1 . A newly developed disposable paper battery promises to make a big impact on single-use electronics. The battery that has been demonstrated by researchers is biodegradable (可生物降解的), made from sustainable materials, and cheap to put together. What’s more, it can be produced in a variety of shapes and sizes as needed.
To give an idea of the power, a two-cell battery was enough to power an LCD alarm clock. While it won’t be charging up your computer anytime soon, there’s lots of potential for low-powered sensors. “We present a printed paper battery developed to power single-use disposable electronics and to reduce their environmental impact to the lowest level,” write the researchers in their published paper.
The battery is based on a metal-air electrochemical cell. Made from sodium chloride salt-diffused (氯化钠盐扩散的) paper, it can measure as little as one square centimeter, and is based on printed inks. All that’s needed, then, is a small amount of water, as little as two drops. This dissolves the salts within the paper, and then activates the battery as they travel. The battery starts producing power around 20 seconds after water is added, according to the experiments carried out by the team.
Although the performance decreases over time as the paper dries out, it can be topped up to some extent with more water. The researchers say they want to improve the efficiency of the battery in the future, and get it working for longer.
“With a rising awareness of the e-waste problem and the emergence of single-use electronics for applications, there is a growing need for low environmental impact batteries,” write the researchers.
1. Which of the following statement about the paper battery is true?| A．It is made from single-use materials. | B．It is costly to put together. |
| C．It can be produced in diverse shapes. | D．It can be used to charge up your computer. |
| A．How the paper battery works. | B．What the paper battery consists of. |
| C．Why the paper battery is popular. | D．Where the paper battery can be applied. |
| A．Declined | B．Maintained | C．Increased | D．Changed |
| A．Indifferent | B．Pessimistic | C．Cautious | D．Promising |
2 . Mount Qingyuan Tourist Attraction is located in Quanzhou city, Fujian province, and is renowned for its quiet scenery and ancient cultural landscapes.
The mountain features granite rocks(花岗岩) with the summit at 618 meters. The annual average temperature is between 17℃ and 21.3℃, making it an ideal getaway at any time of the year.
According to historical records, the mountain was developed as early as the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC). After centuries of development, there are still nine statues from the Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1271-1368) dynasties, about 700 ruins of stone carvings and many stone structures dating back to the Yuan and Ming (1644-1911) dynasties.
The most representative highlight of the tourist attraction is the statue of Laozi, which is renowned for being the largest stone carving made during the Song Dynasty. Laozi is the author of the Tao Te Ching, the founder of philosophical Taoism. The statue is a Major Historical and Cultural Site protected at the National Level. It measures 8 meters in length, 6.85 meters in width, and 5.63 meters in height, occupying 55 square meters.
Scenic Spot Level: AAAAA
Ideal Sightseeing Season: all year
Recommended Duration For A Visit: Half a day
Opening Hours: 5:00-18:00
Ticket Price: 70 yuan
Free admission for children under 6 years or 1.2 meters; Quanzhou residents between 60 and 70 years old; visitors over 70 years old; the military; retired public servants; and the disabled with valid certificates (ID, passport, etc)
50 percent off ticket prices for visitors between 6 and 18 years old; full-time students; teachers; visitors between 60 and 70 years old with valid certificates
Address: Fengze district, Quanzhou, Fujian province
Bus Routes: 3, 10, 15, 28, 30, 45, 202, 209, 601, K1
Note: Some scenic spots might close due to landslides.
1. Which of the following statement about the statue of Laozi is true?| A．It is the most famous part of Mount Qingyuan Tourist Attraction. |
| B．It is known for being the largest stone carving in history. |
| C．It is a Historical and Cultural Site protected at the international Level. |
| D．It is 8 meters long and 5.63 meters wide. |
| A．210 yuan | B．175 yuan | C．140 yuan | D．105 yuan |
| A．a research report | B．a local newspaper | C．a nature magazine | D．a travel brochure |
3 . Bird-watching, the observation of live birds in their natural habitat, a popular pastime and scientific sport that developed almost entirely in the 20th century. In the 19th century almost all students of birds used guns and could identify an unfamiliar species only when its dead body was in their hands. Modern bird-watching was made possible largely by the development of equipment like binoculars (双筒望远镜), which enabled people to see and study wild birds, without harming them, better than ever before.
