Wildlife tracking is nothing new, but it's certainly not without limitations. When pursuing animals, particularly birds, in some places like rough mountains and vast oceans, the traditional method, VHF tracking which uses GPS tags (跟踪器), often ends up with the signal of animals lost.
A newly developed set of UAVs (无人机) with radio tags aims to solve this problem. ''The swift parrot was the original inspiration for the development of the system. The swift parrots are migratory (季节迁徙的) birds. Before reaching their destination, they'll fly across vast areas of land. Besides, during their flying, they tend to choose a random place for temporary food and rest. And they use different areas as their destinations each year depending on where their food is available. So their destinations each year can also be random. The randomnness can make it hard for us to judge in advance where they'll exactly go and more difficult to track them,"explains Saunders.
"So it's necessary to use tags to track them. But GPS tags are not congruent with swift parrots since these creatures are too small, which makes it hard to attach the large GPS tags to them. Besides, GPS signals can be poor in remote and rough areas. Therefore we had to find a new way to search large pieces of land more effectively. We had an idea to attach smaller radio tags to them and use particular UAVs to track those radio tags to study their movements."
These UAVs only need to fly beside the parrots to track their whereabouts while other systems need to fly directly overhead for a visual sighting. Saunders says, "Our system listens for tag signals, and works most effectively at a distance so it can identify where the animals are and help us observe them without influencing their flying routes."
As for the improvement of UAVs, now the scientists want to develop a version that has stronger lifting ability and flies farther without being charged in the midway. And then it can track animals in more remote and rough surroundings that were previously inaccessible, and shed light on species that have been unable to be tracked until now.
1. What is the major problem of traditional wildlife tracking?| A．Failing to reach rural areas. | B．Failing to follow routine methods. |
| C．Losing track of GPS tags sometimes. | D．Losing track of the animals sometimes. |
| A．UAVs are modeled after their shape. | B．UAVs can be attached to their bodies. |
| C．Their migratory route can be hard to predict. | D．Their flying can get interrupted by humans. |
| A．They can fly quite high in the sky. | B．They help catch and attack their targets. |
| C．They help track birds without disturbing them. | D．They can record the sounds sent by various birds. |
| A．By getting rid of radio tags. | B．By reducing their production cost. |
| C．By increasing their weight and size. | D．By improving their energy storage and engines. |
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【推荐1】Of the more than 3,000 species of mosquitoes in the world, just a small number specialize in sucking human blood. How mosquitoes track us down so effectively isn’t currently known, but it matters, since they carry dangerous diseases which may cause death.
“In fact, stopping these annoying insects in their tracks could save up to half a million lives lost to those diseases each year,” said Carolyn Gauff, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the Princeton Neuroscience Institute. That’s why Gauff’s team wanted to understand how they find and target humans.
Mosquitoes mostly choose what to bite based on odor (气味). Knowing how a potentially disease-carrying mosquito finds a person, while ignoring other warm-blooded animals, is a key question. But it’s not easy to answer, since any animal smell is made up of hundreds of chemicals mixed together in specific percentage. “The actual chemicals that are found in human odor are basically the same as the chemicals found in animal odor—it’s the percentages and the relative large amount of those substances in human mixtures that’s unique,” said Gauff.
To investigate, researchers decided to record neural activity in the brain of mosquitoes while exposing them to natural human and animal odor samples. They collected odor samples from about 40 different animals. When they compared some of those with the 16 human samples, something jumped out. Decanal is particularly rich in human skin. Common in the natural world, in humans, decanal comes from another, more complex substance. When one component of our skin’s natural oils, sapienic acid, breaks down, decanal is left over. This acid is only found in human beings. It’s what likely leads to the high levels of decanal that help the mosquitoes smell their way to us.
Understanding what the mosquitoes are targeting is only part of the story; knowing how they do it is also important. To see exactly how mosquitoes use this sense, scientists used genetically modified (转基因的) mosquitoes so that they could cut open mosquitoes’ heads and watch neurons firing when they’re exposed to human and animal odors. The research team already knew that mosquitoes have about 60 different types of neurons that sense odors, so when they looked in the insects’ brains, they thought they might see a lot of activities. But it was surprisingly quiet, meaning that the signal was perhaps quite simple, down to just a couple types of neurons. “One type of neuron responded really strongly to both humans and animals. Another type of neuron responded to both—but it responded much more strongly to humans than animals,” Gauff said.
