The Big Ben is located in the tower at the eastern end of the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, Greater London. It was designed by Edmund Beckett and Baron Grimthorpe.

The Big Ben is very famous throughout the world, but nobody really knows why it is called Big Ben. There are two hearsays about this. Some people say that it was named after Benjamin Caunt, a boxer, who was called Big Ben. More people believe it was called after Welshman, Sir Benjamin Hall. He was the commissioner(特派员)of the work at the time of its installation in 1859.A story was told that during a debate in the Commons on what to call the bell, Sir Benjamin was about to give his ideas when a MP who sat behind the front bench shouted, “Let's call it Big Ben!” Then this name came into being.

The bell hasn't gone through a smooth road since the beginning of its design. Because there was great disagreement about the design of the clock. It took fifteen years to build. In 1857, the bell was completed and tested on the ground, but a four-foot crack appeared and the bell had to be cast again. Finally, the clock started ticking on 31 May, 1859, and struck its first chime(报时)on 11, July. Then in September, the bell cracked again. It was silent for four years but was eventually turned a quarter of a revolution(旋转). In this way, the crack was not under the striking hammer. Craftsmen made a square above the crack to stop it growing longer and it can still be seen today.

The Big Ben is famous not only for its 13-ton weight, but also for its accuracy(准确性) which is a result of its precise mechanism(机械装置). Even one extra penny's weight on the balance will cause a gain of two fifths of a second in twenty-four hours. Although there have been several problems, the bell is still striking today.Its chimes can be heard all over the world on the B.B.C.

1.What can we know about the Big Ben?

A.It is located in the Houses of Parliament. B.It is the largest and tallest clock tower in the world.

C.It is well-known all over the world. D.It is the heaviest clock in the world.

2.What can we learn from the third paragraph?

A.The bell worked well at its first test.

B.The construction of the clock was long but not smooth.

C.The clock started to strike chimes on 31 May,1859.

D.The crack finally disappeared after a quarter of a revolution

3.Which of the following can best explain why Big Ben is world-famous?

A.Accurate and heavy. B.Accurate and colorful.

C.Heavy and colorful. D.Attractive and accurate.

4.What can we infer from the passage?

A.Sir Benjamin Hall was a famous architect at that time.

B.Even the tiniest extra weight on the balance will affect the clock's accuracy.

C.The chimes of the clock could be heard all over the world.

D.The clock has been ticking ever since 31 May,1859.

    Every day, unemployed men gather in Jackson Heights, Queens. Many of them are homeless. All of them are hungry. At around 9:30 each night, Munoz's truck arrives, filled with hot food, coffee and hot chocolate. For more than four years, Munoz and his family have been feeding those in need seven nights a week, 365 days a year. Munoz was born in Colombia and his father died in an accident when he was young. When his mother found it difficult to support Munoz and his sister, she made her way to New York, finding work in Brooklyn as a nurse. As immigrants(移民), they often suffered starvation. Later Munoz found a job as a bus driver. “When I see these guys on the street, it's like seeing me 20 years ago when I came to this country,” Munoz recalls.

Munoz began his meal program-An Angel in Queens-in the summer of 2004.Within a few months, Munoz and his mother were preparing 20 home-cooked meals daily. Numbers gradually increased over the years to 35 per night, then 60.In recent months, that number has jumped to as many as 140 meals a night. Munoz gets up around 5:00 a.m.to drive his bus route, and he calls home on his breaks to see how the cooking is going. When he gets home around 5:30 p.m.—often stopping to pick up food donations-he helps pack up meals before heading out to “his corner” in Jackson Heights. “He comes here without fail,” says one of the men. “It could be cold, it could be really hot, but he's here.” Watch Munoz in action in Queens, New York.

“If I don't go, I'm going to feel bad,” he says. “I know they're going to be waiting for me.”

Munoz estimates(估计)that food and gas cost approximately$400 to 450 a week; he and his family are funding the operation through their savings and his weekly$700 paycheck. Asked why he spends so much time to help people he doesn't know, he answers, “I have a stable job, my mom, my family, a house...everything I want, I have. And these guys don't”. So I just think, 'OK,I have the food. At least for today they're going to have a meal to eat.’”

Munoz was named one of the CNN heroes.

1.Why did Munoz's mother leave Colombia for New York?

A.Because Munoz's father worked in New York.

B.Because they were not used to the life in Colombia.

C.Because she couldn't support the family in Colombia.

D.Because she was born in New York.

