考前押题03 阅读理解记叙文常考话题（期中复习专项训练）高一英语下学期沪教版

考前押题03 阅读理解记叙文常考话题 话题1 人与社会 话题4 科学技术 话题2 文学艺术 话题5 自然生态 话题3 社会服务 话题6 人与自我 1 / 1 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 话题1 人与社会 Passage 1 Every April I am troubled by the same concern that spring might not occur this year. The landscape looks dull, with hills, sky and forest appearing grey. My spirits ebb, as they did during an April snowfall when I first came to Maine. “Just wait,” a neighbour advised. “You’ll wake up one morning and spring will just be here.” And look, on 3 May that year I awoke to a green so amazing as to be almost electric, as if spring were simply a matter of flipping a switch. Hills, sky, and forest revealed their purples, blues, and greens. Leaves had unfolded and daffodils were fighting their way heavenward. Then there was the old apple tree. It sits on an undeveloped lot in my neighbourhood. It belongs to no one and therefore to everyone. The tree’s dark twisted branches stretch out in unpruned abandon. Each spring it blossoms so freely that the air becomes filled with the scent of apple. Until last year, I thought I was the only one aware of this tree. And then one day, in a bit of spring madness, I set out to remove a few disorderly branches. No sooner had I arrived under the tree than neighbours opened their windows and stepped onto their porches. These were people I barely knew and seldom spoke to, but it was as if I had come uninvited into their personal gardens. My mobile-home neighbour was the first to speak. “You’re not cutting it down, are you?” she asked anxiously. Another neighbour frowned as I cut off a branch. “Don’t kill it, now,” he warned. Soon, half the neighbourhood had joined me under the apple tree. It struck me that I had lived there for five years and only now was learning these people’s names, what they did for a living, and how they passed the winter. It was as if the old apple tree was gathering us under its branches for the purpose of both acquaintanceship and shared wonder. I couldn’t help recalling Robert Frost’s words: The trees that have it in their pent-up buds To darken nature and be summer woods One thaw (解冻) led to another. Just the other day, I saw one of my neighbours at the local store. He remarked how this recent winter had been especially long and complained of not having seen or spoken at length to anyone in our neighbourhood. And then, he looked at me and said, “We need to prune that apple tree again.” 1．By saying that “my spirits ebb” in paragraph 1, the author means that . A．he feels relieved B．he is cheerful C．he is astonished D．he feels blue 2．Which of the following is TRUE about the apple tree according to the passage? A．No one other than the author cares about the apple tree. B．It grows on public property. C．It is a source of fresh fruit for the neighbourhood D．It is carefully attended to by the author. 3．It can be inferred from the neighbour’s words in the last paragraph that . A．He has a passion for gardening. B．He was concerned about the safety of the tree. C．He enjoyed the company of his neighbours. D．He changed his mind about pruning the tree. 4．What is the best title for the text? A．The Beauty of Nature B．The Secret of the Apple Tree. C．Under the Blossoms. D．The Spring in Maine. 【答案】1．D 2．B 3．C 4．C 【导语】本文是一篇记叙文。主要讲述了作者在缅因州经历的春天景象，以及一棵老苹果树如何成为邻里间交流和联系的纽带，展现了自然之美和邻里之间的温情。 1．词句猜测题。根据第一段中“Every April I am troubled by the same concern that spring might not occur this year. The landscape looks dull, with hills, sky and forest appearing grey. (每年四月，我都会被同样的担忧所困扰，担心今年春天不会到来。风景看起来单调乏味，山峦、天空和森林都是灰色的。)”以及“as they did during an April snowfall when I first came to Maine. (就像我第一次来到缅因州时四月的降雪一样。)”可知，作者初到缅因州时，四月的景色单调灰暗，甚至还下过雪，这样的景象让作者情绪低落，因此，“My spirits ebb ”指的是“he feels blue (他感到沮丧)”。故选D项。 2．细节理解题。根据第三段中“It sits on an undeveloped lot in my neighbourhood. It belongs to no one and therefore to everyone. (它坐落在我家附近的一块未开发的土地上。它不属于任何人，因此属于每个人。)”可知，这棵苹果树生长不属于任何人地方，因此属于大家，即生长在公共土地上，属于公共财产。故选B项。 3．推理判断题。根据最后一段中“He remarked how this recent winter had been especially long and complained of not having seen or spoken at length to anyone in our neighbourhood. And then, he looked at me and said, “We need to prune that apple tree again.” (他提到这个冬天格外漫长，还抱怨说很久没和邻里的人好好见个面、聊聊天了。接着，他看着我说：“我们得再修剪一下那棵苹果树了。”)”可知，邻居抱怨冬天漫长，没有和社区的人长时间交流，然后提出再修剪苹果树，由此可推知，他享受和邻居在一起的时光。故选C项。 4．主旨大意题。通读全文，结合第三段中“Then there was the old apple tree. (还有那棵老苹果树。)”以及第五段中“Soon, half the neighbourhood had joined me under the apple tree. It struck me that I had lived there for five years and only now was learning these people’s names, what they did for a living, and how they passed the winter. It was as if the old apple tree was gathering us under its branches for the purpose of both acquaintanceship and shared wonder. (很快，半个街区的人都来和我一起待在苹果树下了。我突然意识到，自己在这儿住了五年，直到现在才知道这些人的名字、他们的谋生方式，以及他们是如何过冬的。那棵老苹果树仿佛就是要把我们聚集在它的枝丫下，既让我们彼此相识，又让我们一同感受这份奇妙。)”可知，文章主要讲述了作者在缅因州经历的春天景象，以及一棵老苹果树如何成为邻里间交流和联系的纽带，C项“Under the Blossoms (繁花之下)”，既体现了文章中的苹果树这一核心元素，又富有诗意，能够吸引读者，适宜作为标题使用。故选C项。 Passage 2 In the days of good King Harry the Second of England, there were certain forests in the north country used by the King to hunt. These forests were cared for and guarded by the King’s Foresters. One of these royal forests was Sherwood, near the town of Nottingham. In this forest lived Hugh Fitzooth, Sherwood’s head forester. He lived there with his wife and son Robert. The boy had been born in Lockesley town, so he was called Rob of Lockesley. He was a handsome and strong boy. As soon as he could walk, he delighted in going into the forest with his father. From his father, he learned to use the longbow. His loving mother, who was from a noble family, taught him to read and write. Rob learned these lessons well, but he was happiest walking in the forest with his bow in hand. Rob’s happiness soon ended because his father had enemies. One of these enemies was the Sheriff of Nottingham. One day, the Sheriff convinced King Harry that Rob’s father had criticized the King in public. Hugh was arrested for betrayal to the country and sent to jail. Rob and his mother were kicked out of their house. Rob’s mother died of shock, and Rob went to live with his uncle, Sir Gamwell. Soon after, Rob got the news that his father had died in prison. Sir Gamwell was a kind man who gladly took care of Rob. Many years later, he said, “Rob, there is a chance for you to use that bow for a good purpose. There is an archery (射箭) contest at a fair in Nottingham: The first prize is a golden arrow.” Rob’s eyes lit up. “I would like a chance to compete,” he said. “And perhaps I could win a place as a forester even if I don’t win first prize.” “Now I can see that you are more suited to spend your days walking under the trees,” said Sir Gamwell. “Good luck to you, lad.” The next day, Rob set off. It was midmorning when he came across a group of men. Immediately, he saw the man who had replaced his father as head forester. He was a good friend of the Sheriff of Nottingham. Rob decided not to say anything and kept walking. But the head forester, who did not recognize Rob, spoke up. “Where are you going, boy, with your cheap bow and toy arrows? Do you think you have a chance at the fair? Hahaha!” Rob felt a sudden rage. “My bow is as good as yours,” he said to the head forester. The head forester replied, “Then show us some of your skill, boy. I’ll bet you twenty silver coins that you cannot hit the mark I choose.” “Name your mark,” said Rob. “I accept your challenge.” The head forester pointed to a group of deer far away. Quicker than a flash, Rob took the bow from his back and let an arrow fly. It pierced the heart of the leading deer. Then the head forester pretended to be angry and yelled, “Foolish boy! Do you know you have killed one of the King’s deer? The penalty is death! Get out of here, and do not show me your face again!” Rob replied angrily, “Fine, for I have seen your face too often. You are the one who wrongly took my father’s job!” With that, Rob turned and walked away. The head forester suddenly realized who Rob was and knew he was an enemy. He picked up his bow and shot an arrow at Rob’s back. Rob escaped from it. Quickly, Rob sent an arrow back. The head forester fell forward, dead as he hit the ground. In that second, Rob turned and disappeared into the forest. 1．What was Rob like when he was a little boy? A．He showed little interest in reading and writing. B．He was determined to be a forester in the place of his father when he reached adulthood. C．He inspected the forest with his father on a daily basis. D．Physically strong, he loved archery very much. 2．Which of the following words shares the similar meaning with the underlined word in the passage? A．Disappointment. B．Anger. C．Shock. D．Excitement. 3．What led to Rob’s disappearing into the forest? A．The death of his parents having left Rob as an orphan living in solitude. B．Being tricked by the forester into killing one of the king’s deer. C．His strong desire to show others that his archery was the best. D．His killing the forester in defense of his own life. 【答案】1．D 2．B 3．D 【导语】本文是一篇记叙文。文章讲述了护林员Hugh Fitzooth之子Rob的经历，Rob父亲遭敌人陷害入狱去世，母亲也离世，Rob由叔叔抚养长大，后来Rob在参加射箭比赛途中与取代父亲职位的护林队长发生冲突，出于自卫杀死对方后消失在森林中。 1．细节理解题。根据第二段中“He was a handsome and strong boy. As soon as he could walk, he delighted in going into the forest with his father. From his father, he learned to use the longbow. (他是一个英俊强壮的男孩。一学会走路，他就高兴地和父亲一起走进森林。他从父亲那里学会了使用长弓)”和“Rob learned these lessons well, but he was happiest walking in the forest with his bow in hand. (Rob很好地学习了这些课程，但他最开心的是在森林里拿着弓散步)”可知，Rob小时候身体强壮，并且非常喜欢射箭。故选D项。 2．词句猜测题。根据画线词的上文“Where are you going, boy, with your cheap bow and toy arrows? Do you think you have a chance at the fair? Hahaha! (小子，你带着你的廉价弓和玩具箭去哪儿？你觉得你有机会参加集市吗？哈哈哈)”可知，护林队长嘲笑Rob的弓箭，认为他不配参加集市，这会让Rob很愤怒，画线词意思是“愤怒，狂怒”，与B项Anger意思相近。故选B项。 3．细节理解题。根据最后一段中“The head forester suddenly realized who Rob was and knew he was an enemy. He picked up his bow and shot an arrow at Rob’s back. Rob escaped from it. Quickly, Rob sent an arrow back. The head forester fell forward, dead as he hit the ground. In that second, Rob turned and disappeared into the forest. (护林队长突然意识到Rob是谁，知道他是敌人。他拿起弓，朝Rob的后背射了一箭。Rob逃了过去。Rob迅速地射出一支箭。护林队长向前倒下，摔在地上死了。就在那一瞬间，Rob转身消失在森林里)”可知，Rob为了自卫杀死护林队长，导致他消失在森林里。故选D项。 Passage 3 Beauty that can’t be seen In the serene town of Willowbrook resided the young maiden Lily. Her skin bore the intricate tapestry of a rare condition, a mosaic of scars and blemishes that danced across her face like a testament to the trials she had endured. Yet, within this canvas of imperfections, Lily’s heart radiated a warmth that enveloped all who crossed her path in a tender embrace. One fateful afternoon, as the sun descended in a cascade of golden hues, Lily’s path intertwined with that of Lucas, a young man whose world was veiled in eternal darkness. Drawn by the angelic voice of Lily and the kindness that exuded from her very being, Lucas found comfort in her presence. Their friendship blossomed like a delicate flower, each moment spent together a symphony of shared laughter and unspoken understanding. As the days bring more shared experiences, Lucas found himself fascinated by the world as perceived through Lily’s eyes. In her, he discovered a kaleidoscope (万花筒) of beauty that transcended the confines of sight, a beauty woven from threads of kindness, compassion, and unwavering attitude. Though his eyes could not behold the physical scars that adorned Lily’s form, his heart beheld the true essence of her being — a luminous spirit that lightened the darkest corners of his world. With each passing day, their bond deepened, evolving into a romance that defied the conventions of superficiality and embraced the profound connection that existed between their souls. Lily and Lucas found a beauty that transcended the limitations of physical form, a beauty that dwelled in the uncharted depths of their souls. Their love became a testament to the enduring power of the human spirit, a reminder that true beauty is not merely skin-deep but a radiant light that originates from the very core of our being, touching the hearts of all who dare to see beyond the surface. 1．How did Lucas, who was blind, come to appreciate beauty in Lily’s unique perspective? A．by restoring his eyesight through a series of surgeries B．by listening to her angelic voices describing her own beauty C．by spending time with her and seeing the world through her eyes D．by imagine the fascinating world in the eyes of Lily 2．What qualities in Lily did Lucas recognize as true beauty despite the physical scars he can’t see? A．Her commitment to comforting others with her beautiful voice B．Her kindness, compassion, and unwavering strength in difficult life C．Her sympathy and hopefulness for physically-challenged people like Lucas D．Her bravery in developing real friendship to romance despite social dispute 3．In Paragraph 4, the underlined word transcended is closest in meaning to _________? A．went beyond B．depended on C．broke through D．passed over 4．Which of the following definition of beauty best identifies with the essence of the story of Lily and Lucas? A．Beauty is a subjective preference for what might be unfavorable in others’ opinion B．Beauty is not skin-deep but a radiant light that grows from within and enlightens others C．Beauty is what provides pleasure to the senses, either in visual or audio way D．Beauty is something in good proportion that creates aesthetic harmony and appeal 【答案】1．C 2．B 3．A 4．B 【导语】这是一篇记叙文。主要讲述了少女莉莉虽然脸上有伤疤，但是盲人卢卡斯看到了她的内在美。莉莉和卢卡斯发现了一种超越形体限制的美，一种存在于他们灵魂深处的美。 1．细节理解题。根据第二段“Drawn by the angelic voice of Lily and the kindness that exuded from her very being, Lucas found comfort in her presence. Their friendship blossomed like a delicate flower, each moment spent together a symphony of shared laughter and unspoken understanding. (被莉莉天使般的声音和从她身上散发出来的善良所吸引，卢卡斯在她的面前找到了安慰。他们的友谊像娇嫩的花朵一样绽放，在一起度过的每一刻都是共同欢笑和无言理解的交响乐。)”以及第三段“As the days bring more shared experiences, Lucas found himself fascinated by the world as perceived through Lily’s eyes. (随着日子一天天过去，卢卡斯发现自己被莉莉眼中的世界迷住了。)”可知，盲人卢卡斯通过花时间和她在一起，通过她的眼睛看世界，来从莉莉独特的视角来欣赏美。故选C。 2．细节理解题。根据第三段“In her, he discovered a kaleidoscope (万花筒) of beauty that transcended the confines of sight, a beauty woven from threads of kindness, compassion, and unwavering attitude. (在她身上，他发现了一种超越视觉界限的万花筒般的美，一种由善良、同情和坚定不移的态度交织而成的美。)”可知，尽管莉莉身上有他看不见的伤疤，卢卡斯还是认为她美丽是因为她的善良、同情和在困难生活中坚定不移的力量。故选B。 3．词句猜测题。根据划线词后文“a beauty woven from threads of kindness, compassion, and unwavering attitude”以及“Though his eyes could not behold the physical scars that adorned Lily’s form, his heart beheld the true essence of her being — a luminous spirit that lightened the darkest corners of his world. (虽然他的眼睛看不到莉莉身体上的伤疤，但他的心看到了她存在的真正本质——一个明亮的灵魂，照亮了他世界最黑暗的角落。)”可知，卢卡斯发现了一种超越视觉界限的万花筒般的美，一种由善良、同情和坚定的态度编织而成的美。故划线词意思是“超越”。故选A。 4．细节理解题。根据最后一段“Their love became a testament to the enduring power of the human spirit, a reminder that true beauty is not merely skin-deep but a radiant light that originates from the very core of our being, touching the hearts of all who dare to see beyond the surface. (他们的爱证明了人类精神的持久力量，提醒我们真正的美不仅仅是肤浅的，而是一种来自我们生命核心的光芒，触动了所有敢于看穿表面的人的心。)”可知，美不是肤浅的，而是一种从内心发出的光芒，它能照亮他人对美的定义最符合莉莉和卢卡斯故事的本质。故选B。 Passage 4 Charles Robert Darwin was born on 12 February 1809 in Shropshire, England. Darwin’s childhood passion was science, and his interest in chemistry, however, was clear; he was even nicknamed ‘Gas’ by his classmates. In 1825, his father sent him to study medicine at Edinburgh University, where he learned how to classify plants. Darwin became passionate about natural history and this became his focus while he studied at Cambridge. Darwin went on a voyage together with Robert Fitzroy, the captain of HMS Beagle, to South America to facilitate British trade in Patagonia. The journey was life-changing. Darwin spent much of the trip on land collecting samples of plants, animals and rocks, which helped him to develop an understanding of the processes that shape the Earth’s surface. Darwin’s analysis of the plants and animals that he gathered led him to express doubts on former explanations about how species formed and evolved over time. Darwin’s work convinced him that natural selection was key to understanding the development of the natural world. The theory of natural selection says that individuals of a species are more likely to survive when they inherit (经遗传获得) characteristics best suited for that specific environment. These features then become more widespread and can lead eventually to the development of a new species. With natural selection, Darwin argued how a wide variety of life forms developed over time from a single common ancestor. Darwin married his cousin, Emma Wedgwood, in 1839. When Darwin’s eldest daughter, Annie, died from a sudden illness in 1851, he lost his belief in God. His tenth and final child, Charles Waring Darwin, was born in 1856. Significantly for Darwin, this baby was disabled, altering how Darwin thought about the human species. Darwin had previously thought that species remained adapted until the environment changed; he now believed that every new variation was imperfect and that a struggle to survive was what drove species to adapt. Though rejected at the beginning, Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection is nowadays well accepted by the scientific community as the best evidence-based explanation for the diversity and complexity of life on Earth. The Natural History Museum’s library alone has 478 editions of his On the Origin of Species in 38 languages. 1．What made Darwin reconsider the origin and development of species? A．Examining plants and animals collected. B．His desire for a voyage to different continents. C．Classifying samples in a journey to South America. D．His passion for natural history at Edinburgh University. 2．We can learn from paragraphs 1 to 3 that Darwin ________. A．used natural selection to develop new species B．enjoyed being called nicknames related to science C．learned some knowledge about plants when studying medicine D．argued with others over the diversity of life forms for a long period 3．Which of the following changed Darwin’s view on the human species? A．That he had ten children in all. B．His youngest son’s being disabled. C．That he lost his eldest daughter. D．His marriage with Emma Wedgwood. 4．This passage is mainly about ________. A．Darwin’s passion for medical science B．Darwin’s theory and experiments C．Charles Darwin’s changing interest D．Charles Darwin’s life and work 【答案】1．A 2．C 3．B 4．D 【导语】这是一篇人物传记，讲述了查尔斯·罗伯特·达尔文的生平、科学兴趣、重要理论以及他的个人生活。 1．细节理解题。由文章第二段最后一句“Darwin’s analysis of the plants and animals that he gathered led him to express doubts on former explanations about how species formed and evolved over time. ”（达尔文对所收集的植物和动物的分析使他开始质疑过去关于物种如何形成和随时间演化的解释。）可知，达尔文对所收集的植物和动物的分析使他对物种的起源和发展产生质疑和重新审议。故选A项。 2．细节理解题。由文章第二段第一句“In 1825, his father sent him to study medicine at Edinburgh University, where he learned how to classify plants. ”（1825年，他的父亲送他去爱丁堡大学学医，在那里他学会了如何对植物进行分类。）可推断，达尔文在学医时候了解到了关于植物的知识。故选C项。 3．细节理解题。由文章第四段第二句和三句“His tenth and final child, Charles Waring Darwin, was born in 1856. Significantly for Darwin, this baby was disabled, altering how Darwin thought about the human species. ”（他的第十个也是最后一个孩子查尔斯·沃林·达尔文于1856年出生。对达尔文来说，这个婴儿是残疾的，这改变了达尔文对人类物种的看法。）可知，达尔文最小的孩子的先天残疾使达尔文改变了人类物种的看法。故选B项。 4．主旨大意题。通读全文可知，文章前三段主要讲述了查尔斯·罗伯特·达尔文的生平、学业经历、科学兴趣对其理论形成和发展的影响。第四段讲述了他的家庭和个人生活、最后一段讲述了达尔文理论的地位和影响。因此，文章主要讲述了达尔文的生活和工作。故选D项。 Passage 5 Peterson Moturi journeyed to Nairobi, Kenya in 2014 to find a better life for himself. Initially, he would sell drinking water and groundnuts, as well as working as a car wash attendant before becoming a watchman for night duties. Since his goal was to join law school, he saved Kes 50, 000, which he used to pay for his admission to law school. He applied for admission to the Kenya School of Law (KSL) in 2016 and was successful, but the biggest headache facing him was that he didn’t have enough money to pay his fees. Fortunately, he got some financial assistance from Mr. PLO Lumumba, who was then the school director and offered him a scholarship. However, Moturi was then faced with the challenging task of working at night and attending class during the day. Unfortunately, when he sat for his final exams, he got a Pass, which could not allow him to move to the next stage, attaining a law degree. That meant he had to score at least a credit and find money to pay for his diploma courses. He decided to approach his employer, Radar Security, for help. He honestly told his boss that he failed and wondered if he could sponsor him for the diploma once again. To his surprise, his boss agreed, and in no time, he was back in class. “Now I am a joyful man. I am graduating with a credit score. I can now go ahead, pursue a law degree and become an advocate,” he said at the graduation ceremony. Though dressed in the usual graduation regalia (礼服), Moturi somehow appeared different from his colleagues due to the security guard uiform he wore underneath. The 28-year-old man desires to help the less fortunate in society have access to justice. 1．What bothered Moturi most after he gained admission to the KSL? A．Losing his day job. B．Lacking school fees. C．Feeding his family. D．Failing in his final exams. 2．Why did Moturi decide to score at least a credit? A．To enable his boss to sponsor him. B．To succeed in obtaining the scholarship. C．To graduate from the KSL ahead of time. D．To qualify for admission for a law degree. 3．How did Moturi support himself while studying in the KSL? A．By selling daily articles. B．By offering car washing service. C．By serving as a night watchman. D．By asking his family for financial help. 4．Which of the following can best describe Peterson Moturi? A．Determined. B．Modest. C．Imaginative. D．Generous. 【答案】1．B 2．D 3．C 4．A 【导语】本文是一篇记叙文。文章讲述了肯尼亚人莫图里为实现读法学院的目标靠做保安等工作不懈奋斗的故事。 【详解】1.细节理解题。根据第二段“He applied for admission to the Kenya School of Law (KSL) in 2016 and was successful, but the biggest headache facing him was that he didn’t have enough money to pay his fees.(他在2016年申请了肯尼亚法学院（KSL），并获得了成功，但他面临的最头疼的问题是他没有足够的钱支付学费。)”可知，莫图里被肯尼亚法学院录取后，最困扰他的事情就是没有足够的钱支付学费。故选B。 2.推理判断题。根据第三段“Unfortunately, when he sat for his final exams, he got a Pass, which could not allow him to move to the next stage, attaining a law degree. That meant he had to score at least a credit and find money to pay for his diploma courses.(不幸的是，当他参加期末考试时，他获得了及格，这不能让他进入下一个阶段，获得法律学位。这意味着他至少要拿到一个学分，还要有钱支付文凭课程的学费。)”和最后一段“I can now go ahead, pursue a law degree and become an advocate(我现在可以继续前进，攻读法律学位，成为一名律师)”可知，需要获得至少一个学分才有资格攻读法学学位，所以莫图里才做出这样的决定，以实现当律师的目标。故选D。 3. 推理判断题。根据第一段“before becoming a watchman for night duties(在成为夜间值班的保安之前)”以及第三段“approach his employer, Radar Security, for help(向他的雇主雷达安全公司寻求帮助)”和最后一段“due to the security guard uniform he wore underneath(因为他里面穿的是保安制服)”可推知，在法学院学习期间他是靠做夜间保安员来养活自己的。故选C。 4. 推理判断题。通读全文可知，本文讲述了莫图里为实现读法学院的目标，面对困境永不放弃，克服了重重苦难，最终如愿以偿，说明他是一位意志非常坚定的人。故选A。 