1 . A new study led by researchers at the Yale School of Public Health finds air pollution may negatively impact standardized test scores. Using data from the North Carolina Education Research Data Center, the researchers tracked 2.8 million public school students in North Carolina from 2001 to 2018 and measured their exposure to PM2.5 found in polluted air. While previous research has shown negative effects on academic performance, it has relied on relatively small or less representative samples. “The biggest strength of this study is that we tracked every student in North Carolina in those years, for the whole time period that they were in the public schools,” said Emma Zang, coauthor of the study.

The study also finds that test scores of ethnic minorities and girls are disproportionately (不成比例地) impacted by PM2.5 levels. “Females and ethnic minorities face sexism and racism,” said Zang. “There are a lot of policies that are not friendly towards them. So, when they’re exposed to the same level of air pollution, they don’t have the resources to lessen the negative influences.” More privileged populations, however, might have more resources that allow them to live in a better environment, such as in houses with air purifiers.

“The level of PM2.5 pollution in the US is relatively low, but students living in areas below the current air quality standard of annual PM2.5 concentration are still negatively impacted by air pollution when it comes to their test scores,” said Zang. “We should aim to strengthen the annual PM2.5 standard to better protect our children.”

Air pollution is known to contribute to disease and death, and it also negatively affects students’ academic performance even at low levels of pollution. The subsequent studies, the researchers said, would involve looking at whether the findings hold true in different areas, and also the reasons behind the ethnic and sexual differences.

1. What’s the greatest advantage of the study?

A．Tracking each student for 18 years.	B．Collecting more comprehensive data.
C．Measuring students’ PM2.5 exposure precisely.	D．Building links between air pollution and test scores.

2. According to Zang, ethnic minorities and girls ________.

A．benefit from current policies on PM2.5 pollution

B．have the lowest test scores due to their identities

C．lack resources to reduce the impact of air pollution

D．suffer from educational inequalities owing to their background

3. What’s Zang doing in paragraph 3?

A．Offering a suggestion.	B．Raising a doubt.
C．Making a comparison.	D．Giving a prediction.

4. What might be the focus of the follow-up studies?

A．Applicability of the findings to other regions.	B．Ways to address racial and sexual differences.
C．Long-term impacts of air pollution on children.	D．Establishment of PM2.5 standard fit for children.

3 . The Music Educator Award, this year, went to Annie Ray, an orchestra(管弦乐队)director at Annandale High School.She was recognized for her efforts to make music accessible to all students, particularly those with disabilities.Ray got to attend the awards ceremony in Los Angeles and bring home a $10,000 prize.

Ray created the Crescendo Orchestra for students with severe intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as a parent orchestra that teaches nearly 200 caregivers a year to play the same instrument as their child.Ray also works with a local charity to give damaged instruments a second life in her classroom.

The orchestra is about much more than just making music.The most important is to give students a chance to develop their cooperation skills, make mistakes and learn the art of refining something.Ray pushes her students to be brave, go outside their comfort zone and realize they have to learn how to make bad sounds before learning how to make good sounds.And they teach her a lot in return.” They changed my educational philosophy.I understand what it truly means to meet a student where they’re at and apply that elsewhere,” she said.

The warm reception on the ceremony was meaningful.Actually, not many people understand what exactly music educators do or how much their work matters.While her administration is supportive, that lack of understanding is a problem facing the profession in general.Another is resources.She says her school “desperately” needs new instruments.She will use some of her prize money to buy more.

Ray also plans to put some of the money towards an ongoing scholarship for students who want to pursue music when they graduate.She knows of several, those particularly interested in music, and aims to offer financial support needed to realize their musical dreams” It is hard but truly satisfying,” Ray said.“And there’s nothing else like it for them.”

1. What can we learn about Ray from the first two paragraphs?

A．She hosted the award ceremony.	B．She brought music to more people.
C．She gave away instruments to the poor.	D．She founded a local charity for children.

2. What do students benefit most from the orchestra?

A．They acquire in-depth musical knowledge.	B．They make friends with the like-minded.
C．They gain personal growth from playing music.	D．They improve their connections with educators.

3. What is paragraph 4 of the text mainly about?

A．The reception on the ceremony.	B．Importance of music education.
C．Challenges for music educators.	D．Plans to obtain resources.

4. What does Ray find satisfying according to the last paragraph?

A．Winning a scholarship.	B．Developing interest in music.
C．Making musical achievements.	D．Transforming dreams into reality.

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。续写的词数应为 150左右。

Debra, a five-year-old cousin of mine, often annoyed me. She wished me to stay with her, talk to her and teach her dancing. I hated it and never taught her to dance. That hot July afternoon, Debra annoyed me again.

