1 . As temperatures soar, electric bills often go through the roof. That’s because people tend to turn on their air conditioners during the long, hot summer months.

It’s been predicted that by 2050 about 75 percent of the world’s homes could have air conditioners. If that’s true, the energy required to cool buildings will double. For that reason, researchers continue to look for solutions to keep air-conditioner usage to a minimum. Some innovations are being used already or are in the process of being developed. Certain building materials can feel cooler because of their ability to absorb heat and release it slowly. Other buildings use water cooling systems to cool them. However, these aren’t the only methods. Science has a few more tricks up its sleeve.

Researchers at Purdue University have developed the world’s whitest paint. This paint can keep a building’s exterior surface cooler than the surrounding temperature. On hot days, walls absorb heat and often become 10 to 20 degrees Celsius hotter than the air around them. But walls painted with Purdue’s white paint reflect 98.1 percent of the heat and send it back into space. This creates a cooling effect.

Purdue professor Xiulin Ruan believes that the super-white paint could have a more powerful cooling effect than many home air conditioners. Researchers hope to have the paint on the market in five to 10 years.

Yi Zheng of Northeastern University has created a “cooling paper”. This material reflects the sun’s rays while pulling heat out of a building’s interior, and the paper can be recycled. He and his team discovered that the paper helps bring down a room’s temperature by about 6 degrees Celsius. Zheng hopes that the cooling paper will someday be used on roofs and within building materials.

Now and in the future, perhaps some of these energy-efficient methods will make it easier to beat the heat.

1. Why does the author mention the air conditioners at the beginning of the passage?

A．To describe a fact.	B．To support an idea.
C．To provide examples.	D．To introduce the topic.

2. What do we know about Purdue’s white paint?

A．It has been on the market.

B．It is the world’s coolest paint.

C．Walls painted with it reflect most of the heat.

D．It can keep the whole building’s surface cooler.

3. What can we infer according to Yi Zheng?

A．The surface of a buildings is better covered with paper.

B．Buildings will be built mostly with cooling paper someday.

C．The cooling paper will be practical and eco-friendly building materials.

D．The cooling paper can bring down a room’s temperature more than air conditioners.

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

A．Purdue’s White Paint: A New Material to Cool Buildings

B．Cool Buildings: Innovative Ways to Keep Buildings Cool

C．Cool Building Materials: Solutions to Fight against Climate Change

D．Future Air Conditioners: New Energy-efficient Methods to Beat the Heat

2 . A drought is a period of time when an area or region experiences below-normal rainfall. The lack of enough rainfall, either rain or snow, can cause reduced soil wetness or groundwater, diminished steam low (减少的水流), crop loss, and a general water shortage. Droughts are the second-most costly weather events after hurricanes.

The early effects of a drought maybe difficult to identify right away, so it may take weeks or months to determine that a drought has started. The end of a drought is hard to identify for the same reason. A drought may last for weeks, months, or even years. Sometimes, drought conditions can exist for ten years or more in a region. The longer a drought lasts, the greater the harmful effects it has on people.

Droughts affect people in several ways. Clean drinking water is significant for all life, and sources of water may narrow during a drought. Without the presence of water, people must bring in enough water from elsewhere to survive. Water is also needed for crops to grow. When not enough rainfalls to naturally water crops, they must be watered by irrigation (灌溉). Irrigation is possible only when there is enough water in nearby rivers, lakes, or streams, or from groundwater. During a drought, these water sources are diminished and may even dry up, preventing crops from being irrigated and causing them to die off.

One person studying these problems is Alexandra Cousteau, a National Geographic Emerging Explorer whose latest plan is Blue Legacy. She started Blue Legacy to raise awareness that we live on a water planet and must take care of it. Cousteau, the granddaughter of the well-known ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau, believes that water will be a key issue in this century. She predicts that water problems such as drought, storms, floods, and degraded water quality will create “water refugees”, people moving in search of water. Cousteau stresses that we must do all we can to protect Earth’s valuable freshwater resources.

1. What is the function of the first paragraph?

A．To introduce what a drought is.	B．To compare droughts with hurricanes.
C．To explain why a drought occurs.	D．To raise awareness of some disasters.

2. Among all disasters, what is special about droughts?

A．They cause the greatest harms.	B．They are hard to spot in no time.
C．They usually end for no reason.	D．They influence people’s living.

3. What does the third paragraph mainly tell us?

A．Crops cannot grow without water.

B．Irrigation is impossible during a drought.

C．There are many ways to prevent droughts.

D．Droughts influence living and agriculture.

4. Why is “water refugees” mentioned in the last paragraph?

A．To popularize Blue Legacy.

B．To tell we live on a water planet.

C．To persuade people to look for water.

D．To stress the importance of water resource.