话题2 文学艺术 Passage 1 Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874-1942) was one of the best-known Canadian authors of the 20th century. Her first novel, Anne of Green Gables, published in 1908, brought her quick fame and success, which encouraged her to continue the story of the heroine, Anne Shirley. Anne of Green Gables was followed by several books about Anne’s life, her children as well as her family and friends. These books cover the life of Anne from her childhood to her old age. Montgomery grew up in Prince Edward Island, Canada, the same location where the story of Anne of Green Gables took place. Montgomery’s mother passed away when she was a baby, and her father left her with her grandparents when she was still a child. Fond of imagination, nature, and writing, Montgomery started to write poems and keep a diary when she was nine years old. Just like Anne Shirley, Montgomery studied in Prince of Wales College for her teacher’s license. Then she studied literature at Dalhousie University. After that, she worked as a teacher. Though she did not enjoy teaching, it afforded her time to write. Beginning in 1897, her short stories were published in magazines and newspapers. In 1898, she stopped teaching and returned to Cavendish to live with her grandmother. While Montgomery’s teaching career ended, her writing career didn’t. After Anne of Green Gables, Montgomery published about 20 novels, 530 short stories, and 500 poems, all of which have influenced readers generation after generation. 1．What was the focus of the books that followed Anne of Green Gables? A．Anne Shirley’s life and her family. B．The education system in Canada. C．Lucy Maud Montgomery’s own life. D．The history of Prince Edward Island. 2．Why did Lucy Maud Montgomery start to write at a young age? A．Because she had a natural talent for writing. B．Because she was encouraged by her parents. C．Because she wanted to become a famous writer. D．Because she was fond of imagination and nature. 3．How did Montgomery’s education contribute to her writing career? A．She studied literature, which influenced her writing style. B．She got a teaching license, which provided her with income. C．She studied in Prince of Wales College, where she got inspired. D．She attended Dalhousie University, where she made connections. 4．Which of the following best describes Montgomery’s writing career? A．It was limited to a few novels and short stories. B．It focused mainly on poems rather than novels. C．It lasted over 40 years and included a wide range of works. D．It was unfortunately interrupted by teaching responsibilities. 【答案】1．A 2．D 3．A 4．C 【导语】这是一篇记叙文。主要讲述了露西·莫德·蒙哥马利，20世纪著名的加拿大作家，1908年以小说《绿山墙的安妮》成名。在《绿山墙的安妮》之后，蒙哥马利出版了大约20部小说、530篇短篇小说和500首诗歌，这些作品影响了一代又一代的读者。 1．细节理解题。根据第一段中“Her first novel, Anne of Green Gables, published in 1908, brought her quick fame and success, which encouraged her to continue the story of the heroine, Anne Shirley. Anne of Green Gables was followed by several books about Anne’s life, her children as well as her family and friends. These books cover the life of Anne from her childhood to her old age.( 她的第一部小说《绿山墙的安妮》于1908年出版，给她带来了迅速的名声和成功，这鼓励她继续写女主人公安妮·雪莉的故事。《绿山墙的安妮》之后又出版了几本关于安妮生活、她的孩子以及她的家人和朋友的书。这些书讲述了安妮从童年到晚年的生活)”可知，《绿山墙的安妮》之后的书重点讲的是安妮·雪莉的生活和她的家庭。故选A项。 2．细节理解题。根据第二段中“Fond of imagination, nature, and writing, Montgomery started to write poems and keep a diary when she was nine years old.( 蒙哥马利喜欢想象、自然和写作，九岁时就开始写诗和写日记)”可知，露西·莫德·蒙哥马利很小就开始写作是因为她喜欢想象和自然。故选D项。 3．推理判断题。根据第二段中“Then she studied literature at Dalhousie University. After that, she worked as a teacher. Though she did not enjoy teaching, it afforded her time to write. Beginning in 1897, her short stories were published in magazines and newspapers. In 1898, she stopped teaching and returned to Cavendish to live with her grandmother. While Montgomery’s teaching career ended, her writing career didn’t.( 然后她在达尔豪斯大学学习文学。在那之后，她当了一名教师。虽然她不喜欢教书，但教书给了她写作的时间。从1897年开始，她的短篇小说在杂志和报纸上发表。1898年，她停止了教学，回到卡文迪什和祖母住在一起。虽然蒙哥马利的教学生涯结束了，但她的写作生涯并没有结束)”可推知，蒙哥马利在达尔豪西大学学习文学，这对她的写作风格有影响，从而有助于她的写作事业。故选A项。 4．细节理解题。根据第一段中“Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874-1942) was one of the best-known Canadian authors of the 20th century.( 露西·莫德·蒙哥马利（1874-1942）是20世纪加拿大最著名的作家之一)”以及最后一段中“Beginning in 1897, her short stories were published in magazines and newspapers. In 1898, she stopped teaching and returned to Cavendish to live with her grandmother. While Montgomery’s teaching career ended, her writing career didn’t. After Anne of Green Gables, Montgomery published about 20 novels,530 short stories, and 500 poems, all of which have influenced readers generation after generation.( 从1897年开始，她的短篇小说在杂志和报纸上发表。1898年，她停止了教学，回到卡文迪什和祖母住在一起。虽然蒙哥马利的教学生涯结束了，但她的写作生涯并没有结束。在《绿山墙的安妮》之后，蒙哥马利出版了大约20部小说、530篇短篇小说和500首诗歌，这些作品影响了一代又一代的读者)”可推知，蒙哥马利从1897年开始发表作品，到1942年去世，其写作生涯持续超过40年，且发表了约20部小说、530篇短篇小说和500首诗，作品范围广泛。故选C项。 Passage 2 Can you sing in different voices? Chinese singer Zhou Shen can do this. The 27-year-old has become more popular after appearing on the TV show Singer. On the show, he sang a song in five different voices including the voice of a little girl, a king and a young man. He records in his unusual ways - he has performed in his bedroom twice due to the novel coronavirus outbreak - but also with his singing itself. Zhou’s road to success was not easy. He loved singing when he was a little boy. However, his voice didn’t change like other boys during puberty (青春期). It still sounded like a girl’s voice. His classmates laughed at him and he dared not sing in public. But his love of music made him stronger. Producer Gao Xiaosong said Zhou has “come out of the cocoon (茧) and become a butterfly”. It has taken Zhou a long time to do so. While studying in Ukraine, he learned Ukrainian, Russian, Italian and Polish. He can sing Let It Go in nine different languages. He started to sing on TV talent shows and gradually came to accept himself. At 17, he first sang online without showing his face. Some people fell in love with it. On one of his birthdays, he agreed to show his face. However, when they found out that he was a man, some of them made fun of him. Zhou felt bad about this, but later he got the chance to sing the theme song to the movie Big Fish and Begonia which turned out to be a big success. “I accept my voice,” Zhou said. “It is good as long as it is natural and honest.” Zhou Shen doesn’t just sing well. He is also humorous. He has a nice personality (性格) and is friendly to his fans. Some people call him “treasure boy”. 1. What did Zhou Shen do on the TV show Singer? A. He won first place in the program. B. He made a record in his bedroom. C. He sang a song in different sounds. D. He performed a show in five languages. 2. Why did Zhou Shen’s voice sound like a girl’s? A. An accident changed his voice. B. He wanted to be different from others. C. His voice didn’t change during puberty. D. He practiced singing like his favorite singer. 3. People call Zhou Shen “treasure boy” because of his ________. A. rich life B. popular songs C. love for music D. personalities and talent 4. What is the purpose of the text? A. To present Zhou Shen’s songs. B. To show Zhou Shen’s road to success. C. To explain Zhou Shen’s special voice. D. To introduce Zhou Shen’s new movie. 【答案】1. C 2. C 3. D 4. B 【导语】本文是一篇记叙文，介绍了歌手周深的成名之路。 【1题详解】 细节理解题。由第一段“On the show, he sang a song in five different voices including the voice of a little girl, a king and a young man. (在选秀中，他用五种不同的声音演唱一首歌，包括小女孩的声音、国王的声音和年轻男子的声音.)”可知，在表演中，周深用了不同的嗓音唱歌。故选C项。 【2题详解】 细节理解题。由第二段“However, his voice didn’t change like other boys during puberty. (然而，他的嗓音不像其他处于青春期的男孩一样有所改变。). ”可知，周深的嗓音能如女孩一样的原因在于他没有变声。故选C项。 【3题详解】 细节理解题。最后一段“Zhou Shen doesn’t just sing well. He is also humorous. He has a nice personality and is friendly to his fans. Some people call him ‘treasure boy’. (周深不仅唱歌好。他也很幽默，性格好，对粉丝友善。一些人称他为“宝藏男孩”。)”由此可知人们称周深为“宝藏男孩”是因为他的音乐天分和他的性格。故选D项。 【4题详解】 推理判断题。本文从周深特殊的音色出发，介绍了他是如何一步步变成了著名歌手，并受到人们的喜爱。所以是在介绍周深如何走向成功的。故选B项。 Passage 3 When it comes to the most famous 20th century painters of the United States, Grandma Moses should be mentioned, although she did not start painting until she was in her late seventies. As she once said to herself, “I would never sit back in a rocking chair, waiting for someone to help me”. No one could have had a more active old age. She was born on a farm in New York State, one of five boys and five girls. At 12 she left home and was in domestic service until at 27 she married Thomas Moses, the hired hand of one of her employers. They farmed most of their lives, first in Virginia and then in New York State, at Eagle Bridge. She had ten children, of whom five survived; her husband died in 1927. Grandma Moses painted a little as a child and made embroidery (刺绣) pictures as a hobby, but only changed to oils in old age because her hands became too stiffto sew and she still wanted to keep busy and pass the time Her pictures were first sold at the local drugstore and at a market and were soon noticed by a businessman who bought all that she painted. Three of the pictures were exhibited in the Museum of Modern Art, and in 1940 she had her first exhibition in New York. Between the 1930's and her death, she produced some 2,000 pictures: careful and lively portrayals (描写) of the country life she had known for so long, with a wonderful sense of color and form. "I think really hard till I think of something really pretty, and then I paint it" she said. 1. What can we learn about Moses? A. She stopped painting in her late seventies. B. She still led an active life when she was old. C. Her marriage life was not happy. D. She painted oils as a child. 2. What did Grandma Moses spend most of her life doing? A. Embroidering. B. Farming. C. Nursing. D. Painting. 3. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage? A. Grandma Moses and Her Farm Life. B. Grandma Moses: the Best Woman Painter in the world. C. Grandma Moses and Her Exhibition. D. Grandma Moses: A Famous Woman Painter of 20th Century. 【答案】1. B 2. B 3. D 【导语】本文是一篇记叙文，介绍了 20 世纪美国著名画家摩西奶奶，讲述了她的生平经历，包括出身、婚姻、生活劳作，以及晚年开始绘画并取得成就的过程。 【1题详解】 细节理解题。根据第一段“As she once said to herself, “I would never sit back in a rocking chair, waiting for someone to help me”. No one could have had a more active old age. (正如她曾对自己说：“我绝不会坐在摇椅上，等着别人来帮我”。没有人能有比她更积极的晚年生活了。)” 可知，摩西奶奶年老时依然过着积极的生活。故选B。 【2题详解】 细节理解题。根据第二段“They farmed most of their lives,first in Virginia and then in New York State,at Eagle Bridge. (他们一生大部分时间都在务农，先是在弗吉尼亚州，然后在纽约州的鹰桥。)” 可知，摩西奶奶一生大部分时间都在务农。故选B。 【3题详解】 主旨大意题。根据第一段“When it comes to the most famous 20th century painters of the United States,Grandma Moses should be mentioned,although she did not start painting until she was in her late seventies. (说到 20 世纪美国最著名的画家，就不得不提到摩西奶奶，尽管她直到七十多岁才开始作画。)”可知，短文介绍了 20 世纪美国著名画家摩西奶奶，讲述了她的生平经历，包括出身、婚姻、生活劳作，以及晚年开始绘画并取得成就的过程。所以短文的标题为“摩西奶奶：20 世纪的著名女画家”。故选D。 Passage 4 As the sun set he remembered, to give himself more confidence, the time in the tavern at Casablanca when he had played the hand game with the great negro from Cienfuegos who was the strongest man on the docks. They had gone one day and one night with their elbows on a chalk line on the table and their forearms straight up and their hands gripped tight. Each one was trying to force the other’s hand down onto the table. There was much betting and people went in and out of the room under the kerosene lights and he had looked at the arm and hand of the negro and at the negro’s face. They changed the referees every four hours after the first eight so that the referees could sleep. Blood came out from under the fingernails of both his and the negro’s hands and they looked each other in the eye and at their hands and forearms and the bettors went in and out of the room and sat on high chairs against the wall and watched. The walls were painted bright blue and were of wood and the lamps threw their shadows against them. The negro’s shadow was huge and it moved on the wall as the breeze moved the lamps. The odds would change back and forth all night and they fed the negro rum and lighted cigarettes for him. Then the negro, after the rum, would try for a tremendous effort and once he had the old man, who was not an old man then but was Santiago El Campeon, nearly three inches off balance. But the old man had raised his hand up to dead even again. He was sure then that he had the negro, who was a fine man and a great athlete, beaten. And at daylight when the bettors were asking that it be called a draw and the referee was shaking his head, he had unleashed his effort and forced the hand of the negro down and down until it rested on the wood. The match had started on a Sunday morning and ended on a Monday morning. Many of the bettors had asked for a draw because they had to go to work on the docks loading sacks of sugar or at the Havana Coal Company. Otherwise everyone would have wanted it to go to a finish. But he had finished it anyway and before anyone had to go to work. For a long time after that everyone had called him The Champion and there had been a return match in the spring. But not much money was bet and he had won it quite easily since he had broken the confidence of the negro from Cienfuegos in the first match. After that he had a few matches and then no more. He decided that he could beat anyone if he wanted to badly enough and he decided that it was bad for his right hand for fishing. He had tried a few practice matches with his left hand. But his left hand had always been a traitor and would not do what he called on it to do and he did not trust it. Quoted from The Old Man and the Sea 1．Since the old man is the main character, in the hand game, why does Hemingway put more efforts in describing his opponent the negro? A．Because Hemingway himself is an anti-racist who wants to support the colored race. B．By doing so, he indirectly shows how strong and determined the old man is to readers. C．He shifts readers’ attention to a new character to neutralize the nervous atmosphere. D．There is no need to describe the old man because he is well-known to all readers. 2．What does the underlined word “unleashed” in paragraph 2 mean? A．spare B．restrict C．reduce D．loose 3．Which of the followings is TRUE according to the passage? A．Many bettors were afraid of losing their money so they wanted to call the game a draw. B．The old man had owed his victory over the negro more to his will than to his strength. C．The referee had been convinced by the bettors that the game be considered a draw D．Regular hand games should be a good practice to enhance the old man’s fishing skills 4．What can be inferred from the whole passage? A．The old man defeated the negro more than once in the matches with his will power B．Many workers working on the docks had showed no respect towards the old man. C．The old man had to self-feed himself a lot so as to stay competitive in the game. D．The negro was not as strong and athletic as the old man had expected him to be. 【答案】1．B 2．D 3．B 4．A 【导语】本文是一篇记叙文，主要讲述了海明威《老人与海》的片段，老人和黑人比赛的情节。 1．推理判断题。文章第一段讲到“he had played the hand game with the great negro from Cienfuegos who was the strongest man on the docks.  (他和Cienfuegos的强大的黑人玩过扳手腕，后者是码头上最强壮的人)”可知，和老人进行比赛的黑人是码头上最强壮的。在下文中，作者介绍了老人和黑人比赛的过程和结果：老人通过努力，打败了黑人。由此推知，第二段对黑人对手进行更多的描述是为了反衬出老人的强壮和坚定。故选B。 2．词义猜测题。划线单词下文“forced the hand of the negro down and down until it rested on the wood. (用力将黑人的手往下压，直到它停在木头上)”可推知要将黑人的手压下去必须释放全部力气，因此带下划线单词的意思是：“释放”，故选D。 3．细节理解题。文章倒数第二段讲到“But not much money was bet and he had won it quite easily since he had broken the confidence of the negro from Cienfuegos in the first match. (但赌注不多，他很容易就赢了，因为他在第一场比赛中就打破了西恩富戈斯黑人的信心。)”可知根据文章，这位老人对黑人的胜利更多地归功于他的意志，而不是他的力量，故选B。 4．推理判断题。文章最后一段讲到“there had been a return match in the spring. But not much money was bet and he had won it quite easily since he had broken the confidence of the negro from Cienfuegos in the first match. (并在春季举行了一次回归赛。但赌注不多，他很容易就赢了，因为他在第一场比赛中就打破了西恩富戈斯黑人的信心。)”以及“He decided that he could beat anyone if he wanted to badly enough (他决定，如果他非常想打败任何人，他都可以打败任何人。)”可知，从整篇文章中可以推断出这位老人在比赛中用他的意志力不止一次击败了那个黑人。故选A。 Passage 5 About 15 years ago, I was working at a sewing (缝纫) machine when I lost focus and put the needle straight through my left middle finger — the wound never quite recovered. It’s the kind of warning teachers tell new sewists, but it also creates a metaphor for a feeling that maybe familiar to the 7.7 million people who enjoy sewing as a hobby: the effect of sewing lives on under our skin. It’s a theme that runs through historian Barbara Burman’s book exploring the cultural history of sewing: The Point of the Needle: Why Sewing Matters. For Barbara, her own interest in sewing is something that can be traced back through her life. “I grew up in a poor household, and I had two very practical parents,” she recalls. “My mother actually taught sewing, dressmaking, and soft tailoring, so I was surrounded by people making things and talking about tools. My interest in sewing comes from an interest in the history of ordinary people, particularly women’s lives. I feel that it’s a kind of untold story. We’re so used to it that we don’t think about it. We put our clothes on, and there we are. But I wanted to look at what sewing actually means at an individual level, as well as a more global level.” We notice the invention of electricity and countless other creations — but sewing, despite the fact that we couldn’t go about our daily lives without it, is often overlooked. When I ask Barbara why the story of sewing is largely untold, she has some insight. “Mostly because it’s connected so thoroughly with women, and women have always been, as it were, ‘second rate’,” she explains. “We’ve also lived with this quite false separation between working with our brains and working with our hands. So manual work is thought of as secondary to head work. But, in fact, our hands, and particularly our sense of touch, give us such a huge amount of information in the world. Countless studies have confirmed how beneficial crafts can be for our mental health and well-being.” 1. What does the underlined part in paragraph 1 imply? A. Sewing may cause physical injury to sewists. B. Sewing is rooted in people’s life for a long time. C. Sewing holds a deep meaning for sewing lovers. D. Sewing is popular with a large number of people. 2. What’s mainly talked about in paragraph 2? A. How Barbara’s parents taught her to sew. B. What sewing meant to the general public. C. How Barbabra got interested in sewing. D. What family environment Barbara grew up in. 3. Why is the story of sewing ignored according to Barbara? A. Women and manual work are undervalued. B. People take no interest in the history of sewing. C. Sewing is not as important as other inventions. D. People prefer technology rather than hand-craft. 4. What does Barbara think of sewing? A. It is a dying craft. B. It is a secondary job. C. It is a dangerous practice. D. It is a rewarding skill. 【答案】1. C 2. C 3. A 4. D 【导语】本文是一篇记叙文，主要讲述了历史学家Barbara Burman对缝纫的热爱以及她对缝纫的深入理解和看法。 【1题详解】 词句猜测题。根据划线词上文“It’s the kind of warning teachers tell new sewists, but it also creates a metaphor for a feeling that maybe familiar to the 7.7 million people who enjoy sewing as a hobby:”（这是老师对新缝纫工的警告，但它也创造了一种感觉的隐喻，这种感觉可能对770万把缝纫作为爱好的人来说很熟悉：）以及下文“It’s a theme that runs through historian Barbara Burman’s book exploring the cultural history of sewing: The Point of the Needle: Why Sewing Matters. For Barbara, her own interest in sewing is something that can be traced back through her life.”（历史学家Barbara Burman的书《针尖：为什么缝纫很重要》探讨了缝纫的文化史，贯穿了这个主题。对芭芭拉来说，她对缝纫的兴趣可以追溯到她的一生。）可知，缝纫的爱好让历史学家Barbara Burman追溯到她的一生，并且她的著作探讨了缝纫的文化史；由此可推知，划线部分“the effect of sewing lives on under our skin”（缝纫的影响深入我们的皮肤之下）暗示了缝纫对于缝纫爱好者来说有着深远的意义。故选C。 【2题详解】 主旨大意题。根据文章第二段“I grew up in a poor household, and I had two very practical parents,” she recalls. “My mother actually taught sewing, dressmaking, and soft tailoring, so I was surrounded by people making things and talking about tools. My interest in sewing comes from an interest in the history of ordinary people, particularly women’s lives”（‘我在一个贫穷的家庭长大，我有两个非常实际的父母，’她回忆说。‘我的母亲实际上教的是缝纫、服装制作和软剪裁，所以我周围的人都在做东西，谈论工具。我对缝纫的兴趣来源于对普通人历史的兴趣，尤其是对女性生活的兴趣。’）可以推知，第二段主要是关于Barbara是如何对缝纫产生兴趣的。故选C。 【3题详解】 推理判断题。根据文章最后一段的句子“Mostly because it’s connected so thoroughly with women, and women have always been, as it were, ‘second rate’,”（主要是因为它与女性有着密切的联系，而女性总是被视为‘二等公民’）以及“So manual work is thought of as secondary to head work.”（所以手工劳动被认为是次要的头脑工作）可以推断出，缝纫的故事被忽视的原因是女性和手工劳动被低估。故选A。 【4题详解】 推理判断题。根据文章最后一段的句子“Countless studies have confirmed how beneficial crafts can be for our mental health and well-being.”（无数的研究已经证实，手工艺对我们的心理健康和幸福感有多大的好处）可以推断出，Barbara认为缝纫是一种有益的技能。故选D。 话题3 社会服务 Passage 1 After retirement from the medical center, my wife and I built our home in a gated community surrounded by swimming clubs and golf courses on Hilton Head Island. But when I left for the other side of the island, I was traveling on unpaved roads lined with leaky cottages. The “lifestyle” of many of the native islanders stood in sharp contrast to my comfortable existence. By talking to the local folks, I discovered that the vast majority of the maids, gardeners, waitresses and construction workers who make this island work had little or no access to medical care. It seemed shocking to me. I wondered why someone didn’t do something about that. Then my father’s words, which he had asked his children daily when they were young, rang in my head again: “What did you do for someone today?” Even though my father had died several years before, I guess I still didn’t want to disappoint him. So I started working on a solution. The island was full of retired doctors. If I could persuade them to spend a few hours a week volunteering their services, we could provide free primary health care to those so desperately in need of it. Most of the doctors I approached liked the idea, so long as they could be re-licensed without troubles. It took one year and plenty of persistence, but I was able to persuade the state legislators (议员) to create a special license for doctors volunteering in not-for-profit clinics. The town donated land, local residents contributed office and medical equipment and some of the potential patients volunteered their weekends decorating the building that would become the clinic. We named it Volunteers in Medicine and we opened its doors in 2015, fully staffed by retired physicians, nurses and dentists as well as nearly 150 nonprofessional volunteers. That year we had 5,000 patient visits; last year we had 16,000. Somehow word of what we were doing got around. Soon we were receiving phone calls from retired physicians all over the country, asking for help in starting VIM clinics in their communities. We did the best we could — there are now 15 other clinics operating — but we couldn’t keep up with the need. Yet last month I think my father’s words found their way up north to McNeil Consumer Healthcare, the maker of Tylen71. A major grant from McNeil will allow us to respond to these requests and help establish other free clinics in communities around the country. 1．What is the passage mainly about? A．The contrast between the rich and the poor on an island. B．The story of a man and his wife who likes to help others. C．The inspiration of a father’s words. D．The life and work of a retired physician. 2．The purpose of Volunteers in Medicine is to ________. A．help retired medical workers improve their incomes B．provide free medical services to those who need them C．urge the government to set up non-profit clinics D．make the dream of the author’s father come true 3．Which of the following has been done by the author himself? A．Buying the medical equipment. B．Finding the land and the office. C．Furnishing the building that could be put to use for the clinic. D．