1 . Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in each blank with a proper word given in the box. Each word can be used only once. Note that there is one more word than you need.

A. conventional     B. tolerable     C. layer          D. stranded       E. pile        F. insightful G. difference        H. placed        I. hazards        J. anchor        K. rays

Inspired by Arctic Life

Polar bears are warm-blooded animals with heavy fat and fur that can survive in freezing Arctic temperatures. A team of students from the Royal Danish Academy, inspired by polar bears, designed a pop-up igloo (弹出式冰屋)—an emergency tent that might make survival in sub-zero areas much more     1    .

Led by Henry Glogau, the team said that their design can help those lost or     2     in extreme conditions. With little visibility and no phone coverage, people may face severe     3     while waiting for rescue in cold polar areas. Rather than fight against the extreme conditions, the team looked to use them to its advantage. “Inspired by snow caves and the     4     winter-used tents, we treat snow as a building material rather than a burden,” the team told Vigour Times website.

The pop-up igloo adopts a mylar (聚酯薄膜) material, which works similarly to polar bears’ skin. Besides their thick fat and fur, polar bears have black skin underneath, which is ideal for absorbing     5     from the Arctic sun. In the same way, the mylar material reflects heat into the area within the tent to keep people feeling comfortable. The pop-up igloo also features an origami-like (像折纸的) design, which helps to trap the snow and     6     the tent. The origami pockets create areas where snow can     7     up on the outside. It prevents heat from escaping from the tent, while holding the tent to the ground. This adds another protective     8    to everything inside.

To check its capabilities and limits, the team put the design through intensive testing for one month in Alaska. The analysis indicates that an average 37°C     9     in temperature between indoors and outdoors could be maintained. In the future, the pop-up igloos could be     10     along hiking routes in cold areas like the Arctic, where they could be set up in seconds when needed.

2 . Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in each blank with a proper word given in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. applications	B. connections	C. emotions	D. identify	E. intervene	F. notifications
G. sacred	H. shared	I. specialize	J. stressed	K. technological

Animal Communication

Many pet owners long to talk with their animals. After all, if pets were able to talk, people could take care of them more easily and have closer emotional     1     to them, so a number of companies are working on devices and apps that could translate what animals say.

One such app is called MeowTalk. Using voice recognition software, this app recognizes different sounds a cat makes and offers English translations of them. For example, one type of sound might mean “feed me” while another could be translated “let me outside.” The app can use machine learning to assess its translations and improve at recognizing one particular cat’s voice. In other words, it can     2     in understanding your cat in particular. This is important because cats do not all have a(n)     3     language, but individual cats frequently use particular sounds to mean certain things.

In the future, MeowTalk could connect to a smart collar that would hear the cat meow and play the translation out loud. Perhaps if the cat is outside and needs to be let in, it could even send     4     to the owner’s phone.

For dogs, a Japanese company called Inupathy has developed a harness (保护带) with a heart rate monitor and an app. The heart rate monitor is used to assess a dog’s     5    . This is possible because, like humans, dogs’ heart rates go up when they are excited or     6    . The harness also has a light that turns red when the dog is excited, but when the dog is relaxed, the light is blue.

The most obvious use of this technology is to help pet owners     7     with and provide for their pets better. The more owners know about their pets, the easier it is to meet their needs.

There are other     8     of technology that help us understand animals. For example, some sheep farmers are using artificial intelligence to scan and determine if they are in pain, which helps them find out sick animals. As a result, they can     9     more quickly to treat the animal.

Anyone who interacts regularly with animals could benefit from understanding their animals better. Thus these     10     developments might transform the way we interact with the creatures around us.

4 . Directions: Fill in each blank with a proper word chosen from the box. Each word can be used only once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. live B. adapted C. perspective D. maximize E. costumes F. inject G. credited H. directorial I. publicity J. prospect K. integrated

Young Chinese opera director broadens traditional art form

“Chinese opera art is like a huge sponge, constantly absorbing, transforming, merging and flourishing,” says traditional Chinese opera director Li Zhuoqun, who is     1    with creating a market for traditional opera shows in small theaters across China.

Performed in 2013, Li Zhuoqun’s first     2    work “Death Do Us Part” is a story     3    from the 14th-century Chinese classic novel “Water Margin”. Li, a graduate of the National Academy of Chinese Theater Arts, says that performing this classic piece for today’s audience is an experiment and a challenge.

“We decided to shorten the divorce scene that lasted four or five days in order to     4     the effect of our vocals and dramatic performances. We also invited modern dancers to work with us. We     5    the performance methods of traditional opera with the rhythm of modern dance.”

Li defines her team as “small, deep, refined and broad”. She explained, “‘Small’ in its size, volume and     6    . ‘Deep’ refers to our performance and the depth of the script. ‘Refined’ refers to the production of the     7     makeup, props, sound and light. ‘Broad’ refers to its     8     and operation.”