How to keep mosquitoes’ decanal signal from being transmitted will be the research team’s next focus. Gauff hoped their current work could be used to make mosquito killers and attractants to prevent disease.
1. What’s the final purpose of the research conducted by Gauff’s team?| A．To study why only certain mosquitoes suck human blood. |
| B．To investigate the neural activity in mosquitoes’ brains. |
| C．To test the effectiveness of mosquito killers. |
| D．To help prevent deadly diseases caused by mosquitoes. |
| A．Remains of decomposed sapienic acid. | B．Chemicals in the environment. |
| C．Decanal generated in human blood. | D．Natural oil from human skin. |
| A．Chemicals found in human and animal odors are quite different. |
| B．Genetically modified mosquitoes are not sensitive to human odor. |
| C．Further research will focus on odor signal and neural connection. |
| D．Most mosquito neurons are not involved in responding to human odor. |
| A．Developing more effective mosquito killers. |
| B．Studying of mosquito neural connections in response to odor signals. |
| C．Analyzing the types of neurons in mosquitoes. |
| D．Discussing the benefits for preventing mosquitoes from transmitting the decanal signal. |
【推荐2】Dodder is an unusual and unwanted plant that attacks other plants. Except for its flowers, the plant looks like spaghetti, a kind of noodles in the shape of long thin pieces that look like string when they are cooked. Its almost leafless, thread-like stems（茎）hang down on top of other plants that dodder needs to stay alive. Dodder does not produce its own food. Instead, it steals food from other plants. It feeds by sucking juices from the plant which is wrapped around, often making its host very weak or even killing it.
Dodder can find other plants by their smell. When a young dodder plant starts growing, it follows the smell of plants it prefers, like tomato plants, potato plants, or other farm crops. Unlike most plants that usually grow in the direction of light or warmth, a dodder plant will grow in the direction of, for example, tomato smell-if a tomato happens to be growing nearby.
However, a young dodder plant must find a host plant quickly. It no longer needs its root once it is attached to the host and wrapped around it. If it cannot catch a smell of a potential host within a few days, it will dry up and disappear-even if there is plenty of water around. Once it finds a host, the young dodder plant will attach itself to it and start growing faster. At that point the dodder plant will drop its root.
Dodder is thus a difficult weed to manage and a real headache for farmers. When it does get out of hand, dodder can greatly reduce a farmer’s harvest or even destroy crops completely. Before sowing their produce, especially farmers in warm parts of the world often check to make sure no unwanted dodder seeds have mixed with their crop seeds. This is a good way to stop dodder plants from making their way to a crop field secretly.
1. Why does the author mention spaghetti in the first paragraph?| A．To analyze the content of some food. |
| B．To describe the shape of dodder plants. |
| C．To explain where the dodder plants come from. |
| D．To argue that dodder plants can be used. |
| A．It will die sooner or later. |
| B．It will grow deep roots. |
| C．It will attract other plants. |
| D．It will cover the entire area of soil. |
| A．Dodder does not produce its own food. |
| B．Dodder can affect farmers’ income. |
| C．Dodder can only survive in the shade. |
| D．Dodder only grows in the warm areas. |
| A．A new variety of farm crops. |
| B．Plants that are harmful to humans. |
| C．The special abilities of a dangerous plant. |
| D．Recent improvements in farming methods. |
【推荐3】Some 128 baby squids from Hawaii are in space for a study. The baby Hawaiian squids come from the University of Hawaii's Kewalo Marine Laboratory. They are about 7.6 centimeters long. There are plenty of these tiny animals in Hawaiian waters. The squids will come back to Earth in July. They rode on a SpaceX spacecraft along with thousands of kilos of supplies for the International Space Station on June 3.
Jamie Foster is conducting the study as a researcher at the University of Hawaii with the help of Dr. Margaret McFall-Ngai, a member of the National Academy of Sciences. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser newspapers reported that she studies how spaceflight affects the squids. The research, started in 1989, can help scientists learn about human health during long trips in space.
