1 . What if we had the power to control time, instead of moving from the past to the present to the future? What if we could jump, loop and travel through time in a machine? What if we could go wherever and whenever we pleased?

This ability would allow us to witness historic wonders, change decisions and see people from the past. We could right wrongs and stop wars from starting.

The mysterious puzzle of time has kept people debating its nature for hundreds of years. Science fiction writers have turned it into imaginative stories. Some scientists have even attempted to explain it using math. This math tries to make the dream of time travel come true.

The scientist Albert Einstein said that time and space are one thing. He called it “spacetime”. Einstein said that there are three dimensions in space: height, width and depth. A scientist named Hermann Minkowski added time as a fourth dimension.

Einstein introduced two ideas that have led to theories about the possibility of time travel. The first is relativity. The idea of relativity is that the force of gravity causes space to bend, which causes time to twist. The second idea focuses on special relativity. The idea is that a traveler moving super-fast through flat spacetime will enter the future. Einstein considered time “relative” because it is measured based on where we are on the earth or in space.

The first science fiction story with this theme is The Clock That Went Backward by Edward P. Mitchell, which was published in 1881. Since then, thousands of books, films and television shows have explored the idea of time travel, in which some tools such as phones, watches, photographs and old books take travelers backward and forward.

Will time travel ever happen? Who knows? The most important thing is to keep your eyes open and have a sense of wonder.

1. What is the author’s purpose of writing the first paragraph?

A．To explain time and space are connected.

B．To show people’s interest in time travel.

C．To draw readers’ attention to time travel.

D．To make people believe time travel is possible.

2. Which of the following statements could Einstein agree with?

A．Time travel is possible in the future.

B．People can’t move faster than light.

C．Time travel is against scientific rules.

D．Spacetime is not a real thing in theory.

3. What is the last but one paragraph mainly about?

A．The first science fiction story.	B．Some tools used in time travel.
C．Edward P. Mitchell, the pioneer.	D．Different works about time travel.

4. What is the writer’s attitude toward time travel?

A．Cautious.

B．Approving.

C．Doubtful.

D．Hopeful.

2 . “On Earth, something is always burning,” experts at the American space agency NASA said. They explain that a wildfire could be started naturally by lightning. However, sometimes people using controlled burns to clear land for farming can accidentally start a wildfire. Between 2003 and 2022, 85 percent of wildland fires in the U. S. were caused by human behavior. This includes leaving campfires burning, burning rubbish, throwing lit cigarettes and starting a fire on purpose.

Wildfires can clear dead and dying plants to help new growth. However, wildfires create large amounts of smoke which is dangerous to breathe. Wildfire smoke contains hundreds of chemical compounds. Smoke from burning houses and buildings contains even more toxic chemicals. An increasing amount of scientific research points to possible long-term health damage from breathing in very small particles (微粒) of smoke. There are short-term issues as well. At-risk people can be hospitalized and sometimes die from smoke.

Officials in the U. S. have been moving quickly to better protect people from the harmful effects of wildfire smoke. However, they find it more difficult to communicate these dangers to people who live thousands of kilometers from the fires. Jeff Pierce is an atmospheric scientist. He said smoke loses its odor (气味), but remains harmful even when it travels long distances. A recent study found that people who live close to fires are more likely to be prepared.

If advised, avoid outdoor activities to reduce your exposure to smoke. Keep doors and windows closed. Run an air filter to clean the inside air. Face coverings, or masks, can protect against breathing in smoke. As with COVID-19, the most effective are N95 masks.

NASA satellite images show that wildfires are now burning on every continent. Large wildfires in Australia and the U. S. often attract the world’s attention. Dan Jaffe is a wildfire smoke expert at the University of Washington. He said, “These fires are going to be burning all summer. In terms of bad air quality, everywhere in the country will be worse than average this year.”

1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?

A．Different reasons for wild land fires.	B．Certain damage caused by lightning.
C．The effect of human actions on nature.	D．The necessity of environmental protection.