Our big family all gathered together at a friend’s outdoor wedding. The children were running around and playing games. The afternoon couldn’t have been better. My friends and I gathered together and excitedly talked about our up-and-coming freshman year. Debra desired to join us, but what could a five-year-old kid contribute to our conversations?

I left the table where we were sitting, leaving behind my mother, my grandmother and Debra. I walked inside the house and greeted everyone inside before making my way to the bathroom. As I was washing my hands, there was a big knock and the bathroom door burst open. It was an older cousin of mine, Sylvia. With a look of fear, anxiety and shock, she rushed to find towels. I figured one of the kids was injured while playing. “There has been a bad accident outside,” she told me and rushed out.

What kind of accident? Was anyone hurt? I left the bathroom. A woman approached and told me that a guest who was leaving the party had lost control of his car. Then I heard a voice calling my name. It was my mother. She told me, “Debra has been badly hurt. Come and help rescue her!” My heart dropped to my feet. I was struck by the sudden thought that I might lose her.

I hurried outside. Tables and chairs were overturned everywhere by the runaway car. I was in shock. My mother quickly drove our car around and laid down the backseat. But where was Debra? I saw her parents running from a room with a piece of board, perfectly Debra’s size. I didn’t see my tiny cousin until she was put onto the board and laid in the car, crying. Her new white dress had blood, and on her left shoe was a tire (轮胎) mark.

注意：
1. 续写词数应为 150 左右；
2. 请按如下格式作答。

Together, we hurried to drive towards the hospital.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“She’ll walk again as long as you take good care of her,” the doctor told us.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5 . When Julia came upon a number of sketches (草图) her grandmother had made decades ago, they took her breath away. She already had a very _____ relationship with her grandmother. Her grandmother had helped _____ Julia. She was at her grandmother’s house nearly every day when growing up. However, this was something else. She wanted to know the story.

In the 1940s, Julia’s grandmother had been admitted to a_____ school. Before she could complete her courses and make a career for herself, she had to _____ to support her family financially. It was a(n)______ dream her grandmother set aside along with many sketches she had made.

Decades later, though, the granddaughter also developed a_____ for fashion. And when Julia found those sketches, she felt yet another _____ between her and her grandmother. She was inspired to bring these sketches to _____ for her grandmother. The only problem was that Julia didn’t know sewing (缝纫).

She didn’t let that_____ her. Getting materials from second   hand shops and watching YouTube videos, Julia taught herself_____ to sew. And when she posted the _____ from sketches to reality of one of her grandmother’s ideas, the video became popular online   _____ , her grandmother was also impressed with her fashion talent.

Julia is not sure where the project will take her, but her main _____is just having fun with Grandma doing these videos, _____ time with her grandmother. It’s inspiring to see such an intimate, intergenerational relationship — two women connect through a _____interest.

1.

A．close

B．strange

C．steady

D．poor

2.

A．transform

B．train

C．motivate

D．raise

3.

A．law

B．language

C．fashion

D．drama

4.

A．take off

B．settle down

C．start over

D．drop out

5.

A．lifelong

B．romantic

C．impossible

D．unfinished

6.

A．passion

B．request

C．schedule

D．platform

7.

A．barrier

B．bond

C．division

D．distinction

8.

A．life

B．career

C．school

D．office

9.

A．upset

B．slow

C．distract

D．stop

10.

A．how

B．what

C．why

D．where

11.

A．journey

B．evidence

C．method

D．vision

12.

A．Luckily

B．Naturally

C．Gradually

D．Instantly

13.

A．role

B．problem

C．reason

D．focus

14.

A．sparing

B．killing

C．enjoying

D．saving

15.

A．shared

B．particular

C．delightful

D．keen

6 . Washing machines are one of the greatest inventions of the last few centuries.They have made life easier. Unfortunately, washing machines also contribute to the environmental issues of energy use and micro-plastics flowing into the oceans. That is why the washing machine manufacturer (制造商), Samsung, and the outdoor-wear company, Patagonia, are working together to make a change.

For Patagonia, the issue of micro-plastics has been on its mind for years — its woolen jackets release many microfibers. As for Samsung, new requirements throughout the world have forced many producers to start thinking about ways to help reduce the number of micro-plastics. There are currently more than 14 million tons of micro-plastics floating in the oceans. Though people previously think of things such as plastic bottles and fishing lines when it comes to plastics in the ocean, thousands of micro-plastics are released into seas with every wash.

The issue is a sort of catch-22. In order to reduce energy costs, manufacturers try to make their machines more efficient. These machines use hotter water and are designed to create more friction (摩擦) between the clothing in the machine. However, both of these things lead to the release of more micro-plastics. So, using Patagonia clothes as test cases, Samsung came up with a two-fold solution: One is a technology called Eco-bubbles, which creates more bubbles to make the detergent (洗涤剂) more powerful, and the other is a water purifier that can filter (过滤) out more micro-plastics.

