1 . A team of researchers at the University of Cambridge have created an innovative floating device that uses solar power to transform polluted water or seawater into clean hydrogen (氢气) fuel and purified water.

This device is particularly beneficial for areas with limited resources or without access to the electricity, as it can operate with any open water source and does not rely on external power sources.

It takes its inspiration from photosynthesis, the process by which plants turn sunlight into food. However, unlike earlier versions of the “artificial leaf”, which could produce green hydrogen fuel from clean water sources, this new device operates from polluted or seawater sources and can produce clean drinking water-at the same time.

“In remote or developing regions, where clean water is relatively scarce and the basic facilities necessary for water purification are not readily available, water splitting (分解) is extremely difficult,” said Ariffin Mohamad Annuar, a member of the research team. “The device that could work using polluted water could solve two problems at once: it could split water to make clean fuel, and it could make clean drinking water.”

The device that can make clean fuel and clean water at once using solar power alone could help address the energy and the water crises facing so many parts of the world. For example, the indoor air pollution caused by cooking with “dirty” fuels, such as kerosene, is responsible for more than three million deaths annually, according to the World Health Organization. Cooking with green hydrogen instead could help reduce that number significantly.

“It’s such a simple design as well: in just a few steps, we can build a device that works well on water from a wide variety of sources,” said Ariffin Mohamad Annuar. “In addition, the new device uses more of the sun’s energy. The light-driven process for making solar fuels only uses a small portion of the solar spectrum (光谱) — there’s a whole lot of the spectrum that goes unused.”

1. What do we know about the new device?

A．It can hardly produce clean hydrogen fuel.

B．It needs a lot of power to function properly.

C．It is not as convenient as the “artificial leaf”.

D．It can turn polluted water into purified water.

2. What does the underlined word “scarce” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．Insufficient.

B．Cheap.

C．Available.

D．Useless.

3. Which word can best describe the new device?

A．Costly.	B．Environmentally-friendly.
C．Outdated.	D．Complex.

4. Why does the author mention the example in paragraph 5?

A．To stress the harm of air pollution to human beings.

B．To predict how many people will buy the new device.

C．To show the potential impact of the new device on the world.

D．To explain the skills of selling the new device to the poor people.

2 . On my son Andrew’s 15th birthday, I took him to a shoe store to get a pair of shoes. We arrived right when the store opened because Andrew is a nonspeaking autistic(自闭) and prefers shopping when it’s not busy. After choosing the desired shoes, we paid and thanked the clerks. “It’s Andrew’s birthday today. Fifteen!” I said. “Happy birthday! they said. ”Have fun!

Instead of having Andrew point to the “thank you” symbol on his picture chart, I hold up his letter board. For 10 years, Andrew has used a picture chart to communicate. The images represent important and common words;people, places, food, greetings and activities. Years ago, we discovered that Andrew could communicate more than just his basic needs via a letter board. He can point to the letters and spell out words, statements, thoughts.

Using the letter board requires significant time and effort for Andrew, but it gives him an opportunity to share far more of who he is than he can convey through pictures and basic words. So instead of dashing out, I hold up the letter board and ask Andrew how he’d like to respond. The store clerks are quiet, watching. Andrew points to each letter, one by one: “Thank you.”I smile and turn to leave.

One of the clerks, a man about my age, speaks up: Um, can I ask you . . what is that? Because I have a brother-in-law ... and he doesn’t talk. “Oh! This is an alphabet board that Andrew uses to communicate,” I reply. “We’ve practiced it for years. It’s quite incredible, as we just didn’t know Andrew was so in there”. We didn’t even know this tool existed-it’s relatively uncommon. It’s changed everything for us, for our family, for Andrew. ”

This is what happens when we invite others into our humanness, and we allow them to share theirs. “Let me give you my contact info, as well as the website of the spelling-to- communicate organization, ” I continue. I ask the clerk about his brother-in-law. He tells us that Jason is 30 and doesn’t prefer to speak, but he can do a lot for himself. Still, no one really knows him. Maybe there’s more, the clerk wonders.

“Amazing!” I say. “We’ve met people-haven’t we, Andrew? -who started using this method when they were 50 or 5 or 15! Andrew, what do you think? ”Andrew starts pointing to letters: “Tell Jason…”

I choke up. Sometimes I forget how powerful the letter board is. How powerful Andrew is. “Tell Jason he will change everyone’s opinion of him in 26 letters. We are all moved, inspired, thrilled. ”Wow, the clerk says.

“Thank you.” Andrew smiles.

1. What is the purpose of the letter board mentioned in the passage?

A．To display birthday messages.

B．To communicate using pictures.

C．To spell out words and convey thoughts.

D．To create an alphabet chart.

2. Why does the store clerk inquire about the letter board?

A．He is curious about the author’s shopping preferences.

