Directions: Read the following passage. Fill in each blank with a proper sentence given in the box. Each sentence can be used only once. Note that there are two more sentences than you need.

Jeff Bezos Reveals His No. 1 Leadership Secret

Amazon has reached what its founder and CEO Jeff Bezos called "an interesting milestone.” The retailing giant so highly associated with books and then music and video, now has tens of millions of products in stock and a majority are non-media goods, from drills to tennis balls to almost anything else that can be shipped.

1. The 48-year-old has officially transformed Amazon, which he founded in 1994, from an online bookstore that sells other stuff to a retailer---and business services provider---that once sold mostly books. Amazon's stock is up 397 percent in the last five years.

So, what's behind the success of the world’s largest online retailer? 2. Bezos regularly leaves one seat open at meetings and informs all attendees that they should consider that seat occupied by their customer---the most important person in the room.

Always trying to find out what customers want, Bezos is even stricter about that customers don’t want. They hate delays, defects and out-of-stock products, so the company constantly looks to make them as rare as possible. 3. Amazon data show that a 0.1 second delay in page loading can translate into a one percent drop in customer activity.

But great customer service doesn’t fully explain Amazon's extraordinary success. For Bezos,a

data driven customer focus encourages him to take risks to innovate. Amazon's kindle, for example, came into being because Bezos believed millions would want an e-book reader that could download any book within 60 seconds. 4. Engineers were free to solve technical challenges as they saw fit, only needing to make it right for consumers.

Efficiency ---- cheapness, in the eyes of Amazon’s critics---is also an important part of the Amazon culture. In fact, Bezos liks the two. In 2009, Bezos declared that Amazon had begun fighting against waste. The more he could get rid of needless costs, the easier it would be to deliver rock-bottom prices to customers.

A. That turning point might be Bezos' greatest accomplishment

B. Amazon executives would tell you: the empty chair, the internal nickname of the figure that rule their lives.

C. Bezos could have done it earlier but he took over twenty years to compete that target

D. Even the tiniest delay in loading a web-page isn’t insignificant

E. Customers do enjoy quick delivery, quality products and great after-sales service.

F. He set that target without getting pinned down by technical issues.

    Aspirin has long been believed to help prevent heart attacks and strokes(中风).Some studies have shown that it also has a protective effect against certain types of cancer. As a result, some people religiously pop a low-dose(低剂量的) aspirin after breakfast every day (never take one on an empty stomach). But now its status as a wonder drug has come into question, following a meta-analysis of trial evidence.

A meta-analysis reviews the results of a large number of trials and can therefore come to more certain conclusions. This latest review was published this May in The Journal of the American Medical Association.It focused on the connection between aspirin use and cardiovascular(心血管的) and bleeding events. It found that the well-known risk that aspirin can cause internal bleeding is as great as the benefits of preventing heart attacks and strokes. In some cases, the risk even outweighs the benefits.

Aspirin thins the blood, thus helping to prevent blood clots (血栓). For his reason, it is a good drug for protecting people who have already had a heart attack or stroke from having another. However, the 164,225 people in these trials had no history of cardiovascular disease. They were monitored for an average of six years, during which time they took a daily aspirin or placebo(安慰剂).Among those who took aspirin, there were about 11% fewer heart attacks and strokes but 43% higher likelihood of a major bleeding episode in the stomach, brain or intestine(肠道).

Dr Sean Zheng, a cardiology(心脏病学) researcher at King’s College London, said that taking a daily aspirin couldn’t be recommended for healthy people. But there might still be a case for people with a higher risk of a heart attack or stroke, he added. However, it would be important to consider the bleeding risk.

“Aspirin use requires discussion between the patient and their physician, with the knowledge that any small potential cardiovascular benefits are weighed up against the real risk of severe bleeding." he said.

The findings reflect the average likelihood of bleeds or heart attacks among the patients in all the trials. There will be people among them who would be better off taking aspirin and those who will be worse. It's yet another situation where we need to weigh up our individual risk and benefit--- maybe with the help of an understanding GP.

1.Which of the following is NOT a reason why some people take an aspirin every day?

A.They want to lower their risk of having a heart attack

B.They hope to protect themselves against some cancers

C.They want to ensure they don't have a sick stomach

D.They aim to make sure they won't suffer another stroke

2.What can be concluded from the recent meta-analysis?

A.That aspirin does more harm than good to the human body

B.That aspirin frequently causes internal bleeding because it thins the blood

C.That previous research into the effects of aspirin on the human body was unreliable.

D.That taking aspirin is not worth the risk or those with no history of heart tacks or strokes.

3.What should people do before taking aspirin, according to the article?

A.To have a thorough physical examination

B.To ask for others' opinions on the internet.

C.To read the findings of new studies on aspirin

D.To talk with a doctor familiar with their condition

4.The article was probably written by ________

A.the director of a hospital

B.a public health journalist

C.the CEO of a medical company

D.a representative for an insurance company

1.The intended readers of this passage are __________ .

A.Book dealers B.University students

C.Publishers D.Campus staff

2.The underlined word “defective” can best be replaced by __________ .

A.faulty B.adapted C.new D.latest

3.Bookie’s will not buy back your used textbook if __________ .

A.you have lost the sales receipt

B.there are markings and notes on the pages

C.the cover of the book is missing

D.you miss the last day for return

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

A.Bookie’s is a place for students to buy their course textbooks .

B.Student cards are needed to get a discount for the textbooks .

C.Books bought in bookie’s can be returned within ten working days .

D.Books bought back are processed by the staff and sold to students .

    Even now she calls my attention every day to mispronounced words. All teachers of the deaf know what this means, and only they can at all appreciate the peculiar difficulties with which I had to contend.

I had to use the sense of touch in catching the vibrations (振动)of the throat, the movements of the mouth and the expression of the face; and often this sense was at fault. In such cases I was forced to repeat the words or sentences, sometimes for hours, until I felt the proper "ring" in my own voice. My work was practice, practice, practice. Discouragement and weariness cast me down frequently. But the next moment the thought that I should soon be at home and show my loved ones what I had accomplished renewed my courage and spurred(激励)me on, and I eagerly looked forward to their pleasure in my achievement.

