1 . Accompanied by her father, using a combination of aid and free climbing and taking advantage of some special equipment and ropes for protection, 10-year-old Selah made it to the top of El Capitan on June 12 after five days of big wall climbing.

Climbing the challenging and adventurous Nose route of El Capitan was a labor of love for Selah in more than one way. Her parents , Mike and Joy Schneiter, fell in love on this 3,000- plus-foot huge rock and she has always wanted to feel the way that her parents felt when they were up there together. Selah showed great interest in rock climbing at an early age. She wore her first rock-climbing equipment shortly after she learned to walk. She first dreamed of climbing El Capitan when she was 6 or 7.

El Capitan is a famous mountain-sized rock in Yosemite National Park. Getting to its top is no easy task. It's taller, as reported, than the tallest building in the world-Dubai^’s Buri Khalifa. El Capitan and its difficult Nose route, which runs more than 3,000 feet high up the center of the rock's face, is considered one of the world's hardest big wall climbs and has attracted the best climbers over time. But never before had a youngster accomplished it.

Selah's achievement caught national attention. Outside Magazine called her the youngest documented person to climb the Nose. Ken Yager, president of the Yosemite Climbing Association, said he also couldn't think of anyone younger who has done it.

Selah is humble about her El Capitan accomplishment. "I'm not necessarily a special kid or anything like that, she said. "There were a few times when I would be so worn that it would kind of discourage me from holding on. But overall, it was just great to keep plugging away.”

Selah shared this advice for other young climbers dreaming of big walls, "It doesn't take necessarily a super special person to do something like that. You just have to put your mind to it.”

1. What do we learn about Selah climbing El Capitan?

A．She began her climbing on June 5.

B．She got inspired by her family history.

C．She managed without any external help.

D．She was the first female to reach the top.

2. What is the purpose of paragraph 3?

A．To state El Capitan's height.

B．To prove El Capitan's popularity.

C．To introduce El Capitan's location.

D．To stress the challenge of climbing El Capitan.

3. Which of the following best describes Selah?

A．Determined.	B．Generous.
C．Warm-hearted.	D．Fortunate.

4. What may be Selah's advice for other young climbers?

A．Dream big and aim high.

B．Be committed to your ambition.

C．Chance favors the prepared mind.

D．Nothing is impossible for a genius.

2 . A small bowl bought at a yard sale in Connecticut for just $ 35 has been identified as a rare 15th-century Chinese antique.

The blue-and-white bowl was made by China's royal court during the Ming dynasty. It is now expected to sell for up to $500,000, according to Sotheby's auction(拍卖)house in New York, where the auction will take place next month.

The purchase was made last year near New Haven, Connecticut. “I was just hanging around there aimlessly. But when I saw this bowl, I didn't even bargain over the $35 asking price,” the owner said. Shortly after the purchase, he sent photos of the bowl to auction specialists, who identified it as an item of historical significance.

Upon closer inspection, the artifact was found to have originated from the period of Yongle Emperor, who ruled from 1403 to 1424 - a period noted for its distinctive porcelain (瓷器)techniques. It's now valued between $300,000 and $500,000, with the top estimate nearly 14,300 times the amount it was purchased for.

“I was deeply attracted by the techniques. You can see why this bowl is so highly-valued from the very smooth porcelain body, silky glaze(上釉)and special blue coloring, which were never reproduced in later dynasties,” McAteer, an auction specialist, said.

“The Yongle Emperor improved the porcelain techniques and elevated the importance of porcelain from being an ordinary bowl into a true work of art. This small bowl has both practical and artistic value, ”McAteer said.

1. What can we infer about the bowl's owner?

A．He found the bowl by accident.

B．He hesitated during the purchase.

C．He doubted whether the bowl was real.

D．He bought the bowl because it was cheap.

2. What makes the bowl so precious?

A．The blue color on it.	B．The long history it has.
C．The people who made it.	D．The unique techniques used.

