1 . As a boy, John Kerr wanted to be a park ranger (护林员).
After several lazy weeks, he drove to visit his family by Yellowstone. On the way he
To say that Kerr stood out in the intern crowd is a massive
From his internship, he
“These are
| A．Instead | B．Anyhow | C．Still | D．Hence |
| A．retired | B．departed | C．graduated | D．resigned |
| A．at random | B．on purpose | C．on time | D．by chance |
| A．helping | B．requiring | C．training | D．hiring |
| A．signed up | B．moved on | C．hang out | D．broke in |
| A．honour | B．understatement | C．relief | D．overstatement |
| A．delighted | B．determined | C．contented | D．prepared |
| A．travel | B．nature | C．drive | D．freedom |
| A．business | B．guidance | C．emergency | D．conference |
| A．turned to | B．went with | C．moved up to | D．kept up with |
| A．encounters | B．places | C．trips | D．experiences |
| A．judges | B．treasures | C．admires | D．changes |
| A．open | B．anxious | C．up-close | D．all-round |
| A．effort | B．occasion | C．imagination | D．adventure |
| A．rich | B．natural | C．urgent | D．easy |
2 . Women are still underrepresented in top academic positions. One of the possible explanations for this is the increasing importance of obtaining research funding. Women are often less successful in this than men. Psychology researchers Dr. Romy van der Lee and professor Naomi Ellemers investigated whether this difference also occurs at the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) and examined potential explanations.
The researchers were assigned by NWO to carry out this study as part of the broader evaluation of NWO’s procedures and its gender diversity policy. The aim was to gain more insight into the causes of the differences in awarding rates for male and female applicants for research funding. The analysis addressed an important “talent programme” of NWO, the Veni grant. “Whoever receives this grant has a greater chance of obtaining an important appointment at a university, ” says Naomi Ellemers.
Van der Lee and Ellemers investigated all the applications submitted by male and female researchers over a period of three years: a total of 2823 applications. Under the direction of NWO these applications were assessed by scientific committees consisting of men and women. The results demonstrate that the awarding rates for female applicants (14.9%) are systematically lower than those for male applicants (17.7%). “If we compare the proportion of women among the applicants with the proportion of women among those awarded funding, we see a loss of 4%,” said Ellemers.
The study reveals that women are less positively evaluated for their qualities as researcher than men are, “Interestingly the research proposals of women and men are evaluated equally positively. In other words, the reviewers see no difference in the quality of the proposals that men and women submit,” says Romy van der Lee.
In search for a possible cause for the differences in awarding rates and evaluations, the researchers also investigated the language use in the instructions and forms used to assess the quality of applications. This clearly revealed the occurrence of gendered language. The words that are used to indicate quality are frequently words that were established in previous research as referring mainly to the male gender stereotype (such as challenging and excellent). Romy van der Lee explains: “As a result, it appears that men more easily satisfy the assessment criteria, because these better fit the characteristics stereoty-pically associated with men.”
In response to the results of this research, NWO will devote more attention to the gender awareness of reviewers in its methods and procedures. It will also be investigated which changes to the assessment procedures and criteria can most strongly contribute to more equal chances for men and women to obtain research funding. This will include an examination of the language used by NWO. NWO chair Jos Engelens said, “The research has yielded valuable results and insights. Based on the recommendations made by the researchers we will therefore focus in the coming period on the development of evidence-based measures to reduce the difference in awarding rates.”
1. Van der Lee and Ellemers carried out the research to find out whether _________.| A．women are less successful than men in top academic positions |
| B．female applicants are at a disadvantage in getting research funding |
| C．NOW’s procedures and gender diversity policy enhance fair play |
| D．there are equal chances for men and women to be admitted to a university |
| A．grant receivers were more likely to get appointments at universities |
| B．men applicants for research funding outnumbered women applicants |
| C．the research proposals of women are equally treated with those of men |
| D．the reviewers have narrow, prejudiced conceptions of women candidates |
| A．The words used in the instructions and forms. |
| B．The reviewers’ preference to applications. |
| C．The methods and procedures for evaluation. |
| D．The vague and unclear assessment criteria. |
| A．Eliminate possibilities for difference in awarding rates. |
| B．Design a language examination for all the reviewers. |
| C．Emphasize the importance of gender awareness. |
| D．Improve the assessment procedures and criteria. |
3 . As the new year approaches, crowds around the world may be expecting whizzes and bangs to light up the sky. The appeal of fireworks could fizzle out with the growing use of drones (无人机) for light shows, though.
Ollie Howitt, a leader of SkyMagic, which used a team of 300 drones to create a display for London’s new year celebration last year, said demand had increased substantially. “We do think it’s going to be something that’s ever catching on, as opposed to it being a short-lived sort of fashion people have suddenly got interested in. Drones are reusable and there’s no fallout. In that sense they’re a very good, sustainable option,” she said.
