4 . Save your annual leave and explore beautiful towns and places with day trips less than two hours from London, offering a change of scenery, delicious food and a good walk. You can head into work the next day feeling refreshed.

Margate

The old will remember Margate as a somewhat mocked holiday location, a vintage (复古的) style amusement park with rides. However, the young are now moving here in droves as they take advantage of the excellent transport links and the working opportunities. Another draw is the Turner Contemporary art gallery opened in 2011 to celebrate artist JMW Turner, and his connection to Margate. The gallery is free to enter and has spectacular views.

The New Forest

At over 200 square miles, the New Forest is a protected national park dotted with small towns. There are many trails to walk or cycle, which are worth planning in advance. Thenewforest.co.uk is a useful resource as it has walking and cycle routes split into family, dog-friendly and those that take in pubs or villages.

Brighton

There is something for everyone in Brighton: traditional fish and chips, vegan and restaurants, the Royal Pavil ion and shops — both vintage and contemporary — selling clothing, jewellery, chocolate and records. Any of the small coffee shops would be a great first stop before heading to the very pink Books for Amnesty shop.

The Cotswolds

With the instantly recognisable pale-yellow stone cottages and seemingly unending supply of pubs, the towns and villages that comprise the Cotswolds are well worth a visit. Spend the morning walking around Chipping Norton, a market town with shops and theatres. Be sure to pop-in to Jaffé and Neale, the bookshop and cafe that has been open since 2006.

1. What attracts the younger generation in Margate?

A．Its amusement park.	B．The protected national park.
C．The Turner Contemporary art gallery.	D．Its convenient transportation and working chances.

2. Where should you go if you want to walk with your dog?

A．Brighton.

B．The New Forest.

C．Margate.

D．The Cotswolds.

3. What do Brighton and The Cotswolds have in common?

A．Life style.

B．Traditional food.

C．Coffee houses.

D．Ancient cottages.

5 . One of the things that make humans mammals (哺乳动物) is that we’re warm-blooded — our bodies have high metabolism (新陈代谢) that maintains our internal temperature independent of the surroundings, unlike cold-blooded animals that have to lie in the sun for heat. Among modern animals, only mammals and birds are warm-blooded and our ability to keep ourselves warm has enabled us to survive in icy weather and make long migrations. But it’s been a mystery exactly when mammals evolved their high metabolism. In a new study, scientists point to an unlikely source for determining when ancient mammal ancestors became warm-blooded.

The ears of all living creatures that have backbones contain tiny canals (管道) filled with fluid that helps us balance. The runniness (流动性) of that fluid changes based on temperature, and our inner ears have evolved different sizes so that the fluid can flow correctly. Cold-blooded animals’ ear fluid is cooler and thicker, so it needs wider spaces to travel through, while warm-blooded animals have runnier ear fluid, so our canals are different.

“Canals were generally used to predict the movement of fossil organisms. However, by carefully looking at their biomechanics (生物力学) , we figured that we could also use them to infer body temperature,” says Romain David, one of the study’s lead authors. “This is because, like honey, the fluid inside canals gets runnier when temperature increases, impacting function. Therefore, during the transition to endothermy (温血性) , physical adaptation was required to keep best performances, and we could track ear canals in mammal ancestors. ”

To track these evolutionary changes, the researchers compared the sizes of the inner ear canals of over 300 animals, including 243 living species and 64 extinct ones. They found that mammal ancestors didn’t develop the kinds of inner ear structures ideal for warm-blooded animals until 233 million years ago.

The origin of mammalian endothermy is one of the great mysteries to be solved. Many different approaches have been used to try to predict when it first evolved, but they have often given unclear or conflicting results. This method shows real promise because it has been confirmed using a very large number of modern species.

1. Which of the following might be the key to mammals’ long migrations?

A．The large body size.	B．The rich food resources.
C．The warm-bloodedness.	D．The adaptability to surroundings.

2. What can we learn about warm-blooded animals compared to cold-blooded ones?

A．They have much bigger backbones.

B．Their inner ear canals are relatively narrow.

C．They are much more sensitive to outside sounds.

D．Their ear fluid seldom changes with temperature.

3. What do Romain David’s words in paragraph 3 mainly tell us?

A．Theories on the evolution of mammal ancestors.

B．The reason for studying the inner ears of mammals.

C．The importance of physical adaptation to mammals.

D．Possible ways to predict the movement of fossil organisms.

4. What’s the author’s attitude to the new method of tracking evolutionary changes?

A．Appreciative.

B．Doubtful.

C．Negative.

D．Unconcerned.

6 . Despite the fact that burgers, chips and fries are known as some of the most unhealthy food we can eat, they are still the most popular food.

There are a few reasons behind that. First, junk food is generally easy to get and take with you. This convenience is a major draw for many, especially people who are always on the go. Restaurants like McDonald’s and KFC can be found outside many schools and workplaces, providing meals in under a minute.

Secondly, junk food contains a lot of added sugar and fat. This kind of food causes our brain to send out certain chemicals, which produce the feeling of relaxation, pleasure and enjoyment. That’s why such food is called “comfort food”.

