Engineers have put a huge garbage collector to gather plastic material in the Pacific Ocean between California and Hawaii, the world's largest spread of garbage, twice the size of the state of Texas.

The Ocean Cleanup organization created the collector. The group's founder, Boyan Slat, an inventor born in 1994, was just 16 when he was moved to clean up the oceans when he was on a dive and saw more plastic bags than fish

Last Saturday, a ship pulling the pipe-shaped floating barrier left San Francisco. Attached to it is a screening skirt that hangs three meters down in the water. The screen is designed to collect the plastic as it moves through the water. Sea animals can safely swim under the barrier

The cleanup system also comes with lights powered by the sun, cameras, and other special devices, so the system can communicate its position at all times. That way a support ship can find it every few months to remove the plastic that has been collected.

Shipping containers will hold all the plastic gathered , including bottles and fishing equipment and are expected to be back on land within a year. Then the plastic will be recycled. The free-floating barriers are made to survive extreme weather conditions and damage from continual use. They will stay in the water for twenty years , thus collecting 90% ofthe garbage in the area.

The Ocean Cleanup has received $ 35 million in donations to pay for the project, hoping to put 60 free-floating barriers in the Pacific Ocean by 2020. "It's important to turn off the taps on plastic entering the ocean, but I also think people can do more than one thing at a time to deal with this problem," Slat said.

1.What drove Slat to invent the collector?

A. The interest in invention

B. His failure to dive due to rubbish.

C. The sight oftoo many plastic bags

D. His knowledge ofgarbage in the Pacific Ocean

2.How does the floating barrier work?

A. It reaches into the water to collect the plastic

B. It has large containers to produce power

C. 'It forms barriers to protect sea animals

D. A ship drags it along in the ocean.

3.Which does the underlined word "it" in paragraph 4 refer to?

A. The support ship.

B. The floating barrier

C. The plastic to be recycled.

D. The position of special devices.

4.What is important for protecting the ocean according to Slat?

A. Sending more collectors into the ocean

B. Inventing more ocean cleanup devices

C. Stopping plastic from entering the ocean

D. Banning the use ofplastic bags in boats

    My wife and I went to this vegan(严格的素食主义的) restaurant to give it a try. As we were eating our pepper and salt tofu, a young lady named Debra walked in. She wasn't aware that the place is vegan and was looking for some meat. My wife and I talked up the place and invited her over to try some of our tofu. Debra tried it, nodded and went out.

After a few minutes, she and her mother both walked back in. We were having the rest of our meal at that time, so we told her what we had ordered. Debra then asked the waitress to just repeat our order for them. Next , Debra said. "And we want to pay for their meal", pointing to my wife and me. We tried to say no, but Debra wouldn't listen.

That was not the end ofit. Hugs were in order. Debra came over to our table and my wife got up to hug her. Debra hugged my wife and put $ 100 into her hand. My wife firmly said NO, but Debra insisted. Debra kept talking about our kindness, and we did the same about hers and her mother's.With tears in the eyes, the workers were blown away by this whole exchange between four strangers.I left the waiters and waitresses a tip that would cover all ofour meals and we were on our way.

I've been witnessing so much kindness, especially over the last few years, as I began to pay more attention. We now have a new favorite restaurant and every time we go there my plan is to pay for someone else's meal.

1.Why did Debra go out after trying some tofu?

A. To bring her mother in. B. To look after her mother.

C. To get away from the food. D. To Iook for another restaurant

2.What did Debra insist on?

A. Hugging the author's wife B. Ordering a meal for the author

C. Treating the author and his wife D. Tipping the waiters and waitress

3.How did the workers feel when seeing the exchange between four strangers?

A. Curious B. Funny

C. Surprised D. Touched

4.What can we know about the author and Debra?

A. They've been friends. B. They were both vegan

C. They met forvthe first time D. They once worked together

Four books that will change your life

If you're already working 9-5, you might not have much time to read. With the Blinkist app, you can get the key information from the best nonfiction books in minutes, not hours or days. Start with the four most-read titles on self-improvement.

Thirteen Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do by Amy Morin

You can't escape misfortune in life. But you can change how you respond to it.Do you struggle to get over your failures? Or live with things out of your control? Getting over these troubles can have a great influence on your everyday life, Morin shares how her most successful therapy（治疗）patients overcame these difficulties.

How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie

Ever wondered why you can't stop worrying about something? No matter how hard you try, do you focus on the same issue? By defining the source of your stress, you can get over it once and for all. Camegie came up with an effective way that helps you deal with any over-thinking situation.

