阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
If life were a book and you were the author, how would you like the story to go? That is the question that my life forever.
One day l went home from the training of snowboarding with what I thought was the flu, and less than 24 hours later,1 was in a on life support with less than two percent of living. It wasn't until days later that the doctors diagnosed me with a blood infection. Over the of 2.5 months, I lost the hearing in my left ear and both my legs below the knee. When my parents me out of the hospital, I that I had been put together like a patchwork（拼缝物）doll and I had to live with legs. I was absolutely physically and emotionally broken, streaming down.
But I knew in order to move forward, I had to let go of the Old Amy and the New Amy. It was at this moment that I asked myself that significant .And that is when it me that I didn't have to be five-foot-five anymore, I could be as tall as l wanted. And of all ,I can make my feet the size of all the shoes. So there were here.
Four months later,1 was back upon a .And this February, I won two Board World Cup gold medals, me the highest ranked snowboarder in the world. So, instead of looking at our and our limitations as something _ or bad, we can begin looking at them as a wonderful that can be used to help us go further than we ever know we could go.
1.A.saved B. risked C. ruined D. changed
2.A.hospital B. club C. field D. stadium
3.A.thought B. degree C. chance D. decision
4.A. mild B. severe C. potential D. slight
5.A.journey B. break C. course D. schedule
6.A.wheeled B. dragged C .pulled D. delivered
7.A.made sure B. felt like C. worked outD. put forward
8.A.muscled B .heavy C. shapely D. false
9.A.blood B .sweat C. tears D. water
10.A.hug B. recognizeC. fix D. introduce
11.A.plan B. question C. informationD. favor
12.A.stuck B. brokeC. beatD. broadened
13.A.although B. so C. while D. but
14.A.first B. strangest C. best D. luckiest
15.A.struggles B. benefits C. rewards D. conflicts
16.A.stage B. snowboardC. track D. playground
17.A.allowing B. giving C. calling D. making
18.A.challenges B. achievementsC .devotionsD. hesitations
19.A.active B. amazing C. negative D. terminal
20.A.ability B. skill C. tool D. gift
Every living thing has genes. Genes carry information. 1. They make sure that humans give birth to humans and cows give birth to cows. They also make sure that a dog doesn’t give birth to a frog, or an elephant to a horse. However, genetic engineers take genes from one species-for example, a snake, and transfer them to another-for example, corn. 2. Such new life forms have been described, by some scientists as a real-life Frankenstein(科幻怪人).
Genetic engineers put duck genes into chicken to make the chickens bigger. They put hormones(激素) into cows to make them produce more milk. They put genes from flowers into beans and from fish into tomatoes. 3. It just makes them easier and faster for the farmer to grow.
The effects of genetic engineering on the natural world may be disastrous. The engineers may create strange life beings, or monsters. that we cannot control. 4. They’ll have to find one, fight for one-or kill for one. It may be your land they fight for-or you that they kill. Moreover, the effects of these experiments can often be cruel. In America, pigs were given human genes to make them bigger and less fatty. The experiment failed. The pigs became very ill and began to lose their eyesight. We would all like a better, healthier and longer life, and genetic engineering might give us this. On the other hand, it may be a dangerous experiment with nature. In the story of Frankenstein, the doctor created such a terrible and dangerous monster that he had to destroy it. 5.
A. The information tells us what to do or what not to do
B. We must make sure that this tale remains a story-and no more than that
C. This doesn’t make them cheaper, tastier, or healthier
D. The new life forms have no natural habitat or home
E. Then they feed the tomatoes to the fish
F. In this way a new life form is created
G. They are passed on from generation to generation
Jeremy Kerr, a researcher at the University of Ottawa in Canada, and his colleagues analyzed more than 400,000 observations of bumblebee species collected in North America and Europe from 1975 to 2010. When the researchers recorded the locations of these bee populations, they found that many of the 67 species analyzed were moving northward from their southern limits while the northern edges of the bees’ ranges are staying in place. What it results in is obvious.
Bees have been paid more attention to in recent years, with populations of honeybees and bumblebees obviously declining in some parts of Europe. Previously, attention on the decline of bee populations has focused on causes including habitat loss, pesticide use and the spread of bee parasites(寄生虫). But the work by Kerr’s team found something different.
