1 . According to the Solar Energy Industry Association, the number of solar panels installed(安装)has grown rapidly in the past decade, and it has to grow even faster to meet climate goals. But all of that growth will take up a lot of space, and though more and more people accept the concept of solar energy, few like large solar panels to be installed near them.
Solar developers want to put up panels as quickly and cheaply as possible, so they haven’t given much thought to what they put under them. Often, they’ll end up filling the area with small stones and using chemicals to control weeds. The result is that many communities, especially in farming regions, see solar farms as destroyers of the soil.
“Solar projects need to be good neighbors,” says Jordan Macknick, the head of the Innovative Site Preparation and Impact Reductions on the Environment(InSPIRE)project. “They need to be protectors of the land and contribute to the agricultural economy.” InSPIRE is investigating practical approaches to “low-impact” solar development, which focuses on establishing and operating solar farms in a way that is kinder to the land. One of the easiest low-impact solar strategies is providing habitat for pollinators(传粉昆虫).
Habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change have caused dramatic declines in pollinator populations over the past couple of decades, which has damaged the U.S. agricultural economy. Over 28 states have passed laws related to pollinator habitat protection and pesticide use. Conservation organizations put out pollinator-friendliness guidelines for home gardens, businesses, schools, cities—and now there are guidelines for solar farms.
Over the past few years, many solar farm developers have transformed the space under their solar panels into a shelter for various kinds of pollinators, resulting in soil improvement and carbon reduction. “These pollinator-friendly solar farms can have a valuable impact on everything that’s going on in the landscape,” says Macknick.
1. What do solar developers often ignore?A.The decline in the demand for solar energy. |
B.The negative impact of installing solar panels. |
C.The rising labor cost of building solar farms. |
D.The most recent advances in solar technology. |
A.Improve the productivity of local farms. |
B.Invent new methods for controlling weeds. |
C.Make solar projects environmentally friendly. |
D.Promote the use of solar energy in rural areas. |
A.To conserve pollinators. | B.To restrict solar development. |
C.To diversify the economy. | D.To ensure the supply of energy. |
A.Pollinators: To Leave or to Stay | B.Solar Energy: Hope for the Future |
C.InSPIRE: A Leader in Agriculture | D.Solar Farms: A New Development |
2 . One day when I was 5, my mother scolded (责骂) me for not finishing my breakfast and I got angry. I wanted to play outside and not to be made to finish eating my breakfast. When angrily opening the screen door with my foot, I kicked back about a 12-inch part of the lower left hand corner of the new screen door. But I had no remorse, for I was happy to be playing in the backyard with my toys.
Today, I know if my child had done what I did, I would have scolded my child, and told him about how expensive this new screen door was, and I would have delivered a spanking (打屁股) for it. My parents never said a word. They left the corner of the screen door pushed out, creating an opening, a breach (裂缝) in the defense against unwanted insects.
For years, every time I saw that corner of the screen, it would constantly make me think about my mistake. For years, I knew that everyone in my family would see that hole and remember who did it. For years, every time I saw a fly buzzing (嗡嗡) in the kitchen, I would wonder if it came in through the hole that I had created with my angry foot. I would wonder if my family members were thinking the same thing, silently blaming me every time a flying insect entered our home, making life more terrible for us all. My parents taught me a valuable lesson, one that a spanking or stern (严厉的) words perhaps could not deliver. Their silent punishment for what I had done delivered a hundred stern messages to me. Above all, it has helped me become a more patient person and not burst out so easily.
1. When the author damaged the door, his parents ________.A.gave him a spanking |
B.left the door unrepaired |
C.scolded him for what he had done |
D.told him how expensive it was |
A.regret | B.joy | C.anger | D.notice |
A.to hide his anger away from others |
B.not to go against his parents’ will |
C.to have a better control of himself |
D.not to make mistakes in the future |
A.Adults should ignore their children’s bad behavior. |
B.Parents are the best teachers of their children. |
C.Patience is the key to becoming a better person. |
D.One learns most when shown the result of his/her action. |
3 . It’s 2035. You have a job, a family and you’re about 40 years old! Welcome to your future life.