Finding Your Element by Ken Rotoinson

Society often encourages us to follow a certain linear plan. Everyone has a passion. If you don't know what yours is, it just means you haven't discovered it yet. Or perhaps you have, buth disappeared early in life. Find out how you can break free of society's strict rules and find your calling in life.

Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman

Did you know if your pulse rate rises above 100 bpm, you're considered too emotional to think rationally（理智地）? You probably let feelings cloud your judgment more often than you know. Goleman explains how you can avoid letting your emotions rule you and make better decisions in life.

1.What is Amy Morin's book mainly about?

A. Unavoidable failures in life.

B. Life stories of successful people

C. Methods of treating mental diseases

D. Approaches to handling challenges in life.

2.What does the book by Ken Robinson encourage us to do?

A. Draw up our own plans. B. Discover what we truly love.

C. Follow a certain linear plan. D. Obey society's strict rules.

3.Whose book helps us learn how to control our emotions?

A. Amy Morin's B. Dale Carnegie's

C. Ken Robinson's D. Daniel Goleman's

假定你是李华，你从某网站上得知山西省博物馆正在招募暑假英语讲解员,请你根据以 下提示,给博物馆负责外国游客接待的Mr. Jason写一封英文自荐信.内容包括:

1. 表达意愿；2. 自荐理由；3. 恳请获准。

注意:1.词数100左右；2.可以适当增加细节,以使行文连贯。

参考词汇:讲解员interpreter

Dear Mr. Jason,

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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处语言错误,每句中最多有两处。每处错谋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Λ，并在其下面写出该加的词。

删除:把多余的词用斜线(\)划掉。

修改:在错的词下画一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。

注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；

2.只允许修改10处，多者(从第11处起)不计分

Yesterday, my fnend Meyer and I went to a cafeteria close to that I live. It turned out to be one of the most unforgettable experience I had ever had.

Small although it is, the cafeteria is very popular in our area. Upon arriving at the crowded cafeteria, we spot a large sign hanging on the wall reads:"Watch Your Hat and Overcoat.”

Meyer did. He kept turning all time, almost choking on his food. I kept on eating, with thought of my own coat on the hook. Final I couldn’t help but say,"You, stupid boy, stop to watching our coats. "

"I’m only watching mine, replied Meyer. "You has been gone for over half an hour."

阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) , the 1.(eight) wonder for the 21st cmtuiy. opened on the morning of October 24th, 2018. The bridge links three areas, making 2.much more convenient to travel from one to another. Since opening, the three-hour drive 3.Hong Kong$ Zhuhai and Macao 4.( shorten) to 30 minutes.

The project involved more than 400 new patents ，broke seven world records and featured 5.(independent) developed key techniques and design. After an 8-year struggle, the success of the HZMB achieves 6. several generations have been dreaming of, and amazes the whole world with its demonstration of perfect skills and high-level Chinese standards. The bridge is intended to be 7. (rely) for more than 120 years. From the Belt and Road Initiative to "Created in Chi- na" , there is always a group of people 8. (provide) strong technical support for each of the country’s huge projects. From the beginning in December 2009 to the day of the official opening, all 9. (walk) of life made great contributions to the design and construction of HZMB, contribu- ting 10. (wise) of China".

    A Florids woman walked into a Publix supermarket last week. She asked a（n） ____question at the bakery counter, “Are there any first-birthday cakes scheduled for __ over the weekend

Nick DeClemente, who works at the store, was initially __ by the request. He then asked if the woman had any __ person in mind. To his surprise, she didn’t.

The woman said, "No, I want to pay for one anonymously （匿名）,"

Minutes later, she started to burst into __. She then explained to him that her baby was bom __ one year ago and she wanted to __ his memoiy by paying for another 1-year-old’s birthday cake.

"I was a little lost for words just because of the deep __ I developed for her," DeClemente recalled. He ___a pile of cake orders and picked out an order for a birthday cake for a 1-year-old boy named David. The buttercream topped sheet cake, which __ at least 20 people, cost $32.99. The woman __ agreed to pay.

“She told me, “Thank you, and __ that I let her do this," DeClemente said” "I hope that this lady finds __ through this gift and that the customer receiving this gift will pay it __, "“I told her how much it made my __ especially because I have a little boy on the way and wished her many __ DeClemente said, explaining he was standing by the storeys front door as she was __.

The dad-to-be said he never got her name nor did he get a __ to explain to the customer whose cake was paid for the story behind the __ gesture — but he hopes their paths  ____gain.

