1 . The COVID-19 pandemic(新冠疫情) has had one positive result: millions more Europeans have discovered the joy of cycling. ‘‘Cycling is easy,” says Tanja Jamnik. “Sitting on a bike, I feel very free.” The 57-year-old accountant from Slovenia is convinced of the health benefits. “Cycling is great for the whole body.” And there are advantages for mental health. “If I cycle alone, I switch my mind off and all the bad things go out of it. If I cycle with a friend, we talk so much that it’s like therapy(治疗)!” While Tanja and her husband, Andrej, have long enjoyed cycling, there are many newcomers to the activity.
She ascribes the recent rise in biking in her country to two factors. One is Slovenia’s extremely attractive performance in the 2020 Tour de France. The other, of course, is the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year when public transport was cancelled, and schools, sports facilities, restaurants and shops were shut, many more Slovenians discovered — or rediscovered — cycling.
“By the beginning of July, cycle shops in Slovenia were almost out of mountain bikes and expedition bikes.” Tanja and Andrej often tour their home country by bike, plus most years they have had cycling holidays in other places, too.
In fact, the whole of Europe has seen a surprising growth in cycling. Bike use was already high in some European countries, but numbers are increasing all across the continent as people get on their bikes for fitness, commuting(通勤) and leisure. In Finland, bicycle sales were up by 34 percent in 2020, and in January 2021 alone, the growth was a surprising 49 percent, according to the Finnish Cyclists Federation.
1. Why does Tanja like cycling?| A．Because she can go anywhere she wants. |
| B．Because cycling with a friend is like therapy. |
| C．Because she benefits from cycling physically and mentally. |
| D．Because her husband loves cycling with her at their leisure time. |
| A．Distributes. | B．Owes. | C．Reveals. | D．Reduces. |
| A．Finland’s bicycle sales increased sharply. |
| B．Bike use was high in all European countries. |
| C．Europeans ride bikes mainly for entertainment. |
| D．The cycling is more and more popular in the world. |
| A．The usage of bike | B．The enjoyment of cycling |
| C．The cycling explosion in Europe | D．The great advantages of cycling |
2 . Database maintenance (数据库维护) is an activity designed to keep a database running smoothly. A number of different systems can be used to build and maintain databases. Databases are used to maintain a library of information in a well-organized, accessible format (格 式).They usually are not static (静态的),because changes are constantly being made as material is added, removed, and moved around. Over time, this can cause the database to start to go wrong. Database maintenance is used to keep the database clean and well-organized so that it will not lose functionality.
One important aspect of maintaining a database is simply backing up the data so that, if anything happens, there will be another copy available. Some database systems actually do this automatically and then send the backup to another location every day, every week, or within any other set period of time. Backups are usually not enough, however.
Database maintenance includes checking for signs of corruption in the database, looking for problem areas, and checking for any detail in the database that might signal a problem. The goal is to keep the database operating smoothly for users, so that ideally they never need to think about maintenance issues. A database that is not maintained can become slow, and people may start to experience problems when trying to access records.
The maintenance of databases is generally performed by people who are comfortable and familiar with the database system and the details of the particular database, although some maintenance tasks can be performed by people who do not have experience. Numerous textbooks are available with information about database management, including how to maintain databases properly. It is also possible to take courses to learn about different database systems and how to care for databases. People can also earn certifications in specific systems which indicate a high level of competence.
1. What can we know about databases?| A．They are always well organized. | B．They are often changeable. |
| C．They mainly serve the library. | D．They can organize news. |
| A．Maintain a database. | B．Send a backup. |
| C．Correct mistakes. | D．Back up data. |
| A．To look for signs of breaking down. | B．To check for any detail. |
| C．To make database run smoothly. | D．To ensure the safety of users. |
| A．What database maintenance is. |
| B．How people keep database operating smoothly. |
| C．How people finish maintenance tasks well. |
| D．Why database maintenance is important. |
3 . The best science fiction books of 2021
We take a look at the most exciting new science-fiction books of 2021. No matter what kind of science fiction fan you are, we're sure you'll find something to add to your reading list.
The Saints of Salvation
By Peter F. Hamilton
The Olyix have laid siege（围攻）to Earth, harvesting people for their god. Cities are ru¬ined by their weapons and millions have either fled to seek refuge in space or are fighting a war that seems unwinnable. As Earth's defeat draws ever closer, a team are sent to enter the Olyix's air-ship secretly. Their plan? This is the final science fiction in Peter F. Hamilton's extremely surprising series The Salvation Sequence.
