1 . Wildfire season has begun in many places around the world. The dangerous smoke wildfires produce can spread far and wide. It blocks sunlight, poisons the air and damages the health of people and other living things.
Some of those living things could be the plants in gardens, says gardening expert Jessica Damiano, who writes gardening stories for the Associated Press. Damiano lives in New York City and recently experienced several days of very smoky air. Wildfires in eastern Canada were the source.
Damiano, like other people, limited the time she spent outdoors when the air quality was poor. She also wore a face covering when she had to go outside.
But the plants in her garden had no such escape. They had to breathe the poisoned air through the extremely small holes in their leaves.
Pollutants in smoke landing on plants can block sunlight, which is essential for photosynthesis (光合作用). Reduced photosynthesis results in reduced energy. That means slower growth. Additionally, smoke can also affect a plant’s ability to take in nutrients(营养物质).
Brooke Edmunds, a plant scientist and community horticulturalist with Oregon State University Extension, said plants that are affected by smoke for a short amount of time will usually recover quickly. “It depends on how close they are,” she said. “There could also be a localized effect, where one garden is covered in ash(灰烬), and a half-mile away, there’s nothing because that’s the way the wind was moving things around.”
The best thing home gardeners can do is keep an eye on plants. Edmunds suggests giving plants some extra love and care. “Wash the plants gently to remove pollutants left by smoke. Then give them a long, slow drink of water. Most will pull through,” Edmunds said. However, people should not use leaf blower machines to remove ashes from plants because they will risk breathing in what is blowing around.
1. What happened to Jessica Damiano?| A．She had her house burned in a fire. |
| B．She couldn’t afford face coverings. |
| C．She suffered from health problems. |
| D．She had to deal with poor air quality. |
| A．The bad effects of smoke on plants. |
| B．The benefits of growing plants. |
| C．The role of plants in the environment. |
| D．The importance of water to plants. |
| A．Wind has little effect on plants. |
| B．Plants can sometimes make a quick recovery. |
| C．Ashes can spread more than half a mile. |
| D．Plants close to smoke usually grow well. |
| A．By pulling them out of the ground. |
| B．By using leaf blower machines. |
| C．By washing them with great care. |
| D．By giving them a fast drink of water. |
2 . French officials are preparing to offer flying taxi services to people attending the Paris Summer Olympics in 2024. If the taxis are actually used in the French capital, it could mark the first major real world show of the flying technology.
Some air taxi developers attended the recent Paris Air Show to show off their products and seek industry support. One of the companies in attendance was Germany’s Volocopter, which plans to offer a flying taxi service during the Olympics.
But so far, no air taxi maker has received government permission to launch service in France. Volocopter hopes to be the first. But the company still needs to run its aircraft through rigorous weather tests and provide thousands of pages of documentation to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.
Company chief Dirk Hoke said that in addition to worries about government approvals, air taxi companies have also faced difficulties linked to economic slowdowns affecting the world. Robin Riedel, who co-leads the Center for Future Mobility at the business advisory company McKinsey, said companies formed to support air taxi projects have lost about 30 percent of their value in recent years. In addition, many investors(投资人) have decided to put money into drones(无人机) instead of flying taxis.
Hoke has thought about a person he would like to be the first rider of his flying taxis-French President Emmanuel Macron. “That would be super amazing,”Hoke said, “That would be a strong sign to Europe to see the president flying.”
In the beginning, air taxi trips are likely to be short and costly. This is because current battery technology limits the distance and number of paying passengers the aircraft can carry. The long-term success of air taxis will also be dependent on effective systems to manage all the air traffic using the skies. Experts say such systems will need new technology to provide safety for all flyers. As the industry progresses, the number of air taxis is expected to reach into the millions.
1. What does the underlined word “rigorous” in paragraph 3 mean?| A．Strict. | B．Simple. | C．Creative. | D．Similar. |
| A．To secure the president’s investment. |
| B．To welcome the Paris Summer Olympics. |
| C．To increase public trust in air taxis. |
| D．To get government approval more quickly. |
| A．Crowded roads. | B．Limitations of batteries. |
| C．Investors’ requirements. | D．The government’s decisions. |
| A．The rapid development of drones. |
| B．An industry report to ensure safety. |
| C．The strong support from French officials. |
| D．A good system for managing all air traffic. |
1. The causes of water pollution.
2. The consequences of water pollution.
3. How to control water pollution.
注意：写作词数不少于80。
开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数。
Water pollution
There are various causes of water pollution.
