1 . ①Around the world, people are more and more worried about the environment. Many people now prefer products and companies (公司) that care about the earth and cause less pollution. This need for green products has led large companies to change their business.
②Before, customers used cheap plastic bags, and then threw them away. But now most supermarkets and stores usually provide reusable shopping bags for them. This causes less waste. They also offer more local products, because less energy is needed for carrying them from one place to another.
③To help lower air pollution, big car factories are looking for other ways to control the amount of oil. Cars that use much less oil are very popular. Many companies are developing fully electric cars, too. They produce no air pollution at all. Both kinds of cars have another advantage: They are cheaper to run and people don’t need to worry about oil prices.
④The airline companies face an even greater green challenge. Airplanes use much more oil than cars. So many airlines are now developing planes that can run on some other kinds of oil. They create less pollution and cost less. The companies are also developing a new kind of planes, and some of them use only solar panels (太阳能板) to fly!
⑤Green businesses used to be popular with only a small group of people. But now, more and more companies have to show they care about the environment. Many products are marked “green” in order to look nice. However, people still have to be careful when choosing green products. It’s important to make sure the products are as environmentally friendly as the businessmen say.
| A．Cheap plastic bags. | B．Green products. | C．Local products. |
| A．Using cheap oil and saving money |
| B．Making little noise. |
| C．Running at low costs and Producing no air pollution. |
A． | B． | C． |
| A．Green Is Popular | B．Green Saves the Earth | C．Green Is Good Business |
2 . China sent a new X-ray astronomical satellite in space, Einstein Probe, on Jan. 9, 2024.
According to Yuan Weimin, a researcher of the satellite project, the satellite is expected to find the first light from supernova explosions (超新星爆炸) in the universe, monitor high-energy transient (瞬态) objects in the universe, which are now poorly understood by scientists.
When developing the satellite, a new generation of detection equipment (探测设备) with large fields of view and high sensitivity (灵敏度) was needed. But the important question was how to make such equipment.
Lobsters (龙虾) are a kind of sea animal which can be found around the world. Scientists discovered early on that lobsters’ eyes are different from other animals’. Lobsters’ eyes are made up of lots of tiny square tubes, pointing to the same center, which allows light from all directions to reflect in the tubes and meet on the retina (视网膜), which gives lobsters a large field of view. Scientists then simulated (模仿) the lobsters’ eyes to create a telescope to catch X-rays in space.
Through working together with other organizations, the X-ray Imaging Laboratory began the research and development work on lobster-eye X-ray imaging technology in 2010 and finally made a breakthrough.
“Thanks to the lobster-eye telescope technology, the Einstein Probe is able to monitor the poorly known soft X-ray band with a large field of view and high sensitivity,” Yuan said.
| A．A newly-found planet. |
| B．A newly-built space station. |
| C．A new X-ray astronomical satellite. |
| A．To enlarge the field of view. |
| B．To catch the supernova explosion. |
| C．To monitor the sensitivity of objects. |
| A．By simulating the lobsters’ eyes. |
| B．By observing lobsters’ movement. |
| C．By doing experiments on sea animals. |
| A．The new detection equipment looked like a lobster. |
| B．China is the first country to send Einstein Probe into space. |
| C．The lobster-eye telescope technology leads to Einstein Probe’s success. |
3 . In Lulea, a city in northern Sweden, people are asked to say “hello” to each other more often. The new campaign (活动) is called Sag hej! meaning “say hello”. It is a simple way to connect people, but a very big step for the city.
Swedish culture values privacy (隐私) and interpersonal distance so much that it has caused loneliness especially in Lulea where the sun only shines around three hours a day in the winter months. People usually like to stay warm at home alone. While most people believe that loneliness is the commonest among the elderly who usually live alone, the opposite is true. It is actually rising in young people and it has a bad influence on their mental and physical health. A study about Lulea found that 45% of 16-to 29-year-olds were experiencing problems because of loneliness.
Asa Koski, who works for the city, came up with the idea of the Sag hej! campaign. “The city is developing fast and more people are coming. We don’t just want Lulea to grow to be a big city. We also want it to be a safe, friendly and happy place where there’s culture, relaxing activities, and sports,” Koski said. “Greeting people makes them feel like they belong. Research shows that it has a good effect on health and makes people want to help each other. If you say hi to your neighbors, you are more likely to help them,” Koski said.
The activity is now being encouraged on buses and in schools. There are even workshops on how to greet one another. Many people agree that saying hello should be encouraged and believe that the more international the city becomes, the friendlier people will become. “It’s really good that people say hello to each other, 61-year-old Pontus Wikstrom, said.” It means that people who meet without knowing each other become a little bit happier.
