1 . Believe it or not, sheep are playing an important role in protecting the ruins of Pompeii, an ancient Roman city that was buried under volcanic ash about 2,000 years ago.
Archaeologists have been digging the ruins for over 250 years, but only two-thirds of the 66-hectare area have been explored, reported CNN. To prevent the unexcavated (未发掘的) parts of the ruins from being naturally damaged over time, archaeologists have turned to a group of 150 sheep for help.
Many grassy hills there are dotted (布满) with the remains of old houses and shops. Grass and other plants can cause problems if they are left to grow on ancient walls and houses. Therefore, the task of these sheep is to eat up the grass, preventing any overgrowth that may harm the ruins. Besides, turning to sheep instead of herbicides (除草剂) costs less and is more environment-friendly.
This sheepy solution is part of the Pompeii Archaeological Park’s protection efforts. Since 2018, new excavations have been launched (启动) in Regio V area, the northern part of the city. It has resulted in exciting discoveries such as frescoes (壁画), a snack shop, and the skeletal remains (遗骸) of people who died in the disaster.
Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Pompeii Archaeological Park, told Go Top News that the sheep initiative (倡议) is a sustainable (可持续的) project that saves money and protects the landscape. Besides, the sheep have become part of the landscape itself, bringing the ancient city back to life. “It’s also something that really gives an idea of what Pompeii was like when it was rediscovered,” said Zuchtriegel. “It was forests, vineyards, sheep and that kind of rural setting, and in the middle of it was Pompeii.”
1. Why do the archaeologists use sheep?| A．To excavate Pompeii quickly. | B．To reduce overgrowth of grass. |
| C．To save herbicides. | D．To promote economy of this area. |
| A．The sheep solution has caused some trouble. | B．It has cost a lot of money to excavate the ruins. |
| C．The discoveries have puzzled archaeologists. | D．Much work has been done to protect Pompeii. |
| A．Helpful. | B．Worrying. | C．Annoying. | D．Doubtful. |
| A．New Discovery in Ruins | B．Sheep Rescuing Pompeii |
| C．Archaeologists’ Achievements(成就) | D．People Worrying about Pompeii |
2 . I’m Zhang Jiabo, 17, from the High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China. For me, September of 2022 was colorful and unforgettable. So many amazing events happened in my life during that month.
First, I organized a badminton competition at the beginning of the month, which left some very precious (珍贵的) memories. Moreover, I joined a World Wildlife Fund translation project and the main activity for this project is to translate English articles about environmental protection into Chinese. It sounds difficult, but thanks to the many helpful members of our group, everything has gone smoothly so far.
The badminton competition was so meaningful for me—I learned a lot from organizing it. I strengthened my management skills and discovered a new organizational method by the end of the game. For example, I learned for the first time how to keep track of our money correctly. After the badminton competition, I realized that we only needed two courts (球场) when the match got to the final round. Next time, I will use the money more wisely during the process of preparation.
Moreover, through the translation project I learned how to negotiate (协商) with others. Since there are so many people in the translation project, we needed to manage our work according to each person’s condition at that time. Although the process was difficult, it was an excellent chance to enhance my ability to negotiate. It also helped to strengthen my time management skills.
Even though there were problems and obstacles (阻碍) along the way, I’m still very happy that I challenged myself with these events and made friends because of them. I will keep on moving forward and devote (投入) my efforts to such projects in the future, and hopefully become an even better organizer and team player in the end.
1. What can we learn from the first two paragraphs?| A．The author won a badminton competition. |
| B．World Wildlife Fund reported the author’s event. |
| C．September of 2022 impressed the author deeply. |
| D．The author needed to translate some Chinese articles. |
| A．To strengthen the importance of courts. | B．To show the difficulty he met. |
| C．To introduce the badminton competition. | D．To explain he gained experience. |
| A．Improve. | B．Limit. | C．Change. | D．Affect. |
| A．Selfish but creative. | B．Brave and humorous. |
| C．Out-going but careless. | D．Positive and determined. |
3 . The Bedford School has held activities to celebrate the Chinese New Year before the winter vacation—this time with a unique change compared to other years. The celebration is a blend (融合) of traditional food, calligraphy, and a performance using Chinese instruments.