A Desolation Called Peace
By Arkady Martine
This impressive sequel（续集）to Arkady Martinets Hugo Award-winning science fiction book sees the Teixcalaanli Empire facing an alien threat which could bring about its complete destruction. Fleet captain Nine Hibiscus sends a person to negotiate with the mysterious invaders...
Jack Four
By Neal Asher
Jack Four-one of twenty human clones-has been created to be sold. His purchasers are the aliens and they only want him for their experimentation program. But there is something different about Jack. No clone should possess the knowledge that's been loaded into his mind.
Rabbits
By Terry Miles
Rabbits is a secret, dangerous and sometimes deadly underground game. The rewards for winning are unclear, but there are rumors of money or it might unlock the universe's greatest secrets. Everyone knows that the deeper you get, the more deadly the game becomes-and the body count is rising. Since the game first started, ten rounds have taken place. The eleventh round is about to begin, and what happens in the game, stays in the game...
1. What can we know aboutThe Saints of Salvation?| A．It's about the war among people on earth. |
| B．The Olyix are defeated in the end. |
| C．It belongs toThe Salvation Sequence. |
| D．It's the last novel of Peter F. Hamilton. |
| A．He gives the alien a complete destruction. |
| B．He lets someone negotiate with the alien. |
| C．He fights against the alien bravely. |
| D．He makes the alien face a threat. |
| A．In a book recommendation. | B．In an art magazine. |
| C．In a biography. | D．In a novel |
4 . Tears not only deliver oxygen and nutrients to our eyes and remove waste, but also contain various chemicals originally present in blood, some of which serve as markers of some diseases. That's a primary reason why doctors order blood tests. But it also means that physicians — and maybe in the near future, you — can look for signs of illness by looking at your tears.
Scientists have already found that markers of many serious diseases including cancers are found in tears. And recently, a technology named Tear Exo has been developed for breast cancer screening using tears collected by patients themselves. That could offer a cheaper way of testing and aid in the earlier detection of deadly disease.
But the potential advantages of tears as indicators of health go beyond occasional testing. One tear-based technology is a small contact lens that continuously monitors a patient's biomarkers, significantly improving disease prevention and detection. It has attracted the attention of some major companies such as Novartis, and is currently under development in research laboratories around the world.
More recently, a smart contact lens has been successfully developed for continuous monitoring and treatment of diabetic retinopathy. Such a product probably won't be ready for commercial use in several years. But according to Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, about 45 million people in the U.S. already wear contact lens to correct their sight. Switching to a smart version would be simple for them.
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the potential in tears beyond crying. Tears can provide an inexpensive, rapid and easy-to-use choice to monitor health. Given the advantage of tear technology, such technology will almost certainly bring about more effective prevention of diseases—rather than having to deal with the difficulty of treating them.
1. In which way do people benefit from Tear Exo?| A．Preventing breast cancer. | B．Saving time for screening tests. |
| C．Reducing the costs of testing. | D．Detecting some diseases earlier. |
| A．It has a promising future. | B．It can improve patient's sight. |
| C．It is available on the market. | D．It monitors eyesight continuously. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Positive. | C．Negative. | D．Cautious. |
| A．What role do tears play? | B．Tears contain high levels of chemical. |
| C．How can we prevent tears? | D．Your eyes may save your life someday. |
5 . Five years ago, I left my job to work on a ship. My friends said that working on a ship would
As a doctor, I was
As many of the passengers were elderly, heart attacks could
Thankfully, the job had several unexpected benefits to me. I
Now, I understand being a doctor on a ship is not a job － it’s a way of
| A．block | B．build | C．ruin | D．improve |
| A．Hungry | B．Skillful | C．Suitable | D．Thankful |
| A．anger | B．disappointment | C．scare | D．relief |
| A．take in | B．figure out | C．give up | D．pass on |
| A．lesson | B．risk | C．challenge | D．choice |
| A．watch | B．repair | C．check | D．set |
| A．powerful | B．responsible | C．helpful | D．grateful |
| A．probably | B．especially | C．certainly | D．actually |
| A．examination | B．argument | C．opinion | D．movement |
| A．happen | B．break | C．stop | D．disappear |
| A．amazing | B．boring | C．exciting | D．scaring |
| A．cleaned | B．enjoyed | C．fixed | D．protected |
| A．volunteered | B．travelled | C．refused | D．returned |
| A．confidence | B．life | C．experience | D．business |
| A．though | B．unless | C．but | D．or |
6 . After university in 2011, Samuel went to a rural primary school for native children, where, on his first day, another teacher told him, "Samuel, you don't have to do much, they're just Orang Asli-native children." This was what Samuel would spend years fighting against.
