1 . Atmospheric (大气层的) rivers are long and narrow bands of water vapor (水蒸气) in Earth’s atmosphere, which are called “large rivers in the sky”. These rivers form over warm ocean waters. They are huge. They can be 930 miles long and one-third that wide.

Like real rivers, they carry huge amounts of water. These large streams of small water drops are blown by wind over land. When that happens, the water vapor cools down and condenses (凝结). Atmospheric rivers can be good. They bring water to dry areas. However, they can cause huge, fast-moving storms. Some cause snowfalls that bury towns. They are also the main cause of floods on the U.S. West Coast.

Atmospheric rivers are hard to predict. But scientists are working to change that. Marty Ralph, a scientist who works at the University of California, directs the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes (CW3E). They created the first computer model to predict atmospheric rivers on the U.S. West Coast. This model uses a program that runs on a computer to create a model of a real-world event. CW3E also studies atmospheric rivers using planes. Pilots drop instruments into atmospheric rivers to collect information like temperature and wind speed, which helps with forecasting.

Will climate change affect atmospheric rivers? Climate change happens naturally over a long period of time. But today, it is largely caused by human activities and is causing the Earth to warm, which affects atmospheric rivers.

Atmospheric rivers are pushed by the wind. Those winds are driven by the temperature differences between the poles and the equator (赤道). But the poles are also warming faster than areas near the equator. That makes the temperature difference between the areas smaller. This can make winds weaker.

Climate change might not cause more atmospheric rivers. But there may be very, very wet seasons and very, very dry seasons. Such a seesaw in rainfall could make it harder to manage what water there is.

1. What can we learn about atmospheric rivers?

A．They can be 930 miles long and 465 miles wide.

B．They are easy to predict as scientists are working on it.

C．They are bands of water vapor forming over warm ocean waters.

D．They are the main cause of floods in the U.S.

2. What is the third paragraph mainly about?

A．Why it is hard to predict atmospheric rivers.

B．Whether scientists can predict atmospheric rivers.

C．How technology helps the prediction of atmospheric rivers.

D．How scientists are working on the forecasts of atmospheric rivers.

3. What does the underlined word “seesaw” mean in the last paragraph?

A．Growth.

B．Drop.

C．Prediction.

D．Change.

4. Where is the text probably taken from?

A．A textbook.

B．A science magazine.

C．An academic article.

D．A news report.

2 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

With full preparation from both China and the US, the giant panda family Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and their 3-year-old son Xiao Qiji arrived safely in China on Thursday due to the ending of the agreement between the two     1     (country). After returning, they     2     (transport) to the Wolong National Nature Reserve, according to China Daily. The news immediately became     3     hot topic on China’s social media platform, with nearly 43 million netizens     4     (express) their joy and excitement.

    5     (prepare) for their returning, China selected senior workers to travel to the US     6     advance to take part in the panda’s feeding and help US experts in conducting behavior training and daily check-ups. What’s more, indoor animal houses, feed processing rooms and outdoor exercise areas were set up in the reserve for their isolation (隔离).

Giant pandas are rare and endangered wild animals,     7     are beloved by people around the world, and they also serve as ambassadors for     8     (culture) exchange between China and other nations. In the future, China     9     (continue) to strengthen cooperation with others, to     10     (active) contribute to the protection of endangered species such as giant pandas and the promotion of friendship between Chinese and the rest of the world.

4 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What is the ship captain going to do?

A．Speed the ship.

B．Change the direction.

C．Stop the ship.

2. What is the weather probably like now?

A．Sunny and nice.

B．Windy and rainy.

C．Stormy and cold.

3. What should the passengers do?

A．Run for safety.

B．Stay in their rooms.

C．Call 911.

5 . A team of psychologists led by Dr. Karen McComb at the University of Sussex in the UK have discovered an effective way for humans to communicate with cats through slow blinking (眨眼睛), similar to how cats interact with each other.

Dr. McComb and her team conducted two experiments to study this phenomenon. In the first study, owners were instructed by researchers Tasmin Humphrey and Andrew Wood to slowly blink at their cats from a distance while being recorded. Humphrey and Wood found the cats were more likely to respond with slow blinking of their own compared to when no interaction took place.

