1 . Most solar panels acquire sunlight from only one side, meaning they can acquire more or less of it depending on where the sun is in the sky. In recent years, they’ve become far more effective typically turning around 22 percent of the light they acquire into energy. In a new study published in the journal Joule on Tuesday, scientists put forth a way to increase that percentage even higher: double-sided solar panels that can move to follow the sun.
Basically, these panels can acquire sun from not only their sun-facing side but also from the light reflected off the ground onto their dark undersides. At the same time, a GPS allows them to move on an axis from east to west in order to always be pointed at a best angle to acquire the sun’s rays. Though double-sided solar panels and sun-following solar panels are both in use currently, models that combine the two technologies aren’t widely available for commercial use, Solar experts predict explosive growth in the market soon, though.
The study authors determined that these two-sided sun-tracking panels produce an average of 35 percent more energy than immobile single-panel systems, and are 16 percent more cost-efficient. That holds true even when accounting for changes in weather conditions.
“This means that investing in double-sided and tracking systems should be a safe bet for the foreseeable future, Carlos Rodriguez-Gallegos,” the study’s lead author said.
The same warnings for solar panels and their effect on the local environment apply to the double-sided, moving systems as well, if not more so. Lead used in solar panels can be one source of local pollution, and Dustin Mulvaney, an associate professor of environmental studies, told Earther in an email double-sided panels could mean “twice as much lead” as traditional solar systems.
Since these new panels are more energy efficient, they could save not only money but also land. That would require restructuring how solar contracts currently work.
1. What does most solar panels rely on to acquire sunlight?| A．The amount of sunlight. | B．The location of the sun. |
| C．The quality of solar panels. | D．The size of solar panels. |
| A．The sun’s rays. | B．The panels’ undersides. |
| C．The double-sided panels | D．The panels’ sun-facing sides. |
| A．Uncertain. | B．Supportive. | C．Doubtful. | D．Subjective. |
| A．Double-Sided Solar Panels that Follow the Sun | B．Advantages of the Double-Sided Solar Panels |
| C．Application of the Double-Sided Solar Panels | D．New Trends of Double-Sided Solar Panels |
2 . Have you ever loved a destination but couldn’t figure out why — or even a way ——to express your feelings? That’s my dilemma with Morocco.
In August, I traveled in a country that had long been, on my wish list. I rode a camel, got lost in Medinas, and ate more couscous (粗麦粉) than was humanly possible.
I loved the trip. Our friendly guide introduced us to the helpful locals. I made friends with my tour mates and my roommate (which, on a tour, is a huge blessing). I loved being lost in the smell of different spices, and the chaos of millions of people and the dark red of the Sahara were all I wanted them to be.
There were many moments when I felt like a fish out of water and things didn’t go my way. But I take pleasure in those moments because it’s when you are pushed out of your comfort zone that you grow. Morocco lived up to all my expectations, but for some reason, my experience has been hard to express. Why?
One constant in my travels is that of a touchstone, one defining point where the trip all comes together and acts as a prism (三棱镜) for everything the journey represented . In Costa Rica，it was getting lost in a jungle. In Thailand, it was meeting those five people who changed my life.
I’m so inconsistent about Morocco because I lack that touchstone. There’s no “whoa” moment. But I have thousands of little ones - staring at a million stars in the blackness of the desert, discovering new foods with some amazing Australians on my tour, and befriending the fish sellers.
1. What does the author regard as a huge blessing?| A．Going on a guided trip. |
| B．Having a helpful guide. |
| C．Being warmly received by the local people. |
| D．Getting along well with the fellow travelers. |
| A．To prove Morocco lacks the touchstone. |
| B．To show his reliance on the touchstone. |
| C．To compare Morocco with Costa Rica and Thailand. |
| D．To share his experience in Costa Rica and Thailand. |
| A．The lack of big moments. |
| B．The little “whoa” moments. |
| C．Meeting with five Thai people. |
| D．Making friends with Australians. |
| A．Unpleasant travel in Morocco. |
| B．Finding a touchstone on travel. |
| C．Reflection on traveling in Morocco. |
| D．Lack of special moments in Morocco. |
3 . I was with my mom one day as we took a walk while window shopping. We both knew we wouldn't be buying much. I remember I was looking up at the people we passed as we walked. Ladies wore 5-inch heels and bright clothes. Men wore expensive perfumes and creams that wiped away the wrinkles on their faces. An uneasy feeling started to settle in my chest. I could deny it no longer and I was ashamed of my mom.
