A very dangerous situation happened in California last week. More than 12 wildfires broke out in the state. Most of them began on October 8, in Northern California. They grew rapidly. The fires were made bigger by winds of up to 50 miles per hour and dry air in the area.
At least 20 people have been killed, the state government said. About 200 have been injured. At least 3,500 homes and businesses have been destroyed. About 50,000 people have been required to escape. Many left in a hurry, without time to take their personal things. “All the good stuff(东西)—I’m never going to see it again,” Jeff Okrepkie said. He escaped from his Santa Rosa home. It was destroyed soon after he left.
The fires burned through parts of eight counties(郡，县). These include Sonoma and Napa. The areas are important to California’s economy(经济). They are home to many of the state’s vineyards(葡萄园) and wineries(酿酒厂). In 2016, California’s wineries made more than $57 billion.
October is when wildfires usually produce the most ruins in California. But it is unusual for so many fires to start at once. Up to now, the government has not given a cause for any of the fires, many of which were still burning.
1. Why did the fires grow quickly?| A．Most of the fires began in October. | B．12 fires happened at the same time. |
| C．The state government didn’t do anything. | D．High-speed wind and dry air. |
| A．50,000. | B．200. | C．3,500. | D．20. |
| A．Homes have been destroyed. | B．Wineries have been burned. |
| C．People have to leave their homes. | D．Many people have been injured. |
| A．The high-speed wind and dry air. | B．Many fires started at once. |
| C．October produces the most ruins. | D．The cause is not explained. |
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【推荐1】On February 3, 1931 the peace of New Zealand’s Hawkes Bay region was destroyed when the area was hit by the worst earthquake in New Zealand’s history. At 10: 46 am on that summer’s day, the quake hit with a magnitude of 7. 9 on the Richter scale(里氏震级). The centre of the quake lied some 15 to 20 kilometers north of the two main centers, Napier and Hastings. The quake lasted for two and a half minutes. Many people died in the earthquake.
A fire broke out immediately after the quake. The fire started in a chemist’s shop and spread quickly. Then the Fire Department in Napier came to help, but they were at a loss to control the fire as a result of losing their water supply. However, the water supply in Hastings, was still usable, allowing them to fight back against the fire.
The force of the earthquake destroyed many of the city’s famous landmarks. Chunks of the coastline were thrown into the sea. Napier’s Bluff Hill, a popular tourist spot, was completely destroyed and thrown into the waters below.
Most of the major buildings in the city were completely destroyed. Roads and communications across the whole area were cut. People were afraid to enter their homes for days and found shelters at the local Motor Camp or on the beach. There were about 150 aftershocks(余震)in the 24 hours after the main shock. Over the next 2 weeks, there would be 525 such aftershocks.
1. The worst earthquake took place in New Zealand ________.| A．at night | B．in the morning |
| C．at noon | D．in the afternoon |
| A．there was no usable water |
| B．they couldn’t get close to it |
| C．the flames spread too quickly |
| D．The wind was very strong |
| A．there were many places of interest in New Zealand |
| B．the earthquake damaged the city seriously |
| C．many famous landmarks were thrown into the sea |
| D．people were afraid to enter their homes for sleep |
【推荐2】Tsunami(海啸)is a natural disaster, which is a Japanese word that means “sea wave”.A tsunami is a huge sea wave that forms mainly in the Pacific Ocean area.People die and property is destroyed when a tsunami hits land.What causes these dangerous sea waves? Sometimes, tsunamis are caused when earthquakes take place underwater.Then, water begins to move up and down from the top of the ocean right down to the bottom.Waves begin to form, and each wave is called a tsunami.
A tsunami is less than one meter high and can move at a speed of almost 800 kilometers per hour while it is far out in the ocean.But the tsunami rises much higher and moves more slowly as it comes closer to land.
The weather bureau(气象局)warns people over the radio and television when a tsunami is heading for land.These warnings have helped save many lives.
