1 . That artificial food dyes (染料) are unhealthy is not news. Some are known to cause hyperactivity (多动症) in some children, affecting their ability to learn. But regulatory agencies (监管机构) around the world don’t necessarily agree on which food dyes are a problem, or why. That may soon change. A 2021 peer-reviewed report by California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment concluded that artificial food dyes “cause or worsen neurobehavioral (神经行为的) problems in some children” and that the current levels that are regarded safe for consumption by the federal government are too high.
California is now considering requiring warning labels on food products and dietary supplements containing the seven most commonly used artificial dyes. The warning label requirement would put California on par with the European Union, which since 2010 has required food products containing certain artificial food dyes to carry warning labels about their negative effect on activity and attention in children.
Artificial dyes are used in foods for one reason: to make products look prettier. Bright colors make candies appealing, especially to kids. But dyes are also in chocolate cake mixes, salad dressings and other products that don’t seem to cry out for a color boost.
In Europe, it was the 2010 label lawmaking that triggered (引发) companies’ decisions to reformulate. “If you’re a company, you do not want to put a warning label on your product.” says Lefferts, an environmental health consultant. Warning labels are why European Starburst Fruit Chews are now colored with natural products, not the artificial dyes that brighten their North American counterparts (同类商品).
Given that artificial food dyes are used far more than needed, we need to be more cautious. After all, we don’t dye fresh fruits and vegetables, but we do dye candy and sprinkles, points out Joe Schwarcz, a chemistry professor at McGill University in Montreal. “The foods in which you find food dyes are foods that are poor in nutrition,” he says. “If you limit foods that contain food dyes, you automatically make your diet better.”
1. What can we learn about artificial food dyes from paragraph 1?A.A 2021 report confirmed their negative effects. |
B.The fact that they are harmful is newly revealed. |
C.Regulatory agencies consider them a serious problem. |
D.The Federal government thinks their current standard too high. |
A.In opposition to. | B.In line with. | C.Ahead of. | D.Behind. |
A.Food companies will stop coloring their products. |
B.More fresh fruits and vegetables will appear in the market. |
C.Food companies may replace artificial dyes with natural products. |
D.It will be hard to find packaged foods without warning labels of dyes. |
A.Approving. | B.Neutral. | C.Tolerant. | D.Concerned. |
2 . World’s Best Spicy Foods
When it comes to the world’s best spicy dishes, we have some of the world’s hottest peppers to thank. The following spicy dishes from around the world bring the heat in the most delicious way.
Piri piri chicken, MozambiqueThe Portuguese introduced this spicy dish into Mozambique as far back as the 15th century, when they mixed African peppers with European ingredients. And it’s the red pepper that brings the spiciness to this complex, layered and delicious dish. The dish is also popular in Namibia and South Africa.
Sichuan hot pot, ChinaThe joy of this dish is not only the delightful warming ingredients of the Sichuan peppercorns, but the fact that you can cook exactly what you like in the spicy soup. Duck, seafood, chicken, pork, lamb and seasonal vegetables are all fair game for throwing into the pot to boil in a soup made with Sichuan peppercorns and dried Sichuan peppers.
Som tam, ThailandFrom northeastern Thailand, this fresh and spicy salad is a main dish at Thai restaurants around the world. Som tam turns to green papaya(木瓜) for its main ingredient. The papaya is then put with long beans or green beans and a mix of flavorful Asian essentials that include dried shrimp(虾) and fish sauce among other ingredients. Thai peppers give the salad its necessary kick.
Aguachile, MexicoThis raw marinated(腌制) shrimp dish from the western Mexico tastes as good as it looks. Tiny but powerful peppers, grown throughout Mexico, make the spicy magic happen in the aguachile, which means “pepper water” . Marinate the raw shrimp with ingredients including lime(酸橙) juice, red onion and cucumber and enjoy with fried corn pancakes.
