2 . In the endless sky, the unaided human eye should be able to perceive several thousand stars on a clear, dark night. Unfortunately, growing light pollution has impeded people from the nightly view.

New citizen-science-based research throws alarming light on the problem of “sky glow”-the diffuse illumination (漫射照明) of the night sky that is a form of light pollution. The data came from crowd-sourced observations collected from around the world as part of Globe at Night, a program developed by astronomer Connie Walker.

Light pollution has harmful effects on the practice of astronomy but also on human health and wildlife, since it disturbs the cycle from sunlight to starlight that biological systems have evolved alongside. Furthermore, the loss of visible stars is a great loss of human cultural heritage. Until relatively recently, humans throughout history had an impressive view of the starry night sky, and the effect of this nighty spectacle (壮观) is evident in ancient cultures.

Globe at Night has been gathering data on star visibility since 2006. Anyone can submit observations through the Globe at Night web application. Participants record which one best matches what they can see in the sky without any telescopes or other instruments.

Researchers find that the loss of visible stars indicates an increase in sky brightness of 9.6% per year while roughly 2% is measured by satellites. Existing satellites are not well suited to measuring sky glow as it appears to humans, because they can not detect wavelengths shorter than 500 nanometers (纳米). White LEDs, with shorter wavelengths under 500 nanometers, now are increasingly commonly used in outdoor lighting. But human eyes are more sensitive to these shorter wavelengths at nighttime. Space-based instruments do not measure light from windows, either. But these sources are significant contributors to sky glow us seen from the ground.

“The increase in sky glow over the past decade underlines the importance of redoubling our efforts and developing new strategies to protect dark skies,” said Walker. “The Globe at Night dataset is necessary in our ongoing evaluation of changes in sky glow, and we encourage whoever can to get involved to help protect the starry night sky.”

1. What does the underlined word “impeded” in the first paragraph mean?

A．separated.

B．disabled.

C．demanded.

D．protected.

2. What does the loss of visible stars lead to?

A．Poorer human health.	B．Fewer wildlife species.
C．More delicate biological systems.	D．Less nightly culture elements of the sky.

3. What does the author stress in paragraph 5?

A．Crowd sourced data are invaluable	B．Shorter wavelengths are hard to detect.
C．Satellites play a vital role.	D．White LEDs are widely used.

4. What can be inferred from Walker’s words?

A．Their consistent efforts pay off.	B．The dataset needs to be updated.
C．The sky glow has been over-emphasized.	D．More participants are expected to join in.

3 . Not long ago, I was at a grocery store, and an elderly man in front of me was using a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program card-what we used to call food stamps(食物券). The card reader kept _________ his payment. He’d obviously gone over his _________ for the month. He was confused about how it’d happened and more than _________ about the situation.

While I was wondering whether the man would be displeased or _________ if I stepped in and offered to pay the difference (差额), the young cashier said, “Sir, this happens all the time. It’s not a problem. I promise we can _________ a solution together.”

The line behind us was growing long, but the cashier didn’t show any _________ or anger. He confirmed the man was over his limit for the month but wasn’t over by much, so he helped the customer _________ which items he could make do without for the time being. Then he told his old customer that this was a common _________ and not a problem at all. The elderly man left with his dignity _________. He would __________ have a sense of loyalty to that grocery-store chain.

When it was my turn, I took note of the cashier’s name on his name tag. Arriving home, I sent an email to the manager of the store to __________ the employee for his kindness and customer service. Soon, I received a reply with thanks from the manager, letting me know that my remarks would be __________ in the employee’s file and noted each time he was up for a __________.

In the same way as his act of kindness brightened the life of the elderly man who was __________ that day, I hope my act of kindness could have a(n)__________ influence on that cashier’s career.

1.

A．delaying

B．declining

C．searching

D．repeating

2.

A．expectation

B．demand

C．limit

D．requirement

3.

A．embarrassed

B．delighted

C．excited

D．frightened

4.

A．proud

B．grateful

C．curious

D．peaceful

5.

A．turn out

B．make out

C．work out

D．carry out

6.

A．impatience

B．disbelief

C．disappointment

D．depression

7.

A．share

B．deliver

C．remember

D．determine

8.

