阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出最佳选项。
Every Wednesday, I go to Cantata Adult Life Services，a local retirement community in Brookfield, Illinois, US, with my classmates to do community service.
After my very first visit to Cantata，my life changed forever.That may sound a bit dramatic, but volunteering with the elderly has changed my views on life.
Our visits last about an hour, and we bring 2530 students every time. We play board games and cards with the residents while we're there.
You can watch all the movies and TV shows you want about “life back then”， but nothing compares to talking to the people who were actually there. Just hearing their stories has touched me in a way I never thought possible.
Whether it was talking to 98yearold “Hurricane Hilda” about her glory days as a roller skater or chatting with Lou about the times she danced with a famous actor, I was completely attracted by every single memory the residents wanted to share with me.
Even the residents who don't have amazing memories make the experience satisfying.I remember visiting Mrs. Robinson. She couldn't recall much about her past, but she told me she'd never forget how kind I was just to listen to her “rambling(漫谈)”. It made me realize that it's the little things that make life worth living. That's something I won't forget anytime soon.
If there's one thing I've realized in my three years of visiting Cantata, it's that presence—just being there—means more than anything to many of the residents. And despite how busy our lives are, there's always time to make someone's day.
For me, it feels great to be a source of happiness, a smile on a bad day or a listening ear for old memories. And at the end of the day, that's all that matters.
It's easy to feel like you don't have anything in common with the elderly—especially when you're a teenager. But that's not true at all.
I hate to be overly clichéd(陈词滥调的) here, but age really is just a number. As young adults, it's important for us to realize this sooner rather than later.We can learn a lot from the elderly, and they can often benefit from teenagers too.
1.What do the volunteers do according to the passage?
A．They share everything with the residents.
B．They play board games and cards with the residents.
C．They watch the residents play games.
D．They buy gifts for the residents.
2.According to the writer, what is the most important thing that volunteers can do for the elderly?
A．Playing with them.
B．Benefiting from them.
C．Helping them.
D．Being there with them.
3.What does the writer want to tell us by writing this passage?
A．We don't have anything in common with the elderly.
B．Age is just a number.
C．It is important to help the elderly.
D．Young adults and the elderly can benefit from each other.
完形填空
Ricardo Semler became boss of his father's business Semco in Brazil at the age of 21.Ricardo worked like a(an) ______ man，from 7：30 am to midnight every day.One afternoon，while he was visiting a factory in New York，he ______.The doctor told him if he ______ like that，he would find a new home in hospital.Semler got the ______.He changed the way he ______.In fact，he changed the ways his ______ worked，too.
He let his workers take more ______ so that they would be the ones worrying when things went wrong.He ______ them to set their own salaries，______ their own working hours and he cut all the jobs he thought were ______， like receptionists and secretaries.
He changed the office：______ walls, they have plants at Semco, so bosses can't ______ themselves away from everyone else.And the workers are ______ to decorate their workspace as they want.
It sounds perfect, but does it ______？ The answer is in the ______：in the last six years，Semco's revenues(收入) have ______ from $35 million to $212 million.The company has gone from 800 employees to 3,000.Why?
Semler says it's because of “peer pressure” which makes employees work ______ for everyone else.If someone isn't doing his job ______， the other workers will not allow the ______ to continue.In other words, Ricardo treats his workers like adults rather than children, and expects them to act like responsible ______.And they do.
1.A．interesting B．independent C．mad D．great
2.A．fell down B．gave up C．went out D．got off
3.A．changed B．continued C．dropped D．went
4.A．sound B．way C．sense D．message
5.A．walked B．talked C．worked D．treated
6.A．family B．workers C．friends D．children
7.A．responsibility B．money C．power D．expectation
8.A．persuaded B．forced C．forbade D．allowed
9.A．decide B．want C．understand D．try
10.A．unnecessary B．unpopular C．stupid D．difficult
11.A．above all B．instead of C．apart from D．except for
12.A．put B．get C．shut D．take
13.A．willing B．free C．tired D．eager
14.A．develop B．grow C．happen D．work
15.A．eyes B．numbers C．persons D．dollars
16.A．grown B．dropped C．beaten D．made
17.A．straight B．slow C．hard D．seldom
18.A．perfect B．wrong C．well D．late
19.A．trouble B．situation C．pressure D．suffering
20.A．children B．teenagers C．professors D．adults
阅读理解。
According to the UN Intergovernmental Panel (专家咨询组) on Climate Change, global temperatures have risen by approximately 0.6℃ in the past century, caused mainly by emissions of greenhouse gases produced by human activities，such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation.Temperatures are to increase between 1.6℃ and 5.8℃ in the next century, accompanied by sea level rise and an increase in the frequency of extreme weather events.
