1 . The Sequoia National Park in California’s southern Sierra Nevada mountains is best known for the Giant Forest, a collection of 2,000 trees that includes half of the Earth’s largest and longest-living trees. This past weekend, the ancient wonders came dangerously close to being burned by the KNP Complex Fire. But thanks to resourceful firefighters, the precious treasure has been saved.
The firefighters had taken the standard measures of clearing brush and setting controlled fires long before the fire began heading toward the Giant Forest. But they knew more needed to be done. On September 17, 2021, they took the unusual step of covering the base of some of the oldest trees with protective aluminum “blankets”. High on the list was General Sherman, the world’s largest tree by volume. The park officials believed the specialized foil(锡纸)would help block some of the heat from the fires and enhance the natural insulation(隔热)provided by the ancient trees’ thick bark. They were right!
On Sunday, September 19, 2021, the officials reported that the extra prevention measures, which also included 24-hour timed sprinklers(洒水装置)on General Sherman and the nearby park buildings, had worked. Jack Owen, a spokesman for the KNP Complex Fire Information Office, said, “There are no trees that have been burned yet, as far as in the Giant Forest. Firefighters are pouring everything they can into it as long as it’s safe. That area is looking good.”
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the rest of the national park. The KNP Complex Fire has burned through 21,777 acres. Meanwhile, the Windy Fire, which started further south on the Sierra slopes on the same night, has burned over21, 598 acres. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate and allow firefighters to gain control of the massive fires, which are now beginning to threaten nearby communities.
1. What did the firefighters first do to protect the Giant Forest from fire?A.Cover it with specialized foil. |
B.Put it on the list of protective steps. |
C.Set up a fire prevention belt around it. |
D.find out the features of the complex fire. |
A.To stop some heat from the fire from developing. |
B.To stop the fire from spreading. |
C.To keep tree roots from losing water. |
D.To test the survival ability of the trees. |
A.Firefighters are ready to leave the area. |
B.General Sherman is relatively safe. |
C.Nearby buildings have been abandoned. |
D.Some trees in the Giant Forest have been cut down. |
A.Worried. | B.Optimistic. | C.Discouraged. | D.Unconcerned. |
2 . When colds and flu hit, many people naturally turn to over-the-counter(OTC) medicines (非处方药) to push through and treat their symptoms. Although these medicines are easily accessible and widely used, it might come as a surprise to many people to learn that they are not risk-free. A study estimated that every year, 26, 735 people went to the emergency room for problems related to OTC cold and cough medicines.
When two or more drugs are used together, their interactions can sometimes produce unexpected harmful effects. Doctors are typically knowledgeable about possible drug interactions, so it is very important for patients to ask their healthcare providers which OTC medicines are safe for them to use.
It is important to read the package ingredients (成分) of OTC medicines closely to avoid duplication of doses (剂量重复). Cold medicines are typically made up of various ingredients, including pain relievers, nasal decongestants and cough suppressants or expectorants. A person who takes a single-ingredient medicine paired with one of these multi-ingredient medicines can receive an unsafe dose of that ingredient.
While everyone could experience bad effects from cold and flu medicines, some groups —including older adults, children and pregnant women—may be at greater risk.
Older people who are using prescribed (处方的) drugs to treat different health conditions may have a higher risk of drug interactions because of the higher number of medicines being used at the same time to treat different conditions. The aging body is not as expert at absorbing, distributing and clearing medicines as younger bodies are. This can put older adults at higher risk for an overdose and drug-to-drug interactions with some medicines.
The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention do not recommend giving cold medicines to children under age 4. Because of a variety of factors, young children have a higher risk of an accidental overdose and adverse events that could lead to death.
1. What does the author suggest patients do in paragraph 2?A.Ask for advice from doctors. | B.Buy medicines from hospitals. |
C.Take drugs as early as possible. | D.Read the package ingredients of drugs. |
A.To provide a medical choice for people who catch a cold. |
B.To show cold medicines are more likely to cause bad effects. |
C.To explain OTC medicines often have more than one ingredient. |
D.To stress the importance of learning about medicines' ingredients. |
A.They cannot face aging positively. |
B.They are more easily affected by diseases. |
C.Their body cannot deal with medicines easily. |
D.Their desire for health makes them take more medicines. |
A.OTC medicines may not be safe |
B.Tips for taking over-the-counter drugs |
C.How to deal with an OTC drug overdose |
D.Should medicines be available “over the counter” ? |
3 . Humans can make do with scarves, coats and gloves in cold weather. Some animals can hibernate (冬眠) for the winter. A new study finds that reptiles (爬行动物) and birds do something that is similar to hibernation, but a little different. In very cold weather, their body temperatures greatly drop into an energy-saving state in order to survive. The ability to thermoregulation (体温调节) for reptiles and birds is possible.
