1 . Billions of insects are moving together over the sky like a black cloud. It’s a swarm of locusts. Many insects move in huge swarms. They form swarms for different reasons. Some move together to look for food or to find new homes. Sometimes insects swarm for protection. These enormous swarms can destroy food crops and harm other living things.

When something disturbs a red fire ants’ nest, out they will come. Not just one or two, but thousands of them. The fire ants swarm all over their victim. Their stings burn like fire. Each ant in the swarm can sting over and over again. The fire ants hold onto their victim with their mouth parts. Then they inject their prey with poison. Most small animals cannot survive the stings from a swarm of fire ants.

When army ants are on the move, anything in their path is prey. Even snakes can’t escape a swarm of these stinging ants. Army ants move together to look for food. They can’t see their prey, but they use smells and sounds to find their way. If they come to a river, they make a bridge with their bodies. They cling together with their legs. Then the rest of the ants can cross the bridge. There is not much that can stop these fierce and cruel ants from chasing their prey.

Insects are not the only animals that swarm. There are many others that do. Most are not harmful to people. Being close to a huge swarm of animals can be scary and dangerous. Some scientists have studied animal swarms. They have found that many swarms follow simple rules. They work together to solve problems. When they work together they are a very strong team.

1. What does the underlined word “swarm” in Paragraph 1 mean?

A．To force a liquid into something.	B．To hold onto something tightly.
C．To move together in a large group.	D．To watch over something.

2. What can we learn about fire ants from the text?

A．Their stings contain a kind of poison and are deadly to most small animals.

B．They can destroy food crops and are harmful to other living things.

C．When they move together, they are called “a swarm of locusts”.

D．They move in swarms to make new nests in different places.

3. Which of the following can be the proper feature of army ants according to the text?

A．Blind and smelly.	B．Angry and violent.
C．Scary and dangerous.	D．Strong and fast.

4. What is the most suitable title for the text?

A．Moving Nests	B．Stinging Fire Ants
C．A Moving Army	D．Swarms of Animals

2 . It was 6 a.m. as I got on the train, ending my work one cold morning and I was lucky to get a seat. At that time of the morning, my eyes were not fully focused and at times I was half asleep. During that time the train was usually filled with construction workers heading out to start their work. On that particular morning I found myself drawn on the shoes of men sitting about 10 seats across from me.

I sat examining the shoes of men. Men from different walks of life, holding different jobs, thinking different thoughts, living different lives and despite what they did and how they looked, they all had something in common. They were all of the working class trying to achieve their dreams.

One day each of those men has to visit a shoe store to buy a new pair of shoes, a type that fits their working needs. For a short time those shoes look so good. Then one day they lose their shine; they no longer look as good, but guess what? The shoes feel right. Feet have found their own home within the comfort of those shoes.

If those shoes could talk, what kind of a tale do you think they would tell? If your shoes could talk, what do you think they would say about you? Would the story be about a journey filled with joy and fun? Or would the story be one filled with disappointment and regret?

We choose the shoes. Where we take them and when and how we wear them are up to us.

1. What can be inferred from the first paragraph?

A．It was cold that morning.

B．The author went to work by train.

C．The author worked during the night.

D．Construction workers usually began to work at 7 a.m.

2. How did the author draw the conclusion that all of the men were working class?

A．By closely observing their shoes.	B．According to the way they walked.
C．On the basis of the lives they lived.	D．By distinguishing their facial features.

3. What does the author think of the shoes then one day?

A．Fashionable.

B．Good.

C．Shiny.

D．Comfortable.

4. Where can the text probably be found?

A．In a news report.

B．In a magazine.

C．In a biography.

D．In a history book.

3 . 假定你是学校英语报社记者李华，上周学校开展了一年一度的“English Day”活动，请使用图表中的信息写一篇短文投稿，内容包括：

1.活动情况介绍，以及学生参与活动的数据描述；

2.简单进行评论或谈谈感受。

English Day

Time: 2:00 p.m. — 4:30 p.m. June 18th Place: School Hall Activities:＊ Singing Competition (50%) ＊ Cooking Show (30%) ＊ Storytelling (20%)

注意：

1.写作词数应为80个左右；

2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；

3. 短文的题目和首句已为你写好。

(请按答题格式在答题卡的相应位置作答)

Our School English Day

Our school English Day was a great success.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4 . The topic of “crossing your legs” has been hotly discussed on the Internet recently. The truth is that crossing one leg over the other, a common sitting posture preferred by many people, may actually do harm to one’s health. So while seated, try not to do so any more.

