2 . The Amazon rainforest is as undisturbed a place as most people can imagine, but even there, the effects of a changing climate are playing out. Now, research suggests that many of the region’s most sensitive bird species are starting to evolve in response to warming.

Birds are often considered sentinel (哨兵) species — meaning that they indicate the overall health of an ecosystem — so scientists are particularly interested in how they’re responding to climate change. In general, the news has not been good. For instance, a 2019 report by the National Audubon Society found that more than two-thirds of North America’s bird species will be in danger of extinction by 2100 if warming trends continue on their current course.

For the new study, researchers collected the biggest database so far on the Amazon’s resident birds, representing 77 non-migratory species and lasting the 40 years from 1979 to 2019. During the study period, the average temperature in the region rose, while the amount of rainfall declined, making for a hotter, dryer climate overall. According to the report on November 12 in the journal Science Advances, 36 species have lost substantial weight, as much as 2 percent of their body weight per decade since 1980. Meanwhile, all the species showed some decrease in average body mass, while a third grew longer wings.

Because of the study’s long time series and large sample sizes, the authors were able to show the morphological (形态学的) effects of climate change on resident birds. However, the researchers themselves are unsure and wonder what advantage the wing length changes give the birds, but suppose smaller birds may have an easier time keeping cool. In general, smaller animals have a larger rate of surface area to body size, so they dissipate more heat faster than a bigger animal. Less available food, such as fruit or insects, in dryer weather might lead to smaller body size.

1. Why are scientists fond of doing research on birds?

A．They have small body sizes.	B．They are sensitive to hot weather.
C．They are ecological balance indicators.	D．They live in an undisturbed rainforest.

2. What can we learn from the new study?

A．Two-thirds of species showed a considerable decrease in weight.

B．About 26 species responded to climate change with longer wings.

C．36 species lost 2% of their body weight every year from 1979 to 2019.

D．A third of species have been extinct for a decade due to the hotter climate.

3. What does the underlined word “dissipate” in the last paragraph mean?

A．Put off.

B．Give off.

C．Put away.

D．Give away.

4. What would probably the researchers further study?

A．Why it is easier for smaller animals to keep cool.

B．Why the Amazonian birds have lost substantial weight.

C．Whether bird species in Amazon will be extinct in 2100.

D．What effects the wing length changes have on birds.

3 . Chinese cuisine is widely known and enjoyed all around the world. Who doesn’t long for a favorite Chinese dish? But there is one interesting concept concerning Chinese food which is almost unheard of in the West, and which is becoming increasingly ignored by the youth of the East—the ancient custom of “tonic food”.

Tonic food is food which is consumed to improve one’s well-being or avoid sickness. For instance, it was once the custom for new mothers to eat a sesame oil(麻油) chicken soup every day for the first month after giving birth. It was believed that this dish would benefit the muscles, reduce pain, improve circulation, stimulate sweating, and warm the body. Some foods, such as goat meat and spinach, are seen as “hot”, while others, such as Chinese cabbage and radishes, are seen as “cold”. One should be careful not to eat too much of either “hot” or “cold” food. However, how much “hot” or “cold” food one should eat depends on the time of the year, how the food is prepared and what it is prepared with, and the individual’s health.

The custom of employing tonic food for a healthier life also influences the catering industry. Chinese herbal medicines, such as wolfberry(枸杞子), can be found on many a restaurant menu, either added to fruit tea or as a beneficial addition to a dish. These herbs attract customers, such as overworked office staff, in need of a modest pick-me-up.

So, whether you need to boost your strength with a large helping of chicken soup, or increase your mental powers with a serving of fish soup, you may find that this ancient Chinese custom could be just the tonic you were looking for.

1. What is the present situation of tonic food?

A．It is catching less attention.	B．It is enjoyed by many young people.
C．It is well-known worldwide.	D．It is becoming increasingly popular.

2. What is believed to benefit new mothers?

A．Chinese cabbage.	B．Fruit tea.
C．Sesame oil chicken soup.	D．Fish soup.

3. Which of the following best explains “catering” underlined in Paragraph 3?

A．Medicine.

B．Restaurant.

C．Manufacture.

