1 . In early October, Travis Gienger transported an enormous pumpkin (南瓜) from his home in Minnesota to the World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in California. His pumpkin set the record for the biggest one ever grown in North America. How do competitive growers get their pumpkins to grow to massive sizes?     1    

Gienger, who teaches horticulture (园艺学) at Anoka Technical College, begins growing his pumpkins in mid-April, starting with seeds that he grows indoors for the first few weeks, when Minnesota’s soil is too frosty.     2     They can absorb sunlight, nutrients from the soil, and water there. “At their peak, you’re watering them with at least 600 liters a day, ” he says.

Depending on the variety, pumpkin plants can grow up to a dozen fruits on a single vine (藤曼) . But to maximize size, growers remove all but one or two of these pumpkins in order to decrease each individual fruit’s competition for resources.     3    

But what exactly happens inside a pumpkin as it grows? Two factors drive natural growth: cell division and cell expansion. Cell division accounts for most of the growth at the beginning of a fruit’s life. This period lasts for about 20 days in pumpkin plants.     4     Pumpkin cells will expand until around 50 or 60 days after pollination (授粉).

    5     Some varieties of pumpkins have been bred specifically to maximize their size. Still, there is genetic variation even among pumpkins of the same variety. This has led to competition for the best seeds. Following each harvest, many growers auction off (拍卖掉) the seeds from their biggest pumpkins, which will then be used for the following year’s plantings.

A．Biology has the answers.

B．Genetics also influences pumpkin growth.

C．The following tips will give you a head start.

D．Once it warms up, the plants are transferred outside.

E．When it stops, cell expansion will then come into play.

F．Growers extend the growth period for as long as possible.

G．Growers also remove the weeds in the area for the same reason.

2 . Scientists have observed a planet being swallowed by its host star for the first time. They believe this could be a preview of what could one day happen to Earth — but don’t worry, that won’t be for about another five billion years.

The US astronomers said that when the sun finally does swallow Earth, it will cause only a “tiny change” compared to the cosmic (宇宙的) explosion they just witnessed. Most planets are believed to meet their end when their host star runs out of energy, turning into a red giant that massively expands, destroying anything unlucky enough to be in its path.

Astronomers had previously seen the before-and-after effects of this process, but had never caught a planet in the act of being consumed. Lead researcher Kishalay De said the accidental discovery unfolded like a “detective story”.

“It all started about three years ago when I was looking at data from the Zwicky Transient Facility survey, which took images of the sky every night,” Dr. De said.

He came across a star that had suddenly increased in brightness by more than 100 times over a 10-day period. The star is in the Milky Way galaxy (银河系), around 12,000 light years from Earth near the Aquila constellation (天鹰座). Dr. De had been searching for binary star (双星) systems, in which the larger star takes bites out of its companion, creating incredibly bright explosions called outbursts. But data showed that this outburst was surrounded by cold gas, suggesting it was not a binary star system.

And NASA’s infra-red space telescope NEOWISE showed that dust had started to shoot out of the area months before the outburst. More puzzling still was that the outburst produced around 1,000 times less energy than previously observed mergers (合并) between stars.

1. What is paragraph 2 mainly about?

A．US astronomers are concerned about the future of Earth.

B．The harm the cosmic explosion may bring.

C．A prediction made by US astronomers about Earth.

D．Harmony between the Earth and the Sun is of great importance.

2. What can be learned from what Kishalay De said?

A．He loves detective stories.	B．His efforts paid off at last.
C．The survey made him suffer.	D．He took pride in his discovery.

3. What is the feature of the star newly found by Dr. De?

A．It is near the Aquila constellation.	B．It has the strongest brightness.
C．It can swallow other host stars.	D．It causes explosions constantly.

4. In which section of a website can you read the text?

A．Science.

B．Literature.

C．Documentary.

D．Education.

3 . Investing In the Graphite (化石墨) Revolution

December 21^st, 2014

Graphene (石墨烯) is the future. Plain and simple.

Its 200 times stronger than steel, thinner than a sheet of paper, and more conductive than copper.

And that’s not all…

Researchers all over the world are using it for critical advances in a variety of industries. Graphene makes:

·Solar cells — 50x～100x more efficient

·Semiconductors — 50x～100x faster

·Aircraft — 70% lighter

We’re talking about batteries that charge 10x faster and store 10x more power…

Phones and computer displays that bend and fold…

It’s so vital to our future that it’s been named a “supply critical mineral” and a “strategic mineral” by the United States, Japan and the European Union.

Yet only a few companies around the world have access to mineral resource that is required to make graphene. And 70% of supply is controlled by China.

So the setup is perfect for any non-Chinese supply to become an extremely profitable investment, just like rare earths a few years ago.

A new report from the Outsider Club fully outlines the situation:

·What grapheme is used for…

·And why now is the perfect time to invest in this world changing discovery.