Squids have a relationship with natural bacteria that help them control their giving off light. Margaret said, “When astronauts are in low gravity, their bodies' relationship with bacteria changes. Bacteria are very important to the human body and health. The relationship of humans with bacteria is disturbed in low gravity, and Jamie has shown that it is true in squids," said Margaret. "And, because it's a simple system, she can get to the bottom of what happens."
“As astronauts spend more and more time in space, their immune systems don't function well,” Jamie said. "Their immune systems don't recognize bacteria easily. They sometimes get sick. Understanding what happens to the squids in space could help solve health problems that astronauts face."
She said, "The immune system does not work properly on long spaceflights. If humans want to spend time on the moon or Mars, we have to solve health problems to get them there safely.”
1. What's the purpose of the research?| A．To know the situation in space. | B．To study squids' living conditions. |
| C．To check astronauts' immune systems. | D．To help solve astronauts' health problems. |
| A．They have a relationship with space. |
| B．T hey can control their giving off light. |
| C．They have something in common with people. |
| D．They can solve the problems of natural bacteria. |
| A．Uncaring. | B．Positive. | C．Uncertain. | D．Curious. |
| A．In a novel. | B．In a history book. | C．In a travel brochure. | D．In a science magazine. |
【推荐1】Getting stitched(缝合) up by Dr. Robot may one day be reality. Scientists have created a robotic system which did just that in living animals without a real doctor pulling the strings. Much like engineers are designing self-driving cars, the medical research is part of a move toward autonomous surgical robots, removing the surgeon’s hands from certain tasks that a machine might perform all by itself.
Doctors wouldn’t leave the bedside they’re supposed to watch. Plus they’d handle the rest of the surgery. In small tests using pigs, the robotic arm performed at least as well, and in some cases a bit better, as some competing surgeons in stitching together intestinal(肠的) tissue. “The purpose wasn’t to replace surgeons, ”said Dr. Kim who led the project. “If you have all intelligent tool that works with a surgeon, can it improve the outcome? That’s what we have done.”
If you’ve heard about machines like the popular Da Vinci system, you might think robots already are operating. Not really. Today many hospitals offer robot-assisted surgery where surgeons use the machinery as tools that they control by hand to operate through tiny openings in the body. But robot-assisted surgery has been controversial, as some studies have shown it can bring higher costs without better outcomes.
Kim’s team at Children’s Sheikh Zayed Institute invented the new STAR system—it stands for Smart Tissue Autonomous Robot—works sort of like a programmable sewing machine. They added sensors to help guide each stitch and tell how tightly to pull. But the approach wasn’t perfect. In the living animals, the robot took much longer and made a few stitching mistakes while the surgeon sewing by hand made none. Kim said the robot can be sped up. He hopes to begin human studies in two or three years.
1. What’s the best title for the text?| A．A new robotic system |
| B．A new-style way of stitching |
| C．The newly-designed driverless vehicles |
| D．Robot surgeons one step closer to reality |
| A．They can help pull the strings. | B．They rest at the bedside. |
| C．They join in when necessary. | D．They perform another surgery. |
| A．they can be out of control | B．they will take shorter time |
| C．they may be expensive to use | D．they are likely to cause great pain |
| A．Dr. Robot can take the place of surgeons. |
| B．Dr. Robot will be improved. |
| C．Dr. Robot has been tested with human trials. |
| D．Dr. Robot can free doctors’ hands in the operation. |
【推荐2】It’s been said of humans that our intelligence distinguishes us from the other animal species. Still, at times we can be slow on the small tricks. Who knew, for example, there’s actually a purpose for that extra shoelace hole in sneakers? Yep, that’s right—the extra hole isn’t just there for show. In fact, it has a genius purpose that will make your sneakers a lot more comfortable.
“It’s there to stop blisters from forming,” especially on the back of the heels, says Becker, an outdoor adventurer in his TikTok video. To do what Becker calls a “heel lock,” simply push one end of the shoelace into the extra shoelace hole on the same side, and pull it most of the way through, leaving a small loop (圈，环). Do the same on the other side. Then fit the end of each lace into the opposite loop, pull tight and, finally, tie your laces like you normally would. This loop-based lock will “lock that shoe around that heel …to stop it from moving around” against the back of the shoe. The result: no friction (摩擦), no blisters!
