When I was three years old, I couldn’t speak. It was a strange reality that none of the doctors I visited could understand.

One day, I was shadowing（跟随）my mother. She found herself looking in a mirror, and through it our eyes met. She began to speak to me through the reflection, and I slowly began to mimic（模仿）her mouth’s movements until I formed a word.

It turned out I’m deaf in my left ear, and have a slight problem in my right. Being hard of hearing has been difficult, but I’ve never lived in a state of self-hating sorrow.

Imagine being able to shut out all sound as you lay your head down to sleep by simply rolling over onto one side. That’s my reality when I sleep on my “good ear”, and it makes me feel like a superhero sometimes.

People call my deaf side my “bad ear”, but when I wear my hearing aid, I have access to a range of features that some other deaf people don’t. In cinemas, for example, with one click of a button I can enjoy a whole film as though it were whispered to me from the mouths of the actors.

Owning a hearing aid hasn’t always felt good, however. On the first day I got my aid, when I was eight, I took it to school for show-and-tell. As I explained how it worked to my classmates, a boy yelled out, “Aren’t those for old men?” At that moment, I felt different. It took me a long time to get over that sense of being so unlike my peers.

But it’s not just school kids who can make us deaf and hard-of-hearing people feel like burdens. Every video on social media that lacks subtitles（字幕）, for example, means an entire community of deaf people is unable to enjoy it. Completely deaf people are excluded from enjoying many movies too, as subtitles in cinemas are almost impossible to find.

And with hearing aids costing around $2,500 each, it can be hard for many people to afford to be able to listen to the things that others take for granted. As for me, I can listen to music, enjoy films, and catch conversations – I’m lucky. I’m deaf, but I can still hear everything. I’ve been blessed with wonderful life experiences, and I am human. And when it comes to sleeping, I’m even superhuman.

1.How does the author view his hearing difficulty?

A. It’s a disaster and causes him a lot of trouble.

B. It gave him a chance to experience something special.

C. It made him feel embarrassed in front of his classmates.

D. It helped him to live in his own world without being interrupted.

2.What can be inferred from the passage about the author?

A. He was born deaf.

B. He is optimistic and helpful.

C. The hearing aid brings convenience to his daily life.

D. His family and classmates have supported him a lot.

3.What is the author’s attitude toward his life？

A. Excited.

B. Anxious.

C. Grateful.

D. Disappointed.

4.What is the author’s main purpose in writing the article?

A. To give advice on life to disabled people.

B. To show how difficult life is for disabled people.

C. To show the convenience a hearing aid could bring.

D. To share his experience of treating a disadvantage with gratitude.

Bus Tours in Washington DC

The Lights Night Tour in Washington DC

Duration: 3 hours   $56.33

Highest-rated Night Tour in DC! The ONLY DC Night Tour where the Tour Guides HOP OFF with you at each stop and tell you about each monument and attraction. Hop aboard the The Lights Night Tour! The best time to take a tour of Washington DC is at night.

Best Mount Vernon & Arlington Cemetery Tour from Washington DC

Duration: 6 hours   $78.96

See Arlington Cemetery, Old Town Alexandria and George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate on this small group bus tour from Washington DC. Your tour guide will accompany you through Mount Vernon, telling you about all of the attractions there and the history of George Washington’s home on the Potomac River.

The Best Minibus Tour in Washington DC

Duration: 3 hours    $46.92

See all the key attractions DC has to offer in a 3-hour format. You will learn all about the history and trivia that surrounds Washington and visit the major monuments and attractions DC has to offer.

Please Note: Rates for this tour vary by day of the week. When you choose your specific date on the availability calendar, the rates for that date will be displayed.

The Blossoms Tour in Washington DC

Duration: 3 hours    $56.99

BEST WAY to Experience the Cherry Blossoms! Each year from mid March to mid April, see the beautiful Cherry Blossoms in Washington DC and get great photos because you’ll be led to all the best spots by the best guides. The annual spring bloom in DC is a magical time and this tour promises to provide the very best tour opportunity for you!

1.Which tour would provide you with a sightseeing boat?

A. The Blossoms Tour.

B. The Lights Night Tour.

C. The Best Minibus Tour.

D. Best Mount Vernon & Arlington Cemetery Tour.

2.What is special about The Best Minibus Tour?

A. Its price is not fixed.

B. The best time to take it is at night.

C. The tour guide accompanies you.

D. You can get great photos of cherry.

3.Which date suits The Blossoms Tour most?

