1 . Part of Earth's beauty comes from its oceans. Ocean scientists study the chemical make-up of the ocean, weather patterns, the geography of the ocean floor, and many other areas. Their work is exciting, although sometimes dangerous. Using technology to do certain tasks helps. For example, robotic arms are used for very dangerous tasks.
One basic part of ocean study is understanding waves and how they work. Wind is the great maker of waves. The waves we know are mostly produced by winds blowing over the sea. They are directly connected with the wind speed and the time that wind lasts.
Sometimes ocean life can be seen in the wave. Living things seem to be staying within the wave, moving slowly inside it as if they were weightless. Besides the beauty of waves, scientists are interested in their technical ways. The diagram of waves shows how scientists examine waves. Waves are measured (测量) from the top (crest) to the bottom (trough). This allows scientists to find out the height of a wave. They also measure waves from crest to crest to determine (测定) the length of a wave.
During serious storms, huge waves might cut a sea ship apart. Ships are at great risk of winding up as broken pieces after being hit by the force of a huge wave. By understanding the ocean, scientists can prevent this breakup of ships by predicting when the water will be too dangerous for people and their ships. The study of waves and the ocean also allows scientists to make sure how certain beaches were formed. By studying the oceans, a great deal can be learned about the surface we live on.
1. Why are robotic arms used? Because ________.| A．certain tasks are very dangerous | B．the tasks are exciting |
| C．the oceans are beautiful | D．there are many studying areas |
| A．Waves can make wind. | B．Most waves are produced by winds. |
| C．Scientists make most waves. | D．Waves have nothing to do with wind. |
| A．The beauty of huge waves. |
| B．The technical way to study the sea. |
| C．The distance from crest to crest of a wave. |
| D．The distance from the top to the bottom of a wave. |
① Scientists can decide the weather patterns.
②We can't find living things in the waves.
③By studying the ocean, scientists can prevent the breakup of ships.
④The study of waves helps scientists know how certain beaches were formed.
| A．①③ | B．②④ | C．③④ | D．②③ |
| A．A diary entry. | B．A fairy tale. | C．A travel guide. | D．A science magazine. |
2 . What will astronauts（宇航员）eat when a space trip takes years?
“Lots of fresh vegetables,” says Dr. Janet Williams, whose team have spent the last 10 years learning how to grow plants in a space station. And it’s a good thing that she has already started her work, because space gardening can be really hard.
As usual, astronaut George White looked into the closed plant room. He had planted Dr. Williams’s quick-growing seedlings in it, but none of the stems were showing. He opened the room to check and found the problem. The stems weren’t growing upward and the roots weren't growing downward. On Earth, gravity（重力）helps a plant’s stems and roots to find “up”and “down”. However, in the space station, there was almost no gravity.
Dr. Williams suggested a solution: give the plants more light, as plants also use sunlight to find their way. And it worked. When the plants had more light, the stems turned up and the roots went down.
Now Dr. Williams was free to worry about the next problem:Would her baby plants live to flower? Can we grow food on a space journey?
Many plants died in the space station. Dr. Williams thought she knew why: the space plants were hungry for air. Plants live by taking up CO2 from the air. Since a plant uses it up in the air around, the plant needs moving air to bring more CO2 close to its surface! On Earth, the air is always moving. Gravity pulls down cold air, and warm air rises. And with these air movements, plants get enough CO2.
Many earlier experiments with plants in space had used closed rooms.Dr. Williams tried a new greenhouse that had a fan to keep the air move. The plants loved it. They flowered and even produced more seeds. Using Dr. Williams's method, astronaut George completed the first seed-to-seed experiment in space, and moved one plant closer to a garden in space.
“And this,” says Dr.Williams, “is good news for long-term space travel.”
1. Why have Dr. Williams’s team tried to grow plants in space?| A．To produce fresh air for astronauts. |
| B．To help astronauts relax themselves. |
| C．To provide food for long space journeys. |
| D．To make the space garden more beautiful. |
| A．It caused the gravity to change. |
| B．It encouraged the plants to grow faster. |
| C．It helped the plants to grow in the right direction. |
| D．It showed the astronauts where to plant vegetables. |
| A．The light was too strong. |
| B．There was too much CO2. |
| C．There was not enough room to grow. |
| D．The air condition was not good enough. |
| A．the moving air | B．the closed room | C．the space journey | D．the space garden |
| A．They mainly live on fresh vegetables. |
| B．They have successfully built a space garden. |
| C．They invented a special fan for their greenhouse. |
| D．They have worked on space gardening for many years. |
3 . It might be fun to use your smartphone, but be careful. Too much screen time may be harmful to your health.
