1 . Whether you feel like taking a road trip, or you just need some fun, you’ll enjoy this list of popular tourist attractions.

Alabama: Gulf Coast Beaches

If Alabama wasn’t the location for your next summer beach vacation, you may want to reconsider. There are 32 miles of white sands that have washed down from the Appalachian Mountains for thousands of years. That’s probably why over six million people visit Alabama’s Gulf Coast beaches every year. Ten dollars per person.

Alaska: Kenai Fjords Wildlife Cruise

Alaska is the place to go for spotting breathtaking (令人惊叹的) wildlife. In fact, the number of visitors who travel to Alaska to see wildlife has increased 45 percent. The Kenai Fjords Wildlife Cruise will bring you up close to whales, sea lions, and sea birds. A five-hour trip that starts at noon and covers 55 miles of sea will be the best $98 you’ve ever spent.

Arkansas: Hot Springs National Park

Skip the beach and choose a new type of relaxation at Hot Springs National Park. It’s America’s oldest national and the smallest national park. There’s a no-booking policy, perfect for travelers rolling through. Doors open at 8 a.m., so get there early!

Connecticut: Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History

Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History is a must stop if you’re traveling nearby Yale University. It attracts plenty of people and has many collections including New England birds, dinosaurs, Greek and Roman antiquities, and even an Egyptian mummy. Adults pay $13 for entry, but if you want to visit for free, go on a Thursday.

Don’t miss the four best tourist attractions.
1. Why do many people go to Alabama’s Gulf Coast beaches?

A．It has a good and convenient location.	B．It has a history of thousands of years.
C．It has tens of miles of white sands.	D．The Appalachian Mountains are beautiful.

2. When should you get to the Kenai Fjords Wildlife Cruise if you want to visit it?

A．Five hours before it opens.	B．Five hours after it opens.
C．Before 8 a.m.	D．Before twelve o’clock at noon.

3. What is special about Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History?

A．Many people go there to see collections.	B．You needn’t pay for it on certain days.
C．It makes you not want to leave.	D．It’s very beautiful and attractive.

2 . Many disaster-relief programs transport tons of supplies, such as food, water and heavy equipment, by road using large trucks. But some supplies may weigh just a few kilograms or less. For example, a package might contain a few doses of life-saving medicine.

The parachutes (降落伞) that carry these packages from planes are often made of nylon (尼龙). After one use, these parachutes are usually discarded. Because nylon is a polymer (聚合物), it does not decompose quickly. Therefore, Natalie looked for a greener alternative.

Nylon is strong, but a parachute used only once for light packages does not need to be that strong. Paper might be good enough, thought the teen. Plus, a paper parachute can be folded into a tiny package, just like a fabric parachute. Moreover, she notes there are many different ways to fold the unopened paper parachute.

Natalie came up with several folded designs and tested them. Her first models were small, so she could test them indoors. Two were triangular (三角形的). Two more were rectangular (长方形的). One of the rectangular ones opened most smoothly, she found. It also fell and landed most steadily as it dropped through the air. “Such features can be important when the goal is to deliver a package to the ground softly and accurately,” she says.

Natalie showcased her designs at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. Natalie’s single-use paper parachutes are not harmful to the environment. They are also less expensive than parachutes made from more traditional materials. A nylon parachute of the same size as her design would cost about $31, she says. One made from silk, another common parachute fabric, would cost almost $16. But a parachute made from paper would likely cost less than $1, Natalie estimates.

1. Why are many relief supplies mentioned in the first paragraph?

A．To list an example.

B．To answer a question.

C．To lead in the topic.

D．To make a comparison.

2. What does the underlined word “decompose” mean in paragraph 2?

A．Go bad.

B．Break down.

C．Run away.

D．Bend down.

3. Which of the following paper parachute is fit for delivering packages softly?

A．A small one.

B．A big one.

C．A rectangular one.

D．A triangular one.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Reducing Environmental Impact with Paper Parachutes

B．Eco-friendly Paper Parachutes for Disaster Relief

C．The High Cost of Traditional Parachutes

D．A Teen’s Quest for Better Disaster Relief

3 . The 17-year-old Roman was about to leave the foster (寄养) care system as he turned 18. All Roman ever wanted was to have his family ________. But just in time, he was ________ as a child by Brad and Renee. This was a ________ for him, as he had nowhere else to go.

