| 1. 难度：中等 | |
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The new wave of plant-based “meat” is going mainstream and straight into one of America’s most iconic chain fast-food burgers, the White Castle Slider. White Castle announced Thursday it is introducing a vegetarian fake-meat version of its famous mini-burgers. The burgers is one of several scientifically engineered products made to make plant ingredients (成分) taste just like beef. Called the Impossible Slider, it will be first sold at 140 White Castle eateries in the New York, New Jersey and greater Chicago areas with the potential for a nationwide promotion. The White Castle Impossible Slider---made with smoked cheddar cheese, pickles, onions and a bun---features a 2-ounce patty and costs $1.99. That compares to the chains traditional 0.9-ounce mini-cheeseburger at about 94 cents. “Plant-based proteins are growing. We felt it was a good opportunity to test it with our customers,” CEO Lisa Ingram said. “We think it will appeal to a broad range of customers---those that are meat caters who want to try something different and non-meat eaters who want this.” She also said the new sliders might bring in new customers, too. The Impossible Slider represents what few in the traditional beef industry thought possible---that cowless meat would be a hit in a country known for its meat-and-potatoes diet and love of burgers. Plant-based meat alternatives are growing at rate of about l1% a year, according to the research firm Acosta. The market isn’t just vegetarians: Some 71% of people who buy plant-based meat also eat the real thing. “Interest in meat alternatives seems to be driven by consumers at large, not just those looking for vegetarian lifestyles, but looking for diversification( HF1c)of tastes and health benefits,” said Billy Roberts, senior food and drink analyst at the global market research firm Mintel. “Our business is a growth business. There’ll be increased demands for products like the Impossible Burger,” Impossible Foods Chief Operating Officer David Lee said. “People are increasingly asking about what impact food has on the environment and our health.” 1.What is the selling point of the Impossible Slider? A.Its low price. B.Its good taste. C.Its high technology. D.Its plant-based ingredients. 2.According to the passage, who may be attracted by the Impossible Slider? ① People living a vegetarian life ② people looking for various tastes ③ people valuing health ④ people dislike fast-food A.① B.①② C.①②③ D.①②③④ 3.What can be inferred from David Lee’s words? A.Curiosity drives more people to buy the Impossible Slider. B.People’s concern over the environment and health may help the new business. C.People’s doubt about food impact may stop the Impossible Slider’s popularity. D.Eco-friendly people play an important part in promoting the Impossible Slider.
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| 2. 难度：中等 | |
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You may have heard the expression “buying into the dip”. We usually think of this in terms of nesting (投资) --- for example, recessions (经济萧条) offer an opportunity to take advantage of buying cheap stocks that were once expensive. But to me, “buying into the dip” is a term which covers a lot more than that. There are a few reasons that I was able to “buying into the dip” and start a business during the Great Recession: ChopDawg.com had zero upstart costs, with no need for any credit to get started. No loans, just $10 for the domain name. I picked a service that only required my own time and labor and that’s basically it, Not needing credit was a big deal for me, and I didn’t even think about this at the time. I was also selling a service that was priced at just the right rock-bottom level to fill a need local small business badly needed more sales, since so many had cut their spending due to the recession. A website could give these businesses a new way to reach their customers, new and old. From an economic standpoint, the Great Recession was an opportunity to start if you were selling the right thing at the right cost. During recessions, the pool gets way less crowded. Potential competitors become much more unwilling to risk, but for those who have an in-demand service, and the means to provide it, you are in business. Back in 2009, website design had not yet become a commercial service, Offering web design as a service for small businesses was a novel idea, and many mom-and-pop shops didn’t know they needed it yet, which brings me to this: if you can solve a fresh-out-of-the-recession pain point at the right price, you have a chance of buying into the dip and helping a lot of people at the same. 1.What is “buying into the dip” to the author? A.Selling things at low costs. B.Buying cheap stocks in time. C.Offering help to small businesses. D.Starting a business with the least investment. 2.What does the underlined word “novel” in Paragraph 5 mean? A.Familiar. B.Simple. C.Clear. D.New. 3.What can be a suitable title for the passage? A.Start small--very small. B.Keep an eye on what you may need. C.Serve right--quite right. D.Adapt to changes in the Internet service.