First, it is bad for your eyes. A researcher called Sarah Hinkley says the problem comes from the blue light that the screen gives out. Looking at a smartphone for a long time can cause eye strain（劳损）, headaches and dry eyes. So it is a good idea to take a break every 15 minutes when you are working at a computer or using a smartphone.
Second, screen use can do harm to children’s brains. A new study shows that using screens too much can affect（影响） how children’s brains grow. If children use screens for more than one hour a day, they might have lower levels of white matter in their brains. White matter is a key to the development of language and reading skills. So it is wise to cut down the time of children using all kinds of screens.
Third, using screens too much will affect your sleep. According to a study, about 95% of the people between the ages of 13 and 64 use electronics before bed, especially the young people under 20. Doctors say that the light from those electronics at night may make you excited before you go to bed. Then it’s hard for you to get enough sleep. So you’d better turn off smartphones, TVs, and all other screens an hour before your bedtime.
To keep healthy, doctors and researchers strongly advise that you shouldn’t use screens for long hours.
1. The blue light from your screens can cause ________.| A．eyestrain | B．headaches | C．dry eyes | D．all of the above |
| A．take a break every 15 minutes | B．have lower levels of white matter |
| C．use screens too much before bed | D．are the people from 13 to 64 |
| A．Using smartphones for long hours does harm to your eyes. |
| B．A lot of screen time affects children’s brain growth. |
| C．The light from electronics at night may make you excited. |
| D．People of all ages mustn’t use electronics. |
| A．a science magazine | B．a travel diary | C．a guide book | D．a novel |
| A．The ways to keep healthy. | B．The harm of using screens too much. |
| C．The ways to use screens. | D．The advantages of using screens. |
Huge Waves Destroying Arctic Ice Faster than Expected
Ice covers much of the Arctic Ocean（北冰洋）. Some pieces of ice are huge, like moving islands. As temperatures have increased, however, some of the ice has begun to disappear. Scientists have discovered huge waves（海浪）in the arctic waters.
The waves were discovered by accident in May, 2010. Scientist Aleksey Marchenko and his students set out on a trip. They wanted to study the icy waters.
On May 2, the ship traveled east and stopped next to a large chunk of ice around 50 miles from the small island of Hopen. Marchenko prepared to lead his students out onto the Ice.
"We were ready to go but when I went out, I discovered many cracks（裂缝）around," he remembers.
He decided to move the ship deeper into the ice to keep safe. The farther in they went, he thought, the harder the ice would become. As they pushed forward, however, the ship experienced small waves, and then bigger ones. Soon, the waves broke up the ice around the ship into thousands of smaller pieces．
Within an hour, Marchenko and his team saw a wave that was about 13 feet high. The ship's navigation（航行）system finally recorded the largest waves. They were more than 20 feet in height. The waves were so strong that they forced huge pieces of ice to jump up and down, breaking the ice into smaller pieces within just one hour. Scientists had never imagined that the process could happen so fast. The waves in these areas used to be small.
The speed and force of the huge waves there makes it impossible to know in advance when they are coming. That could be dangerous for navigators and local communities who are unprepared for huge waves or depend on sea ice to protect them. Wildlife like polar bears and walruses that depend on sea ice to live is also in danger.
Some scientists think people will soon see even bigger waves in these icy waters. As waves break up ice, the seas will become more open, and the waves will get even stronger. There are stormy times ahead.
1. When did Marchenko and his students discover huge waves in the arctic waters?___________________________________________________________
2. Why did Marchenko and his students set out on the trip?
___________________________________________________________
3. What did Marchenko decide to do to keep safe?
___________________________________________________________
4. How high were the largest waves recorded by the navigation system?
___________________________________________________________
5. What is Paragraph 7 mainly about?
___________________________________________________________
5 . You've been learning words since you were a tiny baby. At first, you learned them only by hearing other people talk. Now that you're a reader, you have another way to learn words. What should you do when you come to a word and you think you don't know what it means?
Say it
First sound it out. Then say it to yourself.