Roman had been in and out of nineteen ________ foster homes since he was 11. Seeing his upcoming 18th birthday, Brad and Renee wanted to give him stability (稳定) before he ________ the foster care system.

Roman had ________ stayed with Brad’s family when he was 12, but he wasn’t ready to be part of a family at that time due to his ________ of being abandoned (拋弃).

Years later, Roman reconnected with the family and expressed his ________ to live with them again. In December, the family decided to welcome Roman and ________ the happy news with him on Christmas Day. Roman ________ a special stocking, symbolizing his adoption (领养) into the family. Everyone cried tears of ________ with Roman.

They ________ time to officially adopt him before his 18th birthday. Finally, on October 17, just one day before his birthday, Roman officially became a member of this family. Now, living in a peaceful and loving home, he finally has the chance to ________ the childhood moments he never had.

The family’s ________ to open their hearts and home to Roman shines a light on the great difference a ________ and supportive family can make in a young person’s life.

1.

A．nearly

B．lately

C．forever

D．probably

2.

A．accepted

B．touched

C．attracted

D．recognized

3.

A．revision

B．regret

C．goal

D．wonder

4.

A．suitable

B．different

C．advanced

D．responsible

5.

A．fled

B．quit

C．left

D．ran

6.

A．shortly

B．extremely

C．happily

D．equally

7.

A．sign

B．pressure

C．challenge

D．fear

8.

A．plan

B．willingness

C．chance

D．ability

9.

A．connected

B．compared

C．shared

D．charged

10.

A．received

B．saw

C．damaged

D．sold

11.

A．surprise

B．excitement

C．disappointment

D．joy

12.

A．raced against

B．swept off

C．carried away

D．left out

13.

A．promote

B．enjoy

C．identify

D．remember

14.

A．measure

B．dream

C．decision

D．power

15.

A．close

B．loving

C．safe

D．rich

4 . To get kids into science for the long term, new findings suggest it’s best to engage them alongside their families. The finding runs counter (背道而驰) to the current framework, in which children attend science-related summer camps and after-school programs apart from their families. That approach may reduce the long-term potential of what they learn.

“Most kids have interest in science,” says lead author Megan Ennes. “For them, it’s about curiosity and wonder, but research shows that as they make their way through middle school, there’s a significant decline. So we want to focus on the finding so that we can build a support system around it.”

In partnership with North Carolina State University, the researchers based their study on a family science program hosted at three museums. Over the course of ten months, families met on weekends for science themed events. Afterward, the participants attended an activity led by professionals in science, technology, engineering or math, allowing families to experience what it’s like to work in those fields.

During an event with a focus on local wildlife, a bird expert helped families capture birds with nets and unite the ones that hadn’t been caught before to monitor their populations. “After the bird banding, one of the parents took it home so they could continue talking about birds at home,” Ennes says. “Our goal isn’t to persuade students to become scientists. But if we can help families see science as something they do for fun together, then we can help ensure they have a lifelong engagement with it.”

“Some of the greatest challenges and opportunities our society is faced with will be solved by teams rather than by individuals,” Ennes says. “Helping families see science as something they do together with a community can help build 21st-century skills needed to be successful in science and society. It also builds a supportive network to allow youth and families to explore new careers and lifelong hobbies related to science.”

1. Why did the researchers carry out the study?

A．Most children show no interest in science.

B．Children are curious about many things.

C．Students should be encouraged to love their families.

D．Middle school students reduce their interest in science.

2. What can the families do in the study?

A．Experience the work in science.	B．Host events about science.
C．Share the information in science.	D．Visit three museums for free.

3. What is the aim of the study?

A．To get students into science for the long term.	B．To monitor the number of some birds.
C．To make more students want to be scientists.	D．To encourage students to learn to love wildlife.

4. What do Ennes’ words in the last paragraph show?

A．Students will face great challenges and chances.

B．It’s hard for students to solve problems by themselves.

C．It’s good to let students engage in science with families.

D．The community is good for science development.

5 . As a kid, Pamela Akuku spent her weekends exploring the National Museums of Kenya, following along with her mom who worked there. Akuku became fascinated with the researchers. She saw them using various equipment and researching the fossils carefully. “But I didn’t know what they were doing at the time,” she says. “I kept asking my mom about it.”

