1 . Air is everywhere. Air is so important that we can’t live without it. Have you heard of the news that air is sold by villagers? It’s reported that villagers in some areas of Guangdong are putting their clear air to good use by selling it to tourists who live in heavy smog (雾霾).
At the weekend, people from big cities in the Pearl River Delta (珠江三角洲) come to the northern area of Guangdong, including the 1,417-metre-high Gold Mountain, which is famous for its clean air.
Villagers in the mountain sell air stored in plastic bags at prices from 30 yuan for a big bag to 10 yuan for a small one.
Zhi Chenglin, a Gold Mountain local person, was the first to come up with the idea after giving up his job in Guangzhou. He said he returned to his hometown because he couldn’t bear the air and environment in Guangzhou.
Several women from Guangzhou said they bought bags of air as a way to make more people pay much attention to the environmental protection when they returned home.
“We’ll analyse (分析) the air, make a comparison (对比), and tell friends how bad the air in Guangzhou is becoming,” said one woman.
In the past few days, 21 cities and counties of Guangdong province have been enveloped (笼罩) in smog.
Blue sky, white clouds, fresh air and clean water, we are looking forward to them.
1. Why do villagers sell air?| A．Because they use this way to make money. |
| B．Because there are tourists who meet environmental problems. |
| C．Because the air in Guangdong is the clearest in the world. |
| D．Because there are some of tourists advising them to sell air. |
| A．To show how clear the air in Guangdong province is. |
| B．To show the opinions from people about selling air. |
| C．To show the condition of current (现在的) environment. |
| D．To make more people pay attention to the environment. |
| A．Selling air is illegal (不合法的). |
| B．The villagers have made more money by selling the air. |
| C．The air in the village is better than Guangzhou. |
| D．The behavior of selling air is not accepted by some people. |
| A．Social cases | B．Environmental protection |
| C．Future life | D．People and nature |
2 . What’s your favourite school subject? Do you love maths? Does English interest you? Or are you more of a scientist? We all have favourite subjects, but what if you studied two or more together instead of learning about each subject separately? That’s exactly how some students in Finland (芬兰) are learning.
When students learn about topics such as world events, they study several subjects together. For example, in a course about World War II, the students study history, geography and maths. Learning about topics, not just one subject, helps students see several points of view. In another course, called “Working in a café”, students study English, communication skills and economics (经济学).
Finnish educators believe students learn better when they work in groups. Working together helps students develop their ability to communicate. At this point, students in Finland don’t spend their whole school day working in groups. They still attend regular classes and study some subjects separately. But Finland is serious about making changes to the school day and to how students learn.
Finnish schools are making this change, because they believe that working together to study topics is better and more challenging for students than working alone or studying only one subject at a time.
In addition, they feel that students who choose to study topics that they care about and to work together with teachers and other students become better learners. They also feel that students who learn in this way are better prepared for jobs.
1. How does the writer start the passage?| A．By comparing facts. | B．By listing numbers. | C．By asking questions. | D．By telling stories. |
①English. ②History. ③Maths. ④Geography.
| A．①②③ | B．②③④ | C．①③④ | D．①②③④ |
| A．School s should have separate classrooms and hallways. |
| B．Recent changes in Finnish education are good for students. |
| C．Some students prefer to work alone and not in groups. |
| D．Most Finnish teachers like discussing with students. |
| A．Group Learning in Finland | B．New Learning Methods in Finland |
| C．The Most Popular Subjects in Schools | D．The Important Life Skills for Students |
3 . Today, people travel around the world by air and enjoy the great convenience it brings, but studies show that air travel is bad for the environment. It’s responsible for about three percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions (排放物). Then do we have to give up flying to save the planet? Maybe not.
Last month, a British airline (航空公司) operated a flight (航班) called Flight 100. It flew from London to New York with some reporters, engineers and government officers on it. There were no paying passengers. The flight was special because the plane used waste fats and plant sugars as fuel (燃料). As a new kind of green fuel, it was different from the traditional fuel and it cut the flight’s pollution by 70 percent according to the company. Some people said that the flight meant a lot. Many more people wanted to have a try on the flight.
However, there are still problems. For one thing, the green fuel costs five times as much as the traditional fuel. For another, it is difficult to make enough green fuel for all the flights around the world in a short time. To provide enough fuel for a large number of planes, farmers will have to grow more plants. Therefore, more forests will be cut down for farmland.
