Reading Comprehension

2022-11-10

时代英语·高三 2022年3期

閱读理解

阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。

（一）

Peru is a perfect touring destination： everything from the ancient Inca culture and centuries-old Spanish villages to deep rainforests， high mountains， and a beautiful coastline.

Amazon Rainforest Tour

Arriving at Amazon rainforest， you'll spend one day traveling by boat to your hotel in the middle of the forest. You can then spend three days exploring the rainforest with a local guide and enjoying the plants and animals unique to the rainforest.

Machu Picchu Tour

This four-day walking tour will take you to the city of Machu Picchu. There you will have a day to explore and be amazed by this ancient city. Especially amazing is the Incas'dry stone method of building. Inca builders cut stones to exact sizes so that nothing was needed to hold walls together other than the perfect fit of the stones.

Cusco Tour

Spend four days enjoying the unique Spanish and local Indian culture high in the Andes at Cusco， the capital of the Inca Empire from the 13th until the 16th century. Stay in a local hotel， visit the museums， admire the architecture， enjoy the excellent local food， and go shopping at the local markets.

Lake Titicaca Tour

Enjoy the beautiful countryside as you spend a day driving along the new highway connecting Cusco to Lake Titicaca. There， a boat will take you to stay with a local Uros family on an island for three days. Both the island and Uros homes are made of water plants from the lake.

For more information about other package tours around Peru， contact us at tourinfo@ travelperu.org.

1. What is extremely surprising in the city of Machu Picchu particularly？

A. Excellent local food. B. Unique plants and animals.

C. Houses made of water plants. D. Dry stone method of building.

2. Which tour would you recommend to people who enjoy Indian culture？

A. Amazon Rainforest Tour. B. Machu Picchu Tour.

C. Cusco Tour. D. Lake Titicaca Tour.

3. What do the four tours have in common？

A. The traveling time. B. The transportation means.

C. The accommodation. D. The shopping markets.

On my granddaughter Mary's 21st birthday， I sat with her and her expired （過期的） driver's license on a hard wooden bench at the DMV （the Department of Motor Vehicles）， waiting for our number to be called. The broadcast system announced numbers to call ticket holders to reach the desk to take an eye test or renew a registration. I felt as though we were staying at a bingo game， waiting for the winning number to be called so we could jump up and collect the prize.

And on that bench， I had a thought： The seemingly ordinary events I've shared with my granddaughter were both my adventures and my rewards for just showing up. I grew up in an immigrant family in the suburb of Boston. A vacation for us was a bus trip to Central Square， with shopping bags filled with delicious foods followed by the muddy sand sucking our toes.

I looked forward to these small outings. It sounded boring to seek out the simple pleasures， but it was not. I traveled to remote islands， to Europe， and to many of America's cities. Those trips were refreshing， but they were breaks. I prefer the mainstream of the ordinary.

I like the day trips. But the most wonderful time was when Mary and I stayed in the reading room . We talked about her homework， and played the roles of two thinkers discussing the Enlightenment （启蒙运动）. We had our private book club， reading A Prayer for Owen Meany and copying the voice of the main character.

All of these ordinary moments are more valuable than the time it will take to travel around the world. Many people love adventures， like skydiving or climbing Mount Qomolangma. But that is not who I am. I don't need those adventure experiences. In the end， it turns out that just showing up is enough for me.

4. What was the author doing at the DMV according to Paragraph 1？

A. Staying with Mary to renew a license. B. Preparing to take a driving exam.

C. Playing a bingo game with Mary. D. Celebrating Mary's 21st birthday.

5. Why does the author mention her childhood？

A. To show her identity as an immigrant. B. To show her simple pleasures as a kid.

C. To express her enthusiasm for traveling. D. To make a comparison with her life afterward.

6. What can we infer about the author from Paragraph 4？

A. She was fond of reading by herself. B. She served as the best teacher for Mary.

C. She had a good relationship with Mary. D. She was a sociable and caring grandmother.

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

A. The Unforgettable Experience at DMV B. My Pleasant Childhood Memories

C. My Life with My Granddaughter D. Happiness from Ordinary Events

If you ask most people what water tastes like， they'll probably tell you that water has no taste and they may give you a funny look. But if you were a fruit fly， asking another fruit fly， that question might have a different answer.

To a fruit fly， water has a taste. Scientists want to know how the fruit fly knows water because this information may help in learning how other animals—or even individual cells—manage to use water in the right way. Water is vital to life， but too much or too little can be deadly to a living creature. So by understanding how the fruit fly tastes water， researchers may learn more about other living things.

According to the new study， a protein （蛋白质） called PPK28 makes it possible for a fruit fly to taste water. Proteins build cells and tissues， fight disease and carry messages between cells. It's not surprising that a protein is responsible for the fruit fly's ability to taste water.

The PPK28 protein is part of a larger family of similar proteins. One of these related proteins is used by mammals （including humans） to taste salt. Scientists have not found a protein that enables humans to “taste” water.

In the experiment， Cameron and his team compared normal fruit flies with fruit flies whose taste cells had been disabled. The fruit flies were given a special chemical that would glow （發光） when the fly used the PPK28 protein. Then the scientists led the flies to water. When the normal flies tasted the water， the PPK28 protein lit up—showing that it was in use.

The fruit fly in particular is so interesting that some scientists are hard at work creating a complete map of the fruit fly brain. This map will show all of a fly's neurons （神经元） and help scientists understand how the neurons work together.

8. How do most people feel when asked about the taste of water？

A. Amused. B. Amazed. C. Disappointed. D. Confused.

9. Why do scientists want to know how the fruit fly knows water？

A. To decrease the number of the fruit fly. B. To know something about other creatures.

C. To learn to use water economically. D. To describe the taste of water.

10. What do we know about the PPK28 protein？

A. It enables humans to taste salt. B. The fruit fly can't live without it.

C. It enables the fruit fly to taste water. D. The fruit fly uses it to avoid illnesses.

11. What will the scientists continue to work at？

A. Studying the fruit fly's neuron systems. B. Finding more information about cells.

C. Creating maps of human brains. D. Making the PPK28 protein.

Kristina Gligoric at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne and her colleagues tracked food purchases made at a university campus using smart cards. The team tracked the eating habits of 39，000 students and staff. On average， people's purchases were tracked for 578 days and they visited shops， cafes， restaurants and vending machines 188 times.

Of the 39，000 users， 830 people were identified as “matched pairs” of strangers after their purchases were monitored for a year and found to be similar. Their food purchases then deviated as they respectively began to eat with different friends.

The matched pairs' purchases were monitored to see how they changed before and after they began eating socially， and measured by calculating when and where purchases were made. The researchers discovered that if a new friend eats pizza， the tracked person is more likely to eat pizza.

In comparison to the other person in their matched pair， people whose eating companions ate more unhealthy foods were more likely to buy one extra soft drink and 0.5 additional pizzas in the six months after they buddied up. Similarly， people who made friends with healthy eaters bought on average an extra 5.71 healthy items and 1.13 fewer unhealthy options over six months.

The study is an important addition to nutritional research， says Zeinab Mulla at Imperial College London. While plenty of research exists about social influences on diet， it's often self- reported data or based on small laboratory exercises.“Digital tracing is where we're trying to take the field of dietary assessment，” she says.

However， the study didn't account for one key element of the student diet： the lunch students bring to campus.“We don't know what people cook at home and bring to campus，” says Gligoric， who hopes to incorporate （包含） that in future studies.

12. What aspect of the study is mainly described in Paragraph 1？

A. The purpose. B. The process. C. The background. D. The participants.

13. What does the underlined word “deviated” mean in Paragraph 2？

A. Stopped. B. Declined. C. Varied. D. Spread.

14. What did the researchers find in their study？

A. People generally prefer healthy eating.

B. People tend to make friends with healthy eaters.

C. People usually learn from those preferring healthy food.

D. People pick items similar to the person they're eating with.

15. What was ignored in the study？

A. The cooking skills.   B. The packed lunch.

C. The food in school. D. Seasonal variation.

（二）

You can find hundreds of free comedy movies online， saving you money， as well as the trouble of going out to visit a movie theater.