“We target all ages and a wider audience.” To Li, traditional opera is “the art of regret” due to the unique charm of     9     performances. She aims to allow the audience to enjoy every minute of the show and draw more people to the theater. Li said, “We hope to find a possibility for small theater opera to make a breakthrough in terms of the market and target audience. With the development of aesthetics (审美) and society, our generation needs to     10    a wider and more varied artistic vocabulary into traditional opera. Yet it should still develop on the basis of maintaining the characteristics of traditional opera.”

5 . Directions: Fill in each blank with a proper word chosen from the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. maximize             B. subsequent             C. potential             D. personalize             E. misrepresented F. limited            G. marketing            H. predictive            I. commercial            J. speed          K. absence

No child or young athlete should be subjected to genetic testing to find sporting talent or improve performance, conclude the experts in a statement published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

The scientific evidence on the effectiveness of these     1     tests is simply far too weak to back their use, says the experts in the fields of genomics, exercise, sports performance, etc. While the science of genomics has advanced rapidly over the past decade, the ability to interpret the meaning of genetic test results is still at a relatively early stage.

But that has not stopped the growth of the “direct to consumer” genetic tests, which claim to be able to spot children’s athletic talents or tailor training to     2     performance. This fast - growing market has caused fears that the still limited level of knowledge on the genetics of sports performance is being     3     for commercial gain.

To inform the statement, the panel looked at the availability of DIY genetic tests. It found 39 companies     4     tests associated with sport or exercise performance or injury - almost twice as many as in 2018.

The claims included: “    5     your training based on your sports genetics,” “Give parents and coaches early information on their child’s genetic     6     for success for sports,” and “We use your DNA results to help you lose fat, build muscle, get fitter.”

But the     7     of any good scientific data to guide selection of which variants to test weakens the value of multiple testing. Besides, while there is some evidence to suggest a link with enhanced physical performance, it is very weak, making the     8     value of these tests “actually zero,” says the statement.

The statement emphasizes the     9     of change in gene sequencing technology has got much faster than regulation. And it points out the importance of counselling before any genetic test is taken.

“While further evidence will undoubtedly emerge around the genetics of sport performance in the future, the data are currently very     10    . Therefore, in this stage of limited knowledge, no child or young athlete should be exposed to genetic testing to define or alter training or for talent identification aimed at selecting gifted children or adolescents,” it concludes.

6 . Directions: Fill in each blank with a proper word chosen from the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. associated          B. charge          C. cooling          D. deaden          E. appliances          F. narrow G. causes          H. reflective          I. restricted          J. typically          K. unstable

How does thunder-snow work? Thunder-snow is rare because the conditions that produce snow tend to have a stabilizing effect on the atmosphere. In winter the surface and lower troposphere (对流层) are cold and there is little moisture to lead to lightning. Lightning super-heats the air, while the rapid     1     produces the sound waves we call thunder.

Thunderstorms can form in winter, but have different characteristics. A typical normal thunderstorm consists of tall,     2     clouds that rise from a warm updraft (上升气流) leading from the surface up to around 40, 000 feet. Thunder-snow usually forms when layers of flat snow clouds develop instability and experience dynamic lifting. Three     3     lead to the instability. Firstly, a normal thunderstorm at the edge of a warm or cold front can run into cold air, changing rain into freezing rain or snow. Secondly, when the flat snow clouds become bumpy or develop what are usually called “turrets”. Turrets rise about the clouds, making the top layer     4     . The change causes water molecules or ice crystals to gain or lose electrons (电子). When the electrical     5     difference between two bodies becomes large enough, lightning occurs. Thirdly, a cold air front passing over warmer water can produce thunder-snow. This is the type of thunder-snow most often seen near the Great Lakes or near and ocean.

The obvious difference between a typical thunderstorm and thunder-snow is that a thunderstorm produces rain, while thunder-snow is     6     with snow. However, the thunder and lightning of thunder-snow are different, too. Snow can     7     sound, so thundersnow’s thunder sounds low and doesn’t travel as far as it would in a clear or rainy sky. Normal thunder may be heard miles from its source, while thunder-snow thunder tends to be     8     to a 2 to 3 mile radius from the lightning strike. While the sound of a thunder may be lowered, lightning flashes are enhanced by     9     snow. Thunder-snow lightning     10     appears white or golden, rather than the usual blue or purple of thunderstorm lightning.

7 . Directions: Fill in each blank with a proper word chosen from the box. Each word can be used only once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. accessible        B. beats       C. bridges       D. device       E. fundamentally       F. habitually G. kneels            H. partial        I. powerful       J. showcases        K. stage

Feeling the Dance

Lights move in time to the rhythmic beat issuing from a floor speaker as hip-hop performer Shaheem Sanchez gets ready. Sanchez, who is deaf,     1     beside the speaker and places his hand on top of it, allowing the sound waves to course through his body. His head nods as he counts the     2     , catching the rhythm. Then rising, his body moves in so perfect time to the music that dancer and music unite in a single artistic expression. In this moment, art     3     the gap between two worlds: the deaf and the hearing.

