1 . What Came First, the Chicken or the Egg?

Chickens are one of the most economically important animals in the world today.     1    , Recent advancements in archaeological methodologies have unveiled that numerous bone discoveries, once believed to be evidence of early chickens, actually belong to wild birds.

Now, in a new publication, an international team of archaeologists, historians, and biomolecular scientists present the earliest clear evidence for the raising of chickens for egg production. Using eggshell fragments collected from 12 archaeological sites covering roughly 1500 years, the researchers show that chickens were widely raised in Central Asia from approximately 400 BCE to 1000 CE and were likely spread along the ancient Silk Road.     2    . It was this trait of productive egg laying, the researchers argue, that made the domestic chicken so attractive to ancient peoples

    3    . They collected tens of thousands of eggshell fragments from sites located along the main Central Asian corridor of the Silk Road. They then used a method of biomolecular analysis called ZooMS to identify the source of the eggs.   The identification of these shell fragments as chickens, and their abundance at each site, led the researchers to an important conclusion.     4     . In the wild, this kind of bird nests once per year and typically lays six eggs per clutch (窝). This is the earliest evidence for the loss of seasonal egg laying yet identified in the archaeological record. Meanwhile, it is an important clue for better understanding the mutualistic (共生的) relationships between humans and animals that resulted in domestication

Taken together, the new study suggests an answer to the age-old riddle of the chicken and the egg.     5    .

A．To reach these conclusions, the team did a lot of work.

B．The abundance of eggshells further suggests that the birds were laying out of season.

C．Yet, the story of how they originated and spread throughout the ancient world remains largely unclear.

D．Research shows chickens were bred throughout southern Central Asia, and were spread along the ancient Silk Road.

E．The birds must have been laying more frequently than their wild ancestor, the red jungle fowl

F．They argue that the loss of seasonal egg laying was the main drive for the spread of domestic chickens across Eurasia and northeast Africa

G．As the evidence in Central Asia suggests, the ability to lay a large number of eggs is what made the chicken the chicken we know today.

2 . Astronaut Frank Rubiales made headlines by spending 371 days in space, far beyond his scheduled 180 days, due to a technical failure. This unexpected longer stay became an unforgettable experience for Rubiales and it was turned into a golden opportunity for researchers to explore the effects of long-term space travel on the human body. Although space exploration is of importance for human beings’ development, it brings about unique bad effects on both physical and mental well-being.

The absence of gravity in space can cause astronauts to lose muscle and bone strength, which may cause their disabilities. To solve this problem, they must exercise for 150 minutes every week. Additionally, space traveler’s eyes can be affected in the zero-gravity environment, facing the danger of being blind. What’s worse, beyond earth’s protective layer, astronaut s face greater exposure to strong solar radiation, increasing the risk of serious health issues, including cancer.

Astronauts’ mental health is also at risk. On Earth, daylight patterns help us sleep, but astronauts in space see 16 sunrises and sunsets each day. The unusual pattern disturbs their natural sleep cycles and leads to anxiety. Besides, the limited social interactions and the constant observation by experts on Earth can result in stress and loneliness. Therefore, these factors stress the importance of advancing technology and strategies to ensure astronauts’ health and well-being during long-time missions, such as space travel that could last up to years.

The experience and data gathered from missions like Rubiales’ not only help prepare for more distant space explorations but also have improved applications on Earth. Technologies that once supported space exploration are now increasing medical qualities in hospitals and helping recovery from health conditions, bridgeing the gap between space achievements and daily life.

1. What happened to Rubiales?

A．He stayed longer in space for a technical mistake.

B．He returned to the Earth on time.

C．He researched the effects of long-term space travel.

D．He was scheduled to spend 371 days in space.

2. What is paragraph 2 mainly about?

A．Health problems caused by the absence of gravity.

B．Bad effects on astronauts’ physical health in space.

C．Astronauts’ bad experiences in space.

D．Solutions to health issues including cancer.

3. What may mainly cause astronauts’ anxiety?

A．Sunrises and sunsets.	B．Observation by experts.
C．Lack of sleep.	D．Usual daylight patterns.

4. What is the author’s attitude toward space explorations?

A．Disapproving.

B．Unclear.

C．Doubtful.

D．Objective.

3 . Landslides are one of the most destructive natural disasters on the planet, causing billions of dollars of damage and devastating loss of life every year. By introducing a new paradigm (范例) for studying landslide shapes and failure types, a global team of researchers has provided help for those who work to predict landslides and risk evaluations.

Current predictive models rely on databases that do not generally include information on the type of failure of mapped landslides. By using the aerial view (鸟瞰图) and elevation data of landslide sites combined with machine learning, the researchers were able to achieve 80% — 94% percent accuracy in identifying landslide movements in diverse locations around the world. Specifically, the study introduces a method of examining slides, flows, and fails, finding distinct patterns.

