完形填空（共1小题）

阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

Once there was a family of squirrels who lived in a large oak tree．They had lived there for many generations and it gave them all that they needed to_______,so they never left its branches．Then the tree started to die and it stopped producing _______for them, so the family of squirrels had a_  ________to decide what they should do next．

The oldest son, Nifty, said,“ We need to______．we will starve to death ______we stay here ,”Uncle Nutty answered,“We can't do that．We'll be ______for sure．The hawks, foxes and bears are just waiting for us to leave this________．”After much discussion, the whole family decided to_______in the old oak tree except for Nifty, Nifty_______the tree and was never heard again．“See?” Uncle Nutty said to the________of the family, “I told you that the hawks, foxes or bears would get him!”

However, the squirrel were________, so one by one they left．Eventually, only Uncle Nutty was left in the old oak tree．You could ________his ribs(肋骨) through his skin as it had been a long time since he had last________．Meanwhile, just 100 meters away in the same________,the rest of the squirrel family were living________together in a lovely oak tree that was supplying all of their needs．

The world is always changing．Book publishers, DVD rental companies and car manufacturers might be______a few years ago, but they are hurting now．Yet some people are_______hanging on, thinking that the_______to change is greater than that to stay where they are．They're_______.Don’t be Uncle Nutty．Change now before it's too ________．

1.A.hide B.produce C.grow D.live

2.A.protection B.clothes C.food D.apartment

3.A.performance B.class C.meeting D.plan

4.A.improve B.move C.try D.develop

5.A.if B.unless C.before D.though

6.A.met B.remembered C.killed D.discovered

7.A.mountain B.village C.family D.tree

8.A.jump B.stay C.lie D.sit

9.A.left B.cut C.planted D.watered

10.A.children B.member C.rest D.other

11.A.brave B.angry C.bored D.hungry

12.A.imagine B.see C.touch D.count

13.A.eaten B.rested C.fought D.walked

14.A.pool B.garden C.forest D.sea

15.A.worriedly B.carelessly C.fearlessly D.comfortably

16.A.upset B.popular C.grateful D.disappointed

17.A.even B.still C.always D.never

18.A.aim B.reaction C.answer D.risk

19.A.wrong B.smart C.dishonest D.proud

20.A.obvious B.worrying C.late D.far

    Giving advice is not one of the easiest tasks. You can be put under a lot of pressure especially if you generally give bad advice. With these tips, you'll be a professor at giving good advice!

1.Every situation is unique, so never assume you know all you need to know about a problem. Listen carefully to the person who wants advice, and learn as much as possible about this situation.

Put yourself in  the  advisee's  shoes.  2.If  you've  been  in  a  similar situation, think about what you learned, but don't rely solely on your experiences to give advice—imagine that you are giving yourself advice for the unique circumstances(情况) that the other person is facing.

3.If you can have a few hours to think about the problem and possible solutions, take that time to really think about every possible solution. You could even take the opportunity to ask someone who's more knowledgeable for advice.

Think about the results of taking your advice and not taking your advice. If there's no obvious difference between the results, your advice might not be bad, but it's not useful either. 4.

Be honest. If your advised course of action has possible problems, tell the person about them.  5.Your goal should not be to blindly lead the person, but rather to help him or her make a good decision, so don't act like a salesman.

A.Listen to the person asking you for advice.

B.Take time to think about the issue if you can.

C.Try to imagine yourself in the other person's situation.

D.Understand that the person may not take your advice.

E.If your advice leads to a worse result, your advice probably is bad.

F.You can never be sure that your advice is really the best for him or her.

G.Be honest about this fact if you don't really feel knowledgeable enough about the problem.

    Gwendolyn Brooks was the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize for Literature. Gwendolyn Brooks wrote hundreds of poems during her lifetime. She had more than 20 books published. She was known around the world for using poetry to increase understanding about black culture in America.

Her poems described conditions among the poor, racial inequality and drug use in the black community. She also wrote poems about the struggles of black women. But her skill was more than her ability to write about struggling black people. She was an expert at the language of poetry. She combined traditional European poetry styles with the African American experience.

In her early poetry, Gwendolyn Brooks wrote about the South Side of Chicago. The South Side of Chicago is where many black people live. In her poems, the South Side is called Bronzeville. It was A Street in Bronzeville that gained the attention of literary experts in 1945. Critics praised her poetic skill and her powerful descriptions about the black experience during the time. The Bronzeville poems were her first published collection.

In 1950, Gwendolyn Brooks became the first African American to win the Pulitzer Prize for Literature. She won the prize for her second book of poems called Annie Allen. Annie Allen is a collection of poetry about the life of a Bronzeville girl as a daughter, a wife and mother. She experiences loneliness, loss, death and being poor. Ms. Brooks said that winning the prize changed her life.

Her next work was a novel written in 1953 called Maud Martha. Maud Martha received little notice when it was first published. But now it is considered an important work by some critics. Its main ideas about the difficult life of many women are popular among female writers today.