B．He wants to know if the letter board is for sale.

C．He has a relative who doesn’t prefer to speak.

D．He is trying to sell a similar communication device.

3. What does Andrew mean when he points to the letters and says, “Tell Jason he will change everyone’s opinion of him in 26 letters”?

A．Jason should learn to use the letter board.

B．Jason has the power to influence people.

C．Jason’s opinions about others will change.

D．Jason needs to express himself in 26 words.

4. What is the best title for the passage?

A．The Power of 26 Letters	B．Uncommon Communication Methods
C．Communication Tools and Autism	D．The Power of A Birthday Present

3 . 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。

Featuring a dynamic design, the horse-face skirt is widely preferred by fans of traditional clothing in China. Exploring ways     1     (promote) the culture, they prefer to wear traditional clothing when taking part in cultural activities and share the beauty on the Internet.

The horse-face skirt     2     (originate) in the Song Dynasty and grew popular during the Ming Dynasty due to its functionality and artistic style. It is     3     (traditional) composed of two identical overlapping (部分重叠) panels     4     (wrap) around the left and right side of the lower body. Each   panel is   composed of a   large   rectangular (长方形的) panel of fabric, a side piece made up of several smaller panels and another rectangular panel narrower than the first.     5     (attach) to a waistband by ties, the two sides overlap each other so that one of the large straight panels on each piece is in the front and back of the skirt. This overlapping nature leaves openings in the front and back of the skirt, making     6     very suitable for horse-riding.

While maintaining the essential design     7     (element) of the horse-face skirt, modern designers change its outline, length, or detailing to match current fashion trends, appealing     8     a broader audience for usual daywear or formal evening fashions.

“This kind of skirt shows the grand     9     (elegant) that is admired in Chinese culture. Knowing     10     we come from, we can then be clear about where we are going, ” Daben, a Chinese vlogger, told the Global Times.

4 . 为了让学生全面发展，你校在课外活动中，举办了主题为“Life Skills Show”比赛，你赢得了一等奖。请你就你的参赛经历写一篇短文向校英文报投稿，内容包括：
1. 活动目的；
2. 介绍你参赛的生活技能（烹饪或手工等）；
3. 个人感受。
注意：1. 写作词数应为80左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

Life Skills Show

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5 . 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。

It was a soccer match     1     no red carpet, no stars and no professional players, but at least 50,000 spectators watched it on-site and millions of others online.

At the Village Super League finals in Rongjiang county, Guizhou province, Saturday night, very few people were concerned about the final score. It was the passion and sportsmanship of these amateur players and the cheerful, warm and relaxing atmosphere on the field       2     inspired the crowd.

“The match itself is more important than its result,” said Dong Yongheng,     3     team is named after his village, Zhongcheng, the Chinese word for     4     (loyal). “By running, fighting and giving my all on the field, I am reminded that I still have a deep passion for life and soccer.”

Dong runs a snack bar in the village but has loved soccer since he     5     (be) very young. In this Village Super League season, which began on May 13, he scored multiple goals,     6    (make) him popular among the spectators who     7       (close) followed the matches.

All the players in the Village Super League come from different     8     (walk) of life. Some are students, while others are butchers, construction workers, drivers or businesspeople. Among the referees are schoolteachers, government workers and villagers. But all are united in their passion for soccer.

For spectators who have traveled from across the country     9    (witness) one of China’s most popular sports events this year, the Village Super League is more than a midsummer soccer fest. It is also     10       successful campaign (运动) presenting everything unique about Rongjiang county, including its culture, landscape, folklore and food.

6 .

(Shidaowan Nuclear Power Plant Photo: Screenshot from the WeChat account of China National Nuclear Corporation)

The Shidaowan Nuclear Power Plant in Rongcheng, East China’s Shandong Province, which uses a high-temperature gas-cooled nuclear reactor (HTGR), entered commercial service on Wednesday following a 168-hour trial, according to the National Energy Administration (NEA).

It is the world’s first fourth-generation (4G) nuclear power plant and uses China’s fully independent intellectual property rights, reflecting the nation’s global leading position in 4G nuclear power technology, said the NEA.

The HTGR will be safe even in the absence of all cooling capabilities and without taking any intervention measures, and accidents such as reactor core meltdowns or radioactive material releases won’t happen, said Zhang Zuoyi, chief designer of the project.

Compared with other clean power sources such as solar, wind and hydro, nuclear power is more stable and cost-effective, Lin Boqiang, director of the China Center for Energy Economics Research at Xiamen University, told the Global Times. It will largely facilitate China to achieve its carbon emission reduction goal as the safety concern is addressed, Lin noted.

Construction of the plant, with a capacity of 200,000 kilowatts, started in December 2012 by China Huaneng Group Co, Tsinghua University and China National Nuclear Corp. It was first linked to the power grid in December 2021.

