1 . 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。

The giant panda is unique to China.     1     (cover) the areas of Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu Provinces, Giant Panda National Park protects the pandas’ natural living space. This giant national park     2     (include) sixty seven panda reserves (保护区), which are home     3     about 1,340 wild giant pandas as well as many other endangered animals, such as Sichuan golden monkeys and snow leopards.

Among the panda reserves in the national park. we     4     (high) recommend Wolong Nature Reserve and Ya’an Bifengxia Giant Panda Protection and Research Centre, because of     5     (they) large numbers of pandas, beautiful natural environment,     6     being easy to reach from Chengdu. Right now, there are more than 100 pandas in the Wolong base and more than 60 at Bifengxia. Wolong Nature Reserve is the only place     7     you can see pandas at night.

Giant panda volunteer programs in the panda bases give you     8     unique experience with pandas and you will have a chance     9     (make) special cakes for them, etc. Contact us for details about these panda programs.

Giant Panda National Park is     10     (suit) for animal lovers, especially panda lovers, You can visit it all year round. Wolong is about a 2-hour drive from Chengdu; Bifengxia is about a 3-hour drive from Chengdu.

2 . There’s a reason why dogs are called man’s best friend. Dogs and cats make wonderful companions and provide many emotional and physical benefits.

The most obvious benefits of pet ownership are love and companionship. We feel especially secure with dogs and cats because of the unconditional love they provide.     1     Taking care of a dog or a cat can provide a sense of purpose and a feeling of being accepted.

    2     When you feel securely attached to this living being, there are biological brain effects that reduce stress response, so it may affect your breathing rate or blood pressure or anxiety level.

It’s not always easy caring for pets, however. Sometimes having them in the home poses safety threats for older adults. If you have problems with walking and stability and your pet can get under your feet or jump up and knock you over, then falls and broken bones are a real danger.     3     Animals carry all kinds of bacteria that can be transferred to humans. Dogs and cats can also cause allergic (过敏的) reactions in some pet owners.

Before getting a pet, consider if you’re physically and mentally able to care for it.     4     Do you have the energy and strength to feed it, play with it, and in the case of dogs, take it for daily walks? Do you have the financial means to pay for pet food and visits to the veterinarian (兽医)?

If you feel you have the mental, physical, and financial means to care for a pet, take the pet’s size into consideration — not too big and not too small. And consider the animal’s personality.     5    

A．Avoid dogs with a lot of separation anxiety.

B．Whatever you do or say, your pet always loves you.

C．Do your parents help look after your pet?

D．There are also health risks associated with pet ownership.

E．The emotional benefits can translate into physical ones as well.

F．They’re cute, but pets aren’t always appropriate for older adults.

G．Do you have the memory skills to remember to feed the animal?

3 . Scientists say they have found detailed evidence of ancient rivers on Mars. The discovery supported existing evidence that Mars once had water. The researchers said their findings suggested rivers may have flowed on the surface of Mars for hundreds of thousands of years.

These images were captured by a camera on NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The camera is able to take detailed pictures of the surface while orbiting the planet from about 400 kilometers away. A team of scientists studied the images, which showed a valley network on Mars.

The team was led by Francesco Salese, a geologist at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. Salese said the scientists studied sedimentary (沉淀物) rocks from a 200 meters high rocky cliff. Sedimentary rocks form when sedimented (使沉积) and transported by water or wind.

“These are sedimentary rocks and were formed by rivers that were likely active for over 100,000 years,” Salese said, adding even without the ability to examine the cliff area on Mars, the pictures show strong similarities to sedimentary rocks found on the earth.

William McMahon is another geologist who was part of the investigation team. He said sedimentary rocks have long been studied on the earth to learn what conditions were like on our planet millions or even billions of years ago. Another leader of the team was Joel Davis, a researcher with Britain’s Natural History Museum. He said scientists had never before been able to examine such a rock formation with such great detail. They created 3D images of the area to get a more detailed understanding of it, which suggested some ancient Martian rivers were several meters deep.

1. What is the text mainly about?

A．Scientists are able to study rock formation on Mars.

B．Scientists found evidence that there was water on Mars.

C．Mars sedimentary has many similarities to that on the earth.

D．A camera on NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter took pictures of the planet.

2. How did researchers make the findings?

A．By comparing data.

B．By analyzing images.

C．By studying rivers on the earth.

D．By observing Mars through a telescope.

3. What was Joel Davis’ attitude towards the discovery?

A．Excited.

B．Unsatisfied.

C．Unexpected.

D．Disappointed.

