每空格填一詞，首字母已給）

The Titanic was a very large British passenger ship, It hit an iceberg in the Atlantic ocean on its first journey in 1912 and sank. There were not enough lifeboats for all the passengers, and over 1, 500 passengers died.

The sinking of the Titanic is well known to most people. There was a【1】 awful sinking, but it is unknown to many people. It was the sinking of the Lusitania（盧西塔尼亞號).It was one of the biggest and most luxurious ocean liners of its time, but it sank on May 7, 1915.

After world war I broke out in 1914, ocean voyages( 航行) became very dangerous. The German embassy（大使館） in Washington w【2】 travelers about the dangers of ocean voyages. However, the Lusitania left New York for Liverpool anyway. There were 1, 959 people on board.

The Lusitania sailed s【3】 for the first five days. On May 7, 1915, the Lusitania was a【4】 to travel fast and make zigzagging(曲折） movements because of enemy’s submarine（潛艇). However, because of heavy frog, the captain of the ship reduced its speed and traveled in s【5】 line. This made the ship an easy target, A German submarine fired at the Lusitania, and there was a big explosion(爆炸). Right after the first one, there was a second explosion. The ship sank in about 18 minutes. Over one thousand passengers died because of this disaster.

The c【6】 of the second explosion is still a mystery (迷). Later, divers found large amounts of bullets, shells, gold, and cash in the ship cargo (貨物 ). But why would an ocean liner carry these i【7】? The answer is yet to be explained.

You may think of museums as dusty collections of old objects, but modern museums are different. They are landmarks and showcases of local culture, offering visitors insight (視角) into the past.

The National Museum of Qatar, which opened on March 28, 2019, is the latest example.

The building’s interlocking structure of steel, glass and fiber concrete makes people think of the petals (花瓣) of a desert rose. These “roses” are actually crystallized (結(jié)晶的) sand, found just under the desert’s surface. “It’s surprisingly complex and poetic,” the designer Nouvel told UK-based design magazine Dezeen.

This pioneering design also makes the building energy-efficient. They form a sunscreen and cast (投射) protective shadows when the sun hits the building from east or west. “I want to build a structure that keeps in line with the condition of the place, to ensure that it offers maximum (最大化的) protection from the sun and save energy,” Nouvel said.

Apart from its unique shape, the museum also includes Qatar’s tradition of both nomads (牧民) and fishermen. It’s committed to preserving and showing the wooden dhows that were once Doha’s lifeblood. These boats enabled fishing, trading and the collection of precious pearls. And visitors can see over 1.5 million of them on the hand-embroidered Pearl Carpet of Baroda, the most extravagant (奢侈的) carpet ever, in the museum.

The museum also seeks to redefine（重新定義）the role of cultural institutions. It’s hoped that visitors will not only observe the exhibitions but also immerse (沉浸) themselves in Qatar’s history. For this purpose, it features a multilayered, 360-degree environment. For example, on the path to the gallery of Life in Qatar, viewers see open markets, camels carrying goods, and wealthy pearl traders drinking tea and doing business.

“It creates a dialogue between the past and future,” according to a museum press release. “The scheme will give a voice to Qatar’s heritage (文化遺產(chǎn)) while celebrating its future.”

【1】When did the National Museum of Qatar open?

【2】What does the National Museum look like?

【3】Does the design make the building energy-efficient?

【4】Apart from its unique shape, what other features does the museum have?

【5】What does the writer think of the museum?

A. his B. he C. him D. himself

--Yes, many volunteers ride along the street to ask people to stop car.

A. in ; driving B. on ;driving

C. in ; drive D. on ; to drive

A. boring, boring B. bored, boring

C. boring, bored D. bored, bored

---Yes, we step out bravely, we’ll find it’s not so difficult.

A. as if B. even though

C. as long as D. as far as

According to German novelist Heinrich Mann, a house without books is like a room without windows. Mann simply stated the value of books, but some researchers have found evidence that people with books in their homes really do gain a window on the world.

A new study in the journal Social Science Research, published in October, suggests that people who grow up with more books are more likely to have educational advantages, and to achieve more in life, than people who grow up without them.

In the study, over 160,000 adults from 31 countries and regions were asked about the number of books there were in their homes when they were 16 years old. They were then given tests in literacy (讀寫能力), numeracy (計算能力) and information communication technology.

The research shows that the number of books for each household varies greatly from country to country. For example, the number of books is 27 in Turkey, 143 in the UK and 218 in Estonia. But “the total effects of home library size on literacy are large everywhere”.

The researchers found that people who had only lower levels of secondary education but had a large number of books at home got a similar score as university graduates who grew up with only a few books.

The Guardian newspaper commented that “bookish adolescence makes for a good deal of educational advantage.”

“Adolescent exposure to books can compensate for shortcomings not only in adult literacy but also numeracy: its impacts are equal to additional years of education,” Sikora told Science Alert.

Apart from the educational benefits, growing up with more books also plays an important role in adult success.

Through analyzing their personal information, researchers found that people surrounded by books in adolescence are on average more successful in adulthood than those who had only few books at a younger age.

“Early exposure to books in the parental home matters because books are an basic part of routines and practices that enrich lifelong cognitive competencies (認知能力)”, Sikora told Science Alert. These competencies are important to future development.

Without doubt, the fact that we are moving toward a digital era could weaken the importance of printed books. For now, however, “they still seem to maintain quite a large positive benefit, which shows no sign of abating (減弱)”, researchers wrote in the paper.

【1】What’s the study mainly about?