1. How does piri piri chicken differ from the other three foods?A.It goes with vegetables. | B.It uses a variety of ingredients. |
C.It is flavored with red peppers. | D.It originated in another country. |
A.Piri piri chicken, Mozambique. | B.Sichuan hot pot, China. |
C.Som tam, Thailand. | D.Aguachile, Mexico. |
A.They are raw foods. | B.They have a long history. |
C.They are served with pancakes. | D.Shrimp is their main ingredient. |
3 . Yesterday, I was shopping in a store, minding my own business, when I saw someone
But the dog’s behavior got
At this point, I couldn’t stand it anymore, and
A.mistreating | B.walking | C.selling | D.greeting |
A.attention | B.praise | C.money | D.patience |
A.neck | B.legs | C.tail | D.teeth |
A.Probably | B.Luckily | C.Typically | D.Finally |
A.saved | B.helped | C.frightened | D.attracted |
A.looked at | B.made way for | C.searched for | D.fell in love with |
A.worker | B.teacher | C.reporter | D.hunter |
A.in safety | B.in need | C.in silence | D.in trouble |
A.politer | B.worse | C.sillier | D.simpler |
A.ground | B.tree | C.car | D.grass |
A.candy | B.bread | C.fruit | D.milk |
A.denied | B.considered | C.forgot | D.marked |
A.bank | B.hospital | C.store | D.office |
A.confident | B.sorry | C.worried | D.relieved |
A.generous | B.humorous | C.good | D.rude |
4 . Kenny Lake School in Copper Center, Alaska, is small. Jennifer Hodges is a third, fourth and fifth grade teacher. She says her three-grade class sits only at desks for 20 minutes a day. They do a lot of practical learning, such as raising Coho salmon (鲑鱼) from egg to young fish and then releasing them into a lake.
It’s through a program called Salmon in the Classroom, established by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Many students already have experience fishing salmon, which is a staple (主食) in Native Alaskan communities. “It’s really a delicate balance because we are dealing with traditions and culture of the Native people,” Hodges says. “This is their land, this is their salmon. And so we have to really be part of that.”
During the months when the salmon are in the classroom, students like to sit by the tank to observe. They like to calculate when the salmon will turn from eggs to young fish based on the temperature of the tank. To them, it’s not practicing math problems: it’s predicting the future.
“We always take a guess at when they will hatch from their eggs first,” says Liam, a student. “It takes math because you have to keep track of their temperature and calculate. I’m good at math so I usually get it right.”
Since Hodges and her students live in such a rural area, there aren’t many field trips. But each year in May, she takes her students on the Salmon Field Trip, where they get to release the salmon they’ve raised in class.
They will name the fish, then release them into the wild and never see them again. But it’s not sad: it’s the highlight of the year. “The best part is getting to release them after watching them hatch from eggs, grow up and take care of them,” says Fisher, a student.
“The salmon have turned from being just fish that they catch to eat, to fish that they are connecting to,” says Hodges. “With this project, they have a whole different perspective.”
1. What can we learn from the first paragraph?A.Hodges supports learning from practice. |
B.Hodges teaches an hour a day. |
C.Kenny Lake School is in the city centre. |
D.Coho salmon usually lives in the sea. |
A.To help students better understand local traditions. |
B.To get the youth involved in community activities. |
C.To attract more visitors to experience native cultures. |
D.To meet the demand of all schools in Alaskan area. |
A.Offering the fish names. | B.Freeing the salmon into the wild. |
C.Sitting at desks for 20 minutes. | D.Calculating when eggs will hatch. |
A.Students Had a Field Trip | B.A Busy and Successful Teacher |
C.Learn Lessons Through Raising Salmon | D.The Salmon in Alaskan Communities |
5 . He man Bekele was not atypical high school student.
