1 . Now, a growing number of companies are offering subscriptions (订购) for something most people are used to owning: cars.

Car subscription plans are mainly aimed at drivers who do not want to have long-term agreements for one single car. Many people using the services say they like being able to use a number of different kinds of vehicles depending on their needs.

Steve Barnes uses a car subscription service in Atlanta, Georgia. He says that every time he orders a new car “it feels like New Year’s morning”. Barnes signed up for the service in 2018 to be able to use many kinds of vehicles for different purposes. He says for some activities with his children, he chooses a large SUV. But when he wants to have fun or go out at night, he chooses a Tesla or some other kinds of sports car. But the comfort of such services can come at a high cost. Barnes pays $1,400 a month for his subscription. This is much higher than the $ 900 a month he used to pay to hire an SUV with insurance. Sill, he has no desire to own or hire a car again. He says his subscription has allowed him to drive many different vehicles which would have cost more than $1 million to own.

Some of the world’s biggest automakers are currently offering subscription plans for vehicles. One of them is Ford Motor Company. The company signed a deal last year with the San Francisco-based Monthly subscription service-Canvas. Canvas offers several models, including used vehicles. Monthly subscriptions start at $379 for small cars and go up to $1,125 for large SUVs. But these plans limit drivers to 800 kilometers per month. For another $100, users can get unlimited travel.

Adela Spulber works at the U.S. -based Center for Automotive Research in Michigan. She said that the effects of vehicle subscription services remain unknown.

1. What is the main purpose of car subscription plans?

A．To get people to buy cars more actively.

B．To encourage people to own their own cars.

C．To meet some people’s needs to drive different cars.

D．To reach an agreement with people having a single car.

2. What do we know about Steve Barnes from the text?

A．He is satisfied with the car subscription service.

B．He always likes to use different types of sports cars.

C．He hopes to own another car some day.

D．The cost of a month for his subscription is lower.

3. Which of the following can be inferred from Paragraph 4?

A．Canvas doesn’t provide second-hand cars.

B．There are different monthly subscriptions to choose from.

C．A driver may drive Canvas cars without limitation.

D．Now the subscription services are welcome in San Francisco.

4. What is Adela Spulber’s attitude to the subscription services?

A．Hopeless.

B．Pessimistic.

C．Optimistic.

D．Uncertain.

2 . Gently holding a baby hummingbird (蜂鸟) between her hands, Lattouf says, “Hello, cute little guy. Are you very hungry?” It’s the newest patient at Lattouf apartment in Mexico City where she has nursed hundreds of the tiny birds back to health over the past decade. Under Lattouf’s caress (爱抚), the bird relaxes little by little.

This is often how Lattouf’s days have gone since she turned her apartment into a clinic (诊所) for sick, injured or baby hummingbirds. Most of the hummingbirds are in the bedroom where Lattouf sleeps. They stay there until they are strong enough to fly and feed themselves. Then she moves them to a neighboring room to prepare them to finally be freed.

With dozens of the tiny birds buzzing overhead, Lattouf explained that she began caring for them a year after surviving colon (结肠) cancer in 2011. It started with one hummingbird that had an eye injured by another bird. A veterinarian (兽医) friend encouraged her to try to help it. The bird became her close partner, staying on her computer screen while she worked. “It wrote me a new life,” she said of the nine months when the bird lived with her. It helped pull Lattouf out of the sadness and loneliness she had experienced after her husband’s 2009 death followed by her cancer. Later, friends began bringing her more hummingbirds.

Lattouf says she never turns away a bird. “Most come to me as babies. Many come to me broken,” she said. Some have injuries to wings after running into things or falling from nests. Some get sick because of drinking polluted water from hummingbird feeders, which are popular in the city. Now the demand for her services has jumped because someone put a video about her work on the social platform TikTok that has been viewed more than 1.5 million times.

The city is filled with threats to hummingbirds like constant construction projects that replace flower gardens with concrete. But Lattouf remains optimistic. “We do everything possible,” she said.

1. What do we know about Lattouf?

A．She tried to save hummingbirds.	B．She wanted to be a nurse.
C．She liked to live in Mexico.	D．She used to be a doctor.

2. What inspired Lattouf to start caring for hummingbirds?

A．Her love for hummingbirds.	B．Her needs for a partner.
C．Her encounter with an injured one.	D．Her friend’s encouragement.

3. How has the need for her services increased sharply?

A．She has worked hard.

B．She has shared videos about the tiny bird.

C．More people get to know her services by TikTok.

