1 . The public nowadays has a misunderstanding of forest fires, believing that fires should be kept out of every type of forest. Many of us can recall Smoky the Bear's famous warning: “Remember, only YOU can prevent forest fires”. However, that's not always the case. Under the right conditions, and when conducted safely, fire can create many environmental benefits as well as help prevent larger, uncontrollable wildfires.
After a forest fire, many wildlife species will move into recently burned areas to feed on these newly available foods. Some reptiles and amphibians such as the pine (松树） snake prefer forests frequently burned by fire. As Herbert Stoddard put it, “One of the most harmful things modern man has done to birds has been his attempt to exclude fire from fire-type pine forests. Within a few years most forests choke up with bushes, lose their prairie-like vegetation (草原般植被） and can no longer support birds dependent on periodic burning for their food supply and proper cover.”
If you are asked to picture the forest floor, what do you see? Pine needles, cones, leaves, branches might come to mind-all sources of fuel. If these fuel sources build up without any type of removal, the 'fuel load' can lead to fires catastrophic to forests and people alike. In contrast, prescribed fire can be used by forest professionals every couple of years to keep forest fuels at an appropriate and manageable level. They can also minimize the spread of pest insects and disease and remove unwanted tree and plant species. Plus, they can create and maintain important wildlife habitats rich in grasses and promote the growth of trees, wildflowers and other various plants.
Many organizations and agencies work to promote fire on the landscape when and where appropriate. Smokey Bear even has an updated warning: “Only You can Prevent Wildfires,” as the Forest Service has over the last few decades developed policies and procedures to include prescribed fire as a management tool, as well as continuing their work to prevent and fight wildfires.
1. Why did the author mention Smoky the Bear's warning?| A．To introduce the topic of the passage. |
| B．To clarify a misunderstood concept. |
| C．To show the significance of fire prevention. |
| D．To raise people's awareness of forest protection. |
| A．Forest bushes. |
| B．Fuel sources. |
| C．Pine forests. |
| D．Periodic burning. |
| A．To put out wildfires. |
| B．To keep the forest balance. |
| C．To remove tree and plant species. |
| D．To keep the fuel rich in the forest. |
| A．One Match Can Start A Forest Fire |
| B．Where There Is Smoke There Is A Fire |
| C．Not All Forest Fires Are Created Equal |
| D．Why Not Keep The Forest Fire Burning |
2 . Until now, scientists haven’t been able to study the new rock on the moon.The new samples from Chang’e 5 will change this. They’re from near Mons Rümker, a volcanic mountain where the rock is thought to be much younger-- about 1 billion years old.
There are a lot of reasons scientists are eager to study this younger rock, one of which is that it could help us more precisely date not only the moon, but many rocky planets and other objects.
Here’s how that works: Scientists date lunar rock by using something called a chronology curve（年代学曲线）, says Jollliff, a scientists at Washington University in St. Louis. Basically, they estimate the age of the rock by counting the number of craters（火山口） in the area the rock comes from; those increase as objects strike the rock over time. To make this estimation, scientists need to match the number of craters to a precise age. Right now, they only have data points for lunar rock that is 3 to billion years old. Modern techniques can date the new sample extremely accurately, and once scientists know its precise age, they can add a valuable data point to their chronology curve. The dating system will also help us more accurately estimate the age of all sorts of objects in space, like rocky planets and other moons.
Another reason scientists are keen to study this young volcanic rock is to find out more about how volcanism works on the moon. Jollliff says that it’s unclear why there was volcanic activity on the moon for such a long period of time. Most of the moon; s volcanic activity, he says, is thought to have occurred 3 or 4 billion years ago, when the moon was still pretty young. But since the moon does not have plate structure, which drives volcanism on Earth, it’s unclear what could have caused much later volcanic activity. “That’s something that you can find out of the samples by studying them in the lab,” Jollliff says.
