2 . For several decades, there has been an extensive and organized campaign intended to generate distrust in science, funded by those whose interests and ideologies are threatened by the findings of modern science. In response, scientists have tended to stress the success of science. After all, scientists have been right about most things.

Stressing successes isn’t wrong, but for many people it’s not persuasive. An alternative answer to the question “Why trust science?” is that scientists use the so-called scientific method. If you’ve got a high school science textbook lying around, you’ll probably find that answer in it. But what is typically thought to be the scientific method — develop a hypothesis (假设), then design an experiment to test it — isn’t what scientists actually do. Science is dynamic: new methods get invented; old ones get abandoned; and sometimes, scientists can be found doing many different things.

If there is no dependable scientific method, then what is the reason for trust in science? The answer is how those claims are evaluated. The common element in modern science, regardless of the specific field or the particular methods being used, is the strict scrutiny (审查) of claims. It’s this tough, sustained process that works to make sure faulty claims are rejected. A scientific claim is never accepted as true until it has gone through a lengthy “peer review” because the reviewers are experts in the same field who have both the right and the obligation (责任) to find faults.

A key aspect of scientific judgment is that it is done collectively. No claim gets accepted until it has been vetted by dozens, if not hundreds, of heads. In areas that have been contested, like climate science and vaccine safety, it’s thousands. This is why we are generally justified in not worrying too much if a single scientist, even a very famous one, disagrees with the claim. And this is why diversity in science — the more people looking at a claim from different angles — is important.

Does this process ever go wrong? Of course. Scientists are humans. There is always the possibility of revising a claim on the basis of new evidence. Some people argue that we should not trust science because scientists are “always changing their minds”. While examples of truly settled science being overturned are far fewer than is sometimes claimed, they do exist. But the beauty of this scientific process is that it explains what might otherwise appear contradictory: that science produces both novelty and stability. Scientists do change their minds in the face of new evidence, but this is a strength of science, not a weakness.

1. How does the author think of the so-called scientific method?

A．Stable.	B．Persuasive.
C．Unreliable.	D．Conclusive.

2. What does the underlined word “vetted” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?

A．Explained.	B．Examined.
C．Repeated.	D．Released.

3. Which of the following may the author agree with according to the passage?

A．It is not persuasive to reject those faulty claims.

B．Settled science tends to be collectively overturned.

C．A leading expert cannot play a decisive role in a scrutiny.

D．Diversity in knowledge is the common element in science.

4. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

A．Put Your Faith in Science	B．Defend the Truth in Science
C．Apply Your Mind to Science	D．Explore a Dynamic Way to Science

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。

Shennongjia is said to be the place     1     Yan Di once lived. Some visitors hope that they may even encounter the legendary wild men in the remote mountains and virgin (原始状态的) forests. They do not     2     (actual) see any wild man, but they are attracted by Shennongjia’s vibrant (充满生机的) ecology, rich biodiversity and karst landforms.

Shennongjia’s beauty     3     (vary) over the year as nature takes its course.     4     (tourist) can enjoy flower blossoms in spring, be shaded from the summer heat, appreciate red leaves in autumn     5     go skiing in winter. In 2010s, China announced its plan of     6     (build) 10 pilot national parks for ecosystem preservation, including in Shennongjia Forestry District, Hubei Province.

Official data showed that visitors to Shennongjia Forestry District     7     (reach) about 15. 5 million in 2020. By 2025, the forest area aims     8     (increase) that annual figure to over 30 million, with tourism revenue of more than 10 billion yuan.

Visitors can employ a bus service if they do not drive     9     (they) own cars. The journey to Shennongjia will take up to five hours from nearby Yichang or Shiyan. In May, 2021, Shennongjia was connected to     10       newly built freeway, making the mountainous region more accessible.

4 . “Why did the fox steal my shoes?” sounds like the start of a brain teaser (脑筋急转弯) or an annoyingly hot song. But for people in Berlin, it was a real question that a local fox was behind a series of shoes thefts.

About two weeks ago, Meyer, a resident of Berlin, noticed that one of his new running shoes had disappeared from his porch, and he decided to examine the theft, a German news site reported.

Meyer quickly learned that he was not the thief’s only victim, and a tip helped him catch the fox. Days later, Meyer spotted the fox again; he followed it and discovered the fox’s secret place of more than 100 shoes.

Meyer got a photo of the thieving fox and its ill-gotten shoes, which he shared on Twitter. The shoes contained sneakers, and slippers in range of colors, shapes and sizes, though the most numerous shoes by far were Crocs.

