84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

192 pages. Little Brown UK via LBS. $ 10.36

Hanff was in search of classic British literature titles that she had been unable to find in New York City when she noticed an ad in The Saturday Review of Literature. She first contacted the shop in 1949 and it fell to Doel to fulfil her requests. In time, a long-distance friendship developed in the form of twenty-year correspondence（通信）between the two and between Hanff and other staff members as well, with an exchange of Christmas packages, birthday gifts and food parcels to help with the post-World War II food shortages in Britain.

Fool by Christopher Moore

311 pages. William Morrow. $26.99

In Fool Christopher Moore takes on Shakespeare, with a retelling of “King Lear” through the eyes of Lear's fool named Pocket. The plot and cast of characters are borrowed more or less from the original, with several Mooreian additions-a second fool, named Drool, and a refrain （叠句）that could come in handy for any adapter of Shakespeare, “There's always a bloody ghost”.

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

372 pages. Bloomsbury. $24.93

Mariam is only fifteen when she is sent to Kabul to marry rough Rasheed, who is thirty years her senior. Nearly two decades later, in a climate of growing unrest, tragedy strikes fifteen-year-old Laila, who must leave her home and join Mariam's unhappy household. Laila and Mariam are to find comfort in each other to struggle against starvation, cruelty and fear in a desperate life. Their friendship grows as deep as the bond between sisters and as strong as the ties between mother and daughter.

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

541 pages. Knopf. $26.95

Like his main character, Marion Stone, Abraham Verghese is a doctor born in Ethiopia who immigrated to the United States. Marion and his twin brother, Shiva, were left alone at birth when their mother died, and their father, a doctor, disappeared. Fleeing an act of political violence, Marion lands in New York, at a charity hospital called Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, where the events that happen force him to face his past.

1.Which two books mainly focus on friendship?

A.Fool and Cutting for Stone .

B.84, Charing Cross Road and Fool.

C.Cutting for Stone and A Thousand Splendid Suns.

D.84, Charing Cross Road and A Thousand Splendid Suns.

2.Which book is the best choice to learn more about “King Lear”?

A.84, Charing Cross Road. B.Fool.

C.A Thousand Splendid Suns. D.Cutting for Stone.

3.What do we know about Shiva from the passage?

A.He is Mariam's husband. B.He is Laila's mother.

C.He is Verghese’s twin brother. D.He is Marin's twin brother.

4.What can we know from the passage?

A.Cutting for Stone is published by William Morrow.

B.Abraham Verghese was not born in the U. S. A.

C.A Thousand Splendid Suns is a book about history.

D.Fool is the thinnest book and costs the most.

假定你是李华,你校戏剧社正在招收新成员。请你给交换生Peter写封邮件,鼓励他加入，内容包括:

1.个人条件和优势;

2.戏剧社特点;

3.加入的好处及报名截止日期等。

注意:1.词数100左右;

2.可以适当增加细节,以使行文连贯。

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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

增加:在缺词处加一个漏字符号( ^) ,并在其下面写上该加的词。

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- -词;

2.只允许修改10处,多者(从第11处起)不计分。

Passing exams are every student's dream. Fail them is their frightening dream. So, to realize our dreams, many students try anything. They even go to fortunetellers, buy lucky charms and follow lots of old custom. In Korea, many students bury something personal in the university they want to enter. They believed that those things are amazing and will “pull" them into the university. If it works or not, nobody real knows. At least it does ease the students' minds about passing exams. Remembering, though, you can't always rely luck. There is no substitute for a hard work.

阅读下面短文,在空白处填人1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

The hurricane happened so quickly. I was siting in my room with my cat, Smartie, on my lap,1. the roof just flew off. All of2. sudden, there was sky where the roof had been. The rain was coming down hard and fast. Our street turned into a river in3. ( second).

At first, I was4. ( please) we could stay at home, but soon it got really tough. Without a roof, staying inside was too dangerous. We just had drinking water that was sent5. us by helicopter, but it was never enough. I just6.(spend ) the days watching the boats going up and down the street and Smarie had disappeared the moment the storm hit.

Living in the open air, we became breakfast，lunch and dinner for the mosquitos. But Mom encouraged us7.(see) the good side of things. We had lost our home and every thing，including Smartie.

Although it was only a few days before we8. ( rescue), it felt like months. We were taken to another town. Thankfully, Smartie came home just in time.

Now, one year has passed and I'm back home in New Orleans. We have enough confidence to rebuild our homes and our lives. Now we can9. ( peaceful) watch the stars of New Orleans, their beauty inspiring us and giving us10. ( strong) to move on.

    Julie Morgan and her husband, Rich, had planned a trip from their home in Indianapolis to Battle Creek, Michigan, for her 56th birthday. The couple used to live in Battle Creek, and would_______ eat at Steve's Pizza despite money being_______. "It's just the best pizza, and we've never had anything as_______ "Julie Morgan said. "We'd try new pizza as a whole family and_______ it against Steve's."

But their trip was_______ when Rich ended up in the ICU where he was told that his_______ with cancer was coming to an end and he had days, maybe weeks, left to______. Without telling the couple, Julie's father, David Dalke, _______ called Steve's and spoke to the manager to explain the_______, hoping to get a letter, text or some kind of________.

But manager Dalton Shaffer went above and beyond， telling them he would________the pizzas to Indianapolis, even though Steve's Pizza doesn't normally________ . “I just wanted to do that for them," he said. “I just wanted to make them________.”

Just after the pizza shop________ at 10:15 p. m., Shaffer drove 225 miles, making it into Indianapolis with two pizzas at 2:30a. m.，where he was________ by the Morgans' children, and Julie's father. “It was almost like he was just making a delivery across________,”Dalke said. He offered to put Dalton up for the________in a hotel, but he________ and immediately left for the return trip home because he had to work the next day.