2. What does the underlined word “toxic” probably mean?

A．Changeable.

B．Organic.

C．Poisonous.

D．Pure.

3. What can we infer from paragraph 3?

A．Wind makes wildfire smoke travel very far.

B．The danger of wildfire smoke mainly comes from its odor.

C．People living far from the wildfire will suffer little harm.

D．Some people are not fully aware of the risks of wildfire smoke.

4. Why are people advised to wear N95 masks in the last paragraph ?

A．N95 masks can help filter the odor of smoke.

B．N95 masks can decrease the rates flu.

C．N95 masks can improve one’s respiratory condition .

D．N95 masks can block the smallest harmful particles.

3 . The Longtaitou Festival, which means “dragon raises head” in Chinese, is a traditional Chinese festival held on the second day of the second month in the Chinese lunar calendar. So, it’s also called Eryue’er Festival. In Chinese culture, the dragon is an auspicious (吉利的) animal that dominates clouds and rains. The 2nd day of the 2nd lunar month is thought to be the day when dragon awakes and raises its head according to the Chinese folk legend. So the day is called Dragon Heads-raising Day. After the day, spring is coming and there will be more and more rain. People think these credits (功劳) go to the dragon. So the day is also called Spring Dragon Festival. Since the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), Chinese people have had the custom of spending the Spring Dragon Festival.

The most popular custom on the Dragon Heads-raising Day is cutting hair. Dragon is highly honored for its dignity (尊贵) and power for good. It is thought to be auspicious to cut hair on the Dragon Heads-raising Day. Luck and opportunities will always knock you in the year. So, on that day, barbershops’(理发店的) businesses are growing and full of customers.

The most common foods for celebrating the festival are popcorns, pancakes, noodles, dumplings, fired so y beans and pig’s head. People in different areas have different traditions about the food on the day. In Beijing, people eat Lvdagunr (Glutinous Rice Rolls with Sweet Bean Flour) and spring pancakes on the day. In Shanxi, people like to eat fried dough twists (油条) and pancakes. In Shandong, fried so y beans, noodles and dumplings are the festival food. In Fuzhou, the salted porridge made of glutinous rice, celery, scallion, garlic, fry dried shrimps and shredded meat is eaten. These show people’s hope to be blessed (保佑) with favorable weather and plentiful grain harvest by the dragon.

1. Which of the following names is Not consistent with the the Longtaitou Festival?

A．The Eryue’er Festival.

B．Dragon Heads-raising Day.

C．The Spring Dragon Festival.

D．The Double Ninth Festival.

2. Why should the Longtaitou Festival be set on February 2nd in Chinese lunar calendar?

A．It’s a day for dragons to awake and raise head.

B．It’s a day to celebrate the return of warm spring.

C．It’s a day to happily welcome the precious rain.

D．It’s a day to deeply thank the auspicious animal.

3. What message does the traditional custom of cutting hair on February 2nd convey?

A．People’s desire for dignity and power.

B．People’s wish for luck and opportunity.

C．People’s expectation to grow more hair.

D．People’s satisfaction to own good health.

4. What do we know about the food eaten on Longtaitou Festival?

A．Chinese always share the similar food on that day.

B．The spring pancakes are the most popular in Shanxi.

C．The foods show the hope for good weather conditions.

D．The fried soya beans are not popular in Shandong.

4 . I’m 62 now and always planned to _________ with older people when I retired. There was such a big gap in the care and support this generation receives and I found the thought heartbreaking —no one should have to feel lonely and _________ at home.

I started volunteering three years ago. My team of volunteers have _________ seven groups in our town. We host tea parties for those aged 75and older who live on their own and _________ provide support, friendship and companionship for the most isolated (孤独的) older people in the _________.

Working with my older neighbors is _________. To hear their stories and the hardships they have _________ is inspiring. I feel like I’m making a positive _________ to the lives of older people by _________ my time with them, helping them stay active and social and making clear to them that they are __________ by our community.