Getting a special license for the retired doctors. 4．In the last paragraph, “I think my father’s words found their way up north to McNeill” implies that ________. A．my father’s words finally spread to McNeil B．McNeil decided to do something for the needy people C．my father’s words had a great influence over McNeil D．McNeil was badly in need of professional advice from retired doctors 【答案】1．C 2．B 3．D 4．B 【导语】本文是一篇记叙文。本文讲述了作者退休后，在发现海岛上许多劳动者无法享受医疗保障后，最终创办了一家由退休医务人员和非专业志愿者组成的免费诊所Volunteers in Medicine。随着该诊所的影响力扩大，最终得以在其他社区建立更多的免费诊所。 1．主旨大意题。根据第二段中“By talking to the local folks, I discovered that the vast majority of the maids, gardeners, waitresses and construction workers who make this island work had little or no access to medical care. It seemed shocking to me. I wondered why someone didn’t do something about that. Then my father’s words, which he had asked his children daily when they were young, rang in my head again: “What did you do for someone today?”(通过与当地人交谈，我发现绝大多数为这个岛工作的女佣、园丁、女服务员和建筑工人很少或根本没有医疗保健。这对我来说似乎很震惊。我想知道为什么没有人做点什么。父亲小时候每天问孩子们的那句话再次在我的脑海里响起：“你今天为别人做了什么？”)”等内容并通读全文可知，文章主要讲述了作者退休后，在发现海岛居民医疗条件匮乏后，受到父亲话语的启发，开始着手解决问题，最终成功创办了一家免费诊所，并影响了更多人。因此，文章主旨是讲述父亲话语的启发对作者的影响，选项C“The inspiration of a father’s words.(父亲话语的启发)”最符合文章主旨。故选C。 2．推理判断题。根据文章第三段中“If I could persuade them to spend a few hours a week volunteering their services, we could provide free primary health care to those so desperately in need of it.(如果我能说服他们每周花几个小时志愿提供服务，我们就可以为那些迫切需要的人提供免费的基本医疗保健。)”以及第四段中“We named it Volunteers in Medicine and we opened its doors in 2015, fully staffed by retired physicians, nurses and dentists as well as nearly 150 nonprofessional volunteers. (我们将其命名为Volunteers in Medicine，并于2015年开业，员工全部由退休医生、护士和牙医以及近150名非专业志愿者组成。)”可知，作者起初倡议建立该医院的目的是可以为那些迫切需要的人提供免费的基本医疗保健，由此最终Volunteers in Medicine建立而成，全部由退休医生、护士和牙医以及近150名非专业志愿者组成，因此其目的是为有需要的人提供免费医疗服务。故选B。 3．细节理解题。根据文章第三段中“It took one year and plenty of persistence, but I was able to persuade the state legislators (议员) to create a special license for doctors volunteering in not-for-profit clinics.(我花了一年时间和大量的毅力，但终于说服了州议员为在非营利性诊所志愿服务的医生颁发特别执照。)”可知，是作者自己为退休医生争取到了特别行医执照。故选D。 4．推理判断题。根据文章最后一段中“Yet last month I think my father’s words found their way up north to McNeil Consumer Healthcare, the maker of Tylen71. A major grant from McNeil will allow us to respond to these requests and help establish other free clinics in communities around the country. (然而，上个月，我认为父亲的话传到了北方，传到了Tylen71的制造商McNeil Consumer Healthcare。来自McNeil的一笔主要赠款将使我们能够响应这些请求，并帮助在全国各地的社区建立其他免费诊所。)”可知，作者认为父亲的话传到了北方，传到了Tylen71的制造商麦克尼尔消费者医疗保健公司，此处是一种隐喻，即作者父亲生前的教导或理念，在某种程度上影响或传达到了McNeil Consumer Healthcare，由此McNeil公司决定为有需要的人做点事情，因此提供了资助,，帮助在全国各地的社区建立其他免费诊所。故选B。 Passage 2 I wanted the pleasure of being in Africa again. Feeling that the place was so large that it contained many untold tales and some hope and comedy and sweetness too, I aimed to reinsert myself in the bundy, as we used to call the bush, and to wander around. There I had lived and worked, happily, almost forty years ago, in the heart of the greenest continent. In those old undramatic days of my school teaching in the bundu, folks lived their lives on bush paths at the end of unpaved roads of red clay, in villages of grass-roofed huts. They had a new national flag, they had just gotten the vote, some had bikes, many talked about buying their first pair of shoes. They were hopeful, and, so was I, a schoolteacher living near a settlement of mud-huts among trees and fields—children shouting at play; and women bent double—most with infants on their backs—hoeing(锄地) the corn beans; and the men sitting in the shade. The Swahili word safari means “journey”, it has nothing to do with animals, someone “on safari” is just away and unobtainable and out of touch. Out of touch in Africa was where I wanted to be. The wish to disappear sends many travellers away. If you are thoroughly sick of being kept waiting at home or at work, travel is perfect: let other people wait for a change. Travel is a sort of revenge(报复) for having been put on hold, or having to leave messages on answering machines, not knowing your party’s extension, being kept waiting all your working life. But also being kept waiting is the human condition. Travel in the African bush can also be a sort of revenge on mobile phones and email, on telephones and the daily paper, on the aspects of globalization that allow anyone who chooses to get their hands on you. I desired to be unobtainable. I was going to Africa for the best of reasons—in a spirit of discovery—simply to disappear, to light out, with a suggestion of I dare you to try to find me. Home had become a routine, and routine made time pass quickly. I was a sitting duck in this predictable routine: people knew when to call me, they knew when I would be at my desk. I was in such regular touch that it was like having a job, a mode of life I hated. I was sick of being called up and asked for favors, hit up for money. You stick around too long and people begin to impose their own deadlines on you. 1．What did the writer expect from his journey? A．To have a variety of enjoyable experiences. B．To see how Africa had changed. C．To see impressive scenery. D．To meet some old friend. 2．Forty years ago, how did the writer feel about the future of the country where he was living? A．Little was likely to change. B．Things were likely to improve. C．Women would do most of the work. D．People’s expectations were too limited. 3．In Paragraph 3, what reason does the writer give for wanting to travel to Africa? A．He wanted a change of activity. B．He wanted people to be unable to contact him. C．His health was suffering from staying at home. D．He had been waiting to return to Africa for long. 4．The writer says “I was a sitting duck” in Paragraph 5 to show that _______. A．he was boring B．he was easy to find C．he is fond of ducks D．he was always lending money 【答案】1．A 2．B 3．B 4．B 【导语】本文是一篇夹叙夹议文。文章讲述了大约四十年前作者在非洲教书的经历，那里的人和事让作者想要再次体会在非洲的快乐，并讲述了旅行的意义。 1．推理判断题。根据第一段中的“Feeling that the place was so large that it contained many untold tales and some hope and comedy and sweetness too, I aimed to reinsert myself in the bundy, as we used to call the bush, and to wander around.(我觉得这个地方太大了，里面有很多不为人知的故事，也有一些希望、喜剧和甜蜜，于是我打算重新融入我们过去所说的灌木丛中，四处闲逛。)”可知，作者打算去非洲旅行，在那里四处逛逛，去探索那里不为人知的故事，以及希望、喜剧和甜蜜。由此可推测出，作者希望自己在旅行中可以有各种各样的愉快经历。故选A。 2．推理判断题。根据第二段中的“They had a new national flag, they had just gotten the vote, some had bikes, many talked about buying their first pair of shoes.(他们有了一面新国旗，他们刚刚获得了选票，有些人有自行车，许多人谈到要买他们的第一双鞋。)”和“They were hopeful, and, so was I(他们满怀希望，我也是)”可知，四十年前，作者所在的那个国家有了新国旗，人们有了选票权，有的人有了自行车，没鞋的人打算买鞋穿，人人都满怀希望。由此可推测出，这个国家的情况得到了改善。故选B。 3．细节理解题。根据第三段中的“Out of touch in Africa was where I wanted to be.(在非洲失去联系是我想达到的目的。)”和“Travel is a sort of revenge(报复) for having been put on hold, or having to leave messages on answering machines, not knowing your party’s extension, being kept waiting all your working life.(旅行是对你被搁置，或者不得不在答录机上留言、不知道你的派对延期、在你的工作生涯中一直在等待这些情况的一种报复。)”可知，作者想去非洲旅行时因为他不想让人们能够联系上他。故选B。 4．推理判断题。根据冒号后的“people knew when to call me, they knew when I would be at my desk.(人们知道什么时候该给我打电话，他们知道我什么时候会在办公桌前。)”可知，人们清楚地了解作者，知道何时给他打电话可以打得通，知道他何时可以处理工作事务。由此可推测出，作者说“I was a sitting duck(我是一个易受攻击者)”是想说明他很容易被人找到。故选B。 Passage 3 To say that the child learns by imitation and that the way to teach is to set a good example seems oversimplified. No child imitates every action he sees. Sometimes, the example the parent wants him to follow is ignored while he takes over contrary patterns from some other example. Therefore, we must turn to a more subtle theory than “Monkey see, monkey do”. Look at it from the child’s point of view. Here he is in a new situation, lacking a ready response. He is seeking a response which will gain certain ends. If he lacks a ready response for the situation, and cannot reason out what to do, he observes a model who seems able to get the right result. The child looks for an authority or expert who can show what to do. There is a second element at work in this situation. The child may be able to achieve his immediate goal only to find that his method brings criticism from people who observe him. When shouting across the house achieves his immediate end of delivering a message, he is told emphatically that such a screaming is unpleasant, that he should walk into the next room and say his say quietly. Thus, the desire to solve any objective situation is overlaid with the desire to solve it properly. One of the early things the child learns is that he gets more affection and approval when his parents like his response. Then other adults award some actions and criticize others. If one is to maintain the support of others and his own self-respect, he must adopt responses his social group approves. In finding trial responses, the learner does not choose models at random. He imitates the person who seems a good person to be like, rather than a person whose social status he wished to avoid. If the pupil wants to be good violinist, he will observe and try to copy the techniques of capable players. Admiration of one quality often leads us to admire a person as a whole, and he becomes an identifying figure. We use some people as models over a wide range of situations, imitating much that they do. We learn that they are dependable and rewarding models because imitating them leads to success. 1．According to the passage, to teach a child to learn something, parents should ________. A．view from the child’s perspective B．simplify each action shown to the child C．follow the theory of imitation D．set a good example for the child to copy 2．Which of the following situation will lead a child to seek for a model? A．The child comes up with a solution to an issue. B．The child is blamed by parents for his/her wrongdoing. C．The child encounters a professional who can get the right result. D．The child is in trouble and cannot figure out an approach. 3．It can be inferred that children usually imitate people ________. A．whose talent and skill are extraordinary B．whose actions are consistent with theirs C．whom they want to be shaped into D．who enjoy a high social status 4．What is the passage mainly about? A．The reason for parenting by imitation. B．The factors determining children’s imitation. C．The significance of learning by imitation. D．The way children choose models. 【答案】1．A 2．D 3．C 4．B 【导语】本文是一篇议论文。主要探讨儿童模仿学习的复杂性，分析儿童寻求模仿对象的场景、选择模仿对象的依据及社会评价对其模仿行为的影响。 1．细节理解题。根据第二段中的“Look at it from the child’s point of view. Here he is in a new situation, lacking a ready response. He is seeking a response which will gain certain ends. If he lacks a ready response for the situation, and cannot reason out what to do, he observes a model who seems able to get the right result. The child looks for an authority or expert who can show what to do.(从孩子的角度来看。他处于一个新的情境中，没有现成的应对方法。他在寻求一种能达到特定目的的应对方式。如果他对这种情境没有现成的应对方法，也无法推理出该做什么，他就会观察一个似乎能得到正确结果的榜样。孩子会寻找一个能指导他该做什么的权威人士或专家。)”可知，要教孩子学习，家长应从孩子的角度出发，理解其在新情境中对榜样的需求，而非单纯设定榜样。故选A项。 2．细节理解题。根据第二段中的“Here he is in a new situation, lacking a ready response. He is seeking a response which will gain certain ends. If he lacks a ready response for the situation, and cannot reason out what to do, he observes a model who seems able to get the right result.(他处于一个新的情境中，没有现成的应对方法。他在寻求一种能达到特定目的的应对方式。如果他对这种情境没有现成的应对方法，也无法推理出该做什么，他就会观察一个似乎能得到正确结果的榜样。)”可知，当孩子陷入困境且无法想出解决方法时，会寻求榜样。故选D项。 3．推理判断题。根据第四段中的“He imitates the person who seems a good person to be like, rather than a person whose social status he wished to avoid. If the pupil wants to be good violinist, he will observe and try to copy the techniques of capable players.(他会模仿那些看起来值得成为的人，而不是那些他希望避免拥有其社会地位的人。如果一个学生想成为一名优秀的小提琴手，他会观察并努力模仿有能力的演奏者的技巧。)”可知，儿童通常模仿那些他们希望成为的人。故选C项。 4．主旨大意题。根据第一段指出“儿童模仿并非简单的‘有样学样’”，第二段分析“儿童在无应对方法时会寻求榜样”，第三段说明“社会评价会影响儿童的模仿行为”，第四、五段阐述“儿童会选择值得成为的人作为模仿对象”，结合全文内容可知，文章围绕“决定儿童模仿行为的多种因素”展开。故选B项。 Passage 4 As the Northern Hemisphere ushers in the new season, a contagious (有感染力的) urge to dust off cobwebs and toss out clutter emerges. Spring cleaning, a deep cleanse of one’s home, is a tradition rooted in societies worldwide, with its origin traced back to ancient times. It also holds symbolic significance. Viewed as a fresh start, the tradition symbolizes the transition from the dormant winter season to the vibrant growth of spring. By purging (清除) the home of accumulated debris and organizing its contents, individuals create a cleaner living environment and a sense of mental clarity and freshness. “With each sweep of the broom and polish of the surface, we honor a tradition that transcends time, uniting us with generations past in a shared pursuit of renewal and rejuvenation (恢复活力),” says Danielle Patten, director of creative programs and collections at the Museum of the Home in London. Human behavior is greatly influenced by the cycles of nature. In the colder months, we have less energy to spare for chores such as deep cleaning. We’re not being lazy; limited daylight triggers the hormone melatonin (褪黑素), which makes us sleepy. “Melatonin causes us to feel less inclined to refresh our space. When the seasons start to shift, feelings of sluggishness reduce, and we regain energy and feel inspired to deep clean our living environments,” says author and psychotherapist Eloise Skinner. “When we refresh our environments, we can feel a sense of new beginning, or a renewed sense of drive and ambition.” Studies have also shown that cleaning can be therapeutic, as seen by the new generation of “cleanfluencers” taking social media by storm. Millions of people watch them scour filthy homes and share cleaning hacks. “When we’re cleaning, we often have to be present to the task at hand, and this can bring us into the present moment, causing us to feel more aware, engaged and observant. The repetitive nature can also be soothing,” Skinner says. Before the Chinese New Year, it’s common to cleanse the home of bad luck and misfortune in China. Known as “sweeping the dust,” cleaning makes way for the new year’s good luck and prosperity, says Patten. While the concept of spring cleaning predates modern technology, advancements such as electricity and household appliances have influenced its practice. For example, before electric lights, people relied on fire from burning coal, oil, and wood to light and heat homes, which would leave behind a substantial amount of soot (煤灰). Windows were kept securely closed to prevent a deadly draft from entering. Come spring, it was pragmatic to open the windows to air out stuffy homes, remove grime, and repair any damages that occurred during the winter months. Inventions such as vacuum cleaners, washing machines, and cleaning agents have made the process more efficient and convenient, allowing for deeper and more thorough cleaning of living spaces. 1．What does the word “sluggishness” in paragraph 5 most likely mean? A．Excitement. B．Tiredness. C．Determination. D．Activity. 2．What does the passage imply about the link between cleaning and mental well-being? A．Cleaning rituals are more effective than professional therapy for reducing stress. B．The repetitive nature of cleaning can promote mindfulness and engagement. C．People who deep clean are less likely to experience seasonal affective disorder. D．Social media “cleanfluencers” rely on mental health studies to increase their followers. 3．What can be inferred about the evolution of spring cleaning from the passage? A．The practice became widespread due to advancements in household appliances. B．The invention of electric lights eliminated the need for spring cleaning. C．Modern cleaning techniques have completely replaced traditional customs. D．The symbolic meaning of spring cleaning has diminished over time. 4．What is the author’s primary purpose of writing this passage? A．To encourage readers to adopt spring cleaning habits. B．To provide a historical and cultural perspective on spring cleaning. C．To compare traditional and modern spring cleaning practices. D．To explore how spring cleaning can benefit mental health. 【答案】1．B 2．B 3．A 4．B 【导语】短文主要从历史、文化以及对人心理影响等方面介绍春季大扫除这一传统习俗，阐述其象征意义，分析人类行为受自然周期影响与春季大扫除的关联，探讨清洁对心理健康的益处，还提及现代科技对春季大扫除方式的影响。 1．词句猜测题。根据第五段“Melatonin causes us to feel less inclined to refresh our space. When the seasons start to shift, feelings of sluggishness reduce, and we regain energy and feel inspired to deep clean our living environments (褪黑素会让我们不太想整理我们的空间。当季节开始变化时，____感会减轻，我们会恢复精力，并受到启发去深度清洁我们的生活环境）”可知，褪黑素使人不想打扫，季节变化，这种感觉减轻后人们才恢复精力打扫，所以“sluggishness”应与精力不足、疲惫有关。故选B项。 2．推理判断题。根据第六段“When we’re cleaning, we often have to be present to the task at hand, and this can bring us into the present moment, causing us to feel more aware, engaged and observant. The repetitive nature can also be soothing (当我们清洁时，我们常常必须专注于手头的任务，这能让我们活在当下，使我们感觉更警觉、投入和善于观察。清洁的重复性也能起到舒缓作用）”可知，清洁的重复性可以促进专注和投入，对心理健康有益。故选B项。 3．推理判断题。根据倒数第二段“While the concept of spring cleaning predates modern technology, advancements such as electricity and household appliances have influenced its practice. (尽管春季大扫除这一概念早于现代科技出现，但诸如电力和家用电器等方面的进步已经对大扫除的具体实施产生了影响。”以及最后一段“Inventions such as vacuum cleaners, washing machines, and cleaning agents have made the process more efficient and convenient, allowing for deeper and more thorough cleaning of living spaces. (吸尘器、洗衣机和清洁剂等发明使这个过程更加高效和方便，能够对生活空间进行更深入、更彻底的清洁。)”可知，家用电器的进步使春季大扫除变得更高效便捷，从而使这一做法更广泛传播。故选A项。 4．推理判断题。文章开篇介绍春季大扫除是全球范围内的传统，可追溯到古代，接着阐述其象征意义，还提到自然周期对人类清洁行为的影响、清洁对心理健康的益处以及现代科技对春季大扫除的影响，从历史和文化等多个角度对春季大扫除进行介绍。所以短文的目的是提供关于春季大扫除的历史和文化视角。故选B项。 Passage 5 Every April I am troubled by the same concern that spring might not occur this year. The landscape looks dull, with hills, sky and forest appearing grey. My spirits ebb, as they did during an April snowfall when I first came to Maine. “Just wait,” a neighbour advised. “You’ll wake up one morning and spring will just be here.” And look, on 3 May that year I awoke to a green so amazing as to be almost electric, as if spring were simply a matter of flipping a switch. Hills, sky, and forest revealed their purples, blues, and greens. Leaves had unfolded and daffodils were fighting their way heavenward. Then there was the old apple tree. It sits on an undeveloped lot in my neighbourhood. It belongs to no one and therefore to everyone. The tree’s dark twisted branches stretch out in unpruned abandon. Each spring it blossoms so freely that the air becomes filled with the scent of apple. Until last year, I thought I was the only one aware of this tree. And then one day, in a bit of spring madness, I set out to remove a few disorderly branches. No sooner had I arrived under the tree than neighbours opened their windows and stepped onto their porches. These were people I barely knew and seldom spoke to, but it was as if I had come uninvited into their personal gardens. My mobile-home neighbour was the first to speak. “You’re not cutting it down, are you?” she asked anxiously. Another neighbour frowned as I cut off a branch. “Don’t kill it, now,” he warned. Soon, half the neighbourhood had joined me under the apple tree. It struck me that I had lived there for five years and only now was learning these people’s names, what they did for a living, and how they passed the winter. It was as if the old apple tree was gathering us under its branches for the purpose of both acquaintanceship and shared wonder. I couldn’t help recalling Robert Frost’s words: The trees that have it in their pent-up buds To darken nature and be summer woods One thaw (解冻) led to another. Just the other day, I saw one of my neighbours at the local store. He remarked how this recent winter had been especially long and complained of not having seen or spoken at length to anyone in our neighbourhood. And then, he looked at me and said, “We need to prune that apple tree again.” 1．By saying that “my spirits ebb” in paragraph 1, the author means that . A．he feels relieved B．he is cheerful C．he is astonished D．he feels blue 2．Which of the following is TRUE about the apple tree according to the passage? A．No one other than the author cares about the apple tree. B．It grows on public property. C．It is a source of fresh fruit for the neighbourhood D．It is carefully attended to by the author. 3．It can be inferred from the neighbour’s words in the last paragraph that . A．He has a passion for gardening. B．He was concerned about the safety of the tree. C．He enjoyed the company of his neighbours. D．He changed his mind about pruning the tree. 4．What is the best title for the text? A．The Beauty of Nature B．The Secret of the Apple Tree. C．Under the Blossoms. D．The Spring in Maine. 【答案】1．D 2．B 3．C 4．C 【导语】本文是一篇记叙文。主要讲述了作者在缅因州经历的春天景象，以及一棵老苹果树如何成为邻里间交流和联系的纽带，展现了自然之美和邻里之间的温情。 1．词句猜测题。根据第一段中“Every April I am troubled by the same concern that spring might not occur this year. The landscape looks dull, with hills, sky and forest appearing grey. (每年四月，我都会被同样的担忧所困扰，担心今年春天不会到来。风景看起来单调乏味，山峦、天空和森林都是灰色的。)”以及“as they did during an April snowfall when I first came to Maine. (就像我第一次来到缅因州时四月的降雪一样。)”可知，作者初到缅因州时，四月的景色单调灰暗，甚至还下过雪，这样的景象让作者情绪低落，因此，“My spirits ebb ”指的是“he feels blue (他感到沮丧)”。故选D项。 2．细节理解题。根据第三段中“It sits on an undeveloped lot in my neighbourhood. It belongs to no one and therefore to everyone. (它坐落在我家附近的一块未开发的土地上。它不属于任何人，因此属于每个人。)”可知，这棵苹果树生长不属于任何人地方，因此属于大家，即生长在公共土地上，属于公共财产。故选B项。 3．推理判断题。根据最后一段中“He remarked how this recent winter had been especially long and complained of not having seen or spoken at length to anyone in our neighbourhood. And then, he looked at me and said, “We need to prune that apple tree again.” (他提到这个冬天格外漫长，还抱怨说很久没和邻里的人好好见个面、聊聊天了。接着，他看着我说：“我们得再修剪一下那棵苹果树了。”)”可知，邻居抱怨冬天漫长，没有和社区的人长时间交流，然后提出再修剪苹果树，由此可推知，他享受和邻居在一起的时光。故选C项。 4．主旨大意题。通读全文，结合第三段中“Then there was the old apple tree. (还有那棵老苹果树。)”以及第五段中“Soon, half the neighbourhood had joined me under the apple tree. It struck me that I had lived there for five years and only now was learning these people’s names, what they did for a living, and how they passed the winter. It was as if the old apple tree was gathering us under its branches for the purpose of both acquaintanceship and shared wonder. (很快，半个街区的人都来和我一起待在苹果树下了。我突然意识到，自己在这儿住了五年，直到现在才知道这些人的名字、他们的谋生方式，以及他们是如何过冬的。那棵老苹果树仿佛就是要把我们聚集在它的枝丫下，既让我们彼此相识，又让我们一同感受这份奇妙。)”可知，文章主要讲述了作者在缅因州经历的春天景象，以及一棵老苹果树如何成为邻里间交流和联系的纽带，C项“Under the Blossoms (繁花之下)”，既体现了文章中的苹果树这一核心元素，又富有诗意，能够吸引读者，适宜作为标题使用。故选C项。 话题4 科学技术 Passage 1 Ashley Liberto and her dog Bentley have been inseparable since she got him eight years ago. When Bentley had trouble walking a few years ago, Liberto was worried. “I took him to the pet hospital. He was diagnosed (诊断) with an amputated (截肢) right elbow and would need a prosthetic leg,” Liberto says. Luckily, the surgery (外科手术) was a success. After Bentley started moving again on three legs, Liberto decided to get a custom prosthetic leg (定制的假肢) for him. When she saw the cost of custom dog prosthetics, the teacher at Providence Day School in Charlotte, North Carolina reached out to some of her former students for help in finding a more affordable choice. Providence Day School has a class focused on computer- aided design (计算机辅助设计) and 3D printing. The teacher, Todd Johnson, says, “It’s an introductory level class that teaches students to make basic shapes using the technology. But when Liberto suggested trying to make a prosthetic leg for her dog, the students were excited to help and try something new.” “I thought it was a chance for the students to see a real- world application of what they were learning at school. I knew once the students started thinking about it seriously, they would come up with excellent designs,” Johnson says. The class broke up into small groups to come up with designs for Bentley. Team leader Brandon Hollis and his group came up with the winning design. Hollis group spent weeks creating a prosthetic leg for Bentley. “It fit way better than I could have hoped for. It still needs some small changes, and then it should fit perfectly,” Hollis says. The students hope to have a finished custom ( adj.