It was the last day of school. The teacher walked around the class and _______ a report card to each student except me. There was everybody’s _______ in the final exam.Then I was _______ that I was failing because I couldn’t _______ or write. My mom and I had a few _______ about it but I thought I would do my best to get a(n) _______ result. But I didn’t think I really _______ the whole thing. I knew I was _______ of my dad and being _______ to read in front of the class; I knew I was the only one in our ________ that couldn’t read and the only one in the class that didn’t ________ the exam.

I just somehow got it in my head that I thought I didn’t need to ________ knowledge. I thought there was no use learning it. ________, the lunch bell rang. My seat was next to the door, so I just ________ out of the classroom across the playground and field until my hands ________ the fence that surrounded our school. I burst into ________ as I silently shouted at myself.

I sat on the grass with my head in my knees. A couple of minutes later, I heard a rustle(沙沙声)of a lunch bag and looked up out of ________, only to see a girl in my class standing over me, holding out my lunch. She ________ it next to me and then she sat down and didn’t make a(n) ________ but just sat with me till the bell rang.

Because of her ________, I was determined to work hard. Finally I was admitted into a famous university.

1.A.picked out B.handed out C.put out D.left out

2.A.grades B.awards C.mistakes D.gifts

3.A.unsurprised B.crazy C.aware D.proud

4.A.read B.speak C.translate D.listen

5.A.disagreements B.suggestions C.dreams D.conversations

6.A.reasonable B.dramatic C.satisfying D.expected

7.A.understood B.recognized C.valued D.ignored

8.A.tired B.afraid C.proud D.confident

9.A.praised B.begged C.called D.guided

10.A.family B.community C.village D.class

11.A.miss B.pass C.attend D.complete

12.A.spread B.show C.gain D.exchange

13.A.Immediately B.Suddenly C.Gradually D.Frequently

14.A.rushed B.dropped C.jumped D.glanced

15.A.destroyed B.built C.touched D.wiped

16.A.shouts B.anger C.tears D.laughter

17.A.fear B.curiosity C.control D.pain

18.A.threw B.enjoyed C.emptied D.placed

19.A.sound B.apology C.promise D.wish

20.A.pity B.protection C.complaint D.company

    Over the last few years, nutritional trends have grown in numbers, as more and more people are becoming aware of the positive advantages that a healthy and balanced diet can have. So it should be no surprise that the phrase “clean eating” has been added to the Collins Dictionary. 1.

“Clean eating” is the trend that became popular over the Internet, especially among health and fitness fans. It is a type of diet where people avoid processed (加工过的) foods, such as bacon and white sugar. 2. No chemicals are used while growing organic foods, so they are kept in their natural state and are considered “clean”. Above all, “clean eating” encourages not only a more conscious type of eating, but also a lasting change in lifestyle, such as regular exercise.

The trend became more popular when the World Health Organization released its report on processed meat in 2015. 3. It links processed meats such as ham, bacon and sausages to cancer. And now many people are feeling anxious.

4. Dietitians(营养师) have noticed an increase in the number of women becoming weak and getting anemia(贫血). Some of these women are on a clean eating diet. They lack nutrients that come from some processed foods. Experts suggest eating a balanced diet of more “clean food” but also taking in a small amount of processed food. 5.  It is necessary that people do not feel guilty(内疚的) if they sometimes have the food that may not belong to “clean food”.

A.But what exactly is clean eating?

B.But how is the phrase added to the dictionary?

C.Processed food made with organic ingredients become more popular.

D.Instead, people mostly eat plenty of fruits, vegetables and organic foods.

E.The report says eating processed food can be really harmful to a person’s health.

F.In addition, what is important is that the person has a healthy attitude toward foods.

G.Some people say clean eating helps control their weight and stay energetic, but not everyone thinks it is a great idea.

    As William Shakespeare is to literature in English, so is the poet Du Fu to the Chinese literary tradition. “We have Dante, Shakespeare and Du Fu. These poets create the very values by which poetry is judged,” said Harvard Professor Stephen Owen in Du Fu, China’s Greatest Poet, a new BBC documentary(纪录片) broadcast on April 7.

Aimed at introducing the charm and beauty of traditional Chinese literature to viewers around the globe, the documentary invited famous British actor Ian McKellen, who played the wizard(巫师) Gandalf in the film series The Lord of the Rings, to read 15 of Du’s poems that have been translated into English.

The one-hour film talks about the poet’s life experiences in detail. Born in 712, Du lived under the government of the Tang Emperor Xuanzong (713-756), a time marked by extraordinary prosperity(繁荣), inclusiveness (包容) and cultural achievement. However, as the An Lushan Rebellion of 755 broke out in the country, Du, the former civil servant(文职人员) at the Tang court, had to take his family on the road as refugees(难民), and put up with starvation and suffering. Through ups and downs, the poet never stopped writing and about 1,500 poems have been kept over the ages.

“Chinese people really value the recording of history and Du is better than anyone at reflecting(反映) history in his poetry. That’s because historical events are mirrored in his own life and spiritual journey,” Zeng Xiangbo, a professor of ancient Chinese literature at Renmin University of China, told China Daily.

Even though he never held a high position in the government, Du still cared about common people. For example, in the poem My Cottage Unroofed By Autumn Gales , he wrote that “Could I get mansions covering ten thousand miles, I’d house all scholars poor and make them beam with smiles. ” “That’s why he was honored as a Poet Sage by later generations. A difficult life and his spirit of concern about the world helped him create so many masterpieces,” Shi Wenxue, a cultural critic based in Beijing, told the Global Times.

1.According to Para.2, we know Ian McKellen is___________.

A.a narrator in the documentary B.a big fan of Du Fu

C.the director of the documentary D.a British wizard

2.Why Du Fu is so valuable a poet in the mind of Chinese people?

A.Because he experienced the ups and downs of Tang Dynasty.

B.Because he never stopped and wrote about 1,500 poems.

C.Because his poems are completely kept over the ages.

D.Because his poetry is a good reflection of history.

3.The poem mentioned in the last paragraph is intended to _________.

A.explain Du Fu’s position in the government

B.show Du Fu’s concern about ordinary people

C.tell the readers what a difficult life Du Fu lived

D.show Du Fu’s intelligence in writing a poem

4.What is the passage mainly about?

A.Du Fu’s works gain popularity home and abroad.

B.Chinese literature becomes a hit in the UK.

C.China’s Poet Sage appears on the screen in the UK.

D.British people fall in love with Chinese poetry.

    For centuries, humans have wondered whether there is life on Mars. Scientists have asked why Mars is losing its atmosphere. Last week, the question was answered with a song. “The answer is blowing in the wind,” said Michael Meyer, taking a line from a Bob Dylan song. Meyer is the lead scientist for NASA’s Mars Exploration Program. It turns out that solar winds from the sun are slowly blowing away Mars’ atmosphere.

