Alexis, 17, sat quietly in the passenger seat of her dad's car. She let her eyes lazily scan the landscape for wildlife. Then a deer came into view about 200 yards in front of them. "Dad, there's a deer there!" Alexis said. It was a male deer with sharp antlers (角) on each side of its head.

As the car moved closer, Alexis saw that the deer's head was bent toward the ground. Then she heard a scream and saw an arm fly up near the deer's head. Alexis realized the deer was attacking a woman. Sue, a 44-year-old

mother, had been out for her morning run. The deer followed her and edged closer. "I knew I was in trouble," Sue says. She went to pick up a stick for self-defense, and the deer charged. It lifted her with its antlers and threw her into the air. Sue could feel blood flew down her leg. Within seconds, the deer had pushed her off the road.

When Alexis and her father pulled up, the deer was throwing Sue like a doll. Alexis looked into the woman's terrified eyes, and before her father had even stopped the car, the teenager jumped quickly out of the car and ran toward the deer. "I was kicking it to get its attention," she says. Then her father, who had followed his daughter, pushed the deer away from the women.

Alexis helped Sue into the car, and then applied a piece of cloth to Sue's injured leg. "We're going to get you to a hospital," Alexis said. Then she heard her father shout loudly. He had been knocked to the ground. Alexis took hold of a hammer from the car and ran to where her father lay on his back. She beat the deer's head and neck, but the blows didn't scare it away. "I was losing

faith," she says. "A couple more strikes, Alexis," said her father. "You can do it."

Turning the hammer around, Alexis closed her eyes and beat the deer's neck with all her strength. When she opened her eyes, the deer was running away.

Alexis got in the driver's seat and sped toward the nearest hospital.

After Sue was treated, she tearfully thanked her rescuers. "You expect a teenage girl to get on the phone and call for help," she says, "not to beat up a deer."

1.What was Sue doing when she was attacked by the deer?

A. She was driving home.

B. She was resting on the road.

C. She was taking exercise.

D. She was feeding wild animals.

2.What did Alexis do to save Sue?

A. She pushed the deer away.

B. She hit the deer with her feet.

C. She drove the car to hit the deer.

D. She beat the deer with a hammer.

3.Which of the following words can best describe Alexis?

A. Strong. B. Cruel. C. Energetic. D. Brave.

4.What is the best title for the passage?

A. A Woman Was Seriously Injured

B. A Dangerous Deer Attacked a Woman

C. A Girl Rescued Her Father Successfully

D. A Teenager Saved Others from a Deer Attack

A Good Night's Steep

Sleep plays a vital role in good health and well-being throughout your life.

While you're sleeping, your brain is forming new pathways to help you learn and remember information. Although we all know the importance of getting a good night's sleep, not all of us know the best way of getting it. A sleep expert, Phil Atherton, gave some top tips for getting the most out of the night, which will leave you ready for action in the morning.

According to Phil Atherton, not eating a large meal before bedtime is important for getting a good night's sleep. The time difference between eating and sleeping should be at least three hours. So you'd better avoid eating any food three hours before bed, as it will lower your blood sugar during sleep and help minimize damage from too much sugar floating around.

It's also important to find ways to prepare your body for sleep. You can follow a routine like trying not to expose yourself to too much artificial light within 1 hour before bed, as your brain uses light to help set internal "body clock". Although it might seem unnatural to schedule your sleep, the purpose is to send a signal to your body and mind that it's time to sleep.

Another way to prepare your body for sleep is to get into a relaxed state by taking a bath or listening to soft music. Both of them will help to take the mind off the daytime pressures.

Having a suitable bed, especially a suitable mattress (床垫), is necessary for a good night's sleep. Sleep is a personalized activity, and we all adopt different sleeping positions. Finding the mattress that suits you will reduce back pains that can result from a poor sleeping position. The bed should be four to six inches longer than its tallest user, allowing for space to move

around.

The recent research is pretty clear that a good night's sleep in a major component of good health. Since the start of the 21st century, studies have linked a lack of sleep to many diseases, such as diabetes and obesity. Taking action now will lead to long-term benefits for you and those around you.

1.What does the author intend to tell us in the passage?

A. When to start a sound sleep.

B. How to get a good night's sleep.

C. What to do with sleep problems

D. Why to form a good habit of sleeping.

2. According to the author, before going to sleep, you'd better __________.

A. free yourself from tension

B. check your blood sugar

C. relieve your pain in the back

D. record your biological clock

3. What does the underlined word "it" in Paragraph 2 refer to?

A. Not eating food. B. Taking a meal.

C. Not sleeping well. D. Having a good sleep.

4. Which of the following shows the organization of the passage?

CP: Central Point P: Point Sp: Sub-point (次要点) C: Conclusion

Is It Worth Buying Organic Food?

