1 . From July 19 to 24, I travelled to the Shiyanghe Basin in Wuwei, located in the heart of a desert in Northwest China’s Gansu province. Looking down from the plane on the way to the destination, all I saw was endless ranges of desert mountains and sands, which made it a breathtaking transformation when I saw green gardens and fruit farms upon arrival.

A local farmer in this landscape shared his success story of enlarging his farm through greenhouse crop production with me. Thanks to the greenhouse technology, his farm has grown from 10 workers, to around 100 within 10 years. The key role of women in agriculture is also praised, as their contributions increase the energy of the landscape.

We also visited a greenhouse with vertical (垂直的) watermelon farming. It was a well-aired, strategically positioned structure with shade cloth, vertical supports, drip irrigation (滴灌), good lighting, and insect management. It was amazing how technology can transform limited space into a great agricultural powerhouse, which not only increases outputs but also reduces environmental impact. What’s even more impressive is that it’s a great approach: It doesn’t stop at farming but can be used in food processing industries. This ensures that the journey from seed to consumers is seamless (无缝的), maintaining product quality and reducing waste.

I learned that Wuwei, although located in a region famous for its dryness, has attempted to become a major supplier of fruits and vegetables, competing with other regions in southern China which have sufficient water resources and good weather conditions. Through advanced irrigation techniques like drip systems, controlled environments, and effective resource management, they show the power of sustainable agriculture and the untiring spirit of those who transform deserts into fruitful landscapes.

1. What can we learn about the local farmer from paragraph 2?

A．He has more than 100 workers on his farm.

B．He is a new-type farmer who likes to share stories.

C．He is successful in adopting greenhouse technology.

D．He doesn’t admit women’s contribution to agriculture.

2. What is the third paragraph mainly about?

A．A pleasant visiting experience.	B．Benefits of watermelon farming.
C．Traditional agricultural approaches.	D．A greenhouse with advanced techniques.

3. According to the author, what is special about Wuwei?

A．It has enough water resources.	B．It experiences drought most often.
C．It has the same conditions with southern regions.	D．It establishes fruitful landscapes in the desert area.

4. Where is the text most probably taken from?

A．A newspaper.

B．A guidebook.

C．A research paper.

D．A book review.

2 . In an inspiring series of events over six years, a remarkable woman has turned up as the guardian angel for one family. She ______ a man from a life-threatening situation and later saved his daughter’s life.

Six years ago, Kristi Hadfield was a nurse who saved John Cunningham’s life when he was ______ a heart attack. “At the time I ______ being in the back of the ambulance and I was like, ‘Not today John, not today,’” Hadfield recalled. She performed chest compressions (按压) until they ______ the hospital. ______ , doctors were able to get him back.

Hadfield stayed in ______ with Cunningham through social media, as she often does with ______ patients. She also became Internet friends with his daughter, Molly Jones, after Jones sent her a friend ______ on the Internet. On July7, Jones ______ on the Internet that she was officially on the kidney transplant (肾移植) list. She was ill with advanced kidney disease. Although she found it hard to ask for help, she wanted to see if anyone would ______ donating.

“And when I posted it, I got a(n) ______ from Kristi,” Jones said. Hadfield messaged Jones and said, “Hey, I’ve got your kidney here.” Hadfield was eventually cleared to be a kidney ______ and the two women met for the first time. And on December 27, the operation finally ______ . The operation went as planned and was ______ . “It was amazing. Kristi gave me back my ______ ,” Jones said.

1.

A．knew

B．caught

C．rescued

D．employed

2.

A．having

B．avoiding

C．escaping

D．curing

3.

A．enjoy

B．remember

C．regret

D．imagine

4.

A．came across

B．worked on

C．turned to

D．got to

5.

A．Fortunately

B．Gradually

C．Disappointedly

D．Basically

6.

A．agreement

B．touch

C．comparison

D．competition

7.

A．female

B．strange

C．serious

D．former

8.

A．order

B．gift

C．request

D．suggestion

9.

