1 . On paper, hydrogen（H2）looks like a dream fuel. Coal, oil, and natural gas produce carbon dioxide, which warms the earth when burned, Hydrogen produces pure water. Hydrogen packs more energy into less space than a battery（but certainly less than petrol）. Also, empty tanks（燃料箱）can be refilled with hydrogen much faster than refilling empty batteries with electricity.
While in practice, things are trickier. Storing a meaningful amount of hydrogen gas requires pressing it several hundred-fold. Changing it into the liquid form is another option, but it should be cooled to-253C. Both processes require a heavy and strong tank. While a 700 bar tank is acceptable for a city bus or a truck, adapting it for use in small vehicles is very difficult because the pressure during refilling would be too great.
The solution? Powerpaste.
A German team of researchers, led by Marcus Vogt, have come up with an interesting "powerpaste", which can store hydrogen energy at atmospheric pressure, ready for release when needed. It is so named because it comes in tubes and looks like toothpaste（牙膏）, not in its traditional form of gas.
The main ingredient（原料）of the paste is magnesium hydride, a substance that reacts with water to form hydrogen. The escaped hydrogen can then be directed into a fuel cell, where it reacts with oxygen from the air to produce electric power.
Refueling is very simple, as instead of going to a filling station, drivers and riders can simply replace an empty tube with a new one and refill the water tank.
Given that powerpaste only begins to break down at temperatures of around 250℃ it remains safe even when a vehicle stands in the baking sun for hours.
However, we will have to be patient. Just because researchers have succeeded in developing a new fueling way does not mean that we can expect to see such vehicles on the road anytime soon. It will indeed be several years before this concept is turned into reality.
1. As a fuel, what is the advantage of hydrogen over oil?| A．Refilling empty tanks will be more convenient. |
| B．It is less likely to worsen global warming |
| C．More energy can be packed in the same space. |
| D．It will produce pure water for people to drink. |
| A．The practical difficulties to use hydrogen as fuel in small vehicles. |
| B．The detailed processes of adapting a strong tank in small vehicles. |
| C．The differences in fueling between large vehicles and small ones. |
| D．The tricks of building strong tanks in small vehicles. |
| A．inexpensive | B．powerful | C．convenient | D．environment-friendly |
| A．Powerpaste-driven vehicles sometimes move very slowly on the road. |
| B．Practical use of powerpaste-driven vehicles will not come very soon. |
| C．Powerpaste-driven vehicles can only work after being in the sun for hours |
| D．It will be years before the researchers work out the concept of powerpaste. |
2 . Located at a depth of 20 feet below the surface, the sand of the ocean floor off the coast of the Florida Keys might be an unlikely spot to host a music festival, but that hasn’t stopped music enthusiasts from diving underwater to rock out.
For the past 35 years, the Underwater Music Festival, an event that pairs music with conservation, has been hosted. Equipped with guitars, drums and other musical instruments, divers go down to the depths and play along to a playlist of water-inspired songs that are piped underwater via speakers. Over the years the event has gone from being a small grassroots effort put together by few locals, with the idea that once people see what’s going on beneath the surface, the more likely they would be to protect it, to a two-day festival that draws dozens of divers, boaters, and musicians to the Keys from around the world.
“Thirty-five years ago a few Keys locals sat down and wanted to figure out a way to bring awareness to our coral reefs （珊瑚礁）that would preserve, rebuild and restore them in any way,” says Dave Turner, executive director of the Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce. “They came up with this idea of playing music underwater and invited people to listen while also enjoying the local sea life.”
“The preservation of the reef is our main purpose,” Turner says. “To avoid any further damage, the festival takes place in a nearby sandy area so that the musicians don’t disturb the coral when they’re performing.”
Although holding a music festival underwater may seem a bit out there, Turner is quick to point out that it is actually achievable. “The music is obviously not as clear as when you’re sitting in room with stereo （立体音响）but you can still hear it and understand the lyrics and music,” he says. “If you were to go underwater you would recognize the song and it would sound the same. It just has little different tone to it. Plus, sound travels faster and farther underwater.”