A. July 4.

B. August 15.

C. March 27.

D. October 8.

假定你是李华，你的家乡将举行庆祝首个“中国农民丰收节”( Chinese Farmers' HarvestFestival)活动，请你写封邮件，邀请你的新西兰朋友Eric来参加，内容包括:

1.时间和地点；

2.活动内容(民俗文化表演、美食品尝及观光活动等)。

注意:

1.词数100左右；

2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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(A)，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II处起)不计分。

Last weekend l went fishing with my cousins by a river, where was two miles away from my home by bike. When we were about to return for home, we found one of our bike lost. We were really nervous then. Asking about the lost bike, nobody told the truth except me. And to my surprise, my parents don't scold me. Instead, they said l was a honest boy. I have benefited great from my family rules. I'm not the best at school work, but classmates trust me and nearly everyone is willing to making friends with me. It helps me know better about "Honesty is the best policy."

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。

New Year in Chinese eyes is a family reunion. However, in foreigners' eyes, it is not only a kind of homesickness, but a spring migration(迁徙).Every year 1. (see) the largest annual mass migration on the planet 2. one sixth of the world's population travel home to celebrate 3. their families. That is around a billion people 4. (make) 3.5 billion journeys in a 40-day period. Meanwhile, over 250 million rail joumeys are made across China during the festival.

Last year, 5.6 million rail tickets5. (sell) in a single day. Every new year in the heartland of industrial China thousands upon thousands of motorcyclists brave the weather and hit the road, determined to make 6. home.

The Chinese New Year 7. (celebrate) is also known as the Spring Festival. It lasts 15 days. It is the main holiday of the Chinese calendar. In modem China, 8. (search) for work, many people have to move away from home. And they will travel home to be with the loved ones during the Spring Festival. In Chinese New Year, modem and 9. (tradition) customs are brought together when the Chinese celebrate the Spring Festival. Nowadays, not only does China have the 10. (fast) growing modem cities in the world, but the landscapes are also truly diverse.

    When Charles Barkley's mother passed away, Barkley's hometown came to the funeral. But a(n) __ guest also came. He wasn't a basketball player or from Barkley's hometown. More ___, he was my dad-a scientist.

My dad said he ___ about Barkley long before he met him. Whenever we ___ dinner parties, he would talk about Barkley. Basketball has never been my thing. I ___some key words into a search engine to____something about Barkley. He seemed pretty famous and ___not like anyone who would be friends with my dad.

But the friendship was real.

My dad ____ made a slide of photos of him and Barkley together for our community's Chinese New Year party- totally irrelevant to the ____. I asked him what made them become friends.

"As an Asian in the U.S., we had a good ___," he said. "We agree on many views."

They believed the color of their skin didn't ___ .

But on a Sunday afternoon my dad passed away. Everyone was ______ as Barkley attended the funeral. "It gives me great ___and joy to know I was a friend of his," Barkley said. "Just hearing about him at the ______ -what he had achieved and what he was trying to help others ___, touched me I ___he would be known to many people."

At the funeral, people ___ memories of my dad. I realize that even after he passed away, I would continue to _______things about him.

The story of his friendship with Barkley was not just a ____with a famous person-it threw light on the ___ of this world.

1.A. frequent B. unexpected C. average D. unwelcome

2.A. specifically B. importantly C. carefully D. strictly

3.A. cared B. worried C. thought D. knew

4.A. held B. organized C. attended D. arranged

5.A. read B. forgot C. sent D. typed

6.A. find out B. apply for C. talk about D. pick up

7.A. potentially B. accidentally C. deliberately D. certainly

8.A. still B. also C. even D. already

9.A. experience B. holiday C. player D. friendship

10.A. chance B. conversation C. argument D. choice

11.A. bum B. differ C. matter D. shine

12.A. astonished B. thrilled C. annoyed D. disappointed

13.A. moments B. memories C. relief D. comfort

14.A. meeting B. hometown C. party D. funeral

15.A. accomplish B. contribute C. develop D. gain

16.A. wished B. declared C. suspected D. confirmed

17.A. improved B. refreshed C. shared D. lost

18.A. spread B. learn C. obtain D. mourn

19.A. connection B. coincidence C. phenomenon D. relationship

20.A. benefits B. responsibilities C. possibilities D. varieties

    Choosing a major is a very important thing in our life. However, at the same time, it can be extremely challenging. So it's necessary to learn some simple tips that will make your decision much easier. 1. And how does that choice affect your future career? We can help guide you in choosing a major.

