阅读下列材料，在空白处填入1个适当的词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Music is universal — it is produced by all cultures. Some scientists believe that music came before speech and 1.(arise) as a development of mating calls. In fact, there is one theory that the 2.(early) languages in the world were sung rather than spoken. Indeed, in some countries, music is a form that people use 3.(record) their history. The Aboriginal Australians, for example, use music as a means to pass on stories of the land and spirits 4. the next generation.

5. new evidence suggests is that music does not just satisfy the feel-good factor but it is also good for the brain. A study of 6.(intellectual) disabled children showed that they could recall more information after it was given to them in a song 7. after it was read to them as a story.

Researchers also report that people score better on standard intelligence 8.(test) after listening to Mozart. The so-called "Mozart effect" has also been supported by findings that rats 9.(bring) up on Mozart run faster through complex network of paths or passages, known as a maze (迷宫). Generally, it seems that in most cases people 10.(suffer) from any form of mental illness benefit from listening to music.

    Sometimes a seemingly unimportant option can mean the difference between life and death. For Dan Magennis this _______ was deciding to call Comcast before starting his yard work.

The elder from Walker, Michigan knows if he hadn't _______ that call, he might not be here today. All he _______ was to fix an issue with his cable. What he got _______ was his own savior (救命恩人) — from 800 miles away.

Dan called the company, hoping to get it over with quickly. But _______ had he just connected Kimberly Williams, a customer service _______ when he found he couldn't speak after _______ his name. Then his right leg went numb (麻木的). He began _______ and dropped the phone. “I would try to say something, and I just couldn't," Dan said. “Soon I _______ maybe it was a stroke (中风), but I wasn't able to tell the representative that.” But Kimberly already knew something was ________. Slurred (口齿不清的) speech was something she'd become ________ as a teenager when she ________ her grandmother suffering a stroke. She also knew every second ________.

She immediately opened Google to ________ for first responders in Dan's area. Several calls later, she got in touch with the Walker Fire Department and stayed on the ________ with Dan for five minutes before the rescuers arrived.

Not even an hour after the call was placed, Dan was ________ with surgery at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital. Two days later, he walked out of the hospital with almost no lingering (迟迟不去的) ________. Dr Justin Singer, director at Spectrum Health, says things would have ________ very different were it not for Kimberly's quick ________.

Dan says he'll be ________ forever that Kimberly, whom he's never met, didn't hang up. It is thanks to her that he's still walking, speaking, and living independently.

1.A.order B.choice C.lesson D.motto

2.A.placed B.answered C.repaired D.bought

3.A.faced B.wanted C.concluded D.supplied

4.A.just B.even C.still D.instead

5.A.instantly B.simply C.hardly D.quickly

6.A.manager B.agent C.representative D.secretary

7.A.writing B.stating C.hearing D.forgetting

8.A.panicking B.comforting C.relaxing D.calming

9.A.admitted B.agreed C.suggested D.realized

10.A.important B.strange C.possible D.wrong

11.A.worried about B.interested in C.familiar with D.sick with

12.A.witnessed B.changed C.imagined D.attended

13.A.stopped B.counted C.struggled D.raced

14.A.leave B.wait C.care D.search

15.A.line B.research C.spot D.list

16.A.associated B.treated C.concerned D.satisfied

17.A.process B.patterns C.effects D.recovery

18.A.picked up B.worked out C.turned out D.took off

19.A.response B.comfort C.examination D.trust

20.A.regretful B.worried C.curious D.grateful

    Did you move your way into work this morning with your head down? Obviously, you did. It's Wednesday and, if you are in New York, it’s a rainy, annoying day. 1. Walk like a happy person and you’ll actually feel happier.

In the study, people walked on treadmills (跑步机) for 15 minutes. Around them were cameras with sensors that picked up their movements, and in front of them was a screen displaying a gauge (计量器) that moved to the left if they walked like they were depressed, and to the right if they walked like they were happy. 2.

Before the task, they were shown a list of words, some positive (pretty) and some negative (afraid, anxious). 3. The people who walked like a depressed person ended up recalling more negative words and (slightly) fewer positive words than the people who'd merrily bounced along on their treadmills. This means that the people who'd walked as if they were sad did, in fact, end up feeling sadder.

4.Harvard social psychologist Amy Cuddy found that if you stand like a powerful person, you'll feel more powerful. My high school swim coach used to tell us to fake (假装) it till you feel it; science as of late seems to be suggesting that she had a point. 5.Have a try and walk.

A.So now are you still sad?

B.They just remember the positive words.

C.Their arms swing at their sides as they go along.

D.But there's new evidence that you can walk yourself right out of it.

E.But the people in the study didn't know what the gauge was measuring.

F.That's to say, you can change your mood simply by changing your movement.

G.After they stopped, they were asked to write down as many words as they could.

    Running late after several wrong turns, I made a final, desperate attempt to locate Elliott's home. Down a dirt path, past a group of geese, there it was: the two-acre property, on which Elliott grows nearly all the food she feeds her family. The Elliotts' three-bedrooms house was among a chicken cage, a pigpen, a rabbit hutch, and three gardens, the sum total of which Elliott refers to as her “homestead(农)”— a nod to the back-to-basics movement that inspired her lifestyle.

Elliott "homesteads" because modern technology “has rid people of their purpose”. In hopes of  “drawing on and learning things of the past,” she has for eight years rejects an increasing number of modern conveniences. She lives a life like the 19th-century homesteaders. Unlike the pioneers, however, she enthusiastically broadcasts her life to an audience of Instagram followers, book buyers, and 100,000 monthly readers of her blog. Elliott belongs to a growing network of  bloggers who have fueled the growing homesteading movement, which encourages self-reliance through the employment of traditional skills. Broadcasting on the net while trying to escape technology’s uncontrolled pace may seem incongruous, but Elliott insists that social media provide advice and moral support, which are lacking in the remote areas where many homesteaders settle.

Elliott’s day passes in a series of chores: weeding, cleaning up after the chickens, feeding the pigs, weeding again... She rejects the idea that success should involve anything more that maintaining a home. “We live in a culture where everything needs to be epic (宏大的) and awesome... Living a very average life? That’s seen as you not living up to your potential. And I really fight against that. I think the everyday is the point of our life,” she said. “It’s okay to be in the kitchen working with a baby on your back. That isn’t a step backward; it is an intentional thing”.

1.What do we know about Elliott’s “homestead”?

A. Noisy. B. Dirty. C. Difficult to find. D. Hard to maintain.

2.What influence does the Internet have on homesteading?

A. It reduces homesteaders’ everything.

B. It connects homesteading farms.

C. It helps promote homesteading.

D. It disturbs homesteader’s life.

3.What does the underlined word “incongruous” in paragraph 2 probably mean?