量身设计的) and comfortable prosthetic leg for Bentley in the next few weeks. Even though the class has ended, the young designers have continued the project on their own time. 1．What happened to Bentley? A．He was hit by a car. B．He had a terrible illness. C．He got lost on his way home. D．He got separated from his owner. 2．What did Liberto do for Bentley? A．She provided some students to play with him. B．She tried to get a new leg for him. C．She gave him some walking training. D．She found a new home for him. 3．How did the students feel about making a leg? A．It was a piece of cake to them. B．They were excited to try something new prosthetic C．They didn’t take it seriously. D．It was too hard for them to finish. 4．What does Johnson expect of his students? A．They can put what they’re learning in the classroom into practice. B．They can think carefully about what they want to learn. C．They can pay some attention to animal protection. D．They can develop new 3D printing technology. 5．What is Hollis and his group’s plan for the next few weeks? A．Sharing their design with others. B．Offering free design courses. C．Making their design better. D．Introducing a new design. 【答案】1．B 2．B 3．B 4．A 5．C 【导语】这是一篇记叙文。主要讲述了阿什利·利伯托的狗宾利需假肢，她向母校求助，该校学生利用 3D 打印技术为其设计假肢，希望几周内完成合适的成品。 1．细节理解题。根据第一段中“When Bentley had trouble walking a few years ago, Liberto was worried. “I took him to the pet hospital. He was diagnosed (诊断) with an amputated (截肢) right elbow and would need a prosthetic leg,” Liberto says.( 几年前，当宾利走路有困难时，利伯托很担心。“我带他去了宠物医院。它被诊断出右肘截肢，需要一条义肢，”利伯托说。)”可知，宾利是生病了，需要截肢并安装假肢。故选B项。 2．细节理解题。根据第二段中“After Bentley started moving again on three legs, Liberto decided to get a custom prosthetic leg (定制的假肢) for him.( 在宾利重新开始用三条腿走路后，利伯托决定为它定制一条义肢。)”可知，利伯托努力为宾利找一条新的腿（假肢）。故选B项。 3．细节理解题。根据第三段中“But when Liberto suggested trying to make a prosthetic leg for her dog, the students were excited to help and try something new.( 但当利伯托建议为她的狗做一条义肢时，学生们很高兴能帮忙，尝试一些新的东西。)”可知，学生们对于尝试制作新的假肢很兴奋。故选B项。 4．细节理解题。根据第四段中“I thought it was a chance for the students to see a real-world application of what they were learning at school.( 我认为这是一个机会，让学生们看到他们在学校学到的东西在现实世界中的应用。)”可知，约翰逊期望学生们能将在课堂上学到的知识应用到实际中。故选A项。 5．推理判断题。根据倒数第二段中““It fit way better than I could have hoped for. It still needs some small changes, and then it should fit perfectly,” Hollis says.( “它比我希望的要合适得多。它仍然需要一些小的改变，然后它应该完美地适合，”霍利斯说。)”以及最后一段中 “The students hope to have a finished custom ( adj.量身设计的) and comfortable prosthetic leg for Bentley in the next few weeks.( 学生们希望在接下来的几周内为宾利量身设计一个舒适的假肢。)”可推知，霍利斯和他的团队接下来几周的计划是让他们的设计变得更好。故选C项。 Passage 2 Hundreds of people die at sea every year due to ship and airplane accidents. Emergency teams have little time to rescue those in the water because the probability of finding a person alive falls dramatically after six hours. Beyond tides and challenging weather conditions, unsteady coastal currents often make search and rescue operations extremely difficult. New insight into coastal flows gained by an international research team led by George Haller, Professor of Nonlinear Dynamics at ETH Zurich, promises to enhance the search and rescue techniques currently in use. Using tools from dynamical systems theory and ocean data, the team has developed an algorithm (算法) to predict where objects and people floating in water will go. “Our work has a clear potential to save lives,” says Mattia Serra, the first author of a study recently published in Nature Communications. In today’s rescue operations at sea, complicated models of ocean dynamics and weather forecasting are used to predict the path of floating objects. For fast-changing coastal waters, however, such predictions are often inaccurate due to uncertain boundaries and missing data. As a result, a search may be launched in the wrong location, causing a loss of precious time. Haller’s research team obtained mathematical results predicting that objects floating on the ocean’s surface should gather along a few special curves (曲线) which they call TRansient Attracting Profiles (TRAPs). These curves can’t be seen with our eyes but can be tracked from instant ocean surface current data using recent mathematical methods developed by the ETH team. This enables quick and precise planning of search paths that are less sensitive to uncertainties in the time and place of the accident. In cooperation with a team from MIT, the ETH team tested their new, TRAP-based search algorithm in two separate ocean experiments near Martha’s Vineyard, which is on the northeastern coast of the United States. Working from the same real-time data available to the Coast Guard, the team successfully identified TRAPs in the region in real-time. They found that buoys and manikins (浮标和人体模型) thrown in the water indeed quickly gathered along these emerging curves. “Of several competing approaches tested in this project, this was the only algorithm that consistently found the right location”, says Haller. “Our results are rapidly obtained, easy to interpret, and cheap to perform,” points out Serra. Haller stresses: “Our hope is that this method will become a standard part of the tool kit of coast guards everywhere.” 1．In a search and rescue operation, ________. A．the survival rate drops to almost zero after six hours B．the use of dynamics leads to the wrong location C．weather conditions are a determining factor D．changing currents present a challenge 2．The main significance of the new algorithm is ________. A．accurately predicting weather conditions during rescue operations B．dependence on satellite technology to locate distressed individuals at sea C．cost-effective, efficient tracking of objects and individuals in coastal waters D．predicting the exact time and location of ocean accidents 3．Paragraph 5 mainly talks about ________. A．the collection of data B．the testing of the algorithm C．the identification of the TRAPs D．the cooperation of two research teams 4．Which of the following is the best title for the passage? A．How Mathematics Can Save Lives at Sea B．How Coastal Waters Affect Saving Lives C．Why Algorithms Are Popular in Rescue Operations D．Why Success Rates of Rescue Operations Have Fallen 【答案】1．D 2．C 3．B 4．A 【导语】本文是新闻报道。文章主要介绍苏黎世联邦理工学院非线性动力学教授George Haller领导的一个国际研究小组利用动力系统理论和海洋数据中的工具，开发了一种算法以预测漂浮在水中的物体和人将去哪里，有望增强目前使用的海上搜救技术。 1．推理判断题。根据第三段“In today’s rescue operations at sea, complicated models of ocean dynamics and weather forecasting are used to predict the path of floating objects. For fast-changing coastal waters, however, such predictions are often inaccurate due to uncertain boundaries and missing data. As a result, a search may be launched in the wrong location, causing a loss of precious time. (在当今的海上救援行动中，复杂的海洋动力学和天气预报模型被用来预测漂浮物体的路径。然而，对于快速变化的沿海水域，由于边界不确定和数据缺失，这种预测往往不准确。因此，搜索可能会在错误的位置启动，从而造成宝贵的时间损失。)”可知，在搜救行动中，不断变化的洋流是一个很大的挑战。故选D。 2．推理判断题。根据第四段“This enables quick and precise planning of search paths that are less sensitive to uncertainties in the time and place of the accident. (这使得能够快速准确地规划搜索路径，而搜索路径对事故发生时间和地点的不确定性不太敏感。)”和最后一段““Our results are rapidly obtained, easy to interpret, and cheap to perform,” points out Serra. (Serra指出：“我们的结果获得得很快，易于解释，而且执行成本低廉。”)”可知，新算法可以对沿海水域中的物体和个人进行成本低但却高效的跟踪。故选C。 3．主旨大意题。根据第五段“In cooperation with a team from MIT, the ETH team tested their new, TRAP-based search algorithm in two separate ocean experiments near Martha’s Vineyard, which is on the northeastern coast of the United States. Working from the same real-time data available to the Coast Guard, the team successfully identified TRAPs in the region in real-time. They found that buoys and manikins (浮标和人体模型) thrown in the water indeed quickly gathered along these emerging curves. “Of several competing approaches tested in this project, this was the only algorithm that consistently found the right location”, says Haller. (ETH团队与麻省理工学院的一个团队合作，在美国东北海岸玛莎葡萄园附近的两个独立海洋实验中测试了他们新的基于TRAP的搜索算法。该团队利用海岸警卫队可用的相同实时数据，成功地实时识别了该地区的TRAP。他们发现，扔到水中的浮标和人体模型确实很快沿着这些新出现的曲线聚集起来。Haller说：“在这个项目中测试的几种竞争方法中，这是唯一一种始终找到正确位置的算法。”)”可知，这一段主要介绍这项算法的测试。故选B。 4．主旨大意题。根据第二段“New insight into coastal flows gained by an international research team led by George Haller, Professor of Nonlinear Dynamics at ETH Zurich, promises to enhance the search and rescue techniques currently in use. Using tools from dynamical systems theory and ocean data, the team has developed an algorithm (算法) to predict where objects and people floating in water will go. “Our work has a clear potential to save lives,” says Mattia Serra, the first author of a study recently published in Nature Communications. (苏黎世联邦理工学院非线性动力学教授George Haller领导的一个国际研究小组对海岸流的新见解有望增强目前使用的搜救技术。该团队利用动力系统理论和海洋数据中的工具，开发了一种算法来预测漂浮在水中的物体和人的去向。最近发表在《自然通讯》上的一项研究的第一作者Mattia Serra说：“我们的工作显然有可能挽救生命。”)”可知，这篇文章主要介绍苏黎世联邦理工学院非线性动力学教授George Haller领导的一个国际研究小组利用动力系统理论和海洋数据中的工具，开发了一种算法以预测漂浮在水中的物体和人将去哪里，有望增强目前使用的海上搜救技术。故选A。 Passage 3 John Banville has received three major literary prizes. In 2005 he won the Man Booker Prize for his novel The Sea (his 14th book). He has been proposed repeatedly as a candidate (候选人) for the Nobel Prize in Literature. The writer had been resting on his couch when he received a call from a man half an hour before the true winners would be revealed at an awarding ceremony on Thursday. The man on the phone claimed to be Mats Malm, the secretary of the Nobel Prize Committee and he told Banville he would be awarded the prize of this year. And then he also read Banville a formal statement of the achievements he would print about the writer’s work. “He was so convincing that I rang everybody I could think of to tell them about this good news.” Banville recalled. But 40 minutes later Banville received a phone call from his daughter who had seen the live announcement. She told her father, “It’s not you!” “I realized then that it must have been a hoax. I rang everybody again and said, ‘Don’t buy the champagne and stop throwing your hats in the air!’” said Banville. A voicemail left on Banville’s phone shortly after the announcement explained that there had been a last-minute disagreement among decision-makers. But, after a close listen to the message, Banville noticed that voice was “deeper” than that of the real Mats Malm and lacked the same “smooth” grasp of English. He has since shared the message with the Swedish Academy to investigate the incident. 1．The underlined word “hoax” in the last paragraph probably means_______. A．trick B．game C．event D．joke 2．John Banville assumed that the news was true at first because _______. A．many people considered John Banville was a talented and productive writer B．he has been proposed repeatedly as a candidate for the Nobel Prize in Literature C．the man who called claimed to be the secretary and sounded very convincing D．the so called secretary called half an hour before the awarding ceremony 3．How did Banville possibly feel when he received the second call? A．suspicious and worried B．shocked and disappointed C．sad and ashamed D．angry and guilty 4．We can learn from the passage that _______. A．who was responsible for the hoax will soon be revealed B．the Nobel Prize Committee planned the incident behind the scenes C．the voicemail left on Banville’s phone was probably a cheat D．John Banville will one day be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature 【答案】1．A 2．C 3．C 4．A 【导语】本文是新闻报道。文章主要讲述约翰·班维尔被电话通知获得诺贝尔文学奖的乌龙事件。 1．词句猜测题。根据最后一段““I realized then that it must have been a hoax. I rang everybody again and said, “Don’t buy the champagne and stop throwing your hats in the air!” said Banville. (班维尔说：“当时我意识到这一定是个hoax。我再次给大家打电话，说：“别买香槟，别再把帽子扔到空中了！”。)”可知，hoax是名词，说明给他打电话的那个人的行为。根据他又给每个人打电话说不要买香槟庆祝了可以推测，他已经意识到那是个骗局，所以hoax的意思是“骗局”，和选项A意思一致。故选A。 2．细节理解题。根据第二段“The man on the phone claimed to be Mats Malm, the secretary of the Nobel Prize Committee and he told Banville he would be awarded the prize of this year. And then he also read Banville a formal statement of the achievements he would print about the writer’s work. (电话中的男子自称是诺贝尔奖委员会秘书马特斯·马尔姆，他告诉班维尔，他将获得今年的诺贝尔奖。然后，他还向班维尔宣读了一份正式声明，说明他将发表的关于作家作品的成就。)”和第三段““He was so convincing that I rang everybody I could think of to tell them about this good news.” Banville recalled. (班维尔回忆道：“他很有说服力，我给所有我能想到的人打电话，告诉他们这个好消息。”)”可知，班维尔之所以开始的时候相信，是因为那个人自称是诺贝尔奖委员会秘书马特斯·马尔姆并且宣读了一份正式声明，很有说服力。故选C。 3．推理判断题。根据最后一段““I realized then that it must have been a hoax. I rang everybody again and said, ‘Don’t buy the champagne and stop throwing your hats in the air!’” said Banville. (班维尔说：“当时我意识到这一定是个hoax。我再次给大家打电话，说：‘别买香槟，别再把帽子扔到空中了！’”)”可知，班维尔得知自己没有得奖的时候很伤心并且感到羞愧。故选C。 4．推理判断题。根据最后一段“He has since shared the message with the Swedish Academy to investigate the incident. (此后，他与瑞典学院分享了这一信息，以调查这一事件。)”可知，到底是谁欺骗班维尔，最终将会被揭露出来。故选A。 Passage 4 College students around the world have recently developed products and designs for a chance to win the James Dyson Sustainability Award. The competition is tough, as many of the brightest engineers and scientists compete for the prize. But while every entry was impressive, Carvey Ehren Maigue’s ultimately won — for good reason! The 27-year-old from the Philippines has been studying at one of the country’s top engineering schools and will graduate soon. Throughout his time there, he learned plenty about design, which is what led him to create AuREUS System Technology. These solar panels are made from food waste and transform UV light (紫外线) into renewable energy, even on a cloudy day! According to the awarding remarks, AuREUS combines renewable material and advanced technology, which allows other devices to harvest UV light and transform it into electricity. Of course, “it is environmentally friendly and can be used for a long time, perfectly meeting our purpose and making it the most striking one! It’s truly a game changer!” AuREUS is based on a plastic material, so it can be formed into different shapes. The science behind it is a bit confusing, but in Carvey’s words, “AuREUS is actually a material, or a technology. With AuREUS, we upcycle the crops of the farmers that were hit by natural disasters, such as typhoons, which also happen to be an effect of climate change. By transforming them into new energy, we can be both future-looking, and solve the problems that we are currently experiencing now.” While it’s clear to us that this product is special, Carvey was still caught by surprise when he found out he won the competition. It took a few days for him to process the news, and he’s already looking at what he can create next! “I was very happy because I know that through this award, I will be able to reach out to more people,” he added. “This is my second time applying, and through persistence, I managed to win.” 1. What is the function of the second paragraph? A. To offer background information about Carvey. B. To show how Carvey prepared for the competition. C. To explain why Carvey could win the competition. D. To introduce some unknown factors behind the win. 2. What makes AuREUS stand out from the entries? A. Its sustainability. B. Its high technology. C. Its new materials. D. Its effective use. 3. What can we learn about AuREUS? A. It can detect some food waste. B. It may promote crop production. C. It is mainly meant for farmers. D. It can make waste advantageous. 4. Which of the following words can best describe Carvey? A. Positive and hotheaded. B. Hard-working and humble. C. Helpful and persistent. D. Broad-minded and accessible. 【答案】1. C 2. A 3. D 4. C 【导语】本文是一篇记叙文。文章主要讲述了菲律宾27岁学生Carvey Ehren Maigue凭借AuREUS系统技术在James Dyson可持续发展大奖赛中脱颖而出的故事。 【1题详解】 推理判断题。根据第二段“The 27-year-old from the Philippines has been studying at one of the country’s top engineering schools and will graduate soon. Throughout his time there, he learned plenty about design, which is what led him to create AuREUS System Technology. These solar panels are made from food waste and transform UV light (紫外线) into renewable energy, even on a cloud y day! (这位27岁的菲律宾人一直在菲律宾一所顶尖的工程学校学习，很快就要毕业了。在那里的这段时间里，他学到了很多关于设计的知识，这就是他创建AuREUS系统技术的原因。这些太阳能电池板由食物垃圾制成，即使在阴天也能将紫外线转化为可再生能源)”可知，第二段介绍了Carvey的学习背景，并指出正是因此他才研发了AuREUS系统；再结合第一段最后一句“But while every entry was impressive, Carvey Ehren Maigue’s ultimately won— for good reason! (虽然每个参赛作品都令人印象深刻，但卡维·埃伦·麦格的最终获奖是有充分理由的！)”可知，第二段的功能是解释了为什么Carvey能够赢得比赛。故选C。 【2题详解】 细节理解题。根据第三段中的“it is environmentally friendly and can be used for a long time, perfectly meeting our purpose and making it the most striking one! (它是环保的，可以长期使用，完全符合我们的目的，使它成为最引人注目的！)”可知，AuREUS环保且耐用的特点让它符合比赛的宗旨，因此是可持续性使它脱颖而出。故选A。 【3题详解】 推理判断题。根据第四段中的“With AuREUS, we upcycle the crops of the farmers that were hit by natural disasters, such as typhoons, which also happen to be an effect of climate change. By transforming them into new energy, we can be both future- looking, and solve the problems that we are currently experiencing now. (通过AuREUS，我们对遭受自然灾害（如台风）袭击的农民的作物进行升级利用，而台风也恰好是气候变化的影响。通过将它们转化为新能源，我们既可以着眼于未来，又可以解决我们目前遇到的问题。)”可知，这种技术可以对遭受了自然灾害影响的农民的农作物加以循环利用，将它们转化为新的能源。AuREUS能够变废为宝。故选D。 【4题详解】 推理判断题。通读全文，尤其是最后一段中的““I was very happy because I know that through this award, I will be able to reach out to more people,” he added. “This is my second time applying, and through persistence, I managed to win.” (“我很高兴，因为我知道，通过这个奖项，我将能够接触到更多的人，”他补充说。“这是我第二次申请，通过坚持，我成功了。”)”可知，Carvey是一个乐于助人且坚持不懈的人。故选C。 Passage 5 For many years, Bruce Bexler dreamed of going where no human had gone before. He wanted to cut a path through unexplored lands and discover rare species. That might sound like an impossible dream, but Bexler turned it into a reality. In December 2015, he and a team of Australian and American scientists explored into a remote tropical rain forest on the island of New Guinea. They were the first people ever to enter the mist-covered region. “As time was limited, we were dropped in by helicopter. Once we were on the ground, there were no trails (踪迹) anywhere; it was really hard to get around,” Bexler says. Within minutes of landing, the team spotted a black chicken-like bird with strange orange skin hanging from its neck. The scientists soon determined that the unusual creature was a type of honeyeater — the first new bird species to be sighted on New Guinea in 60 years. The honeyeater wasn’t the only surprise for the scientists. They discovered more than 40 previously unknown plant and animal species — 13 birds of paradise, 20 frogs, 4 butterflies, and 5 palms. “We were like kids in a candy store,” Bexler recalls. “Everywhere we looked, we saw amazing things we had never seen before? The newfound species didn’t shy away from the scientists. Two long-nosed echidnas-primitive egg-laying mammals — let the visitors pick them up and take them back to camp to study them in echidna looks like a hedgehog and is also called a spiny anteater. Bexler thinks the animals weren’t scared because they had never seen humans before in almost all parts of New Guinea, animals are hunted for food, and because of this, they are very cautious of people,” he explains. “This area gives scientists a place where they can go to study the behaviors of animals that have not yet learned to be afraid of people.” Scientists believe the area is probably the largest untouched forest in Asia. Local people called Kwerba hunt and collect plants from outer-edges of the forest but told Bexler that not even their ancestors had gone so far into the woods. The wooded area is approximately a 10-day walk from the nearest village. Bexler and his team did not have enough time during the expedition to study the area completely. They hope to return and expect to record many more undiscovered species. “We just scratched the surface,” Bexler says. “Anyone who goes there will come back with a mystery.” 1. What does Bruce mean in Para. 4 when he says the scientists “were like kids in a candy store”? A. They were acting like naughty children. B. They were very excited about what they saw. C. They didn’t have enough food and were hungry. D. They knew that if they kept searching, they’d find sugar. 2. Why did some of the animals allow the scientists to pick them up? A. The scientists seemed to be very friendly. B. The scientists were skilled in handling animals. C. The animals had no experience or fear of people. D. The animals had been well-trained by the local people. 3. What can we conclude about the area Bruce Bexler explored? A. The best way to explore the area is by helicopter. B. The area has not been visited by scientists for many years. C. The area still contains many plants and animals unknown to science. D. The locals are unwilling to allow the scientists to enter the deep woods. 【答案】1. B 2. C 3. C 【导语】本文是一篇记叙文。主要讲述布鲁斯·贝克斯勒深入新几内亚未开发地区，发现多种未知动植物的故事。 【1题详解】 推理判断题。根据第四段“The honeyeater wasn’t the only surprise for the scientists. They discovered more than 40 previously unknown plant and animal species—13 birds of paradise, 20 frogs, 4 butterflies, and 5 palms. “We were like kids in a candy store,” Bexler recalls. “Everywhere we looked, we saw amazing things we had never seen before?( 蜜雀并不是科学家们唯一的惊喜。他们发现了40多种以前不为人知的动植物物种——13种天堂鸟、20种青蛙、4种蝴蝶和5种棕榈树。贝克斯勒回忆道：“我们就像进了糖果店的孩子。“我们所到之处，都能看到以前从未见过的神奇事物。”)” 可知，第四段提到科学家们发现了 40 多种此前未知的动植物物种，贝克斯勒将他们比作“糖果店里的孩子”，后文补充“Everywhere we looked, we saw amazing things we had never seen before”（所见之处都是从未见过的奇妙事物）。这表明他们对新发现感到极度兴奋，而非行为顽皮、饥饿或寻找糖分。故选B项。 【2题详解】 推理判断题。根据第六段“Bexler thinks the animals weren’t scared because they had never seen humans before in almost all parts of New Guinea, animals are hunted for food, and because of this, they are very cautious of people,” he explains. “This area gives scientists a place where they can go to study the behaviors of animals that have not yet learned to be afraid of people.”(贝克斯勒认为，这些动物并不害怕，因为它们以前几乎在新几内亚的所有地方都没有见过人类。动物是被猎杀的食物，正因为如此，它们对人类非常谨慎。“这个领域为科学家们提供了一个研究尚未学会害怕人类的动物行为的地方。”)”可推知，有些动物会允许科学家把它们捡起来是因为这些动物没有人类的经验或恐惧。故选C项。 【3题详解】 推理判断题。根据最后一段“Bexler and his team did not have enough time during the expedition to study the area completely. They hope to return and expect to record many more undiscovered species. “We just scratched the surface,” Bexler says. “Anyone who goes there will come back with a mystery.”(贝克斯勒和他的团队在考察期间没有足够的时间对该地区进行全面研究。他们希望能回到这里，记录更多未被发现的物种。贝克斯勒说：“我们只是触及了表面。“任何去那里的人都会带着一个谜回来。”)”可推知，关于布鲁斯·贝克斯勒探索过的地区，我们能得出这个地区仍然有许多科学上未知的动植物。故选C项。 话题5 自然生态 Passage 1 Zheng He was one of China’s most famous explorers (探险家). Towards the end of the fourteenth century, his fleet (舰队) sailed to countries far away. Zheng He had over 300 ships, some of which were over 150 meters long, and could carry up to 1, 000 people. Besides, the ships carried gold, silver, silk, china and other treasures to give as gifts to the rulers of other countries. Some ships even had earth on board so that the sailors could grow their crops for food. On Zheng He’s first voyage, he set sail across the Indian Ocean. His fleet travelled many days far away from land. One day, they were hit by a storm. All the sailors thought the fleet was going to sink (下沉). Then a strange light appeared and after that, the storm passed. The strange light was probably electricity from the thunderstorm (雷雨), but the sailors in Zheng He’s fleet believed it was a sign of protection from the gods. With the belief, they were happy to follow Zheng He wherever he led them. Zheng He completed seven famous voyages between 1405 and 1433. He visited many countries in Asia and Africa. He brought back many gifts from the countries he visited, such as medicines, pearls (珍珠) and strange animals. The most famous of them were a giraffe and a zebra. In 28 years of travelling, Zheng He had managed to share the glory of China with many different countries. When he died in 1435, the stories of his travels made him one of China’s most famous sailors. 