1 . Bioluminescence, unlike other sources of light（the sun, fire, light bulbs）, which produce energy from heat, is defined as “the emission of light from living organisms（such as fireflies and bacteria）as the result of internal chemical reactions”. It is one of the wonders of nature that just about any of us can witness.
While a few organisms can produce bioluminescent light outside of the oceans（think fireflies）, most of the bioluminescence going on is in salt water. In fact, the vast majority of bioluminescent organisms evolved in order to provide light in deep sea marine ecosystems—either to light up prey or as a warning against predators（捕食者）—far below sunlight's reach into the water column.
Humans have been putting natural bioluminescence to work for a while—19th century coal miners would trap fireflies（instead of open-flame candles or lanterns that could cause explosion）in jars to light their way. But nowadays researchers are hard at work synthesizing（合成）the chemical reactions behind bioluminescence for a range of modern-day applications.
Using bioluminescence to help cure disease is a big focus of some biomedical research companies, given the promise of using heat-free organic light to detect metastasizing（转移的） cancer cells, stem cells, viruses or bacteria within living tissue. The military also has big hopes for applying the chemical reactions of bioluminescence to create light that won't cause the heat-seeking sensory equipment of the enemy whether on land，at sea or in the sky. Some other practical applications of bioluminescence include an effort to connect genes from bioluminescent organisms into trees that would light up when the sun sets.
While none of these “technologies” is yet ready to become mainstream, it's good to know that the future looks bright.
1. What exactly causes biolunninescence?| A．Heat energy. | B．Chemical reaction. | C．Salt water. | D．Living organism. |
| A．To ensure safety. | B．To seek comfort. |
| C．To provide convenience | D．To save money |
| A．The heat-seeking sensory equipment | B．A simple cure for all kinds of diseases. |
| C．An all-natural alternative to street lights. | D．An effective virus-killer within living tissues. |
| A．The good and bright future should be ours. |
| B．Bioluminescence is widely used in our life. |
| C．The technologies are good enough to apply. |
| D．The search is on for the use of organic light sources. |
2 . The spot of red was what first caught Randy Heiss's attention on December 16. He was biking on his ranch in Patagonia, Arizona, a town near the U. S. -Mexico border. Heiss walked toward it, and found on the grassland was a broken balloon with its string attached to a piece of paper.
“Dayami,” it read on one side, in a child's writing. It was a Christmas wish list, all in Spanish He suspected that a child had tried to send Santa Claus a Christmas wish list by balloon, something he used to do himself when he was a kid. And he wondered whether he could find the child who had sent this one.
It would be difficult, but based on the prevailing wind, Heiss was pretty sure where it came from—just across the border, the city of Nogales, Mexico.
Heiss then posted about his quest on Facebook, attaching photos, hoping his friends in Nogales might know the girl's family.
A few days passed with no leads. Heiss worried that time was running out before Chirstmas. On December 19. he sent a private Facebook message to Radio XENY. a radio station based in Nogales The next morning. Heiss awoke to a message from Radio XENY: They had located Dayami, an eight-year-old girl, and her family, who indeed lived in Nogales. “It just changed my entire day.” said Heiss. Having bought just about everything on Dayami's list and a few other toys, as they had learned that Dayami had a younger sister, Heiss and his wife. at the Radio XENY. met the family.
“Their eves were wide open with wonder.” Heiss said of the two sisters' reactions. “Like. ‘Oh my gosh, this really did work!’”
Not wanting to disappoint the girls who still believed in Santa Claus, Heiss and his wife told them they were “Santa's helpers”.
“It was a beautiful and healing experience for us...” Heiss said, “Since our only son died ten years ago, being around children at Christmas time has been absent in our lives.” Heiss said. “We now have friends for life. And, for a day, that border fence with its wire melted away.”
1. What did Heiss find when hiking on his ranch.| A．A Christmas wish list from a child | B．A mass of grassland. |
| C．A letter addressed to him. | D．A beautiful red balloon. |
| A．Examples. | B．Clues. | C．Suggestions. | D．Plans. |
| A．He wanted to make up for his lost son. |
| B．He wanted to make friends with Dayami. |
| C．He wanted to realize his childhood dream. |
| D．He didn't want to spoil Santa Claus for the girls. |
| A．Love knows no borders. | B．A bold attempt is half success. |
| C．God helps those who help themselves. | D．Nothing is impossible to a willing heart. |
3 . Not very long ago, the question would have seemed absurd. Now it is on the lips of respected scientists; MPs（议员）are beginning to talk of “a war on sugar”, and even England’s chief medical officer has said sugar may have to be, like the old enemy tobacco, taxed in order to protect the nation’s health.