3. What does the underlined word “elevated” in Paragraph 6 probably mean?

A．Forsaw.	B．Promoted.
C．Assessed.	D．Acknowledged.

4. What's the best title of the text?

A．An Amazing Bowl	B．A Special Yard Sale
C．The Return of Porcelains	D．A Man Making Fortune

3 . Coca-Cola is to test a paper bottle as part of a longer-term goal to get rid of plastic from its packaging entirely. The prototype (样本) is made by a Danish company from an extra-strong paper shell that still contains a thin plastic liner (衬垫). But the goal is to create a 100% recyclable, plastic free botte capable of preventing gas escaping from carbonated (碳酸) drinks. The barrier must also ensure no fibers get into the liquid.

That may have a risk of changing the taste of the drink — or potentially can't meet the requirements of health and safety checks. But industry giants (巨头) are backing the plan. Coca-Cola, for example, has set a goal of producing zero waste by 2030. Coca-Cola was ranked the world's number one plastic polluter by charity group Break Free From Plastic last year, closely followed by other drink-producers Pepsi and Nestle.

The Paper Bottle Company, or Paboco, is the Danish firm behind the development of the paper-based container. Part of the challenge has been to create a structure capable of standing the forces exerted by carbonated drinks — such as cola and beer — which are bottled under pressure. On top of that, the paper needs to be mouldable to create distinct bottle shapes and sizes for different brands and take ink for printing their labels.

After more than seven years of lab work, the firm is now ready to host a trial in Hungary this summer of Coca-Cola's fruit drink Adez. Initially, this will involve 2,000 bottles distributed via a local retail chain.

But it is also working with others. Absolut, the vodka maker, is due to test 2,000 paper bottles of its own in the UK and Sweden of its pre-mixed, carbonated raspberry drink. And beer company Carlsberg is also building prototypes of a paper beer bottle.

Michael Michelsen, the firm's commercial manager, says the bottles are formed out of a single piece of paper-fiber-based material to give them strength.

1. What is the longer-term goal of Coca-Cola company?

A．To stop using plastic in its packaging.

B．To produce drinks of alternative tastes.

C．To expand business in European countries.

D．To use paper bottles with a thin plastic liner.

2. What can be inferred from the text?

A．Coca-Cola has very strong competitors.

B．Some industry giants are in favor of plastic free packaging.

C．Carbonated drinks are facing stricter health and safety checks.

D．The paper bottle company is under pressure from environmentalists.

3. What does the underlined word “mouldable” in Paragraph 3 mean?

A．Being hard to be printed on.

B．Being able to be strengthened.

C．Being able to be made into different shapes.

D．Being able to be mixed with other materials.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Coca-Cola Takes the Lead to Go Green

B．Paper Bottles Are in Place for the Market

C．Drink Industry Is Turning to Paper Bottles

D．Paper Bottle Companies Spring up Worldwide

4 . When buying suitable plants for my garden, I would read the label carefully, which contains critical information that can tell me whether the plant is likely to work for me.

The label tells me the plant's name, including both a common name, which is easy to remember, and a botanical name, which is more precise and reliable. The botanical name is very useful as it's the key to finding more information about the plant.

The label also states the plant's light needs. They can tell me that the plant needs full sun, full shade or part sun, which are somewhere in between.

I will also find information about how much winter cold the plant can handle. This is usually expressed in terms of the zones on a plant hardiness (耐寒性) map. My Chicago home is generally in Zone 5, with a few spots near the lake in Zone 6. It's safe to buy plants that are hardy in Zone 5 or the colder Zones 4 and 3. Some labels only show a temperature, such as 10 degrees below zero, which is the coldest air temperature the plant is believed to be able to survive.

As an experienced gardener, I never forget to learn about the plant's size from the label. It tells me how tall and wide the plant will eventually grow to be. This is especially critical information if I am shopping for trees because just five or ten years later, that plant can outgrow its site.