For now, the British airline and other airlines have no plan to provide similar flights for the public. There is still a long way to go before air travel becomes greener. But one day in the future, such flights may become common and the greenhouse gas emissions may be reduced.
1. According to the text, we know air travel is _______.| A．good for the forests | B．helpful to the planet |
| C．bad for the travelers | D．harmful to the environment |
| A．it was from London to New York | B．a new kind of green fuel was used |
| C．it was operated by a British airline | D．some government officers were on it |
| A．Advantages of taking the flight. | B．Costs of making traditional fuel. |
| C．Problems of using the green fuel. | D．Difficulties of planting more trees. |
| A．The public have already taken similar flights. |
| B．Air travel will become greener in a short time. |
| C．All airlines are against producing the green fuel. |
| D．More work needs to be done to make air travel cleaner. |
4 . Nanako Hama was holding a light envelop. When she tore it open with care, locks of hair emerged. Many strangers send Hama locks of their hair, hoping to recycle it.
People generate a huge amount of hair waste. Nearly all of that waste ends up in landfill, where it can release harmful greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. But hair possesses useful qualities that it’s a shame to simply throw it away. That’s why people all around the world, like Hama, have been collecting hair and finding innovative ways to recycle it, including making mats (垫子) out of it for removing oil leaks in the ocean.
Hama is part of the nonprofit Matter of Trust (MoT) members working at more than 60 centers dotted across 17 countries, using machines to make hair donated from local salons and individuals into square mat, which are then used to clean up the floating oil. “Hair is particularly well-suited for this,”says MoT co-founder Lisa Gautier.“That’s because its rough sort of outer layer lets oil stick to it.” MoT’s mats have been used in major oil leaks, including the 2010 Deepwater Horizon and 2007 Cosco Busan incidents.
In a 2018 study, Murray, an environmental scientist at the University of Technology Sydney, in Australia found that mats made of recycled human hair could absorb 0.84 grams of oil onto its surface for every gram of hair—significantly more than polypropylene (聚丙烯), a type of plastic that’s typically used to clean up floating oil. Besides, hair is also useful as fertilizer (化肥). Hair contains a relatively high nitrogen (氮), a chemical element crucial for plant growth, and each lock of hair is made of roughly 16 percent of this essential nutrient. Last year, more than 560 gallons of liquid fertilizer made from human hair was sold to farmers in northern Tanzania and the feedback from the farmers has been very encouraging.
“It’s just a great way to use hair in a productive way. Hair is an answer literally hanging in front of our eyes—for oil and soil,” Hama says.
1. How does the author introduce the topic?| A．By presenting a scene. |
| B．By detailing the background. |
| C．By describing the usage of hair. |
| D．By praising an environmentalist. |
| A．Improve soil. | B．Prevent oil leaks. |
| C．Take in harmful gas. | D．Clear the sea of oil. |
| A．Its color and strength. | B．Its length and amount. |
| C．Its weight and flexibility. | D．Its structure and component. |
| A．Uncertain. | B．Promising. | C．Doubtful. | D．Worrying. |
5 . German physicist Albert Einstein is one of the most famous scientists of all time, the personification of genius and the subject of a whole industry of scholarship. In The Einsteinian Revolution, two experts on Einstein’s life and his theory of relativity — Israeli physicist Hanoch Gutfreund and German historian of science Jürgen Renn — offer an original and penetrating (犀利的) analysis of Einstein’s revolutionary contributions to physics and our view of the physical world.
For the first time ever, by setting Einstein’s work in the long course of the evolution of scientific knowledge, Gutfreund and Renn discover the popular misconception of Einstein as an unconventional scientific genius who single-handedly created modern physics — and by pure thought alone.
As a large part of the book explains, Einstein typically argued that science progresses through steady evolution, not through revolutionary breaks with the past. He saw his theory of relativity not as something from scratch, but a natural extension of the classical physics developed by pioneers such as Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei and English physicist Isaac Newton in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, as well as nineteenth-century physicists.
The authors highlight how classical physics cannot be separated cleanly from modern Einsteinian physics. The book also includes substantial sections on Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus and Galileo whose methods inspired Einstein. When Einstein considered himself as standing on their shoulders, he meant that, without their contributions, he would not have formulated (阐述) the theory of relativity.