1. What is special about the festival?| A．It hardly has any live music. |
| B．It takes place completely underwater. |
| C．It hardly wins support at grassroots level. |
| D．It exhibits all kinds of musical instruments. |
| A．To draw attention to coral reef conservation. |
| B．To raise money for local divers. |
| C．To improve the locals’ life. |
| D．To promote local tourism. |
| A．Attending the festival is an important experience. |
| B．Holding the festival makes some sense. |
| C．The future of the festival is uncertain. |
| D．It is challenging to hold the festival. |
| A．Environment. | B．Health. | C．Education. | D．Science. |
3 . I can remember occasionally nodding off with my phone between my ear and shoulder after hours of conversation with a friend. I’d wake up with the dial tone screaming in my ear. What happened? What did I say? The next day, my friend would tell me a funny story about how I had trailed off（声音逐渐减弱）with some meaningless words and begun snoring（打鼾）into the phone. We had a good laugh, but there was no harm because at least there was no permanent record of it.
For today’s young people, nodding off during a verbal phone call may mean a text written in their sleep. Who even knew texting while sleeping was possible before? But it’s possible today. A newly-published study from Villanova University’s M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing surveyed 372 college students and found that a quarter of them had sleep texting-texting while in a sleep state at some point. Of that group, 72% had no memory of the event. Respondents most likely to text in the sleep were, unsurprisingly, those who regularly slept with the phone on bed with them.
The study indicated that those who reported sleep texting admitted that cellphone use ravaged their sleep, which meant they suffered poor sleep. The study also found that most college students do not get high quality sleep, and that most do not turn off the cellphone when they go to sleep.
Young adults, especially college students, sleep even less than other age groups, often having only 6 to 7 hours of sleep per night. The demands of heavy class loads and the busy social life of college, combined with little to no adult supervision, have already been an environment fit for sleep disruption. Because of today’s technology of smartphones laptops, and so on, a solid night’s uninterrupted sleep sounds like a faraway dream indeed.
Maybe it’s time for a change.
1. Why did the author trail off with some meaningless words over the phone?| A．Because she wanted to horrify her friend. |
| B．Because she wanted to make up funny story. |
| C．Because she got tired and fell asleep gradually. |
| D．Because she was tired of talking with her friend. |
| A．Texting while sleeping is actually common. |
| B．Today’s young people can’t live without the phone. |
| C．College students often forget what they’ve done. |
| D．College students have a bad habit of texting before going to sleep. |
| A．Protected. | B．Damaged. | C．Improved. | D．Controlled |
| A．College students should stop using their smartphones. |
| B．College students’ class loads should be reduced. |
| C．Having a solid night’s uninterrupted sleep is impossible today. |
| D．College students should avoid using the phone before bedtime. |
4 . The human brain remembers negative experiences more easily than positive ones. Our brains have developed in this way because threats, like dangerous animal, have a more immediate effect on people's survival compared to positive things like food or shelter. As a result, you clearly know what makes you unhappy, but do you know what makes you happy?
Research suggests that our level of happiness is partly shaped by the choices we make. If you've been chasing wealth, fame, power and some material things, you may be looking for happiness in the wrong places. Psychologists suggest that the following habits can make people happier.
People who own close relationships tend to be happier than those who do not. The number of our friends is not important. What matters is the quality of our relationships. Relationships that bring happiness usually consist of the sharing of feelings, acceptance, mutual respect and trust.
People who exercise regularly can improve both their physical and mental well-being. Some research has shown that exercise can be as effective as some medicine in treating depression.
If we are so interested in an activity, we may lose track of time, and we can be in a state of flow. The activity could be playing the piano, surfing the Internet or playing a game. People who experience flow in their work or life tend to be happier.
