More than 2.25 billion cups of coffee are drunk throughout the world each day, and it’s likely that many taste bitter. Now, a new study suggests that coffee fans can make their drink sweeter by changing the color of their cups.

Researchers from Oxford set out to prove whether the claim that coffee drunk from a white cup tastes bitter was true. They used 36 volunteers and three different colored cups---blue, white and transparent(透明的) glass--- to examine the claim.

In one experiment, the white cup increased the intensity (濃度) of the coffee taste relative to the transparent cup. Then, in a second experiment, coffee drunk from the white cup was found to taste less sweet when compared to the other colored cups, while the blue cup made the coffee taste the sweetest.

The scientists believe that the color brown may be associated with bitterness, and coffee in a white cup appears the brownest. “Our study clearly shows that the color of a cup does influence our sense of the coffee taste,” leading author Dr George Doorn, wrote in an article for The Conversation. “The effect of the color of the cup on the taste of the coffee reported here suggests that cafe owners should carefully consider the color of their cups,”he said,“The potential effects may spell the difference between a one-time purchase and a return customer.” Actually, the idea that color can change the food and drink taste came out many years ago. A study published last year reported that red, strawberry-flavored cake served on a white plate was rated as 10 percent sweeter than the same food presented on a black plate.

1.The passage is mainly about _____.

A. the popularity of sweet coffee.

B. an experiment made in Oxford.

C. the effect of cup color on coffee’s taste

D. useful tips on how to make coffee.

2.In which cup will coffee taste the sweetest

A. A white cup B. A blue cup

C. A transparent cup D. A brown cup

3.Café owners should consider their cups’ color in order to ______.

A. reduce the daily expenses

B. show their taste in coffee

C. appeal to more customers

D. make their café different.

4.We learn from the passage that_____.

A. coffee in a white cup tastes sweeter than that in a transparent glass

B. over 2 billion cups of sweet coffee are drunk worldwide each year.

C. Dr. George Doorn wrote an article about making conversations.

D. the idea that color could affect the taste of drink is not new.

根據(jù)短文內(nèi)容，從短文后的選項(xiàng)中選出能填入空白處的最佳選項(xiàng)。選項(xiàng)中有兩項(xiàng)為多余選項(xiàng)。

Five Things to Do in a Traffic Jam

Tired of traffic jams? Here are some tips that can help you to calm down in a traffic jam.

Listen to CD audio book

It’s a good idea to keep several audio books in your car. 1.Listening to an exciting story is more interesting than sitting silently and being bored.

Sing loudly

If you begin getting angry because of a long traffic jam, turn your CD player on or radio up. 2. Imagine you’re a wonderful singer and the audience is listening to you in admiration. Your stress will disappear.

3. .

You can use the radio and play entertaining games while waiting. For example,you can guess the song or the singer or to see how quickly you can recognize a new song.

Have a snack

Keeping a tasty snack in the car is especially good for waiting in traffic jams.Choo-

se what you like most of all, so you will look forward to traffic jams to have a chance to eat the delicious snack. 4.In that case, time is the last thing to worry about.

Argue with the radio talk show host

Find a station with a radio talk show. 5.If you disagree, you can show your anger.

Don’t be afraid to call their ideas stupid. Only make sure that the car windows are clo-

sed so no one may hear you.

Sitting in a traffic jam can be very stressful but next time you can use these simple

tips, and you won’t notice how long you have been waiting and soon you will be on

your way.

A. Play games

B. Use the radio.

C. Enjoy every bite of it.

D. Listen to their debates carefully.

E. Loud singing can help to reduce stress.

F. Begin to enjoy them as quickly as you can.

G. The storyteller’s voice can clear all your bad emotions.

完形填空

閱讀下面短文，從短文后各題所給的四個(gè)選項(xiàng)（A、B、C和D）中選出可以填入空白處的最佳選項(xiàng)，并在答題卡上將該項(xiàng)涂黑。

Every time I passed boys who were playing basketball, I stopped to silently watch them. I really _________them. But as a girl, I once thought that I could never play basketball.

