1 . Rivers are very important. Humans rely on them for food and water. But rivers can destroy things, too. They can flood, or rise over their banks, making the water run into the nearby land. Floods can also kill humans and wildlife. However, floods are not always bad. Some ecosystems need them every once in a while.
Flooding can not only harm animals but also destroy habitats. For example, a flood in Australia in 2022 caused massive animal habitat loss. Flood waters can pick up dirt (泥土) from riverbanks, which makes the water dirty. Too much dirt will clog rivers and streams, preventing the river from flowing. Sometimes flood waters can carry pollution to the sea and harm marine life. In addition, flood waters can carry disease, including hepatitis A (甲肝) and cholera (霍乱) .
However, not everything about floods is bad. Sometimes they bring new life to ecosystems. Flood waters carry nutrients to the nearby land. Over time, the water dries up and leaves behind particles (微粒) of dirt and mud. The particles are called sediment (沉淀物) which can be good due to its ability to improve the dirt and helps plants grow. Floods are important to some animals as well. For instance, some animals see floods as a sign that it is time to mate or migrate. Floods leave sediment on river beds where baby fish can grow and carry nutrients for small animals in the water to eat. Moreover, in dry seasons, water might dry up, but floods help refill the wetlands, keeping the ecosystem going.
Floods are a part of nature. They can destroy living things and the environment. But some ecosystems need floods to survive.
1. What's the possible meaning of the underlined word “clog” in Paragraph 2?| A．Become. | B．Pollute. | C．Block. | D．Develop. |
| A．Nutrients carried by floods can make soil richer. |
| B．Floods make all the animals migrate more easily. |
| C．Tiny fish going with floods feed some animals. |
| D．Floods can improve the dirt and help plants grow. |
| A．The way in which floods feed animals. | B．The benefits of floods to ecosystems. |
| C．An effective means of improving soil. | D．The reason for people's appreciating floods. |
| A．The Many Effects of Flooding | B．The Secret of Flooding |
| C．Floods-Everything Is So Bad | D．Floods-a Part of Nature |
2 . Adding to the achievements of a remarkable year, Taylor Swift has been named Time magazine's Person of the Year for 2023.
Already a superstar before 2023, Swift's career has reached new heights thanks to the beginning of her Eras Tour that brought her 3. 5-hour performance to 66 shows in 23 cities across North America, Argentina and Brazil. Promoted by her tour, Swift has been named the most-streamed female artist in the history of Spotify and Apple Music. According to Billboard, the tour made about$900 million (about 6. 4 billion yuan) in 2023. In addition, the tour's movie Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour became the biggest concert movie of all time, taking more than $250 million globally.
As she was declared (宣布) a billionaire by Bloomberg in November, a hidden “Taylor Swift economy” also promoted sales for business owners across the U. S. From soaps to a cruise inspired by her different “eras”, interest in Swift-related products went way up.
Apart from her financial contributions, Swift made a significant cultural impact by taking back control of her music. In 2019, her old record label, Big Machine, sold the master tapes of her first six albums (专辑) to Scooter Braun. The sale meant that she didn't have the rights to the albums. In response to this, Swift began re-recording her first six albums, tagging (加标签于) them “Taylor's Version”. This move stressed her belief that artists deserve to own their work. “It's all in how you deal with loss,” she told Time. “I respond to extreme pain by resisting.”
Heading into 2024, Swift will start the Eras Tour again in Japan and Australia. As USA Today noted, “Her current top has been a long time coming, but it may also be just beginning.”
1. What do we know about Taylor Swift?| A．She broke a new record on her tour. | B．She toured South America before 2023. |
| C．Her achievements received great recognition. | D．Her performance began with the Apple Music. |
| A．She proved herself to be an artist. | B．She learned to make some products. |
| C．She got rich and regained album rights. | D．She sold her master tapes to a company. |
| A．She will end her music career. | B．She will continue her Eras Tour. |
| C．She will reach her top in Japan. | D．She will make a record in Australia. |
| A．Admirable. | B．Uncaring. | C．Doubtful. | D．Critical. |
3 . There’s a new AI bot: ChatGPT, and you’d better pay attention, even if you aren’t into artificial intelligence. The tool is an AI chatbot system that OpenAI released in November 2022 to show off and test what a very large, powerful AI system can achieve.