“Dalton brought our family so much joy—and the best________ in the world—at a really________time,” Ms Morgan said.

1.A.briefly B.simply C.regularly D.occasionally

2.A.tight B.loose C.valuable D.abundant

3.A.rare B.good C.cheap D.pretty

4.A.pay B.taste C.weigh D.measure

5.A.listed B.arranged C.realized D.interrupted

6.A.bond B.battle C.relation D.treatment

7.A.live B.work C.relax D.remain

8.A.secretly B.abruptly C.casually D.immediately

9.A.deal B.error C.crisis D.situation

10.A.follow-ups B.well-wishes C.feedback D.reward

11.A.send B.report C.drive D.promise

12.A.mind B.advertise C.order D.deliver

13.A.happy B.surprised C.certain D.reunited

14.A.opened B.paused C.closed D.delayed

15.A.expected B.attended C.greeted D.admitted

16.A.town B.border C.forest D.country

17.A.week B.night C.trouble D.effort

18.A.lied B.hesitated C.refused D.forgave

19.A.news B.pizza C.award D.medicine

20.A.late B.accurate C.joyful D.difficult

    Going to work every day can be a very stressful and frustrating situation when you're dealing with a difficult co-worker.1. Learn how to effectively handle a problem-causing co-worker in order to maintain your sanity and your work productivity.

2. People often act out in order to receive attention from others. A co-worker with a bad attitude may feel like no one ever listens to her. Listen intently to what your co-worker says, and make a point to show her that you are concentrating on what she is saying with occasional nods and questions.

Change your scenery for a few minutes. Work days can be tiring and long. Sometimes, all you might need is a slight, temporary change in scenery.3. Either go for a five-minute outdoor walk or sit in the company lounge by yourself with a hot cup of coffee. Refresh yourself so you may be able to come back to your Co-worker with a better state of mind.

Communicate with your co-worker. Understand that if you do not voice your concerns to your co-worker, it is unlikely that she will ever change. After all, she may not even know that a problem exists. If you are unable to confront your co-worker, just politely ask her to have a chat, openly talking to her about what is bothering you. Ask her if you do anything to bother her, as well.4.

Treat your co-worker as nicely as possible. When someone is treating you kindly, it can become significantly more difficult to treat her badly in return.5. She may even feel guilty about her mistreatment of you and change her behavior.

A.Follow her ideas if possible.

B.Lend an ear to your co-worker.

C.Speak to your co-worker in a kind way.

D.Find out the good things in your co-worker.

E.Take quick "time outs" every couple of hours.

F.Without proper action, things might tum into a mess.

G.Ty to come up with a solution that both of you can handle.

    Wang Zhonglin started playing table tennis only four years ago. But last year, he and other researchers came up with a clever way to up their game; Build a smart table.

Now they've built a prototype (样品). It can measure where a ball lands, how fast the ball's going, where it's headed and the angle it was traveling. The table can do that because its special wood surface forms the top layer (层) of a novel self-powered sensor. The data it acquires could guide players to perform better.

Importantly, the new smart table won't need a battery to detect the ball. When a ball hits the wood, it sets off a chain of events that can both produce a small electric current(电流) and record measurements of the ball's behavior.

What makes the new game table truly unique is its use of wood as one of the layers because wood can produce electricity by rubbing against it. But Wang's group realized they couldn't rely on wood that comes directly from a tree. It's too hard and too easily broken. They needed a kind of wood that could bend. So they boiled the wood in chemicals for seven hours. Then they dipped the wood in boiling water. Once it came out of the boiling baths, the wood bent easily.

The scientists then cut the treated wood into small squares. Each measured just 1.8 inches on a side. Those squares became the top layer. Beneath this wood, they added a layer of metal to conduct electricity. They attached that layer to a metal wire. Then, instead of using a table-tennis ball, they hit the surface with a type of hard plastic. When it registered an electric current, they moved on to building a test table.

“It is amazing. To me, self-powered sensors of wood is the first move toward using energy harvesting and sensing in sports," said Askar, an engineer in Canada. And it need not end with table tennis, he added.

1.What can we know about Wang's invention?

A.Its battery lasts very long. B.It sells well in the market.

C.It can accelerate the ball's speed. D.It can judge the ball's direction.

2.Why did Wang use wood surface?

A.It is easy to get. B.It can produce electricity.

C.It is hard enough. D.It is environmentally friendly.

3.What was the wood like after being treated?

A.It bent easily. B.It shrunk greatly.

C.It broke easily. D.It became harder.

4.What can be inferred from Askar's words?

A.Sports meets will end with a table tennis match.

B.The technology will be used in other sports.

C.Table tennis isn't the first to use self-powered sensors.

D.The table tennis ball will be self-powered in the future.

    Air travel is growing around the globe, and so is its contribution to climate change. The climate cost of flying has drawn more public attention in recent years, even leading to“ flight shame” in some places, especially for local or avoidable flights.

And while a decline in air travel would help with climate change，flight shame can also be added by other ways that make air travel more environmentally friendly. That includes switching to cleaner，renewable fuel , but as a new study indicates , there's also another, less obvious option: flying at lower altitudes.

In a new study, researchers used computers to predict how adjusting aircraft altitudes might reduce the number of contrails(尾迹)，which we see as white lines across the sky containing black carbon particles (颗粒)，thus reducing their warming effect. The study found that aircraft would only need to adjust their altitudes by about 2 ,000 feet, and since some flights have a larger climate effect than others , only a small part of flights would need to make any adjustments.

Of course flying at a lower altitude might increase flying time and it also means burning significantly more fuel, and thus giving off more C02, but the benefits of controlling contrails are worth it.

In addition to changing altitudes，better engine technology could also help control contrails, the researchers add, since black carbon particles are produced by incomplete fuel combustion ( 燃烧). With more efficient engines, aircraft could reportedly reduce their contrail by as much as 70%。Combined with slight altitude adjustment for a small part of flights, this could help reduce overall contrail problems by 90%，the study suggests.