A great increase of interest in wild birds occurred from about the 1880s onward. Bird-watching first became popular in Great Britain, with the United States not far behind. Eventually, it became almost equally popular in Scandinavia, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, and the older countries of the British Commonwealth.
Journals and magazines, such as the Audubon Magazine (United States), British Birds (England), and La Terre et la vie (France), have also contributed to the growth of interest, as have the broadcasting media.
One of the great appeals of bird-watching is that it is an inexpensive activity. Basic equipment includes binoculars, a field book to aid identification, and a notebook for recording time and place of sightings; it is not necessary to travel. Many bird-watchers set up feeding stations to attract birds. The lists of bird observations collected by members of local bird-watching societies are very useful to scientists in determining dispersal (分布), habitat, and migration patterns of the various species.
From about 1930 there was a great increase in fieldwork, including photography, by amateur (业余的) bird-watchers. The wildfowl (野禽) counts of the International Wildfowl Research Bureau are run by a cooperative international effort throughout western Europe.
1. When did bird-watching become a popular pastime and scientific sport?| A．In the 18th century. | B．In the 19th century. |
| C．In the 20th century. | D．In the 21th century. |
| A．Students of birds preferred eating dead birds. |
| B．People used to kill birds on purpose for studying. |
| C．People used to study birds only when they were dead. |
| D．Students of birds would free the birds after studying them. |
| A．Journals and magazines. | B．The broadcasting media. |
| C．Inexpensive equipment. | D．Necessary travel. |
| A．How to protect wild birds. |
| B．Bird-watching, a popular sport. |
| C．The history of the observation of wild birds. |
| D．How to watch birds without harming them. |
Lucas, the African penguin,
The penguin looked lonely and different
“I’ve known Lucas for a long time, so being able to provide him with a
The boots
With his new boots, Lucas’s walking has improved, which makes his exploration in his rocky habitat
“We were pleasantly surprised at the change the boots bring,” said one animal keeper. “Seeing him move about now gives us hope
5 . Joy took Teresa’s hand in its mouth and led her to the living room. Her son, Dominic, 20, lay in a chair with his eyes closed and
Two years ago, when Dominic met Joy, he had no idea how
One week later, Dominic returned to the vet, only to be
Soon Joy had the chance to return the
Since then there has been a special
Her son puts it more
| A．waved | B．struggled | C．hoped | D．cried |
| A．late | B．expensive | C．quick | D．difficult |
| A．friendly | B．lovely | C．significant | D．clever |
| A．neatly-brushed | B．weak-looking | C．pretty | D．lovely |
| A．recognize | B．survive | C．change | D．expect |
| A．amazed | B．panicked | C．encouraged | D．lucky |
| A．teach | B．guide | C．know | D．greet |
| A．pushed | B．repay | C．nursed | D．sent |
| A．favor | B．value | C．greeting | D．praise |
| A．treats | B．adaptation | C．benefits | D．attention |
| A．direction | B．team | C．connection | D．function |
| A．protective | B．comfortable | C．amusing | D．polite |
| A．at a loss | B．careless | C．patient | D．at peace |
| A．happily | B．briefly | C．frequently | D．certainly |
| A．wanted | B．saved | C．encouraged | D．met |
6 . “Most people don’t know anything about soil,” says Dominique Arrouays, a soil scientist in France. “In the city, they never see the soil, unless there’s construction. It’s all pavement. They don’t realize that everything depends on soils.”
Soils grow the food that provides an estimated 98.8 percent of our daily calories, according to a paper in Environment International, and house more than 25 percent of the world’s biodiversity.
Healthy soil is marked by its porous (多孔) structure, produced by root growth as well as the activities of earthworms and insects.
According to a United Nations report, a third of the planet’s soil is highly degraded due to acidification, erosion (腐蚀), and other factors. Soils cannot be regenerated quickly.
