Reading Comprehension 阅读理解

閱读下列短文，从每题所给的A 、B 、C和D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。

（一）

A

Home delivery meal kits have been one of the bits of the pandemic： they have enabled diners to carry on getting a taste of restaurant-quality food， while helping restaurants to stay in business， and even make you an excellent chef. Here are four of the best offering delivery in our region：

Berenjak （berenjakbazaar.com）

“The kabab kits from this London-based Iranian restaurant—which range in price from £25 to £45—are a ‘class act'，” says Jay Rayner in The Observer.“My kit even included a pair of plastic gloves for me to wear while dealing with the raw meat. This is the best kind of meal kit—the cooking is fun， and the finished product is utterly delicious.”

Gujarati Rasoi （gujaratirasoi.co.uk）

“I love this vegetarian restaurant，” says Marina O'Loughlin in The Sunday Times.“And its meal boxes are ‘electrifyingly good' too. Family boxes for four cost £65， and I especially love the starter （£15.50）. The dishes were complicated， yet quite easy to cook.”

Lyle's （lylesprovisions.com）

“This Michelin-starred London restaurant delivers its ‘exquisitely delicious' menu boxes each Friday，” says Xanthe Clay in The Daily Telegraph.“At £140 for two， they aren't cheap， and with multiple courses， they do take a bit of work and concentration to cook.”

Santo Remedio （santoremedio.co.uk）

“Order a Remedy kit from Santo Remedio and what you will get is an incredibly generous， sharing-style Mexican feast for two，” says Anna Lawson on BBC's “Good Food”.“The kits come with a choice of slow-cooked meat， accompanied by all the ingredients to make your own pancake. Preparation is simple， thanks to a color-coded instruction.”

1. What can be found in all the introductions to home delivery meal kits？

A. Small gifts.                         B. Cooking instructions.

C. Nice discounts.                      D. Personal recommendation.

2. People who favor Mexican food may go to _____.

A. Berenjak         B. Gujarati Rasoi      C. Lyle's           D. Santo Remedio

3. Who are the potential target readers of the text？

A. Restaurant cooks.                    B. Trainee chefs.

C. Ordinary housewives.                 D. Hotel managers.

B

Astrid Poghosyan， a 28-year-old Armenian violinist， now working as a helper to the president of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra， a celebrated orchestra in China's most populous （人口眾多的） city， has achieved her dream as a musician.

This summer， she has been busy making preparations for a series of in-person and online music events and cultural exchange programs， including a music festival in Shanghai and a live- streamed international violin competition. Poghosyan said she always puts all her energy into the projects in which she is involved， whether they are offline or online events， as she believes that every little effort will help her realize her music-related dreams.

Having studied and worked in China for 12 years， Poghosyan has now become a real China hand. Such a multicultural background has certainly helped her excel at her current job.“Poghosyan plays a very special role in our orchestra，” said Zhou Ping， president of the orchestra.“She has lived in China for long and loves the Chinese culture， and she knows how to use the advantage of a multicultural background in her work.”

For Poghosyan， the life she now leads is quite different from when she first came to China in 2009 to study the violin at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Then just 16， Poghosyan couldn't speak a word of Chinese.“And my high-school-level English wasn't of much help at that time，” she said.“So I decided to learn Chinese to solve the communication problem.”

As she gradually immersed （沉浸） herself in the Chinese language and culture， she also started to make Chinese friends and explore the exciting city life of Shanghai.“Since I first came to Shanghai， I have always been impressed by the kindness and friendliness of the people here，” she said.“Their smiles have made me feel the warmth of the city.”

4. What does Poghosyan do in China at present？

A. A hostess of a music festival.            B. A president of an orchestra.

C. A judge of some music events.           D. An assistant of a musician.

5. Which can replace the underlined word “excel” in Paragraph 3？

A. Speed up.        B. Show off.         C. Stand out.        D. Settle down.

6. How does Zhou Ping feel about Poghosyan's performance？

A. Disappointed.     B. Inspired.         C. Worried.         D. Satisfied.

7. What does the text mainly tell us about Poghosyan？

A. She worked hard to study the violin.       B. She realized her dream in China.

C. She has a happy life in Shanghai.         D. She loves Chinese people and culture.

C

Shaanxi kuaiban is a traditional Chinese form of storytelling in the Shaanxi dialect to the rhythm of bamboo clappers. It can be performed by a group or solo. The art form can be traced back to the late Qing Dynasty （1636—1912）. At first， the art was used by farmers to share their knowledge and earn money. But now， more people perform Shaanxi kuaiban on different occasions—for example， at festival celebrations， parties and art shows.

Yang Jinlong， 45， is an experienced Shaanxi kuaiban artist. He first learned the art at the age of 9. Before that， he often went with his father， an amateur performer to watch kuaiban performances.

“As a young boy， I was attracted to the art form because many of the stories are about heroes. The performer tells stories while playing kuaiban， and it's easy for the audience to remember the stories since all the lines rhyme，” Yang said.

He has practiced Shaanxi kuaiban for more than 30 years. Since 2003， he has been teaching the art form to young people. On weekdays， he teaches students about Shaanxi kuaiban in primary and middle schools in Xi'an. On the weekends， he teaches for six hours each day at art education institutions in Xi'an.

Yang has made some adaptations to the art form to relate more to students. When he tells modern stories， Yang abandons the traditional gown （長袍） and wears a suit. He also integrates many pop elements like tap dance， ballet， jazz dance and the rhythm of popular music into kuaiban performances. His stories focus on more trendy topics， like stories of heroes who have worked to alleviate （减轻） poverty， as well as the Chinese Olympic team.

“Art education is important for students in China. Just as many students learn to play Western musical instruments like the piano and violin， there are many people learning traditional Chinese folk arts， including Shaanxi kuaiban. They are committed and passionate，” Yang said.

8. What do we know about Shaanxi kuaiban？

A. It is performed in Shaanxi dialect.

B. It focuses on Chinese ancient literature.

C. It dates back to the early Qing Dynasty.

D. It was originally used by teachers for teaching.

9. Why was Yang Jinlong interested in Shaanxi kuaiban as a child？

A. He liked it as all the lines rhyme.         B. He liked stories about heroes.

C. He thought it was a way to earn money.     D. He wanted to be like his father.

10. What did Yang Jinlong do to promote Shaanxi kuaiban？

A. He wore local clothes of Shaanxi.

B. He told stories about superheroes.

C. He performed it in Western countries.

D. He added pop elements to it.

11. What words can best describe Yang Jinlong？

A. Talented and modest.                 B. Patient and energetic.

C. Determined and creative.              D. Humorous and responsible.

D

“Hope has proved a powerful predictor of outcome in every study we've done so far，” said Dr Snyder， a psychologist.

In research with 3，920 college students， Dr Snyder found that the level of hope among freshmen at the beginning of their first term was a more accurate predictor of their college grades than were their SAT scores or their grade point averages in high school.“Students with high hope set themselves higher goals and know how to work to attain them，” Dr Snyder said.“When you compare students with equal learning ability and past school achievements， what sets them apart is hope.”

In seeking a way to assess hope scientifically， Dr Snyder went beyond the usual belief that hope is merely the sense that everything will turn out all right.“This idea is not concrete enough; it fails to clarify two key components of hope，” Dr Snyder said.“Having hope means believing you have both the will and the way to accomplish your goals， whatever they may be.”

Despite the wisdom in the old saying “Where there's a will， there's a way”， Dr Snyder has found that the two are not necessarily connected. In a study of people from 18 to 70 years old， Dr Snyder discovered： only about 40% of people are hopeful in the technical sense of believing they typically have the energy and means to accomplish their goals; about 20% of the people believed in their ability to find the means to achieve their goals， but said they had little will to do so; another 20% have the opposite pattern， saying they had the energy to motivate themselves but little confidence that they would find the means; the rest had little hope at all， reporting that they typically had neither the will nor the way.

“It's not enough just to have the wish for something，” said Dr Snyder.“You need the means， too. On the other hand， all the skills to solve a problem won't help without the willpower to do it.”

12. What does Dr Snyder think can best predict a freshman's academic performance？

A. His SAT scores.                    B. His school grades.

C. His level of hope.                   D. His family education.

13. What does the underlined word “them” in Paragraph 2 refer to？

A. College grades.                     B. Higher goals.

C. Past school achievements.             D. Average grade points.

14. What did Dr Snyder say about the old saying “Where there's a will， there's a way”？

A. It is quite realistic for most people.       B. It is not inspiring to students.

C. It is useful in the old days.             D. It is not always true in reality.

15. What can be a suitable title for the text？

A. No Pains， No Gains                  B. Hope Is the Key to Success

C. Will Gets It Going                   D. Where There's a Will， There's a Way

（二）

A

Australia is a heaven for those people looking for something different in their travels. Not only that， Australia but also offers much in natural wonders， local cuisine and culture.

Jenolan Caves

The Jenolan Caves are a must-see for adventurous tourists. It was discovered by a criminal in 1838 and has since then served as one of the most famous tourist attractions in Australia. These caves numbering more than 300 are all interconnected and filled with unusual and wonderful rock formations. Here tour guides will be at your side as you walk around the lighted caves.

Whitsundays

Whitsundays is one of the places in Australia with great night life. Here you can have great evenings eating at the restaurants and having fun in the local bars. Also， Whitsundays is known as a great jump point to the Great Barrier Reef and the beautiful island resorts.

Gold Coast

The Gold Coast is a great getaway for surf and beach lovers. Here you can not only spend days perhaps in the theme parks and national parks with its great waterfalls and natural beauty， but also nights in the local restaurants and in the local bars.

Magnetic Island

Magnetic Island is one of the national parks of Australia because it is home to colonies of kangaroos and koalas. It is also located near the town of Townsville famous for its great beaches. This island was actually named by Captain Cook because it was said that his compass has gone funny when he passed by it.