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4 . Do you know that the oldest tree is a 5, 000-year old bristlecone pine (狐尾松) located in the forests of Nevada? Unfortunately, many of these precious old-growth trees are starting to disappear from our planet. The term old-growth refers to trees that are 150 years or older. This means that many of the trees on the Earth today are younger, smaller, and have shorter lifespans.
As the Earth’s temperature warms up due to climate change, it is having unintended effects on the world’s forests. When temperatures rise, trees close their pores (气孔) to prevent the loss of moisture, and this, in turn, slows down the process of photosynthesis (光合作用). As a result, these trees are shorter and grow slowly, as well as have a high deathrate. Climate change also increases the possibility of droughts and wildfires. After wildfires, it takes a while for the forest ecosystems to recover, and in some cases, the forests are lost permanently. Trees that are stressed are also susceptible (易受影响的) to attacks by bacteria (细菌). Finally, humans have changed the forest landscape through logging (伐木).
There are some who claim that increased greenhouse gas emission is helping trees grow faster because CO2, is needed for photosynthesis. While some younger trees may benefit from this, we are seeing significantly more loss of forests than gain.
Old-growth forests are a storehouse of carbon, and when they die, the stored CO2, is released into the air worsening the greenhouse effect. Older forests have higher biodiversity, which is beneficial as each organism has a role to play and there is a wide variety of species. As these forests disappear, species that once called them “home” are forced to relocate, affecting the biodiversity of those ecosystems. Unfortunately, some endangered species are unable to adapt and go extinct.
With trees dying continuously, will future generations miss out on the wonders of forests?
1. What is the main idea of the second paragraph?| A．Why bacteria may attack old trees. | B．What leads to the rising temperatures. |
| C．Why old-growth forests are disappearing. | D．How global warming causes natural disasters. |
| A．Species. | B．Older forests. | C．Organisms. | D．Roles organisms play. |
| A．a doubt | B．a warning | C．a blame | D．a suggestion |
| A．To urge people to reduce gas emission. | B．To explain the greenhouse effect on trees. |
| C．To introduce the process of photosynthesis. | D．To call on people to protect old-growth trees. |
5 . On August 15th, in the tiny farming town of Frost, Minnesota, Scott Legried was driving his pick-up truck when a puppy ran in front of him. Changing the direction suddenly to avoid the puppy, Scott’s truck rolled over and he was severely injured.
“I got knocked out and when I finally recovered consciousness, I couldn’t move,” Scott said. “I couldn’t even reach up to get my cellphone from the dashboard of my truck. I remember saying, ‘I’ mgoing to need some help here in the next 5 or 10 minutes.’”
And that help came. A strange driver Tim Steer called 911. He was rushed to the closest hospital, and then airlifted to the Mayo Clinic, where he stayed for the next several weeks. Tim visited Scott in the hospital several times and took him out for a drive after his shoulder surgery in August.
The October harvest was only six weeks away, and Scott had 600 acres of soybeans (大豆) and corn to harvest. Not harvesting them in time could destroy his crops, his sole means of income. Who would maintain and harvest his corn and soybean crops? And because Scott lives alone, who would care for his dogs, and maintain his home and yard? This town of 198people did. While volunteers checked his home, mowed his lawn, and fed his dogs, 18 farmers conducted the harvest. Farmers in Frost, Minnesota, gathered to harvest Scott’s soybean crops on October 4th.
Scott plans to plant his new crops next spring. If he needs help, he knows where to findit. “Frost really is the heartland of America,” he said. “One day, I hope I’m able to pay the favor back.”