1.A. common B. unusual C. personal D. difficult

2.A. pick-up B. decoration C. discount D. giveaway

3.A. amused B. struck C. confused D. disturbed

4.A. proud B. specific C. missinig D. famous

5.A. sobs B. laughter C. cheers D. applause

6.A. deaf B. blind C. lamb D. dead

7.A. erase B. collect C. store D. honor

8.A. mourning B. respect C. anxiety D. worry

9.A. went through B. came to C. looked for D. got by

10.A. feeds B. attracts C. serves D. fills

11.A. quietly B. regretflly C. proudly D. gladly

12.A. expected B. appreciated C. announced D. accepted

13.A. relief B. peace C. health D. satisfaction

14.A. back B. off C. forward D. up

15.A. day B. business C. success D. way

16.A. achievements B. fortunes C. blessings D. romances

17.A. leaving B. working C. buying D. wishing

18.A. right B. desire C. chance D. courage

19.A. smart B. sweet C. heroic D. polite

20.A. stop B. lead C. wind D. cross

    "Post-truth"was chosen by Oxford Dictionaries as the Word of the Year 2016. Indeed, digital misinformation is on the rise and it is hard for people to distinguish. 1.

Before the dawn of the Internet, Canadians regularly turned to trusting their preferred news¬papers or radio stations for the latest news. 2. It’s now coming at you from so many different sources that you need to take responsibility for what you’re seeing.

Experts recommend relying on a range of sources instead of just one, but looking into them first. 3. For example, the people connected, where they’re based, and their intention. A lack of information is certainly a warning.

Next, learning to recognize misinfonnation is important. False news spreads mostly through social media. So if you’re looking at news on Facebook, you have to handle it in a wiser way.4. Is it from a well-informed relative or a friend who regularly expresses extreme views? And whatever you do, only by clicking through can you see whether the information is accurate.

5. It has no limits in achieving that goal, so it plays on feelings and uses improper lan¬guage. Therefore, if you feel excited to share something immediately, that’s the time you should stop and ask, "Is it accurate?"If we all take that extra little pause, we’ll be able to stop this false thing from spreading.

A. Sources that are reliable tell you about themselves.

B. Fortunately, there are some simple ways to tell facts from fiction.

C. Consider who’s sharing it if it’s not posted directly from the source.

D. Today 42% of them use social media at least once a day to get their news.

E. Someone sets up "Hot Global News" , hoping the ad dollars would pour in.

F. False news is designed to seek attention in order to sell ads or make an idea public.

G. Evaluating sources and getting reliable news is important in the age of misinformation.

    It is becoming increasingly important for researchers to closely monitor our ocean life. Howev¬er, observing sea creatures Up close is almost impossible since human presence scares them. Now, thanks to The Soft Robotic Fish, also known as SoFi, researchers may be able to keep a close eye on the sea creatures.

Built by MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory ( CSAIL), the white re- mote-controlled robot resembles the real fish, complete with a tail that waves from side to side. Though not the first autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) created to monitor the ocean , SoFi set- tles many of the problems that have blocked the usefulness of the previous robot fish.

Previous AUVs have had to be linked to boats because radio frequency communications don’t work well underwater. To overcome the problem, Director of die CSALL Daniela Rus and her team used sound waves. The technology can travel greater distances allowing divers to pilot SoFi from up to 50 feet away.

Also limiting the usefulness of traditional AUVs is the risk of collision. With the outside made of soft silicone （硅树脂）rubber and flexible plastic that keeps its inbuilt electronics dry, SoFi po¬ses no such danger. " Collision avoidance often leads to unnecessary movement, since the robot has to settle for a collision-free path" , says Rus. "In contrast, a soft robot is not only more likely to survive a collision but also could use it as information to form a more workable movement plan next time around. "

During test dives, SoFi moved alongside the ocean life at depths of 50 feet for up to 40 minutes at a time, taking photos and making videos. The researchers say sometimes the fish would swim a- longside the strange-looking robot-fish out of curiosity, while at other times they took no notice of its existence.

While SoFi presently only records video, future versions will include sensors. The researchers also hope to make it more autonomous. "We imagine someday it might help us uncover more secrets from the amazing underwater world that we know so little about," says Rus.

1.What does the water think of SoFi?

A. It makes ocean creature detection easier.

B. It is the first AUV.

C. It is closely controlled.

D. It scares sea animals away.

2.According to para 3, which of the following is ture?

A. Sound waves travel faster than radio

B. Sound waves work better than radio underwater.

C. Previous AUVs use sound Avaves to communicate.

D. A boat travels along with SoFi on the water.

3.How does SoFi deal with collision?

A. It can benefit farom its inbuilt electronics.

B. It can avoid extra movement.

C. It can smartly adjust its movement plan.

D. It is set for a collision-free path.

4.What will happen to SoFi in the future?

