1 . Climate change is driving increasing wildfires, and those burns make up a large share of planet-heating pollution. Now, a company in Berlin uses AI with sensors (传感器) in forests to find minor (微小的) burns before they spread into big fires.

With nose-like sensors, fires can be discovered in their early stages, making it easier to put out them before they become too large or difficult to control. The company Dryad has set up 50 sensors across various locations, from the Middle East to California. Recently, the sensors discovered a small fire in Lebanon within just 30 minutes.

Another way to stop big fires is to set “controlled burns” outside of fire season to clean some trees and grass that may become fuel for fires. These controlled burns are usually carefully planned and monitored by burn managers to make sure that they are safe and do not get out of control.

But to do the work, burn managers need to know how the fire might behave so it doesn’t lose control. “They need to know things like the weather patterns, road conditions and the amount of moisture (水分) in the plants,” says Yolanda Gil, a researcher at the University of Southern California.

After interviewing fire scientists, Gil and their team used AI to create a smart assistant to help burn managers decide where and when to make controlled burns. “It’s kind of like Apple’s Siri. But for burn managers, the technology can help them understand the situation in an area and provide a way to make a safe controlled burn.” Gil says.

1. What is the purpose of AI from the Berlin company?

A．To monitor climate change.	B．To work out the causes of a wildfire.
C．To cut down on pollution in forests.	D．To prevent fires in their early stages.

2. What do we know about the “controlled burns”?

A．They can promote the growth of trees.	B．They can hurt burn managers anytime.
C．They can help clear away fuel for wildfires.	D．They are often carried out during fire season.

3. Which of the following information do burn managers need to know?
① Road conditions.       ② Weather patterns.     ③ The number of plants.       ④ The temperature of the burns.

A．①②

B．②③

C．②④

D．③④

4. What does Gil think of the smart assistant?

A．It is difficult to operate.	B．It is a helpful tool.
C．It is smarter than Siri.	D．It needs to be improved.

2 . Street markets around the world

Do you want to buy a new pair of sunglasses? The latest CD? Or something for dinner this evening? Nowadays, you can shop by telephone or through your home computer; but for many people, the most exciting way to shop is also the most traditional — at a street market. You can find markets anywhere in the world — here are five of them:

Every weekend, thousands of young people from all over London travel to Camden Market in an attractive area in the north of the city — it’s the place to go for street fashion, CDs, and tapes. But many people just go for the lively atmosphere!

There are many “floating markets” in Asia; perhaps the most famous is in Thailand, at a place called “Damnoen Saduak”, 100 km from the capital city, Bangkok. From six in the morning to the midday, every day, people sell fresh fruit and vegetables from their boats.

The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul , Turkey, is more than 500 years old and it has more than four thousand shops under one roof! The most popular items for tourists are the beautiful carpets. It’s open all day every day.

Many Belgians say that La Grand Place — in the center of the capital city, Brussels — is the most beautiful square in the world. It is the home of a colorful flower market — open every day except Monday. On Monday, instead of flowers, there’s a wonderful bird market!

One of the world’s most unusual markets is in Mexico City: at the Sonora Market. As well as toys, you can buy herbs and natural medicines which (they say) can help with anything — from problems at work to problems with your marriages! It’s open every day from early in the morning till late at night.

1. What is the main attraction of Camden Market in London for visitors?

A．Fresh fruits and vegetables	B．Beautiful carpets.
C．Street fashion, CDs and tapes	D．Natural medicines and herbs.

2. At what time of the day does the floating market in Damnoen Saduak, Thailand operate?

A．From every morning to late at night.	B．All day every day.
C．From six in the morning to midday.	D．Only on weekends.

3. What special market takes place at La Grand Place in Brussels on Mondays?

A．A flower market.	B．A bird market.
C．A toy market.	D．A carpet market.

3 . Brit Oliphant works as a teacher at Kula Elememtary School. Every year, Brit is given a nine- month window to connect with a group of new students. And with each batch (批) of new students, she hopes to have a positive impact on their lives. But Seth Snyder, was a tough nut to crack.

One day ,Brit showed her students a video of skateboarders going all out at a ramp (斜坡). Brit watched Seth’s face light up; she found their connection. Brit invited him to join her at the skate park after one day. Instead of excitement, Seth declined his teacher’s offer. In spite of that, Brit asked again a few weeks later before spring break. “What are you going to do?” she asked. “Are you going to skate?” “No,” Seth said, almost embarrassed. “I don’t have a skateboard.” Brit’s heart sank into her stomach.

Despite her best efforts, Brit beat herself up as she traveled to Encinitas, California. While in Encinitas, she shared Seth’s story with Zach Miller, one of her best friends. Zach offered to send a present to Seth: a used skateboard.

