We’ve all been there: in a lift, in line at the bank or on an airplane, surrounded by people who are, like us, deeply focused on their smartphones or, worse, struggling with the uncomfortable silence.

What’s the problem? It’s possible that we all have compromised conversational intelligence. It’s more likely that none of us start a conversation because it’s awkward and challenging, or we think it’s annoying and unnecessary. But the next time you find yourself among strangers, consider that small talk is worth the trouble. Experts say it’s an invaluable social practice that results in big benefits.

Dismissing small talk as unimportant is easy, but we can’t forget that deep relationships wouldn’t

even exist if it weren’t for casual conversation. Small talk is the grease(润滑剂) for social communication, says Bernardo Carducci, director of the Shyness Research Institute at Indiana University Southeast. ＂Almost every great love story and each big business deal begins with small talk,＂ he explains. ＂The key to successful small talk is learning how to connect with others, not just communicate with them.＂

In a 2014 study, Elizabeth Dunn, associate professor of psychology at UBC, invited people on their way into a coffee shop. One group was asked to seek out an interaction(互动) with its waiter; the other, to speak only when necessary. The results showed that those who chatted with their server reported significantly higher positive feelings and a better coffee shop experience. ＂It’s not that talking to the waiter is better than talking to your husband,＂ says Dunn. ＂But interactions with peripheral(边缘的) members of our social network matter for our well-being also.＂

Dunn believes that people who reach out to strangers feel a significantly greater sense of belonging, a bond with others. Carducci believes developing such a sense of belonging starts with small talk. ＂Small talk is the basis of good manners,＂ he says.

1.What phenomenon is described in the first paragraph?

A. Addiction to smartphones.

B. Inappropriate behaviours in public places.

C. Absence of communication between strangers.

D. Impatience with slow service.

2.What is important for successful small talk according to Carducci?

A. Showing good manners.    B. Relating to other people.

C. Focusing on a topic.    D. Making business deals.

3.What does the coffee-shop study suggest about small talk?

A. It improves family relationships.    B. It raises people’s confidence.

C. It matters as much as a formal talk.    D. It makes people feel good.

4.What is the best title for the text?

A. Conversation Counts    B. Ways of Making Small Talk

C. Benefits of Small Talk    D. Uncomfortable Silence

    My daughter Kelly is a cautious person. She needs to warm up to situations, and is hesitant to try new things. But this has been a year of firsts for my girl that has filled her with a new sense of confidence. This year she moved to lap lane in swimming where she was preparing for a swim team. This year she learned to ride a bike without training wheels. And this year she completed her first kids’ triathlon (三项全能).

On Saturday, with a thunderstorm coming soon and my son’s birthday party later in the day, we all went out in the dark of the morning for Kelly to participate in her first triathlon. We practiced transitions from swim to bike to run with her, we got all the equipment she’d need, and we kept talking about the race. But as we waited the two hours for the older kids to finish before her turn, she held my leg a little harder and told me she loved me a few too many times. She was nervous but trying to keep it together.

And then it was her turn. From the second she jumped into the water, my heart soared. My daughter transformed into the most confident human being I had ever seen. She dominated that swim, crushed that bike ride and ran to the finish with the biggest smile on her face.

I can honestly say that I never felt so proud of someone in my entire life. It wasn’t because she did a sport or anything like that. It was because she was afraid of something and conquered that fear with confidence and a fire I hadn’t seen before.

I kept looking at her with smile. She might be wearing the finalist medal but I felt like I won that day. I won the chance to see my girl shine.

1.What can we learn from Paragraph 2?

A.The race began in the early morning.

B.Kelly prepared for her brother’s birthday party.

C.Kelly was eager for her turn in the race.

D.The whole family gave Kelly support.

2.Seeing Kelly’s performance in the race, the author felt_________.

A.worried and hesitant B.excited and proud

C.anxious and uneasy D.curious and concerned

3.In Paragraph 4, the underlined word “conquered” probably means_________.

A.to succeed in dealing with or control something

B.to take control of an area and its people by force

C.to become very popular or successful in a place

D.to defeat someone especially in a competition

4.In the ending paragraphs the author felt like “I won that day” because Kelly___________.

A.expressed love to her B.won the gold medal

C.overcame the fear D.took part in the sport

    Coronaviruses(冠状病毒) are a large group of viruses. They consist of a core of genetic material(遗传物质) surrounded by an envelope with protein spikes(蛋白棘突). This gives it the appearance of a crown. Crown in Latin is called “corona” and that’s how these viruses get their name. In this text, we’ll take a quick look at what’s currently known about the virus.