3 . Ever since the 1960s, seismologist（地震学家）on multiple continents have detected a mysterious pulse that every 26 seconds. But in the last 60 years no one has been able to figure out what this sound actually is.

The “heartbeat of the Earth” was first recorded in 1962, by John Oliver, a researcher at the Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory, Columbia University. Then, in 1980, Gary Holcomb a geologist with the U. S. Geological Survey, also discovered the mysterious pulse. But for some reason, the two researchers' discoveries remained virtually unknown for over two decades, until a graduate student at the University of Colorado Boulder once again detected the "heartbeat" and decided to look into it.

Mike Ritzwoller, a seismologist at the University of Colorado, did a lot of work with his colleague, but they were never able to explain what it actually was.

One theory claims that it's caused by waves, while another states that it's due to volcanic activity. The wave theory dates back to 2011, when Garrett Euler, a graduate student at Washington University in St. Louis, tied the origin of the pulse to a part of the Gulf of Guinea called the Bight of Bonny. According to him, when waves hit the continental shelf, the pressure deforms the ocean floor, causing pulses that reflect the wave pattern. Euler's theory was believable, but not everyone was convinced by it. In 2013, Yingjie Xia, a researcher from the Institute of Geodesy and Geophysics in Wuhan, China, suggested that the source of the 26-second pulse was volcanic activity. His theory made sense as well. But neither of the two theories fully explain the pulse.

Why does the 26-second pulse only occur in the Bight of Bonny? Waves hit coastlines all over the world, and there are plenty of other regions with seismic activity, so what is so special about this place? Well, that's one question that no one has ever answered. And it's not just that it's a tough puzzle to solve, but also that seismologists don't really seem interested in it.

1. What can be inferred about the “heartbeat of the Earth” from the passage?

A．Researchers have found out exactly what it is.

B．It was first detected in 1962 by Gary Holcomb.

C．It can only be felt when you are in the Bight of Bonny.

D．It wasn't until the 2000s that it caught people's attention.

2. What is the last paragraph but one mainly about?

A．How these two theories came about.

B．An explanation of Euler's wave theory.

C．Two theories about what causes the pulse.

D．Why these two theories are not convincing enough.

3. What is seismologists’ attitude towards finding out why the pulse only happens in the Bight of Bonny?

A．Indifferent.

B．Curious.

C．Anxious.

D．Amused.

4. What would be a suitable title for this passage?

A．Earth's Heartbeat—A Mysterious Sound

B．Two Theories Related to Earth's Heartbeat

C．Bight of Bonny—Home to Earth’s Heartbeat

D．The Reason Why Earth's Heartbeat Happens

4 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. How did Alex get to know something about e-waste?

A．From the newspaper.

B．From the Internet.

C．On TV.

2. What is the aim of the charity group WIN?

A．To produce new electronic equipment.

B．To help people recycle and reuse e-waste.

C．To help people stay away from e-waste.

3. How many computers did the students in Alex’s town get?

A．About 300.

B．About 200.

C．About 150.

4. Who will get computers from the computer centers?

A．The poor students in Asia and Africa.

B．The poor students in Central America and Asia.

C．The poor students in Central America and Africa.

5 . The popularity of rock gardens, which originated in China and Japan, has increased dramatically since they were introduced to the West in the 17th century.

One aspect of the appeal of rock gardens is that they provide gardeners the opportunity to grow beautiful plants in growing conditions that are less than ideal. If the land is hilly, stony, or awkwardly arranged, for example, a gardener would be unable to raise many traditional garden plants, since they could not survive such conditions. In contrast, alpine (高山上的) plants not only survive but also grow well in these conditions because their native soils have characteristics similar to those of mountainous regions

In order to plant a rock garden, a gardener must start with the rocks, ensuring that they are arranged in a manner that is both beautiful and helpful to plant growth. If the ground is already rocky, the gardener need only rearrange the rocks into a growing area. In order to avoid uninspired placements that work against the beauty of the garden, the gardener should draw up plans of his or her rock garden before he or she begins the work. In addition, the rocks must be planted deeply into the soil— in some cases, half or more of a rock will be buried — so that they are stable and cannot be displayed easily, which would upset the plants.

Rocks native to a gardener’s region work best and are usually readily available and inexpensive. Limestone (石灰石) is a good choice because water and air are admitted into its pores. Some alpine plants even have roots strong enough to push through limestone’s porous surface and become firmly established in the rock. The gardener should look, too, for rocks that have interesting and pleasing shapes and colors, since it is the juxtaposition (并置) of the rocks and plants, not the beauty of the plants alone, that makes a rock garden succeed. In this respect, rock gardens differ from traditional gardens, which focus on plants and do not take the beauty of the medium in which flowers are planted into consideration.

Once the rocks have been selected and put in place, a gardener can plant the flowers.

1. What should a gardener do first to plant a rock garden?

A．Plant rocks	B．Work out a plan.
C．Raise garden plants.	D．Rearrange original rocks.

