1 . Language is in a constant state of change. British English shows this clearly. Take the word “Cheerio!” for example. It has been a British way to say goodbye for more than a century, but it’s dying out as the English language evolves. These days, many young people simply say “laters”. Or take the word “marvelous”. At one time it was a common British word meaning “wonderful”, but over the last ten years it’s been overtaken by the American word “awesome”.
So how and why do words come into and fall out of fashion? The influence of US culture is only one explanation for why popular words in British English may change or even stop being used over time. “Awesome” is a good example, but also “fortnight”, a term not used in the US, is now falling out of fashion in British English, and in some cases has been replaced by “two weeks”.
New inventions also bring in new words. As old inventions are replaced by new ones, the words which described them also disappear and are replaced. So it’s out with the “Walkman” (a cassette player from the 80s) and in with MP4 players!
Then there’s the influence of social media. Text messages and emails have reduced words for convenience, with something like ICYMI (“in case you missed it”) becoming words in their own right. Where “friend” was once a noun, we now “friend someone on Facebook” and where we used to “love” something, now we’re “loving it”!
1. In what situation do the British use “Cheerio!”?| A．When they give thanks. | B．When they ask for help. |
| C．When they say goodbye. | D．When they meet new friends. |
| A．Returns. | B．Develops. | C．Follows. | D．Falls. |
| A．To show its importance. | B．To talk about its history. |
| C．To describe how it came into being. | D．To explain how some words are replaced. |
| A．It is changing the way that words are used. | B．It is making language difficult to learn. |
| C．It is bringing in many long words. | D．It is making meanings clearer. |
2 . Do you think you are too old to do something? Just go online and
He
John loved swimming. He still tried to keep
John was born in Farnborough on 25 July, 1914. And his
“My parents
However, John didn’t start swimming
| A．change | B．watch | C．use | D．make |
| A．broke | B．held | C．quit | D．put |
| A．carefully | B．proudly | C．correctly | D．freely |
| A．interesting | B．brief | C．private | D．amazing |
| A．safe | B．close | C．fit | D．warm |
| A．simply | B．highly | C．openly | D．lightly |
| A．position | B．belief | C．start | D．success |
| A．humorously | B．angrily | C．finally | D．shortly |
| A．guessed | B．discovered | C．hoped | D．repeated |
| A．happy | B．curious | C．sad | D．mad |
| A．began | B．increased | C．disappeared | D．remained |
| A．taught | B．forced | C．advised | D．reminded |
| A．competitively | B．dramatically | C．comfortably | D．necessarily |
| A．work out | B．take up | C．depend on | D．go through |
| A．found | B．answered | C．supported | D．introduced |
3 . In 2005, Rachel O’Neill, of Rockwood, Michigan, was working full-time as an assistant in an engineering company. While
She was struck by the heavy work done by girls to
Rachel
So far, more than 10 million dresses have been donated to children in 97 countries, including the United States, though Africa remains a focus. The nonprofit runs a distribution center in Malawi and works
“Nearly half of Malawi’s population is under age 14,” Rachel says, “We are
| A．active | B．internal | C．elegant | D．primitive |
| A．load | B．preserve | C．support | D．form |
| A．interrupted | B．prevented | C．persuaded | D．warned |
| A．dresses | B．cakes | C．books | D．trousers |
| A．led | B．donated | C．floated | D．leaked |
| A．set | B．achieved | C．lost | D．had |
| A．flooded | B．froze | C．dived | D．took |
| A．experiment | B．exposure | C．evidence | D．experience |
| A．simple | B．harmonious | C．royal | D．poor |
| A．customs | B．hairstyles | C．clothes | D．possessions |
| A．violently | B．directly | C．severely | D．hurriedly |
| A．apart from | B．far from | C．absent from | D．tired from |
| A．cover | B．charge | C．shelter | D．remove |
| A．Urgent | B．Distinct | C．Generous | D．General |
| A．trouble | B．danger | C．faith | D．silence |
4 . The Internet’s carbon footprint is as bad as air travel. While it is difficult to measure precisely, estimates place it at over two percent of global greenhouse gas emissions(排放)—the same as the air travel.
Information may appear to spread around the world unseen to our eyes, but it actually passes through enormous data centers placed strategically about the globe, which store, organize and deliver everyone’s data. These centers are extremely energy intensive. In the EU, they consume close to three percent of its total energy usage and also require lots of water to prevent their computers from overheating. In the US, about a fifth of data centers draw water from already stressed water sources.