There's a lot that plant labels don't tell me, for example, the soil a plant needs. Fortunately, I have a handy tool to learn more: my phone. A quick search for the plant 's botanical name can bring me a wealth of information beyond the label.

1. Why is a plant's botanical name important?

A．It's easy to remember.

B．It sounds formal and reliable.

C．It helps to understand the label.

D．It can be used to search for more information.

2. From the text we can see ________ suits the author's garden.

A．a plant that is tall and wide

B．a plant that is hardy in Zone 5

C．a plant that requires full sunshine

D．a plant that can survive at 10 degrees below zero

3. Where does the author get information about a plant’s suitable soil?

A．From the label.

B．From the Internet.

C．From a plant hardiness map.

D．From an experienced gardener.

4. Which word can best describe the author?

A．Thoughtful

B．Curious.

C．Determined.

D．Particular.

5 . Constantly forcing knowledge and experiences into your brain may seem like the quickest path to self-improvement. But sometimes the best thing you can do for your brian is absolutely nothing at all.

Taking time to space out — whether by showering, pulling weeds, or petting a dog — provides an opportunity for what psychologists call wakeful rest. It’s a time when you can put immediate tasks aside like how to meet the work deadline and instead focus on current feelings, reflect on the past, and think about the future.

In the blankness, MRI (磁共振) brain imaging shows a harmony of gray matter called the default mode network (默认模式网络) takes control. Neuroscientists (神经系统科学家) still don’t completely understand how this system works, but they think it connects inharmonious parts of our brains, which can help us find meaning in our messy lives. “This blankness might also reduce anxiety, boost creativity, and improve memory,” says Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, a neuroscientist at the University of Southern California’s Brain and Creativity Institute.

The trouble is, the battle of life leaves little room to let your mind wander. Many spend their free time-consuming entertainment. It may feel relaxing but requires brainpower to enjoy. Fortunately, there are ways to encourage your resting-state network to take over:

FIND YOUR JOY

Casual hobbies that are totally different from your day job can help prevent out-of-office anxiety.

GET AWAY

New surroundings give your brain a break from environmental cues, like the sight of your desk and laptop, that tell it to work.

SWITCH OFF

Information can be too attractive to ignore. Turning off any and all devices helps maintain relaxation mode.

1. What is “wakeful rest” according to the psychologists in the text?

A．It is a time to space out.	B．It is a system to take control.
C．It is a state to concentrate.	D．It is an opportunity to work.

2. In what aspect can this blankness benefit us?

A．Promoting creativity.	B．Managing moods.
C．Removing anxiety.	D．Controlling brains.

3. Which activity does the author suggest to a stressful software engineer?

A．Working on his desk in a new office.

B．Playing his favorite computer games.

C．Doing some gardening in the backyard.

D．Developing a software with colleagues.

4. Where can we probably read the text?

A．A book review.	B．A science journal.
C．A guide book.	D．A film poster.

7 . Bangladesh's floating gardens, built to grow food during flood seasons, could offer a continuous solution for parts of the world which are likely to suffer from flooding because of climate change, a new study has found.

Bangladesh's floating gardens began hundreds of years ago. The gardens are made from native plants that float in the rivers and operate almost like rafts (筏), rising and filling with the waters. Historically, they were used to continue growing food during rainy seasons when rivers were filled with water.

The farmers layer the plants about three feet deep, creating a version of raised-bed gardens that float in the water. Then, they plant vegetables inside those rafts. As the raft-plants rot away, they release nutrients, which help feed the vegetable plants.

But as climate change affected the volume of water in those rivers, the researchers wanted to understand whether Bangladesh's floating gardens could be a continuous farming practice. They interviewed farming families and found strong evidence that floating gardens provide stability, both in the amount of food available to feed rural populations and in a farming family's income.

They found that farmers typically use hybrid (杂交) seeds, which must be repurchased each year, to grow a diverse range of vegetables in the floating gardens. The gardens are also sensitive to pests, so farmers end up spending some money on both pesticides and fertilizers. But even with those expenses, they found, benefits outweighed costs. One farmer told the research team that he earns up to four times as much money from the gardens as from traditional rice fields.

