1 . Combining knowledge of chemistry, physics, biology, and engineering, scientists from McGill University develop a biomaterial tough enough to repair the heart, muscles, and vocal cords, representing a major advance in medicine.
“People recovering from heart damage often face a long and tricky journey. Healing is challenging because of the constant movement tissues must withstand (承受) as the heart beats. The same is true for vocal cords. Until now there was no injectable (可注射的) material strong enough for the job," says Guangyu Bao, a PhD candidate in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at McGill University.
The team, led by Professor Luc Mongeau and Assistant Professor Jianyu Li, developed a new injectable hydrogel (水凝胶) for wound repair, which is a type of biomaterial that provides room for cells to live and grow. Once injected into the body, the biomaterial forms a stable structure allowing live cells to grow or pass through to repair the injured organs.
“The results are promising, and we hope that one day the new hydrogel will be used to restore the voice of people with damaged vocal cords," says Guangyu Bao.
The scientists tested the durability of their hydrogel in a machine they developed to copy the extreme biomechanics of human vocal cords. Vibrating (振动) at 120 times a second for over 6 million cycles, the new biomaterial remained undamaged while other standard hydrogels broken into pieces, unable to deal with the stress of the load.
“We were incredibly excited to see it worked perfectly in our test. Before our work, no injectable hydrogels possessed both high porosity and toughness at the same time. To solve this issue, we introduced a pore-forming polymer to our formula (配方),”says Guangyu Bao.
The innovation opens new ways of making progress for other applications like tissue engineering. The team is also looking to use the hydrogel technology to create lungs to test COVID-19 drugs.
1. Why did the researchers develop the new biomaterial?| A．To experience a journey. | B．To repair wound. |
| C．To represent an advance. | D．To replace organs. |
| A．It is heavier. | B．It is more breakable. |
| C．It is changeable. | D．It is more injectable. |
| A．Make artificial organs for drug test. |
| B．Try hard to increase its toughness. |
| C．Apply it to the cure of COVID-19. |
| D．Adjust their formula to improve it. |
| A．To show his respect to the researchers. |
| B．To stress the importance of innovation. |
| C．To promote the sales of a new hydrogel. |
| D．To introduce a newly- developed material. |
2 . The Greenwood fire took its name from the nearby lake where lightning struck on Aug.15, causing a wildfire that burned for weeks. Fueled by drought and wind, its persistence dominated headlines for much of late summer and early fall in Minnesota. When the last flames were finally put out, the northern Minnesota fire had consumed nearly 27,000 acres, countless firefighting resources, and at its worst, the lives that some had built around nearby McDougal Lake. Vast areas of forest were left burned-out, with the black and bare remains of what were once massive pines.
But, despite the destruction left behind, Mother Nature is set to a comeback. When organic matter is burned from the forest floor, seeds dropped by plants and trees begin to take hold, with the sprouting species emerging first. The trees above have died, which sends a chemical signal to the root system that is actually more expansive than just under that tree, and that chemical response encourages those root systems to re-grow. Ten years ago, a fire ripped through 93,000 acres of Minnesota forest in and around the BWCA. Today, that burnt area's rebirth is well underway.
"Here in the Pagami Creek wildfire scar, we have Jack Pine, Red Pine, Black Spruce, Aspen and paper birch-those are our main species, those are the ones that are growing quickly. It's 10 years on, and these trees are 10 to 15 feet tall in many areas," said Kyle Stover from the U.S. Forest Service.
A wildfire kills most things in its path, but despite the flames and intense temperatures, rarely is everything reduced to ashes -and that plays a key role in a forest's regeneration. Just one year after the fire, the survivors dominate the forest, and grasses replace the burnt ground. Wildflowers are abundant bushes and small trees have started to grow, and Jack Pine returned. So, it's an amazing ecological system of creating new forest life when it appears that all is lost, one that has evolved throughout the ages, where fire has always played a vital role.