A typical spam email(垃圾邮件)emits around 0.03g of CO2 emissions, though longer messages read on a laptop can go all the way up to 26g. Now multiply that by 333 billion(roughly the number of emails that get sent every day in 2022). That puts all those work emails into perspective. One study found if every British adult sent one less “thank you” email a day, it would save 16, 433 tons of carbon a year. It even predicted that the ICT industry could account for up to a fifth of the world’s energy consumption by 2025.
However, there are measures that we can take to reduce our digital carbon footprint. For instance, you can unsubscribe from marketing and other spam emails and only subscribe to newsletters that you still regularly read. Have regular data checks where you delete old contact lists and other documents that no longer have any use. Keep a clean inbox and delete emails you no longer need.
1. Why does the author make a comparison in the beginning?| A．To present the digital carbon footprint. |
| B．To emphasize the importance of air travel. |
| C．To advise people not to travel by airplane. |
| D．To inform the disadvantages of the Internet. |
| A．It enjoys a wide popularity. |
| B．It has various kinds of functions. |
| C．It causes large energy consumption. |
| D．It has quite a complex mode of operation. |
| A．To draw the readers’ attention. |
| B．To illustrate a certain information. |
| C．To highlight the change of CO2 emission. |
| D．To stress the importance of reducing CO2 emission. |
| A．Neutral. | B．Optimistic. |
| C．Unfavorable. | D．Concerned. |
5 . One day, 12-year-old Sean Redden surfed the Internet and went to a popular chat room. Just as he was about to be offline, he saw a name he’d never seen there before, Susan. Her brief message was “Would someone help me?”
Sean typed back, “What’s wrong?” A moment later he received this message, “I can’t breathe. Help me! I can’t get out of my chair.”
Oh, man, Sean thought. Pretending to be paralyzed (瘫痪) was a bad joke. Then he wondered what if she really is sick? “Hey. Mom.” he called. “There’s a kid here who’s sick or something.” Sharon looked at the computer screen. “It’s not just some game, is it?” she asked.
The message was not a joke. Susan was actually a 20-year-old student, working late at night at a college library near Helsinki, Finland - almost 7,000 miles away from Sean’s home in Texas. While searching the Internet, she began to feel terrible pain all through her body. The library was silent and empty. The nearest phone was outside in the hallway. She couldn’t move that far. Any movement caused the pain to get worse. Then she realized she might get help on the Internet.
“I don’t think it’s a joke, Mom, “Sean said. And he typed, “Where are you?” After a long while, the letters appeared, “Finland.” Sean and Sharon couldn’t believe it. Not knowing what else to do, Sharon called the local police.
Sharon explained the situation to the officer Amy Schmidt. Schmidt told Sharon to try to get the sick girl’s phone number. Texas police called the international telephone operator and asked to be connected to the proper agency (机构) in Finland. The call was put through to a nearby rescue station. The Texas police gave Susan’s address to the Finnish operator. When Sean heard that, he typed, “Help is on the way.”
In a few minutes, Susan heard people running down the hallway outside the door. Suddenly, the door opened. Emergency workers and three policemen ran in. Susan turned once more to the computer, “They are here. Thanks. Bye-bye.”
Four days later, the police in Texas received a message from officers in Finland: “Thanks to her Internet friend. Susan has received medical treatment she badly needed. She is doing well.”
1. What happened when Sean was about to get offline?| A．His computer broke down. |
| B．A piece of online news attracted him. |
| C．He came across a friend in the chat room. |
| D．He noticed an unfamiliar name. |
| A．She fell down on the ground. |
| B．She was too sick to move |
| C．She lost her phone. |
| D．She was locked in the library. |
| A．They reported to the Texas police. |
| B．They called the rescue station in Finland. |
| C．They asked for help online |
| D．They sent messages to Susan’s friend. |
| A．Making Friends Onlines |
| B．Police Officer’s Act of Kindnes |
| C．Help on the Way |
| D．Help on the Internet |
6 . As you grow older, you’ll be faced with some challenging decisions like whether to cut class or try cigarettes (香烟). Making decisions on your own is hard enough, but when other people take part in and try to pressure you one way or another it can be even harder. People who are your age, like your classmates, are called peers (同龄人). When they try to influence how you act, to get you to do something, it’s called peer pressure.
Peers can have a positive influence on each other. Maybe another student in your science class taught you an easy way to remember the planets in the solar system (太阳系). Maybe you got others excited about your new favorite book, and now everyone’s reading it. These are examples of how peers positively influence each other.
Sometimes peers influence each other in negative ways. For example, a few kids in school might try to get you to cut class with them. Your soccer friend might try to convince (使信服) you to be mean to another player and never pass him the ball.
It is tough to be the only one who says “no” to peer pressure, but you can do it. Paying attention to your own feelings and beliefs about what is right and wrong can help you know the right thing to do.