Researchers studied landslides around the world, like the 2008 disaster in Beichuan. China, to develop a new paradigm to understand their movements and failure types.

“Our algorithm is not predicting landslides,” explained Malik, assistant professor in Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) School of Mathematic s and Statistics. “But the people who are in the business of predicting landslides need to know more information about them, like what caused them and what mechanisms they were.”

Various locations were studied, including Italy, the United States, Denmark, Türkiye, and China. The wide range of countries helped confirm the strength of the findings, since they can be successfully used in diverse regions and climates.

“It was quite exhilarating when we saw the success numbers,” said Malik, “We got the results, which are really good, but we need to be able to connect this to reality.”

The hope is that this deeper understanding of failure movements will help those who work to predict deadly events and enhance the accuracy and reliability of hazard (危害) and risk assessment models, which will help save lives and reduce damage.

1. What is the new paradigm for?

A．Predicting the occurrence of landslides.

B．Evaluating the economic impact of landslides.

C．Mapping the locations of landslides worldwide.

D．Understanding landslide forms and damage types.

2. What is the advantage of the new method in landslides identification?

A．It’s more convenient.	B．It’s more economic.
C．It’s more accurate.	D．It’s easier to operate.

3. What does the underlined word “exhilarating” in paragraph 6 mean?

A．Relaxing.

B．Thrilling.

C．Amusing.

D．Confusing.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．The New Way to Help Predict Landslides

B．The Economic Impact of Landslides Globally

C．The Use of Machine Learning in Predicting Landslides

D．The Urgency of Understanding the Shapes of Landslides

4 . 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。

One of the three main    1     (branch) of a forest fire in Yajiang county of Garze Tibetan autonomous prefecture in Sichuan province has been extinguished thanks to the vigorous efforts of some 1,200 workers, according to the Sichuan Forest Fire Brigade.

Crews continue to work     2     (extinguish) other burning sections. Members of the brigade's branches in the city of Panzhihua, Aba Tibetan and Qiang autonomous prefecture, and in Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture in Sichuan, arrived in Yajiang and started working at the site of the     3     (two) blaze early on Monday.

The forest fire broke out in Yajiang at around 5 pm on Friday near Baizi village     4     spread to a larger area, driven by a sudden increase in wind on Saturday, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management. The fire had consisted of three main sections, with control     5     (make) more difficult by unpredictable wind shifts that spread the blaze in multiple directions. From Sunday evening to early Monday, fire approached residences near    6     PetroChina gas station in Yajiang. Firefighters quickly    7     (lay) hose lines and used water cannons to protect the homes.

    8     response to the fires, the National Meteorological Center activated emergency response measures to provide vital weather monitoring and forecasting support for the firefighting effort.

A key step involved refocusing the scope of satellite rapid imaging to Chengdu,     9    will enable     10     (close) and more frequent observation of the fire zone's weather patterns.

6 . As a very important part of Mexico’s ecosystem, hummingbirds now face all sorts of serious threats. That’s where 73-year-old Catherine comes in, who _______ most of her free time caring for the tiny birds.

Catherine’s story as a self-taught hummingbird nurse began in 2011. She was walking on the street one day when she noticed a(n)_______ hummingbird that had suffered a serious eye injury. _______, it was taken home by the kind-hearted woman, but she knew nothing about taking care of a bird. However, a friend _______ her to look after it.

“That hummingbird wrote me a new life,” Catherine said. It was a very difficult _______ in her life. She had just lost her husband and she herself was battling with cancer at that time. It was the hummingbird that managed to pull her out of the sadness and loneliness that had _______ her life.

And it was only the beginning.

Word of her success _______ among Catherine’s friends, and before long some of them began bringing her injured and abandoned hummingbirds. She needed to study the birds and their _______ to better take care of them, and after 11 years of experience, the 73-year-old woman is considered an expert on hummingbirds while her home has become known as a hummingbird _______.

Until now, Catherine has rescued hundreds of hummingbirds. After ________ the birds back to health, she releases them in a wooded area on the south side of Mexico City.

1.

A．gains

B．spends

C．misses

D．wastes

2.

A．ugly

B．scary

C．dangerous

D．desperate

3.

A．Surprisingly

B．Fortunately

C．Accidentally

D．Secretly

4.

A．allowed

B．commanded

C．encouraged

D．reminded

5.

A．task

B．decision

C．moment

D．goal

6.

A．taken over

B．relied on

C．turned down

D．gone through

7.

A．existed

B．spread

C．occurred

D．changed

8.

A．values

B．legends

C．numbers

D．habits

9.

A．shop

B．park

C．hospital

D．museum

10.

A．nursing

B．guiding

C．moving

D．feeding

7 . 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。

Ever since New Year’s Day, 1986,     1     the Tianjin Ancient Cultural Street first opened to the public under its new name, the block has been a site of festivity and entertainment for Tianjin residents and tourists alike.