The school’s Chinese Society introduced an art form that attracted the students: Chinese calligraphy. The students were surprised at the combination (结合) of visual art and the interpretation (解读) of literary meaning as they wrote Chinese characters with grace. And they tried their best to make what they wrote correct and beautiful. The students also enjoyed delightful Chinese New Year foods, including spring rolls, rice cake, dumplings. They ate fish-shaped sweets with great enjoyment, symbolizing abundance (富足) for the coming year as the Chinese character for “fish” can also mean “surplus”. The idea behind this is that if we manage to have something left over at the year’s end, then more can be made in the new year. Keeping with tradition, the students exchanged red envelopes filled with sweets, symbolizing good luck and prosperity (繁荣). In Chinese culture, the color red symbolizes good luck and good fortune for the year ahead. This is why red decorations are used during many important cultural festivals and significant events.
Due to(由于)China’s rocketing economy and reputation (声誉), Chinese New Year has become a worldwide event. The Bedford School provided a great opportunity for the students to gain (获得) a deeper understanding of Chinese tradition and culture.
1. What can we know about the celebration of this year?| A．It celebrated the winter vacation. | B．It focused more on Chinese traditional cultures. |
| C．It was aimed at raising school’s reputation. | D．It was celebrated the same way as before. |
| A．The writing time. | B．Teachers’ attitude. |
| C．The beauty of the characters. | D．The school’s Chinese Society. |
| A．To get pocket money. | B．To enjoy delicious fish. |
| C．To keep with tradition. | D．To expect a rich new year. |
| A．China’s role in the art world. | B．Chinese calligraphy. |
| C．Chinese instruments. | D．China’s fast development. |
4 . A visit to one of the New Seven Wonders of the World can be one of the most exciting and unforgettable vacations you and your family can take. For a quick introduction of the Wonders, this text presents only four of the historic sites.
Giza Necropolis of Egypt
Located (位于)about 12 miles from Cairo, Giza Necropolis features (以……为特色) the Great Pyramid and the Great Sphinx of Giza and is about over 4,500 years old. It is easy to take public transportation from Cairo but families should consider booking a personal guide or group trip from a tour operator such as Go Travel Egypt or Viator.
Great Wall of China
With a history dating back to 476 BCE, the Great Wall stretches (绵延)13,170 miles across China. The most famous and most visited section of the Great Wall is Badaling. A number of tour operators can be found in Beijing, with recommendations including Viator, Great Wall Hiking and Discover Beijing Tours. Admission (门票费) to Badaling is just 45 Chinese Yuan(about $7.50)but a guided tour from Beijing starts at around $75.
Petra of Jordan
Rediscovered in 1812, Petra was the fourth century BCE capital of the Nabataean empire. Known for its intricate (错综复杂的) carvings into a sandstone mountain, Petra was a business center, located between the Dead Sea and the Red Sea. Tours to the Lost City can be arranged in Israel or from Anman, the capital and largest city of Jordan 150 miles to the north.
Colosseum of Italy
Located in the ancient center of Rome, the Colosseum started to be built in 72 CE and was finished in 80 CE. Till today, the Colosseum is still the largest amphitheater (圆形竞技场) in the world. Guided tours are easy to find from a number of operators but tickets for self-guided tours can be bought on site for 12 euro.