Your major is your primary field of study in your undergraduate (大学的 ) program. It is the subject in which you earn your bachelor's degree. After completing a list of general education courses, you spend the rest of the time studying one subject of your choice. 2..

For many students, it's best to try out different classes to figure out a major you'll like, but you need to have a couple of solid choices. 3., you should begin taking courses you are required to complete before graduation, so it will decrease your chances of needing to switch majors later because you already know what to expect.

4., you should begin thinking about how your field will lead to a job as soon as possible. Consider clubs, research programs and part-time jobs related to potential career choices for your major.

For more career-specific majors like nursing and engineering, the majority of your studies will include skills that can be used in a future job. 5.The sooner you begin working in a lab, on research projects or helping as a teaching assistant for a professor, the better you'II be able to figure out your career.

A. You have to think of ways to choose a major

B. Be sure that you choose a major that suits your interests

C. Once you have a better idea of which major you like best

D. While your major may or may not lead directly to a career

E. Do some research to find out which majors can help you get that job

F. Roughly one-third to one-half of your courses will be related to your major

G. However, you should still consider doing activities outside of the classroom to better prepare you

    An exciting landing process of Chang'e-4 lunar probe (月球探测器 ) was seen through the monitor at Beijing Aerospace Control Center in Beijing, Jan. 3, 2019. It touched down on the far side of the moon at 10:26 a.m. Beijing Time, becoming the first spacecraft soft-landing on the moon's unknown side never visible from Earth.

China's Chang'e-4 probe has started the exploration on the far side of the moon thanks to the relay satellite that provides a communication link with ground control. The relay satellite, named Queqiao, meaning Magpie Bridge, after a Chinese legend (传说 ) , was launched on May 21, 2018, and became the first communication satellite operating in the halo orbit, nearly 500,000 km from the earth. It can also provide communication for probes from other countries. The relay satellite will also be used for scientific and technological experiments. The maximum distance between the satellite and the Chang'e-4 probe on the far side of the moon is 79,000 km. The satellite processes data from the probe and sends it to Earth.

The satellite can stay in its orbit for a long time due to its relatively low fuel consumption, as the earth's and moon's gravity balances its orbital moving. While in orbit, it can "see" both the earth and the far side of the moon.

The concept of using a relay satellite in the halo orbit was first put forward by U.S. space experts in the 1960s, but was realized by Chinese space engineers.

Researchers hope to use the cameras on the satellite to record asteroids (小行星 ) hitting the far side of the moon. To control the cost of the Chang'e-4 probe, the relay satellite was designed to be relatively small, weighing about 400 kg.

Researchers had just 30 months to develop the satellite, putting them under high pressure. To promote public interest in space exploration, the China National Space Administration invited people to write down their wishes for lunar and space exploration, and the relay satellite carries the names of tens of thousands of participants and their messages.

1.What do we learn from the second paragraph?

A. The relay satellite was launched on Jan. 3, 2019.

B. Chang'e-4 probe was the first communication satellite.

C. The relay satellite only explores the far side of the moon.

D. The relay satellite can handle data from Chang'e-4 probe.

2.Why was the size of the relay satellite relatively small?

A. To reduce the cost as much as possible.

B. To make it circle Moon for a longer time.

C. To avoid being crashed by other satellites.

D. To follow American space experts' advice.’

3.What made researchers suffer from great stress?

A. Few people interested in the exploration on the moon.

B. The relay satellite carrying too much equipment.

C. Their lacking enough time to develop the relay satellite.

D. People's never being optimistic about the relay satellite.

4.What is the main idea of the text?

A. China is a new space power after the USA.

B. Chang'e-4 probe lands on Moon's far side.

C. Chinese space engineers make much progress.

D. Space exploration is a dangerous challenge.

    Spotify can tell if you're sad. Here's why that should scare you. Want to figure out if someone is a patient with a mental disability: Ask them what their favorite song is. A New York University study last year found that people who loved Eminem's Lose Yourself and Justin Bieber's What Do You Mean? were more likely to have trouble with mental disabilities than people who were into Dire Straits.

Over the past few years, Spotify has been improving the ability to analyze information to help businessmen target consumers with advertisements made specially for their needs. They conclude this from the sort of music you're listening to, combined with where and when you're listening to it, along with third-party data that might be available.

