1 . In a small, rough shipyard on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, a small team is building what they say will be the world’s largest ocean-going clean cargo ship.
Ceiba is the first ship built by Sailcargo, a company trying to prove that zero-carbon shipping is possible, and commercially available. Made largely of wood, Ceiba combines both very old and very new technology: sailing masts stand alongside solar panels, a uniquely designed electric engine and batteries. Once on the water, she will be capable of crossing oceans entirely without the use of fossil fuels, which sets her apart.
“The thing that is striking is the fact that she’ll have one of the largest marine electric engines of her kind in the world,” Danielle Doggett said. The system also has the means to capture energy from underwater propellers (螺旋桨) as well as solar power, so electricity will be available for the engine when needed. “Really, the only limit on how long she can stay at sea is water and food on board for the crew.”
Despite some hold-ups due to the global disaster, the team hopes to get her on the water by the end of 2024 and operating by 2025, when she will begin transporting cargo between Costa Rica and Canada.
“There are actually loads of innovations happening that could transform shipping emissions, but few companies are willing to apply them to building ships like Ceiba.” says Lucy Gilliam. “So it’s not that we don’t have great ideas. The problem that we have is that fossil fuels are still too cheap. And we don’t have the rules to force people to take up the new technology.”
When it comes to promoting this kind of boat, it has to be said that Ceiba is small for a cargo ship — tiny in fact. She will carry around nine standard shipping containers. She is also relatively slow. Being a world-first, there are some aspects of Ceiba’s design that have yet to be proven at sea.
1. What is unique about Ceiba as a cargo ship?| A．It is the world’s largest. | B．It is environment-friendly. |
| C．It is wooden with old technology. | D．It is modern with unique equipment. |
| A．The size of the sail. | B．The weather of the ocean. |
| C．The power of the electric engine. | D．The quantity of the living supplies. |
| A．The rules are disobeyed. | B．The fuels are affordable. |
| C．The bigger ships are preferable. | D．The innovations are distrusted. |
| A．Objective. | B．Doubtful. | C．Critical. | D．Favorable. |
| A．Their daily routine. | B．Their dormitory. | C．The weather. |
3 . Ariel decided to
She was certain that the bird needed medical attention. Ariel put her jacket over the bird’s head to keep it calm, carefully picked it up, and held it in her arms. And then a thought
Her best bet was the rehab center, but that was across the East River and clear on the other side of town. How was she going to
On the subway, no one seemed particularly annoyed by the
Ariel called the rehab center on the way, and Tristan Higgin, a(n)
While recovering, she made a boyfriend at the center — another injured swan. Sadly, even with all that TLC, the swan
| A．immerse | B．expose | C．wrap | D．breathe |
| A．teased | B．spotted | C．caught | D．hit |
| A．wholly | B．literally | C．previously | D．stably |
| A．aggressive | B．cautious | C．ambitious | D．abnormal |
| A．disgusted | B．informed | C．reminded | D．struck |
| A．transport | B．conduct | C．preserve | D．put |
| A．Suddenly | B．Immediately | C．Fortunately | D．Normally |
| A．lift | B．chance | C．treat | D．habitat |
| A．scared | B．hungry | C．fierce | D．feathered |
| A．doubted | B．minded | C．noticed | D．preferred |
| A．fire-controlling | B．animal-caring | C．forest-protecting | D．nature-loving |
| A．director | B．survivor | C．partner | D．rescuer |
| A．worms | B．weights | C．plastics | D．facilities |
| A．contracted | B．spread | C．controlled | D．resisted |
| A．stood up | B．pulled through | C．flew away | D．passed away |
4 . The ability to solve complex math problems is one thing that sets humans apart from the rest of the animal kingdom. Despite this fact, some animals do seem to have at least one basic mathematical ability-they can, in a sense, count.
In the early 1900s, the horse Clever Hans drew worldwide attention in Berlin when his trainer showed that he could count and solve math problems, tapping his feet to indicate a number. However, researchers later discovered that Clever Hans didn’t actually have mathematical skills, but the horse did own impressive observation skills. That is, he was unable to answer questions that his questioners also couldn’t answer because Clever Hans was actually reading minute facial and body language clues to determine the correct responses.