In some of her poems, Gwendolyn Brooks described how what people see in life is affected by who they are. One example is this poem, Corners on the Curving Sky.

By the end of the 1960s, Gwendolyn Brooks's poetry expanded from the everyday experiences of people in Bronzeville. She wrote about a wider world and dealt with important political issues.

1.What can we learn about Gwendolyn Brooks from the second paragraph?

A.She mainly wrote about struggles of black women.

B.She was good at using the language of poetry.

C.Her writing skills were a little worse than her ability.

D.Her poems were mainly about the African experience.

2.The author develops the passage mainly by    .

A.providing examples

B.using statistics

C.comparing opinions

D.describing her experiences

3.What does the text mainly talk about?

A.The life of Gwendolyn Brooks.

B.The poems of Gwendolyn Brooks.

C.The understanding about black culture.

D.The struggle of black women.

4.In the next part, the author would most probably talk about    ?

A.the difficulties Gwendolyn Brooks would meet

B.the poems related to political issues

C.the award Gwendolyn Brooks had gained

D.the racial inequality the black had to face

    People who have seen Trisha Seifried Woodall with her cats say that she has a magic touch. Most people don't know anyone who can order a cat to jump on a table, sit for two minutes, and then jump to the floor and walk backward.

Ms. Seifried Woodall has taught her cats to do all these tricks -- and many more. At her training center. Got Pet-ential, cats learn tricks for TV and magazine ads. Some of her cats have appeared on bags of cat food.

When Ms. Seifried Woodall gets a cat, she first learns what that cat likes and doesn’t like. “Some cats like to stay close to the ground, so I'll teach them how to stand behind me, and walk with me,”she says. “Other cats, like high places, so they'll learn how to jump on my bent knee and then safely leap to my shoulder.”

Ms. Seifried Woodall grew up in a family with many pets, and she was first paid to work with animals when she was 18. At a summer job at an amusement park, she learned how to train a few of the animals for performances. She continued to train and learn about animals for 20 years before starting her own animal-training center.

Ms. Seifried Woodall is proud of the skills her cats have learned, but she is also proud that her center’s cats are healthy and social. She believes her cats enjoy learning new tricks.

In Ms. Seifried Woodall’s experience, no breed(品种) of cat is easier to train than others. All of her cats came from shelters. They have become pets in her home.

Like most animal trainers, Ms. Seifried Woodall uses a reward system. Cats that are successful during training get food or a new toy. A cat that doesn’t enjoy eating or playing will probably not be interested in being trained. She never scolds(责骂) them. “Cats need a lot of encouragement when they are performing, she says." I say good job or that’s right several times during a single minute.”

1.What are the cats trained by Ms. Seifried Woodall mainly used to do?

A.Work for amusement parks. B.Act in TV and magazine ads.

C.Become people’s family pets. D.Set a good example to other cats.

2.What can we learn about Ms. Seifried Woodall and her cat-training job?

A.She usually trains cats at her home.

B.She prefers training cats that are active.

C.She trains cats according to their characters.

D.She can train any cat to be well-behaved.

3.What did Ms. Seifried Woodall do before becoming a cat trainer?

A.She took care of pets for families.

B.She performed at an amusement park.

C.She worked in an animal shelter.

D.She worked with animals for years.

4.Which of the following can best describe Ms. Seifried Woodall?

A.Brave and strong B.Polite and friendly

C.Caring and patient D.Humorous and talkative

    After finishing my teaching for a school year, I thought that I should go back to Montreal, Quebec, my hometown for a visit. My main goal was to relax in preparation for the challenges of my retirement(退休) in the coming year.

Through my stay in Montreal, I met lots of Chinese who were trying hard to succeed and then led a better life in Canada. Some travelled thousands of miles to get knowledge. When I spoke with some of them about the major barrier(障碍) they had to face after they arrived in Canada, they all talked about the two official languages of Canada. But I was impressed by their ability to express their ideas while they were changing between English and French.

Almost all of those people said they often felt homesick. They miss their families and friends. Though Montreal has lots of Chinese restaurants, they long for a home•cooked meal.

I met some tourists who were trying to realize their childhood dreams of experiencing the life in a developed country. When I asked them if Montreal had lived up to their expectations, they hesitated. They said that reality never agrees with fantasies. However, they were glad to have the opportunity to visit Montreal and didn't regret taking the trip.

Not all the Chinese people I met were happy. I once met a young lady who met with a gentleman through the Internet. However, to her disappointment, he disappeared after he promised to marry her in Montreal.

I was served by another Chinese person who could not deal with the challenges of studying in an English-speaking environment and ended up working in a restaurant with low pay.

Exploring different parts of the world, without any doubt, is an enriching experience. However, one should be realistic when it comes to leaving his hometown to start a new life in a foreign country. One should take time to examine the advantages and the shortcomings of the adventure before he decides to chase an uncertain dream of achieving success or leading a better life.