“ My little sister will understand me now, " was a thought stronger than all obstacles. I was filled with joy while I anticipated the delight of talking to my dear mother and reading her responses from her lips. It astonished me to find how much easier it is to talk than to spell with the fingers, and I discarded the manual alphabet as a medium of communication on my part. But my teacher and a few friends still use it in speaking to me, for it is more convenient than lip reading.

Perhaps I had better explain our use of the manual alphabet, which seems to puzzle people who do not know us. One who reads or talks to me spells with his hand, using the single-hand manual alphabet usually employed by the deaf. The position of the hand is as easy to feel as it is to see. I do not feel each letter any more than you see each letter separately when you read. Constant practice makes the fingers very flexible, and some of my friends spell rapidly --about as fast as an expert writes on a typewriter. The mere spelling is, of course, no more a conscious act than it is in writing.

When I had made speech my own, I could not wait to go home. At last, the happiest of happy moments arrived.

1.According to the article, what kind of communication method did the author prefer?

A.Typing B.Lip reading

C.Finger spell D.Talk

2.To pronounce words correctly, the author had to do the following EXCEPT ________

A.Overcome a sense of failure and tiredness for hours

B.repeatedly practice words with patience

C.draw the attention of her highly demanding teacher

D.use the sense of touch in catching people's expression

3.Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A.Finger spelling is actually an unconscious act

B.The blind feel each letter separately when reading

C.It is easy for the deaf to use the manual alphabet

D.It is dull to repeat the same words for hours

4.It can be inferred from the article that the author is ________

A.conservative B.negative

C.positive D.humorous

    April Fool’s Day and Easter Sunday rarely coincide. Since 1900, Easter has fallen on April Fools’ Day for only five times--1923,1934, 1945, 1956 and 2018. Obviously, it's a once-in-a-lifetime chance to play Easter-themed pranks on your children. Here are some suggestions.

A treasure hunt with a twist

A fantastic Easter Sunday tradition is to do a treasure hunt where the Easter Bunny has left eggs around your house. Each egg has a small written clue or riddle (谜语)directing the children to where they can find the next one. But when April Fools' Day and Easter Sunday coincide, why not leave some carrots in their place, instead of hiding chocolate eggs ?On the third or fourth clue, you can make it appear as if the Faster Bunny has left a note apologizing for eating all the chocolate but saying they hope you enjoy this left-behind lunch.

An Easter basket with a difference

Prepare an Easter basket for the children, and either wrap it up or cover it up so that the contents can’t be seen. Have a card from the Easter Bunny next to it which they can open first, with a message that the Easter Bunny wants them to have an extra special Easter and so has prepared a special gift for them. But rather than chocolate or sweets, what you've put in the basket is incredibly dull stuff that kids will be completely unimpressed by---new toothpaste, some socks or a packet of batteries.

A sticky situation

“You' ll need to prepare this in advance. Buy some of the plastic eggs that contain toys. Unwrap them, open them and then carefully glue them shut and re-wrap them. You don't have to be too tidy---your children are going to be thinking about getting to the toy and are not going to be suspicious. Sit back and enjoy them trying and failing to open the eggs.

The invisible Easter egg hunt

This is an excellent plan if you have a garden. Tell the children there is an Faster egg hunt in the garden and lead them there.Close the back door. Let your children spend ages searching fruitlessly for Easter eggs that you haven't actually hidden. After you have enjoyed a rare ten minutes of peace and quiet indoors, while they get increasingly confused and frustrated, go into the garden claiming to have found a note from the Easter Bunny. The note reads "April Fool."

1.The target readers of this passage are ________

A.Schoolchildren B.head teachers in schools

C.children who have younger siblings D.parents of young children

2.Which of the pranks is most likely to require a large outdoor space?

A.A treasure hunt with a twist B.An Easter basket with a difference

C.A sticky situation D.The invisible Easter egg hunt

3.Which of the following statements can be inferred from the passage?

A.A treasure hunt for carrots is an Easter tradition

B.April Fools Day and Easter Sunday coincide every 11 years

C.Children are usually disappointed at gifts like socks and batteries

D.All of the four recommended pranks require extensive preparations

    There is more to saying "sorry”, __________ a study led by researchers at Ohio State University found that effective apologies---ones that were accepted by the __________ and allowed both parties to move on with no hostility (敌意)---have six elements. They are expressing regret, explaining what went wrong, acknowledging responsibility, declaring repentance (悔悟) , offering to __________ the situation, and requesting forgiveness. The more of those components, the more likely the apology is seen as __________. Of course, not all errors are created equal. Therefore, you might need to adjust your apology __________ the circumstances. Here are a few tips:

Sincerity trumps(胜过) timing

A little cool-off time could help. Sometimes an immediate apology is _________ .But if the other party is angry at your wrongdoing. If may be more effective to wait because their anger may prevent them from being __________ to an apology. __________ , waiting can benefit you, too, The best time to apologize is when one feels ready to sincerely apologize..

Explain: don't excuse

Admitting being wrong is __________ and can make people worried that they’re bad people. They often water down their apology with excuses which __________ the responsibility part of the apology to save face.

Excuses may include examples like"I’m very sorry, but in my defense, you started it. " This is a non-apology. It uses the form of an apology but follows it up by __________ responsibility to the offended person, implying he or she is too sensitive.

Let your body do the talking

Experts agree that __________ apologies beat phoned-in, e-mailed and handwritten ones. Facial expressions, posture and the tone of voice are all important __________ that convey sincerity when you express repentance. Anyone can type" feel ashamed, " but if you say it  __________ , it's obvious whether or not you mean it.

A phone call is second best. You’ll convey emotions with your voice and get instant feedback. E-mailed apologies aren’t ideal. They lack emotional signals. A victim can exploit written apologies and do harm to the apologizer. Being a victim does not __________ transform one into a good person.

