1 . A new Dutch car company, Lightyear, announced its new car, Lightyear One concept earlier this week, which can constantly refill its power using the sun and travel a range of up to 800 km when fully powered. That’s just the start: The company claims that in sunny environments (say, Hawaii), the One could potentially drive for months at a time between charges.

The Lightyear team claims the car can fuel up with more than just sunshine. It is equipped to charge from a socket (插座), even a regular household power socket. Lightyear claims that just charging its car from a standard (3.7 kw) socket for an hour would give you 40 km worth of power.

The solar power collected by the car’s panels could be used to power more than just the One itself, allowing owners to connect the energy to their homes, devices, and even other electric cars. This is indeed a new idea.

It’s not exactly clear how the company plans to produce its breakthrough cars. The company’s website includes some unclear language about a “completely newly-designed car” which will require a “revolutionary production process”. It mentions that industry partners have signed up to support the process, but doesn’t offer any specific names.

Lightyear’s founders aren’t new to the solar car, which makes the One slightly more believable than other new concepts with little real-world data to support them. The company was started by five former members of Solar Team Eindhoven, the group that created the four-seat, solar-powered car Stella which hit the US streets back in 2014.

You can order the One in advance now in the EU and US, but, unsurprisingly, it won’t come cheap. Reserving a One will allow you to get a discount if you pay by the month and the final cost is expected to be €119,000.

The company won’t produce the One on a large scale (规模). Therefore, it won’t cause industry giants like Tesla to lose any sleep just yet, and Lightyear still has to prove it can change its experimental technology into a fully realized consumer experience. If the company succeeds, however, we could be looking at a new future of cars, directly powered by the sun.

1. Which affects the One’s longest range most?

A．Road conditions.	B．Weather conditions.
C．The weight it bears.	D．The way it is charged.

2. What does the underlined word “This” in Paragraph 3 refer to?

A．The electric car.	B．The solar-powered car.
C．The electricity-powered device.	D．The mobile power-sharing system.

3. Why is the Stella solar-powered car mentioned?

A．To explain the principle of the One.

B．To prove the advantages of the One.

C．To compare different eco-friendly cars.

D．To show the background of the One’s creators.

4. Which best describes the author’s attitude to the One in the text?

A．Hopeful.

B．Worried.

C．Doubtful.

D．Surprised.

2 . Think of Japan in the spring, and the image that comes to mind is likely the country’s famous cherry blossoms, which experience a “peak bloom (开花)” that only lasts a few days and have been honored in Japan for more than a thousand years. But this year, the cherry blossom season has come and gone in the blink of an eye, in one of the earliest blossoms on record -- and scientists warn it’s a symptom of the larger climate crisis threatening ecosystems everywhere.

Yasuyuki Aono, a researcher at Osaka Prefecture University, has gathered records from Kyoto back to 812 AD from historical documents and diaries. In the central city of Kyoto, cherry blossoms peaked on March 26, the earliest in more than 1,200 years, Aono said. And in the capital Tokyo, cherry blossoms reached full bloom on March 22, the second-earliest date on record.

The peak bloom dates shift every year, depending on numerous factors including weather and rainfall, but have shown a general trend of moving earlier and earlier. “Cherry blooms are very temperature sensitive,” said Aono. “Flowering and full bloom could be earlier or later depending on the temperature alone,” he said. This year’s seasons in particular influenced the blossom dates, he added. The winter was very cold, but the spring came fast and unusually warm, so “the buds are completely awake after enough rest.”

Their early bloom, however, is just the tip of the iceberg of a worldwide phenomenon that could make natural systems and countries’ economies unstable, said Amos Tai, assistant professor of earth science at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. There are two sources of increased heat, which is the main factor making the flowers bloom earlier: urbanization（城市化）and climate change. With increased urbanization, cities tend to get warmer than the surrounding rural area, in what is called the heat island effect. But a bigger reason is climate change, which has caused rising temperatures across the region and the world.

