Austin residents and businesses are making efforts to put their leftovers to good use. The city is among a handful of U.S.cities aiming for “zero waste”.

For Austin, there are plenty to go around: it annually wastes more than 190 million pounds of food, worth at least $200 million. Those numbers are big, but they're not out of line with national trends-some 40 percent of food in the nation goes to waste. Put in plain terms, that is enough to fill a 90,000-seat stadium each day.

For many, the answer lies in donation. Austin City Limits, one of the city’s influential festivals, gives all unwanted food to the Central Texas Food Bank. And there are volunteer-driven nonprofits that pick up donated food and deliver it to hungry people.

But the best practice, Austin believes, is to use less, and the city is calling on businesses and households to buy the right amount of food. Full Fridge, a new meal-delivery service, solves this problem. “Full Fridge came about because, basically, we were seeing a lot of people not knowing how to prepare food,” says co-founder Mokshika Sharma. They would buy groceries, but not know what to do with them, and end up throwing away a lot.

Her business hopes to end that problem by offering ready-made meals for only five dollars each. Full Fridge also minimizes waste by stopping sales two days before delivery, so the chef and shopper can plan precisely.

Another satisfactory solution is to compost(将......制成堆肥) it. Austin’s restaurants and grocery stores typically contract with composting companies to deal with much of their food waste, and then sell it as fertilizer. Meanwhile, Compost Pedallers, a company created by Dustin Fedako, is working on bicycle-powered compost collection.

“We play the dot-connecter,” says Fedako, “getting the material from those of us who are making it to the people in the community who use it as a resource to grow more food, and to grow better quality food.”

1.What do the figures in Paragraph 2 indicate?

A.The urgent need for donated food. B.The rapid growth in food donation.

C.The ambitious goal of “zero waste”. D.The serious problem of food waste.

2.Paragraph 3 mainly talks about Austin' s efforts to______.

A.feed the hungry. B.make use of leftovers.

C.build more volunteer-driven nonprofits. D.hold festivals to entertain its residents.

3.Who are Full Fridge's target customers?

A.Those with too little food. B.Those with poor cooking skills.

C.Those with unhealthy eating habits. D.Those with little time to buy groceries.

4.What does Fedako mean by saying “We play the dot-connecter”?

A.They find it rather easy to collect food waste.

B.They hope people will buy better quality food.

C.They link food waste producers to fertilizer users.

D.They are trying to connect with composting companies.

    Two summers ago, Spencer Seabrooke stepped off the edge of a cliff and out into the air. He was held up by a narrow band of fabric, three centimetres wide. The slackline (扁带) went over a deep channel on the top of Stawamus Chief Mountain in Squamish, Canada. The plan was to walk across without safety equipment. The ground was 290 metres below Seabrook’s feet. A fall meant death. The walking distance of 64 metres would mark a world record in free solo slacklining.

“You’re standing on nothing,” Seabrooke said at the time. “Everything inside your body is telling you this is wrong.” Several steps into the crossing, Seabrooke looked down. He lowered his body to steady himself and reached with his hands to hold the slackline. He suddenly turned over but hung on. He righted himself, let out a few screams, and stood again. He had walked the same slackline-with assistance-many times before. Finally, he crossed in four minutes and made it.

Slacklining became known in the early 1980s, around the rock climbing scene at Yosemite National Park in California. Scott Balcom, in 1985, was the first to walk on a 17-metre highline on Lost Arrow Spire, the valley bottom some 880 metres below. Charles “Chongo” Tucker, who has been living in Yosemite for a long time, was there in slacklining’s earliest days. Later, in 1994, he was one of the next people to walk the Lost Arrow Spire highline. “As scared as I was, it was as cool as anything I’ve ever done in my life,” said Tucker.

Seabrooke grew up in Peterborough, Canada, in love with the outdoors. He saw a documentary in 2012 that was about Andy Lewis, a slackliner and free solo pioneer who performed at the Super Bowl. Seabrooke was attracted and devoted himself to the sport. Three years later, he walked his record free solo highline on the Stawamus Chief.

The attention Seabrooke won led to work, everything from commercials to paid appearances at slackline festivals from Poland to China. “When you step out into the air, there’s something so clean about it,” said Seabrooke. “Height makes it real.”

