1 . Animal appear to predict earthquakes by sensing electricity in the air — the first study to find reliable evidence of the phenomenon has shown.
Cameras revealed an “amazing” drop in the number of animals up to 23 days before a major quake hit their rainforest home at Yanachaga National Park in Peru. Lead scientist Dr Rachel Grant, from Anglia Ruskin University, said, “The results showed that just before the earthquake, animals’ activity dropped right down.”
On a normal day the cameras placed around Yanachaga National Park record between 5 and 15 animals. But in the 23 days before the earthquake, the number of animals dropped to five or fewer per day. No animals were photographed at all on five of the seven days immediately before the quake.
Another study showed that animal activity remained normal in the park over a different period when seismic (地震的) activity was low. Co-author, professor Friedemann Freund, said, “The cameras were located at an altitude of 900 meters. If air ionization occurred, the animals would escape to the valley below, where there were fewer positive ions ( 离子). With their ability to sense their environment, animals can help us understand small changes that occur before major earthquakes.”
Other evidence suggested that before the earthquake, the air around the high mountain sites filled with positive ions that can be produced when rocks are placed under stress. Positive ions have been known to cause ill effects in humans as well as animals. Scientists believe the animals were made to feel uncomfortable by the positive ions, leading them to avoid the area. They are thought to have escaped to lower ground, where the air was less ionized. The findings may help experts develop better short-term seismic forecasts.
1. How did scientists conduct the study?| A．By comparing different animals’ habits. |
| B．By observing animals in high mountains. |
| C．By explaining the positive ion phenomenon. |
| D．By analyzing images of animals they obtained. |
| A．The ground at a lower altitude is less ionized. |
| B．Cameras normally record more animals per day. |
| C．Earthquake warnings can be detected in lower places. |
| D．The activity of animals and earthquakes is consistent. |
| A．The findings make for accurate seismic forecast. |
| B．Animals tend to be uneasy with more positive ions. |
| C．Positive ions make humans and animals depressed. |
| D．All the animals remain abnormal before the earthquake. |
| A．Negative Influence of Positive Ions. |
| B．Ions’ Destruction to the Environment. |
| C．Animals’ Behavior Before Earthquakes. |
| D．Creatures’ Ability to Predict Earthquakes. |
2 . A Danish company named Too Good To Go has been working to combat food waste in the United States and around the world. In the U. S., more than a third of food produced goes uneaten, contributing to environmental issues. Too Good To Go addresses this problem by partnering with restaurants to sell their end-of-day leftovers at discounts, typically ranging from 60% to 80% off.
The app of the same name, which started in Denmark in 2015, has expanded to 17 countries and multiple U. S. cities, including New York, Phoenix, and Seattle, with Los Angeles proving to be one of its most successful markets. The company is now looking to expand its footprint in the southeast.
While the cost savings for customers and businesses are significant, the primary focus of Too Good To Go is reducing food waste, which is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. The app allows users to track their environmental impact by displaying the electricity and carbon emissions prevented through their purchases. To date, the app claims to have saved over 250 million meals, making a substantial impact.
Food waste contributes to climate change in several ways, including the emission of methane gas from rotting food in landfills, the resources used to grow the food, and the energy expended in food transportation and preparation. Too Good To Go estimates that its efforts are equal to taking about 135, 000 cars off the road for a year, and it plays a crucial role in addressing the approximately 6% of total greenhouse gas emissions caused by food loss and waste in the U. S.
Alexandria Coari, the vice president of food waste nonprofit ReFED, recognizes the potential of apps like Too Good To Go. She believes that they have the capacity to reduce the carbon emissions equal to 870, 000 cars in a year, positioning them as one of the top 10 solutions to combating food waste and climate change.
While the app has been successful in the restaurant industry, its expansion into grocery stores and manufacturing is still a work in progress.
