The Arctic is not a safe place to be by any stretch of the imagination. Essentially a vast, floating block of ice, with only a small area of land, the landscape can be almost totally different from year to year. Even the most experienced explorers are lucky to return with all their fingers and toes, not to mention their lives.
Into this extreme environment stepped Nabil Al Busaidi. In fact, he didn’t just step—he stepped and skied his way across 650km, pulling 50kg of equipment. He also carried the flag of the Sultanate of Oman, which he held in the air at the North Pole, becoming the first Arab to achieve this impressive feat (壮举).
On the way to the North Pole, Nabil was driven by the reward of success and the pain at the thought of failure. “Through the 20-whatever days , every minute there was a different thing that kept me going, either the fear of failure, the fear of dying or the reward of finishing and getting somewhere warm. ”
The ever-present cold, averaging around -40℃ but dropping as low as a recorded -81℃, is his overriding (首要的) memory of the experience. As an Omani, Nabil had an additional 20℃ drop in temperature to get used to, compared to his British teammates. Apart from the extreme cold, polar bears were a common feature of the journey, and Nabil and the team had their fair share of bear encounters. “Polar bears are dangerous, but they are not that threatening because they don’t intend to harm humans. They’re usually either curious or just don’t care. We saw five bears, and none were aggressive,” said Nabil.
One final problem Nabil faced was the stress put on team relations by the severity of the conditions, especially during the first three stages of the journey. However, during the fourth and final leg, the team worked so well together that they travelled 130km in only two and a half days.
1. What does Paragraph 1 show?| A．Nabil’s hard-won success. | B．The value of Arctic exploration. |
| C．Nabil’s good luck. | D．The change of the Arctic. |
| A．Gradually rising sea level. | B．Frequent polar bear attacks. |
| C．Constantly changing climate. | D．The heavy psychological burden. |
| A．He had gone on an Arctic journey before. |
| B．He explored the Arctic with pretty light packs. |
| C．He finished the exploration of the Arctic all alone. |
| D．He suffered more from extreme cold than his teammates. |
| A．Life in the Arctic. |
| B．Climate of the Arctic. |
| C．The first Arab to step into the Arctic. |
| D．Achievements scientists made in the Arctic. |
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【推荐1】We traveled to Moscow, Russia for river sight-seeing. I had never been to Russia and my impression of that country was formed by what I heard and saw on television and in the newspaper. We were to be picked up at the airport by a driver who would then take us to the hotel and then go sightseeing. We arrived on time, got our baggage and went to the gate, but no one was waiting holding a sign with our names.
We had the phone number of the driver and the travel agency but no phone worked in Russia. I noticed a young woman sitting next to me with a cell phone so I asked her if she spoke English and she replied “Yes”. Should she please call our driver, I would pay for the call, I asked. “No problem,” she replied and called both numbers but no one answered.
A Russian woman holding a sign with someone’s name on it, not ours, must have overheard this conversation and took the paper and called both numbers. Again, no one answered. She shrugged and sat down and then her phone was ringing (the phone was from my driver) and in Russian she had a conversation.
Then she started to tell me about the call from my driver, but in Russian. I said, “No Russian, English?” She said, “No English, Russian or Spanish.” The young woman who had made the first call said she spoke Spanish. So the Russian woman relayed the information from our driver to the young woman in Spanish. Then the young woman told the information to me in English.
The three of us looked at each other and realized what had just happened and laughed and hugged each other. That was international kindness.
1. What can we infer from the first paragraph?| A．The author came to Russia on business. |
| B．The author knew Russia very well. |
| C．The driver waited for the author at the airport on time. |
| D．The driver didn’t show up at the airport. |
| A．Boring. | B．Cold. | C．Warm-hearted. | D．Optimistic. |
| A．The driver and the Russian woman. | B．The driver and the young woman. |
| C．The Russian woman and the author. | D．The young woman and the author. |
| A．Kindness Needs No Translation | B．An Experience in Russia |
| C．The Importance of Language in Communication | D．Things to Prepare During the Trip |
【推荐2】It was a Sunday night. I circled the belghbbhood a few times, looking for a place to park my car. Finally, I found one to the south of my house. It was behind a late-model Jeep. I tried to back into the space, but I failed to see the angles clearly. I heard it before I felt it, the sound of plastic on plastic, like a sheet of sandpaper along the surface of a painted piece of wood. I got out of my car to check the damage. My car was unharmed. However, there were two distinct lines on the Jeep.
