Heritage on the Edge

In an effort to preserve some of the world’s most famous landmarks，Google has announced a new project to transform a few of the most endangered by climate change into interactive 3D models，just in case one or all is irreparably(不能恢复地)damaged in the coming decades.

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle comprises 27 buildings on top of an extinct volcano. It was home to many kings and queens. But old roofs and rainwater management systems will become insufficient as they will be unable to deal with the level of storm water associated with extreme weather events. Besides，if temperatures continue to rise，the rate of decay(腐烂)will increase further.

Kilwa Kisiwani

Kilwa Kisiwani was a regional center of the medieval trading civilization along the East African Coast. Its permanent architecture included ports，Muslim buildings，and the unique“stone houses”. However，the drier weather and subsequently heavy rainfall is threatening the stability of the ruins，causing the worsening of this exposed heritage site.

Mosque City of Bagherat

The Mosque City of Bagherat was once a lost city. It has many Muslim buildings，bridges，roads and palaces. A recent report stressed the increasing impacts of sea level rise and changes in salinity(盐度)on this community. Increased salinity not only makes much of the water undrinkable but damages structures.

Chan Chan       

Chan Chan was the capital city of Chimu empire，stretching for nearly a thousand kilometers along the coastline. The city planning reflects a strict political and social strategy. But site managers today face challenges in rainfall and droughts due to El Nino events and climate change that threaten to gradually wash the ancient city away.

1. What do we know about Edinburgh Castle?

A．It was built along the coast.	B．It is the largest castle in the world.
C．It is in danger of being washed away.	D．It used to be the home of royal families.

2. Which of the following phenomena is happening in the Mosque City of Bagherat?

A．Water pollution.	B．Water’s becoming salty.
C．Water shortage.	D．Water’s being overused.

3. What is probably the biggest threat to the above sites?

A．Temperature rises.	B．Volcanic eruptions.
C．Sea water.	D．Environmental damage.

Nick Vujicic was born with no arms or legs, but the brave 32­year­old man plays football and golf, swims, and surfs. Nick has a small foot on his left side, which helps him balance and enables him to kick. He uses his one foot to type, write with a pen and pick things up between his toes.

“I call it my chicken drumstick(畸形的小腿),” joked Nick. “I’d be lost without it. When I get in the water I float because 80 per cent of my body is lungs and my drumstick acts as a propeller (螺旋桨). ”

When Nick was born, his distraught mother couldn’t bring herself to hold him until he was four months old. “It was so hard for my parents, but right from the start they did their best to make me independent.” said Nick.

Throughout his childhood Nick dealt with the typical challenges. At the age of seven, Nick tried out some specially designed electronic arms and legs, in the hope that he would be more like other kids. But they turned out to be much too heavy for Nick to operate, affecting his flexibility quite significantly.

“When I was 13 I read a newspaper article about a disabled man who had managed to achieve great things and help others,” said Nick. “I realized why God had made us like this — to give hope to others. It was so inspirational to me that I decided to use my life to encourage others and decided to be thankful for what I do have, not get angry about what I don’t.”

“I tell people to keep on getting up when they fall and to always love themselves,” he said. “If I can encourage just one person then my job in this life is done.” By now, he has visited 35 different countries, touring the world as a motivational speaker.

4. What makes it possible for Nick to swim in the water?

A．His small size.	B．His small foot.
C．His light weight.	D．His big lungs.

5. The underlined word “distraught” in Paragraph 3 probably means “________”.

A．cold­blooded

B．bad­tempered

C．extremely upset

D．really crazy

6. Nick abandoned the electronic arms and legs because ____________.

A．his family couldn’t afford them	B．his classmates didn’t like them
C．they were too heavy to handle	D．they affected his appearance

7. What did Nick decide to do when he was 13?

A．To travel to different countries.	B．To set up his business in newspapers.
C．To try to become a motivational speaker.	D．To encourage people who were in trouble.

Next-generation fitness equipment and robots help you cook dinner. Those are a few of the countless new products expected to be shown next week at CES, the annual tech conference that typically sets the tone for the biggest trends of the year. Home automation, health and 5G will once again be hot topics, but many companies will also introduce pandemic-specific features to reflect our increased time at home.

Each year, reporters, exhibitors and investors typically explore Las Vegas showrooms filled with giant TVs, smart cars and robots, but CES will be online only for the first time in its 54-year history due to Covid-19.

The Consumer Technology Association, the nonprofit behind the four-day event starting Monday, said 1,800 exhibitors from around the world will fill its "digital venue" this year—a number that's down significantly from 4,000 in-person exhibitors last year. The move will allow tech companies from countries which have never attended before to take part in the online exhibition, but could also make it harder for smaller companies to get noticed without a physical showroom.