Akuku’s mom saw her daughter’s curiosity and signed her up for the museum’s Young Researchers Club. Akuku soon took part in mock excavations (模拟挖掘) and reconstructed bones. “I enjoyed reading and puzzles,” says Akuku. “And this was a mixture of the two.”

The museum experiences helped inspire her career as an archeologist. After her four years in university, she was sure that she wanted to study archaeology. She did her master’s in South Africa and majored in zooarchaeology (动物考古学). She is now at the Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution in Tarragona, Spain. There, she studies how ancient humans modified (改良) animal bones. Her research is helping to reveal more about where early humans lived. She’s currently studying the remains from Tanzania’s Olduvai Gorge, where researchers previously discovered stone tools and evidence of early human ancestors going back as far as 2 million years.

Akuku gives some advice to people who want to do her job. “Be prepared to come across hard conditions. Working in this field is challenging. You have to work twice as hard just to be recognized,” Akuku said. But she has learned to deal with it. Now she always tells everyone the efforts are worthy.

1. Why did Akuku’s mother let her join in the Young Researchers Club?

A．Akuku showed interest in the club.	B．Akuku’s mom was curious about the club.
C．Akuku’s mom wanted Akuku to help with her job.	D．Akuku hoped to be an archaeologist.

2. What is Akuku’s present research about?

A．Why zooarchaeology is popular.	B．When the relics of Tarragona appeared.
C．What can be found from ancient fossils.	D．How ancient people modified animal bones.

3. What can we know about Tanzania’s Olduvai Gorge?

A．Many stone tools remain to be found there.	B．Ancient human may live there 2 million years ago.
C．There are few relics left at present.	D．Few researchers show interest in it.

4. In Akuku’s opinion, if you wish to be an archaeologist, you should ______.

A．deal with challenges with colleagues	B．learn to be very smart
C．do the job harder than other people	D．believe what you do is important

6 . There are hundreds of great national nature reserves in China. Now feast your eyes on the following amazing ones.

Qinghai Lake National Nature Reserve

Qinghai Lake, China’s largest saltwater lake in Qinghai Province, is a key body of water for lots of animals and birds. As an important stopover, migratory birds (候鸟) would rest in this area during their movement trip every year. The reserve became a national nature reserve in the year of 1997.

Bayanbulak National Nature Reserve

The only Bayanbulak Wetland, in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is at the foot of Tianshan Mountains, which makes itself suitable for migratory birds. Bayanbulak means “rich spring water” in Mongolian, meaning that the area is rich in water. Every year, swans (天鹅) from different places fly here for nesting, which became a national swan reserve in 1986.

Rongcheng Swan National Nature Reserve

As one of the largest wintering places for swans in China, this reserve in Shandong Province mainly protects whooper swans (大天鹅), which make it different from other nature reserves. In 2007, it was changed into a national nature reserve. Now every year, thousands of whooper swans arrive here to spend the winter, making it an important resting and wintering place for themselves.

Sanya Coral Reef (珊瑚礁) National Marine Nature Reserve

This reserve focuses on protecting coral reefs and their living environment in Sanya City, Hainan Province. In 1990, it became a national nature reserve. This reserve is on the coast, so the area of the reserve has good water quality and many kinds of creatures,

1. What do the first reserve and the second reserve have in common?

A．The area of wetland.	B．The geography of them.
C．The year of becoming the national reserve.	D．The friendly environment for migratory birds.

2. What makes the Rongcheng Swan National Nature Reserve special?

A．Its saltwater lake.	B．The whooper swans.
C．Its rich spring water.	D．The warm climate.

3. Which place best suits coral lovers?

A．Bayanbulak National Nature Reserve.	B．Qinghai Lake National Nature Reserve.
C．Rongcheng Swan National Nature Reserve.	D．Sanya Coral Reef National Marine Nature Reserve,

7 . Tiny New neighbors

One day in 2022, 72-year-old Don Powell was pulling________from his outdoor mailbox as usual when he noticed something________: A tiny doll couple were sitting on a love seat inside the mailbox. There was also a sticky note reading “Mary and Shelley decided to live here.”

