1 . The first letter arrived dated March 31, 2020. It was from a close childhood friend, with whom I regularly keep in touch via those correspondence (通信) methods such as instant texts, FaceTimes and phone calls, as most young people do.
“The sun has set on our 15th day of quarantine (隔离),” my friend wrote, “Isn’t it crazy how quickly this has become the new normal?” Plus, he said, writing a letter could be a fun creative exercise to break up the boredom of those days. So I wrote back.
When I was in fifth grade, we had a pen-pal program with a class in Australia, but when the school year ended, my pal and I fell out of touch. Anytime I traveled afar, I tried to write to my family; somehow I always tended to get home before my letters did.
But at this particular moment, I’ve found it wonderful to write letters in the simplest way. In return, I’ll get something far more interesting than an ordinary account of my own days: a patchwork of pages that were sent to me by others, each one fresher than the last one.
A recent article reported a rise in snail mail and handwritten messages; the practice seems to be popular as people deal with sadness from the pandemic (流行病). More likely, it’s because we’re missing our friends and classmates; we’re so badly aching for the simple physical connections that the virus has taken away.
“When I got your letter, the first thing I wanted to do was to text you, but I quickly controlled myself,” another childhood friend wrote. “What an affront to text the person who writes to you.” I smiled as I pulled out a blank sheet to start my response. I like to think I’ll keep this up for as long as I can, or at least as long as someone is willing to write back.
1. What did the author’s friend write in the letter according to paragraph 2?| A．The boring life in quarantine. | B．The need of social distancing. |
| C．The desire for a new normal life. | D．The way of doing creative exercise. |
| A．His regret to lose touch with his pal. |
| B．His less communication by letter now. |
| C．His preference to travel to a distant place. |
| D．His concern about his family even in trips. |
| A．It can help prevent viruses spreading. |
| B．Snail mail is a popular way to contact. |
| C．People can find comfort from it. |
| D．Physical connections can be avoided. |
| A．Dishonesty. | B．Impossibility. |
| C．Disagreement. | D．Impoliteness. |
2 . We’ve long considered confusion that occurs when we don’t understand something as a shortcoming.
You’re probably OK. In fact, according to a new study, it isn’t so much about being confused, but how we respond to that feeling matters. The study suggests some people make confusion work for them—making them learn more about something they don’t originally understand. Others, on the other hand, react to confusion by turning away from the subject completely. It all comes down to how people respond to the feelings of uncertainty and puzzlement.
“We have been investigating links between emotions and learning for almost a decade, and find that confusion can be beneficial to learning if appropriately regulated because it can cause learners to process the material more deeply in order to clear their confusion,” explains lead author Sidney D’Mello.
To test their theory, researchers invited some people to learn sessions that involved a complex idea. Then they intentionally increased the confusion. Interestingly, people who had reported higher rates of confusion were also better able to grasp the subject—and identify the scientific contradictions. Essentially, they had a positive reaction to confusion, using it as a motivation to wrap their heads around a subject. For them, confusion was a chance to learn something new.
They proved what scientist Nick Hobson describes as a high degree of openness. “Openness is associated with the experience of interest, absorption and wonderment,” he says. “Individuals higher in openness are fascinated by complex situations. It is characterized by a greater tolerance of uncertainty.”
However, D’Mello cautions against deliberately sowing confusion in the context of learning. People already struggling to understand a concept—especially one that they’re under pressure to understand—may not benefit from the added confusion. Instead, confusion may work best for people who are actually looking for a challenge and don’t face consequences of taking a chance to learn something new. Those would be the intellectual risk-takers who are encouraged, rather than discouraged by the feelings of confusion.
