The Montague Bookmill

The Montague Bookmill in Montague is a used bookstore housed in an 1842 gristmill (磨坊), set on the banks of the Sawmill River, a few miles north of Northampton and Amherst, Massachusetts. There is great food and drink all day and deep into the night at the astonishing Lady Killigrew Cafe and the beautiful new Watershed Restaurant. We have concerts and performances in spring, summer and fall. The bookstore is a lovely place where you can lose yourself for hours. We’ve been lost here for years.

Our Books

Our collection leans toward the academic, but we have thousands of books, on just about everything from Austen to Zola. Our books are generally half-price, including recent publishers’ overstocks. Don’t look for our catalogues online; we’re not that bookstore. But if we can’t find the book you’re looking for, we’ll find you a better one you don’t know but you want.

We Buy Books

We buy books strictly by appointment, and we make appointments only by phone so that we can discuss your books. We look for books that are in good condition, and we do not buy textbooks or former library books. Books should have no underlining, highlighting or marginal notes.

Events Information

There are events held in our store every year except in 2022 and 2023. Please pay attention to the following information.

●Doors open at 7:30 pm, unless posted.
●All shows are $10 cash and credit cards are not accepted.
●Be sure to arrive early for couches, armchairs and browsing the books!
●Watch this page for additions, updates and more information.
1. What do you know about The Montague Bookmill?

A．It houses a bank and 1842 gristmills in total.	B．It allows you to look for catalogues online.
C．It provides food and drink for customers.	D．It only charges half prices for academic books.

2. Which of the following best suits The Montague Bookmill?

A．A new textbook with no notes.	B．A new best-selling novel at a book fair.
C．A used book with underlining notes.	D．A book from the National Library of China.

3. Where is the text probably taken from?

A．A travel brochure.

B．A tourist map.

C．A website.

D．A health magazine.

The stands were always filled with family members to support their favorite players. I attended each of my son’s games. His father worked nights for years, and missed out on most of his games. My son Jorden knew if his dad could, he would be there sitting right beside me.

When Jorden was younger, some family members would occasionally come to watch. But gradually they stopped showing up. Never once did Jorden lead me to believe that this bothered him, but apparently it did. It wasn’t until when he was asked to give a speech at his baseball event that he made it very clear not only to me but a room filled with over 150 people just how important it is to have extra fans in the stands.

His speech was anything but like I thought it would be. It wasn’t short and bittersweet. It wasn’t his quick thank you to his coaches and teammates. He poured his heart out, saying he seldom had grandparents, aunts or uncles coming to support him. He was grateful that his teammates’ family members showed up to support not just their own loved ones but the entire team of boys. Clearly Jorden desired more than just me. Never did I ever think my son would be hurting inside as he looked out to the bleachers to see only me at each and every game.

As he struggled to get each word out through tears, I promised I would attend as many events of the children around as I possibly could. There was no way I could allow another child to feel what my son was feeling. This small simple gesture would mean so much to any child. Neither Jorden nor I was upset with those who never attended his games. Jorden just wanted someone else besides me to witness his craft in action. I understand all of our lives become complicated and that everyone is busy with their own children and jobs that may not allow them as much free time as they’d like.

4. What do we know about Jorden’s father?

A．He had long been misunderstood by Jorden.

B．He had few chances to attend Jorden’s games.

C．He managed to be with Jorden in every game.

D．He had made excuses to miss Jorden’s games.

5. What was Jorden’s speech about?

A．His ambition to win the championship.

B．His gratitude to his mother and coaches.

C．His complaint about his family members.

D．His desire for support from more people.

6. What does the author think of Jorden’s speech?

A．Depressing.

B．Complicated.

C．Astonishing.

D．Absurd.

7. How did the author respond to Jorden’s speech?

A．She tried to be actively involved in children’s games.

B．She promised not to miss out on games of every child.

C．She offered to invite many relatives to Jorden’s games.