Now, to be clear, there's nothing significantly illegal about what Spotify is doing with your information. I certainly don't think that they are working with shadowy consulting firms to serve you ads selling a culture struggle while you're listening to music that suggests you might be in a terrible situation. However, I find it disappointing that our personal, private moments with music are increasingly being turned into information points and offered to advertisers.

You can see where this could go, can't you? As ad targeting gets ever more accurate, businessmen will have the ability to target our feelings in potentially improper ways. According to one study, you are more likely to spend more on a product if you're feeling sad. You can imagine some companies might take advantage of that. And on that note, I'm feeling a little down about all this. Head off to treat myself to something expensive.

1.What's the purpose of the first paragraph?

A. To introduce a new song. B. To draw readers' attention.

C. To help more patients. D. To promote a new medium.

2.Spotify improves its ability to analyze information to   .

A. provide services for the government B. work with shadowy consulting firms

C. get listeners' personal information D. help businessmen attract consumers

3.What's the author's attitude towards Spotify?

A. Uncertain. B. Supportive. C. Positive. D. Dissatisfied.

4.Who is the text probably designed for?

A. Internet users. B. Officials. C. Researchers. D. Managers.

    The flowers are blooming and the birds are singing as Melinda sits in the rose garden of the nursing home. She is recalling old times as she waits for her family's arrival. The nursing home has been Melinda's new settlement ever since Thomas passed away a week ago. Thomas had fought a long and hard battle against lung cancer for three years. Unfortunately, he has broken the promise that he and Melinda had made: to be with each other for every birthday. Melinda knew this was unrealistic (不现实的) but agreed to the promise for Thomas's sake.

"Thomas, you are completely a dreamerl" Melinda shouted to Thomas as he dragged on about living on an island with his beautiful wife. That's what she loved about him most-he had a vivid imagination. They got married at age eighteen and began having children right away. Mary came within the year, followed by Thomas Benjamin II, Lilly-Ann, and Joseph "Little Joey" George. The family lived an exultant life filled with laughter and love.

"Mom!" Lilly shouted, but it really sounded like a howl. Melinda had lost herself in thinking about the life she had shared with her late husband. Lilly pushed her down the long dark halls of the nursing home until they arrived at the recreational room.

When the doors opened, Melinda put her hand over her mouth and was completely speechless. The room was crowded with the people nearest and dearest to her and the warmth and love was felt instantly. The night went on; stories and cocktails were shared and everything was perfect.

However, when Melinda caught a moment to herself she looked around at her family. With a smile on her face, she raised her Manhattan and called out for a toast. "This one is for you, Thomas, though you are not here."

1.Why did Thomas break his promise?

A. He was busy with his work. B. He died of lung cancer.

C. He had to serve in the army. D. He stopped loving Melinda.

2.Which of the following best explains "exultant" underlined in Paragraph 2?

A. Peaceful. B. Simple. C. Stressful. D. Happy.

3.What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A. Melinda' children forgot their father. B. Melinda was tired of noise.

C. Melinda missed her husband badly. D. Melinda liked to drink alcohol.

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

A. A Particular Birthday B. A Woman at a Nursing Home

C. Memories of Old Days D. A Big Surprise for Melinda

    Last year marked the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. There were events around the world in memory of those who died in the conflict. We have picked out three of them inEuropean countries. Let's take a look.

Belgium

In a park, the famous Belgian artist Koen Vanmechelen had an exhibition called Coming World, Remember Me. The work consisted of 600,000 individual(个别的) clay sculptures, one for each person killed during the World War. In the center of the exhibition was a big egg made of clay, symbolizing a new world.

UK

In a small town called Aldridge, almost 100 houses in one street were covered with 24,000 poppies and statues of soldiers. They stood for the men from the area who had been' killed in the war. The flowers were chosen because of a poem written by the Canadian doctor John McCrea in 1915. They made people think of fields of blood.

France

The British artist Guy Denning arrived in La Feuille, a small town in the northwest of France, to stick life-size drawings of soldiers who never came back home. Armed with glue and a brush, Denning stuck his drawings carefully on walls. Before long 112 men, mainly young adults, were brought back to mind, if not to life.

1.What do we know about Coming World, Remember Me?

A. It's the name of an exhibition. B. It's a film about World War I.

C. It's a work standing for peace. D. It's a sculpture made of clay.

2.Why were poppies chosen to symbolize the dead soldiers?

