1 . A sheep in Scotland, known as the “loneliest sheep”, was stuck at the bottom of a cliff for over two years. A group of farmers made it their _________ to rescue the sheep. The sheep was first _________ in 2021 by a kayaker (皮划艇运动员) and had been unable to move from that _________ since then. Local agencies were _________ but said the sheep was not in danger and could not be rescued. One of the farmers, Wilson, named the sheep Fiona and provided _________ about her on his social media account.

Wilson explained that it was too _________ to attempt a rescue earlier due to the dangerous location of the sheep. He expressed concerns about the safety of the rescuers and the difficulty of _________ the sheep by boat or with a dog. However, after careful _________, Wilson and four other men successfully rescued Fiona using heavy _________ and a winch (绞车). They __________ brought her to the slope of the cliff.

The Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was present to __________ the welfare of the sheep. They confirmed that Fiona was in good __________ but needed her wool to be sheared (剪).The ownership of the sheep was transferred to the __________ group of farmers.

Wilson __________ the risks involved in the rescue and expressed gratitude for the successful __________.

1.

A．obligation

B．ambition

C．purpose

D．mission

2.

A．discovered

B．witnessed

C．employed

D．followed

3.

A．base

B．form

C．spot

D．extent

4.

A．enthusiastic

B．sympathetic

C．optimistic

D．urgent

5.

A．accounts

B．identities

C．benefits

D．updates

6.

A．illegal

B．expensive

C．risky

D．complex

7.

A．reaching

B．finding

C．defending

D．caring

8.

A．identifying

B．planning

C．disguising

D．defining

9.

A．substance

B．material

C．equipment

D．machine

10.

A．frequently

B．physically

C．openly

D．safely

11.

A．provide

B．ensure

C．guide

D．promote

12.

A．condition

B．potential

C．mood

D．fashion

13.

A．charity

B．protection

C．rescue

D．cheering

14.

A．called up

B．brought in

C．broke down

D．reflected on

15.

A．outcome

B．scene

C．barrier

D．incident

2 . At first glance the sea turtles look as if they were dead because they hardly move. But if you look closely enough, they show a slow glimpse of life. These turtles are all washed up in Massachusetts every December, on the windy beaches of Cape Cod Bay.

Shaver, chief of the Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery at Padre Island National Seashore in Texas, said, “If we don’t help save this species, we will lose a piece that enriches us. There’s a whole variety of things that can harm them: oil spills, boat strikes, red tides, and so on.” That is why all the urgent care they’re getting back up North is more important than ever.

Saving could never happen unless hundreds of pilots were willing to volunteer their time, their planes, and their fuel to rush the rescued turtles to willing rehab facilities (康复中心) all around the country.

On this particular mission, Andrews, vice president of a unique nonprofit called Turtles Fly Too, with his dad as a co-pilot, will fly more than 2,000 miles, from Boston, to Atlanta, then on to Gulfport and finally Dallas, dropping off 44 sick sea turtles along the way, in hopes that one day they’ll be well enough to be released. It is worth mentioning that the pilots that are flying these missions are pulling $1 million out of their pocket to fly these missions every year.

With good care and the help of volunteers, these turtles were finally ready to go home again. According to Andrews, “90% of the turtles that we’ve moved to the rehab facilities have ended up back in the ocean.”

“We humans have not always been kind to the sea and those that live in it. But on this day, it was humans-not me, but the hundreds of veterinarians, biologists, volunteers, and pilots—who all came together to give these critically-endangered sea turtles a second chance that they rarely got, ”Andrews added.

1. What happens to the turtles on the beaches of Cape Cod Bay?

A．They are dying out.	B．They are in danger.
C．They adapt to living onshore.	D．They are caught by humans.

2. How did Shaver sound when speaking of the turtle rescue?

A．Thrilled.

B．Annoyed.

C．Concerned.

D．Moved.

3. What contributes most to the turtles’ returning home?

A．The pilots’ generous devotion.

B．The division’s urgent care.

C．The rehab facilities’ willingness to help.

D．The improvement of the turtles’ habitats.

4. What can we say about the rescuing result?

A．It is unsatisfactory.	B．It costs too much.
C．It is controversial.	D．It quite pays off.

3 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What advice is Tim going to give his teachers?

A．Asking students to send in their work electronically.

B．Requesting students to recycle school paper.

C．Making students use both sides of paper.

2. What action should the school cafeteria take in the future?

A．Use local produce.

B．Have meatless meals.

C．Stop selling bottled drinks.

3. What are the speakers mainly talking about?

A．A recycling plan.

B．A green project.

C．The school life.

4 . Plastic, which is now common, contains endocrine-disrupting chemicals, or EDCs (内分泌干扰物), that has been linked to increased risk of many chronic diseases. Parental exposure to EDCs, for example, has been shown to cause metabolic (新陈代谢的) disorders, including obesity and diabetes, in the later generations.

