1 . Four places to explore in northern Canada
Welcome to Canada, the land of openness. Discover True North itineraries and undeniably Canadian experiences with a coast-to-coast collection of travel packages. All you need to bring is an open mind. And maybe a light jacket. If you want to get more detailed information, please click www.travelcanada.com
Nights Under LightsFrom USD $4,995 per person
6 days/5 nights
Our Nights Under Lights multi-day tours will give you some of the best chances in the world to see and photograph the beautiful northern lights. Spend days adventuring with dog sledding tours, snow-walking, visiting local historic sites and museums and spend the evenings at our award-winning location for cultural presentations, aurora viewing and photography.
Subarctic Wonders: Exploring Churchill’s Northern LightsFrom USD $3,795 per person
5 days /4 nights
Immerse yourself in the enchanting beauty of the aurora and embark on an authentic northern lights adventure. Each evening, we journey to tranquil hideaways, far from the city lights, where the sky unfolds its awe-inspiring display. Experience the wonder of the Northern Lights in Churchill, expertly guided by our team, as you dig into the vibrant northern culture and witness nature’s breathtaking light show.
Belugas, Bears & Summer Wildlife of ChurchillFrom USD $7,895 per person
7 days /6 nights
Few of nature’s marvels match the intense aliveness of an Arctic summer. More than 3.000 of these adorable white whales gather at the mouth of the Churchill River, and our motorized rafts and kayaks put us at eye level with these often-curious aquatic lives. On the surrounding land, we frequently spot polar bears wandering or napping on the banks, their creamy coats contrasting with the rocky shoreline and dark forest.
Canada’s Premier Polar Bear AdventureFrom USD $7,495 per person
8 days/7 nights
When you’re standing on the outdoor platform of our Polar Rover, the chill Arctic air feels refreshing. But not as much as the sight of the huge polar bear strolling towards us. Sometimes they are shadows on the horizon, slowly moving on the vast expanse of icy land, in search of seals for meals. Join us for one of nature’s most wondrous wildlife encounters—no one does it better than Natural Habitat!
1. In which tour will you spend the most money each day?A.Nights Under Lights. |
B.Subarctic Wonders: Exploring Churchill’s Northern Lights. |
C.Belugas, Bears & Summer Wildlife of Churchill. |
D.Canada’s Premier Polar Bear Adventure. |
A.Sled with dogs. | B.Enjoy the Northern Lights. |
C.Hike on the ice. | D.Visit museums. |
A.A geographic magazine. | B.A newspaper. |
C.A travel brochure. | D.A website. |
2 . My mom has been and will always be my biggest inspiration. She is a single parent of eight, and I have no idea how she survived. Throughout the years, my mom has
Even when doctors
Mary’s frequent hospital visits definitely upset her, but my mom never showed
My mom gets us to realize that no matter how
A.scared | B.overcome | C.warned | D.cheered |
A.delight | B.embarrass | C.discourage | D.facilitate |
A.questioned | B.instructed | C.wondered | D.recommended |
A.occasional | B.limited | C.numerous | D.rare |
A.in spite of | B.rather than | C.apart from | D.due to |
A.signals | B.predictions | C.symbols | D.signs |
A.creation | B.judgement | C.gesture | D.strength |
A.enabled | B.persuaded | C.prevented | D.suggested |
A.Nevertheless | B.Therefore | C.Besides | D.Hence |
A.frequently | B.hardly | C.possibly | D.actually |
A.blame | B.favor | C.inspire | D.respect |
A.put up | B.took up | C.broke up | D.gave up |
A.gradually | B.properly | C.terribly | D.instantly |
A.cruel | B.tough | C.official | D.smooth |
A.performance | B.acceptance | C.entertainment | D.support |
3 . Turn on a light outside at night, and it won’t be long before lots of insects start gathering around it. This behavior has led to a popular comparison for attraction, “like a moth to a flame.” However, according to a new study published in the journal Nature Communications, it turns out that insects aren’t “attracted” to artificial lights, but rather confused by it.
The new finding is based on a theory about insect orientation (定位). Due to their small and lightweight bodies, insects experience less air resistance, allowing them to achieve higher accelerations (加速度), which in turn makes it challenging for them to sense up and down during flight. So, they typically rely on stable light sources like the moon and stars to orient themselves at night, keeping the sky at their backs to stay upright. However, the introduction of artificial lights confuses their natural sense of direction. The insects you see circling street lights, in other words, are probably lost.
To reach these conclusions, scientists used high-resolution cameras to film insects flying around artificial lights in Costa Rica. They also attached tiny sensors to insects and filmed motion-capture videos of them in flight. In this way, researchers can slow down the insects pace and study their movements in greater detail. The videos showed insects turning their backs toward sources of artificial light — even at the price of flipping over or crashing.
