1 . Scientists in the Netherlands have trained bees to identify COVID-19 through their sense of smell, according to a press release from Wageningen University. The research was conducted on more than 150 bees in Wageningen University’s research lab.
The scientists trained the bees by giving them a treat — a sugar-water solution — every time they were exposed (暴露于) to the smell of samples (样本) infected with COVID-19. Each time the bees were exposed to a non-infected sample, they wouldn’t get a reward. Eventually, the bees could identify an infected sample within a few seconds — and would then stick out their tongues like clockwork to collect the sugar water.
Bees aren’t the first animals to detect COVID-19 by smell. Researchers have also trained dogs to tell the difference between positive and negative COVID-19 samples from human saliva (唾液) or sweat with fairly high levels of accuracy. A German study found that dogs could identify positive COVID-19 samples 94% of the time. That’s because the coronavirus (冠状病毒) makes an infected person’s body smell slightly different from those of a non-infected person. But researchers still aren’t sure whether animals are the best bet for smelling out COVID-19 cases outside the lab.
“No one is saying they can replace a PCR machine, but they could be very promising,” Holger Volk, a neurologist, told Nature. PCR machines are what lab technicians use to process standard COVID-19 tests. At the very least, certain animals could be useful for identifying COVID-19 in places or countries in which high-tech lab equipment is not enough or inaccessible.
Wageningen scientists are working on a machine that can train bees at once. Then bees can use their skills to test for coronavirus aerosols (气溶胶) in the surrounding environment.
1. How did the researchers teach the bees to identify COVID-19?| A．By offering bees some rewards. | B．By infecting bees with the virus. |
| C．By raising bees with sugar water. | D．By exposing bees to infected humans. |
| A．They can watch for the hidden virus. |
| B．They have a sharp sense of smell. |
| C．They can feel samples’ inner changes. |
| D．They react more quickly than bees. |
| A．To keep track of more bees. | B．To detect coronavirus aerosols. |
| C．To help underdeveloped countries. | D．To develop a new type of machine. |
| A．Dogs: Well-trained PCR machines |
| B．Bees: Promising COVID-19 detectors |
| C．Holger Volk: A fighter against COVID-19 |
| D．Wageningen University: A leader in keeping bees |
2 . Next time you are struggling with the crossword, try putting the kettle on. Drinking a cup of tea can improve creativity, a study suggests.
Researchers gave participants either tea or water and then asked them to complete a word association game, which was used to measure a form of creativity known as convergent thinking (聚合思维).
In the game, the participants were given sets of words such as “same, tennis, head” and asked to find a meaningful link between them. After analyzing the results in a way that ruled out the potential effects of a person’s intelligence and language ability, the researchers found those who drank the tea performed significantly better in the word association game. The tea drinkers scored an average of 13.89 in the game compared with 12.94 for water drinkers.
The researchers said it was not clear why tea has this beneficial effect. Tea contains special components, which can improve attention, but the participants in the study drank only a small amount of tea — 90 ml, on average — and carried out the tests very soon after consuming it, meaning any effect would have been ignored. This result showed the tea drinking event itself — rather than the biological components of tea — played a positive role, the researchers said.
Previous research has found that people tend to associate tea drinking with a specific set of personality traits(特征), such as smart, creative, elegant, confident, and stable. It may be that when participants are stimulated (刺激) by tea, the mental representation of a tea drinker is also activated, and they unconsciously think that they should be smarter and more creative.
1. What did the participants have to do in the study?| A．Pair the words with each other. |
| B．Guess the meaning of the words. |
| C．Find a connection between the words. |
| D．Tell the differences among the words. |
| A．The participant’s intelligence. |
| B．The action of drinking tea itself. |
| C．The participant’s language ability. |
| D．The biological components of tea. |
| A．Drinking tea makes people more active. |
| B．Drinking tea is popular among the youth. |
| C．People tend to drink tea more than before. |
| D．People drinking tea are often thought smart. |
| A．Drinking Tea Is Good for Health |
| B．Drinking Tea Is A Popular Trend |
| C．Drinking Tea Makes for Creativity |
| D．Drinking Tea Matters A Lot in Life |
3 . It’s the e-book that helped feed the hungry.