To follow up on these findings, McComb, Humphrey, and Wood designed a second experiment without considering the exsisting relationship between humans and cats. Researchers, including McComb, performed the same slow blinking action. Like in the first experiment, the cats in this study also responded more favorably to slow blinking by returning the gesture and more readily approaching an extended hand, according to Humphrey’s analysis.

The slow blink expression involves partially closing the eyes briefly, copying a relaxed, friendly facial expression in humans. McComb notes that for cats, it appears to signal good intentions as constant staring could be seen as threatening. Wood says that cats may have developed this language to acknowledge humans who react positively to the signal. Being able to effectively communicate acceptance in this subtle cat way seems to strengthen the bond between cats and their owners, McComb adds.

McComb, Humphrey and Wood hope their findings can provide insight into cat behavior and thinking. They also aim to apply this knowledge of cross-species communication to evaluate cat health in various places like veterinary (兽医的) clinics and shelters, according to Humphrey. A deeper understanding of how cats interpret and respond to humans can improve our ability to properly care for household and outdoor cat populations, McComb concludes.

1. How was the second experiment different from the first one?

A．It recorded the interactive behavior of cats.

B．It required cat owners to blink from a distance.

C．It studied how cats communicate with each other.

D．It focused on how cats react to strangers’ slow blinking.

2. Why may cats develop slow blinking according to experts?

A．To attract their owners’ attention.

B．To show friendliness to other animals.

C．To respond to humans’ positive reactions.

D．To send out a signal for help to their partners.

3. What do the researchers hope to apply their findings to?

A．Improving cat behavior and habits.

B．Assessing health conditions of cats.

C．Developing ways to treat cats’ diseases.

D．Helping cat owners train their cats quickly.

4. What does the text mainly talk about?

A．Humans can communicate with cats by blinking slowly.

B．Extending hands to cats can strengthen the bond with them.

C．Cats respond favorably to humans’ friendly facial expressions.

D．Understanding cat signals improves humans’ ability to care for them.

7 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段, 使之构成一篇完整的短文。

Grandfather looked worried as he felt the inside of Caper’s front hoof(蹄). The small horse was in pain. “It’s warm,” said Grandfather with a sigh. “I think he has a mild case of founder(蹄叶炎). Let him have a rest. In a few days he should be right as rain.”

Caper couldn’t pull the cart, which meant they couldn’t go to the market the next day. The fish couldn’t be sold and they wouldn’t get enough money to pay for the rent. Aislinn had tears in her eyes. “The sea has always been kind to us. There will be more fish. And the rent will get paid. Now off to bed with you. Leave the worrying to me,” said Grandfather, smiling at Aislinn. “Good night,” Aislinn said as she headed toward her room, trying her best to hold back her tears. “Sweet dreams,” Grandfather called after her.

Sleep would not come. Aislinn wished Grandfather could sell the fish he’d worked so hard to catch. She wished they had enough money for the rent. But above all Aislinn wished that Caper’s hooves would stop hurting. She suddenly remembered when she’d twisted(扭伤)her own ankle. Grandfather had told her to keep ice on it, and the swelling had gone down.

“Could the same thing help Caper?” Aislinin wondered. Suddenly Aislinn had a better idea, and she jumped out of bed. She knocked on Grandfather’s bedroom door, and found Grandfather was also wide awake. Aislinn came in and asked Grandfather whether it would help if they stood Caper in the sea, in the cold water. Grandfather thought for a while and said that might work. He asked Aislinn to take a blanket and some hot tea. “You don’t have to stay out that long, you know,” said Grandfather. “I want to,” said Aislinn, filled with hope that her idea would work. With her arms full, she followed Grandfather out into the night.

注意：
1. 续写词数应为150左右;
2. 请按如下格式在答题纸的相应位置作答。
Half an hour later, they slowly led the small horse down to the water.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Aislinn felt something pushing against her.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8 . “Consumers complain that the modern tomato has little flavor. It’s like a water bomb,” said Sanwen Huang, who works at the Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. “Tomato farmers care about yield, and the genetic variants related to yield are not related to tasty tomato favors.”

