1 . The Grand Canal, a large waterway that first connected north and south China over 1400 years ago, is shorter than it once was, but it is still the longest man-made river in the world.

The original Canal system began around the year 605. China’s emperor realized that he needed a better way to feed his army. Specifically, he needed a way to move food quickly from China’s southern rice-growing region to the country’s north. Thus, he spent 6 years on construction of the first section of the Grand Canal, connecting existing canals, lakes and rivers. However, by 1127, parts had begun to worsen. In 1279, Kublai Khan began to repair and create a more direct north-south route to and from Beijing.

The Grand Canal was also an important cultural channel. Soldiers, merchants and artists transported ideas, regional foods and cultural practices from one part of China to another. It is said that Peking duck and the Pecking opera were both brought north via the canal. Even today, the country’s watery highway plays an important economic role in China. In addition, local governments, eager to increase tourism and real estate (房地产) development, are beautifying areas along the Canal.

This development comes at a price, though. In Yangzhou, the city government has torn down almost all of the older Canal-side buildings. Farther south in the cities of Zhenjiang, Wuxi and Hangzhou, the situation is similar. “Traditionally, we talk about eighteen main cities on the Grand Canal, and each had something unique and special about it.” explains Zhou Xihua, the director of the Grand Canal museum. “But now many of these cities are all the same: a thousand people with one face.”

In 2005 a group of citizens proposed that the historic Grand Canal be made a UNESCO world heritage site. The status would protect both the waterway and architecture around it. “Every generation wants the next generation to understand it, to look at its monuments.” said Zhu Bingren, an artist who cowrote this proposal. UNESCO status was officially granted in 2014. The hope now is that the grand Canal, one of the world’s great engineering accomplishments, will continue to link north and south China for centuries to come.

1. Why was the Grand Canal originally built?

A．To allow his army to move more quickly.

B．To transport food from the south to the north.

C．To enable people to visit remote parts of China.

D．To promote the cultural and traditional diversity.

2. What is not true about the Grand Canal?

A．It is the longest man-made river in the world.

B．It orginally complete construction in the year 611.

C．Its original north-south route is to and from Beijing.

D．It allowed Peking duck and the Peking opera to spread.

3. What is the underline sentence meaning in paragaph 4?

A．Developing the canal involves spending a lot of money.

B．Even after spending money, people dislike the development.

C．Developing it is more expensive than one can imagine.

D．There are some negative consequences to this development.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．The history of the Grand Canal.	B．The introduction of the Grand Canal.
C．The construction of the Grand Canal.	D．The proection of the Grand Canal.

2 . How Weather Affects Our Mood

The weather supplies many metaphors (隐喻) for our changeable minds. Moods can brighten and darken, futures can be under a cloud, and relationships can be stormy.    1    , but does it also influence our moods?

Of the many aspects of weather, sunshine is the most closely tied to mood. Although the link is weaker than many people imagine, sunlight has repeatedly been found to increase positive moods and reduce tiredness.    2    . Happy people tend to be more favorable toward one another, and people are more helpful when the sun is shining. One study even found that diners in Minnesota, US, tipped more generously on sunny days.

    3    . A study showed that university admissions officers stressed the academic qualifications of applicants more on cloudy days, and their non-academic qualities more on sunny ones.

    4    . The more it departs (偏离) from an ideal of around 20C, the more discomfort we feel. One study found that rates of helping others decreased as temperatures dropped below or rose above this value.

Indeed, the effects of weather on mood depend on our behavior and on how we think.     5    . A study by US psychology researcher Matthew Keller and his colleagues showed that beneficial effects of warm and sunny conditions on mood were only seen in people who had spent more than 30 minutes outdoors that day. Good weather even had negative effects on mood for people confined (限制) indoors, who perhaps looked enviously (嫉妒地) outside at the solar fun they were missing.

A．Similarly, grey weather may encourage serious and calm thinking

B．Aspects of weather beyond heat and sunshine have also been shown to affect mood

C．Weather provides a vivid language for describing our emotional atmosphere

D．Temperature can also affect our mind and behavior

E．But the effects of weather on mood are not entirely biological

F．Anything that changes our moods can affect our behavior

G．Basically, weather will only influence us if we are outdoors experiencing it

3 . Have you heard of shark fin (鲨鱼鳍) soup? This famous and expensive dish is especially popular in southern China. But do you realize that you are killing a whole shark each time you enjoy a bowl of shark fin soup?

