The heavy rain lasted 3 hours on ______ end and came to ______ end when the class was over.

A.an;an B.an;/ C./;an D./;/

—Have you understood what he really means?

—___________.

A.Now and then B.More or less C.From time to time D.Here and there

随着社会的快速发展，我们的生活发生着巨大的变化，尤其是在交通，旅游，购物等方面。你的美国朋友John, 是一名十足的“中国迷”，尤其对近些年来的这些变化非常感兴趣。请你以The Greatest Change Has Taken Place Around Me为题，发一封100词左右的e-mail向他详细介绍，文中不能出现自己的真实姓名和所在学校名称。

参考要点：

1. What is the greatest change?

2. How does the greatest change influence your life?

3. ...

Dear John,

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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：在错词下划一横线，并在该词的下面写出修改后的词。

注意：1. 每处错误及修改均仅限一词；

2. 只允许修改 10 处，多者（从第 11 处起）不计分。

The other day I as well as my parents was eating in a restaurant while we noticed a foreigner coming in. He seats himself at a table by the window. Soon a waitress came and wanted to take order. However, the foreigner couldn't got his needs across. Seen this, I went up immediate to offer some help. We communicated with simple English for a moment but I later knew why the waitress couldn't understand him. The foreigner actually wanted a roast Beijing duck, but he had a wrong Chinese pronounce. Hearing my explanation, the waitress couldn't help to laughing. The foreigner himself also laughed.

    I lost my last debate in the recent National High School Academic Debate & Speech Tournament held in Shanghai. But instead of focusing on my 1. (fail), I stopped to reflect on my experiences in the past few years 2. a debater.

In general, preparing for new debate topics usually 3. (include) brainstorming arguments, researching a resolution（解决）, and doing debate practice. So if you spot a debating group, you might see us sitting together after school, or even all day at weekends, discussing arguments and researching evidence. You might also notice us arguing 4. (fierce) anywhere we can.

Not only are they supportive, but my debate friends also have similar passions and interests to mine. As we discuss debate topics, my fellow debaters and I can talk about anything, from 5. best way of rehabilitating（改造）criminals to the negative points of free immigration policies. However, our discussions are more than just a way 6. (practice) our debating skills. In my mind, they’re helping us to become calm and consider 7. (win) and solving real problems as well.

To me, the debating community is a great place 8. people help each other not only because they’re interested in a higher cause, but because they care about how people from different 9. (background) can lead better lives. I’m grateful to each of my debate friends and every single minute we get to spend together. Indeed, my high school life would be incomplete without them. So even though I 10. (defeat) in my last debate, I’m still thankful for being part of my wonderful debate family.

Praying for Your Enemies

Last year I was put into a lower-level _______ class. The reason I was in this class had  _______ to do with my math skills. I am blind. The school decided it was _______ it takes me longer to complete assignments(任务) that I would be supposed to learn at a lower level.

The only _______ with being in this class was that I was surrounded by "at-risk" students.

These were kids who did not do well in school. Their home lives were much _______ from mine, and they were constantly in _______ with the school and the law.

One day we had already _______ our lesson for the day, and the kids began to talk about what they had done the past weekend. I tried not to _______, but it was actually too_______. Even though the teacher was still in the room, that didn't __________ them from discussing the parties they had been to and how drunk they had been. I was tired of their stories of drugs and __________.

One Tuesday morning, I went to a Christian Student Union meeting before school. A guest speaker talked about praying for our __________. I prayed and asked God how I could pray for the __________ in my class.

At first, the __________ were mechanical(机械的). When I heard the kids’ voices in class, I would __________ silently to myself, "Dear God, please bless so-and-so…" But as I continued, I began to think of them more often. __________ time went on, my classmates became more than just annoying kids to me. There was something growing inside my __________ for them. They began to feel like family, and I was learning to __________ them in a way I never thought __________.

I now see that praying is such a powerful act. It is prayer that is the most powerful __________ a Christian has.

