1 . China has just officially opened its FAST radio telescope to international scientists. Scientists across the world can submit proposals for astronomical observations using the telescope.

FAST is short for Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (球面射电望远镜) and it is also believed to be the world's largest radio telescope and the most sensitive single-dish radio telescope. The receiving surface area of FAST is 250,000 square meters, about the size of 30 standard football fields. Its construction was completed in September 2016 and it officially began operating in January 2020.

The major scientific task of the telescope is the observation of pulsars (脉冲星) – the rotating neutron stars. The study of pulsars can help to confirm the existence of gravitational radiation and black holes, and help solve many other major questions in physics. Another scientific goal of FAST is to search for outer space civilization.

The telescope is located in a naturally deep and round karst depression in southwest China's Guizhou Province. The first advantage of the selected site is the altitude. The average altitude of Guizhou is about 1,100 meters, which maximizes the effectiveness of the observation equipment. Secondly, the radio telescope needs to have a “big pan” to receive better signal. The huge natural depression could reduce the amount of excavation (挖掘) and difficulty of construction. Moreover, the selected site in Guizhou is far away from cities, and has a small population, which reduces the interference (干扰) caused by wireless devices such as TVs, mobile phones and radios from human activities.

FAST has identified over 300 pulsars. Experts predict that the number could reach 1,000 in five years and that the telescope could locate and identify the first pulsar outside the galaxy. With the opening-up to international scientists, China's FAST is expected to make more contribution to astronomical research in the future.

1. What do we know about FAST?

A．It is opened to global scientists.	B．It is a project under construction.
C．It has provided service since 2016.	D．It has found a pulsar outside the galaxy.

2. What is the main task of FAST?

A．To study black holes.	B．To observe the pulsars.
C．To explore the sun.	D．To seek space civilization.

3. What's special about the selected site?

A．It's close to urban areas.	B．It reduces engineering amount.
C．It possesses a shallow depression.	D．It's at the highest altitude in China.

4. Which can be the best title for the text?

A．Major Scientific Tasks of FAST	B．Ways to Select the Site for FAST
C．Contributions FAST Has Made	D．Facts about FAST Radio Telescope

3 . Best Family Vacations in Canada

When looking for the ideal destination for your next family vacation abroad, consider Canada for its wide range of multi-generational entertainment. Use this list to plan your next trip north, and vote below for your first-choice destination before you head out.

Niagara Falls	The maid of the mist boat tour may leave you fully wet, but it won’t wet your spirit on your trip. When you’re not admiring the falls, enjoy the blossoms at the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens. Or, visit the Aquarium (水族馆) of Niagara, which has more than1,500 species of aquatic animals.
Prince Edward Island	The background for the “Anne of Green Gables” stories, Prince Edward Island offers a variety of outdoor experiences—from sandy beaches to water sports like kayaking to exploring one of eight lighthouses. Plus, PEI is a quick flight from almost anywhere on the east coast.
Whistler	Kids will love hitting the slopes (斜坡) on Whistler and Blackcomb mountains nearby Vancouver. Whistler also features educational activities, such as the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, for families who want to gain some learning while on vacation.
Vancouver	You’ll find most of Vancouver’s kid-centered attractions in Granville Island and Stanley Park. The nearly 1,000-acre park has the Vancouver Aquarium, plus four playgrounds, and a mini-train. For a more exciting rush, walk across the 450-foot-long Capilano Suspension Bridge.

1. How may a visitor feel during the boat tour at Niagara Falls?

A．Disappointed.

B．Excited.

C．Scared.

D．Surprised.

2. Which destination may a water sports lover choose?

A．Niagara Falls.

B．Prince Edward Island.

C．Whistler.

D．Vancouver.

3. What do Whistler and Vancouver have in common?

A．They are famous for bridges.

B．People can visit cultural centres.

C．Aquariums are the main attraction.

D．They have attractions for children.

4 . New parents who clean their homes very often to protect their babies from bacteria and other organisms might cut back their efforts.

A new study suggests high levels of contact with cleaning products are linked to an increased risk of the childhood breathing condition known as asthma (气喘).

Researchers asked a group of parents how often they used 26 common household cleaners during their babies’ first three to four months of life. By age three, the children who had come in contact with cleaning products the most were more likely to be diagnosed with asthma. The researchers said children who had a lot of contact with cleaners were 37 percent more likely to have asthma than children with the least contact. The study also found a lot of exposure to cleaning products caused children to be 35 percent more likely to have chronic difficulty breathing. In addition, they were 49 percent more likely to have chronic allergies.

Tim Takaro, who helped lead the study, suggested that parents should question the belief that their home is clean only if it smells like chemical-based cleaning products. He also advised them to look for products free of substances like chemical colors. Besides, they should consider natural cleaning products instead of chemical ones.