"For every species, there is one or two species declining and others that are not moving at all," says Kerr. This shift has also been observed in other species, such as butterflies. But due to a new cause — the rise of temperatures instead of total pesticide use, a change in land use or parasites, bumblebees — unlike butterflies — have failed to extend the northern boundaries of their ranges into the territory that is now habitable for them, so bumblebee species across Europe and North America are declining rapidly, the latest study led by Kerr’s team finds. "Our data suggest that the new factor plays a leading, or perhaps the leading, role in this trend," says Kerr.
"This study shows that a fourth factor is also beginning to affect it. It is likely that the combined stresses from all of these pressures will have destructive impacts on bumblebees in the not-too-distant future," says Dave Goulson, a bee researcher at the University of Sussex, Brighton, UK.
Exactly what can be done to help bumblebees is not clear. Kerr’s team suggests that relocating colonies might be an answer but Goulson says that because the insects are mobile they are capable of moving northwards if there is suitable habitat available.
1.What does the move of the bees’ southern limits lead to?
A. The birth of new bee species.
B. The rise of the bees’ population.
C. The evolution of the bees.
D. The reduction of the bees’ habitat.
2.What’s the new cause of bee populations’ declining according to Kerr?
A. Habitat loss.
B. Pesticide use.
C. Climate change.
D. The spread of bee parasites.
3.Which statement may Goulson agree with?
A. Relocating bumblebees isn’t much good.
B. The findings of Kerr’s study are doubtful.
C. The future of bumblebees is still promising.
D. Knowing bumblebees’ living habits is the most urgent.
4.What kind of writing is this passage?
A. A book review.
B. An announcement.
C. A scientific report.
D. An official report.
The sharing economy, represented by companies like Airbnb or Uber, is the latest fashion craze. But many supporters have overlooked the reality that this new business model is largely based on escaping regulations and breaking the law.
Airbnb is an Internet-based service that allows people to rent out spare rooms to strangers for short stays. Uber is an Internet taxi service that allows thousands of people to answer ride requests with their own cars. There are hundreds of other such services.
The good thing about the sharing economy is that it promotes the use of underused resources. Millions of people have houses or apartments with empty rooms, and Airbnb allows them to profit from these rooms while allowing guests a place to stay at prices that are often far less than those charged by hotels. Uber offers prices that are competitive with standard taxi prices and their drivers are often much quicker and more trustworthy.
But the downside of the sharing economy has gotten much less attention. Most cities and states both tax and regulate hotels, and the tourists who stay in hotels are usually an important source of tax income. But many of Airbnb’s customers are not paying the taxes required under the law.
Airbnb can also raise issues of safety for its customers and trouble for hosts’ neighbors. Hotels are regularly inspected to ensure that they are not fire traps and that they don’t form other risks for visitors. Airbnb hosts face no such inspections.
Since Airbnb is allowing people to escape taxes and regulations, the company is simply promoting thefts. Others in the economy will lose by bearing an additional tax burden or being forced to live next to an apartment unit with a never-ending series of noisy visitors.
The same story may apply with Uber. Uber is currently in disputes over whether its cars meet the safety and insurance requirements imposed on standard taxis. Also, if Uber and related services flood the market, they could harm all taxi drivers’ ability to earn a minimum wage.
This downside of the sharing needs to be taken seriously, but that doesn’t mean the current tax and regulatory structure is perfect.
1.What is the positive thing about the sharing economy?
A. It is a global trend.
B. It is beyond regulations.
C. It draws on spare resources.
D. It brings in modest profits.
2.What is the problem with Airbnb customers according to the passage?
A. They are not regularly inspected.
B. They are likely to commit thefts.
C. They are allowed not to pay taxes.
D. They can be noisy to hosts’ neighbours.
3.What is the argument over Uber according to the passage?
A. Whether it guarantees customers’ safety.
B. Whether it provides reliable services.
C. Whether it lowers customers’ expenses.
D. Whether it can compete with standard taxis.
4.What will be talked about in the following paragraphs?
A. Existing regulations and laws.
B. Necessary improvements of current laws.
C. Further development of Airbnb and Uber.
D. More downsides of Airbnb and Uber.
Given the tradition of students bringing apples to their teachers, it somehow seems fitting that an old apple barn(谷仓)will find a new life as a one-room schoolhouse. And it is just as fitting that a retired schoolteacher will become the caretaker of that historic treasure.
