1 . Scientists have created an "artificial leaf" to fight climate change by inexpensively changing harmful carbon dioxide into a useful alternative fuel. The new technology was inspired by the way plants use energy from sunlight to turn carbon dioxide into food.
Scientists call it an artificial leaf because it mimics real leaves and the process of photosynthesis(光合作用). A leaf produces glucose(葡萄糖) and oxygen. Scientists use an artificial leaf to produce methanol(甲醇) and oxygen. Making methanol from carbon dioxide, the primary contributor to global warming, would both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide a substitute for the fossil fuels.
The key to the process is a cheap, fully used red powder called cuprous oxide. Engineered to have as many eight-sided particles as possible, the powder is created by a chemical reaction when four substances are added to water that has been heated to a particular temperature. The powder then serves as the catalyst(催化剂), or trigger, for another chemical reaction when it is mixed with water into which carbon dioxide is blown and a beam of white light is directed with a solar simulator(模拟器). "This is the chemical reaction that we discovered," said Wu, a professor of mechanical and mechatronics engineering, has worked on the project since 2015. He added, " Nobody has done this before." The reaction produces oxygen, as in photosynthesis, while also changing carbon dioxide in the water-powder solution into methanol. The methanol is collected as it evaporates when the solution is heated.
Next steps in the research include increasing the methanol yield and commercializing the patented process to convert carbon dioxide collected from major greenhouse gas sources such as power plants, vehicles and oil drilling. "I'm extremely excited about the potential of this discovery to change the game," said Wu, "Climate change is an urgent problem and we can help reduce CO2 emissions while also creating an alternative fuel."
1. What is the function of an artificial leaf?| A．Turning carbon dioxide into a solid fuel. | B．Changing a chemical reaction into food. |
| C．Producing much glucose and oxygen. | D．Making methanol and oxygen cheaply. |
| A．It's a powder containing four substances. |
| B．It should be directed with a solar simulator. |
| C．It's a key substance to cause another chemical reaction. |
| D．It's used to collect methanol from a chemical reaction. |
| A．Optimistic. | B．Wait- and- see. | C．Skeptical. | D．Negative. |
| A．A short story of an artificial leaf. | B．An advertisement for a famous company. |
| C．A report in a science journal. | D．An introduction to a science fiction. |
2 . Look up in the sky. See that French poodle? Before your eyes it morphs into an elephant. A few seconds later, it becomes the profile of Taylor Swift floating by. Cloud-watching has captured our imaginations since we were children. Many people even have found the International Cloud Appreciation Society.
In 2003 Gavin Pretor-Pinney was living in Rome while on holiday. After seven months glancing into the heavens at the mostly clear blue Roman skies, he discovered he missed the constantly changing cloud formations that were an everyday event in his native United Kingdom. He returned home and was engrossed in learning about clouds. The subject dominated his conversation for a year. Then a friend invited him to speak about clouds at a small literary festival. Pretor-Pinney titled his presentation "The Inaugural Lecture of the Cloud Appreciation Society." Afterward, he had to inform audience members who wanted to join the society that it did not exist. A few months later he launched a website, and the society was born. Five years ago it became his full-time occupation.
Today, the Cloud Appreciation Society enjoys a membership of more than 50,000 people scattered in 120 countries, all united through their appreciation of celestial mist. It is divided into local groups that include a chapter in St. Louis, and another in central Missouri. Illinois cloud spotter groups are near Chicago.
Pretor-Pinney thinks of the society as reconnecting people with their early relationship to the sky as children finding images in the clouds. "Clouds are for dreams, and a deep thinking of them benefits the soul. If you consider the shapes you see in clouds, it will save you money on psychoanalysis bills," Pretor-Pinney jokes.
In a positive Ted Talk about the Cloud Appreciation Society accessible on the Internet, Pretor-Pinney points out that clouds are common to everyone no matter where they are in the world. They are the most egalitarian (平等主义者) of nature's displays, because people all have a fantastic view of the sky.