1. What can we learn about the Greenwood fire?| A．It was a natural occurrence | B．It was caused by drought. |
| C．it gained half-year fame. | D．It took many people's lives. |
| A．Seeding growth is held up. | B．Burnt organic matter hardly functions. |
| C．Root systems spread further and wider | D．Chemicals in the soil are in greater demand. |
| A．They are flammable | B．They are fire-resistant |
| C．They are fire-adapted. | D．They are overgrown. |
| A．A fire. | B．A life | C．A time. | D．A system |
3 . Eye Opener Volunteer
Description
For about 30 years, the Museum of Science Eye Opener Program has been working with the Boston Public Schools to bring the exciting world of science to second grade students from across the city. Each year, about 3, 000 students from over 45 Boston schools visit the museum to explore, ask questions and find answers. Since 1986, funds from the Germeshausen Family Foundation have supported the Eye Opener Program in providing a guided museum experience for second graders.
With the help of a large corps of volunteers, the program introduces these students to the museum and gives them a chance to engage in science. Eye Opener volunteers encourage exploration and the excitement of discovery as they share the museum with the children. They achieve these goals through conversation, hands-on experiments, exploration of exhibits, and Practicing scientific thinking skills with program participants.
Responsibilities
Each Tuesday morning, the students are grouped into sets of 4 to 6 with a pair of volunteers who give them a tour of the museum. Tours last about two hours and are tailored to the interests of the students.
Learn the lay-out of the museum to share and explore with second graders the exhibits which May be interesting to them.
Encourage children to observe, compare, describe, ask questions and share ideas.
Know museum emergence and safety procedures.
Work in close collaboration with a diverse group of volunteers.
Minimum Qualifications
● Patience, sensitivity, and understanding.
● Willingness to work with young children and high school students of all backgrounds and abilities.
● Interest in informal science education.
Additional details
Commitment: Four-to six-month commitment.
Time: Tuesday mornings (9:30-12:30) throughout the school year.
Training: Attendance at the New Volunteer Orientation session is required.
1. The Museum of Science Eye Opener Program aims at ________.| A．encouraging teenagers to visit the museum |
| B．guiding young girls fall in love with science |
| C．directing Boston schools to teach science |
| D．helping kids engage in science in the museum |
| A．Pay a visit to the museum any day they like. |
| B．Learn about what they are interested in. |
| C．Take a tour of the museum in a group of two. |
| D．Look around the museum for 4 hours each time. |
| A．work on Tuesday mornings | B．get a diploma in science |
| C．have a sense of humor | D．volunteer for at least one year |
4 . When drama teacher Chelsie King asked students at her school to come up with a way for her husband to go around the neighborhood in his wheelchair with their newborn, they were up for the challenge.
Chelsie’s husband, Jeremy, underwent brain surgery for a tumor (肿瘤) three years ago, and since then it has been difficult for him to keep his balance. He wanted to be able to safely hold his baby, but “there’s just really not a ton of resources out there for disabled parents,” Chelsie said. She then asked her colleague, Matt Zigler, who teaches the “Making for Social Good” class, for assistance.
In this course, students design products to help people, and the 10 high schoolers came up with something that could attach to the wheelchair Jeremy uses. They spoke with the Kings about their needs, conducted research on infant (婴儿) car seats and how they are installed, and then used the school’s Maker Space to 3D print several parts and bought others. They even borrowed a wheelchair from the school nurse to use as a model for things like weight testing. “I really feel the students took all my concerns to heart when creating the prototypes (雏形) ,” Jeremy said. Two projects were selected for the students to make — one that connected an infant car seat to Jeremy’s wheelchair and another that attached an entire stroller to the wheelchair.
“Children grow and they grow out of a car seat, so we want Mr. King to be able to walk with his son no matter what age he is,” student Jacob Zlotnitsky said. When they were done making the attachments, the students put the instructions online to help even more people. They finished constructing both designs within one month. The Kings went out with the car seat attachment, and found it worked perfectly. The students were excited to learn that their creation was a hit. “I feel fortunate to have been able to take a class that has allowed me to truly make life easier for others,” Zlotnitsky said.
1. Why did Chelsie King ask the students for help?| A．Jeremy needed brain surgery. | B．Jeremy couldn’t walk his baby. |
| C．Jeremy couldn’t stand on his own feet. | D．Jeremy had no resources for disabled parents. |
| A．bought a new wheelchair for him | B．did research with stroller producers |
| C．produced 2 types of wheelchair attachments | D．asked other disabled people about their needs |
| A．they had taken the course | B．their work was successful |
| C．their work was finished in time | D．they shared the instructions online |
| A．Life is full of challenges. | B．Failure is the mother of success. |
| C．Experience is the key to problem solution. | D．Creativity and kindness can make a difference. |
5 . AQUILA Children’s Magazine is the most intelligent read for curious kids. Full of enthusiastic articles and challenging puzzles, every issue covers science, history and general knowledge. AQUILA is a quality production, beautifully illustrated with contemporary artwork throughout.
