1 . The Best National Parks to Visit in Winter

While most parks tend to draw families in the summer and fall, there are also ideal spots for adventurous winter trips.

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

The country’s oldest and best-known national park takes on an almost otherworldly atmosphere in winter: the air filled with rolling steam, the strong colors of hot springs, the surrounding white landscapes, let alone the impressive wildlife during this time, like bison, wolves, and playful red foxes. Just book a guided hiking tour to get a ranger’s perspective on the park and local people.

Joshua Tree National Park, California

With its giant red rocks and unique trees, you’ll feel like stepping onto a foreign planet as you spend hours hiking the Panorama Loop or Maze Loop. The park is recognized as an International Dark Sky Park, featuring virtually zero light pollution and the country’s best views of a starry sky.

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

A significantly lower number of visitors in winter means you can take in unblocked views of the South Rim, and get to see the rare beauty of the Grand Canyon dusted with snow. For those adventurous and daring, it is recommended to hike the Bright Angel Trail and take the chance to see the canyon’s wintertime wildlife, including mule deer, elk, and bald eagles.

Virgin Islands National Park, St. John

Surprise! Not all wintertime national park trips need to involve snow. Virgin Islands National Park is most famous for its white-sand beaches. You can also hike inland to visit old sugar plantations, or venture out to the water to swim along with sea turtles and manta rays. You will definitely enjoy a different winter here.

1. Which park will one choose if he/she is interested in stars?

A．Yellowstone National Park.	B．Joshua Tree National Park.
C．Grand Canyon National Park.	D．Virgin Islands National Park.

2. What do we know about the Grand Canyon National Park?

A．We can have a poor view of the South Rim there.	B．It lies in an area with rolling steam and hot springs.
C．There is a slight decline in visitor numbers in winter.	D．The Bright Angel Trail is challenging in cold weather.

3. Which activity is mentioned in all of the parks?

A．Hiking.

B．Skiing.

C．Swimming.

D．Hunting.

2 . 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。

Citizen scientists don't     1     （usual）need special training or equipment. It may not even matter where they live. Often, projects are open to people of all     2     （age）. Many participants（参与者）are kids.

“This is an important, real way for young people to take part in science     3     is useful and important,” Darlene Cavalier says. She founded a website     4     （call）SeiStarter. It helps people find projects they might like to take part in.

For NASA's GLOBE Observer program, volunteers use     5     app on a mobile device（设备）to submit（提交）cloud observations. While satellites photograph clouds     6     above, volunteers study them from below. “By     7     （combine）the two, we get a more complete picture," says Jessica Taylor, of NASA. Researchers use the information       8     （learn）about weather and climate change.

There are thousands of citizen science projects to choose from. You can measure light     9     （pollute）, study the diet of ants, or locate bees. Sometimes, volunteers gather information from their own backyard. Other projects happen online. One     10     （provide）underwater images of beluga whales（白鲸）. Volunteers then tell things like each whale's age and gender.

3 . 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。

In December 2018, a bunch of friends and I went to Europe to travel. Upon arrival in Vienna, we got the keys to the house from its owner. The     1     (decorate) of the house was quite good.

In Vienna, if anyone wants to copy a key, he or she is expected     2     (prove) their ownership of the property (房产) the key is for. It’s also really expensive. An ordinary key usually costs 150 euros (1.170 yuan). As the person in charge of the keys, I had a great responsibility.

    3     next day, we went everywhere, including the Sisi Museum and a coffee shop in the city center,     4     had dinner in a fancy restaurant. We felt quite relaxed. While we     5     (enjoy) dinner, my friends came up to me, asking for the keys so they could leave early. It was then that I realized that I’d lost them.

The host asked us to give him 300 euros to cover the cost of a new set of keys. We made a complaint about it but we had to pay the money. So, hoping to get our money back, we decided to do some detective work     6     our own.

I wrote an email to the Sisi Museum in the middle of the night, wondering whether the staff had found them. Early in the morning, I received their reply, saying that they had not.

    7     (fortunate) in the end, the keys were found in a souvenir shop. The host even said congratulations to us.

Though we saw many great     8     (sight) in Europe, the most     9     (value) thing about my trip was this lesson I learned: Never lose your keys in Vienna. Your keys ought to     10     (take) good care of.

