1 . Human faces cut into stone up to 2,000 years ago have again been found on a rocky area along the Amazon River in northern Brazil. The stone carvings (雕刻品) appeared as a result of a big drop in water levels because of dry weather in parts of northern Brazil. The water level had dropped to the lowest level in the history of the river.
“People had reported some of the stone carvings before during periods when water levels were low. But now a greater number have been identified. That will help researchers establish the history of the carvings, and more secrets of historical relics will come to light,” researcher Jaime de Santana Oliveira said recently.
One area shows smooth marks in the rock thought to be where natives once sharpened their tools such as arrows and spears before European settlers arrived.
“The carvings are prehistoric, or precolonial (殖民地时期前的). We can’t be sure of their precise date but based on the evidence of human living places of the area, we believe they are about 1, 000 to 2, 000 years old.” Oliveira said.
The rocky area is on the north shore of the Amazon River near the place where the Rio Negro River joins it.
Oliveira said the carvings were first seen in 2010, but this year’s drought has been more serious than earlier dry periods. The Rio Negro’s levels have dropped 15 meters since July, uncovering large areas of rocks and sand where there had been no beaches.
“This time we found not just more carvings, but the statue of a human face cut into the rock,” said Oliveira, who works for the Brazilian government’s National Historic and Artistic Heritage Institute. The organization watches the care of historic places in Brazil.
1. What plays a key role in finding the stone carvings?| A．People’s report. | B．Natural disaster. |
| C．High technology. | D．Researchers’ effort. |
| A．Explore the history of historical sites. | B．Move the valuable carvings to safety. |
| C．Discover more underwater stone carvings. | D．Make the carvings popular among visitors. |
| A．Fixed. | B．Exact. | C．Best. | D．Future. |
| A．The human face stone carvings. | B．The number of stone carvings. |
| C．The real value of stone carvings. | D．The place where stone carvings were found. |
2 . Supermarkets, conservationists and farming groups have shown their concerns about pollution of the Wye, one of the UK’s longest rivers. “The pollution pressures upon the Wye are unacceptable and there was strong enthusiasm for cooperative action to resolve the problem.” said Craig Bennett, head of the Wildlife Trusts.
The pollution referred largely to runoff of the nutrient-rich waste matter produced by the 20 million-plus chickens near the river.
Bennett said: “We discussed how, if the Wye were a school or a hospital, we would be calling for it to be placed into ‘special measures’. We agreed the same level of urgency must be applied.”
Increasing concern led the local government to hold a discussion in May, when they promised to publish a plan for the Wye by the autumn. However, the local government’s push on the river was marred in June when the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs published a Wye video showing sea otters (海獺) rather than the river’s local European otters. The pollution of the Wye was not mentioned at all.
In July Bennett hosted a Wye round table in Powys, Wales, bringing together local groups, the Environment Agency, the chicken produce Avara Foodsr, regional branches of the National Farmers Union and local authorities. They agreed on a plan that included cutting the nutrient pollution “through a reduction in animal numbers” and other measures.
Bennett also wrote to Julie James, the Welsh Climate Change Minister, who said, “I share your concern for the health of the River Wye and other Welsh rivers.”
A supermarket chain said they are committed to protecting the river and engaging with their chicken suppliers to tackle water pollution. They have detailed management plans to make sure their suppliers are farming with care for the environment. A government spokesman said: “We are offering a wide range of support to farmers to speed up their transition to more sustainable practices and help protect this important site.”
1. Why does Bennett compare the Wye with a school or a hospital?| A．To call for urgent measures. | B．To stress the impacts of the river. |
| C．To show the importance of the river. | D．To urge people to protect the environment. |
| A．Destroyed. | B．Boosted | C．Perfected. | D．Emphasized. |
| A．Making a careful plan. | B．Reducing animal numbers. |
| C．Arousing people’s awareness. | D．Asking the government for money. |
| A．Sea Otters Are under Attack for Possible Pollution |
| B．Cooperated Efforts Are Made to Protect the Wye |
| C．People Are Having More Environmental Awareness |
| D．More Measures Should Be Taken to Prevent Air Pollution |
3 . Last year, my younger brother Darrin tore the old engine out of his Dodge Challenger. Then he
Later, I asked him about this
Our
Never
| A．discovered | B．rebuilt | C．donated | D．reserved |
| A．detected | B．preferred | C．occupied | D．had |
| A．figure out | B．give away | C．bring up | D．rule out |
| A．property | B．campaign | C．guide | D．project |
| A．correct | B．serious | C．simple | D．funny |
| A．luck | B．option | C．requirement | D．relaxation |
| A．expected | B．forced | C．convinced | D．motivated |
| A．communicated | B．competed | C．experimented | D．disagreed |
| A．sure | B．afraid | C．curious | D．satisfied |
| A．permission | B．courage | C．advice | D．reward |
| A．amazing | B．common | C．confusing | D．strange |
| A．anxiety | B．capacity | C．income | D．impatience |
| A．rarely | B．necessarily | C．originally | D．mostly |
| A．seeking | B．offering | C．affording | D．avoiding |
| A．admit | B．stop | C．fancy | D．keep |
4 . The days of just teaching kids their ABCs are long gone. Modern educators are tasked with the seemingly impossible responsibility of ensuring that today’s youth are academically prepared for life outside the classroom: being self-aware, self-managing, socially aware, relationship-building and responsible decision-makers who positively contribute to society. That is quite an ask!
