题型：阅读理解 题类：模拟题 难易度：易
年份：2016
The desert tortoise is found in the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts in North America．It is listed as an endangered species under the United States federal Endangered Species Act and is considered "vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature(IUCN)．Despite the laws that protect them，their numbers are still in the decline．
The desert tortoise in the areas has lived for thousands of years．This animal is able to survive ground temperature over 140 degrees F and is known to live as long as 60 to 80 years．However，ninety-five percent of the life、of a desert tortoise is spent in the ground escaping the heat in a hole or passage in the ground Holes can he easily destroyed by off-highway vehicles that do not say on built roads．Disasters also occur when they seek shade under parked cars．
Desert tortoises are also harmed by several diseases such as the upper respiratory tract disease often found in adopted tortoises．Pet owners releasing sick tortoises into the wild has resulted in diseases being spread to wild tortoises．
The desert tortoise feeds on a dune (沙丘) primrose during spring．Non-native Sahara mustard (芥菜) seen in the background is a weed that competes with the native plants for water and nutrients．In some areas，mustard grows so densely that it is nearly impossible for desert tortoises to pass through．Vehicles，which do not stay on built roads and do not get washed frequently，contribute to spreading weeds．
Rubbish，such as burst balloon，is a danger to desert tortoises．The balloon can be mistaken for food by desert tortoises and，once consumed，may remain in the stomachs and intestines (肠) giving them a false sense of fullness that may cause them to starve．
题型：阅读理解 题类：模拟题 难易度：易
年份：2016
In a wheat field in France, a cat meets a black-bellied hamster (仓鼠). Too far from her burrow (洞穴) to run for shelter, the wild hamster rises on her back legs to face her enemy. The cat backs away. “Theyˈre afraid of nothing,” says Alexandre Lehmann, a biologist who has worked with these wild hamsters for the past 12 years.“They fight against cats and dogs and even farmers. They try to fight against tractors.”Itˈs a good thing that the black-bellied hamster wonˈt go down without a fight. Because in France, where only 500 to 1,000 remain in the wild, they are in a fight for their lives.
At the Stork and Otter Reintroduction Centre in Alsace, Lehmann and his colleagues breed captive hamsters and set the young hamsters free into the wild. But raising black-bellied hamsters isnˈt exactly easy. Remember, they have attitude. Forget humans — they donˈt even like each other.“You have to make sure the male and female donˈt kill each other,”Lehmann says.
Black-bellied hamsters might think of themselves as tough guys. But to a fox or an eagle, theyˈre just a four-legged snack. To survive, hamsters need to be set into a field with lots of leafy hiding places. Thatˈs a problem in Alsace, where most farmers plant corn. The corn hasnˈt sprouted (发芽) in early spring, when hamsters come out of their burrows from winter hibernation (冬眠). In the bare fields the hamsters are easy targets for their enemies.
Some older farmers donˈt want hamsters in their fields because of their reputation as crop-chewing pests. But most are willing to help, especially since the French government will pay farmers to grow early-sprouting crops such as alfalfa and winter wheat and allow hamsters to be set free on their lands. Itˈs a way to protect not just the hamsters, but also other small animals in leafy fields.
B. The number of hamsters wonˈt go down quickly
C. Itˈs good for the increase of hamstersˈ population
D. Itˈs a quite great experience to see hamsters fighting
B. They are not fond of humans.
C. The male and female wonˈt live in peace.
D. The male canˈt understand the femaleˈs attitude.
B. They are unable to feed themselves on corn.
C. Their winter hibernation is disturbed frequently.
D. They are exposed to their enemies in early spring.
B. try to get rid of pests
C. grow plants that shoot early
D. separate them from other animals
题型：阅读理解 题类：模拟题 难易度：易
年份：2016
C
Scientists study it.An increasing number of self-help books tell us the way to find it.In fact,the pursuit of happiness has been called the ultimate(最终的)goal in life by countless talks,TV shows and newspaper and magazine columns.However,happiness,as it was before,is still hard to find.
US psychologist Ed Diener,author of Happiness:Unlocking the Mysteries of Psychological Wealth,may have the answer"a combination of life satisfaction and having more positive than negative emotions".This may sound straightforward enough,but it still doesn't explain what determines people's happiness.And as The Washington Post argued in an article last month,creating a definition of happiness that is true for people around the world can seem as difficult as being happy.
For example,who is happier:someone who has enough money to buy a new mobile phone or someone who has a family dinner after years away from home?