Today, Mars has a thin atmosphere. It is cold and dry, with a desert-like environment. Jakosky says it used to be much more different. “When we look at ancient Mars, we see a different type of surface. One that had valleys looked like they were carved by water, lakes that were standing for a long period of time. We see an environment that was much more able to support liquid water.”

Recently they found a kind of liquid water that flows with salt down a mountain area of the planet. But it is not always there. Scientist Michael Meyer describes what they found: “We’re seeing water, with the salt that’s able to flow down the sides of the cliff. Why is this important? That means there is water on Mars, on the surface of Mars today.”

Scientists already knew that ice exists on Mars. So why is it important to find liquid water? Meyer explains: “It means that we have a resource. And when we're looking at sending humans to Mars, water is one of the key things that we need to have, not only for astronauts to drink, but also to make oxygen, to make fuel.”

Sending humans to Mars is still in the distant future. NASA is aiming for the 2030s. Both US government and private industries are developing rockets and spacecraft to get people to Mars.

1.Why is the atmosphere of Mars disappearing?

A.Because Mars doesn't have water to keep the atmosphere.

B.Because the atmosphere is affected by the earth.

C.Because the atmosphere is blown away by the solar wind.

D.Because Mars has no condition to make the atmosphere exist.

2.Which of the following are the functions of the water on Mars?

①Taking shower.     ②Drinking for astronauts.     ③Making fuel.

④Watering plants.    ⑤Producing oxygen.      ⑥Washing clothes.

A.②④⑤ B.①③④⑤ C.②③④⑥ D.②③⑤

3.What can we infer from the passage?

A.Whether water exists on Mars or not isn’t important to humans.

B.Mars’ atmosphere has changed a lot since it existed.

C.We can successfully send humans to Mars from now on.

D.Water can not appear on Mars because of its thin atmosphere.

4.Which of the following can be the best title of the passage?

A.Mars Has Conditions to Support Humans

B.Mars Is Strongly Influenced by the Solar Wind

C.Mars and Its Thin Atmosphere

D.Water Does Exist on Mars

    I have been studying literature all the time, so someone asked me if l made the wrong choice by devoting myself to studying literature. I was deep in thought.

A good friend of mine took every single literature class she could while in college and decided early on that she wasn't cut out to be a teacher. Her parents were concerned because she wasn't really focused on becoming something that would pay the bills. In order to mollify their concerns, she took a library science course and told them she would regard library science as a career path. But she ended up taking a job as a communications assistant at a mid-size company and eventually became the director of communications. She put her literature studies to work in making company materials and has benefited a lot from that.

Another friend turned his love of Hemingway’s writings into inspiration for his artworks. Most people don’t stay at one job for their entire career. I can’t tell you how many teachers I worked with over the years give up teaching to paint houses, work in an advertising company, start a company, and so on. A degree is important for many places to get your foot in the door. But I think you should choose your job based on what you're really interested in,and no one says you have to do something for the rest of your work life.

Colleges generally don’t clue you in on the possible career paths available to you with your particular studies, but some are getting far better with guiding students toward the possibilities.Your reading, writing and analytical skills would be great advantages to many companies, so don’t think that your love of literature is going to leave you with few choices. So I didn’t feel sad to devote myself to studying literature.

1.What does the underlined word “mollify” mean?

A.Express. B.Relieve.

C.Deepen. D.Realize.

2.What does the author want to say by mentioning his friends?

A.Learning literature is good for one’s later careers.

B.Most people have a negative attitude towards literature.

C.His friends both disliked the career connected with literature.

D.College majors(主修课） have nothing to do with career choices.

3.Which of the following does the author probably agree with?

A.Change your jobs frequently. B.Stay at one job for all your life.

C.Love whatever job you take up. D.Choose your job by your interest.

4.From the passage, we can learn that the author _______________.

A.didn’t regret studying literature all the time

B.had a negative attitude towards literature learning

C.thought that love for literature held the key to career paths

D.thought that colleges should design career paths for students

Project A:Introductory(入门的）Hip Hop for ages 7-12

Hey kids...go back to school with some cool dance moves!

This 4-week hip hop workshop introduces the popular hip hop style of dance in a fun and kid-friendly way. Learn basic hip hop dance moves featured in today's popular music videos, including footwork, freezes, and more.

Open to ages 7-12 with no or little hip hop experience.

Instructor:Jared Hale

Time:Wednesdays,Nov 27-Dec 18   5:00pm-5:45pm(4 weeks)

Cost:$75-4 weeks

Project B:Beginning Musical Theatre Dance for Ages 13 and up

Are you a Musical Theatre student in middle school or high school?Or maybe you just want to give musical theatre a try?This workshop at the beginning level is for YOU!

This 4-week workshop will be taught by the best at the beginning level to help the musical theatre lover learn some of the common dance moves of musical theatre!

Instructor:Adam Roberts

Time:Sundays,Dec 1-Dec 22  1:15pm-2:15pm(4 weeks)

Cost:$80 per 4-week workshop

Project C:Intermediate(中级的）Musical Theatre Dance for Ages 13 and up

Anyone with dance experience at the intermediate level that wants to improve their Musical Theatre Dance skills will not want to miss this workshop!

You will spend 4 weeks with an instructor who has served as an artistic director,choreographer(编舞者），and musical director.

Instructor:Taylor Williams

Time:Sundays,Nov 10-Dec 1  2:15pm-3:15pm(4 weeks)

Cost:$70 per 4-week workshop

Project D:Beginning Ballet Drop-in Class for Ages 11-18

This beginning level ballet class is offered on our drop-in schedule(插班课程）every Tuesday between Nov 26 and Dec 31 this winter.This class gives students the opportunity to try ballet and get some ballet basics needed for other dance styles.

You can start any time and come when you can, enjoying the flexibility you need during the winter!

Instructor:Adam Roberts

Time:Tuesdays,between Nov 26 and Dec 31

Cost:$25 per class.

1.When can a student attend a Hip Hop dancing class?

A.Dec 18  5:00 pm. B.Nov 26  1:15 pm.

C.Dec 1  2:15pm. D.Dec 22  1:15pm.

2.What do Project B and Project D have in common?

A.They share the same class time. B.They share the same instructor.

C.They teach the same dance moves. D.They share the same classroom.

3.How does Project C differ from the other three projects?

A.It costs students more money.

B.It includes free extra lessons.

C.It has changeable class time for beginners.

D.It is for students with middle-level dance experience.

Directions: Write an English composition in 120-150 words according to the instructions given below in Chinese.

