On August 16, 1977, Elvis Presley saved me.

   The previous afternoon, I played with my six-year-old peers in Heather Peters’ backyard. I was enjoying my cake, when Heather asked me where my sleeping bag was. Only then did I know this party was a sleepover. The word “sleep-over” to a six-year-old bed-wetter is like what “cancer” means to an adult. But what if I told them I was a bed-wetter? At least with cancer, people gather at your bedside instead of running from it.

   I thought of a way to escape. I would explain that I needed my mother's permission to spend the nights. But as I called my Mom, Heather stood beside me to listen. She granted permission! Then I would be sleeping in the same living room as the other girls. I didn't bring my own pajamas (睡衣)，so Mrs. Peters offered me Heather's pajamas.

   As the other girls drifted into their sweet dreams, I tried to stay awake. “Do I need to go again? I'll stay up to go one more time.” Of course, I finally fell asleep.

   The next morning, I was the first to wake up. I was warm! I lay in panic for what seemed like hours before the other girls started to wake up. I did the only thing I could do --- I pretended that the bed-wetting didn't happen. I got up, took off Heather's pajamas and changed into my clothes like the other girls.

   Mrs. Peters walked into the room, and before she could say anything, she stepped right onto the pile of my wet pajamas. My heart stopped as I watched her face burn red. “WHO DID THIS?” She screamed, with a look so frightening. Should I answer? And that was when it happened — Mr. Peters came in and grabbed his wife, ‘‘Elvis Presley died!”

   The news of the King's death overtook Mrs. Peters, and I, was spared. I got home without the other girls knowing what had happened.
21. The author had to spend the night at Peters' because _____.

A. she enjoyed her cake there              B. it was a routine of the party
   C. her mother allowed her to do so           D. the famous singer Elvis Presley died that night
22. Mrs. Peters got angry because _____.

A. her husband was rude to her          B. Elvis Presley passed away
   C. she found the wet pajamas             D. all the girls slept at her house
23. From the story, we know Mrs. Peters was _____.

A. a bad-tempered woman           B. a fan of Elvis Presley

C. a woman for perfection            D. a woman who hated to wash pajamas

24. The passage is mainly about _____.

A. an unfriendly hostess                           B. a fan-purchasing experience
C. the shocking death of a famous singer  D. an embarrassing childhood incident

Have you ever lost your car on a parking lot? You don’t have a clue where your car is after shopping. Then you start walking around clicking on your car keys so the alarm goes off. It can be annoying, especially on a hot sunny day.

No, you needn’t install(安装) an expensive GPS system to keep track of your car. That’s too expensive. You would need to pay a monthly fee to use it.

But is there a way to track your vehicle without spending a fortune? Yes, now there is! A California-based company has created a tiny device that works with your smartphone, which could be exactly what you’re looking for!

Ø         What is it?

It’s called TrackR. It is a state-of-the-art tracking device the size of a coin. It’s changing the way we keep track of the important things in our lives.

Ø         How does it work?

It’s easy! Install the free TrackR app on your smartphone, connect the app to your device and you’re ready to go! Simply attach TrackR to whatever you want to keep an eye on. The entire process of setting it up only takes 5 minutes or less.

You can attach it to your keys, briefcase, wallet, your latest tech gadgets and anything else you don’t want to lose. Then use the TrackR app to locate your missing item in seconds.

If you forget where you have parked your car, pull out your smartphone and open the TrackR app. Tap on the “find device” button on the screen and the app will tell you the exact spot of the last known location of the TrackR.

Ø         What else can I do with TrackR?

The device is small and unnoticeable enough that you can attach it to your pet. Put it on their collar, and the issue of searching for them when they run away to nearby places will be over! You’ll never waste a minute searching the whole house for it.

TrackR even comes with a double-sided glue so you can stick it to your laptop or under your bike seat. Track down and punish the thieves who steal your expensive things!

Ø         How much does it cost?

You’re probably thinking that this device is very expensive. False! TrackR only costs $29! That’s a small price to pay for peace of mind, isn’t it?

Ø         Where can I buy one?

You can buy it directly from the company’s website by clicking here https://buy.thetrackr.co/gu/special-offers/15/ .

25. From the passage, we learn that TrackR can ______.

A. take good care of your pets at home

B. help you locate your important things

C. work better after you pay monthly fee

D. track your wallet through GPS system

26. This passage is mainly developed by ______.

A. providing statistics                         B. giving examples

C. answering questions                                 D. making comparisons

27. Where is this passage most likely taken from?

A. A website.        B.       A journal.   C. A personal blog.         D. A research report.

Our non­profit organization had just received a large donation of clothing. As three of us walked home for dinner, we saw a woman begging by the bridge. She was old and had no legs. She shivered in her thin sari(纱巾), which offered little protection from the cold wind. Her hunger forced her to beg. My friends and I looked at each other：here was a perfect opportunity, but first it was necessary to do a little bit of research.

We went up to the woman to hear her story. She spoke very little due to her poor health and fear, but we learned enough. She lived alone in her small home. She had no one to look after her and ate whatever people gave her. The desire to help her grew stronger. After speaking to her, we headed back to get something to keep her warm. Finding the perfect sweater, we set out again to see the woman. This time, the fear was replaced by distrust as we presented her with the sweater.