1. What can Viator probably do for tourists?| A．Lend money to them. | B．Offer wonderful partners. |
| C．Arrange their work schedules. | D．Provide tour service. |
| A．Petra of Jordan. | B．Colosseum of Italy. |
| C．Great Wall of China. | D．Giza Necropolis of Egypt. |
| A．They are new sites. | B．They attract only young people. |
| C．They provide guides. | D．They feature ancient civilisation. |
5 . A giant origami (折纸艺术) “snail” gets a Guinness World Record. Filled with
This
Making a giant paper “snail” isn’t
Another
“Gold foil paper symbolizes the beauty deep within people’s hearts. Therefore, I hope that everyone who sees this artwork can feel the
| A．creativity | B．curiosity | C．friendship | D．power |
| A．heaviest | B．thickest | C．largest | D．highest |
| A．frightening | B．interesting | C．amazing | D．confusing |
| A．damaging | B．unifying | C．cutting | D．burying |
| A．weight | B．length | C．size | D．sight |
| A．hard | B．famous | C．suitable | D．easy |
| A．brick | B．paper | C．medal | D．statue |
| A．failure | B．success | C．effort | D．trouble |
| A．simplest | B．impressive | C．important | D．obvious |
| A．strategy | B．problem | C．schedule | D．proposal |
| A．refer to | B．focus on | C．lead to | D．apply for |
| A．flat | B．thick | C．small | D．narrow |
| A．exchange | B．carve | C．organize | D．fold |
| A．experiments | B．measures | C．references | D．arrangements |
| A．demand | B．regret | C．advance | D．light |
6 . “Few articles change owners more frequently than clothes. They travel downwards from grade to grade in the social scale with remarkable regularity,” wrote the journalist Adolphe Smith in 1877 as he traced a coat’s journey in the last century: cleaned, repaired and resold repeatedly; cut down into a smaller item; eventually recycled into new fabric. But with the improvement in people’s living standards, that model is mind-boggling in the era of fast fashion. The average British customer buys four items a month. And it is reported that 350,000 tonnes of used but still wearable clothes go to landfills in the UK each year.
Yet the gradual revival of the second-hand trade has gathered pace in the past few years. At fashion website Asos, sales of vintage clothes (古董衫) have risen by 92%. Clothing was once worn out of necessity, and now it is simply a way of life. Busy families sell used items on eBay, teenagers trade on Depop and some fashion people offer designer labels on Vestiaire Collective. Strikingly, it has become big enough business that mainstream retailers (零售商) want a slice of the action.
For some buyers and sellers, the switch to the second-hand is born of financial difficulties. Only a few have become worried about the impact of their shopping habit on the planet. But the shift is only a partial solution. Some people worry that some mainstream brands may “greenwash” — using second-hand goods to improve their image, rather than engaging more seriously with sustainability.
However, the biggest concern may be that people keep buying because they know they can resell goods, still chasing the pleasure of the next purchase but with an eased conscience (愧疚). Boohoo, a powerful fast fashion company, has seen sales and profits rise, despite concerns about environmental problems in its supply chain that led to an investigation last year.
A new Netflix series, Worn Stories, documents the emotional meanings that clothes can have: Each old item is full of memories. Actually, a handbag from a grandmother and a scarf passed on by a father are both valuable for us. A love of style is not a bad or an unimportant thing. But a committed relationship is better than a quick flash. Can we learn to appreciate our own old clothes as well as others’?
1. What does the word “mind-boggling” underlined in paragraph 1 probably mean?| A．Unbelievable. | B．Popular. | C．Reasonable. | D．Influential. |
| A．old clothes are more popular than new pieces |
| B．the online second-hand markets are booming |
| C．the fashion world begins to favor vintage clothes |
| D．many clothing brands are innovative in their new products |
| A．It makes people feel free to pursue fast fashion. |
| B．It makes people more cautious about their budgets. |
| C．It encourages people to choose eco-friendly clothes. |
| D．It pushes people to be more engaged with sustainability. |
| A．Old items have lost favor with the public. |
| B．Old items are worthy of being long cherished. |
| C．Older generations attach great importance to old items. |
| D．Older generations care about the quality of their clothes. |
7 . Anew study reports that a mosquito’s sense of smell is more complicated than we once thought. And it may explain why this annoying insect is so good at seeking you out at a barbecue or in your bedroom and biting you—as well as lead to new strategies to prevent the potentially deadly diseases transmitted by its bite.