Then I noticed a woman, walking her dog, who was now photographing me with her phone. “Hope you’re no planning to drive away,” she said quietly. Until then, I was annoyed with myself for having been careless, but now I was mad with her for taking my picture. How dare she, I thought. She had no respect for my privacy. And how dare she assume I would do the wrong thing? But soon I calmed down because I knew she wasn’t entirely incorrect. I’d made no decision to drive away without leaving ante but I’d be lying if I said the idea hadn’t flashed across my mind. It was dark, and aside from her no one was watching. It happens all the time-the hit-and-run in the parking lot.
We all have those desires to behave selfishly, to go against the social contract; it is not the thought but what we do with it that counts. It is the commitment to take responsibility, to care for one another, and to think about the greater good that makes this world a better place to stay. The choice to own up was left to me. I left a note with my name and phone number under the wiper blade of the Jeep.
1. What happened to the author on that Sunday night?| A．He knocked down someone. | B．He got hurt in a car accident |
| C．He hit a parked car accidentally. | D．He failed to find a parking space. |
| A．She blocked his view on purpose. | B．She spoke to him in a very rude way |
| C．She photographed him without permission. | D．She refused to take responsibility for her fault. |
| A．Admit. | B．Occupy. | C．Disappear. | D．Refuse. |
| A．Everyone makes mistakes. | B．Always do the right thing. |
| C．Avoid conflicts with others. | D．Apologizing sincerely matters. |
【推荐3】I first met Paul Newman in 1968, when George Roy Hill, the director of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, introduced us in New York City. When the studio didn’t want me for the film - it wanted somebody as well known as Paul — he stood up for me. I don’t know how many people would have done that; they would have listened to their agents or the studio powers.
The friendship that grew out of the experience of making that film and The Sting four years later had its root in the fact that although there was an age difference, we both came from a tradition of theater and live TV. We were respectful of craft(技艺) and focused on digging into the characters we were going to play. Both of us had the qualities and virtues that are typical of American actors: humorous, aggressive, and making fun of each other — but always with an underlying affection. Those were also at the core(核心) of our relationship off the screen.
We shared the belief that if you’re fortunate enough to have success, you should put something back — he with his Newman’s Own food and his Hole in the Wall camps for kids who are seriously ill, and me with Sundance and the institute and the festival. Paul and I didn’t see each other all that regularly, but sharing that brought us together. We supported each other financially and by showing up at events.
I last saw him a few months ago. He’d been in and out of the hospital. He and I both knew what the deal was, and we didn’t talk about it. Ours was a relationship that didn’t need a lot of words.
1. Why was the studio unwilling to give the role to author at first?| A．Paul Newman wanted it. |
| B．The studio powers didn’t like his agent. |
| C．He wasn’t famous enough. |
| D．The director recommended someone else. |
| A．They were of the same age. |
| B．They worked in the same theater. |
| C．They were both good actors. |
| D．They han similar charactertics. |
| A．Their belief. |
| B．Their care for children. |
| C．Their success. |
| D．Their support for each other. |
| A．To show his love of films. |
| B．To remember a friend. |
| C．To introduce a new movie. |
| D．To share his acting experience. |
In fact, anyone can achieve what they have wanted to achieve. It is about beliefs. Everyone is a born winner. It is this belief that drives an individual to be successful in his or her own field. All successful individuals have strong beliefs and it is one of the bases for their success. If we start to believe in ourselves, the things that we can achieve will definitely give us a pleasant surprise.
