1 . Robots have long been drawing inspiration from animals, with the creation of robot dogs or snake-shaped robots. And yet, the field of robotics is far less enthusiastic about the other kind of living things—plants. Barbara Mazzolai, an Italian roboticist owes this to a misconception about plant behavior: that they cannot move or think. “It’s not true at all,” she says. To challenge this view, Dr Mazzolai and her team recently launched a machine called “FiloBot”, a robot based on a climbing species.

To survive, a climbing plant must switch between several different behaviors. In forest environments, it must first grow out of the soil and travel along the ground in search of a support to hold onto, such as a nearby tree. Once a support is located, though, the plant fixes itself around the object and then growing towards the light. To choose the best angle to grow upwards, a climbing plant uses its shoots(芽) to receive information about light and gravity.

FiloBot has sensors on its main shoot. It can 3D-print its body with plastic and grow at a controllable rate. These functions, researchers found, enabled FiloBot to cross gaps, and find things to attach to. The lack of heavy on-board computing device means that it is light and requires minimal care, while its slow pace means that it doesn’t disturb things around it, making it possible to move through a complex, unseen environment, or monitoring disaster sites.

For now, FiloBot is still being tested. Its tendrils(卷须) have not left the laboratory. Still, it has already been employed in deconstructing plant behaviour. For example, it was long assumed that climbing plants find their supports by growing towards shade, though the exact mechanism was unclear. FiloBot could imitate this behaviour by detecting far-red light, which is typical of shaded areas, providing clues to how plants do it.

Dr Mazzolai hopes that such projects will inspire other roboticists to take their cues from plants and develop completely new technologies.

1. What does the misconception about plants in the field of robotics focus on?

A．Their shapes.	B．Their diversity.
C．Their body language.	D．Their capabilities.

2. What is an advantage of FiloBot?

A．It moves quickly.	B．It has a solid metal body.
C．It adapts to different environment.	D．It is attached to huge computers.

3. What is paragraph 4 mainly about?

A．The limitations of FiloBot.	B．The current use of FiloBot.
C．The components of FiloBot.	D．The unique feature of FiloBot’s design.

4. Which of the following is a suitable title for this text?

A．A Role Model for Robotics Research

B．A Glimpse into the World of Robotics

C．A Plant-Inspired Innovation in Robotics

D．A Misunderstanding of the Plant Kingdom

2 . 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。

90 percent of the world’s fireworks are produced in China. The biggest importer is the US, which     1     (ship) in more than US $650 million worth in 2021.

The details of fireworks’ invention are lost to history, but     2     folk tale tries to fill in the gap. It goes that monk named Li Tian created fireworks around 1400 years ago by packing gunpowder into bamboo tubes     3     (scare) off evil spirits.

An explosive mixture of gun-powder and chemical compounds (化合物) is     4     makes fireworks flash in pretty colours and fun shapes. The images they make depend on the placement of these compounds inside the shell of the firework. Crowd     5    (favorite) include “comet”, featuring a long trail of sparks; “peony”, a flower-like burst; and “strobe”, which produces a blinking effect.

The single biggest firework shell ever shot was part of a 2020 winter-carnival display in Colorado, US.     6     (weigh) 1268 kilograms, it rose more than a kilometre into the sky     7     bursting, turning the night sky red.

For centuries we had to light firework     8     hand, but since the 1980s, there’s been another option: computer-controlled lighters, which made music at displays more     9     (precise) timed and safer. An even greener alternative recently     10     (adopt) is using drones to trace flashy patterns in the sky. The future of fireworks, like so much else, may be robotic.

3 . Sargassum is the smelly seaweed piling up on beaches across the Caribbean. It isn’t something most people ________ kindly. But for Omar de Vazquez, a gardener, it was something like a(an) ________.

Years ago, as part of his gardening business, Omar launched a beach cleanup service to ________ the leafy seaweed. But, as its ________ intensified, he started considering how to turn it into something useful, and in 2018 he ________ a way to use it in building blocks. He started his company—SargaBlock to market the bricks which are being ________ by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) as a sustainable solution to a current environmental problem.

“When I look at SargaBlock, it’s like looking in a ________,” he says, comparing his company to overcoming his personal ________, including drug and alcohol addiction. “That was a time when I felt unwanted and ________, like the sargassum people complained about.”

Luckily, Omar grew up in nature and poverty, which ________ his character and turned him into someone who takes action. He wanted to make something good out of something everyone saw as bad. Omar then put his idea into ________, mixing 40% sargassum with other organic materials, like clay, which he then puts into a block-forming machine. The process was ________.

