1 . For many people, going a few hours without your smartphone can feel like a lifetime. Now, one expert claims that humans are becoming so dependent on technology, that we’re actually merging (融合) into it.

Speaking at the Fast Company European Innovation Festival, Professor Yuval Noah Harari, a historian at the Hebrew University claimed that it’s becomingmore and more difficult to tell where humans end and machines begin. He said: “It’s increasingly hard to tell where I end and where the computer begins. In the future, it is likely that the smartphone will not be separated from you at all. It may be embedded in your bodyor brain, constantlyscanning your biometric data and your emotions.”

During his speech, Professor Harari highlighted how humans have affected our environment over time, and suggested that now may be thetime to affect ourselves. He said: “Humanity has always remained constant. If we told our ancestors in the Stone Age about our lives today, they would think we are already Gods. But the truth is that even though we have developed more wonderful tools, we are the same animals. We have the same emotions, the same minds. The coming revolution will change that. It will change not just our tools, it will change the human being itself. ”

If we do manage to merge with machines, Professor Harari suggests it could open the door to setting upcivilizations beyond Earth. He added: “Life willbe able to break out of planet Earth and no longer be confinedto this flying rock.”

While Professor Harari’s claims may sound farfetched (牵强的), he isn’t alone in his vision of a machine­human world. Back in 2017, Elon Musk claimed that humans should merge with machines, or risk becoming irrelevant. He said: “Over time I think wewill probably see a closer merger of biological intelligence anddigital intelligence.”

1. Why does the authormention smartphone in paragraph 1?

A．To collect data for his speech.

B．To have a good lead­in of the topic.

C．To say it isharmful to the environment.

D．To catch up with the development of science.

2. What do we know about Professor Harari?

A．His opinions gained much support.

B．He is the first expert toput forward the idea.

C．He thinks technology will change ourselves as well.

D．His suggestion of us staying on planet Earth isconsiderate.

3. What’s probably Elon Musk’s attitude to Professor Harari’s speech?

A．Neutral.	B．Favourable.
C．Ambiguous.	D．Disapproving.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Humans are near to combining with machines

B．Call on people to develop advanced machines

C．Aspeech caused people’s concerns onmachines

D．Finding new ways to break away from apps is vital

2 . John H. Johnson was born in a black family in Arkansas City in 1918. His father died in an accident when John was six. He was reaching high school age, but his hometown offered no high school for blacks.

Fortunately he had a strong-willed, caring mother. John remembers that his mother told him many times, “Son, you can be anything you really want to be if you just believe.” She told him not to be dependent on others, including his mother. “You have to earn success,” said she. “All the people who work hard don’t succeed, but the only people who do succeed are those who work hard.”

These words came from a woman less than a third grade education. She also knew that believing and hard work don’t mean everything. So she worked hard as a cook for two years to save enough to take her son — then 15 — to Chicago.

Chicago in 1933 was not the promised land that black southerners were looking for, John’s mother and stepfather could not find work. But there John could go to school, and there he learned the power of words — as editor of the newspaper and yearbook of Du Stable High School. His wish was to publish a magazine for blacks.

While others discouraged him, John’s mother offered him more words to live by: “Nothing beats a failure but a try.” She also let him pawn (典当) her furniture to get the $500 he needed to start the Negro magazine.

It is natural the difficulties and failures followed John closely until he became very successful. He always keeps his mother’s words in mind. “Son, failure is not in your vocabulary.”

Now John H. Johnson is one of the 400 richest people in America — worth $150 million.

1. Why did John’s mother decide to move to Chicago? Because ________.

A．John’s father died in his hometown when he was very young

B．life was too hard for them to stay on in their hometown, while life in Chicago would be better for blacks

C．there were no schools for blacks in their hometown

D．John needed more education and he could go to school there

2. Which of the following is TRUE?

A．Chicago was the promised land for black southerners in 1933.

B．John’s mother worked hard as a cook to make their life better.

C．With the help of his mother, John got the money to start the Negro magazine.

D．Now John is the richest man in America.

3. What kind of woman was John’s mother? She was a ________.

A．strong woman with much knowledge

B．woman who would do anything for her son

C．woman with little school education but knew a lot about life

D．loving mother with different kinds of experience in life

4. The underlined sentence in the fifth paragraph means ________.

A．if you try, you will succeed in the end

B．a failure is difficult to beat, even if you try

C．a try is always followed by a failure

D．nothing but a try can help you out of failure

3 . It's no secret that inhaling(吸入)smoke is bad for your lungs. But now, scientists are suggesting smoke may also carry and spread infectious diseases. The theory, published in Science Magazine, is based on the research that found wildfire smoke is full of thousands of species of microorganisms(微生物).Some of these microorganisms, including bacteria and fungal spores(真菌抱子).are known to cause disease.

