1 . Benefits of Walking in Cold Weather

As winter blankets the world in a coat of ice and fresh cold air, the idea of going outdoors fora walk might seem less attractive.     1     Walking in cold weather comes with a lot of health benefits that might just make it the perfect season to put on your shoes and hit the roadway.

Strengthened Immune System

Remaining in colder temperatures can actually improve your immune (免疫的) system. As your body adapts to the cold, it produces more white blood cells.     2     Regular cold-weather walks might help make a strong er immune reaction, letting you stay healthier throughout the winter season.

High Spirits

The winter blues, also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), can affect many individuals during the colder months. Fortunately, walking in cold weather has been linked to improved emotion and reduced signs of sadness. The fresh air and physical activity inspire the production of endorphins, the body’s natural emotion enhancers (增强剂).     3    

Improved health and energy level

Cold-weather walking can provide an excellent heart workout. The combination of light movement and the body’s reaction to the cold increases heart health by improving circulation (血液循环) and lowering blood pressure. Over time, this can make your blood system healthier.

    4     Instead, walking in the fresh air can make your senses energetic and increase overall energy levels. The physical activity and stay in natural light work together to reduce feelings of tiredness, leaving you feeling more active and ready to deal with the day.

So, as the winter winds blow and snowflakes fall, consider wearing your warm clothes and taking a walk outside.     5     It is also helpful to mental wellbeing and overall energy.

A．The cold weather does not cost energy.

B．They play a key role in fighting off diseases.

C．Winter, especially, is an opportunity to go slowly.

D．They leave you feeling more positive and excited.

E．However, don’t let the cold temperatures prevent you.

F．Let each walk be a big step towards a healthier, happier you.

G．The benefits of walking in cold weather go beyond physical health.

2 . Google says an AI-powered system it created is helping improve traffic flow in major cities. The system, called Project Green Light, is now in use in 12 cities. The project aims to save energy and reduce air pollution, or emissions (排放量), from cars.

Google first announced the program in 2021, when it was testing the system in four areas of Britain. Since then, the company has kept increasing Project Green Light. Among cities now taking part in the program are Bangalore, Budapest, Jakarta, Manchester, Haifa, Hamburg, Rio de Janeiro, and Seattle.

In an online announcement, Google’s Yossi Matias explained the latest progress. He noted that the system is being tested in areas with serious traffic problems. Generally, this is at major crossings with heavy traffic and complex traffic lights. These areas where vehicles start and stop are known as crossroads.

The company said research has shown that at such crossroads, car emissions can be 29 times higher than on open roads. In addition, Google’s own research found that vehicles that must stop and start account for about half of those emissions.

Project Green Light uses individual (个人的) driver data from Google Maps. This data is connected with AI methods to produce models of each crossroads where the system is in place, the company says. The data from Google Maps is also used to create another model on how different traffic lights interact (相互作用).

The modeling process for crossroads considers several things. These include the structure of streets, traffic conditions, signal scheduling and how the vehicles interact with lights.

The models are used to reduce stop and start times and save more driving time, a process called optimization (最优化). Google says one goal is to improve several crossroads at the same time to create “waves of green lights” for vehicles on the road.

1. What did Yossi Matias intend to tell us?

A．When the system started.	B．Where the system is used.
C．How advanced the system is.	D．How heavy the city traffic is.

2. What’s the problem with the cars at the crossroads?

A．They slow down the traffic.	B．They cause more traffic accidents.
C．They often break traffic rules.	D．They make much pollution.

3. What is the goal of Project Green Light?

A．To make driving cars safer.	B．To make the street cleaner.
C．To make the traffic smoother.	D．To make people drive more.

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

A．AI Is Changing Looks of Cities

B．AI-Powered System Is Improving City Traffic

C．City’s Traffic Light System Needs Improvement

D．City Streets Are Getting More and More Crowded

3 . Group Visits and Tours

The Museum of Fine Arts Houston(MFAH) welcomes groups to experience the Museum’s collections and exhibitions. Discounts (折扣) for self-guided group visits and expert-guide d group tours are there for those who book 10 or more tickets.

From the great art collections of the Museum of Fine Arts Houston—with objects crossing the world and human creative history—to the ever-changing schedule of thematic exhibitions, the Museum offers a lot of tour topics to suit your interests. Visit as a self-guided group, and you and your guests can explore at your own pace. For a deeper exploration into the galleries, request (要求) an expert-guided tour.

