Imagine a child standing on a diving board four feet high and asking himself the question: “Should I jump?” This is what motivation or the lack of it can do. Motivation and goal setting are the two sides of same coin. 1. Like the child on the diving board, you will stay undecided.

2. More than that, how should you stay motivated to achieve the goal? First, you need to evaluate yourself, your values, your strengths, your weaknesses, your achievements, your desires, etc. Only then should you set your goals.

You also need to judge the quality and depth of your motivation. This is quite important, because it is directly related to your commitment. There are times when your heart is not in your work. 3. So, slow down and think what you really want to do at that moment. Clarity(清晰) of thoughts can help you move forward.

Another way of setting realistic goals is to analyze your short and long term objectives, keeping in mind your beliefs, values and strengths. Remember that goals are flexible. 4. They also need to be measurable. You must keep these points in mind while setting your goals.

Your personal circumstances are equally important. For example, you may want to be a pilot but can’t become one because your eyesight is not good enough. 5.You should reassess your goals, and motivate yourself to set a fresh goal.

You will surely need to overcome some difficulties, some planned, but most unplanned. You cannot overcome them without ample motivation. Make sure that you plan for these difficulties at the time of setting your goals.

A. This can affect your work.

B. So how should you motivate yourself?

C. However, this should not discourage you.

D. So why should we try to set specific goals?

E. They can change according to circumstances.

F. Motivation is what you need most to do a good job.

G. Without motivation, you can neither set a goal nor reach it.

    We may think we're a culture that gets rid of our worn technology at the first sight of something shiny and new, but a new study shows that we keep using our old devices(装置) well after they go out of style. That’s bad news for the environment — and our wallets — as these outdated devices consume much more energy than the newer ones that do the same things.

To figure out how much power these devices are using, Callie Babbitt and her colleagues at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York tracked the environmental costs for each product throughout its life — from when its minerals are mined to when we stop using the device. This method provided a readout for how home energy use has evolved since the early 1990s. Devices were grouped by generation — Desktop computers, basic mobile phones, and box-set TVs defined 1992. Digital cameras arrived on the scene in 1997. And MP3 players, smart phones, and LCD TVs entered homes in 2002, before tablets and e-readers showed up in 2007.

As we accumulated more devices, however, we didn't throw out our old ones. "The living-room television is replaced and gets planted in the kids' room, and suddenly one day, you have a TV in every room of the house," said one researcher. The average number of electronic devices rose from four per household in 1992 to 13 in 2007. We're not just keeping these old devices — we continue to use them. According to the analysis of Babbitt's team, old desktop monitors and box TVs with cathode ray tubes are the worst devices with their energy consumption and contribution to greenhouse gas emissions（排放）more than doubling during the 1992 to 2007 window.

So what's the solution（解决方案）? The team's data only went up to 2007, but the researchers also explored what would happen if consumers replaced old products with new electronics that serve more than one function, such as a tablet for word processing and TV viewing. They found that more on-demand entertainment viewing on tablets instead of TVs and desktop computers could cut energy consumption by 44%.

1.What does the author think of new devices?

A.They are environment-friendly. B.They are no better than the old.

C.They cost more to use at home. D.They go out of style quickly.

2.Why did Babbitt's team conduct the research?

A.To reduce the cost of minerals.

B.To test the life cycle of a product.

C.To update consumers on new technology.

D.To find out electricity consumption of the devices.

3.Which of the following uses the least energy?

A.The box-set TV. B.The tablet.

C.The LCD TV. D.The desktop computer.

4.What does the text suggest people do about old electronic devices?

A.Stop using them. B.Take them apart.

C.Upgrade them. D.Recycle them.

    California has lost half its big trees since the 1930s, according to a study to be published Tuesday and climate change seems to be a major factor(因素).

The number of trees larger than two feet across has declined by 50 percent on more than 46, 000 square miles of California forests, the new study finds. No area was spared or unaffected, from the foggy northern coast to the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the San Gabriels above Los Angeles. In the Sierra high country, the number of big trees has fallen by more than 55 percent; in parts of southern California the decline was nearly 75 percent.

Many factors contributed to the decline, said Patrick McIntyre, an ecologist who was the lead author of the study. Woodcutters targeted big trees. Housing development pushed into the woods. Aggressive wildfire control has left California forests crowded with small trees that compete with big trees for resources(资源).

But in comparing a study of California forests done in the 1920s and 1930s with another one between 2001 and 2010, McIntyre and his colleagues documented a widespread death of big trees that was evident even in wildlands protected from woodcutting or development.

The loss of big trees was greatest in areas where trees had suffered the greatest water shortage. The researchers figured out water stress with a computer model that calculated how much water trees were getting in comparison with how much they needed, taking into account such things as rainfall, air temperature, dampness of soil, and the timing of snowmelt(融雪).

Since the 1930s, McIntyre said, the biggest factors driving up water stress in the state have been rising temperatures, which cause trees to lose more water to the air, and earlier snowmelt, which reduces the water supply available to trees during the dry season.

1.What is the second paragraph mainly about?

A.The seriousness of big-tree loss in California.

B.The increasing variety of California big trees.

C.The distribution of big trees in California forests.

D.The influence of farming on big trees in California.

2.Which of the following is well-intentioned but may be bad for big trees?

A.Ecological studies of forests.

B.Banning woodcutting.

C.Limiting housing development.

D.Fire control measures.

3.What is a major cause of the water shortage according to McIntyre?

A.Inadequate snowmelt. B.A longer dry season.

C.A warmer climate. D.Dampness of the air.

4.What can be a suitable title for the text?

A.California’s Forests: Where Have All the Big Trees Gone?

B.Cutting of Big Trees to Be Prohibited in California Soon

C.Why Are the Big Trees Important to California Forests?