The cooperation between the two companies is proof of how complicated protecting the environment can be. On the one hand, clothing that is well-constructed and durable is a weapon in the fight against fast fashion. On the other hand, the material used to make those clothes and the way they are washed can also add pollutants to the environment.The same goes for washing machines. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. The fight against climate change requires creative thinking and learning how to attack a problem from many angles. This will certainly lead to even more strange and fruitful cooperation between the environmentally conscious companies.

1. What is Samsung’s purpose in partnering the outdoor clothing company?

A．To limit the use of micro-plastics.

B．To solve the issue of energy waste.

C．To find a solution to micro-plastic pollution.

D．To produce high-efficiency washing machines.

2. What does the underlined word “catch-22” in paragraph 3 refer to?

A．A tricky situation.	B．A questionable fact.
C．A possible dream.	D．A practical method.

3. Which of the following will reduce the release of micro-plastics during washing?

A．Using hotter water.

B．Creating more friction.

C．Using powerful detergents.

D．Adding a water purifier to washing machines.

4. What does the cooperation between the two companies show?

A．The difficulty in fighting against fast fashion.

B．The complexity of environment conservation.

C．The influence of humans’ active action.

D．The importance of creative thinking.

7 . Having a personal trainer is one of the best ways to stay on track with your workouts, push your limits and try new things. But it often costs more than $100 a class, and getting to and from the gym can take up a lot of time.

Over the past ten years, fitness apps have been trying to copy the personal training experience exactly, and in recent years many have included artificial intelligence (AI) to create workouts. A growing number of products offer personalized works that match your abilities, goals and equipment you have, which usually cost around $100 a year.

However, some experts warn that while AI fitness apps are useful for many exercisers, they’re not the right fit for everyone.

AI fitness apps create personalized training programs using information from personal users and the experiences of other users.

In the future, these apps could collect even more information to give ever more personalized feedback (反馈), said futurist David Brin. But, he added, more information doesn’t always lead to better advice. “What you need to consider is whether the advice will actually be good for you, in the long run,” he said.

Furthermore, computers can learn a lot about different workout routines, but they can’t yet create the social interactions that make the training successful, said Nikola Banovic, professor of computer science and engineering at the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory of the University of Michigan.

The AI fitness apps we have now can’t offer encouragement or provide comfort on a bad day. “As humans, we need more than just the workouts that will get us to our goals,” Dr Banovic said. “We need to be encouraged — that’s something only a real trainer can do right now. It will be some time before AI training does this well.”

1. What is the main advantage of AI fitness apps over personal trainers?

A．Requiring less exercise equipment.

B．Offering coaching services at a lower price,

C．Creating more personalized training plans.

D．Providing a better personal training experience.

2. What may David Brin agree with?

A．Users should work harder to protect their personal information.

B．AI fitness apps should find more tools for collecting information.

C．Users should be careful with the advice offered by AI fitness apps.

D．AI fitness apps should be improved to meet the needs of every user.

3. What should future AI fitness apps focus on?

A．Setting achievable goals.

B．Adding live chat services.

C．Learning new workout routines.

D．Developing useful interactions.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．How do AI fitness apps change the way you exercise?

B．Would an AI trainer be better than a real trainer?

C．Can AI trainers take the place of the real one?

D．How do experts feel about an AI trainer?

8 . 假定你是李华，目前在英国参加一个交流项目，住在Mrs. Smith家。请按照学校要求，用英语介绍一下你的房东。内容要点如下：
1. 外貌特征；
2. 兴趣爱好；
3. 相处感受。
注意：
1. 词数100左右；开头己给出，不计入总词数；
2. 可适当发挥，以使行文连贯。

It has been a week since I arrived in England to attend this exchange program.

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9 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Traveling by train in China is a cost-effective, comfortable, and safe mode of transportation. The train cabins are well-maintained and    1    (equip) with comfortable seating arrangements, allowing passengers to relax during their journey. With its increasing    2    (popular), understanding the basics of train travel in China will help ensure a smooth and     3    (enjoy) journey.

Trains leave and arrive on schedule, and there are seldom any delays,    4     (especial) for D-trains and G-trains.    5    is very convenient for passengers to switch to other means of transport at railway stations in the major cities, including metro lines, buses, taxis, and coaches. It offers passengers    6     unique way to explore China when they can appreciate the fine views along their journey through the train windows,    7    is very different from traveling by air. The train offers    8    (much) legroom and you can walk around     9    (stretch) your leg on the train.

Chinese train is not only a convenient transportation when    10    (travel) in China, but also a unique experience. You will get a basic idea on how to arrange your train travel in China by reading the related articles.