The new research suggests that when a wildfire burns plants or animal matter and disturbs soils, it exposes thousands of species of bacteria and fungi that otherwise might not easily become airborne. You might think the high heat from fire would kill these organisms, but one study mentioned in the article found that some bacteria even multiply after fires. Scientists say the organisms stick with smoke particulates(颗粒物), allowing them to travel thousands of miles across continents.

Dr. Peter Chen, director of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, is interested in the theory but somewhat skeptical that the microorganisms in smoke would actually cause infections. Many bacteria and fungi don't cause lung infections, says Chen, but it's certainly possible that a significant number could worsen symptoms in someone with a preexisting lung condition. "I always thought it was the particulates in smoke that were causing these issues," says Chen. "But when I read this, I started thinking, could it be the microorganisms that are also worsening existing illnesses?"

Whether the microorganisms in smoke actually cause infections or simply worsen potential respiratory(呼吸的)issues, the article raises a new health threat that is "certainly alarming", says Kelsey Jack, an associate professor of environmental and development economics. This is especially true for lower-income populations, Jack says, because people with fewer protective means are often more exposed to the environment. If smoke is affecting the air quality in a certain area, the people who work outside, or who have to go to the office on foot or by bike will inhale more smoke than those who drive.

But until more research is done, Chen says the best thing people can do is just follow existing recommendations when air quality is poor-including staying indoors, keeping windows and doors closed, using HEPA filters and running air conditioning.

1. What can we know about the microorganisms from Paragraph 2?

A．Some could reproduce after fires.

B．They could be killed by high heat.

C．They could possibly travel through air by themselves.

D．Some could copy the smoke particulates.

2. How do most microorganisms affect people according to Dr. Peter Chen?

A．They will cause lung infection.	B．They might worsen lung diseases.
C．They will destroy living environments.	D．They might damage respiratory systems.

3. Why are lower-income people suffering more than others according to Kelsey Jack?

A．They live in poor areas.	B．They drive to and from work·
C．They have suffered from lung disease.	D．They are exposed to polluted air more frequently.

4. What does Chen advise people to do in the last paragraph?

A．To wait for the results of more researches.

B．To ignore the air quality and to work out outdoors.

C．To follow previous suggestions on dealing with poor air quality.

D．To avoid using filters and air conditioning.

4 . People who have kids live longer than those who remain childless, an academic study has suggested. Researchers believe it is because adults’ immune systems are “refreshed” when kids go to nursery and start picking up infections.

During the course of someone’s life, their immune system can become weaker. But when kids start bringing infections home, their parents’ immune systems get a workout. Non-parents — unless they are teachers or nurses perhaps — do not get the same exposure to infection.

Writing in the journal Scientific Reports, Miguel Portela said parents had less risk of dying from infection than non-parents and if they did, it was about five years later. He said that “a parent’s immune system is refreshed by a child’s infections at a time when their own protection starts wearing thin.” He added, “With this improved immune system, the parent has a better chance to defend whatever infections that might strike when old and weak and parenthood is rewarded in individual terms through an improved immunization against infections.” Naturally there are other reasons why some people live longer than others, but they may not be comparable with becoming a parent. The academics say that high income and house ownership are always associated with higher survival but less so than having children.

Mr. Portela admits the research is far from complete, saying that while the results “record a relationship between the presence of children and death rate, the specific transmission mechanisms remain unclear. He acknowledges the presence of other, perhaps behavioral factors in parents which result in changed death rate compared to individuals without children.” He adds, “While the relationships of lifestyle choices such as smoking, obesity, drinking and other behavioral factors with life expectancy and causes of death are well studied and understood, the same cannot be said for the individual decision to become a parent”.

1. Why did Mr. Portela say “parents had less risk of dying from infection than non-parents”?

A．Parents have healthier lifestyles.

B．Parents have less exposure to infection.

C．Parents have higher ability to fight against infections.

D．Parents have less experience to fight against infections.

2. How are parents protected against infections?

A．By being exposed to their kids’ infection.	B．By working out with their kids.
C．By refreshing their kids’ life.	D．By strengthening their kids’ infection.

3. What can we infer from the research?

A．Rich life benefits parents more than having children.

