1 . My family went to London for visiting specialists. The day before we
Six weeks later, a
Finally, we made a
One cold morning eight months after, my father had a call from an old lady who said she was putting food out “for a very old dog”. My father’s eyes were lighted up with
| A．sailed | B．parked | C．boarded | D．camped |
| A．alive | B．away | C．accompanied | D．apart |
| A．letter | B．story | C．service | D．test |
| A．fallen ill | B．got stuck | C．lost life | D．run away |
| A．confusing | B．shocking | C．moving | D．touching |
| A．announced | B．advertised | C．posted | D．blogged |
| A．Unfortunately | B．Luckily | C．Hopefully | D．Eventually |
| A．attend to | B．take over | C．look around | D．search for |
| A．decision | B．discussion | C．advice | D．plan |
| A．as to | B．except for | C．instead of | D．due to |
| A．lead | B．place | C．risk | D．pace |
| A．silence | B．dissatisfaction | C．excitement | D．praise |
| A．pulled up | B．drove off | C．stepped in | D．calmed down |
| A．special | B．familiar | C．painful | D．empty |
| A．expectation | B．creativity | C．generosity | D．determination |
2 . Every day Mengel, a 67-year-old woman, wakes up and puts on her man-made leg. Then, Mengel does the same for Lola-Pearl, her five-year-old cat.
Mengel has many cats. Most of them have disabilities (残疾). But Lola-Pearl is special. She is a treatment cat. And, she and Mengel are partners of a kind. They are among 200 treatment cat teams registered (注册) by the nonprofit group, Pet Partners. The group helps humans and pets alike by setting them up into teams to provide animal-assisted treatment. The teams visit hospitals, nursing homes and schools and assist those in need.
Chastain Griffin is a researcher who studies the effects of treatment cats. She said that there is a lot of research on other treatment animals like dogs, and many people are surprised to learn that cats can be treatment animals too. However, there is not enough on cats.
Mengel says Lola-Pearl showed signs that she would make a good treatment cat soon after the animal joined her family. Mengel took her new cat to a meeting for the disabled.
Recently people who attended a support group for disabled persons were able to meet Lola-Pearl. They petted her as she woke up from a rest. On the side of the cat carrier she rode in was a sign: “Treatment Cat”.
Mengel was a traveling nurse when she got into a car accident that almost killed her. One of her legs could not be saved. Later, she connected with a friend in Missouri who had a severely injured cat. Her legs were twisted together. An animal medical specialist worked to repair the damage but, in the end, he had to remove one of the baby cat’s legs. Mengel took Lola-Pearl as her cat after talking with her friend. “It’s a really rewarding experience,” she said. “I get just as much out of it as the people that I visit.”
1. What does Pet Partners mainly do?| A．Match animals with new owners. | B．Offer animal-assisted treatment. |
| C．Organize medical tours to hospitals. | D．Collect money for the disabled. |
| A．Treatment cats are not well received. | B．Cats may replace dogs in serving the sick. |
| C．Cats work better for treatment than dogs. | D．More studies are needed on cat treatment. |
| A．She is quite curious. | B．She has a gift for treatment. |
| C．She is always in need of sleep. | D．She has an active nature. |
| A．Expressive. | B．Professional. | C．Energetic. | D．Caring. |
In Rome there was once a poor slave whose name was Androclus. His master was a cruel man, and so unkind to him that Androclus ran away. He hid himself in a wild wood for many days; but there was no food to be found, and he grew so weak and sick that he thought he would die. So one day he climbed into a cave and lay down to wait for death, and soon he was fast asleep.
After a while, a great noise woke him up. A lion had come into the cave, and was roaring loudly. Androclus was very afraid, for he felt sure that the beast would kill him. Soon, however, he saw the lion was not angry, but that his foot were hurt.
Then Androclus grew so courageous that he started to examine the lion’s paw to see what was the matter. The lion stood quite still, and rubbed his head against the man’s shoulder. He seemed to say, “I know that you will help me.”
