text 1

Throughout the world, parents talk differently to babies than they do to adults. With their young kids, parents use baby talk, featuring long pauses and a roller coaster of pitch(音高)changes.

While parents may feel a bit silly using baby talk, they shouldn't in fact. Babies not only prefer listening to it, but they also learn new words more easily from it. By highlighting the structure of speech, such as the differences between the vowels"a" and "o", baby talk helps babies translate sounds into meaningful units of language.

Actually, the timbre(音色)plays a role. The timbre of an instrument clearly affects how we experience music, but its role in language is less obvious. Looking into the timbre of baby talk, researchers made some surprising discoveries. In a new study published in Current Biology, researchers reported for the first time that mothers shifted their overall vocal timbre when speaking to their babies, as if they were changing their voice into a different instrument to address these unique little listeners.

In the Princeton Baby Lab, where researchers study how children learn, they recorded English-speaking mothers while they talked with their 7-to-12-month-old babies and while they spoke to an adult experimenter, and found that adult-directed and baby-directed speech had consistently different timbres.

Most surprisingly, in a second sample of non-English-speaking mothers, researchers found that this timbre shift was also highly consistent across nine diverse languages. This suggests these timbre shifts may represent a universal form of communication with babies.

Being able to identify baby talk across multiple languages could give us rich information about the amount and type of language children hear at preschool across different cultural environments. This could help researchers and educators predict and improve outcomes such as vocabulary and success at school.

Parents should feel conscious of their own baby talk: with it they're helping their baby learn.

1.What is the advantage of parents' using baby talk?

A.It is good for babies to change pitch.

B.It helps translate sounds into different languages.

C.It makes babies learn more languages.

D.It helps babies improve their language ability.

2.What did the study published in Current Biology find?

A.Mothers usually changed their timbre when talking with their babies.

B.Mothers avoided using instruments to talk with babies.

C.Non-English-speaking mothers spoke to babies with a consistent timbre.

D.English-speaking mothers were good at changing timbre when speaking with adults.

3.What is Paragraph 6 mainly about?

A.The aim of the research.

B.The process of the research.

C.The effect of parents' timbre shifts.

D.The meaning of studying baby talk.

text 2

Jem was twelve. He was difficult to live with, inconsistent, moody. His appetite was enormous, and he told me so many times to stop annoying him. I consulted Atticus: "Reckon he's got a tapeworm?" Atticus said no, Jem was growing. I must be patient with him and disturb him as little as possible.

This change in Jem had come about in a matter of weeks. Several times he went so far as to tell me what to do. After one argument when Jem shouted, "It's time you started bein' a girl and acting right!" I burst into tears and fled to Calpurnia.

"Don't you worry too much over Mister Jem--" she began.

"Mister Jem?"

"Yeah, he's just about Mister Jem now."

"He ain't that old," I said. "All he needs is somebody to beat him up, and I ain't big enough."

"Baby," said Calpurnia, "I just can't help it if Mister Jem's growin' up. He's gonna want to be off to himself a lot now, doin' whatever boys do, so you just come right on in the kitchen when you feel lonesome. We'll find lots of things to do in here." She seemed glad to see me when I appeared in the kitchen.

But summer came and I received a letter from Dill. It said he would not come this summer. I was not used to his absence. I stayed miserable for two days.

As if that were not enough, the state legislature(立法机关) was called into emergency session and Atticus left us for two weeks. There were sit-down strikes in Birmingham; bread lines in the cities grew longer, people in the country grew poorer. But these were events remote from the world of Jem and me.

We were surprised one morning to see a cartoon picture of our father in The Montgomery Advertiser. It showed Atticus barefooted and in short pants, chained to a desk: he was diligently writing on a stone while some frivolous(轻佻的)-looking girls yelled, "Yoo-hoo!" at him.

"That's a compliment(表扬)," explained Jem. "He spends his time doin' things that wouldn't get done if nobody did 'em."

"Huh?"

In addition to Jem's newly developed characteristics, he had acquired a maddening air of wisdom.

"Oh, Scout, it's like reorganizing the tax systems of the counties and things. That kind of thing's pretty dry to most men."

"How do you know?"

"Oh, go on and leave me alone. I'm readin' the paper."

Jem got his wish. I departed for the kitchen.