For years Patrick Bonner has been telling his daughter, Stella, the same bedtime story,
Patrick
Patrick originally set the fundraising goal at $500,
Every $10 donated can provide more than 10
| A．applying | B．growing | C．attaching | D．adding |
| A．attempted | B．struggled | C．started | D．desired |
| A．book | B．report | C．magazine | D．diary |
| A．persuaded | B．requested | C．suggested | D．guided |
| A．responses | B．challenges | C．ideas | D．campaigns |
| A．fortune | B．opportunity | C．enjoyment | D．impression |
| A．Inspired | B．Determined | C．Concerned | D．Moved |
| A．set up | B．set aside | C．set out | D．set down |
| A．similar | B．electronic | C．paper | D．common |
| A．believing | B．promising | C．imagining | D．expecting |
| A．participate | B．arrive | C．contribute | D．purchase |
| A．satisfaction | B．surprise | C．relief | D．credit |
| A．original | B．special | C．final | D．individual |
| A．meals | B．drinks | C．desserts | D．diets |
| A．order | B．get | C．help | D．supply |
| A．Instead of | B．Apart from | C．Regardless of | D．Due to |
| A．achievement | B．comment | C．intention | D．influence |
| A．regularly | B．gradually | C．eventually | D．slowly |
| A．bring | B．stimulate | C．increase | D．decrease |
| A．excited | B．delighted | C．connected | D．interested |
4 . My bookshelf is full of children’s books. There are picture books, teen adventure books, and young adult coming-of-age books. Sure, I have actual kids living in my house, so that’s one of the reasons I own a lot of children’s books. But to tell you the truth, I purchased more than half of those books for myself. I love reading books that are targeted toward kids, probably more than I enjoy reading adult books.
Remember the innocent wonder that engulfed (吞没) you when you read children’s books as a kid? When you could be transported to faraway, magical places that didn’t seem unbelievable at all. Especially since you still believed in Santa Claus and the tooth fairy. Now you can magically transport yourself back into your child-sized shoes when you pick up a children’s book.
The best children’s literature can help us re-find things we may not even know we have lost, taking us back to a time when new discoveries came daily and when the world was huge, before the imagination was adjusted and changed.
Kid’s books are so much more fun than adult books. They dare to go where no adult books go, into the field of scaring monsters, giant robot zombie mermaids, and 130-story treehouses. Just when you think you’ve picked up a sensible children’s book, you’ll be thunderstruck by an explosive scene. Seriously, who wouldn’t find that amusing?
Reading children’s books is the key to maintaining an active imagination. They allow you to see the magical possibilities in your world and they keep you young. Plus, if you’ve got kids or grandkids, they are an excellent way to bond with them through magical stories.
I know I’ll keep reading children’s books as long as I have the ability to read. Because we all have a kid inside of us and we need to let it shine through.
1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?| A．The author’s affection for children’s books. |
| B．The different kinds of children’s books of the author. |
| C．The reasons for the author’s purchasing adult books. |
| D．The introduction of books on the author’s bookshelf. |
| A．Children’s books take you to the place you want. |
| B．Children’s books make you believe in Santa Claus. |
| C．Children’s books help you to keep innocence inside. |
| D．Children’s books ensure you get along well with kids. |
| A．It helps us find everything we have lost. |
| B．It should lead us to make new discoveries. |
| C．It enables us to keep a rich imagination. |
| D．It should be much more fun than adult books. |
| A．Read children’s books due to kids. |
| B．Never too old to read a children’s book. |
| C．Improve the reading ability by reading children’s books. |
| D．Build a relationship with kids only through magical stories. |
5 . Hailey Magee rushed home from school crying after seeing that she’d received an A-minus on her grade report card. Growing up she had learned that the way to receive confirmation and love from family members and teachers was to be a high achiever. So to Magee, that A-minus felt like a failure. “I was shattered,” she said. “In that moment, I felt like my self-worth as a human had fallen far below what it would have been if I’d gotten an A or an A-plus.”
Magee’s turning a good grade into a cause of her inferiority (自卑) is a textbook example of a growing trend in recent years: Perfectionist behavior. Perfectionism is now a growing cultural phenomenon. High levels of perfectionism were linked with depression, anxiety, eating disorders, deliberate self-harm and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The constant stress of attempting to be perfect can also leave people stressed and suffering from headaches and insomnia.
Many parents today feel a sense of competitiveness that they may push onto their kids, whether by pressuring them to get perfect grades so they can get into elite schools or signing them up for extracurricular activities that might look good on a college application. But if a child is only rewarded for high achievement, over time they learn that their value as a person depends on being perfect. Instagram, Facebook and other social media platforms also fuel unhealthy comparisons.
“It’s a real problem—those social media images end up serving as yardsticks that people can compare themselves to and a perfectionist is always trying to keep up with the Joneses, ”Sherry, a clinical psychologist, said. And it’s never been harder to keep up with the Joneses, because today we are constantly bombed with seemingly perfect images of other peoples’ lives.
