1 . Black Valley, 63 kilometers from downtown Chongqing, is one of the best preserved natural wonders around the municipality. The national 5A-level scenic spot is a popular summer resort for sightseeing, forest adventures, outdoor camping, hunting and angling.
Located in Heishan town, Wansheng Economic Development Zone, the scenic spot spans over 103 square kilometers, 97 percent of which are covered by primitive forests. With over 110,000 negative oxygen ions in each cubic centimeter of air, it is dubbed as a natural oxygen bar and “the most beautiful healthcare-themed valley.”
Black Valley is also known as “the natural gene bank of Chongqing and Guizhou regions” for the diversity of its rare plants and wildlife, including Cathaya argyrophylla, Davidia involucrata, Trachypithecus francoisi and clouded leopards.
Scenic spot level: AAAAA
Address: Heishan town, Wansheng Economic Development Zone, 63 kilometers from downtown Chongqing Opening hours: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm (peak season from November to February), 9:00 am-3:00 pm (off season from March to October)
Ideal sightseeing season: from May to September
Ticket price: 60 yuan ($8.72) during off season and 100 yuan during peak season, sightseeing bus and cable not included.
Notes:
1. It is recommended that tourists start from the higher southern area for a downward journey.
2. The average temperature is 18.1 degrees.
3. It’s a good idea to experience the local folk culture of the Miao ethnic group, especially when you choose to visit in May when the traditional Caishan Festival of Miao ethnic group is celebrated.
1. What can we know about Black Valley?| A．It lies in downtown Chongqing. |
| B．Plants and wildlife are rarely seen there. |
| C．A visit there costs at most 100 yuan. |
| D．The air is very high in negative oxygen ions there. |
| A．January. | B．March. | C．May. | D．July. |
| A．Culture. | B．Travel. | C．Nature. | D．Wildlife. |
2 . Standing on the ruins（废墟）after the fire where his house had been, Peter Ruprecht admitted that he was not sure how or when to rebuild. He was still shocked by what Australia's increasingly changeable climate had already delivered: first a drought, then a destructive bush fire, then a foot of rain from a storm.
"It's unstoppable," said Mr. Ruprecht, a former dairy farmer. "We speak about the warmth of Mother Nature, but nature can also be vicious and wild and unforgiving."
Australia's' hellish（地狱的）fire season has eased（缓和）, but its people are facing more than a single disaster. With floods destroying homes not far from where fires recently spread, they are facing a cycle of what scientists call "compound extremes": one climate disaster strengthening the next.
Warmer temperatures do more than just dry out the land. They also heat up the atmosphere, which means clouds hold more moisture（水汽）for longer periods of time. So droughts get worse, giving way to fires, then to heavy rains that the land is too dry to absorb.
Many Australians in disaster zones complain that their government, after ignoring climate change for years, has not yet to draw up recovery plans that are clear and that take future threats into account.
At the same time, the economic costs of a changing climate are rising quickly. Philip Lowe, the governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, warned recently that Australia was already paying a price, and that it would only go up.
1. Why Peter Ruprecht is mentioned in the beginning?| A．To arouse readers' pity. | B．To introduce the topic. |
| C．To stress the problem. | D．To call on readers to help. |
| A．grateful | B．advanced | C．responsible | D．forcible |
| A．Government inaction. | B．Warmer temperature. |
| C．The lack of money. | D．No recovery plans. |
| A．guidebook. | B．A travel journal. | C．A news report. | D．A book review. |
3 . The National Gallery
Description:
The National Gallery is the British national art museum built on the north side of Trafalgar Square in London. It houses a diverse collection of more than 2,300 examples of European art ranging from 13th-century religious paintings to more modern ones by Renoir and Van Gogh. The older collections of the gallery are reached through the main entrance while the more modern works in the East Wing are most easily reached from Trafalgar Square by a ground floor entrance.
Layout:
The modern Sainsbury Wing on the western side of the building houses 13th- to 15th-century paintings, and artists include Duccio, Uccello, Van Eyck, Lippi, Mantegna, Botticelli and Memling.
The main West Wing houses 16th-century paintings, and artists include Leonardo da Vinci , Cranach, Michelangelo, Raphael, Bruegel, Bronzino, Titian and Veronese.
The North Wing houses 17th-century paintings, and artists include Caravaggio, Rubens, Poussin, Van de Dyck, Velázquez, Claude and Vermeer.
The East Wing houses 18th- to early 20th-century paintings, and artists include Canaletto, Goya, Turner, Constable, Renoir and Van Gogh.
Opening Hours:
The Gallery is open every day from 10 am to 6 pm (Fridays 10 am to 9 pm ) and is free, but charges apply to some special exhibitions.
Getting There:
Nearest underground stations: Charing Cross (2-minute walk), Leicester Square (3-minute walk), Embankment (7-minute walk), and Piccadilly Circus (8-minute walk).