1. What do we know about the app Too Good To Go?| A．It primarily operates in Los Angeles. |
| B．It has saved over 250 million dollars so far. |
| C．It focuses on fighting against food waste. |
| D．It helps sell fresh groceries at full price. |
| A．To show the environmental impact of the app. |
| B．To highlight the cost savings for customers. |
| C．To emphasize the company’s expansion plans. |
| D．To illustrate the app’s success in reducing resources. |
| A．Skeptical | B．Negative. | C．Neutral. | D．Supportive. |
| A．The history of food waste reduction efforts. |
| B．Challenges Too Good To Go’s expansion faces. |
| C．The impact of climate change on the food industry. |
| D．Strategies for reducing food waste in grocery stores. |
3 . Opening a book may take you on an adventure, but sometimes, what;s more interesting is what’s been sandwiched in the pages.
In her 20 years as a(n)
It all started when the Oakland Public Library where McKellar worked intended to
“I believe others must have found
McKellar has a few
Even without more contexts, such items remain a testament (证明) to life’s little moments.
1.| A．bookseller | B．author | C．librarian | D．lecturer |
| A．rarely | B．merely | C．actually | D．particularly |
| A．deal with | B．make out | C．seek for | D．cast off |
| A．desert | B．record | C．enhance | D．distribute |
| A．necessity | B．inspiration | C．permit | D．award |
| A．suspended | B．launched | C．protested | D．discovered |
| A．reliable | B．natural | C．magic | D．similar |
| A．established | B．managed | C．contacted | D．departed |
| A．competitive | B．sociable | C．professional | D．enthusiastic |
| A．principles | B．promises | C．worries | D．questions |
| A．privacy | B．dream | C．health | D．reputation |
| A．difficult | B．worthwhile | C．surprising | D．reasonable |
| A．alternatives | B．suggestions | C．predictions | D．favorites |
| A．benefited | B．interrupted | C．impressed | D．frightened |
| A．appreciate | B．suspect | C．examine | D．evaluate |
4 . Batteries are extremely useful. Many ordinary household items are powered by single-use batteries including TV remotes, toys, flashlights, and even smoke detectors. But what happens when the batteries are used up and have to be replaced? Many of them end up in the trash where the chemicals can get into the soil causing environmental damage. In fact in Australia, 97 percent of single-use batteries end up in landfills.
While batteries can be traditionally recycled, this involves using high heat to melt the metals that can then be reused. The method doesn’t allow for the repurposing of other elements that actually have to be mined. It is allowing valuable resources to go to waste.
Envirostream — a part of the battery recycling company Lithium Australia — came up with an innovative way to turn old batteries into plant fertilizer. While some of the chemicals in batteries are poisonous, the company engineered a new method that takes the micronutrients like zinc and manganese oxide out of the alkaline (碱性的) batteries by crushing (碎) them and removing the poisonous elements. Lithium Australia has tried to find a solution for these waste batteries that is better for the environment and creates better value.
The company began field trials in 2020, testing a fertilizer supplement made from the upcycled batteries on wheat and found that it compared well to commercial fertilizers. After that, they tested the fertilizer in soil that was lacking in the minerals. Now, the fertilizer has been successfully applied to growing tomatoes, avocados, and cotton crops.
Going from powering remotes to powering plants completes a cycle for elements that come from the earth to then go back to the earth. Recycling batteries for useful components and keeping them out of landfills is good for the planet.
1. What can we learn about single-use batteries?| A．It is costly to extend their service life. |
| B．Few of them are properly disposed of. |
| C．They will be replaced by rechargeable ones. |
| D．They are useful because of their convenience. |
| A．Removing the poisonous chemicals of batteries. |
| B．Taking micronutrients out of batteries. |
| C．Melting the reusable metals in batteries. |
| D．Reusing mineral elements of batteries. |
| A．It may have a more promising future. |
| B．It might be more suitable for the alkaline soil. |
| C．It needs tests before being used for more plants. |
| D．It may lead to an increase in agricultural production. |
| A．The widespread use of batteries. |
| B．Various ways to deal with old batteries. |
| C．The urgency of recycling used batteries. |
| D．A new way to turn old batteries into plant fertilizer. |
5 . When a group of college students started their flying disc business back in 2008 in China, few of them could imagine the then little-known sport would have such a big explosion in popularity across the country this summer.