There came a time in the evolution of public attitudes to smoking, when the doctors had been shouting for long enough that the public was broadly aware of the risks and the only question left for Government was: What should we do about it?
Some believe we are now at the same point in our attitudes to sugar. Others—largely but not only representatives of the food and drink industry—say the entire debate has been skewed（歪曲）by those who spread stories deliberately to make people nervous.
More or less everyone agrees that eating too much sugar is bad for you. There is also no doubt obesity is a growing problem which is putting a significant, avoidable burden on the NHS by increasing the rates of diabetes, heart disease and other long-term conditions.
But to what extent is sugar—rather than saturated fats, or salt, carbohydrates or proteins, or any of the other devils of modern diets—the cause of obesity and how much should we worry about it?
Yesterday, hopes of achieving anything resembling clarity from the World Health Organization（WHO）were confused once again, which, widely expected to reduce the recommended sugar intake by a half in new draft guidance, instead said it would continue to recommend that sugar make up no more than 10 percent of the energy we consume, while adding that cutting this to five percent would have “additional benefits”. The decision will now go out to public consultation.
Simon Capewell, professor of the University of Liverpool, said that he suspected “dirty work” on the part of food and drinks companies might lie behind the WHO’s less than resounding（强有力的）message.
1. What does the author indicate by referring to smoking?| A．People must see the disadvantages of sugar immediately. |
| B．It is not easy for authorities to restrict or ban something. |
| C．Sugar has just turned out to be as harmful as smoking. |
| D．It is easy for people to see bad effects of something. |
| A．it thinks the danger of sugar to health is emphasized too much |
| B．it has been put under pressure by food and drinks companies |
| C．it believes certain amount of intake of sugar does us good |
| D．it finds it safe to take in as much sugar as people do now |
| A．remain objective | B．stand by those against it |
| C．believe it harmless | D．hold the view of “wait-and-see” |
| A．Is Sugar the New Evil? | B．How Much Sugar Do You Take Daily? |
| C．Is Sugar to Be Taxed? | D．How Much Do You Know about Sugar? |
4 . The first known dress, as well as the earliest known bar and restaurant in France, were identified this week. The discoveries, reported in the journal Antiquity, provide a glimpse of what early life was like in both ancient Egypt and southern France thousands of years ago.
The garment, which dates to around 3482 BC, is known as the Tarkhan Dress, and now looks like a shabby and dirty shirt. When new, however, the linen dress would have looked fashionable even today, as researchers determined it featured a natural pale gray stripe with pleated sleeves and bodice. Its edge is missing, so the original length of the dress is unknown.
"The survival of highly perishable textiles（纺织品）in the archaeological record is exceptional（例外的）, the survival of complete, or almost complete, articles of clothing like the Tarkhan Dress is even more remarkable," Alice Stevenson, head of the University College London（UCL）Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, said in a press release.
Now that the dress' age has been confirmed, it has been named Egypt's oldest garment and is the oldest known surviving woven garment in the world. To calculate its age. Michael Dee of the University of Oxford and colleagues measured a small Sample of the dress to determine how much radiocarbon remained in the linen. Linen is especially suitable for radiocarbon dating, according to the researchers, because it is made of flax fibers that grow over a relatively short time. The dress, currently on display at the UCI.
Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, features wear and tear that date back to its earliest days. The researchers believe that a young teenager or a very slim woman wore it.
A separate study in the same journal reports the discovery of a hotel in southern France. At first the researcher thought that they had found a bakery, since they determined that the site once featured three huge ovens. They later, however, found that another nearby room across from a courtyard, had furniture lining its walls.
1. Why is it difficult to determine the length of the garment?| A．Its bottom edge is gone. | B．It has broken into pieces. |
| C．Part of the bottom is missing | D．The edge of sleeves is missing. |
| A．Really in high quality. | B．Valuable and unusual. |
| C．Lasting for quite a long time | D．Being rotten or destroyed easily. |
| A．linen is especially suitable for radiocarbon dating |
| B．the dress proves to be the oldest woven one in the world |
| C．how radiocarbon in the linen is measured by the researchers |
| D．the researchers of University of Oxford knew the dress' age |
| A．TV series. | B．A book review. |
| C．A science report. | D．A fashion show. |
5 . The Best of Alaska
Nothing evokes(唤起) Alaska like a whale exploding out of the water or an eagle pulling a silver fish from the river. Combine these images with high mountains, brilliant icebergs and wonderful meals and you really do have the Best of Alaska! Join us for an unforgettable 7-day excursion(远足) to the last frontier!