This isn’t the first time that an urban fox has demonstrated a seeming shoe fetish (恋物). In August 2019, a fox in Melbourne, Australia, repeatedly visited a woman’s porch and stole three boots over the course of a week. In a small town in western Germany, a female fox stole about 110 to 120 shoes in just one night, presumably “for her babies to play with”, according to Reuters.

It’s unknown whether all of these foxes were acting independently or whether their actions were linked, perhaps as part of an international shoe-stealing group with a bad purpose that humans can only imagine.

1. What can we know about Meyer according to the passage?

A．He had his shoes stolen.

B．He was physically attacked by a fox.

C．He moved out of Berlin and settled in a new place.

D．His favorite shoes were Crocs.

2. What did Meyer do when he found the fox’s hiding place?

A．He drove the fox away.

B．He took a picture and posted it on social media.

C．He sent some food to the fox.

D．He followed the fox and found many other foxes.

3. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the underlined word in paragraph 5?

A．Totally.

B．Partly.

C．Definitely.

D．Possibly.

4. How does the author sound in the last paragraph?

A．Delighted.

B．Serious.

C．Humorous.

D．Terrified.

5 . For some people, October is Octobear. On October 5, Katmai National Park and Preserve in southern Alaska kicked off Fat Bear Week, when fans compare before and after photos of bears to vote for the one they think has gained the most weight before they bed down for the long freezing winter. Bear 747, also known as “Bear Force One”, took the first-place spot with 68,105 votes. It weighed around 1,400 pounds.

Fat Bear Week started in 2014.At first it was just Fat Bear Tuesday. Mike Fitz, a former park keeper at Katmai, noticed that live webcams showing the bears generated a lot of online comments, so he let people vote for their favorite fat bear on the Internet. The one-day event attracted 1,700 votes. In 2015, it was extended to a week. Last year, nearly 800,000 people got involved, turning it into a global campaign.

The contest serves two main purposes. First, some of America’s national parks are in remote and undeveloped areas, which are difficult or costly to reach. Fat Bear Week brings Alaska’s wilderness to fans’ computer screens. “It’s not limited to the fortunate few who can go to the river anymore, ”Fitz said.

Second, Fat Bear Week brings attention to the bears and the ecosystems they live in. The 2,200 bears of Katmai are strong for feeding on some of the healthiest salmon(三文鱼)in the world, said Sara Wolman, a former park keeper. Salmon in the Pacific Northwest are suffering from overfishing, dam construction and warming rivers due to climate change. Luckily, Brooks River, which Katmai’s bears like to fish in, has been free from these threats so far.

Fat Bear Week has spread like viruses. Fans and creators say it’s because it shows a conservation success story. For one week, people don’t have to focus on climate change or habitat loss. “Maybe things aren’t super great all the time in the world,” said Felicia Jimenez, who is a current Katmai keeper. “But there are some really fat bears in Alaska.”

1. Why did Bear 747 become the winner of Fat Bear Week in southern Alaska?

A．It gained the most pounds.	B．It was the heaviest.
C．It presented the best photos.	D．It was the most famous.

2. What is the purpose of paragraph 2?

A．To show the popularity of fat bears.	B．To review the history of the event.
C．To praise Mike Fitz for his work.	D．To explain the role of live webcams.

3. What can we learn about Katmai’s bears?

A．They bring tourists to the park.	B．They face a population decline.
C．They remain difficult to be seen.	D．They have a stable food source.

4. Which can be the best title for the text?

A．Fat Bear Week: Conservation Is Joyful	B．Brown Bears; Winter Survival Is Crucial
C．Bear 747: A Fat Yet Healthy Champion	D．Katmai’s Bears: A Special Beauty Contest

7 . Shakespeare said, “All the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players.” _________, now it is surprising that dogs are determined to get into that act as well—or at least that was the _________ for one homeless dog in the Turkish city of Izmit.

When the dog made his _________ during an outdoor performance being given by a local theatrical troupe (剧团), he wasn’t _________ applause. It seems that Numan Ertugrul Uzunsoy’s acting of an injured man was so _________ that the dog believed the actor was actually hurt and in need of _________.

As Uzunsoy lay on the ground feigning (假装) a _________ from a horse, the dog came up to him and _________ began to lick (舔) his face and neck. It took a few seconds for Uzunsoy to _________ what was happening. “I felt warmth on my face. At first, I thought my costar was __________ me,” Uzunsoy said. “I was very __________ when I felt the dog’s kisses... I was very glad. He wanted to __________ me. It was a very emotional and surprising moment for me. I was not __________ it.”