You’ve probably had a parent or teacher advising you to “choose your friends wisely.” Peer pressure is a big reason why they say this. If you choose friends who don’t cut class, smoke cigarettes, or lie to their parents, then you probably won’t do these things either, even if other kids do.
If you continue to face peer pressure and you’re finding it difficult to deal with, talk to someone you trust. Don’t feel guilty (内疚) if you’ve made a mistake or two.
1. For whom is the passage most probably written?| A．Teachers. | B．Parents. | C．Students. | D．Doctors. |
| A．by space | B．by time | C．by stories | D．by examples |
| A．Taking up more relaxing hobbies. |
| B．Helping others who are in trouble. |
| C．Spending more time with classmates. |
| D．Choosing friends with no bad habits. |
| A．Friendship | B．Self-confidence |
| C．Peer pressure | D．Making decisions |
7 . Any creature or person that has both organic (与有机体有关的) and non-organic body parts can technically be considered a cyborg. This means that anyone who has a pace-maker to control their heartbeat, or a cochlear implant (耳蜗移植) to restore their hearing, could technically be called one.
The above are examples of “restorative” cyborgs, because technology is restoring an ability that a healthy human would normally have. More recent advancements in this field include robotic arms and legs, which are controlled by sensors (传感器) to receive muscle signals. Recently, brain implants have allowed disabled people to perform simple computer tasks.
But with these rapid advances in technology, another variety of cyborg will soon become more common— ‘Advanced’ cyborgs. If it’s possible to make man-made body parts which are as good as their organic ones, then surely it will become possible to make ones that are even better.
Possible cyborg advancements that may exist in the future include man-made joints which increase your speed and strength. Advanced brain chips (芯片) which allow you to control machines with a thought. Or visual implants which improve your eyesight or allow you to see colors that can’t be seen previously to the human eye.
However, some people worry that this technology could be dangerous. New ways of exciting the pleasure centers of people’s brains could lead to new forms of addiction. Others worry that it could lead to inequality in healthcare, with the high cost of implants causing the wealthy to gain further advantages over the poor.
Implants which restore the abilities of those who are injured are a wonderful medical advancement. But as physical enhancements that allow people to do more and live longer become more common, the choice will be between combining with machines or being left behind.
1. Which of the following is a cyborg?| A．A pace-maker. | B．A robot with strong arms. |
| C．A brain implant. | D．An animal with a robotic leg. |
| A．Seeing more colors than normal people. | B．Directing people with brain. |
| C．Creating the man-made joints. | D．Repairing the organic body parts. |
| A．The poor could gain new addiction. | B．The wealthy could live longer than the poor. |
| C．Cyborgs no longer need healthcare. | D．Cyborgs could avoid any form of injury. |
| A．A report on a robotic project. | B．A fictional novel on cyborgs. |
| C．A fitness and well-being brochure. | D．A magazine on new science. |
8 . The Yellow River is the cradle of China’s civilization. And flood control and prevention have always been key to the well-being of the people living along it. Now, scientists can better work on these issues by giving the river a digital twin.
The digital twin of the Yellow River uses various technologies, including big data, artificial intelligence, and the internet of things. Devices (设备) set up along the river collect and transmit information to the center. Based on the information, a 3D model of the river is presented on the computer screen. It’s like the Yellow River has a twin that reflects its real conditions.
One big breakthrough in the river’s digital governance (治理) is “smart stones”. According to Wang Qin, a lead researcher at the Information Center of Yellow River Henan Bureau, a smart stone is a water-proof stone-shaped device with chips, a battery, and a signal transmitter. They are buried in important dike (堤坝) locations to record and report the movement of dike stones. “Upon feeling movement of the dike stones, the smart stone sends an alarm to the center for quick response,” Wang said.
“In the past, researchers had to learn the conditions of the dike on the spot by themselves, putting their lives at risk,” said Zhao Xiao from the bureau. “Now the smart stones can do this for us, more safely, quickly, and accurately.”
And in the sky, drones (无人机) are flying. On the routes designed by engineers, the drones become expert patrollers (巡逻员) of the river, looking at its dikes and flood prevention projects. According to Shen Lin from the Yellow River Conservancy Commission, thanks to the drones, researchers at the command center can get first-hand photos and information. “Researchers then update the 3D model according to the changes the drones reported. The newly updated model helps us test our floodwater release plans in case we ever need to batten down the hatches (未雨绸缪), ”said Shen.
Under the water and up in the sky, intelligence systems are helping to protect the Yellow River Basin on all fronts. According to the Ministry of Water Resources, in the future, we can expect to see the construction of an even more comprehensive digital system for this important river.
