1 . A group of clams (河蚌) recently caught people’s attention after an article was posted by China Science Communication online. Although these clams are usually regarded as nothing more than delicious food, they work to monitor the local water quality in Poland.

Gruba Kaska pumping station, which stands in the River Wisla, helps provide millions of liters of water to Warsaw, the capital of Poland. However, one particular concern for the water quality has been heavy metals, and researchers sought help from nature to solve this problem.

Clams are sensitive to pollutants in their environment as they filter (过滤) water to feed on microorganisms. They shut their shells immediately after detecting “dangerous” water.

Based on this, the researchers selected eight clams at a time and recorded the natural opening of their shells. After the clam “employees” become accustomed to the local water, they are placed in a specially designed container. With sensors stuck onto their shells, the clams are connected to a system that records how wide the shells are open. If four or more clams close their shells at the same time, an alarm will be set off and the water supply will be shut down. The result is reliable because the creatures are considering many different factors at the same time, according to ZME Science.

Animals have long been helpers for human activities. Farmers in north Queensland, Australia, have been ordering different species of dung beetles to help clean up cattle waste, according to ABC News. As the number of cattle grows, their waste increases, leading to an enormous population of flies and a worsening environment. Dung beetles, however, take the waste and bury it. This way, they help improve soil quality.

Similarly, cockroaches are used to deal with kitchen waste at several firms in China, according to a report of The Beijing News. About 300 million cockroaches are fed 15 tons of food waste on a daily basis, and they themselves are a good protein resource for livestock.

1. Why did the researchers turn to nature for help?

A．To solve the food shortage.	B．To attract people’s attention.
C．To supervise the water quality.	D．To remove heavy metals sooner.

2. What is the paragraph 4 mainly about?

A．The reason for the study.	B．The result of the research.
C．The purpose of the study.	D．The process of the study.

3. How can dung beetles help farmers?

A．By cleaning up food waste regularly.

B．By dealing with cattle’s waste properly.

C．By digesting and burying the waste of flies.

D．By using kitchen waste to improve soil quality.

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

A．Animals, Good Helpers of Humans	B．Three Kinds of Amazing Animals
C．A Special Way to Test Water Quality	D．Animals, Far More than Tasty Food

2 . Hibernation (冬眠) is a classic topic of science fiction. In movies such as 2001: A Space Odyssey, Alien, or Passengers, crew members are put into a state of sleep to take year-long journeys to space. Now a new study from Washington University has shown that human hibernation may soon become a reality.

The research team carried out tests on rats — animals that do not naturally hibernate. They first identified a group of neurons (神经元) in a deep brain region, which were found to be involved in controlling body temperature during hibernation. They showed that, in mice, these neurons could be stimulated using ultrasound (超声波), which was delivered through a helmet without causing an injury.

When receiving the ultrasound, the mice showed a drop in body temperature of about3°C, and their heart rates fell by about 47%. When the ultrasound system was switched off, they woke up again. The result was “surprising and fascinating”, said Hong Chen, a professor who led the work.

Researchers are also trying to determine how to harness the power of hibernation to help humans. They believe that it could be key to addressing health conditions like heart disease, and Alzheimer’s. Furthermore, hibernation’s ability to slow aging, which was observed in bats, could benefit space exploration, enabling longer missions with less food requirements. Research in animals also suggests that bodies of hibernating astronauts might lose less bone and muscle, making them fit and ready to start challenging exploration soon after they wake up.

By unlocking the secrets of this remarkable process, researchers may uncover ways to improve human health, as well as gain new insights into the natural world. Therefore, the exploration of hibernation is an exciting area that is sure to yield numerous benefits in the years to come.

The scientists now plan to look at how lowered body temperature might affect the cognitive abilities of humans. “Our next experiments will test working memory in monkeys. This is important because while astronauts physically hibernate as they fly into deep space, their brain still needs to be working,” said Chen.

1. How did researchers put rats into hibernation?

A．By lowering their body temperature.

B．By activating specific brain neurons.

C．By putting a regular helmet on them.