D.Patrick McIntyre: Grow More Big Trees in California

    Many of us love July because it’s the month when nature’s berries and stone fruits are in abundance. These colourful and sweet jewels form British Columbia’s fields are little powerhouses of nutritional protection.

Of the common berries, strawberries are highest in vitamin C, although, because of their seeds, raspberries contain a little more protein (蛋白质), iron and zinc (not that fruits have much protein). Blueberries are particularly high in antioxidants (抗氧化物质). The yellow and orange stone fruits such as peaches are high in the carotenoids we turn into vitamin A and which are antioxidants. As for cherries (樱桃), they are so delicious who cares? However, they are rich in vitamin C.

When combined with berries of slices of other fruits, frozen bananas make an excellent base for thick, cooling fruit shakes and low fat “ice cream”. For this purpose, select ripe bananas for freezing as they are much sweeter. Remove the skin and place them in plastic bags or containers and freeze. If you like, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice on the bananas will prevent them turning brown. Frozen bananas will last several weeks, depending on their ripeness and the temperature of the freezer.

If you have a juicer, you can simply feed in frozen bananas and some berries or sliced fruit. Out comes a “soft-serve” creamy dessert, to be eaten right away. This makes a fun activity for a children’s party; they love feeding the fruit and frozen bananas into the top of the machine and watching the ice cream come out below.

1.What does the author seem to like about cherries?

A.They contain protein. B.They are high in vitamin A.

C.They have a pleasant taste. D.They are rich in antioxidants.

2.Why is fresh lemon juice used in freezing bananas?

A.To make them smell better. B.To keep their colour.

C.To speed up their ripening. D.To improve their nutrition.

3.What is “a juicer” in the last paragraph?

A.A dessert. B.A drink.

C.A container. D.A machine.

4.From which is the text probably taken?

A.A biology textbook. B.A health magazine.

C.A research paper. D.A travel brochure.

Dear Koko,

I’ve learned about you from my amazing teacher. I think it’s fun that you can communicate with us humans by using the sign language. I’ve spent a lot of time watching you in different videos and love you from the bottom of my heart.

It’s heartbreaking to learn about all of the cruel things done to gorillas(大猩猩). In Africa, for example, the killers use guns to kill your fellows for meat. They don’t understand the influence their actions are having on gorillas. Another thing is the loss of gorillas’ natural home, which is caused by the improved infrastructure such as building roads and airports. When we cut down trees, you become homeless. We take away your shelter and sources of food, leaving you with very little chance of survival.

Some of my classmates are writing to the relevant departments about these serious problems. Hopefully these letters will make a difference during your lifetime. Over the past three months, my class has been researching on gorillas, and I’ve learned so many things. For example, I’ve learned that you have a lot of feelings similar to mine and you are always so careful with everything you do. I think that you are really worth saving.

We’ve come up with many ideas to help you and your fellows. One of the best ideas is to communicate with the President of the World Bank and have him give more financial support to the organizations for gorillas. Another idea is to make public laws on the killers. I also think we need to keep educating people about gorillas.

I love writing to you and hope you can understand how important you’ve become to our class. Would it be too much to ask for a return letter?

Mike

1.According to the passage, Koko is probably ________.

A.a killer of gorillas B.a member of the gorilla family

C.an expert on gorillas D.a governor in charge of gorillas

2.What is mainly talked about in the second paragraph?

A.The problems gorillas face at present.

B.The danger gorillas cause for humans.

C.The unique characteristic gorillas have.

D.The natural environment gorillas live in.

3.The author suggests that ________.

A.gorillas should be protected in nature reserves

B.killers for gorillas should be legally responsible

C.organizations should be set up to protect gorillas

D.people should make donations to gorilla protection

Keep a Checklist in Your Mind

When I was about seven or eight years old, I remember going into the barn（马厩）one evening where my father was doing jobs that he had to do regularly. I was surprised to see him ______  his hat backwards. It looked______.

When I asked Dad _________ his hat was on backwards, he smiled and gave me an explanation. It seemed there was a large water_________ for the cattle that had to be filled every day. Because it took a long time to finish it, he would _______ the water on and then go about doing other things like cleaning the barn or _______the cattle, which usually cost him twenty minutes or even more time. The__________ , of course, was that if he forgot to turn the water off, the tank would overflow, and water would be wasted and it would make a __________.

Then he told me the __________he had his hat turned around. When he finished his jobs and began to take off his work clothes, he would notice as he_________ his hat that the visor（帽舌）was not where it was supposed to be. This would_________ him the water was still running and he would go back to the barn and tum it_________.

I saw my father develop many other________over the years. And I never forgot how helpful and _________ they are. Some may have even been life-saving. As we all know, sometimes people forget things and make mistakes _______ they may try their best. Using good methods can help them________ more effectively. Instead of __________people-or yourself-for mistakes, you'd better look for some ways that will help them in ________ what they truly wish to do.

This could be practical, and as simple as a checklist. Now I've__________a lot of them, such as putting my car keys in the same place every time. It could be having someone ________ your work and it could also be a computer program that finds out whether your calculations are correct.