4 . I live in a town near Prague(布拉格), the capital of the Czech Republic. Besides cars, bikes are the most important _________ of transportation(运输). As it _________ you to go almost anywhere you want, cycling is a big _________ for Czech people. On weekends, you can see cyclists _________ through the towns wearing helmets (头盔) and cycling clothes.

Some people _________ that living in a town is inconvenient (不便利的), including me. _________, I find life in towns much more _________ than that in big cities after living here for a while. I was _________ given a bicycle by my host family. _________ it is only an ordinary bike, I was still __________ and couldn’t wait to take a cycling trip alone.

One sunny Sunday afternoon, I took my first cycling trip to a village nearby. I cycled for a while, alongside a river. But then, something happened: One of my tires __________. There was no choice but to __________ my bike back home, which took an hour.

I didn’t give up though: One week later, I __________ again. This time, however, there was__________ wrong with my tires. It was a very beautiful town, with a typical Czech castle and a park full of peacocks. People were taking part in a marathon that day. There were also stands selling __________ Czech foods and drinks, such as potato pancakes and beer.

It was already sunset when I __________ to head home, and I saw almost no one on the way back. As the warm breeze softly stroked (轻抚) my face. I felt very __________ and happy.

I believe many of us need a(n) __________ like this to take a break from our __________ life sometimes. So, I really do encourage all of you to take a cycling trip alone, even just to a nearby village. Just look around you, and you’re sure to __________ some hidden beauty.

1.

A．duty

B．notice

C．idea

D．means

2.

A．asks

B．tells

C．orders

D．allows

3.

A．hobby

B．surprise

C．deal

D．break

4.

A．wandering

B．flying

C．passing

D．jumping

5.

A．forget

B．think

C．regret

D．remember

6.

A．However

B．Besides

C．Therefore

D．Otherwise

7.

A．different

B．difficult

C．interesting

D．important

8.

A．frequently

B．recently

C．usually

D．rarely

9.

A．Even though

B．Now that

C．In case

D．As long as

10.

A．frightened

B．puzzled

C．worried

D．excited

11.

A．turned up

B．stayed up

C．went up

D．blew up

12.

A．arrange

B．support

C．walk

D．repair

13.

A．showed up

B．set off

C．watched out

D．called up

14.

A．nothing

B．something

C．everything

D．anything

15.

A．unpopular

B．strange

C．traditional

D．expensive

16.

A．hesitated

B．tried

C．decided

D．refused

17.

A．proud

B．peaceful

C．nervous

D．confident

18.

A．spirit

B．opportunity

C．ability

D．result

19.

A．poor

B．rich

C．free

D．busy

20.

A．study

B．surround

C．discover

D．create

5 . Shenyang—The remains of 117 Chinese People’s Volunteers soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War returned to China on Sunday before the Commemorative Day of Martyrs.

This is the seventh annual repatriation (遣送), following a handover agreement signed between China and the Republic of Korea. and also the largest since the initial (最初的) return of 437 soldiers in 2014. Between 2014 and 2019, the remains of 599 soldiers were returned.

Earlier on Sunday, the ROK handed over the remains at a ceremony at Incheon airport outside Seoul. A Chinese military transport plane, escorted (护卫) by two Chinese fighter jets, carried the remains and belongings of the fallen soldiers back and landed at Taoxian International Airport at 11:18 am in the northeastern Chinese city of Shenyang near the border of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Y-20 aircraft. the largest and most advanced domestically developed transport aircraft. carried out the task for the first time. It was labeled (贴标签于……) with the serial number 01. as a mark of high respect for the martyrs.

Vice Premier Sun Chunlan attended the ceremony along with CPV soldiers and citizens. China has never forgotten its fallen heroes and the contribution they made, Sun said in a speech.

Chinese people always remember the fighting spirit of defending the motherland, and China will remember the past and cherish peaceful international environment, Sun said.

Wang Guobin, a 92 year old CPV veteran, said. “I’m both happy and sad. I’m glad that after 70 years, they finally come home. And I am sad that they died in the 1950-53 Korean war and couldn’t come back until 70 years later.”

Many local residents lined the roads to welcome the martyrs home and show their respect.