The American lung Association recommends avoiding cleaning products that contain volatile (易挥发的) organic substances and other irritants (刺激物). But companies in Canada and the United States are not required to list all the chemicals in cleaning products. Some products labeled as environmentally friendly, or "green", may contain harmful substances.

Elissa Abrams, a doctor with the University of Manitoba, admitted the effects of cleaning products are not well understood. But she believed these products and the chemicals they contain act as irritants to growing children "The take-home message is that parents should be careful with cleaning products they use in the home", she added.

1. What is the third paragraph mainly about?

A．The suggestions on using cleaning products.

B．The parents’ opinions of household cleaners.

C．The conduct of the study and the findings.

D．The reason for using cleaning products.

2. What should parents do according to Tim Takaro?

A．Have a full understanding of cleaning products.

B．Keep their home free of all kinds of cleaning products.

C．Use natural cleaning products rather than chemical ones.

D．Make their homes smell like chemical-based cleaning products.

3. Which of the following is a fact about the cleaning products in America?

A．They are environmentally friendly without any harm.

B．They are asked to list all the chemicals contained.

C．They are free of irritants if labeled "green".

D．They are not always safe to be used.

4. In which section of a newspaper may this text appear?

A．Arts & Culture.	B．Lifestyle & Health.
C．Life & Technology.	D．Climate & Environment.

5 . When it comes to making television historical documentaries, there are few places and periods that British television audiences have not been taken by presenter Michael Wood. Earlier this year he became the first filmmaker from outside China to make a film about the life and work of poet Du Fu. The Du Fu film, featuring famous British actor Ian McKellen reading his poems, was shown on the BBC and China Central Television, and the reaction was instant and positive.

“It created a lot of interest and feedback in China and got a lot of coverage at the time, which was really touching, because when you go into a foreign culture as an outsider, to make a film about something of theirs, you want to make sure you’ve got it right.” Wood said.

As shown in the documentary, Du Fu’s works are learnt by heart by Chinese school students, but outside the country, he is not that well known. So, there is something Wood is keen to put right.

Stephen Owen, one of his leading translators from Harvard says, “Du Fu should be considered alongside Shakespeare and Dante as people who helped compose the emotional vocabulary of their culture.”

For more than 40 years, China has always held the most fascination for Wood. He first got interested in China when he was at school and picked up a book called Poems of the late Tang by AC Graham. “That book opened a window to a world that I never even dreamed.” he said. In the early 80s, it was the first time he had been to China. “I really enjoyed being with the people, who were so friendly and sociable. I remember coming back from my first long trip there feeling genuinely sad to go home.” Wood said.

Opening up discussion and encouraging cultural links is something Wood also does through his involvement. “We believe in dialogue. We try to promote mutual understanding and respect, and we want to help people in the West understand the culture of China better and to get rid of major areas of misunderstanding.” he said. “I did a series called The Story of England years ago, telling the history of the country over the centuries through the life of one village, and I’d love to try something like that in China.”

1. What makes the Du Fu film special?

A．Michael Wood’s making the film.

B．Ian Mckellen’s reading Du Fu’s poems.

C．Stephen Owen’s translating Du Fu’s poems.

D．AC Graham’s writing Poems of the late Tang.

2. What’s people’s attitude towards the Du Fu film?

A．Doubtful.

B．Disappointed.

C．Favorable.

D．Uncaring.

3. Why are Shakespeare and Dante mentioned in the passage?

A．To highlight Du Fu’s cultural status.	B．To introduce these two poets to people.
C．To explain the reason for making the film.	D．To stress these two poets’ cultural position.

4. What can be inferred from the passage?

A．The cultural misunderstanding was removed through the film.

B．People outside China know nothing about Chinese poems.

C．Wood had a tough time during his first visit to China.

D．Wood is likely to make a film telling Chinese history.

6 . My work started in 2003 at my local animal shelter’s Adoption Department. It seems like such a long time ago. In the 13 years that have passed, more than 50,000 animals have passed the doors of the shelter. Most of them, I do not remember. But occasionally there are animals who stand out. Tabby was one such animal.

Tabby was one of the many homeless dogs. What’s more, she was blind and deaf. Tabby’s chances at adoption seemed remote at best. But one day a woman named Loretta came to the shelter. Her son, Gary, who suffered from epilepsy (癫痫) had seen Tabby’s picture on the shelter’s website. They were interested in meeting her! Most boys would want a puppy, a dog who could grow with him and run through grassy fields on summer days. Tabby would never be able to do that. But as they say, "love is blind". After meeting her, they decided to adopt Tabby!

