1 . Two high school students have identified four new planets in distant space about 200-light-years from Earth, making them “the youngest astronomers” to make such a discovery.
Kartik Pingle, 16, and Jasmine Wright. 18, who both attend schools in Massachusetts, participated in the Student Research Mentoring Program (SRMP). With the help of Tansu Daylan, an MIT doctor for Astrophysics and Space Research, the students studied and analyzed data from the Transiting Exoplanct Survey Satellite (TESS). Together they focused on Tess Object of Interest (TOI) 1233, a nearby, bright sun-like star and here they found four planets rotating（旋转）around the star. “We were looking to see changes in light over time,” Pingle explained, “the idea is that if the planet transits the star, or passes in front of it, it would periodically cover up the star and decrease its brightness.”
While studying 1233, Pingle and Wright had at least hoped to find one planet but were overwhelmed with joy when a total of four were spotted. “I was very excited and very shocked.” Wright said. “We knew this was the goal of Daylan’s research, but to actually find a multi-planetary system, and be part of the discovering team, was really cool.” Three of the newly discovered planets are considered as “sub-Neptunes”, which are gaseous, but smaller than the Neptune that lives in our solar system. While observing the planets, the team determined each one completes their orbit around 1233 every six to 19.5 days. However, the fourth planet is called a “super-Earth” for its large size and rockiness this one orbits around the star in just under four days.
“We have long been studying planets beyond our solar system and with multi-planetary systems, the two young students are kind of hitting the jackpot. They are really blessed.” Daylan said. “The planets originated from the same disk of matter around the same star, but they ended up being different planets with different atmospheres and different climates due to their different orbits. So, we would like to understand the basic processes of planet formation and evolution using this planetary system.”
Daylan added that it was a “win-win” to work with Pingle and Wright on the study. “As a researcher, I really enjoy interacting with young brains that are open to experimentation and learning and have slightest bias（偏见）.”he said, “I also think it is very beneficial to high school students, since they get exposure to cutting-edge research, and this prepares them quickly for a research career.”
1. How did the two students identify the four planets？| A．By helping professor Tansu Daylan with the data. |
| B．By analyzing the change of brightness of star 1233. |
| C．By studying Neptune that lives in our solar system. |
| D．By interacting with other young talented brains. |
| A．It was made by two high school students. |
| B．It was made with an innovative approach. |
| C．It was meant to be made by Tansu Daylan. |
| D．It found the largest number of planets at a time. |
| A．Making a discovery difficultly. | B．Achieving the goal easily. |
| C．Succeeding in something luckily. | D．Performing a task carefully. |
| A．It allows the scientists to work with young people without prejudice. |
| B．It equips future astronomers with better researching abilities. |
| C．It provides more perspectives and thus boosts more discoveries. |
| D．It arouses students’ interest in exploring the unknown universe. |
2 . Earthquakes cannot be forecast, but engineers can prepare for them. Seismic-isolation (地震隔离) systems built into the bases of certain buildings in high-risk areas, use complex structures of concrete, rubber and metal to reduce quake damage by absorbing the ground’s horizontal shaking.
But such adaptations are expensive. Engineer Jian Zhang of the University of California, says building seismic isolation-system can increase construction costs by up to 20 percent. Although these systems might save more than they cost over time, builders in some regions may not have the budget for them at present.
A new seismic-isolation method uses the physics of rolling to create a lower-cost alternative with readily available materials: recycled tennis balls. “Everyone plays tennis, and they don’t know what to do with the tennis balls after each game,” says ETH Zürich seismic engineer Michalis Vassiliou.
Vassiliou’s team based its method on an early form of seismic-isolation that rolls a shaking building to a stop the way a skater in a half-pipe eventually comes to rest. By separating a building from the ground with a layer of spheres (球体), rolling isolation changes unstable horizontal shaking into a gentle rocking motion. This method was used in 5,000-year-old Peruvian pyramids, but today builders favor expensive, standardized isolation systems.
For their modern take on rolling seismic-isolation, the researchers injected concrete-like mixes into hundreds of balls that had lost their bounce. They built an inexpensive model consisting of four filled tennis balls sandwiched between two concrete slabs (厚板), and they found that it withstood earthquake shaking while supporting eight kilo newtons of force per ball — about twice what isolation systems might experience under one-story houses.