Thirdly, our ancestors didn’t have such easy access to the huge variety of food we come across every day. They didn’t have the convenience of having food as easily as we do. So they made it a habit to eat as much as they could to survive and protect themselves from the hard natural conditions. The cave mentality (心理) is passed down to us, which makes us believe that we can never have enough food that is high in sugar and fat, no matter how crazily we eat.

Besides, when we are too worried and tired to relax, our body produces cortisol (皮质醇), which increases the sugar content in the blood, so it can be used as energy to aid in fat and carbohydrate metabolism (碳水化合物代谢). Additionally, it is also found to increase hunger. That’s the reason why when we’re thinking about unpleasant things, we prefer foods that are high in sugar, fat and carbohydrate, that is to say unhealthy food.

1. Why are McDonald’s and KFC mentioned?

A．To show they take up the best site.	B．To show they provide good service.
C．To show they are famous for their taste.	D．To show they make junk food easy to get.

2. What does the author want to tell us in Paragraph 4?

A．We need all kinds of food.	B．Our ancestors lived a hard life.
C．We are born to eat more than we need.	D．It is difficult for us to change our habits.

3. What is a cause of the increase of sugar content in our body?

A．Too much stress.	B．A wish for food.
C．A fast metabolic rate.	D．Not having enough energy.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．How harmful junk food is.	B．Why fast food is so delicious.
C．How we can develop a healthy lifestyle.	D．Why we love unhealthy food so much.

7 . In a small tea shop located in Bisalpur, Uttar Pradesh, one can spot unique furniture like stools (凳子) and tables made of bricks and recycled plastic. Other than customers, tourists who come to visit the nearby Jawai Dam often stop by here to hand plastic waste over to the shopkeeper. Run by Kana Ram Mewada, the shop not only sells tea and snacks, but also leads a campaign to reduce the use of single-use plastic in the village.

According to a report of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in 2019—2020, 3. 5million metric tons (公吨) of plastic waste is annually generated in India, and will remain in landfills (垃圾填埋场) for the upcoming hundreds of years.

Kana was deeply disturbed after reading that report on the Internet and began thinking about ways to raise the villagers’ awareness and make his village free of plastic.

He started a campaign by collecting plastic waste from his own shop and roadside. Whenever customers came, he explained the campaign. In order to attract more people, he started giving something in return for the waste they brought. Sometimes, he purchased a few things made of recycled waste to show the villagers and told them they were created from their plastic waste contribution. He also made decorative items out of the waste and placed them around the shop.

As a result, people from the village became curious about his campaign. Even tourists began participating in the exchange. And today, the forest, rivers and public spaces that were once filled with plastic waste are cleaner than before.

He hopes that he can also help the neighboring villages recycle plastic waste and make the whole area plastic-free. “When an ordinary person like me decided to start a cause, it was inspiring that a whole village stood by me and supported me. We can all become torchbearers (启蒙者) for a better tomorrow. What we have to do is take a step forward,” he said.

1. What led Kana to start the campaign?

A．An online report.	B．Tourists’ behavior.
C．Customers’ advice.	D．His visit to landfills.

2. Why did Kana place plastic decorations around his shop?

A．To get more people to join his campaign.	B．To teach shoppers how to make them.
C．To make his shop much more beautiful.	D．To advertise the goods in his shop.

3. Which of the following can best describe Kana?

A．Considerate and proud.	B．Ambitious and generous.
C．Responsible and creative.	D．Determined and humorous.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．A shopkeeper’s path to success.	B．A historic tourist spot in Bisalpur.
C．A unique way of turning waste into art.	D．A shopkeeper’s campaign for plastic recycling.

8 . In 2016, Mark Raymond learned the hard way that life can change in a split second(一瞬间). One day, Raymond went boating with his friends. He jumped off the back of the boat and hit a sandbank, leading to a severe injury to his neck. He became paralyzed(瘫痪的)and spent months in the hospital receiving treatment. When he was allowed to leave the hospital, he realized that the hard part was just beginning. He still needed to exercise to recover his strength after finishing the outpatient(门诊病人)treatment.

However, when Raymond returned home, he realized there was a serious lack of accessible gyms or facilities that could help people with different abilities work out and improve their health in his community. The lack of them caused Raymond to take action. In 2018, he established the Split Second Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides treatment that takes up from where outpatient treatment left off.

“The Split Second Foundation has equipment for people who have different disabling conditions,” Raymond explained.“Our specially trained staff will evaluate(评估)disabled customers’ physical needs and limitations and then provide recovery, education, and ongoing fitness classes suitable for them. We’re able to push them in a recovery driven fitness environment to be their best selves.”

Raymond’s goal is to open more accessible gyms, not just in New Orleans where he lives. He hopes the Split Second Foundation can help even more people get their lives back after disastrous accidents. “People with disabilities should also be thought of as productive members of society,” said Raymond. “Anybody’s life can change in an instant due to some kind of injury or disabling condition, and we are providing what’s next.”

When Raymond couldn’t find the services he needed, he made some for himself and others. This is the sort of cleverness we love to see in the world.