1.A. passing    B. wearing    C. holding    D. taking

2.A. terrible    B. ordinary    C. impolite    D. funny

3.A. whether    B. how    C. why    D. where

4.A. tank    B. pool    C. pipe    D. bottle

5.A. put    B. bring    C. carry    D. turn

6.A. beating    B. feeding    C. selling    D. pulling

7.A. danger    B. conflict    C. purpose    D. secret

8.A. decision    B. demand    C. mess    D. choice

9.A. pressure    B. method    C. function    D. reason

10.A. raised    B. removed    C. held    D. threw

11.A. confuse    B. attract    C. remind    D. disturb

12.A. down    B. on    C. up    D. off

13.A. systems    B. businesses    C. products    D. programs

14.A. comfortable    B. valuable    C. expensive    D. traditional

15.A. until    B. because    C. though    D. after

16.A. operate    B. reduce    C. struggle    D. respond

17.A. comparing    B. judging    C. examining    D. blaming

18.A. providing    B. achieving    C. imagining    D. treating

19.A. affected    B. observed    C. employed    D. corrected

20.A. check    B. adjust    C. select    D. predict

阅读下列短文，根据短文内容填空，在未给提示词的空白处仅填写1个适当的单词，在给出提示词的空白处用括号内所给词的正确形式填空。

Billions of poor people around the world 1. (depend) on the use of wood for cooking. And as they take more and more firewood from wild areas, they are destroying habitats around the world. Wood collection is one reason why many animals have become endangered. This is 2. Dr. Metcalf spends each summer in Africa. He wants to teach women and children in villages how to cook with the sun. He helped create Solar Cookers International. It’s an organization 3. introduces solar cookers to developing countries as well as teaching people how to use them.

阅读下列短文，根据短文内容填空，在未给提示词的空白处仅填写1个适当的单词，在给出提示词的空白处用括号内所给词的正确形式填空。

Tea is an important part of Chinese tradition. As Chinese society developed and progressed, tea production has played a role in driving economic development while drinking tea has remained a practice of daily life.

The practice of tea culture can bring the spirit and wisdom of human beings to a higher level. Tea has an 1. (extreme) close relationship to Chinese culture, and its study 2. (cover) a wide field and has very rich content. There is no doubt 3. it has been beneficial in improving social 4. (achieve) and people’s appreciation of art.

阅读下列短文，根据短文内容填空，在未给提示词的空白处仅填写1个适当的单词，在给出提示词的空白处用括号内所给词的正确形式填空。

Just 1. (locate) in east of the Forbidden City, the Dongsi hutongs are one of the 2.(old) residential neighborhoods in Beijing. Over the past years, these hutongs 3.(undergo) major restoration as the city and its residents both struggle to find a balance between traditional and modern values.

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。

Mother’s Gift

I grew up in a small town when the primary school was a ten-minute walk from my house. When the noon bell rang, I would race breathlessly home. My mother would be standing at the top of the stairs, smiling down at me.

One lunch-time when I was in the third grade will stay with me always. I had been picked to be the princess in the school play, and for weeks my mother had rehearsed my lines so hard with me. But no matter how easily I acted at home, as soon as I stepped onstage, every word disappeared from my head. Finally, my teacher took me aside. She explained that she had written a narrator’s (旁白的) part to the play, and asked me to change roles. Her words, kindly expressed, still hurt, especially when I saw my part go to another girl.

I didn’t tell my mother what had happened when I went home for lunch that day. But she sensed my pain. Instead of suggesting we practice my lines, she asked if I wanted to walk in the yard.

It was a lovely spring day and the rose vine (藤蔓) was turning green. Under the huge trees, we could see yellow dandelions (蒲公英) in the grass in bunch, as if a painter had touched our landscape with gold. I watched my mother casually bend down by one dandelion. “I think I’m going to dig up all these weeds,” she said, “pulling it up by its roots. From now on, we’ll have only roses in this garden.”

“But I like dandelions,” I protested. “All flowers are beautiful---even dandelions.”

My mother looked at me seriously. “Yes, every flower gives pleasure in its own way, doesn’t it?” She asked thoughtfully. I nodded, pleased that I had won her over. “And that is true of people too,” she added. “Not everyone can be a princess, but there is no shame in that.” Relieved that she had guessed my pain, I started to cry as I told her what had happened. She listened and smiled.

注意：

1. 所续写短文的词数应为150词左右；

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:

“But you will be a good narrator,” she said, _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Paragraph 2:

After the play, I took home the dandelion. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

为配合学校开展的课外体育活动，学生会向全校学生发出“锻炼身体，从我做起”的倡议。请你代表学生会，用英语写一封倡议书。内容包括：

1. 锻炼身体的好处；

2. 锻炼身体的方式；

3. 呼吁全体学生一起参加。

注意：1. 词数在80左右；

2. 开头已给出，不计入总词数。

Dear fellow students,

Our school has started a program of extra-curricular sports activities. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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。

When people 1. (face) with health or nutrition questions, it is 2. (increasing) common to go online and diagnose themselves. But the Internet is full of conflicting health warnings with no regulation to get rid of the wrong advice, some of 3. is extremely dangerous! Also, search engines rank results by 4. (popular) rather than accuracy, so solid facts can be tricky to find. It is worth 5. (check) if the writer of an online piece is properly qualified as an expert. Anyone can call 6. (they) a “diet expert”, “nutritionist” and even a “doctor” — given it could refer to qualifications like a PhD. But remember, only officially 7. (recognize) practicing doctors as well as dietitians have degrees 8. giving medical 9. (suggest). So if you are unsure and still wondering whether the chocolate diet really does work or not, then it pays to make  10. appointment with your dietician or doctor. The truth is out there, and you just need to look in the right place!

I learned my first lesson at a meeting. As we sat around the table I heard Meg, who was _______a recent operation, talking to Judith, the manager of our project. “Thank you so much for _______my daughters to their dance lessons last week.” Judith said, “It was nothing.”

Knowing how _______Judith’s schedule was, I found her driving Meg’s children to lessons unbelievably _______. I was about to say more about this when Donna, another colleague, entered the room _______. She apologized for being late, saying she just hosted a lunch for her friends who were over seventy. “That is so nice of you,” I said, _______how busy she was, how she didn’t like to cook and clean. “Oh,” she said, waving her hand, “It was nothing.” _______, I could still tell the _______in her voice. She did gain a sense of satisfaction from the entertainment offered to her friends.

