Task 1

Plants use their roots to “listen in” on their neighbors， according to research that adds to evidence that plants have their own unique forms of communication. The study found that plants in a crowded environment send chemicals into the soil that urge their neighbors to grow more aggressively to avoid being left in the shade.

“If we have a problem with our neighbors， we can move，” said Velemir Ninkovic， lead researcher of the study. “Plants can't do that. They've accepted that and they use signals to avoid competing situations and to prepare for future competition.”

Previously， scientists have shown that

when plant leaves are touched as they brush up against the leaves and branches of neighbors they change their growth strategies （策略）. Mature trees rein in their growth under crowded conditions instead of competing for growth. Others take a more aggressive approach， expanding more rapidly above ground instead of growing roots.

The study focused on young corn plants， which tend to increase growth in a stressed environment. Ninkovic and colleagues simulated （模擬） the touch of a nearby plant by touching the leaves for a minute each day using a makeup brush. When they removed the plant and placed a new one， they found the new plant also began to grow more leaves and fewer roots. However， untouched plants didn't show this pattern.

The possibility that plants communicate has surfaced decades ago. In the 1980s it was suggested that trees send out electrical pulses when their neighbors were cut down. However， in recent years， fresh evidence has appeared that plants are constantly sending and receiving signals that scientists are now learning to understand. They warn their neighbors of approaching pest attacks via thread-like fungi （真菌） that connect roots in complex communication networks and are able to detect whether they're surrounded by “strangers” or “acquaintances”.

1. What does the text say about the study？

A.Its study subjects are mature corn plants.

B.Velemir Ninkovic is the leader of the study team.

C.It found that plants can't choose their growth strategies.

D.It found that corn plants grow worse in a stressed environment.

2.The phrase “rein in” underlined in Para. 3 most probably means “_____”.

A.speed up    B.hide away

C.slow down    D.show off

3.What's the function of thread-like fungi？

A.Sending warning signals.

B.Accelerating root growth.

C.Seeking help in time of danger.

D.Resisting danger from “strangers”.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text？

A.Unique functions of the roots of plants

B.Various forms of plant communication

C.It is necessary for plants to communicate

D.Plants “talk to” each other through their roots

Task 2

Last year I went on an important trip for three days. On my arrival at my destination， I

1    called to check on my wife and son， because I'm not    2    to their separation， and they aren't used to my    3   . But unfortunately she didn't answer my call， and this went on for all the three days. I became anxious. I even wanted to    4    my trip. The three days    5    like three months.

Three days later， I returned to my country. As soon as my feet touched the ground， I rushed home. Because of my strong    6    I knocked the door and rang the bell at the same time until my wife opened the door. To my    7   ， she was fine， and she welcomed me happily. Behind her was my son， his eyes filled with    8   . He ran to hug me. I was completely    9   ， but soon my anger    10    my surprise. I asked my wife about the    11    for her not answering my calls.

She replied    12   ， “Did you call your mother？ Your mother has the same    13    as you when you forget to call her for so many days. She also gets worried about you. I tried so much to    14    you of this matter， but you're always    15    it. I didn't find a    16    way than this to make you understand my point.”

I    17    my head because what she said touched my heart. She gave me my car keys and whispered in my ear， “Your mother is    18    you.”

I went to    19    my mother after my wise wife taught me a lesson I won't forget for a lifetime. I'm grateful to her for making me realize my mistake before it's too    20   .

