I would like to talk about a very dear friend of mine, whose name was Peggy. She died at home last night at the age of 83. She was my first badminton coach and probably the best friend I’d ever had.
I met her at 12 when she coached an after-school badminton program. She saw my potential, but I thought she was a little frightening so I didn’t go back to the program. She went to my house to ask me back. I did go back and that was the beginning of my badminton “career”. She brought me to tournaments and encouraged me. At the time my mother was drinking heavily and badminton kept me out of trouble and focused on a positive pursuit.
Peggy was a person who had the qualities of honesty and integrity. She was devoted to her family and was married for over 50 years. She loved her children and was so happy to become a grandmother with the addition of Merissa to the family. She loved to have fun and play games. Another true love of her life was cats; she had one cat that lived 22 years. Before she died she had 10 cats and they brought her great joy and comfort. She also loved the Montreal Canadiens, and she supported them and often watched them play hockey games.
She wasn’t a celebrity; she was a homemaker who was proud to provide a happy home for her family. She was a loyal and dedicated friend to many. She never forgot a birthday, anniversary or to send a Christmas card. Speaking of Christmas she was an expert on Christmas and decorations. She was able to prepare this year’s tree and had hoped to spend this Christmas with her family but it wasn’t meant to be.
I had the privilege of speaking to her just a couple hours before she passed away and she told me that her life wouldn’t have been the same without me and I am grateful for that and I feel the same. Paragraph 3 tells us that Merissa __________________.
| A．is Peggy’s grandchild |
| B．is the name of Peggy’s cat |
| C．lived 22 years |
| D．didn’t get along well with Peggy |
The underlined part “Montreal Canadiens” refers to ____________.
| A．a hockey team |
| B．a group of cats |
| C．a music group |
| D．an interesting game |
Which of the following statements about Peggy is TRUE?
| A．She was once coached by the author. |
| B．She died before this year’s Christmas. |
| C．She was unmarried when she died. |
| D．She died at the age of 50. |
It’s implied in the passage that the author __________________.
| A．thought Peggy was friendly at first |
| B．got out of her drinking problem thanks to Peggy |
| C．hadn’t talked to Peggy for a long time before she died |
| D．thought her life would have been different without Peggy |
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
The problem of robocalls has gotten so bad that many people now refuse to pick up calls from numbers they don't know. By next year, half of the calls we receive will be scams (欺诈).We are finally waking up to the severity of the problem by supporting and developing a group of tools, apps and approaches intended to prevent scammers from getting through. Unfortunately, it's too little, too late. By the time these "solutions" (解决方案) become widely available, scammers will have moved onto cleverer means. In the near future, it's not just going to be the number you see on your screen that will be in doubt. Soon you will also question whether the voice you're hearing is actually real.
That's because there are a number of powerful voice manipulation (处理) and automation technologies that are about to become widely available for anyone to use .At this year's I/O Conference ,a company showed a new voice technology able to produce such a convincing human-sounding voice that it was able to speak to a receptionist and book a reservation without detection.
These developments are likely to make our current problems with robocalls much worse. The reason that robocalls are a headache has less to do with amount than precision A decade of data breaches (数据侵入) of personal information has led to a situation where scammers can easily learn your mother's name, and far more. Armed with this knowledge, they're able to carry out individually targeted campaigns to cheat people. This means, for example, that a scammer could call you from what looks to be a familiar number and talk to you using a voice that sounds exactly like your bank teller's, ricking you into "confirming" your address, mother's name, and card number. Scammers follow money, so companies will be the worst hit. A lot of business is still done over the phone, and much of it is based on trust and existing relationships. Voice manipulation technologies may weaken that gradually.
We need to deal with the insecure nature of our telecom networks. Phone carriers and consumers need to work together to find ways of determining and communicating what is real. That might mean either developing a uniform way to mark videos and images, showing when and who they were made by, or abandoning phone calls altogether and moving towards data-based communications-using apps like Face Time or WhatsApp, which can be tied to your identity.
Credibility is hard to earn but easy to lose, and the problem is only going to harder from here on out.
