1 . The deep, dark sea is a surprising area. Down there, it’s normal to happen on unheard-of never-seen-before animals and their interesting behavior. Sometimes, sources for precious new medicines are collected—and many more are almost certainly waiting to be discovered.

What marine scientists didn't expect to find, however, was a three-foot-long tusk (长牙) from an extinct mammoth (猛犸象) about 10, 000 feet beneath the ocean. Researchers collected the sample off the California coast in July 2021. “You start to expect the unexpected when exploring the deep sea, but I’m still stunned that we came on the ancient tusk of a mammoth,” Steven Haddock, a marine scientist at Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, said in a statement.

Columbian mammoths, giant ice age mammals that stood some 14 feet tall, marched around what is now California as recently as some 11, 000 years ago. Paleontologists (古生物学者) are still pulling their well-preserved bones out of tar in Los Angeles. How did a tusk find its way to the deep sea? It’s unknown, and likely will remain unknown. But land-dwelling creatures are sometimes washed out into deeper ocean regions, perhaps during great floods.

The intense cold and pressure in the deep sea excellently preserved the tusk. The research team plans to examine the fossil carefully and even determine the long-dead creature’s age. They suspect it’s over 100,000 years old.

“This deep-sea environment is different from those we have seen elsewhere,” mammoth paleontologist Daniel Fisher said in a statement, noting that most mammoth finds in the ocean are in much shallower waters.

“We know so little about the deep ocean that pretty much anyone can find something new if they were doing something unique down there,” Alan Leonardi, the director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, told Mashable last year.

1. What made scientists feel unexpected about the deep sea?

A．The sources for valuable medicines.

B．The finding of an ivory from a mammoth.

C．There are many never-seen-before animals.

D．There used to be a mammoth in the deep ocean.

2. What does the underlined word “stunned” mean in paragraph 2?

A．Shocked.	B．Interested.
C．Devoted.	D．Curious.

3. Why was the tusk of the mammoth preserved well?

A．Because there was no creatures’ disturbance.

B．Because of the effort made by the research team.

C．Because of the extreme environment in the deep sea.

D．Because the tusk had stayed under sea for a short time.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．The research of the deep sea

B．The importance of exploring the deep sea was interesting

C．Scientists found a mammoth tusk in the deep sea

D．The meaning of finding a mammoth tusk in the deep sea

2 . The North Star, also known as Polaris, is often used by campers to help them find their way when they get lost.     1     You can use them to find the North Star and help you if you lose your direction, or just find the North Star for fun if you’re into star gazing.

    2     You can use the Big Dipper(北斗七星)to find the Little Dipper. The Little Dipper is the constellation(星座)that contains the North Star. The tip of the Little Dipper’s handle is the North Star. If you’re able to locate the Little Dipper, you can easily spot the North Star.

Locate the North Star with your smart phone. There are many smart phone applications that work something like a telescope. You allow the phone to find your location, and then point your phone to the sky. The phone acts as interactive map, identifying stars and constellations for you.     3    

Buy a star atlas(星图). If the idea of carrying your phone around while stargazing kills the fun for you, consider buying a star atlas instead. You should also always take an atlas with you when hiking in case your phone battery dies.     4     A star atlas is a book that breaks down the night sky by the region and time of year. You can use it to locate the North Star on any given night.

    5     You can use desktop applications for your computer to know how the sky will look on a given night. These devices can help you plan ahead. You’ll go outside with a rough idea of where you can expect to find the North Star.

A．Plan ahead with your computer.

B．Find the direction north with two sticks.

C．It is very helpful and can be used on any night.

D．This can prevent you from locating the North Star.

E．Here are some ways to help you find the North Star.

F．Rely on constellations in the night sky to find the North Star.

G．Some applications can also assist you to see stars more easily.

3 . It was June 8, 1816 and it was early summer in Vermont, US. Yet, a wild winter snow-storm was going on. Nearly a foot of snow covered the fields which had been planted crops only weeks before. This storm would kill all of the crops. At the time, people struggled to understand what had caused the weather to change so wildly. It is only now, more than 200 years later, that scientists have finally solved the mystery. The cause of the extreme weather was an event that took place a year earlier and 10, 000 miles away. It all started with a volcano called Mount Tambora.

Mount Tambora sits on the island of Sumbawa, a beautiful land with rushing streams, gentle hills, and thick jungles, in Indonesia. Nobody had any reason to think the peaceful mountain was in fact a volcano. It had been asleep for centuries, but on April 5, 1815, Tambora woke up.