Whether it is at the office, in a waiting room or relaxing at home, many people’ s go-to posture is one leg over the other, crossed at the knee. If you’re like many of us, you spend too many hours of your day seated and for most of that time, you have crossed your legs for comfort.

One study found that people who sat with their legs crossed for more than three hours a day were more likely to lean forward and to round their shoulders. But the research relied on people’s own estimations of how long they crossed their legs for.

When you cross your legs, you are putting compression and pressure on your leg and knee joints and nerves. The way you sit is a huge determinant of your health and the way your body moves and functions. Sitting with your legs crossed leaves your hips uneven and forces your pelvic bone (盆骨) to rotate. Therefore, the longer you sit in this uneven position, the more pressure is placed on your knee and spine (脊柱), increasing the likelihood that it will develop into a long-term issue.

If seated long, then more importantly for you, cultivate and develop a healthy habit of sitting position. And here are the followings. Switch sitting positions often. Take brief walks around your office or home. Gently stretch your muscles every so often to help relieve muscle tension. Keep your feet on the floor, with your ankles in front of your knees. Relax your shoulders; they should not be rounded. Keep your elbows in close to your body and let them be bent between 90 and 120 degrees. Make sure that your back, thighs and hips are fully supported. Try doing those and maybe some of them fit you.

1. Why do many people like to be seated “crossing their legs”?

A．They do so just for sort of ease.

B．They want their legs to take up more space.

C．They think it’s a power move.

D．It is a common sitting posture preferred by the most.

2. Which of the following may not be the “harm” that the long “cross-legged” position leads to?

A．Your hips are in an unbalanced position.

B．Your spine supports more pressure.

C．Your pelvic bone is forced to rotate.

D．You may lean forward.

3. How many proposals does the author speak about to those seated long in the text?

A．9.

B．7.

C．5.

D．3.

4. What might the author mainly want to tell us?

A．What a common sitting posture is.

B．The cross-legged position is popular.

C．Don’t cross your legs any longer.

D．Being seated long is unhealthy.

5 . Xinjiang has long been known as a place of music and dancing.

No matter which ethnic group is living in Xinjiang, music and dancing are an inseparable part of our lives. From festive holidays to ________ and parties, music, singing and dancing are must-haves, with people of all genders and ages taking part in them. Even young children in Xinjiang, upon ________ music, start moving their hands and stepping on the beat. It is often the case that people say, “Everyone in Xinjiang knows how to dance.” Dancing shows our ________ for life.

When it comes to folk dancing in Xinjiang, the first thing people will ________ is “neck moving”, or more ________, the “head slide”. To do this, you move your cheek to each side.

The moment when I ________ people’s love for the ethnic dances of Xinjiang came during the COVID-19 ________ in 2020. I launched an open course on Douyin. Every day I live-streamed (直播) for an hour. In the 12-day period, more than a million people ________ my course.

Every day I would assign my viewers ________, asking them to shoot a short video and interact with me on the platform. I was flooded with ________ . I could see people of all ages and ethnic groups, even overseas Chinese showing their passion for Xinjiang dances. Many of them even ________ Xinjiang-style clothes and did their hair. I was quite ________ by my students during that period.

Short video and live-streams do not only ________ tourism and sell products, they also serve an important role in ________ a communication channel with the majority of netizens.

I believe so many people would like to connect with me on the Internet because they see me as a down-to-earth, relatable and real director of the ________ and tourist bureau (局).

1.

A．weddings

B．lectures

C．meetings

D．teams

2.

A．directing

B．conducting

C．composing

D．hearing

3.

A．hobby

B．satisfaction

C．passion

D．friendship

4.

A．meet with

B．care for

C．think about

D．find out

5.

A．professionally

B．obviously

C．rapidly

D．frequently

6.

A．recognized

B．felt

C．understood

D．described

7.

A．outbreak

B．attendance

C．appearance

D．control

8.

A．required

B．took

C．answered

D．replied

9.

A．plans

B．designs

C．homework

D．creativity

10.

A．emails

B．letters

C．performances

D．videos

11.

A．made

B．wore

C．bought

D．changed

12.

A．inspired

B．surprised

C．crazy

D．admired

13.

A．compete

B．hire

C．improve

D．promote

14.

A．fixing

B．repairing

C．establishing

D．digging

15.