1.A.physics B.politics C.chemistry D.math

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

3.A.what B.because C.until D.since

4.A.chance B.opportunity C.problem D.possibility

5.A.different B.similar C.same D.abnormal

6.A.agreement B.peace C.trouble D.connection

7.A.started B.finished C.continued D.left

8.A.hear B.look C.listen D.see

9.A.interesting B.impressive C.difficult D.likely

10.A.save B.protect C.guard D.prevent

11.A.violence B.peace C.motivation D.welfare

12.A.friends B.enemies C.relatives D.comrades

13.A.teachers B.girls C.boys D.kids

14.A.speakers B.prayers C.guests D.impressions

15.A.say B.scream C.shout D.cry

16.A.Though B.When C.As D.After

17.A.head B.heart C.body D.eyes

18.A.love B.hate C.think D.arrest

19.A.impossible B.absent C.adequate D.possible

20.A.responsibility B.legend C.custom D.tool

    Two hundred years after Charles Darwin’s birth, studies have found new details of his life at the University of Cambridge. Six leather-bound ledgers(皮革账本) discovered in the university show this. 1.

He lived in the most expensive rooms provided for a rich student at his time. 2. He had someone to clean his room, make his bed and take care of the fire in his bright rooms. He hired a dishwasher, a clothes washer and a man who cleaned his shoes. A tailor(裁缝), hatter and barber made sure he was well presented. A chimney cleaner and a coalman kept his fire going. Christ’s College’s basic food was meat and beer. 3.

4. Later he described this time as the most joyful of his happy life. That large sum(金额) would have been fairly common for a student at Cambridge in the 19th century. The bills were paid by his wealthy father, Robert Darwin, a doctor.

In those days Cambridge was full of rich students living a pretty good life and Darwin was just one of them. Thanks to the richness, he was able to hire servants to help with the daily life. 5. He would be out shooting, collecting beetles, doing his scientific hobbies or visiting friends. He played cards and drank wine at night, just like students always have.

A. And thus he had plenty of time for socializing or private study.

B. The findings were published on the Internet.

C. So he paid five and a half pence extra each day to have vegetables.

D. He had several people to help him to deal with the daily housework.

E. He enjoyed the kind of comfortable university life that most of today’s students can only dream about.

F. When you look at the ledgers, you can find there were many rich students in Cambridge.

G. Darwin’s bill topped 636 pounds during his three years of study at Cambridge.

    NASA’s Curiosity vehicle recently recorded the largest level of methane(甲烷) ever measured during its seven-year Mars mission. The discovery is exciting because the existence of methane gas could support the case for life on Mars.

Methane has no color or smell. A special instrument on Curiosity’s Mars Science Laboratory recorded the increased gas level. The device, called a laser spectrometer, measures levels of chemical elements and gases in the Martian atmosphere. In addition to methane, the instrument can record levels of water and CO2. Nearly all the methane gas found in Earth’s atmosphere is produced by biological activity. It usually comes from animal and plant life. But it can also be formed by geological(地质的) processes, such as interactions between rocks and water. NASA said the increased methane was measured to be about 21 parts per billion by volume (ppbv). One ppbv means that if you take a volume of air on Mars, one billionth of the volume of air is methane.

It was not the first time Curiosity has found methane gas in the Martian atmosphere. About a year ago, NASA announced that Curiosity had discovered sharp seasonal increases in the gas. This time, NASA said the measured methane gas level was clearly larger than any others observed in the past. NASA officials even temporarily stopped Curiosity’s other activities to investigate further.

“It’s exciting because microbial(微生物的) life is an important source of methane on Earth,” NASA said in a statement announcing the discovery. However, Curiosity’s team carried out a follow-up methane experiment that showed a sharp drop in levels of the gas. The second examination found the level was less than one part per billion by volume. That number was close to the background levels Curiosity sees all the time. The rise and fall of the methane gas levels left NASA scientists with more questions than answers. The scientists are continuing to study possible causes for the sudden increase. The methane mystery continues.

Curiosity does not have instruments that can exactly identify whether the source of the methane is biological or geological. One leading theory is that methane is being released from underground areas created by possible life forms that disappeared long ago. Even though Mars has no active volcanoes, scientists believe it is also possible that methane is being produced by reactions involving carbon materials and water.