Led by Changcheng Zhou, a professor of biomedical sciences in the School of Medicine at the University of California, the researchers investigated the impact of fathers’ exposure to a phthalate called dicyclohexyl phthalate, or DCHP (邻苯二甲酸二环己酯), on the metabolic health of first generation (F1) and second generation (F2) in mice. Phthalates are chemicals used to make plastic more durable.

The researchers found that fathers’ DCHP exposure for four weeks led to high insulin (胰岛素) resistance and impaired insulin signaling in F1. The same effect, but weaker, was seen in F2 .

“We found fathers’ exposure to EDCs may have intergenerational and transgenerational detrimental effects on the metabolic health of their later generations, ”Zhou said. “To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first to demonstrate this.”

In the case of fathers’ exposure in the study, intergenerational effects are changes that occur due to direct exposure to a stressor, such as exposure to DCHP of fathers (F0 generation) and his F1 generation. Transgenerational effects are changes passed down to later generations that are not directly exposed to the stressor (for example, F2 generation).

“This suggests that fathers’ DCHP exposure can lead to sex-specific transgenerational effects on the metabolic health of their later generations,” Zhou said.

Zhou stressed that the impact of exposure to DCHP on human health is not well understood, even though DCHP is widely used in a variety of plastic products and has been detected in food, water, and indoor particulate matter.

“It’s best to minimize our use of plastic products,” Zhou said. “This can also help reduce plastic pollution, one of our most pressing environmental issues.”

1. Why are phthalates added to plastic?

A．To beautify it.	B．To make it long-lasting.
C．To reduce its cost.	D．To increase its weight.

2. What does the underlined word “detrimental” in paragraph 4 probably mean?

A．Negative.

B．External.

C．Distinct.

D．Adventurous.

3. What did Zhou advise people to do?

A．Bury plastic waste.	B．Watch out for the food they eat.
C．Use fewest plastic products.	D．Never produce plastic products.

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

A．Plastic contains endocrine disrupting chemicals

B．Plastic pollution is a pressing environmental issue

C．DCHP is widely used in a variety of plastic products

D．Chemicals in plastic may impact two generations’ health

5 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What was the main topic of the meeting?

A．Politics.

B．Green development.

C．The latest technology trends.

2. What does the meeting encourage?

A．Making a wider variety of foods.

B．Developing sustainable agriculture.

C．Driving cars less.

3. What does the man think is important in achieving the goal?

A．Global teamwork.

B．Energy exploration.

C．More job opportunities.

6 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Where did the man learn about the new planet?

A．From TV news.

B．From the website.

C．From the newspaper.

2. How did scientists find the new planet?

A．By researching into the star’s light.

B．By building a universe model.

C．By analyzing the star’s life.

8 . I wasn’t raised to be a fan of snails (蜗牛). I was always taught that if we see a snail on a plant, we should pick it off and_________on it. This brought us the kind of giggly (咯咯傻笑的) _________that only children experience. We loved it. However, my_________on snails has changed, as I’ve grown older. They bring me a different kind of happiness.

The first time I thought of snails as more than a_________was when I saw something that_________ me in my garden. A small snail, _________a hard shell, moved slowly toward one_________bud and explored it. The exploration lasted for quite a while and, _________enough, the bud turned into a full bloom. Watching the snail carefully touching the flower_________me of the lyric: “Snails see the beauty in every inch.” I realized that the snail is probably a best representation of__________and taking life slowly.

Then, I__________the snail in my palm. It was scared by the sudden move and immediately__________back into its shell. I thought it would__________inside for several minutes, but shortly after gutting used to the takeaway, the snail poked its head out again. It was not just hiding but__________.

Giving ourselves time to nourish (滋养) inside and out, and waiting for the right__________to reenter the exciting life, is extremely restorative and worthwhile.

1.

A．knock

B．stamp

C．lean

D．click

2.

A．relief

B．satisfaction

C．sympathy

D．scare

3.

A．view

B．focus

C．debate

D．article

4.

A．pet

B．toy

C．pest

D．mascot

5.

A．puzzles

B．interests

C．comforts

D．distracts

6.

A．dragging

B．using

C．lifting

D．pushing

7.

A．eye-catching

B．breathtaking

C．familiar-looking

D．half-blooming

8.

A．magically

B．secretly

C．swiftly

D．silently

9.

A．cured

B．reminded

C．warned

D．informed

10.

A．curiosity

B．excitement

C．calmness

D．eagerness

11.

A．placed

B．covered

C．stuck

D．wrapped

12.

A．stepped

B．drew

C．crawled

D．walked

13.

A．wander

B．sleep

C．hide

D．struggle

14.

A．competing

B．resisting

C．exploring

D．adjusting

15.

A．reason

B．position

C．moment

D．choice

9 . The most obvious dog fetish (迷恋) today is the longing for cuteness. Almost every day you can see adorable pictures of dogs and other animals that will make you smile and say, “How cute!”

