1 . I have worked as a keeper at the National Zoo for 11 years. Spot and Stripe are the first tiger cubs (幼兽) that have ever been born here. Globally, a third of Sumatran cubs in zoos don’t make it to adulthood, so I decided to give them round-the-clock care at home.
I’ve got two children — the younger one, Kynan, was extremely happy about the tigers arriving — but all of us really looked forward to being part of their lives and watching them grow. I wasn’t worried about bringing them into my home with my wife and kids. These were cubs. They weighed about 2.5kg and were so small that there was absolutely no risk.
As they grew more mobile, we let them move freely around the house during the day, but when we were asleep we had to contain them in a large room, otherwise they’d get up to mischief. We’d come down in the morning to find they’d turned the room upside down, and left it looking like a zoo.
Things quickly got very intense due to the huge amount of energy required to look after them. There were some tough times and I just felt extremely tired. I was grateful that my family was there to help. We had to have a bit of a production line going, making up “riser milk”, washing baby bottles, and cleaning the floors.
When Spot and Stripe were four months old, they were learning how to open doors and jump fences, and we knew it really was time for them to go. It was hard for us to finally part with them. For the first few days, Kynan was always a bit disappointed that the cubs weren’t there.
I’m not sad about it. I’m hands-on with them every day at the zoo, and I do look back very fondly on the time that we had them.
1. Why did the author bring the tiger cubs home?| A．To ensure their survival. | B．To observe their differences. |
| C．To teach them life skills. | D．To let them play with his kids. |
| A．Behave badly. | B．Lose their way. |
| C．Sleep soundly. | D．Miss their mom. |
| A．Boring. | B．Tiring. | C．Illegal. | D．Risky. |
| A．They frightened the children. | B．They became difficult to contain. |
| C．They annoyed the neighbours. | D．They started fighting each other. |
2 . I was in the seventh grade, and we had moved to New Jersey in November. By then, everyone already had had their own friends, and no one wanted to talk to a new girl. To make things worse, they put me in “Section L”. I found out later that everyone called Section L “Loserville”. It was sort of an open secret that it was the section for troublemakers and not-so-smart kids. When I found out, I wanted to scream. I had always been a good student and had amazing friends, and now everyone thought I was a loser!
I did text my friends in Illinois almost every night, especially my best friend, Ana. At first my friends wanted to hear all about it. But then some stopped texting back once I said something about how miserable I was. One night when I was texting with Ana, I complained about another friend who had just done that.
Ana’s texts came really fast for the next few minutes and they surprised me. She said that she was tired of hearing about how bad everything was in New Jersey, too. She said she did not want to hurt my feelings but that I needed to stop feeling so sorry for myself all the time, I had to try to make things better.
The next day, I thought a lot about what Ana had said. She was right!
I wish I could say that everything changed overnight after that, but it didn’t. I was still stuck in “Loserville”, and some people were still mean to me, even though I tried to just stay out of their way.
But what did change was me—I stopped feeling so sorry for myself and did something about making friends. I signed up to make sets for the school play. I met a lot of new people there, and suddenly I had friends to say hi to in the halls!
I still miss Illinois sometimes, but life in New Jersey isn’t so hard anymore. Even though I couldn’t change my situation, I could change my attitude—and that made all the difference.
1. “Loserville” is a section for ________.| A．failures | B．good students |
| C．class secrets | D．newcomers |
| A．Ana didn’t text back to her | B．her friends hurt her feelings |
| C．she was unfairly treated | D．she was a good student |
| A．She went back to Illinois. |
| B．She ended friendship with Ana. |
| C．She fought back with her classmates. |
| D．She began to make friends with others. |
| A．Lasting Friendship | B．An Incidence at School |
| C．Say Goodbye to “Loserville” | D．Unhappiness in “Loserville” |
3 . African countries have retrieved some historic heritage, which directly reflects (反映) the important development of human society, from European countries. Recently, Germany signed a deal for the return of hundreds of valuable artworks from the Kingdom of Dahomey in the 19th century, in what is today Benin.
But many artifacts (手工艺品) are still unluckily missing and some are on their way back. One such object is an eight-legged seat from the old kingdom in Uganda. The important arti- fact now sits at a museum thousands of kilometers away in Britain. The wooden seat is housed at the University of Oxford. It is one of at least 279 objects there taken from the Bunyoro- Kitara Kingdom.