假设你是明启中学的学生张华，你们学校暑假里将有英国姐妹学校的交流生来访，你主动申请接待其中一位。学校目前推荐了四项活动：看电影、吃中餐、参加一项学生校外社团活动（自定）、参观一个上海的景点（自定）。请向负责老师写一份申请信。

内容包括：

1. 你的“活动计划”（从上述四个选项中任选两样）；

2. 你的理由。

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Directions: Translate the following sentences into English, using the words given in the brackets.

1.这事他越想越不对劲。(The more ... )

2.只需用上几个收纳小妙招，你就能拥有双倍的书房空间。(take)

3.销售主管工作虽忙，但上周末带着太太和孩子去了郊野公园，享受自然和家庭时光。(as)

4.危机时刻，我们要摒弃成见、同心协力，坚信人类的勇气、智慧和创造力无可限量。(there be)

Directions: Read the following three passages. Summarize the main idea and the main point(s) of the passage in no more than 60 words. Use your own words as far as possible.

Should You Disinfect Your Online Shopping?

People who are self-isolating are increasingly relying on grocery deliveries. This raises a new worry: whether delivered goods carry the new coronavirus. Research suggests it can spread via particles in the air, but also via surfaces. How long can the virus survive and how can we protect ourselves?

COVID-19 is a respiratory（呼吸道的）illness and is largely transmitted via drops in the air from coughing or sneezing, says John Lednicky at the University of Florida. The new virus has also been found to persist on surfaces. A team led by Vincent Munster at the US National Institute of persist on surfaces. A team led by Vincent Munster at the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in Montana found it may survive on plastic and stainless steel for up to 72 hours.

But other research suggests the coronaviruses that cause SARS and MERS can persist on metal, glass and plastic for up to nine days. Research by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggested that traces of the new coronavirus could be on surfaces for even longer; its RNA was detected in cabins of people who had vacated the Diamond Princess cruise ship 17 days earlier, including those without symptoms.

This doesn't necessarily mean these virus particles could still infect other people, says Lednicky. How long virus particles remain active depends on various factors. Those coughed or sneezed out may be covered in a layer of mucus（黏液）that helps them survive longer. Surface survival may also be affected by UV light, which can destroy the ability of some viruses to reinfect us. Heat and higher humidity can also inactivate viruses.

Is it worth trying to disinfect your shopping? Lednicky doesn't think so. Most household cleaning products won't kill coronaviruses, he says. Even if you use one that does, you're unlikely to be able to clean every nook and cranny of, for example, a bunch of grapes. It is more practical to practise social distancing and good personal hygiene, he says.

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

Einstein's Opinions on Creative Thinking

“The greatest scientists are artists as well,” said Albert Einstein, one of the greatest physicists and an amateur pianist and violinist.

For Einstein, insight did not come from logic or mathematics. 1. As he told one friend, “When I examine myself and my methods of thought. I find that the gift of imagination has meant more to me than any talent for absorbing absolute knowledge. All great achievements of science must start from intuitive knowledge. Imagination is more important than knowledge.”

But how did art differ from science for Einstein? Surprisingly, it wasn't the content of an idea, or its subject, that determined whether something was art or science, but how the idea was expressed. If what is seen and experienced is described in the language of logic, then it is science. If it is communicated and recognized intuitively, then it is art. 2. That's why he said that great scientists were also artists. Einstein first described his intuitive thought processes at a physics conference in Kyoto in 1922 when he indicated that he used images and feelings to solve his problems and found words, logical symbols or mathematical equations later.

3. “If I were not a physicist,” he once said, “I would probably be a musician. I often think in music and I see my life in terms of music. I get most joy in life out of music. Whenever I feel that I have come to the end of the road or into a difficult situation in my work. I would bury myself in music, and that would usually solve all my difficulties.”

Music provided Einstein with a connection between time and space which both combine spatial and structural aspects. “The theory of relativity occurred to me my intuition and music is the driving force behind this intuition”, said Einstein. “My parents had me study the violin from the time I was six. 4..”

A.There is no doubt that my theory was a great breakthrough then.

B.Instead, it came from intuition and inspiration

C.For Einstein, it was the humanities that mainly contributed to his achieve-ments.

D.Einstein also owed his scientific insight and intuition mainly to music.

E.My new discovery is the result of musical perception.

F.Einstein himself worked intuitively and expressed himself logically.

    I have been wondering lately why I should teach my newborn son English. Everyone I know speaks English, but would Peter be better off learning a more sensible, mellifluous（流畅的）language, like maybe Italian? It is, I admit, a stupid question. But stupid questions can contain the seeds of great insights. This particular stupid question leads to the frontier of economic theory, as well as to the intellectual foundation            for the government's antitrust（反垄断）case against Microsoft.

Why are American children taught English? The answer is that everyone learns English because everyone else learns it. In this respect, language is a perfect example of what economic theorists call a network. In a network, the benefit one person gets from using some good - in this case, English -- depends on the number of other people using it.

Networks fascinate economic theorists because they don't fit nearby into the standard model of how markets work. In most cases, economists are defenders of free markets. People left to their own devices, we argue, will typically achieve an outcome that is good society as a whole - the vaunted（被大肆吹捧的）invisible hand.

In the case of networks, however, this logic doesn't seem to work. It is easy to imagine that people might get stuck with a network that, once established, is hard to replace. Parents deciding what language to teach their children, for instance, don't really have much choice. How else can we explain why the Chinese keep speaking Chinese when less complicated languages are available?

For a while supporters of the new economics of networks pointed to what seemed to be a compelling example of the problem - the QWERTY keyboard. As the story goes, this arrangement of letters was originally designed to prevent typists from jamming the keys on early typewriters. Despite the availability of superior designs and the fact that jamming keys is no longer an issue, QWERTY remains the standard. This, theorists argued, was a network-driven market failure: People still type on this inefficient keyboard just because that's what everybody else does.

This debate over networks, keyboards, and market failure might seem like arcana（奥秘）only economists can love, but it is having a profound influence on public policy. Many academics who have written about the theory of networks have worked for the Justice Department and other federal agencies. A frequent claim is that computer operating system are like languages: Once a standard becomes dominant, it is practically impossible for anyone to consider an alternative, even a better one. The only difference between English and Windows, the argument goes, is that English is free.

1.Which of the following examples best illustrates the idea "network" mentioned in the passage?

A.Microsoft limits reasonable competition through its aggressive pricing mechanism.

B.Some scholars speak out against the fundamental economic theory in a journal.

C.Peter chooses to learn Italian for the purpose of an early promotion in his company.

D.Families sit together to watch the Spring Festival Gala on New Year's Eve.

2.The underlined phrase "this logic" in Paragraph 4 refers to the idea that ________.

A.networks don't fit into the standard model of how markets work

B.less governmental intervention is good for society

C.what language we learn depends on the environment we live in

D.the market wouldn't operate properly without the "invisible hand"

3.What can we infer from the passage?