The remains will be buried in a martyrs’ park in Shenyang on Monday. It is the resting place of all soldiers’ remains returned by the ROK since 2014.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the CPV’S participation in the 1950-53 Korean War. A total of 2.9 million CPV soldiers entered the battlefield, and 197,653 of them were killed in the war.

1. What is the main idea of paragraph 3?

A．Where the ROK handed over the remains at a ceremony.

B．Why Y-20 aircraft was labeled with the serial number 01.

C．How the remains and belongings of the fallen soldiers were carried back.

D．When Chinese military transport plane landed at Taoxian International Airport.

2. How many remains of CPV soldiers were initially returned to China by the Republic of Korea in 2014?

A．117.

B．197.

C．437.

D．599.

3. What does the underlined word“cherish” in paragraph 5 mean?

A．Examine something using scientific methods.

B．Regard it as important and try hard to keep it.

C．Do what you are told or expected to do.

D．Behave in a particular way towards sb/sth.

4. What can be the best title for the news report?

A．Remains of 117 Chinese Soldiers Return to Homeland

B．117 Remains Will Be Buried in a Martyrs’ Park in Shenyang

C．Many Local Residents Line the Roads to Welcome the Martyrs Home

D．70th Anniversary of the CPV’s Participation in the 1950-53 Korean War

6 . 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

What would you do if the Internet suddenly disappeared? A recent survey has shown that     1     number of people in the United Kingdom who do not want to use the Internet has risen. These people, who     2     (know) as “net refuseniks”,make up 44% of UK households, or 11.2 million people in number.

The research also showed that more than 70 percent of these people said that they were not     3     (interest) in getting connected to the Internet. This number has risen     4     just over 50% in 2005 to the present 70% , with most lacking in many computer     5     (skill) as a reason for not using the Internet, though some also said it was because of the cost.

More and more people are getting broadband(宽带) and high speed net     6     (be) almost everywhere in the UK, but there are still a lot of people who refuse     7     (take) the first step.

With the cost of getting online going down and internet speeds increasing, many net refuseniks begin to reconsider the     8     (connect) of the Internet. This would encourage them to get connected before they are left too far behind. If the gap(落差) between those     9     use the Internet and those don’t continues to widen, those without broadband will get left behind and miss many chances,     10     (especial) in their work.

7 . Winter can usually kill most wildfires. But in the far North，some forest fires just don’t die. They are thought of as “zombie (僵尸) fires”.

“Zombie fires” usually sleep underground in winter. Covered by snow, they smoke through the cold. Fueled by carbon-rich peat (泥炭) and soil in the North, most of these hidden fires spread slowly for less than 500 meters during the winter. When spring comes, the flames (火焰) of the fires appear near sites that they burned in winter, and they turn to burning fresh fuels around. This may happen well before the traditional fire season in the far North.

“Zombie fires” had been known mostly from firefighters’ stories. Few scientists studied them until details in some satellite images attracted one research team. Rebecca Scholten, a member of the team, studies earth systems at Vrije University Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Her team noticed an unusual thing. “New fires have been starting very close to the former years’ fires in recent years，and we wonder how often the fires might survive the winter,” Scholten explains.

These “zombie fires” are rarely seen before, according to a new study from Nature. But in recent years, they are becoming more common, the study warns. It is believed that the “zombie fires” are even on the road of being a threat. Forests in the far North are warming faster than the globe’s average (平均数). Scholten says, “We’re seeing more hot summers and more large fires and strong burning. That could set the stage for the fires to become a bigger problem,” she worries. And the region’s soils hold a lot of carbon—maybe twice as much as earth’s atmosphere. More fires here could give off huge amounts of greenhouse gases. That would drive a cycle of more warming and even higher risk of fires.

1. What do we know about the “zombies fires” in the far North?

A．They will completely die out in winter.

B．Carbon-rich peat helps them burn slowly in winter.

C．They often happen after the traditional fire season.

D．Their flames can only appear in spring.

2. What can we infer from Scholten’s words in paragraph 3?

A．“Zombie fires” appear earlier than the years before.

B．“Zombie fires” happen far from former years’ fires.

C．“Zombie fires” happen more frequently than before.

