1 . Long ago, writing was done on parchments- -thin, dried animal skins specially prepared for writing. But the parchment wasn't easy to make and it wasn't cheap. Then, ancient people removed the original writing from a parchment and then used it again for another piece of writing. That's what creates a palimpsest.

The writing removed from the parchment can't be seen directly. Generally , finding hidden writing on very old documents is so unusual, but for scientists,it is just the opposite because they have learned ways to use special lighting to discover it. For young college students , doing this is a different matter. Last year , some students at the Rochester Institute of Technology( RIT) took part in a class that brought together many students from different areas to do a project as a group, which was to build a special camera system that could take pictures by using different kinds of light. But just as the students were finishing up their project together ,COVID-l9 hit and the students could no longer work on the project in person. Instead , they broke into smaller groups to try to finish parts of the project remotely. Although they met many tough problems, they communicated , sometimes fiercely , with each other timely online to settle them.

Over the summer , they got special permission to continue working on the camera system , and they managed to finish it. Then they borrowed several old parchments from the collection at the school's Cary Graphic Arts Collection. When they put one of the pages under their camera system with ultraviolet( UV) light( 紫外銭) , the hidden writing appeared suddenly. The students are even more excited because even though the parchment is no longer part of a book , the students know where 29 other pages from the same book are. They hope that these , too , will have hidden writing.

1. Why did ancient people remove the old writing from a parchment?

A．To re-use the parchment.

B．To correct the words on it.

C．To see the hidden writing.

D．To sell it at a higher price.

2. What do scientists think of their discovery of hidden writing on old documents?

A．It's surprising.	B．It's unexpected.
C．It's common.	D．It's creative.

3. How's the relationship among the members of the project?

A．Uneasy.	B．Cooperative.
C．Competitive.	D．Casual.

4. What's the text mainly about?

A．Students' finding hidden writing.

B．Scientists' preserving parchments.

C．The protection of old documents.

D．A special camera system.

2 . Magawa was born in Tanzania in 2014 , and he's a little bigger than normal rats. Magawa and several other rats are part of the " Hero Rat " program run by a group called APOPO. Because the rats are so light , there's little danger that they will cause accidents while working.

From a young age he was trained to sniff out TNT( 炸药). The training normally takes about a year. Magawa's main job is to sniff out a trickier kind of bomb, known as a mine which is hidden,usually underground. In Cambodia , where Magawa works , mines were common during long periods of civil war between 1975 and 1988. During that time , around 5 million mines were planted in the country. About half of Cambodia's minefields haven't yet been cleared. Since 1979 , these mines have killed or injured over 64 ,000 people.

Magawa is taken out to a minefield, which he carefully goes over , section by section. Magawa's master , Malen , guides him carefully across the field on a leash( 绳子 ). When Magawa finds a mine,he scratches at the dirt above it , wigwagging that he's found something.

Because the rats work by sniffing , they're very fast. It only takes Magawa 30 minutes to search an area as big as a tennis court. A human doing the same job would take four days. Malen says that Magawa and his colleagues are very confident in the field. He works quickly and is easily able to make decisions about whether something is a danger or not. Magawa is the star sniffer of the Hero Rat program. He's found 39 landmines and 28 bombs that were dropped from planes , but never exploded.

To honor Magawa , the PDSA made a special gold award that was small enough for Magawa to wear.

1. What made Magawa join in the " Hero Rat" program?

A．His beneficial birthplace.	B．His great achievements.
C．His strict training.	D．His being light in weight.

2. What does the underlined word "wigwagging" mean in paragraph 3?

A．Signaling.	B．Pretending.
C．Remembering.	D．Accepting.

3. What can be inferred about Magawa when he is working?

A．He finds a minefield ffectively.

B．He makes accurate judgments.

C．He has other rats act confidently.

D．He spends less time digging mines.

4. Where is the text probably taken from?

A．A textbook.	B．A novel.
C．A magazine.	D．A diary.

3 . WP Puppet Pop-Up Studio

It is a monthly puppet(木偶 ) making and performing workshop offered on the third Saturday of each month at different places in Calgary. The workshops are suitable for people with different skill levels and encourage all family members, youngsters and elders to create art and drama together , with a different theme each month. But for 2020 , we can't get together for fun , and you can enjoy it online.

