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Blue whales, the earth's largest animals, call to others of their kind, though exactly what these cries communicate remains a mystery. But these sounds have begun evolving （演变）. Since at least the 1960s,the pitch （音调）of Antarctic blue whales has downshifted. Scientists have theories as to why： all involving humans.
The deepening of their sounds is not unique. Many blue whales around the world have also dropped their pitch. In a study last year that analyzed more than 1 million individual recordings of whale calls, scale shifts were found across species, and among populations that don't necessarily interact with one another. This is to say, whatever has caused the change doesn't seem to have a specific geographic origin.
The underwater noises caused by ocean traffic and at-sea industries might seem a likely criminal. However, scientists have identified lowered pitches even across populations of whales that live in seas without major shipping routes.
One possible explanation for the change is the achievements of global conservation efforts. As their populations have grown, then, the whales may have decreased their volume because they are more likely to be communicating over short distances.
Last year's study of whale calls also suggests a threatening reason for the drop in pitch, however. Perhaps whales don't need to be so loud because sound waves travel farther in oceans made acidic by the absorption of carbon dioxide.
Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, meanwhile, may also indirectly influence whale voices in other ways. Recent study shows that, during the summer, the whales must use their top volume to be heard in the cracking ice - a natural sound increased by unnatural processes, as rising temperatures worsen ice-melt. So the impacts of a warming planet may modulate animal sounds even in remote places.



To what extent is whales' pitch drop？ ______

A. Across the species.
B. In the Antarctic ocean.
C. Among some populations.
D. Within one million individuals.

What causes the evolving of whales' pitch according to the text？ ______

A. Less communication and more threat.
B. Protection efforts and acidic sea water.
C. Sharp decrease of whales' populations.
D. Underwater noises by ships and industries.

What does the underlined word "modulate" mean in the last paragraph？ ______

A. Produce.
B. Damage.
C. Balance.
D. Change.

What can we infer from the text？ ______

A. Man is the soul of nature.
B. Man and nature are in one.
C. Nature pardons no mistakes.
D. Nature has the final say over man.

The 3 Best Marvel Films-Ranked! It seems that ranking films well is always a tough task.In the hearts of millions of fans,everyone has his own choice.Superhero films are even more so.Recently,The Guardian （卫报） has selected three of the most popular Marvel films.
No.3 Blade Ⅱ
This film continues the story of an earlier 1998's Blade and is directed by Guillermo.The story once again concerns the mysterious daywalker,played by Wesley Snipes.It is an action film full of high technology and the fighting scenes Guillermo expresses are horribly exciting.Not a typical superhero film,in many ways,but a great one.
No.2 Black Panther
This superb film is an entertaining adventure,with a richer component of fantasy than the other Marvel films.The character of Black Panther is established as one of Marvel's greatest heroes.It is a big hit across the board.It also employs Rachel Morrison who is MCU's first woman cinematographer,a photographer who operates a movie camera.Marvel Studios' president,Kevin Feige,has promised to get more women writers and directors on board.So far,the only Marvel female writer is Nicole Perlman for Guardians of the Galaxy.
No.1 Thor：Ragnarok
It is smart,visually exciting and perhaps above all,funny.And it's funny in a way that only Marvel films can be.It suggests that to some degree comedy can be an important part of the drama.Taika Waititi was an inspired choice as director.Hemsworth plays the role of Thor and Cate Blanchett plays Hela,the goddess of death who also happens to be Thor's half-sister.



According to The Guardian,which film ranks first？ ______

A. Blade Ⅱ.
B. Black Panther.
C. Guardians of the Galaxy.
D. Thor：Ragnarok.

What do we know from the passage？ ______

A. Ranking superhero films is easy.
B. Blade Ⅱ is a typical superhero film.
C. Nicole Perlman is the only Marvel female writer so far.
D. Taika Waititi,Hemsworth and Cate Blanchett act in one film.

What is the author's purpose in writing the passage？ ______

A. To introduce some superhero films.
B. To advertise for some superhero films.
C. To comment on the Marvel's history.
D. To advise people to learn from heroes.