People are more likely to be happy if they know what their strengths are and can use them regularly. People are especially happy when they can set goals and use their strengths to achieve them.
People, who think positively by being grateful, mindful and optimistic, are more likely to be happy. Being grateful means being thankful. Being mindful means considering, focusing on, and enjoying the experiences of the present moment. Being optimistic means being hopeful about the future.
1. Human brains remember negative things more easily because negative things_________.| A．tend to affect human survival immediately |
| B．are much more important than other thing |
| C．can make people live much happier |
| D．are easy to remember |
| A．being famous | B．setting life goals |
| C．chasing power | D．earning money |
| A．think more about our future |
| B．focus on everything in our life |
| C．be positive in our life and work |
| D．only enjoy the present moment |
| A．Why people remember positive things easily. |
| B．Why people remember negative things easily. |
| C．What makes people happy. |
| D．What makes people sad. |
5 . A tall, artistic structure called Vessel stands at the heart of Hudson Yards, a real-estate development in New York city that includes offices, residences and stores. Hudson Yards is currently the largest private development in the U.S. and is built over the top of an active rail yard.
Vessel is a network of staircases and platforms that offers views of New York city from a variety of perspectives. The structure is meant to be a meeting point at the center of the area as well as an attraction for tourists. It won’t be called Vessel for long, however. There will soon be a competition to choose a permanent title.
The structure is currently called “Vessel” because of its shape: narrow at its base and then expanding up and out. To get to the structure's highest point on foot, visitors can climb2,500 steps and cross 80 platforms. According to the developer, it’s a one-mile climb.
To explore Vessel, visitors need free tickets that allow them to enter the structure at a set time of the day. The purpose of the set times on the tickets is to keep the number of people on Vessel within a safe limit at all times.
Since Vessel opened to the public, it has been applauded by some visitors and criticized by others. Some have made fun of its shape, comparing it to a pineapple or waste paper basket. Others have criticized its lack of benches. Since resting on the stairs is not allowed, there is not place to sit. Despite these issues , Vessel attracts many locals and tourists every day.
1. According to this article, what are beneath the Hudson Yards development?| A．Trains and tracks | B．Docks and small ships |
| C．Freeway exchanges | D．Waiting buses and taxis |
| A．It’s universally praised | B．It’s only temporary |
| C．It’s been copied elsewhere | D．Its meaning is unknown. |
| A．Their opinions about it vary quite a bit | B．Their primary interest lies in shopping |
| C．They’re all asked to pay a small entrance fee. | D．They return to it on multiple occasions. |
| A．Advantages and disadvantages of Vessel | B．A unique landmark in the Big Apple |
| C．Different opinions on Vessel | D．A mysterious journey to Vessel |
6 . Towers Worth Visiting in Sanya
The sightseeing tower in East Coast Wetland Park in Sanya, South China’s Hainan province, boasts six floors and is 21 meters high, which is able to provide visitors a bird’s-eye view of the park. The tower’s walls are full of holes of various sizes, allowing visitors to enjoy different views of landscapes as they climb the staircase to the top of the tower.
The watchtower on the mountaintop of Linchunling Forest Park is an ideal place to get a bird’s-eye view of Sanya. It has five floors and is 195.6 meters high. Modeled like an ancient pavilion (亭), the tower is painted in red and has been praised for its beauty.
The Tower of the Silk Road in the fishing port in Sanya’s Yazhou district is the tallest lighthouse in China, with a height of 95 meters. Sanya had been an important part of the ancient Maritime (海洋) Silk Road. The tower was built in the shape of Zun, type of Chinese wine cup.
Built during the reign of Emperor Xianfeng (831-1861), Yingwang Tower in Sanya has seven floors and is about 15 meters high. Its name bears the meaning of talents thriving due to prosperous education. Located at the bank of the Ningyuan River,the tower is the only surviving ancient tower in the city.