The power plant was the collaborative effort of more than 500 companies across the industry chain including design, research and development, construction, component manufacturing and operations management, with the localization rate of equipment exceeding 90 percent.

Based on the construction of the plant, China Huaneng Group Co and Tsinghua University together developed six core technologies, fostered a group of experienced talent and formed a reproducible operation mechanism with independent intellectual property rights, said the Xinhua News Agency’s report.

Amid China’s effort in achieving carbon emission reduction goals, the installed capacity of the renewable energy power generation nationwide reached a new high, exceeding 1.4 billion kilowatts by the end of October, reaching 1.404 billion kilowatts, an increase of 20.8 percent year-on-year, accounting for about 49.9 percent of the country’s total installed capacity of power generation.

1. What type of nuclear reactor does the Shidaowan Nuclear Power Plant use?

A．Low-temperature gas-cooled nuclear reactor.	B．High-temperature gas-cooled nuclear reactor.
C．Third-generation nuclear reactor.	D．Liquid-cooled nuclear reactor.

2. According to the NEA, what does the operation of the Shidaowan Nuclear Power Plant represent in terms of technology?

A．China’s dependency on foreign nuclear technology.

B．A step backward in nuclear power technology.

C．China’s lead in third-generation nuclear tech.

D．The world’s first 4G nuclear power plant with China’s own technology.

3. The word “meltdowns” in the third paragraph most likely refers to _________.

A．a rapid increase in temperature

B．a severe accident in which the reactor core loses its structural integrity

C．the normal operation of a nuclear reactor

D．the release of radioactive material for energy production

4. By the end of October, what is the probable installed capacity of energy power generation nationwide in billion kilowatts?

A．20.8.

B．49.9.

C．28.

D．1.4.

7 . Santosh Jadhav, a 28-year-old farmer from Maharashtra’s Sangli district, had never dreamed he would be trending on YouTube tending to his land. But as you watch his videos on Indian Farmer—the channel he runs with his friend, Akash Jadhav, 27—you quickly understand why he is attracting millions of views.

Set up in 2018, Indian Farmer was a result of the two friends’ love of farming, technology and filmmaking. Their videos offer tips, advice and information on various aspects of agriculture, including direct-farming techniques, agriculture-related activities, new farming tools, and agricultural apps. In addition to explaining how agricultural markets function, the channel shares success stories from across the country. A section that draws the most attention features workable solutions to everyday problems and do-it-yourself mechanical quick-fixes.

“We were looking to do something together. Agriculture was something we had in common. Plus, we were young and idealistic—we wanted to do something with a social impact,” says Santosh.

The channel has certainly made a mark, as the numbers show. Since 2018, their channel has built a user base of 21.5 million, thanks to the affordable mobile data revolution and the increasing popularity of smartphones in India. While Akash takes charge of the production side of things, Santosh offers his hands-on knowledge obtained from running his family farm. According to them, the Indian Farmer channel adds an average of 60,000 subscribers and earns between 70,000 and 100,000 in revenue every month.

“Knowledge in this sector is often inter-generational: a farmer is limited to what the others nearby know and do. There was very little by way of books or culture channels that addressed the needs, mistakes and scarcities of farmers. Social media has changed things, enabling cross-sharing of knowledge, all for free,” Akash says.

1. What’s the channel’s most popular section?

A．Inspiring stories.	B．Advanced tools.
C．Practical solutions.	D．Agricultural activities.

2. Which of the following words can best describe the two farmers?

A．Experienced and sociable.	B．Cooperative and devoted.
C．Conservative and diligent.	D．Courageous and humorous.

3. Why are the figures listed in paragraph 4?

A．To show the economic gains.	B．To imply the cooperation relationship.
C．To highlight social media engagement.	D．To indicate the success of the channel.

4. What can we learn from Akash’s words?

A．Resources were available to address farmers’ needs.

B．Farming knowledge relies on books and the Internet.

C．Agricultural modernization is dependent on technology.

D．Social media facilitates free knowledge exchange in agriculture.

8 . New academicians take a group photo after the certificate awarding ceremony at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.     1     They aimed to make greater contributions to the development of the nation’s scientific research by encouraging the young generation and promoting the role of female scientists.

Academician Huang made three commitments to himself — to contribute his energy to scientific research; to apply his achievements in the fields; and to provide more opportunities for young people. “    2     By allowing outstanding young people to have sufficient opportunities, we can foster a diverse scientific community with vigorous debates,” he said.

Academician Jian Zhimin advised young students that persistence is the most valuable spirit on the path of scientific research. “    3     This determination and perseverance are essential in scientific research,” he said.