A. The British people preferred them. B. They showed the cruelty of war.

C. A Canadian doctor suggested them. D. The fields were filled with them.

3.How was the end of World War I marked in France?

A. A memorial to the dead soldiers was built.

B. 112 wounded soldiers in the war were helped.

C. Drawings of some dead soldiers were put up.

D. Young adults were encouraged to join the army.

听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。

1.What should the students bring with them on the bus to Camp Cazadero?

A. Their permission slips. B. Their lunch. C. Food and drinks.

2.When will the students go hiking in the forest?

A. After lunch on Friday.

B. After breakfast on Saturday.

C. Before the dance on Saturday.

3.What will the students do at the campfire?

A. Have a barbecue. B. Dance. C. Tell stories.

4.What do we know about the field trip?

A. The students will get back on Sunday moming.

B. The students will spend three nights in the open air.

C. The school organized Camp Cazadero last year.

听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。

1.Where does the conversation take place?

A. Ina restaurant. B. On a train. C. On a plane.

2.What can the man get if he wants to have something to eat immediately?

A. Salad. B. Fish. C. Cakes.

3.When does the bar open?

A. At 5:00. B. At 5:30. C. At 9:00.

4.What should the man do to make sure he getsa seat for dinner?

A. Get there by 7:00 p.m. B. Arrive there after 7:00 p.m. C. Make a reservation.

听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。

1.What are the speakers discussing?

A. When to move. B. Where to live. C. How to study better.

2.When does this conversation take place?

A. In March. B. In April. C. In May.

3.Why does the woman object to living on campus?

A. It's too noisy. B. It costs too much. C. The dorms are too small.

听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。

1.What was wrong with Jack Paulson's previous job?

A. He didn’t like the atmosphere.

B. His employer treated him badly.

C. He was too busy to have a holiday.

2.What do the speakers decide to do?

A. Try to know about Jack's opinion first.

B. Let Jack have lunch with others by turns.

C. Get Jack to start working in the evening.

听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。

1.What are the speakers mainly talking about?

A. An interview. B. The woman's boss. C. Sex discrimination.

2.How long had the woman waited for a raise?

A. For 8 years. B. For 5 years. C. For 3 years.

What's the probable relationship between the speakers?

A. Husband and wife. B. Doctor and patient. C. Teacher and student.

What does the man think Michael has been doing this week?

A. Going to class. B. Resting at home. C. Looking for ajob.

What is the woman going to do?

A. Pray for good luck. B. Prepare for a debate. C. Study for the frnal exam.

What does the man think of the jacket?

A. It has too many pockets.

B. It's great for everyday use.

C. It is suitable for outdoor activities.

What impressed the man?

A. The fresh air. B. The heavy rain. C. The kind woman.

假定你是李华，你的美国朋友Bill在春节期间给你发了一封节日问候邮件，并在信中问及红色在中国春节中的使用，请你给他回封邮件介绍下红色在春节中的使用情况。内容包括以下几点:

1. 红色在中国的象征；

2. 春节期间红色的使用(至少列出两个要点)。

注意:1. 词数100左右；

2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；

3. 信的开头语和结尾已为你写好。

参考词汇:贴对联 paste/post red couplets 鞭炮 firecracker

Dear Bill,

I’m glad to receive your letter.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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。

Mobile payment is serving for people widely in China. The cashless trend had never been more popular. With the widespread use of mobile payment, Wechat and Alipay are two of the most convenient and safe ways to pay. People rarely need to carry a wallet and cash at all. They are used to paying by scan QR codes (二维码). When consuming. As result, people will never worry about the consequence which they may get fake notes. Besides, people can often get discounts if we make mobile payments. Mobile payment is winning over plenty of consumer with its convenience. So far mobile payment has great changed peopled life in China.

阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容(不多于1个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。

There is a small but growing movement in America of many 1. ( family) that want to reduce waste to zero. 2.  (they) goal of producing no trash is probably impossible to reach. Some come close, reducing a year’s worth of trash to only a few things 3. can fit into a small container. All other things, they say, can be recycled or composted.

Zero Wasters, as they are called, help each other by sharing advice on blogs and social media. A lot of people have given 4. (value) advice on the subject recently. Some of the advice includes where to buy things 5. (avoid) unwanted packaging and how to recycle things that most people throw away.

Bea Johnson, a housewife, says that reducing shopping means her family has more money for fun vacations 6. ever before. She, who is 7. (satisfy) with the fact, says all their clothing comes from used clothing stores. She says that has reduced her household spending 8. 40 percent.