1.What do we know about Seabrooke’s slacklining experience two years ago?

A.It was record-breaking.

B.It was done in Yosemite.

C.It involved materials for security.

D.It presented no challenge to him.

2.What did Seabrooke’s words in Paragraph 2 imply?

A.He was very confident.

B.He made a wrong decision.

C.Slacklining was a dangerous sport.

D.Slacklining was done without any support.

3.What was Tucker’s attitude to slacklining?

A.Negative. B.Ambiguous.

C.Frustrated. D.Favorable.

4.What encouraged Seabrooke to start slacklining?

A.The Super Bowl.

B.A slackline festival.

C.Its commercial promise.

D.A slackliner’s performance.

    In Asia, the best food is found not in fancy restaurants, but in the carts and stalls lining busy streets. These following snacks are not only local to their city or country, but also show the delicious range of structure and flavour.

Xiaolongbao-Shanghai, China

Shanghai’s Xiaolongbao is filled with pork and aspic, which makes it special. Aspic is a meat combination that melts into soup when heated. As a result, the tiny buns are tasty and salty. They are found throughout the city, so people enjoy standing up at street stalls and restaurant-fronts by Shanghai's business set.

Pho-Hanoi, Vietnam

Pho is noodle soup. Ingredients in the soup are simple: noodles, meat (chicken or beef), and garnishes (green onion, Thai basil, lime and chilis). But what really sets pho apart is its soup, made by simmering bones with onion and ginger, spices and seasonings, ideally for hours on end to get the flavour just right.

Penang AsamLaksa-Penang, Malaysia

Penang AsamLaksa is spicy noodle soup made with thick rice noodles. The dish is made more notable with the addition of lemongrass, spicy (辛辣的) chilis, sweet pineapple, cilantro, onions and fresh mint garnishes. Penangites have loved their asam laksas for some time and with their loving additions to their favorite recipe.

Som Tam-Bangkok, Thailand

This fruit salad is a mix of papaya, a local fruit,and the following ingredients:sugar, chilis, fish sauce, garlic, tomato, among others. This dish is not sweet like you might expect, but sour, salty or spicy in equal measure. Local variations add in everything from peanuts to crab, but in Bangkok you'll find the spiciest versions, which can be as challenging to eat as they are delicious.

1.What can you find Xiaolongbao special about?

A.You can find it filled with pork.

B.You can enjoy meat soup when it is heated.

C.You can enjoy it throughout the whole city.

D.You can find it filled with salty and delicious meat.

2.Which two snacks contain noodles?

A.Xiaolongbao and Pho.

B.Xiaolongbao and Som Tam.

C.Pho and Penang AsamLaksa.

D.Penang AsamLaksa and Som Tam.

3.What is the main characteristic of Som Tam in Bangkok?

A.Hot. B.Salty.

C.Sweet. D.Sour.

听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。

1.How long has the speaker been a history teacher?

A.Nearly 3 years. B.Almost 13 years. C.About 30 years.

2.What is the main point of the lecture?

A.The importance of history education.

B.A new method of history education.

C.The purpose of learning history.

3.What do teachers usually begin with in terms of the history of business?

A.The problem of present economy.

B.The history of the Industrial Revolution.

C.The government action in the past.

4.What does the speaker say about the traditional approach?

A.It makes students memorize facts mechanically.

B.It is the most effective way of learning history.

C.It helps students understand the importance of history.

听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。

1.Why does the woman need some special things?

A.To celebrate her wedding anniversary.

B.To make her pretty at the wedding.

C.To have a happy marriage.

2.What has the woman got from her grandmother?

A.A diamond ring. B.A wedding dress. C.Blue flowers.

3.What is the woman looking for?

A.Something borrowed. B.Something new. C.Something old.

4.Where does the man usually put the coin?

A.In his purse. B.In his shoe. C.In his pocket.

听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。

1.What are the speakers mainly discussing?

A.The food. B.Different customs. C.The health.

2.How does the host know the guest is full according to the man?

A.The guest refuses the offered food.

B.The guest eats up all the food.

C.The guest leaves some food on the plate.

3.Where does the woman come from probably?

A.China. B.The USA. C.The UK.

听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。

1.What does the girl want to do?

A.Borrow a car. B.Get a concert ticket. C.Pick up her mother.