B．Lack of sleep has nothing to do with life expectancy.

C．The presence of children can improve parents’ health

D．Behavioral factors contribute to higher death rate than having no children.

4. What’s the best title for the passage?

A．Parents and Non-parents	B．How to Achieve Longer Life Expectancy?
C．How Is Parents’ Immune Systems Changed?	D．Children’s Effect on Parents’ Immune System

5 . Remember to study for knowledge and not study for getting good grades! This helped me a lot, and might help you too.

●Keep your study area organized and comfortable.

This helps you to concentrate better while studying by reducing unwanted distractions. Keeping all the required books, pens, and other instruments within reach helps. you to stayfocused on studying. You don’t have to look around for any book you need.

●Discover ways to enhance your concentration.

Concentration is unquestionably the most important attribute necessary to enjoy studying. Staying focused on what you are reading helps you to understand and absorb it. Therefore, it is absolutely essential for you to find out all the essentials that enhance your concentration.

●To enjoy studying, prepare in advance for tests.

If you intend Lo truly enjoy studying, you must make it a habit to prepare well in advance for all your tests. You cannot enjoy studying when you are preparing on the last day prior to your test. This will make studying a painful experience for you.

●Ensure that your study area is free from disturbances.

Ensure that outside noise and disturbances do not affect your studies. Your study table must be located in a silent area free from all external disturbances.

●Mark all important dates on a wall calendar.

●Remember to take short breaks.

Taking short breaks during studying helps you in retaining more of what you have studied. Hence, short breaks are helpful during a long study session.

●Manage your time in a wise way.

●Stay positive.

Staying positive is necessary to enjoy studying. Think of all the benefits you can obtain from scoring high grades. This will motivate you 10 strive harder in your studies.

●Be prepared; remove fear of exams.

1. What helps you to stay focused according to the text?

A．Enjoying studying.

B．Preparing well in advance for you tests.

C．Taking short breaks during studying.

D．Keeping unnecessary distractions away.

2. If you want to keep in your memory as much as possible of what you have learned, what should you try to avoid?

A．A long study session without taking short breaks.

B．The essentials that enhance your concentration.

C．The painful experience of taking exams.

D．Preparation for your Lest on the last day.

3. What could be the best title of this text?

A．How to score the best grades?

B．How to get rid of disturbances?

C．How to improve your ability to study?

D．How to make the best of your time?

6 . We’ve all heard exercise helps you live longer. But a new study goes one step further, finding that a sedentary(久坐不动的) lifestyle is worse for your health than smoking and heart disease.

Dr. Wael Jaber, a doctor at the Cleveland Clinic and senior author of the study, called the results "extremely surprising."

"Being unfit in an exercise stress test has a worse prognosis(预后), as far as death, than being a smoker," Jaber told CNN. "We've never seen something as noticeable as this and as objective as this. "

"It should be treated almost as a disease that has a prescription, which is called exercise," he said.

Researchers studied 122,007 patients who took exercise stress tests at Cleveland Clinic between January 1, 1991 and December 31, 2020 to measure death rate relating to the benefits of exercise and fitness. Comparing those with a sedentary lifestyle to the top exercise performers, he said, the risk associated with death is "500% higher. "

What made the study so unique, beyond the number of people studied, he said was that researchers weren't relying on patients self-reporting their exercise. "This is not the patients telling us what they do," Jaber said. "This is our testing them and figuring out objectively the real measure of what they do. "

Researchers have always been concerned that "ultra(高强度的)" exercisers might be at a higher risk of death, but the study found that not to be the case.

The benefits of exercise were seen across all ages and in both men and women, "probably a little more noticeable in females," Jaber said. "Whether you’re in your 40s or your 80s, you will benefit in the same way. "

1. Which statement is true according to the study?

A．High levels of exercise can cause higher death rate.

B．The death rate of those with lowest exercise is 12%.

C．Being unfit has higher risks of death than smoking.

D．Sedentary lifestyle is the major cause of heart disease.

2. The word “prescription” in paragraph 4 probably refers to________.

A．a habit hard to remove	B．a method to solve a problem
C．a treatment given by a doctor	D．a plan to take exercise regularly

3. What is special about the study?

A．The long period of the tests.	B．The number of the researchers.
C．The objective tests and calculations.	D．The self-reporting of the participants.

4. What do the findings of the study suggest?

A．Ultra exercise does no good to our health.	B．Women should take more exercise than men
C．Exercise is the best way to treat heart disease.	D．Patients should be encouraged to exercise daily.

