1 . Humans have many unique behaviors among animals. For example, we have a formal language that permits communication about things that exist in the past, present, and future. Yet we share at least one emotion with many other species fear.
To really understand our fears we have to go further to study how animals long before humans came into being assessed (评估) and managed predation (捕食) risk in the wild. All animals, past and present, must assess life-threatening predation risks (风险) and make decisions to avoid or otherwise manage those risks. It is a proper balance: being too fearful is costly if fear means that you miss out on getting food, mates, or other important resources. However, being too brazen could end very poorly indeed. It is the context that influences all decisions. If they’re hungry, it’s wise to take more risks or they will go hungry. And, if they’re powerful and can steal food from others at will, perhaps it’s OK to be a bit more careful. Successful individuals are those that make right assessment, and because of this, leave more descendants.
Natural expressions of fear influence the structure of ecological communities, and the removal of predators changes entire ecosystems. To manage predation risks, animals modify(调整) their activity patterns, habitat selection, and their diet. Fear of predators can also reduce an individual’s reproductive(繁殖)success. All of these fear-driven modifications can have a great influence on both the environment and the diversity of many species. Fear, as it turns out, is an essential part of healthy ecosystems and helps keep biodiversity.
Fear is a natural emotion, and that it’s impossible to completely avoid it. It is comforting to know that fear comes from a long line of ancestors, both human and nonhuman. It is a compass(指南针)that, when used I properly, guides us away from danger and toward opportunity.
1. What do we know about animals’ risk assessment and management according to paragraph 2?| A．Animals are too fearful to make right assessments. |
| B．Animals will fail to get food when they are fearful. |
| C．Animals have to make proper decisions based on different situations. |
| D．Animals which arc more fearful are more likely to make right assessment. |
| A．brave | B．afraid | C．hungry | D．strong |
| A．The ways animals manage fear |
| B．The influence fear has on ecosystem |
| C．The approaches to keeping a healthy ecosystem |
| D．The problems fear brings about to the ecosystem |
| A．Fear from Our Deep Past | B．Survival of the bravest |
| C．Emotion from human and nonhuman. | D．Path to risk management |
 | Hello, I’m Anna Green. I’m a student at Star Middle School. I’m in Class Two. My parents are teachers. I have a friend in my class. His name is Jackson Smith. He likes black. Look! He has a black cup and three black pens. |
 | My name is Alice. Jones is my last name. I’m at Ziyang Middle School. Yellow is my favorite color. I have a nice family. Jack and Tom are my parents. Scot is my grandfather. And I have a sister Grace. We like the same color. |
 | Hi! I’m Dave Brown. I’m an English boy. Now I live with my uncle and aunt in China. They have a daughter May and a son Peter. Peter likes drawing very much. Here is picture. Look! A black dog is in it. |
| A．Class One. | B．Class Two. | C．Class Three. | D．Class Four. |
| A．Three. | B．Four. | C．Five. | D．Six. |
| A．A brown cat. | B．A black cat. | C．A brown dog. | D．A black dog. |
3 . In general, people talk about two groups of colors: warm colors and cool colors. Researchers in psychology think that there are also two groups of people: people who prefer warm colors and people who prefer cool colors.
The warm colors are red, orange and yellow. Where there are warm colors and a lot of light, people usually want to be active. People think that red, for example, is exciting. Sociable people, who like to be with others, like red. The cool colors are green, blue and violet. These colors, unlike warm colors, are relaxing. Where there are cool colors, people are usually quiet. People who like to spend time alone often prefer blue.
Red may be exciting, but one researcher says that time seems to pass more slowly in a room with warm colors than in a room with cool colors. He suggests that a warm color, such as red or orange is a good color for a living room or restaurant. People who are relaxing or eating do not want time to pass quickly. Cool colors are better for offices or factories if the people who are working there want time to pass quickly. Researchers do not know why people think some colors are warm and other colors are cool.
However, almost everyone agrees that red, orange, and yellow are warm and that green, blue, and violet are cool. Perhaps warm colors remind people of warm days and the cool colors remind them of cool days. Because in the north the sun is higher during summer, the hot summer sunlight appears yellow.