This is promising, but more research i still needed, and it may be a while before improvements like these take effect at a significant scale. So, while it's good to know air travel can have a smaller effect on the climate, for now the best way to achieve that is often by simply staying on the ground whenever possible.

1.What might be the effect of“flight shame" ?

A.People will avoid traveling by plane.

B.Airline companies will limit service targets.

C.The cost of air travelling will become higher.

D.People will feel shamed if they haven't taken a plane.

2.Why did the researchers suggest flying at lower altitudes?

A.Planes can travel faster. B.Planes can save more fuel.

C.Planes may give off less C02. D.Planes may have less warming effect.

3.What is mainly talked about in paragraph 5?

A.A way to change altitudes. B.The future of engine technology.

C.An approach to reducing contrails. D.The concept of incomplete combustion.

4.In which section of a website might this text appear?

A.Energy. B.Climate.

C.Finance. D.Safety. .

    Personal growth would be a good way to sum up Tarik Black. Indeed, at this very moment, the man himself is sporting a ski cap with the words “Be More" on it, which he takes to heart.

While many other former NBA players would be busy padding their own pockets, he has taken the opposite approach: creating a charity to help underprivileged youth in the U. S. The Tarik Black Foundation aims to inspire kids and prepare them to become successful adults. The organization is based in Memphis , where Tarik Black grew up and play ed college basketball.

Sure, they offer a basketball summer camp, but they also train teenagers how to put on a tie and perform well at a job interview.“ We take them to apartment buildings and teach them about what you should look for in purchasing an apartment," he tells me.“We take them out to nice dinners and teach them table manners.

They organized an art show in Los Angeles where the teenagers got dressed formally and learned how to

socialize with others. In Houston, they partnered with the National Tennis Association for a charity event.

“My mother would drive me around Memphis and show me people who are growing up in circumstances that don't have opportunities. She would always tell me, 'If you ever get a chance to give back to these people , then you must," he says, leaning back into the chair.

The family moved to Israel in the summer of 2018 , when Black signed with Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel's best basketball powerhouse. And the Maccabi Tel Aviv season will end just in time for him to return to Memphis to . conduct his summer camps in July, 2019.

It's still up in the air if Black will be coming back for a second season in Tel Aviv. But he's not worried.“Honestly, the doors are open for us to seek after anything we want if you keep a big picture in mind.”

1.What does the underlined word“padding" in paragraph 2 mean?

A.Hiding. B.Checking.

C.Filling. D.Choosing.

2.What can the youth learn in the Tarik Black Foundation?

A.Sales skills. B.Cooking skills.

C.Social skills. D.Building skills.

3.Which word can be used to describe Tarik Black?

A.Confident. B.Humorous.

C.Honest. D.Modest.

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

A.An NBA Player Is Coming Back

B.Black Signed with Maccabi Tel Aviv

C.Personal Likes Matters More to a Star

D.The Basketball Star Gives back to U.S Youth

Ways to Learn a New Language

Here are several awe some learning apps and training services that will have you speaking a new language in no time.

Earworms MBT Language Learning Bundle

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to memorize the words of a song? Well, Earworms Musical Brain Training uses that exact phenomenon to teach you a new language whether you are a beginner or an expert. Without even trying , you'll subconsciously acquire a collection of German, Spanish, Italian, or French words. Start listening and learning for $ 14.99 (62% off).

The Fast-Track Language Learning Bundle

Since Spanish is the second most commonly spoken language in the US, learning its fundamentals will be particularly helpful in your life. And this course is great for beginners: You will learn basic sentence structure, verb tenses, as well as how to hold a conversation. You can get a lifetime subscription for $ 19. 99(97% off. )

The Complete Learn French in 30 Days Bundle

This training bundle, which consists of 10 courses, is perfect for beginners. You will start by learning commonly used vocabulary and phrases before moving on to building proper sentence structure and mastering French grammar. By the end of the bundle, you will know how to speak French in everyday, real-world situations. You can start learning for $ 19 (99% off).

Language Zen-Spanish language Learning Program

Language Zen is effective at teaching Japanese. It adapts to every user. No matter your level, language Zen works its magic by discovering your strengths and weaknesses to create a learning experience just for you. You will even learn vocabulary and phrases from specialized topics that apply most to you. Start learning for $ 98.99 (50% off) and get lifetime access in case you want to return to it later.

1.How is Earworms MBT Language Learning Bundle special?

A.It can teach users French. B.It is suitable for beginners.

C.It teaches by playing songs. D.It offers the biggest discount.

2.Who might be a possible user of the 10-course training service?

A.A native Frenchman. B.A French Beginner.

C.A French teacher. D.A French interpreter.

3.Which of the following can provide a personalized service?

A.The Fast-Tack Language Learning Bundle.

B.Earworms MBT Language Learning Bundle.

C.The Complete Learn French in 30 Days Bundle.

D.Language Zen-Spanish language Learning Program.

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。续写的词数应为150左右。

On March 3, Eric Johnson was asleep when the family’s six-year-old Australian shepherd, Bella, woke him up. Bella was acting unpredictably, giving Johnson the sense that “something just didn’t feel right.” Bella sensed danger, and alerted the family to the tornado that soon destroyed their home.

When Johnson woke up, he turned on the TV and found out that a tornado was headed toward their town of Cookeville, Tennessee. He quickly grabbed his wife and their three children and put them in the bathtub. Nearly 45 minutes later, around 2:00 am, the tornado hit and destroyed the house. Johnson was thrown into the backyard.

Johnson said, “Bella was hiding under our bed when the tornado hit our house. She was thrown into our yard and survived and was missing after that. It was hard for us knowing she had survived but we couldn’t find her. She was the piece of our family that was missing.” The furious 175 mph twister destroyed everything in its path. The Johnsons would not have survived if not for Bella.