1. What is the purpose of Paragraph 1?| A．To explain a natural phenomenon. | B．To recommend an international society. |
| C．To lead in the main topic of the text. | D．To stimulate readers' imaginations. |
| A．Was involved in. | B．Was absorbed in. | C．Took pride in. | D．Participated in. |
| A．The Cloud Appreciation Society enjoys popularity. |
| B．The Cloud Appreciation Society has three groups. |
| C．The society attracts a lot of children with dreams. |
| D．The society helps people save money and heal their souls. |
| A．A fantastic cloud-watching society | B．A group full of imagination |
| C．A society benefiting souls | D．A positive Ted Talk |
3 . With the world’s attention on vaccines (疫苗), now feels like a good moment to sing the praises of an often forgotten contribution to their development. Three hundred years ago this month, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu got her daughter inoculated (接种) against smallpox, making her child the first person in the West to be protected in this way. Without Montagu’s willingness to adopt a practice she had learned from other cultures, the introduction of vaccines around 80 years later would never have taken place.
Montagu first witnessed inoculation when she accompanied her husband to Turkey in 1717. Inoculation had started in Asia, probably in China, as early as the 10th century AD. Montagu observed how older women in Turkey took a tiny amount of pus (脓) from a person with smallpox. They then used needles to make cuts on people’s wrists and ankles and added the pus to their bloodstream. This helped people gain immunity from future infection.
Like other visitors to the country, Montagu took steps to ensure that her son was inoculated in Turkey. This worked well, but she knew that trying it in England would be far more challenging. Inoculation performed by unlicensed amateurs would threaten doctors’ professional standing and potentially rob them of valuable income. Churchmen also disagree with the practice, as they saw it as going against nature.
Back in England, Montagu observed the increased severity of smallpox infections. Eventually, in April 1721, she decided to use the Turkish practice to have her daughter inoculated, because she believed that the rewards would outweigh the risks. After a safe time had passed following the inoculation, Montagu allowed doctors to examine her daughter.
Doctors in Britain gradually accepted the practice. About so years later, a pioneering physician found smallpox vaccines to destroy smallpox completely. As early as last century, academics argued that Montagu was no more than an enthusiastic amateur. In truth, she made a vital scientific contribution towards finding the cure for smallpox.
1. What is the second paragraph mainly about?| A．The origin of smallpox inoculation. |
| B．Montagu’s first access to inoculation. |
| C．The benefits from smallpox inoculation. |
| D．Turkish women’s invention of inoculation. |
| A．it was against human nature | B．it might harm doctors’ interests |
| C．it was beyond doctors’ abilities | D．it might shake churchmen’s belief |
| A．The increased severity of smallpox infections. |
| B．A physician’s discovery of smallpox vaccines. |
| C．The result of Montagu’s daughter’s inoculation. |
| D．Montagu’s focus on its rewards rather than its risks. |
| A．An unsung hero | B．No limit to creation |
| C．Development of vaccines | D．A historic medical innovation |
4 . What do you want to be when you grow up? My answer has always been a vet.
We didn’t have pets growing up because my mother was scared of animals. She passed on some of this fear to me. It’s not common you find someone who’s scared of animals but wants to be a vet. Still, I knew this is what I wanted.
Vet school was nothing like I had imagined. Within the first few weeks, any fears I had about being a vet vanished (消失). In the fourth year, we were introduced to surgery. I loved it. Stitching (缝) wounds was like a satisfying game of Tetris (俄罗斯方块), where all the pieces fit beautifully together to make something broken whole again. It solidified my belief that this was the right fit for me.
These were the most challenging and rewarding two years of my life, and before I knew it, they were over. I was officially a veterinary surgeon (兽医). Surprisingly, I felt empty after I finished. Why wasn’t I excited to move on? I had completely forgotten to think about what comes next. I panicked! I felt as if I had spent the last decade of my life writing exams and working crazy hours only to come out on the other side, completely clueless.
There were so many options to choose from. I could start a clinic, work at another practice or even pursue further studies. It was my father who suggested I travel to gain some perspective. I hesitantly decided to spend some time in New Zealand with my aunt who also happens to be a vet.
New Zealand was beautiful! I finally had a chance to think about what I wanted. One of the vets there allowed me to observe their practice. Working with vet nurses really stood out for me. We don’t have vet nurses in India! It is a blessing (幸事) to have such experienced and dedicated individuals as a part of your support system. After a whole year of what felt like aimless wandering (徘徊), this experience helped me decide I wanted to work overseas.
So, to all the other confused vets out there who haven’t figured things out: It’s completely okay to feel confused and lost! Most people feel the same way at some point in their careers. Don’t be afraid to try new things even if you feel difficult or impossible.