Covid-2019

The 2019 Novel Coronavirus, first reported December in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei Province, has quickly spread across the country and around the world. It initially occurred in a group of people with pneumonia(肺炎) who’d been associated with a seafood and live animal market in the city of Wuhan.

Intermediate hosts: The Covid-2019 may originate in bats, a team led by renowned Chinese virologist Shi Zhengli said earlier, while the intermediary host remains unknown.

Incubation period(潜伏期): usually 1-14 days.

Infection: Virus may spread before symptoms show.

SARS-CoV

The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) coronavirus was first identified in China in 2003 .

Intermediate hosts: Bats are the original host. Civet cats serve as an important intermediary that carries virus from the winged mammal to humans.

Incubation period: 2-7 days.

Infection: Virus spread after symptoms show.

MERS-CoV

The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS中东呼吸综合征) coronavirus was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012.

Intermediate hosts: MERS-CoV was travelled from dromedary camel to humans.

Incubation period: 2-14 days.

Infection: Virus may spread before symptoms show.

1.What might be the intermediate hosts of the Covid-2019?

A.Bats. B.Mosquitoes C.Camel. D.Unknown yet.

2.Which kind of coronaviruses spreads after symptoms appear?

A.SARS-CoV. B.MERS-CoV.

C.The Covid-2019. D.All Coronaviruses.

3.What can we learn about coronaviruses ?

A.Bats are to blame for the outbreak of all the three coronaviruses.

B.The Covid-2019, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV are all listed as coronaviruses.

C.Mers-Cov were first identified in China.

D.SARS-Cov has a longer incubation period than Mers-cov.

听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。

1.Who can join the Road Safety Team?

A.Students in Junior 1 and 2.

B.Students in Senior 2 and 3.

C.Students in Senior 1 and 2.

2.What can students get from Miss Mailer?

A.A book. B.A letter. C.A picture.

3.What activity is the team also organizing?

A.A short quiz.

B.A writing competition.

C.A poster design competition.

听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。

1.What probably is the man?

A.A doctor.

B.A lawyer.

C.An architect.

2.How will the man get to the bus station tomorrow morning?

A.He will walk there.

B.He will go there in his car.

C.His wife will take him there.

3.When will the man take the return bus tomorrow?

A.At 6:30 p.m.

B.At 8:00 p.m.

C.At 9:30 p.m.

听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。

1.What does the woman say about the sports centre?

A.It was small.

B.It was noisy.

C.It was expensive.

2.Why didn’t the woman stay in the café?

A.It was not clean.

B.The service was bad.

C.She had an appointment.

3.What does the man suggest doing right now?

A.Playing tennis.

B.Going to a club.

C.Swimming in the river.

听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。

1.What are the speakers mainly talking about?

A.The first day at a new job.

B.A usual day at work.

C.A new boss.

2.What does the woman think of her boss?

A.Indifferent.

B.Supportive.

C.Inexperienced.

3.What do we know about the woman?

A.She has a good overtime pay.

B.She often works late at night.

C.She had a hard time at work today.

听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。

1.What is wrong with the man?

A.He feels tired and sad.

B.He eats less every day.

C.He keeps awake at night.

2.What do we know about the man?

A.He is a student.

B.He is a foreigner.

C.He is seriously ill.

3.Why does the woman know so much about cultural shock?

A.She is an expert.

B.She has heard about it.

C.She has the similar experience.

What does the man plan to do this weekend?

A.Buy some furniture.

B.Go out with some friends.

C.Entertain some friends at home.

What is the probable relationship between the speakers?

A.Policeman and driver.

B.Teacher and student.

C.Boss and secretary.

Where does the conversation probably take place?

A.On a farm.

B.In a bookstore.

C.In a supermarket.

What do we know about the woman?

A.She will go to school.

B.She won’t go to the library.

C.She is willing to help the man.

What does the man suggest drinking?

A.Tea. B.Coffee. C.Cold water.

假设你是李华，你的美同明友Fred在2019年纪念甲骨文发观120周年之际，写信向你了解甲骨文相关信息，请你回复。

内容包括:

1.甲骨文特点；

2.发现的意义；

3.邀请参观甲骨文博物馆。

注意:1.词数100左右；

2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯:

参考词汇:甲骨文 oracle bone inscriptions (OBIs)

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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（ˆ）,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。

We are shocked to hear that a horrible and severely typhoon hit your hometown. It's challenged for you to remain calm and strong -willed when face with such a rarely- seen disaster.

Now I would like to express your sincere concern for you on behalf of all my schoolmate. Considering your present situation, we strongly wish to make every bit our effort to help you.We have collected 120 thousand yuan,what will help you get over the difficulty and build the better hometown.

Never giving up whatever happens! Do remember you are not alone.We will not be ready to help you.

