Magical History Tour

Join us for our fifth annual exploration of fascinating historic sites around Greater Portland that you’ve never seen or maybe didn’t even know existed! The Magical History Tour is your key to unlocking fascinating historical places that are not usually open to the public.It is a self-guided adventure guaranteed to amaze and amuse both adults and children.Equipped with a map，and at your own pace，you will be greeted by guides at each location ready to share the history of the tour stop.

In the 5th year of the Magical History Tour，we will be presenting an exciting mix of both new sites and favorites from the past four years.

The Magical History Tour check in begins at 9:45 am at Maine Historical Society’s Brown Library.At this time，you will find out where the tour will take you as you receive your map and ticket into each site.

Follow us on Facebook，Twitter，and Instagram for updates，chances to win tickets and some other exciting opportunities；and feel free to share your tour experiences to our social media pages using # MHStour!

●Time:10:00 am—4:00 pm，Saturday，May 11，2019

●Location:485 Congress Street

●Tickets:Get your tickets online，by calling us at 207-774-1 822，or by visiting our Museum Store at 489 Congress Street.$25／Adult  MHS  Member；$35／Adult General Admission；$5／Juniors under age 18.

●Volunteering:We need volunteers for the Magical History Tour! Volunteers help for half the day of the tour and are given a free ticket to the tour to enjoy either before or after their volunteer shift!

For more information，email us at events@mainehistory org or call us at 207-774-1822.

1.What’s the purpose of the Magical History Tour?

A. To explore unfamiliar historic sites.

B. To visit some world-famous attractions.

C. To provide children with history classes.

D. To make some private places known to the public.

2.How much should a couple(one is MHS Member)and a kid pay?

A. $55. B. $65. C. $75. D. $105.

3.What can we learn from the text?

A. You can buy a ticket by emailing.

B. Tourists will only be guided by a map.

C. Only new sites are available for the tour.

D. Volunteers can take part in the tour for free.

听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。

1.What do people usually fill the Easter basket with?

A. Some clothes. B. Some candies. C. Some flowers.

2.Where do children look for Easter eggs in America and Belgium?

A. On the lawn and in bushes.

B. On the lawn and under trees.

C. In bushes and under trees.

3.Why do Austrian children sing from door to door?

A. To get colorful eggs. B. To get flowers. C. To get fruits.

4.What can we know from the speaker?

A. Easter is the most important holiday in the world.

B. Different countries have different Easter traditions.

C. Easter is celebrated on the same date every year.

听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。

1.What does the man want to reserve?

A. A single room. B. A double room. C. A presidential suite.

2.Why does the man fail to book the room today?

A. The clerk responsible for it isn’t at work.

B. There are no available rooms.

C. The room is too expensive.

3.What can the man expect tomorrow morning?

A. A free breakfast. B. A call from Jenny. C. A visiting friend.

4.Where is Jenny now?

A. At home. B. In the hotel. C. In the hospital.

听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。

1.Why does the woman come to talk with the man?

A. She has a plan to talk about.

B. She wants to buy a computer.

C. She wants to use the man’s computer.

2.How long can a student use the computer a day?

A. For three hours. B. For two hours. C. For one hour.

3.What will the speakers do to solve the problem?

A. To prepare a notice.

B. To hold a meeting.

C. To talk with some students.

听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。

1.What seems to trouble the man?

A. The expensive hotel.

B. The expensive air ticket.

C. The long journey to Paris.

2.What will the speakers do next?

A. Pack up their luggage.

B. Go shopping together.

C. Book a ticket online.

听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。

1.What does the woman feel now?

A. Worried. B. Relaxed. C. Comfortable.

2.Where does the man want to go?

A. America. B. Asia. C. Europe.

What do we know about the man now?

A. He is a teacher in Beijing.

B. He is studying in a middle schoo1.

C. He is teaching in Shanghai.

Where is probably the man’s dog now?

A. In the garden. B. In the park. C. In his house.

Why was the man late?

A. His phone ran out of power. B. His car broke down. C. He lost his way.

When did the man have a tour in Mexico?

A. Last month. B. Four days ago. C. Last week.

What did the boy get from the shelf?