Hulu's Free Comedy Movies

Hulu has the best selection of free comedy movies that you can watch online right now. You can look through newly added comedies or the most popular ones from today， this week， this month， or all time. Hulu also has a huge collection of funny free TV shows and movies available but you'll have to watch advertisements placed like commercials throughout the shows or movies you are viewing.

Free Comedies at Popcornflix

Popcornflix is a legal website where you can watch full-length streaming movies in both the US and Canada. You'll see lots of actors and actresses you'll recognize here in some movies you've heard of and some you haven't. You don't need to register， so you'll be enjoying your chosen movie or TV show in seconds. However， this video streaming service is ad-supported， so you will have to sit through a few commercial breaks during your movie.

Free Comedy Movies at Tubi TV

Thousands of free movies and TV shows are available through Tubi TV， and they can all be viewed on a number of mobile devices （設备） in addition to a computer. There's also a whole section at Tubi TV that's just for comedy videos. Some movies require you to log in to view them， but registration is free and only takes a few moments.

Classic Cinema Online's Comedies

Dozens of free classic comedies are available from Classic Cinema Online. What really makes Classic Cinema Online unique from the rest is its rather large selection of silent films. While there're only a large handful of movies at Classic Cinema Online， if you love classic and silent movies， you really need to check it out.

1. What does Hulu's Free Comedy Movies offer besides comedies？

A. Free books. B. Funny free TV shows.

C. Science fiction. D. Action movies.

2. What can we learn about Free Comedies at Popcornflix？

A. No registration is required. B. Its movies are quite popular.

C. It has a whole section of comedy videos. D. Its movies can be watched anywhere.

3. What makes Classic Cinema Online's Comedies stand out from the rest？

A. Dozens of free classic comedies. B. A large selection of silent films.

C. Rather fine video quality. D. The best selection of classic movies.

After spending eight years living in Dublin， Ireland， I moved back to the US. I knew that moving back would mean some sort of reverse （逆向的） culture shock. While I expected the big changes—like less paid time off—it was the little things that really stuck out.

Sure， there're great supermarkets in Europe， but without a car， I rarely made it to one and instead stuck to shopping at small grocery stores near my house. When I moved back to the US， I was surprised by the variety of foods in supermarkets. The whole shopping process took longer because I had so many choices.

The first house I rented in Ireland had three bedrooms and one tiny fridge. It took a while to get used to sharing a mini-fridge with four roommates. Soon I learned that this was fairly standard in most homes. It didn't take long to actually prefer the smaller fridge. This encouraged less waste and more frequent shopping for fresh foods. When I first moved back to the US， I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that I had my very own giant “American” fridge all to myself.

It's relatively inexpensive and easy to visit other countries in Europe， thanks to budget airlines like Ryanair and EasyJet. The freedom of movement for citizens of the European Union meant that I ended up having friends from all over the continent. While there're flight deals in America， the budget options are limited. Most of my quick trips now are within the US. Though staying in the same country is a change， it has been interesting getting to explore new states.

And just to make it clear： This is only based on my own experience living in Dublin and then moving back to New York City. Europe is a big place， and it would be impossible to make sweeping statements about a whole continent.

4. Eight years ago the author .

A. was stuck in a low-paid job B. moved away from New York City

C. experienced reverse culture shock D. realized the great influence of little things

5. Why did the author shop at grocery stores while living in Europe？

A. She lacked easy access to supermarkets. B. It took less time.

C. The foods are cheaper and fresher. D. The stores provided various foods.

6. What does the author think of the using of a small fridge？

A. It's inconvenient. B. It's a waste of money.

C. It's an American way of life. D. It's environmentally friendly.

7. What did the author use to do when she lived in Dublin？

A. Seek inexpensive trips to America. B. Visit other European countries by air.

C. Make the best of limited budget options. D. Explore different states in the same country.

For as much as 8，000 years before European contact， the San Juan Islands were inhabited by the Northern Straits Salish people and other native people seasonally， preserving food in summer for winters spent elsewhere. All were drawn to the islands by the rich abundance of food and materials found here.

In the mid-1800s， a company came to the San Juan following its many international trade routes. One employee， known as “Friday”， settled alone in the area of what is now the town of Friday Harbor. This caused many to refer to the place as “Friday's Harbor”.

By 1900， Friday Harbor had a population of only three or four hundred residents （居民）. Road and telephone networks linked the town to the rest of the island. The community was growing and many public facilities were added. What these buildings had in common was simplicity of design. They were attractive and functional， but without complex decoration. Typically， both residential and commercial buildings were built with local wood. Money was so little that it couldn't be used for the unnecessary， and so most buildings were painted white， more for functional protection against rot， than for decoration. The town wore a pinched look until the late 1960s， when tourism， retirement， real estate （房地產）， construction， the arts and a variety of cottage industries began to take hold. Today， the town is again busy and prosperous. Over 6，000 people live in the town.

Though the traditional industries have all but disappeared， there are still many visible reminders of the pioneer era—100-year-old orchards， kitchen gardens， turn-of-the-century wooden buildings and companionable roof lines—all acquaint islanders and visitors alike with Friday Harbor's spirited early days.

8. The name of Friday's Harbor came from .

A. the name of the company B. an international trade route

C. the first resident of the town D. the day when it was discovered

9. What does Paragraph 3 mainly tell us about Friday Harbor？

A. Its future. B. Its tourism. C. Its population. D. Its development.

10. The underlined word “pinched” in Paragraph 3 suggests the town used to be .

A. clean and attractive B. messy and poor

C. crowded D. developed

11. What attracts visitors to Friday Harbor？

A. The unique historic site. B. The busy but wealthy life.

C. The rich abundance of food. D. The comfortable community.

You try to keep your eyes wide open while watching a basketball match or a wonderful firework show in case you might miss something exciting in just the blink （眨眼） of an eye. But in fact， humans blink about 15 times per minute on average. Have you ever missed anything because you blinked？ Probably not. Why is that？

According to a study published in the journal Current Biology， our brain has the ability to skip the temporary darkness when we blink. It can keep visual information for a short period of time and then put it together to form an image without interruption.

In order to understand how this works， a group of scientists at the German Primate Center and the University Medical Center Göttingen in Germany conducted an experiment. In the study， the participants were asked to look at patterns on a screen whose direction could be interpreted in different ways， such as horizontally or vertically. When one pattern was about to disappear and the next one was about to come， the participants had to indicate the direction that the next pattern wouldappear.

The researchers found that when the directions of two patterns didn't match， the area in our brain which is responsible for visual memory was activated （激活）. This same area showed less activity when two patterns were in the same direction.

“The medial prefrontal cortex （前額叶皮层） adjusts current visual information with previously obtained information， and thus enables us to perceive the world with more stability， even when we briefly close our eyes to blink，” Caspar Schwiedrzik explained in Science Daily. He is the first author of the study and also a scientist at the German Primate Center.

12. We don't miss anything when blinking because our brain can .

A. deal with the missing image B. remember what we see

C. imagine what our eyes miss D. put our pieces of memory together

13. What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 2 refer to？

A. Our brain. B. Visual information.

C. A period of time. D. The temporary darkness.

14. What do we know about the experiment？

A. The two patterns appear at the same time.

B. Participants can interpret patterns differently.

C. The different directions activated visual memory.

D. Visual memory can be more activated by similarity.

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

A. The Brain's Activated Patterns B. The Brain's Special Skill

C. The Brain's Memory D. The Brain's Functions

（三）

Here are four fantastic experiences for you to enjoy wonderful countryside spots， breathtaking scenery and clean， fresh air. Pack your bags and get outside！

Horse-riding

Here's a novel way of chasing the Northern Lights—on horseback， which is a back-to-nature experience hunting for the aurora borealis （北極光）. You'll saddle up （给马备鞍） at dusk and head deeper into the wilds near the Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park.