语法填空

The Old Man and the Sea, a great novel written by the American author Ernest Hemingway, 1.(publish) in 1952. The success of the book made him well-known and contributed2.the honor he received in 1954- the Nobel Prize in Literature .It was Hemingway's last major work of fiction.

The story concerns an old Cuban fisherman named Santiago who has not caught a fish for 84 days.3.(convince) that he will change his bad luck, Santiago takes his boat far out into the Gulf Stream, 4.the water is very deep, and hooks a giant marlin fish which is even longer than his fishing boat. With all his great experience and5. (strong), he struggles with the fish for three days and6.(eventual) succeeds in catching it, but his hard work then goes for nothing-- sharks eat the captured fish7.he can return to the harbor.

Hemingway is famously interested in 8.(idea) of men proving their worth by facing and 9.(overcome) the challenges of nature. Through the old man's struggle, he shows the ability of human spirit10.(bear) hardship and suffering in order to obtain greater success and victory.

    On September 11,2001, Tom Frey reported to duty as a detective for the New York Police Department. However, he was assigned to work for ___and recovery after the Twin Towers collapsed. Like many on that ___morning, he never imagined it would be the day when his life_____forever. He, together with other first responders, spent 8 months ____looking for human remains in the dust and rubble.

In February 2016, after routine check-up and ___examination in hospital, Frey got a __ from a nurse the following day. His white blood cells increased, and after more___，he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, a cancer____among the first responders of 9/11 terrorist attack due to the dust____when the towers fell down.“I asked the doctor what we should do to treat it, and he said, ‘nothing'."

Frey began____the Internet to learn more about Hodgkin's lymphoma. His searching____him to the Hodgki's lymphoma Foundation, a website which has made all the___in his journey with the disease. Frey's cancer cells are now in____Once he has been cancer-free for five years, he will be ____for a lung transplant. "If you keep moving,you keep______Today, the retired ____is an ambassador for the Hdegkin's lymphoma Fudation, traveling the country to____others with the disease “Go to the foundation’s website and support group meetings. Doctor only have 15 minutes to___you, but these people are __ the same thing.Some have lived with this for years. They give you____as well as help."

1.A.training B.research C.rescue D.treatment

2.A.terrible B.peaceful C.important D.amazing

3.A.improved B.changed C.ended D.remained

4.A.perfectly B.continuously C.accurately D.occasionally

5.A.heart B.lung C.muscle D.blood

6.A.invitation B.reward C.call D.letter

7.A.interviewing B.testing C.questioning D.arguing

8.A.common B.strange C.rare D.impossible

9.A.taken out B.taken in C.broken down D.broken up

10.A.cutting B.building C.loading D.surfing

11.A.reduced B.forced C.led D.followed

12.A.progress B.difference C.decisions D.choices

13.A.reduction B.chaos C.sight D.reality

14.A.suitable B.grateful C.determined D.reliable

15.A.dreaming B.worrying C.living D.suffering

16.A.reporter B.nurse C.doctor D.policeman

17.A.replace B.cure C.survive D.encourage

18.A.satisfy B.offer C.consult D.affect

19.A.going through B.working on C.talking about D.looking into

20.A.health B.harmony C.happiness D.hope

Will robots soon be picking soft fruits and salad?

It takes a certain skill to pick a strawberry or a salad. While crops like wheat and potatoes have been harvested mechanically for decades, many fruits and vegetables have proved resistant to automation.1.

But recently, technological developments and advances in machine learning have led to successful trials of more sensitive and skilful robots, which use cameras and artificial intelligence to locate ripe fruit and handle it with care and accuracy.

Developed by engineers at the University of Cambridge, the Vegebot is the first robot that can identify and harvest iceberg lettuce (莴苣)，bringing hope to farmers that one of the most demanding crops for human pickers could finally be automated.2.

First, there are more mouths to feed, but less manual labor. With the world’s population expected to climb to 9.7 billion in 2050 from 7.7 billion today, agriculture is under pressure to meet rising demand for food production. On top of this, growers are facing a long-term labor  shortage.3.who suffer from economic losses due to labor shortage.

Second, 4.The problems from climate change ,such as extreme weather, shrinking agricultural lands and the lake of natural resources, make invasion(创新) and efficiency all the more urgent.5..The global market for agricultural robots, expected have a higher operating speed and accuracy than traditional agricultural machinery, is projected to grow from $205 billion in 2018 to $23 billion in 2028,according to a report from market intelligence firm BIS Research.