What began as two people coming together to do a good deed for one boy quickly blossomed into a grassroots effort. Zach would collect used equipment and ship it to Hawaii for Brit to hand out to the kids. And just like that, Boards 4 Bddies was born. It was almost too easy, Zach explained, because his friends, many of whom are professional skaters and surfers, are always looking to give away used skateboards but don’t know where to find a kid in need.

As for Brit, she sees skateboarding as another one of life’s classrooms. She wishes she could take her whole class to the skate park so they could see how others overcome their fears to achieve their goals. “I think that’s like the best social emotional learning you could ever give a kid,” Brit said. “Fall down, get up and try again is something that’s really hard to teach through a picture book.”

1. Why did Seth refuse his teacher’s invitation?

A．He had little interest in skating.

B．He didn’t have essential equipment.

C．He felt anxious around his teacher.

D．He planned a trip to Encinitas.

2. What does Board 4 Buddies do to help kids?

A．It builds ramps for kids.

B．It invites professional skaters to coach kids.

C．It designs skateboards for kids.

D．It collects used skateboards for kids.

3. What does Brit think of skateboarding?

A．It can reduce stress.

B．It helps with students’ balance.

C．It shows students how to overcome challenges.

D．It has a bad influence on students’ academic performance.

4. Which of following best describes Brit?

A．Committed.

B．Strict.

C．Humorous.

D．Adventurous.

4 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What did the woman do with the thief?

A．She pretended not to see him.

B．She fought with him.

C．She did as he asked.

2. What did the thief steal?

A．A necklace.

B．Some money.

C．Nothing.

3. What does the man advise the woman to do?

A．Fit a home alarm system.

B．Call the police.

C．Keep a dog.

4. What does the man say about the woman?

A．She is puzzled.

B．She is brave.

C．She is frightened.

5 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入适当的内容(1个单词)或所给单词的正确形式。

For urban dwellers living in concrete jungles, few things are more therapeutic (使人心情好转的) than a mindful walk in nature, especially a tropical jungle     1     (fill) with wonders and adventures.

That is     2     the tropical rainforest in Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture,     3     is known as the kingdom of flora and fauna located in China’s Yunnan province, is growing in     4    (popular) as a destination for weekend tours,     5     (attract) people from far and wide.

Once you step into the forest, you will be awed by what you are seeing and want to snap some pictures     6     (share) on social media. You would probably find your phone     7     signals, then you would realize how far away you already are from the urban hustle and bustle.

With the help of local guides, you could feast your eyes on various mesmerizing (有吸引力的) rainforest     8     (phenomenon) such as the strangling growth habit shared by those sprawling (蔓延的) strangler figs (无花果); “sky gardens” featuring epiphytes (附生植物) such as ferns, bromeliads, and orchids growing entwined (缠绕) on the trunks of bigger trees; and crown shyness (树冠羞避) that can     9     (see) among some tree species whose crowns maintain social     10     (distant) with each other to form a canopy with channel-like gaps.

6 . If you’ve ever been annoyed with package, you probably love the idea of a package-free grocery store. And zero waste at the supermarket isn’t such a crazy dream; a new store in Germany is promising exactly that.

The Original Unverpackt in Berlin is a project of Sara Wolf and Miena Glimbovski. They crowdfunded the project, and the idea proved so popular that they are more than doubly funded.

The store will sell food locally to reduce transportation costs and energy use. There are containers that can be reused, or better yet, you can bring your own. It’ll also carry non-food things like cleaning products and personal care items.

The German project isn’t the only grocery store fighting wasteful packaging. In.gredients, in Austin, Texas is the first zero-waste store. It offers things that are filled in customers’ own containers and it offers reusable containers too.

Of course, plenty of stores have been doing some version (版本) of reduced packaging for years. The First Alternative Natural Foods Co-Op in Corvallis, Oregon, where I do most of my shopping, offers all dry goods including baking goods and dried fruit and beans in bulk (散装), and plenty of others too, including tofu, cheese, eggs, honey, and butter oils, soaps and pet foods too. I bring my own containers, and a couple of produce (农产品) bags for small items. I’m probably using half or less than half of the packaging I used to shop at a Whole Foods in Connecticut before I moved.

So even if you don’t have a zero-waste grocery in your town, you can still cut down on the packaging you use by planning ahead, and patronizing those businesses that offer bulk-food buying. Farmers markets are great in this way too — you can give the farmer any packaging right back for reuse.

1. What is people’s attitude toward the Original Unverpackt?

A．Positive.

B．Doubtful.

C．Uncaring.

D．Neutral.

2. According to the passage, which of the following statements would the author most likely agree with?

A．Crowdfunded projects are generally unsuccessful.

B．Reducing packaging waste is beneficial for both the environment and consumers.

C．All grocery stores should adopt a zero-waste model immediately.

D．Shopping at Whole Foods in Connecticut is more sustainable than shopping at a zero-waste store.

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

A．Increasing.

B．Exchanging.

C．Balancing.

D．Visiting.

