假定你是李华，春节即将到来，你的英国笔友Tom对中国的农历新年非常感兴趣，他写信向你询问国内有关春节的一些情况。请你给他回复一封邮件，邀请他来中国过春节。内容包括：

1. 春节对国人的重要意义；

2. 春节前后的传统活动；

3. 年轻人如何庆祝春节。

注意：1. 词数100左右；

2. 可适当增加细节，使行文连贯；

3. 开头和结尾已给出，计入总词数。

Dear Tom,

Thank you for your Email.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Best wishes!

Yours,

Li Hua

假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。

增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词

删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。

修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。

注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；

2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。

Dear Ann,

I am so surprising to know from you’re letter that you re upset so your parents don't allow you to surf the Internet. Here are some suggestions on how to solve your problem.

First, you should communicate with your parents, letting me know that surfing the Internet do not mean wasting time. On the contrary, it does good for your study. Second, I suggested that you should make a timetable to control your time spend in surfing the Internet. Besides, explain to your parents that the Internet also has good effect on study.

As we all know it, parents love us very much. I believe you can solve your problem and make greatly progress in your study.

Li Hua

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。

Stan Lee, who dreamed up Spider-Man, Iron Man, the Hulk and other Marvel Comics (漫威漫画) superheroes that became highly successful at the movie box office, died at the age of 95, his daughter said on Monday.

“1. (know) as a writer and editor, he felt a duty to his fans to keep creating,” his daughter J. C. Lee said in a 2. (state). “He loved his life and he loved 3. he did for a living. His family and his fans loved him. He was irreplaceable.” Lee was 4. (wide) credited with adding a new layer of humanity to superheroes. His characters were not made of stone. They had love and money worries and suffered terrible shortcomings or feelings of insecurity.

“I felt 5. would be fun to show that they are human as well as super,” Lee said in 2010. Many of Marvel Comics movies Lee created were produced in the first decades of the 21st century, 6. (add) up to over $20 billion at theaters worldwide, according to box office analysts.

In 2008, Lee 7. (award) the National Medal of Arts, 8. highest government award for creative 9. (artist). His greatest contribution will be not only the co-creation of his characters but the way he helped to build the culture that comics have become, 10. is a pretty significant one,” said Robert Thompson, a pop culture expen at Syracuse University.

Every evening, I take a walk around the neighborhood. It has become a (an) ___. Even if I have already walked with someone or done another type of ____. I get out for this last mile or more. This is my time to ____ the day.

Walking at ____ through my neighborhood brings the sounds of the ____ singing in the pond nearby and the sounds of the city train in the distance, occasionally interrupted by faraway ____ coming to and from the hospital. The sounds of these aircrafts remind me that whoever is being ____ is probably having a much ____ day than me.

Sometimes these walks are my way to recall events on the recent days. Or they are a way to ____ a problem or to be creative without interruptions of day-to-day life at home. ____ on other days, I try to be in the moment and just listen and look around in wonder, or be in gratitude for all the ____ things in life. Tonight when I walked, I just listened. When the moon is out and full or it’s a dark evening with the stars shining, I love trying to ____ into the universe and ____ what is really out there.

Everyone has a story. I spend some time with Mike. He has already walked 1,200 miles this year. ____ being diagnosed (诊断) with diabetes (糖尿病) four years ago, he started walking 5 or 6 ____ every day. He has ____ 64 pounds and his life has ____ a lot. On this ____, I also got to know Phillips. She walks every day. She is considering hiking the Camino de Santiago after watching the movie “The Way”.

Just as last month has come and gone, this ____ will come and go. This is a ____ to go out today, take a walk and think of how you re going to pursue your dreams.