I like playing basketball though I'm not good at it. I've had a basketball _________ I was a child. At first, I could play freely because no one_________when I was just a kid. But as I grew up it seemed harder and harder for me to enjoy basketball.

At school, it was always the boys who played basketball during PE classes. The girls were _________allowed to play volleyball or badminton.

My parents did not_________me play basketball at home. "Basketball is not fit for girls," they said. _________ when I went to play basketball with my friends, boys_________at me on the court as if I were an alien.

I was feeling_________and had lost hope of playing basketball. _________ ,something changed the first day of high school. I made some friends who also enjoyed playing basketball. They _________ me to get back on the court.

One of them told me with a smile, "Go your own _________ ,let others talk." This girl would always play basketball with me. Even the boy who sat next to me in class talked about _________with me almost every day. I was inspired by them. Confidence and passion_________ to my heart. I am ready to stand up and play. I will play as well as I can, _________ for me, even the sky is boundless (無(wú)垠的).

Basketball has become an important part of my _________ . I am interested in it. I watch matches and enjoy playing almost every day. Through basketball, not only do I feel happy and confident, but also _________ a lot.

I've heard the NBA star Tracy McGrady say, "Nothing is impossible." It is from an advertisement on TV. I have _________ to realize that life is just like playing basketball. You should have an _________ .After that, just be confident and_________ going. Never give up and you'll make it sooner or later. I love the motto of the NBA. It can_________ my strong feelings for basketball, "I love this game!"

1.A. dislike B. annoyed C. envied D. appreciated

2.A. when B. before C. after D. since

3.A. struggled B. cared C. enjoyed D. joined

4.A. only B. almost C. hardly D. not

5.A. encourage B. agree C. let D. permit

6.A. Still B. Yet C. Just D. Even

7.A. looked B. glared C. glanced D. stared

8.A. up B. down C. excited D. satisfied

9.A. Unluckily B. Naturally C. Unexpectedly D. Clearly

10.A. encouraged B. forbade C. ensured D. explored

11.A. effort B. way C. business D. direction

12.A. basketball B. sports C. interests D. dreams

13.A. stuck B. referred C. turned D. returned

14.A. but B. though C. and D. however

15.A.wish B. life C. work D. study

16.A. experience B. grow C. learn D. play

17.A. come B. turned C. refused D. happened

18.A. idea B. aim C. keep D. last

19.A. inform B. express C. ignore D. connect

閱讀下面材料，在空白處填入適當(dāng)?shù)膬?nèi)容(1個(gè)單詞)或括號(hào)內(nèi)單詞的正確形式。

I was always told that the three Ps, patience, positive thinking and perseverance（堅(jiān)持，恒心,毅力）, were a sure path 1.success.But this advice does not always work as planned. My high school maths exam is one example. The exam, 2.was originally to be held in our classroom, 3.(change)to the library at the last minute. This, 4., didn’t bother me because maths had always been my strongest subject. I 5.(patient) walked to the library, took my seat and did some deep breathing to help relax6..But my mood changed quickly when I saw the first question. I had no idea how to do it. I tried to stay positive and persevered7.I finally found the solution. With the problem solved, I felt proud8.my achievement. 9.(fortunate), I then noticed that I had just 10 minutes left 10.(complete) the rest.

短文改錯(cuò)

文中共有 10處語(yǔ)言錯(cuò)誤，每句中最多有兩處。錯(cuò)誤僅涉及一個(gè)單詞的增加、刪除或修改。

增加：在缺詞處加一個(gè)漏字符號(hào)（∧），并在其下面寫出該加的詞。

刪除：把多余的詞用(＼)劃掉。

修改：在錯(cuò)的詞下畫一橫線（___），并在該詞下面寫出修改后的詞。

注意：1.每處錯(cuò)誤及其修改均僅限一詞；

2.只允許修改10處，多者（從第11處起）不計(jì)分。

Dear Steven,

I'm glad that you are coming to Beijing this summer vacation. You asked many question in your letter, and now let me answer them.