Zhang says that the work is worthwhile and that such technology might serve an unmet need. But she notes that the results are primary. Vassiliou agrees; next steps will mean creating and testing a larger model with hundreds of tennis balls at a research center in earthquake-prone Cuba — an example of a place where such systems could make isolation practicable in ordinary construction.
1. Why do the engineers adopt recycled tennis balls?| A．To improve the performance of tennis balls. |
| B．To help deal with the tennis balls after matches. |
| C．To simplify the complex structures of buildings. |
| D．To cut the expense of seismic-isolation building. |
| A．Recycling useless tennis balls. | B．Transforming the shaking into a gentle one. |
| C．Withstanding earthquake shaking. | D．Enabling a house to support much more force. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Unclear. | C．Objective. | D．Approving. |
| A．Researchers are creating and testing models in Cuba. |
| B．Engineers are exploring ways of earthquake forecasts. |
| C．A low-cost design helps shaking buildings roll to a stop. |
| D．Recycled tennis balls could protect buildings from disasters. |
It was a pleasant sort of a Sunday as John walked in his uncle’s garden. His parents had moved to Delhi for work. “Your final examination is just a few months away.” Father had said, “We want you to stay with Uncle and Aunt, complete your exams and then join us in Delhi.” Uncle Tim was John’s father’s cousin. They had a Golden Retrieve called Oliver.
From the first day John realized that Oliver was unhappy. He was not given his meals on time, nor was he taken for a walk. Oliver was shouted at and treated badly all day. “Your uncle bought Oliver so that the dog could protect his house from thieves but actually neither he nor his wife loved him,” the gardener told John one day. John felt sad. At night he could hear Oliver whimpering (呜咽) in the cold. “Why don’t you make a coat for your pet?” John asked. “I have much better things to do,” answered his aunt.
One day John went out for a walk with Oliver when the sky suddenly became cloudy. As rain started falling, people ran everywhere for protection. John ran to take shelter in a sweet shop. A few minutes later, he realized Oliver was missing. John was sad and searched the entire place with the help of the shop owner, but failed.
John’s uncle put in an advertisement in the paper. After all he had spent a lot of money buying Oliver and did not want to lose him.
It was a half-an-hour ride by bus. The house was a beautiful brick colored structure. The middle aged lady who greeted Oliver was a motherly sort of a woman. She and her husband had answered John’s uncle’s advertisement in the paper. Since John’s uncle was out on an official tour, John had been sent to check on the dog.
“He is asleep.” said the lady, “Come and have a look”. Oliver slept on a small bed covered with a warm quilt (被褥). A pot of milk stood in a corner of the room possibly for Oliver’s next feed. “I found him on the back seat of the car. He must have hidden himself there from the storm. I had opened the back door of the car to put in the vegetables, which I was going to buy. However, because of the heavy rain I changed my mind and decided to do the shopping the next day. The poor dear was shivering (颤抖) with cold, when I first noticed him after arriving home.” The lady told John.
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.
John looked at the dog. Yes it was Oliver, his uncle’s dog.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________John smiled as he shook his head, “I am sorry to have troubled you. Sir, Madam. But this is not our Oliver.”
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________4 . Wilson’s dog, Jack, was an energetic, six-year-old collie(柯利犬)that would greet him every day at the bus station when he returned from work. This was a(n)
But Jack didn’t want a new home. He returned to Wilson’s old house, even though the door was
The dog’s depression grew. He
Jack’s worsening condition did not go unnoticed. A friend who lived nearby was so upset that he
Wilson bought a return train ticket
Wilson later recalled, “Jack was
Wilson took Jack back with him. They were never
| A．task | B．routine | C．option | D．responsibility |
| A．satisfied | B．sensitive | C．curious | D．familiar |
| A．balanced | B．reflected | C．changed | D．narrowed |
| A．belong | B．adapt | C．tend | D．stick |
| A．chained | B．replaced | C．repaired | D．maintained |
| A．possibility | B．symbol | C．association | D．sign |
| A．Unhappy | B．Patient | C．Odd | D．Calm |
| A．ignored | B．damaged | C．deserted | D．decorated |
| A．postponed | B．lacked | C．digested | D．refused |
| A．hesitant | B．disappointed | C．unfortunate | D．hopeful |
| A．contacted | B．challenged | C．caught | D．found |
| A．directly | B．independently | C．immediately | D．briefly |
| A．biting | B．marching | C．stretching | D．watching |
| A．crying | B．jumping | C．shouting | D．twisting |
| A．seen | B．lost | C．separated | D．mentioned |
5 . 
