At a time when many public schools are being forced to cut music and art from the curriculum, the story’s insistence on the healing power of a cultivated imagination is both _____ and essential.

A.welcoming B.welcomed C.available D.welcome

It is not just city residents who _____ water. Agriculture, industry and tourism often require more water than the _____ water supply.

A.recycle, provincial B.waste, national

C.consume, municipal D.apply, international

Water covers 71% of Earth’s surface yet only 2% of it is_____ as a source of fresh water.

A.invaluable B.accessible C.valuable D.reasonable

Snaking through the deserts, the Nile would flood almost _____ each year in June.

A.normally B.variably C.invariably D.increasingly

Researchers found that they could use microbial fingerprints to_____ the person who had used a computer keyboard even after the keyboard sat _____ for two weeks at room temperature.

A.identify, untouched B.recognize, touching

C.distinguish, untouched D.acknowledge, touching

The world’s first_____ egg went on sale in a California Whole Foods Wednesday, marking the potential start of an_____ shift in the reliance on corn and soy.

A.plant-based artificial, industry-wide B.artificial plant-basing, industry-wide

C.artificial plant-based, industry-widely D.plant-basing artificial, industry-widely

The only way to _____ the uncomfortable feeling of financial pressure is to take some kind of positive action.

A.relieve yourself from B.relieve yourself of

C.relief yourself D.relief yourself of

A rift valley_____ an area _____ there is increased volcanic activity and thinned planetary crust.

A.is composed of, where B.consists of, which

C.made up of, where D.compose, when

As late as the middle of the 19th century women voting was _____ common. But women in Europe and North America believed that they should have a____ in their government’s leaders.

A.less than, word B.far from, say C.rather than, words D.other than, saying

There are many “forced riders”，who are suffering from the climate impacts_____ having scarcely contributed to the problem.

A.when B.though C.despite D.as

The ability of the herd mentality_____ something may help explain a wide variety of phenomena.

A.of increasing people’s chance to like or believe

B.of increasing people’s chance of liking or believing

C.to increase people’s chance of liking or believing

D.to increasing people’s chance to like or believe

Someone who_____ you to something you are not comfortable doing will stress you out.

A.asks B.pressures C.strains D.stresses

The usual response to the annual flu is not enough to fight against the risks we currently face, _____  prepare us for an even deadlier widespread flu that most expert agree will come in the future.

A.let alone B.let go C.leave alone D.take leave

Climate change is projected to have far-reaching____ — including sea level rise flooding cities and shifting weather patterns causing long-term declines in agricultural production.

A.contributions B.confusions C.consequences D.feedbacks

The city announced severe measures_____ to hold e-bike riders and restaurants that employ the riders responsible.

A.meaning B.to be meant C.meant D.be meant

A new study ____the marmoset’s reputation for admirable community values. Researchers report that these caregivers share their food more generously with little ones in private than when they are surrounded by the watchful eyes of other community members.

A.shines B.damages C.affects D.protects

If there are any such adjustments it would suggest that investors had interpreted the information in a biased fashion and hence in a(n) _____ manner.

A.efficient B.unefficient C.non-efficient D.inefficient

I suspect_____ Facebook has done to invade our privacy is only the beginning, _____ is why I am considering cancelling my account.

A.that, which B.that whatever, which C.that what, that D./, that

Un-learning is more difficult than learning because we become_____ to thinking or feeling in certain ways over time.

A.mutual B.habituated C.habitual D.verbal

Local governments can foster this sustainable activity by giving_____ to responsible operators, and even high-paying consumers.

A.preference B.substitute C.alternative D.selection

A great variety of guidance for _____ visitors — ideas for what to do in off-peak season, for example, or outside of the city center — can have the effect of diverting them from already saturated landmarks, or discouraging short break away in the first place.

A.positive B.influential C.prospective D.visiting

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。

A little boy selling magazines for school walked up to a house that people rarely visited. The house was very old and shabby and the owner hardly ever came out. When he did come out, he would not say hello to his neighbors or passers-by but simply just glare at them.

The boy knocked on the door and waited, sweating from fear of the old man. The boy’s parents told him to stay away from the house, and a lot of the other neighborhood children were told the same thing from their parents.