1. What does the underlined part “the hard part” in Paragraph 1 refer to?

A．The mental problem.	B．The process of recovery.
C．The high pressure of work.	D．The treatment in the hospital.

2. What inspired Mark Raymond to set up the Split Second Foundation?

A．His love for a variety of sports.

B．His dream of becoming a businessman.

C．A boating accident that happened to his friend.

D．A lack of accessible exercise resources in his community.

3. What can we know about the Split Second Foundation?

A．It provides treatment by cooperating with hospitals.

B．It focuses on holding basic classes for poor children.

C．It offers fitness and recovery services to the disabled.

D．It creates plenty of job opportunities for disabled people.

4. Which of the following is the best title for the text?

A．Mark Raymond’s Journey from Paralysis to Recovery

B．Mark Raymond: Help the Disabled Rebuild Their Lives

C．The Importance of Accessible Gyms for Disabled People

D．Split Second Foundation: Offer Patients Postoperative Treatment

9 . Blue jeans are as American as eating a hot dog at a baseball game. But have you ever stopped to wonder why most of us have blue jeans but not red, purple, or green jeans?

Jeans are made of denim, which is a type of strong cotton cloth. Jeans became wildly popular in the American West during the California Gold Rush. This period in the mid-1800s saw 300, 000 people pack up their lives and head west in search of fortune (财富). Searching for gold was difficult work, as people would dig into the side of mountains and look for gold that had made its way into rivers and streams, and they needed durable clothing to help them. Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis saw a chance not in gold, but in selling clothes to the tens of thousands of people arriving every year. They teamed up to create indigo — washed cloth.

So why did they use indigo(blue)to color their jeans? It has to do with the character of indigo. While most other colors penetrate (渗透) deep inside clothing, indigo stays on the surface of the threads (线). This means that when clothing colored with indigo is washed, some of the threads and coloring are removed. Over time and after much cleaning, jeans colored with indigo become softer and more comfortable as well as get that “worn in” look we all love.

Blue jeans are blue — or indigo — because they need to be tough and stand up to a hard day’s work, and also be soft and comfortable. And while many of those in search of gold never found their fortune, Levi Strauss’ blue jeans became wildly popular, and the company is still selling blue jeans 150 years later.

1. Why is Gold Rush mentioned in Paragraph 2?

A．To prove people’s hard lives then.

B．To tell us why blue jeans were created.

C．To share Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis’ story.

D．To show an important period in American history.

2. What does the underlined word “durable” in Paragraph 2 mean?

A．Bright.

B．Fashionable.

C．Strong.

D．Beautiful.

3. Why was blue used to color the jeans?

A．The color and threads could be removed easily.

B．The jeans could become much stronger.

C．It could color the jeans’ threads easily.

D．It penetrated deep inside clothing.

4. What can we learn from Levi Strauss’ success?

A．Success results from hard work.

B．Nothing is impossible to a willing heart.

C．Failure is meaningful if we learn from it.

D．Fortune prefers those who use their judgement.

10 . Watford and her family have lived in Curtis Bay, Baltimore for generations. Her community has faced environmental injustice. Heavy industries continued to move in her community. As a result, her neighbors have had to live with serious respiratory (呼吸的) problems.

When she knew a plan to build the nation’s largest trash-burning incinerator (焚化炉) less than a mile away from her high school, she realized she had to take action. The incinerator was being sold wrongly as clean, renewable energy equipment but actually it would be a source of brain-damaging chemicals and would release 200 million tons of greenhouse gases per year, both worse than coal burning. Watford felt she had a responsibility to warn her community to work together to shut this plant down.

She co-founded Free Your Voice (FYV), a 10-person student organization devoted to community rights and social justice. Together, they decided to start a campaign to take down Energy Answers, the incinerator’s developer. They went door-to-door talking to neighbors and organizing protests.

When it was discovered that Baltimore City Public Schools (BCPS) was going to be a customer of Energy Answers, the organization fought with the board and presented their case, urging BCPS to withdraw from the project. BCPS was convinced to cancel their contract, which in turn inspired 22 other customers to do the same. Without any financial gain, Energy Answers had no market to move forward with its plan.

Watford continues to work with Curtis Bay residents toward fair development. They have a vision for the future which includes building a zero-waste movement, a solar farm, and green jobs. She wants the entire human family to join the fight for environmental justice because survival as a species depends on our ability to take action.

1. What caused respiratory problems in Watford’s community?

A．Poor medical care.	B．Terrible environmental conditions.
C．Constant bacterial infection.	D．Unbalanced distribution of resources.

2. What is Watford’s attitude to building the incinerator?

A．Unfavourable.

B．Doubtful.

C．Unclear.

D．Indifferent.

3. What was the result of their campaign?

A．BCPS lost financial support.	B．Energy Answers stopped its plan.
C．The investors found new market.	D．Many customers revised their contracts.

4. What would be the best title for the text?

A．A teenage hero against urban pollution

B．A teenage hero fighting for an advanced city

C．A battle for Baltimore’s sky by a teenage hero

D．The social justice challenge for a teenage hero