3 . How you fold a paper airplane can determine how fast or how far it goes. A lot of people arrive at the best designs through trial and error, and perhaps a little bit of luck. But this question is no child’s play for the researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne.

“Seemingly a simple toy, the paper airplane actually shows complex aerodynamic (空气动力学的) behaviors which are most often ignored,” the researchers said. “When the paper airplane is launched, there are complex physical interactions between the paper structure and the surrounding air, leading to a particular flight behavior.”

To examine the relationship between a folding pattern and the flight, they developed a robotic system that can make various paper planes and then test, analyze, and model their flight behaviors. In this experiment, the robot made and launched over 500 paper airplanes with 50 different designs. Then it collected data on how far each design flew and the characteristics of that flight.

The researchers sorted different shapes roughly into three types of “behavioral groups”.

The first type follows a nosedive (俯冲) path, which means a short flight distance before landing on the ground. The second type does a glide (滑行), falling at a consistent and relatively controlled rate, and covers a longer distance than the nosedive. The third type is a recovery glide, falling steadily before leveling of and staying at a certain height above the ground.

“With the high precision and automation of the robotic system, large-scale experiments can be performed to improve design,” the researchers noted. “The robot designer can deepen our understanding and exploration of design problems, and could otherwise be challenging to observe any behavior.”

This insight can also apply to the changeable flight paths of small flying vehicles. “These models can be used to improve a real-world robotic design to identify wing shapes that fly a given distance,” the researchers said.

1. What can be inferred from the researchers’ words in Paragraph 2?

A．It is difficult to design a perfect paper airplane.

B．There is more to explore about paper airplanes.

C．The paper airplane is a popular toy for children.

D．It is likely to control paper airplanes’ behaviors.

2. What can the robotic system do?

A．Promote paper airplanes to fly much farther.

B．Leave paper airplanes high above the ground.

C．Create paper airplanes with different designs.

D．Change paper airplanes’ flight characteristics.

3. What did the researchers expect to do through the experiment?

A．Enhance the design of airplanes.

B．Prove the precision of airplanes.

C．Predict the development of airplanes.

D．Increase the automation of airplanes.

4. What is the main idea of the text?

A．Researchers test their innovative ideas on paper airplanes.

B．Researchers design a real-world robot with paper airplanes.

C．Researchers can design various wing shapes for paper airplanes.

D．Researchers create a robot to learn more about paper airplanes’ flight.

5 . As long as there has been the celebration of Christmas, there have been discussions about when is the right time to start decorating. Though there is no right time, it has been proved that the earlier you decorate for Christmas, the happier you are. Some people think that December 1st is the correct time to start decorating for Christmas, but is there such a thing?

A study done by the Journal of Environmental Psychology states: While no one day is better than any others, the earlier you decide to decorate for Christmas, the happier you are. Neighbors see people who decorate for Christmas early as being more friendly and cheerful than those who decorate for Christmas late, or not at all.

The Christmas season means many different things for many different people, and in most cases, the feelings are positive. Seeing the bright lights and multi-colored baubles (圣诞树装饰球) brings many people feelings of joy and nostalgia (怀旧).

While nowadays Christmas trees are decorated with electric lights and glass baubles, things weren’t so different 200 years ago. In those days, trees would be decorated with dried fruits, wrapped candies, as well as garlands (花环) made from popcorn and small berries, and everything would be lit up with lots of candles.

Now, presents are usually kept under the tree, but then, the presents were the decorations. The fruit and candies that so beautifully decorated the trees of the past would be taken down and handed out among the children at the end of the night. For some of the children in less wealthy households, this was often the only candy they would receive all year and so it was always a special occasion.

So, while it may strike people as too early to see decorated houses in November, the people that put up those decorations are just trying to spread their Christmas cheer.

1. How does the author introduce the topic of the text?

A．By telling a sad story.	B．By raising an argument.
C．By making a definition.	D．By stating an odd event.

2. What decorations did people use for Christmas 200 years ago?

A．Dried fruits and wrapped candies.

B．Electric lights and glass baubles.

C．Garlands made from fresh flowers.

D．Presents piled under the tree.

3. How would people deal with the decorations in old days?

A．They would leave them untouched.

B．They would pile them under the tree.

C．They would get them down and give them to kids.

D．They would take them down and put them aside for the next year.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Christmas decorations, kids’ favorite presents

B．The development of the Christmas decorations

C．The new decorations for Christmas will make people happier

D．People putting up Christmas decorations earlier tend to be happier

6 . Just off the Florida Keys lies the world’s third-largest coral reef (珊瑚礁), which was once an energetic habitat for millions of plants and animals. But an outbreak of stony coral tissue loss disease threatens to destroy 20 of the 45 species found there, including larger reef-building corals.

“This disease that is burning through the Florida Keys is an unbelievable event that is happening,” said Andrew Stamper, conservation science manager at Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment. “It’s like a wildfire.” Stamper said that would endanger Florida’s fishing industry and food supply. “Unfortunately, we do not know exactly what is causing this,” he said.