A.This is one reason behind the industry’s drive to develop robotics

B.there is an appeal for innovation and efficiency

C.robots could lead to more advanced farming practices

D.The development of robotics in agriculture could lead to a massive relief to the growers

E.They are too easily bruised (碰伤)，or too hard for heavy farm machinery to locate

F.This breakthrough is significant without doubt

G.This is partly due to a lack of interest from younger generations

    Not many organisms can survive in this severe environment, the Sahara Desert, where daytime temperatures can reach 140 degrees Fahrenheit. But an insect called the Saharan silver ant grows well. They rush out onto the sand from their protected nests to gather up the bodies of insects that have died from the heat.

“The hotter the day, the more insect bodies they will find. The more food they have.” said Sarah Pfeffer, an animal behaviorist at Ulm University in Germany. She says that to avoid sinking into the Saharan sand, where they could meet the same fate（命运）as their lunch, silver ants have to be fast.

To document just how quickly the ants move, Pfeffer and her colleagues set up high-speed cameras above a channel between the entrance to the hungry ants’ nest and a food source. The researchers recorded top speeds approaching 35 inches per second.“But if you really look at how big the animals are and you calculate the body length per second, you will come up with a walking speed that is an astonishing 108 body-lengths per second.”That figure makes them the fastest known ant on the planet. By comparison, cheetahs(猎豹）top out at about 16 body lengths per second. The videos showed how the ants achieve such amazing speeds. As they accelerate, their leg movements become synchronized(同步). They increase their running length by bringing all six feet off the sand at once, which Pfeffer describes as a gallop. “Really all legs are lifted from the ground. They are in the air, but it’s not jumping. It’s a very smooth run that they have.”

A closely related ant called Cataglyphis fortis only reaches about 24 inches per second, or two-thirds of the silver ant's max.

The Saharan silver ants' speeds may be impressive, but two insects are even faster. The Califormia coastal mite (壁虱) and the Australian tiger beetle, both of which also grow well at near-deadly temperatures. It seems that to beat the heat, it pays to be fleet.

1.What does the underlined word "they" refer to?

A.The insects. B.The silver ants.

C.Pfeffer and her colleagues. D.The high-speed cameras.

2.How long is a Saharan silver ant?

A.About 0.14 inches. B.About 0.08 inches.

C.About 0.22 inches. D.About 0.32 inches.

3.How do the ants accelerate while running?

A.By jumping smoothly. B.By lifting all their legs.

C.By sinking into the sand. D.By flying in the air.

4.Why does the author mention another two animals in the last paragraph?

A.To introduce two speedy animals.

B.To present the near-deadly environment.

C.To show high temperature makes fast speed.

D.To indicate silver ants rank third in speed.

    You may not know much about Thurgood Marshall. He was once denied admission to one law school because he was black. But today that same school has a law library named after him. He was a man who strengthened education rights for African Americans all over the country.

Marshall was born into a poor family in Baltimore in 1908. Like other African American students of his time, he went to separate schools that were not illegal. An 198/6 law stated that schools for blacks and whites could be “separate but equal.” But Marshall knew that most black schools were not equal. He decided to do something about it.

Marchall received a law degree from Howard University. Then he began to work at changing the country’s schools.Marchall’s strategy was to start with colleges and graduate schools, because he thought judges would sympathize with ambitious young African Americans searching for an education. In 1935, he successfully sued（起诉）the University of Maryland Law School to accept its first black student. Other cases followed, with similar results.

By the 1950’s , Marshall was ready to turn to grade schools and high schools. In 1954, he accepted the case of Linda Brown, who wanted to attend a white grade school near her home. As a result of Marchall’s arguments , the Supreme Court changed the law. It said that “separate” schools never be “equal.”In 1967, Marshall became the first African American appointed to the U.S Supreme Court.Until he retired in 1991, he supported many other civil rights bills.

1.What kind of schools did Marshall try to change first?

A.Black schools. B.Grade schools.

C.Colleges. D.High schools.

2.Which of the following best describes Marshall?

A.Persuasive. B.Controversial.

C.Stubborn. D.Easygoing.

3.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A.Finally Marshall lost the case of Linda Brown.

B.From the 1950's, Marshall taught in several schools.

C.Linda Brown was allowed to enter the white grade school.

D.After his retirement, Marshall still accepted many cases.

4.What's the best title of the text?

A.A fighter for justice B.A judge in the Supreme Court

C.Racial discrimination in the United States D.Marshall's devotion to American education

    Beijing’s super large new Daxing International Airport is officially open for business-just in time for celebrations marking the 70 th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China on October 1st.

On Wednesday morning, President Xi Jinping entered the main concourse（大厅）just before noon, where he was greeted by airport officials. “I declare Beijing Daxing International Airport open,” he said. Later that day, the crowd watched as the airport’s maiden flight took off from one of the airport’s four runways. Flights from other airlines due to move to the airport, with a three-letter code PKX, were also scheduled for later in the day. Initially, the only flights making use of the airport are native. Customs and immigration are not yet working. Flights from Daxing will cover 112 destinations around the world by next spring.