1.Why did the writer go to his hometown?

A.To meet his old friends.

B.To study a new language.

C.To go on with his teaching.

D.To prepare for his retirement life.

2.What is the main barrier for some Chinese to get knowledge in Canada?

A.Food. B.Homesickness. C.Language. D.Income.

3.The writer thinks that    .

A.overseas Chinese are good at communication in Canada

B.the trip to Montreal is a good chance for people to study

C.overseas Chinese feel disappointed at their life in Canada

D.people should think carefully before chasing their dreams abroad

4.What is the best title for the passage?

A.Improving Life Skills in Canada

B.Exploring Different Parts of Canada

C.Struggling for a Better Life in Canada

D.Going to Canada—Your Ideal Destination

    Father Comes Home from the Wars (Parts 1, 2 & 3)

These three short plays by Suzan Lori•Parks are the start of an ambitious attempt to retell the story of the American civil war. The focus is on a  slave promised his freedom by his master if he joins in the fight against the Union. Steve Toussaint and Jimmy Akingbola head the cast, and Jo Bonney is in charge.

★15 September to 4 October, Royal Court, London. Box office: 020•7565 5000.

A Pacifist’s Guide to the War on Cancer

Bryony Kimmings and Brian Lobel consider our attitudes to cancer and the language we employ to deal with it through the stories of five people. This is an all•singing, all•dancing affair with music by Tom Parkinson, wiping off the pink charity ribbons to look at the realities of diagnosis(诊断) and what it means for the wider family.

★20～24 September, Home, Manchester. Box office: 0161•200 1500.

The Nest

Every parent wants the best for their baby. Kurt and Martha are prepared to work hard to ensure theirs has everything he needs, even if that means Kurt taking on extra work. Franz Xaver Kroetz’s extraordinary play about the damage that profit causes to individuals and the environment gets a new translation from Conor McPherson.

★15～22 October, Lyric, Belfast. Box office: 028•9038 1081.

The Red Barn

David Hare’s new play is based on La Main, a psychological thriller by the great Georges Simenon. The story concerns two couples who, on their way back from a party, struggle through the snow. The play is directed by Robert Icke, and the cast is headed by Mark Strong and Hope Davis.

★6～20 October, Lyttelton, London. Box office: 020•7452 3000.

1.When can you see the play directed by Robert Icke?

A.On 19 September. B.On 3 October.

C.On 10 October. D.On 21 October.

2.In which play can we feel parents’ love for children?

A.The Nest.

B.The Red Barn.

C.Father Comes Home from the Wars.

D.A Pacifist’s Guide to the War on Cancer.

3.What do the plays mentioned in the text have in common?

A.They are all comedies. B.They are put on in autumn.

C.They are highly thought of. D.They are works of the same writer.

阅读下面材料, 根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。续写的词数应为 150 左右。

Peter heard his little sister Eva’s weak cries as Mother wrapped her in a heavy blanket. Peter’s parents would be heading to town soon to take Eva to the doctor. “Remember to keep the stove going,” Father said, “And check on the cow now and then in the barn (畜棚). Her calf (小牛) may come at any time.” “I will,” said

Peter. Peter promised as his parents walked out into the cold. He didn’t want to add to their worry.

“Today I must manage on my own,” Peter said out loud to make himself feel braver. Father often said they all had to pull their own weight (尽本分) in their new home on the farm. Peter hoped he could do that.

The tiny one-room house felt big with only him in it. He carefully added one piece of wood to the small iron stove.

The morning passed quickly as Peter worked on the sled he was making. After eating at noon, he took melted-snow water to the cow. In the afternoon, Peter heard the winds increase. He decided he’d better check on the cow again.

Peter put on his heavy woolen coat and stepped out of the door. The wind blew snow crystals into his face and his breath froze into a patch (小片) of ice on his scarf before he arrived.

Lying on the dirt floor was a newborn calf, on whose tiny body ice had already begun forming. The cow mooed (哞哞叫) and licked her newborn. Peter knew this calf was important to his family. But the calf looked weak, shivering on the ground. “I have to get the calf to the house or it’ll freeze to death,” Peter thought.

Para. 1: He tried to lift it, but it was too heavy.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Para. 2: “I need to fetch some milk for it,” Peter said to himself.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

假定你是李华, 本周日将在人民剧场上演越剧《梁山伯与祝英台》。请给你的好友英国交换生 Lucy 写封邮件,  邀请她一同前往观看。内容包括:

1. 发出邀请；

2. 介绍该剧；

3. 约定见面时间和地点。

注意:

1. 词数80左右；

2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。参考词汇: 越剧 Shaoxing opera

《梁山伯与祝英台》The Butterfly Lovers

Dear Lucy,

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Yours,

Li Hua

    The greatest saleswoman in the world today doesn’t mind if you call her a girl. That’s because Markita Andrews has ______ more than $80,000 by selling cookies  since she was seven years old. Going door to door after school, the painfully shy Markita___ herself into a cookie-selling expert.

