1 . The Amazon rainforest is as pristine (处于原始状态的) a place as most people can imagine, but even there, the effects of a changing climate are playing out. Previous research found that some birds in the Amazon are experiencing drops that may be related to climate change. Now, new research suggests that as the Amazon's dry season has gotten hotter, some species are starting to evolve (进化).
For the new study, researchers studied 77 non-migratory species over a 40-year period. They reported in the journal Science Advances that 36 species have lost weight, as much as 2 percent of their body weight every ten years since 1980. Meanwhile, all the species became smaller in body size, while a third grew longer wings.
The researchers themselves are unsure what advantage the wing length changes give the birds, but smaller birds may have an easier time keeping cool. In general, smaller animals have a larger ratio (比例) of surface area to body size, so they dissipate more heat faster than a bigger animal. Less available food, such as fruit or insects, in dryer weather might lead to smaller body size.
“Think about a fighter plane. It has short wings and is heavy. It has to go really fast to stay high in the air, so it uses up plenty of energy,”says ecologist Vtek Jirinec, “who led the new study, while a glider (滑翔机) almost uses no power to stay high in the air, because it’s got these long wings, and it’s light.”
For those who wonder why a small body change in a small homebody bird should matter, Jirinec points to how our actions have effects we don’t always see － such as changing the size and shape of animals half a world away.
“We think of Amazonia as a pristine place, full of life, untouched by people, away from deforestation,” Jirinec says. “But it looks like no, not necessarily.”
1. What does the new study find out about some bird species in the Amazon rainforest?| A．They have changed physically. | B．They are dying out due to hotter weather. |
| C．They have a smaller population than before. | D．They have migrated as a result of less rainfall. |
| A．Feel. | B．Need. | C．Give out. | D．Make use of. |
| A．To study how birds speed up in the air. |
| B．To show the advantage of birds’ longer wings. |
| C．To describe how birds' wings move when flying. |
| D．To introduce the difficulty birds can meet when flying. |
| A．It isn't as attractive as it was. |
| B．It is making a quick recovery. |
| C．It is being influenced by human activities. |
| D．It isn't suitable for some bird species any longer. |
2 . One day, a woman walked into a pet store to buy a bird for her Thanksgiving Day party. The guy said, “We only have one parrot. But I think you do not want it because it can talk…” The woman said happily, “That’s great. I’ve always wanted a talking bird.” So the guy said, “Since you are a nice lady, I’ll give it to you as a gift.”
And the lady went home and put the bird on her bed and walked out of the room. But as soon as she walked into the kitchen, the bird started to speak dirty words as loud as it could. The woman walked back into the room thinking, “I can’t have this at my party!” So she took the bird and put it in the fridge. A few hours later, while the woman was eating, she remembered that her bird was still in the fridge. Quickly, she opened the door and found it was shivering. Then she took out the bird at once. She said to the bird, “I’ll keep you out of there if you don’t use that language again. Do you agree with me?”
The bird nodded and asked, “Can I just ask a quick question?” The lady nodded and said, “Yes, you may.” The bird pointed at the turkey behind him and asked, “What did he do?”
1. The woman went into the pet store because ________.| A．there were lots of nice birds in it |
| B．she wanted to buy a bird to make a big meal |
| C．she wanted to buy a bird for Thanksgiving Day party |
| D．she wanted to buy a bird for his son’s birthday |
| A．发抖 | B．睡觉 | C．生气 | D．跳动 |
| A．how the turkey was put into the fridge. | B．why itself was in the fridge. |
| C．who could be in the fridge. | D．why the turkey was in the fridge. |
| A．she wanted to cook it on Thanksgiving Day | B．the bird spoke dirty words |
| C．the bird liked living in the cold place | D．she thought it’s the best place for it to live in |
3 . China has a lot to offer. Do you want to take a China tour? Here are some of our best sellers.
Tour 1 Wonders of China ( Price: $2,699 )
Beijing—Xi’an—Guilin—Yangshuo—Yangtze River—Shanghai
Suitable for those who love splendid Chinese culture, unique natural scenery and more leisure holiday. Visit Forbidden City, walk up to Great Wall, see amazing Terracotta Warriors, take cruise along Yangtze River and ride bikes along Yangshuo country.
Tour 2 Water Town and Yellow Mountains Tour ( Price: $1,409 )
Shanghai—Suzhou—Huangshan—Hangzhou—Shanghai
Suitable for those who like interesting water town traditions and amazing scenery. See gorgeous Yellow Mountains scenery and the prosperous Shanghai, visit a famous water town - Tongli, explore the classical beauty of Hangzhou and Suzhou.