Daxing’s official opening caps a long design and building process. Construction for the $11.5 project began in 2014, with more than 40,000 workers on site at its peak（高峰期）.Designed by the late architect Zaha Hadid and her Chinese partners, the airport is built for the future, with a terminal（航站楼）the size of 97 soccer pitches as well as customer-service robots that provide travelers with flight updates and airport information.

Nicknamed”starfish”by Chinese media for its shape of five concourses connected to a main hall, Daxing aims to reduce walking for passengers. The airport authority has promised a distance of no more than 600 meters(650 yards)-about eight minutes of walking-between security checkpoints and the farthest gates.

1.What does the underlined word“maiden" in Paragraph 2 probably mean?

A.Major. B.First

C.Significant. D.Grand.

2.What do we know about the airport?

A.Flights from Daxing cover 112 native destinations.

B.Over 40,000 workers were involved in the construction every day.

C.The design is a joint effort of experts from home and abroad.

D.Robots can update the flight and airport information.

3.What does the airport look like?

A.A cap. B.A robot.

C.A soccer. D.A starfish

4.What's the purpose of the text?

A.To introduce a newly-built airport.

B.To evaluate the success of an airport.

C.To describe the construction of an airport.

D.To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the PRC.

    Enjoy yourself in the beauty and energy of Havana and the charm and history of Trinidad as we explore these two dynamic Cuban cities. We'll experience the people, politics, and culture of the island during this important period in the country's history.

THE HIGHLIGHTS

●Learn about housing, infrastructure (基础设施)，and restoration (修复)programs in Havana during a lecture with urban planner MiguetCoyula.

●Hear from Norma Guillard, a Cuban social psychologist and former brigadista with the 1961 Cuba Literacy Campaign, about Cuba's efforts to bring literacy to the entire country.

●Attend a discussion about the current process of economic reform with economist Giulio Rioci.

●Visit the site of the Bay of Pigs invasion of 1961 and the Bay of Pigs Museum.

●Take a walking tour of Old Havana and feel amazed at the splendid architecture.

●Wander the cobblestone streets of Trinidad, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with Nancy Benitez, an expert in restoration, architecture, and history.

●Tour a second UNESCO World Heritage site-Cienfuegos-and observe wonderful French and Spanish architecture during a walking tour.

These are only a few of the highlights of this extraordinary program. See the full travel guide at TheNation.com/HAVANA-TRINIDAD

The whole trip costs $5,455 per person ($370 extra for a single room) and includes hotel accommodations for 7 nights, all transportation within Cuba, all tours, all lectures, meals, tips, and numerous other events and activities.

100% of the income from our travel programs support our journal The Nation.

For more information, e-mail us at travels@thenation.com, call 212-209 -5401, or visit us at theNation.com/HAVANA-TRINIDAD.

1.Who is skillful at restoring old buildings?

A.Miguel Coyula. B.Norma Guillard.

C.Giulio Ricci. D.Nancy Benitez.

2.If you are fond of European architecture, where will you go?

A.The Bay of Pigs Museum. B.Old Havana

C.The stets of Trinidad. D.Cienfuegos.

3.In which aspect may different costs occur?

A.Accommodations. B.Transportation.

C.Lectures. D.tours.

假如你叫李华, 你们班计划在六一儿童节前夕去幸福小学慰问聋哑儿童（deaf-mute children)。 请你用英语给学校的交流生July写一封电子邮件, 询问她是否愿意参加。内容包括：

1. 提出邀请；

2. 说明时间、地点和交通方式等；

3. 简要介绍活动内容和注意事项。

注意：1. 词数100左右。格式已给出, 不计入总词数；

2. 可以适当增加细节, 以使行文连贯。

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

阅读下面材料, 在题后空白处填入适当的内容（每空一词）或括号内单词的正确形式。

The Budj Bim Cultural Landscape has long been regarded as a wonder of ancient engineering. The water system in Australia1. (build)more than 6, 000 years ago-  long before even the Egyptian pyramids took shape.

Ancient inhabitants of the region made the system of channels and dams as an 2.（extraordinary)complex trap for the eels(鳗鱼）that locals depended on for food. Budj Bim was recognized as3.World Heritage site today, but few suspected the system ran so far and so deep.

In fact, it took a disaster for Budj Bim 4.(reveal)itself in all its former glory. Bushfires, 5.(spark)by record temperatures and lasting drought, have burned away the thick leaves covering the water system, 6.(allow)the full scale of Budj Bim to emerge from the flames.