Seeing their _______to help others selflessly, I started thinking about the concept of “nothing”, this peaceful and generous way of living—had it really been nothing or were they simply saying that? It ________to me that once I spent a whole afternoon after work helping a friend ________a speech. I ________her to rearrange the sequence of the stories in the lecture to make it sound more ________. After the fifth try, she finally ________it. She hugged me with ________, saying thanks to me. I smiled and said it was nothing.

Suddenly, I realized that helping someone was really something to me. I learned that giving from the heart doesn’t ________mean sacrifice and hard work. The ________is finding something we love to do and finding someone who ________that something. Our generosity can benefit others ________ourselves. Once you have a good ________ of it, it’s nothing. And it’s really something.

1.A. adapting to    B. recovering from    C. going through    D. rejoicing in

2.A. guiding    B. fetching    C. driving    D. dragging

3.A. tight    B. common    C. strange    D. practical

4.A. ridiculous    B. energetic    C. tiresome    D. generous

5.A. disappointedly    B. angrily    C. hurriedly    D. unexpectedly

6.A. ignoring    B. forgetting    C. knowing    D. predicting

7.A. Moreover    B. Therefore    C. Otherwise    D. Somehow

8.A. regret    B. sadness    C. surprise    D. pleasure

9.A. willingness    B. ambition    C. promise    D. progress

10.A. referred    B. occurred    C. appeared    D. seemed

11.A. put up    B. prepare for    C. give away    D. deal with

12.A. begged    B. invited    C. recommended    D. sponsored

13.A. sensible    B. confusing    C. sensitive    D. typical

14.A. got    B. meant    C. caught    D. made

15.A. gratitude    B. worry    C. concern    D. apology

16.A. normally    B. accidentally    C. possibly    D. necessarily

17.A. treat    B. trick    C. plot    D. plan

18.A. needs    B. admires    C. loves    D. defends

19.A. on account of    B. as well as    C. except for    D. regardless of

20.A. order    B. glimpse    C. command    D. impression

    E-waste is fast becoming a serious global problem. 1.

The source of e-waste

We live in a society that constantly produces and consumes electronic products. It is often cheaper to buy new pieces of equipment than to repair old ones. Also, through clever advertising, companies persuade consumers to replace their old TVs, mobile phones and computers for the latest models. E-waste is created when we throw away electronic equipment like this. In the EU alone, about 8.7 million tonnes of e-waste is produced each year. 2.

The problem with e-waste

Burying e-waste in landfills or burning it causes serious problems for the environment. 3. These substances can then leak into the ground in landfills or pollute the air when they are burnt.

Global recycling schemes (计划)

4. However, their schemes are not always managed properly and sometimes electronics are just sent to poor countries such as Ghana. Here they are often burnt in public areas, which is very bad for people’s health. Setting up recycling programs in the countries that create e-waste could solve this problem. E-cycling centres could recycle the parts that we can reuse and properly dispose of the rest.

Take-back policy

Another solution to e-waste is to make manufacturers responsible for their used products. This could mean forcing them to take back old products which are no longer wanted. 5.

Consuming less

We can all reduce the amount of waste we produce by buying electrical products only when we have to.

A. In recent years, many countries have started recycling e-waste.

B. They should then make sure they are properly recycled or reused.

C. Sadly, just over one million tonnes is recycled.

D. This report will examine this problem and provide some possible solutions.

E. By resisting the temptation to buy a product just to have the latest version, we cut down on e-waste.

F. Electronics contain dangerous chemicals and metals.

G. Both manufacturers and consumers must accept their responsibilities and make efforts to keep it to a minimum.

    What exactly is intelligence? There aren’t any easy answers. Despite the progress that has been made in genetics and psychology, human intelligence has remained one of the most controversial areas of modern science，until now, that is, for the discovery of a gene(基因) linked to intelligence has made the experts think again.

Robert Plomin of the Institute of Psychiatry in London and his colleagues in the US have been looking into genetic make-up. From their research, they have discovered that a slightly different gene is more common in those with a high IQ. Plomin analyzed DNA from two groups of 51 children aged between 6 and 15. What he found was that the first group had an IQ of 136, putting them in the top 5% of the population, while the other group had an average IQ of 103. An analysis of their genes showed that 32% of children in the higher group had the gene in question, while only 16% in the second group did. However, there is a lot more research to be done, and Plomin himself is cautious at this early stage. He suggests that there are probably many genes that contribute to intelligence, rather than just one.

Several studies have shown a strong link between IQ and career success, although some psychologists remain unconvinced about this. Professor Michael Rowe, who has written a book called Genius Explained, is one of these. “The people with the highest IQs are not usually the ones who do best in their careers.”

Many psychologists now believe that when it comes to intelligence, IQ isn’t everything. Many alternative views have been put forward recently. One example is the idea of multiple intelligences, which was developed in the 1980s by Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner. This offers a much broader view than the IQ theory, including creativity and communication skills as relevant factors(因素) in intelligence.

Tony Buzan, brain expert and author of Master your Memory, is enthusiastic about this belief, arguing that true geniuses(天才) do indeed appear to combine high levels of each type of intelligence. He lists Alexander the Great, Pablo Picasso and Albert Einstein as examples. At the same time, Buzan believes that everyone can develop their intelligence, only if they take the trouble to exercise their brain. Perhaps there’s hope for us all!

1.What is the topic of the passage?

A. The relationship between genes and intelligence.

B. IQ benefits a lot from high intelligence.

C. How to develop intelligence.

D. What makes intelligence.

2.Why does the author use data in Paragraph 2?

A. To make a suggestion. B. To draw a conclusion.

C. To prove an idea. D. To give an example.

3.What can we learn from the passage?

A. Robert Plomin confirms genes have something in common.

B. Howard Gardner thinks intelligence includes various factors.

C. Michael Rowe approves of a strong link between IQ and career.

D. Tony Buzan agrees geniuses exercise brain to improve intelligence.

4.What does the underlined word “This” in Paragraph 4 refer to?