1.A. approach    B. habit    C. homework    D. attraction

2.A. edition    B. training    C. arrangement    D. exercise

3.A. end    B. begin    C. celebrate    D. sum

4.A. noon    B. night    C. convenience    D. lunchtime

5.A. flies    B. birds    C. frogs    D. butterflies

6.A. ambulances    B. buses    C. trucks    D. helicopter

7.A. dragged    B. assisted    C. flown    D. struck

8.A. better    B. worse    C. busier    D. happier

9.A. investigate    B. consider    C. find    D. reflect

10.A. Yet    B. So    C. But    D. Or

11.A. good    B. fresh    C. complex    D. serious

12.A. look through    B. look ahead    C. lookout    D. look down

13.A. announce    B. exam    C. ask    D. wonder

14.A. Since    B. Before    C. After    D. For

15.A. miles    B. hours    C. times    D. meters

16.A. gained    B. lost    C. put    D. weighed

17.A. improved    B. consumed    C. continued    D. refreshed

18.A. statement    B. survival    C. hiking    D. range

19.A. life    B. chance    C. friends    D. health

20.A. circumstance    B. tendency    C. vote    D. reminder

How to Take Notes?

Note-taking is a skill which can be used right from primary school up until you leave university or 1. If you follow these simple steps and tips, you will not only learn how to take notes; you will succeed or perhaps even come up with your own method!

Note details at the top of your paper. Keep your notes organized by writing important details at the top of each page. 2. Noting details can make it easier for you to return to your notes and get important information.

Use your own language. Write down key facts, ideas, and details in your own words. Taking notes in your own words actively engages your brain and helps you better understand the text. Develop your own system of signs and short forms that can help you more quickly take notes and review them. 3.

4. Think about the text you're reading or the lecture you re listening to—they may be a bit hard to understand. Avoid using full sentences when you write your notes. Instead, use keywords to say the same things in a short and manageable way that you can easily and quickly review later.

Skip lines on the paper for later review. 5. Having extra room allows you to make additional notes or clarify points that you may not understand. This helps you quickly have and identify all of the relevant material to that keyword or thought.

A. Review your notes later in the day.

B. Write keywords instead of full sentences.

C. For example, “SM” for “scientific method,” or “GH” for “gender history”.

D. As you write your keywords and ideas down, leave space between each line.

E. It may seem challenging to take notes quickly while keeping key information.

F. Include information such as the date, bibliographic information, and page number of your notes.

G. Good note-taking is a valuable skill for keeping, remembering, reciting and recalling information.

Dutch officials toasted on Tuesday the opening of what is being called the world’s first 3D-printed concrete bridge, which is meant to be used by cyclists. There was applause as officials wearing hard hats and workmen’s jackets rode over the bridge on their bikes at the opening ceremony in the southeastern town of Gemert.

“The bridge is not very big, but it was rolled out by a printer which makes it unique,” Theo Salet, from the Eindhoven University of Technology, told Dutch broadcaster NOS. Work on printing the bridge, which has some 800 layers, took about three months after starting in June and it is made of pre-stressed concrete, according to the university. “One of the advantages of printing a bridge is that much less concrete is needed than in the conventional technique in which a mould (泥浆) is filled,” it said on its website, adding “a printer deposits the concrete only where it is needed.”

The eight-metre (26-foot) bridge crosses a water-filled channel to connect two roads, and it was tested for safety to bear loads of up to two metric tons in cooperation with the BAM Infra Construction company. Although designed for bikes, it could take up to 40 trucks, the designers said “We are looking to the future,” said the head of BAM, Marinus Schimmel. “3D printing meant fewer rare resources were needed and there was significantly less waste,” he added.

The Netherlands is among countries, with the United States and China, taking a lead in the cutting-edge technology of 3D printing, using computers and robotics to construct objects and structures from scratch without using much traditional manpower. Last year a Dutch architect unveiled (提示) a unique 3D printer with which he hopes to construct an “endless loop” building. And a Dutch start-up called MX3D has begun printing a stainless-steel bridge, of which a third is already completed. The aim is to finish printing by March and lay the bridge over an Amsterdam canal in the future.

1.According to the text what makes the bridge unique?

A. It adopts 3D printing

B. It opens only to cyclists.

C. It is made of new material.

D. It uses much less concrete.

2.According to Marinus Schimmel. the bridge ________.

A. fails to bear heavy loads more safely

B. needs no concrete and mould

C. is designed for bikes and trucks

D. is cost-efficient and eco-friendly

3.According to the last paragraph, which of the following statement is true?

A. The 3D-printed bridges are all designed for bikes.

B. 3D-printed construction saves much human labor.

C. United States and China develop slowly in 3D printing.

D. The stainless-steel bridge by MX3D has been put into use.

4.What is the best title for the text?