1. What is the main purpose of creating a digital twin of the Yellow River?| A．To conduct historical research. |
| B．To create a virtual tourist attraction. |
| C．To raise public awareness of river protection. |
| D．To improve flood control and prevention efforts. |
| A．They record water quality. |
| B．They improve the river’s beauty. |
| C．They monitor and report dike movements. |
| D．They serve as markers for important locations. |
| A．Entertaining tourists. | B．Collecting information on dike conditions. |
| C．Patrolling and take wildlife photos. | D．Testing water quality. |
| A．Complete. | B．Basic. | C．Beautiful. | D．Natural. |
9 . Long ago, Mexican wolves were common all through the Southwestern US and Northern Mexico. But as more human activities appeared in the areas, the wolves were hunted until they almost died out. The Mexican wolf is the rarest kind of gray wolf in North America. In the1970s, the US government began a program of raising Mexican wolves and releasing (放出) them back into nature. The program hoped to make the wolves spread back across the area they had once lived in for they are an important part of the balance of nature in the area.
The result of the latest count of Mexican wolves was reported by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). A total of 42 wolf packs were found in the wild, and half of them had baby wolves last spring. Around 90 baby wolves were born in all, and 58% of them survived. The count reported a total of 163 wolves, which is nearly 25% more than last year. Over the last 10 years, the number of wolves has been increasing by about 15% a year.
One change wildlife managers have made recently is placing little wolves into groups of wild wolves. The wolves that are returned to nature when they are young seem to be far more adaptable than wolves that go into the wild for the first time as adults. Besides, new wolves from outside the packs also improve the overall long-term health of the wolves as a group.
However, not everyone is excited about the news. For farmers, who must protect their cattle from wolves, the increase is likely to mean more lost animals on their farms. Last year, 184 farm animals were killed in all. That’s the largest number since 1998.
Now, the USFWS and others are studying the increase in cattle killings, and trying to figure out solutions to protecting both Mexican wolves and farm animals. Bryan Bird, speaking for a group called Defenders of Wildlife, says, “Ensuring that wolves and people can get along is a necessary part of long-term success.”
1. What is the aim of the US program?| A．To call on people to fight against hunting. |
| B．To reduce the natural areas for human activities. |
| C．To make sure the Mexican wolf population recovers. |
| D．To improve the living conditions of Mexican wolves. |
| A．The US program has achieved great success. |
| B．The baby wolves have faced some difficulties. |
| C．The number of wolves has been out of control. |
| D．The Mexican wolves have trouble fitting into the wild. |
| A．Most young wolves are healthier than adult wolves. |
| B．Wildlife managers should take measures to manage wolves. |
| C．Releasing wolves in the wild causes some environmental problems. |
| D．Mixing human-raised baby wolves with wild wolves benefits them all. |
| A．Wild Mexican wolves are short of food. |
| B．Farmers suffer losses due to increasing wolves. |
| C．Farmers fail to know how to drive away wild wolves. |
| D．Wild Mexican wolves are still in danger of dying out. |
10 . I love running but I’ve never been great at the fast stuff. When I was in high school, I was unable to earn a spot on the track team, but our coach handed me the 1,500m, the race that nobody wanted to do; I finished last. At university, a friend tried to persuade me again and again to run the cross-country with her, but memories of being the slowest on the track troubled me.
I was happy to run on the roads at my speed. If I wanted to do a speedier workout, I just ran faster. And I continued to run and train like that for years until I started to run with Toronto Olympic Club. It wasn’t long before speed, interval (间歇) training, and broken miles all became a part of my weekly vocabulary. But I was still slower than everybody else. Speedwork scared me.
Last week, Coach sent me my first workout of this year. I had weeks to mentally prepare for this week, but I was still far from prepared. How much would I be able to push myself? I worried about what the numbers on my watch would show. How slow am I?
On Tuesday night, I parked my emotions and headed to the track. On Friday afternoon, I headed out the door for my second workout of the week, pushing myself up hills and into the wind for some quick intervals. I finished two workouts in Week 1. And I surprised myself; I wasn’t as slow as I had expected.
When you do something that scares you, something that is going to make you better, you’re growing. Take the addition of a few work- outs to my running as an example. Not only did it help me get faster, but also it forced me to come out of my comfort zone and helped me grow.
1. What caused the author’s unwillingness to run the cross-country with her friend?| A．Her busy study. | B．Her shy character. | C．Her early experiences. | D．Her poor condition. |
| A．She received harder training in running. | B．She became competitive in races. |
| C．She kept her happy running speed. | D．She took running as her career. |
| A．Confident. | B．Nervous. | C．Excited. | D．Bored. |
| A．Practice makes perfect. | B．One is never too old to learn. |
| C．Keeping is harder than winning. | D．One needs to rise to the challenges. |