4. What is the main idea of the passage?

A．The rise of package-free grocery stores worldwide.

B．The Original Unverpackt in Berlin and its zero-waste concept.

C．The environmental impact of grocery shopping.

D．The benefits of shopping at farmers markets.

7 . Tech companies, like Microsoft, Dell, HP and Motorola, have already begun making their devices more repairable, getting ahead of Right to Repair laws that are very likely on the way. A sure sign is the order signed last year by the president of the USA. It directed the Federal Trade Commission to create Right to Repair rules.

In the past, Microsoft has actively lobbied (游说) against Right to Repair bills, but surprisingly, in October, Microsoft agreed to expand its repair choices, supplying access to parts and information needed for repairs. They have promised to make parts and service manuals available to the public by the end of 2022. Microsoft even promised to conduct a study evaluating the environmental impact of device repairability. “This is the first time we have seen a major company step up and make the promise,” says Kyle Wiens, CEO of repair guide site iFixit. “ Amazingly, instead of telling the activist shareholders to go away, Microsoft said we’re gonna do it.”

Right to Repair is a global movement that advocates for people’s right to repair their own electronic devices and extend the life of the devices. Advocates believe this is going to help solve the pressing problem of e-waste—used electronics that people no longer want — which is a major source of pollution. Activists advocate for laws that will force makers to increase device repairability.

The shareholders advocacy group called As You Sow drove Microsoft to increase device repairability using a tool often employed by climate activists. As shareholders, climate activists often introduce resolutions that other shareholders can vote on, thereby forcing companies to make changes. “It’s a smart strategy to use your position as a shareholder to raise these kinds of issues, because it demands a company response,” says Aaron Perzanowski, a law professor.

The positive response from companies like Microsoft, Perzanowski says, could be linked to a combination of public pressure, a desire to get ahead of upcoming laws and a growing understanding of the problem of electronic waste.

1. What can we infer about Right to Repair laws in the USA?

A．They have a very long way to go.	B．They are ignored by the president.
C．They may be adopted soon.	D．They are rejected by most tech companies.

2. What is the primary goal of the Right to Repair movement?

A．To reduce the cost of electronic devices.

B．To increase the lifespan of electronic devices through repairability.

C．To force manufacturers to produce more durable devices.

D．To encourage consumers to buy new devices more frequently.

3. What is main concern of the Right to Repair movement?

A．The high cost of electronic devices.	B．The environmental impact of e-waste.
C．The limited lifespan of electronic devices.	D．The lack of skilled repair technicians.

4. How did the shareholders advocacy group As You Sow influence Microsoft's decision?

A．By introducing a resolution that other shareholders could vote on.

B．By convincing Microsoft to increase the price of their devices.

C．By threatening to boycott Microsoft's products.

D．By lobbying the Federal Trade Commission on behalf of Microsoft.

8 . Communication is important in all families. Families with healthy communication form strong connections with one another.     1    .

Actually talk.

    2     For instance, in addition to answering “Fine” when your parents ask how school went, try adding an anecdote (轶事) about the day. This will help when you need to talk about the big things.

Ask them about their day.

This one can help you with the first point.     3    . If they’re stay-home parents, ask them about how the day at home went. Such small talk won’t be small to them. It’ll be a big deal, and they’ll appreciate it.

Do the small things.

When we say small things, we mean things like helping clear the dinner table, helping put away groceries, and not leaving personal belongings around the house. Those are little things, all of them.     4    , which can make things between you and your parents better.

Do the big things.

What we mean here is the basic stuff you hear from adults all the time — show up for school, or be respectful to teachers.     5    . That will be okay, because — based on tips 1-2 — you’ll be able to communicate about those things, clear up misunderstandings, and do better next time.

Tell them you love them

If you say that and hug them, well — you win.

A．This tip will make them seem more real to you.

B．We know you’re not perfect and you will make mistakes.

C．But, if you do those things, you’ll build up lots of goodwill.

D．This means taking part in real conversations with your parents.

E．It’s never too late to open those lines of communication back up.

F．The following tips can improve your communication with parents.

G．If they are workers, ask about their jobs.

9 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Why does the woman do the present job?

A．She lives near her workplace.

B．Her company pays very well.

C．She can learn some skills.

2. Which strange job does the woman prefer?

A．A hotel test sleeper.

B．An ice cream taster.

C．A dog food taster.

3. How many strange jobs does the man mention?

A．Four.

B．Five.

C．Six.

10 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. Where did George park his car?

A．At a square.

B．At a parking lot.

C．On a narrow street.

2. What was the time when he got out of his car?

A．At 4:20 pm.

B．At 4:40 pm.

C．At 5:00 pm.

3. Where did George put his keys?

A．In his pocket.

B．In his car.

C．On the bench.

4. Why was George unable to see his car at first?

A．Someone stole it.

B．It was behind another car.

C．He went to a wrong place.