7 . We all know it is important for students to get a good night’s sleep every night. They aren’t able to do their best unless they sleep well. Most experts agree that the proper number of hours is eight, and this has been accepted as common sense for as long as I can remember. However, I was young once and I know that most of you get much less sleep than that-and sometimes this affects your schoolwork.

I read an article in a teachers’ magazine recently. They did a study of 848 students in a senior school. Worryingly, the results suggested that teenagers are facing a new problem. They may go to bed and get up at proper times but a growing number wake up in the middle of the night, not to use the bathroom or have a snack but because of FOMO-the fear of missing out!

According to the article, schoolchildren suffer because of an increasing trend to wake up during the night to check social media. Afraid of missing a message or chance to take part in a discussion, teens wake up at all times of the night to go online and join up with social groups. All this happens when they should be sound asleep.

The report gives some worrying numbers. 23% of 12-to 15-year-olds wake up nearly every night to use social media. Another 15% wake up at night once a week for the same reason. As a result, one in three students are constantly exhausted and unable to do well at school.

So, I’d like to ask you to be responsible when it comes to social media. Be brave and turn off your phones and computers at night. The world won’t end and your social media will be waiting to greet you in the morning. I give you my word that you won’t have missed anything important.

1. What is the new trend among teenagers?

A．They get up too early in the morning.

B．They wake up at midnight to go online.

C．They wake up at night to get something to eat.

D．They have difficulty in falling asleep again at night.

2. According to the passage, what is FOMO?

A．A fear of going online.

B．A need to go out all the time.

C．A fear of losing touch on social media.

D．A need to use the latest technology.

3. Which of the following best explains the underlined word in Paragraph 4?

A．disappointed

B．surprised

C．confused

D．tired

4. What’s the author’ attitude towards this trend?

A．Uninterested

B．Supportive

C．Concerned

D．Doubtful

8 . Zero-emission large passenger aircraft powered by hydrogen will be technically possible in five years, according to Airbus, but they will not enter service for at least a decade as the price of the fuel needs to come down.

The prediction comes from Glenn Llewellyn, vice-president of zero-emissions technology at the pan-European plane-maker. He said that while Airbus planned to demonstrate hydrogen-powered aircraft in 2025, over the next 10 years, hydrogen won’t be more economical than the fossil fuel.

For passengers to be flying genuinely emissions free aboard hydrogen-powered planes—which emit only water and heat — their fuel needs to come from hydrogen produced via renewable sources such as wind and solar, he added.

In an interview ahead of the Bloomberg NEF London Summit, Mr. Llewellyn said, “We already see massive increases in the amount of renewable energy being produced across the world. Wind energy production has multiplied by two over the last five years and solar energy production has multiplied by four.”

A further challenge is building up the ecosystem that hydrogen aircraft, along with other forms of transport, will need. This ranges from creating the fuel from electrolysis to split water into hydrogen and oxygen powered by renewable energy, to the actual transport of the gas and fueling systems for it at airports.

However, Mr. Llewellyn predicted that there was enough interest in the sector to make this happen. He added, “There are a number of independent institutes that have mapped out how hydrogen costs can come down over the next decades. We see a 30pc reduction in renewable hydrogen costs in 2030 compared to where it is today, and a 50pc reduction in renewable hydrogen costs by 2050.”

1. What can we know about the hydrogen-powered aircraft according to the passage?

A．It will be an unrealistic dream.	B．The cost of its fuel keeps rising.
C．It will be accessible within a decade.	D．Renewable energy makes it environmentally friendly.

2. What did Mr. Llewellyn say about renewable energy?

A．It gains growing popularity throughout the world.

B．More wind energy has been produced than solar energy.

C．Hydrogen can only be generated from wind and solar energy.

D．Hydrogen will be cheaper than fossil fuel in the coming ten years.

3. What does the underlined word “this” in paragraph 5 refer to?

A．Ecosystem

B．Challenge

C．Aircraft

D．Prediction

4. What is Mr. Llewellyn’s attitude towards the future of hydrogen-powered aircraft?

A．Objective

B．Optimistic.

C．Doubtful.

D．Pessimistic

9 . “I don’t want to sigh when I get an invitation in the mail, but I can’t help it,” Susan, aged 30, tells us. “I want to go, but how do I explain I can’t?” Weddings are supposed to be about fun and togetherness — a time to get together and celebrate a huge life milestone.