A. The Value of the 3D Printing Technology

B. The Netherlands Leads the Way in 3D Printing

C. World’s First 3D-printed Bridge Opens to Cyclists

D. 3D Printing is Widely Used in Building Bridges

Many people spend more than four hours per day on We Chat, and it is redefining the word “friend.” Does friending someone on social media make him or her your friend in real life?

Robin Dunbar, a professor at Oxford University, found that only 15, of the 150 Facebook friends the average user has, could be counted as actual friends and only five as close friends. We Chat may show a similar pattern.

Those with whom you attended a course together, applied for the same part-time job, went to a party and intended to cooperate but failed take up most of your WeChat friends. In chat records, the only message may be a system notice, “You have accepted somebody’s friend request”. Sometimes when seeing some photos shared on “Moments”, you even need several minutes to think about when you became friends. Also, you may be disturbed by mass messages (群发信息) sent from your unfamiliar “friends”, including requests for voting for their children or friends, links from Pinduoduo.com (a Chinese e-commerce platform that allows users to buy items at lower prices if they purchase in groups) and cookie-cutter (千篇一律的) blessings in holidays.

You would have thought about deleting this type of “friends” and sort out your connections. But actually you did not do that as you were taught that social networking is valuable to one’s success. Besides, it would be really awkward if they found that you have unfriended them already. Then, you keep increasing your “friends” in social media and click “like” on some pictures that you are not really interested. But the fact is that deep emotional connections do not come with the increasing number of your friends in social media.

If the number of your friends reaches 150, maintaining these relationships can be tough to you, and sometimes even will make you anxious. According to Robin Dunbar, 150 is the limit of the number of people with whom one can maintain stable social relationships.

1.What can we learn from Robin Dunbar's finding in Paragraph 2?

A. A Facebook user has 250 friends on average.

B. Most of the social media friends can be actual friends.

C. Among our social media friends, only a few people matter.

D. Only 15 people of a person’s Facebook friends can be close friends.

2.What does the third paragraph tell us about most of your WeChat friends?

A. You have deep communication with them.

B. You benefit a lot from their mass messages.

C. You just have a nodding acquaintance with them.

D. You become friends with them in important occasions.

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

A. Removing unfamiliar friends in WeChat.

B. Strengthening ties with your We Chat friends.

C. Keeping increasing your friends in social media.

D. Clicking “like” on pictures posted by your friends.

4.What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A. We will be anxious if we make friends online.

B. We should avoid making any friends in social media.

C. We should make as many friends as possible in social media.

D. We have difficulty managing relationships with over 150 people.

It seems that you can hardly go to any bookstore without encountering Charles Dickens. From Oliver Twist to A Tale of Two Cites, Dickens’ works still enjoy great popularity today and are placed on notable shelves.

As someone who teaches Dickens, the question of why we still read him is often on my min. Nearly 10 years ago, I told my students that Dickens, works started crazes in Victorian readers. Then a hand shot up in the middle of the room. “But why should we still read his stuff?” A student asked. I was speechless because I had never considered the question myself. The answer I gave was only acceptable. “Because he teaches you how to think,” I said.

The question annoyed me for years, and for years I told myself answers, but never with complete satisfaction. We read Dickens because he not only was a man of his own times, but also is a man for our times. We read Dickens because his exploration of the human mind is deep. We read Dickens because we can learn from the experiences of his characters. These are all wonderful reasons, but not exactly the reasons why I read Dickens.

My search for an answer continued in vain, until one day a text message came from a student of mine. “We still read Dickens’ novels,” she wrote, “because they tell us why we are what we are.” Simple as it was, that was the explanation I had thought for years.

Like most people, I think I knew who I was without knowing it. I was Oliver Twist, always wanting and asking for more. I was Nicholas Nickleby, convinced that my father was watching me from beyond the grave. I was Pip, in love with someone far beyond my reach. I was all of these characters, and I began to understand more about why I was who I was because Dickens had told me so much about human beings. Dickens shines a light on who we are during the best and worst of times. That’s why we still need to read him today.

1.What does the underlined word “encountering” mean in Paragraph 1?

A. Focusing on    B. Coming across

C. Appealing to    D. Subscribing to

2.What can we infer from Paragraph 2?

