1 . A woman in California has been regarded as a hero. She used her bare hands (赤手空拳)   to fight off a 65-pound mountain lion that was attacking (袭击) her five-year-old son. The animal   attacked the boy while he was playing in his family’s front yard, leaving him with injuries (伤害) to his head, neck and chest. The lion was carrying away her five-year-old son. It “dragged (拖) him about 45 yards” across the front yard. Luckily, the boy was in stable condition, recovering from the incident.

The boy’s mother heard the noises from inside the house and ran outside and “started fighting against the mountain lion with her bare hands and got him off her son,” said Foy, a spokesman for California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Her instinct as a mother played the most important role as she dragged her little boy from the mouth of the big cat. “The true hero of this story is his mom,“ Foy added. The mountain lion was later killed by a wildlife officer.

The parents immediately drove the boy to a hospital, where officers were toldabout the attack and sent a wildlife officer to the scene. Once at the house, the officer discovered amountain lion. “Because of its behavior and appearance, the officer believed it was likely the attacking lion and to protect publicsafety he killed it,” the wildlife department said. DNA tests later proved it was really the attacking lion. They said the attack probably happened because the animal was young and was practicing its hunting skills.

After the mountain lion was shot, another appeared there and it was dragged and moved to another place. That mountain lion, found to be part of a National Park Service study, didn’t join in the attack and had no known history of attacking humans, the department said.

1. Why was the woman regarded (认为) as a hero?

A．She killed a mountain lion bravely.

B．She saved her son from a lion’s attack.

C．She helped officers find the lost lion.

D．She protected her son from being injured.

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

A．Natural ability.

B．Creative idea

C．Enough confidence(信心).

D．Strong body.

3. Why did the lion attack the boy?

A．It felt too hungry.

B．It was angry with the boy.

C．It wanted to play with him.

D．It was practicing its survival (生存) skills.

4. What can we learn about the lion mentioned in the last paragraph?

A．It was killed.	B．It had attacked humans before.
C．It did not have known history of attacking humans.	D．It was injured for unknown reasons.

2 . If you are afraid of insects (昆虫), this might be difficult reading. A fossil (化石) found on a beach in England shows that the biggest insect that ever lived was the size of a small car.

The fossil is of a large millipede (千足虫). This monster could have had hundreds of legs. Its body is similar to the modern millipede. Although the name “millipede” means “one thousand legs” in Latin, few species (物种) actually have 1, 000 feet. The fossil hunters in England said what they found was “certainly the biggest insect that ever lived.” They said the millipede was around 2.7 meters long and weighed over 50 kg. This would have been a frightening sight.

Only two other fossils of this kind have been found before. However, this fossil is the largest and the oldest. The scientistsfound the fossil by chance (偶然). A lecturer at the University of Cambridge’s Department of Earth Sciences said he found a rock on the beach. Ithad recently fallen from a cliff (悬崖). He said, “It was a complete fluke (侥幸) of a discovery. It was an exciting finding.”

He explained that the fossil dates back (追溯到) over326 million years. This was 100 million years before the Age of Dinosaurs. The researchers believe that the millipede had a good food because it was so huge. They said, “While we can’t know for sure what they ate, there were plenty of nuts and seeds available... at the time.” They might also have eaten frogs and lizards, but not humans.

Their disappearance (消失) was possibly linked to global warming or due to being out-competed for food after the rise of reptiles. The fossil hasbeen taken to Cambridge for study. It was so big that it required four people to carry it. Cambridge’s Sedgwick Museum will exhibit the fossil in the New Year.

1. Where was the fossil discovered?

A．In a small car.

B．In the sea water.

C．On a cliff.

D．On the beach.

2. Why was the millipede a frightening sight?

A．It had 1,000 feet.	B．It lived for such a long time.
C．It was a very large insect.	D．It was different from the modern millipede.

3. What can we know from the fossil?

A．The millipede had good food.	B．The millipede liked eating nuts and seeds.
C．The millipede weighed less than 50kg.	D．The millipede was about 300 years old.

4. Where is the text most probably taken from?

A．A storybook.	B．A newspaper.
C．An accident(事故) report.	D．A science-fiction(科幻) novel(小说).

3 . 语法填空

Tonga has been battered (重创) by the worst natural disaster in history     1     (result) from a great volcano eruption     2     occurred in January 2022. Aid from China, which included cash     3     (assist) and emergency supplies, has arrived in tsunami-hit Tonga to help it out of crisis.

The Chinese side pays close attention to the situation in Tonga, and has taken urgent action to help Tonga in disaster relief to the     4     (good) of its ability. The Red Cross Society of China has provided 100, 000 US dollars for Tonga. The Chinese government, through the Chinese embassy in Tonga, has managed to put together in the shortest time some emergency supplies including drinking water and food and delivered     5     (they) to Tonga.

