1 . In the summer of 2021, the Pacific Northwest experienced a severe heatwave that caused widespread panic and destruction. Temperatures reached record levels, including 114℉ in Portland.
A heatwave, born over the Pacific, drifted inland and grew in intensity, creating a heat dome. Ice was the first victim, and as snowpacks melted, glaciers released fast flowing muddy water that flooded towns. Salmon, sensing the water temperature change, began migrating early. But then they struggled to breathe as the rivers warmed. Vegetation was next—unable to escape the heat, it struggled to hold water. Bighorn sheep moved to higher ground, doves panted like dogs, baby eagles jumped to their deaths in an attempt to fly to escape overheating with their siblings.
In 72 hours, the official number of human deaths was 1,000—but the actual number is likely higher, especially among the elderly, poor, and medically vulnerable. The town of Lytton, British Columbia was burned down when temperatures there hit 121℉. Over a billion sea creatures met their deaths over the three days.
Such a heatwave in the Pacific Northwest had been thought to be as likely as snow in the Sahara. But then it happened. Right now, scientists can’t predict where or when such heat will appear next, but they do know that occurrences such as this are a direct result of human activities. As fossil-fuel burning increases levels of heat-trapping gases like carbon dioxide, the planet warms. Heat is the prime mover of climate chaos, melting ice, . drying soil, , and even reviving ancient bacteria from thawed permafrost (永冻土解冻).
Humans might be able to engineer their way out of anything—cities like Los Angeles and Paris are already working to deflect (使偏斜) sunlight and have more shade trees. But there are limits to adaptation for Earth’s population of nearly 8 billion. Parts of the Middle East and South Asia are already too hot for humans in summer.
1. How is the impact of the heatwave presented in Paragraph 2?| A．By telling a story. | B．By listing examples. |
| C．By giving a definition. | D．By making comparisons. |
| A．Protected. | B．Disturbed. | C．Healthy. | D．Weak. |
| A．People considered the heatwave in the Pacific Northwest as common. |
| B．Such heat will certainly appear again as a result of human activities. |
| C．Los Angeles and Paris have already helped themselves out of heatwaves. |
| D．The earth’s adaptability to heatwaves has limits with such a large population. |
| A．Temperatures Reaching Record High | B．Human Activities Causing a Heatwave |
| C．A Heatwave Hitting the Pacific Northwest | D．Panic and Destruction Caused by a Heatwave |
2 . Our ship sailed on the sea into the Earth’s night. Here, there was no visible light from the Sun or the Earth Engines. But as we looked up, we children saw the starry sky for the first time in our lives. How breathtakingly beautiful it was!
Ms Xing put an arm around us while pointing at the sky with her other hand. “Look, children! That is Proxima Centauri (比邻星), our new home!” With these words, tears ran slowly down her face. Before long, we were all in tears—even the captain and crew. We all looked in the direction that Ms Xing was pointing. There was only one point of light among the twinkling stars that shined constantly: Proxima Centauri—the only source of hope and comfort for a hundred future generations. “Whatever risks we might take, we will finally make it there!” said the captain, in an assured voice.
On our way back from the sea, we saw the first sign that Earth had begun its journey. In the night sky, a huge comet had appeared. It was the Moon, abandoned by humankind. Lunar Engines had been installed to the Moon to force it out of its orbit so that a disastrous crash could be avoided as the Earth sped up and moved away. As it progressed, the gravitational tide of the Moon caused the ocean to swell, creating gigantic waves. We quickly got off the ship to our destination in the Southern Hemisphere. The next few days were the countdown to our departure.
Finally came the big day! As Earth Engines was set at a full power, we got immediately blinded by the bright light from it. This acceleration created massive tsunamis hundreds of meters high that crashed onto the coasts of every continent. Burning hot hurricanes roared through the boiling waves, screaming with wild fury and pulling up almost every tree on Earth.