During the first three months of 2022, searches for frisbee shoot up 17-fold on Xiaohongshu, as compared with the same period in the year before. The topic of frisbee has attracted more than 42.4 million views on the platform, reported China Daily.
The rule of frisbee is very easy to understand. The main goal of the players is to catch the frisbee in the end zone. The thrower is not allowed to move after throwing the frisbee out, while others without a frisbee in their hands can move as they want. “For example, when you hold the Frisbee, you cannot move but instead you pivot (绕轴转动) on one foot until the disc is released,” said Qu Xinchen, who started playing frisbee in April 2022. A team will then try to get the frisbee down and throw it to another teammate further down the field.
For those who want to compete, they can try the team disc sport called “ultimate Frisbee”, which encourages honesty and fair play, with no judges there to make a ruling. In another game called “frisbee golf’，players try to hit faraway targets with a disc. Just like in golf, the lowest number of throws wins.
“People now think it is cool to play frisbee.” Qu added to this feeling by saying “I usually burn 1,400 calories during a session, and I can see my friends more.”
On July 7, 2022, frisbee was officially accepted by regulatory (监管的) authorities and the first Chinese Frisbee League was announced by the General Administration of Sport of China.
But why has frisbee become so popular all of a sudden? Apart from the low cost of the sport, experts believe that one reason is that people of all ages can join the game since you only need a disc for equipment. What’s more, the non-contact nature of the sport suits the need for pandemic control.
1. What is the main goal of frisbee players?| A．To throw the frisbee as far as they can. |
| B．To throw the disc into the end zone. |
| C．To keep the disc in the hands of their team. |
| D．To catch the frisbee in the end zone. |
| A．It encourages fair play. |
| B．It enables him to stay fit and play with friends. |
| C．It is easy to play and doesn’t need a judge. |
| D．It has various forms of competitions. |
| A．It is suitable for people of all ages. |
| B．It involves the whole family. |
| C．It encourages no contact. |
| D．It gets people close to nature. |
| A．Frisbee comes back globally |
| B．Frisbee goes viral in China |
| C．A non-contact way of having fun |
| D．A new way to keep fit |
6 . Incredibly Beautiful Villages in China
Likeng Village
Built in the year 1010, Likeng Village in Wuyuan County, Jiangxi Province preserves the area’s unique Hui architecture. Though the village charges tourists an entrance fee, it is a worthwhile point from which they can view the blossoming canola flowers (油菜花) in the spring and admire the local calligraphy under camphor trees (樟树) as old as the village itself.
Danba Villages
With few tourists aware of Sichuan Province’s Garzȇ Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, those who do make the trip are rewarded with views unlike those anywhere else. And within the heart of the area, far away from polluted cities, lie the Danba Villages, considered by some as the most beautiful villages in China. Each village is made up of unique Tibetan-style folk houses.
Hongcun Ancient Village
Though Hongcun is one of China’s most well-known ancient villages，its popularity has not ruined its uniqueness. After a climb through the great Yellow Mountains in Anhui Province, rest for a while in this foothill village, which was the filming site for select scenes from Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Centered around a moon-shaped pond, the village was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000 for its well-preserved Ming-and Qing-era architecture.
Shuangfeng Forest Farm
Nicknamed “China Snow Town” for its annual seven-month-long snowfall, Shuangfeng Forest Farm in Mudanjiang City, Heilongjiang Province is where you want to go if you wish to experience China’s deepest snows. Over the years, the village has transformed into a charming tourist destination.