To get this new report, simply drop your name in the box below. And in a few moments, you’ll be fully informed on the ins and outs of grapheme. All I ask in return is for you to sign up to receive our financial and economic news elater, Outsider Club.

In each issue, well bring you the financial news from the “Outsiders” perspective. It will show you how to plan your own finances, and manage your own investments. Become a reader of Outsider Club today.

So what are you waiting for?

1. What do you know about graphene?

A．It can conduct electricity very well.	B．It is much stronger than paper.
C．It is much heavier than steel.	D．It is very easy to obtain now.

2. According to the passage, a plane made of graphene can            .

A．move much faster

B．work more efficiently

C．save more energy

D．weighs much less

3. We can infer that a few years ago rare earths were            .

A．Cheap

B．common

C．profitable

D．worthless

4 . In 1925, a male sled (雪橇) dog named Balto led a 13-dog team through an extreme snowstorm during the final part of a 1,088-kilometre trip, bringing lifesaving medicine to the Alaskan city of Nome during an outbreak of the disease diphtheria (白喉), a serious and sometimes deadly infection.

Balto was celebrated as a hero whose preserved body still stands at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History in the state of Ohio. Recently, scientists took DNA from Balto’s preserved body and studied it as part of a large project called Zoonomia. The massive study compares genetic information in different animals and humans.

Balto belonged to a population of working sled dogs in Alaska, which was found to have greater genetic diversity and genetic health than modern dogs. When diphtheria spread, Nome’s port was blocked by ice. Sled dogs were the only way to get the important medicine there. Balto was one of 150 dogs that pulled sleds for parts of the 127-hour trip. During the trip, temperatures reached minus (零下) 45 degrees Celsius.

Born in 1919, Balto was part of a population of sled dogs imported from Siberia, known as Siberian huskies (西伯利亚哈士奇). The study showed these dogs greatly differed from modern Siberian huskies, however. Balto had a body built for strength and not speed, which his breeder didn’t necessarily like. The breeder had the dog’s sex organs removed so he couldn’t produce young dogs.

After the Alaska trip, Balto’s life was difficult. He was mistreated. A visiting Cleveland businessman saw Balto’s mistreatment and bought the dogs for $1,500 raised by the local community in Cleveland.

In 1927, Balto and his seven co-runners were celebrated in Cleveland. They spent their rest lives cared for at the local Brookside Zoo. Balto died of natural causes in 1933.

Kathleen Morrill, a scientist, said of Balto’s heroic mission, “These specialized dogs don’t know what they do has such gravity in people’s lives.” She added that the sled dogs’ genetic makeup “set them up to be the best animals for the job”.

1. What were sled dogs used to do during an outbreak of diphtheria?

A．Look for the origin of this disease.

B．Transport emergency medicines.

C．Help patients go to hospital quickly.

D．Discover the methods to cure the illness.

2. Which information about Balto matches the content of the text?

A．The lifespan of Balto is about 14 years.

B．Balto is the only survivor of the Alaska trip.

C．Balto had many young babies in Cleveland.

D．Respected in Alaska, Balto spent its rest life peacefully.

3. What can we conclude from the last paragraph?

A．There must be a use for one’s talent.

B．Fortune favours the prepared mind.

C．A good dog deserves a good bone.

D．A thousand mile trip begins with one step.

4. Which is a suitable title for the text?

A．The Story of a Sled Dog

B．The Long Cold Trip to the Alaskan City

C．A Heroic Trip to Save a Dangerous City

D．Sled Dog Hero Balto: a Good Dog with Great Genes

5 . Antarctica, the southernmost continent on Earth and a frozen continent, remains an mysterious and original land, buried in ice and surrounded by a vast, inhospitable ocean, which often shrouded (隐藏) in mystery and intrigue. It holds a wealth of scientific wonders waiting to be explored. With the aid of cutting-edge technology, researchers have delved into its icy depths, uncovering the secrets of this remote and pristine (原始的) wilderness.

At the forefront of Antarctic exploration are advanced satellite imaging systems. These orbiting wonders provide detailed maps of the continent’s surface, allowing scientists to monitor changes in ice coverage and track the movements of glaciers with unprecedented accuracy. Such data is crucial for understanding the impacts of climate change on Antarctica’s delicate ecosystem and predicting future sea-level rise.

In addition to satellites, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) play a key role in Antarctic research. These robotic submarines are equipped with an array of sensors and cameras, enabling them to navigate beneath the ice shelves and explore previously inaccessible regions. By collecting data on water temperature, salinity, and marine life, AUVs offer invaluable insights into the dynamics of Antarctic Ocean currents and the habitats of its unique marine species.

