1 . One of the most common questions I get from concerned gardeners is how to deal with climbing plants, like ivy. The thinking behind this is that climbers are a dragon brickwork and can cause structural damage to buildings. But when you actually look at the science, very few of these f cars are based on any evidence.

A 2020 study of a range of climbing plants on model brick buildings found that the shade cast by the plants’ leaves cooled the surface of the buildings in the summer by as much as 5.7℃, reducing the wide swings between day and night temperatures-a key driver of surface structural damage. It also lowered summer temperatures inside the buildings by up to 7.2℃, and was even projected to reduce heating bills by as much as 20 percent in the winter. Despite concerns that plant strap moisture (水分) against brickwork, leading to damp issues, the same trial showed ivy didn’t significantly raise moisture levels-rather, it helped stabilise them, minimising changes that could damage the buildings surfaces

It is worth bearing in mind that these results were from model buildings with new brickwork. What about well-used buildings? Well another study, this one from 2011, found that in five historical buildings, bare walls experienced average maximum temperatures 36 percent higher and minimum temperatures 15 percent lower compared with those coated in leaves.

The researchers concluded that the living protection provided by those climbing plants would “reduce the likelihood of frost and salt damage to the building materials, thus contributing to their conservation”. They also found that the leaves’ ability to trap pollution could reduce the damage to historical walls.

Imagine if there was a new material that could cool cities and cut energy bills, all while looking beautiful. Did I mention it was also self-cleaning and carbon negative? The truth is that we have had this amazing material all along, but rather than appreciating it we have spent huge amounts of time worrying about bow to tear it down.

1. What are gardeners commonly concerned about?

A．Poor quality of brickwork.	B．Weeds competing for space.
C．Damage caused by construction.	D．Potential dangers of climbing plants.

2. What do climbing plans mainly serve as according to the 2020 study?

A．A temperature adjuster.	B．A moisture tester.
C．A pollution monitor.	D．An air purifier.

3. What is paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．Possible doubts about the findings.	B．Analysis of the experimental data.
C．Supporting evidence for the findings.	D．Explanation for the research process.

4. What is the author’s attitude toward climbing plants?

A．Unclear.

B．Dismissive.

C．Appreciative.

D．Tolerant.

2 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容(1个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。

Atule’er village in southwest China’s Sichuan province, known     1     a “cliff village”, has become an Internet-famous tourist attraction.

In the past, villagers used handmade ladders     2     (climb) the cliff when they returned from the outside. According to locals, about eight people died on the “road” while there were more people who fell and     3     (injure). Among those who climbed the high handmade ladders almost every day were 15village children     4     attend the primary school on the lower mountain. Life was     5     (extreme) hard for the village’s 84 needy households.

Chen Jie, a photographer and a     6     (journal), released the report, A Village on a Cliff on May 24, 2016, which revealed the unsafe situation. This aroused concern from the     7     (centre) government and the local government. At the end of 2016, the local government invested over one million yuan in building a 2,556-step and nearly 3-km-long steel ladder,     8     (improve) the travel conditions for locals significantly. Since then, the “cliff village”     9     (witness) steady improvement in its infrastructure (基础设施).

After being covered by5G signals, Atuleer village has become more widely known through live-streaming shows and seen a growing number of tourists. Even the steel ladder becomes     10     must-see tourist spot. In the future, the “cliff village” will become more famous with the help of the government.

3 . 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。

Lhasa, the second most populous urban area on the Tibetan Plateau, has been the administrative capital of Tibet since the mid-17th century. If you’ve ever had the chance     1     (visit) it, there are many places you.     2     (simple) cannot miss. The Jokhang Temple is like the ultimate hotspot for pilgrims (朝圣者),     3     total must to see. It stands as one of the most appealing sites in Tibet as it     4     (house) the statue of Shakyamuni Buddha that’s more than 2, 500 years old, with tons of people     5     (look) around. The temple surroundings have become quite commercialized over the years.

The Barkhor Street,     6     all high tech has been used to create a good atmosphere, is a popular place for     7     (local) and now for tourists. The local crew teamed up with the brainiacs from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and built this wireless street lamp network. No more     8     (mess) wires ruining your view so now you can become completely involved in the scenery     9     anything that turns your attention away.

You can find many surrounding sites attractive and get almost everything here: beautiful objects, a constant stream of tourists and some seriously passionate pilgrims. All this is     10     makes this place a magical one-of-a-kind destination.

4 .