1. The Japanese word tsunami means ________.| A．Earthquake | B．sea wave | C．ocean water | D．tornado |
| A．an underwater earthquake | B．heavy rains |
| C．waves hitting land | D．tornado |
| A．picks up more speed | B．becomes far less dangerous |
| C．rises higher and higher | D．rises lower and lower |
| A．a tsunami can’t cause lots of trouble |
| B．people can save their lives when a tsunami is coming |
| C．the warning from the weather bureau can help people save their lives |
| D．no one can escape when a tsunami is coming |
【推荐3】This season, the bushfires in Australia have burned more than 12.35 million acres of land. At least 25 people have been killed and 2000 homes destroyed. According to the BBC, this is the most casualties （伤亡）from wildfires in the country since 2009. The University of Sydney estimates that 480 million animals have died in South Wales alone.
Zeke Hausfather, an energy systems analyst and climate researcher at Berkeley Earth, said warmer temperatures and extreme weather have made Australia more susceptible to fires and increased the length of the fire season. “The drier conditions combined with record high temperatures in 2019 created main conditions for the disastrous fires. Australia’s fires were worsened by the combination of those two. 2019 was the perfect storm for being the warmest year on record for Australia and the driest year on record for Australia,” Hausfather added on Friday.
Kevin Tenberth, a senior scientist at the US National Center for Atmospheric Research, said warmer ocean temperatures also contributed to more variable weather around the world. Trenberth believes the global warming contributed to energy imbalances and hot spots in the oceans, which can create a wave in the atmosphere that locks weather patterns in places, causing longer rain events in Indonesia, for example, and at the same time contributing to drought in Australia. He said that once an area experiences drought conditions for two months or more, it increases the risk of fires catching and spreading. Those changing weather patterns due to global warming make drought events longer.
Climate experts stress that climate change is not the only factor in the severity of wildfires. How land is managed can also impact the amount of fuel available for controlled burns and other factors can impact the risk to people and property, such as warning systems and the type of development in a given area. Changing those policies has great potential to limit future damage from wildfires along with changes to how fire management resources are dispatched（派遣）.
1. What are the numbers about in Paragraph 1?| A．The causes of Australian fires. | B．The property destruction of Australian fires. |
| C．The damaged areas of Australian fires. | D．The results of Australian fires. |
| A．Very quickly to adapt to. | B．Very seriously to focus on. |
| C．Very easily to be protected against. | D．Very likely to be influenced by. |
| A．The imbalanced energy leads to the temperature rising. |
| B．Longer dry weather contributes to global warming. |
| C．Warmer ocean temperatures promote fires spreading. |
| D．Global warming is the root cause of the bushfires. |
| A．To stress the effects of Australian fires. |
| B．To provide some advice about reducing damage. |
| C．To show the methods for controlling burns. |
| D．To predict the seriousness of Australian fires. |
【推荐1】Today is National Superhero Day, according to the Marvel universe. But the everyday heroes covered by Newsweek don’t wear capes(斗篷)or feature in Marvel films.
National Superhero Day is so popular after the Twitter page for Vought International posted an image of the Soldier Boy character in a World War II uniform. According to the fictional story, a 1945 order was drafted to make April 28 “Soldier Boy Day”, but the character humbly changed it to “National Superhero Day”.
In reality, the annual occasion was created by Marvel Comics employees in 1995 to celebrate real heroes. Newsweek has covered all manner of everyday heroes over the years, with many of them on the small screen.
In October 2021, dash-cam footage(行车记录仪)captured a Florida policeman saving a 1-year-old girl. The girl was choking and unresponsive when her parents turned to Reginald Mathieu, who happened to be nearby. He raced to the girl’s rescue and performed repeated back blows until she regained consciousness.
One month earlier, five U.S. Marines came to the aid of a woman whose vehicle got stuck in floodwater in Washington, D.C. The men happened to be driving by after a Marine funeral. With the physical strength, they jumped into the knee-high water in clean and clear clothes and pushed the lady’s car out of the flood. “This is so cool. I should say they are superheroes in uniforms,” the woman said in her TikTok video of the rescue.