1. What does the underlined word “this” in paragraph 1 refer to?| A．The fact of being unable to study the new rock. |
| B．The new rock from near Mons Rümker. |
| C．One of the reasons to study the moon;s new rock. |
| D．The study of the moon’s younger rock. |
| A．ensure there was volcanic activity on the moon. |
| B．more precisely date only the moon. |
| C．date lunar rock by using a chronology curve. |
| D．explore how volcanism works on the moon. |
| A．Scientistsare keen to study this young volcanic rock. |
| B．Scientists can’t know why volcanic activity exists on the moon. |
| C．The moon’s volcanic activity occurred 3 or 4 billion years ago. |
| D．It’s clear what could have caused much later volcanic activity. |
| A．How scientists study the younger rock. |
| B．Why the research is important. |
| C．Why the younger rock is worth studying. |
| D．What scientists do to study the younger rock. |
3 . Trucker Gerlock traveled hundreds of thousands of miles with his dog, Holly, who came with him on every route—including his last one. While driving near Dallas, Texas, on the job, the 59-year-old Marylander crashed into a concrete column. Gerlock was killed instantly. Looking in the back of the truck, though, rescue drivers found one survivor.
Rescue workers cut the Chesapeake Bay retriever(切萨皮克海湾寻回犬)—practically untouched—out of the back of the truck, where she’d been sleeping. “It’s amazing that anything survived, ”Sandy Nordhoff, friend of Gerlock, told The Kent County News.
Unsure what happened to Holly, Gerlock’s friends from his town of Rock Hall, Maryland, made numerous calls and emails to agencies in order to find out where the dog was. Eventually, they found out she had been staying in Dallas Animal Services shelter and a foster family had taken her in for Thanksgiving. The Rock Hall locals hatched a plan to get her home.
Joe Creighton and Sandy’s husband, Russell Nordhoff, both lifelong friends of Gerlock, volunteered to make the 2, 800-mile trip from Rock Hall to Dallas and back, which took two days each way. The friends borrowed Gerlock’s pickup truck for the road, so Holly would feel more comfortable on the journey home, according to The Kent County News.
Back in Rock Hall, some of Gerlock’s friends adopted Holly. Ever since, the dog has been a town icon(偶像), making an appearance in almost every town parade.
“The outpouring of love shown towards Gerlock and Holly was heartwarming, ”Rock Hall resident Jamie Elburn tells Reader's Digest. “It shows how the companionship of‘man’s best friend’and simple kindness can overcome even the most difficult situation!”
1. What does the underlined part in Paragraph 2 indicate?| A．The trip was extremely tiring. | B．The result was quite satisfying. |
| C．The survivor was very smart. | D．The accident was too serious. |
| A．She was nowhere to be found. | B．She was put in an animal shelter. |
| C．She was sent back home immediately. | D．She was adopted by a foster family. |
| A．It was painstaking. | B．It was full of danger. |
| C．It tumed out to be interesting. | D．It required much experience. |
| A．Sympathetic. | B．Grateful. | C．Shocked. | D．Touched. |
4 . Students, teachers, and local community members are strongly encouraged to register online to receive real-time information of emergency events from Columbia University.
Text message warnings will only be used in rare cases where ongoing events cause an immediate threat or have a significant influence. Possible situations include severe weather conditions, emergency campus closures, crimes in progress that may endanger the community, and major transportation interruptions.
Read instructions on how to sign up for emergency notifications（通知）.
Columbia students
Columbia students can easily register for text message notifications. Simply enter Student Services Online, click on "Text Message Enrollment" and add your cellphone number. Students can register parents or family members by following the instructions for the public below.
Columbia teachers
Columbia teachers can register for text message notifications by following the step by step instructions below:
● Register with your UNI and password at my.columbia.edu.
● Select "Faculty & Staff" at the top of the page.
● Select "Contact Details".
● Click the "+" under "Phone".
● Select "Campus Alert 1".
● Enter your mobile number.
To receive emergency information on additional mobile phones, you may follow the above instructions for "Campus Alert 2" and "Campus Alert 3" for a total of three.
Community/General Public
Community/General Public interested in receiving emergency information from Columbia can sign up by clicking on the "Register" button on the registration page and entering their email and mobile number. Users will receive confirmation code（密码）on their phone and will need to confirm their account via email.
Users can choose not to use the Emergency Text Alert System at any time by texting STOP to 226787, calling 226789 or sending an email to lr27682@.cumc.columbia.edu.
1. Which is a possible situation where a text message will be sent?| A．The temperature will drop slightly tomorrow. |
| B．The campus will be closed during Christmas. |
| C．The main railway system of the city is interrupted. |
| D．A bank robber is being sentenced in the court of the city. |
| A．Selecting Campus Alert. | B．Entering mobile numbers. |
| C．Clicking "+" under "Phone". | D．Selecting "Faculty& Staff". |
| A．By sending an email. |
| B．By texting STOP to 226789. |
| C．By managing information online. |
| D．By making a phone call to 226787. |
5 . Hundreds of people die at sea every year due to ship and airplane accidents. Emergency teams have little time to rescue those in the water because the probability of finding a person alive fall dramatically after six hours. Beyond tides and challenging weather conditions, unsteady coastal currents often make search and rescue operations extremely difficult.
