| 1. 难度：困难 | |
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What can technology do to make your world better?Three young people are starting new businesses to answer that question. Mateusz Mach Eighteen-year-old Mateusz Mach was the youngest person in Poland to receive money from investors to expand his company.He started Five,a mobile messaging application,or app,for deaf people.The app lets deaf people create their own hand signs to communicate with friends.The app now has more than 10,000 deaf users.And Mach thinks there will be about 150,000 more deaf users in the U.S. next year.There are many different sign languages in various parts of the world.Mach will be working with the United Nations in New York.He says,"I love to create.And I think that the creation of things will be my passion to the end of my life." William Zhou William Zhou is the co-founder and leader of Chalk.com.The education software company helps teachers from the kindergarten level t0 12th grade,or the end of secondary school.Zhou was born in Beijing,China,grew up in the Canadian city of Vancouver and founded his first company when he was still in high school.Zhou sold the company when he was studying computer science at Canada's University of Waterloo.But he strongly wanted to make a change in education,From his dorm room,Zhou created Chalk.It is a group of programs that supports individual teaching and learning.Based in Canada,Chalk is now used in 20,000 schools by more than 100,000 users worldwide. Zhou says building startups is a difficult process because it could last years."It's only worth it if you find something you truly care about—something you're passionate about.Otherwise,you may just end up crashing." George Mtemaharji George Mtemahanji was born in the African country of Tanzania and moved with his family to Italy in 2002, where he attended the Technical Institute of Alfredo Ferrari in Maranello.There he learned about renewable energy and began thinking that solar energy would be easier to use in Africa than in Europe.After graduation,he returned to Tanzania in 2014 to start his own solar energy company—Sun Sweet Solar—in partnership with his friend Manuel Rolando.He explains that he could not understand why,in a place with bright sunshine,"more than 90 percent of people had no access to electricity.So when I returned to Italy I spoke with Manuel on the huge electricity demand in Tanzania and to the possibility to open a business there."Sun Sweet Solar found early success in rural areas of Tanzania.Since then,the company has been expanding.He hopes to create jobs and help build his country in the process.He understands the process will take time."But I think we are on the right path." 1.We can infer from paragraph 2 that . A. Mach believes helping deaf people is where his interest lies B. Mach wants to attract more investment C. Mach will try to make Five available to people from different countries D. the number of deaf users of the app will surely increase 2.What is true about William Zhou? A. William Zhou founded Chalk.com with his own efforts and passion. B. Chalk.com is a group of programs that helps teaching and learning through to university level. C. Zhou believes building a company is hard because you may just end up in failure. D. William Zhou created Chalk.com.with the purpose of improving education. 3.According to paragraph 4,all the following statements are true except . A. George Mtemahanji's schooling in the institute helped form his idea of starting his business B. George Mtemahanji co-founded Sun Sweet Solar together with his friend Manuel Rolando C. after its early success in rural areas of Tanzania,Sun Sweet Solar has been going downward D. George Mtemahanji's efforts will be long-lasting and beneficial to his people and country
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| 2. 难度：困难 | |
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Phyllis Ramberg,85,lives alone in Hyattsville,Maryland,in the same house for many decades.“Children keep asking me,‘When are you going to move to one of those retirement villages?’I say,‘No,no.My friends are here, my church is close,’”Ramberg said."I've got everything I need,right in this neighborhood."A year ago,Ramberg was able to take care of her backyard.This year,she just can't do it herself."When illnesses happen,you just don't have the capability that you thought you had before,"she said. That's where "Aging in Place",a non-profit organization,comes in.Founder Lisa Walker says she and her friends are among the seven percent of Hyattsville residents who are 65 or older."A number of my neighbors are also around my age,"Walker said."We started talking about some of the concerns we had.Several of us had had issues with parents that were getting older and they were far away from them and didn't know how to take care of them or get support." Seniors can call Walker's organization with a request,for example,asking for someone to shop for groceries,do small chores around the house or drive them to the doctor.Then a volunteer is assigned to provide the help.Most of the calls are for rides to the doctor."They take me to all my medical appointments,"said Louise Battiste,who is almost 90. Aging in Place volunteer Sally Middlebrooks says that a review of new volunteers' background,such as driving records and any criminal history is just as important as the training they receive.