1 . In order to survive trips to Mars, humans need oxygen. Now, a team of scientists has designed a robot that could extract oxygen from water on the Red Planet.
The robot, which is called “AI chemist”, used a machine learning model to find a compound that could ignite an oxygen-producing chemical reaction on Mars. The compound, known as a catalyst (催化剂), is made entirely from elements found in Martian meteorites (陨石) — which means, if such a system could work reliably, space travelers would not need to bring oxygen or even the catalyst needed to produce it.
Mars’ atmosphere contains only trace amounts of oxygen. But scientists have detected evidence of liquid water beneath the planet’s southern ice cap. To create the breathable gas, researchers wanted to find a way to break down this water into its hydrogen and oxygen molecules using materials found on Mars.
Their robot analyzed five meteorites that either came from Mars or had a composition similar to that of the Martian surface. Using a laser, it identified significant amounts of iron, nickel, calcium, magnesium, aluminum and manganese in the samples. From these six elements, the robot’s algorithm (算法) determined it could produce more than 3.7 million possible molecules to break down water and form oxygen on Mars. According to the researchers, finding the best one from this extensive list would take roughly 2,000 years of human labor, but for the AI chemist, it took only weeks.
“On Earth, we don’t use these six elements,” Yi Luo, a co-author of the study says. “They are not the best choices for catalysts, but it’s only what you’ve got on Mars.”
With its chosen catalyst, the system could produce oxygen from the Martian materials at around -37℃, demonstrating the chemical reaction could be possible on the cold Martian surface.
Notably, the robot was able to carry out the entire process — analyzing the rock samples, identifying the best possible catalyst and producing it without human intervention.
1. What does the underlined word “ignite” mean in paragraph 2?| A．Delay. | B．Limit. | C．Change. | D．Cause. |
| A．The oxygen that Mars’ atmosphere contains. |
| B．The scientists’ previous study on meteorites. |
| C．The existence of water and catalyst on Mars. |
| D．The amazing learning ability of “AI chemist” |
| A．The finding of six elements. |
| B．The advantages of the robots. |
| C．The formation of the meteorites. |
| D．The process of producing oxygen. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Favorable. | C．Unclear. | D．Indifferent. |
2 . Forget about “military-style travel” during which people tend to visit as many places as possible in the least amount of time. A more relaxed and leisurely alternative, such as “Citywalk”, is becoming the norm among urban youngsters.
Unlike military-style travel, Citywalk is about wandering around a city on foot, feeling the atmosphere and finding unusual things that even a resident of the city might not have noticed before. It can be a special event where people start a journey led by tour guides or simply explore the streets.
Such walks generally avoid famous scenic spots and shopping centers, and take you to places where you can have real interactions with the local people, eat at small but authentic restaurants, and gain a deeper understanding of the history and culture of the city.
Citywalkers have shared their carefully planned routes on social media platforms. Their posts usually include how long the walk is going to take, and interesting places and restaurants along the way. Some posts are more like a food tour.
Nan Xi, who recently moved from Beijing to Shanghai, said “I think Shanghai is a city perfect for Citywalk. There are big trees along the streets and shops selling different products, which is ideal for couples and friends to walk together and take photos.” After several Citywalk experiences, she signed up for a two-and-a-half-hour Citywalk priced at 88 yuan per person. A tour guide narrated the history of the buildings and streets along the way. “If it were me walking alone, I would simply find the streets artistic, but the tour that day helped me gain a better understanding of how Western culture blends in with the local culture in Shanghai,” she said. Another surprising benefit of the walk was that she has made friends with two of her fellow walkers.
Lin Yi, a manager for an online platform for self-guided tours, said Citywalk can help travelers learn about local culture and live as local people do, feeling the vibes of a city. People who participate in Citywalks usually have similar tastes, and can have in-depth discussions with each other, he said.
1. What is the main difference between military-style travel and Citywalk?| A．The transport. | B．The cost. |
| C．The purpose. | D．The destination. |
| A．It is a perfect place to run shops. |
| B．There are great things to do at weekends. |
| C．Ideal couples and friends often gather there. |
| D．It provides great experiences in many ways. |
| A．She thought it well worth a try. |
| B．She went on the tour without company. |
| C．She wouldn’t have found the artistic streets by herself. |
| D．She knew how Western culture differed from the local culture in Shanghai. |
| A．Citywalk is a new trend in urban tourism. |
| B．Citywalk can help travelers make new friends. |
| C．Military-style travel is becoming more popular. |
| D．Travelers choose Citywalk over military style to follow suit. |
3 . Four Natural Wonders
Poás Volcano, Costa Rica
Sitting more than 2, 707 metres above sea level, Poás Volcano has been active for hundreds of years. Visitors can still get up close and personal with it at the national park where it’s located (with a reservation).