Social-emotional learning (SEL) answers this call and delivers upon this tall order. It is a method to improve students’ intrapersonal (内心的), interpersonal, and cognitive competence. This process improves individual students’ skills and makes for a community of successful learners willing and able to positively contribute to society. This theory truly allows individuals to develop well.
SEL has effectively predicted positive school adjustment in the school setting, promoted learning engagement, minimized discipline problems, increased high school graduation rates, and promoted future employment and adult health. A core component of SEL is helping children understand their emotions. Further, not only is it vital that youngsters can identify various emotions, but they must also be able to manage the emotions they experience.
Developing an identity is necessary for maturing adults, and SEL satisfies this requirement, In assisting students in developing their identity, SEL helps to increase self-confidence, self-compassion, identification of strengths and needs, and recognition of needs, values, and judgments.
In the classroom. SEL has been shown to positively impact students’ attitudes, behaviors, and academic performance. Further, it decreases negative behaviors, such as being off-task or aggressive, and substance abuse. SEL enhances the learning environment and makes it a safe place for learning.
Not only is SEL critical for students’ mental health, but it is also important for teachers’ mental health. SEL increases teacher-reported effectiveness for behavior management and decreases reports of teacher burnout. Ultimately, SEL creates a calmer classroom environment, which makes educating students much easier.
1. What does the underlined word “That” in Paragraph 1 stand for?| A．Teaching kids their ABCs. | B．Preparing students for life beyond class. |
| C．All the hopes placed on students. | D．Teaching students self-management. |
| A．How to be a successful learner. | B．How to meet the students’ needs. |
| C．What is needed for a community. | D．What is social-emotional learning. |
| A．Giving students a definite identity. | B．Allowing students to predict their future. |
| C．Guaranteeing students’ future employment. | D．Helping students understand and manage emotions. |
| A．It is a win-win method. | B．It is criticized by students. |
| C．It may make teachers tired. | D．It is a magical tool for teachers. |
5 . When Sourabh Jain first became a father to his daughter, he struggled with bonding with her in the beginning. That’s when he realized that games and books are interactive and provide an opportunity to spend hours with her. Thus he began the hunt for games and toys that not only helped him bond with his daughter but also contributed to her cognitive (认知的) development.
During this search, he realized that not only are these toys and games hard to find, but they can also burn a hole in one’s pocket. Another realization was that there is always some amount of plastic in the toys and it is harmful to the environment and the little ones.
While he expected to give his daughter the world, he also wanted to leave behind a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable world for her. Today, he owns The EleFant—a toy rental company, or in Sourabh’s words, “a labor of love”.
Currently, the company has a customer base of more than 250 subscribers with over 2,000 downloads of the application per day. They also have collaborations with 70 toy companies where they source their toys.
Among these 250 subscribers is Rahul Bhauwala who rents toys for his 6-year-old son. “I am a working professional and I hardly get any time to go out and spend hours looking for and buying toys. I could use that precious time to play with my child instead. This is why I love using The EleFant app. They have a wide range of toys which are categorized by age group. The products are very well-packaged and my son loved opening them as it looked like a present to him,” he says.
As for the future, Sourabh says, “Our intention was not to make it an expensive and exclusive service (专属服务). Instead, we aimed to provide an opportunity for everyone to give their children everything in a sustainable manner. The value is kept in this way, emphasizing inclusivity and accessibility for all.”
1. What did Sourabh find when searching for toys for his daughter?| A．Pockets often get damaged by toys. | B．Eco-friendly toys are hard to find. |
| C．Toys could bond him with his daughter. | D．Toys do good to cognitive development. |
| A．Its convenience. | B．Its delivery service. |
| C．Its popularity. | D．Its cheap rental price. |
| A．Producing more toys. | B．Expanding his company. |
| C．Making his service more accessible. | D．Donating toys to poor families. |
| A．Successful and humorous. | B．Generous and modest. |
| C．Talented and creative. | D．Responsible and business-minded. |
6 . NIH Summer Internship (实习生) Program in Biomedical Research (SIP)
This program is to provide a developmental training experience for promising high school students who have expressed a strong interest in or are studying disciplines related to biomedical sciences.
