Ready to take a gap year？ A "Gap Year" is a period of time when a student takes a break before going to university． It is often spent travelling or working．1.
Gap years are popular with European and Australian students， but remain less popular in America． However， in recent years， more and more American students are preparing for college by taking a gap year． The advantages of taking a gap year are as follows：
2.
Although you don't have to go abroad to experience gap years， most gap year students catch the chance to travel abroad． You are able to work out who you are and what you are for． The experiences of different cultures offer you interesting lessons． You can learn more about the world and get to know yourself better．
Face challenges and have fun
A gap year is not only a time to take a vacation， but also a time to face challenges． Gap year students usually work， volunteer or take service projects． You have to learn how to get along in the real world． This process isn't always easy， but it is an important part of growing up．3.
Save money and improve your college admission chances
There's a common thought that gap years are only for rich students， but it's not true． Actually， taking a gap year can save your money． Gap year students often take a part-time job． Besides， at the end of a gap year， students are much more likely to know what to study in college． 4.
5.Both of them are excellent and have high grades． However， one student has much practical experience or has volunteered in his vacation． Who do you think the admission officer will choose？
A． Learn about the world and yourself
B． Only in this way can you enjoy life and have fun．
C． Check out your gap year choices before making the right decision．
D． It can give young people useful learning experiences and new skills．
E． Imagine an admission officer trying to admit only one between two students．
F． More students than ever before are taking a gap year before going to university．
G． Clear learning goals can keep the students working hard instead of wasting time and money playing．
After many considerations and years of heated argument, gray wolves were brought back to Yellowstone National Park. Fourteen wolves were caught in Canada and transported to the park. By last year, the Yellowstone wolf population had grown to more than 170 wolves.
Gray wolves once were seen here and there in the Yellowstone area and much of the continental United States, but they were gradually displaced by human development. By the 1920s, wolves had practically disappeared from the Yellowstone area. They went farther north into the deep forests of Canada, where there were fewer humans around.
The disappearance of the wolves had many unexpected results. Deer and elk populations — major food sources for the wolf — grew rapidly. These animals consumed large amounts of vegetation (植被), which reduced plant diversity in the park. In the absence of wolves, coyote populations also grew quickly. The coyotes killed a large percentage of the park’s red foxes, and completely drove away the park’s beavers.
As early as 1966, biologists asked the government to consider reintroducing wolves to Yellowstone Park. They hoped that wolves would be able to control the elk and coyote problems. Many farmers opposed the plan because they feared that wolves would kill their farm animals or pets.
The government spent nearly 30 years coming up with a plan to reintroduce the wolves. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service carefully monitors and manages the wolf packs in Yellowstone. Today, the debate continues over how well the gray wolf is fitting in at Yellowstone. Elk, deer, and coyote populations are down, while beavers and red foxes have made a comeback. The Yellowstone wolf project has been a valuable experiment to help biologists decide whether to reintroduce wolves to other parts of the country as well.
1.What is the text mainly about?
A. Wildlife research in the United States.
B. Plant diversity in the Yellowstone area.
C. The conflict between farmers and gray wolves.
D. The reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone Park.
2.What does the underlined word “displaced” in paragraph 2 mean?
A. Tested.
B. Separated.
C. Forced out.
D. Released.
3.What did the disappearance of gray wolves bring about?
A. Damage to local ecology.
B. A decline in the park’s income.
C. Preservation of vegetation.
D. An increase in the variety of animals.
4.What is the author’s attitude towards the Yellowstone wolf project?
A. Doubtful.
B. Positive.
C. Disapproving
D. Uncaring.
Since the first Earth Day in 1970, Americans have gotten a lot “greener” toward the environment. “We didn’t know at that time there even was an environment, let alone that there was a problem with it,” says Bruce Anderson, president of Earth Day USA.
But what began as nothing important in public affairs has grown into a social movement .Business people, political leaders, university professors, and especially millions of grass-roots Americans are taking part in the movement. “The understanding has increased many， many times,” says Gaylord Nelson, the former governor from Wisconsin, who thought up the first. According to US government reports, emissions (排放)from cars and trucks have dropped from 10.3 million tons a year to 5.5 tons .The number of cities producing CO beyond the standard has been reduced from 40 to 9. Although serious problems still remain and need to be dealt with, the world is a safer and healthier place. A kind of “Green thinking” has become part of practices.
Great improvement has been achieved. In 1988 there were only 600 recycling programs; today in 1995 there are about 6,600. Advanced lights, motors, and building designs have helped save a lot of energy and therefore prevented pollution.
Twenty –five years ago, there were hardly any education programs for environment. Today, it’s hard to find a public school, university, or law school that does not have such a kind of program. “Until we do that, nothing else will change!” say Bruce Anderson.
1.According to Anderson, before 1970, Americans had little idea about ___
A. the social movement B. recycling techniques
C. environmental problems D. the importance of Earth Day
2.Where does the support for environmental protection mainly come from?
A. The grass –roots level B. The business circle
C. Government officials D. University professors
3.What have Americans achieved in environmental protection?
