Learning a second language is tricky at any age (and it only gets tougher the longer you wait to open that dusty French book). Now, in a new study, scientists have pinpointed the exact age at which your chances of reading fluency in a second language seems to plummet: 10.

The study, published in the journal Cognition, found that it’s “nearly impossible” for language learners to reach native - level fluency if they start learning a second tongue after 10. But that doesn’t seem to be because language skills go downhill. “It turns out you’re still learning fast. It’s just that you run out of time, because your ability to learn starts dropping at around 17 or 18 years old,” says study co-author Joshua Hartshorne, an assistant professor of psychology at Boston College.

Kids may be better than adults at learning new languages for many reasons. Children’s brains are more plastic than those of adults, meaning they’re better able to adapt and respond to new information. “All learning involves the brain changing,” Hartshorne says, “and children’s brains seem to be a lot more skilled at changing.”

Kids may also be more willing to try new things (and to potentially look foolish in the process) than adults are. Their comparatively new grasp on their native tongue may also be advantageous. Unlike adults, who tend to default（默认）to the rules and patterns of their first language, kids may be able to approach a new one with a blank slate（石板）.

These findings may seems discouraging, but it was heartening for scientists to learn that the critical period for fluent language acquisition might be longer than they previously thought. Some scientists believed that the brief window closes shortly after birth, while others stretched it only to early adolescence. Compared to those estimates, 17 or 18 -- when language learning ability starts to drop off -- seems relatively old. “People fared better when thy learned by immersion（沉浸）, rather than simply in a classroom. And moving to a place where our desired language is spoken is the best way to learn as an adult. If that’s not an option, you can mimic  an  immersive  environment  by  finding  ways  to  have  conversations  with  native  speakers  in  their own communities,” Hartshorne says. By doing so, it’s possible to become conversationally proficient -- even without the advantage of a child’s brain.

1.The word “plummet” in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to “____”.

A.plunge B.rise C.end D.vary

2.What can be inferred from Joshua Hartshorne’s words?

A.Age 10 -18 is the best time to learn a second language.

B.Children are too young to grasp a second language.

C.Communicating with native speakers enables you to master all the language skills.

D.Adults go beyond the critical period for learning a second language.

3.What might be the reason why adults can’t reach native - level fluency in a second language?

A.Adults are less influenced by their mother tongues

B.Adults are only too willing to experience something awkward in the process.

C.Adults spend more time responding to new information.

D.Adults prefer an immersive environment to a classroom in learning a second language.

4.The passage is mainly about____.

A.the approaches to learning a second language

B.the best age to learn a second language.

C.why kids learn a second language more easily than adults

D.whether adults can learn a second language like their younger selves

Depression hurts, Prozac can help

Depression isn’t just feeling down. It’s a real illness with real causes. Depression can be triggered by stressful life events, like divorce or a death in the family. Or it can appear suddenly, for no apparent reason.

Some people think you can just will yourself out of a depression. That’s not true. Many doctors believe that one thing that may cause depression is an imbalance of serotonin -- a chemical in your body. If this happens, you may have trouble sleeping. Feel unusually sad or irritable easily. Find it hard to concentrate. Lose your appetite. Lack energy. Or have trouble feeling pleasure. These are some of the symptoms that can point to depression -- especially if they last for more than a couple of weeks and if normal, everyday life feels like to much to handle.

To help fight depression, the medicine doctors now prescribe（开处方）most often is Prozac. Prozac isn’t a “happy pill”. It’s not a tranquilizer（镇静剂）. It won’t turn you into a different person.

Some people do experience mild side effects, like upset stomach, headaches, difficulty sleeping, sleepiness, anxiety and nervousness. These tend to go away within a few weeks of starting treatment, and usually aren’t serious enough to make most people stop taking it. However, if you are concerned about a side effect, or if you develop a rash（皮疹）, tell your doctor right away. And don’t forget to tell your doctor any other medicines you are taking.

Some people should not take Prozac, especially people an MAO inhibitors（单胺抑制剂）.

As you start feeling better, your doctor can suggest therapy or other means to help you work through your depression. Prozac has been carefully studied for nearly 10 years. But remember, Prozac is a prescription medicine, and it isn’t right for everyone. Only your doctor can decide if Prozac is right for you -- or for someone you love. Prozac has been prescribed for more than 17 million Americans. Chances are someone you know is feeling sunny again because of it.

1.All the following are true EXCEPT ____.

A.It is easy to get rid of depression through tremendous determination.

B.Sleep disorder is characteristic of depression symptoms.

C.Depression can be caused by combination of factors.

D.Depression is a psychological state taking the form of low mood.

2.What can we learn about Prozac from this piece of information?

A.Prozac is a newly developed drug to treat depression.

B.patients who take Prozac can experience severe side a effects.

C.A medical prescription is necessary for Prozac.

D.Over 17 million Americans have been cured by Prozac.

3.This piece of information is most probably ____.

A.an introduction to a scientific project

B.a part of prescription drug instructions

C.a part of a research report in a medical journal

D.an advertisement of a medicine for depression

    As humanity has got richer, animal’s roles have changed. People need their services less than before. Fewer wolves and thieves meant less demand for dogs for protection; the internal combustion engine（内燃机）made horses unneeded; modern sanitation（卫生设备）kept rats in check and made cats less useful. No longer necessities, domestic animals became luxuries. Pet-keeping seems to kick in when household incomes rise above roughly $5,000. It is booming.

The trend is not a new one. Archaeologists（考古学家）have found 10,000-year-old graves in which dogs and people are buried together. Some cultures -- such as in Scandinavia, where dogs have long been both working dogs and companions -- have kept pets for thousands of years. But these days the pet-keeping urge has spread even to parts of the world which have no tradition of sinking into a comfortable chair with a furry creature.

The pet business is growing even faster than pet numbers, because people are spending more and more money on them. No longer are they food - waste - recyclers, fed with the remains that fall from their masters’ tables. Pet - food shelves are full of delicacies crafted to satisfy a range of appetites, including ice cream for dogs and foods for pets that are old, diabetic or suffer from sensitive digestion; a number of internet services offer food, tailored to the pet’s individual tastes.

In the business this is called “pet humanisation” -- the tendency of pet owners to treat their pets as part of the family. This is evident in the names given to dogs, which have evolved from Fido, Rex and Spot to -- in America -- Bella, Lucy and Max. It is evident in the growing market for pet clothing, pet grooming and pet hotels.

People still assume that pets must be working for humanity in some way, perhaps making people healthier or less anxious. But the evidence for that is weak. Rather, new research suggests that dogs have evolved those irresistible “puppy - dog eyes” precisely to affect human emotions. It has worked. The species that once enslaved others now works very hard to pay for the care of its pets. Sentimental（多愁善感的）Americans often refer to themselves not as cat-owners but as the cat’s “mommy” or “daddy”. South Koreans go one further, describing themselves as cat “butlers”. Watch an unlucky dog-walker trailing “his” hound（猎犬）, plastic bag in hand to pick up its mess, and you have to wonder: who’s in charge now?

1.Which of the following trends is NOT TRUE according to the passage?

A.People’s needs for animal services are decreasing.

B.Both the pet number and the pet business are growing.

C.Pets are increasingly making their owners less anxious.

D.Pet foods are more various and customized than before.

2.Which of the following is referred to as evidence of “pet humanization?”

A.The names given to pets in American families nowadays.

B.Pet’s inbuilt ability to affect emotions of their owners.

C.Human beings ever rising urge for pet-keeping.

D.Pet’s roles as both working staff and companions.

3.Which of the following statements is the author most likely to agree with?

A.Pets should be treated as equals of their human masters.

B.Human beings are getting much benefit from their pets.

