1 . “For thousands of years, humans have raced to be the first to climb a peak, cross a frontier, or document a new species or landscape. Now in some cases, we’re racing to be the last,” said New York Times’ Paige McClanahan.

In recent years, a growing industry has been stimulated by climate change — last-chance tourism. According to Eco Sustainable Solutions, a UK-based organic recycling and waste processing company last-chance tourism is a kind of tourism geared toward seeing the last of something due to climate change. As temperatures and water levels rise, this could mean seizing the last chance to see the Great Barrier Reef, an Arctic glacier and a remote island that is sinking.

As millions of tourists rush to imperiled destinations, some are taking advantage of the increasing demand to spread environmental awareness. One tourist spot, the Sea of Ice in France, opened an exhibit in 2021 to educate visitors on glaciers and climate change. This educational push seems to be having an impact, as a 2023 survey showed that 80% of the visitors would try to learn more about the environment and how to protect it while 77% said that they would reduce their water and energy use.

However, the last-chance tourism industry may become kind of our concern. As more and more people flood into these areas in a panic to see them before they are gone, they in fact contribute to the increased greenhouse gas emissions and over tourism, leading to their destruction. Just as many scholars put it, last-chance tourism is a paradox (悖论).

Although tourists may acknowledge the broader risks and importance of climate change, it’s even more important to connect the responsibility of the individual tourism to the future of our planet. It’s not just about understanding the need to stop climate change; it’s even more important to avoid making it worse.

1. What does the author intend to do by quoting Paige McClanahan’s words?

A．To highlight the value of New York Times.

B．To recall and memorize the good old days.

C．To channel readers’ awareness to climate change.

D．To introduce the subject of last-chance tourism.

2. What may be considered as last-chance tourism?

A．Visiting the Confucius Temple in China.

B．Taking an adventurous trip to the depths of the ocean.

C．Climbing the snow-covered mountain of Kilimanjaro.

D．Admiring the unique Spanish architecture at Cusco, Peru.

3. What does the underlined word “imperiled” in Paragraph 3 most likely mean?

A．Popular.

B．Remote.

C．Endangered.

D．Preserved.

4. Which of the following statements best describes last-chance tourism?

A．It’s a double-edged sword.	B．It’s a stone to kill two birds.
C．It’s a life jacket in the stormy sea.	D．It’s a dream that will never come true.

2 . In recent news, it has been reported that Hollywood executives have decided to cancel an $800 million investment in a new studio. This decision comes after the emergence of a groundbreaking technology called Sora, which has sent shockwaves throughout the film industry.

Sora, developed by OpenAI, has quickly become a focal point of discussion within Hollywood. Unlike previous AI video generators, Sora has the ability to generate one-minute-long videos based on textual prompts (提示) while maintaining visual quality and consistency. It can switch between shots, adjust compositions and accurately combine video content with relevant background themes, resulting in incredibly realistic and virtual videos.

The introduction of Sora is just the beginning of a shocking shift in the film industry. Its ability to generate high-quality videos based on textual prompts raises questions about the future of traditional movie-making processes. The potential to replace certain job roles and disturb the livelihoods of some individuals is just a small part of the overall impact.

Looking ahead, the innovation of productivity tools and the potential for smaller teams to create Hollywood-level movies at a lower cost may completely transform the way films are produced. This shift could bring about new production methods, viewing experiences, and even business models within the film and entertainment industry.

This breakthrough technology has raised concerns within the film industry, as it has the potential to disturb the traditional movie production process and cause certain job roles’ losses. However, this technology also presents opportunities for innovation and cost-effective production methods. The film industry is on the edge of a transformative era, and only time will tell how Sora and similar technologies will shape its future. It likely won’t be long before audiences get to see film productions made with Sora. It can be stated with certainty that the film industry has entered a new era of rapid development in AI technology.

1. What is paragraph 2 mainly about?

A．The impact of Sora.	B．The concern of Sora.
C．The potential of Sora.	D．The advantage of Sora.

2. What will be challenged by Sora in the film industry?

A．Textual creation.	B．Individual investment.
C．Relevant job chances.	D．Video content development.