Meg Younger, a neuroscientist at Boston University, is co-author of the study. She exhales(呼气)gently into one of the mosquito-filled cages. A waft of carbon dioxide blows across the insects, and they go wild. “And now, they’re looking fora target like the complex mixture of human body smell—a smell that’s attractive to the mosquitoes,” Younger explains.
In many parts of the world, this attraction isn’t merely an annoyance for humans. It’s a major health problem. Mosquitoes transmit diseases to humans. These diseases include dengue, Zika, chikungunya fever and malaria. The last disease alone causes over half a million deaths each year.
So scientists have attempted to break this attraction. But try as they might, the little mosquito has resisted. “They’re really good at what they do,” Younger says. Most of what we know about the neuroscience of smell comes from mice and fruit flies, where the wiring is fairly simple. Each neuron(神经元) in the nose has one kind of receptor(感受器) that detects a single kind of smell—say, a banana. And all the neurons with receptors for the banana smell connect to the same part of the brain. Younger and the others studied mosquito brains, where she found that each neuron has multiple receptors that can detect multiple smells.
This work could give researchers additional ways to battle the insects like developing traps that contain new smell mixtures that are more appealing than people.
“It’s an enormous study,” says Josefina del Marmol, a neurobiologist at the Harvard Medical School. She says there’s more work to be done to check. neuron by neuron, that each one actually responds to all the smells it has receptors for. But regarding the central finding, she says, “It really does change a lot about what we know of how insects perceive the world.”
1. Why does Younger exhale into a mosquito-filled cage?| A．To keep targeted mosquitoes alive. | B．To confuse the experimented mosquitoes. |
| C．To experiment on mosquitoes’ sense of smell. | D．To see if breath contributes to disease transmission. |
| A．They have a clearer smell mechanism. | B．They have more neurons to detect smells. |
| C．They have bigger brain parts focusing on smell. | D．They have more smell receptors in each neuron. |
| A．It may have found an ideal way to study insects. |
| B．It inspires new methods to prevent mosquito bites. |
| C．It proves the previous assumption about mosquitoes. |
| D．It sheds light on how mosquitoes transmit diseases. |
| A．It is a big step forward. | B．It has many weaknesses. |
| C．It is far from impressive. | D．It has a worldwide influence. |
8 . Mary Dickins had been a member of the audience at poetry nights before and knew “the poetry clap”. She made a polite tapping of fingers. But when she made her debut (首次演出) as a performer at the age of 62 at the legendary Bang Said the Gun night in south London, she said, “It was so wild — like nothing I had ever seen before.” The audience stamped their feet and shook shakers. “It felt transformative. I thought, ‘I’ve got to have more of this,’ ” Dickins said. Becoming a performance poet has given her a place on a stage of her own making.
All her life she has written, mostly without being seen or heard. Her mother died when she was nine, and, after she went into a care home at 13, Dickins’ writing stayed in notebooks. Really, she says, a lot of her adult life has been about getting over childhood shyness. At university — she studied education — she met her husband of 40 years, but in three years of seminars she did not say a word. Some of this results from her years at the children’s home. She says, “It gave me a sense of what it’s like to be excluded. I never fitted in anywhere.”
After she graduated, she discovered that she loved working with people with learning disabilities. She became an expert in inclusive education. “That was my niche (称心的职业),” she says. She published books and returned to the University of North London as a senior lecturer in early childhood studies.
Dickins now sees that in adulthood she has been giving herself permission to be silly. “The sillier I allow myself to be, the better the writing is,” she says. Her observations are humorous.
“Putting things into words and giving shape to your emotions is an important part of coming to terms with the things that happen in life,” she says.