4. Where is the text most likely from?

A．A novel.

B．A notebook.

C．A travel guide.

D．A newspaper.

4 . 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。

Shichahai is a famous scenic area in the northwest part of Beijing,     1     (surround) places of historic interest and scenic beauty, and remnants(残留) of old-style local residences hutong and courtyard.

Shichahai is always     2     good place for local residents’ recreational life, and in the past 200 years, many government officers and celebrities     3     (choose) to build mansions and temples in it. Thus, the     4     (attract) of Shichahai lies not only in its natural beauty, but also in the historical value of its architecture. The most famous ones among these historical buildings are Prince Gong’s Mansion (Gong Wang Fu), Price Chun’s Mansion (Chun WangFu),     5     the Former Residence of Mei Lanfang, a well known Beijing Opera master.

One of the     6     (great) point s of interest in Shichahai today is its residences hutong and courtyard. Visiting hutongs by pedicab(三轮车) has become a popular activity for     7     (visitor) from China and abroad. The most famous is Jin Si Tao, which     8     (actual) includes 18 hutongs and keeps the original layout.

Some snack streets also lie in Shichahai, and people can find two old brands here. One is Lao Rou Ji, a restaurant selling roast meat,     9     has a history of over 150 years. The other is Bao Du Zhang that has sold     10     (cook) tripe of sheep(羊肚) for four generations.

5 . Romero is an 84-year-old man. He owes his _______ to his pet dog, Palomo, who took _______ to him after he got lost in the desert for a week.

On November 27, Romero left his home for a short trip, but he didn’t come back _______. His family wasn’t _______ at first as he used to visit nearby villages in the area and would be back a few days later. However, after four days, the man’s niece, Ramona, panicked and _______ it to the local authorities.

The police with trained dogs were brought in to _______ Romero. They searched the area around, but a week after his _______, Romero was nowhere to be found. That’s when the old man’s faithful dog, Palomo, was brought in as the last _______.

According to one member of the search team, the brown dog _______ them through hills and valleys and finally to the place in the desert where Romero had been ________. His niece told the authorities that Romero sometimes had poor memory and that ________ his getting lost on his trip.

The ________ weak man was rushed to the hospital where he spent two days getting back on his feet. One officer posted online that “Palomo ________ by the hospital door day and night waiting for the ________ of its beloved Romero. The unconditional love of his pet allowed Romero to be ________ with his family”. A photo of Palomo staying by Romero’s side after he carne back home was along with these words.

1.

A．promotion

B．poverty

C．survival

D．identity

2.

A．rescuers

B．strangers

C．fighters

D．hunters

3.

A．by turn

B．at times

C．in advance

D．as usual

4.

A．inspired

B．concerned

C．satisfied

D．confused

5.

A．reported

B．exposed

C．transported

D．introduced

6.

A．employ

B．assess

C．convince

D．seek

7.

A．disappearance

B．competition

C．graduation

D．consumption

8.

A．conclusion

B．suggestion

C．attempt

D．defence

9.

A．spotted

B．dragged

C．pointed

D．guided

10.

A．defeated

B．trapped

C．cheated

D．permitted

11.

A．accounted for

B．made out

C．cared about

D．resulted from

12.

A．strangely

B．equally

C．suddenly

D．obviously

13.

A．hesitated

B．remained

C．shouted

D．whispered

14.

A．responsibility

B．cooperation

C．recovery

D．arrival

15.

A．compared

B．associated

C．reunited

D．pleased

6 . Tall, long-necked giraffes are famous for their spots which are believed to help the animals hide from their enemies. Just like no two humans have the same fingerprints, each giraffe has its own special pattern of spots. However, a Tennessee zoo made headlines recently after it welcomed one of the world’s most uncommon giraffes.

On July 31, a baby giraffe was born at Brights Zoo with light brown fur which is a reticulated (网状的) giraffe, one of the four different kinds of giraffes. Unlike most giraffes, she was born without spots, a unique feature of the reticulated giraffe. At six feet tall, this baby giraffe is growing well under her mother’s care. She shows typical baby giraffe behavior, such as eating rocks.

Experts said the young giraffe was the only single-colored reticulated giraffe living anywhere on the planet. The last time this happened was 1972 in Japan. A giraffe’s pattern of spots is created when the animal is still growing inside its mother. That means that this giraffe will never have spots.

“The new giraffe might not have survived if she had been born in the wild. Being single-colored, she may not be able to hide quite as well,” said Mr. David Bright, who runs the zoo, “It will easily be a key target for poachers (偷猎者) because she’s so unusual.”