Other than having a strong belief, it is the attitude that drives the individual to create their own history. The devotion towards themselves and the drive must also be present. Imagine having a strong belief in oneself and having a poor attitude towards life. Then how would that individual turn out to be? One’s attitude
Start believing in yourself and you will achieve your goals and with the right positive attitude, you will definitely be able to create the miracle that you have always dreamt of.
1. Which of the following is the best summary of Paragraph 2?
| A．Good begun is half done. |
| B．Where there is a will, there is a way. |
| C．No pains, no gains. |
| D．God helps those who help themselves. |
| A．serve as | B．belongs to | C．stands for | D．consists of |
| A．attitudes can be learned from one’s parents |
| B．copying other’s behaviors is a good way to succeed |
| C．only strong beliefs can’t ensure you a promising future |
| D．attitudes can only be learned through one’s success |
| A．Differences Between Beliefs and Attitudes |
| B．The Nature of Beliefs and Positive Attitudes |
| C．Relationship Between Beliefs and Attitudes |
| D．The Power of Beliefs and Positive Attitudes |
【推荐2】Nicole Latham is a 21-year-old law student from University of Leeds. When she’s not studying for her degree, Nicole competes in weightlifting competitions. She also does a good job in karate.
On top of gym and martial arts, Nicole is also in and out of the doctor’s office. She was diagnosed(诊断) with multiple sclerosis(MS),a rare disease, a year ago. The first attack happened while she was preparing for her A-Levels, a hugely stressful time for many students. And at the time, all she thought about was: stress. But it turned out to be vertigo(眩晕) and likely the first MS attack.
Nicole carried on preparing for her exams. She sat with one eye closed to improve her vision which was damaged from her vertigo experience. That was when she decided to act and head back to the doctor’s office. She took loads of medicines, but no progress was made. Feeling something might be going wrong, she immediately went to the hospital for further examinations.
Following an MRI scan, she was diagnosed with MS. After this first attack and her MS diagnosis, Nicole didn’t experience another for a few years. But in August 2021, she had another.This attack made her left hand shake for two months. Despite the obvious challenge caused by the disease in daily life, she didn’t let it get in her way. And her goal was to show other young people with disabilities that they could live their lives and still enjoy an active lifestyle.
Today, Nicole uses her page not only to spread awareness of MS, encouraging people not to miss symptoms(症状), as she did at first, but also to show people they can live a full and satisfying life with MS. She wants to show the highs as much as the lows.
1. How did Nicole react when the first attack happened?| A．She went to the hospital immediately. |
| B．She turned to taking more exercise. |
| C．She took a break from studying. |
| D．She paid no attention to it. |
| A．Relieved. | B．Worried. |
| C．Curious. | D．Inspired. |
| A．Rome was not built in a day. |
| B．Prevention is better than cure. |
| C．Strength comes from a strong will. |
| D．All things are difficult before they are easy. |
| A．Nicole Latham: Always be Ready to Help |
| B．Meet N icole Latham — a T alented Athlete |
| C．Nicole Latham: Never Let Anyone Down |
| D．Meet Nicole Latham — a Fighter Suffering from MS |
【推荐3】A teenager who was widely attacked by a shark,losing part of her left leg and two fingers,has said, “Sharks are still good and that is just the truth.They are so good and so cool.”
Paige Winter,17,has remained in hospital at Vindant Medical Center in Greenville,North Carolina,since her father carried her out of the ocean away from the grips of a shark.Now,Paige’s left leg and two fingers on her left hand have been amputated,but despite all this she is predicted to go home next week.Ahead of her leaving the hospital,the father and daughter have spoken out about the nightmare.
The terrifying incident unfolded around midday on June 2 while Mr Winter was at the beach with Paige and others.He suddenly heard “Shark.Paige.Get her.” And he turned to where Paige was and there was no Paige.Paige was underwater and there was pink on the water.He saw pink and it was moving.The shark carried her around five feet underwater before Mr Winter reached them in the water.