Michaels Kids' Club

Let your kids explore their art creativity here. Kids 3 and up can enjoy a quick project and take home a finished masterpiece. Sign up online,or just drop in. Only $3 per child reserves 30minutes for your creative kid. The project starts every half hour between 10 am and 11:30 am on Saturday mornings.

Contemporary Calgary

It is an art gallery and contemporary art museum. People can enjoy the art of our times through exhibitions , speeches , and education programs here. It is open from 9 am to 6 pm on weekdays and closes at 10 pm on weekends. Kids under 12 years old are free.

Leighton Art Centre

It is full of fine crafts(工艺品) and artwork by local artists, where you find truly unique gifts for your loved ones. For 2020 , it is staying until December 20th to give visitors more opportunities to come in person, while still making sure of social distancing in the house. To avoid the chance of having to line up outside, purchase a $10 ticket in advance for a 9 - 10 am shopping time on Saturday or Sunday morning.

1. What do we know about WP Puppet Pop-Up Studio?

A．It's open to people of all skill levels.	B．Its works are exhibited for a month.
C．It has a different theme every year.	D．Its activities begin every half hour.

2. Where will Mr. Smith go if he wants to buy a special present for his kids?

A．Michaels Kids' Club.	B．Leighton Art Centre.
C．Contemporary Calgary.	D．WP Puppet Pop-Up Studio.

3. What do the four places have in common?

A．They are all open on Sundays.	B．They organize activities offline.
C．They are all free for children.	D．They are related to art activities.

4 . July 20, 2021 marks the 52th anniversary of the first moon landing. The National Space Center will provide you with super-size space experiences: a giant Earth model, a domed planetarium （穹顶天文台） and a 42-meter rocket tower. It's all under cover so it's a good place to visit on a rainy day.

Ticket

It's not cheap-adult $15, 5-to-16-year-olds $12-but once you've paid you can revisitas many times as you want in a year, and admission is free for kids under five.

Opening hours

10 am-4 pm Monday to Friday, 10 am-5 pm weekends and school holidays.

What about lunch?

The Boosters Cafe serves reasonably priced hot and cold snacks and drinks at the foot of the center's two rockets. The cafe offers vegetarian (素食的)option too.

Exit through the gift shop?

It's stocked with souvenirs including books, games and telescopes. Some are quite pricey. The gift shop is the first thing you pass on entry and also the last thing you see as you leave.

1. What gifts can you buy in the Center?

A．Rockets.

B．Telescopes.

C．Pencils.

D．Earth models.

2. What can you learn about the National Space Center?

A．It is free for kids under 6.	B．It has two gift shops.
C．It is vegetarian-friendly.	D．It is open at night in holidays.

3. What is this passage mainly about?

A．Holiday plans.	B．Space experiences.
C．Suggestions for visiting the Center.	D．Information about the Center

5 . Fabien Cousteau is the grandson of Jacques Cousteau, an ocean scientist who brought the wonders of the sea to the attention of people around the world. Jacques Cousteau helped invent the Aqua-Lung(水肺) , now used by divers everywhere. Fabien Cousteau has followed a similar path,exploring the sea as a scientist and working to protect the oceans.

Oceans cover more than 70% of our planet. NOAA says we have created maps of less than 20% of the world's oceans, and only 5% have been explored. Space seems to have gotten much more attention , even though it's farther away. The International Space Station( ISS) has been around for more than 20 years , and more people have gone to the moon than have gone to the deepest point in the ocean.

"The ocean is our life support system. It is the very reason why we exist in the first place,'Fabien says.

But though the ocean is all around us , studying it is a challenge. Divers are limited in how far down they can go and how long they can stay below. Returning to the surface can be dangerous. Fabien has announced a plan to build a large research station under the ocean named Proteus,which is designed to deal with many of those problems. The power for the station is expected to come from solar energy and the movement of the ocean. Fabien says that the research base won't just be used to study and help protect the sea, but also to research new ways of creating energy , and perhaps even searching for new medicines. Proteus is also expected to have the first under water greenhouse in the world , so that the lab will be able to grow some of its own food.

