1 . In the 1994 film Forrest Gump, there’s a famous saying, “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.” The surprise is part of the fun. Now blind box toys are bringing the magic of surprise to online shopping.

A blind box toy is hidden inside similar boxes but invisible from the outside. You don’t know what will be inside, although the toys typically come from pop culture, ranging from movies to comics and cartoons (动漫).

Blind boxes have become popular since they were first introduced from Japan to China in 2014. According to a 2019 Tmall report, the mini-series of Labubu blind box, designed by Hong Kong-born Kasing Lung, was named Champion of Unit Sales with 55,000 sold in just 9 seconds during the Singles Day shopping event. Most customers for blind boxes are young people aged 18 to 35.

According to The Paper, blind box toys are popular in part because of their cute looks. The typically site cartoon figures come in very small sizes, making them suitable for display almost anywhere. Even if blind boxes are not their top choice for decorations, the mystery and uncertainty of the process also attracts people. It’s the main reason why people buy blind boxes one after another.

“Expectíng the unknown is always a part of the box-opening process (过程),” said Miss Cao,24、who lives and works in Shenyang, speaking to Sina Nows. She said: “Until you open all the boxes, you cannot know what it is inside.”

Opening a blind box is a happy little surprise for our boring daily lives, something small but fun to wait for each day, week or month. When people open this simple little box, they may be disappointed, but the uncertainty is part of the fun. People will open more blind boxes and hope for a better result.

When someone remakes Forrest Gump, don’t be surprised if he says, “Life is like a blind box.”

1. What do we know about blind boxes from the text?

A．They are popular only in China.	B．They are visible from the outside.
C．They were first designed in 2014.	D．They may bring surprise to our life.

2. Why do people buy blind boxes according to Miss Cao?

A．Because blind boxes are fashionable gifts.	B．Because blind boxes are educational gifts.
C．Because people prefer the colorful boxes.	D．Because people enjoy box-opening process.

3. Which word best describes the author’s attitude to blind boxes?

A．Positive.

B．Doubtful.

C．Negative.

D．Indifferent.

4. What is the main idea of the article?

A．The cultural effects of blind boxes.	B．The origin of blind boxes.
C．The popularity of blind boxes.	D．The problems with blind boxes.

2 . A 9-year-old boy is called a hero after he rescued his dad when a car fell on him. Brave J.T. Parker’s ________ thinking saved his father’s life.

________ dad Stephen Parker said that last July, he and his sons J.T., 9 and Mason, 17, were in the backyard working in a Toyota car when the ________ happened.

“ We were ________ the engines out of the car and, after we got it jacked (用千斤顶顶起) up, I climbed under there to take the parts off,” he said. “The one part came off pretty ________ but the other side was not coming off.”

At that moment, Mason had gone inside the house ________ he cut himself, but the dad ________ working. Suddenly, the car fell on top of him.

He said he _______ at J.T. to jack the car up but he didn’t think his young son would ________ it.

“ I couldn’t move at all,” Parker said. “I was totally ________ , and then I passed out. It was all in his hands.”

J.T., who weighs about 50 pounds, said he, too, didn’t think he would be able to   ________ the car off his father, but he started jumping up and down on the jack right away.

It took him   ________, but J.T. was able to save his father   ________. He then ran to get his brother out of the house. They called the   ________ immediately.

Parker was then sent to the nearest hospital with 13 broken ribs (肋骨). He was   ________ two months later thanks to the timely rescue from his young hero.

1.

A．creative

B．quick

C．considerable

D．present

2.

A．Fearful

B．Considerate

C．Proud

D．Brave

3.

A．event

B．disaster

C．conflict

D．accident

4.

A．pushing

B．pulling

C．fixing

D．watching

5.

A．easily

B．normally

C．hardly

D．unwillingly

6.

A．though

B．until

C．before

D．because

7.

A．started

B．suspended (暂停)

C．continued

D．tried

8.

A．yelled

B．ran

C．aimed

D．pointed

9.

A．put

B．get

C．make

D．find

10.

A．buried

B．trapped

C．dead

D．covered

11.

A．lift

B．push

C．step

D．blow

12.

A．seconds

B．days

C．hours

D．minutes

13.

A．gradually

B．eventually

C．absolutely

D．completely

14.

A．police

B．neighbor

C．doctor

D．passer-by

15.

A．sent

B．recovered

C．energetic

D．persuaded

4 . More and more travellers in China nowadays prefer homestays rather than traditional hotels, as they seek private living experiences. The house-sharing model was first introduced by a website in 2003. That website is still the largest website for travellers to find accommodation without much money to spend.

Encouraged by her great experience of homestays in France, Maggita, 30, considered short-term hire as her first choice in her future trips. She later went back to her hometown Shanghai and ran a “shared accommodation” business.