The Orang Asli community has struggled with poverty, melting into society, and losing their own identity and culture due to others' disregard of it. The main barrier in teaching these children was that many of the teachers thought that the native children were not worth their efforts. It was thought that whatever was taught would make no difference, so nobody bothered to try. The children themselves ended up believing these stigmas (污名), often doubting what they can achieve. Teachers skipped or slept in classes, and little effort was made to create an appropriate learning environment. Consequently, the school was one of the worst-performing in the district.
Samuel cared about his native students and accepted their culture, leading him to see their potential. However, he also came to see that they did not have equal opportunities compared to urban schools, due to the lack of facilities. So he set up a crowdfunding project to create a fully equipped 21st-century English classroom with tablets and computers. The Orang Asli children now learn technology, experience English and communicate in English with volunteers all over Malaysia and overseas.
Consequently, the students have improved in national standardized examinations, from a pass rate of 30% in English (2008-2012) to an average of 80% (2013-2017). These efforts have resulted in a shift of what local children are considered capable of academically.
1. What did the teacher's words suggest about the native children?| A．They were intelligent. | B．They were hopeless. |
| C．They were unfriendly. | D．They were independent. |
| A．The poverty of local people. | B．The lack of facilities in his school. |
| C．The unfair treatment of the native kids. | D．The unsuitable teaching methods. |
| A．The change of native students. |
| B．The importance of learning English. |
| C．The improvement of native education. |
| D．Samuel's work for the native kids. |
| A．Respect makes a big difference. |
| B．The academic performance comes first. |
| C．Everyone deserves access to education. |
| D．One method can't apply to each situation. |
内容包括：
1.展览的时间、地点； 2.作品内容；3.截止日期。
注意：1.词数80左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
参考词汇：建党the founding of the CPC
Notice
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Student Union
8 . The Gata used to look annoyed when they received power bills that routinely topped $200. Last September the couple moved into a 1,500-square-foot home in Premier Gardens, an area of 95 “zero-energy homes” (ZEH) just outside town. Now they're actually eager to see their electricity bills. The grand total over the 10 months they've lived in the three-bedroom house: $75. For the past two months, they haven’t paid a cent.
ZEH communities are the leading edge of technologies that might someday create houses that produce as much energy as they consume. Premier Gardens is one of a half-dozen subdivisions (住宅开发项目) in California where every home cuts power consumption by 50%, mostly by using low power appliances and solar panels.
Aside from the panels on the roof, Premier Gardens looks like a community of traditional homes. But inside, special windows cut power bills by blocking solar heat in summer and keeping indoor warmth winter.
The rest of the energy savings comes from the solar units. They don't just feed the home they serve. If they generate more power than the home is using, the excess flows into the utility's power grid(电网). The residents are billed by “net metering”: they pay for the amount of power that they get from the grid, minus the kilowatts(千瓦) they feed into it. If a home generates more power than it uses, the bill is zero.
That sounds like a bad deal for the power company, but it's not. Solar homes produce the most power on the hot sunny afternoons when everyone rushes home to turn up the air conditioner. "It helps us lower usage at peak power times," says solar expert Mike Keesee. “That lets us avoid building costly plants or buying expensive power at peak usage time.”
What’s not to like? Mostly the costs. The special features can add $25,000 or more to the purchase price of a house. Tax breaks bring the cost down, especially in California, but in many states ZEHs can be extremely expensive. For the consumer, it's a matter of paying now for the hardware to save later on the power bill.
