1 . Hibernation (冬眠) is a classic topic of science fiction. In movies such as 2001: A Space Odyssey, Alien, or Passengers, crew members are put into a state of sleep to take year-long journeys to space. Now a new study from Washington University has shown that human hibernation may soon become a reality.

The research team carried out tests on rats — animals that do not naturally hibernate. They first identified a group of neurons (神经元) in a deep brain region, which were found to be involved in controlling body temperature during hibernation. They showed that, in mice, these neurons could be stimulated using ultrasound (超声波), which was delivered through a helmet without causing an injury.

When receiving the ultrasound, the mice showed a drop in body temperature of about3°C, and their heart rates fell by about 47%. When the ultrasound system was switched off, they woke up again. The result was “surprising and fascinating”, said Hong Chen, a professor who led the work.

Researchers are also trying to determine how to harness the power of hibernation to help humans. They believe that it could be key to addressing health conditions like heart disease, and Alzheimer’s. Furthermore, hibernation’s ability to slow aging, which was observed in bats, could benefit space exploration, enabling longer missions with less food requirements. Research in animals also suggests that bodies of hibernating astronauts might lose less bone and muscle, making them fit and ready to start challenging exploration soon after they wake up.

By unlocking the secrets of this remarkable process, researchers may uncover ways to improve human health, as well as gain new insights into the natural world. Therefore, the exploration of hibernation is an exciting area that is sure to yield numerous benefits in the years to come.

The scientists now plan to look at how lowered body temperature might affect the cognitive abilities of humans. “Our next experiments will test working memory in monkeys. This is important because while astronauts physically hibernate as they fly into deep space, their brain still needs to be working,” said Chen.

1. How did researchers put rats into hibernation?

A．By lowering their body temperature.

B．By activating specific brain neurons.

C．By putting a regular helmet on them.

D．By using ultrasound through an operation.

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

A．Employ.

B．Challenge.

C．Overlook.

D．Discover.

3. What advantage might hibernation bring to humans?

A．It improves people’s mental health.

B．It predicts a variety of heart diseases.

C．It helps astronauts keep physically fit.

D．It enables astronauts to build up muscle.

4. What’s the purpose of the last paragraph?

A．To point out the significance of the study.

B．To bring out the focus of follow-up studies.

C．To discuss other factors affecting hibernation.

D．To explain practical applications of the finding.

2 . For most of December, Adele Adkins had the top-selling album in Australia, followed by Ed Sheeran, and then there was a collection of songs that took everyone by surprise.

Songs Of Disappearance is a collection of calls from endangered Australian birds. Last month, it briefly reached No.3 on the country’s top 50 albums chart (排行榜) — ahead of Taylor Swift.

Anthony Albrecht, a PhD student at Charles Darwin University, produced the album with Professor Stephen Garnett. “I knew it was a crazy thing to suggest. But Stephen’s a little bit crazy like me and he let me do it,” Albrecht said.

Songs Of Disappearance was published with a university report which found that 1 in 6 Australian bird species are now threatened. The album records 53 of those species.

“Some sing what you might think of as bird songs, but not all of them,” said SeanDooley, who represents the conservation organization Bird life Australia. “Songs from the golden bowerbird sound like a death cry from some sci-fi series. And the love songs from Christmas Island frigate bird, which has a piece of skin hanging under its mouth that caninflate (膨胀) like a huge red balloon, sound as bizarre as its unusual looks.”

There’s also the Christmas Island pigeon. When people hear that pigeon, they might think that it’s a human making silly noises, Dooley added.

The Charles Darwin University and Bird life Australia report does document successes in protecting endangered birds, the hope being that the album will protect more species.

“The increased awareness can make a difference,” Dooley said. “When we have a community on board, that brings pressure to the government to do the right thing. We know that these conservation actions do work.”

1. Whose album reached No.1 on the chart in December?

A．Taylor Swift’s.

B．Adele Adkins’.

C．Ed Sheeran’s.

D．Anthony Albrecht’s.

2. What can be learned from the university report?

A．About 53 bird species are threatened in Australia.

B．It has not found success in protecting endangered birds.

C．One sixth of Australian bird species are now endangered.

D．Music is very powerful in encouraging people to protect birds.

3. Which is closest in meaning to “bizarre”in paragraph 5?

A．Strange.

B．Beautiful.

C．Loud.

D．Sharp.

4. What does Sean Dooley think of Anthony Albrecht’s project?

A．Crazy.

B．Amusing.

C．Uncreative.

D．Helpful.

3 . Scientists have reported that the sea ice in Antarctica (南极) is at a record low level. Antarctica is a great, icy land, surrounded (围绕) by the huge Southern Ocean. The ice in Antarctica doesn’t just cover the land. There’s also a large area of sea ice on the ocean’s surface.