Zero Wasters advocate 9. (talk) about five “r’s” that describe want they do: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rot. They request that things like remaining food not 10. (throw) away randomly and refuse containers at restaurants.

    I did my first wing-walk two years ago, on my 86 birthday. Then last June, aged 88, I did it again and ______ my own record as the world’s oldest ______ wing-walker.

There was something about being strapped (捆扎) to the ______ of a bright-yellow 1944 Boeing-Stearman that ______ my imagination. It’s very exciting. The first experience was nothing but tame. This year, I said to the ______, “Can you make it a bit more adventuresome? ” He said, “I could do a loop-the loop (翻筋斗) if you like?”

This time, he ______ doing half a loop which was very effective. You go down a bit, then straight up. All I felt was a bit ______, because it was windy. But you are ______ strapped. The pilot makes sure everything is ______. I had gloves on, earplugs and lots of layers, which protected me.

Both times, we ______ from Gloucestershire Airport and were in the air for 15 minutes. You don’t sit on the wing—you sit on ______ looks like a chair. I wasn’t nervous. But when you look at the propellers (螺旋桨), you do feel a little strange. You’re ______ at the beginning that it’s a ______ dangerous activity and things could go wrong. However, I said: “Well, at 88 what does it  ______? You ve got to go sometime and you might as well go in a flame of ______.”

At my age, a lot of people are ______ in their ways. I don’t think any of my ______ from my retirement home wants to ______ me. I imagine most of them think I’m ______ as a woman. But I do think people of my age should be doing more  ______ things. You shouldn’t sit back and feel sorry for yourself.

1.A. kept B. broke C. saved D. protected

2.A. doctor B. repair C. male D. female

3.A. wing B. head C. tail D. bottom

4.A. practised B. displayed C. inspired D. broadened

5.A. driver B. pilot C. guide D. director

6.A. turned up B. gave up C. took up D. end up

7.A. shaky B. dizzy C. shiny D. clumsy

8.A. tightly B. largely C. safely D. correctly

9.A. special B. secure C. cautious D. accessible

10.A. let out B. got through C. broke up D. took off

11.A. what B. how C. where D. that

12.A. charged B. allowed C. warned D. cheated

13.A. actually B. potentially C. doubtfully D. certainly

14.A. mean B. live C. dream D. matter

15.A. glory B. silence C. memory D. ash

16.A. criticized B. beaten C. stuck D. washed

17.A. leaders B. friends C. opponents D. relatives

18.A. persuade B. praise C. join D. steady

19.A. crazy B. difficult C. adventurous D. ridiculous

20.A. academic B. difficult C. adventurous D. ridiculous

5 ways to focus your mind

1. Focus with a purpose

The mistake most people make is lacking a clear purpose -they want to be more focused, but don’t know what for. Avoidance is the mother of distraction. If you don’t have a concrete reason to stay focused, your mind will jump from one thing to another. Training your mind to pay attention requires something to focus on. 1.. When you don’t have a purpose, it’s easier to get distracted. Conversely, having a clear ‘why’ will help you stay focused.

2. Solve a real problem

Most of the times, we are doing meaningless work. We jump from one task to another without accomplishing anything. We end solving the wrong problem and lose our focus. You have to decide what your priorities are—focus on what will advance your daily, weekly or monthly goals. Leam to say no to the rest. 2.. Those who lack focus are busy fighting urgent, but irrelevant fires.

3. Eliminate(消除) other options

3., it’s harder to get distracted, Create rules where you can’t start a new activity until you finished another one first. For example, in a good day, Pink leaves his office at 10-10:30. On a bad day, he might stay ‘disconnected’ until 2 or 3 PM. When you climinate all options, it’s easier to focus on the only thing that’s left.

4. 4..

When your work and your mental state are not aligned (使结盟), they create an emotional dissonance. Focusing is hard, Dealing with this stressful feeling becomes an additional distraction. Adapting your work to your mental state increases your focus. Leam to understand the types of work you do and align them with your mental states.

5. Set deadlines

Deadlines are more than bringing your goals to life. Yes, committing to a specific date increases your chances to achieve an objective. However, the power of deadlines lies in creating a constraint. Limitations benefit both creativity and productivity—by challenging ourselves, we increase our focus. 5..