For many people, the ideal way to do homework involves listening to music. But some parents disagree, saying： "Switch off the music and concentrate!"
Well, if that's the case with your parents, you might now be able to convince them that you have science on your side.
A new study, conducted by British company Mindlab International, has found that listening to music at work increases accuracy（准确性） and speed, the Telegraph reported.
The company gave 26 participants a series of different tasks for five days in a row, including spell checking, equation （方程式） solving, and mathematical word problems. The participants completed these tasks while listening to one of four music genres（类型），or no music at all. The results showed that while music was playing, 88 percent of participants produced their most accurate test results and 81 percent completed their fastest work.
"The message is that music is a very powerful management tool to increase not only the efficiency of workforce but also your emotional state." said David Lewis, chairman of Mindlab International.
However, not all genres match all homework. For mathematics,or other subjects involving numbers or attention to detail, you should listen to classical music,the study found. Previous studies had said that listening to Mozart makes a person smarter, and now that conclusion has gained more support. And if you need to finish a paper very soon, say, in an hour, the study said that listening to some pop music might be helpful.
In the study, pop music enabled participants to complete their tasks 58 percent faster than when listening to no music at all. If you're reviewing your English writing, pop music is also the best choice, as it is the best genre for spell checking. It cut mistakes by 14 percent, compared to listening to no music.
And to check your homework, you should probably listen to some dance music, as this genre resulted in the highest overall accuracy and fastest performance across a range of tasks in the study. In other words, it fits all subjects.



According to David Lewis, listening to music while working ______ .

A. improves efficiency and mental state
B. increases people's creativity
C. makes people more emotional
D. distracts people's attention

Which of the following helps you review English words according to Paragraph 7？ ______

A. Listening to Mozart.
B. Listening to pop music.
C. Listening to rock music.
D. Not listening to music.

The best title of the article might be ______ .

A. Classical music makes you smart
B. Listening to music shall be allowed
C. Study about music
D. Listening to music helps with homework

Every year in May, art galleries and museums prepare shows to honor Leonardo da Vinci, who died in France on May 2， 1519. He is remembered as one of the most influential artists and creative thinkers of all time. His most famous and representative paintings are Mona Lisa and The Last Supper.
Recently, researchers have been studying a painting-Landscape 8P， which they think is Da Vinci's earliest-known artwork. They used special lighting to study the artwork and discovered there are two images, not one. One drawing is on the back of the piece, which dates back to August 5， 1473.
The drawing on the front was painted when Leonardo was 21 years old. It shows a river valley and a castle outside the city of Florence. There is little left of the drawing on the back, perhaps because it was wiped off. Only a bridge over a river can be seen. But there is writing on both sides.
The writing on the front gives the date and goes from right to left. Some people would call this "mirror writing". It's a way Leonardo often wrote in his notebooks. The writing on the back goes from left to right and tells about an agreement, probably to produce a work of art.
Cecilia Frosinini is an art historian. She said, "Leonardo was born left-handed, but was taught to write with his right hand from a very young age. By looking at his writing, we can see his right-handed handwriting is educated and well done."
Experts compared the two handwriting samples （样本） and said they were both made by Leonardo. They show he could write well using his left hand or his right hand.
The artwork is known as Landscape 8P from its number in an art list. It will be part of an exhibition at the Uffizi Gallery in Italy. The gallery director, Eike Schmidt, said the artwork is worthy of our attention, and that by studying it, researchers gave us a new way of looking at Leonardo's drawing techniques and his abilities in writing.



What does the writing on the back probably tell about？ ______

A. A statement about the painting.
B. An agreement to produce a painting.
C. An introduction of Leonardo.
D. Something about the city of Florence.

What can we learn about Leonardo from Cecilia's words？ ______

A. He did bad in right-handed handwriting.
B. He wasn't good at writing with his left hand.
C. He could write with both of his hands.
D. He taught himself to write with the right hand.

