1 . Engineers from China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp ( CASC ) are known for their achievements such as landing a robot to explore Mars. However, the latest display of their wisdom and knowledge took place on the ground at the Bird’s Nest during the opening ceremony for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. They were tasked with building 11 major components for the 140-minute ceremony.

The “ ice cube (立方) ” , a structure covered by LED screens, was an example of engineers using their knowledge to handle technical challenges. The main body weighed 180 tons and had to be raised gradually during the ceremony, which meant that engineers needed to design a reliable method to lift it. Designers and technicians developed a foldable frame capable of lifting the huge cube in just 43 seconds.

Another visual breakthrough is a ground-based display screen covering 10,100 square meters. They used industrial internet technologies to connect more than 40,000 screens and monitor their working conditions. It is essential that engineers should place four signal transmission lines for the screen to prepare sufficient backup capacity to ensure that it functions properly.

The torches (火把) carried by Chinese athletes during the final legs of the relay in the stadium were developed by researchers who used their knowledge and skills gained from developing rocket engines. The torches can burn among wind up to 28 meters per second. They will not go out during strong rain or in low temperatures. New flag poles in the stadium flying the Chinese national flag and the Olympic flag were also designed and made by space researchers.

There is no doubt that technology from space industry has had an unexpected effect on the performance stage during the opening ceremony. Famous filmmaker Zhang Yimou, director of the opening ceremony, said, “As a crucial technical company, it was responsible for the design and construction work for the performance stage. The designs and equipment provided by this company worked very well and far exceeded our expectations. ”

1. What might be a challenge in lifting the ice cube?

A．Making it more beautiful.	B．Protecting the LED screens.
C．Lifting it safely within a short time.	D．Using the engineers’ wisdom and skills.

2. What played a major role in keeping the display screen functioning well?

A．Industrial internet technologies.	B．Sufficient signal transmission capacity.
C．The area of the display screen.	D．A monitor for their working conditions.

3. What do Zhang Yimou’s words mean in the last paragraph?

A．He felt very satisfied with the opening ceremony.

B．He thought it was important to use space technology.

C．He thought little of the contribution of the company.

D．He felt confident in further using modern technology.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Using Space Technology in the Beijing Winter Olympics

B．The Breakthrough of Space Technology in China

C．Using Knowledge to Handle Technical Challenges

D．A Wonderful Ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics

2 . There’s just a 1 in 3, 700, 000 chance that a person will be killed by a shark in their lifetime, but the fear is still enough to have swimmers worrying about being perceived as prey (猎物). Now, new research supports the long-standing theory that when great whites do go in for a bite, it’s a case of “mistaken identity”.

A team of biologists from the UK and Australia compared videos of seals swimming with videos of humans swimming. They then edited the videos to simulate (模拟) a great white’s vision — the sharks are likely colorblind, and they can’t make out fine detail-and found that from the point of view of the ocean creatures, humans do indeed bear a strong resemblance to seals.

“Great white sharks are often regarded as ‘mindless killers’ and ‘fond of human flesh’. However, that's not the case — we just look like their food,” Laura Ryan, lead author of the study, said.

Despite their dissatisfying vision and spatial perception, great white sharks are highly visual creatures, and rely on motion and shadows when on the lookout for prey. To really see through the species’s eyes, the research team had to get creative.

“We attached a camera to an underwater scooter (轻便小车), and set it to travel at a typical speed for predatory sharks,” Ryan said in a statement. The researchers then paired the recordings with computer models to simulate how similar people look from a shark's view below the surface.

“I knew there would be some similarities, but not to the extent we have found,” Ryan said. “Specifically, I thought swimmers might not be as similar as surfers to seals as they typically aren’t involved in as many shark bites. However, the swimmers are also difficult to tell apart from seals.”

Ryan put it in a statement, “Understanding why shark bites occur can help us find ways to prevent them, while keeping both humans and sharks safer.”

1. What do the underlined words “the ocean creatures” in paragraph 2 refer to?

A．Seals.

B．Sharks.

C．Humans.

D．Swimmers.

2. Why did the researchers use the scooter with a camera?

A．To measure the speed of predatory sharks.

B．To take clear pictures of underwater seals.

C．To keep track of sharks’ travel underwater.