A clearer understanding of methane levels over time could help scientists determine where they’re located on Mars. Scientists hope this understanding will come as Curiosity continues to collect methane data in its search for possible life.

1.Curiosity discovered.

A.the largest methane gas level ever observed on Mars

B.the existence of life on Mars

C.the reason for the increased methane

D.interactions between rocks and water

2.Why did NASA officials once stop Curiosity’s other activities?

A.To further examine the methane gas level on Mars.

B.To seek possible life existing on Mars.

C.To check the quality of Curiosity’s mission.

D.To find seasonal increases in the methane gas.

3.What can we learn from the last three paragraphs?

A.Causes for the change of methane have been proved by Curiosity.

B.Curiosity has proved the location of methane by instruments.

C.Scientists think reactions involving carbon materials and water may produce methane.

D.Identifying the source of methane has helped scientists search for possible life on Mars.

4.The passage is probably taken from .

A.a geography textbook B.a science newspaper

C.a health magazine D.a travel brochure

    I.M. Pei, whose modern designs and high-profile projects made him one of the best-known and most prolific architects of the 20th century, has died. He was 102. A spokesman for Pei’s New York architecture firm confirmed his death to the Associated Press. Pei, whose designs included a controversial renovation of Paris’ Louvre Museum and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, died overnight, his son Chien Chung Pei told the New York Times.

Ieoh Ming Pei, the son of an outstanding banker in China, left his homeland in 1935, moving to the US and studying architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard. After teaching and working for the US government, he went to work for a New York developer in 1948 and started his own firm in 1955.

The museums, municipal buildings, hotels, schools and other structures that Pei built around the world showed precision geometry（几何结构）and an abstract quality with much respect for light. They were composed of stone, steel and glass and, as with the Louvre, Pei often worked glass pyramids into his projects.

The Louvre, parts of which date to the 12th century, proved to be Pei ’s most controversial work, starting with the fact that he was not French. After being chosen for the job by the then president, François Mitterrand, surrounded by much secrecy, Pei began by making a four-month study of the museum and French history. He created a futuristic(极其现代的) 70ft-tall steel-framed, glass-walled pyramid as a grand entrance for the museum with three smaller pyramids nearby. It was a striking contrast to the existing Louvre structures in classic French style and was violently criticized by many French.

Pei said the Louvre was undoubtedly the most difficult job of his career. He said he had wanted to create a modern space that did not detract（减损）from the traditional part of the museum. “Contemporary architects tend to impose modernity on something,” he said in a New York Times interview in 2008. “There is a certain concern for history but it’s not very deep. I understand that time has changed, we have evolved. But I don’t want to forget the beginning. A lasting architecture has to have roots.”

When Pei won the international Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1983, he used the $100,000 award to start a program for aspiring Chinese architects to study in the US. Even though he formally retired from his firm in 1990, Pei was still taking on projects in his late 80s, such as museums in Luxembourg, Qatar and his ancestral home of Suzhou.

1.What can we learn from the first three paragraphs?

A.Pei is famous for traditional designs in architecture.

B.Pei built the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

C.Pei set up his own firm with the help of a New York developer.

D.Pei put the elements light and glass pyramids into the Louvre.

2.What is the French attitude towards Pei’s job of the Louvre?

A.Positive. B.Neutral.

C.Critical. D.Objective.

3.What is the purpose of Paragraph 5?

A.To explain Pei’s idea about the Louvre innovation job.

B.To list the modernity of the Louvre innovation.

C.To show Pei’s love for traditional culture.

D.To present Pei’s contributions to architecture in history.

4.Which of the following words can best describe Pei?

A.Productive and stubborn. B.Generous and persistent.

C.Hard-working and humorous. D.Tolerant and considerate.

Each spring brings a new blossom of wildflowers in the ditches(沟渠)along the highway I travel daily to work.