A. There was a heated discussion about Dickens.

B. The author was annoyed by the rude student.

C. The author wasn’t satisfied with his own answer.

D. None of the students showed interest in Dickens.

3.Why do we have to read his books?

A. Because he teaches us how to think.

B. Because he is the best writer of his day.

C. Because his language is easy to understand.

D. Because we can know why we are what we are.

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

A. The benefits of reading Dickens’ novels.

B. The reason why we still read Dickens today.

C. The great influence Dickens has on teenagers.

D. The reason why Dickens enjoys great popularity.

I'm big into reading, and since you're on this page, I guess you like reading as well. This page is an ongoing log of books I find to be awesome or useful. If you're looking to create a well-rounded, successful college experience, you can't go wrong with any of these.

The Power of Habit

This book is absolutely amazing. As it turns out, habits shape much more of our behavior than we realize.The habits we do have largely determine the progress (either good or bad) we make in life. Luckily, the way habits are formed can be understood—which means they can be changed—and The Power of Habit is the best overview of how habits work that I've ever read.

A Mind for Numbers

If you’re looking for practical techniques you can use to increase your ability to learn new information effectively, you should read this book. Contrary to what the title would imply, Dr. Barbara Oakley's A Mind for Numbers is applicable to any learning discipline--not just math and science. This book will quickly give you an understanding of how your brain learns and encodes (编码) new information, and will also equip you with strategies for learning more while studying less.

Brain Rules

If you know how the brain works, you' ll be better equipped to manage your own and understand the ones contained inside the heads of the people you know and meet In Brain Rules, John Medina expertly shows us how the brain does things, and lays out 12 rules that form a basis for using that pile of mush (糊状物) more effectively. It's not just an excellent brain book—it's an excellent business book and an excellent college success book as well.

Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain

I firmly believe that a solid foundation of nutrition, exercise, and sleep will help you succeed in college better than any study hack, which is why I recommend this book. Reading it will educate you on how exercise affects your brain, which in turn will give you more mental ammunition (弹药) that you can use to shoot down excuses when you're feeling lazy or “busy”, and don’t want to work out. By the way, how much exercise have you gotten today?

1.What can we know about the author of the text?

A. He thinks highly of the books.    B. He isn’t fond of reading books.

C. He wants to sell some books.    D. He recommends reading only.

2.What can we learn from the four books?

A. Spark will teach you how reading exercises your brain.

B. Dr. Barbara Oakley offers techniques of studying less.

C. John Medina mainly shows how to do successful business.

D. Habits have a great impact on us and can be changed.

3.Which section does this passage probably come from?

A. Literature    B. Career skills

C. Studying and learning    D. Survival skills

I wish I ________ an architect because then I ________ be able to design my own house.

A. am, will be    B. were, would

C. will be, could    D. was, could

A distant relative is not ________ a near neighbor.

A. so far as    B. as well as

C. as good as    D. so long as

Little ________ where it would lead me when I took the trip.

A. do I know    B. had I known

C. have I known    D. did I know

His strength ran ________ after he covered that long distance.

A. into    B. away

C. across    D. out

Doumen is so ________ that it ________ to tourists from all over the province.

A. appealing, appeals    B. appealed, appeals

C. appealed, appealed    D. appealing, appealed

Remove clothing using scissors if necessary ________ it is stuck to the bum.

A. unless    B. until

C. although    D. because

It was the training ________ she had at school ________ made her a good cyclist.

A. what, what    B. that, that

C. that, which    D. what, that

Mary is in a difficult situation ________ we should help her.

A. where    B. that

C. which    D. whether

Mike checked the list again and again to see if he had left anything ________.

A. aside    B. alone

C. out    D. over

If ________ to very loud music every day, young people may risk going deaf.