2.Who wants to go to a concert with the girl?

A.Eric. B.Smelly Toes. C.Her mother.

听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。

1.Who are the speakers?

A.Teachers. B.Students. C.Workers.

2.What will the woman probably do in the end?

A.Rent an apartment.

B.Buy an air-conditioner.

C.Move into another dormitory.

Where is the history section?

A.In the front of the store. B.Up the stairs. C.Down the hallway.

What will the man do next?

A.Pay Laura for her ticket.

B.Buy an extra ticket for Laura.

C.Ask Laura for some suggestions.

What does the man think of the cereal?

A.It is too sweet. B.It tastes delicious. C.It needs more sugar.

What is the conversation mainly about?

A.A trip to Paris. B.The woman’s dress. C.A competition.

When should the speakers be at the airport?

A.At 2:00 a.m. B.Around 11:00 p.m. C.No later than 10:00 p.m.

假如你是李华,你的美国笔友Alice来信说她因为要参加一次重要考试,最近出现了头晕、睡眠不好的焦虑症状。请根据以下要点,给她写一封书信提一些建议。

信的内容应包括下列要点:

1.正确认识考试;

2.积极为考试做准备;

3.注意劳逸结合(例如:运动、睡眠等)。

注意:

1.词数为100左右;

2.不要逐句翻译,可适当增加细节以使行文连贯;

3.信的开头和结尾已为你写好(不计入总词数)。

Dear Alice,

I have received your letter saying that you are anxious about the coming exam.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sincerely yours,

Li Hua

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

增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧)，并在其下面写出该加的词。

删除：把多余的词用斜线(\)划掉。

修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。

注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；

2．只允许修改10处，多者(从第11处起)不计分。

Hello，everyone！I would like to share my travel experience for you.Last summer，ours school had an exchange programme with an American school，but I took part in it with many classmates.We stay at host families，that gave us an opportunity to learn more about America.The main part of our programme was to experience the school life in the America.Compare with Chinese students，American students were very open and active.Besides，they had less homeworks and fewer exams.During the visit，I made friends with some American students，who were very interesting in Chinese culture.I think the programme is of great benefit to us as well the American students.

在下面句子的空格处填入一个适当的词或用所给词的正确形式填空。

Keeping a diary in English is one of the effective ways to improve our English writing ability.

1.(compare) with other forms of writing, it is shorter and takes2.(little) time. It can help us to develop the habit of thinking in English.

3.we keep practicing, gradually we'll learn how to express ourselves in English. On keeping a diary in English, we certainly meet with many4.(difficult).

Firstly, 5.often happens that we have trouble in 6.(find) appropriate words and phrases to give expression to our mind.

Secondly, there are many idiomatic ways of saying things in Chinese. And it is extremely hard for us to put them into English properly.

As far as I 7.(concern), my suggestion is that we should always have a notebook and a Chinese-English dictionary within easy reach. Whenever we meet with something that we don't know how to express in English, we can first put it down in our notebook and then refer 8.our dictionary. We can also turn to our English teacher for help，if necessary. In short, I believe that it is very 9.(use) to keep a diary in English for10.development of our writing skills.

    I will have a holiday next week and I can’t decide what to do. I have a lot of work to do ___________ and this would be a good chance ___________． But I don’t like ___________ the holiday in such a way．I can work at home all the rest of the year．

Last year I went ___________ to the mountains. ___________ there was beautiful， but it is too cold this time of a year. And it’s really___________ far to go for a short holiday. I decide ___________ this isn’t a good time to___________the mountains．But I___________to go somewhere else．Perhaps this would be a good chance to go to the beach（海滨）．I like to go for walks___________the seashore ___________the warm sunshine and watch the water． It’s only eight miles away and I could get there ___________about two hours． After thinking it___________，I am sure that this is a ___________time for the seashore than___________ .