A．identified

B．recommended

C．shared

D．heard

10.

A．quit

B．appreciate

C．allow

D．consider

11.

A．invitation

B．message

C．argument

D．description

12.

A．provider

B．waiter

C．user

D．protector

13.

A．set out

B．took place

C．shut up

D．came back

14.

A．remarkable

B．unique

C．successful

D．significant

15.

A．life

B．luck

C．money

D．thanks

3 . Simone Biles is a remarkable athlete, having won 7 Olympic medals across two Olympic Games. However, in 2020, she shocked the world when she quitted from the Tokyo Games due to some mental problems. Many praised it as a brave decision, as mental health is just as important as physical health. The athlete said she often suddenly lost the sense of direction during the Games, which meant she could no longer sense her body move in the air. It is dangerous for any athlete.

Since then, Biles has focused on her personal life, marrying the love of her life in the process. Recently, USA Gymnastics announced that Biles is ready to return to gymnastics. She is scheduled to compete at the coming US Classic in August, and fans are waiting eagerly to see her in action. Joining Biles in the upcoming competition are 12 Olympic and 16 World Championships roster members. Some notable names include Olympic gold medalist Sunisa Lee and 2020 Olympic floor champion Jade Carey, among others.

Before Simone Biles became a successful athlete, she and her siblings experienced a “hungry” childhood. Biles’ love for gymnastics began on a field trip. They visited a local gymnasium, where she was given a flyer (传单) to join the program. Biles was a natural, but she didn’t see her potential right away. Little did she know, but everybody else around her did. Her difficult beginnings set the stage for Biles to become one of the most successful sportswomen. Her parents gave their 100% support for her to grow up in the environment she was great at.

Biles has everything she could need to live a golden life— a supportive family, a loving boyfriend and a passion, which also happens to be her career. At 26 years old, she has her whole life ahead of her and is expected to continue dominating (统治) the gymnastics world in the coming years.

1. What did Simone Biles do during the 2020 Olympic Games?

A．She dropped out unexpectedly.

B．She won her seventh Olympic medal.

C．She hurt others due to dangerous moves.

D．She shocked the world with her great performance.

2. How do Biles’ fans feel about her return to gymnastics?

A．Worried.	B．Disappointed.
C．Excited.	D．Shocked.

3. What does the author want to convey through Biles’ story?

A．One’s birth decides his or her future.

B．Quitting doesn’t necessarily mean giving up.

C．One should never give up his or her own job.

D．A person’s success requires all kinds of preparations.

4. Where is the text probably from?

A．A guidebook.	B．A fashion magazine.
C．A book review.	D．A news report.

4 . Best Parks to See Wildlife

A recent report from a vacation site listed the total number of species and sizes of several well-known national parks. Here are some of them to see the widest variety of animals.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio

Number of species per square meter: 317

Located 20 miles southwest of Cleveland, Ohio, Cuyahoga Valley National Park is a mixed ecosystem of forest and wetlands sheltering a variety of animals. From the boardwalk at Beaver Marsh, watch for water-loving mammals or snapping turtles (鳄龟) that can weigh as much as 55 pounds each. More than 200 bird species live in the park.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico

Number of species per square meter: 286

The representative for Carlsbad Caverns is the Brazilian free-tailed bat. Every summer, hundreds of thousands of the furry, big-eared creatures live in these caves in southeastern New Mexico, attracting crowds at sunset with their spectacular out flight. The Brazilians are one of the 17 bat species that nest at Carlsbad. You might also encounter wild pigs and cave swallows.

Acadia National Park, Maine

Number of species per square meter: 242

The Atlantic Ocean meets the Maine coast at this popular park on Mount Desert Island, providing habitat for wildlife with feet and flippers (鳍状肢). From the shore, scan the water for the heads of harbor porpoises (鼠海豚) and gray seals.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado

Number of species per square meter: 219

In western Colorado, the 2, 722 feet between this park s canyon edge and the Gunnison River below support numerous wildlife habitats. Experienced climbers and hikers who adventure into the inner canyon find collared lizards and mule deer.

