1 . “Red tide” is a natural phenomenon that frequently occurs in many places around the world. The phenomenon is the result of extreme growth of tiny algae (海藻) called K. Brevis, which has a red color, giving the water surface a very noticeable red color. K. Brevis will give off chemicals that can attack the nervous systems of animals, which often leads to deadly results.
Florida citizens are no stranger to “red tide”, which occurs along the state’s Gulf Coast annually. However, the most recent outbreak of red tide has so far lasted much longer and spread across nearly 145 miles of the coastline in southwestern Florida.
The long season has caused the death of tons of fish and other animals which were washed up on the beaches all the way from Tampa to Naples. The smell of the dead animals has kept away thousands of locals and tourists that frequent the area’s long beaches. In view of that, in August, Florida declared a state of emergency for the seven places where K. Brevis has been growing quickly, providing $ 3 million to help with research, cleanup, and wildlife rescue.
Recently, the situation of red tide in Florida may be exacerbated due to an outbreak of algae Trichodesmium in the waters offshore of Manatee County. Trichodesmium floats on the water’s surface sucking nitrogen (氮) from the air while K. Brevis lives below the surface obtaining nitrogen from the water. If these two masses of algae mix, the dying Trichodesmium may end up providing nitrogen for K. Brevis, lengthening its stay in the area.
Researchers recently are exploring the idea of introducing other algal species to Florida. Among the possibilities is the Diatom. It’s a kind of algae that can grow quickly in the water. Its growth will consume a large amount of nitrogen from the water. So it competes with K. Brevis for nitrogen. Another possibility is algae known to give off chemicals that stop the growth of red tide.
The 10-month-long red tide outbreak in Florida may be the result of a combination of heavy rainfall, warmer ocean temperatures, and pollution. Now it’s time for us to do something.
1. What can we learn about K. Brevis?| A．It’s caused by red tide. | B．It can harm ocean life. |
| C．It’s facing dying out. | D．It exists mainly on land. |
| A．The researchers’ study of algae. | B．The tourism potential in Florida. |
| C．The possible ways to deal with red tide. | D．The consequences of red tide in Florida. |
| A．Worsened. | B．Studied. | C．Handled. | D．Ignored. |
| A．To change the color of K. Brevis. |
| B．To help reduce K. Brevis’ food supply. |
| C．To damage K. Brevis using some chemicals. |
| D．To increase fishes’ resistance to K. Brevis’ attack. |
2 . “Quick, quick, slow, slow,” my husband said as I was trying to focus. We frequently stepped on each other’s feet. Both of us were being rhythmically challenged, and we figured a series of lessons might help us look somewhat elegant on the floor. However, it didn’t.
It didn’t matter that the lessons didn’t pay off. Our learning something new together gave us a string of good memories, such as taking a Thai cooking class on a cold Chicago night and learning how to make classic cocktails (鸡尾酒) in a common bar. These experiences are my best memories from the past 10 years. We always have such a great time when we’re trying something new together. It seems to have strengthened our relationship, and makes me feel like we have a closer connection.
It turns out that my theory is backed by research. One study shows that learning new things with your spouse (配偶), friends, or partners, can strengthen your connection or friendship. But how exactly does this work? The key is vulnerability (弱点). “Learning new things together strengthens bonds because it is at those moments that we can show our vulnerability to one another,” says Dr. Hisla Bates. When we are learning a new task, misfortunes and failures are bound to happen. In those moments when we fail, the other party can be there in favor of us. We can work together to find a solution, and working together helps deepen the connection.
The benefits gained from learning new things with your partner can come from activities as small as hiking, trying a new recipe, going boating in the local lake or taking a fitness class together. You don’t have to go bungee jumping or skydiving to grow closer. Try selecting activities that both partners are unfamiliar with, as this will ensure you’re on the same page.
Trying to learn something new together once a month will benefit you and your spouse or friends. Overall, some of my best memories with my husband are the moments when we are learning something new together.
1. What were the author and her husband doing in Paragraph 1?| A．Playing sports. | B．Practising dancing. |
| C．Teaching lessons. | D．Taking a walk. |
| A．Practice makes perfect. |
| B．Good memories last a long time. |
| C．Processes matter more than results. |
| D．Well begun is half done. |
| A．It can encourage them to teach and praise each other. |
| B．It helps improve the understanding of each other. |
| C．It can reduce each other’s loneliness and boredom. |
| D．It helps find each other’s weaknesses and offer support. |
| A．The power of learning new things together |
| B．The advantages of taking different lessons |
| C．The challenge of acquiring new knowledge |
| D．The importance of improving people’s bonds |
3 . Deep below the ground, radioactive elements break up water molecules (分子), producing substances that can fuel subsurface life. This process, known as radiolysis (辐射分解), has supported bacteria in tiny cracks filled with water on Earth for millions to billions of years. Now a study published in Astrobiology shows that radiolysis may have supported life in the Martian subsurface.