Oh， here is a ___________ from Jim． He ___________ he is going to his house in the mountains for the___________，and he___________ me to go with him．___________ giving it some more thought， I wrote back to Jim and thanked him for that．

1.A. at home B. at house C. in school D. in factory

2.A. do it B. doing that C. to do it D. with that

3.A. to take B. to spend C. having D. asking

4.A. the north B. for north C. north D. to north

5.A. Nothing B. Everything C. Somebody D. Anything

6.A. very B. enough C. rather D. too

7.A. that B. what C. whether D. when

8.A. go B. go to C. go for D. leave

9.A. want B. wanted C. shall want D. was wanting

10.A. on B. by C. beside D. along

11.A. on B. during C. in D. under

12.A. in B. for C. with D. after

13.A. about B. of C. over D. on

14.A. good B. fine C. better D. best

15.A. home B. the mountains C. big cities D. country villages

16.A. gift B. call C. letter D. notice

17.A. says B. tells C. speaks D. talks

18.A. weekend B. holiday C. Sunday D. trip

19.A. want B. wish C. hopes D. asks

20.A. When B. With C. Without D. As

    Planning a trip abroad with your family or friends this summer vacation? Here are a few travel tips about travel abroad do’s and don’ts to keep you safe.

1. If you want to make your trip safe and easy, plan ahead. 1. . The less you have to carry around, the more quickly you can move. Besides, planning ahead will save your time and make sure you don’t miss best things.

2. 2. . No one wants bad things to happen but you’ll feel better when you’re ready for them if they do. When you travel abroad, you are in a place you don’t know well and you can always be a target, especially your valuables. Don’t keep large amounts of cash in your wallet.

3. .Also, take copies of your travel documents with you and leave your passport and other important documents in the hotel.

3. Nothing ruins a trip faster than the unexpected crisis. 4. . It will insure yourself against unexpected accidents, so it is necessary to buy the insurance. But you need to be careful about the items in the contract (合同), so that you know what you are and are not covered for when you book travel insurance.

4. While enjoying the moment in the bar, be cautious and keep an eye on your drink at all times. Besides, being on holidays doesn’t mean you have the right to do what you want.5.. Keep these tips in mind and make the most of your time. Have fun with family and friends and explore and enjoy your time away.

A.Expect the unexpected

B.Try putting smaller notes in several different pockets

C.Don’t leave your hotel alone

D.Take the necessities with you

E.Take more in any case

F.Don’t forget to buy the travel insurance

G.Be respectful and don’t do anything illegal

Saturday, March 24th

We have arrived in the hot, wet city of Bangkok. This our first trip to Thailand. All the different smells make us want to try the food. We are going to eat something special for dinner tonight. The hotel we are staying in is cheap, and very clean. We plan to stay here for a few days, visit some places in the city, and then travel to Chiang Mai in the North.

Tuesday, March 27th

Bangkok is wonderful and surprising. The places are interesting. We visited the famous market which was on the water, and saw a lot of fruits and vegetables. Everything is so colorful, and we have taken hundreds of photos already! Later today we will leave for Chiang Mai. We will take the train north, stay in Chiang Mai for two days, and then catch a bus to Chiang Rai.

Friday, March 30th

Our trip to Chiang Rai was long and boring. We visited a small village in the mountains. The village people here love the quiet life ---no computers or phones. They are the kindest people I have ever met. They always smile and say " hello “. Kathy and I can only speak a few words of Thai, so smiling is the best way to show our kindness. I feel good here and hope to be able to come back next year.

1.Which of the following is TRUE?

A.Chiang Mai is a beautiful city in the south of Thailand.

B.The writer left Chiang Mai for Chiang Rai by bus.

C.The writer is traveling alone in Thailand.

D.The writer will take a bus to Chiang Mai.

2.The people in the village of Chiang Rai______

A.are friendly to others

B.like speaking English

C.hope to live in the cities

D.live a very busy life

3.What is the best title for the whole diary?

A.My First Travel B.The Outside World

C.Traveling in Thailand D.My Trip to Chiang Mai

    When I was in my first year of high school, I had a terrible time when every area of my life was a disaster. I felt so hopeless and alone that I thought everything was impossible.

On one such day, I was walking from class across the school to catch the school bus home, with my head down, fighting tears of total hopelessness, when a young man came down the sidewalk toward me. Though I had never seen him before, I did not want him to see that I was in such low spirits, so I turned my head away and hoped to hurry past. I thought he'd walk on by, but he moved until he was directly in front of me, waited until I looked up, and then smiled.

Looking into my eyes, this stranger spoke in a quiet voice："Whatever is wrong will pass. You're going to be OK, just hang on." He then smiled again and walked away.