It___ with desire. Burning, white-hot desire.

Markita and her widowed mother___ a dream of traveling the globe. Once, Markita read a magazine article, saying that the child who sold the most cookies would win an all-expenses-paid trip for two around the world. She decided to have a ______ at it.

To realize her dream, Markita went door to door every day after school, and repeated, “Hi, I have a dream. I’m ________  a trip around the world for my mom and  me by selling cookies.” Then she asked, “Would you like to___ in my dream by buying some cookies?” Whether they bought or not, she always___ a smile.

Her hard work  finally_________. She sold 42,000 boxes of cookies  that year and she won her trip around the world.

Markita is  not  __________   than  thousands of other people. The key to her  _______ is that she has found the secret of selling: Ask, Ask, Ask! Many people fail  _______ they even begin because of their fear of____.

It takes courage to ask for what you  want. Courage is not the ________  of fear.   It’s doing what it takes despite one’s fear. And, as Markita has discovered, the more you ask, the  _____  it gets.

1.A.spent B.generated C.withdrew D.received

2.A.threw B.brought C.transformed D.persuaded

3.A.starts B.mixes C.corresponds D.deals

4.A.created B.realized C.remembered D.shared

5.A.push B.go C.look D.blow

6.A.enjoying B.organizing C.booking D.earning

7.A.drop B.cut C.invest D.live

8.A.forced B.wore C.pretended D.produced

9.A.paid back B.turned up C.paid off D.turned around

10.A.smarter B.richer C.higher D.prettier

11.A.success B.discovery C.delivery D.progress

12.A.after B.until C.once D.before

13.A.interaction B.rejection C.competition D.discrimination

14.A.cause B.experience C.presence D.absence

15.A.easier B.more C.faster D.harder

Secrets of the Rainbow

The storm is over: the sun is shining. But when you go outside, the rain is still falling, and you see a breathtaking sight in the sky: a shimmering arch of red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple light. No pot of gold sits at that rainbow’s end.1. Rainbows are rare because they need two things that don’t often go together: sunlight and rain.2.But it contains all the colors of the rainbow. A rainbow appears when raindrops split these colors apart, letting us see them.

In empty space, all these colors travel equally fast: 671 million miles an hour. But when sunlight passes through water, it slows down. 3. These differences in speed make a rainbow. Red light goes fastest. Orange is almost as fast. Yellow is a little slower, and green is a little slower than that. Blue is slower still, and purple light is the slowest.

As light enters water, it bends, or refracts (折射). The amount of refraction depends on how fast the light travels through water. So once sunlight enters a raindrop, the different colors split apart and travel separate paths. 4. They exit the front of the raindrop, bending again as they go from water to air. So they are still on separate paths, with the different colors next to one another, and you see a rainbow when you look at the falling raindrops.

After you find a rainbow, look for a second rainbow outside the main one. It’s called a secondary rainbow and is usually fainter, so it’s harder to see. 5. The main rainbow has red on top and purple on bottom. The secondary rainbow has red on bottom and purple on top.

A.Sunlight usually looks pale.

B.Its colors are in the opposite order.

C.Instead, a rainbow is its own reward.

D.There’s more to a rainbow than we can see.

E.Some colors go through water faster than others.

F.Then the colors reflect off the back of the raindrop.

G.A rainbow only needs the right mix of sunlight and rain.

    “Super-agers” have long puzzled scientists, but now researchers say they are unpicking why some people live beyond 80 and still appear to be well.

Researchers say studies show that super-agers appear to adapt more easily to the slings and arrows of life, and are more open-minded and less sensitive. But they have also made another discovery. Looking at the brains of 10 super-agers after they died, Prof Emily Rogalski, from Northwestern University said they discovered these individuals have more of a certain type of brain cell known as Von Economo neurons ( 神经) than average elderly individuals. “We can’t explain how they ended up with more Von Economo neurons or why that is important. But these are a special type of neurons that have only been found in a couple of regions of the brain.”

Studies have shown there are other differences as well. “When we look at the rate of cognitive ( 认知的) thinning in the cognitively average 80-year-olds, their brains are thinning at nearly two and a half times that of the super-agers,” said Rogalski.

Being underweight also seemed to matter, with those who had a very low body mass index after the age of 80 more likely to die. It’s not bad to be skinny when you’re young but it is when you’re old.

The researchers say they have also found that the common bad habits do not necessarily lead to an early grave, with many super-agers saying they smoked and enjoyed a drink. “We ask them why is it that you think you are a super-ager, how did you get here, and there are a couple of funny ladies and they will say, well it’s  because I have some alcohol with my friends every day at 5 o’clock. Others have never had a drink,” said Rogalski.