1. Which park has the largest number of species per square meter?

A．Acadia National Park.	B．Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
C．Cuyahoga Valley National Park.	D．Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

2. What can tourists do in Carlsbad Caverns National Park?

A．Watch crowds of flying bats at sunset.

B．Observe 17 swallow species nesting in the city.

C．Play with turtles weighing over 55 pounds.

D．Meet wild pigs in forests and wetlands.

3. Which of the following can be seen in Acadia National Park?

A．Cave swallows.

B．Gray seals.

C．Mule deer.

D．Free-tailed bats.

5 . In our information-driven society, shaping our worldview through the media is similar to forming an opinion about someone solely based on a picture of their foot. While the media might not deliberately deceive us, it often fails to provide a comprehensive view of reality.

Consequently, the question arises: Where, then, shall we get our information from if not from the media? Who can we trust? How about experts—people who devote their working lives to understanding their chosen slice of the world? However, even experts can fall prey to the allure of oversimplification, leading to the “single perspective instinct” that hampers(阻碍)our ability to grasp the intricacies of the world.

Simple ideas can be appealing because they offer a sense of understanding and certainty. And it is easy to take off down a slippery slope, from one attention-grabbing simple idea to a feeling that this idea beautifully explains, or is the beautiful solution for, lots of other things. The world becomes simple that way.

Yet, when we embrace a singular cause or solution for all problems, we risk oversimplifying complex issues. For instance, championing the concept of equality may lead us to view all problems through the lens of inequality and see resource distribution as the sole panacea. However, such rigidity prevents us from seeing the multidimensional nature of challenges and hinders true comprehension of reality. This “single perspective instinct” ultimately clouds our judgment and restricts our capacity to tackle complex issues effectively.

It saves a lot of time to think like this. You can have opinions and answers without having to learn about a problem from scratch and you can get on with using your brain for other tasks. But it’s not so useful if you like to understand the world. Being always in favor of or always against any particular idea makes you blind to information that doesn’t fit your perspective. This is usually a bad approach if you would like to understand reality.

Instead, constantly test your favorite ideas for weaknesses. Be humble about the extent of your expertise. Be curious about new information that doesn’t fit, and information from other fields. And rather than talking only to people who agree with you, or collecting examples that fit your ideas, consult people who contradict you, disagree with you, and put forward different ideas as a great resource for understanding the world. I have been wrong about the world so many times. Sometimes, coming up against reality is what helps me see my mistakes, but often it is talking to, and trying to understand, someone with different ideas.

If this means you don’t have time to form so many opinions, so what? Wouldn’t you rather have few opinions that are right than many that are wrong?

1. What does the underlined word “allure” in Para.2 probably mean?

A．Temptation.

B．Tradition.

C．Convenience.

D．Consequence.

2. Why are simple ideas appealing according to the passage?

A．They meet people’s demand for high efficiency.

B．They generate a sense of complete understanding.

C．They are raised and supported by multiple experts.

D．They reflect the opinions of like-minded individuals.

3. What will the author probably agree with?

A．Simplifying matters releases energy for human brains.

B．Constant tests on our ideas help make up for our weakness.

C．A well-founded opinion counts more than many shallow ones.

D．People who disagree with us often have comprehensive views.

4. Which of the following can be the best title of the passage?

A．Embracing Disagreement: Refusing Overcomplexity

B．Simplifying Information: Enhancing Comprehension

C．Understanding Differences: Establishing Relationships

D．Navigating Complexity: Challenging Oversimplification

6 . Gardeners who use pesticides are contributing to the decline of British songbirds, a study suggests. Scientists have urged people to stop “spraying their gardens with poisons” in order to halt bird decline and adopt instead wildlife-friendly practices. The results of the University of Sussex study, which researchers call the first of its kind, were published in the journal Science of the Total Environment.