While the audience and cast members were obviously amused by the dog and didn’t mind the __________, the dog was led offstage later. Uzunsoy continued his character and the __________ went on. The dog did not __________ around to take his curtain call. However, since the good dog was known to frequent the area where the performance took place, Uzunsoy was __________ that he would see his unintentional costar again.

Dog-loving Uzunsoy is determined to __________ the sweet-natured dog, so he plans to __________ coming back until he meets his scene-stealing four-legged friend again. Once he does, Uzunsoy promises to make sure this good boy lands a(n) __________ on stage—to be his real costar.

1.

A．Besides

B．However

C．Therefore

D．Otherwise

2.

A．case

B．habit

C．dream

D．purpose

3.

A．deal

B．promise

C．entrance

D．wish

4.

A．cutting down

B．taking on

C．mixing up

D．looking for

5.

A．realistic

B．amusing

C．clumsy

D．strange

6.

A．guidance

B．applause

C．comfort

D．medicine

7.

A．skill

B．fall

C．turn

D．jump

8.

A．unwillingly

B．violently

C．casually

D．gently

9.

A．explain

B．admit

C．predict

D．realize

10.

A．freezing

B．bothering

C．approaching

D．beating

11.

A．annoyed

B．touched

C．embarrassed

D．ashamed

12.

A．help

B．punish

C．bite

D．join

13.

A．appreciating

B．expecting

C．clarifying

D．accepting

14.

A．praise

B．attention

C．rest

D．interruption

15.

A．show

B．joke

C．rescue

D．visit

16.

A．eat

B．wait

C．sleep

D．perform

17.

A．astonished

B．afraid

C．sure

D．worried

18.

A．find

B．pay

C．award

D．follow

19.

A．delay

B．avoid

C．keep

D．imagine

20.

A．gift

B．accident

C．excuse

D．role

8 . The most welcome sight on a cold, wet winter night in London is the familiar shape of a London taxi cab approaching with its yellow “for hire” sign shining brightly. That shows it is ready to pick you up. Travelling by taxi in London is not just a way of going from one place to another. It is an experience to be enjoyed and remembered.

The main reason for this is the drivers, who are called "cabbies." Many of them are true Cockneys. This means they were born in the heart of London and speak their own special dialect(方言) of English. All of them know every street and famous building in the city, and all of them love to talk. A simple twenty-minute Journey across town can become very interesting. You may have a discussion about the government and its leaders or a friendly talk about the driver’s Aunty Nellie! One thing is for sure, it will never be boring. Cabbies know all the latest news about film stars, the Royal Family, government leaders, and popular singers or actors and actresses.

They also know the best places to eat, shop and relax. And they can take you straight to any large hotel, department store, theatre or museum. They know the shortest way possible without even looking at a map, because everyone who wants to become a taxi driver must pass a very difficult examination in order to get a license to drive a taxi. The exam is called “The Knowledge.” It is a written test, and in it drivers are asked the shortest way from one place to another. They must take into account the time of day—in rush hour, a longer route(路线) may be quicker—and describe the best way. Moreover they must never forget the one-way streets!

1. From what can we tell that someone is a Cockney?

A．Their interest.

B．Their manners.

C．Their speech.

D．Their appearance.

2. What does the author suggest by mentioning "Aunty Nellie" in paragraph 2?

A．Passengers are full of curiosity.

B．Cabbies’ topics are wide-ranging.

C．Aunty Nellie is popular in London.

D．Londoners are friendly to each other.

3. What is the purpose of "The Knowledge"?

A．To qualify one to drive a taxi.	B．To assess one’s driving skills.
C．To test drivers’ ability to write.	D．To check taxi drivers memory.

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。

In recent years, climate change in the Arctic has drawn many scientists' attention. Both research and     1    (explore) in the Arctic are fundamental to understanding and dealing with climate change issues. With the melting of Arctic ice, the polar region could provide an opportunity to     2    (well) understand the effects of global warming. The Arctic is     3    great importance, among other things, for the environment, trade, investment, energy and security. It is estimated    4    （have) a quarter of the world's oil and natural gas. China has a clear Arctic policy, explained in a White Paper,     5    corresponds well with the concept of a "Polar Silk Road".

Thanks to global warming, Arctic ice is melting,    6    (open) up the possibility of a "Northern shipping route" via the Northwest, Central and Northeast     7     (passage). Shipping time between China and Europe via the Arctic would be shorter than     8     existing one through the Indian Ocean and Suez Canal. At though this does not mean the ‘Northern route" would replace these established ones, it would represent a new chance,     9     (particular) in the trade of energy and minerals. As issued in the white paper, great importance     10     (attach) to voyage security in the Arctic shipping routes and studies on the routes by China these years.