Tips: Dress warm and bring an umbrella, as rainfall is common at the top of the mountain due to unpredictable weather conditions.
Mount Otemanu, Bora Bora
Mount Otemanu is the main attraction on Bora Bora, an island first made popular during World War I. The massive mountain, which stands 727 metres above the lagoon of Bora Bora, is now the perfect backdrop for dreamy Tahitian sunsets. A few of the luxury resorts on the island which offer great views of the mountain have become hot spots for honeymooners.
Grand Canyon, USA
Arizona has no shortage of impressive mountains and sweeping views, but the Grand Canyon is hands down one of the most diverse geological wonders in the state. Visitors have several options to experience the beauty here: adventure seekers can enjoy an aerial view from a helicopter ride through the canyons or go whitewater rafting down the Colourado River.
Cappadocia, Turkey
You may have seen fascinating photos of colourful hot air balloons against a magical landscape of rugged cliffs, valleys and towers carved into the rocks. It’s hard to believe this place is real but it is and it’s in Cappadocia! For a good position overlooking the landscape of this natural wonder, check out Uchisar Castle or ride during sunrise in a hot air balloon.
1. What will visitors do if they want to see Poás Volcano close by?| A．Notice weather changes. | B．Take an umbrella. |
| C．Put on warm clothes. | D．Book in advance. |
| A．Poás Volcano. | B．Bora Bora. |
| C．Grand Canyon. | D．Cappadocia. |
| A．Poás Volcano and Mount Otemanu. | B．Poás Volcano and Grand Canyon. |
| C．Grand Canyon and Cappadocia. | D．Mount Otemanu and Cappadocia. |
1. 课程开设目的；
2. 课程介绍；
3. 报名方式和截止日期。
注意：1. 词数80左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Notice
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________5 . Hannah, an adventurous girl, lived in a small village on a land far away. All of the villagers were used to their
One afternoon, she
From that day on, Hannah
With the good in heart, Hannah started to
Hannah’s passion and
| A．robotic | B．challenging | C．fruitless | D．urgent |
| A．camp | B．detect | C．explore | D．relax |
| A．came across | B．cycled around | C．dropped by | D．stepped into |
| A．confused | B．amazed | C．disappointed | D．relieved |
| A．claimed | B．clarified | C．predicted | D．realized |
| A．bought | B．brought | C．picked | D．searched |
| A．eagerly | B．cautiously | C．patiently | D．roughly |
| A．accidents | B．perseverance | C．patience | D．adversity |
| A．called | B．prepared | C．struggled | D．waited |
| A．body | B．brain | C．head | D．heart |
| A．adapt | B．share | C．read | D．tell |
| A．ambition | B．benefit | C．evidence | D．word |
| A．Convinced | B．Entertained | C．Inspired | D．Shocked |
| A．pride | B．dedication | C．integrity | D．patience |
| A．hope | B．misery | C．sympathy | D．tolerance |
6 . Get up at 6 a.m., arrive at the hospital one hour earlier to help patients check in, and accompany patients during consultations... In recent years, the patient escort has emerged as a new occupation, and those who have taken on this career are known as “people who sell time”. 26-year-old Zhang Tian is one of them.
September 4, 2022 was a lucky day for Zhang Tian. On this day, Zhang Tian saw a video about patient escorts on a short video platform. The daily routine of patient escorts shown in the video fascinated her and inspired her to take this on as a business. She browsed through many platforms and searched for information and found there indeed exists a certain demand for patient escorts, especially for the elderly, children and pregnant women. Since she had never engaged in this kind of work before, she spent two days in major hospitals in Wuhan, in order to familiarize herself with all the departments on different floors, as well as the processes of medical consultations and preparations for surgery.
After the preparations, Zhang Tian posted a video of self-introduction on major social media sites, talking about the help and services a patient escort provides, as well as some tips for a quick and convenient medical consultation. At first, she was a little worried that her video would go unnoticed. However, after she uploaded the video, it got over 100 likes and she received her first offer as a patient escort.
The memory of her first task is still vivid in her mind. She received a phone call on September 9 from a man whose father was seriously ill and might need surgery. He wanted Zhang Tian to accompany his father through his consultation and treatment. Zhang Tian made all the preparations before meeting her first client and did a very good job despite her nervousness.
“Later, the family expressed their gratitude to me over and over again, which warmed my heart and gave me a sense of achievement,” Zhang Tian said.
