Reading Comprehension阅读理解

2020-11-16

时代英语·高一 2020年8期

阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。

（一）

A Guide to the University

Food

The URS Cafeteria is open from 7：00 am to 8：00 pm. It serves snacks， drinks， ice cream bars and meals. You can pay with cash or your ID card. You can add money to your ID card at the Front Desk. Even if you do not buy your food in the cafeteria， you can still use the tables to enjoy meals， to have meetings with your friends and even to study.

If you are on campus （校园） in the evening or late at night， you can buy snacks， fast food and drinks in the Lower Cafe located in the bottom level of the Douglas Center. This area is often used for entertainment such as concerts， games or TV watching.

Transportation

The URS Express is a shuttle service. The shuttle transports students between campus and the shopping center， leaving from the Mattson Center. Operation hours are between 9：00 am and 3：00 pm， Saturdays only. Round trip fare is $2.

Relaxation

The Globe， located in the bottom level of McMillan Hall， is available for relaxing， studying， cooking and eating. Monthly activities are held here for all international students. Hours are 10：00 am to 10：00 pm， closed on Sundays.

Health

The Fitness Center is on the top floor of Douglas Hall. It is committed to physical， emotional and social health. A doctor and nurse is available if you have health questions or need immediate medical help or personal advice. The cost is included in your medical insurance. Hours are Monday to Friday， 9：00 am to 4：30 pm.

1. What can you do in the URS Cafeteria？

A. Have meals and meet friends. B. Do your homework and watch TV.

C. Buy drinks and enjoy concerts. D. Add money to your ID card and play chess.

2. What can the URS Express do for students？

A. Take them to the Mattson Center. B. Provide them with campus tours.

C. Carry them to the lecture halls. D. Transport them to and from the stores.

3. Where can you cook for yourself？

A. In the Douglas Hall. B. In the Globe. C. In the URS Cafeteria. D. In the Mattson Center.

Stan Lee， co-founder of the Marvel Universe and co-creator of many of its most popular superheroes， died at the age of 95.

Lee was born Stanley Martin Lieber in New York in 1922. As a son of working-class Jewish immigrants from Romania， times were hard and he lived with his family in an old single-bedroom apartment. After graduating from high school at 16， Lieber got a job as an assistant at Timely Comics （漫畫）. By the early 1940s， he was a temporary editor for the company. It was at this time that he began using his pen name—Stan Lee. In 1947， two years after returning from serving for the US Army， Lee married his wife， Joan. The two began their 70-year marriage and had two children.

In the late 1950s， DC Comics breathed new life into its classic superhero and experienced a significant success with its updated version of The Flash， and later with super-team the Justice League of America.

To compete against DC Comics， Lee was given the task of creating their own group of superheroes. In 1961， Timely Comics changed its name into Marvel Comics after Atlas Comics， and that November saw the debut （首次亮相） of the Fantastic Four. Lees later famous and lasting creations of comic-book superheroes included Spider-Man， the Hulk， Thor， Iron Man and the X-men.

Over the course of his career （事業）， Lee was an icon of Marvel Comics. As a writer and editor and， at various points， both the publisher and vice president of Marvel Comics， Lee not only introduced interesting characters to the industry， but changed the way that comic books came together. He also created a cooperative workflow between writers and artists， which became known as the “Marvel Method”. Lee received a National Medal of Arts in 2008 for his innovations that completely changed American comic books.

4. What do we know about Lee from Paragraph 2？

A. He served for the US Army for two years. B. He suffered from an unfortunate marriage.

C. He had a hard and poor childhood. D. He adopted his pen name at the age of 16.

5. What was the company called when Spider-Man was created？

A. Timely Comics. B. Marvel Comics. C. Atlas Comics. D. DC Comics.

6. What does the underlined word “icon” in the last paragraph mean？

A. Theme. B. Character. C. Assistant. D. Symbol.

7. What can be the best title for the text？

A. Stan Lee， the Godfather of Marvel Comics B. The Development of Marvel Comics

C. Stan Lee， a Superhero in Comic Books D. The Popular Superheroes of Marvel Comics

The baby is just one day old and has not yet left hospital. She is quiet but alert （警觉的）. Twenty centimeters from her face researchers have placed a white card with two black spots （斑点） on it. She stares at it carefully. A researcher removes the card and replaces it by another， this time with the spots differently spaced. As the cards change from one to the other， her gaze （凝视） starts to lose its focus—until a third， with three black spots， is presented. Her gaze returns： she looks at it for twice as long as she did at the previous card. Can she tell that the number two is different from three， just 24 hours after coming into the world？

Or do newborns simply prefer more to fewer？ The same experiment， but with three spots shown before two， shows the same return of interest when the number of spots changes. Perhaps it is just the newness？ When slightly older babies were shown cards with pictures of objects （a comb， a key， an orange and so on）， changing the number of objects had an influence separate from changing the objects themselves. Could it be the pattern that two things make， as opposed to three？ No again. Babies paid more attention to squares moving randomly on a screen when their number changed from two to three， or three to two. The effect even crosses between senses. Babies who were repeatedly shown two spots became more excited when they then heard three drumbeats than when they heard just two; likewise when the researchers started with drumbeats and moved to spots.

8. The experiment described in Paragraph 1 is related to the babys ___ .

A. sense of hearing B. sense of sight

C. sense of touch D. sense of smell

9. Babies are alert to the change in ___ .

A. the size of cards B. the color of pictures

C. the shape of patterns D. the number of objects

10. Why did the researchers test the babies with drumbeats？

A. To reduce the difficulty of the experiment. B. To see how babies recognize sounds.

C. To carry their experiment further. D. To keep the babies interest.

11. Where does the text probably come from？

A. A story of science fiction. B. A piece of childrens literature.

C. A science report. D. An advertisement.

How can a creature weighing over 5 tons and normally taking 150 kilograms of food and 120 liters of water per day survive in a desert environment？

In the southwest African country of Namibia， and the Sahara lands of Mali further north， the desert elephant does just that.

Although not regarded as a separate species （物种） from the African elephant， the desert cousin differs in many ways. Their bodies are smaller， to absorb less heat， and their feet are larger for easier walking across sandy surfaces. They are taller， to reach higher branches. They have shorter tusks， and most importantly， longer trunks to dig for water in riverbeds.

Desert elephants can travel over 70 kilometers in search for feeding grounds and waterholes， and have a larger group of families. They drink only every 3 to 4 days， and can store water in a “bag” at the back of their throat， which is only used when badly needed. Desert elephants are careful feeders—they seldom root up trees and break fewer branches， and thus maintain little food sources are available. Young elephants may even eat the dung （糞便） of the female leader of a group when facing food shortage.

During drought they are unlikely to give birth to their young but with good rains the birthrate will increase greatly. Desert elephants have sand baths， sometimes adding their own urine to make them muddy！

As we continue to overheat our weak planet， it can only be hoped that other animal species will adapt （适应） as extraordinarily well to change as the desert elephant.

12. The underlined part in Paragraph 2 means “___”.

A. remains in the African countries B. drinks 120 liters of water a day

C. manages to live in desert areas D. eats 150 kilograms of food daily

13. Why are desert elephants called “careful feeders”？

A. They rarely destroy trees. B. They drink every 3 to 4 days.

C. They search for food in large groups. D. They protect food sources for their young.

14. The writer answers the question mentioned in Paragraph 1 with ___ .

A. stories and explanation B. examples and conclusion

C. facts and descriptions D. evidence and argument

15. What does the last paragraph suggest？

A. Overheating the earth can be stopped. B. Other animals are not so adaptable as desert elephants.

C. Our planet will become hotter and hotter. D. Many animals are not as smart as desert elephants.

（二）

Kid Inventors—Attend Kids Day at the Invention Show

INPEX?， the American largest invention trade show， is looking for kid inventors to bring their inventions to Kids Day at the Invention Show. Young inventors come for a chance to win cash prizes and great giveaways.

No invention？ No problem！ Kids Day isnt just for kid inventors. Enjoy music， games and many interesting activities for all ages. Bring your family and friends for a fun day of creativity and excitement.

Attention， young inventors！

There will be lots of exciting activities to take part in and inventions to check out from kid inventors. All inventions will be judged and cash prizes will be awarded （奖励）. Every exhibitor will receive a certificate （證书） for taking part and a bag full of fun things just for bringing your invention to Kids Day.

Kids Day activity schedule

8：00 am—11：00 am Set?up time for inventions， exhibits and activities

11：00 am Judging of inventions

12：00 pm Kids Day at the Invention Show opens to the public

12：00 pm—4：00 pm Activities in progress and inventions on display

3：30 pm Prizes are awarded for inventions

4：30 pm—6：00 pm Tear-down （拆除） of inventions， displays and activities

How to sign up for Kids Day at the Invention Show？

Please print Kids Day Participation Form. Then fill it out and mail it or fax it to：

ATTN： Kids Day

217 Ninth Street

Pittsburgh， PA 15222

Fax：（412） 288-4546

If you have any questions， please e?mail info@inpex.com.