The best available evidence suggests that climate changes since the 1970s may already be causing over 150,000 deaths annually, and that greenhouse gas emissions would increase disease burdens in the coming decades.The risks are concentrated in the poorest population, who have contributed least to the problem.
The Kyoto Protocol (京都议定书) is signed by 128 nations，and commits the participating industrialized countries to cutting emissions of greenhouse gases by over 5% below 1990 level by the period of 20082012.
“Over 600 thousand people died in weatherrelated disasters in the 1990s.Temperature and rainfall influence the rates of diseases and infections including malaria，and malnutrition，which together cause over 3.5 million deaths a year.The Kyoto Protocol is the first step towards protecting the climate system，which exerts such a strong influence on our health”，said Dr Kerstin Leitner，Assistant DirectorGeneral for Sustainable Development and Healthy Environments.
While acting to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it is also essential to protect vulnerable (脆弱的) communities from the effects of climate changes.WHO works to promote measures such as protection from malaria and other climate sensitive diseases, and reliable access to clean water and sanitation, for people in the most vulnerable developing countries.Increasing disease control efforts will also help to protect current and future generations from the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions.
1.According to the passage, what is the reason for the rise of global temperatures?
A．The burning of fossil fuels.
B．The rise of sea level.
C．Extreme weather disasters.
D．The emissions of greenhouse gases.
2.Which of the following is true?
A．Weatherrelated disasters caused over 3.5 million deaths.
B．The climate system has a deep impact on human health.
C．The members of the Kyoto Protocol are all industrialized countries.
D．The poorest population are to blame because they contribute least to the problem.
3.In order to protect communities, WHO takes some measures except________.
A．preventing diseases caused by climate changes
B．helping to provide clean water
C．aiding to offer sanitation
D．gaining access to vulnerable developing countries
4.What does the passage mainly talk about?
A．Climate changes and the effects on human health.
B．Climate changes cause over 15,000 deaths annually.
C．Who promotes measures such as protection from malaria.
D．The Kyoto Protocol helps to protect human health.
阅读理解。
Based on new analysis, we are rapidly approaching major climate change and the effects on society and the environment could be quite severe.Geographers predict that within the next eighty years, current world climate zones could shift and some could completely disappear.Polar regions will get colder while tropical regions will get even hotter，forcing animals to migrate(迁徙) north.
Climate changes like these could lead to the spread of diseases.Tropical storms and hurricanes will not only increase but may also become more intense.If the changes come too quickly, animal and plant species may not be able to adapt fast enough and could disappear.
According to Science Daily, a new study predicts that by the year 2100，many of today's familiar climates will be replaced by climates unknown in today's world.It is urgent that we reduce the risks of these farreaching consequences for the whole world.The planet itself has been showing signs of change.In 2004, a serious tsunami created by a major earthquake killed thousands in Sumatra and in 2008, thousands died in China because of another severe earthquake.Egypt was hit in 2009 with a major earthquake and Haiti was devastated in 2010 by yet another massive earthquake.
Within just the last few months, new reports from around the world have been coming in and most agree that our climate situation is much worse than previously thought.At this point, it doesn't matter what is causing it, but rather, what can be done about it.What's more, our world is getting more and more unstable every year.There is war and threat of war everywhere.Natural disasters are becoming more frequent and serious.
However, other planets are experiencing global warming as well as our own and some scientists believe there may be some connection between this.No one knows anything for sure at this point because there is simply not enough data.
1.What is the major function of Paragraph 1?
A．To arouse the reader's concern.
B．To introduce the theme of the whole passage.
C．To summarize the whole passage.
D．To state how climate changes.
2.What is the author's purpose in using the examples of earthquakes?
A．To show major changes are taking place on the planet.
B．To remind people to prevent future earthquakes.
C．To show the damage earthquakes caused.
D．To tell us more earthquakes will happen in the future.
3.Which of the following is NOT true of climate changes' effects?
A．Animal and plant species may not be able to adapt fast enough and could disappear.
B．It could lead to the spread of diseases.
C．Current world climate zones could shift and completely disappear.
D．Natural disasters are becoming more frequent and serious.
4.What can be inferred from the passage?
A．Animals and plants won't die out as long as climate changes slowly.
B．There's enough data for us to predict the future of climate change.