“Are you robbers？” she asked. “You came here before and are back so suddenly with clothes.” I was surprised by her principles．Even in her state, she did not want to wear anything that was stolen and gained through ill means.

“No, we are out doing service work.” Her shoulders relaxed a bit. I then helped her put the sweater on and said, “Please don't sell the sweater.” “I swear, I won't，” she said.

A week later, I was out walking with my mother to get some food when I saw the woman again. This time the picture was a little different. She was still begging, but with the gray sweater wrapped around her body and a smile on her face when she saw us. I guarantee that the smile on my face was bigger.

28. What can we learn from the first paragraph?

A. The organization had too many clothes.

B. The writer offered help without hesitation.

C. The woman wanted to make a fortune by begging.

D. The writer was careful before offering help to the beggar.

29. What do the underlined words “her principles” in the third paragraph refer to?

A. She never trusted strangers.

B. She never accepted donations from the poor.

C. She wouldn't accept anything gained illegally.

D. She wouldn't take advantage of others' kindness.

30. What contributed to their smiles at last?

A. Kindness and trust.         B. Caution and fear.

C. Doubt and distrust.          D. Optimism and generosity.

31. What is the best title for the passage?

A. Trusting the Beggars       B. A Beggar’s Morality

C. The Sweater to a Beggar    D. Learning to Judge a Real Beggar

Whenever we see a button, we are eager to press it because we know something will happen. This is true in most cases, for example on a doorbell and on the “on/off” button on the TV. But some buttons are actually fake, like the “close” button on a lift.
   Many people are in the habit of pressing the “close” button because they don’t have the patience to wait for the lift doors to shut. But lifts’ “close” buttons are a complete scam (骗局), at least in the US － the doors will not close any faster no matter how hard you press.

It started in the 1990s when the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in the US, making sure that all lifts stayed open long enough so that people with disabilities could enter. Only US firefighters and repairmen can use the buttons to speed up the door-closing process if they have a code or special keys.

But to normal lift riders, the buttons aren’t completely useless. According to psychologists, fake buttons can actually make you feel better by offering you a sense of control.

“Perceived (能够感知的) control is very important. It reduces stress and increases well-being,” Ellen J. Langer, a psychology professor, said, “ having a lack of control is associated with depression.”

Experts have revealed that a lot of buttons that don’t do anything exist in our lives for this same purpose. For example, many offices in the US have fake thermostats (温度调节器) because people tend to feel better when they think they can control the temperature in their workspace.

But psychologists found it interesting that even when people are aware of these little “white lies”, they still continue to push fake buttons because as long as the doors eventually close, it is considered to be worth the effort.

“That habit is here to stay,” John Kounios, a psychology professor, said. “Even though I have real doubts about the traffic light buttons, I always press them. After all, I’ve got nothing else to do while waiting. So why not press the button in the hope that this one will work?”

32.  What was the author’s main purpose in writing the article?
A. To analyze the functions of fake buttons.
B. To describe some different kinds of fake buttons.
C. To explain the advantages and disadvantages of fake buttons.
D. To explore people’s different habits when it comes to pushing buttons.

33.  In America, the “close” buttons on lifts _______.
A. are fake for the convenience of disabled people

B. work only when people press them hard for a while
C. were specially designed to give people a sense of control
D. cannot speed up the process of closing the door in any case

34.  The underlined part “for this same purpose” in Paragraph 6 refers to _______.
A. making people more patient
B. giving people perceived control
C. helping people to build up confidence
D. making people with depression feel better

35. According to John Kounios, people who press fake buttons ______.
A. should give up this habit
B. probably do so to kill time
C. consider what they do to be meaningless
D. don’t know that what they press is fake

Most people feel lonely sometimes, but it usually only lasts between a few minutes and a few hours.    36    In fact, it is quite normal. For some people, though, loneliness can last for years. Psychologists are studying this complex phenomenon, and have identified three different types of loneliness.

The first kind of loneliness is temporary. This is the most common type. It usually disappears quickly and does not require any special attention. The second kind, situation-for example, family problem, the death of a loved one, or moving to a new place.   37  

The third kind of loneliness is the most severe. Unlike the others, chronic (the opposite of "temporary") usually lasts more than two years and has no specific cause.   38   Unfortunately, many chronically lonely people think there is little or nothing they can do to improve their condition.

Psychologists agree that one important factor in loneliness is a person's social contacts, for example, friends, family members, co-workers, etc. We depend on various people for different reasons. For instance, our families give us emotional support, our parents and teachers give us guidance, and our friends share similar interests and activities. However, psychologists have found that, though lonely people may have many social contacts, they sometimes feel they should have more.   39  

Psychologists are trying to find ways to help habitually lonely people for two reasons. They are unhappy and unable to socialize and there is a connection between chronic loneliness and serious illness as heart disease.   40  

A. It is very difficult to deal with.

B. They question their popularity.

C. This kind of loneliness is not serious.

D. They don' t think they are in need of them.

E. People who experience it have problems socializing and becoming close to others.

F. What's more, temporary and situational loneliness can be a sad, and sometimes dangerous condition.

G. Although it can cause physical problems, such as headaches and sleeplessness, it usually does not last for more than a year.