I can't explain the effect of that man's unexpected kindness and caring! He gave me the one thing that I'd lost completely—hope. I looked for him in our school to thank him, but never saw him again.

That was thirty years ago. And I've never forgotten that moment. Over the years, whenever I see someone who is in trouble, I will always think of that young man and try to give a flash of hope in the dark wherever I can. I carry things for people when they are too heavy for them, sit with naughty babies in the waiting room while their mothers are busy, or talk to tired couples at the checkout line or it could be anything.

If you keep your head up, your heart will show you the place that needs hope.

1.Where did the writer meet with the young man？

A.In the school. B.In the school bus. C.In the classroom. D.In the library.

2.From the passage we may infer that the author ________．

A.had known the young man for a long time

B.made friends with the young man afterwards

C.was grateful to that young man very much

D.avoided meeting the young man since then

3.The author has given a lot of help to others in order to ________．

A.show his sympathy to those who are badly ill

B.give others hope of life when they are in trouble

C.realize his promise made to the young man

D.get respect from those who were helped by him

4.It can be known from the passage that ________．

A.the young man always tried his best to help those who were in trouble

B.it was the young man's smile and words that made the author feel hopeful

C.the author had never been praised by others before he met with the young man

D.the author traveled to a lot of places to look for the young man but failed

1.The 22nd Winter Olympic Games was held in _______.

A.Beijing B.Sochi C.Rome D.London

2.If five students want to watch the football match, the tickets will cost______ yuan.

A.500 B.450 C.350 D.250

3.It takes you about _________ hours to travel from Beijing to Guilin on the high speed train.

A.19 B.11 C.22 D.6

阅读下面，根据所给情节进行续写，使之构成一个完整的故事。(满分25分)

Christine closed the door to Anna’s room. Inside, her classmate and friend had fallen asleep.

Downstairs, Christine’s mom, Donna, was grasping Anna’s mother Sheila around the shoulders.

“We should go,” she said. “Get some rest, huh?” Sheila nodded, blew her nose, and then waved them goodbye.

On the car ride home, Christine worked up the courage to ask the question on her mind. “Mom? Why was Sheila weeping?” She thought she knew the answer, of course: Anna’s cancer. In the past, Anna had been the neighborhood do-gooder, always going door to door for various causes: the local animal shelter, suffering children in Africa, or the families who’d lost their homes to fire. Now Anna could barely feed or dress herself. Christine thought it so unfair when bad things like this happened to good people.

“Well, it’s complex, but I guess you’re old enough to understand.”

“Understand what?”

“Understand that Anna is sick, yes, but Anna actually gets a lot of help. The government helps pay for a lot of her medicine. She gets meals delivered to her by a nonprofit. She even gets massages from local volunteers.”

“Wow!”

“Her life’s still very hard, of course, and no one would trade places with her, but when you have cancer, everyone can see that you need help, “continued Donna.” They don’t always see that the people around you are suffering.”

“People like Sheila?”

“Yes, did you know that Sheila took a break from her job to stay home with Anna?”

“No!” Christine was surprised. She had never thought about who took Anna to her appointments, or fed her when she was too weak to lift a spoon. Of course it was her family.

“Yes. So that means that many of the things they used to do with that extra money are all out the window now. They’re even worried now about keeping the house.”

“Their house? So Anna might have to move, while she’s sick?”

“If she doesn’t get better soon, and the bills keep piling up...” Donna pulled into the driveway, and just in time. Her cheeks were shining with tears.

注意:

1. 所续写短文的词数应为150左右；

2. 至少使用5个以上短文中标有下划线的关键词语；

3. 续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好；

4. 续写完成后，使用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语。

Paragraph 1.

“There has to be something done for them,” Christine said firmly to their classmates and friends.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Paragraph 2.

But the best part of the party was when Anna came through the door with her family, attracted with promises of a chocolate cake and live music.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

阅读下面课文原文，在空白处填入课文原文内容。

Festivals and celebrations of all kinds have been held everywhere since 1. times. Most ancient festivals would celebrate the end of cold weather, planting in spring and 2.in autumn. Sometimes celebrations would be held after hunters had caught animals. At that time people would 3. if food was difficult to find, especially during the cold winter months. Today’s festivals have many 4., some religious, some seasonal, and some for special people or events.