Johnson suffered a head injury and his wife had broken ribs, but they soon set about searching for their beloved heroic dog. They left pieces of clothing around the destroyed neighborhood, hoping that Bella would recognize the scent and find her way back home. Church friend and dog tracker Sarah Romeyn also joined in.

She borrowed cameras from a local animal rescue group and set them up in areas where people reported seeing her. She also worked with other dog trackers and even sought tips from residents with the help of the Putnam County Police Department.

When leads dried up, the Johnsons and Romeyn pressed on. “I was still finding time searching in parking lots, but it was tough. Because nobody had found a body, in rescue you can’t give up until you know you don’t have a positive outcome. And I hadn’t given up,” Romeyn said.

Paragraph 1: In time, they found a glimmer of hope when Romeyn got a call from friend Karen Ritacco, who said that Bella was behind her shop._________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________   Paragraph 2: Romeyn was happy to play a part in the rescue, but also credits the community for their help.___________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

为让学生走进农业，体验生活，学生会打算本周六组织英语俱乐部成员和交换生去生态园参与体验活动。请你代表学生会，根据所给信息，写一则通知，内容包括：

1.活动主要内容（观农业成果展、采摘等）；

2.集合时间、地点。

参考词汇：生态园：ecological garden

注意：1.词数80左右；

2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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。

Today was my first day back in San Francisco after camping in the Redwood Forest and visiting the wine country of Napa Valley. It 1. (definite) feels great to be back in the city again which was able to rebuild itself after the earthquake that 2. (occur) in 1906. There are a wide range of beautiful old buildings—many sitting on top of big hills, 3. (offer) great views of the city, the ocean, and the Golden Gate Bridge.

My hotel is near downtown in the Mission District, one of the 4. (old) parts of the city. Many people living here are from Mexico or Central America. Here, an art movement 5. (call) the ''Mission School'' started here. It's influenced by graffiti art and comic art.

In the afternoon, I headed 6. a local museum that showed the 7. (history) changes in California. In 1848, gold was discovered here, which started a gold rush. A large number of people across 8. globe came to seek their fortune. The museum did a good job of showing how America 9. (build) by immigrants from different countries and cultures.

This evening, I went to Chinatown, 10. I selected a Cantonese restaurant to taste good food.

That's enough for today. Tomorrow evening, I'm going to visit a Jazz bar in the Richmond District. Can't wait!

    I attended my 35th high school reunion recently. It was held at the 4-H camp that I _______ next to as a child. When I got there the very first thing I _______ was the little Oak trees that I used to climb up as a boy now seemed as tall as Redwoods. _______ had that happened?

I had arrived early so I _______ to help get things set up. I _______ some chairs around the tables and then got drafted to blow up the party balloons. For some reason my aging _______ couldn’t seem to get my balloons quite as _______ as my friend’s, who was helping me out.

As I started to talk to my _______ high school friends I noticed something else too. We all looked a little _______. There was some with gray hair. And we all seemed to have a few extra ________ and a few extra wrinkles. Yet, the moment we started to talk and catch up the years melted away, our ________ souls shined through. On the outside we all seemed a little wiser and more mature, but on the ________ every single one of us was bright, beautiful, and energetic. 35 years may have ________ our bodies a bit, ________ it hadn’t had any effect whatever on our souls. Our souls are created in Love. And Love ________ ages. Love is both unfading and forever young.

1.A.ended up B.grew up C.pulled out D.set out

2.A.explored B.described C.noticed D.counted

3.A.Why B.How C.When D.Where

4.A.happened B.promised C.agreed D.volunteered

5.A.placed B.designed C.decorated D.fixed

6.A.bone B.heart C.lungs D.muscle

7.A.large B.flat C.empty D.full

8.A.generous B.new C.old D.honest

9.A.simple B.nervous C.mild D.different

10.A.fees B.pounds C.jobs D.aids

11.A.young B.healthy C.active D.beautiful

12.A.contrary B.surface C.spot D.inside

13.A.weakened B.aged C.strengthened D.enriched

14.A.or B.and C.but D.for

15.A.never B.always C.seldom D.often

    When I commute (通勤) into London, there are certainly plenty of people conversing on their mobile phones—discussing and sharing personal details with a friend. 1. In fact, they don't even acknowledge the person who is actually sitting beside them.

Many of us spend part of each day surrounded by strangers, whether on our daily commute, or sitting in a park or a cafe. 2. However, new evidence has shown that gathering the courage to strike up a conversation might be good for our health.

Behavioural scientists Nicholas Epley and Juliana Schroeder looked at this silent relationship and whether solitude (独处) is a more positive experience than interacting with strangers. 3. Their research suggested that when we make an initial conversation, ''we consistently underestimate how much a new person likes us. '' It seems we carry a negative voice in our head telling us all the things that could go wrong and why someone wouldn't want to converse with us.

4. It found that ''every participant in our experiment who actually tried to talk to a stranger found the person sitting next to them was happy to chat.'' The conclusion is that connecting with strangers is surprisingly pleasant. It has a positive impact on our wellbeing. It's true that talking can make you feel happier and happiness can lead to better mental health.

It's good to talk. So maybe, if you're a loner, it's time to come out of your shell and make some small talk with a stranger. 5.

A.The experiment proved to be successful.

B.It could be the beginning of a new friendship.

C.But most of them remain just that—strangers.

D.They talk as though the person is sitting next to them.

E.Talking to strangers can change the communication skills and habits.

F.Their research involved an experiment with a group of Chicago commuters.

G.They found that many people feel uncomfortable and frightened talking to others.

    The COVID-19 pandemic has spread far and wide. Because of this, countries around the world have carried out containment measures to help stop the virus in its tracks. As more and more people stay inside to stay safe, the outside world seems to have become much quieter. In fact, scientists have seen this change in their research, too.