Nevertheless,as many surveys suggest,one of the most important parts of happiness is wealth.The UN's World Happiness Report 2015 shows that countries with the highest levels of happiness are developed ones,with Switzerland,Iceland and Denmark making up the top three.But on the other hand,Bhutan,one of the poorest countries in the world,was named the happiest country in Asia and the eighth happiest in the world in research by Business Week in 2012.
Perhaps the biggest problem is how the idea of "happiness" varies in different cultures and languages.
As The Washington Post noted,the word "happy" can refer to different things in English.It might mean a brief mood you feel when someone surprises you with a gift or you think of friends and family.Or it could refer to satisfaction with your life.But not all languages refer to happiness the same way. In Danish,for example, happiness is often translated as "lykke",a term that can describe everyday well-being that might come from a nice cup of coffee or a slice of bread with cheese.
In Chinese,the word for happiness is xingfu,which is used to describe a good life or a circumstance(境遇)that makes people feel free from worry.For a good mood, however,kuaile is used more often.
Another difference in the view of happiness,as The Washington Post put it,is that Western countries tend to have quite an "individualistic view of human life".In China and many other Asian countries,social relationships,with family in particular,are one of the most important factors in a person's well-being.
So,are you happy?And what makes you happy?
题型：阅读理解 题类：模拟题 难易度：易
年份：2016
It was Mother’s Day morning last year and I was doing my shopping at our local supermarket with my five-year-old son, Tenyson. As we were leaving,we found that only minutes earlier an elderly woman had fallen over at the entrance and had hit her head on the concrete.Her husband was with her,but there was blood everywhere and the woman was embarrassed and clearly in shock.
Walking towards the scene,Tenyson became very upset about what had happened to the couple.He said to me,“Mum,it’s not much fun falling over in front of everyone.”
At the front of the supermarket a charity(慈善)group had set up a stand selling cooked sausages and flowers to raise funds.Tenyson suggested that we should buy the lady a flower.“It will make her feel better,”he said.I was amazed that he’d come up with this sweet idea.So we went over to the flower seller and asked her if we could buy a flower for the lady to cheer her up.“Just take it,”she replied.“I can’t take your money for such a wonderful gesture.”
By now paramedics(救援人员)had arrived,and were attending to the injured woman.As we walked up to her, my son became intimidated by all the blood and medical equipment.He said he was just too scared to go up to her.
Instead I gave the flower to the woman’s husband and told him,“My son was very upset for your wife and wanted to give her this flower to make her feel better.”
At that,the old man started crying and said,“Thank you so much,you have a wonderful son.Happy Mother’s Day to you.”
The man then bent down and gave his wife the flower, telling her who it was from.Though badly hurt and shaken,the old lady looked up at Tenyson with love in her eyes and gave him a little smile.
| A. One can never be too careful. |
| B. Actions speak louder than words. |
| C. Love begins with a little smile. |
| D. A small act of kindness brings a great joy. |
| A. The elderly woman was knocked down by Tenyson. |
| B. Tenyson’s idea of buying a flower gained his mother’s support. |
| C. Tenyson’s care for the elderly woman puzzled the flower seller. |
| D. The elderly woman was moved to tears by Tenyson’s gesture. |
| A. astonished | B. struck |
| C. frightened | D. excited |
| A. Flower Power |
| B. Mother’s Day |
| C. An Accidental Injury |
| D. An Embarrassing Moment |
题型：阅读理解 题类：模拟题 难易度：易
年份：2016
Bury Trip — 24th July 2015
We will be leaving Homerton teacher campus at 13:45. Please be at the front of the college 10 minutes early. If you are late you may miss the coach and not be able to go! If you miss the coach, you will not receive repayment! The coach is planned to arrive in Bury at 14:30, although this is dependent on traffic. You will have
free time to explore and we will meet at the same location where we arrive at 17:15 to return to Homerton by approximately 18:00.
THINGS TO DO
Visit the Abbey (修道院)
The remains of this historic monument, which originally was a shrine (圣所) to Saint Edmund, a Saxon King, are well worth a visit. The Abbey is also surrounded by beautiful gardens, and is located next to the St. Edmundsbury Cathedral.
Have a drink in The Nutshell
This charming little bar is officially the smallest pub in Great Britain. Good things come in small packages though, and The Nutshell serves some of the regionˈs finest drinks, as well as having fascinating historical items and photos.
Go around the brewery shop
At the Greene King shop you can taste and buy some of the local beer, as well as food such as chutney. There are also clothing and other great gift ideas available to buy.