Does she still feel like an outsider?
“I think I’ve made it into a virtue. I celebrate the fact that I don’t fit into a box. Finally! You have to wait till you’re 62 to feel confident!” she says. “But I have a sense of who I am and I'm proud of it. I wouldn’t be anyone else now — and it took me a long time to say that.”
1. How did Dickins feel about her debut?| A．Calm. | B．Awkward. | C．Stressed. | D．Encouraged. |
| A．Her immature writing style. | B．Her experience at the care home. |
| C．Her struggle with her university studies. | D．Her difficult relationship with her husband. |
| A．It makes her land a good job. | B．It sharpens her sense of humor. |
| C．It enables her to get on well with her life. | D．It helps her overcome her learning disabilities. |
| A．Mary Dickins’ New Start after 60 | B．Mary Dickins’ First Performance |
| C．Mary Dickins’ Troubled Writing Career | D．Mary Dickins’ Impact on Performance Poets |
9 . Typing.com is an online typing tutor for students of all ages. Typing.com’s proven curriculum helps students from beginners to advanced learners, focusing on technique, accuracy, and speed. The following are some frequently asked questions about typing on our website.
How long does it take to type without looking at the keyboard?An average student without learning differences will learn to touch type within eight to ten hours. They may be touch typing at a very slow speed (8-15 words per minute).
Is it bad to look at the keyboard when typing?Yes. Not only does it prevent you from practicing your fingering, but it also slows you down and makes you type less accurately. It's far more difficult to notice mistakes when you're not looking at the screen.
How do you get faster at typing?The most important technique to learn to type faster is touch typing. This is a technique based on developing muscle memory for your fingers.
How can I learn to type correctly?Focus on accuracy rather than speed. Use the entire keyboard correctly. Learn some keyboard shortcuts. Practice every day.
How do I increase my typing speed?Arrange your fingers properly. The most important step in improving your typing speed is ensuring that you place your fingers correctly on the keyboard. Rest the index finger (食指) of your left hand on the “F” key and the index finger of your right hand on the “J” key.
Is typing.com free?Typing.com is a free online typing tutor and digital literacy (读写能力) platform used by millions of students and education professionals around the world. We aim to provide valuable learning tools to as many school teachers and students as possible.
1. What do we know about typing.com?| A．It charges very little. | B．It is suitable for every student. |
| C．It helps to improve writing skills. | D．It can automatically correct typing errors. |
| A．Managers. | B．Salesmen. | C．Athletes. | D．Teachers. |
| A．To promote a typing website. | B．To share typing experience. |
| C．To correct typing mistakes. | D．To teach typing skills. |
10 . Compassion (同情) literally means “suffering together”. Among many emotion researchers, it is
Compassion is not the same as empathy (共鸣), though the two concepts are
When we feel compassion, our heart rate slows down. Then a chemical is produced in our body and
Compassion often comes in two forms, which vary
When we
Compassion tends to have a
| A．applied | B．adjusted | C．advertised | D．defined |
| A．stay | B．relieve | C．blame | D．tell |
| A．interesting | B．helpful | C．related | D．typical |
| A．emotions | B．character | C．tastes | D．spirit |
| A．quit | B．help | C．learn | D．endure |
| A．casually | B．oppositely | C．accordingly | D．potentially |
| A．command | B．avoid | C．consult | D．approach |
| A．depending on | B．standing for | C．putting off | D．bringing about |
| A．pretend | B．appreciate | C．practice | D．lose |
| A．repeating | B．monitoring | C．improving | D．understanding |
| A．looking for | B．going through | C．showing off | D．breaking up |
| A．complicated | B．positive | C．standard | D．possible |
| A．well-being | B．doubt | C．responsibility | D．barrier |
| A．tolerant | B．friendly | C．generous | D．delighted |
| A．demand | B．skill | C．reward | D．secret |