1. People who go to the show can surely ___ .

A. win cash prizes B. receive a certificate

C. get a bag full of fun things D. take part in interesting activities

2. When can people enjoy the invention show？

A. At 10：30 am. B. At 11：30 am. C. At 3：30 pm. D. At 4：30 pm.

3. How can one sign up for the invention show？

A. By fax. B. By email. C. By phone. D. By online ordering.

Charles Bridge is a 14th century stone bridge linking the two sides of Prague. This grand bridge is one of the citys finest attractions， and is the main route （路線） connecting the Old Town with the Lesser Town and Prague Castle.

From Charles Bridge visitors can enjoy fairy?tale views of the Prague skyline. The wide river， with beautiful buildings on both sides， flows below it. Prague Castle towers above not far away. Here you are truly in the center of the city.

Charles Bridge is full of people during the day. Street artists paint and musicians play here and there. If you are traveling there， look out for the jazz band， which is especially entertaining. But for a truly romantic and less crowded walk， try the early morning or any time in the evening. There are not so many people in the early morning or in the evening. That way you can take a relaxing walk.

King Charles Ⅳ arranged to build the bridge. The foundation stone was laid in 1357. Charles Ⅳs favorite architect and builder， Peter Parler， watched over most of the work. The first idea was to build a bridge for knight tournaments （锦标赛）， and for many years the only decoration on the bridge was a simple cross. Later， the Catholic desire for beautiful designs resulted in 30 statues （雕塑） being erected between 1600 and 1800.

There are now 75 statues on Charles Bridge， but most are copies， as floods and other natural disasters over the centuries damaged the original ones. Perhaps the most interesting， as well as the oldest， is the John of Nepomuk. It is the 8th from the right as you cross towards Prague Castle.

The entrance to Charles Bridge is marked at both ends by towers： the Old Town Bridge Tower and the Mala Strana Bridge Tower.

4. What do we know about Charles Bridge？

A. It is far away from Prague Castle. B. It is the most famous attraction in Prague.

C. It was built in the early 14th century. D. It is located in the center of the city.

5. What does the underlined word “erected” in Paragraph 4 mean？

A. Destroyed. B. Copied. C. Bought. D. Built.

6. From Paragraph 5， we know John of Nepomuk is the name of ___ .

A. Charles Bridges builder B. the oldest statue on Charles Bridge

C. a tower at the end of Charles Bridge D. a famous building near Charles Bridge

7. What is the text mainly about？

A. The introduction of Charles Bridge. B. The builder of Charles Bridge.

C. The history of Charles Bridge. D. The finest attractions in Prague.

Asked to picture an electric guitar， most people will immediately bring to mind Leo Fenders most famous model—the Stratocaster. Upon its introduction in 1954， the Stratocaster not only redefined （重新定義） the sound of American music， but also immediately became an astonishing piece of design. Many musicians found Fenders first model， the Telecaster， clumsy， so he simply improved the instrument， making its shape fit a players body. For Fender， form followed function （功能） as naturally as morning followed night.

You can learn more about electric guitars from The Birth of Loud. Ian S. Ports book is a vivid description of the careers of Fender and his main competitor， Les Paul， the star guitarist. The book explores the two mens rise with extraordinary skills and authority.

“Although they would be forever linked in their fame， they were in many ways opposites. Fender was silent and could often be found working in his laboratory until late at night， while Paul was a showman， a musical and technical talent who was one of the biggest stars before the age of rocknroll pop. What they shared was that they both dared to try out crazy ideas. They were untrained men who could build or fix almost anything，” Port observes.

This book reflects Ports ability to marry an anecdotal writing style to a musicians ear. Describing sound is extraordinarily difficult. I myself have played electric guitars designed by Fender and Paul for many years， and Ports descriptions of their different sounds are the most accurate （准确的） I have ever read. Ports writing skills are shown clearly when he describes Hendrixs famous performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner at Woodstock” in 1969， which pushed rock guitar playing to a height it may never again reach. Port wisely ends his book here. The story of these instruments is the story of America from 1945 to the 1960s： loud， over-confident， aggressively new.

8. What is Stratocaster famous for？

A. Its main functions. B. Its wide use.

C. Its professional designer. D. Its special sound and form.

9. What similarity did Fender and Paul share？

A. Having a bright personality. B. Being well-known as a pop star.

C. Being ready to put ideas into practice. D. Concentrating on rocknroll all their life.

10. Which is a clear feature of the book according to the writer？

A. It connects music with history. B. It records the birth of rock music.

C. It shows professional knowledge. D. It describes events rather than persons.

11. What is the purpose of the text？

A. To recommend a good book. B. To spread electric guitars.

C. To popularize rocknroll. D. To honor two musicians.

Bananas are a good source of various vitamins and minerals. They can help fight against depression and prevent cramps （痙挛）. They can lower blood pressure and protect against heart attacks. To most people， bananas taste great. They add natural sweetness to some baked goods and healthy drinks. So， there are many reasons to eat bananas.

And now there is another. Bananas， it turns out， have a secret weapon which could protect against viruses （病毒）. Scientists are now taking a protein （蛋白质） found in bananas and turning it into a drug that may someday fight viral infections （感染）. The secret weapon is called banana lectin， or BanLee. BanLee is a protein that attaches to sugar molecules and keeps viruses out of cells. A virus cannot infect what it cannot enter， and simply dies if it cant infect cells. According to the researchers， BanLee could be one of the first anti-viral agents to treat a wide range of viruses， including HIV and even the common flu virus.

BanLee is a modified， or changed， protein. “Remember， when you are eating the banana， the protein is an actual protein， not our modified protein; it is probably going to be chewed by the stomach acid. So we very much doubt whether eating bananas will help you，” says David Markowitz， senior co-author of the study at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

At this point， Markowitz says， there are no plans to test the BanLee protein on humans. Its early days， he says. “Were trying to help people with their health， not harm them. So its good to be cautious about where we are going. We also want to be successful with this drug very much， but were not there.”

It may be early on， but these researchers may want to hurry. A deadly fungus， called Tropical Race 4 （TR4）， has been killing banana crops seriously around the world.

12. What does the first paragraph mainly tell us？

A. Bananas can be used to cure diseases. B. Bananas are of great help to our health.

C. Bananas can be cooked in many ways. D. Bananas are a favorite food to most people.

13. What does the “secret weapon” of bananas in Paragraph 2 refer to？

A. A kind of sugar molecule. B. A special virus.

C. A kind of protein. D. A viral agent.

14. What can we learn about the BanLee protein from Markowitz？

A. It comes out to be a failure. B. It will be tested on animals first.

C. It is impossible to be tested on people. D. It will unavoidably do a little harm to health.

15. Why does the writer say the researchers may want to hurry？

A. The supply of bananas is facing trouble. B. More and more people have serious diseases.

C. Many other countries are doing the same research. D. A deadly virus is killing people around the world.

（三）

When it comes to thrilling places to travel to， the nation of Thailand has got to be at or near the top of the list. The beaches of Thailand are simply amazing. Here is a look at the four best beaches in all of Thailand.

Maya Bay

This small beach attracts some huge crowds， but it is still worth a visit thanks to what is widely regarded as some of the best scenery in the entire country. The Maya Bay beach is located on a small island and is only accessible via boat or passenger ferry.

Lamai Beach

For the travelers looking for an unforgettable beach experience during their visit to Thailand， a trip out to Lamai Beach in Samui is a must. The sandy areas are long and wide with plenty of room for everyone. The water is inviting and easy to access.

Patong Beach

Patong Beach is not only one of the most beautiful and popular beaches in Thailand， but it is the largest beach on the popular island of Phuket. The soft white sand is a great place to relax. Some of the many great activities that travelers can participate in during a visit to Patong Beach include jet skiing， kayaking， surfing， diving， snorkeling， swimming， and more.

Haad Rin

Haad Rin is one of the most popular party spots in the country， for both locals and travelers. All month long， during most parts of the year， there are some exceptional entertainment， eating， and socializing （交際） opportunities.

1. Where can you go if you like underwater sports？

A. Maya Bay. B. Lamai Beach. C. Patong Beach. D. Haad Rin.

2. If you want to have a special beach experience， you can go to ___ .

A. Maya Bay B. Lamai Beach C. Patong Beach D. Haad Rin

3. What can travelers experience at Haad Rin？

A. Relax on the white soft sand. B. Have a good time with the locals.

C. Participate in adventurous activities. D. Learn much culture and history about Thailand.

There was a time when I thought I would never have that sort of career （事業）. I wasnt an excellent student. In my final term I started thinking what I might do and just accepted that I wasnt the type to have a career.