Registered attendees will be able to stream and re-watch keynotes from companies such as Verizon (VZ) and General Motors (GM), tune in to breakout sessions — about how, for example, technology is playing a role in vaccine deployment—and search through a registry of exhibitors to watch new product presentations.

It'll lack some of the signature ingredients of the trade show, such as hands-on time with the latest small machines and networking. But the technology that makes our lives more connected and convenient will still gain popularity.

8. What are the new products mainly connected with?

A．People’s daily life.	B．Everyday busy work.
C．The popularity of 5G.	D．Countless housework.

9. What do we know about the tech conference?

A．It takes place every two years.	B．It attracts fewer exhibitors this year.
C．It is held mainly on the Internet.	D．It prohibits small companies to attend.

10. What’s the author’s attitude towards the move?

A．Supportive.

B．Disappointed.

C．Doubtful.

D．Casual.

11. Where are the text possibly from?

A．A brochure.

B．A textbook.

C．A newspaper.

D．A guidebook.

The flight of butterflies has so far been somewhat of a secret to researchers, given their unusually large and broad wings relative to their body size. Now researchers at Lund University in Sweden have studied the aerodynamics(空气动力) of butterflies in the wind tunnel(风洞). The results suggest that butterflies use a highly helpful clap technique, therefore making use of their unique wings. This helps them rapidly take off when escaping natural enemies.

The researchers studied the wingbeats of freely flying butterflies during takeoff in the wind tunnel. During the upward process, the wings cup, creating an air-filled pocket between them. When the wings strike each other, the air is forced out, resulting in a backward strong stream of air that pushes the butterflies forward. The downward wingbeat has another function: the butterflies stay in the air and do not fall to the ground.

The wings' striking was described by researchers almost 50 years ago, but it is only in this study that the theory has been tested on real butterflies in free flight. Until now, it has been generally believed that butterfly wings are aerodynamically inefficient. However, the researchers suggest that the opposite is actually true.

“That the wings are cupped when butterflies clap them together, makes the wing clap much more effective. It is an elegant mechanism that is far more advanced than we imagined, and it is fascinating,” says biology researcher Per Henningsson, who studied the butterflies' aerodynamics. “The results of the study could help inspire improved performance and flight technology in small unmanned aircraft,” he continues.

In addition to studying the butterflies, the researchers designed mechanical wings that are modeled on real ones. The shape and flexibility of the mechanical wings as they are cupped and folded confirm the efficiency. Their measurements show that the pushing force created by the flexible wings is 22 percent higher and the efficiency 28 percent better compared to if the wings had been rigid.

12. What does the researchers' study focus on?

A．The butterfly's body size.

B．The butterfly's flying principle.

C．The butterfly's escape technique.

D．The butterfly's frequency of wingbeats.

13. For what purpose do butterfly wings strike?

A．To empty the air pocket for forward force.

B．To release their additional energy.

C．To circle steadily in the air.

D．To form an air pocket.

14. Why were the mechanical wings made?

A．They might draw public attention.

B．They could be used to test the findings.

C．They'd show results in line with popular belief.

D．They helped avoid experimenting on live butterflies.

15. Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A．New Discoveries Are Made Based on Aerodynamics

B．Flexible Wings Boost Plane Making Industry

C．Butterfly Wing Clap Explains Secret of Flight

D．Butterfly Adapts Itself to the Wild Survival

Personal development doesn't just happen.     16     Self-development requires hard work, devotion and an ever-growing skill. So，what new skills do you need to power forward?

On your journey toward your best self, you need to set goals. The key is balance : If your goals are too high, you'll get discouraged when you fall short.     17     The better approach is to think in milestones. If you want to be a novelist, don't set a goal to finish a book in a week. Focus on getting a couple of pages done each day, or on writing a chapter each week. This measurable progress is more sustainable and fulfilling.

    18     To keep going when times are tough, you have to learn how to manage your stress levels. If light walks help you keep your head on straight, schedule one for your lunch period every day. If you need to take Sundays off to recharge for the next week, it's more than acceptable to do so.

Organization is a skill that comes more naturally to some people than others. If you're a naturally messy person, start small. Otherwise, you'll be at a loss.     19     Clean up your bedroom or your car. If physical cleaning is stressful, start by cutting out files from your computer. Believe it or not, one clean space can set the tone for the rest of your life.

On the road of personal development, you'll run into some barriers. Nobody but you can remove these from your path.     20     Perhaps anxiety is keeping you from doing your best work. Instead of struggling through it, quietly take a mental health day.

A．Personal growth needs stress management.

B．Focus on the places where you spend the most time.

C．You can't expect to wake up the next day with new skills.

