1 . The first apes evolved 20 million years ago in the forests where they would go up a tree to get their food, and then come back down to move on to the next tree. Getting out of a tree presents all kinds of new challenges. Big apes can’t afford to fall because it could kill or badly injure them. Natural selection would have favored those with body structures that allowed them to descend safely.

Dartmouth researchers report in the journal Royal Society Open Science that apes probably evolved free-moving shoulders and flexible elbows to slow their descent from trees as gravity pulled on their heavier bodies. These flexible body parts passed on from ancestral apes would have allowed early humans to climb trees at night for safety and comedown in the daylight unhurt. When early humans transitioned from forests to open savannas (热带稀树草原), flexible shoulders and elbows were crucial for gathering food and using tools for hunting and defense.

The researchers used sports analysis and statistical software to study how primates(灵长目动物) like chimpanzees and small monkeys called mangabeys climbed in the wild. They found that chimps and mangabeys scaled(攀爬) trees similarly, with shoulders and elbows mostly bent close to the body. When descending, however, chimpanzees extended their arms above their heads to hold on to branches, much like a person using a ladder, to counteract(抵消) their heavier weight pulling them downward.

Luke Fannin, the lead author of the study, emphasized that their findings highlight the importance of “down climbing” in the evolution of apes and early humans. He explained, “Our research introduces the idea that down climbing played a significant role in shaping the structural differences between monkeys and apes, which eventually manifested in humans.”

“Our field has thought about apes climbing up trees for a long time, but we’ve been ignoring the second half of this behavior,” said Professor Jeremy DeSilva, “The findings are among the first to identify the significance of “down climbing” in the evolution of apes and early humans.

1. According to paragraph 1, apes would have been favored by natural selection if                .

A．they have sufficient food resources.

B．they come down from trees securely.

C．they master skills of climbing up trees.

D．they cure themselves when they’re injured.

2. What is paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．The similarity of two primates in tree climbing

B．The evolution of two primates’ adaptation to nature.

C．The analysis of primates’ tree scaling and descending

D．The application of different research methods and tools.

3. Which of the following statement might DeSilva agree with?

A．Descending trees has been neglected by researchers for a long time.

B．The study is the first to recognize the significance of down climbing

C．The evolution of apes and early humans is a result of down climbing.

D．Studies on climbing down trees are more likely to have new findings.

4. What is the best title of the passage?

A．Chimpanzees and Mangabeys: Researches in Natural Settings

B．Apes and Humans: A Comparative Study of Climbing up Trees

C．Shoulders and Elbows: Evolved as Brakes for Downclimbing Apes

D．Apes’ Climbing Strategies: How to Use Different Body Parts Flexibly

2 . When we open a news app, we’ll notice that every second, we are presented with so much information that our brain just can’t keep it. The matter is made worse by our belief in “multi-tasking” which is, more often than not, simply another term for divided attention.     1     Understanding our limit allows us to fix it. So, here are three tips to give ourselves the peace we really need.

Control the information flow

Set up a new account on social media and follow only accounts or people that are really valuable.     2    . It’s much better to have a few healthy meals that fill you up, than eating fast food throughout the day.

    3    

It is unnecessary to throw away the phone but do give ourselves a time limit, Say, “I will only use this app for 20 minutes” or “I will only read this magazine after dinner.”

Acknowledge our limits

We’ll never read all the news. We’ll never read all the “must-read” articles.     4    . Don’t beat ourselves up that we’re being unproductive or we’re missing out. We’re getting more out of those few than that “super-productive“ person on social media who says they read five books a week.     5    

A．Set a time limit

B．Focus on one task

C．Pick only the content which entiches us

D．In other words, our brain is better than we think it is

E．Accept the fact that we can only choose two or three

F．After all, we are human beings who can only take in so much a day

G．Actually, it’s much better to have a little remembered than a lot forgotten

3 . Mia Samolinski attended the same school as Anthony Zhongor, an 18-year-old freshman, but the two had never met. That night, their paths crossed in the most remarkable way.

Mia had just gotten into her car and was about to drive away, but she hit the gas instead of the brakes. Security footage (录像) shows the car rushing over a sidewalk, hitting a trash can, and then plunging (突然前冲) into the dark, cold water of the bay in just a few short seconds. People rushed to look in the water, but only one person jumped in after Mia, and it was Anthony.

“She went pretty deep in there,” the teenager recalled. “She was striking the door and the window, trying to break the window, of course, and that got me nervous and scared for her, so I just took my clothes off and went into the water.”

Mia’s car began to sink rapidly, but she couldn’t get the doors or windows open. Anthony tried to get the doors open from the outside, but couldn’t quite manage it. As the seconds ticked by, the teenage hero realized he could use his own body weight to push down the heavy front end of the car, making the back end stick out of the water. Mia climbed into the back and managed to escape through the rear hatch (后备箱盖). She and Anthony swam to the shore together. As soon as they were safe, tearful Mia thanked Anthony sincerely for saving her.