A. SoFi can record videos.

B. SoFi will go invisible.

C. SoFi will be free from external control.

D. SoFi will be equipped with smart devices.

    It’s undeniable that spending time outdoors and in nature lifts our spirits and makes us feel more centered and at peace. When we breathe in fresh air, and enjoy the beauty of trees, streams and oceans, we naturally tend to feel more connected to ourselves and others.

Over the past decade, scientists have been exploring why nature — and dirt specifically — is such a powerful tool in improving our mood. According to researchers, the secret may lie in the mi¬crobes （微生物）of the soil. One bacterium specifically----Mycobacterium Vaccae （M. Vaccae） —has been identified as having the power to affect our moods and cognitive function as well.

Experiments conducted at Sage Colleges in New York found that contact with M. Vaccae can increase serotonin levels in the brain — a chemical that is associated with higher levels of happi¬ness ,increased focus, and reduced anxiety. In order to explore how the bacteria can improve learn¬ing, researchers Dory Mathews and Susan Jenks experimented with mice in a maze. Mice that in¬gested the bacteria navigated the maze twice as fast as the control group and proved less anxious as well.

Humans can absorb M. Vaccae just by playing in the dirt. We take in it when we breathe, we consume it in organic vegetables, and it can also enter our bloodstream through skin contact, espe¬cially where we have open cuts. This may explain why children in school perform better after break.

Neuroscientist Christopher Lowry at the University of Bristol in England believes that he has i- dentified why this incredible bacterium works. "What we think happens is that the bacteria activate immune cells, which release chemicals called cytokines that then act on receptors on the sensory nerves to increase their activity. ”

Beyond the power of M. Vaceae, scientists have been proving for decades that exposure to dirt, and the huge number of microbes found in dirt, can strengthen our immune system. When our body comes into contact with bacteria, it stores die infonnation in a type of library and can then use that information to fight sickness and infection more effectively.

Happiness, focus, less anxiety......I’ll  take a double dose of dirt; please!

1.What raises people’s spirits while spending time outdoors?

A. Air. B. Trees.

C. Water D. Dirt.

2.How does M. Vaccae work?

A. By working on sensory nerves. B. By fighting sickness and infisction,

C. By strengthening the immune system. D. By making immune cells active.

3.According to the text, what does the author intend to do next?

A. Provide some advice on reducing anxiety for readers,

B. Summarize the previous paragraphs about lifting one’s mood.

C. Explain how he or she will expose himself or herself to dirt.

D. Introduce a new topic related to dirt for discussion.

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

A. Fight Sickness and Infection More Effectively

B. How Getting Dirty Can Actually lift Your Mood

C. Let’s Take a Deep Breath of Fresh Air

D. Enjoy Beauty and Naturally Connect to Others

    I have learned something about myself since I moved from Long Island to Florida three years ago. Even though I own a home in Port St. Lucie just minutes from the ocean, an uncontrollable urge wells up to return to Long Island even as others make their way south. I guess I am a snowbird stuck in reverse. Instead of enjoying Florida’s mild winters, I willingly endure the severe weather on Long Island, the place I called home for 65 years.

I’m like a migratory bird that has lost its sense of timing and direction, my wings flapping a- gainst season.

So what makes me fly against the tide of snowbirds? The answer has a lot to do with my reluc¬tance to give up the things that define who I am. Once I hear that the temperature on Long Island has dipped into the range of 40 to 50 degrees, I begin to long for the sight and crackling sound of a wood fire. I also long for the bright display o£ colors — first in the £all trees, and then in the limits around homes and at Rockefeller Center. Floridians decorate too, but can’t create the special feel of a New England winter.

I suppose the biggest reason why I telum is to celebrate the holidays with people I haven’t seen in months. What could be better than sitting with family and friends for a Thanksgiving turkey din ner, or watching neighbors’ children excitedly open gifts on Christmas? Even the first snowfall seems special. I especially enjoy seeing a bright red bird settling on a snow-covered branch ( My wife and I spend winters at a retirement community in Ridge, and I’m grateful that I don’t have to shovel.）

While these simple pleasures are not unique to Long Island, they are some of the reasmis why I come back. Who says you can’t go home?

1.What does the underlined word "snowbird" in Paragraph 1 refer to?

A. A person spending winter in a warmer climate.

B. A bird seen chiefly in winter.

C. A person permanently living in a foreign country.

D. A bird flying to the south in winter.

2.What’s the difference between Florida and Long Island?