The experiment, which surveyed 615 gardens in Britain, found 25% fewer house sparrows when glyphosate (草甘膦) was used regularly. This is an ingredient found in commonly used herbicide (除草剂) brands such as Roundup or Gallup. Slug pellets (鼻涕虫杀虫剂) also seemed to have an impact on bird sightings; in gardens where Slug pellets were used, house sparrow numbers were down by almost 40%.

Prof. Dave Goulson, of the school of life sciences at the University of Sussex, said, “The UK has 22 million gardens, which collectively could be a fantastic refuge for wildlife, but not if they are overly tidy and sprayed with poisons. We just don’t need pesticides in our gardens. Many towns around the world are now pesticide free. We should simply ban the use of these poisons in urban areas, following the example of France.” The Royal Horticultural Society, the UK’s leading gardening charity, said the use of pesticides and herbicides should be avoided if possible and they should only be used, if ever, in small and targeted applications.

The research also found that those who adopted wildlife-friendly practices such as planting native shrubs and flowers, or digging a wildlife pond, saw more birds than those who did not. Cannelle Tassin de Montaigu, a PhD researcher within the school of life sciences and an author of the study, said, “It’s encouraging to find that simple measures, such as planting native shrubs and trees and creating a pond, together with avoiding the use of pesticides, really make a measurable difference to the number of birds you will see in your garden.”

1. What does the underlined word “halt” in paragraph 1 most probably mean?

A．Stop.

B．Attract.

C．Note.

D．Witness.

2. Why are the statistics mentioned in paragraph 2?

A．To reveal the severe influence of pesticides on birds.

B．To compare the effects of two kinds of pesticides.

C．To convince readers of the importance of house sparrows.

D．To help gardeners choose the proper pesticides.

3. What can be inferred from Prof. Dave Goulson’s words?

A．The ideal places for wildlife in the UK are extremely tidy gardens.

B．The gardens in the UK are so tidy that pesticides are not needed.

C．Pesticides should be prohibited from use throughout the UK.

D．Some countries like France have made urban areas pesticide free.

4. What is the last paragraph mainly about?

A．Alternative methods to keep gardens tidy.

B．Assistant ways to increase the number of birds.

C．Gardeners’ attitudes towards the experiment.

D．Other researchers’ interest in the experiment.

7 . Are you fond of watching films? Does the colorful, natural, or spectacular scenery in the films attract you to travel to their locations? Although many films nowadays use many special effects, most scenes are captured in natural places, which can create lasting impressions on audiences. We have selected four beautiful film locations in China. Check them out!

Xixi National Wetland Park & If You Are the One

Lying in Hangzhou, East China’s Zhejiang province, less than 5 kilometers from West Lake, Xixi National Wetland Park covers a total area of 11.5 square kilometers. It has rich ecological resources, beautiful natural scenery, and profound culture. Rivers, ponds, and lakes make up over 70 percent of the park, which is China’s first national wetland park integrating (合并) urban, agricultural, and cultural wetlands.

Great Bamboo Sea of China & Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

The Great Bamboo Sea of China, commonly known as the Anji Bamboo Sea, is a national 4A-level tourism attraction dominated by Moso bamboo forests located in Anji county, Huzhou, East China’s Zhejiang province. It has been recognized as the largest ecological leisure and tourism area featuring bamboo culture in southeastern China.

Moso bamboo grows all over the mountains in the scenic area, creating a magnificent landscape. The largest bamboo stalk (茎), which has been exhibited at the National Agricultural Exhibition Center, has a diameter of 17 centimeters, with most stalks having a diameter of more than 10 centimeters.

Kaiping Diaolou Cultural Tourism Area & Let the Bullets Fly

Located to the southwest of the Pearl River Delta in South China’s Guangdong province, Kaiping Diaolou Cultural Tourism Area is a well-known scenic spot that also serves as a base for scientific education. The magnificent and distinctive gardens, traditional and simple folk houses, and the diaolou (a multi-story folk residence) complexly joined with Chinese and Western architectural forms are wonderfully integrated with the surrounding mountains and rivers, ponds, farms, and rice fields in the tourism area.

