Lying in the sun on a rock , the cougar（美洲豹）saw Jeb and his son Tom before they saw it . Jeb put his bag down quickly and pulled his jacket open with both hands , making himself look big to the cougar . It worked . The cougar hesitated , ready to attack Jeb , but ready to forget the whole thing , too .
Jeb let go of his jacket , grasped Tom and held him across his body , making a cross . Now the cougar’s enemy looked even bigger , and it rose up , ready to move away , but unfortunately Tom got scared and struggled free of Jeb .
“ Tom , no ! ” shouted his father .
But Tom broke and ran and that’s the last thing you do with a cougar . The second Tom broke free , Jeb threw himself on the cougar , just as it jumped from the rock . They hit each other in mid-air and both fell . The cougar was on Jeb in a flash , leaving Tom alone , which was what Jeb wanted .
Cougars are not as big as most people think and a determined man stands a chance , even with just his fists . As the cougar’s claws（爪子）got into his left shoulder , Jeb swung his fist at its eyes and hit hard . The animal howled（吼叫）and put its head back . Jeb followed up with his other fist . Then out of the corner of his eye , Jeb saw Tom . The boy was running back to help his father .
“ knife , Tom , ” shouted Jeb .
The boy ran to his father’s bag , while Jeb started shouting as well as hitting , to keep the cougar’s attention away from Tom . Tom got the knife and ran over to Jeb . The cougar was moving its head in and out , trying to find a way through the wall Jeb was making out of his arms . Tom swung with the knife , into the cougar’s back . It howled horribly and ran off into the mountains .
The whole fight had taken about thirty seconds .
1.Why did Jeb pull his jacket open when he saw the cougar ?
A. To get ready to fight . B. To protect his son .
C. To calm himself down . D. To frighten it away .
2.What can we learn from the passage about cougars ?
A. They always forget things .
B. They dislike loud noises .
C. They like to attack running people .
D. They hesitate before attack .
3. Jeb tried to hold the cougar’s attention by __________ .
A. making a wall with his arms
B. keeping shouting and hitting
C. throwing himself on the cougar
D. swinging his fists at the cougar’s eyes
4.Which of the following words can be used to describe Jeb ?
A. Smart but bad-tempered . B. Loving and determined .
C. Tough and warm-hearted . D. Determined but hesitant .
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Ever wonder why sometimes a hug is all you need ? You can’t explain it , but there’s just something comforting about being in your wife’s arms after a rough day or giving mom a hug after a long time apart .
A new study says the warm feeling in a hug is more than just skin deep . Researchers from the University of California , Berkeley believe that this loving feeling could have anti-aging benefits .
Oxytocin , sometimes referred to as the “ love hormone（荷尔蒙）” or the “ trust hormone , ” is responsible for those indescribable feelings we get when we’re bonding with a lover or a loved one .
Levels of the hormone drop as we age , and evidence suggests that could be a contributing factor to the deterioration of our bodies as we age . Muscle loss in particular is one of the major side effects of aging , with our bodies losing up to 5 percent of our muscle mass each decade past our 30s .
In the study , published in the journal Nature Communications , researchers injected oxytocin into older mice with muscle damage . The older mice had lower levels of the homeone than younger mice initially . But after nine days , the older mice who were given the hormone healed better than those who did not . In fact , their ability to repair muscle damage was up to 80 percent that of the younger mice .
The results were not only fast-acting , but provide hope for future uses of the hormone in a variety of anti-aging capacities . “ This is good because it demonstrates that extra oxytocin improves aged tissue stem cells（组织干细胞）without making muscle stem cells divide uncontrollably , ” study co-author Wendy Cousins said in a statement .
Previous uses of anti-aging molecules have also been associated with higher cancer risk , but researchers are hopeful that oxytocin can be useful in humans without this risk . In the future , researchers of Berkeley say oxytocin could be used to fight other age-related health issues by improving bone health and even being used as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy .
Now go out and give someone a hug .
1.According to the passage , oxytocin __________ .
A. decreases when people get older
B. creates loving feeling on the skin
C. leads to the great loss of muscles
D. can be used in humans without any risk
2.The underlined word “ deterioration ” in Paragraph 4 probably refers to the state of __________ .
A. getting fatter B. becoming worse or less
C. growing stronger D. dividing uncontrollably
3.What can be learned from the research ?
A. All the older mice healed faster in the research .
B. Older mice healed better than younger ones after 9 days .
C. Extra oxytocin in older mice controlled muscle cell division .
D. Mice with oxytocin injection improved the ability to repair muscle damage .
4. What can be a suitable title for the passage ?
A. When Do We Need A Hug ?
B. A New Anti-aging Product
C. Hugs Having Healing Power
D. How Can We Grow Muscles ?
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
There seems to be a general assumption that brilliant people cannot stand routine ; that they need a varied , exciting life in order to do their best . It is also assumed that dull people are particularly suited for dull work . We are told that the reason the present-day young complain so loudly about the dullness of jobs is that they are better educated and brighter than the young of the past .
