2 . Nature is like the mechanism in an enormous clock. Everything is neatly arranged and inter connected. Every individual has its place and its function. Take the wolf for example. As meat-eaters, wolves regulate the number of plant eaters so that they do not multiply too rapidly. All animals and plants are held in a delicate balance.

The wolves remind me of a story from my childhood when my grandfather gave me an old clock. The first thing I did was take the clock apart to find out how it worked. Even though I was convinced that I knew how to put it back together in working order, I couldn’t do it. After I rebuilt it, there were a few cogs (轮齿) left over and a grandfather who was not in the best of moods. In the wild, wolves play the role of such cogs. If we remove them, not only do the enemies of sheep and cattle disappear, but the mechanism of nature also begins to run differently, so differently that rivers change course and many local bird species die out.

And things can also go wrong when a species is added. For example, the introduction of a nonnative fish leads to a massive reduction in the local deer population. Because of a fish? The earth’s ecosystems, it seems, are a bit too complex for us to draw up simple rules of cause and effect. Even conservation measures can have unexpected results. Who knew, for example, that recovering crane (鹤) populations in Europe would affect the production of Iberian ham?

So it’s high time we took a good look at the interconnections between species both large and small. It’s important for us to realize that even small interventions(介入)can have huge consequences, and we’d do better to keep our hands off everything in nature that we do not absolutely have to touch.

1. What does the underlined word “regulate” mean in paragraph1?

A．Control.

B．Count.

C．Record.

D．Increase.

2. What does the author want to show with the story in paragraph 2?

A．Curiosity kills the cat.	B．Grandfather’s love lasts.
C．Clocks are complex.	D．Every part counts.

3. Why can things also go wrong when a species is added?

A．Local species die out due to the nonnative one.

B．Rules of cause and effect are obvious in nature.

C．The interconnections in nature are complicated.

D．Conservation projects are too hard to complete.

4. What does the author suggest people do?

A．Show mercy to small animals.	B．Stay away from conservation.
C．Take a new look at meat-eaters.	D．Think twice before stepping in.

4 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

My struggles started in seventh grade when I began passing out. I had many medical check-ups and finally found one that helped. My average blood pressure was about 80/60 on a good day. To this day, I continue to battle this problem.

Then, two years ago, I was diagnosed (诊断) with fibromyalgia, a muscle disease that is not really helped by medication. It’s like having a pulled muscle when the disease attacks. It can last as long as three months. I was bedridden for a month. Cold weather, rain, or physical or emotional stress can cause the pain,

It’s hard enough to be a healthy teenager and go through the typical changes with friends, family, school, etc. Add to that missing two to three months of school a year, and it can make things very difficult. The hardest part was on the outside I looked normal like everyone else; however, on the inside, I was in horrible pain. Some classmates had passed their comments on me thinking that since my physical appearance was fine, I must be OK. The judgment hurt me more than anyone will ever know.

I battled with depression (抑郁) as well, because I felt like an outsider. I longed to be normal and healthy. I even developed an eating disorder. In the beginning, I had lost a lot of weight. For the first time, I felt like I was attractive because I was skinny. I was receiving more attention than ever. I would still feel depressed, though, because of all that was going on in my life. I would eat a lot hoping the stress would go away. But then I would throw up the food so I would still look good. Luckily, I overcame these problems with the help of my family and a wonderful job.

注意：1.续写词数应为150左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

My mother stuck by me and encouraged me in all my time of need.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I found a purpose knowing I had something to give to these elderly people.

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5 . The Masai(马赛人) are continually trying to keep their own ways in an increasingly modern world. They live along the border of Kenya and Tanzania in East Africa, moving their homes from time to time to follow their cattle, the source of their livelihood. They rely on their cattle in many parts of their life. They like drinking the cows’ milk.

They don’t kill their cattle for food. But if a cow is killed, the parts of its body are used to make containers, shoes, clothin,   ropes, bed coverings and so on. Not all of the men have cows. The more cattle a man owns, the richer he is considered to be. A man who owns 50 or fewer cattle is considered poor. Rich men have a thousand or more. The cattle, though owned by the man, are considered to belong to the man’s entire family. The family names the cattle and can recognize each animal’s special voice.

The Masai men have become known as warriors(勇士), protecting their cattle against other wild animals. They wear their red long hair. Most women often take care of their children, cook food, clean clothes and make clothing at home. They also make necklaces dresses and headdresses. A few women can also become authorities once they are powerful enough. They speak a language called Maa.

The houses of Masai made from sticks and grass, which are held together with a mixture of mud, are not very firm or safe. These plain houses with some basic supplies are built in a circle and make up a Masai village. They are not meant to last long since the migration(迁徙) of the cow population means that the Masai move as well. In the meantime, in order to prevent animals from entering, they also form a wall of branches. The whole setup is to protect the cattle, which sleep at night in the middle of the village. They seem to live a natural and self-sufficient life but lack modern civilisation.