Beijing, the capital of China, is attractive city with a long history. You can found all kinds of delicious food in Beijing, of that the most famous is the roast Beijing duck. I hope we will enjoy it. Besides, there is a great number of tourist attractions worth visiting, such as the Great Wall, the Summer Palace or the Forbidden City. These scenic spots have attracted millions of tourists in this year. I promise you will have a wonderfully time here in Beijing.

I’m looking forward to hear from you as soon as possible.

Yours,

Liu Chao

假定你是李明，上網(wǎng)時(shí)發(fā)現(xiàn)有外籍教師在網(wǎng)絡(luò)上輔導(dǎo)英語(yǔ)口語(yǔ)，因此發(fā)帖向在線外籍教師Peter尋求幫助。要點(diǎn)包括：

1．自我介紹（姓名、身份及年級(jí)）；2．英語(yǔ)學(xué)習(xí)情況、困難及感受；

3．請(qǐng)求給予幫助。

注意：

1.詞數(shù)100左右；2．適當(dāng)增加細(xì)節(jié)，不要逐句翻譯；

3 開頭和結(jié)束語(yǔ)已為你寫好。

Dear Peter,

______________________________________________________________ _

______________________________________________________________ _

______________________________________________________________ _

______________________________________________________________ _

______________________________________________________________ _

______________________________________________________________ _

Yours

Li Ming

The management and staff are happy to welcome you and will do all they can to make your stay an enjoyable one.

We hope you will find the following suggestions and information of use to you.

MEAL TIMES

Our overnight charge includes a continental-type breakfast.

Breakfast: 7:30-9:30 a. m. Lunch: 12:00-2:00 p. m.

Afternoon tea: 4:00-5:30 p. m. Dinner: 7:00-9:15 p. m.

Meals can be served in rooms at a small extra charge. We regret that owing to staff arrangements, meals cannot be served outside these times. In exceptional circumstances please consult one of our receptionists in advance.

Light refreshments, including tea, coffee, biscuits and sandwiches, can be served in rooms between 10:00 a. m. and 11:00 p. m. except during the meal times listed above. Cold drinks are available in the room refrigerator.

ROOM CLEANING

Please hang the appropriate sign on your door handle if you do not wish to be disturbed. It will be easier for the maids if you can leave the room temporarily at any time between 9:30 a. m. and 4:00 p. m.

VALUABLES

We are not responsible for the loss of money, jewellery, or other valuables unless they are kept in the safe and signed for by the manager.

DEPARTURES

Please inform receptionists of your intended leaving before 9:30 a. m. of the day concerned and leave the room by noon to allow for its preparation for incoming guests. If circumstances (情況) require, luggage can be left temporarily in the charge of the Hall Porter.

A SPECIAL REQUEST

We would respectfully suggest that in consideration of the comfort of other guests, the volume of radios and televisions should be turned down after 11:00 p. m.

1.Meals can be served _______.

A. outside the room at 3:00 p. m.

B. in the dining-room at 6:00 p. m.

C. in the dining-room from 7:30 a. m. to 9:15 p. m.

D. in rooms at 9:00 p. m.

2.If you do not wish to be disturbed, you should_______.

A. close the door all the time

B. turn off all the light

C. hang a sign on the door handle

D. inform receptionist not to telephone you

3.If you intend to leave the room tomorrow, you may leave at any of the following hours except ______

A. 3:00 p. m. B. 12:00 a. m.

C. 10:00 a. m. D. 11:00 a. m.

4.Where is this notice most likely to be found?

A. At restaurants. B. In shops.

C. In hotels. D. In the newspapers.

5.What can we conclude from the last paragraph?