1.A.eventually       B.immediately   C.carefully      D.deliberately

2.A.accustomed__________ B.familiar      C.devoted__________D.blind

3.A.disappearance         B.silence    C.sacrifice        D.absence

4.A.put off__________     B.keep back      C.give up      D.work out

5.A.passed__________     B.stayed      C.paused__________D.flew

6.A.anger__________       B.stress        C.fear__________ D.curiosity

7.A.shame      B.surprise    C.regret        D.delight

8.A.pride__________       B.hope__________C.trust__________    D.joy

9.A.confused__________   B.defeated__________         C.embarrassed__________      D.relieved

10.A.expanded__________       B.abandoned      C.replaced__________        D.reflected

11.A.excuse__________     B.reason__________ C.practice      D.request

12.A.casually__________   B.strangely      C.patiently        D.calmly

13.A.feeling__________ B.promise        C.conclusion        D.choice

14.A.warn__________     B.remind__________   C.inform__________  D.convince

15.A.hiding__________     B.quitting__________ C.ignoring   ;     D.overcoming

16.A.better__________     B.quicker__________   C.directer__________D.simpler

17.A.straightened         B.shook        C.raised      D.bent

18.A.seeking__________   B.inviting        C.expecting        D.approaching

19.A.impress__________       B.respect      C.comfort__________  D.visit

20.A.absurd__________     B.late____________________     C.guilty____________________    D.crazy

Task 3

Ever wonder how successful people are so successful？ Habits play an important role in shaping our lives. We all know that bad habits can be harmful to your mental and physical well-being.    1   . Good habits， on the other hand， can help you rise above others and be at your best. So， what are the common habits of successful persons that set them apart from the rest of us？

2   . Most successful people spend half an hour or more on newspapers， magazines and other books each day. Most of them prefer reading non-fiction pieces that include history， self-help books， and biographies.

Getting up early. Many successful people get up around 3 hours before their actual workday starts. It gives them enough time to get additional things done， which may include finishing side projects， working out， or just planning ahead.    3   .

Working out and staying fit.    4   ， especially working out and staying physically fit. Successful people require mental and physical fitness. Clearing your mind and challenging yourself physically with a tough workout daily helps you stay ready for the daily challenges of a business. To sum it up， a strong body carries a strong mind.

Working on communication skills. Communication plays a key role in building constructive interpersonal relationships on a personal as well as on a professional level.    5   . However， if you are unable to convey the right information and message in a timely manner， you are less likely to achieve your goals. As with other skills， it's important to continuously work on improving communication to help you stay more efficient while communicating with anyone on any level.

A.Using technology

B.Keeping reading as a habit

C.Developing a healthy lifestyle isn't easy

D.After all， the early bird catches the worm

E.We all know the benefits of a healthy lifestyle

F.Working with data， facts， and figures is important

G.They can block your road to achievement and success

Task 4

第一節

Our journey in the Philippines began on arrival in the nation's capital of Manila，    1    we would be returning to explore in a week. Before this， we went to enjoy    2    country's world famous rice terraces （梯田） in Luzon.

Luzon is known    3    the mountain province of the Philippines. As our bus traveled further toward our destination， we began to realize even    4    （much） so. It was only when the road came to a surprising dead end that we

5    （inform） no road existed down to our village. We got off and walked along a small path they'd carved for    6    （they）. Forty minutes later， we arrived at Batad Transient House， our home for the next two nights！   7    （make） of just wood， this was as authentic as you could get， especially when we realized there was no

8    （electric） during daylight hours！

The next morning， we woke us early.    9    （ignore） the suggestion of our guesthouse owner， we went to the rice terraces alone. From the top of the rice terraces to the depths of the hidden waterfall， Batad holds no end of sweet surprises. We were greatly delighted to see such    10    （nature） beauties！

第二节

An old expression says， “Man's best friend is his dog.” Today， however， it seems that cats have replaced dogs as the    1    （much） popular pets in American homes.

Americans have over 62 million pet dogs. But even more cats—over 64 million—live in American homes. These pet cats are different

2    color and size. Some are    3    （expense） animals that take part in competitions. Many more are common American mixtures of a few kinds of cats. House cats generally live a good life. They aren't expected to work for their food. Instead， they rule their homes like furry kings and queens. They wait for their owners

4    （serve） them.