1. In which wing can you see religious paintings?| A．In the West Wing | B．In the North Wing |
| C．In the East Wing | D．In the Sainsbury Wing |
| A．The National Gallery is the biggest British national art museum. |
| B．The Gallery is open every day from 10 am to 6 pm. |
| C．The Gallery is completely free. |
| D．There are four exhibition areas in the National Gallery. |
| A．A museum guide. | B．An artist magazine. |
| C．A news report. | D．A tourist map. |
4 . Best Diabetes Diets
U.S. News has ranked four leading diets based on input from a panel of health experts. Browse our diet profiles by narrowing down your results until you find the ones that are right for you.
The Flexitarian Diet in Best Diabetes Diets The Flexitarian Diet, which emphasizes fruits, veggies, whole grains and plant-based protein, is a smart and healthy choice. One panelist noted that this diet is “a nice approach that could work for the whole family.” READ MORE → | OVERALL SCORE 4.1/5 WEIGHT LOSS 3.6/5 HEALTHY 4.7/5 |
Mediterranean Diet in Best Diabetes Diets With its emphasis on fruits, vegetables, olive oil, fish and other healthy fare, the Mediterranean diet is extremely sensible. READ MORE → | OVERALL SCORE 4.2/5 WEIGHT LOSS 3/5 HEALTHY 4.8/5 |
DASH Diet in Best Diabetes Diets DASH fights high blood pressure and was praised for its nutritional completeness, safety, ability to prevent or control diabetes, and role in supporting heart health. READ MORE → | OVERALL SCORE 4.1/5 WEIGHT LOSS 3.2/5 HEALTHY 4.8/5 |
Mayo Clinic Diet in Best Diabetes Diets The Mayo Clinic Diet aims to make healthy eating a lifelong habit, and earned praise for its nutrition and safety. READ MORE → | OVERALL SCORE 3. 8/5 WEIGHT LOSS 3. 3/5 HEALTHY 4. 4/5 |
1. If you got diabetes and wanted to lose weight, which food would meet your needs?
| A．Mayo Clinic Diet | B．Dash Diet |
| C．Mediterranean Diet | D．The Flexitarian Diet |
| A．Novel | B．Magazine | C．Website | D．Newspaper |
| A．Dash Diet can benefit your heart health. |
| B．All diabetic diets can fight high blood pressure. |
| C．All the diabetic diets emphasize their complete nutrition. |
| D．The Mayo Clinic Diet has developed a lifelong healthy eating habit. |
5 . The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will now be held on July 2021 With less than three months to go. questions surrounding the safety have grown intense. How to do this safely with thousands of athletes and staff involved coming to Japan in the middle of the pandemic?
A "playbook" released by the IOC and Tokyo organizers provided some insight. Besides masking up, avoiding crowds and washing hands frequently, travelers will have to produce a test negative upon arrival. They will not have to quarantine, but aren't allowed to go to public areas during their first 14 days. All travelers must submit a detailed route to Japanese authorities. They must submit details of their health and any symptoms they are experiencing into a mandatory（强制性的）mobile app. Anyone who breaks these rules could be sent back home.
The IOC encourages athletes to get the vaccine if available, though not mandatory. Japan began vaccinating its citizens in mid — February, so it's likely many Japanese won’t have received dosage by the start of the Games. Dr. Angela Rasmussen, a virologist in Georgetown University, believed the best action the IOC could take to safely stage the Games would be a vaccination requirement. "Many attendees from countries with out-of- control coronavirus transmission are a threat to the public health," she said. “It might be challenging as the access and availability of vaccines varies in different countries, but that might be the safest option for Japan."
Despite many potential restrictions, nothing seems to stop the Olympics from taking place. First and foremost. money. Hosting the Olympics is quite costly and Japan has already spent over S 25 billion of mostly public finances. Even if fans aren't allowed and athletes are heavily restricted in traveling outside of the grounds, this would still be an incredibly profitable event. Global broadcast rights make up roughly 73% of income generated from the Games, and sponsorships make up almost another 20%. Plus, Japan would still get major publicity.
“The government is keen to hold the Olympics for the reputation and to celebrate Japan's virtues and strengths." said Jeff Kingston, a professor at Temple University. "It wants to reprise the glory of the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games and lift national and global spirits that have plummeted during the pandemic. It also hopes to stimulate a depressed economy."