Dust storms, rays in the universe and solar winds ruin the Red Planet’s surface. But below, some life might find shelter. “The best survival habitat on Mars is the subsurface,” said Jesse Tarnas, a planetary scientist at NASA. Examining the Martian underground could help scientists learn whether life existed there. And the best subsurface samples available today are Martian meteorites (陨石) that have crash-landed on Earth.
Tarnas and his colleague looked at the minerals on the Martian surface and how many radioactive elements there were, using satellite and rover data. They used computers to simulate (模拟) radiolysis to see how efficiently the process would have generated life-supporting hydrogen gas and other chemical substances. They reported that if water was present, radiolysis could have supported life for billions of years and perhaps still could today.
Scientists had previously studied Mars radiolysis, but this marked the first estimate using Martian rocks to see how habitable Mars underground might be. Tarnas and his colleagues also evaluated the potential richness of life in Martian underground. They found that up to a million bacteria could exist. in just one kilogram of rock. The most habitable seemed to be the southern highlands of Mars, which is the most ancient area on Mars, according to Tarnas.
“Underground life would require water and it remains unknown if groundwater exists on the planet,” says Lujendra Ojha, a planetary scientist at Rutgers University. Determining whether the Martian’ subsurface contains water will be an important next step, but this investigation helps to motivate that search. Ojha says, “Where there is groundwater, there could be life.”
1. What does radiolysis refer to according to the passage?| A．The formation of water deep underground. |
| B．The breakdown of rocks in the Earth’s core. |
| C．The production of energy from radioactive elements. |
| D．The process of radioactive elements splitting water molecule. |
| A．By simulating with collected data. | B．By comparing original data. |
| C．By engaging in a Martian field research. | D．By conducting a survey. |
| A．Tarnas is the first to study Mars radiolysis. |
| B．The presence of groundwater is key to the findings. |
| C．Ojha questions that underground life exists on Mars. |
| D．The southern highlands of Mars was home to millions of bacteria. |
| A．The reason for no life on the Martian surface. |
| B．The data source for the study of Martian habitability. |
| C．The possibility of Mars sustaining life through radiolysis. |
| D．The richness of radioactive elements below the Martian surface. |
4 . Since 1912, The Nederlander Organization has continued the tradition of operating historic theatres, producing and presenting the best theatrical and concert events. The following are a few of its Broadway theatres.
GERSHWIN THEATRE: 222 W 51ST ST, NEW YORK, NY 10019
Home of the Broadway smash-hit musical Wicked, Gershwin Theatre was named in honor of one of America’s greatest composers, George Gershwin. The theatre’s circular ball was designed to display the names and photographs of Broadway’s own Theater-Hall of Fame. Opened in 1972 with 1,900 seats, it is one of the Nederlander Organization’s nine Broadway theatres.
DURHAM PERFORMING ARTS CENTER: 123 VIVIAN STREET, DURHAM, NC 27701
Since its opening in 2008, DPAC has become the center for entertainment in North Carolina. With 2,700 scats, DPAC truly has “something for everyone,” and hosts more than 200 performances yearly. DPAC welcomes all guests and events in an open, friendly, and respectful setting. It stands committed against all forms of discrimination.
DOLBY THEATRE: 6801 HOLLYWOOD BLVD, HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA 90028
Dolby Theatre, built in 2001, delivers the most natural, life-like sensory experience with the latest innovations in Dolby entertainment technology, including DolbyAtmosTM, a breakthrough audio technology. Its cutting edge technologies attract many world’s biggest movie premieres, notable television awards events, and performances. With 3,400 seats, it is one of two Broadway theatres in Los Angeles.
WINTER GARDEN THEATRE: 1634 BROADWAY, NEW YORK, NY 10019
The playhouse occupies the second American Horse Exchange, built by William K. Vanderbilt in 1896, when Longacre (now Times Square) was the center of the horse and carriage trade. By 1911, it had been rented out, as horses had given way to automobiles. The Winter Garden was converted into a theatre in 1911. It served as a movie house from 1928 to 1933 when Warner Brothers rented’ it. Winter Garden Theatre has 1,600 seats and is one of Broadway theatres. The sound of music: the classic musical is now playing at the Winter Garden Theatre.