1. How do some people benefit from confusion?| A．They may find their shortcomings of learning. |
| B．They may seek a solution quickly. |
| C．They may identify their uncertain feelings. |
| D．They may understand the subject better. |
| A．They tolerate ambiguous situations more. |
| B．They respond to confusion negatively. |
| C．They are easy to get confused a lot. |
| D．They feel at a loss for complex situations. |
| A．Take a risk to try something new. |
| B．Add confusion to learning on purpose. |
| C．Face consequences of looking for a challenge. |
| D．Risk being discouraged by confusion. |
| A．How Confusion Affects Your Character |
| B．What Confusion Means to You |
| C．Why Confusion May Be Good for You |
| D．Where Confusion Comes from |
3 . Several years ago, Cindy and her kids noticed that two robins (知更鸟) had built a nest in one of their trees. As they paid attention to the robins’
Soon four baby birds hatched. Cindy and her kids took
Then one day as Cindy was
The birds were dive-bombing (俯冲攻击) the tree because a snake had
Cindy thought quickly and took a
There is something remarkable that happens when we have a
| A．weight | B．cage | C．color | D．activity |
| A．ownership | B．advantage | C．place | D．hold |
| A．anxiously | B．casually | C．regularly | D．quickly |
| A．washing | B．folding | C．buying | D．renting |
| A．rushed | B．looked | C．worked | D．stood |
| A．attacking | B．waving | C．ruining | D．observing |
| A．catch | B．protect | C．comfort | D．serve |
| A．interesting | B．rewarding | C．amazing | D．inspiring |
| A．defended | B．enjoyed | C．resigned | D．wrapped |
| A．save | B．satisfy | C．support | D．carry |
| A．stick | B．gun | C．net | D．rope |
| A．settled down | B．gave in | C．turned around | D．cheered up |
| A．common | B．final | C．public | D．personal |
| A．problem | B．enemy | C．idea | D．sense |
| A．dangers | B．friends | C．differences | D．promises |
4 . Tuesday Talks
Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020, 16:00-16:30
Tuesday Talks is a talk about finding your career in the outdoor recreation industry with Hailey Doss Hester.
Join us for Tuesday Talks as we sit down with industry professionals and leaders in this outdoor focused conversation series. Our goal is to introduce you to influential individuals through genuine conversations on Instagram Live. We will touch on diversity in the outdoors, current trends, and much more!
Location: Instagram Live
Outdoor Clinic
Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020, 12:00-12:30
Come and explore nature in the Sierras. Learn about the plants that you might see while on a trip to Tahoe or Yosemite. Improve your knowledge and impress your friends by learning about the natural environment around you in our local mountain range.
If you need accommodations, please email peakinfo@ csus. edu.
Location: Virtual — ZOOM
Green Team
Monday, Nov. 30, 2020, 14:00-15:00
The Sacramento State Green Team aims to make Sacramento State a sustainable campus through education, promotion and performance of sustainable efforts. They advise and work with the University on source reduction, recycling and other sustainable practices while also providing educational programs for students, staf and the community.
Location: Instagram Live
Explore Utah
Thursday, Oct 22, 2020, 16:00-16:30
Do you want to travel to one of the five National Parks in Utah? Join us as we will take you on a virtual hike through the beautiful Bryce Canyon National park! There are many colorful and unique rock formations that shape the canyon, making it one-of-a-kind experience. The virtual trip will take you through what is known as the amphitheater (圆形剧场), starting at the sunset trail head and ending at the sunrise trail head. There is no other place like Bryce Canyon, no hiking shoes required!
Location: Virtual — ZOOM
1. What is the focus of Tuesday Talks?| A．Taking part in professional outdoor activities. |
| B．Breaking into the outdoor recreation industry. |
| C．Knowing the developing trend of modern industry. |
| D．Learning about the diversity of species outdoors. |
| A．Plant experts. | B．Adventurers. |
| C．Outdoor clinic lovers. | D．Environmentalists. |
| A．The beautiful rising sun. | B．The depth of the valley. |
| C．Distinctive stone shapes. | D．Natural places for species. |
5 . Here is a guide to the best countries to see the Northern Lights, as well as top tips such as the best time to go.
★Where to go: Greenland
Kangerlussuaq is often regarded as the best spot in Greenland, with over 300 nights of clear skies. Alternatively, you can visit the capital city of Nuuk, where on clear nights, there have been plenty of sightings of the Northern Lights. And in the southern regions, darkness tends to fall earlier in the evening, ideal for those who don't want to stay up all night.
Best time to go: From November through to April
★Where to go: Norway
Head to the northern regions of Norway for the best possible chances of seeing the Northern Lights. Head to Svalbard, one of the world's northernmost inhabited areas, and you'll feel like you've stepped into an ice kingdom. Those who love the great outdoors might want to check out the Lyngenfjord region, where you'll find plenty of tours to see the Northern Lights. whale watching, skiing, ice climbing and so on!
Best time to go: From October through to March when the polar nights make them easier to spot.