1.A.For instance B.In other word C.In fact D.Of course

2.A.offended B.defended C.needed D.accused

3.A.explain B.reset C.solve D.fix

4.A.reliable B.credible C.valuable D.insincere

5.A.judging by B.speaking of C.considering D.depending on

6.A.called for B.taken up C.looked into D.sought for

7.A.reluctant B.willing C.additive D.receptive

8.A.Hence B.Moreover C.However D.Thereby

9.A.tolerable B.worthless C.painful D.delightful

10.A.build up B.play down C.add to D.back up

11.A.shifting B.offering C.giving D.conveying

12.A.sincere B.instant C.false D.face-face

13.A.features B.weapons C.channels D.expressions

14.A.vividly B.slowly C.live D.clearly

15.A.consequently B.significantly C.necessarily D.dramatically

Direction: After reading  the passage below. Fill in the blanks to make the passage coherent and grammatically correct

Increasingly, various phrases have been taking over a good old-fashioned "thank you" or "you’re welcome" in daily conversations in the United States. While 1. (dine)at a restaurant, when a waiter comes by to ask Americans 2. .they would like more water or bread, do you notice that they often say " I'm good,” rather than "no, thank you?” When someone thanks them for holding the door open, "no problem "is almost the same response as "you're welcome”.

Are Americans becoming ruder, 3. (abandon) traditional polite phrases, or are the words they use now just updated versions of the same emotion?

According to Lisa Gache, co-founder of Beverly Hills Manners, the decline of these magic words in our everyday conversation has to do with the preference 4. all things casual in our society today. Casual conversation, casual dress and casual behavior are present in all areas of life.

And apparently Americans agree with her. A survey 5. (conduct)by Rasmussen Reports revealed that 76 percent of those surveyed thought that Americans were becoming "ruder and 6. (civil).”

But is using phrases like "no problem"or “you bet"or " enjoy” really rude? Does more casual

phrasing erase the original emotion of gratitude? Doesn’t "no, thank you" sometimes sound a little too formal, perhaps even a little too harsh(刺耳的), 7. it begins with a “no”?

Emily Post Senning, 8. great-grandmother set the standard on manners with the book Etiquette, thought that while the principles of respect and consideration are "universal and timeless, " actual manners change over time and between cultures, 9. do the words used to express gratitude and appreciation.

It's probably not a bad idea 10. (remember)to say "please" and "thank you,” but don’t beat yourself up thinking you're a horrible person if you say "have a good one" instead of "have a nice day.”

Direction: After reading  the passage below. Fill in the blanks to make the passage coherent and grammatically correct

My parents moved from New Jersey to Germany when I was a child. After a few weeks of playing with neighbors of the same age. I was speaking fluent German. That' s probably not an option if you want to learn a language 1. your next international trip. However, there are some new ways to learn key words and phrases before your departure.

2. playground immersion(沉浸), the best way to learn a language used to be in a classroom. Today, there are many more options. With the help of technology, you can easily get a linguistic edge, and perhaps even a cultural one, too.

The last few years 3. (see) a lot of language-learning software hitting the market .These programs, many of 4. have popular mobile apps, help beginners learn language basics.

Take Memrise for example. This language-learning platform uses flashcards(教学卡片) as memory aids. Memrise offers instruction in 25 languages, and its basic level is free, 5.  some advanced features available at $4.99 per month.

There are so many language apps, all claiming to be the best, 6.  there are even sites to help you sort if out. You can find detailed reports on these programs on Compare Language Apps: 7. independent testing site run by Professor Roumen Vesselinov at Queens College in New York.

I’ve had access to most of these apps over the years. However, I found that they were  8. too complicated or too time-consuming to help me learn a language before an international trip. Perhaps my experience of acquiring a language early in life and then trying to acquire 9. in a classroom(three years of French, which didn’t really stick)also contributed to my skepticism (怀疑).

The language experts I spoke with say you shouldn’t allow the promises of a course or an app 10. (convince)you that learning a language is easy. Experts agree that there is no substitute for "on-the-ground" experience practicing a new language with native speakers.

假定你是李华，你们学校的英国交换生Jeff准备参加“外国人讲中国成语(idiom)故事”比赛，他发邮件请你给予辅导。你回复邮件，内容包括：

1. 答应帮助；

2. 提出建议；

3. 询问辅导时间与地点。

注意：1. 词数100左右；

2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

Dear Jeff,

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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: 在错的词下划一横线， 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。

Last year, Zhang Pingyu paid visit to London. Worried about the time available, Zhang Pingyu had made a list of the site she wanted to see. It was the Tower which she visited first. Fancy! This solid stone, square tower had been remained standing for one thousand years. Many new buildings had expanded around it. Therefore, it was still part of a royal palace and prison combined. There followed St Paul’s Cathedral built after the terrible fire of London in 1666. It looked splendidly when first built. Westminster Abbey, too, was very interesting. Then just as he came out of the abbey, Pingyu heard the famous sound of the clock Big Ben, ring out the hour.

The next day Pingyu was leaving London to Windsor Castle. “Perhaps I will see the Queen？” she wondered as she fall asleep.

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。

According to Xinhua News Agency, the Palace Museum and Huawei signed a strategic cooperation agreement on March 15. The two sides will set an example 1. 5G application.

The Palace Museum received more than 17 million visitors in 2018, 2.(make) it the most visited museum in the world. In the past 20 years, an office information network covering the whole museum 3.(build) gradually. The museum has developed an App that provides an in-depth 4.(explain) of cultural relic information and cultural services. Also, the museum has research on the application of VR, AR, AI and other 5.(technique) in museums.

6.signing of the agreement marks a new chapter in the strategic cooperation between the Palace Museum and Huawei Technologies Co. So, Huawei will make efforts 7.(accelerate) the intelligent construction of the Palace Museum.

"The 600-year-old Palace Museum has never been so close to science and technology," Shan Jixiang said 8.(proud), director of the Palace Museum.

Shan shared many ideas about the 5G Palace Museum. With the help of advanced technology, 9.is expected that in the future, audiences around the world will be able to experience and visit the Palace Museum, whether it is a field trip or a virtual tour. Also, the use of AI technology provides a 10.(broad) platform and stronger knowledge support for cultural relics among young people.

    I ran into a stranger as he passed by. “I am so sorry!” was my reply. Then he said, “Excuse me too... I wasn’t _________ noticing you.” We were very polite, this stranger and I. Then we went on our _________ ways after saying goodbye.