A. The development of intelligence.

B. The idea of multiple intelligences.

C. IQ isn’t everything for intelligence.

D. Alternative views have been put forward.

    Petrol and diesel cars may still dominate our roads, but their days are numbered. A recent university study found that current electric cars could be used for 87 per cent of daily car journeys in the US. That figure could rise to 98 per cent by 2020.

One hurdle to the widespread adoption of electric cars has been ‘range anxiety’--- drivers' concerns about running out of juice on a journey. While petrol stations are conveniently located across national road systems, the necessary network of electric charging stations is still being developed. That said, charging points are becoming increasingly common throughout the USA.

Attitudes towards electric vehicles have changed quite considerably over the last few years. Not that long ago, electric cars were met with distrust, and their large price tags drove customers away. Thanks to improvements in battery capacity, recharging times, performance and price, the current generation of electric cars are starting to persuade critics. Plug-in cars will soon give internal combustion engine models a run for their money.

As well as advancements on the road, electric vehicles are taking to the seas and skies. Electric boats are among the oldest methods of electric travel, having enjoyed several decades of popularity from the late 19th to the early 20th century before petrol-powered outboard motors took over. Now, the global drive for renewable energy sources is bringing electric boats back. Steps towards electric air travel are also being made, with Airbus and NASA among the organizations developing and testing battery powered planes. The experiments could soon make commercial electric flight a reality.

Electric vehicles do not produce any emissions. Were the US to act on the study's findings and replace 87 per cent of its cars with electric vehicles, it would reduce the national demand for petrol by 61 per cent. However, because of the production processes and the generation of electricity required to charge these vehicles, they cannot claim to be completely emission-free. That said, as many countries continue to increase their use of renewable energy sources, electric vehicles will become even cleaner.

1.Which is the best title for this passage?

A. My Dream Car

B. History of Electric Cars

C. Problems with Petrol Cars

D. Driving into the Future

2.As used in Paragraph 2, the underlined word “hurdle” means ________．

A. aim B. barrier

C. consequence D. step

3.What is the function of Paragraph 4?

A. To introduce the history of electric travel.

B. To explain why the world needs more electric cars.

C. To show why more people have interest in electric cars.

D. To describe different ways electric vehicles can be used.

    Mr.Selfridge, the Wisconsin-born retailer (零售商) who left school at 14, rose to become a partner in Marshall Field’s, Chicago. Founded in 1852, it was one of the first and most ambitious US department stores. Mr.Selfridge had done well with Marshall Field’s. He liked to say, “The customer is always right,” which made the Chicago store popular. And he is believed to have invented the phrase “Only (so many) Shopping Days until Christmas”.

When he visited London on holiday in 1906 he was surprised to find most of the city’s department stores were no match of their American and Parisian competitors. This led Selfridge to leave the US and establish Selfridges, a department store named after him, at the west end of London’s Oxford Street. In Oxford Street, Selfridge’s design team shaped an ambitious classical palace building with a wall of plate glass windows.

Opened in 1909, Selfridges offered customers a hundred departments along with restaurants, a roof garden,reading and writing rooms, reception areas for foreign visitors, a first aid room and most importantly, a small army of knowledgeable floor-walking assistants who served as guides as well as being thoroughly instructed in the art of making a sale.

Mr.Selfridge did much to make the department store a destination rather than just a big and comprehensively stocked city shop. It became a place to meet and for ladies to lunch. Mr.Selfridge later introduced the department store as a key element of the 20th Century culture, and Chaplin acknowledged the growing trend for shopping in the department store in his film The Floorwalker.

1.What can be learned about Mr.Selfridge from Paragraph 1?

A.He was well-educated. B.He was a modest man.

C.He was a gifted businessman. D.He was dishonest.

2.What was Selfridges’ most impressive characteristic?

A.The broad choice of goods. B.The large number of departments.

C.The small group of guards. D.The well-trained sales guides.

3.What is the main purpose of the article?

A.To encourage shoppers to spend more. B.To introduce the history of Selfridges.

C.To compare different department stores. D.To explain how to start a department store.

期中考试临 近，同学们感到学习任务重、压力大。一些同学争分夺秒甚至连课间十分钟的休息时问也用来学习。针对这一现象，请你以A Ten-minute Break为题，写一篇短文，呼吁同学们不要过于紧张，要充分利用好课间十分钟的休息时间，做到劳逸结合。要点如下：

1.十分钟的课间休息很有必要；

2.你是怎样利用这十分钟的；

3.……

注意：1.词数100左右；

2.可根据内容要点适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

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短文改错

My neighbor is a old woman who is 70 years old. We both had gardens, but sometimes her garden is covered grass. I think she is too weak to taking care of hers. This Saturday, when I was cutting the grass in her garden, I noticed that she is trying her best to cut her grass. It would take her a few hour to cut it unless didn’t help her. So I decided to help her. She was very gratefully to me. And she gave some cookies which were tasted delicious to me in return. I was very happy to help her and slept very well that day.

语法填空

It’s safe to drink coffee in right amount, and three to four cups a day may have many health 1. (benefit), according to a large review of previous studies in The BMJ. However, too much coffee during pregnancy could be 2. (harm), the review confirmed. Experts said people should not start drinking coffee for health reasons or 3. (prevent) disease. Researchers at the University of Southampton collected data on the impact of coffee on all aspects of the human body, taking into account more than 200 studies — most of which 4. (be) observational.

5. (compare) with non-coffee drinkers, those 6. drank about three cups of coffee a day appeared to reduce their risk of getting heart problems or dying from them. The strongest advantages (好处) of drinking coffee were seen in reduced risks of liver disease, 7. (include) cancer. But Prof Paul Roderick, co-author of the study, said the review could not say if drinking coffee had made the 8. (different). “Factors such as age, 9. people smoked or not and how much exercise they took could all have had 10. effect,” he said.

