1 . A few years ago, a new transportation vehicle (交通工具) called the Segway was invented. Its inventor, Dean Kamen, called it the world’s first self-balancing individual transportation vehicle for short distance travel. He said it was meant to reduce pollution and solve other environmental problems.
The Segway looks like a large stick with two wheels. The wheels are connected to a platform (平台). The stick has handles for a person to hold. The person stands on the platform and holds the handles. The transporter moves forward or backward when the person moves his or her body in that direction. The driver turns the handles to go left or right. Computers and gyroscope (陀螺仪) on the Segway make it move and balance. Powered by electricity, it can travel at speeds of nineteen kilometres an hour.
A Segway costs about five thousand dollars. Many people say it is too costly. However, people who have bought a Segway say it is very useful. This is especially true for people who have trouble walking because of medical problems. They report that a Segway makes it possible for them to join others on walks and to travel to their jobs. Other people use the Segway instead of their cars for short trips. They say it is a great way to save money on gas.
1. What can be learned about Segway?| A．It has a seat for the driver. |
| B．It helps reduce the pollution. |
| C．It can solve all environmental problems. |
| D．It is the world’s first self-balancing vehicle. |
| A．How the Segway works. | B．What the Segway looks like. |
| C．What people say about the Segway. | D．Why the Segway is getting popular. |
| A．Uncompleted. | B．Doubtful. | C．Funny. | D．Great. |
| A．A Two-Wheeled Vehicle | B．A Great Way to Save Money |
| C．The Answer to City Traffic | D．The First Individual Vehicle |
2 . I decided to write the article on British Sign Language (BSL) being taught in school. This is because both of my parents are completely deaf which means they can’t hear at all and another reason I decided to do this topic is because I have realised how much of a problem it has become.
It might come to a surprise to learn that nearly all communication is non-verbal (非语言的) and only a little bit is verbal. Over half of the non-verbal communication is body language. Deaf pupils often struggle (挣扎) in school because they can’t get proper help from their teachers as they might not understand each other.
Sign Language is a language that uses hand gestures and body language. These are different ways of communication that deaf or hard of hearing people use to communicate with people. Some deaf people are what you might call “mute”, which means they use Sign Language but don’t use speech. Other deaf people may use speech, most of whom either use hearing aids or have a cochlear implant (人工耳蜗) which can help them hear.
By teaching BSL it would open doors for the deaf community and it would reduce a lot of language barriers (障碍) between deaf and hearing people. The more people learning BSL through education means that it would give deaf people more options for further education and good jobs. By teaching Sign Language in school it can help deaf awareness (意识). With young people growing up and learning it together there wouldn’t be a problem with getting jobs.
I think that deaf awareness is better than it used to be but it still isn’t good enough. In the end teaching Sign Language will be the best for everyone. There would be less language barriers, which means communication will be easier between hearing people and deaf people.
1. What made the author write the text?| A．His own hearing problem. | B．The difficulty of the deaf. |
| C．The school’s sincere invitation. | D．His parents’ encouragement. |
| A．They are too shy to ask for help. |
| B．Their classmates use body language. |
| C．Their teachers are unwilling to help them. |
| D．They have difficulty communicating with others. |
| A．We should offer deaf people good jobs. |
| B．Schools should teach British Sign Language. |
| C．Schools should provide further education for the deaf. |
| D．Young people should learn more about Sign Language. |
| A．It is nearly close to success. | B．It still needs to be improved. |
| C．It isn’t understood by hearing people. | D．It’s bad for breaking language barriers. |
3 . The same area where the Wright brothers developed the first airplane will soon see electric planes that take off and land vertically (垂直地). The planes, called “flying taxis” will be produced under an agreement between the state of Ohio and Joby Aviation at Dayton International Airport.
Joby Aviation is a 14-year-old company that went public in 2021 and became the first electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) firm to receive a special kind of permission from the US Air Force. Its production efforts are supported by partnerships with Toyota, Delta Air Lines, Intel and Uber.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine told The Associated Press, “When you’re talking about air taxis, that’s the future.”
Developers say the planes are nearing the day when they will provide a way to move individual people or small groups from the top of buildings and parking spaces to their destinations.
Around the world, eVTOL. aircrafts or flying taxis are becoming more common. Still, questions remain about noise levels and charging demands.
Engineers designed Joby’s production aircraft to transport a pilot and four passengers at the speed of up to 321.87 kilometers per hour. The aircraft can cover a distance of up to 160. 93 kilometers. It is a quiet machine that can barely be heard in most cities, the company said. The plan is to place them in aerial ride sharing networks beginning in 2025.