However, Rogalski added, that did not mean that people should take up bad  habits to live longer, noting that some people might have a genetic makeup that allowed them to tolerate smoking and drinking. Nonetheless, Rogalski thinks we can learn from super-agers. “We are getting quite good at extending our lifespan but our health span isn’t keeping up and what the super-agers have is more of a balance between those two, they are living long and living well,” she said.

1.What can we learn about Von Economo neurons?

A.They can be found all over the super-agers’ brains.

B.They lead to super-agers’ easier adaptation to hardships.

C.Super-agers are found to have more of them in their brains.

D.Scientists have discovered how they are produced in brains.

2.Compared to the average elderly, super-agers  .

A.have better life habits

B.tend to drink more alcohol

C.are usually much slimmer

D.are slower in brain thinning

3.What does Rogalski intend to tell us by the underlined sentence?

A.We should develop good habits to live longer.

B.We should seek to live well while living long.

C.Super-agers should help us extend our health span.

D.Extending lifespan is harder than keeping health span.

4.What is the writer’s purpose in writing the passage?

A.To reveal some secrets of super-agers.

B.To introduce the ways of staying young.

C.To explain the advantages of living long.

D.To describe various habits of super-agers.

    Some people described the civil rights era, in the 1950s and 1960s as “the greatest singing movement in American history”. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called music “the soul of the movement”.

Integrating singing into the cause was a deliberate choice by the movement’s organizers. It took advantage of a rich cultural tradition of music-making in communities with African American roots. Singing spirituals ( 圣歌) together was a key motivating activity during meetings, church services, sit-ins and freedom rides. Singing together made people feel strong. Singing inspired activists to stand up to the verbal ( 言语的) and physical assaults, to the police dogs, and to the high-pressure fire hoses aimed at them. Singing spirituals united people and focused them on their goals-freedom and equality.

The movement’s songs were mostly updated traditional African American spirituals. “We Shall Overcome” is probably its most famous song. Later on, the song, slightly changed to “We Will Overcome”, was taught to labor organizers in the 1940s at the Highlander Folk School. By 1952, a recording of the song was released, but the words had been changed again to “We Shall Overcome”.

By the late 1950s, the song was being taught to civil rights activists at the Highlander. That’s where King first heard it. At the end of meetings, everyone would rise, join hands, and sing the song. Today, it has spread around the world and can be heard wherever freedom and justice are threatened.

“Free at Last” was another popular civil rights song. Like “We Shall Overcome”, it inspired singers to continue with a difficult struggle. It sings of the dream and promise of freedom, urging everyone to join hands and to not give up hope. King ended his famous “I Have a Dream” speech at the March on Washington by quoting a line from it: “Free at last, free at last! “

Taking a cue from the strengths of older African American traditions, music expressed the soul of the civil rights movement. Songs and singing proved essential nonviolent weapons in the struggle for freedom.

1.The second paragraph is mainly about  .

A.what the goals of the civil rights movement were

B.on what occasions African Americans sang together

C.why organizers employed singing in the civil rights movement

D.how African Americans started the tradition of singing together

2.What does the underlined word “assaults” probably mean in Paragraph 2?

A.Violent attacks. B.Severe problems.

C.Serious disabilities. D.Potential dangers.

3.What do the songs “We Shall Overcome” and “Free at Last” have in common?

A.Both underwent a lot of changes.

B.Both required singers to stand up to sing.

C.Both influenced Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

D.Both are still very popular around the globe.

4.What might be the best title for the passage?

A.King-hero of the civil rights movement

B.Music-soul of the civil rights movement

C.Freedom-dream of African Americans

D.Singing-language to unite Americans

    As many of us know, having an older relative can be demanding especially when it comes to addressing concerns about their safety. Yes, grandma might still be able to function on her own during routine activities, but what if she was targeted by criminals and robbed in her own home?

Good news: there’s a simple solution. Just have your grandmother start weightlifting at the gym every day until she becomes a world-famous weight lifter capable of laying some sick Dwayne Johnson smackdown on any intruder foolish enough to try and smell what she’s probably cooking. It’s extreme, but it works, apparently.

As reported by the Associated Press, on November 21st, 2019, a young man approached the home of 82-year-old Rochester resident Willie Murphy, claiming that he needed an ambulance. When Murphy called first responders without opening the door, the man reportedly forced his way into the house.

And that, as the old saying goes, is when things got real.

The intruder was apparently painfully unaware that Murphy is an award-winning bodybuilder whose near-daily trips to the local YMCA have resulted in her ability to lift over 200 pounds, a capability which  she put on full display when she “hit him with a table”. She then beat the intruder with a broom, and in a self-defense maneuver, poured shampoo in his face. Police arrived on the scene in time to witness the would-be burglar getting the crap kicked out of him by an old lady.

Murphy, who won the 2014 World Natural Powerlifting Federation Lifter of the Year award, decided not to send him to court, instead using the time to win everybody in the world over with the quote “I was whaling on that man... ‘Cause I said to myself, ‘If it’s my time to go to hell, I’m taking him with me’ “.

