1 . Must-read New Fiction Books
We all have a few tried-and-true fiction favorites, but there’s something special about a brand-new, hot-off-the-press novel. Whether it’s your favorite author’s new release or a new writer’s first work, great fiction books make the perfect escape from ordinary life. That’s why we’ve rounded up a list of the best new books released in February.
Age of Gold by Jerry Lapoor
Jerry Lapoor’s latest action-packed novel unfolds like a crazy movie. This thriller begins when a wealthy man’s car gets out of control. But when the dust settles, the rich man is nowhere to be found. How and to where does he disappear? With an exciting plot that will carry you from old-money houses to small agricultural villages, Age of Cold will take you on an unforgettable ride across a vast land.
City Under One Sky by Rachel Young
In the book, Young presents a crime story set in a small town. Detective Sara Kennedy has been sent to investigate a case. But soon after arrival, Sara gets snowed in with the 205 townsfolk living in the same apartment building. Who is hiding the key to the crime? And is there anyone she can truly trust? The appealing story, strange but distinctive characters and unexpected plot are just a few of the reasons why City Under One Sky gains its popularity.
Lady by Jess George
Lady is an irresistible fiction from Jess George. The story of Mary’s fresh start at adulthood is shot through with themes of family, race and discrimination, womanhood and the immigrant reality of feeling torn between cultures. Though struggling with life in London as an African, Mary jumps at every chance to stand on her own feet.
1. What will impress the readers in Age of Gold?| A．The thrilling plot. | B．Traditional cultures. |
| C．The family conflict. | D．Crazy characters. |
| A．She is trapped in the snow. | B．She is to investigate a case abroad. |
| C．She hides the key evidence. | D．She has trouble discovering the truth. |
| A．Self-reliance. | B．Gender equality. |
| C．Domestic violence. | D．Cross-cultural communication. |
2 . Alexis was a student, the only son of his wealthy parents, and felt entitled to the luxuries he had in his life. On a class field trip, Alexis met the forester, Justin, who had been living in a wooden house in the forest over ten years. When learning Justin’s life, Alexis laughed at him with his friends.
During the field trip, Alexis and his classmates passed by an entrance to a cave. “This looks so cool!” Alexis exclaimed. He wanted to go inside the cave, but his teacher stopped him.
The next day, Alexis reached the cave with his four friends, only to find they couldn’t take their schoolbags through the entrance. One by one, the teenagers entered the cave and were amazed to see how wide it was from the inside. Albert picked a large stone up and hit one of the walls with it. “This place is so cool!” he laughed quietly before the rocks from the wall came falling.
“Watch out, Albert!” Alexis said and pulled Albert towards himself. The teenagers screamed in fear when they saw the rocks fall. They couldn’t see anything because of the dust floating in the air.
The friends were scared when they realized they were trapped in the cave. “HELP! WE ARE STUCK!” the teenagers started screaming for help, hoping someone would hear them.
Fate sent Justin to the cave. The forester picked berries every day from the trees near the cave. While he was walking back to his house, five bright-colored schoolbags caught his attention. Then he approached the cave and shouted, “Hey! Who’s in there?”
“I’m Alexis ! I came here yesterday with my teacher! Help us, please! We are stuck!”
“Okay, calm down, children! I’ll help you out!” Justin said.
Justin quickly called 911 and informed them about the kids in the cave. Thinking the paramedics (护理人员) would take at least twenty minutes to arrive, he decided to help the kids himself before it was too late. Justin quickly grabbed a shovel and a flashlight and rushed back to the cave’s entrance. Meanwhile, Alexis and his friends tried to stay calm. A few minutes later, Alexis and his friends could see the flashlight shine through the cave’s entrance. Seconds later, they rushed outside the cave and took a deep breath in the fresh air.
Just then, the paramedics arrived.
1. What may lead to Alexis looking down on Justin?| A．His lower education. | B．His poor family. |
| C．His bad reputation. | D．His living condition. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Curious. | C．astonished. | D．Scared. |
| A．It was his daily routine. | B．He saw five colorful schoolbags. |
| C．He came to look for the children. | D．He heard the screaming for help. |
| A．Lucky or unlucky. | B．Don’t judge a person by his looks. |
| C．Curiosity kills the cat. | D．Once in a blue moon. |
3 . In early July, FDA granted traditional full approval of Leqembi for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This is the first approved medication proven to slow the progression of AD’s clinical symptoms. A phase three trial among 50-to-90-year-old patients with early AD showed that it can do so by about 27% over an 18-month period. While we cannot extrapolate (推断) beyond 18 months, this represents about a six-month delay in progression of AD symptoms.
