1 . For decades, scientists thought of the brain as the most closely guarded organ. Locked safely behind a biological barrier, away from the disorder of the rest of the body, it was broadly free of destruction of germs (病菌) and the battles started by the immune system.

Then, 20-odd years ago, some researchers began to ask a question: is the brain really so separate? The answer, according to a growing body of evidence, is no — and has important effects on both science and health care.

The list of brain conditions that have been associated with changes elsewhere in the body is long and growing. Changes in the make-up of the microorganisms resident in the gut (肠道), for example, have been linked to disorders like Parkinson’s disease. Some researchers think that certain infections could provoke Alzheimer’s disease and some could lead to emotional disorder in babies.

The effect is two-way. There is a lengthening list of symptoms (症状) not typically viewed as disorders of the nervous system in which the brain and the neural processes that connect it to the body play a large part. For example, the development of a fever is influenced by a population of neurons (神经元) that control body temperature and appetite. The effect of brain on body is underlined by the finding that stimulating a particular brain region in mice can ‘remind’ the body of previous inflammation (炎症) — and reproduce them.

These findings and others mark a complete shift in our view of the interconnectedness of brain and body, and could help us both understand and treat illness. If some brain conditions start outside the brain, then perhaps cures for them could also reach in from outside. Treatments that take effect through the digestive system, heart or other organs, for instance, would be much easier and less striking to give than those that must cross the blood-brain barrier, the brain’s first line of defence.

In the opposite direction, the effects of our emotions or mood on our capacity to recover from illness could also be used. There is an opening work under way testing whether stimulating certain areas of the brain that respond to reward and produce feelings of positivity could enhance recovery from conditions such as heart attacks. Perhaps even more exciting is the possibility that making changes to our behaviour — to reduce stress, say — could have similar benefits.

For neuroscientists, it’s time to look beyond the brain. And clinicians treating the body mustn’t assume the brain is above getting involved — its activity could be influencing a wide range of conditions, from mild infections to long-time fatness.

1. The author writes paragraph 1 mainly to ______.

A．evaluate an argument

B．present an assumption

C．summarize the structure

D．provide the background

2. What does the underlined word “provoke” mean in Paragraph 3?

A．Delay.

B．Cure.

C．Cause.

D．Disturb.

3. What can we learn from the passage?

A．Treatments that cross brain-blood barrier are less used.

B．Previous diseases could cause the production of new ones.

C．Emotions could affect the capacity to fight against diseases.

D．Treatment of the brain takes priority over other treatments.

4. Which of the following shows the development of ideas in the passage?
I: Introduction P: Point Sp: Sub-point (次要点) C: Conclusion

A．	B．
C．	D．

2 . As biologist Nicola Foster and her colleagues guided a remote-controlled monitor through the coral reefs (珊瑚礁) of the Indian Ocean’s Chagos Archipelago, they saw corals full of color near the surface. But nearly 300 feet below, in the darker and colder waters of what oceanographers call the “twilight zone,” some corals had turned terrible white, leaving them vulnerable (脆弱的) to disease and death.

“It wasn’t something we were expecting to see,” says Foster, who studies deeperwater coral ecosystems called mesophotic reefs. Mesophotic reefs would seem to be protected from rising sea-surface temperatures that white n higher-up corals. But this team’s 2019 observations show the deepest instance of bleaching (变白) ever recorded — suggesting similar reefs are more vulnerable than previously believed.

Bleaching often happens when warming water boosts corals to remove the colorful algae (水藻) that live in their tissues and help to sustain them. Although surface waters weren’t typically warm when Foster and her team took their measurements, the twilight zone waters neared 84 degrees Fahrenheit (华氏度) — far above the 68-to 75-degree range in which mesophotic corals are used to.

The researchers realized that bleaching is related to the timing of the Indian Ocean Dipole. This phenomenon shifts the region’s surface winds and ocean currents, says study co-author Phil Hosegood. Wind and waves shake the upper ocean, keeping it relatively warm and uniform in temperature. But the 2019 dipole deepened this well-mixed upper layer; the thermocline (the slice of ocean that separates warm upper waters from the cold depths) had become deeper than normal. Then, those corals were exposed to temperatures that are normally found at the surface.

