1 . Farmers have long relied on things that work without their involvement — bees to pollinate (授粉) flowers, earthworms (蚯蚓) to turn the soil, swallows to eat pests — to make sure that crops grow the right way. Now a team of British researchers is trying to take this hands-off thinking in a high-tech direction. Last October, scientists at Harper Adams University started a farm called the Hands Free Hectare to make the entire process of farming — from sowing and fertilizing to harvest — fully automatic. The project has just succeeded with five tons of robot-grown barley (大麦).
“We believe the best idea is that in the future, farmers will manage groups of smaller, autonomous machines, ” the researchers explained. “They will go out and work in the fields, allowing the farmer to use their time more effectively instead of having to drive up and down the fields.”
At the moment, agricultural machines — very large and heavy — can cover a lot of space quickly. But there are shortcomings. “Fertilizer gets sprayed over entire farms, regardless of the different needs of different crops. They’re also so heavy that they’re damaging farmers’ soils,” researcher Jonathan Gill said.
Gill and his colleagues went smaller: a tractor, a combine and a harvester, which followed a programmed route, using GPS. Altogether, they spent less than ￡200, 000 on equipment, and used open-source technology and a drone (无人机). Eventually the system will be complex enough to treat different parts of a field, or even individual plants, differently.
The team is quick to caution that they don’t want to put farmers out of work. They said, “Instead of being busy in the fields, the farmer will manage the machines and monitor their crops.” The next stop for the barley will be a brewery. That’s not going to be completely automatic. At least not yet.
1. What feature of bees, earthworms and swallows inspired scientists?| A．Their dependence on nature. | B．Their special way of survival. |
| C．Their selfless love for the earth. | D．Their natural involvement in farming. |
| A．Freeing workers totally. | B．Reducing the cost of harvest. |
| C．Improving the accuracy of farming. | D．Increasing the output of different crops. |
| A．Gill’s project is still at the design stage. | B．Unemployment wouldn’t be a concern. |
| C．The brewery will realize automation soon. | D．Complete automatic farming is unrealistic. |
| A．The future of hands-free farming | B．The functions of agricultural machines |
| C．The development of automatic harvest | D．The shortcomings of traditional farming |
2 . When it comes to architectural accomplishments, humans like to think they stand at the top. That is to underestimate the astonishing achievement s of social insects; for example, white ants raise skyscraping nests. The true master builders of the insect world, however, are the hundreds of species of stingless bees.
In a new study, Ms. Di Pietro and her colleagues observed over 400 colonies of the stingless bee species in a large bee house in Brazil in 2022 and 2023. Around 95% of the colonies exhibited honeycombs (a structure made by bees) built up in horizontal layers (水平分层), like tiered wedding cakes, while the rest adopted a spiral (螺旋的) structure.
Since the stingless bee shows a strong preference for a horizontal-layer honeycomb structure, it’s surprising that spiral honeycombs occur. The team confirmed that there was no difference in the average cell-building rate between the two styles, and therefore no efficiency advantage.
In order to rule out a genetic explanation for the different styles, the researchers transplanted workers from colonies that built in one tradition to colonies that built in the other, having first emptied the host structures of their native adults. The imported workers soon switched to the local style, which was then continued by the colony’s young insects as they eventually matured into workers.
Dr. Tom Wenseleers guessed that the bees may switch styles as a way of coping with the build-up of small construction errors made by their fore-runners. Such a process, in which multiple organisms indirectly affect each other’s behavior through the traces they leave in their environment, is known as stigmergy (共识主动性). The researchers later introduced a sign of spirals to the otherwise perfect horizontal-layer honeycombs, and found that it did indeed cause the bees to switch to building spirals.
These results suggest that stingless bees can pass on different building traditions across generations and individuals needn’t be instructed by their peers. “The findings are the clearest demonstration of cultural differences naturally appearing in insects. Insect culture would once have been thought impossible,” says behavioral biologist Andrew Whiten, who wasn’t involved in the research. “Less than a century ago, culture was thought to be uniquely human.”