1. Attendees of the Olympics are required to do the following EXCEPT .| A．get a negative test result upon arrival |
| B．be quarantined during their first 14 days |
| C．report their travelling routes in detail |
| D．input any symptoms through an app |
| A．All the athletes are supposed to get the vaccine before the Games. |
| B．Rasmussen disapproved of the vaccinating requirements by the IOC. |
| C．The IOC's action to stage the Games will help local citizens get vaccinated. |
| D．Attendees from some countries might have difficulty in getting vaccinated. |
| A．Preventing the pandemic, | B．Regaining the previous glory. |
| C．Enhancing people's spirits. | D．Boosting falling economy. |
| A．Business. | B．Education. |
| C．Sports. | D．Tourism. |
6 . Maybe you are familiar with scenes in movies where a pilot has got into an emergency mid-flight and you hear him shout "Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!". But what does “Mayday" mean? Mayday is an internationally recognized distress call（求救信号）,mostly used by pilots and boat captains. The signal can be sent out on any channel by radio communication.
This emergency call originated in the 1920s. At that time, the standard distress call was "SOS" and was typically used by navy captains. The message was sent in Morse code by telegraph. In Morse code, “SOS” is three dots, three dashes and three dots. The signal was unmistakable. However, aircraft pilots use radio calls, so sending out “SOS” could be misheard as other letters, such as “F”.
Frederick Stanley Mockford, a radio officer at Croydon Airport in London, was asked to think of a word that would indicate distress. Because of the number of flights that flew between Croydon and Paris, he chose Mayday, as it sounds similar to the French word aider", which means “help me”.
Facing a threatening situation, pilots are required to repeat the signal three times in case of radio interference（干扰）or loud background noise. If the pilots don't get a reply within two minutes, they should repeat it. Once they receive a reply, more information including the code of the flight, their current situation and the number of people on board should be reported. Sometimes pilots are directed to a nearby airport or location where they can make an emergency landing. While Mayday signals indicate a life-threatening situation, they do not always end in deaths.
Despite dangers, air travel is still the safest means of transport.
1. How did navy captains call for help before the 1920s?| A．By sending "Mayday" by telegraph. | B．By calling "Mayday" by radio. |
| C．By sending “SOS” by telegraph. | D．By calling "SOS" by radio. |
| A．It is a signal mainly used in European countries. |
| B．It is only used by pilots and boat captains. |
| C．It was sent by telegraph in the beginning. |
| D．It was invented by a radio officer in the 1920s. |
| A．When to use Mayday signals. | B．How to use Mayday signals to call for help, |
| C．How Mayday signals were recognized. | D．What makes Mayday signals useful. |
| A．Sports. | B．Fashion. | C．Art. | D．Science. |
7 . The Hear Clear Go Rechargeable Digital Hearing Aid is a popular member of our rechargeable hearing aid family for a good reason: it combines great performance with incredible value! This hearing aid features advanced third-generation digital technology at an unbelievably affordable price. The Go is packed with the same key technologies that all high-end digital hearing aids share while leaving out the extra fancy bells and whistles that increase costs and require expensive adjustments. With the Go, you’ll hear clearly while saving a lot of money.
With the Go’s included charging station, you won’t have to keep buying and replacing tiny hearing aid batteries! You’ll love the lightweight design. The Go is pre-programmed for most moderate to significant hearing losses — no costly professional adjustments needed. They are shipped directly to you and will help you hear better right out of the box!
You can spend thousands for an expensive hearing aid, or you can spend just $239 for a hearing aid that is great for most hearing losses (only $199 each when you buy a pair — hear up to 3 times better than wearing just one). We are so sure you will love your hearing aids. We offer a 100% Money Back Guarantee — Risk Free if you are not satisfied for any reason. No costly professional appointments needed! With our free telecare, you can call our friendly and caring staff from the comfort and safety of your home to discuss your hearing care.
1. What do we know about the Go?| A．Its price is unbelievably low. | B．It features fancy bells and whistles. |
| C．It includes charging station and batteries. | D．It needs expensive professional adjustments. |
| A．$239. | B．$478. | C．$199. | D．$398. |
| A．A magazine. | B．A research paper. | C．A travel brochure. | D．A scientific journal. |
8 . Man’s best friend is also his oldest. The partnership between dogs and people may go back as much as 40,000 years long predating any other domestication （驯化）. And it is based not, as is the case with many succeeding domestications, on a human desire to eat the animal concerned, or to consume some associated product such as milk or eggs, but rather on sincere companionship, though with a little work — and hunting-related using on the side.
How this partnership got going, though, is debated. In particular, unlike other domestications, which involved groups of people who had taken up farming, the domestication of the wolves that became dogs happened while all human beings were still hunter-gatherers. The two species were, in other words, competitors. Yet they managed to become soul mates.
One popular theory is that the wolves which became dogs acted as rubbish cleaners for groups of people, by eating their waste, possibly including their faeces （粪 便）.That, though, would be a service more useful to settled farmers than mobile hunter-gatherers. As she writes in Scientific Reports, however, Maria Lahtinen of the Finnish Museum of Natural History thinks she might have the answer as to how wolves and people squared the competitive circle while both species were still hunters. It was, she and her colleagues suggest, simply a matter of remaining calories.