D．She decided to lead Jorden to trust his family members.

Humans have made the world less friendly to birds in many ways. One obvious example of this can be found in metal spikes (尖刺), or anti-bird spikes in buildings to prevent birds from landing and even nesting. However, a handful of birds have struck back.

Auke-Florian Hiemstra, a biologist researching animal architecture at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden, Netherlands, studies how wild animals use materials made by humans. He has seen nests that include some unusual materials—things like plastic flowers and sunglasses. But he was surprised when seeing a picture of a magpie (喜鹊) nest, the top of which had anti-bird spikes.

Researchers had learned that the smart species, magpies and crows (乌鸦), were stealing anti-bird spikes as a nest-building material. The two species appeared to use the anti-bird spikes in slightly different ways. For the crows, the spikes seemed purely structural, a material used to fashion a solid foundation. But for the magpies, there was an additional layer of intention: They appeared to use the spikes like humans do-rounded covering over their nests to keep other birds from landing.

One recent study reported that nests with man-made materials have been found all over the world and that the man-made materials include all kinds of man-made materials, including knitting needles, candy wrappers, spiky wires, and cigarette ends. Although magpies and crows haven’t been documented doing this, other birds have. Scientists aren’t sure if birds are using artificial materials because they’re better, or simply because they’re easy to find. What is noteworthy is that human-made materials in bird nests can cause injuries. For example, anti- bird netting, often placed over garden plots, is known to be dangerous for birds, which often end up being entangled in it.

For Hiemstra, while the new discoveries are fascinating, he also highlights a broader issue: the unfortunate popularity of anti-bird spikes. “It’s kind of sad to keep fighting against nature instead of accepting it as part of the city,” he said.

8. Why was Hiemstra surprised when seeing the photo of a magpie nest?

A．A magpie decorated its nest with plastic flowers.

B．Magpies and crows are as intelligent as humans.

C．Magpies and crows cooperated to build the nests.

D．The magpie nest was equipped with metal spikes.

9. How do magpies and crows differ from each other in using anti-bird spikes?

A．Crows use them for fashion.

B．Magpies use them for defence.

C．Crows use them to keep off other species.

D．Magpies use them to strengthen the nests.

10. What does the underline word “entangled” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．Discovered.

B．Frightened.

C．Released.

D．Trapped.

11. What does Hiemstra intend to do in the last paragraph?

A．Support birds’ using man-made materials.

B．Accept anti-bird spikes as part of the city.

C．Disapprove of humans’ using anti-bird spikes.

D．Stress the popularity of anti-bird spikes in birds.

It is reported that about 14 percent of Americans aged over 12 have trouble in hearing. And hearing loss increases dramatically to 50 percent or more for those aged over 70. It often comes on so gradually that many ignore it. Only an estimated 15 to 25 percent of adults would use hearing aids, and the use is lowest among people who have less access to health care.

However, recent research has revealed that even mild or moderate hearing loss in older adults is associated with cognitive (认知的) decline. Older adults with hearing loss are more likely to develop dementia (痴呆), and the likelihood increases with the severity of the loss.

In July, Frank R. Lin, a professor from Johns Hopkins University, presented results from a first-of-its-kind randomized clinical trial. Participants are 977 adults aged between 70 and 84, including those who have more risk factors for developing dementia and those who are relatively healthy. They received best-practice hearing care, including hearing aids. Three years later, hearing aids did make a difference to the participants in cognitive decline. Especially for those who were at the higher risk for dementia, a 48 percent cut in risk of cognitive decline could be made if they got hearing aids.

When hearing loss is untreated, the brain’s organization changes, says Anu Sharma, an auditory neuroscientist of the University of Colorado Boulder. In adults with mild hearing loss, studies show a decrease in gray matter (灰质) in brain. Sharma found early signs that vision and touch areas of the brain cover and change underused hearing areas. Adults with hearing loss also show more activity in working memory areas. They need to make extra efforts just to listen, Sharma says, which may exhaust cognitive reserves.