A. A book. B. A toy. C. A cup.

假定你是李华，你的美国朋友Tom在学习中国文化时读到中国成语“囊萤映雪”,向你求助了解其寓意并了解有关知识，请给他回信，要点如下：

1. 该成语的寓意；

2. 中国成语的特点（简洁有意义，源自文学经典，历史故事，民间口语）

注意：1. 词数100左右；

2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

3. 开头已给出，不计入总词数

参考词汇： 萤火虫 firefly     中国成语 Chinese idiom

Dear Tom,

It’s great to hear from you. I’m delighted to know you are interested in Chinese idioms.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Yours faithfully,

LiHua.

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处错误，每句中最多有两处，每处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。

We each is thinking about the future. What is me? I have made up my mind become a middle school teacher. Does it sound surprising? I begin to have this dream when I was only the child. I love children. I don’t think that is a waste of time to deal with them all the year around. On the contrary, to me it would mean happiness and joyful. Although teachers are badly needed in our country, but not many of us want to become teachers. The main reason for this is that teaching is one of the most stressed jobs. In spite of that, I’m determined to give all my lives to the cause of education.

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。

Louis Cha, better known by his pen name Jin Yong, was a Chinese wuxia novelist and essayist, 1.co-founded the Hong Kong daily newspaper Ming Bao in 1959 and 2. (serve) as the first editor-in-chief. He was Hong Kong’s most famous writer.

His wuxia novels have 3. widespread following in Chinese communities worldwide. His 15 works 4. (write) between 1955 and 1972 earned him a reputation as one of the greatest and most popular wuxia writers ever. By the time of his 5. (die) he was the best-selling Chinese author, and over 100 million copies of his works have been sold worldwide. His works have the unusual ability 6. (go) beyond geographical and ideological barriers separating Chinese communities of the world, achieving 7. (great) success than any other contemporary writer.

Most of his works 8. (translate) into many languages so far, including English, French, etc. Even the asteroid (小行星) 10930 Jinyong (1998 CR2) is named 9. him.We cannot thank him more for 10. he has done in novel literature.

    Last week I was driving back to town from the airport during a heavy rainstorm when I saw something rather large______ of the busy road as the traffic drove past_______close.

As I got ______, I found out that it was a turtle, and I hit the ______. I got out of my car with traffic being ______behind me and dashed into the middle of the road. I saw that it was very much______ but refusing to ______.

Although I'm an animal lover, I’m not one to touch an animal like a turtle that isn't ________,but I wasn’t going to______ him there. I looked through my car______for something with which to _______ the turtle--paper towels, a rag, anything. But there was nothing.

A woman drove in the opposite direction stopped and saw the______situation. I asked her if she had anything ______ I could use to pick this rather large turtle up, and she ______me a white towel. As I_______my friend, he quickly _________his head and feet, and I set him down by the river to ______ .

I thanked the woman with the towel who came to my _______----and the turtle does, too! I’m also_______to the drivers behind me. They were______for over half an hour but none complained at all!

1.A. in the middle B. on the side C. at the end D. on the corner

2.A. reasonably B. increasingly C. strangely D. dangerously

3.A. father B. nearer C. nearly D. further

4.A. wheel B. door C. brake D. window

5.A. reduced B. followed C. avoided D. blocked

6.A. alive B. gentle C. heavy D. large

7.A. dash B. move C. slip D. run

8.A. cute B. lucky C. mild D. brave

9.A. put B. take C. send D. leave

10.A. slowly B. nervously C. wildly D. occasionally

11.A. turn over B. throw away C. pick up D. put up

12.A. hopeless B. difficult C. ridiculous D. different

13.A. at the airport B. on the road C. by the river D. in her car

14.A. sold B. lent C. threw D. showed

15.A. found out B. wrapped up C. came across D. stared at

16.A. raised B. pulled C. withdrew D. lowered

17.A. keep on B. live on C. work on D. decide on

18.A. attention B. mind C. rescue D. memory

19.A. grateful B. generous C. helpful D. sensitive

20.A. challenged B. prepared C. panicked D. delayed

How to Improve Your Study Habits

Perhaps you are an average student with average intelligence. You do well enough in school, but you probably think you will never be a top student. 1. Yes, even students of average intelligence can be top students without additional work. Here are some tips for you:

◆ Plan your time carefully. Make a list of your weekly tasks. Then make a schedule or chart of your time. Fill in committed time such as eating, sleeping, meetings, classes, etc. Then decide on good, regular times for studying.2. It’s important to set aside time for relaxation, hobbies, and entertainment as well. Furthermore, it will enable you to plan your activities so that you have enough time for both work and play.