ChatGPT remembers the thread of your dialogue, using previous questions and answers to inform its next responses. It derives its answers from huge volumes of information on the Internet. ChatGPT is built on top of the OpenAI GPT-3 family of large language models and is fine-tuned (a method of transfer learning) using both supervised and reinforcement learning (监督和强化学习).
You can ask ChatGPT anything, like explaining physics, asking for birthday party ideas and getting programming help. Perhaps it’s not smart enough to replace all humans yet, but it can be creative, and its answers can sound downright authoritative. A few days after its launch, more than 1 million people were trying out ChatGPT. UBS analyst Lloyd Walmsley estimated in February 2023 that ChatGPT reached 100 million monthly users in January, accomplishing in 2 months what took TikTok about 9 months and Instagram two and a half years.
ChatGPT is free to use at the moment because it is still in its research phase. But when too many people hop onto the server, it overloads and can’t process your request. It just means you should try visiting the site at a later time when fewer people are trying to access it. If you want to skip the wait and have reliable access, there is an option for you. As of Feb. 1, 2023, OpenAI has a ChatGPT pro plan, ChatGPT Plus, which allows users to have general access even during peak times. This service does come at a cost of $20/month.
However, ChatGPT can not replace Google. ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence robot that provides solutions to your questions, but Google is a search engine in which you can search for as much information as possible. ChatGPT has limited knowledge due to its programming but Google has unlimited knowledge which is updated every day.
1. What does paragraph 2 mainly tell us about ChatGPT?| A．Its working theory. | B．Its language model. |
| C．Its design inspiration. | D．Its development process. |
| A．To show the popularity of ChatGPT. |
| B．To stress the high cost of inventing ChatGPT. |
| C．To present the creativity of artificial intelligence. |
| D．To prove the necessity of developing tools for chatting online. |
| A．Guiding users to experience free services. |
| B．Giving users priority access during peak hours. |
| C．Allowing net surfers to skip advertisements. |
| D．Helping researchers detect the failure of the system. |
| A．It may provide replies unrelated to the questions. |
| B．It can only update information at a fixed time |
| C．It needs longer to provide solutions. |
| D．It operates based on limited data. |
4 . Many years ago, my dad was facing a serious heart condition. He was unable to do a steady job. He suddenly fell ill and had to be admitted to the hospital.
He wanted to do something to keep himself busy, so he decided to volunteer at the local children’s hospital. My dad loved kids. It was a perfect job for him. He ended up working with the seriously ill children. He would talk, play, and do arts with them.
One of his kids was a girl with a rare disease that paralyzed (使瘫痪) her from the neck down. She couldn’t do anything, and she was very depressed. My dad decided to try to help her. He started visiting her in her room, bringing paints, brushes and paper. He stood the paper up, put the paintbrush in his mouth and began to paint. He didn’t use his hands at all. All the while he would tell her, “See, you can do anything you set your mind to.” At the end of the day, she began to paint using her mouth, and she and my dad became friends. Soon after, the little girl was sent home because the doctors felt there was nothing else they could do for her. My dad also left the children’s hospital for a little while because he became ill. Some time later after my dad had recovered and returned to work, in came the little girl who had been paralyzed and only this time she was walking. She ran straight over to my dad and hugged him really tight. She gave him a picture she had done using her hands. At the bottom it read: “Thank you for helping me walk.”
My dad would cry every time he told us this story and so would we. He would say sometimes love is more powerful than doctors, and my dad—who died just a few months after the little girl gave him the picture—loved every single child in that hospital.