Organic food, grown without artificial chemicals, is increasingly popular nowadays. Consumers have been willing to pay up to twice as much for goods with organic labels (商标). However, if you think paying a little more for organic food gets you a more nutritious and safer product, you might want to save your money. A study led by researchers at Stanford University says that organic products aren't necessarily more nutritious, and they're no less likely to suffer from disease-causing bacteria, either.

The latest results, published in the Annuals of Internal Medicine, suggest that buyers may be wasting their money. "We did not find strong evidence that organic food is more nutritious or healthier," says Dr. Crystal Smith-Spangler from Stanford. "So consumers shouldn't assume that one type of food has a lower risk or is safer."

For their new study, Smith-Spangler and her colleagues conducted a review of two categories of research, including 17 studies that compared health outcomes between consumers of organic against traditional food products, and 223 studies that analyzed the nutritional content of the foods, including key vitamins, minerals and fats.

While the researchers found little difference in nutritional content, they did find that organic fruit and vegetables were 20% less likely to have chemicals remaining on the surfaces. Neither organic nor traditional foods showed levels of chemicals high enough to go beyond food safety standards. And both

organic and traditional meats, such as chicken and pork, were equally likely to be harmed by bacteria at very low rates. The researchers did find that organic milk and chicken contained higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, a healthy fat also found in fish that can reduce the risk of heart disease. However, these nutritional differences were too small, and the researchers were unwilling to make much of them until further studies confirm the trends.

Organic food is produced with fewer chemicals and more natural-growing practices, but that doesn't always translate into a more nutritious or healthier product. The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) states that "whether you buy organic or not, finding the freshest foods available may have the biggest effect on taste." Fresh food is at least as good as anything marketed as organic.

1.The new research questions whether organic food __________.

A. should replace traditional food

B. has been overpriced by farmers

C. is grown with less harmful chemicals

D. is really more nutritious and healthier

2.Smith-Spangler and her colleagues found that __________.

A. organic food could reduce the risk of heart disease

B. traditional food was grown with more natural methods

C. both organic and traditional food they examined were safe

D. there was not a presence of any forms of bacteria in organic food

3. Which of the following is relatively healthier according to the passage?

A. Organic chicken and pork.

B. Organic milk and chicken.

C. Traditional chicken and pork.

D. Traditional fruit and vegetables.

4.What is the author's attitude toward organic food?

A. Sceptical. B. Neutral. C. Unconcerned. D. Approving.

根据短文内容，从短文后的七个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。

They Just Can't Help It

My theory is that the female brain is mainly built for empathy — the ability to understand other people — and that the male brain is mainly built for building systems. _1._ For example, women are more likely to read magazines on fashion and parenting, while men will choose magazines that feature computers and sport.

You may think that these preferences are influenced by the way people are taught to behave when they are growing up. However, this is not the case.

A new study carried out at Cambridge University shows that newborn girls look longer at a face, and newborn boys look longer at a mobile. _2.__ It has also been observed (that girls are better at noticing signs of changes in other people's feelings. Boys, however, seem to enjoy building toy towers and playing with toys which have clear functions. __3.__ People whose jobs are in the construction industries are almost male. Math and engineering, which require high levels of systems-thinking, are also male-chosen disciplines.

Why do men and women have the difference? Actually women have four times as many brain neurons (神经) that connect the right and left part of their brains. Because of it, women have a better ability to multitask than men.

__4.__ Men tend to focus on a limited number of problems at a time. They will separate themselves from problems and view tasks as independent from one another.

Some people may worry that I am suggesting one gender (性别) is better than the other, but this is not the case. My theory says that males and females differ in the kinds of things that they find easy, but that both genders have their strengths and weaknesses. __5.__ It is not true. The study simply looks at males and females as two groups, and asks what differences exist, and why they are there.

A. Generally speaking, there are clear differences.

B. Their preference for building systems may change over time.

C. You can see the same kind of pattern in the adult workplace.

D. They will consider many sources of information at the same time.

E. It is important to stress that the female brain may be built more for empathy.

F. That suggests certain differences between male and female brains are biological.

G. Others may think the theory creates a belief of what a particular type of person is like.

书面表达

假设你是红星中学高三学生李华，请给你的美国同学Jim 写一封电子邮件，告知周末你不能参加他的生日聚会，希望他谅解。邮件的内容包括：

1. 表达歉意；

2. 说明理由；

3. 告知已准备了生日礼物。

注意： 1.词数不少于50；

2.开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数。

Dear Jim,

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

Best wishes,

Li Hua

书面表达

假设你是红星中学高三学生李华，请根据以下四幅图的先后顺序，介绍你在寒假期间参加“丝绸之路文化行”敦煌站的活动过程，并以“Silk Road Travel”为题，给校刊“英语角”写一篇英文稿件。

注意：1. 词数不少于60；

2. 开头已给出，不计入总词数。

提示词：莫高窟the Mogao Caves

Silk Road Travel

This winter vacation I went to Dunhuang to explore the Silk Road with my classmates.