1. What do patient escorts do?| A．They assist doctors in hospitals. | B．They arrive at hospitals early to check in. |
| C．They post videos for money. | D．They help patients get treatment in hospitals. |
| A．She enjoyed seeing an interesting video. | B．She got inspiration for her own career. |
| C．She found a demand for medical workers. | D．She was popular on social media. |
| A．She got familiar with the routine work in hospitals. |
| B．She spent two days in major hospitals meeting patients. |
| C．She post a video in search of clients on social media. |
| D．She happened to know an old man in need of surgery. |
| A．Considerate and responsible. | B．Humorous and careful. |
| C．Ambitious and imaginative. | D．Talkative and positive. |
7 . Branding Events of China Daily
Since its launch in 1981, China Daily has grown to become the nation’s leading English-language newspaper. With a combined print, online and mobile readership of more than 350 million, it serves a vital role in telling the world about China, providing a valuable insight into the world’s second largest economy. A series of branding events are conducted by China Daily to improve public diplomacy and international communication.
Vision China Lectures
A series of talks are organized by China Daily in which leading political and business figures are invited to speak and interact live with domestic and foreign audiences. The Vision China lectures focus on major issues facing China and the world, explore what Chinas story means for the world, and show how Chinese wisdom can help the world.
China Watch Think Tank Forum
Elites, including opinion leaders, politicians and business people with expertise on China, discuss topics on the development and the future of China and the world in China Watch Think Tank Forum.
Asia Leadership Roundtable
Asia Leadership Roundtable provides a platform for high-level dialog and communication among leaders and social elites in the fields of politics, business and academia in Asia.
“21st Century Cup” National English Speaking Competition
The competition is the most famous English-speaking competition in China. It is the qualifying round for students who wish to represent China in the International Public Speaking Competition in London.
For more details, click here.
1. What’s the main purpose of launching China Daily?| A．To hold various branding events. |
| B．To promote interpersonal communication. |
| C．To combine the print, online and mobile readership. |
| D．To help people around the globe know China better. |
| A．They involve politicians and business people. |
| B．They focus on major issues facing China and the world. |
| C．They provide a platform for celebrities to compete against each other. |
| D．They discuss topics on the development and the future of China and the world. |
| A．A newspaper. | B．A textbook. | C．A website. | D．A magazine. |
8 . They are so small that you need a microscope to see them, but so powerful that experts predict they could kill ten million people per year worldwide by the year 2050. They are superbugs — drug-resistant bacteria that have emerged since antibiotics (抗生素) revolutionized medicine. Indeed, the rise of these superbugs and the use of antibiotics are closely connected.
All organisms change over time. Smaller organisms, such as bacteria, are able to evolve more quickly, adapting as circumstances require. Facing antibiotics, bacteria have adapted with deadly efficiency. When a patient takes antibiotics to fight off a bacterial infection, the goal is to kill the bacteria causing the infection. However, although most of the bacteria are killed, a few of the strongest bacteria survive. Thus, only these drug-resistant bacteria are able to reproduce. This sets up a cycle and eventually results in the development of superbugs-bacteria able to resist even the most powerful drugs.
Scientists believe that a large part of this cycle is preventable. One recent study suggested that almost 50% of all antibiotic use is inappropriate or unnecessary. Some patients are prescribed (开处方) antibiotics for illness that would eventually clear up on their own. In addition, some patients don’t finish their course of medication, allowing bacteria to bounce back, but stronger. All of these factors contribute to the rise and spread of superbugs.
Another major factor that promotes the spread of drug resistance is the use of antibiotics for livestock (家畜). In the United States, 80% of antibiotic use is for animals. Partially, the drugs are used to prevent the spread of infection among animals. However, farmers also use antibiotics to help animals to gain weight quickly. Unfortunately, such use is problematic because it kills off the beneficial bacteria, leaving drug-resistant strains of bacteria to thrive.
What can be done to preserve antibiotics for future generations? Scientists maintain that as individuals, we can make a difference with simple steps, such as regular hand washing. It is also important that patients understand that antibiotics aren’t always the right course of treatment. Finally, it is crucial to take antibiotics out of the food chain. Fortunately, consumers are pushing for this, so we are likely to see changes in the near future.