Applicants must be:
* 17 years of age or older
* high school seniors at the time of application
* able to pass the Federal background check
* within 40 miles of the NIH campus on which they will intern if they are 17 years of age (this requirement does not apply to applicants who are 18 and older)
* having American citizenship or permanent residency
For minors under 18 years of age, if required by state or local government law, work permits must be obtained. A written agreement of a parent or guardian is also required.
Complete your application
You must use the NIH Application Center to apply for this program:
1. After you complete the required sections of your profile, you will be asked to select a preferred program. Choose “Summer internships for high school students”.
2. You must select “Apply” next to “High School Summer Internship Program” for your application to be considered for this program.
3. To complete your application, import any relevant information from your profile.
You must also submit:
* Coursework & Exams—a list of coursework and grades
* CV/Resume (简历)—a list of your education, experience, and other relevant history
* Letter/Statement—a cover letter broadly describing your prior research experience, your current interests and career goals
* References—letters containing the names and contact information of two referees
1. What is the purpose of the program?| A．To provide training chances. | B．To offer teenagers job positions. |
| C．To inspire students’ interest in science. | D．To select promising high school students. |
| A．Having intern experience. | B．Majoring in biomedical science. |
| C．Living on or near the NIH campus. | D．Being U.S. citizens or permanent residents. |
| A．Application fee. | B．Reference books. |
| C．Personal photos. | D．Recommendation letters. |
7 . Kim Stemple, a special-education teacher, faced terrible diseases during her stay in a Boston hospital. While
Before Stemple got too sick to
Inspired by this life-changing
Part of the process
| A．wrestling | B．competing | C．quarreling | D．parting |
| A．live | B．heal | C．exercise | D．recover |
| A．cheating | B．clearing | C．breaking | D．reminding |
| A．Casually | B．Desperately | C．Temporarily | D．Surprisingly |
| A．explaining | B．lifting | C．discovering | D．absorbing |
| A．season | B．plan | C．experience | D．solution |
| A．common | B．tough | C．pointless | D．dangerous |
| A．race | B．game | C．secret | D．seed |
| A．collected | B．assessed | C．borrowed | D．bought |
| A．promoted | B．insisted | C．involved | D．shaped |
| A．connection | B．barrier | C．division | D．conflict |
| A．trained | B．stuck | C．operated | D．warned |
| A．document | B．message | C．receipt | D．gift |
| A．threw away | B．put down | C．acted as | D．dropped out |
| A．shy | B．weak | C．tired | D．alone |
8 . The news is everywhere. We can’t stop constantly checking it on our computer screens, but what is this doing to our minds?
The news is committed to laying before us whatever is supposed to be most unusual and important in the world: a snowfall in the tropics; a love child for the president; a set of conjoined (连体的) twins.
The news knows how to operate its own mechanics almost invisible and therefore hard to question. It speaks to us in a natural unaccented voice, without reference to its own perspective. It fails to disclose that it does not merely report on the world, but is instead constantly at work crafting a new planet in our minds in line with its own often highly distinctive priorities.
Why do we, the audience, keep checking the news? Fear has a lot to do with it. After even a short period of being cut off from news, our anxiety has a habit of building up. We know how much is likely to go wrong and how fast: an A380 may have its fuel line cracked and crash into the bay in flames, a virus from an African bat may leap the species barrier and enter a crowded Japanese commuter train, investors may pose a run on the currency and yet another seemingly ordinary father may call a violent end to the lives of his two beautiful young children.
The hum and rush of the news have flowed into our deepest selves. What an achievement a moment of calm now is, what a miracle the ability to fall asleep or to talk undistracted with a friend and what demanding discipline would be required to make us turn away from the messy news and listen for a day to nothing but the rain and our own thoughts. We may need some help with what the news is doing to us: with the envy and the terror, with the excitement and the frustration; with all that we’ve been told and yet occasionally suspect we may be better off never having learned.
1. What does news offer us according to the passage?| A．Its operating system. |
| B．Its preferred world. |
| C．Normal happenings worldwide. |
| D．Objective points of view. |
| A．worried about losing contact with updates. |
| B．anxious about building up a habit. |
| C．curious about an African virus in Japan. |
| D．interested in strangers’ extraordinary lives. |
| A．Talking with a friend is remarkable. |
| B．Listening to natural songs is absolutely impossible. |
| C．Preventing envy and terror is realistic. |
| D．Staying clear of the media is beneficial. |
| A．News is transforming our lifestyle secretly. |
| B．News is becoming a user’s manual. |
| C．News is filling us with growing fear. |
| D．News is enriching our life dramatically. |
9 . In 1986, King Charles suggested talking to plants, a thought initially mocked but now supported by evidence that plants can detect, react to, and potentially produce sound.
