1 . Japanese automaker Toyota has announced its “Woven City” plan, which aims to create a “smart city of the future”. It will be a “living laboratory” for technologies including self-driving systems, high-speed internet connectivity to link major information and communication systems.
The main streets in Woven City will be divided for different purposes. One part will be used for faster vehicle traffic. Another will be designed for people riding bicycles. The third part will be used for walking. To move people through the city, only fully-autonomous, zero emission（排放）Toyota vehicles will be allowed on the roads. In and throughout Woven City, Toyota e-Palettes will be used for transportation and deliveries.
The city will be fully sustainable（可持续的）, with buildings made mostly of wood to cut carbon footprint to the minimum. The rooftops will be covered with solar panels to produce power in addition to power produced by H2 fuel cells. Houses will be equipped with the latest AI technologies, such as in-home robotics to assist with daily work and to check people’s health. Both neighborhood parks and a large central park for recreation and social gatherings are designed to bring the people together.
Toyota plans to populate the city with Toyota Motor Corporation employees and their families, visiting scientists and industry partners. The plan is for 2,000 people to start, adding more as the project develops.
“Building a complete city from scratch, even in a small size like this, is a unique chance to develop future technologies. With people, buildings and vehicles all connected and communicating with each other through sensors, we will be able to test connected AI technology in both the virtual and the physical areas to maximize its potential,” said Akio Toyoda, president of Toyota Motor Corporation.
Experts say smart cities, like Toyota’s “Woven City”, will greatly improve our living conditions.
1. What is the “e-Palette” in paragraph 2?| A．An intelligent robot. | B．A driverless car. |
| C．An autonomous bike. | D．A slow vehicle. |
| A．All the houses are built with wood only. | B．Only Toyota workers live there. |
| C．It is designed to hold 2,000 people. | D．Just green power is used in the city. |
| A．He is not satisfied with the small size of the city. |
| B．It is difficult to build a complete city of the future. |
| C．The city is a good platform to test future technologies. |
| D．Toyota is committed to improving the living conditions. |
| A．What Does a “City of the Future” Look Like? |
| B．Can Toyota’s Woven City Become a Reality? |
| C．Toyota’s Plan for a “City of the Future” |
| D．New Technologies for Smart Cities of the Future |
2 . Every day we experience one of the wonders of the world around us without even realizing it. It is not the amazing complexity of television, nor the impressive technology of transport. The universal wonder we share and experience is our ability to make noises with our mouths, and so transmit ideas and thoughts to each other’s minds. This ability comes so naturally that we tend to forget what a miracle (奇迹) it is.
Obviously, the ability to talk is something that marks humans off from animals. Of course, some animals have powers just as amazing. Birds can fly thousands of miles by observing positions of the stars in the sky in relation to the time of day and year. In Nature’s talent show, humans are a species of animal that have developed their own special act. If we reduce it to basic terms, it’s an ability for communicating information to others by varying sounds we make as we breathe out.
Not that we don’t have other powers of communication. Our facial expressions convey our emotions, such as anger, or joy, or disappointment. The way we hold our heads can indicate to others whether we are happy or sad. This is so-called “body language”. Bristling (直立的) fur is an unmistakable warning of attack among many animals. Similarly, the bowed head or drooping tail shows a readiness to take second place in any animal gathering.
Such a means of communication is a basic mechanism that animals, including human beings, instinctively acquire and display. Is the ability to speak just another sort of instinct? If so, how did human beings acquire this amazing skill? Biologists can readily indicate that particular area of our brain where speech mechanisms function, but this doesn’t tell us how that part of our bodies originated in our biological history.
