1 . Humans are not the animal kingdom's only fashionistas. Tits ( ill雀) can be fashion followers, too, apparently. A latest study shows that, given the chance, they decorate their nests with this season's must-have colour.

Dr. Wild and Dr. Aplin were following up on a study published in 1934 by Henry Smith Williams, an American naturalist. He noticed that when he put various coloured balls of yarn (纱) out in his garden, almost always one and only one became popular that season for being included into local birds' nests. But which particular color was favoured varied from season to season. This suggested that the colour chosen by one of the early birds was spotted and copied by others.

Williams's work was, however, forgotten until they came across it while following up on a different study, published by a team at the University of Toulouse, suggesting fashion-following, too. Dr. Wild and Dr. Aplin therefore set out to re-run Williams's experiment, but this time to collect some actual numbers.

The birds they followed were part of a well-monitored population of blue tits in a wood near the institute. Most birds in this wood carried tracking devices fitted to them after their capture in mist nets. That allowed the institute's researchers to keep track of a vast number of individuals by recording their arrival at food containers throughout the wood. Instead of food, these containers were loaded with wool of different colors. Interestingly, researchers soon found that most nests of blue tits included only the color of the wool first chosen by a nestbuildcr.

Tits, then, do seem to be “on trend”, when it comes to nest-building materials. Why that should happen remains obscure. Dr. Wild and Dr. Aplin suspect the fashion leaders are older birds, and that evolution favours younger ones copying their elders since those elders have evidently survived what fortune has to throw at a tit. Williams’s original work, though, suggests such initial choices are at random-a bit like those of the leaders of human fashions.

1. What can we learn from Paragraph 2?

A．Dr. Wild and Dr. Aplin contributed to William's work.

B．Early birds' color preference was copied by their fellows.

C．The yam was the most popular material to decorate local birds' nests.

D．The color of the yam favored by local birds was fixed throughout the year.

2. How did Dr. Wild and Dr. Aplin improve William's experiment?

A．They observed the blue tits.

B．They studied the habits of blue tits.

C．They adopted the data-collecting method.

D．They fitted tracking devices to food containers.

3. What does the underlined word “obscure” in Paragraph 5 mean?

A．Hidden.

B．Evident.

C．Complicated.

D．Shallow.

4. What is the main idea of the text?

A．Birds favor certain colors in decoration.

B．Young birds follow their elders in fashion.

C．Young birds are just as intelligent as people.

D．Birds are just as fashion-conscious as people.

2 . 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。

On a train to Smithville, a man happened to sit down next to a young man no more than 17 years old. Because the boy was tense, the man wondered what could be worrying him. Whatever it was, the boy’s tension was clear.

The boy kept staring out of the window, paying no attention to anyone else on the train. The man opened up a book and started reading. Now and then, he would look up and see the boy’s face pressed against the window. He sensed that the boy was fighting to keep from crying.

Finally, the boy asked the man, “Do you know what time it is? And do you know when we are to arrive at Smithville?” The man gave the boy the time. Then the boy told the man the whole story of his life. “Four years ago,” he said, “I did something bad hurting my dad, so bad that I had to run away from home. I couldn’t face my father. So I left without even saying goodbye to him. Since then, I have worked here and there. I never stayed very long in one place. I’ve been pretty lonely. Until finally, I decided that I want to go back to my father and apologized to him.”

The man went on to ask, “Does your father know you’re coming?” And the boy responded, “He knows I’m coming, but I don’t know if he will be there. I sent him a letter. I didn’t know if he would still want me back. I wasn’t sure if he would forgive me. So in my letter, I told him that if he wanted me to come home, he could put a sign on a tree which is a few hundred yards before the railroad station in Smithville. I told him that I would look for a yellow ribbon(丝带)on one of the branches of that tree as the train passes. If there is a yellow ribbon on the tree, then I’ll get off. If not, then I’ll just keep on riding to wherever this train goes.” The two of them were now waiting for Smithville.

注意：
1.续写词数应为150左右；
2.请按如下格式作答。
Now involved, the man stopped reading and also stared at the window.
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A few moments later, the conductor came along and called out, “Next stop-Smithville.”
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4 . 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。

More than 1,500 years ago, ancient Chinese craftsmen    1    （invent）a new type of paper. It later became an essential item for traditional Chinese study and an icon of Chinese culture,    2    is called Xuan paper, or rice paper…In 2009, the traditional craft of making Xuan paper was included on UNESCO’S Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Xuan paper was first made from the straw of rice and bark from a typical tree in ancient Xuan Region, now    3    （know）as Jingxian County in Anhui Province. The traditional process of making Xuan paper is    4    （extreme）demanding and involves more than 100 steps. The whole process can take as long as two years to complete,    5    the skills have been passed down for the next generation.

Such features as being white, soft and moth-proof（防虫的）enable Xuan paper    6    （last）for even more than 1,000 years. Amazingly, after such a long time, it can keep the    7    （fresh）of the ink end color on it,     8    （result）in a name “Paper of Ages.”

Because of its lasting popularity    9    Chinese scholars and artists and also due to its remarkable longevity, so far the majority of existing ancient Chinese books, calligraphy and paintings    10    （preserve）on Xuan paper.

5 . E-Bike Safety Tips

Before you go on your next two-wheeled adventure, make sure you’re familiar with the ins and outs of bicycle safety. This holds true whether you’re riding a traditional bike or an e-bike-one powered by an electric motor in addition to your pedaling. E-bike is a great way to get around, save money and protect the environment. But as fun as e-bikes are to ride, they still require practices to ensure your fun rides can be safe.    1    .