1. How did the author’s father help the paralyzed girl?| A．He helped her practice walking. | B．He visited her and made a toy for her. |
| C．He showed her that she could still do things. | D．He painted special pictures for her. |
| A．She eventually became a unique painter. |
| B．She was sent home and never seen again. |
| C．She gradually recovered and walked. |
| D．She sent the author’s dad a picture painted with her mouth. |
| A．It’s better to give than to receive. | B．A sick person should not focus on his disease. |
| C．Volunteering is a worthwhile thing to do. | D．Love can sometimes bring great results. |
| A．To make his serious heart condition less serious. | B．To keep himself occupied and pleased. |
| C．To realize his childhood dream. | D．To earn money to pay for treatment. |
5 . Tea drinking was common in China for nearly one thousand years before anyone in Europe had ever heard about it. People in Britain were much slower in finding out what tea was like, mainly because tea was very expensive. It could not be bought in shops and even those people who could afford to have it sent from Holland did so only because it was a fashionable curiosity. Some of them were not sure how to use it. They thought it was a vegetable and tried cooking the leaves.
Tea remained scarce (稀少的) and very expensive in England until the ships of the East India Company began to bring it directly from China early in the 17th century. During the next few years so much tea came into the country that the price fell and many people could afford to buy it.
At the same time people on the Continent were becoming more and more fond of tea. Until then tea had been drunk without milk in it, but one day a famous French lady named Madame de Sevigne decided to see what tea tasted like when milk was added. She found it so pleasant that she would never again drink it without milk. She was such a great lady that her friends thought they must copy everything she did, so they also drank their tea with milk in it. Slowly this habit spread until it reached England and today only very few Britons drink tea without milk.
At first, tea was usually drunk after dinner in the evening. No one ever thought of drinking tea in the afternoon until a duchess (公爵夫人) found that a cup of tea and a piece of cake at three or four o’clock stopped her getting “a sinking feeling” as she called it. She invited her friends to have this new meal with her and so, teatime was born.
1. What do we know about the introduction of tea into Britain?| A．Tea reached Britain from Holland. |
| B．The Britons got expensive tea from India. |
| C．The Britons were the first people in Europe who drank tea. |
| D．It was not until the 17th century that the Britons had tea. |
| A．In the late 19th century. | B．In the 18th century. |
| C．In the 17th century. | D．In the 16th century. |
| A．drinking tea with milk in it | B．drinking tea without milk in it |
| C．drinking tea after dinner | D．drinking tea in the afternoon |
| A．The history of tea. | B．The ways of making tea. |
| C．The birth of teatime. | D．The habit of drinking tea. |
6 . “I can’t live without my mobile phone!” is what I often hear people say as they talk about how mobiles have become an essential part of their lives.
The all so common sight of heads bent, eyes staring at mobile screens and fingers busy tapping away repeats itself across major cities around the world. Whenever there is a moment to spare while on the train, taxi or waiting in a queue, people busy themselves with their mobile phones.
Some people believe our unhealthy obsession with mobile phones is destroying how we appreciate the little things in life or miss the moments that matter. The truth is that technology overall should be seen as a tool to improve our lives.
Mobile phones have certainly had a great influence on our lives, but I truly believe it’s for the better.
It’s changed the way we communicate, whether for work or play. We are now less constrained (限制) by time and geographical location. With my mobile phone, I can dial into conference calls while stuck in a traffic jam, or reply to urgent e-mails while on the go. I can send a text message or share photos and videos with friends who aren’t living in the same country. My phone calendar keeps my life organized, and even Facebook. Twitter, and instant messaging are now accessible from mobile phones!
The mobile revolution isn’t just changing the lives of urbanite like myself. I know of a young Bangladeshi woman named Shompa Akhter who is crazy about fashion and design. She dreamt about starting her own business and she did just that, opening a shop in Kushtia featuring her own creations. Dealing with suppliers in different towns was a problem for Shompa-purchase orders had to either be hand delivered or mailed out to suppliers. Shompa also found it tough publicizing (宣传) her business to potential customers outside her town. But once she learnt to operate the mobile phone, she was addicted. The 25-year-old businesswoman now stays in touch easily with her suppliers. Mobile e-mail is a blessing in her life. Who would have thought that mobility could bring about such enormous change? It shouldn’t really be a surprise though.