Out of the 59 newly elected academicians this year, five of them are female scientists. Academician Jin Kuijuan mentioned that women have unique perspectives, and respecting the role of women is of crucial significance.     4    

    5     For example, she said funding institutions such as the National Natural Science Foundation and the Excellent Young Scholars Fund have relaxed their age restrictions, taking into consideration the time and energy women need for childbirth and childcare.

A．They are more resilient (有适应力的), which contributes to the development of science.

B．In recent years, Jin has noticed the increasing support for female scientists in China.

C．As academicians, we need to share more opportunities with the younger generation.

D．She has both male and female students, who are irreplaceable to each other.

E．The 59 newly elected academicians vowed at the ceremony on Friday.

F．I hope the honor I received can inspire more females to develop an interest in physics.

G．To achieve success in the field of science, the most important thing is to persist with original intention.

9 . Yunnan offers exciting experiences of unique customs. If you are already planning to visit Yunnan, see our festival tours.

The Torch (火把) Festival

Date: July /August (days 24 to 26 of the sixth lunar month)

Location: Lijiang

It is a traditional festival among the Yi, Naxi, and Bai minority (少数民族) groups. According to the ancient rule of the Naxi people, the Torch Festival should last three days, and every family should light a big torch in front of their doors for the three days.

Recommended Tour: 3-Day Ancient Lijiang Tour

The Water Splashing (泼酒) Festival

Date: April 13 to 15

Location: Xishuangbanna

It is the most important festival observed by the Dai people of Xishuangbanna in southen Yunnan. It involves splashing water, lantern floating and other joyful activities.

Recommended tour: 6-Day Xishaungbanna Tour

The Horse Race Festival

Date: May/June (5th of the fifth lunar month)

Location: Shangri-la

Falling on the same date as the Dragon Boat Festival, it is the biggest gathering of Tibetans in Yunnan and usually lasts about 3 days. During the celebrations, traditional performances and competitions like horse racing and wrestling (摔跤) will beheld.

Recommended tour: 8-Day Yunnan Tour of the Nu River and Tengchong

The Third Month Fair of the Bai Group

Date: April /May(days 15 to 21 of the third lunar month)

Location: Dali

It is one of the most important festivals celebrated by the Bai people in Dali in western Yunnan. During the March Fair, the streets of Dali Ancient Town are packed with people selling amazing minority items.

Recommended tour: 6-Day Yunnan Minorities Tour

1. What do the Torch Festival and the Water Splashing Festival have in common?

A．The date.	B．The location.
C．The lasting time	D．The celebratory events.

2. Which festival will you attend if you like to buy local gifts while travelling?

A．The Torch Festival.	B．The Water Splashing Festival.
C．The Horse Race Festival.	D．The Third Month Fair of the Bai Group.

3. Where is the text probably taken from?

A．A business research.	B．A newspaper report.
C．An educational magazine.	D．An advertising leaflet.

10 . 3M and Discovery Education announced Sean Jiang from Gilman School as one of the top ten finalists from across the nation for the 2023 3M Young Scientist Challenge. It’s a competition that encourages students to identify an everyday problem and submit a video showing the science behind the solution he or she came up with.

14-year-old Jiang decided to help those who can’t see. Blind people had a hard time navigating (导航) objects that are medium to far range. So Jiang wanted to design something to give them a heads-up on obstacles (障碍) that may be incoming.

Jiang’s inspiration came from the powers of the hearing system. “I learned in school that bats and whales are able to use echolocation (回声定位) to help them navigate and just use their sense of hearing and I also saw on YouTube some very skilled blind people that use echolocation to help them walk,” said Jiang.

Jiang started with a virtual reality setting and then made it a reality. His creation uses a depth camera that can detect how close objects are, thus giving enough time to dodge the obstacles. When a blind is walking with the device, the sensor of the depth camera gathers the information regarding the obstacles’ position and distance. Then the AI system in it will turn the distance data into musical sound guidance. This could significantly increase the walking speed of a blind person as well as decrease the number of obstacles they hit.

Some other similar programs were alright at finding objects that were in close range, but Jiang still wanted the blind to experience the world even fuller so they were able to see stuff that was much further away than their circle of reach.

In October, the top ten finalists will compete in person in Minneapolis for the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist” and a $25, 000 prize.

1. What can we learn about Jiang from the first two paragraphs?

A．He was the champion of the 2023 3M event.

B．He invented technology to remove road obstacles.

C．He sought to assist the blind in walking smoothly.

D．He developed a new navigation app for his school.

2. Why did Jiang mention “echolocation”?

A．To show the development of technology.

B．To present the difficulties the blind face.

C．To stress the significance of hearing.

D．To explain the inspiration of his invention.

3. What does the underlined word “dodge” mean in paragraph 4?

A．Avoid.

B．Encounter.

C．Challenge.

D．Remove.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．3M facilities intended for the blind.

B．A teen using sound to help the blind.

C．An invention to cure vision problems.

D．A competition to improve the blind’s life.