Furthermore, drones have revolutionized scientific fieldwork in Antarctica. These unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are utilized for conducting aerial surveys of vast ice sheets and capturing high-resolution imagery of remote locations. By providing researchers with real-time data and imagery, drones facilitate rapid assessments of environmental changes and aid in the study of wildlife populations, from penguins to seals.

Despite the remarkable advancements in technology, conducting research in Antarctica remains a huge challenge due to its extreme weather conditions and remote location. However, through cooperative efforts and innovative approaches, scientists continue to push the boundaries of exploration, uncovering the mysteries of Antarctica and advancing our understanding of the Earth’s climate system.

1. What technology is primarily used for monitoring changes in ice coverage in Antarctica?

A．Drones.

B．Submersible robots.

C．Satellite imaging systems.

D．Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs).

2. What can be inferred from the fourth paragraph?

A．Exploring and research on Antarctica is an easy task.

B．Scientific fieldwork in Antarctica is hard to continue.

C．Drones play a significant part in scientific fieldwork in Antarctica.

D．Drones capture high-resolution imagery of remote locations.

3. What’s the author’s attitude towards the research in Antarctica?

A．Objective.

B．Subjective.

C．Suspicious.

D．Indifference.

4. What would be the most suitable title for the text?

A．The Challenges of Antarctic Exploration

B．Traditional Methods of Antarctic Research

C．The Environmental Impact of Satellite Imaging

D．The Technological Wonders of Exploring Antarctica

6 . The hole in the ozone (臭氧) layer, one layer of the stratosphere (平流层), began to form over Antarctica in August 2023, causing warnings that a larger-than-average hole could further warm the Southern Ocean while the level of Antarctic sea ice is at a record low. Dr. Martin Jocker at the University of New South Wales said the bole usually began forming at the end of September, peaking in October before closing in November or December.

The ozone hole is an annual thinning of the strutosphere’s ozone layer, which has a high concentration of ozone. The hole has been “recovering” over time and ozone levels over the Antarctic are expected to return to 1980 levels by 2066.

The development of the ozone hole in 2023 was not adventitious. The ozone hole is usually smaller during El Niño years, but the model of Jucker suggested it would be larger than usual in 2023 due to the undersea Tonga volcanic explosion in 2022, which was likely to have an impact on the ozone layer in the years following. In early August, the formation was about average for the day of the year. This increased rapidly in the next few days, producing one of the largest observed ozone holes for the time of year.

The explosion of the Tonga volcano brought a large amount of water vapour (蒸气) into the stratosphere. “It was about 150 megatonnes. A factor of about three times more water vapour than we usually have,” said Jucker. Ice clouds form in the stratosphere when there is more water vapour than usual, allowing tiny ozone-destructing substances to gather there. Jucker said he was concerned about the impact of the hole on Antarctic sea ice, which has been at record low levels.

1. What do we know about the Antarctic ozone hole?

A．It happens every year.	B．It keeps at a balanced level.
C．It tends to worsen annually.	D．It remains the largest on record .

2. What does the underlined word “adventitious” in paragraph 3 mean?

A．Reasonable.

B．Unsettled.

C．Rare.

D．Unexpected.

3. What is the result of the Tonga volcanic explosion according to the last paragraph?

A．The disappearance of ozone.	B．The atmospheric changes.
C．The decrease of water vapour.	D．The formation of destructive substances.

4. Which of the following is a suitable title for the text?

A．Stratosphere Faces New Threats	B．Ozone Levels Are Changing Continuously
C．Ozone Hole Forms Earlier Than Usual	D．Volcanic Explosion Produces Global Effect

7 . Have you ever paused to see clouds when you rush to your destination? There’s a group of passionate “treasure finders” dedicated to observing and capturing the beauty in the sky cloud spotters.

Cloud spotters take a more serious approach to make sense of the sky.     1    

Ji Yun, 36, is an expert in cloud spotting. He set up a WeChat group to gather together people with similar hobbies in 2013. As the number of group members continued to grow, Ji and several cloud enthusiasts created dozens of online groups for different regions in China, forming the Sky Enthusiasts Association in 2019.     2    

Power comes in numbers. Three years after the association was formed, cloud enthusiasts from all over China had collected every kind of cloud in the International Cloud Atlas, a reference by the World Meteorological Organization.

    3     Cloud spotting, in fact, is an invitation to be amazed by something so common every day that we’ve become blind to. “You’re not going to be worrying too much about what formation it is and why it looks the way it does.” Gavin Pretor-Pinney, founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society, told Atlas Obscura.

Indeed, Jiang Xinwei in Jilin finds cloud spotting relaxing. Even though she is going through her toughest school year in grade 12, Jiang maintains this hobby as a short break from her heavy schoolwork. “Observing the clouds has become a habit for me,” the 17-year-old said. “    4    .”

“Clouds change in the blink of an eye.     5     ” said Jiang Na, a 25-year-old cloud spotter in Beijing.