A.Free market contributes most to a prosperous economy.

B.The QWERTY keyboard reflects a network failure in business.

C.Convenience gave way to efficiency in the design of the keyboard.

D.Personal preferences may well be determined by how others act.

4.Which of the following can be the best title for this passage?

A.The Dominance of Microsoft Is to Blame

B.Networks Make Substitutes Impossible

C.The Language We Use Depends on Networks

D.Policy-making Is Subject to Public Opinions

Occupational Licenses with the Biggest Bang for Buck

Some 1.8 million American were laid off or discharged from their jobs each month on average in 2019, according to data from the U. S. Bureau of Labor statistics. People who lose their jobs often confront a difficult choice: should they take a new job that pays less, or should they make a costly investment in gaining new skills so that they can compete for another similar job or an even better one?

If they do decide on retraining ,which programs and occupational licenses are worth their while? In general, the highest-paying jobs tend to have the most difficult education/ training and experience requirements. But that is not always the case. The following are five occupational licenses with the biggest bang for your buck.

Drone Pilots: If you want to become a drone pilot, all you need to do is be above 16 years old, pass the Federal Aviation Administration's Remote Pilot Certificate exam (which requires about 15 to 20 hours of studying), and pay a $ 150 licensing fee. Pay for drone pilots averages $ 56,426 per year, and jobs are growing rapidly across a range of industries. For example, companies like UPS are making substantial investments in drone delivery and will need to hire thousands of drone pilots in the coming years.

Home Inspectors: If you need a job that makes about $ 60K per year, you might want to consider becoming a Home Inspector. Both Home Inspectors and HVAC Contractors earn about $ 61K per year, on average, but getting a state HVAC Contractor license typically requires about 4,000 hours of training and experience (those systems are becoming even more complex), whereas a Home Inspector license only requires 360 hours of training and experience, and much of the training can be gained free of charge on the job.

Massage Therapists: On average, Manicurists/Pedicurists are required to complete more hours of training than Massage Therapists (700 hours versus 500 hours), but Massage Therapists earn almost twice as much, on average ($54,639 versus $ 32,509).

Radiologic Technologists: Licensing requirements for cosmetologists（美容师）have become so onerous that candidates now need 2,700 hours of training and experience on average. That's not much less than the requirement for becoming a Radiologic or MRI Technologist (3,300 hours), a job which is growing considerably faster than average, is more recession - proof, and pays twice as much ($ 56,162 versus $ 28,608).

Dental Hygienists: Among jobs that require a two-year associate's degree granted by a college or university, some pay substantially more than others. The average state licensing fee for becoming a Dental Hygienist is a hefty $ 1,600, but the pay bump you'll receive will likely make up for it ten times over in the first year.

1.The underlined expression "the biggest bang for your buck" in Paragraph 2 probably means ________.

A.the job loss for your hesitation to invest

B.a good income resulting from your skills

C.a good return for the money you have spent

D.the great efforts you'd make to change your life.

2.Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

A.Among the drone operators, those who work for delivery services can earn the most.

B.Compared to a home inspector, being an HVAC Contractor is more cost-effective.

C.As an MRI technologist, you'd be less likely to be jobless during an economic crisis.

D.Higher education isn't a compulsory requirement if you want to be a dental hygienist.

3.Which of the following matching for the chart is correct according to the passage?

A.① Radiologic Technologist; ② Cosmetologist; ③General Contractor

B.① Drone Pilot; ② General Contractor; ③ Dental Hygienists

C.① Message Therapist; ② Radiologic Technologist; ③ Cosmetologist

D.① Drone Piolt; ② Cosmetologist; ③ Radiologic Technologist

    These days, nobody needs to cook. Families graze on high-cholesterol（胆固醇）take-aways and microwaved ready-meals. Cooking is an occasional hobby and a vehicle for celebrity chefs, which makes it odd that the kitchen has become the heart of the modern house. What the great hall was to the medieval castle, the kitchen is to the 21st - century home.

The money spent on kitchens has risen with their status. In America the kitchen market is now worth $ 170 billion, five times the country's film industry. In the year to August 2007, the Swedish furniture chain IKEA sold over one million kitchens worldwide. The average budget for a "major" kitchen overhaul in 2006, calculates Remodeling magazine, was a staggering $ 54,000, even a "minor" improvement cost on average $ 18,000.

Exclusivity, more familiar in the world of high fashion, has reached the kitchen: Robinson & Cornish, a British manufacturer of custom-made-kitchens, offers a Georgian-style one, which would cost 145,000 to 155,000 pounds -- excluding building, plumbing and electrical work. Its big selling point is that nobody else will have it: "You won't see this kitchen anywhere else in the word."

The elevation of the room that once belonged only to the servants for the modern family tells the story of a century of social change. Right into the early 20th century, kitchens were smoky, noisy places, generally located underground, or to the back of the house, as far from living space as possible. That was as it should be: kitchens were for servants, and the aspiring middle classes wanted nothing to do with them.

But as the working classes prospered and the servant shortage set in, housekeeping became a matter of interest to the educated classes. One of the pioneers of a radical new way of thinking about the kitchen was Catharine Esther Beecher, sister of Harriet Beecher Stowe. In American Human's Home, published in 1869, the Beecher sisters recommended a scientific approach to household management, designed to enhance the efficiency of a woman's work and promote order. Many contemporary ideas about kitchen design can be traced back to another American, Chris Frederick, who set about enhancing the efficiency of the housewife. Her 1919 work, House-Engineering: Scientific Management in the Home, was based on detailed observation of a wife's daily routine. She borrowed the principle of efficiency on the factory floor and applied mystic tasks on the kitchen floor.

Frederick's central idea, that "stove, sink and kitchen table must be placed in such a relation that useless steps are avoided entirely," inspired the first fully fitted kitchen, designed in the 1920s by Mangarete Schutter Libotsky. It was a modernist triumph, and many elements remain central features of today's kitchen.

1.What does the author say about the kitchen of today?

A.It is where housewives display their cooking skills.

B.It is where the family entertains important guests.

C.It has become something odd a modern house.

D.It is regarded as the center of a modern home.

2.Why does the Georgian-style kitchen sell at a very high price?

A.It is believed to have tremendous artistic value.

B.There will be no kitchen exactly the same anywhere.

C.It is manufactured by a famous British company.

D.No other manufacturer can produce anything like it.

3.What was the Beecher sisters' idea of a kitchen?

A.A place where women could work more efficiently.

B.A place where high technology could be applied.

C.A place of interest to the educated people.

D.A place to experiment with new ideas.

4.What do we learn about today's kitchen?

A.It represents the rapid technological advance in people's daily life.

B.Many of its central features are no different from those of the 1920s.

C.It has been transformed beyond recognition.