    Many people put off going to a doctor because of being scared. The _______ of doctors is not unusual at all. People do not go to the doctor often for many _______. Some people just do not like the idea of going to a doctor _______ for a checkup (体格检查). Other people do not want to hear what a doctor says about their _______ or worry that their condition is _______ than what it really is.

Having a fear of doctors has _______ to many people. If you are one of them, you must think about the results of what will happen. When you _______ decide to see a doctor, your health condition may get worse _______ time. This could _______ you thousands of dollars in the medical service. By then, your ________ of recovering is pretty small. So it is ________ for you to see a doctor as early as possible.

You’d better take someone along with you. This can ________ you to go to a doctor. The fear of doctors happens to the ________ of us when we do not know what health problems we have.________ you have found out your medical condition, you will not have any more ________.

If you go to a doctor in the beginning, the doctor will tell you what is wrong and your condition can be _________ in time with the right medical care. Therefore, most conditions, if ________ in time, can be turned around in just a few days. If you wait too long, then sometimes surgery (外科手术) needs to be done. However, you can ________ it by seeing a doctor when your health problems first ________ In a word, if you ________ your fear of doctors, you’ll live a longer and healthier life.

1.A.fear B.attitude C.love D.desire

2.A.ideas B.reasons C.excuses D.ways

3.A.seldom B.still C.ever D.even

4.A.relationship B.instruction C.condition D.operation

5.A.sadder B.worse C.better D.harder

6.A.come B.turned C.appeared D.happened

7.A.rarely B.simply C.finally D.actually

8.A.for B.with C.in D.at

9.A.cost B.afford C.offer D.waste

10.A.challenge B.chance C.decision D.expectation

11.A.necessary B.convenient C.proper D.normal

12.A.lead B.force C.require D.encourage

13.A.most B.rest C.few D.best

14.A.Although B.Once C.While D.Since

15.A.questions B.suggestions C.worries D.pains

16.A.recognized B.learned C.avoided D.cured

17.A.found B.ignored C.described D.created

18.A.solve B.help C.prevent D.hide

19.A.came about B.came after C.broke out D.broke in

20.A.get over B.get along C.turn over D.turn around

How to be successful in school

Success in school is based on your grades as well as the friends you make. Be attentive in class and raise your hand to answer questions. Most students in school are successful, but some aren’t. 1.

Remember you are in school to learn. Study more about the stuff you are learning. 2. To start with, ask your mom or your dad to give you some questions about what you’re learning. If any is wrong, try to redo it. If you get high grades you will be able to get a scholarship (奖学金) to any college of your choice. Even if you are not planning to go to college, a good high school report card will get you a better job.

Smile and be friendly to others. A true smile brings out your kind quality! Give them honest praise when you talk to them. 3. Do not talk about others, do not gossip (说长道短), but help others if they need you.

Be polite at all times. 4. How you act in high school is also showed on your high school records. These records remain with you forever and could be the difference between becoming highly successful and unsuccessful.

Be sociable. Study is important, but don’t forget your friends because of it. 5. If you are always busy whenever your friends want to chat with you, it will be a huge warning sign.

A. If you don’t, you won’t do well in it.

B. Popularity is not as important as your future.

C. Spare some time for them to go out or go to a movie.

D. Show them you are interested in making friends with them.

E. Read this article to help yourself become successful.

F. How you behave towards others shows your personal quality.

G. Understand that not every person you meet wants to become your friend.

    Four friends live in a small town and play basketball together. Lane is new to the town. He, s really good at basketball. “If anyone in this small town beats me on the court (球场), I’ll eat my hat.” He really thought no one could beat him at basketball.

One night after shooting hoops, the four friends were in a restaurant. As Lane talked about how great he had played, the owner of the restaurant came over with their food.

The old man smiled. “I used to shoot a lot,” he remembered fondly. “It’s quite a game.” The friends agreed with him. They had a great conversation with the old man about how basketball had changed over the years.

Lane, however, was upset. “It’s nice that you played once. But basketball is a game for young people like me,” he said.

“That’s the truth,” the old man laughed. “My tired old legs could never go up and down the court.”

“Yeah, restaurant work is more suited to an old person.” Lane said.

Lane said “an old person” as if it were a bad phrase. Lane’s friends were embarrassed at his behavior. The old man just smiled.

“Well, there is one thing that I can still do quite well. I can shoot a mean free throw.” He added, “In fact, I might even beat you, young man.”

Lane laughed at this. His friends, who knew the old man better than Lane, said nothing. Lane invited the old man to a friendly free-throw competition the next day.

“If you beat me at free throws, I’ll...” Lane paused, not knowing what to bet.

The owner thought of it for him. “If you lose, you must wait tables in my restaurant for a week.”

Lane agreed and they shook on it. They arranged to meet at the basketball court the next day at noon. The town is that small. At the appointed time,  spectators (观众) filled the seats around the basketball court.

Lane went first. He made 24 excellent free-throw shots. But he missed his 25th throw.

The old man walked slowly over to the free-throw line. He sank shot after shot, all of them perfect.

The old man was still shooting to the roar of the crowd when Lane left the court with his tail between his legs.

At first Lane was too embarrassed to go into the restaurant. But finally, he swallowed his pride and apologized to the old man. The old man graciously (和蔼地) gave Lane an apron, then watched as the young man waited on his first customer.

1.What do we know about Lane?

A.He was honest with old people.

B.He felt too proud of his basketball skills.

C.He looked down upon his friends.

D.He was the best basketball player in his town.

2.How did Lane’s friends feel about his behavior towards the old man?

A.Satisfying. B.Frightening.

C.Brave. D.Embarrassing.

3.What did Lane do after seeing the restaurant owner’s good performance?

A.He went away halfway.

B.He congratulated him.

C.He showed anger to it.

D.He admired his success.

4.How did the story end up?