As an area coordinator (协调人), I also help recruit (招募) and manage volunteers, without whom the work would be __________. So many go above and beyond what’s asked, offering time, __________ and kindness, just because they care. I’ve found enthusiasm from people making the lives of our older neighbors better, and they are a constant source of inspiration for me.

I’ve met amazing people from all __________ of life. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done that __________ my life. I will keep focusing on reducing __________ and isolation among the elderly and helping them enjoy the old age they deserve.

1.

A．remind

B．belong

C．sell

D．volunteer

2.

A．annoyed

B．puzzled

C．stuck

D．confused

3.

A．picked up

B．set up

C．stepped up

D．held back

4.

A．formally

B．extremely

C．likely

D．regularly

5.

A．community

B．school

C．human

D．nature

6.

A．rewarding

B．hardworking

C．embarrassing

D．disappointing

7.

A．forgotten

B．found

C．judged

D．overcome

8.

A．difference

B．comment

C．mistake

D．risk

9.

A．delivering

B．announcing

C．writing

D．sharing

10.

A．assumed

B．valued

C．proved

D．complained

11.

A．common

B．convenient

C．impossible

D．strange

12.

A．habit

B．energy

C．health

D．journey

13.

A．suggestions

B．names

C．walks

D．opinions

14.

A．enriched

B．realized

C．imagined

D．remembered

15.

A．stress

B．understanding

C．loneliness

D．education

5 . Trip 1: Three Days in The Country

There are many beautiful gardens. Take your camera and enjoy the wonderful sight in Hunter Valley. It is a good place for fishing and horse riding. You can also find different kinds of flowers here. This is also a great walk for bird-lovers.

Time: May 20-May 22; Tel: 63986432; Adult: $50.00; Child: $25.00

Trip 2: One Week in The Mountains

Bring your strong shoes and warm clothes for this walk in a beautiful area of the Green Mountains. You may go hiking or have a try of rock climbing. This is also a protection area for wild animals. You can find many kinds of animals living in this area.

Time: May 8-May 14; Tel: 64639818; Adult: $110.00; Child: $55.00

Trip 3: Flashlight Adventure

Put on your warm clothes, bring a flashlight, and come for a night walk along the Dungog Valley. It is a trip full of adventure. A guide will lead the tour. Many of the plants you will see on this trip can only be seen at night.

Time: May 16-May 18; Tel: 63875629; Adult: $30.00; Not for children

Trip 4: Five Day By The Sea

Wear you sun ha t and enjoy wonderful sunshine all the time from morning to evening. Our hotel is next to the sea. We have our own boats too. You can swim in the sea or in the swimming pool. Every day our boat will take you to different places for swimming.

Time: May 23-May 27; Tel: 67538293; Adult: $80.00; Child: $40.00

1. Which trip is advised for bird-lovers?

A．Trip 1.	B．Trip 2.
C．Trip 3.	D．Trip 4.

2. What do trip 2 and trip 3 have in common?

A．Watching special plants.

B．Climbing high mountains.

C．Wearing warm clothes.

D．Starting with a guide.

3. Tom longs to swim with his two children. How much will he pay?

A．$30.	B．$220.
C．$100.	D．$160.

6 . I started collecting shopping lists around 1997. One day, I was shopping for my daughter’s birthday party in St Louis, Missouri, where we lived. After leaving the store, I came across a yellow note in the parking lot. I picked it up and it was somebody’s shopping list. I thought, “That’s interesting. Well, whenever I see one, I will keep it.”

People collect all sorts of things you would never expect. It’s as if all these separate, unimportant things, when put together as a collection, suddenly become revealing. The first list I found was nothing special. But after you see a lot of them, the weird ones stick out. One I found is a long list of stuff and then, in the margin (空白处), someone had written: “If you buy any more rice, I’ll punch you.” Another one says at the bottom: “NO MORE CHIPS, JESSICA”.