D．To see human beings through sharks' view.

3. What does the research find?

A．Swimmers are easy to tell apart from seals.

B．Swimmers are not as similar as surfers to seals.

C．The similarities between humans and seals are few.

D．Swimmers surprisingly resemble seals in sharks’ eyes.

4. Which of the following can be a suitable title for the text?

A．Why Sharks Attack Humans	B．Are Shark Bites Common?
C．How Sharks Hunt for Food	D．Are Sharks Really Dangerous?

3 . A recent story on TikTok showed how two neighbors found companionship during the lockdown because of the pandemic (疫情), thanks to a shared love of the piano.

The story started when Giorgio Lo Porto heard his neighbor playing the piano through their dividing wall. Lo Porto, an Italian living in London, decided to reach out to his neighbor and left a note asking him or her to play My Heart Will Go On. The mystery neighbor agreed, leading Lo Porto to send another note suggesting they play a duet (二重奏) together from the comfort of their own homes. The mystery neighbor started playing the piano at 2:00 pm, and when he stopped after finishing a part of a song, Lo Porto continued. Over time the duets between the two complete strangers became a regular weekend appointment.

Weeks later, the pair finally met and it was better than expected. The mystery pianist happened to be a 78-year-old Polish man named Emil, who was living in temporary accommodation until his house was sold. He lost his wife in December due to COVID-19 and all he had left was the piano. And the reason why he played at 2: 00 pm every weekend was that he and his wife used to do that.

The pair finished a final duet together — Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata — before Emil moved out at the end of February.

While this is heartwarming in itself, the story has a heartbreaking ending: On March 14, Lo Porto shared that his old neighbor had passed away in his sleep. He said, “Now he is reunited with his wife.”

While saying goodbye to Emil, Lo Porto wrote, “Dear Emil, I knew very little about you, but you changed my life. You gave me back my passion, and we shared that with the world. You’ll be in my heart. I’ll keep playing, thinking of how powerful music can be. You said I was your light, but you’ve been mine, too. Bye, Emil.”

1. What happened after Lo Porto left the second note for Emil?

A．They composed a new song based on a classic.

B．They reached out to neighbors to cheer them up.

C．They shared their playing skills with TikTokers.

D．They performed music together through the wall.

2. Why did Emil play the piano at a special time?

A．To upload his updates.	B．To remember his wife.
C．To advertise his house.	D．To comfort strangers.

3. What is the sad part of the story in the author’s opinion?

A．Emil's passing away.	B．Lo Porto’s departure.
C．The pair’s final performance.	D．The unfamiliarity between the pair.

4. What does Lo Porto mainly convey at last?

A．He admired Emil’s ambition.	B．It is easy to say goodbye.
C．Emil positively influenced him.	D．Music is a universal language.

4 . Shaine is not your average 16-year-old. In fact, she has turned her love of animals into a _______ to make a big difference in the lives of _______ pets. In her spare time, Shaine makes wheelchairs for dogs and cats.

For many pet owners, the cost of buying mobility (移动) equipment is not _______, so many dogs get _______ because they’re disabled. Wheelchairs usually go for more than $1, 000. But Shaine only _______ for the parts. She does this through the nonprofit that she _______ in 2020.

“I really had to _______ that she took the money at least for the _______,” Jennifer said. Jennifer’s dog was born with front legs shorter than her back legs and needed a way to be mobile before and after _______ surgery. Latham said, “If she isn’t mobile, we’ll kill her, and that shouldn’t be a(n) __________.”

Shaine was taking a(n) __________ science class in her high school. When a class discussion __________ exploring careers, she was __________ unsure what direction she wanted to go in. She thought about starting her own animal __________ after discovering animal wheelchairs, and the idea __________.

Shaine is __________ building a wheelchair for a dog named Scooter from Saudi Arabia. Scooter was at risk for __________ sores (疮) on his back legs that could have led to __________. Now, he is getting a new __________ in life. She has already made 10 devices that have given the gift of mobility to disabled pets. Her goal is to make some __________ of wheelchairs to animal shelters.

1.

A．mission

B．session

C．search 1

D．burden

2.

A．used

B．favored

C．abandoned

D．disabled

3.

A．flexible

B．affordable

C．reasonable

D．logical

4.

