1 . Animal appear to predict earthquakes by sensing electricity in the air — the first study to find reliable evidence of the phenomenon has shown.
Cameras revealed an “amazing” drop in the number of animals up to 23 days before a major quake hit their rainforest home at Yanachaga National Park in Peru. Lead scientist Dr Rachel Grant, from Anglia Ruskin University, said, “The results showed that just before the earthquake, animals’ activity dropped right down.”
On a normal day the cameras placed around Yanachaga National Park record between 5 and 15 animals. But in the 23 days before the earthquake, the number of animals dropped to five or fewer per day. No animals were photographed at all on five of the seven days immediately before the quake.
Another study showed that animal activity remained normal in the park over a different period when seismic (地震的) activity was low. Co-author, professor Friedemann Freund, said, “The cameras were located at an altitude of 900 meters. If air ionization occurred, the animals would escape to the valley below, where there were fewer positive ions ( 离子). With their ability to sense their environment, animals can help us understand small changes that occur before major earthquakes.”
Other evidence suggested that before the earthquake, the air around the high mountain sites filled with positive ions that can be produced when rocks are placed under stress. Positive ions have been known to cause ill effects in humans as well as animals. Scientists believe the animals were made to feel uncomfortable by the positive ions, leading them to avoid the area. They are thought to have escaped to lower ground, where the air was less ionized. The findings may help experts develop better short-term seismic forecasts.
1. How did scientists conduct the study?| A．By comparing different animals’ habits. |
| B．By observing animals in high mountains. |
| C．By explaining the positive ion phenomenon. |
| D．By analyzing images of animals they obtained. |
| A．The ground at a lower altitude is less ionized. |
| B．Cameras normally record more animals per day. |
| C．Earthquake warnings can be detected in lower places. |
| D．The activity of animals and earthquakes is consistent. |
| A．The findings make for accurate seismic forecast. |
| B．Animals tend to be uneasy with more positive ions. |
| C．Positive ions make humans and animals depressed. |
| D．All the animals remain abnormal before the earthquake. |
| A．Negative Influence of Positive Ions. |
| B．Ions’ Destruction to the Environment. |
| C．Animals’ Behavior Before Earthquakes. |
| D．Creatures’ Ability to Predict Earthquakes. |
2 . A Danish company named Too Good To Go has been working to combat food waste in the United States and around the world. In the U. S., more than a third of food produced goes uneaten, contributing to environmental issues. Too Good To Go addresses this problem by partnering with restaurants to sell their end-of-day leftovers at discounts, typically ranging from 60% to 80% off.
The app of the same name, which started in Denmark in 2015, has expanded to 17 countries and multiple U. S. cities, including New York, Phoenix, and Seattle, with Los Angeles proving to be one of its most successful markets. The company is now looking to expand its footprint in the southeast.
While the cost savings for customers and businesses are significant, the primary focus of Too Good To Go is reducing food waste, which is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. The app allows users to track their environmental impact by displaying the electricity and carbon emissions prevented through their purchases. To date, the app claims to have saved over 250 million meals, making a substantial impact.
Food waste contributes to climate change in several ways, including the emission of methane gas from rotting food in landfills, the resources used to grow the food, and the energy expended in food transportation and preparation. Too Good To Go estimates that its efforts are equal to taking about 135, 000 cars off the road for a year, and it plays a crucial role in addressing the approximately 6% of total greenhouse gas emissions caused by food loss and waste in the U. S.
Alexandria Coari, the vice president of food waste nonprofit ReFED, recognizes the potential of apps like Too Good To Go. She believes that they have the capacity to reduce the carbon emissions equal to 870, 000 cars in a year, positioning them as one of the top 10 solutions to combating food waste and climate change.
While the app has been successful in the restaurant industry, its expansion into grocery stores and manufacturing is still a work in progress.