1. Some ships carried earth on board so that the sailors could________. A. use it as a gift B. use it for exchange C. plant trees for shade D. grow their own crops for food 2. The sailors were happy to follow Zheng He because of________. A. his leadership B. his fame C. the belief in gods’ protecting them D. a heavy storm 3. The most famous gifts Zheng He brought back were________. A. a monkey and a tiger B. a giraffe and a zebra C. gold and silver D. medicines and pearls 4. The best title of the passage can be___________. A. The Glory of China B. Zheng He’s Life C. Zheng He and His Voyages D. China’s Most Famous Explorers 【答案】1. D 2. C 3. B 4. C 【导语】这是一篇记叙文，文章主要讲述了中国古代探险家郑和和他的航行经历。 【1题详解】 细节理解题。根据第二段中“Some ships even had earth on board so that the sailors could grow their crops for food.(有些船甚至在船上装了泥土，这样水手们就可以种庄稼吃了)”可知，有些船会携带泥土，这样船员可以种庄稼作为食物，故选D。 【2题详解】 细节理解题。根据第三段中“The strange light was probably electricity from the thunderstorm (雷雨), but the sailors in Zheng He’s fleet believed it was a sign of protection from the gods. With the belief, they were happy to follow Zheng He wherever he led them.(这种奇怪的光很可能是雷雨产生的电力，但郑和船队的水手们认为这是神明保护的标志。有了这个信念，他们很乐意跟随郑和，无论他带领他们到哪里)”可知，船员们很开心跟着郑和，是因为他们认为有神明护佑他们，故选C。 【3题详解】 细节理解题。根据第四段中“The most famous of them were a giraffe and a zebra.(其中最有名的是长颈鹿和斑马)”可知，郑和带回的礼物中最著名的是长颈鹿和斑马，故选B。 【4题详解】 主旨大意题。根据全文内容，结合最后一段“In 28 years of travelling, Zheng He had managed to share the glory of China with many different countries. When he died in 1435， the stories of his travels made him one of China’s most famous sailors.(在28年的旅行中，郑和成功地与许多不同的国家分享了中国的荣耀。当他于1435年去世时，他的旅行故事使他成为中国最著名的水手之一)”可知，文章主要讲述了中国古代探险家郑和和他的航行经历，故选C。 Passage 2 “It’s a windy day in Laguna San Ignacio, and the waves seem to come from all directions,” said Sara Clemence in Bloomberg Businessweek. My children and I are riding on an 18-foot boat — small enough that we can reach down into the water if a gray whale swims up alongside. And then we see what we’ve come for: a heart-shaped shower of water and a dark mass rushing below it. As instructed, we splash (溅泼) the water strongly to signal the huge whale, which turns out to be a mother with her weeks-old baby. The baby soon swims beneath our boat, emerges to blow mist in my face, then “lies onto its side like a 2-ton puppy.” Leaning down, I touched its skin gently. “It feels electric. Also, a bit like petting a hard-boiled egg.” San Ignacio is one of very few places where a person can pet a whale. The whales come each year to the coast of Baja California to give birth and to mate. If you’re lucky, you can “shake hands with a leathery fin (鳍)” or even “plant a kiss on a cold, salty cheek.” I usually worry about such interactions, because wild creatures can become deeply stressed by human contact. But boat numbers are strictly limited in these protected waters. And any whale that approaches a boat does so on its own terms. Like that baby whale: “We see him a few times, and he seems to like being petted and splashed.” So we are two species, connecting through touch, but also through eye contact: “More than once, after nosing around our boat, a young gray whale turns on its side so one dark, baseball-size eye is looking up at us.” Whalers used to call gray whales “devil fish” because these magnificent creatures turn violent when threatened — “or, say, when their babies are harmed.” That makes it feel even more of a blessing when, on our third day there, a large mama whale approaches the boat. “I’m splashing when I feel her nose press up into my hand.” Though she’s “wiser and apparently more alert” than her child, “she still decides to trust us.” 1．According to the passage, people can NOT interact with a whale by ________. A．splashing water to it B．gently touching its skin C．swimming alongside it D．looking at it in the eye 2．The underlined phrase in paragraph 2 means that the whale ________. A．is mad with too many visitors B．is willing to be petted by people on the boat C．can interact with people based on its likes D．can decide its preferred swimming route 3．Why does the author consider it “a blessing” when a large mama whale approaches the boat? A．Because she is smarter than her child and better at interacting with people. B．Because she believes in people and will not turn violent if her baby is harmed. C．Because a whale as large as this one is rare to see. D．Because she trusts people despite her concerns about her child’s safety. 4．What is the best title for this passage? A．Preserving the Devil Fish in Laguna San Ignacio B．A Beautiful Encounter with Gray Whales C．A Risky but Exciting Whale-Watching Journey D．Appropriate Ways to Interact with Gray Whales 【答案】1．C 2．C 3．D 4．B 【导语】本文是一篇记叙文。文章讲述了Sara Clemence和孩子们在圣伊格纳西奥湖的一段和鲸鱼互动的海上之旅，展现了人与自然的和谐共处。 1．细节理解题。根据第一段中的“As instructed, we splash (溅泼) the water strongly to signal the huge whale, which turns out to be a mother with her weeks-old baby.(按照指示，我们用力泼水，向这头巨大的鲸鱼发出信号，原来它是一位带着几周大婴儿的母亲)”和“Leaning down, I touched its skin gently.(我俯下身，轻轻地摸了摸它的皮肤)”和第三段中的“So we are two species, connecting through touch, but also through eye contact(因此，我们是两个物种，通过触摸和眼神接触交流)”可知，人们可以通过向鲸鱼泼水、轻抚鲸鱼的皮肤、跟鲸鱼进行眼神接触来互动。文中没有提到可以和鲸鱼一起游泳，C项错误。故选C。 2．词句猜测题。根据划线词上文“If you’re lucky, you can “shake hands with a leathery $ 考前押题03 阅读理解记叙文常考话题 话题1 人与社会 话题4 科学技术 话题2 文学艺术 话题5 自然生态 话题3 社会服务 话题6 人与自我 话题1 人与社会 Passage 1 Every April I am troubled by the same concern that spring might not occur this year. The landscape looks dull, with hills, sky and forest appearing grey. My spirits ebb, as they did during an April snowfall when I first came to Maine. “Just wait,” a neighbour advised. “You’ll wake up one morning and spring will just be here.” And look, on 3 May that year I awoke to a green so amazing as to be almost electric, as if spring were simply a matter of flipping a switch. Hills, sky, and forest revealed their purples, blues, and greens. Leaves had unfolded and daffodils were fighting their way heavenward. Then there was the old apple tree. It sits on an undeveloped lot in my neighbourhood. It belongs to no one and therefore to everyone. The tree’s dark twisted branches stretch out in unpruned abandon. Each spring it blossoms so freely that the air becomes filled with the scent of apple. Until last year, I thought I was the only one aware of this tree. And then one day, in a bit of spring madness, I set out to remove a few disorderly branches. No sooner had I arrived under the tree than neighbours opened their windows and stepped onto their porches. These were people I barely knew and seldom spoke to, but it was as if I had come uninvited into their personal gardens. My mobile-home neighbour was the first to speak. “You’re not cutting it down, are you?” she asked anxiously. Another neighbour frowned as I cut off a branch. “Don’t kill it, now,” he warned. Soon, half the neighbourhood had joined me under the apple tree. It struck me that I had lived there for five years and only now was learning these people’s names, what they did for a living, and how they passed the winter. It was as if the old apple tree was gathering us under its branches for the purpose of both acquaintanceship and shared wonder. I couldn’t help recalling Robert Frost’s words: The trees that have it in their pent-up buds To darken nature and be summer woods One thaw (解冻) led to another. Just the other day, I saw one of my neighbours at the local store. He remarked how this recent winter had been especially long and complained of not having seen or spoken at length to anyone in our neighbourhood. And then, he looked at me and said, “We need to prune that apple tree again.” 1．By saying that “my spirits ebb” in paragraph 1, the author means that . A．he feels relieved B．he is cheerful C．he is astonished D．he feels blue 2．Which of the following is TRUE about the apple tree according to the passage? A．No one other than the author cares about the apple tree. B．It grows on public property. C．It is a source of fresh fruit for the neighbourhood D．It is carefully attended to by the author. 3．It can be inferred from the neighbour’s words in the last paragraph that . A．He has a passion for gardening. B．He was concerned about the safety of the tree. C．He enjoyed the company of his neighbours. D．He changed his mind about pruning the tree. 4．What is the best title for the text? A．The Beauty of Nature B．The Secret of the Apple Tree. C．Under the Blossoms. D．The Spring in Maine. Passage 2 In the days of good King Harry the Second of England, there were certain forests in the north country used by the King to hunt. These forests were cared for and guarded by the King’s Foresters. One of these royal forests was Sherwood, near the town of Nottingham. In this forest lived Hugh Fitzooth, Sherwood’s head forester. He lived there with his wife and son Robert. The boy had been born in Lockesley town, so he was called Rob of Lockesley. He was a handsome and strong boy. As soon as he could walk, he delighted in going into the forest with his father. From his father, he learned to use the longbow. His loving mother, who was from a noble family, taught him to read and write. Rob learned these lessons well, but he was happiest walking in the forest with his bow in hand. Rob’s happiness soon ended because his father had enemies. One of these enemies was the Sheriff of Nottingham. One day, the Sheriff convinced King Harry that Rob’s father had criticized the King in public. Hugh was arrested for betrayal to the country and sent to jail. Rob and his mother were kicked out of their house. Rob’s mother died of shock, and Rob went to live with his uncle, Sir Gamwell. Soon after, Rob got the news that his father had died in prison. Sir Gamwell was a kind man who gladly took care of Rob. Many years later, he said, “Rob, there is a chance for you to use that bow for a good purpose. There is an archery (射箭) contest at a fair in Nottingham: The first prize is a golden arrow.” Rob’s eyes lit up. “I would like a chance to compete,” he said. “And perhaps I could win a place as a forester even if I don’t win first prize.” “Now I can see that you are more suited to spend your days walking under the trees,” said Sir Gamwell. “Good luck to you, lad.” The next day, Rob set off. It was midmorning when he came across a group of men. Immediately, he saw the man who had replaced his father as head forester. He was a good friend of the Sheriff of Nottingham. Rob decided not to say anything and kept walking. But the head forester, who did not recognize Rob, spoke up. “Where are you going, boy, with your cheap bow and toy arrows? Do you think you have a chance at the fair? Hahaha!” Rob felt a sudden rage. “My bow is as good as yours,” he said to the head forester. The head forester replied, “Then show us some of your skill, boy. I’ll bet you twenty silver coins that you cannot hit the mark I choose.” “Name your mark,” said Rob. “I accept your challenge.” The head forester pointed to a group of deer far away. Quicker than a flash, Rob took the bow from his back and let an arrow fly. It pierced the heart of the leading deer. Then the head forester pretended to be angry and yelled, “Foolish boy! Do you know you have killed one of the King’s deer? The penalty is death! Get out of here, and do not show me your face again!” Rob replied angrily, “Fine, for I have seen your face too often. You are the one who wrongly took my father’s job!” With that, Rob turned and walked away. The head forester suddenly realized who Rob was and knew he was an enemy. He picked up his bow and shot an arrow at Rob’s back. Rob escaped from it. Quickly, Rob sent an arrow back. The head forester fell forward, dead as he hit the ground. In that second, Rob turned and disappeared into the forest. 1．What was Rob like when he was a little boy? A．He showed little interest in reading and writing. B．He was determined to be a forester in the place of his father when he reached adulthood. C．He inspected the forest with his father on a daily basis. D．Physically strong, he loved archery very much. 2．Which of the following words shares the similar meaning with the underlined word in the passage? A．Disappointment. B．Anger. C．Shock. D．Excitement. 3．What led to Rob’s disappearing into the forest? A．The death of his parents having left Rob as an orphan living in solitude. B．Being tricked by the forester into killing one of the king’s deer. C．His strong desire to show others that his archery was the best. D．His killing the forester in defense of his own life. Passage 3 Beauty that can’t be seen In the serene town of Willowbrook resided the young maiden Lily. Her skin bore the intricate tapestry of a rare condition, a mosaic of scars and blemishes that danced across her face like a testament to the trials she had endured. Yet, within this canvas of imperfections, Lily’s heart radiated a warmth that enveloped all who crossed her path in a tender embrace. One fateful afternoon, as the sun descended in a cascade of golden hues, Lily’s path intertwined with that of Lucas, a young man whose world was veiled in eternal darkness. Drawn by the angelic voice of Lily and the kindness that exuded from her very being, Lucas found comfort in her presence. Their friendship blossomed like a delicate flower, each moment spent together a symphony of shared laughter and unspoken understanding. As the days bring more shared experiences, Lucas found himself fascinated by the world as perceived through Lily’s eyes. In her, he discovered a kaleidoscope (万花筒) of beauty that transcended the confines of sight, a beauty woven from threads of kindness, compassion, and unwavering attitude. Though his eyes could not behold the physical scars that adorned Lily’s form, his heart beheld the true essence of her being — a luminous spirit that lightened the darkest corners of his world. With each passing day, their bond deepened, evolving into a romance that defied the conventions of superficiality and embraced the profound connection that existed between their souls. Lily and Lucas found a beauty that transcended the limitations of physical form, a beauty that dwelled in the uncharted depths of their souls. Their love became a testament to the enduring power of the human spirit, a reminder that true beauty is not merely skin-deep but a radiant light that originates from the very core of our being, touching the hearts of all who dare to see beyond the surface. 1．How did Lucas, who was blind, come to appreciate beauty in Lily’s unique perspective? A．by restoring his eyesight through a series of surgeries B．by listening to her angelic voices describing her own beauty C．by spending time with her and seeing the world through her eyes D．by imagine the fascinating world in the eyes of Lily 2．What qualities in Lily did Lucas recognize as true beauty despite the physical scars he can’t see? A．Her commitment to comforting others with her beautiful voice B．Her kindness, compassion, and unwavering strength in difficult life C．Her sympathy and hopefulness for physically-challenged people like Lucas D．Her bravery in developing real friendship to romance despite social dispute 3．In Paragraph 4, the underlined word transcended is closest in meaning to _________? A．went beyond B．depended on C．broke through D．passed over 4．Which of the following definition of beauty best identifies with the essence of the story of Lily and Lucas? A．Beauty is a subjective preference for what might be unfavorable in others’ opinion B．Beauty is not skin-deep but a radiant light that grows from within and enlightens others C．Beauty is what provides pleasure to the senses, either in visual or audio way D．Beauty is something in good proportion that creates aesthetic harmony and appeal Passage 4 Charles Robert Darwin was born on 12 February 1809 in Shropshire, England. Darwin’s childhood passion was science, and his interest in chemistry, however, was clear; he was even nicknamed ‘Gas’ by his classmates. In 1825, his father sent him to study medicine at Edinburgh University, where he learned how to classify plants. Darwin became passionate about natural history and this became his focus while he studied at Cambridge. Darwin went on a voyage together with Robert Fitzroy, the captain of HMS Beagle, to South America to facilitate British trade in Patagonia. The journey was life-changing. Darwin spent much of the trip on land collecting samples of plants, animals and rocks, which helped him to develop an understanding of the processes that shape the Earth’s surface. Darwin’s analysis of the plants and animals that he gathered led him to express doubts on former explanations about how species formed and evolved over time. Darwin’s work convinced him that natural selection was key to understanding the development of the natural world. The theory of natural selection says that individuals of a species are more likely to survive when they inherit (经遗传获得) characteristics best suited for that specific environment. These features then become more widespread and can lead eventually to the development of a new species. With natural selection, Darwin argued how a wide variety of life forms developed over time from a single common ancestor. Darwin married his cousin, Emma Wedgwood, in 1839. When Darwin’s eldest daughter, Annie, died from a sudden illness in 1851, he lost his belief in God. His tenth and final child, Charles Waring Darwin, was born in 1856. Significantly for Darwin, this baby was disabled, altering how Darwin thought about the human species. Darwin had previously thought that species remained adapted until the environment changed; he now believed that every new variation was imperfect and that a struggle to survive was what drove species to adapt. Though rejected at the beginning, Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection is nowadays well accepted by the scientific community as the best evidence-based explanation for the diversity and complexity of life on Earth. The Natural History Museum’s library alone has 478 editions of his On the Origin of Species in 38 languages. 1．What made Darwin reconsider the origin and development of species? A．Examining plants and animals collected. B．His desire for a voyage to different continents. C．Classifying samples in a journey to South America. D．His passion for natural history at Edinburgh University. 2．We can learn from paragraphs 1 to 3 that Darwin ________. A．used natural selection to develop new species B．enjoyed being called nicknames related to science C．learned some knowledge about plants when studying medicine D．argued with others over the diversity of life forms for a long period 3．Which of the following changed Darwin’s view on the human species? A．That he had ten children in all. B．His youngest son’s being disabled. C．That he lost his eldest daughter. D．His marriage with Emma Wedgwood. 4．This passage is mainly about ________. A．Darwin’s passion for medical science B．Darwin’s theory and experiments C．Charles Darwin’s changing interest D．Charles Darwin’s life and work Passage 5 Peterson Moturi journeyed to Nairobi, Kenya in 2014 to find a better life for himself. Initially, he would sell drinking water and groundnuts, as well as working as a car wash attendant before becoming a watchman for night duties. Since his goal was to join law school, he saved Kes 50, 000, which he used to pay for his admission to law school. He applied for admission to the Kenya School of Law (KSL) in 2016 and was successful, but the biggest headache facing him was that he didn’t have enough money to pay his fees. Fortunately, he got some financial assistance from Mr. PLO Lumumba, who was then the school director and offered him a scholarship. However, Moturi was then faced with the challenging task of working at night and attending class during the day. Unfortunately, when he sat for his final exams, he got a Pass, which could not allow him to move to the next stage, attaining a law degree. That meant he had to score at least a credit and find money to pay for his diploma courses. He decided to approach his employer, Radar Security, for help. He honestly told his boss that he failed and wondered if he could sponsor him for the diploma once again. To his surprise, his boss agreed, and in no time, he was back in class. “Now I am a joyful man. I am graduating with a credit score. I can now go ahead, pursue a law degree and become an advocate,” he said at the graduation ceremony. Though dressed in the usual graduation regalia (礼服), Moturi somehow appeared different from his colleagues due to the security guard uiform he wore underneath. The 28-year-old man desires to help the less fortunate in society have access to justice. 1．What bothered Moturi most after he gained admission to the KSL? A．Losing his day job. B．Lacking school fees. C．Feeding his family. D．Failing in his final exams. 2．Why did Moturi decide to score at least a credit? A．To enable his boss to sponsor him. B．To succeed in obtaining the scholarship. C．To graduate from the KSL ahead of time. D．To qualify for admission for a law degree. 3．How did Moturi support himself while studying in the KSL? A．By selling daily articles. B．By offering car washing service. C．By serving as a night watchman. D．By asking his family for financial help. 4．Which of the following can best describe Peterson Moturi? A．Determined. B．Modest. C．Imaginative. D．Generous. 话题2 文学艺术 Passage 1 Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874-1942) was one of the best-known Canadian authors of the 20th century. Her first novel, Anne of Green Gables, published in 1908, brought her quick fame and success, which encouraged her to continue the story of the heroine, Anne Shirley. Anne of Green Gables was followed by several books about Anne’s life, her children as well as her family and friends. These books cover the life of Anne from her childhood to her old age. Montgomery grew up in Prince Edward Island, Canada, the same location where the story of Anne of Green Gables took place. Montgomery’s mother passed away when she was a baby, and her father left her with her grandparents when she was still a child. Fond of imagination, nature, and writing, Montgomery started to write poems and keep a diary when she was nine years old. Just like Anne Shirley, Montgomery studied in Prince of Wales College for her teacher’s license. Then she studied literature at Dalhousie University. After that, she worked as a teacher. Though she did not enjoy teaching, it afforded her time to write. Beginning in 1897, her short stories were published in magazines and newspapers. In 1898, she stopped teaching and returned to Cavendish to live with her grandmother. While Montgomery’s teaching career ended, her writing career didn’t. After Anne of Green Gables, Montgomery published about 20 novels, 530 short stories, and 500 poems, all of which have influenced readers generation after generation. 