The first eruption shook the island and sent up streams of fire and ash. But that was nothing compared with what would come five days later, on April 10. The volcano exploded with a huge cloud of gas, fire and ash shot high into the sky. The day turned midnight black, but the mountain turned red as rivers of lava（岩浆）flowed down the mountain.

The eruption went on for more than three days, which instantly killed at least 12, 000 people living on and around Mount Tambora. Ash and lava ruined the island’s soil and poisoned its rivers and streams. Rice fields were destroyed. No fruits or vegetables would grow.

There were no fish to catch; almost every animal had been killed. The eruption of Tambora in 1815 was the deadliest and most powerful volcanic eruption in human history.

1. Why did it snow heavily in Vermont in the summer of 1816?

A．Vermont was located in the southern part of the earth.

B．Vermont had serious environmental pollution.

C．A faraway volcano erupted a year earlier.

D．A huge earthquake hit Vermont.

2. What’s the purpose of the first paragraph?

A．To lead in the topic.	B．To present an argument.
C．To introduce Vermont.	D．To explain the cause of a volcano.

3. When did Mount Tambora start erupting?

A．On June 8, 1816.	B．On April 13, 1816.
C．On April 5, 1815.	D．On April 10, 1815.

4. What’s the main idea of the last paragraph?

A．The process of the eruption was made up of three stages.

B．Tambora asleep for centuries woke up in the end.

C．The eruption of Tambora broke a historic record.

D．The eruption of Tambora led to a terrible disaster.

4 . The Best American National Parks to Visit for Christmas

The Christmas season can be stressful if you spend every moment cleaning, cooking, and hosting guests. Or the holidays can be a joyful celebration of beauty and peace if you plan an escape to one of America’s splendid national parks.

Yellowstone National Park

Dreaming of a white Christmas? Yellow stone, the country’s first national park, is your top choice. Your family can enjoy a quiet and private getaway（假日休闲地）at Old Faithful Snow Lodge & Cabins. Sit by the fire with hot cocoa and look out at the vast wilderness all around you. Also you can photograph a bison and other wildlife on a winter photo safari.

Rocky Mountain National Park

If you really want to get away from it all over the holidays, plan a trip to a park less traveled in the winter. Rocky Mountain National Park is quiet and uncrowded, but the wildlife is still active. Seeing a moose（麋鹿）in its natural habitat is an experience you won’t forget. Sledding and skiing are also exciting possibilities.

Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon National Park offers a fun holiday experience for families. Families can get on the Polar Express that runs from Arizona to the South Rim of the park through early January and enjoy a pleasant ride complete with hot chocolate and cookies. When you reach the “North Pole”, Santa Claus is waiting with a gift for each child. It’s the best way for your kids to enjoy the magic of Christmas.

Virgin Islands National Park

If snow isn’t your thing, don’t worry. Virgin Islands National Park is perfect for you to escape winter. With white sandy beaches, clear blue water, and more than 800 subtropical plants, you will feel like you traveled outside the U.S. to a tropical area. Cinnamon Bay is a major spot for Christmastime visitors looking for water sports like sailing, diving, and snorkeling（浮潜）.

1. In which park can you both see animals and go skiing?

A．Yellow stone National Park.	B．Rocky Mountain National Park.
C．Grand Canyon National Park.	D．Virgin Islands National Park.

2. Who would favor the Grand Canyon National Park?

A．Art lovers.	B．Explorers.
C．Outdoor photographers.	D．Families with children.

3. What makes the Virgin Islands National Park special?

A．Various water sports.	B．Beautiful train rides.
C．The quiet environment.	D．The snow-covered landscape.

5 . In 2006, an alarm sounded concerning the health of honeybees in the United States when a Florida beekeeper found 400 of his hives were empty.     1     Home gardeners can play an important role in supporting bees, in particular, by offering food, water, and shelter for them.

Food. Grow a variety of plants to supply nectar (花蜜) and pollen (花粉) throughout the growing season. Bees like plants native to their habitats.     2     Choose a sunny location and set plants in groups.

Water. Although we rarely see them taking a drink, bees appreciate gardens with a source of water. It can be as simple as filling a shallow water dish with small stones and branches so bees can land and rest while drinking. A birdbath (水盘) also offers a dependable destination for bees.     3    

Shelter.     4     These bees don’t live in hives like honeybees but in logs, dead tree branches, even in holes in the ground. You can build a bee shelter by drilling holes in an untreated wood block. The holes should be three to five inches deep and a quarter inch in diameter.     5     Choose a site protected from wind and rain for your nest — under the eaves of a shed, for example.

