1 . Atmospheric (大气层的) rivers are long and narrow bands of water vapor (水蒸气) in Earth’s atmosphere, which are called “large rivers in the sky”. These rivers form over warm ocean waters. They are huge. They can be 930 miles long and one-third that wide.

Like real rivers, they carry huge amounts of water. These large streams of small water drops are blown by wind over land. When that happens, the water vapor cools down and condenses (凝结). Atmospheric rivers can be good. They bring water to dry areas. However, they can cause huge, fast-moving storms. Some cause snowfalls that bury towns. They are also the main cause of floods on the U.S. West Coast.

Atmospheric rivers are hard to predict. But scientists are working to change that. Marty Ralph, a scientist who works at the University of California, directs the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes (CW3E). They created the first computer model to predict atmospheric rivers on the U.S. West Coast. This model uses a program that runs on a computer to create a model of a real-world event. CW3E also studies atmospheric rivers using planes. Pilots drop instruments into atmospheric rivers to collect information like temperature and wind speed, which helps with forecasting.

Will climate change affect atmospheric rivers? Climate change happens naturally over a long period of time. But today, it is largely caused by human activities and is causing the Earth to warm, which affects atmospheric rivers.

Atmospheric rivers are pushed by the wind. Those winds are driven by the temperature differences between the poles and the equator (赤道). But the poles are also warming faster than areas near the equator. That makes the temperature difference between the areas smaller. This can make winds weaker.

Climate change might not cause more atmospheric rivers. But there may be very, very wet seasons and very, very dry seasons. Such a seesaw in rainfall could make it harder to manage what water there is.

1. What can we learn about atmospheric rivers?

A．They can be 930 miles long and 465 miles wide.

B．They are easy to predict as scientists are working on it.

C．They are bands of water vapor forming over warm ocean waters.

D．They are the main cause of floods in the U.S.

2. What is the third paragraph mainly about?

A．Why it is hard to predict atmospheric rivers.

B．Whether scientists can predict atmospheric rivers.

C．How technology helps the prediction of atmospheric rivers.

D．How scientists are working on the forecasts of atmospheric rivers.

3. What does the underlined word “seesaw” mean in the last paragraph?

A．Growth.

B．Drop.

C．Prediction.

D．Change.

4. Where is the text probably taken from?

A．A textbook.

B．A science magazine.

C．An academic article.

D．A news report.

2 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

The Chongyang Festival is a     1     (tradition) Chinese festival celebrated on the ninth day of the ninth month of the lunar calendar. According to legend, during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220), a Taoist named Huan Jing saved his hometown     2     a plague (瘟疫) by leading villagers up a high hill in Shangcai,     3     (wear) dogwood branches and drinking chrysanthemum wine to drive away evil     4     (spirit). Since then, the tradition of celebrating the double ninth day     5     (last) for more than 2,000 years. The star during the festival is the dogwood plant,     6     grows in most parts of China. Many women and children wear its branches on their arms or decorate their hair with it. Additionally, people fill dogwood into sachets (香囊), which come in various shapes and     7     (decorate) with lively patterns like birds and flowers. They stands for different meanings of luck.

The Chongyang Festival is not only a historical Chinese festival but also     8     opportunity to show respect for the elderly. It encourages family reunions and helps to     9     (strength) family bonds. Moreover, it shows the beauty of Chinese culture and allows people     10     (connect) with their roots.

3 . Let’s be friends!

If you feel that making friends as an adult isn’t as easy as it used to be, you’re right. Though it becomes increasingly difficult, healthy friendships make a difference in our life. They can help us age better, deal with stress and live longer lives.     1    

Be optimistic

In a 2022 study, researchers found that people who received an unexpected communication, such as a small gift felt more grateful than the senders thought. Not surprisingly, a positive attitude can help us make friends.     2     If we think we’re going to be liked, we will become more likable.

    3    

“Write down the names of three to five people you know but would like to be closer to,” suggest experts. Then reach out to each of them: Send a text message, a shared photo, or an article that make you think of them. See if a small action might make a deeper connection.

Branch out

    4     Nobody gives you all you need. Just a few good mates can make all the difference. A 2020 Study found that those with three to five close friends had higher levels of satisfaction with life.

Practice

After the pandemic (疫情), many of us forgot how to socialize.     5     In a 2022 study, participants were required to talk to strangers every day for a week. And what do you know? In the end, people were less worried and more confident.

A．Make a list

B．Send messages

C．Friendships don’t just happen.

D．Don’t limit yourself to one close friend.

E．Social skills are like muscles — we can work them.

F．Here are tips for making and deepening friendships.

G．But most of the time we don’t realize how much people like us.

4 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

We have three lovely dogs. On the National Day of one year, we drove to my mother’s home for     1     holiday. We brought all three dogs     2     us so that they wouldn’t be alone back home when neighbors’ fireworks (烟花) went off. They were all     3     (terrible) afraid of fireworks.

When night fell that day, we had the dogs     4     (lock) in the laundry room of my mother’s house, and we went to the lake to set off fireworks. My mother’s house was far away from the place     5     we would light the fireworks. So we thought the noise might not     6     (notice) by dogs.

