1 . Anyone watching the Winter Olympics in Beijing, China has seen lots of snow-man-made snow. Since the area gets little natural snow, this is the first time the Winter Olympics is taking place on almost 100% artificial(人造的)snow.

2022 Winter Olympics was held in Beijing, China, and in two areas northwest of Beijing, Yangqing and Zhangjiakou. The areas get cold in the winter, but they don’t get a lot of snow.

That’s because they’re not far from the Gobi Desert, and are generally very dry. That meant some serious changes were needed to hold the Winter Olympics there. China took water from a reservoir(水库)which helps supply Beijing’s drinking water. To carry the water to the mountains for making snow, the country ran miles and miles of pipes.

An Italian company called TechnoAlpin created the snow. TechnoAlpin created artificial snow at several earlier Winter Olympics. For the snow in 2022 Winter Olympics, TechnoAlpin laid over 40 miles of pipe and brought in hundreds of snow-making machines. Even with all of those machines, making the snow for 2022 Winter Games took seven weeks.

Still, the machines that make artificial snow are quite advanced and they can make several different kinds of snow depending on what’s needed for each sport. For example, the snow they make for downhill skiing is different from the snow made for cross-country skiing.

In recent years, it has become more and more common to use artificial snow at winter sports events. Some artificial snow was used in the Winter Olympics in 2010 and 2014 because of warm weather. In the 2018 Games in PyeongChang, South Korea, roughly 90% of the snow was man-made.

As the world warms because of climate change, problems like this are expected to become far more common. Michael Mayr, who leads TechnoAlpin in Asia, says, “You could not have winter sports now without man-made snow.”

1. Why do the areas like Beijing fail to get much snow?”

A．They are far from the desert.	B．A reservoir was built there.
C．It’s usually too dry in winter.	D．Mountains surround the areas.

2. What is Paragraph 4 mainly about?

A．Materials used for snow making.	B．Efforts to create artificial snow.
C．An Italian machine producer.	D．The cost of laying pipes.

3. What does the underlined word “they” in Paragraph 5 refer to?

A．Games.

B．Machines.

C．Athletes.

D．Workers.

4. What can we infer from Michael Mayr’s words?

A．Artificial snow plays a key role in winter sports.

B．Climate change is getting worse due to artificial snow.

C．It’s far more difficult to fight against global warming.

D．Man-made snow makes winter sports more popular.

3 . Machine learning is a way of teaching computers to do tasks. In the past, to do anything computers depended on detailed, step-by-step instructions written by a person. But with machine learning, computers pick up new skills on their own, using examples or experience. This makes machine learning a powerful form of artificial intelligence, or AI. AI is the ability of a machine to think or learn like a person. AI systems power many kinds of machines—from smartphones to robots.

There are a few types of machine learning. The most common is supervised (监督) learning. In this method, a computer is fed lots of labeled (标记的) training data. For example, it may look at many photos of dogs. Each photo might be labeled with the dog’s breed (品种). By studying those photos, the computer learns what each breed looks like. Then, the computer can pick out dog breeds in new, unlabeled photos. The more data the computer studies, the better it gets at its task.

Another important kind of machine learning is reinforcement (强化) learning. Using this type of learning is kind of like training your dog. The computer learns to achieve some goal by interacting (互动) with its environment. When the computer makes a choice that brings it closer to its goal, it gets a virtual reward (虚拟奖励). Through trial and error, the computer learns to make better choices. This type of machine learning has helped computers master difficult games like Go and StarCraft Ⅱ. It has also been used to teach self-driving cars how to get around.

Machine learning has helped create technology all around us. It powers language translators and search engines. Machine learning systems also organise posts in social media (社交媒体) feeds. They even help diagnose (诊断) diseases. In many ways, the problem-solving power of machine learning is reshaping the world.

1. What does the underlined phrase “pick up” in paragraph 1 probably mean?

A．Beg.

B．Explore.

C．Require.

D．Master.

2. Why does the author mention dog training in paragraph 3?

A．To encourage self-learning.	B．To show the love for dogs.
C．To explain an idea clearly.	D．To voice his views on AI.

3. Which word best describes the author’s attitude towards machine learning?

A．Positive.

B．Disagreeable.

C．Doubtful.

D．Uncaring.

4. What can we learn about machine learning?

A．It’s different from AI technology.	B．It makes us further know dog’s breed.
C．It will take place of human translator.	D．It has been applied widely in daily life.