1. According to the passage, the wonder we take for granted is _______.| A．the miracle of technology |
| B．our ability to use language |
| C．the amazing power of nature |
| D．our ability to make noises |
| A．Body language is unique to humans. |
| B．Animals express emotions just as humans do. |
| C．Humans have other powers of communication. |
| D．Humans are no different than animals to some degree. |
| A．Lifting heads when sad. |
| B．Keeping long faces when angry. |
| C．Bristling hair when ready to attack. |
| D．Bowing heads when willing to obey. |
| A．The special role humans play in nature. |
| B．The development of body language. |
| C．The difference between humans and animals. |
| D．The power to convey information to others. |
3 . Rehan Staton recently found out he was accepted to Harvard Law School. For him, the sky’s the limit, but it wasn’t always that way.
The 24-year-old college student was raised by a single father who worked three different jobs, breaking his back. But, despite his father’s best efforts, financial burdens steadily mounted. Staton’s study had suffered but he kept pushing himself forward. He said growing up was tough and he used to struggle in school. One teacher even suggested he switch to a special education class.
But with help from a free tutor, Staton’s grades improved. He continued to improve academically while training to be a professional boxer in high school. However, his choices for college dwindled after suffering an injury, which ruined the chances of him turning professional in sports. He was rejected from every school he applied to.
So to help support his family, Staton took a job collecting trash at a local sanitation company, which he said changed his life in ways he never imagined. “Most of my coworkers were formerly imprisoned. So, it caught me by surprise how much the people on the bottom of the society uplifted me and really wanted me to make something of myself,” he told the reporter. “They encouraged me to reapply to college. They had nothing but uplifting words for me and my future.”
Through persistence, he took the LSAT and applied to nine schools—getting accepted to five. Ultimately, he decided to commit to Harvard Law School—and he’ll never forget all the people who helped him get there. “Throughout this time, people ask me, ‘How did you do it?’ it’s more so how could I not do it when everyone is breaking their backs for me, and pushing me to win.” Staton said. “When you have a support system, you want to give them your best shot. Because as much as you’re investing into yourself, you have others investing into you too.”
1. What can we know about Staton from paragraph 2?| A．He received special care from his teacher. |
| B．He used to have poor academic performance |
| C．He worked three jobs to help support his family |
| D．He lost sight of his goal due to family difficulties |
| A．Decreased. | B．Change. | C．Appeared. | D．Continued. |
| A．The mixed backgrounds of his coworkers |
| B．The misunderstanding about garbage men |
| C．The strong encouragement from his coworkers |
| D．The misfortune of people at the bottom of society |
| A．Courage is resistance to fear and pain. | B．Success comes from sweat and support. |
| C．Achievements are going from failure to failure. | D．Progress takes place outside the comfort zone. |
4 . I remember my first true introduction to art fondly. It was my second year of university and I was a confused 19-year-old at the time, unsure of what academic path I wanted to pursue. I knew that I had always been fascinated by things that made me question the world around me, and my art history class was the first time I really got to get my feet wet.
My professor, a post-graduate with natty (齐整的) hair, entertained us with her stories of travel and revealed the arts of the world to us, something that had not been touched on since my primary school years. The grand story of time was told in broken Greek sculptures, figures whose amazingly detailed limestone carvings were often missing arms and heads to the brittle ravages (无情的破坏) of time. We explored the patterns of the Medieval era and the early Renaissance religious symbolism of Michelangelo and Botticelli. We analyzed the mustard (芥末黄) and chiaroscuro (明暗对比) glare of the Baroque paintings of Caravaggio and El Greco, and we were amazed by the sandcastle-naturalism of the Spanish architect Gaudi. The history of art has fascinated me ever since.
I never had a talent for art myself, but I always did have a well-grounded appreciation for those who did. In primary school, we explored art through music and painting classes, but once we entered secondary school, art was an elective course and quickly limited to the dustbins of my memory. It was only after that humble art history class that I realized what I had been missing.
I strongly believe that a well-rounded society needs everyone to have an early education in the arts. A healthy society needs all its members to open their eyes—and their minds—so that they can learn what is true and beautiful, just as the famous Greek philosopher Plato said, “The reflection of beauty causes the soul to grow wings”.