1. Which tower provides the whole view of Sanya?| A．The tower in East Coast Wetland Park. |
| B．The Tower of the Silk Road. |
| C．The watchtower in Linchunling Forest Park. |
| D．Yingwang Tower. |
| A．The tallest tower in Sanya. | B．The function as lighthouse. |
| C．The only surviving ancient tower. | D．The bird’s-eye view of the port. |
| A．A guidebook. | B．A dictionary. | C．A news report. | D．A book review. |
7 . I have been receiving so much kindness. It was difficult for an independent girl like me to accept it at first. At times, my financial situation is not the best. But with that comes a great lesson in appreciation, budgeting, and deciding what is and what isn't important.
A few times I've had to put off or even give up things. Because of my scarcity on money, I had to give up a keep fit exercise, which is something I like to treat myself regularly. When my coach Lisa heard about this, she offered me training at a highly discounted price. At first this made me very uncomfortable. I feared that she would wrongly think that I was going to bargain (砍价) and of course I wasn't. ; Instead, I was just being honest about my situation being short of money. I finally accepted her offer, remembering that I deserve kindness, too.
Another time, I noticed a friend of mine selling his old exercise bike, which was perfect for me, as I was looking to replace my broken one. {I told him that I would take it when I had the money, but then life got in the way. When I finally got the time to pick it up, I realized my financial shortcomings again, I asked him if he could hold onto it for one more week, as then I'd have the funds again. He was happy to do this, but instead he insisted on offering me the bike as a gift. Another opportunity presents itself to teach me how to receive with dignity(尊严).
I continue to slowly learn how to accept the kindness from others. In fact, the relationship between giving and receiving is closely linked. When you accept the kindness from others with joy, they will feel happy, too.
1. How did the author feel at first when she received kindness from others?| A．Happy. | B．Unfair. | C．Proud. | D．Uncomfortable. |
| A．Request. | B．Independence. | C．Principle. | D．Lack. |
| A．Being punished. | B．Being misunderstood. |
| C．Accepting her coach's strict training. | D．Giving away the secret of her being short of money. |
| A．She paid much money for it. | B．She got it for free. |
| C．She bought it from her coach. | D．She borrowed it from her friend. |
8 . Life has gone mostly online for many people around the world. With more people going online during the COVID-19 pandemic, global Internet traffic has become a big problem. Between January and late March. many major cities experienced an increase in Internet traffic.
Video meetings, online classrooms and stay-at-home entertainment have become a daily routine. This increase in traffic is testing the Internet' s strength. In March. major phone networks in the UK experienced mass outages(断供). People were not able to take calls, receive texts or use mobile data.
In the US, major telecommunications companies like AT&T said traffic was up 21 percent month over month. Video streaming services like You Tube, Netflix and Facebook have cut their picture qualities and download speeds. This is being done to reduce network traffic jams.
China has seen an Internet traffic increase of around 50 percent compared to the end of 2019. The country's network speeds went down sharply in early February. However, they returned to normal soon afterwards and have been working well. This is due to China’s work in building network infrastructure(基础设施), especially 5G technology. By the end of February, 164,000 5G base stations had been built nationwide. This has given Chinese networks the power to handle increased traffic.
“If there were no such development in the Internet network field. people could hardly enjoy such a colorful life at home. Online working and teaching could never be realized so smoothly," said Wen Kun, an official with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
1. What happened to the Internet due to COVID-19?| A．Internet traffic was jammed. | B．Internet access was cut off. |
| C．Internet service was ignored. | D．Internet community was ruined. |
| A．To increase Internet strength. | B．To improve picture qualities. |
| C．To avoid Internet breakdown. | D．To reduce the number of users. |
| A．suffered bigger losses | B．recovered faster |
| C．cost less money | D．started earlier |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Uncaring. |
| C．Critical. | D．Positive. |
9 . For most kids, back-to-school time is usually bitter-sweet. The bitter part is saying goodbye to carefree, unscheduled summer days. The sweet part is saying hello to a new school year and school friends.