1. Where can you go if you like taking risks？

A. Gold Coast.       B. Magnetic Island.   C. Whitsundays.     D. Jenolan Caves.

2. What can you enjoy in both Whitsundays and Gold Coast？

A. Visiting islands.   B. Local food.       C. Beautiful waterfalls. D. Surfing at the beach.

3. Where can you learn about animals and history？

A. In Jenolan Caves.  B. In Whitsundays.   C. In Gold Coast.     D. In Magnetic Island.

B

Sandi Patty's name has been synonymous （同義的） with Gospel music because of her singing ability since she released her first album in 1979.

Patty's newest book， The Voice， takes a deep dive into parts of her life she's kept private for years. Surprisingly， The Voice is not primarily concerned with Patty's singing voice. Patty was always a talented singer. However， she struggled to find her inner voice and speak up for herself.“I was a shy kid. Words were hard for me，” Patty said.

One of the reasons why Patty found it so difficult to use her voice was a traumatic childhood experience. At age six， she was abused by a friend， an experience she opened up for the first time in the book.

She is sharing the story of her experience now， hoping it will help other people feel less alone.“Feeling alone keeps everybody silent about the tough times in our lives， so we think we're the only ones，” Patty said. She wrote in The Voice that she felt like it was her job to make everyone feel better.

Friendships were vital for helping Patty find the courage to speak up. They reminded her that she didn't need to make others feel better because the people she loved didn't doubt she cared for them.

Friends and family were extremely important for helping Patty confront （处理） another struggle she faced—shame. She felt unpleasant for insecurities about her weight and her divorce.“I've heard it explain that guilt tells us we have done something wrong and shame says we are wrong，” Patty said.

“I want people to know that their stories and their voices matter，” Patty said.“Wehave to figure out a way to take our pain away and put it where it needs to be， without letting it guide our lives. Pain is a part of our story. It describes us， but it doesn't need to define us.”

4. What does Patty's newest book focus on？

A. Her singing ability.                   B. Her dream of success.

C. Her advice on singing well.             D. Her personal experiences.

5. What does the underlined word “traumatic” in Paragraph 3 mean？

A. Bitter.           B. Relaxing.         C. Valuable.         D. Practical.

6. How did Patty's friends influence her？

A. By helping her get rid of loneliness.       B. By accompanying her around.

C. By inspiring her to act bravely.           D. By helping her solve problems.

7. What does Patty mainly want to show in the last paragraph？

A. The need to be independent.             B. The importance of removing our pain.

C. The necessity of accepting our life.       D. The meaning of learning about ourselves.

C

The meaning of silence varies among cultural groups. Silences may be thoughtful， or they may be empty when a person has nothing to say. A silence in a conversation may also show stubbornness， or worry. Silence may be viewed by some cultural groups as extremely uncomfortable; therefore attempts may be made to fill every gap with conversation. Persons in other cultural groups value silence and view it as necessary for understanding a person's needs.

Many Native Americans value silence and feel it is a basic part of communication among people， just as some traditional Chinese and Thai persons do. Therefore， when a person from one of these cultures is speaking and suddenly stops， what maybe implied （暗示） is that the person wants the listener to consider what has been said before continuing. In these cultures， silence is a call for reflection.

Other cultures may use silence in other ways， particularly when dealing with conflicts among people or in relationships of people with different amounts of power. For example， Russian， French， and Spanish persons may use silence to show agreement between parties about the topic under discussion. However， Mexicans may use silence when instructions are given by a person in authority rather than be rude to that person by arguing with him or her. In still another use， persons in Asian cultures may view silence as a sign of respect， particularly to an elder or a person in authority.

Nurses and other care-givers need to be aware of the possible meanings of silence when they come across the personal anxiety their patients may be experiencing. Nurses should recognize their own personal and cultural construction of silence so that a patient's silence is not interrupted too early or allowed to go on unnecessarily. A nurse who understands the healing value of silence can use this understanding to assist in the care of patients from their own and from other cultures.

8. What does the author say about silence in conversations？

A. It implies rudeness.                   B. It promotes friendship.

C. It is culture-specific.                  D. It is content-based.

9. Who might regard silence as a call for careful thought？

A. The Chinese.      B. The French.       C. The Mexicans.     D. The Russians.

10. What does the author advise nurses to do about silence？

A. Let it continue as patients please.        B. Break it while treating patients.

C. Evaluate its harm to patients.           D. Make use of its healing effects.

11. What is the best title for the text？

A. Sound and Silence                   B. What It Means to Be Silent

C. Silence to Nurses and Patients           D. Speech Is Silver; Silence Is Gold

D

Being young is associated with all the good things in life—beauty， hope， and energy. But youth also has negative associations—impulsiveness （沖动）， trouble-making， and irresponsibility. This negative side seems to be what society focuses on more， which is why young people have mostly been considered as idle and difficult.

But when it comes to Generation Z， this stereotype doesn't seem to apply anymore.

In Japan， for example， Gen Z-ers are less likely to buy on impulse， but take into consideration more a product's true value.“They're looking at the companies， not just the products，” Masahiko Uotani， CEO of Japanese cosmetics company Shiseido， told Bloomberg.“They're asking， ‘Are they really delivering value to the society？ Are they promoting diversity and inclusion？'”

Gen Z-ers are also more grounded than we've expected them to be. According to a recent survey by Bank of America， more than half of young adults aged between 18 and 23 said they were planning to buy a house within five years. And they're not just saying it—they are willing to make sacrifices for it， including getting a second job and saving money for down payment instead of spending it on a vacation.

“Despite their young age， this group is pragmatic and actively planning for their future，” D. Steve Boland， head of Consumer Lending at Bank of America， told USA Today.“They have a clear vision （設想） how they are willing to help themselves in order to make it happen.”

Social issues are also at the center of concern of Gen Z-ers， who take themselves as a changing force of the world. In India， for example， young people who have just reached the voting age are eager to vote for a new leader who is capable of solving problems that matter the most to them， including pollution， unemployment and women's safety.

As a Gen Z-er yourself， what is your plan for the future？

12. What does the underlined part “this stereotype” in Paragraph 2 refer to？

A. Today's Gen Z-ers.

B. Society focuses on the youth.

C. The associations with young people.

D. The traditional poor impressions on the youth.

13. What can we infer about Gen Z-ers in Japan from Paragraph 3？

A. They are picky.                     B. They are self-centered.

C. They care little about products.         D. They are wise when shopping.

14. What is Steve Boland's attitude to Gen Z-ers？

A. Approving.      B. Negative.         C. Indifferent.       D. Critical.

15. Which of the following best describes Gen Z-ers？

A. Confident and independent.            B. Visionary and responsible.

C. Hard-working and down-to-earth.       D. Active and creative.

（三）

A

Volleyball games are a hit in school recently. Click the following websites to learn more about volleyball.

www.avp.com.（Association of Volleyball Professionals） is an excellent spot to begin educating oneself on volleyball players around the world. It has drop-down menus for the top 50 male and female volleyball players in the world， such as Phil Dalhausser or Kerri Walsh. Additionally， there is a “History of the AVP” section that goes back as far as 1895. Using this one could easily learn about the most famous volleyball players of all time.

Another excellent resource would be www.fivb.com.（Federation International de Volleyball）. While the AVP is dedicated primarily to beach， the FIVB includes both beach and indoor volleyball. It also includes an excellent history section， entitled “The Story of the Game”， which will teach you more about famous volleyball players throughout history.

If you're mostly interested in famous volleyball players who play for China， check out www. volleychina.org. This website is dedicated to those volleyball players famous and skilled enough to play for the Chinese national team， either indoor or beach. It also has information about the junior teams， so you can see who the up-and-coming volleyball players are. Clicking on the menu called “National Team” will lead you to any name list you might want to， so you can see who the best and most famous volleyball players are in any given division. They also have an excellent resources section that can teach you the rules and how to be a judge.

The last place to go to learn all about famous volleyball players is the Volleyball Hall of Fame， www.volleyhall.org.， by clicking which you can see everyone who has been admitted into the Volleyball Hall of Fame.

1. Which website gives you access to the world's top 50 volleyball players？

A. www.avp.com.                      B. www.fivb.com.

C. www.volleychina.org.                 D. www.volleyhall.org.

2. What can you learn about from both the AVP and the FIVB？

A. Both beach and indoor volleyball.         B. Information about junior teams.

C. Famous volleyball players in history.      D. Famous players in the Volleyball Hall of Fame.

3. What might you learn from www.volleychina.org.？

A. The promising volleyball players in China.

B. The story of world-famous volleyball players.

C. The rules of the games and courses for players.

D. The history of Association of Volleyball Professionals.

B

After news broke over the weekend that Beverly Cleary had died at age 104， Judy Blume took to Twitter.“Beverly Cleary！ My inspiration. I wanted to write books like yours. I so regret never having met you. You will not be forgotten，” she wrote on Twitter.

The “Are You There God？ It's Me， Margaret” author went on to share another social media post about one very memorable interaction she did have with Cleary. The 83-year-old author explained that their common publisher switched their fan mails， and she read some of Cleary's letters. After the accidental exchange， Blume sent back the fan mails with a special note. Cleary wrote her one in turn.“She cautioned me not to get caught up in the demands of the teachers and students，” Blume said.“She was concerned that if I did it would interfere （妨礙） with my writing. She was right.”

“When I started writing in the late 60s and was reading children's books for inspiration， no books delighted and inspired me the way Beverly Cleary's did. I once fell off the sofa while reading one of her books because I was laughing so hard，” Blume added.

