| 1. 难度：中等 | |
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If you’re planning to get away from it all this year, you should think passport first. Checking you have a valid passport before you book your trip takes minutes but could save you the trouble and cost of not being able to go. Renewing (更新) your passport before it runs out You can renew your passport up to 9 months before it can no longer be legally used. So take the time now and save the tears later. Applying for a passport for the first time Our eligibility (资格) checks mean that it takes a minimum of one week to issue (颁发) a passport. So make sure you don’t leave it to the last minute, and apply in plenty of time. Help with your application is just around the corner Selected Post Office branches and Worldchoice travel agents offer a Check and Send service that helps you with your application. It’s convenient and you should receive your passport within 2 weeks. If you need to apply for or renew a passport, you can either: Pick up a Passport Application Form at Selected Post Office branches and Worldchoice travel agents. Or call the Application Form Request line on 0901 4700 100 or visit www.passport.gov.uk If your need is urgent, call 0870 521 0410 for an appointment at one of our offices. We can’t guarantee to see customers without an appointment. From 14th January a guaranteed same day (passport renewals only) or one week service will be available from passport public counters. *Calls will be charged 60p per minute and the cost per call should not normally be more than 90p. *Calls are charged at national rates. 1.When applying for a passport for the first time, you need to know that ______. A. passports can be legally used forever B. passports are issued at the last minute C. application checks take at least one week D. applications are selected by post office branches 2.According to the passage, you can meet your urgent need by ______. A. going to the offices directly B. making a call for an appointment C. visiting www.passport.gov.uk for a guarantee D. getting in touch with Worldchoice travel agents 3.What is the passage mainly about? A. Certain types of passports. B. Different functions of passports. C. Advantages of holding passports. D. Instructions on applying for passports.
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| 2. 难度：中等 | |
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A Teenage Inventor
The world could be one step closer to quick and inexpensive Ebola detection thanks to a teenager from Connecticut. Olivia Hallisey, a junior at Greenwich High School, was awarded $50,000 in the Google Science Fair for her new method that detects Ebola, a virus that causes bleeding from different parts of the body and usually causes death. Olivia’s method is to ask patients to put their saliva (唾液) onto a testing card. The card changes color if the person is catching Ebloa. Present Ebloa tests take up to 12 hours and cost $1,000. Olivia’s method, however, can be done just in 30 minutes for about $25. Besides, the sample (样本) doesn’t have to be put in a refrigerator thanks to the silk material Olivia uses to produce the testing cards. Olivia was inspired to deal with this global problem after watching the news that more than 10,000 people died from Ebola in West Africa. She was particularly worried about the fact that, while the acts of involvement can improve survival rates, present detection methods are costly, time-consuming and require complex tools. Olivia got help from her science research teacher. She drew out directions from past research, and figured out detection systems that have proven to work with other diseases, including Lyme disease and yellow fever. “What affects one country affects everyone,” Olivia told CNBC. “We have to work together to find answers to the huge challenges which cause harm to the global health.” The Connecticut’s teen, who hopes to become a doctor one day, was named the Google Science Fair winner in the competition of 20 competitors from across the globe. The fair is open to young people between the ages of 13 and 18 in most countries. Olivia hopes her success will inspire other girls interested in science and computers. “I would just encourage girls to try it in the beginning, and remind them that they don’t have to feel naturally drawn or feel like they have a special talent for maths or science,” she told CNBC, “but just really look at something they are interested in and then think how to improve something or make it more enjoyable or relate it to their interests.” 1.According to the passage, present Ebola detection methods ______. A. must use a large amount of samples B. may detect other deadly viruses as well C. have proven to be ineffective in practice D. require samples to be kept in refrigerators 2.What can we learn about Olivia’s method? A. Time-consuming. B. Cheap. C. Complex. D. Out-of-date. 3.What does the underlined word “drawn” in Paragraph 5 probably mean？ A. Attracted. B. Controlled. C. Admitted. D. Exposed. 4.The Google Science Fair is intended for ______. A. students B. doctors C. inventors D. scientists
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| 3. 难度：中等 | |