Use context
If this doesn't work, take the next step: look at the context — the other words and sentences around it. Read this sentence: When it rained, the dog looked for shelter in the doorway.
If the context doesn't help, look at the parts of the word. Does it have any parts you know? These can help you understand what it means. If you don't know the meaning of miner, try looking at parts of the word. You might know that a mine is a place underground where people get coal and other valuable things. A lot of times, -er at the end of a word means "a person who does something". So a miner might be someone who works in a mine.
Look it up
If the three steps above don't work, you can look it up.
Nobody knows the meaning of every word, but good readers know how to understand words they don't know.
| A．Use word parts |
| B．Look at the words |
| C．It might sound like a word you know |
| D．You can find the word in a dictionary |
| E．Following some easy steps can help you |
| F．If the word shelter doesn't look familiar. look at the words around it |
6 . Hello, boys and girls ! I’m Ms. Green. Here
| A．am | B．is | C．are | D．be |
| A．It’s | B．They’re | C．You’re | D．I’m |
| A．red | B．purple | C．blue | D．green |
| A．mine | B．yours | C．your | D．my |
| A．two | B．three | C．four | D．five |
| A．he’s | B．she’s | C．his | D．her |
| A．pen | B．pens | C．keys | D．key |
| A．Are | B．Is | C．Can | D．Be |
| A．ask | B．help | C．spell | D．thank |
| A．of | B．at | C．for | D．in |
7 . People often think of the North Pole(北极) and the South Pole as similar frozen(冰冻的)wastelands. They are both places with very cold temperatures and few people live there. However, the North and South Poles are not much alike as people may imagine.
The North Pole has no land, only thick ice. Temperatures seldom go above 32°F, at which water turns into ice. Most of the time, it stays below zero. In winter temperatures are usually as low as -30°F.
Although conditions were very poor, people tried for many centuries to reach the North Pole. About 100 years ago, two men, Robert Peary and Mathew Henson, were able to get to this environment full of troubles and difficulties. They reached the North Pole on March 8th, 1909. It was really a hard trip for them.
There are few things more dangerous than crossing the Arctic(北极圈) on foot. People who stayed there may face many problems: very cold temperatures, sudden storms, and even hunger. Most of the area is uninhabited. Few people can live in such a difficult place.
People might think that with such low temperatures for most of the year, the ice would be thick and hard. However, this is not true in the Arctic. The movement of the ocean water under the ice may often cause many different changes on the surface. Sometimes the ice breaks into two opening lanes of water(水道) called “leads”. Anyone who falls into a lead can be frozen to death in a few minutes.
1. This passage is probably from ___________.| A．a book review | B．a science book |
| C．a school report | D．a computer magazine |
| A．Two men succeeded in getting to the North Pole. |
| B．Temperatures in the North Pole went above 32°F. |
| C．The environment in the North Pole suddenly became worse. |
| D．The North Pole changed into thick ice because of the temperatures. |
| A．气候恶劣的 | B．充满危险的 | C．困难重重的 | D．无人居住的 |
| A．that the temperature suddenly drops | B．that the water under the ice is frozen |
| C．that the ocean water under the ice moves | D．that the surface is covered with lots of ice |
| A．The thick ice in the North Pole. |
| B．A difficult trip to the North Pole. |
| C．The real situation in the North Pole. |
| D．The differences between the North Pole and the South Pole. |
8 . In England, people often talk about the weather because they can experience (经历) four seasons in one day. In the morning, the weather is warm just like in spring. An hour later, black clouds come, and then it rains hard. The weather gets a little cold. In the late afternoon, the sky will be sunny, the sun will begin to shine, and it will be summer at this time of a day.
In England, people can also have summer in winter, or have winter in summer. So in winter, they can swim sometimes, and in summer sometimes they should take warm clothes.
When you go to England, you will see that some English people usually take an umbrella or a raincoat with them in the sunny morning, but you should not laugh at them.
If you don’t take an umbrella or a raincoat, you will regret (后悔) later in the day.
1. Why do people in England often talk about the weather?| A．Because they may have four seasons in one day. |
| B．Because they often have very good weather. |
| C．Because the weather is warm just like in spring. |
| D．Because the sky is sunny all day. |
| A．sunshine and snow | B．black clouds |
| C．summer and winter | D．spring and autumn |
| A．warm | B．cool | C．cold | D．rainy |
| A．their friends ask them to do so | B．it often rains in England |
| C．they are going to sell them | D．they are their favorite things |
| A．Bad Seasons | B．Summer or Winter |
| C．The Weather in England | D．Strange English People |
9 . Lively music, singing and the sound of beating drums fill the room. As an orchestra（管弦乐队）plays, performers dressed in colorful costurnes move across the stage（舞台）. Welcome to Chinese opera.