A. When you don’t have choices

B. When you create some rules

C. Take advantage of your mental state

D. Combine your action with your mental state

E. Focus on important things and suppress urgency

F. Focusing requires having an intention for your attention

G. Using deadlines smartly can motivate you with less pressure

    Stephen Hawking’s final fear was that DNA manipulation would lead to a master race of superhumans. The physicist, who died aged 76 in March, 2018, thought the development could destroy the rest of human beings. His last prediction is revealed in a new book of his collected articles and essays called Brief Answers to Big Questions.

Hawking feared rich people would soon be able to edit their children’s DNA to improve attributes like memory and disease immunity. And he said that would pose a crisis for the rest of the world even if politicians tried to illegalize the practice. In an extract (摘录) published by The Sunday Times, he wrote: “I am sure that during this century people will discover how to modify both intelligence and instincts such as aggression. “Laws will probably be passed against genetic engineering with humans. But some people won’t be able to resist the temptation to improve human characteristics, such as memory, resistance to disease and length of life.” And he said that would cause huge problems for humans who have not undergone the same process, leaving them unable to compete. The professor even warned it could lead to the extinction of humanity as we know it. He said of normal humans: “Presumably they will die out, or become unimportant. Instead, there will be a race of self-designing beings who are improving at an ever-increasing rate.” The Brief History of Time author also refers to techniques like Crispr, which enables scientists to modify harmful genes and add in others. And although such procedures could be a boost for medical science, some critics are worried that they could cause a eugenics-style (优生方式) movement, where the weak are weeded out of society.

The new book, published by Hodder & Stoughton on Tuesday, also collects his writings on what he thought were the big questions facing science and wider society. In it, he examines whether aliens exist, colonize space and whether humans will ever go beyond our Solar System.

1.Stephen Hawking’s views don’t include _________.

A. DNA manipulation could lead to the extinction of human beings.

B. There exist techniques to modify harmful genes and add in good genes.

C. People cannot resist the temptation to improve human characteristics.

D. Humans who haven’t undergone genetic engineering may die out.

2.Which one is the hook published by Hodder & Stoughton?

A. Brief Answers to Questions. B. The Sunday Times.

C. The Brief History of Time. D. Solar System.

3.What’s Stephen Hawking’s attitude towards human genetic engineering?

A. Supportive. B. Impartial. C. Favorable. D. Concerned.

4.What does the text mainly want to tell us?

A. Crispr can enable scientists to get harmful genes changed.

B. DNA manipulation will create a master race of superhumans.

C. Humans will colonize space and go beyond our Solar System.

D. DNA manipulation may lead to the extinction of human beings.

    That the success of humans as a species depends to a large extent on our ability to cooperate in groups is widely believed. Much more so than any other animal, people are able to coordinate and join their forces and actions to produce mutual benefits.

New research involving Dr Molleman, an expert at the University of Nottingham, suggests that successful cooperation in groups depends on how people gather information about their peers, and how they base their cooperative decisions on it.

Biologists wonder how cooperation could have developed by natural selection: it is puzzling how cooperation can be beneficial when it is possible to behave selfishly and take advantage of the cooperative efforts of your group. Psychologists and economists try hard to understand why many people are willing to sacrifice their own welfare to benefit their social environment. They asked questions like “How do people make decisions when their actions can affect the welfare of others?” “How people determine their behavior when they have to cooperate in groups?”.

Dr Pieter Van Den Berg from the University of Groningen said, “From previous research we know that some people are ‘majority-oriented (以……为中心)’ and tend to look at the behavior of the majority in their group, whereas others are ‘success-oriented’ and try to find out what kind of behavior pays off best for themselves.”

Dr Molleman, from the center of the Decision Research and Experimental Economics, said, “It turns out that behavior in groups of success-oriented people was much more selfish than it in groups of majority-oriented people. As a consequence, the people in the majority-oriented groups tended to cam more money in the experiment since they cooperated more.”

1.Compared with other animals, human beings are capable of ________.

A. communicating well with others B. working together with each other

C. surviving some natural disasters D. getting access to various information

2.What are the psychologists and economists most interested in?

A. Whether people’s personal efforts will pay off eventually.

B. How cooperation has developed over a long lime naturally.

C. Why people offer to affect those around them unselfishly.

D. What benefit that good cooperation can bring immediately.

3.We can infer that the success-oriented people________.

A. are careful to select a group to join

B. are likely to be successful in the future

C. pay more attention to the result of their effort

D. have some skills in collecting useful information

4.What is the new finding of the research?