1. What do we know about the app Too Good To Go?| A．It primarily operates in Los Angeles. |
| B．It has saved over 250 million dollars so far. |
| C．It focuses on fighting against food waste. |
| D．It helps sell fresh groceries at full price. |
| A．To show the environmental impact of the app. |
| B．To highlight the cost savings for customers. |
| C．To emphasize the company’s expansion plans. |
| D．To illustrate the app’s success in reducing resources. |
| A．Skeptical | B．Negative. | C．Neutral. | D．Supportive. |
| A．The history of food waste reduction efforts. |
| B．Challenges Too Good To Go’s expansion faces. |
| C．The impact of climate change on the food industry. |
| D．Strategies for reducing food waste in grocery stores. |
1. When did Yang become interested in collecting meteorites?
| A．In 2017. | B．In 2012. | C．In 2013. |
| A．From her workmates. | B．From her own trips. | C．From her friends. |
| A．Over 600. | B．Over 300. | C．Over 400. |
| A．She is a story writer. | B．She is a tour guide. | C．She is a store owner. |
4 . A few days ago, my husband, Russ, and I lost our house of 28 years to a California wild fire.
On that night, we had to leave our house and sleep in the back seat of our Ford. The next morning, we had to drive three and a half hours to find a hotel that had an available room. Only later, in the local newspaper, did we see photographs of the destruction. Our house had been consumed by the fire along with most of our neighborhood.
How are we going to rebuild after this? I thought, rounding a corner in the sidewalk on my walk back to the hotel. Is it even possible?
I noticed something up ahead—a pair of nickels, shining like precious jewels. They were just nickels, but they somehow felt special. I bent down and picked them up. If these were lucky coins, I could use all the luck I could get.
A few days later, I made a trip to the store to buy essentials. The enormous task of replacing everything we’d lost put a heavy weight on me. I was about to leave when I felt the urge to stop and turn my head to the right. I could hardly believe it—there on nickela shelf, was a nickel! Okay, maybe this is more than luck, I thought and put the nickel in my pocket.
I told myself that I had found the nickels just by chance. Then I found one next to my plate at a restaurant—on Thanksgiving, no less, when I was missing our house more than ever. It seemed that a nickel appeared whenever my spirits plummeted.
Whenever I reached my breaking point, I’d find another nickel. In the grass at the park, or near the tire of my car in a parking lot. Once, my change for a quick lunch was given entirely in nickels. “I’m sorry,” the cashier said. “It’s all we have.”
It’s all I needed!
One day, I was sitting at the desk when my phone rang. It was a real-estate agent I’d been working with.
“I have a new listing,” she said.
“When can we see it?”
A few hours later, Russ and I were following the agent down the driveway toward the house.
I didn’t think long. Because there, in the driveway, …
1. After the wild fire, the couple ________.| A．lived in their car for one night |
| B．took some photos of the destruction |
| C．could hardly afford their Thanksgiving dinner |
| D．saved precious items from the burned down house |
| A．Remained. | B．Changed. | C．Strengthened. | D．Sank. |
| A．Luck for the foreseeable future. |
| B．Hope during challenging times. |
| C．Signs of a huge fortune to come. |
| D．Reminders of what had happened. |
| A．I spotted a flash of silver in the sun, two nickels, both heads up. |
| B．I found an old nickel, which seemed to tell a story from the past. |
| C．I saw a mysterious locked box, and thought perhaps it was full of nickels. |
| D．I looked up and imagined something on a cloud, a giant nickel, just for me. |
A Terrifying Experience
It was an unusually hot day. Exhausted after football practice, I headed to the bus stop to wait for Bus 112 which would take me home. I was beginning to drift off to sleep when I saw the bus arriving. The sun was in my eyes and that was probably the reason why I got onto Bus 113.
I was glad to get a seat. Within minutes, I was leaning against the window, fast asleep. When I opened my eyes, it was dark outside. I was the only passenger left on the bus. I could not recognize the part of town we were passing through. I pressed the bell and the bus stopped. I planned to hop across the road and catch a bus going in the opposite direction. However, I found myself on a quiet street with a row of shops that were all closed. I kicked myself for not asking the driver for directions.
As I was wondering what to do, a motorcycle came down the road. The rider looked at me as he passed and then stopped a short distance away. I went to him and asked him how to get back to Taman Klang Utama. He smiled and nodded. He patted the back seat and said that he would send me home. Without a second thought, I climbed up behind the rider. He turned the motorcycle around and headed in the direction I wanted. We traveled for about 15 minutes and the surroundings still looked unfamiliar to me. The rider made a few turns and I knew I was hopelessly lost. I asked him where we were going. He did not answer but increased his speed.
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。
Alarm bells started to ring in my head.
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When my family learned what had happened，they were horrified.