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Palaces are known for their beauty and splendor, but they offer little protection against attacks. It is easy to defend a large building, but usually these buildings are not designed with the comfort of a king in mind. When it comes to structures that are both beautiful and defensive, the European castle is a big success. Castles were originally built in England by the Normans in 1066. They built towers and walls to secure the land they had taken. These castles provided the Normans with a quiet and safe place. They also served as bases of operation for attacks. In this way castles served both defensive and offensive roles. Besides, castles served as offices for governors. Those that were socially beneath the governor would come to report affairs and express their respect. They would address problems, handle business, feast, and enjoy festivities in castles. So castles served as social centers as well. The first castles were made from earth and wood, and they were likely to suffer from attacks by fire. Then wooden castles were gradually replaced by stone, which greatly increased the strength of these towers and walls. However, attackers could throw flaming objects into castles through the windows or burn the wooden doors. This led to moving the windows and entrances off of the ground floor and up to the first floor to make them more difficult to access. During the Middle Ages, attacks increased in regularity, so castle defenses were updated. Arrow-slits were added. They were small holes in the castle, which allowed defenders to fire without being hurt. Towers were built from which defenders could provide fire on both sides. The towers were connected to the castle by wooden bridges, so that if one tower fell, the rest of the castle was still easy to defend. A lot of rings of castle walls were constructed, so that even if attackers went past one wall, they would be caught on a killing ground between inner and outer walls. All of these increased the defense of castles. The end of castles can be attributed to gunpowder. During the 15th century, artillery, a kind of large guns, became powerful enough to break through stone walls. This greatly made the role of castles less effective. Though castles no longer serve their original purposes, remaining castles receive millions of visitors each year who wish to experience the situations of ancient times. 1.What was the original function of castles according to the passage? A. They served as tourist attractions. B. They were important social centers. C. They marked religious ceremonies. D. They were built for use in emergencies. 2.The reason why wooden castles were replaced by stone castles was that . A. stone castles cost less money B. stone castles offered better defense C. wooden castles were uncomfortable D. wooden castles took a long time to build 3.Which of the following showed an improvement in castle defenses? A. Castles were totally separated by stones. B. Arrow-slits were made in large quantities. C. Rings of walls were built to defend the towers. D. Windows and entrances were moved to the higher floor. 4.What is the best title of the passage? A. Fancy Living: Learning about Castles B. Normans: Bringing Castles to England C. A History of Castles: The Rise and Fall of Castles D. Defending Castles: Technologies Used to Defend Castles
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| 4. 难度：中等 | |
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It has been around for centuries, but up until very recently, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) wasn’t fully accepted abroad. Proof of this can be found in The Treatment (《刮痧》), a 2001 film that tells the story of a Chinese man in the US who’s accused of abuse after he uses guasha, a form of TCM treatment, to cure his grandson’s disease. During the last 10 years or so, however, TCM has been getting increasingly popular all over the world. A report released by the State Council Information Office on Dec. 6 says this style of health care, which includes different forms like herbal medicine and exercise, has spread to 183 countries and regions. “We have set up 10 TCM centers outside China, and all of them are popular among locals,” Wang Guoqiang, head of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, said at a news conference on Dec 6. “Governments of 86 countries and regions have signed agreements with the Chinese government on TCM corporation.” One of the reasons behind the growing popularity of TCM is the increase of scientific research into it. And after Tu Youyou, the Chinese scientist who discovered the anti-malaria (抗疟疾) drug qinghaosu (青蒿素), won the Nobel Prize in 2015, TCM became even more famous internationally. However, all these achievements in TCM don’t mean that it’s problem-free. Over the years, TCM has faced challenges in being able to prove that it has certain effects. Some researchers have suggested TCM should be more exact and work together with Western medicine. “Bringing together with Western medicine and TCM, rather than being in competition, is where the potential for great effects is,” said Bernhard Schwartlander, the China representative of the World Health Organization. 1.The film The Treatment is mentioned in the first paragraph to . A. introduce the film to readers B. show TCM is increasingly popular C. arouse readers’ interest in Western medicine D. prove that TCM is not fully accepted in western countries 2.We can learn from the passage that . A. TCM is not exact in curing diseases B. 10 TCM centers abroad are all set up by locals C. 86 countries have cooperated with China on TCM D. Tu Youyou’s success contributes to the popularity of TCM 3.According to Bernhard Schwartlander, TCM should . A. combine western medicine B. face no challenge at all C. give an exact description of its effects D. compete with western medicine 4.Which of the following can be the best title of the passage? A. A report on TCM B. Opinions about TCM C. TCM spreads D. TCM & Western Medicine
