The poaching (偷獵)，or illegal killing，of rhinos(犀牛) in South Africa is growing worse each year．The government recently reported that a record number of rhinos were poached in 2015，a year which had more rhino killings in South Africa than ever before．

The World Wildlife Fund，or WWF，says about 20, 000 rhinos live in South Africa． That is more than 80 percent of the rhinos in the world． Edna Molewa， South Africa’s Environment Minister，says, “During 2015，we are sad to say this，1, 215 rhinos were killed．This is a rise in the number of poached rhinos from 1,004 in 2014 and indeed very worrying.”

The animals are hunted for their horns(角)．Many people in Asia believe the horn has curing power， which drives poachers， at all costs， mad for more horns． But there is no scientific evidence for this belief．The horn is made of keratin(角蛋白)．That is the same thing as human hair，fingernails and toenails．

Ms．Molewa said 386 suspected poachers were arrested last year，an increase from the year before．But rhino protection workers say poachers often go unpunished after arrest． South Africa’s legal system is ineffective． Ms． Mo1ewa said more needs to be done and South Africa is taking strong measures to protect rhinos．The efforts include moving some of the animals to secret places in neighboring countries. “Now approximately 100 rhinos have been moved to neighboring states in the SADC region during 2015 and 200 more rhinos will be moved this year,” Molewa said.

Jo Shaw，the rhino program manager at the WWF，said，“We’re talking about a loss of a hundred rhinos a month，or more than three a day．We really need to see effective action not just at a national level but internationally．” She says officials should find the criminal groups responsible for the poaching and punish them. Government officials are to meet in Botswana in March at the Inter-governmental Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade．

1.According to paragraph 2, we know ________.

A．half of rhinos live in South Africa

B．less than 1,000 rhinos were killed in 2014

C．the killing reached the highest point in 2014

D．there are only 20,000 rhinos left in the world

2.What is the main reason for people to hunt rhinos?

A．To get more keratin． B．To protect the farmland．

C．To use them for decoration． D．To make money from horns.

3.Jo Shaw thinks that ________.

A．many criminal groups are well organized

B．new laws are needed to punish the killers

C．rhino protection needs international cooperation

D．conferences about protecting rhinos are to be held every year

4.What can we infer from the text?

A．Rhino protection has a long way to go.

B．No one would like to buy horns in the future.

C．The illegal killing of rhinos will soon disappear.

D．Rhinos living in South Africa will move to other countries.

“Selfie” may have been named Oxford Dictionary’s word of 2013. In effect，so widely known has the selfie become that in the past 12 months，its frequency in the English language has increased by 17000 percent， said Oxford dictionaries. However，its popularity has just earned it another honour-being voted the most annoying and overused term of the past 12 months. But I’d like to offer that maybe it isn’t so bad.

According to the Oxford online dictionary, selfie is a photo that one takes of oneself， often from a smart phone， and send them to a social media website. Women and men alike decorate their Facebook and Twitter accounts with these pictures， sometimes with exaggerated facial expressions，such as large smiles or puckered lips（噘嘴）.

Let’s think about it. Someone takes about 10 selfies each time they do， and they only end up posting one or two of those. They pick the one that they feel makes them look the best. Isn’t that beautiful？ In that one picture，somebody has given himself or herself confidence. Self-image is vital. In today’s society，we are so crazy about being perfect. But perhaps， with that one selfie，we feel as if we fit that need. We feel handsome，beautiful，confident，smart，happy，and content. For that moment，everything bad or terrible that has ever happened to us seemed to have been erased，for that smile or that pucker is what gives us the determination to love ourselves.

A spoken-word poem I saw lately set me thinking：If I ask you what you love，the answers will most likely roll of your tongue. You love to read. You love to write. You love birds，music…your mom，your brother，your sister，your daughter，your best friend，your dog. How long do you think you could go on and on before you said，“I love myself.”？

The poem hit me like a ton of bricks. I’ve struggled with confidence all of my life. And I still do. And in no way am I saying that taking a selfie is a gateway to that confidence. However，the selfie does deserve some credit for allowing individuals to express themselves. Just as Pamela Rutledge put it，“There are many more photographs available now of real people than models.”

1.According to the writer, we live in a society where ________.