Actually , there is no evidence that people who achieve a lot desire , let alone live , colorful lives . The opposite is nearer the truth . Einstein worked out his theory of relativity while serving as a clerk in a Swiss patent office . Immanuel Kant’s（康德）daily life was a dull routine . The housewives of Konigsberg set their clocks when they saw him pass , on his way to the university . He took the same walk each morning , rain or shine . The greatest distance Kant ever traveled was sixty miles from Konigsberg .
It may be true that work on the assembly line（流水线）dulls the abilities and empties the mind , and the cure is only fewer hours of work at higher pay . But during fifty years as a workingman , I have found dull routine coexisting with an active mind . While doing dull , repetitive work by the water , I could talk with my partners and compose sentences in my mind , all at the same time . Chances are that had my work been too interesting I could not have done any thinking and composing at work or even on my own time after returning from work .
People who find dull jobs unbearable are often dull people who do not know what to do with themselves at leisure . Children and mature people will get used to dull routine , while the adolescent , who has lost the child’s ability for concentration and is without the inner resources of the mature , needs excitement and novelty to get rid of boredom .
1. It can be inferred from Paragraph 2 that __________ .
A. great minds hate to live colorful lives
B. Einstein worked out his theory in a university
C. Kant only took the same walk on rainy and sunny days
D. Kant might pass Konigsberg every day at the same time
2.How does the author feel about his repetitive work by the water ?
A. It made his mind empty .
B. It was well-paid but too demanding .
C. It worked well with his active mind .
D. It was too interesting to think of anything else .
3.The reasons why youngsters dislike dull work include the following EXCEPT that they __________ .
A. are not mature enough
B. think themselves smart
C. often complain about others
D. don’t know how to spend spare time
4.What is the purpose of the passage ?
A. To argue for the benefits of dull work .
B. To present some facts about dull work .
C. To share his own dull working experience .
D. To persuade young people to live a dull life .
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
How to stick to your own opinion in socializing ?
When it comes to your life , the opinion of others should matter very little . I am not talking about your friends and family , but others who have no importance in your reality – like your social peers and others like them . They are unimportant to your life , and yet you secretly struggle for approval at the cost of your own . Remember , your opinion is king .
Start by being your true self . Allowing your true self to appear and connect with people on a more real level helps them in turn do the same with you . There is openness and honesty in the interaction . At the end of the day this is what we all want – the joy of true and meaningful connections .
Next , evaluate your decisions . Are they representing who you are or are they the result of other people’s opinion ? Practice your ability not to be affected by pressure and learn to take nothing personally . When we are bothered by outer criticisms , it influences and changes our behavior . Don’t look to others for guidance on how to behave . Don’t look for approval . If you don’t need approval , you won’t have a reason to try to impress people or be impressed by them .
And finally , be real in EVERY situation . As you express your real self , others will think highly of you and the few who don’t – don’t matter anyway . Be willing to be judged , and then not take it to heart . If all this is a bit scary , then start small . Rather than not caring at all what others think , start by just caring a little less . No one outside your inner circle should get a vote or pass judgment or have influence on how you live your life .
1.The text is especially helpful for those who want to __________ .
A. enlarge friend circle
B. speak highly of others
C. remain unaffected by others’ opinions
D. develop the ability to make wise decisions
2.Being real can help people __________ .
A. get honest relations B. gain courage
C. take nothing too personal D. avoid criticisms
3.What are people advised to do in order to stick to their opinions in socializing ?
A. Care about no one’s opinion .
B. Look for guidance on behaviors .
C. Impress people by making changes .
D. Start by taking others’ judgment less seriously .
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
Snow is a subject of great interest to weather experts . 1. . One reason is that heavy amounts of snow fall in surprisingly small areas . Another reason is that a small change in temperature can mean the difference between snow and rain .
Just what is snow , anyway ? Snow is a form of frozen water . 2. . These crystals grow from water droplets in cold clouds . They usually grow around dust particles（颗粒）. All snow crystals have six sides , but they grow in different shapes . The shape depends mainly on the temperature and water levels in the air .
3. . About two and one-half centimeters of rain has as much water as 15 centimeters of wet snow . About 76 centimeters of dry snow equals the water in two and one-half centimeters of rain .
Snowfall helps to protect plants and some wild animals from winter weather . Fresh snow is made largely of air trapped among the snow crystals . 4. .
Snow can also influence the movement of sound waves . When there is fresh , soft snow on the ground , the surface of the snow absorbs , or takes in , sound waves . 5. . Then , the snow’s surface will help to send back sound waves . Under these conditions , sounds may seem clearer and may travel farther .
A. Much of the water the world uses comes from snow .
B. It contains groups of ice particles called snow crystals .
C. It is difficult to predict where , when or how much snow will fall .
D. Under some conditions , these particles may grow larger and form solid pieces of ice .
E. Snow contains much less water than rain .
F. However , snow can become hard and flat as it grows older or if there have been strong winds .
G. Because the air has trouble moving , the movement of heat is limited .
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
My grandmother was diagnosed with the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease（老年痴呆症）when I was 10 . At that point in my life , I was ________ as all kids are , so I didn’t think twice about it . I had no idea how it would ________ affect my life , as well as my family .