1. How does the author introduce the topic of the text?| A．By posing a contrast. | B．By reporting an event. |
| C．By supposing a situation. | D．By justifying an assumption. |
| A．It is a result driven by genetic factors. |
| B．It involves cost and efficiency considerations. |
| C．It is switched constantly between several styles. |
| D．It shows flexibility in the changing environments. |
| A．The impact of fore-runners’ behavior on other stingless bees. |
| B．The underlying logic behind stingless bees’ building styles. |
| C．The advantages of maintaining stigmergy among stingless bees. |
| D．The significance of correcting small errors during construction. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Conservative. |
| C．Favorable. | D．Critical. |
16-year-old Lisa hated looking at herself in the mirror. She was not comfortable in her own skin and feared people would label her “ugly” after seeing the burn scar on her face. It hurt her every time she had to recall that tragedy where her face was badly burned in a big fire. She enjoyed being alone, lost in books and melodies on her guitar. Shortly after Lisa’s 15th birthday, Chris, Lisa’s father, was stricken by a severe illness and lost his ability to walk. However, Chris managed to provide for the family. He sent his daughters to school and did everything possible to improve their lives. But their difficulties never ceased, mainly after he had to spend much on his mother’s heart treatment. It appeared as though fate had only terrible plans for this family.
Lisa knew everything, and she couldn’t bear to watch her daddy struggling so much. She wanted to help relieve her family’s burden. “What can I do to improve our lives?” Lisa lost in deep thought. One day, a leaflet promoting a local music contest landed on Lisa’s foot. Lisa’s eyes sparkled with hope when she read it and saw that the cash prize was $25,000.
Lisa secretly registered for the music contest. Over the years, she had been passionate about music, skilled at playing the guitar and mastering numerous musical pieces. Now, she needed to compose an original song, sing it and accompany it with her guitar. Lisa locked herself in her room in her spare time, preparing for the contest. In her original composition, she illustrated the joyful moments spent with her family, and she emphasized her heart felt gratitude for her father’s contribution to the entire household. Her lyrics over-flowed with genuine emotion. She tirelessly worked on the song, determined to perfect her performance. With the date for the contest approaching, Lisa spent more time on her preparations. She seemed no longer afraid to look at herself in the mirror. She often stood in front of the mirror, practiced her song and imagined her performance on the stage. Hopefully, she thought she would give her father a big surprise.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150左右；2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
The big day arrived, and Lisa was nervous.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Despite not winning the contest, Lisa’s performance impressed many audiences, including a musician.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________4 . The title of “Aaron’s younger brother” was given to me at the age of six. It was a label stuck to me and all people had to do was to refer to the imaginary label and they would know how to address me. I wanted to defeat Aaron, whose fame had reduced me to a nameless tennis player. Then the day eventually approached.
As I shook Aaron's hand at the start of the match, I stared at him with determination. “I’m going to beat you today.” I gathered the confidence to claim over the outcome of the match. Aaron laughed carelessly as he turned his back towards me. For a brief moment, I regretted that display of over-confidence.
I nervously shifted my weight from one foot to the other. The tennis court seemed to stretch out further than usual. My sweaty hands tightened around my racket (球拍) — the fifth one passed down to me from Aaron.We entered into a heated fight. I was persevering as expected, and I was not sure how long it would take before I withdrew. We were down to the last round, neck and neck in points. I made a mistake, then Aaron leaped up, stretching his arm out. The sun cast his image over me, reminding me that I would always be walking in his shadow if I couldn’t prove myself.
I readied myself for the finishing blow, images of Aaron’s past matches flooding through my mind. I recalled the habit of his hit in the World Tennis Tournament, extending my arm to the left in anticipation of where the ball was going to land. The ball made contact with my racket and was lobbed(吊高球) over Aaron’s head. He could do nothing but witness his undefeated status being erased by his younger brother.
While I was still enjoying the unfamiliar feeling of victory, a man whom I recognised from a professional club approached me.“What is your name, son?” he asked. A smile spread across my face.