C.Pet-keeping is still restricted within certain parts of the world.

D.Some pet owners spend too much money on their pets.

4.Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?

A.The Changing Roles of Animals B.The Urge for Pet-keeping

C.Who Owns Whom D.Love Me, Love My Dog

In the Fake News Era, Building Trust with Consumers Is Crucial

With consumers growing increasingly frustrated with online advertising and privacy concerns, how to you convince shoppers to buy your narrative（叙述）, let alone your product?

A recent report by Trust-Radius, a software review company that connects buyers and vendors（供应商）, may be able to shed some light. Among other interesting findings, it turns out that it may actually benefit brands to be painfully _____ about their products.

Consumer awareness of influencer marketing tactics（策略）is increasing. _____  according to the report, most consumers trust online peer _____ as much as recommendations from friends -- and well above company advertising message. Feedback from everyday folks, it seems, actually carries more _____ than a brand ambassador （大使）from an out-of-reach personality.

Transparency（透明度）is crucial The report found that there is a large trust _____ between vendors and buyers. While vendors believe they are transparent, most buyers don’t appear to see it. During the sales process, for example, 85 percent of vendors -- _____ to be open about their product’s limitations during the sales process -- but  only 36 percent of buyers share that same view. The reality is, consumers don’t expect any products to be _____ -- they just want to enter relationships with their eyes wide open so that they can _____ the options that are best for  them. They also want brands to be more _____. 66 percent of consumers say they will leave a company if they feel they are being treated like a number and not an individual.

Along with the combination of take news, advertising fraud, and data leaks, there have been fake reviews as well. Review sites have been _____ giving preferential（优惠的）treatment to paid advertisers, and consumers are increasingly discerning（有辨别力的）, as a result. _____, review sites are not our only source of peer reviews, with social media providing customer experiences on a second - to - second basis. When brands treat every _____ with a customer as a potential review, they’ll start paying more attention to detail, and being alert to delivering a valued and memorable experience every time. Taking feedback seriously also lets current customers feel valued and respected and makes your business seem more approachable. This helps secure _____, and often, these customers  will become brand ambassadors to their friends, family and people they meet online.

The challenge for brands today is determining how to use the _____ of the consumer to their advantage. In an age of cutting - edge technology, artificial intelligence, and self-service customer care, it’s odd to acknowledge that the best way to build trust with your customers is by holding an open _____ with your customers. Being more human, transparent, and listening to what people are saying will see your company thrive in an era marked by consumer suspicion.

1.A.nervous B.honest C.careful D.particular

2.A.Instead B.Otherwise C.Moreover D.However

3.A.reviews B.reactions C.experiences D.instructions

4.A.weight B.risks C.warnings D.burdens

5.A.relationship B.influence C.gap D.extension

6.A.refuse B.hesitate C.desire D.claim

7.A.advanced B.perfect C.remarkable D.unique

8.A.consider B.offer C.select D.exercise

9.A.efficient B.profitable C.human D.responsible

10.A.associated with B.mistaken by C.praised as D.criticized for

11.A.On the contrary B.In fact C.By contrast D.In a word

12.A.cooperation B.complaint C.interaction D.appointment

13.A.safety B.loyalty C.convenience D.employment

14.A.money B.choice C.habit D.voice

15.A.dialogue B.debate C.competition D.contract

Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passage coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.

How Do Avalanches Happen

If you’re ever skiing in the mountains, you’ll want to be aware of avalanches. An avalanche is a sudden flow of snow down a slope, such as a mountain. The amount of snow in an avalanche 1. (vary) based on many things, but it can be such a huge amount that it can bury the bottom of a slope in dozens of feet of snow.

Avalanches 2. be caused by natural things. For example, new snow or rain can cause built-up snow to loosen and fall down the side of a mountain. Artificial triggers（诱发因素）can also cause avalanches. For example, snowmobiles, skiers, and explosives 3. (know) to lead to avalanches.

Avalanches  usually occur  during the  winter  and spring, 4. snowfall  is  greatest.  As they are dangerous to any living beings in their path, avalanches have destroyed forests, roads, railroads and even entire towns. Warning signs exist that allow experts to predict -- and often prevent -- avalanches from 5.

  (occur). When over a foot of fresh snow falls, experts know to be on the lookout for avalanches. Explosives can be used in places 6. massive snow buildups to trigger much smaller avalanches that don’t   pose a danger to persons or property.

When deadly avalanches do occur, the moving snow can quickly reach over 80 miles per hour. Skiers caught in such avalanches can be buried under dozens of feet of snow. 7. it’s  possible to dig out  of such avalanches, not all are able to escape.

If you get tossed about by an avalanche and find yourself 8. (bury) under many feet of snow, you might not have a true sense of which way is up and which way is down. Some avalanche victims have tried to dig their way out, only to find that they were upside down and digging 9. farther under the snow rather than to the top!

Experts suggest that people caught in an avalanche try to dig around  you 10. (create) a space for air, so you can breathe more easily. Then, do your best to figure out which way is up and dig in that direction to reach the surface and signal rescuers.

Directions: Write an English composition in 120〜150 words according to the instructions given below in Chinese.

假如你是红星中学高三年级的学生，你的英语老师在作文批阅时经常采用学生自 批，学生

互批或教师批阅（或集体批阅或面批）的方式。请就此情况通过微信和英语 老师沟通一下， 谈谈你的看法，你的文章必须包括：

*你喜欢哪种方式？为什么？

*提出你认为可以提高作文批阅效率的合理化建议并给出理由。注意：请勿透露本人真实姓名和学校名称

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Directions: Translate the following sentences into English, using the words given in the brackets.

1.无论时走路、骑车还是开车，遵守交通规则都很重要。（follow)

2.只有发展好、运用好、治理好互联网，才能使其更好地造福人类。（Only)

3.鼓励你，给你建议，并提出有建设性的问题的人被称作人生教练或导师。（helpful)

4.生命充满了挑战，但是只要你有学习新事物的意愿，就能得到克服障碍的正确态 度。（willingness)

Directions: Read the following passage. Summarize the main idea and the main point(s) of the passage in no more than 60 words. Use your own words as far as possible.

People choose to become entrepreneurs( 创 业 者 ） for a wide variety of reasons. One important reason is, of course, financial reward. If you own your own business and it becomes successful, you can reap huge financial rewards. And as an entrepreneur, dependent on how much your boss decides to give you; ifs limited only by the success of your business. And speaking of bosses,  not  having  a  supervisor  is  another  major  advantage  of  becoming  an     entrepreneur.

Entrepreneurs are often independent thinkers who want to be in charge of projects, rather than having others tell them what to do. They often have big dreams that that they want to pursue rather than making someone else’s dream come true. For many entrepreneurs, starting a business is a way of solving a problem or helping people receive something they need. It’s a way to change the world for the better.

Being an entrepreneur isn’t easy, however, nor is it always fun. Entrepreneurs often have to work long hours, especially early on when they’re trying to get their businesses off the ground. that’s the reason entrepreneurs need to have a strong work ethic( 伦 理 ).Employees can work 40 hours a week and then stop, but for an entrepreneur, there’s no end in sight.

That’s why another feature of successful entrepreneurs is passion; they have to be excited about what they’re doing to be willing to work hard for it. Entrepreneurs also need good communication skills to pass on that passion to others. That’s important for finding investors, getting people to buy products and attracting employees.

Entrepreneurs also need to be creative people who are able to find solutions to problems they encounter. This is important from the very beginning, when the entrepreneur comes up with an initial concept of a business. But even after that initial step, creative thinking is continually necessary to adapt to changing situations and to solve problems that come up.

Directions: Complete the following passage by using the sentences in the box. Each sentence can only be used once. Note that there are two sentences more than you need.