A．held up

B．taken up

C．held down

D．put down

5.

A．pays

B．prepares

C．charges

D．sends

6.

A．opened

B．respected

C．assumed

D．convinced

7.

A．order

B．promise

C．prove

D．insist

8.

A．discoveries

B．materials

C．benefits

D．advantages

9.

A．creative

B．direct

C．corrective

D．abundant

10.

A．commitment

B．excuse

C．responsibility

D．option

11.

A．home

B．animal

C．plant

D．community

12.

A．involved

B．tolerated

C．suggested

D．postponed

13.

A．traditionally

B．professionally

C．originally

D．constantly

14.

A．training

B．rescue

C．recreation

D．employment

15.

A．took off

B．dropped off

C．held back

D．fell behind

16.

A．casually

B．constantly

C．temporarily

D．currently

17.

A．organizing

B．dotting

C．developing

D．scratching

18.

A．inferences

B．infections

C．rejections

D．limits

19.

A．sense

B．appointment

C．start

D．surprise

20.

A．donations

B．collections

C．designs

D．records

5 . International Women's Day is March 8. The first celebration was held in 1911, and the event was recognized by the United Nations starting in 1975.

It's a great time to think about the origin of the word "woman". Some people think the word “woman" is a compound(混合)of the words“womb”and“man". Not so. Rather,it's a compound of "wife" and "man", a combination that can be traced back to Old English. You see, when Old English was first being spoken in the 5th century AD, there were two distinct words for men and women: "wer" meant "adult male",and "wif” meant “adult female". There was a third word,“man", which simply meant "person"or "human being”. These words could be combined:“wer" plus“man"(in the form of "waepman")meant "adult male person" and“wif” plus"man”("wilman") meant “adult female person”.

Those middle forms,“wimnan"and "wommon"with the two M's in the middle, remind me of Noah Webster's efforts to simplify English spelling by suggesting changing the spelling "woman” to“wimmen" to have the spelling better match the pronunciation. He put that in his 1806 Compendious Dictionary o f the English Language, but it didn't become popular.

And the Old English word for "adult male" evolved into a simplified form. The compound word "weapman" melted into the simple word we use today: "man".

Maybe the lesson to take from all this is that the role of women in society has always been complex. Whatever the case, the word "woman" today was originally a compound of the Old English words for"woman” and “human being”.

1. Where can you find the first source of the word "woman"?

A．In paragraph 1.

B．In paragraph 2.

C．In paragraph 3.

D．In paragraph 4.

2. Why did Webster suggest changing the spelling "woman" to "wimmen"?

A．To link the spelling to the pronunciation.

B．To keep up with the times more closely.

C．To satisfy the readers’ requests

D．To make it easy to pronounce.

3. When did the spelling "woman" started?

A．By the 1600s.	B．In the 5th century AD,
C．In 1809.	D．By the Middle English period

4. What is the purpose of the author in writing the text?

A．To tell us the origin of Women's Day.

B．To tell us the history of the word "woman".

C．To stress the roles women are playing

D．To teach us the development of a language

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。

I’m not Chinese, but I love Chinese New Year. There are many fun New Year     1     (celebrate), but nothing quite matches the excitement of the lion dance which can wake up the spirit     2     (complete).

The sound of the drums,       3     you can feel throughout your entire body, is quite inspiring. The two performers are very flexible. But it is actually very difficult as the lion head is very heavy and being the     4     (low)part of the lion is tiring as he has to bend his back and also carry     5     person in front sometimes. The lion head is made with paper over a bamboo frame,       6     (cover)in gauze (纱布), and decorated with beautifully-colored materials.

The lion dance     7     (believe)to have first appeared in the Qianlong Emperor's dream during his Southern tour, and he ordered an animal     8     (make)in the likeness of his description and used in festivals from then on.

I love all about the lion dance. The other day, I saw a film about a left-behind teenager who insisted on pursuing his dreams despite difficulties and     9     (succeed)in lion dance. As Master Xu translates: “Heaven has made us talents; we’re not made     10     vain.”

7 . Skeleton is one of the three sliding sports at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, alongside the luge(单雪橇)and bobsleigh(大雪橇). With only six medals up for grabs, skeleton has the fewest events at the Winter Games—which means competition will be fierce.