If Tabby’s story had simply ended with her successful adoption, it would still have been something very special indeed but it was what happened after her adoption that some might label as "magical" or perhaps even miraculous. As Gary and Tabby did everything together, they became so "in tune" with one another that Tabby began to telegraph Gary’s seizures (疾病发作) before they occurred, giving his family a warning that one was about to strike. What’s more, Gary seemed to be having fewer and fewer seizures since Tabby’s arrival.

How could it be? There are some things that happen in this world that challenge all logic and understanding. Sometimes, the best that we can do is to accept a miraculous thing, which we didn’t attempt to explain. Because when you try to explain it, you lose the beauty and wonder of it all.

1. Which sentence can be used to describe Tabby?

A．She was so lovely that she could be easily adopted.

B．She suffered a lot from the disease-epilepsy.

C．She was so strong that she could run very fast.

D．She was homeless and couldn’t see or hear.

2. What does the underlined word "miraculous" in Paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．Amazing.

B．Typical.

C．Interesting.

D．Special.

3. What can we learn from the passage?

A．Gary learnt about Tabby from a magazine.

B．Gary was cured in the company of Tabby.

C．Tabby could indicate a seizure before it struck.

D．Most boys would have the same decision as Gary.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．Love is Blind: a Miraculous Dog	B．Give Me Food: My Dear Master
C．Love is Everywhere: a Poor Dog	D．Take Me Home: My Dear Boy

7 . Students at Summer Creek and Kingwood Park High schools have joined a project called “Students Helping Veterans (退伍军人) : Big Heroes, Tiny Homes” over the past school year.

The high school’s students and teachers partnered together to create a tiny home community in the Houston area, for homeless veterans. Generous local community donations helped fund the project. Besides, the schools collaborate with architects, engineers and other community partners in the local community to design and build homes expected to be 200 to 300 square feet in size. They eventually want to build a community where veterans can be surrounded by other veteran neighbors who understand and relate to their difficulties and issues when coming back to civilian life.

As a team, the students attend regular meetings together to work on the design. They are motivated by the purpose behind the project which keeps them focusing on the tasks at hand. With every nail that goes in, they know that they are improving a veteran's life and providing him a secure home where he can spend his golden years. "The kids are doing something for someone without any reward except knowing they are doing it for someone," said Missy Tayler, their proud teacher.

"They wanted to serve their country and protect us, and they came back but they didn't get the same treatment," said senior student Sarah Dalby, describing her motivation to help. She added that when she started the project, she barely knew how to use a saw but she is a fast learner and loves the work. “You have to appreciate the armed forces of our country for giving us the individual liberties that we enjoy,” senior student, Nicolas Logan said when explaining his own motivation to participate in the project.

1. What does the underlined phrase “collaborate with” in paragraph 2 mean?

A．Learn from.	B．Team up with.
C．Compete against.	D．Make up with.

2. Who aided the project financially?

A．High school students and teachers.

B．Local architects and engineers.

C．Citizens and organizations from local communities.

D．Governments of Houston areas.

3. Which can best describe the students involved in the project?

A．Caring and cooperative.

B．Demanding and considerate.

C．Humorous and determined.

D．Independent and intelligent.

4. What's the purpose of the last paragraph?

A．To express the teachers' feelings.

B．To explain the secret of the project.

C．To explain the students' motivation.

D．To reveal a potential educational benefit.

8 . China’s Chang’e 5 mission to the moon was completed in less than a month after blasting off (点火起飞). A capsule containing samples of lunar (月球的) rocks and soil collected from the surface of our natural satellite landed in Inner Mongolia, where it was taken back for study.

Chinese broadcaster CGTN reported that the capsule had landed back to Earth just after 10am Dec. 16. Search crews were out in the freezing pre-dawn Hours looking to find back the capsule from the snowy grassland during temperatures well below zero. Aerial images (航拍影像) appeared to show the capsule safely resting on the ground.

China's National Space Administration announced on Thursday, Dec. 3, that its ascent module (上升器) had blasted off from the top of the mission's lunar lander, carrying samples of rock and soil it dug from the lunar surface. It then met with an orbiter circling the moon. The pair made the return trip to Earth where the capsule carrying the samples was sent on its way for a hot and fast going down through our atmosphere only to land on the frozen ground.

The mission lifted off from China on Nov. 23 and landed on the moon on Dec. l. Videos from Chinese media showed the lander’s robotic arm hard at work during its short shift on another world. During its stay, Chang'e 5 also sent back images of a lunar plain of relatively young volcanic moon rock. The image shows both distant hills and how the feet of the lander dug into the soft surface of the moon as it touched down. Enlarging the foot of the lander in particular providers a real sense of the dry, desert-like lunar surface. When the samples were collected, they have been the first pieces of the moon to be returned to our planet since the 1970s.