Whether you’re on social media or sending a text message, you encounter emoji (表情符号)regularly. 1. While most people’s enthusiasm for emoji increased in the   smart- phone era, Japan has been crazy for emoji since 1999. Designer Shigetaka Kurita invented emoji for a Japanese phone company 20 years ago as a way to make it easier to express ideas in a short message. The word emoji can be translated as “picture character” from Japanese. After the release of Kurita’s emoji, rival phone companies in Japan began creating their own emoji. Many emoji on our digital devices today are imported from Kurita’s original set of emoji.

Japan’s love for emoji continued well into the 2000s before the rest of the world discovered them. Apple Inc. officially introduced an emoji function in their software in 2011. Soon, other phone companies   from   around   the world made it easier for their customers to use emoji 2..

As you scroll (滑动）through your phone, you can see the wide selection of available emoji. More than 2,000 emoji are in existence now, with more being released each year. These numbers show the popularity and demand for emoji.

Why? Because words alone can’t convey the complete meaning of a digital message. In digital communication, emoji express a tone or mood. More than 90 percent of people online use emoji especially ones that show emotion like hearts and smileys. 3.. For example, they might send a red heart emoji as a response that they really like something instead of writing, “I love that.”

Some emoji are also abstract enough for people to use in any way they like. You can send an   emoji   as   an   inside   joke,   which   is   only   understood   between   you   and   your friend.

4.. Nor do they belong to a specific culture. You and I give emoji meaning, because emoji is a language that belongs to all of us.

A.You  may find these colorful symbols unavoidable as they’ve become a language of their own

B.People can send emoji instead of writing words to participate in a conversation

C.No wonder emoji use is becoming more and more popular in various fields

D.Today, emoji use is a standard feature in digital communication

E.But not all the people show interest in emoji especially elder ones

F.Unlike most words, there isn't a certain definition for each emoji

    5G, the fifth generation of wireless, promises lightning-fast download speeds and could lay foundation for high-tech advancements like self-driving cars. But like many new technologies, it's causing concern about potential health issues.

The first generation of wireless introduced mobile phones, and 2G brought texting. 3G laid the groundwork for smart-phones, and 4G allowed video streaming and more. 5G is expected to download data 20 times faster than its predessor(前任)，and some experts argue it could be much faster.

Too much of a good thing?

It's not just about streaming data faster, it's about streaming more of it. On a 5G network, a user can download a movie instantly, and data will flow between connected objects without delay. The amount of data people use on mobile devices has gone up 40 times since 2010 and is only expected to increase. 5G networks are wireless companies attempts to satisfy that demand.

Uncertain effects

The untested nature of 5G, and the extensiveness of its infrastructure( 基础设施） has some  worried  that  the  increased  exposure  could  have  serious  health  effects.  Wireless  safety advocates（倡议人士）have called for more studies on the effects of the exposure, and one group is trying to stop the installment of 5G networks in Chicago's neighborhoods.

The federal government has safety rules that wireless companies must obey that limit human exposure to radio waves, including frequencies uses with 5G.

Wireless industry association CTIA says typical exposure to 5G infrastructure is comparable to Bluetooth devices and baby monitors, and there is no scientific evidence  of negative health effects.

Still, assurances from government agencies and industry operators are not enough for Chicago resident Judy Blake. Additional studies on 5G’s health impacts likely wouldn’t soothe her either. She said, “People can't choose whether or not to be exposed to this radiation.”

“I don’t need another test. The only test that’s going to happen now is people’s lives,” said Blake, 67.

Only time will tell?

Though little is known about the long-term health impact of the millimeter waves that 5G operates on, some research has shown short-term exposure could be problematic, said Joel Moskowitz, a public health expert at the University of California at Berkeley.

The eyes and sweat glands(腺体）are among several body parts studies have shown could be at risk. Moskowitz said. Insects and plant life could also be affected, he added.

The millimeter waves used in SG are absorbed by the upper layers of skin, potentially causing the temperature of the skin to rise, said Suresh Borkar, senior lecturer in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology. The effects of extended rises in skin temperature “become a big unknown,” he said.

This isn't the first time people will come into contact with millimeter waves: They're also used in airport body scanners, said Lav Varshney, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Still, it's the first time the high- frequency waves will he used on such a scale, and concerns surrounding new technologies are common throughout history.

“When cars first started replacing horse-drawn carriages, people were afraid of what the health impacts of traveling at high speeds would be,” Varshney said. “There has always been occurrence of this fear.”

1.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A.5G is faster but not safe to human beings.

B.5G features faster and more in transiting.

C.5G can meet people's any demand in theory.

D.5G just makes little impact on people's health.

2.What can be inferred from the passage?

A.Millimeter waves certainly affect people's health seriously

B.Millimeter waves will cause the skin’s temperature to rise.

C.It's obvious that many scientists object to 5G technology.

D.It's hard to say whether millimeter waves do damage to health.

3.The word soothe in the last but 7 paragraphs most probably means ______ .

A.to make somebody feel calm or less worried.

B.to make somebody feel happy or more excited.

C.to make somebody feel disappointed or less satisfaction

D.to make somebody feel inspired or more energetic.

4.The best title for this passage is ______.

A.5G’s Advantages and Disadvantages

B.The Development of Wireless

C.5G Health Concern

D.5G Future Prediction

    Science fiction paints a future where robots play an important part in everyday life. A technology firm is trying to make that future a reality today with an affordable robot called Artibo. Artibo is small. Its brain, or AI block, is a cube (立方体）that fits in your hand. That block connects to a motor block and two silicon wheels. Assembled, it's about four inches tall.

Artibo is much more than just a robot that you program to move around. Artibo’s designers want it to provide companionship and be a resource for learning coding. With its camera, microphone and connection to a cloud-based AI, it can respond to voice commands or function like a walkie-talkie(对讲 机).It talks like a chatbot and can tell bedtime stories. It can even help you learn other languages!

Artibo isn’t quite ready for stores yet, though. It’s part of a crowdfunding project. Crowdfunding is a program where you put a request online to a crowd of people. Supporters can then pay large or small amounts to help you finish a project. Artibo will first be available to people who have paid to help bring it into production.

Using computer code to program your own toys is nothing new. LEGO first released a robot kit in 1998. Since then, programmable robots have become one of the best-selling units in the LEGO product line. Programming robots might sound comparable to rocket science, but anyone can program one using nothing more than a tablet or a smartphone and code blocks.

Code blocks allow you to program simple or complex commands by assembling visual blocks of code on the canvas ( 画 布 ）of a computer screen. Just drag and drop a variety of code blocks from a programming menu, link them together, and watch how your robot responds. In Artibo’s case coding doesn’t stop there. Unlike other similar programmable toys, Artibo will also allow you to write your own code. So as your familiarity with coding increases, you won’t lose interest in Artibo.

1.According to the passage, the purpose of developing Artibo is    .

A.helping people learn anything they want and providing companionship

B.providing a robot that can move, accompany and help people learn coding

C.chatting with people, telling bedtime stories and supplying languages

D.helping people raise money on line and creating programmable robots

2.What can be concluded from the passage?

A.Programming robots is not really complicated.

B.Programming robots is advanced like a rocket.

C.Programming robots can be used in smartphones.

D.Programming robots used in toys is not new at all.

3.The passage implies that _______.

A.People can program various orders even without code blocks.

B.Anyone can control Artibo freely unlike other programming toys.

C.The more familiar you’re with coding, the more you’ll like Artibo.

D.Artibo is popular in the world especially among young people.

    Wild Track is an organization that aims to protect endangered animals like rhinos. They use a computer program that runs photos of animal track through an algorithm (演算法).Then the program makes the same observations as a tracker would, allowing scientists to know where individual animals go. However, the program itself needs “training”.