However, more and more, they’ve become a source of tension and distance. When wedding season approaches and another wave of wedding invites start to roll in, many millennials are facing an uncomfortable truth – they’re just too expensive.

Because it’s not just the wedding. It’s the engagement party, the gifts and the airfare in the middle of high season to a destination wedding. The average bachelor party now costs an eye-watering $1,532 and the average bachelorette party isn’t far behind at $1,106, and that’s before we even get to the wedding, which, by the way, costs the average guest $1,386. It doesn’t matter how many times the thrifty among us can restyle the same old jumpsuit because the money you’re saving isn’t going to touch your Air BNB bill.

It’s no surprise that more people are saying no to wedding invitations because of the cost. And who can blame them? It’s hard to see another solution. It’s natural to want everyone you care about to be at your wedding, but it’s also understandable if you can’t afford to fly to three different weddings during six weeks.

The wedding machinery shows no signs of slowing down, so all we can do is have a little more sympathy. If you’re throwing a wedding, try to be sensitive about the cost and understanding when someone just can’t make it. We have to create more socially acceptable ways of celebrating a marriage without spending a month’s salary to be there to celebrate the big day. It really should be the thought that counts.

1. What does the underlined part in Paragraph 3 most probably mean?

A．The average bachelor.	B．The expensive wedding.
C．The economical people	D．The saved money.

2. Why do most people want to decline the wedding invitations?

A．The weddings are too costly to attend.	B．They don’t care about the wedding.
C．They don’t have enough time to go.	D．The weddings are often disappointing.

3. According to the passage, what idea may the author agree with?

A．People should spend a month’s salary to prepare a gift.

B．When throwing a wedding, people should be thoughtful.

C．A luxurious wedding contributes to a good marriage.

D．Wedding invitations should go unnoticed.

4. Which could be the best title of this passage?

A．Weddings are about fun and togetherness.

B．It is an art to say no to wedding invitations.

C．Millennials are facing more and more tension.

D．Wedding invitations bring joy and burden to Millennials.

10 . Stephen Wamukota, a nine-year-old from Mukwa village in Western Kenya, is making the headlines worldwide for his creative hand-washing machine. The young boy came up with the idea after watching village residents, who didn’t have easy access to running water, struggle to find an effective way to wash their hands to avoid spreading and contracting COVID-19.

Using the few resources at hand –wood scraps, nails, and a bucket –Stephen designed and built a simple, but functional, cleansing station. The clever creation, which consists of two pedals (踏板) –one to release soap and the other to release water–enables villagers to wash their hands contact-free, thereby reducing the likelihood of catching the disease.“I had bought some pieces of wood to make a window frame, but when I came back home after work one day, I found that Stephen had made the machine,” his father, James, told the BBC. “The concept was his, and I helped tighten the machine. I’m very proud.”James credits Stephen’s building ability to the village school’s curriculum (课程), which teaches children to assemble (装配) and construct items from a very young age.

The invention, which spread rapidly after James posted a photo on Facebook, has made Stephen an instant celebrity in Kenya. In early June 2020, the country’s leader, President Uhuru Kenyatta, gave the Uzalendo Award to the nine-year-old. The newly-created presidential honor is designed to acknowledge citizens who are making great contributions towards the nation’s fight against COVID-19.

Stephen has also been promised a full scholarship to a school that can develop his creative talent by Bungoma County Governor Wycliffe Wangamati. “We are waiting for school to open to contact him about his promise. He (the governor) told me that once school opens, he will give him a scholarship to a school that can match his talents,” James told CNN.

Though thrilled at the unexpected fame and success, Stephen is not resting on his honors. The young boy has already built another hand-washing machine and plans on adding several more, so that the village, which has no reported cases of the infectious disease, can remain COVID-19-free!

1. What problem did the villagers have?

A．They failed to get access to the COVID-19 treatment.

B．They suffered from a lack of running water.

C．They didn’t know how to wash their hands properly.

D．They didn’t know how to use the hand-washing machine.

2. What does James think of the village school’s curriculum?

A．He sings high praise for it.	B．He considers it very abstract.
C．He thinks it too professional.	D．He has reservations about it.

3. What made the invention known to the public?

A．The country leader’s promotion.	B．Word of mouth from citizens.
C．An unexpected award.	D．A photo on Facebook.

4. What does Stephen plan to do?

A．Win more scholarships for his school.

B．Help report the cases of infectious diseases.

C．Build more hand-washing machines.

D．Urge the governor to perform his promise.