A. Strange B. Ambitious C. Natural D. Impossible

4.What will Elliott probably agree with?

A. Keep off the outside world B. Stay with your family

C. Wish for something epic D. Lead your own life

    Large gatherings such as weddings and conferences can be socially overwhelming. Pressure to learn people's names only adds to the stress. A new facial-recognition app could come to the rescue, but privacy experts recommend proceeding with caution.

The app, called Social Recall, connects names with faces via smartphone cameras and facial recognition, potentially avoiding the need for formal introductions. “It breaks down these social barriers we all have when meeting somebody," says Barry Sandrew, whose start-up, also called Social Recall, created the app and tested it at an event attended by about 1,000 people.

After receiving an invitation to download Social Recall from an event organizer, the user is asked to take two selfies and sign in via social media. At the event, the app is active within a previously defined geographical area. When a user points his or her phone camera at an attendee's face, the app identifies the individual, displays the person’s name, and links to his or her social media profile. To protect privacy, it recognizes only those who have agreed to participate. And the app’s creators say it automatically deletes users’ data after an event.

Ann Cavoukian, a privacy expert who runs the Privacy by Design Center of Excellence praises the app’s creators for these protective measures. She cautions, however, that when people choose to share their personal information with the app, they should know that “there may be unintended consequences down the road with that information being used in another context that might come back to bite you”.

The start-up has also developed a version of the app for individuals who suffer from prosopagnosia, or “face blindness”, a condition that prevents people from recognizing individuals they have met. To use this app, a person first acquires an image of someone's face, from either the smartphone’s camera or a photograph, and then tags it with a name. When the camera spots that same face in real life, the previously entered information is displayed. The collected data are stored only on a user's phone, according to the team behind the app.

1.Social Recall is used to_________.

A.identify people B.take photos C.organize events D.make friends

2.Paragraph 3 is mainly about_________.

A.what people can do with the app B.how the app was created

C.what makes the app popular D.how the app works

3.Social Recall helps people with prosopagnosia by ________.

A.giving names to the photos kept in their smartphone

B.showing the person's information when it spots a stored face

C.providing the information of a person when they first meet

D.collecting information previously entered in the phone

4.What can we learn about Social Recall from the passage?

A.It can cure people’s “face blindness”.

B.It has caused unintended consequences.

C.It may put people's privacy at risk.

D.It is praised by users for its protective measures.

    Think you have already reached your peak in life? You might want to think again. According to a new research, we're happiest at two periods in our lives — not just one. Researchers at the London School of Economics and Political Science asked 23,000 German volunteers aged 17 to 85 to rate their life satisfaction. Participants predicted how happy they would feel in five years, and then, after five years' time, reported back on how they actually felt.

Their results? Anything but unpleasant! The study found that happiness tends to follow a U-shaped curve over an individual's lifetime, with satisfaction reaching higher levels during the extremes of the study’s age range and swinging down in middle age. Plus, the researchers noted the two most important years when happiness peaks: ages 23 and 69.

As is shown in our daily life, it makes a lot of sense. In our early 20s, we're energetic and excited about the changes that come along with young age: new jobs, new places to travel, and new people to meet. By the time we reach our 60s and 70s, though, we have likely retired and can now find the time — not to mention the money — to book a flight to Hawaii at a moment's notice. After all, your 40+ years are a busy time filled with raising families, climbing the corporate ladder, and you know, it's the life in general.

Of course, that's all the more reason to find easy ways to be happier without really trying, regardless of your age! Experts recommend prioritizing (优先考虑) small yet rewarding tasks like taking a walk or spending time with family. Just remember, now you have one more reason to look forward to getting older: an increase in happiness!

1.What does the author think of the research results?

A.They are predictable. B.They are annoying.

C.They are satisfactory. D.They are surprising.

2.What does the underlined word "it" refer to in Paragraph 3?

A.The outcome of the research. B.The second peak in life.

C.The study's age range. D.The first peak in life.

3.When does people’s satisfaction reach the lowest in a lifetime?

A.In one’s teens. B.In one's forties.

C.In one's twenties. D.In one's sixties.

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

A.The shape of happiness. B.The older, the happier.

C.How to be happy. D.The happiest ages in life.

    One Story is a non-profit literary organization, devoted to celebrating the art form of the short stories and supporting the writers who write them. If you're skilled at short stories and want to join us, pay attention to the following.

Submission Periods: Jan. 15th — May 31st / Sept. 1st — Nov. 14th.

What Kinds of Stories Is One Story Looking for?

One Story is seeking literary fiction. Because of our format, we can only accept stories between 3,000 and 8,000 words. They can be in any style and on any subject as long as they are good. More importantly, we are looking for stories that leave readers feeling satisfied.

Does One Story Accept Published Material?

No. One Story is looking for previously unpublished material. However, if a story has been published in print outside of North America, it will be considered. Stories previously published online on blogs, personal websites, or online literary magazines will not be accepted.

Does One Story Consider Translations?

Yes. Please include the name of the original author and language, as well as the name of the translator on the first page of your submission.

How Do I Submit to One Story?

We have an automated system for you to send us your work. It will securely send our editors your story and email you a confirmation that it has been received. To use the automated system, you need to have a One Story account. You already have one if you have subscribed to One Story or One Teen Story, joined our mailing list, or submitted a story to either magazine. When you are ready to submit, please visit our Submission Manager.

1.One Story judges whether a work is good mainly based on ______.

A.its name. B.its originality.

C.editors’ comments. D.readers’ response.

2.What should you do when handing in your work?

A.Include your creative inspiration. B.Register an account beforehand.

C.Write a short recommendation for it. D.Attach your private information to it.

3.What type of writing is this text?

A.A story review. B.A magazine advertisement.

C.A submission guide. D.A magazine introduction.

假设你是李华，得知为成功举办2020年北京世界体育大会，市政府决定招募学生志愿者若干名，负责接待来访的外国运动员。请给负责此事的Mr. Black写封信，申请做名志愿者， 内容包括：

1.写信目的；

2.自我简介；

3.你的优势。

注意：1.词数100左右；

2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；

3.开头语和结尾语已为你写出。

参考词汇：世界体育大会Sport Accord

Dear Mr. Black,

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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。

Dear Sir/ Madam,

I am one of your customer. I ordered a pair of shoes for my mum as a gift on Women's Day. To my disappoint, there are the followed problems.

To begin with, it didn't arrive on schedule, which misses Women's Day. Besides, not only it the wrong size but it is also of wrong colour. That bothers me most is the quality of the shoes. They are not made of genuine leather, and give off bad smell. I'm so annoyed to have received such poor service that I hope you give a due attention to the matter. I'd like you to either return my money and deliver a new pair to me.

It would be high appreciated if I could handle the matter at your earliest convenience.