My friend Velma, a teacher for more than 30 years, has been retired for some time now, but that doesn’t stop her giving history lessons at the old Englewood School, located on her family’s
California farm. The lovingly restored building was constructed around 1850 as a home for a woodsman and later was used as apple barn. Then, in 1870 it began a new life as a schoolhouse.
Originally located in the nearby Englewood meadow, it was now moved its current site in 1978 by Velma’s late husband and his brother, Robert and Richard, who thought it would help keep
Velma busy in retirement. No nails had been used in the original construction, so each piece of wood had to be carefully marked and the building was reassembled（重装）on its new site. The brothers worked with much care and hard work to ensure a perfect fit of mitered（斜接的）corners.
After the relocation, Velma and her family furnished the school with some of its original desks. They also added a collection of schoolbooks, the oldest dating back to 1845. Perhaps the school’s most cherished souvenir is the diploma of student Hettie Essig, who graduated on June 30, 1904. Hettie’s daughter, Flora, presented Velma with the precious keepsake.
Nowadays Velma gives tours to local schoolchildren and other groups, who learn what it was like to attend school back in the good old days. She has kids ring the school bell, recite the Pledge of Allegiance and sing “Good Morning to You” as they might have done in days gone by. Then, with twinkling eyes and much enthusiasm, she tells the history of the school, and gives a short sample lesson.
1.The Englewood School was originally built as __________.
A. a man’ s house B. a schoolhouse
C. a restroom D. an apple barn
2.Which word can best describe the school’s being relocated?
A. Inspiring B. Refreshing
C. fashionable D. Challenging
3.What does the underlined part “the precious keepsake” in Para.4 mean?
A. The school’s original supplies
B. The collection of schoolbooks
C. The oldest schoolbook
D. The diploma of Hettie Essig.
4.Which can serve as the best title of the passage?
A. The Good Old Days in the Schoolhouse
B. A Mysterious Building with a Long History
C. A Historic One-room Schoolhouse
D. A Teacher Devoted to Restoring Old Buildings
BRAD GARRETT’S COMEDY CLUB
Category: Comedy
Best known for his role on the Emmy award-winning sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond, Brad Garrett returns to his Vegas roots with his comedy club at the MGM Grand. It is a good place to check out when you need a break from work.
Prices from: $56.40 and up
Age restriction: Must be 21 years of age or older
Show Length: 115 minutes
MAC KING COMEDY MAGIC SHOW
Category: Comedy, Magic
Mac King Comedy Magic Show is different every afternoon, with lots of audience participation. He is willing to make fun of himself instead of his guests in order to make everyone feel welcome and entertained. The afternoon is kid-friendly from start to finish. Still, whether you’re eight or 80, you won’t be able to figure out King’s secrets.
Prices from: $40.90 and up
Age restriction: No age restriction
Show Length: 90 minutes
THE MENTALIST, GERRY MCCAMBRIDGE
Category: Comedy, Magic
Using his skills as a “mentalist”, Gerry McCambridge shocks the crowds as he uses his abilities to predict just what audience members will do next. Anyone who has seen the show has walked away in disbelief, amazed by his unusual power.
Prices from: $34.99 and up
Age restriction: Under 13 will not be admitted into the theater
Show Length: 75 minutes
ROCK OF AGES
Category: Plays & Musicals
The cheerful Rock of Ages brings audiences back to the times of big hair and even bigger bands with 28 popular rock songs from the 80s including “Every Rose Has Its Thorn,” “I Wanna Know What Love Is,” “Here I Go Again,” and more.
Rock of Ages has been nominated for five Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Direction of a Musical. It also received a Drama League nomination for Distinguished Production for a Musical.
Prices from: $74.00 and up
Age restriction: Must be 15 years of age or older
Show Length: 125 minutes
1.Who is most likely to be able to read audiences’ minds?
A. Raymond. B. Mac King.
C. Brad Garrett. D. Gerry McCambridge.
2.Which of the following is good for a kid of 10 years old to go to?
A. Gerry McCambridge’s show. B. Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club.
C. Mac King’s comedy magic show. D. Performances of Rock Of Ages.
3.If someone is interested in musicals, his best choice must be ______.
A. ROCK OF AGES
B. BRAD GARRETT’S COMEDY CLUB
C. MAC KING COMEDY MAGIC SHOW
D. THE MENTALIST, GERRY MCCAMBRIDGE