D.Many of its functions have changed greatly.

Friendly Laughter

Most people can share a laugh with a total stranger. But there are subtle - and _______ -- differences in our laughs with friends.

Greg Bryant, a cognitive scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles, and his colleagues previously found that adults from 24 societies around the world can distinguish simultaneous "co-laughter" between friends from that between strangers. The findings suggested that his ability may be _______ used to help read social interactions. So the researchers wondered: Can babies distinguish such laughter, too?

Bryant and his fellow researcher Athena Vouloumanos, a developmental psychologist at New York University, played recording of co-laughter between _______ of either friends or strangers to 24 five-month-old infants in New York City. The babies listened _______ to the laughs shared between buddies - suggesting they could tell the two types apart, according to a study published in March in Scientific Reports.

The researchers then showed the babies short videos of two people acting either like friends or strangers and paired those with the _______ recordings. The babies stared for longer at clips paired with a mismatched recording - for example, if they saw friends _______ but heard strangers laughing.

"There's something about co-laughter that is giving _______ to even a five-month-old about the social relationship between the individuals," Bryant says. Exactly what components of laughter the infants are detecting remains to be seen, but prior work by Bryant's team provides _______. Laughs between friends tend to include greater variations in pitch and _______, for example.

Such characteristics also distinguish ________ laughs from fake ones. Many scientists think heartfelt laughter most likely ________ from play vocalizations, which are also produced by nonhuman primates, rodents and other mammals. Fake laughter probably emerged later in humans, ________ that ability to produce a wide range of speech sounds. The researchers suggest that we may be ________ to spontaneous（自发的）laughter during development because of its long evolutionary history.

It's really cool to see how early infants are distinguishing between different forms of laughter," says Adrienne Wood, a psychologist at the University of Virginia, who was not involved in the study. "Almost every ________ moment is a social interaction for babies. Therefore it ________ that they are becoming very much accustomed to their social worlds."

1.A.distinct B.invisible C.detectable D.conscious

2.A.universally B.apparently C.fairly D.precisely

3.A.groups B.pairs C.rivals D.partners

4.A.shorter B.longer C.less patiently D.more diligently

5.A.friendly B.strange C.visual D.audio

6.A.interacting B.reflecting C.clubbing D.interpreting

7.A.value B.meaning C.information D.friendship

8.A.accounts B.implications C.routes D.hints

9.A.engagement B.frequency C.intensity D.length

10.A.obliged B.involuntary C.encouraged D.internal

11.A.evolved B.heaped C.sprang D.originated

12.A.apart from B.along with C.as against D.ahead of

13.A.available B.crucial C.sensitive D.neutral

14.A.screaming B.kicking C.shifting D.waking

15.A.turns out B.comes true C.rings hollow D.makes sense

Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passages coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.

Voice for the Planet

It's the voice you notice first. In person, David Attenborough speaks in the same awestruck hush he has used in dozens of nature documentaries, a crisp half whisper 1. is often imitated but seldom matched. Sitting in his home in the Richmond neighbourhood of west London for one in a series of conversations, I feel obliged to drink  2. second cup of tea when he offers. It somehow seems wrong to say no.

In his native U. K. Attenborough is held in the kind of respect usually  3. (reserve) for royalty. Over decades - first as a television executive, then as a wildlife filmmaker and recently as a kind of elder statesman for the planet -- he has achieved near saintly（圣人的）status. He was knighted（封为骑士）by the Queen in 1985 and 4. (usually refer) to as Sir David.

Attenborough pioneered a style of wildlife film-making that brought viewers to remote landscapes and gave them a close perspective on the wonders of nature. In the autumn of his life, Attenborough has largely moved away from 5. these films are made but lends his storytelling abilities to wildlife documentaries in collaboration with filmmakers his storytelling abilities to wildlife documentaries in collaboration with filmmakers he has mentored. His most famous work, the 2006 BBC series Planet Earth, set a benchmark in the use of high-definition cameras and had a budget equal to 6. of a Hollywood movie. Among its highlights 7. (be) the first footage of a snow leopard, the impossibly rare Asian wildcat that hunts high in the Himalayas. More than a decade 8. it was first released, Planet Earth remains among the all-time best-selling nonfiction DVDs.

Now Attenborough is putting his voice and the weight of authority he has accumulated to greater moral purpose. In recent months he has stood 9. powerful audiences at the 2018 U. N. climate talks in Katowice, Poland, and the 2019 World Economic Forum at Davos, in Switzerland, to urge them into action on climate change. These kinds of event are not his chosen habitat, Attenborough tells TIME. "I would much prefer not to be a sign- 10. (carry) conservationist. My life is the natural world. But I can't not carry a placard（标语牌）if I see what's happening."

疫情之下，云游博物馆也成了年轻人足不出户领略文化的新潮流。假如你是李华，你的英国网友Lucy 发邮件给你，想知道你们现在的“虚拟博物馆”活动。请你给她写封电子邮件，告知相关内容。内容包括：

1.该活动原因；

2.该活动优点（至少两点）；

3. 推荐一个虚拟博物馆。

注意：1.词数不少于100字；

2.可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

参考词汇：virtual虚拟的

Dear Lucy,

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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 处错误，每句中最多有两处。错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。

增加：在缺词处加一个漏词符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。

删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。

修改：在错的词下画一横线，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。

There is no doubt whether attending college can not only enlarge our knowledge but also improved our ability. Colleges are considered as the most beautiful places in the world, where we are likely to take the possession of the most wonderful time in our life. However, it's a pity that some students waste the precious time in college. It is not until they look for jobs that they regret not working harder. I hope we will value every minute. Only in this way will we not regret it when look back at the past.

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。

While buying things online, many of us rely on customer reviews to understand the usage and 1.（perform）of a product. But many sellers are buying fake reviews to influence purchasing patterns. Review companies have 2.army of testers who post four - and five-star reviews on e-commerce platforms. More than 60,000 specialized testers throughout Europe write reviews quickly and 3.（rely）. Although Amazon 4.（fight） against fake reviews and has deleted some of them, the fake reviews won't stop 5. Amazon stops its practice of ranking products.

    How do doctors and hospitals decide who gets potentially lifesaving treatment and who doesn't? Facing this _______ position recently— who gets a ventilator(呼吸机) or a bed in hospital— Italian doctors sought advice on conscience and were told to consider a/an_______ . that draws on utilitarian(功利主义) principles.

In the words which are easy to understand, a utilitarianism approach would maximize(使最大化) overall health by directing _______ toward those most likely to _______ the most from it. If you had only one ventilator, it would go to someone more likely to _______.

In addition, they say pulling the _______ of front-line health care workers first is  _______to maximize the number of lives saved. We may _______ a shortage of such workers, and some have already fallen _______.