A. expose    B. exposing

C. exposed    D. to expose

假定你是李华，在春节来临之际你准备给你的外国朋友Tom邮寄一副春联，请根据以下内容给他写一封信。

写作要点：

1. 邮寄春联的原因。

2. 介绍春联所寓含的中国传统文化。

（1）春联可以用来装饰门户，以求美观。

（2）春联是春节的象征，能增添节日的喜庆气氛，代表一年中最美好的祝愿和好运。

3.你的期待。

注意：1.词数100左右。

2.可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

3.文章的开头和结尾已给出，但不计入总词数。

参考词汇：春联spring festival couplets

Dear Tom,

How are you getting along these days I miss you very much.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Yours,

Li Hua

假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。

增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词

删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。

修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。

注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；

2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。

The problem of “white pollution” was caused by using plastic is becoming increasingly serious, on which plastic shopping bags play an important role. In China, about three billions plastic shopping bags are consumed every day, that results in a great waste of resources and heavy environmental pollution. Lucky, the government has put a nationwide ban on the use of free plastic bags, demand that no stores or supermarkets should provide customers with free plastic bags. The rule will undoubtedly reduce use of plastic bags or promote the awareness of environmental protection. It was highly suggested that everyone turns to cloth bags and shopping baskets.

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。

If a little humanlike robot begged you not to shut it off, would you show sympathy?

In an experiment 1. (intend) to find out how people treat robots when they act like humans, many participants struggled to power down a begging robot named Nao. 2. experiment was conducted by researchers in Germany, whose findings 3. (publish) in the scientific journal PLOSOne.

Nao, 4. was designed to beg about half of the participants not to switch it off but not the other half, was used 5. (measure) if his begging affected how people reacted.

In one previous experiment, researchers found that people preferred communicating with robots with complementary (互补的) personality characteristics to 6. (they) own. And since robots can exhibit social characteristics either 7. (speak) with human voices or taking the shape of a human body, the research suggests that people tend to react “8. (especial) social to them.”

The researchers said a possible 9. (explain) for their results was that people regarded Nao’s begging 10. “a sign of making its own decision.”

Danielle was living in a new city with no local bank of her own. She desperately needed to _____ a bank to cash her paycheck. For more than two weeks, she made ____ one after another but in vain. How could she continue to ____ herself and her two children as a single mother?

Taking a break from her ____, Danielle decided to attend a meeting at the local women’s resource center. The women there had been a strong source of encouragement since she fled her home ____ for her safety. Sitting next to Danielle, Amy began to share the details of her ____ situation. She was just days away from ____ her home and her car. Her phone and electric services were both scheduled to be ____. Her husband had gambled away their money. She had nothing left. Nothing!

As Amy described the degree of the situation, Danielle ____ God’s soft whisper in her heart: “After the meeting, give Amy twenty dollars.” Danielle immediately thought, “But I can’t lonely have forty dollars.” She heard the ____ again. Danielle knew she needed to follow. When the meeting ____, she reached in to her purse and ____ handed twenty dollars to Amy. Knowing Danielle’s situation, Amy was ____ to accept it at first. But as a crowd of women ____ to give Amy hugs of support, Danielle told her that God wanted her to have it. Then Danielle left.

Now with just twenty dollars left in her wallet, Danielle decided to ____ cashing her pay check at just one more bank before heading home. ____ she expected the rejection she had received at so many other banks, she was ____ filled with renewed confidence and optimism. Hopefully, she walked in to the bank next to the women’s center. Moments later, the bank ____ her pay check with no questions asked. Wearing a big smile, Danielle returned home.

As for Danielle, it has been three years since that day. Realizing true hope has no ____, she continues to be ____ for the life time supply that she received for just twenty dollars.

1.A. select    B. consult    C. find    D. search

2.A. decisions    B. attempts    C. choices    D. appointments

3.A. encourage    B. believe    C. comfort    D. support

4.A. struggles    B. ambitions    C. failures    D. experiences

5.A. in debt    B. in fear    C. in public    D. in doubt

6.A. desperate    B. similar    C. unique    D. social

7.A. ruining    B. leaving    C. missing    D. losing

8.A. reduced    B. abolished    C. cancelled    D. changed

9.A. received    B. found    C. heard    D. felt

10.A. story    B. advice    C. order    D. voice

11.A. concluded    B. followed    C. lasted    D. agreed

12.A. politely    B. quietly    C. happily    D. sadly

13.A. unlikely    B. eager    C. unwilling    D. embarrassed

14.A. intended    B. approached    C. managed    D. continued

15.A. avoid    B. consider    C. risk    D. try

16.A. While    B. If    C. But    D. Since

17.A. anyhow    B. somehow    C. therefore    D. otherwise

18.A. counted    B. checked    C. tested    D. cashed

19.A. cost    B. cause    C. price    D. purpose

20.A. ready    B. thankful    C. welcome    D. fortunate

Have you ever imagined the benefits that a good memory can bring to you? 1. Here are four ways to improve your memory.