And, in case you were worried, the man got his ambulance ride after all.

1.Why did the young man come to Murphy’s home?

A.He was paying Murphy a visit. B.He was planning to rob Murphy.

C.He expected Murphy to call an ambulance. D.He was attracted by the smell of Murphy’s cooking.

2.What do we know about Murphy from the passage?

A.She is as strong as Dwayne Johnson. B.She was worried about the intruder.

C.She started weightlifting at a very young age. D.She works out in the local gym almost every day.

3.What happened to the young man in the end?

A.He was charged with burglary. B.He went to hell with Murphy.

C.He was knocked down by the police. D.He was taken away by an ambulance.

4.What is the tone of this news report?

A.Humorous and ironic. B.Serious and bitter.

C.Persuasive and entertaining. D.Sympathetic and positive.

    A Schengen visa is a short-stay visa awarded to persons wishing to travel to one or many of the countries that make of the 26 European country Schengen Area. It grants (授予) each holder entry to all the countries in the area on a single visa. Several new Schengen visa application rules came into force in all countries on February 2, 2020. Check out some of the major changes:

Increased visa fees

The Schengen visa fee has increased from 60 euros to 80 for adults, while children aged between 6 and 12 now need to pay 40 euros instead of 35.

The rise in fees is to increase staff numbers, ensure stronger security screenings, and upgrade IT equipment and software, according to the European Commission.

Electronic application form

The application process has been greatly simplified. Schengen member  states now accept electronic applications, and the application form can be signed and submitted electronically.

Longer application submission periods

Schengen visa applicants used to apply as early as three months ahead of their trip. Today applications can be submitted up to six months in advance.

Benefits for frequent travelers

Those who have previously visited the Schengen Area and have a positive visa history will be granted the opportunity to get a multiple-entry visa valid for up to five years. That is, people who have lawfully used their previous visas, have a good economic standing in their home countries, and intend to leave the area before their Schengen visa expires (过期) will now have the chance to get a visa for up to five years with multiple entries.

1.If a couple with a seven-year-old kid apply for Schengen visas, how much should they pay under the new rules?

A.45 euros. B.80 euros. C.155 euros. D.200 euros.

2.When applying for a Schengen visa now, you can  .

A.upgrade your computer software

B.hand in an electronic application form

C.get all your materials ready before February 2

D.turn in your application 9 months in advance

3.To frequent travelers to the Schengen Area, the new rules are more  .

A.specific B.complicated C.favourable D.rigid

听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。

1.How did the speaker first learn about the Leaning Tower of Pisa?

A.By travelling.

B.By watching TV.

C.By reading books.

2.What did the speaker imagine the Leaning Tower of Pisa as?

A.A museum. B.A castle. C.A restaurant.

3.Why is the speaker against fixing the tower?

A.It is unique.

B.It will be too costly.

C.It was designed to look the way it is.

4.What does the speaker say about imperfect things?

A.There is nothing we can do about them.

B.They are more interesting than perfect things.

C.They can last longer than perfect things.

听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。

1.What is the possible relationship between the speakers?

A.Doctor and patient.

B.Teacher and student.

C.Mother and son.

2.What is the boy’s uncle?

A.A doctor. B.A nurse. C.An insurance agent.

3.Why did the boy refuse to talk about his dream at first?

A.He was afraid of being laughed at.

B.His uncle didn’t want him to talk about it.

C.He was worried that it wouldn’t come true.

4.How does the woman feel about the boy’s idea?

A.It’s funny. B.It’s impractical. C.It’s excellent.

听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。

1.What was the woman responsible for in her last job?

A.Management. B.Translation. C.Marketing.

2.What benefited the woman a lot during her business trip to China?

A.Her professional skills.

B.Her language skills.

C.Her meetings with key people.

3.What does the woman like best about this job?

A.Train travel. B.Plane travel. C.High salary.

听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。

1.Which flight will Mr. White take tomorrow?

A.Flight 821. B.Flight 123. C.Flight 823.

2.When should Mr. White go to pick up his ticket?

A.By 1:30 p.m. B.By 7:20 p.m. C.By 8:00 p.m.

听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。

1.What do we know about the comedy show?

A.It has a complex plot.

B.It is shown every other day.

C.The leading actor is very handsome.

2.How does the woman feel about the leading actor?

A.He will make a famous star.

B.He’s very hardworking.

C.He needs more professional support.

How much did a kilogram of green beans cost five years ago?

A.10 yuan. B.15 yuan. C.20 yuan.

Where does the conversation take place?

A.At a gas station. B.In a post office. C.At school.

What is the woman going to do next?

A.Eat something. B.Go home to rest. C.Go to see a doctor.

What do we know about the woman?

A.She is a waitress.

B.She runs a restaurant.