I then found myself a job， looking after two little girls. It wasnt too bad at first. But the problems began when my boss had to go out for business in the evening. We agreed that if I had to work extra hours one week， shed give me time off the next. But unluckily， it didnt often work out. I was getting extremely tired and fed up， because I had too many late nights and early mornings with the children.

One Sunday， I was in the park with the children， and met Megan， who suggested I get a qualification （资格证书） if I wanted to work with children. I didnt think I would be accepted but the local college was really helpful. My experience counted a lot and I got on a part-time course. Then I left my first job.

Now Ive got a full-time job. I shall always be thankful to Megan. I wish I had known earlier that you could have a career， even if you arent top of the class at school. I really love my job and like the challenges and awards from the job. I also think my work is important.

4. When staying with the two girls family， the writer ___ .

A. was paid for extra work B. often worked long hours

C. got much help from her boss D. took a day off every other week

5. Why did the writer leave her first job？

A. She found a full-time job. B. She decided to attend a part-time course.

C. She was tired of children. D. She needed a rest after working extra hours.

6. What is TRUE about the writers present job？

A. She takes it as a part-time job. B. She thinks it helpful.

C. She treats it as a career. D. She makes much money from it.

7. What has the writer learned from her own experiences？

A. One must choose the job she likes. B. Hard work makes an excellent student.

C. Qualifications are necessary for a career. D. Less successful students can still have a good career.

The early life of the green sea turtle （海龟） is full of danger. Only one in 1，000 baby sea turtles survive to adulthood. From its home in the sand， it breaks its egg with an egg tooth. Its mother is not there to help it. Instead， it is greeted by crabs， coyotes， and dogs waiting to eat it for dinner. To survive， the baby turtle must hide in the sand until night. Then， it moves slowly to the sea.

The small turtle must swim hard to reach the ocean waters. In the sea， it tries hard to find food. It must also keep itself from being food for fish.

As dangerous as the sea turtles life is in the natural world， its most dangerous enemies are humans. The rubbish left by humans in the ocean causes problems for the small green sea turtle. A little turtle might eat a piece of plastic （塑料） in the sea. It might also eat oil on the oceans surface. Young turtles also get caught in fishing nets. There are laws against hunting sea turtles. Still， many are hunted， both for their meat and for their shells. All of these dangers must be prevented.

Sea turtles that do survive to grow into adulthood go through many changes. For example， adult green sea turtles weigh about 500 pounds. They stop eating jellyfish and other meat and eat only plants. And they may plan a trip to go back home again. A mother sea turtle goes back to the beach where she was born. This is the only place where she will lay eggs. Even if it has been forty years since she was a baby， she always knows her way back home.

8. Why do baby turtles move to the sea at night？

A. They dislike sunshine. B. They need to avoid enemies.

C. They can find food easily then. D. They prefer lower temperatures.

9. What does the writer think of the young turtles according to Paragraph 3？

A. Pitiful. B. Careless. C. Interesting. D. Courageous.

10. What can we learn about sea turtles from the last paragraph？

A. They mainly feed on fish and meat. B. They can live for around forty years.

C. They always produce eggs at their birthplaces. D. They visit their beach homes several times a year.

11. What is the text mainly about？

A. The homes of sea turtles. B. How sea turtles find their food.

C. The dangers faced by sea turtles. D. How young turtles become adults.

The term “liberal bubble” （自由泡沫） suggests that people usually surround themselves with those who hold similar opinions to them. Think about your own social media platforms （社交媒體平台）—who your Facebook friends are， and who you follow on Instagram and Twitter. You probably share a lot of opinions with most， if not all， of them. However， if youre used to everyone agreeing with you all the time， it becomes difficult to have a good conversation with someone who disagrees.

The world is full of experiences， realities， and history. It would be naive to believe that only your views are correct. We should always make space for the possibility that someone who looks different might have something valuable to offer the world. Carefully listening and being curious about different perspectives， in most cases， can help build bridges instead of walls. We all benefit when we listen carefully—even if we finally conclude that we disagree.

The world we live in is increasingly divided， especially on social media， which means that for most， the only opinions we hear are ones that agree with our own thoughts. So how can we have productive （富有成效的） discussions with people who think differently from us？ First， follow people who dont look like you on social media. Follow people with different skills. Follow people of many different nationalities. Just reading their day-to-day thoughts， in addition to seeing their bigger moments， will help you learn about worlds you didnt even know. Itll help you understand where people are coming from when they do or say something you might push back on at the beginning. As far as having productive discussions， dont try to win others over to your side. Just listen to each other. Respect your differences. Another way is to join a club or organization where many people have different views and are willing to debate with love.

12. What are people very likely to do when communicating on the Internet？

A. Pay no attention to the views that disagree with theirs.

B. Fight with people who have the same opinions.

C. Follow various friends on different platforms.

D. Share their opinions with people who disagree.

13. What is mainly discussed in Paragraph 2？

A. How to make sure your views are correct. B. The reasons why people have different views.

C. How to communicate with people who disagree. D. The importance of listening to different views.

14. What does a productive discussion mean according to the text？

A. The two sides always reach an agreement. B. One finally agrees with the others thoughts.

C. You discuss with people who are wiser than you. D. You get valuable information during the discussion.

15. What does the text suggest people do to have productive discussions？

A. Keep away from social media. B. Care about others daily lives.

C. Avoid expressing your own opinions. D. Get to know why people behave in a certain way.

Eight-year-old Mia Jansa had diabetes （糖尿病） and had become good at testing her blood during the day， as well as having something to eat or drink to bring her blood sugar levels back. But the danger was at night. Mia could easily experience hypoglycemic （低血糖症的） situations when she was asleep， which could cause even death.

Soon after she was adopted， Pippa went into Mias bedroom in the middle of the night and woke her up. When the child tested her blood sugar levels， she found they were dangerously low. Ever since， Pippa always visits Mia at night. If she cant get her to wake up， she raises the alarm.

“Pippa does this of her own accord，” says Mias mother Laura. “We dont make a request for caring because we dont want to encourage wrong alarms. She gets plenty of hugs. It gives me peace of mind and I know someone else is keeping an eye on Mia.”

Now the family is so happy that theyve chosen to adopt it in the first place.

4. Why did the family decide to adopt Pippa？

A. They considered it as a lifesaver. B. Her character interested them.

C. They really loved her looks. D. Mia Jansa needed help.

5. What problem did Mia Jansa face？

A. She was tired of testing her blood. B. She might suffer death in the daytime.

C. She might be in danger while asleep at night. D. She couldnt have her blood return to normal.

6. Why does Pippa visit Mia at night？

A. To get some food from her. B. To make her laugh when shes lonely.

C. To make sure that she is safe. D. To play with the alarm.

7. What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 5 mean？

A. Pippa does that according to her own habits. B. Pippa does that without being asked.

C. Pippa does that for her own good. D. Pippa does that without a purpose.

Its summer， and school-aged kids are finding all kinds of ways to have fun， from a trip to the pool or playground to playing games with smart phones. As a result， they are also forgetting some of what they learned in school， a phenomenon （現象） called “summer slide”. Fortunately， summer slide can be prevented with just a little regular practice of fun.

Encourage reading every day. Make a special event out of a trip to the public library， and let your kids pick out whatever interests them. Give your kids a special treat for every book they finish. Help them set up a reading corner in their room thats quiet， comfortable and free of various electronic distractions （干扰）. Best of all， give them the gift of your own example as an enthusiastic reader.

Another way to make reading fun is to share a poem together. Poems by writers like Dr Seuss， Shel Silverstein and Maurice Sendak are fun to read aloud， and often have a strong sense of humor that attracts children. Take turns reading them aloud to each other， talk about what they mean， and see if you can memorize your favorites. Then have a contest to see who can write the best poem.

Summer is a great time to visit a learning place together. Childrens museums are specially designed to make learning fun and enjoyable for kids and let them practice essential skills. Or just take a walk together on one of your many nature paths， where your children can use their reading skills to learn about the plants， animals and geology around them. And of course， dont forget the special programs offered by many local public libraries， along with many other learning materials for kids of all ages.