World’s Wonderful Libraries

How cool can libraries be in an era of iPads and Kindles More than you think．Only if you know where to go.

Central Library

The Central Library in Seattle,United States is modern and sophisticated. The building is an impressive work of art, which has has tourists from around the world paying visits and taking tours. The library offers free self-guided cell phone tours, along with group tours.

The library holds various art exhibitions, book signings and other events throughout the year.

Open: Monday-Thursday 10 a.m-8 p.m, Friday-Saturday 10 a.m-6 p.m, Sunday noon-6 p.m

Trinity College Library

The Trinity College Library in Dublin is the oldest library in Ireland, founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I.

Not only is the exterior impressive, it boasts the largest single chamber library in the world, also known as the Long Room, which contains more than 200,000 of the library's oldest books.

Various exhibitions and tour are available; admission 9(US 12)

Open: Monday-Wednesday 9:30 a.m -5 p.m, Tuesday 9:30 a.m -9 p.m, Saturday 9:30 a.m -1 p.m, Sunday closed.

Bibliotheca Alexamdrina

The Bibliotheca Alexamdrina is the revival(复兴) of the ancient Royal Library of Alexandria, which was the largest and most influential library in the Greek world. It was built by Alexander the Great some 2, 300 years ago.

The new library was reborn in 2002 on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea after 10 years of designing, planning and construction.

Along with the standard libraries, there are four museums covering science, Arabic Calligraphy, the history of printing and the Greek art.

Open: Saturday-Thursday 9 a.m- 4 p.m.

Stuttgart City Library

The Stuttgart City Library is controversial. Some say it’s innovative, while others say it doesn’t match its environment.

Nevertheless, the library is one of the most interesting buildings in Germany. The design of the cubic facility was influenced by the ancient Pantheon in Rome. It serves as a multi-story meeting space that draws natural sunlight through the roof.

Open: Monday-Saturday 9 a.m--9 p.m

1.Which of the following libraries are open on Friday?

A.Central Library and Bibliotheca Alexandrina

B.Stuttgart City Library and Central Library

C.Bibliotheca Alexandrina and Trinity College Library

D.Trinity College Library and Stuttgart City Library

2.Suppose you are visiting Trinity College Library, you can enjoy ________ there.

A. free exhibitions

B. the oldest Greek art

C. reading the worl’s oldest books

D. reading in the Long Room

3.What is special about the Bibliotheca Alexandrina?

A. It took 10 years to rebuid

B. It is the most influential library in the world

C. It has four museums covering all sorts of art

D. It used to be an ancient royal British library

Annie slept in the front of the seat with her father drove through the darkness. ”We’re almost there!” Dad announced cheerfully. “Soon well be observing and counting owls at the state park.” Yawning, Annie nodded and smiled. The time was 4:30 a.m. Looking out into the darkness, Annie remembered learning in school that most owls are active at night, when they hunt for food. During the day they sleep in hard-to-find spots.

“Dad, why do you need to count owls?” she asked. “It’s important for the scientists to have current information about bird populations,” he explained. “We want to know which birds have decreased in number and whether any new kinds of birds are coming into a certain area. You and I will write down the kinds of birds that we see today and keep a record of how many times we see each kind. The we’ll send out a report to a scientific organization that is collecting about birds from people all over the county.”

Dad pulled into the parking lot of the state park. Then, with flashing in hand, they began their hike into the woods. Annie zipped up her coat and tried to keep from trembling. She had not expected the morning to be so frigid. Luckily her gloves were in her pocket.

Suddenly Annie’s father stooped and gestured for her to be still. Obeying, Annie did not take another step. She thought she heard a low crying up head. “That’s certainly a screech owl,” her father whispered. “Let’s get a look at it.” After looking more closely, Annie could see that it was a small owl. Sensing danger, the owl narrowed its eyes and pulled its feathers tightly against its body. Annie carefully wrote down in her notebook that they had seen a screech owl.

Walking a little farther, they came to a tall oak tree. “This looks like a perfect spot to attract owls,” Dad said. “I’m going to play a recording of common call of the barred owl. Maybe we can get one to answer.’ Annie could hardly believe her ear. The recorded all sounded as if the bird were asking, “who cooks for you?” Moments later Annie thought she heard a return call in distance. She held her breath and waited. Suddenly a huge bird landed very quietly on a branch above them.