1. What do we know from the first two paragraphs?| A．The author’s mother was hurt by an animal. |
| B．Being a vet has always been the author’s dream. |
| C．The author kept different kinds of pets as a child. |
| D．Many people in the author’s family work as vets. |
| A．To express how she loved being a vet. |
| B．To prove how challenging vet school was. |
| C．To explain why she loved the game as a child. |
| D．To show the complexity of veterinary surgery. |
| A．To start a clinic there. |
| B．To get fresh ideas about her career. |
| C．To visit her aunt. |
| D．To travel around the country. |
| A．Passion is the key to your career success. |
| B．Travel helps you learn more about yourself. |
| C．Stick to your dream no matter what happens. |
| D．It’s important to find yourself again when feeling lost. |
5 . Some Questions About Coronavirus
How long does coronavirus last?
Every case of coronavirus is different, but experts have a general idea of how long the typical course of the illness lasts. Most people can expect to recover within two weeks after the onset of symptoms, but more severe cases could last up to six weeks — and for some, dubbed “Covid long haulers,” symptoms can linger for months.
What are the symptoms of the coronavirus?
Symptoms of the coronavirus can seem a lot like the flu. Initially, a fever, cough, and shortness of breath emerged as the three most common symptoms of COVID-19. Now, other signs such as muscle pain, fatigue, and loss of taste and smell are on the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) symptoms checklist.
How long does coronavirus live on surfaces?
Though the conronavirus is typically transmitted through the air via respiratory droplets (from an infected person sneezing or coughing) rather than by touching objects and materials, the virus can still remain viable on variety of surfaces, according to the CDC, though it’s not exactly clear for how long.
How is coronavirus spread?
According to the CDC, COVID-19 is spread mainly from person to person, usually through close contact (within six feet). Being near an infected person who coughs, sneezes, or talks can expose you to their respiratory droplet carrying the virus — and they can spread the virus even if they don’t have any symptoms yet. If those virus-containing particles are inhaled (吸入) or land in your eyes, nose or mouth, you could become infected.
1. How long does coronavirus stay on surfaces?| A．Two weeks. | B．Six weeks. | C．Months. | D．Unclear. |
| A．contacting close (within six feet) |
| B．being near an infected person |
| C．talking with a healthy person |
| D．inhaling some virus-containing particles |
| A．Entertainment. | B．Health. | C．Education | D．Travel. |
6 . When 66-year-old Londoner Sylvia Haller was laid off in February, it wasn't her income that took a hit. It was her self-respect. “I had this feeling like ‘I'm too old’,” she says. “Nobody wants to employ me anymore.” When a friend told her about TaskRabbit, an app that allows workers to sell all kinds of services—like fixing furniture or waiting in line for special breakfast. She set up an account on her phone, and lined up customers for many different jobs.
The gig economy(零工经济)has exploded in recent years. In a report, researchers estimate 77 million people within Europe, India, and the US formally identify themselves as freelancers(自由职业者).
For most of those workers, freelancing is a choice: only a small minority said they were unable to find full-time jobs. They got into the gig economy in the hope of getting more control over their careers and diversifying the sources of their income.
Almost one-third of Americans who work in the gig economy are baby boomers, born between 1946 and 1964. Among those 55 and older, 32% said they were driven, at least in part, by a desire to be around interesting people. “Not knowing what kind of customer you're going to meet is quite exciting,” says Haller, recalling fixing a bed for a student. “I spend less time working and have more time to be home.”
For boomers who work in physically demanding fields, digital gig work can be a relief. Jerry Nelson, a photojournalist, says he's “too old to charge into forests...” Instead, he writes blog posts for others he finds through an online platform.
For some others, gig work is a way to finally pursue their passions. American Dan Hays, 68, who spent most of his career in the oil and gas industries, in 2015 booked his first voi-ceover(旁白)acting job. “I want to try something different and that suits my fancy,” said Hays.
1. What hit Sylvia Haller hardest with being unemployed?| A．Her income. | B．Her pride. |
| C．Her family. | D．Her knowledge. |
| A．It's an app. | B．It aims at elder people. |
| C．It's a new way of working. | D．It's a new form of consumption. |
| A．To meet fun people. | B．To reach out for something new. |
| C．To gain more recognition. | D．To balance work and family. |
| A．The baby boomers in the US |
| B．The daily work of the elderly |
| C．People change retirement with a new form |
| D．Work helps people connect with their communities |
7 . Drug Allergy
INSTRUCTIONS:
Medicines:
●Keep a written list of what medicines you take and when and why you take them. Bring the list of your medicines or the pill bottles when you see your caregiver. Learn why you take each medicine. Ask your caregiver for information about your medicines. Do not take any medicines without first talking to caregivers.