GO： Three-night full-board guided trip， including two nights in a cottage and one night camping， from £965 per person. See aurorazone.com.

Mountain-biking

You can choose from guided downhill or cross-country mountain biking to road cycling and families can enjoy peaceful， slower paths and farm trails.

Extra activities include hiking， water park.

GO： Five-night B&B packages including transfers and guided biking， from £374 per person. Bike hire from around £15 a day. See wizzair.com.

Camping

Get back to basics on a campsite with none of that fancy camping. The pitches are large so you can light your own campfire at night. Walkers are in heaven here， hiking among the limestone hills filled with traditional stone walls.

Also a great destination for fishing， sailing and windsurfing on nearby Lake Semerwater.

GO： Non-electric grass tent pitches from £20 a night. Tipi already pitched from £70 a night. See pitchup.com.

Whale-watching

Scotland's west coast， one of Europe's best places to catch sight of whales， has launched a new whale trail. It features 30 top places offering opportunities to see the wildlife and showcases whale heritage sites.

GO： Accommodation along the trail is reasonable including B&B in a double room at Torran in Ullapool from £70 a night. See bandbullapool.co.uk.

1. How much should you pay for two days' bike-hiring in Mountain-biking？

A.£15. B.£20. C.£30. D.£374.

2. What can you do in Camping？

A. Hunt for wild animals. B. Enjoy challenging camping.

C. Visit traditional stone walls. D. Climb an across-country mountain.

3. Where can you find coastal B&Bs？

A. At bandbullapool.co.uk. B. At aurorazone.com.

C. At wizzair.com. D. At pitchup.com.

Nashville-based helicopter pilot Joel Boyers had just finished his job on Saturday morning and was heading home when he received a call for help from a woman in Pennsylvania. Her brother Johnson's home in Waverly， Tennessee， was underwater and he was trapped on a roof with his daughters. Could Boyers help？“I thought how I would feel if I told her I was not even going to try？” he said in a Thursday interview.“She just so happened to call the right person， because I'm the only person crazy enough to even try to do that.”

The weather was terrible and Boyers had to deal with hills and power lines on the way to Waverly， a small city about 60 miles west of Nashville. Just before reaching the town， he found the Internet was down， making it impossible to locate the house he was looking for. He flew on anyway.

“When I arrived， it was nothing but raging water below me，” he said. A few people were out in boats， rescuing the trapped. Boyers was alone in the sky. He started flying up and down the flooded area， grabbing anyone he could.

Boyers said he ended up rescuing 17 people that day. He was proud of that， but said he was the one who should be thanking them.“I literally prayed just days before this that I would be given some meaning in my life， and then I end up getting this call，” he said. He had flown over disasters before including floods， but “The police are usually there， and my hands are tied. This time there isn't any，” he said.

To perform the rescues， Boyers had to carefully avoid power lines， balance his skids （打滑） on sloped rooftops， and fly over flood waters. It took all the skills learned over 16 years of flying. He was happy he did it.

4. Why did Boyers fly to Waverly？

A. To do his routine tasks. B. To visit his brother.

C. To have an interview. D. To help someone.

5. What was the biggest challenge of finding Johnson's house？

A. A long distance. B. The Internet failure. C. High mountains. D. Fallen power lines.

6. What words best describe Boyers？

A. Caring and courageous. B. Ambitious and demanding.

C. Modest and creative. D. Humorous and cooperative.

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

A. Surviving a Disaster B. Performing a Task C. Braving a Flood D. Testing Flight Skills

Marian Bechtel sits at West Palm Beach's Bar Louie counter by herself， quietly reading her e-book as she waits for her salad. What is she reading？ None of your business！ Lunch is Bechtel's “me” time. And like more Americans， she's not alone.

A new report found 46 percent of meals are eaten alone in America. More than half （53 percent） have breakfast alone and nearly half （46 percent） have lunch by themselves. Only at dinnertime are we eating together anymore， 74 percent， according to statistics from the report.

“I prefer to go out and be out. Alone， but together， you know？” Bechtel said， looking up from her book. Bechtel， who works in downtown West Palm Beach， has lunch with coworkers sometimes， but like many of us， too often works through lunch at her desk. A lunchtime escape allows her to keep a boss from tapping her on the shoulder. She returns to work feeling energized.“Today， I just wanted some time to myself，” she said.

Just two seats over， Andrew Mazoleny， a local videographer， is finishing his lunch at the bar. He likes that he can sit and check his phone in peace or chat up the barkeeper with whom he's on a first-name basis if he wants to have a little interaction.“I reflect on how my day's gone and think about the rest of the week，” he said.“It's a chance for self-reflection. You return to work recharged and with a plan.”

That freedom to choose is one reason more people like to eat alone. There was a time when people may have felt awkward about asking for a table for one， but those days are over. Now， we have our smartphones to keep us company at the table.“It doesn't feel as alone as it may have before all the advances in technology，” said Laurie Demeritt， whose company provided the statistics for the report.

8. What are the statistics in Paragraph 2 about？

A. Food variety. B. Eating habits. C. Table manners. D. Restaurant service.

9. Why does Bechtel prefer to go out for lunch？

A. To meet with her coworkers. B. To catch up with her work.

C. To have some time on her own. D. To collect data for her report.

10. What do we know about Mazoleny？

A. He makes videos for the bar. B. He's fond of the food at the bar.

C. He interviews customers at the bar. D. He's familiar with the barkeeper.

11. What is the text mainly about？

A. The trend of having meals alone. B. The importance of self-reflection.

C. The stress from working overtime. D. The advantage of wireless technology.

Biscayne is not very far from the lights， noise and excitement of downtown Miami. But it has a very different atmosphere from the big city. Biscayne National Park was established as a national monument in 1968. It became a national park in 1980. That year， its size also increased. The park now covers more than 70，000 hectares.

If you enjoy water， Biscayne is the park for you. Ninety-five percent of the park is water. Many kinds of animals live in these waters. Some of them are threatened or endangered. You will find the huge， gentle West Indian manatee （海牛）， the less gentle American crocodile， several kinds of sea turtles， and more than 500 species of fish.

Scientists say human history at Biscayne begins more than 10，000 years ago. However， evidence of the area's earliest people is mostly underwater now， as water levels have risen over time. Within the last 3，000 years， people began to settle in the area. Scientists continue to learn about these people by examining the big hills of shells they left behind. The shells contain other waste， too， including early tools and housewares.

European explorers began arriving in the area in the early 1500s. They brought with them diseases like smallpox and measles. Over time， these diseases killed huge numbers of natives. Early explorers arrived in the area on ships. The reefs and rough waters made it difficult for ship captains. Biscayne's waters contain more than 50 shipwrecks. Scuba divers （水肺潛水员） today can explore six of them.

Four ecosystems （生態系统） come together here， which is what makes the park so diverse. The blending ecosystems create “edge communities”. These edge communities support a huge amount of wildlife.

The underwater diversity is what attracts most people to Biscayne National Park. Many visitors come here to scuba dive in Biscayne's clear and warm waters.

12. What do we know about Biscayne National Park in 1980？

A. It was set up as a national park at first. B. It covered more than 70，000 hectares.

C. It was well-known for a national monument. D. It became much larger.

13. By examining the shells people left behind， scientists can .

A. learn about the sea animals B. know how old the place is

C. know when the earliest people arrived D. learn about the life of the earliest people

14. The underlined words “edge communities” refer to the place where .

A. the natives live   B. four ecosystems meet

C. Europeans first arrived D. people like to scuba dive

15. What attracts tourists most to Biscayne National Park？

A. Its long history. B. Its ecosystems.

C. Its endangered animals. D. Its underwater activities.

（四）

Each applicant to Harvard College is considered with great care. We consider each applicant to Harvard College as a whole person， and put enormous care into evaluating every application. We hope you will explore the information in this section to understand what we look for in our admissions process.