The most 5. and important festivals are the ones that look forward to the end of winter and to the coming of spring. 6.the Spring Festival in China, people eat dumplings, fish and meat and may give children lucky money in red paper. There are dragon dances and carnivals, and 7.celebrate the Lunar New Year together. Some Western countries have very exciting carnivals, 8.take place forty days before Easter, usually in February. These carnivals might 9. parades, dancing in the streets day and night, loud music and colorful clothing of all kinds. Easter is an important 10. and social festival for Christians around the world.

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

Scientists have found a reliable way to lengthen life in lab animals:Reduce the amount of calories(卡路里)they eat.

This method,1.(know)as caloric restriction, has been shown to lengthen life of organisms ( 有 机体 )and reduce some age-related2.(disease).Whether it can do the same in people has been an open question. 3.  ,a new study suggests that in adults, long-term restriction of calorie intake can have an effect on their health.

The researchers looked at a group of 143 healthy adults who ranged in age4.21 to 50. They were instructed5.(practice)caloric restriction for two years.They could eat the foods they wanted so long as they cut back on the foods they ate,with the aim of6.(cut)the calories they consumed by 25 percent.

Many did not achieve that goal.On average,the dieters managed to cut down about 12 percent of their total calories, or7.(rough)300 calories a day. But the group saw many of their health markers improve. They8.(lose)body fat, their blood pressure fell slightly, and they had better blood sugar control. Meanwhile, another 75 healthy adults 9.  did not practice caloric restriction saw no 10.  (improve)in these markers.

    If you look Chinese and speak Mandarin, you can call for a ride in Vancouver via WeChat, a Chinese app. The drivers normally call back to________the order, says Daniel Merkin, who lives in the Canadian city. “Sometimes they’ll ________ on me when they realize I don’t speak Mandarin,” he says. But he keeps ________, because popular ride-hailing (网约车) services, like Uber(优步) , are not available. The Chinese service is not legal, but it is ________. Mr. Merkin hopes that his ________ will soon expand.

In July the province of British Columbia, which licenses drivers, said it would allow the big ride-hailing services ________. But British Columbia has made their entry ________ by requiring drivers to hold commercial licenses. The government has reason to be ________. In many cities where ride-hailing has __________, traffic jam has worsened and use of public transport has ________.

However, Andrew Curran, head of policy at TransLink, the city’s public-transport system, believes ride-hailing could ________ use of public transport by ferrying people from their houses to a bus or train stop. It could also improve transport for people with ________. Currently, Trans-Link hires taxis to give door-to-door rides to some disabled people. He says the commercial-license rule will  slow down the services’ growth and ________ taxi-drivers, ride-hailing’s fiercest ________.

But the commercial-license requirement could have the ________ effect. Analysts think it will ________ most drivers and reduce the number of drivers ________ to pick up passengers in distant suburbs. ________, they will gather in the center. Some of Uber’s future competitors say they are not ________. A driver, who offers rides in his Mercedes SUV to people who hire him via Wechat, thinks his customers will stay ________. He predicts ride-hailing will just slow their journeys down.

1.A.cancel B.confirm C.place D.accept

2.A.put in B.turn up C.hang up D.pick out

3.A.trying B.shouting C.complaining D.driving

4.A.forbidden B.tolerated C.advocated D.recommended

5.A.wishes B.ideas C.suggestions D.options

6.A.out B.away C.up D.in

7.A.unusual B.difficult C.easy D.particular

8.A.eager B.anxious C.cautious D.negative

9.A.taken off B.put up C.broken down D.laid off

10.A.risen B.doubled C.dropped D.stopped

11.A.lessen B.increase C.lower D.decrease

12.A.disabilities B.luggage C.children D.friends

13.A.protect B.ignore C.investigate D.inquire

14.A.coworkers B.partners C.competitors D.supporters

15.A.similar B.opposite C.positive D.different

16.A.discourage B.encourage C.benefit D.comfort

17.A.acceptable B.accessible C.affordable D.available

18.A.Furthermore B.Instead C.Though D.Otherwise

19.A.excited B.jealous C.amazed D.worried

20.A.reliable B.responsible C.loyal D.delightful

Say Goodbye to Post-holiday Syndrome

You’ve spent countless days waking up late, enjoying watching your favorite TV shows and lying on the couch.1. It’s time to go back to work. Here are some tips to make the shift from vacation to work of smoother.