8. Which of the following can be named “summer slide”？

A. Not knowing how to play computer games. B. Forgetting how to organize a camping activity.

C. Forgetting how to sing an English song. D. Not remembering how to do a physical test.

9. What is the best way to keep children reading according to the text？

A. Taking them to libraries often. B. Setting an example to them.

C. Setting a reading corner in their room. D. Giving them a treat to encourage reading.

10. What do we know about the poems mentioned in Paragraph 3？

A. They are easy to read aloud. B. They can be memorized by children.

C. They are suitable for both adults and children. D. They attract children with their sense of humor.

11. What is the text mainly about？

A. The cause of summer slide. B. Ways to prevent summer slide.

C. Ways to keep children active in summer. D. The influence of summer slide on children.

Imagine walking through an ancient city， then climbing a gate tower to take in a wonderful view of the city and its more than 600-year-old walls. You can hear the citys heartbeat in the air. This is the Ancient City of Pingyao in Shanxi Province， a place that should definitely be on your travel route if you enjoy history or ancient architecture since its origins can be dated back to more than 2，700 years ago.

Located in the center of Shanxi Province， Pingyao is the hometown of Jin merchants， a group of people who actively dominated （支配） a booming commodity market throughout China for more than 500 years， especially during the Ming and Qing dynasties. After the founding of the Peoples Republic of China in 1949， the citys agriculture and manufacturing industries （制造業） developed rapidly. Following Chinas reform and opening-up in the 1980s， Pingyao tried very hard with the transition from a managed economy to the current market-oriented economy. During this time， the city government sought out new ways to break through this economic bottleneck.

Finally in the winter of 1997， opportunity came knocking. Through the efforts of the city government， Pingyao earned its place on the UNESCO World Heritage List， which caused the entire world to take notice of the city.

Since the citys fame has risen， locals in Pingyao have deepened their understanding of protecting the historical relics in their hometown. Meanwhile the city administration has continued to upgrade itself through a strategy that follows the pillars （核心） of “conservation， entrepreneurship， development and protection”.

Currently， the city concentrates on setting up a sustainable industry that will enable it to continue to grow while also protecting its relics and introducing them to the world.

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

A. Translation. B. Spread. C. Method. D. Change.

13. What contributed to Pingyaos popularity around the world？

A. The city governments hard work. B. The official recognition by the UNESCO.

C. The development of Pingyaos economy. D. The ancient architecture in the city.

14. What measure is taken to further develop the city？

A. Developing economy with cultural protection. B. Building more modern buildings.

C. Learning from other cities in the world. D. Setting up more manufacturing industries.

15. How is the text developed？

A. By giving examples. B. By following time order. C. By listing reasons. D. By raising questions.

（五）

Frances Stevens Reese Woodland Trail Guide

The Woodland Trail was opened to the public on October 21， 1997. Boscobels Board of Directors adopted a formal decision of naming the Woodland Trail in honor of the former Boscobel Board member， Frances Stevens Reese （1917—2003）， one year after her death.

The trail is about 10 miles in length， leading down to Constitution Forest. When the West Point Glass Factory was operating during the Civil War， trees for miles around were cleared to provide firewood. Walking out of the forest， you will find a large mass of native hard rock about three billion years old.

Throughout this country path （小徑）， you will find many birds and plants local to this region. You will also find signs with historical and environmental information written by area specialists.

When you take a walk through this “undiscovered” forest land， please be a considerate guest.

● Before walking along the trail， please buy a pass in the Carriage House. Plan ahead， so you will be back by closing time.

● Follow the trail markers （标识） and remain on the trail. Besides protecting the fragile forest ecosystem， you will reduce the risk of getting hurt by poisonous plants and snakes.

● Leave rocks， plants， animals and artwork where you see them so that the person behind you can have the same experience.

● Carry out whatever you carry in because there are no rubbish containers on the trail. If you happen to see a piece of litter， be a good guest and pick it up.

1. When was the trail named to honor Frances Stevens Reese？

A. In 1997. B. In 1918. C. In 2002. D. In 2004.

2. What can you see along the trail？

A. An old battle field. B. A glass factory. C. Information signs. D. Rock houses.

3. What should you do as a thoughtful visitor？

A. Leave the wildlife where it is. B. Throw the rubbish into the dustbins.

C. Book the ticket in the Carriage House. D. Protect the markers of the Woodland Trail.

Many years ago I worked in a psychiatric （精神病学的） hospital. I spent a great deal of time with a gentleman who had been in this hospital for many years. He never had any visitors at all—no family or friends to visit him. He never spoke， or seemed to understand anything that was said to him， nor would he react in any way to a question asked. In this persons history， it appeared that he had a very important career （職业） where his intelligence made him a very successful man. Unfortunately， his career was cut short and he ended up needing complete care.

One morning， I was attending to his needs while talking to him about what was happening in the local community. You see， I believe that real conversations are more important than no conversation at all and that it is more important to treat everyone with respect. I was busy dressing him after his bath， putting his clothes on， and then helping him to a chair when， totally unexpectedly， he turned to me and joined in a spirited， knowledgeable and focused discussion on a specific local event that I had been talking to him a few seconds before. This lively discussion lasted for no more than thirty seconds and then he suddenly stopped， looked straight ahead and no longer spoke. Despite my efforts to make the discussion continue， he just sat and looked straight ahead.

It was amazing. When he started to speak to me， I thought that I had made a breakthrough that would allow him to leave the hospital for good. Now I think maybe it was a little wonder. I suppose his speech might result from his neurons （神经元） connecting again for a short moment.

Maybe his speaking was just a little “thank you” for the little kindness I gave him. Maybe life is supposed to be like that—a little giving means a lot to others.

4. What can we know about the gentleman from Paragraph 1？

A. His illness was connected with his career. B. He got ill so no family or friends visited him.

C. He could do nothing but react to questions asked. D. His success might have a lot to do with his intelligence.

5. Why did the writer speak to the gentleman that morning？

A. To expect a wonder to happen. B. To show respect for him.

C. To make a conversation with him. D. To make him know what happened.

6. What kind of person is the writer？

A. Quiet and honest. B. Clever and energetic.

C. Caring and kind. D. Brave and talented.

7. What can be the best title for the text？

A. Kindness May Work Wonders B. The Importance of Giving

C. Helping Others Is Helping Ourselves D. A Story in the Hospital

Consider these five words： island， honour， sign， tongue， climb. At first glance， you probably dont think they have anything in common. Then， you might find some of them contain the most common letter in the English language. And you might need to go back to your grade-school grammar lessons to see the connection. If youre still confused， say each word slowly. Did you notice a missing syllable （音節） or two？ Actually， all five words have one or more silent letters—and thats just a small sample of them.

Its no secret that the English language has lots of crazy grammar rules， and the way we pronounce words is no exception. While there are 26 letters in the alphabet （字母表）， they share at least 44 different pronunciations among them. The letter A， for example， has seven different English pronunciations alone. At least you can safely ignore these common grammar rules.

On top of that， almost every letter in the alphabet has a silent usage， too. Think about it： from the C in scissors to the U in build， the English language has a bad habit of dropping letters in certain words. Even unusual letters like Z and J are silent in words that we have adopted from foreign languages， such as marijuana （originally a Spanish word） and laissez-faire （French）.

But as Merriam-Webster Dictionary points out， one unusual letter is never silent： the letter V. While it makes an appearance in words like quiver and vivid， you can be sure it always behaves the exact same way. That might change， though. In 2017， President Donald Trump tweeted the word “covfefe”， which caused heated debate about how， exactly， one should say this made-up term. Some suggested that it is pronounced with a silent V.

8. Why does the writer mention the underlined words in Paragraph 1？

A. They contain different letters. B. Each of them has one or more silent letters.

C. They are difficult to pronounce. D. None of them has silent letters.

9. Why is the letter A mentioned in Paragraph 2？

A. To show it has many pronunciations. B. To say English has many grammar rules.

C. To explain words have similar pronunciations. D. To prove English letters have different pronunciations.

10. Which letter is seldom silent in the English language？

A. The letter A. B. The letter J. C. The letter V. D. The letter Z.

11. What is the text mainly about？

A. English pronunciations. B. English letters.

C. English grammar rules. D. English vocabulary.

The monarch （黑脉金斑蝶） is one of the most beautiful butterflies. It is famous for its yearly migration （遷徙） from the northern part of North America to Mexico. There， millions of monarchs spend the winter packed closely together in one small area. This migration is one of the greatest wonders of nature. Yet this behavior has now put the monarch at risk.

Every September， millions of monarchs from the United States fly to Mexico. After about two months of flying time， they reach their shelter in central Mexico. Then， in the warm climate of private and quiet valleys， far from most human activity， the butterflies create one of natures great scenes. They cover every tree with bright color. The show lasts until spring， when the butterflies return north.

While they are all crowded together， the monarchs are highly weak. If the environment in those valleys was disturbed， the whole species could be hurt or even wiped out. That is why for many years scientists who knew about the monarchs winter sanctuary （保护区） kept the location a secret.

