Rivers are the veins of the Earth, transporting the water and nutrients (营养物) needed to support the planet’s ecosystems, including human life. While many nutrients are essential to the survival of life, there is one element transported by water in rivers that holds the key to life and to the future of our planet — carbon.

Carbon is everywhere and understanding the way it moves and is either released or stored by the Earth system is a complex science in itself. Carbon starts its journey downstream when natural acid rain, which contains carbon dioxide from the atmosphere,  melts minerals in rocks. This helps transform carbon dioxide to bicarbonate (碳酸氢盐) in the water that then flows in our rivers. This is a very long process, which is one of the main ways carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere. Carbon is transported by rivers to oceans and once that carbon reaches the ocean, it is stored naturally in deep sea sediments (沉淀物) for millions of years.

As carbon travels down a river, different processes may impact whether it continues to flow downstream or whether it is released into the atmosphere. For example, human engineering, like extensive dam construction, will result in dramatic changes to how water and sediments travel down the river. Some carbon that fails to reach the sea may return to the atmosphere in some way, which causes more warming.

Earth’s climate is closely related to the carbon cycle. We all know about the essential role of plants in consuming carbon dioxide, but do we know enough about rivers? Changing the chemistry and the course of rivers may have significant impacts on how they transport carbon. Remember: wherever we live, we all live downstream.

1.Where is the carbon in rivers originally from?

A.The atmosphere. B.The rocks.

C.The acid rain. D.The upstream areas.

2.Why is human engineering mentioned in Paragraph 3?

A.To show how important to life carbon is.

B.To explain how necessary it is to build dams.

C.To show how a natural process is interrupted.

D.To explain how humans fight global warming.

3.What does the author want to convey in the last paragraph?

A.We’d better move upstream to live.

B.We should protect plants along rivers.

C.We’d better seek more help from plants.

D.We should be cautious about river management.

4.What is the best title for the text?

A.What Humans Do with Rivers

B.How Rivers’ Transporting Carbon Counts

C.What the Carbon Cycle Means to Us

D.How Living Downstream Affects the Earth

    My 12-year-old son Jack hit a milestone last summer. “Mom, I’m quitting the piano,” he said firmly.

Immediately, I said, “You can’t.” “Why?” he asked. “Because I said so.” And the battle followed. Many of you know the battle I am talking about. It’s the one where all of a sudden instrument that once filled the home with wonderful music are abandoned in favor of sports, games and all cool things. When Jack started piano lessons in the second grade, he took to music eagerly, displaying interest and talent. Over the next few years, he willingly entered competitions recommended by his teacher.

Much to our son’s sadness, my husband and I decided to stand firm. While parents allowed their children to win battles now and then, this was one that my husband and I were not willing to concede. We decided, however, to give him a choice of taking up another instrument. We suggested the guitar.

He was open to meeting a couple of instructors. “My hands are too small,” he complained. But the student who came after us was a 5-year-old girl.

I suggested changing teachers. He said he wanted a teacher who was “nice”. I understood that meant “no stress”. Finally, we found a male teacher with a gentle voice and a great sense of humor. He said that competitions were not his thing; playing music was.

After my son’s first lesson with his new teacher, I took a deep breath and braced myself for the usual negative complaints. “Mom, he makes me like the piano again,” my son announced as we headed to the car.

And then, cheerful piano music filled the house during the long winter evenings. The playing wasn’t as long as I would have liked or as frequent as it used to be. But it’s sweet, still the same.

1.What made Jack want to give up the piano?

A.Having no talent in music.

B.Having other cool things to do.

C.Failing in music competitions.

D.Being very busy with his lessons.

2.Why did Jack complain about his small hands?

A.To remind his mom of his weakness.

B.To show his embarrassment in learning.

C.To find an excuse to quit learning the guitar.

D.To prove the difficulty of playing the guitar.

3.What did Jack like his music teacher to do?

A.Play the guitar very well.

B.Not push him too much.

C.Help him win a competition.

D.Not report him to his parents.

听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。

1.What is expected tonight around five or six?

A.Ice. B.Rain. C.Snow.

2.How many inches of snow are predicted?

A.One or two. B.Three or four. C.Five or six.

3.Why did the high schools close?

A.The college has already shut.

B.The roads are dangerous to drive on.

C.The town is unprepared for the weather.

4.Which suggestion does the weatherman make?

A.Buying supplies. B.Closing the schools. C.Pushing snow off roads.

听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。

1.Whom is the party for?