The sport of skeleton has its roots in the most popular winter pastime: sleighing. In the mid-19^th century, British and American holidaymakers built the first toboggan(平底雪橇)run in Davos in 1882, and thus the sport of sleighing began.

Two years later, in 1884, the famed Cresta Run—a natural ice skeleton racing toboggan track—was built in St. Moritz, Switzerland(the course has hosted the annual Grand National championships since 1885).

In 1892, a new sledge made entirely of steel was introduced, and some claim that its bony appearance gave the sledge and the sport the name ‘skeleton’.

Men’s skeleton was first introduced on the Olympic program in the 1928 Games in St. Moritz. But due to the sport only being available at the Cresta Run at the time, it fell into obscurity(默默无闻)while the luge and bobsleigh grew in popularity. However, in 2002, the skeleton was reintroduced as a men’s and women’s event at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, and has remained a part of the Olympic program ever since.

While Great Britain has the most medals(nine)in skeleton competition at the Olympics, the top spot belongs to the United States(eight medals)by virtue of having four silvers to Great Britain’s one(both nations have three golds, while Britain has five bronze medals, and the United States one).

Great Britain is the only nation to have won a medal every time skeleton has featured at the Olympic Games, and has won at least one medal in each of the five contests of women’s skeleton since its introduction.

1. How many events does skeleton have in the Olympics?

A．Two.

B．Three.

C．Five.

D．Six.

2. When did skeleton first appear?

A．In 1882.

B．In1885.

C．In1892.

D．In 1928.

3. Why did skeleton fall into obscurity?

A．Because its material steel was rare.

B．Because there was only one run for it.

C．Because only men could take part in it.

D．Because it was not on the Olympic program.

4. What makes America top Great Britain in skeleton at the Olympics?

A．The number of medals.	B．The composition of medals.
C．The virtue of the athletes.	D．The times of hosting the Olympics.

8 . People kept coming into St. Stephen’s asking for help with car repairs. Oh, this is obviously an urgent _________. What if I opened a non-profit auto garage that offered _________repairs?

So I _________ myself at Dunwoody College of Technology in the spring of 2008. I knew I had to try to make my idea a _________. However, I was a middle-aged woman and knew _________ about mechanics. _________, none of the guys rushed to be my lab partner. The only thing I could do was watch my classmates and _________ what they did.

One day we were _________ to flare (扩口) brake lines. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t do it. “Hey, what’s taking so long?” Mr. Du Vai _________ from across the room. My hands were __________ so badly that I couldn’t hold the tube __________. And tears streamed down my cheeks. At the end of the __________, the other students trooped out. I went to Mr. Du Vai.

“My __________ doesn’t work this way,” I said. “I’m giving up.”

He glared at me. “I’m not going to let you __________!” he said, his voice rising. “I believe in you. You can do this. I’m going to watch you walk across that stage as a __________ in two years. Now get over there and flare those brake lines.”

Tried again. And again. On the fourth try, I __________.

Today I __________ a non-profit called The Lift Garage. Our __________ are about 75 percent less than what a for-profit shop would charge. We’ve __________ low-income families more than two million dollars in car repairs.

Some people want to follow in our __________. I could never have pictured any of this happening. Good thing has a much better imagination!

1.

A．discovery

B．promise

C．lesson

D．need

2.

A．affordable

B．free

C．essential

D．capital

3.

A．imagined

B．examined

C．found

D．absented

4.

A．dream

B．fashion

C．strategy

D．reality

5.

A．something

B．anything

C．nothing

D．everything

6.

A．Hopefully

B．Naturally

C．Luckily

D．Surprisingly

7.

A．copy

B．check

C．detect

D．grade

8.

A．forced

B．employed

C．assigned

D．permitted

9.

A．whispered

B．stated

C．argued

D．yelled

10.

A．shaking

B．tied

C．cut

D．waving

11.

A．open

B．straight

C．flat

D．steady

12.

A．day

B．class

C．term

D．year

13.

A．tool

B．brain

C．idea

D．car

14.

A．ask

B．relax

C．search

D．quit

15.

A．teacher

B．helper

C．graduate

D．failure

16.

A．made it

B．got it

C．turned around

D．fell down

17.