A. They have cut car emissions to the lowest
B. They have settled their environmental problems
C. They have lowered their CO levels in forty cities.
D. They have reduced pollution through effective measures.
4.What is especially important for environmental protection according to the last paragraph?
A. Education B. Planning
C. Green living D. CO reduction
My First Marathon
Three weeks before my first marathon, one of my ankles was injured and this meant not running for two weeks, leaving me only one week to train. Yet, I was determined to go ahead.
I remember back to my 7th year in school. In my first P.E. class, the teacher required us to run laps and then hit a softball. My performance was really terrible. He later informed me that I was “not athletic”.
The idea that I was “not athletic” stuck with me for years. When I started running in my 30s, I realized running was a battle against myself, not about competition or whether or not I was athletic. It was all about the battle against my own body and mind. A test of wills!
The night before my marathon, I dreamt that I couldn't even find the finish line. I woke up sweating and nervous, but I was ready to prove something to myself.
Shortly after crossing the start line, my shoe laces became untied. So I stopped to readjust. Not the start I wanted!
At mile 3, I passed a sign: “GO FOR IT, RUNNERS! ”
By mile 17, I became out of breath and the once injured ankle hurt badly. Despite the pain, I stayed the course walking a bit and then running again.
By mile 21, I was starving!
As I approached mile 23, I could see my wife waving a sign. She is my biggest fan. She never minded the alarm clock sounding at 4 a.m. or questioned my expenses on running.
I was one of the final runners to finish. But I finished! And I got a medal. In fact, I got the same medal as the one that the guy who came in first place had.
Determined to be myself and move forward, free of shame and worldly labels(世俗标签), I can now call myself a “marathon winner”.
1.Three weeks before the marathon, the author ________.
A. was well trained
B. felt scared
C. made up his mind to run
D. lost hope
2.Why did the author mention the P.E. class in his 7th year?
A. To acknowledge the support of his teacher.
B. To show he was not talented in sports.
C. To amuse the readers with a funny story.
D. To share a precious memory.
3.How was the author's first marathon?
A. He made it.
B. He quit halfway
C. He got the first prize.
D. He walked to the end.
4.What does the story mainly tell us?
A. A man contributes his success to his family support.
B. A winner is one with a great effort of will.
C. Failure is the mother of success.
D. One is never too old to learn.
Educational APP Store
Duolingo
Duolingo is regarded as one of the best English language apps today, which is strongly recommended for English amateurs. The system of the app helps you learn English quickly by spending twenty minutes a day. Duolingo structures your lessons that teach you about seven new words based on a topic and skill points being awarded for completing the lessons.
Busuu
Busuu helps you learn English language on the go and the lesson’s quality is guaranteed as it is based on CEFR language framework. Lessons range from beginners to advanced learners. Busuu is actually a great English app if you want to improve your spoken English by talking with native speakers.
Memrise
Memrise uses some creative and easy ways to memorize English words. The focus of this app is to help the users expand their vocabulary by learning English words in an effective way. Memrise also offers an offline mode to continue learning without Internet connection.
Rosetta Stone
Rosetta Stone is designed differently from average language apps on the marketplace today. It’s trying to teach us English the way we’d learn it, as if we were children starting to learn the language. Furthermore, it has exercises designed to help you learn basic words. A variety of lessons are offered that Rosetta Stone has been using for years.
1.Which app mentions the time for daily study?
A. Busuu.
B. Duolingo.
C. Memrise.
D. Rosetta Stone.
2.Why is Memrise distinct from the others?
A. It will give learners quick progress.
B. It has many vocabulary lessons.
C. It is designed for English beginners.
D. It can be applied offline as well.
3.The passage is written to ________.
A. inform readers of research results
B. encourage English beginners
C. recommend English-learning apps
D. introduce ways of learning
阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写，使之构成一个完整的故事。
Love makes the world go around and a mother’s love never changes
After 21 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take another woman out to dinner and a movie. It’s hard to imagine that the other woman was my mother, who has been living alone for 19 years, but I am too busy to visit her often. That night I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie.
“What’s wrong? Are you well?” she asked. My mother always doubts that a late night call is a sign of bad news.
“It would be pleasant to spend some time with you,” I responded.
As I drove over to pick her up, I noticed that she seemed to be nervous about our date. But she smiled from a face that was as beautiful as an angel’s. “I told my friends that I was going to go out with my son, and they were impressed,” she said.
We went to a restaurant that was very nice and comfortable. My mother look my arm as if she were the First Lady. After we sat down, I had to read the menu. Her eyes could only read large print. I saw mom sitting there looking at me with a smile on her lips.
“I used to have to read the menu when you were small,” she said. “Then it’s time to let me return the favor,” I responded.
During the dinner, we had an agreeable conversation - nothing special but catching up on recent events. We talked so much that we missed the movie. As we arrived at her house later, she said, “I’ll go out with you again, but only if you let me invite you.” I agreed.
注意：
1. 所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2. 应使用5个以上短文中标有下划线的关键词语；
3. 续写部分分为两段每段的开头语已为你写好；
4. 续写完成后，请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语。
Paragraph 1:
When I got home, my wife shared her story about her mom who passed away years ago. _________________
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Paragraph 2:
Several days later, I received my mother’s invitation. _____________________________________________
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