A.Dan. B.Julie. C.Jane.

2.When will the guests arrive?

A.At 4:00. B.At 5:00. C.At 6:00.

3.What has been prepared?

A.A special cake. B.Drinks. C.Candles.

4.What happened in the party last year?

A.The police came.

B.The building caught fire.

C.The neighbors got drunk.

听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。

1.What do we know about the hotel in Sitges?

A.It's far from the beach.

B.It's beside a busy road.

C.It's near a bus stop.

2.What can people enjoy in the hotel?

A.Football games. B.KTV. C.Keep-fit classes.

3.What will the speakers do next?

A.Ask for a lower price.

B.Look around the hotel.

C.Explain to the manager.

听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。

1.What does the man think of literature?

A.It’s helpful. B.It’s hard. C.It’s interesting.

2.What subject does the woman like most?

A.Art history. B.Photography. C.Geography.

听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。

1.What are the speakers mainly talking about?

A.Chinese tea.

B.Famous places in China.

C.Different kinds of tea in the world.

2.How does black tea taste according to the woman?

A.Sweet. B.Heavy. C.Light.

What is the probable relationship between the speakers?

A.Friends. B.Salesman and customer. C.Boss and employee.

How will the speakers get to the railway station?

A.By taxi. B.By car. C.By subway.

Where are the speakers?

A.At a hospital. B.At a bank. C.At a school.

What does the man order?

A.Tea. B.Coffee. C.Salad.

What does the woman want to do?

A.Go to hospital. B.Eat something cool. C.Make the man a cup of tea.

假如你是新华中学的学生李华，你的外籍教师Mr. Smith征求你们对他所授的英语课的意见。请你用英语给他写一封信，内容包括：

1. 感谢老师的付出；

2. 指出老师教学的优点；

3. 提出一至两条建议。

注意：

1.词数100左右；

2.包括所有要点，内容可适当发挥。

Dear Mr. Smith,

I’d like to take this opportunity to _______________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Yours sincerely,

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 Mr. President,

I am writing to express my concern about the sports facilities in campus. I have noticed that our school has very limited resources in term of students’ opportunities to do sports.

It is known to all what sports are very important to young people. If they have an access to good sports facilities, young people can adopt a healthy lifestyle and become more confident.

I suggest build a new playground, where should be designed for students with different interests. They should have a different section for each activity and available to students all year round. I believe so a sports area will meet our sporting needs.

Thanks for your reading.

Yours faithfully,

Li Ming

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，并将答案填写在答题卡相应的位置上。

Learning English used to be about developing four skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking. After all, that’s 1. the exams are designed - with four skills tested separately.

But over the years, educators have come 2.(realize) that these four skills should never have been separated, but practiced all at once. And the best way to do that is, perhaps, through public speaking.

According to Mei Deming, a professor of English at Shanghai International Studies University, giving a speech in an international language 3.(require) a speaker to integrate(使成为一体) knowledge and content 4.(mental) and express the result systematically. Speakers must draw on the beauty of the language as a whole in order to communicate with an audience.

This is why the annual China Daily “21st Century Cup” National English Speaking Competition has been gaining in popularity since it began in 1996. “This competition has worked 5. a model for developing students’ public-speaking skills in English and provided ideas for English teaching in schools and in learning in a broader sense,” said Mei.

Shi Guohua, 6. English teacher at Shanghai Qibao High School, held a similar view. He said that key competence in acquiring English today comes from the ability to express oneself rather than in simply passing exams.

He also 7.(stress) that communication should go both ways since traditional English speaking education has focused too much on getting messages out while 8.(ignore) the receiver of these messages — the audience. “It’s important to understand the audience and build the link between the content being delivered and the interests of the audience,” he said. “It’s also important to create an impressive opening to a speech.”

As China continues to play an important role in global conversations, there will be more 9.(chance) for young Chinese people to present China and tell attracting stories. And in order to tell Chinese stories 10.(well), we first need to develop a more overall English skill. Working on public speaking is, perhaps, the place to start.

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。

The only 1. (survive) of a shipwreck was washed up on a small island 2. no one lived. He prayed each day for his rescue, and after every prayer he stared at the horizon, 3. (search) for help. But nobody seemed to be coming. Exhausted, he eventually decided to build a small 4. (wood) hut (小屋) to protect himself from the weather, and to store his few valuable possessions. But then one day, after hunting for food, he arrived home to find his little house 5. fire, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened: everything was lost. He burst into tears and 6. (think) life had played a joke on him. Early the next day, however, he was awoken by the sound of something that was approaching the island. 7. ship had come to rescue him! The weary man was curious about 8. his rescuers had found him. “We saw your smoke signal,” they replied.