These earlier dates aren’t just a matter of tourists scrambling to catch peak bloom before the petals all fall-- it could have a lasting impact on entire ecosystems, and threaten the survival of many species.

1. What is the purpose of mentioning the dates and figures in paragraph 2?

A．To present “peak bloom” in Tokyo came earlier than in Kyoto.

B．To suggest when cherry blossoms will bloom next year.

C．To report the dates of “peak bloom” in different Japanese cities.

D．To show cherry blossoms came out earlier this year than in the past.

2. Why are scientists worried about the peak bloom moving earlier and earlier?

A．The blossom season this year is a sign of a larger global crisis.

B．The weather will be too cold for the blossoms to last long enough.

C．The earlier peak bloom will threaten the survival of many species.

D．The earlier bloom could affect natural systems and countries’ economy.

3. What does the underlined word in the last paragraph mean?

A．Deciding.

B．Managing.

C．Rushing.

D．Marching.

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

A．The Japanese Climate Crisis

B．Sooner’s Not Always Better Than Later

C．Cherry blossoms and Their Impact

D．The Early Blooming of Cherry Blossoms

3 . I created Buddy Project when I was a 15-year-old girl. At the time, my best friend had been diagnosed with a mental health condition, and that was the first time I was made aware of what mental illness was. I wanted to learn more and create a good support system for her. Back then, I was also on Twitter because I had trouble making friends in school. I found a lot of people I related to online, and I found a community of friends based on my interests. I combined those two experiences and wanted to make a way for people to find a safe and loving community online. I wanted people to have a peer (同龄人) support system available to them and to feel accepted.

When I started Buddy Project, I was in the ninth grade and only had free time after school. I intended it to be something I did part-time. I didn’t really think that many people would be interested in it. On the first day, however, 3,000 people signed up. I realized then that that was not something I was just going to do as scheduled.

Mental illness affects tens of millions of people in the United States each year, yet only half receive treatment, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Mental health care is not always accessible or affordable, and that needs to be talked about. Even if the stigma (羞耻) surrounding mental illness decreased, the cost of treatment would still be a problem. Without help, there are some people who won’t be able to receive the proper care.

Buddy Project started out by just raising awareness of mental health on social media. Then we became a non-profit, and since 2015 we’ve been trying to fundraise to help pay for others’ mental health treatments too. We’ve mainly focused on raising money for people in our hometown of southeastern Pennsylvania, but we want to expand and offer help throughout the United States.

1. Paragraph 1 mainly tells us about how the author________.

A．sought ways to drive away loneliness.

B．eventually found friendship online.

C．came up with the idea for Buddy Project.

D．helped her best friend with mental illness.

2. What went beyond the author’s expectations?

A．That her studies were badly influenced.

B．That so many people participated in her project.

C．That she could carry out the project part-time.

D．That she had enough free time for her project.

3. What’s the purpose of Paragraph 3?

A．To explain the influence of mental health care.

B．To show her positive attitude toward mental illness.

C．To show the necessity of helping those with mental illness.

D．To encourage lower costs of treatment for mental illness.

4. What does Buddy Project plan to do in the future?

A．Offer different types of mental health care.

B．Find more ways to prevent mental illness happening.

C．Raise awareness of mental health on social media.

D．Help more people receive mental illness treatments.

4 . The Best Art Competitions to Enter in 2021

Check out our guide to some of the best art contests to enter this year.

Acrylic Works 9

Prize: $2,000 first prize, $1,000 second prize Entry Fee: $45

Requirements: Open to artists in the United States and Canada Closing Date: October 18, 2021

For the Acrylic Works 9 competition, the organizers are looking for the best in acrylic (丙烯酸) painting of a variety of styles and subjects. The entries will be judged in two rounds according to artistic technique, design and creative elements, as well as overall impression and impact. Winners’ works will be shown in Artists magazine.