1. Which of the following colors belong to cool colors?| A．Blue, violet and green. | B．Yellow, green and violet. |
| C．Black, blue and red . | D．Brown, white and orange. |
| A．Sociable people like warm colors. |
| B．Cool colors can make people relaxed. |
| C．People who like to be spend time alone don’t like blue. |
| D．Where there are warm colors, people want to be active. |
| A．Red or orange for offices. | B．Orange for dining-rooms. |
| C．Blue for bedrooms. | D．Red for factories. |
| A．Two Groups of Colors. | B．Sociable People Like Warm Colors. |
| C．Places and Colors . | D．Colors and People. |
4 . Farmers and hunters are calling for an extension (延期) to the Victorian duck hunting season, saying certain species are doing great harm to crops and waterways and need to be controlled. This season runs from 8:00 am today and will end in 20 days, down from the usual 12 weeks, with a bag limit of five listed game ducks per day.
Wayne Shields grows leafy greens on the Mornington Peninsula and he said the decision to reduce the duck hunting season would take its toll on farmers. “The wood ducks are the ones causing all of the damage; the black ducks are no problem around here. The wood ducks come in at night and they just clean me out completely and they’ve done it a number of times over a number of years,” he said.
Mr. Shields and his wife, Natasha, run Peninsula Fresh Organics and he said there was nothing he could do to stop the invasion (入侵). “I nearly went broke a few years ago. Back then I was planting 10,000 lettuce (生菜) a week and they would quite happily eat 10,000 lettuce a week.” Due to the damage caused by the wood ducks, Mr. Shields said there should be a year-round open season on the wood ducks and farmers should be allowed to shoot birds.
Professor Richard Kingsford, Director of the Centre for Ecosystem Science at UNSW, said although the wood ducks ate crops, extending the duck season may not achieve what farmers wanted. He is calling on the government to invest more in research to address the threat certain species of waterbirds caused for some farmers, so other nonlethal (非致命的) ways to destroy the birds can be found.
1. How is this year’s duck hunting season different?| A．It is put off. | B．It is cut short. |
| C．It is about five species. | D．It takes place mainly on farms. |
| A．Make way for. | B．Keep an eye on. |
| C．Cause damage to. | D．Take control of. |
| A．The invasion of the black ducks. |
| B．The difficulty of keeping business. |
| C．The negative influence of the hunting season. |
| D．The daytime trouble caused by the wood ducks. |
| A．Scientifically managing them. |
| B．Encouraging hunters to catch them. |
| C．Extending the duck hunting season. |
| D．Using deadly ways to drive them away. |
5 . Pick-your-own farms are set for a post-lockdown boom this summer, as people look to support local businesses and spend more time outdoors. Here are four of our favorites.
Parkside Farm, Enfield
Juicy blackberries, and strawberries are the stars of the show at this pick-your-own place on the northern edge of London. One key selling point is the “table-top” strawberry-growing system, which means plants are grown in places at waist height — no more bending down in the dirt to pick your berries. Parkside is also one of the few farms accessible without a car, as long as you don’t mind a walk — it’s 25 minutes from Gordon Hill station.
Craigie’s Farm, Scotland
Just outside Edinburgh, Craigie’s Farm is bursting with produce including cherries, peas, broad beans and, perhaps surprisingly, sunflowers. The onsite shop, deli and cafe have a lot more to offer besides fruits and vegetables — you can pick up homemade jams, meat, cheese and an apple press for making your own juice. There are activities for children too, including a Nature Detective Trail involving encounters with sheep and goats.
Hewitts Farm, Kent
This family-run farm in Kent offers everything from spinach to apples and blackberries during its pick-your-own season, which runs from June to October (for Halloween pumpkins). There’s also a shop selling farm-grown and local produce, as well as free tractor rides for youngsters on Sundays during the summer.
Bellis Brothers Farm, Wrexham
This farm in North Wales started growing strawberries back in 1860 and has operated as a pick-your-own since 1967. More fruits have been added since then, but it’s still mostly known for its strawberries. Pickers can download Bellis family strawberry recipes from the farm’s website, including those for jams and a baked strawberry cheesecake.
1. Which of the following is TRUE about Parkside Farm?| A．You can enjoy sunflowers in the sunshine. |
| B．You can pick berries without bending down. |
| C．You need not worry about getting dirty on the farm. |
| D．You must drive there due to its long distance from the station. |
| A．Parkside Farm. | B．Craigie’s Farm. |
| C．Hewitts Farm. | D．Bellis Brothers Farm. |
| A．Business. | B．Books. | C．Sports. | D．Travel. |
Venice is in the northeast of Italy. It was built on small islands in saltwater lakes more than 1,500 years ago. It is a city with no cars and people travel by boat. There are 117 waterways and more than 400 bridges that can guide you to any place you want to go.