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| 3. 难度：中等 | |
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When I was 10 years old, I asked a neighborhood kid who was older than me, “Which city is further west: Reno. Nev., or Los Angeles?” The correct answer is Reno. Nevada. But he was convinced it was the other way around. He was so convinced that Los Angeles was west of Reno that he was willing to bet me two dollars. So I went into the house to get my Rand McNally Map. The kid looked at the map and said. “The map is drawn funny.” It wasn’t. Was his argument that the map didn’t preserve east, west, north and south? What kind of map would that be? I showed him if you trace down the 120-degree west line of longitude (经度)---which runs almost directly through Reno, Nev. --- you end up in the Pacific Ocean, somewhere west of Los Angeles. He replied that lines of longitude don’t cross the ocean. What? I told him that the lines of longitude were there to show how far west or east some location was, regardless of whether it was on land or on sea. There was one problem, however. He was bigger than me. I drew a number of conclusions from this story. There is such a thing as truth, but we often tend to ignore it. Also, it’s not just thinking something that makes it true. Truth not relative. It’s not subjective. It may be hidden. People may wish to ignore it. But there is such a thing as truth and pursuit (追求) of truth: trying to figure out what has really happened, trying to figure out how things really are. Almost 15 years ago, I came across a story about an innocent man, a man who had been sentenced to death in the Huntsville, Texas, electric chair. And through hard work and luck, I was able to make the movie The Thin Blue Line and to help get him out of prison. What kept me going was the belief that there had to be answers to the questions. “Did he do it?” “Was he guilty or innocent?” “If he didn’t do it, who did?” and that I could find an answer to these questions through investigating (调查). It’s not that we find truth with big “T”. We investigate and sometimes we find things out and sometimes don’t. There’s no way to know in advance. It’s just that we have to go ahead as though there are answers to questions. We must go ahead as though, in principle, we can find things out-even if we can’t. The alternative is unacceptable. I will never know whether the neighborhood kid really didn’t understand the logic of my argument about Reno. Nev. Or whether he understood it completely and just didn’t want to admit it. Or whether he understood it and just didn’t want to admit it. Or whether he understood it and just didn’t want to pay up. I’ll never know. All I know is I never got my two dollars. 1.Why does the author tell the story of the neighborhood boy? A.To recall his good old days. B.To show his good sense of direction. C.To introduce the topic of finding truth. D.To stress the importance of geography. 2.Why did the boy say “The map is drawn funny.” in Paragraph 2? A.Because he had fun reading maps. B.Because he refused to admit his mistake. C.Because the map was drawn in a different way. D.Because there were some mistakes in the map. 3.What encouraged the author to make the movie The Thin blue Line? A.His devotion to films. B.His willingness to help. C.His belief in finding answers. D.His mercy for the innocent man. 4.What can we learn from the passage? A.Great minds think alike. B.It’s never too late to learn. C.Truth never fears investigation. D.Honesty is the best policy.
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| 4. 难度：中等 | |
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Going green is a great way to reduce your environmental footprint and help the planet. Being green is all about reducing how many resources you use, reusing items when you can, and recycling items that can’t be reused. 1. ●Carry a reusable water bottle so you will not need bottled water. 2.. Not only does it create trash, but it also uses more resources because it’s shipped to the store. To be more eco-friendly, make it a habit to carry a reusable water bottle with you everywhere so that you can drink water on the go. Plastic bottles are usually the lightest and most convenient. ●Use reusable bags while you’re shopping. Shopping bags make it easy to carry your items home, but they also pollute the planet. Skip the store’s shopping bags and bring your own instead, Use a backpack that you already own, or purchase a couple of reusable bags from the checkout area at your local grocery store. 3.. ●4.. Before you throw something away, look for ways you might reuse it. Try re-purposing items or making green crafts. This will help you keep trash out of the landfill. For example, instead of throwing away a jar, you might use it as a glass, vase or storage container. ●Reduce the amount of time you spend using electronics. While electronics are really fun and help you feel connected to your friends, they also use up a lot of energy. Schedule breaks from your electronics so you can use them less. During your breaks, do something fun like going for a walk playing a game with your friends, or pursuing a hobby. 5.. For instance, instead of playing online video games together, go to a local part. A. Glass bottles have come a long way in recent years. B. Reuse items to save them from the landfill. C. You can use your reusable, bags at most stores. D. Bottled water is really bad for the environment. E. You probably need to change your personal habits F. Invite your friend to connect with you in real life. G. You can find ideas for green crafts by searching online.