This observation suggests mesophotic reefs elsewhere could also be bleaching. Fortunately, the corals in this study had largely recovered their color by 2022, Foster notes. But each bleaching stresses the corals and, if extended, can starve them. Future Indian Ocean Dipole patterns are likely to be more severe, Hosegood says, noting that data suggest “that these natural cycles are becoming increased with climate change.”

1. What are the first two paragraphs mainly about?

A．Corals in twilight zone become vulnerable because of bleaching.

B．Corals normally found at the surface were found in twilight zone.

C．Mesophotic reefs are much more vulnerable than higher-up reefs.

D．Mesophotic reefs and higher-up reefs need different temperature.

2. According to the passage, which group of pictures can describe the changes caused by the Indian Ocean Dipole?

A．	B．
C．	D．

3. Regarding the future of mesophotic reefs, Hosegood probably feels ______.

A．excited

B．worried

C．curious

D．hopeful

4 . Up to the age of ten, I did not mind at all the fact that my elder sister was different. The child psychologist had termed it as “Asperger Syndrome”, a disease that affects how a person socializes with others.

It was only at the age of ten that I started to become aware of my social life and self-image that I had carefully shaped. My sister, on the other hand, was socially awkward. She would mumble (咕哝) to herself and repeat the words she had just said under her breath. She, however, was academically capable, and hence we attended the same primary school. Despite this, I never, ever acknowledged in public that she was my sister.

Being in primary six, about to graduate, my sister and her classmates had to put up a performance, whether in a group, or individually. Due to her inability to integrate, my sister was the only one left without a group. “I’ll sing,” my sister told my parents, somewhat confidently. Hearing that, I was taken aback. How could my sister sing in front of the school? She would embarrass me, one way or another. “No!” I remember protesting. My parents shot me a look.

No one knows she is your sister. It is fine, you do not need to tell anyone. I remember telling myself these exact lines as I sat in the hall, waiting for the performances to start. The curtains parted to reveal the only solo (独唱) — my sister. It took about a whole minute for her to state her name and class and by that time, whispers were heard in the audience.

“Why is she taking so long?” people around me asked. I shifted nervously in my seat. Finally, my sister started to sing. I was prepared for the worst. She opened her mouth, and I was transfixed — she sang effortlessly. Her voice rang through the hall, beautiful in its power. I listened ever so carefully to the words that she had composed all by herself.

Guilt and shame filled my heart. Although she knew that I was embarrassed by her and was unwilling to attend her concert, my sister had forgiven me; she had never taken anything that I had done to her to heart. It was then that I resolved to love her unconditionally.

1. How did the author feel about his sister’s difference before 10?

A．He hardly accepted it.	B．He didn’t care about it.
C．He was extremely awkward.	D．He was determined to help.

2. Why did the author protest against his sister’s decision?

A．To challenge his parents.	B．To follow other students.
C．To keep his sister’s image.	D．To protect his self-respect.

3. What do we know about the author’s sister?

A．She always got full marks in primary school.

B．She refused to form a group with other students.

C．She gave an excellent performance before graduation.

D．She delivered an inspiring speech in front of the school.

4. What lesson did the author learn from his sister?

A．Take nothing to heart.	B．Love without condition.
C．Stick to one’s own choice.	D．Learn from anyone around.

5 . Have you considered contributing your skills and expertise virtually towards achieving sustainable human development efforts? Through the Online Volunteering service of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme, you can connect with UN agencies, governments, public institutions and civil society organizations — from any device, anywhere in the world. While extending your network, you can also get first-hand practical experience.

Requirements:
·To sign up on the Unified Volunteering Platform and apply for Online Volunteer assignments, you must be at least 18 years of age.
·There is no particular background required to become an Online Volunteer. Each Online Volunteer assignment is different and has its own requirements, set by the host organization.
· As an Online Volunteer, you can only support organizations remotely in assignments up to 20 hours per week for a maximum of 12 weeks for each assignment.
Criteria and service rules:
· Online Volunteers are not under contract with the UNV programme or the engaging organization.
· Online Volunteers do not receive any kind of financial benefits.
·For each Online Volunteering assignment, a maximum of 25 Online Volunteers can be engaged.
Procedures:
· Volunteers find assignments of their interest and apply.
· Organizations select the volunteers they want to engage.
· Volunteers and organizations work together online.
· Volunteers and organizations provide feedback on their cooperation.
· Organizations issue an electronic certificate of appreciation to their volunteers.
1. Through the UNV programme, one can ______.