Americans are increasingly serious about their cats，    5    has made the care of cats into big business. Each year， cat owners buy tons of food specially    6    （prepare） for cats. They buy toys and other    7    （equip）. They buy jewelry and clothes for themselves with pictures of cats on    8   . Some owners even bury their dead pets in special burial grounds.

Animal experts offer several    9    （reason） why cats have become so popular as house pets. They say cats need less care than dogs. And cats do not seem to suffer as much as dogs from

10    （be） alone if the owners are away.

Task 5

The Adler Planetarium in Chicago is home to more than 35，000 square feet of exhibits. From huge models of the Solar System， to ancient astronomical instruments ， to interactive adventures， Adler's exhibit galleries provide a passageway for you to explore the universe. The Adler also offers mini science exploration activities that are quick l0-minute lessons. Visitors can learn some interesting astronomical facts from the small activity parts.

The Adler Planetarium in Chicago is the only museum in the world with two full-size planetarium theaters. Since 1930 ， people have been able to see the wonder of the stars in the historic Sky Theater. Powered by brand new Digistar 3TM technology， the StarRider Theater is a completely digital， virtual（虛拟的） outer space environment. The famous Zeiss Planetarium projector is able to accurately reproduce the movement of every aspect of the night sky.

Do's and Don'ts ：

Do take the bus/train： Leave the car at home for this museum trip. The Adler is located close to public transit（交通運输系统）.

Don't miss the Doane Observatory： When weather permits ， the Doane is open at the Adler for observing with its 20-inch diameter telescope.

Don't miss museum special events ：The Adler offers a summer camp for kids from mid-June to August.

Ticket Price ：

Adult： $28; child： $22. Book online now for a discount 37%.

Regular Schedule ：

Mon.—Fri. 10：00 am—4：00 pm;

Sat.—Sun. 10：00 am—4：30 pm;

Summer Hours： 9：30 am—6：00 pm daily.

Nearest Transit： Roosevelt Metro Station.

Address： 1300 S Lake Shore Dr， Chicago， IL 60605.

1. Which of the following best attracts a visitor to virtual travel into outer space？

A.The Sky Theater.

B.The StarRider Theater.

C.The Special Events.

D.The Doane Observatory.

2. How much does a couple with two children need to pay the museum for a visit at least？

A.$63.      B.$37.      C.$100.      D.$137.

3. What is the purpose of the text？

A.To explore outer space.

B.To popularize science.

C.To introduce exhibits.

D.To advertise a museum.

Task 6

No one is born a winner. People make themselves into winners by their own    1   .

I learned this lesson from a（n）    2   many

years ago. I took the head    3    job at a school in Baxley， Georgia. It was a small school with a weak football program.

It was a tradition for the school's old team to play against the    4     team at the end of spring practice. The old team had no coach， and they didn't even practice to    5    the game. Being the coach of the new team， I was excited because I knew we were going to win， but to my disappointment we were defeated. I couldn't

6    I had got into such a situation. Thinking hard about it， I came to    7    that my team might not be the number one team in Georgia， but they were    8    me. I had to change my

9    about their ability and potential.

I started doing anything I could to help them build a little    10   . Most important， I began to treat them like      11   . That summer， when the other teams enjoyed their    12   ， we met every day and    13    passing and kicking the football.

Six months after suffering our    14    on the spring practice field， we won our first game and our second， and continued to    15   . Finally， we faced the number one team in the state. I felt that it would be a    16    for us even if we lost the game. But that wasn't what happened. My boys beat the best team in Georgia， giving me one of the greatest    17    of my life！

From the experience I learned a lot about how the attitude of the leader can    18    the members of a team. Instead of seeing my boys as losers， I pushed and    19    them. I helped them to see themselves    20   ， and they built themselves into winners.

Winners are made， not born.