When things are going bad, people can get discouraged. But we shouldn’t lose heart, because with a little bit of good luck, 9. can overcome even the worst misfortune the world throws our way. For all the bad things we might experience, life often provides us 10. optimistic solutions.

    The morning had been a disaster. My tooth was ___________, and I’d been in an argument with a friend. Her words still hurt: “The trouble with you is that you won’t ___________ yourself in my place. Can’t you see things from my point of view?” I shook my head ___________— and felt the ache in my tooth. I’d thought I could ___________ out till my dentist came back from holiday, but the pain was really ___________. I started calling the ___________in the phone book, but no one could see me ___________. Finally, at about lunchtime, I got lucky.

“If you come by right now,” the receptionist said, “the dentist will ___________ you in.” I took my purse and keys and ___________ to my car. But suddenly I began to doubt about the dentist. What kind of dentist would be so ____________ to treat someone at such short notice? Why wasn’t he as busy as the others?

In the dentist’s office, I sat down and ____________. I saw nothing but the bare walls and I became even more ____________. The assistant ____________ my nervousness and placed her warm hand over my ice-cold one.

When I told her my ________, she laughed and said, “Don’t worry. The dentist is very good.”

“How long do I have to wait for him?” I asked ____________.

“Come on, he is coming. Just lie down and ____________. And enjoy the artwork,” the assistant said.

“The artwork?” I was ____________.

The chair went back, suddenly I smiled. There was a beautiful picture, right where I could enjoy it: on the ceiling. How ____________ the dentist was! At that moment, I began to understand what my friend ____________ by her words.

What a ____________!

1.A.shaking B.weak C.aching D.flexible

2.A.take B.put C.have D.play

3.A.violently B.merely C.stubbornly D.consequently

4.A.hold B.break C.cut D.put

5.A.absolute B.unbearable C.unreliable D.formal

6.A.receptionists B.managers C.nurses D.dentists

7.A.entirely B.slightly C.absolutely D.immediately

8.A.fit B.take C.pull D.come

9.A.closed B.rushed C.pushed D.guided

10.A.eager B.cautious C.brave D.loyal

11.A.look up B.look for C.look after D.looked around

12.A.terrified B.concerned C.worried D.satisfied

13.A.translated B.resisted C.admitted D.noticed

14.A.fears B.intention C.consideration D.arrangement

15.A.terribly B.impatiently C.extremely D.respectively

16.A.relax B.sleep C.observe D.refer

17.A.affected B.frustrated C.disappointed D.puzzled

18.A.foolish B.terrible C.considerate D.considerable

19.A.attached B.meant C.intended D.pretended

20.A.relief B.regret C.success D.loss

    I’ve always been interested in why we do the things we do, so last year I decided I’d like to study psychology. Most courses I found, however, were either too expensive, too long or were impossible to combine with work. I was about to give up 1..

At first, I had no idea what they were talking about, but they explained that a MOOC is a Massive Open Online Course — a new type of course offered completely online to thousands of people, which is designed so that anyone can follow it, regardless of age, location or education — 2.. You can search for hundreds of different subjects, and can usually watch a short introduction video to get an idea of what the course is about.

3.. At first, I didn’t know what to expect or how much time I might spend studying. Each week there were video lectures to watch and readings to do as well as some short assignments. The lectures were really interesting and easy to follow, and it was great to be able to watch them again or pause them to go and do something else. Most MOOCs have online forums (论坛), too, where students can discuss what they are learning. These are often really fascinating because there are so many different opinions, 4.. If you read everything on the forums, you won’t have time to finish the lectures!

5.. There is a huge range of courses on offer in hundreds of subjects, and you have the chance to learn new things and be in contact with many different types of people, all from the comfort of your own home. Why not check out a MOOC and start learning something new today?

A. but they are very time-consuming

B. all you need is an Internet connection

C. when a friend suggested that I try a MOOC

D. I chose a six-week Social Psychology course

E. it is difficult to find a course to combine with work

F. But the advantages of MOOCs for busy people today are obvious

G. In fact, that seems to be one of the problems of this new way of studying

The kindly “Chinese Fortune Grandpa” wearing Han Chinese clothing and holding a fortune bag debuted (亮相) at the Imperial Ancestral Shrine in Beijing on the day after Christmas. The final image of the Chinese gift-giver was selected through a global design competition against “Santa Claus”, according to a report byGuangming Daily.