The Egyptian pyramids were made with materials that were plentiful nearby, and7.was Budj Bim. It was made with the area's most ready resource: volcanic rock. That building block came from the lava of a now-inactive volcano, 8. the ancient people used to redirect waters from Lake Condah-waters heavy with eels.

Now the Aboriginals still call parts of the area home, and their population 9.（decline)dramatically since Europeans arrived on the continent. But their10.（achieve)stand the test of time-even if it took a tragedy to reveal them. It's an important acknowledgement of the work their ancestors have done.

    There he was, turning the corner of Hawley and Main Street like clockwork. His red hair seemed to catch the sunlight, giving his head a soft candle-flame glow. He caught my eye, and up went his arm in his usual wave. As usual, I _______back and gave him a warm smile. I didn’t know his name, but he was very _______to everybody. No matter the weather, I saw him walking out there almost every day.

Having moved from a larger city, I wasn’t used to waves from _______. Actually, wherever we were, people hardly_______each other. We simply passed by each other, heads down, minding our own_______.

Perhaps that’s why I enjoyed these daily waves. It felt great to be _______and receive that message of “Hello!”. On days when we didn’t _______ to pass each other, I missed him and wondered if he was all right. The next day, I’d find myself driving with one eye on the _______. It was a happy reunion when I spotted him, and I’d wave first in my _________.

One night I was walking in the street, my thoughts traveled to “The Waver”, wondering if I could be________enough to wave at people I didn’t know. Just at the point.

I heard a car ________. I made eye contact with the person in the car, smiled and waved at her. The woman’s face____________, and she waved back. I was a little surprised. I reminded myself, “It’s okay. It’s actually kind of ________!” I waved to everyone I saw the rest of the way home.

Everyone at some point in their lives wonders if they’ve made any ________on the world. I can tell you that you don’t have to change the world ________. It’s enough to help sweeten it a little, even simply by a heart-warming wave.

1.A.waved B.took C.saluted D.glanced

2.A.cautious B.reliable C.friendly D.thankful

3.A.strangers B.relatives C.colleagues D.employers

4.A.informed B.encouraged C.encountered D.acknowledged

5.A.behaviors B.business C.appearance D.manners

6.A.worried B.noticed C.relieved D.checked

7.A.agree B.attempt C.promise D.happen

8.A.pedestrians B.buildings C.street D.children

9.A.mildness B.kindness C.eagerness D.brightness

10.A.brave B.mature C.lucky D.crazy

11.A.attacking B.escaping C.following D.approaching

12.A.lengthened B.softened C.worsened D.tightened

13.A.cool B.tough C.fresh D.curious

14.A.comment B.impact C.decision D.sense

15.A.accurately B.slightly C.thoroughly D.generally

    We know that a smart phone app can bring us a lot of benefits when we learn another  language. 1. Many of us have to endure hours of school lessons with our heads buried in textbooks. It's no wonder then that technology appears to be providing a better way of learning.

Having a smartphone means you can have a virtual teacher with you wherever you go, and there is certainly a huge demand for language learning apps. Many app developers are keen to cash in on the demand, hoping to share a piece of the app market. 2.One of many popular apps, Duolingo, offers 91 courses in 30 languages and has more than 300 million users.

3.They offer languages not popular enough to be taught at evening classes, or at most universities. And others offer' invented' language courses in Esperanto, Elvish and Star Trek's Klingon-lessons you might not find in a traditional classroom. Whatever you want to learn, apps allow you to go at your own pace and fit learning around other commitments. But they're not perfect-you might not get your head round the grammar. Lacking the peer support you could get in a classroom environment is a challenge, too.

So, does technology spell the end of traditional classrooms and teachers? Guy Baron, head of modern languages at Aberystwyth University, thinks not. He told the BBC that the apps are very conversational. . . they're not designed for degrees, but they could be additional resources. 4.

Certainly technology is going to help in and outside the classroom. But motivation can be a problem when using an app. 5.Of course, if you have a genuine reason to learn another language, you will no doubt stick with it.

A.There are numerous learning apps available.

B.Some educational apps are targeted at specific small groups.

C.A coming message may easily get distracted from your online lessons.

D.The content may be not what you really want and it is quite a waste of time.

E.Apps should be used alongside classroom methods, not separated from traditional teaching.

F.It opens doors, makes you more employable, helps you make new friends, and it's fun too.

G.Attending a real lesson, facing a real teacher, probably helps you to be more devoted.

    There has been a lot of such news lately. As far as the problems with today's schools are concerned, we can go back to how our culture has evolved.

In general, our culture, as represented in the media, gets excited by famous stars, and stresses that it's what you have, not what you are, that counts. Parents are  encouraged to be away from even very small children for most of the day. Too many people vote for politicians who would rather cut school funding than stop tax cuts for the wealthy. All contribute greatly to the problems of educating our children.