●Always take your medicine as directed by caregivers. Call your caregiver if you think your medicine is not helping or if you feel you are having side effects. Do not quit taking it until you discuss it with you caregiver.
Allergies:
●Talk with your caregiver before taking any drugs, including over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and herbs.
●After taking a new drug in your caregiver’s office, always stay there for at least 15 minutes.
If you get hives (荨麻疹) or rash (皮疹):
●Talk with your caregiver about taking an antihistamine(a drug used to treat allergies)that you can buy over the counter.
●Take the antihistamine until the hives are gone for 24 hours.
The following are ways to lessen itching (痒):
●Put cold compresses (敷布) on the skin, or take cool baths.
●Wear loose-fitting clothes and avoid tight underwear.
CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:
●You think you are having a reaction to a drug. Symptoms may appear as soon as 15 minutes after taking a medication.
●Your rash, hives, or itching have not gone away.
SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:
●You have trouble breathing, tight feeling in your chest or throat, or a swelling in your mouth. THIS IS AN EMERGENCY. Dial 120 for help.
●You have hives, swelling, or itching ALL OVER your body.
1. What should you do to relieve itching?
| A．Take hot baths. | B．Wear loose underwear. |
| C．Take some vitamins. | D．Stay in caregiver’s office for a while. |
| A．You feel sleepy and tired. | B．Your rash has not faded away. |
| C．You are having a reaction to a drug. | D．You have itching all over the body. |
| A．To introduce some drug allergies. | B．To comment on the drug allergies. |
| C．To advertise a kind of medicine. | D．To advise people to learn more about medicines. |
8 . Take a look at your fingers. Would you believe me if I told you that the length of your fingers in relation to one another can predict your personality? I know that it sounds like one of those silly tests you see on Facebook, but I have to admit that it was spot-on for me.
Look at your three middle fingers of your left hand. Is your index finger (食指) longer than your ring finger? Is your ring finger longer than your index finger? Or are the two the same length?
Category 1: A longer ring finger. If your ring finger is longer than your index finger, research shows that you’re likely a charming type, and you can probably talk yourself out of any situation. Others often find this personality type irresistible and will go to great lengths to help you. You’re more likely to take risks, and you’re good at problem-solving. People in this category make great engineers, soldiers and crossword-puzzle solvers.
Category 2: A longer index finger. If your index finger is longer than your ring finger, chances are you are full of confidence — possibly even to the point of being over-confident and too proud. You are not necessarily introverted, but you do enjoy time to yourself especially when you’re trying to complete a project. You are a determined go-getter who can make things happen, but you may be shy when it comes to taking the first step in building up a friendship. You are also probably happy with what you have, but you’re always wishing for more.
Category 3: The two are the same length. If your index finger and ring finger are roughly the same length, you are likely to avoid conflict at all costs and seek to keep the peace in your relationships. You are well-organized, faithful and sympathetic. But deep down under all of that caring and peace-loving, you also have a fiery core (暴躁的本质) and can lash out unexpectedly when you’re pushed too far.
How well did these descriptions match your personality? I was surprised at the accuracy in my case.
1. What does the passage mainly tell us?| A．Never believe the silly tests on Facebook. |
| B．The length of fingers can reveal personality. |
| C．Why your fingers are not of the same length. |
| D．How to find out about one’s personality accurately. |
| A．Very funny. | B．Quite easy. |
| C．Exactly correct. | D．Completely strange. |
| A．cautious | B．catching |
| C．hard-working | D．warm-hearted |
| A．The sweet talker. | B．The self-important one. |
| C．The introvert. | D．The peacemaker. |
9 . I’d done it before, and so I had no reason to believe that this time would be any different. I was sure that when I returned home from my mission trip. As always, I’d bring back nothing more than some mud on my boots. A hole or two in my jeans and, of course, a lot of great memories.
The summer before my high school graduation, I went to West Virginia with others as volunteers to repair the homes of those in need. Arriving at our destination, my group was assigned the task of rebuilding sections of a home that had been damaged by fire. No sooner had we parked on the home’s dirt driveway than we saw an excited little girl, no more than six years old, standing in the doorway of the family’s temporary home. Shoeless and wearing dirty clothes and the biggest smile I’d ever seen, she yelled, “Ma, Ma, they really came!” I didn’t know it then, but her name was Dakota, and four more days would pass before she’d say another word near me.