But not everyone agrees. A spokesperson from the British Fireworks Association said drones could also pose environmental problems. “Suggestions are that drones have less of an impact on the environment, but we have serious concerns about electrical demand and use of lithium batteries which are known not to be all that ‘green’,” they said.
An RSPCA spokesperson said that while drones were a possible idea to try to reduce the impact of displays on animals, there were downsides. “Drones are not without their own negative issues such as scaring horses or crashing into birds, and can cause disturbance to animals and members of the public. It’s therefore important for their effects to be fully considered and measures taken to minimize the chance of accidents,” they said.
Some express the opinion that the use of fireworks and drones don’t exclude each other. The sight, sound and gunpowder smell of fireworks will always provide its own unique thrill.
“We find fireworks work really well when teamed up with drones. But we don’t really see it as a one-replacing-the-other at all. We feel as if it’s just another tool in the chest for how you enliven the sky and what you want to do with the show you’re putting on,” said Howitt, noting that while fireworks give a loud, emotive, big performance, drones offer the chance to tell stories in the sky by using a series of images.
1. What does the underlined phrase “fizzle out” in paragraph 1 mean?| A．Catch on. | B．Wind up. |
| C．Spring up. | D．Cancel out. |
| A．It’s definitely an upward trend. |
| B．It’ll get us to reflect on energy crisis. |
| C．It’s nothing but a temporary phenomenon. |
| D．It’ll fuel the public curiosity about science. |
| A．Promoting the production of drones. |
| B．Diversifying the functions of drones. |
| C．Prohibiting the displays of fireworks. |
| D．Staging drone shows as an alternative. |
| A．Advertisement. | B．Business. |
| C．Health. | D．Environment. |
4 . A couple of weeks ago, my grandfather was explaining his favorite expression, “Nothing is ever easy.” The following day, as I tried to complete my work, I happened to
In our daily lives,we often think that we can solve problems just by taking the time. Besides, we often imagine what can work in our favour but we
If you can
Of course, there should be preparations made to account for expenses or time. Doing so can help you
| A．meet | B．catch | C．notice | D．attract |
| A．exploring | B．moving | C．killing | D．removing |
| A．cleared | B．failed | C．ended | D．changed |
| A．cleaning up | B．looking up | C．turning up | D．making up |
| A．anxious | B．tiny | C．annoyed | D．curious |
| A．always | B．never | C．seldom | D．often |
| A．registered | B．impressed | C．planned | D．promised |
| A．actually | B．perfectly | C．obviously | D．partly |
| A．accept | B．concentrate | C．design | D．challenge |
| A．take | B．listen | C．keep | D．revise |
| A．office | B．hospital | C．college | D．prison |
| A．frightened | B．advanced | C．organized | D．improved |
| A．forward | B．complete | C．achieve | D．quit |
| A．age | B．path | C．plate | D．view |
| A．bee | B．bird | C．adult | D．volunteer |
5 . The Tanzanian writer Abdulrazak Gurnah, whose experience of crossing continents and cultures plays a vital role in his novels about the impact of migration(移居)on individuals and societies, won the 2021 Nobel Prize for Literature.
Born in 1948 on the island of Zanzibar, Abdulrazak Gurnah never considered the possibility that he might one day be a writer. ”It never occurred to me,“ he said in an interview. ”It wasn’t something you could say as you were growing up.” He assumed he would become “someone like an engineer.” In 1964, a violent uprising(暴动)forced Gurnah to flee to England. Unhappy, poor and homesick, he began to write down thoughts in his diary and then stories about other people. Those writings as well as the habit of writing gave rise to his first novel, then nine more.
In almost all of his works, Gurah has tried to uncover the way in which colonialism(殖民政策)has changed everything in the world, and people who are living through it are still processing that experience and some of its wounds. “The thing that motivated the whole experience of writing for me was this idea of losing my place in the world,” he said.
Anders Olsson, chairman of the Nobel Committee for Literature, called him one of the world’s most extraordinary post-colonial writers. He said it was crucial that Gurnah’s roots are in Zanzibar, a place that had people from different countries, and was influenced by their cultures long before globalization.
It is of great significance for Africa-born Gurnah to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, which has been occupied by European and North American writers since it was founded in 1901.