2.As immigrants, Munoz's family        

A.were often helped by the government B.often went hungry

C.were looked down upon D.went begging in the street

3.Which word can be used to describe Munoz?

A.Lucky. B.Kind. C.Adventurous. D.Devoted.

4.What is the main idea of the text?

A.A bus driver provided free home-cooked meals.

B.God helps those who help themselves.

C.The government helped immigrants.

D.CNN heroes were asked to help immigrants.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn,by Betty Smith

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn wasn't a new book when my mother was young. It's the story of Francie Nolan struggling up in a tenement slum(贫民区)through the cracks in the pavement to reach the sun.It may be the best book I've ever read about poverty,parenthood, the immigrant experience,and just about everything else.My firstborn daughter is named

Francie Nolan.

To buy:$18,amazon.com.

The Maltese Falcon,by Dashiell Hammett

My all-time personal favorite. I love this book, all of it: the plot,the characters,the dialogue,much of which was lifted verbatim(逐字逐句地)by John Huston for his screenplay for the beloved movie of the same name.The single best monologue in fiction appears toward the end,when Sam Spade tells Brigid O'Shaughnessy why he's giving her to the police.

To buy:$14,amazon.com.

Gilead,by Marilynne Robinson

Oh-so hard to choose!But I'll go with Gilead.An uplifting tale of love in its many forms,told in a style in which every word is perfect.A joyous read.

To buy:$15,amazon.com.

Far From the Tree:Parents,Children and the Search for Identity,by Andrew Solomon

If you think 700 pages on the many ways in which unusual kids(autistic, deaf, criminal, genius)can stretch(延伸)their families' conception(理解) of love doesn't sound like summertime reading,Far From the Tree:Parents,Children and the Search for Identity will teach you otherwise.

To buy:$37.50,amazon.com.

1.What is special about The Maltese Falcon?

A.It can't be bought online. B.It was made into a film.

C.It's about how to be a parent. D.It tells how to treat the loved.

2.How much should you pay for one Far From the Tree and one Gilead?

A.$52.50. B.$29. C.$32. D.$55.50.

3.Which of the following tells us how to get along well with our family?

A.Gilead

B.The Maltese Falcon.

C.A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.

D.Far From the Tree:Parents,Children and the Search for Identity.

假定你是李华，2020年5月21日是第一个“世界茶日（International Tea Day）”。你的英国笔友Steve想了解一下茶在中国的情况。请你给他回封邮件，介绍一些常识。

内容包括：

1.简介中国人对茶的态度；

2.喝茶之于健康的作用；

3.邀请他来中国体验一下。

注意：

1.字数100词左右；

2.可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文，文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。

增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。

删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉

修改：在错的词下面画一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。

注意：

1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；

2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。

Yesterday I had my twin sisters in the pushchair and went to shop. I had two paper bags of daily product. Just as I stepped onto a busy main road, both of the bags split. As I tried to pick them from the ground, the pushchair slide downhill. At that moment, I couldn't choose but to watch it going fast. Suddenly the well-dressed man grabbed the girls and got them to safe. He then came to me to check what I needed any extra help. With his timely help, my story might not have had so a happy ending. My faith in humanity has been restoring since that moment.

    A local grocery store is remodeling. And none of the ________ is good for shoppers there. The aisles（走道）have been rearranged and pushed closer, making it ________ to get through. All the items have been moved from their ________ spots. It seems to me that it is intended to ________ the shoppers down so they will make more heady ________ and give the store bigger profits.

However, the most ________ for me was in the check-out aisles. And I felt ________ to see that only a few cashiers（收银员）were left working, with huge sections being ________ into self-scanning check-outs. People were probably going to lose their ________ because of this. I got in a cashier aisle and patiently waited while I saw some other people struggling to ________ how the self-scan machines worked. I ________ at that moment never to use one myself ________ I had to wait longer every time I shopped there.

When I ________ arrived at the front of the aisle, I saw the cashier was an acquaintance. I ________ and asked her how her family was doing. She smiled back with ________ and kindness. We chatted happily while she scanned and bagged up my ________. I felt a friendship and a connection with her that warmed my heart. ________, of course, can do a lot for us, but they can't smile. They can't love. They can't ________ a heart.