While Clever Hans failed his math quiz a century ago, studies in more recent decades have shown that many species do actually have a “number sense”. In the late 1980s, researchers showed that chimpanzees (黑猩猩) could add up the number of pieces of chocolate in two food bowls (up to five pieces of chocolate in each bowl), compare it with the sum of two other food bowls, and correctly choose the larger of the two sums 90 percent of the time. Some other mammals, including lions, wolves and black bears, have also showed the ability to discriminate (辨别) between quantities — and so have animals from various other animal classes.
Some research suggests that the number sense may be something that certain animals are born with. In 2015, scientists found that baby chicks as young as 3 days old could identify smaller and larger quantities and might even think of numbers on a “number line” running from left to right, similar to humans.
Whatever the case, our number sense is not unique in the animal kingdom. In fact, it may not be something that’s reserved to just animals: Venus flytraps can also “count”.
1. How did Clever Hans give the correct answer to the math problem?| A．By tapping his feet to count. | B．By guessing the answer casually. |
| C．By turning to his trainer for help. | D．By reading the questioner’s response. |
| A．They can tell the difference between quantities. |
| B．They can pass the quiz with observation skills. |
| C．They can choose food bowls of specific shape. |
| D．They can add up all pieces of chocolate in four bowls. |
| A．An insect. | B．A fish. | C．A bird. | D．A plant. |
| A．Can animals count? | B．Can animals use numbers? |
| C．Animals’ mathematical training. | D．Animals’ problem-solving ability. |
5 . Michele Gentile, an Italian bookseller, is offering free books to children in exchange for plastic bottles to recycle. Gentile owns Ex Libris Café in Polla, a small town in southern Italy. He said he thought of the recycling program, because he wanted to inspire children in the small town to read and pay attention to the environment.
“My goal is to spread the passion and love for books among those people in Italy who do not usually read while helping the environment,” Gentile explained.
The idea for the initiative came after Gentile cooperated with a nearby middle school on an aluminum recycling project. Working together, the schoolchildren and Gentile collected enough cans to buy books for an entire class. His new program took off from there and has already spread into northern Italy. Gentile hopes his work will continue to make the headlines and become a worldwide initiative.
The free books come from the customers in Gentile’s shop who have donated money to buy a “suspended” book. The idea comes from a World War Ⅱ practice in which customers would buy two coffees; one for themselves and the other for the next person in line. Gentile has been using the extra books as part of his recycling initiative. While Gentile’s program is a great way to recycle waste and get kids to read, it also brings attention to the growing problem of plastic waste. Single-use plastics make up around 26 percent of all the plastics in the world, only 14 percent of which are recycled. Plastics that end up in landfills take around 500 years to decompose (分解), which is a major concern for environmentalists.
Cutting down on plastic waste is important if we want to better the environment for future generations, and recycling programs like Gentile’s book giveaway are a great way to meet that goal.
1. What is the purpose of Gentile’s program?| A．To sell more books. | B．To attract more customers. |
| C．To encourage reading and recycling. | D．To collect money for a new project. |
| A．By donating books to a local school. |
| B．By seeing school kids dislike reading. |
| C．By working with a school to recycle cans. |
| D．By buying a “suspended” book for a child. |
| A．Some environmentalists. | B．Gentile himself. |
| C．The government. | D．His customers. |
| A．An Italian’s reading initiative. |
| B．A recycling program for kids. |
| C．Gentile’s way of doing business. |
| D．A new way to deal with plastic waste. |
6 . In order to meet growing food production and energy needs in low-and middle-income countries, solar-powered groundwater irrigation (灌溉) is rapidly gaining ground. More than 500,000 solar pumps (泵) have been set up in south Asia over the last few years and a major expansion is planned across sub-Saharan Africa.
Dustin Garrick, professor in the School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability, along with an international team, examined the trend toward solar pumps as a clear opportunity for boosting agricultural yields and reducing poverty, but the opportunity comes with risks.