Like so many heroes, Anthony did not set out to save a life that night. But he was in the right place, at the right time. “It doesn’t matter who it was, he or she was suffering,” he said, “I couldn’t watch anybody suffering in front of me.”

1. What led Mia into the accident?

A．The brake’s failing.

B．Her wrong operation.

C．Her awkward driving skill.

D．The complex traffic situation.

2. How did Anthony help Mia escape from the car?

A．He opened the back door.

B．He broke one of the windows.

C．He kept the back of the car out of the water.

D．He managed to push the car to the shallow end.

3. Which of the following best describes Anthony?

A．Brave and helpful.

B．Creative and gifted.

C．Lucky and friendly.

D．Generous and careful.

4. What message does the last paragraph mainly convey?

A．Heroes are never accidental.

B．Heroes come from teenagers.

C．Heroes are not born but made.

D．Behind every hero hides a tragedy.

4 . The sound of children’s laughter is not something you often hear at a hospital. Yet in the hallways of Children’s Health of Orange County (CHOC Hospital) in Orange, California, the joyous sound of kids having fun will soon be a common occurrence. That’s because Honda teamed up with the hospital to create a first-of-its-kind electric car made just for kids!

Shogo is the child-sized electric ride-on car, which was built by Honda through their charitable “Project Courage”, an initiative aimed at adding some much-needed happiness to the days of children battling with serious illnesses in hospital.

Shogo was made entirely by Honda’s engineers, and they’re incredibly proud of it. The car has been used at CHOC in place of wheelchairs. Now, patients can drive themselves to their treatment s in various parts of the hospital, giving them a reason to look forward to these procedures instead of dreading them.

Shogo is meant for child drivers aged 4 through 9. The car has a simple stop/go mechanism they can easily use, and it’s capable of going about one to five miles per hour. Don’t worry, though; the speed is controlled not by the kids but by a nurse or caregiver walking alongside the car.

Safety was at the top of the engineers’ minds when making Shogo. Besides, the vehicle has no doors so kids can easily get in and out, a soft-to-the-touch interior that can be washed to stay sanitary (卫生的) in a hospital setting, and it comes equipped with an I. V. pole holder. There’s even a toy holder and a horn with different sound options, and kids can create their own custom license plate for the built-in holder. So far, every patient who has tried Shogo has absolutely loved it!

What a fantastic invention! There’s nothing more beautiful than the sound of kids having fun, and we’re so delighted that caregivers at CHOC will get to hear that sound more often from now on.

1. Why does Honda build Shogo with CHOC Hospital?

A．To improve the service quality of nurses.

B．To initiate the charitable “Project Courage”.

C．To make hospital stay more fun for sick kids.

D．To help patients know their treatment procedures.

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

A．Being busy with.

B．Being afraid of.

C．Catching up with.

D．Taking control of.

3. What can help keep child drivers safe when they drive the Shogo?

A．The little patients’ driving license.	B．The advanced equipment on the car.
C．The design by the Honda’s engineers.	D．The company of a nurse or a caregiver.

4. What can be inferred from paragraph 5?

A．Shogo can be easily controlled by the child drivers.

B．Shogo can offer a tiny patient a pleasant experience.

C．More Shogoes will be used in place of wheelchairs.

D．Honda’s engineers are proud of the design of Shogo.

5 . Do you know that about 71 percent of our planet is covered by the ocean (海洋) ?     1    . People around the world wear blue to celebrate World Oceans Day on 8 June every year. World Oceans Day is a special day for learning about oceans, including why they’re in danger and how essential it is to protect them.

Without oceans, life couldn’t exist. Scientists don’t know the exact number, but they think that oceans are home to 50 percent to 80 percent of all species on Earth, from large whales to tiny plankton. Oceans absorb carbon dioxide and give out oxygen (氧气).     2    .

Humans use the ocean in many different ways. Lots of our food comes from oceans.     3    . Besides getting oil and gas from beneath the ocean floor, we can produce electricity using the power of waves. We even rely on submarine cables for international communication.

    4    , but sadly they are in danger. You’ve heard of plastic pollution. Billions of pieces of plastic are floating around in our oceans, harming and killing sea creatures. It’s also dangerous for our health too, because fish eat the tiny pieces of plastic and then humans eat the fish.

For World Oceans Day, you can use social media platforms to share posts, photos or videos showing how important oceans are and why we need to protect them.     5    . Remember that every day we can make a difference by using less plastic and recycling, and talking to others about protecting our precious oceans.