A．historical

B．cultural

C．natural

D．public

6 . Many people dream of going on a great travel adventure. Most of us keep dreaming; _________ make it happen.

Gregg Bleakney’s _________ was to travel the Americas from top to _________. He _________ the idea after he finished a 1,600-kilometer _________ ride. Gregg’s friend Brooks Allen was also a cyclist. The two friends talked and _________ on their goal: They would _________ from Alaska to Argentina—by bike.

To pay for the journey, Gregg and Brooks worked and _________ money for years. In 2005, after four years of planning, they _________. Once they were on the road, they often __________ outdoors or stayed in hotels. In many places along their route, __________ people opened their homes to the two friends and gave them __________ and water.

During their trip, Gregg and Brooks cycled through __________, rain forests, and mountains. They visited __________ cities and explored ancient ruins, such as Tikal in Guatemala. In many places, they __________ other cyclists from all over the world.

In May 2007—two years, countries, and over 35,500 km later—they __________ reached Ushuaia, Argentina, at the southern tip of South America.

Gregg and Brooks kept a __________ of their adventures in an online blog. The trip __________ both men a lot about traveling. Here is some of Gregg’s advice.

Travel light. The less luggage you have, the less __________ you’ll be.

Be flexible. Don’t plan everything. You’ll be more relaxed and happy, even when there are __________ along the way.

1.

A．they

B．we

C．others

D．all

2.

A．imagination

B．dream

C．thought

D．opinion

3.

A．bottom

B．side

C．ground

D．foot

4.

A．found

B．made

C．got

D．changed

5.

A．car

B．bus

C．train

D．bike

6.

A．depended

B．decided

C．took

D．went

7.

A．continue

B．discover

C．travel

D．arrive

8.

A．saved

B．spent

C．donated

D．paid

9.

A．take off

B．set off

C．leave off

D．come off

10.

A．lived

B．survived

C．hunted

D．camped

11.

A．local

B．foreign

C．familiar

D．ordinary

12.

A．money

B．food

C．hope

D．comfort

13.

A．buildings

B．bridges

C．deserts

D．rivers

14.

A．noisy

B．lively

C．green

D．modern

15.

A．met

B．missed

C．called

D．avoided

16.

A．actually

B．possibly

C．hardly

D．eventually

17.

A．secret

B．promise

C．plan

D．record

18.

A．led

B．won

C．taught

D．told

19.

A．worried

B．excited

C．interested

D．disappointed

20.

A．surprises

B．challenges

C．pleasures

D．opportunities

7 . The world is waiting for you to explore. Where will you go next? Our editors pick four exciting destinations for the year ahead. Grab your bags and go!

Maldives

Why go now: Explore islands on the front lines of climate change

What to know: Maldives is the lowest-lying country on the planet and may disappear in decades due to the rising sea level. So forward-thinking green actions are a matter of survival. The Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve helps protect the Maldives’ coral reefs, which support many coral and fish species, as well as sea turtles, whale sharks, and other animals living in the ocean.

Tasmania, Australia

Why go now: Go to an island that’s wild and beautiful

What to know: Once considered a backwater(闭塞的地方),Tasmania is now one of Australia’s fastest-growing tourism destinations. The key to the attraction of Australia’s southernmost state is its natural beauty, which owes largely to the lasting green spirit of about half a million residents there.

Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia

Why go now: Jump through the Ring of Fire

What to know: Extending into the sea between the Japanese and Aleutian archipelagoes (群岛), Kamchatka is part of the Ring of Fire, the chain of volcanoes. And six separate areas of Kamchatka Peninsula are included within the Volcanoes of Kamchatka UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Guizhou Province, China

Why go now: Step into villages almost untouched by time

What to know: The mountainous region’s plentiful water and cool climate are draws for Apple, Huawei, and other tech powerhouses. This has improved access to the entire province. In Guizhou’s villages, days unfold at a slow pace and people continue farming and textile (纺织品) traditions, which have been practiced since the sixth century. And you can experience this kind of life yourself.

1. What may contribute greatly to the natural beauty of both Maldives and Tasmania?

A．Their small populations.	B．The support of UNESCO.
C．Their underdeveloped economies.	D．People’s environmental awareness.

2. What is Kamchatka Peninsula probably famous for?

A．Wildfire.	B．Volcanoes.
C．Historical sites.	D．Plentiful rainfall.

3. Why is Guizhou recommended by the editors?

A．It maintains traditional villages.	B．There are numerous mountains.
C．It welcomes large tech businesses.	D．The weather is very comfortable there.

