With the invention of the Internet, humanity is now experiencing an adventure toward technological advancement. Nowadays, technology assists us with everyday tasks such as driving, grocery shopping and even dating. Technology is so closely connected to our lives that it’s easy to overlook one important question: When technology really starts to control the world around us, what comes next?
Many experts and workers are scared that automation will take jobs from people who need them and give those jobs to robots. I understand their concern. However, if robots are outperforming us at our jobs, then what do humans have left to offer? We have the emotions and imagination that make us human. A machine might work faster than a person, but that’s because humans built the machines that way. That, itself, is an amazing accomplishment of the human imagination. We are talented, passionate creatures, who do not deserve to be trapped in miserable jobs anymore!
By now, I hope you’re curious to hear which occupations we should focus on in the future. The obvious answer is jobs in technology and robotics. Tech-related jobs will continue to be in big demand, and people who work in these fields will continue to become more important. We should be grateful to them for doing work to take us higher as a society. Besides, we should also focus on jobs in the arts and entertainment. It may sound crazy, but what could better reflect the creativity of the human mind than the arts? I believe technology has opened up our world, allowing us to share our imaginations with everyone!
So, we must ensure that future generations know that we mean it when we say, “follow your dreams.” Welcome to the 21st century: what a time to be alive! There has never been a better time to be yourself, and I can only see it getting even better from here.
1．Why does the author end paragraph 1 with a question?| A．To present a fact. | B．To illustrate a problem. |
| C．To ask for approval. | D．To arouse thinking. |
| A．Favorable. | B．Disapproving. | C．Doubtful. | D．Unclear. |
| A．Emotional comfort. |
| B．Passionate companion. |
| C．Technological support. |
| D．Competitive opponent. |
| A．They have opened up our world. |
| B．They help people realize their dreams. |
| C．They will be in great demand in the future. |
| D．They can demonstrate the innovation of human. |
| A．Narrative and serious. | B．Persuasive and positive. |
| C．Descriptive and critical. | D．Informative and objective. |
A Leap（跳跃）to Honor.
Leaping on a narrow balance beam（平衡木） is not easy. But Lola Walter, a 13-year-old gymnast, is an expert at it.
To perfect her skills, Lola
That’s especially impressive,
When she was little, her mom
Though learning gymnastics has been more
She likes the determination it takes to do the sport. Her biggest
To be a top-level gymnast, one must be brave. The beam is probably the most
Lola doesn’t want to be
Lola never thinks about
Lola is
| A．runs | B．teaches | C．trains | D．dances |
| A．since | B．unless | C．after | D．though |
| A．tell | B．guess | C．assume | D．predict |
| A．suspected | B．remembered | C．imagined | D．noticed |
| A．deeply | B．well | C．ahead | D．closely |
| A．task | B．sport | C．event | D．show |
| A．boring | B．enjoyable | C．difficult | D．unsatisfactory |
| A．talent | B．quality | C．nature | D．condition |
| A．doubt | B．advantage | C．challenge | D．program |
| A．examine | B．express | C．open | D．trust |
| A．fearful | B．harmful | C．unfair | D．inconvenient |
| A．to | B．on | C．off | D．against |
| A．greeted | B．treated | C．served | D．paid |
| A．pains | B．stresses | C．injuries | D．problems |
| A．positive | B．friendly | C．flexible | D．cautious |
| A．defending | B．quitting | C．winning | D．bargaining |
| A．standard | B．range | C．view | D．goal |
| A．until | B．as | C．when | D．before |
| A．proud | B．tired | C．ashamed | D．confident |
| A．plan | B．advice | C．reward | D．responsibility |
After an overnight trip to Sydney, I was heading home tired but happy. Stopping at a fruit market, I
After I
“So let’s just put it down to a misunderstanding, shall we?” I
An elderly couple nearby had seen it all and told me I had handled it
Car parks in summer are never the most
The car park incident left me with
| A．made | B．chose | C．entered | D．ordered |
| A．abused | B．punished | C．interrupted | D．forced |
| A．son | B．husband | C．mother | D．daughter |
| A．strong | B．smart | C．pretty | D．old |
| A．rested | B．noticed | C．parked | D．decided |