Yours,

Li Hua

阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

China is considered the home of tea. Chinese tea had begun to be exported to Japan and Korea before the Tang Dynasty (618-907). In the early period of the 17th century, Chinese tea 1. (export) to Europe. The tea from China is in great abundance and variety. 2. (tell) if a pot of tea is nice, you can mainly rely 3. the color, smell, taste and form.

One of China's six famous tea types is white tea, 4. gets its name from its silver-white color. It is mainly grown and produced in Fujian and Taiwan provinces with a long history,5. (date) back to Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) in ancient China. Compared with other major types of tea, it 6.(distinguish) itself by its refreshingly sweet taste and beautiful silver needle-lie shape, thus enjoying great 7. (popular) among tea drinkers. In addition, the longer it is preserved, the better health-building effects it has. Amazingly, it has been proved that if 8. (drink) regularly, white tea will greatly benefit people's physical and mental health. This is 9. it can not only protect people from being struck by some common diseases, but also can 10. (effective) relieve symptoms.

    In June 2019, Curtis Whitson and his family decided to go backpacking along central California's Arroyo Seco River. Things went _______ for the first two days. On June 16, Whitson, who was _______ with the area, led the trip to a waterfall in the Arroyo Seco narrows (峡谷).

Whitson had _______ to rappel (绕绳而下) down the side of a waterfall along the river. _______,when they reached the waterfall, Whitson realized that _______ his previous trip through the area, the water currents (水流) were too strong to pass. “My heart _______ when I realized that.” Whitson told CNN. To make matters worse, the rope was missing. Since going back the way they had arrived was _______ as well, they tried to _______other routes to get around it. But their _______ proved fruitless. With food running low and no cellphone reception to ________ help, he decided to carve a “GET HELP” message on the side of his water bottle and threw it across the waterfall in the ________ that someone would find it. Then they went back up the river to a small beach to ________ out for the night.

Sometime after midnight, the three adventurers were ________ by a welcome sound — a helicopter flying overhead. Since it was too dark to conduct a(n) ________, the officials asked them to stay warm for the night, and promised to ________ a team the following day.

Shortly after being ________, Whitson discovered that two hikers had tripped upon their water bottle and, upon seeing the urgent ________, reported the issue to the officials. Whitson says, “They didn’t ________ their name or phone number. They just did what was right in their heart, and most importantly they took it ________. The Whitsons hope the two good hikers will reveal their ________ so that they can express their gratitude in person.”

1.A.unexpectedly B.fortunately C.smoothly D.surprisingly

2.A.familiar B.satisfied C.busy D.patient

3.A.pretended B.planned C.asked D.refused

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

5.A.as B.like C.unlike D.opposite

6.A.ached B.sank C.beat D.broke

7.A.uncomfortable B.unique C.available D.dangerous

8.A.seek B.create C.expand D.avoid

9.A.efforts B.thoughts C.directions D.situations

10.A.carry out B.give away C.pass on D.call for

11.A.challenge B.role C.hope D.course

12.A.camp B.come C.look D.run

13.A.recognized B.disturbed C.annoyed D.awakened

14.A.research B.inquiry C.rescue D.experiment

15.A.choose B.send C.develop D.train

16.A.kept out B.picked up C.turned down D.left alone

17.A.comment B.accident C.message D.story

18.A.notice B.leave C.remember D.bear

19.A.directly B.normally C.honestly D.seriously

20.A.identity B.motivation C.route D.secret

How to Choose a College Major

When it’s time to starting making solid decisions about enrolling in college, many people have questions about how to choose a college major.1., but also what you’ll need to be happy in the future. While it would be nice to have an interest in one of the highest paying college majors, it’s also important to choose a college major that will ultimately lead to a career you want in a place you want to live.

2.

The best advice we’ve found for how to choose a college major is just to ask questions. Talk to your high school guidance counselor, or if you’re already in college, consult your academic advisor or a career center counselor. Ask friends and family members about how they chose a college major or career. Finally, engage in some serious self-reflection and ask yourself questions about your past, present, and future.

Some factors to consider when selecting a college major include:

What did you learn about what you like and dislike from your past work experience?

What are your interests?

Which subjects did you enjoy studying the most in high school?

What type of skills do you have?

Do you have any hobbies that you would like to pursue as a career?

Think About Careers

3. For example, if you held part time positions in retail while in high school and you absolutely hated the work, you can immediately scratch retail management off your list. However, if you enjoyed the part of the job that involved setting up product displays, you might seriously want to consider a major in visual merchandising (视觉营销). 4.

Don’t Panic

5. It is not uncommon for college students to change majors one or more times after they enroll in college. Do your research, keep an open mind, and be honest with yourself, and you can choose a college major that will steer you down the path to success.

A.Ask Questions

B.Engage in self-reflection

C.You have to not only look at your interests, abilities and goals

D.What you are supposed to do is to clarify your interests, abilities and goals.

E.The answers to these questions can help guide your selection of a college major.

F.Selecting a college major is an important decision, and it is not one that should be made lightly.

G.The college major that you select impacts the types of jobs you will be qualified for upon graduation.

    For years, life went something like this: We'd grow up in one place, head off to college, and then find a city to live in for a few years at time to pursue a job or higher education. The end goal was to find somewhere to settle down, buy a house, start a family, and begin the whole cycle all over again.

But a new model for living is emerging: More and more people are moving from city to city throughout their entire lives, sometimes as frequently as every month. Just ask Alex Chatzielefteriou, who has had a front-row seat watching this evolution unfold.

Six years ago, he launched a startup called Blueground that rents out beautifully designed, fully furnished apartments for a month at a time, at rates that are cheaper than hotels. Today, the company has 3,000 properties in six U.S. cities, along with Dubai, Istanbul, London, Paris, and Chatzielefteriou's native Athens, and a staff of 400. The company just invested $78 million to continue its rapid expansion and make each one feel unique and cosy, rather than standardized, like what you might find in a traditional hotel.

Chatzielefteriou first came up with the idea for Blueground while he was working as a management consultant for McKinsey. “The accommodation of choice for consultants is the hotel,” he says. “I had to spend five years in a hotel room, living in 12 different cities. I loved seeing the world, but I didn't love feeling like I didn't have a home.” As he spoke to his friends and coworkers, he realized that many people were frustrated with this restless lifestyle. And what's more, hotels aren't a particularly cost-effective solution for companies either. In Chatzielefteriou's case, McKinsey sometimes paid S10,000 or more for him to stay in a major city for a month, which was far more expensive than local rents.

1.What's the main purpose of the first paragraph?

A.To tell the end goal of our life.

B.To introduce the topic of the text.

C.To stress the importance of buying a house.

D.To explain the reason for people's flooding into cities.

2.What motivated Chatzielefteriou to set up a company?

A.His urge to have a home.

B.His desire to make money.

C.His friends' encouragement.

D.His experience in living in hotel.