Highlights:
JUNEAU: Juneau, the state capital, is rich in culture and scenic beauty. It is here that we start and end our trip.
HAINES: Haines is a small community located along the fjords. The natural beauty and expansive wilderness found here have made Haines a premier center for adventure in Alaska.
ALASKA INDIAN ARTS: Alaska Indian Arts is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to the preservation and continuation of traditional native craft and culture of the Northwest Native Tribes. We spend a few hours learning carving, native beading and culture from these master artists.
SKAGWAY: Skagway is famous for its role in the Klondike Gold Stampede over 100 years ago Today, it is a historic yet lively town, which still reflects its gold rush roots and contains colorful shops. In Skagway, we stop by the Klondike Gold Rush National Park Visitor’s Center and ride the White Pass and Yukon Route Railway.
CUSTAVUS: Gustavus is the gateway to Glacier Bay National Park. We’ll stay at a comfortable lodge here for two nights. This will be the base for both the whale-watching excursion and a full-day cruise in Glacier Bay.
DATES/PRICES: May 15, June 17, July 16, August 14.
7 days—$3,500, including lodging, all meals, excursions, guides, park fees, sales taxes, and transportation between Juneau, Skagway, Haines, and Gustavus. Not included: Alcohol, personal items, airfare to and from Juneau.
Contact:
mail: info@ alaskamountainguides.com
Call:800-766-3396
Write: Alaska Mountain Guides & Climbing School P.O. Box 1081, Haines AK 99827
1. According to the advertisement, those who participate in the excursion ________.| A．can contact Alaska Mountain Guides & Climbing School by email or fax |
| B．will spend one day experiencing the local culture at Alaska Indian Arts |
| C．are able to experience some adventurous activities in Haines |
| D．can get lots of traditional native artworks free of charge |
| A．At Juneau. | B．At Skagway. |
| C．At Haines. | D．At Gustavus. |
| A．Glacier Bay National Park | B．the Klondike Gold Rush National Park |
| C．the Northwest Native Tribes | D．Yukon Route Railway |
6 . Some time ago, in my class I was about to fail a student for his answer to a physics question when the student claimed he deserved a better score. The examination question sounded “safe”.
“Show how it is possible to determine the height of a tall building with the aid of a barometer（压表）.” The student had answered: “Take the barometer to the top of the building, attach a long rope to it, lower the barometer to the street, and then bring it up, measuring the length of the rope. The length of the rope is the height of the building.”
I argued that a high grade should prove his competence in physics, but the answer did not confirm this. I suggested that the student have another try. Immediately, he worked out his answer: A second best way is to take the barometer to the top of the building. Drop the barometer, timing its fall with a stopwatch. Then, using the formula to calculate the height of the building.
I was shocked by his answer. His method gave me not only a broken barometer but a U-turn in my teaching philosophy. I gave him full marks.
On his leaving my office, I recalled that he suggested there could be a better answer. So I asked him what it was. “Oh, yes,” said the student, “There are many ways. Probably the best,” he said, “is to take the barometer to the basement and ask the superintendent （楼管）. You speak to him as follows: Mr.Superintendent, here I have a fine barometer. If you tell me the height of this building, I will give it to you.
At this point, I asked the student if he really did not know the conventional answer to this question. He admitted that he did, but said that he was fed up with high school instructors’ trying to teach him how to think, and to use the so-called “scientific method”. He just wanted to solve the problem in a practical manner, not just answer the question in an expected way. Hearing this, I really had nothing to do but give the boy a firm handshake, feeling thankful that I hadn’t failed him in the first place and even more thankful, neither had he.
1. Why did the author want to fail the student in the first place?| A．The student challenged his authority. |
| B．The student’s answer was not practical. |
| C．The student didn’t show his academic ability. |
| D．The student had a poor performance in physics class. |
| A．Without love, there is no education. |
| B．A man becomes learned by asking questions. |
| C．Teaching is to make two ideas grow where only one grew before. |
| D．You can lead your horse to the river, but you can’t make it drink. |
| A．Lack of physics-related knowledge. |
| B．Ignorance of the teacher’s expectation. |
| C．Intention to deeply impress his teacher. |
| D．Disapproval of existing teaching concepts. |
| A．The superintendent was a greedy person. |
| B．School education restricted this student’s thinking. |
| C．The teacher appreciated the student’s answers finally. |
| D．The examination question is a lough physics problem. |
7 . ★LOUDOUN COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL
Grades: Preschool-Grade 8
LCDS.org • 703-777-3841
Award-winning school features a low student-teacher ratio (比率). Courses include art, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), computer programming, languages, athletics, instruments. BYOT (Bring Your Own Technology), one-to-one program in fourth through eighth grades. It’s famous for its unique field trips.