Androclus lifted the paw from the ground, and saw that it was a long, sharp thorn that hurt the lion so much. He took the end of the thorn between his fingers; then he gave a strong, quick pull, and out it came. The lion was full of joy. He jumped about like a dog, and licked the hands and feet of his new friend.
The two became such good friends that Androclus found his new life a very happy one. One day some soldiers found Androclus in the cave and took him back to Rome. It was the law at that time that every slave who ran away from his master should fight a hungry lion. For each of these occasions, a fierce lion was locked up for a while without food, and a time was set for the fight.
Paragraph 1When the day came, thousands of people crowded in to see the fight.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Paragraph 2
The people, who had expected to see the man killed by the lion, were filled with wonder.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________4 . No matter how many times Sandy has rescued an animal, she never gets over the casual cruelty some people display toward unwanted pets. When she lost her own “angel” dog, she started Logan’s Legacy to help other pets in need.
Sandy recently received a phone call about a small dog, possibly a puppy, that had been abandoned on a street. Since she was too far to help on, she called a friend who lives nearby to get there as soon as possible. When her friend Tom arrived, he found a tiny dog curled(蜷缩)in a tight ball with the chain firmly tied to a tree. Someone had left food and water for her, but the puppy was too frightened to eat or drink. Once gathered up in a blanket and placed into the back seat of the car, she began to get weak quickly from dehydration(脱水)and exhaustion.
The moment she got some water and food, the puppy made a rapid recovery, and her lovely and sweet personality could finally shine! “We have named her CiCi,” Sandy added, “She is feeling so much better. She has been observed at my place and she is doing great. This sweet baby girl will never feel fearful again, and won’t ever be abandoned again.” After winning hearts at Sandy’s office, CiCi has been approved for adopting and will soon leave for her new life. Sandy and her fellow rescuers are trying their best to find her the perfect family to love her and treat her with the respect all living creatures deserve!
1. What did Sandy feel it hard to overcome?| A．The casual humanity. | B．The cruelty of humanity. |
| C．The kind human nature. | D．The weakness of kindness. |
| A．She suffered a serious illness. |
| B．She had nothing to eat or drink. |
| C．She got lost far away from home. |
| D．She was scared and in poor health. |
| A．She will stop taking medicine. |
| B．She will continue further treatment. |
| C．She will have a perfect match for home. |
| D．She will get on well with Sandy forever. |
| A．A Warm Home for CiCi |
| B．Dog Saved Heart Fulfilled |
| C．A Terrible Experience of CiCi |
| D．Saving Dogs Saving Themselves |
5 . A petting zoo is also called a children’s zoo. It is a place with domesticated (家养的) animals and some wild species.
Petting zoos have a long history. In addition to independent petting zoos, many general zoos have a petting zoo. In 1938, the London Zoo included the first children’s zoo in Europe and the Philadelphia Zoo was the first in North America to open a special zoo just for children.
Some petting zoos are also mobile (流动的) and will travel to a home for a child’s party or event. One of the first mobile petting zoos in Australia was Kindifarm. Because of its popularity, many Australians use the term “kindy farms” to describe petting zoos. In Australia, mobile petting zoos are allowed in schools and child care centers.
Petting zoos are popular with small children, who like feeding the animals. Food is supplied by the zoo.
| A．Not all animals are friendly. |
| B．It may help improve animals’ health. |
| C．After all, some foods don’t suit animals. |
| D．Visitors can feed them and even touch some of them. |
| E．People should protect themselves from the health effects of petting zoos. |
| F．For many children, these petting zoos give them the first chance to see and touch animals. |
| G．During the 1990s, Dutch cities began building petting zoos in many neighborhoods. |
6 . Everything a girl named Bella needed for her life to change for the better was a dog. But Ceorge is unlike other dogs. He’s a service dog who fills Bella’s days with joy and laughter and helps her regain her independence back.
Bella was suffering a rare metabolic (新陈代谢的) disorder, which leads to short neck , knock knees and hip problems. In Bella’s case, her parents were told that their daughter would eventually need a wheelchair and won’t be able to move on her own.