There is one particular blue flower that has always caught my eye. I've noticed that it blooms only in the morning hours; the afternoon sun is too warm for it. Every day for approximately two weeks, I see those beautiful flowers.

This spring, I started a wildflower garden in our yard. I can look out of the kitchen window while doing the dishes and see the flowers. I've often thought that those lovely blue flowers from the ditch would look great in that bed alongside other wildflowers. Every day I drove past the flowers thinking, "I'II stop on my way home and dig them." "Gee, I don't want to get my good clothes dirty.,." Whatever the reason, I never stopped to dig them. My husband even gave me a folding tool one year for my trunk to be used for that expressed purpose.

One day on my way home from work, I was upset to see that the highway department had removed the ditches

and the pretty blue flowers were gone. I thought to myself, "Way to go, you waited too long. You should have done

it when you first saw them blooming this spring."

A week ago we were shocked and sad to learn that my oldest sister-in-law has a serious brain disease. She is20 years older than my husband and unfortunately, because of age and distance, we haven't been as close as we all would have liked. I couldn't help but see the connection between the pretty blue flowers and the relationship between my husband's sister and us. I do believe that God has given us some time left to plant some wonderful

memories that will bloom every year for us.

And yes, if I see the blue flowers again, you can bet I'll stop and transplant them to my wildflower garden.

1.Why does the writer want to start a wildflower garden in her yard?

A.Because the flowers bloom only in the morning hours.

B.Because she can see the flowers every day for two weeks.

C.Because the flowers can remind her of her oldest sister-in-law.

D.Because she enjoys the way of life in company with the flowers.

2.Which statement is NOT true according to the passage?

A.The blue flowers in the ditches always draw my attention.

B.We don't get on well with the sister-in-law in practice.

C.I never stopped to dig the flowers for some reason.

D.The sister-in-law lives far from us.

3.According to the passage, the writer will     .

A.stop to find the flowers whenever she drives along the highway

B.plant a variety of flowers in the garden in her yard in future

C.get as wonderful memories with the sister-in-law as before

D.get more close to the sister-in-law in the following days

4.What is the theme of the story?

A.Actions speak louder than words.

B.No sweets without sweat.

C.Time and tide wait for no man.

D.Opportunity belongs to whoever is prepared.

    If you’ll be taking vacation time in the coming year and plan on flying, here are some shopping tips for you. Those who fly first class and don’t care what airline tickets cost are excused from this lesson.

When to buy

If you are shopping for domestic (国内的) flights, check prices on Tuesday afternoons. This is an old tip but still useful because most US carriers continue to release sales on Tuesday morning, and competitors quickly drop their fares to match the better deals.

When to fly

Weekdays continue to be generally cheaper times to fly than weekends for most flights. In the US, the cheapest days are typically Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. A good itinerary (Ðг̱í) for the expensive US spring break travel period is Tuesday to Saturday; it will save you money over weekend-to-weekend travel.

Where to fly

We continue to see good deals to Boston and Denver and more and more nice prices to Chicago, Seattle and Washington, D.C. As for Europe, there have been surprising deals throughout the fall and those will continue into the winter.

Direct vs. connecting flights

Compare the price of direct with connecting flights. Sometimes adding a stop to your route will save you money. An example: an Francisco to Raleigh/Durham: $553 direct, $362 one-stop.

You’d better think twice about the direct flight for San Francisco to Raleigh.

Compare, compare, compare

Stifle the impulse to go to your favorite airline site to purchase tickets without doing any comparison. Example: Let’s say you want to fly from New York to London and figure your favorite US legacy carrier will get you there for the best price. Airline price: $554 round-trip.

However, the comparison site also showed a cheaper flight from the same legacy carrier ($521). See what you’re missing when you fail to compare?

1.When can you possibly find the best price for flights within the US?

A.On Monday morning. B.On Tuesday morning.

C.On Tuesday afternoon. D.On Sunday morning.

2.What does the underlined phrase “stifle the impulse” in the last but one paragraph mean?

A.Feel free to do something. B.Hold off on doing something.

C.Get well prepared for something. D.Make quick decision on something.

3.Who is the text intended for?