Many Chinese cities have been filled with Christmas neon lights, Christmas songs, Christmas trees, and the images of “Santa Claus”in recent days. As a matter of fact, foreign festivals are becoming more popular than certain traditional Chinese festivals among the Chinese people, particularly the youth. “Certain traditional festivals have died out because people have forgotten their spiritual meanings, ”said noted writer Feng Jicai. More and more Chinese people are beginning to exchange gifts on Valentine's Day and Christmas. However, many of them know nothing about Chinese New Year pictures or sugarcoated figurines (小糖人), and have never heard suona music. Certain folk customs on the Dragon Boat Festival, Tomb Sweeping Day, and other traditional festivals have gradually disappeared. Under such circumstances, even the “Chinese Fortune Grandpa” is unlikely to defeat “Santa Claus”.

However, it is not a bad thing to some extent. It constantly reminds people to restore the “true face” of traditional festivals. China has listed traditional Tomb Sweeping Day, Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival as legal holidays, which brings more paid leaves to the public, and helps to awake the public awareness of traditional festivals.

In modern society, festival is a carrier of culture and its meaning largely depends on their understandings and usages by people. Compared with foreign festivals, traditional Chinese festivals are not inferior (次于) in cultural meanings, but lack of fashion sought by modern people. If people do not appreciate the historical culture contained by traditional festivals, and only take pleasure-seeking as the most important, the significance of traditional festivals will fade away and the inheritance (继承) of fine traditional culture will be cut off.

1.The second paragraph implies that ________.

A.traditional festivals should co-exist with foreign festivals

B.all the Chinese festivals are disappearing in the near future

C.western festivals are constantly impacting on our festivals

D.the Chinese people have the public awareness of traditional festivals

2.We can learn from the passage that ________.

A.an image designed by the Chinese people will be displayed

B.the Chinese gift-giver was intended to symbolize traditional culture

C.many foreigners know nothing about Chinese festivals

D.the Chinese are beginning to exchange gifts on the Mid-Autumn Festival

3.Many Chinese youth dislike traditional festivals because they think ________.

A.traditional festivals are out of fashion now

B.the historical culture is more difficult to understand

C.western festivals contain more cultural meanings

D.the inheritance will cut off their contact with western festivals

4.What would be the best title of the passage?

A.Gone are Chinese Traditional Festivals

B.True Face of Chinese Traditional Culture

C.Foreign Festivals Popular with Chinese

D.Chinese Fortune Grandpa VS Santa Claus

    This could be the perfect gift for the partner, who embarrasses you on the dance floor. Smart socks, which can teach to dance, may be the answer for anyone with two left feet.

The socks have been developed as a running tool to help runners improve their skills. Thanks to the socks, users can accurately record not only how far and fast they run but also how well. It means the user maximizes their performance, and reduces damage to body and prevents hurt. The hi-tech socks are made of special fibers that watch the movements of your feet. They look, feel and can be washed like normal clothes.

Sensors (传感器) record each movement and send it by an ankle transmitter (脚踝发射器) to a smart phone. Then a “virtual coach” application shows the information and can tell the user what they are doing wrong, and help to improve skill in any task with feet.

The socks should be useful to athletes and weekend joggers. “People think running is so easy and of course everybody can do it but not necessarily safely and well,” Dr. Davide Vigano said. A recent study showed that between 60 and 80 percent of runners got hurt per year. This is pretty much more than any other human activity. Researchers say the technology can also be developed to teach people how to dance, play sports such as golf, or even to help to teach women to walk better in high heels.

Mr. Vigano said, “People could all benefit from the idea. We have had interest from all sorts of sports, like skiing, football, cycling and golf. Anything where you have to use your feet can use it. It could even be put in high heels to help women walk in them safely.”

Socks are just the start, and the technology could be used in gloves, hats and boots. The socks, anklet and software package, are expected to be sold for around￡120, which will go on sale in March.

1.What does the underlined part “anyone with two left feet” refer to?

A.People who are disabled.

B.People who are interested in dancing.

C.People who are not good at dancing.

D.People who invented the socks.

2.What’s special about fibers that the socks are made of?

A.They feel much softer than normal clothes.

B.They can monitor the movement of feet.

C.They are expensive to produce.

D.They act as a smart phone for users.