1. What’s the meaning of the underlined sentence in the first paragraph?| A．The author got lost in the art history class due to the confusion. |
| B．The author was starting to figure out the exact academic path. |
| C．The author was starting to learn to appreciate art. |
| D．The author wet his feet because of carelessness. |
| A．To show his love for Greek sculptures. |
| B．To show the beginning of his love for art. |
| C．To tell readers the professor’s love for grand stories. |
| D．To tell readers what the Renaissance religious symbolism is. |
| A．Ambiguous | B．Supportive | C．Opposed | D．Doubtful |
| A．To advocate the popularity of art history. |
| B．To propose a change in the education of art history. |
| C．To urge people to explore more art classes in an early age. |
| D．To arouse people’s awareness of the importance of early art education. |
5 . Improvements to energy efficiency, such as LED lights, are seen by many authorities as a top priority for cutting carbon emissions. Yet a growing body of research suggests that a rebound effect could wipe out more than half of the savings from energy efficiency improvements, making the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change even harder to hit.
A team led by Paul Brockway at the University of Leeds, UK, looked at the existing 33 studies on the impact of the rebound effect. First comes the direct rebound: for instance,when someone buys a more efficient car, they may take advantage of that by driving it further. Then comes the indirect rebound: fuel savings leave the owner with more money to spend elsewhere in the economy, consuming energy.
Although the 33 studies used different methods to model the rebound effect, they produced very consistent estimates of its impact, leading the team to conclude that the effect wipes out, on average, 63 percent of the anticipated energy savings.
“We're not saying energy efficiency doesn't work. What we're saying is rebound needs to be taken more seriously,” says Brockway.
The idea that increased efficiency may not deliver the hopedfor savings dates back to the Jevons paradox(悖论), named after the economist William Stanley Jevons, who, in 1865,observed that more efficient coal use led to more demand for coal.
If the rebound effect does prove to be as big as suggested, it means future global energy demand will be higher than expected and the world will need far more wind and solar power and carboncapture technology than is currently being planned for.
But that doesn't mean nothing can be done to limit the rebound effect. One answer is to double down on energy efficiency and do twice as much to achieve the same effect.
1. Which of the following is a rebound effect?| A．A man uses LED lights to cut carbon emissions. |
| B．A company uses coal more efficiently to reduce waste. |
| C．A family saves money by using energysaving devices. |
| D．A lady spends savings from her fuel efficient car on more clothes. |
| A．By interviewing economists. |
| B．By analyzing former studies. |
| C．By modeling the rebound effect. |
| D．By debating about the Jevons paradox. |
| A．Authorities should dismiss energy efficiency. |
| B．Worldwide efforts to preserve energy are in vain. |
| C．The rebound effect helps protect the environment. |
| D．More attention should be paid to the rebound effect. |
| A．Positive. | B．Pessimistic. |
| C．Doubtful. | D．Disapproving. |
6 . Writing contests are a great way for high school students to showcase their creative skills. Here are some of the top free writing contests for high school students.
Young Lions Fiction Contest
Award Amount: $10,000
Deadline: Usually in September
The Young Lions Fiction Contest was established in 2001 by the New York Public Library. Five finalists are recognized, with one taking home the grand prize of $10,000. To qualify, the author must be 25 or younger and submit a novel or a collection of short stories.
53-Word Story Contest
Award: Publication in Prime Number Magazine
Deadline: 21st of each month
Hosted by Prime Number Magazine, writers are put to the test and have to respond to a prompt (提示) with a 53-word story. The prompt changes each month, and the responses must be 53 words exactly. Only stories are permitted and only one submission per writer per month is allowed.
Signet Essay Contest
Award Amount: $1,000 to be used towards your higher education
Deadline: April 22, 2021
I£ you are a Wuthering Heights fan, then the Signet Essay Contest is the one for you. Five high school juniors or seniors can win an award for their two to three — page essays. You must select one of the five prompts1 based on the events and characters in Wuthering Heights.