2. What does the underlined word “uninspired” mean?

A．Illogical.

B．Remarkable.

C．Dull.

D．Unique.

3. What is the main advantage of limestone?

A．It is holey.	B．It is sticky.
C．It is very solid	D．It is easy to get.

4. Different from traditional gardens, rock gardens have requirements for___________.

A．The size of gardens	B．The color of flowers
C．The number of plants	D．The appearance of rocks

6 . Coral reefs (珊瑚礁) are among the most productive ecosystems in the world. They’re also in serious danger——climate change and other threats are killing them off. But researchers have come up with an invention they think could help the reefs: 3D-printed corals.

At the heart of reef ecosystems lies a symbiosis (共生关系) between corals and algae (藻类). Corals use light and they’re photosynthesizing (光合作用). The algae inside corals’ tissues (组织) make use of the light to generate energy, and that energy is then transferred to the coral animal host. That animal host, in return, transfers certain by-products to the algae, so they have a symbiosis going on.

This bond between algae and corals is what makes reefs so incredibly productive.Because of this symbiosis, corals have evolved complex skeletal (骨骼的) and tissue structures for collecting sunlight which usually fades rapidly. Through the skeleton, light is pumped and guided into deeper, otherwise shaded areas.

Scientists copied some tricks that corals use. They imaged corals to analyze their skeletal and tissue makeup and then used a 3D bioprinter to build a complicated structure that mimics real corals. The printed corals were made of biomaterials like cellulose (纤维素) and had algae planted in them.

The researchers replicated (复制) coral structure so well that the algae grew very quickly—— up to 100 times more densely than they normally grow in the lab. The 3D-printed creation could be used as a medium to grow algae to produce bioenergy and also as a tool for studying the coral-algae symbiosis.

Of course, there are many other ways this technology can be further scaled and improved to create something like artificial corals in the future. So this is just the first step,where they created the animal host, but they are now continuing to further replicate this animal-algal symbiosis and developing model systems. Eventually, it would be nice that this can have direct applications in coral reef restoration.

1. What is the function of the algae inside corals’ tissues?

A．To perform photosynthesis.

B．To pump light into shaded areas.

C．To produce energy needed by their host.

D．To build complex skeletal structures.

2. What do algae get in the symbiotic relationship with corals?

A．Stronger tissues.	B．Certain by-products.
C．Biomaterials like cellulose.	D．An animal host.

3. Scientists use 3D-printed coral structure to         .

A．make a study of the coral-algae symbiosis

B．strengthen the bond between algae and corals

C．change ocean conditions for corals to survive

D．remove the harmful algae inside the tissues of corals

4. What is the best title of this passage?

A．Fantastic Coexistence of Corals and Algae

B．Corals Evolving Symbiosis to Avoid Extinction

C．Coral Reefs: Productive but Endangered Ecosystem

D．3D-Printed Technology Hopefully Saving Coral Reefs

7 . NEED A GOOD ADVENTURE

Adventures expand our world by allowing us to engage with ourselves and others in a new way. Ready for your adventure? Here’s some advice.

Start small.

Pick a manageable activity you can do soon — this weekend — close to home.     1     Taking gradual steps teaches your brain that experience is not as bad as you expected and you can handle it.

    2    

Research from Harvard University shows that people who interpreted their nervousness about activities such as karaoke singing and public speaking as excitement enjoyed the experiences more and performed better than those who tried to press down their anxiety. This changed their threat mindset into an opportunity mindset.

Use your imagination.

    3     Say you want to go on a hike but are worried you’ll become lost, hurt or too exhausted to get home. Try to picture this. Next, visualize the best-case scene: the beautiful view, the fun you’ll have, your sense of accomplishment afterward. This exercise helps put fear in perspective.

Write yourself a letter.

Think of it as an uplift talk. Start by addressing your fear. “I know you’re nervous. This is normal because you’re leaving your comfort zone.”     4     The point is to ensure your feelings and remind yourself that, even though you feel nervous, you can handle this.

Relax about the outcome.

If you could do this whole thing perfectly, it would not be the adventure you’re looking for. Remember: Whatever happens, it should make a good story. Imagining how fun it will be to tell your friends about your adventurous story later will help you stop complaining now.     5    

A．Picture the worst-case scene.

B．Arouse your anxiety.

C．This will break your inactivity and help you build up to bigger adventures.

D．Shift how you view anxiety.

E．And you’ll feel connected to others.

F．This can boost your mood and change your thinking by making you feel more stressed.

G．Then write about the skills you have and the past experiences that went well.

8 . I grew up in the Great Lakes State, and for many years now, during my annual summer, visit back to Michigan, I’m always happy about what I don’t see. I don’t see crowds of Californians rushing lovely lakeside towns like Petoskey or Glen Arbor. I don’t see hundreds of New Yorkers playing about Lake Michigan or coming down the steep white sands of Sleeping Bear Dunes.