Getting ready for work, you pause in front of the mirror. “Turn red,” you say. Your shirt changes from sky blue to deep red.Tiny preprogrammed electronics (智能电子元件) are rearranged in your shirt to change its color. Looking into the mirror, you find it hard to believe you’re 40. You look much younger. With amazing advances in medicine, people in your generation may live to be 150 years old. You’re not even middleaged!
As you go into the kitchen and prepare to pour your breakfast cereal into a bowl, you hear, “To lose weight, you shouldn’t eat that!” from your shoes. They read the tiny electronic code(电子源码) on the cereal box to find out the nutrition details. You decide to listen to your shoes. “Kitchen, what can I have for breakfast?”A list of possible foods appears on the counter as the kitchen checks its food supplies.
“Ready for your trip to space?” you ask your son and daughter. In 2015 only specially trained astronauts went into space—and very few of them. Today anyone can go to space for day trips or longer vacations. Your best friend even works in space. Handing your children three strawberries each, you add, “The doctor says you need these for space travel.” Thanks to medical advances, vaccination shots (防疫针) are a thing of the past. Ordinary foods contain special vaccines. With the strawberries in their mouths, the kids head for the front door.
It’s time for you to go to work. Your car checks your fingerprints and unlocks the doors. “My office. Autopilot,”you command. Your car drives itself down the road and moves smoothly into traffic on the highway. You sit back and unroll your enewspaper. The latest news downloads and fills the viewer. Looking through the pages, you watch the news as video film rather than read it.
1. What changes the color of your shirt?A.The mirror. |
B.The preprogrammed electronics. |
C.The sunlight. |
D.The medicine. |
A.By pouring the breakfast into a bowl. |
B.By getting the doctor’s advice. |
C.By testing the food supplies in the kitchen. |
D.By checking the nutrition details of the food. |
A.breakfast | B.lunch |
C.vaccines | D.nutrition |
A.In order of time. |
B.In order of space. |
C.In order of preference. |
D.In order of importance. |
4 . It is easy to get carried away in an argument.
While having a rational conversation with someone who has a different opinion might seem like a challenge, it is possible. One way is to approach the other person with empathy.
The Empathy Challenge is an exercise created by Zoe Chance, senior lecturer at the Yale School of Management. At Yale, Chance teaches a course called “Mastering Influence and Persuasion” where students learn to communicate more effectively.
In her blog, Chance explains that it’s important to listen to people who disagree with you. “As they explain their position, you listen for their underlying values. Finally, you look for common ground as you reflect those values back. That’s it.”
Chance first took this challenge herself before asking her students to try. As she couldn’t understand why many people chose to vote for Donald Trump, she found three Trump’s voters and spoke with them.
Through asking questions, Chance was able to empathize with them and realize they had similar feelings. One man, an Orthodox Jew, explained that he supported Trump because Trump’s daughter and son-in-law are Jewish. The next man was a Russian immigrant passionate about freedom. The third was a lawyer who believed that authenticity (真诚) was important in political leaders.
Although Chance and Chose people had different political beliefs, they were able to relate to the life values of others. And that’s the point of the exercise-to understand others as fellow human beings.
1. Which of the following does the Empathy Challenge faces on?A.Leadership skills. | B.Public speaking skills. |
C.Communication skills. | D.Problem solving skills. |
A.Defend their position. | B.Find common ground. |
C.Reflect on their own values. | D.Meet the needs of others. |
A.Their life values. | B.Their career history. |
C.Their family background. | D.Their childhood experience. |
A.Respect different perspectives | B.Zoe Chance’s empathy |
C.Vote for Trump | D.Chancels challenge |
5 . Slow down and take some time to explore the world and nourish your soul and brain by traveling.
Little Trains of the Pyrenees
Eight days from £1,049 per person—from May to September 2022
Enjoy the slow journey on the incredible Roses Express. Step aboard the Yellow Train in the Pyrenees. Travel in style on the Núria Valley Rack Railway. Relax on board the Red Train in the Pyrenees.