3.Why is Blueground a success?

A.It has obvious price superiority.

B.It has good geographical location.

C.It has beautifully designed apartments.

D.It has unique and comfortable environment.

4.What does the text mainly talk about?

A.The fall of traditional hotels.

B.The rise of a new living model.

C.The advantages of Blueground.

D.The disadvantages of traditional hotels.

    Surprise! High School Student Discovers New Planet Three Days Into NASA.

When 17-year-old Wolf Cukier accepted an internship (实习) at NASA, he expected to be challenged and gain insights into pursuing a career in astrophysics (天体物理学) . Instead, he attained worldwide fame for an achievement finding a new planet!

The teenager came across the distant world while examining images of the variations in star brightness captured by NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and uploaded to Planet Hunters TESS by amateur citizen astronomers. “I was looking through the data for everything the volunteers had marked,” Cukier said. “About three days into my internship, I saw a signal from a system called TOI 1338. At first, I thought it was a stellar eclipse (日食) but the timing was wrong. It turned out to be a planet.” Further research revealed that TOI 1338 b, as it is now called, is a rare circumbinary planet (环双星行星) — a world orbiting two stars. Even more exciting, TOI 1338 b is the first circumbinary world discovered by the TESS mission.

The researchers believe that TOI 1338 b is about 6.9 times larger than Earth. The experts claim that TOI 1338 b's two stars vary in size. It is also the only planet in the TOI 1338 system, which lies 1,300 light-years away from Earth.

Not surprisingly, the High School senior is looking to pursue a career in physics and astrophysics. When asked of his plans to seek out a job at NASA, the youngster said, “I've no idea about NASA's hiring practices but it can't hurt!” He added, “A career in space research is appealing.”

1.What kind of writing does the text belong to?

A.A biography. B.A novel.

C.A diary. D.A news report.

2.What can we know about TOI 1338 b?

A.It is a rare planet with only one star.

B.It is about 6.9 times smaller than Earth.

C.It lies 1,300 light-years away from Earth.

D.It is the first cirumbinary planet discovered by human.

3.What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A.Cukier is very proud of himself.

B.NASA is very strict on hiring practices.

C.Cukier has great interest in working at NASA.

D.Cukier knows nothing about NASA'S hiring practices.

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

A.A New Planet. B.NASA's Tess Mission.

C.A World-famous Teenager. D.The Discovery of a New Planet.

    Contrary to popular belief, cultivating honey for human consumption isn’t just a matter of letting bees “do what they do” and reaping the benefits. Although the creation of honey is a natural process, humans extract far more honey from bees than they would otherwise create naturally. As a result, bees can suffer during all stages of industrialized honey production.

Honey is created when bees suck the nectar out of a flower, regurgitate it, and process it with other bees back at the hive. In their natural states, they use this honey as a food source during winter. But on honey farms, beekeepers take that honey and replace it with a cheap sugar substitute — one that’s insufficient to meet honeybees’ nutritional needs. As a result, honeybees die of over-exhaustion attempting to reproduce the honey that they require; others die of starvation or malnutrition, while others develop weakened immune systems and contract diseases.

Moreover, the negative consequences of industrial honey production extend far beyond the bees themselves. The honey industry also intensifies an existing problem, a rather catastrophic one that has the potential to wreak havoc not only on bees, but on humanity itself. As environmentalists often note, worldwide bee populations are in decline. Because of the crucial ecological role that bees play in food production, this decline is nothing short of an existential threat to human beings’ long-term food supply. It would be natural to assume that honey farming en masse, by cultivating and maintaining constant populations of honeybees, is part of the solution. But it’s not. In fact, it’s part of the problem. So, it's really time for us to see the world anew!

1.How many causes are mentioned about the death of honeybees?

A.2. B.3.

C.4. D.5.

2.What does the underlined word “intensifies” in paragraph 3 probably mean?

A.Causes. B.Solves.

C.Worsens. D.Avoids.

3.What is the author's attitude towards industrial honey production?

A.Disapproving. B.Uncaring.

C.Positive. D.Doubtful.

4.Why did the author write the article?

A.To introduce a popular belief.

B.To explain the creation process of honey.

C.To raise people's awareness of protecting honeybees.

D.To show the conflicts between beekeepers and honeybees.

International Performers

World-class performers from across the globe bring years of training in blood, sweat, and smiles to amaze audiences of all ages in Ottawa's beautiful Sparks Street .

Australia — ZAP Circus

During the day, catch the Purple People show full of high energy acrobatics (杂技) and feats of danger. At night, be amazed at an incredible and dazzling fire performance at street level. Don't miss the chance to catch the greatest show.

Time: 2:00 pm-2:45 pm/ 9:00 pm-9:45 pm, Monday

Place: Ontario Stage

Argentina — Katay Santos

After intensive training in the circus school of Cuba and Wuqiao (China) , together with two years of sharing the streets of Caracas with some of its biggest artists, “Santos” bring you an amazing act filled with breathtaking performances with Chinese pots.

Time: 7:00 pm-7:45 pm, Friday

Place: Canada Stage

Canada — Chris Pilsworth

At Chris' show, you'll witness his super powers: to induce laughter, make jaws drop, and make audiences feel fantastic! See why Chris and his Rubber Duck of Danger have been a hit with audiences across North America and Asia.

Time: 8:00 pm-8:45 pm, Saturday

Place: Hot 89.9 Stage

New Zealand — Viny1 Burns

Vinyl Burns is a man of good looks and charm. A DJ, musician and comedian who holds court like Jordan and jumps across it. He enjoys passing on his genius to the ladies, and sometimes the men are Close enough to catch some of it as well. Most importantly... he likes to ROCK!

Time: 12:00 pm-12:45 pm, Sunday

Place: The Art Department Stage

1.When can you enjoy fire performance?

A.2:00 pm-2:45 pm, Monday. B.9:00 pm-9:45 pm, Monday.

C.7:00 pm-7:45 pm, Friday. D.8:00 pm-8:45 pm, Saturday.

2.Why did Santos go to Wuqiao, China?

A.To learn circus. B.To give performance.

C.To meet some artists. D.To buy Chinese pots.

3.Where should you go if you are a music and comedy lover?

A.Ontario Stage. B.Canada Stage.

C.Hot 89.9 Stage. D.The Art Department Stage.

假定你是中学生李华，美国一个中学代表团即将访问你校并出席英语周的一项活动。请根据写作要点和写作要求写一篇欢迎辞。

写作要点：

1.表示对客人的欢迎；

2.介绍此项活动（如活动目的、内容等）；

3.表达对客人的祝愿。

写作要求：

1.词数不少于80；

2.不能使用真实姓名和学校名称。

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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。

The event that stands out in Tom’s memory happened one morning when Tom was only ten years old. He was at home with his elder sister Jane. Tom was doing his homework when he heard raised voices. At first he thought nothing of it since customers in the motorcycle shop directly below their flat often became loud, but he soon realized this time it was different.