Journalist ReyhanHarmanci also shared a post about what Blume once told her on social media.“I'm always amused when I meet young readers who say， ‘I love your Ramona books.' Then I explain that I love Ramona， too， but I didn't write those books， Beverly Cleary did，” the author shared.“They give me an embarrassed look then， and I tell them it's OK. What's important is that they're reading and loving the experience.”

Blume's admiration for Cleary was passed on to her daughter， who read it whenever she seemed anxious. Now， Blume's grandson is also a fan of Cleary's works. She concluded that Cleary's writing has positively impacted several generations， and she couldn't imagine what the world would be without her brilliance.

4. What does Paragraph 1 mainly tell us？

A. Blume's reaction to Cleary's death.       B. The great loss of Cleary's death.

C. The effect of Cleary's death on her fans.    D. The friendship between Blume and Cleary.

5. What does Blume's second post mainly tell us？

A. Her cooperation with Cleary.            B. Cleary's advice on her reading.

C. Cleary's influence on her writing.         D. Her way of communicating with Cleary.

6. What can we learn about the young readers in Harmanci's post？

A. They liked to amuse Blume.             B. They were great fans of Cleary.

C. They were shy with strangers.           D. They would mistake Harmanci for Cleary.

7. What words can best describe the characters in Cleary's books？

A. Funny and lovable.                   B. Curious and annoying.

C. Cautious and distrustful.               D. Modest and well-behaved.

C

The narwhal is a mysterious resident of the remote Arctic. The species， a relatively small whale is known for growing a spiral tusk （螺旋長牙） that resembles the historical description of a unicorn's horn.

Experts have long speculated why narwhals have this strange long tooth. Some think that the tusk is a tool for survival， as they could possibly use it to break up ice or spear fish for meals. However， the vast majority of female narwhals don't have tusks， and females tend to live longer than males. Most scientists now think the tusk provides no advantage for survival， but rather acts as a sex characteristic and determines the social rank. But the tusk may also have another purpose. A 2014 study found the narwhal's tusk is full of sensitive nerve endings that allow the whale to detect changes in the environment， such as changes in temperature and salinity. The finding suggests that the tusk might also be a sensory organ.

Narwhals are an important subsistence resource （生存资源） for high Arctic communities. They provide the humans with high-calorie fat， protein and nutrients， vital and hard to come by in the harsh northern winters. Narwhal tusks were carved into artworks and sold to support families with few job opportunities.

Narwhal tusk is protected now. But similar to all other Arctic wildlife， narwhals are likely to struggle in the face of climate change. Warm temperatures in the Arctic have caused sea ice to disappear at an alarming rate. New shipping channels have become accessible， threatening narwhals and other marine mammals. Researchers suggest that narwhals are the most vulnerable （易受伤害的） marine mammals to human activities in the Arctic because these isolated creatures are highly sensitive to ship activities. Their response to changing conditions near the pole could provide insight into larger changes in Earth's future.

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

A. Realized.         B. Guessed.         C. Overlooked.      D. Concluded.

9. What did the 2014 study find out about the narwhal's tusk？

A. It is an indicator of sex.               B. It determines the social rank.

C. It can sense changes in the water.         D. It can be used to dig fish for meals.

10. What does the last paragraph mainly tell us about narwhals？

A. They are still facing problems.          B. They are vulnerable.

C. They are sensitive to ships.             D. They are struggling against climate change.

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

A. Research on Narwhal Tusks            B. Narwhals： Mysterious Sea Creature

C. Narwhals' Feature and Behavior         D. The Effects of Climate Change on Narwhals

D

Singapore researchers say they have developed a form of electronic skin that can create a sense of touch. They hope their invention will give people with prosthetic hands （假肢） the ability to identify different objects.

The skin device measures 1 square centimeter. The system contains 100 small sensors that attempt to recreate things like texture （質地）， temperature and even pain. The researchers call the device Asynchronous Coded Electronic Skin （ACES）， which can process information faster than the human's nervous system. Machine learning methods trained the device to recognize 20 to 30 different textures. It can even correctly read Braille letters （布拉耶盲文） most of the time.

The system does not require the users' movement to work. They just need to slide to feel texture. But in this case the skin， with just a single touch， is able to detect textures of different roughness.

A demonstration showed that the device could identify the difference between a soft ball and a solid plastic one.“When you lose your sense of touch， you essentially become numb and prosthetic users face that problem，” said Benjamin Tee， leader of the research team.“So by recreating an artificial version of the skin for their prosthetic devices， they can hold a hand and feel the warmth and feel that it is soft.”

Tee said his idea for the device came from the movie Star Wars， when character Luke Skywalker loses his right hand and it is replaced with a robotic one. In the film， the new hand is able to experience touch sensations just like the real one.

The artificial skin technology is still going through experiments and development. But Tee said there had already been a lot of interest in the system， especially from the medical community. Tee said similar inventions that his team has developed include see-through skin that can repair itself when torn and a material for wearable electronic devices that gives off light.

12. What can we learn about the artificial skin in Paragraph 2？

A. It is sensitive to high temperature.       B. It reacts faster than our nervous system.

C. It can recognize different objects.        D. It helps users memorize Braille letters.

13. What can we infer about the artificial skin from Benjamin Tee's words？

A. It feels like a real thing.               B. It makes users feel warm.

C. It's warmly welcomed by users.         D. It helps users solve many problems.

14. What inspired Benjamin Tee to create the artificial skin？

A. The desire to help those in need.         B. The wishes of the disabled.

C. A dream of creating new things.         D. A scene from a famous movie.

15. Which word can best describe the artificial skin technology？

A. Impractical.     B. Stable.          C. Promising.       D. Challenging.

（四）

A

The Young Scholars Program

The University of Maryland's Young Scholars Program is a perfect summer camp for academically talented teenagers who want to earn college credits， pursue academic interests or discover college life at the University of Maryland. The program is challenging and rewarding. Students have the opportunity to show that they can be successful in a university environment.

The Activities

During three weeks of exploration， teens preview the university experience， study with students who share similar interests and communicate with the best teachers of the University of Maryland in a dynamic and challenging classroom environment. Students can have trips to nearby Washington DC and enjoy movie nights and activities at the student union. Seminars featuring speakers in academic fields further enrich the learning experience.

The Courses

The Young Scholars Program offers college courses that are at the cutting edge of theory， thought and technology. Classes generally meet every day from Monday to Friday. The program is a great introduction to the University of Maryland， and participants can benefit from the University of Maryland's vast resources， including libraries， computers and instructional labs.

The Rewards

Upon program completion， teens will go home with better preparations for the college experience—both academically and socially. In addition， students earn three college credits that post to the University of Maryland transcript （成绩单）.

The Application

The application process includes submission of the application， high school transcript and a letter of recommendation.

Ages：14—18

Mailing address： The University of Maryland College Park

For more information， call 3014057762.

1. What is the benefit ofjoining in the program？

A. Developing various interests.           B. Learning from the best students.

C. Earning enough college credits.          D. Experiencing college life in advance.

2. What can teens do in the program？

A. Find a part-time job in the library.         B. Join the students' union.

C. Attend a meeting for academic discussion.  D. Travel to Washington DC regularly.

3. How many days will students spend attending classes in the program？

A.5 days.          B.15 days.         C.21 days.         D.30 days.

B

Grays Peak in Colorado rises 14，278 feet above sea level， too high for trees to grow toward the top， yet there are plenty of bushes and rocks.

Wedelstedt was on her way back down the path with three friends. A storm was coming， and they were anxious to get off the mountain. When they approached a rocky drop of a couple of feet， Wedelstedt decided to jump over it. She landed on her left leg. Then she heard the snap （咔嚓聲）.

Every step after that was great pain. Before long， she had to stop. As one friend ran down to get help， a number of other hikers， all strangers， attempted to help Wedelstedt down the narrow path by walking on either side of her to support her weight， but that proved slow and dangerous.

Finally， one hiker， Matt， asked her， “How do you feel about a fireman's carry？” Before she knew it， he had lifted her over his shoulder.“Now， I'm not tiny，” says Wedelstedt， a former college basketball star. Matt clearly couldn't carry her all the way down by himself. So six hikers and one of her friends took turns carrying her while she tried to make light of a difficult situation. Three hours and two rock-strewn miles later， this human conveyor belt finally met the doctors， who took Wedelstedt to the hospital.

She has mostly recovered from her hike， but Wedelstedt knows she'll never shake one thing from that day： the memory of the band of strangers who came to her rescue.“I'm still in awe，” saysWedelstedt.

4. What happened to Wedelstedt while climbing down the mountain？

A. She was caught in a heavy storm.         B. She injured her leg.

C. She was blocked by rocks and bushes.     D. She got lost.

5. How did Matt help Wedelstedt？

A. By taking her to the hospital.            B. By asking for help.

C. By carrying her down the mountain.       D. By giving her first aid.

6. What does Wedelstedt think of the band of strangers？

A. Respectful.       B. Experienced.      C. Sympathetic.      D. Tolerant.

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

A. Narrow Paths      B. Lifelong Friendship  C. Dangerous Hikes   D. Peak Performance

C

Goldfish have pretty boring lives， so maybe it's a good thing they can only concentrate for nine seconds！ But according to a new research， humans are becoming like goldfish. Our attention span （時长） is getting shorter... and it's all because of technology.

“We move quickly from one site to another on the web，” says Dr Ted Selker， a computer scientist from Massachusetts， “and we are losing the ability to concentrate.” With millions of websites to choose from， the attention span of the average Internet user is just seconds. There are other digital distractions too： e-mails， instant messaging and quickie movies on websites.

Some people are worried about the effect on young people.“You need time to understand and think about what you read，” says Julia Wood， from London.“Young people search the net all the time and their brains become full of useless information but there is no time to make sense of it. I am trying to persuade my pupils to read more books， so that they concentrate on one subject for longer.”