Don_______ thought somebody must have left the wooden dolls inside his mailbox_______ and would get them back soon. The mailbox looks nice, which________26 inches long, 15inches wide and 10 inches high, with windows on the top and sides to let the_______ in. “It’s no wonder the dolls want to move into it,” Don said humorously.

But a few days later, the small couple did not________. Instead, they acquired a table and a pillow. More than that, over the next several months. additional items mysteriously_______ : a bed, a painting and a wood-burning stove. And at Christmas time, a small decorated________was left with tiny presents.

Now, Mary and Shelley are still living in the________, bringing a little community humor to the neighbors who have followed Don’s________on Orchard Lake Village’s Nextdoor page. “Some people thought I had________the dolls myself, but all I did was provide a mailbox. Somebody else decided to make it a________for Mary and Shelley,” Don wrote on Nextdoor.

Don says he now doesn’t want to know who is________for the mailbox mystery and he’s just hoping it will_______ .

1.

A．emails

B．envelopes

C．food

D．dolls

2.

A．unusual

B．horrible

C．meaningful

D．normal

3.

A．finally

B．fortunately

C．honestly

D．originally

4.

A．in advance

B．with effort

C．by mistake

D．by design

5.

A．measures

B．equals

C．builds

D．fits

6.

A．wind

B．sand

C．light

D．rain

7.

A．melt

B．upgrade

C．disappear

D．respond

8.

A．showed off

B．showed through

C．showed around

D．showed up

9.

A．tree

B．basket

C．book

D．flower

10.

A．mailbox

B．village

C．house

D．neighborhood

11.

A．styles

B．updates

C．advice

D．targets

12.

A．created.

B．hung

C．placed

D．deserted

13.

A．building

B．nest

C．settlement

D．home

14.

A．charged

B．responsible

C．fit

D．eager

15.

A．end

B．repeat

C．continue

D．suffer

8 . Most of us have heard of the 3Rs: reduce, reuse and recycle. It is the core principle of a sustainable (可持续的) life, but few of us can apply it in our own lives. Now, there’s a “lab” you can explore and discover a way toward living sustainably.

3R Lab is located in Xuhui district, Shanghai. It offers exhibitions, activities and goods that showcase the 3R principle. The key to a sustainable life, according to Vincent T. M. Fong, the 32-year-old from Hong Kong who created the lab, is to make it a long-term promise. “A sustainable life should be sustainable itself in the first place. You can’t lead a sustainable life on a whim. Small and comfortable changes are exactly what you need,” Fong said.

The lab regularly hosts ugly fruit markets, offering these strange fruits which are often thrown away by traditional markets and consumers at a quite attractive price. “They’re thrown away simply because of their appearance. Buying fruit regardless of how they look reduces food waste significantly in our daily life,” Fong commented.

A water tank with two types of straws is another equipment in the lab. “One type is made from normal plastics widely used in our daily life while the other is from PHA, a new replacement for plastics, and the water is sourced from the Suzhou River,” explained Ni Li, an employee of the lab. Visitors can see how the PHA straws degrade (降解) into a thin layer in just one month, while the others remain unchanged.

“Leading a sustainable life does not necessarily mean sacrifice,” said Fong. Consuming ugly fruit and using degradable plastics are small changes that are good for the environment and easy to stick to. Only in this way can the 3R principle become part of our lives, he added.

After working there for six months, Ni, who wasn’t mindful of the 3R principle before arriving at the lab, now uses her cup every time she buys a coffee. “The job has reshaped my life,” Ni said.

1. What does the-underlined phrase “on a whim” in the second paragraph probably mean?

A．In a rush.	B．On a regular basis.
C．Without any reason.	D．As a common practice.

2. What is the purpose of the ugly fruit market at 3R Lab?

A．To reduce food waste.	B．To promote healthy eating.
C．To sell new kinds of fruit.	D．To provide more affordable fruit,

3. What can the water tank at 3R Lab show to its visitors?

A．The water pollution caused by plastics.	B．The degradation of PHA straws.
C．The interaction between two types of straws.	D．The disappearance of normal plastic straws.

4. What can we infer from the last paragraph about Ni?

A．She avoids going to traditional markets.	B．She has devoted less time to her hobbies.
C．She has got rid of a few bad habits.	D．She is leading a low carbon life now.