Mr Winter said, “I grabbed her with my left arm and pulled her up over the water and when I pulled her up a shark came up with her and it was a big shark.I immediately just started to hit it.I hit it with everything I could and it let go.”
The proud father added, “I have been a firefighter for 15 years and I’ve seen a lot of bad things.Paige was as calm as a cup of water.She never screamed or cried.She’s a tough little thing.”
After her first surgery,Paige continues to exceed all expectations,both with confronting her new physical challenges and having an amazing mental outlook on the future.She knows it is going to be a challenge,she knows that and welcomes it.
She said, “I want people to see that I’m doing alright and that I am still going to be able to do all the stuff that other people can do.” She added that she had been touched by the messages of support she had received,in particular from other survivors of shark bites and amputees.
1. The underlined word “amputated” probably means “________”.| A．treated | B．replaced |
| C．removed | D．decorated |
| A．The incident happened around midnight on June 2 at the beach. |
| B．When the incident happened,Paige was surfing with her father. |
| C．Paige’s father was once attacked by a shark when he was young. |
| D．Paige received a lot of support from those with similar experiences. |
| A．her fast recovery |
| B．her positive attitude |
| C．her horror of sharks |
| D．the support she got |
| A．His experience as a firefighter helped save his daughter. |
| B．His daughter behaved unusually calmly despite the injuries. |
| C．He saved his daughter without being injured by the shark. |
| D．Many people at the beach came to their rescue after hearing the scream. |
I was leading an expedition （探险） attempting to reach the south pole．The team was made up of ordinary women from all around the world, from Jamaica, India, Singapore and Cyprus, many of whom had never seen snow, or spent a night in a tent before we set off．Our aim was to be the most international all-female team to reach the South Pole．
As I watched, the rest of the team marched on, unaware that I was not with them．By the time I realized that my sledge was firmly trapped, the team were already a long way ahead of me．I called out to Era, my teammate, " Era! Stop !"
Getting no response I called again, but my shouts were carried away in the opposite direction by the wind．Seconds passed．Nothing．I was gradually being left alone, completely defenseless against the low temperatures of Antarctica．
My strength increased when I thought of a cold lonely death．I pulled again my sledge, which moved a little. I removed the ice with my ski-pole and boot, desperately trying to break the sledge free．The sledge shot forward, knocking me off balance．I struggled to my feet and set off after the team．
I caught up just as Reena, my teammate from India, looked behind her and noticed there was one person missing．She swung around on her skis in shock and spotted me in the near distance．
As we continued, my panic slowly faded．For the rest of the day, each of the team was glancing over their shoulder every few minutes．They were not going to risk losing me again．
1. From the first paragraph we can safely infer that the author ．
| A．disliked her team | B．got seriously ill |
| C．was in panic | D．lost her way |
| A．They were all female． |
| B．They were all professional． |
| C．They made the longest expedition． |
| D．They had been strictly trained． |
| A．the shouts from her teammates |
| B．her strong desire to live |
| C．the sudden change in wind direction |
| D．the natural beauty ahead |
| A．to avoid being attacked from behind |
| B．to make sure that none fell behind |
| C．to check the distance they had covered |
| D．to keep a record of the route they took |
| A．How to survive in Antarctic． |
| B．A mysterious trip to the South Pole． |
| C．A female expedition team． |
| D．Being left behind in the snow． |
【推荐2】Some people say that the planet is getting smaller, that there are few places left to explore, and that the age of exploration will be over soon.
I would argue instead that there has never been a greater need to explore. That’s because the stage for all exploration is the natural world, and nature is experiencing a rapid decline. It is by exploring that we understand and when we understand we develop an appreciation for what is found. Ultimately, only the things we appreciate are worth protecting.
As the golden age of exploration weakens, so does the richness of life on Earth. It isn’t just that there are fewer blank areas on the map; it is that wild places and spaces have been progressively carved up (瓜分). Visiting the Okavango Delta or Kalahari Desert, for example, no longer implies a self-supported expedition. Field stations pop up in important national parks and remote sensing by satellite becomes commonplace.