A. selfie leads to success

B. a good image decides one’s status

C. one’s poor performance can be erased

D. being perfect is highly valued

2.The spoken-word poem mentioned in the 4th paragraph implies ________.

A. our pleasure to enjoy beauty

B. our need to love people around us

C. our tendency to ignore ourselves

D. our real love to share with others

3.What does the underlined word “credit” in the last paragraph mean?

A. praise B. grade C. trust D. fame

4.In the writer’s opinion, selfie ________.

A. brings about people’s sense of confidence

B. is merely popular among teenagers

C. tells the true meaning of life

D. is an annoying phenomenon on the Internet

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

High school can be quite the stressful time for any student. There are numerous stresses to deal with and the pressure can be more intense as you enter your senior year. 1. The answer is as follows.

2. Adjust your approach to your specific situation. For instance, if you’re active in your community and your school and have a large family, you may feel depressed by having all these people involved in your life on a daily basis. 3. You just may need a moment to be alone and collect your thoughts before moving on to the challenges that face you.

4. If your stress persists and you can’t figure out a way to handle it, you may want to try speaking to your school counselor(顧問). If you don’t feel comfortable speaking to your counselor, try getting some other types of counseling.

Realize your limits, and plan around them. Don’t take on more than you can handle. If you take on too many things, you will be spread too thin and won’t be able to perform at your best in anything. 5. You will definitely feel more at ease!

A. Seek professional counseling.

B. Why does the stress come into being?

C. Try thinking of alternative ways to deal with stress.

D. When you feel relieved, you can have a happier life.

E. Taking some time out to be alone may be the best way to handle such stress.

F. But how on earth can you reduce some of the stress?

G. Evaluate what tasks and activities are most important and leave others behind.

閱讀下面短文，從短文后各題所給的四個選項（A、B、C和D）中，選出可以填入空白處的最佳選項。

Millions of people seek help from psychologists in part because they feel different from others. But a _________ Andrew Erlich says that everyone is a freak(怪物) in some way. Erlich _________ for acceptance of differences in his book “The Long Shadows” about an uncle, Jake Erlich, who overcame prejudice, depression and _________ caused by his extreme height.

“Most of us have something that we are embarrassed about. It is like an invisible clubfoot（畸形足）. But for Jake, it was_________ . Everybody saw it,” said Andrew. As a clinical psychologist, Andrew Erlich helps patients who see themselves as freaks. First, he tells them about his uncle. “Here is a man that _________ the challenges, and he does it not by _________ who he is, but by embracing(擁抱) who he is _________ and expressing it in the visual _________ and in his performances,” he said.

Erlich’s _________ tells about how Jake toured with the circus and then, after suffering temporary blindness, _________ sculpture and painting. “He found _________ through creativity. I am _________ interested in the creative process in the people that I see, and I use Jake as an example, and I _________ them his paintings,” said Erlich.

“Jake really wanted to do something _________ . You see a scene and your _________ come through as you see and feel it, and you believe he painted it from different _________ ,” said Erlich. “People were _________ of human differences, and they would _________ walls to protect themselves from those differences and those walls that _________ us are very dangerous,” he said.

Erlich hopes that his uncle’s story will help readers _________ themselves and fulfill their dreams.

1.A. physician B. painter C. writer D. psychologist

2.A. argues B. defines C. prepares D. protests

3.A. disappointment B. loss C. pain D. illness

4.A. pleasant B. present C. sick D. widespread

5.A. fears B. overlooks C. overcomes D. rejects

6.A. avoiding B. admitting C. recognizing D. imagining

7.A. tightly B. quickly C. bravely D. easily

8.A. books B. arts C. actions D. habits

9.A. clinic B. book C. painting D. experiment

10.A. gave up B. thought over C. figured out D. took up

11.A. freedom B. health C. pressure D. sorrow

12.A. seldom B. rarely C. quite D. nearly

13.A. explain B. count C. draw D. show

14.A. suddenly B. differently C. happily D. simply

15.A. emotions B. possessions C. talents D. abilities

16.A. colors B. books C. lights D. angles

17.A. aware B. tired C. confident D. Frightened

18.A. build B. destroy C. remove D. break

19.A. prevent B. separate C. withdraw D. threaten

20.A. recover B. upgrade C. accept D. learn

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

Is there such a thing as being “over-protective”?

