1 . 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. |
2 . An 85-year-old primary school constructed in 1935 in Shanghai has been lifted off the ground in its entirety and relocated using new technology called the “walking machine.” The project marks the first time this “walking machine” method has been used in Shanghai to relocate a historical building.
Urbanization（都市化）has continued to significantly threaten architectural heritage. In the capital Beijing, for instance, more than 1,000 acres of its historic hutongs and traditional courtyard homes were destroyed between 1990 and 2010.
In the early 2000s, cities including Nanjing and Bejjing-due to the critics’ protest about the loss of old neighborhoods-drew up long-term plans to preserve what was left of their historic sites, with protections introduced to safeguard buildings and restrict developers.
These conservation efforts have taken different forms. In Beijing, a near-ruined temple was transformed into a restaurant and gallery, while in Nanjing, a cinema from the 1930s was restored to its original form, with some additions providing it for modern use. In 2019, Shanghai welcomed Tank Shanghai, an arts center built in renovated（重修的）oil tanks.
“Relocation is not the first choice, but better than destroying,” said Lan, the Shanghai primary school’s project supervisor. “I’d rather not touch the historical buildings at all.” Building relocations he said however, are “a workable option.” “The central government is putting more emphasis on the protection of historical buildings. I’m happy to see that progress in recent years.”
Shanghai has arguably been China’s most progressive city when it comes to heritage preservation. The survival of a number of 1930s buildings and 19th-century “shikumen” （or “stone gate”） house have offered examples of how to give old buildings new life.
“We have to preserve the historical building no matter what, ” Lan said. “The relocation has challenges, but in general, it is cheaper than destroying and then rebuilding something in a new location.”
1. How did cities respond to the loss of historical sites?| A．They criticized the developers. | B．They rebuilt the historic hutongs. |
| C．They ended the significant threat. | D．They proposed the protection project. |
| A．All original form. | B．A new addition. | C．A cinema. | D．A temple. |
| A．Provide strong evidence. | B．Introduce different opinions. |
| C．Summarize previous paragraphs. | D．Add some background information. |
| A．Walking Machine: a New Technology | B．Rebuilding: a New Option for Relics |
| C．Old Building Torn down for Modern Use | D．Historical Site “Walks” to New Life |
3 . Ian McKenna was in third grade when he learned that many kids at his Austin school weren't getting enough to eat at home. He wanted to help, but local volunteer organizations turned him away, saying he was too young. So he decided to find his own solution. For years, he had been gardening with his mother, and they often distributed their extra vegetables to the neighbors. “Why not give the produce to a soup kitchen? Then I thought, I'm good at gardening," says McKenna, now 16. “Why not plant a garden at school, so that kids in need could take food home?"
McKenna persuaded his school to set aside space for a garden; then he asked the community for donations of seeds and equipment. Other students donated their time. Within months, McKenna's garden was producing lettuces, tomatoes, cucumbers and squash for students and their families. Now, seven years later, McKenna's Giving Garden project has expanded to five area schools in addition to his own backyard garden, and he has provided organic produce, enough for 25,000 meals, to Austin families.
For most of his gardening activities, McKenna wears the same T-shirt in different colors, with his personal motto on it: BE A GOOD HUMAN. To him, that means helping in any way you can, no matter what your age. "Even a smile might change someone's life," he says. “It lets them know that they are important. It can make their day."
When COVID-19 hit the U.S., McKenna redoubled his efforts, cooking up to 100 meals to distribute to the hungry on the weekends. When social distancing meant that volunteers couldn't work on community garden plots, he started offering online classes and a gardening hotline so families could grow at home. While gardening is his core focus, McKenna says he is always looking for new ways to help the hungry.
1. What caused Ian's decision to help the kids in his own way?| A．Being rejected by volunteer groups. | B．Being good at gardening. |
| C．A soup kitchen's support. | D．His mother's suggestions. |
| A．It helps students only. | B．It was started with joint efforts. |
| C．It is funded by schools. | D．It earns great profits every year. |
| A．Where there is a will, there is a way. | B．A small gesture makes a difference. |
| C．One good turn deserves another. | D．Love can break all the barriers. |
| A．Ian McKenna, Growing a Food Bank |
| B．Ian Mckenna, an Experienced Gardener |
| C．Giving Garden Project, an Impossible Mission |
| D．Giving Garden Project, a Universal Solution |
4 . Jean was a single mother with a young son. She taught the first grade and worked very hard. She drove a small old car. One August, the teachers returned from a summer break to see Jean drive up to school with three children. The two girls were Jean’s former students who had lost their parents. They did not want to enter a foster care center. They turned to Jean-their first grade teacher-for help. Though she and her son lived in a small house, Jean took the girls in.
During lunch, while other teachers shared life stories, Jean never complained about her new responsibilities. She did, however, speak about her car. With three children to transport, the car was too small and slow. It even burned engine oil. Jean needed something new. However, she couldn’t buy one with three children in her home.
As a good friend, I listened to her concerns. At that time, I did not have much money. But I wanted to help Jean buy a car. An idea hit me when I watched a TV show.
One day, Jean received an invitation to a TV show. She was surprised but decided to attend it. Midway through the show the host called Jean to the stage. He explained he had received a letter, knowing her need for a new car. The audience listened to the details of Jean’s story and were all moved. Then the host said that Jean would receive a new car for her family. Cheers filled the studio and Jean shook with disbelief.
Six hundred miles away, I watched the joy of it all from the television in my living room. Jean’s big heart taught me many lessons that year. I did nothing but share her story.