Intelligent reading for 8-12-year-olds
Cool science and challenging projects
Inspires self-motivated learning
Exciting new topics every issue
AQUILA is created and owned by an independent UK company. It has 28 pages, printed on high-quality paper and there are no advertisements or posters. Instead it is full of well-written articles, thought-provoking (令人深思的) ideas and great contemporary artwork. Each monthly issue is centred around a new topic.
AQUILA works as a superb learning extension to current primary (or KS2 and KS3) curriculum (课程), but it is much more than that! Entertaining and always surprising, AQUILA is recommended because it widens children’s interest and understanding, rather than encouraging them to concentrate only on their favourite subjects. It gives children a well-rounded understanding of the world, in all its complexity.
The concepts in AQUILA can be challenging, requiring good comprehension and reading skills. Eight years is usually a good age to start. Some gentle interest from an adult is often helpful at the start.
In 2021 AQUILA will have been in publication for 29 years, but it has never appeared in newsstands or shops. We are subscription only.
AQUILA Subscription
UK：12 Months￡55－4 Months￡30
Europe：12 Months￡60－4 Months￡35
World：12 Months￡70－4 Months￡35
Birthdays
Select the Birthday option, write a gift message and choose the birthday month. We will dispatch to arrive at the start of the month you have entered. The package posts in a blue envelope marked “Open on your birthday”.
1. What is special about AQUILA?| A．It is available in shops. | B．It is for kids of all ages. |
| C．It prints readers’ artwork. | D．It has no advertisements. |
| A．Articles on modern art. | B．Family reading materials. |
| C．Knowledge beyond school subjects. | D．Ideas on improving reading skills. |
| A．Foreign language learners. |
| B．Children with learning difficulties. |
| C．Parent-child reading lovers. |
| D．Curious kids with good comprehension. |
6 . For people who are interested in sound, the field of sound technology is definitely making noise. In the past, sound engineers worked in the back rooms of recording studios, but many of today’s sound professionals are sharing their knowledge and experience with professionals in other fields to create new products based on the phenomenon we call sound.
Sound can be used as a weapon. Imagine that a police officer is chasing a thief. The thief tries to escape. And the officer can’t let him get away. he pulls out a special device points it at the suspect, and switches it on. The thief drops to the ground. This new weapon is called a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD, 远程定向声波发射器). It produces a deafening sound so painful that it temporarily disables a person. The noise from the LRAD is directed like a ray of light and travels only into the ears of that person, but it is not deadly.
For those who hunger for some peace and quiet, sound can now create silence. Let’s say you are at the airport, and the little boy on the seat next to you is humming（哼唱）a short commercial song. He hums it over and over again, and you are about to go crazy. Thanks to the Silence Machine a British invention, you can get rid of the sound without upsetting the boy or his parents. One may wonder how the Silence Machine works. Well, it functions by analyzing the waves of the incoming sound and creating a second set of outgoing waves. The two sets of waves cancel each other out. Simply turn the machine on, point it at the target, and your peace and quiet comes back.
Directed sound is a new technology that allows companies to use sound in much the same way spotlights（聚光灯） are used in the theater. A spotlight lights up only one section of a stage; similarly, a “spotsound” creates a circle of sound in one targeted area. This can be useful for businesses such as restaurants and stores because it offers a new way to attract customers. Restaurants can offer a choice of music along with the various food choices on the menu, allowing customers more control over the atmosphere in which they are dining. Directed sound is also beginning to appear in shopping centers and even at homes.
1. What could be inferred from Paragraph 2 about the effect of the LRAD?| A．It causes temporary hearing loss | B．It slows down a running man |
| C．It makes it easy to identify a suspect | D．It keeps the suspect from hurting others |
| A．silence the people around you | B．remove the sound of commercials |
| C．block the incoming sound waves | D．stop unwanted sound from affecting you |
| A．They travel in circles | B．They clear the atmosphere. |
| C．They can be transformed into energy | D．They can be directed onto a specific area |
| A．creative designs of restaurant menus | B．ideal sound effects on the theater stage |
| C．different choices of music for businesses | D．strict control over any suspicious customer |
7 . If you are currently learning English, 1 highly recommend you check out the apps below.