“Quick! Quick! Remove the motorcycles from the shop.” someone yelled.

Then a thick burning smell filled the air. When Tom opened the front door of their flat to investigate, a thick cloud of smoke greeted him. The motorcycle shop had caught fire and people were running and crying.

Jane, who had been playing the violin in her room, hurried to the living room. They rushed out of the door and along the corridor（走廊）through the smoke.

They were heading towards the stairway at the far end of the corridor when Jane stopped in her track. She turned around and headed back the way they came. Tom had no idea what she was doing, but he followed suit.

Jane had suddenly remembered the lady in her 70s who lived next door to them, who they called Makcik, Malay for auntie. Jane began banging on Makcik’s door, but got no answer. As the smoke thickened around them, Tom could see many of their neighbors—some still in their pyjamas—running for safety. The thought of fear crossed his mind.

“She would have run for safety like everyone else!” Tom cried. However, Jane refused to give up. “I know Makcik’s still inside.” She said she was familiar with Makcik’s daily routine and was certain she would still be sleeping. She pounded the door. “Go downstairs. Go now! Go!”

注意：1. 所续写短文的词数应为150左右；

2. 应使用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，请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语。

Paragraph1:

Tom noticed the flame was reaching up.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Paragraph 2:

Luckily, some neighbors passing by stopped and offered help.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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。

A CCTV journalist succeeded in arousing a heated discussion among netizens by asking people whether they were happy. The responses to the question were various, even some quite funny ones 1.(include). Although people played jokes 2. the answers, it did not take long 3. they began to figure out the true meanings of happiness.

It is certain that people’s views on happiness 4.(affect) greatly by their own life experience. Unfortunately, too many people refer to being rich as happiness and there is no sign of 5. decrease in the number of those who are voluntarily at the mercy of wealth. Some people whose 6.(intend) is to make big money appreciate 7.(be) given any chance to multiply their income, believing that is 8. their happiness lies. Some are eager to inherit their parents’ property, especially those who are known as silver-spoon kids. Even worse, some would rather break the law to satisfy their financial desire or seek their fortune 9.(legally).

In my opinion, happiness is not about pursuing wealth merely but about admiring the beautiful things in life. Therefore, live your life 10. the fullest and be happy.

    It was pouring outside. We all stood there just inside the door of the Walmart. We waited, some patiently, others ______ because nature messed up their well-planned day. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing (溅起水花) happily as a ______ came pouring in. They were a welcome ______ from the worries of my day. Then she came. She was about 6 years old, and my attention was drawn to this beautiful brown haired, freckled-faced image of ______. Just then, the trance (恍惚) we were all caught in was broken by her sweet voice. “Mom, let’s run through the rain!”

“No, honey. We’ll wait until it slows down a bit. ______, we’ll get all wet.” Mom replied.

“No, we won’t, Mom. That’s not what you said this morning,” the young girl said as she pulled at her Mom’s arm.

“This morning? ______ did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?”

“Don’t you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, ‘If God can get us through this, there’s ______ he cannot get us through.”

The entire crowd stopped dead ______. I swear you couldn’t hear anything but the rain. Mom ______ and thought for a moment about what she would say.

Now most people would just laugh it off and _____ what the girl said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child’s life, time when innocent trust must be protected so that it will bloom into ______. “Honey, you are absolutely ______. Let’s run through the rain. If we get wet, well maybe we ______ need washing,” Mom said. Then off they ran.

We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they rushed past the cars. They held their shopping bags ______ their heads just in case. They got wet all over _____ they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars.

1.A.frightened B.annoyed C.interested D.delighted

2.A.runner B.parent C.child D.customer

3.A.inspiration B.benefit C.relief D.suffering

4.A.thoughtfulness B.intelligence C.naughtiness D.innocence

5.A.Therefore B.Otherwise C.Furthermore D.Instead

6.A.Whether B.Where C.How D.When

7.A.anything B.nothing C.something D.everything

8.A.calm B.tired C.silent D.lucky

9.A.waited B.cried C.left D.paused

10.A.remember B.praise C.withdraw D.ignore

11.A.faith B.dignity C.love D.enthusiasm

12.A.crazy B.subjective C.right D.creative

13.A.still B.just C.even D.also

14.A.by B.at C.across D.over

15.A.but B.if C.because D.though

    Do you have the experience of digging out your suitcase, deciding what to bring and being afraid that you’ve forgotten something? 1. Hope they can transform the way you pack.

Keep a Basket Handy

Do you wait until the last minute to pack? Keep a basket in your bedroom, living room, or bath room that you can use to throw in items you need to pack as you come across them. 2.Besides, you can just put the contents of the basket into your suitcase if you are in a hurry to leave for the airport.

Buy Wrinkle-free Clothing

You won’t need to worry about carefully packing your items of clothing if they’re made from wrinkle-free materials.3. They’ll still look fresh and bright when you are in them at your destination.

Keep Old Packing Lists

Chances are that you end up taking trips that require you to pack similar items. Keep old packing lists from former vacations to the beach, ski resort, and city - that way, you’ll always have a list of at least the basics.4.So you don’t need to waste your effort to remember where you left your hand-written packing lists.

Schedule a Packing Time

Time can slip away from you before a trip — you may be caught up at work, at home, or be occupied with other responsibilities of daily life. 5.That way, you will not need to do your packing frantically（狂乱地）from the last minute to 1 o’clock on the day you leave.

A. Buy necessary stuff when you arrive.

B. That’s why I’ve distilled（提炼）the art of packing down to some essential trips.

C. Just roll them up or put them at the bottom of the suitcase.

D. Determine a night well in advance of departure to pack.

E. Rolling your clothes is the best way to save space for the suitcase.

F. The best way to do this is to save them on your computer.

G. This makes you less likely to forget the stuff.

    According to a report by the United Nations，54 percent of the world’s population lives in urban areas and it predicts that by 2050，this figure will have increased to around 70 percent.But as more and more people migrate from the countryside to the city to get better opportunities，they can end up with nowhere to live.

This is true in places such as Rio de Janeiro，where migrants can’t rent or buy a home，and they end up building their own communities and houses on unoccupied land.These are called shanty towns—poor communities where the houses are built out of cheap materials—and often don’t have any electricity or water supply.

These are，of course，not the megacities(大城市)of the future we want to see. Some serious urban planning is needed to make our cities of the future good，safe and modern places to live in. This involves improving the infrastructure(基础设施)，the housing conditions and also the opportunities for education and employment.