How can farmers ditch this unpleasant thing and recover the rich, sweet flavor of the tomato? To find out, Huang and colleagues investigated which genes are related to tomatoes’ taste. The scientists created a 100-person group that sampled 160 tomatoes based on sensory qualities. Based on the group’s feedback, the researchers identified dozens of chemical compounds (化合物) that could be related to the tomato’s taste. Using a statistical model that determined the concentration of various chemicals in the tomatoes, the scientists identified 33 most important flavor compounds. The researchers then measured the content of them in each of the tomatoes, and identified about 250 genetic loci (基因座) that controlled tomato flavor. This finding revealed the genetic basis of tomato flavor.

But the researchers also wanted to determine why store-bought tomatoes don’t taste good. It turns out that modern tomato varieties are selected according to qualities such as big size because buyers prefer large fruit, and firmness because it makes tomatoes easier to ship. Meanwhile, the quality of flavor has been ignored, said the researchers.

Volatiles (挥发性物质), in particular, are essential for good flavor. The removal of specific volatiles from tomatoes results in significant reduction in people’s liking. Moreover, refrigeration can change a tomato’s volatile compounds.

“But there is hope for a future filled with tasty, new varieties of store-bought tomatoes, as our results provide a road map for improvement of flavor. By working together, geneticists, biochemists, farmers and customers can provide better-flavored tomatoes for our society.” Huang said.

1. How does the author present the study in paragraph 2?

A．By giving a definition.	B．By listing figures.
C．By analyzing the cause.	D．By making a comparison.

2. What is the main idea of paragraphs 3-4?

A．The reasons why stores favor such tomatoes.

B．Some qualities consumers prefer in buying tomatoes.

C．The importance of volatiles in deciding tomato flavor.

D．The reasons why store-bought tomatoes have little flavor.

3. Which of the following statements will Huang probably agree with?

A．The store-bought tomatoes have a promising future.

B．Yield-related genetic variants provide tasty tomatoes.

C．Their research has changed a tomato’s volatile compounds.

D．Farmers and customers can certainly provide better-flavored tomatoes.

4. What’s the purpose of the text?

A．To persuade readers to buy tomatoes.

B．To introduce the high yielding tomatoes.

C．To prove store-bought tomatoes are tasteless.

D．To inform readers of the research about tomato flavors.

9 . The long-awaited return journey of female giant panda Ya Ya, who has lived in the Memphis Zoo in the US state of Tennessee for 20 years, finally started on Wednesday local time, according to media reports. The news resulted in heated cheers of Chinese netizens as they had been closely watching and looking forward to Ya Ya’s return for months over concerns about the giant panda’s health.

Ya Ya had left the Memphis Zoo in Tennessee, the US, starting her journey back to China on Wednesday morning, the Xinhua News Agency reported. When asked about the latest progress on Ya Ya’s return journey, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at the Wednesday press conference that Ya Ya would soon return to China as arranged. “Related parties in China and the US are actively promoting related preparations and arrangements,” Mao said.

According to information released by Chinese flight tracking platform Feichangzhun, FedEx special flight FX9759 would take off at 12:05 p. m. on Wednesday US time from the Memphis airport for the Shanghai Pudong International Airport. The flight duration is estimated to be nearly 16 hours. Many netizens volunteered to go to the Shanghai Pudong Airport to welcome Ya Ya and Le Le. “I am sure there will be a crowd of people there for them! We all want to see them land in the motherland safely!” said a Weibo user.

Ya Ya was born in the Beijing Zoo in August 2000. In April 2003, as part of a cooperation program on the protection and research of giant pandas between China and the US, Ya Ya and Le Le, a male panda from the Shanghai Zoo, were flown to Memphis.

Since the beginning of 2021, there have been continuous reports about the poor health conditions of Ya Ya and Le Le, with heart-wrenching photos surfacing online. After passing away of Le Le in February, pictures of the weak Ya Ya caused a stronger impact on the Chinese social media, leading many netizens to call for the early return of Ya Ya.

1. What can we infer from the text?

A．Ya Ya is twenty years old now.

B．Related parties care little about Ya Ya.

C．Many netizens are very concerned about Ya Ya’s health.

D．Ya Ya will reach Shanghai at about 4:00 a. m. on Thursday Beijing time.

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

A．Changed.

B．Announced.

C．Developed.

D．Achieved.

3. What made Ya Ya so weak in the USA?

A．Le Le’s death.	B．Missing her motherland.
C．Too many people’s concern.	D．No clear reason mentioned.

4. Where can this text come from?

A．A news report.	B．A travel journal.
C．A science fiction.	D．A popular magazine.