Policy

The Museum offers tours and packages to groups of 10 or more for the Museum’s collections and selected exhibitions. Membership benefits and free individual admission may not be used at the same time with school or group visits. Tours led by guides who don’t work in the Museum are not allowed; please contact groupsales@mfah.org in advance of your visit for all tour requests.

Reservations

For price information, contact groupsales@mfah.org or 713-639-7878. To make a reservation (预定) request, complete the group visit request form. At least one-week advance notice is needed for self-guided visits and two weeks for expert-guided tours. Reservations are confirmed with an order number and decided by advance payment.

Looking for school tours? Find information here or email schooltours@mfah.org with your questions.

Main address: 1001 Bissonnet, Houston, Texas 77005

MFAH Information Line: 713-639-7300

1. How can you get discounted tickets for the Museum?

A．By visiting it with an expert.	B．By buying at least ten tickets.
C．By booking tickets in advance.	D．By paying a visit with your family.

2. Who will fail to visit the Museum?

A．Groups led by a guide they bring.	B．Children without their parents’ company.
C．Those coming with a clear visit plan.	D．Visitors without membership.

3. What should you do if you want to have a self-guided visit?

A．Call 713-639-7878.	B．Buy the ticket two weeks ahead.
C．Visit schooltours@mfah.org.	D．Pay for your ticket in advance.

4 . The big French pet care company AgroBiothers Laboratoire will no longer sell very small containers for raising fish.

The company has a 27 percent share of the French market for products used by people who raise animals at home. But it said it would no longer sell any fishbowls that hold less than 15 liters of water. They will only offer four-sided ones.

The company said it was animal abuse (虐待) to put fish in small bowls without added oxygen and filtration. Filtration is the process of removing small waste from the water with a device.

AgroBiothers chief Matthieu Lambeaux recently used the term “impulse”—meaning a sudden strong desire to do something—to describe why many adults buy goldfish. “People buy a goldfish for their kids on impulse, but if they knew what torture it is, they would not do it. Turning round and round in a small bowl drives fish crazy and kills them quickly,” Lambeaux added.

Goldfish can live up to 30 years and grow to about 25 cm in large aquariums (养鱼缸) or outdoor ponds. But in very small bowls they often die within weeks or months. Lambeaux said goldfish are social animals that need other fish, lots of space and clean water. He added that having an aquarium requires some special equipment and knowledge.

Germany and several other European countries have long banned (禁止) fishbowls, but France has no laws on the problem.

Lambeaux explained the company’s decision further by saying, “We cannot educate all our customers by explaining that keeping fish in a bowl is terrible. We consider that it is our responsibility to no longer give customers that choice.”

“There is demand for fishbowls,” he said, “but the reality is that what we offer children is the possibility of seeing goldfish die slowly.”

1. What makes the French company stop selling certain fishbowls?

A．Their size.	B．Their price.
C．Their weight.	D．Their popularity.

2. What does the underlined word “torture” probably in paragraph 4 mean?

A．Progress.	B．Pleasure.
C．Difficulty.	D．Suffering.

3. What is paragraph 5 mainly about?

A．The age goldfish can reach.	B．Costs of keeping goldfish.
C．Proper living conditions for goldfish.	D．The advice on how to choose fishbowls.

4. What does the company prefer to do based on Lambeaux’s words?

A．Raise the price of the fishbowls.	B．Remove the chances of harming goldfish.
C．Keep goldfish outside in the wild.	D．Educate parents to care for goldfish.

5 . Leon Deane developed pancreatic (胰腺) cancer. Doctors gave the man only months to ________. One of his biggest ________ was that he wouldn’t live to see his youngest son, Ewan, graduate from high school. The teenager was still in his junior year at Jellico High School. However, Ewan made a(n) ________, saying that he’d graduate, and that he’d make something out of himself. He would ________ his word.

________, his school was willing to help. Jellico High School arranged a(n) ________ graduation ceremony that Leon would be able to ________. The event was ________ quickly, and it couldn’t have been more ________ to the student and his family. Leon ________ himself as extremely excited, happy and grateful.

“I’d like to get something done before this ________ is over. And his graduation is one of them,” said the father, who added that his son had made him as ________ as he could be.