1. Which theatre enjoys the longest history?| A．Gershwin Theatre. | B．Winter Garden Theatre. |
| C．Dolby Theatre. | D．Durham Performing Arts Centre. |
| A．Realistic sound effects. | B．Numerous performances. |
| C．Hall of Fame. | D．Disapproval of discrimination. |
| A．Big movie premiers. | B．A musical about Gershwin. |
| C．A timeless musical. | D．Television awards. |
5 . Nanako Hama was holding a light envelop. When he tore it open with care, locks of hair emerged. Many strangers send Hama locks of their hair, hoping to recycle it.
People generate a huge amount of hair waste. Nearly all of that waste ends up in landfill, where it can release harmful greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. But hair possesses such useful qualities that it’s a shame to simply throw it away. That’s why people all around the world, like Hama, have been collecting hair and finding innovative ways to recycle it, including making mats (垫子) out of it for removing oil leaks.
Hama is part of the nonprofit Matter of Trust (MoT) members working at more than 60 centers dotted across 17 countries, using machines to make hair donated from local salons and individuals into square mats, which are then used to clean up the floating oil. “Hair is particularly well-suited for this,” says MoT co-founder Lisa Gautier. “That’s because its rough (粗糙的) sort of outer layer lets oil stick to it.” MoT’s mats have been used in major oil leaks, including the 2010 Deepwater Horizon and 2007 Cosco Busan incidents.
In a 2018 study, Murray, an environmental scientist at the University of Technology Sydney in Australia, found that mats made of recycled human hair could absorb 0.84 grams of oil onto its surface for every gram of hair — significantly more than polypropylene, a type of plastic that’s typically used to clean up floating oil. Besides, hair is also useful as fertilizer (化肥). Hair contains a relatively high nitrogen, a chemical element crucial for plant growth, and each lock of hair is made of roughly 16 percent of this essential nutrient. Last year, more than 560 gallons of liquid fertilizer made from human hair was sold to farmers in northern Tanzania and the feedback from the farmers has been very encouraging.
“It’s just a great way to use hair in a productive way. Hair is an answer literally hanging in front of our eyes — for oil and soil,” Hama says.
1. How does the author introduce the topic in paragraph 1?| A．By detailing the background. | B．By presenting a scene. |
| C．By describing the usage of hair. | D．By praising an environmentalist. |
| A．Fertilize the soil. | B．Prevent oil leaks. | C．Take in harmful gas. | D．Clear the sea of oil. |
| A．Its color and strength. | B．Its length and amount. |
| C．Its weight and flexibility. | D．Its outside and component. |
| A．Uncertain. | B．Promising. | C．Doubtful. | D．Uncontrollable. |
6 . I had just delivered a memorable speech that I had labored over for months, and I was about to learn how the experts judged my performance. The polite audience leaned forward in their folding chairs. Silence fell across the room and the drum rolled in my heart.
The contest organizer announced the third-place winner. The name was not mine. Then the second, and once again it was not me. At last, the moment of truth came. Either I was about to be lost in the warmth of victory or regretted the last several months’ preparation. While neither of these came to pass, my heart just sank.
Losing is a part of life, but it was an indescribable depression to drive 200-mile round trip, get up early on a freezing Saturday morning, and yet still finish fourth out of four competitors. After Lincoln lost the 1858 Illinois Senate (参议院) race, he said, “I felt like the 12-year-old boy who kicked his toe. I was too big to cry and it hurt too bad to laugh.” Oh yeah, I could relate.
I had spent hours in front of a computer and in libraries doing research for the Lincoln Bicentennial (两百周年纪念) Speech Contest. As I read through several biographies, one idea stood out: Lincoln was handed many sound defeats, but he never allowed them to permanently stop his spirit or ambition. I thought “failing successfully” was a very appropriate topic, given the many letdowns Lincoln experienced, and so this became the title of my speech.
Never mind the lost prize money and praise - I did gain a new perspective. Now, whenever I’m faced with a failure, I remember what Lincoln said after his unsuccessful 1854 Senate race, “The path was worn and difficult. My foot slipped from under me, knocking the other out of the way, but I recovered and said to myself. ‘It’s a slip and not a fall.’”
