1 . WHY SHENNONGJIA?

As we know, in 2016, Shennongjia made it on to the UNESCO World Heritage List. But there are so many important places not yet on this list. So you might ask: why Shennongjia?

UNESCO awarded Shennongjia this status because it meets two criteria required by the list. It contains a naturally-balanced environment that allows the many and various species to live and prosper. It is also one of the rare locations in the world where scientists can observe in real time the ecological and biological processes that occur as the plants and animals develop and evolve.

For the first criterion, Shennongjia is apparently one of the most “complete” natural areas in the world. The region rises from about 400 metres to over 3, 000 metres above sealevel, giving it the name the “Roof of Central China”.

For the second criterion, we can see that Shennongjia has incredible biodiversity. Look at this slide. According to official statistics, over 3, 000 plant species have been recorded there. This represents more than ten percent of China’s total floral richness.

It is a challenge to look after so many species. In winter, scientists brave heavy snow and freezing temperatures to supply food to the Golden Snub-nosed Monkey. Thanks to their efforts, the monkey’s population has doubled since the 1980s.Their number reached over 1, 300 in 2015 and continues to grow.

But the most impressive aspect of Shennongjia is the local people, who take things from nature without causing damage. I visited a local village which is known for its home-made honey. What is special about the honey is that it is produced by the earliest species of Chinese bee. All of this explains why Shennongjia earned—and deserves—its place on the UNESCO World Heritage List, as well as highlighting how understanding, awareness and hard work have contributed towards protecting a unique and wonderful part of our natural world.

1. Why is Shennongjia included in the UNESCO World Heritage List?

A．Because its forests stretch on and on like great green seas.

B．Because it is the legendary father of Chinese herbal medicine.

C．Because it satisfies the two requirements for the status.

D．Because it has the mysterious creature called “Yeren”.

2. Shennongjia is also called the“          ”.

A．Roof of Central China	B．Roof of Northern China
C．Roof of Eastern China	D．Roof of Southern China

3. How does the author think of the scientists in Shennongjia?

A．Patient.

B．Careful.

C．Confident.

D．Hard-working.

4. According to the text, what impressed the author most?

A．A local village.	B．The local people.
C．Some special monkeys.	D．The wild bees.

2 . Any creature or person that has both organic (与有机体有关的) and non-organic body parts can technically be considered a cyborg. This means that anyone who has a pace-maker to control their heartbeat, or a cochlear implant (耳蜗移植) to restore their hearing, could technically be called one.

The above are examples of “restorative” cyborgs, because technology is restoring an ability that a healthy human would normally have. More recent advancements in this field include robotic arms and legs, which are controlled by sensors (传感器) to receive muscle signals. Recently, brain implants have allowed disabled people to perform simple computer tasks.

But with these rapid advances in technology, another variety of cyborg will soon become more common— ‘Advanced’ cyborgs. If it’s possible to make man-made body parts which are as good as their organic ones, then surely it will become possible to make ones that are even better.

Possible cyborg advancements that may exist in the future include man-made joints which increase your speed and strength. Advanced brain chips (芯片) which allow you to control machines with a thought. Or visual implants which improve your eyesight or allow you to see colors that can’t be seen previously to the human eye.

However, some people worry that this technology could be dangerous. New ways of exciting the pleasure centers of people’s brains could lead to new forms of addiction. Others worry that it could lead to inequality in healthcare, with the high cost of implants causing the wealthy to gain further advantages over the poor.

Implants which restore the abilities of those who are injured are a wonderful medical advancement. But as physical enhancements that allow people to do more and live longer become more common, the choice will be between combining with machines or being left behind.

1. Which of the following is a cyborg?

A．A pace-maker.	B．A robot with strong arms.
C．A brain implant.	D．An animal with a robotic leg.

2. What ability may an advanced cyborg have according to the text?

A．Seeing more colors than normal people.	B．Directing people with brain.
C．Creating the man-made joints.	D．Repairing the organic body parts.

3. What can we infer from the text?

A．The poor could gain new addiction.	B．The wealthy could live longer than the poor.
C．Cyborgs no longer need healthcare.	D．Cyborgs could avoid any form of injury.

4. Where can the text be found?

A．A report on a robotic project.	B．A fictional novel on cyborgs.
C．A fitness and well-being brochure.	D．A magazine on new science.

4 . The Yellow River is the cradle of China’s civilization. And flood control and prevention have always been key to the well-being of the people living along it. Now, scientists can better work on these issues by giving the river a digital twin.

The digital twin of the Yellow River uses various technologies, including big data, artificial intelligence, and the internet of things. Devices (设备) set up along the river collect and transmit information to the center. Based on the information, a 3D model of the river is presented on the computer screen. It’s like the Yellow River has a twin that reflects its real conditions.

One big breakthrough in the river’s digital governance (治理) is “smart stones”. According to Wang Qin, a lead researcher at the Information Center of Yellow River Henan Bureau, a smart stone is a water-proof stone-shaped device with chips, a battery, and a signal transmitter. They are buried in important dike (堤坝) locations to record and report the movement of dike stones. “Upon feeling movement of the dike stones, the smart stone sends an alarm to the center for quick response,” Wang said.