As I grew up , I ________ my grammy changing . She ________ forget where she set her book , or she couldn’t find her purse . ________ , I didn’t think it was serious . Yet one incident ________ was my wake-up call .
About three years ago , my father and I went to visit my ________ after a tornado went through our town . I went inside , gave my grammy a hug and took my ________ seat on the couch by her side . Suddenly , she ________ me , hesitated for a moment and with ________ eyes that stared right past me , asked , “ Now you’re graduating this year , aren’t you ? ” I was a freshman , so I was ________ by why she was asking me about ________ . Grammy used to well recall the birthdate of every one of her grandchildren . I assured her that I still had a few years ________ graduation and moved the conversation along ________ .
As soon as I got into the car , I started to ________ , realizing how her disease had ________ , transforming my grammy into someone I could hardly ________ . We used to picture my grandmother as the only ________ of the whole family . ________ , The role has switched . Now she is the one who ________ our help . From now on , I will try to cherish the good days and to get through the bad days as best as I can . She will always be my grammy .
1.A. generous B. unkind C. selfish D. cute
2.A. greatly B. especially C. hardly D. partly
3.A. ignored B. noticed C. imagined D. disliked
4.A. should B. can C. must D. would
5.A. Before long B. In no time C. Once again D. Sooner or later
6.A. in return B. in general C. in particular D. in theory
7.A. friends B. teachers C. sisters D. grandparents
8.A. regular B. plastic C. first D. safe
9.A. referred to B. yelled at C. turned to D. laughed at
10.A. flashing B. empty C. tearful D. sharp
11.A. excited B. nervous C. frightened D. confused
12.A. tests B. birthdate C. graduation D. time
13.A. before B. since C. for D. on
14.A. curiously B. doubtfully C. impatiently D. quickly
15.A. escape B. cry C. compare D. guess
16.A. gone B. improved C. progressed D. spread
17.A. contact B. observe C. recognize D. grasp
18.A. care-giver B. bread-earner C. member D. cleaner
19.A. Therefore B. Still C. Besides D. However
20.A. declines B. needs C. appreciates D. gives
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。
Today I’m here to tell you about the survival course I and all other scientists have to go through when we arrive in the Antarctic , and this is 1. they call field training .
The first day’s training was the construction of snow shelters . We 2. ( divide ) into three teams 3. four persons in each team . Each team went for a different type of shelter . The Canadian 4. ( choose ) the snow shelter type ; the New Zealanders dug through a pile of snow and we decided to dig a hole in the ground . We 5. ( foolish ) thought it would be the easiest . So we set to work and after 6. ( dig ) for a couple of hours , it was beautiful , deep and long 7. unfortunately far too wide . 8. else succeeded with their efforts but we had to announce 9. ( fail ) , for we couldn’t get enough snow 10. ( build ) a roof . So in the end all we had was a deep hole and that’s how we came to sleep outside at night in one of the coldest places in the world .
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
词汇填空（根据首字母或者汉语提示完成句子，共15题，每题1分）
1.The world __________（存在）, whether you like it or not .
2.Fans are curious who will __________（替代）late actor Paul Walker in Fast and Furious 8 .
3.Science magazines recognized the discovery of “ gene for mental illness ” as a great scientific __________（突破）.
4.Organizers say it is __________（标准的）practice to play pre-recorded music at such a large event as the Olympic opening ceremony .
5.Only a few of the many __________（物种）at risk of extinction actually obtain protection like pandas .
6.During Christmas , he , as well as his sister , always __________（志愿）to help serve meals to people who have no homes .
7.Over the next decade , the Internet will have a __________（深刻的）effect on the tourist industry .
8.Even in some smoker-friendly countries like China , smoking is f__________ in public places .
9.I e__________ great difficulties in learning physics , but I didn’t lose heart .
10. Most of the college graduates prefer to find a p__________ job rather than start their own business .
11.The expression on his face i__________ that he was upset about the result .
12.The d__________ of the rainforest will undoubtedly contribute to global warming .
13.He took all kinds of tests to prove he was q__________ for this important task .
14.Firefighters and police held moment of silence for the v__________ of Tianjin explosion .
15.Personally , to read the o__________ work is better than to see the film based on it .
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
短文改错（共10小题，每小题1分，满分10分）
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作文。作文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅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（^）并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下面画一横线，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。
Two years before , I traveled to Brazil and I rented for a car . Unfortunate , I had an accident and hit another car , and I needed to stay in hospital for at least two week . I called my parents , so I did not tell them what had happened . I knew that they would be worried about myself because I was so farther away , and that my mother would not sleep if she knew . Therefore , I told them interested stories and how I am enjoying Brazil . As a result , nobody knew truth . I still think that it am the right thing to do .
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
段落翻译（根据中文意思翻译整个段落，共10分）
关于成功学的书在中国一直很流行，原因就是人们想当然的认为成功等同于发财。但是他们忽视了一个事实：成功人士的奋斗史（striving）其实只不过是被美化的回忆而已。实际上，只有当你足够了解他们，你才知道他们获得成功有多么困难。
难度: 中等查看答案及解析