Even celebrity foot surgeon Brad Schaeffer, seemed pleasantly surprised by Becker’s finding. Ordinarily, Dr. Schaeffer ties the top laces in what he refers to as a “typical crisscross (十字形的) manner.” However, after watching the video, he plans to switch to this trick, noting that it works not only by keeping the heel in place but also by fastening the top of the foot. “Friction is the main cause for blisters,” he explains. “And when you can support the foot by cupping the heel and holding the forefoot in place in this way, you can prevent this friction.”
Turns out that extra shoelace hole offers yet another benefit. Some parents are using the heel-lock method to teach their kids how to tie their own shoes. “This is a super-easy way to teach your kids to tie their shoes,” Dr. Barnett said, because it doesn’t involve holding on to loose loops and therefore requires less coordination. “And assuming a good fit, it’s a fine way to tie your shoes for the rest of your life.”
1. What is the primary purpose of the extra shoelace hole in sneakers?| A．It allows for quicker and easier shoe removal. | B．It provides additional support to the foot arch. |
| C．It serves as additional decoration for the shoes. | D．It helps prevent blisters on the back of the heels. |
| A．It tightens the laces around the toes. | B．It secures the shoe around the ankle. |
| C．It stops the shoe tongue from moving. | D．It helps with the overall fit of the shoe. |
| A．Friction is not a significant factor in causing blisters. |
| B．The crisscross method is the most effective way to tie shoes. |
| C．The “heel lock” method secures both the heel and the top of the foot. |
| D．Loose loops are essential for teaching kids to tie their shoes effectively. |
| A．Knowledge | B．Holidays | C．Science. | D．Parenting |
【推荐3】Welcome to Our Festival
Story Show in Oheron
Adults
8: 00 pm—10: 00 pm
Join us for an evening of true, personal stories about science. Come to the only show where you can hear people—scientists, not-scientists, and half-scientists-tell funny and touching stories about the role of science in their lives.
Cost: $10
Make Your Own iPhone Case through Toysinbox 3D Printing
Families & Teens&. Adults
10: 00 am—12: 30 pm
In this workshop, you will learn to design and make your own iPhone case by 3D printing. First, you will learn how to use a 3D printer. Next, you will design a 3D model for your iPhone case that will have a lovely pattern and your name. Once you create the model, you will print it out on our 3D printers. A 3D-printing worker will guide you through this process step by step. Come and enjoy this fun and unique learning experience!
Cost: $35
DIY Underwater Vehicle Design in MIT Museum Teens
2: 00 pm—5: 00 pm
Dive into the world of ocean engineering by designing and building an underwater vehicle! Test your vehicle in large tanks on the Museum’s floor. Show off your engineering creations and share your design process with Museum visitors.
Cost: $15, Ages 12
Animal Kingdom for Young Ones in Museum of Science, Boston
Families
9: 30 am—2: 00 pm
Join us for a day of hands-on science fun designed especially for pre-schoolers!
Activities include the Museum’s popular “Live Animal Story Time” shows and a talk about baby animals and book-signing by children’s book authors. Take part in special live animal visits and activities in the exhibition halls, as well as design challenges and lab activities—all created with your young scientist in mind!
Cost: $20
1. If you are interested in stories about science, you will probably attend ________.| A．Make Your Own iPhone Case | B．DIY Underwater Vehicle Design |
| C．Story Show | D．Animal Kingdom for Young Ones |
| A．Do role-play games. | B．Test their creations. |
| C．Put on science shows. | D．Meet authors of the books. |
| A．kids not old enough for school | B．children of all ages |
| C．adults | D．college students |
【推荐1】A lazy Susan is an addition to a table, which is designed to assist in moving food from one person to another while dining. This is accomplished through the use of a turntable(转盘), which usually moves the food in a circle when pushed by those at table. In this way, the food never has to be picked up and passed around the table. Instead, it remains in place as the lazy Susan is turned about.
A lazy Susan may also be a part of a kitchen cabinet(橱柜). One may spin the lazy Susan in order to find certain goods stored in it. From the outside, a lazy Susan appears to be two cabinets. When one of these cabinets is pushed, however, both doors move and the lazy Susan is revealed inside.