4 . Four Best Films for You

Dune

Now at last we have a big-screen Dune that may actually do justice to (恰当处理) Frank Herbert’s science-fiction novel (科幻小说). Directed by Denis Villeneuve, the film runs for 155 minutes and still only covers the first half of the book.

The French Dispatch

It’s the 10th film of Wes Anderson, a writer-director. The French Dispatch tells three short stories set in the fictional French town of Ennui-sur-Blasé, and supposedly drawn from the pages of a New Yorker-style magazine in the mid-20th Century.

Spider-Man: No Way Home

Now that Marvel’s superheroes have saved the universe (宇宙), their next job is obvious: they have to save the multiverse. In the third of the Spider-Man films starring Tom Holland, the teenager accidentally opens a door to many parallel realities (平行现实世界). “What people will be really surprised about is that it’s not fun, this film,” Holland told Total Film. “It’s dark and sad, and it’s going to be really affecting.”

Ron’s Gone Wrong

The first cartoon from a new British studio, Locksmith Animation, Ron’s Gone Wrong is a family comedy (喜剧). The film’s co-writer and co-director, Sarah Smith, said, “In our movie, Barney ends up with Ron, a robot, who’s completely broken, who doesn’t agree with him and doesn’t know anything about him, they have to build this relationship from that point.”

1. Who is the director of The French Dispatch?

A．Tom Holland.

B．Sarah Smith.

C．Wes Anderson.

D．Denis Villeneuve.

2. What type of film is Spider-Man: No Way Home?

A．Science-fiction.

B．Cartoon.

C．Action.

D．War.

3. What’s special about Ron’s Gone Wrong?

A．It’s set in a French town.	B．It’s a family comedy.
C．It’s about superheroes.	D．It’s the longest film.

5 . My wife and I just moved into a new home. One day I found a heartwarming _________ on the glass window of my car from my neighbour Amy Jackson. The note _________ that there was a homeless cat in the neighbourhood that they have been _________ for many years. And they expressed the _________ that we wouldn’t call animal control.

Amy wrote, “You might be new _________ from your neighbour across the street. You have probably _________ the 3 bowls and an orange, white cat in the back yard. His name is ‘Cujo’ and we have permission (准许) from the earlier owner to feed him there.”

The next day Amy _________ me the whole story. Her parents lived on 42nd street for many years and began _________ him nearly 16 years ago when he showed up as a _________ kitten. Cujo used to spend most of his time in their bushes. ____________, Amy’s parents moved to 55th street three years ago. They tried to catch him, but he was far too ____________ for their tricks (把戏). Anyway, the gentleman who owns the house behind ours, kindly offered to let Amy feed him in his yard. Cujo has weak teeth and can no longer kill wild animals for food, so he can only eat the daily canned food she ____________.

I promised I wouldn’t call animal control because he should ____________ his last days in a familiar environment. Amy said he was rather sensitive (敏感的) actually, so I had better just clap (拍手) my hands at him and he should ____________.

What an amazing person. Such a selfless ____________ to care for a homeless cat in his final years.

1.

A．flower

B．note

C．bag

D．book

2.

A．checked

B．agreed

C．ordered

D．explained

3.

A．raising

B．watching

C．understanding

D．praising

4.

A．discussion

B．comment

C．request

D．promise

5.

A．parents

B．couples

C．drivers

D．owners

6.

A．noticed

B．bought

C．placed

D．took

7.

A．left

B．asked

C．told

D．sold

8.

A．cleaning

B．feeding

C．meeting

D．sheltering

9.

A．helpless

B．happy

C．trapped

D．hidden

10.

A．Usually

B．Still

C．Besides

D．However

11.

A．powerful

B．smart

C．obvious

D．weak

12.

A．puts off

B．drops off

C．cuts off

D．turns off

13.

A．waste

B．make

C．spend

D．cost

14.

A．turn up

B．show off

C．come on

D．go away

15.

A．experience

B．excuse

C．practice

D．act

7 . Mr. Wang, a landlord (房东) in Liuzhou, Guangxi province, has become famous because of his acts of kindness during the lockdown period of COVID-19.

Mr. Wang had 42 tenants (租户) at that time, about 80 percent of whom were students. Most only brought _______ suitcases, with no room for pots to cook with. Because of the COVID-19, they were not allowed to _______, making mealtime a big _______.

Having seen his young tenants _______ on fast food, Mr. Wang decided to cook meals for them free of charge. He bought as many vegetables as possible in the community and told his tenants via WeChat that he also could _______ them dinner each day. His idea was warmly welcomed. The tenants placed their _______ in the WeChat group every day, and Mr. Wang prepared their meals accordingly.