2. There is evidence that sleep plays a vital role in the consolidation of memories relating to learning motor skills, such as learning to play a musical instrument or ride a bike. Having a full night’s sleep soon after gaining a new skill helps consolidate the processes involved, so they can later be performed well.

It’s rewarding to continue education. Older people are often told to adopt a “use it or lose it” approach to maintaining cognitive (认知的) function. 3. In a 2016 study, US researchers found participants aged 60-90 who spent 15 hours a week for three months learning a complex skill, such as digital photography, saw significant improvements in memory tests.

Taking a break counts. 4. More than a century ago, German scientists showed that people performed almost twice as well in memory tests if they took breaks.

It’s useful to stay social. Having an active social life delays memory loss as we age, US scientists who asked people in their 50s and 60s to do memory tests every other year between 2001 and 2007 found the decline in recall abilities of their most sociable subjects to be half that of the least well connected. 5.

A. Sleeping well helps strengthen memories.

B. Old people should participate in easy activities

C. Yoga, meditation or other relaxation techniques may help.

D. Memories can be destroyed if the brain doesn’t have enough rests to sharpen them.

E. In fact, when it comes to memory, research suggests that only certain types of mental activities help.

F. Being able to remember important pieces of information can give you a powerful advantage in your life.

G. Having good friends, volunteering for charities and other forms of social engagement also protect memory.

Babies teach their older brothers and sisters empathy (移情), according to a new research. Empathy means understanding and entering others’ feelings. Until now, younger kids have generally been regarded to learn plenty from their older brothers or sisters but don’t give back much. But this study, published in Child Development, confirms that younger siblings (兄弟姐妹) ensure their big brothers and sisters don’t grow into disgusting people—no easy task.

“Although it’s assumed that older siblings and parents are the primary socializing influences on younger siblings’ development but not vice versa, we found that both younger and older siblings positively contributed to each other’s empathy over time,” study co-author Marc Jambon said in a statement. Prior sibling studies have focused on the influence of older brothers and sisters, probably because their impact is most obvious. As one review of literature notes, studies have shown that older siblings influence everything from their younger siblings’ motor development to their risk of smoking later in life. And although separated studies have tried to pin down effects that younger siblings have on their older siblings, the influence of baby brothers and sisters remains unclear.

For this new study, Jambon and his colleagues recruited (招募) a diverse group of 452 Canadian sibling pairs between the ages of 18 months and four years. At the start of the study, individual researchers assessed children’s baseline empathy levels by visiting the kids at home and then pretending to hurt themselves or break a valuable item. Eighteen months later, they found small but significant increases in empathy.

One unexpected exception—older sisters did not appear to experience increased empathy after 18 months living with their little brothers, specifically. The researchers aren’t sure why this exception appeared, and they recommend that future studies dive into more complex phenomena.

1.What has been found in the new research?

A. Young kids could show more sympathy for others.

B. Young siblings know more about empathy than the older.

C. Younger kids can learn a lot from their older brothers or sisters.

D. Younger siblings could contribute to their older ones’ empathy.

2.What does Mare Jambon say about kids’ empathy development?

A. Siblings influence each other in a positive way.

B. Parents play a more important role than teachers.

C. older siblings have far more obvious influences.

D. Younger siblings make much smaller contribution.

3.What does the underlined words “pin down” in Paragraph 2 mean?

A. Assess.    B. Limit.

C. Confirm.    D. Reduce.

4.What can we infer about the research from the last paragraph?

A. It offers no exceptions.

B. It appears to be under control.

C. It needs to be carried out further

D. It is recognized to be scientific

As I enter my 40s, I’ve noticed many of my parents’ generation think social networking is something they are simply unable to understand. They fear that, should they try, they will somehow get it wrong; they will say the wrong thing, do the wrong thing or behave in a way that causes embarrassment. But there are some secrets of social media for them to consider.