We were in a high-class neighborhood. We lived in a small, expensive apartment building at the edge of our county. Mom chose to move there because she knew the schools were good. I realized for the first time that we didn't belong there.
I could see the heavy lines around my mom's eyes and mouth. She wore cheap clothes and worm-out shoes. Her eyes were tired from working long hours to make ends meet, and her hair was too gray for her age. She was nothing extraordinary, yet at that moment, she stood out because she was just so plain. I didn't want to be seen with her although there was no one important around to see me anyway. I felt embarrassed about being at her side. We were standing in the middle of a high-end store, and she was holding a sweater.
Mom said, “Anna, this will look good on you. Do you want it?” It Was much too expensive, but I almost thoughtlessly answered “Yes”. Then I took a closer look at the small, tired woman with a big smile and a sweater in her hands, happy to be giving me something so nice. My words died in my throat. Her clothes were worn and old because she spent her money buying me new ones. She looked so tired because she was busy working to provide for me. She didn't wear jewelry or perfumes because she was content with spending what little money she had on me. Suddenly, my mom was beautiful and extraordinarily wonderful in my eyes. I was no longer ashamed of her, but of myself.
“Do you want it?” Mom repeated.
“No, thanks,” I replied.
1. Why did the author describe the passers-by while window-shopping?| A．To stress her mother was plain. |
| B．To show she envied rich people. |
| C．To suggest she was curious about others. |
| D．To indicate she was in an expensive neighborhood. |
| A．Studying at a top school. | B．Going window-shopping. |
| C．Being seen with her mom. | D．Living in a small apartment. |
| A．She was afraid of being blamed by her mom. |
| B．She was too excited to say anything about the sweater. |
| C．She felt her mom was so ordinary that she stopped speaking. |
| D．She failed to speak after realizing her mom's great sacrifices. |
| A．Misunderstanding Mom | B．Refusing Mom's Kindness |
| C．Feeling Ashamed of Mom | D．Going Shopping with Mom |
4 . When it comes to figuring out the link between well-being and access to nature, there are big confusing factors. To begin with, what is psychological(心理的)well-being? The World Health Organization defines(下定义)mental health as “a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can deal with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to his or her community”. That is hard to quantify.
Then there is the question of what “access to nature” means. Some studies measure passive access, or how much green space is available in someone’s local area. Others look at active access, which is the actual exposure a person gets to green space. That makes it difficult to compare results and build a coherent(协调的)picture.
A few researchers have tried to assess what the proper dose(剂量)of nature might be. A 2019 study involving almost 20,000 participants in England concluded that at least 120 minutes a week of recreational(消遣的)nature contact was connected with good health or well-being. The team, led by Mathew White, found that the effect peaks at between 200 and 300 minutes a week, with people reporting no further gain after that.
What exactly this means for you—or any individual—is unclear. As other studies indicate, the mental health benefits a person gets from access to nature are likely to be influenced by many factors, including age, gender, personality features, personal preferences and socio-economic status. Your culture matters too—and, so far, most research into the well-being effects of nature has been done in Western societies.
1. Which of the following might mean mental health according to WHO?| A．Ignoring ones’ own abilities. | B．Complaining about stresses. |
| C．Communicating effectively. | D．Having high productivity. |
| A．50 minutes. | B．150 minutes. | C．250 minutes. | D．350 minutes. |
| A．Studies haven’t provided any results so far. |
| B．Studies haven’t considered all the factors. |
| C．Studies were only done in Western societies. |
| D．Studies have misled the public over the results. |
| A．Why does nature affect health? | B．Who does nature influence? |
| C．How much nature do I need? | D．How does nature benefit people? |
5 . Why did the little boy throw butter out of the window? He wanted to see the butterfly! That’s an old joke you’ve probably heard many times. Butterflies always carry away children.
Most insects do not migrate(迁徙), because their life is not long enough. Except for one particular butterfly species-the monarch butterfly. Each November, monarch butterflies land on an unbelievable cross-country migration from the United States and Canada until they reach Mexico, where they overwinter until it’s time to begin their migration back home in March. The butterflies spend their time in concentrated areas of forest where they stick to the branches of trees, forming beautiful vast crowds. Monarchs are a truly important species-and they’re in danger.