Growing up in Ethiopia, Africa, He man
Skin cancer does have cures and it is
His
A.Due to | B.As for | C.Rather than | D.Regardless of |
A.website | B.product | C.hospital | D.school |
A.invests | B.promotes | C.approves | D.needs |
A.constantly | B.rarely | C.objectively | D.fortunately |
A.lose | B.think | C.use | D.report |
A.walked in | B.turned up | C.grew up | D.gave in |
A.preventable | B.complex | C.deadly | D.treatable |
A.price | B.speed | C.wage | D.life |
A.news | B.figure | C.secret | D.sound |
A.temporary | B.peaceful | C.affordable | D.possible |
A.speech | B.honesty | C.plan | D.work |
A.reminds | B.encourages | C.warns | D.orders |
A.overjoyed | B.embarrassed | C.frightened | D.annoyed |
A.puzzling | B.disappointing | C.inspiring | D.tiring |
A.protected | B.permitted | C.guided | D.recognized |
6 . Years ago, I was part of a pilot group (试点小组) for my employer tasked with figuring out how to hire and mentor (指导) people with disabilities and make them successful inside the organization. My boss decided to be the sponsor for the
I
I convinced my peers to give him a
I gave him a lot of
Last night, Roy
A.function | B.destination | C.project | D.achievement |
A.investigated | B.examined | C.appreciated | D.hired |
A.reserved | B.led | C.solved | D.announced |
A.ambassador | B.specialist | C.amateur | D.candidate |
A.backgrounds | B.qualifications | C.disciplines | D.virtues |
A.purpose | B.role | C.function | D.mark |
A.photos | B.risks | C.measures | D.notes |
A.reliable | B.creative | C.sensitive | D.temporary |
A.encouragement | B.amusement | C.anxiety | D.pressure |
A.Abruptly | B.Silently | C.Slowly | D.Immediately |
A.promised | B.afforded | C.attempted | D.continued |
A.put aside | B.take out | C.get over | D.look over |
A.admiration | B.comfort | C.envy | D.commitment |
A.allowed | B.warned | C.persuaded | D.called |
A.reward | B.respect | C.bonus | D.confidence |
7 . About 12% of the total global energy demand comes from heating and cooling homes and businesses. A new study suggests that using underground water to maintain comfortable temperatures could reduce consumption of natural gas and electricity in this section by 40% in the US. The approach is called ATES, short for aquifer thermal energy storage (含水层热能储存).
“We need storage to absorb energy from the sun and wind. It’s crucial to creating affordable, reliable, and deeply environmental-friendly electricity systems. Most people are interested in batteries and other kinds of electrical storage. But we were wondering whether there was any opportunity to use geothermal (地热的) energy storage,” said first author A.T.D Perera. “With ATES, energy can be stored for a long period of time, without adding an additional burden to the grid (输电网).”
ATES is a pleasantly simple concept that takes advantage of the heat-absorbing property of water and the natural geological features of the planet. You simply pull existing underground water up and heat it at the surface in the summer with environmental heat or energy. Then you send it back down. It stays fairly hot because the Earth is a good insulator (绝热体).
“Unlike above-ground tank-based water or ice storage systems, ATES will not need space. It’s also more efficient and can support larger communities in cooling or heating than traditional geothermal heat pump systems that rely on heat moving with the underground soil,” added co-author Hong Tianzhen.
A major beneft of ATES is that it will become more efficient as weather becomes more extreme in the coming years due to climate change. The hotter summers and severer winters could increase the amount of free thermal energy that can be stored with ATES. “It’s very much a realistic thing to do and this work is really about showing its value,” said Perera. “This technology is ready to go, so to speak. We just need to do it.”
1. What do we know about ATES?A.It is technologically demanding. |
B.It is aimed at replacing natural energy. |
C.It mainly relies on batteries to function. |
D.It helps achieve an environmentally friendly society |
A.By giving examples. | B.By discussing results. |
C.By making comparisons. | D.By analyzing principles. |
A.Temperature variations. | B.Insulated materials. |
C.The duration of storage. | D.The category of energy. |
A.A Turning Point in Energy Usage |
B.A Solution to Green Cooling and Heating |
C.A Transformation in the US Electricity System |
D.A Discovery About Geothermal Energy Storage |
8 . The Best School Camps in Victoria
Burnside Camp
Located on the Surf Coast near Anglesea, Burnside Camp is set over 4-hectare beautiful bushland (灌木丛) close to opollution-free peaches, Running throughout the year, Burnside Camp serves as a fantastic base for groups of up to 88 students. Camp programs centre on outdoor adventure activities. These include biking, canoeing, and exciting bush night hikes.