Includes
● Return by Eurostar from London to Paris
● Seven nights’ half board accommodation in Roses
Please note
The deposit (订金) of the room: £275
Scottish Highland Railways
Five days from £576 per person—from April to October 2022
Experience some of the world’s most spectacular scenery as you enjoy journeys on three of Scotland’s most celebrated railways.
Includes
● Four nights’ dinner and bed, and Scottish breakfast accommodation at the Carrbridge Hotel
● Return flights to Scotland
Lake Como, St. Moritz & the Bernina Express
Eight days from £959 per person—from May to October 2022
Take one of the world’s great railway journeys to Switzerland’s most celebrated holiday hideaway. Spend a week on the shores of Lake Como and enjoy its elegant villas and glorious gardens—which have inspired artists and writers for generations.
Includes
● Seven nights’ dinner, bed and breakfast accommodation at your chosen hotel
● A ride on the Bernina Express
● Return flights to Milan
● Comfortable coach travel and transfers throughout
1. How much does a couple pay at most for a journey to the Pyrenees?A.£2,648. | B.£1,918. | C.£1,427. | D.£2,373. |
A.The Carrbridge Hotel. | B.The Núria Valley Rack Railway. |
C.The Bernina Express to St. Moritz. | D.Villas and gardens near Lake Como. |
A.They are all available in October. | B.They all design train-riding trips. |
C.They all provide free accommodation. | D.They all include air tickets to the destination. |
6 . Teenagers who spend more time on after-school activities and less than two hours of screen time after school are more mentally (心理上) healthy, according to a study published in the journal Preventive Medicine. The new study was carried out by researchers from the University of British Columbia.
The study used information collected from more than 28, 000 seventh-grade Canadian students between 2014 and 2018. The students first answered questions about their usage of screen time after school, including how much time they spent watching TV, Netflix or something else. Then, students reported how many days they had taken part in after-school activities such as sports or arts programmes. After that, researchers asked students to describe their state of mind. For example, when given a statement such as “I start most days thinking that I will have a good day”, they could choose to what level they agreed with it on a scale (等级).
Some of the results were expected, researchers said in the study. Students with no after-school activities usually had high levels of screen time, for example. And they expected girls would score higher on negative indicators (消极指标) of mental health, as earlier research had found that they tended to have higher levels of anxiety (焦虑) compared to boys.
What was noteworthy, researchers say, is that even among students who took part in after-school activities, 46% still went beyond the recommended screen time of two hours. At the same time, 67% of students who didn’t take part in after-school activities also had more than two hours of screen time. Together, this suggests high screen time among teenagers generally.
“The findings suggest that after-school activities are valuable for the happy growing of teenagers,” the study said. “While past studies have proved the importance of after-school activities for social and academic (学业的) development, the present study shows their importance for good mental health results.”
1. Which of the following came last when students took part in the new study?A.Talking about their lifestyles. | B.Introducing their after-school activities. |
C.Reporting their mental states on a scale. | D.Answering questions about screen time use. |
A.They often have higher levels of satisfaction. |
B.Few of them take part in after-school activities. |
C.Anxiety has become a serious problem among them. |
D.Too much screen time may be more harmful to them. |
A.Earlier findings about screen time are wrong. |
B.High screen time is common among teenagers. |
C.No after-school activities mean no screen time. |
D.Screens attract teenagers more than after-school activities do. |
A.They are good for teenagers’ physical health. |
B.They help to improve teenagers’ mental health. |
C.They encourage teenagers’ social development. |
D.They allow teenagers to become better learners. |
7 . I remember that it was a fall morning when the orchestra (管弦乐队) teachers came into Miss Newell’s third-grade classroom. “You have hands for the viola (中提琴),” Miss Ciano told me. I was excited because my hands were finally good for something. I told my parents I wanted to play, and naturally, they agreed.
Since I first touched the viola, I haven’t been able to put it down. Ignoring the difficulty, I am pulled closer to it each day.
