1 . Composite image of Europe and North Africa at night, 2016. Credit: NASA Earth Observatory images by Joshua Stevens, using Suomi NPP VIIRS data from Miguel Román, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. Artificial light is often seen as a sign of progress: the march of civilization shines a light in the dark; it takes back the night; it illuminates. But a chorus of scientists and advocates argues that unnaturally bright nights are bad not just for astronomers but also for nocturnal (夜间活动的) animals and even for human health.
Now research shows the night is getting even brighter. From 2012 to 2016 the earth’s artificially lit area expanded by an estimated 2.2 percent a year (map), according to a study published last November in Science Advances. Even that increase may understate the problem, however. The measurement excludes light from most of the energy-efficient LED lamps that have been replacing sodium-vapor technology in cities all over the world, says lead study author Christopher Kyba, a postdoctoral researcher at the German Research Center for Geosciences in Potsdam.
The new data came from a NASA satellite instrument called the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS). It can measure long-wavelengths of light, such as those produced by traditional yellow-and-orange sodium-vapor street lamps. But VIIRS cannot see the short-wavelength blue light produced by white LEDs. This light has been shown to disrupt human sleep cycles and nocturnal animals’ behavior.
Credit: Mapping Specialists; Source: “Artificially Lit Surface of Earth at Night Increasing in Radiance and Extent,” by Christopher C. M. Kyba et al., in Science Advances, Vol. 3, No. 11, Article No. E1701528; November 22, 2017.
The team believes the ongoing switch to LEDs caused already bright countries such as Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the U.S. To register as having stable levels of illumination in the VIIRS data. In contrast, most nations in South America, Africa and Asia brightened, suggesting increases in the use of traditional lighting. Australia actually appeared to lose lit area—but the researchers say that is because wildfires skewed the data.
“The fact that VIIRS finds an increase (in many countries), despite its blindness in the part of the spectrum that increased more, is very sad,” says FabioFalchi, a researcher at Italy’s Light Pollution Science and Technology Institute, who did not participate in the study. In 2016 Falchi, along with Kyba and several other members of his research team, published a global atlas of artificial lighting that showed one third of the world’s population currently lives under skies too bright to see the Milky Way at night.
The data also cast doubt on the idea that the LED lighting revolution will lead to energy cost savings. Between 2012 and 2016 the median nation pumped out 15 percent more long-wavelength light as its GDP increased by 13 percent. And overall, countries’ total light production correlated with their GDP. In other words, Kyba says, “we buy as much light as we are willing to spend money on.”
1. Which is not true about the spread of lit areas?| A．Lit area expanded by an estimated 2.2 percent a year. |
| B．Artificial light is often seen as a sign of progress. |
| C．The increase in GDP is due to the increase in light. |
| D．It is bad for nocturnal animals and even for human health. |
| A．It is a kind of NASA satellite device. |
| B．It can record and analyze long-wavelength light. |
| C．The blue light generated by white LEDs can disrupt human sleep cycles. |
| D．VIIRS has found an increase of traditional lighting in lots of nations. |
2 . Job for You
Family Alliance Meal Delivery Family Alliance is looking for people who can deliver hot Chinese meals one to two times a week for people with disabilities in north suburban Fairfield County. All applicants must have a driver’s license and access to a car. Gas will be covered for each delivery. Working hours: 10 a.m. To 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays For more information, contact Charles Chen at cchen@famd.com Or call 740-6668988 | Lancaster Design We provide full furnishings, like donated kitchen equipment and furniture items, for the new homes of people who were once homeless. We need people who can work at our warehouse (仓库) sorting and packing items to be delivered to families, repair donated furniture and more. Candidates will be matched with a task based on skill set. Interested? Submit your application to www. lancasterdesign. org Or call 740-6119735 |
| A．Applicants are expected to design furniture. |
| B．Work is arranged according to one’s skill set. |
| C．It involves collecting furniture from homes. |
| D．It favors applicants who are homeless. |
3 . Although many Chinese students say that their knowledge of English grammar is good, most would admit that their spoken English is poor. Whenever I speak to a Chinese student they always say, “My spoken English is poor.” However, their spoken English does not have to remain “poor”! I would like to suggest that there may be some reasons for their problems with spoken English.
First, they fail to find suitable words to express themselves because of a limited vocabulary. Obviously the better answer is to expand their vocabulary. However, you can speak with a limited vocabulary, if your aptitude is positive. Others will follow you as long as you use the words that you know.