3.Which of the following is NOT mentioned about the socks?

A.They can improve the skill of running.

B.They can help women walk better in high heels.

C.They can teach people to dance well.

D.They can be worn for days without washing.

4.According to Dr. Vigano, ________.

A.everyone can make good use of the smart socks

B.users can run as fast as they like with the socks

C.60 to 80 percent of runners would like to buy the smart socks

D.no runners will get hurt, thanks to the socks

    Having experienced a shocking electrical accident, which caused him to become both blind and deaf, James Franco’s world became completely dark and quiet for almost ten years. The loss of sight and hearing threw him into such sorrow that he tried a few times to put an end to his life. His family, especially his wife, did their best to tend and comfort him and finally he regained the will to live.

One hot summer afternoon, he was taking a walk with a stick near his house when a  thunderstorm started all at once. He stood under a large tree to avoid getting wet, but he was struck by the lightning. Witnesses thought he was dead but he woke up 20 minutes later, lying face down in muddy water. He was trembling badly, but when he opened his eyes, he could hardly believe what he saw: a tree and muddy road. When Mrs. Franco came running up to him,  shouting to their neighbors to call for help, he could see her and hear her voice for the first time in nearly ten years.

The news of James regaining his sight and hearing quickly spread and many doctors came to examine him. Most of them said that he regained his sight and hearing from the shock he got from the lightning. However, none of them could give a compellent answer as to why this should happen. The only reasonable explanation given by one doctor was that, since James lost his sight and hearing as a result of a sudden shock, perhaps, the only way for him to regain them was another sudden shock.

1.The reason why James attempted to kill himself was that ________.

A.a terrible electrical accident happened to him

B.nobody in the whole world cared about him

C.he was struck by the lightning once more

D.he had to live in a dark and silent world

2.What was James doing when he was struck by the lightning?

A.Sheltering from the rain under a tree. B.Putting an end to his life.

C.Taking a walk with a stick. D.Lying on the ground.

3.What does the underlined word “compellent” in Paragraph 3 mean?

A.Gradual. B.Wrong. C.Convincing. D.True.

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

A.A Terrible Electrical Accident B.What a Sudden Shock

C.An Unforgettable Adventure D.James Franco and His wife

    Considering the temperate climate in England, most tourists like to visit London between April and September. Tourists also enjoy what London has to offer during Christmas.

Getting around London

Transportation in London is divided into zones, meaning the further you intend to go, the more expensive it will cost you. You’ll find one of the best subways here, with single rides starting at about $ 2.5. You can also use taxis (keep in mind that black cabs do not accept smart cards), boats, buses as well as commuter trains (市郊火车). To avoid any trouble, you can get yourself a smart card and perhaps load it with $ 50 dollars to cover your weekly travel budget.

London Weather

To enjoy warm weather in London, plan your visit in July as it is the hottest month. January is the coldest month in London.

What you should Know Before Visiting London

Unlike most cities in Europe, life in London is a bit more expensive. Also, make sure you plan ahead so that you don’t miss out on the best tickets, hotels and offers.

BEST OF LONDON

SEALIFE London Aquarium

Enjoy a spectacular experience with underwater creatures at SEALIFE London aquarium. It is perfect for a family fun day.

The Coca-Cola London Eye

A major feature of London’s skyline, the The Coca-Cola London Eye boasts some of the best city views from its 32 capsules. You’ll definitely enjoy the breathtaking experience.

Sherlock Holmes Museum

A perfect place to visit if you love books and music.

1.The peak month to visit London is most likely to be _____

A.January B.March C.May D.October

2.What is good about a smart card?

A.It can be paid for any transport means. B.It can cover any expenses.

C.It is available online. D.It is convenient.

3.If your family want to see a variety of fish, you will go to _____.

A.SEALIFE London Aquarium B.The Coca-Cola London Eye

C.Sherlock Holmes Museum D.London Canal Museum

阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写，使之构成一个完整的故事。

I serve as a Newport Beach ocean lifeguard and work Tower 15. Two blocks to my right is another guard named Mike, working Tower 17. That afternoon he called me over the phone and said, “Hey, I got a couple kids I have to give them a warning. Keep an eye on us.”

As soon as he hung up the phone, these two kids were in danger. Mike saw it before it’s happening, and he’s running as fast as possible toward the ocean I scanned the water. All I saw was two small noses moving up and down quickly in the waved water.