The short-term hire idea has been a win-win business model. For travellers, they can rent a special room at a reasonable price and also enjoy a first-hand experience of the local culture, compared with traditional hotels. For owners, they can gain much with daily rental. Now Maggita has quit her last job in an IT company and become a host of some 20 homestays, which enables her to earn a monthly income of around 40,000-50,000 yuan.

In recent years, China has seen many homestay booking websites. Chen Chi, the founder and CEO of a homestay website, said the model is to share rooms or apartments that are not in use with people who need them. Instead of the traditional view that Chinese people feel uncomfortable living with strangers, Chen found that a large number of travellers got along well with house owners.

However, experts have pointed out a series of problems brought about by the fashion. Lacking supervision（监管）to those accommodation sharing websites, the service quality and accommodation safety cannot be guaranteed. Experts suggest that online websites should closely work together with communities and local police stations to improve the services.

1. What can we learn about homestays from the first paragraph?

A．They started in China.	B．They offer the best service.
C．They can be money-saving.	D．They are popular with the youth.

2. What does Chen Chi think of the sharing model?

A．Useless.

B．Relaxing.

C．Uncomfortable.

D．Well-accepted.

3. What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A．Homestay services need to be improved.

B．Some experts don’t support homestays.

C．Homestays are popular with youth only.

D．Nobody is responsible for homestay services.

4. The underlined word “guaranteed” in the last paragraph can be replaced by “______”.

A．protected

B．shared

C．focused

D．preferred

6 . When did you last write a letter? Properly write one—by hand? In a digital world, sending a text or e-mail is far more convenient than using traditional mail. Well, some people claim that writing still has many benefits, so maybe it’s not time to throw away your ballpoint or fountain pen yet.

These days, when people request things in writing, a typed, electronic document will be accepted. Doing this on a computer means it could be saved, edited, copied and sent via e-mail. But doing a handwritten document is unique: It requires planning and thought, and, as well as practising your handwriting, it helps you to remember spelling and punctuation (标点符号).

Some experts believe your brain benefits from using old-fashioned pen and paper. This is particularly related to students, because typing notes into a laptop is thought to lack the “tactile feedback (触觉反馈)” to the brain. They think taking notes by hand involves cognitive (认知的) engagement in summarising, paraphrasing, organizing, concept and vocabulary mapping. They also agree that handwriting may improve fine movement skills of your hands and fingers.

There are everyday benefits to using pen and paper too. Writing notes, shopping lists or messages on the back of an envelope can still be useful, quick and convenient. But putting pen to paper in a letter to a friend or loved one can probably have the most influence. Pen Pal writer Katherine Moller said, “In a world where it is so easy to get online to e-mail or send a fast text, it is so personal and so precious to know someone chooses to turn off the virtual world to spend some time with you.”

So, while digital skills remain important, don’t get rid of your pens and pencils yet—especially if your smartphone, table t or laptop runs out of power!

1. Why are two questions asked in Paragraph 1?

A．To offer background information.	B．To ask for opinions.
C．To show disagreement.	D．To lead to the topic.

2. Why is doing a handwritten document special?

A．It needs people to plan and think.	B．It creates spelling and punctuation.
C．It does harm to hands and fingers.	D．It helps the brain recover from disease.

3. What can be inferred from Paragraph 4?

A．Using pen and paper every day has many benefits.

B．Writing to someone shows true emotion.

C．It is not easy to e-mail or send a fast text today.

D．Digital skills are always important and necessary.

4. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

A．It’s Time to Throw Away Your Pens	B．A World With Writing by Hand
C．Do We Still Need to Write by Hand?	D．The Birth of Writing by Hand

7 . A recent study from a team of South Korean researchers suggests that eating alone often may lead to poor eating habits and poor food choices. Specifically, the study found that men who ate alone more than twice a week had a greater risk of developing high blood pressure and other diseases.

For children, eating with their families is not only about preventing bad results—it is also about developing good ones.

In 2014, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) looked at data from nearly three-quarters of the world’s countries. Among its findings was the fact that students who shared a main meal with families were less likely to skip school(逃学). Children who eat a main meal with their families are also less likely to use drugs and alcohol(吸毒酗酒).

In the report, named “The Importance of Family Dinners”, researchers say that “teens who have frequent family dinners are more likely to say their parents know a lot about what’s going on in their lives”. They also say that when teens say they feel closer to their parents, they are less likely to use drugs and alcohol.

Another study from the University of Montreal found that children who ate with their families experience long-term physical and mental health benefits(好处). These children were physically in better shape and drank fewer sugary soft drinks. These children also seemed to have better social skills and they were less aggressive(好斗的).

Professor Linda Pagani says that mealtimes shared with parents “likely provide young children with first-hand social communication, discussions of social events and day-to-day matters”. She adds that they may likely help the child have better communication skills with others.