3. In what aspects does Sora influence the film industry?

A．Culture and business models.	B．Film production cost and methods.
C．Function and viewing experiences.	D．Innovation and background themes.

4. What is the author’s attitude towards Sora?

A．Objective.

B．Dismissive.

C．Unclear.

D．Doubtful.

3 . Hugging probably isn’t the first thing when thinking about what robots could help humankind with. Alexis E. Block and her colleagues have been involved in the HuggieBot project for years, trying to be trailblazers of a robot that could deliver human-like hugs.

The creators of HuggieBot 3.0 claim that it is “the first fully autonomous human-sized hugging robot”. It features a custom sensing system called “HuggieChest” consisting of two inflated (膨胀的) parts to imitate a soft chest. But there’s a lot more than a soft chest to the HuggieBot 3.0. The advanced robot delivers hugs using a pair of arms mounted to a custom metal frame (框架) that were selected for being human-like, quiet, and safe. As a hug takes place, a pressure sensor and microphone inside the artificial chest detect human touch and begin transmitting data via a board to a Robot Operating System (ROS)-based computer located in the HuggieBot 3.0’s 3D-printed head.

The team used feedback from 512 real people over 32 trials to train a machine learning system. “The HuggieBot 3.0 can stay still, move slightly vertically (垂直地), tap or pat a person’s back and squeeze with-varying degrees of pressure The team wrote in a recent study.

Alexis E. Block started working on the original HuggieBot back in 2016. The first version was built on six “hugging commandments” to autonomously enter into and end a hug. The HuggieBot 2.0 took the project a step further by integrating sensing perception, but the 3.0 version is the most advanced version with five added hugging commandments to deliver a human, like hugging experience.

In a recent test, 12 participants who hugged the robot for longer declared that they felt it was “significantly nicer to hug” than previous ones.

The HuggieBot 3.0 isn’t perfect, and its creators point out that it isn’t quite like hugging a real person just yet, but they are already working on a fourth version that should come with improved hug positioning and techniques. They hope that one day HuggieBot will be able to take the place of the sensation of human bugging to perfection.

1. What does the underlined word “trailblazers” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?

A．Trackers.

B．Protectors.

C．Pioneers.

D．Criticizers.

2. What is Paragraph 2 mainly about HuggieBot 3.0?

A．Its designing process.	B．Its main function.
C．Its working principle.	D．Its practical usage.

3. What’s special about HuggieBot 3.0?

A．It works fully autonomously.	B．It perceives people’s senses.
C．It pats and squeezes a person gently.	D．It offers human life hugging experience.

4. Which can best describe the prospect of future HuggieBot?

A．Promising.

B．Far-reaching.

C．Profitable.

D．Uncertain.

4 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What does Lily say about getting better at windsurfing?

A．It varies from person to person.

B．It takes less time than expected.

C．It depends on the equipment.

2. What helped Lily learn windsurfing quickly?

A．Practicing on her own.

B．Learning from her friend.

C．Taking some courses.

3. What does Lily enjoy most about windsurfing (帆板运动)?

A．Mastering new techniques.

B．Forgetting daily worries.

C．Improving her fitness.

4. What is Lily trying to do in the future?

A．Develop a new hobby.

B．Become a windsurfing instructor.

C．Take part in windsurfing competitions.

5 . As I walked to the market this morning, I saw an old man with a dirty scarf covering his face seated in front of a shop. His clothes were _________ and his hair under an ill-fitting cap was long and messy. I decided he was a beggar. I made a mental _________ that I should give him whatever change I had after _________. A few feet away was a young man lying on the pavement obviously _________ and no one who passed by _________. I thought it was some good-for-nothing drunkard who had _________ all his money on alcohol.

Back to the beggar, I handed over all the _________ change to him. He hardly _________ my eyes, but shook his head. I _________ and pushed it into his hand. As I stood there satisfied over my great act of __________, the old man slowly got up, walked to the tea shop nearby, and __________ a sandwich and a cup of hot tea with the money I gave. He then went back to the young man, helped him to __________ and eat. Noticing I was still there watching, he explained that boy had not eaten for two days, which was why he __________ on the pavement.

