1 . That dinosaurs ate the mammals (哺乳动物) that ran beneath their feet is not in doubt. Now an extraordinary fossil newly described in Scientific Reports, unearthed by a team led by Gang Han at Hainan Vocational University of Science and Technology in China, shows that sometimes the tables were turned.

The fossil -dated to about 125 million years ago, during the Cretaceous period-was formed when a flow of boiling volcanic mud swallowed two animals seemingly locked in a life-and-death fight. The one on top is a mammal. This animal is a herbivorous species closely related to the Triceratops (三角恐龙). Animal interactions such as this are exceptionally cam e in the fossil record.

One possibility is that the mammal was eating something already dead, other than hunting live prey. These days it is uncommon for small mammals to attack much larger animals. But it is not unheard of. And Dr. Han and his colleagues point out that those mammals which eat dead bodies typically leave tooth marks all over the bones of the animals. The dinosaur’s remains show no such marks. There is also a chance the fossil could be a fake. More and more convincing fake s have emerged, as this one did -though Dr. Han and his colleagues argue that the complexly connected nature of the skeletons (骨骼) makes that unlikely, too.

Assuming it is genuine, the discovery serves as a reminder that not all dinosaurs were enormous during the Cretaceous and not all mammals were tiny. From nose to tail, the dinosaur is just 1.2 meters long. The mammal is a bit under half a meter in length. Despite being half the size, the mammal has one paw firmly wrapped around one of its prey’s limbs, and another pulling on its jaw. It is biting down on the dinosaur’s chest, and has ripped off two of its ribs. Before they were interrupted, it seems that the mammal was winning.

1. Which idiom is closest in meaning to underlined part “the tables were turned” in paragraph 1?

A．The fittest survives.	B．The hunters become hunted.
C．Fortune always favors the brave.	D．The truth will always come to light.

2. Why does the author mention the “tooth mark” in paragraph 3?

A．To prove the fossil was fake.	B．To show the forming of the fossil.
C．To illustrate the process of hunting.	D．To suggest the dinosaur was hunted alive.

3. What makes Dr. Han think the fossil is genuine?

A．The size of the fossil.	B．The absence of fake fossils.
C．The complexity of the skeletons.	D．The consistency of the opinions.

4. What is the function of the last paragraph?

A．It offers a cause.	B．It highlights a solution.
C．It justifies the conclusion.	D．It provides a new discovery.

2 . In the world of contemporary art, there are artists whose creativity and originality challenge the established boundaries, attracting the public with their wisdom. One of these innovators is the famous Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang, whose art installations (装置艺术) leave everyone speechless.

With an imaginative mind and an unconventional approach, Cai Guo-Qiang has become a master of fireworks display, employing the gunpowder of fireworks in his art in a truly extraordinary way. Through the mastery of said material and the explosions controlled, Cai creates installations that go beyond expectations and take the public on an unforgettable journey.

One of his most important creations is the installation titled “The rise of butterflies”. In this work, Cai uses a combination of gunpowder and paper to create a striking cloud of flying butterflies. The delicate winged creatures move back and forth in the air, creating a magical and ephemeral effect that goes against the laws of gravity.

But perhaps one of the most curious and daring installations of Cai Guo-Qiang is “The garden of ephemeral sculptures”. In this work, the artist uses controlled explosives to sculpt shapes in huge blocks of ice. As the explosions occur, the icy figures gradually transform, creating an ephemeral and ever-changing scene. It is as if the sculptures come alive for a brief moment before disappearing completely.

Cai Guo-Qiang is an artist who breaks the limits of imagination. His installations transport us to a world of magic, where fire and gunpowder become tools for creation. He combines aesthetic (审美的) beauty with unusual elements, making his works unique and fascinating. Without a doubt, Cai’s impact on contemporary art is undeniable. His installations have attracted audiences around the world and will inspire future generations to break free and find beauty in the unpredictable (不可预测的).

1. Which might be the best title for Cai Guo-Qiang?

A．An explosive genius.	B．A creative sculptor.
C．A traditional painter.	D．An artistic pioneer.