A．Currently, there are thousands of people across different groups.

B．This often leads us to think about the relationship between humans and nature.

C．They take photos of the clouds and match them to cloud type names.

D．My worries and troubles seem to fade away as I look up.

E．But that is not to say all clouds spotters need to go to such great lengths.

F．Cloud spotting can also make some people feel blue.

G．When they roll over the sky, I feel the passage of time has a concrete shape.

8 . Blowing Up Balloons with CO₂

Chemical reactions (化学反应) make for some great experiments. You can make use of the CO₂(carbon dioxide) given off by a baking soda (小苏打) and lemon juice reaction to blow up your balloon!

What you’ll need:

●Balloon        ●About 40ml of water        ●Soft drink bottle

●Juice from a lemon          ●I teaspoon of baking soda

Instructions:

●Before you begin, make sure that you pull the balloon long to make it as easy as possible to blow up.

●Put the 40ml of water into the soft drink bottle.

●Add the baking soda and mix it with water.

●Put the lemon juice in and quickly put the balloon over the mouth of the bottle.

What’s happening?

If all goes well, then your balloon should inflate! Adding the lemon juice to the baking soda creates a chemical reaction and produces CO₂. The gas rises up and escapes (逸出) through the soft drink bottle. It doesn’t, however, escape the balloon, pushing it outwards and blowing it up.

1. Which of the following do you need for the experiment?

A．Two cups.	B．Apple juice.
C．250 ml water.	D．A teaspoon of baking soda.

2. What should you do before the experiment?

A．Heat the water.	B．Drink some juice.
C．Blow up the balloon.	D．Pull the balloon long.

3. What is the purpose of the text?

A．To describe an experiment.	B．To introduce a game.
C．To produce soft drinks.	D．To save some chemicals.

9 . The Healing Power of Water

It has been a rough few years. Many of us are finding ourselves exhausted, burned out, struggling to build balance back into our lives.     1     Neuro scientists say that spending time near oceans, lakes, rivers and other blue spaces can provide a range of benefits including reducing anxiety, easing mental fatigue and refreshing us.

Participating in water activities such as swimming or surfing can help us enter a “flow state,” where we become fully immersed in what we’re doing.     2     When we become skilled at an activity, our brain changes, making it even easier to enter a state of flow in the future.

Bodies of water also can produce a glorious sense of awe—the emotional response to something vast that expands and challenges how we see the world.     3    

Water has special properties that may boost nature’s positive impact.     4     Its smell can provoke positive memories and associations. When we are near water, there is often less visual and auditory information to process. Our mind can rest. When we’re floating in water, our bodies can rest too, in a way we never can on land.

    5     It moves rhythmically, producing a play of light, color and sound that is spellbinding. It holds our attention, but not in an overly demanding way. Researchers call this soft fascination. It gives our brains a break from the intense, focused attention that much of daily life requires.

A．Most important: Water is dynamic.

B．We need to recharge and water can help.

C．The sound of water, typically steady and soft, soothes us.

D．We can spend time on the water anywhere, anytime in our mind.

E．This calms the mind, which is often absorbed by worry and anxiety.

F．It’s not just our bodies that need the element of life—it’s our minds too.

G．Such sense of awe can decrease stress and help us put things into perspective.

10 . When raindrops fall to the ground in summer, a familiar scent always follows. Many people call this the “smell of rain”. However, rain is made up of odorless (无味的) water. So, where does this smell come from?

    1     But it actually comes from wet soil. This special odor even has its own name: petrichor (潮土油), which comes from a pair of chemical reactions.

The pleasant smell has long been an interest of scientists since Australian scientists first documented the formation of petrichor in 1964. According to scientists, some plants produce oils during dry periods.     2    

Yet, it’s the second reaction that creates the most petrichor. It occurs when chemicals produced by bacteria in soil are released.     3     These bacteria break down and change into simple chemical compounds, providing nutrition for plants. Meanwhile the process also produces geosmin (土臭素), a compound with a distinct earthy aroma (香味).

Lots of animals are sensitive to geosmin but human beings are extremely sensitive to it. When it rains after a long period of dryness, drops of water hit the ground. Geosmin is then released from the surfaces.     4     And it finally gives raindrops their familiar scent. If it rains heavily enough, geosmin will be spread downwind, warning others of coming rain.

    5     And the next time someone mentions how much they love the smell of rain, you can prove your intelligence by explaining where that smell comes from.

A．And when it rains, these oils are released into the air.

B．The smell of petrichor is quite pleasant to the human nose.

C．There are a group of microorganisms widely found in soils.

D．Rain can refresh the soil specially when it rains heavily.

E．Scientists found the distinctive smell doesn’t come from rain.

F．The pleasant smell always comes into being with the flow of air.

G．It is further spread around its surroundings with the aid of wind and rain.