In Texas, where the city of Beaumont reached a low of 18 degrees Fahrenheit last month, it looked as if alligators (短吻鳄) had died of cold — yet alive in iced-over water. By ensuring their long noses stayed above the water line, the cold-blooded creatures were able to lower their body temperatures to survive the sudden short period of very cold weather. The process, in the case of cold-blooded animals like reptiles, is called brumation — it’s like a short state of hibernating. While in this state, reptiles become sleepy and they can go for a long time without eating or drinking. For example, alligators can be in brumation from just a few hours to months.
Like reptiles and mammals, birds can go into a state called torpor in order to save energy under very cold conditions. “Torpor is somewhere between a short sleep and hibernation,” said Justin Baldwin, a PhD candidate in biology at Washington University in St. Louis. Baldwin studied 29 species of hummingbirds living in Colombia. Researchers found that hummingbirds can enter into deep or shallow torpor, depending on several factors, including their size and weather conditions. In deep torpor, the birds are much more likely to be affected by disease. And what’s more, they would be easily harmed by their enemies.
Some bird lovers want to help the birds when they are in torpor. For example, the Bird Alliance of Oregon offers a few tips on how to keep the birds from danger.
1. What does the new study show?A.Body temperature is important for animals. |
B.Thermoregulation exists in reptiles and birds. |
C.Reptiles and birds’ thermoregulation is unusual. |
D.Body temperature drops greatly during reptiles and birds’ sleep. |
A.They are active in brumation. | B.They are dead in cold weather. |
C.They face extinction in cold weather. | D.They eat and drink nothing in brumation. |
A.They can get enough sleep. | B.They may harm other birds. |
C.They may waste plenty of energy. | D.They may be under threat. |
A.Risks of animal hibernation. |
B.His opinions of the study about birds. |
C.Some detailed measures to protect the birds in torpor. |
D.Other problems raised by cold weather. |
4 . Work-study Program
The Work-study Program gives you the chance to work part-time on campus. If you need more money to cover all of your education-related costs, you may be eligible for this program.
Advantages
·Work experience: Last year, more than 1, 400 positions were available across all departments. The jobs vary from one department to the next, and in most cases, participants find a position in their chosen field.
·Money: During the regular academic year (September to April), you can work part-time and earn $3, 200--sometimes more -- while you take courses! During the summer time, you work full-time and can earn around $6, 000 over 18 weeks.
·Easy access: Applying for the program is easy. There is no need for face-to-face interview. All the forms you need are online; just fill in the forms and email us; we accept no letter or phone application!
Did you know?
At the University of Ottawa, it is not necessary to receive government assistance to qualify for our Work Study Program. You simply need to demonstrate financial need.
You could have one of these great Work-study jobs:
·Student ambassador (大使)
·Computing and network technician
·Marketing assistant
·Sports team manager
·Researcher/ translator
·Writer
And more!
The Admission Section receives and evaluates applications to undergraduate programs, in addition to answering applicants questions.
Phone: 613-562-5315
Toll-free phone:1-877-868-8292(#5315)
Financial Aid & Awards Service Section:
Phone: 613-562-5734
Toll-free phone: 1-877-868-8292
Regular Office Hours: Monday to Friday
September to May: 9 am to 4:30 pm
June to August: 9 am to 3:30 pm
1. How can students apply for a working position?A.By letter |
B.By phone |
C.In person |
D.Via the Internet |
A.get some government assistance first |
B.prove your financial need. |
C.perform well in your studies. |
D.have much working experience. |
A.The students who want to focus on study. |
B.The students who are interested in computing. |
C.The students who need money to cover their schooling. |
D.The students who have graduated from the university. |
5 . Most people agree that honesty is a good thing. But does Mother Nature agree? Animals can’t talk, but can they lie in other ways? Can they lie with their bodies and behavior? Animal experts may not call it lying, but they do agree that many animals, from birds to chimpanzees (大猩猩), behave dishonestly to fool other animals. Why? Dishonesty often helps them survive.
Many kinds of birds are successful at fooling other animals. For example, a bird called the plover sometimes pretends to be hurt in order to protect its young. When a predator (掠食动物) gets close to its nest, the plover leads the predator away from the nest. How? It pretends to have a broken wing. The predator follows the “hurt” adult, leaving the baby birds safe in the nest.