A. Winters in Long Island are milder.

B. The snowbirds in Long Island are rarer.

C. Weather in Long Island is severer.

D. Long Island is nearer to the ocean.

3.What did the author miss most when he was in Florida

A. The cold temporature. B. The colorful light display.

C. The family gathering. D. The winter landscape.

4.What’s the author’s purpose in writing the text?

A. To praise the beauty and warmth of his hometown.

B. To describe his dream to be a free bird.

C. To explain the reasons for moving from his hometown.

D. To express his feeling of missing his hometown.

    The popular image of the mountain climber is of a person carefully climbing a steep cliff with a network of safety ropes, but it is not the only kind. Many climbers now enjoy bouldering. It’s more accessible and better for the environment.

Here is an example of a climber addressing a bouldering problem.

Figure 1: The climber has two routes she could take, one to the left and one to the right. The left one appears easier because it has a jug within easy reach, but look what happens if she chooses that direction. She gets stuck on the rock and has to go back down. Sometimes that is even more difficult than going up.

Figure 2: The climber takes the one to the right this time. Using a foothold and placing her righ hand in a crimp, she is able to lift herself up and locate other handholds. After only a few moves, she is able to throw her leg over the top of the boulder and pull herself up.

1.What can we leam about bouldering?

A. It is a popular indoor sport.

B. It is a kind of climbing without ropes,

C. It needs maps and equipment.

D. It is a steep cliff climbing.

2.Why does bouldering become popular?

A. Because it challenges the limits. B. Because it is not readily available.

C. Because it builds minds and bodies. D. Because it ia a team game.

3.According to the example, what is the right route usually like?

A. It is a shortcut. B. It a dead end.

C. It is tough but to the top. D. It is lined with jugs.

假设你是李华，你的英国笔友Mike即将完成学业，不久前来信就是否到中国工作询问你的意见。请根据以下提示回一封电子邮件：

1. 建议他可以来中国；

2. 阐述你的三条理由；

3. 承诺可提供帮助。

注意：1.词数不少于100字;

2.文章开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数；

3.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

Dear Mike,

I’m very glad to have received the letter you sent me last week.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Best wishes.

Yours truly,

Li Hua

阅读表达

Tim Harris, a young man with Down’s syndrome(唐氏综合症), hasn’t let his disability stop him from opening a restaurant in New Mexico.

Tim’s Place, a restaurant in Albuquerque, New Mexico, serves up traditional diner favorites such as blueberry pancakes, bacon, eggs, and cheeseburgers—all with hugs.  Considered as the “world’s friendliest restaurant,” it has served more than 32,400 hugs to hungry customers. The restaurant’s owner, Tim Harris, has made it his mission to hug every visitor who comes in.

Harris, who has Down’s syndrome, has never let his disability get in his way. Since age 14, he’s promised to own a restaurant. He got a part-time job and worked as a restaurant host when he was in high school, and then graduated from Eastern New Mexico University with certificates in Food Service and Office Skills. After that, with his family’s help and support, Harris’ childhood dream became a reality. Alongside the Mexican and traditional American food, Tim’s Place’s menu offers “calorie-free” and “guilt-free” hugs.

“I love giving all the customers a hug because I want them to feel comfortable and connected and being around friends,” Harris told Albuquerque The Magazine. Customers seem to love it too. Many of the regulars have been going every week ever since the restaurant opened. To his family’s knowledge, Harris is the only restaurant owner in the United States with Down’s syndrome. But they’re hoping he won’t be the last.

Harris wants to show other people with disabilities what’s possible. “We’ve had several families with young children with disabilities who have come in or written, saying they never thought this would be possible for their sons or daughters. It’s altering the way they’re thinking as they’re raising their young children.” Harris’ mother, Jeanne, told KRQE News 13.

1.Why is Tim’s Place called the “world’s friendliest restaurant”? (no more than 8 words)

2.What is the customers’ attitude towards Harris’ service? (no more than 5 words)

3.What message does Harris want to deliver to the disabled? (no more than 10 words)

4.What does the underlined word “altering” in Paragraph 5 mean? (1 word)

5.Would you like to have breakfast in Tim’s restaurant? Why? (no more than 15 words)

    For as long as there have been gifts, we naturally make choices based on the recipient (接受者). But what if we have been wrong all along and that we could turn things around, which not only made gift buying easier, but the recipient happier?

In 2015, psychologists Lauren Human and Lara Aknin conducted an online survey, which suggested that when people buy gifts, they prefer to choose something based on the recipient’s personality and tastes. Most people also said that they preferred receiving gifts bought with them in mind: gifts for them.

But Human and Aknin wondered if this approach to giving failed to take advantage of the way we connect as people. So they sent 78 volunteers into a shopping centre before Mother’s Day. Half were told to buy a card that “reveals(揭示) your knowledge of the recipient” while the others set out to buy a card that “reveals your true self”. After the purchase, the givers who had thought partly of themselves reported feeling emotionally closer to their mothers.