A.Lane refused to wait tables there.

B.Lane no longer played basketball.

C.Lane lost face and accepted the result of the bet.

D.Lane tried harder to play basketball.

    The British have long been known for their love of tea, but people in London also drink a lot of coffee. In fact, the average Londoner reportedly drinks 2.3 cups of coffee every day.

And now, waste coffee grounds (咖啡渣) will be used to help fuel part of the city’s transportation system.

A technology company announced on Monday that some buses will be using a biofuel (生物燃料) that contains coffee oil.

The company, bio-bean, and its partner, Argent Energy, say they have made enough coffee oil to power one of London’s famous double-decker buses for a year.

The announcement made bio-bean a trending story on social media.

The government agency Transport for London has been turning to biofuels to cut production of carbon emissions. Carbon emissions are the gas produced by the burning of carbon, and the gas is released into the atmosphere.

London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, said last month that his city has a “health crisis ... caused directly by poor-quality air”. The government has taken steps to discourage people from driving cars that do not meet European Union emissions requirements.

bio-bean said Londoners produce over 200, 000 tons of waste coffee grounds a year. The company said it collects waste grounds from chain coffee shops and factories. The grounds are dried and processed to remove coffee oil.

“It’s a great example of what can be done when we start to reimagine waste as an untapped resource,” said one of bio-bean founders Arthur Kay. The coffee fuel technology has been receiving support from the oil company Royal Dutch Shell plc.

1.The main reason why some buses use biofuels is ______.

A.to show the Londoners prefer coffee to tea

B.to improve the speed of the bus in London

C.to lower carbon emissions

D.to encourage people to go to work by bus

2.Where do the waste coffee grounds come from?

A.The city’s transportation system.

B.The European Union.

C.Royal Dutch Shell pic.

D.Chain coffee shops and factories.

3.What does the underlined word “untapped” mean in the last paragraph?

A.undeveloped B.unforgotten

C.explored D.abandoned

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

A.Coffee Grounds to Help Power London’s Buses

B.The Use of Coffee

C.Coffee Culture in London

D.A New Way of Using a Biofuel

    You may have a drink at a coffee shop near your campus. But have you ever imagined running a school coffee shop all by yourself?

Eli Gutierrez and Isabella Bacciarini are both 17-year-old students in the USA. Along with some other students, they’re seeing what it’s like to work in the coffee business.

The school principal Jack Carr once suggested that being able to serve drinks at a comfortable area would “be great”. So, Gutierrez and his friends came up with the idea of Cafe Vine.

In order to manage the coffee business well,  Gutierrez took a one-month online course. After he had learned from professionals, Cafe Vine attracted many customers.

Given the success of the business, Gutierrez realized he needed help at the cafe. So he started teaching skills to other students, who could make up their community service hours by serving coffee.

“I actually run a business,” said Bacciarini, a  junior at String Theory High School and manager at Cafe Vine. “Being a girl, We always been told it’s usually a guy who opens a business.”

After becoming the manager and roaster (烘培师) at the cafe, Gutierrez started to use his new skills after school at other coffee shops. And a surprise visit in the spring to Cafe Vine by David Wagaman, president and owner of Capriccio Management, led to another opportunity.

“I said to him, ‘It would be a good idea for you to buy our coffee beans,’” Gulierrez said. Bags of coffee beans from Cafe Vine are now available (可获得的) to buy at all three Capriccio cafes.

While lie’s helping the business in its early stages, Wagaman said he is also benefiting from the school’s coffee start-up.

“It’s helped us find qualified employees,” he said. “It’s not just a job. They feel worthy.”

1.Why does the author use a question at the beginning of this passage?

A.To show having a knowledge of coffee is difficult.

B.To prove running a cafe is impossible.

C.To ask the readers to answer this question.

D.To draw the readers’ interest in reading this passage.

2.How did Eli Gutierrez and Isabella Bacciarini think of the idea of running a cafe?

A.By learning online courses.

B.By learning from others.

C.By listening to a suggestion from the principal.

D.By teaching skills to other students.

3.What’s Bacciarini’s attitude towards Cafe Vine?

A.Doubtful. B.Proud.

C.Worried. D.Critical.

4.What benefit did Wagaman get through cooperation?

A.Running coffee shops near school.

B.Learning management.

C.Selling a lot of coffee beans.

D.Selecting more high quality employees.

The Terracotta Army is one of the must-visit attractions for all travellers to China. The attraction is located in Xi’an, in west China’s Shaanxi Province.

What’s special?

The Terracotta Army is the buried army of Qin Shi Huang, an ancient Chinese emperor. These ancient sculptures were built and buried over two thousand years ago near the city of Xi’an. They were discovered in 1974 by farmers digging a well looking for underground water. Over eight thousand terracotta warriors and horses have been uncovered since then. Each warrior is made of clay (黏土). They are around two meters tall. The sculptures are so detailed that it is possible to guess the age, rank and personality of each one. None of the soldiers are the same.

The best time to visit

The Terracotta Army is an indoor attraction， which is not likely to be affected by weather, so it can be visited all year round.

As the museum is one of the must-visit attractions in China, it is crowded most of the time. We advise our customers to avoid the following periods when the museum is particularly crowded:

• National Day Holiday (October 1 -7), when it is fully packed.

• Labour Day Holiday

Weather in winter is dry, cold and the least comfortable, and it’s also the worst season for air quality, but it’s also low season.

Travel style: private, group or independent?

A private tour means a lot of flexibility (灵活性), and you will be well taken care of by a private guide and a driver. The museum is crowded most of the time, but our guides know how to escape the crowds, and help you to enjoy more in the museum. See our 3-Day Terracotta Warriors Private Tour.

Going with a group you won’t get lost, but it lacks flexibility and personal service.