Soil is the skin of the earth. We need to protect it. It’s in everybody’s interest to support farmers in rebuilding soil health and preventing erosion.
| A．But soils are in great trouble at present. |
| B．Soil erosion is a particularly serious problem worldwide. |
| C．This structure allows rainfall to sink in healthy soil deeply. |
| D．Soils also store massive amounts of both fresh water and carbon. |
| E．It may take up to 1,000 years to produce a couple centimeters of soil. |
| F．But when soil is left bare, wind and water can more easily displace it. |
| G．Soil is a living community to create a rich environment for food production. |
7 . On the west bank of the Grand Canal in Tongxiang, Jiaxing City, stands a 1,300-year-old ancient town of Wuzhen. Local people’s way of life centers around rich water resources. Traditional buildings in white and grey are well preserved after hundreds of years.
Over the years, Wuzhen has been transformed from a residential area to a popular tourist destination. Today it shows fascinating China via its gorgeous water town scenery, growing soft power and international influence.
Travel tips:
Food: Food in Wuzhen is a delight to enjoy. Wuzhen is home to abundant fish, so pickled Taihu Lake whitewater fish is a good start. The meat is delicate, smooth, and tender, but mind the fish bones.
Transportation: Wuzhen is 1.5-hour drive from Hangzhou and 2-hour drive from Shanghai. The Shanghai-Wuzhen Highway is well serviced and there are special bus lines available. It would be a good option to include a journey of a day or two to Wuzhen next time you visit Shanghai or Hangzhou.
Climate: Typical subtropical monsoon climate with great sunshine and rich rainfall.
Admission fee: 150 yuan ($21) for the West Scenic Zone and 110 yuan ($15.5) for the East Scenic Zone. You may only pay 190 yuan ($26.7) for both zones.
Opening hours: The West Scenic Zone opens from 9:00 a.m. to 22:00 p.m. The East Scenic Zone opens from 7:00 a.m. to 18:00 p.m. in summer and 7:00 a.m. to 17:30 p.m. in winter.
For more information, visit the official website.
1. What do we know about Wuzhen?| A．It remains unchanged for centuries. |
| B．Its life style is based on water resources. |
| C．It is closer to Shanghai than to Hangzhou. |
| D．Its traditional buildings are severely damaged. |
| A．$5.5. | B．$5.7. | C．$9.8. | D．$11.2. |
| A．Take an umbrella with you. | B．Go to Wuzhen by sea. |
| C．Visit the East Scenic Zone after 18:00. | D．Avoid eating Taihu Lake whitewater fish. |
8 . As climate change becomes severe summer after summer, millions of people are finding themselves covered in wildfire smoke, including those in North America just this past month. It is bad for our health. It is also really disturbing, but we don’t talk about that as much.
We often use the terms “atmosphere” or climate” to refer to the mood of a situation. We use metaphors (比喻) to describe affective states, such as “feeling under the weather” or “on cloud nine”. Such language suggests that we understand that human emotions are intimately related to the atmospheric phenomena. Yet rarely do we pay attention to the ways we feel climate change.
But wildfire smoke shows how affective climate change can be. For example, wildfire smoke is often referred to using emotional phrases such as “air of dread”. Through living with the smoke and the panic it generates, we can think more carefully about the ways we experience climate change, and crucially, why and how we need to respond to it.
We often think of climate change impacts as far away, separate from our bodies, because science typically uses global representations and statistical information. But wildfire smoke spreads and pollutes our bodies, and indeed, crosses many other boundaries; it drifts from rural areas into big cities; and it crosses state and national borders with ease. Of course, some borders are more permeable (渗透的), and some bodies more sensitive to the smoke.
Through its ability to pass through and become part of our very being, wildfire smoke is closer in nature to the air pollution we normally think of as one of the causes of climate change. Wildfire smoke is both an impact and a cause of climate change. It explains the nature of climate change impacts and the self-reinforcing (自我强化) feedback circles that can, and may, lead to the planet warming itself independent of human actions.