Every year, the sea ice at the South Pole goes through a cycle. In the summer, the huge sea ice melts (融化) to its smallest point. Over the colder winter months, the sea ice grows and grows until it covers a wide area. Usually, the sea ice covers the greatest area around September 23, as winter ends at the South Pole.

Scientists have been measuring the area of the sea ice in Antarctica since 1979. For most of this time, Antarctica has seemed to be almost unaffected by the changing weather conditions experienced in other parts of the globe. That began to change around 2016. Now, for several years, the area of Antartica’s sea ice has been shrinking.

This year, the US National Snow and Ice Data Centre (NSIDC) reported that Antartica’s sea ice covered its greatest area on September 10 — almost two weeks earlier than normal. And the sea ice was at a new record low-not just by a little bit, but by a lot.

The last time Antartica’s low sea ice set a record at the end of winter was in 1986. And this year, there’s about 398, 000 square miles less sea ice than in 1986.

Scientists are still trying to understand what is driving the change in Antarctica. One likely direct cause for the change is the rising temperatures of the world’s oceans. Ted Scambos, a research scientist at the University of Colorado, says Antarctica’s ice levels have always changed some, but the sharp loss this year is “pointing towards warmer ocean conditions around the continent.”

The new low record has concerned the scientists. Scientists are working hard to better understand Antarctica. They don’t know yet if this is just a short-term problem, or part of a long-term shift (转变) towards less sea ice in Antarctica.

1. What does the underlined word “shrinking” mean in Paragraph 3?

A．Getting smaller.

B．Being flat.

C．Observed.

D．Measured.

2. Why does the author mention the record in 1986?

A．To give an example.	B．To make a comparison.
C．To make a summary.	D．To offer an argument.

3. What is the possible direct reason for the change in Antarctica’s sea ice?

A．The changing weather conditions.	B．Human activities in Antarctica.
C．Increased volcanic activities in the area.	D．The increasing temperatures of the global oceans.

4. How do scientists feel about the low record?

A．Worried.

B．Annoyed.

C．Excited.

D．Satisfied.

4 . If you think of a game of fetch, you might picture a dog running back and forth, eagerly recovering a ball. But a new study shows that they’re not the only pets that like the game: Cats play fetch, too, just on their own unique terms.

The researchers discovered almost 1,000 owners of 1,154 cats to find out if and why. According to their findings, nearly 95% of the cat owners reported that their cats fetched items naturally. One respondent said his cat returned the toy completely for no reason.

Fetching was mainly first noticed when cats were under I year old. What’s more, “cats who fetch largely determine when they engage in fetching activities and actively influence the play behavior of their owners,” according to the study. “So, it can say a bit about cats being in control of their interactions and being in control of their environments, even being in control of us. You might even go so far to say,” says Jemma Forman, the co-author of the study.

But the motivation for cats to fetch objects seems to be different from that for dogs. Cats are more likely to play on their own with objects similar to prey (猎物). For dogs, play is more social, involving either another dog or human.

In general, play has major advantages for both the pet and the owner, as it not only helps to prevent attack towards, the owner, but also models the act of preying on real animals, an important kind of play behavior. “So even if your cat doesn’t play fetch, obviously it’s a really good idea to try and engage them in any sort of play. Play does have a lot of benefits,” says Forman. “It’s about owner acceptance to your fur baby,” she says.

1. Why does the author mention dogs in Paragraph 1?

A．To offer basic information of dogs.

B．To make an outline for the passage.

C．To introduce the topic of the passage.

D．To conclude the meaning of the topic.

2. How does the author develop Paragraph 2?

A．By raising questions.	B．By listing data.
C．By making a comparison.	D．By offering an example.

3. What does a cat think of playing with an object?

A．A social action.	B．A learning process.
C．A serious task.	D．A preying activity.

4. What would be the best title for this passage?

A．Cats Play Fetch, Too	B．Train Cats to Fetch
C．New Findings on Dogs	D．Dogs Play Fetch, Too

5 . The dry land in Gir National Park and Wildlife Preserve, located near India western tip, is the proud — and only — home of the Asiatic lion. By the early 1900s, however, their populations had decreased for homo loss and hunting, leaving fewer than 50 known individuals alive. Though their numbers have risen over the past several decades — climbing to around 670 in 2020, a successful story — the lions are still considered endangered.

One of the biggest challenges to keep the lions’ future is to track them, a hard work. Some animals, like tigers and zebras, have special coat patterns (图案) that provide useful marks to the researchers. But for the Asiatic lions, researchers must look elsewhere.

In 2019, Banerjee, who worked for Indias National Tiger Conservation Authority, developed an AI system to recognize the lions with high accuracy (精准). The AI program, SIMBA, has been applied in practice. “It will be a fantastic tool for long-term lion monitoring,” says Banerjee. He adds, “It could help forest officials arrive at a more accurate estimate (评估) of Gir’s lion population. In a few years, the group will have a rich collection of information — how many lions are male, female, how many will bear babies and how many are dead.”