By creating an environment with shelter, water, and bee-friendly plants, soon your local bees will be buzzing.

A．Replace the water regularly.

B．Even plants in a window box can help.

C．Leave an inch of space between holes.

D．Leave an area of bare dirt for ground insects.

E．So choose wildflowers and natives whenever possible.

F．Don’t ignore the wild bees that live in North America.

G．Similar reports of disappearing bees were reported nationwide.

6 . 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。续写的词数应为150左右。

When I was ten years old, my mother decided she wanted a dog. My sister and I were excited about the idea. We went to the local shelter (收容所) where we discovered a dog who had been hit by a car. His back left leg was badly injured, and he was clearly in terrible pain, dragging it around behind him.

My mother adopted (收养) the dog and took him to the vet (兽医). The vet fixed his leg and said he would be fine. It took him a long time to get well, and he had to be helped up and down the stairs to our second-floor apartment for weeks. The bad leg was always a little shorter than the others, but he got along fine. So, we had a dog.

Now our dog needed a name. My mother couldn’t think of any name except that of a dog on a television show—a smart dog named Kleo. So she named our dog Kleo.

Kleo loved all of us, letting my sister and me put him in dolls’ clothes, cut his hair, and play with him, but my mom was his savior (救星). When she left the house to go shopping, he howled (吠叫) at the top of his voice until she returned. And when she came home, he was beside himself with happiness.

Kleo went with us on vacation each summer, driving from our home in Washington State to our grandparents’ homes in Massachusetts and New York. We never had to worry about Kleo; we just opened the door and he got out, did what was needed and got back in the car.

One day, we stopped at midday for gas and a bathroom break at a station in the middle of nowhere. It had started to rain. Everyone rushed out of the car and took off in several directions. A few minutes later, we were on the road again.

注意：1.续写词数应为150左右；
2.请按如下格式在相应位置作答。

Hours passed when my mom asked suddenly, “Where’s the dog?”

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

We went all the way back to the gas station but couldn’t find Kleo.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7 . The most attractive national parks on earth provide the most quickest way to discover how amazing the planet is. Visits to the greatest national parks in the world make you experience breathtaking natural wonders.

Arenal Volcano National Park

Anyone who has been to Arenal will probably tell you that “It's paradise”. Arenal Volcano National Park is located in the middle of Costa Rica, Central America. The park has a continuous active volcano. In fact, you can see lava pouring down its sides. Hot springs surround this volcano. Numerous hidden waterfalls and animals-filled forests also surround the volcano.

Yellowstone National Park

America's Yellowstone is a land of great things. First of all, this is the world's first natural park. It is also the continent's largest volcanic zone. Yellowstone provides home to the largest group of bison (野牛) in the world. It seems like Yellowstone shows the crème de la crème (精英) of the American west.

Jiuzhaigou Valley National Park

You are going to China, and in addition to the Great Wall, you probably need to visit a great national park. You shouldn't worry since you are pretty well covered. The Jiuzhaigou Valley National Park is more than magical. It stands among five impressive colored lakes. You will enjoy watching the fresh and clear blue sky above; while the park*s evergreen forests are full of life and energy.

Kilimanjaro National Park

You are in Tanzania again, and you probably might have known Mt. Kilimanjaro. Most of all, it is Africa's highest mountain. All enthusiastic mountaineers dream to climb to the top of it. As a result, the Kilimanjaro National Park is most popular with them. Since great grasslands and wildlife surround the mountain, your trip to Mt. Kilimanjaro becomes more fascinating and inspiring.

1. What do Arenal Volcano National Park and Yellowstone National Park have in common?

A．Their evergreen forests are lively.

B．They are full of great grasslands.

C．They have splendid volcanoes.

D．They are home to African wildlife.

2. Which of the following best suits people who enjoy the mountains?

A．Arenal Volcano National Park.	B．Yellowstone National Park.
C．Jiuzhaigou Valley National Park.	D．Kilimanjaro National Park.

3. Where should you go if you want to enjoy colorful lakes?

A．Costa Rica.	B．China.
C．America.	D．Tanzania.

8 . Exciting new research suggests there could be living things in the clouds above Venus, whose orbit brings it closer to the Earth than any other planets. A study of Venus's atmosphere shows a type of gas is in its atmosphere. The gas, on the Earth, is only produced by very small creatures. If such creatures are found on Venus, it might be the first evidence of life existing anywhere else in the universe.