A.Those who usually choose first class for their flights.

B.Those who want to find suggestions on where to fly.

C.Those who are traveling during the spring break.

D.Those who are looking for the best airline ticket prices.

假设你是红星中学高二学生李华，得知2020年第18届世界中学生运动会( the 18th World Middle School Games) 将在中国福建举行，组委会正面向全国招募(recruit)志愿者。请写一封申请信，内容包括:

1. 申请理由；

2. 自身优势；

3. 表达期待。

注意:词数100左右。

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am Li Hua, a Senior 2 student in Hongxing Middle School.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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。

As the saying goes, chances favored the prepared mind. I learned this from one of my experience.

I was not chosen as member of the volleyball team of our school. Because of this, I decided to give up play volleyball. Lucky, my best friend stopped me and pointed out that it was my laziness and poor preparation which led to my failure. After that, I practiced playing volleyball on every day. When another tryout arrived, I was fully preparing and tried my best. As a result, I was selected but became an important player on our school team.

From this, I am firmly convinced that we are able to seize a chance as long as I get well prepared

阅读下面课文段落，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

1.(worry) about the journey, I was unsettled for the first few days. As a result, I suffered 2. “time lag”. This is similar to the “jet lag” you get from flying, 3.it seems you keep getting flashbacks from your previous time period. So I was very nervous and uncertain at first. However, my friend and guide, Wang Ping, was very  4.(understand) and gave me some green tablets,5.helped a lot.

This is how the story goes. A footballer was accused 6.taking money for deliberately not scoring goals so as to let the other team win. We went to interview him. He 7.( deny) taking money but we were skeptical. So we arranged 8.interview between the footballer and the man supposed to bribe him. When we saw them together we guessed from the footballer’s body language that he was not telling the 9.(true). So we wrote an article  10.(suggest) he was guilty.

    It was the end of my first day as waitress in a busy New York restaurant． My cap had gone away， and my feet_______． The loaded plates I carried_______to be heavier and heavier． Tired and discouraged， I didn't seem able to do anything_______． As I made out a check for a family with several children who had changed their ice-cream_______a dozen times， I was ready to stop． Then the father_______at me as he handed my tip． "Well done，" he said， "you've_______us really well．" Suddenly my tiredness_______． I smiled back， and later， when the manager asked me how I'd like my first day， I said， "_______!" Those few words of praise had_______everything． Praise is like________to the human spirit； we cannot flower and grow without it． And________while most of us are only too________to apply to others the cold wind of criticism， we are________to give our fellows the warm sunshine of praise． Why---when one word of praise can bring such________？

It's strange how chary we are about praising． Perhaps it's________few of us know how to accept it． It's ________rewarding to give praise in areas in which________generally goes unnoticed or unmentioned． An artist gets complimented （admired） for a glorious picture， a cook for a________meal． But do you ever tell your laundry manager how pleased you are when the shirts are________just right？ In fact， to give praise________the giver nothing but a moment's thought and a moment's effort．

1.A.rested B.hurt C.broke D.slipped

2.A.remained B.looked C.seemed D.appeared

3.A.new B.special C.nervous D.right

4.A.order B.price C.material D.chair

5.A.stared B.smiled C.glanced D.nodded

6.A.called on B.looked after C.passed by D.thought of

7.A.arrived B.continued C.disappeared D.developed

8.A.Oh B.Well C.Fine D.Terrible

9.A.made B.changed C.found D.improved

10.A.heat B.warmth C.snowstorm D.sunlight

11.A.then B.thus C.therefore D.yet

12.A.ready B.doubtful C.satisfied D.disappointed

13.A.unable B.unwilling C.likely D.anxious

14.A.attention B.choice C.pleasure D.difficulty

15.A.because B.when C.what D.where

16.A.finally B.especially C.silly D.fortunately

17.A.effort B.attempt C.deed D.feeling

18.A.daily B.light C.perfect D.poor

19.A.done B.sold C.chosen D.given

20.A.adds B.leaves C.offers D.costs

Stop Complaining

We are instructed not to use any dirty words or polluting language. 1.But I have learned that complaining pollute our lives at one time.