As he was ready to walk away, the door slowly opened. “What do you want?” the old man said impatiently. The little boy was very afraid but he had a quota(份额) to meet for school with selling the magazines. So he got up the courage and said, “Uh, sir, I am selling these magazines and uh, I was wondering if you would like to buy one from me.”

The old man just stared at the boy without a word. The boy could see inside the old man’s house and saw that he had dog figurines(小雕像) on the fireplace mantle. “Do you collect dogs?” The little boy asked. “Yes, I have many collections in my house. They are my family here and they are all I have.” The boy then felt sorry for the man, as it seemed that he was a very lonely soul.

“Well, I do have a magazine here for collectors. It is perfect for you. I also have one about dogs since you like dogs so much.” The old man was ready to close the door on the boy and said, “No, boy. I don’t need any magazines of any kind, now goodbye.”

The little boy was sad that he was not going to make his quota with the sale. He was also sad for the old man being so alone in the house that he owned. The boy went home and then had an idea. He had a little dog figurine that he got some years ago from an aunt. The figurine did not mean nearly as much to him since he had a real live dog and a large family.

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。

Paragraph 1:

The little boy headed back down to the old man’s house.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Paragraph 2:

From that day on something changed inside the old man.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

假设你是李华，你的英国朋友Emily来信说她非常喜欢中国的民族舞，并打算最近来中国学习民族舞，想请你帮她推荐一位舞蹈老师。请你根据以下要点给她写一封信，推荐一位老师。

要点：

1. 介绍你所推荐的老师；

2. 推荐该老师的原因；

3. 祝愿她拜师成功。

注意：

1. 词数100左右；

2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

Dear Emily,

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Yours,

Li Hua

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。

In many countries, 1. is not unusual for families of different backgrounds to live together in the shared space. 2., in the United States, this idea may still be considered strange.

But this type of housing, 3.(call) co-housing, is gaining 4.(popular) in the United States, too. Co-housing complexes are popping up across the country. For many people, this way of life is a relief to the busy modern lifestyle. A co-housing community has 5. (private) owned houses and shared land. There is often a “common house” with a kitchen and dining room, meeting room, and maybe a workshop of library or music room. About 25 co-housing communities 6.(build) in recent years, according to a report.

A co-housing complex is a place 7. residents shop, cook, and eat together. They like 8.(it) sense of shared community. Children have other kids to play 9., which many families like. Other residents like the feeling of living in a “ village”. Residents also say that they can live in co-housing for 10.(little) money than they would pay for nearby apartments.

    For most people, a family member would be their inspiration. As for me, _______ my mother and father were both great influences, my greatest influence came from a television program Gilmore Girls. Nearly every day after _______, I would come home, _______ on the couch, and turn on the television.

Upon hearing the theme song and seeing the _______ faces, I was overcome by a sense of _______ and total peace. All the day’s hardships would _______. I would forget about any _______ stress. When it was about five o’ clock, I would sit in front of the TV to _______ another episode of Gilmore Girls. It was what I had to _______ in my day, because I was having a ________ day and I simply loved to laugh at their humorous dialogues. Each of the characters had a ________ personality, unlike anyone I had ever known. The more I watched Gilmore Girls, the more I found myself wanting to be a “Rory Gilmore”.

Much of Rory’s success came from her mother. In the process of ________ Harvard or any college, I have recently discovered it is a long process. My ________ has also encouraged me to follow my dreams and to make my own ________. I am a particularly hesitant person, so ________ this task is not easy for me. In ________ and developing into her own person, Rory Gilmore discovered her dreams and how to achieve them; that was how she ________ me.

Although I am a girl who is ________ trying to find my true self, Rory made me feel as if I could ________ everything. No matter which college I may ________, I’ll always know that the road, which I travel to get there, is a road well worth traveling.