Our Earth, with its blue tail cutting through the darkness of space, had set out on its long journey, and with it went all of humankind.
1. Why did we all cry when looking up into the sky?| A．Because we had to abandon the Earth. |
| B．Because we were fascinated by the stars. |
| C．Because we saw our new settlement. |
| D．Because we felt lonely in the universe. |
| A．To protect the Earth from a deadly impact. |
| B．To make sure the Moon runs in its orbit. |
| C．To keep the moon at the same speed as the Earth. |
| D．To shelter humans from the tide of the Moon. |
| A．Smooth and steady. | B．Endless and hopeless. |
| C．Exciting and entertaining. | D．Ambitious and adventurous. |
| A．A personal diary. | B．A science fiction. |
| C．A travel magazine. | D．An academic article. |
3 . Formerly known as Virtual Field Trips, PacSci’s Digital Discovery Workshops bring unique science experiences to you on your own schedule. With a focus on real world applications and spotlighting STEM careers, they bring classroom content to life and support Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Beyond your live class, each program includes a teacher toolkit packed with additional resources such as reading lists, hands-on activity guides, and STEM videos to extend the learning experience.
WHO ARE THESE FORDigital Discovery Workshops are designed for Pre K-12 graders joining from classrooms, library programs, or other community groups. Most programs have a max of 50 students to encourage a high level of interactivity for 1-2 classes per program.
HOW THEY WORKPacSci educators send you a private Zoom link, or join a virtual platform of your choice. Meet your educator for a short tech check, then start your 40-minute live program.
COSTS & BOOKING1-9 participants: $20 per person
10-49 participants: $30 per person
50+ participants: $40 per person
Qualified low-income schools will receive a 70% discount. Programs should be booked at least 2 weeks in advance.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED● One computer with a screen and speaker
● Internet connection
● Access to your selected virtual platform, such as Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet
● A webcam and microphone
● An adult must be present to help facilitate
Click on the link below and check out our Program Requirements and Pre-Program Checklist for more details.
1. Who will most probably sign up for the program?| A．A Pacsci educator. | B．A field trip guide. |
| C．A 9th grader. | D．A community librarian. |
| A．$90. | B．$180 | C．$210. | D．$300. |
| A．A mobile phone. | B．Connected Internet. |
| C．Selected teams. | D．A peer friend. |
4 . As a young girl growing up in France, Sarah Toumi dreamed of becoming a leader who could make the world a better place. Her passion to help others was awakened when, from the age of nine, she accompanied her Tunisian father to his birthplace in the east of the country during holidays. There she organized homework clubs and activities for children.
Toumi witnessed first-hand the destructive effect of desertification. “Within 10 years rich farmers became worse off, and 10 years from now they will be poor. I wanted to stop the Sahara Desert in its tracks.” A decrease in average rainfall and an increase in the severity of droughts (干旱) have led to an estimated 75 percent of Tunisia’s agricultural lands being threatened by desertification.
Toumi recognized that farming practices needed to change. She is confident that small land areas can bring large returns if farmers are able to adapt by planting sustainable crops, using new technologies for water treatment and focusing on natural products and fertilisers (肥料) rather than chemicals.
In 2012, Toumi consolidated her dream to fight the desert. She moved to Tunisia, and set up a programme named Acacias for All to put her sustainable farming philosophy into action. “I want to show young people in rural areas that they can create opportunities where they are. Nobody is better able to understand the impact of desertification and climate change than somebody who is living with no access to water.”
By September 2016, more than 130, 00 acacia trees had been planted on 20 pilot farms, with farmers recording a 60 per cent survival rate. Toumi estimates that some 3 million acacia trees are needed to protect Tunisia’s farmland. She expects to plant 1 million trees by 2018. In the next couple of years, Toumi hopes to extend the programme to Algeria and Morocco.