Sanchez is one of a growing number of professional dancers with full or     4     hearing loss, working to redefine what it means to experience music and, in a larger sense, communicate with others.

Antoine Hunter is another artist who is inspiring a new generation of dancers to take the     5     . As the director of the Urban Jazz Company in San Francisco, Hunter experienced the way that dance could help people better understand each other, which     6     altered his life.

But there were few opportunities for a black deaf dancer when Hunter was first finding his feet. He had to create a world in which he could perform. Now he’s sharing it with others, both in his studio and through the Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival. The event     7     the talents of deaf and hard of hearing people from around the world.

To get more people moving, Hunter ensures that his dance company is fully     8     to students of all abilities. There are interpreters for deaf and blind students, and a(n)     9     that turns sound waves into vibrations (震动). These vibrations travel across the floor so dancers can feel the music in their feet.

All around the world, deaf dancers are turning in     10     performances. Digital media is not only making these performances more visible, but also providing deaf dancers more opportunities to show off their talents. Artists like Sanchez upload performances to online platforms, where they get thousands of views. This allows deaf artists to express themselves to a larger audience.

8 . Complete the paragraph with the correct form of the words below.

complex	pattern	stage	female	performer
movement	carriage	refer	male	perform

Beijing Opera is a national treasure of China. Actors play one of four roles: sheng,     1     roles; dan,     2     roles; chou, clown roles and jing roles. In the early days, Beijing Opera was most often     3     on open-air     4     in markets, streets, teahouses or outside temples. The music had to be played loudly and     5     had to sing with sharp voices, in order to be heard over the crowd. They had to wear bright costumes in colourful     6    to attract the audience’s attention. Symbols play a very important role in Beijing Opera. Many body     7     can represent     8     actions. For example, when a lady is riding in a     9    , the performer actually walks with a flag on each side. Four generals and four soldiers     10     to an army of thousands. In other words, every action and movement in Beijing Opera is important.

9 . Complete his speech with the correct form of the words or phrase below.

mud   weep   bomb   panic   soldier   frontier   civilian    incident   general   appreciation   machine gun

There have been so many conflicts in modern history that have led to loss of life. I recently watched a documentary online that showed the horror of war. It was about World War Ⅰ,where millions of young men spent years in     1     trenches fighting each other. There was a British     2     who was leading a group of     3    . They were based near the of the war in Eastern France. They were trying to protect     4     in a village. One night, many German     5     were dropped around the area. The villagers     6     and ran into the night. They were all killed by     7     fire. The     8     caused the general so much suffering. He was interviewed as an elderly man and was     9     as he spoke about it. Although it was a tough documentary to watch, I feel it gave me an     10     for the value of peace. The world would be a better place without any war or conflict.

10 . Directions: Complete the following passage by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. present        B. features        C. concerned        D. reportedly        E. commercial             F. stretches       G. overwhelming H. exceptionally        I. routinely        J. spared             K. broadcasts

Modern media is awash in advertising clutter(杂乱), and who’s to blame? Modern audiences that hate conventional full-length and full-size ads.

Today’s consumers don’t like to pay for content, which ought to create a rich environment for advertisers. Yet these same consumers are prone to click or turn away when a conventional ad appears. The result is ad clutter.

YouTube     1    a combination of full-length ads, skippable ads, lower-screen banners and display ads on the page alongside each video. Newspapers that once considered the front page important now     2    run ads there.

Advertisers integrate plugs(推销) into content to frustrate digital video recorders, which allow viewers to watch programs on a delay and skip regular commercials. If you watch regional telecasts of baseball games, the commercial clutter is so     3    . Ads are visible on the stadium wall behind the home-plate umpire(裁判). On-screen graphics include sponsor logos. And everything is a paid plug--“This call to the coach’s zone is brought to you by Verizon.”

According to the showbiz paper Variety, several streaming services are about to introduce a new twist: commercials that start running whenever a viewer pauses a program. Hulu intends to launch such ads this year. AT&T’s DirecTV and U-verse units will     4    use similar technology to trigger full-motion commercials whenever a viewer tries to take a break.

There’s a lot at stake. According to Variety, National Football League(NFL) TV broadcasts generate an estimated $4.35 billion in ad revenue during the 17-week regular season. NFL     5    are now loaded with mini commercials that pop up when there is a brief pause in the action, often in “double boxes” that show a view of the field in one frame and a(n)    6    in the other.

Interestingly, with no “screen” to work with, radio is one medium that has tried for some time to buck the trend. Many commercial stations trade clutter for clusters--that is, a solid block of commercials running five minutes or more, followed by lengthy commercial-free     7    of time.

But wherever a screen is involved, or a printed page, ad clutter is     8    everywhere. Programmers and advertisers can’t really be expected to limit this; it’s a fact of business. Consumers, on the other hand, can opt for commercial-free content--if they’re willing to pay for it.

But getting limitless content without paying while also being     9    heavy advertising intrusions is impossible. As media environment is permanently cluttered, audiences should be     10    with what they wish for.