1．What was the focus of the books that followed Anne of Green Gables? A．Anne Shirley’s life and her family. B．The education system in Canada. C．Lucy Maud Montgomery’s own life. D．The history of Prince Edward Island. 2．Why did Lucy Maud Montgomery start to write at a young age? A．Because she had a natural talent for writing. B．Because she was encouraged by her parents. C．Because she wanted to become a famous writer. D．Because she was fond of imagination and nature. 3．How did Montgomery’s education contribute to her writing career? A．She studied literature, which influenced her writing style. B．She got a teaching license, which provided her with income. C．She studied in Prince of Wales College, where she got inspired. D．She attended Dalhousie University, where she made connections. 4．Which of the following best describes Montgomery’s writing career? A．It was limited to a few novels and short stories. B．It focused mainly on poems rather than novels. C．It lasted over 40 years and included a wide range of works. D．It was unfortunately interrupted by teaching responsibilities. Passage 2 Can you sing in different voices? Chinese singer Zhou Shen can do this. The 27-year-old has become more popular after appearing on the TV show Singer. On the show, he sang a song in five different voices including the voice of a little girl, a king and a young man. He records in his unusual ways - he has performed in his bedroom twice due to the novel coronavirus outbreak - but also with his singing itself. Zhou’s road to success was not easy. He loved singing when he was a little boy. However, his voice didn’t change like other boys during puberty (青春期). It still sounded like a girl’s voice. His classmates laughed at him and he dared not sing in public. But his love of music made him stronger. Producer Gao Xiaosong said Zhou has “come out of the cocoon (茧) and become a butterfly”. It has taken Zhou a long time to do so. While studying in Ukraine, he learned Ukrainian, Russian, Italian and Polish. He can sing Let It Go in nine different languages. He started to sing on TV talent shows and gradually came to accept himself. At 17, he first sang online without showing his face. Some people fell in love with it. On one of his birthdays, he agreed to show his face. However, when they found out that he was a man, some of them made fun of him. Zhou felt bad about this, but later he got the chance to sing the theme song to the movie Big Fish and Begonia which turned out to be a big success. “I accept my voice,” Zhou said. “It is good as long as it is natural and honest.” Zhou Shen doesn’t just sing well. He is also humorous. He has a nice personality (性格) and is friendly to his fans. Some people call him “treasure boy”. 1. What did Zhou Shen do on the TV show Singer? A. He won first place in the program. B. He made a record in his bedroom. C. He sang a song in different sounds. D. He performed a show in five languages. 2. Why did Zhou Shen’s voice sound like a girl’s? A. An accident changed his voice. B. He wanted to be different from others. C. His voice didn’t change during puberty. D. He practiced singing like his favorite singer. 3. People call Zhou Shen “treasure boy” because of his ________. A. rich life B. popular songs C. love for music D. personalities and talent 4. What is the purpose of the text? A. To present Zhou Shen’s songs. B. To show Zhou Shen’s road to success. C. To explain Zhou Shen’s special voice. D. To introduce Zhou Shen’s new movie. Passage 3 When it comes to the most famous 20th century painters of the United States, Grandma Moses should be mentioned, although she did not start painting until she was in her late seventies. As she once said to herself, “I would never sit back in a rocking chair, waiting for someone to help me”. No one could have had a more active old age. She was born on a farm in New York State, one of five boys and five girls. At 12 she left home and was in domestic service until at 27 she married Thomas Moses, the hired hand of one of her employers. They farmed most of their lives, first in Virginia and then in New York State, at Eagle Bridge. She had ten children, of whom five survived; her husband died in 1927. Grandma Moses painted a little as a child and made embroidery (刺绣) pictures as a hobby, but only changed to oils in old age because her hands became too stiffto sew and she still wanted to keep busy and pass the time Her pictures were first sold at the local drugstore and at a market and were soon noticed by a businessman who bought all that she painted. Three of the pictures were exhibited in the Museum of Modern Art, and in 1940 she had her first exhibition in New York. Between the 1930's and her death, she produced some 2,000 pictures: careful and lively portrayals (描写) of the country life she had known for so long, with a wonderful sense of color and form. "I think really hard till I think of something really pretty, and then I paint it" she said. 1. What can we learn about Moses? A. She stopped painting in her late seventies. B. She still led an active life when she was old. C. Her marriage life was not happy. D. She painted oils as a child. 2. What did Grandma Moses spend most of her life doing? A. Embroidering. B. Farming. C. Nursing. D. Painting. 3. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage? A. Grandma Moses and Her Farm Life. B. Grandma Moses: the Best Woman Painter in the world. C. Grandma Moses and Her Exhibition. D. Grandma Moses: A Famous Woman Painter of 20th Century. Passage 4 As the sun set he remembered, to give himself more confidence, the time in the tavern at Casablanca when he had played the hand game with the great negro from Cienfuegos who was the strongest man on the docks. They had gone one day and one night with their elbows on a chalk line on the table and their forearms straight up and their hands gripped tight. Each one was trying to force the other’s hand down onto the table. There was much betting and people went in and out of the room under the kerosene lights and he had looked at the arm and hand of the negro and at the negro’s face. They changed the referees every four hours after the first eight so that the referees could sleep. Blood came out from under the fingernails of both his and the negro’s hands and they looked each other in the eye and at their hands and forearms and the bettors went in and out of the room and sat on high chairs against the wall and watched. The walls were painted bright blue and were of wood and the lamps threw their shadows against them. The negro’s shadow was huge and it moved on the wall as the breeze moved the lamps. The odds would change back and forth all night and they fed the negro rum and lighted cigarettes for him. Then the negro, after the rum, would try for a tremendous effort and once he had the old man, who was not an old man then but was Santiago El Campeon, nearly three inches off balance. But the old man had raised his hand up to dead even again. He was sure then that he had the negro, who was a fine man and a great athlete, beaten. And at daylight when the bettors were asking that it be called a draw and the referee was shaking his head, he had unleashed his effort and forced the hand of the negro down and down until it rested on the wood. The match had started on a Sunday morning and ended on a Monday morning. Many of the bettors had asked for a draw because they had to go to work on the docks loading sacks of sugar or at the Havana Coal Company. Otherwise everyone would have wanted it to go to a finish. But he had finished it anyway and before anyone had to go to work. For a long time after that everyone had called him The Champion and there had been a return match in the spring. But not much money was bet and he had won it quite easily since he had broken the confidence of the negro from Cienfuegos in the first match. After that he had a few matches and then no more. He decided that he could beat anyone if he wanted to badly enough and he decided that it was bad for his right hand for fishing. He had tried a few practice matches with his left hand. But his left hand had always been a traitor and would not do what he called on it to do and he did not trust it. Quoted from The Old Man and the Sea 1．Since the old man is the main character, in the hand game, why does Hemingway put more efforts in describing his opponent the negro? A．Because Hemingway himself is an anti-racist who wants to support the colored race. B．By doing so, he indirectly shows how strong and determined the old man is to readers. C．He shifts readers’ attention to a new character to neutralize the nervous atmosphere. D．There is no need to describe the old man because he is well-known to all readers. 2．What does the underlined word “unleashed” in paragraph 2 mean? A．spare B．restrict C．reduce D．loose 3．Which of the followings is TRUE according to the passage? A．Many bettors were afraid of losing their money so they wanted to call the game a draw. B．The old man had owed his victory over the negro more to his will than to his strength. C．The referee had been convinced by the bettors that the game be considered a draw D．Regular hand games should be a good practice to enhance the old man’s fishing skills 4．What can be inferred from the whole passage? A．The old man defeated the negro more than once in the matches with his will power B．Many workers working on the docks had showed no respect towards the old man. C．The old man had to self-feed himself a lot so as to stay competitive in the game. D．The negro was not as strong and athletic as the old man had expected him to be. Passage 5 About 15 years ago, I was working at a sewing (缝纫) machine when I lost focus and put the needle straight through my left middle finger — the wound never quite recovered. It’s the kind of warning teachers tell new sewists, but it also creates a metaphor for a feeling that maybe familiar to the 7.7 million people who enjoy sewing as a hobby: the effect of sewing lives on under our skin. It’s a theme that runs through historian Barbara Burman’s book exploring the cultural history of sewing: The Point of the Needle: Why Sewing Matters. For Barbara, her own interest in sewing is something that can be traced back through her life. “I grew up in a poor household, and I had two very practical parents,” she recalls. “My mother actually taught sewing, dressmaking, and soft tailoring, so I was surrounded by people making things and talking about tools. My interest in sewing comes from an interest in the history of ordinary people, particularly women’s lives. I feel that it’s a kind of untold story. We’re so used to it that we don’t think about it. We put our clothes on, and there we are. But I wanted to look at what sewing actually means at an individual level, as well as a more global level.” We notice the invention of electricity and countless other creations — but sewing, despite the fact that we couldn’t go about our daily lives without it, is often overlooked. When I ask Barbara why the story of sewing is largely untold, she has some insight. “Mostly because it’s connected so thoroughly with women, and women have always been, as it were, ‘second rate’,” she explains. “We’ve also lived with this quite false separation between working with our brains and working with our hands. So manual work is thought of as secondary to head work. But, in fact, our hands, and particularly our sense of touch, give us such a huge amount of information in the world. Countless studies have confirmed how beneficial crafts can be for our mental health and well-being.” 1. What does the underlined part in paragraph 1 imply? A. Sewing may cause physical injury to sewists. B. Sewing is rooted in people’s life for a long time. C. Sewing holds a deep meaning for sewing lovers. D. Sewing is popular with a large number of people. 2. What’s mainly talked about in paragraph 2? A. How Barbara’s parents taught her to sew. B. What sewing meant to the general public. C. How Barbabra got interested in sewing. D. What family environment Barbara grew up in. 3. Why is the story of sewing ignored according to Barbara? A. Women and manual work are undervalued. B. People take no interest in the history of sewing. C. Sewing is not as important as other inventions. D. People prefer technology rather than hand-craft. 4. What does Barbara think of sewing? A. It is a dying craft. B. It is a secondary job. C. It is a dangerous practice. D. It is a rewarding skill. 话题3 社会服务 Passage 1 After retirement from the medical center, my wife and I built our home in a gated community surrounded by swimming clubs and golf courses on Hilton Head Island. But when I left for the other side of the island, I was traveling on unpaved roads lined with leaky cottages. The “lifestyle” of many of the native islanders stood in sharp contrast to my comfortable existence. By talking to the local folks, I discovered that the vast majority of the maids, gardeners, waitresses and construction workers who make this island work had little or no access to medical care. It seemed shocking to me. I wondered why someone didn’t do something about that. Then my father’s words, which he had asked his children daily when they were young, rang in my head again: “What did you do for someone today?” Even though my father had died several years before, I guess I still didn’t want to disappoint him. So I started working on a solution. The island was full of retired doctors. If I could persuade them to spend a few hours a week volunteering their services, we could provide free primary health care to those so desperately in need of it. Most of the doctors I approached liked the idea, so long as they could be re-licensed without troubles. It took one year and plenty of persistence, but I was able to persuade the state legislators (议员) to create a special license for doctors volunteering in not-for-profit clinics. The town donated land, local residents contributed office and medical equipment and some of the potential patients volunteered their weekends decorating the building that would become the clinic. We named it Volunteers in Medicine and we opened its doors in 2015, fully staffed by retired physicians, nurses and dentists as well as nearly 150 nonprofessional volunteers. That year we had 5,000 patient visits; last year we had 16,000. Somehow word of what we were doing got around. Soon we were receiving phone calls from retired physicians all over the country, asking for help in starting VIM clinics in their communities. We did the best we could — there are now 15 other clinics operating — but we couldn’t keep up with the need. Yet last month I think my father’s words found their way up north to McNeil Consumer Healthcare, the maker of Tylen71. A major grant from McNeil will allow us to respond to these requests and help establish other free clinics in communities around the country. 1．What is the passage mainly about? A．The contrast between the rich and the poor on an island. B．The story of a man and his wife who likes to help others. C．The inspiration of a father’s words. D．The life and work of a retired physician. 2．The purpose of Volunteers in Medicine is to ________. A．help retired medical workers improve their incomes B．provide free medical services to those who need them C．urge the government to set up non-profit clinics D．make the dream of the author’s father come true 3．Which of the following has been done by the author himself? A．Buying the medical equipment. B．Finding the land and the office. C．Furnishing the building that could be put to use for the clinic. D．Getting a special license for the retired doctors. 4．In the last paragraph, “I think my father’s words found their way up north to McNeill” implies that ________. A．my father’s words finally spread to McNeil B．McNeil decided to do something for the needy people C．my father’s words had a great influence over McNeil D．McNeil was badly in need of professional advice from retired doctors Passage 2 I wanted the pleasure of being in Africa again. Feeling that the place was so large that it contained many untold tales and some hope and comedy and sweetness too, I aimed to reinsert myself in the bundy, as we used to call the bush, and to wander around. There I had lived and worked, happily, almost forty years ago, in the heart of the greenest continent. In those old undramatic days of my school teaching in the bundu, folks lived their lives on bush paths at the end of unpaved roads of red clay, in villages of grass-roofed huts. They had a new national flag, they had just gotten the vote, some had bikes, many talked about buying their first pair of shoes. They were hopeful, and, so was I, a schoolteacher living near a settlement of mud-huts among trees and fields—children shouting at play; and women bent double—most with infants on their backs—hoeing(锄地) the corn beans; and the men sitting in the shade. The Swahili word safari means “journey”, it has nothing to do with animals, someone “on safari” is just away and unobtainable and out of touch. Out of touch in Africa was where I wanted to be. The wish to disappear sends many travellers away. If you are thoroughly sick of being kept waiting at home or at work, travel is perfect: let other people wait for a change. Travel is a sort of revenge(报复) for having been put on hold, or having to leave messages on answering machines, not knowing your party’s extension, being kept waiting all your working life. But also being kept waiting is the human condition. Travel in the African bush can also be a sort of revenge on mobile phones and email, on telephones and the daily paper, on the aspects of globalization that allow anyone who chooses to get their hands on you. I desired to be unobtainable. I was going to Africa for the best of reasons—in a spirit of discovery—simply to disappear, to light out, with a suggestion of I dare you to try to find me. Home had become a routine, and routine made time pass quickly. I was a sitting duck in this predictable routine: people knew when to call me, they knew when I would be at my desk. I was in such regular touch that it was like having a job, a mode of life I hated. I was sick of being called up and asked for favors, hit up for money. You stick around too long and people begin to impose their own deadlines on you. 1．What did the writer expect from his journey? A．To have a variety of enjoyable experiences. B．To see how Africa had changed. C．To see impressive scenery. D．To meet some old friend. 2．Forty years ago, how did the writer feel about the future of the country where he was living? A．Little was likely to change. B．Things were likely to improve. C．Women would do most of the work. D．People’s expectations were too limited. 3．In Paragraph 3, what reason does the writer give for wanting to travel to Africa? A．He wanted a change of activity. B．He wanted people to be unable to contact him. C．His health was suffering from staying at home. D．He had been waiting to return to Africa for long. 4．The writer says “I was a sitting duck” in Paragraph 5 to show that _______. A．he was boring B．he was easy to find C．he is fond of ducks D．he was always lending money Passage 3 To say that the child learns by imitation and that the way to teach is to set a good example seems oversimplified. No child imitates every action he sees. Sometimes, the example the parent wants him to follow is ignored while he takes over contrary patterns from some other example. Therefore, we must turn to a more subtle theory than “Monkey see, monkey do”. Look at it from the child’s point of view. Here he is in a new situation, lacking a ready response. He is seeking a response which will gain certain ends. If he lacks a ready response for the situation, and cannot reason out what to do, he observes a model who seems able to get the right result. The child looks for an authority or expert who can show what to do. There is a second element at work in this situation. The child may be able to achieve his immediate goal only to find that his method brings criticism from people who observe him. When shouting across the house achieves his immediate end of delivering a message, he is told emphatically that such a screaming is unpleasant, that he should walk into the next room and say his say quietly. Thus, the desire to solve any objective situation is overlaid with the desire to solve it properly. One of the early things the child learns is that he gets more affection and approval when his parents like his response. Then other adults award some actions and criticize others. If one is to maintain the support of others and his own self-respect, he must adopt responses his social group approves. In finding trial responses, the learner does not choose models at random. He imitates the person who seems a good person to be like, rather than a person whose social status he wished to avoid. If the pupil wants to be good violinist, he will observe and try to copy the techniques of capable players. Admiration of one quality often leads us to admire a person as a whole, and he becomes an identifying figure. We use some people as models over a wide range of situations, imitating much that they do. We learn that they are dependable and rewarding models because imitating them leads to success. 1．According to the passage, to teach a child to learn something, parents should ________. A．view from the child’s perspective B．simplify each action shown to the child C．follow the theory of imitation D．set a good example for the child to copy 2．Which of the following situation will lead a child to seek for a model? A．The child comes up with a solution to an issue. B．The child is blamed by parents for his/her wrongdoing. C．The child encounters a professional who can get the right result. D．The child is in trouble and cannot figure out an approach. 3．It can be inferred that children usually imitate people ________. A．whose talent and skill are extraordinary B．whose actions are consistent with theirs C．whom they want to be shaped into D．who enjoy a high social status 4．What is the passage mainly about? A．The reason for parenting by imitation. B．The factors determining children’s imitation. C．The significance of learning by imitation. D．