But at home, a _________ story is told. Later, in the kitchen, as I cooked our meal, my daughter came up to me quietly. When I turned, I nearly _________ her down. “Get out of my _________!” I _________ with a frown （皱眉）. She left, _________ her little heart broken.

That night, as I lay _________ in bed, God’s quiet _________ spoke to me and said, “While __________ a stranger, you use common courtesy (有礼貌的言辞), __________ with those you love, seem to be too severe... Go and look on the kitchen floor, and you will find some __________ there by the door. She brought them for you. She picked them herself: pink, yellow, and blue. She stood there quietly, not to __________ your sur- prise, and you never saw the tears in her eyes.”

By this time, I felt sad and small and now my own tears had begun to fall. I quietly went and knelt by her bed, “ Wake up, sweetheart, wake up," I said,“Are these the flowers you picked for me? She smiled, “I found them, out by the tree. I wrapped them in a napkin, just for you. I knew you would like them. __________ the blue.” I said, “I am so sorry that I missed them today... And I shouldn’t have fussed at you that way. ”

And she whispered, “Mommy, that is okay... I still love you __________.” I hugged her and said, “I love you too... And I love my flowers, especially the blue.”

Are you __________ that: If you die tomorrow, the __________ that you are working for could easily replace you in a matter of days. But the family you leave __________ will feel the loss for the rest of their lives. And come to think of it, we __________ ourselves more to our work than into our families — an unwise __________ indeed .

1.【选项】A.never B.just C.even D.ever

2.【选项】A.same B.separate C.alone D.different

3.【选项】A.different B.similar C.cool D.same

4.【选项】A.knocked B.put C.fell D.settled

5.【选项】A.living room B.house C.kitchen D.way

6.【选项】A.cried B.shouted C.spoke D.said

7.【选项】A.with B.by C.on D.beyond

8.【选项】A.calmly B.awake C.asleep D.sadly

9.【选项】A.whistle B.scream C.sound D.voice

10.【选项】A.meeting with B.agree with C.dealing with D.playing with

11.【选项】A.but B.and C.so D.or

12.【选项】A.grass B.flowers C.glass D.water

13.【选项】A.hurt B.spoil C.harm D.damage

14.【选项】A.especially B.special C.especial D.specially

15.【选项】A.somehow B.besides C.somewhat D.anyway

16.【选项】A.know B.certain C.aware D.Sure

17.【选项】A.house B.shop C.family D.Company

18.【选项】A.behind B.off C.out D.away

19.【选项】A.lose B.absorb C.occupy D.devote

20.【选项】A.answer B.choice C.way D.goal

    Lao-tzu and Confucius were China’s most famous philosophers. 1. “Those who know do not say; those who say do not know.” said Lao-tzu. Confucius said that the best people say the least, but do the most.

2. It comes from the story that he was born with white hair, already old and wise. ? Very little is known about Lao-tzu’ s life. His writings are titled the “Tao Te Ching”.

According to Taoism, the entire universe flows with a mysterious force called the Tao, which means “The Way”. 3. When people forget this, opinions of good and evil or true and false happen. Taoists try to remember their oneness. However, this is easier said than done, Lao-tzu said. Over time, Taoism changed a bit. ? Taoism became more popular in AD 440 when it became China’s state religion. Many people practice Taoism today.

Born in 551 BC, Confucius wandered throughout China as a government employee and a political adviser to the ruling Chou family. 4. After Corfucius died in 479 BC, his students wrote down his teachings and called them Lun-yu, or the Analects. Many of his clever sayings are still followed today. “It is as hard to be poor without complaining as to be rich without becoming arrogant (傲慢的).” Confucianism says it is important to learn to be human. People should act with goodness towards each other to create order and unity. Confucianism guided thinking in China until about a hundred years ago.

Taoism and Confucianism have differences and similarities. Confucianism tells people how to act toward each other. Taoism tells people how to find meaning in life. They both share ideas about man, society, and the universe. Both Taoism and Confucianism have served as guides. 5.

A. Good thinking lasts a long time!

B. Their sayings are still used today.

C. Lao-tzu may not even have existed.

D. He was also a musician, thinker, and teacher.

E. The name Lao-tzu means “Old Master” or “Old Boy”.

F. They have led China through the peaks and valleys of its long history.

G. Taoists believe that everything might seem separate, but is actually one.

    While staring out of the window during a flight, not everyone will think carefully about the question why airplanes have rounded windows rather than square ones .

Over the years, aerospace engineering has made huge steps in airplane technology, meaning planes can carry more passengers and go faster. The planes have also changed shape to increase safety—including the windows. As commercial air travel took off in the mid -20th century, airline companies began to fly at higher altitudes to lower their cost—the air density (密度) is lower up there, creating less drag (阻力) for airplanes. However, higher altitudes came with problems, like the fact human beings can’t really survive at 30,000 feet. To make that possible, the cabin was changed to a cylindrical (圆柱体) shape to support the pressure inside. But at first, plane builders left in the standard square windows and this expansion meant disaster. The de Havilland Comet came into fashion in the 1950s. With a closed cabin, it was able to go higher and faster than other aircraft .

However, where there’s a comer, there’s a weak spot. Windows, having four comers, have four potential weak spots, making them likely to crash under stress— such as air pressure. By curving the window, the stress that would eventually break the window comer is distributed and the chance of it breaking is reduced. Rounded shapes are also stronger and resist deformation  (变形), and can thus survive the extreme differences in pressure between the inside and outside of the aircraft .

Fortunately, designers figured out the lack of design pretty quick . Now we have nice, rounded airplane windows that can resist the pressure of traveling altitude. It gives being able to gaze out of your window to the world from 35,000 feet a whole new outlook, doesn’t it?

1.Why did airlines aim to fly at higher altitudes?

A.To save money for less drag.

B.To help the plane to take off.

C.To increase safety of the plane .

D.To carry more passengers and go faster.

2.What does the underlined words “de Havilland Comet” in Paragraph 2 refer to?

A.An aircraft. B.A band.