Here’s the first secret: everyone feels this way. I recently met a young actor who was complaining that her work demands that she join Microblog, but she always feels like she doesn’t have anything smart to say. It’s the same resistance (抵制). I hear from the older generation, who, however, have somehow believed that age is the barrier (障碍), rather than the differences of personal taste.

Here’s the second secret: everybody uses it for more or less the same reasons. Older generations often sign up to stay in touch with children and relatives. We talk about this kind of communication like it’s some old-fashioned activity, but it is exactly why younger people use social media. The truth is that most people use social media to gently keep an eye on one another, to see how those they care about are doing without needing to ring them up on the phone every night.

And this is the last secret: everyone gets to use them in their own way. Newcomers—younger and older—who worry about “getting it right” are thinking that there’s a right way to get them. But actually there isn’t. Personally, I talk a lot on Microblog. And some people post nothing and they use social media every day as readers. Social media companies would rather see people decorating their networks with pictures and posts, but there’s no rule against being a fly on the wall. It’s also a fine way to get involved.

Were quick to forget that the web wasn’t invented by 13-year-olds; it was created by today’s seniors. I’d never try forcing those with no interest in social networks to use Microblog. But don’t let the talk of age divides put you off. There’s nothing to stop the older generation from joining in the network their own generation created.

1.What’s the author’s purpose of writing this passage?

A. To share with us his personal experience using social media.

B. To explain why the old generation don’t use social media.

C. To free the old generation from fearing using social media.

D. To tell us a few secrets of social media that he discovered.

2.The expression “a fly on the wall” in the 4th paragraph refers to            .

A. people who prefer reading online books

B. people who cause trouble to others

C. people who post many fancy pictures

D. people who simply observe others’ posts

3.According to the author, which is a reason for old people’s fear using social media?

A. They believe they may be trapped in embarrassing situations.

B. They have no particular interest in social networking.

C. They prefer staying in touch with relatives in real life.

D. They have no idea which contents to post online.

4.Which of the following may best describe the structure of this passage?

A.     B.

C.     D.

As health care costs continue to rise, a growing number of companies are working out programs designed to keep their employees healthy.

Thomas Chapple is the senior vice president. “It’s really important to us because medical costs are going up like crazy, he says. This company spends more than 200 million a year on medical costs for its employees around the country. The best thing we have seen as a way to control the medical cost is individual fitness.”

We have a fitness center, “Shawn Flaherty, director of public relations for Freddie Mac.,” says, “We have a health benefits plan that encourages people to work out three times a week, get cholesterol (胆固醇) checks, as well as ‘not to smoke.’ If they do that, it will cost them less for the health benefits.”

Rachelle Clark works for Freddie Mac. “I feel great. You know the benefit is rewarding. I like to look good and feel healthy. I am just fortunate that I work for the company that provides some type of facility for the employees.”

While on-site fitness centers are popular, some companies pay membership fees at local gyms for employees. The companies also offer classes such as boxing, yoga and dancing. Employees see those health programs as a valuable benefit.

Tom Brook exercises five days a week. As a newspaper reporter he has a tight schedule, although Tom says it’s not that difficult for him to make time for a workout. “It is great. It is right here where we work,” says Tom, “So everybody gets a chance to use it whenever they want to. I have lost weight and never been in better shape.”

The programs may not be a magic cure for rising health costs, but they seem to have a positive impact on both employers and employees.

1.What’s the best way to cut the medical cost according to Shawn Flaherty?

A. To reduce the number of employees around the country.

B. To encourage the employees to work out to keep fit.

C. To set up fitness centers of their own.

D. To pay membership fees at local gyms for the employees.

2.Why does the writer cite (引用) what Rachelle Clark and Tom Brook say?

A. To explain how to use the fitness centers.

B. To show how effective physical exercise is.

C. To show the employees welcome the health programs.

D. To persuade more employers to set up health centers.

3.Which of the following best expresses the meaning of the underlined part?

A. The programs may not solve the health costs problem completely.

B. The programs may keep the health costs rising.

C. The programs may not cost a large amount of money.

D. The programs may cure all kinds of patients like magic.

4.What is the text mainly about?

A. How difficult it is to reduce health care costs

B. Why and how companies encourage their employees to keep fit.

C. . What causes the health care costs to rise year by year.

D. How people keep healthy by doing exercise in their working places.

Planning a visit to the UK? Here we help with ways to cut your costs.