D．Agriculture.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．The Charm of Chinese Cuisine	B．The Popularity of Tonic Food
C．An Introduction of Chinese Tonic Food	D．Differences Between “Hot” Food and “Cold” Food

4 . Lauren Elizabeth Pirie Bath, until a few years ago, she was a chef, and a happy one at that time, but she wanted more out of life. She wanted to TRAVEL. At that time, Lauren discovered blogging and found that she took pretty good pictures. So she decided to post pictures on her blog. In less than 18 moths, there were over 200,000 people reading her blog! At first, Lauren only regarded it as a hobby, but companies started paying her to take photos and publish them. In 2013, she was determined to make her dream come true: to become Australia’s first professional photo blogger. It was a challenging job, but she did it. Now Lauren spends three weeks out of every month travelling and has over 464,000 fans following her online.

First visiting Western Australia for work in 2013, Lauren fell in love with northern WA and has been back six times. She has made over 140 work trips, but the best work trip ever was to Broome in the Kimberley region.

“It is extremely beautiful and I can experience the indigenous Australia there more than anywhere else. The Kimberley region, in particular, is unique and untouched.” She told the interviewer, and as a photographer, Lauren loves the bright light and amazing colours: red rocks, green plants, blue-green waters and blue skies.

To work full time in travel, she has to love nature and tries to take every opportunity to get outside and admire the natural world. She loves to photograph the rising sun, as well as enjoys photo graphing animals such as dolphins and kangaroos.

Lauren uses the photography to make an impact on people, especially when it comes to environmental issues. Today she has been photographing a crocodile swimming close to the boat the Kimberley Quest all day. When she posts the picture online, she will make a comment about how bad it is to feed wild crocodiles. This crocodile is used to passengers throwing food from boats and now she is becoming familiar with humans. Over time, this could make her a danger to people living to the area. If everyone can do something to make others aware of the problem, then that’s part of the solution.

1. What made Lauren decide to change her job?

A．She wanted to travel.

B．Companies paid her to take photos.

C．Many people read her blog in a short time.

D．She wanted more out of life.

2. Why does Lauren Bath love the Kimberley region so much?

A．Because its distinct and not damaged.

B．Because she loves the bright light and amazing colours.

C．Because it’s beautiful than anywhere else.

D．Because it makes Lauren Bath world-famous.

3. Which word can best take the place of the underlined word “indigenous” in Paragraph 3?

A．Lovely.

B．Native.

C．Fascinating.

D．Familiar.

4. What is the purpose of Lauren Bath posting the crocodile’s picture online?

A．To show her wonderful photographing skill.

B．To tell people the crocodile is in danger.

C．To call for more people’s love for animals.

D．To make people aware of the importance of environment protection.

5 . Harry Potter movies are huge hits and loved by children all over the world. Kids can lose themselves in the wonderful world of magic while learning values that are important to them.

That’s why Paula DuPre Pesman, the associate producer of the Harry Potter movies, found it so hard to leave this behind when choosing to start her organization There With Care that helps families with sick children.

Her move towards charity work did not happen by chance. While working on the set of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”, Pesman received a call asking if she could realize the wish of a child with terminal cancer, who was a fan named Gillian with a wish to see a movie about Harry Potter. Though such a wish seemed impossible to achieve, Pesman brought together the crew who together overcame the challenges and put together a rough-cut screening for the young girl.

Pesman’s determination to help Gillian came from her own experience of living with her husband, who had fought and won the battle with cancer. Carrying out Gillian’s wish enabled her to witness how powerful supporting a family in need can be. So she left the career she loved in 2005 to start her organization.

There With Care provides many services that families in need rarely find, such as transportation to and from the hospital, gas cards, deep cleaning services, clothing and meals, especially when kids are in hospital. Now the organization has helped over 4,000 families.

Looking back, she said, “In a way I think everything came together so that today we would be here helping. It gave us a new purpose and a new way of helping people.”

1. Why does the author talk about Harry Potter movies in paragraph1?

A．To boost a nonprofit organization.	B．To arouse passion for the movies.
C．To express admiration for Pesman’s choice.	D．To explain why Pesman quit as a producer.

2. What inspired Pesman to found There With Care?

A．The success of Harry Potter movies.	B．The experience of realizing a girl’s wish.
C．Her enthusiasm for helping the needy out.	D．Her living with her cancer-suffering husband.