Brights Zoo stressed that reticulated giraffes had already become imperiled. In 2018, they were officially listed as “threatened”. Thirty-five years ago, there were 36,000 reticulated giraffes. Now, the number has been cut by more than 50%. Only about 16,000 reticulated giraffes remain.

This brown giraffe’s birth is not only a rare and fascinating event, but also an opportunity to raise awareness about the challenges faced by giraffes in the wild. By supporting efforts like this, we can contribute to the conservation of these large creatures and ensure their survival for generations to come.

1. What do we know about the spots of giraffes?

A．They help protect giraffes.	B．They are the same pattern.
C．They look like giraffes’ footprints.	D．They appear on giraffes occasionally.

2. What makes the young giraffe born at Brights Zoo special?

A．Its extremely large size.	B．Its light brown fur.
C．Its unusual eating habit.	D．Its absence of spots.

3. What does the underlined word “imperiled” mean in paragraph 5?

A．Recognized.

B．Endangered.

C．Doubled.

D．Balanced.

4. Which word can best describe the birth of the young giraffe?

A．Awkward.

B．Worrying.

C．Meaningful.

D．Foreseeable.

7 . 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。

Fayuansi, or Fayuan Temple is     1     key Buddhist temple in the south of Beijing. It dates back more than a thousand years. Its     2     (surround) neighborhood is one of the few old hutong communities in the city,     3     has a rich historical and cultural value.

Many celebrities (名人) once lived or participated in events in this area, adding     4    its rich cultural     5    (significant). Chairman Mao Zedong once led an anti-warlord movement here in 1920 when he was young. The famous Indian poet Tagore and his Chinese friend Xu Zhimo     6    (visit) Fayuan Temple together in 1924.

However, the area’s out-of-date infrastructure (设施) has     7     (gradual) forced this community to make a change. So a new project aiming     8     (look) for solutions to renovating (修复) the Fayuansi area through sustainable development had been widely expected.

Fortunately, a well-rounded plan for the renovation of the Fayuansi area     9     (make) earlier this year. According to the plan, most of the historic architecture will be preserved, but the work will balance the local residents’ need for improved living standards, while attempting to maintain the     10    (origin) architecture.

8 . While vertical (垂直的) farming of plants in limited space has been around for some time, new research looking into the “vertical farming of seafood” is being developed by Broderick House.

As part of his PhD project at the University of Cambridge, Broderick is looking at farming bivalves (双壳贝) within city boundaries. “In terms of sustainable (可持续的) food options, and from a food security standpoint, being able to expand bivalve farming from the coast into cities means you have a safe environment to produce a highly nutritious and micronutrient rich source of food,” says Broderick.

The biggest challenge, of course, is water consumption. The artificial aquaculture (水产业) environment cannot fully compare to farming in the ocean, but by using advanced flowing aquaculture systems, water use can be reduced, as only 10% of the water in the tank must be changed every day. “If you’re comparing it to traditional agricultural livestock — cows, pigs, chickens, which are farmed in fields, it uses much less water, and provides competing levels of protein,” Broderick explains.

While sustainability can, upon first look, be accomplished by building facilities to farm bivalves inland, there is also a possibility to repurpose existing buildings which would help to decrease carbon emissions from transportation as well. Broderick points out the biggest carbon footprint in aquaculture is the feed for the livestock, and he is working together with the Algal Innovation Centre at University of Cambridge, to develop more sustainable feed options.

To help translate his research into the business world, Broderick has been supported by the EnterpriseTECH and EnterpriseTECH STAR programmes at the CJBS Entrepreneurship Centre. “CJBS has been a fantastic resource and community. The business ecosystem here has provided important tools in a constructive and informed way to help ensure my PhD research has a positive role in shaping the future of global food security,” Broderick says.

1. According to the text, what is one of the biggest challenges related to urban aquaculture?

A．Lack of suitable buildings.	B．High water consumption.
C．Overpopulation in cities.	D．Heavy reliance on traditions.

2. What does the underlined word “accomplished” mean in Paragraph 4?

A．Realized.

B．Opposed.

C．Declined.

D．Revised.

3. What advantage is associated with repurposing existing buildings for bivalve farming?

A．Reduction in carbon emissions.	B．Greater dependence on transportation.
C．Increased heavy metal purification.	D．Decreased reliance on flowing systems.

4. What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A．This study lacks financial support.	B．The outlook of the research looks promising.
C．The research is still up against many barriers.	D．The research has guaranteed the food security globally.