A．spot

B．launch

C．donate

D．sponsor

18.

A．debts

B．hopes

C．bills

D．efforts

19.

A．saved

B．left

C．owed

D．repaid

20.

A．opinions

B．footsteps

C．details

D．interests

9 . 24 Solar Terms: 5 things about Major Snow

Major Snow, the 21st solar term of the year, which falls on Dec 7 this year. During Major Snow, the snow becomes heavy and begins to accumulate on the ground. The temperature drops significantly. Here are 5 things you should know about Major Snow.

Snowy winter

The snow in North China may last a whole day, breaking tree branches and blocking the road. In the south, snowflakes fall and the world turns white. A proverb about the snow says, "A timely snow promises a good harvest".     1    

    2    

The red plum blossoms (梅花) in contrast with the white snowy world is a feast for the eyes and have inspired many great poems. The plum blossom, which originated in China, is respected in Chinese culture for its bravery against severe winters.

Eating lamb

Lamb is a favorite food for Chinese people during Major Snow.     3     People in Chongqing like to have potted lamb soup with their families and friends. Nanjing residents like to stew lamb with some plants to make it more nutritious.

Making sausages

During Major Snow, people in southern China make sausages, an important part of preparation for the Spring Festival.    4    . The sausage should be dried in the shade, and is edible after a week.

Preventing respiratory (呼吸道的) illness

During this period, Chinese people watch for outbreaks of respiratory illness, which can be prevented by wearing a warm scarf to protect the neck and properly drinking water.    5    . At the same time, don't drink cold water after exercise.

A．Writing poems about snow

B．Appreciating plum blossoms

C．But you should not drink too much water at a time

D．Drink as much water as you can whenever possible

E．The best meat for this delicacy comes from the bottom of the pig

F．As the snow covers the ground, the low winter temperature kills pests

G．It promotes blood circulation and provides protection against the cold

10 . A first grade teacher from Suffolk, Virginia found a way to teach her students about black history by taking them back in time to meet celebrated black figures. For each day of Black History Month, LaToya McGriff has dressed up like a famous African-American pioneer and taught her students about their significant contributions to the U.S.

On Monday, February 3, she dressed up as Virginian native Mary Jackson and began her creative class. “She was a mathematician who worked as an aeronautical (航空的) engineer whom people referred to as a human computer,” McGriff wrote on Facebook. She shared a photo of herself in 1960s clothing, like Jackson would have worn when she worked for NASA.

Jackson was one of the three “human computers” described in the book and film Hidden Figures, which revealed the African-American female mathematicians whose efforts helped put men on the moon.

Once McGriff started dressing up, she kept going. By February 18, McGriff's Black History Month lessons were starting to gain attention online. She was interviewed by CBS News, and said she works at a majority-black school and “wanted students to see that people who look like them contribute”.

She said that the seeds for this project were planted in her years ago by a teacher who did something similar. “That’s what I remember, having a teacher come dressed as a storybook character. Well, I could dress up as a different figure, an African-American figure from the past or present so they can see themselves represented,” McGriff said.

“My students will want to know who I will be tomorrow. Today, they just said ‘Are you going to be so-and-so?’ Because they want to know and kind of prepare themselves for it so that they can tell me something they know about the person,” she said.

McGriff said bringing history alive kept her students curious and asking questions, and she’s hoping the overall project will give them the confidence to know that, like these historic figures, they can be great, too.

1. What can we learn about LaToya McGriff from the text?

A．Her students are all black.

B．She is a primary school teacher.

C．Her lessons receive little attention online.

D．She posted a 1960s-style photo of Mary Jackson on Facebook.

2. What is the fifth paragraph mainly about?

A．The result of McGriff's project.

B．McGriff’s reflections on teaching.

C．How McGriff came up with this teaching method.

D．Why McGriff’s students can see themselves represented.

3. How are her students according to McGriff’s words in the last two paragraphs?

A．They have a lot of energy and determination.

B．They have a strong desire to know about something.

C．They give serious attention to what is quite challenging.

D．They show the ability to invent and develop original ideas.

4. Why is McGriff carrying out the project?

A．To help her students get high grades.

B．To introduce African history to her students.

C．To stress big figures’ contributions to the US.

D．To encourage her students to trust themselves to do better.