Humans are not the only everyday superheroes—dogs have also pulled off remarkable lifesaving moments. Mali, a British special-forces dog, was awarded the Britain’s Victoria Cross in 2017.
1. Why was a 1945 order drafted according to the fictional story?| A．To celebrate real heroes. |
| B．To advertise the Marvel Comics. |
| C．To make April 28 a Soldier Boy day |
| D．To introduce the National Superhero Day. |
| A．At least 26 years. | B．Exact 22 years. |
| C．Only 28 years. | D．More than 76 years. |
| A．The Marine funeral. | B．The girl’s rescue. |
| C．The clean and clear car. | D．The help from the Marines. |
| A．A news report. | B．A book review. |
| C．A hero’s story. | D．A diary entry. |
【推荐2】When Makayla Nunn was 8, she was diagnosed (诊断) with an illness called chronic (慢性的) fatigue syndrome. People with this condition are always affected by extreme tiredness. The feeling doesn't go away when they sleep or rest. Makayla lives in the United Kingdom. Because of her illness, she had to give up some of her hobbies.
On her doctor's orders, she started spending no more than three hours at school each day. She soon fell behind in her studies, and she missed her friends. “I would love to see them more,” Makayla, now 15, told TIME for Kids. Then Makayla's mom introduced her to a tool that would help her keep on top of schoolwork and stay connected to friends. It was a robot called AV1. AV1 is 11 inches tall and weighs about two pounds. The robot was developed to help kids who have a chronic illness.
Now, when Makayla can't make it to school, AV1 takes her place. If she feels well enough to take part in a lesson, she opens an app on her phone. She uses AV1's camera to see what's happening in the classroom.
AV1 isn't the only technology that lets kids who are sick attend school remotely (远程地). But AV1 is specially designed to encourage social interaction. The robot's expressive eyes let Makayla show emotions (情绪) to people such as happiness or sadness. The whisper function allows her to speak with friends in class. And AV1 is easily carried, so Makayla's friends can take it with them during breaks or on social outings.
Makayla's classmates nicknamed her robot Robbie. One staff member even made Robbie a coat so it wouldn't get cold.
Karen Dolva cofounded No Isolation, the company that makes AV1, in 2015. “When you're not in school, you miss out on all these small, magical moments and interactions,” Dolva told TIME for Kids. “AV1 helps you stay active in the conversation.”
1. How does Makayla differ from common people?| A．She is fighting against a deadly illness. | B．She never falls asleep at night. |
| C．She hates going to school. | D．She always feels very tired. |
| A．To get homeschooled. | B．To turn to a robot for help. |
| C．To stay at school for a limited time. | D．To talk to her classmates more often. |
| A．It is designed for disabled kids. | B．It can do schoolwork for kids. |
| C．It is hard to carry around. | D．It can express emotions. |
| A．AV1 can communicate with people everywhere. |
| B．AV1 can help people in social activities. |
| C．AV1 has been tried out many times. |
| D．AV1 has been widely used in class. |
【推荐3】Alexis, 17, sat quietly in the passenger seat of her dad’s car. She let her eyes lazily scan the landscape for wildlife. Then a deer came into view about 200 yards in front of them. “Dad, there’s a deer there!” Alexis said. It was a male deer with sharp antlers (角) on each side of its head.
As the car moved closer, Alexis saw that the deer’s head was bent toward the ground. Then she heard a scream and saw an arm fly up near the deer’s head. Alexis realized the deer was attacking a woman. Sue, a 44-year-old mother, had been out for her morning run. The deer followed her and edged closer. “I knew I was in trouble,” Sue says. She went to pick up a stick for self-defense, and the deer charged. It lifted her with its antlers and threw her into the air. Sue could feel blood flew down her leg. Within seconds, the deer had pushed her off the road.