1.A.unless B.because C.now that D.even though

2.A.dinner B.communication C.school D.work

3.A.pick up B.lie down C.lay down D.show up

4.A.common B.unusual C.familiar D.strange

5.A.relief B.care C.honor D.surprise

6.A.pause B.disappear C.decrease D.stop

7.A.casual B.formal C.certain D.previous

8.A.survey B.identify C.watch D.notice

9.A.look forward to B.make up for C.pay attention to D.take charge of

10.A.lazy B.tough C.big D.happy

11.A.unique B.good C.strange D.ambiguous

12.A.passing by B.thinking of C.searching for D.getting into

13.A.Rory B.family C.mother D.friend

14.A.efforts B.experiments C.decisions D.trips

15.A.proposing B.quitting C.confronting D.undertaking

16.A.speeding up B.growing up C.hanging out D.holding on

17.A.inspired B.envied C.admired D.calmed

18.A.hardly B.still C.almost D.seldom

19.A.conquer B.find C.analyze D.afford

20.A.know B.conduct C.admit D.choose

    Are you trying to find ways to be more efficient at your job? If so, please follow these habits of naturally productive people.

They take breaks. 1. Studies show that prolonged tasks that require high levels of focus, energy, and attention can cause you to become less productive and focused over time. Take brief mental breaks. Setting aside a little time here and there to release your focus can significantly help maintain it for longer periods of time.

2. Settle down, super men and women. While it’s fine to pride yourself on your abilities to multitask, it’s in your best interest (and your employer’s) if you stick to one to-do at a time. Somewhere along the lines, our culture has embraced and promoted this idea that the more we can do at once, the better. 3. In fact, the more we multi-task, the less efficient and productive we become in all the tasks we are trying to accomplish.

They have a full night’s sleep. In school, you may have found that too many students stay up late to finish a paper or study for an exam, but, despite your best efforts, research shows this is not the way to do business. 4. Actually, studies have linked insufficient sleep to decreased levels of productivity, unsatisfactory work performance, and poorer safety outcomes.

5. You know the countless benefits of exercise. It also seriously improves your mood by releasing something to relieve stress and increase your brains productivity. Even 30-minute bursts of moderate-to-high physical activity just three to four times a day can go a long way in helping you accomplish your personal and professional goals.

A.They value fitness.

B.Pressing pause Is Important.

C.They prefer to do more every day.

D.However, research shows the opposite.

E.They don’t try to do everything at once.

F.Enough sleep makes great contribution to efficient work.

G.Poor sleep or lack of sleep carries some pretty negative rewards.

    It’s common knowledge that some countries have higher life expectancies(预期寿命) than others, but the city you live in can also affect your health.

Some cities are hard on their residents. In places with poor city planning, for example Lagos, which was called out recently by the Economist Intelligence Unit, public spaces are few, making outdoor activities hard. Lack of infrastructure(基础建设) blocks the streets with cars and the air with pollutants, and residents work long hours for little money.

These are just some of the factors added up by Spotahome, a rental agency. They’ve analyzed data from a range of sources, including the World Health Organization and TripAdvisor to score each city on health, life expectancies, obesity, green space and other elements to make a list to work out which are the world’s healthiest cities.

The list is certainly Eurocentric and sunshine is seen as a positive factor. It does go some way toward suggesting which cities are getting it right in providing a good life for their residents. It may not be surprising to learn that most of the healthiest cities are in northern Europe, known for its people-first approach to city planning. The cities of Australia and Canada also do well. However, the first American city is only in 34th place. The U.K. doesn’t fare too well either—its only city in the top 50 list is London, in 40th.

Whether you’re planning a pleasant holiday, or simply wondering what your city can do better in its pursuit for happy citizens, the list of the 50 healthiest cities will give you pause for thought about the future of city planning. Here are the slender, healthy-eating, clean-aired cities that are getting it right.

1.What plays the key role in building a healthy city according to the text?

A.Local culture. B.City planning. C.Economic condition. D.Geographical position.

2.What does paragraph 3 mainly talk about?

A.How the list of the healthiest cities came into being.

B.What Spotahome discovered in the recent study.

C.The reasons why Spotahome carried out the study.

D.The places where the data of the study came from.

3.What can we learn from the text?

A.Cities in America lack enough sunshine.

B.The U. K. ranked higher than America in the list.

C.Australia and Canada have the best city planning.

D.Some people in Lagos may live a poor life.