Suddenly I felt so small and admired the non-judgemental __________ of a man who has so little compared to me. He was truly charitable even in a far less __________ state than me.

1.

A．ironed

B．wrinkled

C．folded

D．abandoned

2.

A．picture

B．effort

C．note

D．calculation

3.

A．work

B．exercise

C．meeting

D．shopping

4.

A．frustrated

B．frozen

C．drunken

D．exhausted

5.

A．took notice

B．took control

C．took pains

D．took risks

6.

A．invested

B．bet

C．fixed

D．wasted

7.

A．useless

B．loose

C．extra

D．unnecessary

8.

A．focused on

B．looked into

C．turned to

D．stared at

9.

A．insisted

B．rejected

C．ignored

D．regretted

10.

A．charity

B．courage

C．devotion

D．random

11.

A．collected

B．harvested

C．purchased

D．enjoyed

12.

A．stay up

B．straighten up

C．bounce up

D．sit up

13.

A．wandered

B．collapsed

C．begged

D．slipped

14.

A．responsibility

B．superiority

C．generosity

D．dignity

15.

A．privileged

B．stable

C．powerful

D．independent

6 . A gap year in South Africa after high school lit Emily Parfit’s passion for education, which she loved so much that she considered remaining in South Africa and giving up a college education.

Her father talked with her about how she could have an impact on the kids that came to her classroom every year if she stayed. He also told her she could come back, get a college education and have a much broader, systemic impact. That conversation convinced Parfit to return and concentrate on mechanical engineering at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

She loved math classes, computer science classes and physics classes, as what all of those subjects have in common is finding ways of dealing with problems, and that’s been the theme that runs throughout her career. She loved addressing tricky problems, breaking them down into their component pieces, and dealing with them one at a time.

Parfit combined that love and the method to build a career settling some of the most pressing challenges in education. She’s a partner at Education Resource Strategies (ERS), a Massachusetts-based nonprofit that helps U.S. school districts promote fairness in education and improved outcomes for all of their students—especially those with the greatest learning needs and those being furthest from the educational opportunity. “I’m so glad I can apply the skills I built in the field of education,” she said.

Parfit doesn’t stop here. She teamed up with local businesses to offer internships (实习岗位) to high school students, and engaged with community partners who can offer enrichment activities. “For so long, schools have been a place where one teacher faces a fixed number of kids,” Parfit said. “Schools and systems were set up as if all students needed the same things. We’re trying to cooperate with communities to broaden available resources to create learning experiences beyond a classroom that unlock every child’s potential.”

1. What did Parfit do after her gap year in South Africa?

A．She majored in education.	B．She stayed there to teach.
C．She sought higher education.	D．She bonded with her father.

2. How did college education benefit Parfit?

A．It made her a partner of ERS.	B．It enabled her to start a business.
C．It gave access to professional courses.	D．It developed her problem-solving techniques.

3. What is the goal of ERS?

A．To combine love with teaching.	B．To bring equal education to US kids.
C．To meet US students’ learning needs.	D．To help US kids study with a good approach.

4. Why did Parfit go into partnership with the community?

A．To enrich classroom activities.	B．To inspire students’ love for learning.
C．To widen students’ working experience.	D．To offer out-of-class learning opportunities.

7 . In the quest for academic excellence and a deeper understanding of subjects, high school students often seek additional resources to complement their learning. Textbooks, both traditional and digital, play a vital role in this journey. Here’s a look at several textbook options that satisfy different learning styles and needs.

Modern World History Explained

Dive into the complexities of global events with “Modern World History Explained.” This textbook offers comprehensive coverage of historical milestones from the 15th century to the present, enriched with interactive timelines and critical thinking exercises.

Price: $75

Format: Hardcover and digital access

Supplementary Materials: Online quizzes and interactive maps

Advanced Mathematics Unlocked

Unlock the world of advanced mathematics with this textbook designed for students who wish to challenge themselves beyond the standard curriculum. It includes topics in calculus, statistics, and advanced geometry, with problem sets and conceptual explanations.

Price: $65

Format: Softcover and digital access

Supplementary Materials: Video tutorials and practice exams

Chemistry in Context: Applying Chemistry to Society

“Chemistry in Context” is tailored for students who are curious about the role of chemistry in our daily lives and global challenges. It covers basic concepts of chemistry and their applications in environmental science, technology, and health.