4. Which of the following did NOT affect Scout's life that summer?

A. Jem's growing. B. Dill's failing to come.

C. Atticus' leaving for sessions. D. A cartoon in the newspaper.

5. What belonged to Jem's newly developed characteristics that summer?

A. His tapeworm. B. His eating much.

C. His consistent mood. D. His abuse of Scout.

6. Scout hoped that Jem could return to normal if someone ________.

A. hit him heavily B. disturbed him

C. treated him badly D. made him independent

7. What happened outside the world of Jem and Scout that summer?

A. People went on strike by eating nothing. B. More people were waiting for food.

C. People went to the countryside. D. Atticus was chained to his office.

text 3

A block chain is a data structure that stores time-ordered data in an ever-growing list, like an accounting ledger(分类账簿). The block chain data structure is maintained using a distributed, peer-to-peer network of computers with no central "master". As with many new concepts, block chain technology generates much optimism and also a huge amount of interest and excitement. Just what is it good for?

In short, block chains may improve any process where people need to access, confirm, send or store information securely. This information could be a person's identity, a product's shipment history or digital property like money.

Typical databases, spreadsheets(电子数据表), and ledgers store information about objects, people, and the interactions between them. Much of the world's information, from credit card transactions to medical and financial records, is stored in these types of systems.

These types of systems have considerable, well-documented weaknesses that arise from their being centralized. A centralized record is hard to understand and is exposed to unauthorized access or distribution. It is also, because it is a 'master' copy, exposed to permanent changing or deletion.

Block chains are also used to store information. Crucially, however, they differ in two ways.

First, information is parceled up into blocks and sealed. Bitcoin, for example, which is the most famous practical example of a production block chain, stores all transactions across the network every ten minutes or so in a single, newly formed block. Each block is then added to the previous one to form a chain.

Second, this "chain of blocks" is not stored centrally. Instead, each block is copied and distributed around an entire network of peers - be they individuals, public institutions, or businesses - using distributed ledger technology. (The terms "'block chain" and "distributed ledger" are often used interchangeably; for the sake of clarity, block chain technologies tend to employ distributed ledger technology.)

Each time someone adds a new block to the chain, meanwhile it is added to everyone's copy.

8. What is the biggest strength of a block chain?

A. It promotes people's enthusiasm about new technology.

B. It strengthens the security of processing information.

C. It enables people to store more data in time order.

D. It stores a large part of world's information.

9. The typical systems used to store information are weak in that ________.

A. they are difficult to operateB. they can be accessed easily

C. they have a central "master"

D. they store considerable documents

10. The passage is developed mainly by ________.

A. making comparisonsB. giving examples

C. making a list D. showing the effect and causes

11. What's the author's purpose in writing the passage?

A. To analyze the weaknesses of typical systems.

B. To encourage the popularity of the block chain.

C. To introduce the new concept of the block chain.

D. To compare the two different data structures.

text 4

Henry Stanley is perhaps best known for his expedition into Africa to find Dr. David Livingstone, but that's not the only rescue mission he undertook. In December 1886, Stanley set off into Africa on what would be his last journey: an attempt to find and bring home a German zoologist named Eduard Schnitzer.

Schnitzer had taken the name "Emin Pasha," in an attempt to be better received by those he was living among. Pasha was cataloging a host of recently-discovered plant and animal lifeforms when fighting broke out in the Sudan. Pasha withdrew to Equatoria, at about the same time the Emin Pasha Relief Committee was formed. In addition to the chief goal of bringing Pasha home, Stanley was also under orders from the King of Belgium to open up some new trade routes in the area.

The roundabout route the Committee ended up taking meant that by the time they finally found Pasha many members of the expedition were dead. Those that did survive were worn, ill, and starving by the time they found Pasha who, in comparison, was well-dressed, clean, and—by some accounts—smoking a three-year-old cigar when they finally found him. He was in need of some support and supplies, but he had neither intent nor desire to leave the area. Arguments arose, causing a firm hatred between Stanley and Pasha.

Stanley finally convinced Pasha to leave with the remains of the expedition, setting off on a demanding trip back through Africa. They finally met up with some German explorers, and made it back to the port town of Bagamoyo in 1889.

During the party they threw to celebrate their return to civilization, Pasha fell off a balcony and broke his skull. Stanley returned to Europe to receive commendations and congratulations, while Pasha slowly recovered from his unwanted rescue.

12. What may be the title of this passage?

A. Happiness was balanced by sadness B. Stanley's best known expedition

C. A "successful" rescue missionD. A legend of Emin Pasha

13. What resulted in the deaths of the members of the expedition?

A. Hatred among the members led to bloody conflicts.

B. They were involved in a fighting with the local army.

C. The Committee was dismissed halfway through the mission.

D. The route they chose cost them too much time and supplies.

14. What does "commendations" mean in the last paragraph?

A. Criticism. B. Resignation. C. Preparation. D. Credit.

15. What does the author want to convey by mentioning "smoking a three-year-old cigar"?

A. Pasha was in good condition. B. Pasha ran out of supplies.

C. Pasha felt delighted at their arrival. D. Pasha was addicted to tobacco.

text 5

第二节 根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。

Beginning with Chinese efforts to explore and connect with Central Asia, the Silk Road consisted of massive small routes and was named after the silk cloth the Chinese produced. 16 Through these routes, Chinese silk, porcelain, lacquer work and ironware were shipped to the West, while pepper, flax, spices, grape and pomegranate entered China.