★Where to go: Sweden
Head to Abisko National Park where the clear skies and lack of light pollution make for ideal Northern Lights viewing conditions. One of the best spots is in Swedish Lapland, where you can have dinner under the midnight skies. Hikers might also consider trying the Kungsleden hiking trail, which offers about 440km of breathtaking landscapes.
Best time to go from September through to March.
★Where to go: Iceland
You don't need to go to the remote landscapes to spot the Northern Lights. In fact, sightings are possible from Iceland's capital of Reykjavik.Want to escape the crowds? Head to lesser-known spots such as Thingvellir, which is the place where photographers try to capture the perfect Northern Lights photo.
Best time to go: From late August to mid-April, although you will increase your chances if you visit from late September through to March.
1. What can we learn about Greenland from the text?| A．It has one of the world's northernmost inhabited areas. |
| B．It offers an about 440km of hiking trail with breathtaking landscapes. |
| C．The capital city of Nuuk is the only place to see the Northern Lights in Greenland. |
| D．One can go to the southern regions in order to see the Northern Lights earlier. |
| A．most cities in Greenland have over 300 nights of clear skies a year. |
| B．one can see the Northern Lights as well as whale-watching in the Lyngenfjord region. |
| C．one can have dinner under the midnight skies in Thingvellir. |
| D．late September through to March is the best time to see the Northern Lights in Norway. |
| A．intend to study the Northern Lights. |
| B．want to see the Northern Lights. |
| C．are interested in European countries. |
| D．are fond of extreme sports. |
6 . Two years ago, my 11-year-old son sat me down for a talk.“Mom, it's time," he said.“Hear me out: It's time we got actual TV. And you need an iPhone.”
This funny conversation two years ago marked a shift in our relationship. Perhaps for the first time, I began to really listen to my son's opinion about our home technology. Since his reasoning was sound and his suggestions within budget, I took his advice and was pleasantly surprised with the results.
I'd known for a while that my son understands technology better than I do. On airplanes, he grabbed my phone to put it in airplane mode. He wired the speakers in our house. After something was stolen from our front yard, he picked out, set up, and now monitors our security camera. When my computer died, I took him shopping with me.
As a teenager now, he has a busy social life, with skateboarding, basketball, and online gaming with his friends. I see our time together waning and our shared interests shrinking. That's why I jumped at the chance when a friend mentioned writing technology reviews. I'm a writer, but I'd need a partner who has more tech knowledge than me. When I presented the idea to my teen, he immediately accepted.
It's changed our relationship in surprising ways. Where he used to get annoyed quickly at my technical ignorance, he's learned to be more patient and explain things to me in a way that I can convey to an unknowing audience. The parent-child dynamic is not only changed; it's even slightly reversed(颠倒). He's leading me. I'm asking him for help and advice.
My son has risen to the occasion. He's taking it seriously, and to watch him mature in this way is an honor. As someone who's not much of a reader, he now searches instruction manuals. Without any prompting, he's even emailed and called-----yes, made an actual phone call to customer service or tech support when sample products weren't working as expected.
I never imagined being a tech reviewer, but it's proved to be a valuable way to learn from, work with, and enjoy time with my teen.
1. What did the writer think of her son's advice?| A．It sounded sensible. | B．It was brainless. |
| C．It was childish. | D．It was useless |
| A．Introduce the busy life her son is living. |
| B．Give examples of her son's interest in technology. |
| C．Prove her son's better command of technology. |
| D．Show her pride in her son's competence. |
| A．Worsening. | B．Decreasing. | C．Freezing. | D．Hardening. |
| A．Her son's patience to explain technical things. |
| B．Her son's control of the parent-child dynamic. |
| C．Her son's rich knowledge of technical terms. |
| D．Her son's careful attitude towards the work. |
China has
The rover, Zhurong,
The six-wheel solar-powered Zhurong rover
The Tianwen-1 Mars orbiter will relay its signal to the rover during its mission and then conduct a
Tianwen-1
Tianwen-1,
8 . There are a lot of feral(野生的) camels in Australia. Although they don't appear to be as destructive as other introduced species because they eat trees and plants that our native Australian animals don' t eat, in the last few years the Australian Camel population has been increasing at a fairly alarming rate and becoming a bit of a problem.
We didn’t see them that often where we grew up unless we went further into Queensland or South Australia. When we did see them it was always a bit of a thrill for us kids because it was somewhat of a novelty(新奇的事物).
