1. Who is the manager of the power company?
| A．The man’s classmate. | B．The man. | C．The woman’s friend. |
| A．By car. | B．By taxi. | C．On foot. |
| A．Make a call. | B．Chat with the workers. | C．Prepare for the picnic. |
In an age of rapidly growing urbanization, rooftop farming has emerged as a sustainable response
Rooftop farming, also
As urban populations continue to grow, rooftop farming fosters community engagement
3 . My birth was a little more dramatic than the standard way a baby enters the world. I was born missing my left hand. Indeed, my limb (手臂) difference could have been a disaster if it hadn’t been for what happened next. A nurse placed me in my mother’s arms and instructed, “You will take her home. You will love her and treat her as normal.”
That is exactly what happened. I played sports, acted in theater, excelled in school and had playdates with friends. While I did get some stares and “polite” questions about my disability, I was lucky because I wasn’t made fun of for it.
However, that fact that I was different hit me hard my first day of high school. I was 13, an age when kids are already very self-conscious and the need to fit in is intensified. I remember one of the other kids on the school bus stared just a little too long at my left arm. I felt a sudden urge to hide my hand, so I slipped it into my pocket. I told myself that I’d just hide it that one day, while I was trying to make friends. But one day of hiding turned into a week, a month, and years — 25 of them to be exact.
When I was 38 years old, tired of hiding and lonely, I met someone special and invited him in. The combination of me finally feeling ready to unhide and his willingness to go through the unhiding process with me was exactly what I needed. For the first time in my life, I allowed someone to really hold my limb, look at it, touch it, love it — love me. I saw my limb difference as something unique about me, something that should be shown, not hidden.
It was a transformational experience, and I learned to love me too. It changed how I lived my entire life and made me happier. I also discovered and joined the Lucky Fin Project, an organisation devoted to people with all types of disabilities.
Hiding things, especially from loved ones, is tiring and lonely, and it prevents us from getting help and support. It’s time to change that.
1. What was the author’s childhood like?| A．She had no social interactions with friends. |
| B．She was raised with care and treated normally. |
| C．She faced some challenges in school activities. |
| D．She was upset about the attention to her difference. |
| A．She began to ignore her disability. |
| B．She suffered prejudice from some kids. |
| C．She started hiding herself away from friends. |
| D．She became sensitive due to her self-awareness. |
| A．She started to open up and be herself. |
| B．She met someone who cured her disability. |
| C．She was fed up with the company of others. |
| D．She reduced involvement in the disability group. |
| A．Misfortune is a good teacher. |
| B．Disability is not a barrier to success. |
| C．Self-acceptance can lead to self-love. |
| D．Nothing beats the feeling of being loved. |
4 . This morning, before I left for the airport, I had hurt my back. And I could
At that time, a man
A lady walking beside me carried my other case full of things for me. It was obviously
I would have managed to do all of these things on my own, but these well-meaning humans sensed that I needed help and just
| A．exactly | B．eventually | C．rarely | D．regularly |
| A．divided | B．placed | C．slipped | D．turned |
| A．sitting | B．talking | C．walking | D．standing |
| A．assistance | B．money | C．reputation | D．food |
| A．started | B．flew | C．delayed | D．landed |
| A．preferred | B．offered | C．declined | D．failed |
| A．courts | B．doors | C．floors | D．stairs |
| A．get off | B．watch out | C．watch over | D．get back |
| A．luxurious | B．crucial | C．weighty | D．representative |
| A．requested | B．remarked | C．denied | D．kept |
| A．airport | B．plane | C．pump | D．belt |
| A．checked | B．stepped | C．gave | D．cut |
| A．common | B．splendid | C．ambitious | D．difficult |
| A．proud | B．ashamed | C．suspicious | D．grateful |
| A．stranger | B．partner | C．attendant | D．applicant |
5 . Italian diver and gardener Sergio Gamberini decided to see if he could grow vegetables in a plastic balloon underwater. The experiment was a success—so he decided to dive deeper into the world of underwater agriculture.
Today, Gamberini is the founder of a company using “biospheres” off the coast of Italy to grow a variety of plants, introducing the world to a new type of agriculture. The company’s six “biospheres” are air-filled plastic balloons about two meters wide. Each is fixed to the seabed by chains so that it sits between 15and 36 feet below sea level. The biospheres are equipped with cameras and sensors that allow researchers in the company to monitor CO2 levels, humidity, temperature, and more from a control tower on the shoreline. There’s also a device to communicate with divers in the biospheres.
Solar panels (太阳能电池板) on the roof of the control tower power the fans that create airflow inside the biospheres, and because the temperature inside and outside the biospheres is consistent, there’s no need to expend energy on the heating or cooling systems needed for traditional greenhouses.
The underwater garden doesn’t require pesticides (杀虫剂) since bugs can’t reach the plants, and though more research is needed, the company notes on its website that the higher-pressure conditions underwater appear to help plants grow more quickly.
The company is now ready to shift from the research phase of development to optimizing (优化) its biospheres for industrialization, with the goal of expanding them off coastlines around the world. To achieve the aim, the startup is now taking advantage of “digital twin” technology to precisely simulate (模仿) every aspect of its underwater garden.
Even with all the optimization potential offered by technology, Gamberini admits it’s hard to imagine the produce grown in his startup’s biospheres ever competing financially with traditionally grown crops. Still, he hopes the system’s sustainability will be enough to draw customers.