Price: $70

Format: Softcover and digital access

Supplementary Materials: Interactive experiments and case studies

Language Arts: Expression and Understanding

This textbook is designed to enhance language arts skills, focusing on literature, composition, and critical analysis. It provides a diverse range of readings, writing prompts (提示) , and grammar exercises tailored to high school students.

Price: $60

Format: Hardcover and digital access

Supplementary Materials: Online discussion forums and writing workshops

1. What is unique about “Advanced Mathematics Unlocked”?

A．It covers multiple topics.	B．It provides online guidance.
C．It suits above-average learners.	D．It assesses academic performance.

2. If a student wants to purchase textbooks over critical thinking, he’ll pay at most ________.

A．$145.

B．$140.

C．$135.

D．$130.

3. What is common to all the textbooks mentioned in terms of availability?

A．They include digital access with purchasing.	B．They come with a suite of video tutorials.
C．They offer interactive experiences.	D．They have hardcover format.

8 . After ending a mining season in Colorado in 2018, Todd was ready to get back in the game. Gold mining runs in his ________. Jack, Todd’s father, mined for gold in the 1980s, but never struck it ________. Now, Todd is more determined than ever to make good on his father’s dreams.

This time around Todd is ________ his life savings into a run-down mine located nearly 100 miles north of Nome, Alaska. ________, after years of greenhorn crews, worn-out equipment, and little to no results, Todd can’t afford any ________.

Hit by the recession (经济衰退), Todd Hoffman decided to take the biggest ________ of his life and headed north in search of gold. ________ with little more than a dream and devoted crew, Todd learns gold mining in a ________ way. Conditions are dangerous, pay dirt (矿石) are never ________, and disaster hides around every corner.

In order to make his dream a reality, he’s ________ his closest family and friends. Joining Todd in Alaska will be his father Jack and his son Hunter along with an experienced crew of ________. For Todd, it’s more than just finding gold — this could be Todd’s last ________ to set up his family for generations to come and share the wealth with his friends who’ve ________ by his side over the years. This is Todd’s time to prove he has what it ________ to hit the ultimate mother-lode (终极矿脉). One thing is for sure… the ________ is on.

1.

A．blood

B．head

C．eye

D．skin

2.

A．important

B．valuable

C．strong

D．big

3.

A．depositing

B．expanding

C．emptying

D．narrowing

4.

A．Besides

B．However

C．Moreover

D．Otherwise

5.

A．mistakes

B．savings

C．crews

D．dreams

6.

A．fortune

B．risk

C．discovery

D．promise

7.

A．Impressed

B．Satisfied

C．Armed

D．Compared

8.

A．skilful

B．different

C．new

D．hard

9.

A．guaranteed

B．reflected

C．suspended

D．updated

10.

A．agreeing with

B．picking up

C．working out

D．bringing in

11.

A．instructors

B．miners

C．competitors

D．owners

12.

A．dream

B．game

C．chance

D．success

13.

A．stuck

B．passed

C．got

D．fixed

14.

A．means

B．decides

C．takes

D．seems

15.

A．future

B．gold

C．friendship

D．pressure

9 . Electric vehicles (EVs) are due for huge upgrades in driving range and charging times as new battery technologies are introduced. Lithium (Li) -ion (锂离子) batteries could be out of date in a few years as alternatives like Li-sulfur, Li-air and Li-metal enter production. Meanwhile, quantum (量子) battery charging promises to reduce charge times from hours to seconds.

Scientists at the University of Michigan have produced a stable Li-sulfur battery using Kevlar, the material used in body armor, to increase the amount it can be charged and discharged. Fibers in the Kevlar stop certain parts of lithium from growing between the electrodes (电极) and destroying the battery. Research group leader Nicholas Kotov called the design “nearly perfect” in terms of capacity and efficiency. The battery can handle summer heat and winter cold extremes, and in real-world driving conditions, its lifespan should be 1, 000 cycles or ten years.