C.A planet D.A design.

3.Which is the advantage of the rounded window?

A.It increases the air pressure.

B.It weakens the strength of air pressure.

C.It reduces the possibility of breaking up.

D.It helps to survive the extreme weather.

    We all know that water is tasteless. But it happens from time to time: you pick up the bottle of water you didn’t finish yesterday, and it tastes strange. Most often, you tend to drop the bottle in the trash bin, believing that the water has gone bad. But is it true?

According to Time, of course not, taste has little to do with quality of water.

According to Time, when water is exposed to the air for 12 hours, carbon dioxide interacts with the H2O in the water, and the pH value lowers slightly. As a result, the water has a different taste.

“But it’s most likely safe to drink,” Norwegian expert Truls Krogh told Science Nordic. “If the water is covered and of good quality to start with, in principle it can last a thousand years. That’s because when water is fresh, it contains little organic matter. As long as water is held in clean glasses or bottles, no pollutants will enter it to harm our health.”

People in countries like the US, the UK and Australia usually drink tap water. According to Time, if tap water is drunk within six months, the chlorine (氯气) in the water will be enough to kill any bacteria and keep it safe to drink.

However, there are also some exceptions. If you accidentally put your fingers into water or store water in unclean containers day after day, microorganism (微生物) will enter the water.

With the help of surrounding temperature, and sunlight streaming through windows, these microorganisms multiply quickly. Sooner or later, the water will be in the charge of the unfriendly bacteria. And if you drink the water too often, then you’re more likely to be ill.

And what about water in plastic bottles? Heat and plastic are a bad combination, US researcher Kellogg Schwab stresses. When plastic bottles are used at high temperatures, they produce a chemical called BPA. BPA is something that affects hormones (荷尔蒙) and research has tentatively linked it to “several health damage, including heart disease and cancer”, Time reported.

Schwab suggests replacing disposable (一次性的) plastic bottles with the refillable containers made of metal or glass to deal with BPA.

1.The purpose of the first paragraph is to ________________.

A. show an example B. draw a conclusion

C. analyze a phenomenon D. introduce a topic

2.Which of the following may Truls Krogh agree?

A. If the water tastes different, we shouldn’t drink it.

B. The water held in a clean container is likely safe to drink.

C. Although kept fresh, water may still have much organic matter.

D. Covered water can last for a thousand years.

3.What can we infer from the passage?

A. BPA does little harm to our health.

B. Tap water is always safe to drink.

C. Microorganisms are easy to produce in the heat.

D. Disposable plastic bottles have been banned already.

4.What can be the best title of the passage?

A. Why Water is Tasteless B. How to Get Clean Water

C. Does Water Really Go Bad? D. Learn to Protect Water

    Judy Wright and her husband decided to move closer to their son, Chris, who lived in Georgia. About a month after the move, Judy fell ill, suffering from her ongoing (不间断的) battle against Parkinson disease.

Her condition worsened rapidly and she required medical care at home. The family hired a nursing aid who canceled at the last minute. Instead, a woman named TunDe Hector showed up in her place.

One day, TunDe shared a story with Judy and her family. She remembered a particularly difficult day in 2014, when a stranger had helped her with a kind gesture. She had run out of gas, and with only $5 in her pocket, was walking to a gas station. A man saw her walking and turned his car around. He paid for her gas and gave her all the cash left in his wallet. Upon hearing the story, Judy’s son, Chris, took off his hat and said ,“That was me!” He was the stranger that had helped TunDe on that difficult day.

During the care of Judy, the Wright family learned about TunDe’s family and her own dream. The nursing aid, TunDe hoped that one day she could become an OB-GYN nurse. Her tuition was past due (逾期) and she had a family to care for, but she was determined to achieve that goal for herself and her family.

Judy died on July 9,2017. Instead of flowers, her family asked mourners (悼念者) to donate to TunDe’s education, to assist her in paying for her nursing school. In less than a week, they raised more than $8,000 and presented her with the surprise check.

1.Why did Judy’s family choose TunDe in the end?

A.To help her with a kind gesture. B.To look after Judy in the hospital.

C.To replace another nursing aid. D.To give Judy the best medical care.

2.How might Chris feel when hearing TunDe’s story?

A.Thrilled B.Shocked

C.Puzzled D.Delighted

3.How did the Wright family help TunDe after Judy’s death?

A.They paid for her education. B.They helped care for her family.

C.They bought her a surprise present. D.They helped her realize her dream.

4.What does the whole story mainly tell us ?

A.Kindness comes full circle. B.Constant dropping wears stone.

C.The truth never fears investigation. D.Actions speak louder than words.

    Must-read Books that Are Hitting the Big Screen This Year

The Zookeeper’s Wife by Diane Ackerman

Starring: Jessica Chastain and Johan Heldenbergh

Release Date: July 31, 2017

This true story is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. Ackerman artfully retells the story of Jan and Zabinski and how they used their zoo to save over three hundred people from the Nazis. After their zoo was bombed, they managed to hide people in animal cages, giving animal names to their guests and human names to their animals. This is one story we truly hope lives up to the hope on film.

The Lost City of Z by David Grann

Starring: Sienna Miller and Robert Pattinson

Release Date: August 14,2017

Looking for adventure? This story is just what you need. The book(and film) tells the tale of British explorer Percy Fawcett and how he ventured into the Amazon jungle in 1925, never to return. It's an enchanting mystery that we can’t wait to see play out on screen.

The Dinner by Herman Koch

Starring: Richard Gere and Rebecca Hall

Release Date: October 5,2017

We always say we'd do absolutely anything for our kids, right? The story begins with two couples politely, eating dinner together, avoiding a conversation about their children who have committed a horrific act. As the story goes on, you'll see just how far these parents will go to protect the ones they love.

The Circle by Dave Eggers

Starring: Emma Watson and Patton Oswalt

Release Date: November 28,2017

A young woman, Mae, is hired to work for a powerful Internet company and Feels like she's hit the job jackpot. The facility is very advanced, lively, and a bit wild. Mae's story begins as one of ambition but soon tums into a heart-racing story of suspense.

1.Why did Jan and Zabinski put people in animal cages?