How to Apply

Submit your application through the Common Application， the Coalition Application， or the Universal College Application. Each is treated equally by the Admissions Committee. Complete and submit your materials as soon as possible to ensure full and timely consideration of your application. View our Application Tips for step-by-step information.

When to Apply

What We Look For

We seek promising students who will contribute to the Harvard community during their college years， and to society throughout their lives. While academic accomplishment is the basic requirement， the Admissions Committee considers many other factors—strong personal qualities， special talents or excellences of all kinds， perspectives （判斷力） formed by unusual personal circumstances， and the ability to take advantage of available resources and opportunities.

We outline everything you need to apply to Harvard.

Click https：//college.harvard.edu/admissions/apply to get detailed requirements.

1. Where can you find step-by-step information of How to Apply？

A. Common Application. ; B. Coalition Application.

C. Universal College Application. D. Application Tips.

2. Which is the final day for Financial Aid Application？

A. November 1. B. January 1. C. March 1. D. May 1.

3. What is the basic requirement to apply for Harvard University？

A. Academic accomplishment. B. Strong personal qualities.

C. Special talents. D. Unique perspectives.

A fellow speaker from California named Geri， in her favorite jeans and a casual jacket， flew to Japan to give her first speech. Fourteen hours later， four perfectly dressed Japanese gentlemen greeted her at Narita Airport. Smiling and bowing low， they handed her their business cards. With her bag in one hand， Geri took their cards with the other. She thanked them， glanced briefly at the cards， and put them into her jeans pocket quickly.

When the five of them arrived at the hotel， they invited Geri to tea in the lobby. While sipping tea， the gentlemen presented her with a small gift which she eagerly opened. She was thrilled with the gift and shouted excitedly， “Oh， it's beautiful.”

At this point， the four Japanese gentlemen stood up and， bowing only very slightly， said “Sayonara” and left immediately. Poor Geri was left astonished. What did she do wrong？

Everything！ Her jeans were the first gaffe. Even if you're coming off a bicycle in Japan， you do not meet clients casually dressed. The second mistake was Geri's handling of their business cards rudely. In Japan， the business card is one of the most important communicative tools. It is always presented and accepted respectfully with both hands. However， Geri put their cards away much too quickly. In Japan， people use business cards as a conversation starter. You chat about each other's cards and work and do not put theirs away until they gently and respectfully place yours in safekeeping. Putting it carelessly into her jeans pocket was the ultimate disrespect.

Then， the third mistake of horrors was that Geri should not have opened the gift in front of her clients. In a land where saving face is critical， it would be embarrassing to discover the gift they gave was not as nice as the one they received. What was worse， Geri hadn't even given them a gift！

4. Why did the four Japanese gentlemen leave Geri suddenly？

A. They couldn't bear her any longer. B. They had something more important to do.

C. They were afraid of her. D. They had finished their task.

5. What does the underlined word “gaffe” in Paragraph 4 probably mean？

A. Ignorance. B. Sadness. C. Mistake. D. Carelessness.

6. The Japanese gentlemen thought Geri took their cards .

A. excitedly   B. seriously C. politely D. disrespectfully

7. What can best express the main idea of the text？

A. Honesty is the best policy. B. Think twice before you take any action.

C. When in Rome， do as the Romans do. D. Don't pretend to know what you don't know.

Rembrandt van Rijn's most famous work， The Nightwatch was commanded in 1639 by Franz BanninckCocq， the captain of Amsterdam's civil army， and portrayed him and his 17 members. It was completed in 1642 and spent more than 70 years in the hall of the civil army it was based on.

In 1715， Dutch officials decided to move the painting to the city hall in Amsterdam's Royal Palace. The almost 12-foot by 14-foot art work was too large to go through the doors， so the movers decided to cut the edges. The strips were never recovered. However， art historians have been aware of the missing items thanks to a smaller copy of the original scene painted by Dutch artist Gerrit

Lundens.

In 2019， officials of Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum decided to recreate the missing sections. The team， led by scientist， Robert Erdmann， turned to a new AI algorithm （算法）. The scientists scanned images of the original and Lundens' painting to the computer. The AI was able to study the painting's perspective （全景）. It also recognized the exact colors used by the Dutch master and could even copy his brushstrokes （筆画）.

The “missing” strips were printed and added to the painting. The left side included two men watching the event and a young boy running away from the army. A drummer and a barking dog were added to the painting's right side.

“It is impressive because what Rembrandt painted was Captain Franz ordering his soldiers to march out， and that is now exactly what you see，” said Taco Dibbits.“With the addition， especially on the left and the bottom， an empty space is created in the painting where they march toward. When the painting was cut， the soldiers were in the center， but Rembrandt intended them to be off- center marching toward that empty space， and that is the genius that Rembrandt understands： you create movement， a dynamic of the troops marching toward the left of the painting.”

8. Why were some sides of The Nightwatch cut off？

A. To get it through the doorway. B. To make it easy to be displayed.

C. To place it in the hall of the civil army. D. To please the captain.

9. How can AI help reconstruct the painting？

A. By grasping the painter's brushstrokes.

B. By changing the painting's perspective.

C. By identifying the perspective and the exact colors.

D. By scanning a copy of the original painting.

10. What can we learn from Taco's words？

A. The empty left of the painting is useless. B. The painting reflects an intention to move.

C. The original painting centers on the soldiers. D. Franz BanninckCocq is a talent of painting.

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

A. AI Brings a Painting Back to Life B. AI Helps Repair a Painting

C. AI Copies a Masterwork D. AI Creates a Painting

There's a great thought experiment by the late philosopher Brian McGee. He said， “Imagine someone who's turning 100 today， and imagine that there was someone else who turned 100 the day that person was born， and so on， back through history.” So， you can imagine all these 100-year lifespans in a chain， end-to-end. When you look at things like that， human civilization has not been around very long at all. And an individual life is extremely tiny.

Many of us go through life struggling about the various decisions we have to make. In fact， on a cosmic （宇宙的） level， the costs aren't that high. If you're scared about launching a creative project， you might as well do it， because it doesn't matter much， even if it goes wrong.

Additionally， another philosopher， Iddo Landau， has pointed out that when we think of ourselves as important in planning things， it leads to problems in creating a meaningful life because we set the goal too high. It's as if you can only count your life as meaningful if you changed the course of world events or became internationally famous.

If we cut everything down to size and drop back into the reality of our situation， you'll see that far more things than you'd thought count as meaningful ways to spend your time on Earth even ordinary things. Cooking a meal for your family—that's meaningful. Creating things that help even a small number of people is meaningful. Making some tiny contribution to the betterment of your neighborhood—that matters.

All sorts of things you're doing right now might be more meaningful than you realize. So， be happy as you really are using your limited time in a way that matters.

12. What message does Brian McGee's experiment convey？

A. History repeats itself. B. A light heart lives long.

C. The world is not perfect. D. You are not such a big deal.

13. Why does the author mention Iddo Landau in Paragraph 3？

A. To present a story. B. To record the history.

C. To make a comparison. D. To support the argument.

14. What does the author advise common readers to do？

A. Live happily. B. Set high goals.

C. Do ordinary but worthy things. D. Make careful decisions.

15. What is the purpose of the author in writing the text？

A. To present an opinion. B. To report an experiment.

C. To explain a phenomenon. D. To introduce two philosophers.

（五）

Devon is famous for its beautiful beaches and countryside， as well as being home to a whole host of dog-friendly walks， accommodation and pubs to have a refreshing drink！

Beer to Branscombe Coastal Walk

Enjoy the popular 4.5-mile circular （環形的） walk from Beer to Branscombe where you will find some of the most amazing coastal walks in the UK. Beer is located on the UNESCO World Heritage （遗产） Jurassic Coast， so you and your dog could even go hunting for bones along the way！

Before you head back， stop off in Branscombe at a beautiful 14th Century pub， The Masons Arms. This ideal rest stop is just a short walk away from Branscombe beach， which allows dogs all year round.