The Einsteinian Revolution is an important and thought-provoking contribution to the scholarly literature on Einstein and his surprising scientific creativity between 1905 and 1925. Gutfreund and Renn might not have given the final answer as to why Einstein, of all people, revolutionized physics in the way that he did. But they argue in fascinating detail that, to understand his genius, one must take into account not just the earlier history of physics but also the history of knowledge more broadly. Although not always an easy read, the book will interest physicists and historians alike.
1. What’s the attitude of Gutfreund and Renn to the popular viewpoint on Einstein?| A．Opposing. | B．Favorable. | C．Ambiguous. | D．Indifferent. |
| A．From nothing. | B．Up to a certain standard. |
| C．By learning from others. | D．With previous knowledge. |
| A．Their ideas were rejected by Einstein. |
| B．Their devotion to physics impressed Einstein. |
| C．Their research contributed to Einstein’s success. |
| D．Their hard work deserved the worldwide respect. |
| A．A guidebook to a course. | B．An introduction to a book. |
| C．An essay on Albert Einstein. | D．A review of physics development. |
6 . You may sometimes notice athletes with purple circles on their skin from cupping. Or maybe you know someone who swears (极其信赖) acupuncture for their back pain. More and more people use practices from traditional Chinese medicine like these not only to fight disease, but also to prevent it.
TCM is short for traditional Chinese medicine. It is an ancient system of health and wellness. It’s been used in China for thousands of years. Western medicine focuses mainly on treating disease. But TCM looks at your entire well-being.
Western medicine tends to view the body a lot like a car. It has different systems that need the right inputs and outputs. It’s very specific (具体的) and logical.
TCM is based on balance, harmony (和谐) and energy. There are two central ideas behind TCM. One is qi, the other is yin and yang. Qi is also called life energy or vital energy. The belief is that it runs throughout your body. It’s always on the move and continually changes. TCM treatments often focus on ways to promote and maintain the flow of qi.
Yin and Yang are opposites that describe the qualities of qi. The belief is that everything in life has a little bit of its opposite, too, and balance is the key. For example, a drug from your doctor might cure disease. But it’s dangerous if you take too much of it.
According to TCM, these ideas play out in our bodies. When you balance the yin and yang of qi, you feel healthy and well. If they’re in disorder, you feel sick. TCM aims to create harmony and a healthy flow of qi.
Experts believe it’s safe, if you go to someone who knows what they’re doing. This is especially true of acupuncture, tai chi, and cupping. With a little background on how it’s used, I believe you can make wiser choices to improve your health.
2. What is TCM based on?
3. When do you feel healthy and well according to TCM?
4. If you don’t feel well, would you like to try TCM? Why?
A recent report said that China’s TV usage has dropped from 70 percent to less than 30 percent in 2022. Also, TV sales have dropped from 48.94 million in 2019 to 36.34 million in 2022. Why do we watch less TV?
Yi Guiyu, 13
TV programs can’t meet people’s needs now. The TV programs are more monotonous (单调的) than that on computers and mobile phones. If we want to watch something on TV, we must wait until a certain time.
Xu Jie, 12
TVs might not be able to meet the needs of every family member at the same time. For example, when I want to watch the news, my sister may want to watch cartoons. Also,TV can’t be watched everywhere at anytime. We have to be at home to watch it.
Qin Hongtao,15
Today, most people prefer to watch short videos. It takes people longer time to enjoy traditional TV programs properly. Also, many TV programs today are not for free. But people can search for information on the computer or mobile phone for free!
1. How old is Yi Guiyu?2. What does Xu Jie’s sister prefer to watch on TV?
3. Why don’t people enjoy traditional TV programs now?
4. What is your favourite way to spend free time except watching TV? Write 30 words or more.
The ocean is beautiful and important, but in many areas of the ocean the water is dirty and the animals and plants are in danger. That’s why Sylvia Earle, an ocean scientist, started Mission Blue in 2009. Many scientists and volunteers have joined the Mission Blue (蓝色任务).
Mission Blue divided the parts of the ocean that are in danger into many small areas and calls them “hope spots”. There are rules to keep “hope spots” clean and healthy. For example, in some areas people can’t fish or even use boats.