What's Eike Schmidt's attitude towards the research？ ______

A. Unclear.
B. Indifferent.
C. Positive.
D. Doubtful.

With their pipes and lids to avoid spills,coffee cups have long been the substitute for adults.Now Starbucks is going all in on the concept by swearing to get rid of straws in the next few years-and it's all for a very good reason.This move is an answer to our own partners about what we can do to reduce the need for straws.Not using a straw is the best thing we can do for the environment.
In place of plastic straws,Starbucks plans to offer recyclable lids for all iced drinks and paper straws for coffee.The transition is already taking place in Starbucks' hometown of Seattle,where a ban on plastic straws went into place on July 1.By rolling this out in all 28，000 of their stores in the next few years,the company says they are annually removing more than one billion straws from going into circulation-and potentially the ocean.
Starbucks' decision to gradually stop using single-use plastic straws is a shining example of the important role that companies can play in stopping the tide of ocean plastic.With eight million metric tons of plastic entering the ocean every year,we cannot afford to let industry sit on the sidelines.Marine life has a 50% death rate when it swallows plastic-yet researchers believe there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish by the year 2050 if this rate of litter continues.That means there can be an immediate positive impact if we swap plastic straws for environmentally friendly alternatives.
The smart design on the cup for cold drinks comes from Starbucks' in-house team of designers and has been in development for two years.However,the announcement comes as outcry（倒彩）increases over the dangers that plastic straws can cause to marine life.Other companies making the eco-friendly swap also announced plans last month to test alternatives to plastic straws.



Why does Starbucks decide to get rid of plastic straws？ ______

A. To reduce its cost.
B. To meet the customers' needs.
C. To create a greener planet.
D. To expand its business worldwide.

What does the word "transition" in Paragraph 2 refer to？ ______

A. Dilemma.
B. Change.
C. Response.
D. Conflict.

What's the text mainly about？ ______

A. Starbucks is throwing away plastic straws for a worthy cause.
B. Environmentally friendly material will replace plastic straws.
C. Scientists are making efforts to solve ocean plastic pollution.
D. A sales promotion of a new brand by Starbucks is being done.

While preparing for an interview,I found myself reflecting on my reading journey.Being a writer and book lover,one would naturally suppose that I started to be eager for literature the moment I learned that C-A-T was spelled cat.The truth is that at one time my mom had to pay me to read.
Growing up in a school where teachers didn't quite know what to do with boys like me,I saw reading as a frightening thing that would always be difficult.Then I discovered books that grabbed my imagination - stories like The Little House Series,The Biography of Helen Keller,and A Little Princess.Can you imagine that a reluctant（不情愿的） reader become a bookworm and later an author？
This list of "Books that Changed My Life" now decorates my desk.This is a beautiful representation of stories that are so precious that they feel like part of me.
The Secret Garden - I was convinced that if I looked hard enough,I would find a neglected garden in my backyard and bring it back to life.
A Friend in the Storm - This book of poetry,written by another sweet author,has made me through some of my life's most intense storms.
The Diary of a Young Girl - This book made me want to be a writer someday.
Les Miserables - I thought reading this book would give me impressive bragging（吹牛） rights.Instead,I wrote a 3-part blog post for the book,giving it to kids as gifts.
Every book in the list inspired,comforted or challenged me.Now I have realised that,while many are well-known titles,a few were written by not-so-famous friends,reminding me that we should believe ourselves and never know what we will do with our talents.



At an early age,the author ______ .

A. was good at spelling words
B. showed his talent for writing
C. didn't perform well at school
D. disliked his mother's strict requirements

Which of the following books pulled the author through his tough times？ ______

A. Les Miserables.
B. The Secret Garden.
C. A Friend in the Storm.
D. The Diary of a Young Girl.

What can we infer from the last paragraph？ ______

A. We should have confidence in ourselves.
B. The author likes inspirational books best.
C. The author advises us to read famous books.
D. Some of the author's friends also enjoy writing.

