1 . Plants: we eat them, juice them-and now it seems we can mine them too!

After a successful experiment on the island of Borneo, the botany professor Alan Baker and a group of researchers want to introduce phytomining (harvesting minerals from plants) as a better, partial substitute for traditional mining.

Phytomining, also known as agromining, means collecting metals from live plants. However, this can only be done with a group of plants known as "hyperaccumulators". There are around 700 identified types worldwide, and what makes these hyperaccumulators special is that they naturally attract and absorb minerals through their roots-metals poisonous to other plants-and then store huge, pure concentrations of these minerals in their bodies. The metals can then be extracted from the plants' sap(汁;液), oil, or sometimes even live tissue.

Baker and his colleagues see a lot of potential in phytomining. Not only can it help meet the growing global demand for metals, but is a way of undoing some of that damage to the environment by traditional mining.

One of the biggest problems with traditional mining is that it pollutes the surrounding area. Phytomining can extract metal waste, plus planting the hyperaccumulators would regrow the deforested areas caused by mining operations. Aside from this, if phytomining is able to replace part of traditional mining, then there would be fewer instances of bad mining practices like abandoned mines, which pollute the nearby waters. Also, since phytomining provides metals that are already naturally pure, there is no need to use huge amounts of energy to purify the ore(矿石).

Phytomining has its drawbacks. Harvesting plants on a large scale is expensive today, compared to traditional mining. Besides, plants can be wiped out by diseases or unexpected weather conditions.

However, there are many reasons to consider phytomining. After all, we need to make sure that our planet can keep up and sustainable practices like phytomining give us the hope that our advancement doesn't mean sacrificing Mother Earth.

1. What makes hyperaccumulators different from other plants?

A．The sap poisonous to other plants.

B．The ability to take in and store minerals.

C．The oil extracted from live plant tissue.

D．The concentrations of minerals in their bodies.

2. What is the advantage of phytomining?

A．It can stop deforestation.

B．It may reduce the desertedmines.

C．It uses clean energy to purify the ore.

D．It can't be destroyed by diseases.

3. What is the author's attitude toward phytomining?

A．Pessimistic.

B．Indifferent.

C．Optimistic.

D．Skeptical.

4. What can be the best title for the text?

A．Metals From Plants.

B．The Future of Phytomining.

C．What Are Hyperaccumulators?

D．Benefits of Phytomining.

2 . Tricia Hurt, her husband Brian, and their son Brady were out enjoying a fishing adventure on Marsh-Miller Lake in Wisconsin when they found a baby bear in huge suffering. According to the locals in the area, the little bear had been running on land with a plastic tub on his head for three to four days, but he somehow got into the water, worsening his condition.

The bear could be seen swimming in fear and shifting away from the family as they edged the boat closer. He was terrified, but the tub was quickly filled with water and he was in danger of drowning.

"Go a little faster, Brady. Get in front of him," Tricia instructed her son to drive the boat closer to the animal. Brian got close to the bear and tried to pull the tub out, but it had become too slippery. Brian lost his control, but he wasn't discouraged because the bear's ears had managed to come loose. That meant the plastic tub wasn't stuck and he just had to get closer.

The rescue lasted about five minutes and they made several attempts before the tub finally came off. Brady made the boat circle around the bear and his father gave one last try that set the animal free. Once the tub came off, the bear was able to swim easily to the shore and catch a much-needed break.

The family was extremely relieved as Tricia called out to the swimming animal, "Swim happily.''

"We were so excited! We did our good deed for the day. It felt good to help the poor bear. You don't like to see animals struggle." Tricia later said in an interview.

When the Hurts returned to their resort, everyone offered their gratitude. Tracy, a native, said, "No one else had been able to help the bear for several days as it struggled with the deadly tub on its head. We need more people like the Hurts!"

1. What happened to the bear?

A．He was drowned in the lake.

B．He was hurt by hunters.

C．He got a tub on his head.

D．He got trapped by the locals.

2. Who pulled out the tub?

A．Tracy.

B．Tricia.

C．Brady.

D．Brian.

3. Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A．A Family Outing-Timely Rescue.

B．Tubs Banned-Animals Saved.

C．Never Too Late to Save Animals.

D．An Exciting Family Adventure.