Something urban planners are looking at now is the creation of “smart cities”. According to John Rossant，founder and chairman of the non-profit organization New Cities Foundation ，technology is the way forward.He thinks that it’s generally accepted that“cloud computing, ubiquitous internet，robust 5G networks,etc，will transform our cities.” He says technology is really “a game changer” in urbanisation. It would collect large amounts of data about how a city is performing and may improve how a city functions.

This may sound like a utopian(乌托邦似的)view. For now，some big cities around the world are trying out more low—tech schemes to try and make them desirable places to live and work in. Building shared—ownership housing and improving public transport are some ways. And encouraging cycling and building bike lanes can keep the population healthy and cut down on smog. What would make your city a better place to live in?

1.What’s the text mainly about?

A.The city of the future. B.The increase of the population.

C.Urban construction. D.The function of smart cities.

2.Why does the author mention Rio de Janeiro in Paragraph 2?

A.To show the growth of the world population.

B.To show the problems in urbanization.

C.To show poor living conditions of the city.

D.To show financial trouble of the city.

3.What plays an important role in the creation of smart cities?

A.Technology. B.Urban planning.

C.The infrastructure of the city. D.Opportunities for education.

4.What can we know from the last paragraph?

A.High-tech plans can be easily realized.

B.Public transport is well developed in cities.

C.Shared-ownership houses make no sense.

D.Ways of low-tech are available at present.

    What exactly is intelligence? There aren’t any easy answers. Despite the progress that has been made in genetics and psychology, human intelligence has remained one of the most controversial areas of modern science，until now, that is, for the discovery of a gene(基因) linked to intelligence has made the experts think again.

Robert Plomin of the Institute of Psychiatry in London and his colleagues in the US have been looking into genetic make-up. From their research, they have discovered that a slightly different gene is more common in those with a high IQ. Plomin analyzed DNA from two groups of 51 children aged between 6 and 15. What he found was that the first group had an IQ of 136, putting them in the top 5% of the population, while the other group had an average IQ of 103. An analysis of their genes showed that 32% of children in the higher group had the gene in question, while only 16% in the second group did. However, there is a lot more research to be done, and Plomin himself is cautious at this early stage. He suggests that there are probably many genes that contribute to intelligence, rather than just one.

Several studies have shown a strong link between IQ and career success, although some psychologists remain unconvinced about this. Professor Michael Rowe, who has written a book called Genius Explained, is one of these. “The people with the highest IQs are not usually the ones who do best in their careers.”

Many psychologists now believe that when it comes to intelligence, IQ isn’t everything. Many alternative views have been put forward recently. One example is the idea of multiple intelligences, which was developed in the 1980s by Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner. This offers a much broader view than the IQ theory, including creativity and communication skills as relevant factors(因素) in intelligence.

Tony Buzan, brain expert and author of Master your Memory, is enthusiastic about this belief, arguing that true geniuses(天才) do indeed appear to combine high levels of each type of intelligence. He lists Alexander the Great, Pablo Picasso and Albert Einstein as examples. At the same time, Buzan believes that everyone can develop their intelligence, only if they take the trouble to exercise their brain. Perhaps there’s hope for us all!

1.What is the topic of the passage?

A. The relationship between genes and intelligence.

B. IQ benefits a lot from high intelligence.

C. How to develop intelligence.

D. What makes intelligence.

2.Why does the author use data in Paragraph 2?

A. To make a suggestion. B. To draw a conclusion.

C. To prove an idea. D. To give an example.

3.What can we learn from the passage?

A. Robert Plomin confirms genes have something in common.

B. Howard Gardner thinks intelligence includes various factors.

C. Michael Rowe approves of a strong link between IQ and career.

D. Tony Buzan agrees geniuses exercise brain to improve intelligence.

4.What does the underlined word “This” in Paragraph 4 refer to?

A. The development of intelligence.

B. The idea of multiple intelligences.

C. IQ isn’t everything for intelligence.

D. Alternative views have been put forward.

    You’ve heard of the fat suit and the pregnancy suit; now meet AGNES—the old person suit.

AGNES stands for “Age Gain Now Empathy（换位体验）System” and was designed by researchers at MIT’s AgeLab to let you know what it feels like—physically—to be 75 years old. “The business of old age demands new tools, ” said Joseph Coughlin, director of the AgeLab. “While focus groups and observations and surveys can help you understand what the older consumer needs and wants, young marketers never get that ‘Ah ha!’ moment of having difficulty opening a jar, or getting in and out of a car. That’s what AGNES provides. ”

Coughlin and his team carefully adjusted the suit to make the wearer just as uncomfortable as an old person who has spent a lifetime eating poorly and not doing much exercise. Special shoes provide a feeling of imbalance, while braces on the knees and elbows limit joint mobility. Gloves give the feeling of decreased strength and mobility in the hands and wrists, and earplugs make it difficult to hear high-pitched sounds and soft tones. A helmet with straps（带）attached to it presses the spine（脊柱）.

AGNES has been used most recently by a group of students working on a design of an updated walker. By wearing the suit they could see for themselves what design and materials would make the most sense for a physically limited older person. Coughlin said the suit has also been used by clothing companies, car companies and retail goods companies to help them understand the limitations of an older consumer. An unexpected benefit they’ve found with AGNES is that it has become a powerful tool to get younger people to invest in their long-term health.

1.AGNES has been developed mainly to _______.

A.make the users more comfortable B.help old people move more quickly

C.let people understand the old better D.remind the young to take care of their health

2.According to the article, young marketers never _______.

A.ask what old people need and want

B.see the efforts old people make to put on clothes

C.feel the same way as old people do

D.say “Ah ha!” when they meet with difficulty

3.The third paragraph mainly talks about _______.

A.how researchers feel wearing AGNES B.how AGNES has been developed

C.how people act when they are old D.how AGNES works

4.The underlined phrase “an updated walker” in the last paragraph most likely refers to _______.

A.someone who travels a lot

B.a physically limited old person

C.some equipment that helps old people walk

D.a company providing service to the old

    Joseph Francis Charles Rock (1884–1962) was an Austrian-American explorer, botanist, and anthropologist(人类学家). For more than 25 years, he travelled extensively through Tibet and Yunnan, Gansu, and Sichuan provinces in China before finally leaving in 1949.

In 1924, Harvard sent Joseph Francis Rock on a treasure hunt through China’s southwestern provinces—the Wild West of their day. But gold and silver weren’t his task : Rock, a distinguished botanist, sought only to fill his bags with all the seeds, saplings, and shrubs he could find. During his three-year expedition, he collected 20,000 specimens for the Arnold Arboretum(阿诺德植物园).

Botany, though, was just one of Rock’s strengths. As an ethnologist(民族学者), he took hundreds of photographs of the Naxi, a tribe in Yunnan province, recording their now-lost way of life for both Harvard and National Geographic, and took notes for an eventual 500-page dictionary of their language. His hand-drawn map of his travels through China’s “Cho-Ni” territory, in the Harvard Map Collection, includes more than a thousand rivers, towns, and mountains indicated in both English and Chinese, and was so well made that the U.S. government used it to plan aerial missions in World War II.