Chinese opera is an important element（元素）of Chinese culture. Most operas are based on stories from long ago. The amazing stage performances are often set against grand backgrounds. Beautiful paintings, hand movements and martial arts（武术）help tell these famous stories.
There are more than 300 forms of Chinese opera, including Beijing Opera, Yue Opera, Yu Opera, Ge Zai Xi and many other forms. Of all of them, Beijing Opera is the most famous. Beijing Opera combines（合并）singing, dancing and acrobatics. Instruments such as drums, bells and cymbals accompany（伴奏）the performances.
Facial design
Traditionally, performers used masks（面具）for their facial design. Today, however, performers use makeup. They paint colorful designs on their faces. These colors and designs help to create each character. For example, a brave character has a red face, while a black face means bold. A yellow and white face represents（代表）someone who is dishonest.
Costurnes
Costurnes give clues（线索）to the performers’ characters and roles. Audiences（观众）that are familiar with opera will get to know a story by the masks and costurnes. Costurnes usually have many designs and colors. The same costurne can be used in different shows, however, it will represent a different character.
Promoting the arts
Many colleges and schools in China desire（渴望）to keep the art of Chinese opera alive. They provide an education system for talented students. Applicants（应试者）must pass a written test, an audition（试镜）and an interview and only the most promising students are accepted to study at these colleges and schools. Once accepted into the program, students begin a seven-to-twelve-year journey through the school. After graduation, many go on to work as professional actors on stage or in the movies.
1. Of all forms of Chinese opera, which is the most famous?| A．Beijing Opera | B．Ge Zai Xi | C．Yu Opera |
| A．brave | B．dishonest | C．bold |
| A．诚信的 | B．热情的 | C．有前途的 |
| A．Anyone who likes Chinese opera can be accepted into the program. |
| B．If a person knows opera well, masks and costurnes will help know the story. |
| C．Once in the program, you have to study for 7 to 12 year at school. |
| A．Chinese culture | B．Beijing Opera | C．Costurnes and facial design |
Wild beavers (河狸) are back! Experts say that the wild beaver families are doing well. The beavers are even boosting wildlife and the environment!
Over ten years ago, a family of beavers turned up in a part of the river Otter, in Devon. No one knew exactly where they came from. It was a big surprise, wild beavers hadn't lived in England for around 400 years!
In 2015, the government allowed the beavers to stay there as part of a trial (试验). They wanted to see if these animals could be reintroduced to the wild. The trial ends in February. Some scientists from the University of Exeter already say the beavers help the wildlife in the area. One scientist called it "an amazing story".
A lot of this is because of dams. Beavers build dams along the river. This creates deep pools in the riverbed and slows the water down. Scientists say this is perfect for many different types of plants and animals! Many plants are growing near the beavers. Different types of animals are also becoming more and more in the river. Beavers also help make flooding less, scientists say. The beavers' dams slow down the speed of the river, especially after heavy rain.
There are, however, some problems. Beavers gnaw (咬,啃)on trees and this can harm them. Their dams can also sometimes create floods (洪水) on people's land.
Beavers aren't the only animals that are being reintroduced to the wild! In 2019, red squirrels were brought back to an area of the Scottish Highlands. Further away, the world's rarest (罕见的) duck, the Madagascar pochard, is making a comeback. It was set free into the wild on the African island in 2019 and is doing well.
Who knows what other animals might be making a comeback?
1. Which of the following best explains "boosting" in paragraph 1?| A．building | B．spreading | C．helping | D．creating |
| A．grow more plants along the river |
| B．build dams for the beavers in the wild |
| C．introduce the beavers to the wild |
| D．see if the beavers could be reintroduced to the wild |
| A．They help plants grow and make flooding less. | B．They bring heavy rain and floods. |
| C．They gnaw on trees and harm them. | D．Their dams create floods on people's land. |
| A．One. | B．Two. | C．Three. | D．Four. |
| A．Embarrassed. | B．Pleased. | C．Tired. | D．Disappointed. |