Just like living things, plants, insects or animals on the planet, monarchs play a vital role in the survival of our ecosystems. Butterflies-just like bees, also in great danger-help pollinate(授粉) plants, making them a significant contributor to crop growth and food production. They also serve as a food source to birds and other animals. The population of monarch butterflies has dropped a lot over the past few decades—a destructive 96. 5 percent. This has placed monarchs in danger of moving toward dying out. Several causes have contributed to the monarch’s decline. Climate change, loss of reproductive homes, and deforestation in Mexico’s forests where monarchs overwinter have all affected the butterfly’s migration pattern and home. But the most significant danger is the decline in milkweed, the plant where monarchs lay their eggs, and that serves as the only food source for caterpillars(幼虫). Much of the milkweed decline is due to agricultural practices that either remove this vital plant or destroy it through pesticides(农药).
1. Why do monarch butterflies move to Mexico?| A．To survive the cold weather. | B．To escape from being hunted. |
| C．To take advantage of the flowers there. | D．To cooperate with the bees there. |
| A．They help birds to catch their food. | B．They produce seeds for wild plants. |
| C．They contribute to crop production. | D．They bring food to other animals. |
| A．Monarch Butterflies Migrate | B．Butterflies Attract Children |
| C．Fight to Save Monarch Butterflies | D．Monarch Butterflies Are in Danger |
| A．Why monarch butterflies decline. |
| B．How monarch butterflies can be saved. |
| C．How monarch butterflies reproduce. |
| D．Why monarch butterflies migrate. |
6 . Today, we study literature from a young age—learning about our histories, faraway worlds and influential people. Whether we notice or not, these stories—both fiction and non-fiction—guide us throughout our lives. They allow us to see the world through another’s eyes, open up our world and teach us about every subject known to man.
Despite their importance, many people throw out their old books—laying waste the wisdom that lies on each page. In an effort to save this knowledge and share it with those less fortunate, a garbage man in, Bogota, Colombia has been saving thrown-away books for 20 years and sharing them with those in need.
“I hated to see all the books in the dustbins of wealthier neighborhoods. So I started to rescue them,’’ said Gutierrez. The first book he found was a copy of the classic novel Anna Karenina. The Tolstoy book was later joined by The Little Prince, Sophie's World, The Iliad and a number of novels. Today, he has collected around 25,000 books.
His growing collection didn’t go unnoticed. Gutierrez’s neighbors were soon borrowing the books to help with their children’s homework. “There was a lack of them in our neighborhood, so we started to help,”said Gutierrez.
The ground floor of Gutierrez’s home is now filled with books, from floor to ceiling. Over spilling with books, he opened it up as a free library, with the help of his wife Luz Gutierrez and their three children.
Word eventually spread around about Gutierrez and his books. Most of the books now come from donations. He now travels around the country, delivering free books to poor and remote districts. The library, named “The Strength of Words", has donated books to some 235 schools, institutions and community libraries across Colombia.
1. How does the author introduce the topic of the text?| A．By stating some facts. |
| B．By contradicting a theory. |
| C．By describing a scene. |
| D．By referring to documents. |
| A．A heavy financial burden. |
| B．A companion in difficult times. |
| C．The beginning of his charity campaign. |
| D．One of his greatest achievements in life. |
| A．A good book is a light to the soul. |
| B．A bad beginning makes a bad ending. |
| C．Actions speak louder than words. |
| D．One man's garbage is another man' s treasure. |
| A．Tolstoy books recovered from dustbins. |
| B．Literature now appeals to garbage collectors. |
| C．Free libraries popular with neighborhood kids. |
| D．Garbage man builds a library from rescued books. |
7 . If you've been dreaming of having an electric car, but can't yet afford to buy one, you can start at a low price, really low. Changli, the world's cheapest electric car, can be ordered online and sent to your door for just $ 930.
Designed and produced by Chinese maker Changzhou Xili Car Industry, Changli, and Changli Nemeca is a small electric car that has got lots of attention online after being advertised as the world's most affordable electric car. Calling this thing a car is kind of stretching it a bit, as its electric motor can only produce 1.16 horsepower, and it has a top speed of only 30. km/h. Still, it does come with some interesting features, like air-conditioning, independent suspension, heater, radio and even reverse-view camera. But the most impressive thing about Changli in my opinion, is that you can have it sent to your doorstep.