Quizlet
When learning English, you probably have to memorize a lot of words. If you want to grow your vocabulary as fast as possible, a flashcard app like Quizlet is a great shortcut. With Quizlet, you can create a set of flashcards with new English words you are trying to learn, and practice typing them out until you know them by heart. It's a simple concept, but it's highly effective.
Spotify
Spotify is not a language learning app. But chances are that you already use it or a similar app for listening to music or podcasts（播客）, and one of the effective ways to study is combining something you already use into your existing habits. If Spotify is already on your phone, you can subscribe to some podcasts for English learners or download playlists of songs for learning English, or make your own.
Beelinguapp
Beelinguapp makes reading in English as convenient as possible. It shows you a text in your own language with the English translation side-by-side. Texts are short enough so that you can really dig into every word. They cover topics from fairytales, to science, to current news articles. There's even a "karaoke" feature where you can read along to audio, which helps you match up the English pronunciation with the English spellings.
Tandem
Tandem is a language exchange app which connects learners from all over the world. It can help you find a native English speaker who is trying to learn your native language, so you can swap language skills. If you only have five minutes to spare, you can simply exchange messages with a native English speaker. If you have more time, you can have a longer, digital language exchange" by sharing voice notes, or using video chat. It's a great way to test your English skills out with real people.
1. What is Spotify intended to help people do?| A．Develop a good habit. | B．Listen to music or podcasts. |
| C．Learn a foreign language. | D．Memorize words with flashcards. |
| A．Learners can use their native language as a reference. |
| B．It's convenient for learners to translate voice notes. |
| C．It provides learners a chance to tell their own stories. |
| D．Learners can sing English songs along to the music. |
| A．Quizlet. | B．Spotify. | C．Beelinguapp. | D．Tandem. |
8 . Chinese young gun Yang Qian claimed the first gold of the Tokyo Olympics with a victory in women’s 10 m air rifle (气步枪) on July 24 in Tokyo, Japan. Russian markswoman Anastasiia Galashina took the silver and Nina Christen of Switzerland bagged the bronze. Yang, who was ranked sixth in the qualification, scored 251.8 points in the final, beating Galashina’s 251.1 points to set off Team China to a fine start in Tokyo.
Trailing by a mere 0.1 point ahead of the final two shots, Yang saw the gap widen despite a 10.7-point shot, as her rival made an impressive 10.8. However, when it came to the last shot that would define the eventual champion, Galashina surprisingly shot for 8.9 points, and lost the Olympic title to Yang, who had a 9.8.
“I am very happy and proud to win this gold,” said the 21-year-old in a calm tone. The result set the standard for future Olympic competitors as Tokyo 2020 is the first games under new competition rules for the event. “I was extremely nervous before the final shot, and all I could do was to calm down,” the young Olympic champion recalled. “I wasn’t as calm as I appeared to be. During the qualification and the final I kept adjusting my mentality (心态) gradually, trying to shake the pressure off me, and I think I did well in doing so.”
Yang had to stand up to a long wait for other shooters to finish their shots before reaching the final. The favored Indian duo, world record holder，Apurvi Chandela and world No.1 Elavenil Valarivan, bowed out after the 60-shot qualification round. Norwegian Jeanette Hegg Duestad was the dark horse in the qualification, setting an Olympic record of 632.9 points. But the 22-year-old narrowly missed the medals in the final.
1. What is the purpose of paragraph 1?| A．To show the course of the shooting event. |
| B．To state the events of the Tokyo Olympics. |
| C．To introduce the result of the shooting event. |
| D．To explain the competition rules of the Olympics. |
| A．Scoring. | B．Measuring. |
| C．Winning. | D．Losing. |
| A．She was too nervous to keep calm. |
| B．It was difficult to defeat her opponents. |
| C．Being mentally calm is crucial to her success. |
| D．She narrowly won the gold due to a mistake. |
| A．Education and culture. |
| B．Sports and health. |
| C．Science and technology. |
| D．Nature and geography. |
9 . What Theresa Loe is doing proves that a large farm isn't prerequisite for a modern grow-your-own lifestyle. On a mere 1/10 of an acre in Los Angeles, Loe and her family grow, can and preserve much of the food they consume.