What does the author do now？ ______

A. A student.
B. A writer.
C. A teacher.
D. A reporter.

Storing food is common in members of the crow family. A new study tested the birds outside for this naturally occurring behaviour, which may have evolved（进化） specifically because it gives crows a survival advantage. Some crow species are known to naturally use tools to recover food. So the researchers tested whether the birds could store and recover a tool so they could get it at their food after a gap of 17 hours - something we wouldn't expect them to do naturally. But they were able to instantly select the tool out of a number of unnecessary items.
In another experiment, the researche crows to select a token（礼品券）from a number of items so that they could then exchange it for food.Again, the birds then showed that they could plan for the future using this new behaviour. This is different from all of the previous studies in future planning,which have focused on naturally occurring behaviour.For example, we know that chimpanzees select,transport and save appropriate tools for future needs.
These studies have shown that animals can plan for the future- but they leave an important question open for debate. Are animals only able to plan to use abilities that have evolved to give them a specific advantage,or can they flexibly and intelligently apply planning behaviour across various actions？ Most critics would say the former, as the animals were tested in naturally occurring behaviour.
But the new research provides the first evidence that animal species can plan for the future using behaviour that doesn't typically occur in nature. This supports the view that at least some recognitive（认知的）abilities in animals don't evolve just in response to specific problems. Instead, it suggests that animals can apply these behaviour flexibly across problems in a similar way to humans. We need to study how flexible behaviour evolved. Then we might be able to see how crows' ability to plan for the future fits in with their broader cognitive powers.



What's the new finding about some crows according to Paragraph 1？ ______

A. They can store food.
B. They can use tools to recover food.
C. They can store and recover tools.
D. They can select and store food.

What are crows trained by researchers to do when given a token？ ______

A. Reject it casually.
B. Exchange it for food.
C. Save it as their food.
D. Build a nest with it.

What can we infer about the studies that animals for the future？ ______

A. They are debatable.
B. They are disappointing.
C. They are logical.
D. They are convincing.

What can be learned about flexible behaviour in animals？ ______

A. It develops only with age.
B. It is unclear how it evolved.
C. No animals but crows benefit from it.
D. It helps plan for the future.

The idea that you can use humor, laughter, and play to make you healthier probably seems too simple to be true. However, it is really true and simple. The sense of humor, laughter and play have an important part in keeping you healthy.
Treat the blues with a sense of humor, which is closely tied to laughter. Laughter is infectious. Have you ever heard a big laugh of a young child and been able to keep yourself from smiling？ When laughter is shared between people, it makes them closer to each other and increases their happiness. Smiling is the beginning of laughter and a smile is also just as infectious as laughter is. You can experience something by smiling at everyone around you, and you will feel happier just by sharing a smile, even with a stranger.
Play is an important part of making sure that we stay healthy. We are often encouraged to make sure our children play, and are told the benefits of being out playing. However,what we often forget is that it is just as important for old people to make play be part of their life as it's for children. Physical play is important for the old and it certainly helps prevent illness. While the studies are still in the early stages,the studies that have been done have shown that physical play certainly plays part in preventing cognitive（认知的）falling Anyway, adding humor, laughter, and play to our life will influence us mentally,physically and socially and bring us many advantages. So we should make full use of humor, laughter and play to make our life more active, interesting and happier.



What does the underlined word "infectious" in Paragraph 2 probably mean？ ______

A. Playing an important role.
B. Keeping people in high spirits.
C. Quickly influencing other people.
D. Preventing illness from spreading.

What can laughter increase according to the author？ ______

A. Cognitive abilities.
B. Good relationships.
C. A sense of humor.
D. Responsibility and trust.

What does the author think the old should do？ ______

A. They should have a good rest.
B. They should play like children.
C. They should prevent cognitive falling.
D. They should take part in physical play.