When Alexis and her father pulled up, the deer was throwing Sue like a doll. Alexis looked into the woman’s terrified eyes, and before her father had even stopped the car, the teenager jumped quickly out of the car and ran toward the deer. “I was kicking it to get its attention,” she says. Then her father, who had followed his daughter, pushed the deer away from the women.
Alexis helped Sue into the car, and then applied a piece of cloth to Sue’s injured leg. “We’re going to get you to a hospital,” Alexis said. Then she heard her father shout loudly. He had been knocked to the ground. Alexis took hold of a hammer from the car and ran to where her father lay on his back. She beat the deer’s head and neck, but the blows didn’t scare it away. “I was losing faith,” she says. “A couple more strikes, Alexis,” said her father. “You can do it.” Turning the hammer around, Alexis closed her eyes and beat the deer’s neck with all her strength. When she opened her eyes, the deer was running away. Alexis got in the driver’s seat and sped toward the nearest hospital.
After Sue was treated, she tearfully thanked her rescuers. “You expect a teenage girl to get on the phone and call for help,” she says, “not to beat up a deer.”
1. What did Alexis do to save Sue?| A．She pushed the deer away. | B．She hit the deer with her feet. |
| C．She drove the car to hit the deer. | D．She beat the deer with a hammer. |
| A．Strong. | B．Cruel. | C．Energetic. | D．Brave. |
| A．A Woman Was Seriously Injured |
| B．A Dangerous Deer Attacked a Woman |
| C．A Girl Rescued Her Father Successfully |
| D．A Teenager Saved Others from a Deer Attack |
【推荐1】Philadelphia Zoo: Hours, Directions Daily Schedule
●Hours
Philadelphia Zoo is open every day of the year except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve,Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day.Members enjoy free admission on Halloween.
●Directions
From the east
Access Interstate-76 by exiting PA.Turnpike at Neshaminy.Take US RTI-S to 76E.Take Interstate-76 to exit 342 Girard Avenue.Turn left at Girard Avenue for parking.
From the West
Access Interstate-76 by exiting PA.Turnpike at Valley Forge.Follow 76 to exit 342 Girard Avenue.Follow directional signs to turn left or right on Girard Avenue for available parking.
From City Center
Take West River Road to Sweetbriar Road and turn left.At South Concourse Road, turn left and go one block to Girard Avenue.
●Daily Schedule
Get the most out of your visit! Check out your favorite animals and enjoy a special keeper presentation at the times listed below.
Lions at KeyBank Big Cat Falls 10:30 a.m.
Pigeon Loft for a Flight Show in KidZooU 11:00 a.m.
Giant Tortoise in Reptile and Amphibian House 11:15 a.m.
Vampire Bats in Small Mammal House 11:30 a.m.
Bears at Bear Fountain at bear Country 11:45 a.m.
Wildlife Workshop for an Animal Encounter in KidZooU 12: 30 p.m.
Hippo, giraffe or rhino at African Plains 1:30 p.m.
Animal Training Shows in KidZooU 2:00 p.m.
Giant river otters or Red Pandas at Water is Life 3:15 p.m.
Penguins at Penguin Point 3:45 p.m.
1. When is Philadelphia Zoo open?| A．On Halloween. | B．On Thanksgiving Day. |
| C．On Christmas Eve. | D．On New Year's Day. |
| A．PA.Turnpike. | B．Girard Avenue |
| C．West River road. | D．South Concourse Road. |
| A．9:30 a.m. | B．11:45 a.m. |
| C．12:30 p.m. | D．2:00 p.m. |
【推荐2】Music Festivals in 2019
Snowattack
Type: Electronic
Where: Les Orres, France
When: January 26-February 2, 2019
Camping: No
Snowaltack is a mid-winter event celebrating electronic music and ski culture. The festival takes place yearly at the Les Ores ski area in France with over 100 kilometers of slope (斜坡) and 19 lifts, giving great pleasure to tourists and music lovers.