| A．When | B．Before | C．Unless | D．Though |
| A．speed | B．mind | C．opinion | D．position |
| A．cared about | B．given up | C．intended for | D．heard of |
| A．begged | B．commented | C．suggested | D．explained |
| A．sadness | B．unkindness | C．politeness | D．friendliness |
| A．well | B．quickly | C．wrong | D．easily |
| A．satisfaction | B．comfort | C．protection | D．advice |
| A．journey | B．car | C．incident | D．makert |
| A．excited | B．awake | C．curious | D．calm |
| A．joyous | B．clean | C．safe | D．beautiful |
| A．pressure | B．noise | C．pain | D．heat |
| A．weight | B．balance | C．patience | D．face |
| A．because of | B．instead of | C．in spite of | D．in case of |
| A．peace | B．confidence | C．fortune | D．success |
| A．allow | B．offer | C．demand | D．prefer |
It was an unusually hot day. Exhausted after football practice, I headed for the bus stop to wait for Bus 112 which would take me home. I was beginning to drift off to sleep when I saw the bus arriving. The sun was in my eyes and that was probably the reason why I got onto Bus 113
I was glad to get a seat. Within minutes, I was sting against the window, fast asleep. When I opened my eyes, it was dark outside. I was the only passenger left on the bus. I could not recognize the part of town we were passing through. I pressed the bell and the bus stopped. I planned to hop across the road and catch a bus going the opposite direction. However, I found myself on a quiet street with a row of shops that were all closed. I kicked myself for not asking the driver for directions.
As I was wondering what to do, a motorcycle came down the road. The rider looked at me as he passed and then stopped a short distance away. I went to him and asked him how to get back to the City Square. He smiled and nodded. He patted the back seat and said that he would send me home. Without a second thought, I climbed up behind the rider. He turned the motorcycle around and headed in the direction I wanted. We travelled for about 15 minutes and the surroundings still looked unfamiliar to me. The rider made a few turns and I knew I was hopelessly lost. I asked him where we were going, He did not answer but increased his speed. Alarm bells started to ring in my head.
I tapped the man, shoulder and told him to stop. He leaned forward and went at high speed now. Then he slowed down to turn into a dark and narrow road that led into an oil palm plantation. I had had enough.
Mum and Her Bank Account
My family had the tradition to sit down by the kitchen table every Saturday night to count out the money Dad had brought home.
These are for the rent, and these for the groceries. “ Mum counted out and divided the big silver pieces.
I’ll need a notebook, “ That would be my sister Christine, my brother Nels or me.
After Mum put one or two coins to the side for the notebook, she said that was all we needed to buy for the week and we all relaxed a little. We didn’t have to go downtown and draw money out of Mum’s bank account, which could always give us such a warm and secure feeling for having enough to afford the life.
When Nels graduated from grammar school , he needed some money for high school We sat by the table and I offered my “ Little Bank” which was used for sudden emergencies such as the time when Christine broke her arm and had to see a doctor. I laid the box carefully in front of Mum. After counting out the money in the little bank and finding there was not enough, we all agreed not to go to the bank but to find some ways.
Nels volunteered to work in Dillon’s grocery after school and Dad said he would give up smoking. Now there was enough money. We felt relieved.
So many things came out of the little bank that year: Christine’s dress for the school play, Nel’s operation ... Whatever happened , we always knew we still had the bank to depend on. We never used her bank account.
That was twenty years ago.
Last year, I sold my first story. When the money came I thought of Mum’s bank account.
So I hurried over to Mum’s home.
Knowing that there was no bank account at all, I felt shocked.
Time management is an important skill to cultivate. It can help you make the most out of each day, leading to success in areas like work and school.
Create the right environment to work. The environment you work in can help with your overall productivity. There are no strict rules about a work environment, so pick what feels right for you.
List your tasks in terms of importance.