A second disease-slowing drug, donanemab, has recently shown similar effects and may get FDA approval by the end of the year.The development of Leqembi is a notable success for medical science in that a disease previously impervious to any disease-modifying medical intervention now has an available, effective treatment. However, paraphrasing Winston Churchill, this is not the beginning of the end but the end of the beginning. The drug does not reverse disease symptoms or prevent progression, it slows progression. And there are considerations that make it inappropriate for many patients with AD. It does, however, lay the groundwork for future AD medications that could alleviate (减轻) suffering from this devastating disease for generations to come.
An important factor for new drugs is their cost. Leqembi’s price tag is $26,500 per year — much more than the current symptomatic medications for AD but comparable or less expensive than new medications for other conditions, for example multiple sclerosis or ALS.
Medicare has announced that it will provide coverage for this medication, although it is requiring that physicians perform certain clinical measures and enter the patient’s data in a registry in order for the drug to be covered, which will increase physician and patient burdens. What’s more, traditional Medicare only covers 80% of outpatient costs, so for those patients without supplemental insurance, a 20% copay for the drug and required MRI scans (核磁共振扫描) might amount to up to $10,000 or more per year out of pocket, but still only a fraction of the cost of a year of in a nursing home.
1. What can we learn from the first two paragraph?| A．Leqembi can make a six-month delay of AD’s symptoms over a two-year period. |
| B．To some degree, Leqembi is effective to slow the progression of AD symptoms. |
| C．Both donanemab and Leqembi have got FDA approval. |
| D．The drug is appropriate for any patient with AD. |
| A．although the new drug has undergone trials, it is still not effective enough |
| B．though Leqembi can slow the progression of AD’s symptoms, we still have a long way to go |
| C．the research of the Leqembi will come to an end |
| D．some others problems related to the the medicine have been caused |
| A．much cheaper than other medications for AD |
| B．much more than current medications for other conditions |
| C．affordable to almost every patient |
| D．cheaper than new medications for ALS |
| A．physician and patient burdens are increased |
| B．patients do not have supplemental insurance |
| C．patient’s data is registered and clinical measures are carried out by doctors |
| D．patients pay the cost of a year of in a nursing home |
4 . Out in the Atlantic Ocean, roughly 60 miles off the northwest coast of Africa, lie the Canary Islands. In the 1950s, the boom in package tourism showed promise as a new cash crop. But while the Canary Islands had the sunshine, warm climate and ease of access from Europe needed for this new industry, they were missing a vital element picture postcard sandy beaches.
So the developers on Tenerife in the Canary Islands constructed a breakwater (防波堤) over half a mile long. And then, from the Western Sahara on Africa’s northwest coast, they shipped in 270, 000 tons of sand. By 1973, the project was complete. As anticipated, tourists arrived. Along the engineered beach, rows and rows of tourists relax on beach chairs under umbrellas or walk across soft sand to cool down in the water.
Unanticipated was what their presence gave to one of the world’s most endangered fish species, angel sharks — visibility. The gentle wind creates tiny waves on the water’s surface, a magical cover for what lies beneath — an angel shark nursery. Female angel sharks regularly migrate to these ideally sheltered waters to give birth to pups (幼崽), who remain in the shallows for about a year. Feeding on small fishes, they grow to around the same length as a newborn human baby.
Surveys have shown that other beaches in the Canary Islands are also potential nursery sites. Interestingly, most of them have been remade to make them more attractive to people. Playa Chica has another long sweep of imported sand. It’s an attraction for divers as well as angel sharks, so the number of sightings of mature angel sharks of this shoreline is one of highest in the islands.
Normally, massive, environmentally disruptive projects are bad for wildlife. But what’s clear is that after the breakwater was built and the sand arrived, people followed, and in the calm, shallow waters they began to see baby angel sharks. And unlike how many an association between humans and wildlife ends-in conflict and dead animals, this time it led to conservation.