AVOID BIG EVENTS Big sporting events, concerts and exhibitions can increase the cost of accommodation and make it harder to find a room. A standard double room at the Thistle Brighton on the final Friday of the Brighton Comedy Festival (19 Oct.) cost £169.15 at Booking.com. A week later, the same room cost £l18.15.

If you can be flexible and want to know dates to avoid-or you’re looking for a big event to pass your time—check out sites such as Whatsonwhen.com, which allow you to search for events in the UK by city, date and category.

STAY AWAY FROM THE STATION If traveling to your destination by train, you may want to find a good base close to the station, but you could end up paying more for the sake of convenience at the start of your holiday.

Don’t be too choosy about the part of town you stay in. Booking two months in advance, the cheapest room at Travelodge’s Central Euston hotel in London for Saturday 22 September was £95.95. A room just a tube journey away at its Covent Garden hotel was £75.75. And at Farringdon, a double room cost just £62.95.

GET ON A BIKE London’s ‘Boris bikes’ have attracted the most attention but other cities also have similar programmes that let you rent a bicycle and explore at your own pace, saving you on public transport or car parking costs.

Among the smaller cities with their own programmes are Newcastle (casual members pay around £1.50 for two hours) and Cardiff (free for up to 30 minutes, or £5 per day).

1.The Brighton Comedy Festival is mentioned mainly to show big events may            .

A. help travelers pass time

B. attract lots of travelers to the UK

C. allow travelers to make flexible plans

D. cause travelers to pay more for accommodation

2.“Farringdon” in Paragraph 5 is most probably            .

A. the tube line to Covent Garden

B. an ideal holiday destination

C. a hotel away from the train station

D. the name of a travel agency

3.The main purpose of the passage is            .

A. to offer visitors some money-saving tips

B. to tell visitors how to book in advance

C. to supply visitors with hotel information

D. to show visitors the importance of self-help

阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写， 使之构成一个完整的故事。

Last Saturday, David was taking a walk in the park near his home when he noticed a woman with a boy of about eight years old. When David passed them, he heard the woman yell, “How stupid you are! You’re good at nothing.”David stopped and looked at the little boy. The boy said nothing. He just stood there, looking upset.

David was reminded of his English teacher Mrs Brown in middle school. After he entered middle school, David lacked self-confidence because he was often made fun of by others. He was often told that he was good at nothing, which David believed. But one day it all changed.

One day, in an English writing class, Mrs Brown asked them to read a novel. They were asked to write a new chapter of the novel after they finished reading the book. A few days later, David handed in his story. He didn’t give it much thought. But the next day to his surprise, the comment “well done” from Mrs Brown came into view the moment he turned to the page where the story was written.

When David read that, he almost burst into tears. He never expected to be praised one day. He suddenly gained some self-confidence.

That day after he returned home, he wrote a short story and gave it to Mrs Brown the next morning. And again he was praised.

David became very interested in writing. He often wrote short stories and asked Mrs Brown to read them and correct them for him. Mrs Brown always correct them for him. Mrs Brown always corrected the mistakes he had made and gave him good advice to improve them. One year later, David joined the school newspaper and became an editor of it. He was no longer that boy who lacked self-confidence. He gained his confidence and was hopeful about his future.

He succeeded in entering college and kept writing. Several years after graduating from college, he had his first book published. With some more books coming out, he became famous as a writer in his country. And he owed his success to Mrs Brown’s encouragement. Without her encouragement, his life might be very different now.

注意：

1. 所续写短文的词数应为150左右；

2. 至少使用5个短文中标有下划线的关键词语

3. 续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好；

4. 续写完成后，请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语。

Paragraph 1:

Inspired by his own life story, David decided to do something for that boy.____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Paragraph 2:

The mother was ashamed when she heard that.

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假定你是李华，今年春节去美国旅游度假了一周。你的美国朋友Luke招待你。

请给他写一封信，表示感谢。

包括下列要点：1．感谢他的热情招待2．了解了美国文化3．邀请他来中国旅游 .

注意：1．词数80左右；

2．可适当增加细节，以使行为流畅；

3．开头语和结束语己为你写好．

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