Birds called cuckoos (布谷鸟) have found a way to have babies without doing much work. How? They don’t make nests. Instead, they get into other birds’ nests secretly. Then they lay their eggs and fly away. When the baby birds come out, their adoptive parents feed them.
Chimpanzees, or chimps, can also be sneaky. After a fight, the losing chimp will put out its hand to the other chimp. When the winning chimp puts out its hand, too, the chimps are friendly again. But an animal expert once saw a losing chimp take the winner’s hand and start fighting again.
Chimps are sneaky in other ways, too. When chimps find food that they love, such as bananas, it is natural for them to cry out. Then others chimps come running. But some clever chimps learn to cry very softly when they find food. That way, other chimps don’t hear them, and they don’t need to share their food.
As children, many of us learn the saying “You can’t fool Mother Nature.” But maybe you can’t trust her, either.
1. A plover protects its young from a predator by ________.A.getting closer to its young |
B.driving away the adult predator |
C.leaving its young in another nest |
D.pretending to be injured |
A.Chimps are ready to attack others. |
B.Chimps are sometimes dishonest. |
C.Chimps are jealous of the winners. |
D.Chimps can be selfish too. |
A.Some chimps lower their cries to keep food away from others. |
B.The losing chimp won the fight by taking the winner’s hand. |
C.Cuckoos fool their adoptive parents by making no nests. |
D.Some cuckoos often steal other birds’ newborns. |
A.Do Animals Lie? |
B.Does Mother Nature Fool Animals? |
C.How Do Animals Learn to Lie? |
D.How Does Honesty Help Animals Survive? |
6 . 23-year-old Taleigh Loven walked downstairs to her graduation party last October. She was
Mike Loven, 47, decided four years earlier that he was going to restart his study in Grand Canyon University, the
“There was no real reason for
The
A.expecting | B.enjoying | C.receiving | D.checking |
A.uncle | B.brother | C.dad | D.friend |
A.Imagining | B.Noticing | C.Having | D.Sending |
A.very | B.former | C.nearby | D.public |
A.introduced | B.registered | C.admitted | D.invited |
A.advanced | B.online | C.professional | D.crash |
A.idea | B.doubt | C.chance | D.certainty |
A.requesting | B.leaving | C.keeping | D.preferring |
A.attempt | B.goal | C.achievement | D.surprise |
A.immediately | B.partly | C.really | D.hardly |
A.responsibility | B.experiment | C.recognition | D.school |
A.saddest | B.toughest | C.greatest | D.largest |
A.stressful | B.boring | C.awkward | D.discouraging |
A.plan | B.practice | C.advantage | D.struggle |
A.kept pace with | B.contributed to | C.made up for | D.broke away from |
7 . Henry remembers the day well. It was a day that would change his life. He was sitting at the kitchen table, watching his ten-year-old granddaughter, Sophia, do her homework. She had asked him a question about history and was now
Henry had spent forty years working as a librarian in a school. He was now
After four years, Henry got his degree in history. “
A.pointing to | B.looking for | C.caring about | D.staring at |
A.admitted | B.experienced | C.retired | D.educated |
A.deep | B.soft | C.high | D.low |
A.risks | B.benefits | C.services | D.topics |
A.dull | B.calm | C.active | D.secret |
A.mistake | B.speech | C.interview | D.decision |
A.turn | B.seat | C.picture | D.course |
A.Completing | B.Organizing | C.Planning | D.Preparing |
A.doubtful | B.confident | C.silent | D.puzzled |
A.rarely | B.seldom | C.never | D.only |
8 . Those who make great discoveries must often overcome many challenges along the way — as was the case with the explorer Christopher Columbus. Columbus was born in a port city of Italy in 1451. As a teenager, he loved sailing, and he showed great interest in geography, which inspired him to begin his career as a seaman.
Columbus stuck to searching for a direct sea route to the East Indies by sailing across the Atlantic Ocean. After trying many times, he received financial support from the King and Queen of Spain. On 3 August 1492, he set off from Spain with three ships carrying about 90 crewmen. His adventure was full of challenges: it took longer than expected, they faced the lack of food, and one of the ships was leaking badly, which put everyone on this ship in great danger. The men on board were in panic. Although they faced so many challenges, Columbus managed to keep everyone out of danger with his knowledge and bravery across the ocean. Finally, on 12 October, the crew found land in the distance. Columbus called the natives living on the islands Indians because he believed that he was in the East Indies. However, the shores they had reached were of the Caribbean, not the East Indies.
Between 1493 and 1504, Columbus found more land over the course of the following three voyages. The major contribution of this great explorer is that he “discovered” the New World. His discovery encouraged explorers such as Captain James Cook to explore and discover more vast areas of the world. His voyages opened a new chapter of the Age of Exploration.