“In the past, researchers had to learn the conditions of the dike on the spot by themselves, putting their lives at risk,” said Zhao Xiao from the bureau. “Now the smart stones can do this for us, more safely, quickly, and accurately.”

And in the sky, drones (无人机) are flying. On the routes designed by engineers, the drones become expert patrollers (巡逻员) of the river, looking at its dikes and flood prevention projects. According to Shen Lin from the Yellow River Conservancy Commission, thanks to the drones, researchers at the command center can get first-hand photos and information. “Researchers then update the 3D model according to the changes the drones reported. The newly updated model helps us test our floodwater release plans in case we ever need to batten down the hatches (未雨绸缪), ”said Shen.

Under the water and up in the sky, intelligence systems are helping to protect the Yellow River Basin on all fronts. According to the Ministry of Water Resources, in the future, we can expect to see the construction of an even more comprehensive digital system for this important river.

1. What is the main purpose of creating a digital twin of the Yellow River?

A．To conduct historical research.

B．To create a virtual tourist attraction.

C．To raise public awareness of river protection.

D．To improve flood control and prevention efforts.

2. How do the smart stones contribute to the river’s digital governance?

A．They record water quality.

B．They improve the river’s beauty.

C．They monitor and report dike movements.

D．They serve as markers for important locations.

3. What is one of the functions of drones in the digital governance of the Yellow River?

A．Entertaining tourists.	B．Collecting information on dike conditions.
C．Patrolling and take wildlife photos.	D．Testing water quality.

4. What does the under lined word “comprehensive” in the last paragraph probably mean?

A．Complete.

B．Basic.

C．Beautiful.

D．Natural.

5 . My first job was at a fast-food restaurant called Carroll’s in my hometown. One spring day my next-door neighbor _________ me to apply for work with her there, and I agreed to have a try.

One little _________ was that I wasn’t 16 yet, so I just changed my birth date on the application from July to _________. Luckily, they didn’t ask for any ID to prove my _________, because there were few applicants for the job. Both of us were _________.

The pay was _________, only $1.60/hour with no tips. I worked at the _________ and only boys were allowed to work in the kitchen. I got a chance to make milkshakes, though, which I considered kind of fun. I also _________ the relationships with all the other workers, who were mostly easy-going teenagers.

It was great to _________ different diners. The restaurant was located on a __________ entryway into town, so all kinds of people came in. One day a man in plain clothes __________ but ordered many signature dishes. When he came to my counter to check out, I was __________ to find he was my idol.

Besides __________ about my age, I also failed to inform the manager that I was leaving in June to attend summer camp, so my first job only lasted a few __________. It has been long gone, but the __________ in the restaurant remains a sweet memory of my life.

1.

A．allowed

B．invited

C．forbade

D．taught

2.

A．topic

B．mistake

C．difficulty

D．opportunity

3.

A．March

B．June

C．August

D．October

4.

A．address

B．age

C．name

D．face

5.

A．fired

B．interviewed

C．refused

D．accepted

6.

A．low

B．high

C．enough

D．good

7.

A．counter

B．door

C．park

D．toilet

8.

A．damaged

B．ignored

C．enjoyed

D．missed

9.

A．help

B．thank

C．recognize

D．encounter

10.

A．hidden

B．secret

C．distant

D．major

11.

A．woke up

B．gave up

C．turned up

D．looked up

12.

A．surprised

B．ashamed

C．disappointed

D．frightened

13.

A．worrying

B．lying

C．complaining

D．arguing

14.

A．days

B．hours

C．months

D．years

15.

A．food

B．service

C．payment

D．experience

7 . Do you think you are too old to do something? Just go online and ________ the video of John Harrison doing the 50m backstroke in 2014.

He ________ the 100-104 years world record by 15 seconds! Yes, you read that ________. The 100-104 years group! A time of 1:29.78. The first ever British man to set records in that age group. The applause (掌声) is long-lasting and heartfelt from all the crowd. A(n) ________ moment.

John loved swimming. He still tried to keep ________ by swimming in his last years before he passed away at the age of 105 in January 2020. Many of John’s friends speak ________ of him saying he was a “wonderful man”.

John was born in Farnborough on 25 July, 1914. And his ________ in swimming was unusual. “When I was five years old, on the way home from school, I came across a small pond,” he said ________, “so I went swimming. It taught me two things. One, to swim; and two, not to drink the water.”

“My parents ________ two years later that I was still doing it. They were ______ at first. But their anger soon ________” when I said, “I didn’t get asthma (哮喘病) last winter. They then bought me a costume and ________ me swimming skills.”

However, John didn’t start swimming ________ until his wife told him to stop teaching swimming and life-saving classes and ________ the sport for himself at the age of 79. From then on, he didn’t look back and was full of praise for everyone who ________ him during his successes.

1.

A．change

B．watch

C．use

D．make

2.

A．broke

B．held

C．quit

D．put

3.

A．carefully

B．proudly

C．correctly

D．freely

4.