◆ 3. It may be a desk or a chair at home or in the school library, but it should be comfortable, and it should not have distractions. When you begin to work, you should be able to concentrate on the subject.

◆ Study regularly.4.Review important points mentioned in class as well as points you remain confused about. If you review your notes and textbook regularly, the material will become more meaningful and you will remember it longer. Regular review leads to improved performances on test.

◆ Develop a good attitude about tests. The purpose of a test is to show what you have learned about a subject. The world won’t end if you don’t pass a test, so don’t worry excessively about a single test. Tests provide more than grades.5.

A. Find a good place to study.

B. Adjust yourself to a proper place to study.

C. Go over your notes as soon as you can after class.

D. Those who make the best of their time study with more ease.

E. This is not necessary the case, however. You can receive better grades if you want to.

F. They also let you know what you need to spend more time studying on.

G. Of course, studying shouldn’t occupy all of the free time on the schedule.

    As the international demand for narrative(叙事的) film/TV content continues to increase with popular streaming services like Netflix and others the two questions then come: will the coming generations receive most of their entertainment through visual means rather than through the written word and will such an increase of narrative film/ TV reduce the importance of reading?

Growing examples of this trend include the diminishment(减少) of fiction in the common core (核心的)curriculum, the ever－rising culture of computer games, the wave of streaming services of wide international reach, and movies filled with special effects made for children and teenagers. Nor must we ignore the economic dangers that lie ahead for the written word. The narrative film industry is a moneymaker that dwarfs(使相形见绌) the publishing industry.

The other underlying question, of course, is “does it really matter if the written word bows to the world of film/TV?” From my point of view, any diminishment of fiction delivered by words is a loss for mankind.

There is no greater human feature than the imagination. It lies at the very soul of the human species. It is the brain’s most powerful engine. It is the essential muscle of life and like all muscles it must be exercised and strengthened.

Writing and reading are the principal tools that inspire, create and empower our imagination. Anything that diminishes that power is the enemy of mankind.

It should be known that I am not opposed to new media and technological advances. Instead, I have always felt it necessary to adapt to advancing technology. In fact, a number of my novels are in various stages of development for film, TV, and live stage productions. My hope is that the written word will only stand to be complemented(补充)by its visual counterparts(对应物), not pushed to the edge of extinction.

Of course, there are those who will present arguments for the superiority of the moving image over the written word. Each has its place. My argument is for finding the right balance between it and the moving image.

1.In what way does narrative film/TV embarrass the written word?

A. Economic benefits B. International reach

C. Cultural influence D. Educational importance

2.Why does the author value the role of the written word?

A. It strengthens our muscles. B. It helps sharpen imagination.

C. It distinguishes man from each other. D. It paves the way for narrative film/TV.

3.What is the author’s attitude towards technology?

A. Cautious B. Skeptical

C. Positive D. Critical

4.What’s the author concerned about?

A. The fate of reading. B. The extinction of fiction.

C. The impact of the written word. D. The future of the moving image.

    Have you ever spent an afternoon in the backyard, maybe grilling or enjoying a basketball game, when suddenly you notice that everything goes quiet? There is an old phrase “calm before the storm”, often used in a situation---a quiet period just before a great activity or excitement. According to our own experience, we know there is actually calm before the storm. But what causes this calm? And is it always calm before the storm?

A period of calm happens in a particular kind of storm, the simplest kind of storm---a single-cell thunderstorm. In this type of thunderstorm, there is usually only one main stream of current, which is warm, damp air and drawn from places near the ground. Storms need warm and damp air as fuel, so they typically draw that air in from surrounding environment. Storms can draw in the air that fit their need from all directions—even from the direction in which the storm is traveling.