It starts with collecting good photos of prints from endangered animals in captivity  ( 圈养）.As people send in photos of tracks from animals in the wild, the FIT program can compare it to tracks from animals it “knows”. As the program becomes more accurate, Wild Track hopes it will become a major tool for monitoring any endangered species.

Anyone can help Wild Track by taking images of tracks and sending them to a partner organization called naturalist.org. The only tool you need is a digital camera or cellphone. After finding a clear track, place one ruler along the bottom of the footprint and another along the left side. Below the footprint, place a note containing your exact name and the date. Holding the camera or cellphone directly above the track, take a photo showing the footprint, rulers and note. Later, visit naturalist.org and follow the instructions on the site to send your photo.

Wild Track needs photos of footprints made not only by animals in captivity but also those living in the wild. In wild places, you should take care not to disturb animals in their natural environment. If you intend to photograph in a wild area that is unknown to you, then you should not go there alone. Instead, go with someone who is familiar with the region and experienced at tracking.

1.How does the writer begin this article about Wild Track?

A.By discussing the software that it employs.

B.By praising its recent efforts to raise funds.

C.By explaining how and when it was founded.

D.By summarizing different opinions about it.

2.According to this article, which animals are Wild Track mainly interested in?

A.Those which cause a threat to human settlements.

B.Those which are now at risk of becoming extinct.

C.Those which have been illegally kept as pets.

D.Those which disappeared from the Earth long ago.

3.What does this article talk about in detail?

A.A list of locations worth exploring.

B.A strategy for acquiring equipment.

C.A warning not to engage in hunting.

D.A technique containing several steps.

4.What does the article suggest doing in wild areas?

A.Admiring the wild landscape.

B.Preparing well for wild weather.

C.Leaving wild creatures alone.

D.Consuming a diet of wild plants.

Monaco Grand Prix

The air is fresh with the heat of early summer as you arrive in the beautiful country of Monaco on the day of the race. Your______ to the Monte-Carlo neighborhood is bursting with color as classic styles of European architecture catch your eye. When you reach the race course area, you are led to the harbor where you will watch the race from the ______ of  a  friend’s  yacht (游艇）.Soon, the Formula One cars will pull onto the starting point and the race will begin.

Each of the cars in the Monaco Grand    Prix is ______, but all of them are fast  and modern. The race course also ______ as  being  complex  and  difficult,  with   a  frightening hairpin (发夹）turn along a very narrow street. ______ these streets at speeds over 150 kilometers per hour, drivers must take over. Even    the slightest ______ could turn a multi- million dollar car into a pile of waste. The driver who claims first place receives an award and will go down ______ as one of the world’s finest drivers.

Indianapolis 500

On race day the grandstands (大看台）are filled with excitement as you enter the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. You find your seat, ______ yourself against the harsh heat and marvel at the huge black oval (椭圆形的）track below. Moments later, a fleet of Indy Cars rolls onto the track, ______ themselves in 11  neat rows of three. The sound of 33 turning engines rings in your ears, and you cheer with the crowd as the powerful cars take off from the starting line.

Unlike Monaco Formula One cars, Indy cars are more uniform in their ______. They tend to be much longer, and reach 260 kilometers per hour. Since the drivers must race for 500 miles, the race is quite long, ______ three to five hours. The resulting wear and tear on each   car is managed with short stop. The driver’s excellent team performs ______ at amazing speeds. The dangerous nature of this  race requires ______ communication between the drivers  and their teams.  They  must  plan short stops ______ or the driver  loses precious time  and it  could ______ them the race.

1.A.memory B.aim C.anxiety D.ride

2.A.comfort B.position C.bottom D.direction

3.A.colorful B.fashionable C.unique D.similar

4.A.comes out B.stands out C.turns out D.points out

5.A.Crossing B.Constructing C.Driving D.Competing

6.A.touch B.spot C.error D.hole

7.A.in history B.in advance C.in return D.in all

8.A.pushing B.drawing C.fighting D.fanning

9.A.following B.arranging C.warning D.urging

10.A.design B.preparation C.display D.regulation

11.A.timing B.extending C.delaying D.lasting

12.A.check B.maintenance C.device D.condition

13.A.short B.special C.constant D.loud

14.A.professionally B.positively C.directly D.carefully

15.A.cost B.sacrifice C.defeat D.fail

Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passage coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.

This weekend many families in America will celebrate Mother’s Day. The event dates back to  May 9, 1914, 1. America’s President Wilson  established the official   holiday. Some people had begun campaigning for the holiday a few years 2. (early).  Finally in 1914, the president made it official. He declared that each second Sunday in May 3. (dedicate) to thanking the nation’s mothers. He also ordered all government   buildings 4. (display) the national flag on that day. According to President Wilson, this was done “as a public expression of …love …for the mothers of our country.”

Before long, people in other  countries 5. (begin) asking for a similar  holiday to celebrate their mothers. Mexico celebrated its first official Mother’s Day on May 10, 1922. May 10th became their annual holiday because the country preferred a fixed date to 6. that changed.

Other countries are happy to share the day with the United States. Some on the list include Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Japan and Turkey.

Oddly enough, the U.S. Congress rejected a Mother’s Day resolution at first. Today, though, Mother’s Day is a highly popular holiday. It’s also very successful commercially. Along with giving cards,  candy  and flowers, 7. (take) moms out for brunch is a very popular gesture. America’s National Restaurant Association says Mother’s Day is the year’s most popular day for eating out.

But why do we honor our mothers? Many moms lovingly dedicate their lives to their children. Moms sacrifice time, sleep and often their own dreams. Moms try to provide a strong foundation 8. children  can  build  their  lives. With 9. (love)  care,  mothers guide their children toward adulthood.

When we consider everything our mothers have done for us, how can we not honor them? There’s no need to wait for a national holiday, though. Every day is a great opportunity to tell our mothers 10. they mean to us.

假定你是李华，China Daily最近拟刊登介绍中国传统文化的文章，请用英语给编辑写封信，谈 谈自己的想法，要点如下：

1. 在你看来，最具中国特色的传统文化的是什么？(剪纸、京剧、功夫、孔子文化……)

2. 此传统文化对于中国的意义；

3. 我们应该如何更好地保护此传统文化？(不少于两点)

注意：1.词数100左右；

2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

Dear editor,

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Yours,

Li Hua

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。

It was in our school hall where our school held a variety show last week. Filling with enthusiasm, all the teachers and students were attended the show, which proved lively and fantastic. The hall was beautiful decorated. There were twenty shows at all, including singing, dancing and role play. The shows were such wonderful that we all enjoyed it very much. All the performer were trying their best to show their talents to the audiences. As far as I am concerned, the variety show is meaningful activity as it can help us to relax ourselves from our busy study and enriched our school life at the same time.

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。

China has recently published its first artificial intelligence （Al） textbook for high school students, following a plan1.（include） Al courses in primary and secondary schools by central government last year.

Under the joint efforts by the research center for MOOC at East China Normal University and Al startup Sense Time Group, the nine-chapter textbook,2.  (name) Fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence, was written by outstanding scholars from well-known 3. (school) nationwide, Xinhua reported on Sunday.

It includes the history of Al and how the technology can 4.(apply) in areas such as facial recognition, auto driving and public security. “The textbook focuses not only on basics of Al, but also on 5.(practice) use of Al in daily life," said Chen Yukun, a professor at East China Normal University,6.is also a contributor to the book. So far, about 40 high schools across the country 7. (join) the first group of Al high education pilot program 8. introducing the textbook in curriculum.