Eventually Magee learned that she had to let go a little and allow herself to show up with all her imperfections. She eventually learned to trust that she could show up, not being perfect, and still feel valued. “I can be imperfect and everything can be fine!”
1. Which of the following best explains “shattered” underlined in paragraph 1?| A．Delighted. | B．Frightened. | C．Frustrated. | D．Amused. |
| A．The unhealthy comparisons. | B．The A-plus confirmation. |
| C．The perfectionism phenomenon. | D．The sense of competitiveness. |
| A．It’s cool to be perfect. | B．It’s fine to be imperfect. |
| C．It’s important to get an A-plus. | D．It’s easy to keep up with the Joneses. |
| A．Perfectionism is killing our health. |
| B．Perfectionism is a growing cultural phenomenon. |
| C．Accepting one’s imperfection is becoming a trend. |
| D．Imperfection is temporary and perfection is forever. |
6 . Everybody hates rats. But in the earthquake capitals of the world—Japan, Los Angeles, Turkey—rats will soon be man’s new best friends.
What happens after an earthquake? We send in rescue dogs. Why? Because they can smell people. They help rescuers to find living people. But dogs are big and they can’t get into small spaces. So now a new research project is using a smaller animal to save lives: the rat.
How does it work? First, the rat is trained to smell people. When this happens, the rat’s brain gives a signal. This is sent to a small radio on its back and then the rescuers follow the radio signals. When the rat’s brain activity jumps, the rescuers know that someone is alive. The rat has smelled that person.
Although there are already robots which can do this job, rats are better. Christian Linster at Cornell University, New York, says, “Robots’ noses don’t work well when there are other smells around. Rats are good at that.” Rats can also see in the dark. They are cheaper and quicker to train than dogs, and unlike robots, they don’t need electricity!
The “rat project” is not finished, but Julie Ryan of International Rescue Corps in Scotland says, “It would be fantastic. A rat could get into spaces we can’t get to, and a rat will get out if it isn’t safe.” Perhaps for the first time in history, people will be happy to see a rat in a building, but only after an earthquake, of course.
1. Why are rats used after an earthquake?| A．To get into small spaces. |
| B．To replace man’s rescue jobs. |
| C．To provide food for people trapped in buildings. |
| D．To locate the people alive trapped in buildings. |
| A．The measures taken by the rat. | B．The unusual behavior of the rat. |
| C．The smell given off by the person. | D．The signals sent by the radio on the rat’s back. |
| A．The “rat project” has been accomplished. |
| B．People are now delighted to see a rat in a building. |
| C．Today dogs and robots are still in the use of performing rescues. |
| D．Nowadays rats have substituted for dogs in search of people. |
| A．Rats: people’s enemies | B．Rats: people’s best friends |
| C．Rats: people’s rescuers in daily life | D．Rats: people’s helpers after earthquakes |
7 . The cost of living in countries like the U.S., Britain, Australia or France has skyrocketed in recent years. However, if you are willing to leave your country and explore life in other areas, there are many countries boasting an extremely cheap and low cost of living. Check out the following countries when planning your next move.
Ecuador
Ecuador is similar to the United States in many ways, and as a result has become a popular American getaway. It even uses the U.S. dollar for its currency. In this country, it is cheaper to eat out every day than cook for yourself on a budget in the U.S. You can even buy a property for around $50,000 and hi re someone to tend to it while you are away.
Mexico
Although the country is known for its poverty-ridden streets, there are many wealthier areas that provide every facility you might need. You can live off a mere $700 to $800 a month in Mexico, and this includes rent for a nice place, facilities, food, and any sightseeing.
Argentina
Argentina has been a popular tourist destination for many years. It has great restaurants, a rich history, and many places to explore. Not to mention, it is not very expensive to live there. A decent-sized home can cost around $139,000, which is relatively cheap in relation to homes in the United States.
Vietnam
Vietnam has also become a popular tourist destination in recent years. There are many million-dollar luxury homes by the beach, but you can find a modest flat or small home for around $25,000 to $50,000 if you search in the right areas.
1. Which country uses the U.S. dollar as its currency?| A．Ecuador. | B．Mexico. | C．Argentina. | D．Vietnam. |
| A．About $8,400. | B．About $4,800. | C．About $4,200. | D．About $9,600. |
| A．Cheap and low costs of living. | B．Many million-dollar luxury homes. |
| C．Wealthy areas with complete facilities. | D．Great restaurants, a rich history, and many places to explore. |
8 . At 81 years old, Jeanne Daprano is still pushing her body to the limit. She’s still running competitive races, breaking world records and taking on new challenges.“The thing I’m learning about aging is that it’s inevitable,” Daprano said.“I’m not going to escape it. There are two ways to go:You can either press on or give up.”