Splash 23

Prize: $2,000 first prize, $1,000 second prize Entry Fee: $45

Requirements: Open to artists in the United States and Canada Closing Date: June 14, 2021

For the Splash 23 contest, the organizers are looking for original watercolor paintings. Each entry must be painted with watercolor. However, some minor use of other mediums may be acceptable. Top paintings of winners will appear in a special edition of Watercolor Artist magazine.

The Lumen Prize for Digital Art

Prize: $4,000 first prize Entry Fee: $48 for two works

Requirements: Open to artists worldwide Closing Date: June 8, 2021

This digital art competition is organized by Lumen Art Projects Ltd, a non-profit organization that’s aimed at providing new opportunities for digital artists around the world. Categories include Still, Moving Image, 3D/ Interactive and Artificial Intelligence.

California

Award Prize: $3,000 first prize Entry Fee: Free

Requirements: Open to artists in California Closing Date: July 31, 2021

Hosted by the Brea Gallery, the competition intends to provide a great opportunity for all artists based in the state of California. All artworks will be considered. And there is also a solo (单独的) show opportunity for artists who submit a body of work containing 5-10 pieces.

1. What does Acrylic Works 9 and Splash 23 have in common?

A．They are open to all artists.

B．They focus on different styles.

C．The winners’ paintings will appear in a magazine.

D．The deadlines of the competitions are both in October.

2. Which competition will be open to the widest range of artists?

A．Splash 23.	B．Acrylic Works 9.
C．California Award.	D．The Lumen Prize for Digital Art.

3. Why does the Brea Gallery hold the competition?

A．To offer opportunities for artists in the US.

B．To inspire creative ideas in paintings.

C．To provide a solo show for all artists.

D．To encourage local artists to take part.

5 . Children who suffer trauma (创伤) from abuse or violence early in life show biological signs of aging faster than children who have never experienced adversity(逆境), according to the research published by the American Psychological Association. The study examined three different signs of biological aging-early adolescence, cellular aging and changes in brain structure-and found that trauma exposure was associated with all the three.

Exposure to adversity in childhood is a powerful predictor of health outcomes later in life—not only mental health outcomes like depression and anxiety, but also physical health like cardiovascular disease(心血管病), diabetes and cancer," said Katie Mclaugllin, PhD, an associate professor of psychology at Harvard University and senior author of the study published in the journal Psychological Bulletin."Our study suggests that experiencing violence can make the body age more quickly at a biological level, which may help to explain that connection.”

Previous research found mixed evidence on whether childhood adversity is always linked to accelerated aging. However, those studies looked at many different types of adversity abuse, neglect, poverty and more and at several different measures of biological aging. To distinguish the results, McLaughlin and her colleagues decided to look separately at two categories of adversity: threat-related adversity, such as abuse and violence, and deprivation- related(与缺乏有关的) adversity, such as physical or emotional neglect or poverty.

The researchers performed an analysis(分析) of almost 80 studies, with more than 116,000 total participants. They found that children who suffered threat-related trauma such as violence or abuse were more likely to enter adolescence early and also showed signs of accelerated aging on a cellular level—including shortened telomeres, the protective caps at the ends of our strands of DNA that wear down as we age. However, children who experienced poverty or neglect did not show either of those signs of early aging.

In a second analysis, Mclaughlin and her colleagues systematically reviewed 25 studies with more than 3, 253 participants that examined how early-life adversity affects brain development. They found that adversity was associated with reduced cortical (表层) thickness-- a sign of aging because the cortex thins as people age.

1. What is the purpose of paragraph 1?

A．To bring in a finding.	B．To present an argument.
C．To give a definition	D．To make a comparison.

2. What can be inferred from paragraph 2?

A．Katie McLaughlin is a specialist in childhood diseases.

B．Childhood threat-related adversity has a huge influence on children's later life.

C．Adversity helps children overcome mental and physical problems.