Los Angeles
It was founded in 1781. It is now the second largest city in the United States. It is famous for Hollywood, which is the oldest film industry of the world. It is also the home of Disneyland.
Budapest
The population of Budapest is about 1.7 million and the city is a very popular place for tourists. Visitors like to take boat rides along the Danube (多瑙河). Budapest is known for its exciting nightlife. The best time to visit Budapest is summer.
Singapore City
It is the capital of Singapore. For many tourists, the city is a wonderful place in Southeast Asia. It has a night zoo called “Night Safari”. People can watch lions, tigers and foxes there.
1. How do people travel around in Venice?| A．By boat. | B．By car. | C．By train. | D．By bus. |
| A．Spring. | B．Summer. | C．Autumn. | D．Winter. |
| A．A storybook. | B．A dictionary. |
| C．A travel guidebook. | D．A book review. |
7 . Have you seen bees at work and stopped to wonder how smart they are? Results of a recent experiment prove that bees are clever enough to
Behavior
Nigel Raine, PhD, from Royal Holloway, University of London, has always been interested in finding out why animals behave as they do. He is also interested in bees. Therefore, it turned out to be not a
A(n)
Flowers make pollen (花粉), and when bees visit them, they
They completed the experiment on the roof of Queen Mary, using
Travelling salesman
The problem that the bee solved is similar to a math puzzle called the “travelling salesman problem”. A salesman who goes to
Scientists are very interested in how they do this. It would help us to understand how pollen is moved around.
| A．waste | B．save | C．devote | D．have |
| A．disappointment | B．specialty | C．joy | D．surprise |
| A．takes | B．operates | C．installs | D．purchases |
| A．easier | B．harder | C．shorter | D．smoother |
| A．gather | B．produce | C．draw | D．carry |
| A．make | B．start | C．examine | D．continue |
| A．artificial | B．brightly-coloured | C．scented | D．fresh |
| A．pollen | B．nectar | C．seed | D．food |
| A．convenient | B．secret | C．new | D．specific |
| A．surprise | B．embarrassment | C．delight | D．regret |
| A．various | B．distant | C．interesting | D．business |
| A．get over | B．figure out | C．count down | D．round off |
| A．trick | B．deal | C．calculation | D．experiment |
| A．However | B．In addition | C．Therefore | D．After all |
| A．cause | B．hate | C．reduce | D．suffer |
8 . Gelje Sherpa was leading a Chinese climber up Mount Qomolangma when he spotted a Malaysian climber in need of help, and the two men then abandoned the summit (顶峰) in order to rescue the Malaysian climber. They were in the “death zone”, an area near the summit of Mount Qomolangma where temperatures are extremely low and where there isn’t enough oxygen to breathe.
The Malaysian climber had “nothing” and was on the brink (边缘) of death. Gelje recalled that no one was helping him, no friends, no oxygen, no Sherpas with him and no guides. Stopping at an altitude where the body was rapidly deteriorating (恶化) and where many deaths occur was quite dangerous for him. However, other climbers and guides just focused on the summit, so that they didn’t notice the Malaysian climber’s state.
According to Nepali officials, 12 people have died, and five are missing on Qomolangma as the spring climbing season comes to an end. Gelje, the Sherpa, said there were a few likely reasons why this season has been so deadly. The weather has been poor and extremely cold, and some climbers lack experience or sufficient training for such a high altitude.
Gelje was guiding a Chinese climber to the summit when he made the decision that they would abandon their journey to save the Malaysian climber.
It was nearly an impossible task: Gelje had to secure the climber to his back and carry him down 600 meters for about six hours before another guide joined the rescue. They then took turns carrying the climber, wrapped in a sleeping mat, sometimes having to drag him through the snow, before reaching a helicopter that carried them down to base camp.
The rescue, which took place on May 18, 2023, was massively challenging. Gelje has previously carried out more than 55 rescues during his work as a guide, some very long operations, but he said the rescue was the hardest in his life.