I can honestly say that my answer to that question 1. (change) dramatically(戲劇性地) since I became a parent.

Before the birth of my daughter, I taught at 2. private school, often viewing my students as over-protected, worrying 3. would happen when they went on to middle schools. Some did fine, and some did not. Some needed constant pats on the back, words of 4. (inspire) and extra support, which I 5. (happy) gave. Others were content on their own, needing little 6. no interaction(互動) with their teacher. I’d always supposed their parents were over-protective, for they were the ones that still walked their 7. (five) graders into the classroom and met them at the school gate.

Admittedly, I laughed at those parents, 8. (think) their children would never learn to be 9. (independence) if they didn’t let go just a little. Then I had my own daughter. The moment I looked at her little face, I 10. (know) I’d do everything in my power to protect her and make sure she always felt safe!

短文改錯

假定英語課上老師要求同桌之間交換修改作文，請你修改你同桌寫的以下作文。文中共有10處語言錯誤，每句中最多有兩處。錯誤涉及一個單詞的增加、刪除或修改。

增加：在缺詞處加一個漏詞符號（∧），并在其下面寫出該加的詞。

刪除：把多余的詞用斜線（\）劃掉。

修改：在錯的詞下面劃一橫線（____），并在該詞下面寫出修改的詞。

注意：1.每處錯誤及修改均僅限一詞；

2. 只允許修改10處，多者（從第11處起）不計分

As Senior Three approaching, I really hope to have a heart-to-heart talk with my parents. I always feel grateful for his unselfish care and love. Thanks for their constant encouragement, I have made rapid progress in my study.

It will be less than one month since the final exam, so I’m under a pressure now. I would appreciate it if they could have frequently talks with me to provide me with timely help, which contribute to keeping me in a good state of mind.

I made up my mind to study hard, for I believe hard work is the key to succeed. Meanwhile, I will spare some time to participate in various activity to build up my body.

李華是生活在某個社區(qū)的孩子，她感到孩子們的社區(qū)生活單調(diào)，幾乎沒有朋友，于是打算向社區(qū)負責(zé)人黃叔叔提出解決該問題的建議。請你就此事以李華的名義寫一篇 100 詞左右的郵件。

內(nèi)容包括：

1. 組織社區(qū)里的孩子參加清潔本小區(qū)的勞動。

2. 提供一個固定場所供孩子們課后學(xué)習(xí)和交流。

3. 鼓勵孩子們加入社區(qū)足球俱樂部并安排比賽。

注意：

1. 詞數(shù)100左右；

2. 可適當(dāng)增加細節(jié)，以使行文連貫；

3. 信的開頭與結(jié)尾已為你寫好。

Dear Mr. Huang,

I am Li Hua, a child living in this community.______________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

Best wishes!

Yours sincerely,

Li Hua

My cell phone rang while I was working on my computer. I looked at the phone and saw it was my 17-year-old son, Tom. I quickly picked it up.“Mom,I got a 71 on the test.I did it.”With those few words,I could feel my heart start to pound.

Living in New York State. Students cannot graduate from high school unless they pass at least five exams: one in English, one in science, two in history and one in math. For most students, who work hard, attend class, and do their homework like my son, it isn't that hard. But for Tom, who is dyslexic(朗讀困難）, it is such a real challenge that some teachers have feared he would never be able to even attempt, never mind achieve.

We were honest with him about his trouble, letting him know that there was nothing to be ashamed of. Some people learn differently. If he was willing to work,we would help him find a way to do as much as he could in his academic career. All that was standing in his way was this math test. He had taken it three times and did better each time, but he continued to fail. He was starting to get a bit tired of me saying this was a marathon not a sprint(沖刺). My heart broke each time we would get the failing results.

“Mom,thanks. I love you. Thanks for believing I could do this.”

For one of the few times in my life, I really had nothing left to say. For that one brief moment I knew, really, really, knew that everything we did to help our son achieve what he wanted was worth it.

1.What does the underlined word “pound” in Paragraph l probably mean?

A. Sink suddenly. B. Beat wildly.

C. Ache violently. D. Break totally.

2.According to the text, Tom was weak in _________.

A. English B. science C. history D. math

3.How did the writer feel when she wrote this text?