Across Chinese cities, Tianjin is the only one     2     a record of its exact founding date. On Dec 23, 1404, Emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty (1368—1644)     3     (official) established the city, giving it a name meaning “the emperor’s ferry dock”, because of     4     region’s role as a key waterway interchange.

“The Tianjin Ancient Cultural Street, located in Nankai district,     5     (lie) between the old Tianjin city and the Haihe River. Where two     6     (branch) of the Grand Canal converge (会合) with the river, this is “the cradle of Tianjin”.

When the project of establishing the Tianjin Ancient Cultural Street first began in 1985, the focus was     7     (protect) the local historical sites and repair and improve contemporary buildings to reflect the antique elegance and tradition of Tianjin’s architectural styles.

“The Haihe River has witnessed centuries of water transportation, and the Tianjin Ancient Cultural Street serves as a hub (中心) for Tianjin’s time-honored brands, handicrafts, specialties and folk culture,     8     (make) it a cultural symbol of the city.”

    9     (include) in the first-group 5A tourist attractions in China in 2017, the highest rating of its kind, the site now boasts 200,000 square meters of venues with culture and business that are quite     10     (diversity).

8 . Trends come and go. Many goods that people buy to _______ fashion end up in the rubbish bin. Now young American people are giving these things a second _______.

Called “Stoopers (旧物猎人)”, they pick up idle (闲置的) goods and _______ them. They are mainly in big cities like New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.

Anne Brown, 27, is one of them. Anne first stooped in June 2022 when many residents in a community left their _______ on the street after they moved house. After that, she often “_______ treasures” in her free time. Now her small apartment holds things redesigned from the idle goods she collected, including tables, chairs and clothing.

“Though many people say stooping is like collecting _______, for me, it’s making the best of things,” the 27-year-old digital marketer said. That’s why she wanted to _______ the trend to others. Whenever she spots goods that are _______ used and she doesn’t need them, Anne puts a pair of eyeball-shaped stickers on them and then posts pictures of them on her social media accounts to _______ others to pick them up.

Influenced by stoopers like Anne, 16-year-old Carmen Smith from a high school in Houston fell in love with stooping. The ________ of “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” is what attracts her most. She said since her childhood, her family, who came from India, has often told stories about how past generations ________ the period during which goods were in ________ shortage. “Frugality (节俭) has always been a traditional virtue in India,” Carmen said. Despite this, Carmen admitted that many teenagers, including herself, are sometimes ________ consumption, leading to significant waste. This realization urged her to start stooping this year.

Carmen added that the first time she used paper from books ________ by students on campus to make paper roses, she felt excited. “During the process of stooping, I start to observe my surroundings, which I had ________ taken for granted (想当然),” she said.

1.

A．put up with

B．do away with

C．be familiar with

D．keep pace with

2.

A．goal

B．deal

C．life

D．rule

3.

A．restrict

B．reserve

C．reuse

D．review

4.

A．belongings

B．pets

C．fruits

D．plants

5.

A．displayed

B．hunted

C．purchased

D．buried

6.

A．paper

B．cloth

C．money

D．garbage

7.

A．promote

B．return

C．throw

D．adjust

8.

A．similarly

B．barely

C．blindly

D．secretly

9.

A．forbid

B．force

C．guide

D．order

10.

A．greeting

B．hobby

C．diary

D．philosophy

11.

A．survived

B．valued

C．wasted

D．overlooked

12.

A．occasional

B．serious

C．temporary

D．slight

13.

A．sensitive to

B．close to

C．addicted to

D．equal to

14.

A．treasured

B．packed

C．posted

D．abandoned

15.

A．beneficially

B．previously

C．dangerously

D．responsibly

10 . 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。

Famous for its picturesque Jiangnan landscape featuring small bridges,     1     (flow) waterways, and riverside homes, Wuxi also holds the distinction of being a cradle of modern Chinese industry and commerce, drawing both     2     (local) and tourists alike.

The Qingming Bridge, located in Wuxi’s Liangxi district, serves     3     a charming intersection of Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and Bodu port. Here, visitors encounter a well-preserved area     4     historic houses, shops, and the former residences of outstanding figures     5     (harmonious) coexist, creating a vivid living museum that represents the rich history and culture of the Grand Canal.

Notably, the Wuxi kiln site museum along the ancient Grand Canal     6     (offer) visitors a glimpse into China’s brickmaking culture spanning over 600 years, providing     7     authentic experience for the tourists.

The descendants (子孙后代) of canal workers, deeply     8     (root) in the Qingming Bridge area, continue to play an important role in preserving their heritage, contributing not only historical artifacts but also cherished bricks.

Looking ahead, Wuxi aims to build this ancient waterway as a global tourist     9     (attract), which includes the development of unique dining experiences, inviting accommodations, and engaging activities, providing visitors with an opportunity not only to cross the ancient canal but also to bury     10     (they) in its permanent charm and vibrant atmosphere.