1. What is the mission of Chang'e 5?

A．Collecting samples of rocks and soil from the moon.

B．Taking the samples from the earth to then moon.

C．Sending a man-made satellite to orbit the moon.

D．Sending a manned spaceship to make a lunar landing.

2. Which of the following was left on the moon according to the text?

A．The capsule.	B．The lunar lander.
C．The ascent module.	D．The orbiter.

3. What do the underlined words "another world" in paragraph 4 refer to?

A．The Earth.	B．A spaceship.
C．Chang'e 5.	D．The Moon

4. In which section of a newspaper may this text appear?

A．Entertainment.

B．Science.

C．Education.

D．Health.

9 . Identical twins (同卵双胞胎) may not be exact copies at the DNA level after all. Normally, identical twins differ by 5. 2 genetic changes. Researchers shared their new finding in Nature Genetics.

Identical twins are also called monozygotic twins (单卵双胞胎). They come from a single egg. That egg forms an embryo (胚胎). Then, it splits into two embryos. Each of these embryos will go on to become a baby.

Identical twins have long been thought to have the exact same genes. That's why some scientific studies study these twins. Such studies try to determine whether particular features, diseases or conditions are due to genes or instead reflect environmental influences. Any differences in the health of identical twins were thought to be due to different environmental exposures. The new findings, though, suggest that genetic changes might also explain why identical twins aren't truly identical.

Researchers in Iceland studied 381 pairs of identical twins. Then the scientists studied all the genes in each person carefully. Only 38 pairs of twins had all the same genes. Most twin pairs differed somewhat in their DNA. Those differences likely arose long before birth. It could have happened either just before one embryo split to form two or it could have happened shortly after the split. Some of the twins had many genetic differences. Thirty-nine pairs had more than 100 differences in their genes.

Gene changes, or mutations (突变), seen in the newly studied twins suggest that embryos don’t split neatly in half when twins form. Some twins may arise when a single cell or a small group of cells splits off from an embryo. How many cells each twin originates from may determine how genetically different they are. More uneven splits of the embryo may lead to a greater number of gene differences in the twins.

1. What does the author intend to do in paragraph 1?

A．Make a comparison.	B．Propose a definition.
C．Present a conclusion.	D．Raise an argument.

2. What may explain the reason why identical twins aren’t the same?

A．Some diseases.	B．Education effects.
C．The genetic origin.	D．The changes of gene.

3. What does the research in Iceland show?

A．Almost all the twins have no difference in genes.

B．Half of twins have more than 100 differences in genes.

C．About ten percent of twins share the same genes.

D．Gene differences usually occur shortly after the split.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．Some Identical Twins Don't Have the Same DNA

B．Many People Have the Exactly Similar Genes

C．Not All the Identical Twins Look the Same

D．Identical Twins Attract Many Researchers

10 . International UN Volunteer Program 2021

If you are interested and ready to become a UN volunteer, you can join a million volunteers to register and become an international volunteer through any of the available opportunities cutting across a wide range of professions. UN volunteer job is available to the volunteers from any part of the globe. You can contribute your time, skills and knowledge through volunteering with the UN. This is an opportunity to create a positive impact and be a significant force for achieving peace and development.

What it involves

The International UN Volunteers promote peace and development in communities around the globe, while supporting the ideals and aspirations (抱负) of the United Nations.

Volunteers come from 160 countries, representing many cultures and backgrounds. They bring a wide variety of perspectives (观点) and approaches.

As a volunteer, you can learn about different cultures, expand your networks, study foreign languages and gain professional and life experiences.

Requirements for becoming a UN volunteer

*25 years old or older (no upper age limit).

* University degree or higher technical diploma (文凭).

*Two years of relevant volunteer experience in a professional background will gain the priority to be employed.

* Good working knowledge of at least one of UNV's three working languages: English, French or Spanish.

* Ability to work in a multicultural environment.

* Willingness to work with people and local organizations to draw upon the synergies (协同作用) between expert solutions and local knowledge.

* Ability to adjust in difficult living conditions and sometimes remote locations.

* Strong interpersonal and organizational skills.

1. What benefit can an International UN volunteer enjoy?

A．Expanded networks.

B．A free high education opportunity.

C．Working as a clerk in the UN later.

D．Opportunities to travel in more than 160 countries.

2. What is required for the applicant?

A．Good command of Russian.

B．Excellent organizational skills.

C．A high school diploma.

D．At the age of 18 or older.

3. Who is most likely to get the volunteer opportunity?

A．One with technical diploma.

B．One with good cooperation ability.

C．One with excellent spoken English.

D．One with years of relevant volunteer experience.