Tour 3 Authentic Yunnan Discovery ( Price: $1,629 )
Kunming—Dali—Lijiang—Shangri-La
Suitable for those who are interested in minority (少数民族) culture and snow mountain. The Stone Forest, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Tiger Leaping Gorge show you the creativity of the nature and the Lijiang Ancient Townand Shangri-La show you the colorful culture of the minorities there.
Tour 4 Golden Silk Road ( Price: $1,749 )
Xi’an—Dunhuang—Turpan—Urumqi
Suitable for those who are eager to uncover the secret of the Silk Road. Listen to the stories about the ancient Silk Road and see the relics on the channel which connected the eastern and western world.
Tour 5 In Pursuit of Kungfu Tour ( Price:$1,509 )
Shanghai—Xi’an—Luoyang—Dengfeng—Beijing
Suitable for Kungfu fans who want to learn Kungfu in Shaolin Temple. Lighten your trip by learning the most authentic Chinese Kungfu at Shaolin Temple, and the Longmen Grottoesc石窟) in Luoyang help you understand the spirit of Kungfu.
1. If the tourists want to explore the beauty of the snow mountain, they would probably choose ________.| A．In Pursuit of Kungfu Tour | B．Golden Silk Road |
| C．Authentic Yunnan Discovery | D．Wonders of China |
| A．Tongli is famous for the interesting water town traditions. |
| B．Beijing and Shanghai are the two common cities in Tour 1 and Tour 2. |
| C．Tourists can experience the culture of the minorities on the Silk Road. |
| D．Kungfu fans can learn Kungfu in the Longmen Grottoes. |
| A．show visitors the importance of some cities |
| B．supply visitors with the information of some China tours |
| C．offer visitors some trip tips |
| D．tell visitors the splendid Chinese culture |
4 . I don’t usually watch TV at night. Last Thursday night, I finished my homework early and
The program was about food waste (食品浪费). It asked cooks (厨师) to make meals from food that people threw away (扔掉). The cooks went to
From the program, I learned how much food people throw away every week. It is
People don’t want carrots when they are very big or very small,
The program showed people that food waste is a big problem. We must
| A．waited | B．helped | C．decided |
| A．activity | B．program | C．competition |
| A．libraries | B．museums | C．supermarkets |
| A．still | B．only | C．ever |
| A．meat | B．fruit | C．cake |
| A．terrible | B．difficult | C．expensive |
| A．buy | B．pay | C．use |
| A．price | B．color | C．size |
| A．but | B．so | C．if |
| A．save | B．share | C．fight |
5 . Intercity Sleeper Between London and Scotland
Most tickets may be used for travel by Sleeper, subject to availability; and a reservation in a two-berth cabin can be made for £25, except in the case of Solo and Special tickets, which include Sleeper reservations in the fare. The price includes early morning tea or coffee and biscuits. A continental or hot breakfast can be ordered if you wish.
Choose from a range of tickets to suit your journey.
| A — SuperApex Only available for travel after 9 a. m. Book at least 2 weeks ahead and travel between Edinburgh or Glasgow and London for the unbeatable price of £59 return. This ticket is non-refundable unless the service is cancelled. |  |
| B — Apex A real bargain fare. Only £69 return between Edinburgh or Glasgow and London. Great value Sleeper travel available by booking at least a week before outward travel. Ticket refundable on payment of a 25% administrative charge. | E — Solo Treat yourself and enjoy exclusive use of a Standard cabin. Solo is an inclusive return travel ticket with Sleeper reservations for one or both directions. Outward and return reservations should be made at the time of booking. The journey must include al Saturday night away. £140—160 London to Edinburgh/Glasgow return. |
C — SuperSaver Available right up to the day of travel and valid any day except these peak days: all Fridays, also 18—30 December, 31 March and 28 May. Departures between midnight and 2am count as previous day’s departures. London to Glasgow or Edinburgh £82. | F — Special Special is an inclusive return travel package for two people including sleeper reservations for one or both directions. It can mean savings for both of you. Outward and return reservations should be made at the time of booking. From £120. |
D — Saver This flexible ticket is valid every day and can be bought on the day of travel. Your ticket allows standard class travel on any train between 10 a. m. and midnight. No seat reservations available. London to Glasgow or Edinburgh £95. | G — Standard Not the cheapest option but available up to the time of travel and valid for all trains and at all times. You are advised to turn up early for travel on a Friday. |
| A．This can only be booked up to one week before departure. |
| B．This is not available if you’ re travelling out between 8 a. m. and 9 a. m. |
| C．It’s the cheapest ticket available but there is a restriction on departure time. |
| D．If you decide not to travel after you have bought the ticket, you cannot get your money back. |
| A．SuperSaver. | B．Saver. | C．Special. | D．Standard. |
| A．Tourism Bureau. | B．Transportation Bureau. |
| C．Advertising Bureau. | D．Finance Bureau. |
6 . Most college students think that there are only two choices after graduation—finding a job or entering graduate school. An opportunity that is often missed is volunteering with an organized volunteer program.