A. Reading habits of different countries.

B. Thebenefitsof growing up with more books.

C. How reading booksbringseducational advantages.

D. The impacts of books on people of different ages.

【2】How many books do an average British family own, according to the study?

A. 27.B. 32.C. 143.D. 218.

【3】The underlined phrase“compensate for”probably means ______.

A. make upforB. result inC. prepare forD. draw attention to

【4】According to the study, people who readmorebooks in adolescenceare likely to______.

a. havebetterliteracy

b. achievemorein adulthood

c.havebettercommunication skills

d.achievemorepleasant personalities

A. acB. bcC. cdD. ab

When we see babies or pets, we can’t help gently touching them to show our love. And they give us happy feelings back. But a recent study shows that it’s different for plants.

A study, published in The Plant Journal, shows that plants don’t “l(fā)ike” to be touched. That’s because touching changes their genes (基因) and, even worse, can slow their growth.

Professor Jim Whelan of the La Trobe Institute in Australia gave an explanation. “The lightest touch from a human, animal, insect, or even plants touching each other in the wind, leads to a huge gene change in the plant,” Science Daily reported.

In order to test the theory, the scientists did an experiment on plants. They grew a number of plants to the age of four weeks. Then they touched them with a paintbrush every 12 hours over a 36-hour period.

They found that as a response to the touch, the mitochondria (線粒體) in the plants had been partly destroyed. The mitochondria, as Science Alert noted, are the “powerhouse of the cell (細胞)”. The mitochondria produce energy for the rest of the cell in both animals and plants.

If this “powerhouse” is weakened, the plants will lose a large amount of energy that should have supported their growth. Whelan further explained to Science Daily, “If the touching is repeated, then plant growth is reduced by up to 30 percent.”

Although the process does have a strong effect on plants, usually the plants survive. Touching changes the plants, but it’s not necessarily a bad change.

According to Science Alert, frequent touching or moving plants will make them grow shorter than other ones. The researchers believe this change, in some way, could be helpful. It may help plants fight threats to their health such as insects and bad weather.

The new research findings have led to a deeper understanding of the plants’ response to touching. And the research might “open up new ways to reduce sensitivity (敏感性) and improve growth in the future”, Science Alert reported.

【1】Why did the scientists do the experiment?

A. To test if touching can change the genes of plants.

B. To show that plants’ and animals’ genes are different.

C. To tell when touching has effect on plants and animals.

D. To find out why some plants grow more slowly than others.

【2】What did the scientists find in their experiment?

A. Repeated touching shortened the plants’ life by four weeks.

B. Touching slowed down plant growth by reducing energy for growth.

C. Repeated touching made plants die sooner than they were expected to.

D. Mitochondria in the plants couldn’t produce energy because of touching.

【3】What do the scientists think of the fact that touch makes plants become shorter?

A. The plants will be more likely to be attracted by insects.

B. The plants will be more easily harmed by bad weather.

C. The plants will be less sensitive to being touched.

D. The plants will be better at fighting dangers.

When we are injured or suddenly feeling unwell, what we need to do is to treat it in the right way. How can we do that? First aid (急救) is here to help.

First aid is the first steps you can take to care for someone who’s injured. It includes keeping safe, helping someone feel better and staying calm. It also includes getting help, either by telling an adult or calling 120.

Sept 14 is World First Aid Day. It’s time for us to learn about this useful life skill.

【1】First Aid is the first step you can ______.

A. take to care for someone injuredB. treat it in the helpful way

C. try the useful skillD. keep safe

【2】If someone is choking, you’d better ________.

A. keep the person stillB. cool the area for 10 minutes

C. slap the person’s back with your handD. ask the person to lean and pinch his/her nose

【3】When somebody gets burned, you should not ______.

A. move the head backwardB. use ice to cool the area

C. support it with your handsD. put your arms around their waist

Americans often have short conversations, called small talk, about unimportant things with strangers or people they know but not very well. They may have small talk at parties, while waiting in line at the store, at family events or work. It's a way to say hi and express friendliness.

Small talk is very useful. It can avoid uncomfortable silences and build stronger relationships. For example, when you first meet someone or talk to someone you don't know well, you can break the ice by making small talk. Small talk with a colleague(同事) about his child may help you to understand more of his life outside the office.

In 2013 , researchers from the University of Essex asked some people to make small talk in a study. They found small talk can make people happier. People who talked briefly(短暫地) with a waiter in a coffee shop felt happier than those who simply went in ,ordered and left.

However some people are not good at small talk. Here are some tips to improve your small-talking ability.

Firstly, find common ground. When you have something similar with your speaking partner, that means you have something to talk about.

Secondly, ask open-ended questions. They are suitable(合適的) for small talk. For example, if you ask visitors whether they like your city, they may simply say "Yes. "But if you ask "What do you think of our city," they will have more freedom in how they answer.

Thirdly, become a student. Nobody knows everything. So, as someone is answering one of your open-ended questions, they bring up something about which you know nothing. So, tell them! This lets the other person become the teacher. They feel good about sharing their knowledge and you get to learn something. It's a win-win situation.

Finally, practice makes perfect. Like anything, getting good at making small talk takes practice.

If you make small talk in your native language, you might become happier. If you are making small talk using English, you will most surely improve your speaking and listening skills.

【1】Do Americans often have small talk?

【2】Why is small talk useful?

【3】What did some researchers from the University of Essex find in 2013?

【4】What kind of questions are suitable for small talk?

【5】What does the writer tell us about small talk in the passage?