3. Which words can be used to describe Pesman?

A．Warm-hearted and generous.	B．Hard-working and creative.
C．Strong-minded and ambitious.	D．Easy-going and understanding.

4. Which will be the best title for the text?

A．A Sick Girl’s Wish Finally Came True	B．There With Care Was Born from Movies
C．Harry Potter Movies Helped Sick Children	D．A Producer Left Movies to Do Charitable Work

6 . TROUBLESHOOTING

For possible malfunctions as described below, please contact Customer Services at 1-800-2020-123

PROBLEM	POSSIBLE CAUSE	SOLUTION
The coffee is not hot.	• The cups were not preheated.	• Warm the cups by rinsing (冲洗) them with hot water (N.B. you can use the hot water function).
Coffee does not come out of the spouts (喷嘴).	• The spouts are blocked.	• Clean the spouts with a toothpick.
The coffee does not come out of the spouts, but from around the service door.	• The holes in the spouts are blocked with dry coffee dust. • The coffee guide inside the service door is blocked and cannot swing.	• Clean the spouts with a toothpick, sponge or hard kitchen brush. •Thoroughly clean the coffee guide, particularly near the hinges (铰链).
The frothed (起泡) milk has large bubbles.	•The milk is not cold enough or is not semi-skimmed (半脱脂的).	•You should ideally use skimmed or semi-skimmed milk at refrigerator temperature (about 5 °C). If the result is not as you wished, try changing brand of milk.
The milk is not frothed.	• Cappuccino maker is dirty.	• Clean as described in the section “Cleaning the cappuccino maker after use”.
Steam delivery stops.	• A safety device stops steam delivery after 3 minutes.	• Wait, then activate the steam function again.
The appliance (电器) does not come on.	• It is not plugged into the mains socket (电源插座). • The main switch (A2) is not turned on.	• Plug into the mains socket. • Place the main switch in the I position.

1. If the appliance doesn’t start to work, which of the following may be the cause?

A．It has been used for many years.	B．It is not plugged into the socket.
C．Its temperature is too high.	D．Its spouts are blocked.

2. According to the table, which of the following is true?

A．If coffee tastes bitter, you may add some milk and sugar.

B．If coffee is delivered too slowly, you may wait and activate the function again.

C．If coffee doesn’t come out of spouts, you may check them with a toothpick.

D．If milk is not frothed, you may use semi-skimmed milk.

3. Where is the passage probably taken from?

A．A coffee bean package.	B．A coffee machine quality report.
C．A coffee machine advertisement.	D．A coffee machine handbook.

7 . When someone asks me what my goals are for the coming year, I don’t usually know how to reply. Of course I, as most people do, want to see an improvement in my grades. This year, however, I’m hoping for something different.

Through the course of my school life, I’ve gradually developed a new understanding of the word “prioritization (优先次序)”. The first thing I wish to get in Senior 1 is the ability to manage my time better. I’ll surely become busier with the coming semester (学期), and proper organization is important. From school clubs to academic competitions, everything should be set up in a way that doesn’t influence my health, which leads me to my second goal.

My mother has always told me put my health first, so in the future, I hope to both physically and mentally healthy. A person can’t study without having the energy to do so. In order to stay energetic, they must put their health first, no matter how busy they are, or how much work they have to complete.

And finally, I hope that I won’t be discouraged (泄气的) by my failure and never give up on my dreams. I hope that I’ll have the courage to try new activities and clubs. I believe my final goal can apply to every student around the world. We should all respect one another’s likes and dislikes, and concentrate on each other’s advantages, not our disadvantages. Everyone should try to take part in all of life’s opportunities(机会).

Albert Einstein once said, “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance (平衡), you must keep moving.” In my case, it’s the other way around. In order to keep moving, I must keep my balance—the balance between studies and activities, efficiency (效率) and procrastination (拖延症), academics and health, passions and dislikes. The new journey is going to be a hard one, but if I set these goals, I believe I will make it through to the end.

1. During this school year, what does the author hopes to do?

A．Concentrate on improving her overall grades.	B．Join as many school clubs as possible.
C．Learn how to manage her time well.	D．Spend more time on outdoor activities.

2. According to the article, which of the following students should do?

A．Not be afraid of failing.	B．Always put their studies first.
C．Only do what they’re good at.	D．Make different kinds of friends.