1. When did Gelje meet the climber in danger?| A．After reaching the summit. | B．During the rest in the “death zone”. |
| C．On the way to the top of the mount. | D．During the journey back to base camp. |
| A．They didn’t know the climber. | B．They were at a dangerous altitude. |
| C．They lacked experience of helping people. | D．They only cared about their arrival at the summit. |
| A．He’s an experienced coach. | B．He’s careful and skilled at climbing. |
| C．He s a rescue worker on Qomolangma. | D．He’s irresponsible for the climber he led. |
| A．A Hard Rescue for a Climber | B．A Difficult Task from a Guide |
| C．A “Death Zone” Blocking Climbers | D．A Sad Decision to Give Up Climbing |
9 . Libraries are places to preserve cultural heritage, develop information resources and carry out social education. Let’s look at some of the most beautiful libraries in the world.
Vennesla Library and Culture House, Norway
The library is one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. Opened in 2011, this library is an important site for concerts, theatrical performances and film screenings. The design of the library is unique. The building is supported by 27 laminated (层压的) wood arches that hold the roof up.
Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, Italy
The library is one of the largest and most important libraries in Italy. It preserves one of the most important collections of Greek, Latin and Asian manuscripts (手稿) in the entire world. Some of them are the most precious pieces. The library specializes in Venetian history and classic philology. Its collection of antique maps is also very significant.
Stacja Kultura, Poland
Thanks to a recent restoration, a station that was once in ruins underwent an architectural change. The library might seem unremarkable from the outside, but the innovative project and its division into a train station, public library and cultural center have certainly made this building worth a visit.
Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, United States
The library is the main source of literary archives (档案), ancient manuscripts and rare books at Yale University, and it’s visited by students and researchers from around the world. Completed in 1963, the library is home to the Bollingen Prize for Poetry which is awarded biennially, and the Windham-Campbell Prizes which are awarded annually for fiction, literary essays, poetry, and theater.
1. Which library will attract people interested in the stage?| A．Vennesla Library and Culture House. | B．Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana. |
| C．Stacja Kultura. | D．Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library. |
| A．Its architecture. | B．Its collection. | C．Its location. | D．Its original owner. |
| A．They have a long history. | B．They are favored by movie lovers. |
| C．They hold some precious treasures. | D．They are the most important libraries. |
10 . Getting rid of old tyres has long been a problem. Most are thrown into landfills or piled up in storage. Energy recovery is another common method. This involves burning tyres to generate electricity or heat for industries, but that produces planet warming pollution; or we use them to repair roads, but chemicals from them might pollute the ground.
Some firms, therefore, have begun exploring an alternative. One such firm is Wastefront, which owns a big tyre-recycling plant in north-east England. In a couple of years, it will be able to turn 8 million old tyres into new products, including a black liquid called TDO (轮胎衍生油).
The process works by deconstructing a tyre into steel, rubber, and carbon black (炭黑). After tearing down the steel, the remaining material is exposed to high temperatures in the absence of air to make the rubber change into a mix of hydrocarbon gases, and then they’re removed. What is left behind is pure carbon black. Once the removed gases cool down, a part of them liquefies into TDO. The remaining gases are to be burned to fuel the process. This creates a closed-cycle system that prevents emissions (排放).
The carbon black can be reused to make new tyres. That is of interest to tyre-makers because it helps efforts to become carbon neutral-achieving a balance between the amounts of carbon dioxide produced and the carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere. Producing new carbon black requires burning heavy oil or coal, which lets off plenty of greenhouse gases
The recovered TDO is well-suited for making diesel (柴油). While not completely carbon-neutral, it does produce an 80-90% reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide, compared with the conventional fuel. The future market for such cleaner fuels will remain large, even though electric vehicles are on the rise. Fossil-fuelled vehicles will exist for decades, particularly the big burners of diesel-trucks, which are harder to electrify. The fuel is also needed by trains and ships. So, anything that helps clean up overall emissions is useful—especially if it also eases a mountainous waste problem.
1. What’s the purpose of the first paragraph?| A．To analyze causes. | B．To present problems |
| C．To reach solutions. | D．To make comparisons |
| A．Air boosts the burning of the old tyres. |
| B．The remaining gases are emitted into the air. |
| C．Pure carbon black is an unprocessed substance. |
| D．TDO comes from the removed hydrocarbon gases. |
| A．Diesel made from TDO. | B．Clean electric energy. |
| C．Carbon-neutral process | D．Recovered TDO from old tyres. |
| A．The Problems of Burning Old Tyres. |
| B．The Black Liquid Called TDO. |
| C．The System Preventing Emissions |
| D．The Alternative to Tyre-recycling. |