1. Why did Scott have an accident?| A．He felt a sudden pain. | B．He didn’t want to hurt a dog. |
| C．He was hurrying to meet Tim. | D．He was not familiar with his car. |
| A．He is a farmer. |
| B．He has known Tim for many years. |
| C．He recovered fully before the harvest time. |
| D．He kept conscious after the accident happened. |
| A．They gathered soybean crops for him. |
| B．They often visited him in the hospital. |
| C．They provided food and clothes for him. |
| D．They offered him soybean seeds for free. |
| A．Drive more carefully. | B．Help other farmers in need. |
| C．Plant no soybean crops at all. | D．Spend more time with his neighbors. |
6 . Weekends are a time to relax and a chance to leave your work behind and have some me time instead. But working from home has tended to blur (模糊) the lines between people’s personal space and workspace and many people are feeling stressed by the middle of the week. That’s why accepting the Swedish tradition of lillördag or “little Saturday” might be the answer to getting through the week.
This midweek celebration isn’t a vacation day; it’s more like a pause or break after work on Wednesdays to do something like enjoying a meal with your family or just watching an interesting TV show. “You let yourself enjoy something,” said Hanna Hedenius living in Stockholm. “You can see people celebrating on social media. On Instagram, you’ll see a picture of a glass of wine and some cheese, or ice cream, on Wednesday because people have a reason just to do it.”
There’s a national radio show that plays popular music on Wednesdays and there’s a podcast with topics that connect to the celebration of “little Saturday”. While not every Swede practices lillördag, most do see the pause as a way of getting through the workweek.
Self-care is important for people’s body and mind. Paula Gill Lopez, a professor of Fairfield University in Connecticut, told Everyday Health that the need for self-care is conspicuous. “We have an epidemic of anxiety and depression,” she said. “Everybody feels it.”
Self-care and wellness activities can range from eating healthy foods, to exercising, to taking time to relax. Many people don’t make time to care for themselves and that’s where lillördag comes in.
“Something like lillördag can be quite wise in helping people relax,” said Constanze Leineweber, associate professor at the Stress Research Institute of Stockholm University. “You can become encouraged with smaller goals within the week which you can reach and get a reward for.”
So if you’re feeling stressed, have a happy lillördag!
1. Why may people use lillördag as a way to get through a week?| A．They are under a lot of pressure at work. |
| B．They want more time to work from home. |
| C．They are easily affected by Swedish culture. |
| D．They want chances to share their workspace. |
| A．The origin of lillördag. | B．The requirements of lillördag. |
| C．The importance of lillördag. | D．The celebrations of lillördag. |
| A．Amazing. | B．Different. | C．Obvious. | D．Possible. |
| A．Approving. | B．Uncaring. | C．Doubtful. | D．Dismissive. |
7 . Field trips have now become a popular and well-established method of education. A field trip is a journey organized by schools or educational institutions to a place outside of the classroom.
Field trips can be taken to a variety of destinations. The most popular ones include museums, factories, zoos and botanical gardens. Field trips can also involve visits to historical sites and other places of interest. Sometimes even an outing to a park nearby can make a good field trip.
Field trips help improve academic performance. Participants in a field trip are engaged in various activities about a subject matter.
A field trip can be challenging to organize due to factors such as high costs and safety concerns.
| A．Field trips also promote a love of learning. |
| B．That is why field trips are in decline in recent years. |
| C．In this way, they could gain a better understanding of it. |
| D．It is intended to help students learn in a real-world context. |
| E．The quality of a field trip always depends on its destination. |
| F．Still, it is believed that a well-chosen field trip is worth the difficulties. |
| G．Whatever the destination is, the key is to make sure the trip is practical. |
Polly Goodman, 82-year-old, was a rich old woman. Her husband was a businessman and left her a large fortune after his death, so she had no problems supporting herself. The only problem was that her son who was a doctor busy with his work seldom had time to visit her, leaving her living lonely.
One day, Polly was walking along the beach, like she did every evening near her seaside house, when she noticed a young boy and his little sister playing there. As she was passing by them, she heard their mother calling out to them. “Corey! Daisy! Be careful! Stay away from the water!”
Polly noticed their mother resting on a bench, appearing sick and tired. The dark circles under her eyes were quite obvious, and she coughed frequently. Polly always had a desire to have a chat with someone. So she walked carefully towards the mother with a kind smile on her face.