1. How did Toumi’s holiday trips to Tunisia influence her?| A．They fired her enthusiasm for helping others. |
| B．They helped her better understand her father. |
| C．They made her decide to leave the country. |
| D．They destroyed her dream of being a teacher. |
| A．Cold weather. | B．Soil pollution. | C．Low rainfall. | D．Forest damage. |
| A．To create job opportunities for young people. |
| B．To facilitate the protection of their farmland. |
| C．To persuade the farmers not to use fertilizers. |
| D．To help the children obtain a basic education. |
| A．Patient and honest. | B．Selfless and humorous. |
| C．Devoted and selfless. | D．Positive and responsible. |
5 . On a steamy July day in Bayonet Point, Florida, Gene Work and his brother-in-law, Mark Rouco, were resodding (重新铺草皮) Gene’s yard.
The lawn had grown
Gene, then 40, wasn’t feeling right. He went inside to take a break and
If the sod wasn’t
Soon Pasco County Fire Rescue arrived and took Gene and Melissa to the hospital, leaving Rouco behind to
He’s home now, fully recovered — and enjoying his beautiful lawn. The Works are still
| A．black | B．brown | C．white | D．green |
| A．lay | B．collapsed | C．sat | D．threw |
| A．glaring | B．coming | C．staring | D．cutting |
| A．yard | B．heat | C．job | D．lawn |
| A．put down | B．pulled over | C．let out | D．dealt with |
| A．interrupting | B．begging | C．recommending | D．recalling |
| A．construct | B．manage | C．tackle | D．supervise |
| A．anticipated | B．estimated | C．assumed | D．feared |
| A．when | B．before | C．after | D．then |
| A．got out | B．turned up | C．settled down | D．went away |
| A．gratefully | B．significantly | C．badly | D．logically |
| A．gathering | B．removing | C．decreasing | D．relieving |
| A．amazed | B．motivated | C．frustrated | D．fascinated |
| A．comparison | B．description | C．duration | D．intention |
| A．brilliant | B．awful | C．awesome | D．influential |
6 . Shane Grammer’s artwork can be found in cities in Mexico, South Korea, Dubai and beyond.In the past years, it’s the murals (壁画) he painted on damaged walls throughout the town of Paradise, California that have gained attention and touched viewers.
In 2018, the Camp Fire, the deadliest wildfire in California’s history, swept through Paradise, flattening entire communities, killing scores of people, and displacing tens of thousands. Grammer,whose hometown was just 15 miles from Paradise, was living with his family and working in the Los Angeles area when he saw accounts of the destruction on his friends’ social media pages. A single mother he knew shared a photo of ash and rubble where her home once stood. A childhood friend’s post showed her burned-down house. After he saw a photo of a friend Shane Edwards’ home, which had been reduced to a brick wall with only a chimney standing, he was driven to paint it.
With Edward’s permission, Grammer then used spray paint to transform Edwards’ burnt chimney into a strikingly black-and-white portrait of a woman, a piece he called “Beauty Among the Ashes.” Once the image was posted on Instagram, the victims of the fire, especially, could not contain themselves. “You bring beauty and hope.” one posted. Over three months, the 47-year-old created a series of more than a dozen spray-painted murals on the remains of buildings and vehicles rendered useless by the flames. The images included a victim of the fire, a young girl who survived but lost her house, and a series of religious characters.
As a street artist, Grammer has committed his life to creating more art installations (装置艺术) all over the world that connect people through tragic life events. He has started a foundation called the Art Through Hope Foundation where he intends to bring peace through his art to those affected by tragedy. “I want to do something powerful and make art that emotionally influences people,” said Grammer in an interview with KRCR. “I think any artist would consider that as their ultimate goal. And to me, that is the biggest miracle I feel like.”