By then, the mother of the two kids realized what’s happening. She’s on her feet and screaming. I started rushing toward her, but before I was even halfway there, Mike reached the kids — a brother and sister around eight or nine years old. Mike told me later that he got to the boy first, and when he turned to the girl, he had to reach down into the water and caught her by the hair to pull her back up.

When I reached their mother, Mike’s in waist-deep water. These kids were so tired, they couldn’t walk, and so Mike s carrying them: He got one under each arm.

I turned to their mom and said, “Hey, it’s going to be OK. They’re safe.”

Then she looked back and got her first good look at Mike. And a crazy thing happened. I saw a new kind of fear wash over her as though there’s some new, equally dangerous threat on her kids’ lives. Mike had a number of really frightening tattoos (纹身). She rushed up to Mike, took her kids quickly and left without even a thank-you.

注意：1. 所续写短文的词数为80左右；

2. 应使用3个以上短文中标有下划线的关键词语；

3. 续写部分为一段，开头语已为你写好；

4. 续写完成后，请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语。

The next day, the mother turned up on the beach.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

假定你是李华，暑假在伦敦学习，得知所在学校要招聘垃圾分类（garbage sorting）志愿者，请给该校学生会主席写一封信申请加入，内容包括：

1. 写信目的；

2. 个人优势；

3. 能做的事。

注意：

1. 词数100左右；

2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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。

Over the last century, tiger habitats 1. (fall) by around 95 percent, and there are now 2. (few) than 4,000 tigers alive in the wild, reports the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Of the nine species of tiger, three have already died out and the remaining six 3. (consider) endangered. The most common cause of the decrease of a tiger species is us human, whether from hunting or destroying their habitats.

Siberian tigers, also known 4. Amur and Manchurian tigers, were once found throughout the Russian Far East, northern China and the Korea, according to the WWE. By the 1940s, 5. (hunt) had reduced their number to 40, but Russia has since taken steps towards protecting them, and their numbers have risen about 500 as 6. result Challenges to their continued existence include illegal hunting 7. not having enough food. At the moment, Siberian tigers represent the largest tiger population on the planet.

Of all tiger subspecies, the South China tiger may be at the greatest risk of 8. (extinct). The WWF reports there are just 30 to 80 South China tigers 9. (leave) in the world, all of 10. are in captivity (被圈养); the South China tiger hasn’t been seen in the wild in over a quarter-century.

    High school students have a lot more power than they may realize.

Belscher _________ a dollar on the floor when having his English class. When the school day _________, Belscher walked back to the classroom. He could easily have _________ it, for the wrinkled (皱巴巴的) bill was still there. _________, he brought the old bill to his English teacher, —Mattison.

Mattison was a little _________ he’d turned; in the dollar, knowing a lot of people would have just kept it. She _________ that Belscher tape(d)it to the whiteboard, where she always puts _________ things.

A day or two later, the school shut down for Easter _________. Neither the teacher nor her student thought twice about the dollar. After school, a boy named Tom spotted the dollar on the whiteboard. “There was a _________ to it.” Tom says. He asked Mattison why it was there. She replied, “I don’t know.” Then Tom __________ a second dollar.

The __________ of the two dollar bills side by side triggered (触发) something in Mattison’s students. They started asking about the __________ of the money, to which Mattison always gave the __________ answer: She didn’t know.

However, the students, among themselves, decided and understood Mattison had some good __________ final plan and goal. So, they wanted to be part of whatever this was. They __________ their savings and the amount continue to grow. As for the __________ dollar, the person who lost it never came looking.

That left Mattison to make the best decision. She thought of her brother-in-law, Jack Hains, who had died of ALS, a __________ and deadly disease. His sister died of the same __________. Mattison asked the teens whether they __________ if they donated (捐赠) the money. Their answer was that they definitely didn’t. Then, they __________ peeled (剥开) the cash off the board and made the donation to the ALS Institute established to find a cure for the disease.

1.A.hid B.lost C.noticed D.dropped

2.A.started B.ended C.arrived D.passed

3.A.discovered B.ignored C.pocketed D.accepted

4.A.Therefore B.Besides C.Instead D.Meanwhile

5.A.excited B.surprised C.frightened D.interested

6.A.realized B.commanded C.recognized D.suggested

7.A.lost B.required C.selected D.damaged

8.A.break B.dinner C.meeting D.activity

9.A.signal B.response C.key D.mystery

10.A.earned B.taped C.missed D.recovered

11.A.sight B.discussion C.idea D.story

12.A.owner B.total C.power D.purpose

13.A.same B.brief C.secure D.different

14.A.unknown B.unchanged C.unspoken D.unexplored

15.A.added to B.broke up C.watched over D.dug into

16.A.former B.important C.valuable D.old

17.A.born B.rare C.common D.mild

18.A.operation B.treatment C.accident D.condition

19.A.wondered B.minded C.agreed D.regretted

20.A.sadly B.calmly C.carefully D.skillfully

    Holiday season is drawing near. Choosing presents for your friends or loved ones is a hard nut to crack. 1.