1.A.efforts B.tests C.luck D.nature

2.A.experiment    B.experience    C.visit    D.show

3.A.operating    B.managing    C.coaching    D.organizing

4.A.successful    B.excellent    C.new    D.strong

5.A.prepare for    B.cheer for    C.help with    D.finish with

6.A.agree    B.believe    C.describe    D.regret

7.A.realize    B.receive    C.allow    D.demand

8.A.asking for    B.looking for    C.depending on    D.caring about

9.A.decision    B.attitude    C.conclusion    D.idea

10.A.pride    B.culture    C.fortune    D.relationship

11.A.leaders    B.partners    C.winners    D.learners

12.A.prizes    B.vacations    C.health    D.honor

13.A.risked    B.missed    C.considered    D.practiced

14.A.defeat    B.decrease    C.accident    D.mistake

15.A.relax    B.improve    C.enlarge    D.defend

16.A.shame    B.victory    C.struggle    D.favor

17.A.chances    B.concerns    C.pleasures    D.offers

18.A.surprise    B.serve    C.interest    D.affect

19.A.encouraged    B.observed    C.protected    D.impressed

20.A.honestly    B.secretly    C.calmly    D.differently

Task 7

It's important to prepare for rainy days. Similarly， it's important to save money.    1

Why？ It's because they've got used to spending all the money they make. Sometimes， the hardest thing about saving money is just getting started. Here are some tips to help you save money.

2    The first step in saving money is to know how much you're spending. For one month， keep a record of everything you spend money on. Once you have your data， organize these numbers by category and get the total amount for each.

You can make a budget. Now that you have a good idea of how much you spend in a month， what can you do now？    3    To plan your spending， you can build a budget. In this way， you can limit over-spending and make sure that you put money away for unexpected situations.

4   Doing so make it much easier to get started. Begin by deciding how long it will take to reach each goal. Some short-term goals include starting a fund to cover 6 months to a year of living costs and saving money for a vacation. Long-term saving goals are often several years or even decades away and can include saving for retirement and putting money away for a child's college education.

Make saving money easier with automatic transfers （自動转账）. Automatic transfers to your savings account are very helpful.    5    By moving money out of your checking account， you'll be less likely to spend money you plan to use for savings.

A.You can set savings goals.

B.You can record your costs.

C.You can plan your spending.

D.You can keep a record of what you do.

E.They can make saving money much easier.

F.However， some people find it hard to save money.

G.You can move money out of your savings account.

Task 8

Ⅰ.语法填空

What might life be like if you looked very different from others？ Most of us are lucky to be born with “normal” faces.1.__________  ， the movie Wonder shows us that there is no such thing as being normal and that beauty is more than skin-deep.

2. __________ （base） on a bestselling novel， the movie is about a boy named Auggie. He has a facial deformity （畸形） and has spent most of his life being home schooled. But as he enters middle school， his parents decide to send him to a private school. There， Auggie must deal with judgmental classmates and learn to accept

3.__________  （he） as he is.

In the US， most kids 4.__________  （teach） that it is OK to be different. Most people in the US celebrate being unique. But some kids have difficulty 5.__________  （accept） uniqueness. It's easy to pick on someone who's different，

6.__________  （especial） if you have your own problems to deal with. This is another

7.__________  （center） theme from the movie—even the kids 8.__________  pick on Auggie have their own personal struggles.

As Auggie's classmates get to know him better， they come to find that he's a nice kid

9.__________  a great sense of humor. They start to change their attitude toward him. In real life， it may take longer to see such changes happen. But if we give people 10.__________  chance， their hearts and minds may change in the end.

Ⅱ.書面表达

假定你是李华，原定与留学生朋友Danny周日一起去看电影。但刚得知周日你市将举办书法艺术展（calligraphy exhibition），你不想错过。请你就此给Danny发一封电子邮件，内容包括：

1.表示歉意;

2.说明原因;

3.邀他一起前往。

注意：

1.词数100左右;

2.信的开头和结尾已为你写好，不计入总词数;

3.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

Dear Danny，

Yours faithfully，

Li Hua