1. What used to trouble the writer?| A．The longing for recognition. | B．The eagerness to bear labels. |
| C．The desire to be a tennis player. | D．The hardship of physical training. |
| A．Defeated. | B．Anxious. | C．Optimistic. | D．Honored. |
| A．He adopted his usual trick in the match. |
| B．He purchased a tennis racket for the writer. |
| C．He had an obvious advantage in the last round. |
| D．He withdrew from the World Tennis Tournament. |
| A．The Price for One Mistake | B．From Nobody to Somebody |
| C．Why Brotherhood Matters | D．Aaron's Last-minute Victory |
A disability only becomes a disability when you allow it to stop you from being genuinely happy and spreading happiness to others.
In a high school in Missouri, there is a remarkable student named Ryheem Lumpkins. At the age of 16, Ryheem displayed a tough spirit that challenged physical limitations. While his arms and hands hadn’t fully developed, he still managed to land a part-time job as a cashier at a local pizza restaurant.
Although he had only been employed for a month, Ryheem’s work ethic shone exceptionally bright. When it’s not so busy at the counter, he would grab a broom to sweep the floors or carefully clean the buffet. Despite his disability, he had such enthusiasm for life that he even got his driver’s license and worked hard to save money to buy his first car.
As a naturally shy individual, this new job unexpectedly revealed his hidden positive character. Interacting with new people, engaging in conversations, and delivering services became a source of excitement for him.
One fateful day, a customer named Robert Samay recognized the exceptional personality of young Ryheem. The young cashier left a lasting impression on Mr. Samay, leading him to commit an act of kindness that would astonish Ryheem and warm the hearts of those who witnessed it.
Impressed by Ryheem’s personality, Mr. Samay decided to express his appreciation. He slipped a five-dollar bill into Ryheem’s hands and spoke words that sympathized deeply within the teenager’s soul. “I appreciate your infectious smile and your exceptional attitude,” Mr. Samay said warmly. “Such qualities are rare these days, especially among young individuals.”
Ryheem’s eyes gleaned with gratitude as he thanked Mr. Samay, his voice earnest and sincere. He carefully folded the five-dollar bill, tucking it into his pocket with a smile that could light up a room. The warmth of the kind gesture infused Ryheem with a sense of validation and empowerment, reminding him that his disabilities did not define him. The sight of joy that lightened Ryheem’s face as he received the modest tip remained impressive in Mr. Samay’s memory.
注意：1.续写词数应为150个左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
It fueled an urge for Mr. Samay to reward the young man’s happiness even more.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________After the video was posted online by the shop owner, it swiftly spread across various platforms.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________1. What is the speaker doing?
| A．Teaching a class. |
| B．Reporting a study. |
| C．Chairing a meeting. |
| A．Reading. | B．Listening. | C．Writing. |
| A．It keeps information secret. |
| B．It leaves space for future use. |
| C．It makes key words noticeable. |
On a flight, an eight-year-old boy named Louis was excitedly reading his favorite storybook loudly, much to the annoyance of a fellow passenger named Tyler sitting next to him. Edward, the boy’s father, had brought the book, hoping to read it to his son himself, but Louis insisted on reading it aloud on his own.
Tyler, who was trying to have a rest, became a little bit angry at the noise. “Hey, sir. Could you please tell your son to keep his voice down? I’m trying to sleep for a moment,” he complained to Edward. Although the father politely asked Louis to read in a low voice, the young boy was too excitedly absorbed in the storybook to notice his disturbance to others. His noisy reading disturbed not only Tyler but also a few other passengers nearby.
Tyler`s anger increased as he loudly admonished (责备) Louis` lack of manners and consideration. To deal with the matter, he called the flight attendant. When she arrived, Tyler completely lost his cool, admonishing both Louis and Edward. “Have you heard this boy? He’s been yelling out the whole time! And you’re still trying to defend his rude behavior! A child of his age should understand that he is causing serious disturbance and needs to show some respect for others!”
In the heated scene, the flight attendant tried to calm Tyler down. However, Tyler was a bit too disturbed to calm himself down. Edward continuously apologized while attempting to explain the situation. “Excuse me, sir. I admit what Louis did was wrong, but he meant no harm. He’s simply overjoyed at being able to read again after years of difficulties…” Edward’s eyes welled up and he was in tears before he realized it. He explained to the people around them that it was the first time in three years that Louis was able to see the world around him and could read his favorite book, one his mother who died three years ago used to read to him as a baby.