1. In the first two paragraphs, the author wants to show ________.| A．mobile phones make people communicate less |
| B．mobile phones make people’s life more enjoyable |
| C．people become addicted to mobile phones in daily life |
| D．people’s health is greatly affected by mobile phones |
| A．Supportive. | B．Doubtful. | C．Critical. | D．Uninterested. |
| A．new functions of mobile phones | B．new changes in Information Age |
| C．the author’s personal experiences | D．the advantages of mobile phones |
| A．She operates a food store. | B．She is addicted to Internet surfing. |
| C．Her mobile phone helped her business a lot. | D．Mobile e-mail is still unavailable to her. |
7 . Must-read New Fiction Books
We all have a few tried-and-true fiction favorites, but there’s something special about a brand-new, hot-off-the-press novel. Whether it’s your favorite author’s new release or a new writer’s first work, great fiction books make the perfect escape from ordinary life. That’s why we’ve rounded up a list of the best new books released in February.
Age of Gold by Jerry Lapoor
Jerry Lapoor’s latest action-packed novel unfolds like a crazy movie. This thriller begins when a wealthy man’s car gets out of control. But when the dust settles, the rich man is nowhere to be found. How and to where does he disappear? With an exciting plot that will carry you from old-money houses to small agricultural villages, Age of Cold will take you on an unforgettable ride across a vast land.
City Under One Sky by Rachel Young
In the book, Young presents a crime story set in a small town. Detective Sara Kennedy has been sent to investigate a case. But soon after arrival, Sara gets snowed in with the 205 townsfolk living in the same apartment building. Who is hiding the key to the crime? And is there anyone she can truly trust? The appealing story, strange but distinctive characters and unexpected plot are just a few of the reasons why City Under One Sky gains its popularity.
Lady by Jess George
Lady is an irresistible fiction from Jess George. The story of Mary’s fresh start at adulthood is shot through with themes of family, race and discrimination, womanhood and the immigrant reality of feeling torn between cultures. Though struggling with life in London as an African, Mary jumps at every chance to stand on her own feet.
1. What will impress the readers in Age of Gold?| A．The thrilling plot. | B．Traditional cultures. |
| C．The family conflict. | D．Crazy characters. |
| A．She is trapped in the snow. | B．She is to investigate a case abroad. |
| C．She hides the key evidence. | D．She has trouble discovering the truth. |
| A．Self-reliance. | B．Gender equality. |
| C．Domestic violence. | D．Cross-cultural communication. |
8 . A Sweet Soul
Hopie was a beautiful black and white dog. She was such a gentle soul. She was let out of the house in extreme heat and attacked by another dog. I tried to save her but it was too late. My heart breaks every day missing her.
Hopie used to follow me around the yard when I was mowing (割) the grass; even if it was hot. She’d take a break and go back in the shade for a while, but always felt like she had to stay near me and she’d come back and walk along behind me.
After I lost her I couldn’t even bear to go out and mow the grass. One day I finally realized I had better get out there and do it because it was looking like a field. As l walked along slowly thinking of her and missing her, a black and white dragonfly (蜻蜓) started following me and then flying in front of me. It finally landed on the handle of the mower right near my hands and just sat there looking at me. I said out loud, “Hopie, is that you?” and the dragonfly just sat there and continued to look straight at me.
I have not ever seen a dragonfly with those colors: black body, white eyes and black and white wings. I knew in my heart that it was my Hopie coming to tell me. She was still there watching over me and tears came to my eyes. 1 told her I loved her and she flew away up into the sky as free as she could be. I still miss her every day and every time I see a dragonfly, I think of her.
1. According to paragraph one, what happened to Hopie?| A．She was saved by the author. | B．She was killed by another dog. |
| C．She saved another dog’s life. | D．She was lost on a hot day. |
| A．To make us know his dog got used to hot weather. |
| B．To show us that he had a beautifully managed yard. |
| C．To tell us the sweet memories shared with Hopie. |
| D．To tell us how annoying it was to be followed by Hopie. |
| A．It was very hot out there in the yard. |
| B．He couldn’t help missing his dog, Hopie. |
| C．His yard had no grass at all. |
| D．There were so many annoying dragonflies. |
| A．The dragonfly behaved like his dog. |
| B．He was lacking in the common sense. |
| C．The dragonfly looked the same as Hopie. |
| D．How happy he was to see Hopie again. |
9 . Halloween is a festival celebrated on October 31st. The name of the holiday means “hallowed” or “holy evening” because it happens the day before All Saints Day. It is said that Halloween is the children’s New Year’s Eve. They dress up with special costumes (服装), they eat too much, and they stay up too late celebrating.
Children go around the neighborhood wearing make-up, and dress in masks and colorful costumes. The most common costumes are witches (巫师), ghosts, skeletons (骷髅), and popular TV, movie and storybook characters. Some costumes are homemade; others are bought in stores. The children go from door to door saying “trick or treat”. People give them candy, cookies, fruit or money. Sometimes money is collected to help UNICEF, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund.
Homes, stores, and classrooms are decorated in the traditional Halloween colors, orange and black. Usual decorations are witches, ghosts, skeletons, and Jack-o’-lanterns, Jack-o’-lanterns are pumpkins that are carved (雕刻) to look like faces. They are placed on doorway entrances and in windows. Horror movies and ghost stories are shown on TV on this day.
Adults and older children also celebrate Halloween with parades, festivals, and costume parties. Some people create their costumes; other people rent them. Contests are held, where the best costume receives a prize. One of the party events popular with children is dunking (浸泡) for apples. Apples are put in tubs filled with water. People try to get the apples using only their mouths; hands cannot be used.
1. Why is it said that Halloween is the children’s New Year’s Eve?| A．Because Halloween comes the day before All Saints Day. |
| B．Because children can get money from their parents on Halloween. |
| C．Because only on that day can children go around the neighborhood. |
| D．Because children dress up with special costumes, eat a lot, and stay up late celebrating. |
| A．They are colorful. |
| B．All of the costumes are bought in stores. |
| C．Some of the costumes are homemade. |
| D．They are witches, ghosts, skeletons, popular TV characters and so on. |
| A．Orange and brown. | B．Red and green. |
| C．Black and white. | D．Orange and black. |
10 . If you want to live longer, live around green space. That’s the simple conclusion of the largest study on the relationship between the environment and human longevity (长寿) — which was made among eight million people, in seven countries. This simple finding is: “When you are exposed to greenness around your home, your probability to die … is less compared to those with less greenness around their home,”says David Rojas, a researcher at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health.
The research team found that for every 10% increase in greenness within 1,600 feet of your home, your probability of death drops by 4%. Subjects were from countries around the globe: Australia, Canada, China, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, and the U. S.
As Rojas explains, the finding was the same in every country. People who lived near more green space lived longer than people who lived near less. This green space can be grass, trees, or gardens. It can be public or private space.
Satellites were used to accurately measure greenness around homes. The study didn’t have the data to show that some plants were better for our health than others.
1. What should we do to have a greater chance to live long?| A．Try to live near more greenness. |
| B．Choose to live near some plants. |
| C．Have greenness in our own house. |
| D．Live near a park with lots of greenness. |
| A．The research was made widely among large numbers of people. |
| B．The research was done by a famous university. |
| C．The research were made in a careful way. |
| D．The research was based on lots of numbers |
| A．The people who live near it will have a drop of 12 % in death probability. |
| B．The people who live near it will have a drop of 10% in death probability. |
| C．The people who live near it will have a drop of 8% in death probability. |
| D．The people who live near it will have a drop of 6% in death probability. |
| A．A great finding | B．Greener, better |
| C．More parks, longer life | D．Better environment, better life |