The way children choose models. Passage 4 As the Northern Hemisphere ushers in the new season, a contagious (有感染力的) urge to dust off cobwebs and toss out clutter emerges. Spring cleaning, a deep cleanse of one’s home, is a tradition rooted in societies worldwide, with its origin traced back to ancient times. It also holds symbolic significance. Viewed as a fresh start, the tradition symbolizes the transition from the dormant winter season to the vibrant growth of spring. By purging (清除) the home of accumulated debris and organizing its contents, individuals create a cleaner living environment and a sense of mental clarity and freshness. “With each sweep of the broom and polish of the surface, we honor a tradition that transcends time, uniting us with generations past in a shared pursuit of renewal and rejuvenation (恢复活力),” says Danielle Patten, director of creative programs and collections at the Museum of the Home in London. Human behavior is greatly influenced by the cycles of nature. In the colder months, we have less energy to spare for chores such as deep cleaning. We’re not being lazy; limited daylight triggers the hormone melatonin (褪黑素), which makes us sleepy. “Melatonin causes us to feel less inclined to refresh our space. When the seasons start to shift, feelings of sluggishness reduce, and we regain energy and feel inspired to deep clean our living environments,” says author and psychotherapist Eloise Skinner. “When we refresh our environments, we can feel a sense of new beginning, or a renewed sense of drive and ambition.” Studies have also shown that cleaning can be therapeutic, as seen by the new generation of “cleanfluencers” taking social media by storm. Millions of people watch them scour filthy homes and share cleaning hacks. “When we’re cleaning, we often have to be present to the task at hand, and this can bring us into the present moment, causing us to feel more aware, engaged and observant. The repetitive nature can also be soothing,” Skinner says. Before the Chinese New Year, it’s common to cleanse the home of bad luck and misfortune in China. Known as “sweeping the dust,” cleaning makes way for the new year’s good luck and prosperity, says Patten. While the concept of spring cleaning predates modern technology, advancements such as electricity and household appliances have influenced its practice. For example, before electric lights, people relied on fire from burning coal, oil, and wood to light and heat homes, which would leave behind a substantial amount of soot (煤灰). Windows were kept securely closed to prevent a deadly draft from entering. Come spring, it was pragmatic to open the windows to air out stuffy homes, remove grime, and repair any damages that occurred during the winter months. Inventions such as vacuum cleaners, washing machines, and cleaning agents have made the process more efficient and convenient, allowing for deeper and more thorough cleaning of living spaces. 1．What does the word “sluggishness” in paragraph 5 most likely mean? A．Excitement. B．Tiredness. C．Determination. D．Activity. 2．What does the passage imply about the link between cleaning and mental well-being? A．Cleaning rituals are more effective than professional therapy for reducing stress. B．The repetitive nature of cleaning can promote mindfulness and engagement. C．People who deep clean are less likely to experience seasonal affective disorder. D．Social media “cleanfluencers” rely on mental health studies to increase their followers. 3．What can be inferred about the evolution of spring cleaning from the passage? A．The practice became widespread due to advancements in household appliances. B．The invention of electric lights eliminated the need for spring cleaning. C．Modern cleaning techniques have completely replaced traditional customs. D．The symbolic meaning of spring cleaning has diminished over time. 4．What is the author’s primary purpose of writing this passage? A．To encourage readers to adopt spring cleaning habits. B．To provide a historical and cultural perspective on spring cleaning. C．To compare traditional and modern spring cleaning practices. D．To explore how spring cleaning can benefit mental health. Passage 5 Every April I am troubled by the same concern that spring might not occur this year. The landscape looks dull, with hills, sky and forest appearing grey. My spirits ebb, as they did during an April snowfall when I first came to Maine. “Just wait,” a neighbour advised. “You’ll wake up one morning and spring will just be here.” And look, on 3 May that year I awoke to a green so amazing as to be almost electric, as if spring were simply a matter of flipping a switch. Hills, sky, and forest revealed their purples, blues, and greens. Leaves had unfolded and daffodils were fighting their way heavenward. Then there was the old apple tree. It sits on an undeveloped lot in my neighbourhood. It belongs to no one and therefore to everyone. The tree’s dark twisted branches stretch out in unpruned abandon. Each spring it blossoms so freely that the air becomes filled with the scent of apple. Until last year, I thought I was the only one aware of this tree. And then one day, in a bit of spring madness, I set out to remove a few disorderly branches. No sooner had I arrived under the tree than neighbours opened their windows and stepped onto their porches. These were people I barely knew and seldom spoke to, but it was as if I had come uninvited into their personal gardens. My mobile-home neighbour was the first to speak. “You’re not cutting it down, are you?” she asked anxiously. Another neighbour frowned as I cut off a branch. “Don’t kill it, now,” he warned. Soon, half the neighbourhood had joined me under the apple tree. It struck me that I had lived there for five years and only now was learning these people’s names, what they did for a living, and how they passed the winter. It was as if the old apple tree was gathering us under its branches for the purpose of both acquaintanceship and shared wonder. I couldn’t help recalling Robert Frost’s words: The trees that have it in their pent-up buds To darken nature and be summer woods One thaw (解冻) led to another. Just the other day, I saw one of my neighbours at the local store. He remarked how this recent winter had been especially long and complained of not having seen or spoken at length to anyone in our neighbourhood. And then, he looked at me and said, “We need to prune that apple tree again.” 1．By saying that “my spirits ebb” in paragraph 1, the author means that . A．he feels relieved B．he is cheerful C．he is astonished D．he feels blue 2．Which of the following is TRUE about the apple tree according to the passage? A．No one other than the author cares about the apple tree. B．It grows on public property. C．It is a source of fresh fruit for the neighbourhood D．It is carefully attended to by the author. 3．It can be inferred from the neighbour’s words in the last paragraph that . A．He has a passion for gardening. B．He was concerned about the safety of the tree. C．He enjoyed the company of his neighbours. D．He changed his mind about pruning the tree. 4．What is the best title for the text? A．The Beauty of Nature B．The Secret of the Apple Tree. C．Under the Blossoms. D．The Spring in Maine. 话题4 科学技术 Passage 1 Ashley Liberto and her dog Bentley have been inseparable since she got him eight years ago. When Bentley had trouble walking a few years ago, Liberto was worried. “I took him to the pet hospital. He was diagnosed (诊断) with an amputated (截肢) right elbow and would need a prosthetic leg,” Liberto says. Luckily, the surgery (外科手术) was a success. After Bentley started moving again on three legs, Liberto decided to get a custom prosthetic leg (定制的假肢) for him. When she saw the cost of custom dog prosthetics, the teacher at Providence Day School in Charlotte, North Carolina reached out to some of her former students for help in finding a more affordable choice. Providence Day School has a class focused on computer- aided design (计算机辅助设计) and 3D printing. The teacher, Todd Johnson, says, “It’s an introductory level class that teaches students to make basic shapes using the technology. But when Liberto suggested trying to make a prosthetic leg for her dog, the students were excited to help and try something new.” “I thought it was a chance for the students to see a real- world application of what they were learning at school. I knew once the students started thinking about it seriously, they would come up with excellent designs,” Johnson says. The class broke up into small groups to come up with designs for Bentley. Team leader Brandon Hollis and his group came up with the winning design. Hollis group spent weeks creating a prosthetic leg for Bentley. “It fit way better than I could have hoped for. It still needs some small changes, and then it should fit perfectly,” Hollis says. The students hope to have a finished custom ( adj.量身设计的) and comfortable prosthetic leg for Bentley in the next few weeks. Even though the class has ended, the young designers have continued the project on their own time. 1．What happened to Bentley? A．He was hit by a car. B．He had a terrible illness. C．He got lost on his way home. D．He got separated from his owner. 2．What did Liberto do for Bentley? A．She provided some students to play with him. B．She tried to get a new leg for him. C．She gave him some walking training. D．She found a new home for him. 3．How did the students feel about making a leg? A．It was a piece of cake to them. B．They were excited to try something new prosthetic C．They didn’t take it seriously. D．It was too hard for them to finish. 4．What does Johnson expect of his students? A．They can put what they’re learning in the classroom into practice. B．They can think carefully about what they want to learn. C．They can pay some attention to animal protection. D．They can develop new 3D printing technology. 5．What is Hollis and his group’s plan for the next few weeks? A．Sharing their design with others. B．Offering free design courses. C．Making their design better. D．Introducing a new design. Passage 2 Hundreds of people die at sea every year due to ship and airplane accidents. Emergency teams have little time to rescue those in the water because the probability of finding a person alive falls dramatically after six hours. Beyond tides and challenging weather conditions, unsteady coastal currents often make search and rescue operations extremely difficult. New insight into coastal flows gained by an international research team led by George Haller, Professor of Nonlinear Dynamics at ETH Zurich, promises to enhance the search and rescue techniques currently in use. Using tools from dynamical systems theory and ocean data, the team has developed an algorithm (算法) to predict where objects and people floating in water will go. “Our work has a clear potential to save lives,” says Mattia Serra, the first author of a study recently published in Nature Communications. In today’s rescue operations at sea, complicated models of ocean dynamics and weather forecasting are used to predict the path of floating objects. For fast-changing coastal waters, however, such predictions are often inaccurate due to uncertain boundaries and missing data. As a result, a search may be launched in the wrong location, causing a loss of precious time. Haller’s research team obtained mathematical results predicting that objects floating on the ocean’s surface should gather along a few special curves (曲线) which they call TRansient Attracting Profiles (TRAPs). These curves can’t be seen with our eyes but can be tracked from instant ocean surface current data using recent mathematical methods developed by the ETH team. This enables quick and precise planning of search paths that are less sensitive to uncertainties in the time and place of the accident. In cooperation with a team from MIT, the ETH team tested their new, TRAP-based search algorithm in two separate ocean experiments near Martha’s Vineyard, which is on the northeastern coast of the United States. Working from the same real-time data available to the Coast Guard, the team successfully identified TRAPs in the region in real-time. They found that buoys and manikins (浮标和人体模型) thrown in the water indeed quickly gathered along these emerging curves. “Of several competing approaches tested in this project, this was the only algorithm that consistently found the right location”, says Haller. “Our results are rapidly obtained, easy to interpret, and cheap to perform,” points out Serra. Haller stresses: “Our hope is that this method will become a standard part of the tool kit of coast guards everywhere.” 1．In a search and rescue operation, ________. A．the survival rate drops to almost zero after six hours B．the use of dynamics leads to the wrong location C．weather conditions are a determining factor D．changing currents present a challenge 2．The main significance of the new algorithm is ________. A．accurately predicting weather conditions during rescue operations B．dependence on satellite technology to locate distressed individuals at sea C．cost-effective, efficient tracking of objects and individuals in coastal waters D．predicting the exact time and location of ocean accidents 3．Paragraph 5 mainly talks about ________. A．the collection of data B．the testing of the algorithm C．the identification of the TRAPs D．the cooperation of two research teams 4．Which of the following is the best title for the passage? A．How Mathematics Can Save Lives at Sea B．How Coastal Waters Affect Saving Lives C．Why Algorithms Are Popular in Rescue Operations D．Why Success Rates of Rescue Operations Have Fallen Passage 3 John Banville has received three major literary prizes. In 2005 he won the Man Booker Prize for his novel The Sea (his 14th book). He has been proposed repeatedly as a candidate (候选人) for the Nobel Prize in Literature. The writer had been resting on his couch when he received a call from a man half an hour before the true winners would be revealed at an awarding ceremony on Thursday. The man on the phone claimed to be Mats Malm, the secretary of the Nobel Prize Committee and he told Banville he would be awarded the prize of this year. And then he also read Banville a formal statement of the achievements he would print about the writer’s work. “He was so convincing that I rang everybody I could think of to tell them about this good news.” Banville recalled. But 40 minutes later Banville received a phone call from his daughter who had seen the live announcement. She told her father, “It’s not you!” “I realized then that it must have been a hoax. I rang everybody again and said, ‘Don’t buy the champagne and stop throwing your hats in the air!’” said Banville. A voicemail left on Banville’s phone shortly after the announcement explained that there had been a last-minute disagreement among decision-makers. But, after a close listen to the message, Banville noticed that voice was “deeper” than that of the real Mats Malm and lacked the same “smooth” grasp of English. He has since shared the message with the Swedish Academy to investigate the incident. 1．The underlined word “hoax” in the last paragraph probably means_______. A．trick B．game C．event D．joke 2．John Banville assumed that the news was true at first because _______. A．many people considered John Banville was a talented and productive writer B．he has been proposed repeatedly as a candidate for the Nobel Prize in Literature C．the man who called claimed to be the secretary and sounded very convincing D．the so called secretary called half an hour before the awarding ceremony 3．How did Banville possibly feel when he received the second call? A．suspicious and worried B．shocked and disappointed C．sad and ashamed D．angry and guilty 4．We can learn from the passage that _______. A．who was responsible for the hoax will soon be revealed B．the Nobel Prize Committee planned the incident behind the scenes C．the voicemail left on Banville’s phone was probably a cheat D．John Banville will one day be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature Passage 4 College students around the world have recently developed products and designs for a chance to win the James Dyson Sustainability Award. The competition is tough, as many of the brightest engineers and scientists compete for the prize. But while every entry was impressive, Carvey Ehren Maigue’s ultimately won — for good reason! The 27-year-old from the Philippines has been studying at one of the country’s top engineering schools and will graduate soon. Throughout his time there, he learned plenty about design, which is what led him to create AuREUS System Technology. These solar panels are made from food waste and transform UV light (紫外线) into renewable energy, even on a cloudy day! According to the awarding remarks, AuREUS combines renewable material and advanced technology, which allows other devices to harvest UV light and transform it into electricity. Of course, “it is environmentally friendly and can be used for a long time, perfectly meeting our purpose and making it the most striking one! It’s truly a game changer!” AuREUS is based on a plastic material, so it can be formed into different shapes. The science behind it is a bit confusing, but in Carvey’s words, “AuREUS is actually a material, or a technology. With AuREUS, we upcycle the crops of the farmers that were hit by natural disasters, such as typhoons, which also happen to be an effect of climate change. By transforming them into new energy, we can be both future-looking, and solve the problems that we are currently experiencing now.” While it’s clear to us that this product is special, Carvey was still caught by surprise when he found out he won the competition. It took a few days for him to process the news, and he’s already looking at what he can create next! “I was very happy because I know that through this award, I will be able to reach out to more people,” he added. “This is my second time applying, and through persistence, I managed to win.” 1. What is the function of the second paragraph? A. To offer background information about Carvey. B. To show how Carvey prepared for the competition. C. To explain why Carvey could win the competition. D. To introduce some unknown factors behind the win. 2. What makes AuREUS stand out from the entries? A. Its sustainability. B. Its high technology. C. Its new materials. D. Its effective use. 3. What can we learn about AuREUS? A. It can detect some food waste. B. It may promote crop production. C. It is mainly meant for farmers. D. It can make waste advantageous. 4. Which of the following words can best describe Carvey? A. Positive and hotheaded. B. Hard-working and humble. C. Helpful and persistent. D. Broad-minded and accessible. Passage 5 For many years, Bruce Bexler dreamed of going where no human had gone before. He wanted to cut a path through unexplored lands and discover rare species. That might sound like an impossible dream, but Bexler turned it into a reality. In December 2015, he and a team of Australian and American scientists explored into a remote tropical rain forest on the island of New Guinea. They were the first people ever to enter the mist-covered region. “As time was limited, we were dropped in by helicopter. Once we were on the ground, there were no trails (踪迹) anywhere; it was really hard to get around,” Bexler says. Within minutes of landing, the team spotted a black chicken-like bird with strange orange skin hanging from its neck. The scientists soon determined that the unusual creature was a type of honeyeater — the first new bird species to be sighted on New Guinea in 60 years. The honeyeater wasn’t the only surprise for the scientists. They discovered more than 40 previously unknown plant and animal species — 13 birds of paradise, 20 frogs, 4 butterflies, and 5 palms. “We were like kids in a candy store,” Bexler recalls. “Everywhere we looked, we saw amazing things we had never seen before? The newfound species didn’t shy away from the scientists. Two long-nosed echidnas-primitive egg-laying mammals — let the visitors pick them up and take them back to camp to study them in echidna looks like a hedgehog and is also called a spiny anteater. Bexler thinks the animals weren’t scared because they had never seen humans before in almost all parts of New Guinea, animals are hunted for food, and because of this, they are very cautious of people,” he explains. “This area gives scientists a place where they can go to study the behaviors of animals that have not yet learned to be afraid of people.” Scientists believe the area is probably the largest untouched forest in Asia. Local people called Kwerba hunt and collect plants from outer-edges of the forest but told Bexler that not even their ancestors had gone so far into the woods. The wooded area is approximately a 10-day walk from the nearest village. Bexler and his team did not have enough time during the expedition to study the area completely. They hope to return and expect to record many more undiscovered species. “We just scratched the surface,” Bexler says. “Anyone who goes there will come back with a mystery.” 1. What does Bruce mean in Para. 4 when he says the scientists “were like kids in a candy store”? A. They were acting like naughty children. B. They were very excited about what they saw. C. They didn’t have enough food and were hungry. D. They knew that if they kept searching, they’d find sugar. 2. Why did some of the animals allow the scientists to pick them up? A. The scientists seemed to be very friendly. B. The scientists were skilled in handling animals. C. The animals had no experience or fear of people. D. The animals had been well-trained by the local people. 3. What can we conclude about the area Bruce Bexler explored? A. The best way to explore the area is by helicopter. B. The area has not been visited by scientists for many years. C. The area still contains many plants and animals unknown to science. D. The locals are unwilling to allow the scientists to enter the deep woods. 话题5 自然生态 Passage 1 Zheng He was one of China’s most famous explorers (探险家). Towards the end of the fourteenth century, his fleet (舰队) sailed to countries far away. Zheng He had over 300 ships, some of which were over 150 meters long, and could carry up to 1, 000 people. Besides, the ships carried gold, silver, silk, china and other treasures to give as gifts to the rulers of other countries. Some ships even had earth on board so that the sailors could grow their crops for food. On Zheng He’s first voyage, he set sail across the Indian Ocean. His fleet travelled many days far away from land. One day, they were hit by a storm. All the sailors thought the fleet was going to sink (下沉). Then a strange light appeared and after that, the storm passed. The strange light was probably electricity from the thunderstorm (雷雨), but the sailors in Zheng He’s fleet believed it was a sign of protection from the gods. With the belief, they were happy to follow Zheng He wherever he led them. Zheng He completed seven famous voyages between 1405 and 1433. He visited many countries in Asia and Africa. He brought back many gifts from the countries he visited, such as medicines, pearls (珍珠) and strange animals. The most famous of them were a giraffe and a zebra. In 28 years of travelling, Zheng He had managed to share the glory of China with many different countries. When he died in 1435, the stories of his travels made him one of China’s most famous sailors. 