Seismologists—scientists who study earthquakes—have heard a lot less seismic (地震的) noise recently. Seismic noise is made from vibrations (震动) in the ground that are caused by things like ocean waves and human activity, such as construction work and traffic.

Thomas Lecocq, a scientist at the Royal Observatory of Belgium, located in Brussels, was the first to notice this phenomenon. According to Lecocq, the amount of seismic noise in Brussels has been reduced by about 30 to 50 percent since mid-March. Interestingly enough, this is around the same time Belgium started its containment measures.

Because of this reduction in background noise, scientists like Lecocq have been able to pick up on smaller earthquakes that some seismic stations—like the one in Brussels—wouldn’t have been able to before.

This phenomenon isn’t unique to Brussels, though. Once Lecocq shared his findings online, seismologists from all over the world echoed similar findings. Celeste Labedz, a graduate student at the California Institute of Technology, mentioned in a tweet that Los Angeles also experienced less background noise. “The drop is seriously wild,” she wrote. Researchers from the UK, France and New Zealand also noted a decrease in background noise since containment measures were put in place.

These global efforts to contain the COVID-19 virus have helped to shed light on seismic activity that may have gone unnoticed. It also shows that people are listening to health officials and following lockdown guidelines.

1.What did seismologists find out recently?

A.More smaller earthquakes are likely to happen.

B.Less seismic activity has been detected recently.

C.Reduced seismic vibration makes Earth quieter.

D.Seismic noise is caused by vibrations underground.

2.What can we learn from the text?

A.More seismic noise is being picked up.

B.More data on smaller earthquakes is being collected.

C.Scientists will shift their focus to smaller earthquakes.

D.Future big earthquakes can be more accurately predicted.

3.What does the underlined word “echoed” in paragraph 5 mean?

A.Questioned. B.Demanded.

C.Explored. D.Repeated.

4.What can we conclude from the last two paragraphs?

A.The drop in seismic noise is unique to Europe.

B.Seismic noise is mainly caused by human activity.

C.Many seismologists wanted tighter restrictions for their research.

D.The phenomenon proved that people are practicing social distancing.

    When you’ve finished your studies at school and college, do you feel like a well-earned rest? If you’re about to embark on a course at university, you’ll want to recharge your batteries and have some fun. But how long should you do that for? Now the idea of taking a year off before you move into further education seems to be the thing to do.

A year off—also called a gap year—is not a new concept, but there’s now a focus on making the most of this break from academic life. Long gone are the days of just hanging out on a beach or backpacking round the world. While that is still an option, a gap year is now more about gaining skills that will help you in later life. The BBC’s Smart Consumer podcast spoke to a student called Meg, who said “I just always had in the back of my mind I’d spend a year doing something productive and something that would just be good fun.”

Doing something productive is exactly what students are being encouraged to do because doing more purposeful things like work experience or charity work helps them acquire skills to use when competing for a place at university. It looks good on their CV and ultimately makes them more employable.

While the benefits of taking a gap year are clear to see, some students worry they can’t afford it. Another student, Tom, told the BBC that to him, a gap year was an ‘alien concept’. He said “it would have been far too expensive and it’s not something that I would have been able to rely on my parents or family members for.” But some experts say that it needn’t burn a hole in your pocket; you don’t need to travel far and you can even earn money by doing paid work.

For those who do have the funds, a combination of working, volunteering and travelling is undoubtedly an amazing opportunity. It increases confidence and independence, gives you a chance to learn new crafts, and gives you time to contemplate whether university is right for you.

1.What is the new focus of “taking a gap year”?

A.Hanging out on a beach.

B.Backpacking round the world.

C.Spending time trying challenges.

D.Gaining useful skills for future life.

2.Why are students encouraged to do something productive?

A.To make them capable in later life.

B.To get the best result in the competition.

C.To enrich the experience of doing voluntary work.

D.To gain the sense of achievement during the participation.

3.What’s the attitude of some experts towards a gap year?

A.They approve of it. B.They are against it.

C.They are indifferent to it. D.They think it unworthy.

4.What can we infer from the text?

A.You must go to university after taking a gap year.

B.A gap year makes sense if you have the fund to take.

C.All students can afford a gap year if they prefer to.

D.Fund is the most important factor for taking a gap year.

    Sasha Olsen, a fourth-grader at Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, is working on releasing a book this summer to illustrate how the state of the oceans affects children.

The 10-year old went on a trip last summer with her family to Vietnam and Japan. She was horrified at the ocean’s pollution levels and dying sea animals. Back home she grew even more disturbed learning about the ocean conditions in South Florida. She sought the help of her cousin Narmina Aliyev. Together, they started a nonprofit, Iwantmyoceanback, in October.

Originally, the group started small, with friends coming together on the weekends to clean the beaches in Bal Harbour. Recently, however, it has hosted events to raise funds for beach cleanups and donate to conservation groups. The nonprofit is also trying to broaden its base by tapping into YouTube and other social media.

Sasha has started a YouTube channel where she posts videos from events and has begun a web series called Table Talks. In it, she interviews people from different professions about the oceans. After the interview, she and her guest will create a painting, signed by the guest, that will be auctioned (拍卖) off to raise money to donate to conservation-based organizations.

Jencarlos Canela, a popular Cuban American singer and telenovela star, was one of Iwantmyoceanback’s first followers and Sasha’s first guest. Canela, who has 3.4 million followers on Instagram, posted about the experience. “Sasha, you can count on me from now on for anything and congratulations on the work you’re doing to keep our oceans clean. You are so special and very talented!” he wrote.

Sasha and Aliyev hope to extend their work to neighboring cities such as Hollywood and Miami Beach. “We really want to make ourselves visible and accessible to all,” said Aliyev, the nonprofit’s vice president.

1.What do we know about Iwantmyoceanback?

A.It was set up by Sasha’s cousin.

B.It aims at ocean protection.