His wife and old mother also _______ him to wash vegetables and dishes. Although there were food supply problems at the beginning of the lockdown, Mr. Wang still _______ to buy some meat for his hungry young tenants.

Mr. Wang received as many as 35 orders a day. Some of the tenants wanted to _______ him for the dinner but were refused. Mr. Wang said he cooked the meals not for ________ but to help those in need.

With the tenants’ ________in mind, Mr. Wang divided the orders into small ________so that they could take their dinner one by one while keeping two meters from each other.

Greatly ________ , the tenants reported his kindness to the local media, making him well- known overnight. Hearing of his generosity, many people offered to give Mr. Wang money to help feed his young tenants, but Mr. Wang ________said no.

Mr. Wang has decided to ________his help for the tenants until the lockdown is over, or at least until takeout food is possible to order.

1.

A．empty

B．simple

C．clean

D．new

2.

A．stay up

B．watch over

C．go out

D．call back

3.

A．claim

B．punishment

C．manner

D．problem

4.

A．moving

B．trusting

C．living

D．working

5.

A．offer

B．collect

C．apply

D．have

6.

A．forks

B．orders

C．gifts

D．books

7.

A．stopped

B．begged

C．joined

D．hired

8.

A．failed

B．survived

C．managed

D．pretended

9.

A．pay

B．call

C．text

D．see

10.

A．trouble

B．family

C．respect

D．money

11.

A．time

B．safety

C．action

D．brain

12.

A．lines

B．places

C．branches

D．groups

13.

A．trapped

B．stressed

C．recovered

D．moved

14.

A．legally

B．equally

C．typically

D．politely

15.

A．charge

B．cancel

C．continue

D．thank

8 . In July 2021, astronauts on board the International Space Station (ISS) planted pepper seeds as part of an experiment to test which plants could be successfully grown in space. The peppers were harvested four months later, and the team celebrated with a party and taste test.

For astronauts living mostly off prepackaged foods for months at a time on the ISS, fresh and flavourful produce is welcomed. With long missions to the Moon and Mars in focus, NASA is working to find sustainable ways for astronauts to enjoy fresh foods, which will add key nutrients to their diets and improve their state of mind.

Astronauts have grown radishes, zinnias and a variety of lettuces on board the ISS before, but this is the first time they grew peppers, which posed a new challenge, reports Elizabeth Howell for Space. com.

Biologists at the Kennedy Space Centre spent two years picking the perfect pepper. They wanted to try peppers because they’re a great source of vitamins and nutrients, and they can be eaten raw or cooked. Plus, peppers are fairly low maintenance to grow.

In June, a carrier delivered supplies to the ISS along with a package of 48 pepper seeds. Astronauts on board planted the seeds in a microwave oven-sized growing container. The conditions in it—such as lighting, watering and air circulation—were controlled by a crew based at the Kennedy Space Centre. On board, the astronauts collected data and offered feedback on the flavour of the peppers.

“This is important because the food astronauts eat needs to be as good as the rest of their equipment,” LaShelle Spencer, a plant scientist at NASA, said over the summer. “To successfully send people to Mars and bring them back to Earth, we will not only require the most nutritious foods, but the best tasting ones as well.”

1. Why did astronauts attempt to plant pepper in space?

A．There were no enough food for astronauts.

B．Only pepper can grow in space.

C．Pepper can grow better than other plants.

D．Humans wanted to test which plants can grow in space.

2. What special benefits does pepper have relative to other plants?

A．It needn’t too much later care.	B．Its nutrients are the highest.
C．The vitamins in it are the most.	D．It improves their state of mind most.

3. What does the underlined word “it” refer to in paragraph 5?

A．Package.

B．Container.

C．Seed

D．Microwave.

4. What can we infer from the text?

A．The idea that pepper is grown in space is silly.

B．Astronaut need special nutrition to keep the best state of mind.

C．Pepper can’t be eaten cooked in space but it can be eaten raw.

D．It is the carrier that is in charge of sending feedback on the peppers.

9 . Debra Avery has been a horse lover since she was a little girl in San Diego. Her family couldn’t afford a horse of its own, so Debra borrowed rides at the local horse-riding center, gaining the confidence only found atop a horse. Years later, Debra remembered those early days, and the lessons she learned with the horses at the riding center, and wanted to help other young women get the benefits of connecting with horses. “I always wanted to run a horse program for girls like me,” says Debra. “I wanted to help them gain the courage to be around a horse and to care for a horse.”