Do not multitask. Many people assume multitasking is a great way to get more done each day and manage time wisely. However, focusing on multiple tasks at once actually makes you less productive
| A．Return all your emails |
| B．Do important tasks first |
| C．To-do lists are a great tool |
| D．Things will take longer to do, as you’re not giving anything your full attention |
| E．If you can choose a particular space to work, choose a space free of distractions |
| F．Surround yourself with inspiring decorations that help you feel enthusiastic and passionate |
| G．To manage your time, use your time productively by working in the right environment and prioritizing tasks |
“Can we eat this one, Dad?” my four-year-old daughter, Alicia, asks. We’re on one of our Thursday adventures, searching the nearby woods for eatable mushrooms. She’s pointing at a bright-red cap covered with white dots. I pull out my handy mushroom-identification app, which notes that Amanita muscaria, while eatable if prepared properly, is also a known hallucinogen (致幻剂). I have a firm “tell them the truth and be as precise as possible” philosophy and explain what the app says, and that I don’t think our Thursday adventures are ready to get quite that adventurous yet.
Watching your kids learn new skills is extraordinarily rewarding, but I’ve experienced more personal growth than I have at any other point in my life.
Last year, after a winter of practicing skiing on the green tracks for beginners each week, Alicia was french-frying her way down blues and even attempted her first black. That month also witnessed me visiting the mountain more times than in the 15 years combined and I’ve got myself a partner for life.
It’s not all easy—but sometimes that’s the point. Alicia practices the violin every day, and although she enjoys it, even 15 minutes of practice can upset her. The trick, I’ve found, is to let her watch me try to get better at something, too. I start taking piano lessons at 41 years old with the idea that if she sees me struggling as I practice and then improve, she’ll understand that things don’t come easy, even for grown-ups. I know there’s going to be a time when I’ll end up on the sideline cheering her on as she finds her own passions. I’m okay with this, and I’m hoping that by then she’ll carry the joy of practice and knowledge through life.
1．What does the father imply by saying “I’ve got myself a partner for life.”?| A．It is rewarding to learn new skills. | B．Skiing has become his lifelong hobby. |
| C．He will explore more with his daughter. | D．His daughter will accompany him forever. |
| A．To prove it is never too old to learn. | B．To set a good example for his daughter. |
| C．To experience the joy of piano practice. | D．To share with his daughter musical knowledge. |
| A．Rigid and humorous. | B．Cautious and inspiring. |
| C．Creative and thoughtful. | D．Ambitious and patient. |
| A．The Thrill of the Skill | B．Practice Makes Perfect |
| C．Like Father, Like Daughter | D．The Power of Knowledge |
The other day, I was driving home, a little upset because I hated working at the weekend. On the way, I decided to grab some veggies in the nearby greengrocer's. Since there was still thin ice on the road, I took a glance at the rear mirror to make sure no pedestrians or vehicles came close, and slowly steered the wheel to the right. Then out of any of my expectancy my car bumped into an electric bike, giving out a harsh metallic clash. I collected myself and saw out of the window screen a teenager lean on one side of the bike, one foot off the ground.
All of a sudden, a familiar scene flashed across my mind.
When I was in high school, I had fun riding my bike along the country road on sweltering and boring afternoons during summer holidays. Sometimes I carried my little brother to the only grocery store in the neighborhood where we could buy our favorite ice cream. Once we had an argument about what to buy. Seeing him leave the store in a temper, I jumped on the bike and tried to talk him into going back. Suddenly, he gave me a push and I inclined towards the middle of the road when a motorbike came in my face. I fell on the ground before I could see anything clearly. Luckily, I didn't get hurt but still couldn’t rise to my feet. The motorist, a middle-aged man, ignoring his torn jeans, shed to check on me, “Are you okay? Your leg? Your foot?"
“I am all right, but..."I stared at him, terrified because I was sure he would ask for "big" sum of money for compensation. Instead, he just let me go despite his wife's protests. Guilty as I was, I was happy that I was spared. I was really grateful to the man for pardoning a silly kid who had made such a big mistake involuntarily.
Andy’s finger traced the lines on a blank United States map, each state represented by a number. He whispered to himself, “New Jersey is eating Pennsylvania, and Ohio is a chicken nugget.” Beside him lay another paper with numbers 1—50 written down. Despite 20 minutes of intense concentration, all Andy had to show for his efforts were those numbers.
“OK, and Utah is the washing machine. No, Montana is the washing machine. Or North Dakota? Gah! They’re all washing machines!” Andy was caught in his confusion.