In a recent article in The New York Times, a British researcher said, “There are arguments about ________ the young over the old that I am personally very uncomfortable with,” he added. “Is a 20-year-old ________more valuable than a 50-ycar-old, or are 50-year-olds actually more useful for your economy, because they have ________ and skills that 20-ycars-olds don't have?”

Dr. Emanuel ________ with that statement: “The 20-rcar-old has lived fewer years of life; they have been seized of a full life ________. If they nearly have the same prediction of the course of the disease, then the fact that 20-year-old has not had a full life counts in their favor for getting ________ that are rare at this special moment.”

1.A.present B.difficult C.firm D.modern

2.A.approach B.concept C.structure D.order

3.A.money B.medicine C.operation D.care

4.A.suffer B.hear C.benefit D.differ

5.A.disappear B.survive C.breathe D.die

6.A.income B.health C.dream D.promise

7.A.moving B.temporary C.diverse D.necessary

8.A.face B.improve C.solve D.help

9.A.asleep B.silent C.ill D.apart

10.A.proving B.valuing C.promoting D.marking

11.A.really B.usually C.possibly D.casually

12.A.memory B.relatives C.experience D.friends

13.A.disagree B.declared C.struggled D.protested

14.A.with power B.on time C.in use D.by force

15.A.devices B.equipment C.materials D.resources

    Are you a bookworm? Is your head permanently stuck in a book? 1. There are many benefits to reading. Getting into a good novel improves our literacy. Bui who what encourages us to pick up a book and start reading?

Of course, when we are young, our parents and teachers inspire us by introducing us to characters that we love or hate. As a child, I loved books written by RoaldDahl, such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Twits. 2. They are popular with children even today, despite competition from contemporary authors.

One modern-day children's author is J. K. Rowling, who's known for her books about the wizard, Harry Potter. 3. The UK's National Literacy Trust awarded her the title for “turning a generation of children into readers”.

4. It can also help people in difficult circumstances. The author Pat Winslow worked as a writer in prisons and found reading and discussing stories helped prisoners reflect on their patterns of behavior. She says, “very often we would have discussions about the moral compass of a character. What was the motivation of somebody? Why did they behave that way?”

Today I like to read factual books such as biographies, where you get an insight into the lives of important and well-known people. I also enjoy looking at travel books and learning about journeys and new destinations. 5.

A.If so, that's a good thing for you.

B.It's a good substitute if you can't visit in person.

C.Good writing can really capture our imagination.

D.Reading books is more than an enjoyable leisure time.

E.These fictional stories were funny, twisted and slightly evil.

F.Who are your favorite authors and which are your favorite books?

G.She was named as a "literacy hero" for improving people's love of reading.

    Why do people lie? Many psychologists agree that lying can start from childhood. There are various reasons why children make false statements. They usually tell untruthful stories to cover up the mistakes that they have done in the past. Lying is also a way to avoid receiving punishments from parents. If parents, fail to reprimand their children for making up false stories, then there is a possibility that they will continue to lie during their teenage years.

Teenagers lie because they want to be accepted by their friends. This is the main reason why they create stories that are not true just to become presentable and acceptable to other people. In some instances, teenagers tell untruthful statements to avoid criticisms from their families and friends.

As teenagers grow, lying becomes one of their habits. Their knowledge on making up untruthful stories becomes more developed. People lie in workplaces if they fail to meet the deadlines and if they fail to accomplish and do their tasks efficiently. Some of the common lies made in workplaces are getting sick and having emergencies at home. The danger involved in frequent lying is when it becomes a character. Frequent lying causes the development of the condition known to doctors as pathological lying.

Pathological lying is a mental health condition, which is associated with individuals who have the urge to tell untruthful statements. Patients suffering from it make up stories about everything and anything. These individuals pretend to meet the standards of other people who they want to please. These patients cheat other people because it gives them an unexplained pleasure. One of the best ways of treating pathological liars is to help them tell true statements and stories at all times. This may be hard for them, but as they are accustomed to it, they will start to realize that they will be more accepted by their families and other people if they stop themselves from making up false stories.

1.What does the underlined word "reprimand'' in Paragraph 1 mean?

A.satisfy B.criticize

C.discourage D.praise

2.Why do Teenagers tell lies according to the passage?

A.Because they want to avoid being punished. B.Because they want to fool other people.

C.Because they want to satisfy others. D.Because they want to attract others' attention.

3.Why is Pathological lying a disease?

A.Because the patients can't help lying.

B.Because the patients lose interest in everything.

C.Because the patients are critical about themselves.

D.Because the patients have the urge to please others.

4.What are patients suffering pathological lying most likely to do?

A.They really want to play jokes on others.

B.They often suffer from some other diseases.

C.They usually want to show off themselves by making some statements.

D.They always like making up pleasing stories.

5.How does the writer explain pathological lying?

A.By showing some typical examples. B.By predicting the future consequences.

C.By analyzing its causes and development. D.By listing a group of phenomena.

    I'd like to share a little story with you about something that happened when I was four, remember it clearly. Our loving family dog was nearing the end of his life. My father picked him up and put him in a little bed we had made for him. Our dog, my companion. whom we had cared for, bit my father when he attempted to help him. How could he? Why? I couldn't understand it. I didn't like him anymore.

I hadn't thought about that story for a long time but something that happened last week brought it back to me. I went to speak with a friend. When I knocked on the door, I met in an instant an angry look and a few harsh(尖刻的) words. When the door was skimmed(砰地关上) in my face, I stood there shocked, and in a rush, I was reminded of my dog which bit my father 20 years ago or so.

What brought that story back was that same feeling of betrayal.

Both stories taught me something the next day. You see, when I got up in the morning and was told my dog had died, it became clear to me that he must have been in great pain. For him to have bitten a family member, he could not have been himself. Much the same for the other story when I learned that my friend's wife had just left him.

We are all beings of our environments, our opinions and feelings. And all of those things can cause you to say and do things that can't be understood by those who are not in the same situation with you.

If you meet someone either behaving out of character or acting in a way that doesn't seem to fit the situation, be patient when you think it is least possible for him to do so and try to get to know why he had such behaviour.

1.What's the influence of the incident that happened when he was four?

A.It hurt his father's feeling deeply. B.It has puzzled the author ever since.

C.It left a deep impression on the author. D.It made the author dislike dogs.

2.What made the author think about the story of about 20 years ago?

A.The photo of the dog, B.His friend's attitude.

C.His father's wound. D.His friend’s suffering.

3.Why did the authors friend say harsh words to the author?

A.Because he was bad-tempered.

B.Because they once quarreled and lie couldn't forgive the author.

C.Because he was bothered by an unexpected visit.

D.Because he was suffering the pain of losing his wife.

4.What conclusion did the author get from the two stories?