Today's teachers have to deal with a culture that is vastly different than in the past. They report that there is, among more children than ever, a lack of motivation, no drive to succeed or even try. In the media, the role models that boys see mostly consist of men in comedies and other shows, who are rude and often extremely childish; self-centered overpaid athletes; men in movies, television or video games, who are violent and powerful. As Leonard Sax wrote in Boys Adrift, "Teenage boys are looking for models of mature adulthood, but we no longer make any collective effort to provide such models."

Girls are attacked not only with such annoying images of males, but also with women who are extremely materialistic.

In such a cultural environment, it is more important than ever to have responsible parents who are devoted to their children and see to it as their duty to model for them and raise them with high standards of honesty and responsibility. They need to care enough to see that their children are not attacked with the rubbish that comes from movie, television and computer screens.

In today's culture, they are basically alone in this effort since, unfortunately, so much is working against them. Until we, as a culture, face the truth about ourselves- that we are not providing adequately for a great many of our children, as Jim Taylor titled his book "Your Children are Under Attack”。

1.What does "such news" in the beginning most probably involve?

A.Cultural evolution. B.Financial risk from tax cuts.

C.Problems in education. D.Social influence of the media.

2.What does today's culture bring to the children?

A.Narrow access to entertainment. B.Poor social abilities.

C.Few materialistic models. D.Too much negative effect.

3.What do parents have to do in today's culture?

A.Find more models for their children.

B.Keep their kids from the bad effect of the media.

C.Forbid their children to use computers.

D.Encourage their children to stay at school.

4.What is the author's attitude towards today's culture?

A.Indifferent. B.Ambiguous.

C.Dissatisfied. D.Approving.

    As doctors performed surgery on Dagmar Turner's brain, the sound of a violin filled the operating room. The music came from the patient on the operating table. In a video  from the surgery, the violinist was moving her bow(琴弓)up and down as surgeons behind a plastic sheet worked to remove her brain tumor(肿瘤).The King's College Hospital surgeons woke her up in the middle of the operation in order to ensure they did not damage parts of the brain necessary for playing the violin and keep her hand's functions intact.

Turner, 53, learned that she had a slow-growing tumor. Later doctors found that it  had become more aggressive and the violinist decided to have surgery to remove it. Turner recalled doctors telling her, "Your tumor is on the right-hand side, so it will not affect your right hand, it will affect your left hand. "Staring down at her left hand, she said, “This is my most important part. My job these days is playing the violin, which is my passion. ”

" We knew how important the violin is to Turner, so it was vital that we preserved function in the delicate areas of her brain that allowed her to play, "Keyoumars Ashkan, a  doctor at King's College Hospital, said in a press release.

Before Turner's operation, Ashkan and his colleagues spent two hours carefully  mapping her brain to identify areas that were active when she played the violin and those controlling language and movement. Waking her up during surgery then allowed doctors to monitor whether those parts were suffering damage. The surgery was a success. Ashkan said, "We managed to remove over 90 percent of the tumour, including all areas suspicious of aggressive activity, while retaining full function of her left hand."

Brad Mahon, expert at Carnegie Mellon University, said the basic features of an "awake craniotomy"-the type of brain surgery where patients are awake in order to avoid damage to critical brain areas--have remained largely unchanged for decades. For example, doctors have long used simple tests such as asking a patient to name what they're seeing in pictures to make sure language ability is preserved.

But he said that doctors are now able to map the patient's brain activity in great detail before the surgery, using an imaging technique called functional MRI. That means surgeons are coming into the operating room with tar more information about a specific patient's brain. That kind of information helps doctors tailor tests to a patient's particular needs.

1.What does the underlined word “intact" mean in the first paragraph?

A.strong B.sound

C.talented D.influential

2.Why did Ashkan and his colleagues map Turner's brain before operation?

A.To keep her brain more active when she played the violin.

B.To monitor whether her brain had suffered damage severely.

C.To recognize the areas related to music and movement precisely.

D.To remove the tumor while keeping all function of her brain.

3.What can we know according to Brad Mahon?

A.Doctors are using an imaging technique to monitor the surgery.

B.Patients are asleep to protect critical brain areas in a surgery.

C.A patient's language ability couldn't be preserved before.

D.Surgeons can personalize a patient's operation by mapping his brain.

4.What is the best title for the passage?