The shopping list project started slowly. At first, it was just me and people I knew who would save lists for me. Then, at the beginning of the 2000s, I put it online. At that point, blogs were going mainstream. I had people messaging me, saying, “I work at a grocery store and have my own little collection, but I am not going to do anything with them. Do you want them?”

So I started receiving lists from everywhere in the world. It seemed there was a never-ending supply. At first, I kept my lists in an envelope. Then, as the collection grew, they went to a grocery bag, a cardboard box and finally a large plastic storage bin.

In 2012, I was approached by a publisher who wanted to turn my collection into a book. Then I started going through all my lists, figuring out ways to categorize and interpret them. Lists can tell you all sorts of things about a person. Some of them are organized and divide lists into sections—fruit, vegetables, dairy. Most of them are not. Some are on a budget.

The project is continuing, but it grows more slowly now. People can’t help peeking into the secret lives of others, but technology has made shopping lists more private. Most people use apps, like I do. I guess there might not be another book.

1. How did the author start collecting shopping lists?

A．It was by chance.	B．It was out of interest.
C．It was for his daughter’s birthday.	D．It was inspired by a shopping experience.

2. What can we learn about the author’s shopping list project?

A．It won instant fame.	B．It got worldwide support.
C．It helped solve family conflict.	D．It was funded by a grocery store.

3. Why did the author go through his collection in 2012?

A．To save room for more lists.	B．To make preparations for a book.
C．To dig out stories behind each list.	D．To pick out some lists for a publisher.

4. How is the text developed?

A．By giving vivid examples.	B．By showing relevant facts.
C．By following the time order.	D．By explaining various ideas.

8 . Though you may not know it, about half a billion people worldwide depend on the ecosystems created and supported by corals. And with climate change threatening their survival, marine scientist Enric Sala had an idea that might have seemed impossible.

“We wanted to get into a time machine, go back hundreds of years and actually see a coral reef like they used to be everywhere, before we started exploiting (开发) them, polluting them and killing them all over the world,” Sala said.

The idea was, in essence, made possible during an expedition that Sala led in 2009. The team traveled to a corner of the South Pacific Ocean, and found some untouched reefs.

His team presented their findings to officials in the island country of Kiribati. Then the Kiribati government took steps to protect the waters from fishing and other human activities, but between 2015 and 2016, record levels of ocean warming killed half the coral reefs the team had found.

After hearing that news, they lost hope for the health of coral reefs. But the study continued, and last year, they went in for another dive. Despite the reported conditions, Sala and his team found that the reefs had somehow restored themselves, filled with life and color once more. This resurrection (复兴) is something that Sala says can be traced to two key factors.

The first is, thankfully, half of the corals had not died, as was previously thought. Despite the rise in temperatures, there were enough surviving corals left behind to help reproduce the reefs.

The second factor is the Kiribati government’s decision to fully protect those waters. “There are abundant fish species. They eat all the algae that would smother (窒息) the corals, making it possible for the corals to come back,” Sala explained.

“So if some countries want a future for the fisheries, they need to manage their fisheries in a more responsible way around areas that are set aside to help regenerate the rest of the ocean,” Sala said.

For him and his team, the rebirth of the coral reefs in Kiribati is a beacon of hope among so much pessimism (悲观主义) surrounding the future of reefs.

1. What did Enric Sala want to do according to his words in paragraph 2?

A．Study some untouched coral reefs.	B．Develop technology for time travel.
C．Raise awareness about sea protection.	D．Restore coral reefs to their original state.

2. What led to the death of half the coral reefs between 2015 and 2016?

A．Habitat destruction.	B．Climate change.
C．Water pollution.	D．Biodiversity loss.

3. Which factor helped the coral reefs in Kiribati restore themselves?

A．Fall of ocean temperature.	B．Introduction of new fish species.
C．Official funding for restoration efforts.	D．Sufficient surviving corals for reproduction.

4. What is Enric Sala’s suggestion to some countries?

A．Killing all the algae in the ocean.	B．Reducing dependence on fisheries.
C．Protecting the ocean from overfishing.	D．Strengthening cooperation with scientists.