9 . Music festivals are highly popular events during the summer months, attracting thousands of festival-goers who camp on-site. However, the question arises as to whether the tents left behind can be recycled.

While some festival organizers claim that they recycle the tents, the answer is not so straightforward. Every year, thousands of tents are abandoned (拋弃) at festivals, and it’s not just post-festival laziness or poor weather that is to blame. According to a recent survey, many festival-goers leave their tents behind because they believe they will be donated to charities. But unfortunately, this is only wishful thinking.

Matt Wedge, the director of Festival Waste Reclamation & Distribution, says that the number of tents left behind is increasing, estimating that around 20% of the tents at this year’s Leeds Festival were abandoned, which amounted to about 7,000 tents. He adds that Reading and Leicester festivals are usually just as bad but twice as big, meaning that 14,000 tents could have been abandoned there.

In terms of addressing this problem, one popular idea is to employ a tent deposit scheme (保证金计划). Under this scheme, festival-goers would pay a deposit to bring their tent to the festival, which would be returned to them if they take their tent home. “A similar thing happens with litter. Some festivals make attendees pay a £10 ‘eco bond’, which will be returned to them if they fill up a bag of rubbish and hand it in at the end of the festival,” he adds.

The shocking images of abandoned tents are more than just a comment on the environmental impacts of the festival itself. They are in fact a dramatic symbol of our throwaway culture. Just as images of clean fields at Glastonbury represent a refreshing sign of hope for what could be, the ultimate (最后的) message is to make it a habit to take your tent home at least. It’s the best thing people can do.

1. Why are tents left behind after music festivals according to the recent survey?

A．Most of the tents are of poor quality.

B．Some people are too lazy to take the tents home.

C．Poor weather makes it difficult to recycle the tents.

D．Many people mistakenly think they will be donated.

2. What can we learn from the numbers listed in Paragraph 3?

A．There is an increasing demand for tents.

B．A large percentage of tents are abandoned.

C．Tents take a fair amount of energy to make.

D．Festival tickets are more expensive than tents.

3. What does Paragraph 4 focus on?

A．How charities do with the tents.

B．How landfills improve work efficiency.

C．Methods to employ more festival volunteers.

D．Attempts to reduce litter and abandoned tents after festivals.

4. What is the author’s purpose of writing the text?

A．To stress the importance of music festivals.

B．To introduce popular music festivals in the world.

C．To make people pay attention to the quality of tents.

D．To call on people to protect the environment during festivals.

10 . It has been nearly 11 days since the earthquake and its aftershocks struck the Turkey-Syria border, and rescues are still underway. As teams of doctors, firefighters, police officers, construction workers tried to search through the rubble (瓦砾) of fallen buildings, they were uncovering surviving people as well as animals. Ali Cakas saved a scared cat from the rubble, and the kitty has been glued to his side ever since.

A video shows the man, still in uniform and protective equipment, taking a picture with the cat on his shoulder. The black-spotted cat clearly has an appreciation for his hero, as he does not move from the firefighter’s side even for a moment. “We named it Enkaz which means rubble in Turkish, because we brought it out of the ruins,” the firefighter says. “It might sound a little off-putting, but we wanted it to be a memory this way.”

As heart-warming as this rescue has been, people online have also found a way to sympathize (同情) with the cat while showing respect for Cakas. “Uh...not for nothing but I would also not leave this guys side,” said Twitter user Paula Matiz. Another person admitted, “I don’t know who is cuter...the man or the kitty.” They all agree that Cakas has done something truly wonderful, saving the life of a sweet cat.

So far, no one has come forward to claim Enkaz, but the firefighter is keeping him safe, in the meantime, providing food and shelter. “I see sadness in this cat,” the firefighter said after rescuing him. “I keep it by my side in case the owner comes, but if the owner doesn’t come out, I’m thinking of taking him with me. It will be a memory.” Fortunately, Enkaz has found a safe shelter after everything he has been through, so we hope this is the start of a beautiful relationship between the cat and his rescuer.

1. What is Ali Cakas?

A．A doctor.	B．A policeman.
C．A firefighter.	D．A construction worker.

2. Why did Cakas name the cat Enkaz?

A．To memorize the event.	B．To support the residents.
C．To celebrate the rescue activity.	D．To entertain the firefighters.

3. How do people online react to Ali Cakas’ act?

A．They sympathize with him.	B．They criticize him.
C．They admire him.	D．They ignore him.

4. What does the firefighter plan to do about the cat?

A．Keep it with him.	B．Give it to a shelter.
C．Send it back into the wild.	D．Sell it to a pet store.