While replacing electric or gas pumps with solar-powered irrigation holds the promise of reducing carbon emissions (排放), it is not guaranteed. Farmers who have access to these pumps may expand production of crops or diversify into other activities, which are not emissions neutral. Solar pumps will increase groundwater pumping efficiency, which may be desirable in regions that support such increases, but this could worsen groundwater lessening in regions that are already stressed. The cheap clean energy of solar pumps may lead to increased groundwater development, without necessarily decreasing overall emissions.
Despite these challenges, the clean-energy boost can serve as a stimulus for positive change in water and energy management but will require enhanced regulation and planning in both low-and high-income settings. Garrick and his team advocate for improved data collection initiatives, with a shift from separated to integrated approaches. They suggest using technology to measure water pumping and collecting remotely sensed data to monitor land use changes. As well, regulatory improvements are crucial, with mounting limits for carbon emissions and groundwater lessening established at various levels.
With groundwater management already a difficult challenge, we must act fast to understand the implications of the clean energy boost and poverty reduction acts to avoid these gains being won away by wells running dry. The rapid adoption of solar irrigation intensifies the urgency, demanding adaptation from governments and institutions to sail through these complexities.
1. According to paragraph 3, there is a conflict between ________.| A．poor farmers and solar-powered irrigation | B．human consumption and clean energy limits |
| C．crop diversity and crop production expansion | D．pumping efficiency and groundwater exhaustion |
| A．Integrating data collection and regulation. | B．Improving carbon emission monitoring. |
| C．Separating data for land use changes. | D．Establishing groundwater levels. |
| A．Perform as the authorities suggest. | B．Act based on further understanding. |
| C．Quicken the adoption of solar irrigation. | D．Challenge the groundwater management. |
| A．The Complexities of Adopting Solar Pumps |
| B．Solar-Powered Irrigation: Farmers’ New Future |
| C．The Promise and Risks of Solar-Powered Irrigation |
| D．Balancing Clean Energy Boost and Poverty Reduction |
7 . The morning commute (通勤) is never fun. But if you pass through Stevenage on your way to work, your morning might be a little
Dragging yourself out of bed in the morning and off to work is hard,
Usually found sitting on a ticket gate, four-year-old Nala lives close to the station with her owner Natasha Ambler, and often
Recent photos posted by commuters include Nala
Nala wears a GPS tracking device so that her
According to the BBC, Ambler reported that she’s not
| A．quieter | B．longer | C．busier | D．brighter |
| A．gradually | B．especially | C．basically | D．generally |
| A．agree | B．fail | C．prefer | D．hesitate |
| A．troubled | B．greeted | C．stopped | D．rewarded |
| A．lives in | B．takes up | C．watches over | D．heads to |
| A．created | B．found | C．bought | D．wrote |
| A．taken | B．edited | C．shared | D．enjoyed |
| A．hunting | B．waiting | C．working | D．playing |
| A．posing | B．joking | C．fighting | D．communicating |
| A．steps | B．jumps | C．activities | D．travels |
| A．newly-built | B．family-friendly | C．next-door | D．fun-filled |
| A．job | B．contact | C．health | D．company |
| A．hungry | B．lonely | C．lost | D．ill |
| A．worried | B．confused | C．unhappy | D．curious |
| A．well-informed | B．well-equipped | C．well-educated | D．well-loved |
8 . My name is Maggie and I am a big red maple tree in the center of Central Park in New York. Every part of me is
One day, I see a big storm
Hours later, when the storm
| A．calmly | B．perfectly | C．randomly | D．similarly |
| A．debate | B．hesitate | C．stop | D．wait |
| A．comments | B．names | C．noises | D．trees |
| A．choosing | B．exploring | C．heading | D．seeking |
| A．angry | B．anxious | C．doubtful | D．wonderful |
| A．accident | B．danger | C．intention | D．thought |
| A．blows up | B．dies down | C．draws near | D．moves in |
| A．if | B．how | C．why | D．when |
| A．decide | B．move | C．stand | D．refuse |
| A．makes out | B．goes through | C．turns to | D．tears off |
| A．attack | B．disappoint | C．prevent | D．bother |
| A．foolish | B．friendly | C．public | D．voluntary |
| A．feeding | B．observing | C．sheltering | D．recognizing |
| A．appearance | B．decision | C．impression | D．identity |
| A．warning | B．promise | C．reminder | D．wish |
9 . The world’s most famous tire (轮胎) graveyard (坟地) of 42 million tires in the sands of Kuwait is finally being cleaned up and recycled. This news in itself would be a major relief to locals who have to suffer from the clouds of black smoke arising during fires. But the government isn’t stopping there. They are aiming to create a green city of 25,000 homes in line with a post-oil Persian Gulf, with a focus on sustainability and tourism.