As the warm, damp air is pulled into a storm system, it leaves a low-pressure vacuum(真空) coming after. The rising air meets the cold dry air that has already existed in the storm clouds, thus the temperature of the warm, damp air drops, and the water vapor in it changes into tiny drops that are a precondition of rain. These drops accumulate and build on larger particles(颗粒) like dust, until they grow large enough to form raindrops.

This warm, damp air keeps moving upwards, but it becomes cooler and drier during its trip through cloud. When it reaches the top of the cloud, the air is squeezed out at the top. This air is sent rolling out over the big thunderclouds. From there, the air goes down. Warm and dry air is relatively stable, and once it covers a region, that air, in turn, causes the calm before a storm.

Most thunderstorms, though, don't start with calm. That's because most are actually groups of storms with complex wind patterns. There's so much air moving up and down storm groups that the calm before the storm never happens. Instead, before the storm, it might be really windy!

1.Which best fits the description of a particular kind of storm?

A. A thunderstorm with a single shape.

B. A thunderstorm without strong winds.

C. A storm with air drawn from every direction.

D. A storm fueled by moving air from the ground.

2.What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 3 refer to?

A. Warm and wet air. B. Warm and dry air.

C. Cold and wet air. D. Cold and dry air.

3.Which does the writer most likely agree to?

A. Presence of the calm relies on stable air.

B. All thunderstorms don’t start with the calm.

C. The drier the air is, the bigger the storm will be.

D. Storm happens without air moving up and down.

4.What is the passage mainly about?

A. A brief introduction of a peaceful storm.

B. A personal experience of a heavy storm.

C. An explanation of the calm before a storm.

D. An analysis of causes and effects of a storm.

    The dad of the two youngest survivors of US Airways Flight 1549’s incredible landing in the Hudson River said the near-death experience “brought out the best in humanity.” It has been a decade since US Airways Flight 1549 landed in the Hudson River.

Sosa, now 58, told The Post in an email Monday. “As strange as the experience was, it brought out the best in humanity as witnessed by the selfless efforts of so many men and women who came to our aid without thinking twice about their safety. I am grateful to all of them.”

Sosa and his wife Tess were traveling to Charlotte, North Carolina, that day with 9-month-old Damian and 4-year-old Sofia. The couple were sitting several rows apart when the Airbus A320 suddenly struck a flock of Canada geese moments after taking off from LaGuardia Airport.

Sosa could smell jet fuel burning and immediately knew they were in danger. “There was an explosion in the left engine which I could see from my seat,” he recalled. “The next thing I knew the plane went dead silent when both engines broke down. I got a quick glance at Tess seated ahead of me when we both realized we were in trouble.”

The next three minutes were harrowing(折磨). The powerless plane plunged over The Bronx and pointed toward the Hudson, where it would eventually ditch(在水上迫降), thanks to a split-second decision by Capt. Sullenberger. All 155 people on board could survive. Works helped with the rescue mission after the US Airways plane crashed into the Hudson River in the afternoon on January 15 in New York City.

The dad this year 2019 who welcomed a new child, Phoebe, with Tess in the years after the incident — said “To date, it remains an unforgettable memory, a key point in our lives from which we perceive(感知) the world and process our day-to-day experiences,” said Sosa. “When you survive a near-miss experience, I think it makes one more tolerant. It makes you appreciate every day as a gift.”

1.When did the US Airways plane crashed into the Hudson River?

A. 2007 B. 2009

C. 2011 D. 2019

2.The underlined sentence most probably means_____.

A. making efforts B. expressing gratitude

C. displaying virtues D. showing anger

3.What can be learned about Sosa and Tess?

A. The disaster made them cherish every day.

B. They were traveling to Charlotte, South Carolina that day.

C. They realized they were in danger when the left engine failed.

D. They were sitting together when the plane struck a flock of Canada geese.

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

A. Landing in the Hudson B. Unforgettable flight

C. Horrifying flight D. Miracle on the Hudson

Formal Afternoon Teas

A pot of tea, a plate of finger sandwiches and a selection of pastries and scones: In America, this wonderful way to wile away the afternoon is commonly, though mistakenly, known as “high tea.” In Britain, where it originated, “high tea” is simply an old-fashioned name for the evening meal; it’s also called “meal tea.” The light, elegant, scone-centric meal served at fancy hotels is called “low tea” or “afternoon tea”. Whatever you call it, here are four places to get afternoon tea on Long Island. Prices are per person.