D．By using ultrasound through an operation.

2. What does the underlined word “harness” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?

A．Employ.

B．Challenge.

C．Overlook.

D．Discover.

3. What advantage might hibernation bring to humans?

A．It improves people’s mental health.

B．It predicts a variety of heart diseases.

C．It helps astronauts keep physically fit.

D．It enables astronauts to build up muscle.

4. What’s the purpose of the last paragraph?

A．To point out the significance of the study.

B．To bring out the focus of follow-up studies.

C．To discuss other factors affecting hibernation.

D．To explain practical applications of the finding.

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。

Researchers have found that tai chi could slow down Parkinson’s disease by years. Tai chi, with its slow movements,     1     (know) to benefit physical and mental well-being. The researchers     2     (conduct) a five-year study on people with Parkinson’s. They discovered that the condition became worse     3     a slower speed in those who practiced tai chi. They observed fewer falls, and     4     (little) dizziness (头晕) and back pain in the tai chi practitioners. They also noted that the cognitive function of the test participants who     5     (regular) practiced tai chi became worse more slowly.

Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder     6     (affect) the nerves and muscles. It steadily causes uncontrollable movements,     7     symptoms (症状) include shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with balance. People with Parkinson’s may have difficulties walking and talking. One of the most famous people with Parkinson’s was Muhammad Ali,     8     heavyweight boxing champion. The researchers suggest that tai chi is one of the most helpful ways     9     (keep) symptoms of Parkinson’s at bay. They said: “The long-term     10     (benefit) effect of tai chi on Parkinson’s could extend the time without disability, leading to a higher quality of life, a lower burden for caregivers and a reduction in drug use.”

4 . A classroom of kindergartners listened attentively as their teacher, Robin Hughes, read them a book about snow. But as Hughes turned pages and _______ them photos of children making snow angels, she noticed some students looked _______. Hughes was shocked to know that only a couple of kids had seen snow. So she _______ her sister Amber Estes for help. “Could you make a snowman for me?” Hughes texted Estes. That text led Estes to build “Lucky”, a tiny _______.

Days later, Estes _______ her the snowman—completed with blueberries as eyes, a carrot as a nose and two branches as arms-on a nearly 800-mile journey in a _______ filled with ice bags. Hughes opened the box eagerly. To her surprise, the snowman had arrived almost _______.

The kids _______ saw the snowman in the classroom. “I was so excited just to see their joy,” said Hughes. Ever since, at least twice a day, Hughes brought “Lucky” out from the cafeteria _______ and put it on a silver plate so students could ________ the snowman and asked questions. Cheers and wows filled the classroom every time the snowman was ________. Whenever the snowman started to ________, she took it back to the fridge.

“In a time when things are not ________ for kids in the classroom, this little snowman has created ________,” Hughes said. She planned to melt the snowman before Earth Day and use the ________ while planting a flower at the school.

1.

A．took

B．showed

C．developed

D．posted

2.

A．upset

B．nervous

C．puzzled

D．sincere

3.

A．admired

B．thanked

C．blamed

D．asked

4.

A．firm

B．box

C．snowman

D．kindergarten

5.

A．taught

B．sent

C．promised

D．wrote

6.

A．container

B．train

C．canteen

D．flight

7.

A．false

B．undamaged

C．unfinished

D．gone

8.

A．extremely

B．barely

C．critically

D．ultimately

9.

A．fridge

B．drawer

C．office

D．pump

10.

A．eat

B．move

C．smell

D．touch

11.

A．brought about

B．brought in

C．cut out

D．cut up

12.

A．roll

B．shake

C．melt

D．wave

13.

A．normal

B．scientific

C．strange

D．essential

14.

A．confusion

B．patience

C．happiness

D．determination

15.

A．coat

B．pack

C．plate

D．water

5 . When you begin to face your fears, you unlock limitless opportunities to live your best life. By conquering your fears, you can finally break free. At first, you may find it difficult to face them. The following steps will help you face them effectively.     1    

● Identify your fears. To face your fears, you must first identify them. Identifying the related factors will help you overcome them. Take a moment to identify the specific sources of your fears. Ask yourself: What are you actually afraid of?     2     Write down the answers and remember to get specific.