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6 . With nearly a quarter of global greenhouse gas coming from all types of transportation, can we keep ourselves off gas-powered vehicles to avoid the worst effects? As more governments push for urgent action on climate change, quite a few companies are betting their future – that millions of consumers are finally ready for electricity-powered vehicles. Modern battery-powered cars are selling fast and zero- emission ( 排放) planes are coming. These changes, both leading to a more sustainable future, are reinventing how we get from here to there.
Cars and trucks are undergoing their greatest improvement since the automobile’s (汽车) existence more than a century ago. Almost overnight, the era of the electric car has arrived. Electricity has the advantage that it works without smell and with less noise. Global annual sales of electric vehicles are expected to soar from just over 3 million today to 14 million by 2025. Just a month after Ford unveiled an electric version of the popular F-150, customers had reserved more than 100,000 of them. The price is about $10,000 above the gas-powered one, but Ford says the electric model will cost much less to maintain. Everything creating a green revolution on the ground is of limited help in the sky for the time being.
High-storage batteries are useless at present when it comes to the technological challenge of launching a few hundred people into the sky and carrying them thousands of miles. No battery yet invented can power, say, a Boeing 747 from New York to London. Promising improvements, however, do add up. Developments with zero-emission, battery-powered electric engines are already happening in commercial flight, involving trips of limited duration and distance. Airlines specializing in short journeys with small planes will lead the way to electric flight.
Our planet’s health depends on zeroing out carbon dioxide emissions by 2050, and yet, by the timetable needed to address the climate challenge, the shift away from gas-powered vehicles remains far too slow. Nevertheless, the train has left the station. Someday, electric-powered transportation will be as common as air.
1. Why are many companies switching to electricity-powered vehicles?| A．To reinvent the way we travel. |
| B．To cut the costs of car production. |
| C．To improve the quality of products. |
| D．To pursue sustainable development. |
| A．It came into use a century ago. |
| B．It enjoys increasing popularity. |
| C．It sells better than the traditional one. |
| D．It costs less than the gas-powered one. |
| A．To show the disadvantages of battery power. |
| B．To emphasize the significance of short flights. |
| C．To stress the future prospects of electric planes. |
| D．To state the developments of commercial flight. |
| A．Train transportation has improved. |
| B．Green transportation is on its way. |
| C．The electric train is running regularly. |
| D．The gas-powered train has become the past. |
Earlier this year, China launched a three-person crew for a six-month mission aboard its space station. The mission aimed to set
The new crew
China's space program plans to send multiple crews to the station over the next few years to make it
The same day China renewed its
8 . Recently, many climate change campaigns and organizations have marketed themselves using images of polar bears losing their habitat.This has led many people to view the polar bear as the global icon(象征物)for our climate crisis.
The polar bear has become so widespread because it does an excellent job of playing on an audience's emotions and convincing them that there is an urgent problem on Earth. The imagery of a polar bear is also much more attractive than a scientific graph(图表)or chart of increasing sea levels or extreme weather event occurrences.
However,using polar bears as the only icon of our changing climate is flawed(有错的).For one,it only represents one effect of climate change, global warming,and not climate change itself. It neglects to address other aspects such as extreme weather events, ocean acidification, etc.While global warming is an important impact of climate change, the other aspects need to be communicated as well since climate change may not even cause warming in certain parts of the world—it could lead to severe snowstorms or colder winters instead. Thus, communicating these other elements is vital because it can reduce much of the misinformation surrounding our climate and gives the audience a more comprehensive understanding of our planet.
Moreover,using polar bears is problematic because most people do not live anywhere near polar bear habitat.This makes polar bears feel far removed from our own personal reality-thus making climate change feel far removed from our lives. Since climate change is anything but a distant phenomenon, a symbol that communicates the ways in which the climate crisis affects humans could be more convincing and push more people to act.
Even though using the polar bear as the icon of climate change is limited in conveying the full scope of our climate crisis, it can act as an agent of opening up the conversation about environmental issues and inspiring viewers to dive deeper into learning about climate change.