This wasn’t the first time his memory had failed him during a test. No matter how hard he studied, nothing seemed to stay in his brain for long. He had tried memory tricks, even spending nights examining an old paper map in his bedroom. It had given him a glimmer of hope, but now that hope felt distant.
The time was up, and Mr. Crane began collecting the answer sheets. Andy quickly stuffed his blank test into the pile, wanting to forget about it. Unfortunately, his brain seemed to remember only the things it should forget. During lunch, Andy stared at a map, frustrated that he had handed in a blank sheet of paper.
Andy’s friend Aaron shrugged. “You only need a 70 to pass.”
“Yeah, well it’s hard to get a 70 when you hand in a blank sheet of paper,” Andy mumbled, frowning.
Aaron popped a grape into his mouth. “Well, Mr. Crane will let you retake (补考) it tomorrow.”
Andy was the only one standing at Mr. Crane’s desk after school. He apologized quickly, head drooping. But instead of scolding him, Mr. Crane patted his shoulder, saying, “I think you are trying, but you might learn better by being active. Just practice more!”
Andy looked into Mr. Crane’s eyes, finding comfort in the teacher’s understanding gaze. Mr. Crane invited Andy to help him organize a pile of magnets (磁铁), each with the name of a state on it. On the wall hung a large magnetic map — part of a review game the class had been playing.
As Andy arranged the magnets, an idea suddenly came into his mind.
When doing homework, Andy was told he scored an 88 on the retake.
By the end of the century, if not sooner, the world’s oceans will be bluer and greener thanks to a warming climate, according to a new study.
At the heart of the phenomenon lie tiny marine microorganisms(海洋微生物) called phytoplankton. Because of the way light reflects off the organisms, these phytoplankton create colourful patterns at the ocean surface. Ocean colour varies from green to blue, depending on the type and concentration of phytoplankton. Climate change will fuel the growth of phytoplankton in some areas, while reducing it in other spots, leading to changes in the ocean’s appearance.
Phytoplankton live at the ocean surface, where they pull carbon dioxide(二氧化碳) into the ocean while giving off oxygen. When these organisms die, they bury carbon in the deep ocean, an important process that helps to regulate the global climate. But phytoplankton are vulnerable to the ocean’s warming trend. Warming changes key characteristics of the ocean and can affect phytoplankton growth, since they need not only sunlight and carbon dioxide to grow, but also nutrients.
Stephanie Dutkiewicz, a scientist in MIT’s Center for Global Change Science, built a climate model that projects changes to the oceans throughout the century. In a world that warms up by 3℃, it found that multiple changes to the colour of the oceans would occur. The model projects that currently blue areas with little phytoplankton could become even bluer. But in some waters, such as those of the Arctic, a warming will make conditions riper for phytoplankton, and these areas will turn greener. “Not only are the quantities of phytoplankton in the ocean changing. ” she said, “but the type of phytoplankton is changing.”
And why does that matter? Phytoplankton are the base of the food web. If certain kinds begin to disappear from the ocean, Dutkiewicz said, “it will change the type of fish that will be able to survive.” Those kinds of changes could affect the food chain.
Whatever colour changes the ocean experiences in the coming decades will probably be too gradual and unnoticeable, but they could mean significant changes. “It’ll be a while before we can statistically show that the changes are happening because of climate change,” Dutkiewicz said, “but the change in the colour of the ocean will be one of the early warning signals that we really have changed our planet.”
1．What are the first two paragraphs mainly about?| A．The various patterns at the ocean surface. |
| B．The cause of the changes in ocean colour. |
| C．The way light reflects off marine organisms. |
| D．The efforts to fuel the growth of phytoplankton. |
| A．Sensitive. | B．Beneficial. | C．Significant. | D．Unnoticeable. |
| A．Phytoplankton play a declining role in the marine ecosystem. |
| B．Dutkiewicz’s model aims to project phytoplankton changes. |
| C．Phytoplankton have been used to control global climate. |
| D．Oceans with more phytoplankton may appear greener. |
| A．To assess the consequences of ocean colour changes. |
| B．To analyse the composition of the ocean food chain. |
| C．To explain the effects of climate change on oceans. |
| D．To introduce a new method to study phytoplankton. |
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