（1）How does the author feel about the solutions to problem of robocalls?
| A． |
Panicked |
| B． |
Confused |
| C． |
Embarrassed |
| D． |
Disappointed |
（2）taking advantage of the new technologies, scammer can ________.
| A． |
aim at victims precisely |
| B． |
damage databases easily |
| C． |
start campaigns rapidly |
| D． |
spread information widely |
（3）What does the passage imply?
| A． |
Honesty is the best policy. |
| B． |
Technologies can be double-edited. |
| C． |
There are more solutions than problems. |
| D． |
Credibility holds the key to development. |
（4）Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
| A． |
Where the Problem of Robocalls Is Rooted |
| B． |
Who Is to Blame for the Problem of Robocalls |
| C． |
Why Robocalls Are About to Get More Dangerous |
| D． |
How Robocalls Are Affecting the World of Technology |
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
Alice Moore is a teenager entrepreneur (创业者), who in May 2015 set up her business AilieCandy. By the time she was 13, her company was worth millions of dollars with the invention of a super-sweet treat that could save kids' teeth, instead of destroying them.
It all began when Moore visited a bank with her dad. On the outing, she was offered a candy bar. However, her dad reminded her that sugary treats were bad for her teeth. But Moore was sick of missing out on candies. So she desired to get round the warning, "Why can't I make a healthy candy that's good for my teeth so that my parents can't say no to it?" With that in mind, Moore asked her dad if she could start her own candy company. He recommended that she do some research and talk to dentists about what a healthier candy would contain.
With her dad's permission, she spent the next two years researching online and conducting trials to get a recipe that was both tasty and tooth-friendly. She also approached dentists to learn more about teeth cleaning. Consequently, she succeeded in making a kind of candy only using natural sweeteners, which can reduce oral bacteria.
Moore then used her savings to get her business of the ground. Afterwards, she and her father secured their first business meeting with a supermarket owner, who finally agreed to sell Moore's product-Cancandy.
As CanCandy's success grows, so does Moore's credibility as a young entrepreneur. Moore is enthusiastic about the candy she created, and she's also positive about what the future might bring. She hopes that every kid can have a clean mouth and a broad smile.
Meanwhile, with her parents' help, Moore is generally able to live a normal teenage life. Although she founded her company early on in life, she wasn't driven primarily by profit. Moore wants to use her unique talent to help others find their smiles. She donates 10% of AilicCandy's profits to Big Smiles. With her talent and determination, it appears that the sky could be the limit for Alice Moore.
（1）How did Moore react to her dad's warning?
| A． |
She argued with him. |
| B． |
She tried to find a way out. |
| C． |
She paid no attention. |
| D． |
She chose to consult dentists. |
（2）What is special about CanCandy?
| A． |
It is beneficial to dental health. |
| B． |
It is free of sweeteners. |
| C． |
It is sweeter than other candies. |
| D． |
It is produced to a dentists' recipe. |
（3）What does Moore expect from her business?
| A． |
To earn more money. |
| B． |
To help others find smiles. |
| C． |
To make herself stand out. |
| D． |
To beat other candy companies. |
（4）What can we learn from Alice Moore's story?
| A． |
Fame is a great thirst of the young. |
| B． |
A youth is to be regarded with respect. |
| C． |
Positive thinking and action result in success. |
| D． |
Success means getting personal desires satisfied. |
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
Want to explore new cultures, meet new people and do something worthwhile at the same time? You can do all the three with Global Development Association (GDA).Whatever stage of life you're at, wherever you go and whatever project you do in GDA, you'll create positive changes in a poor and remote community (社区).
We work with volunteers of all ages and backgrounds. Most of our volunteers are aged 17-24. Now we need volunteer managers aged 25-75.They are extremely important in the safe and effective running of our programmes. We have such roles as project managers, mountain leaders, and communication officers.
Depending on which role you choose, you could help to increase a community's access to safe drinking water, or help to protect valuable local cultures. You might also design an adventure challenge to train young volunteers.
Not only will you help our young volunteers to develop personally, you'll also learn new skills and increase your cultural awareness. You may have chances to meet new people who'll become your lifelong friends.