D．She has accepted every injured hummingbird.

4. Which of the following best describes Lattouf?

A．Brave and realistic.	B．Outgoing and active.
C．Generous and optimistic.	D．Humorous and energetic.

3 . Being a social butterfly just might change your brain: In people with a large network of friends and excellent social skills, certain brain regions are bigger and _______ connected than in people with fewer friends, a new study finds.

The research suggests a _______ between social interactions and brain structure. “We’re interested in how your brain is able to allow you to _______ the right way in complex social environments,” Mary Ann Noonan said, a neuroscientist (神经学家) at Oxford University. Studies in monkeys have shown that brain areas involved in face processing and in predicting the _______ of others are larger in animals living in large social groups than in ones living in smaller groups.

To investigate these brain _______ in humans, Noonan and her colleagues found 18 participants for a structural brain-imaging study. They asked people how many _______ they had experienced in the past month, in order to determine the size of their social networks. As was the case in monkeys, some brain areas were _______ and better connected in people with larger social networks. “These different brain regions are all singing _______ songs,” Noonan said. “ _______ areas are all singing the same song, and when they’re connected better, they’re singing more harmoniously with each other.”

The researchers also tested whether the size of a person’s social network was connected with ________ in white-matter pathways, the nerve fibers (纤维) that connect different brain regions. ________ , they found that white-matter pathways were better connected in people with bigger social networks. “The nerves were more like a Los Angeles freeway than a ________ road,” Noonan said.

The researchers couldn’t say whether social interaction ________ these changes in brain structure and connectivity, or whether the brain determined how social someone was. In the case of the monkeys, the researchers asked and wrote down the size of the animals’ social network, so they ________ that social-group size was causing the brain differences. It can be inferred that a similar process takes place in human brains, but to prove the ________ , long-term studies are needed, Noonan told Live Science.

1.

A．better

B．more directly

C．less closely

D．worse

2.

A．conflict

B．similarity

C．link

D．contrast

3.

A．tell

B．show

C．ask

D．find

4.

A．intentions

B．preferences

C．behaviors

D．habits

5.

A．structures

B．highlights

C．differences

D．origins

6.

A．academic difficulties

B．social interactions

C．personal problems

D．career advances

7.

A．removed

B．adapted

C．replaced

D．enlarged

8.

A．joyful

B．familiar

C．inspirational

D．distinct

9.

A．Networked

B．Remote

C．Respective

D．Functional

10.

A．positions

B．changes

C．roles

D．compositions

11.

A．However

B．Again

C．Therefore

D．Rather

12.

A．urban

B．smooth

C．twisty

D．country

13.

A．minimized

B．drove

C．eliminated

D．demonstrated

14.

A．assumed

B．rejected

C．concluded

D．announced

15.

A．causality

B．feasibility

C．productivity

D．effectiveness

4 . As an actor, you’ve heard it before: Your body is your instrument. It’s a cliche for a reason—it’s true. Just as a guitar player or violinist needs to often fine-tune (微调) their instrument, you need to do the same. Here, let’s break down everything you should learn about body language exercises for actors, as well as why they’re necessary in the first place to enhance your acting skills.

Body language is the most emotive form of communication after verbal speech. You can learn so much about what’s going on inside based on what’s being externalized. Think about how some entertainment magazines often ask a “body language expert” to analyze a photo of a celebrity couple. However legit (合法的) that person’s expertise may be, there are many truths when it comes to body language.

By that same reasoning, think about how much an audience can learn about a character based on the actor’s body language. You can pass on subconscious (潜意识的) information about your role without saying a word. These exercises will put you in touch with your body and make you more aware of what you’re expressing to the outside world. They can help you get into the physicality of your character so that you can understand them inside and out.

Each performer is different and may have their preferable body language exercise. Take gait exercises as an example. How a character walks is especially telling; it’s literally how they move through the world. An individual’s way of walking can also change depending on how they’re feeling at the moment: excited, sad, scared, etc. Have a bash at different walking styles to show the person you’re playing. Besides, you can write the gestures. This one is actually a writing exercise, but it will still come in handy when we construct a performance. Write out a short scene between two characters who have an entire conversation using only their body language.

1. What does the author mean by citing “Your body is your instrument.”?

A．Keeping healthy needs proper exercise.

B．Learning some music is necessary for actors.

C．Perfecting physical expression is important for actors.

D．Improving performing skills needs professional guidance.