A．travel around the world	B．improve their network skills
C．set up civil society organizations	D．work on sustainable development

2. Which is a requirement for the applicants?

A．Being no less than 18 years.

B．Finishing 25 online assignments.

C．Working at least 20 hours a week.

D．Having some practical experience.

3. When working in the UNV programme, volunteers will ______.

A．sign a contract with an organization

B．find tasks of their interest and apply

C．get a paper certificate of appreciation

D．receive some kind of financial benefits

7 . 阅读下面短文，根据题目要求用英文回答问题。

Uncertainty is all around us, never more so than today. Whether it concerns your health or relationships, much of what lies ahead in life remains uncertain.

We’re all different in how much uncertainty we can tolerate in life. Some people seem to enjoy taking risks and living unpredictable lives, while others find the randomness of life deeply annoying. But all of us have a limit. If you feel controlled by uncertainty and worry, it’s important to know that you’re not alone; many of us are in the same boat.

To cope with all this uncertainty, many of us use worrying as a tool for trying to predict the future and avoid unpleasant surprises. Worrying can make it seem like you have some control over uncertain circumstances. You may also believe that it will help you find a solution to your problems or prepare you for the worst. Unfortunately, long-term worrying just robs you of enjoyment in the present and weakens your energy. But there are healthier ways to cope with uncertainty.

Identify your uncertainty trigger (诱发因素). A lot of uncertainty tends to be self-generated. However, some can be generated by external sources, such as reading media stories that focus on bad news, or simply communicating with anxious friends. By recognizing your triggers, you can take action to avoid or reduce your exposure to them.

Shift your attention. Focus on solvable worries, taking action on those aspects of a problem that you can control, or simply go back to what you were doing. When the feelings of uncertainty return, refocus your mind on the present moment and your own breathing.

1. How are people different in tolerating uncertainty in life?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Why do many people use worrying as a tool to deal with uncertainty?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
▶ Knowing the triggers of your uncertainty, you can learn to expose yourself to them.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
4. What are you most uncertain about right now? How will you deal with it? (In about 40 words)
___________________________________________________________________________________________

8 . 阅读下列短文，根据短文内容填空。在未给提示词的空白处仅填写1个恰当的单词，在给出提示词的空白处用括号内所给词的正确形式填空。

Soil     1     (find) nearly everywhere. And it seems unlikely that we would ever lose all the soil on Earth. However,     2     we may lose is the deep and rich agricultural soil because of over-farming, a lack of plant cover off-season and a collection of salt from watering and fertilization (施肥).     3     proper measures, some experts warn, there could be serious agricultural soil problems before the end of this century.

9 . 阅读下列短文，根据短文内容填空。在未给提示词的空白处仅填写1个恰当的单词，在给出提示词的空白处用括号内所给词的正确形式填空。

Cats are second only to dogs as the most common pets in the world.     1     (compare) with dogs, cats might seem cold, but they can form strong emotional bonds with their owners. Studies have shown that cat-owning seniors often exhibit lower levels of     2     (lonely), anxiety, and depression.     3     (own) a cat invites several costs, for food, litter, medications, toys and care. However, cats do not need regular bathing     4     they have health problems that make it necessary.

10 . 阅读下列短文，根据短文内容填空。在未给提示词的空白处仅填写1个恰当的单词，在给出提示词的空白处用括号内所给词的正确形式填空。

Davyon Johnson, an 11-year-old boy, was honored by his community after saving two lives in one day. On Dec. 9, a choking student tripped into the classroom     1     Davyon was. Davyon did the Heimlich immediately and saved him. Hours later, on his way home, Davyon spotted a house on fire. Everybody     2     (run) out except for an elderly lady. As the woman struggled     3     (move) using her walker, Davyon raced up the steps and helped her escape the burning building.