Whether the lazy Susan is on a table top or within a cabinet, it can be made of a variety of materials. Most commonly, a lazy Susan is made of either plastic, wood or glass. Some people believe that Thomas Jefferson invented the lazy Susan, though it was referred to as a dumb waiter(上菜升降架)at that time. It is said that Jefferson invented the lazy Susan because his daughter complained she was always served last at table and, as a result, never found herself full when leaving the table. Others believe that Thomas Edison was the inventor, as he is believed to have invented the turntable for his phonograph(留声机), which later developed into the lazy Susan.
Regardless of who invented it, it wasn’t until 1917 that the term lazy Susan was created in an advertisement for the invention. In Britain. however, the term dumb waiter is still used rather than the term lazy Susan. The reason for the name lazy Susan remains a mystery. One theory is that it was named after either Jefferson’s or Edison’s daughter, both of whom were named Susan.
1. According to the passage, a lazy Susan________.| A．is a person who serves food at table |
| B．is a waitress who helps move dinner tables |
| C．is an additional round table in a dining room |
| D．is a turntable that passes food around the table |
| A．On a table top, it is convenient for people to have dinner. |
| B．Within a cupboard, it is easy for people to see what is inside. |
| C．It wasn’t until 1917 that the lazy Susan was invented. |
| D．It can be made of many kinds of materials. |
| A．discuss how lazy Susan was named | B．teach us how to make a lazy Susan |
| C．introduce Thomas Edison’s invention | D．tell us what a lazy Susan is and its origin |
| A．the lazy Susan was invented earlier than the phonograph |
| B．Susan was the name of Jefferson’s and Edison’s daughters |
| C．Jefferson and Edison invented the lazy Susan at the same time |
| D．when people talk about a lazy waitress they use the term “Susan” |
【推荐2】Plastic is nearly everywhere — in shoes, clothes, refrigerators and construction materials. But this highly useful material can have a major defect. Made from oil and slow to break down, conventional plastic is not environmentally friendly. Today, researchers discuss inventing what they say should be a safer, biodegradable (可生物降解的) alternative made from fish waste— heads, bones and skin— that would otherwise likely be thrown out.
If developed successfully, fish-oil-based plastic could help meet the considerable need for more sustainable plastic, says Francesca Kerton, the project’s investigator. Previously, others have developed new plastic using plant-based oils. However, this too comes with a disadvantage: the crops that produce these oils require land that could otherwise be used to grow food.
Leftover fish struck Kerton as a promising alternative. Salmon (鲑鱼) farming is a major industry for coastal Newfoundland, where her university is located. After the fish are processed, leftover parts are often thrown away. Kerton and her colleagues developed a process for turning this fish oil into a plastic-like material. But does the plastic smell fishy? “When we start the process with the fish oil a slight kind of fish smell, but as we go through the steps, that smell disappears,” Kerton says.
In other experiments, they have begun examining how quickly the new material would likely break down once its useful life is over. Kerton put pieces of it in water, and to speed up the degradation for some pieces, she added a chemical capable of breaking down fats like those in the fish oil. Under a microscope, she later saw microbial (微生物的）growth on all of the samples, even those that had been in plain water, an encouraging sign that the new material might biodegrade quickly, Kerton says.
Kerton now intends to study the material’s physical properties to see how it might in real-world applications, such as in packaging or fibers for clothing.
1. What does the underlined word “defect” in paragraph 1 mean?| A．Mistake. | B．Burden. | C．Difficulty. | D．Disadvantage. |
| A．It causes damage to the soil. | B．It needs a large amount of land. |
| C．It produces an unpleasant smell. | D．It increases the price of cooking oils. |
| A．It can break down easily. | B．It has a very short useful life. |
| C．It is hard to mix with plain water. | D．It proved a good packaging material. |
| A．A living trend. | B．A fishing method. |
| C．A scientific project. | D．A biological phenomenon. |
【推荐3】Record sea ice loss caused a mass die-off of emperor penguin chicks in part of Antarctica last year, strengthening predictions that the world’s largest penguin will soon be in danger of extinction.
Unlike other penguins, emperors breed (繁殖) on sea ice rather than land.Male emperor penguins hatch the eggs during the Antarctic winter. The furry grey chicks need stable sea ice until December to grow their black waterproof feathers and gain enough muscle to swim. If they go into the water before they develop feathers, chicks can drown or freeze to death.
