1 . When it comes to clothes, especially for children, why do we buy new ones? Alison Howes, an Australian mom, recently asked herself this question. She realized that there was a need for pre-owned clothes and then started a community clothes exchange. “The cost of living is getting high and we need choices like this,” she said.
Howes’ clothes exchange works on a very simple basis. People receive credit (信用) for bringing clothes they no longer use and the credit can be used to buy other clothes.
Although clothes exchanges aren’t new, there is increasing popularity because of social media. “I like the fact that you can come in and exchange small baby sizes for larger sizes when your kids grow,” said Cassandra, a mother of two children.
Besides, clothes exchanges are also good for the environment. The coming of fast fashion (时尚) means that people can buy more clothes that don’t last as long as they used to. Over 15 tons of unwanted clothes and textiles (纺织品) end up in landfills (垃圾填埋场) in Australia every year. Only 7% of them get recycled, so reusing clothes can cut down on the waste.
Giving pre-worn clothes a second chance will make the life of the textiles last longer and that is what clothes exchanges are all about. Perhaps it will become a start as more and more things will appear on the exchange list and become part of our lives.
1. Why did Howes start the community clothes exchange?| A．Because many people didn’t like new clothes. |
| B．Because she had lots of pre-owned clothes. |
| C．Because she wanted to help people save money. |
| A．Bring her old clothes. |
| B．Use her credit card. |
| C．Share Howes’ project online. |
| A．To tell us why fast fashion is popular. |
| B．To encourage us to buy more clothes. |
| C．To show us the huge waste of used clothes. |
| A．Clothes exchanges will change the ways of making clothes. |
| B．Clothes exchanges will set an example to other exchanges. |
| C．Clothes exchanges will influence people’s emotions. |
| A．Don’t Follow Fast Fashion Blindly |
| B．Clothes Exchanges Are Becoming More Popular |
| C．Exchanging Things Helps Protect the Environment |
2 . Summer is almost here and for many it means — summer camp! In Guffey, Colorado USA, there is a very special camp each summer — Nighthawk Ranch.
Nighthawk Ranch is a camp for kids aged 10 to 18 who are recovering (康复) from cancer (癌症). Tom and Dorothy Evans started the camp to provide a good place for those children, helping them build hope and confidence (信心) in their future.
Each session of the camp is organized (被组织) for 7 kids at most, and each session lasts one week. All the sessions at Nighthawk Ranch are free! Many people and organizations give away money to Nighthawk Ranch, so the campers and their families don't need to pay anything.
At the camp, each camper needs to look after a horse for the week, and they will learn to ride the same horse. Also, campers get to experience other activities, like water sports, archery (射箭) and arts.
Most of the campers start the week a little unfriendly to each other, and a little shy around the horses. By the time the last day comes, they are completely different children! It is great to see the changes in them.
Nighthawk Ranch is so much more than a summer camp. It's a truly wonderful experience for children and their families.
根据短文内容选择最佳答案。1. The underlined word “it” in the first paragraph refers (指代) to ________.
| A．the summer camp | B．summer | C．Nighthawk Ranch |
| A．help kids learn life skills |
| B．make kids get close to animals |
| C．help kids with cancer build hope and confidence |
| A．a period of time spent on an activity |
| B．a group of people doing the same thing |
| C．a couple of activities |
| A．how popular the camp is |
| B．how kids change after the camp |
| C．what kids do at Nighthawk Ranch |
| A．The campers and their families need to pay much money for the camp. |
| B．Each camper will only learn how to ride a horse at the camp. |
| C．We may find the passage in a magazine for kids. |
3 . 
Have you ever shouted at your computer because it wasn’t working? Of course, your computer can’t “shout” back. But AI researchers have been working on computers that can argue and perhaps even win debates (辩论) with humans.