Seaton to Beer Cliff Walk

Beginning in the coastal town of Seaton， this 3-mile circular walk takes you along the Jurassic Coast to Beer， a beautiful fishing village.

You can enjoy a refreshing halftime beer at the dog-friendly pub， The Dolphin. After enjoying the village of Beer， it's time to head back to Seaton where you will find The Malt House to welcome you and your dog for a well-deserved drink.

Salcombe to Snapes Point

If you're looking for impressive views and a dramatic coastline， the 4.5-mile circular walk from Salcombe to Snapes Point is perfect.

You and your dog can finish your day at The Victoria Inn. This pub is known for its real wood fires， which create a welcoming atmosphere for the cooler months. It also has a wonderful beer garden to catch the summer sun， making it perfect all year round.

1. Where can you explore a world heritage site？

A. Beer. B. Branscombe. C. Seaton. D. Salcombe.

2. What is The Victoria Inn famous for？

A. Its cool environment. B. Its wood fires.

C. Its wonderful service. D. Its beer garden.

3. Who will be more interested in these walks？

A. Environmentalists. B. Sports lovers. C. Hunters. D. Dog owners.

Vida Woodhull Stabler is the director of the Omaha culture center at Omaha Nation Public Schools in Macy， Nebraska. She has been working for years to pass on the cultural knowledge of tribal （部落的） elders for future generations. But she faces a predicament： Only about a dozen Omaha tribe members speak the language fluently today.

For Kyleigh Merrick， 15， learning the Omaha language as a teen today is important but also a challenge . She goes to language classes every day， but outside of classes， there are few opportunities to speak it. Her great-grandmother uses it at home， but among her peers， only a handful will sometimes greet each other in the Omaha language. At school， only a few students are taking Omaha language classes and seem deeply interested in tribal language and culture.

Another big force that has worked against passing the native tribal language on over generations is boarding schools. The local government began sending native students to boarding schools from the 1800s to the 1960s. Students there were not allowed to express tribal culture and were taught only English.

“Our language does not have access to the same types of materials that Spanish and German do―you can walk into any library and find Spanish books to read，” Stabler said.“Our community has had to develop tangible （有形的） materials on our own. The first challenge is ensuring people want to learn. The second is making sure they have materials to learn from.”

At Omaha Nation Public Schools， Stabler put tribal culture into students' everyday school experiences， like hanging up a calendar with months in English and Omaha. In biology class， for instance， kids might make traditional tribal foods.

For Stabler， the work of making sure tribal culture lives on into the next generations never stops.

4. What does the underlined part “a predicament” in Paragraph 1 probably mean？

A. A golden chance. B. A tough decision. C. A difficult situation. D. A different direction.

5. What do we know about Kyleigh Merrick？

A. She knows many Omaha speakers. B. She seldom takes language classes.

C. She can speak some tribal language. D. She can learn the Omaha language fast.

6. What do Stabler's words in Paragraph 4 suggest？

A. Few students want to learn the language. B. Tangible materials should be provided.

C. Other language books should be banned. D. The government has made wrong decisions.

7. What does Stabler try to do to keep the Omaha language alive？

A. Set up tribal libraries. B. Introduce tribal culture to school.

C. Persuade students to learn it. D. Encourage tribal elders to teach it.

Art—no matter whether you choose to create it yourself or simply observe and enjoy it—is a relaxing and inspiring activity for many people. However， the particular benefits of artistic expression go much further.

Studies suggest that art therapy can be very valuable in treating issues such as depression （抑郁） and anxiety disorder. It is a great way to express your emotions without words， process complex feelings and find relief.

You don't necessarily have to see a therapist in order to experience some of the benefits of artistic expression. There are many simple activities you can try from the comfort of your home such as art journaling， drawing， making collections， sculpting with clay， etc. It doesn't matter what media you choose. The only thing that matters is that you feel comfortable using it. Human beings are naturally creative， and all you need to do to complete an art therapy activity successfully is to be with yourself and your emotions. Once you free your creativity， your inner artist will quickly wake up.

However， working with a licensed therapist also has its advantage because a professional can tailor each activity to your own needs. If the activities are done in a group， they are excellent for building healthy connections with other people， which may be very helpful if you are fighting depression.

Experts agree that art therapy has many benefits， from promoting your self-respect， and providing you with a safe outlet to relieve your emotions， to giving you a sense of control over your life and helping you to get to know and understand yourself better. During the process of art creation， you will be taking yourself on a journey of self-discovery that will help you get rid of emotional roadblocks， and learn how to communicate with yourself and others.

8. What is art therapy used for？

A. Learning drawing skills. B. Improving mental health.

C. Preventing physical diseases. D. Expressing art with words.

9. To finish a successful art therapy， you'd better .

A. have a gift for art B. have a strong will

C. be honest with yourself D. hold back your emotions

10. Why are group activities needed when dealing with depression？

A. To reduce some stress. B. To promote communication.

C. To build up friendships. D. To wake up the inner emotions.

11. What does the author intend to do in the last paragraph？

A. Provide some advice for readers. B. Summarize the previous paragraphs.

C. Give some details about art creation. D. Explain the advantages of art therapy.

Declining in the past several decades， the multigenerational household （家庭） seems to find its way back in recent years. Different generations of the same family live together in one household for a whole range of reasons . The most popular belief is that multigenerational households today come about because young adults won't fly the nest. While there is some truth in this， “adult children yet to leave home” was only the third-most-common driver （驅动因素）.

Grandparents are now moving across town to be closer or to live with their grandchildren so they can provide childcare during the day. Likewise， some people are inviting their elderly parents to live with them so they could take care of them.“Care arrangement support” was the second-most-common driver for multigenerational living.

Finance pressure in getting higher education， workforce employment and the cost of housing encourage the younger generation to delay leaving the parental home . Changes in government policies on child， aged and disability care can also have impacts （影响） on people's decisions. This is actually the last straw which breaks them.

There are admittedly problems with multigenerational living . One of the bigger complaints about it is that not everyone helps. While adult children do help out with chores， they simply do housework for themselves， instead of being responsible for the whole family. Complaints about chores， however， pale in comparison to those about lack of privacy in the family home. This is the result of a combination of family members not respecting personal boundaries but also of many housing designs that are not suitable for multigenerational needs.

Despite the attention given by the public to this household form， little is known about it， particularly the experiences of those who choose to live in them. Whatever it is， there are pros and cons to multigenerational living， just like living alone.

12. Who don't want to leave home in a multigenerational household？

A. Elderly parents. B. Grandparents. C. Adult children. D. Grandchildren.

13. What is the final driver for multigenerational living？

A. The education background. B. The advantages of a big family.

C. The rising concern about parenting. D. The related government policies.

14. What is the biggest problem of the multigenerational household？

A. It ruins people's independence. B. It is a threat to the modern society.

C. It affects the privacy of family members. D. It makes people take on more financial burden.

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

A. Finding a Multigenerational Family B. Having to Live Under One Roof

C. Exploring the Generational Differences D. Keeping Traditions from Dying Out

（六）

ESSAY CONTEST

THEME

“A Letter from Myself in 2030”

GUIDELINES

1. Essays may be submitted by anyone up to 25 years old.

2. Essays must be 700 words or less. Essays should be typed or printed.

3. Entries （參赛作品） may be submitted online or by postal mail.

* IMPORTANT： To send your essay online， you must go to the organizer's website and follow the required steps.