▲Keep dos and don’ts in mind. Wear a helmet. A full face helmet with a face shield that flips up can give you all around protection. Ride with the flow of traffic rather than against it.    2    Don’t forget to use the lights to make you more visible at night, which may decrease chances of road accidents.

▲Be sure your bike is ready to ride. That starts with checking that the tires are inflated. Make sure the brakes are working properly.    3    , if the bicycle hasn’t been used for a while. For an e-bike, also make sure your battery is charged. And before and after every ride, inspect your bicycle for damage.

▲    4    . This is important for e-bike riders. With the ability to go faster comes the responsibility io know when you should slow down. Do not ride on expressways or highways.

Ride in the right lanes.    5    , when you’re riding in the street, even in a protected bike lane. Moreover, check the sign to see where e-bikes are allowed. Riding on sidewalks or other walkways can lead to a fine.

You can check the People for Bikes website（peopleforbikes. org）for more information.

A．Be aware of your speed

B．Be cautious of proper parking

C．Don’t talk on the phone, text, or listen to music

D．Take it for a tune-up before you take it for a ride

E．It is essential to pay careful attention to these tips

F．Read the signals and pay attention to the lane markings

G．Always try to check in your mirror before moving further out into the lane

6 . I know it may be hard to convince you, but let me try: Don’t kill the next spider you see in your home.

People like to think of their dwellings as safely separated from the outside world, but many types of spiders can be found inside. Some are accidentally trapped, while others are short-term visitors. Some species even enjoy the great indoors, where they happily live out their lives and make more spiders. These fellows are usually secretive, and almost all you meet are neither aggressive nor dangerous. And they may be providing services like eating pests—some even eat other spiders.

My colleagues and I conducted a visual survey of 50 North Carolina homes. Every single house we visited was home to spiders. The most common species we encountered were cobweb spiders and cellar spiders. Both build webs where they lie in wait for prey(猎物) to get caught. Cellar spiders sometimes leave their webs to hunt other spiders.

Although they are all-around predators(捕食性动物), tending to eat anything they can catch, spiders regularly capture harmful pests and even disease-carrying insects—for example, mosquitoes. There’s even a species of jumping spider that prefers to eat blood-filled mosquitoes in African homes. So killing a spider doesn’t just cost the insect its life; it may take an important predator out of your home.

It’s natural to fear spiders. They have lots of legs and almost all are venomous—though the majority of species have venom(毒液) too weak to cause issues in humans, if their fangs can pierce our skin at all. Even entomologists themselves can fall prey to arachnophobia(蜘蛛恐惧症). I know a few spider researchers who overcame their fear by observing and working with these fascinating creatures. If they can do it, so can you!

1. What is a common misunderstanding of spiders according to Paragraph 2?

A．They can be trapped easily.

B．They often attack human beings.

C．They are friendly to human beings.

D．They live far away from human beings.

2. What will happen if you kill a spider in your home?

A．Losing a great assistant.	B．Catching more insects.
C．Developing rare diseases.	D．Rescuing other insects.

3. How can people get over their fear of spiders?

A．By discovering their habitats.	B．By protecting their skin.
C．By getting along with them.	D．By recognizing their venom.

4. What does the text suggest people do about spiders?

A．Spare spiders.

B．Monitor spiders.

C．Defeat spiders.

D．Control spiders.

10 . Automaker General Motors has announced the expectation of achieving carbon neutrality (中和) by 2040. On the way to that goal, the company hopes to get rid of automobile emissions (排放物) by 2035.

GM said it will take a science-based approach to become carbon neutral, balancing carbon dioxide emissions. Furthermore, it plans to remove gas-powered vehicle production by 2035. It intends that by 2025, 40% of its vehicles will be battery powered.

“General Motors is joining governments and companies around the globe working to establish a safer, greener and better world,” said Mary Barra, GM chairman and CEO. “We encourage others to work together and make a significant influence on our industry and on the economy as a whole.”

Transportation is the largest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, just over 28%, the Environmental Protection Agency reported. That is why GM and other industry leaders have joined the Science Based Targets initiative, which calls on businesses to take action to do with climate change.

A clear step for GM to become carbon neutral is to switch from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles. Traditional gas vehicles make up about 75% of GM’s greenhouse emissions, the company said. Their production facilities make up the other 25%, but the manufacturer aims to control the ratio (比率) by using wind and solar energy. GM said it will power its U.S. factories with 100% renewable energy by 2030 and globally by 2035.

The bigger obstacle falls on the consumer. An electric vehicle is significantly more expensive. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) says the average electric car costs $ 19,000 more than a gasoline-powered car. But GM has spent years improving its battery technology. Maybe that’s the reason why it can get rid of automobile emissions in the next 14 years with much confidence.

1. What measure is GM taking to achieve the goal of removing carbon dioxide emissions?

A．Working with global organizations.

B．Cutting back on battery-powered cars.

C．Gaining industrial and financial support.

D．Reducing production of cars powered by gas.

2. What is Mary Barra’s attitude towards GM’s carbon-neutral approach?

A．Supportive.	B．Opposed.
C．Critical.	D．Indifferent.

3. According to the passage, what results in the greenhouse gas emissions in the US to a large extent?

A．Renewable energy.	B．Fast food.
C．Transportation.	D．Electric vehicles.

4. Which of the following best explains the word “manufacturer” underlined in paragraph 5?

A．Consumer.	B．Environmentalist.
C．Producer.	D．Advertiser.