2. What does the word “ephemeral” mean in the passage?

A．Unique.	B．Short-lived.
C．Unconventional.	D．Breath-taking.

3. What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A．Cai’s impact on art is unpredictable.

B．Cai’s success results from global recognition.

C．Cai’s art changes traditional concept of beauty.

D．Cai’s art inspires artists to think outside the box.

4. What is the text most likely to be?

A．A diary entry of Cai Guo-Qiang.

B．A profile of celebrity in a magazine.

C．A scientific research paper on fireworks.

D．An advertisement for a fireworks company.

3 . 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。

Researchers and wetland protectors in Wuhan, Hubei Province, are stepping up efforts to allow more wildlife to survive and thrive in their natural habitat.     1     treasured species of ducks is one of the latest beneficiaries from the growing focus     2     the environment.

In 2012, Baer’s pochard, the blue-headed duck,     3     (list) as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature after its numbers declined due to a bad habitat. The ducks were     4     (rare) seen in Wuhan until bird-watchers observed     5     (they) living in the city in 2014, according to the Wuhan Bird Watching Society. Despite that, no proof showed that, so far, the ducks     6     (turn) from migratory birds to resident birds in the city because researchers would not attach tracers to the animals     7     (prevent) humans disturbing them.

In 2019, the Wuhan Bird Watching Society started researching and rescuing the breeding habitats of the duck. They found that the ducks feed on submerged     8     (plant), shrimp, snails and aquatic insects. The birds also like to rest at shoals(浅滩)     9     food is abundant. Based on the results, the team will create an area toward the restoration of the habitat in the city’s Qijiawan for the blue-headed duck, first     10     (discover) in the area.

4 . Confessions of an annoying Mosquito

If you’re reading my confessions (自白), congratulations! You’ll have a safe and healthy summer.

We love when you work up a sweat. It’s really the carbon dioxide you breathe out that makes us beeline to ward you, not the fragrance of your “sweet blood.”

Love beer? So do some of us. They can tell when you’ve been drinking because your skin chemistry changes, and it attracts them

Pregnant? Yum. If you’re having a baby, you emit more carbon dioxide and your belly has a higher temperature, drawing some of us right to you. Sorry, baby.

Hate getting bitten up? Blame the ladies. Males do not eat human blood: They get all their nutrition from plants. After we have a blood meal, we can lay anywhere from 100 to 400 eggs

Smelly feet are simply delicious. Scientists have shown we find your toes ten times more inviting than Limburger cheese.

If your home’s landscaping is well tended, we won’t like it as much. We like to hang out in thick, overgrown vegetation. The darker and more damp, the better. And puddles (水沟) of smelly water is where we like to lay our eggs.

Got those CO₂-emitting traps in your yard? Great! You may think you’re outsmarting us with these devices, which emit carbon dioxide to lure (引诱) us into a trap. But they may attract more of us than they are able to trap, increasing our presence in your yard.

When it comes to West Nile, end-of-summer bites may do more harm. It’s simple logic: We bite birds with West Nile virus; then we bite humans and spread it. By summer’s end, we’ve had more chances to bite infected birds.

1. What can we know from the confessions?

A．Mosquitoes love smelly toes most.

B．All the mosquitoes suck drinking people.

C．The mosquito making the confessions is female.

D．Mosquito bites in early summer are more harmful.

2. Which of the following is least likely to attract “WE” according to the text?

A．A woman who is expecting.	B．A yard with traps emitting oxygen.
C．A man who has just finished jogging.	D．A house surrounded with smelly puddles.

3. What is the tone of the text?

A．Amusing.

B．Serious.

C．Sad.

D．Proud.

5 . Top Theme Parks and Amusement Parks in Australia

Magic Mountain Merimbula

Located in the town of Merimbula, this small theme park is situated on the Sapphire Coast. There are multiple attractions in this place including Kiddie Splash Pool, Magic Carpet Slide and the Diamond Pyth on Roller Coaster. You can buy souvenirs from the gift shops for friends and family back home.

Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 10 am to 4 pm

Price: $90 per person

The Big Banana Fun Park

The Big Banana Fun Park is located in the city of Coffs Harbour and it boasts a large walk-through banana. Guests can go roller skating at the ice-skating rink, enjoy water slides and play golf.

Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 9 am to 5 pm

Price: $25 per adult (age 13-99); $15 per child (age 1-12)

Wet Wild Gold Coast

Owned and operated by the Village Roadshow Theme Parks, this park features 17 water slides, 4 pools, and 2 children’s areas. If you are traveling during the winter season, there is nothing to worry as the pools and slides are heated according to your convenience.

Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 10 am to 5 pm

Price: $24 per person

Big Splash Waterpark

Featuring nine slides, a 50-meter (164 feet) pool, and kiddie pools, this park is a perfect spot to chill when the sun is out. Being one of the oldest theme parks in Australia, it boasts the famous Jammo Pool.

Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 10 am to 6 pm

Price: $150 per adult (age 13-99); 40% discount per child (age 1-12)

Enjoy with your kids at one of the theme parks in Australia.

1. What can visitors do in The Big Banana Fun Park?

A．Ride on a roller coaster.	B．Play golf.
C．Buy gifts.	D．Taste big bananas.

2. How much will 8-year-old twins pay if they go to Big Splash Waterpark?

A．$60.

B．$90.

C．$120.

D．$180.

3. Who is the text most probably intended for?

A．Parents.

B．Children.

C．Guides.

D．Swimmers.

6 . Reading is often seen as an individual activity, but it definitely doesn’t have to be. If you join a book club, reading with others can be a positive social interaction.     1     And here are some of the ways that becoming part of a book club can better your life.

    2     If so, a book club can help you discover and explore new types, authors, and perspectives (观点). According to a recent survey, 57 percent of book clubbers said they wouldn’t otherwise have read some of the books selected by their book clubs.

In such a fast-paced world, sometimes it’s challenging to find the time and motivation to read. By joining a book club, you make a commitment to read the book of the month or the week and discuss your insights with others.     3    

Reading is one of the most important things you can do for your brain, but reading with other people can make it even better.     4     Being part of a book club can improve your learning skills, such as your memory, comprehension, vocabulary, and critical thinking skills. By discussing the book with others, you are exercising your brain and stimulating new neural (神经的) connections. Book clubs allow you to connect with other readers and learn from their perspectives.

Another plus is that at a book club you get together with your club members regularly, with whom you can share not only your thoughts about books but also other aspects of life.    5     Therefore, by reading with others, you are enriching your heart as well as your mind. So what are you waiting for? Join a book club now and enjoy the many benefits of reading with others!

A．This can help you meet your reading goals.

B．Joining a book club can offer you many benefits.

C．Book clubs can boost your happiness and well-being.

D．Do you often have difficulty finishing reading a book?

E．This brings a sense of community, belonging, and friendship.

F．Have you found yourself always reading similar types of books?

G．Meeting with others and exchanging ideas about things is the key.

7 . Four Inventions That Changed the World

The course of human evolution has been filled with inventions. The following inventions changed the world in one way or another.

Match

Many of us wonder what life was like before matches. We can thank a British pharmacist and his dirty mixing stick. In 1820s, John Walker noticed a dried lump on the end of a stick while he was stirring a mix of chemicals. When he tried to scrape (刮掉) it off, flames appeared. The initial matches were made of cardboard but soon the matches came in a box equipped with a piece of sandpaper for striking.

Penicillin

Penicillin was discovered in 1928 when a young bacteriologist, Alexander Fleming, was tidying up his lab. After having been on vacation, he returned to work to find that a dish of Staphylococcus bacteria had been left uncovered, and he noticed that mould (霉菌) on the culture had killed many of the bacteria. His further research found that it could kill other bacteria.

Microwave Oven

Of all the sci-fi kitchen appliances, the microwave oven really relieves the load on housewives. It was discovered in the 1940s. When Percy Spencer, an engineer, was working on a magnetron (磁控管), he noticed that a chocolate bar in his pocket had started to melt due to the microwaves. Spencer found that indeed, when food was placed in the box with the microwave energy, it cooked quickly.