The archaeological （考古的）evidence suggests that wolves were domesticated in wood lands at the edge of the ice sheets of the last ice age, since that is where almost all Palaeolithic dog remains have been found. Dr Lahtinen calculates that, given the large size of hunted animals in this environment, and humans' need to eat a balanced diet with plenty of plant matter in it as well as flesh, there would have been a lot of remaining meat around from kills. What better way to use some of it than to feed a few wolf cubs （幼崽）to provide entertainment and companionship? And thus, she suggests, were dogs born.
1. Why did our ancestors domesticate dogs?| A．To balance their diet. | B．To help them to farm. |
| C．To get rid of rubbish. | D．To develop a partnership. |
| A．Dogs were born as early as wolves. |
| B．People ever hunted wolves for food. |
| C．Wolf cubs were raised for remaining meat. |
| D．Cruel enemies could become good friends. |
| A．A new idea. | B．Some evidence. |
| C．A practical way. | D．A scientific report. |
| A．Home & Life. | B．Finance & Economy. |
| C．History & Future. | D．Science & Technology. |
9 . Standing in my office 25 years ago was an unknown young astronomer with a half-smile on her face. She had come with an impossible request that my team modify (修改) our thoroughly tested software to make one of our most important scientific instruments do something it had never been designed for, and risk breaking it. All to carry out an experiment that was basically a waste of time and couldn’t be done-to prove that a massive black hole lay at the center of our Milky Way.
My initial “no way” gradually gave way in the face of her cheerful but firm determination. Andrea Ghez, one of three winners of this year’s Nobel Prize in Physics，impressed me with her work on providing solid evidence of a supermassive black hole with the mass of four million suns living at the center of the Milky Way galaxy.
That determination and the willingness to take calculated risks has always characterized Andrea. For 25 years she has focused almost completely on Sagittarius (人马座) A *—the name of our own local supermassive black hole. It is remarkable that an entire field of study has grown up in the quarter century, of searching for and finding evidence of these monsters thought to lie at the heart of every large galaxy.
Andrea did her work at the W. M. Keck Observatory’s twin telescopes on Maunakea, Hawaii, in the calm and clear air almost 14000 feet above the Pacific Ocean. She started using the very first instrument fixed on Keck Observatory’s Near Infrared Camera (NIRC), now gracing the lobby at our headquarters.
Andrea is fond of pointing out that one of the reasons for her success has been this tight and rapid loop (循环) between the needs of the astronomers and the engineers who respond to the challenge.
This is my friend and longtime colleague, the one who refused to take “no” for an answer: Andrea Ghez, winner of the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics.
1. Which words best describe Andrea Ghez?| A．Determined and creative. | B．Confident and adaptable. |
| C．Brave and kind. | D．Cooperative and generous. |
| A．Because of Andrea’s determination. |
| B．Because of Andrea’s final success. |
| C．Because Andrea provided an experimental evidence. |
| D．Because Andrea modified their tested software. |
| A．The Noble Prize for physics. | B．Friendship between colleagues. |
| C．How Andrea won the Nobel. | D．What makes Andrea different. |
| A．A research paper. | B．A website about scientists. |
| C．A science fiction. | D．A daily newspaper. |
10 . Answering the Community Needs of Our City
The Siver City Council recognizes that citizens have certain needs. To better meet your needs, we have made several changes to community facilities in 2020. The followings shows how we have tried to make your life better.
Transport
☆Three stations for the suburbs have been added to the western train service.
☆20 new buses for the southern line were purchased in January.
☆50 per cent of city bus-stops have been upgraded.
Communication
☆Broadband cableis now available to ll parts of the city.
☆All of the new Government buildings are smart-wired for better computer service!
Medical Facilities
☆The new state-of-the-art Nightingale Hospital was opened in June.
☆To overcome a shortage of trained medical staff at Dover Hospital, 10 doctors have been employed from overseas.
☆Some facilities at Station Street Hospital have been upgraded.
Education
☆Textbooks will be free to all primary students in 2020!
☆Rental for private schools has been reduced.
Protection and Security
☆Extra police now patrol(巡逻)the tourist areas.
☆50 new police officers graduated in July and have taken up duties in the city area.
Entertainment/Recreation
☆The new Central Community Building opened in May.
☆5,000 new fiction books were bought for the Silver City Library.
1. What’s the notice mainly about?| A．The work carried out by the people of Silver City. |
| B．The facilities available in Silver City. |
| C．Some improvements in Silver City. |
| D．Information for interested tourists. |
| A．Travel books are provided in the new library. |
| B．More bus lines and stops are bought in Silver City. |
| C．Free medical treatment is available at Station Street Hospital. |
| D．There are more police officers on duty now. |
| A．the community | B．the local government |
| C．the Silver City Library | D．a travel agency |