Travelling on your own, you may meet a lot of trouble, such as wasting time on finding a taxi or public bus to the attraction, lining up for tickets, reading maps, making sense of Chinese signs, etc.

1.What can we know about the Terracotta Army?

A. The warriors are made of clay.

B. The warriors are of the same age.

C. It is closed on rainy days.

D. It is usually displayed outdoors.

2.Which is the best time to avoid crowds?

A. Summer holidays.

B. National Day Holiday.

C. Labour Day Holiday.

D. Clear winter days.

3.If you want to travel with least trouble, which should you choose?

A. A private tour.

B. A tour group.

C. Travelling on your own.

D. A family tour.

语法填空

(课文缩写)Zhou Kai’s mother feeds 1. (he) well, and she has always made sure they eat very healthily. For example, fresh fruit and vegetables are 2. very important part of their diet. They live near the sea and they have fish about four times a week. They don’t eat much fat 3. sugar. Zhou Kai is quite fit and 4. (rare) gets colds. He has healthy 5. (tooth) because he would eat a nice piece of fruit rather than eat sweets like some of his friends. However, Zhou Kai 6. ( have) a bad cold last week because he played football in the rain. So his mother asks him 7. ( get) his jacket whenever he goes to play football. Zhou Kai is crazy 8. football. He is captain of the class team and also a member of the Senior High team. He takes a lot of exercise. But two years ago, Zhou Kai had a 9. ( pain) experience, because he broke his arm 10. ( play) football.

    This is new to me and I don’t know what I will say really so I’m just giving it a try. I was always a runner and in pretty good shape for most of my life. Then I hit a bad patch and each day just couldn’t get myself out there to run. I put on weight, which just made me feel worse about myself.

I finally got the running back again after a few years but it was much harder than it used to be and I struggled to get through even the shortest, slowest jog.

I was out in a run the other day and I had almost convinced (说服) myself to give up when I heard someone say, “You can do it! It’s hard, but you can do it!” There was a lady walking the other way and had the biggest smile on her face.

Those words of encouragement at a time when I was ready to give up were like a perfect intervention (干预). I finished my run and now every time I feel like quitting I will hear her words in my head and they give me motivation (动力) and encouragement.

I’ve never seen her again so I’ve never been able to thank her and let her know the effect something as simple as a few words of encouragement from a stranger had and still has on me. It always encourages me in my life and has great influence on my life. I will never forget it and place it in my heart. I will tell it to others and make others believe encouragement is very important to us.

1.What was the author like before putting on weight?

A.He was very tall. B.He was in good shape.

C.He was very thin. D.He was in poor health.

2.What does the underlined sentence mean in the first paragraph?

A.The author had trouble in life. B.The author’s clothes were worn out.

C.The author was very lucky. D.The author was in good spirits.

3.What made the author not give up running?

A.His own hard work. B.A strange lady’s encouraging words.

C.His friends’ encouragement. D.His parents’ encouragement.

4.What’s the main idea of the passage?

A.An exciting experience. B.A story about losing weight.

C.Kind words from a stranger. D.The importance of determination.

    I live in Watts in South Central L. A. and I’m a fat girl. There are many fast food stores near my home and my mom _______ buys hamburgers for dinner. I’ve tried to talk her so many times into buying something _______. But she just doesn’t have time to do it. So I have to make better _______ for myself.

To _______ more, I talked to Andres Chopin, a student at Jefferson High School which is part of an after-school program where students learn to _______ and where they’re taught how to eat healthily. Andres said it’s _______ to eat wholefoods (纯天然食品), like vegetables, fruit and whole grains. Processed foods don’t _______ you as many nutrients. He told me to prepare food for myself, _______ I had never cooked before. I thought, “I may not be a good cook, but I can stop myself from eating things that are _______ for me.”

I learned from Andres to look more ____________ to food labels for ingredients (成分) that I know are bad for me. Now I ____________ more about which foods I can eat more and which I should eat less. I’ve been eating more fruit and I’m doing better about not going into the ____________ to see what there is to eat after I’ve already eaten.

____________ a habit that you’ve had since you were young is not easy. I want to lose ____________ in a healthy way, something I can control for the rest of my life. With time and self-control I know I can ____________ it. I can take two ways looking in the ____________ at myself — feeling bad about myself or encouraging myself to ____________. I choose to encourage myself.

After a month I ____________ 10 pounds. I’m not going to ____________ trying to eat better. The changes I’ve made ____________ me to keep on going. I can still do better.

1.A.rarely B.never C.sometimes D.often

2.A.special B.fresh C.healthy D.delicious

3.A.results B.decisions C.methods D.promises

4.A.practice B.receive C.try D.learn

5.A.train B.serve C.cook D.buy

6.A.better B.funnier C.harder D.simpler

7.A.provide B.cost C.produce D.give

8.A.since B.but C.as D.so

9.A.useless B.normal C.fit D.bad

10.A.impatiently B.completely C.closely D.actively

11.A.know B.appreciate C.forget D.admit

12.A.restaurant B.bedroom C.kitchen D.store

13.A.Designing B.Forming C.Judging D.Breaking

14.A.temper B.fat C.weight D.pressure

15.A.feel B.make C.get D.take

16.A.mirror B.window C.book D.plate

17.A.diet B.prepare C.change D.move

18.A.gained B.killed C.challenged D.lost

19.A.continue B.stop C.consider D.keep

20.A.encourage B.attract C.require D.allow

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

1.进办公室之前轻轻敲门是有礼貌的。( manner)

2.不久之后，上海市民能乘坐地铁18号线去参观复旦大学了。( before)

3.举办一届成功的英语节需要老师们的组织和学生们的积极参与。( involve)

4.每年十一月的第四个礼拜四是感恩节，这天纽约市有游行活动。(fall定语从句)

5.这名建筑师拒绝了颁奖典礼的邀约，他说自己只是一个普通的设计师，不是什么“网红”( not...but)