D．Don't let personal challenges stand in the way of your growth.

E．That's why problem solving is a vital skill for self-development.

F．You absolutely don't need to disclose why you're taking a sick day.

G．Start too small, and you'll become satisfied with your progress too early.

The day I met Mr. Rupp was the first day of high school. I walked into his class with a T-shirt that _______, “Supermodels Suck”. He gave me a lot of _______ over the next four years, like how I should get my eyes to Berkeley where I belonged. By the way, I’m _______ there. The same is true for him as well.

I _______ his full-sleeve tattoos (纹身), which the school made him hide _______ in the great heat of summer. However, he was more than _______ to tell us the story of each one, like constellations (星座) instead of stars.

I remember that he didn’t _______ his standards and refused to give up on us. He was strict with us. Love is _______ sometimes.

The last time I _______ a letter to him, it was 2005—four years after I graduated. I had just become a ________, like him, and it had helped me again ________ the work he did with countless high school students over the years. He wrote me back and told me that his heart sang to ________ me. That’s the kind of teacher he was—the kind whose heart sang for his ________.

It’s hard to say what I’ll miss the most about him. There are simply too many ________ to sort through from those four years, and it ________ me to think he’ll never read this letter. I want to believe that he knew how much he ________ to his students, his community, his family and his colleagues.

He changed the ________ of everyone around him. Even now, he is reminding me to love life, and to tell the people I ________ how much they mean to me before it is too ________.

As my dear teacher and dear friend, he will be ________, but he will never be forgotten.

21.

A．appeared

B．said

C．predicted

D．showed

22.

A．plans

B．ideas

C．advice

D．help

23.

A．almost

B．ever

C．seldom

D．still

24.

A．remember

B．miss

C．expect

D．imagine

25.

A．well

B．even

C．just

D．only

26.

A．happy

B．upset

C．lucky

D．eager

27.

A．realize

B．use

C．study

D．lower

28.

A．tough

B．important

C．impossible

D．generous

29.

A．sent

B．took

C．wrote

D．read

30.

A．worker

B．teacher

C．volunteer

D．doctor

31.

A．accept

B．see

C．appreciate

D．finish

32.

A．chat with

B．meet with

C．learn from

D．hear from

33.

A．friends

B．students

C．family

D．colleagues

34.

A．classes

B．parties

C．papers

D．memories

35.

A．hurts

B．annoys

C．pleases

D．surprises

36.

A．devoted

B．contributed

C．meant

D．donated

37.

A．jobs

B．interests

C．habits

D．lives

38.

A．respect

B．love

C．know

D．adore

39.

A．late

B．reasonable

C．right

D．convenient

40.

A．stubborn

B．available

C．gone

D．retired

阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Bike-to-Work Day is held every year across North America on the third Friday of May. It    41    (start) by the League of American Bicyclists in 1956. Its aim is    42    (promote) the bicycle as a serious choice of getting to and from work. In today’s world    43    global warming is a serious issue, the bicycle is a perfect way of reducing our carbon footprint. Cycling to work is a healthy alternative to    44    (drive) to work. A healthier society means there is not so much pressure on the country’s health system and cycling is also much    45    (kind) on your pocket than driving. Another benefit of cycling is that you may be more creative and full of energy once you get to work, which will improve your    46    (perform).

Bicycles are a very common form of transport in the world. There    47    (be) about one billion bicycles worldwide. That makes it the most popular invention ever. When we think of some countries, like China, we imagine a large number of people’s cycling everywhere. Even in high-tech Japan,     48    is possible to see businessmen, farmers, mothers or workers in the streets on their bikes. We use bicycles today for recreation, fitness and so on.    49    the bicycle, much of the world might stop    50    (work)!

51. 假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（^）,并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（＼）划掉。
修改：在错的词下画一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。

Good morning, dear teachers and friends,

I'm Li Hua. Today I am honored to represent we graduates to deliver a speech.

Firstly, I'd like to express our heartfelt thanks to the help offering by our teachers. Without your guidance and encourage, we couldn't have made such a great progress. Now we have not only had a good command of all the subjects, but also learned how to get along good with each other and how to be a responsible person. How a good time! To repay you, we should work hard to serve the people and society better in the future. Next, as for my friends, I sincerely hope that you will make great achievement in your future life and career.

Thanks again. I wish all of you realize your dream.

52. 假定你是李华，你班外教Ms. King任教期满即将回国。作为班长，你将代表班级在告别会上发言致谢，并赠送纪念品。内容包括：
1．感激之情；
2．礼物寓意；
3．美好祝愿。
注意：1．词数100左右；
2．可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3．开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数。
Hi, everybody,

On this special occasion, I feel much honored

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you very much!