In February, the area of sea ice around Antarctica reached the lowest extent ever observed. After much of the ice began breaking up late last year, four out of five habitats in the hard-bit central and eastern Bellingshausen Sea suffered a total breeding failure, with no chicks surviving to the feather growing period. In mid-November, the sea ice there broke up, forcing the penguins to abandon the habitat and most if not all of their chicks.
A research team from Oxford Brookes University monitored populations by spotting penguin faeces (排泄物) in satellite photos. Emperor penguins tend to stay close, walking in a tight group to stay warm in temperatures as low as -60°C.The buildup of the habitat’s faeces stains the ice so brown that it can be seen from space. Once a habitat has been identified, researchers can count the individual penguins in very high-resolution satellite images.
The observations add weight to modelling predictions that 90 percent of emperor penguin habitats could be extinct or past the point of no return by 2100 if current rates of warming continue. While habitats can lose chicks in heavy storms or when severe winds break up the sea ice, this is the first-time widespread breeding failure has been linked to disappearing ice.
“Failure is the norm, but complete failure across a whole region, that’s not normal,” says Tim at Oxford Brookes University. “Will this impact the population? It really depends on how often it happens.”
1. What was the result of the ice breaking last year?| A．The area of the sea reached the lowest point ever. |
| B．Emperor penguins left the habitats with their chicks. |
| C．Emperor penguins had to search for food themselves. |
| D．Most emperor penguins chicks studied failed to survive. |
| A．By counting the penguins. |
| B．By making the images clearer. |
| C．By spotting brown stained ice. |
| D．By collecting penguins’ faeces. |
| A．The area suffered breeding failure for the first time. |
| B．Severe storms caused the extensive breeding failure. |
| C．The total failure has made emperor penguins extinct. |
| D．The frequency of ice breaking needs to be controlled. |
| A．The main causes of global warming. |
| B．The exlinet emperor penguin habitats. |
| C．Emperor penguins’ severe breeding failure. |
| D．Health problems of emperor penguin chicks. |
【推荐1】Tobias Weller is nothing short of extraordinary.
At 9-years-old, he’s dealt with things most of us won’t face in our lifetimes. Simple tasks, like standing on his own two feet, are impossible for him and he requires assistance for most activities we consider basic. But Just because he’s someone who needs help, that doesn’t mean he can’t give help.
At first Tobias decided to complete a sponsored one-kilometer walk. But for some reasons, the race was canceled, and Tobias’ plans were destroyed.
The moment young Weller learned about Captain Tom, a 100-year-old British vet who has now raised 41 million dollars for charities by walking in his walker, he decided if a century-year-old man could walk for miles, he could also make it happen.
Forget the one kilometer, Tobias was going to walk a marathon—26.2 miles—in order to raise money for his two favorite charities. He went up and down his street for months. First with 50 meters a day, but as he grew stronger, the distance expanded and eventually he built up to 750 meters a day. It took him 70 days to cross that finish line, but he did it.
His mother, Ruth Garbutt, presented him with a medal as he crossed the finish line.
She said: “I’m so, so proud of Tobias. I’m bursting with pride for all he’s achieved and how hard he’s worked during the marathon…He couldn’t push the walker at the start of the marathon and now he can, he can push it on the flat and he’s proved today he can push it uphill as well.”
Honestly, just wow. The amount of pain and extreme tiredness he must have suffered during his walks is unimaginable. But he never stopped, he just kept pushing, and in the end he raised over $111, 000 for his charities.
“I’m pleased to raise loads of money. Other children who aren’t as lucky as me can benefit from the money that’s been raised.” Tobias said.
1. Tobias decided to walk a marathon mainly to ________.| A．challenge himself |
| B．strengthen his body |
| C．contribute to charities |
| D．compete with Captain Tom |
| A．It was canceled finally. |
| B．It lasted more than two months. |
| C．Tobias finished it without a walker. |
| D．Tobias was awarded the first prize. |
| A．Ambitious and calm. | B．Strong-willed and kind. |
| C．Courageous and honest. | D．Determined and cooperative. |
【推荐2】For many years, a beautiful, white horse wandered the western plains. Native Americans saw him before the settlers came but never got close to him. Only one person ever touched the white horse. She was an old lady when she told the story to her grandchildren.