Second, they are afraid of making mistakes. Sometimes they make mistakes when they are speaking because they are shy and nervous. Yet students should remember that their goal should be FLUENCY (流利) NOT ACCURACY (准确性). Your aim in writing is to be accurate following the rules for grammar and using the right words and spelling them correctly. However, in speaking your aim is fluency. You want to get your message across, to talk to someone in English, as quickly and as well as you can, even though sometimes you may use a wrong word or tense, but it doesn’t matter because the person you are speaking to will understand you and take into consideration any mistakes he hears.
The third reason is that not enough attention is paid to listening. You have one mouth but two ears! All that hearing was necessary for you to start speaking.
Forth, most Chinese students are reactive (反应式的) rather than proactive (积极主动的) language learners. Instead of actively finding out opportunities (机会) to improve their spoken English, they passively wait for speaking opportunities to come to them and wonder why their English always remains poor. If you have this proactive outlook, then you will see English opportunities wherever you go.
If you do not use your English out of the classroom you will forget what English you know. Remember: USE IT OR LOSE IT! You can learn how to speak English better by speaking English more.
To improve their spoken English, students should do the following things EXCEPT ______.
| A．try to be as reactive as possible in learning English |
| B．try their best to enrich their vocabulary |
| C．try to avoid being afraid of making mistakes |
| D．pay more attention to listening before opening mouth |
4 . After beating bone cancer, Hayley Arceneaux thinks rocketing into orbit on SpaceX’s first private flight should be no problem at all. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital announced the 29-year-old doctor’s assistant will rocket into space later this year.
Arceneaux, a former patient at St. Jude, will become the youngest American in space, beating NASA record-holder Sally Ride by over two years. She will travel with businessman Jared Isaacman, who is using the spaceflight he bought to raise money for charity. Two other yet-to-be-chosen space flyers will join them. Arceneaux will be the first person to launch with a prosthesis an artificial device that replaces a missing or injured part of the body. When she was 10, Arceneaux had an operation at St. Jude to replace her knee and a piece of metal was put in her left leg. She still limps and has occasional leg pain.
“My battle with cancer really prepared me for space travel,” she recently told The Associated Press. “It made me tough, and then also I think it really taught me to expect the unexpected and go along for the ride.” Arceneaux wants to show her young patients and other cancer survivors that “the sky is not even the limit anymore.” “It’s going to mean so much to these kids to see a survivor in space.” she said.
Isaacman announced his space flight on February 1, promising to raise $200 million for St. Jude. As the flight’s self-appointed commander, he offered one of the four seats aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft to St. Jude. The hospital chose Arceneaux from among its many workers who had once been patients. The idea was that one of them could represent the new generation, noted Rick Shadyac, president of St. Jude’s financing organization.
Arceneaux was at home in Memphis, Tennessee, when she got a surprising call in January. She was asked if she would represent St. Jude in space. As a lifelong space fan who loves adventures, Arceneaux has traveled widely and loves roller coasters. Isaacman, who flies fighter airplanes for fun, considers her a perfect fit. The launch is planned for this fall at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, with the spacecraft orbiting Earth for two to four days.
1. Which statement is true about Hayley Arceneaux?| A．She works where she used to be a patient. |
| B．She is an adventure hater. |
| C．She is the youngest American in space. |
| D．She is the first woman space flyer. |
a. She received a surprising call. b. She was diagnosed with a serious disease.
c. She was chosen to rocket into space. d. She was operated on at St. Jude.
| A．a c d b | B．b c d a | C．b d a c | D．c a b d |
5 . Sleeping badly or working night shifts could be making you fat, weak and more likely to become diabetic. A study has revealed sleep loss changes the way people’s DNA works and makes the body more dedicated to storing fat. Muscles get smaller and fat stores begin to rise when people lose as little as one night’s sleep, the experts found. Although midnight snacks or being too tired to exercise could be blamed for tired people getting fatter, there may now be a more scientific reason.
Researchers have linked losing sleep to weight gain in the past but have found it difficult to explain—now they reveal it could be linked to the body clock. And a tired body also becomes less able to handle sugar in the blood which raises the risk of someone developing type 2 diabetes.
If you sleep badly or work night shifts, what may not happen to you according to the text?
| A．You can be fat, weak and more likely to become diabetic. |
| B．Your body may become less able to handle sugar in the blood. |
| C．You might develop a habit of eating midnight snacks or being too tired to exercise. |
| D．Your body is more absorbed in storing fat. |
6 . People often say that the Englishman’s home is his castle. They mean that the home is very important and personal to him. Most people in Britain live in houses rather than flats, and many people own their homes. This means that they can make them individual; they can paint them, and change them in any way they like. Most houses have a garden, even if it is a very small one, and the garden is usually loved. The house and the garden are the private space of the individual.