Other teachers are trying more unusual methods to improve students' concentration. Anne Savan， from Wales， was so worried about her students that she started playing Mozart during her science lessons. She said that it had an amazing effect：“The music made them calmer， and their concentration was much better.”

But not everyone believes that there is a problem. Ray Cole， an educational psychologist said， “On the web， young people learn to make quick decisions about what is and isn't worth reading. They might look at five unhelpful websites very quickly， before stopping and reading a sixth useful website more carefully. In a world with so much information available， this is an important skill.”

8. Why does the author mention “goldfish”？

A. To give an example.                  B. To introduce the topic.

C. To settle problems.                   D. To suggest a way out.

9. What may cause a shorter attention span according to Dr Ted Selker？

A. Skipping on the Internet.               B. Making quick decisions.

C. Reading in traditional ways.             D. Digesting too much information.

10. What will help students overcome a short attention span according to Julia Wood？

A. Listening to classic music.             B. Reading websites one by one.

C. Reading more books.                 D. Watching movies.

11. What is Ray Cole's attitude towards looking through websites quickly？

A. Cautious.       B. Doubtful.         C. Ambiguous.      D. Supportive.

D

Canes （手杖） for navigation have been used for centuries by some visually impaired （受損的） and blind people. By the early 20th century the white cane—the white is meant to make the cane most easily noticeable to others—became a visual assistance. But they're not a perfect solution to detecting obstacles （障碍物） while walking， even after the extensive training needed to use them.

Engineers at Stanford University have attempted to improve the standard white cane. Their design， simply named the Augmented Cane， which is described in a new study published in Science Robotics， has two major differences from a typical white cane. Near the top， there's a device filled with various sensors， including a camera that collects information about the environment around the person， including GPS and LIDAR data. At the foot of the cane， there's an omnidirectional （全方向的） wheel that comes with settings to adjust for a person's walking speed and touch feedback to remind the user to steer left or right as needed. In theory， the device should pick up on potential obstacles ahead and assist in navigating unfamiliar places.

To test out their cane， Patrick Slade， a PhD student in robotics at Stanford， and his team had visually impaired and sighted people （24 in total） complete a series of navigation challenges in both outdoor and indoor environments. Sighted people were novices at using a cane， while those visually impaired had at least a few years of experience; all of them were blindfolded beforehand.

“Our experimental findings showed that across a range of indoor and outdoor tasks people with impaired vision chose to walk faster when using the Augmented Cane compared to a standard cane. This means our device provides some mobility benefits，” Slade said.“In addition， we did some experiments to show our device could provide assistance that a normal cane could not， for example， routing to a specific room or object in an indoor setting like going to a coffee shop in a mall.”

12. Why do the researchers develop the Augmented Cane？

A. To replace the white cane.             B. To achieve obstacle detection.

C. To meet the needs for training.          D. To make the cane more noticeable.

13. What does Paragraph 2 mainly tell us about the Augmented Cane？

A. Its usage.       B. Its feature.       C. Its production.     D. Its performance.

14. What does the underlined word “novices” in paragraph 3 mean？

A. Amateurs.       B. Experts.         C. Followers.       D. Beginners.

15. What does Slade think of the Augmented Cane according to the last paragraph？

A. It is more reliable. B. It is more noticeable. C. It works longer.    D. It needs improving.

（五）

A

Before traveling around the world， take some time and find out what sightseeing destinations are. Some of those spots that most guides mention are the following thrilling attractions.

Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls has always been considered to be an incredible place worth taking pictures of. There are a lot of spots that tourists love. Some of them are very dangerous for people. Yet the brave are ready to overcome their fear for a shot of a lifetime.

Arctic Cliff Face

A cliff does not make the most comfortable place for camping. Camping on the ground is far safer anyway. Despite all the inconvenience， the new trend is rapidly gaining popularity among climbing enthusiasts and outdoor addicts.

Auckland's Sky Tower

Auckland's Sky Tower is popular with bungee jumpers. Some celebrities， such as Beyonce， have already tried it， which proves that the place is not only safe but popular as well. The tower is 630 feet tall. At the top of the structure there is an observation deck （甲板）. Trust us， most of those reading this article would prefer to stay on the ground rather than climb up this scary structure.

North Yungas Road

The Road of Death is the right name given to a road in Bolivia. Hundreds of people die here every year. The major cause of all those accidents is the road. The problem is that it is too narrow and badly maintained while here the traffic is heavier than anywhere else. Nevertheless， it seems like tourists will continue visiting this strange road despite its scary nickname.

1. What is Victoria Falls famous for？

A. Its narrow road.                     B. Its thrilling camping.

C. Its frightening structure.               D. Its attractive spots for taking pictures.

2. What can we learn about North Yungas Road”？

A. The traffic is sometimes very heavy.       B. It is built on the edge of the rock.

C. Many people lose their lives there.        D. People like to drive fast on it.

3. What do the four places have in common？

A. They are popular with climbers.          B. They are a bit life-threatening.

C. They have been visited by celebrities.      D. They are famous for the beautiful scenery.

B

Last month， Gloria Scott， 72， called John Kinney to fix a ceiling light， but he soon discovered that the broken light was the least of her problems.

“Last week， I met a nice old woman who lives all alone in Woburn. She has no Internet or cell phone. When sparks started shooting out of her light fixture， she went to a neighbor， who gave her my number. When I arrived at her house I discovered that the electrical system was in very bad shape. Half her lights were out， she had no stove， and her refrigerator was plugged into an extension cord. I fixed her immediate electrical hazards （危險） and got her lights and air conditioning on. When all the lights came on， I saw her ceilings were falling apart， that her kitchen sink was broken， and that the place was dirty. She told me that animals often got in the house. She has no family， and money is tight.”

Kinney returned to her home and started working. He also started a Facebook page titled “Nice old lady needs help” where he called on other tradespeople （技工） to join him.

They've been at it for about a month now， putting in all new electrical equipment， new windows and walls and ceilings. Almost everything is getting replaced， from the backyard lawn to the front porch steps. The whole town of Woburn is pitching in. People without specific trade skills are showing up with shovels and rakes， sending gift baskets and purchasing meals for the volunteers.

So far， Kinney has raised more than $100，000 to help pay for materials. Over 2，000 people have donated to the good cause.

Kinney has since launched a Facebook group named “Gloria's Gladiators”. It consists of professional tradesmen and volunteers that can be called upon to help out any elderly person in need. He said he would like to see chapters of Gloria's Gladiators across the country helping seniors in similar situations.

4. What can we learn about Gloria from Paragraph 2？

A. She lived in bad conditions.             B. She knew Kinney well.

C. She was used to her life.               D. She had helpful neighbors.

5. How did the tradespeople in Woburn react to Kinney's appeal？

A. Coldly.          B. Doubtfully.       C. Cautiously.       D. Enthusiastically.

6. What does the underlined phrase “pitching in” in Paragraph 4 mean？

A. Expanding.       B. Celebrating.       C. Complaining.     D. Contributing.

7. Who will benefit most from the group “Gloria's Gladiators”？

A. The homeless.     B. The old.         C. The disabled.     D. The lonely people.

C

Long before they found their way into living rooms around the world， computers were the belongings of institutes and corporate headquarters. After all， the huge and heavy mainframes of the 1960s might easily fill a room of their own.

The invention of the microprocessor—Intel's 4004 was the first to be made commercially available in 1971—changed all that. Manufacturers were finally able to produce machines small enough to fit into customers' homes. Yet， the question was： Could firms persuade people to actually want one there？

The story of how computers enter our homes is not one of technology， but one of marketing and design， according to writer and journalist Alex Wiltshire， whose new book， Home Computers：100 Icons that Defined a Digital Generation， tells the industry's early history through its most influential models.“The technology was already in existence，” he said in a phone interview.“But what was important was the idea of putting it into a form that could be bought and easily used.”

The very first models in Wiltshire's book were aimed at hobbyists and industry insiders. These so-called “kit” computers performed only basic functions. But the arrival of user-friendly machines like the CPET 2001 and Apple Ⅱ in 1977 were signs of a turning point.

“There was a massive change around the idea of ‘What if these computers were packaged， presented and designed in a form that anyone could use？'—that they wouldn't require people to learn computer languages， or to devote several rooms of their houses，” Wiltshire said.“What if there were these objects that people could buy off the shelf and just plug into their TVs？ That was the moment that the idea of a ‘home computer' was born， and it was absolutely down to design.”

8. What can we learn from Alex's book？

A. The home computer industry has a long history.

B. Technology for home computers was not mature.

C. Marketing and design counted most for computers.

D. The writer's idea was put in the design of home computers.

9. What is the difference between kit computers and CPET 2001？

A. CPET 2001 had a better outlook design.

B. Kit computers could handle complex operation.

C. CPET 2001 was easier to use for common people.

D. Kit computers were more environmentally friendly.

10. The top idea of a “home computer” is to design it to be ___.

A. like a TV                          B. suitable for families

C. easier to use and keep                D. far more functional

11. What is Alex's attitude towards the change of home computer？

A. Objective.       B. Positive.         C. Carefree.         D. Skeptical.

D

University of Pennsylvania researchers say that for the first time they have linked social media use to increases in depression and loneliness. The idea that social media is anything but social when it comes to mental health has been talked about for years， but not many studies have managed to actually link the two. To do that， Penn researchers， led by psychologist Melissa Hunt， designed a study that focused on WeChat， Snapchat and Instagram.

The study was conducted with 143 participants， who before they began， completed a mood survey and sent along photos of their battery screens， showing how often they were using their phones to access social media.“We set out to do a much more complete study which attempts to imitate real life，” Hunt said.

The study divided the participants into two groups： The first group was allowed to maintain their normal social media habits. The other， the control group， was restricted to 10 minutes per day on social media. The restrictions were put in place for three weeks and then the participants returned and were tested for outcomes such as fear of missing out， anxiety， depression and loneliness.