“The Al sector is facing a talent shortage 9. . (global). The publication of the book is 10. breakthrough as it takes Al technology out of the ‘ivory tower' and makes it part of high school learning, said Lin Dahua, a professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

    Christmas was near a season that we took seriously in our house. But a week or so before the 25th, my father would give each of his children $ 20. This was the 1970s, and $ 20 was quite a bit of money.

But I saw it ___. My father trusted me to have the ________ to spend money wisely. Even better, he gave me the ____ to get it. On a very basic level ,my father was giving me a shopping spree（狂欢）every year. But he was also giving me charge over my own fun, trusting my ability to ____ money and making me feel like a/an _______. He didn't buy me Sherlock Holmes, but he gave me the means to walk into the bookstore and choose it for myself, so it felt like a gift from him.

My mother had a/an____for giving me what I needed, usually____at the moment I needed it most. This was when I was 25, I _____at being an adult on my very first try. I had quitted my ___job but had no new one. But when my mother____me a visit, I____a good show, telling her I had started my own company.

My mother knew that I was trying hard and failing at that time. It wasn't until____she left that I noticed at the foot of my bed an envelope thick with _________. She knew how _______ I needed it. She knew that had she just shown up with groceries, or____to pay my rent, she would have made me feel much __________ . The cold, hard cash meant she was helping me. And, funnily enough, the____with which she gave the gift felt like she was giving me space to ___my life and preserve my dignity. My mother and father both did the same thing. One was giving me the means to take my own ____ ,and the other was giving me a second ____ when those decisions had cost me dearly.

1.A.positively B.differently C.naturally D.originally

2.A.intelligence B.passion C.power D.potential

3.A.courage B.suggestions C.discipline D.means

4.A.spend B.carry C.manage D.use

5.A.grown-up B.teenager C.adventurer D.pioneer

6.A.habit B.gift C.approach D.tradition

7.A.approximately B.about C.right D.slightly

8.A.failed B.fooled C.dropped D.fell

9.A.important B.creative C.challenging D.previous

10.A.brought B.suggested C.paid D.gave

11.A.put on B.put away C.put off D.put forward

12.A.before B.after C.when D.as

13.A.credit B.loans C.receipts D.cash

14.A.desperately B.hardly C.eventually D.accurately

15.A.attempted B.offered C.promised D.refused

16.A.better B.more C.less D.worse

17.A.decoration B.love C.distance D.method

18.A.defend B.equip C.fix D.develop

19.A.actions B.opportunities C.risks D.decisions

20.A.solution B.chance C.visit D.assistance

    Campuses should be safe places for children to learn and develop. However, the movie, Better Days, released on Oct 25 , highlights a serious issue—school bullying. Some experts say people should treat bullying seriously and not regard it as a joke. School bullying involves hurtful words, physical attacks, even sexual violence.

1.In quite a few cases, a child is bullied merely because another sees him/her as being weak in strength or character, and he or she is singled out for violence.

That the offenders are just children does not mean bullying is simply high spirits or that the children are just being naughty. 2.and it does not matter how old the perpetrator（施暴者）of the violence is or what form it takes.

It is not helpful for parents and teachers to ignore the matter by saying it is a private affair between the children and they can solve it by themselves. 3.All violence should be prevented, and the most effective way of preventing bullying on campus is to call the police and let the professionals deal with it. 4.

Bullying is a serious offense. While there may be no visible harm, it can leave invisible scars and wounds that can prove fatal over time. According to data from the United Nations Education, Science, and Culture Organization, over 32 percent of male pupils and 28 per-cent of female pupils suffer from campus violence with many suffering serious emotional and psychological problems as a result. 5.

A. Whether verbal or physical, violence is violence.

B. The bullying is only verbal insults and not threats.

C. That doesn't happen； instead the bullying becomes worse.

D. People even in their 50s or 60s may still suffer the hurt of childhood bullying.

E. Sometimes bullying can arise out of a quarrel or conflict, but often it arises out of nothing.

F. Bullying causes injury to health and makes you ill. How many of these symptoms do you have?

G. Especially, in China the role of the police is not only to enforce the law, but also to educate the public about punishments for violations.

    It's natural for parents to praise their children, but offering this praise could actually backfire, according to new science.

In the study, researchers at Michigan State University looked at 123 children who were about 7. The team assessed the children to determine whether they had a “growth mindset" (believing that you can work harder to get smarter), or a “fixed mindset" (believing that your intelligence is unable to change). They then asked the children to complete a fast-paced computer accuracy task while their brain activity was recorded.

Based on the data they collected, the researchers concluded that children with a growth mindset were much more likely to have a larger brain response after making a mistake, and in turn were more likely to improve their performance by paying closer attention to the task after making an error.

While previous research has shown that people with a fixed mindset didn't want to admit they had made a mistake, this study found that children with a fixed mindset were able to — “bounce back” after making an error, but only if they gave their full attention to the mistakes. “The main implication here is that we should pay close attention to our mistakes and use them as opportunities to learn study author Hans Schroder told Science Daily.

For parents, the lessons are clear—if a child hands you an A+ test, don't say “You're so smart! ”

Instead, say “Wow, that studying really paid off!" or “You clearly mastered this material — way to go!" Note the effort, not the intelligence.

Second, focus on using errors to work together and learn. Many teachers and parents avoid addressing children's mistakes, telling them “It's OK. You'll get it next time. . . ” Without giving them the opportunity to figure out what went wrong. Dr. Schroder says, "Instead, it's better to

reassure children that mistakes happen, and to pay attention and work to figure out where and how they made the mistakes. ”

1.The underlined word “backfire" in Paragraph 1 probably means “ ” .

A.make a loud noise B.leave a good impression

C.have an opposite result D.produce an explosion

2.According to the text, which one belongs to the group who has a “growth mindset" ?

A.Tom manages to correct every mistake by heart.

B.Mary believes her mistakes are made by chance.

C.John keeps an idea that he has a good gift for studying.

D.Lily thinks she can get A+ without any effort.

3.If your child gets the best mark in the test, you should .

A.praise him with some delicious food and money

B.comment him to be cleverer than other students

C.confirm his effort that he has made for the test

D.believe that he is an honest and smart child

4.What should parents do with the child's mistakes from Dr. Schroder?

A.Parents should avoid talking with child about his mistakes.

B.Parents should compare his mistakes with others' and criticize him.

C.Parents should ignore the mistakes and believe he will do better.

D.Parents should analyse the mistakes with their child patiently.

    Online programs to fight depression are already commercially available. While they sound efficient and cost-saving, a recent study reports that they are not effective, primarily because depressed patients are not likely to engage with them or stick with them.

The study looked at computer-assisted cognitive （认知的）behavioral therapy （ CBT） and found that it was no more effective in treating depression than the usual care patients receive from a primary care doctor.

Traditional CBT is considered an effective form of talk therapy（治疗）for depression, helping people challenge negative thoughts and change the way they think in order to change their mood and behaviors. However, online CBT programs have been gaining popularity, with the attraction of providing low-cost help wherever someone has access to a computer.

A team of researchers from the University of York conducted a randomized（随机的）control trial with 691 depressed patients from 83 physician practices across England. The patients were split into three groups: one group received only usual care from a physician while the other two groups received usual care from a physician plus one of two computerized CBT programs. Participants were balanced across the three groups for age, sex, educational background, severity and duration of depression, and use of antidepressants（抗抑郁药）.

After four months, the patients using the computerized CBT programs had no improvement in depression levels over the patients who were only getting usual care from their doctors.

“It's an important, cautionary note that we shouldn't get too carried away with the idea that a computer system can replace doctors and therapists, says Christopher Dowrick, a professor of

primary medical care at the University of Liverpool. “We do still need the human touch or the human interaction, particularly when people are depressed. ”

Being depressed can mean feeling “lost in your own small, negative, dark world," Dowrick says. Having a person, instead of a computer, reach out to you is particularly important in combating that sense of isolation. “When you’re emotionally vulnerable (脆弱的),you're even more in need of a caring human being," he says.