D．Exposure to violence makes children mentally age most.

3. How did Mclaughlin and her colleagues conduct the research?

A．By interviewing participants.	B．By listing mixed evidence.
C．By making an analysis.	D．By collecting examples.

4. What is this text mainly about?

A．The signs of accelerated aging.

B．The ways to classify information.

C．The benefits of exposure to adversity.

D．The connection between childhood trauma and aging.

8 . Plastic garbage is one of the world’s biggest environmental headaches. Some plastic items like water bottles and shopping bags can last for hundreds of years after being thrown away, with all this plastic rubbish disrupting ecosystems and disturbing the habitats of wildlife.

There have been several projects to help control plastic production, but researchers may have found a natural way to get rid of the products.

Waxworms, which are confusingly classed as caterpillars(毛毛虫), are the honey bee’s worst nightmares, as they lay their eggs inside their hives(蜂巢). Amateur beekeeper Federica Bertocchini decided to use plastic bags to protect the hives, however she was dumbfounded when she discover the insects were able to eat holes into the sides of the bags.

The beekeeper’s surprising findings sparked a study. Bertocchini, from the Spanish National Research Council, teamed up with scientists from Cambridge University to perform some tests.

When the team put about one hundred waxworms into a standard UK plastic shopping bag, they began feasting. After about 12 hours they’d eaten roughly 92 milligrams of the bag.

In all, this isn’t huge amount, but it’s a lot faster than other natural ways. Last year, researchers found a specific type of bacteria( 细 菌 )could eat plastic, but at a rate of 0. 13 milligrams a day, making this is a massive jump in the search for a natural way to dispose(处理) plastic.

The team is still not 100 percent sure how the worms do what they do, but they’re heralding this as an important first step to get rid of pollution.

Luckily, while that team works out the answer, plastic manufacturers have found a way to make their products much more environmentally friendly. There are three types of environmentally friendly plastics: bioplastics(which are made from corn starch), biodegradable plastics(which break down quicker) and recycled plastic.

Hopefully with these new products, we will get closer to a society that is less harmful to the environment.

1. Why is plastic garbage a huge environmental headache?

A．Because some plastic bottles can stay on the street for many years.

B．Because this kind of rubbish will do great damage to the environment for years.

C．Because more and more plastic bags will make the environment look dull and ugly.

D．Because the plastic rubbish will make the wild life get worse than before.

2. What does the underlined word “dumbfounded” mean in the third paragraph?

A．Shocked.

B．Frightened.

C．Embarrassed.

D．Uncomfortable.

3. How do the waxworms deal with the plastic?

A．They make the plastic into honey.

B．They help scientist develop new plastic.

C．They eat the plastic in an environmentally friendly way.

D．They work with some plastic factories to deal with plastic faster.

4. What is the author’s feeling about the future?

A．The author is optimistic about the environment.

B．There will be more plastic products.

C．The waxworms will play a major role in the future.

D．No one is 100 percent sure what the future will be like.

9 . Airport security is there to protect you, but it may also give you a cold -or worse .

To all the places and surfaces we’ve been warned are covered with germs－the subway seat, airplane cabins, the ATM－add the airport security trays(托盘). The plastic security trays －used at airport checkpoints around the globe and touched by millions of passengers as they drop shoes, smartphones, baggage and other items into them to clear X-ray scanners－have been found to have a variety of germs in them, including the ones responsible for the common cold, according to researchers in Europe.

Scientists from the University of Nottingham in England examined frequently touched surfaces at Helsinki Airport in Finland during and after peak hours in the winter of 2016 and found rhinovirus, the source of the common cold in them. They found it on half the baggage trays, more than on any of the other surfaces they tested. It wasn't found on toilet surfaces at the airport. The findings could help improve public health strategies in the fight against the spread of infectious diseases worldwide.

The European Union has funded a research project, called PANDHUB, on preventing the spread of“high--threat ” pathogens(病原体) on public transportation, and the study by the University of Nottingham is part of that project .