A.To offer them living places B.To treat them as animals

C.To avoid being bombed D.To hide from the Nazis

2.Who plays the role of a modern white-collar woman?

A.Emma Watson B.Rebecca Hall

C.Sienna Miller D.Jessica Chastain

3.When can you go to see the film if you enjoy adventure stories?

A.In July B.In August

C.In October D.In November

4.Which of the following is related to parents' raising kids?

A.The Zookeeper's Wife B.The Lost City of Z

C.The Dinner D.The Circle

请认真阅读下列材料和图表，并按照要求用英语写一篇150词左右的文章。

Campus security has recently attracted wide public attention. In order to ensure the safety of teachers and students, our school prohibits strangers, students’ parents included, from entering the campus at will. This rule has aroused a strong response from parents. For this reason, our school has recently conducted a public opinion survey among students on whether parents should enter campus. The results of the survey are as follows.

（写作内容）

1.用约30个单词概括阅读材料的主要内容；

2.用约120个单词简要描述图中的信息(包括人数比率、观点及原因)；并就“家长该不该进校园”谈谈你的看法和理由。

（写作要求）

1.可以参照阅读材料的内容，但不得直接引用原文中的句子；

2.不必写标题；

3.作文中不能出现真实姓名和学校名称。

（评分标准）

概括准确，语言规范，内容合适，语篇连贯。

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

请认真阅读下列短文，并根据所读内容在文章后表格中的空格里填入一个最恰当的单词。

Anxiety is a typical human reaction to stress. But too much anxiety can get in the way of living a healthy, happy life. If you feel caught up in your anxiety, try one or a few of the following exercises anytime and anywhere to find relief.

When you’re feeling anxious, you might notice that your heart rate and breathing get a bit faster. First, you should sit in a quiet and comfortable place. Put one of your hands on your chest and the other on your stomach.

Then take a slow and regular breath in through your nose. Watch and sense your hands as you breathe in. The hand on your chest should remain still while the hand on your stomach will move slightly. Breathe out through your mouth slowly. Repeat this process at least 10 times or until you begin to feel relaxed.

If it doesn’t work, try think of your ideal place that you find very calming, happy, peaceful, and safe. Think about how the place would smell, feel, and sound. Envision yourself in that place, enjoying it comfortably.

Once you have a good picture of your “happy place,” close your eyes and take slow and regular breaths through your nose and out of your mouth. Be aware of your breathing and continue focusing on the place you’ve imagined in your mind until you feel your anxiety lifting.

But it can be hard to think clearly when you feel anxious. Sometimes anxious thinking can make us believe harmful thoughts that are untrue or make us do things that make our anxiety worse. Here’s how to avoid so: ask yourself whether endless worry is a problem for you. If the answer is yes, it’s good to be aware of that. Then try different ways such as singing a silly song, , listening to music, reading a book or the like.

Counting is also a simple way to ease your anxiety. When you feel anxiety washing over you, close your eyes and slowly count to 10. If necessary, repeat and count to 20 or an even higher number. Keep counting until you feel ease.

Sometimes this relief occurs quickly, but other times it might take a while. Stay calm and patient. It’s a great tool to use in a crowded or busy space where you can’t do other anxiety exercises.

Choose an anxiety exercise and try it until you’re feeling relaxed. If one exercise doesn’t work, try a different one. But anxiety exercises may not work for those with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). If you have GAD, consult your doctor for more effective treatment options.

    The outstanding biography — from the same author who brought us Steve Jobs and Einstein —portrays the life of the complicated Renaissance (文艺复兴时期的) artist with details. We come to see da Vinci as not only an inventor of musical instruments and early flying machines, but also a notebook keeper and vegetarian (素食者), who had trouble finishing many of the projects and paintings he started.

Yet what is most thrilling is getting to know da Vinci the scientist. Isaacson explains how loving science and applying the scientific method to observing the world was really what made da Vinci a great artist and, Isaacson argues, a genius.

Da Vinci was fascinated with observing and understanding phenomena in nature, from the proportions of the human body to how the muscles of the lips moved. He wanted to know about everything around him, in minute detail, Isaacson writes. He wondered about questions “most people over the age of ten no longer puzzle about”— for instance, how the tongue of a woodpecker works.

To learn about the world, da Vinci combined his own observations with experimentation. Never formally schooled, “he preferred to induce from experiments rather than deduce from theoretical principles,” Isaacson explains. He recorded his observations, looked for patterns among them, and then tested those patterns through additional observation and experimentation.

When he became fascinated with the idea that he could invent flying machines, three and a half centuries before the Wright brothers flew the first airplane, he observed various birds and filled notebooks with the function and speed at which their wings flapped. That’s why Isaacson calls da Vinci an exemplar of this scientific method.”He goes on:“Galileo, born 112 years after Leonardo, is usually credited with being the first to develop this kind of approach and is often regarded as the father of modern science,” the historian Fritjof Capra wrote. “There can be no doubt that this honor would have been bestowed (赐予) on Leonardo da Vinci had he published his scientific writings during his lifetime, or had his notebooks been widely studied soon after his death.”

Da Vinci’s emphasis on empirical observation also helped him improve his art. First, he was able to use what he learned from looking at nature to paint and draw. His studies of the body, animals, motion, shadow and light, perspective and proportion helped him better understand what he was seeing in front of him, and render it in art more accurately and finely than anyone else of his time. He also used his observations of nature to make connections among phenomena. A recorder (竖笛) was like a larynx (喉管) in the throat. Here’s Isaacson again: What Leonardo probably began as four distinct elements ended up woven together in a way that illustrates a fundamental theme in his art and science: the interconnectedness of nature, the unity of its patterns, and the similarity between the workings of the human body and those of the earth.

Most importantly, his curiosity-driven explorations, and ability to connect art and science, helped him innovate in his work. They helped him think differently, Isaacson argues. Da Vinci made surprisingly diverse series of discoveries, including conceptualizing the helicopter and solar power and advancing knowledge about everything from the reproductive organs to botany. This genius is also what drew Isaacson to Albert Einstein and Steve Jobs as subjects: They’re all innovators who were inspired by and drew connections between art and science.