1. What has led to Grammer’s rise to fame?| A．The Art Through Hope Foundation. | B．The post of a burnt-down house. |
| C．His paintings on the ruins in Paradise. | D．His art installations all over the world. |
| A．To record the wildfire. | B．To bring hope to the victims. |
| C．To add beauty to the ashes. | D．To remember his friend's home. |
| A．Creating touching art. | B．Working miracles in art. |
| C．Bringing peace through art. | D．Doing something powerful. |
| A．From Ashes to Art: Street Artist’s Murals of Hope |
| B．From Paradise to Worldwide: Street Artist’s Journey |
| C．From Tragedy to Hope: the Story of Shane Grammer |
| D．From Mural to Miracle: Shane Grammer’s Art Mission |
7 . Boracay, Philippines
Boracay is a tiny island and its main attraction is “White Beach”, a perfect postcard white sand beach surrounded by palm trees, dive shops, bars and restaurants. Our favourite seat to enjoy the sunset is “Diniwid Beach” located to the north of White Beach. After the perfect sunset, choose a bar to enjoy live music and party all night long.
Santorini, Greece
Santorini offers a unique landscape of beaches in exotic (异国的) colors of black, red and white, a product of volcanic sand. Imagine swimming in the warm mythic Aegean sea, with volcano and sunsets as a background. The island architecture is very distinctive, churches are built into caves and the whitewashed
houses, blue-domed churches and paved paths are astonishingly beautiful.
Lofoten Island, Norway
The Lofoten Islands are a wonderful sight indeed. With deep bays and splendid mountains, this is a wilderness unequalled in its beauty, where giant sea eagles soar. Milder in climate than their position suggests, visitors are attracted to the islands to experience the Northern Lights and Midnight Sun.
Saint John Island, Caribbean
Life moves at a slower pace here, where wildlife abounds (大量存在). The National Park dominates here, covering more than half of the island. It is just nine miles from one end to the other and with countless bird species to spot and dolphins in the warm Caribbean waters, it's no surprise that this is a destination that draws nature lovers. This is a place to rest and relax.
1. What do the first two places have in common?| A．They can swim in the sea. | B．They can enjoy sunset. |
| C．They can enjoy live music and party. | D．They can experience the Midnight Sun. |
| A．See giant sea eagles soar. | B．See churches built into caves. |
| C．Spot various birds and dolphins. | D．Enjoy live music and party all night. |
| A．On Boracay island. | B．On Santorini island. |
| C．On Lofoten island. | D．On Saint John island. |
8 . In a policy address to lawmakers, Japan’s Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, said the country’s population problem was a case of solving the issue “now or never”, and that it “simply cannot wait any longer because it can affect social functions”.
“In thinking of the sustainability and inclusiveness (包容) of our nation’s economy and society, we place child care support as our most important policy,” he said, adding that he wants the government to double its spending on child-related programs, and that a new government agency would be set up in April to focus on the issue.
Japan has one of the lowest birth rates in the world, and it recorded fewer than 800, 000 births in 2022 for the first time since records began in 1899. The country also has one of the highest aging of population in the world; in 2020, nearly one in 1, 500 people in Japan were age 100 or older, according to government data.
These trends have driven a growing population problem, with a rapidly aging society, a shrinking workforce and not enough young people to fill the gaps in the stagnating (停滞) economy. The country’s high cost of living, limited space and lack of child care support in cities make it difficult to raise children, meaning fewer couples are having kids. Experts point to the pessimism young people in Japan hold towards the future, many frustrated with work pressure and economic stagnation.
How about other parts of East Asia? South Korea recently broke its own record for the world’s lowest birth rate, with data from November 2023 showing a South Korean woman will have an average of 0.79 children in her lifetime-far below the 2.1 needed to maintain a stable population. Japan’s birth rate stands at 1.3, while the United States is at 1.6. Meanwhile, China’s population shrank in 2022 for the first time, adding pressure to its economic growth.