However, before gaining profits, farmers often take out high-interest loans (贷款) to cover the investment costs of filling the beds and stocking them with plants. Luckily; there are also lower-interest loans from responsible government or non-governmental organizations, which could ease that burden.

1. How do vegetable plants grow according to the text?

A．By absorbing nutrition from raft-plants.	B．By taking shelter from climate change.
C．By living together with hybrid seeds.	D．By moving up and down with raised beds.

2. What might be a reply from farming families interviewed?

A．“Our life becomes tough when rivers flood.”	B．“Fewer vegetables are planted when water rises.”
C．“We harvest much more food during rainy seasons.”	D．“Climate change has little influence on our income.”

3. What does the underlined word “outweighed” in paragraph 5 mean?

A．Affected.

B．Brought.

C．Beat.

D．Equaled.

4. What can be inferred from the text?

A．A solution to climate problem has been found.	B．The gardens are built with rotted native plants.
C．Farmers earn more from traditional rice fields.	D．Low-interest loans lighten the stress of farmers.

8 . The idea of billions of people going through a few masks a week during this pandemic definitely rings alarm bells, but a team of researchers in Melbourne may have the solution.

They’ve discovered that adding millions of discarded face masks to road-paving (铺路) mixtures would actually lower the cost of the road, while preventing billions of them from landfills. Just one kilometer of road would need three million masks, and the polypropylene (聚丙烯) plastic used to make single-use surgical face masks also increased the flexibility and durability of the road.

The new material is a mixture of about 2% torn masks, with recycled concrete aggregate (RCA)—a material obtained from waste concrete and other minerals from destroyed buildings. This recycled material was found in the study to be ideal for two of the four layers generally required to create roadways. Paving a kilometer of two-way road with the RCA and three million face masks would result in a change of 93 tons of waste from landfills.

The final product then is more resistant to wear than asphalt (沥青), as well as being cheaper too, provided there was a method for collecting masks. The research team did a cost-analysis and found that, at $26 per ton, the RCA was about half the cost of mining raw materials, and as much as a third of the cost of shipping the used masks to a landfill.

The widespread application would be ideal for large infrastructure (基础设施) projects. For example, Washington has the 11th worst roads in terms of unaddressed repairs in the U.S. If the damaged roads in Washington state were repaired with the RCA/mask mixture, it would reuse nearly 10 billion masks, sparing American landfills hundreds of millions of tons of trash.

It’s said that the team is looking for private industry partners or governments willing to give their plastic mask road an opportunity for a large-scale test.

1. What does the underlined word “discarded” mean in paragraph 2?

A．Recycled.	B．Produced.
C．Mixed.	D．Abandoned.

2. What is the new material used to pave ways made of?

A．2% torn masks, concrete and tons of trash.

B．Polypropylene plastic and building materials.

C．Single-use surgical masks and recycled concrete aggregate.

D．Waste concrete and other minerals from destroyed buildings.

3. Why are numbers mentioned in paragraph 5?

A．To tell us what the team has found.

B．To prove this material is cost-effective in paving roads.

C．To explain repairing roads costs a lot of materials.

D．To praise the hard work the team has done.

4. What can we learn from the text?

A．The material used to pave roads is made of masks.

B．Generally speaking, it requires two layers to create roadways.

C．It remains to be tested whether the solution is practical.

D．The damaged roads in Washington were repaired with the RCA.

9 . In an incredible display of compassion and kindness, a man from Turkey was spotted trying to warm a pigeon in the most creative way.

Sabahattin Yılmaz was at home one chilly day. After a rain shower had passed, he noticed something landed on the sill (窗台) outside his window—a cold and wet pigeon. The animal was trembling and soaked; it clearly didn’t have the chance to seek shelter before the rain began. Feeling for the poor pigeon, Yılmaz thought of a way to dry him off.