1. What can visitors see in both Likeng Village and Danba Villages?| A．Distinctive constructions. | B．Costumes of minorities. |
| C．Centuries-old camphor trees | D．Works of famous calligraphers. |
| A．In Anhui Province. | B．In Sichuan Province. |
| C．In Jiangxi Province. | D．In Heilongjiang Province. |
| A．Likeng Village. | B．Danba Villages. |
| C．Hongcun Ancient Village. | D．Shuangfeng Forest Farm. |
7 . A saint (圣人) was delivering his lecture on his moral theory. One of his students came up to say, “Sir, you told us that a truly cultured person is whoever
The teacher thought it over, and finally, he had to
The student became
The student got the answer: Here was a person who lived
| A．needs | B．continues | C．ceases | D．pretends |
| A．encourage | B．doubt | C．guess | D．admit |
| A．answer | B．promote | C．notice | D．regard |
| A．sight | B．debate | C．equipment | D．guidance |
| A．clapped | B．persuaded | C．abandoned | D．educated |
| A．chances | B．records | C．struggles | D．measures |
| A．consult | B．adapt | C．remind | D．inform |
| A．proud | B．curious | C．disappointed | D．depressed |
| A．introduced | B．employed | C．praised | D．welcomed |
| A．happen | B．manage | C．regret | D．afford |
| A．proper | B．risky | C．wrong | D．previous |
| A．encountered | B．overcome | C．arranged | D．explored |
| A．past | B．mistake | C．rule | D．truth |
| A．randomly | B．positively | C．toughly | D．hopelessly |
| A．dream | B．expectation | C．attitude | D．courage |
8 . A new study from the University of Southampton has shown that glass bottles are more than four times as environmentally damaging as plastic bottles. The researchers explained that the production of glass bottles involves much greater amounts of energy and natural resources.
Most current research focuses on the impact of plastic, which also requires a lot of energy to mass-produce, and breaks down into smaller particles (微粒) that are affecting natural environments worldwide. However, according to the new study, glass bottles’ total environmental impacts are much bigger than plastic bottles, when certain factors are accounted for, such as their contribution to climate change through overmuch energy use.
“A large amount of energy is needed to heat the raw materials to make glass,“ explained study co-author and postgraduate researcher Alice Brock. ”During the melting of the raw materials for glass, gas pollutants such as SO2 and CO2 can be released,5, said Brock. “And since glass requires materials to be mined for its production — silica sand, soda ash and dolomite — these have all the associated environmental impacts on mining such as land degradation (退化) and dust from the mines reaching water sources.” According to Brock, silica sand mining can also cause silicosis, a disease caused by tiny silica particles reaching lungs, so there is also a considerable impact on human health.
The major advantage of glass over plastic is that it is more durable (耐用 的).A glass bottle can be reused between 12 and 20 times. Unfortunately, glass bottles are often thrown away after a single use. “I think the meaning of this new study is that we really have to move to use bottles and cans more than once. Just recycling isn’t enough, said Brock, “We need to change our mindset and move to things like refilling bottles, bottle return plans and the like if we are going to cut these environmental impacts.”
1. What is the most current research mainly about?| A．The total energy consumption of making plastic. |
| B．The detailed production process of plastic. |
| C．Plastic’s popularization in people’s daily life. |
| D．Plastic’s negative impacts on the environment. |
| A．To show its damage to the environment and people’s health. |
| B．To stress the importance of the quality of raw materials. |
| C．To warn people to reduce the frequency of mining. |
| D．To indicate the complex process of making glass. |
| A．Improving the technology of treating used bottles. |
| B．Finding alternatives to the raw materials for glass. |
| C．Reusing glass bottles as much as possible. |
| D．Replacing glass bottles with plastic ones. |
| A．Economy. | B．Geography. | C．Healthcare. | D．Environment. |
9 . One of the most inspiring features of our mom is her ability to face adversity and not to get defeated. She always emerges with a renewed spirit and a sense of hope. Her attitude to unfortunate events is typically met with: “Hey, nobody died; nobody has cancer; we’ll get through this, too!” But by far, our mother’s most widely used motto is: ”Count your blessings !”