The UNDP selected Omar’s work for their Accelerator Lab, which ________ and recognizes innovative solutions to environmental challenges globally. The idea is that some of the most timely and creative ________ come from locals suffering from environmental dilemmas ________.

1.

A．look upon

B．bring in

C．give up

D．come across

2.

A．game

B．gift

C．race

D．trouble

3.

A．access

B．harvest

C．remove

D．process

4.

A．heat

B．image

C．presence

D．movement

5.

A．worked out

B．called for

C．showed off

D．turned down

6.

A．highlighted

B．undervalued

C．overemphasized

D．withdrawn

7.

A．window

B．mirror

C．dictionary

D．puzzle

8.

A．struggles

B．fears

C．desires

D．opinions

9.

A．appreciated

B．infected

C．interrupted

D．rejected

10.

A．fitted

B．shaped

C．revealed

D．described

11.

A．operation

B．words

C．bills

D．profit

12.

A．straightforward

B．transforming

C．natural

D．consuming

13.

A．combines

B．provides

C．identifies

D．drafts

14.

A．responses

B．reminder

C．appeal

D．issues

15.

A．alongside

B．offshore

C．underneath

D．firsthand

4 . It is William Shakespeare, the great coiner, who is given credit for the word. Coriolanus, one of his characters, compares going into exile (流放) to a “lonely dragon” retiring to his cave. He was talking about a physical state: someone who was lonely was simply alone. Then, thanks to the Romantic poets, the word took on emotional meanings. Loneliness became a condition of the soul. For William Wordsworth, who famously “wandered lonely as a cloud”, the natural world offered an escape from negative feelings of loneliness—a host of flowers could provide “cheerful company”. Today, loneliness is often seen as a serious public-health problem, creating the feeling of disconnection.

In his book Solitude, Netta Weinstein, a psychology professor wonders the rewards of time spent alone. He begins with an account of stories of solitude created by figures such as Michel Montaigne, a writer, and Edward Hopper, a painter. Netta then draw on laboratory work, interviews and surveys to clarify how being alone really affects the human mind.

It is common to treat loneliness and solitude as synonyms (同义词), but they are not. The author suggests that what is negatively described as one state can be positively expressed as the other. Loneliness, often perceived as negative, can potentially be transformed into a positive experience of solitude. To this end he emphasizes how being alone can help restore people and offers practical advice. In a noisy world, he argues, people should make time to be alone, away from attention-grabbing motives.

The book’s interviewees mostly regard a lack of company as a contributor to autonomy. But this depends on whether solitude is desirable or not. Enforced solitude, such as that experienced by prisoners, typically leads to nothing but suffering. Elective solitude, by contrast, affords space for self-reflection. It can open the door to “peak experiences” such as wonder, harmony, and happiness. In a highly-connected digital age, however, many readers do not fancy their chances of ever taking a long enough break to have such experiences.

1. How does paragraph 1 introduce the concept of loneliness?

A．By tracing its development.	B．By analyzing causes.
C．By making a point to be argued.	D．By sharing a romantic story.

2. What does Netta Weinstein’s book Solitude focus on?

A．The various terms of solitude.

B．The societal impact of solitude.

C．The long-standing history of solitude.

D．The psychological benefits of solitude.

3. Netta describes the state of loneliness as __________.

A．stressful

B．essential

C．changeable

D．never beneficial

4. What does Netta most probably agree with according to the last paragraph?

A．Enforced solitude is a matter of choice.

B．Enforced solitude contributes to autonomy.

C．Elective solitude is rare in the digital world.

D．Elective solitude interrupts peak experiences.

5 . Aptitude Tests Recommendations

Aptitude tests are helpful to job seekers of all ages. While career quizzes explore your values and work style, aptitude tests provide a more objective evaluation of your skills, helping you select a career you’re most likely to succeed in. Below are some of the best aptitude tests out there.

Clifton Strengths

The Clifton Strengths program was created based on research around leadership. The research in question pointed to common strengths among successful leaders, like strategic thinking, adaptability and communication. To complete the test, you must answer around 150 questions, each within 20 seconds. Allen Cheung, a tech blogger, notes that CliftonStrengths is more valuable than your average career test because it includes “tricky questions which aren’t as easily gamed”.

Red Bull Wingfinder

Developed and tested out by psychology experts, the Red Bull Wingfinder assesses your thinking under pressure. Questions include image sorting, logic puzzles and leadership-related questions. Once you complete the test, you’ll receive a nine-page report and career coaching tailored to your results.