1. How did the author feel when waiting for the announcement of the result?| A．Thrilled. | B．Nervous. | C．Depressed. | D．Relieved. |
| A．To show Lincoln’s determination to win Senate race. |
| B．To present his research findings of Lincoln’s biographies. |
| C．To indicate that he got inspiration from Lincoln’s failures. |
| D．To declare what they had in common in their experiences. |
| A．Disappointed. | B．Positive. | C．Concerned. | D．Anxious. |
| A．A Successful Failure | B．A Difficult Path. |
| C．An Unexpected Speech | D．An Impressive Example |
7 . Antarctica has not always been a land of ice and snow. Earth’s southernmost continent once was home to rivers and forests full of life.
Scientists are using satellite observations and radar imagery to look deep under the ice. The researchers report finding a large ancient landscape buried under the continent’s ice sheet. It is full of valleys and ridges (山脊) , shaped by rivers before being covered by glaciers long ago.
The landscape is located in East Antarctica’s Wilkes Land area bordering the Indian Ocean. The researchers said the landscape appears to date back to at least 14 million years ago and perhaps beyond 34 million years ago, when Antarctica entered its deep freeze.
“It is difficult to know what this lost world might have looked like before the ice came along, but it was certainly warmer back then,” said Stewart Jamieson, a professor at Durham University. “Depending how far back in time you go, you might have had climates that ranged anywhere from the climate of present-day Patagonia through to something more approaching tropical.”
“Such an environment likely would have been populated by wildlife”, Jamieson said. “But the area’s fossil record is too incomplete to know which animals may have lived there.”
The researchers said the surface of the planet Mars is better known than the earth surface below the ice in Antarctica. They said one way to learn more would be to drill through the ice and take a piece of the earth below. This could uncover evidence showing ancient life, as was done with samples taken in Greenland dating back two million years ago.
Jamieson said the researchers think that when Antarctica’s climate was warmer, rivers flowed toward a continental coastline that was created as the other land masses broke away. When the climate cooled, some small glaciers formed on hills next to the rivers. When the climate cooled even more, an ice sheet grew which covered the whole continent, the landscape got preserved, likely for 34 million years.
1. What can we learn about the ancient landscape?| A．It locates in the center of Antarctica. | B．It’s discovered by drilling through the ice. |
| C．It’s once a warmer area than it is now. | D．It has a history of no more than 14 million years. |
| A．There is a lack of complete fossil record. |
| B．The ice sheet of Antarctica is melting quickly. |
| C．Scientists lack enough advanced equipment. |
| D．Climate conditions vary greatly from place to place. |
| A．To attract more scientists to study Antarctica. |
| B．To strengthen the importance of the Mars. |
| C．To indicate the complex situations of the Mars. |
| D．To show the difficult to know Antarctica’s earth surface. |
| A．The colder climate. | B．The protection offered by coastlines. |
| C．Other land masses’ reduction. | D．A decrease in the number of wildlife. |
8 . Changi Community Chub Visit
To Green Ark Fish Farm
WHATGreen Ark is one of the fish closed fish farms in the world. It is a floating structure about the size
of the two classrooms.WHERE
Located 5km off Chang Point, the farm can produce 166, 000 kilograms of fish a year. The fish are housed in four enormous tanks. The raised fish include barramundi, red snapper and grouper. They are mainly for local consumption.
HOWThe fish are sale from threat such as all spills (溢油) and other chemicals which could kill them. The aa waler they live in is really clean. Bacteria and viruses are destroyed by ozonation (臭氧化). In this process, oxygen is blown into the tanks every hour. “All these improved conditions ensure that the waler quality remains high. This enables our fish to become healthier,” said Mrs. Linda Tan, spokesperson of Green Ark Fish Farm.
Would you like a glimpse of Green Ark Fish Farm?For the very first time, Changi Community Club is organizing 5 small-group tours (25 persons each) to Green Ark Fish Farm on the following Saturdays: 6, 13, 20, 27 July. You will have first- hand knowledge of how fish is raised there. The highlight of the tour will be tasty meal of fresh fish chosen by the chefs of Changi Cafe.
| Time | Schedule | Cost |
| 1: 00 p. m. | Meet at Changi Ferry Point | $40 per person; Changi Community Club members pay $30 each |
| 1: 15 p. m. | Depart for Green Arh | |
| 1: 30 p. m. | Tour of Green Ark | |
| 2: 30 p. m. | Return to Changi Point | |
| 2: 45 p. m | Dory Fish &Chips Meal at Changi Cafe |
For enquiries, please visit the website at 222. changicc. com. sg. Registration will be on a. first-come, first-served basis. Book early to avoid disappointment!