“Leonardo da Vinci is the ultimate example of the main theme of my previous biographies: how the ability to make connections across disciplines — arts and sciences, humanities and technology — is a key to innovation, imagination, and genius,” Isaacson writes. And this wonderful book is a reminder, in a time of increasingly narrow specialization and focus, that the methods of Renaissance men like da Vinci are as relevant as ever.

1.What is the highlight of da Vinci’s biography?

A.His unfinished paintings.

B.His preference for vegetables.

C.His spirit of exploring science.

D.His opposition to formal education.

2.What made da Vinci’s thinking different from others?

A.He was used to skipping school.

B.He kept his childhood’s sense of curiosity.

C.He was filled with ambition to become an artist and inventor.

D.He developed a fascination with historical novels.

3.Why does Isaacson mention Galileo in the book?

A.To introduce his important findings.

B.To memorize the father of modern science.

C.To show the prejudice faced by da Vinci during his lifetime.

D.To illustrate the significance of da Vinci’s research method.

4.The underlined word “render” in Paragraph 6 can be replaced by“_____”.

A.express B.mix C.confirm D.associate

5.What does Isaacson think of the methods of Renaissance men?

A.They are too complicated to understand.

B.They focus on the workings of the human body.

C.They are more accurate than modern methods.

D.They still apply to contemporary scientific research.

6.What might be the best title for the passage?

A.How a Genius Changed the World

B.The Features of Renaissance Art

C.How Science Shaped His Art

D.The Comparison between Induction and Deduction

    You have probably read about robots replacing human labor as automation takes root in one industry after another. But a new report suggests humans are not the only ones who might lose their jobs.

In New Zealand, farmers are using drones (无人机) to herd (放牧) and monitor livestock (牲畜), assuming a job that highly intelligent dogs have held for more than a century. The robots have appropriated one of the animal’s effective tools: barking, Radio New Zealand reports. The DJI Mavic Enterprise, a $3,500 drone favored by farmers, has a feature that lets the machine record sounds and play them over a loud speaker, giving the machine the ability to imitate its canine counterparts.

Corey Lambeth, a shepherd on a sheep and beef farm, told RNZ the machines are surprisingly effective. “That’s the one thing I’ve noticed when you’re moving cows and calves: the old cows stand up to the dogs, but with the drones, they’ve never done that.” he said. That means the drones move livestock faster, with less stress, than the dogs do.

Farmers told RNZ the drones come in handy for more than just herding cows and sheep. The robots allow farmers to monitor their land from afar, monitoring water and feed levels and checking on livestock health without disturbing the animals.

Jason Rentoul told RNZ last spring that a two-hour herding job that used to require two people and two teams of dogs could be accomplished in 45 minutes using a single drone.“Being a hilly farm where a lot of stuff is done on foot, the drones really saved a lot of man hours,” he said. “The drone does the higher bits that you can’t see (from the ground). Before using drones, you would (otherwise) have to walk half an hour to go and have a look and then say, “Oh, there are no sheep here.”

Farmers all over the world are using drones. In South Africa, they monitor crop health from above, which boosts harvests, according to CNN. In California, winemakers use drones equipped with sensors to grow healthier grapes, according to MIT Technology Review. Because drones fly closer to the ground, they are able to provide high-resolution images that are less expensive than hiring someone to fly over a field in a manned aircraft, the publication reported.

For now, farmers in New Zealand say, some dogs are already learning to work alongside drones, identifying the machines as more co-worker than enemy. Besides, there is still a need for herding dogs, primarily because they have a longer life span than drones, can work in bad weather and do not require an electrical socket (插座) every few hours to recharge.

1.The underlined part in Paragraph 2 probably refers to“_____”.

A.farmers’ order

B.dogs’ barking

C.the call of sheep

D.the sound of loud speakers

2.What’s the advantage of drones according to the farmers?

A.They can be purchased at a low price.

B.They put less stress on livestock.

C.They can do more than one task efficiently.

D.They help them monitor weather conditions.

3.What does Paragraph 6 mainly talk about?

A.The secret to harvesting healthier grapes.

B.The application of drones in global agriculture.

C.How drones provide less expensive but clearer images.

D.Why manned aircraft are losing appeal for

4.It can be inferred from the last paragraph that ________.

A.drones function normally in extreme weather

B.farmers are troubled by where to charge drones

C.the herding dogs show no enthusiasm to drones

D.drones cannot replace dogs entirely at the moment

    Fireflies flash not just for mating (交配), but survival, a new study suggests. Scientists wanted to find out if there’s more to the lightning bug’s signature blinking glow (一闪一闪的亮光) than finding a mate. Some experts had assumed it was a glaring signal to predators (捕食者), like bats, that fireflies taste bad.

To test out whether the glow acted like that, researchers at Boise State University in Idaho put bats and fireflies in front of high-speed cameras. They published their results in Wednesday’s journal Science Advances.

The painstaking experiment required researchers to introduce western bats, which had never seen lightning bugs before, to the insects. Later, they hand-painted firefly bellies black, turning off their night lights but avoiding the holes the insects breathe through. When the bats first saw the unfamiliar lit-up fireflies, they acted excitedly and ate a lot of the bugs, only to get a bad taste in their mouths.“They shake their heads and spit and generally hate their caretakers for giving them such a rude meal,” said study author Jesse Barber, a Boise State biology professor and author of the study. After a few tries, the bats then avoided the glowing fireflies. Despite the popular misconception, bats aren’t blind, a study author noted.

Once the fireflies essentially taught bats that they taste bad, Barber and his colleagues introduced the darkened fireflies. About 40 percent of the painted ones were eaten, while none of the normal fireflies were eaten. Researchers also think the way lightning bugs fly signals what they are. To test that they put fireflies on fishing lines and the bats went after them, despite already knowing that fireflies don’t taste good. The results make sense and are valuable, said Nick Dowdy, a Purdue University researcher in Indiana, who was not involved in the study.