In order to save the reef, scientists have moved some species hundreds of miles away to a lab in Orlando. Scientists work to simulate breeding (繁殖) conditions in the lab. The conditions are exactly the same as the living conditions of the coral. The work needs a lot of care, effort and attention to detail. LED lights exactly copy the sun and moon cycles. Volunteers feed the coral in water treated to mimic its real habitat.

“This essentially is a gene bank,” said Jim Kinsler, leader of SeaWorld Orlando. “We’re trying to protect the genetics of these corals so that their offspring(后代)can eventually be returned back to the Florida reef area.”

The task of relocating the lab-grown coral to the sea is also a detailed task. Kinsler, who is part of a team of private and public partners operating the Florida Coral Rescue Center, said, “It’s the first time that many of them have been involved in rescuing an entire ecosystem,”

“We think the real challenge is just growing them out to a size, so we can test them in those waters, test their disease resistance (抵抗力), and then breed the successful corals by the hundreds of thousands literally,” said Andrew Walker, president of the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida.

1. What do we know about the Florida Keys?

A．It owns the world’s largest coral reef.

B．A disease broke out among people there.

C．The world’s third-largest coral reef is close to it.

D．It is now the habitat of millions of plants and animals.

2. What do Andrew Stamper’s words mean?

A．The root of the disease is unclear.

B．A wildfire broke out in the Florida Keys.

C．The disease will spread across the Earth.

D．The disease has caused a great loss to the locals.

3. What does the underlined word “simulate” in paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．Copy.

B．Contrast.

C．Escape.

D．Feature.

4. What is the purpose of the research according to Andrew Walker?

A．To restore the coral in the lab.

B．To sell the coral in the normal size.

C．To make more people involved in protecting the ecosystem.

D．To produce masses of disease-resistant coral back to the sea.

7 . When Ann was 13, she was accepted into a university to study medicine. Shortly after getting the acceptance letter, she shared the exciting news on the Internet. “I graduated from highschool last year at 12 years old. One year later, I was accepted into a university at 13. I’m a junior at college,” she wrote. “I’ve worked so hard to reach my goals and realize my dreams,” she added, going on to credit her mother because her mother gave Ann all her support.

“Mom, I made it,” Ann wrote. “I couldn’t have done it without you. You gave me every opportunity possible to be successful. You are the best mother a kid could ever ask for. You always believed in me. You allowed me space to grow and make mistakes without making me feel bad. You allowed me the opportunity to experience the world.”

The teen is currently a student in two undergraduate programs studying biological sciences in two universities. She has extremely good time management skills and is very disciplined(自律的).

Ann doesn’t only focus on the classroom when it comes to her education. In 2021, she became the youngest inter (实习生) ever at a government department. Ann said the dream started early for her. Her final goal is to become a flight surgeon(外科医生) and work with astronauts.

Ann’s impressive achievements don’t even stop there. She also founded an organization for girls of color who are interested in exploring careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

You may think you’re too young to do anything. But from Ann’s story, I think you need to change the view. With her effort, Ann has proved that one can do anything if they can do what they can to do what they want to.

1. What can we learn about Ann from Paragraph 1?

A．She has been admitted into a university.

B．She wanted to show off her high school.

C．She was too young to go to university.

D．She is studying in a high school.

2. What does the author want to show in Paragraph 2?

A．Ann’s opportunity to succeed.

B．Ann’s gratitude to her mother.

C．The stress Ann got from her parents.

D．The educational methods in Ann’s school.

3. What is Ann’s final aim?

A．To found an organization for girls.

B．To explore careers in science.

C．To work with astronauts as a surgeon.

D．To become the youngest worker in the government.

4. Which of the following can best describe Ann?

A．Adventurous and creative.	B．Humorous and mysterious.
C．Determined and imaginative.	D．Self-controlled and successful.

8 . Come to Adrian to Escape Heatwave

The July heatwave is coming. Here are some places to help you beat the heat and get some needed relief in Adrian.

The Bohn Pool

To provide comfort from the elements, Adrian will not charge admission to the Bohn Pool on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Young children under 9 years old must be accompanied by an adult at all times while at the pool. To contact the pool director, dial 517-264-4886.

The Splash Pad (喷水池)

The newly installed splash pad at Parish Park is open daily to the community at no cost from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm. People can cool off while enjoying the splash. Those with questions about the splash pad should call the pad director at 517-264-4807.

The Christian Family Centre

The Christian Family Centre is a good spot where people can go to get out of the heat. It is open to the public in the event of extreme weather and offers public showers, restrooms and locker rooms as well as Wi-Fi for those affected by heat and weather emergencies. To contact the centre, dial 517-263-6232.

The Lenawee Intermediate School District

The Lenawee Intermediate School District offers a cooling centre for those of the community who are seeking the means to stay cool during weather emergencies. Members of the community are encouraged to call ahead and check the availability of services. Calls should be placed between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday at 517-265-1709.