1. According to the passage, what are superbugs?| A．Effective and revolutionary antibiotics. | B．Small but powerful drug-resistant bacteria. |
| C．Tiny organisms found under a microscope. | D．Bacteria that could harm animals and humans. |
| A．The antibiotics for illness. | B．Some infected animals. |
| C．Patients’ awareness of treatment course. | D．The misuse of antibiotics. |
| A．Indifferent. | B．Neutral. | C．Pessimistic. | D．Optimistic. |
| A．Superbugs — Preventable or not? | B．Antibiotics — Beneficial or not? |
| C．Superbugs — Deadly Drug-resistant Bacteria | D．Antibiotics — Major Threats to Human Beings |
9 . I was never addicted to skydiving, like many jumpers are, but I definitely enjoyed it. I made my first skydive when I was barely 19 years old. I had been selected to attend the US Air Force Academy’s Freefall school. I was one of a select few who got to attend the course. It wasn’t intended to make us operational paratroopers (作战伞兵), but more so to teach us about accomplishing missions in high-stress situations. And it did exactly that, as we found this training program was the only one in the country that allowed jumpers to perform freefall skydives and pull their own ripcords (开伞索) without a trained instructor jumping alongside them.
When I returned to Columbus, Ohio for my second year of college, I wore my basic parachutist badge (徽章) on purpose because at that time, few students could get it. I looked up the Ohio State Skydiving Club. About a month later, I made my first private skydive and the rest was history. I jumped more and more, only paying for the jumps and necessary training when I had the funds to do it.
Eventually, I made 10 skydives, and then it was 20, and I found that I was making jumps at different drop zones. I even bought my own parachute system.
I kept jumping on various weekends during my senior year. The last jump I made, however, was in the fall of 2006. I was told that I had a disease which prevented me from skydiving.
My skydiving career ended with 55 jumps, with more than 40 minutes of freefall time. I met great people along the way and did some pretty crazy jumps. I’ll never forget meeting Adam Abelow, head of the skydiving club, who gave me a ride to get my first civilian jump, and Jen White, who coached me on many of my jumps. I’ll never forget getting my license and the time my grandparents came to watch me jump.
1. What does the underlined word “that” in paragraph 1 refer to?| A．Training some jumpers for the US Air Force. |
| B．Selecting brave teenagers to attend the course. |
| C．Making trainees excellent operational paratroopers. |
| D．Educating participants to achieve goals under pressure. |
| A．It was what he usually did during the course. |
| B．He intended to show off his achievement. |
| C．It was a must for skydiving club members. |
| D．He wanted to inspire other students. |
| A．To show his regret. | B．To sum up his honors. |
| C．To introduce a new topic. | D．To express his thankfulness. |
| A．He quit skydiving because of his old age. |
| B．He often made jumps at the same drop zone. |
| C．He made his first private skydive during college. |
| D．His skydive experiences are all about freefall time. |
10 . In 1959, Handler changed how toy dolls were made when she introduced “Barbie” to the world. With her mature figure, Barbie was one of the first “grown-up” dolls to hit the retail market.
Handler wanted to create a toy that was different from the baby dolls that occupied little girls’ toy boxes. She wanted a doll that girls could show their future dreams upon and allowed for limitless outfit (全套服装) and career choices. Inspired by paper dolls of the time, Handler, to much disagreement, made sure Barbie had the body of a grown woman.
“My own idea of Barbie,” Handler wrote in her autobiography, “was that through the doll, the little girl could be anything she wanted to be. Barbie always represented the fact that a woman had choices.”
There’s even a Barbie for cancer patients — Brave Barbie — a partnership between Mattel and CureSearch that sends a bald (光头的) Barbie to families affected by cancer. “Gifting my daughter a Barbie who suffered from cancer was wonderful,” Michelle, a cancer survivor said, “We would play with that Barbie together and I’d heartbreakingly watch her pretend to take the doll to the hospital for chemo (化疗), or place its long wig (假发) on top of its head and tell the doll that it’s time to be beautiful again.”
Bald Barbie was super brave and went on awesome adventures after chemo. Sometimes she felt sick and needed to sleep, but would feel much better after a rest. Bald Barbie always beat the cancer and went on to live a long and happy life with her family. That Barbie became so much more than a plastic doll — she was a means of communication and a coping mechanism (应对机制) during an extremely unhappy time for little families.
1. Why did Handler create Barbie?| A．To make a hit in the women’s retail market. |
| B．To appeal to boys with her various clothing. |
| C．To inspire girls to make choices as they wish. |
| D．To do a research on women’s career choices. |
| A．Interested yet proud. | B．Sad yet comforted. |
| C．Delighted and ashamed. | D．Heartbroken and regretful. |
| A．A reliable emotional support. | B．A glue for broken relationships. |
| C．An effective practical treatment. | D．A secret medium of argument. |
| A．Medicine. | B．Sports. | C．Story. | D．Environment. |