Scientists already knew that fireflies have distinctive flash patterns that tell others who they are and where they are. And some females prefer males that flash at higher rates, according to study co-author Marc Branham of University of Florida. Barber noted that even in their larval (幼虫) stage, the bugs glow and don’t get eaten. So he theorized that when it comes to evolution, fireflies’ glowing trait (特点) may have developed first as protection from predators and later became a mating signal.

So, Barber said, “Bats may have invented fireflies.”

1.The purpose of the researchers’ study is to see________

A.whether fireflies flash to warn their predators away

B.how fireflies react to high-speed cameras

C.how fireflies flash to attract a mate

D.when fireflies make a bright light

2.Why did the researchers put fireflies on fishing lines?

A.To hide their flashes.

B.To make them fly faster.

C.To make them more energetic.

D.To change their flying patterns.

3.What does Barber mean in the last paragraph?

A.Bats have influenced fireflies’ evolution.

B.Bats and fireflies depend on each other.

C.Bats have similar traits to fireflies.

D.Bats tend to avoid larval fireflies.

    From 16th to 27th March 2019 the ATOM Festival wants to show you that science is definitely for you. ATOM takes place in Abingdon, one of the UK’s “Science Capitals” sitting at the heart of British Science between Culham, Harwell and Oxford.

ATOM 2019 begins with five leading scientists, engineers and educators taking up our “Three Million Dollar Challenge”— solving the big challenge of how to get more people into science and technology.

As well as showcasing inspiring speakers — including BBC science presenter and mathematician Dr Hannah Fry — this year sees a broader range of formats and events than ever before, and much of it is free thanks to our sponsors and supporters: the Science Market, the Family Science Fair, the Discovery Dome, family shows, lectures, stand-up science comedy and film screenings. Working through the Abingdon Science Partnership your local school will also have been offered the chance to join in one of our competitions. On the fiftieth anniversary of the first moon landing, we’ve gathered together science fiction authors to imagine our future in space.

Ticket Prices

If you are planning to go to several events, take a moment to consider our Festival Pass, costing £20. Once purchased, the pass entitles the holder to attend all the festival events at no further cost.

Passes do not include refreshments which must be purchased separately at the venue. Passes cannot be used by more than one person. There is no under-18s Festival Pass. Due to separate ticketing arrangements this Pass is not valid for the Apollo 13 Film Show at Abbey Cinema.

1.What is one of the attractions of this year’s ATOM Festival?

A.It lasts longer than ever before.

B.Visitors can experience more diverse events.

C.It takes place in Oxford University for the first time.

D.Some astronauts will be present in memory of the moon landing.

2.What can we learn about Festival Passes?

A.They offer no discounts for teenagers.

B.They can be used jointly by family members.

C.They give group visitors access to free refreshments.

D.They allow holders to watch the Apollo 13 Film Show.

    On a freezing December afternoon, Tyler Freburger was standing in front of a set of mirrors wearing a suit picked out for him by a tailor to attend a funeral. As a homeless veteran (老兵) living in Baltimore, Mr. Freburger would usually have difficulty _______ such an outfit (一套衣服), especially one selected for him _______. But in this instance, he was _______ the nonprofit Sharp Dressed Man.

Since 2011, the organization has been helping men improve their lives by _______ them for job interviews and other _______ with well-fitting suits. This is not a “grab any jacket off the rack (架子)” kind of experience; _______, the nonprofit provides a “measure-to-fit”, personalized styling experience. The nonprofit was _______ by clothing designer Christopher Schafer. He opened a shop in downtown Baltimore not long after _______ from London, where he learned the art of _______ and design. Once when Schafer was ________ some custom suits to a customer, he was ________ handed two bags of gently ________ suits in return.

“He said I ________ him with how I made his custom suits fit, and he couldn’t wear his old suits anymore.” Schafer found a nonprofit that would ________ the suits, but as time went on, more of his ________ did the same thing. At the suggestion of a friend, he decided to found his own nonprofit, Sharp Dressed Man.

The organization’s space ________ a traditional men’s clothing store, ________with volunteer tailors and racks of clothing. It’s open one day a week for those who have been referred.

Schafer sees the nonprofit as filling the ________ between job training and the ________ required for a person to land a job.“If you treat a guy with ________, he has a better chance of treating himself with it,” he says.

1.A.sorting B.storing C.sewing D.securing

2.A.automatically B.personally C.partly D.generally

3.A.appointed to B.accustomed to C.referred to D.opposed to

4.A.promoting B.arranging C.rewarding D.equipping

5.A.occasions B.discounts C.benefits D.systems

6.A.thus B.meanwhile C.otherwise D.instead

7.A.found B.launched C.surrounded D.shifted

8.A.escaping B.returning C.differing D.hearing

9.A.counting B.transporting C.measuring D.packing

10.A.delivering B.ordering C.folding D.advertising

11.A.naturally B.doubtfully C.urgently D.unexpectedly

12.A.donated B.alternative C.worn D.clumsy

13.A.bothered B.spoiled C.discouraged D.interrupted

14.A.exhibit B.possess C.accept D.clean

15.A.relatives B.designers C.clerks D.clients

16.A.suits B.threatens C.resembles D.strengthens

17.A.adequate B.complete C.economic D.complicated

18.A.hardship B.relationship C.gap D.position

19.A.status B.feel C.talent D.look

20.A.dignity B.curiosity C.honesty D.caution

Sorry for failing to get what you wanted. He kept silent about the matter except saying ______.

A.that’s his feet of clay B.a little bird told him

C.he wanted to kill the fatted calf D.he was the salt of the earth

A man ought to follow his heart when reading, or _____ he reads as a task will do him little good.

A.that B.how C.why D.what

The manager said that not one mistake _____ to see reported to him in the following month.

A.would he want B.had he wanted C.he would want D.he had wanted

When asked about their opinion about the schoolmaster ,many teachers would prefer to see him step aside __________ younger men.

A.in terms of B.in need of C.in favor of D.in praise of

Unfortunately, Puccini died of a heart attack ______ he completed this final scene, and it had to be completed by one of his former students, Franco Alfano.

A.when B.before C.after D.since

She wouldn’t have flown off the handle _____the fact that you didn’t intend to hurt her.

A.were she to know B.had she known

C.did she know D.should she have known