“We want the seniors,people we call neighbors,to be assured that they are with safe,reliable people who are also caring people,”Middlebrooks said. The volunteers also gain some benefits."I've learned how to stay connected to people,your family and friends," Walker said."Do I stay close to them?Do I try to keep myself devoted to the community,relating to people younger than I am?"Middlebrooks said."I'm learning a lot about this whole process of aging,and I'm learning,to my alarm,that it's very difficult.But I'm also meeting people who amaze me with their flexibility and their sense of humor and their ability to stay very much alive despite aches and pains." Not all volunteers are retired.Courtney Wattai,24,is a graduate student at American University in Washington who studies care giving and plans to have a career working with seniors."That's kind of what I want to do because I want to make sure I'm able to improve their lives,"Wattai said.“I want to be involved in their lives,not just sitting at a desk doing things.I thought this would be a good way to give tribute to my grandparents and what they had done for me and my brother." It makes Walker happy to see the younger generation stepping up.She hopes that's how residents in her neighborhood will always care for each other. 1.Why do people who want to be volunteers need to be checked? A. Because seniors in the neighborhood just don't have the capability that they had before. B. Because Aging in Place makes volunteers get connected to people,their family and their friends. C. Because Aging in Place plans for them to have a career working with seniors. D. Because Aging in Place wants to make sure the volunteers are qualified for their work. 2.In paragraph 5,by quoting Walker and Middlebrooks,the writer wants to show . A. staying connected to people is volunteers' responsibility B. the work of caring for the old also brings good to the volunteers C. the process of aging is very difficult for the volunteers to understand D. the old people's ability of surviving the hardships is amazing 3.Which of the following is the closest in meaning to the underlined word in paragraph 6? A. Respect. B. Care. C. Award. D. Aid. 4.It can be inferred from the passage that Walker is about the future of Aging in Place. A. concerned B. optimistic C. doubtful D. pessimistic
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| 3. 难度：困难 | |
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CORAL reefs are,in fact,a necessary part of our ecosystem and provide opportunities for human beings to gain a better understanding of the ocean.Unfortunately,they're also disappearing faster than ever. According to a warning by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA) on Oct.8,the world is in its third recorded global coral bleaching（白化）since 1998 and 2010.This means no place with coral has been spared,as coral reefs are coming into contact with increasingly warm seas,which is leading to them dying off in large numbers. Coral bleaching is like human cancer.It happens when corals are under stress from changes in light,nutrients,or temperature.This causes the coral to drive away the symbiotic algae（共生藻类）,living within their tissues（组织）, which play an important role in providing food for coral while making it colorful.Without the algae,coral reefs become pale and weak.In some cases they are not able to recover and eventually die off. The current coral bleaching event started back in late 2014 and continued into this year with no signs of stopping.The BBC reports that 35% of coral reefs in the world will likely be affected,and an estimated 4,633 square miles (about 120,000 square kilometers) of coral reefs could die. The loss of coral reefs is no small matter.Although they only take up 0.1% of the ocean floor,coral is home to about 25% of marine life.This isn't just a problem for divers and fish,as Eakin pointed out.Coral reefs are important globally,he added,as they protect shorelines,produce money in tourism,and help provide food for 500 million people worldwide.So people cannot overlook the environmental,economic and social effects of the loss. The NOAA warning about coral bleaching came just about two months before a global climate summit（峰会）in Paris,where hundreds of world leaders will attempt to work our a plan to fight climate change. Oceans will be a key subject during the summit,and Eakin says there's an "absolutely urgent need" for action. 1.Coral reefs,according to the passage,are dying off in large numbers as a result of . A. disease B. warm seas C. dirty water D. a lack of fool 2.What keeps coral reefs colorful? A. Nutrients. B. Their tissues. C. Light from seawater. D. The symbiotic algae. 3.The climate summit in Paris . A. will be held two months before he NOAA warning about coral bleaching B. has worked out a plan to fight climate change C. will mainly discuss the problem of oceans D. will regard oceans as a key topic of the global climate 4.Why are coral reefs important? a.They protect shorelines. b.They are beneficial to tourism. c.They are home to most marine life. d.They help provide food for 500 million people. A. a b d B. a c d C. a b c D. b c d
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| 4. 难度：困难 | |