Tidy up your work- space first.

Chances are you’ll be greeted by piles of unopened mail, files, and other office items sitting on your desk.2.The longer you wait, the more likely these items will be sitting around your desk later in the week.

3.

You may feel the urge to work on three different things at the same time in order to catch up on work. However, this is not the most efficient approach. Instead, you should make a point to focus your mind and to only work on one item or task at a time.

Remove unnecessary distractions.(注意力分散)

It’s incredibly important to get serious about cutting out obvious distractions. This way, you can catch up on things efficiently without being bothered every five minutes.4.

Make plans to enjoy yourself the first week back.

5.Scheduling a lunch date or two with friends can make the week back seem a bit less painful. Treat yourself to your favorite drink at the local cafe during your coffee break. It may take several days for you to finally get readjusted and that’s perfectly fine. Stay calm, focused and relaxed. You’ll be back to your old routine at work before you know it.

A.Do one thing at a time.

B.Make a list of tasks based on their importance.

C.Then you suddenly come to an uncomfortable realization.

D.So it’s a good idea to deal with these items as soon as you can.

E.You’re back at work, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy yourself.

F.Rather than ignoring these items, take a few minutes to process them.

G.Switch off your cell phone, and close out of any social media accounts.

    Rosie Dutton, a teacher from Relax Kids in Tamworth, UK, used two apples to show her students the often unseen but harmful effects of school bullying (欺凌).

She posted the lesson on Facebook, where it's been shared more than 160,000 times. Rosie Dutton explained that during one of her classes she presented the children with two red apples. What the kids didn't know was that before the lesson, she had repeatedly dropped one of the apples on the floor. And yet, on the outside at least, both apples looked perfect.

“I picked up the apple I'd dropped on the floor and started to tell the children how I disliked this apple, “ Dutton wrote. “I told them that because I didn't like it, I didn't want them to like it either, so they should call it names too. “ Some of the children looked at her as if she were “crazy” , but the students passed the apple around the circle, calling it names.

Continuing the exercise, the teacher then passed the second apple around the circle. This apple, however, was showered with words like “Your skin is beautiful” and “What a beautiful colour you have” .

Dutton then showed the students both apples once again, stressing that “there was no change, and both apples still looked the same. “

Finally, Dutton cut both apples open. The apple that the class treated kindly looked fresh inside. But the other apple-the one they'd treated poorly-was bruised(碰伤的)beneath its skin.

“I think there was a light bulb moment for the children immediately, “ Dutton said. “When people are bullied, especially children, they feel horrible inside and sometimes don't show or tell others how they are feeling. If we hadn't cut that apple open, we would never have known how much pain we had caused it. “

Dutton explained how important it is to teach children to stand up for one another, and to stop any form of bullying.

“Let's create a generation of kind caring children, “ the teacher wrote. “The tongue has no bones, but is strong enough to break a heart. So be careful with your words. “

1.What had the teacher done to the first apple before the lesson?

A.She had introduced it to the kids. B.She had coloured it bright.

C.She had made it look perfect. D.She had damaged it purposely.

2.What does the underlined part “call it names” (Para. 3) mean?

A.Shout at it. B.Make fun of it. C.Cheer for it. D.Say rude things.

3.What did the teacher tell the kids to do with the second apple?

A.Drop it. B.Praise it. C.Ignore it. D.Respect it.

4.What's the purpose of the teacher's using two apples in class?

A.To draw the kids’ attention.

B.To explain her personal preferences.

C.To help the kids understand the results of bullying.

D.To make a comparison between them.

    Shane Gero, a scientist at Aarhus University in Denmark, spent 6 years studying sperm whales (抹香鲸), which communicate through very loud clicks. He found that sperm whales in the Caribbean Sea had different clicks from those in the Pacific Ocean. He even “translated” the clicks from a group of Caribbean sperm whales, believing them to say, “I’m from the Caribbean, are you?”, reported National Geographic. As well as being used for communication, the clicks also allow whales to develop a relationship with one another, according to Gero.