Ocean Awareness Contest
Award Amount: Scholarships up to $1,500
Deadline: June 15, 2021
The Ocean Awareness Contest aims to recognize writers while raising awareness about the climate crisis. Students can submit visual art, film or music. Each category has specific qualifications, so make sure to check.
1. How many people can get the grand prize in Young Lions Fiction Contest?| A．One. | B．Five. | C．Six. | D．Ten. |
| A．It is held on the last day of each month. |
| B．The participants can choose any topic. |
| C．It awards winners a large sum of money. |
| D．The entry must contain exactly 53 words. |
| A．They are all free of charge. |
| B．They provide scholarships. |
| C．They accept various forms of works. |
| D．They center on environmental issues. |
7 . Last month, Koch went to make breakfast and found a(n)
“I looked out in the backyard and there’s the moose absolutely panicked and
Koch has noticed more wildlife around his home in Ottawa,
The wild moose seemed to be having trouble finding her way out of the pool, so Koch called the police and wildlife services to see if they could
Workers from wildlife services intended that they would get her to a safer spot, but they couldn’t
The moose
| A．informal | B．ordinary | C．usual | D．uninvited |
| A．abandoned | B．wrapped | C．removed | D．forbidden |
| A．struggling | B．shaking | C．shouting | D．searching |
| A．shoulder | B．foot | C．face | D．back |
| A．narrowly | B．likely | C．desperately | D．unwillingly |
| A．for | B．so | C．but | D．or |
| A．this | B．well | C．almost | D．rather |
| A．relaxed | B．happy | C．tired | D．poor |
| A．around | B．beneath | C．outside | D．beyond |
| A．donate | B．hurt | C．lend | D．cure |
| A．lift | B．hug | C．smile | D．credit |
| A．update | B．witness | C．cancel | D．manage |
| A．watched out | B．cut down | C．jumped over | D．dived into |
| A．escaped | B．participated | C．hesitated | D．insisted |
| A．top | B．bottom | C．wall | D．cover |
8 . There’s a little restaurant in a small Alabama town where there’s no cash register and no prices, just a whole lot of soul ... and soul food.
At Drexell & Honeybee’s in downtown Brewton near the Florida border, the menu changes daily, but there’s always a hearty selection of Southern dishes to enjoy: fried chicken and cornbread often show up at lunchtime from Tuesday to Thursday.
What makes this place special? No matter how down on their luck a person is, they never have to worry about having no money for their lunch. Once you’ve finished your dessert — a blueberry cobbler, perhaps? — you just leave whatever you can in a private booth near the restaurant entrance, even if that’s just a handful of coins or a little thank-you note.
The owners, a husband and wife team—Freddie and Lisa Thomas-McMillan—make no profit from their restaurant. Lisa once told GNN, “Whatever needs people have, if we can help them... we will. It’s our chief mission.”
100% of the donations go back into serving people food. “It’s a feeling of great happiness when knowing that their customers leave “with a full stomach, a full heart, and the understanding that you’re loved and worthy of love.” Through the years, she’s run a food bank. She’s opened her home to the needy. She says it may have started in the second grade when she learned a powerful lesson about sharing from a little girl who always had a better sandwich, but shared it happily with Lisa in a daily trade. Of course, the pandemic(流行病) has made running a restaurant a little more tricky in recent months. “But we figured out a way to do to — go orders and keep everyone safe …It is working out very well. We feel proud to be able to do what we do, with CO VID-19 affecting so many people.”