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Peter Thiel,the billionaire co-founder of PayPal,plans to live to be 120.Compared with some other tech billionaires,he doesn't seem particularly ambitious.Dmitry Itskov,the “godfather” of the Russian Internet,says his goal is to live to 10.000;and Sergey Brin,co-founder of Google,hopes to someday "cure death. They aren't being ridiculous.Their search is based on real science that could fundamentally change what we know about life and about death.It’s hard to believe,though,since the human search for immortality is both ancient and filled with disastrous failures.Around 200 B.C.,the first emperor of China,Qin Shi Huang,accidentally killed himself trying to live forever;he poisoned himself by eating mercury（水银）pills.Centuries later, the search for eternal life wasn't much safer: In J492,Pope Innocent VIII died after blood transfusions from three healthy boys whose youth he believed he could absorb. But historical examples haven't discouraged some of the biggest names in Silicon Valley.Thiel,for example,has given $3.5 million to the Methuselah Foundation.Aubrey de Grey,Methuselah's co-founder,says SENS,the nonprofit's main research is devoted to finding drugs that cure several types of age-related damage:"Loss of cells, excessive（过多的）cell division,inadequate cell death,garbage inside the cell,garbage outside the cell,...The idea is that the human body,being a machine,has a structure that determines all aspects of its function,so if we can restore that structure—at the molecular（分子的）and cellular（细胞的）level—then we will restore function too,so we will have comprehensively renewed the body." But SENS,which has an annual operating budget of $5 million,is small,compared with the Brin-led Project Calico,Google's attempt to “cure death,”which is planning to pump billions into a partnership with medicine giant AbbVie.Google is secretive,but it's said to be building a drug to copy a gene associated with exceptional life span. Then there's the Glenn Foundation for Medical Research,started by Paul F.Glenn in 1965.Since 2007,the foundation has distributed annual "Glenn Awards,"$60,000 to independent researchers doing promising work on aging.The Glenn Foundation also works closely with the Ellison Medical Foundation,a far younger institution (founded in 1997).Ellison's passion project gives out hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to scholars seeking research on aging.Their decision to fund independent research may be paying off.Research projects funded by Ellison and Glenn appear to be developing into a testable means to stave off old age—for lab mice.The question is: Can those lab results be repeated in humans? 1.Which of the following statements about those billionaires is true? A. They are determined to dream big. B. What they are doing is silly and unreasonable. C. Their plan will end up in failure just like the Chinese emperor. D. They feel let down by those examples that happened in the past. 2.Which of the following DOESN'T explain the theory behind the project of SENS? A. Something wrong happens at the molecular and cellular level. B. Repairing the damage is the key to bringing back the function. C. Cell death should be prevented and then our body will function well. D. Structure decides how our body works. 3.According to the context,the underlined word "immortality"is close in meaning to the following expressions (also underlined) except . A. eternal life B. renewing the body C. life span D. staving off old age 4.Which of the following is NOT true? A. Probably the Glenn Foundation with the Ellison Medical Foundation will continue their efforts. B. The Glenn Foundation with the Ellison Medical Foundation has supported people and projects devoted to the research of aging. C. The Glenn Foundation with the Ellison Medical Foundation has proved the way of delaying aging in mice. D. The Glenn Foundation with the Ellison Medical Foundation has wasted their time and money since it cannot be applied to human beings.
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| 5. 难度：困难 | |
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It used to be a matter of fact when Peter Pan—a character from James Matthew Barrie's 1911 book—said:“All children,except one,grow up.”1. According to the NPD Group,a US market research company,sales of toys to adults in the UK increased by more than 20 percent in 2016,three times the pace of the children's toy market itself.These toys ranged from puzzles and Lego building sets（乐高积木）to vehicle models and action figures.And more than half of the sales came from millennials—people born between the 1980s and 2000s.“Adults of the 21st century are channeling their inner child, one toy at a time,”commented website Koreaboo.2.According to Frederique Tutt,all analyst at NPD,the motivation of these grown-ups is to escape the stress of today's fast-paced world.3.“It reminds me of the playful side of life,”Rob Willner,a 25-year-old PhD student in the UK,told The Telegraph when talking about his love for Lego,which he said brings him both comfort and entertainment. 4.To Frank Furendi,a professor at the University of Kent in The UK,the fact that so many adults are pursuing "the thrills of youth" is the evidence that "adulthood has got nothing attractive about it anymore",he told The New York Times."That's actually quite sad." 5.According to Canadian comic book artist Todd McFarlane,collecting toys could simply be a way for people to express their individuality."It's just pop culture stuff.It's stuff that says,I like a little of this and I like a little of that,"he told ABC,News."It's no big deal."So now that over 100 years have passed since Peter Pan,perhaps it's time to introduce a new "fact",as stated in the tagline of the UK fashion brand KIDULT:"Growing old is mandatory（强制性的）,but growing up is optional." A.But scientists are probably just worrying too much. B.Why do these kidults turn to toys for pleasure and comfort? C.This is also why these adults are sometimes referred to as "kidults". D.They are driven toward the more immediate pleasures brought by toys than those brought by,say, getting a promotion,which is far less easy to achieve. E.The scientists are concerned that those kidults show roo much individuality. F.But this "fact" doesn't seem to apply to today's world anymore. G.Despite this,some social scientists see the trend as disturbing.