C.It was inspired by Sasha’s domestic travel.

D.It organizes cleanup activities in the neighborhood.

2.How does Sasha raise money on social media?

A.By calling on friends and relatives to donate.

B.By starting a YouTube channel and Table Talks.

C.By interviewing people from different professions.

D.By selling paintings created and signed by her guests.

3.What can we infer from Canela’s post on Instagram?

A.He is proud of being Sasha’s first guest.

B.He is one of Iwantmyoceanback’s first followers.

C.He is willing to make contributions to Sasha’s project.

D.His followers on Instagram posted about their cleanup experiences.

4.What is the best title of the text?

A.Sasha: a popular girl on the social media

B.Fourth-graders: devoted to beach cleanups

C.A 10-year old: making a difference to a better beach

D.A 10-year old: working on releasing a book this summer

    If you've gone through all your jigsaw puzzles and are looking for a real challenge, Kodak just released what it calls ''the world's largest puzzle'' that you can buy.

Putting your patience and jigsaw solving skills to the test will cost you both real money and a lot of space. Featuring images of symbolic landmarks shot by professional photographers, Kodak's new product will set you back between $409.99 and $599.99, and will probably take up a decent-sized room when completed.

Matching over 51,000 jigsaw puzzle pieces is sure to be a time-consuming affair, but to make it less stressful for those willing to give it a go, Kodak split the puzzle into 27 images of different international landmarks, from the Great Wall of China to the Statue of Liberty and the Taj Mahal.

They've actually made it too easy, if you ask me, packaging the pieces for each of the 27 different images in different bags, allowing you to finish them one by one before putting them together. So you're basically getting 27 smaller puzzles that you can then fix into the world's largest puzzle. Kind of tricky, if you ask me… The only real challenge will be finding somewhere to display the completed puzzle, as at 28.5 feet by 6.25 feet, it's probably going to need its own room.

Despite its subjective faults, Kodak's gigantic jigsaw puzzle is in high demand. It's already sold out on Amazon, where it was priced at $410, leaving interested parties with the option of acquiring it for at least $500 from two other retailers (零售商) listed on the official Kodak website.

1.What makes the Kodak jigsaw puzzle special?

A.It is made up of the most pieces.

B.It has the most beautiful images.

C.It is giant and takes up much space.

D.It can be bought by various means.

2.What makes it easier to complete the Kdak jigsaw puzzle?

A.Various choices of getting it.

B.Skills of professional photographers.

C.Players' patience and jigsaw solving skills.

D.Separately packaged images of world famous landmarks.

3.How much will it cost you at least to buy one jigsaw puzzle from retailers?

A.$ 409.99. B.$410.

C.$500. D.$599.99.

假定你是李华，你的美国朋友Jack对你参加高考的事非常关心，发邮件向你询问。请你回复邮件，内容包括：

1. 高考概况（考试时间、科目等）；

2. 高考的重要性；

3. 你的打算（目标院校及专业等）；

注意：1. 词数100左右；

2. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

高考 College Entrance Examination

Dear Jack,

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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。

Dear Jim,

How is everything going? Known that you are crazy about Peking Opera, I’m more than willing to introduce it to you.

Dating back to the late 18th century, Peking Opera becomes fully developed and recognized during Qing Dynasty. As a combination of music, vocal performance or dance, Peking Opera can offer audience with a feast for the eyes and ears. Performer wear colorful costumes and make-ups, that are in line with the personalities of the roles that they play.

I highly recommend you can visit the Mei Lanfang Theater to see a Peking Opera show. Hopefully, my introduction has helped you well understand Peking Opera than before. If you have any question, don’t hesitate to ask myself.

阅读下面材料，在空白处填写1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Olympic and Paralympic medals for the Tokyo 2020 Games will be made from recycled mobile phones donated by the public.

Olympic host cities have 1. (tradition) obtained the metal from mining firms. But Japan, 2. lacks its own mineral resources, is keen on taking the theme of a sustainable future a step 3. (far).

“A project which allows the people of Japan 4. (participate) in creating the medals is really good, and helps raise the environmental awareness of our citizens,” said Tokyo 2020 sports 5. (direct) Koji Murofushi. “6. the resources of our earth are limited, we need to recycle more and avoid waste. This program is setting an example ”

Collection boxes have been placed in local offices and telecom stores and they will remain there until the metal required 7. (collect).

Members of the organizing committee put forward the idea8. government officials and companies earlier this year and won their support.

As a result, the medals hanging around Olympic winners’ necks will carry even more meaning than usual. People’s personal memories, once 9. (store) in their smartphones and other handheld devices, will take the round shape of an Olympic medal, one of the most precious 10. (prize) in sport.

    A man asked why an old lady was all alone on a cruise  ship. He _______ that although she was alone, all the staff, ship’s officers, waiters and busboys, were very _______ with her. So he asked the waiters who the lady was, _______ to be told that she owned the shipping line, but all the waiters knew was that she had been on the last _______ cruises. One after the other.

As he left the dining room one evening the man _______ her eye and stopped to say hello. They chatted for a while and he asked _______ , “I heard that you’ve been on this ship for the last four cruises.” She replied, “Yes, that’s _______.”

He said, ”I don’t understand.” And she replied, without a pause, “It’s _______ than living in a nursing home. So there will be no nursing home in my future, I’m _______ on this cruise; the average ________ for a nursing home is $200 per day. Here, I can get a ________ discount and senior discount price of $135 per day. That ________ $65 a day for tips and extra cash. It works very well for me here.

I can have as many as ten meals a day of fantastic food or room ________ which means I can have breakfast in bed every day of the week. I get a free swimming pool, a workout room. Free washers and dryers, and showers every night. I get free toothpaste and free soap and shampoo. They will even ________ you like a customer, not a ________. An extra $5 worth of tips will have the entire staff hurrying to help you,

I get to ________ new people every seven or 14 days! TV broken? Light bulb needs changing? Need to have the flowers ________? No problem! They will fix everything and ________ for the inconvenience. Clean sheets and towels every day, and you don’t ever have to ________ them to do so. There is always a doctor on board. This is ________ I want to live the end of my life.