Despite the advantages, Baneijee also adds his worries. He suggests certain rules be made to prevent main information from being stolen. “Where tools like SIMBA really shine”, he says, “is in helping researchers develop monitoring plans that are keys to the protection of at-risk animals,” he says, “otherwise, all your efforts will be in vain.”

1. What is the greatest difficulty in protecting Asiatic lions?

A．Stopping them from being killed.	B．Keeping track of them.
C．Protecting their living environment.	D．Increasing their population.

2. How does SIMBA help researchers?

A．By locating lions’ homes.	B．By tracking other animals.
C．By monitoring the animal stealers.	D．By providing accurate information.

3. What’s Baneijee’s opinion about the AI program?

A．It needs to be widely used.	B．It has saved the at-risk animals.
C．Its possible risks should be aware of.	D．Its disadvantages should be ignored.

4. Which can be a suitable title for the text?

A．The Application of AI on Protecting Animals.	B．The AI Program for the Endangered Asiatic Lions.
C．The Measures of Protecting Asiatic Lions.	D．The Biggest Challenge of the AI system.

6 . 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。

What you need to know about the sandstorm in Beijing

A: sandstorm swept across Beijing and several northern areas in China on Monday.Where did the sandstorm come from? How long will it last? Lets take     1     look.

Q: Where did the sandstorm come from?

A: The sandstorm originated in the Gobi Desert areas of Mongolia. Strong winds picked up the sand and dust,     2     were then transported southward and eastward at high altitudes and eventually settled in downstream (顺流的) are as such as Beijing,    3     (result) in the sandstorm.

Q: When will the dusty weather     4     (weak)? Should we expect more sandstorms this week?

A: According to the National Meteorological Center, the sandstorm     5     (moderate) starting from next Tuesday.

Q: Why are sandstorms in North China so frequent this year?

A: There are multiple     6     (reason).The cold air activity has remained active in March     7     April. Mongolian cyclones (旋风) and cold fronts (冷锋) have transported sand and dust from the sand source areas downstream to even more southern and farther areas.

Q: Is a yellowish sky always an indicator of a sandstorm?

A: Not exactly. Only when the sandy and dusty weather reaches a certain     8     (intense) can it be called a sandstorm.

Q: What precautions to take in dusty weather?

A: Stay indoors as much as possible, and keep windows and doors closed. Use air purifiers, sprinkle water, use humidifiers, and mop the floor with a wet cloth     9     (remove) dust.Wear masks when going outdoors, and clean your face and nose when returning home; When driving, reduce speed, turn on headlights, and drive     10     caution.

7 . Never has there been a primate as big as Gigantopithecus blacki. Adults of this ancient ape (猿) stood about 10 feet tail and could weigh more than 500 pounds, wandering the thick forests of ancient China during the last Ice Age.

Why this impressive animal went extinct has puzzled scientists since the ape was discovered nearly a century ago. But now, a new analysis suggests that the primate’s unique lifestyle left it vulnerable

The new study combines geological dates, pollen records, and clues preserved inside fossil teeth to present a detailed timeline of when, and how, Gigantopithecus blacki went extinct. The results reveal the creature’s decline and ultimate demise in fine detail

Kira Westaway, lead author of the new study and a geochronologist at Macquarie University in Sydney, worked to come up with more accurate dates for the sediments (沉积物) that Gigantopithecus fossils have been found in. Studies of fossil pollen from the Gigantopithecus sites also allowed researchers to study how the animal’s habitat was changing. Prior to 700,000 years ago, both Gigantopithecus and Pongo weidenreichi, another ancient ape, lived in forests where they ate leaves, fruits, and flowers available much of the year round. Due to the environmental changes, dense forests of pines, birches and chestnut relatives gave way to more open habitats with larger patches of grassland However, Gigantopithecus had a difficult time finding preferred foods. Meanwhile Pongo weidenreichi changed its diet to live on-fibrous-plants that were more readily available.

“It was the response of G, blacki to these changes that sealed its fate, ” Westaway says. The giant apes were so big that they had to move on the ground and were limited in how far they could venture, trying to make the most of twigs, bark, and other tough foods that were still accessible. It wasn’t enough.

Yet knowing the ending of the ape’s story hardly closes the case on the giant primate. Did these huge primates follow the same path to extinction, or did the story vary by location? This research opens new questions even as it explains the disappearance of Earth’s most huge ape.

1. What does the new research aim to do?

A．To study the climate changes of ancient China.

B．To analyze the geological features of the last Ice Age.

C．To solve the mystery of the Gigantopithecus blacki’s extinction.