1. What is the reason for Gurnah’s winning the Nobel Prize?| A．He is a Tanzanian writer. |
| B．He suffers too much all his life. |
| C．His rich experience and cultural background count. |
| D．His novels involve colonialism and poor life of people. |
| A．He aimed to be a writer while young. |
| B．His habit of writing contributed to his career. |
| C．He fled away to England for his political reasons. |
| D．His earlier stories were mainly about homesickness. |
| A．Inspire. | B．Persuade. |
| C．Combine. | D．Forecast. |
| A．A Worldwide Novelist Rooted In Tanzanian. |
| B．The Dream Of Becoming A Post-colonial Writer. |
| C．Abdulrazak Gurnah Awarded Nobel Prize For Literature. |
| D．The Influence Of Migration On Individuals And Societies. |
6 . “One day I went to a Swedish friend’s and while we were playing in his room, his mom yelled that dinner was ready. And check this. He told me to WAIT in his room while they ate!” an Internet user shared on a media platform. Consequently, there was a lot of criticism of the Swedes. Many said they wouldn’t dream of being so mean in their culture. Would a host in Sweden really not invite a guest to join their meal if it’s dinnertime?
It does happen, says Richard Tellstrom, a food historian at Stockholm University. He says this so-called “non-hospitality” was customary when he was a kid in the ‘60s and ‘70s. If he was over a friend’s house and it was time for dinner, he would go back to his own house to eat. Or he would stay and wait in another room while his friend finished his meal. Then they’d continue playing.
“Some Swedes think feeding a guest creates a sense of duty.” explains Tellstrom. “And in a society that values equality and independence, people don’t want to put a burden on someone or feel like they owe someone something.” However, it wasn’t a universal rule. Families in the countryside, for example, were more likely to feed guests. People lived farther apart, so it wasn’t as easy for people to go home and eat. The “no dinner for you” policy has slowly faded, says Tellstrom. “Since the 1990s, food has become a new symbol in society. We have open kitchens. People like to dine there and show off their cooking.”
But non-sharing hosts haven’t entirely disappeared, says Mohini Mehta, a food scholar. She admits she had a tough time adjusting to life in Sweden when she moved there in 2020. She was used to cooking dine every day for friends and hosting dinner parties almost weekly in India. She learned that in some cultures, like her own, sharing a meal with someone is a way to break the ice—but this isn’t always the case for Swedes.
1. For what purpose is Paragraph 1 is written?| A．To introduce the topic meal-sharing. |
| B．To release the netizen’s bad feelings. |
| C．To offer a platform to generate ideas. |
| D．To compare some foreign food cultures. |
| A．Particular. | B．Optional. | C．Normal. | D．Unreasonable. |
| A．Because food represents a symbol of social status. |
| B．Because they don’t want to show off their cooking. |
| C．Because it is wildly acknowledged across the country. |
| D．Because their culture values equality and independence. |
| A．By giving examples. | B．By analyzing reasons. |
| C．By providing statistics. | D．By making comparisons. |
7 . Technology is shaping many different areas of the world. One area that has been greatly changed by the advances of technology itself is the stock (股票) market. There are several ways how technology has changed and shaped the present state of the market, and also the future direction.
Apps like RobinHood Trading has made it easier than ever to access stock market trading. Driven by technology, they are able to operate with less cost, seeing a significant reduction in fees. These fees often make casual traders be turned off the idea of the stock market, as low amounts they want to invest (投资) will not be of worthwhile after paying varieties of fees to most companies. This has seen a new type of trader,with a lower amount of wealth, be able to effectively make use of the market.
The speed of buying and selling is now faster than ever. Traditionally trades were done by shouting from one human to another, then through telephones and now the internet. With faster transactions, more trades are occurring, and when market changes are occurring, investors can react quicker than ever. Quicker reaction to new information will mean that the market is constantly changing faster than ever.
Due to the rise of the Internet, information allowing people to make an informed decision is easier than ever to get. Instead of relying on other people’s recommendations and analysis, it is extremely easy to access company reports and see for yourself whether or not it would be a good investment. The information is now more in-depth as well, as technology is able to analyse company data in a more detailed and scientific way to allow you to form a more educated opinion. Many companies provide real time data on the stock markets, allowing you to see completely up-to-date information and see the start of any potential trends allowing you to take advantage of the changing market.