1. Why did the developers on Tenerife carry out the project?| A．To build a base for shipping. | B．To boost the local tourism industry. |
| C．To fight against the rising sea. | D．To protect the island’s eco-system. |
| A．It caused the disappearance of some fishes. |
| B．It made a magical tourist attraction. |
| C．It gave angel sharks a home. |
| D．It created conflicts between sharks and tourists. |
| A．Favorable. | B．Doubtful. | C．Unclear. | D．Intolerant. |
| A．To highlight the financial benefits of tourism. |
| B．To introduce potential human-wildlife coexistence. |
| C．To explain the situation of endangered species. |
| D．To emphasize the importance of wildlife conservation. |
5 . Most Popular UK Destinations for a Staycation
Looking for a cheap stay cation to brighten up your winter? Here are the most popular destinations in the UK.
Blackpool
Whether you’re seeking the thrills of Blackpool Pleasure Beach or are keen to catch a glimpse of Blackpool Tower, the city’s most appealing attraction, the seaside town offers various amazing views. It’s no wonder the town has gained 980.8 million views on TikTok. With accommodation price £75 for a night, you’ll have a golden opportunity to enjoy Blackpool's Illuminations (彩灯) display and the Seaside Trail.
Searborough
North Yorkshire’s Scarborough sees 49,500 monthly searches and 686.4 million views on TikTok. One of the local highlights is the annual St Nicholas Fair. While a one-night stay in Scarborough costs £85, the town offers holiday-makers opportunities to experience ancient British culture at the 12th-century castle ruins.
Swansea
The Welsh town sees 27,100 monthly searches and has 622.4 million views on TikTok. Swansea’s Waterfront Wonderland brings with it the Alpine Village and various amusement attractions. Spending a night here costs just 10 pounds more than in Scarborough. But if you book a week earlier, you can get a 5 percent discount in total. With Cardiff only being an hour’s drive from Swansea, you have the perfect opportunity to catch a game of ice hockey.
Bournemouth
Bournemouth isn’t called Sunny Bournemouth for nothing, as holiday-makers can enjoy breathtaking views along the Jurassic Coast. With a World Heritage Site within its borders, it’s no surprise to see this town with the high number of views on TikTok (868.3 million). A one-night stay will cost you £105, giving you the perfect opportunity to get relaxed.
1. What is the most attractive in Blackpool?| A．Blackpool Pleasure Beach. | B．Blackpool Tower. |
| C．The Illuminations display. | D．The Seaside Trail. |
| A．£ 70. | B．£ 85. | C．£ 85.75. | D．£ 90.25. |
| A．Blackpool. | B．Swansea. | C．Scarborough. | D．Boumemouth. |
6 . My name is Carmen Cruz and I am seventy-seven years old. Two years ago, I was diagnosed (诊断) with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. A few years prior, I
Despite Alzheimer’s intention to rob (剥夺) me of my experiences, I have triumphed (成功) since my diagnosis.
The first thing I did was to
Upon being diagnosed, I made it my goal to write the story of my life and I managed to complete this task in one year’s time. It was an incredible
I’m
| A．noticed | B．disagreed | C．wondered | D．reported |
| A．establishing | B．breaking | C．forgetting | D．following |
| A．regret | B．relief | C．anger | D．doubt |
| A．seldom | B．even | C．again | D．soon |
| A．normal | B．preventable | C．natural | D．frequent |
| A．explanation | B．changes | C．treatment | D．tests |
| A．hoped | B．mistaken | C．confirmed | D．recommended |
| A．accept | B．explore | C．ignore | D．appreciate |
| A．talked about | B．passed on | C．gave up | D．listened to |
| A．living | B．seeking | C．sorting | D．leaving |
| A．result | B．opposite | C．cause | D．truth |
| A．permission | B．guarantee | C．advice | D．support |
| A．effort | B．dream | C．moment | D．promise |
| A．anxious | B．fortunate | C．depressed | D．afraid |
| A．dangerous | B．enjoyable | C．troublesome | D．accessible |
7 . European shepherds (牧羊人) and ranchers (大牧场主) are taking the lead in forest fire prevention, by leading their animals to clear away underbrush that allows fires to grow too big, a new study shows.