4. Entries submitted by postal mail must include a cover page indicating： your name， age， gender， address， e-mail， phone number， school name （if applicable）， essay title and word count.

* A cover page template （模板） is available to download on the organizer's website. You may also create your own cover page with all items above.

5. Essays must be original and unpublished.

6. Essays must be written by one person.

DEADLINE

Entries must be received by June 15 this year.

AWARDS

1st Prize： Certificate + Prize of $1，000

2nd Prize： Certificate + Prize of $500

3rd Prize： Certificate + Gift

*1st prize winners will be invited to the award ceremony on November 20 this year and will receive the Minister of Education Award.（Travel expenses will be covered by the organizer.）

* All prize winners will be announced on October 31 this year on the organizer's website. Certificates and gifts will be mailed to the winners， on December 10 this year.

1. Which of the following entries will be accepted？

A. Co-authored ones. B. Handwritten ones.

C. Those of less than 700 words. D. Those mailed without a cover page.

2. What will a 2nd prize winner get？

A. A special gift. B. A certificate and $500.

C. A ticket to the award ceremony. D. The Minister of Education Award.

3. When will the results of the contest be announced？

A. On June 15. B. On October 31. C. On November 20. D. On December 10.

I'm an architect. One of my services is helping clients （客戶） move into new office space. Last year， a client was moving into a storefront. The space had formerly been occupied by a photography studio， which looked as if it had been abruptly abandoned.

Piled against one wall was a huge pile of photos. I gazed at one photo. A family all dressed up， smiling. They'd put on their best clothes， come here to the studio， and sat for the photos. I stood there， picturing all those smiling faces packed into a dumpster （大垃圾桶）. Two days later， after getting permission， my family drove two minivans to the abandoned studio. We loaded armful after armful of photos into the vans.

“We'll have to put them in the basement，” my wife Dawn said when we got home. We pulled the photos into the basement. I looked up the company， a national chain. There were news stories about customers around the country losing their portraits （肖像）， calling phone numbers that no longer worked. I imagined what it would feel like to lose a treasured family portrait. I knew all about the power of small gestures to give someone a welcome shot of hope.

The kids helped me sort the photos. We made a spreadsheet of names and whatever contact information we could find， sending a group text message inviting people to set up a time to collect them. People began arriving at the house. But it was only a few people.

“Try social media，” said the kids.

I posted a message to a community board on the Internet. The phone rang and rang. E-mails poured in . Then the COVID-19 temporarily blocked our project . When lockdown eased， we restarted reuniting people with photos， returning more than 60 of the 105 photos.

4. Where did the author find the deserted photos？

A. At a friend's home. B. At a client's studio. C. At his former office. D. At his working place.

5. What drove the author to take the photos home？

A. His curiosity to study them. B. His eagerness to help the owners.

C. The intention to collect them for fun. D. The idea of selling them for money.

6. What might have delayed some photos' journeys back to their owners？

A. The breakout of a disease. B. The poor mailing channel.

C. The owners' lack of attention. D. The author's hesitation.

7. What would the author think about the outcome of the event according to the last paragraph？

A. It's disappointing.  B. It's imaginable. C. It's interesting. D. It's encouraging.

If you've ever watched Planet Earth， you know the ocean is a wild place to live. The water is full of different ecosystems and organisms varying in complexity from an erudite octopus to a sea star. Unexpectedly， it is the sea star， a simple organism characterized by a decentralized （分散的） nervous system， that offers insights into advanced adaptation to hydrodynamic forces—the forces created by water pressure and flow.

Researchers found that sea stars effectively stay attached to surfaces under extreme hydrodynamic loads by altering （改變） their shape. Sea stars create a “downforce” due to their shape. This means that instead of being lifted by the flow forces， sea stars are pushed downward toward the rock or floor surface they are on.

“Sea stars are incredibly adaptive，” said Luhar， an assistant professor.“When there is high wave activity and high water forces， sea stars will grow skinnier and take on a lower profile （姿态）. When sea stars are transported to a sheltered environment with lower hydrodynamic forces， they pop up a bit and their cross sections get bigger.”

Understanding such shape shifting could help design underwater robots that can similarly adapt to extreme hydrodynamic environments， Luhar said.

The researchers tested this understanding of sea star shape and its impact on force in the water with both computational and 3D printed models.“Right away what we noticed，” Luhar said， “is that instead of the sea stars being pulled away from the surfaces they were on， they were being pushed down—simply because of their shape.”

Luhar said the researchers saw this downforce effect as key to how the sea star—and in the future， an underwater robot—could stay attached to a sea bed or a rock as opposed to being lifted up away from it， even in the most extreme conditions.

8. What is special for a sea star according to Paragraph 1？

A. Its simple body system. B. Its great adaptation.

C. Its nervous system.   D. Its physical appearance.

9. How does a sea star manage to stay where it is under extreme water flow？

A. By expanding its size. B. By changing its shape.

C. By lifting itself upward. D. By creating a sheltered environment.

10. What can scientists do by using the findings about the sea star？

A. Change the underwater conditions. B. Calculate the flow force.

C. Make technological advances. D. Develop 3D printed models.

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

A. Can We Make a Robot Adaptive Underwater？ B. Are Sea Stars Extremely Advanced Creatures？

C. Can We Take Advantage of the Sea Life？ D. Are Scientists Able to Design Underwater Robots？

In the age of online shopping and e-readers， devoted staff and customers keep the doors of Auntie's Bookstore open for 40 years.“When you're in Seattle， you go to Elliott Bay. When you're in Spokane， you go to Auntie's，” said John Waite， the owner of the bookstore.“A lot of people can't imagine Spokane without Auntie's，” Waite said.

Turning visitors into regular customers is important to the store's success. Auntie's markets itself as a destination. A half-dozen book clubs meet there. Most weeks， the store hosts two to four author readings or literary events.“We want people to hang out and experience the feel of having a book in their hands，” Waite said.

Eager readers not only want to read books， but want to discuss them， said Kerry Halls， the store manager. Auntie's offers them that chance， she said.

To compete with the convenience of shopping online， Auntie's tries to predict what books will become a trend. They store these books in advance. But Waite doesn't sugarcoat the realities of selling books in the era of Amazon and other online retailers （零售店）.“Even the big guys can't make it，” he said， noting physical （實体的） retailers are striving nationally. As the United States' oldest national bookstore chain， Barnes & Noble has to constantly reorganize to stop the declining sales.

At Auntie's， regular customers are very important to its survival and development. Sales of children's and young adults' books are increasing in recent years， Waite said.“For a long time， older customers have kept bookstores alive，” he said.“Now， it's starting to attract younger people.” Another reason of Auntie's longevity （长寿） is Northwest culture， which Waite said encourages new ways of thinking and the diversity of ideas.“I think it's a great book town，” Waite said.“People are enthusiastic about reading.”

12. What does John mainly want to tell us about Auntie's in Paragraph 1？

A. It is very popular in the local area. B. It has a long history.

C. It is now an online bookstore. D. It has e-readers.

13. What is Auntie's goal？

A. To set up a literary environment. B. To have more regular customers.

C. To increase people's interest in reading. D. To encourage readers to know more authors.

14. What does the underlined word “striving” in Paragraph 4 probably mean？

A. Celebrating.  B. Progressing. C. Struggling. D. Compromising.

15. What is the last paragraph mainly about？

A. The future of Auntie's. B. The influence of Auntie's.

C. The major customers ofAuntie's. D. The reasons for Auntie's longevity.

（七）

Lost Cities That Have Been Found

The White City

In 2015， a team of explorers to Honduras in search of “the Lost City of the Monke God” led to the discovery of the White City. It is believed that the local people hid here when the Spanish conquerors （征服者） occupied their homeland in the 16th century.

Canopus and Heracleion

The Egyptian cities Canopus and Heracleion， where Queen Cleopatra often visited， weren't found until 1992. Artifacts （手工艺品） showed that the cities once highly developed as a trade network， which helped researchers piece together more about the last queen of Egypt.