Only we can do that. It is time we should realize that profits aren't more ________ than us people, neither machines. It is time we should see that we are here not to ________ the world but to be a part of it

1.A.products B.changes C.citizens D.employees

2.A.harder B.easier C.convenient D.available

3.A.obvious B.fixed C.usual D.unknown

4.A.calm B.turn C.put D.slow

5.A.money B.trouble C.buys D.discounts

6.A.reliable B.reachable C.awesome D.troublesome

7.A.sad B.honored C.weak D.thrilled

8.A.talked B.transformed C.interpreted D.conveyed

9.A.jobs B.faces C.affection D.dignity

10.A.put off B.figure out C.pull through D.set aside

11.A.begged B.remembered C.pretended D.swore

12.A.as though B.now that C.even if D.in that

13.A.initially B.finally C.hurriedly D.punctually

14.A.waved B.sighed C.smiled D.jumped

15.A.warmth B.surprise C.affection D.abandon

16.A.bills B.papers C.valuables D.groceries

17.A.Machines B.Companions C.Customers D.Acquaintances

18.A.steal B.beat C.water D.touch

19.A.accurate B.important C.useful D.intelligent

20.A.look down on B.put up with C.take control of D.make fun of

    As is often the case, it is human nature to lead a sedentary（久坐的）lifestyle and most of us are so involved in our busy schedules that we don't even notice our bad habits. Many worry about the right time or "right age" to start working out. 1. Here're some practical tips to help you get fit.

Master your mind. Most people argue that they are too tired or old to start exercising. Doing so is much easier than trying to change the busy lifestyle. Change your mindset and be more confident in improving your health. 2.

Easy does it. Once you have chosen a fitness program, start slowly and increase it in stages. Begin with just a few minutes of gentle exercises and stretches. 3. About 30 minutes should be devoted to your workout. As your body starts to respond and your muscles get used to the exercises, you can gradually increase the length of your workout.

Always warm up. Always remember to warm up your muscles before exercising. Gentle warm-ups will reduce your risk of injury, aches and pains, and increase blood circulation and flexibility.

4. There's no quick access to getting fit. It's a common mistake to do too much too soon. If you don't know how to balance your needs and your expectations, you might seriously injure your muscles or just create stress.

Cool down. When you finish your routine, you need to cool your muscles and let your heart rate slow gradually. 5.

A.Don't overload your body.

B.Never ignore your potentials.

C.Tell your body to be more active and say, "I can do it."

D.However, nobody cares about what you have done for them.

E.Go next to some mild activity such as walking, jogging or cycling.

F.Cooling down will help your body to return to its pre-exercise level.

G.But it's never too late for them to start exercising and all they need is enough determination.

    It's the most popular drink worldwide. According to the British Coffee Association, approximately two billion cups of coffee are consumed every day. But after the beans have been picked, roasted and brewed, the grounds（渣子）are often treated as waste. With the environment and resource consumption such hot topics at the moment, wouldn't it be great if we could reuse this waste to make something useful?

The company OCHIS produces sunglasses. Max Havrylenko, founder of the company, was searching for an alternative material to plastic. He wanted to "solve the problem of plastic use and overconsumption so as to create a greener world," he told the Guardian. OCHIS heats the grounds with vegetable oils, forming a bond. These are pressed into plates which are durable and flexible. These are then cut into the arms and frames of the glasses. "Don't worry," he says, "They won't dissolve（溶解）in the rain."

Rosalie McMillan, a London jeweler, uses recycled coffee grounds along with gold and silver to make handcrafted jewelry. Mixed with oils, the coffee is then subjected to heat and pressure to create a compound she calls "Curface". Her website says it has a "beautiful surface quality and texture" with similar properties to hardwood.

What about a coffee cup made from them? Kaffeeform is a German-based company that transforms used grounds and renewable plant-based raw materials into a durable composite. This is shaped into a variety of containers and polished and finished, ready to be sold. So, you can drink your coffee from a cup made of coffee.

And it doesn't stop there. Even without a factory, you can make use of coffee grounds. They make excel-lent fertilizer（肥料）. You can highlight something against them, or mix them with water to make a brown-toned paint. And the list goes on. So next time you finish your morning cup, lake a while to think again.

1.The first paragraph is mainly written to introduce       .

A.how people treat coffee grounds B.annual consumption of coffee

C.growing popularity of coffee D.the big problem of wasting food

2.What can be inferred from the second paragraph?

A.OCHIS doesn't make sunglasses at all at present.

B.Plastic might be less eco-friendly to environment.

C.Coffee has become the raw materials of sunglasses.

D.Coffee-based plates are more durable and flexible.

3.The underlined word "subjected" in Paragraph 3 can be best replaced by       .