2.How quick are we to become impatient and begin to complain when stuck in traffic or while waiting in checkout narrow roads in grocery stores or department stores? How quick are we to spot and point out all the faults of our friends or family members?

The influence of excessive(过度的)complaining. Complaining can make you feel pretty down, for example. There is just so much that's wrong, everywhere, and no matter how much you complain, it just isn't possible to get it all put right. Plain and simple complaining is a behaviour that people disapprove of or consider morally wrong! 3.

Complaining can become a habit. When you made your first complaints, you carefully chose what to protest about, and to whom, and how, in order to get very specific results. 4. You have an “auto-complainer” that comes out with your criticisms to whoever is listening.

The best antidote(矫正方法) for complaining is thanksgiving.5. They are too busy being grateful for all the good things they have that they have no time to notice the things they could complain about. And also remember that it is no use complaining without taking any actions.

A. But you probably no longer do that.

B. Don’t get discouraged when you fail.

C. Truly thankful people do not complain.

D. I didn’t realize that this included complaining.

E. We need to ask ourselves something like these.

F. When you really want to stop complaining all the time.

G. It causes many people a great deal of problems in their lives and destroys the joy of anyone listening.

    I was looking out the window that summer afternoon. It was as if the trees were inviting me to join in their impromptu(即兴的) dances as they played hide and seek in the misty fog. A strange stillness surrounded me as I sat in the hotel hall, waiting for the taxi to take me to the music camp site. I had flown for sixteen hours to attend a music camp in Michigan for three weeks. Excited more than I was nervous, I felt ready for new meetings.

A week passed like a breeze, and my cello(大提琴) notes were becoming sweeter. I took a break to the school shop with another Chinese friend. As I picked out my newfound favorite American candy bar, I noticed my friend chatting with another Chinese girl. I soon joined in with natural ease, and discovered that we were the only other Asians at the camp. It felt like a good chance that our friendship was formed forever.

During the orchestra rehearsals(排演), Mr. Lastrapes, a genius at discovering the slightest off-key note(走音的音符), persuaded me to relax my tightened arms with his soft voice and gentle manners, thereby allowing me to release notes that I could never create before. We continued to have two hours of rehearsals every day in a large hall that could hold 4,000 people. What we had instead was an audience of ducks and geese outside that swam so freely and happily to our melody(曲调). How an unusual experience I had!

All things, good or bad, must come to an end, when I waited to board the plane, I was looking out the airport window, thinking back at the heartfelt moment of farewell with my friend, Caroline, at the camp gates. We had promised to meet again, but how and when, she was returning to Kentucky, and I, to China. The cello strings were not long or tight enough to keep us connected.

1.How did the author feel when waiting in the hotel hall?

A.He felt excited to find out the great fun in nature.

B.He felt eager to have some unexpected meetings.

C.He felt worried about whether he would perform well.

D.He felt tired after flying a long journey to the music camp.

2.From para2 we know that ___________

A.the author was happy to find out his favorite snack.

B.the author felt good to have friends to accompany.

C.the author was lucky to make some lifelong friends.

D.the author found it easy to communicate with Asians.

3.Why did the author mention the ducks and geese?

A.He wanted to live a free and happy life like them.

B.He wanted to show he was relaxed and enjoyed the process.

C.He wanted to prove inspiration comes from daily life.

D.He wanted to show their music reached a wide audience.

4.What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A.They found it hard to say good-bye to each other.

B.They were not sure music could connect each other.

C.They knew maybe they are unlikely to see each other again.

D.They hugged each other without words at the camp gate.

What’s next after the smartphone?

Humans can play tricks today that magicians couldn’t have imagined 50 years ago. Armed with only a tiny device today, our smartphone allows us to access a lifetime’s worth of information, connect with anyone in real time even if they are miles away. But the most astonishing part of this technological “magic” is the speed at which new opportunities and experiences are coming out.

For generations, we have seen the inevitable connection between humans and technology as advancements are applied to serve us and improve our quality of life. And the rate of technological progress is doubling every year.