1.A.wondered B.noticed C.searched D.guessed

2.A.familiar B.serious C.isolated D.cautious

3.A.whispering B.continuing C.pretending D.expecting

4.A.two B.three C.four D.five

5.A.caught B.avoided C.missed D.scared

6.A.excitedly B.anxiously C.seriously D.curiously

7.A.wrong B.strange C.true D.funny

8.A.easier B.nearer C.fresher D.cheaper

9.A.staying B.hanging C.playing D.working

10.A.discount B.salary C.bargain D.cost

11.A.full-time B.long-term C.large-scale D.first-rate

12.A.leaves B.remains C.spends D.loses

13.A.service B.cleaning C.inspection D.charge

14.A.cure B.treat C.please D.admire

15.A.passenger B.visitor C.guest D.patient

16.A.serve B.save C.meet D.help

17.A.completed B.located C.replaced D.cut

18.A.trouble B.answer C.prepare D.apologize

19.A.ask B.recommend C.encourage D.forbid

20.A.what B.why C.how D.when

Taking off a mask

To avoid being infected with the virus, it’s important to take off the protective masks in a proper way after using it.

*1..

Depending on what you were doing with your hands before you remove your mask, you may need to wash your hands. Or you may need to remove medical gloves, wash your hands, then remove the mask.

*Remove the mask carefully.

In general, remove the mask by only touching the edges, straps, loops(环形), ties or bands. 2..

▪ Ear Loops — Use your hands to hold the ear loops and remove them from around each ear.

▪ Ties/Straps — Use your hands to untie the bottom straps first, then untie the top straps. Remove the mask while holding onto the top ties.

▪ Bands — Use your hands to bring the bottom band up and over your head, then use your hands to do the same with the top band. Remove the mask from your face while holding the top elastic band.

* Dispose of your mask safely.

Medical masks are designed to only be used once. 3..

▪ In medical settings there is most likely a garbage bin specifically for items like used masks and gloves.

▪ In a non-medical setting where the mask could be contaminated(污染), place the mask inside a plastic bag. 4..

*Wash your hands again.

Once you've disposed of the mask safely, wash your hands once more. 5.

A.Tie the plastic bag closed and then throw the plastic bag in the garbage bin.

B.You must ensure they're clean and didn't get contaminated by touching the dirty mask.

C.Check the medical mask.

D.Clean your hands.

E.Do not touch the front part of the mask which may be contaminated.

F.Therefore, when you take the mask off, place it in the trash immediately.

G.Ensure the proper side of the mask faces outwards.

    This is what's known as a 'Buddy' or Friendship Bench'. They're needed because playgrounds can be lonely places sometimes. And these benches can help pupils feeling lonely to find a friend. Benches like this have been around for a while now in some schools. But in Ireland, they are trying to do something a bit different with them.

This school in Cork in the south of Ireland is the 47th to get one from a social enterprise called Buddy Bench Ireland that doesn't just provide schools with benches, it also runs special workshops with trained child psychiatrists. They use the bench as an opportunity to start conversations about mental well-being. They talk about the importance of being aware of your feelings and those of others. The children need to understand what the bench is about, what it symbolizes— friendship, listening to each other and the most important thing is to express feelings.

But do children actually use the bench? It's something an independent academic study has been looking at. We found that 40% of the children told us that they had actually used the benches at the time of the study. And over 90% said that they would talk to a child if that child was sitting on the bench. So, certainly there doesn't appear to be any issues around whether they are properly used. Children's mental health at school is increasingly a concern in many countries. Buddy Bench Ireland is hoping these benches will not only handle issues like social isolation and bullying but also give a future generation the confidence to open up about their feelings. Therefore, they are attempting to make the bench gain high popularity in Ireland schools in a larger scale.

1.Why the school in Cork in the south of Ireland uses the bench?

A.To help children with psychological problems fully recover.

B.To replace the old benches in school.

C.To cut the cost of school's facility.

D.To start conversations about mental well-being.

2.What makes the bench work in Ireland schools?

A.Teachers and parents encourage children to try it.

B.All the children understand what the bench is about.

C.Most children are willing to express feelings.

D.The bench helps children get rid of loneliness.

3.What will Buddy Bench Ireland expect of the bench?

A.It will deal with social isolation and bullying completely.

B.It will motivate a future generation to bravely convey their feelings.

C.It will make children prefer the bench to old one.

D.It will appeal to more students to sit on it.

4.In your opinion, what content will be covered in the following paragraph ?

A.The reasons for the popularity of the bench.

B.The importance of being aware of students’ mental well-being.

C.The concrete approaches to promoting the use of the bench in more schools.

D.The ways to make the bench function effectively.

    Battling freezing temperatures, total darkness, and other dangerous flying conditions, a plane left the South Pole on Wednesday after rescuing a sick worker from a U.S. research base. After the patient and flight crew rest , the plane will make its way to South America , where the patient will receive medical care .

The daring rescue mission(任务）began last week when two planes flew from Canada to Rothera, a British base on the Antarctic Peninsula. On Tuesday, just one of the planes left Rothera on a 10-hour trip to the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, where the sick worker was located.

The station is usually unreachable during Antarctica's long winter, from February to October. Forty-eight people live at the base, including a doctor and a physician's assistant. But when the crew there determined the worker needed medical help that couldn't be provided on site, the emergency rescue mission began.

A small crew, including a pilot, co-pilot, medical worker, and flight engineer, made the 1, 500-mile trip from Rothera in a Twin Otter plane. It is the only type of plane capable of flying in Antarctica's winter cold. It can operate in temperatures as low as-103F. The temperature in the South Pole on Tuesday was -73F . In such conditions, an aircraft's fuel and even its batteries need to be warmed up before it can take off.