A. She felt proud and satisfied.

B. She felt surprised and bitter.

C. She felt grateful and relaxed.

D. She felt worried and anxious.

4.What can be the best title for the text?

A. A Mother's Love That Made the Grade

B. A Student Who Struggled for a Diploma

C. Failure Is the Mother of Success

D. Life Is Not a Sprint but a Marathon

Hunter Bliss, like more and more American students, left the United States to go to college. In the 2011-2012 school year, 46,571 U.S. students registered for degree programs in 14 countries. The top destination countries were the U.K. and Canada, followed by France, Germany, Italy and some other European countries. Germany, in particular, has attracted many more American students in recent years, like Hunter Bliss.

In 2012, there were more than 4,000 American students completing bachelor's, master's and doctor's degrees in Germany. The Institute of International Education (IIE) says that the number of U.S. students completing college degrees in Western Europe increased by about 5 percent from 2010 to 2012. American students choose to study in another country for two main reasons. First, international experience is becoming more important in the modern job market. Second, the cost of higher education has continued to rise in the United States. Rising tuition (學(xué)費) costs make education abroad—particularly in countries that charge no tuition-attractive to American students, says the IIE.

Many American students choose Germany because of the low cost of education there. German public universities do not charge tuition fees. And many universities in Germany offer courses in English, too. College education in the US is seen as a privilege and expected to cost money but in Germany it is seen as an extension of a free high school education where one expects it to be provided.

The German government has been eager to encourage students to come to Germany for another reason. Like many countries in Western Europe, German's population is becoming older, and fewer young people are entering college and the job market. The German government hopes to attract skilled foreign students who will stay in Germany.

1.Which country attracted American students most in the 2011-2012 school year?

A. Germany. B. France. C. Britain. D. Italy.

2.The main reason why US students choose to study in Germany is that ________.

A. many universities there offer courses in English

B. the cost of education is relatively low there

C. studying abroad matters in their job hunting

D. it is much easier to find a job than in the USA

3.What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 3 refer to?

A. Overseas education. B. High school education.

C. College education. D. Public education.

4.What does the text mainly talk about?

A. More and more US students choose colleges overseas.

B. Reasons why more students study in foreign countries.

C. Western Europe manages to attract foreign students.

D. Advantages and disadvantages of German education.

Imagine picking apples on Christmas or going skating on May Day. What about going for a swim on Thanksgiving? Without Leap Day(閏日）,which takes place every four years, that could happen.

Our calendar is normally 365 days long. It was created to match the cycles of the seasons. But Roman ruler Julius Caesar noticed a problem: The earth doesn't circle the sun in exactly 365 days. It actually cakes 365 and one-quarter days. He figured out that the extra part of a day would cause the calendar to grow apart from the seasons over time. Over 100 years, the seasons would shift (推移）about 24 days. Spring would start on April 13 instead of March 20.

Caesar used math to figure out a way to stop the calendar from shifting. He decided to add an extra day to the month of February every four years. His idea helped keep the seasons and calendar matched up. Even so, it still wasn’t perfect—his calendar was adding too many days.

In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII worked on Caesar's idea. His calendar, called the Gregorian calendar, declares that every year that is equally divided by 400 is a leap year. Turn-of-the-century years, or years ending in “00”, would not be leap years unless they could be divided equally by 400. These complicated equations(等式）help keep the calendar in balance with the orbit of the earth. Today, we still use the Gregorian calendar. In about 3，000 years, the calendar will be only one day out of step with the seasons, It's still not perfect, but mathematicians decided it was as close as we could get.

1.Why was Julius Caesar's calendar not good enough?

A.Spring would start twenty-four days later than usual

B.It would be only one day out of step with the seasons.

C.There would be too many days on the calendar.

D.Leap Day would take place every other year.

2.It can be inferred from the text that ________.

A.the earth circles the sun in exactly 365 days

B.Gregorian calendar is more scientific than Caesar's

C.Pope's calendar has been used for 3，000 years

D.Caesar added an extra day to every February

3.Which of the following years is a leap year according to Pope?

A.The year 2100.

B. The year 2200.

C. The year 2300.

D. The year 2400.

4.In which section of a website can you probably read this text?

A. Opinion. B. Policy. C. Entertainment. D. Science.