17 They promoted flow of knowledge as well. Arab astronomy, calendar and medicine found their way to China, while China's four great inventions and silkworm breeding spread to other parts of the world. 18 For example, Buddhism originated in India, blossomed in China and was enriched in Southeast Asia. Confucianism, which was born in China, gained appreciation by European thinkers such as Leibniz and Voltaire. Herein lies the appeal of mutual learning.

The ancient silk routes witnessed the busy scenes of visits and trade over land and ships calling at ports. Along these major routes, capital, technology and people flowed freely. 19 The ancient prosperous cities and ports developed, so did the Roman Empire as well as Parthia and Kushan Kingdoms. The Han and Tang Dynasties of China entered the golden age. The ancient silk routes brought prosperity to these regions and contributed to their development.

Some regions along the ancient Silk Road used to be a land of milk and honey. Yet today, these places are often associated with conflict, crisis and challenge. 20 Now, the Belt and Road Initiative intends to build an open platform of cooperation and a broad community of shared interests. It will not only achieve economic growth and balanced development, but also connect different civilizations. Mutual understanding, mutual respect, and mutual trust among different countries will be boosted.

A. More importantly ideas were also exchanged.

B. The ancient silk routes were not only for trade.

C. Goods, resources and benefits were widely shared.

D. Such state of affairs should not be allowed to continue.

E. However, silk was just one of many goods traded on these routes.

F. Large empires provided stability and protection for the trade routes.

G. The Silk Road was never an actual road, or even a single massive trade route.

text 6

It was somewhere between spring and summer, and my mom and I were driving through the countryside. Back then, I was 13 years old, and always felt unhappy with Mom. But little did I know that this trip was going to be a special one.

A pot of flowers sat in the back seat, whose heavenly scent filled the car.

Suddenly, in the middle of nowhere, my mom pulled over. "What are you doing?" I cried, fearing that the car had broken down and we'd be stuck there, so far from home. But that wasn't the case. My mom hopped out of the car, grabbing the flowers from the back seat. "It'll just be a minute," she called back through the open windows.

My eyes impatiently skimmed the edge of the road before settling on a little sign showing that it was a nursing home. I looked back to the building, somewhat annoyed, as my mom reappeared, empty-handed.

Before she started the car, curiosity drove me to ask, "Do you know someone there?" She shook her head. "Then what did you do with the flowers?" She smiled slightly, "I gave them to the receptionist." "What?" She laughed at my confusion. "I told the receptionist to give the flowers to whoever needed them, especially who hasn't gotten any in a while."

I kept silent for a moment. Not long after we continued our driving, I spoke again, "Did you leave your name?" To this she answered instantly, "No. Leaving flowers there for someone who will appreciate them makes me feel good, which is enough of a thank you for me."

Suddenly, still thinking about Mom's deeds, I heard something burst loudly. It was our car that broke down! Nothing could be worse, because neither my mom nor I understood how to repair it, and we didn't know where the garage was. It also seemed impossible to wait for any passer-by, since we had seen so few along the way.

注意:

1.所续写短文的词数应为150左右;

2.至少使用5个短文中标有下划线的关键词语;

3.续写部分分为两段,每段的开头语已为你写好;

4.续写完成后,请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语。

Paragraph 1: We were worrying about what could be done.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Paragraph 2: As we drove along, a flower shop came into sight on the road.

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

参考答案

1-3DAD

4-7DBAB

8-11 BCAC

12-15 CDDA

16-20 EBACD

Paragraph 1: We were worrying about what could be done. But after waiting in vain for a considerable time, Mom and I decided to walk back the road to the nursing home and seek help. God knows how far we had driven! When we arrived, the receptionist was surprised, but warmly helped us contact the garage. There, the old men who had received the flowers were excited to meet us, talking about how great that day was. It amazed me what random actions of kindness could mean to the people who received it. While we were laughing and talking merrily, the garage got our car repaired.

Paragraph 2: As we drove along, a flower shop came into sight on the road. I paced quickly into the flower shop, where a bunch of flowers glowing red in full bloom caught my eye. Having witnessed the effect of kindness, I decided to send Mom the sweet flowers. Soon, the heavenly scent filled the car again. Mom tried to conceal her excitement, but the glittering tears failed her. Through this trip, I discovered that, despite my occasional anger towards her, I actually felt proud of her. This was the trip of my life.

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