● Understand the root cause clearly. After identifying what your fears are, it’s time to explore what causes them. Spend some time exploring the nature of your fears.     3     When you deeply understand the causes, you are in a better position to face them.

●     4     Define the objectives you aim to accomplish by facing your fears. Then set your clear goals. Breaking down your broader goals into smaller and manageable steps is crucial. Besides, creating a structured plan will also help you face your fears by making them much more organized.

● Take action.     5     And gradually work your way up to bigger ones. By taking action. you’ll gain new skills. You can build up your confidence in your ability to learn, handle mistakes, and embrace new experiences. As you go through this journey of action, unexpected opportunities for personal growth will arise. Finally, you’ll strengthen your self-confidence.

A．Accept it as a universal emotion.

B．Establish clear and achievable goals.

C．And thus you can have a brighter future.

D．Handle the least fearful aspect of your fear.

E．Analyze the experiences that lead to these fears.

F．Spend a few moments thinking about your answers.

G．Fighting fear bravely can speed up your personal growth.

6 . I held a yogurt in one hand as I tried to eat and read customers’ e-mails during the lunch hour. Even fifteen minutes in the employee lunchroom seemed too much. My company had cut costs by not hiring new workers as they left. The survivors were expected to finish the remaining work.

For me, this meant no lunch hour. I didn’t feel I worked at a job; I felt I was my job. I wanted to resign, but given the economy, I reminded I couldn’t until I got another job. Then a chance conversation with a six-year-old girl changed my thought. She was lovely, standing in line with her mom at the grocery store.

“Good day at school?” I asked. She nodded. “What’s your favorite subject?” I continued. “Lunch.” I smiled at the answer, which had ever been my answer. At lunch, there were no adults to tell us what to do and we could sit and talk with our friends. Sometimes we could plan our time, while sometimes our time became more spontaneous — we only decided what to do while we were eating our sandwiches.

That conversation left me wondering; what had happened to lunch? By law I have the right to take a lunch break at work, so I decided to start taking it and set out to explore the small town. When the weather turned cold, I visited the used public library. Near the library was a small pond that attracted ducks and small children with their parents.

When I decided to take back my lunch hour, I was ready for unkind remarks or stares from my co-workers. Actually, some of my co-workers started to leave away occasionally during lunch time. Therefore, we started inviting each other out for walks during good weather and discovered that we shared many common topics of conversation.

I’m still looking for a new position, but with less stressed-out urgency than before. You can’t always change your circumstances, but you can always change your perspective.

1. Why did the author want to leave the company?

A．She was tired of her co-workers.	B．She wanted to get promoted.
C．She was overloaded in her job.	D．She didn’t get good pay.

2. Which word can replace the underlined word “spontaneous” in paragraph 3?

A．Unapproved.

B．Unplanned.

C．Unpacked.

D．Unchanged.

3. What did the author begin to do after the chance conversation?

A．Share her snacks with others.	B．Fall in love with her job.
C．Go shopping with her co-workers.	D．Have a break during her lunch time.

4. Which of the following might the author agree with?

A．We should always adapt to our working conditions.

B．We can change our working efficiency by making friends.

C．Changing what we could control makes a difference.

D．Appreciating every moment in our life can decide our efficiency.

7 . Mental health is a growing worldwide problem. Because it can affect people at a young age, they’ll often need treatment for many years. Artificial Intelligence (AI) will surely impact every aspect of modern life and society. Scientists and doctors have already begun to explore its potential for mental health research and treatment. Join us for this year’s conference, where experts will discuss how AI will help people in their mental health therapy (治疗).