With a long history and profound cultural resources, Kaiping Diaolou was on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2007.

Wulong Karst Tourism Area & Curse of the Golden Flower

Wulong Karst Tourism Area, located in Chongqing’s Wulong district, has unique karst landscapes including three sections and also impresses visitors with distinctive folk customs of the Tujia, Miao, and Mulam ethnic groups.

The Three Natural Bridges in Wulong is a rare geological wonder of typical karst landforms and is home to three magnificent natural limestone arch bridges. They span the Yangshuihe Canyon in parallel and connect the mountains on both sides, forming an unusual landscape of “three bridges sandwiched by two pits”.

1. Who will be most interested in the places above according to the text?

A．Cyclists and tourists.	B．Film fans and outdoor enthusiasts.
C．Actors and geologists.	D．Educators and writers.

2. What is special about Kaiping Diaolou Cultural Tourism Area?

A．It offers a well-known scenic spot.

B．It provides wonderful Western architectural forms.

C．It is a rare geological wonder of typical land-forms.

D．It was on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2007.

3. What do the four places have in common?

A．They are open to special events.

B．They enjoy convenient transportation.

C．They offer unique and spectacular scenery.

D．They are located in the same part of China.

8 . This year, people around the world are lining up to buy electric vehicles even as prices increase. Electric vehicle, EV, demand has stayed strong even as the average cost of lithiumion (锂离子) battery cells increased to an estimated $160 per kilowatt-hour in the first quarter from $105 last year. Costs rose due to supply issues, restrictions on Russian metals and investor speculation (投机).

For a smaller vehicle like the Hongguang Mini, the best-selling EV in China, the higher battery costs added almost $1,500, equal to 30 percent of the listed price. But gasoline and diesel fuel costs have also increased since the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and experts noted that environmental concerns are also pushing more buyers to choose EVs.

Manufacturers from Tesla to SAIC-GM-Wuling, which makes the Hongguang Mini, have passed higher costs on to consumers with price increases for EVs. More may be coming. Andy Palmer, chairman of Slovak EV battery maker InoBat, said, “rising costs will have to be passed onto carmakers.” But EV shoppers have so far not slowed down. Worldwide EV sales in the first quarter jumped nearly 120 percent, said the website EV-volumes.com.

Venkat Srinivasan is director of the Center for Collaborative Energy Storage Science at the U.S. government’s Argonne National Laboratory in Chicago. He said, “more and more people would buy EVs despite the cost of the battery and the vehicle.”

This increase in battery costs could be an unusual short-term change in a situation in which improving technology and growing production have pushed costs down for almost 30 years. Industry data showed that the $105 per kilowatt hour average cost in 2021 was down nearly 99 percent from over $7,500 in 1991.

Experts say battery costs could stay high for the next year or so, but then another large drop is likely as big investments by automakers and suppliers change the balance from shortage to surplus. “It’s like a bubble (泡沫) and for that bubble to settle down, it’s going to be at least the end of 2023,” said Prabhakar Patil, a former LG Chem executive.

The industry has long been awaiting the battery cell cost of $100 per kilowatt-hour, as a signal EVs were reaching a similar cost to fossil-fuel vehicles. But with gasoline prices high and consumer preferences changing, such cost considerations may no longer matter as much, experts say.

1. Why does the author mention Hongguang Mini?

A．To present a fact.

B．To give an example.

C．To introduce a topic.

D．To make an assumption.

2. What will possibly lead to the drop in battery costs in the future?

A．More EV shops.

B．Production growth.

C．Sufficient supplies.

D．Technology improvement.

3. What does the author think of the prospect of EVs?

A．Promising.

B．Unclear.

C．Doubtful.

D．Confusing.

4. What can be inferred from the text?

A．At present demands for EVs beat supply.	B．People concern price more when buying cars.
C．EVs sell much better than fossil-fuel vehicles.	D．People prefer EV mainly because of conflict.