1. According to the text, the stock market has been changed in the following aspects except ______.| A．better investment | B．faster transactions |
| C．more in-depth information | D．easier access to trading |
| A．By referring to a study. | B．By telling stories. |
| C．By making comparisons. | D．By giving examples. |
| A．What advantages the Internet has brought about. |
| B．What future changes will be caused by technology. |
| C．How modern applications have shaped stock market. |
| D．How technology has influenced the present stock market. |
8 . When Deborah hiked cycling to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in New York last November, she
She was certain that the bird needed
Her best choice was the rehab center,
On the subway, no one seemed particularly disturbed by the
Deborah called the rehab center on the way, and Tristan Higginbotham, an animal-care manager,
The staff got the swan back up on her webbed feet (蹼足). The swan even made a
It’s a(n)
| A．spotted | B．founded | C．witnessed | D．observed |
| A．attacked | B．stoned | C．hugged | D．approached |
| A．emotional | B．psychological | C．medical | D．mental |
| A．hurriedly | B．cautiously | C．curiously | D．instantly |
| A．knocked | B．arrived | C．occurred | D．struck |
| A．while | B．but | C．as | D．for |
| A．transfer | B．transform | C．transmit | D．transport |
| A．tour | B．trip | C．lift | D．elevator |
| A．ordinary | B．feathered | C．poisoned | D．fierce |
| A．phone | B．way | C．screen | D．seat |
| A．picked | B．looked | C．put | D．called |
| A．passenger | B．driver | C．swan | D．rescuer |
| A．smelling | B．digesting | C．swallowing | D．absorbing |
| A．pair | B．couple | C．boyfriend | D．girlfriend |
| A．Sadly | B．Apparently | C．Accidentally | D．Fortunately |
| A．until | B．since | C．before | D．after |
| A．disappointing | B．disturbing | C．inspiring | D．bothering |
| A．how long | B．how far | C．how often | D．how much |
| A．bike | B．car | C．bus | D．tube |
| A．assumption | B．conclusion | C．summary | D．combination |
9 . Dad was always full of advice. One of the biggest lessons he taught me one summer was about having a strong
Every time we went to work, Dad was there to watch. I used to wonder
One day we were
I frowned, hoping he would go home. He kept
Other neighbors
The lesson my dad taught me stayed with me: Be professional. If you say you are going to perform a job at a certain time, keep your
| A．work | B．family | C．neighbor | D．academy |
| A．save | B．share | C．earn | D．borrow |
| A．how | B．whether | C．when | D．why |
| A．rainy | B．snowy | C．hot | D．warm |
| A．visiting | B．cutting | C．cleaning | D．digging |
| A．excited | B．confused | C．frightened | D．tired |
| A．pay for | B．throw away | C．turn off | D．try out |
| A．strange | B．thick | C．different | D．high |
| A．ignored | B．forgot | C．comforted | D．thanked |
| A．going | B．pointing | C．shaking | D．disturbing |
| A．hurting | B．cheating | C．killing | D．welcoming |
| A．took care of | B．took advantage of | C．took notice of | D．took hold of |
| A．luck | B．information | C．business | D．advice |
| A．space | B．peace | C．word | D．need |
| A．offer | B．receive | C．provide | D．exchange |
10 . British anthropologists Russell Hill and Robert Barton of the University of Durham, after studying the results of one-on-one boxing, tae kwon do, Greco-Roman wrestling and freestyle wrestling matches at the Olympic Games, conclude that when two competitors are equally matched in fitness and skill, the athlete wearing red is more likely to win.
Hill and Barton report that when one competitor is much better than the other, colour has no effect on the result. However, when there is only a small difference between them, the effect of colour is enough to tip the balance. The anthropologists say that the number of times red wins is not simply by chance, but that these results are statistically significant.
Joanna Setchell, a primate (灵长目动物) researcher at the University of Cambridge, has found similar results in nature. She studies the large African monkeys known as mandrills. Mandrills have bright red noses that stand out against their white faces. Setchell’s work shows that the powerful males—the ones who are more successful with females—have a brighter red nose than other males.
As well as the studies on primates by Setchell, another study shows the effect of red among birds. In an experiment, scientists put red plastic rings on the legs of male zebra finches and this increased the birds’ success with female zebra finches. Zebra finches already have bright red beaks (鸟喙), so this study suggests that, as with Olympic athletes, an extra flash of red is significant. In fact, researchers from the University of Glasgow say that the birds’ brightly coloured beaks are an indicator of health. Jonathan Blount, a biologist, and his colleagues think they have found proof that bright red or orange beaks attract females because they mean that the males are healthier. Nothing in nature is simple, however, because in species such as the blue footed booby, a completely different colour seems to give the male birds the same advantage with females.
Meanwhile, what about those athletes who win in their events while wearing red? Do their clothes give them an unintentional advantage? Robert Barton accepts that “that is the implication” of their findings. Is it time for sports authorities to consider new regulations on sports clothing?
1. According to their research, Hill and Barton conclude that _____.| A．the colour of clothing has an effect on most sport events |
| B．red should be the choice of colour for clothing in sports |
| C．red plays a role when competitors are equally capable |
| D．athletes perform better when surrounded by bright red |
| A．achieve | B．seek | C．keep | D．change |
| A．male birds use different body parts to draw attention |
| B．red is not the only colour to attract female birds |
| C．blue gives female birds the same advantage |
| D．blue can indicate how healthy a bird is |
| A．What Colour Implies More Power? | B．A Tip on Clothing. |
| C．Need to Change the Rules in Sports? | D．Red Is for Winners. |