This exciting time is filled with smells of new books, paper and pencils. Children might wear a new set of clothes. And, of course, there are the first-day-of-school pictures that parents share with family and friends.
However, going back to school can also be a stressful time for children and families. Every kid must make the transition from easy summer life to routines, schedules and homework. Families will have financial concerns. Parents often need to pay school fees or to buy new school clothes, sports equipment, musical instruments and school supplies.
Back-to-school stress is different for different ages. Younger children may feel scared to leave their families. Making new friends and dealing with bullying can also cause stress for them. Older students may be stressed about their appearances, grades and getting into a good college.
However, parents, teachers and children can all help to make the transition back to school easier. Mary Anne Aidala, an award-winning teacher, advises parents to focus on the basics — let kids get enough sleep, eat healthy foods, and turn off electronics before bedtime.
Lori Bambina has been a teacher for 22 years. She teaches first grade in NY now. According to her, routines and knowing what a teacher wants in the classroom help to reduce stress in kids. So, she focuses on the class routine during the start of the new school year. “Well, for the students, I have my classroom set up with a very clear system. So, I will introduce the system. Then I will revisit the system because at this young age they enjoy routines. And that routine is very comforting and will not cause them stress if they know exactly where things are located and what type of behavior is expected of them.”
1. Back-to-school time can be stressful for parents because ________.| A．teachers will set many challenging tasks for them |
| B．they don’t know how to reduce stress in their children |
| C．they need to organize everything well for their children |
| D．they have to spend a lot of money for the new school year |
| A．be unwilling to go to college | B．be worried about their studies |
| C．be afraid to leave their parents | D．have difficulty making friends |
| A．the classroom is decorated beautifully | B．teachers have low expectations of them |
| C．they know what they are expected to do | D．they have a good relationship with teachers |
| A．Causes of back-to-school stress | B．Mixed feelings about going back to school |
| C．Getting school life back to normal | D．Dealing with back-to-school stress |
10 . One very cold November morning William, who was a 20-year-old college student then, climbed on the edge of Waterloo Bridge in London. That morning, William escaped from a mental health hospital, where he'd been diagnosed(诊断) with schizo-affective disorder. He headed straight to the bridge, convinced that his disease was a life sentence.
Hundreds of people passed by without stopping. Only one man called David, then 25, calmly and quietly walked to William's side.
“You're alright, man? Why are you sitting on a bridge?”
At first William wanted David to leave him alone, but something in David's calm, down-to -earth manner struck a chord. William felt faith, like he could talk to him.
“It's cold here. Why not have some coffee in a warm cafe? Everything will be OK.” For the first time after the diagnosis William felt perhaps it really might. He climbed back.
The police, having received calls from passers-by, were waiting there. They quickly put him into a police car, in case he was to panic and jump. He lost sight of David, the person who'd brought him hope.
William ended up back in hospital. Eventually, he was well enough to return to university and finish his degree. Over the next six years, William often thought about the stranger who had talked him round. Eager to thank him in person, he posted a Facebook message nicknaming the good man Mike. His Find Mike post was shared millions of times around the world, as far as Canada.
William was very excited when David called him two weeks after his post. They had a reunion. ,finally having that coffee they had first planned all those years ago.
“Many people walked past, but because of David's kindness and sympathy, I've lived a good life. ” William said.
1. Why did William climb up the bridge?| A．He was badly treated in the hospital. | B．His disease made him lose hope. |
| C．He wanted to draw people's attention. | D．He studied poorly in the college. |
| A．Touched his heart. | B．Drew his attention. |
| C．Aroused his interest. | D．Made him happy. |
| A．Diligent. | B．Strong-willed. |
| C．Caring. | D．Generous. |
| A．By visiting homes door-to-door. | B．By calling their friends. |
| C．By asking the police. | D．By posting a message online. |