Loe is a master food preserver, gardener and canning expert. She also operates a website, where she shares her tips and recipes, with the goal of demonstrating that every has the ability to control what's on their plate.
Loe initially went to school to become an engineer, but she quickly learned that her enthusiasm was mainly about growing and preparing her own food. "I got into cooking my own food and started growing my own herbs and foods for that fresh flavor," she said. Engineer by day, Loe learned cooking at night school. She ultimately purchased a small piece of land with her husband and began growing their own foods.
“I teach people how to live farm-fresh without a farm,” Loe said. Through her website Loe emphasizes that "anybody can do this anywhere." Got an apartment with a balcony? Plant some herbs. A window? Perfect spot for growing. Start with herbs, she recommends, because "they're very forgiving." Just a little of the herbs "can take your regular cooking to a whole new level," she added. "I think it's a great place to start." "Then? Try growing something from a seed, she said, like a tomato or some tea."
Canning is a natural extension of the planting she does. With every planted food, Loe noted, there's a moment when it's bursting with its absolute peak flavor. "I try and keep it in a time capsule in a canning jar," Loe said. "Canning for me is about knowing what's in your food, knowing where it comes from."
In addition to being more in touch with the food she's eating, another joy comes from passing this knowledge and this desire for good food to her children: "Influencing them and telling them your opinion on not only being careful what we eat but understanding the bigger picture," she said, "that if we don't take care of the earth, no will."
1. Why does Loe suggest starting with herbs?| A．They are used daily. | B．They are easy to grow. |
| C．They can grow very tall. | D．They can be eaten uncooked. |
| A．It can preserve their best flavor. | B．It can promote her online sales. |
| C．It can better her cooking skills. | D．It can improve their nutrition. |
| A．The knowledge about good food. |
| B．The way to live a grow-our-own life. |
| C．The joy of getting in touch with foods. |
| D．The responsibility to protect our earth. |
10 . Stefani Shamrowicz lives in Colorado. The 24-year-old woman has spent 23 days picking up126 bags of rubbish across the country
Having over a month off from her job at a campus recreation center, Stefani Shamrowicz decided to take a trip to help clean up the environment.
She's now driven over 70 hours through Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Louisiana Florida,Georgia,Tennessee,Kentucky，Ohio，Pennsylvania，and New York-cleaning up everything from pee-filled bottles to lawn ornaments. About 80 percent of the rubbish was drinking bottles. Stefani said she had found a few fast-food toys and a tire with a pair of cowboy boots in it and her aim wasn't to shame, but rather encourage people to do what they can
Collecting anywhere from one to 16 bags at a time, Stefani's been discouraged. She felt she wasn't doing enough. She said there was a place that had an ocean of rubbish and she pushed out four bags, but then she broke down because she realized how much rubbish there was and it felt like four bags didn't do anything. But she remembered to just do what she could, especially since she had gone beyond her goal. She said she dedicated that to her parents because they raised her to be an independent person and had been very supportive on the trip
People donated $10 a bag for Stefani to clean up in their name, which she uses for lodging and gas. The person's name is written on how many bags they've donated towards and Stefani posted a picture on her Instagram when they were filed, thanking them for helping clean up the cit she was in.
People online and in person have responded positively to the project. Stefani recalled people sent her pictures of bags of trash they picked up. Once, when she started doing a bag on the beach in Florida,two ladies saw her and started helping her fill the bag.
With her job resuming June 1, Stefani is now back home but she has so many good things to say about her unique U.S.road trip.There's litter everywhere, so I'm just happy to be able to make a little bit of an impact everywhere I go. Cleaning up this litter is a huge thank you for all the joy and good times national parks and nature in general has brought to my life,”she said.
1. Why did Stefani drive ower70 hours across the USA?| A．To call on people to donate money |
| B．To earn a living by classifying rubbish. |
| C．To encourage people to protect the environment. |
| D．To enjoy the scenery of the national parks and nature |
| A．People offered their help along her journey |
| B．Her parents make joint efforts to support her. |
| C．People begin to donate their money for her project. |
| D．Many people take action to clean up the environment |
| A．Discouraged. | B．Anxious | C．Surprised. | D．Pleased. |
| A．Cleaning up rubbish is a tough task. | B．A kind act can make a big difference |
| C．Believing in oneself is the key to success. | D．One will realize his dream if he persists in it. |