Scientist, linguist, cartographer, photographer, writer—Rock was not a wallflower in any sense. Arrogant and self-possessed, he would walk into a village or warlord’s place “as if he owned the place,” said Lisa Pearson, the Arboretum’s head librarian.

In declaring his successful return under the headline “Seeking Strange Flowers, in the Far Reaches of the World” , the Boston Evening Transcript ran a large photo of the daring explorer wearing in a woolly coat and fox-skin hat. “In discussing his heroism including hair-raising escapes from death either from mountain slides, snow slides and robber armies, he waves the idea away as if it is of no importance.”

The Arboretum and Rock parted ways after 1927, mainly because his trip cost Harvard a fortune—about $900,000 in today’s dollars. Fortunately, many of his specimens, many of his amazing photos, and his great stories remain.

1.What is the passage mainly about?

A.Rock’s service for the U.S government.

B.Rock’s cooperation with Harvard.

C.Rock’s work as a botanist.

D.Rock’s exploration in Southwest China.

2.What contribution did Rock make to the USA besides collecting new plants and specimens?

A.He traveled through some uncivilized places in China.

B.His hand-drawn map was used in WWII.

C.He showed heroism by escaping difficulties.

D.He made headlines in Boston Evening News.

3.How did Rock respond when people mentioned his heroic deeds?

A.Excitedly. B.Proudly.

C.Calmly D.Nervously.

4.What caused Rock to stop work for The Arboretum?

A.The vast expense. B.The dangerous journey.

C.The challenging tasks. D.The unknown world.

假如你是李津，你的加拿大的朋友 Tim 在邮件中谈到他们那里也出现了很多新型冠 状病毒肺炎的病例，他有些紧张，并感觉网络信息的传播加剧了人们的恐慌。请你给他写封回信，主要内容如下：

（1）对他的恐慌表示理解，谈谈你的境况；

（2）简单阐述如何对待网络信息，说明理由；

（3）给 Tim 提一些建议(如：勤洗手，少出门，戴口罩)。参考词汇：新型冠状病毒肺炎 coronavirus； 口罩 mask

注意：词数不少于 100；

内容充实、行文连贯；

开头已给出，不计入总词数。

Dear Tim,

I’ve got your email and know that…

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

阅读短文，并按照题目要求用英语回答问题。

On a foggy Monday morning in May 2016, 14 Amsterdam officials, engineers and civil servants gathered nervously at Alexanderplein --- a busy crossroads near the city centre with three streetcar lines --- where many people were walking, driving, and, as in any Dutch city, riding bicycles. All of a sudden, the traffic controls were shut off for all transport modes, in all directions.

This live pilot project is part of a larger mobility strategy across the city to make more room for cyclists and pedestrians. That means limiting access and space for private vehicles. “Amsterdam's public space is limited,” says the vice mayor for traffic, Pieter Litjens, who finally approved the pilot. “We need to be thoughtful and strategic about who and what uses that space.”

In the weeks before the lights were shut off, 200 cyclists were interviewed in the morning and evening. A majority of them disliked the crossroads and made complaints. When asked whether the traffic lights were necessary, about a third said "absolutely yes," only 5% said absolutely not, and the majority was uncertain. It was clearly a question they had never thought about.

When the lights were turned off, about 150 cyclists were interviewed. We found that not only did fewer people dislike this crossroads, but about 60% said the traffic situation had improved.

All interviewees spoke more about human interaction. “People pay more attention,” said one man. “It’s amazing that it regulates itself,” said a young woman. "It's a bit scary, but you never have to stop and nobody is grumpy," said a teenager. But no one could really further explain why or how.

Behaviour was noticeably different. Most cyclists slowed down as they approached the crossroads, and communicated to other cyclists and motorists using eyes, gestures, expressions and voices. In one incident, a mother carrying her child on a front seat slowly entered the crossroads. When she was halfway across, a car approached from the right. Traffic signs indicate priority for the car driver, but instead, the mother made eye contact with the driver, both smiled, and the car driver yielded.

1.Why was the pilot project carried out in Amsterdam? (no more than 10 words)

2.What did most cyclists who were interviewed think of the pilot project? (no more than 12 words)

3.What does the underlined word "yielded" (the last paragraph) probably mean?(no more than 2 words)

4.Why does the writer mention the mother and the driver in the last paragraph? (no more than 8 words)

5.Do you think the traffic lights can be turned off in Tianjin? Please give your reason. (no more than 20 words)

    By now you’ve probably heard about the “you’re not special” speech, when English teacher David McCullough told graduating seniors at Wellesley High School: "Do not get the idea you're anything special, because you're not." Mothers and fathers present at the ceremony — and a whole lot of other parents across the internet — took issue with McCullough's ego-puncturing words. But lost in the anger and protest was something we really should be taking to heart: our young people actually have no idea whether they're particularly talented or accomplished or not. In our eagerness to elevate their self-esteem, we forgot to teach them how to realistically assess their own abilities, a crucial requirement for getting better at anything from math to music to sports. In fact, it's not just privileged high-school students: we all tend to view ourselves as above average.

Such inflated (膨胀的) self-judgments have been found in study after study, and it's often exactly when we're least competent at a given task that we rate our performance most generously. In a 2006 study published in the journal Medical Education, for example, medical students who scored the lowest on an essay test were the most charitable in their self-evaluations, while high-scoring students judged themselves much more strictly. Poor students, the authors note, "lack insight" into their own inadequacy. Why should this be? Another study, led by Cornell University psychologist David Dunning, offers an enlightening explanation. People who are incompetent, he writes with co-author Justin Kruger, suffer from a "dual burden": they're not good at what they do, and their wry ineptness (笨拙) prevents them from recognizing how bad they are.

In Dunning and Kruger's study, subjects scoring at the bottom of the heap on tests of logic, grammar and humor "extremely overestimated" their talents. Although their test scores put them in the 12th percentile, they guessed they were in the 62nd. What these individuals lacked (in addition to clear logic, proper grammar and a sense of humor) was "metacognitive skill" (元认知技巧): the capacity to monitor how well they're performing. In the absence of that capacity, the subjects arrived at an overly hopeful view of their own abilities. There's a paradox (悖论) here, the authors note: “The skills that develop competence in a particular domain are often the very same skills necessary to evaluate competence in that domain. "In other words, to get better at judging how well we’re doing at an activity, we have to get better at the activity itself.