When the family welcomed George in their lives, he helped Bella walk by providing assistance. A harness (背带) with the words “service dog” is fastened on his back so that people know he isn’t just a pet. He and Bella are now inseparable and he never leaves her side. Bella attended school for only half a day before leaving to play at the home of her friend—Hunter. Because he gets to nap on the couch while Bella plays. George loves going over there.
As a thank-you for his loyalty, Bella wanted to give George something in return. She and her parents then came up with the idea to contact BarkPost, a well-known website that hosts events referred to as “Dog’s Best Days” and give George a day to remember. Among the rest, the two friends got to share a hamburger together and got to walk on snow, something George enjoys. They did a bunch of fun things together and had a lovely day.
Thanks to George, Bella doesn’t need a wheelchair and enjoys the independence her service dog provides to her. “George is joyful and he’s always there to cheer me up. He is my best friend,” Bella says.
1. What did the doctor say about Bella’s illness?| A．She would recover slowly. | B．She would drop out of school. |
| C．She would lose the ability to walk. | D．She would need a service dog to look after her. |
| A．To play with Bella. | B．To comfort Bella. |
| C．To help Bella walk. | D．To cheer Bella up. |
| A．They wanted to thank George. | B．They wanted to find friends for George. |
| C．They wanted to give George a rest. | D．They wanted to make George well-known. |
| A．A Girl Fights Her Illness Bravely |
| B．A Pet Dog Becomes Famous for His Loyalty |
| C．Dogs Are Important in Helping the Disabled |
| D．A Service Dog Helps a Girl Regain Her Independence |
1. What did the speaker think of her life in Ghana?
| A．Relaxing. | B．Busy. | C．Boring. |
| A．On towels. | B．In a tree. | C．In the speaker’s hand. |
| A．She couldn’t come up with a good one. |
| B．She knew the bird would finally leave her. |
| C．She considered it strange to name a bird. |
| A．She moved back to England. |
| B．She managed to get it back. |
| C．She wrote a book about it. |
8 . Owning a pet, like a dog or a cat, especially for five years or more, may be linked to slower cognitive decline (认知衰退) in older adults, according to a new study.
“Previous studies have suggested that the human-animal link may have health benefits like decreasing blood pressure and stress,” said the study author Tiffany Braley. “Our results suggest raising pet may also be protective against cognitive decline.”
The study looked at cognitive data from 1.369 senior adults with an average age of 65 who had normal cognitive skills at the start of the study. A total of 53% owned pets and 32% were long-term pet owners who owned pets for five years or more.
Researchers used data from the Health and Retirement Study. In that study, people were given several cognitive tests. Researchers used those cognitive tests to record cognitive score for each person, ranging from 0 to 27. The score included common tests of subtraction (减法), number counting and word memory. Researchers then used participants’ cognitive scores to judge the connections between years of pet ownership and cognitive function.
Over six years, the cognitive scores decreased at a slower rate in pet owners. This difference was stronger among long-term pet owners. Considering other factors known to affect cognitive function, the study showed that long-term pet owners usually had a higher cognitive score compared to non-pet owners. The researchers also found that the cognitive benefits connected with longer pet ownership were stronger for college educated adults and men.
“As stress can negatively affect cognitive function, the possible stress-reducing effects of pet ownership could provide a proper reason for our findings,” said Braley.
1. What is the finding of Tiffany Braley’s study?| A．Both dogs and cats make perfect pets. | B．Pets may help keep the brain work well. |
| C．Females tend to be long-term pet owners. | D．A human-animal link helps decrease blood pressure. |
| A．By referring to previous studies. |
| B．By monitoring several cognitive tests. |
| C．By tracking the changes in cognitive scores. |
| D．By correcting data from the Health and Retirement Study. |
| A．Puzzled. | B．Cautious. | C．Surprised. | D．Unsatisfied. |
| A．Why should we keep pets? |
| B．How long should we keep pets? |
| C．Does the human-animal link have health benefits? |
| D．Do pets have a positive effect on people’s brain health? |
9 . Pet-friendly train rides
Why not consider a great pet-friendly train ride on your next trip? You can enjoy the local landscapes while making wonderful memories with your pet.