3 . It’s almost spring, the time of year when the change in seasons could lead to some pretty fascinating cloud activity in the sky. NASA and the GLOBE Program are inviting you to take part in a citizen science cloud observation challenge.

The GLOBE Program is an international science and education program providing the public with the opportunity to participate in the scientific process. From March 15 through April 15, citizen scientists can make up to 10 cloud observations per day using the GLOBE Observer app or one of the other data entry options (for trained GLOBE members). Challenge participants with the most observations will be congratulated by a NASA scientist in a video posted on the GLOBE Program’s website and social media.

“The GLOBE Program is offering this challenge to show how important it is to NASA to have citizen scientist observations from ground up,” said Marile Colon Robles, lead for the GLOBE Clouds team at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.

Researchers use and value this citizen science cloud data because it helps confirm data from Earth-observing instruments.

Scientists at Langley work with a set of six instruments known as the Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES). Even though CERES’ instruments use advanced technology, it is not always easy for researchers to positively identify all types of clouds in their images.

For example, it can be difficult to tell thin, wispy cirrus clouds (细小的卷云) from snow, since both are cold and bright; it is even more so when cirrus clouds are above a surface with patchy snow (片状雪) or snow cover. One solution is to look at satellite images from a particular area and compare them to data submitted by citizen scientists on the ground.

“Looking at what an observer recorded as clouds and looking at their surface observations really helps us better understand the images that were matched from the satellite,” said Colon Robles.

You don’t have to be a cloud-gazing professional to participate. For those who want to be part of the challenge but don’t have a lot of experience identifying clouds, Colon Robles offers the following advice: “Just go outside. The more clouds you observe, the more comfortable you’ll be collecting data.”

1. What does the author intend to do in paragraph 1?

A．Provide background information.

B．Present an argument.

C．Attract readers’ attention.

D．Offer advice to readers.

2. Why do researchers launch the cloud observation challenge?

A．The GLOBE Program is badly short of hands.

B．The technology CERES uses is not advanced.

C．Cirrus clouds are difficult to identify with snow cover.

D．Scientists can compare data from different instruments.

3. What can we learn from the passage?

A．Citizen observers can only submit data by means of an app.

B．Observers with the most observations will receive a special honor.

C．Observations from the ground are not as valuable as satellite images.

D．The data collected by citizen scientists will be posted on social media.

4. Which is the best title for the passage?

A．NASA to Employ New Members.

B．Cloud Activities Bring a New Challenge.

C．Scientists to Teach You to Observe Clouds.

D．Citizens Gain Experience through Observation.

4 . Every superhero, no matter how small, needs a cape. That was Robyn Rosenberger’s motivation when she started sewing superhero capes for kids with cancer, heart defects, and other serious diseases. It all began when she was making a cape as a birthday present for her nephew. Rosenberger heard of a girl named Brenna who was battling a potentially deadly skin condition called harlequin ichthyosis. Anyone suffering from what she was going through had to be tough. “I had an aha moment (顿悟),” Rosenberger says. “Brenna was a superhero! She needed a cape.” So Rosenberger sent her one, and Brenna’s mother was delighted.

Rosenberger found ten more kids online and sent out ten more capes. Before long, she quit her job at a software company to dedicate herself full time to tinysuperheroes.com, a website where people can buy hand-made capes for brave kids facing illness and disability.

Since 2013, Rosenberger and her small paid staff have sent more than 12,000 handmade capes to kids in all 50 states and 15 other countries. The capes come in pink, blue, purple, or red and can be decorated with the child’s initials or specialized patches, including a heart, a rocket, or a lightning bolt. One recipient was eight-month-old Gabe, who was born with a cleft palate (腭裂), which causes distinct facial features. Rosenberger sent him a red cape with a bright yellow G in the center. It was a hit.

Gabe is now a fixture on the company’s social media posts. “The Tiny Superhero community has been a wonderful connection to have,” says Gabe’s mom, Kate Glocke. In fact, two years later, “We still bring Gabe’s cape with us to every hospital appointment.”

1. Rosenberger started making capes because she _______.

A．wanted to set a good example to sick kids

B．hoped to encourage kids with serious diseases

C．aimed to cure the kids with serious diseases

D．made an attempt to make money online

2. Which word can best describe Rosenberger?

A．Optimistic.	B．Independent.
C．Diligent.	D．Caring.