A.accustomed B.exposed C.relevant D.sensitive

4.What does the author advise people to do in the last paragraph?

A.Think about how to recycle the coffee grounds. B.Take full advantage of their time.

C.Add more information to the list. D.Keep away from the coffee cups.

    We all love to take photographs. It's a simple way to snap a special moment, an amazing view, or just to show off your artistic skills. And it's great to look back through your photo albums and share memories with your friends. In fact, they show a snapshot（快照）in time. This hasn't really changed since the invention of photography in the 1830s. But one thing that has changed is the equipment we use.

For many years, we have used traditional cameras to take our pictures with. Our images were taken onto camera film which was then processed into negatives from which photos were printed— a lengthy process. And we've had a range of cameras to choose from— from the simple compact camera to more advanced single lens reflex, or SLR cameras.

But the biggest change has come with the development of digital devices. This has made taking photo quicker and easier. It's enabled us to take a snap and review our pictures instantly. We've been able to deal with them in post-production, using software on our computer. And of course, we've been able to share them like never before— particularly on social media.

Of course, now we have the smartphone— a phone that is, well, smart because it can take photos and sometimes very good quality ones, and we can share them easily. So does that mean the traditional camera will eventually become outdated? Figures from Japan show how the market is shrinking: shipments of compact digital cameras from companies like Olympus, Canon and Nikon were down 39 percent year on year.

But Phil Hall, editor of Tech Radar magazine, told the BBC that while people are swapping their compact cameras for smartphones, "manufacturers are looking at the more higher-end cameras, high-end compacts, DSLRs, which are the ones you can attach lenses to, mirrorless cameras. In this sense, there's nothing to worry about."

1.What does the underlined word "they" in Paragraph I refer to?

A.Private memories. B.Photo albums

C.Artistic skills. D.Photographs

2.What is the biggest challenge for traditional cameras?

A.Instant access to taking photographs. B.Sharing moments on social media.

C.The development of digital technology. D.Post-production of software on computer.

3.What is Phil Hall's attitude towards the future of traditional cameras?

A.Optimistic. B.Negative. C.Worried. D.Uncertain.

4.What is the best title for the text?

A.What a dilemma for cameras! B.What can smartphones do for us?

C.Are smartphones killing cameras? D.Camera producers survive the hard times

    Airports are mini cities, often with their own firefighters, doctors and even priests. But goat herders（牧工）? Passengers flying out of San Francisco International Airport recently might have caught a glimpse of something strange: nearly 600 goats chewing away at overgrown weed. Each spring the airport needs to remove the brush in a remote comer to protect nearby homes from possible fires.

For the past seven years, the airport has turned to Goats R Us, a goat-powered brush removal company, which charged US $34,900 for the service this year. A large amount, isn't it? Why not employ machines on humans? Two endangered species, the San Francisco garter snake（束带蛇）and the California red-legged frog, live there. Thus, this humane approach has been adopted to secure their peaceful life.

What do the herders and their dogs do? There's always a goat or two that would like to take a different path. "Just as a kindergarten teacher knows which kids need a little extra attention, so we will make sure the dogs can target the 'naughty goats' to keep them secure," says Terri Oyarzun, co-owner of Goats R Us. When asked how to lead goats to the next plot of plants. Terri says, "It's effortless. You know, the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence? Goats were the inspiration for that philosophy."

The goats travel 30 miles each spring from their home in Orinda, California to the airport in a 16-wheel truck. They spend two weeks cutting away a 20-foot firebreak on the west side of the airport. When Oyarzun's mats aren't clearing brush at the airport, they are busy doing similar work on the side of California's free-ways, at state parks, and anywhere else with overgrown vegetation. The family has about 8,000 total active goats, nearly twice that of three years ago.

1.What can we know from Paragraph 1?

A.There is too much grass to feed goats B.Goats have successfully built firewalls.

C.Overgrown grass covers much room for planes. D.Grass is cleared annually to prevent potential fire.

2.Goats are hired to clear the grass for the purpose of       .

A.cutting down the expenses B.reducing the risk of deaths

C.guarding against possible fires D.protecting certain endangered species

3.Terri's words in Paragraph 3 can be best described as       .

A.critical B.humorous C.ridiculous D.objective

4.What can be inferred from the text?

A.The goats walk 30 miles to the airport every year.

B.More passengers have been attracted to the airport.

C.Oyarzun's business is now booming and promising.

D.Goats are not accustomed to life at the airport yet.