The results showed a very clear link between social media use and increased levels of depression and loneliness.“Using less social media than you normally do would lead to significant decreases in both depression and loneliness，” Hunt said.

Social media invites what Hunt calls “downward social comparison”.“When you're online， it can sometimes seem that everyone else is cooler and having more fun and included in more things and you're left out，” Hunt said. And that's just generally discouraging.“Every minute you spend online is a minute you are not doing your work or not meeting a friend for dinner or having a deep conversation with your roommate. And these real life activities are the ones that can encourage self- esteem and self-worth，” Hunt added.

“People are on their devices， and that's not going to change，” she said. But as in life， a bit of control goes a long way.

12. Before the study was conducted， the participants completed a survey to ___.

A. imitate people's real life               B. link loneliness to depression

C. show their use of social media           D. prove social media is important

13. The study showed using less social media would result in ___.

A. people's fear of missing out            B. higher levels of depression

C. obvious relief in loneliness             D. lower levels of happiness

14. According to Hunt， what benefits more to mental health？

A. Hiking out with friends.               B. Taking a short holiday alone.

C. Playing computer games in spare time.    D. Using social media to have fun.

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

A. A Study on Social Media              B. Ways to Improve Mental Health

C. People Addicted to Social Media         D. Social Media Influences Mental Health

（六）

A

Heritage on the Edge

In an effort to preserve some of the world's most famous landmarks， Google has announced a new project to transform a few of the most endangered by climate change into interactive 3D model， just in case one or all is irreparably damaged in the coming decades.

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle comprises 27 buildings on top of an extinct volcano. It was home to many kings and queens. But old roofs and rainwater management systems will become insufficient as they will be unable to deal with the level of storm water associated with extreme weather events. Besides， if temperatures continue to rise， the rate of decay （腐爛） will increase further.

KilwaKisiwani

KilwaKisiwani was a regional center of the medieval trading civilization along the East African Coast. Its permanent architecture included ports， Muslim buildings， and the unique “stone houses”. However， the drier weather and subsequently heavy rainfall are threatening the stability of the ruins， causing the worsening of this exposed heritage site.

Mosque City of Bagherat

The Mosque City of Bagherat was once a lost city. It has many Muslim buildings， bridges， roads and palaces. A recent report stressed the increasing impacts of sea level rise and changes in salinity （盐度） on this community. Increased salinity not only makes much of the water undrinkable but damages structures.

Chan Chan

Chan Chan was the capital city of Chimu empire， stretching for nearly a thousand kilometers along the coastline. The city planning reflects a strict political and social strategy. But site managers today face challenges in rainfall and droughts due to EI Nino events and climate change that threaten to gradually wash the ancient city away.

1. What do we know about Edinburgh Castle？

A. It was built along the coast.             B. It is the largest castle in the world.

C. It is in danger of being washed away.      D. It used to be the home of royal families.

2. Which phenomena is happening in the Mosque City of Bagherat？

A. Water pollution.                     B. Water's becoming salty.

C. Water shortage.                     D. Water's being overused.

3. What is probably the biggest threat to the above sites？

A. Sea level rise.                       B. Volcanic eruption.

C. Temperature rise.                    D. Environmental damage.

B

A 17-year-old Bangladeshi boy has won this year's International Children's Peace Prize for his work to fight cyberbullying （網络欺凌） in his country.

The prize winner， Sadat Rahman， promised to keep fighting online abuse until it no longer exists.“The fight against cyberbullying is like a war， and in this war I am a fearless fighter，” Sadat Rahman said during a ceremony on November 13 in The Hague， the Netherlands. He added， “If everybody keeps supporting me， then together we will win this battle against cyberbullying.”

Rahman developed a mobile phone application that provides education about online bullying and a way to report cases of it. He said he began his work on the project after hearing the story of a 15-year-old girl who took her own life as a result of cyberbullying.“I will not stop until we receive no more cases through the app，” Rahman said at the ceremony.

The award comes with a fund of over $118，000， which is invested by the KidsRights Foundation. The group chooses projects to support causes that are closely linked to the winner's work.

Past well-known winners of the prize include Pakistani human rights activist Malala Yousafzai and Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg. And the students who organized the March for Our Lives event in 2018 in the American state of Florida also won the prize.

Yousafzai praised Rahman's work during the ceremony. She spoke through video conferencing.“All children have the right to be protected from violence no matter if it is physical or mental， offline or online，” she said.“Cyberbullying damages that right.”

4. What does Sadat Rahman devote himself to？

A. Being a brave fighter.                 B. Helping poor children.

C. Removing school bullying.             D. Battling online violence.

5. What caused Sadat Rahman to start his project？

A. People's lack of related education.        B. His own experience of being bullied.

C. A girl's death from cyberbullying.         D. The wide use of mobile phone apps.

6. What is Paragraph 5 mainly about？

A. The March for Our Lives event.          B. Human rights activists in the world.

C. Some kids rights activities.             D. Some previous winners of the prize.

7. What can we infer from Yousafzai's words？

A. Rahman's efforts have paid off.

B. Cyberbullying should be got rid of.

C. All children have the right to fight against violence.

D. Children are faced with physical and mental bullying.

C

Picture a lecture session at a business school and you probably imagine students gazing at screens filled with equations （方程式）. What you might not expect is students attempting to sing “O Clap Your Hands”. But Bartleby was treated to this delight on a visit to Saïd Business School in Oxford earlier this year.

There was a catch. Some of the students had to try conducting the chorus. The first to take the challenge was a rather self-confident young man. It didn't take long for him to go wrong. His most obvious mistake was to start conducting without asking the singers how they would like to be directed， though they had the expertise and he was a complete beginner.

The session， organized by Pegram Harrison， a senior fellow in entrepreneurship， cleverly allowed the students to absorb some important leadership lessons. For example， leaders should listen to their teams， especially when their colleagues have specialist knowledge.

Other business schools have also realized that their students can learn from the arts . At Carnegie Mellon University， Leanne Meyer has introduced a leadership-training program that includes poetry and a book club. She believed that involvement in such pursuits can help develop empathy （認同感） in future leaders and that the program benefits students in terms of how they promote themselves to recruiters （招聘人员）.

The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art （RADA） has trained many great dramatists. It also offers training courses for managers.“Acting is about finding the truth in the character and in yourself，” says Walker Wise， one of RADA's tutors. Being a manager involves a lot more than just setting targets. It requires empathy and a knowledge of human nature. An education in the arts might help develop those qualities. Above all， the students on Harrison's Course were experiencing something Bartleby never expected to see in those attending an MBA lecture and they were having fun.

8. What does the underlined phrase “this delight” in Paragraph 1 refer to？

A. Singing in a business class.             B. Visiting Saïd Business School.

C. Picturing a lecture session.             D. Gazing at screens full of equations.

9. Which of the following best describes the session by Pegram Harrison？

A. Common but influential.               B. Educational and effortless.

C. Challenging and instructive.             D. Controversial but practical.

10. What should a leader do based on the arts of the leadership training program？

A. Offer promotion opportunities.          B. Value team members' opinion.

C. Set specific targets.                  D. Control every step.

11. How does acting contribute to being a manager according to the last paragraph？

A. It provides entertainment.             B. It develops goal-setting skills.

C. It exposes the truth in business.         D. It helps understand human nature.

D

The cooling effect of trees reduces the surface temperature of European cities in the summer by up to 12°C in some regions. In contrast， green spaces without trees have an insignificant effect， according to a study that strengthens the case for tree planting to help cities adapt to global warming.

Jonas Schwaab at ETH Zurich in Switzerland and his colleagues used land surface temperature data collected by satellites to compare the temperature differences between areas covered by trees， treeless urban green spaces， such as parks， and urban constructions such as roads and buildings. They analysed 293 cities from across Europe.

The land surface temperature measured by satellites isn't the same as the air temperature， which is more closely linked to what humans would feel， says Schwaab .“Usually， the air temperature difference between tree-covered areas and built-up areas would be much smaller than the land surface temperature differences，” he says.

The team found that tree-covered areas in cities have a much lower land surface temperature compared with surrounding areas. The differences were between 8℃ and 12℃ in central Europe and between 0°C and 4°C in southern Europe.

The cooling effect of trees comes largely from shading and transpiration （蒸騰作用）. This process takes heat energy from the surrounding environment for evaporation （蒸发）， lowering the surrounding temperature. In the warmer climate of southern Europe， the soil is typically drier， so the cooling effect of transpiration is lower than in regions further north， says Schwaab.

The team also found that the cooling provided by treeless green spaces is insignificant， and in some instances green areas without trees can even be warmer than the surrounding urban areas.

Extreme heat is a growing problem for cities in Europe and elsewhere as the planet gets hotter. The findings show that trees can have a big influence on cities across Europe， but since the size of their effects varies， heat reduction strategies should be tailored to suit each region， says Schwaab.

12. What is the purpose of the study？

A. To measure land and air temperature.     B. To advocate planting more trees in cities.

C. To make people aware of global warming.  D. To stress the importance of green spaces.

13. The cooling effect of transpiration is lower in southern Europe because ___.

A. the soil is drier                      B. the climate is cooler

C. there're more green spaces             D. there're more roads and buildings

14. What does Schwaab want to say in the last paragraph？

A. We should plant more trees.           B. Europe faces extreme heat.

C. The earth is getting hotter.             D. Solutions should be different.

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

A. Extreme Heat Does Harm to the Environment

B. High Tech Lowers Land Surface Temperature

C. Researchers Raise Solutions to Extreme Weather

D. Trees Cool the Land Surface Temperature of Cities

（七）

A

Set at the entrance to beautiful bays and natural harbors， lighthouses have prevented ships from touching the ground in shallow water for hundreds of years. Sadly， however， many of them are not needed because of effective onboard navigational （導航的） systems. As they were designed to be visible， lighthouses often become very distinctive landmarks： their shapes and colors stand out against the surrounding landscapes. Consequently， they make for some fantastic photo opportunities and are usually set in impressive spots along rocky coastlines or wild seas.