Don’t try to price-match.

The first thing you should do when planning your gift list is to create a budget (预算) of how much you’re willing to spend — and stick to it, even if you receive a more expensive gift from someone else. “A void matching spending, because that’s when gift-giving is driven more by pressure than by thoughtfulness,” says Sharon Schweitzer, an international etiquette (礼节) expert and founder of Protocol Etiquette Worldwide. After all, loved ones dropping a lot of money on expensive gifts could probably afford expensive items on their own and aren’t looking for you to return the favor. 2.

Don’t give just because you did in the past.

When you’re figuring out whom to give to keep in mind your list might not have all the same people as last year’s. “You have to review it every year because you have relationships with different people, so you have to look at how those relationships have grown and developed,” says Schweitzer. 3. Even if you’ve exchanged gifts in the past, don’t feel you should give presents to friends who you haven’t kept in touch with much this year. Send a holiday card instead to show you’re thinking of them.

Be honest if you don’t have a gift.

If someone surprises you with a present you weren’t expecting, be honest that you don’t have one to give in return. 4. “Say you’re touched and delighted and a little embarrassed you don’t have anything for them.” says Schweitzer. Don’t try to think up a gift on the spot by taking something out of your closet suddenly, because the other person will likely know exactly what you’re doing.

5.

With the exception of family members or best friends, never ask people what they want for a present. “That makes people very uncomfortable, and they feel they ought to get you something in return,” says Schweitzer. Gift requests leave little creativity to the giver, so come up with your own ideas for a more thoughtful present.

A.Never ask for a wish list.

B.People come in and out of your life.

C.Have creative ideas when you choose gifts.

D.The best way to deal with that is to be honest and sincere.

E.Here are pieces of gift-giving etiquette you need this holiday season.

F.Expensive gifts are sometimes thoughtful items your friends selected.

G.Find a thoughtful gift instead, like a frame with an old favorite photo.

    Clothing rental (租赁) is a hot new industry and businessmen are trying their best to attract shoppers. This past summer alone, Urban Outfitters, Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, and American Eagle have all announced rental subscription services — a sure sign of changing times.

But is renting fashion actually more environmentally-friendly than buying it, and if so, how much more? Journalist and author Elizabeth Cline researched this question in an article for Elle, and she concluded that it’s not as green as it seems.

Take shipping, for example, which has to go two ways if an item is rented — receiving and returning. Cline writes that consumer transportation has the second largest footprint of our fashion habit after producing.

She writes, “An item ordered online and then returned can send out 20 kilograms of carbon each way, and increases to 50 kilograms for rush shipping. However, the carbon effect of a pair of jeans bought in a store and washed and worn at home is 33.4 kilograms, according to a 2015 study.”

Then there’s the burden of washing, which has to happen for every item when it’s returned, regardless of whether or not it was worn. For most rental services, this usually means dry-cleaning is a high-effect and polluting process, which can produce dangerous waste and air pollution if not dealt with correctly.

Lastly, Cline fears that rental services will increase our, desire for fast fashion, simply because it’s so easy to get. There’s something called ‘share-washing’ that leads to more wasteful behaviors mainly because a product or service is shared and thus is regarded as more eco-friendly. Uber is one example of this, advertised as “a way to share rides and limit car ownership,” and yet “it has been proven to discourage walking, bicycling, and public transportation use.”

Renting clothes is still preferable to buying them cheap and throwing them in the waste after a few wears, but we shouldn’t let the convenience of these services make us satisfied. There’s an even better step—and that’s wearing what is already in the closet (衣柜).

1.How much carbon will be produced when an item is normally ordered online and then returned?

A.10 kilograms. B.20 kilograms.

C.40 kilograms. D.50 kilograms.

2.What does Elizabeth Cline think of clothing rental?

A.It is considered fashioned.

B.It is popular to young people.

C.It can reduce transport burden.

D.It can leave large carbon footprint.

3.The example of Uber is used to show the rental services ________.