In recent years， however， the monarchs secret has been revealed. Today， the butterflies winter sanctuary is crowded with tourists， who disturb the environment. Worse still， local farmers who need more land to farm have begun to take up the area. They are cutting down trees， making it difficult for the butterflies to survive. They should not farm in the monarchs sanctuary.

Concerned people should act immediately to protect the species winter shelter. Local farmers must be helped so that they no longer need to take land from the butterflies. Tourist visits to the butterflies hidden valleys must also be limited. Unless these steps are taken soon， in a few years the monarch butterfly of North America may be just a beautiful memory.

12. What do we know about monarch butterflies？

A. They fly to the US in autumn. B. They spend the winter in a pack.

C. They are the most beautiful butterflies. D. They have been known to human until recent years.

13. What is Paragraph 2 mainly about？

A. The monarchs diet. B. The monarchs colors.

C. The monarchs life cycle. D. The monarchs migration.

14. What does the underlined word “reveal” in Paragraph 4 mean？

A. Seen. B. Forgotten. C. Kept. D. Discovered.

15. What is the purpose of the text？

A. To tell people where to watch monarch butterflies. B. To provide information about monarch butterflies.

C. To ask people to protect monarch butterflies. D. To call on people to protect the environment.

（六）

Do you have a favorite beach that you have visited？ If you hesitate to answer， please look at the following.

Siesta Key， United States

Siesta Key is on the Gulf of Mexico. It offers safe and clean waters， a big beach， striking sunsets， and excellent seashell collecting. Visitors of all ages go to Siesta Key when the tide is low to find beautiful， large and， sometimes， rare seashells.

La Concha， Spain

La Concha beach is in the city of San Sebastian， in northern Spains Basque area.

People come here to surf and swim in the Atlantic Oceans La Concha Bay. They also enjoy walking along the wide， curved beach. La Concha is more developed than other best-known beaches. From the sandy coast， you can see San Sebastians tall buildings and hear the sounds of city life. In fact， it is one of Europes best-known urban beaches.

Galapagos Beach， Ecuador

Probably no place on Earth is better known for wildlife than the Galapagos Islands. And the white-sand Galapagos Beach at Tortuga Bay does not disappoint in that respect. Hundreds of sea turtles build their nests here each year. Visitors may also see marine iguanas， sea lions， flamingos， and lava gulls—birds that are found only in the Galapagos.

Elafonissi Beach， Greece

On the Greek Island of Crete， this best beach offers unspoiled （未經破坏的） natural beauty. Elafonissi Beach is known for its extremely blue-green-colored waters， pink sand and black rocks.

It is also known for being somewhat difficult to reach. The road to Elafonissi is narrow and takes many sharp turns. But that does not seem to stop people; it is filled with visitors all the year round.

A. kept perfect time B. gained faster and faster

C. was unbelievably slow D. ran awhile and stopped awhile

6. Why did the writer hit the watchmaker on the head？

A. He was a liar. B. He was talking nonsense.

C. He treated the watch cruelly. D. He was an old enemy of the writer.

7. What did the writer learn from his experience？

A. Never get a watch repaired. B. He should listen to his uncle.

C. Repair work was not an easy job. D. Unsuccessful people exist in all walks of life.

Parents should stop blaming （責备） themselves because theres not a lot they can do about it. I mean the teenager problem. Whatever you do or however you choose to deal with it， at certain times a wonderful， reasonable and helpful child will turn into a terrible animal.

Ive seen friends deal with it in all kinds of different ways. One strict mother insisted that her son， right from a child， should stand up whenever anyone entered the room， open doors and shake hands like a gentleman. I saw him last week when I called round. Sprawling （伸开四肢） himself on the sofa in full length， he made no attempt to turn off the loud TV he was watching as I walked in， and his greeting was no more than a quick glance （瞥一眼） at me. His mother was ashamed. “I dont know what to do with him these days，” she said. “Hes forgotten all the manners we taught him.”

He hasnt forgotten them. Hes just decided that hes not going to use them. She confessed that she would like to come up behind him and throw him down from the sofa onto the floor.

Another good friend of mine let her two daughters climb all over the furniture， reach across the table， stare at me and say， “I dont like your dress; its ugly.” One of the daughters has recently been driven out of school. The other has left home.

“Where did we go wrong？” the parents are now very sad. Probably nowhere much. At least， no more than the rest of that unfortunate race， parents.

8. By whom is the text most probably written？

A. A doctor for mental health problems. B. A headmaster of a middle school.

C. A specialist in teenager studies. D. A parent with teenage children.

9. Which word can best describe the boy on the sofa？

A. Lazy. B. Quiet. C. Unusual. D. Rude.

10. What can we infer from the second example about the parents of the two daughters？

A. They feel helpless to deal with their daughters. B. They are too busy to look after their daughters.

C. They have come to hate their daughters. D. They pay no attention to their daughters.

11. What is the writers opinion about “the sudden change” in teenage children？

A. Parents have no choice but to try to accept it. B. Parents are at fault for the change in their children.

C. Parents should pay more attention to the change. D. Parents should work more closely with teachers.

Observational humour is based on comments （评论） about everyday life. Comedians who use this type of humour often start by saying， “Have you ever noticed how...？” Then， they make funny comments about everyday things such as work， marriage， children， etc. This trend began in the 1970s with US comedians such as Bill Cosby and Jay Leno.

Slapstick humour is very physical. It involves characters falling down， hitting people or crashing into things. This type of comedy is very common in cartoons such as Tom and Jerry， Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. Typical comedians， such as Laurel， Hardy （from The Three Stooges）， Charlie Chaplin， Rowan Atkinson are peoples favorites.

Self-deprecating humour involves making jokes about yourself or drawing attention to your faults. George Costanza from the comedy series Seinfeld uses a lot of self-deprecating humour， often making jokes about his lack of hair， his weight and his shallow （淺薄的） personality. Comedians such as Chris Farley， Conan OBrien， David Letterman and Woody Allen also use self-deprecating comedy.

Toilet humour often focuses on the noises and functions of the body. Its often viewed as rude， impolite and childish， although many people find it very funny. Theres a hilarious scene involving toilet humour in the film Along Came Polly. Reuben （Ben Stiller） is invited back to Pollys apartment （Jennifer Aniston）. After dinner， Reuben accidentally blocks the toilet. In an attempt to unblock it， he uses her hand-embroidered towel （a gift from her grandmother） and an expensive loofah. Eventually， the toilet overflows， leaving Reuben with no option but to leave.

12. What comes from comments on everyday things？

A. Self-deprecating humour. B. Slapstick humour.

C. Observational humour. D. Toilet humour.

13. What do we know about slapstick humour？

A. It is rare in cartoons. B. It mainly uses body movements.

C. It is widely used by comedians. D. It often laughs at people and things.

14. Which of the following belongs to self-deprecating humour？

A. James often falls down on stage. B. Bill often makes funny comments on work.

C. Joe often laughs at himself about his weight. D. Tom makes a loud noise when he goes to the toilet.

15. If you are interested in toilet humour， you can go to see ___ .

A. The Three Stooges B. Tom and Jerry

C. Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck D. Along Came Polly

（七）

Four Creators Who Want to Make Your Life Easier

Munyaradzi Gwatidzo

—From Astro Mobile

As an orphan growing up in one of Zimbabwes poorest areas， Gwatidzo was very interested in electronics. With a big family to care for， Gwatidzo taught himself to repair phones. Gwatidzo in 2011 built his own brand， Astro Mobile. Astro now provides employment to over 2，000 people with various job opportunities.

Cherae Robinson

—From Tastemakers Africa

Tastemakers Africa is a mobile app aiming to revolutionize （改革） the African travel and leisure space. Through the app， travelers and curious locals can book personal experiences. Its founder， Cherae Robinson， has always been passionate （熱诚） about Africa and through her personal adventures got an opportunity.

Neku Atawodi

—From Malaik

How does one go from a sports scientist to a founder starting a crowdfunding （众筹） platform in only four months？“I am passionate about Africa and impressed by the team spirit of the African youth，”she said，“A group of angel investors backing a business can really lead it to success！”

Richard Bbaale

—From BanaPads

BanaPads is not yet available to the market in Africa but its original story alone is pretty inspiring. Having watched his older sister miss school for a week every month because their guardians could not afford clean towels， Richard Bbaale sowed a seed for a business he would later start.

1. Gwatidzo began to repair phones mainly because of ___ .

A. his interest in phones B. his responsibility for his family

C. his aim to set up a brand D. his wish to provide more jobs

2. What is the use of Tastemakers Africa？

A. Helping locals make more money. B. Helping visitors save money.

C. Making it easier to book tickets. D. Making travel more comfortable.

3. Whose app is under the process of research and development？

A. Bbaales. B. Atawodis. C. Robinsons. D. Gwatidzos.

Plastic bags are popular containers in most parts of the world， but they are also a major source of pollution which take hundreds of years to break down， and as they do， tiny pieces can poison soil， lakes， rivers and oceans. Therefore， environmental experts advise people to reuse and recycle plastic bags.