Apollo John Rwamparo is a deputy prime minister of Uganda. He really values the country’s cultural heritage. He requested the British to return the artifacts. Uganda officials are preparing to meet with the University of Cambridge in Britain about the return of such historical artifacts. The school has an unknown number of artifacts from Africa. Through many efforts, an artifact was recently to its home.
The British Museum holds a large collection of artifacts from Africa. Rose Mwanja said Uganda’s commission had been trying hard on it and believed it could have some good effects. She is Uganda’s commissioner for museums. She added she could start with those that are more willing to cooperate.
Many of the artifacts from Africa cannot even be found. That led to an organization star- ted by late Congolese art collector Sindika Dokolo. The organization offers to buy African art from collections in foreign countries. By 2020, when Dokolo died, his group had successfully recovered 15 items. However, for African governments, the recovery of artifacts remains a struggle and will take much time.
1. What does the underlined word “retrieved” in paragraph 1 mean?| A．Reduced. | B．Taken back. | C．Given up. | D．Recommended. |
| A．In Benin. | B．In Uganda. | C．In Germany. | D．In Britain. |
| A．Curious. | B．Concerned. | C．Uncaring. | D．Confused. |
| A．Frightening. | B．Doubtful. | C．Effortless. | D．Challenging. |
4 . “The mountains are calling and I must go” — the famous quote is from John Muir(1838-1914), who is described as “the wilderness poet” and “the citizen of the universe.” He once jokingly referred to himself as a “poet-geologist-botanist and ornithologist (鸟类学家)-naturalist etc. etc.!” He is known as the Father of American National Parks.
Famed documentary filmmaker Ken Burns recently said, “As we got to know him… he was among the highest individuals in America; I’m talking about the level of Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., and Thomas Jefferson— people who have had a transformational effect on who we are.”
So where is the quote from? Well, John Muir was a productive writer. Whether he was writing poetry or simply letters to his family, John Muir was always putting pen to paper. The quote is from within one of his many letters written to his sister:
September 3rd, 1873 Yosemite Valley Dear sister Sarah,I have just returned from the longest and hardest trip I have ever made in the mountains, having been gone over five weeks. I am weary, but resting fast; sleepy, but sleeping deep and fast; hungry, but eating much. For two weeks I explored the glaciers of the summits east of here, sleeping among the snowy mountains without blankets and with little to eat on account of its being so inaccessible. After my icy experiences, it seems strange to be down here in so warm and flowery a climate. I will soon be off again, determined to use all the season in carrying through my work—will go next to Kings River a hundred miles south, then to Lake Tahoe and surrounding mountains, and in winter work in Oakland with my pen. Though slow, someday I will have the results of my mountain studies in a form in which you all will be able to read and judge them. The mountains are calling and I must go, and I will work on while I can, studying incessantly (永不停息地). I will write again when I return from Kings River Canyon. Farewell, with love everlasting. Yours, John |
1. What can we learn from John Muir’s self-description in paragraph 1?
| A．He longed to expand his own career. |
| B．He enjoyed his involvement in nature. |
| C．He wanted to find his real advantage. |
| D．He valued his identity as a poet most. |
| A．Muir’s political influence. | B．A documentary film on Muir. |
| C．Muir’s historic significance. | D．The social circle around Muir. |
| A．Relieved but regretful. | B．Exhausted but content. |
| C．Excited but lonely. | D．Defeated but hopeful. |
| A．To go on with his mountain studies. |
| B．To seek freedom from social connection. |
| C．To attend an appointment in Oakland. |
| D．To experience the hardship of wilderness. |
5 . Several years ago I was teaching in Melbourne, Australia. Like most Brits down under, I wanted to
On one trip, I and three friends went as far into the Outback (内陆地区) as it was possible to go, camping and
After picking up some
At first the water only reached the top of the
We made it to the other side with no “salties”
| A．run out of | B．take hold of | C．make the most of | D．catch sight of |
| A．fields | B．corners | C．villages | D．surroundings |
| A．exploring | B．searching | C．swimming | D．climbing |
| A．mammals | B．humans | C．plants | D．creatures |
| A．water | B．supplies | C．clothes | D．friends |
| A．stream | B．lake | C．valley | D．cliff |
| A．station | B．channel | C．spot | D．yard |
| A．reach out for | B．wait up for | C．turn a deaf ear to | D．keep an eye out for |
| A．wheels | B．walls | C．seats | D．legs |
| A．easy-going | B．fun-loving | C．suspicious-looking | D．fast-flowing |
| A．Interestingly | B．Unbelievably | C．Occasionally | D．Suddenly |
| A．curious | B．certain | C．amazed | D．bored |
| A．turned out | B．stood out | C．made out | D．found out |
| A．cracked | B．extended | C．spilled | D．crashed |
| A．lost | B．caught | C．missed | D．sighted |
6 . Gurnah, growing up in Zanzibar, an island off the coast of Tanzania, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature on Thursday.