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| 5. 难度：中等 | |
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At the beginning of our next class, I asked if someone wanted to share what happened when they told someone they loved them. As was usually the ______, I fully expected one of the women to ______, but on this evening one of the men raised his hand. He appeared quite ______ and a bit shaken. He began by saying, “Dennis, I was quite ______ with you last week when you gave us this ______. I didn’t feel that I had anyone to say those words to, and ______, who were you to tell me to do something that is ______? But as I began driving home a(n) ______ deep down in my heart started talking to me. It was ______ me that I knew exactly who I needed to say ‘I love you’ to. You see, five years ago, my father and I had a cruel ______ and really never resolved it since that time. We ______ seeing each other unless we totally had to at Christmas or other family ______. But even then, we ______ spoke to each other. So, last Tuesday by the time I got home I had ______ myself I was going to tell my father I loved him.” “It’s ______, but just making that decision ______ to lift a heavy load off my chest.” “When I got home, I rushed into the house to tell my wife what I was going to do. She was already in _________ , but I woke her up anyway. She catapulted(弹射) out and ______ me, and for the first time in our married life she saw me cry. We ______ half the night drinking coffee and talking. It was ______.” 1.A. matter B. step C. manner D. case 2.A. volunteer B. behave C. accept D. conclude 3.A. concerned B. curious C. moved D. upset 4.A. familiar B. angry C. strict D. content 5.A. assignment B. instruction C. explanation D. enquiry 6.A. therefore B. besides C. however D. thus 7.A. popular B. annoying C. personal D. painful 8.A. idea B. desire C. voice D. message 9.A. showing B. asking C. persuading D. telling 10.A. disagreement B. defeat C. challenge D. emergency 11.A. enjoyed B. avoided C. tried D. regretted 12.A. collections B. occasions C. associations D. gatherings 13.A. finally B. hardly C. willingly D. delightedly 14.A. convinced B. advised C. taught D. answered 15.A. possible B. severe C. strange D. normal 16.A. meant B. sought C. intended D. seemed 17.A. bed B. relief C. place D. trouble 18.A. blamed B. injured C. hugged D. knocked 19.A. made up B. stayed up C. called up D. got up 20.A. private B. modest C. subjective D. great
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| 6. 难度：困难 | |
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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。 Located in the northwest of Hunan Province, about 300 kilometers away from Changsha, capital of Hunan, Zhangjiajie, 1. covers a total area of 9,563 square kilometers, is a tourist city for its unique natural scenery and abundant tourism resources. Zhangjiajie 2.(award) the title of “World Geological Park” in 2004. 3. (actual), Zhangjiajie, honored as “the most fantastic mountain under heaven” and “a walking Chinese landscape painting”, is also widely praised as “4. enlarged potted landscaping” “a mini fairyland” and “a maze (迷宫) of nature”, attracting a growing number of tourists 5. home and abroad. Since it was discovered in the 1980s, tourism industry 6. (become) the leading industry in Zhangjiajie, which has stimulated the development of other industries 7. (relate) to tourism. At the same time, eco-tourism has been developed rapidly in Zhangjiajie. When you come to Zhangjiajie, you can fully appreciate 8. (it) magnificent natural scenery and experience appealing folk custom as well as other thrilling tourist 9. (activity), and you will be deeply impressed by 10. is performed by the minorities there. It must be an exciting, joyful and unforgettable tour to Zhangjiajie.
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| 7. 难度：中等 | |
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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。作文中共有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：在缺词处加一个漏子符号（∧）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：在错的词下划一横线，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。 For many people, music has always been part of life, and they listen to music on the radio, on iPod and on Internet. As is vividly showing in the picture, the music fan is trying to download songs he enjoys. But the website requires payment first every time he wanted to download something, that annoys him. How he wishes the music is all free! Many people are used to free music being downloaded from the Internet without realizing they have done harm for others’ right. Music artists work very hardly to compose music. If not paid, he will lose enthusiasm to go ahead, and gradually we will find beautiful musics nowhere.
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| 8. 难度：中等 | |
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假定你是李华，计划寒假找份兼职工作。下面的招聘广告引起了你的注意，请根据要点（箭头所指内容）写一封申请信。
注意： 1. 词数100左右； 2. 可适当增加细节使行文连贯； 3. 开头已经给出，不计入总词数。 Dear Mr. Smith, I’ve read your advertisement for an assistant teacher for a children’s winter camp. ____________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Yours sincerely, Li Hua
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