1. Why are polar bears preferred as marketing images?| A．Their imagery is more convincing. |
| B．They are likely to lose their habitats. |
| C．They are unique victims of the climate crisis. |
| D．The data on them often appear in scientific graphs. |
| A．Polar bears are the only indicator of climate change. |
| B．Climate change is bound to result in global warming. |
| C．All elements of climate change have been communicated to the public. |
| D．Using polar bears as the only icon of climate change will cause some problems. |
| A．Failing to understand our planet. |
| B．Refusing to take immediate action. |
| C．Living apart from polar bear habitat. |
| D．Using polar bears to explain climate change. |
| A．The occurrence of climate change |
| B．The possible impact of climate change |
| C．The dangerous symbol of polar bears |
| D．The importance of protecting polar bears |
9 . Joey Hudicka began his entrepreneurial (企业家的) journey by creating a strategy game called Puckz when he was just 10 years old, by combining two of his favorite interests – strategy games like checkers, and sports like ice hockey. Seeing the amazing experiences unfold for her big brother, Heidi Hudicka set out to create her own first business, a fashion clothing line for her 18 dolls.
But one day, Joey and Heidi met after school and experienced a real breakthrough. “I was telling Joey I was asking friends if they would like me to outsource（外包给）the sewing of my designs to them, since it is not really my favorite part of that business, but none of my friends understood what I meant by outsourcing,” recalls Heidi.
“When Heidi told me what happened after school that day I was like, ‘Yeah! I have the same problem.’ Most kids just don’t understand when we talk about our business, or even why it is important to understand how businesses work,” says Joey. “And that’s when we decided to do something about it, to create a fun and engaging way to teach more kids about the power of their creativity through innovation and entrepreneurship.”
Joey and Heidi, along with their parents, founded Fizzee Labs, and began creating engaging learning resources such as Outta This World, a board game that activate your imagination by applying it to invent amazing new products or experiences, in a fast-paced, competitive format.
“Outta This World is a journey through the depths of outer space. You have brought very limited supplies with you on your mission, and you must creatively repurpose these supplies, transforming them into brand-new products or experiences that can be sold to the different civilizations you will meet along your journey, raising the funds you need to reach your destination!” describes Joey.
1. What inspired Heidi to start her first business?| A．Her parents’ inspiration. | B．Her passion for a fashion clothing. |
| C．Her brother’s game business. | D．Her friends’ ignorance of business. |
| A．The students who want to play board games. |
| B．The kids who want to sell engaging products. |
| C．The children who want to invent amazing products. |
| D．The pupils who want to learn about the power of creativity. |
| A．Players can raise funds through the game. |
| B．Players can live a fast-paced way of life after the game. |
| C．Players can experience a journey to turn their creativity into benefits in the game. |
| D．Players can sell their original supplies to the different civilizations in the game. |
| A．Creative and cooperative. | B．Innovative and honest . |
| C．Humorous and aggressive. | D．Competitive and ambitious. |
10 . Brown cows may not actually make chocolate milk, but pink silkworms（蚕）do produce pink silk, a team of scientists has discovered. To see if they could produce pre-dyed silk-silk that comes colored, straight from the source-the team fed ordinary silkworms mulberry（桑树）leaves that had been sprayed（喷洒）with fabric（织物）dyes（染色剂）. Out of seven tested dyes, only one worked, producing a thread that reminded me of pink-dyed hair.
And yes, the worms themselves take on some color before they produce silk. Their colorful diets did not affect their growth, the team, which included engineers and biologists from the CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory in India, reports in the journal ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering. (The researchers didn't look too deeply into how the dyes affected the silkworms' health. After all, silkworms die when people harvest their silk.)
The team made dyeing silk this way because coloring fabric normally uses large amounts of fresh water. The water gets polluted with dangerous chemicals in the process, requiring costly treatment before factories can send it back into waterways. Dyeing silk directly by feeding silkworms would avoid those water-washing steps. Scientists are just starting to study this idea. However, it remains to be seen if it's commercially successful. In this experiment, the Indian team tested seven dyes, which are cheap and popular in the industry.
The scientists found different dyes moved through silkworms' bodies differently. Some never made it into the worms' silk at all. Others colored the worms and their silk, but the color disappears before the silk is turned into fabric. Only one dye, named "direct acid fast red", showed up in the final, washed silk threads. By the time it made it there, it was a pleasant, light pink.
1. The text is most probably a(n) ________.| A．science report | B．tourist guide |
| C．animal experiment | D．fashion advertisement |
| A．they are born pink | B．they are dyed pink |
| C．they grow in pink water | D．they are fed dyed food |
| A．In America. | B．In India. | C．In Israel. | D．In China. |
| A．One. | B．Three. | C．Five. | D．Seven. |