In the next century, I believe we will need larger and wilder areas. We will need the wilderness, not just for the protection of it, but because it is an important part of the ecosystems from which we gain our necessities like clean water, food and materials. If we succeed, then expeditions — brief travels into the wild that seek to answer questions, monitor populations, and inspire action — will have a renewed sense of purpose. More importantly, they greatly help the public experience, understand and appreciate nature.
Based on my own research expedition which aims to understand “edge effects” — how the changes in temperature at forest edges impact animals, I find it important that today’s scientists continue to spend time in the field. It is here that they begin to understand how seemingly unrelated environmental interactions influence their study system. Sometimes, it’s difficult to know which is important to measure until you stand out there on the forest edge.
It is the young generation that is the main force to lead the next wave of expeditions. The measure of their success will be whether there are still well-preserved wild places for expeditions in the future. Their leadership is needed now, more than ever.
1. What’s the purpose of this text?| A．To suggest understanding nature by keeping exploring. |
| B．To advise people not to travel to unknown places. |
| C．To inform us about the reduced biodiversity. |
| D．To call on the public to support the study. |
| A．It is difficult for explorers to make progress. |
| B．It is more accessible with the help of technology. |
| C．It promotes the development of satellite technology. |
| D．It requires explorers to take sufficient heavy equipment. |
| A．Appear unexpectedly. | B．Close temporarily. |
| C．Develop quickly. | D．Differ greatly. |
| A．The significance of scientists’ field trip. |
| B．The difficulty of carrying out fieldwork. |
| C．The need to expand the edges of forests. |
| D．The influence of his study on the environment. |
【推荐3】A crowd cheered Kunle Adeyanju as he turned off his motorbike engine after completing a tiring 41-day trip. The 44-year-old left London on April 19 and arrived in Nigeria’s commercial center Lagos on Sunday after travelling more than 8, 000 miles across 13 countries. He started the impressive journey to raise funds for Rotary International to deal with polio(小儿麻痹症）in his native Nigeria.
Accompanied by a dozen bikers for the last stretch of the journey from the Republic of Benin , Adeyanju was welcomed by supporters in Ikeja, in central Lagos. Adeyanju, called “Lion Heart” by fans won popularity among the public by posting daily pictures with comments about his journey on social media. At every stop along the way, he was greeted by enthusiastic supporters.
He did face some challenges, like the one in Mali where one of his wheels broke. “I was standing in the middle of the night, alone in a bush, not knowing what to do,without speaking the language,”he said, explaining he had to walk to the nearest village.“Fortunately, the locals helped me. ”Not all of the challenges he faced were solved smoothly.“Mauritania, a country in northwest Africa, was ‘terrible’, ” he said, after he got robbed of hundreds of euros. “The worst experience,” he added.
The former Shell employee self-funded his trip with $ 20, 400 in savings,hoping to raise up to $ 48million for Rotary International. “I have been suffering from a lack of sleep lately because I slept only three to four hours per night. But I feel proud because I finished this challenge,” Adeyanju said just after he arrived, wiping the sweat off his face. Adeyanju added that he is now planning to have a possible cycling trip to Ghana or a bike ride to Israel to help raise more funds. And he has another dream: to climb Mount Qomolangma.
1. Why did Adeyanju go on the 41-day trip?| A．To challenge himself. | B．To help fight polio. |
| C．To connect with more people. | D．To advertise Rotary International. |
| A．By using the title “Lion Heart”. | B．By commenting on other bikers’ journeys. |
| C．By sharing his experiences online. | D．By showing his deep love for his hometown. |
| A．His getting lost in the bush. | B．His failing to understand the locals. |
| C．His meeting with crime. | D．His motorbike’s breaking down. |
| A．Caring and determined. | B．Generous and sensitive. |
| C．Reliable and enthusiastic. | D．Adventurous and confident. |