1. What is the main idea of the text?

A．Advantages of eating with parents.	B．Benefits of eating alone.
C．Ways of developing social skills.	D．Dangers of using drugs and alcohol.

2. Which is the benefit of eating with the families?

A．Abuse drugs and alcohol.	B．Drinking more sugary soft drinks.
C．Get on well with their parents.	D．Be more socially active and aggressive.

3. Why is Professor Pagani mentioned in the last paragraph?

A．To introduce a famous person.

B．To offer background information.

C．To further explain the benefits of eating with parents.

D．To show the disadvantage of eating with parents.

4. Where does the passage most probably come from?

A．A popular novel.	B．A travel magazine.
C．A science report.	D．A biology book.

8 . 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。

Nowadays the Internet plays an important role in our daily life. So far, most of our lives    1    (record)online. We set up email and online shopping accounts; we download music, films, games and e-books; we post and repost on Sina Weibo and WeChat.

Together, these things make    2     our “digital legacy(数字遗产)”.   What can we do with our legacy when our last day comes?

A Us tech company is testing a new digital legacy service. With it, you can pass on your personal date such as    3    (photo), videos, notes and other information to your family members.

As    4     matter of fact, there are two types of digital legacy. One is what we buy with money, such as virtual coins and game equipment. As they are worth some money, they can be passed down to    5    (they)family members. The other kind is things such as social media accounts.   Dealing with these    6    (be) a difficult problem.

Although you may have created your accounts, you don’t    7    (true) own them—Internet companies do.   You only have the right    8    (use) them. For example, your Taobao account might be closed by the company if you haven’t logged in for more than six months Is it possible to get everything    9    (remove)? The answer may be “Yes”. The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation went into effect in 2018. According to it, people have a right to remove personal data,     10     is also known as “the right to be forgotten”.

9 . 阅读下列短文, 在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Did you grow up in one culture, your parents come from another, and you are now living in a     1     (total) different country? If so, then you are a third culture kid.

The term ”third culture kid“     2     (use) in the 1950s for     3     first time by John and Ruth Useem. They first came across this phenomenon (现象) while     4     (research) North American children living in India. Usually third culture kids benefit from     5     (they) intercultural experience and they often get good grades.

Yet many     6     (difficulty) may arise from this phenomenon. Third culture kids may not be able to adapt (使适应) themselves completely to their new surroundings. Also, they often find it hard     7     (develop) new friendship. Moreover, for a third culture kid, it is often    8     (easy) to move to a new country than to return to his or her homeland. For example, after living in Australia for many years, Louis finally returned to the country     9     she was born. She didn’t know anything about popular TV shows or fashion trends. And she didn’t share the same values     10     other teens of her age.

10 . Twenty-five years ago, most young Britons wanted a career in law, to be a doctor, or, if they were creative enough, to take up singing. But today, things stand differently.

According to a survey by Tesco Mobile, a UK company, the “dream job” of young people aged between 16 and 25 in the UK is a video blogger(博客), or “vlogger(视频博主)”. The survey, carried out among 1,002 people, found that as much as 40 percent of them put vlogger as their number one choice on a list of ideal careers.

This change is undoubtedly as a result of the Internet and social media. They have made it so much easier to reach audience of the world, without having to enter a career in show business in the traditional way.

In the past, the biggest stars were trained by the Hollywood studios; now, anyone with a computer camera can become a star. Vloggers are the big stars of today because they are normal people interacting(互动) with their fans about everyday life.

However, what people see is only the bright side of being a vlogger and they fail to notice the fact that only those who are successful earn fame and fortune. For every success there are hundreds of others who never get off the starting line. There are the dreams that come true and the dreams that remain dreams forever.

Although being vloggers is popular, some young people choose to follow careers that don’t necessarily earn them fame, but allow them to make good use of the Internet to share their hobbies. Young Israeli David Leshaw, for example, runs a business called the Finishers Club. It’s an online platform(平台) for runners to keep a record of their races. His job allows him to express his enthusiasm, and is always a learning experience. And that’s enough for him.

1. Why do more and more young Britons choose to be vloggers?

A．Vloggers can earn little fame and money on the Internet.

B．There is too much competition in the traditional show business.

C．The Internet makes it convenient to become vloggers.

D．Anyone with a computer will surely become a star.

2. What can we infer from the fifth paragraph?

A．Only a few vloggers can be successful.

B．A vlogger can not earn fame and fortune.

C．People often see the bright side of being a vlogger.

D．Dreams will always remain to be dreams.

3. What do young people like David do on the Internet?

A．Learn from others.	B．Become an online hit.
C．Hold running races.	D．Mix jobs with hobbies.

4. What is the meaning of the underlined word, “fame” in the fifth paragraph?

A．Being known or talked about by many people	B．Being hated
C．Being wise and healthy	D．Getting a large sum of money