1.Why has online CBT programs been increasingly popular?

A.Because of their effectiveness in fighting depression.

B.Because of their easy and inexpensive access by patients.

C.Because of their recommendation by primary care doctors.

D.Because of their attraction of changing mood and behavior.

2.What is the conclusion of the experiment done by researchers at the University of York?

A.Online CBT programs are as ineffective as regular care from physicians.

B.The combination of traditional CBT and computerized CBT is most effective.

C.The online programs are more advanced than regular care from physicians.

D.Online CBT programs have no advantages over regular care from physicians.

3.Which of the following statement can best convey Professor Dowrick's advice on online programs?

A.Their use should be encouraged by doctors.

B.They should not be ignored in primary care.

C.Their effectiveness should not be overestimated(高估).

D.They should be used to help people touch these patients.

4.What is more important to an emotionally vulnerable person?

A.A positive state of mind. B.An appropriate therapy.

C.An advanced CBT program. D.A caring human being.

    I once heard this tale in India, where it is told as if true—though any naturalist would know it couldn't be. The country is India. A colonial殖民地的official and his wife are giving a large dinner party. They are seated with their guests — army officers and their wives, and a visiting American naturalist.

A spirited discussion springs up between a young girl who says women have long outgrown the jumping-on-a-chair-at-the-sight-of-a-mouse era（时代、年代）3nd an army officer who says they haven’t. “A woman’s reaction in any crisis," the officer says, “is to scream. And while a man may feel like it, he has that ounce more of control than a woman has. ”

The American scientist does not join in the argument but sits and watches the faces of the other guests. As he stares, he sees a slight strange expression come over the face of the hostess. She gestures to the servant standing behind her chair and whispers to him. The servant's eyes widen. He turns quickly and leaves the room. Of the guests, none except the American notices this or sees the servant place a bowl of milk on the balcony just outside the open glass doors.

The American understands. In India, milk in a bowl means only one thing: bait （诱饵）for a snake. He realizes there must be a cobra in the room. The American’s  eyes move across the room but he sees nothing. He realizes the snake can only be in one place—under the table.

His first reaction is to jump back and warn the others. But he knows any sudden movement will frighten the cobra into striking. He speaks quickly, the tone of his voice so arresting that it

quietens everyone. “I want to know just what control everyone at this table has. I will count three hundred—that's five minutes — and not one of you is to move a muscle. Now, ready!”

The 20 people sit like stone images while he counts. He is saying "... two hundred and eighty. . . ” when, out of the corner of his eye, he sees the snake emerge and make for the bowl of milk. Four or five screams ring out as he jumps to slam the balcony doors.

“There is your proof!" the host exclaims. “A man has just shown us perfect self-control. ”

“Just a minute," the American says, turning to his hostess, “How did you know that cobra was in the room?"

With a faint smile coming across her face she replies: "Because it was lying across my foot. ”

1.From the passage we can conclude that .

A.women are afraid of mice

B.the army officer's opinion is quite wrong

C.the American suggests playing a game for entertainment

D.the hostess has had previous experience addressing snakes

2.Choose the right order of the events given in the passage.

a. The American's eyes sweep the room but he sees nothing.

b. The American suggests the guests playing a game.

c. Following the instructions, the servant puts out some milk.

d. The hostess is staring ahead, a slight weird look appearing.

e. The American shuts the balcony doors safely, and several screams are let out.

f. The snake edges its way to the bowl of milk.

A.d,c,a,b,f,e B.a,b,c,e,f,d

C.d,f,a,b,e,c D.f,e,c,a,d,b

3.Who has real self-control according to the passage?

A.The American. B.The army officer.

C.The girl. D.The hostess.

4.What may be the best title for the passage?

A.A Heated Argument B.A Striking Dinner Party

C.An Unbelievable Story D.A Smart Hostess

    The BBC Documentary is divided into three categories: BBC Nature, BBC History and BBC Technology. For documentary lovers, it’s a great pleasure in life to enjoy the BBC Documentary with a wide range of subjects and excellent productions, whose super wonderful pictures are also a masterpiece of photography.

Nile 2004

The Nile, the longest river on the earth, spreads through jungles, and finally into the desert. Ancient Egyptians believed that the river had magic power. This documentary will uncover its mystery—a magnificent territory, which is full of rare animals and extends to the most desolate corners of Africa.

Hiroshima 2005

It was an important moment in the 20th century when an atomic bomb was launched into Hiroshima, Japan and it was also a scientific, technological, military and political adventure. This documentary, where we can see the Hiroshima street at the moment of disaster, tries to show us the real history and what life is like for the Japanese people who have experienced the atomic bombing.

Time Machine 2006

Some creatures have to make long-term evolutionary plans in order to survive, but can any creatures live forever? People shorten the growth period of rice regardless of the weather condition, and the modern transportation enables us to reach further areas at a faster speed. But can humans really turn around time? The time machine will introduce scientists' current research on a bug and find out the key to long life.

Super Volcano 2005

Yellowstone National Park, in fact, where the underground magma is ready to move, is one of the largest craters in the United States. With scientific evidence, reliable prediction and solid research by top geologists, the super volcano eruption is presented to the audience in a dramatic way.

1.If you are interested in history, which documentary will suit you well?

A.Nile B.Hiroshima

C.Time Machine D.Super Volcano

2.What can we learn from Time Machine?

A.People can turn around time by a time machine.

B.People have found a bug which can live a long life.

C.People now can travel faster and further in the world.

D.Rice now needs less time to grow according to the climate.

3.Which statement is TRUE according to the passage?

A.Hiroshima suffered from a disaster caused by atomic bombing.

B.The Nile spreads into the desert with magic power.

C.Yellowstone National Park is about to erupt.

D.The BBC Documentary is popular only because of its wide range of subjects.

阅读下面的材料，然后按要求写一篇150词左右的英语短文。

Traditional Chinese medicine, practiced for thousands of years, is having trouble maintaining traction in many parts of the country, said the president of a TCM hospital in Henan province.

“I have visited many counties across the country and found many of them do not have a single TCM hospital," said Pang Guoming of Kaifeng Hospital of TCM in Kaifeng. "In some counties, TCM hospitals use the old buildings of other hospitals, which have moved to bigger and new buildings."

"TCM is a unique health resource for China, and more effort should be made to promote it so it plays a bigger part in universal healthcare."

The development of TCM is expected to accelerate, with a guideline recently approved by the top leadership aimed at promoting innovation and the passing on of TCM knowledge.

Equal importance should be given to the development of TCM and Western medicine to promote their complementary （互补的）nature, said the guideline. More efforts should be made to improve the TCM service system, promote high-quality development of the TCM industry and boost TCM talent building, it said.

A widely known example is Tu Youyou, who won the 2015 Nobel Prize for the discovery of the artemisinin. Tu and her Chinese colleagues gained the insight that led to their discovery while reading a TCM prescription book that was more than 1,600 years old.

［写作内容］

1. 用约30个单词写出上文概要；

2. 用约120个单词发表你对中国传统医学的看法，并说明理由。
［写作要求］

1. 写作过程中不能直接引用原文语句；

2. 作文中不能出现真实姓名和学校名称；

3. 不必写标题。

［评分标准］

内容完整，语言规范，语篇连贯，词数适当。

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

One of the primary problems of being a human being is: Try as you might to come across in a certain way to others, people often perceive (感知、理解)you in an altogether different way.