The $500 million project is supported by up to $325 million in payments from the state of Ohio. With the money, Joby plans to build an Ohio facility capable of delivering up to 500 aircrafts a year and creating 2,000 jobs. The US Department of Energy has invited Joby to apply for a loan to support the development of the facility as a clean energy project.
Joby CEO JocBen Bevirt told the AP that the company chose Ohio after a large and competitive search. Ohio’s financial deal was not the largest, but the chance to bring the operation to the birthplace of aviation — with a workforce experienced in the field — led to the deal, he said.
1. What does the author intend to do in paragraph 2?| A．Summarize the previous paragraph. | B．Provide some advice for the readers. |
| C．Add some background information. | D．Introduce a new topic for discussion. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Unconcerned. | C．Unclear. | D．Positive. |
| A．It hardly makes any noise. | B．It doesn’t need to be charged. |
| C．It carries at most 6 passengers. | D．It covers a distance of 321.87km. |
| A．The Life of the Wright Brothers | B．Flying Taxis to be Made in Ohio |
| C．A Competitive Future for Aircrafts | D．The Development of Joby Aviation |
4 . Antarctica (南极洲) is a great, icy land, surrounded by the huge Southern Ocean. The ice in Antarctica doesn’t just cover the land. There’s also a large area of sea ice, which floats (漂浮) on the ocean’s surface.
Scientists have been measuring the area of the sea ice in Antarctica since 1979. For most of this time, Antarctica has seemed to be almost not influenced by the changing weather conditions experienced in other parts of the planet. In fact, until recent years, Antartica’s sea ice area mainly set records for growing.
That began to change around 2016. Now, for several years, the area of Antartica’s sea ice has been getting smaller. This year, the US National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) reported that Antartica’s sea ice reached its maximum on September 10 — almost two weeks earlier than normal. And the sea ice was at a new record low — not just by a little bit, but by a lot.
The last time Antartica’s low sea ice set a record at the end of winter was in 1986. And this year, there’s about 1.03 million square kilometers less sea ice than in 1986. It’s hard to picture such a large area, but it’s around 1.6 times the size of France.
Scientists are still trying to understand what is driving the change in Antarctica. Ted Scambos, a research scientist at the University of Colorado, says, “Antarctica’s ice levels have always changed some, but the situation this year is pointing towards warmer ocean conditions around the area.”
The new low record has scientists worried. The sea ice is important, because it helps cool the planet. When it’s frozen, sea ice reflects sunlight back out into space. But when the sea ice melts (融化), the water left behind is darker, and takes in and keeps more heat.
1. What did NSIDC find about the sea ice in Antarctica this year?| A．It protected the wildlife in the ocean. | B．It grew and covered a wider area. |
| C．It turned out to be difficult to observe. | D．It reached a new record low level. |
| A．To present the total area of the country. |
| B．To introduce a new topic for discussion. |
| C．To show the sharp loss of Antarctica’s sea ice. |
| D．To explain the position of the wonderful land. |
| A．Low rainfall. | B．Rising temperatures. |
| C．Cold weather. | D．Short summer months. |
| A．It’s key to the earth’s cooling system. | B．It’s just a short-term problem. |
| C．It reminds us to find water resources. | D．It offers humans a bright future. |
5 . As children returned to school in Sweden last month, many of their teachers were putting a new importance on some traditional skills. These included reading printed books, quiet reading time and handwriting practice. Teachers were spending less time on digital products, online research and typing skills.
The return to traditional ways of learning might be the answer to questions raised by experts. They have questioned the country’s dependence on electronic technology in education. For example, schools in Sweden have introduced tablets (平板电脑) in preschools.
Lotta Edholm, Swedish Minister for Schools, was one of the biggest critics (反对者) of the level of technology in schools. “Sweden’s students need more textbooks,” Edholm said. “Physical books are important for student learning.” Edholm said last month that the government wants to reverse the decision made by the National Agency for Education to make digital products required in preschools. The ministry plans to stop digital learning for children under the age of six.
Sweden’s students score above the European average (平均分) for reading ability. But an international test of fourth grade reading levels showed Sweden’s children had lost ground between 2016 and 2021. “An overuse of electronic products during school lessons may cause kids to fall behind,” education experts said.
Sweden’s Karolinska Institute, a medical school centered on research, said in a statement last month, “It has been proved that digital tools harm rather than benefit student learning.” It added that schools should instead center on teaching using printed textbooks.
Not all experts think Sweden’s move away from digital technology is only about what is best for students. “It ignores the fact that technology improves learning,” said Neil Selwyn, a professor of education.