C．The world is getting more unstable because of animal migration.
D．The earth is not the only planet that is experiencing climate change.
完形填空。
Communication is an important part of any relationship.Many of us are ____ to share our experiences or emotions with our friends. But when it's our turn to lend a(n) ____，we soon become bored or are short of ideas on how to ____ and offer advice.
That's because of what researchers call “listener burnout (精疲力竭)”. A friend might talk to us ____， often complaining about the same ____ problems. When we offer quick advice to ____ the situation, we may be unconsciously trying to ____ ourselves from burnout.However, good listeners ____ their natural tendency to solve the other's problems hurriedly and to keep the conversation brief.
To be a good ____， you need to use “active listening”. It starts with the real ____ to help others and think through their feelings. Don't ____ things. You can start by putting your phone ____ and sitting close to your friend. Let your facial expressions ____ what he or she is saying.____ you are able to fully understand, acknowledge the other person's ____ by reflecting them back：“That must be really hard for you.” Use ____ words or even sounds such as “yes” “right”， and “hmm” to ____ the other person to continue.
Of course, a ____ can be extremely hard if the other person is too critical.But don't get defensive.Effective listeners don't ____ negative criticism. Instead, they listen and understand what the person is trying to convey ____responding.
1.A．afraid B．hesitant C．shy D．eager
2.A．shoulder B．hand C．ear D．eye
3.A．respond B．explain C．argue D．quit
4.A．aimlessly B．endlessly C．deliberately D．cautiously
5.A．difficult B．old C．acute D．sensitive
6.A．fix B．discuss C．create D．describe
7.A．forgive B．protect C．discourage D．prevent
8.A．follow B．display C．form D．overcome
9.A．reader B．partner C．listener D．speaker
10.A．demand B．habit C．desire D．ability
11.A．skip B．rush C．overlook D．postpone
12.A．away B．off C．out D．up
13.A．record B．restrict C．reflect D．replace
14.A．Whether B．Since C．While D．If
15.A．suggestions B．purposes C．responses D．feelings
16.A．big B．tough C．strong D．short
17.A．force B．remind C．encourage D．convince
18.A．conversation B．suggestion C．problem D．lecture
19.A．give up B．make up C．leave out D．block out
20.A．after B．before C．while D．once
阅读理解。
Since the 1970s, scientists have been searching for ways to link the brain with computers.Braincomputer interface (BCI) technology could help people with disabilities send commands to machines.
Recently, two researchers, Jose Millan and Michele Tavella from the Federal Polytechnic School in Lausanne, Switzerland, demonstrated(展示) a small robotic wheelchair directed by a person's thoughts.
In the laboratory, Tavella operated the wheelchair just by thinking about moving his left or right hand. He could even talk as he watched the vehicle and guided it with his thoughts.
“Our brain has billions of nerve cells. These send signals through the spinal cord(脊髓) to the muscles to give us the ability to move. But spinal cord injuries or other conditions can prevent these weak electrical signals from reaching the muscles.” Tavella says. “Our system allows disabled people to communicate with external world and also to control devices.”
The researchers designed a special cap for the user. This head cover picks up the signals from the scalp(头皮) and sends them to a computer. The computer interprets the signals and commands the motorized wheelchair.The wheelchair also has two cameras that identify objects in its path. They help the computer react to commands from the brain.
Prof. Millan, the team leader, says scientists keep improving the computer software that interprets brain signals and turns them into simple commands. “The practical possibilities that BCI technology offers to disabled people can be grouped in two categories：communication，and controlling devices.One example is this wheelchair.”
He says his team has set two goals. One is testing with real patients, so as to prove that this is a technology they can benefit from.And the other is to guarantee that they can use the technology over long periods of time.
1.How did Tavella operate the wheelchair in the laboratory?
A．By controlling his muscles.
B．By talking to the machine.
C．By moving his hand.
D．By using his mind.
2.Which of the following shows the path of the signals described in Paragraph 5?
A．scalp→computer→cap→wheelchair
B．computer→cap→scalp→wheelchair
C．scalp→cap→computer→wheelchair
D．cap→computer→scalp→wheelchair
3.The team will test with real patients to________.
A．make profits from them
B．prove the technology useful to them
C．make them live longer
D．learn about their physical condition
4.Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
A．Switzerland, the BCI Research Center
B．New Findings about How the Human Brain Works
C．BCI Could Mean More Freedom for the Disabled
D．Robotic Vehicles Could Help to Cure Brain Injuries