Galle Lighthouse

Located within the ancient walls of Galle Fort， the lighthouse of the same name has protected the surrounding waters ever since it was first built in 1848. While it is the oldest lighthouse in the whole of Sri Lanka， the current lighthouse's blindingly bright white walls only date back to 1939， when it was rebuilt after a disastrous fire.

Hercules Tower Lighthouse

Ever since the second century AD， Hercules Tower Lighthouse has watched out over Spain's North Atlantic coastline. This remarkably makes it one of the very few oldest lighthouses still in operation today. Such is its age that it is believed to have been modeled after the Lighthouse of Alexandria—one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Big Red Lighthouse

Standing proudly at the south side of the Holland Channel， Big Red Lighthouse presents a striking red appearance to increase its visibility in the daytime. Another unusual quality of Big Red is that the rare lighthouse watches over two bodies of water—Lake Macatawa and Lake Michigan.

1. Who are probably the fans of lighthouses nowadays？

A. Historians.       B. Photographers.     C. Sailors.          D. Scientists.

2. Which of the following is currently used for navigation？

A. Galle Lighthouse.                   B. Hercules Tower Lighthouse.

C. Big Red Lighthouse.                  D. The Lighthouse ofAlexandria.

3. What is special about Big Red Lighthouse？

A. It is modeled after the ancient wonder.     B. It has the same name as the ancient walls.

C. It gives off red light.                  D. It overlooks two lakes.

B

How many bicycles do you need in your life？ For 67-year-old Chai Lin， the answer is 1，300 and counting. Chai's passion for bicycles dates back to the 1960s when he saw some people riding the two-wheeled vehicle in his home city of Lanzhou.

However， at that time， owning a bicycle was luxurious for ordinary Chinese. He had to cut back on other expenses for months before he could save up for a bicycle. To get enough money sooner， Chai made use of his talent in calligraphy and painting by selling artworks on the street. Thanks to all the efforts and “crowd-funding” in his family， Chai got his first bike. The whole family treasured the bicycle and Chai was even unwilling to ride it.

Becoming a businessman years later， Chai began to collect bikes of various brands and ages， which brought Chai great satisfaction. But some of his friends said he bought nothing more than a pile of scrap metal， while others think he was blowing money on nonsense. But he was never influenced by those comments.

In 2009， with the support of the Gansu province government， he invested 200 million yuan for a museum just for his bike. After 10 years' effort， the Gansu bicycle museum， located in Chengguan district of Lanzhou， finally opened to the public in January 2019 free of charge. In the first half of 2021 alone， it received more than 900，000 tourists.

Chai has constantly upgraded the facilities inside the museum， equipping it with state-of-the- art technology. For example， VR installation is available for visitors to experience the feeling of riding on different types of bikes. Chai hopes to expand the scale of the playing area of the museum and provide a comfortable home for his bikes.

4. Chai's love for bikes began when ___.

A. his family bought a bike                B. he spotted some people ride bikes

C. he knew different brands of bikes          D. he saw paintings of bikes in a museum

5. Why was Chai unwilling to ride his new bike？

A. He cherished it so much.               B. He had no idea how to ride it.

C. He bought it as a private collection.       D. He was busy selling artworks.

6. How did Chai's friends think of his collection？

A. It was meaningful.  B. It was satisfying.   C. It was expensive.   D. It was wasteful.

7. What can we learn about the Gansu bicycle museum？

A. It's heavily invested by many tourists.     B. It's a private museum with admission fee.

C. It's equipped with advanced technology.    D. It's intended for showing the development ofbikes.

C

A study has found that middle-aged and older adults who live in greener neighborhoods have a decreased risk of developing metabolic syndrome （代謝综合征） such as obesity， hypertension and high blood sugar.

The study， published in Environmental Pollution， was conducted by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health （ISGlobal）. It differed from previous studies on the health benefits of green spaces in that it examined all of the symptoms of metabolic syndrome together collectively rather than as individual components. Having metabolic syndrome increases a person's risk for heart disease， stroke and type 2 diabetes， according to the National Heart， Lung， and Blood Institute.

The study from ISGlobal examined data from clinical examinations of over 6，000 British adults who were between 45 and 69 years old when the study began. The data was derived from four examinations participants went through between 1997 and 2013 that included blood analyses， blood pressure and measurements of weight.“These findings suggest that long-term exposure to green spaces can play an important role in preventing metabolic syndrome as a whole，” according to a press release published by ISGlobal.

The correlation between nearness to green spaces and better health could be associated with the expanded opportunities for physical recreation and lower exposure to air pollution， according to Carmen de Keijzer， ISGlobal researcher and principal author of the study.

Female subjects were more likely than males to exhibit the study's association between living in greener neighborhoods and having fewer metabolic symptoms.“Women tend to spend more time in their residential neighborhood， which could explain this gender difference，” de Keijzersaid.“We need greener cities if we want healthier cities，” he added.

8. What can we learn about the study from the first two paragraphs？

A. It studied symptoms separately.          B. It was the first of its kind in decades.

C. It was a joint effort of several institutes.     D. It didn't involve young people.

9. What does the underlined word “derived” in Paragraph 3 mean？

A. Separated.       B. Arrived.         C. Gained.         D. Demanded.

10. Why do women have fewer metabolic symptoms？

A. They have a healthier lifestyle.          B. They live a greener life.

C. They have a lower risk of heart disease.   D. They stay more in greener neighborhoods.

11. What can be a suitable title for the text？

A. Living in Greener and Healthier Cities

B. Women Having Fewer Metabolic Symptoms

C. Metabolic Syndrome Increasing Heart Disease

D. Greener Neighborhoods， Fewer Metabolic Symptoms

D

A new study found evidence that dogs developed in physical ways to present “puppy dog eyes” as a way to help connect with humans.

The study compared the facial muscles of dogs and wolves， which share ancestral history. Dogs broke off from wolves after being domesticated （馴化） about 33，000 years ago. During that time dogs changed physically and behaviorally to adapt to live with humans.

The researchers examined the heads of six dogs and two wolves for comparison. They found the facial structures of both animals were mostly very similar. But one major difference was found above the eyes. The dogs were found to have two well-formed muscles around the eyes that were not present in the wolves. These small muscles permit dogs to raise their inner eyebrows， the study found.

Juliane Kaminski， a comparative psychologist from the research suggests this eyebrow-rising movement causes “a warm” feeling in humans because it makes the dogs' eyes appear larger. This expression also makes the dog look more like a human baby. The eye movement is similar to that which humans make when they are sad.

“The evidence is very obvious that dogs developed a muscle to raise the inner eyebrows after they were domesticated from wolves，” Kaminski said.

In a separate part of the study， the researchers observed how 27 dogs and 9 wolves interacted with a human.“We also studied dogs' and wolves' behavior. And when exposed to a human for two minutes， dogs raised their inner eyebrows more and higher than wolves，” Kaminski said.

The researchers suggest that the eye movements developed over time as a way for dogs to get humans to do things for them， such as giving them food， care or attention.

The only dog species in the study that did not have the muscles was the Siberian husky， which is an ancient kind of dog. The husky could be the best living example of what the link between dogs and wolves looked like.

12. What is the difference found between dogs and wolves？

A. Dogs have nice eyebrows.             B. Dogs have different ancestors.

C. Dogs have easily distinguishable faces.   D. Dogs have additional muscles around the eyes.

13. According to Kaminski， the dog's eyebrow-rising movement makes it look ___.

A. friendly  ;       B. strange           C. strong           D. funny

14. What can we learn about a Siberian husky？

A. It has lovelier eyes than the other dogs.   B. It looks more like a wolf.

C. It can raise its eyebrows as other dogs.    D. It lives a better life.

15. What is the text mainly about？

A. The evolution of the wolves.           B. Dogs' ability to connect with humans.

C. The similarities between dogs and wolves. D. Changes in dogs caused by domestication.

（八）

A

The Most Breathtaking Theaters in the World

Shakespeare's Globe Theater （London， UK）

The original Globe Theater was built by Shakespeare's company in 1599， but was destroyed by fire in 1613. A replica （復制品） was built in 1997 just meters from the original site. The new 857- seat structure has several modern features. It has the first and only straw roof permitted in London since the great fire of 1666.

Margravial Opera House （Bayreuth， Germany）

Built in 1745， the UNESCO-listed Margravial Opera House is regarded as the finest baroque theater in Europe. The stage has a depth of 27 meters and was the largest in Europe until 1871. Much of the original materials remain， along with original structures， such as the twin staircases.

Teatro Amazonas （Manaus， Brazil）

There can't be many theaters located in the middle of the Amazon rainforest， and the Teatro Amazonas is certainly the most breathtaking. The theater was built in 1895 and was designed by Italian architect Celestial Sacardim. Work took 15 years， largely thanks to the decision to source supplies from all over the world.

National Center for the Performing Arts （Beijing， China）

The National Center for the Performing Arts （NCPA）， built in 2007， is an arts center in Beijing. Designed by French architect Paul Andreu， the NCPA is the largest theater complex （建筑群） in Asia . The NCPA includes value in both ancient traditional Chinese architecture and modern architecture. It was specially designed to improve the red walls of ancient buildings and the Great Hall of the People in order to fit in with the surroundings.