IBM scientists recently published a paper in Nature about their new AI system—Project Debater. It can debate with people in front of a live audience (观众). After listening to arguments from its opponent (对手) the system can search around 400 million online articles in less than five minutes. And then it looks for ideas that can support its own argument.
Testing on the system began in 2019. When it debated with Harish Natarajan, a professional debater who holds the world record for the most debate competition victories. The topic was about subsidizing preschool (资助幼儿园)—and Project Debater argued to support this idea. Although Project Debater lost the debate in the end, the audience said it performed very well Interestingly, 58 percent of the audience said that Project Debater increased their knowledge about the topic—only 20 percent said the same about Natarajan.
According to Scientific American, results show that the system is able to form logical statements (有逻辑的陈述). However, ★ . Their goal is to help humans make better decisions, according to Ranit Aharanoy, manager of the Project Debater team. “It can debate both sides, so it can very quickly help you understand both sides of the problem, thus you can have a wider view of the problem and make a more thoughtful decision.” Aharanoy said.
Let’s wait and see how the Project Debater will develop in the near future.
1. According to paragraph 2, which one below is not the way of Project Debater working?| A．It writes ideas that can support its own argument. | B．It listens to its opponent’s arguments. |
| C．It searches online articles. | D．It debates with its opponent. |
| A．argued to support subsidizing preschool | B．won the debate in the end |
| C．set a world debating record | D．often argued against itself |
| A．forming logical statements is not easy. |
| B．some people didn’t believe Project Debater. |
| C．they can develop better system. |
| D．winning a debate is never the researchers’ goal. |
| A．Project Debater team | B．The new AI system | C．The logical statement | D．The wider view |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Positive. | C．We don’t know. | D．Negative. |
4 . In December 2023, history was made by a Boeing 787 crossing the Atlantic Ocean using a new kind of fuel (燃料). This fuel is made from leftover cooking fats, including fats from animals. This kind of fuel is good for the environment and is called biofuels (生物燃料).
Airlines are starting to use this greener fuel to depend less on fossil fuels (化石燃料) for many reasons. It cuts down air pollution and is good for our planet since it breaks down naturally. The US Department of Energy says that the eco-friendly fuel can cut down greenhouse gas emission (排放) by 70%, helping to fight against global warming. Biofuels are also safer than common fuels if they get into the environment. They have a higher flashpoint, making them safer to handle, store and move.
However, there are disadvantages we cannot overlook. A key problem is the large amount of materials required for biofuel production, which often leads to the “food vs. fuel” argument. For example, every year, about 70 billion animals are killed mostly for people to eat, but if we wanted to fuel a flight from New York to Paris using only pig fat, we would need about 8,800 pigs. Unluckily, only increasing animal farming to meet this need would require even more resources (资源). Besides, the production of biofuels can lead to a rise in global food prices, probably causing hunger. In the worst case, food prices can rise to a point where millions of people may no longer be able to afford basic food, which may even lead to the death of many people in poor areas.
In fact, biofuels are already in use worldwide and the rapid growth of biofuel production is likely to continue. However, finding the proper balance and way to grow biofuels to meet different needs at the same time will remain a matter of research.
1. How does the writer lead into the topic of the text?| A．By telling a story. | B．By listing numbers. |
| C．By making a survey. | D．By giving an example. |
①They catch fire easily.
②Common fuels are safer than them.
③They are good for the environment.
④ Fats from animals can be made into them.