One person may think, for example, that by offering help to a colleague, she is coming across as generous. But her colleague may interpret her offer as a lack of faith in his abilities. Just as he misunderstands her, she misunderstands him: She offered him help because she thought he was overworked and stressed. He has, after all, been showing up early to work and going home late every day. But that's not why he's keeping strange hours; he just works best when the office is less crowded.

These kinds of misunderstandings lead to conflict and resentment (怨恨)not just at work, but at home too. How many fights between couples have started with one person misinterpreting what another says and does? He stares at his plate at dinner while she's telling a story and she assumes he doesn't care about what she's saying, when really he is admiring the beautiful meal she made.

Most of the time, Halvorson says, people don't realize they are not coming across the way they think they are. “If I ask you," Halvorson told me, "about how you see yourself—what traits (特点)you would say describe you—and I ask someone who knows you well to list your traits, there's a big gap between how other people see us and how we see ourselves.”

This gap arises from some quirks (习惯)of human psychology. Most people suffer from what psychologists call "the transparency illusion"—the belief that what they feel, desire, and intend is crystal clear to others, even though they have done very little to communicate clearly what is going on inside their minds.

Because the perceived assume they are transparent, they might not spend the time or effort to be as clear and forthcoming about their intentions or emotional states as they could be, giving the perceiver very little information with which to make an accurate judgment. The perceiver, meanwhile, is dealing with two powerful psychological forces that are warping (歪曲)his ability to read others accurately.

Chances are that you "I'm kind of hurt by what you just said” face probably looks an awful lot like your "I'm not at all hurt by what you just said" face. And the majority of times that you've said to yourself "I made my intentions clear," or “He knows what I meant," you didn't and he doesn't.

    I was having breakfast, when "OUCH!" I screamed. “Why do you pinch （捏）me?”

"You're not wearing green/' said my little brother; Tex. “Everyone knows you get pinched if you don’t wear green on Saint Patrick's Day!"

I was mostly mad about getting pinched, but also a tiny bit glad about being reminded that it was Saint Patrick's Day.

I panicked. "What am I going to do? I don't have time to change. I'll get pinched all day long!" "Well,", Tex said, taking the old green baseball hat off his head, "you could borrow my lucky hat.”

"But it's your favorite!" I said.

"I know,” said Tex. "Just promise to give it back after school."

"No problem," I said, glancing in the mirror on my way out the door. "I look like a fool in this thing !"

"A lucky fool.” said Tex.

"Hum." I grabbed my backpack. "Thanks, I think?'

Now, before I go on, you should know that I'm not a superstitious （迷信的）person. I don't believe that thirteen is an unlucky number or that breaking a mirror brings seven years of bad luck.

Anyway, I was racing to catch the school bus, and I saw a dollar on the sidewalk! I looked around to see if anyone was looking for it, but people just kept stepping on the poor thing, so I decided to rescue it. I had found pennies before, but never a dollar!

My luck didn't stop there. Carlos and Jackson were sitting behind me, quizzing each other on spelling words.

I turned around and said, "You guys know that test isn't till tomorrow right?"

"It got switched to this morning," said Jacsksn. "Remember?"

"That's right. I totally forgot!" I said. "I'm so lucky that I sat in front of you. If I hadn't, I wouldn't have found out till it was too late!”  I got out my spelling words, studied all the way to school. And ended up getting a good mark in the test!

The minute I got home, I gave Tex a big hug.

“This is the luckiest hat in the world,” I said. "I'm never taking it off!

"But you promised to give it back!" said Tex.

"Please—oh—please let me borrow your lucky hat for one more day!" I begged.

"Tomorrow I'm auditioning （试演）for the school play, and I need every bit of help I can get.” "OK," said Tex. “One more day. But you'd better be really nice to me."

"I will," I agreed. "In fact, here you have my lucky dollar!” Tex cried with joy, then started dancing around and waving his gift in the air.

The next day turned out to be super lucky. My audition couldn't have gone better.

"Wow, Arizona!" said my friend Mareya. "I can't believe how amazingly you just did! You are so getting a major part in this play!"

"Thanks! But honestly. the only reason I did OK is because I had my lucky hat.”

"What lucky hat?” asked Mareya.

“This one,” I said, reaching into my backpack, where I thought I'd put Tex's hat since I couldn't

wear it for the audition. But it wasn't there! " Oh no!" I cried. "It's gone! What am I going to tell Tex?”

Mareya helped me look for it. Luckily, we found Tex's hat in my locker. Also luckily. I discovered that I could be lucky with or without a goofy-looking hat.

"So it wasn't the hat," said Mareya. "This is just a wild guess, but maybe it was all those hours you spent practicing over the past month.”

"Hmm,” I said. “It's possible.”

So, dear friend, I guess you could say that luck is a combination of being prepared, believing in yourself... and maybe just a tiny bit of magic! In other words, luck may come your way, but you have to be ready for it when it does!

1.What can we infer from what the writer said "I look like a fool in this thing"?

A.She thought she became a fool when wearing the hat.

B.She didn't like to wear the green baseball hat.

C.She didn’t believe the hat would bring her a good luck.

D.She thought she was foolish to put on the green hat.

2.What did the writer think of her behavior of picking up a dollar?

A.It was a shameful behavior. B.It was an individual behavior.

C.It was a moral behavior. D.It was a fortunate behavior.

3.When was the writer reminded of the test?

A.On the school bus. B.A few minutes before the test.

C.In the classroom. D.When the quiz began.

4.Which of the following statement is CORRECT?

A.The writer begged Tex to give the hat to her.

B.The writer's audition was quite successful.

C.The writer bought a present for her brother.

D.The writer got the major part in the play.

5.What does the underlined word "goofy-looking" most probably mean?

A.Good-looking. B.Lucky-looking.

C.Foolish-looking. D.Cool-looking.

6.At the end of the story, the writer realized that "               "

A.an ounce of luck is better than a pound of wisdom

B.bad luck always comes in threes

C.behind bad luck comes good luck

D.opportunities are only given to those who are well-prepared

    Intelligence makes for better leaders —from undergraduates to managers to presidents — according to multiple studies. It certainly makes sense that handling a market shift or anything alike require intelligence. But new research on leadership suggests that, at a certain point, having a higher IQ stops helping and starts hurting.

Although previous research has shown that groups with smarter leaders perform better by objective measures, some studies have suggested that followers might subjectively view leaders with extremely high intellect as less effective. Decades ago, Dean Simonton, a psychologist from the University of California, Davis, proposed that brilliant leaders' words may simply go over people's heads, their solutions could be more complicated to carry out and followers might find it harder to relate to them. Now Simonton and two colleagues have finally tested that idea, publishing their results in the July 2017 issue of the Journal of Applied Psychology.

The researchers looked at 379 male and female business leaders in 30 countries across fields including banking, retail and technology. The managers took IQ tests and each was rated on leadership style and effectiveness by an average of eight co-workers. IQ positively correlated （和......正相关）with ratings of leader effectiveness, strategy formation, vision and several other characteristics—up to a point. The ratings peaked at an IQ of around 120, which is higher than roughly 80 percent of office workers. Beyond that, the ratings declined. The researchers suggest the "ideal" IQ could be higher or lower in various fields, to 140 or 100, depending on whether technical or social skills are more valued in a given work culture.

"It's an interesting and thoughtful paper,” says Paul Sackett, a management professor at University of Minnesota, who was not involved in the research. “To me, the right interpretation of the work would be that it highlights a need to understand what high-IQ leaders do that leads to lower understanding by followers,” he says. “The wrong interpretation would be, “Don’t hire high-IQ leaders.'"

The study’s lead author, John Antonakis, a psychologist at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland, suggests leaders should use their intelligence to use creative language that will persuade and inspire others—the way former U.S. President Barack Obama did. "I think the only way a smart person can signal their intelligence properly and still connect with the people,”  Antonakis says, "is to speak in charming ways."