In 2003, our mother fell ill and had to have surgery. When the doctor told the unthinkable diagnosis to my family while Mom was in recovery - a kind of cancer - my sister called me and said, “Should we tell her?“
As it turned out, we didn’t have to say a word. Mom knew it even before she was told, and she soothed us when we should have been making her less worried. “Hey, let’s count our blessings; the doctor got it all and I’m not dead yet. Let’s have some faith.”
As usual, our wise mother was right. She survived not only the cancer, but five years later, she recovered from another round of cancer - colorectal cancer. She never needed chemo or radiation (化疗或放疗) because surprisingly both cancers were not getting worse and surgically (手术) removed. She has been cancer-free for nearly two years and counting.
“Faith - that’s all you need,” my mom said firmly as she tapped the table. “Feeling sorry for yourself doesn’t help anything or solve the problem. Pity just adds to your problems. Spend your time counting your blessings instead. You’ll see just how well off you really are. That’s my motto.”
Counting blessings is not just a motto drilled into our heads by our mom. It has become a way of life for all of us. So much so that when I count my blessings, my wise mother is always near the top of the list.
1. What does the underlined word “soothed“ in paragraph 3 mean?| A．Cheated | B．Surprised | C．Calmed | D．Persuaded |
| A．She led her life with gratefulness. |
| B．She was heavily hit by the bad news. |
| C．She took her health condition seriously. |
| D．She recovered without receiving treatment. |
| A．Traditional and strict. |
| B．Gifted and serious. |
| C．Strong and positive. |
| D．Considerate and generous. |
| A．My mother’s glory days | B．My mother - living by faith |
| C．My mother’s struggling days | D．My mother - never complaining |
10 . Four Great Restaurants in Bologna, Italy
If you’re looking for a restaurant in Bologna, don’t miss out on our picks of the best places to eat in the city.
Sfoglia Rina
Tradition and innovation are all on the menu at Sfoglia Rina, along-standing family restaurant near Bologna’s famous Two Towers. Rina was started as a fresh pasta (意大利面食) shop back in the 1960s, and the pasta is all still handmade. Ingredients are carefully and sustainably sourced, and pasta-making classes are periodically offered for kids and adults.
Via Castiglione, 5/b, 40124 Bologna
Zerocinquantino
Aperitivo is typically a pre-dinner snack and drink, but at Zerocinquantino, you may make it a meal as many people in Bologna do. Baskets of local bread are served with the region’s famous meat and cheeses, and a long list of wines is available in glasses and bottles. The service is fast, and the atmosphere is young and modern.
Via Pescherie Vecchie, 3/E, 40124 Bologna
Trattoria Da Vito
It’s a legendary gathering place for Bologna*s artists and educated people. The inside hasn’t been updated since Vito left the building long before; the menu hasn’t changed. Meals are traditional and extremely cheap, with nothing priced over € 10.
Via Mario Musolesi, 9a, 40138 Bologna
Drogheria della Rosa
With tables spreading out under Bologna’s medieval porticos (中世纪门廊), Drogheria della Rosa is a favorite for the best atmosphere in Bologna. Fortunately, that atmosphere is matched by excellent food and service, both provided by the chef and owner Emanuele Addone, who personally visits each table. The menu is a mix of traditional Bolognese food and dishes from around Italy, so you’re sure to find something you like as long as you have enough money.
Via Cartoleria, 10b, 40124 Bologna
1. What can we know about Sfoglia Rina?| A．It is famous for its snacks and drinks. |
| B．It has a history of about sixty years. |
| C．It becomes a must for educated people. |
| D．It is the best-preserved Italian restaurant. |
| A．Via Castiglione, 5/b, 40124 Bologna |
| B．Via Cartoleria, 10b, 40124 Bologna |
| C．Via Mario Musolesi, 9a, 40138 Bologna |
| D．Via Pescherie Vecchie, 3/E, 40124 Bologna |
| A．Communicate with the chef. |
| B．Take some dish-making classes. |
| C．Talk about art with famous artists. |
| D．Appreciate modern decorating styles. |