When people catch sharks, they cut off their fins and throw them back into the sea where they die slowly and painfully. In fact, around 70 million sharks are caught and traded (交易) in this industry every year. The numbers of some kinds of sharks have declined by over 90 percent in the last 20 to 30 years.

Environmental protection groups around the world, such as WildAid and the WWF, are teaching the public about “finning”. They have even asked governments to develop laws to stop the sale of shark fins. So far, no scientific studies have shown shark fins are good for health, so why eat them? Help save the sharks!

1. Where is shark fin soup especially popular?

A．In eastern China.

B．In southern China.

C．In western China.

D．In northern China.

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

A．Fallen.

B．Added.

C．Doubled.

D．Increased.

3. According to the passage, why do people catch sharks?

A．They are afraid of sharks.

B．They catch sharks for fun.

C．They consider sharks lovely.

D．They cut off shark fins for money.

4. Which of the following is an environmental protection group?

A．WTO.

B．UNESCO.

C．WildAid.

D．WHO.

5. What’s the best title of the passage?

A．Respect Nature

B．Value the Planet

C．Save the Sharks

D．Keep Balance

4 . Long ago, Mexican wolves were common all through the Southwestern US and Northern Mexico. But as more human activities appeared in the areas, the wolves were hunted until they almost died out. The Mexican wolf is the rarest kind of gray wolf in North America. In the1970s, the US government began a program of raising Mexican wolves and releasing (放出) them back into nature. The program hoped to make the wolves spread back across the area they had once lived in for they are an important part of the balance of nature in the area.

The result of the latest count of Mexican wolves was reported by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). A total of 42 wolf packs were found in the wild, and half of them had baby wolves last spring. Around 90 baby wolves were born in all, and 58% of them survived. The count reported a total of 163 wolves, which is nearly 25% more than last year. Over the last 10 years, the number of wolves has been increasing by about 15% a year.

One change wildlife managers have made recently is placing little wolves into groups of wild wolves. The wolves that are returned to nature when they are young seem to be far more adaptable than wolves that go into the wild for the first time as adults. Besides, new wolves from outside the packs also improve the overall long-term health of the wolves as a group.

However, not everyone is excited about the news. For farmers, who must protect their cattle from wolves, the increase is likely to mean more lost animals on their farms. Last year, 184 farm animals were killed in all. That’s the largest number since 1998.

Now, the USFWS and others are studying the increase in cattle killings, and trying to figure out solutions to protecting both Mexican wolves and farm animals. Bryan Bird, speaking for a group called Defenders of Wildlife, says, “Ensuring that wolves and people can get along is a necessary part of long-term success.”

1. What is the aim of the US program?

A．To call on people to fight against hunting.

B．To reduce the natural areas for human activities.

C．To make sure the Mexican wolf population recovers.

D．To improve the living conditions of Mexican wolves.

2. What do the numbers reported by the USFWS show?

A．The US program has achieved great success.

B．The baby wolves have faced some difficulties.

C．The number of wolves has been out of control.

D．The Mexican wolves have trouble fitting into the wild.

3. What can be learned from paragraph 3?

A．Most young wolves are healthier than adult wolves.

B．Wildlife managers should take measures to manage wolves.

C．Releasing wolves in the wild causes some environmental problems.

D．Mixing human-raised baby wolves with wild wolves benefits them all.

4. What problem is mentioned in paragraph 4?

A．Wild Mexican wolves are short of food.

B．Farmers suffer losses due to increasing wolves.

C．Farmers fail to know how to drive away wild wolves.

D．Wild Mexican wolves are still in danger of dying out.

5 . Our two-year investigation into caged (关在笼中) tigers in America sent us through 32 US states—with some truly shocking experiences. But as the deadline neared, I still needed a powerful and hopeful image.

When we began our reporting in 2017—Sharon, writing; me taking photos; and our son, NickRuggia, filming—more tigers likely lived in cages in the US than remained in the wild. The number ranged from 5,000 to 10,000, but without strict government oversight, no one knew for sure.