One day at the Los Angeles Horse-riding Center, as Debra rode beside fellow rider Judith Hopkins, she mentioned an inheritance from her father-in-law and her desire to use it to serve disadvantaged girls. Judith had the same dream -and a name for the organization.

They founded Taking the Reins (TTR) in 1998. The organization serves more than 400 young women per year in after-school, weekend, and summer programs that feature horse riding and care, gardening and even competitive horse showing. Most participants live below the poverty line and often have not had reliable housing for more than six months. Few have previous horse experience.

TTR uses farm and ranch experiences to teach responsibility, leadership, teamwork, and self-confidence. Director Dr. Jane Haven says, “A large number of our girls are somewhat lonely. I can’t count how many of them have found their first social friends thanks to sharing this hobby and activity. Horses bring them out in such a wonderful way.”

Jane also sees members of TTR program excel in school-100 percent of young women involved for four years or more have graduated from high school. Ninety-nine percent of those participants have gone on to attend four-year colleges.

Debra sees a more obvious impact—after a few weeks in the TTR program, the young women sit a little higher on horseback. “There’s just something about sitting up on the back of a horse that gives them a boost of confidence.”

1. What influenced Debra’s early life?

A．her family

B．her fellow rider

C．school lessons

D．horse riding

2. What programs does TTR offer?

A．Horse riding and showing.	B．Horse care and farming.
C．Pet care and gardening.	D．Weekend hiking and camping.

3. In what way has TTR changed its members’ life?

A．They have been given financial aid.

B．They have been provided with reliable housing.

C．They have grown into professional horse riders.

D．They have achieved academic excellence.

4. What can we learn from the last paragraph?

A．TTR is a profit-making organization.

B．TTR program lasts a few weeks.

C．The girls’ confidence grows quickly.

D．The girls can ride taller horses.

10 . Charles Plumb, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, was a jet fighter pilot in Vietnam. After 75 combat missions, his plane was________by a surface-to-air missile. Plumb ejected (弹出) and parachuted into enemy hands. He was________ and spent six years in prison in Vietnam. He survived and now________about lessons learned from that experience.

One day, Plumb and his wife were sitting in a restaurant when a man at another table came up and said, “You’re Plumb! You________jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were________!”

“How in the world did you know that?” asked Plumb.

“I________your parachute,” the man replied. Plumb gasped in surprise and________. The man pumped his hand and said, “I guess it worked!”

Plumb assured him, “It________did. If your parachute hadn’t worked, I wouldn’t be here today.”

Plumb couldn’t sleep that night, thinking about that man. He says, “I wondered how many times I might have________ him on the Kitty Hawk. I wondered how many times I might have seen him and not even said‘Good morning, how are you’, or anything________, you see, I was a fighter pilot and he was just a________.”

Plumb thought of the many days the sailor had spent on a long wooden table in the bowels (深处) of the ship________working on each parachute, holding in his hands each time the________of someone he didn’t know.

Plumb asks his________, “Who’s packing your________? Everyone has someone who provides them with what they need to________it through the day.” Plumb also says that he needed many kinds of parachutes when his plane was shot down. He needed his________parachute, his mental parachute, his emotional parachute, and his spiritual parachute. He called on all these________before reaching safety. His experience reminds us all to________and be kind to people who pack our daily parachutes, and strengthen us to go through________times.

1.

A．destroyed

B．followed

C．spied

D．seen

2.

A．released

B．wounded

C．killed

D．caught

3.

A．concerns

B．lectures

C．studies

D．hears

4.

A．flew

B．created

C．repaired

D．cleaned

5.

A．taken down

B．looked down

C．shot down

D．set down

6.

A．bought

B．held

C．found

D．packed

7.

A．anxiously

B．suspiciously

C．gratefully

D．sadly

8.

A．surely

B．almost

C．narrowly

D．nearly

9.

A．helped

B．passed

C．trained

D．encouraged

10.

A．so

B．unless

C．because

D．though

11.

A．captain

B．sailor

C．pilot

D．technician

12.

A．carefully

B．indifferently

C．worriedly

D．unwillingly

13.

A．death

B．fate

C．will

D．chance

14.

A．wife

B．children

C．waiters

D．audience

15.

A．luggage

B．parachute

C．bag

D．goods

16.

A．see

B．look

C．make

D．put

17.

A．psychological

B．safe

C．imaginary

D．physical

18.

A．supports

B．emotions

C．spirits

D．people

19.

A．award

B．overlook

C．amuse

D．recognize

20.

A．happy

B．comfortable

C．tough

D．cosy