He is the first Black writer
Gurnah’s first language is Swahili, but he
Gurnah was born in Zanzibar, which is now
Though Gurnah hasn’t lived in Tanzania since he was a
| A．to confirm | B．to receive | C．to search | D．to appreciate |
| A．section | B．selection | C．collection | D．consultation |
| A．themes | B．opinions | C．passages | D．suggestions |
| A．explode | B．conclude | C．provide | D．include |
| A．adopted | B．advised | C．adapted | D．affected |
| A．as much as | B．as well as | C．as long as | D．as often as |
| A．was awarded | B．was discussed | C．was celebrated | D．was suspected |
| A．jobs | B．works | C．labors | D．careers |
| A．part | B．name | C．home | D．country |
| A．Admirable | B．Respectable | C．Fashionable | D．Miserable |
| A．higher | B．stronger | C．heavier | D．longer |
| A．reading | B．hearing | C．writing | D．watching |
| A．Frontwards | B．Forwards | C．Backwards | D．Afterwards |
| A．writer | B．teenager | C．scholar | D．professor |
| A．As a result | B．At the same time | C．On the other hand | D．In his own word |
7 . I dreamed of playing the piano as a kid and managed to get into the Royal Academy of Arts in my 30s, I visited Thailand where I met my wife. My wife works at a sanctuary(保护区) called Elephants World. On my 50th birthday, she persuaded the manager of Elephants World to allow us to bring a piano there to play for the rescued elephants. I wanted to make the effort to carry the heavy piano myself, knowing these animals have worked for humans all their life and that many are disabled from being treated badly. It was challenging. At last, we used a truck to transport my piano and placed it in a field.
Elephants are almost always hungry — if they get the opportunity, they’ll eat and won’t stop. But as soon as I started playing, one elephant, who was blind, stopped eating and listened. I realized that this elephant, trapped in a world of darkness, loved music. From that day, there was no more concern, and that was the beginning of the connection between me and these huge creatures.
I continue to play for these elephants that run freely, though I could be under threat of attack. But I have faith that music somehow makes them quiet and relaxed. Once, a particularly dangerous male elephant walked straight to me when I started playing, and curled (卷) his trunk. He looked like a baby and just stood by the piano, which was incredible.
I’d played pre-recorded music in the jungle, but they didn’t seem to react; the same with the electric piano. A traditional piano, the sounds of which spread across the woods, seems to communicate better with the animals. They can pick up sounds through their feet. I also think elephants understand the human expression, which shows music really is a universal language. And music has become an essential part of their life, illustrating the profound impact that music can have on these creatures.
I never would have thought I’d combine my love for the piano with an unexpected love for elephants.
1. What does the underlined word “It” in paragraph 1 refer to?| A．Playing the piano for the elephants. | B．Getting the manager’s permission. |
| C．Getting the piano into the sanctuary. | D．Working for human beings for long. |
| A．His passion for music. | B．The response of an elephant. |
| C．The support from his wife. | D．His sympathy for the elephants. |
| A．The music has a calming influence. | B．Male elephants prefer music. |
| C．The author is highly skilled in piano. | D．People often misunderstand elephants. |
| A．They have special language. | B．They bond with him soon. |
| C．They are sensitive to sounds. | D．They can feel live music. |
8 . Most people as they get older start to take life a little slower and enjoy a leisurely pace. But it is not for Kerry, who
The super fit gran
“At the age of 47 I made a list of things I wanted to
| A．kept on | B．took up | C．hoped for | D．subscribed to |
| A．intentions | B．doubts | C．tasks | D．feelings |
| A．promised | B．predicted | C．checked | D．claimed |
| A．remembered | B．indicated | C．battled | D．regretted |
| A．shape | B．hobby | C．emotion | D．aspect |
| A．occasionally | B．permanently | C．constantly | D．purposely |
| A．curious | B．competitive | C．confident | D．awkward |
| A．make | B．try | C．quit | D．win |
| A．old | B．fat | C．weak | D．sensitive |
| A．Still | B．Hardly | C．Never | D．Only |
| A．cross | B．cut | C．see | D．drop |
| A．races | B．parades | C．parties | D．shows |
| A．opinion | B．strategy | C．path | D．dream |
| A．memory | B．danger | C．power | D．negativity |
| A．contact | B．protect | C．inspire | D．warn |
9 . Increased involvement from grandparents can be crucial in a child’s development. From helping children navigate stressful situations to giving kids that little extra bit of love and care, grandparents play an important role in the well-being of a child. Now, there’s scientific data to back this up.