Roadside zoos that allowed tourists to take pictures of young tigers were the main cause of what’s been called a US tiger crisis (危机). Caged cats often ended up in the illegal wildlife trade. Young tigers, parted from their mothers at birth, were fed poorly and touched by hundreds of people. When they grew too big and dangerous to pet at around 12 weeks, young tigers were put on show, or simply disappeared.

While we documented the unpleasant part of this industry, we also wanted to show the good life these impressive animals could have. With two weeks left before my deadline, I headed to the Wild Animal Sanctuary near Denver, where well-cared cats walked freely in their habitat.

There I met Clay, Daniel, and Enzo, three of 39 tigers rescued from an animal park in Oklahoma. These nearly grown cats raced beside our car, which I’d seen only in the wild. It was a hot July day and soon two of the cats jumped into a pool to cool off. The third rested beside them on the ground. I crossed the road to take a picture of them. Then quietly, I came up close, trying not to disturb (打扰) them. I had the shot.

1. Why did the author start her reporting?

A．To dig out the dark truth of caged tigers.	B．To explore the amazing land in the country.
C．To tell people that baby tigers are harmless.	D．To share the happy moment during the trip.

2. What is the main cause of the US tiger crisis according to the text?

A．Forest fires.

B．Climate change.

C．Roadside zoos.

D．Water pollution.

3. What can we learn about these young tigers from paragraph 3?

A．They prefer to stay indoors.	B．They are badly treated.
C．They get used to the changes.	D．They are traded legally.

4. What is the author’s purpose in mentioning the Wild Animal Sanctuary?

A．To praise her family for their effort.	B．To explain what the animals suffered.
C．To introduce a special kind of tigers.	D．To show some tigers lead an easy life.

6 . My photographs are the items I would definitely take or guard in case of an emergency. But what else? This was the question I asked myself as a ________ came toward us.

Unlike some friends and________, we decided to stay in our home. We didn’t have to choose what we would save by ________ it into the car, but we still had to decide what required protection by storing it in our walk-in closet. Surprisingly, few items made the cut - an obvious ________ that we had surrounded ourselves with beautiful yet unessential items. We needed ________ for the truly important things: ourselves.

Because when you hear the roar of the winds, or when something ________ hard against your windows, you don’t think of photos.You don’t worry about your big screen TV, or those paintings you’ve covered with towels to protect them, or that ________ car that you still haven’t finished paying for.

As ________ goes on outside, this is what you think: My children, are they OK? Are their impact-resistant(耐冲击的) windows working ________? Are their roofs keeping out the damage? My grandchildren, are they crying out in fear? Are they ________ as their own grandparents are? My relatives — yes, even those I try to avoid — have they ________ the worst of it? My friends, will they be forced to move somewhere else permanently? You don’t think about what you own but about what you love; what money can’t buy back.

Months and years after the hurricane, I often told people that there are two parts to ________ this kind of catastrophe: the horror of the hurricane itself and then the rebuilding that follows. The ________ together of a life, however, will take months, perhaps years.

But we will do it, ________ and as a community. Of that I have no doubt. In fact, I’ll make one more prediction. Piece by piece, item by item, we will once again collect the material possessions that decorate a home. I hate to admit this, but lessons learned ________ fear aren’t always long-lasting.

1.

A．flood

B．drought

C．wildfire

D．hurricane

2.

A．hosts

B．partners

C．relatives

D．architects

3.

A．applying

B．packing

C．exchanging

D．delivering

4.

A．sign

B．gap

C．clue

D．summary

5.

A．kit

B．gym

C．space

D．greenhouse

6.

A．rests

B．erupts

C．carves

D．cracks

7.

A．cheap

B．expensive

C．graceful

D．economic

8.

A．destruction

B．appreciation

C．challenge

D．determination

9.

A．as usual

B．as follows

C．as scheduled

D．as promised

10.

A．annoyed

B．amazed

C．confused

D．frightened

11.

A．escaped

B．protested

C．identified

D．processed

12.

A．causing

B．preventing

C．surviving

D．suffering

13.

A．cutting out

B．putting back

C．giving up

D．working out

14.

A．devotedly

B．creatively

C．individually

D．dependently

15.

A．in favor of

B．in times of

C．in need of

D．in search of

7 . Flood (洪水) Safety Guidelines (指南)

Flood (洪水) is one of the most dangerous natural disasters. It may come suddenly and sweep away (冲走) everything. It is important to learn some safety guidelines and get prepared for a flood, especially for those living near a river.     1    .