1. Some ships carried earth on board so that the sailors could________. A. use it as a gift B. use it for exchange C. plant trees for shade D. grow their own crops for food 2. The sailors were happy to follow Zheng He because of________. A. his leadership B. his fame C. the belief in gods’ protecting them D. a heavy storm 3. The most famous gifts Zheng He brought back were________. A. a monkey and a tiger B. a giraffe and a zebra C. gold and silver D. medicines and pearls 4. The best title of the passage can be___________. A. The Glory of China B. Zheng He’s Life C. Zheng He and His Voyages D. China’s Most Famous Explorers Passage 2 “It’s a windy day in Laguna San Ignacio, and the waves seem to come from all directions,” said Sara Clemence in Bloomberg Businessweek. My children and I are riding on an 18-foot boat — small enough that we can reach down into the water if a gray whale swims up alongside. And then we see what we’ve come for: a heart-shaped shower of water and a dark mass rushing below it. As instructed, we splash (溅泼) the water strongly to signal the huge whale, which turns out to be a mother with her weeks-old baby. The baby soon swims beneath our boat, emerges to blow mist in my face, then “lies onto its side like a 2-ton puppy.” Leaning down, I touched its skin gently. “It feels electric. Also, a bit like petting a hard-boiled egg.” San Ignacio is one of very few places where a person can pet a whale. The whales come each year to the coast of Baja California to give birth and to mate. If you’re lucky, you can “shake hands with a leathery fin (鳍)” or even “plant a kiss on a cold, salty cheek.” I usually worry about such interactions, because wild creatures can become deeply stressed by human contact. But boat numbers are strictly limited in these protected waters. And any whale that approaches a boat does so on its own terms. Like that baby whale: “We see him a few times, and he seems to like being petted and splashed.” So we are two species, connecting through touch, but also through eye contact: “More than once, after nosing around our boat, a young gray whale turns on its side so one dark, baseball-size eye is looking up at us.” Whalers used to call gray whales “devil fish” because these magnificent creatures turn violent when threatened — “or, say, when their babies are harmed.” That makes it feel even more of a blessing when, on our third day there, a large mama whale approaches the boat. “I’m splashing when I feel her nose press up into my hand.” Though she’s “wiser and apparently more alert” than her child, “she still decides to trust us.” 1．According to the passage, people can NOT interact with a whale by ________. A．splashing water to it B．gently touching its skin C．swimming alongside it D．looking at it in the eye 2．The underlined phrase in paragraph 2 means that the whale ________. A．is mad with too many visitors B．is willing to be petted by people on the boat C．can interact with people based on its likes D．can decide its preferred swimming route 3．Why does the author consider it “a blessing” when a large mama whale approaches the boat? A．Because she is smarter than her child and better at interacting with people. B．Because she believes in people and will not turn violent if her baby is harmed. C．Because a whale as large as this one is rare to see. D．Because she trusts people despite her concerns about her child’s safety. 4．What is the best title for this passage? A．Preserving the Devil Fish in Laguna San Ignacio B．A Beautiful Encounter with Gray Whales C．A Risky but Exciting Whale-Watching Journey D．Appropriate Ways to Interact with Gray Whales Passage 3 When 16-year-old Kai returned to his hometown after three years, the first thing he noticed was the river. Once the heart of the village—where kids swam, women washed clothes, and old men fished—the water now ran thick and brown, with plastic bags bobbing like sad balloons. “The new factory upstream dumps waste every night,” his grandma sighed, pointing to a rusty pipe sticking out of the riverbank. Kai remembered how the river used to sparkle. He’d spent summers catching minnows and watching dragonflies land on lily pads. Now, even the willow trees along the bank looked sick, their leaves yellow and wilted. “We can’t just watch it die,” he told his classmates when he visited his old school. They formed a group called “Clear Stream.” First, they mapped the pollution sources: the factory pipe, a drainage ditch from the market, and villagers tossing trash. Then, they took action. On weekends, they picked up garbage, their gloves turning black from the muck. They made posters with before-and-after photos of the river and hung them in the village square. “A dead river means dead crops and sick families,” the posters read. The factory owner ignored their letters at first. But when Kai and his friends stood outside the factory gates every morning, holding their posters and handing out leaflets to workers, he finally agreed to meet. “Installing a water filter will cost too much,” he grumbled. Kai showed him a study: polluted water was making villagers ill, and medical bills were rising. “Health is cheaper than a filter,” he said quietly. Months later, the filter was installed. The group kept cleaning, and villagers joined in—even the market traders started using biodegradable bags. One spring morning, Kai knelt by the river and saw a minnow dart past his hand. “It’s breathing again,” he whispered. That night, the village held a celebration by the water, and kids splashed in the shallows, just like old times. 1.Why did the river become polluted? A. Villagers overfished in the river. B. A factory dumped waste into it. C. Heavy rains caused mudslides. D. The willow trees died and rotted. 2.What did “Clear Stream” do FIRST to help the river? A. They installed a water filter for the factory. B. They asked villagers to stop using plastic bags. C. They identified where the pollution was coming from. D. They held a celebration by the river. 3.The underlined word “biodegradable” in Paragraph 5 probably means ______. A. easy to break down naturally B. cheap to produce C. colorful and attractive D. strong and durable 4.What can we infer from the story? A. Factories should be closed to protect rivers. B. Young people alone can solve environmental problems. C. Community effort is key to restoring nature. D. Rivers can clean themselves without human help. Passage 4 Lila’s family owned a small farm on the edge of Greenpine Forest. For generations, the forest had kept their land fertile: its trees held the soil in place, and birds ate pests that would have destroyed crops. But last year, everything changed. A mysterious disease killed the pine trees, and with them, the birds vanished. Soon, bugs swarmed the farm, eating the corn and wheat. “We’ll have to use chemical pesticides,” Lila’s dad said, showing her a bottle labeled “Toxic—Use With Care.” Lila, 17, hated the idea. She’d read that pesticides kill bees and other helpful insects too. “What if there’s another way?” she asked her biology teacher, who suggested she research “natural pest control.” Lila spent weekends in the remaining forest, observing. She noticed that oak trees, which hadn’t been affected by the disease, were home to ladybugs—a bug that eats aphids, the pest destroying their crops. She also found that marigold flowers, which grew wild in the forest, repelled beetles. She convinced her dad to let her try an experiment. They planted marigolds around the farm and built small wooden houses for ladybugs. At first, the bugs kept coming, and Lila’s dad groaned. But after a month, the aphid population dropped. By summer, the ladybugs had multiplied, and the marigolds were in full bloom—no pesticides needed. Other farmers noticed. “How did you do it?” they asked. Lila led workshops, teaching them to work with the forest’s natural helpers instead of against them. A year later, Greenpine Forest was slowly recovering, and the farms thrived. “The forest was trying to help us all along,” Lila smiled. 1.Why did pests swarm Lila’s farm? A. The family stopped using pesticides. B. The pine trees (and the birds that ate pests) died. C. Lila planted marigolds that attracted bugs. D. The soil became infertile due to overfarming. 2.What was Lila’s “natural pest control” method? A. She used chemical pesticides secretly. B. She planted oak trees to attract birds. C. She introduced ladybugs and planted marigolds. D. She asked other farmers to help catch pests. 3.The underlined word “repelled” in Paragraph 3 probably means ______. A. attracted and killed B. scared away C. fed on D. helped grow 4.What does the story suggest about nature? A. It is fragile and easily destroyed by humans. B. It contains its own solutions to balance ecosystems. C. It needs chemicals to stay healthy. D. It is separate from human farms and communities. Passage 5 Every autumn, 10,000 migratory birds stopped at Lake Miru to rest before flying south. For 17-year-old Tara, who lived nearby, it was the most magical time: flocks of geese filled the sky, and ducks floated on the lake like a golden carpet. But last year, only a few hundred arrived. “What’s happening?” Tara asked her grandpa, who’d watched the migration for 50 years. He pointed to the construction site on the lake’s east bank. “They’re building a mall. The birds used to nest in those reeds, but now they’re gone.” Tara checked the reeds—they’d been bulldozed, and the lake’s water level had dropped because the builders were using it for concrete. Tara joined a birdwatching club online and learned that Lake Miru was a critical stop on the birds’ 10,000-kilometer journey. Without food and rest, many would die. “We have to act fast,” she told the club. They started a petition, collecting 5,000 signatures from locals who loved the birds. Tara presented it to the mayor, along with photos of the empty lake. “The mall will bring jobs,” he said. “The birds will find another lake.” “What if they don’t?” Tara replied, showing him a study on declining bird populations. The mayor agreed to a compromise: the mall could be built, but the west bank of the lake would be turned into a protected wetland. Volunteers, including Tara, planted new reeds and installed a small pump to keep the water level stable. This autumn, Tara held her breath as she waited by the lake. Then, a V-formation of geese appeared. Soon, the sky was filled with birds. “They remembered,” she cried. Grandpa nodded: “Nature comes back when we make space for it.” 1.Why did fewer migratory birds stop at Lake Miru last year? A. The lake water became polluted. B. A mall was built on the west bank. C. Their nesting reeds were destroyed, and water levels dropped. D. Tara and her grandpa scared them away. 2.What did Tara do to help the birds? A. She bulldozed the construction site. B. She collected signatures and convinced the mayor to protect part of the lake. C. She moved the birds to another lake. D. She stopped the mall construction completely. 3.The underlined word “critical” in Paragraph 3 probably means ______. A. dangerous B. unimportant C. essential D. temporary 4.What is the story mainly about? A. Migratory birds need humans to survive. B. Balancing development and nature is possible with effort. C. Malls should never be built near natural habitats. D. Young people know more about nature than adults. 话题6 人与自我 Passage 1 This summer, I marked what some call a “milestone birthday”. My approach to birthdays is usually twofold: fear them in advance and bear them in the moment. But this year, I decided to confront my birthday directly instead of tolerating it awkwardly. Rather than wait to receive cards and gifts, why not celebrate my birthday by giving presents to others? Maybe turning tradition upside down would assuage my discomfort. Science was on my side. Studies have found that spending money on others makes us happier than spending money on ourselves. “We observe this all over the world, even in places where people are struggling to meet their own basic needs. Charitable contributions activate the reward centres of our brain that spark for delights such as music and food,” Elizabeth Dunn, a University of British Columbia psychology professor told me. Armed with these studies, I began planning my experiment. The gift had to be small enough to mail in an envelope and meaningful enough to touch hearts. I decided on pencils. I located a vendor (商贩) in Central California who could customize pencils. I ordered them in pink to honour my last name. And I engraved (雕刻) them with three messages about pencils that double as messages about life: Stay sharp. Get to the point. Erasing is creating. With my wife, I turned our kitchen table into a fulfillment centre. We printed labels, slid three pencils into a sleeve and each sleeve into an envelope. Then, in two walks to our neighbourhood post office, we sent 98 gifts out to the world. A few days later, I got texts and emails from the pencil recipients (收件者). I heard from about three-fourths of them that they like the gift. Several people sent photos of their new pink pencils along with thanks or birthday wishes. A few told me how touched they were that I thought of them. One person texted fire and heart emojis. This exercise deepened my sense of gratitude and connection. For a few moments, I forgot I was turning okay, I’ll say the number now, 60. 1. What does the underlined word “assuage” in Paragraph 1 mean? A. Ease. B. Cause. C. Hide. D. Express. 2. What can we learn from Elizabeth Dunn’s words in Paragraph 2? A. People worldwide observe birthdays. B. Giving offers people more pleasure. C. Material wealth generates charity. D. People in need are more likely to donate. 3. Why did the author tailor the pencils pink? A. To entertain children. B. To make them striking. C. To highlight the messages on them. D. To bear a mark of himself. 4. What’s Paragraph 5 mainly about? A. How the pencils were packed and sent. B. How the author’s birthday was celebrated. C. How people responded to the author’s gift. D. How the author reflected on the experience. Passage 2 When young, I loved going on trail（小路） runs. It was my favorite way to escape stress. So, when I was back in my hometown after a tough first year of my Ph. D. program, I thought a trail run was just what I needed. But instead of helping me relax, the run did just the opposite. After I moved to the city for college, where my runs were on flat concrete paths instead of winding dirt trails, I used a GPS watch. When I went on trail runs again in the country, it constantly reminded me of the fact that I wasn’t keeping up with my usual pace. I turned my watch off, thinking that would allow me to enjoy my surroundings and find the peace I expected, but I worried I was under performing. “Why can’ t I let go and just enjoy myself?” I wondered. But after some introspection（反省）, I realized why I was struggling—both on trail runs and in graduate school. Going into my Ph. D. , I had thought that my solid undergraduate track record would set me up for instant success. To my surprise, I was wrong. I lacked confidence in my research abilities which I thought stopped me performing well and I constantly felt my progress was too slow. Other students’ self-confidence and their excellent results made me feel insecure. Finally, one day I broke down in tears in my adviser’ s office. Then came my visit home: I was having trouble because I hadn't t properly adjusted my expectations to the differences between an urban run and a trail run. A Ph. D. is like a trail run: Sometimes you can run fast. Sometimes you might find yourself climbing up a steep, winding trail at a snail’ s pace. And that’ s OK. Barriers are unavoidable, and success looks and feels different on a challenging trail than it does on a smooth, flat path. Sometimes it’ s best to take a deep breath and do your best to meet the challenge. 1. How did the author feel when he was on trail runs again? A. Relaxed. B. Tired. C. Anxious. D. Happy. 2. What resulted in the author’ s poor performance in Ph. D A. His lack of confidence. B. His lack of hard work. C. His poor research abilities. D. His poor track record. 3. What does the author want to show in the last paragraph? A. His desire for success. B. His confidence of trail runs. C. His expectations in his study. D. His realization after the trail run. 4. What does the author want to tell us? A. Failure is the mother of success. B. Working out regularly is beneficial. C. It’ s important to make necessary adjustments. D. It’ s vital to turn to others for help. Passage 3 Australia looks browner and flatter than I remembered; it’s dry grass here and there dotted with tough bushes and unremarkable buildings. The lighting is violently intense. My friend keeps talking in the driver’s seat and I respond with ‘Ah-huh’ and ‘Oh really?’ to appear interested in her string of gossip about people whose faces I have long forgotten, whose stories I’ve stopped caring about. ‘Are you okay?’ my friend asks, taking her eyes off the road to study my expression with her all-knowing eyes. ‘Just tired,’ I say. She accepts my lie with an unconvinced shrug. I keep searching in my mind’s eyes, hoping to bring back into focus images from the remote towns of Asia: steam coming off boiling pots, baskets filled with strange fruits, giant pigs alongside little kids. I laugh at the thought. ‘Something funny?’ my friend asks. ‘Oh, just a memory,’ I say. ‘The little kids in northern Thailand were so friendly. When we’d pass them in the street, they’d greet us at the top of their lungs in their native language.’ ‘Cool,’ she says, and then-’Hey, guess what? I had my bathroom remade!’ ‘Wow,’ I say. And then she details her bathroom project, and I ‘Ah-huh’ and ‘Oh really?’. Home improvements, kids, full-time jobs: these are the standard conversation topics of thirty-something women. In the years since I left, my friends have matured into responsible adults, but I’m stuck in another place entirely, more comfortable in a local bus traveling along the edge of a Himalayan mountain. If they are all grownups now, what does that make me? People say that travel changes you, but I never anticipated it would be like this. I close my eyes and return to the excitement of being sped at 565 miles per hour to somewhere foreign and wild. But I must stay this time. My dad has been diagnosed with a serious illness and so here I am, back in reality, back to my roots. 1. How does the author feel on her arrival in Australia? A. Interested. B. Conflicted. C. Exhausted. D. Excited. 2. What can be learned about the conversation between the author and her friend? A. They have different interests and lives as grownups. B. They share fond memories of growing up together. C. They care about and provide updates for each other. D. They enjoy telling personal stories to exchange ideas. 3. By “If they are all grownups now, what does that make me?” (in the second last paragraph), the author means _________. A. they make me think of growing up as they do B. we are all adults who will eventually settle down C. a comfortable home is what we all need as adults D. diverse experiences shape individuals’ life paths 4. Which of the following is the best title of the passage? A. Feeling Lost When Back in Australia B. The Excitement of Traveling to Australia C. Australia: A Place like Asia in My Heart D. Out of Asia, Out of Mind Passage 4 As everyone knows, English is very important today. It has been used everywhere in the world. It has become the most common language on the Internet and for international trade. If we can speak English well, we will have more chances to succeed. Because more and more people have taken notice of it, the number of the people who go to learn English has increased at a high speed. But for myself, I learn English not only because of its importance and its usefulness, but also because of my love for it. When I learn English, I can feel a different way of thinking which gives me more room to touch the world. When I read English novels, I can feel the pleasure from the book which is different from reading the translation. When I speak English, I can feel the confidence from my words. When I write English,I can see the beauty which is not the same as our Chinese… I love English, because it gives me a colorful dream. I hope I can travel around the world one day. With my good English, I can make friends with many people from different countries and see many places of great interests. I dream that I can go to London, because it is the birthplace of English. I also want to use my good English to introduce our great places to the people who speak English. I hope that they can love our country like us. I know, Rome was not built in a day. I believe that after continuous hard study, one day I can speak English very well. If you want to be loved, you should learn to love and be lovable. So I believe, as I love English, it will love me too. I am sure that I will realize my dream one day! 1. What’s the main idea of the first paragraph? A. English is changing quickly. B. English has the largest speakers in the world. C. More and more people enjoy learning English. D. English is becoming increasingly important in our daily life. 2. Which of the following is not the reason why the author likes learning English? A. The author’s parents force him to study English. B. English is very important. C. English is very useful. D. The author likes English. 3. When the author reads English novels, he feels ______. A. pressed. B. anxious. C. pleased. D. confident. 4. What can we learn from the last but one paragraph? A. Loving others is very important. B. Loving English can make you successful. C. If you want to get love from others, you should first love others. D. You should learn to respect others if you want to learn English well. Passage 5 It was a beautiful spring day. The Earth was finally awakening from her winter sleep. New life was everywhere. The sky was clear and blue. The air smelled sweet. The sun was kissing the world with its warmth. I was driving to pick my son up from the sheltered workshop. On my drive I saw the flowers opening in people’s yards. The fields were full of yellow dandelions (蒲公英) with some already turning into little white balls of seeds. The trees were starting to awaken too. The flowers on them were white, purple, and pink. The songs of the birds were in the air as well. I was feeling the love from the creation all around me. I longed to be a part of it and share my love as well. I pulled into the driveway of the sheltered workshop and parked my car. As I got out, I saw a lost little caterpillar (毛虫) crawling the wrong way towards the sidewalk. He was just about to go under my tire (轮胎) when I reached down and picked him up. I held him gently in my hand and walked over to the grassy hillside on the other side of the parking lot. I sat him down and said, “You will never become a butterfly if you get run over, my friend. Please stay in the grass.” Then I walked off with a smile on my face and a happiness filling my heart. A friend once wrote me and asked what he could do to make a difference in this world. I wrote him back and said, “Everything!” Everything we do makes a difference in this world. Everything we do can help all the creation in the world. Every act of kindness, every shared smile, every moment of love makes a difference. Even saving a single butterfly is priceless. 1. What can we infer about the author? A. He preferred winter to spring. B. He saw people planting flowers in the yards. C. He went to the workshop together with his son. D. He appreciated new life and desired to share his love. 2. What happened to the caterpillar? A. It went the wrong way and was nearly injured by a car. B. It was discovered by the author in the grass. C. It was taken away by the author to his car. D. It would soon become a butterfly. 3. Which word can best describe the author? A. Caring. B. Calm. C. Confident. D. Indifferent. 4. What does the author intend to do in the last paragraph? A. Explain his views on nature. B. Give some advice to his friend. C. Show his opinion on making a difference. D. Stress the importance of saving a caterpillar. 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $