1 . The opening of California’s commercial crab season, which normally starts in November, is delayed once again to protect whales searching for their prey (猎物) along the coast.
California has been affected by a marine heat wave since May. The Blob, as this mass of warm water has become known, is squeezing cooler water preferred by whales and their prey close to shore, where fishermen set their traps. This crowding can lead to tangle (缠结) between whales and fishing equipment, endangering the animals’ lives and requiring rescue missions.
In a new study, scientists say they can now use global temperature models, commonly used in climate science, to predict up to a year in advance when hot ocean temperatures raise the risk of tangles between whales and fishing equipment.The tool analyzed in the new study, called the Habitat Compression Index, works by feeding sea-surface temperature measurements into an equation (方程式) that estimates the likelihood of whale habitat shrinking closer to shore.Regulators and fishermen agree that the new forecasting research could help them walk the tightrope between protecting whales and protecting local livelihoods (生计).
Mr Ogg, a commercial fishing boat captain, describes himself as a conservationist who doesn’t want to see whales harmed.“Fishermen have a big motivation to protect the natural environment,” he said, “because that’s where they make their living.” Previously, the challenge was adapting to changing conditions and fishing regulations on short notice, especially for smaller business owners and their crews.“One of the biggest problems we had was the unpredictability,” Mr Ogg said, “We were living from week to week then.”
Though scientists have shown the Habitat Compression Index can now forecast months in advance, state officials would probably wait to see conditions in real time before making decisions about the crab fishery, said Ryan Bartling, an environmental scientist at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
1. What do the whales come to shore for according to the first two paragraphs?| A．Safety. | B．Shelter. | C．Leisure. | D．Food. |
| A．To take a risk. | B．To join in an act. |
| C．To strike a balance. | D．To walk on a rope. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Indifferent. | C．Cautious. | D．Pessimistic. |
| A．How climate data gives whales room to swim |
| B．What causes the decrease in whale population |
| C．Why global temperature models are in great need |
| D．Whether to protect whales or the local livelihoods |
2 . Award-winning Chinese shoe designer, Huang Qinqin, shares her transformative journey, combining cultural heritage and international design to shape the art of practical wear.
Believing that the value of her products doesn’t lie in business operation, Huang always focuses on how to convey the stories behind her shoes to customers instead.“It is like storytelling, a natural ability I possess,” she said with a smile.
However, Huang’s journey into design was unforeseen and it took her several years to discover her true passion. Huang switched her major from physics to international communications studies at university.While she found great enjoyment in these courses, she still didn’t know what she could do in the future.
“One day, I grabbed a sheet of paper and began drawing some shoe designs I saw online.It was at that moment that the light suddenly dawned.” recalled Huang.
To her astonishment, Huang discovered while international luxury shoe brands like Jimmy Choo and Christian Louboutin are household names, Chinese brands are rarely seen.This finding fueled Huang’s determination to pursue her career as a shoe designer, hoping to fill the blank in the international market.
After returning to China from the UK, Huang established her own shoe brand.“I think Chinese students studying abroad today all share a strong sense of mission—to showcase what China truly has to offer to the world,” Huang said.
Looking back, Huang said that she took a long time to finally find her lifelong passion.“There is a saying that one must achieve fame at a young age, but I believe it is never too late to unlock one’s potential, since everyone operates on their unique ‘time zone’,” she said.
Before her current career path, Huang never stopped trying new things, including garden design and dance.These diverse experiences have all become precious treasures in her life, nurturing her self-directed learning abilities, which have turned out to be essential skills for her startup business today.
1. What does Huang value most about her products?| A．Design concept. | B．Market share. |
| C．Quality standard. | D．Business operation. |
| A．Passion for fashion and design. |
| B．Lack of Chinese brands in the field. |
| C．Desire to challenge conventional norms. |
| D．Love for international luxury shoe brands. |
| A．Creative and flexible. |
| B．Ambitious and easy-going. |
| C．Talented and accessible. |
| D．Responsible and humorous. |
| A．Well begun is half done. |
| B．Think twice before you leap. |
| C．Every step counts in your life. |
| D．It matters much when you succeed. |
3 . I knocked lightly on Mrs. B’s door. “I’m Barbara, a hospice (临终安养院) volunteer.” I said nervously. It was my first week on the job, and my biggest
“Please, sit down,” Mrs. B said, indicating the chair beside her bed. We chatted
“What were you thinking about when I walked in?” I asked, sensing she might be waiting to see if I would
“I know I’m not going to be around much
“Have you thought about writing him a(n)
Mrs. B seemed to
I walked down the hall and
She asked me to put away the letters before I left. “I asked God to send me a(n)
At the very moment I came to realize that we all
| A．pity | B．concern | C．shame | D．strength |
| A．calmly | B．eagerly | C．easily | D．proudly |
| A．photos | B．albums | C．posters | D．stickers |
| A．active | B．careful | C．polite | D．silent |
| A．accompany | B．follow | C．expose | D．introduce |
| A．faster | B．earlier | C．longer | D．quicker |
| A．sensitive | B．awkward | C．sad | D．stressed |
| A．article | B．e-mail | C．note | D．letter |
| A．brighten up | B．clear up | C．spring up | D．keep up |
| A．submitted | B．returned | C．distributed | D．fetched |
| A．continued | B．finished | C．delivered | D．received |
| A．described | B．assessed | C．targeted | D．added |
| A．angel | B．expert | C．hero | D．doctor |
| A．perceive | B．advocate | C．defend | D．carry |
| A．skill | B．gift | C．clue | D．sign |
4 . Sharon Roseman was five years old when her world changed forever.She was playing Blind Man’s Bluff with friends outside her house.When she removed her blindfold (眼罩), she couldn’t recognize where she was.From that moment on, Roseman has been lost every day of her life.
Roseman is not alone in her experience.As an adult living in Denver, Colorado, in 2008, Roseman was diagnosed with a rare and newly discovered condition called Developmental Topographical Disorientation(DTD), which is a disorder that dramatically affects people’s abilities to navigate their familiar environment.
Dr. Giuseppe Iaria of the University of Calgary in Canada is credited with first identifying DTD.He confirms that odd as it sounds, people with DTD have no brain damage. He thinks genetic factors are likely to be responsible for it.
Paul Dudchenko, from the University of Stirling in the United Kingdom, has what he calls a place-cell theory. He says we get lost because all our hippocampal cells appear to be connected to landmarks. “They use things in the environment to orientate (确定方向) themselves and create a cognitive map,” he says. “If we don’t have things in the outside world to update the cognitive map, then it is likely to error.” That’s why people who are lost in a snowstorm, for instance, tend to go in circles. They think they’re heading in the right direction, but without external reference points their brain is unable to form a cognitive map, so they naturally tend to get lost.
“There seems to be a systematic error in the way people with DTD place landmarks in their mind,” Dudchenko says. How exactly this happens is still under investigation, but Dudchenko thinks the answer lies in the relationship between the various regions of the brain responsible for spatial cognition (空间认知).
For his part, Giuseppe Iaria is continuing with his research.Some of his recent work has focused on the role genes play in DTD.As well as helping sufferers of DTD, Iaria believes his research will offer an explanation for why some people are better at finding their way than others.While top researchers have more to learn, they are confident the answers won’t stay lost in the complexity of the brain forever.
1. Why does the author mention Roseman’s experience?| A．To inform us of a sad story. |
| B．To give us background information. |
| C．To introduce a rare disease. |
| D．To support the author’s argument. |
| A．Navigating novel and unfamiliar environments. |
| B．Remembering the layout of their neighborhood. |
| C．Understanding the detailed information on a map. |
| D．Recalling the names of familiar places and people. |
| A．It gives rise to severe brain damage. |
| B．It happens when cognitive map fails. |
| C．It connects one’s brain and cognition. |
| D．It arises from a systematic genetic error. |
| A．Genes play the most important role in DTD. |
| B．The ability to find one’s way can be improved. |
| C．Iaria’s research has already helped sufferers of DTD. |
| D．The truth about DTD will be brought to light someday. |
5 . There are thousands of science books on a huge variety of topics.Which ones should you choose? Luckily for you, we have made a list of the best science books that you should not miss.
A Short History of Nearly EverythingWritten by Bill Bryson, it is a popular science book that explains some areas of science.It was published on February 4,2003, and was one of the best-selling popular science books of 2005 in the UK.It explains a variety of scientific topics in a vivid and comprehensive way, which makes it accessible for people with no science knowledge.But it’s quite long.
Thing Explainer: Complicated Stuff in Simple WordsIt is a 2015 non-fiction book created by Randall Munroe, in which the author explains various complex subjects using common English words.It covers a wide range of topics and explains complex ideas using illustrations, so it’s entertaining and easily understood.However, the words and phrases used to describe the subjects are too technical to understand.
Ask an Astronaut: My Guide to Life in SpacePublished on October 19,2017, the book is Tim Peake’s personal guide to life in space, based on his own experience. Q&A format makes it easy to quickly find answers and images are used to illustrate some of the more complex ideas, making it suitable for both children and adults. The disadvantage is that the Q&A format can become boring sometimes.
Brief Answers to the Big QuestionsWritten by Stephen Hawking, the 2018 book examines some of the universe’s greatest mysteries and promotes the view that science is very important in helping solve problems.It provides a great introduction to Stephen Hawking’s thoughts.Since complex ideas are communicated in a simple and understandable language, your previous physics knowledge is not required.For more advanced readers, it’s too basic.
1. Which is the oldest of the following books?| A．A Short History of Nearly Everything. |
| B．Thing Explainer: Complicated Stuff in Simple Words. |
| C．Ask an Astronaut: My Guide to Life in Space. |
| D．Brief Answers to the Big Questions. |
| A．Various topics. | B．Technical terms. |
| C．Complicated subjects. | D．Scientific illustrations. |
| A．They stress the practical use of science. |
| B．They use Q & A formats to explain ideas. |
| C．They require previous science knowledge. |
| D．They seem to appeal to the general public. |
6 . How often in your busy life when faced with an issue or a problem do you consider subtraction (减法)?
Every day, with big and small challenges, we ignore a basic way to make things better. We are great at adding to our “to dos”, but we don’t consider “stop-doings”. We collect new-and-improved ideas, but don’t delete the outdated ones.
Do your resolutions more often start with “I should do more of…” than with “I should do less of…”? Do you add new rules in your household or workplace more often than you take rules away? In our striving to improve our lives, our work and our society, we overwhelmingly add.
Leidy Klotz’s Lego bridge test, with two support towers of differing heights, found that almost everyone added a Lego brick to the shorter tower, rather than removing a brick from the longer tower. The valid subtraction solution produced a stronger outcome.
Why do we ignore the option to subtract from what is already there? Why do we fail to use subtraction as a way to change things?
Firstly, behavioural science suggests that our brains are wired to ignore subtraction. Initial studies show that our mental shortcuts have a preference for adding when solving problem. We are tricked by our mindset.
Further, we have a tendency to think addition or subtraction; however, they can be complementary (互补的) ways to make changes.
So we ignore subtraction because it is often harder to think of. Moreover, even when we do manage to think of it, subtracting can be harder to perform.
In chemistry, valency (化合价) refers to an elemental force that is not necessarily visible but helps explain the elements’ behaviour. Psychological valency is the inner attractiveness or strong dislike of something. There is a negative valency around subtracting. Even the word subtraction has a negative valency.
Subtraction is the act of getting to less but it is not the same as doing less. Getting to less often means doing, or at least thinking, more. In your pursuit of success and happiness I encourage you to overcome the tendency to ignore subtraction. Subtracting can be delightful!
1. What do people usually do when faced with problems in life?| A．Adopt subtraction. | B．Stop doing things. |
| C．Add new rules. | D．Abandon outdated ideas. |
| A．By comparing examples. | B．By conducting a survey. |
| C．By analyzing statistics. | D．By citing a typical test. |
| A．Initial fixed mindset. | B．Resistance to change. |
| C．Flexible mental desire. | D．Expectation for success. |
| A．State possible reasons. | B．Offer valuable advice. |
| C．Give some warnings. | D．Provide useful proof. |
7 . If you’re searching for a vacation spot that hits both your fix for city life and access to nature, Seattle is the perfect place to visit. Located in Washington, it’s home to some of the most beautiful natural landscapes in the country.
Space Needle
You’ll get the opportunity to climb to a few levels of the observation tower and admire the impressive views of the Mississippi River and the mountains. You’ll also be able to visit the Loupe Lounge to enjoy a circling glass floor experience and seat on a Skyriser — an angled glass bench on the open-air observation deck.
Underground History Tour
This one-hour, small-group tour will take you into the fascinating world beneath Seattle’s streets. You’ll travel along the underground pathways constructed over a century ago and learn details about Seattle’s early history from your knowledgeable guide. You’ll hear stories of the Klondike Gold Rush, Skid Row and the area’s original inhabitants (居民).
Seattle Harbor Cruise
On this guided cruise, you’ll get a chance to admire the sweeping views of the Olympic Mountains and learn more about the history of the city. You’ll head to Puget Sound to see a variety of wildlife in the inland body of water. The cruise comes with a full-service bar aboard where you can purchase cocktails, local wine, beer, snacks and much more while relaxing on the tour.
Museum of Flight
You can explore the fascinating exhibits of the Museum of Flight. Inside, you’ll find 175 aircraft and spacecraft, thousands of artefacts and rare photographs. You’ll learn about the history of flight from humble beginnings to the fighter planes of World War I and II. You can even step aboard a Boeing plan and view a space shuttle in the Aviation Pavilion.
1. Which place will help you learn about space adventure?| A．Space Needle. | B．Underground History Tour. |
| C．Museum of Flight. | D．Seattle Harbor Cruise. |
| A．Overlook from the Olympic Mountains. | B．Enjoy various kinds of food and drink. |
| C．See a variety of wildlife in deep oceans. | D．Admire splendid views of the Mississippi. |
| A．Mental relaxation. | B．Historical knowledge. | C．A free guide. | D．A flying experience. |
8 . A former starchitect (明星建筑师) who designed villas for Pakistan’s celebrities now rebuilds villages completely destroyed by natural disasters.
October 2005, a catastrophic earthquake claiming some 79, 000 people in Pakistan reduced the villages to ruins in mud. Yasmeen Lari, a then-65-year-old architect was there to help lead the reconstruction of settlements. Working with volunteer architects and engineers from Pakistan and abroad, she started drawing plans for earthquake-resistant homes.
Over the following decades, Lari designed various houses and devices inside. Lari’s shelters, inspired by traditional designs and made with sustainable materials such as bamboo, mud and lime (石灰) that are sourced locally first, can better withstand disasters. Bamboo homes on stilts (柱子) allow water to flow through, while cross-bracing (交叉支撑) provides strength and flexibility during earthquakes. Lari’s insistence on low-cost, zero-waste and zero-carbon buildings reflects her commitment to the planet.
This sustainable inspiration has fuelled many of Lari’s designs, which now include household innovations. For instance, more than 80, 000 of her well-received limecrete and smokeless cookstoves were built. The device, which won a UN World Habitat Prize in 2018, costs about E8 to make and is fuelled with agricultural waste. The stoves stand higher than flood levels, making them safer than smoky, open cooking fires on the ground.
Now at age 83, Lari is still fizzing with ideas about zero-carbon designs, skills building and self-sustaining villages.
1. Which can best describe Yasmeen Lari?| A．Insistent and conventional. | B．Productive and stubborn. |
| C．Innovative and committed. | D．Economical and academic. |
| A．They accommodate homeless villagers. | B．They are all made of local materials. |
| C．They follow traditional designs. | D．They are resistant to earthquakes. |
| A．It costs a lot. | B．It generates smoke. |
| C．It gains popularity. | D．It burns animal waste. |
| A．From architect to humanitarian | B．The greatest architect ever |
| C．Rebuilding destroyed villages | D．Designing household devices |
9 . “I’ve met an old lady,” I eagerly told my parents on one of our daily phone. I volunteered to start a knitting club at a care home for the
From the beginning, I never felt that Edith and I lacked
When I first met Edith, I was
Over the years of visiting Edith, I understood how Edith valued the
Death at 111 is not unexpected, but I still feel that something is
| A．lonely | B．elderly | C．disabled | D．deserted |
| A．friendship | B．cooperation | C．encounter | D．competition |
| A．switched | B．contracted | C．contrasted | D．identified |
| A．adaptation | B．commitment | C．conversation | D．attention |
| A．memory | B．organ | C．anxiety | D．manner |
| A．explaining | B．recalling | C．forgetting | D．expecting |
| A．confused | B．urged | C．denied | D．struck |
| A．calling on | B．allowing for | C．sorting out | D．beating down |
| A．devoted | B．admitted | C．restricted | D．addicted |
| A．company | B．discipline | C．resolution | D．departure |
| A．follow | B．tackle | C．restore | D．engage |
| A．arising | B．ranging | C．missing | D．suffering |
| A．racial | B．diverse | C．visible | D．special |
| A．complaint | B．praise | C．gratitude | D．wisdom |
| A．insights | B．comparison | C．investment | D．remarks |
10 . Underwater travel is difficult and dangerous, but many people have reasons to stay deep under the ocean. Soldiers in submarines travel long distances underwater. Companies looking for oil and other resources stay underwater, too. Humans have come up with a few designs of vehicles to move around under the ocean. But what if there was a better way to travel?
Hilary Bart-Smith, an engineer at the University of Virginia, thinks a vehicle that travels like a man ta ray would be able to operate for long periods at sea as if it were a living organism. Manta rays, a type of cartilaginous (软骨的) fish, can grow up to 29 feet long, which are found throughout the world in tropical, subtropical, and temperate waters. Manta rays are some of the most efficient swimmers in the ocean. Different from animals and people pushing against water in order to swim, the manta ray swims by moving through the water with wing-like movements of their fins (鳍). Efficiency means using less energy to move farther and causing less pollution.
Bart-Smith and other engineers at the University of Virginia had to find out what manta rays looked like on the inside to better understand how they move. They took x-rays to find out how a manta ray’s fins are built. They found that a web of cartilage, which is the same kind of material that your ears and nose are made from, stretches across each fin.
Once the engineers knew how a manta ray’s fin was constructed, they could build one of their own. They made a long row of metal struts with many hinges to imitate the manta ray’s web of cartilage, acting like your finger, which can bend as one long line, or bend in many places to make a curve. The engineers put their design inside a flexible cover, shaped like a manta ray’s fin. Then they tested it in the university swimming pool. They were happy to see that it swam just like a manta ray in the ocean.
Engineers and scientists are still learning and experimenting with how to imitate these amazing animals. Perhaps someday engineers will be able to build manta ray robots that are big enough to transport people. For now, engineers study their movement and learn from the most efficient swimmers in the ocean.
1. Why does the author raise a question in the first paragraph?| A．To lead to the main topic. | B．To ask for a correct answer. |
| C．To suggest exploring the sea. | D．To summarize people’s views. |
| A．It can grow at least 29 feet long. | B．It swims with much less energy. |
| C．It can inhabit all kinds of waters. | D．It swims by pushing against water. |
| A．The engineers failed to build a man ta ray’s fin. | B．Artificial “manta rays” remain to be improved. |
| C．The experiments were carried out in the ocean. | D．Vehicles like manta rays have been put into use. |
| A．Unclear. | B．Doubtful. | C．Negative. | D．Optimistic. |