“Hi, I’m Polly. I live by the beach.” Polly said.
The mother looked up at Polly, feeling a little surprised. The mother told Polly she was Lydia and had worked as a waitress. Lydia further said that she and her children had only recently moved to that location because her children had always wanted to see the ocean. Then Lydia stopped to cough heavily. After she calmed down, it seemed she wanted to say something, but stopped as if there was something difficult to tell. Polly did not follow up, saying goodbye and left.
When Polly went to the beach the next day, she saw the kids again, but this time their mother wasn’t with them. She observed them playing by themselves until late in the evening before heading home. The third day came and again the two kids played at the seaside until late in the evening, still without their mother s company. Then the elder brother was about to lead the sister back home. Out of curiosity and care Polly decided to follow them to their house.
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。
Upon arrival, the kids invited Polly inside.
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Polly took the mother to the hospital her son worked in.
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9 . Flowers exude (散发) timeless beauty and grace. They also make our lives happier and our bodies healthier.
Flowers help in body recovering.
It is a thoughtful thing to send flowers to patients experiencing recovering procedures.
Flowers improve emotional health.
Whether as a sign of love or deep appreciation to one’s effort, receiving flowers sends a signal to our brain that we are special. The chemistry in our brain produces happy hormones, called dopamine (多巴胺) that makes us feel good and increases our happiness level.
Flowers improve sleep and relaxation.
Studies suggest that the smell of flowers can make people feel in love. Do you have difficulty sleeping?Because of their pleasing smell, flowers help promote relaxation and sleep.
The next time you see a flower or take a walk in a garden, be grateful that nature gives us beautiful flowers that help make us happier and healthier.
| A．Flowers reduce stress. |
| B．Here’s how they affect us. |
| C．Flowers increase happiness level. |
| D．It’s time to put flowers in the vases at home. |
| E．Actually, studies suggest flowers can also promote their recovery. |
| F．So keep flowers near your bed to improve the quality of your sleep. |
| G．If you’re eager to remove your emotional problems, flowers can help. |
10 . “Social robots like me can take care of the sick or elderly,” Sophia says. Since 2016, Sophia, a human-like robot, has gone viral (迅速走红). Now the company behind her has a new view: to mass-produce robots by the end of the year.
Hanson Robotics, based in Hong Kong, said four models, including Sophia, would start rolling out of factories in the first half of 2021, just as researchers predict (预言) the pandemic (大流行病) will open new opportunities for the robotics industry.
The founder David Hanson believes robotic solutions to the pandemic are not limited to healthcare, but could aid customers in industries such as airlines too. “Sophia and Hanson robots are unique by being so human-like,” he added. “That can be so useful during these times when people are terribly lonely.” Mr Hanson aims to sell “thousands” of robots in 2021, but didn’t provide a specific number.
Social robotics professor Johan Hoorn of Hong Kong Polytechnic University, whose research has included work with Sophia, said although the technology is still in relative infancy (初期), the pandemic could build a relationship faster between humans and robots. “I can infer the pandemic will actually help us get robots earlier in the market because people start to realize that there is no other way,” he said. Hanson Robotics is launching a robot this year called Grace, developed for the healthcare department.
Some humans might be cautious (谨慎的) of putting robots in such sensitive roles. When asked whether people should fear robots, Sophia had an answer ready, “Someone said ‘We have nothing to fear but fear itself.’”
1. What can be learned about Sophia from the text?| A．She can predict a pandemic. | B．She is a robotics professor. |
| C．She is about five years old in 2021. | D．She is the first robot of Hanson Robotics. |
| A．It didn’t consider people’s thoughts. |
| B．It is obviously separated from reality. |
| C．It laid a strong basis for using machines. |
| D．It has not developed fully at the present time. |
| A．People should be braver when using robots. | B．People should focus more on robots. |
| C．People should get along well with robots. | D．People should be more careful of robots. |
| A．The robots are taught to give healthcare. |
| B．The robotics industry faces new challenges. |
| C．The new evidence is found about robot intelligence. |
| D．The makers of Sophia plan more robots during the pandemic. |