Volunteering provides a year of intention (计划) in a community where recent graduates can learn about the world they are entering, about themselves as individuals (个体) and about their role in this world. It provides intentional time to understand the purpose that drives one as an individual in life. Taking a year off after graduation to volunteer allows students to slow down and really understand where they want their future to lie. Not only this, but students will also be helping others, getting work experience, living in a community and giving back to society.
Volunteering often leads to a job opportunity. A volunteer might stay and work with the organization, shifting from a volunteer position to a paid position. For example, an individual doing volunteer teaching with an organization might be offered a teaching position at their school. Even if the volunteer position does not lead to a paid position, the volunteer should keep in touch with their organization. One reason is that the organization can write letters of recommendation (推荐) for the volunteer’s job applications. What’s more, volunteer experience on a resume could catch the attention of schoolmates from the organization or program who work at a place of employment (雇用). A shared volunteer experience with the manager might help one find a job!
Volunteers have fun together and like helping others a lot. They share a common mission and vision (使命和愿景), continue personal and professional development, and get new ideas about the world around them. They get to know the community, practice their social responsibility, and build their skill set and network with others. Even if volunteers are not paid, they receive these and many other benefits through their service.
1. What is Paragraph 2 mainly about?| A．Why students should volunteer during college. |
| B．What the value of volunteering after graduation is. |
| C．Whether recent graduates should have a yearly plan. |
| D．How to find a volunteer program that works for you. |
| A．To receive a job offer. | B．To find old schoolmates. |
| C．To apply for a new program. | D．To get support when seeking jobs. |
| A．Sharing your future plans. |
| B．Showing your social responsibility. |
| C．Letting others know more about you. |
| D．Catching the attention of your schoolmates. |
| A．To explain what volunteering is. |
| B．To offer new volunteer opportunities. |
| C．To encourage recent graduates to volunteer. |
| D．To discuss whether to volunteer without pay. |
NYC Parks offers a variety of events, programs and activities made with kids especially in mind. Children will have plenty to keep them active throughout the year no matter what their interests are.
Jr. Knicks Basketball Clinic (培训班)
8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.
Instructor: Jonathan Ogeleza
Location: Sorrentino Recreation Center
This instructional basketball clinic will provide an opportunity for youth, regardless of skill, to have a positive basketball experience. Children will have the opportunity to learn and practice their basketball skills through a series of training. This specific clinic is for youth ages 10-12.
Fort Tryon Kids Art: Winter Craft Workshop
11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Ages 5-12
Location: J. Hood Wright Recreation Center
Identify the year-round birds found in Fort Tryon Park and find out which evergreen plants support them in the park. Then, create bird feeders for your home with local artist Jessica Maffia to help birds during the cold winter months!
TEEN Word Game Hour
4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
Instructor: Sidikha Ashraf
Location: Al Oerter Recreation Center
Do you love word games? Welcome to Word Game Hour! Play a variety of word games outside of the classics and build that already impressive vocabulary of yours. If you've never played a word game before, then we want you to come even more. This isn't just for professionals. This is for fun!
Share, Grow and Give on Martin Luther King Jr. Day
1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
Location: Randall's Island Park
In 1958, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. visited Harlem for the signing of his book, Stride Toward Freedom. Join us on Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Randall's Island Park. We will create a community collage (拼贴画) centered around excerpts (节选) from Dr. King's book. Keeping with the essence of Martin Luther King Jr. Day being a day of service, there will also be an opportunity to keep our park clean and beautiful.
1. What do we know about the program instructed by Jonathan Ogeleza?| A．It asks children to protect birds. |
| B．B. It is held at Randall's Island Park. |
| C．It is designed for children ages 5 to 10. |
| D．It helps kids to develop their basketball skills. |
| A．4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. | B．1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. |
| C．8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. | D．11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. |
| A．TEEN Word Game Hour. |
| B．Jr. Knicks Basketball Clinic. |
| C．Fort Tryon Kids Art: Winter Craft Workshop. |
| D．Share, Grow and Give on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. |
8 . 4 WRITING COMPETITIONS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Calling all high school student writers! If you’re looking for scholarships or ways to support your future education, look no further than writing competitions.