Several attractions are listed, but feel free to explore on your own. A Course Assistant will be around to help you throughout the trip but they will not act as a guide.
B. can ask other teachers for a ride
C. wonˈt get their money back
D. are supposed to go by themselves
B. It is located near a garden.
C. It was built by Saint Edmund.
D. It is known as the St. Edmundsbury Cathedral.
B. find a local to serve as a guide
C. follow the Course Assistant in the tour
D. visit the above-mentioned attractions first
题型：阅读理解 题类：模拟题 难易度：易
年份：2016
Cycling lovers from across the country identify the best routes the UK has to offer.
Oisin Sands
Editor of sportive.com
Route:
Rostrevor to Carlingford, County Down (30-42 miles)
“My favourite bike ride would start in Rostrevor, County Down, where I grew up,”says Oisin Sands.
The ride takes in some breathtaking views on the way to the pretty harbour town of Carlingford. From Carlingford, head back to Newry. Or save on tired legs by taking the ferry from Omeath on the south side to Warrenpoint in the summer, and cycling the short distance back to the start.
Kirsty Ho Fat
Cycle journalist
Route:
Hadrianˈs Cycleway, Ravenglass to South Shields (174 miles)
Thisroute follows the length of Hadrianˈs Wall and takes in coastal views and old-fashioned market towns.
“The ride weaves through the dramatic countryside of the North, my homeland, before finishing in South Shields,”says Kirsty, who in 2012 completed a 4,000-mile ride around the coast of Britain with her father.
Helen Curry
National Cycle Network project officer
Route: Union Canal, Linlithgow to the Falkirk Wheel (12 miles)
This flat journey along the Scottish branch of the Union Canal is a favourite with Helen Curry.
“Follow the towpath (拉船路) along the northern bank of the canal and cross the River Avon,”says Helen.“Youˈll pass the impressive ruins of Almond Castle.”
At over 2,000 feet long, youˈll be cycling through Scotlandˈs longest canal tunnel.
Kristian House
2009 National Road Race Champion
Route: Middlewich Loop (55 miles)
“This is a shorter loop I do when Iˈm not training, starting and finishing in Middlewich,”says racing cyclist Kristian House.
This hilly route isnˈt for the faint-hearted (胆怯的).
This stretch climbs 670 feet and offers some wonderful views, including your first sight of Britainˈs second-highest pub.
B. Hadrianˈs Cycleway.
C. Rostrevor to Carlingford.
D. Union Canal to the Falkirk Wheel.
C. Kirsty Ho Fat. D. Kristian House.
B. They all provide wonderful views.
C. They all go around the coast of Britain.
D. They are all suitable for beginner cyclists.
题型：阅读理解 题类：模拟题 难易度：易
年份：2016
Letˈs all spend a fun-filled day at Marineland
l At Friendship Cove, breathtaking underwater viewing lets you enter the fun world of the killer whale below the waterˈs surface. Surface level walkways provide above water observation opportunities.
l At Arctic Cove, you have the opportunity to touch and feed these friendly white whales. An amazing experience that you will never forget!
l Ride the worldˈs largest steel roller coaster, Dragon Mountain. Spread over 30 acres of land, it is the worldˈs largest nonstop steel roller coaster.
l Marinelandˈs Sky Screamer, the worldˈs highest ride, takes you 450 feet above Marineland where you will also enjoy an impressive view of surrounding areas if you are brave enough to open your eyes.
Location
7657 Portage Road, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
How to get there
Marineland is located only one mile from the Horseshoe Falls. From the Queen Elizabeth Way take McLeod Rd. exit and follow the signs. From Buffalo follow the Queen Elizabeth Way to Lyons Creek Rd. and follow the signs. From the Rainbow
Bridge, take Highway 420 to Stanley Ave., turn left, continue to the end, turn left and follow the signs.
Operating season
Mid-May to Sunday of Canadian Thanksgiving weekend.
Admission hours
Mid-May to June: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
July toAugust: 9:30 am to 6:00 pm
September to Sunday of Canadian Thanksgiving: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Others
For reasons of safety, guests with strollers (婴儿车) will be directed to park them outside show theatres. Bikes and other two-wheeled vehicles are not permitted within park grounds. With the exception of service dogs, pets are not permitted within the
park.
题型：阅读理解 题类：模拟题 难易度：易
年份：2016
How do you pay for things? Do you usually use cash , or do you like to pay by credit card ? If you are like a lot of people, you probably have at least one credit card. Also, you might use it more often than you probably should.