1. Which characteristic does the restaurant in a small Alabama town have?| A．It has no menu or waiters. | B．It has an outstanding cook. |
| C．It has the best dessert in Alabama. | D．It’s a sweet family-style restaurant. |
| A．To advertise the restaurant. | B．To feed the needy. |
| C．To win them fame. | D．To encourage donations. |
| A．The money. | B．The reputation. |
| C．The joy. | D．The recognition. |
| A．She always has a very big heart. | B．She is a victim of COVID-19. |
| C．She has made a name for her donations. | D．She is an overnight successful person. |
9 . To many people, honey bees symbolize wealth, sustainability and environmentalism. But as a honey bee researcher, I have to tell you that only the first item on that list is defensible. Although they are important for agriculture, honey bees, which are usually imported from outside the local area, also disturb natural ecosystems by competing with native bees.
For several years the media has told us that bee populations are under threat. In response to this media campaign to"save the bees", raising honey bees has become a popular hobby. But as a species, honey bees are least in need of saving. Much media attention is given to honey bees at the expense of native bees, and this has led many citizens—myself once included—to mistakenly believe they are doing a good thing for the environment by raising honey bees. Unfortunately, theyare probably doing more harm than good.
“Beekeeping is for people; it's not a conservation practice, "says Shelly Smith, an environmental science professor. People mistakenly think keeping honey bees also helps the native bees, which are at risk of extinction. That's wrong.”
Smith and her research team recently surveyed one thousand local people in Canada and found that they had a surprisingly poor understanding of bee types and their roles in promoting flower growth. Most people’s attention is on saving honey bees when, from a conservationist's point of view, native bees are the ones in more need of support.
“To make matters worse, beekeeping companies and various non-science-based projects have financially benefited from the decline of native bee populations, "Smith explains. "These companies pretend they are interested in saving bees but their actions are actually damaging the native bee populations.”
The introduction of honey bees increases competition with native bee populations for food,putting even more pressure on the wild species that are already in decline. Honey bees are extremely efficient food gatherers and take over almost all local flower resources, thus leading to damaging competition—that is, where one species uses up a resource, not leaving enough to go around.
1. Which statement does the writer argue for?| A．Honey bees endanger native bees. |
| B．Honey bees are a symbol of wealth. |
| C．Honey bees are important for agriculture. |
| D．Honey bees can defend natural ecosystems. |
| A．Beekeeping is a still-popular traditional hobby. |
| B．The media is responsible for misleading the public. |
| C．Citizens’ attempts to protect the environment are effective. |
| D．The media campaign has failed to promote honey bee businesses. |
| A．Beekeeping companies' making great profits. |
| B．The quick expansion of bee-friendly habitats. |
| C．The public's ignorance of bee varieties and roles. |
| D．Insufficient attention given to saving honey bees. |
| A．By listing examples. | B．By making comparisons. |
| C．By analyzing survey data. | D．By explaining cause and effect. |
10 . When faced with a pandemic, people may become more forgiving. For me, this has become a time to
When the COVID-19 lockdown started, my thoughts turned to my father I
Thirteen years on, the arrival of the pandemic made me
I took our previous father-daughter relation for granted. However, the COVID-19 crisis has led me to reconsider what's the most
When people cut off contact with a family member, it may not be going to be permanent. Unexpectedly, the virus
| A．stay away from | B．get used to | C．make up with | D．keep pace with |
| A．barely | B．mostly | C．merely | D．definitely |
| A．presented | B．regretted | C．appeared | D．achieved |
| A．comment | B．adventure | C．requirement | D．response |
| A．disconnect | B．evaluate | C．decrease | D．discover |
| A．kicked | B．formed | C．kept | D．developed |
| A．identity | B．hobby | C．privacy | D．safety |
| A．stable | B．right | C．creative | D．simple |
| A．reply | B．apologize | C．stress | D．appeal |
| A．praise | B．approve | C．reject | D．arrange |
| A．mysterious | B．unique | C．funny | D．bright |
| A．conclusion | B．treatment | C．encounter | D．conversation |
| A．tough | B．significant | C．serious | D．positive |
| A．admire | B．ignore | C．forgive | D．appreciate |
| A．shortened | B．extended | C．drew | D．measured |