This summer we have both 4-week and 7-week programmes:
| Country |
Schedule |
|
| 4-week programmes |
7-week programmes |
|
| Algeria |
5 Jul.- 1Aug. |
20Jun. -7Aug. |
| Egypt |
24 Jul-20 Aug. |
19Jun.-6 Aug. |
| Kenya |
20 Jul.-16Aug. |
18 Jun.-5 Aug. |
| South Africa |
2Aug.-29 Aug. |
15 Jun.-2Aug. |
GDA ensures that volunteers work with community members and local project partners where our help is needed. All our projects aim to promote the development of poor and remote communities.
There is no other chance like a GDA programme. Join us as a volunteer manager to develop your own skills while bringing benefits to the communities.
Find out more about joining a GDA programme:
Website: www.glodeve.org
Email: humanresources@glodeve.org
（1）What is the main responsibility of volunteer managers?
| A． |
To seek local partners |
| B． |
To take in young volunteers |
| C． |
To carry out programmes |
| D． |
To foster cultural awareness |
（2）The programme beginning in August will operate in ________.
| A． |
Egypt |
| B． |
Algeria |
| C． |
Kenya |
| D． |
South Afria |
（3）The shared goal of GDA's projects to ________.
| A． |
explore new cultures |
| B． |
protect the environment |
| C． |
gain corporate benefit |
| D． |
help communities in need |
请认真阅读下面短文，并根据所读内容在文章后表格中的空格里填入一个最恰当的单词。
The Cost of Thinking
Despite their many differences, all human beings share several defining characteristics, such as large brains and the ability to walk upright on two legs.
The first unique human characteristic is that humans have extraordinarily large brains compared with other animals. It seems obvious that evolution should select for larger brains. Mammals (哺乳动物) weighing sixty kilograms have an average brain size of 200 cm 2. Modern man has a brain averaging 1200-1400 cm 2. We are so fond of our high intelligence that we assume that when it comes to brain power, more must be better. Unfortunately, that is not the case.
The fact is that a huge brain is a huge drain-consumption of energy-on the body. I's not easy to carry around, especially when boxed inside a massive skull (倾骨). It's even harder to provides energy. In modern man, the brain accounts for about 2-3%of total body weight but it consumes 25% of the body's energy when the body is at rest. By comparison, the brains of apes (类人猿) require only 8%of rest-time energy. Early humans pad for their large brains in two ways. Firstly, they spent more time in search food. Secondly, their muscles grew smaller and weaker. It's hardly an obvious conclusion that this is a good way to survive. A chimpanzee (黑猩猩) can't win an argument with a modern man, but it can tear the man apart like a rag doll.
Another unique human characteristic is that we walk upright. Standing up, it's easier to find food or enemies. In addition, their arms that are unnecessary for moving around are freed for other purposes, like throwing stones or signaling. As a result, humans can perform very complex tasks with their hands.
Yet walking upright has its disadvantage. The bone structure of our ancestors developed for millions of years to support a creature that walked on all fours and has a relatively small head. Adjusting to an upright position was quite a challenge, especially when the bones had to support an extra-large skull. Humankind paid for its broad vision and skillful hands backaches and painful necks.
We assume that a large brain makes huge advantages. It seems obvious that these have made humankind the most powerful animal on earth. But humans enjoyed all of these advantages for a full 2 million years during which they remained weak and marginal creature. Thus humans who lived a million years ago, despite their big brains and sharp stone tools, lived in constant fear of meat-eating animals.
| The Cost of Thinking |
|
| Introduction |
•Large brains for their bodies and the ability to walk upright are two ________ of human beings. |
| The ________ of large human brains |
•The larger brains may not be better because of the cost. •The big brains make it harder for the body to move around and consume more energy. •The animal brain requires less ________when the body is at rest. •Large human brains consume more food, and weaken muscles. |
| The ________ of walking upright |
•Walking upright makes it easy to find food or ________against enemies. •Freed hands can serve some ________ purpose and perform complex tasks. |
| •Walking upright challenges the human bone structure, and ________ the size of brains. •Walking upright results in ________ sufferings. |
|
| Conclusion |
•With a large brain, human beings ________ other beings in terms of intelligence. •Weak and marginal, human beings remained ________ of meat-eating animals. |
请认真阅读下列短文，从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
The 65-year-old Steve Goodwin was found suffering from early Alzheimer's (阿尔楚海默症). He was losing his memory.