SEI Development Report

The SEI Development Report is an extensive EQ aptitude test that has timed right-and-wrong answers that assess eight fundamentals, including emotional literacy, emotional management and empathy. At the end, you’ll receive a 20-page report with recommended courses on workplace EQ development.

CareerOneStop

While it only takes a few minutes to complete, the CareerOneStop Skills Assessment will help you rank both your technical and soft skills. The career suggestions at the end can be sorted by relevance, annual wages, and job outlook, coupled with with professional coaching or consultation improve your skills.

1. What do aptitude tests mainly assess for job seekers?

A．Their work ethics.	B．Their career interest.
C．Their preferred work style.	D．Their professional competence.

2. What is a unique feature of Clifton Strengths?

A．It evaluates leadership skills.	B．It is developed by experts.
C．It includes challenging questions.	D．It offers a comprehensive report.

3. Which test suits a job seeker who prefers categorized suggestions and career coaching?

A．Clift on Strengths	B．Red Bull Wingfinder
C．SEI Development Report	D．CareerOneStop

7 . 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。

The 37th International Kite Festival in Berck-sur-Mer opened on April 20 on a beach in France. As the largest and     1     (influence) kite-themed event in France, it attracted global visitors and kites from 25 countries and regions. China made a wonderful     2     (appear) as the first-ever guest country of honor at the event.

Chinese-inflected cultural activities took place at the festival, including flying performance at the opening ceremony, workshops for kite-making     3     (technique) by artisans (工匠) from Weifang, as well as performances and experiential activities from lion dances     4     martial arts and performances of traditional Chinese instruments and tea ceremonies.

Yan Zhenquan, minister counselor of the Chinese Embassy in France, Jacques Billant, governor of Pas-de-Calais,     5     Liu Hongge, director of the China Cultural Center in Paris attended and     6     (deliver) speeches. Liu said, “the kite is a key image representing     7     friendship between China and France.” In 1958, the two countries coproduced a film titled Fengzheng    8    (concern) the adventures and friendship between Chinese and French children     9     (create) by a kite. Liu also noted that as the organizer of guest country activities, the China Cultural Center in Paris would continue to use kites as a medium     10    (tell) stories about kite culture in China and France, foster mutual understanding between peoples, and contribute to the success of the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism.

8 . Sumiel was having a tough Friday. It was October 2020, and the 71-year-old, who was dealing with kidney failure and had been on dialysis(透析) for a few years, _________ himself at a vascular center 30 miles from _________ for the second time in 24 hours.

Sumiel was no _________ to the struggles of kidney disease. He’d been diagnosed with diabetes more than 20 years before, which _________ his kidney problems. He was on the transplant list, but no matches had yet _________.

Timothy Letts, 31, was driving north to visit a friend when his phone _________ with the request for Sumiel’s ride home. The _________ was out of Letts’s way. Still, he took the fare, _________ if the passenger was coming from a medical facility, he likely needed a ride.

As they set out on the 40-minute _________ to Sumiel’s home in Salem, the pair got to chatting. Knowing that he was searching for a kidney donor, Letts joked he’d be a good donor candidate, given that he didn’t drink or _________.

Sumiel was touched by Letts’s offer, though he wondered if it had just been an _________ moment. But Letts was true to his _________. He contacted the kidney transplant program. To their surprise, Letts was an _________ donor, and he and Sumiel were a perfect match.

14 months after they ended up in the same car _________, Sumiel and Letts had their surgeries. It was a success. Later, Letts had moved to Germany to work. But they kept in touch and looked forward to the day they could _________.

1.

A．decided

B．set

C．arranged

D．found

2.

A．facility

B．home

C．program

D．office

3.

A．stranger

B．donor

C．patient

D．doctor

4.

A．added to

B．apply to

C．adapt to

D．led to

5.

A．answered

B．seen

C．appeared

D．sent

6.

A．broke

B．rang

C．called

D．shook

7.

A．request

B．fare

C．trip

D．match

8.

A．taking

B．figuring

C．guessing

D．realizing

9.

A．drive

B．deal

C．contact

D．rest

10.

A．smell

B．hear

C．smoke

D．drive

11.

A．emotional

B．thoughtful

C．essential

D．sensitive

12.

A．dream

B．work

C．goal

D．word

13.

A．ideal

B．original

C．special

D．unique

14.

A．on time

B．by chance

C．in time

D．by means

15.