Chat Noir

230 Merrick Rd., Rockville Centre

516-208-8521, chatnoirtea.com

Owner Emma Tso is a talented pastry chef, and her afternoon tea($22) includes sandwiches, miniature pastries, warm scones, cream and jam and a pot of tea. Open 7 days a week. Reservations required.

Robinson’s Tea Room

97-E Main St., Stony Brook

631-751-1232

Robinson’s service afternoon tea Tuesday to Sunday. $26 buys unlimited tea, about 10 finger sandwiches, fresh scones, cream and jam and desserts. Reservations required.

The Secret Garden Tea Cafe& Gift Shoppe

225 Main St., Port Jefferson

631-476-8327, thesecretgardentearoom.com

The Street Garden’s menu has more modest options, but the full afternoon tea, $26.95, includes scones, fresh fruit, tea sandwiches, mini desserts and a pot of tea. Open Tuesday to Sunday.

The Hidden Oak Cafe

Bayard Cutting Arboretum, Montauk Highway, Great River

631-277-3895, bayardcuttingarboretum.org

The cafe is open Tuesday to Sunday. Afternoon tea($25.95) includes tea sandwiches, desserts and pastries, scones with cream and jam and a pot of tea. Reservations required 24 hours in advance.

1.What do we know about British afternoon tea?

A. It’s known as “meal tea”. B. It’s centered on desserts.

C. It’s served at fancy hotels. D. It’s originated from America.

2.Which number should you call to reserve for a Monday afternoon tea?

A. 516-208-8521 B. 631-751-1232

C. 631-476-8327 D. 631-277-3895

3.Where can you get afternoon tea with fresh fruit?

A. At Chat Noir B. At Robinson’s Tea Room

C. At the Hidden Oak Cafe D. At the Secret Garden Tea Cafe& Gift Shoppe

假如你是李华,从网上得知2019年北京世园会正在招募志愿者。请你用英语给正在中国留学的Jim写封邮件，要点包括：

1. 邀请他和你一起申报做志愿者；

2. 陈述当志愿者的好处。

注意：1.词数100左右；世园会 World Horticultural Exposition

2.可以适增加细节,以使行文连贯。

Dear Jim,

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Yours sincerely,

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处错误，每句中最多有两处。错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。

增加：在缺词处加一个漏词符号（∧），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的词。

注意：1.每处错误及修改均仅限一词；

2．只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。

One day, I sat in comforts in my grandparents’ house, enjoying the rain outside the window or the cartoon film Tom and Jerry with my grandfather. Eat one of my grandmother’s fresh, tasty pies, I see a monkey suddenly swing onto the bars on our door. My grandfather encouraged me offer it my pie; it gentle accepted the gift. Through the window, his new friend stared with an interest at the TV. The curious monkey, my grandfather, and I watched the rest of Tom and Jerry’s adventure together, astonishing at the harmony what exists between humans and animals in our world.

阅读下面短文，按照句子结构的语法性和上下文连贯的要求，在空格处填入一个适当的词或使用括号中词语的正确形式填空，并将答案填在答题卡标号为61-70的相应位置上。

The sun was dying out, and people all around the world built giant planet thrusters（火箭助推器) to move Earth out of its orbit and to sail Earth to 1. new star system. Yet the 2500 years’ journey came with 2. (expect) dangers, and in order to save mankind, a group of young people in this age of a wandering Earth came out 3. (brave) and fought hard for everyone's 4. (survive). The Wandering Earth  is a 2019 Chinese science fiction film directed by Frant Gwo. It is based 5. the novella of the same name by the Locus Award and Hugo Award 6. (win) author Liu Cixin, and was released on February 5, 2019.

In the past nine days, Chinese sci-fi film The Wandering Earth 7. (make) $420 million at the Chinese box office alone and will soon become the second film 8. (reach) three billion yuan within ten days of being released. This also makes it 2019's 9. (large) grossing(总收入）film to date with some box office prophet(预言者) wondering 10.it will even outperform Captain Marvel.