1. Why is the Gata eager to see their electricity bills now?| A．They want to cut down their utility' expenses. |
| B．They want to know if they are able to pay. |
| C．They want to see how much they have saved. |
| D．They want to avoid being overcharged. |
| A．They are built in harmony with the environment. |
| B．They have created cutting edge technologies. |
| C．They are subdivided into half a dozen sections. |
| D．They aim to be independent in power supply. |
| A．More pressure at peak time | B．Reduced operational costs. |
| C．Increased electricity output. | D．Less profits in the short term. |
| A．is a worthy investment in the long run | B．is but a dream for average consumers |
| C．gives the owner great tax benefits | D．contributes to environmental protection |
9 . It was our first evening dog-sitting while our teenage daughter Rochelle was on vacation for two weeks. Louie searched the entire house for his “mommy”. Then, that disappointed but determined puppy （小狗） developed a plan.
While my husband Paul and I were watching TV, we heard loud noises. Something heavy was being dragged down the stairs. I looked around and saw this six-month-old puppy laboriously dragging his large, hard-sided carrier down the stairs. The next moment saw him drag his possessions one by one, first his blanket, and then his bowl, bone, ball and sweater. The project took most of the evening but Louie showed no sign of tiredness at all.
After packing all the items into the carrier, he attempted to jump inside. Once inside, he got the zipper between his teeth and, with all the strength, he pulled the zipper closed. Then he lay down and went to sleep in it throughout the night. The message was abundantly clear. He wanted to go see his “mommy”. He had seen her pack her suitcase and go away for her vacation. He must do the same so he could find her. When I unzipped his carrier in the morning, Louie was excited, but his “mommy” was nowhere to be seen.
The puppy surprised us with new undertakings every day. His absolutely favorite activity was going for a car ride. The possibility of stopping at McDonald's was his consideration. But one day, my husband didn't stop at McDonald's. He left Louie in the car with the window slightly open while he went to a drugstore. Louie managed to jump out of the window. He walked two blocks and found Paul, walking around him as if saying, “Can we go to have fried chicken now?”
Louie is an old gray-haired dog now, but he is still up to his old, and new, tricks.
1. Why didn't Louie show any sign of tiredness?| A．He was eager to see Rochelle. | B．He could drag the carrier easily. |
| C．He wanted to delight Paul and me. | D．He enjoyed searching the house. |
| A．He did that as trained. | B．He used his strong teeth. |
| C．He followed his owner. | D．He employed all his strength. |
| A．He could play at McDonald's. |
| B．He could have his favorite food. |
| C．He could walk through the blocks freely. |
| D．He could accompany Paul to the drugstore. |
| A．Clever and well-trained. | B．Brave and proud. |
| C．Strong-minded and smart. | D．Faithful and quiet. |
10 . Scientists have long sought to prevent sharp memories from dulling with age, but the problem remains unsettled. Now research published in Scientific Reports suggests virtual reality might help older people recall facts and events based on specific details.
The study involved 42 healthy older adults from the San Francisco Bay Area. Half spent a dozen hours over four weeks playing a virtual-reality game called Labyrinth; they wore headsets and walked in place, walking virtual neighborhoods while completing small tasks. The other half, in the control group, used electronic tablets to play games that did not require recalling details. After 15 sessions (期), the latter performed roughly the same as before on a long-term memory test. But the Labyrinth players gain an improvement in memory through the VR game. A scientist Peter Wais of the University of California said the improvements brought them up to the level of another group of younger adults taking the same memory tests.
Meredith Thompson, an education researcher, studies learning through VR games but was not involved in the new study. It would be great to actually follow people over time and see what this type of game does for long-term memory. She says, adding VR can provide greater involvement than other games. Wais's team is now investigating how long the observed effects last and which elements of the training have the most impact.
A cognitive (认知)psychologist, Daniel Simons, who was also not involved in the study, notes experiments with other games that claim to train the brain have often failed to evaluate this. And it remains unclear how test performance in a laboratory setting might translate to real-world situations. The outcome, Simons notes, “needs to be repeated, ideally with a much larger group, before it’s treated as a strong finding.”
For now, Wais says, the team hopes its studies with similar-sized groups will help draw funding to test the game in a larger pool of participants.
1. What is the passage mainly about?| A．People's memory gradually fails as they age. |
| B．People of different ages should play VR games. |
| C．Virtual reality changes people's memory. |
| D．Virtual reality improves older adults' memory. |
| A．satisfied. | B．enthusiastic. |
| C．cautious. | D．concerned. |
| A．the lack of financial support. | B．the limited pool of participants. |
| C．the unsatisfying test performance. | D．the impractical application in real world. |
| A．A novel. | B．A review. |
| C．A magazine. | D．A guidebook. |