Gretchen's family came to Texas in a covered wagon when she was a very little girl. The oxen that pulled the wagons moved very slowly. There were no roads. The sun was hot. and the dust covered everything in sight.
The trip was especially tiresome for little Gretchen. To make it easier, she was allowed to ride an old horse named Nelly, a gentle animal with a slow pace. Gretchen's parents tied Gretchen securely to keep her from falling off.
One day, one of the wagons broke a wheel. When the wheel was being repaired, Nelly wandered along to an inviting area of green grass near the river bank with Gretchen, who had fallen asleep tied to the horse's back.
Suddenly, Gretchen awoke with a start, from across the river came the sound of a horse's whinny. There stood the beautiful white horse. His body was the colour of snow and his long mane and tail shone like silver thread.
The wild horse ran into a nearby canyon, and Nelly slowly followed behind. Gretchen cried out, but the wagon train was far away and no one could hear her. Finally, the horses came to a stop in a grassy valley. The white horse and old Nelly stood side by side eating grass.
Gretchen stared at the beautiful horse. He didn't seem at all afraid of her. Slowly she reached over to touch his neck. He lifted his head and looked at her with gentle, curious eyes. Then he put his head back down and ate the grass. The two horses seemed to have developed a bond, and Gretchen enjoyed being with them.
For over an hour the white horse stayed with old Nelly and Gretchen. Then just as the sun was getting low in the sky, Gretchen heard a familiar shout. Across the valley, she could see her father and several men headed toward her and the horses.
The white horse twitched （抽动）his ears in response to the men's shouts and then he was gone. The men stopped to watch as he ran across the valley and out of the canyon. Never again did he come close enough to be touched.
1. In this story, Nelly is the name of ______.| A．a wagon | B．a girl | C．a horse | D．an ox |
| A．the river made too much noise |
| B．the horses were whinnying |
| C．the men were working on the wagon wheel |
| D．she was too far away |
| A．Gretchen was good at riding horses. |
| B．The trip to Texas was long and full of hardship. |
| C．Gretchen's family came to Texas for environmental reasons. |
| D．Only Gretchen felt tiresome during the trip. |
| A．explain a mystery |
| B．express an opinion |
| C．share an experience |
| D．predict an outcome |
【推荐3】For Western designers, China and its rich culture have long been an inspiration for Western creative.
“It’s no secret that China has always been a source(来源) of inspiration for designers,” says Amanda Hill, chief creative officer at A+E Networks, a global media company and home to some of the biggest fashion(时尚) shows.
Earlier this year, the China Through A Looking Glass exhibition in New York exhibited 140 pieces of China-inspired fashionable clothing alongside Chinese works of art, with the aim of exploring the influence of Chinese aesthetics(美学) on Western fashion and how China has fueled the fashionable imagination for centuries. The exhibition had record attendance, showing that there is huge interest in Chinese influences.
“China is impossible to overlook,” says Hill. “Chinese models are the faces of beauty and fashion campaigns that sell dreams to women all over the world, which means Chinese women are not just consumers of fashion — they are central to its movement.” Of course, not only are today’s top Western designers being influenced by China—some of the best designers of contemporary fashion are themselves Chinese. “Vera Wang, Alexander Wang, Jason Wu are taking on Galliano, Albaz, Marc Jacobs—and beating them hands down in design and sales,” adds Hill.
For Hill, it is impossible not to talk about China as the leading player when discussing fashion. “The most famous designers are Chinese, so are the models, and so are the consumers,” she says. “China is no longer just another market; in many senses it has become the market. If you talk about fashion today, you are talking about China—its influences, its direction, its breathtaking clothes, and how young designers and models are finally acknowledging that in many ways.”
1. What can we learn about the exhibition in New York?| A．It promoted the sales of artworks. | B．It attracted a large number of visitors. |
| C．It showed ancient Chinese clothes. | D．It aimed to introduce Chinese models. |
| A．They are setting the fashion. | B．They start many fashion campaigns. |
| C．They admire super models. | D．They do business all over the world. |
| A．learning from | B．looking down on | C．working with | D．competing against |
| A．Young Models Selling Dreams to the World |
| B．A Chinese Art Exhibition Held in New York |
| C．Differences Between Eastern and Western Aesthetics |
| D．Chinese Culture Fueling International Fashion Trends |