    Several years ago, my company experienced a slowdown in business. We hoped that it was only ______. We had work enough for only four days of the week. So we decided that we would ______ from Monday through Thursday, and take Fridays to do ______ projects in our hometown.

One day, we went to a very old gentleman’s______ to do a total cleanup. When we arrived, an elderly woman______ us at the door. We thought she was the wife, but it turned out she was the ______. She was 75, and her father 97! Soon, we began to ______ the house and the yard. It was _____ how much work a group could get done when everyone was working ______. That gentleman’s house went from dirt to a sparkling clean palace by the time we ______ .

The thing I most remember about that day, ______ , was not the great cleaning job that we did, but something ______. When we walked into the house, I noticed the wonderful drawings that ______ the walls. The daughter told us that her father had _____ them, and that he hadn’t ______art until he was 80 years old. I was ______ : these drawings were works of art that could have easily been hanging in a museum. At the time, I was in my early 30s and wanted to do something that would _____ my creative and artistic competence more than being president of a company would _____ . I had felt that it was too_____ to make a change at this “advanced” stage of my life. Boy! My _____ belief system got expanded that afternoon!

1.A. temporary B. easy C. proper D. impossible

2.A. rest B. play C. start D. work

3.A. research B. service C. design D. class

4.A. company B. house C. office D. room

5.A. showed B. helped C. invited D. greeted

6.A. colleague B. wife C. daughter D. partner

7.A. sell B. buy C. clean D. tour

8.A. amazing B. amusing C. boring D. tiring

9.A. individually B. together C. alone D. equally

10.A. finished B. washed C. started D. arrived

11.A. however B. therefore C. instead D. moreover

12.A. similar B. familiar C. different D. absurd

13.A. built B. faced C. made D. decorated

14.A. colored B. painted C. observed D. purchased

15.A. appealed to B. given up C. kept to D. taken up

16.A. disappointed B. embarrassed C. shocked D. satisfied

17.A. use B. lack C. add D. provide

18.A. continue B. allow C. fail D. process

19.A. active B. simple C. difficult D. strange

20.A. open B. social C. new D. limited

Rich and Famous

Twenty years ago the most common ambition of American children was to be a teacher， followed by working in banking and finance， and then medicine． But today's situation is quite different．1. Instead they most commonly say they want to be a sports star, a pop star， or an actor-in other words，they hope to become a celebrity ．

According to experts， young people desire these jobs largely because of the wealth and the fame．2. Let's take athletes and singers as an example. Their careers are short-lived． Many athletes' best time only lasts a few years and singers can have a very limited career． The field that was once the focus of their lives becomes something they have little or no involvement in． As a result， they'll have a feeling of worthlessness and a lack of control．3. The truth is quite simple： they have been so far removed from it for so long．

In spite of these disadvantages， there is greater ambition than ever among young people to achieve that status． They are not satisfied just making a living-they want to be rich and famous． Globally， more and more TV shows provide talent competitions where winners can achieve their goals in just a few weeks or months．4. They unrealistically believe that this lifestyle is easily obtained and leads to great satisfaction．

While many people argue that there is nothing wrong with having such ambitions， others feel that this trend will finally lead to dissatisfaction as more and more people are unable to reach their goals．5.That means they ignore the simple fact that great effort is needed before success． As a result， many people won't realize their childhood dreams， which could have a negative effect on their happiness．

A． The younger generation don't favor these professions any more．

B． In many ways this has been brought about by the celebrity culture．

C． Unfortunately， they do not always have a positive effect on people's life．

D． Besides， it can be difficult for them to adapt back to a normal everyday life．

E． People no longer have a sense of satisfaction once their goals have been achieved．

F． This quick way of gaining wealth and fame creates a celebrity culture among people．

G． The reason is that they don't realize it takes talent and hard work to be rich and famous．

    You have probably heard of the Mozart effect. It's the idea that if children or even babies listen to music composed by Mozart, they will become more intelligent. A quick Internet search reveals plenty of products to assist you in the task. Whatever your age is there are CDs and books to help you taste the power of Mozart's music, but when it comes to scientific evidence that it can make you more clever, the picture is more mixed.