Daprano grew up in Iowa. Then, she moved to California. As a primary school teacher, she began running in order to keep up with her student.“I was known as a running teacher,” she said.“I had my students do fitness before we studied in the morning and then throughout the day.”Then she began running competitively with 5K and 10K road races before moving to the track. She is now the world record holder in the women’s 75-year-old age group 400 meters and 800 meters. “When I get to the final fi nish line, I want this body to be worn out. I’m not doing this to live to be 100. I’m doing this to be the best I can be today.”
After moving to Atlanta about a decade ago, Daprano met fitness trainer David Buer. Ever since, she’s been coming to his gym, where he tailors workouts for Daprano’s specifc needs.“When she came to me, she was pushing 70 years old,”Buer said.“I’ve worked with other individuals of Jeanne’s age, but she came to me with different goals. She had a unique drive and passion—not just a passion for fitness or athletics but for life in general.”
Last February, Daprano took on a new challenge: her first indoor rowing competition. In classic fashion, she broke the world record in the 80-to-84 age group, rowing 2,000 meters in 9:23:7. For those hoping to either start getting in shape or stay in shape for a long time, she offers this advice: Listen to your body. What are you passionate about? How are you going to keep physically fit and mentally fit? Start where you are. Don’t look ahead or compare yourself to somebody else.
1. What does the underlined word“inevitable” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?| A．Invisible. | B．Abnormal. | C．Impossible. | D．Unavoidable. |
| A．working at a primary school | B．taking fitness training classes |
| C．volunteering in a 5K road race | D．moving to Atlanta |
| A．She was a qualified teacher. | B．She was an unusual woman. |
| C．She was too old to run a race. | D．She was hard to get along with. |
| A．Run right now. | B．Live and learn. |
| C．Follow your heart. | D．Be a good listener. |
9 . Last Saturday, I went to Zhongshan Park for a walk. At the entrance, I saw a little girl with some flowers in her hands. She was walking around to sell the
When I came out of the park, I found the
Moved
On the way home, I was wondering why such a little girl needed to do so. She could have taken my money easily. However, she chose to sell her flowers to get the
| A．bags | B．flowers | C．paintings | D．newspapers |
| A．father | B．mother | C．boy | D．girl |
| A．nobody | B．somebody | C．anybody | D．everybody |
| A．planting | B．cutting | C．watering | D．selling |
| A．or | B．and | C．but | D．so |
| A．by | B．in | C．off | D．for |
| A．pay | B．give | C．send | D．take |
| A．sorry | B．lucky | C．tired | D．pleased |
| A．advice | B．time | C．money | D．trouble |
| A．visit | B．help | C．call | D．miss |
10 . Book Information
Children’s Day is coming. Here is some information about children’s books in our bookshop.
All I Want for Christmas Is You Writer: Mariah Carey Age: for 3-7 years Price: $17.99 It is one of the bestsellers. It brings Christmas joy to readers. Its beautiful lyrics (歌词) will bring that same holiday spirit to readers in this picture-book about a young girl whose wish is for a new little dog. | A Bear’s Year Writer: Kathy Duval Age: for 4-8 years Price: $18. 99 When spring arrives, the mother bear and her kids wake up, and as the weather warms to summer, the mother bear teaches her kids to fish. In autumn, as food grows less, the family prepares for the coming winter. |
The Little Prince Writer: Exupéry. S Age: for 11-14 years Price: $20.99 The little prince lives on a small planet alone. One day he decides to leave his planet in search for the most important thing in his life. At last he finds out the answer from a fox of the Earth: the power of love. | The Only Child Writer: Guo Jing Age: for 5-9 years Price: $22.99 A little girl is lost in the forest. And she follows a deer deep into the woods. She finds herself in a strange world. But both her home and her family are very far away. How will she get back there? |
| A．$17.99. | B．$18.99. | C．$20.99. | D．$22.99. |
| A．Mariah Carey. | B．Kathy Duval. | C．Exupéry. S. | D．Guo Jing. |
| A．All I Want for Christmas Is You. | B．A Bear’s Year. |
| C．The Little Prince. | D．The Only Child. |
| A．a girl lost in the forest | B．a boy’s birthday gift |
| C．a mother panda and her babies | D．a father dog and his babies |
| A．Children’s movies | B．Children’s toys |
| C．Children’s shoes | D．Children’s books |