People usually like to mark their space. Are you sitting now in your home or on a train? Have you marked the space around yourself as your? If you are on the train you may put your coat or small bag on the seat beside you. If you share a flat you may have one corner or chair which is your own.
Once I was travelling on a train to London. I was in a section for four people and there was a table between us. The man on the space on my side of the table at all. I was angry. Maybe he thought that he owned the whole table. I had read a book about non-verbal communication so I took various papers out of my bag and put them on his briefcase! When I did this he stiffened and his eyes nearly popped(瞪出)out of his head. I had invaded his space! A few minutes later I took my papers off his case in order to read them. He immediately moved his case to his side of the table. Of course, it is possible that he just wanted to be helpful to me!
If you are visiting another country you may feel that you don’t have any private space. Hotel rooms look much the same in every country in the world. All day long, you share public spaces with other people. You see the local people in their private spaces and you feel lonely and “outside”. Local people can create their private spaces by talking about things you don’t know about .And you even feel that they like you to be outside them so that they will enjoy being inside even more! This is one of the difficulties of being a traveler! But if you understand it then it helps you. Haven’t you enjoyed being part of a group and “owning” a bit of space?
1. The writer was angry as he was travelling on a train to London because ________.| A．he had no place to sit |
| B．someone had invaded his “space” |
| C．too many people shared a section with him |
| D．some other people talked about things he didn’t know about |
| A．public spaces | B．private spaces |
| C．local people | D．other countries |
| A．British people dislike marking their space. |
| B．You always feel at home in another country. |
| C．Most British people prefer living in houses to flats. |
| D．You can’t mark your private space in a foreign country. |
| A．own private spaces by living in houses |
| B．have one corner of their own in public places |
| C．realize the importance of “space” in communication |
| D．create their private spaces by talking with local people |
7 . Electric Vehicle Benefits
Plug-in electric vehicles (also known as electric cars or EVs) are connected, fun, and practical. They can reduce emissions and even save your money.
Fueling with electricity offers some advantages not available in ordinary internal burning engine vehicles. Because electric motors react quickly, EVs are very responsive and have very good torque(使机器运转的扭转力). EVs are often more digitally connected than conventional vehicles, with many EV charging stations providing the option to control charging from a smartphone app.
Just like a smartphone, you can plug in your EV when you get home and have it ready for you to use the next morning. Since the electric grid (输电网) is available almost anywhere, there are a variety of options for charging: at home, at work or on the road. By charging often, you may never need to go to a gas station again!
You can find many advantages with an electric car:
◆Zero Oil price and promotes Energy Management
◆Aids in reducing the Emission of Green House Gases
◆No tailpipe pollutants emitted and leads to reduced air pollution
◆No gas required to run your Electric Car
◆Cost Effective and many governments are appreciating Electric Cars by money back offers
◆Electric Cars guarantee a smooth drive and reduce noise pollution too.
Electric Cars are modes of Green Transportation that run using Batteries, Solar Panels or other energy sources that are just one time investment. The charging of batteries of saving energy through Solar Panels might be time consuming, but such initiatives ensure a safe environment. Though electric cars are a little costly, we should participate in such a global initiative and encourage others to do the same. After all, it is we who can make our world a better place to live in.
1. Compared with conventional cars, Electrical Vehicles can _______.| A．react quickly |
| B．increase air pollution |
| C．be charged only at home |
| D．be connected less digitally |
| A．Needing no gas to run it |
| B．Reducing noise pollution |
| C．Ensuring a smooth drive |
| D．Ruining energy management |
| A．Doubtful | B．Supportive |
| C．Opposed | D．Indifferent |
8 . A Chicago woman, Karen Autenrieth, who lost her wedding band nearly 50 years ago was reunited with the ring just in time for Valentine’s Day.
The story began during the winter of 1973. “It was very cold and the snow piled up along the roads,” Karen told the Chicago Tribune. “I had to help each kid climb over the large piles to get into my grandparents' yard. My hands were cold---I didn't have gloves on---and my ring just flew into the snow.” Despite her best efforts, Karen was unable to find the ring.
In February, a Chicago man who lost his own wedding ring posted on Facebook asking if anyone had found it. In the comments section, Sarah Batka, a woman who lives in Autenrieth's grandparents' former home% said she had discovered a wedding ring eight years ago while gardening. It wasn't the man s ring» but it sparked a hunt for the rightful owner.
Two historians---Carol Flynn and Linda Lamberty from the Historical Society---set off to solve the mystery. They used every means to retrace the origin of the ring and finally drew a conclusion that a woman, Karen Autenrieth, whose grandparents had once lived in Batka’s home, was the possible owner.