According to Chinese Foreign Ministry, the Chinese government     6     (continue) to assist the Tonga side with more emergency supplies such as drinking water, food, personal protective equipment,     7     disaster relief equipment, which will arrive as soon as the flight     8     (condition) permit.

During the crisis in     9     South Pacific island country, the Chinese government sent a message of sympathy and the government immediately lent a helping hand.     10     （move）by China’s act of kindness, the Tonga government and people felt very grateful.

4 . Levi Draheim, 11 years old, and 20 other young people have accused(控告)the us encouraging the climate change. For more than a century, human activities have been increasing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. That has caused a host of effects globally, from changes in weather to ice melting at the poles.

Levi lives in Satellite Beach,Fla. He once had to leave his home because of strong storms. He rains flooded the town’s streets. And he had trouble breathing during red tides, which can develop wt harmful ocean algae(海藻)grow out of control.

Climate change is making these events more frequent. Levi and his family also have another climate-change-related problem. Sea level is rising. “If climate change worsens, the island that I live or will be gone,” he explained.

The young people say the US government allowed the use of fossil fuels(矿物燃料). Burning those fuels gives off greenhouse gases, driving climate change. The youths want the government to solve the problem of pollution. So they took the government to court in 2015.

The case has had several hold-ups. In the beginning, the government asked the trial court(初审法庭) to refuse to accept the case. The court didn’t do that. Then they turned to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. That court said the case could go ahead, and the Supreme Court agreed. Both sides did work to get ready for trial. But the government again tried to get the case thrown out without a trial.

Finally, trial was set to start on October 29, 2018. But on October 19; the US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts told the trial court to hold up. The youths’ lawyers objected. On November 2, the Supreme Court finally agreed that the trial could go forward. Right now, it is hard to say when that what happen.

1. What does the underlined word “That” in Paragraph 1 refers to?

A．The increasing amount of greenhouse gases.

B．The time of human activities.

C．Harmful ocean algae.

D．Climate change.

2. Levi thinks that climate change        .

A．makes his family poorer

B．is less valued by common people.

C．will force his family to move again

D．is the direct cause of his sufferings in life.

3. According to Levi,the US government        .

A．should provide people with places to live during storms.

B．encourages human activities driving climate change.

C．should stop the growth of the harmful ocean algae.

D．fails to improve people’s living conditions.

5 . At least three people were possibly dead after a powerful earthquake. Others were injured from falling structures and homes, rural roads and_________highways. Experts said it could take some time to_________the full extent of the injuries and damage in the region.

Regina Rave,who is a geologist, was meeting with two_________at his home when the earthquake_________. Rave tried to stand up from his chair but couldn’t keep his balance and _________ in a kind of group hug with his colleagues, while plates and cups_________from his shelves to the ground. His children, ages 9 and 2, had their drinks_________over the edge of cups. Rave tried to calm everybody as the_________continued for more than a minute.

About 10,000 people live in and around his town, which is_________66 kilometers from the earthquake’s center. It’s a(n)__________thing that earthquakes are felt here, but it usually doesn’t last as long and is not as violent as this one. It was quite strong.

People were feeling__________. Rave was__________through the damage to his home,which included a broken sewer pipe(污水管)judging from the smell. Friends elsewhere had messaged him with__________of cracked roads, broken pipes and fallen debris(碎片), but hadn’t described major building collapses or__________. Communication seemed to have been__________with some cell towers likely to have fallen. People were starting to clean up their houses and the streets.

1.

A．damaged

B．surrounded

C．hidden

D．buried

2.

A．foresee

B．assess

C．recognize

D．assume

3.

A．roommates

B．schoolmates

C．colleagues

D．parents

4.

A．covered

B．rose

C．ceased

D．struck

5.

A．ended up

B．came out

C．carried on

D．resulted from

6.

A．squeezed

B．crashed

C．flashed

D．pulled

7.

A．turn

B．knock

C．flow

D．blow

8.

A．jumping

B．hanging

C．floating

D．shaking

9.

A．located

B．listed

C．considered

D．posed

10.

A．simple

B．common

C．popular

D．awkward

11.

A．puzzled

B．tired

C．frightened

D．inspired

12.

A．getting

B．breaking

C．cutting

D．sorting

13.

A．descriptions

B．instructions

C．explanations

D．introductions

14.

A．changes

B．injuries

C．beats

D．attacks

15.

A．handled

B．improved

C．affected

D．removed

6 . Dogs have a seemingly endless list of lovely behavior, and their curious head tilt(歪头) at human voices is no exception. While conducting a study on dogs’ ability to learn words, scientists stumbled upon a potential link between dogs’ memory and their head tilt.