⑤The global food prices may rise because of them.
| A．①②④ | B．②③⑤ | C．②③④ | D．③④⑤ |
| A．The reason for causing hunger. |
| B．Biofuels’ popularity with airlines. |
| C．An argument about “food vs. fuel”. |
| D．Disadvantages of producing biofuels. |
| A．Uncertain. | B．Uninterested. | C．Supportive. | D．Worried. |
A． | B． | C． | D． |
5 . Winter sports were popular in the north of China hundreds of years age. Now let’s take a look at some of the most popular activities.
| Archery on Ice
In the game, there were three arches(拱门)put on the ice, with a silk ball hung by a rope in the middle of each arch. Players would skate across the ice, led by a person with a flag. Once passing through an arch, they would turn around and try to hit the ball with an arrow. The scene was very powerful, as hundreds of players joined in together, moving in a line like a dragon. |
| Ice Football
In the match, the players were divided into two teams. They competed to catch a ball thrown into the air above ice. Unlike the ancient Chinese ball game cuju, players were allowed to pass the ball with both their hands and feet. According to historical records, the Qing government later include the sport in army training. |
| Downhill Ice Skating
On cold winter days, organizers would water a slope (斜坡) about ten meters in length to create an ice track for competitors. Wearing ice skates, competitors would take turns to slide down the slope to show as much of their skating skills as they could. Those who made it down the slope without falling would be named the winner. |
1. Archery on Ice is best translated into ________.
| A．冰蹴鞠 | B．转龙射球 | C．摆山子 | D．打滑挞 |
①Pass through an arch. ②Slide down the slope. ③Win a flag.
④Stop without falling. ⑤Catch a ball. ⑥Show skating skills.
| A．⑤②③ | B．⑥①⑤ | C．②⑥④ | D．③①④ |
| A．the development of Qing Dynasty |
| B．on-ice culture in different countries |
| C．the most powerful scene in the north |
| D．winter sports in ancient China |
| A．Sports. | B．Arts. | C．Science. | D．Animals. |
| A．Two teams played in the game of archery on ice. |
| B．Players would water a slope when playing ice football. |
| C．Ice football was the same as cuju. |
| D．Players were easily hurt when playing downhill ice skating. |
6 . 
The Chinese cheongsam, also known as qipao, is a traditional dress that first appeared in the early 20th century in Shanghai. It has become a symbol of Chinese culture and is worn by women around the world.
The cheongsam hugs the curves (曲线) of the body and is mostly made of silk or cotton. It’s typical with a high collar (领), short sleeves (袖) and a short cut on the side of the skirt to make movement easy.
The cheongsam was first worn by wealthy women in Shanghai as a way to show their social positions and wealth. But it quickly became popular among all classes of women as daily clothes. During the 1920s and 1930s, the cheongsam experienced changes and became fitter and better designed with fashionable elements (元素). Nowadays, designers are creating new styles to follow modern fashion.
Today, the cheongsam is often worn for formal situations such as ceremonies, celebrations and cultural events in China. One of the most popular looks of the cheongsam is Ann Wong, a Chinese famous movie star. She often wears cheongsams on and off screen. Her look helps to make the dress win popularity in Hollywood and around the world.
The cheongsam is not just a symbol of fashion, but also of Chinese culture and history. It brings out that Chinese people can always keep up with changing fashion over years. The cheongsam has stood the test of time. It will continue to catch eyes of the public and give ideas to people for years to come.
1. When did the Chinese cheongsam first appear?| A．During the 1900s and 1910s. | B．During the 1920s and 1930s. |
| C．During the 2000s and 2010s. | D．During the 2020s and 2030s. |
| A．A high collar. | B．Short sleeves. |
| C．A short cut on the side. | D．Fashionable elements. |
| A．The styles of the cheongsam. | B．The meaning of the cheongsam. |
| C．The popularity of the cheongsam. | D．The development of the cheongsam. |
| A．At a sports meeting. | B．At a Chinese marriage ceremony. |
| C．At a Thanksgiving celebration. | D．At a university graduation ceremony. |
| A．The Chinese Cheongsam—A New Art |
| B．The Chinese Cheongsam—A Timeless Classic |
| C．The Chinese Cheongsam—A Modern Fashion |
| D．The Chinese Cheongsam—A Typical Tradition |
7 . 
The word “low-carbon” sounds familiar to most of us. But do you know “low-carbon community (低碳社区)”? What is the community like? What benefits (好处) will it bring to our environment? Let’s have a look at Hanbei Road Community of Ya’an, Sichuan Province.