1. With the falling birth rate, what’s the attitude of the Japanese government?| A．Surprised. | B．Anxious. | C．Embarrassed. | D．Indifferent. |
| A．The limited space. | B．The trend of aging population. |
| C．The lack of child care support. | D．The work pressure and economic stagnation. |
| A．Serious population crisis. | B．Ignorance of the birth rate. |
| C．Weak care services for children. | D．Potential harm to children’s health. |
| A．a tour guide. | B．a science fiction. |
| C．a job advertisement. | D．a official government website. |
9 . On December 16,2023, the first section of Maya Train officially opened, which runs between Campeche and Cancun, carrying up to 231 passengers across 290 miles and stopping at 14 train stations.
Built as an ambitious effort to promote tourism and boost Mexico’s economy, the rail system connects the major cities and tourist regions of the Yucatan Peninsula -from Cancun’s beaches to Tulum’s archaeological wonders. Once the project is completed, the entire rail system will link tourist destinations across five states. However, environmentalists and archaeologists argue that the train route will cause great damage to the environment and ancient Mayan sites.
The Maya Train passes through six UNESCO World Heritage sites and thousands of archaeological sites. One particular area of concern is the Calakmul reserve, which is home to many endangered species, such as jaguars and over 500 other animal species. The train lines, more than 60 meters wide, could act as artificial barriers that may make it difficult for these animals to move around and access food and water sources.
Opponents also express safety concerns. Certain sections of the rail system will be built right on top of the aquifer’s (地下水层的) weakest points of contact with the surface. “It’s like wanting to build over eggshells.” says Guillermo Christy, a water treatment consultant. “Putting trains weighing thousands of tons on top could cause the underground caves to crash down.” To construct the train infrastructure (基础设施) also requires driving long piles deep into the ground, which poses a big threat to this weak ecosystem and leads to water shortages.
In the ongoing debate of Maya Train, it is crucial to consider the delicate balance between economic development and environmental preservation. While Maya Train may provide economic benefits, we must not ignore the potential environmental and cultural losses, as well as the safety risks it may bring. Achieving harmony between progress and conservation may be a significant challenge for the project, but we must take into account the long-term consequences of our actions.
1. What is the purpose of the Maya Train project?| A．To help protect the environment. | B．To promote Mexico’s economy. |
| C．To connect tourist regions across states. | D．To give easy access to Mayan sites. |
| A．The movement of species may be limited. | B．Animals may have communication barriers. |
| C．The living habitats of species may be reduced. | D．The reserve may have food and water shortages. |
| A．To prove the urgency of protecting the ecosystem. |
| B．To illustrate the difficulty of constructing the rail lines. |
| C．To explain the reasons for water shortages along the railway. |
| D．To stress the potential harm of Maya Train to aquifer system. |
| A．Cautious. | B．Opposed. | C．Favorable. | D．Indifferent. |
10 . In my 40s, I received a call from my father. He’d been
Somehow my uncle, an insurance man from Huron, South Dakota, made his way to the Mayo Hospital in Minnesota, where doctors were
By the time the University of Toronto team of doctors, who invented insulin (胰岛素), won a Nobel Prize in 1923, Uncle Charles had been back in Huron. The
Undoubtedly, this family
One day when I was in my 20s, I returned home from college,
For 20 years, I
| A．setting up | B．tidying up | C．messing up | D．taking up |
| A．books | B．essays | C．letters | D．newspapers |
| A．accident | B．decision | C．virus | D．sentence |
| A．testing | B．checking | C．introducing | D．producing |
| A．make | B．avoid | C．afford | D．fake |
| A．drug | B．operation | C．diagnosis | D．trip |
| A．contact | B．secret | C．gene | D．connection |
| A．refreshed | B．exhausted | C．excited | D．frightened |
| A．remind | B．promise | C．convince | D．inform |
| A．shock | B．expectation | C．relief | D．confusion |
| A．swallowed | B．invented | C．injected | D．selected |
| A．recently | B．instantly | C．barely | D．partly |
| A．light | B．market | C．hospital | D．life |
| A．fearful | B．hopeful | C．regretful | D．grateful |
| A．sick | B．useless | C．alone | D．afraid |