Agenda * 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Check In (Continental breakfast will be provided) * 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Lecture’s topic: A Fruitful Reciprocity (互惠): The Neuroscience-AI Connection Speaker: Dr. Dan Yamins, Assistant Professor of Psychology and of Computer Science, Stanford University * 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Lecture’s topic: From AI for mental health to digital therapeutics Speaker: Dr. Aldo Faisal, Professor of AI & Neuroscience, Imperial College London * 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Lunch Break * 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Lecture’s topic: Computational Psychiatry Speaker: Dr. Frederike Petzschner, Assistant Professor of Brain Science, Brown University * 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Lecture’s topic: What can GenAI teach us about the nature of intelligence? Speaker: Dr. Blaise Arcas, Researcher at Google Research * 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Lecture’s topic: Artificial Intelligence in Medical Imaging Speaker: Dr. Hugo Aerts, Associate Professor, Brigham and Women’s Hospital; Full Professor at Maastricht University

1. What is the topic of this year’s conference?

A．AI’s advantage in modern society.	B．AI’s influence on people’s daily life.
C．The difficulty in treating mental health.	D．Applications of AI in treating mental health.

2. How many lectures will be given during the conference?

A．Three.

B．Five.

C．Seven.

D．Nine.

3. Who will talk about the effect of AI on medical imaging?

A．Dr. Hugo Aerts.

B．Dr. Aldo Faisal.

C．Dr. Dan Yamins.

D．Dr. Frederike Petzschner.

8 . “If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed,” William McRaven told the graduating class of 2014 at the University of Texas, Austin. His point is quite universal: whether you are a sailor, a salesperson or a CEO, “if you make your bed every morning, you will have completed the first task of the day.”

Everyone must battle the desire to procrastinate (拖延), or to put off, every now and again. So here are some tips for procrastinators who wish to make their lives more efficient.

The easiest way to get things finished is to get going in the first place. The reason why busy people never stop moving is that their constant movement generates further motivation. This is, obviously, easier said than done. The more unpleasant something seems, the more you think about just how awful it is. That in turn makes you less likely to start it—and so on.

In practical terms, getting going can mean something as simple as opening an email. Two decades ago, in Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity, a time-management consultant, David Allen, warned readers that ”the in-basket is a processing station, not a storage bin”. Email correspondence (通信) is the starting point of most work projects now. Just click it.

Once you have got moving, consider your waypoints (路径点). That may mean breaking a job down into smaller parts. A paper from 2005 by researchers at MIT examined how knowledge is processed. They found that the brain prefers concrete and separate tasks to broad and abstract ones. So set your sights on completing a document first, rather than starting with the goal of making a complete strategy.

Putting something off doesn’t make it go away. If employees often put off tasks and decisions, firms can suffer real material losses. So if that email arrives early in the morning, read it and reply—even if that means leaving your bed unmade.

1. What is the point of making the bed by William McRaven?

A．It ensures a good night’s sleep.	B．It sets his principle.
C．It helps to keep the bedroom tidy.	D．It is a sign of getting started.

2. How do those busy people overcome procrastination?

A．Finding more awful things to do.	B．Keeping motivated continuously.
C．Having a fear of missing deadlines.	D．Taking an opportunity as the first thing.

3. What do the researchers from MIT advise people to do?

A．Have a complete strategy.	B．Select the biggest waypoint.
C．Divide the tasks into parts.	D．Create a detailed schedule.

4. Which is the best title of this passage?

A．A Guide for Procrastinators to Improve Work Efficiency

B．Making the Bed Keeps Your Life More Efficient

C．A Procrastinator Changes the Whole World

D．Email Correspondence—the Start to Remove Procrastination

9 . The reference desk staff at Baton Rouge, Louisiana’s public libraries are proud of themselves for answering their customers’ questions. The best recipe, the history of zydeco, the number of times the LSU Tigers football team has been to the Cotton Bowl. Even in this age of Google and Siri, there’s no shortage of questions.

“We’re in the information business,” says Patricia Husband, assistant branch library director.

Then came the flooding of 2016. Suddenly the questions became more urgent (紧急的). People wanted to know how to contact Federal Emergency Management Agency for assistance, where to get help paying bills, even where to find a homeless shelter. Some visitors seemed to need much more than what the library’s reference sources could give them. They needed someone who could spend more time with them, advise them on whom to call for assistance and what documents and information they’d need.