Despite being located in a bustling urban part of Huanggang in Hubei, Xiao Yaqin’s apartment block stands out because of its green appearance resulting from being wrapped in green plants. “ It makes me feel very comfortable. When you open the window, fresh air keeps rolling in, ” the 65-year-old said excitedly.
He was one of the first group of residents that recently moved into China’s first “ vertical (垂直的) forest ” residential project, consisting of two 80-meter-tall, 25-story buildings.
The project is the result of cooperation between Easyhome and Italian architect Stefano Boering, often called “ the father of the vertical forest ” . There are 404 trees and 4,620 shrubs (灌木丛) in the vertical forest, which is classified as the “ fourth generation ” of housing. Grasses, flowers and climbing plants cover 2,408m2 of the floor area. The plants are estimated to be capable of absorbing 22 metric tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere per year, while generating 11 tons of oxygen.
However, its development hasn’t been met without doubt. For example, mosquito infestations (感染) are one of the reasons why people are reluctant to move in. The irrigation system required to ensure the survival of the plants in the vertical forest and the need to have gardeners cut the branches mean much higher maintenance costs than in regular buildings.
It is not yet known what the future of fourth-generation housing will be in China, but it has at least brought urban residents a new life experience. Xiao, the retiree, said his new apartment has met his expectations for better quality of life. “ You feel you are close to nature, even if you don’t open the window, ” he said.
1. How does the author introduce the topic?| A．By presenting Xiao Yaqin’s example. | B．By describing features of the apartment. |
| C．By imagining Xiao Yaqin’s life. | D．By showing the apartment’s popularity. |
| A．Easyhome designed and built the project. |
| B．Its plants produce 22 metric tons of oxygen. |
| C．It faces problems of mosquitoes and high costs. |
| D．The residents have to look after the plants. |
| A．Critical. | B．Concerned. | C．Supportive. | D．Unclear. |
| A．To predict the future way of living. | B．To introduce a new type of housing. |
| C．To discuss problems facing residents. | D．To advertise the vertical forest project. |
6 . Goffin’s cockatoos, a kind of small parrot native to Australasia, have been shown to have similar shape-recognition abilities to a human two-year-old. Though not known to use tools in the wild, the birds have proved skilful at tool use while kept in the cage. In a recent experiment, cockatoos were presented with a box with a nut inside it. The clear front of the box had a “keyhole” in a geometric shape, and the birds were given five differently shaped “keys” to choose from. Inserting the correct “key” would let out the nut.
In humans, babies can put a round shape in a round hole from around one year of age, but it will be another year before they are able to do the same with less symmetrical (对称的) shapes. This ability to recognize that a shape will need to be turned in a specific direction before it will fit is called an “allocentric frame of reference”. In the experiment, Goffin’s cockatoos were able to select the right tool for the job, in most cases, by visual recognition alone. Where trial-and-error was used, the cockatoos did better than monkeys in similar tests. This indicates that Goffin’s cockatoos do indeed possess an allocentric frame of reference when moving objects in space, similar to two-year-old babies.
The next step, according to the researchers, is to try and work out whether the cockatoos rely entirely on visual clues (线索), or also use a sense of touch in making their shape selections.
1. How did the cockatoos get the nut from the box in the experiment?| A．By following instructions. | B．By using a tool. |
| C．By turning the box around. | D．By removing the lid. |
| A．Using a key to unlock a door. | B．Telling parrots from other birds. |
| C．Putting a ball into a round hole. | D．Grouping toys of different shapes. |
| A．How far they are able to see. |
| B．How they track moving objects. |
| C．Whether they are smarter than monkeys. |
| D．Whether they use a sense of touch in the test. |
| A．Cockatoos: Quick Error Checkers | B．Cockatoos: Independent Learners |
| C．Cockatoos: Clever Signal-Readers | D．Cockatoos: Skillful Shape-Sorters |
1. Why does the woman invite the man to the beach?
| A．To collect some plastic. | B．To see a whale. | C．To relax. |
| A．The community. | B．The government. | C．A recycling company. |
| A．Responsible. | B．Lazy. | C．Emotional. |
“Sun, sun, sun, here it comes…”
Danny sang while his fingers pressed and pulled skillfully at the guitar strings, delivering a slow and peaceful tune. A circle of audience had formed, nodding and moving slowly to the song.
