

A．$144

B．$133

C．$119

D．$160

2. What is the donation used for?

A．To help the people in need.	B．To help the disabled visitors.
C．To care for animals at the aquarium.	D．To help to save the endangered animals in the world.

3. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A．Visitors can enjoy free parking service on Friday.

B．You can visit the New York Aquarium at 5:30pm on Christmas.

C．A visitor in a wheelchair can get around at the New York Aquarium.

D．To enjoy the group rate, visitors must reserve tickets two weeks in advance.

9 . If you're visiting Florence, Italy, you've got to see the world-famous Uffizi Gallery. But why? Because that's what   ________ does in Florence? Because you feel it ________ to post a selfie in front of the Italian painter Sandro Botticelli's The Birth of Venus (《维纳斯的诞生》)?

Those are obviously ________ reasons. We shouldn't go to places because they're world-famous; instead, we should go to fully ________ what makes them world-famous. But that requires a well-planned visit, not just following the ________, taking pictures and then checking it off on your wish list.

For example, you cannot visit the Statue of Liberty (自由女神像) at all without serious ________. “On busy days, we're taking 25 , 000 people on the small island, and only 500 a day get to the statue,” said Michael Amato, the lead park ranger (管理人) for the Statue of Liberty National Monument. “Right now we're sold out until two months later.” So you need to check when the ticket is available ________.

Still, a lot can ________ before you actually go on the trip. “Keep yourself up to date,” said Jade McKellar, director of the visitor experience centre at the Sydney Opera House. “________ us on social media and sign up for our newsletter.” Even without a booking, visitors can often buy tickets for events that run 363 days a year. But like visiting many sites, a true visit means spending a full day, something a(n) ________ traveller might be unwilling to do.

Another reason to set aside more time: visitors can check out the less famous but equally worthwhile—often beautifully complementary (互补的) sites ________. Susan Greaney, a senior historian at English Heritage, who is in charge of Stonehenge (巨石阵), ________ a trip to the two history museums with Stonehenge-relevant exhibitions. Each of them is less than a 30-minute drive but likely to be ________ on a one-day tour of London. Of course, you can simply ________ the world-famous attraction. If you're ________ museums by the time you get to Florence, forget the Uffizi and take advantage of other things Florence offers. Don't worry about what your friends will think.

1.

A．everybody

B．somebody

C．nobody

D．another

2.

A．free

B．pleasant

C．necessary

D．possible

3.

A．terrible

B．odd

C．vital

D．similar

4.

A．check

B．appreciate

C．possess

D．control

5.

A．example

B．order

C．advice

D．crowd

6.

A．testing

B．planning

C．meeting

D．training

7.

A．at a distance

B．by chance

C．in advance

D．on time

8.

A．expect

B．come

C．change

D．improve

9.

A．Support

B．Observe

C．Follow

D．Inform

10.

A．experienced

B．rushed

C．discouraged

D．talented

11.

A．home

B．oversea

C．nearby

D．halfway

12.

A．recommended

B．designed

C．extended

D．canceled

13.

A．covered

B．found

C．predicted

D．missed

14.

A．visit

B．skip

C．replace

D．recognize

15.

A．familiar with

B．sick of

C．used to

D．attracted to