It is a cultural phenomenon that the media scholar James Meese calls the “cute economy” which exists primarily on social media, is user-generated, and is heavily dominated by pictures of animals, especially pets. The goal is to generate a positive response, probably followed by a tap on the screen to “like” and “share”. We can click through image after image of cute animals doing cute things, feeling a little boost of good cheer.

The marketing researchers have identified some of the most common categories of cuteness in online pet content: animals doing silly things; animals of extreme size; animals with unusual looks; and animals behaving in ways that seem human-like. Dogs and other animals in the “cute economy” are often further humanized by being dressed in clothing and accessorized (装饰) with hats, jewellery, nail polish and fur dyed a rainbow of colors. Users who post successfully and with some strategies can make money by doing so. Thus, certain dogs have become cuteness celebrities, with millions of devoted followers and paid content from advertisers.

Unfortunately, the price of the “cute economy” comes at a serious cost. The cutest and most popular breeds tend to be those with the most significant risk of health and behavioral problems. Cuteness is often coupled with their discomfort. People are drawn to the cuteness of dogs with extremely foreshortened skulls and extremely short legs and awkwardly long bodies, such as the French bulldog and the corgi.

Actually, there are well-established health issues. We should treat the “cute economy” with caution, like resisting the commodification (商品化) of appearance by opting out of social media channels promoting the “cute economy”. We can also choose not to “like” or “share” images of dogs whose cuteness is linked with discomfort. Although we are biologically attracted to dogs that are super cute, we should be mindful in our “impulses”.

1. What is the key to the “cute economy” according to the text?

A．Taking photos of different animals.

B．Cute animals’ attractive appearance.

C．Pets’ owners’ liking adorable pictures.

D．Posting cute animals’ pictures on social media.

2. Which kind of cuteness is most likely to be the online pet content?

A．A normal-sized dog is eating bones.

B．A white cat is quietly lying next to its owner.

C．A monkey is attentively taking care of its baby.

D．A parrot dressed in a suit is singing and dancing.

3. What is the side effect of the “cute economy”?

A．It will change the animals’ nature.

B．It may make the animals not so cute.

C．It may cause health problems to the animals.

D．It will result in a decline in animal population.

4. What may be the best title for the text?

A．The Cute Economy and Its Price	B．Share Pictures or Not
C．Happiness from Pets	D．Marketing Strategy — Cuteness

10 . When peanuts are dropped into a glass of beer, they sink to the bottom before floating up and “dancing” in the glass. Scientists investigated this process in a study involving the alcoholic drink beer. The research helped them understand mineral extraction (提炼) or magma (岩浆) in the layer of Earth called the crust.

Brazilian researcher Luiz Pereira told the media that he first had the idea when passing through Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires to learn Spanish. It was common for barkeepers to take a few peanuts and drop them into beers. Because the peanuts are denser (密度大的) than the beer, they first sink to the bottom of the glass. Then each peanut becomes what is called a “nucleation site”. Hundreds of tiny bubbles (气泡) of CO₂ form on their surface. The bubbles act as floatation devices that carry the peanuts upward. The bubbles prefer to form on the peanuts rather than on the glass. When the bubbles reach the surface, they burst. The peanuts sink again before newly formed bubbles send the peanuts up again. Like a dance movement, the peanuts continue sinking and floating until the CO₂ runs out, or someone drinks the beer.

In the experiments, the team of researchers examined how peanuts acted in the “beer-gas-peanut system”. They found the larger the “contact angle” between the curve of an individual bubble and the surface of the peanut, the more likely it will grow. But it cannot grow too much—less than 1.3 millimeters across is best.

Pereira said he hoped that by deeply researching this simple system, we could understand a system that would be useful for industry or explaining natural processes. For example, the floatation process is similar to the one used to separate iron from ore. Air is added into a mixture in which a mineral, such as iron, will rise because bubbles attach themselves more easily to it, while other minerals sink to the bottom. The same process can also explain why volcano scientists find that the mineral magnetite rises to higher layers in Earth’s crust than expected.

1. When did Luiz Pereira first notice peanuts dancing in a glass of beer?

A．Early in his childhood.	B．During one of his experiments.
C．On his way to study abroad.	D．When he first threw peanuts into a glass of beer.

2. What causes the peanuts to float to the top of the beer?

A．Their special surface.	B．The bubbles on their surface.
C．Their reaction with the beer.	D．The bubbles existing at the bottom of the bottle.

3. What is mainly talked about the “beer-gas-peanut system” in the last paragraph?

A．Its feature.

B．Its principle.

C．Its process.

D．Its significance.

4. What can be the best title for the text?

A．Why Peanuts “Dance” When Dropped in Beer

B．Brazilian Researchers Found Peanuts Dropped in Beer

C．The Function of CO2 in Beer

D．The Principle in Mineral Extraction