Walking into the community, people can see the hanging environmental slogans (环保标语) at first sight. And the most eye-catching items are idle bins (闲置物品投放箱) around. Many people in the community would give their idle things into the bins. Xu Juan, a mother of two, once put a pair of gloves there. “I think it’s meaningful to help others.”
In order to encourage more people to join in the “low-carbon” activity, the community introduced a reward program. Anyone can get some points if he/she gives idle things or takes part in volunteer activities. With certain points, people can exchange things in the “low-carbon supermarket” in the community.
There is also an “exchange corner” in the community. People can exchange their idle things (except the living things) with others. If he/she is not interested in any idle things in the corner, he/she can donate (捐赠) his/her things to poor families in the community.
“We are trying to make the best use of idle things by free exchange and donation. We hope all the people in our community can live low-carbon life,” said Wang Lu, leader of Hanbei Road Community.
1. What is Hanbei Road Community like?| A．A community with many poor families. | B．A community with waste everywhere. |
| C．A community with many idle bins around. | D．A community with many supermarkets. |
| A．By giving idle things. | B．By organizing volunteer activities. |
| C．By changing things in the supermarket. | D．By exchanging things with others. |
| A．A used bike. | B．An old sweater. | C．A pet cat. | D．A plastic cup. |
| A．People should donate all their used things. |
| B．There will be more idle bins than dustbins. |
| C．All the people in their community are living low-carbon life now. |
| D．People can live low-carbon life by making the best use of idle things. |
8 . Have you ever had trouble sleeping in a new place?
Lots of people do. And now researchers from Brown University in Rhode Island think they know why. They found that one-half of the brain “remains more awake” than the other half when people are trying to sleep in a new place.
The findings were reported in Current Biology by Brown University. In their report, the researchers said many people report they have a harder time sleeping the first night at a hotel or other places outside their home. They call it “first-night influence”. In Japan they say, “If you change your bed, you can’t sleep,” said Yuka Sasaki, one of the report’s writers. “You don’t sleep very well in a new place. We all know about it.”
The researchers measured brain waves (测量脑波) for 35 volunteers over two nights in a laboratory. The two nights were a week apart (间隔).They found during the first night the left half of the brain was more active than the right half. This was during the first deep-sleep period, the researchers said.
Sasaki said a lot of questions remain.
Researchers did not keep measuring brain waves all night long. So, they don’t know if the left half keeps “watch” all night, or whether it “works in shifts (轮换) with the right half later in the night”. They also do not know why the brain activity, at least during the first period of deep sleep, is always on the left half.
For some, this research may be calming. It is good to know that our brain is “looking out for us” in a new place. But it may not help with sleep. That brain activity, at least according to this new research, makes it harder to get the people to have a good rest when they need to wake up in the morning.
1. How many times did the researchers measure brain waves for 35 volunteers?| A．Once. | B．Twice. | C．Three times. | D．Four times. |
| A．the brain waves remained the same | B．the brain activity helped with sleep |
| C．the right half of the brain kept “watch” | D．the left half of the brain was more active |
| A．What we will have to do to sleep well. | B．How researchers measure brain waves. |
| C．Why it’s harder to sleep in a new place. | D．Who doesn’t sleep well in a new place. |
9 . You may have heard of the Ig Nobel Prize, a humorous award given to scientists who did interesting and sometimes amusing studies. China has its own Ig Nobel Prize called the Pineapple Science Award, which was created by the Zhejiang Science and Technology Museum in Hangzhou in 2012.
The goal of the award, according to Xu Rui from the museum, is to show the beauty of science and develop interest in the subject. On November 11, 2023, ten fun studies from around the world got the Pineapple Science Awards 2023. Let’s take a closer look at three of them.