Annie had long forgotten how cold it was. She stood in wonder, shining her flashlight on the bird and studying it carefully. The barred owl was nearly tow feet tall. Gray feathers surrounded its dark eyes. The bird did not matter. Annie would never forge the image of the powerful barred owl.

1.Annie and her father went to the state park to _________.

A. catch owls

B. collect information about owls

C. record the call of owls

D. carry out an experiment on owls

2.With the help of ________, Annie could study the barren owl carefully.

A. scientists

B. moonlight

C. flashlight

D. a recorder

3.How did Annie feel when she saw the barren owl?

A. Bored

B. Relaxed

C. Frightened

D. Amazed

4.What would be the best title?

A. The Owl Count

B. A Study on Owls

C. Observation of Birds

D. A Cheerful Early Morning

There is a growing number of kidults---or adults who wear the mask of maturity but prefer to pander(迎合) to their inner child.

They feel ill equipped for parenthood, because they don’t see what values or lessons they could honestly pass on to their young, besides self-centeredness and a passion for the good things in life. They are trying to live by not acting their age.

As Ms Jane put it in her letter: I’m married, in my late 20s and enjoy a lifestyle other married graduate couples enjoy: winning and dining, tasteful clothes, travel and a career. Why give up all these for a baby?

It is reported that when asked whether they were adults, most people in their 20s answered they were not sure. This reflected a global economy in which people chased more papers to get better jobs that would comfortably support middle class living.

Being a kidult is not all about being selfish, though. With the untold uncertainties of war, fluctuating(波动)markets, disease and terrorism, many see this world as a poor place to live in—let alone bring kids up in. This seems especially so in urban living. All anyone wants after a long, hard day at work is some peace and quiet.

My classmate, Jenny, mused(沉思)recently how our friends living in small Malaysian towns were onto their second or third kids. Maybe they just loved having children around. Or maybe, in their own way, they wanted to leave the world a better place than they found it.

That’s how you, I and everyone know we have the chance to breathe air, touch grass and see sky. I think out parents understand that just being alive is an experience worth passing on.

1.What is a kidult in the writer’s opinion?

A. A person who doesn’t have a child

B. An adult who actually has a psychology of a child

C. A child who doesn’t want to grow up

D. A person who doesn’t know that what values he has

2.What does the underlined word “paper” in Para. 4 mean?

A. money

B. reputation

C.qualification

D. power

3.The author explains the kidult phenomenon by ________.

A. presenting research findings

B. making comparison

C. showing her own experience

D. using examples

4.We can learn from the text that kidults________.

A. know little what they can pass on to their children

B. are sure of their abilities for good life

C. living in urban can enjoy more peace

D. living in small towns know well what they’re living for

No trip to Chicago is complete without a visit to the Art Institute, which is the second largest art museum in the nation.

Opening hours:

Mon - Wed & Fri - Sun, 10:30 am - 5 pm; Thu, 10:30 am- 8 pm; closed on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.

Highlights:

The Modern Wing contains contemporary masterpieces by Dali, Matisse, Miro, Picasso, Pollock, and Warhol.

● View one of the world’s finest Impressionist collections, including masterpieces by Monet, Degas, Renoir, Seurat, Gauguin, and Van Gogh.

● Thorne Miniature Rooms offer a detailed view of European homes from the 16th century through the 1930s and American homes from the 17th century to 1940.

● The past returns as over 550 works from 4,000 years of art come together in Of Gods and Glamour, located in the beautiful new Mary and Michael Jaharis Galleries of Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Art.

Advice for visitors:

● Free guided tours are available daily at noon.

● Free art-making activities are available for children each weekend from 11 am to 2 pm.

● Visit the Family Room in the Ryan Education Center, open daily from 10:30 am – 5 pm, and introduce your child to the museum’s collections with a variety of hands-on activities. Assemble (组装) puzzles based on masterpieces you’ll see in the galleries, build architectural wonders with colorful blocks, and learn about art through stories and games at Curious Corner.

● Check out the Lion’s Trial tour for children ages 5-10. This tour is especially designed for the young people in your group! Don’t miss it!

Getting there:

You can take the follow buses: 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 14, 26, 28, 126, 143.

1.The Art Institute of Chicago can be visited on ____________.

A. Christmas Day B. New Year’s Day

C. Thanksgiving Day D. Independence Day

2.Whose works can you see in the Impressionist collections?

A. Picasso’s B. Monet’s

C. Pollock’s D. Warhol’s

3.If you are interested in Greek art, you can go to ____________.

A. the Modern Wing

B. Thorne Miniature Rooms

C. the Impressionist collections

D. the Of Gods and Glamour collections

4.At Curious Corner, children can ____________.

A. get free guidance

B. join the Lion’s Trail tour

C. enjoy free art-making activities

D. take part in many hands-on activities