A．handle

B．pursue

C．reunite

D．arrive

9 . One of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists Charles Duhigg published a new book, in which he concluded common characteristics of “supercommunicators”— people who are consistently able to create authentic connections with others just by listening and talking.     1     Here is a set of skills recommended by Duhigg that can help you.

    2     If you are having a practical conversation, be ready to give good advice. If you are engaging in emotional discussions seeking empathy, you may show your support by being a good listener. If you’re in a social dialogue reflecting how we see others and how other people see us, be mindful of the different perspectives each person brings to the table and seek common ground.

Prove we’re listening. There are plenty of ways to appear like you’re listening, like making eye contact or nodding intently. But proving to someone that you’re listening is the quickest road to making someone feel heard.     3     Next, repeat back in your own words what they just told you. Lastly, ask your conversation partner if you got what they said correct.

Ask the right questions. Ask follow-up questions that signal to the other person that you’re interested in the conversation, like “So did you make it on time?” or “What happened next?” Ask questions like people’s values, beliefs or experiences and spark an opportunity for emotional connection.     4     When in doubt, just ask “why.’ People love to talk about how they see the world.

Aim to understand. The goal of a discussion isn’t to impress someone, convince someone or wait for their turn to speak. It’s to genuinely comprehend someone else’s point of view and share your own views accordingly. If people know you want to understand them, they’re going to want to understand you.     5    

A．Realize what are the real questions.

B．Do you want to be a supercommunicator?

C．These deep questions get people to open up.

D．It is not that easy to be a supercommunicators.

E．Know what kind of conversation you’re having.

F．That is actually the most magical thing that can happen.

G．Ask someone a question first and then listen to their response.

10 . Even in the most speculative reaches of science fiction, there is no escaping humanity’s dependence on liquid water. The residents of the desert world Arrakis, accessible to anyone with a copy of Frank Herbert’s novel “Dune”, use windtraps to steal precious liquid from the air.

Collecting water from the air is nothing new. The Inca, who are widely thought to have invented the technique,placed buckets under trees to collect the condensation from heavy fog drifting in off the sea. People dwelling in the arid mountains of Oman have long built cisterns under trees for the same reason.

Instead of using leaves as condensation traps, however, which drip over an impractically large area, modern traps instead consist of sheets of very fine polymer mesh. As fog flows through the sheets, tiny droplets of water stick to the polymer fibres. These droplets grow until gravity pulls them into a compact trough and, thence, a reservoir. While collectors vary in size, a 40-metres-square collector in a reasonably foggy area yields around 200 litres a day, enough to supply 60 people with drinking water.

A team led by Dr Stachewicz found that the sheet could be made even more productive by changing the way in which its polymer threads were manufactured. Dr Stachewicz theorized that careful manufacture via a process known as electrospinning could lend the sheet a slight electrical charge that would prove attractive to water droplets in fog. In experiments conducted in 2021 she and a team of colleagues found that such sheets yielded 50%more water.

This past August, Dr Stachewicz reported further improvements by adding TiO₂ to the mesh. Previous work had shown that TiO₂ could be intensely attractive to water upon exposure to ultraviolet light-a hindrance under extremely foggy conditions, as water would stick to the mesh rather than trickle into the cistern. When fog was light, however, Dr Stachewicz and Mr Parisi found that a TiO₂-enhanced mesh became 30% more effective. Her fog collectors are now being used at sites on three continents.

This technology suggests a brighter future is possible. Areas so dry as to have gone without rainfall since modern records began may one day yield enough water to sustain settlement. And not just on a fictional planet.

1. Why did the writer mention a copy of Frank Herber’s novel?

A．Because the characters also get water from the air.

B．Because people in the novel also live without water.

C．Because it sets an opposite example of getting water.

D．Because the engineers got the inspiration of inventing traps from the novel.

2. Which is the first step that the traps today use to gather water?

A．Water from leaves drips over a large area.

B．Gravity pulls the droplets into a container.

C．Fog streams through sheets of polymer mesh and adhere to it.

D．Fog flows through sheets of polymer mesh and the polymer fibres.

3. What effect does TiO₂ have on the polymer mesh when exposed to ultraviolet light?

A．It purifies water droplets.

B．It appeals to water droplets.

C．It fights against water droplets.

D．It blocks the fog from flowing.

4. What is the main idea of the passage?

A．How to capture water from the air.

B．A solution to relieving water stress.

C．Getting water from the air with different methods.

D．Using windtraps to steal precious liquid from the air.