1. What do we know about the Masai?

A．They don’t move in their lives.

B．They each have their own cows.

C．They don’t kill their cattle at all.

D．They are heavily dependent on cattle.

2. What do most of the Masai women work as?

A．Designers.	B．Authorities.
C．Housewives.	D．Warriors.

3. Which word best describes Masai houses?

A．Modern.

B．Lasting

C．Simple.

D．Safe.

4. What can be the best title for the text?

A．Africans: Living a Moving life

B．Africans: Brave People in the World

C．The Masai: Rich People in East Africa

D．The Masai: Maintaining a Traditional Lifestyle

7 . A waterworks maintenance team discovered a possible one-of-a-kind Roman road in a field in Worcestershire that may date back 2,000 years.

If asked to name a place where you might make a once-in-a-lifetime archaeological (考古的) discovery, your mind may go to the pyramids of Egypt or the peaks of the Andes...not a field in Worcestershire. But a field in Worcestershire is exactly where workmen recently discovered what is thought to be a Roman road up to 2,000 years old！

The road was discovered during routine (常规的) waterworks maintenance by Severn Trent. Archaeological experts from Wychavon District Council were called to the scene and immediately recognised the find’s significance.

Wychavon District Council’s archaeology officer Aidan Smyth said, “When I first saw it, it took my breath away. If proven to be from the first century AD, it would be beyond rare.”

Experts say it is constructed in a traditional Roman technique, with similar roads only being found in Rome and Pompeii. Ruts (车辙) in the stones show that it was used by carts for a long time. A team from Historic England is expected to investigate further to determine the exact origin of the structure.

This is actually not the first significant historical discovery in Worcestershire. A number of possible forts have been suggested in Worcestershire since the 1950s, and Worcestershire is thought to possibly have been the site for the Roman town of Vertis.

It is too early to say without 100 per cent certainty that the road is Roman, but even if it is a road in the Middle Ages, it will still be a nationally significant discovery. If it is indeed a first-century Roman road, then it is the only one of its kind in Britain.

1. Why does the author mention the pyramids of Egypt?

A．To make a comparison with the Andes.

B．To identify the importance of pyramids.

C．To show the find in Worcestershire is rare.

D．To prove the archaeological discovery is true.

2. What can the road discovery be described as?

A．Long expected archaeology news.

B．The result of a careful exploration.

C．The effort of world archaeologists.

D．An unexpected result of a repair service.

3. How does Aidan Smyth sound when called to the scene?

A．Excited.

B．Confused.

C．Annoyed.

D．Satisfied.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．A once-in-a-lifetime archaeological literature.

B．An unfortunate waterworks maintenance team.

C．A nationally significant event in ancient Rome.

D．A possible Roman road discovered in a field in Britain.

10 . The New Buildings Set to Shape the World in 2023

National Library of Israel, Jerusalem, Israel

The National Library of Israel is being moved to a completely new building next to the country’s parliament (议会), the Knesset. Inside the building, facilities including audience seats, a youth center and various exhibition spaces, are set up around the 50,500-square-foot reading hall. The design is intended to show the library’s valued of openness, from a high round sky light (天窗) to the ground-level display cases that make items from the library able to be seen by passers-by.

Lola Mora Cultural Center, San Salvador de Jujuy, Argentina

Located in a forest overlooking the city of San Salvador de Jujuy, the Lola Mora Cultural Center is named after Lola Mora, one of the early 20th century’s pioneering female artists. Besides some of her works on show, this culture center has an information asking center, a restaurant, a library and a workshop for visiting artists.

Merdeka 118, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Standing over 2,227 feet above Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, Merdeka 118 is the world’s second-tallest building behind Dubai’s burn Khalifa. It’s also one of just four “mega tall” skyscrapers in the world, which used to describe towers measuring over 600 meters. The building has around 1 million square feet of retail (零售) space, a 1,000-seat theater, office, a hotel and the Southeast Asia ‘ highest observation deck.

Grand Egyptian Museum, Giza, Egypt

Costing over $1 billion, the Egyptian Museum keeps some of human history’s most valuable objects. The 5.2-million-square-foot structure feature exhibition spaces, a conservation center and a tall atrium (中庭).

1. What can we know about the National Library of Israel?

A．It has a square-shaped sky light.	B．It has a 50,500-seat youth center.
C．At was built next to the Knesset at first.	D．Its items are in sight from the outside.

2. Where is Lola Mora Cultural Center?

A．In Israel.	B．In Argentina.
C．In Malaysia.	D．In Egypt.

3. Which building is the highest in the world?

A．Merdeka 118.	B．Grand Egyptian Museum.
C．Burj Khalifa.	D．Lola Mora Cultural Center.