Anyone who can just order Changli Nemeca online can have it mailed to them without having to pay extra money to the dealership. Changli measures 2.5 meters long, 1.5 meter wide, and 1.8 meters high, weighs 323 kilograms and can carry up to 30 kilograms.
The two-seat version starts at $ 930($ 1,200 with larger batteries), but you can choose a three-seat version as well, which will cost you $ 1,50. The battery of the small electric car is between 40 and 10 kilometers per charge and the batteries take between 7 and 10 hours to charge.
While Changli Nemeca won't be going head to head with other electric cars anytime soon it's still an amazing piece of machinery for the price. Where else are you going to find full functional electric cars that you can have mailed to your door.
1. Why does the author think Changli electric car is the most impressive?| A．Because of its design. | B．Because it's convenient. |
| C．Because it's light and cheap. | D．Because of its appearance. |
| A．Its producer. | B．Its users. | C．Its production. | D．Its features. |
| A．By making comparisons. | B．By listing numbers. |
| C．By giving examples. | D．By reasoning. |
| A．Optimistic. | B．Pessimistic. | C．Uncertain. | D．Hopeless. |
8 . How do you turn “dumb” headphones into smart ones? Rutgers engineers have invented a cheap and easy way by transforming headphones into sensors that can be plugged into (插入) smartphones, identify their users monitor their heart rates and perform other services.
Their invention, called HeadFi, is based on a small plug-in headphone adapter that turns a regular headphone into a sensing device (装置). Unlike smart headphones, regular headphones lack sensors. HeadFi would allow users to avoid having to buy a new pair of smart headphones with sensors to enjoy sensing features.
“HeadFi could turn hundreds of millions of existing, regular headphones worldwide into intelligent ones with a simple upgrade (升级),” said Xiaoran Fan, a HeadFi primary inventor.
A Rutgers-led paper on the invention, which results in "earable intelligence", will be formally published in October at MobiCom 2021, the top international conference on mobile computing and mobile and wireless networking.
Headphones are among the most popular wearable devices worldwide and they continue to become; more intelligent as new functions appear, such as touch-based gesture control, the paper notes. Such functions usually rely on aiding sensors, such as accelerometers, gyroscopes and microphones that are available on many smart headphones.
HeadFi turns the two drivers already inside all headphones into a versatile (多功能的) sensor, and it works by connecting headphones to a pairing device, such as a smartphone. It doesn't require adding aiding sensors and avoids changes to headphone hardware or the need to customize headphones, both of which may increase their weight and size. By plugging into HeadFi, a converted headphone can perform sensing tasks and play music at the same time.
The engineers conducted experiments with 53 volunteers using 54 pairs of headphones with prices ranging from $2. 99 to $15 ,000. HeadFi can achieve 97. 2 percent to 99. 5 percent accuracy on user identification , 96. 8 percent to 99. 2 percent on heart rate monitoring and 97. 7 percent to 99. 3 percent on gesture recognition.
1. What does Xiaoran Fan think of HeadFi?| A．Secure to operate. | B．Simple to use. |
| C．Easy to substitute. | D．Convenient to store. |
| A．It can't work with headphones alone. |
| B．It actually functions as a versatile sensor. |
| C．It makes headphones larger and heavier than usual. |
| D．It doesn't work when headphones are playing music. |
| A．the various functions of HeadFi | B．the wide popularity of headphones |
| C．the great complexity of headphones | D．the excellent performance of HeadFi |
| A．How to Use Headphones Appropriately |
| B．Headphones Can Be Upgraded Instantly |
| C．How to Make Regular Headphones Intelligent |
| D．New Uses Have Been Found in Headphones |
9 . A new study shows that the more people read any kind of fiction, the better their language skills are likely to be. The piece was written by Sandra Martin-Chang, professor of education, and PhD student Stephanie Kozak. They found that people who enjoyed reading fiction at leisure (休闲) and those who identified themselves as readers scored higher on language tests, whereas those who read to access specific information scored more poorly on the same tests.