Like the ISS , Proteus is designed so that it can grow in the future , as scientists decide to add new sections or equipment to the station. Fabien hopes to have the lab completed and ready to use by 2023.

1. What do we know about Fabien Cousteau?

A．He's doing what Jacques once did.

B．He took part in the work in the ISS.

C．He built an undersea laboratory.

D．He helped invent the Aqua-Lung.

2. Why does the author mention the statistics in paragraph 2?

A．To show the world's oceans are vast.

B．To prove oceans and space are vital.

C．To advise people to protect oceans.

D．To tell why oceans need exploring.

3. Which of the following can best describe Proteus?

A．Environment-friendly.	B．Water-saving.
C．Expensive.	D．Risky.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Fabien's Ocean Research Achievements

B．Proteus: Research Lab Growing Gradually

C．Proteus : Plan for Underwater Version of ISS

D．Fabien's Dream about Promoting his Station

6 . Are you seeking a luxurious cruise (乘船旅游) experience aboard a small, intimate ship? If so, look no further than Saga Cruises. These unforgettable boutique cruises aboard our new ship allow you to discover amazing destinations, without the need to fly.

SAGA CRUISES

Offering exclusive, advanced cruises for over-50s since 2003, Saga Cruises have quickly risen to fame as one of the most recognizable cruise lines in the world. Drawing on their vast experience in providing travellers with unforgettable land-based holidays.

WHAT'S INCLUDED WITH SAGA CRUISES?

Not only do Saga Cruises offer a fantastic onboard experience—they are also all-inclusive. On every cruise with Saga, you can look forward to having the following included in your cruise fare:

● Chauffeur (司机) service up to 250 miles.
● Balcony accommodation.
● All onboard meals including snacks, afternoon tea and dining in specialty restaurants.
● Free excellent wine served with lunch and dinner.
● 24-hour room service.
● Optional travel insurance including COVID-19 cover.
● Free onboard Internet access and Gifts.
● All backed by our Cruise Price Promise.
Plus, love your cruise or your money back!
Our no-fly 2021 cruises are selling fast!

	Canary Islands and Moroccan Shores	Inspirational Iceland	Ultimate Asia Odyssey	Panama Canal
From	Dover, England	Dover, England	Bangkok, Thailand	Ft. Lauderdale
Date	On March 29,2021	On July 3,2021	On February 4,2021	On February 3,2021
Duration	16 Nights	16 Nights	24 Nights	14 Nights
Cruise ship	Spirit of Adventure	Spirit of Adventure	Sirena	Island Princess
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Call 0800 056 8986 quoting NATGE, or visit saga.co.uk/cruise
1. What are Saga Cruises especially intended for?

A．Professionals.	B．People above 50.
C．University students.	D．People on business.

2. What can be expected in these cruises?

A．Home-cooked food.	B．Time-limited Wi-Fi.
C．No infection of COVID-19.	D．Refunding if not satisfied.

3. Which cruise will you choose if you only have time in February but not too much money?

A．Inspirational Iceland.	B．Ultimate Asia Odyssey.
C．Panama Canal.	D．Canary Islands and Moroccan Shores.

7 . “Hey, how are you doing? What grade are you in? What's your favorite book? Yeah, I got it.” If you thought you’d walked into a library with a greeting like that, you wouldn’t be too far off. In fact, you’ve entered the workplace of Courtney Holmes, the Storybook Barber

Two years ago, Dubuque Iowa held its first annual Back to School Bash, offering needy families a chance to learn about free resources in the community. Holmes agreed to take part in it. He was holding down two jobs at the time one with the city’s public works department, the other as a barber. Saturday was his busiest haircutting day, but he chose to devote his time to underprivileged (底层的) kids so they’d look sharp on that first day of classes. But then he had a sudden idea. “The kids should earn their free haircut by having to read a book to me.” Holmes said.

The idea was so popular that he continued it the first Tuesday of every month for the next two years. Five-to ten-year-old kids would hold a favorite book, settle into the barber chair, and read aloud while Holmes Gave them a haircut. If they had any difficulty, Holmes was there to help. After the haircut, they’d review the book, from the characters and vocabularies to the themes — just like in school, only more fun. “These kids are eager to learn.” said Holmes. “And they are able to open their hearts there.”