D．“Zombie fires” appear in different shapes every year.

3. What was a cause of being a threat for the “zombie fires”?

A．The global warming is slowing down.

B．The hot summers are less and less seen.

C．The area’s soils are short of carbon.

D．More greenhouse gases are given off.

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

A．Where Are “Zombie Fires” From?

B．Are “Zombie Fires” Frightening?

C．Pay Attention To “Zombie Fires”!

D．“Zombie Fires” Are Caused By Humans!

8 . I didn’t expect parenting a teenager to be this hard. Lately, my son and I disagree at every corner. About schoolwork. His attitude. Screen time. On and on. _________ I say is met with an eye roll. My fuse (导火线) is admittedly shorter than normal right now, due to some unrelated _________ and illness.

On a recent _________ home, after picking up. my teen from school, we made a quick detour (绕行) for a grocery _________. As soon as the food was _________, my child snatched from the trunk a box of individually wrapped and processed snack cakes I’d unwillingly allowed.

As he oohed and aahed through mouthfuls of yellow cake and frosted coating, I silently questioned my decision to _________ him to do so.

But before we’d even _________ the parking lot (停车场), he asked me to _________. I just wanted this errand (差事) to be done. But then my son _________ me: He asked if he could share a few of his treasured treats with a homeless man, who stood coatless outside the store.

Of course, I stopped the car.

Actually, I hadn’t even considered the homeless in my rush to get home, __________ my car was packed with food. Without hesitation, my teenage son __________ the stranger a few little cakes. The man __________ us, and we continued on our way. Actually, my kid seemed __________: “What if he doesn’t like them?” he said. And a few seconds later, my son __________, “Mom! He’s already eating one!”

Throughout our journey home, we frankly discussed how difficult it must be for people experiencing __________. It was a __________ conversation with no quarrel or negotiations. __________ a time to reflect and count how much we have to be thankful for.

When we eventually turned into our garage, that same teenager expressing __________ for my recent illness—announced “You’re not unloading any of these bags. I got this, Mom.”

Yes, parenting a teen is harder than I __________. But it’s also __________: And, in that moment, you realize you’ve actually raised a pretty awesome human being.

1.

A．Something

B．Nothing

C．Everything

D．That

2.

A．disability

B．worries

C．challenges

D．tricks

3.

A．subway

B．bike

C．bus

D．drive

4.

A．pickup

B．checkout

C．workout

D．overuse

5.

A．packed

B．loaded

C．created

D．delivered

6.

A．addict

B．accommodate

C．allow

D．survive

7.

A．entered

B．escaped

C．explored

D．exited

8.

A．pull over

B．breath in

C．try out

D．run out

9.

A．frightened

B．disappointed

C．surprised

D．struck

10.

A．as if

B．if only

C．even though

D．in case

11.

A．threw

B．showed

C．applied

D．handed

12.

A．refused

B．thanked

C．greeted

D．cheated

13.

A．joyful

B．worried

C．amazed

D．eager

14.

A．cheered

B．added

C．stressed

D．inspired

15.

A．disease

B．homelessness

C．independence

D．crash

16.

A．rare

B．beneficial

C．responsible

D．shallow

17.

A．Immediately

B．Partly

C．Often

D．Simply

18.

A．shock

B．desire

C．suffering

D．concern

19.

A．attempted

B．expected

C．appeared

D．explored

20.

A．tougher

B．sweeter

C．more curious

D．more admirable

9 . The following are four once-in-a-lifetime mountain hikes.

The Inca Trail, Peru

The Inca Trail offers a seven-day hike focusing on unique Peruvian culture. Led by our well-informed guides, you'll see some historical villages, visit an old-fashioned coffee farm, and attend a traditional offering to "Pachamama". After a long day on your feet, relax with a traditional Peruvian meal and have a night's rest in a local cottage（村舍）

The Dolomites, Italy

The On Foot Holidays' self-guided hike through the Dolomites covers the grassland of South Tyrol, the famous peaks of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo and the amazing town of Cortina d'Ampezzo. You'll climb from the Falzarego Pass, cross through to the Col dei Bos and up Mt. Lagazuoi, with its network of World War I tunnels.

Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

More than 19,000 feet above sea level, Mount Kilimanjaro, an inactive volcano, is Africa's highest mountain. Climbing it is a multi-day trip through five climate zones. Duma Explorer offers several different routes（路线）up Kilimanjaro—the most popular are the seven-day Machame route, eight-day Lemosho route and a nine-day trip via the Northern Circuit. Hikes include camping equipment, meals and guides.

Chilkoot Trail, Alaska

In 1897, the Chilkoot Trail was changed from a sleepy trade route into a busy road, as part of the Gold Rush. The rush dried up within a year, but you can follow in the boomers' footsteps with Alaska Shore Hikes, through thick forest and up the Sainly Hill. Then it's a peaceful raft（木筏）ride along the Taiya River. A six-hour hike provides tourists with transportation, safety equipment and guides.

1. Which of the following is suitable for hikers without guides?

A．The Inca Trail, Peru	B．The Dolomites, Italy.
C．Chilkoot Trail. Alaska	D．Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.

2. What can we know from the text?

A．Chilkoot Trail used to be a busy road.

B．Hikers will cover five climates zones in the Inca Trail.

C．It just takes six hours to finish the Chilkoot Trail route.

D．Hikers can visit an old-fashioned coffee farm in Mount Kilimanjaro.

3. From which is the text probably taken from?

A．An encyclopedia.

B．A geography book

C．A science report.

D．A travel brochure.

10 . The worldwide 20th century “Green Revolution”, which saw huge year-by-year increases in global grain yields (产量),was fueled by the development in the 1960s of new high-yielding dwarfed (矮小) varieties known as Green Revolution Varieties (GRVs).

These dwarfed GRVs are common all over the world in today’s wheat and rice crops. Because they are dwarfed, with short stems, GRVs devote relatively more resources than tall plants to the growth of grains rather than stems, and are less likely to suffer yield losses from wind and rain damage. However, the growth of GRVs requires farmers to use large amounts of nitrogen fertilizers (氮肥) in their fields. These fertilizers are costly to farmers and cause extensive damage to the natural environment. The development of new GRVs combining high yields with reduced fertilizer requirements is thus a global agricultural goal.

Researchers at the University of Oxford and the Chinese Academy of Science have discovered for the first time a gene that can help reach the goal. Comparing 36 different dwarfed rice varieties, the researchers identified a novel natural gene that helps increase the rate at which plants make use of nitrogen from the soil. This gene, called GRF4, can increase the amount of a protein (蛋白质) in plant cells. GRF4 is actually a promoter that encourages the activity of other genes—genes that promote nitrogen uptake (摄入). Professor Harberd said, “Increasing GRF4 levels could contribute to an increase in the grain yields of GRVs, especially at low fertilizer input levels.”

The researchers say the latest rice variety containing GRVs should now become a major target for farmers in increasing crop yields and fertilizer use efficiency, with the aim of achieving the global grain yield increases necessary to feed a growing world population at a reduced environmental cost. It is very urgent at the moment.

Professor Harberd added, “This study is an example of how studying fundamental science objectives can lead rapidly to potential solutions to global challenges. It shows how the discovery can enable chances for food security and future new green revolutions.”

1. What can we know about dwarfed GRVs?

A．They have higher yield and taller stems.

B．They are a “double-edged sword”.

C．They are environmentally friendly.

D．They can be easily affected by weather.

2. What does “the goal” in Paragraph 3 refer to?

A．Increasing the rate of nitrogen use.

B．Producing cheaper nitrogen fertilizers.

C．Using fewer fertilizers to produce more grains.

D．Finding a gene to solve agricultural problems.

3. What can GRF4 directly do?

A．It promotes other genes' activity.

B．It increases the output of crops.

C．It takes in nitrogen from the soil.

D．It lowers fertilizer input levels.

4. What’s the urgent thing recently according to the researchers?

A．Decreasing the amount of fertilizers required by GRVs.

B．Encouraging farmers to adopt the new rice variety.

C．Calling on farmers to use effective fertilizers.

D．Focusing on the improvement of GRF4.

5. What’s the main idea of the text?

A．GRVs—a potential measure to achieve global food security.

B．The influence of agricultural development on the environment.

C．The importance of raising public awareness of global issues.

D．GRF4—foundation for new green revolutions.