A. You should respect the other guests’ privacy.

B. You are not allowed to use radios and televisions.

C. You shouldn't make the radios and televisions too loud after 11:00 p.m.

D. To comfort others, you should turn off radios and televisions after 11:00 p.m.

I still remember—my hands and my fingers still remember—what used to lie in store for us on our return to school from the holidays. The trees in the school yard would be in full leaf again and the old leaves would be lying around like a muddy sea of leaves.

“Get that all swept up！” the headmaster would tell us. “I want the whole place cleaned up, at once！” There was enough work there, to last over a week. Especially since the only tools with which we were provided were our hands, our fingers, and our nails. “Now see that it's done properly, and be quick about it，” the headmaster would say to the older pupils, “or you'll have to answer for it！”

So at an order from the older boys we would all line up like peanuts about to cut and gather in crops. If the work was not going as quickly as the headmaster expected, the big boys, instead of giving us a helping hand, used to find it simpler to beat us with branches pulled from the trees. In order to avoid these blows(毆打), we used to bribe(賄賂) the older boys with the juicy cakes we used to bring for our midday meals. And if we happened to have any money on us, the coins changed hands at once. If we did not do this, if we were afraid of going home with an empty stomach or an empty purse, the blows were redoubled. They hit us so violently and with such evil enjoyment that even a deaf and dumb person would have realized that we were being whipped(抽打) not so much to make us work harder, but rather to beat us into a state of obedience(服從) in which we would be only too glad to give up our food and money.

Occasionally one of us, worn out by such calculated cruelty, would have the courage to complain to the headmaster. He would of course be very angry, but the punishment he gave the older boys was always very small—nothing compared to what they had done to us. And the fact is that however much we complained, our situation did not improve in the slightest. Perhaps we should have let our parents know what was going on, but somehow we never dreamed of doing so; I don't know whether it was loyalty or pride that kept us silent, but I can see now that we were foolish to keep quiet about it, for such beatings were completely foreign to our nature.

1.The statement “my hands and my fingers still remember” (Para.1) means that________．

A．the author's hands were severely injured in the cleaning up

B．the author seldom did such hard work as the cleaning up

C．the author was bullied by the big boys in the cleaning up

D．the author's hands were his only tool for the cleaning up

2.The headmaster would tell the students to clean up the school yard at the beginning of the term because________．

A．he was too lazy

B．there were many fallen leaves on the ground

C．the school yard was covered with mud

D．the students didn't finish their homework

3.The headmaster asked the older boys to________．

A．beat those who worked slowly

B．treat the small boys as peanuts

C．take charge of the process of the cleaning up

D．do the cleaning up all by themselves

4.According to Para. 3, if the author had any money on him, he most probably________．

A．gave it to the big boys so as to please them

B．gave it as a bribe to the headmaster

C．spent it all on his midday meal

D．spent it buying midday meals for the big boys

5.When receiving complaints, the headmaster would deal with the big boys by means of ________．

A．slight punishment B．harsh criticism

C．complete indifference D．good beatings

More than four decades ago British scientist Robert Edwards first witnessed the miracle of human life growing inside a test tube at his Cambridge lab. Since that ground-breaking moment, more than four million babies have been born through IVF and in 2010 his great contribution to science was finally recognized as he was awarded the Nobel Prize for medicine.

The prize for Dr. Edwards, who was given a Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Award in 2008, includes a £900,000 check. The Nobel Assembly described IVF as a “milestone in modern medicine”.

With the help of fellow scientist Patrick Steptoe, the Manchester-born physiologist developed IVF - leading to the birth of the world’s first test tube baby. Dr. Steptoe died 10 years later but their work has transformed fertility treatment and given hope to millions of couples.

It was a scientific breakthrough that transformed the lives of millions of couples. They said: “His achievements have made it possible to treat infertility, a disease which makes human unable to have a baby. This disease has been afflicting a large percentage of mankind including more than 10% of all couples worldwide.”