8 . International Youth Day, which falls on August 12th, is a great time to celebrate and learn to appreciate the next generation as well as the future of humankind.     1     Its purpose was to inspire and encourage leaders of countries to know about issues related to youth. Since then, there are many ways to participate in Youth Day.

Get involved and support youth activities. Take the opportunity to find out about local youth culture, activities and education.     2     It also helps you to understand what needs the youths of today are facing.

Show an interest in young people.     3     You can offer to help them with something they need, or ask them for some help with technology or something they are good at. You can also ask them about their favorite music and listen with them.     4    

Get involved with an International Youth Day event. People all over the world can be found putting on events that celebrate this day. Volunteers can help, give away money or support the events in whatever ways that might be useful.

    5     Find some friends with a similar passion and create an event to raise awareness and support. It could be something as small as hosting a reading room at a local library, or it could be an event that draws international attention!

A．Host an International Youth Day event.

B．Help young people contribute to society’s development.

C．All these can help you know and understand them better.

D．You can ask some questions about their dreams or life planning.

E．The first International Youth Day took place in the summer of 2000.

F．It’s very important to understand what is going on in the local areas.

G．International Youth Day is meant to enable young people to take part in public life.

9 . 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。

Over the centuries, farmers     1     (discover) thousands of different species of food crops. Each species has special qualities. To feed the seven billion people on Earth, most farmers today are growing only species of plants that are easy     2    (produce) in large numbers. Meanwhile thousands of other species are becoming extinct. For example, in China, 90 percent of the wheat     3     (vary) grown just a century ago have disappeared.

One solution     4     this problem is to collect and preserve the seeds of as many different species as we can     5     they disappear. This idea     6     (suggest) for the first time by Russian scientist Nikolay Vavilov. In     7     1920s and 1930s, he collected around 400,000 seeds from five continents. There are now around 1,700 seed banks in countries around the world. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, which preserves almost one million seed samples, has one of the     8     (large) collections.

In the US, Diane Ott Whealy and her husband founded Heritage Farm, a place     9     people can store and trade seeds. By doing this, they are reintroducing foods into the marketplace     10     haven’t been grown for years.

10 . The US scientists at the University of Vermont and Tufts University who created the first living robots say the life forms, known as xenobots, can now reproduce — and in a way not seen in plants and animals.

Formed from the stem cells of the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) from which it takes its name, xenobots are less than a millimeter (0.04 inches) wide. The tiny blob were first brought out in 2020 after experiments showed that they could move, work together in groups and self-heal.

“I was shocked by it,” said Michael Levin, a professor of biology and director of the Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University who was co-lead author of the new research, adding that when you free the cells from the rest of the frogs’ embryo(胚胎) and you give them a chance to figure out how to be in a new environment and a new way to reproduce.

“In that way it’s a robot but it’s also clearly an organism made from genetically unmodified frog cell.” said Josh Bongard, a computer science professor and robotics expert at the University of Vermont and lead author of the study.

Bongard said they found that the xenobots, which were initially sphere-shaped and made from around 3,000 cells, could replicate(复制). But it happened rarely and only in specific situations. The xenobots used “active replication” — a process that is known to occur at the molecular(分子的) level but has never been observed before at the scale of whole cells or organisms.

The xenobots are very early technology — think of a 1940s computer — and don’t yet have any practical applications. However, this combination of molecular biology and artificial intelligence could potentially be used in a host of tasks in the body and the environment, according to Bongard. This may include things like collecting microplastics in the oceans, inspecting root systems and regenerative medicine.

1. What can we learn from the first two paragraphs?

A．American scientists found that African clawed frog can reproduce.

B．Xenobots got its name because they are less than a millimeter wide.

C．Xenobots are an entirely new life form different from any animal or plant.

D．African clawed frog could move, work together in groups, self-heal and reproduce.

2. What might Josh Bongard agree?

A．He was surprised by what have been found.

B．Xenobots could replicate only in particular circumstances.

C．The cells from frogs figure out a new way to move and reproduce.

D．Xenobots are very early technology that have a few actual applications.

3. What is Josh Bongard’s attitude towards xenobots’ use in the future?

A．Unfavorable.	B．Concerned.
C．Indifferent.	D．Positive.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．The explanation of xenobots’ difference.

B．The introduction to the first living robots.

C．The amazement of the creation of xenobots.

D．The presentation of molecular active replication.