Since plants have been evolving alongside the insects for hundreds of millions of years, Heidi Appel, a botanist and Reginald Cocroft, an entomologist wondered if plants might be sensitive to the sounds made by insects. The researchers recorded the vibrations (声音震动) from caterpillars (毛虫) as they chewed on leaves. Then the plants were exposed to the recorded vibrations while no caterpillars were actually present. The results were striking. Leaves that had been exposed had significantly higher levels of defensive chemicals, making them much harder for the caterpillars to eat. The research may have practical consequences, such as using drones armed with speakers to warn crops of pest threats, offering an eco-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides.
Further studies by ecologist Monica Gagliano reveal that plants, like pea plants, can “hear” water through sound, with roots responding to water-related vibrations even when the water is inaccessible. This finding could have implications for preventing damage to sewer (下水道) systems caused by plant roots. The assumption had been that it was leaks that attracted the roots. The solution, she says, might be to invest in pipes that are silent as water runs through them.
Additionally, the study by the team at Tel Aviv University revealed that plants under stress, due to factors like insufficient water or physical damage, make high-frequency sounds, which can be detected even in noisy environments. This opens possibilities for using microphones to monitor plant health in agriculture, potentially aiding farmers in identifying and addressing crop issues.
Despite some questions remaining to be solved, these fascinating discoveries cast new light on plants’ ability to perceive and respond to sounds in their environment. Plants live in a world full of sounds due to human civilization, and it is worth investigating this interesting aspect. Perhaps researchers might even seek funding from King Charles.
1. What was the original reaction to King Charles’s suggestion?| A．Ambiguous. | B．Favourable. |
| C．Indifferent. | D．Opposed. |
| A．Introducing drones with speakers to farmers. |
| B．Applying chemicals to enhance plant growth. |
| C．Stimulating plants to release anti-pest chemicals. |
| D．Developing new types of protective pesticides. |
| A．To reduce noise pollution. |
| B．To protect sewer systems. |
| C．To improve water transportation. |
| D．To attract plant roots to accessible water. |
P: paragraph
A． | B． |
C． | D． |
10 . It wasn’t until after I graduated from college, and realized that there’s no such thing as all-encompassing (包罗万象) knowledge, that I was able to read for pleasure. A sense of curiosity directed me and I started to see dictionaries as field guides to the life of language. Looking up words felt less like a failing than an admission that there are lots of things I don’t know and an opportunity to discover just how many.
I prize my 1954 copy of Webster’s New International Dictionary, Second Edition. I often consult it, during evening games of Scrabble or midday magazine reading. When I come across unfamiliar words while reading novels, I look them up. When I start encountering these words elsewhere, the linguistic (语言的) universe seems to shrink to the size of a small town.
Dictionaries heighten my senses: They direct my attention into a conversation with language. They make me wonder what other things I’m blind to because I haven’t taught myself to notice them yet. Recently spotted examples include orrery, “a mechanical model, usually clockwork, devised to represent the motions of the moon and Earth (and sometimes also other planets) around the sun.” The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) also tells me that the word comes from the fourth Earl of Orrery, for whom a copy of the first machine was made, around 1700. Useful? Obviously not. Satisfying? Deeply.
Wikipedia and Google answer questions with more questions, opening up pages you never asked for. But a dictionary builds on common knowledge, using simple words to explain complex ones. Using one feels as if I’m prying open an oyster (蚝) rather than falling down a rabbit hole. Why leave solvable mysteries up to guesswork?
For me, dictionaries are a door into that kind of uncalculated knowledge-seeking. They remind me that following your curiosity instead of brushing it aside is one of the best ways I know to feel connected to more than what’s right in front of you.
1. What can we know about the author?| A．He merely read for fun before graduation. |
| B．He longed to learn about all knowledge. |
| C．He considered dictionaries chances of enrichment. |
| D．He admitted being a failure when learning languages. |
| A．To introduce a word. | B．To indicate a finding. |
| C．To clarify a concept. | D．To support a statement. |
| A．Encountering new problems. | B．Entering a different world. |
| C．Acquiring essential common sense. | D．Simplifying tough questions. |
| A．Jaw-dropping. | B．Eye-opening. | C．Mind-numbing. | D．Labour-saving. |