①________
We all know that kids enjoy playing with balls, and it seems bumblebees (大黄蜂) do too. Researchers at Queen Mary University of London discovered that bumblebees are drawn to tiny wooden balls and enjoy moving them around. They're just doing the action for fun. And the younger bumblebees spend more time moving the balls. Many animals play, but this is the first report about insect playing.
②________
Why does plucking (拔) white hair lead to more white hair? Sun Qi and her team at New York University found the answer. There are some cells that give colors to our hair. They move around inside the skin of our head. To create colors like black and brown, they need to be at the bottom of our skin. However,stop making colors, which leads to the growth of more white hair.
③________
Researchers in Amsterdam did a coin-tossing (抛硬币) experiment in which 48 teachers and students tossed 46 types of coins from different countries. They spent 8 hours a day for 81 days tossing the coins. After 350,757 tosses, the team discovered that the side facing up during a coin-tossing was more likely to land facing up.
1. What is the main idea of Paragraph 1?| A．An introduction to the Ig Nobel Prize. |
| B．An introduction to humorous scientists. |
| C．An introduction to the Pineapple Science Award. |
| D．An introduction to the Zhejiang Science and Technology Museum. |
| A．Because people can learn how animals play. |
| B．Because it shows bumblebees are very strong. |
| C．Because it shows that people can play with balls. |
| D．Because it is the first report to show that insects know about playing. |
| A．The result is the same however you toss it. |
| B．Different coins end up with different results. |
| C．The face-down side ends up facing up more often. |
| D．The face-up side might land facing down 40 times. |
a. Medical Prize: Hair plucking
b. Biology Prize: Playful bumblebees
c. Mathematics Prize: Tossing a coin
d. Mathematics Prize: The side facing up
e. Biology Prize: The younger bumblebees
| A．①-e, ②-a, ③-c | B．①-b, ②-a, ③-c | C．①-e, ②-a, ③-d | D．①-c, ②-a, ③-e |
| A．Making science fun |
| B．Showing the beauty of science |
| C．Creating the Pineapple Science Award |
| D．Finding the funny scientists in China |
10 . Starting along the Huaihe River in eastern China, Flower Drum Lantern Dance is well known for its bright colors, different forms and a cheerful mood.
As a traditional treasure in China, the dance has a very long history. It’s said that the dance appeared in the Song Dynasty, developed in the Ming Dynasty, and finally became popular in the Qing Dynasty. It’s usually used to show the peaceful lives of people in the countryside.
In the dance, the women wear a red silk ball flower on their heads. In their hands, silk fans and scarves are used as props (道具). And the props used by men are mainly umbrellas, short wooden sticks and drums. Before 1949, women were discouraged from performing in public, so women’s roles were mostly played by men. That’s why most of the old famous artists still alive today are men.
The dance is usually performed in an open area such as the central square of a village and the side of a river. The audiences (观众) usually come around in a circle. Inside the circle are several long benches with the drum group on one side. The performers enter the circle with the women standing on the men’s shoulders, and then the men lower the women to the benches and stand beside them. The show begins when the men with umbrellas enter the performance space. Then they lead the performers into the center to dance.
Flower Drum Lantern Dance is still quite popular across the country, especially in places such as Anhui, Henan and Jiangsu. Even today, village dance teams often compete with each other by performing the dance during the Spring Festival.
1. What can we learn about Flower Drum Lantern Dance?| A．It is shown in eastern China only. |
| B．It is shown on holidays. |
| C．It is shown with a happy spirit. |
| D．It is shown by men dancers only. |
| A．Put...up. | B．Put...off. | C．Put...down. | D．Put…away. |
A． | B． | C． | D． |
| A．To tell us some ways of learning a dance. |
| B．To introduce a traditional dance to us. |
| C．To tell us the importance of a special dance art. |
| D．To tell us some advice on protecting the traditional art. |
| A．Environment. | B．Feelings. | C．Family. | D．Culture. |