Lying at the feet of the street performer was his most adoring fan: One-Eyed, a white stray (流浪) dog with pieces of brown. Danny felt the name was suitable considering its physical disability. Usually, One-Eyed would bark loudly as Danny performed. Much to his annoyance, people often mistook the pair as owner and pet. At this time, Danny would reply, “My dog? No!”, eyes rolling at the idea. How he wished the dog would leave him alone instead!
On a snowy night, while Danny was performing, a bird flew downward, landing into the midst of the crowd. It cooed happily as if to harmonize with Danny. Unfortunately, that did not sit well with One-Eyed, which immediately bounced at it and the bird flew away desperately.
The unexpected chaos upturned Danny's hat, which could have been filled with notes and coins from his appreciative audience, leaving it ignored on the ground. "Argh! The hateful dog!” Danny broke down, thinking to himself, “Either the dog goes or I go!”
On the next night, Danny tried to find a new place and chanced upon the park. For a while his earnings were good unsurprisingly as there was a steady flow of visitors. However, that didn't last long. One-Eyed came along and appointed itself as Danny's guardian. "Argh! Here comes the hateful dog again!" That night, Danny hadn't made enough money he should have, all thanks to the troublesome dog.
Danny was almost mad with One-Eyed. “What should I do? Call an animal shelter?” Torn by this problem, he walked aimlessly by the lake of the park. With all his mind focused on how to get rid of the dog, Danny didn't watch his steps. Suddenly, he slipped and fell into the lake accidentally. Struggling in the icy water, he cried for help desperately, almost choking to death. Sensing the approach of death, Danny got into overwhelming panic.
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。
Just then, a familiar barking was heard in the distance.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________“My hero! Thank you for saving me,” Danny said gratefully with watery eyes.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________9 . A few weeks ago, I received a package containing a small batch (一批) of seeds from my friend. When I asked her what it would grow
I sowed the seeds in a beautiful flowerpot. In the first few days, I was excited to search for the slightest
I watered the plant carefully. I placed the plant in the sunlight and rotated (旋转) it for a
Bending down and carefully studying the seedlings, I could almost
Now they are taller than the edge of the pot,
I am certain that after a few more days, my coriander plants will be ready for
| A．into | B．for | C．up | D．out |
| A．gradually | B．incredibly | C．ultimately | D．intently |
| A．samples | B．signs | C．routes | D．proofs |
| A．apparent | B．distinct | C．conventional | D．massive |
| A．allowed for | B．longed for | C．provided for | D．went for |
| A．intense | B．violent | C．balanced | D．exceptional |
| A．emerged | B．hatched | C．reserved | D．sank |
| A．pray | B．assess | C．forecast | D．hear |
| A．conflicted | B．facilitated | C．crowded | D．surrounded |
| A．subsequently | B．constantly | C．extensively | D．merely |
| A．howl | B．scream | C．thunder | D．whisper |
| A．initiative | B．leisure | C．harmony | D．luxury |
| A．possession | B．consumption | C．exposure | D．harvest |
| A．breaking into | B．relating to | C．brightening up | D．wearing down |
| A．touch | B．bunch | C．host | D．lot |
10 . As the world sees more and more extreme weather patterns, it's becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the effects of climate change.
The term "cli-fi" was first used in 2007 by US climate activist and writer Dan Bloom.
The genre is also gaining popularity with high school and college students because it looks at topics that are relevant to what's really happening today.
Cli-fi has also helped to inspire students to pursue science majors, with some universities even offering courses specifically focusing on climate fiction.
“These books aren't going to save the world in any straight form or way: Johns-Putra commented.” “
As Atwood wrote in her dystopian cli-fi novel MaddAddam, “People need such stories, because however dark, a darkness with voices in it is better than a silent void (空间)”.
| A．He considered cli-fi would be popular with young readers. |
| B．He wanted to make "climate fiction" more appealing. |
| C．But they're certainly going to help us think about how the world gets saved. |
| D．It is now a common topic of discussion and has even found its way into the books we read. |
| E．It's a feedback, as these books feed into our awareness and that feeds into our demand to read these books. |
| F．As the name suggests, climate fiction refers to stories with the central theme of climate change or global warming. |
| G．Also, many cli-fi novels tend to have dystopian (反乌托邦的) themes, which are very popular in young adult novels. |