Scientists found the gas in thick clouds about 35 miles above Venus's equator. On the Earth, the gas is produced by special forms of life that live in airless environments such as swamps and inside animals' guts. It can also be made in factories but neither explanation helps scientists to understand what the gas is doing on Venus.

To get to the bottom of the mystery, the scientists have now made their data public in the hope that others may be able to find a clue that they have missed. Professor Greaves explained that the gas might be produced by some non-living natural process that we haven't yet discovered, but for now, the idea of life on Venus has to be considered. She added, “In my whole career, I have been interested in the search for life elsewhere in the universe, so I'm just blown away that this is even possible. We are sincerely encouraging other people to tell us what we might have missed. This is how science works.” If scientists on the Earth are unable to find an explanation, then a future mission to Venus might be needed to prove whether or not life exists there. The US space agency NASA is already planning a exploration that would float on a balloon through the clouds of Venus, and this could launch sometime in the 2030s.

1. What can we know about Venus according to paragraph 1?

A．The thickness of its clouds.	B．The distance of it to the Earth.
C．The result of a study of its atmosphere.	D．The exact temperature of its atmosphere.

2. Why have the scientists made their data public?

A．To announce their successful experience.	B．To change the wrong conclusion before.
C．To prove they have found life on Venus.	D．To hope others can help find the truth.

3. What does the underlined phrase “blown away” in paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．Impressed.

B．Swept out.

C．Thrown away.

D．Shot.

4. What's the best title for the text?

A．Can a Kind of New Gas Be Found on Venus?	B．Is There a Possibility of Life on Venus?
C．Is What the Scientists Said Right?	D．Can Humans Live on Venus?

9 . 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。

As the world    1    （large）cotton consumer and the second largest producer of cotton, China has a long history of cotton cultivation. It is worth    2    （mention）that Xinjiang cotton is highly regarded because of its high yield and high quality.

    3    （locate）in the inland of Eurasia（欧亚大陆）, Xinjiang has a typical mild continental climate. Drought, little rain, sufficient heat, big temperature    4    （different）between day and night and long day make a good growth environment for cotton.

Though Xinjiang has little rainfall, it has a large number of snow-capped mountains, from which meltwater gives cotton abundant water resource. Meanwhile,    5    contrast to the instable rainfall in the monsoon（季风）regions, mountain snowmelt has the characteristics of stable water transportation,    6    is very suitable for the growth of cotton.

Xinjiang is lightly populated and has a vast planting area. It has    7    area of 1.66 million square kilometers and a population of about 23 million. The cotton planting area    8    （cover）25,019.3 square kilometers in 2020，according to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Xinjiang.

The combination of advantaged    9    （nature）conditions and mechanical technology makes Xinjiang cotton have good quality. Endless white cotton has also become one of the    10    （symbol）of great beauty in Xinjiang.

10 . Six Solar Terms in Summer

Lixia

Lixia is the first solar term in summer, signifying the beginning of the hot summer.    1    People usually consider Lixia as an important solar term. When it comes, the temperature rises obviously, and summer heat arrives, there is a remarkable increase in thunderstorms, and crops enter their peak season for growth.

Xiaoman and Mangzhong

During Xiaoman, summer harvest crops such as wheat already bear fruits, and their seeds are full though they are not ripe yet. Thus, the solar term is named Xiaoman. The solar term Xiaoman is in late May. Summer begins to reach all parts of the country. Rainfall begins to increase further. Mangzhong means, "wheat with awn（芒）should be harvested soon, and rice seeds with awn can be sown".    2    

Xiazhi

On the day of Xiazhi, the daytime in the Northern Hemisphere（半球）reaches its maxi-mum length.    3    At Xiazhi, though there is direct sunlight, it is not the hottest time in a year.

Xiaoshu and Dashu

    4    Xiaoshu is minor heat, which means it's not very hot. The weather is getting increasingly hot, but not the hottest moment yet. The crops in the entire country begin to grow rapidly, and this situation requires more intensive field management. Dashu is extreme heat. Compared to Xiaoshu, it's much hotter.    5    And it also marks the period with the fastest growth for crops which enjoy heat.

A．The character shu means heat.

B．It predicts the busy farming activities of farmers.

C．The temperatures rise and summer drought begins.

D．The more northern a place is, the longer its daytime is.

E．People need to prepare for heat prevention and cooling.

F．It means the end of spring, and the beginning of summer.

G．It marks the hottest period with the highest temperatures in a year.