A.cause more wasteful behaviors

B.satisfy our desire for fashion

C.help protect the environment

D.replace the public transport

4.What does the author actually want to express in the last paragraph?

A.The request for throwing cheap clothes.

B.The advice on wearing what we own.

C.The disadvantage of clothing rental.

D.The call for renting clothes.

    What were you like as a teenager? I was a nightmare. I was rude to my parents, always stayed out late, never did my homework, hung out with the wrong people and made lots of bad decisions. Obviously, this is the age when teenagers are out of control and behave badly. Maybe, if you’re a teenager now, you think this is unfair judgment or it’s not your fault. Well, you might be right!

Experts have found that it’s a teenager’s brain that is to blame. Between the ages of about 13 to 19 — a period known as adolescence, the brain is still developing in areas that control behavior. This has an influence on learning and multitasking, stress and memory, sleep, and decision-making. For parents, these results often make them notice lots of behaviors that they may have earlier blamed on hormones (荷尔蒙) or just moodiness.

So our brains are still developing much later than it was thought before. Is this the perfect excuse for teenagers to walk around aimlessly and not get their homework done on time? Of course not! According to Professor Sarah-Jayne Blakemore, who made the new discovery, it’s to do with our prefrontal cortex that’s the part of our brain right at the front, just behind the forehead. She says “It takes part in a whole area of very high-level cognitive (认知的) tasks such as decision making and planning — we know that this area is going through very large amounts of development during the adolescent years”. This is the part of the brain which plays an important role in planning, and, for a teenager, this hasn’t developed yet. So getting organised to do their homework, for example, can come as a bit of challenge.

I wish I’d known about this because instead of telling my teacher I’d left my homework on the bus or that the dog had eaten it. Now I could say, “Sorry sir, my brain isn’t developed enough for the cognitive task of planning my homework.”

1.Which of the following is common in teenagers?

A.Doing some bad deeds.

B.Being blamed for their age.

C.Stopping their brain development.

D.Making excuses for their bad behaviors.

2.What do we know about the new discovery?

A.The brain develops in the first few years of life.

B.The forehead stops developing during adolescence.

C.Hormones take responsibility for teenagers’ behaviors.

D.The prefrontal cortex affects us performing cognitive tasks.

3.What is the best title for the text?

A.Behind the adolescence

B.Inside a Teenager’s Brain

C.For the Naughty Teenagers

D.About the brain Development

    A Uber driver stopped her work day so she could help a new mother with a sick child.

Nicole Ihus’s son John Henry was born last month with a rare disease called congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Nicole and her husband, who live in Kansas City, got m touch with doctors from Minnesota and Missouri in hopes of finding a doctor who could treat John Henry for the condition — but to no avail.

Luckily, Nicole managed to get in contact with the “best doctor in the world for this condition” at Johns Hopkins All Children in St. Petersburg, Florida — so she traveled all the way to the Sunshine State to give her newborn son a fighting chance.

After John Henry was bon into the hands of the NICU, Nicole felt sad and alone in the new state, although she knew that she had to leave her son’s side in order to buy him some new clothes.

After ordering an Uber ride to the nearby Rhea Lana children’s clothing store, she was picked up by a woman named Belinda. Shortly after Nicole got into Belinda’s car, the new mother couldn’t help but told her heartbreaking story.

“She told me her story,” Belinda said in the interview below. “She was in tears a couple of times and I was really concerned about her.”

Rather than simply dropping Nicole off at the store, however, Belinda parked the car and was firmly determined to accompany her passenger into the store.

“She was like, ‘I’m going to help you buy some clothes for your son.’ I asked her, ‘Are you serious?’ I can’t even imagine,” said Nicole. “For this stranger to go completely out of her way — stop what she was doing and stop making money — to come to be with me for a couple of hours while we shopped together, that was just unbelievable.”

1.What does the writer mean by saying “to no avail” in Para.2?

A.Henry’s condition became worse.

B.The couple lost hope of finding a doctor.

C.The doctor didn’t want to treat John Henry.

D.The couple didn’t find the doctor they wanted.

2.How did Belinda help Nicole after hearing her story?

A.By offering her a free ride.

B.By going shopping with her.

C.By buying new clothes for her.

D.By chatting with her for hours.

3.What is the writer’s purpose of writing the passage?

A.To advise readers to help the baby.

B.To tell a story of a helpless mother.

C.To speak highly of the driver’s kindness.

D.To call on people to learn from the driver.