★NYSMITH SCHOOL
Grades: 3 years-Grade 8
Nysmith.com • 703-552-2912
Top 10 in the world, fun, award-winning program, up to 4 grade levels of diversification (多样化) in reading and math classes, daily science, computers, logic, foreign languages, much more. 1:9 ratio. Minimal (最少的) homework. Hands-on experimental learning, a great attraction for students across the country. 2014 Tommy Award from TJ for the special achievement of Nysmith Alumni.
★FUSION ACADEMY TYSONS
Grades: 6-12
FusionTysonsCorner.com • 866-461-8039
Fusion Academy is a private middle and high school where all classes are one-to-one: one student and one teacher per classroom. Here, positive relationships unlock students’ potential. Scheduling is personalized, and no homework goes home. Come soon to Tysons, Virginia, and achieve school & life balance.
★RANDOLPH-MACON ACADEMY
Grades: 6-12, Postgraduate
rma.edu • 540-636-5484
R-MA is a college-prep boarding school with Air Force JROTC, devoted to developing students of academic achievement, leadership, and responsible citizenship. With smaller classes - on average, 14-17 students per class - students at R-MA find themselves building their confidence because our teachers care about each student. Graduating classes have a 100% college acceptance rate and average over $56.6 million in college scholarships offers each year.
1. What makes LCDS different from the others?| A．field trips. | B．a variety of courses. |
| C．one-to-one classes. | D．award-winning programs. |
| A．It has no homework. |
| B．It is the world’s best school. |
| C．It is a frequent winner of the Tommy Award. |
| D．It gives them a chance to learn from experience. |
| A．LOUDOUN COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL. |
| B．NYSMITH SCHOOL. |
| C．FUSION ACADEMY TYSONS. |
| D．RANDOLPH-MACON ACADEMY. |
8 . Video calls are a common occurrence, but have you imagined being able to touch the person on the other end of the line? Scientists are making this a reality.
Researchers at the University of New South Wales, Australia, have invented a soft skin stretch device (SSD), a haptic (触觉的) device that can recreate the sense of touch. Haptic technology mimics (模仿) the experience of touch by stimulating small areas of the skin in ways that are similar to what is felt in the real world, through force, vibration (震动) or motion.
Vibration is the most common haptic technology today and has been built into many electronic devices, such as one attached to the back of a trackpad (触控板) in laptops, which mimics a button clicking. However, haptic feedback with vibration becomes less sensitive when used continuously. The existing technology also has great difficulty recreating the sense of touch with objects in virtual environments or located remotely, according to Mai Thanh Thai, lead author of the study.
The new technology overcomes issues with existing haptic devices. The research team introduced a novel method to recreate the sense of touch through soft, artificial “muscles”.
“Our three-way directional skin stretch device, built into the fingertips of the wearable haptic glove we also created, is like wearing a second skin — it’s soft, stretchable and mimics the sense of touch — and will enable new forms of haptic communication to enhance everyday activities,” said Thanh Nho Do, senior author of the study.
It works like this: Imagine you are at home and you call your friend who is in Australia. You wear a haptic glove with the SSDs and your friend also wears a glove with integrated (集成的) 3D force sensors. If your friend picks up an object, it will physically press against your friend’s fingers. And his/her glove with 3D force sensors will measure these interactions. The force signals can be sent to your glove so your device will generate the same 3D forces, making you experience the same sense of touch as your friend.
The haptic devices could be applied in various scenarios, allowing users to feel objects inside a virtual world or at a distance. This could be especially beneficial during such times like the COVID-19 pandemic when people rely on video calls to stay connected with loved ones. Or it could be used in medical practices. Doctors can feel a patient’s organ tissues with surgical tools without touching them.
1. What’s the main purpose of the text?| A．To encourage the use of a new product. |
| B．To inform readers of a new invention. |
| C．To compare different haptic devices. |
| D．To introduce the development of haptic technology. |
| A．It mimics the sense of touch through a trackpad. |
| B．It mainly uses vibration technology. |
| C．It takes the shape of a glove. |
| D．It makes virtual haptic communication possible. |
| A．The advantages of the new haptic glove. |
| B．The applications of the new haptic technology. |
| C．An explanation of how the haptic device works. |
| D．A personal experience of using SSDs during a video call. |
| A．It could replace video calls as a way to communicate. |
| B．it could be used for recreating organ tissues. |
| C．Doctors could perform surgeries at once. |
| D．Users could feel remote objects in a realistic way. |
9 . Honeybees can’t swim, and when their wings are wet, they can’t fly, either. But Chris Roh and other researchers at the California Institute of Technology found that when bees drop into bodies of water, they can use their wings to produce little waves and slide toward land-like surfers who create and then ride their own waves.
