5 . 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.

2. What is the basis of extracting oxygen on Mars?

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”

3. What does paragraph 4 mainly talk about?

A．The finding of six elements.

B．The advantages of the robots.

C．The formation of the meteorites.

D．The process of producing oxygen.

4. What is the writer’s attitude towards “AI chemist”?

A．Doubtful.

B．Favorable.

C．Unclear.

D．Indifferent.

6 . 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。

Beautiful Birthmarks: The Power of Acceptance

Whenever you hear the word “birthmark (胎记)”, you probably think of one of those black or brown spots you have somewhere on your body. However, for me, it’s completely different — I have them both on my lips and inside my mouth, which make them quite visible and, to me, ugly. When

I was young, these birthmarks kept making me feel extremely awkward and self-conscious (难为情的). As these birthmarks always drew a lot of attention, people often asked me, “What are those black marks on your lips?” When I told people that they were birthmarks, they usually said, “How strange！”

In pictures, I used to hide my birthmarks by pursing (噘起) my lips, so I would not have to deal with people’s questions. As I was growing up, the situation didn’t get any better. In the school, my classmates would always tease me, making me feel hurt and helpless. In society, I often encountered individuals who would inquire about my birthmarks even before they knew my name.

Such experiences left me feeling disheartened. I felt like people judged me by my appearance without considering my personality.

My birthmarks are caused by a genetic condition from my mom’s side of the family. My mom’s mom has birthmarks on her lips, and my mom’s uncle and my uncle have some on their bodies. I used to try to cover them up with makeup, but it never looked good. I even consulted a doctor, wanting to have surgery to remove them. But when imagining the process, I would get nervous and eventually give up.

Whenever I cried to my mom about them, she would always comfort me and say, “Learn to accept them and see them as beautiful birthmarks.” However, it wasn’t easy for me to accept my own birthmarks. Every time I showed my birthmarks, people would look at me with strange eyes. I began to regret why I had given up on the surgery and chosen to accept my birthmarks.

注意：1. 续写词数应为 150 词左右。
2. 请按如下格式在相应位置作答。
Paragraph 1:

One day, I met my cousin, who also had a large birthmark on his arm._

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2:

From then on, when I met people, I began to change myself.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7 . Bryan was driving home one evening. It was starting to get dark and cold. Ever since the factory closed, he’d been unemployed. Suddenly, he saw an old lady ________ standing beside a car on the side of the road. So he ________ in front of her and said, “I’m here to help you ma’am. Why don’t you wait in the car where it’s ________? By the way, my name is Bryan.”

All she had was a ________ tire, but for an old lady, that was bad enough. Bryan crawled under the car and soon he changed it. The lady asked him how much she ________ him. Bryan never thought twice about the ________ and told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give the ________, and Bryan added “... and think of me”. She started her car and drove off.

A few miles down the road, the lady saw a small cafe and went in. She ________ that the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant, but never let the strain and aches change her attitude. Then she remembered Bryan. As the waitress went to get the ________ for her hundred-dollar bill, the lady slipped right out the door. ________, the waitress noticed something written on the napkin under which were four more $100 bills. There were ________ in her eyes when she read what the lady wrote. It ________ : “Somebody once helped me out the way I’m helping you. If you really want to pay me back, do not let this chain of love ________ with you.”

That night when she got home from work, she was thinking about the lady. With the baby due next month, it was going to be hard. She knew how ________ her husband was, and as he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him a soft kiss and ________, “Everything’s gonna be all right; I love you, Bryan.”

1.

A．confusedly

B．anxiously

C．frightenedly

D．crazily

2.

A．pulled up

B．broke down

C．dressed up

D．calmed down

3.

A．crowded

B．spacious

C．warm

D．cold

4.

A．flat

B．spare

C．new

D．swollen

5.

A．charged

B．admired

C．appreciated

D．owed

6.

A．price

B．money

C．cost

D．salary

7.

A．assistance

B．guidance

C．opportunity

D．reward

8.

A．discovered

B．recalled

C．hoped

D．noticed

9.

A．menu

B．lunch

C．change

D．tip

10.

A．Unwillingly

B．Unexpectedly

C．Unfortunately

D．Unlikely

11.

A．sorrows

B．joys

C．regrets

D．tears

12.

A．wrote

B．said

C．printed

D．showed

13.

A．continue

B．begin

C．end

D．develop

14.

A．terrified

B．relieved

C．excited

D．worried

15.

A．whispered

B．screamed

C．laughed

D．shouted

8 . On hearing the word vacation, most people react positively. Experienced travelers will argue that more important than where they go on vacation is who they go with.     1    

Family travel is special and creates lasting memories, but it can also have some challenges. For one, the success of a trip often depends on the relationships that the family members have with one another. If two brothers do not get along at home, the chances are that they will fight during a vacation.     2     If a family is traveling by air, purchasing plane tickets for everyone can be very expensive.

    3     Close friends often have similar personalities, so they generally get along with each other and fight less than family members might on a trip. Furthermore, if friends are close, even a terrible trip will not ruin the friendship.     4     All in all, traveling with friends can be a positive experience that results in a great vacation and, likely, a stronger friendship.

Finally, people can choose to travel alone. Solo travelers can be more flexible with transportation than those traveling in a large group.     5     And they also have better chances of getting a seat on buses or planes since they only need one. In addition, solo travelers are more likely to meet locals or other vacationers because they are more likely to want to talk with others.

A．They can change plans more easily.

B．Each person tends to cover his or her individual expenses.

C．Another potential problem of family travel is transportation.

D．Sightseeing and scheduling are not a problem for solo travelers.

E．In fact, friendships are often strengthened with the travel memories.

F．Traveling with friends can be an unforgettable experience for several reasons.

G．Vacations can be classified on the basis of who vacationers choose to travel with.

9 . 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.

2. What can we conclude about Citywalk in Shanghai according to Nan Xi?

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.

3. What can be inferred from Nan Xi’s two-and-a-half-hour Citywalk?

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.

4. What is the main idea of the article?

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.