As leisure reading declines as a pastime for younger adults especially, Martin-Chang says emphasizing the fun aspect of it can draw them back to novels while at the same time improving their verbal abilities.
Martin-Chang and Kozak used a scale called the Predictors of Leisure Reading ( PoLR) to investigate reading behavior ( motivations, obstacles, attitudes and interests). They then examined how well the PoLR predicted the language skills o£ 200 undergraduate students, with all data gathered at York University. The researchers note that the age range of the subjects in the study is of key interest. In early adulthood, reading becomes self-directed rather than imposed by others, which makes this a key time to develop one's own reading habits. This population is also rather understudied, with most existing research focusing far more on children.
The researchers administered a series of measures over two separate half-hour sessions. First, the volunteers completed the 48-question PoLR scale measuring various reading factors. They were then given language tests similar to those found in the SAT and a measure of reading habits called the Author Recognition Test. Those who scored higher read more and have better verbal abilities than those who scored lower. After analyzing the data, the researchers concluded that reading enjoyment, positive attitudes and deeply established interests predicted" better verbal abilities and that they were more strongly associated with exposure to fiction than non-fiction.
Besides having better verbal abilities, lifelong readers are known to be more understanding, more empathetic （同感的），less prejudiced, to attain higher socioeconomic status and even to live longer, healthier live than non — readers. Teachers and parents can inspire a love of reading by letting young people read what they want, without guilt or shame.
1. According to the new study, people's language skills are mainly influenced by their reading| A．environments | B．speeds | C．motivations | D．frequencies |
| A．approved | B．recommended | C．forced | D．evaluated |
| A．By making data analysis. | B．By conducting wide surveys. |
| C．By consulting previous studies. | D．By making reasonable assumptions. |
| A．Great pleasure of reading. | B．Various benefits of reading. |
| C．Ways to be a lifelong reader. | D．Methods of developing reading skills. |
10 . Over eight million acres of land in the US were scorched in 2020. We've lost more trees faster than nature or humans can regenerate. So we've got to have better tools to be able to reforest faster.
A Seattle—based company called DroneSeed thinks that tool could be, as its name suggests, automated seed dropping drones, which means multiple drones operating to perform a task at the same time.
Typically, reintroducing tree growth is a slow, manual process that can take up to three years. It requires growing young trees in a nursery that tree planters plant by hand. And they're using a shovel and they burn the caloric equivalent of running two marathons every day. But automated drones can cover a lot more ground and get the job done faster.
Grant Canary, DroneSeed CEO, says in groups of five, the drones can cover up to 50 acres in a day compared to about two acres by human. And he says the speed and automation can save landowners 30 to 50 percent of their reforestation costs. Eight- foot- long drones take off on pre-programmed routes carrying loads of nearly 60 pounds. They zip up and down those mountainsides, distribute seed vessels in very targeted, precise locations and make reforestation workable. But they don't drop raw seeds. Instead, Drone Seed has developed seed vessels that include a patent mixture of every thing a seed needs to survive, like fertilizers, nutrients and natural pest deterrents.
Unlike seedlings, they don't need to be buried in the ground. The vessel is a dry fiber so it absorbs moisture, soaking up and expanding so that helps it avoid drying out, which is one of the biggest causes of seed mortality.
Aerial seeding is not a new idea. But historically, raw seeds are dropped and can land in poor soil. So Drone Seed uses advanced laser mapping to identify the best locations for their seed drops, targeting healthy soil and other ideal conditions. Those are the areas that are not gravel. They don't have high competitive vegetation and so the seeds themselves are going to grow better.
1. What's the fourth paragraph mainly about?| A．The cost-reduction of planting trees. | B．The importance of reforestation. |
| C．The disadvantages of artificial tree planting. | D．The advantages of planting trees by drones. |
| A．To serve as nurseries for seedlings to grow healthily. |
| B．To prevent the young trees from rolling down hill sides. |
| C．To keep the seedlings from being damaged when landing. |
| D．To help the drones determine locations of delivery accurately. |
| A．Drones will completely replace humans. | B．They will speed up reforestation. |
| C．The diversity of forest species will increase. | D．Forest fires will be greatly reduced. |
| A．Artificial planting, slow but effective. | B．Aerial seeding, new and workable. |
| C．Drone seeding, productive and promising. | D．Forests resources, significant but fragile. |