2. What can we learn about body language from the example in Paragraph 2?

A．It is presented in various ways.	B．It gives us lots of information.
C．It hides deepest feelings.	D．It is likely to be ignored.

3. What is the benefit of taking body language exercises for actors?

A．Getting into the character you’re playing.

B．Inspiring your greater passion for acting.

C．Having realization of your inner body.

D．Receiving more performing chances.

4. Which of the following can replace the underlined part “Have a bash at” in Paragraph 4?

A．Make out.

B．Adapt to.

C．Try out.

D．Bring up.

5 . The following is the information of some excellent hotels at the famous resort (度假胜地) for skiers in Italy.   

Hotel Ela

£550 per person

The hotel Ela lies in the center of the resort, only 100 m from the main ski lift and 300 m from the ski school meeting point. It is ideal for those who prefer a hotel which is very close to all the resort’s action.

Rooms (2-4 people): Twin rooms with cable TV, hairdryer, shower and WC. All rooms have recently been redecorated.

Hotel Sport

£540 per person

It is near shops, bars and restaurants. The hotel is a great choice for those looking for lively nightlife. The famous bar is just on the ground floor.

Rooms (2-4 people): All rooms are located on the 2nd and 3rd floors and have hairdryer, mini-safe, satellite TV, shower and WC.

Please note: This hotel doesn’t accept groups larger than 6 people.

Hotel Xalet Verdu

£559 per person

It is an attractive hotel decorated in the traditional style and offers comfortable accommodation. The atmosphere is welcoming. It is 300m from the main ski lift and the village center.

Garage: £10 a day

64 rooms: Twin or double bedrooms with shower, hairdryer, satellite TV, telephone and safe.

Villa Cary Hotel

£540 per person

The Villa Cary is a small but well located hotel with comfortable rooms for two people making it ideal for couples. You’re guaranteed a warm welcome from the English owner.

Rooms (2 people): Pleasantly furnished double bedrooms with cable TV, mini-safe and bathrooms with shower and WC.

1. What is the benefit of staying in Hotel Ela?

A．It’s the cheapest of all the hotels.

B．It’s the best among all the hotels.

C．It’s convenient for the resort’s activities.

D．It has rooms with cable TV and a hairdryer.

2. What is the characteristic of Hotel Sport?

A．Guests can enjoy the exciting nightlife there.

B．All its rooms have just been redecorated.

C．It sometimes offers free accommodation.

D．It is the largest of all the hotels.

3. How much should you pay to use a garage for a week in Hotel Xalet Verdu?

A．£90.

B．£70.

C．£30.

D．£10.

4. Which hotel is probably the best choice for a couple on their honeymoon?

A．Hotel Ela.	B．Hotel Sport.
C．Villa Cary Hotel.	D．Hotel Xalet Verdu.

5. Which of the hotels is the most expensive?

A．Hotel Ela.	B．Hotel Sport.
C．Villa Cary Hotel.	D．Hotel Xalet Verdu.

6 . There are some amazing places to visit across the world, so get ready to put clothes into a bag in preparation for a trip away from home.

Italy

Italy continues to delight and no matter how many times you may have visited, there’s always something new to uncover. Discover beautiful lakeside towns near Lake Garda, Italy’s largest lake—it’s also the perfect base if you’re looking to take tours to the wonderful cities of Venice and Verona.

Spain

Whether it’s the wonderful Spanish weather you’re after, or to experience the country’s culture, cuisine (菜肴), art and history, there’s something for everyone in this fantastic place. There are also plenty of tours from Tenerife, with Mount Teide and the UNESCO World Heritage Site (联合国教科文组织世界遗产地) of San Cristeóbal de La Laguna in easy distance for a visit.

Portugal

From the noticeable city of Porto to the beautiful beaches of the Algarve, whether you want to enjoy culture or relaxation, you’ll find it all and more with a trip to Portugal. Holidays to the Algarve are some of the most popular in Europe and for good reason. It is an area full of fascinating culture and history, charming towns and villages and superb cuisine.

Malta

It is one of the smallest countries in the world, but Malta is a huge shock. With a fascinating mixture of history, culture, golden sandy beaches and wonderful weather, it’s a place just waiting to be explored.

1. What is special about Italy?

A．It has a long history.	B．There are golden sandy beaches.
C．It has fascinating culture and history.	D．There are many towns built near Lake Garda.

2. Which of the following country covers the least area?

A．Italy.

B．Spain.

C．Portugal.

D．Malta.

3. Who is the text intended for?

A．People who like to travel.	B．People who like to eat.
C．People who love animals.	D．People who walk on the beach.