A difficult season of grieving (悲伤) and goodbyes awaits Leon and his family, but Ewan’s early graduation has given them a ________ moment to hold onto. It ________ the world to both father and son that they were able to ________ this milestone (里程碑) together.

1.

A．consider

B．live

C．change

D．recover

2.

A．motivations

B．dreams

C．impressions

D．regrets

3.

A．promise

B．proposal

C．contribution

D．excuse

4.

A．spread

B．break

C．keep

D．record

5.

A．Thankfully

B．Similarly

C．Generally

D．Initially

6.

A．secret

B．official

C．familiar

D．early

7.

A．afford

B．attend

C．hold

D．follow

8.

A．put off

B．put aside

C．put together

D．put forward

9.

A．important

B．formal

C．reliable

D．convenient

10.

A．imagined

B．struck

C．described

D．removed

11.

A．training

B．journey

C．ceremony

D．performance

12.

A．proud

B．generous

C．friendly

D．ambitious

13.

A．restful

B．humorous

C．decisive

D．remarkable

14.

A．predicted

B．witnessed

C．meant

D．touched

15.

A．admire

B．label

C．design

D．share

6 . How to Stay Healthy and Active

It is important to remain healthy and active throughout life, especially as you age. Try making a few changes that you think you will be able to manage.     1     Then they will become part of your natural routine

Inspire yourself by understanding the many benefits of exercise. When you don’t feel like working out, it might help to focus on the reasons why you made the decision to get fit. Exercise not only controls weight, but helps fight disease, improves the immune system, and gives you more energy.     2    

Choose an activity you enjoy. Many people find that going to a gym several times a week is a convenient way to exercise, but there are many other ways to stay healthy and active.     3     You might also consider taking lessons for something you’d like to learn: dancing, surfing, or ice skating.

    4     Having an “exercise friend” will help you both to stay motivated, and will make your workout time more enjoyable. For a fun weekend activity, get some friends together to play basketball, softball, volleyball, or tennis.

Set realistic goals.     5     And meeting your goal milestones will give you a wonderful boost of confidence and a feeling of accomplishment; however, be sure to break your overall goals down into small, manageable steps, so you won’t become discouraged.

A．Seek for the company of a friend.

B．Spend more time with your family.

C．And stick to them for a couple of months.

D．Setting goals for yourself will help keep you motivated.

E．Staying fit can markedly improve your overall well-being.

F．Exercise also improves your mood and helps you sleep better.

G．Running, walking, and swimming are all great ways to stay fit.

7 . 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。

One day as I drove toward my home in a small Colorado town, I passed the local bus stop. Several passengers had already exited a bus and were making their way to parked cars or setting off on foot to their various destinations.

I pulled up as a group of people crossed the road in front of me. As I watched, I noticed a thin, shabbily dressed old lady struggling with a large suitcase.

She managed to carry it for a few yards before setting it down on the ground. After resting for a few moments, she picked it up with the other hand and pressed on, stopping now and then to rest and change hands. When the traffic started to move again, I saw the same elderly lady still struggling with the overweight suitcase. This was before the days when suitcases were fitted with little wheels that enabled travelers to pull their luggage behind them with the least amount of effort.

Now, witnessing this lady and remembering similar struggles I had experienced before when traveling, I pulled up alongside her and leaned over to call out through the open passenger window, “Excuse me, . Would you like a lift?”

She stopped and stared at me suspiciously without answering. I repeated, “Do you want a lift?” She still hesitated and then started to walk slowly toward me, dragging her suitcase along the road. “I’m going right into the town,” I said. “If you want to tell me where you are going, I’ll drop you off. That suitcase looks awfully heavy.”

注意：1. 续写词数应为150个左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
“Well, all right,” she answered in an almost unfriendly voice.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Finally, she uttered (说出) some words, “What do I owe you? I don’t have much.”
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8 . If you’re stuck in an emergency or would like to prepare for an approaching disaster, below are the apps you need on your phone or tablet.

Life360: Family Location Tracker

Location tracking is essential during any emergency, and Life360 is one of the best phone tracking apps out there to get the job done. You can use it to monitor the whereabouts (去向) of your friends and family and even get alerts (警报) when they leave and arrive at certain locations that you set up

AccuWeather: Alerts for All Weather Types

Most disasters are weather-related, and AccuWeather is one of the best all-purpose weather apps. It provides timely emergency alerts for all sorts of events, making it a great hurricane tracker app and a general weather app for showing when it will snow, rain, flood, etc.