1. What do we know about the people in Lulea?| A．The elderly are the loneliest. |
| B．Many young people live alone. |
| C．The cold weather makes them lonelier. |
| A．create a better environment for people |
| B．encourage people to stay healthy |
| C．let more people know about the city |
| A．Helping each other. | B．Greeting people. | C．Taking part in activities. |
| A．A new campaign brings people together |
| B．Lonelines s has become a big problem in Lulea |
| C．People’s way of life in Lulea needs to be changed |
4 . There are many colors in nature. But do you know if a color has weight? I think you’ll say “no”. But I am afraid you are wrong. If you don’t believe, you may do a small experiment.
First, put two objects with the same weight into two boxes. Then cover the box. Third, wrap one box with a red piece of paper, the other with a white piece of paper. OK. Now hold the boxes with your hand one by one. It is certain that you will think the red one is a little heavier.
Why do you think so? A scientist found that different colors have different weight in a man’s mind. So he did many tests and at last he got the result. That is to say, every color has its own weight in our mind and their order is the same. The heaviest color is red, then blue, green, orange, yellow and white. The scientist told us that colors also have smell. Can you smell the color? Of course not. Then why did the scientist say so? That is because every color stands for a kind of light with a certain wave length. It reaches our brain through sense organs (器官).
According to this discovery, scientists say that people accept the colors they like, and refuse the colors they hate. So your body and mind will be healthy by using the colors you like. Or you’ll be nervous or even get ill. For example, if you stay in a room with red windows, wallpapers and furniture for two hours, you’ll feel you have been there for four hours. But if the room is blue, you’ll feel you have been there for only an hour. Another example, if a person walks out of a red room and into a blue room, his temperature will fall. That means our body temperature will change with different colors.
1. The purpose of the second paragraph is to tell us ________.| A．a red box is heavier than a white one |
| B．a colour has weight in one’s mind |
| C．you can know the weight of a colour by holding it |
| A．A red dress. | B．An orange dress. | C．A white dress. |
| A．Because we can smell colors with our nose. |
| B．Because people can sense the light from colors. |
| C．Because every colour can give off light of the same length. |
| A．Colors can affect our mood and health. |
| B．Colors can change the weight of an object. |
| C．People would stay longer in a room with red windows. |
A whale of a story Background knowledgeIn air, sound travels more than 300 meters every second (about 750 miles per hour). In water, it travels five times faster, at about 1,500 meters every second. Whales use their vocal cords to make sounds. They also have a very good sense of hearing. The sounds that they make travel for thousands of kilometers through the oceans and can be heard by other whales far away. Science activityThe figures in the table on the right show how many meters sound travels every second in different materials.
|
1. How fast does sound travel in the air?
| A．About 750 miles per hour. | B．More than 300 meters every hour. | C．About 1,500 meters every second |
A． | B． | C． |
| A．Goldfish in the lake. | B．Birds in the sky. | C．Whales in the ocean. |
| A．Story part. | B．Science part. | C．Ocean part. |
6 . Hi there, young friends! Welcome to the other half of ninth grade. You’re halfway through the school year, but there’s still much to learn and discover. So, let’s get started and find some easy methods to study!
Firstly, one important thing is to have a quiet and comfortable place to study. Find somewhere relaxing. There, you can pay full attention to your studies.
Next, it’s a good idea to make a study schedule (计划). A study schedule helps you plan your time and have enough time for each subject.
And then, to remember things better, you’d better take notes while studying. They will be an important reminder when you want to review what you’ve learned. For example, you can write down important points or draw pictures to help you understand the information better. Sometimes, studying with friends can be enjoyable. You can form study groups and work together on tasks or projects.
Lastly, don’t forget to ask your teachers for help if you struggle (努力地进行) with a subject. They are there to guide you and answer your questions, so don’t be shy!
Learning is a journey. Remember, every step you take brings you closer to discoveries and achievements. So, keep it up, and enjoy your studies!
1. What does the writer mainly talk about in Paragraph 2?| A．The advantage of full attention to your studies. |
| B．The advantage of a peaceful area at the library. |
| C．The importance of a good environment for study. |
| D．The importance of a comfortable corner in your room. |
| A．Notes. | B．Study periods. | C．Pictures. | D．Important points. |
| A．To offer suggestions. | B．To share experiences. |
| C．To look for good jobs. | D．To ask for opinions. |
7 . Building Bridges between Nations
① In 2013, China proposed (提议) the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI, “一带一路”倡议). It’s the 10th anniversary (周年) of the BRI this year. More than 150 countries and over 30 international organizations have taken part in it. People from the Belt and Road countries have a deeper understanding of it.