1. What can we know about the fish raised by Green Ark Fish Farm?| A．They are in danger of oil spills. | B．They can swim freely in the ocean. |
| C．They are mainly sold to local buyers. | D．They could be killed by other chemicals. |
| A．The water level is high enough for fish. |
| B．The water is the same as water from the sea. |
| C．The water doesn’t contain viruses or bacteria. |
| D．The water has enough space for fish to swim in. |
| A．Send an email to the club. | B．Join Changi Community Club. |
| C．Pay booking fee ahead of time. | D．Register before the places are filled up. |
9 . High school graduation requirements
To earn a high school diploma, students must meet the following requirements.
Compulsory credits| *4 credits in English (1 credit per grade) *3 credits in mathematics *3 credits for group 1, 2 and 3 courses *2 credits in science *1 credit in Canadian history (Grade 10) *1 credit in Canadian geography (Grade 9) | *1 credit in the arts *1 credit in health and physical education *1 credit in French as a second language *0.5 credit in career studies *0.5 credit in civics and citizenship |
Students must earn 12 optional credits. by successfully completing courses offered in the school’s program and course calendar. Optional credits may include up to four credits earned through approved dual (双倍的) credit programs. .
The literacy graduation requirementIn September 2023, the literacy graduation requirement was introduced and it became effective immediately. Students graduating in the 2023-2024 school year and beyond are required to meet this requirement to earn their high school diploma.
Community involvementStudents are required to complete a minimum of 40 hours of community involvement activities as part of the requirements for a diploma.
Students who are looking for community involvement opportunities should:
★make sure they know which activities satisfy the community involvement requirement★check their school board’s website for a list of approved and prohibited activities
★have a discussion with their parents to plan and select their community involvement activities(students under 18 years old only)
1. What’s the minimum number of credits required for a high school diploma?
| A．30. | B．32. | C．34. | D．36. |
| A．In September 2021. | B．In September 2022. |
| C．In September 2023. | D．In September 2024. |
| A．Ask for their parents’ permission. |
| B．Turn to local community centers for help. |
| C．Set community involvement hours with teachers. |
| D．Have a clear understanding of the qualified activities. |
10 . When Posten walked outside to her car, she saw something that looked like a note or receipt stuck to the windshield.
She grabbed it and saw it was a black and white photo of a woman holding a little boy. On the back, it said, “Gertie Swatzell & J.D. Swatzell 1942.” A few hours later, Posten discovered that the photo had made quite a long journey — almost 130 miles on the back of terrible winds.
Posten had been tracking the tornadoes that hit the middle of the U.S., killing dozens of people. They came close to where she lives in New Albany, Indiana, across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. So she figured it must be from someone’s damaged home.
“Seeing the date, I realized that was likely from a home hit by a tornado. How else is it going to be there?” Posten said. “It’s a well-kept photo.”
So she posted an image of the photo on Facebook and Twitter and asked for help. She said she was hoping someone on social media would have a connection to the photo or share it with someone who had a connection.
“A lot of people shared it on Facebook. Someone came across it who is friends with a man with the same last name, and they tagged him,” said Posten.
That man was Cole Swatzell, who commented that the photo belonged to family members in Dawson Springs, Kentucky, almost 130 miles away from New Albany. Cole Swatzell on Sunday didn’t respond to a Facebook message seeking comment.
Posten plans to return the photo to the Swatzell family sometime this week.
“It’s really remarkable, definitely one of those things, given all that has happened, that makes you consider how valuable things are — memories, family heirlooms (传家宝), and those kinds of things,” Posten said. “It shows you the power of social media for good. It was encouraging that immediately there were tons of replies from people, looking up ancestor records, and saying ‘I know someone who knows someone and I’d like to help.’”
1. What helped Posten know the photo had made quite a long journey?| A．Learning about a home hit by a tornado. |
| B．Looking into the information of the photo. |
| C．Making tracks for the process of the tornadoes. |
| D．Recognizing the person in the photo at first sight. |
| A．It’s a damaged photo. |
| B．It belongs to Cole Swatzell. |
| C．Its owner lives in New Albany, Indiana. |
| D．It travels 130 miles away from Kentucky. |
| A．From Twitter. | B．From Facebook. |
| C．From her friend. | D．From ancestor records. |
| A．Valuable things should be kept well for good. |
| B．Common item sometimes is also very valuable. |
| C．We should encourage each other on social media. |
| D．Posten thinks highly of the function of social media. |