After enjoying the fireworks, we went back to the house     7     (check) on the dogs. Try to imagine our     8     (shock) faces when we saw a huge mouse hole in the laundry-room door. The dogs were all lying there, looking very innocent (无辜的) .

Now all these years later, the three dogs are gone, and all we have are     9     (memory) of them. But none is as memorable as how they celebrated this holiday by     10     (cut) through that laundry-room door with their teeth.

5 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容(1个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。

Ninety-seven Chinese cities have newly become “gigabit cities (数字化城市)” in 2023, meaning they gained the ability     1     (offer) gigabit 5G and gigabit optical fiber services,     2     (know) as “dual gigabit”, said China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) recently.

Building gigabit cities is     3     landmark project of new digital infrastructure (基础建设) development in China. By the end of October 2023, all households in China’s gigabit cities     4     (cover) by gigabit optical fiber services. On average, there     5     (be) 21.2 5G base stations per 10,000 people in gigabit cities. Users with speed of 500 Mbps or higher reached 33.2 percent, and the average 5G users accounted     6     49.2 percent.

In gigabit cities, over 99.5 percent of public hospitals     7     rank at the top of China’s three-tier grading system, key universities,     8     (culture) and tourist areas, as well as train stations offering passenger services, main airports, and key roads were     9     (wide) covered by 5G network, the MIIT said.

Gigabit cities have greatly promoted the innovation and     10     (apply) of gigabit 5G and optical fiber technologies, which has enabled various industries to improve productivity and efficiency.

6 . There’s plenty of sunshine, sand, and celebration to go around in July. You deserve a vacation this month, and we have four places that are well worth visiting this July.

Antigua, Guatemala

Antigua is the onetime capital of Guatemala, a colonial-era city that earned UNESCO World Heritage site status more than 40 years ago for its extraordinary baroque architecture. There are grand buildings, cobbled streets, and, notably, ruins that were left after the last major quake in 1976—see the Cathedral of Santiago, for example.

Aix-en-Provence, France

The 75th Festival International d’Art Lyrique is happening in Aix-en-Provence, which runs from July 4 to 24. This is a world-class celebration of classical music, with a heavy emphasis on opera. Performances this year will include Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte, Kurt Weill’s Threepenny Opera, and Verdi’s Otello. It’s determinedly affordable and egalitarian, since the event is state funded, with tickets for performances starting at €37.

San Diego, California

From July 19 to 23 this year, costume play’s spiritual home returns to San Diego: the original, and still largest, Comic-Con, which first took place here in 1970 and was canceled due to COVID-19 for the previous two years. Last year, more than 135,000 people attended the event and we expect this year’s number to more than match that record.

Calgary, Canada

For 10 days this month, Calgary is the rodeo capital of the world. It hosts the Calgary Stampede from July 7 to 16, 2023. The world’s largest outdoor rodeo will take place at GMC Stadium. Here you will see people show their skills at riding wild horses and catching cattle with ropes. Programming will ensure that the native Indian stories of this region aren’t overlooked.

1. Why is the 75th Festival International d’Art Lyrique affordable?

A．Because tourists there are very rich and lead a good life.

B．Because the performers charge low to save money for the event.

C．Because all French citizens have easy access to the musical feast.

D．Because the tickets are priced reasonably due to government funding.

2. What can visitors do if they go around San Diego in July?

A．They can express their appreciation of their favorite comic characters.

B．They can enjoy programs about the native Indian stories of this region.

C．They can attend an affordable world-class celebration of classical music.

D．They can admire baroque architecture at a UNESCO World Heritage site.

3. Which place best suits visitors who want to view cowboy culture?

A．Antigua, Guatemala.	B．Aix-en-Provence, France.
C．San Diego, California.	D．Calgary, Canada.

7 . If you want to improve your fitness, walking is a great choice.     1     Here are a few tricks that may help you increase your walking stamina (耐力).

Walk for at least 30 minutes 3 to 5 days a week.

    2     But remember—don’t sweat it if you can’t walk this long at the beginning. Over time, your body will get used to a certain level of activity, and that makes it easier for you to walk longer.

    3    

If you only have a short period of time to walk, add force to work on your stamina. You can simply put a few books or solid objects in a backpack and carry that. Keep track of the amount of weight you’re carrying so you can increase it gradually.

Find ways to include walking in your regular routine.

Figure out how you can introduce more walking into your daily routine. For example, you might try using the stairs instead of the elevator.     4    

Download a step-tracking or general fitness app.

A fitness app allows you to set goals for yourself to stay active and increase your walking stamina over time.     5     These devices often measure the distance you’ve walked and include information about your heart rate and calories burned.

A．Carry weight while walking.

B．Some trackers also allow you to compete with others.

C．Go on a longer walk at least one day a week.

D．It’s free, simple, and adaptable to your schedule.

E．If the weather is unsuitable, use a stationary bike inside instead.

F．Or you can park further away from shops and walk the distance.