Classical music is truly my best friend. It is the trusted friend of every man, woman and child. Various feelings are expressed in classical music. I discovered that when I was eleven and played a cello concerto (大提琴协奏曲) of Bach in a competition, the first movement was joyful, but the second movement was mysterious and full of pain. From the piece, I learned that music expresses not only feelings, but also sudden mood changes. By listening to classical music, I know that someone else shares these feelings. Since I am lucky enough to be able to play classical music, I am comforted by it when I am upset. It gives me a way to escape from my problems for a short period. Classical music can express my joy, sadness and anger.
Now look back at that fall day in the third grade and think how gullible I was for believing that anyone, even music teachers, could tell whether hands were perfect for a certain instrument. I’m certain they told me I had “ viola hands” not because they were fortune-tellers (算命师), but because there was a lack of violists in our district. Classical music is one of the best things that ever happened to mankind. If you get introduced to it in the right way, it will become your friend for life.
1. What’s the author’s purpose in writing the first and second paragraphs?A.To introduce an interesting musical class. |
B.To offer the evidence of her gift for music. |
C.To show the importance of proper guide. |
D.To tell the power of support from parents. |
A.By developing social skills. | B.By improving mental health. |
C.By broadening life experience. | D.By building close relationship. |
A.Easily tricked. | B.Firmly loved. |
C.Greatly challenged. | D.Secretly hidden. |
A.Special event, sweet memory. | B.Classical music, endless friendship |
C.Lifetime dream, great effort. | D.Happy childhood, unforgotten experience. |
8 . On the 25th of December, my mother expected her children to be present, exchanging gifts and eating turkey. But as an artist and daughter, my heart seemed to be more in my work as an artist. As for my mother and my family, I thought we would have more time to spend Christmas together. I was going to do my own thing.
I made plans for my winter adventure in New Hampshire. The MacDowell Colony (麦道尔艺术村) was everything I could have wished for. About 20 to 30 artists were present, and it was as captivating as I had imagined. Snowy New England, sledding (滑雪橇) and whisky! It felt like my life had become an unexpected independent film.
By Christmas Eve, I had been at the colony more than a week. The fresh feelings were wearing off, but I would never admit it. Everyone around me was having too much fun—drinks and deep conversations by the fireplace. It seemed so amazing! What was wrong with me? This was the holiday I’d always dreamed of. No plastic reindeer. Not a Christmas sweater anywhere in sight. People here didn’t even say “Christmas”, but they said “holiday”. Then why was I so down?
Finally, I called home. My dad answered. He told me that my mother was out shopping with my brothers. I found there was a fire in my heart. They were having a fine Christmas without me? Didn’t they miss me? How could they?
Despite a serious snowstorm, a large package with my mother’s beautiful handwriting showed up near my door at the artist colony on Christmas morning. I seized it as if I had been five years old. Inside was my favorite cake.
As I sliced (切) the cake, everyone gathered around —young and old. My mother had sent a real homemade gift. It was a minor Christmas miracle that one cake managed to feed so many. We ate it from paper towels with our hands, satisfying a hunger we didn’t know we had and reminding us of our dear families, who must be missing us too.
1. Why was the author unwilling to spend Christmas at home?A.She met some trouble at work. |
B.She wanted to focus on her career. |
C.She had disagreements with her mother. |
D.She was tired of staying at a familiar place. |
A.Attractive. | B.Tough. | C.Strange. | D.Simple. |
A.It attracted many sports lovers. |
B.It was suitable for holiday parties. |
C.It lacked the Christmas atmosphere. |
D.It gave the author some artistic ideas. |
A.She learned to be open to others. |
B.She enjoyed bringing kindness to strangers. |
C.Her mother was good at taking care of her family. |
D.Her mother’s cake cured the artists of their homesickness. |
9 . Lego is considering a brick(积木)rental plan in an attempt to cut down on plastic waste.The Danish toymaker has promised to make all its bricks from sustainable(可持续的)materials by 2030 and is investing significant resources in finding alternatives.