9 . Do you want to see majestic lions roaring, rare rhinos running and colorful birds flying? You’ll find this incredible display of nature in the Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley.

First stop

Fly into Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. This great city is known for its fashion markets and beautiful art. And be sure to pick up some rich Kenyan coffee while you’re there! Then head for the countryside.

Plan your trip

The largest of the three lakes in the system, Lake Nakuru, is less than 175 kilometers from Nairobi. But Lakes Bogoria and Elementaita are equally worth a visit. You can stay at one of several choices of luxurious cabins in the valley. And if you sign up for a trip, be sure to put flamingos, the white and pink birds, at the top of your list.

Paradise

The Kenya Lake System is shallow and alkaline (碱性的). That means it supports vegetation such as green algae, a food source for many waterfowl. Hundreds of species of birds flourish here, using this area as a major breeding and nesting ground. Water buffalo, leopards, monkeys and the endangered Rothschild giraffe also make this area their home.

Other sights

Wildlife isn’t the only natural wonder in the Great Rift Valley. The valley marks a place where the earth is divided far below the surface. This rock separation below ground leads to noticeable features above ground. Walking around Lake Bogoria especially, you will see steam rising from hot springs.

Other activities include golfing, horseback riding and hiking. The fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down, either. The river valley is far from city lights, so many visitors gaze at the stars shining above.

If you are ready for a wildlife experience, don’t hesitate!

1. Where can you buy fashionable gifts in Kenya?

A．Nairobi.

B．Lake Nakuru.

C．Lake Bogoria.

D．Lake Elementaita.

2. Which should be the first choice on your travelling list?

A．Living in a cabin.	B．Seeing flamingos.
C．Visiting hot springs.	D．Gazing at shining stars.

3. What can we learn about the Kenya Lake System?

A．It has countless lakes worth visiting.	B．It’s an ideal place for wildlife to live.
C．Its water is unsuitable for plant growth.	D．It’s famous for rich culture and history.

10 . Some folks spend decades looking for their best friends. I was   ________   enough to find mine in Grade 7 at my senior school –eight   ________   girls.

As we progressed to high school, a couple of girls ________ and a couple of new ones wormed their way in. By the end of Grade 12, the group had more or less ________ into its final form, one that’s remained remarkably ________ for the past 20 years.

Among our many ________ is an annual Christmas exchange. This event first ________ when we were 12. We set it up on the long, sticky cafeteria tables at our school to swap ________ gifts bought with our babysitting money. In following years, we’d ________ a night of it, watching movies and ordering pizza in parents’ living rooms, ________ moving into our own shabby student apartments, into slightly less shabby adult apartments and then into our first   ________ .

At the beginning, we gave each other butterfly hair clips and so on. Those ________ bright mall jewellery and cheerful housewares as we began nesting in our 20s and baby clothes once we started having ________ in our 30s.

Holidays with family can be ________ , but our exchange offered something else:a chance for my friends and me to ________ our own traditions and play at being grown-ups.

1.

A．cautious

B．astonished

C．lucky

D．clever

2.

A．mature

B．teenage

C．fashionable

D．strange

3.

A．dropped out

B．dropped in

C．showed up

D．showed off

4.

A．broken

B．forced

C．separated

D．united

5.

A．secret

B．long

C．natural

D．complete

6.

A．hobbies

B．traditions

C．ceremonies

D．rules

7.

A．caught on

B．took place

C．broke out

D．fell down

8.

A．fancy

B．expensive

C．modest

D．generous

9.

A．repeat

B．add

C．search

D．make

10.

A．instantly

B．literally

C．eventually

D．consequently

11.

A．homes

B．schools

C．shelters

D．offices

12.

A．held on to

B．gave way to

C．catered to

D．adapted to

13.

A．salaries

B．jobs

C．kids

D．families

14.

A．rare

B．practical

C．inspiring

D．cosy

15.

A．create

B．reform

C．apply

D．recognize