Holmes admits he, too, benefits from the activity. “There was a seven-year-old boy who struggled through his book, shuttering (口吃 )over words even though he didn’t have a stutter,” said Holmes. He had the boy take the book home and practice. “When the child came back next time. He read it with no problems. That inspired me.”

1. Why did Holmes take part in Back to School Bash?

A．To reduce the parent’s pressure.	B．To earn more money.
C．To help poor kids look good.	D．To work in the local schools.

2. How often did Holmes provide free haircuts during the two years?

A．Once a year.	B．Every Tuesday.
C．Every weekend.	D．Once a month.

3. What can we learn about Holmes’ young customers?

A．There are more boy’s than girls.	B．They are students with reading problems.
C．They learn more here than in school.	D．They get along well with Holmes.

4. What can we best describe Holmes as?

A．A responsible social worker.	B．A hard-working barber.
C．A kind-hearted volunteer.	D．A busy and loving parent.

8 . The first time I used the TV to distract my daughter, I felt like a bad parent; I convinced myself I was a “bad” mom—these days I believe the opposite to be true. Screen time makes me a better mom.

Now I know what most of you might be thinking: That’s ridiculous. Only crappy(糟糕的)parents rely on the screen to care for their kids. Then again, experts suggest parents limit media use. And while I do not doubt experts, there are things they fail to consider.

Like most 6-year-olds, my daughter gets worked up and excited easily and watching a cartoon gives her a chance to shut off her mind. And there are other reasons— more selfish reasons. I am a work-from-work mom, and giving her screen time gives me “me”time. I’m able to write while she watches TV. And while this may sound bad, I believe I am helping my daughter realize she should rely on herself. When Mommy works, she gets her own snacks, drinks and toys.

There are other benefits, too. TV has also taught my daughter. Thanks to “super Why”,she knew her alphabet at 2, and thanks to “Sesame Street”, she was able to count to 20 by age 3. And I use the screen as a great incentive. My daughter earns “tablet time” when she completes tasks, e.g., making her bed earns 15minutes while doing her homework gets her 30.

Of course, I have a few rules. During meals, the TV is off; all programs must be supervised; on weekdays, she is limited to two hours maximum. So remember: It doesn’t matter what our kids watch; it matters what they do, what they say, what they feel and how they act, and only you know what is best for them.

1. What can be learned about the author’s opinion about screen time?

A．It fails to take kids into consideration.

B．It is welcome by most crappy parents.

C．It challenges a popular belief.

D．It is in line with experts.

2. How can screen time be good for kids of mothers working at home?

A．It gives them topics to discuss with friends.

B．It gives them some uninterrupted time.

C．It enables them to keep their spirits up.

D．It helps them become independent.

3. What does the underlined word “incentive” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?

A．Motivator	B．Relaxation
C．Idea producer	D．Learning tool

4. Which of the following might the author agree with ?

A．Science and technology are primary productive forces.

B．A man is good-for-nothing until he is educated.

C．Nothing can be accomplished without rules.

D．Each coin has two sides.

9 . Alibaba Group will extend its digital operating system to 1.5 million small neighborhood stores in China. Under the so-called Plan W, Alibaba is looking to develop a number of smaller shops with a daily revenue of over 10,000 yuan ($1,456) in lower-tier cities, townships and villages.

The latest move falls under Alibaba’s Ling Shou Tong (LST) business unit, which connects the millions of street stands in China and improves marketing, delivery, and inventory management abilities through digital means. The data-backed retail management system has been designed to digitize the business of millions of mom and pop stores and neighborhood convenience stores.

Alibaba will offer a smart point-of-sale system, some 10,000 new product offerings, and a variety of online touchpoints to help users access offline stores virtually. Alibaba intends to help these mom and pop stores double or even triple their revenue, and they can sell more efficiently, and get flexibility to refill stocks based on their changing needs.

Its POS machine performs every function throughout the retail process and provides real-time suggestions. For instance, it would send out alerts on potential stock shortage, and would recommend cost-effective purchase to enhance the store’s profitability. The machine also collects average selling price for a certain product in the nearby areas, thereby giving references to shop-owners to make informed pricing decisions.