Skunk Train—California
Located in Northern California’s Mendocino County, the 131-year-old Skunk Train travels through grasslands and mountains. It offers two route choices.
Noyo River Canyon—Leaving from Fort Bragg, this trip runs along the Pudding Creek Estuary and then snakes along the Noyo River.
Coastal Range and Redwoods—Leaving from Willits and traveling to Northspur, this mountainous route travels 8.5 miles of track.
Pet Policy: Dogs are the only pets allowed on the plane, and you need to pay $10 for your dog to ride the train.
Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad-Oregon
The Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad runs daily coastal trips between Garibaldi and Rockaway Beach from mid-June to early September. Weekend service lasts from late May to the end of September.
Pet Policy: Well-behaved dogs are welcome. The staff asks that families with dogs sit in the open cars, which offer more space to them.
Monticello Railway Museum—Illinois
The Monticello Railway Museum is open for train rides on Saturdays and Sundays from May through October as part of the museum’s educational mission. Visitors can get on the train at two stations. You’re welcome to visit the the museum gift shop.
Pet Policy: pets can ride the train for free. All types of pets are welcome.
Oil & Creek Titusville Railroad—Pennsylvania
This train ride leaves from Perry Street Station in Titusville, Pennsylvania. On this 3-hour round-trip ride, you’ll learn about the history of Pennsylvania’s oil industry while you watch for ducks, deer, and possibly a black bear.
Pet Policy: Dogs can ride the train at a cost of $5. Someone must stay with the dog at your seat; you cannot walk around the train with your dog.
1. What is special about Skunk Train?| A．It is free for pets. | B．It has two routes available. |
| C．It features educational trips. | D．It is a newly-started train ride. |
| A．Skunk Train | B．Monticello Railway Museum |
| C．Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad | D．Oil Crock & Titusville Railroad |
| A．Watch wild animals along the trip. |
| B．Visit the gift shop at either station. |
| C．Walk around the train with their dog. |
| D．Learn about the history of Illinois’ oil industry. |
10 . More than 100 scientists from 25 countries have traveled to faraway places to collect wild crop seeds (种子) in an effort to help battle climate change.
The scientists, who have been compared to the heroes of the “Indiana Jones” movies, traveled on foot, four-wheeled vehicles, boats, horses and even elephants to reach faraway areas. They faced extreme heat, dust, and danger from wild animals. At last, they collected 4,644 seeds of 371 wild relatives of 28 world crops, many of which are said to be endangered.
The Crop Trust, an organization that works to save different kinds of crops, is directing the project. The group is working in partnership with Britain’s Royal Botanic Gardens and Millennium Seed Bank. Additional financial support comes from Norway. The project is believed to be the largest organized international effort yet to collect and protect crops’ wild relatives. Hannes Dempewolf is a scientist and the head at the Crop Trust. He said, “What these seed collectors went through in the field resembles scenes from an Indiana Jones movie.”
Some crops are threatened because of destruction of forests, climate change and expanded cities. The newly-found wild seeds have developed so plants can grow in extreme temperatures, poor soils, and even in low rainfall areas.
A United Nations report says that food production is at risk because of a shortage of rain and other weather extremes connected to climate change. The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization says that the number of plant species is quickly decreasing and people are depending on fewer species for food. Those wild seeds could be important in feeding a growing human population in some areas and offer a largely unused source of diversity (多样性) to crops.
1. What does the second paragraph show?| A．Collecting seeds is not an easy job. |
| B．The scientists’ story is made into a movie. |
| C．The wild seeds are in danger of extinction. |
| D．The scientists can choose from many vehicles. |
| A．Depends on. | B．Looks like. |
| C．Turns out. | D．Refers to. |
| A．They can increase green areas. |
| B．They can provide more nutrients. |
| C．They can survive bad conditions. |
| D．They can improve current crop seeds. |
| A．Bringing more plant species to the world. |
| B．Making sure of food supply and food diversity. |
| C．Knowing about the world’s farming practices. |
| D．Helping farmers improve their farming skills. |