Louise Brown, the world’s first test tube baby, made international headlines when she was born in Oldham, Manchester, in 1978 to parents Lesley and John who had been fruitlessly trying for a baby since 1969.

IVF-----in-vitro fertilization is the process whereby egg cells are fertilized outside the body before being implanted in the womb. After a cycle of IVF, the probability of a couple with infertility problems having a baby is one in five—the same as healthy couples who conceive naturally.

Professor Edwards, who has five daughters and 11 grandchildren, began his research at Cambridge University in 1963, after receiving his PhD in 1955. He once said: “The most important thing in life is having a child. Nothing is more special than a child.” With the help of fellow scientist Patrick Steptoe, Prof. Edwards founded the Bourn Hall clinic in Cambridge shire, which now treats more than 900 women a year. Each year, more than 30,000 women in Britain now undergo IVF and 11,000 babies are born as a result of the treatment.

But his work attracted widespread criticism from some scientists and the Catholic Church who said it was “unethical and immoral”.

Martin Johnson, professor of reproductive sciences at the University of Cambridge, said the award was “l(fā)ong overdue”. He said: “We couldn’t understand why the Nobel has come so late but he is delighted - this is the cherry on the cake for him.”

Professor Edwards was too ill to give interviews but a statement released by his family said he was “thrilled and delighted”.

1.What is Robert Edwards’ contribution to science?

A. Enabling millions of couples to live a better life.

B. Seeing the wonder of the first tube baby growing

C. Helping couples with infertility to have tube babies.

D. Challenging a disease which stops human having a baby.

2.What does the underlined word “afflicting”(Paragraph 4)most probably refer to?

A. Troubling B. Developing

C. Improving D. Confusing

3.Why did Professor Edwards begin his research on tube baby?

A. Because he thought it of great significance to have a child in life.

B. Because the birthrate around the world was unexpectedly low then.

C. Because a special child did make a difference to an ordinary family.

D. Because his fellow scientist wanted to give hope to the unlucky couples.

4.It can be inferred from Paragraph 8 and Paragraph 9 that ___________.

A. Professor Edwards deserved the prize for his breakthrough.

B. different opinions were voiced on Professor Edwards’ achievement.

C. some people envied Professor Edwards for his being awarded.

D. the prize was late because the finding was first considered immoral.

5.What might be the best title for the passage?

A. Life Stories of Robert Edwards

B. Preparations for Having a Baby

C. Nobel Prize for IVF Expert Edwards

D. Treatment of Infertility in a Lab

根據(jù)短文內(nèi)容，從短文后的選項(xiàng)中選出能填入空白處的最佳選項(xiàng)。選項(xiàng)中有兩項(xiàng)為多余選項(xiàng)。

Happiness is for everyone. You don’t need to care about those people who have beautiful houses with large gardens and swimming pools or 1._________ and so on. Why? Because those who have big houses may often feel lonely and those who have cars may want to walk on the country roads at their free time.

In fact, happiness is always around you if you put your heart into it. 2.________ When you study hard at your lessons, your parents are always taking good care of your life and your health. When you get success, your friends will say congratulations to you. When you do something wrong, people around you will help you to correct it. 3.________ All these are your happiness. If you notice a bit of them, you can see that happiness is always around you.

Happiness is not the same as money. It is a feeling of your heart. When you are poor, you can also say you are very happy, because you have something else that can’t be bought with money. 4._________, because you have more chances to challenge yourself. So you cannot always say you are poor and you have bad luck. As the saying goes, life is like a revolving(旋轉(zhuǎn)的)door. When it closes, it also opens. 5._________.

A. When you are in trouble at school, your friends will help you

B. If you take every chance you get, you can be a happy and lucky person

C. those who have nice cars and a lot of money

D. And when you do something good to others, you will feel happy, too

E. those who have no houses

F. When you meet with difficulties, you can give them up and be happy

G. When you meet with difficulties, you can say loudly you are very happy