Zello: Walkie-Talkie App for Quick Calls

Zello is a walkie-talkie app that makes staying in contact with individuals and groups of people really easy. It’s also helpful for facilitating communication between kids and the elderly who might know how to use a phone properly. When you’re actively connected to a Zello channel, you can lock your phone and still hear it when someone talks, which makes this especially helpful during emergencies.

GasBuddy: Gas Station Locator

Shopping for the cheapest gas station isn’t something you have time to do during an emergency, but you still need gas. GasBuddy is the easiest way to find the cheapest gas stations around where you are or where you’re headed, and you can even save money each time you fill up.

1. What is Life360?

A．A social communication app.	B．A tracking app.
C．A search engine.	D．A job-seeking app.

2. How can AccuWeather help?

A．By providing the latest news.	B．By foretelling extreme weather.
C．By finding the cheapest gas stations.	D．By preventing weather emergency.

3. Which favors the seniors?

A．Life360.

B．AccuWeather.

C．Zello.

D．GasBuddy.

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，并将答案填写在答题卡上。

The Hangzhou Asian Games,     1     are the first carbon-neutral Asiad in history, are set to deliver a legacy (遗产) with long-term benefits for the host city and beyond, according to the Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee (HAGOC).

Sustainability (持续性) has been     2     (large) integrated into all aspects of the planning and operations of the Games — from     3     (construct)to transportation and energy sources, right through to ensuring minimal waste. Green energy is used to power all venues (场地). Methanol fuels the main flame of the Games, electric     4     (vehicle) transport athletes and media between venues, a recyclable water cleaning system is put     5     use in the swimming pools,     6     a rain retention system (蓄雨系统) operates at all venues. From the beginning of the preparations, HAGOC learned about green efforts from all over the world, including some Chinese cities. They realized that a green Games should not only be     7     concept, but also a commitment and an action that is sustainable, and set a trend for     8     (lead) an environmentally friendly living.

    9     (achieve) these goals, HAGOC launched an extensive carbon-offset program that encourage the public to help the Games achieve a negative carbon footprint. Since the preparations for the Asiad began, more than 200 million people from all sectors of society     10     (respond) to the call for a “Green Asian Games” and participated in green initiatives for the event.

10 . The damage brought by wildfires reaches everything that lives in or near a burning field or forest, including microbes (微生物). A better understanding of how microbial communities change and grow after a fire could help researchers predict how bacteria and fungi will deal with major environmental changes.

A study published this week in mSystems suggests that dispersal (传播)—through air or rain, for example—plays a major role in microbial succession (更迭) after a big fire. Researchers at the University of California, Irvine, spent a year tracking how microbial communities returned to the leaf litter in a burned field. They found that the emerging microbial communities in the soil surface changed with the seasons and the reappearance of plants, and that the gathering of those communities was largely driven by dispersal.

“We know with climate change and human activity we’re disturbing our ecosystems more and more,” said Kristin Barbour, lead author on the new study and a Ph. D. student at the University of California, Irvine. “Microbes, especially those in the surface soil, perform a number of really key ecosystem processes, like carbon and nitrogen cycling.” Bacteria and fungi, she said, break down the dead and decaying (腐烂的) plant matter on the floor of a field or forest.

Barbour originally set out to study microbial dispersal in the context of droughts, but her plans changed after an unexpected wildfire burned a field site at Loma Ridge, near Irvine. What seemed like a trouble became an opening. “We wanted to take advantage of this disturbance, especially since wildfire is becoming more frequent in many parts of the world,” Barbour said.

1. Which of the following depends on microbes?

A．Climate change.

B．Wildfire control.

C．Ecosystem cycling.

D．Pollution prevention.

2. What made Barbour give up her original plan?

A．Microbes can’t survive in extreme droughts.

B．Her work is often interrupted by changing weather.

C．She couldn’t get the government’s support.

D．A wildfire accidentally broke out in a certain place.

3. What does the underlined word “opening” in the last paragraph mean?

A．Opportunity.

B．Dream.

C．Thought.

D．Solution.

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

A．Wildfire is becoming more frequent.	B．How microbes return after a wildfire.
C．Wildfires do much damage to microbes.	D．Microbes play a key role in ecosystem.