1.The reason why those with high IQs are viewed as worse leaders is probably that .

A.followers think of their leaders to be less effective

B.their IQ has a positive correlation with leader effectiveness

C.they are hard to get their schemes across to followers

D.their social skills can't be recognized in some work culture

2.Which of the following graphs shows the correct relationship between IQ points and leadership qualities?

A. B.

C. D.

3.To improve their leadership, high-IQ leaders can.

A.interpret the work they are involved in

B.use inspiring and accessible language

C.take a course in leader effectiveness

D.communicate more with their followers

4.What could be the best title for the passage?

A.A way to success for high-IQ leaders

B.The latest research on intelligence

C.Choose to be a leader of low intelligence

D.Does a high IQ advance your leadership

    Some people always seem to have sunny outlooks, while others never stop complaining. Naturally, scientists have asked why

In a study, University of Minnesota researchers David Lykken and Auke Tellegen analysed well-being questionnaires answered by 254 twins over a 10-year period. They found that identical twins' （同卵双胞胎）happiness was much closely paired over time than that of fraternal twins （异卵 双胞胎）.In a smaller sample of twins separated in infancy （婴儿期）and raised apart—removing the influence of a shared environment—the effect was slightly more pronounced. The authors went on to calculate that about 50 per cent of happiness genetic. The scientific community is still arguing about the exact number; but the basic finding is widely accepted.

If a large part of happiness is genetic, does that mean the rest can be acquired by upgrading your job, your house or where you live?

Decades of research support the theory of hedonic adaptation （享乐适应），sometimes called "happiness treadmill （快乐水车理论）"：after negative and positive life changes, individuals tend to return to a baseline level of well-being. One study examined 3,658 Germans who moved into new houses because they were frustrated with their old ones. Housing satisfaction generally rose in the first year and then began falling, though remained higher than before the move. But life satisfaction remained unchanged. Other studies have found that spikes in well-being after marriage, or a job promotion tend to fade within months. On the flip side, even after calamitous changes like widowhood, disability, and job loss, happiness usually trend upward again （although slowly and with more variability）.

In other words, chasing material life changes doesn’t offer much joy. Does that mean happiness is out of our control? Not at all, says Sonja Lyubomirsky, a psychology professor at the University of California, Riverside and the author of The Myths of Happiness. After conducting a review of 51 "happiness interventions"—including writing letters of gratitude, counting one's blessings and practicing random acts of kindness—Lyubomirsky and her co-author, Nancy L. Sin, found that these simple activities had a significance effect on well-being. In addition, enjoying positive experiences tended to increase appreciation of them.

"Happiness is not something where you either have it or you don't. You definitely can do something about it," says Lyubomirsky.

1.What does the theory of Hedonic adaptation refer to?

A.A person's happiness grows over time.

B.A person, tend to be happier when positive changes occur.

C.A person tends to be less happy when negative changes occur.

D.A person's long term happiness is not significantly affected by any event.

2.What does the underlined word “calamitous” in paragraph 4 mean?

A.significant. B.disastrous

C.gradual. D.constant

3.Which of the following may Soja Lyubomirsky agree with?

A.He who makes others happy is truly happy.

B.Joy and sorrow are next-door neighbors.

C.Man is the master of his happiness.

D.Joys shared with others are more enjoyed.

The 9th China International Garden Expo

May 18—November 18 Beijing

News

Green-Fingered Beijing Garden Expo Opens to Public

International Garden Expo Opens in Beijing

13,000 Volunteers Prepare for Beijing Garden Expo

Beijing Garden Expo Encourages Family Gardening

Cover stories

Land Rehab

Beijing Garden Expo presents a combination of traditional beauty and enlightened urban development

African Pavilions Open for Business

Beijing Garden Expo's International Exhibition Area still developing Impetus for Development

For your information

Opening time: 8:00 a.m. ― 9:30 p.m.

Location: Beijing Garden Expo Park, Fengtai District

Ticket price: 100 yuan ($16) on normal days; 150 yuan ($24) on 16 designated days

Transportation

Subway: Garden Expo Park Station on Line 14

Shuttle bus: Start from Beijing West Railway Station and Beijing South Railway Station

Bus: Line310, 843,327,385

Beijing Garden Expo in photos

Garden Valley Formerly a 30-meter-deep large sand pit covering 20 hectares of land area, in the Garden Expo Park on the western bank of the Yongding River in Beijing's Fengtai District (CHINANEWS.COM)

Ginkgo Avenue in the Garden Expo Park (CHINANEWS.COM)

European-Style Garden (SHI GANG)

Beijing Park (XINHUA) Hong Kong Garden (CHINANEWS.COM)

Taiwan Garden (CRI)

Harbin Park

It features the white Russian-style church, one of the core landscapes in the park（CHINADAILY） Hefei Park

Four stone lions around the memorial arch represent majesty and decency. The vivid stone lotus carved on the arch stands for incorruptibility, which corresponds with the design concept of the park （CHINA DAILY）

Related reports

2011 International Horticultural Exposition 2010 Shanghai World Expo Beijing in Pictures

1.Which of the statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A.Visitors can take subway Line 14 starting from Beijing West Railway Station.

B.The two photos of Ginkgo Avenue and Harbin Park come from the same source.

C.A family of three will pay 300 yuan to visit the Garden Expo on any day.

D.Visitors can appreciate the beauty of the stone lotus in Hefei Park at the Expo.

2.What is the purpose of this passage?

A.To introduce volunteers to the Garden Expo. '

B.To offer information about the Garden Expo.

C.To promote the gardening industry in China.

D.To attract more visitors to the Garden Expo.

    On the last day of college before graduation, our professor walked up on stage to give us a final lesson, which she called "a life lesson on the ____ of mindsets （思维模式）As she _____ a glass of water over her head, everyone __ her to mention the typical "glass half empty or glass half full" question. _____ with a smile on her face, the professor asked, "How heavy is this glass of water I'm holding?"

Students shouted out answers __ from eight ounces （盎司）to a couple pounds.

After a few moments of __ answers, she replied, “In my opinion, the absolute weight of this glass doesn't _____ . It all __ how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute or two, it's ___ light. If I hold it for an hour ___, my arm might feel painful. If I hold it for the whole day, my arm will feel completely numb, __ me to drop the glass to the floor. In each ___/the weight of the glass doesn't change, __ the longer I hold it, the heavier it _____ to me."

As the class nodded their heads in ______, she continued, "Your worries, ________ and

stressful thoughts are like this glass of water. Think about them for a while and _____ happens. Think about them a bit longer and you begin to feel ______ . Think about them all day long, and you will feel completely numb, ______ to do anything else until you  ______  them.”

1.A.origin B.trend C.standard D.power

2.A.picked B.laid C.raised D.pulled

3.A.urged B.begged C.expected D.advised

4.A.Instead B.Therefore C.Otherwise D.Anyway

5.A.coming B.ranging C.transforming D.judging

6.A.various B.visible C.quick D.short

7.A.concern B.matter C.care D.mean

8.A.refers to B.results in C.depends on D.mixes with

9.A.fairly B.exactly C.theoretically D.merely

10.A.only B.again C.later D.straight

11.A.permitting B.forcing C.encouraging D.reminding

12.A.section B.problem C.case D.field

13.A.so B.or C.for D.but

14.A.remains B.feels C.proves D.looks

15.A.agreement B.relief C.fear D.shock

16.A.happiness B.disappointment C.curiousness D.engagement

17.A.something B.everything C.anything D.nothing

18.A.pain B.terror C.sorrow D.doubt

19.A.unwilling B.unable C.unwise D.unlucky

20.A.destroy B.hide C.drop D.accept