C.She owns a flower shop.

What does the woman ask the man to do?

A.Wait for her. B.Move forward. C.Wait in line.

假定你是李华，你的美国朋友 Jim 得知你想提高英文写作能力，给你寄来一本《英 文写作手册》(A Handbook of Writing)。请你回一封信。内容包括：

1. 感谢对方； 2. 书很有用，会认真研读； 3. 你的回赠。

注意：

1. 词数 100 左右；

2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；

3. 开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数。

Dear Jim,

How is everything going with you?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Best wishes.

Yours,

Li Hua

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。

1.A large quantity of face masks were delivered to Africa last month.

2.I have three partners in the group, two of them have difficulty learning English.

3.After her journey from abroad, Jenny returned home, exhaustedly.

4.It was in the TV studio which was built last year where the interview was recorded.

5.When you study the local map, you will find this town is three times the size as that one.

6.He made a practical suggestion, which I think it is of great benefit to everyone present at the meeting.

7.My friend Jim is quite shy, but can you image him sing at the party held to welcome the exchange students?

8.Fully occupying with her work, she didn’t notice Peter enter the room.

9.The protesters demanded that the policeman gave a reasonable explanation for the shooting.

10.The fire broke out again, killing ten people. The official in charge of the security is blame.

    So much English did I learn last year that even I , myself, couldn’t believe it. It was totally because of Ms. Ben and I truly  ____what she was doing. It might not seem as a big  _____to some, but to me it is. I have never met a woman so   _____and so determined to teach her students.

It seemed that English class never ___to me. I never knew how to study English and never understood some of the grammars. I can remember trying to ___get out of the classroom before Ms. Ben caught me and shouted across the   _____, “Winona, are you coming to extra class during ___?” It was a nightmare-she would always catch me with my one foot out of the door, and it never ___. Even then I just thought of it as a thing I had to do. It was funny to see how everyone would be in her room during lunch and then again after school. She would __ everyone to come every day, ___, we could complete our homework as scheduled with her help.

Many of the students thought of her as a bit of nag(啰嗦), but inside they knew that she was right and   _____her. Many of her tests were hard at first, but as the year    _____, we all improved a lot. I knew that it was because of her.

Even outside class, she was caring as ever. She always wanted to know what was going on in my (and everyone else’s) life, and she was always looking for everyone’s best   _____.

Ms. Ben is also a ___woman with a sense of humor that you just have to laugh at. However, when exams were approaching, she was more ___than ever about everyone doing well. Many of her previous students scored high, and so she  ____the same from us. Day after day there were students in the classroom    ______lessons. When it was time for our big test, I knew I was ready. I walked out of that test with my head  _____. I knew that I   _____and it’s Ms. Ben who had made me that way. I thanked all the hard work that she put into ___me and my fellow students.

1.A.admitted B.understood C.appreciated D.amazed

2.A.treat B.train C.behavior D.deal

3.A.caring B.amusing C.cautious D.impressive

4.A.appealed B.applied C.contributed D.devoted

5.A.curiously B.delightedly C.secretly D.faithfully

6.A.stage B.classroom C.yard D.seat

7.A.lunch B.breakfast C.day D.night

8.A.succeeded B.stopped C.worked D.failed

9.A.forgive B.encourage C.call D.wave

10.A.besides B.however C.therefore D.otherwise

11.A.praised B.asked C.allowed D.respected

12.A.stood by B.went by C.agreed on D.put on

13.A.interest B.benefit C.intelligence D.attitude

14.A.sweet B.serious C.innocent D.enthusiastic

15.A.relaxed B.concerned C.worried D.patient

16.A.expected B.received C.waited D.dreamed

17.A.checking B.reviewing C.learning D.answering

18.A.low B.nodding C.high D.shaking

19.A.took it B.had it C.got it D.made it

20.A.comforting B.raising C.showing D.shaping

    Travelling abroad is becoming increasingly popular these years. Some people are afraid of making linguistic mistakes while traveling. Actually, cultural mistakes may be more serious, which can lead to serious misunderstanding.1.

●Touching Someone

2.In Mediterranean countries, if you don’t touch someone’s arm when talking to them or if you don’t greet them with kisses or a warm hug, you’ll be considered cold. But backslap(拍背) someone who isn’t a family member or a good friend in Korea, and you’ll make them uncomfortable. In Thailand, the head is considered sacred(神圣的)-never even pat a child on the head.

●Talking Over Dinner

In some countries, like China, Japan and some African nations, the food is the thing, so don’t start chatting about your day’s adventures while everyone else is digging into dinner.  3. It’s not because your group is unfriendly, but because meal times are for eating, not talking.

● Removing Your Shoes or Not

Take off your shoes when arriving at the door of a London dinner party and the hostess will find you uncivilized, but fail to remove your shoes before entering a home in Asia, Hawaii, or the Pacific Islands and you’ll be considered disrespectful. So, if you see a row of shoes at the door, start undoing your shoelaces.       4.