To find out how that approach goes down with recipients, the psychologists did another test, asking more than 100 students to choose a song on iTunes to give to a friend, partner or family member. Each half of the group received the same instructions as the card buyers. Results revealed that recipients of songs that revealed something of the givers felt closer to them than those who received gifts bought only with them in mind.

Human and Aknin suggest it might apply to all gifts. “If building stronger social connections is the underlying (潜在的) goal” of a gift and surely it should be—then we “may well be advised to offer more self-reflective gifts”. In short, for a present to be meaningful, you need to give away a bit of yourself, even if there is a risk that the gift might not so closely suit the recipient’s practical needs or tastes as one acquired purely with that in mind.

Moreover, giving something of oneself can be a safer act, the psychologists added. Because it reduces the risk of revealing poor knowledge of a recipient by attempting to buy something that fits their character—and failing.

But a note of caution here: what the research does not examine is the potential risk in repeated, unsympathetic giver-centered giving, which, according to Human and Aknin “could signal self-obsession” —and nobody wants to reveal that about themselves.

1.From the Mother’s Day card test, we can conclude that        .

A. gifts chosen with the giver in mind work well on the giver

B. most people choose gifts with the recipient in mind

C. most people choose gifts based on their personal tastes

D. gifts chosen with the giver in mind work well on the recipient

2.What do the underlined words “them, them” refer to in order of appearance?

A. The recipients; the givers. B. The givers; the recipients.

C. The givers; the givers. D. The recipients; the recipients.

3.What does the author think is the significance of gift giving?

A. Making the giver’s life happier.

B. Showing one’s knowledge of the recipient.

C. Establishing and strengthening social connections.

D. Meeting the recipient’s practical needs.

4.Which of the following is Human and Aknin’s advice on gift giving?

A. Choose gifts that reflect more of yourself.

B. Just focus on your own tastes when choosing gifts.

C. Buy something that fits the recipient’s character most.

D. Be careful not to signal your true personality.

5.Which is the best title of this passage?

A. The tradition of gift giving. B. The purpose of gift giving.

C. The effect of gift giving. D. The psychology of gift giving.

    Tiny microbes(微生物) are at the heart of a new agricultural technique to manage harmful greenhouse gas. Scientists have discovered how microbes can be used to turn carbon dioxide into soil-enriching limestone(石灰石), with the help of a type of tree that grows in tropical areas, such as West Africa.

Researchers have found that when the Iroko tree is grown in dry, acidic soil and treated with a combination of natural fungi(霉菌) and other bacteria, not only does the tree grow well, it also produces the mineral limestone in the soil around its root.

The Iroko tree makes a mineral by combining Ca from the earth with CO2 from the atmosphere. The bacteria then create the conditions under which this mineral turns into limestone. The discovery offers a new way to lock carbon into the soil, keeping it out of the atmosphere. In addition to storing carbon in the trees’ leaves and in the form of limestone, the mineral in the soil makes it more suitable for agriculture.

The discovery could lead to reforestation(重新造林) projects in tropical countries, and help reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in the developing world. It has already been used in West Africa and is being tested in Bolivia, Haiti and India.

The findings were made in a three-year project involving researchers from the Universities of Edinburgh, Granada, Lausanne and Delft University of Technology. The project examined several microbiological methods of locking CO2 as limestone, and the Iroko-bacteria way showed best results. Work was funded by the European Commission under the Future&Emerging Technologies(FET) scheme.

Dr Bryne Ngwenya of the University of Edinburgh’s School of GeoSciences, who led the research, said:“By taking advantage of this natural limestone-producing process, we have a low-tech, safe, readily employed and easily operating way to lock carbon out of the atmosphere, while improving farming conditions in tropical countries.”

1.The passage is mainly introducing        .

A. some useful natural fungi and bacteria

B. a new way to deal with greenhouse gas

C. a newly-found tree in West Africa

D. the soil-enriching limestone created by scientists

2.Which of the following is True about tiny microbes?

A. Most tiny microbes like living in dry, acidic soil.

B. CO2 can be broken down by natural fungi and bacteria.

C. The more greenhouse gas is, the more active tiny microbes become.

D. Tiny microbes get along well with the Iroko tree in special soil.

3.What does the underlined word “it” in paragraph 3 probably refer to?

A. Carbon dioxide.

B. Carbon.

C. Soil.

D. Limestone.

4.According to the passage, what can we infer?