In thinner forested areas, large herbivores (食草动物) were found in a study to be greatly effective in reducing forest fire risk. “In general terms, it is clear that wild and semi-wild herbivores like horses can reduce wildfire risk through their eating grass,” says Julia Rouet-Leduc, lead author of the study. “Such herbivores can be particularly effective in remote areas, where careful management can prevent wildfire and benefit wild nature in other ways.”
Smaller animals like goats and sheep are ideal for areas that lack natural predators (捕食者). There are no large predators in all of Italy, and without the risk of losing an expensive animal, the eating habits of these smaller animals kept on a farm make them perfect for clearing underbrush and things which larger herbivores can’t stomach.
But there were laws that prevent goats and sheep from entering woods in order to protect them. Since natural numbers of red deer, and other native herbivores have long since disappeared from European forests, the loss of sheep and goats meant that nothing prevented grass from spreading in forests, turning brushfires into dangerous disasters.
That’s why shepherds on Sardinia have written a letter to the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, asking not only to allow their animals to eat grass within the woods, but to create a restoration project of rural areas in Montiferru, where Italy’s worst wildfire in 40 years recently burned its way from the mountain tops to the sea.
Their plan is to bring in more shepherds to better control the fires, and encourage eco-tourism in the area, to incentivize the shepherds to stay. This is already seeing success through both private and public inspiring measures in Catalunya, Spain.
1. What do Julia Rouet-Leduc’s words mainly show?| A．Shepherds should keep large herbivores. |
| B．Herbivores can greatly help reduce wildfires. |
| C．Better management is needed to protect forests. |
| D．Wild and semi-wild herbivores lack natural predators. |
| A．They were not allowed by law. |
| B．They couldn’t feed well there. |
| C．They had been killed by hunters. |
| D．They had been eaten up by predators. |
| A．To ask permission to raise more sheep. |
| B．To protect woods from hungry goats and sheep. |
| C．To offer a way of protecting forests from wildfires. |
| D．To draw attention to Italy’s worst wildfire in 40 years. |
| A．Pay. | B．Prove. | C．Remind. | D．Encourage. |
8 . When I was 12 years old, I spent most of my free time reading. But sadly, not everyone around me enjoyed reading as much as I did, and not being able to talk about my favorite hobby with my friends made my reading a lonely experience.
In my senior year of high school, I came across a channel, “Clau Reads Books” run by Claudia Ramirez Lomeli, who makes book-related content in Spanish, and was introduced to the book world of social media. I could finally hear someone else’s reaction to the stories I like. I love her videos because we prefer the same kind of books. Eventually, I followed her on another social networking site, and I learned about the community on it where users blog about their favorite books. I really wanted to be part of this space and seeing others being so interactive and supportive made it seem like an acceptable community. However, I doubted my ability to express my thoughts well because I was unfamiliar with creating content to engage other readers.
Therefore, I started reading blogs on how to start a new account for guidance and after weeks of researching, I learned about the necessary social media skills. I had to spend time designing small sets and finding natural lighting and household items for photo shoots, and learn how to write engaging reviews while using hashtags (主题标签) in posts to attract other users.
My first post was a photo of my favorite book, Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, with my hand’s shadow cast on a page. I also took pictures of several of my favorite sentences from the book and included a few hashtags to increase interaction. Attracting people with similar interest was hard at first. But gradually, it became kid’s stuff. The community quickly became a good place for me to talk about my favorite books with people having the same interest.
1. Why did the 12-year-old author feel upset?| A．She couldn’t spare time for play. | B．No one around her liked reading. |
| C．She couldn’t share her love of reading. | D．No friend was fond of her favorite book. |
| A．She comes from Spain. | B．She hosts a TV program. |
| C．She taught the author how to blog. | D．She led the author to a new book world. |
| A．Skills of choosing suitable hashtags. | B．The author’s efforts to attract viewers. |
| C．Guidance on registering new accounts. | D．The author’s techniques for creating content. |
| A．It is easily done. | B．It faces new challenges. |
| C．It is mentally demanding. | D．It needs topics related to kids. |
9 . For those in search of safe, non-medicine sleep aids (助手), sound machines are a popular choice. The National Sleep Foundation recently found that 5% of Americans sleep with a “sound conditioner”. It can be a fan, phone app, or other noise-producing machines.