Apart from sperm whales, other animals like wolves and apes also have different regional accents. Researchers analyzed the howls of different species of wolves. They found that red wolves, Arctic wolves and other wolves have howls that vary in pitch (音调). In other words, they have their own dialects.

According to Darcy Kelley from Columbia University, most animals learn their accents naturally. For example, macaques (猕猴) start speaking their dialect as soon as they are born. Scientists placed some macaques in a new environment where their playmates all spoke a different dialect. But the macaques still spoke their own dialect. Their environment had no influence on their communication, according to the Washington Post.

“In most species, communication appears to have a genetic basis,” Kelley explained in the Washington Post. “However, among a small number of species, animals can learn from others and develop their own accents.”

Fruit flies are a good example. According to Science Daily, they send messages through their wing movements. Scientists found that fruit flies can only communicate efficiently with others of the same species. However, they can learn new dialects by spending time around other species.

“A proper accent is vital to mating and warning the coming of enemies, which is the basis of protecting themselves,” Kelley told the Washington Post. A species can’t risk changing their own dialect and learning a new one.

1.What does the author want to show by talking about the sperm whales at the beginning?

A.Animals have different dialects.

B.Sperm whales live in different oceans.

C.Animals can speak different local languages.

D.Whales communicate through clicking noises.

2.Why do researchers believe that wolves have their own dialects?

A.Wolves are wild animals using language.

B.Wolves live in different areas of the world.

C.There are different kinds of wolves in the world.

D.Wolves of different kinds howl at different pitches.

3.According to Kelley, what can dialects help animals to do?

A.Have a better chance of survival.

B.Fight with other species for food.

C.Communicate with other species better.

D.Pass on information to the next generation.

    For five days, Edmonton’s Downtown Park is transformed into one huge stage where artists are able to share their talents, and where people are able to celebrate and enjoy themselves. Since its beginning in 1980, the Edmonton Folk Music Festival has been commemorating the true feeling of what folk music is all about and that’s the traditional togetherness(友爱) that is felt when people gather to share stories and feelings through songs.

This year will be the sixth year when volunteer Riedel will be offering up her time to the festival. “People coming off a busy spring and summer have a moment of relaxation,” Riedel said. “It’s really easy to relax, and it’s great seeing family and friends have fun together.” These families and friends come from all different kinds of musical tastes. People who take pleasure in Blues are there, so are people who love Bluegrass. This festival does its best to develop everyone’s musical interests.

With so many years of experience, the festival has become a well-oiled machine, and does whatever it can to make attendees feel as comfortable as possible. There are free water stations throughout the venue(举办地) for people to fill up their travel cups. When people buy food, reusable dishes are given a $2 plate fee, but that is returned when the plate is brought back.

The festival has completely sold out of tickets, and in record time. But with big names such as Van Morrison and Jakob Dylan, it’s easy to see how that was going to happen. There is no parking area during the festival, so using the Park & Ride system or Edmonton Transit is highly recommended. A bike lock-up area is provided and will be available Thursday until Sunday one hour before the gates open until 45 minutes after the gates close.

The Edmonton Folk Music Festival begins on Wednesday, Aug. 4 with Van Morrison playing the special donation fund concert, and will finish up on Sunday, Aug. 8.

1.The Edmonton Folk Music Festival is held mainly to _______.

A.gather people with different musical tastes

B.remind people of the real sense of folk music

C.exhibit the good voices of great talents in folk music

D.collect old stories of folk music

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

A.Riedel has volunteered for the festival for at least 5 years.

B.It’s hard for people to appreciate Blues.

C.It costs people a little to fill up their cups from water stations.

D.People have to pay $2 for a plate of food.

3.We can learn from the passage that _______.

A.people can get tickets easily for the festival

B.the Edmonton Folk Music Festival is well organized

C.driving one’s own car to the festival is highly recommended

D.bikes are available at the festival from Wednesday to Sunday

听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。

1.What is the purpose of the talk?

A.To explain the rules of a race.

B.To tell about a weekend event.

C.To introduce some runners.

2.When should runners arrive at the Town Hall?

A.At 8:30. B.At 9:15. C.At 9:45.

3.What are the prizes for the winners?

A.Money. B.Coats. C.Running shoes.

4.How much should a family pay to run in the race?

A.$5.6. B.$5. C.$4.5.