Sulfur is a great alternative for EVs because it is a tiny amount of the cost of metals like what is used in Li-ion battery electrodes, and there is simply more of it. Mainstream electric cars fitted with its battery could achieve around 900 miles on a single charge. Battery researchers say the Li-sulfur battery’s energy density could theoretically be 10 times higher than the best Li-ion battery, so it will drive further, be safer and more environmentally friendly, for less money.

In Japan, university researchers have teamed up with a telecommunications company to develop a Li-air battery with an energy density (500 Wh/kg) two to five times better than Li-ion.

Newer quantum technologies that will speed up vehicle charging times are added to these breakthroughs in battery materials and energy density. Li-metal, often talked about as solid-state batteries, are long-lasting and capable of rapid charging, especially when they are paired with quantum technologies that connect all the battery cells simultaneously. And once investments in quantum charging and batteries are made, it could revolutionize transport and the way we use energy worldwide.

1. What can we learn about Kevlar?

A．It will speed up vehicle charging.	B．It can lengthen battery’s cycle life.
C．It can boost EV range to 1000 miles.	D．It will break down in extreme weather.

2. Why is Sulfur a fantastic option for EVs?

A．It has been tested in Li-ion battery.

B．It is less expensive and more accessible.

C．Li-sulfur battery has been installed in mainstream EVs.

D．Li-sulfur battery features a higher energy density than Li-metal.

3. What can we conclude from the last paragraph?

A．Quantum technologies give rise to Li-metal.

B．Battery materials determine vehicle charging speed.

C．Li-metal is more efficient in charging than Li-sulfur.

D．More investments are needed in quantum technology.

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

A．Which Battery Suits Evs Best?

B．What Is The Future Road Of EVs?

C．Why Will Li-ion Batteries Be Replaced?

D．How Will Reformed Lithium Batteries Influence Evs?

10 . Aviation is a big polluter. Cutting the sector’s impact on global warming is high on the agenda. Although many governments are regulating emissions from cars and trucks, air transportation is technologically rooted in old patterns.

Facing the reality that the sector will keep emitting a lot, ICAO has established an international carbon-trading plan—Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation, or CORSIA. This encourages wide use of offsets (抵消) : aviation companies can buy emissions credits or invest in sectors that store carbon, such as forestry, to allow them to carry on as normal. CORSIA aims to keep CO2 emissions at 2019 levels through such purchases for emissions over that year’s baseline. ICAO predicts that increasing demand might reach 1. 7 billion tons by 2035, potentially making aviation the largest offset market in the world.

Yet offsetting faces a fundamental challenge: the size of the offset requires estimating flows of warming pollution that would have occurred if the carbon-removal project hadn’t existed, and comparing them against flows with the project in place. The former — a baseline that is unobservable — is a hotbed for shady accounting.

The vast majority of offsets today and in the expected future come from forest-protection and regrowth projects. The track record of reliable accounting in these industries is poor, because they lack convincing baselines. Even with oversight, forest projects are often troubled by wild assumptions, for example that trees would disappear completely from these areas in the absence of those projects, even when there are other forest protections in place. Such assumptions drive up baselines and flood the market with huge volumes of offsets. They make it easier for accountants to claim a net reduction in emissions even though the atmosphere sees little or no benefit. These problems are essentially unfixable. Evidence is mounting that offsetting as a strategy for reaching net zero is a dead end.

In our view, this approach could prove dangerously narrow. Removing aviation’s impact on global warming means upending the industry. The longer that reality is overlooked, the harder it will be to find effective solutions.

1. What does aviation refer to in the passage?

A．A project which needs revising.	B．A resource which needs trading.
C．A market which needs expanding.	D．An industry which needs reforming.

2. Why should aviation companies buy emissions credits?

A．To support the development of forestry.	B．To earn the largest profit in offset market.
C．To keep the levels of emission unchanged.	D．To make up for emissions over the baseline.

3. What can we infer from paragraph 4?

A．Too many offsets are filling the market now.

B．Some projects may cheat to create more offsets.

C．Offsetting contributes a lot to reducing emissions.

D．Trees would totally disappear without the projects.

4. What is the author’s attitude towards the CORSIA?

A．Disapproving.

B．Confused.

C．Favorable.

D．Unconcerned.