Mill Valley Ranch
Mill Valley Ranch is one of the best school camps in Victoria for large groups of students. It can accommodate up to 100 students. At Mill Valley Ranch, activity programs typically centre on confidence and character building. When outdoors, this sees young people given the opportunity to experience everything from horse riding to archery (射箭). However, it is also possible to organize a wide range of other team games and activities.
Camp Wilkin
Set in Anglesea, Camp Wilkin covers a 15-acre area home to resident kangaroos, which is in easy reach of quiet bushwalks and fantastic beaches. It offers the best school camp accommodation in Victoria for large groups, accommodating up to 163 students. And it also offers a variety of outdoor activity programs. Camp facilities include large meeting rooms suitable for everything from presentations to group learning activities.
Halls Gap
Halls Gap can hold up to 56 students. One of the best school camps in Victoria for natural sightseeing, it features reserved activities taking the form of short journeys to experience some of the largest waterfalls in Victoria. Halls Gap Camp students can also join in rock climbing. Such activities are in the company of local tour guides.
1. What can students do at Burnside Camp?A.Learn to repair bikes. | B.Run their own startups. |
C.Attend archery lessons. | D.Go on bush night hikes. |
A.Halls Gap. | B.Burnside Camp. | C.Camp Wilkin. | D.Mill Valley Ranch. |
A.It is the best camp in Victoria. | B.It requires advance booking. |
C.It features outdoor activities. | D.It centres on character building. |
9 . The world is full of fascinating destinations. We are here for you, providing a private tour to suit your particular needs and help you enjoy a great travel around Austria.
Time
June to August is the busiest time of the year with crowds of tourists and lower room availability. If you want to avoid the crowded tourists, the best time to visit Austria lasts from April to May and from September to October. During these months, the weather is pleasant, better for enjoying outdoor activities such as sightseeing, biking, hiking and adventures. Winter is also a great time to visit since the Christmas and New Year’s celebrations are held everywhere, attracting tourists from all over the world.
Cities
Vienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck are three must-see cities that shouldn’t be missed in your Austria tour packages. Vienna, the capital city of Austria, is famous for its lively art. Salzburg is also a great region where you can enjoy amazing views of the Eastern Alps. It’s also the birthplace of the famous composer Mozart and the film setting for the Sound of Music. Innsbruck, another significant place for sightseeing in Austria, is known for its mountainous backdrop and lots of natural beauty. There are also some. worthy medieval(中世纪的)towns to visit, such as Bad Ischl, Durnstein, Hallstatt, etc.
Transportation
Austria has a wide rail network, connecting all its domestic cities and neighboring countries. Riding on comfortable trains is the best way to travel through the green valleys, the historic towns and the scenic villages.
1. When is Austria the most crowded with tourists?A.From April to May. | B.From June to August. |
C.From September to October. | D.From November to December. |
A.Its art. | B.Its mountains. |
C.Its filming. | D.Its medieval towns. |
A.Taking a bus. | B.Taking a bike. |
C.Taking a train. | D.Taking a boat. |
10 . In a heartwarming turn of events, a two-year-old girl who had gone lost in Newberry County was found safe and sound after a careful search. The young child had last been
What followed was a remarkable chain of events that led to her safe
Around 6:00 pm, the situation took a hopeful turn when a deer
Newberry County 911 operators sprang into action,
With the location data
A.recognized | B.seen | C.checked | D.saved |
A.safe | B.dead | C.missing | D.sick |
A.rescue | B.arrival | C.journey | D.departure |
A.lover | B.raiser | C.protector | D.hunter |
A.Leaving | B.Adapting | C.Reacting | D.Writing |
A.placed | B.forgot | C.answered | D.presented |
A.progress | B.location | C.need | D.identity |
A.introducing | B.providing | C.developing | D.using |
A.creatively | B.mostly | C.accurately | D.likely |
A.useless | B.crucial | C.wrong | D.cheap |
A.in hand | B.in return | C.in secret | D.in order |
A.parking | B.crowded | C.playing | D.wooded |
A.uneducated | B.bored | C.unharmed | D.confused |
A.purposes | B.efforts | C.words | D.stories |
A.gift | B.movie | C.tradition | D.reunion |