Credit cards first became popular in the 1920s, At that time, businesses, such as hotels and companies, gave credit cards to their best customers . Unlike today's credit cards, customers could only use these cards at the store or business that gave out the card. Customers had to pay for things in full. They couldn't pay for something a little at a time.
In 1950, a businessman named McNamara started a credit card company - Diners Club. Unlike earlier credit cards, this card could be used by customers at many restaurants. Customers liked the card because they didn't have to carry a lot of cash with them. Restaurant owners liked the card, too. Why? They found out that customers usually spent more money when they could pay by credit card.
In its first year of business, Diners Club issued 200 cards, The customers who got the cards from the Diners Club could use them at 27 different restaurants. Today, Diners Club has about 8 million customers, and they can use their cards in over 7. 6 million businesses in more than 200 countries.
| A. They could be used everywhere. |
| B. Customers had to pay for things in full. |
| C. They were very popular before the 1920s. |
| D. Everyone could get this kind of credit card. |
| A. showed | B. took |
| C. borrowed | D. provided |
| A. part of the development of credit cards |
| B. how to use cash |
| C. the number of people who use credit cards in the world |
| D. how credit cards help businessmen |
| A. in many restaurants |
| B. only in stores |
| C. only in the business that gave out the card |
| D. in anywhere |
题型：阅读理解 题类：模拟题 难易度：易
年份：2016
A
| A. provide information |
| B. share experiences
|
| C. express dissatisfaction |
| D. raise expectations |
| A. organized cultural activities |
| B. failed to perform duties
|
| C. had a good knowledge of the city |
| D. received punishment for bad behavior |
| A. To make him feel sorry. |
| B. To cause him worry.
|
| C. To bring him disappointment. |
| D. To get him into trouble. |
题型：阅读理解 题类：模拟题 难易度：易
年份：2016
B
The Wake-up Call
“What’s that?” my ten-year-old daughter, Genie, asked. She’d caught me laughing at a piece of mail I’d just opened. “Wake-up service; $2.50 per call.” At the bottom was a phone number and a drawing of a rotary phone, like the one my great-aunt Sara had owned 40 years ago.
“Is that mail funny?” Genie asked.
“Not really,” I admitted. “It’s just outdated.”
“What’s a wake-up call？” She frowned. I explained how, before smart-phones, people sometimes paid someone to wake them with a call.
“Who sent this flyer?” she pressed.
“Probably someone older,” I said, “and could use some money.”
Her eyes lit up. “Can we order a wake-up?” she asked.
“We don’t need it.” I picked it up and headed for the recycling bin.
“Wait!” she screamed.
“I feel sorry for the wake-up man, if he needs some money,” she said, tearing up. “Can’t we order?”
I looked at the flyer with its drawing of a rotary phone. I remembered, again, my great-aunt Sara and her rotary phone. As a kid, I’d visited her over Labor Day, when Jerry Lewis would host his charity event for the disabled kids. Aunt Sara would squeeze my hand, then reach for the rotary phone, dialing the number on the screen. Holding the receiver between us, we’d announce to the operator, “We’d like to help those kids.”
Now here was my own child, showing the same big heart I’d once been encouraged to have, and how could I ignore her? I Googled the flyer’s return address. The address belonged to a man called Raymond. He was in his mid-60s. We called him and, holding the receiver between us, the way Aunt Sara and I used to, told him we needed his services. “Great!” Raymond said in a shaky but friendly voice, clearly amazed at receiving an order from a child. When I asked how to pay the $2.50, he answered, “Mail a check.”
Genie was happy all week. Friday night, I put the phone by her pillow so she could answer Raymond’s call. She bounded to my bedroom to tell me all about how he’d wished her a good morning and told her to have a great day, which she did.
Technology has made some things outdated. But there are still other things the world will always require. In the rush of my daily life, I’d temporarily forgotten that. I guess I just needed a wake-up call.
| A. it was printed roughly |
| B. the drawing in it was poor
|
| C. the wake-up call cost too much |
| D. the service it offered was outdated |
| A. Throw it away. |
| B. Let Genie read it.
|
| C. Find out who sent it. |
| D. Keep it away from Genie. |
| A. Her own childhood experience.
|
| B. The less fortunate wake-up man.
|
| C. Genie’s curiosity about the service.
|
| D. The information she found on Google. |
| A. Bravery and curiosity. |
| B. Confidence and patience.
|
| C. Honesty and humor. |
| D. Generosity and kindness. |
