When you think of friends, you often thi...

    Imagine an area 34 times the size of Manhattan. Now imagine it covered ankle-deep in plastic waste---- a total of about 19 billion pounds of garbage.  1..

“We're being overwhelmed(淹没)by our waste，”said Jenna Jambeck, an environmental engineer who led the 2015 study that determined this astonishing number. 2., unless something is done to stop the tide of garbage.

Plastic----a widely-used material----has in many ways been a benefit to humans but it has also caused a growing problem. Today, plastics are the No.1 type of garbage found in the sea. Ocean Conservancy, a nonprofit that organizes an annual coastal cleanup event worldwide, said plastic waste makes up around 85 percent of the garbage collected from beaches and oceans.

Ocean Conservancy says plastics are believed to threaten(威胁)at least 600 different wildlife species(物种). 3. ; a growing body of evidence suggests humans are consuming plastics through the seafood we eat. A research suggests some plastics could be poisonous to humans, and could potentially increase the risk of health problems.

4.. At the Economist World Ocean Summit this week, ten nations announced to reduce plastic sea liter as part of UN Environment's CleanSeas campaign. 5.Corporations also have a role, as do individuals. We can start by thinking twice before using single-use plastic products----and when we do use them, we should take care to properly throw them off or recycle.

A. The following is what we should do

B. And it's not just wildlife that's threatened

C. And this figure is likely to double by 2025

D. But it's not just countries that need to do their part

E. By 2050,that figure is expected to rise to 1000 pieces

F. That's how much plastic waste ends up in our oceans every year

G. All of us have an important role to play in dealing with the problems

    Skyscrapers are the symbol of Urban life.City people are used to seeing tall buildings and apartments. Farms，on the other hand,are associated with rural(农村的)life.However，there are experts who think skyscrapers should become farms to meet the increasing food needs.

By the middle of this century, some scientists suggest，almost 80% of the earth's population could live in cities. In addition，the population could increase to 9.1 billion people during that time yet the amount of  land available for farming will be the same.If current farming practices don't change，we will need an area of new land to produce enough food for the planet.

Vertical farms, where urban farmers could grow crops in environmentally friendly skyscrapers, could be the solution. In spite of concerns over high costs, experts want to make it a reality and use these skyscrapers to grow crops.

Vertical farms would have many advantages, supporters say. Unlike traditional farming, vertical farming could be free of chemicals and diseases. Besides, crops would not suffer from problems like flooding. Finally，vertical farms would reduce the cost and negative effects of transporting food over long distances.

Some argue that although crops growing in a tall glass building would get natural sunlight during the day，it wouldn't be enough. For this reason，vertical farms would need additional light sources(来源), such as artificial light.

Another way of growing fresh food is to build urban farms on rooftops. This more practical approach may be more achievable than the idea of farms in skyscrapers, researchers suggest. Experts agree that innovative(革新的)farming practices are needed to support the need for more food at affordable costs, both to the farmer and to the consumer,but the best ideas could be yet to come.

1.What primary problem could vertical farming settle？

A. Poor state of rural life.

B. Shortage of food supply.

C. High cost for transporting crops.

D. Environmental pollution by transitional farmings

2.What is the advantage of vertical farming?

A. It can produce organic food.

B. It requires little care.

C. It can benefit transport industry.

D. It needs very low cost.

3.What is a big challenge to make vertical farming a reality?

A. Farmable land. B. Crop diseases

C. Light sources. D. Climate conditions.

4.What can be the best title of the test?

A. Future Food Needs

B. Symbol of Urban Life

C. Farming on Rooftops

D. Farms of the Future

    When my grandmother died at the age of 96, there were two things she left behind in abundance---nearly 100 photo albums documenting decades of travel and home life, and a dozen quilts, one of which my mother gave me.

Quilting is the process of sewing together fabric(作料)to make one large piece of fabric. In my family，quilting and sewing is a tradition that has been passed down through the generations. My mother says her great-grandmother would occasionally travel around New York State to sew clothing for other families.

In the United States，quilting was a craft(手艺)that started as a necessity and eventually became much more. In 1862, the U.S. government offered millions of acres of land to Americans who wanted to move west. This allowed families to settle on land that that could eventually own. They often built their own homes and lived off the vegetables in their gardens and the livestock they had. Sewing was very important for women because they were responsible for clothing their families and keeping them warm.

Quilting also became a chance for women to socialize with each other.They would gather for so-called “quilting bees”，where they would meet up and work on one quilting project together. This provided a much-needed relief from the lonely life of living on a large piece of land.

Throughout history, the different patterns on American quilts have conveyed all kinds of information. From then，we can tell where a person lived，what region of the world they originated from, or sometimes a story is told in pictures on a quilt.

Even today，women still gather to quit together in a show of friendship and a love for the craft，just like the old days.My sister has tried quilting a few times，and hopefully，her two daughters may one day continue this family tradition.