Hearing loss is also associated with more falls, higher health-care costs, and increased loneliness and social isolation. “Hearing is fundamental to healthy aging,” says Nicholas Reed, who worked with Frank R. Lin on the cognitive-decline study.

12. What can we learn from the figures in the first paragraph?

A．Americans pay special attention to their hearing.

B．Americans are unaware of danger of hearing loss.

C．Many Americans with hearing loss stay untreated.

D．Most Americans are suffering serious hearing loss.

13. What did Frank R. Lin’s clinical trial reveal?

A．Hearing aids helped reduce cognitive decline.

B．Hearing aids worked on healthy people.

C．Cognitive decline could result in hearing loss.

D．Cognitive decline was unrelated to age.

14. What is paragraph 4 centred on?

A．What sign will appear before losing hearing.

B．How hearing loss impacts cognitive decline.

C．Why hearing loss is left untreated by people.

D．How our brain discourages cognitive decline.

15. Which can be the best title for the text?

A．Hearing loss—a new factor connected with dementia

B．Cognitive decline, caused by more than hearing loss

C．Dementia—an incurable but preventable disease

D．Hearing loss, having limited access to healthcare

Scientists have discovered many ways of using technology to help athletes improve various aspects of their performance. Each of these has something different to offer athletes, such as performance data, health or lifestyle information, increasing speed or strength and many more useful purposes.     16    

Video analysis is now used in a wide range of sports. The analysis allows individuals, teams and coaches to assess strengths, weaknesses, mistakes and areas that require further training.     17     It can be achieved through better training programs and by implementing (实施) new strategies.

    18     Coaches are constantly tracking and monitoring the performance of athletes to see whether they are improving. New technology is allowing coaches to measure performance more accurately. This allows coaches to see even smaller gains in the performance of an athlete.

It has long been known that sleep is important for athletes. Their bodies need to sleep to get enough rest and to allow their bodies to rebuild cells.     19     For these reasons, there is now technology that tracks an athlete’s sleep. Not only does it track how much sleep the athletes are getting, but it also monitors when they sleep, their sleeping patterns and the quality of their sleep.

    20     Using it allows athletes to practice moves such as throwing in a virtual space with a reduced risk of injury. This gives them a safe way to improve various elements of their performance.

A．These information is then used to improve performance.

B．Sleep is also important for focus and optimal performance.

C．They can understand what a person needs to do to succeed.

D．Knowing whether an athlete is improving comes down to data.

E．Virtual reality is becoming useful for improving athletic performance.

F．Education plays a role in athletes’ performance as their natural abilities.

G．Here are some advances in technology that can help athletic performance.

Tenzing Bodosa was awoken at midnight by a sound outside. He got up and saw several wild _________ in his farm. For many farmers, seeing such animals appear in the farm is _________. However, for Bodosa, who ran a large tea farm in the state of Assam, India, it meant everything was working _________.

The Asian elephants has been listed as a(n) _________ species by International Union for Conservation of Nature and their population has _________ by half in the past decades for various reasons. One is _________ to the vast tea farms, which elephants regard as parts of their forest habitats and their migratory routes over centuries.

“Sadly, in India, _________ between humans and wild elephants often end up _________,” said Bodosa. “I decided that there must be a way for us to live _________.” Then Bodosa began a natural tea farm in 2007.

To create an elephant-friendly area for elephants, Bodosa planted organic grass, fruits and tea. He also provided them with easy __________ by making sure there were no fences or other __________ to restrict wild elephants’ movement.

Gradually, his tea farm __________ other animals’ visiting. Many human visitors followed, too, and some even volunteered here. Bodosa’s tea farm was __________ as “the world’s first elephant-friendly tea farm”. He has also trained many farmers in organic farming. “We have to work hard to __________ the lives of both wild elephants and humans,” Bodosa said. The tea from such farms does have an economical and __________ impact on Assam.