7 . Windows open? Fans on? Ready for another water break? For schools across Greater Toronto, the extremely hot temperatures provided some lessons in how to beat the heat—or at least attempt to—without air conditioning. It wasn’t easy. With some classroom temperatures getting close to 40℃—one teacher even handed out temperature meters to see how hot it got—both students and educators were red-faced and bathed with sweat all day.

The extreme weather had some parents wondering if their children should be spending most of the day inside hot schools, and a few chose to keep them home. Very few schools across Greater Toronto are air-conditioned. There are no rules or requirements that schools shut down as the temperature rises.

At Bowmore public school, near Coxwell Ave. and Gerrard St. E, teachers arrive at 7 am and open all the doors and windows to circulate fresh air. The windows at the school, replaced in stages over the past few years, swing in at the top, and out at the bottom to provide better air flow.

“Is it hot? Yes. Is it something that makes us feel uncomfortable? Yes,” said Headmaster Lilian Hanson. Despite that, she said she’d never advocate for air conditioners in schools, which are expensive and would consume the city’s electric power. She’d rather see more gardens, more trees—more natural solutions, more sustainable choices.

“We are teaching kids to make good choices,” she said. “Social responsibility is the key.” Students from kindergarten to Grade 8 seek pleasant places under trees and in the outdoor peaceful garden during the break time between classes and after school as the trees there provide much-needed shade. Teachers also take classes with students out there during the day. And kids do get the message about staying cool. Students are reminded to dress in cool clothing. When Hanson arrived at work in a dark-colored dress, a student asked her: “What were you thinking wearing a black dress on a day like today?”

1. What can be learned about the new windows at Bowmore public school?

A．They can let air in and out continuously.

B．They can let more light in.

C．They can stop the noise.

D．They can collect rains.

2. Why was Lilian Hanson against fixing air conditioners in schools?

A．She thought the heat bearable.

B．The schools hadn’t enough money.

C．The city lacked enough power.

D．She was concerned more about environment.

3. How did the student feel after seeing Hanson in a dark-colored dress?

A．Frightened.

B．Puzzled.

C．Embarrassed.

D．Interested.

4. What is the main idea of the last paragraph?

A．The students enjoy studying outdoors.

B．The school is unfriendly to the students.

C．The school beats the heat in different ways.

D．The students are free to learn anything they like.

8 . Europeans got more of their electricity from renewable sources than fossil fuels for the first time last year, according to an annual report from Ember and Agora Energiewende.

The report, which has been tracking European Union’s power sector since 2015, found that renewables delivered 38% of electricity last year, compared to 37% delivered by fossil fuels.

The shift comes as other sources, such as wind and solar power, have risen in the European Union. Both sources have nearly doubled since 2015, and as of last year accounted for one-fifth of electricity generation in EU countries, the report found. It’s also the reason why coal power declined 20% last year, making up only 13% of electricity generated in Europe.

“Rapid growth in wind and solar has forced coal into decline, but this is just the beginning,” said Dave Jones, senior electricity analyst for Ember and lead author on the report, in a statement. “Europe is relying on wind and solar to ensure not only coal is phased out by 2030, but also to phase out gas generation, replace closing nuclear power plants, and to meet rising electricity demand from electric cars and heat pumps.”

Last year’s COVID-19 lockdown measures resulted in less demand for electricity across the globe. European demand decreased by 4% in 2020, according to the report, which said COVID trends had no effect on the growth of renewable energy sources. Since 2015, Europe’s electricity emissions recorded a historic decline, becoming 29% cleaner, the report noted.

The milestone follows commitments from EU leaders last month to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 55% from 1990 levels by 2030. In the United States, their counterparts (同身份的人) successfully developed renewable energy to overtake coal consumption in recent years. Last May, renewable energy sources were consumed more than coal for the first time since 1885.

“Post-pandemic economic recovery must not slow down climate action,” said Patrick Graichen, director of Agora Energiewende, in a statement. “We therefore need strong climate policies — such as in the Green Deal — to ensure steady progress.”

1. What happened in EU countries according to the first three paragraphs?

A．The use of renewables declined by 38% last year.

B．20% of electricity was generated by renewables last year.

C．Fossil fuels were no longer used to generate electricity.

D．Coal power made up just 13% of electricity generation last year.

2. Which of the following does Dave Jones agree with?

A．Cutting greenhouse gas emissions forced coal into decline.

B．Coal consumption is phased out due to rapid growth in wind and solar.