A．complaint

B．occurrence

C．excuse

D．dilemma

9.

A．discovered

B．increased

C．overlooked

D．preserved

10.

A．undoubtedly

B．impossibly

C．coincidentally

D．hesitantly

11.

A．recommend

B．forgive

C．compliment

D．comment

12.

A．included

B．folded

C．measured

D．excluded

13.

A．regulation

B．negotiation

C．investigation

D．promotion

14.

A．defending

B．struggling

C．competing

D．starving

15.

A．impressive

B．attractive

C．positive

D．decisive

5 . Here are four activities in October. Go and get yourself out of your house.

Activity 1: Hope with Every Step 5K Race

It will be held on Saturday, October 7 at Taglienti Field on the Spruce Mountain High School campus. This event is held in honor of Josh Brochu, 13 and his sister Brook Brochu, 10, both of whom have a rare disease that affects children. All the money collected from the event will go to the A-T Childrens’ Project, a non-profit (非盈利的) organization which raises money for medical research and health centers. Visit www. atcp. org for more information.

Activity 2: A Free Movie Supported by Farmington Baptist Church

It will be shown at 7: 00 pm on October 3 at 194 Whittier Road in Farmington. The movie When the Game Stands Tall tells the true story of the De La Salle Spartans High School football team, which set 151-game winning streak (连胜) record. Football coach Bob Ladouceur’s belief always was, “We don’t expect you to play perfectly, but to give a perfect effort.”

Activity 3: Wilton Free Public Library’s Birthday Party

The library is turning 100 years old! All are welcome to attend the party celebrating 100 years of the beautiful library building. From 10: 00 am to 1: 00 pm on October 3, families are welcome to come to the library for some food and fun! There will be historical displays, fun book-themed food, face painting, and games and presents for kids. Please come and celebrate!

Activity 4: The Fourth Annual Pumpkin Festival

It will take place on Saturday, October 7. There will be various family activities, including movies, dog shows and children’s gifts. All events will take place in the Front Street Neighborhood. For more information, please visit the website: farmingtonpumpkin festival. net.

1. When will the film When the Game Stands Tall start?

A．At 10: 00 am on October 3.	B．At 7: 00 pm on October 3.
C．At 7: 00 pm on October 7.	D．At 1: 00 pm on October 7.

2. What is the aim of Activity 3?

A．To collect money.	B．To explore nature.
C．To celebrate something.	D．To start an organization.

3. Where will the Fourth Annual Pumpkin Festival be held?

A．At 194 Whittier Road.	B．At Taglienti Field.
C．In Wilton Free Public Library.	D．In the Front Street Neighborhood.

8 . If you’re homeless and looking for a temporary shelter in Hawaii’s capital, expect a visit from a robotic police dog that will scan your eyes to make sure you don’t have a fever. That’s just one of the ways public safety agencies are starting to use Spot, a new robot that runs around with quick movement.

The police officials experimenting with the four-legged machines say they’re just another tool to keep emergency responders out of harm’s way as they search for dangers.

Joseph O’Neal, an officer of the Honolulu Police Department, said the robot has protected officers, shelter staff and residents by scanning body temperatures between mealtimes at a shelter where homeless people could quarantine (隔离) and get tested for COVID-19. The robot is also used to remotely interview individuals who have tested positive.

The company that makes the robots, Boston Dynamics, says it’s trying to do a good job of explaining to the public and its customers what Spot can and cannot do. “One of the most difficult tasks is accurately explaining the state of the technology to people who have never had personal experience with it,” said Michael Perry, vice president of the company.

There are roughly 500 Spot robots now in the wild. Perry said they’re commonly used by companies to check dangerous areas. Spot is also used to monitor construction sites, mines and factories, equipped with whatever sensor is needed for the job.

It’s still mostly controlled by humans, though all they have to do is tell it which direction to go and it can climb stairs or cross over rough areas. It can also operate autonomously, but only if it’s already memorized a road and there aren’t too many surprise obstacles (障碍). “The first value that most people see in the robot is taking a person out of a dangerous situation,” Perry said.

1. What do police officials use Spot robots do?

A．Treat patients’ fever.	B．Take people’s body temperature.
C．Protect homeless people.	D．Find out patients’ eye problems.