New insight into coastal flows gained by an international research team led by George Haller, Professor of Nonlinear Dynamics at ETH Zurich, promises to enhance the search and rescue techniques currently in use. Using tools from dynamical systems theory and ocean data, the team has developed an algorithm (算法) to predict where objects and people floating in water will go. “Our work has a clear potential to save lives,” says Mattia Serra, the first author of a study recently published in Nature Communications.
In today’s rescue operations at sea, complicated models of ocean dynamics and weather forecasting are used to predict the path of floating objects. For fast-changing coastal waters, however, such predictions are often inaccurate due to uncertain boundaries and missing data. As a result, a search may be launched in the wrong location, causing a loss of precious time.
Haller’s research team obtained mathematical results predicting that objects floating on the ocean’s surface should gather along a few special curves (曲线) which they call TRansient Attracting Profiles (TRAPs). These curves can’t be seen with our eyes but can be tracked from instant ocean surface current data using recent mathematical methods developed by the ETH team. This enables quick and precise planning of search paths that are less sensitive to uncertainties in the time and place of the accident.
In cooperation with a team from MIT, the ETH team tested their new, TRAP-based search algorithm in two separate ocean experiments near Martha’s Vineyard, which is on the northeastern coast of the United States. Working from the same real-time data available to the Coast Guard, the team successfully identified TRAPs in the region in real time. They found that buoys and manikins (浮标和人体模型) thrown in the water indeed quickly gathered along these emerging curves. “Of several competing approaches tested in this project, this was the only algorithm that consistently found the right location,” says Haller.
“Our results are rapidly obtained, easy to interpret and cheap to perform,” points out Serra. Haller stresses: “Our hope is that this method will become a standard part of the tool kit of coast guards everywhere.”
1. In a search and rescue operation, .| A．the survival rate drops to almost zero after six hours |
| B．the use of dynamics leads to the wrong location |
| C．weather conditions are a determining factor |
| D．changing currents present a challenge |
| A．It relies on ocean dynamics. |
| B．It tracks the path of the curves. |
| C．It stops the uncertainties of the accident. |
| D．It figures out how tides change over time. |
| A．the collection of data | B．the testing of the algorithm |
| C．the identification of the TRAPs | D．the cooperation of two research teams |
| A．Why Success Rates of Rescue Operations have Fallen |
| B．Why Algorithms are Popular in Rescue Operations |
| C．How Mathematics Can Save Lives at Sea |
| D．How Coastal Waters Affect Saving Lives |
6 . ◆ What Are We Talking About?
It’s called the Mozzy Watch. It is a stylish and comfortable band that instantly brings peace of mind, for it keeps those annoying mosquitoes away. It is made of a hardened ceramic material, so it is very tough and almost unbreakable. But how this device protects you against annoying insects is truly amazing…
◆ __________________________________________
Mozzy Watch uses ultrasonic sounds to repel (驱除) mosquitoes and flies! These ultrasonic frequencies are completely harmless to humans and pets. At first, we were skeptical about how this device could work without the use of chemicals. So, we decided to test it and the results were amazing. Everyone on our team experienced wonderful results after using Mozzy Watch.
◆ Key Mozzy Watch Features, Facts, and Benefits:
□ Completely safe Everyone can use this device: kids, pregnant women and even pets. It uses no chemicals and the ultrasonic sounds it produces have been proven safe.
□ Comfortable Mozzy Watch is lightweight and stylish.
□ Rechargeable with long battery life It can be charged using a normal USB charger and the battery can last up to one week.
□ Improves quality of sleep No more annoying buzzing mosquito sounds around your ears.
◆ How Much Does the Mozzy Watch Cost?
The Mozzy Watch is just $79.90, which is more than worth it, considering how much you save on the long run.
But it gets even better! If you click on any of the promotional discount coupons below, you’ll get it for $49 AND FREE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!
◆ How Do I Get the Mozzy Watch?
Now that you know about this amazing new product, order one from the official supplier’s website here: https://top.com/mozzywatch
Enjoy peace of mind free from annoying mosquitoes and insects!