C．More nuclear power plants should be built to meet electricity demand.

D．Fossil fuels will eventually be abandoned in European countries.

3. What happened after the COVID-19 lockdown according to the passage?

A．The demand for renewables decreased across the globe.

B．Electricity consumption dropped to a historic record.

C．The growth in wind and solar power was hardly influenced.

D．The economy was making steady progress.

4. What is the author’s purpose in writing this article?

A．To compare renewable sources with fossil fuels.

B．To report on electricity generation in Europe.

C．To emphasize recovery in post-pandemic era.

D．To advocate strong climate policies in Europe.

9 . Large amounts of waste, or garbage, are filling streets in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, after protesters blocked a road leading to a landfill outside the city. People in Bancharedanda where the garbage is kept blame the government for not doing enough to protect them from the waste.

One British tourist, Richard McSorley, recently talked about the problem. He remembered how clean Kathmandu was when he first visited it many years ago. “If I were a new tourist, I would be despondent now,” McSorley said, while pointing to a load of garbage next to a city street. For weeks, treatment of waste has been a continuous problem in the city surrounded by hills. The problems started after people in the village of Bancharedanda refused to have the garbage thrown at a nearby landfill.

Biswas Dhungana was one of the protesters. He said the villagers were refusing to permit trucks loaded with garbage to enter. They say government officials have done little to provide basic equipment and effective ways to deal with the garbage. He added, “We have been forced to live like pigs in terrible conditions for several years as the government has not done anything to keep the village clean.”

Last week, hundreds of villagers built a wall of rocks on the road leading to Bancharedanda. It forced about 200 trucks filled with Kathmandu’s garbage to return without dumping their load. It was said that protesters also threw stones from surrounding hills.

Sunil Lamsal is an official to watch over how Kathmandu’s garbage is treated. He said, “I am working to deal with the concerns of the locals in Bancharedanda. But now, garbage continues to grow on the streets of Kathmandu. This has led to increased danger for people living in the capital. In the light of it, the government will soon take further positive measures to tackle the problem, as the environment affects every family.”

1. How does the author begin the text?

A．By listing statistics.	B．By asking questions.
C．By describing a phenomenon.	D．By drawing a comparison.

2. What does the underlined word “despondent” in paragraph 2mean?

A．Disappointed.

B．Dependent.

C．Dynamic.

D．Disabled.

3. Who were to blame in the eyes of the protesters?

A．Government officials.	B．Foreign visitors.
C．City residents.	D．Truck drivers.

4. What is Sunil Lamsal trying to do?

A．Punish the protesters.	B．Meet the villagers’ demand.
C．Stop the villagers’ illegal actions.	D．Urge every family to clean their village.

10 . Once there was a dandelion (蒲公英) living alone by the road. It felt bored and sad all day as no one ever stopped to take a look at or talk to it.

One day, a mother was walking on the road with her baby. The baby was crying hard and loudly. No matter what the mother did, she couldn’t get the baby to stop crying. Then the mother looked down, and she found the lonely dandelion. It looked so lovely in the sun with its white seeds widely open, and more beautiful than other plants around.

The mother squatted down, (蹲下) picking the dandelion softly. Then she brought it up to her baby so that he could see it clearly. When the baby saw the flowers of the dandelion, he quickly stopped crying and looked at them with interest.

His mom put the dandelion near her mouth and blew the flowers up and down. The dandelion seeds then flew in the air, spreading far away with the wind. The mother gave the dandelion to her son. He didn’t know what the plant was, but he knew it was fun to play with, which made him giggle (咯咯笑) so happily.

Now the dandelion knew its value and didn’t feel sad. It lived a beautiful life just by being itself. It wasn’t as beautiful as other flowers, but it brought the child a simple kind of happiness that money can’t buy.

The dandelion’s story tells us that everyone is special and great. We can help others in one way or another. We’re far greater than we think we are.

1. Why did the dandelion feel lonely at first?

A．Because no one noticed it .	B．Because it left its mother.
C．Because it lived by the road.	D．Because it had no friends.

2. Which words can best describe the mother?

A．Kind and honest.	B．Friendly and helpful.
C．Patient and careful.	D．Beautiful and funny.

3. The dandelion felt happy at last because_______.

A．it could travel farther	B．it found its value
C．it was powerful again	D．it had more seeds than before

4. What does the story tell us?

A．Great minds think alike.

B．Two heads are better than one.

C．Rome was not built in a day.

D．All things in their being are good for something.