A.Musician joined in her own brain surgery

B.Mapping a brain is realized after surgery

C.The violinist suffers from a brain tumor

D.Doctors perform surgery on a brain

    A few years back I worked in a university building that also housed an entire department full of psychologists, all of whom seemed to see us as perfect guinea pigs(实验对象） for their latest studies. I learned to be cautious about answering seemingly casual  questions in the elevator. If one of them showed up in my office bearing a plate of snacks and asked me to pick some, I'd cast a doubtful glance and ask "Why?" before grabbing the apple fritter.

So one day, when someone from the Psychology Department posted instructions in the bathroom advising us to think about five things you're grateful for every day for a week, my response was frankly suspicious. I did the math. Five things a day for seven days is a lot of brainpower to consume without so much as the promise of an apple fritter.

I wandered into the office of Zetzer, the director of our school's Psychological Services Clinic. That was when I first heard the term" positive psychology" and discovered that "the gratitude thing", as Heidi had explained it. "It's only a week, "she urged. "Try it. ” So I did.

I started looking for my five moments of gratitude in each day. By the end of that  week, I found myself slowing down a little and taking time to notice things I might have walked past before, including a bunch of young students laughing together, They are so smart and optimistic, giving me so much hope for the future!

I couldn't be more grateful to my wonderful husband. He's a great cook. He always puts our family first. My oldest son took his vacation to come and help out at home. He took me to all my medical appointments, and made me laugh by titling his spring break "Driving Miss Leslie. "The kindness of a colleague with a green thumb made sure my plants stayed alive until I could care for them again.

Life will never be perfect, I still see news stories that distress me. But with just one simple exercise, I'm rediscovering the deep meaning of old sayings: accepting the things I cannot change, working to change what I can, and being wise enough to know the difference.

And all it took was a little gratitude.

1.Why did the author hesitate about the snacks offered by psychologists?

A.She had no appetite for snacks.

B.She didn't think snacks could show gratitude.

C.She disliked those psychologists.

D.She cared about what to be paid for them.

2.What can we infer from the second paragraph of the passage?

A.The instructions seemed to make sense to Leslie.

B.No one would behave as the instructions suggested.

C.Leslie had no intention of following the instructions.

D.The psychologists were actually playing a joke.

3.What did Leslie achieve at last?

A.She overcame her psychological problem.

B.She realized how hard it was to be grateful.

C.She found Heidi was really a reliable doctor.

D.She learned to be positive and show gratitude.

Winter Adventures Await in the Canadian Rockies

Alberta is the top destination for the outdoor wonderland experiences and the chilly winter is the hottest season of the year for you to adventure in the most beautiful, magical, powerful places on the planet and keeps you coming back. Here are tips for experiencing some of the best adventures winter has to offer in Alberta.

Hit the slopes

Set deep in what's widely regarded as the world's most scenic ski area at Banff National Park, the Lake Louise Ski Resort invites everyone from first-timers to advanced shredders to its 4, 200 acres of skiable area.

Climb a frozen waterfall

Jasper National Park, part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage site, has an area of 6, 759 square miles of mountains, glacial peaks and forests. Rivers lead to steep falls, which freeze into ice climbs as early as October and valley climbs form just a month later. While experienced climbers can cope with the frozen waterfalls without a guide, beginners need not shy away:basic training courses are offered for free.

Blaze a trail in the snow

The Athabasca Glacier is an ancient relic among the massive Columbia Ice field. While it's recommended to access the glacier only with an experienced guide, the area surrounding it offers cross-country snowshoeing trails that lead to it. No matter your mode of transport, this area is one of the darkest in Canada, which means the night sky provides a perfect backdrop for the dancing northern lights-so dress extra warm and struggle through the deep snow to glimpse one of nature's most colorful wonders.

Hidden gem

The month-long Snow-Day festival takes over Banff National Park each January. Cultural and sporting events, including ice carving and the Big Bear ski and rail competition, unfold throughout the event, but the real treat comes at the start, when live music fills the streets during the party, and a beer garden and ice fire pit keep the tourists warm.

The most splendid winter sunset can be seen throughout Alberta. As Mike Libecki, a National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, says, Alberta is one that keeps him coming back.

1.What is a unique activity in the Jasper National Park?

A.Adventuring in the Canadian Rockies. B.Climbing the frozen waterfalls.

C.Watching beautiful sunset. D.Skiing in the snow mountain.

2.Which would be a destination for those who are eager to enjoy polar lights?

A.Banff National Park B.Jasper National Park

C.The Athabasca Glacier D.The Lake Louise Ski Resort

3.When is the best time for tourists to visit Banff National Park?

A.In early October. B.In late November.

C.At the beginning of January. D.In the middle of December.

4.What is Alberta most probably?

A.It is a region full of tourist resources in Canada.

B.It is the highest peak of the Canadian Rockies.

C.It is a beautiful village surrounded by attractions.

D.It is the biggest national park in Canada.