A. Having good relationship gets us to live fullest life.

B. Focusing on individual success makes people selfish.

C. Being considerate can ensure our long-term benefit.

D. Mastering social skills help create harmonious society.

    In Australia, the bilby (兔耳袋狸) project is seen as an important part in protecting the nation’s wildlife. Bilbies are known for their long ears and large back legs. They usually sleep during the day, and are awake at night. They look a lot like rabbits and grow to about 2.5 kilograms.

For the first time in 2018, bilbies are running wild in Southeastern Australia. The small animals were once widespread across much of Australia, but were last observed in the wild in New South Wales state in 1912. Every year bilby populations continue to decrease. Wildlife experts are afraid that the bilby, a small marsupial, could eventually disappear forever, either because of land clearing or fires. Another reason is a threat from cats and foxes, which hunt down and kill bilbies.

In northern New South Wales state, environmentalists are celebrating what they are calling a historic moment. Thirty bilbies from a captive breeding program have been released into a large predator-free enclosed area north of Sydney. Without the protection of a 32-kilometer fence, experts say the animals probably would not survive.

Tim Allard heads the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, which is involved in the project. He says the release of these beloved animals is a big deal. “There are some remaining wild bilby populations, but they get predated upon heavily by feral cats and foxes. Bilbies only really survive behind fenced areas.” Allard said the point of doing this project is to return the countryside to what it used to be before Europeans arrived. “So in the not-too-distant future, you will be able to go inside the fenced areas and it will be like stepping back before Europeans turned up,” he said.

1.What is the main idea of paragraph 1?

A. The shape of the bilby. B. The habit of the bilby.

C. The weight of the bilby. D. The characteristics of the bilby.

2.The followings are the reasons for Bilbies’ disappearance EXCEPT ________?

A. Trees’ clearing. B. Fires’ bursting. C. Cats’ hunting. D. Foxes’ killing.

3.What docs the underlined word “enclosed” in paragraph 3 probably mean?

A. Involved. B. Protected. C. Hunted. D. Enlarged.

4.From Allard’s words, what do we know?

A. The release of bilbies can make much money.

B. Cats and foxes cause the decrease of bilbies.

C. Nature reserves are needed to protect bilbies.

D. Europeans shouldn’t turn up in the countryside.

    The critics’ top four books of 2018 are based on Christmas selections in national newspapers, the London Evening Standard, The TLS, The Spectator and the New Statesman.

Normal People by Sally Rooney   Faber £14.99

Sally Rooney’s debut novel, Conversations with Friends, was one of last year’s most talked-about books. The response to the Irish writer’s follow-up has, if anything, been even more ecstatic. The 27-year-old was praised for her ability to convey subtle modulations of emotion. The novel was long listed for the Man Booker Prize — but many felt that it should have done better.

Vietnam by Max Hastings  William Collins £30

This long-awaited historical blockbuster follows the Vietnam War over three decades. from the French “dirty war” of 1946—54 to America’s capitulation to the Vietcong in 1975. Hastings, who reported from the battlefield in Vietnam as a young British journalist, was praised for his encyclopedic knowledge of the conflict.

The Silence of the Girls   by Pat Barker  Hamish Hamilton £18.99

Pat Barker’s novel is a retelling of The lliad — but with women at the heart of the action. The central character is Briseis, who appears only glancingly in Homers original. Best-known for her First World War Set Regeneration trilogy (1997). Barker, in her fifties, again focuses on the traumas of war. Reviewers praised the novel’s subversive energy even if it was judged conventional in places.

A Certain Idea of France   by Julian Jackson  Allen Lane £35

This door-stopping biography by British historian Julian Jackson — born in 1954 chronicles the life of Charles de Gaulle who is regarded as one of the greatest ever Frenchmen. While acknowledging that de Gaulle wasn’t very likeable, Jackson salutes his imagination and boldness- qualities that helped him steer France through its liberation from the Nazis and the war in Algeria. Critics suggested it would become the standard biography.

1.Which author of the four books is the youngest according to the text?

A. Sally Rooney B. Max Hastings C. Pat Barker D. Julian Jackson

2.Which book may people who are interested in a political leader’s life choose?

A. Normal People B. Vietnam

C. The Silence of the Girls D. A Certain Idea of France

3.What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?

A. To remember the four great novelists.

B. To introduce the yearly top four novels.

C. To encourage studies on the four novels

D. To promote the values of the four novelists