3. Which of the following capes are NOT available?

A．Purple capes with the child’s initials.

B．Pink capes with the child’s photo.

C．Red capes with a heart-shaped patch.

D．Blue capes with a patch shaped like a rocket.

4. In which column of the newspaper are you likely to read the story?

A．Cover Story.	B．Book Review.
C．Medical Research.	D．Campus Life.

9 . Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the U. S. Department of Homeland Security recommends having at least a two - week supply of water and food.

Potatoes

Shelf life ： 2 to 5 weeks if stored in a cool, dry, dark place

Yukon Gold, red, and fingerling potatoes will last from two to three weeks. Larger white potatoes can last for three to five weeks. Sweet potatoes have about the same shelf life. Don't store them next to onions, however. The two might go together well in cooking, but raw, each gives off gases and moisture that might cause the other to spoil faster.

Tea

※Shelf life： 6 to 12 months past "sell - by" date

Dried tea leaves, whether loose (in a sealed container) or in teabags (in an unopened box) can easily last a year or more if they' re not subjected to damp or humidity. However, the tea does tend to lose flavor over time.

Peanuts

● Shelf life ： 1 to 2 months

Peanuts in their shell, especially when kept cool and dry, are perfectly happy in the cupboard for as long as two months.

Canned fruits and vegetables

● Shelf life ： 1 to 2 years past "sell - by” date

Canning is an extremely efficient means of preserving food. Generally speaking, if canned foods aren't subjected to extreme heat, their contents should stay good for two years or more. Be aware, however, of dented cans or those with swollen tops, which may indicate the presence of bacteria inside.

1. Which can go bad faster if stored with onions?

A．Potatoes.	B．Tea.
C．Peanuts.	D．Canned fruits and vegetables.

2. What is special about tea?

A．The flavor of tea can always remain the same.

B．Tea leaves are better to be preserved in an open jar.

C．Tea leaves should be kept away from the state of being wet.

D．The maximum length of time that tea can be stored is 6 months.

3. What may shorten the "sell - by” date of canned foods ?

A．Shapes of cans.	B．Categories of foods.
C．Decline of the temperature.	D．Exposure to high temperature.

10 . A researching team analyzed data from long-running studies conducted in Brazil and South Africa to assess whether children exposed to early adversities（逆境）, such as extreme poverty, low birth weight, and pre-term birth, could reach their full learning potential by experiencing responsive caregiving and opportunities to learn in their home. They found that early life adversities matter throughout life. Teenagers who had been exposed to multiple adversities early in life had lower IQ scores, were more likely to have difficulties adjusting socially and psychologically, and achieved a lower physical height compared to teenagers exposed to fewer adversities. They also found that being raised in a nurturing（培育）environment could significantly counteract the negative effect of early adversities on IQ and help children achieve their full potential of intelligence.

Globally, more than 250 million children younger than 5 years are at risk of not reaching their developmental potential because of adversities that co-occur early in life and worsen with age. In the US, almost one in five children are raised in poverty and 15 percent do not complete high school. Exposing these children to a nurturing environment, whether at home or in daycare or pre-school settings, can lead to cognitive（认知的）benefits that last into teenage and beyond.

Parents should provide nurturing environments, which include interacting with young children in a positive way such as reading children's books from the library, singing songs together, and playing games with numbers and letters. Children who join in age-matched housework like picking up toys and clearing the table gain skills and feel good about helping. Get children involved in friendly activities as much as possible rather than park them in front of a screen. Children love to learn and in a nurturing environment, they can grow into teenagers and adults with the abilities to care for themselves, their families, and their communities.

1. What is the purpose of the study?

A．To explore the ways of improving children's IQ.

B．To discover what adversities children can suffer.

C．To compare IQ of children from all over the world.

D．To find out how to deal with adversities' effects on IQ.

2. What does the underlined word "counteract" in paragraph 1 mean?

A．Weaken.

B．Target.

C．Enhance.

D．Simplify.

3. What does the author advise parents to do with children affected by early adversities?

A．Create the best possible living environment.

B．Encourage kids to play as much as possible.

C．Try to provide a better nurturing environment.

D．Teach kids to adjust physically and psychologically.

4. Which is the best title for the text?

A．Early Adversities and IQ

B．The Best Nurturing Environment

C．The Intellectual Potential of Children

D．Cognitive Benefits from Adversities