The phrase “the Mozart effect” was made up in 1991, but it was a study described two years later in the journal Nature that sparked real media and public interest about the idea that listening to classical music somehow improves the brain. It is one of those ideas that sound reasonable. Mozart was undoubtedly a genius himself; his music is complex and there is a hope that if we listen to enough of it, we'll become more intelligent.

The_idea_took_off,_with thousands of parents playing Mozart to their children, and in 1998 Zell Miller, the Governor of the state of Georgia in the US, even asked for money to be set aside in the state budget so that every newborn baby could be sent a CD of classical music. It was not just babies and children who were exposed to Mozart's music on purpose, even an Italian farmer proudly explained that the cows were played Mozart three times a day to help them produce better milk.

I'll leave the debate on the impact on milk yield to farmers, but what about the evidence that listening to Mozart makes people more intelligent? More research was carried out but an analysis of sixteen different studies confirmed that listening to music does lead to a temporary improvement in the ability to handle shapes mentally, but the benefits are short－lived and it doesn't make us more intelligent.

1.What can we learn from Paragraph 1?

A. Mozart composed many musical pieces for children.

B. Children listening to Mozart will be more intelligent.

C. There are few products on the Internet about Mozart's music.

D. There is little scientific evidence to support the Mozart effect.

2.Why did many people believe in the idea of the Mozart effect?

A. Because a study described it in the journal Nature.

B. Because Mozart himself was a genius.

C. Because Mozart's music is enjoyable.

D. Because Mozart's music makes people relaxed.

3.The underlined sentence in Paragraph 3 suggests that ________.

A. people were strongly against the idea

B. the idea was accepted by many people

C. Mozart played an important part in people's life

D. the US government helped promote the idea

4.What is the author's attitude towards the Mozart effect?

A. Favorable. B. Objective.

C. Doubtful. D. Positive.

    When athletes at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics collect their medals, they'll not only be wearing something that celebrates their sporting performance, but something that symbolizes lastingness. For both the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, organizers aim to make all of the gold, silver, and bronze medals out of used electronics. This strong message about how to make use of e-waste has gotten a lot of Japan involved.

Starting in April 2017, the Japanese Olympic Committee began collecting old laptops, digital cameras, smartphones, and other abandoned electronics. The initiative(倡议）has achieved great success. Already, the quantity needed for bronze medals has been met, and they're in the homestretch for silver and gold medals, meaning the collection process can pack up at the end of March.

When looking just at the number of cell phones collected, the amount of waste is shocking. In a period of about 18 months, a little over 5 million smartphones were collected thanks to cooperation with NTT DOCOMO. Japan's largest mobile phone operator allowed the public to turn in phones at their shops, which counted a lot in the project’s success.

After being taken apart and sorted, the small electronics underwent a smelting process to extract(提炼）all the gold, silver，and  bronze elements. Thanks to this initiative, the worldwide struggle with e-waste will have a global platform. According to a study published by the United Nations University—44.7 million metric tons of e-waste were made in 2016. Only 20% of that was actually recycled. Unfortunately, this figure is set to rise significantly in the coming years, moving to 52.2 million metric tons by 2021. So while the Tokyo Olympics initiative might be just a drop in the bucket, it’s a good start in showing what the public can do if they're made more aware of the issue.

1.What can be learnt about Tokyo Olympics initiative from the passage?

A. E-waste in the world is increasing significantly.

B. It is easy to get elements needed from the used electronics.

C. Only producers of electronics participated in the project.

D. NTT DOCOMO contributed to the success of the project.

2.Which can best replace the underlined word “homestretch” in Paragraph 2?

A. starting period B. collection effort

C. final stage D. hard search

3.What influence does the Tokyo Olympics initiative have?

A. It offers an effective method to solve the problem of e-waste.

B. It shows the power of advanced technology in daily life.

C. It saves the expense spent in making all the medals.

D. It encourages the public’s involvement in dealing with e-waste.

4.What is the writer’s attitude to the Tokyo Olympics initiative?

A. Positive B. Negative

C. Ambiguous D. Indifferent

    When my father married my mother in 1943, he gave my mother a 1937 crown coin and told her to keep it in the back of her purse and not to spend it. This would mean that she always felt that she was protected and would always have money if she really needed it.