Maryland artist Allita Irby does just that. It starts with the morning newspaper， and the plastic bag that the paper comes in. The mixed media artist recognized its rich possibilities about three years ago. “As I was taking the newspaper out， I felt the texture （質地） of these bags. They were soft. I just looked down and realized it would take three to make a braid （发辫）. Ill just put a few main materials in just to make it strong enough.” Since then， Irby has been using plastic bags to create abstract lines in her art works.

Before using plastic bags in her works， Irby used natural materials like feathers， leather and dried plants， all of which contain elements that represent her Native American style， like one of her works called “Navaho Bundles”. “I was making a hair style， a Navaho hair style when the hair was heavy and it was looped back on itself. I took the piece and looped it back onto itself and secured （固定） it with a tie.”

Ms Irbys neighbors praised her ability to turn waste into treasure. Some people， like Charlotte Hogan， asked the artist to teach them how to create art from used plastic bags. One of Irbys neighbors Aleta Meyer expressed her surprise， “Ive never given any more thought to what to do with a plastic bag. This is definitely different.” Her another neighbor Shirley Watts plans to show others her art. “I want to make a masterpiece that I can put in a frame and put it on my wall and then I know that I did it，” she said.

Allita Irby says anyone can do it and all you have to do is open your eyes and bring the outside in.

4. Whats the first paragraph mainly about？

A. The conditions of making plastics. B. The background of the story.

C. The reason for using plastics. D. The importance of plastic bags.

5. What can we learn about Allita Irby？

A. She will never use plastic bags herself. B. She pays much attention to her hair style.

C. She was born in a Native American family. D. She only uses plastics to make art works now.

6. What can you learn about Allita Irbys art works before she used plastic bags？

A. They are made of natural materials. B. They are similar to Navaho hair styles.

C. They are actually tools used in daily life. D. They offer Irby the inspiration to recycle plastic bags.

7. What do the people mentioned in Paragraph 4 have in common？

A. They are active in protecting the environment. B. They learn art from the same master.

C. They live in the same neighborhood. D. They are all mixed media artists.

Comic con， short for “comic convention （動漫展会）” is an event where fans gather to share and celebrate their love for comic-related pop culture. The first comic book conventions were held in the USA in the 1960s and since then they have become extremely popular all over the world， with some of the bigger events drawing crowds of over 100，000 people and lasting several days. Nowadays there is much more than just comic books on show at a comic con. The most popular events have expanded to include many other types of media and art forms， for example， cartoons， sci-fi， video games and TV series.

One of the highlights of a comic con for many fans is the ability to interact with celebrities of the industry as many artists， writers， actors and directors will appear as special guests. These special guests sign autographs， pose for photos with fans and hold question and answer sessions. Sometimes the fans will queue for several hours to meet these special guests！

Of course there are a lot of goods on sale at a comic con. From comic books to posters and T-shirts to toys， the options are endless but there is one thing in particular that sets comic cons apart from ordinary trade fairs and that is cosplay. Cosplay is the name given to dressing up as your favorite characters from comics， TV and other types represented at comic cons and it has become common for many fans at comic cons to do this. Many people make their own costumes and some of them are very elegant. Cosplaying has become an important part of comic cons all over the world and there are even competitions for the best cosplay！

Going to a comic con is like stepping into another world full of superheroes， time travelers， monsters and robots—you can really find them all at a comic con！ It is a great place to be your favorite character for a day and share your love of all comic-related things with other like-minded people.

8. What do we know about the comic con？

A. It has quite a long history. B. It is a popular American art festival.

C. It was designed to attract foreign travelers. D. It was a comic book show at the beginning.

9. Which of the following is a way of interaction between fans and celebrities？

A. Holding a party. B. Discussing photography.

C. Exchanging autographs. D. Asking and answering questions.

10. Which of the fans activities makes a comic con so different？

A. Buying a lot of goods. B. Meeting famous people.

C. Dressing themselves as characters. D. Making their own costumes.

11. What is the main purpose of the text？

A. To introduce a trip to a comic con. B. To give an introduction of the comic con.

C. To explain why the comic con is so popular. D. To describe the writers experience at a comic con.

Mistakes are a part of life. To err is human. Failure is also a part of life， not the end of life. Be happy facing lifes challenges. When you make the effort to be happy and to improve your life， you are actually rewarded along the way.

Life is like a game and maybe you can award （獎励） points for every effort that has been a success for you. Try it. Add ten points for every achievement. And when you have reached 50 points， just yell， “Hey， Ive won！” and give yourself a reward. If you happen to have missed your points for whatever reason， tell yourself， “Well， I tried！” which is better than not trying at all. Dont let it be said you didnt try.

What is it that you want to make yourself happy？ Actually happiness means different things to different people. For example， an athlete will be happy winning his first race. For a new mother happiness would be seeing her babys first steps. Happiness for a poor person would mean having a meal just for today. So happiness for you is really something simple that you want for yourself.

It really doesnt have to be big. As a matter of fact， you should be always realistic （现实的）. Make the best out of every given situation. If you expect a certain result from a situation and it does not happen， dont get despondent. This just means trying harder next time. We all have in us the power to succeed. Dont let “give up” be a part of your vocabulary.

12. By saying “To err is human”， the writer means that ___ .

A. nobody is perfect B. mistakes make up our life

C. humans make mistakes easily D. humans should avoid making mistakes

13. What does Paragraph 2 mainly tell us？

A. Try to reach your goal. B. Never stop trying in your life.

C. Award yourself for your success. D. Dont be afraid of failure.

14. The writer proves his idea in Paragraph 3 through ___ .

A. examples B. numbers C. reasons D. stories

15. What does the underlined word “despondent” in the last paragraph mean？

A. Frightened. B. Disappointed. C. Surprised. D. Excited.

（八）

Are you a creative person？

Are you looking for a challenging and unique work environment？

Picture yourself at CRIENGLISH.com.

Positions open to native English Speakers Only.

Video reporters/editors：

● Video-editing experience with an understanding of Final Cut Pro software.

● Resourceful and creative when it comes to finding original stories.

● A comfortable demeanor （舉止） in front of the camera.

● Enjoy working with others in a team-oriented environment.

News presenters：

● Journalistic and radio experience， good news-writing skills.

● Able to work the night and early morning shifts.

● Team spirit and flexibility.

Biz News Reporter/Presenter：

● Journalistic experience， particularly in the field of business news.

● Good reading and presentation skills.

● Able to work at irregular hours.

Copy editors：

● Journalistic experience and good news-writing skills.

● A good command （掌握） of the English language.

● Able to work at irregular hours.

Music DJs：

● Well-versed （精通） in music types like in pop， country， contemporary， etc.， but not hard rock and heavy metal music.

● Personal charm on the air.

● Related experience.

For job possibilities， please email your CV， demos and preferably photographs to job@cri.com.cn. The CV should include such information as your citizenship， age， academic degree， working experience， contact numbers and， if you are already in China， type of visa. Thanks.

1. Which of the following requires irregular work hours？

A. Video reporters & News presenters. B. News presenters & Biz News Reporter.

C. Biz News Reporter & Copy editors. D. Copy editors & Music DJs.

2. What must you do to apply for the positions above？

A. Be creative. B. Have related working experience.

C. Have team spirit. D. Live in English-speaking countries.

3. What is the writers purpose in writing the text？

A. To advertise a website. B. To attract some talents.

C. To introduce a radio station. D. To organize a company.

I have dreamt of taking a trip to Hawaii since I graduated but the best thing always needs waiting. I took a trip with my friends to Haleakala National Park which lies in Hawaii.

When we arrived at Haleakala National Park we were advised to watch the early morning sunrise. I was lost in the sightseeing that afternoon so I could hardly wait to meet the sunrise. In the next morning we all jumped out of the bed very early at 3 oclock and walked to the rocks by the seaside. In the first half an hour we imagined how wonderful it would be when the first light came out through the thick clouds and how soft it would be when the light touched our skin， so we waited and waited. However， another half an hour later I gradually lost my patience since there was nothing but the chilly darkness and I felt that I was frozen to death. But my friends were still extremely cheerful.

It is not clear how a robot would perform music in a new way. But by imitating humans， the Telenoid robot could provide some useful information. What is important is that human musicians often listen to and compare music made by others for a long time before creating music of their own. So the Telenoid robot had better listen to more jazz music first.