Treefort Music Festival
Type: Hip-hop
Where: Boise, ID
When: March 20—March 24, 2019
Camping: No
It may sound strange lo choose Boise in Idaho as the city for such a large festival, but the Treefort festival continues to give us surprise year after year. Treefort takes place the week after another big music festival, South by Southwest, to attract artists on the way back to the northwest. The festival has grown in size to include things beyond music, like film, yoga and beer.
Black Deer Festival
Type: Country
Where: Eridge Park, Kent
When: June 21—June 23, 2019
Camping: Yes
Black Deer is going to bring a great deal of real Americanna and country music to the UK. The new festival promises to bring a wonderful mixture of excitement, experience and love with tasty food and drink, artisan wares (工艺品) and fantastic music.
Noise Pop Festival
Type: Pop
Where: San Francisco, CA
When: February 15-February 25, 2019
Camping: No
The Noise Pop Festival takes place every February across San Francisco. The show also includes activities about art and film along with some of the best musical artists. If you’re planning a winter-time trip, this is a special way to experience the fashion of the city.
1. Which festival should you go to if you are a hip-hop lover?| A．Snowattack. | B．Noise Pop Festival. |
| C．Black Deer Festival. | D．Treefort Music Festival. |
| A．It will allow for camping. | B．It will last for a whole week. |
| C．It will bring different musical styles. | D．It will include many kinds of activities. |
| A．Try an exercise like yoga. | B．Go skating to exciting music. |
| C．Play with country music lovers. | D．Enjoy the fashion of San Francisco. |
【推荐3】After traveling ten years and hundreds of millions of kilometers, a small probe (探测器) called Philae has for the first time landed on the surface of a comet, a solar system object made of ice and rock.
Philae was sent from the European Space Agency’s main Rosetta spaceship early Wednesday, November 12, 2014. Originally, the mission of the spaceship was to target Comet 46P but when the launch was delayed due to problems with the Ariane 5 launch vehicle, the mission was redirected to Comet 67P, to study the appearance and materials that make up Comet 67P.
The Philae research probe left its mother ship Rosetta and then began a trip toward the comet and landed on its surface hours later. The effort to land on the comet was considered dangerous because just before the planned landing, scientists identified problems in Philae’s active descent system thruster (推进器) used to land the probe.
Rosetta has been orbiting Comet 67P since August 2014. However, it was sent up into space in March of 2004. The spaceship circled the sun until it was in position to meet with the comet.
Comets are the most primitive (原始的) objects in the solar system. Scientists think that they have kept a record of the physical and chemical processes that occurred during the early period when planets were formed. By studying Comet 67P’s make-up and history, scientists wish to unlock the secret of the solar system and even the origin of human lives.
The Philae probe did a series of scientific experiments. Philae examined the materials that make up the comet looking for organic, or carbon-based materials, and inorganic materials. It lasted until March 2015, when the comet was too close to the sun and the surface temperature was too high for Philae to operate.
1. What was Rosetta launched to do?| A．To send Philae to Comet 67P safely. |
| B．To study the appearance of Comet 46P. |
| C．To collect information about Comet 67P. |
| D．To research on the make-up of the solar system. |
| A．Due to technological issues. |
| B．As a result of power failure. |
| C．Because of lack of experience. |
| D．Due to problems in radio systems. |
| A．Challenging. | B．Satisfying. | C．Meaningful. | D．Impractical. |
| A．Philae landing on Comet 67P |
| B．Another comet found in space |
| C．One step further in geography research |
| D．Great improvement in spaceship design |
【推荐1】The White House is the most visited residence in the world. Tours may be scheduled through our Washington D.C. office. Due to security and scheduling procedures, there are a few things you should know before requesting a tour:
• Only groups of 10 or more may request a tour.
• Requests must be submitted with a minimum of one month’s advance notice from the date of the tour. Notice of whether your application is accepted will be given 10 days prior to（在…之前） the date requested. All tours, even after they have been confirmed, are subject to cancellation due to security interests.