A．interesting

B．brief

C．private

D．amazing

5.

A．safe

B．close

C．fit

D．warm

6.

A．simply

B．highly

C．openly

D．lightly

7.

A．position

B．belief

C．start

D．success

8.

A．humorously

B．angrily

C．finally

D．shortly

9.

A．guessed

B．discovered

C．hoped

D．repeated

10.

A．happy

B．curious

C．sad

D．mad

11.

A．began

B．increased

C．disappeared

D．remained

12.

A．taught

B．forced

C．advised

D．reminded

13.

A．competitively

B．dramatically

C．comfortably

D．necessarily

14.

A．work out

B．take up

C．depend on

D．go through

15.

A．found

B．answered

C．supported

D．introduced

9 . In 2005, Rachel O’Neill, of Rockwood, Michigan, was working full-time as an assistant in an engineering company. While _______ in a local charity, she’d never done any global volunteering. But after a travel in Africa for her fiftieth birthday, followed by a trip to Malawi, she said, “I felt I had to do something more.”

She was struck by the heavy work done by girls to _______ their families. “I wanted a way to honor them,” she says. She _______ a few women at her local church to make 1,000 simple _______, which were _______ to girls in Malawi.

Rachel _______ her goal that first year. As word spread, donations _______ in. “Dresses started coming every day from all over the country!” Rachel says. In 2008, without any _______ , she started a nonprofit organization called Little Dresses for Africa, with a goal of getting simple homemade dresses for girls(and pants for boys)in _______ communities, where people hardly change their ________ for a year.

So far, more than 10 million dresses have been donated to children in 97 countries, including the United States, though Africa remains a focus. The nonprofit runs a distribution center in Malawi and works ________ with community leaders there to distribute donated dresses and pants, which have proven the key to keeping girls in school.

“Nearly half of Malawi’s population is under age 14,” Rachel says, “We are ________ meeting their needs. For dress designs and donating information, go to littledressesforafrica.org. We only ask people to make high-quality, colorful clothes. ” She also asks for money to ________ shipping costs, estimated at $2 a dress. ________ donations have allowed Little Dresses for Africa to address other needs, including building more than 85 wells and two primary schools. “I couldn’t have done any of this on my own,” Rachel says, “But when you step out in ________ , miracles(奇迹)may happen.”

1.

A．active

B．internal

C．elegant

D．primitive

2.

A．load

B．preserve

C．support

D．form

3.

A．interrupted

B．prevented

C．persuaded

D．warned

4.

A．dresses

B．cakes

C．books

D．trousers

5.

A．led

B．donated

C．floated

D．leaked

6.

A．set

B．achieved

C．lost

D．had

7.

A．flooded

B．froze

C．dived

D．took

8.

A．experiment

B．exposure

C．evidence

D．experience

9.

A．simple

B．harmonious

C．royal

D．poor

10.

A．customs

B．hairstyles

C．clothes

D．possessions

11.

A．violently

B．directly

C．severely

D．hurriedly

12.

A．apart from

B．far from

C．absent from

D．tired from

13.

A．cover

B．charge

C．shelter

D．remove

14.

A．Urgent

B．Distinct

C．Generous

D．General

15.

A．trouble

B．danger

C．faith

D．silence

10 . No matter how many times Sandy has rescued an animal, she never gets over the casual cruelty some people display toward unwanted pets. When she lost her own “angel” dog, she started Logan’s Legacy to help other pets in need.

Sandy recently received a phone call about a small dog, possibly a puppy, that had been abandoned on a street. Since she was too far to help on, she called a friend who lives nearby to get there as soon as possible. When her friend Tom arrived, he found a tiny dog curled(蜷缩)in a tight ball with the chain firmly tied to a tree. Someone had left food and water for her, but the puppy was too frightened to eat or drink. Once gathered up in a blanket and placed into the back seat of the car, she began to get weak quickly from dehydration(脱水)and exhaustion.

The moment she got some water and food, the puppy made a rapid recovery, and her lovely and sweet personality could finally shine! “We have named her CiCi,” Sandy added, “She is feeling so much better. She has been observed at my place and she is doing great. This sweet baby girl will never feel fearful again, and won’t ever be abandoned again.” After winning hearts at Sandy’s office, CiCi has been approved for adopting and will soon leave for her new life. Sandy and her fellow rescuers are trying their best to find her the perfect family to love her and treat her with the respect all living creatures deserve!

1. What did Sandy feel it hard to overcome?

A．The casual humanity.	B．The cruelty of humanity.
C．The kind human nature.	D．The weakness of kindness.

2. How was the dog’s condition when first found?

A．She suffered a serious illness.

B．She had nothing to eat or drink.

C．She got lost far away from home.

D．She was scared and in poor health.

3. What will be CiCi’s probable future life?

A．She will stop taking medicine.

B．She will continue further treatment.

C．She will have a perfect match for home.

D．She will get on well with Sandy forever.

4. What can be the best title of this passage?

A．A Warm Home for CiCi

B．Dog Saved Heart Fulfilled

C．A Terrible Experience of CiCi

D．Saving Dogs Saving Themselves