Once you are on the ground of a different country, remain highly sensitive to native behavior. 5.And don’t feel offended if something seems offensive-like queue jumping. After all, this is a global village, and we are all very different.

A.If not, keep the shoes on.

B.As the saying goes: “Do as Romans do.”

C.Never be completely surprised by anything.

D.Personal spaces are different among countries.

E.You’ll be likely to meet with no response.

F.The linguistic mistake means that someone is not fully expressing his idea.

G.Watch out for the following cultural mistakes and try to avoid them.

    Today companies have branches around the world. More than 11% of the US managers and workers work online either full-time or part-time, and that number is continuing growing. It is believed that it is a waste of time and money to fly around the world for face-to-face meeting. An effective solution to this problem is to use Web meetings.

A large group of presentations, training classes and meetings are done online without losing the  face-to-face  experience.  Web  meetings  are  online  meetings  where  an  organizer  invites attendees(参会人员) to listen to or watch an online presentation by presenters. Besides, Web meetings can be recorded for later use or downloaded for playback.

Presenters can take surveys to study how to hold a successful meeting. Some Web meeting software programs can watch the users’ desktop behavior to see if they become not focused on the presentation and begin working on other documents. If so, the program can tell presenters when the listeners lose their attention, which will help the presenters know which parts of the meeting need improving.

Web meetings can work well because they’re connected by a server(服务器). Companies have two choices when it comes to these servers. They can either buy a special Web meeting server to hold their meetings at high speed, or they can pay for a Web meeting service center every time to let it help connect every attendee, whose speed is always worrying. The choice depends on how frequently the company holds Web meetings and the average number of people attending the meetings.

Web meetings are an excellent example of how technology is changing the way we do business. With all the technologies today, the traditional office might soon be a thing of the past.

1.What is the advantage of Web meetings?

A.They leave more people unemployed.

B.They save people much time and money.

C.They cause more traffic accidents every day.

D.They make people spend more time on computer.

2.Attendees can re-watch the meetings by .

A.Turning to the meeting presenter B.Asking help from other attendees

C.Expecting next meeting D.Downloading the meeting

3.What can we learn from the passage?

A.Web meetings lose the face-to-face experience.

B.Some Web meeting programs help improve the meetings’ quality.

C.Web meetings improve the meetings’ atmosphere.

D.Companies must buy a special server to hold Web meetings.

4.What’s the author’s attitude towards Web meeting?

A.Concerned. B.Uninterested. C.Negative. D.Positive.

    People have known for a long time that plants can hear, see, smell and communicate with each other. Now, they have been recorded making sounds when stressed.

In a study, Itzhak Khait and his team found that tomato  and tobacco plants can make ultrasonic( 超声的 ) noises. The plant “cry out” due to lack of water, or when they are cut. The sound is just too high for human to hear.

Microphones were placed 10 centimeters away from the plants and picked up sounds in the range of 20 to 100,000 hertz( 赫兹). Human hearing usually ranges from 20 to 20,000 hertz. On average, “thirsty” tomato plants made 35 sounds an hour, while tobacco plants made 11. When plant was cut, tomato plants made an average of 25 sounds in the following hour, and tobacco plants 15.

Perhaps most interestingly, different types of stress led to different sounds. The researchers used a special machine to separate the plants’ sounds from those of wind, rain and other noises of the greenhouses. In most cases, it correctly told whether the stress was caused by dryness or a cut. Water-hungry tobacco made louder sounds than cut tobacco, for example. Although Khait and his team only looked at tomato and tobacco plants, they thought other plants also made sounds when stressed. Khait’s report also suggested that insects could hear the sound up to 5 meters away and respond.

The team said if farmers could hear these sounds, they could give plants the water they need. As climate change causes more droughts(干旱), they said this would be important information for farmers, for the sound that drought-stressed plants made could be used in agriculture.

If plants are screaming for fear of their survival, should we be thankful we can’t hear them?

1.Which did Khait and his team find from their research?

A.Only tomato plants could make ultrasonic noises.

B.Humans can hear plants crying while cutting them.

C.Plants were able to produce sounds when stressed.

D.Plants made ultrasonic noises to communicate with each other.

2.How did tomato and tobacco plants react to different stresses according to the text?

A.Cut tobacco plants made weaker sounds than drought-stressed ones.

B.Tomato plants reacted to different stresses with the same sound.

C.Cut tomato plants produced more sounds than water-hungry ones.

D.Tobacco plants made louder sounds than tomato plants when short of water.

3.What’s the main idea of Paragraph 5?

A.Farmers imagine what the future agriculture will be like.

B.Farmers have contributed a lot to the research.

C.Farmers can apply the result of the research to agriculture.

D.Farmers will face lots of challenges in the future.

4.Where is this text most likely from?

A.A nature magazine. B.A novel. C.A diary. D.A guidebook.