In the study, researchers looked at the head tilt patterns of both“gifted”and “typical” dogs. Owners ordered their dogs to fetch a specific toy from another room. While most dogs struggled to memorize the name of just two toys, the seven “gifted” dogs-all of which were border collies(牧羊犬)could remember at least ten different toy names they＇d been taught by researchers.

The team found that dogs that were particularly good at toy recall tilted their heads more often when hearing a command than dogs which weren’t as skilled. When they compared the dogs’ responses to a command from their owners, gifted dogs tilted their heads 43 percent of the time, while typical dogs did so just 2 percent of the time. It’s possible, scientists concluded, that the dogs’ head tilt may be a sign of paying attention or even matching a name to a visual image in their heads.

Researchers also discovered that dogs usually tilted their heads in the same direction regardless of where the owner was standing. The so-called “right-tilters“ and “left-tilters” may be a matter of individual preference. “The next step is to ask more questions to know what the head tilt really means, “says the researcher Monique Udell. “Can we use head tilting to predict word-learning ability, or attention, or memory?””

The researchers agree that the study is still in the early stages. For now, dog owners can take comfort in knowing that their dogs’ head tilt maybe a lovely attempt to better understand them.

1. Which of the following best explains “stumbled upon“ underlined in paragraph 1?

A．Broke by accident.	B．Discovered unexpectedly.
C．Imagined without reason.	D．Investigated secretly.

2. What were the dogs asked to do in the study?

A．Find out the hidden toys.

B．Find the name of the toys.

C．Separate the different toys.

D．Go to get the toys mentioned.

3. What did the researchers find out about the gifted dogs hearing commands?

A．Their responses were faster.

B．They tilted their heads more often.

C．They tilted their heads to the left more often.

D．They were more easily influenced by the owners’ locations.

4. What’s the main idea of the text?

A．Dogs mainly communicate by tilting their heads.

B．Dogs have developed specific communication skills.

C．A new study offers a clue as to why dogs tilt their heads.

D．Border collies are the smartest species in the animal kingdom.

7 . After taking a few steps back to get a running start, Hadj Benhalima dashed toward the building, pushed against its wall with his foot, pushed himself upward and stretched out his arm.

At the peak of his leap, he fingered oft a light switch, more than 1o feet off the ground. The bright lights of a nearby barbershop went off instantly

Groups of young athletes practicing Parkour—the practice of passing obstacles in a man—made or natural environment through the use of running, vaulting (腾跃), jumping, climbing, rolling, and other movements in order to travel from one point to another in the quickest and most efficient way possible without the use of equipment—have been swinging around big French cities switching off wasteful shop signs at night, in an effort to fight light pollution and save energy.

These so—called Light Off operations have become extra popular in recent months, with France embarking on energy conservation efforts.

Paris, the City of Light, is a favorite target. While its landmark monuments now go dark earlier than usual, many store signs still stay lit all night.

“Everyone can contribute in their own way” to save energy, said Kevin Ha, the leader of the Paris—based Op he Spot Parkour group, with about 20 members. “We put our physical abilities to good use.”

Enforcing the orders in place of the authorities certainly enters a legal gray area. But the group said all the police officers they have met during their rounds have approved of their deeds—as long as it causes no damage.

1. Which of the following options is NOT Parkour’s feature?

A．It doesn’t need any tools to assist movement.

B．It can only be practiced in an enclosed environment.

C．It aims to travel from one point to another in the quickest way.

D．It is practiced through running, vaulting, jumping, climbing, etc.

2. Why do young athletes in Paris take part in Parkour?

A．To invite more youths to join them in competition.

B．To overcome physical boundaries and build fitness.

C．To reduce the consequences of energy consumption.

D．To tour around feeling the unique beauty of Paris at night.

3. What does Kevin Ha think of the Parkour participants?

A．They are honest.

B．They are creative.

C．They are selfish.

D．They are optimistic.

4. How did the police react to the Light Off operations of the young?

A．They gave their unspoken agreement.

B．They took these actions as illegal.

C．They believed there must be damage caused.

D．They held an indifferent attitude towards them.

8 . Chinese scientists say they have developed a robotic fish that can remove microplastic particles from water environments. Researchers working on the project say the robots could help to clean up plastic pollution in oceans around the world.

The robotic swimmers are about 1.3 centimeters long. They are made of a soft chemical Compound. The robots are designed to absorb microplastics while moving through the water. The project was launched by a team at Sichuan University in southwestern China. The researchers said the robots have already performed well in shallow water and they plan to carry out more tests in deeper waters. The scientists reported their findings in a new study in Nano Letters. The publication comes from the American Chemical Society, a nonprofit organization supported by the U.S. Congress. The robotic fish were built to target microplastic particles, which are smaller than five millimeters. Studies have confirmed that microplastic pollution has been discovered in many natural environments. The material comes from the breakdown of manufactured plastic products and industrial waste.