Plastic

The first plastic was invented in 1907 by Leo Hendrik Baekeland. His initial quest was to invent a ready replacement for shellac (虫胶), an expensive product got from lac beetles. Baekeland combined formaldehyde (甲醛) with a waste product of coal, and heated the mixture. Rather than a shellac-like material, he created a substance that didn’t melt under heat and stress.

1. Who invented matches?

A．John Walker.	B．Alexander Fleming.
C．Percy Spencer.	D．Leo Hendrik Baekeland.

2. What had Leo Hendrik Baekeland originally intended to invent?

A．A shellac-like material.	B．A product from lac beetles.
C．A replacement for shellac.	D．A waste product of coal.

3. What do the four inventions have in common?

A．They were the results of joint efforts.	B．They were the accidental discoveries.
C．They were the fruits of years of research.	D．They were unaccepted when coming out.

8 . 假设你是晨光中学的李津。为了帮助我们更好地提升自己，你校英语社团的微信公众号开展了以“How to Improve Yourself”为题的征文活动。现请你投稿，结合课文所学内容，文章应包括：
(1)“How to Improve Yourself”活动的目的；
(2)你的建议和措施，至少三条。（如戒掉网瘾，理智消费等）；
(3)你的感受。

How to Improve Yourself

At present, our school is launching How to Improve Yourself campaign. ...

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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。

Nowruz, also known as the Iranian New Year or the Persian New Year, is a holiday     1     (wide) celebrated in Asian countries like Iran. The holiday is believed to have been celebrated since 555 BC. But it was not until 2010 that the United Nations General Assembly officially     2     (recognize) it as a holiday.

Being     3     holiday marking the first day of spring and the renewal of nature, Nowruz usually falls around March 20th on the Gregorian calendar. As with most     4     (holiday), it comes with its own set of traditions. They include the “Haft Sin” table,     5     is made up of seven symbolic items starting with the Farsi letter “S”, all representing a     6     (vary) of hopes for the new year, including health, wealth and prosperity. People also welcome the new year     7     sparkling (闪亮的) homes and new clothes. They visit friends and neighbors and share meals and host parties. Communities come together     8     (celebrate) the beginning of spring and do so in hopes they will be surrounded by healthy and clean surroundings in the new year.

Nowruz plays a significant role in     9     (strengthen) the ties among peoples. Its traditions reflect the ancient and     10     (culture) customs of the civilizations of the East and West, and they’ve influenced those civilizations through the interchange of human values for thousands of years.

10 . Gesturing is powerful and important to our conversations. The challenge is to use it to good effect. Here are some tips that can help you take advantage of gesturing.

Encourage gesturing in your children, students and anyone else you are trying to teach.     1     Gesturing while learning will also make them more likely to solve the same problem in a new way. That is important because being able to generalize what we learn is essential to acquiring new knowledge.

    2     While learning to talk, children typically convey sentence-like meanings in a combination of gesture and speech before using words alone -- for example, pointing at a box and saying “open”. If a child fails to produce these gesture-word combinations, it may be a sign that their spoken language development will be delayed, allowing you to intervene and help.

Pay attention to other people’s gestures. These offer a window into the speakers’ thoughts. These thoughts are often at the cutting-edge of their knowledge or address issues that are uppermost in their minds.     3    

Be careful that your gestures say what you want them to. Those you talk to will pay attention to your gestures, so choose them wisely.     4     And if you are questioning someone, be aware that a gesture may unintentionally influence them to tell you what you want to hear rather than give their own fair answer.

Gesture more when you speak. It will help you learn and understand more. If you gesture while talking, you will remember more of what you have said.     5     This can give you a way of seeing what others are thinking but not saying.

A．Observe the gesturing of kids.

B．Remember, gestures can reveal what you might want to hide.

C．This will help them understand the material you are conveying.

D．Whether we realize it or not, gestures are a part of our communication.

E．What’s more, when you gesture, the people around you tend to do so too.

F．Noticing and responding to such gestures will help you understand their thoughts.

G．Knowing how to use gestures effectively can make you a better communicator.