1.What do we know about quilting？

A. It is a lost traditional craft.

B. It is a major means of making a living in the USA.

C. It is a craft that has become a cultural symbol.

D. It was a way to carry on the American history.

2.What does the author intend to do in Paragraph 3？

A. Introduce a new topic for discussion.

B. Summarize the previous paragraphs

C. Add some background information.

D. Praise the U.S.government's policy.

3.What does the underlined word“this”in paragraph 4 refer to？

A. Working on the land.

B. Participating in“quilting bees”.

C. Designing a quilting project.

D. Clothing the family.

4.What is the author's purpose in writing the text？

A. To instruct how to sew together fabric.

B. To show the author's skills of quilting.

C. To tell about the struggle of women.

D. To appeal for preservation of quilting.

    Ashley Power's mother bought a computer for her when she was eight. When she was thirteen, she was surfing the Internet on a regular basis, but she couldn't find anywhere for teenagers to meet and talk. And one day she thought, "If I had my own website, I'd make it a really interesting site for teenagers."

Consequently, when Ashley was sixteen, she started her own website called GooseHead. She had no idea how big a success it would be, but three years later, the site was the most successful teen site in the USA! It was getting 100,000 hits every day, and Ashley had about 30 employees.

After a few years, the website closed down. Then Ashley, who lived in Los Angeles, was asked to write a book called The GooseHead Guide to Life. The book is about how to design a website and start a business. It begins with a section called"All About Ashley", where Ashley tell readers what it's like to be the boss of a company when you' re only sixteen-not always easy!

In her book, Ashley talks about the problems that teenagers have today plus the importance of friendship. She also focuses on being independent. "Learn to love your friends but not rely on them. I did that by creating GooseHead on my own."

Ashley says that The GooseHead Guide to Life is not a book of teenage advice."It isn't a book that's going to tell you what to do. I hope you can work that out yourself," she says."I just want to provide a little inspiration to teenagers. Maybe after reading my story, you' ll start your own website! But perhaps you' ve got a better idea? Well, if I were you, I'd just do it, whatever it is. Maybe it won't work---but maybe it will."

1.Why did Ashley start GooseHead?

A. To promote the sale of her book.

B. To update her mother's computer.

C. To teach teenagers how to use the Internet.

D. To create a platform for teenagers to communicate.

2.Where can you find the information that best shows the success of Ashley's website?

A. In Paragraph 1. B. In Paragraph 2. C. In Paragraph 3. D. In Paragraph 4.

3.What do we know about The GooseHead Guide to Life.

A. It serves to fuel teenagers' motivation.

B. It is meant to give teenagers tips.

C. It advises teenagers to depend on friends.

D. It is about ways to be boss of a company.

4.What does Ashley inspire teenagers to do？

A. Follow their dream.

B. Start their own website.

C. Buy a copy of her book.

D. Be a model for others.

Things to Do on a Sunny Day in San Francisco

San Francisco doesn't take its sunny days for granted.Once the sun comes out and the temperatures rise，everyone races to seize a spot to take in an unbelievable city view or heads to one of their favorite attractions.

Find Thrills at a Theme Park

Experience thrill rides and attractions at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom，North America's only theme park of wildlife, sea life and thrilling rides. It's a wonderful entertainment experience for the whole family, with one-of-a-kind adventures across three worlds.

Cruise(乘船游览)on the Bay

Sail under one of the “Modern Wonders of the World". Watch sea lions and seals at play.

And learn all the secrets of the fantastic city by the Bay. For people who like the thrill of speed and wind in their hair, the seasonal Rocket Boat(May-October)is the option for you.

Tour AT&T Park

It's home to the famous baseball team San Francisco Giants from April to October every year, but you can take a tour inside AT&T Park any time for a"player's eye view." You'll have access to the baseball field, the visitors' clubhouse, the press box and so on.

Ride a Bike over the Golden Gate Bridge

Explore the beautiful, bike-friendly streets and waterfront paths of San Francisco all the way to the Golden Gate Bridge with an all-day bike rental from Blazing Saddles. Their easy-ride bikes, combined with their new, free mobile app full of helpful tips and sightseeing suggestions make the self-guided tours easy and fun for everyone.

1.What can tourists do at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom?

A. Experience thrilling rides. B. Learn all the secrets of San Francisco.

C. Take a player's eye view over a park. D. Admire the scenery of the Golden Gate Bridge.

2.Which event attracts tourists loving speed and wind most?

A. Find Thrills at a Theme park B. Cruise on the Bay

C. Tour At& T Park D. Ride a Bike over the Golden Gate Bridge

3.Which of the following offers tourists a free mobile app?

A. Watching wildlife. B. Sailing on the bay.

C. Visiting a baseball field. D. Renting a bike from Blazing Saddles.