1 . In August 2019, two citizen scientists, Sunniva Sorby and Hilde FalunStrom landed on Spitsbergen, in Norway’s Svalbard island group. They planned to work through the winter, then go home in May 2020. But their ship could not come because of COVID-19 shutdowns. For fourteen months, they lived in a small cabin on an icy island near the North Poles. Sometimes, hurricane-force winds forced freezing air through the cabin’s slats. Once, wind ripped the door open. Sunniva and Hilde couldn’t close it until the storm ended! Between storms, silence settled on the cabin. Then, they could hear the crunch-crunch-crunch of polar bears walking in the snow.

Their days started at 7 am and ended after midnight. Each morning, they wore down-stuffed jackets and pants as they waited for the wood-burning stove to heat the cabin. They cut pieces of freshwater ice to melt for drinking, cooking and bathing. For the stove, they gathered driftwood. They cooked their meals, including pizza! These tasks used up large stretches of each day. They also kept in touch with schools and other groups. They wrote blog entries and answered e-mails. For fun, they danced to music, exercised, practiced yoga and read.

“We are efficient here,” Sunniva wrote. “We have a routine, habits, and systems. We have time for what matters most living safely while making a contribution to our understanding of a changing world.” They conducted lots of experiments. They gathered data on climate change, using a drone (无人机) to measure sea-ice temperatures. They observed wildlife and tested new technologies, including an electric snowmobile.

To stay four extra months, they had to eat smaller amounts of food so they wouldn’t run out. “It was difficult being here, so far away from everything,” Sunniva wrote. “Food, shelter, and warmth are often taken for granted until you are on your own.” But, they wrote, “We have packed our patience, our smiles, and good spirits.” And they enjoyed the adventure, finding ordinary miracles every day.

1. What can we learn about the two scientists on Spitsbergen?

A．They lived a boring life there.	B．They could always keep the door closed.
C．They brought drinking water with them.	D．They stayed in contact with other groups.

2. What did Sunniva and Hilde do according to Paragraph 3?

A．They watched the wildlife carefully.	B．They invented an electric snowmobile.
C．They conducted experiments on drones.	D．They collected data of new technologies.

3. Which of the following best describes these two scientists?

A．Generous.

B．Optimistic.

C．Sensitive.

D．Honest.

4. What does the author want to convey through the two scientists’ story?

A．Well begun, half done.	B．It’s easier said than done.
C．Every cloud has a silver lining.	D．A friend in need is a friend indeed.

2 . When most kids go to the beach, they’re too focused on making sandcastles and splashing around to notice litter, but several years ago, for 7-year-old Cash Daniels, noticing a plastic straw sparked a lifelong passion for saving the planet.

Cash, who is now known as the “conservation kid”, has always loved nature. He grew up fishing along the Chattanooga River, after all! But once he learned that 80 percent of all trash from land and rivers ends up in the ocean, he couldn’t sit back.

He started with cleanups along the river, something that quickly went from a family affair to a community effort with volunteers and neighbors. In 2019, Cash, together with a Canadian conservationist, Ella Galaski-Rossen, started a nonprofit called the Cleanup Kids. Despite living in different countries, they managed to create educational videos on their YouTube channel. “We hope to be a really big nonprofit that eliminates plastic in the U. S. and Canada,” Cash said. “We want to inform kids and adults in the landlocked states on how their actions are connected to the water and the ocean,” Cash said.

Cash was selected as one of America’s top 10 youth volunteers of 2021 by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. He also earned the title of National Honoree, where he received a$5,000 grant to go to a nonprofit of his choice, and he became the first person to win the Youth Conservationist Award two years in a row from the Tennessee Wildlife Federation.

“I want to travel the world, teach others, and help them feel connected to the ocean. Because if you are connected to the ocean-if you love it and what lives in it—you’ll want to protect it,” he said. “This is my fun, and it becomes more fun with every new discovery.”