Below are 4 writing competitions for high school students. Check them now!
Scholastic Writing Awards
The Scholastic Writing Awards celebrate was created by students aged 13 and older in grades 7 through 12 across the country. You can submit(提交) all kinds of writing works, including science fiction, humor, short plays, and more.
Gold medal winners can earn a $10,000 scholarship, and silver medal winners can earn a$1,000 scholarship. The fee to apply is $7 for a single entry.
Young Lions Fiction Award
To apply for this award, any writer aged 35 or younger may submit a novel or collection of short stories. Each year, a group of experts including Young Lions members, writers, and librarians select the winner.
The winner of this award will receive a $11.000 scholarship.
NSHSS Creative Writing Scholarship
High school students of all ages can have access to this creative writing scholarship. Students can submit works (that have not been published before)in one or both categories (类别): poetry and fiction.
A prize of $2,000 ill be awarded to one student winner in each category.
We the Students Essay Competitions
This competition asks students to answer the question, “What are the important qualities of a citizen in your community in 21st century America?” in an essay between 500 and 800 words. Students must be US citizens between the ages of 14 and 19 to apply.
One national winner will receive a $5,000 cash prize and six runners-up will receive $1,250 each.
1. If you have created a short play, which competition is suitable for you to enter?| A．Scholastic Writing Awards. | B．Young Lions Fiction Award. |
| C．NSHSS Creative Writing Scholarship. | D．We the Students Essay Competition. |
| A．Scholastic Writing Awards. | B．Young Lions Fiction Award. |
| C．NSHSS Creative Writing Scholarship. | D．We the Students Essay Competition. |
| A．A club’s poster. | B．A teaching plan. | C．A school’s website. | D．A principal’s speech. |
9 . Spring is a fine season. It lights up people’s moods and brings hope. When you bathe in the warm spring breeze(微风), what comes into your mind? Let’s see what Meng Haoran from China and William Blake from the UK wrote about spring.
1. According to the passage spring is .
| A．silent | B．useless | C．boring | D．hopeful |
| A．sunny | B．rainy | C．snowy | D．cloudy |
| A．flowers | B．fruit | C．sky | D．birds |
| A．Stories. | B．Novels. | C．Poems. | D．Fictions. |
10 . Summer Nights 2022 - The Blue Room Theatre
Summer Nights is a program of theatre and performance held every year at the Blue Room Theatre during Perth’s Summer Festival Season. Information about some of the shows included in Summer Nights 2022 is listed below.
Conversations with a Fish
Ages: 14 years and older
Dates: Thursday, 27 January 2022 to Thursday, 3 February 2022
Running Time: 70 minutes
Ticket Prices: Early Bird $21.00, Full Price $28.00, Concession (减价票) $23.00
Show Summary:
A fish faces different existential dilemmas (困境) relating to human experience. What happens? You decide.
107
Ages: 15 years and older
Dates: Thursday, 27 January 2022 to Saturday, 5 February 2022
Running Time: 90 minutes
Ticket Prices: Early Bird $23.00, Full Price $30.00, Concession $25.00
Show Summary:
Four students, four girls of colour, four young people just try to get through high school and figure out their place in the world.
She’s Terribly Greedy
Ages: 15 years and older
Dates: Thursday, 27 January 2022 to Thursday, 3 February 2022
Running Time: 50 minutes
Ticket Prices: Early Bird $21.00, Full Price $28.00, Concession $23.00
Show Summary:
20-year-old Ellenore looks at a feast (盛宴), each plate a different future calling out to her － and she wants everything. She wants to wear every dress hanging in her closet. She wants every possible version of herself. Yet here she stands, looking at her future, and can’t choose.
Utopia
Ages: 16 years and older
Dates: Tuesday, 8 February 2022 to Saturday, 12 February 2022
Running Time: 45 minutes
Ticket Prices: Early Bird $18.00, Full Price $25.00, Concession $20.00
Show Summary:
Utopia is a work of anger, despair and resilience (适应力) ... an expression from a young man watching horrors (可怕的经历) unfold in his homeland Afghanistan and across the world.
1. What is the normal ticket price of Conversations with a Fish?| A．$21.00. | B．$23.00. | C．$25.00. | D．$28.00. |
| A．They are for the same age group. | B．They last the same length of time. |
| C．They charge the same ticket price. | D．They are shown on the same dates. |
| A．107. | B．Utopia. | C．She s Terribly Greedy. | D．Conversations with a Fish. |