1. What’s the main idea of paragraph 2?A.Introduction to Columbus’ first voyage. |
B.Columbus’ preparations for his adventure. |
C.The challenges Columbus and his team met. |
D.Columbus’ discovery of the New World. |
A.strong interest in sailing |
B.support from the Spanish government |
C.rich knowledge and bravery |
D.encouragement from other explorers |
A.Creative and smart. |
B.Determined and adventurous. |
C.Caring and patient. |
D.Kind and knowledgeable. |
9 . During the 19th and 20th centuries, Qi Baishi (1864-1957) was one of the best-known Chinese artists. He grew up in a poor peasant family, but this did not prevent him from pursuing his interest in painting.
Qi was schooled for less than a year due to illness, and he dropped out of school. However, he was too weak to do much of the work and this was why he became a carpenter. As a carpenter, he showed his creativity. He could carve figures of animals, woodblock prints, and sniff-boxes. At the age of 20, he taught himself to paint with Mustard Seed Garden Manual of Painting. He met many mentors who greatly influenced his painting skills through his painting journey, among whom are the renowned artists Zhu Da and Xu Wei. When he was 28, he became a student of the famous artist Hu Qinyuan, and he began to study Chinese painting.
Qi arrived in Beijing in 1917. While he was in Beijing, he stayed devoted to painting. Most of his paintings represented Chinese tradition. Qi’s works are now found in several famous museums, including National Gallery Prague and the Hermitage in St. Petersburg. His works now are the most expensive ever sold at auctions.
Qi got noticed by many institutions, one of which is the Ministry of Culture. In 1954 he was selected as the representative of the Chinese people. Also, in 1956, he was awarded the World Peace Prize by World Peace Council. A college was also named after him, the Baishi School of Art in Hunan University of Science Technology.
1. Why did Qi Baishi drop out of school?A.He suffered from illness and was too weak. |
B.He wanted to devote himself to painting. |
C.He wasn’t interested in what he learned at school. |
D.His family was too poor to afford his schooling fees. |
A.He learned Chinese painting on his own. |
B.He showed great creativity of art since childhood. |
C.His works are one of the costliest ever sold at auctions. |
D.At first he learned to paint from some renowned artists. |
A.His painting style. | B.His painting works. |
C.His achievements. | D.His contributions to his hometown. |
A.By giving examples. | B.By using data. |
C.By raising questions. | D.By following the order of time. |
10 . When we feel disappointed with what might have been or we wish we could change a choice we made in the past, we have regrets.
Regrets can be harmful when we don’t want to accept them. Too many negative (消极的) thoughts and continuous consideration can lead to stress and anxiety. This kind of spiritual and emotional pain also affects our bodies. For example, maybe you didn’t stand up for your friend when someone attacked him by saying something derogatory. You didn’t speak up at the time to clear his name. You end up feeling disappointed in yourself and don’t want to be reminded of that. Or you may remember the situation all too well, but don’t know how to overcome your regret. Whatever it is, you may suffer from negative thoughts or even sleepless nights, thus putting pressure onto your body and mind.
But as the old saying goes, a coin has two sides. Regrets have advantages too. When we reflect (反思) on regrettable choices we made in the past, that’s a good thing. We grow from self-examination and can learn from our missteps. Inspired to be better, we improve on our decision-making so we don’t repeat our mistakes.
Another positive side of regret is that it can move you closer to being your best self. A study about people’s most long-lasting regrets was published in the journal Emotion, where scientists looked at the connection between regret and an individual’s self-concept (自我认知). The results showed that people were more likely to regret not living up to being that best person and thus try harder to use their full potential (潜力), when regrets about their best selves were not achieved.
If you’re feeling regretful about something from your past, know you’re not alone in feeling this way. Everyone has something (or many things) that they regret. However, there are ways to move forward by showing yourself understanding. If that’s too difficult, get the help of a health professional. He or she can help you manage feelings of regret so they no longer hold you back.
1. What does the underlined word “derogatory” in paragraph 2 probably mean?A.Confusing. | B.Usual. | C.Informal. | D.Mean. |
A.Avoidance of stress. | B.Positive self-concept. |
C.Greater efforts to better oneself. | D.Longer time to reflect on the past. |
A.Leave those regrets as they are. |
B.Discuss regrets with the like-minded. |
C.Stop reflecting on your daily events. |
D.Turn to experts for help if necessary. |
A.How to Fight Regrets | B.Get to Know Our Regrets |
C.Why Regrets Are Harmful | D.The Positive Sides of Regrets |