1. How does digital technology influence schools in Sweden?| A．They act as a role model. | B．They tend to depend on it. |
| C．They center on written tests. | D．They value students’ talents. |
| A．Acquire. | B．Change. | C．Recover. | D．Follow. |
| A．It is an ill-considered step. | B．It achieves great results. |
| C．It is easy to be carried out. | D．It opens children’s mind. |
| A．The Advantage of Traditional Skills |
| B．Recent Advances in Electronic Technology |
| C．Sweden Starts to Control Digital Products in Schools |
| D．Students in Europe Gave an Impressive Performance |
6 . At 104 years old, Dorothy Hoffner fell. Then she kept falling, and falling. When the lifelong Chicagoan finally touched the ground last Sunday, she landed in the history books and became the oldest person to ever sky-dive (跳伞).
As Hoffner prepared to board, she pushed her red walker out and walked slowly to the plane, where two expert instructors helped her up the steps into the hold. “Let’s go!” she said, finally seated. The plane quickly rose, Hoffner looking calm and confident all the while.
When the aft (机尾) door opened to show the crop fields far below, she and the instructor were ready to stand up. When Hoffner first sky-dived at 100 years old, she was pushed out, she said. This time, she wanted to lead the jump.
Seven minutes after her jump, she moved slowly in the air for her historic landing. The wind pushed back her white hair. A look of excitement and wonder spread across her face. She picked up her legs as the ground approached. And finally, she managed to land on the ground.
The crowd gathered along the landing area. Friends rushed to share the moment. Someone brought over Hoffner’s red walker. She rose fast, and a reporter asked how it felt to be back on the ground. “The whole thing was wonderful, and couldn’t have been better,” she said.
The Guinness World Record for oldest skydiver was set in May 2022 by 103-year-oldLinnéa Ingegard Larsson from Sweden. When asked how it felt like to break the record, Hoffner replied quickly, “Like I’m old.” But the record didn’t seem to interest Hoffner before the jump. Instead, she focused on the peaceful falling through the sky. Hoffner strongly encouraged others to sky-dive like her. “It’s surprisingly affordable and so amazing,” she said.
1. What did Hoffner do last Sunday?| A．She reported a sports event. | B．She managed to sky-dive. |
| C．She celebrated her birthday. | D．She wrote a history book. |
| A．Surprised. | B．Anxious. | C．Excited. | D．Hopeless. |
| A．The falling in the air. | B．Her family’s help. |
| C．The low cost of the jump. | D．Her friends’ support. |
| A．To see is to believe. | B．Time tells everything. |
| C．Hard work pays off. | D．Age is just a number. |
7 . While temperatures continue to climb, visitors are still coming to see Death Valley National Park on the California-Nevada border. The park is known as the hottest place on Earth. This past weekend, the temperatures climbed to 53.33℃. Most visitors at this time of year make it only a short distance to any area in the park before returning to the cool air in their vehicles.
Early information from the park service shows that across the nation’s 424 national parks, at least four people have died this year from heat-related causes. That includes a 65-year-old man from San Diego who was found dead at Death Valley earlier this month.
Death Valley National Park suggests visitors be careful and not have expectations of rescue. While park rangers (护林员) drive on park roads and can aid tourists in need, it is unsure that lost visitors will get help in time.
Physical activity can make the heat feel even worse and leave people exhausted. Alessia Dempster, who was visiting from Edinburgh, Scotland, said, “It’s very hot especially when there’s a gentle wind. You would think maybe that would give you some slight relief from the heat, but it just really does feel like an air blow dryer just going back in your face.”
Death Valley is a narrow area that is below sea level and surrounded by high mountains, the park service’s website says. The dry air and small plant coverage let sunlight heat up the park surface. The heat then becomes trapped in the valley.
Still, several areas in Death Valley continue to draw tourists. Badwater Basin, made up of salt flats, is considered the lowest point in all of North America. The 183-meter Ubehebe Crater dates back over 2,000 years. And Zabriskie Point is a great sunrise viewing spot.
Josh Miller, a visitor from Indianapolis who has been to 20 national parks so far, shared that feeling. “It’s hot, but the scenery is awesome,” he said.
1. What do most visitors do in Death Valley?| A．Cool themselves in time. | B．Do lots of physical exercises. |
| C．Stay away from park rangers. | D．Carry dryers with themselves. |
| A．To encourage the elderly to travel more. |
| B．To express admiration for mountain climbers. |
| C．To advise people to tour Death Valley more often. |
| D．To show the danger of traveling in Death Valley. |
| A．Its covering area. | B．Its attractive spots. |
| C．The reason why it is so hot. | D．The service of its park’s website. |
| A．It has a short history. | B．It is worth visiting. |
| C．It draws fewer and fewer tourists. | D．It is unsuitable for viewing sunrise. |
8 . Living a healthy life is all about choosing to make healthy choices each day. We’ve put together some good tips for starting a healthy life.