1. The oldest existing theater is in ___.

A. London          B. Bayreuth          C. Manaus          D. Beijing

2. Which of the following was designed by an Italian architect？

A. Shakespeare's Globe Theater.           B. Margravial Opera House.

C. Teatro Amazonas.                   D. National Center for the Performing Arts.

3. What can we learn about the design of National Center for the Performing Arts？

A. It features modern architecture.          B. It receives worldwide supplies.

C. It is a multifunctional theater.           D. It matches its surroundings.

B

In the last three years， I have read approximately 150 books. Reading almost every day in the last three years has increased my reading comprehension. It has also improved my own writing skills. This has boosted my confidence and encouraged me to start writing more often. I am now writing a fiction book. I write and edit for Odyssey， and I am an officer for the SNHU Book Club. This has also helped me become a better student. I'm able to read and comprehend the text more for each class， and do well on the assignments because of my better writing skills. I truly love it， and can't imagine where I would be right now if I hadn't become a bookworm.

Because I read so much， I have decided to start doing a written version of a book haul. In short， a book haul is a review of the books read each month. They are typically done as a video， but until I have the proper equipment to do that， I will be writing mine. At the end of each month I will discuss the books I read， the books I bought， or received， and then ask for your thoughts and suggestions.

January was a busy month for me. I only finished one book， Mark of Distinction by Jessica Dotta. It's the second book in the Price of Privilege trilogy. I bought Carve the Mark， Veronica Roth's new book， and An Unquiet Mind， a psychology based book by Kay Redfield Jamison. I plan on reading these in February， as well as the third section of the Red Queen series， King's Cage by Victoria Aveyard. I am so excited for it！

If you've read any of the books I ever mention， feel free to reach out either on here， or Twitter！ I love chatting about books！

4. Paragraph 1 mainly tells us how the author ___.

A. writes for a magazine                  B. becomes a bookworm

C. benefits from reading                 ; D. improves academic performance

5. What can we learn about the author's book haul？

A. It's done as a video.                  B. It's represented in written form.

C. It's a face-to-face review.               D. It's all about the already-read books.

6. What do we know about Price of Privilege？

A. It's culture-specific.                  B. It's psychology-based.

C. It's a series of books.                 D. It's to be published soon.

7. What is the author's purpose in writing the text？

A. To introduce her book haul.             B. To share her reading experience.

C. To invite people to be her pen-pal.        D. To attract readers to join her book haul.

C

Confused by food nutrition labels？ You're not alone. Now， researchers have suggested an alternative： labeling the amount and type of exercise needed to burn off the calories.

Current food and drink labels display nutritional information such as the amount of calories and fat. However， researchers led by Prof. Amanda Daley at Loughborough University say that these labels are having a limited effect on changing buying habits. Instead， they propose a labeling system called physical activity calorie equivalent or expenditure （PACE）， which shows how many minutes or miles of physical activity are needed to burn off the calories. For example， a small bar of milk chocolate contains 230 calories， which would take about 42 minutes of walking， or 22 minutes of running， to burn off.

They pooled the data from 14 previous studies which compared the impact of PACE labeling with that of other types of food labeling， or with no food labeling at all. They calculated that PACE labeling could cut a person's daily calorie intake by up to 200 calories.“Public health agencies may want to consider the possibility of including policies to promote PACE food labeling as a strategy that contributes to the prevention and treatment of obesity （肥胖） and related diseases，” said the researchers.

The UK's Royal Society for Public Health has already called for PACE labeling to replace the current system. However， not everyone is convinced. A spokesperson for the eating disorder charity Beat said， “We believe that anti-obesity campaigns that focus on weight instead of health are ineffective and that recommending more exercise is an ineffective and over-simplistic approach to a complex problem. Most urgently， public health campaigns must consider people's mental as well as their physical health， moving from obesity-shaming to evidence-based campaigns that build confidence and support healthy eating.”

8. What additional information can you get from PACE labels compared with the current ones？

A. Fat content.       B. Exercise advice.   C. Nutrition facts.     D. Calorie content.

9. What does the underlined word “pooled” in Paragraph 3 probably mean？

A. Collected.       B. Shared.          C. Compared.       D. Proved.

10. How can we solve obesity problem according to Beat？

A. By increasing exercise.               B. By cutting calories.

C. By focusing on weight and healthy eating.  D. By focusing on health in body and in mind.

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

A. PACE： A New Labeling Option          B. Nutrition： A Basic Step Toward Health

C. Labeling： A Smart Advisor for Shopping   D. Exercise： An Effective Treatment for Obesity

D

If a plant screams in the forest and nobody is there to hear it， did it actually scream？

The answer to that， which can now be determined， is a loud yes . Itzhak Khait and his colleagues from Tel Aviv University in Israel placed microphones near tomato plants . The microphones picked up ultrasonic （超聲的） sounds that could be heard by animals and insects—but not by the human ear， unless the humans were using high-end audio equipment.

Their study found something remarkable： A plant that's suffering from a drought can send out a sound， warning an insect like a moth （蛾） that the particular plant is not a good place to lay an egg. It may even serve as a warning to other plants that water is not enough in the area. They apparently hear the “water stressed” screams of the plant.“Our results suggest that animals， humans， and possibly even other plants could use sounds given by a plant to gain information about the plant's condition，” they wrote.

The authors point out that the behavior is actually in line with the natural order of things， considering that a plant's ability to sense its environment and respond to it is critical for its survival. So， it seems that plants have some sort of consciousness. Charles Darwin was actually one of the first scientists to put forward this notion， and his theories eventually led to a field known as plant neurobiology.

Plants have even been known to show some learning behavior. In a study done last year by the same team of plant scientists in Israel， they found that flowers can actually hear the buzzing of bees. The plants hear bees approaching and attempt to attract them with sweeter nectar （花蜜）. In several experiments， they found they didn't even need actual bees. They simply played audio recordings of buzzing bees around certain flowers. Those recordings caused the sugar concentration in the nectar to rise by about 20% in less than five minutes. Such a rapid reaction by plants to sound had never been reported before.

12. Why do Khait and his team use microphones in their study？

A. To collect ultrasonic sounds.           B. To help plants carry sounds.

C. To attract animals and insects.          D. To record the sounds from insects and animals.

13. When hearing a sound from a plant affected by the drought， a moth would probably ___.

A. make a nest there                    B. turn a deaf ear to it

C. avoid laying eggs there                D. inform other moths

14. Why does the author mention Charles Darwin in Paragraph 4？

A. To introduce a subject.               B. To support a viewpoint.

C. To provide more details.   ;           D. To make a comparison.

15. Which of the following indicates the plants' learning ability？

A. The time they spend producing nectar.     B. Their quick reaction to audio recordings.

C. Their reaction to the sound of actual bees.  D. Their method of appealing to approaching bees.

（九）

A

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Listen to Rhapsody's large music library and get the option to download and listen to songs or even full-length albums when you're offline. At the moment， this service is available in 32 countries only. Remember that you'll need to cancel within the free trial period to avoid being charged for your first month.

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If you are drowning in paperwork， perhaps it is time to use Canvas and transfer all your paperwork online . Digitalize your work orders， forms etc . so that they can be filled up and completed right on any mobile device. This makes it easy to create， edit， gain valuable data and send it to the people who need it in seconds.

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1. Who is more likely to use the app Canvas？

A. A secretary.       B. A photographer.

2. What can be of some help to save photos？

A. Bigstock and Canvas.

C. Rhapsody and Backupify.

3. What do the apps above have in common？

A. They offer free entertainment services.

C. They can help improve users' work skills.

C. An artist.         D. A musician.

B. Backupify and Bigstock.

D. Rhapsody and Canvas.

B. Users will access them via email accounts.

D. Users can try them without paying.

B

Before breakfast， two young people head down to the woods， struggling a little with the heavy bag of food for the pigs.“Scatter them in different piles，” says the farm staff member.

The teenagers are part of a group from a London secondary school who are staying at Jamie Fielden's farm， one of a number of “care farms” providing a type of eco-therapy （生態治疗）. The pupils brought here have been chosen by their teachers：14-year-old Sofia， for example， has a difficult home life， and George， 14， is extremely quiet.

Most of them have never been to the countryside before. For five days， they get up early， eat wholesome food and do various chores dependent on the season. It is summer and they are pulling up coriander （a plant） from the vegetable beds and feeding animals.

Besides farmwork， the young people have group sessions with the farm phychotherapist （精神治疗医师） who teaches them techniques for dealing with difficult situations. They can do horse- whispering with her， one-to-one therapy making use of one of the farm horses. Phones and sweets are banned， as part of the focus on creating a calm， supportive atmosphere.

And the young people seem to be thriving （茁壮成长）. Aaron， a 12-year-old with serious attendance issues， is clearly taken with the horse whispering.“I feel as if the horse is calm and I am calm. I had to work out how to speak calmly to make her do what I wanted.”

A classmate， Hasan， describes a similar feeling， “I expected to be really bored here， but as soon as we arrived it was fantastic.” Hasan has a complicated home life and needs support.

A week after the pupils arrive back at school in west London， teachers report a difference in behavior. There is no doubt that they will continue to send pupils to the farm in years to come.

4. What can we learn about pupils at Jamie Fielden's farm？

A. They are animal lovers.               B. They prefer country life to city life.

C. They have learning difficulties.          D. They are troubled by certain problems.

5. How does the “care farm” function？

A. By encouraging fine teamwork.          B. By turning to heavy physical work.

C. By combining farmwork with therapy.     D. By building close personal relationships.

6. Why does the author mention Aaron and Hasan？

A. To explain horse whispering.            B. To describe the beauty of the farm.

C. To show the effectiveness of the care farm.  D. To introduce the pupils' daily routine.

7. What does the text mainly talk about？

A. The power of nature.                  B. Behavioral problems.

C. Some devoted care workers.             D. A special kind of farm.

C

The world's largest iceberg is floating toward South Georgia in the southern Atlantic Ocean. Scientists fear the iceberg could crash into the island and block major feeding areas for a large population of penguins and seals. If the iceberg hits the island， it could prevent the penguins and seals from reaching food supplies.