G．Going for regular walks improves your cardiovascular (心血管的) fitness gradually.

8 . With a love and fascination for traditional culture, many young Chinese have begun to use their creativity to innovate (创新) using elements from China’s intangible cultural heritage.

Papercutting, the traditional Chinese art of paper design, has been adopted in many creative arts, including food and clothing. On the Chinese lifestyle-focused social media platform Xiaohongshu, a video of cookies featuring a paper-cut styled dragon pattern received over 2.6 million views and 130,000 likes. Liu Shan, a stay-at-home mother who loves Chinese papercutting, is the baker behind the cookies. Liu started designing her dragon pattern last November and spent five days making the cookies before the Spring Festival. She said she would complete all the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac (生肖) since they are so well-received.

Young craftswoman Chen Lingling created a cloak featuring Chinese paper-cut patterns. As an intangible cultural heritage enthusiast, Chen has made a variety of different clothing and headwear, with the aim of making cultural heritage part of young people’s daily lives. She chose auspicious patterns like phoenix and golden fish to deliver her Spring Festival greetings. People believe these patterns will bring good luck. Her video featuring the cloak has received around 750,000 views and earned her fans from both China and abroad, encouraging her to continue her interest in intangible cultural heritage.

According to the new report published by Xiaohongshu, users of the platform uploaded nearly one million posts with the topic “recreation” between February 9, the Chinese New Year’s Eve, and February 16. Analysts say these recreations demonstrate (表现) young people’s creativity and enthusiasm for life, and the innovations that use elements of intangible cultural heritage reflect their growing cultural confidence.

1. What can we learn about Liu Shan from the passage?

A．She got inspiration from her friends.

B．She began her innovating practices to achieve fame.

C．She has been motivated to continue her creation.

D．She has completed all the Chinese zodiac cookies.

2. What does the underlined word “auspicious” in paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．Fortunate.

B．Unusual.

C．Simple.

D．Complex.

3. What can we infer from the new report published by Xiaohongshu?

A．Users of Xiaohongshu are addicted to uploading posts.

B．Xiaohongshu enjoys great popularity home and abroad.

C．Young Chinese are showing their creativity on social platforms.

D．Young Chinese are increasingly confident about their own culture.

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

A．Craftsmanship Never Dies	B．Innovations Through Traditions
C．Creative Young Chinese	D．Papercutting Combined with Food

9 . Diving in the ocean, marine biologist Erika Woolsey has seen how coral reefs (珊瑚礁) are being damaged by climate change. It has made her decide to find a way to share her experience —including those who can’t easily explore the ocean.

Through her non-profit, The Hydrous, Woolsey is using virtual reality to bring the ocean to everyone. Scientists, filmmakers and divers are taking people on immersive (沉浸式的) virtual dives, attracting attention to reef damage and expecting action to protect our sea. About 25% of marine species depend on coral reefs. However, climate change, pollution and overfishing have done harm to around half the world’s shallow water coral reefs.

Twenty years of underwater exploration has given Woolsey a detailed understanding of the dangerous situations facing reefs. “I’ve seen this first-hand shift. Healthy colourful coral reefs become what look like the moonscape step by step,” Woolsey says.

It is through this experience that The Hydrous team set out to recreate with their award-winning film Immerse. Intended to watch with a VR headset, viewers join Woolsey for a nine-minute guided virtual div e on the coral reefs, immersed in a 360-degree underwater view.

They swim alongside sea turtles and sharks before witnessing the worsening of the reefs. The experience often brings out strong feelings. “As soon as people take off that headset and look me in the eye, they want to tell me a story about their ocean experience,” Woolsey says. “It’s that human connection to our ocean that will solve our ocean problems.”

Woolsey hopes advances in camera technology will allow her team to take more and more people to places in the ocean that are underexplored and places further away from human civilization. They are developing a virtual experience that will put the people in the role of a marine biologist, carrying out biodiversity surveys underwater, and even transporting the viewers to space to monitor global sea surface temperatures.

1. Why did Erika Woolsey set up The Hydrous?

A．To collect money for ocean protection.

B．To let the public know about coral reefs better.

C．To help people enjoy the ocean’s beauty.

D．To encourage people to protect the ocean.

2. What does the underlined word “shift” in Paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．change.	B．experience.
C．material.	D．scene.

3. What can people know through the immersive dive?

A．The story about the ocean.	B．The situation of coral reefs.
C．The connection with sea life.	D．The way to protect the ocean.

4. What does Erika Woolsey hope to do in the future?

A．To bring more fun during the lockdown.

B．To train talents for environment protection.

C．To help people learn more about the ocean.

D．To discover more places that need protection.

10 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What does the grand prize include?

A．A job opportunity.

B．A large sum of money.

C．A chance to study abroad.

2. What will be needed to organize the first challenge?

A．Sand.

B．Boxes.

C．Rice.

3. What will the challengers do in the second challenge?

A．Find three boxes.

B．Solve math questions.

C．Stand on a piece of wood.

4. Where will the last challenge probably take place at first?

A．At the seaside.

B．In a building.

C．In a wood.