The suggestion of bringing camels to Australia was first made in 1837, 49 years after Europeans arrived in Australia. The importing of camels into Australia began in the mid 1800s to open up the desert areas of Central and Western Australia. They were handled and cared for by Muslim cameleers that came from countries like Egypt, Turkey and northern India. The cameleers were called Afghans or “Ghans”even though most of them were not Afghans. The name stuck to a part of the railroad track that links Port Augusta in South Australia to Darwin in the Northern Territory.
By the 1920s there were about 20,000 domesticated(家养的) camels in Australia, but with the arrival of motor and rail transport in the 1930s people no longer needed their camels and a lot of them were abandoned in the bush.
Australian Camels are now exported live to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other countries where disease-free camels are considered a delicacy(佳肴). Australian Camels are also exported to Arab Camel racing stables as breeding stock. The United States also imports them to use in tourist attractions. There are over 40 farms providing rides in Australia now.
1. What problem with camels in Australia is mentioned?| A．They carry disease. |
| B．They hurt people sometimes. |
| C．The number of them is growing rapidly. |
| D．Some native animals are threatened by them. |
| A．To keep the balance of nature. | B．To develop the desert areas. |
| C．To satisfy kids’ curiosity. | D．To create new jobs. |
| A．The disappearance of bushes. | B．The spread of a serious disease. |
| C．The introduction of other animals. | D．The availability of modern vehicles. |
| A．The history of Australian Camels. | B．What Australian Camels are used for. |
| C．The advantages of Australian Camels. | D．Why Australian Camels are popular abroad. |
9 . An unconventional method for growing rice has been found to increase yields(产量) by 20 to 50 percent. Reports from China, India, Southeast Asia and Africa suggest that average yield increases of 20 to 50 percent are regularly being achieved by farmers adopting the "system of rice intensification(集约化)"(SRI)，which needs one-tenth as many seeds and aims to stimulate the root system of plants rather than trying to increase yields in the conventional way by using improved seeds and fertilizers.
The idea of using less to gain more is seen as an important innovation(革新) for adapting farming to climate change and a way to increase yields at a time when human populations are growing fast but traditional plant breeding and genetically modified techniques have failed to increase yields more than a few percentage points, says Norman Uphoff, professor of international agriculture at Cornell.
The new way to grow rice needs only half as much water, and is proving most popular in water-stressed countries, says Tavseef Mairaj Shah, a Ph.D. researcher. "Rice growing in Kashmir largely depends on irrigation systems that draw water from the river Jhelum. But climate change is leading to drier winters, untimely rains, and warmer summers."
“SRI is a great technique, not just from the water-saving perspective but because it offers better yields and soil conditions. Different studies, both at the experimental level and farmer-participative level, have shown that SRl improves yields with less water.” Shah adds.
Some academic, the global seed industry and the international community once rejected reports of “fantastic” yields, accusing farmers of falsifying(篡改）records and researchers of carelessness and "non-science". But more than 600 articles, checked by SRI International at Cornell University, have shown benefits.
Uphoff says, “Attitudes are changing.The original hostility(敌意) has gone." However, the early opposition has resulted in comparatively little scientific research being conducted into SRI and a slow understanding by funders.
1. How does SRI increase the yields of rice?| A．By sowing more seeds | B．By using improved seeds. |
| C．By improving its root system. | D．By adopting special fertilizers. |
| A．needs less water | B．increases labor costs |
| C．requires better soil conditions | D．depends on genetically modified techniques |
| A．Curious | B．Skeptical. | C．Approving | D．Uninterested. |
| A．How to Increase Yields |
| B．People's Attitudes Towards SRI |
| C．An Innovative Means of Growing Rice |
| D．The Disadvantages of Conventional Plant Breeding |
10 . Consistently doing what you need to do to succeed, with total focus and determination, is incredibly difficult.
Let your past inform your future. The past is valuable. Learn from your mistakes. Learn from the mistakes of others. Then let it go.
Never complain. Your words have power, especially over you. Complaining about your problems always makes you feel worse,not better. So if something is wrong,don't waste time complaining.
| A．Be grateful for the good things in your life. |
| B．The past is just training; it doesn't define you. |
| C．Whatever it is, you care, and you want others to care. |
| D．See your life and future as totally within your control. |
| E．Just put that mental energy into making the situation better. |
| F．People may like your things, but that doesn't mean they like you. |
| G．And that's why the ability to work hard and respond positively to failure is vital. |