Tim Brooks,vice-president responsible for sustainability,said the company was“totally open”to the idea of the product rental plan but admitted that lost pieces could produce a significant problem.“What are the chances of giving them to an eight-year-old child and getting them all back again?”Mr.Brooks added.
“There is a lot of technical thinking that needs to be done. We are right at the beginning.” Mr. Brooks said Lego was exploring several ideas with a view to producing the highest value from products while consuming the fewest resources. He said many would “probably never see the light of day”and that there is no current plan to try out the rental plan.
Lego has come under increasing pressure to reduce its carbon footprint for growing international alarm about the impact of plastic waste on the environment.It produces 19 billion pieces per year—36,000 a minute—that are made entirely of plastic while much of the inside packaging is also plastic.
So far,the only breakthrough has been the development of a line of bricks made of plant-based plastic sourced from sugarcane.The green trees,plants and flowers were first included in Lego sets late last year but currently make up only 1%— 2% of total plastic elements produced.Henrik Nielson,a production supervisor(主管)in Lego’s factory,said last year:“We need to learn again how to do this.”
Lego reportedly releases around a million tons of carbon dioxide each year, with about 75% coming from raw materials that go into factories. The company has invested more than 100,000,000 euros and hired 100 people to research non-plastic alternatives.It is aiming to keep all of its packaging out of landfill by 2025.
1. What is Lego making great efforts for?A.promote its brick rental plan | B.explore ways to reduce plastic waste |
C.raise its production efficiency | D.develop new products |
A.It is well under way. | B.It is totally useless. |
C.It has a long way to go. | D.It goes against Lego’s interests. |
A.By means of comparison. | B.By means of examples. |
C.By means of figures. | D.By means of classification. |
A.Defensive. | B.Doubtful. |
C.Disapproving. | D.Determined. |
10 . A recent study by a group of researchers found that there is a link between happiness and a term that the researchers coined called “relational diversity.”
Using public data from sources like the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the World Health Organization, the researchers were able to analyze data sets and survey responses from people who had shared their daily habits, schedules and interactions. They noticed a clear relationship between relational diversity and overall levels of satisfaction.
Hanne Collins, a Harvard Business School doctoral student who co-authored the study, says that relational diversity is composed of two elements: richness and evenness.
Richness measures relationship categories, or how many kinds of people you interact with in a day. That could be your romantic partner, a family member, a neighbor or a stranger. “The more relationship categories they talk to in a day and the more even their conversations are across those categories, the happier they are. And we find this in a large sample across many countries,” Collins said.
Evenness relates to the distribution of conversations among those different relationship categories. Some people may find themselves interacting with colleagues at work more than, say, their family members. “If you have a few conversations with colleagues, a few with friends, a few with a romantic partner or a couple chats with strangers, thats going to be more even across these categories,” Collins explained.
Ultimately, Collins says, the study gives insight to the idea that humans are social creatures at heart. Having a support system is important, but it goes beyond your inner circle. “Its about this mix. Its about connecting with people who are close to you, who are maybe less close to you, who connect you with other people, who provide different kinds of support,” she said. “Essentially, the idea is that the more diverse your social portfolio (社交档案), the happier you are and the higher your well-being.”
Next time you consider striking up a conversation with a stranger in line at the grocery store or while waiting at the coffee shop, keep in mind that it might be beneficial to your well-being.
1. How does the author explain the term “relational diversity”?A.By listing statistics. | B.By making comparison. |
C.By giving definitions and examples. | D.By describing the process. |
A.A person who interacts most with his family members. |
B.A person who communicates frequently with his friends. |
C.A person who seldom strikes up conversations with strangers. |
D.A person who has ever conversations with many different people. |
A.Researchers came up with a new concept. |
B.It shows that a support system is not necessary. |
C.Researchers collected data by conducting experiments. |
D.It was led by a doctoral student from Harvard Business School. |
A.Neutral. | B.Skeptical. |
C.Opposed. | D.Approving. |