8. What will the Telenoid robot be taught to do first？

A. Communicate with human beings. B. Connect music with human emotions.

C. Live and work comfortably with human beings. D. Imitate the movements and sounds of a human singer.

9. What does Pasquier think of the Telenoid robot？

A. It will replace human musicians soon. B. It may have trouble performing music.

C. It will become more popular than The Beatles. D. It may find special connections between things.

10. What can be the best title for the text？

A. The Telenoid， Future Robot Musician B. How to Teach Robots to Perform Music

C. The Right Music Robots Should Listen to D. Human Singers and Robot Musicians

11. In which part of a newspaper can we most probably read this text？

A. Arts. B. Entertainment. C. Science. D. Education.

How to fight Californias wildfires？ Its an “all of the above” response.

There might， indeed， be a need to make it easier to thin dying or dead trees out of thickly forested areas， reducing the fuel for wildfires. But the problem is actually more complex. Even if dead trees are removed， the dry bushes act like kindling （引火物） when wildfires spread.

Even more to the point， thick forests were not a factor in these Californias fires. “Theyre using these fires to talk about forest management that has nothing to do with the landscape in which the fires are occurring，” says Chur Miller. W. M. Keck Professor of Environmental Analysis and History at Pomona College in Claremont， California.

Climate change is making wildfires worse. The resulting unpredictable weather patterns have created shorter， wetter winters in California， producing a sudden， heavy growth of brushes， grasses and trees. After winter， the states ongoing drought and record-high summer temperatures draw water out of the plants， making them near-perfect kindling. With the hot and dry Santa Ana winds of fall， fires explode out of control.

Yet these tragedies cant be blamed （歸咎于） only on global warming. Wildfires are actually important to the states ecosystem. Lodgepole pines， for example， grow well in fire-prone areas where millions of structures have been built in rural areas of California since the 1940s. When they burn， the cost in lives and treasures skyrockets.

Answering these disasters with a one-dimensional solution helps no one， although it might score short-term political points. The proper response includes placing limits on residential expansion into wildlands; better management and removal of dry brushes and continuously addressing the growing concern of climate changes. In other words， the solution isnt either/or. Its all of the above.

12. What do Chur Millers words in Paragraph 3 suggest？

A. It is high time to strengthen forest management.

B. It is wrong to blame thick woods for the fires.

C. It is right to remove dead trees from the forested areas.

D. It is a pity that the fires destroyed the beautiful landscape.

13. How does a shorter and wetter winter in California affect the plants there？

A. By drawing water out of the plants. B. By causing the plants to grow wildly.

C. By expanding the plants into wildlands. D. By making the plants easy to catch fires.

14. What does Paragraph 5 mainly tell us？

A. Global warming caused these tragedies.

B. Californias ecosystem can easily cause wildfires.

C. Lodgepole pines shouldnt be planted in California.

D. The fires brought huge economic losses and many deaths.

15. What is the solution according to the last paragraph？

A. Encouraging people to live in wildlands. B. A combination of different measures.

C. Dealing with the climate change. D. The removal of dry trees.

（九）

Smart phones are so common these days. Its a wonder that our pets dont own one. But they dont necessarily have to. These four apps will help you take care of your best furry friend from dog training to first aid.

Pet First Aid

Price： $3.99

Pet First Aid helps you provide the basic care and attention that your four-legged friend might need in a medical emergency. The application shows owners how to treat illnesses with helpful videos， pictures and articles on subjects like cuts， wound treatment and more. A section called Pet Info lets you enter in information about your pets including when they had their last vaccinations （疫苗接種）， any medicines they take， or information about any diseases or conditions your animal suffers from.

Paw Card Pet Tracker

Price： Free

Paw Card helps you keep a record of your loved ones important information. Use it to record your pets medical contacts， vaccinations， identity cards， medical conditions and medicines. Additional characteristics include a drawing showing your dogs weight over time.

Dog Park Finder

Price： Free

Dog Park Finder helps you locate dog-friendly parks and training locations in your area （USA locations only）. The app includes information on more than 2，200 off-leash （无须给狗拴链的） areas， user photos and more than 6，500 reviews， so you can have fun with your dog off the leash.

Dog Book

Price： Free

Dog Book is a social networking application for dogs. Like Facebook， users can share with other people whats going on in their dogs life， share photos， and find great animal-friendly places to meet up.

1. The app Pet First Aid is different from the other three mainly in ___ .

A. size B. price C. position D. application

2. What application can you use if you want to keep a record of your dogs weight？

A. Paw Card Pet Tracker. B. Dog Park Finder.

C. Pet First Aid. D. Dog Book.

3. Which one is the best choice if you want to find dog training locations？

A. Dog Book. B. Pet First Aid.

C. Dog Park Finder. D. Paw Card Pet Tracker.

My writing career （事業） began ten years ago with my articles published locally and nationally. As a beginner， I was happy to be on my way， writing and learning as much as I could. With two little kids underfoot， as well as working full-time， it was really difficult to make time for writing， but I managed.

Readers told me they laughed， cried or were inspired by my articles. But they didnt know what was really going on behind the typewriter. I was not a happy mommy， and found it difficult to enjoy the little things in everyday life. In short， I was not a happy person.

I realized I had to make some changes. I started walking every morning. It cleared my head， allowed me time to think， gave me fresh air， and made me feel invigorated （精神焕发） and healthy. I was eating wisely， and the weight started to go. I started a new job， joined a monthly writing chapter （协会）， and was determined to keep up my walking. Finding the balance was sometimes difficult. But I was determined to fit in writing because it made me happy. Surely I loved to watch the news and have my tea， but that wasnt what made me truly happy.

My own happiness has shown through my family， my job performance and my attitude towards challenging situations. I again have readers telling me the effect my writing has had on them， with some able to get on with their own writing because of my articles.

It was up to me to make it happen—my own happiness. One step at a time and one word at a time. And I did it.

4. What was a big challenge to the writer according to Paragraph 1？

A. Writing good articles. B. Doing well at work.

C. Finding the time to write. D. Taking good care of children.

5. Why did the writer start walking every morning？

A. To be physically healthy. B. To enjoy fresh early morning air.

C. To have more energy for writing. D. To get back happiness.

6. What can we learn about the writer from the text？

A. She felt satisfied with her writing career. B. She didnt enjoy making changes in her life.

C. She wasnt interested in watching TV news. D. She found the balance between work and life.

7. What does the text mainly tell us？

A. Practice makes perfect. B. Well begun is half done.

C. Time and tide wait for no man. D. Happiness lies in your own hand.

Do you have a younger brother？ Does he always get in trouble？ Well， there might be some science behind that.

According to a report from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology， second-born boys are more likely than first-borns to behave badly， which could be why you from time to time consider your younger brothers or sisters sprites.

Researchers， who explored data from tens of thousands of sibling （兄弟姐妹） pairs from Denmark and Florida， found second-born boys are 20% to 40% more likely to have behavioral problems. If youre the second-born child， you may want to have a little chat with your parents. The reason why second-born siblings may be worse behaved than first-borns is that parents tend to pay less attention to them.

“Second-born children tend to have less attention from the mother than their older siblings because first-born children experience their mothers maternity leaves （產假）. First-borns enjoy the rewards of not only their own time with Mom following their birth， but the time Mom takes off with younger siblings， too，” the authors explain.

Its not just about the parents， however. Speaking to NRP， co-author Joseph Doyle said， “The first-born has role models， who are adults. And the second， later-born children have role models who are slightly unreasonable 2-year-olds， you know， their older siblings. The difference of parental investments （投入） and the sibling influences probably contribute to these differences we see in the labor market and what we find in behaviors against regulations， even against laws. Its just very difficult to separate those two things because they happen at the same time.”

The results， the authors argue， have an important effect on social policy.

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

A. Losers. B. Troublemakers. C. Close playmates. D. Parents pets.

9. According to the report， what influences the second-born childrens behavior？

A. Challenges of their older siblings. B. Fewer chances of talking with others.

C. More family problems they are faced with. D. The amount of attention from parents.

10. Joseph Doyle thinks the older siblings ___ .

A. have different role models B. affect the parental investment

C. contribute to their younger ones problems D. are good examples of their younger ones

11. What can be the best title for the text？

A. Parents Prefer First-born Kids B. Social Policy Guides Family Education

C. How Parents Improve Family Relationships D. Why the Second-born Tend to Be Misbehaved

Most parents fear getting letters home from their childrens school. They are usually informing them that their child is in big trouble. But ahead of the SATs exams next week， one school decided to send a letter of a different type.

The headmaster at Buckton Vale Primary School in Stalybridge sent a letter to all pupils in the sixth grade to tell them how special and unique they are. The letter highlights all the natural skills and abilities the pupils have and everything that makes them “smart individuals.

They are told how their laughter can brighten the darkest day and that the examiners do not know the pupils are kind， trustworthy and thoughtful.

The letter has been put on the schools Facebook page and shared more than 9，000 times with more than 7，000 likes.