Machu Picchu

A Yale professor discovered “the Lost City in the Clouds” in 1911. A combination of palaces， plazas， temples and homes， Machu Picchu displays the Inca Empire at the height of its rule. Abandoned in the 16th century for unknown reasons， the city was hidden by the local people from the Spanish conquerors for centuries， keeping it so well-preserved.

Troy

The ancient city of Troy in Homer's The Iliad was considered a fictional setting for his characters to run wild. But in 1871， explorations in northwestern Turkey exposed nine ancient cities layered （层叠） on top of each other， the earliest dating back to about 5，000 years before. It was later determined that the sixth or seventh layer contained the lost city of Troy and that it was actually destroyed by an earthquake， not a wooden horse.

1. Why did the local people hide in the White City in the 16th century？

A. To survive the war. B. To save the land.

C. To protect their country. D. To search for a lost city.

2. What was related to a royal family member？

A. The White City. B. Canopus and Heracleion.

C. Troy. D. Machu Picchu.

3. What can we learn about Troy？

A. It was built by Homer. B. It consisted of nine cities.

C. It had a history of 5，000 years. D. It was ruined by a natural disaster.

Looking at Rosa Ferrigno's new suit， you could swear it was knitted （織） with regular yarn （毛线）. It's only when you touch it and hear the characteristic rustling （沙沙声） of plastic that you realize there's something special about it. In fact， the suit is made out of over 300 plastic grocery bags.

Rosa， who once worked as a tailor before starting a family， got the idea for her unique hand- made suit last August. She was at a family picnic and saw one of the other guests carrying a purse made from re-purposed plastic bags . It attracted her， so she and her daughter searched for instructions on how to make one on websites. The 75-year-old ended up making a purse from colorful plastic bags. But that was only the beginning. After finishing her second plastic bag purse， Rosa realized she needed something to match it with， so last November she told her daughter she was going to make a skirt and jacket suit out of plastic bags， as a winter project.

Rosa started by cutting up the plastic bags into strips， and then tying them together to make longer， yarn-like strips that could be knitted. But to knit the plastic yarn， she needed large needles that didn't exist on the market so she made them on her own.

The suit took Rosa two months to complete. The jacket was made out of 170 plastic bags， and the skirt required another 140. Although she didn't even use a pattern when knitting the impressive suit， it ended up fitting her perfectly， and when she finally showed it off at the supermarket earlier this month， everyone went crazy.

“We love it when our customers reuse or recycle grocery bags， but never have we seen a work of art like Rosa's！ It's really fantastic！” Jo Natale， the supermarket chain's vice president of media relations， said.

4. What makes Rosa Ferrigno's new suit special？

A. Its way of knitting. B. Its knitting material.

C. Its being knitted by an old lady. D. Its being able to sing when touched.

5. How did Rosa learn to make purses out of plastic bags？

A. By modelling a guest. B. By consulting her daughter.

C. By surfing the Internet. D. By asking a tailor for instructions.

6. What do Jo Natale's words in the last paragraph suggest？

A. She thinks highly of Rosa's behavior.

B. Rosa's work of art will become popular.

C. Customers can follow Rosa's footsteps.

D. The potential of grocery bags needs developing.

7. What can be inferred about Rosa from the text？

A. She is quite able and patient. B. She is good at matching clothes.

C. She does nothing without careful planning. D. She likes showing off her knitting.

Running after fireflies （螢火虫） on a warm summer night might become a rare childhood memory if humans don't take action. There are over 2，000 different firefly species around the world， but their populations are decreasing due to artificial light pollution， pesticides （杀虫剂） and smaller habitat （栖息地） size.

A team of Tufts University-led researchers surveyed scientists and conservationists about the threats to firefly populations around the world. According to the study， one of the main threats to fireflies in East Asia and South America is artificial light. Fireflies light up to attract mates， but they can easily mistake human-made lights as potential partners. Adult fireflies typically live only a few days， which doesn't give them long to find a mate.

Humans' destroying the insects' natural habitats creates another threat. During their larval phase， Malaysian fireflies live in riverside bushes that are often pulled out for human-made fish farms. In Europe， Lampyris fireflies are finding less food to eat due to the growing urbanization of what were once woods and farmlands. In Malaysia， adult Pteroptyx fireflies that usually prefer to mate in specific trees next to rivers have to find new mating areas because the trees are being knocked down for farmhouses.

The study also looked at the effects of climate change， tourism， invasive species and water pollution. On a positive note， while fireflies around the world seem to be suffering from the previously mentioned issues， Big Dipper fireflies living in the US happen to be booming.“Those guys can survive pretty much anywhere，” said Sara Lewis， a biologist from Tufts University.

The study urges countries where firefly populations are dwindling to take measures to preserve suitable habitats， lessen light pollution， reduce use of pesticides and develop better guidelines for tourism around known firefly areas.

8. What mainly causes the drop of the firefly population in East Asia？

A. Light pollution. B. Habitat loss. C. Climate change. D. Food shortage.

9. Which of the following is more likely to adapt to the environment？

A. The Malaysian firefly. B. The Lampyris firefly.

C. The Pteroptyx firefly. D. The Big Dipper firefly.

10. What does the underlined word “dwindling” in the last paragraph mean？

A. On the increase. B. On the decrease. C. Under control. D. Out of control.

11. What does the text mainly talk about？

A. Cooperation is the key to firefly protection. B. Watching fireflies is a rare childhood memory.

C. Urbanization becomes a main threat to fireflies. D. Human activities lead to less firefly population.

These days， many people are concerned about plastic waste; however， the convenience and cost of plastic food packaging are hard to beat. But now， a growing number of inventors are trying to make edible （可食用的） packaging and tableware from foods like seaweed， milk proteins and potato starch， according to an article in Chemical & Engineering News， the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society.

Edible films （薄膜）， wrappers and straws have already found a specialty market and are starting to attract attention from larger food and beverage companies， according to freelance contributor Prachi Patel. At the London Marathon， the start-up company Notpla handed out sports drink， packaged in seaweed-based capsules， to thirsty runners. Although the packaging is safe to swallow， runners can choose to spit out the film. In that case， it breaks down in only 4—6 weeks. The New York-based company Loliware is making seaweed-based straws that feel like plastic for 24 hours after getting wet . Once used， they can be eaten， or they will break down in the environment within 2 months. Marriott Hotels and alcoholic-beverage firm Pernod Ricard have already started using the straws.

Although edible packaging is gaining ground， challenges remain. Some worry about the hygiene （衛生） of eating packaging that has been touched or exposed to germs during transport or while sitting on the shelf. Experts agree that edible packaging will require an outer layer， but these materials could also be made from sustainable materials， such as paper. Another obstacle is public acceptance： Will people eat something that is usually thrown away？ Consumers could perhaps be convinced if the packaging includes nutrients， such as vitamins or proteins， or just tastes good. And finally， improvements in heat and moisture stability need to be made before edible packaging can enjoy widespread use.

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

A. Plastic is convenient and cheap. B. People are concerned about plastic.

C. Seaweed can be widely used as packaging. D. New food packaging is catching more attention.

13. What can we learn about Notpla？

A. It is run by Prachi Patel. B. It produces edible straws.

C. It is a computer company. D. It is a newly founded company.

14. What is implied about edible packaging in Paragraph 3？

A. It may cause more pollution. B. Its becoming popular takes time.

C. No one but experts support it. D. It will eventually replace plastic.

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

A. Edible Food Packaging B. The Food of the Future

C. Brand New Inventions D. Environmental Issues

（八）

Summer Programs for Teens

University of Maryland： TERP Young Scholars

This program is the perfect summer camp for academically talented teenagers who want to pursue （追求） academic interests， explore career （事業） opportunities， and discover college life at the University of Maryland.