Discover some of the treasures of South Australia before you start an unforgettable cruise（乘船游览）along the fantastic Murray River Your adventure begins in Adelaide, one of the world’s most-liveahle cities. A full day tour takes you to South Australia’s wine region, where you’ll sample some of the Barossa Valley’s finest wines. You’ll then take a boat to Kangaroo Island, offering nature-based activities, and encounters with koalas, birds, and kangaroos. You’ll then go aboard the PS Murray Princess, a remarkable ship which was built specifically for the Murray River, for an unforgettable three-night cruise along the beautiful Murray River, highlights including river birdlife, nature walks, and delicious regional flavours.		Your holiday includes River Cruise ·3 night Murray River cruise on board PS Murray Princess with all ·meals and sightseeing ·Extend your Cruise! 7 night back to back Murray Princess sailings plus FREE Moarto Zoo visit from $1799 per person, twin share Hotel Stays ·3 night four-star hotel stay in Adelaide with breakfast ·1 night four-star hotel stay in Kangaroo Island with breakfast and lunch Fully Escorted（全程陪同）Tours ·Full day Barossa Valley tour with lunch and wine tastings ·2 day Kangaroo Island tour All flights, taxes and transfers
Departure	Inside Twin From	Outside Twin From	Stateroom（特等舱）From
19 Feb 2024	$3,199 pp	SOLD OUT	$4,199 pp
27 May 2024	$3,299 pp	$3,699 pp	SOLD OUT
5Aug 2024	$2,999 pp	$3;499 pp	$4,199 pp
30 Sep 2024	SOLD OUT	$3,999 pp	SOLD OUT
6Jan2025	$3,299 pp	$3,799 pp	$4,499 pp
24 Feb 2025	$3,499 pp	$3,999 pp	$4,699 pp

1. What is the highlight of the Barossa Valley tour.

A．Wine tastings.	B．Regional cuisines.
C．River birdlife.	D．Natural landscape.

2. What is included in the upgraded River Cruise package?

A．Free Moarto Zoo visit.	B．Fully escorted service.
C．3 night Murray Princess sallings.	D．Four-star accommodation.

3. Which departure date has the lowest price for an outside twin cabin?

A．27 May 2024.	B．5Aug 2024.
C．6 Jan 2025.	D．24 Feb 2025.

5 . 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。

My Thrilling Getaway

To escape the hustle and bustle of London, my family began     1     remarkable staycation to explore unfamiliar shores of Plymouth in South Devon.

After a scenic drive that left us in awe, we found     2     (our) standing on Mount Batten beach. The vision before us was breathtaking—rocky pools and rough sand, all surrounded by green hills. Walking along the charming pathway, we immersed (沉浸) ourselves in the expansive ocean views and the dynamic atmosphere. That evening, warmth filling the air, we gathered around a crackling bonfire, sharing     3     (heart) laughter with fellow beachgoers.

Eager to explore more of Plymouth’s charm, we set out for West Hoe Park the next day,     4     provided a spacious play area for children, equipped with plentiful     5     (delight). Our children were totally attracted and we had a hard time     6     (tear) them away.

Afterwards, we walked     7     (leisure) along Hoe Promenade towards Hoe Park. Despite the crowds, we enjoyed a peaceful walk, greatly     8     (enhance) by the iconic Smeaton’s Tower lighthouse. Undoubtedly, the highlight of our journey was Bovisand Beach. Our children were in their element, building sandcastles and playing in the water, relaxed     9     joyous.

Plymouth     10     (cast) its spell on us and left us with memories that would stay with us for a lifetime.

6 . Museum of Broadway

This museum, which opened in 2022, puts exhibits about Broadway centre stage. It has teamed up with internationally renowned artists, designers and theatre historians to create an interactive experience that highlights groundbreaking moments in Broadway’s history—the moments that pushed creative boundaries, challenged social norms and paved the way for those who would follow.

The Museum of Modern Art

The museum has been showcasing the world’s finest modern and contemporary works for almost a century, having opened back in 1929. The institution’s evolving collection contains 200,000 works from around the world, including painting, sculpture, printmaking, drawing, photography, architecture, design, film, media and performance art. Highlights of the collection include Van Gogh’s The Starry Night. Other big hitters are Andy Warhol’s striking Gold Marilyn Monroe and his famous Campbell’s Soup Cans.

Whitney Museum of American Art

Opened in 2015, the current building was designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano, the brains behind Paris’ Centre Pompidou and The Shard in London. With the whole view of New York City, the building makes a fitting home for one of the world’s most extensive and imaginative holdings of American art. The museum of 25,000 works was built around the personal collection of its founder, Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, whose initial 600 pieces included works by realist painter Edward Hopper. Today the institution is famed for displaying works by living artists, anchored by its signature exhibition the Whitney Biennial.