D．To present some detailed findings of the Gigantopithecus blacki’s habitat.

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

A．Change.

B．Removal.

C．Adaptation.

D．Extinction.

3. What do we know about the study?

A．The timing of the giant ape’s disappearance was worked out.

B．Another ape was included to show their common habitat.

C．The environmental shift had little impact on the giant ape’s habitat.

D．Some fossil pollen were studied to reveal the giant ape’s diet preference.

4. What can be suggested from Westaway ’ s words about the giant ape?

A．The giant ape responded to the change of its habitat easily.

B．The inability to adapt quickly caused its disappearance.

C．The giant ape had sufficient food resources on the grassland.

D．The forested habitat was still accessible to the giant ape.

8 . 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。

Chengdu is regarded by many as one of the happiest cities in China, as well as the home of pandas. It     1     (become) the first Asian city to be identified as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy in 2010.

Chengdu is a place where it seems to blur (难以区分) the boundaries between past and future. Its ancient temples, traditional alleys and historic architecture open a window into ancient China,     2     (take) you into a world of past impressive beauty. But what is really surprising is its focus on the future. Transforming into a center of technology, innovation and development, this city has     3     (ambition) plans to become a science city in southwest China.

Chengdu is not only rich in history and modernity, but also in flavor. This city is known     4     its spicy food, with bold flavors and centuries-old cooking traditions coming together to offer dining experiences     5     will delight all the senses. Chengdu’s most popular food, such as tongue-numbing mapo tofu and hotpot, is     6     feast for the palate (味觉). Hotpot works like this. A heat source     7     (place) on the dining table keeps a pot of soup stock simmering (煨), and a variety of Chinese foodstuffs and     8     (ingredient) are served beside the pot for the diners to put into the hot stock.

All this richness that Chengdu has to offer led to its selection as the host city for the 31stFISU World University Games. The athletic event was an opportunity not only     9     (show) Chengdu’s sporting spirit, world-class infrastructure,     10     (warm) and organizational skill, but also to promote friendship and cross-cultural understanding.

9 . 阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写，使之构成一个完整的故事。

In a misty morning, Robert was hiking high in the mountains with Lucky, his tiny but energetic dog. Every weekend, the two would go together on a hiking to climb nearby mountains. As they got near to the top, the path was rocky and less-traveled. After an hour, they reached the top, touched by the beautiful view there. Lost in the breathtaking scenery, Robert felt refreshed. When he looked at the loyal friend beside him, the memory of meeting Lucky for the first time flooded into his mind.

It had been about two years since Robert got Lucky. She was small and a ball of energy. “The day when my mother let me choose a dog from the doghouse, she was playfully jumping around and licking (舔) me, barking (犬吠) loudly to show how much she wanted to be my family,” thought Robert. “She looked quite small, but from the moment I threw my eyes on her, I knew she was the perfect dog for me. And, for some reasons, that active energy was something that I needed in my life,” Robert kept thinking.

Time flew, dark night drawing near. Having got enough rest, Robert decided it was time to go home. Suddenly, Robert lost his balance, rolled down a rocky hill, hit his head really hard, and finally stopped upside down.

One of his leg was in between two rocks, so he couldn’t move. But that was the least of his worries. What Robert was really scared of was that he was going to sleep with a serious head injury. He tried to cry for help, but he was so weak that he was going to become unconscious (昏迷的). “If only there had been someone else,” Robert thought, sad and hopeless. As darkness fell further, the weather turned cold and windy and he was about to lose consciousness. What’s worse, Robert noticed something like a snake approaching him before he finally fell unconscious.

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。
Paragraph 1:

Fortunately, Lucky was there all the time and never stopped barking for help.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2:

After seeing unconscious Robert, the two strangers managed to wake him up.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容或括号内单词的正确形式。

Light pollution is a serious problem. This became completely obvious when the World Atlas of Artificial Night Sky Brightness, a computer-created map based on thousands of satellite (卫星) photos,     1     (publish) in 2016. The map shows how and where     2    (we) world is lit up at night. Large areas of North America, Europe, and Asia are glowing (发光) with light, while only the most remote (偏远的) places on Earth are in total darkness. Some of the most light-polluted    3     (country) in the world are Singapore, Qatar, and Kuwait.

Sky glow is the brightening of the night sky, mostly over cities, because    4    the electric lights of cars, streetlamps, offices, factories and buildings, turning night into day.

People     5     live in cities with high levels of sky glow have a hard time     6     (see) stars at night. Scientists are     7     (particular) worried about sky glow pollution as it influences their ability     8     (view) space.

According to research, more    9     80% of the world’s population, and 99% of Americans and Europeans, live under sky glow. It sounds pretty, but sky glow    10    (cause) by human activities is one of the most common forms of light pollution.