Rather than pick him up and take him inside to warm up, Yılmaz plugged in a hairdryer and used it to dry off the bird. Little did he know that his neighbor captured the whole moment on video. In the video, Yılmaz can be seen leaning out of his window. He was stretching his arm as far as he can so the hot air can reach the pigeon. The bird willingly let the man warm him up, crouching (蹲伏) to let his outer feathers dry.

Yılmaz told the media that he spent about fifteen minutes drying off the bird. He said he had just opened his window when he saw the pigeon around the corner of the sill. He described it as wet and “about to freeze” from the cold and rainy weather.

After fifteen minutes, Yılmaz gave the pigeon birdseed, which he ate happily. However, the bird remained wet still. “I saw that it was still there so I warmed it up again, after the pigeon recovered again, and after eating a good amount of seed, it flew away,” Yılmaz recalled.

He also didn’t know that he was being recorded at the time and that the video was shared online. He simply did it out of the kindness of his heart. “The pigeon is a living creature and deserved to continue living, that is why I did it,” he said.

1. What is the text mainly about?

A．An online video about a pigeon became a hit.

B．A man warmed up a wet and cold pigeon.

C．A man invented a creative way to help birds.

D．A man lives in harmony with a pigeon.

2. What was the bird’s reaction to Sabahattin Yılmaz’s behavior?

A．It was scared and flew away.

B．It was annoyed and refused his help.

C．It was ready to accept his assistance.

D．It was happy to settle in his home.

3. What can we see from the video?

A．A man was filming Yılmaz’s kindness.

B．A pigeon was jumping back and forth when dried off.

C．Yılmaz was warming a pigeon in a novel way.

D．Yilmaz was stretching his arms to catch a pigeon.

4. Which of the following words can best describe Sabahattin Yılmaz?

A．Indifferent but creative.	B．Patient and ambitious.
C．Talented but careless.	D．Sympathetic and warm-hearted.

10 . Sophia Gholz is an award-winning children's book author, music lover. and magic seeker. Sophia enjoys writing fiction with humor and heart. When writing nonfiction, she pulls on her love of science and her family background in ecology.

Her book, The Boy Who Grew a Forest, shares the true story of Jadav Payeng, a man in India who single- bandedly planted an entire forest over the course of his lifetime. When he was younger, Jadav Payeng was shocked by the destruction of his island home. So he took matters into his own bands and began planting one seed at a time. Jadav's forest is now over 1300 acres and provides a home to many animals, some endangered. Jadav is still planting today and his hard work has now been celebrated around the world.

To write this story, Sophia got to know more about Jadav Payeng and his forest through a documentary film called Forest Man. Influenced by her father, a forest ecologist and a scientist, she grew up learning about the importance of trees and the natural world. When she heard about a man on a m1ssion to reforest an entire island on his own, she was drawn to this story.

As for research, most of her research was done online. She read every news article that she could find about Jadav and listened to every interview. Then she reached out to several people who had met or interviewed Jadav as well, including the producer of his short documentary film.

She hopes that The Boy Who Grew a Forest lights a spark in everyone who reads it to go out and care for our beautiful planet. She'd love young readers to be inspired to plant or to learn more about animal habitats, biodiversity and science in general.

1. What is the second paragraph mainly about?

A．A story on how to plant trees.	B．Endangered animals in the forest.
C．Destruction of Jadav's island home.	D．A book introducing a tree- planting hero.

2. What do we know about Jadav Payeng ?

A．He has quit planting recently.	B．He is known to many people. .
C．He was an actor of Forest Man.	D．He planted trees with his family.

3. Which words can best describe Jadav Payeng?

A．Humorous and skilled.	B．Creative and outgoing.
C．Determined and diligent.	D．Controversia1 and helpful.

4. What's the purpose of writing The Boy Who Grew a Forest?

A．To encourage research on wildlife.	B．To describe a boy's farming experience.
C．To stress the importance of planting trees.	D．To advocate the action to protect the earth.