1. What can we learn about people’s reaction to climate change?| A．They are curious about it. |
| B．They take it very seriously. |
| C．They feel powerless about it. |
| D．They pay little attention to it. |
| A．Closely. | B．Naturally. |
| C．Certainly. | D．Unexpectedly. |
| A．It allows people to sense climate change. |
| B．It does great harm to people’s health. |
| C．It influences people’s mood. |
| D．It attracts scientists’ deep concerns worldwide. |
| A．Why Smoke from Wildfires Harms Us |
| B．How We Can Observe Climate Change |
| C．What Smoke from Wildfires Can Teach Us |
| D．What We Can Do to Avoid Smoke from Wildfires |
9 . Normally giving food to wild animals is not allowed, but the situation in Florida with over 1,000 manatees (海牛) dying from hunger leads officials to consider a plan to feed them. “We’ve never done such a thing with any wildlife, but the situation has become such an emergency that it has to be considered,” said Patrick Rose, the Executive Director of Save the Manatee Club. “This is a necessary but temporary measure. But I believe the impact is lasting.”
The emerging plan would involve feeding manatees at a Florida Power & Light plant in Cape Canaveral where manatees stay in cold winter months because of the warm water discharge there. It would be an experiment involving greens delivered in a controlled manner such as by a conveyor belt. “People will not be authorized to simply start throwing food. It’s illegal, and remains so.”
Manatees have long struggled to survive with humans, whose activities bring many harmful effects. Hundreds of the slow-moving animals are struck by boats every year. The accidents have led to no-wake manatee zones throughout Florida with violations (违反) punishable by significant fines. However, they are just responsible for a small part of the loss of manatees. The hunger threat has led to a record of 1,017 manatee deaths as of Nov. 19, 2021.
This has been caused mainly by runoff from farms, urban areas and waste that promotes algal blooms (藻华). Climate change worsening algal blooms is also a factor. And it’s not just manatees. People’s health can also be affected by the blooms along with the health of a range of sea creatures. Besides, there’s an economic loss for boat captains and sightseeing tour organizers.
“Actually, saving manatees is part of saving the ecosystem. If we take care, manatees will grow well. If we don’t, they won’t,” Rose said. “We’re in the most critical position.” Manatees were listed as endangered when the government started to protect them in 1967. Increased protections helped manatee numbers increase from around 1,000 to 8,000 by 2017 enough to have their position to be downgraded from “endangered” to “threatened”.
1. What can be learned about the plan to feed manatees?| A．It is a long-term strategy. |
| B．It is carried out across Florida. |
| C．It is the first of its kind. |
| D．It is aimed at saving the ecosystem. |
| A．Human activities. | B．Boat accidents. |
| C．No-wake manatee zones. | D．Significant fines. |
| A．To prove manatees’ value in the ecosystem. |
| B．To explain challenges faced by manatees. |
| C．To encourage people to feed manatees actively. |
| D．To show the necessity of humans’ protections. |
| A．Wide-ranging effects of manatees’ deaths. |
| B．A special feeding plan for Florida manatees. |
| C．Growing food shortage faced by manatees. |
| D．Ecological crises caused by human activities. |
10 . Early spring can be a tough time in the Midwest. It can
Every spring, migratory(迁徙的) birds camp out in a large pond near my house on the way to their summer
The next morning, I was shocked to see that all birds had
However, as the temperature dropped, the open water got smaller, and her movements slowed. I watched with
And then it happened: Two more ducks appeared,
This little duck wouldn’t have
| A．scare | B．move | C．surprise | D．beat |
| A．camp | B．vacations | C．courses | D．habitat |
| A．regardless of | B．in search of | C．in addition to | D．as for |
| A．dark | B．starry | C．peaceful | D．freezing |
| A．gathered | B．disappeared | C．panicked | D．fainted |
| A．energetically | B．patiently | C．calmly | D．cautiously |
| A．ice | B．house | C．snowstorm | D．water |
| A．tended | B．followed | C．watched | D．recorded |
| A．relief | B．doubt | C．anxiety | D．pleasure |
| A．rowing | B．landing | C．circling | D．feeding |
| A．increased | B．decreased | C．transformed | D．formed |
| A．spared | B．wasted | C．spent | D．lasted |
| A．still | B．open | C．clean | D．steady |
| A．motivate | B．remind | C．judge | D．refresh |
| A．presence | B．appreciation | C．attitude | D．request |