A. The action of the tiny microbes can increase the oxygen in the earth.

B. Researchers have done the experiment on trees in Africa for three years.

C. Researchers tend to use natural power to solve their problem.

D. West Africa is one of the most polluted areas all over the world.

5.According to the passage, the Iroko-bacteria method        .

A. can be used to improve the farming land

B. can save a lot of seriously destroyed woods

C. has been popularized in Bolivia, Haiti and India

D. should be spread all around the world in the future

    Susan Sontag (1933—2004) was one of the most noticeable figures in the world of literature. For more than 40 years she made it morally necessary to know everything—to read every book worth reading, to see every movie worth seeing. When she was still in her early 30s, publishing essays in such important magazines as Partisan Review, she appeared as the symbol of American culture life, trying hard to follow every new development in literature, film and art. With great effort and serious judgment, Sontag walked at the latest edges of world culture.

Seriousness was one of Sontag’s lifelong mottos, but at a time when the barriers between the well-educated and the poorly-educated were obvious, she argued for a true openness to the pleasure of pop culture. In Notes Camp, the 1964 essay that first made her name, she explained what was then a little-known set of difficult understandings, through which she could not have been more famous. Notes on Camp, she wrote, represents “a victory of ‘form’ over ‘content’, ‘beauty’ over ‘morals’”.

By conviction(信念) she was a sensualist(感觉论者), but by nature she was a moralist, and in the works she published in the 1970s and 1980s, it was the latter side of her that came forward. In Illness as Metaphor—published in 1978, after she suffered cancer—she argued against the idea that cancer was somehow a special problem of repressed (被压抑的) personalities, a concept that effectively blamed the victim for the disease. In fact, re-examining old concepts was her lifelong habit.

In America, her story of a 19th century Polish actress who set up a perfect society in California, won the National Book Award in 2000. But what made her achieve lasting fame was a tireless, all-purpose cultural view.

“Sometimes,” she once said, “I feel that, in the end, all I am really defending… is the idea of seriousness, of true seriousness.” And in the end, she made us take it seriously too.

1.It is implied but not stated in the first paragraph that Sontag        .

A. was a symbol of American cultural life

B. developed world literature, film and arts

C. published many essays about world culture

D. kept pace with the newest development of world culture

2.She first won her name through        .

A. publishing essays in magazines like Partisan Review

B. her story of a Polish actress

C. her explanation of a set of difficult understandings

D. her book Illness as Metaphor

3.From the works Susan published in the 1970s and 1980s, we can learn that        .

A. she was more of a moralist than a sensualist

B. she was more of a sensualist than a moralist

C. she believed repressed personalities mainly led to illness

D. She would like to re-examine old positions

4.According to the passage, Susan Sontag would agree to the ideas except        .

A. We should try hard to follow every new development in literature, film and art.

B. Cancer can be defeated because it is a special problem of repressed personalities.

C. ‘Form’ should be over ‘content’, ‘beauty’ should be over ‘morals’.

D. We should defend the idea of seriousness, of true seriousness.

5.What is the passage mainly about?

A. A lifelong motto: seriousness.

B. Susan Sontag is the symbol of American culture.

C. How Susan Sontag became famous.

D. An introduction to Susan Sontag and her motto.

What is Small-sided Soccer?

Small-sided Soccer starts with games of 3-on-3 from the youngest participants and progresses to 4-on-4, 7-on-7, 11-on-11, in a graduated manner for the older groups. Our school’s training course will give kids a better chance to take part in the game and get excited about the game of soccer. The small-sided approach gives each child more individualized attention so they can each improve their skills. And, it’s FUN!

Some general practical information

·Cafeteria is open.

·We supply participants with soccer clothes and football boots.

·Please bring a water bottle for your child.

Soccer season training times

Costs

The cost is $70 per month for Tykes and PeeWees and $115 for all the other teams.

Volunteering

Can I coach?

Of course! Our training course is always looking for volunteer coaches. We will provide coaches with plans for activities and training, and help set up the small-sided fields. It’s a great opportunity to get involved with kids and help develop their love for sports.

How can I volunteer in other ways?

It’s your club and you are welcome to volunteer! There are volunteer opportunities with programs, fields, publicity, facilities, uniforms, website development and the board, to name a few. Let us know how you’d like to help—and we’ll put you to work!

Do parents stay?

Yes. Parents are strongly encouraged to stay and support their children and the club. The club is a volunteer-run organization. Parents and athletes are encouraged to help with clean-up and set-up activities.

If you have any questions about program specifics, please contact recreational soccer coordinator(协调者), Pablo Vercelli, at recreationalsoccer@abfsport.nl. Tel: 043-239-4409.