Things to do before a flood 

●     2    
Move to a safe place immediately if there is an order. Prepare enough food and clean water.
Remember to prepare a first aid kit (急救箱). 
    3    
Try to move to a place high enough to keep clear of floodwater. Hold to a tree or a woodblock if you are in water. Keep away from electricity.
Things not to do during a flood
     4    
Do not take too many personal things with you.

Although flood is dangerous,      5     .

A．never give up hope

B．Things to do during a flood

C．Here are some tips on flood safety

D．Do not drink floodwater because it is not clean

E．Listen to the weather warnings (警告) firstly

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。

July 2023 was the world’s warmest month on record, with heat waves spreading across North America, Asia and Europe. How to cool the planet     1    (trouble) scientists in the last decades. They are now turning     2     sun-blocking technology, which refers to reflecting sunlight back into space to keep down the temperature of the     3    (planet) climate.

According to Euro news, a European television news network, one idea     4    (involve) pumping sun-blocking particles (粒子) into the upper atmosphere. The particles will then stay in the air and redirect sunshine back upwards. It is like     5    (apply) sunscreen on the outside of Earth. Another very     6    (promise) technique is called “cloud brightening”. This method includes sending sea salt particles into clouds above the sea, making     7    (they) whiter and thus reflect more sunlight back into space.

However, following the report,     8     open letter by more than 60 scientists called for caution and more research first. Kristen Rasmussen, a climate scientist at Colorado State University, US, has been studying     9     these sun-blocking methods will affect rainfall patterns. She said that apart from rainfall, ecosystems and even human     10    (community) will also be affected. “We need to be very cautious on this,” Rasmussen told Scientific American.

9 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What is the conversation mainly about?

A．Fighting fires.

B．Detecting fires.

C．Using fires.

2. How many fires did California have in 2020?

A．Around 50.

B．About 400.

C．Over 8600.

3. What size of fire can the new satellites discover?

A．Size of a car.

B．Size of a plane.

C．Size of a sports field.

4. What is more important to the woman?

A．Saving animals.

B．Saving the trees.

C．Saving humans.

10 . Animals were the real pioneers of space flight. Let us learn about some animals that have been to space.

A. Fruit flies

On February 20, 1947, the United States sent some fruit flies into space to study the impact that cosmic radiation (宇宙辐射) might potentially have on astronauts in the future. They chose flies because they are genetically similar to humans.

When they returned to Earth, the scientists found the flies alive, with no evidence of the effects of radiation.

B. Mice

Mice have long been used to find out more about how space travel will affect the human body. In fact, NASA has recently published a study of mice housed at the International Space Station. It shows that mice quickly adapt to microgravity (微重力) conditions.

The very first mouse went into space in 1950, reaching an altitude of 137km. However, unlike the fruit flies, the mouse died when the rocket broke into parts due to a parachute (降落伞) failure.

C. Dogs

Laika, a Russian homeless dog, went to space on November 3, 1957. She was picked up on the streets and was thought suitable because she had a gentle temperament (性情) and behaved well. The scientists also believed a homeless dog would be better at dealing with difficult conditions like microgravity than a pet dog.

Laika is famous for being the first animal to orbit (环绕……运行) the Earth. However, she never returned.

D. Spiders

In 1973, two garden spiders called Anita and Arabella were used in an experiment to see if they could still build webs in space.

Both spiders managed to build webs, even though the webs were slightly finer than on Earth. The study showed a great deal about the effects of microgravity on motor response (运动反应).

1. What can we learn about the mouse astronaut?

A．It failed to come back alive.

B．It couldn’t survive in microgravity conditions.

C．Its genes were similar to humans’.

D．It was the first animal to be sent to space.

2. Laika was chosen by the scientists for all the following reasons EXCEPT ________ .

A．her good temperament	B．her identity as a pet dog
C．her ability to deal with microgravity	D．her good behavior

3. What’s the purpose of sending the two spiders to space?

A．To compare the quality of webs they made on Earth and in space.

B．To study the impact of cosmic radiation on their survival.

C．To see how fast they could build webs in space.

D．To see whether they could build webs in space.