1. What can we infer about Jean according to the first paragraph?| A．She was a driver. |
| B．She was very kind-hearted. |
| C．She knew the girls’ parents. |
| D．She wanted to sell her small car. |
| A．She found it hard to raise kids alone. |
| B．She couldn’t afford to buy a new car. |
| C．She couldn’t spare more time for her students. |
| D．She had no time to transport her kids to school. |
| A．The author turned to the show for help. |
| B．The school rewarded her for her hard work. |
| C．The school wanted to make her story known. |
| D．The show picked some single mothers to report randomly. |
| A．A Letter from My Friend |
| B．Helping My Friend Get a Car |
| C．Inviting My Friend to a Show |
| D．A Single Mother with Three Kids |
5 . The transatlantic car carrier, Oceanbird, is being designed by Wallenius Marine, a Swedish shipbuilder,with support from the Swedish government.
With a capacity(容量) of 7,000 vehicles, the 650 foot-long vessel will have a similar size to ordinary car carriers, but it will look totally different. The ship will have five “wing sails”, with each being 260 feet tall. These sails are capable of turning 360 degrees, and it can be shortened to 195 feet in order to pass under bridges or withstand rough weather.
Although the general theory of wing sails is not new, designing the Oceanbird’s sails has been a challenge, says Mikael Razola, the research project manager for Oceanbird. “That’s because these are the tallest sails that have ever been constructed. The top of the sails will be more than 100 meters above the water surface. At such a height, the wind direction and speed change a lot,” says Razola.
To better understand the atmospheric conditions(大气条件) at this height, Wallenius put sensors on top of its existing vessels to gather data of wind. “All of this information has helped us make the most of the power available in the wind and design an efficient wing vessel,” says Razola.
With its special sails, Oceanbird will outperform conventional car carriers in the aspect of exhaust emission. Nowadays, the shipping industry is under pressure to reduce emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases. According to the International Maritime Organization, the UN body that regulates global shipping, shipping accounted for 2. 89% of global manmade greenhouse gas emissions in 2018. And in the same year, this organization introduced a mandatory( 强 制 的 ) 50% reduction of total annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Oceanbird is designed to exceed(超过) the target---Wallenious said the ship would emit 90% less CO2 than other car carriers.
With a stop speed of about 10 knots, Oceanbird will be slower than standard car carriers, which can travel at 17 knots. It will take around 12 days, instead of the standard seven to cross the Atlantic. “This long journey will require some scheduling changes as well as acceptance from carmakers,” said Razola. “But the response so far has been very positive. ”
Researchers in Wallenious have built a 7-meter model of Oceanbird which will sail in Stockholm’s archipelago to gather data that will help finalize the ship’s design. “It will take around three years to launch the full-size version. Our ambition is to see Oceanbird sailing in 2024,” Razola said.
1. What is Paragraph 2 mainly about?| A．The design of Oceanbird. |
| B．The capacity of Oceanbird. |
| C．The operating method of wing sails. |
| D．The sailing conditions for car carriers. |
| A．The lack of financial support. | B．The lack of previous theories. |
| C．The wind conditions at different heights. | D．The tough weather on the Atlantic Ocean. |
| A．Increase the sailing speed. |
| B．Arrange a scientific sailing schedule. |
| C．Handle the conflicts between carmakers. |
| D．Use standard ships instead of Oceanbird |
| A．Giant and inconvenient. |
| B．Low-cost but inefficient. |
| C．High-capacity and high-speed. |
| D．Well-designed and environment-friendly. |
6 . When you're struggling to finish a term paper, preparing a big presentation or studying for final exams, sleep might be the first thing you sacrifice so you have time to get all the work done. To make up for it , you might start drinking coffee to help you study late into the night. But there's bad news if you're trying to keep that kind of schedule for more than a couple of days.
"We were particularly surprised that the performance advantage invested by two daily 200-milligram doses (剂量)of caffeine was lost after lack of sleep for three nights, " lead author Tracy Jill Doty said in a statement. "These results are important, because caffeine is widely used to deal with performance decline following periods of lack of sleep. The data from this study suggests that the same effective daily dose of caffeine is unable to prevent performance decline over many days of lack of sleep. "
The sample size was very small (48 people), so we can't think everyone will respond the same way. Those 48 people slept five hours per night for five nights straight. They got a caffeine dose equal to a large cup of coffee around 8 am and another around 12 pm each day. For the first two days, the people who got caffeine were performing better on attention and reaction tests. But by the third day, the caffeine was no longer helping them perform any better than the people who didn't get any caffeine.
Increasing the caffeine dose may have changed that. "But the more caffeine you consume, the more negative side affects you feel," Doty said. "This work goes along with lots of other work showing that the negative effects of lacking sleep are difficult to overcome. This is true even with a heavy daily dose of caffeine.
1. Who will be the intended reader of the text?| A．Educators. | B．Students. |
| C．Adults. | D．Officials. |
| A．By listing examples. |
| B．By reasoning. |
| C．By analyzing results |
| D．By arguing |
| A．Caffeine fails to perform better over an extended time. |
| B．Increasing caffeine can promote one's performance. |
| C．Drinking too much coffee might lead to sleep loss. |
| D．Caffeine doesn't prevent performance decline at all. |
| A．Coffee: Sleep Loss. |
| B．Coffee: Performance Increase. |
| C．Enough Sleep Makes Coffee Work. |
| D．The More Coffee, the Worse Effects. |