1. What can visitors enjoy in the Bohn Pool this July?

A．The splash all morning.

B．Free restrooms at all times.

C．The opportunity to book at any time.

D．Free access from Wednesday to Friday.

2. Which number should visitors dial if they want to take public showers?

A．517-264-4886.	B．517-264-4807.
C．517-263-6232.	D．517-265-1709.

3. Where is the text probably taken from?

A．An art magazine.	B．A travel brochure.
C．An academic paper.	D．A science storybook.

9 . Do you know Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton? They are musicians who can make their instruments sing. But do you know there are some musicians who are greater than them? The drummers in West Africa, who play the dùndún drums, can make their instruments talk.

The researchers analyzed the Yorùba language and the drumming of dùndún drums. They found that the drumming sounds like the tones of the Yorùba language, while the correctness decreases when the drums are used only for music or less direct communication such as songs. The scientists also found four modes through which dùndún drums connect music and language. Called “talking drums”, dùndún drums can be used as purely musical instruments or what scientists refer to as speech surrogacy (替代).

More importantly, the research shows how studying non-western cultures can enrich the way scientists understand music and speech, according to lead author Dr Cecilia Durojaye. “These kinds of findings are useful for considering deeper relationships and understanding of various types of communication and the development of language and music,” she said. “The talking drum is unique because it has a foot in both language and music camps and its existence reminds us of the boundary (边界) between speech and music.”

While the talking drum is specific to the Yorùba language, speech surrogacy in music occurs across cultures, so the research can contribute to how scientists understand the phenomenon in general and in the Yorùba culture specifically. Speech surrogacy can spread history. Through musical instruments like these drums, one can know the history of a particular culture, as well as aspects of how the people think, their belief systems and values, and what is likely important to them.

But there is still much that scientists don’t understand about speech surrogacy. “Our study, which focuses on the spoken, sung and drummed forms, represents one of the first steps towards understanding these various structures,” Durojaye said. “We will continue exploring this unique instrument.”

1. What do we know about dùndún drums from the text?

A．They are pretty popular instruments in Africa.

B．They are used to add fun to the Yorùba language

C．They make sounds similar to the Yorùba language.

D．They can clearly convey the drummers thoughts.

2. What does Durojaye think is the significance of the new research?

A．Showing people the importance of body language.

B．Drawing public attention to cultural heritage protection.

C．Being the first study on the boundary between speech and music.

D．Providing insights into the connection between music and language.

3. What does the author mention about speech surrogacy in music?

A．It happens in limited kinds of cultures.

B．It is likely to cause trouble for the Yorùba people.

C．It can greatly influence people’s beliefs and values.

D．It enables people to know different aspects of a culture.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Talking drums convey more than a language

B．A significant musical instrument is found in West Africa

C．New research analyzes the development of African music

D．Scientists have found more forms of the Yorùba language

10 . A team of researchers is developing a group of robots for space mining (采矿) projects. The team imagines the robots will be able to mine and even build simple structures on the surface of the Moon. While the robots, which will be built and trained on Earth, will first need to receive instructions from operators on our homeworld, the team hopes they will eventually be able to function on their own.

The robots will use a learning model adapted by Jekan Thanga, a professor at the University of Arizona (UA). The system will not only train the robots to perform tasks like mining and construction, but will also gradually teach them to work together. The UA team says that the robots won’t take the place of humans. “In a sense, we’re like farmers. We’re developing talent out of these creatures to do certain tasks.” Thanga said “The idea is to let the robots do all the boring and dangerous stuff, so the astronauts can do the more interesting and important stuff.”

The key aim in this new era of space exploration has become sustainability. Transporting materials into space isn’t cheap and it takes up valuable room on rocket journeys. That means there is a natural advantage in collecting any materials on the surface of the body you are exploring.

Research shows the Moon and Earth have very similar chemical composition (成分). That means that elements found here on Earth should also be available to be mined from the Moon. This includes Earth metals that are used in a range of technologies such as smartphones, and precious metals like silver and gold.

Because mining on Earth takes lots of water, something that won’t be available on the Moon, the robots will have to use new mining ways to do that. “To break rocks, we use lots of water, and that’s something we won’t have on the Moon.” a researcher said. “So we need new processes and new techniques.”

1. What advanced function will the learning model enable the robots to develop?

A．Judgment.

B．Teamwork.

C．Designing.

D．Communication.

2. What is the main benefit of the robots?

A．Finishing space exploration on their own.

B．Delivering instructions on behalf of the operators.

C．Freeing astronauts to focus on more necessary tasks.

D．Using different materials to invent high-tech products.

3. What change might happen in space exploration according to the passage?

A．There will be little need to take materials from Earth.

B．More valuable room in rockets will be taken up.

C．The robots can be recycled on the Moon.

D．It will be unnecessary to launch rockets.

4. What does the last paragraph mainly tell us?

A．The surface of the Moon is changing.

B．Mining on the Moon faces serious challenges.

C．The space mining equipment has reached its limit.

D．New robots can be used for supplying water on the Moon.