During three weeks of intellectual exploration， teens can study with students who share similar interests， and communicate with some of the university's best teachers . Upon successful completion， students can earn three college credits.

Carpe Diem： The University-bound Adventure

Carpe Diem supports both American and international students in applying to a university by providing private consultation. This 2-week experience also includes tours of famous East Coast universities. Students will also have the opportunity to build their resumes （简历） by working with writing experts.

Great Books Summer Program

This is a lively， warm and welcoming summer camp community of outstanding teens， who love literature and ideas. In the past eleven years， it has gathered middle and high school students from across the world to read selections from the greatest works of literature， experience heated discussions and enjoy summer camp fun with other literary-minded students. Participants can gain confidence in their ability to read a text closely and express their ideas clearly both verbally and in writing.

Zeal Travel

We offer our teens two-week and three-week long trips to Hawaii， Alaska， Australia and Spain. All trips include 15—25 hours of community service activities.

Depending on your trip of choice， you'll be helping Hawaiians protect their forest ecosystem， caring for dogs in Spain， working with Habitat for Humanity， and much more. Every trip also includes exciting outdoor activities like surfing， diving， ice-climbing， hiking and more . The possibilities are endless and there is a zeal trip for every interest.

1. Which program offers students the opportunity to develop academic interests？

A. Carpe Diem. B. Zeal Travel.

C. University of Maryland. D. Great Books Summer Program.

2. What can students do in Great Books Summer Program？

A. Learn how to write stories. B. Attend a campus cultural event.

C. Make friends with famous writers.  D. Read and discuss the great works of literature.

3. What is special about Zeal Travel？

A. It includes a lot of thrilling outdoor activities. B. It provides community service for students.

C. It offers students exciting free trips. D. It will last 3 weeks.

One very cold November morning William， who was a 20-year-old college student then， climbed on the edge of Waterloo Bridge in London. That morning， William escaped from a mental health hospital， where he'd been diagnosed （診断） with schizo-affective disorder. He headed straight to the bridge， convinced that his disease was a life sentence.

Hundreds of people passed by without stopping. Only one man called David， then 25， calmly and quietly walked to William's side.

“You're alright， man？ Why are you sitting on a bridge？”

At first William wanted David to leave him alone， but something in David's calm， down-to- earth manner struck a chord. William felt faith， like he could talk to him.

“It's cold here. Why not have some coffee in a warm cafe？ Everything will be OK.” For the first time after the diagnosis William felt perhaps it really might. He climbed back.

The police， having received calls from passers-by， were waiting there. They quickly put him into a police car， in case he was to panic and jump. He lost sight of David， the person who'd brought him hope.

William ended up back in hospital. Eventually， he was well enough to return to university and finish his degree. Over the next six years， William often thought about the stranger who had talked him round. Eager to thank him in person， he posted a Facebook message nicknaming （昵称） the good man Mike. His Find Mike post was shared millions of times around the world， as far as

Canada.

William was very excited when David called him two weeks after his post. They had a reunion， finally having that coffee they had first planned all those years ago.

“Many people walked past， but because of David's kindness and sympathy， I've lived a good life，” said William.

4. Why did William climb up the bridge？

A. He was badly treated in the hospital. B. His disease made him lose hope.

C. He wanted to draw people's attention. D. His study was poor in the college.

5. What does the underlined phrase “struck a chord” in Paragraph 4 probably mean？

A. Touched his heart. B. Drew his attention.

C. Kept him calm. D. Made him happy.

6. How did William find David？

A. By visiting homes. B. By calling their friends.

C. By asking the police. D. By posting a message online.

7. What word can best describe David？

A. Hard-working. B. Strong-willed. C. Caring. D. Generous.

While jewelry made from gold can be beautiful， most people admit that wearing the heavy metal over long periods of time can get a little annoying . Now， researchers from Swiss university ETH Zurich have created a new form of lightweight gold that weighs five to ten times less than traditional 18-carat （開） gold—which typically consists of 75 percent gold and 25 percent copper—but has the same purity.

The researchers began by mixing gold with water， salt， protein fibers and other materials. They then replaced the water with alcohol and placed the mixture inside a high-pressure carbon dioxide （CO2） box. The reaction between the gas and alcohol transformed the golden plastic into a light material that can be heated to melt （融化） and made into whatever form was needed.“This gold has some characteristics of plastic，” says team leader Raffaele Mezzenga， professor of Food and Soft Materials at ETH Zurich.

In addition to being lighter， the “plastic” gold has other advantages over traditional forms. It can be melted into shape at about 105 degrees Celsius， much lower than the 1，064 degrees Celsius required to melt pure 24-carat gold. The metal's firmness can be easily adjusted by changing the components at the beginning of the process. It is also much easier to vary the color.“As a general rule， our approach lets us create almost any kind of gold we choose， in line with the desired properties，” says Mezzenga.

The researchers， who published their study in the journal Advanced Functional Materials， believe the new lightweight gold will be able to replace the metallic version in most traditional applications， including jewelry and watches. However， given that most buyers associate high- quality gold with weight， that may take some time . But the material will undoubtedly be beneficial for use inside electronic devices， chemical catalysts （催化剂）， and even radiation shielding.

8. Why do many people find the traditional gold jewelry annoying？

A. It costs too much. B. Its purity is too low.

C. It is too heavy to wear long. D. Its beauty lasts a short time.

9. What does Paragraph 2 mainly tell us about “plastic” gold？

A. Its functions. B. Its components. C. Its characteristics. D. Its production process.

10. What advantage does the “plastic” gold have over the traditional gold？

A. It's easier to process. B. It's more convenient to carry.

C. It's cheaper to repair. D. It's more difficult to fade.

11. Where is this text most likely from？

A. A novel. B. A guidebook. C. A diary. D. A magazine.

Want to protect against the effects of Alzheimer's？ Alzheimer's disease is a condition in which a person's thinking ability and memory gradually declines. Recent brain research shows that bilingual （會说两种语言的） people's brains function better and for longer after developing the disease.

Psychologist Ellen Bialystok and her colleagues at York University in Toronto tested about 450 patients who had suffered from Alzheimer's and had similar levels of cognitive impairment. Half of these patients were bilingual and half spoke only one language. The researchers found that those who were bilingual had suffered from Alzheimer's about four years later， on average， than those who spoke just one language. And the bilingual people reported their symptoms had begun about five years later than those who spoke only one language.

“What we've been able to show is that the bilinguals have been able to deal with the disease，” Bialystok said. Then she asked the Alzheimer's patients to have brain scans.

As was expected， brain scans of the Alzheimer's patients showed that， among patients who were functioning at the same level， those who were bilingual had more advanced brain deterioration （退化） than those who spoke just one language. But this difference wasn't apparent from the patients' behaviors， or their abilities to function. The bilingual people acted like monolingual patients whose disease was less advanced.

The researchers think bilingual people exercise a brain network more. It includes the fontal regions of the brain tied to memory， language and learning .“Once the disease begins to compromise the regions of the brain， bilinguals can continue to function and the brain becomes more resistant to the damage caused by aging，” Bialystok said. Also， frequently exercising this brain network can help the frontal regions communicate better with one another. As a result， bilingual people are able to think more clearly than the average person with Alzheimer's.

12. How did the bilingual patients differ from the others in the test？

A. They suffered from mental disorders. B. Their symptoms delayed several years.

C. Their initial illnesses were more serious. D. They were better at language learning.

13. Why did Bialystok scan the patients' brain？

A. To cure them in a better way. B. To know their medical history.

C. To confirm the result of the test. D. To access their behavioral reaction.

14. How do bilingual people with Alzheimer's gain benefits？

A. By building self-confidence. B. By developing interest in learning.

C. By using the brain network constantly. D. By improving skills in communication.

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

A. Bilinguals Are Highly Intelligent

B. Bilinguals Are Likely to Live Longer