A software engineer by profession, Steve was a keen lover of the piano, and the only musician in his family. Music was his true passion, though he had never performed outside the family.
Melissa, his daughter, felt it more than worthwhile to save his music, to which she fell asleep catch night when she was young. She thought about hiring a professional pianist to work with her father.
Naomi, Melissa's best friend and a talented pianist, got to know about this and showed willingness to help.
"Why do this?" Steve wondered.
"Because she cares." Melissa said.
Steve nodded, tears in eye.
Naomi drove to the Goodwin home. She told Steve she'd love to hear him play. Steve moved to the piano and sat at the bench, hands trembling as he gently placed his fingers on the keys.
Naomi put a small recorder near the piano, Starts and stops and mistakes. Long pauses, heart sinking. But Steve pressed on, playing for the first time in his life for a stranger.
"It was beautiful." Naomi said after listening to the recording. "The music was worth saving."
Her responsibility, her privilege, would be to rescue it. The music was sill in Steve Goodwin. It was bidden in rooms with doors about to be locked.
Naomi and Steve met every other week and spent hours together. He'd move his fingers clumsily on the piano, and then she'd take his place. He struggled to explain what he heard in his head. He stood by the piano, eyes closed, listening for the first time to his own work being played by someone else.
Steve and Naomi spoke in musical code lines, beats, intervals, moving from the root to end a song in a new key. Steve heard it. All of it. He just couldn't play it.
Working with Naomi did wonders for Steve. It had excited within him the belief he could write one last song. One day, Naomi received an email. Attached was a recording, a recording of loss and love, of the fight. Steve called it "Melancholy Flower".
Naomi heard multiple stops and starts, Steve struggling, searching while his wife Joni called him "honey" and encouraged him. The task was so hard, and Steve, angry and upset, said he was quitting. Joni praised him, telling her husband this could be his signature piece.
Naomi managed to figure out 16 of Steve's favorite, and most personal songs. With Naomi's help, the Goodwin family found a sound engineer to record Naomi playing Steve's songs. Joni thought that would be the end. But it wasn't.
In the months leading up to the 2016 Oregon Repertory Singers Christmas concert, Naomi told the director she had a special one in mind: "Melancholy Flower"
She told the director about her project with Steve. The director agreed to add it to the playing list. But Naomi would have to ask Steve's permission. He considered it an honor.
After the concert, Naomi told the family that Steve's music was beautiful and professional. It needed to be shared in public.
The family rented a former church in downtown Portland and scheduled a concert. By the day of the show, more than 300 people had said they would attend.
By then, Steve was having a hard time remembering the names of some of his friends. He knew the path his life was now taking. He told his family he was at peace.
Steve arrived and sat in the front row, surrounded by his family. The house lights faded. Naomi took the stage. Her fingers. His heart.
（1）Why did Melissa want to save her father's music?
| A． |
His music could stop his disease from worsening. |
| B． |
She wanted to please her dying old father. |
| C． |
His music deserved to be preserved in the family. |
| D． |
She wanted to make her father a professional. |
（2）After hearing Steve's playing, Naomi ________.
| A． |
refused to make a comment on it |
| B． |
was deeply impressed by his music |
| C． |
decided to free Steve from suffering |
| D． |
regretted offering help to her friend |
（3）How can the process of Steve's recording be described?
| A． |
It was slow but productive. |
| B． |
It was beneficial to his health. |
| C． |
It was tiresome for Naomi. |
| D． |
It was vital for Naomi's career. |
（4）Before Steve finished "Melancholy Flower," his wife Joni ________.
| A． |
thought the music talent of Steve was exhausted |
| B． |
didn't expect the damage the disease brought about |
| C． |
didn't fully realize the value of her husband's music |
| D． |
brought her husband's music career to perfection |
（5）How did Steve feel at the concert held in downtown Portland?
| A． |
He felt concerned about his illness. |
| B． |
He sensed a responsibility for music. |
| C． |
He regained his faith in music. |
| D． |
He got into a state of quiet. |
（6）What can be a suitable title for the passage?
| A． |
The Kindness of Friends |
| B． |
The Power of Music |
| C． |
The Making of a Musician |
| D． |
The Value of Determination |
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