1. Which can replace the underlined words “sit back” in paragraph 2?

A．Fall asleep.	B．Lose heart.
C．Turn a blind eye.	D．Lend a hand.

2. What is the purpose of starting the Cleanup Kids?

A．To recycle waste plastics.

B．To make instructive videos.

C．To spread marine knowledge.

D．To appeal for ocean protection.

3. Which of the following best describes Cash Daniels?

A．Sympathetic and devoted.	B．Initiative and talented.
C．Ambitious and humorous.	D．Determined and modest.

4. What does Cash Daniels story imply?

A．Passion fuels dreams.

B．Great minds think alike.

C．Helping others is of great fun.

D．Actions speak louder than words.

3 . It’s time to share the winners of this year’s Invent It Challenge! Here are our four winners of the first round!

Glo Zone (Ages 5-7 Individual Winner)

Kabir from California came up with this cool invention after a not-so-fun experience. He was hit by four adults on a ski trip! To make skiing and snowboarding safe for nighttime (especially for smaller kids)， he created Glo Zone，a fun glowing(发光的)rainbow umbrella that is attached to skiers’ helmets.

ProTech Helmet (Ages 11-13 Individual Winner)

Pooja from New Jersey has created a light, safe helmet designed for playing frisbee (飞盘)!She came up with the idea after getting hit right under the eye at a frisbee competition and realizing she could get blinded if it were any higher. The ProTech Helmet has a lining(衬里) made of a new technology called Spin.

Ace Attachment (Ages 8-10 Team Winner)

Levi and Albert from New York dealt with helping people with disabilities enjoy sports. The Ace Attachment makes it easier for wheelchair users to play golf. Unlike similar inventions, the Ace Attachment is easily adjustable.

Skate Shoes “DOOD” (Ages 14+ Individual Winner)

It’s the worst when you ruin your favorite pair of shoes! Fortunately, Rommel from Mexico has come up with new skate shoes. These shoes have exchangeable parts that allow pieces of the shoes to be replaced with new ones when broken instead of getting rid of the whole pair.

Cast your vote!

Which of these fantastic inventions will you choose to win the Cricket Choice Award? While they are all outstanding, only one can win the popular vote! Cast your vote here by May 16!

1. What do Kabir’s and Pooja’s inventions have in common?

A．They are new-type helmets.

B．They are targeted at the same sport.

C．They are designed for teenagers of the same age group.

D．They are inspired by the inventors’ experience of getting hit.

2. What is special about Rommel’s invention?

A．It is disability-friendly.

B．It features replaceable parts.

C．It involves a new technology called Spin.

D．It enables wheelchair users to enjoy sports.

3. What is this text?

A．A short story about young inventors.	B．An introduction to a competition.
C．An award voting invitation.	D．A winner announcement.

4 . When I come across the English words I am unfamiliar with, I often________ ________ the dictionary for help.
当我遇到不熟悉的英语单词，我常会向字典寻求帮助。

5 . As a Chinese, I am _________ _________ our nation’s long-standing traditional culture.
作为一名中国人, 我为我们国家悠久的传统文化感到骄傲。

6 . You’ll have to _________ _________ _________ , if you want to be heard in the crowded and noisy market.
如果你想在拥挤吵闹的超市被人听见，你就不得不提高你的嗓门。

7 . You have entered senior high, so you shouldn’t act recklessly before ________ ________ ________   .
你已经上高中了，所以在做大的决定前，你不应该鲁莽行事。

8 . Making friends online does have its own disadvantages,but we can’t throw the baby out ___________ ___________ ___________ .
网上交友的确有它的缺点, 但我们不能不分良莠一起抛弃。

9 . _______ ________the kind-hearted public,we have raised enough money for the sick boy.
多亏了善良的公众，到目前为止，我们已经为生病的男孩凑够了钱。

10 . When faced with a dangerous situation, _________ _________instead of getting nervous, and you’ll find a way out.
当我们面对危险，冷静下来不要紧张，我们就会找到出路。