1. Which would be the best heading for Paragraph 2?| A．Why Do We Need Mozzy Watch? |
| B．Who Are Suitable To Wear Mozzy Watch? |
| C．How Does Mozzy Watch Work To Protect You? |
| D．How Did Our Team Do the Test On Mozzy Watch? |
| A．By describing its stylish design in detail. |
| B．By highlighting its unique technical features. |
| C．By offering feedback from thousands of users. |
| D．By giving special buy-one-get-one-free discounts. |
| A．Health. | B．Opinion. | C．Entertainment. | D．Sports. |
7 . Amsterdam,the capital and most populous city in the Netherlands，is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world，famous for its beautiful canals，top art museum，cycling culture，and Red Light District.Here are some of the key points to remember as you plan your trip to Amsterdam.
Must-See AttractionsMost visitors begin their Amsterdam adventure in the Old Centre,which is full of traditional architecture，shopping centers,and coffee shops.You’ll also want to check out Amsterdam’s Museum Quarter in the South District，which is great for shopping at the Albert Cuyp Market and having a picnic in the Vondelpark.The top museums to visit are the Rijksmusuem,the Ann Frank House,and the Van Gogh Museum.The Canal Ring is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was originally built to attract wealthy home owners and is a popular place for celebrity spotting and nightlife today.
TransportationTravelers should be aware that Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is one of the busiest airports in the world.This airport is located about 15 kilometers southwest of city center.You can catch a train from Schiphol to Amsterdam Central Station，which has many connecting routes.It’s typically not a good idea to drive a car to the city center because traffic is heavy and parking is difficult to find.Cycling is incredibly popular here,and it’s easy to find cheap bike rentals around town.Amsterdam has a flat terrain(地形) and is a great city to explore on foot.
Money Saving TipsUnless you really want to see the tulips(郁金香) blooming，avoid booking between mid-March and mid-May.This is when hotel and flight prices rise.
Look for accommodations in Amsterdam’s South District，where rates are generally cheaper than in the city center.Buy train tickets at the machine instead of the counter to save a bit of money.
Instead of hiring a tour guide，hop on a canal boat.They’re inexpensive and will give you a unique point of view of the city.Check out our homepage to view price comparisons for flights,hotels,and rental cars before you book.
1. Which attraction was built with the original purpose of drawing the rich?| A．Albert Cuyp Market. | B．The Ann Frank House. |
| C．The Van Gogh Museum. | D．The Canal Ring. |
| A．The plane. | B．The train. |
| C．The car. | D．The bike. |
| A．Seeing the tulips blooming in spring. | B．Avoiding accommodating downtown. |
| C．Buying car tickets at the machine. | D．Hiring a local tour guide. |
8 . Are you a music lover? If your answer is yes, you might be interested in the following music services.
Apple Music
Apple Music has more than 30 million songs and is available in over 100 countries.
Search for “Holiday Music” to find playlists. Then tell voice assistant Siri to “play holiday music” to open the music program on your iPhone, iPod or Apple TV. The app will provide holiday playlists and stations.
You can also listen to Apple Music on your computer through the iTunes store or on Apple TV.
Apple Music is free for the first three months. After that, users must pay a subscription (订阅) fee.
Google Play Music
Google Play Music is also in the holiday spirit. Go to the Google Play Music Holiday page or app and search for “Holiday Music”.
Google Play Music is available for free if you don’t mind the advertisements. If you do, buy a paid subscription to avoid them. Google Play Music offers more than 30 million songs in 58 countries.
The service is available on your computer, and through apps on your Android phone and iPhone.
Live365
Live365 is an internet radio service available on your computer or mobile device. The service has 158 Christmas music stations, such as Contemporary Christmas, Christmas Breezes and Classical Christmas.
Live365 is free and available around the world. Searching for “Holiday Music” lets you listen to more stations without advertisements.
Spotify
Spotify, another online service, is filled with holiday music. Listen to playlists on Spotify by searching for “Holiday Music”. The playlists include Merry Christmas. The Best Holiday Music, Pure Christmas Music and Pure Holiday Music.