"The presence of germs in the environment of an airport has not been examined previously, said Niina Ikonen, who was involved in the study.

Finavia, the company that operates Helsinki Airport, said in an email,“At Finavia airports, the hygiene(卫生) standards are applied in accordance with health officials' requirements－all surfaces are cleaned daily and all security checkpoint trays, etc., are washed regularly."

Washing your hands properly and coughing into a tissue or sleeve, especially in public places, can help minimize the risk of catching infectious diseases, said Jonathan Van-Tam, a professor at the University of Nottingham. "These simple measures can help prevent the spread of germs and are most important in crowded areas like airports that have a high volume of people traveling to and from many different parts of the world." he added.

1. What should air passengers do according to Van-Tam?

A．Avoid touching other people .	B．Spend less time at the airport .
C．Bring as little luggage as possible .	D．Try to reduce the effect of their coughs .

2. What is special about the study?

A．It focuses on"high-threat" pathogens .

B．It is the first to test for microbes on surfaces at airports.

C．It has found a new way to cure infectious diseases .

D．It has led to a research project called PANDHUB.

3. What did Finavia express in the email?

A．They explained why hygiene was important .

B．They felt quite doubtful about the findings.

C．They had recognized their mistakes .

D．They had done what was required.

4. What did the scientists find at Helsinki airport?

A．Airport security trays had a lot of germs in them.

B．Wet surfaces offered good places for germs to live.

C．Viruses spread quicker during and after peak hours.

D．Airline passengers were more likely to catch a cold on planes.

10 . In November 2020, Stephanie Morton announced her retirement. The then 29-year-old athlete’s exit was a blow for the Australian Olympic program. “This decision wasn't made lightly. Eight months ago, I had such an idea, and thankfully I had the support of the Australian Cycling Team throughout the whole process, along with my family and close friends,” said Morton

Born in Adelaide, Morton stood out as an athlete throughout her childhood even though in a different sport. She grew up in a badminton-mad family. Her father coached the South Australian team, and her mother was its manager. It just so happened that when Morton was 15, her uncle suggested she test her power output on an exercise bike. “I always say cycling picked me. I didn't pick cycling,” Morton said.

Morton joined the national program midway through the reign of Anna Meares, who won a medal at every Olympics between 2004 and 2016.It was an unusual relationship-- Meares was Morton's coach, teammate and competitor.

In 2010, Morton took on the role as Tandem Pilot for the cyclist Felicity Johnson, with the combination winning three world titles across 2011 and 2012, followed by one gold medal at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. In 2014, Morton beat Meares for the first time at the national track championships. The same year, Morton won one gold medal and one silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. But it was after the 2016 Rio Olympics, a disappointing overall campaign for the Australian track team, that Morton really began to shine. Two silver medals at the 2017 World Champions were followed by three gold medals at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Compared with the pandemics global deaths, the retirement of an athlete might seem insignificant. For Morton, the next stage of her life now begins. The cyclist has studied criminal justice part-time throughout her cycling career and has previously shown an intention to join the police. Morton said, “I want to be an active and positive role model.”

1. What do we know about Morton’s decision of retirement?

A．It gave her friends a big surprise.

B．It was made after careful consideration.

C．It met with relief from her team.

D．It was made mainly because of her injuries.

2. From Paragraph 2, we know that young Morton ________.

A．had strong desire to be a cyclist

B．received strict training in ball games

C．showed much possibility as an athlete

D．tried different sports and decided on cycling

3. When did Morton 's career as an athlete take off?

A．After the 2016 Rio Olympics

B．In 2014 when she first beat Meares

C．At the London 2012 Paralympic Games

D．At the 2018 Commonwealth Games

4. What can we infer about Morton from the last paragraph?

A．She is in trouble.	B．She likes following suit.
C．She has a clear life goal.	D．She is under extra pressure.