“The woman was on Facebook. So I asked whether this ring was hers. ’’ Flynn wrote in the post. “She replied—it was hers!”
After connecting, Flynn mailed the ring to Autenrieth, who received the package on Valentine's Day. 44Holy Mary, I can t believe it. Karen told the Chicago Tribune. “Just think I get the ring back after almost 50 years!
1. When did Karen lose her wedding band?| A．When she played snow with kids. |
| B．When she cleaned the snow on the road. |
| C．When she aided kids to get over piles of snow. |
| D．When she helped her grandparents do gardening. |
| A．Sarah's honest report. | B．Karen’s endless efforts. |
| C．A similar case from a man. | D．Flynn and Linda's assistance. |
| A．A Special Valentine’s Day |
| B．A Woman with a Magic Story |
| C．The Return of a Long-lost Ring |
| D．The Search for the Rightful Owner |
9 . A fresh and gentle wind on your face, soft sand under your feet and blue waters as far as the eye can see. Is there any other Olympic sport that is played in such pleasant conditions as beach volleyball?
“I’ve gone to a lot of beautiful places, and met a lot of beautiful people. That wouldn’t have happened if I had been playing another sport, ” said Randy Stoklos, America’s most famous beach volleyball player.
The sport began as a four-a-side game on beaches in Southern California in the 1920s. The first recorded woman game took place there in 1930, and the first tournament was held in Los Angeles 18 years later. The winners were awarded a case of Pepsi. In the 1950s, women started playing and the sport soon spread to Europe and South America. Yet at that time, beach volleyball was more an entertainment show than a sport, with beauty contests included. The Association of Volleyball Professionals was founded in 1983 and beach volleyball developed into a fast, athletic sport. Its worldwide popularity won beach volleyball a place at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, where 24 male teams and 16 female teams took part. At present, the US and Brazil are the best in the world at beach volleyball.
The game came to China in the early 1990s and there have been national tournaments since 1994. It became an official event at the Eighth National Games in 1997.China’s You Wenhui and Wang Lu finished ninth in the women’s beach volleyball world championships in Brazil.
1. The passage is mainly about________.| A．the history of beach volleyball | B．how to play beach volleyball |
| C．the importance of beach volleyball | D．women’s beach volleyball in China |
| A．Beach volleyball was first played like other Olympic sports. |
| B．Beach volleyball began on beaches in Southern California. |
| C．Beach volleyball has always been an entertainment show rather than a sport. |
| D．Women started playing beach volleyball in South American 1945. |
| A．in 1996, beach volleyball became an official event in China |
| B．China’s beach volleyball team is the best in the world |
| C．China’s beach volleyball players won the first place in Brazil |
| D．beach volleyball came to China in the early 1990s |
10 . Home Laundry Automatic Dryer Product
Full Two Year Warranty (保修)
Limited Five Year Warranty on Cabinet (机箱)
Warranty Provides for:
FIRST TWO YEARS Amana will repair or replace any faulty part free of charge.
THIRD THRU FIFTH YEARS Amana will provide a free replacement part for any cabinet which proves faulty due to rust.
Warranty Limitations:
Warranty begins at date of original purchase.
Applies only to product used within the United States or in Canada if product is approved by Canadian Standards Association when shipped from factory.
Products used on a commercial or rental basis not covered by this warranty.
Service must be performed by an Amana servicer.
Adjustments covered during first year only.
Warranty Does Not Cover It If:
Product has damage due to product change, connection to an improper electrical supply, shipping and handling, accident, fire, floods, lightning or other conditions beyond the control of Amana.
Product is improperly installed or applied.
Owner’s Responsibilities:
Provide sales receipt.
Normal care and repair.
Having the product reasonably accessible for service.
Pay for service calls related to product installation or usage instructions.
Pay for extra service costs, over normal service charges, if servicer is requested to perform service outside servicer’s normal business hours.
* In no event shall Amana be responsible for consequential damages (间接损坏)
* This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may have others which vary from state to consequential damages, so this exclusion may not apply to you.
1. According to Warranty Limitations, a product can be under warranty if ________.| A．used in the U.S.A. |
| B．rented for home use |
| C．repaired by the user himself |
| D．shipped from a Canadian factory |
| A．the product installation |
| B．a servicer’s overtime work |
| C．the loss of the sales receipt |
| D．a mechanic’s transportation |
| A．Consequential damages are excluded across America. |
| B．A product damaged in a natural disaster is covered by the warranty. |
| C．A faulty cabinet due to rust can be replaced free in the second year. |
| D．Free repair is available for a product used improperly in the first year. |