Twenty years ago, who would have thought that we would be walking with robots and cyborgs (半人半机器的生物)? With the development of technology, we humans are accepting digital technologies to improve and expand our senses and abilities. Take Moon Ribs and Neil Harbison for example. They are both cyborgs, with Ribs having a chip put into her arm so she can feel earthquakes all around the world in real time and Harbison, who is color blind, has an antenna (天线) put into his head to allow him to be aware of visible and invisible colors via sound waves.

This is only the beginning. As we continue to spend more time with machines, the more they will become embedded (嵌入) in our lives. Technology already feels like it has a mind of its own, and over the next two decades, this will become even more pronounced.

Machines will eventually become as intelligent as us, and, while today they may just live in our pockets, tomorrow they could be in our blood stream and our minds, linking us to the cloud. And as this gap separating humans and machines continues to close, we will reach a point where they can be hardly identified. Technology and humanity will fuse (融合) together some day in the near future.

1.The first paragraph of the passage is intended to tell readers _____.

A.smartphone brings us convenience and lifetime’s worth of information

B.the magical and powerful functions of smartphone

C.the most astonishing technological magic of smartphone

D.new opportunities and experiences are approaching at a high speed

2.The writer of this passage takes Moon Ribas and Neil Harbisson for example to _____.

A.make a comparison between the two of them

B.introduce the founders of the Cyborg Foundation

C.prove they are much more intelligent than human beings

D.show that machines has become embedded in human lives

3.Neil Harbison is a cyborg that can _____.

A.help human to create other cyborgs

B.sense colours by using sound waves

C.see both visible and invisible colours

D.feel earthquakes all around the world

4.What is the main idea of this passage?

A.The new technologies related to smartphone in the near future.

B.Machines will eventually become as intelligent as human beings.

C.The future tendency that technology and humanity will fuse together.

D.We are reaching a point where we can’t tell technologies and machines apart.

    Tourists are strongly advised to consult an etiquette(礼仪) guide before visiting Thailand’s honored temple. The list of taboos is very long and the country’s ruling group is strict- do not turn your back on a Buddha statue, the Bangkok Post cautions. Don’t wear sleeveless tops to the temples, or show your knees. Remove shoes when tour the Wat Pho Royal Monastery.

Last week Joseph and Travis Dasilvas from California were in Bangkok where they encountered the Temple of Dawn.They took “butt photos” there and posted them in Instagram.

“They didn’t know it was a temple.” the house sitter told NBC “ It is just like a building”

Most of Thailand didn’t see it the way. Certainly not Sudarat Wajanasiri, who shared the Dasilvas’ photo on Facebook over the weekend, adding” I got no words to rip them”

A commenter attempted to figure out what drove two men to moon a holy site, discovering that traveling butt photos are something of a cultural tradition in west countries that the Americans may not have meant to offend.

Thai immigration officials put the men on a watch list after seeing the photo, according to BBC. The “Travelling Butts” account was deleted from Instagram. Police prevented both men at a Bangkok airport on Tuesday from leaving the country, BBC reported. They face a ＄150 fine and punishment of never coming to Thailand. But a police had accused them, which could put them in jail for up to five years,

A commissioner(行政长官) told San Diego Gay &Lesibian News that she had reached out to the U.S government to help the men, who could not be reached by the Washington Post. Their house sitter, told NBC7 that they were trying to find a lawyer in Thailand, and no idea if or when the Traveling Butts would come here.

1.What does the underlined word “taboos” probably means?

A.The tourist attractions you can go to

B.Things that are not allowed to do

C.Tourists from all over the world

D.The etiquette guides you can turn to

2.Tourists visiting Thailand should _____

A.visit Buddha statue first

B.enter some temples with shoes on

C.show their knees in the temples

D.follow the customs of Thailand

3.What is the attitude of most Thai’s towards Joseph and Dasilvas’ behaviour?

A.Indifferent B.Negative C.Unbearable D.Curious

4.What can be learned from the last two paragraphs?