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| 5. 难度：中等 | |
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The school I attended carried out a tradition during the eighth grade graduation. A scholarship jacket was _________ to the student with the highest grades for eight years. I had been a straight A student since the first grade. The principle called me into his office before _________. “Martha, there’s been a _________ this year about the scholarship jacket. As you know, it has always been _________.” He cleared his throat and continued, “This year the Board decided to charge fifteen dollars-which still won’t _________ the complete cost of the jacket.” I stared at him in _________, Standing with all the dignity (尊严), I said, “I’ll speak to my dad about it. Sir, and let you know tomorrow.” I wanted the jacket so much. It _________ eight years of hard work and expectation. Upon my arrival at home, I walked slowly to Dad. I cleared my throat _________ and put my hands behind my back _________ he wouldn’t see them shaking. “Dad, I have a big __________ to ask you. This year the scholarship jacket is not going to be free. It’s going to cost fifteen dollars and I have to take the money tomorrow. __________ it’ll be given to someone else.” The last words came out __________. I waited, __________ he’d say I could have the money. Dad said __________, “What does a scholarship jacket mean?” I answered quickly, “It means you’ve __________ it by having the highest grades for eight years. Too late I realized the significance of my words. Dad knew I understood it was not a matter of __________. It was a very sad and withdrawn girl who __________ into the principals office the next day. I looked at the principal, __________ my eyes to stay dry. “If I had to __________ the scholarship jacket, then it wouldn’t be a scholarship jacket.” He looked at me, biting his lips, as if __________. “Okay, we’ll make an exception in your case. You’ll get the scholarship jacket for free!” 1.A.sold B.awarded C.donated D.shown 2.A.graduation B.operation C.consideration D.explanation 3.A.quarrel B.surprise C.change D.mystery 4.A.cheap B.free C.fancy D.cool 5.A.include B.deserve C.cover D.limit 6.A.delight B.panic C.confidence D.shock 7.A.represented B.ended C.claimed D.removed 8.A.excitedly B.curiously C.calmly D.nervously 9.A.so B.or C.and D.but 10.A.conflict B.challenge C.favor D.plan 11.A.Somehow B.Anyway C.Instead D.Otherwise 12.A.in a rush B.in a while C.in detail D.in order 13.A.believing B.hoping C.pretending D.admitting 14.A.angrily B.happily C.quietly D.anxiously 15.A.earned B.requested C.accepted D.reserved 16.A.tradition B.honor C.grade D.money 17.A.broke B.advanced C.dragged D.fled 18.A.closing B.forcing C.dropping D.turning 19.A.pay for B.give up C.pick out D.toy with 20.A.insisting B.sighing C.complaining D.thinking
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| 6. 难度：中等 | |
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阅读下面句子，根据所给首字母或英文提示在空白处填入适当的单词。 1.Since no one really knows whether GM food is safe, many countries have hesitated to give p________ for the production of GM foods. 2.When people think of factories, they think of clouds of dirty smoke or of pipes p________ chemical waste into rivers. 3.Even though I was hurt, I forgave her and she later made an a ________. 4.Two people were arrested yesterday at a Paris airport for bringing animals into Europe from South America ________ (against the law). 5.Life is not ________ (without hope). Don’t suffer in silence.
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| 7. 难度：中等 | |
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阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式 The UK produces more electricity from renewable sources 1. it did from fossil fuels. That means the energy 2. (produce) from wind farms, solar panels, biomass and hydropower plants is more than the amount of energy from coal, oil, and gas. This is something 3. hasn’t happened since the UK’s first power station opened in 1882. Renewable energy production accounts for 40% of the UK’s electricity, with fossil fuels behind at 39%. Of the 4. (remain) 21%, the majority came from nuclear power stations. Less than 10 years ago, the fossil fuel contribution 5. the UK electricity market was around four-fifths, but the situation is changing 6. (quick). Back in May, the country 7. (go) six days without burning any coal at all—and indeed coal-powered plants are due to be closed by 2025. It’s encouraging 8. (see) that the country that kicked off the Industrial Revolution is now helping to lead the way towards 9. renewable future—because of the UK’s size, it’s not going to make the biggest 10. (differ) to CO2 levels overall, but lets hope the other nations will follow suit.
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| 8. 难度：中等 | |
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假定你是李华，你的好友张林要抄袭你的作业，被你拒绝，你们为此都不开心，请给Life of Teens杂志编辑写一封邮件寻求帮助，内容包括： 1. 简述写信事由； 2. 寻求帮助。 注意：1. 词数80左右； 2. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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| 9. 难度：中等 | |
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阅读下面短文，根据其内容写一篇60词左右的内容概要。 In the last few decades, scientists have reached consensus and reported that human beings are causing changes in the Earths climate. In the last 50 years, gases pumped into the Earth’s atmosphere by the factories and vehicles have been speeding up the process of global warming and affecting our climate, Global warming refers to an average increase in the Earths temperature that, in turn, leads to climate change. If we continue to produce carbon dioxide and other gases in such huge quantities, we are expecting severe consequences. Recent reports have warned that global warming will cause terrible climate changes including more frequent flooding, heat, waves and droughts. Serious disease will spread and industries that rely on nature will be badly affected. Increased temperatures will also cause the polar ice to melt, raising sea levels and flooding many islands and cities. How can we stop these disasters from happening? Government all over the world should take on the responsibility, but this is no easy task. Some governments express reservations about whether global warming is really caused by human activities. Many people believe that they are simply not prepared to give up the amount of money they make from industry to save the earth. But why wait around for governments to take action? Experts say that each person plays their part. They suggest making small changes like taking public transport, recycling using low-flow shower heads, and buying light bulbs that use less energy. Even simple things like using recycled paper or switching off the light when you leave a room can help. If we add up all these small changes made by everyone worldwide, they won’t be such small changes. They could be the changes that save our future. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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