Michael Grandner, director of the Sleep and Health Research Program at the University of Arizona, says a sound conditioner is a lifesaver if you live where loud nighttime noise is common. But even if your bedroom is very quiet, sound machines can still be helpful if you’re the type of person unsettled by a total absence of noise, or if you’re a light sleeper who wakes from even the softest sound.
Research supports the idea that a little background sound can help people fall asleep. For a study in the journal Sleep Medicine, the researchers asked sleepers to listen to recorded hospital sounds either with or without a white noise machine. They found that those who slept with the white noise machine were hardly affected by the hospital sounds, while others who slept without white noise were easily awakened.
There’s also so-called “pink noise” and “brown noise”, which can sound similar to white noise. “I don’t think there’s enough evidence yet to say one type is better than another,” says Michelle Drerup, a sleep psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic. “I know from talking with my patients that some people prefer natural sounds, like a rainstorm. But others don’t want a sound at all when they sleep,” she says. “It all comes down to the individual (个人).”
For some, the best sound might be none. “Biologically (生物学上), you don’t need this sound to sleep,” says Michael Grandner, “and if you use it every night, you can get so used to it that you can’t sleep without it.” Most sleep experts agree. “I wouldn’t suggest people use sound machines to sleep unless they’re reporting difficulties with outside noises,” an expert says.
1. According to the text, who should sleep with a sound conditioner?| A．Those who fall asleep fast. |
| B．Those who wake up easily. |
| C．Those who live in a quiet street. |
| D．Those who are afraid to sleep alone. |
| A．Pink noise and brown noise are better. |
| B．Sleeping without any noise is the best. |
| C．It all depends on personal preferences. |
| D．Natural sounds are the best for people. |
| A．To use sound machines as little as possible. |
| B．To see a doctor with your sleeping problems. |
| C．To find a very quiet place to treat sleeping problems. |
| D．To break the habits of sleeping with sound machines. |
| A．Most Americans have a bad sleep. |
| B．White noises are good for humans. |
| C．Sound conditioners are a safe, non-medicine sleep aid. |
| D．Not everyone should sleep with white noise machine. |
10 . Joshua trees — some of the most unusual and famous plants of the American Southwest — have survived as a species for some 2.5 million years in the Mojave Desert. Now, they may face extinction due to climate change.
In a new study published in the journal Ecosphere, researchers and volunteer scientists surveyed nearly 4,000 trees in southern California’s Joshua Tree National Park to figure out where the oldest trees grew the best during historic periods of extreme heat and drought. Then, the researchers estimated (估算) how many of these Joshua safe areas would survive to the end of the century based on a range of climate change predictions.
The study authors found that if greenhouse gas emissions (排放物) are seriously limited and summer temperatures are limited to an increase of 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit, about 19% of the park’s Joshua tree habitat (栖息地) would survive after the year 2070. If no action is taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and summer temperatures rise by 9 degrees Fahrenheit or more, however, only 0.02% of the tree’s habitat would survive to the end of the century, leaving the tree close to extinction.
One way to save the Joshua trees from extinction is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, even if the habitats survive, these trees will still be in danger because of wildfires, which have also been happening more often as the climate warms. According to the researchers, fewer than 10% of Joshua trees survive when wildfires rush through their habitats.
“Removing grass is a way park rangers (护林员) are helping to protect the area from fire today,” Sweet, a plant ecologist at the University of California, said. “By protecting the trees, they’re protecting a host of other native insects and animals that depend on them as well.”
1. Why did the researchers survey some Joshua trees?| A．To predict the number of Joshua trees. |
| B．To know their past and predict their future. |
| C．To make sure they will be safe from disasters. |
| D．To set up more nature reserves for Joshua trees. |
| A．Their future is in humans’ hand. |
| B．Their numbers are dropping greatly. |
| C．They may adapt to rising temperatures. |
| D．They are suffering most from climate change. |
| A．Another way to save Joshua trees. |
| B．Another threat Joshua trees may face. |
| C．The importance of Joshua trees’ habitats. |
| D．The chance of fire happening to Joshua trees. |
| A．Skilled. | B．Challenging. |
| C．Creative. | D．Worthwhile. |