1. What does Gamberini’s company use “biospheres” mainly for?| A．Doing scientific research on marine life. |
| B．Creating a habitat for underwater animals. |
| C．Monitoring climate change effects on coastal regions. |
| D．Growing different types of plants through underwater agriculture. |
| A．By temperature regulation by divers. |
| B．By advanced heating and cooling systems. |
| C．By solar panels on the roof of the control tower. |
| D．By natural climate conditions of underwater environment. |
| A．It has little negative influence on the environment. | B．It negatively affects ocean biodiversity. |
| C．It leads to much use of pesticides. | D．It contributes to climate change. |
| A．Grow Plants Under the Sea | B．The Creative World of Keeping Animals |
| C．Explore the Depths of Underwater Farming | D．The Challenge of Growing Greens Underwater |
6 . Is there any such thing as a salt tooth? We are familiar with a sweet tooth, along with the negative effects of sugar. We are broadly aware of the disadvantages of too much salt, including high blood pressure, which puts pressure on the blood vessels (血管), the heart and the kidneys. It can also lead to water retention (水肿). But we don’t tend to police how much salt we eat — at least, not as rigorously as with sugar — or question whether we are just paying attention to our bodies, which require some salt for muscles to work properly, or we are being controlled by a strong urge.
A salt tooth is quite unlike a sweet tooth. It doesn’t create an appetite for itself at the hormone level. But salt does make our taste buds (味蕾) get used to it, so that the more you eat, the more you need to get the same salty hit. This is why chefs can get heavy-handed with it.
As Sam Bloom, a nutritional therapist, explains, “What is generally more concerning is the fat that is used together with salt, like salty crisps, fries and fast food. Ready meals are often the worst for hidden salts. Anything that adds flavor that isn’t a spice or herb will probably have salt added to it and can make you want to eat more because it tastes good. The salt and fat combination in these foods is what causes problems with cholesterol (胆固醇). The salt that people add to a meal is much less concerning.”
Nutritionists’ suggestion is convincing: When the desire for salt hits, avoid going straight for salty snack foods such as crisps and instead ensure you are well hydrated. Seek out whole foods, such as olives and leafy greens. These foods will help you alleviate the desire for salt, which may often be due to a desire for nutrient-rich food.
1. What does the underlined word “rigorously” in paragraph 1 mean?| A．Generally. | B．Strictly. | C．Largely. | D．Pleasantly. |
| A．Salt attracts chefs. |
| B．Salt gets people adapted. |
| C．Salt can change hormone level. |
| D．Salt generates a special appetite. |
| A．Objective. | B．Approving. | C．Negative. | D．Ambiguous. |
| A．Ways of seeking out whole food. |
| B．Reasons for getting the desire for salt. |
| C．Attitudes towards seeking for nutrient food. |
| D．Approaches to relieving the eagerness for salt. |
7 . It’s January and time to go back to school. For some, that might be a gloomy prospect after the joys of the post Christmas festive period. For me, though, it’s as exciting as a trip to Antarctica, also as scary as starting a job for which I’m not sure whether I’m qualified.
To be embarking on a master’s degree in Psychotherapy and Counselling at Regent’s University at 71 is perhaps an unlikely route for someone who dropped out of school at 17. But now I’ve come full circle to the conclusion that nothing, for me, feels more stimulating at this point in my life than learning new things. That studying, far from being the bore and the chore it used to be, is a treat.
Turning 70 came as something of a shock. I started to feel I was drifting (飘). Without a big project, and without any major family responsibilities, I was starting to feel I was lying on a bed of thorns. Friends of similar age were lapping up their lives, socializing and travelling. However, I longed for something more. Or perhaps not more, but different.
As the gloom grew, I thought perhaps I needed to see a therapist. A friend, a psychotherapist, suggested that while therapy might be useful, doing a course on the basics of psychotherapy and counselling might be more up my street. Without too much thinking, I decided to give it a shot.
So that’s how every weekday I beep (发出哔哔声) myself through the gate with my student pass, which makes me smile every time. I felt privileged to be exposed to a group of my fellow students who were willing to be open to me.
While ageing is an inevitable process, we can get rid of a lot of the rules about what’s age-appropriate. Studying for a master’s degree in old age is a challenge, but it has provided me with a new perspective on life. Hence, ageing should never limit your ambitions.
1. How did the author feel when going back to school?| A．Unrealistic. | B．Resistant. |
| C．Awkward. | D．Expectant. |
| A．She achieved nothing before. | B．She lived without a purpose. |
| C．She had to support her family. | D．She was separated by her fellows. |
| A．Keeping your passions alive. | B．Seeking support if needed. |
| C．Behaving age-appropriately. | D．Socializing with young students. |
| A．Returning To School — My Dream Since Childhood |
| B．My Efforts To Learn At An unlikely Age Paying Off |
| C．Learning — My Way To Overcome The Ageing Crisis |
| D．My Tough Journey To Pursuing A Master’s Degree |
1. When did David come back last night?
| A．At 6:00 pm. | B．At 7:00 pm. | C．At 8:30 pm. |
| A．To watch a movie. |
| B．To read in a library. |
| C．To have some discussions. |
| A．Apply to work for the club. |
| B．Contact Lucy for more information. |
| C．Learn more about the neighborhood. |
1. What are they talking about?
| A．Their favorite subjects. |
| B．Their performance in class. |
| C．Their preparation for the coming exam. |
| A．It is beyond her ability. |
| B．It is difficult to understand. |
| C．It has too much to memorize. |
| A．Practising a lot. | B．Understanding the rules. | C．Memorizing more words. |
1. What was wrong with Tom?
| A．He was hit by a taxi. |
| B．He hurt his head. |
| C．He fell ill with heart trouble. |
| A．She called the doctor. |
| B．She checked Tom carefully. |
| C．She took Tom to the hospital. |