As with many scientific advances-Isaac Newton’s apple or Benjamin Franklin’s lightning bolt-Dr. Roh’s experiment began with a walk. Passing Caltech’s Millikan Pond in 2016, he observed a bee on the water’s surface producing waves. He wondered how an insect known for flight could push itself through water.
Dr. Roh and his co-worker, Morteza Gharib, used butterfly nets to collect local Pasadena honeybees and observed their surf-like movements. The researchers used a wire to restrict each bee’s bodily movement, allowing close examination of their wings. They found that the bee bends its wings at a 30-degree angle, pulling up water and producing a forward force. Bees get trapped on the surface because water is roughly three times heavier than air. But that weight helps to push the bee forward when its wings move quickly up and down. It’s a tough exercise for the bees, which the researchers guess could handle about 10 minutes of the activity.
The researchers said the surf-like movement hasn’t been documented in other insects and most semiaquatic insects use their legs for propulsion, which is known as water-walking. It may have evolved in bees, they-predicted.
Dr. Roh and Dr. Gharib have imagined many practical applications for bees’ surfing. One plan is to use their observations to design robots able to travel across sky and sea. “This could be useful for search and rescues, or for getting samples of the surface of the ocean, if you can’t send a boat or helicopter,” Dr. Gharib said.
1. What does the author intend to show by mentioning Newton and Franklin?| A．Roh’s admiration for them. | B．Roh’s chance discovery about bees. |
| C．Their outstanding talent for science. | D．Their similar achievements in discovery. |
| A．The air weight. | B．Its leg extension. |
| C．The water movement. | D．Its continuous wingbeat. |
| A．Fast flight | B．Driving force. | C．Pulling speed. | D．Explosive power. |
| A．Honeybees can surf to safety. | B．Bees help scientists make inventions. |
| C．Insects can adapt to the environment. | D．Nature is a helpful guide for discovery. |
10 . Do you continue to be healthy in social isolation (隔离)? NASA is looking for people to spend 8 months locked in a Russian lab for a new experiment.
When humans go to the moon and travel to Mars, they will need to be prepared for long-term space travel and even longer stays on these far-off destinations. Currently, NASA’s Artemis program aims to land humans on the moon for the first time since NASA's Apollo 17 mission landed in 1972.
While the moon is the main goal of NASA’s Artemis program, the agency’s larger goal is to send people to Mars. But long term space travel and habitation (居住) won’t be easy. Such missions will present both physical and mental challenges as astronauts work to not only survive, but perform important scientific research in uniquely difficult environments.
In the upcoming NASA-Russia experiment, a group of people will live in a closed facility at Russia’s Institute for Biomedical Problems, which is in Moscow. This habitat facility was used in 2011 for a notable series of Russian mock (模拟的) Mars missions known as Mars500. During these missions, groups of people spent 520 and 105 days on two separate missions in the facility.
The facility, according to the statement, will have “environmental factors similar to those astronauts are expected to experience on future missions to Mars”. The group of people will spend 8 months living together in isolation and working on scientific research.
By living and working in this Mars-like environment, participants in this study will help NASA researchers understand the psychological and physiological (生理的) effects of isolation. These missions help researchers not only perform relevant science experiments but also see how people might get on under strange conditions for long periods of time.
So, if you’re finding that living in social isolation works for you, you might be particularly well-suited for living in a Mars-like environment and this could be for you. But first, you have to qualify. NASA is looking for “highly motivated” Americans between the age of 30-55, who must speak both Russian and English fluently and have a Master of Science, Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor o[ Medicine, or military officer training. Applicants with other related experience may also be considered. Those who are chosen to be a part of this group will be paid for their work.
1. Which of the following succeeded in landing humans on the moon?| A．Apollo 17 mission. | B．Artemis program. |
| C．Mars500. | D．Institute for Biomedical Problems. |
| A．It will send people to live on Mars for 8 months. |
| B．It needs experienced Americans without an age limit. |
| C．It will be carried out in a Mars-like environment in NASA. |
| D．It makes preparations for NASA’S human spaceflight program. |
| A．To show the progress in space technology. |
| B．To explain why the facility has been chosen. |
| C．To indicate the new experiment will be successful. |
| D．To describe the life of astronauts in the mock Mars missions. |
| A．Want to Have A Trip to Mars? Come! |
| B．Aretmis -- NASA’S Latest Program |
| C．Competent in Isolation? NASA Wants You! |
| D．NASA’s Human Space Travel Program |