Behind Dakota was a woman in a wheelchair — her grandmother, we’d soon learn. I also discovered that my job that week would be to help change a fire-damaged dining room into a bedroom for this little girl. Over the following days, I noticed Dakota peeking at us every now and then as we worked. A few times, I tried talking with her, but she remained shy and distant, always flying around us like a tiny butterfly but keeping to herself.
By our fifth and final day, however, this was about to change. Before I went to work on her home on that last morning, I spoke for a moment or two with the grandmother. I was especially pleased when she told me how much Dakota loved her new room — so much. As we talked, I noticed something I hadn’t seen before — Dakota was hiding behind her grandmother.
Cautiously, she stepped into view, and I could see that just like her clothes, her face was still dirty. But no amount of soil could hide those bright blue eyes and the big smile. She was simply adorable. Slowly, she began walking toward me. It wasn’t until she was just inches away that I noticed the folded piece of paper in her tiny hand. Silently, she reached up and handed it to me. Once unfolded, I looked at the drawing she’d made with her broken crayons on the back of an old coloring book cover. It was of two girls — one much taller than the other — and they were holding hands. She told me it was supposed to be me and her, and on the bottom of the paper were three little words that instantly broke my heart. Now almost in tears, I couldn’t control myself anymore — I bent down and hugged her. She hugged me, too. And for the longest time, neither of us could let go.
I left for home early the next morning. I was returning with muddy boots and holes in my jeans. But because of Dakota, I brought back something else, too — a greater appreciation for all or the blessings of my life. I’ll never forget that barefoot little butterfly with the big smile and dirty face. I pray that she’ll never forget me either.
1. What did the author expect before taking this mission trip?| A．An exciting experience. | B．A routine result. |
| C．A special memory. | D．A surprising change. |
| A．feared to talk with me | B．desired to approach me |
| C．resisted accepting me | D．enjoyed meeting me |
| A．Enjoy your help. | B．Help me, please. |
| C．Please don’t leave. | D．Hug me close. |
| A．One must learn to share life experiences. |
| B．One often wants to lead a meaningful life. |
| C．One should be more grateful for the gift of life. |
| D．One occasionally benefits from the poverty. |
10 . Bikes are the most common means of transportation in our daily life, but have you ever noticed that a man’s bike is quite different from a woman’s bike? The traditional difference between a man’s bike and a woman’s bike is the top tube design. A man’s bike would have a top tube going straight from the top of the head tube to the top of the seat tube, while a woman’s bike would have a top tube that connected to the seat tube somewhere lower down. This was originally to make it possible to ride a bike while wearing a skirt without exposing any morally offending body parts while mounting the bike. A consequence of this is that traditional women’s frames are weaker than men’s, which is why performance-oriented bikes all look the same regardless of the gender of the rider.
If you’re looking for a performance-based difference, then women often have shorter upper bodies and arms than men, so some manufacturers adapt to that by building frames with shorter top tubes. Others merely think a “cute” paint scheme (组合) on the smaller sizes of their standard frames will be called a woman’s bike. Do note that the difference from one person to another can easily be bigger than the differences between the man’s bike and the woman’s bike standard. There are also a few other ways of fitting a bike to the rider. For example, handlebars can be replaced for some adjustments of riding position.
While it’s nice to have a well-fitting bike, for an ordinary rider it’s not as important for a MTB (山地车) as it is for a road bike. On a MTB the rider spends more time out of the saddle (鞍). While riding a road bike the rider spends more time on the saddle, so the position has to fit better. And if it’s just for wandering around the block, then most riders would prefer a “woman’s” bike. They will usually provide a more upright riding position, which is more comfortable for casual riding.
1. What is the traditional difference between a man’s bike and a woman’s bike?| A．The design of paint. |
| B．The design of saddle. |
| C．The design of top tube. |
| D．The design of handlebars. |
| A．To improve its safety. |
| B．To decrease its weight. |
| C．To make it more comfortable to ride. |
| D．To avoid exposing some of the riders’ body parts. |
| A．A woman’s bike is much cheaper. |
| B．A woman’s bike is easier to control. |
| C．A woman’s bike is more fashionable. |
| D．A woman’s bike is more comfortable. |
| A．The Safer, The Better |
| B．How to Choose Your Own Bike |
| C．Differences Between Man’s Bikes And Woman’s Bikes |
| D．Let’s Protect The Environment by Riding Bikes Every Day |