3. What does the underlined word in the last paragraph mean?

A．A strong feeling of dislike	B．A strong feeling of love
C．A strong feeling of anger	D．A strong feeling of joy

4. What does the author plan to do?

A．Show what she likes about high school life.

B．Stress (强调) the importance of health to students.

C．Show how to balance our studies and activities.

D．Share her goals for the coming high school year.

8 . Mark Twain looked down upon those people who think it is possible for someone to learn how to write a novel. “A man who is not born with the novel-writing gift has troublesome time of it when he tries to build a novel”, he said.

But now new technology is making a difference to help an author write a novel. Michael Green, a US data scientist-turned-novelist, felt that technology could help him.

He said that the process had become difficult to manage: “In the midst of editing, I got to the point where I started feeling like I had a lot of plots and characters” he said “I had all these documents on the deeper aspects of the world I was creating. I was worried about not being able to keep track of it all. That is when I switched into my more data science-minded approach to solving a complex problem with a lot of different places.”

Green went on to create Lynit, a digital platform to help authors plan and weave together the many elements that form a story, such as the themes, characters and major events.

“As the author gets a new idea that they want to bring into the story they are able to input it into a natural framework,” he said “piece by piece they are adding to the story. As new ideas come in, they change, maybe by creating new nodes (节点) new relationships.”

Once the book has been published, technology is also playing an ever-increasing role in publicity and connecting with readers. Websites and APPs from specialist firms allow authors to participate in live-question-and-answer sessions with their audience. Michael Green believes technology will become even more important as a new generation of tech savvy (精通技术的) writers becomes more well known.

“What I’m finding with the Generation Z and even younger writers is that they are looking for technology to give them guidance,” he said, “They see it as a tool to learn and grow with rather than extra work.”

1. What difficulty did Green face in writing his book?

A．He felt that he was not creative enough

B．He would reduce important plots

C．He had trouble organizing his thoughts.

D．He was afraid the characters wouldn’t attract readers

2. What is an advantage of technology according to the text?

A．It creates new relationships for others

B．It can generate images based on words

C．It can translate thoughts into sentences

D．It brings authors closer to their readers

3. Which of the following would Green most probably agree with?

A．Tech-savvy writers become known thanks to technology

B．Young writers rely too heavily on technology.

C．Technology should be prevented as extra work

D．New technology matters to growing young writers

4. Which of the following can be a suitable title for the text?

A．What Can We Learn from Mark Twain?

B．Can Technology Help Authors Write a Book?

C．How Can Authors Become Skilled in Technology?

D．Do We Really Need Technology as Our Guidance?

9 . Follow this four-day route, and you’ll lose yourself in the wizarding world of Harry Potter.

Day 1 Overview Edinburgh

It was in Scotland’s capital city that J. K. Rowling started to plot the adventures of Harry and his pals. With stoned streets, winding alleys and medieval (中世纪的) architecture, the city certainly has a few things in common with the settings from the books and films. She wrote the early chapters in various cafes around the city’s Old Towns.

Day 2 Overview travel to Fort William

Travel by train from Edinburgh to Glasgow. From there, you can take the West Highland Line toFort William. This is a great way to see some famous spots from the window, including the mysterious Rannoch Moor, the place where Death Eaters board the train in the movie Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows.

Day 3 Overview all aboard the Hogwarts Express

Witness the sweeping cinematic scenery of the movie Harry Potter by booking a seat on the Jacobite Steam Train. Stop for lunch in Mallaig and then make the return journey to Fort William. Please be sure to book the steam train in advance, as it is exceedingly popular. By the way, it runs seasonally.

Day 4 Overview lakes and glens (峡谷)

In the films, mysterious, misty landscapes frame the background of Harry’s tale, so it’s no surprise that the film producers chose the Highlands for many scenes. Spend a day wandering through some of these beautiful spots and feel the magical atmosphere.

1. Where did J. K. Rowling create Harry Potter at first?

A．In Edinburgh.	B．In Mallaig.
C．In Glasgow.	D．In Fort William.

2. What should you pay attention to if taking the Jacobite Steam Train?

A．Reviewing the movie early.

B．Booking tickets in advance.

C．Bringing lunch ahead of time.

D．Buying one-way ticket specially.

3. In which section of a newspaper will you read the text?

A．Current Affairs.	B．Technology.
C．Tours.	D．Biography.