There are a couple of ways out of this double bind (两难). First, we can learn to make honest comparisons with others. Train yourself to recognize excellence, even when you yourself don't possess it, and compare what you can do against what truly excellent individuals are able to accomplish. Second, seek out feedback that is frequent, accurate and specific. Find a critic who will tell you not only how poorly you're doing, but just what it is that you're doing wrong. As Dunning and Kruger note, success indicates to us that everything went right, but failure is more ambiguous: any number of things could have gone wrong. Use this external feedback to figure out exactly where and when you screwed up.

If we adopt these strategies — and most importantly, teach them to our children — they won't need parents, or a commencement(毕业典礼) speaker, to tell them that they're special. They'll already know that they are, or have a plan to get that way.

1.The underlined phrase "took issue with" in paragraph 1 most probably means      .

A.totally approved of B.disagreed with

C.fully understood D.held discussion about

2.The author thinks the problem that shouldn't be overlooked is that      .

A.we don’t know whether our young people are talented or not

B.young people can't reasonably define themselves

C.no requirement is set up for young people to get better

D.we always tend to consider ourselves to be privileged

3.Which is NOT mentioned about poor students according to the passage?

A.They lack the capacity to monitor how well they are performing.

B.They usually give themselves high scores in self-evaluations.

C.They tend to be unable to know exactly how bad they are.

D.They are intelligently inadequate in tests and exams.

4.We can infer from the passage that those high-scoring students      .

A.are not confident about their logic and grammar

B.tend to be very competent in their high-scoring fields

C.don't know how well they perform due to their stringent self-judgment

D.is very careful about their self-evaluations because they have their own limits

5.The strategies of becoming special suggest that      .

A.the best way to recognize excellence is to study past success and failure

B.through comparison with others, one will know where and when he fails

C.we need internal honesty with ourselves and external honesty from others

D.neither parents nor a commencement speaker can tell whether one is special

6.Which can be the best title of this passage?

A.Special or Not? Teach Kids To Figure It Out

B.Let's Admit That We Are Not That Special

C.Tips On Making Ourselves More Special

D.Tell The Truth: Kids Overestimate their Talents

    Each country has its own secret to happiness, If "pyt", which closely means “don't worry about it and stuff happens", explains a relaxed attitude of Danish people, "niksen" will reveal how Dutch people combat （对抗）stress and burnout in a fast-paced lifestyle.

The term "niksen" origins from the Dutch word "niks", which refers to "nothing'', Mindfulness, another welcome subject to help people have a peaceful mind. But unlike mindfulness, niksen is not about concentrating on the present moment. It's about letting yourself do nothing, and allowing your mind to run free without expectation.

In practice, this means "hanging around, looking at your surroundings, or listening to music as long as it's  without purpose” according to Time Magazine.

Niksen sounds contrary to the advice we were all given as kids. Nowadays, we're constantly told to stay busy and work harder than everyone else. But niksen opposes that mentality( 心态). It offers the chance to "deliciously do nothing", as Carolien Hamming, a coach at CSR Centrum, an organization devoted to fighting stress and burnout in the Netherlands, told Time.

She thinks that niksen is essential to staying healthy, since it’s a form of mental relaxation and healing. Just as a wild animal lies in wait for their prey, niksen seems to be a natural state of being.

For some people, niksen can mean more than just stress reduction. It's also a means to imagine new ideas or plans. As an early adopter（尝试者）of niksen, Jenny Holden, a communications expert in the UK, adds it to her daily lunch breaks. “Within 10 minutes of doing nothing - just staring and listening to myself - my head began to clear and sort out my work and home to-do lists,” she told the MetroUK.

Above all, niksen is a suggestion for balancing work and rest. As Dutch-bom writer Ogla Mecking wrote in US-based Whoolly Magazine, niksen is the "thorough enjoyment of life’s pauses".

Everyone is encouraged to embrace your niksen moments. They revitalize （使恢复元气） you and give you the strength needed to face everyday challenges.

1.What does niksen means?

A.Living in the moment.

B.Leading a healthy lifestyle.

C.Being free and doing nothing.

D.Using your wildest imagination.

2.Holden’s example is to show ____.

A.how niksen improves one's mental health

B.niksen is closely related to stress reduction

C.niksen can shorten the distance between people

D.niksen helps people come up with new thoughts

3.The underlined word "thorough" is closest in meaning to _______.

A.long B.full

C.unexpected D.quiet

4.What is the text mainly about?

A.The introduction to a special Dutch lifestyle.

B.Suggestions on how to balance work and rest.

C.The importance of allowing time to pause life.

D.An explanation of some Danish words about life attitudes.

5.From the passage, we can know that _______.

A.people can restrengthen themselves to face challenges by niksen

B.a wild animal usually lies in wait for their prey just as niksen advices

C.Danish people are stressful and tired because of their special lifestyle

D.Carolien Hamming thinks niksen is the most important way to keep fit

    I was 11 years old when asked my mom for piano lessons in 2010. We were in the fallout of the recession(经济衰退). She said a polite "no".

That didn't stop me. I Googled the measurements for a keyboard, drew the keys on a piece of paper and stuck it on my desk. I would click notes on an online keyboard and “play” them back on my paper one - keeping the sound they made on the computer in my head. I spent six months playing without touching a real piano. Once my mom saw that I was serious, she borrowed money and bought me 10 lessons.

I still remember the first one. I was struck by how real the sound of the piano was. I sat my grade one after eight lessons. Once I started secondary school, we couldn't afford lessons again. I passed grade three, then grade five, practicing only on my piece of paper.

One evening, When I was about 13, my mom said she had a surprise for me; it was an electronic keyboard, bought with more borrowed money. It was the first time I'd played for her. She was in shock.

My school didn't offer music A-level. I found the Purcell School for young musicians. The tryouts(选拔) were difficult. Some of the questions involved an estimation (评价) of the composer(作曲家) or when it was written. I felt overwhelmed. To my amazement I was offered a place.

At Purcell, I spent two years working as hard as I could. I performed to raise money and saved enough to buy my first piano.

When I left Purcell, I was awarded the senior piano prize and senior academic music prize. I am now at the Guildhall School in London. I feel proud: it's been 10 years since I drew my paper piano, and I'm at one of the world's leading music schools.

The irony is that I continue to do a lot of my practice away from the piano: What we call mental practice. The paper piano helped spark my curiosity about how music works, the building blocks that form the pieces.

1.Why did the author's mom buy him lessons at last?

A.She suddenly made a fortune.

B.She realized he meant what he said,

C.She had no doubt of his talent for piano.

D.She was shocked by his first performance.

2.Which of the following can best describe the author?

A.Honest. B.Humorous.

C.Determined. D.Rebellious.

3.The word “irony” in the last paragraph shows that the author was      .

A.surprised B.proud

C.satisfied D.curious

4.What's the author's main purpose of writing this article?

A.To introduce the method of mental practice.

B.To encourage people to stick to their dreams.

C.To describe how costly it is to learn an instrument.

D.To share how he convinced his mom to buy a piano.