Which of the following would be the best title for the text？ ______

A. Humor, Laughter and Play for Health
B. Always Keep Our Body Healthy
C. Have an Active and Happy Life
D. Let Our Body and Mind Relax

When the natural climate changes due to global warming,it can surely affect seals.The majority of them live in the Antarctic region so as the ice is melting,their natural habitat can be seriously affected.These changes don't take place overnight.They can be the result of many years of additional temperatures in the area.The seals then have to find ways to adapt.
Seals depend on the cool air currents to bring plenty of food for them.When the temperatures get higher there is less and less food and the seal population starts to shrink.Mothers aren't healthy enough to feed their babies.Many of them end up abandoned as the mothers have to leave to find their own source of food.
The fact that their desire to produce young can be changed by the warmer temperatures is frightening too.It is also believed that the warmer temperatures can allow different diseases and viruses to attack the seals.This is a huge concern as they can rapidly wipe out huge numbers of seals out there.
However,these changes in climate and temperature aren't all bad for other species of seals.Scientists have found that those living in warmer climates are producing more young due to the changes.Research also shows that the females are moving further to find food and water.When they are out of the reach of the governing males,they are more willing to accept the moves of other males in the group.
This is good news too because it means that there will be more selection in the gene pool（基因库）for future generations.It can help the seals as a species adapt to change in their natural environment more easily.
The climate change problem for seals is directly linked to humans.When we take action to change what we let out into the environment,we will make positive changes for the seals.However,it is going to take a very long time to reverse （彻底改变）the effects of what has already been done.



What does the author regard climate changes for seals as？ ______

A. A double-edged sword.
B. An unavoidable disaster for existence.
C. A mirror of evolution.
D. A requirement for more choice in the gene pool.

What will happen to the seals in warmer climates？ ______

A. Their number will be on the increase.
B. The female seals will be in the lead.
C. Their genes will change a great deal.
D. The females will keep away from the males.

Which of the following can be the best title for the text？ ______

A. The Importance of Protecting Seals
B. Seals' Adaptation to Climate Change
C. How Climate Change Affects Seals
D. Why Are Seals Becoming Less And Less

Kevin Randall,a teacher,who teaches biology at Grandville High School,runs the environmental club at the high school,which has around 2，000 students.The club is known as the GHS Green Team,and it aims to raise awareness among students and teachers about sustainability（持续性）.It also works on projects to reduce the environmental footprint of the building itself.
One of the club's recent projects focused on reducing waste in the school cafeteria.Randall said their cafeteria supervisor told them that the school went through 54，000 plastic forks every year.The club applied for a financial help,built recycling centres for the cafeteria,and purchased metal silverware.
And now every student uses a durable metal fork or a spoon instead of disposables（一次性用品），"and that's just one way we're trying to capture the low-hanging fruit,if you will," Randall said.
The efforts of Randall and his students have earned Grandville High School the Michigan Green School certification from the state.In addition to their work reducing waste in the cafeteria,the GHS Green Team has also built a garden with flowers and vegetables on campus,and leads cleanups on site and out in the community.Over the years,Randall and his students have also been working on raising money to install solar panels（太阳能板） on the roof of the high school.
Randall said he was motivated to take the lead on environmental issues for his school because he wanted his students to have someone to turn to in the building who understands what's at stake（利害攸关）when it comes to climate change.
"And I also felt like I needed to do more in my life for my own two children at home," Randall added."They need to know that their dad is working as hard as he can to reduce the effects of climate change,and to spread the word,and to make sure that other students out there are learning about this just the way they are at home."



What is the purpose of the GHS Green Team club？ ______

A. To inspire students' love for biology.
B. To finish the projects assigned by school.
C. To prepare students for their future jobs.
D. To promote environmental protection.

What's the result of the project on school cafeteria？ ______

A. It has changed the outlook of the cafeteria.
B. Students can have more fruits in the cafeteria.
C. Plastic forks are no longer used in the cafeteria.
D. The school has become famous nationwide.

What's the fourth paragraph mainly about？ ______

A. The classification of the projects.
B. The characteristics of the club.
C. The activities organized by the club.
D. The future of the club.

What was Randall's aim by doing the work on environmental issues？ ______

A. To educate the young.
B. To get material rewards.
C. To amuse his children.
D. To make himself famous.