② Many young people from other countries stand by the idea of the BRI. Lashyn, a Kazakh (哈萨克的) student at Nazarbayev University, said that in 2013 she visited China. “To me, it was an amazing new world with different cultures.” So she decided to continue learning Chinese. Thandi, 22, from South Africa, said that the BRI helped improve relationships between countries all over the world. “I support a win-win relationship of the BRI,” she told China Daily.
③ Great changes happen in the Belt and Road countries. Kairat from Kazakhstan (哈萨克斯坦) grew up in a small town 35 km away from the border (边境) with China. When he was little,he always waited for his father who worked in China to bring candies and new toys. “The center helped many people to improve the way of life. They built new houses, schools and also developed roads. That makes our life easier,” said Kairat.
④ The BRI also brings changes to China. Wang Zongnan, a student in Tsinghua University, notices that recently there are more and more people from the Belt and Road countries coming to China as international students. He said, “That really changed how we look at questions and social problems.”
⑤ The BRI covers almost all parts of people’s lives, including travel, trade, education, technology and culture. Like a bridge, it continues to bring the world closer than ever.
1. What does the underlined phrase “stand by” in Paragraph 2 mean?| A．怀疑 | B．支持 | C．忽视 | D．比较 |
| A．By giving examples. | B．By listing numbers. |
| C．By comparing facts. | D．By telling stories. |
| A．The BRI makes all parts of people’s lives better. |
| B．Thandi likes Chinese and different cultures in China. |
| C．In Lashyn’s eyes, the BRI helps improve people’s life in her country. |
| D．The BRI has brought great changes to both China and other countries. |
A． | B． | C． | D． |
8 . Earthquakes usually come without warning. What should you do if this happens to you? An earthquake is dangerous, but there are still things you can do to protect yourself.
Stay calm as the earth begins to shake. Your chances of survival in an earthquake go up if you can keep calm. Staying calm is not easy, but it can save your life.
If you are inside when the earthquake starts, get under a table or a bed. You need to have something strong around you to protect you from falling objects. Do not stand near walls and windows and stay out of the kitchen. The kitchen is dangerous because of many glass objects.
If you are outside, get to an open area as fast as you can. Stay away from buildings and trees. If you are in a car, pull over to a place where there are no trees or tall buildings and stay in the car. If you are close to the sea, try to get as far away from the water as possible. Earthquakes can cause huge waves (浪) that can really harm the people nearby.
When the earthquake is over, there is still plenty of danger. For example, a gas fire often comes with an earthquake. If you see a fire, quickly move outdoors to an open area.
Always remember to hope for the best but prepare for the worst.
1. What does the underlined word “survival” mean in Chinese?| A．坍塌 | B．废墟 | C．幸存 | D．失踪 |
| A．To get under a table. | B．To get under a bed. |
| C．To stay out of the kitchen. | D．To stand near walls or windows. |
| A．To stay away from buildings and trees. |
| B．To get as far away from the sea water as possible. |
| C．To run into your house quickly to take something valuable. |
| D．To drive your car to a place where there are no trees or tall buildings and stay in |
| A．An electronic fire. | B．A gas fire. | C．A forest fire. | D．A grass fire. |
| A．reading news | B．paying |
| C．shopping | D．livestreaming (直播) |
| A．Most people like to go online on computers. |
| B．Chinese people start to pay with WeChat in 2016. |
| C．Robots can help doctors do surgery with 5G in 2022. |
| D．People in China spend about 25.9 hours online every week. |
| A．http://life.online.cn | B．http://sports.world.com |
| C．http://robot.work.com | D．http://traditions.China.cn |
10 . World Environment Day
World Environment Day is celebrated on June 5th each year. The first World Environment Day started in 1972. If we all drive cars less, the air will be cleaner and cleaner and our environment will become better and better.
World Forest Day
World Forest Day is an international event and it is celebrated on March 21st every year. It is celebrated to make people remember the importance of forests. People often plant more trees on that day.
No car Day
No car Day started in 34 cities in France on September 22nd, 1998. It was celebrated to protect the environment. So far, more than 1,000 cities around the world have had No Car Day. The first No Car Day in China was in Chengdu in 2001. And other cities, including Taipei, Shanghai and Wuhan, also supported this festival. In Beijing, more and more people are taking part in No Car Day. It asks drivers to leave their cars at home for one day each month and walk or ride a bike to work. They really hope the air will be cleaner and cleaner day by day.
1. How many special days are mentioned in the passage?| A．2. | B．3. | C．4. | D．5. |
| A．less and less | B．more and more | C．better and better | D．cleaner and cleaner |
| A．World Forest Day is celebrated on March 21st every year. |
| B．People often plant more trees on World Forest Day. |
| C．More than 1,000 cities around the world have had No Car Day. |
| D．No Car Day asks drivers to leave their cars at home for one day each year. |