A．There are five oceans on Earth

B．You can also watch ocean-related films

C．That’s why we call Earth the “Blue Planet”

D．Our oceans play an important part in our lives

E．Oceans also provide us with much of our energy

F．World Oceans Day is a time to know about the fish in the ocean

G．Half the oxygen we breathe comes from the plants in the ocean

6 . The Clubs of Liberty High School

Welcome to our school! We offer a wide range of clubs to cater to the interest and talents of our students.

Sports Club

Our Sports Club is perfect for students who enjoy physical activities. We offer various sports such as basketball, soccer, tennis, volleyball and more. Through regular practices and friendly matches, the students will develop teamwork and leadership skills. Join Sports Club through Jessical6012@yahoo. com.

Science Club

Do you have a love for experimentation? Science Club is for you! From chemistry to physics and biology, Science Club provides a platform for you to improve your scientific knowledge and develop critical thinking skills. Call 610-691-3612 for more information.

Music Club

Music Club invites students with a love for singing or playing musical instruments. It also offers opportunities for songwriting and composing. Join us to create beautiful melodies and harmonies together! You need to fill in a club registration form in the Main Office.

Community Service Club

Community Service Club pays attention to serving the local community through various volunteer and charity activities. We organize fundraisers, donation drives and social outreach programs. By joining this club, you’ll have the opportunity to develop empathy while contributing to the community’s development. For the application, you can call 610-691-6625.

1. Which club helps the students develop teamwork?

A．Sports Club.

B．Science Club.

C．Music Club.

D．Community service Club.

2. How can the students join Science Club?

A．By writing a letter.	B．By filling in a form.
C．By sending an email.	D．By making a phone call.

3. What can the students do after joining Community Service Club?

A．Create popular songs.	B．Develop leadership skills.
C．Do some voluntary work	D．Learn scientific knowledge.

7 . Creative ways to change your workouts

Most people know working out is good for your health, both physical and mental.     1     Sure, you may get excited about training for a 5 K or 10 K, but once the race is over, only to become tired of it after a few weeks.

Create a word or image with your exercise route

Runners often map routes through city streets that create a word or image, then use a GPS device to “draw” it as they run.     2     Not sure what image or message to create? You can always follow artistic routes others have created and shared in the apps.Some are impressively complex and may take several excursions to complete.But that’s part of the fun.

Join a free fitness group

Exercising can be more fun with others, so look for group fitness opportunities. Many communities offer free exercise opportunities. Fitness in the Park is a summer-long activity that has been operating in New York state for a decade. Everyone is welcome to head to one of 18 different parks.     3     “The best part is grabbing a partner that you don’t know, or getting together with one that you do,” Frion said. “It’s always so much fun.”

    4    

Sure, you can run a 5 K. But why not try orienteering (定向越野赛)? This timed navigational sport requires you to use detailed maps to find orange-and-white flags that are hidden in parks or remote areas. Races involve difficult running routes

Dance

Whether you take a class or practice at home, dancing is a great way to get your body moving. Dancing doesn’t seem like exercise to a lot of people, which is why it’s always a popular choice.     5     “The workout allows for a creative aspect and meditation at the same time,” she said. “Many people come because it is an opportunity to try something different, as well as to dance in a nonjudgmental space.”

A．Hit the road.

B．Sign up for a new-to-you event.

C．Participants have ranged in age from about 10 to over 70.

D．But staying motivated — especially for the long term — can be a struggle.

E．The event is timed, so people often jog or power walk from flag to flag.

F．You can do the same, whether your favored exercise is running, walking or biking.

G．It’s also something you can do anywhere, to any kind of music, salsa, hip-hop — it all works.

8 . 3 Most Walkable Cities in Europe

Walking on holiday is a great way to stay fit, but also to see the sights a city has to offer. Here are the three most walkable cities in Europe.

Athens, Greece

Athens is one of the oldest cities in the world. The capital of Greece ranks fifth, with a slightly longer—but very worthwhile—route of 2.1 miles between its top-rated tourist attractions.

Visitors to Athens can set off at the Acropolis, climbing to discover the ancient Parthenon that stands as a landmark to the city’s ancient legacy. Then it leads to the Acropolis Museum, with the neighbourhood of Plaka waiting to be explored in the shadow of the Acropolis. The National Archaeological Museum is also close-by.

Seville, Spain

Seville is home to some wonderful sights that are best seen when walking. Seville in Spain takes the top spot as Europe’s most walkable city, offering the shortest walking route between the top five tourist attractions.

Visitors to this charming Spanish city can explore the impressive Plaza de Espana public square, before wandering over to the UNESCO-listed palace of Real Alcazar and Seville Cathedral. After that it’s only a short trip on foot to visit the beautiful Barrio Santa Cruz neighbourhood and admire the Torre Giralda bell tower hanging above. With just 20 minutes of walking between these attractions.