The library turned to Volunteers of America Greater Baton Rouge (VOAGBR), a nonprofit it had worked with in the past. At VOAGBR, they’re all about addressing the very concerns people were asking about — assistance with affordable housing, a drop-in center for the homeless, therapists who work with families in crisis, programs for seniors. They were committed to helping those who were called “the least of these”. A 90-day pilot program (试点项目) was launched in the spring of 2017. Three evenings a week, VOAGBR would send caseworkers to three library branches.

The pilot program was extended for an entire year. In its first six months at the library branches, VOAGBR helped 248 people it might not have otherwise reached. There were also programs like Ask a Lawyer, where a lawyer gives free legal advice once a month.

There are a lot of books in Baton Rouge’s libraries — full of information, guidance, wisdom and entertainment — but the help that VOAGBR offers there is right out of people’s heart.

1. What is the aim of paragraph 1?

A．To indicate staff’s work is hard.	B．To prove the library is people’s pride.
C．To show the good service of the library.	D．To introduce the great number of books.

2. What was a problem facing the library during the flood?

A．Its reference sources lessened.	B．The books in it were destroyed.
C．Too many people rushed in for shelter.	D．It couldn’t provide all information people needed.

3. What can we know about VOAGBR?

A．It offered aid to the needy.	B．It was set up in 2017.
C．It was a library branch.	D．It was a 90-day pilot program.

4. What can be inferred about the pilot program?

A．It changed into an academic one.	B．It benefited people a lot.
C．It advertised VOAGBR in the world.	D．It helped the sufferers with its profits.

10 . Jen is a 39-year old community dancer with Down’s Syndrome(唐氏综合征). She is the founder of Dance Syndrome, a nonprofit organization that brings together _______ dancers and make them feel equal to everyone.

Dancing has always been in her veins. As a young girl, Jen seized every opportunity to dance with full _______ both in the morning and during her 10 minutes of _______ before bedtime. The dynamic workout would keep her _______ all day long.

Life hasn’t been straightforward for Jen. She was _______ by a number of dance clubs in primary school and encountered numerous _______ while pursuing her passion for dance. Despite these challenges, her ambition to share her love for dance and _______ disabled individuals in the art grew stronger.

After leaving school at 18, Jen spent over 10 years searching _______ for opportunities to be trained as a dance leader. Eventually, she had to give up and decided to try her own way, not knowing where it might lead!

Despite the _______, Dance Syndrome was established in 2009. Jen and her fellow disabled dance leaders took ________ of the charitable organization, working alongside non-disabled dance artists who helped them work more professionally.

Over the decade, Dance Syndrome has ________ thousands of disabled dancers, cultivating an environment where every person is recognized as equal, ________ and accepted for who they are. The year 2019 witnessed Jen ________ for the third time as a member of Shaw T rust’s Disability Power 100. She is a living proof that ________ can come from unexpected places and that disabled individuals can ________ society in extraordinary ways.

1.

A．confusing

B．disabled

C．talented

D．clumsy

2.

A．energy

B．fear

C．speed

D．courage

3.

A．concentration

B．imagination

C．relaxation

D．celebration

4.

A．exhausted

B．astonished

C．motivated

D．refreshed

5.

A．held back

B．left alone

C．looked after

D．turned down

6.

A．consequences

B．barriers

C．friends

D．experiences

7.

A．discover

B．employ

C．engage

D．entertain

8.

A．in particular

B．in return

C．in vain

D．in advance

9.

A．frustration

B．progress

C．curiosity

D．uncertainty

10.

A．possession

B．charge

C．advantage

D．control

11.

A．supported

B．praised

C．paid

D．added

12.

A．valued

B．envied

C．united

D．rewarded

13.

A．regarded

B．listed

C．interviewed

D．expected

14.

A．inspiration

B．friendship

C．teamwork

D．leadership

15.

A．contribute to

B．adapt to

C．belong to

D．live up to