According to a study of over 1,500 children, conducted by Professor Ann Buchanan from the Department of Social Policy and Intervention at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, children who have tight-knit relationships with their grandparents tend to have fewer problems, both emotionally and when it comes to their behavior. Besides, children also have less difficulty when interacting and maintaining relationships with others.
Kimberly Agresta, the co-founder of Englewood’s Agresta Psychotherapy Group, has also noticed in a study the significant benefits of allowing grandparents to be more involved in children’s lives. “If parents regularly involve grandparents in their child’s life early on, a child can develop real emotional closeness to their grandparents and begin to see them as a source of strong social support,” she stated in an interview. “So a child will feel they have other adults, aside from their parents, who care about them in the same way, and this adds to their sense of stability and security.”
She continued, “Stressful situations are less impactful to such children because they have other people in their lives who they have these attachments to and support from.” This is because grandparents are generally not responsible for disciplining or raising the child, and they’re able to love the child a little more freely and unconditionally than a parent, Agresta explained.
“Grandparents are a wealth of knowledge and information, and not only can they pass on valuable skills from real-life experience, but they can also share the past with their grandchildren,” added Agresta. “They can serve as historians, sharing various traditions and stories about when their own children were growing up, which create s a sense of continuity for a child.” So it looks like it may be time to set up a play date for your kids with their grandparents!
1. What is the impact of children spending time with grandparents according to Buchanan’s study?| A．Improved social skills. | B．Lower intelligence level. |
| C．Better academic performance. | D．Increased behavioral problems. |
| A．More critical. | B．More positive. |
| C．Less supportive. | D．Less judgmental. |
| A．The features of grandparents’ love. |
| B．Various roles grandparents take on. |
| C．The typical qualities of grandparents. |
| D．Grandparents’ advantages over parents. |
| A．By quoting a few people’ opinions. |
| B．By analyzing two scientific surveys. |
| C．By giving the findings of two studies. |
| D．By making comparisons between studies. |
10 . A new study shows that female academics are significantly underrepresented in winning academic prizes and having awards named after them. Analysis of nearly 9,000 awardees and 346 scientific prizes and medals published in Nature Human Behaviour has found that men win eight prizes for every one won by a woman if the award is named after a man. These awards represent almost two-thirds of all scientific prizes. Female academics are, however, more likely to win awards that have been named after other notable female scientists, with 47% of those awards going to women and 53% to men.
Dr Katja Gehmlich, Associate Professor in the Institute of Cardiovascular Science at the University of Birmingham and joint lead author of the study, said, “The gender gap between awardees in scientific prizes is sadly a product of a long, systematic issue of poor representation of women in sciences. Despite decades of efforts to rebalance this issue, our study shows that women are still poorly recognized for their scientific contributions, and men are far more likely to win prizes and awards, in particular, if those awards are named after other men.
“It seems particularly shocking to me that awards named after women still see more than half of prizes going to men. We further propose a list of actions to address and overcome these issues but are aware this will be a long process. The Nominate Her movement is one way that the scientific community can begin to address this,” said Dr Gehmlich.
Prof Stefan Krause from the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Birmingham and joint lead author of the study said, “Our data is indicative of much wider issues of gender inequality within sciences. Our current publication is an initial attempt to understand the causes of such striking gender inequality and to promote discussion on the subject within our scientific communities.”
“Research culture has a lot to do to improve the gender prize gap, as well as efforts to address the inequality that sees almost two-thirds of prizes currently named after men. More pathways may also be needed, such as renaming or getting rid of gender names associated with some awards,” added Prof Krause.
1. How are awards named after female scientists distributed between genders?| A．Males are in the majority. |
| B．Females take up a bit more than half. |
| C．They are almost entirely awarded to females. |
| D．They are evenly distributed between males and females. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Tolerant. |
| C．Uncaring. | D．Disappointed. |
| A．Establishing gender rates for awards. |
| B．Increasing the number of female judges. |
| C．Encouraging more women to enter scientific fields. |
| D．Renaming or removing gender names from awards. |
| A．Achievements of women in science |
| B．The role of men in the scientific world |
| C．Gender inequality in scientific awards |
| D．Future of gender equality in academia |