No offense to the masses on both coasts, but I’ve always been glad the original charms of northwest Michigan felt like my secret-or at least a secret held by a smaller group of people, largely from the Midwest.

Lately, however, I’ve been thinking about the downside of being out of sight and out of mind.

Most people seldom think about Lakes Michigan, Huron, Superior, Erie, and Ontario. Many can’t even name all five. But they should care about them because, as Tim Folger writes in this month’s cover story, the Great Lakes are “arguably the continent’s most precious resource, unmeasurably more valuable than oil, gas, or coal.”

Together the lakes hold more than 20 percent of the surface freshwater on Earth and 84 percent of the surface freshwater in North America. Almost 40 million Americans and Canadians “drink from the lakes, fish on them, transport goods over them, farm their shores, and work in cities that wouldn’t exist” without them, Folger writes.

And yet we abuse them terribly: polluting them, introducing invasive species, allowing fertilizer runoff(径流) to create algal(藻类) blooms large enough that they can be seen from space. Climate change means the lakes don’t freeze as much as they used to, and severe storms have become more frequent.

So read Folger’s story. Appreciate the beauty of the landscape in the amazing photos by Keith Ladzinski. Become an advocate to protect our Great Lakes.

1. What can be inferred from paragraph 1?

A．The Great Lakes State is crowded.

B．Fewer visitors are favourable there in summer.

C．The writer hopes to play about Lake Michigan.

D．The writer likes the warm atmosphere.

2. What does Tim Folger think of the Great Lakes?

A．They are as important as oil.

B．They are infinitely superior to oil, gas or coal.

C．All Americans and Canadians depend on them to live.

D．They are the most important resource in the world.

3. Which of the following is the current situation of the Great Lakes?

A．The lakes hold 20 percent of the surface freshwater on Earth.

B．They don’t freeze at all because of climate changes.

C．Algal blooms are invisible from space.

D．People don’t treat them well.

4. What is the purpose of the passage?

A．To recommend Folger’s book.

B．To attract more visitors to the Great Lakes.

C．To call on people to save the Great Lakes.

D．To tell people how to save the continent.

9 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. How does the woman help other companies?

A．By lending money to them.

B．By offering nice designs to them.

C．By changing the materials they use.

2. How long has the man’s business established?

A．For 5 years.

B．For 20 years.

C．For 30 years.

3. What does the man’s company sell?

A．Formal clothing.

B．Bags.

C．Sports shoes

10 . T. O. Fuller State Park in Memphis, Tennessee, has been loved for generations and has always been a ground where community has come first. Back in 1938, it was the first park east of the Mississippi river to open for African American visitors. Over 80 years later, the park is continuing its forward-thinking tradition, this time, through a pioneering sustainability project.

A new walking and biking trail has been built through this historic park. Illegally dumped (被丢弃的) tires are not only unpleasant to see, but they’re a dangerous addition to the environment. Rubber, like plastic, is a material that won’t naturally decompose. In a place as hot as Tennessee, these dumped tires often begin to melt and release these harmful gasses into the air. Fortunately, the old tires were sent to Patriot Tire Recycling in Bristol, TN, the only facility in the area that can break down tires in an environmentally sound way. There, the collected tires were safely broken down into the crumble (碎屑) rubber that was eventually used to pave the new trail.

TN State Parks explained how the trail’s construction, which has been in development since 2019, was a joint effort. Officials from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, the Tennessee Department of Transportation, the City of Memphis, Shelby County, and Memphis City Beautiful were all involved in funding this recycling project.

These officials named their initiative the “Tires to Trails” project. Workers from these departments, alongside some 450 volunteers, came together to collect over 24, 000 tires that had been illegally dumped in the area around the park to be recycled.

“This is a perfect example of recycling in full circle, collecting dumped material, then converting it into positive use,” David, a leader of the project, said in a statement.

1. What kind of park is T.O. Fuller State Park?

A．It is a popular park with a good tradition.	B．It is the first park welcoming all visitors.
C．It is a park west of the Mississippi river.	D．It is a modern park without biking trails.

2. Why are dumped tires a dangerous addition to the environment?

A．They are ugly to see.	B．They release harmful gasses.
C．They are made up of plastic.	D．They could only be used to pave the new trail.

3. What does David mean in the last paragraph?

A．It is the park’s responsibility to recycle.

B．The park is built on dumped materials.

C．The park successfully recycled dumped tires.

D．It is possible to turn everything into useful things.

4. Which of the following is the best title of the text?

A．Areas of Reusing Tires

B．Methods of Rebuilding a Trail

C．Tires Transformed into a New Hiking Trail

D．Officials and People Working Together to Recycle Tires