2. What’s the main idea of paragraph 3?

A．The shelter where people get tested.	B．The characteristic of the four-legged machine.
C．The future development of the robots.	D．The function of the robotic police dog.

3. What’s the company’s big challenge?

A．How to describe the technology.	B．How to win its customers’ trust.
C．How to promote Spot robots.	D．How to produce more Spot robots.

4. What can we infer about Spot robots from the last paragraph?

A．They can plan their own road easily.	B．They can choose direction themselves.
C．They can overcome many obstacles.	D．They can remember a familiar road.

9 . Recently we celebrated my grandmother’s 90th birthday. Family members traveled to my hometown to visit her. This was the first time in many years that I had seen so many of them. Though this was an opportunity to see family, many people did not make it. Honestly, living far from hometown, I had missed many family gatherings. But this one made me realize how much I was really missing.

It seemed strange when I was looking at the faces, realizing whom they were and greeting them with open arms. After chatting for a while, we caught up on each other’s news. Several relatives suggested having a family reunion soon if everyone wasn’t so busy. But my grandmother’s generation was much busier, yet still found time to gather. They understood the importance of visiting one another. They knew time is flying and that those you care about most won’t be here forever.

Today, we focus on our careers and raising our kids. Our extended family isn’t the center it once was. Besides, we keep in touch on social media. But what we really miss are the potato salad, the moments of laughter and sudden bursts of excitement when we hug someone we haven’t seen for over 10 years. Although the next get-together is always a year or so away, people aren’t goods and everyone has an expiration (到期) date.

I left my grandmother’s party with a much better sense of who I am and where I come from. I spent valuable time with people who contributed to who I am today. I had forgotten how much I love them and I was reminded how much I am loved.

1. How did the author feel about missing previous family gatherings? ________

A．Concerned.

B．Regretful.

C．Sad.

D．Annoyed.

2. What do we know about the author’s grandmother’s generation? ________

A．They were irresponsible.	B．They took time seriously.
C．They stress the importance of family.	D．They visited family frequently.

3. What does the author mean by the last sentence in paragraph 3? ________

A．Family reunions mean no fun.	B．We should see loved ones more before it’s too late.
C．People are always too busy to get together.	D．All goods have expiration dates.

4. Why does the author write the text? ________

A．To convince readers to meet friends.	B．To share an interesting family reunion.
C．To compare different generations’ values.	D．To stress the value of family gatherings.

10 . 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。

It was a dream born in fire. Andrea Peterson was 5 when she was trapped on the ledge (窗台) of a burning building.

“Throw the kid down!” said one of the firemen below, whose eyes are firm and courageous, along with professional rescue techniques. Seeing this, little Andrea jumped into lifesaving arms and a life-long ambition: She wanted to fight fires as her rescuers did.

She told that to the men who had saved her, and they laughed naturally the way grown-ups do when a kid says he wants to be an astronaut or a sports star. But this was back in a time when little girls weren’t even allowed to fantasize (幻想) about such grand goals.

“You’ll be a good mommy,” the firemen told her. “You’ll be a good teacher, maybe you’ll be a nurse, but you can never be a fireman.”

Indeed, life sidelined her ambitious dream. She was studying for a degree in aviation technology (航空科技) and that’s where she met her husband, Dennis. Unfortunately, Dennis was diagnosed with cancer. Peterson spent 31 years caring for the man she loved, and in 2007, when Dennis was about to leave, he was at peace but worried for her. “But what are you going to do?” “I’ll be fine,” she told him.

At 61, she attended a course for emergencies. She went on an ambulance ride-along from time to time. It turned out to be a life-and-death situation, which reminded her of the childhood experience back in the fire. But every time she saw people who were in need were successfully rescued, Peterson felt that long-ago childhood calling. She earned her emergency medical technician license and responded to fire calls with the ambulance. She found that her years of tending to Dennis had prepared her for dealing with the variety of hurts and ills. The inside calling echoed increasingly stronger.

注意：
1．续写词数应为150左右；
2．请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
After a year, she signed up for a training unit for firefighters.
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Finally came the written and physical fitness test day.
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