The letter reads， “Next week you will sit your SATs tests for maths， reading， spelling， grammar and punctuation. We know how hard you have worked， but there is something very important you must know. The SATs test does not assess （評估） all that makes each of you special and unique. The people who create these tests and score them do not know each of you in the way that we do and certainly not in the way your families do.”

The letter goes on to say that the tests are not the most important thing in life， adding， “The scores you will get from this test will tell you something， but they will not tell you everything. There are many ways of being smart. You are smart！”

The letter has been welcomed by many parents on Facebook. Lynn McPherson wrote， “Thats great... instilling （逐步灌输） hope， faith and belief.” And Mary Tilling said， “Every school child receives one of these. Brilliant.”

12. What does the underlined word “They” in Paragraph 1 refer to？

A. Parents. B. Children. C. Schools. D. Letters.

13. Whats the purpose of the letter sent before the SATs exams？

A. To help students pass the exams.

B. To help students build confidence.

C. To encourage students to do their best in the exams.

D. To encourage students to be responsible for their learning.

14. What message does the letter want to express？

A. Everyone has his own value. B. Nothing is impossible if you set your mind on it.

C. Students should develop different skills. D. Smart students dont always perform well academically.

15. The writer gives two examples in the last paragraph to show ___ .

A. the letter was well received B. the letter was of great help to the parents

C. the parents are easy to please D. the parents support their children

（十）

The United States has a vast network of National Parks spread all around the country. Here are some National Parks for you.

Arches National Park， Utah

More than 2，000 natural stone arches make Arches National Park a special place in Utah. Travelers from around the world come to see brilliant sunsets that light up the sky each night. Hikers and rock climbers will love the endless options for exploring， while more low-key visitors are sure to love the camping.

Acadia， Maine

Super close to Bar Harbor， one of Maines most beloved tiny towns， Acadia National Park tops travel guides for the Vacation State. Before making your way to Mt Desert island， dine on the countrys most famous fish and take advantage of the opportunity to go whale watching on the Atlantic Ocean. When visiting Acadia， set aside some time to hike and go boating.

Mount Rainier， Washington

We couldnt leave the park without slowly moving ice off the list. Washingtons Mount Rainier National Park， found southeast of Seattle， has 25 of them （along with the famous volcano） as its attention-catching sight. The National Park says its “the snowiest place on earth where snow is measured regularly”. If snowcapped peaks arent your thing， plan to visit the park when the weather is warmer.

Great Sand Dunes （沙丘）， Colorado

You probably imagine the Rocky Mountains when you think about Colorado， but did you know that the centennial （百年的） state is also home to the United States largest sand dunes？ See them for yourself at Great Sand Dunes National Park， where you can go sand boarding or “fat biking”. Though June temperatures are said to be some of Southern Colorados best， a warm winter day can be an equally enjoyable time to see the dunes.

1. What do Arches National Park and Acadia have in common？

A. Tourists can hike in the parks. B. They are located in tiny towns.

C. They offer sea food. D. They offer free guide to travelers.

2. What attracts travelers most in Mount Rainier？

A. Sunsets. B. Whales. C. Ice. D. Sands.

3. Where can you go if you are fond of cycling？

A. Arches National Park， Utah. B. Acadia， Maine.

C. Mount Rainier， Washington. D. Great Sand Dunes， Colorado.

Most people know that Marie Curie was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize， and the first person to win it twice. However， few people know that she was also the mother of a Nobel Prize winner.

Born in September， 1897， Irene Curie was the first of the Curies two daughters. Along with nine other children whose parents were also famous scholars， Irene studied in their own school， and her mother was one of the teachers. She finished her high school education at the College of Sevigne in Paris.

Irene entered the University of Paris in 1914 to prepare for a degree in mathematics and physics. When World WarⅠ began， Irene went to help her mother， who was using X-ray facilities to help save the lives of wounded soldiers. Irene continued the work by developing X-ray facilities in military hospitals in France and Belgium. Her services were recognized in the form of a Militarys Medal by the French government.

In 1918， Irene became her mothers assistant at the Curie Institute （研究所）. In December， 1924， Frederic Joliot joined the Institute， and Irene taught him the techniques required for his work. They soon fell in love and were married in 1926. Their daughter Helene was born in 1927 and their son Pierre five years later.

Like her mother， Irene combined family and career. Like her mother， Irene was awarded a Nobel Prize， along with her husband， in 1935. Unfortunately， also like her mother， she developed leukemia （白血病） because of her work with radioactivity （輻射能）. Irene Joliot-Curie died from leukemia on March 17， 1956.

4. Why was Irene Curie awarded a Military Medal？

A. She won the Nobel Prize with Frederic. B. She contributed to saving the wounded.

C. She received a degree in mathematics. D. She worked as a helper to her mother.

5. Where did Irene Curie meet her husband Frederic Joliot？

A. At the Curie Institute. B. At a military hospital.

C. At the University of Paris. D. At the College of Sevigne.

6. When was the second child of the couple born？

A. In 1924. B. In 1926. C. In 1927. D. In 1932.

7. Irene Curie is different from her mother in that ___ .

A. she died from leukemia B. she worked with radioactivity

C. she won the Nobel Prize once D. she combined family and career

Think about the different ways that people use the wind. You can use it to fly a kite or to sail a boat. Wind is one of our cleanest and richest power sources， as well as one of the oldest. Evidence shows that windmills （風车） began to be used in ancient Iran back in the seventh century BC. They were first introduced to Europe during the 1100s， when armies returned from the Middle East with knowledge of using wind power.

For many centuries， people used windmills to grind （磨碎） wheat into flour or pump water from deep underground. When electricity was discovered in the late 1800s， people living in remote （偏远的） areas began to use them to produce electricity. This allowed them to have electric lights and radio. However， by the 1940s， when electricity was available to people in almost all areas of the United States， windmills were rarely used.

During the 1970s， people started becoming concerned about the pollution that is created when coal and gas are burned to produce electricity. People also realized that the supply of coal and gas would not last forever. Then， wind was rediscovered， though it means higher costs. Today， there is a global movement to supply more and more of our electricity through the use of wind.

8. What can we learn about windmills from the text？

A. They were invented by European armies.

B. They have a history of more than 3，000 years.

C. They used to supply power to radio in remote areas.

D. They have rarely been used since electricity was discovered.

9. What was the new use for wind power in the late l9th century？

A. Sailing a boat. B. Producing electricity.

C. Grinding wheat into flour. D. Pumping water from underground.

10. Why did people use wind again to produce power in the 1970s？

A. Wind power is cleaner. B. It is one of the oldest power sources.

C. It was cheaper to create energy from wind. D. The supply of coal and gas failed to meet the needs.

11. What would the writer probably discuss in the paragraph that follows the text？

A. The advantage of wind power.

B. The design of wind power plants.

C. The worldwide movement to save energy.

D. The global movement towards producing power from wind.

Millions of people suffer from motion sickness （晕动症）. They have a lot of activities they fear. They often avoid doing these activities which include long-distance airplane travel， sea-trips， road-trips， even certain movies and video games. However， the French company Boarding Ring promises that it has its way to solve the problem， as long as the users are willing to wear Boarding Glasses.

Why do many people suffer from motion sickness？ It is believed that the brain fails to deal with mixed signals from body parts. For example， when you are looking at your phone on a moving bus， your inner ear realizes the move but your eyes， focused on the screen， think you dont move.

Boarding Glasses tries to ease （減轻） motion sickness by making the users eyes and ears transmit the same message. After the brain receives the same message， it will think you are in a moving environment. Though that sounds difficult， the science behind the glasses is surprisingly simple. The plastic frames （框架）， made up of two round frames on the front and two on the side， are filled with some blue liquid. Any movement can cause the liquid to flow around the eyes. This allows the eyes to sense the move and send the correct signal to the brain.

According to Antoine Jeannin， CEO of Boarding Ring， Boarding Glasses has been tested. The CEO said that over 95 percent of the users felt better after wearing the glasses. The best part is that Boarding Glasses only has a frame， so a single pair can be worn among a group of friends， or even an entire family！

12. Why do some people suffer from motion sickness according to the text？

A. Their eyes cant see the move.

B. Their bodies are in a bad condition.

C. Their ears fail to hear in a moving environment.

D. Their brains cant deal with mixed signals from body parts.

13. Which word can best replace the underlined word “transmit” in Paragraph 3？

A. Destroy. B. Remember. C. Send. D. Record.

14. What is the third paragraph mainly about？

A. The shortcomings of Boarding Glasses. B. The working principle of Boarding Glasses.

C. The design for Boarding Glasses future. D. The response of people wearing Boarding Glasses.

15. What can be the best title for the text？

A. Why Do People Dislike Motion Sickness