Venice, Italy

Venice is famous for walkers, so it’s no surprise it ranks as the second best location for walkable city breaks. Walking is the best way to explore the bridges over the canals the city is famed for. There are endless charming alleyways to explore, as well as plenty of bridges over the canals that the city is famous for. Just under half an hour of walking here will take you on a tour of the impressive Grand Canal.

1. What’s the recommended starting point of the city walk in Athens?

A．Plaka.

B．The Acropolis.

C．The Acropolis Museum.

D．The National Archaeological Museum .

2. Why is Sevilla the top destination as a walkable city in Europe?

A．It offers some wonderful sights.

B．Visitors can explore five tourist attractions.

C．It makes visitors enjoy their time to the full.

D．Visitors can tour five tourist attractions in the shortest walking distance.

3. Who is the text intended for?

A．Those who are hiking during the vacation.

B．Those who want to find suggestions on where to travel.

C．Those who are looking for the best traveling destinations.

D．Those who usually choose walkable cities for their vacation.

9 . Josie, who is 17 years old, said, “Why do my parents do the same things they tell me not to do? For example, my mum stops me from shouting through the walls and asks me to go and speak to her face-to-face, but she always shouts through the walls to me. What can I do?”

That is a very good point. Parents can be completely inconsistent (不一致), and usually they don’t realize it. You see this a lot in many things like smartphones. Parents always say to their kids, “Oh, you can’t use that. That device (设备) is bad for you, so stop using it at the table. It’s harmful.” But then they are on theirs continually. So what do you expect teenagers to do?

The whole “Do as I say, not as I do” thing is an annoyance, especially for a teenager who is dying for independence and respect but isn’t getting them.

What can teenagers do with it? I would say you should point it out by calmly saying something like “You tell me not to scream through the walls, but you do it to me, so you can understand where I’m coming from. That’s not ideal.” They might object to it, but I think most parents who care about being parents would logically say, “That’s a reasonable point.”

There are a lot of conflicts (矛盾) going on between teenagers and their parents, but a lot of studies show that the conflicts are resolved a lot more when they turn into a dialogue.

If you can talk at a time when you’re both feeling a bit calmer, like just in the kitchen or doing something unimportant, then go in and say, “Can I just mention it? You tell me not to do this, but you do it too.” If you can approach it in a more calm and stress-free manner, most parents will respond positively.

1. How did Josie feel according to her words in paragraph 1?

A．Hopeful.

B．Bored.

C．Proud.

D．Confused.

2. What does the underlined word “theirs” in paragraph 2 refer to?

A．The parents’ smartphones.	B．The tables in the house.
C．The devices in the house.	D．The teenagers’ points.

3. What should teenagers do with their parents’ inconsistency?

A．Object to it personally.	B．Complain of it continually.
C．Talk with their parents calmly.	D．Do some studies differently.

4. What is the author’s purpose in writing the last paragraph?

A．To list a fact.	B．To offer a suggestion.
C．To show a result.	D．To ask a new question.

10 . Enjoy Fresh Air

Namba Parks, Osaka, Japan

Architects creating Namba Parks shopping mall in Osaka showed that you needn’t sacrifice (牺牲) green spaces for commercial (商业的) development.

The shopping center, built in 2003, provides eight floors of commercial space for cinemas, stores, events and restaurants.

The garden at its top begins at street level. Visitors are treated to green spaces and there is no money necessary to enjoy the simple pleasures.

Promenade Plantee, Paris, France

The space was developed on a disused railway line and runs from the Opera Bastille to the Bois de Vincennes in the city.

Around 1.5 km of the park is higher than the street, with other parts at street level, even passing through disused railway tunnels (隧道).

The project began in 1988 and finished in 1994 and the space is now home to many trees and plants, including bamboo and cherry trees.

Jurong Lake Gardens, Singapore, Singapore

Jurong Lake Gardens is a 90-hectare green space in the heart of Singapore. Although some areas are still under development, the first part opened in 2019.

The gardens were developed with nature and community in mind — with a large 2.3-hectare play area for children. The park has also developed a learning program to help educate students about biodiversity (生物多样性).

The High Line, New York, USA

You’ve probably heard of Central Park in New York. But did you know this is only the fifth largest park in New York, a city that has 180 state parks in total?

Wanting to increase its biodiversity further, city planners also created a city park known as the High Line between 2009 and 2019. This 2-kilometer public park was built on a disused railway line and is now home to over 150,000 plants and trees.

1. Why is Namba Parks special?

A．It serves as a shopping center.	B．It is still under development.
C．It is the fifth largest park in Japan.	D．It includes different parks in Osaka.

2. What do Promenade Plantee and The High Line have in common?

A．They were created by architects from Singapore.

B．They are famous for learning programs.

C．They were private gardens at first.

D．They are ‘on old railway lines.

3. Which park is the oldest?

A．Namba Parks.	B．Promenade Plantee.
C．Jurong Lake Gardens	D．The High Line.