Mission Blue teaches people about “hope spots” and looks for ways to help the waters. Scientists often go into the ocean to study and get information about plants and animals. These scientists often take beautiful pictures underwater. Then they shared pictures with others. By doing this, they hope people will become interested in protecting the ocean.
Mission Blue does important work on land, too. Its members teach people about the ocean in many ways. Some members write books about special places in the ocean. Others talk about Mission Blue’s goals at special events.
At an event in Japan, the members of Mission Blue offered a beach part to a group of kids. The kids enjoyed snacks and games and played in the water. They also learn about the ocean and spend time cleaning up the beach. At this event, kids helped the ocean and had fun at the same time.
Mission Blue believes people of all ages can work together and help save earth’s wonderful waters
1. What do you know about Mission Blue from Paragraph One?①When it started. ②Who started it? ③Why it started? ④how many members it has?
| A．①②③ | B．①②④ | C．①③④ | D．②③④ |
| A．Teaching people to fish. |
| B．Dividing the ocean into smaller areas. |
| C．Getting information about plants and animals |
| D．Sharing beautiful pictures of the underwater world |
| A．Educational, but boring. | B．Boring and meaningless. |
| C．interesting but meaningless | D．Educational and interesting |
A． | B． |
C． | D． |
Recently, the nickname (昵称) “southern spuds (马铃薯)” has been popular across the country, thanks to Harbin, the capital of Northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province which is creating a frenzy (掀起热潮) on social networking sites in China.
Harbin has been actively meeting tourists from southern China, and these visitors are warmly called “nanfang xiaotudou” or “southern spuds”. The nickname comes from a perception (感知; 认识). Many northern Chinese think the people from the South look shorter when they are dressed in thick jackets and hats. This nickname may create a sense of warmth and friendliness for southern tourists.
However, the use of this nickname “southern spuds” has led to heated discussion. Locals think that the nickname shows warmth and good will. Besides, other interesting nicknames like “potato princess” are also getting popularity.
Many people agree the humor behind such nicknames, but some netizens (网民) have been unhappy to being called “southern spuds”. They feel their height is being made fun of.
Despite (尽管) the warmth and friendliness showed by the people from the Northeast, it is important to accept that different people have different ideas in some parts of China. In such an age where anyone can be a visitor or host, being kind and warm is necessary because all like friendliness and dislike discrimination (歧视).
1. Who are called “southern spuds”?2. What do locals think of the nickname “southern spuds”?
3. Do all netizens like the nickname “southern spuds”?
4. Do you have a nickname? What do you think of nicknames?
10 . 
As a Brazilian, I think the Brazil Carnival (巴西狂欢节) is more than just a festival—it’s a big party that shows how lively our country is. This year, Rio de Janeiro Carnival took place from Feb. 9 to 17.
Carnival holds different meanings for different people. When I was a little boy, it was a national holiday—a time to get off the school uniforms and enjoy ourselves in a world of unusual costumes (服饰). My mom made smart costumes for me, from Wonder Woman to Cinderella.
But as we grow older, carnival takes on new meanings, like a samba (桑巴) dancer learning difficult steps. In my hometown, samba groups from all over the city have exciting parades (游行) in the streets. It’s a time when everyone forgets their worries and enjoys themselves together. People who don’t know each other become friends, and laughter fills the air.
And then there’s Rio de Janeiro’s famous Carnival—it makes all other parties seem like warm-ups. I once had the chance to see it firsthand. I saw the lively streets and people from all walks of life hug each other. The whole city danced into the night until the morning. But more than just the excitement, carnival shows how strong and united (团结的) Brazilians are. It’s a time when people forget their differences and come together in a celebration of happiness.
1. How long did Rio de Janeiro Carnival last this year?| A．7 | B．8 | C．9 | D．10 |
| A．People become friends in the exciting carnival parades. |
| B．His family dress up in unusual costumes during carnival. |
| C．Samba dancers learn difficult steps in the streets for carnival. |
| D．Carnival holds different meanings for him at different ages. |
| A．In person. | B．In general. | C．In public. | D．In surprise. |
| A．Exciting Parties in Brazil | B．A Lively City—Rio de Janeiro |
| C．Strong and United Brazilians | D．A Big Festival—Brazil Carnival |