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| 6. 难度：中等 | |
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Robby was 11 when he took his first piano lesson.I____students begin at an earlier age,____I explained to Robby.Robby said it had always been his mother's dream to hear him play the piano.So I took him as a student. Much____Robby tried,he____the sense of tone and basic rhythm.But be dutifully reviewed his lessons. Over the months he tried and tried,and he'd always say,“My mom's going to hear me play someday.”But it seemed____.He just did not have any inborn ability. Then one day Robby stopped coming.I was glad,as he was a bad____for my teaching!I____he had decided to pursue something else. Several weeks later,my students were to have a recital（演奏会）.To my surprise,Robby came,asking to play in the recital. “It is for____pupils,but you dropped.” “My mom was sick.But I have been practicing.I've just got to play!”he insisted and I agreed. The night for the recital came.I put Robby up just in the program____I was to come up and thank all the students and play a finishing piece.I thought I could save his poor performance through my "curtain closer". The recital____well.Robby came up on stage.His clothes were wrinkled and his hair looked dirty.“How could his Mom...?”I thought. Robby began and it was Mozart's work.I was not prepared for what I heard next.His fingers even____on the keys.After six and a half minutes he ended and people were all on their feet in wild____. ____and in tears I ran up and put my arms around Robby in joy."I've never heard you play like that,Robby! How did you do it?" Through the microphone Robby explained:"Well,Miss Hondorf,remember I told you my mom was sick?Well... ____she had cancer and____this morning.And well...She was born deaf,so tonight was the____time she ever heard me play.I wanted to make it____." There wasn't a____eye that evening.I thought to myself how much____my life had been for taking Robby as my pupil.However,he was the teacher,for it is he that showed me the meaning of____and love and believing in oneself. 1.A. wish B. prefer C. command D. order 2.A. how B. why C. what D. which 3.A. while B. since C. because D. as 4.A. lacked B. possessed C. improved D. lost 5.A. trustless B. needless C. hopeless D. lifeless 6.A. advertisement B. announcement C. broadcast D. information 7.A. promised B. assumed C. admitted D. pretended 8.A. bright B. clever C. current D. recent 9.A. since B. after C. until D. before 10.A. went down B. went up C. went off D. went over 11.A. danced B. slipped C. moved D. flew 12.A. criticism B. tears C. shouts D. applause 13.A. Impressed B. Annoyed C. Overcome D. Defeated 14.A. really B. actually C. obviously D. directly 15.A. passed down B. passed away C. passed by D. passed over 16.A. forever B. only C. first D. last 17.A. unexpected B. different C. usual D. special 18.A. dry B. wet C. sharp D. weak 19.A. harder B. richer C. deeper D. easier 20.A. perseverance B. stress C. difficulty D. happiness
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| 7. 难度：中等 | |
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Peeling（削皮）vegetables can be the1.boring part of any meal as you spend extra minutes2.prep time. And when you're doe,you3.(leave) with a pile of unusable skins 4.usually end up in the garbage can. But according to health experts,what we throw away is actually one of the healthiest5.(part) of our foods. Daily Mail Online spoke to Mary Jane Detroyer,a registered dietitian and nutritionist based in New York,about 6.we shouldn't be peeling our vegetables and all the hidden benefits7.(find) in the skins. According to Detroyer,there are several reasons to be leaving the skins on,and the main reason is what you deprive（使丧失）your body of when you peel8.off.The skins of produce like potatoes,carrots,and cucumbers all have plenty of health benefits."The skins have a lot of fiber and it's insoluble（不溶性）fiber,especially9.the skins are colorful,"Detroyer told Daily Mail Online.“Most of the time,10.majority of the vegetable's nutrients are in the skins.”
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| 8. 难度：中等 | |
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假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下短文。短文中共有10处错误，每句中最多有两处。错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。 增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在此符号下面写出该加的词。 删除：把多余的词用斜线（＼）划掉。 修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。 注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词； 2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。 Many students love to travel and explore the world.Become an international exchange student is a great way to do this.We can live in another country,take classes in a second language,or visit incredible tourist attractions.This is a great way learn about cross-cultural values.It is also a wonderful way to learn a new language.And most international exchange students can get help by a language tutor.Unless you can't travel,you can always think about hosting an international exchange student.When you host an exchange student,you share your home and your life with this person.Most of exchange students live with a host family for six months or one year.In beginning,there is usually a language barrier,and later, you will be able to speak together more easy.
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| 9. 难度：中等 | |
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假定你叫李华，你在纽约时，寄宿在Mr.and Mrs.Green家里，回国后想写封感谢信，感谢Mr.and Mrs.Green热情友善地提供住宿、饮食并和你练习英语口语，同时想邀请他们到中国来。 注意：1.词数100左右； 2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。 ____________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________
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