A.Misunderstanding should be removed in time.

B.Sometimes one will be hurt without any reason.

C.Many people think more of themselves and less of others.

D.Many factors will affect one's behavior.

5.What's the author's advice to us?

A.Learn to understand others. B.Look before you leap.

C.Help those in need. D.Tolerance is a kind of virtue.

    A polished resume is essential for a successful school or job application. A clear structure and well-organized content can be the difference between success and failure.

Structuring your resume

(1) Create a header with your name and contact information. There are also down loadable templates(模板) available online. If none of them appeals to you, however, you can always use your own design.

(2) Use a chronological(时间顺序排列的)resume. In a chronological resume, you list your work and education experiences, starting with your most recent experience.

(3) Include your relevant education, awards or training. Typically, your highest academic qualification is the only one you need to include on your resume.

If you had a cumulative(累积的)GPA of 3.5 or higher, feel free to include it. Otherwise, it would be best to leave it out. If you re listing more than one degree, include your GPA on both of them, if possible.

(4) List work experience, including relevant volunteer work and internships. Use specific job titles and short explanations that tell potential employers exactly what you did, what skills you gained and how they could be useful in a new job.

(5) Try a functional resume, if you lack direct work experience. With a functional resume you can highlight your specific skills and resources without having to list previous jobs. A functional resume emphasizes what you can do rather than what you've done.

Making your content shine

Place keywords in your resume strategically. Schools or employers often use software to scan resumes for specific keywords.

1.How should you present your job and education experiences on a resume?

A.Begin with your most successful experience.

B.Stan with your most recent experience.

C.Include as many details as possible.

D.Only introduce your highest degree.

2.When should you leave your GPA out of your resume?

A.If your total GPA was below 3.5. B.If your cumulative GPA was below 4.0.

C.If you're listing more than one decree. D.If you are still a student.

3.What should you do if you don't have much work experience according to the text?

A.List my job you've done before.

B.talk about how much you know about the job.

C.Focus on your abilities and skills related to the job.

D.Share what you've learned from your previous work.

4.How can you make your resume noticeable according to the text? 、

A.Use a catchy template. B.Send your resume in a DOC file.

C.Mention a hobby that you are good at. D.Highlight some keywords in your resume.

5.What is the main idea of this passage?

A.The ways to shine the content of your resume。

B.How to structure your resume.

C.The recipe of resume success.

D.The contact information in the resume.

阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。词数应为150左右。

Ali and his younger sister, Zahra, lived with their parents in a poor neighborhood. Their mother was very sick and their father was struggling to find a job, and they had only a little money with which to buy food. As they had not paid the rent for several months, the landlord was breathing down their necks.

One day, Ali took Zahra’s shoes to a shoe repairman to be fixed, but he lost them on the way home. It wasn’t until he got home that he realized he had lost the shoes. He was afraid that his parents would be angry and disappointed, so he begged his sister to keep it secret. Zahra agreed and the two decided to share Ali’s running shoes. Zahra’s school hours were in the morning, so she would wear them first. After school, she would rush back and give them to Ali. He could then run to his school, which began in the afternoon. Although he ran as fast as he could, Ali often arrived late and was warned by the school.

Ali heard about a long distance race that was held for the boys in the city. When he learned that the third prize was a new pair of shoes, he decided to take part. He ran home excitedly and promised his sister that he would win her the new shoes.

The day of race arrived. Ali had a strong start, but halfway through the race he began to get tired and his legs began to ache. Getting more and more exhausted he thought only of Zahra and his promise to her. Dreaming of the new shoes he would win for his sister gave him strength, and he stayed right behind the two fastest runners, determined to finish third. Suddenly, as the finish line drew near, another runner collided (碰撞) with Ali from behind and he crashed to the ground.

注意：

1. 所续写短文的词数应为150左右；

3. 续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好；

Paragraph 1:

Ali looked up and saw the other boys rushing ahead.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Paragraph 2

Filled with delight, Ali walked home quickly.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

假设你是红星中学学生李华。目前，随着全球新型冠状病毒肺炎确诊病例数量不断攀升，你的英国笔友Jim发来邮件向你询问在家抗疫和学习的注意事项，请你给他回信，内容包括：

1. 表达关心；2. 介绍经验；3. 分享感受。

注意：1. 词数80左右；

2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

提示词：新型冠状病毒肺炎 the novel coronavirus pneumonia 或 COVID-19；疾病的大流行 pandemic

Dear Jim,

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Yours,

Li Hua

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。

Everyone has their own unique fingerprint; 1. makes fingerprints an ideal way to unlock smartphones. However, this may be 2. (safe) than we think.

Scientists at New York University and Michigan State University in the US have developed a set of fake fingerprints. They say that the prints 3. unlock any fingerprint-enabled smartphone up to 65 percent of the time.

The artificial fingerprints 4. (create) by using many common features found in human prints. They work 5. taking advantage of the way smartphone scanners check a fingerprint.

The fingerprint scanners  6. (use) in smartphones are so small that they only read parts of fingerprints. So they have to take many scans of your finger or thumb (拇指) 7. they work properly. Smartphones also let users save several finger and thumbprints. Since a print only has to match one of the saved images 8. (unlock) the phone, the scanner is more likely to make mistakes.

Although the scientists have only tested their findings in computer simulations (模拟), 9. (worry) about the safety of using fingerprints are reasonable .They warn that the technology used to create artificial fingerprints is improving  10. (extreme) fast.

    Here’s an awkward confession (承认): I’ve cried at every job I’ve had. I always find it difficult to___ my emotions. And each time I’ve___ exactly why these emotional moments are considered so taboo (忌讳的). Is it a universal truth that you just can’t cry at work ?

As someone puts it on the internet, as professional women, we’re dealing with the great expectation to “be __ in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire” while also making enough money to pay rent. __ , my eyes get a little watery just thinking about it. So if crying at work is unavoidable – yet taboo – what is an ambitious young woman to do to __ after one of these embarrassing  incidents?

My usual routine after an in-office __ is to remove my contact lenses, have a massive iced-coffee, and ___it never happened (until it happens again). Clearly, I’m no expert on the right professional response. So I spoke with my personal finance coach, Ashley Feinstein Gerstley, to see if she had any __ for reducing the humiliation (丢脸).

“It’s so __ , but telling yourself not to cry usually __ making you cry more,” she says. “You’re using all your energy to hold it together, but there’s so much pressure that the tears will almost unavoidably come. If you do get upset, it can be helpful to __ yourself from the situation. Take a minute to get it together, and come back ready to have a more composed (镇静的) exchange.”

Maybe there’s some __ in crying. I’ve definitely found that __ the taboo can lead to greater relationships with __. I’ve noticed how tears have helped solve a disconnection or problem that might __ have gone unsolved. To be honest, I’m hoping to recognize, if not celebrate, the rare office cry as a hidden skill for greater future.