The huge iceberg is named A68a. It broke away from Antarctica's Larsen C ice shelf in 2017. Satellite images show the iceberg has remained in one piece. It is estimated to be about 150 kilometers long and 48 kilometers wide. It is traveling at one kilometer per hour and is on a path to hit South Georgia in around 30 days.

This is the time of year when seals and penguins spend a lot of time caring for their young. The distance that parents have to travel to find food is crucial. That means they have to go a lot further or go around the iceberg to find sources of food.

Ecologists say an iceberg crash would also disturb materials settled on the seabed， possibly polluting the surrounding seas. As the iceberg melts， it would also release large amounts of fresh water into the ocean. This could affect krill （磷蝦） populations that are a major source of food for the island's wildlife. The iceberg could remain for up to 10 years and change the area's whole ecosystem. These are globally significant populations of these species （物种）. If these species fail in this particular area， then the numbers globally are going to go down quite dramatically.

Professor Geraint Tarling， an ecologist at the British Antarctic Survey， said， “The breaking off of icebergs from Antarctica is a natural process. But the process is changing with climate change. What we're seeing with models and some observations now is that this is happening at an increasing rate. And so， this might become more of a usual thing in the future.”

8. What will the sea animals face if the iceberg crash takes place？

A. Extremely cold.                     B. Injuries from the crash.

C. Risk of starving.                     D. Death in large numbers.

9. What can we learn about the iceberg from Paragraph 2？

A. Its characteristic.   B. Its importance.     C. Its traveling speed.  D. Its forming process.

10. What damage can an iceberg crash bring according to Paragraph 4？

A. Using up much fresh water.            B. Polluting the surrounding islands.

C. Changing the world's ecosystem.        D. Affecting the number of certain species.

11. What does Tarling think of the breaking off of icebergs from Antarctica？

A. It may slow down in the near future.      B. It may become common in the future.

C. It has a great influence on the climate.     D. It helps scientists conduct a sea study.

D

For many people， being on the job might just sound like a picnic compared to a day at home filled with housework， meals and childcare. Even for those with a happy family life， home can sometimes feel more taxing than work.

In a new study， researchers at Penn State University found significantly and consistently lower levels of cortisol （皮質醇） released in response to stress， in a majority of subjects when they were at work compared to when they were at home. This was true for both men and women， and parents and people without children.

Both men and women showed less stress at work. But women were more likely to report feeling happier there. Men were more likely to feel happier at home. Experts say there are other reasons why work is less stressful than home for many.“Paid work is more valued in society，” says Sarah Damaske， the lead researcher on the study.“Household work is boring and not particularly rewarding.”

We get better at our job with time and the increased competence means less stress and more rewards. Yet none of us， no matter how long we've been doing it， ever truly feels like an expert at parenting or even at marriage.

The support and friendship of coworkers also offer stress relief. At home， meanwhile， stress spreads and accumulates quickly.“That's the reason why most housewives wish they were the bread earners，” Dr Damaske says.

Much of the advice to families and couples includes the warning to leave work stress at the office and even to change our mindset from work to home， for example， a walk around the block. The recent findings， though， suggest our home life， not our attitude， might be due for some change.

12. What does the underlined word “taxing” in Paragraph 1 mean？

A. Stressful.       B. Cheerful.         C. Worthwhile.      D. Rewarding.

13. What did the study suggest according to Paragraph 2？

A. Men felt better at work.               B. Women felt they had less time.

C. Women were easier to feel happier.       D. Most people felt more stress at home.

14. What do most people think of work at the office？

A. It is competitive.                   B. It improves ability.

C. It can't relieve stress.                 D. It doesn't always pay off.

15. According to the recent findings， what should we change to solve the problem mentioned？

A. Our attitude.     B. Our mindset.      C. Our home life.     D. Our working style.

（十）

A

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Ten years ago， I went on a vacation in Italy. After climbing up a hill for a panoramic （全景的） view of the blue sea， white buildings and green olive trees， I paused to catch my breath and then positioned myself to take the best photo of this panorama.

Unfortunately， just as I took out my camera， a woman approached from behind， and planted herself right in front of my view. Like me， this woman was here to stop， sigh and appreciate the view.

Patient as I was， after about 15 minutes， I grew frustrated. Was it too much to ask her to move so I could take just one picture of the landscape？ Sure， I could have asked her， but something prevented me from doing so. She seemed so content in her observation. I didn't want to mess with that. Another 15 minutes passed and I grew bored. The woman was still there. I decided to take the photo anyway.

Now when I look at the photo， I think her presence in the photo is what makes the image interesting. The landscape， beautiful on its own， somehow comes to life and breathes because this woman is engaging with it.

This photo， with the unique beauty that unfolded before me and that woman who “ruined” it， now hangs on a wall in my bedroom. What would she think if she knew that her figure is captured and frozen on some stranger's bedroom wall？

Perhaps we all live in each other's spaces. Perhaps this is what photos are for： to remind us that we all appreciate beauty， that we all share a common desire for pleasure， for connection， for something that is greater than us.

4. What happened when the author was about to take a photo？

A. Her camera stopped working.           B. A woman blocked her view.

C. Someone asked her to leave.             D. A friend approached from behind.

5. What was the woman probably doing when the author was to take the photo？

A. Enjoying herself.                    B. Losing her patience.

C. Waiting for the sunset.                 D. Thinking about her past.

6. What makes the photo so alive according to the author？

A. The rich color of the landscape.          B. The soft summer sunlight.

C. The woman's existence in the photo.       D. The perfect positioning of the camera.

7. The photo on the author's bedroom wall enables her to better understand ___.

A. the need to be close to nature            B. the shared love for beauty

C. the joy of the vacation in Italy            D. the importance of private space

C

Yellow is usually the color of happy， joyful emotions. But according to a new study， not all people associate sunshine with good atmosphere.

To find out what factors might play a role， researchers tested a new hypothesis （假设）： What if people's physical surroundings affect their feelings about certain colors？ For instance， if someone lived in cold and rainy Finland， would they feel differently about the color yellow from someone who lived near the Sahara Desert？ The researchers looked at color-emotion data from an ongoing international survey of 6，625 people in 55 countries. The survey asks participants to rate 12 colors on how closely they are associated with feelings including joy， pride， fear and shame.

The team looked only at the data for yellow， and analyzed how different factors—including hours of sunshine， hours of daylight， and amounts of rainfall—lined up with the emotions people reported for the color. The two best predictors of how people felt about yellow were the annual amount of rainfall， and how far they lived from the equator （赤道）， the team reports in the Journal of Environmental Psychology.

The farther someone lived from the equator， the more likely they were to appreciate some bright colors—in Egypt， the likelihood of yellow being associated with joy was just 5.7%， whereas in rather cold Finland it was 87.7%. In the United States， with its moderate climate and amber （黃褐色） waves of grain， people's yellow-joy association levels were between 60% and 70%.

The team also checked whether associations changed with the season—whether， for example， people in a certain country liked yellow more in the winter than they did in the summer. The researchers found that opinions about color remained fairly constant year-round—even when the weather changed， the data on yellow-joy associations were as good as gold.

8. To test the hypothesis， researchers surveyed people ___.

A. in Finland                          B. in the United States

C. from different countries                D. near the Sahara Desert

9. What may most affect the emotions associated with yellow？

A. The annual amount of rainfall.           B. Hours of daylight.

C. Hours of sunshine.                   D. Seasons in a year.

10. Who are more likely to appreciate bright colors？

A. People living in warm areas.           B. People growing up in Egypt.

C. People living near desert.              D. People living far from the equator.

11. What does the text mainly tell us？

A. Yellow is the color of happiness and joy.

B. Researchers did a survey on the color yellow.

C. Different people have different emotions to the color yellow.

D. A study shows the connection between emotion and yellow can vary.

D

In the trailer Sischo was refreshing the snails accommodations—an ongoing routine that takes days of careful work. He had found a dozen of Achatinellabulimoides—a third of the world's population of the species. Once every individual was accounted for， he cleaned the cage and packed in new leaves. The work took much trouble， but the responsibility， he said， was like “a heavy weight sitting on you”.

The trailer is very vulnerable. It's designed to keep away would-be thieves， and to resist hurricanes. But a fire could easily destroy it， or a disease could sweep through it. Last September， a mystery pathogon （病原體） appeared to have entered the trailer on leaves fed to the snails， killing almost an entire species. As sad as the event was， there's no good way to insure against future catastrophe. The snails can't simply be spread among zoos or other facilities： they need special equipment， experienced handlers， and a diet of native Hawaiian plants.

Consequently， it can be hard for the snails' minders （看护人） to relax， even when they are outside the trailer.“How do you switch off， when your decisions mean existence or extinction？”Sischo said. While action lightens the burden， yet with animals whose natural history is largely unknown， that action can be dangerous.“If you do it wrong， the snails die.”

Snails are neither intelligent nor beloved. Sischo's friends sometimes tease him about being “the strange snail guy”; strangers ask why he cares. It's hard to convince people， but he insists that if he can just get them in the trailer， they will understand why the Achatinellabulimoides are worth saving.“People melt，” he said.“When I show them that the entire population is in this chamber， it hits them.”

12. What is the trailer used for？

A. Accommodating guests.               B. Sheltering snails.

C. Planting vegetables.                 D. Alarming thieves.

13. What does the underlined word “vulnerable” in Paragraph 2 mean？

A. Very quiet.      B. Quite safe.       C. Easily affected.    D. Well protected.

14. How do the snail minders feel about their job？

A. Relaxed.        B. Confident.       C. Cautious.         D. Dangerous.

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

A. The Last of Its Kind                  B. The Worst of Times

C. Mourn Its Loss                      D. Resist Possible Dangers