Furthermore, an inventory monitoring system is in operation to give real-time advice on product display. This is coupled with a three-layer warehouse system covering 200 cities and townships to ensure the timely delivery of products, based on geographical shopping preferences that are present in Alibaba’s data book.

Despite slow consumption growth at home and abroad, one in every five small shops surveyed by LST reported they have witnessed positive revenue growth. Average daily revenue surpassed 7,000 yuan,   compared with the 3,000 yuan to 5,000 yuan range for average offline stores.

1. Why does Alibaba come up with Plan W?

A．To open 1.5 million small neighbourhood stores in China.

B．To improve supermarkets’ digital operating system in urban areas.

C．To increase revenue of smaller shops through digital means.

D．To move Ling Shou Tong business unit to under-developed areas.

2. How can Alibaba’s POS machine make a difference?

A．By warning possible stock shortage.

B．By increasing profit at a higher price.

C．By comparing prices of a product in different cities.

D．By offering shop-owners advice on bargaining.

3. Which of the following systems functions as a platform where products are distributed punctually?

A．The data-backed retail management system.	B．The point-of-sale system.
C．The inventory monitoring system.	D．The three-layer warehouse system.

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

A．Application of Digital Means to Small Shops	B．Real Secrets of Alibaba Group’s Success
C．Great Hope of Street Stands in China	D．Possible Ways of Increasing Small Shops’ Profit

10 . Space is becoming more crowded. Quite a few low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellites have been launched into the sky, which are designed to move around the Earth only a few hundred kilometres above its surface. SpaceX and OneWeb plan to launch LEO satellites in their thousands, not hundreds, to double the total number of satellites in orbit by 2027.

That promises to change things on Earth. LEO satellites can bring Internet connectivity to places where it is still unavailable. This will also be a source of new demand for the space economy. Morgan Stanley, a bank, projects that the space industry will grow from $350 billion in 2016 to more than $1.1 trillion by 2040. New Internet satellites will account for half this increase.

For that to happen, however, three worries must be overcome. Debris (碎片) is the most familiar concern. As long ago as 1978, Donald Kessler, a scientist at NASA, proposed a scenario (设想) in which, when enough satellites were packed into low-Earth orbits, any collision could cause a chain reaction which would eventually destroy all spacecraft in its orbital plane. Solutions exist. One solution is to grab the satellites with problems and pull them down into the Earth’s atmosphere. Another is to monitor space more closely for debris. But technology is only part of the answer. Rules are needed to deal with old satellites safely from low-Earth orbits.

Cyber-security is a second, long-standing worry. Hackers could take control of a satellite and steal intellectual property, redirect data flows or cause a collision. The satellite industry has been slow to respond to such concerns. But as more of the world’s population comes to rely on space for access to the Internet, the need for action intensifies. Measures will surely be taken to protect network security.

The third issue follows from the first two. If a simple mistake or a cyber-attack can cause a chain reaction which wipes out hundreds of billions of dollars of investment, who is responsible for that? Now the plans of firms, wishing to operate large numbers of satellites are being studied. But there is a long way to go before the risks are well understood, let alone priced.

As space becomes more commercialized, mind-bending prospects open up: packages moved across the planet in minutes by rocket rather than by plane, equipment sent to other small planets, passengers launched into orbit and beyond. All that and more may come one day. But such activities would raise the same questions as LEO satellites do. They must be answered before the space economy can truly develop.

1. What can we learn about LEO satellites from the passage?

A．They will limit the space economy

B．They will increase in large numbers.

C．They will move beyond the Earth as far as possible.

D．They will monitor old satellites.

2. What might be one of the purposes of launching LEO satellites?

A．To avoid network attack.

B．To make the Internet accessible to backward areas.

C．To lighten the financial burden of space firms.

D．To accelerate the development of bank industry.

3. According to Kessler, an accidental collision could ________.

A．block low-Earth orbits with packed satellites

B．pull down satellites into Earth’s atmosphere

C．put the disposal of old satellites at high risks

D．bring destruction to spacecraft in the same orbit

4. Which of the following statements might the author agree with?

A．It should be further confirmed for its ownership.

B．It should be continued because of its advantages.

C．It should be done carefully to avoid potential risks.

D．It should be stopped in the face of the space economy.