21.

A．strains

B．elephants

C．fields

D．plants

22.

A．entertaining

B．satisfying

C．alarming

D．embarrassing

23.

A．as usual

B．by contrast

C．after all

D．in advance

24.

A．primitive

B．representative

C．privileged

D．endangered

25.

A．dropped

B．risen

C．doubled

D．changed

26.

A．adapted

B．connected

C．compared

D．exposed

27.

A．ranges

B．differences

C．encounters

D．adventures

28.

A．awkward

B．tragic

C．humorous

D．controversial

29.

A．publicly

B．privately

C．significantly

D．harmoniously

30.

A．passages

B．solutions

C．assignments

D．calculations

31.

A．criteria

B．associations

C．regulations

D．barriers

32.

A．lived off

B．resulted from

C．appealed to

D．turned down

33.

A．misread

B．diagnosed

C．imagined

D．credited

34.

A．extend

B．secure

C．involve

D．threaten

35.

A．ecological

B．religious

C．cultural

D．negative

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。

Beijing is set to host its annual Beijing Marathon. This event     36     (become) one of the most popular marathons in the world in the past years, attracting thousands of participants from all over the world.

The Beijing Marathon takes place in the autumn, when the city     37     (decorate) with colorful leaves. As the starting gun fires, professional     38     (athlete) alongside amateur runners fill the streets, creating a spirited and     39     (energy) atmosphere. The marathon offers different categories, such as the full marathon and the half marathon, catering to runners of all abilities.

    40     race route takes participants through the heart of Beijing, allowing them to witness the     41     (city) historical landmarks and modern marvels. Runners pass by famous sites like Tian’anmen Square, the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven. These landmarks provide a glimpse into the rich history and culture of China.

Along the course, thousands of people line the streets, cheering and encouraging the runners,     42     (create) an incredible sense of friendship. Volunteers hand out water, drinks, and even small snacks     43     (keep) the runners fueled.

The Beijing Marathon is not only a race, but it also is an experience     44     brings people together, promotes fitness and showcases the beauty of Beijing. Whether you’re a seasoned runner     45     a first-timer, this event offers an unforgettable journey through the heart of China’s capital city. Lace up your running shoes and get ready for an exciting adventure.

47. 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

Henry Crawley was a cab driver who drove long circuits every day. His job kept him away from family for long hours. It was the topic of many quarrels he had gotten into with his wife, who understood why he was away so often but could not resist the urge to cry out for her husband’s physical absence.

To make up for not always being there for his daughter, Leslie, Henry was determined to make it to her 16th birthday party on time. On the day of her birthday, Henry conveyed as many passengers as he could as usual. When he finally finished the last order to a distant town outside the city, Henry rushed back to his city for the small party.

However, he got caught up in a heavy snowstorm that restricted mobility on his way back. Stubbornly, he decided he would press on anyway and continued driving even though he had to go at a snail’s (蜗牛的) pace.

It was 6: 00 pm and Leslie’s party started at 6: 30 pm. He complained about the weather as he fastened his eyes on the slippery road. As time passed, he got closer to the city. Suddenly, he spotted a person sitting beside the road. He stopped his car to check on it, and found it was an elderly woman who was unable to speak but almost freezing. Her bedroom clothes told him she must be from the town nearby he just drove past.

Henry decided to take the woman to her town, but he remembered that his wife would be upset with him if he missed his daughter’s birthday party. He called his wife to explain things. As he predicted, she said nothing, ending up the call. That made him uneasy and almost turn back to his car. But he knew that he could not leave the woman helpless. “I’d want someone to care for my wife or daughter if they ended up in such a tough situation,” he said to himself.

注意：
1.续写词数应为150左右;
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

Without any hesitation, Henry was determined to help the stranger.

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Upon his arrival, it was late at night and Henry became more uneasy.

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