    Spotify can tell if you’re sad. Here’s why that should scare you. Want to figure out if someone is a patient with a mental disability? Ask them what their favorite song is. A New York University study last year found that people who loved Eminem’s Lose Yourself and Justin Bieber’s What Do You Mean? were more likely to have trouble with mental disabilities than people who were into Dire Straits.

Over the past few years, Spotify has been improving the ability to analyze information to help businessmen target consumers with advertisements made specially for their needs. They conclude this from the sort of music you’re listening to, combined with where and when you’re listening to it, along with third-party data that might be available.

Now, to be clear, there’s nothing significantly illegal about what Spotify is doing with your information. I certainly don’t think that they are working with consulting firms to serve you relevant ads while you’re listening to music that suggests you might be in a terrible situation. However, I find it disappointing that our private moments with music are increasingly being turned into information points and offered to advertisers.

You can see where this could go, can’t you? As ad targeting gets even more accurate, businessmen will have the ability to target our feelings in potentially improper ways. According to one study, you are more likely to spend more on a product if you’re feeling sad. You can imagine some companies might take advantage of that. And on that note, I’m feeling a little down about all this. Head off to treat myself to something expensive.

1.What’s the purpose of the first paragraph?

A.To introduce a new song. B.To draw readers’ attention.

C.To help more patients. D.To promote a new medium.

2.Spotify improves its ability to analyze information to ________.

A.provide services for the government B.work with consulting firms

C.get listeners’ personal information D.help businessmen attract consumers

3.Who is the text probably designed for?

A.Internet users. B.Officials. C.Researchers. D.Managers.

    My violin is like a soul mate that whispers words of wisdom to me. Together, we’ve gone through both tears and happiness.

About 12 years ago, I made acquaintance with it following an order from my mom. Many hours of boredom were spent practicing it. And to make things worse, the disappointment in my teacher’s eyes as I played the wrong notes was like an invisible hammer, striking on my heart. One day, I finally decided: I hate it!

By chance, things changed when I was seven. I was at home lying on the sofa, wondering how those famous violinists dealt with this terrible dilemma. I searched online for the E-minor Concerto, a well-known violin work by German composer Felix Mendelssohn, and listened to it.

A beautiful and mysterious sound came from the violin as the bow moved across it. It was like the music slid over the flowers, rose up, and started to fill the air. The violin’s voice woke up the sun, made the trees green, and freshened the air. As the music changed, the sky turned back to gray. A gloomy shade covered the grass as all the sunshine disappeared. I could hear children crying and men shouting. It was like an invisible claw had grabbed my heart tightly, making it unable to beat.

That glorious day set off my passion and interest in violin — I grabbed mine and never let it go. Before the memories faded, I stared at my instrument. Without hesitating, I picked it up, rosined(用松香擦) the bow, and began to play. Peace filled my heart.

My violin has been by my side for 12 years. When I feel happy, an energetic tune makes it even better; when I’m deep in sorrow, a peaceful tune washes it away, when I’m walking on air, feeling especially pleased with my achievements, solemn(庄严的) tunes calm me down. Gradually, it has become a part of my life.

My violin, shall I compare you to a summer’s day?

1.What further contributed to the author’s dislike of violin-playing?

A.Orders from mum. B.Boredom of practice.

C.Loss of passion for violin. D.Disappointment in the teacher’s eyes.

2.What can be inferred from Paragraph 4?

A.The author’s feeling was continuously influenced by the music.

B.The weather actually changed because of the tune.

C.The sudden change made the author’s heart unable to beat.

D.The scenery outside the room was quite attractive.

3.Why did the author pick up the violin again?

A.The invisible hammer and claw are gone.

B.The beautiful imagination changed his attitude.

C.A famous tune aroused his interest and passion.

D.He was crazy about Felix Mendelssohn’s works.

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

A.Deep love for music B.My dislike and like of violin

C.An inspiring story of violin D.Musical soul mate—violin

听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。

1.How many books has the author of the series finished so far?

A.Three B.Five. C.Seven.

2.Why wasn’t the series turned into a movie?

A.The story was too complex. B.There was too much violence.

C.The author didn’t want it to be a film.

3.When was Game of Thrones first shown on television?

A.In 2006. B.In 2008. C.In 2011