Guggenheim Museum

The museum’s twirling (旋转的) white building is a masterpiece in itself. It was designed in 1943 by Frank Lloyd Wright, one of America’s most celebrated architects. The exhibitions are world-class, too. The permanent collection has amounted to some 8,000 pieces, with everything from bronze sculptures by French Impressionist artist Edgar Degas to pieces by key figures such as Lawrence Weiner, a conceptual artist in the 1960s.

1. Which museum has the longest history?

A．Guggenheim Museum.	B．Museum of Broadway.
C．The Museum of Modern Art.	D．Whitney Museum of American Art.

2. What is special about Whitney Museum of American Art?

A．It closely cooperates with Broadway.

B．It is centred on a personal collection.

C．It shows Van Gogh’s The Starry Night.

D．It is now famous for works by late artists.

3. What can you do at Guggenheim Museum?

A．Have a look at some sculptures.	B．Get a signature of Edgar Degas.
C．Admire a twirling bronze building.	D．Interact with some famous architects.

7 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. How many languages can Persephone use to answer questions?

A．30

B．1

C．33

2. Why does Kartalis want to improve Persephone?

A．It moves quite slowly.

B．It has poor communication skills.

C．It can only speak limited languages.

3. What is Karafera’s attitude towards robots’ future?

A．Critical.

B．Supportive.

C．Objective.

9 . Visiting a science museum is a highly underrated leisure activity. Many people believe that museums are where you go to see the remains of dinosaurs and learn more about the origin of man.     1     Science museums offer much more educational activities and other fun-filled activities. Below are some benefits of making a trip to a science museum.

Gain learning resources.     2     At any science museum, you can find tons of materials. They’re offered to promote science literacy (科学素养) of people of various ages, education levels and backgrounds. Kids can even get involved in lessons to gain scientific knowledge.

Take professional development courses. If you think science museums aren’t for you because you’re not a child, you are mistaken. They also offer a number of development courses for specialists. Teacher training is such a course where educators can be given a better understanding of tour of a city’s culture, history, arts, and science.     3    

Attend fun-filled summer camps. Most people don’t know this, but some science museums have summer camp programs for kids of all ages.     4     Kids can not only gain some useful life skills but also make new friends there. In addition, abilities like independence can be developed.    5     It’s very likely that you will engage in some interactive program sand exhibitions when you visit a science museum. Exhibition halls like planetariums (天文馆) show explorers the wonders of the universe. Some other halls also encourage visitors to actively participate in the exploration of scientific concepts (概念) and phenomena by allowing them to touch, handle, and experiment with various objects and exhibits according to the proper procedure.

A．Go on field research in large groups.

B．This makes them become better educators.

C．Experience plenty of hands-on exhibits.

D．A science museum is an educational center.

E．However, this is only the tip of the iceberg.

F．If you’ve ever been to one, you know the benefits.

G．They give you the freedom to explore a topic in depth.

10 . North Rim to reopen on June 2 with limited services available

News Release Date: May 17, 2023
Contact: Joëlle Baird, 928-606-3154
Grand Canyon, Ariz

The North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park will open as scheduled, on June 2, with limited visitor services and water conservation measures due to a break in the North Rim water pipeline. A landslide from winter storms destroyed more than 300 feet of the North Rim water pipeline.

Visitor Services

The Grand Canyon Lodge will operate day-use services with limited food and beverage service beginning on June 2. No overnight accommodations will be available until at least July 23, 2023.

The North Rim Campground, managed by the National Park Service, will operate as scheduled beginning on June 9 with potable drinking water and toilets available. The public laundry and shower facilities will not be open at least through July 23, 2023.

The North Rim Visitor Center and Grand Canyon Conservancy’s bookstore open as usual, 8 am to 6 pm daily, with a variety of ranger programs offered.

Visitors exploring the North Rim this summer should be self-sufficient and should bring adequate food and water for the day as services are limited and may be subject to change. Nearby, accommodating is available at the Kaibab Lodge and food services and fuel at the North Rim Country Store. Year-round accommodating, food services and fuel are located 45 miles north of the North Rim at Jacob Lake. As a result of substantial winter rockfall and landslides, trail (步道) repair work on the North Kaibab Trail continues. There is a trail closure in effect on the North Kaibab Trail and it will officially reopen on June 16, 2023.

1. Which was not affected and opens as usual?

A．The public laundry.	B．The Grand Canyon Lodge.
C．The North Kaibab Trail.	D．The North Rim Visitor Center.

2. What can we learn about the North Kaibab Trail from the text?

A．It offers food service.	B．It is around Jacob Lake.
C．It is under repair now.	D．It opens all the year around.

3. What is the purpose of the text?

A．To warn visitors of the oncoming landslide.

B．To inform visitors of schedules of some attractions.

C．To appeal to more visitors to the Grand Canyon National Park.

D．To advertise the products of the Grand Canyon National Park.