• Tours are only conducted Tuesday through Saturday from 7:30 am to 11:30 am.
To process your request for a tour, please contact our Washington office at (202) 224-5521 and provide the following information:
• Date(s) requesting.
• Safety information for each person in your party, including: name as it appears on I.D. (I.D. required for ages 14 and up), date of birth, social security number, country of origin, and citizenship.
• A home address and daytime and evening phone numbers for the designated (指派的) leader of the group.
• A contact number while in DC for the designated leader of the group.
After your request is confirmed or denied, our office will contact you with further instructions.
1. This notice is to provide information about ________.| A．scheduling of Washington DC tours |
| B．the safety system of the White House |
| C．application for a tour of the White House |
| D．duties of a tour group leader |
| A．on weekdays only | B．five days a week |
| C．every few days | D．on weekends only |
| A．exactly on the date of application | B．at least 30 days in advance |
| C．any day between Tuesday and Saturday | D．10 days before the date of the tour |
【推荐2】Baron Pierre de Coubertin was a Frenchman. At his time sports were not taught in French schools. De Coubertin believed that sports should go hand in hand with studies. He had an idea. His idea was to begin the Olympics all over again.
Sports teachers of other countries liked De Coubertin ideas. So in 1896, the modern Olympic Games were held in Athens, Greece. Since then the Olympics have been held once every four years, except three times, when there were wars.
The modern Olympic games have many foot races and field sports programs. The longest race in the games is called marathon.
Before the start of the Olympic Games, runners carry lighted torch( 火炬 ) through many nations towards the stadium where the games will be held. These sportsmen are from different countries. Yet they work together to carry the Olympic torch. It is passed from runner to runner, When the last runner enters the stadium, he or she places the torch in a special basin filled with oil. It catches fire. It is then, only then, that the Olympic Games can begin.
The Olympic flame burns throughout the games. It is the flame of peace.
1. Before 1896 French schools didn't teach ______.| A．match | B．history |
| C．sports | D．physics |
| A．In Athens,Greece | B．In German |
| C．In French | D．In Russia |
| A．1896 | B．1904 |
| C．1915 | D．1924 |
【推荐3】Women facing breast cancer (乳腺癌) report that their cats rank among the most important supporters, alongside parents and siblings (兄弟姐妹) they rely on to help them through their treatment.
Fish, a breast cancer survivor, relied on the companionship of her two cats, Phoebe and Jack, during her treatments. “They were the perfect companions when I needed them most,” Fish says. “They gave silent strength.” Fish is far from the only breast cancer survivor to show the power of her cat. A recent Purina Cat Chow national survey of breast cancer survivors with cats points out this important relationship.
Dr. Karen Sueda, at the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, says, “Whether pet owners are fighting diseases such as breast cancer or going through a rough period in life such as job loss or some stress, their cats often display intuitive (直觉的) behavior of knowing when they need extra support.”
Hearing countless stories from breast cancer patients and survivors of how they have been emotionally supported by their cats, Purina Cat Chow honors this exceptional relationship and is doing its part to help the fight against breast cancer. This year, in a partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Purina Cat Chow will donate more than $200,000 to the cause and invites consumers to help us raise awareness of breast cancer.
Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to find the cures. The organization has invested (投资) $1.3 billion in ending breast cancer, becoming the world’s largest source of non-profit funds (资金) devoted to the fight against breast cancer.
1. To many women with breast cancer, cats can _______.| A．bring strength and support to them. |
| B．teach them how to relax |
| C．know about what they think about. |
| D．help the patients to be optimistic |
| A．often collects cancer patients’ information |
| B．hopes to find more breast cancer patients |
| C．will help spread the knowledge about breast cancer |
| D．aims to find the best treatment for breast cancer |
| A．Unconcerned. | B．Supportive. | C．Doubtful. | D．Surprised. |