The team said the robots can be controlled by light. Turning “a near-infrared light laser” on and off causes the fish’s tail to move back and forth, the American Chemical Society said. The robotic fish can swim up to 2.76 body lengths per second. The researchers said this is faster than most similar soft robots. Wang Yuyan was a member of Sichuan University’s research team. She told Reuters news agency that the small, lightweight robot is currently being used to collect microplastics for research purposes. But Wang added that the team plans to expand that use so the robot fish can remove larger amounts of microplastic waste from deep ocean areas. The fish can take in different kinds of microplastics and even repair itself when damaged, the researchers said. And if a robot fish is accidentally eaten by a real fish, it could safely digest the material, the team added. Wang said similar robots could be developed to be placed inside the human body to remove unwanted materials or disease.

1. Why has a robotic fish been created?

A．To remove disease in people.	B．To clean up pollution in oceans.
C．To remove unwanted materials in body.	D．To remove microplastic particles in water.

2. What will happen to the robotic fish when eaten by a real fish?

A．It will be harmless.	B．It will repair itself.
C．It will take in microplastics.	D．It will collect microplastics.

3. What is paragraph 2 mainly about?

A．The purpose of the robotic fish.

B．The function of the robotic fish.

C．A further introduction of the robotic fish.

D．Potential application of the robotic fish.

4. What is Wang Yuyan’s attitude to the future use of the robotic fish?

A．Pessimistic.

B．Positive.

C．Unclear.

D．Suspicious.

9 . Long-march makers

One of the greatest mysteries in biology — how the monarch butterfly travels thousands of kilometers on its yearly migration — has just been solved.

Monarch butterflies use the sun to _________ their body clocks and make their journeys, according to US scientists.

No other butterfly in the world migrates like orange and black monarchs of North America. Each autumn, thousands travel up to 3,300 km to spend winter in the mountains of Mexico. There are so many that they almost _________ the sky. And you can hear their wings _________.

It usually takes the butterflies two _________ to reach Mexico. After five months of stay, they head back up north in the spring. But not one butterfly _________ the whole round trip. They lay eggs along the way and die.

Three _________ of butterflies will live and die during the spring journey alone. The fourth and final offspring (后代) of the year is born in early autumn and will reach the _________. But it hardly gets to rest before starting the _________ journey south to Mexico.

Past studies have shown the insects use the _________ as a compass to show them the way. But experts were unsure how the butterflies change their __________ as the sun moves in the sky.

This new study now shows the insects use a body “circadian” clock as part of their sun compass. In laboratory tests, monarch butterflies were __________ to fly in the right direction under normal daylight hours. But those flying in 24-hour light headed __________ towards the sun. They no longer had any __________ of time.

Steven Report, who led the research, said, “We have shown the __________ for the circadian clock for monarch butterfly migration. When the clock is interrupted, monarchs are __________ to fly towards Mexico.”

1.

A．make

B．set

C．switch

D．repair

2.

A．block out

B．escape from

C．run into

D．pass by

3.

A．beating

B．expanding

C．folding

D．spreading

4.

A．decades

B．months

C．days

D．hours

5.

A．decides

B．designs

C．finishes

D．starts

6.

A．quarters

B．species

C．groups

D．generations

7.

A．west

B．south

C．north

D．east

8.

A．long

B．comfortable

C．brief

D．smooth

9.

A．sun

B．clock

C．wing

D．tree

10.

A．distance

B．direction

C．rate

D．speed

11.

A．taught

B．commanded

C．found

D．forced

12.

A．accidentally

B．cautiously

C．separately

D．straight

13.

A．analysis

B．sense

C．attention

D．point

14.

A．data

B．desire

C．need

D．possibility

15.

A．unconscious

B．unwilling

C．unafraid

D．unable

10 . 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。

Preserving more habitats for China’s giant pandas is providing a giant payoff.    1    (save) the giant panda from dying out isn’t just good for the panda, but it’s also good for economy, a new analysis by an international team of scientists shows.

The results,    2    (publish) in the magazine Current Biology, stress the economic bene-fits that go hand in hand with environmental protection. Giant pandas are one of the    3    (rare) species around the world. But pandas fell on hard times in recent decades, thanks largely    4    human encroachment (侵入). In 1980 alone,many habitats    5    (destroy) artificially, and in 1990, their habitats covered only 12,340 square kilometers,     6    is a major threat to the pandas in large part because bamboo, their main food source, is so low in nutrients that they must wander a lot of land in order to find and eat enough of it.

Because of this, Chinese officials began making significant efforts to save the panda from     7    (extinct), establishing more reserves and increasing the reserve area three times. Panda numbers    8    (gradual) began to recover, hitting 1,596 in 2000 and 1,864 in 2010.

“    9    is clear that society’s investment (投资)    10    (start) to pay off so far in terms of panda population recovery,” the study authors wrote.