1.A.describe B.contain C.maintain D.distinguish

2.A.understood B.remembered C.wondered D.explained

3.A.fearless B.curious C.cautious D.flexible

4.A.Thankfully B.Finally C.Gradually D.Frankly

5.A.compete B.communicate C.recover D.celebrate

6.A.training B.practice C.discussion D.disaster

7.A.prove B.pretend C.believe D.expect

8.A.tips B.plans C.choices D.answers

9.A.boring B.complicated C.different D.embarrassing

10.A.turns to B.comes to C.ends up D.leads up

11.A.protect B.ban C.separate D.excuse

12.A.benefit B.purpose C.lesson D.interest

13.A.respecting B.breaking C.following D.improving

14.A.friends B.relatives C.colleagues D.neighbors

15.A.still B.otherwise C.similarly D.therefore

    When you sleep, do you ever realize that you are dreaming? If yes, then you have had a lucid dream (清醒梦). 1. Only some people are able to have them. Now, scientists have found ways to help more people to have lucid dreams, Live Science reported.

Denholm Aspy from the University of Adelaide in Australia found that certain skills are key to helping people have lucid dreams.

First, people can train themselves to figure out whether they are dreaming or not. For example, someone may look at a clock, look away, and then look back. 2. Then, they might dream about this trick while sleeping. But in their dreams, the time on the clock may change very quickly. So people know they are dreaming.

Another trick is to wake up after five hours of sleep. 3. During this time, repeat the words, “The next time I’m dreaming, I’ll remember that I’m dreaming.” Then, go to bed again to enter rapid eye movement (REM，快速眼球运动) sleep. In REM sleep, people are more likely to be aware of their dreams.

Scientists found that those who used these tricks had a 17 percent success rate at having lucid dreams. 4.

In a lucid dream, people might study a hobby and then become better at it in real life, according to Aspy. For example, you might learn to play the piano in a lucid dream. 5.

A.Then, stay awake for a while.

B.The time should stay the same.

C.This was far higher than if they did nothing.

D.People learn new skills faster in a lucid dream.

E.It is hard for most people to have a lucid dream.

F.Then, your real-life piano skills might improve.

G.Some people will need more time to fall asleep and have a dream.

    When I tell people I wrote a book with my dad, they usually say, “It must be nice to think of the legacy (留下来的东西) you created with someone who means so much to you.”

This was a beautiful idea, but it was not the way I, or my dad, ever thought about the cooperation. Though we created something we’re proud of, “nice” is not the word either of us uses to describe the process.

“It was more confrontation (对抗) than cooperation,” my dad likes to say. I agree.

When we landed a book deal, we began a writing journey that was more difficult than either of us had anticipated, but also far more rewarding.

For almost three years, we met once or twice a week at my parents’ house and talked daily to plan and outline each chapter. After these meetings, one of us would write a rough draft that the other would build on. I wanted the book to focus on positive vices (不良习惯): such as moderate (适度的) chocolate. However, my dad felt the book should include chapters dealing with things like walking and spending time with family. Ultimately , I saw it his way. He said the book was about more than just good vices. It was about encouraging people to enjoy life in healthy ways.

Writing this book was a reminder that our family members share not only our faults but also our strengths. My dad is smart, funny, critical and caring. He has a strong passion for the truth. I hope I share these great qualities. For this book, he researched each topic with an enthusiasm I’d never seen from him, and he insisted that we constantly question and critically analyze every piece of information – even our own conclusions. He was determined to cooperate with me on a book, not because he couldn’t write one on his own, but because he believed that we could create something better together than we could alone.

I’m not sure if our cooperation led to better writing, but I’m sure it led to a better writing experience. Writing this book was difficult, sometimes more difficult than past projects, but it was never lonely.

1.How would the author describe the writing process according to the first 3 paragraphs?

A.Nice. B.Struggling.

C.Relaxing. D.Disappointing.

2.What is Paragraph 5 mainly about?

A.A healthy lifestyle.

B.The theme of the book.

C.How the author and his father worked together.

D.Why the author wanted to write the book.

3.What can we learn about the author’s father?

A.He is not good at writing.

B.He lacks confidence in himself.

C.He likes to criticize others’ works.

D.He likes to get to the bottom of things.

4.What did the author learn from the cooperation with his father?

A.It’s important to make a plan before work.

B.Their cooperation resulted in a better book than the author expected.

C.It’s worthwhile to work with someone close to you.

D.Communicate more when there is an argument.

    Almost everyone has heard the expression, “the calm before the storm”. It is usually used to describe a peaceful period just before a very stressful situation or a tense argument.

British sailors coined the phrase in the late 1600s; they noted that before certain storms the seas would seem to become static and the winds would drop.

But why is it often so calm before a storm?

Science has given us the answer. According to US infotainment (资讯娱乐) website HowStuffWorks, a calm period occurs because many storms, such as tornadoes and hurricanes, draw in all the warm and humid air from the surrounding area. As this air rises into the storm clouds, it cools and acts as “fuel for the storm, like petrol in a car”.

Once the storm has taken all the energy it can from the air, it is pushed out from the top of the storm clouds and falls back down to ground level. As the air descends (下降), it becomes warm and dry. Warm, dry air is stable, so once it covers an area, it causes a calm period before the storm.

This same process also causes the “eye of the storm” in hurricanes and tornadoes. In these conditions, the calm occurs in the center of the storm because of the strong rotating (旋转的) winds.

The Weather Network has a tip for working out how far away a storm is. First, count how many seconds there are between a flash of lightning and a clap of thunder. Roughly three seconds equal one kilometer. So, for example, if you count nine seconds, the storm is about 3 kilometers away. A good gauge (评估) is that if your count is below 30 seconds, you should seek shelter straight away.

However, due to the complexity of storm system, not all storms are preceded by calm. Given the right conditions, some storms announce themselves with heavy rain and chilling (寒冷的) winds. So, your best bet is to keep yourself updated with weather reports for any predictions regarding a coming storm in your area. That’s the most reliable and sensible way to predict the next display of nature’s temper (脾气).

1.What is the main idea of Paragraphs 4 and 5?

A.To explain how a storm comes into being.

B.To support previous research on storm clouds.

C.To explain why a peaceful period occurs before a storm.

D.To show how dangerous a storm can be in certain situations.

2.If there are 15 seconds between a flash of lightning and a thunder clap, how far away is the storm?

A.Three kilometers. B.Four kilometers.

C.Five kilometers. D.Six kilometers.

3.What can we learn from the last paragraph?

A.It is not always quiet before a storm.

B.Storms have a big influence on life.

C.Heavy storms don’t usually last for a long time.

D.Weather reports may fail to predict a storm.