Create specific health goals
When you have specific goals you want to achieve, you’ll be more encouraged to make changes in your life.
It’s no secret that eating health y food is one of the keys to achieving a healthy life. When you follow a healthy diet, you reduce the risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, and other diseases. More than that, healthy eating can relax you and make you happy.
Drink plenty of water
Just like tasty food, water is necessary to keep your body healthy. Water helps you digest(消化)food, keeps you hydrated(补水), and protects your body.
Exercise regularly
Find a type of physical activity that’s enjoyable for you.
Get enough sleep
A good night’s sleep can help you avoid getting sick, keep a healthy weight, and start a good day. Most adults need at least 7 hours of quality sleep each night.
| A．Keep a healthy diet |
| B．Get into shape before school starts |
| C．Be positive about yourself and your body |
| D．The good points of physical activity are endless |
| E．You should know what parts of your life you want to improve |
| F．Children need from 8 to 13 hours depending on how old they are |
| G．You should drink about 3.1 L of water a day to stay properly hydrated |
9 . How I Study English
I often hear some students say English is difficult, and it gives them a headache. So they can’t learn it well. But English is very easy for me. I’m good at it. I’m very glad to tell you something about how I study English.
First, I think an interest(爱好) in English is very important. When I was in Grade One, we had a new subject—English. It was fresh for me. I was interested in it, so I worked hard at it. Soon we had an English exam and I got a very good mark. How happy I was! After that, I learned English harder and harder. Our English teacher often teaches us English songs, the songs sound nice. I often think how interesting English is!
Second, I think English is a foreign language. I should learn it well in the following ways: Listen to the teacher carefully, speak bravely, read aloud and have a good vocabulary(词汇). Then practice again and again, never be tired. And I also have a good habit: Asking whenever(不论何时) I have a question, I must make it clear by asking our English teacher. How happy I am when I understand!
Besides this, I often read English stories, jokes and easy novels. From these I know English is not only interesting, but also useful. They help me understand a lot of things. So to do more reading is an important way to learn English well.
And I also do some exercises from our class magazines, and I often write English diaries. English has become a close friend of mine.
Now I have learned English for more than two years. I always keep the first position in our school. From these words, I hope every student can learn English well.
1. Why do some students often “have a headache”?| A．Because they are easy to catch cold. | B．Because it’s often very cold. |
| C．Because they think English is easy. | D．Because they don’t think English is easy. |
| A．bored | B．interested |
| C．surprised | D．strict |
| A．I got a good way |
| B．I had a good idea |
| C．I did badly in the exam |
| D．I did well in the exam |
| A．English is full of stories |
| B．English is full of jokes |
| C．his teacher often teaches them nice English songs |
| D．of nothing |
Tom worked for a company that helped people buy or sell houses. One day, he took the bus home. The bus dropped him a few blocks away from his home, so be walked the rest of the way. As he was nearing his home, he saw a man begging for money. He took out some coins to give the man. “Hey, man. How are you today?” Tom asked.
“Hello, sir. I’m doing all right, I guess,” the man replied, smiling at Tom. “I need to feed my children. This is a huge help. Thank you.” Tom wished him good luck, and went on his way. He felt great about helping out. But he hoped there was more he could do to this poor man, although he himself wasn’t rich at all.
During the following days, Tom tried to give the man some money and bring him food when he passed by him.
Actually, the man, named Adam, begged for money to feed the many homeless dogs he had brought to his home. He had a job at night at a construction site. But the money made there wasn’t enough for him to care for the dogs which he considered as his kids, so he had to beg for money. However, Tom didn’t know about it.
One day, Tom stopped at the newsstand (报摊) on the street. And the owner asked him, “Why do you always give that man money?” Tom explained that man had to feed his family. “But that man doesn’t have a family or any kids,” the owner said, not knowing the truth.
Tom angrily walked away, thinking that man lied to him. He walked to where he knew the man was begging for money and met him. “I know you don’t have children. Stop lying to people. If you need a job, I can help you. This is just wrong,” Tom said angrily. The man stood up and explained, “Sir, I’m not lying at all.” Hearing Adam’s words, Tom said, “Prove it.”
注意：
1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式作答。
Adam nodded, asking Tom to follow him to his house.
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Feeling sorry, Tom decided to do something to help Adam care for his dogs.
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