A.Joseph and Dasilvas were in unfavourable situation.

B.The Butts photo was deleted from Instagram

C.Taking butt photos is in fashion in American

D.Joseph and Dasilvas may set foot in Thailand again if they paid the fine

Music festivals in Europe

Visiting a festival abroad can be a great reason to travel and a way to experience different cultures. These days there is such a number of choices that it’s possible to spend the whole summer watching live music in exciting places. Of course, it’s also a chance to meet people from across the world.

Melt! Festival, Germany

This festival takes place on the site of an open air museum for industrial machinery. There’s also a lake which can be used for swimming when it’s hot. This year’s line-up has over 120 different bands (乐队). Around 90% of the people attending the festival are German providing a perfect chance to practise speaking the language.

Exit Festival, Serbia

Set on the banks of the Danube in an old fortress (城堡), the festival began as a way to show people’s dissatisfaction with the government. These days it’s less political (政治的) but still worries about people who are poor, ill, old, etc and tries to help them. This year’s festival will host many famous bands. From electronic music and dance music to hard rock, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Open’er Festival, Poland

Held in an airfield near the northern city of Gdansk, each year Open’er has a seriously good selection of bands. This year is no exception, with many famous bands set to play. Not only are there amazing artists, but both Poland and the festival itself also provide very excellent value for money.

Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival, Scotland

Set on a Scottish estate (庄园) near Inverness, this year Belladrum will welcome artists from around the world. The most enjoyable part of the weekend is the ceilidh (traditional Scottish dance and party) which is always a lively event. It doesn’t even matter if you’re a beginner because the band teaches you each dance.

1.What is special about Melt! Festival?

A.It provides German lessons. B.It is held by a local museum.

C.The bands are from 120 countries. D.Most of the festival goers are German.

2.Why did Exit Festival begin?

A.For political reasons. B.For personal reasons.

C.To help stop a fight. D.To offer help to the poor.

3.What makes Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival different from the others?

A.It falls in summer.

B.It is a live music festival.

C.It teaches people Scottish dances.

D.It invites the most famous bands.

听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。

1.When did the rich use umbrellas?

A.On sunny days. B.On rainy days. C.On important days.

2.Who invented the first umbrella for use in the rain?

A.The Indians. B.The Egyptians. C.The Chinese.

3.When did the umbrella become popular in the west?

A.400 years ago. B.In 1750. C.In the 16th century.

4.Where was the first umbrella shop?

A.In England. B.In New York. C.On a strait.

听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。

1.Why is the man at the shop?

A.To order a camera for his wife.

B.To have a camera repaired.

C.To get a camera changed.

2.What color does the man want?

A.Pink. B.Black. C.Orange.

3.What will the man do afterwards?

A.Make a phone call.

B.Wait until further notice.

C.Come again the next day.

听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。

1.Where is the man going?

A.To a restaurant. B.To another company. C.To a lunch meeting.

2.When will the man ring back?

A.During lunch. B.In the afternoon. C.Tomorrow.

3.What might be the relationship between the speakers?

A.Boss and secretary. B.Husband and wife. C.Teacher and student.

听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。

1.Where is the speakers’ apartment?

A.On the top floor. B.On the ground floor. C.On the sixth floor.

2.What’s the house like?

A.It’s quite noisy. B.It’s well furnished. C.It’s pretty small.

3.What will the speakers do next?

A.Move to the house. B.Cook a meal. C.Go to see the house.

听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。

1.What has the man been busy doing these days?

A.Training waiters.

B.Running his new restaurant.

C.Learning to cook Chinese food.

2.Who serves as a cook in the restaurant?

A.The man’s wife. B.The man himself. C.The man’s brother.

When will the film begin?

A.7:00. B.7:15. C.7:20.

Why was the man late?

A.He got lost. B.He missed the bus. C.He was caught in snow.

Where is the man now?

A.At home. B.In a restaurant. C.On his way.

What would the man like to drink?

A.Wine. B.Juice. C.Beer.

How does the man usually get to his office?

A.By bus. B.By taxi. C.On foot.