注意:1. 续写词数应为 150 左右;
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Then he revealed the heartbreaking story.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________At this point, Tyler and everyone else on the flight fell silent.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________8 . It was dinner time, yet I hadn’t finished my work for the day. Cheery people who were enjoying their holiday time buzzed around me. But with my head down and headphones in, I had interacted with very few of them. The day passed more like a fast-forwarded video than something that I actually fully experienced.
This was my first week living the digital nomad lifestyle. I had left my corporate role and found freelance (自由职业的) writing work online to afford me the freedom to travel.
I had prepared excitedly, surfing online about digital nomadism.
But that’s not all that’s waiting for new digital nomads.
| A．And my surroundings looked different. |
| B．But this wasn’t at a tiring nine-to-five office job. |
| C．This was a typical day back in my office I managed to escape. |
| D．New surroundings may also make you fully engaged in your work. |
| E．Should you choose to become a digital nomad, your environment will change. |
| F．You’ll still wake up with emails in your inbox and to-dos begging to be handled. |
| G．Yet somehow I unknowingly over-consumed expectation and under-consumed realism. |
1. What happened to Sam?
| A．He was knocked down by a truck. |
| B．He fell to the ground when crossing the road. |
| C．He stopped the truck driver when crossing the road. |
| A．The little boy. | B．The boy’s mother. | C．David. |
| A．She couldn’t walk. | B．She was David’s neighbor. | C．She couldn’t afford enough food. |
10 . On a chilly autumn morning in the Italian countryside near Larderello, Tuscany, the misty landscape reminded me why the area is nicknamed the Devil’s Valley. The land here is a web of natural cracks in the rock that let a mix of steam and gases reach the surface.
Unlike the rolling hills and cypress-lined roads of other parts of Tuscany, the landscape here is covered with dozens of grey cooling towers puffing white vapors. The deafening roar of a turbine (涡轮机) at the Valle Secolo geothermal (地热的) plant breaks the quietness, but its violent spinning transforms steam rising from underground into energy for 150,000 families in the region. About 30% of Tuscany’s electricity comes from this energy source. After producing electricity, the leftover steam heats water for nearby districts.
This underground energy has recently proved a vital resource. Italy greatly depended on Russian fossil fuels and in 2023 Italians bore the world’s highest household electricity bills. Factories cut down production and households had to turn down their heaters. But residents of the Larderello area spent the winter in warm homes, thanks to the local geothermal plants working 24/7.
Bruno Della Vedova, president of the Italian Geothermal Union, hopes that in the future other Italian regions could benefit from such a resource, which is extremely important when the whole world looks to transition to renewable energy.
While countries like Iceland and Kenya are taking advantage of their geothermal resources, the industry’s growth has made slow progress in Italy. High set-up costs and difficulties in extraction present significant barriers. And new plants often run into opposition from nearby communities over health concerns.
Italy sits on a geothermal sweet spot. Especially below Larderello, as Della Vedova says. A vast reservoir (储备) of steam and water is trapped between Earth’s inner heat and a layer of clay-heavy rocks. High temperatures lead to the formation of steam directly inside the reservoir, providing a significant source of energy.
But while heat from Earth’s core is practically endless, the water it heats within the planet are not. So Della Vedova says restoring underground water supplies and using them sustainably is critical for the future. “We can’t take advantage of a geothermal resource at will,” he says.
1. What is the second paragraph mainly about?| A．The landscape in the countryside. |
| B．The introduction to a geothermal plant. |
| C．The application of geothermal energy in Tuscany. |
| D．The process of turning underground steam into heat. |
| A．People near new plants object to it. |
| B．Geothermal plants cut down their production. |
| C．There is very little underground water and steam. |
| D．People use less electricity by turning down heaters. |
| A．Unfavorable. | B．Unclear. | C．Optimistic. | D．Cautious. |
| A．Where does geothermal energy lead Italy? |
| B．Is the heat from Earth’s core really limitless? |
| C．Can energy from underground help power Italy? |
| D．How can geothermal energy be used scientifically? |