1. What do the music services have in common?| A．They are free of charge . | B．They have endless songs. |
| C．“Holiday Music” can be searched for. | D．They have music stations. |
| A．Google Play Music. | B．Live365. |
| C．Spotify. | D．Apple Music. |
| A．Merry Christmas. | B．The Best Holiday Music. |
| C．Classical Christmas. | D．Pure Christmas Music. |
9 . It's good to share, right? Growing up as kids we are told to share our toys and not be selfish. We also live in an age where discussing our feelings is encouraged. But when does it all become too much? With new fashion trending all the time, such as dance challenges and wearing a pillow as a dress, the question is: when can sharing become oversharing on social media?
What is oversharing? The term has become associated with social media, but it doesn't only belong to this platform. Imagine you head to a party and you meet someone. Within five minutes they have given away details about their personal life. While some of us may try to escape these people, according to marriage therapist Carolyn Cole, this form of oversharing could come from a strong desire to connect with someone. But how does this translate to social media?
Dr. Christopher Hand, a lecturer in internet psychology, says the more details people disclose, the less sympathy we express when things go wrong. This could be due to a belief that we attract our own negative experiences the more we share them. It seems that the idea of searching for sympathy by oversharing, is generally viewed as negative rather than the cry for help it could actually be.
However, Dr Hand's research also seems to suggest that the more positive posts we share on a platform, the more socially attractive we become. Even back in 2015, Gwendolyn Seidman PhD, said that we should avoid complaining and being negative online. We are supposed not to show off, as it's now known—especially about our love lives. It makes sense—if your date is going 'that well', would you really have time to share a photo with text?
So, how can you know if you are oversharing? Well, why not ask your friends in real life. They would probably be more than happy to tell you if your posts about your breakfast or your complaint about your lack of money really are too much.
1. Why do some people try to overshare at parties?| A．Because they want to catch others' attention. |
| B．Because they just want to show off something. |
| C．Because they have a strong desire to pour out their emotions. |
| D．Because they may expect to make a connection with someone. |
| A．explore | B．expose | C．display | D．discuss |
| A．We will become more socially attractive if we post more on a platform. |
| B．We tend to show sympathy when things go wrong. |
| C．We may be considered negative when seeking for sympathy by oversharing. |
| D．We can show off something positive especially about our love lives. |
| A．To inform. | B．To inspire. | C．To advertise. | D．To condemn. |
10 . Did you know it’s possible to swim with whales in the ocean while lying on a hospital bed? Have you imagined experiencing your 74th birthday as a 20-something? Medical virtual reality is an area with interesting an attractive possibilities. Although the field is brand new, there are already great examples of VR having a positive effect on health care. Here are some.
Have you ever lain down on a hospital bed counting the days until you leave the hospital? Brennan Spiegel and his team at the Cedarssinai hospital in Los Angeles introduced VR worlds to their patients to help them reduce stress and pain. With the special glasses, they could escape the four walls of the hospital and enjoy amazing scenery in part in the work of an art studio or swim together with whales in the ocean. So the hospital experience is improved.
As we know, the experience in a hospital is even more stressful for small children who miss their parents and friends. Now, a Dutch company made their dream possible. Through a smart and virtual glasses, VisitU makes live contact possible with a 360-degree camera at the patients’ home, school or special occasions like a birthday celebration or a football game. Though staying in hospital, young patients can relax and still enjoy their lives.
Did you wonder what it feels like to grow old? Embodied Labs created “We Are Alfred” by using VR to show young medical students what ageing means. Everyone can be the imagined Alfred for 7 minutes, and experience what it feels like to live as a 74-year-old man. Thus it's possible to solve the disconnection between young doctors and elderly patients due to their huge age difference.
Mindmotionpro, produced by the Swiss Mindmaze allows patients with a brain injury to “practice” how to lift their arms or move their fingers with the help of virtual reality. The app makes the practice of repetitive movements fun for patients. The mental effort helps their damaged nervous systems to recover much faster than lying helplessly in bed.
1. What is implied in the questions raised in paragraph 1?| A．The characters of medical VR. | B．The function of medical VR. |
| C．The popularity of medical VR. | D．The imagination about medical VR. |
| A．Being given a smart phone. | B．Having fun in the hospital. |
| C．Having access to various activities. | D．Being together with familiar people. |
| A．To make doctors trust their patients |
| B．To help young doctors know much about elderly patients . |
| C．To increase doctors’ interest in their work . |
| D．To help doctors experience the life of an elder. |
| A．Spiegel’ special glasses. | B．The application of VisitU. |
| C．The use of MindMotionPro. | D．The creation of “We Are Alfred”. |