The first step is to clear the ground. The Salmiya area, nicknamed “Rubber (橡胶) Mountain”, is formed from hundreds of small mountains of spent tires — a reaction from the one million cars which were added to Kuwait’s roads over the decade.
EPSCO Global General Trading recycling company has opened a recycling plant for the tires, where they’ve been collected, sorted, cut up, and pressed into other materials like rubbery coloured flooring tiles (铺地砖). The plant opened in January of 2021, and can recycle up to 3 million tires a year. The recycled material is then exported out to nearby gulf neighbours and Asia. In the place of the tires will be South Saad Al-Abdullah City, a green city characterizing a new era in the Middle-Eastern country.
Spent tires are a major environmental problem worldwide due to the room they take up and the chemicals they can release.
“We have moved from a difficult stage that was characterized by great environmental risk,” says Oil Minister Mohammed al-Fares. “Today the area is becoming clean and all tires are being removed to begin the launch of the project of Saad Al-Abdullah city.”
Expected to cost €3.3 billion and require 30 years to complete, the city hopes to feature green technology, probably like the kind one can see in other cities on the Persian Gulf, both existing and not. Saudi Arabia is planning to build a zero-emissions, car-less future city that’s centered around access to big data rather than water or crops.
1. Why is the Salmiya area called “Rubber Mountain”?| A．It is rich in rubber. | B．It has too many waste tires. |
| C．It used to be a mountain. | D．It has been a tradition. |
| A．A recycling company. | B．The purpose for removing tires. |
| C．How to build a green city. | D．What is done with the spent tires. |
| A．To make a prediction. | B．To explain an idea. | C．To present a fact. | D．To analyze a cause. |
| A．The Transformation of a Huge Landfill | B．Spent Tires, a Big Threat to the Environment |
| C．The Salmiya Area’s Measures to Kick Pollution | D．Kuwait Tire Mountain to Be into a Green City |
Tom is a special child. Ever since he was little, dogs have been his greatest passion. He often growled (低吼) and barked and sometimes moved around the house on all fours. His parents brought in a little brown female dog named Lynn. Tom was on cloud nine. One day, this little boy, together with Lynn, was sitting quietly down by the side of the street when suddenly a giant dog walked across him. He was a little surprised and started screaming as loudly as he could! All of this frightened Lynn away immediately.
Tom’s parents tried to see what the chances were of Lynn coming home on her own. But five days later, there was still no sign of Lynn. The boy didn’t just have tears streaming down his cheeks — his parents were saddened too.
The woods behind their home stretched for over 50 miles! Together with their neighbors, they searched for over a month. But Lynn was gone. Tom’s parents wanted to choose a new puppy for him. But no dog could replace Lynn for him.
Tom was not the same boy. He locked himself in his room. He seemed to have lost his love for dogs. He could not focus his attention on his classes so he didn’t want to go to school. He would easily get angry with people around him. Tom changed from a happy, smiling boy to an upset and annoying kid.
Tom’s parents wanted him to stay home and he had been studying at home ever since. His parents accompanied him almost every day, but staying home didn’t help much. The boy’s mother worried a lot. One rainy afternoon, she saw him staring out the window. “I miss Lynn so much. I wonder if everything is okay with her?” It had been a long time since his beloved dog ran away, but Tom’s despair was as great as the day it happened. Days later, Tom walked out the front door with his head down and sat by the side of the street.
注意：1.续写词数应为150左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
A huge brown dog crossed the street and stood in front of the crying boy.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Tom ran after Lynn and entered the woods.
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