When I was married in 1970, my husband, who had heard this story, obtained a 1937 crown coin for me and I have always kept it in my wallet, and I have always had enough for my needs.

A friend recently fell on hard times, partly through external (外部的）circumstances and partly through poor planning. Friends and I have loaned her money, paid her bills, given her food, and even tried to teach her budget techniques, but none of them has been a solution. She has just slipped deeper and deeper into financial trouble and depression.

Last week she looked pale and unwell, very depressed and hopeless, very sad for a friend to see and I then thought about how the crown coin, a physical reminder of another's care and love had protected me, so I went to the bank for a $ 100 dollar-bill.

I told my friend the story and asked her to keep the $ 100 in the back of her wallet. It turned out that she didn't have a wallet, so she put the money in a little pencil case where she kept her coins. She immediately felt better—“I feel rich, and thank you for being a good friend,” she said, and we were both a bit teary.

I went home and remembered a little wallet I had that I’d never used, and thought, “I’ll give that to my friend. ” I opened it, and inside, found $ 100.

1.What did the 1937 crown coin from the author’s father mean to her mother?

A. His concern for her. B. His pity and protection for her.

C. His care and love for her. D. His pride and respect for her.

2.Where did the author’s friend keep the $ 100 dollar-bill?

A. In the back of her wallet. B. In a little pencil case.

C. In the pocket of her raincoat. D. In the layer of her suitcase.

3.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A. The author became rich all of a sudden.

B. The author's friend would receive a wallet as a gift.

C. The author's friend was not touched by her story.

D. The author felt uncomfortable when receiving the bill.

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

A. A crown coin B. The help to a friend

C. A hard life D. A gift from my father

    For the business traveler who’s all about efficiency: check out these hotels that will get you in and out with a minimum trouble.

When you’re pressed for time on a business trip, nothing can annoy you more than a slow hotel check-in process. On your next trip, try these hotels that offer a speedier check-in process.

◆ Marriott Detroit Airport

Another option for business travelers in a hurry: Marriott is rolling out its mobile check-in app to 325 hotels this year, including the Marriott Detroit Airport hotel. (I’ve tested the app itself but not for a real visit quite yet.) here is the basic idea: you download the iPhone or Android app. The night before, you can “check-in” virtually. When you arrive, you get an alert that the room is ready and your key, which is already tied to your reservation, is waiting for you at the desk.

◆Hyatt Regency Minneapolis

I happened to stay at this hotel recently and liked how fast the kiosk check-in works. The kiosk asks you to insert your credit card, similar to an airport terminal. The whole process took about 3 minutes. When I left, I was equally impressed with the fast check-out: An agent meets you in the lobby with, an iPad and asks for an email to use for a receipt. The big advantage: you never have to wait in line.

◆Radisson LaCrosse

The Radisson is trying to make the kiosk process even faster. At a few select hotels like the Radisson Lacrosse in Wisconsin，you use a mobile app to register and then receive a barcode by email or text. When you get to the kiosk, you can scan the barcode to get your key without any other steps required. It’s super fast. You can find this new check-in system at the Radisson hotels in Salt Lake City, Seattle, and Phoenix as well.

1.Which two hotels offer a mobile app for customers to check in?

A. Marriott Detroit Airport and Yotel New York .

B. Marriott Detroit Airport and Radisson LaCrosse.

C. Marriott Detroit Airport and Hyatt Regency Minneapolis.

D. Hyatt Regency Minneapolis and Radisson LaCrosse.

2.Which hotel will send you a receipt by email?

A. Yotel New York. B. Marriott Detroit Airport.

C. Radisson LaCrosse. D. Hyatt Regency Minneapolis.

3.What is the best title for the passage?

A. Checking out the hotels will make you in trouble

B. Three hotels that will make your life easier

C. Try these hotels that offer you comfort

D. Hotels for the travelers

假定你是李华，在你校学汉语的美国交换生Frank对中国诗词感兴趣，观看了CCTV举办的”中国诗词大会”(Chinese Poetry Competition)后，想要报名参加比赛，但不知如何准备，于是发邮件向你求教，请用英语给他回复。

注意:

1.词数100左右；

2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；

3.开头和结尾已为你写好，不计入总词数。

Dear Frank,

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Best wishes,

Li Hua