The pitch-black sky and the threat of high winds and sudden weather changes make such flights extremely risky and rare. This rescue is only the third time an emergency mission has been made to the research base since 1999. The National Science Foundation, which runs the station, has not said who was rescued, or the medical condition of the person. The names of the crew members who made the daring flight have not been made public either . But according to Peter West, a National Science Foundation spokesman, the mission “went all according to plan”.

1.Why did the plane fly to the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station?

A.To do scientific research. B.To transport medicine

C.To rescue a sick worker. D.To supply necessities.

2.What do we know about the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station?

A.It is a British research base .

B.It is a US research base.

C.It is a ten-hour flight from Canada .

D.It is a medical centre on the Antarctic Peninsula.

3.From the third paragraph we can infer          .

A.the doctor there is not experienced B.the base is lack of medicine

C.the patient asked to be taken back D.the patient was seriously ill

4.What could be the best title for the passage?

A.A daring rescue B.An interesting flight

C.Flying to Antarctic D.Patient receives medical care

    Deciding to get her money's worth out of the wedding dress on which she spent over $1,000, an Australian woman has been wearing her wedding dress, a year after her wedding.

43-year-old Tammy Hall adopted a new lifestyle-anti-consumerism (反消费主义) lifestyle in 2016, after a trip to India opened her eyes to how much we as a society consumed. She decided not to buy any new clothes or footwear for a whole year after she returned home to Adelaide, in Southern Australia, and she managed to make it.

But last year, as her wedding day approached, she faced a dilemma. She wanted to look good on the most important day of her life, but how could she spend a small fortune on the wedding dress she would only wear on that day?

"In the end I decided that if I was going to get a wedding dress, I'd make sure I could get my money's worth," Hall tells PA Real Life.

"The first time I wore it after the wedding was to vote in the Australian election in early 2019," the 43-year-old adds. "Since then, it's been to all sorts of places. Wearing it on a crowded train was especially funny, but I've worn it to do housework, to football games and to the gym."

Hall says that she has gotten some strange looks from people, but no irritating comments. It may have something to do with the fact that the dress is not the fanciest, but she believes people are just too reserved to say anything. Anyway, she doesn't really care, because she knows she has to hit the goal she has set and wearing the dress multiple times is the most reasonable way she could think of to make the most of her wedding dress.

Hall now plans to wear her wedding dress on a trip to Iceland that she and her partner will take next summer.

1.Why did Tammy Hall adopt a new lifestyle?

A.To adapt herself to Indian life. B.To cut down her consumption.

C.To save money for her next trip. D.To get prepared for her wedding.

2.What did Tammy Hall do to get her money's worth out of her wedding dress?

A.She brought fun to people with it. B.She tried to wear it to earn money.

C.She wore it repeatedly in daily life. D.She got it exchanged again and again.

3.Which of the following best explains the word "irritating" underlined in paragraph 6?

A.Thrilling. B.Annoying.

C.Amusing. D.Confusing.

4.What can we infer about Tammy Hall?

A.She is determined to turn her ideas into practice.

B.She values her wedding dress less than her trips.

C.She has been struggling to make the ends meet.

D.She has influenced people's lifestyle widely.

    The Danish lifestyle concept of hygge means many indescribable feeling of comfortable things to many people. Now, join us in visiting some of the best hygge places.

1. Manhausen (Manshausen，Norway)

Adventure-seeking people needn’t look further than Manhausen, a 55-acre island escape in Norway’s Grotoya strait. Not to be missed: the saltwater hot tub overlooking the sea and family-style meals enjoyed fireside at the main house. The baby sitting service also available.

Get more information here.

2. Cedar Lakes Estate (Port Jervis，New York)

Occupying 500 bucolic acres, this turn-of-the-century summer camp now houses a host of luxury, lodge-style cabins. Bike the grounds, paddle the lakes, swim in the outdoor heated pool or head to a nearby mountain for a day of skiing. Then lie down with a great book beneath a fur blanket, turn on your fireplace and get your snuggle on.

Get more information here.

3. Soho Farmhouse (Oxfordshire，England)

This Oxfordshire countryside members-only club offers up a British version of hygge. Among the splendid property’s coziest offerings: the community farmyard and the Studio Cabin guest room, which boasts views of the lake.

Get more information here.

4. Salt House Inn (Provincetown，Massachusetts)

This charming coastal town now boasts a 19th-century-shingled cottage turned hotel. Book your visit during the quiet, windswept off-season (January through March) for some salty fresh air on the beach.

Get more information here.

1.If you are taking a baby, which one may suit you best?

A.Manhausen. B.Cedar Lakes Estate.

C.Soho Farmhouse. D.Salt House Inn.

2.What is special about Soho Farmhouse?

A.Water scenery. B.Limited access. C.Outdoor activities. D.Family-style meals.

3.Where is this text most probably taken from?

A.A magazine. B.A brochure. C.A textbook. D.A website.

假设你是学生李华，在某英文网站看到一则告示，内容关于向全球中学生征集他们感兴趣的话题。请你用英文给该网站发邮件向其推荐话题。内容包括：

1. 个人简介：姓名、年龄、国籍；

2. 话题主题：和平、感恩、幸福；

3. 推荐理由。

注意：词数100左右，可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

Dear Sir/Madam,

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

Sincerely yours,

Li Hua

假如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。

Last Friday, the evening fell, but my parents hadn’t come back home yet. I stopped doing my homework but decided to make a meal for my family instead of just wait. It was my the first cooking. I went online to find information on how cook home-style dishes. With the step-by-step direction, I managed to make a dish. Then I tried to cook other. When my parents got home, they were amazing to see the tasty dishes I made. Immediately my mum took pictures for them and my dad gave me a big hug. I real enjoyed the meal that evening.