1.What do you know about the training course?

A. It is a free training course for children.

B. It offers three meals a day for free.

C. It teaches students according to their interest.

D. It will make children get excited about soccer.

2.What should participants take to the training course?

A. Soccer. B. Soccer clothes.

C. A water bottle. D. Football boots.

3.What can we learn from the passage?

A. Both Tykes and BoysE&F have classes on Sunday.

B. Both Tykes and PeeWees have the same charging standard.

C. Pablo Vercelli was the founder of Small-sided Soccer.

D. Parents who help with clean-up don’t need to pay for the course.

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

A. There are two ways to contact the school.

B. Parents are not allowed to stay with their children.

C. All the coaches in the school are professional.

D. Children who are over 11 are not allowed to attend the course.

5.Where do you probably read the article?

A. In a science fiction. B. In a newspaper.

C. In a medical magazine. D. In a guidebook.

    From a young age, I was taught to be kind to people around. My parents ________ explained to me the importance of giving help generously to the less ________. So out of habit, whenever there is something I can ________, I give it to someone on the streets.

Last week, as I left the house for work, I carried with me some ________ clothes, a handbag and some food to hand over to someone ________.

As the car ________ at a traffic red light, I saw a girl of five or six asking for money. I ________ her to come to me and quickly ________ all the stuff I had and put them into the handbag. As I started handing it over, she seemed ________. She looked up at me with a sweet smile on her face and asked what was in the ________. I told her there were some clothes and food for her.

Once again she ________ me, “Can you give me some water?” It was then that I ________ her dry lips. It seemed that she had not had a ________  of water all day. I ________ the water bottle that I always carry with me and helped her to drink from it. She finished it quickly and gave me a heartwarming smile of ________.

I was thankful that I could ________ what she really wished and realized once again that day that you don’t necessarily have to make big ________ to help someone. And this incident, as well as a lot that followed,______my belief in the simple acts of kindness and how they can make someone’s day.

Next time you want to do something nice for someone, don’t ________, seizing the    right ________, or it would be late. Go ahead and do it!

1.A. cheerfully B. confidently C. particularly D. smoothly

2.A. difficult B. rich C. comfortable D. fortunate

3.A. find B. exchange C. spare D. abandon

4.A. casual B. worn C. old D. fashionable

5.A. needy B. clumsy C. lucky D. lonely

6.A. pulled B. stopped C. approached D. drew

7.A. wanted B. ordered C. touched D. signaled

8.A. threw B. collected C. dragged D. dropped

9.A. surprised B. embarrassed C. panicked D. worried

10.A. bag B. pocket C. car D. hand

11.A. waved at B. looked up at C. shook hands with D. nodded at

12.A. realized B. watched C. recognized D. noticed

13.A. bottle B. drop C. lot D. cup

14.A. pointed out B. gave out C. picked out D. took out

15.A. satisfaction B. communication C. appreciation D. expectation

16.A. afford B. offer C. understand D. remember

17.A. donations B. differences C. senses D. kindness

18.A. strengthened B. changed C. shook D. destroyed

19.A. hold out B. hold on C. hold back D. hold down

20.A. idea B. power C. position D. opportunity

You didn’t let me drive. If we ________ by turns, you ________ so tired.

A. drove; didn’t get B. drove; wouldn’t get

C. were driving; wouldn’t get D. had driven; wouldn’t have got

The police are investigating the company, three of ________ managers have already been arrested.

A. whose B. that

C. which D. where

He is a bad-tempered fellow, but he ________ be quite charming when he wishes.

A. shall B. should

C. can D. must

Only after he was brought to the police station did the boy ________ he had stolen some purses from other passengers.

A. participate B. acknowledge

C. realize D. summarize

—What did he do in return for free ________ and food offered by the kind couple?

—He helped their son with his lessons.

A. conservation B. admission

C. accommodation D. immigration

Not until I went up further ________ that under the tree ________, obviously sound asleep.

A. that I saw; did a boy lie B. I saw; lay a boy

C. did I see; did a boy lie D. did I see; lay a boy

The students have decided on a final date by which everyone         reading the books assigned by their professor.

A. finishes B. finished

C. have finished D. will have finished

Bob made a promise to the manager ________ the work would all be finished on time.

A. that B. what

C. which D. whether

The people in the village are so         that they are willing to help every visitor.

A. optimistic B. energetic

C. enthusiastic D. ambitious

The little boy stared at the strange man questioningly, not         whether to believe what he had said.

A. to know B. knowing

C. known D. having known

The athletes, especially the winners, should remain modest ________ rapid progress they have made.

A. whatever B. however

C. how much D. no matter