This can be dangerous for insects, as circling around artificial lights can put them at risk from enemies, exhaustion, and starvation, causing many to die before morning. Night artificial light is a major cause of insect population loss, which could severely impact crop pollination and food supplies for larger animals, including humans. “Insects have been flying around for 370 million years, and it’s just in the last 150 years that it’s really gone wrong for them,” says entomologist Samuel Fabian of Imperial College London. “If we don’t want to influence large amounts of insect populations, we should not have lights shining up into the sky.”
1. What have scientists found out about insects?A.Artificial lights can disturb their sense of direction. |
B.Their populations are in decline. |
C.They often fly quickly during the night. |
D.Their eyesight is well adapted to light changes. |
A.By detecting the living environment of insects. |
B.By monitoring the insects’ brain activity during flight. |
C.By making videos to study insects’ movements. |
D.By building models to analyze insects’ motion patterns. |
A.To stress the importance of insects to food supplies. |
B.To appeal to people to reduce light pollution. |
C.To show the reasons for insects flying around lights. |
D.To explain the effects of insects’ death on human life. |
A.How Artificial Lights Impact the Ecosystem |
B.What Leads to the Loss of Insect Populations |
C.How Insects Orient Themselves in the Flight |
D.Why Insects are Attracted to Lights at Night |
4 . Beejhy Barhany, growing up in an Ethiopian-Jewish community in Israel, has been cooking for her family as long as she can remember. Now a chef and owner of Tsion Café in Harlem, New York, Barhany continues to pull from cooking traditions, including one that has become the source of much controversy in recent decades: washing raw meat before cooking.
For Barhany, submerging raw chicken in salt and lemon water is both functional and ceremonial, as soaking or rinsing raw meat in salt water and acid-such as lemon juice or vinegar-is a common form of “washing” required by Jewish Kosher rules. And a 2015 survey of over 1, 500 American consumers found that nearly 70 percent rinse or wash their poultry before cooking it, though the U. S. Department of Agriculture( USDA) started telling consumers not to wash raw poultry in the 1990s. Experts including those from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strongly warned that rather than reducing the risk of foodborne illness (食源性疾病), washing meat increases the likelihood of spreading unwanted pathogens (病原体), like salmonella and campylobacter, around the kitchen.
“Washing meat before cooking is not really helping,” says Betty Feng, associate professor of food science at Purdue University. “The only thing it does is splashing (飞溅) and could cross-contaminate a lot of your kitchen items-your sink, probably your clothes, whatever you have by the sink.” Moreover, Feng cautions against using saltwater, vinegar, or lemon juice, which simply isn’t strong enough to effectively kill foodborne pathogens. “If the acidity is high enough to kill bacteria, then it’s not really likely you can use your bare hand to wash,” she says.
And a 2022 study showed that submerging meat in a bowl of water reduced the splashing but not the spread of germs. “I would treat the entire sink just like the outside of the chicken——it’s a biological hazard,” says Benjamin Chapman, one of the study authors and associate professor in North Carolina State University’s agricultural and human sciences department. “The way that we make meat safe is through cooking, not through the removal of pathogens.”
1. What is the purpose of paragraph 1?A.To broaden the readers’ horizons. | B.To make a comparison. |
C.To introduce the topic. | D.To state the author’s opinion. |
A.Nearly 70 percent of American consumers follow the rules. |
B.The rules pay attention to functional and ceremonial aspects. |
C.Uncooked meat is submerged in water with salt and vinegar. |
D.It warns people of the risk of foodborne illness. |
A.It has sparked a lot of controversy in recent years. |
B.It has decreased the risk of foodborne illness. |
C.It can not be directly done/with your bare hands. |
D.It may do a favor/ to the transfer of pathogens. |
A.To emphasize that chickens pose a level/of threat to humans’ life. |
B.To show that sinks can be a way to increase splashing. |
C.To prove that cooking is a good way to kill pathogens. |
D.To stress that the practice people follow is not advisable. |
5 . Formula One Lenovo Chinese Grand Prix 2024
From April 19 to 21, the much-anticipated 2024 Formula One Lenovo Chinese Grand Prix will come alive with the roar of engines at the Shanghai International Circuit. Details about tickets for the event are as follows.
Ticket Price:
[Grandstand] [Session] [Price (RMB)]
A Platinum 3 Day Ticket 3880
• A High 3 Day/Fri./Sat./Sun. Ticket 2880/490/890/2490
• A Low 3 Day/Fri./Sat./Sun. Ticket 2280/390/690/1990
• H/K 3 Day/Fri./Sat./Sun. Ticket 1480/290/590/1290
• C/F/J/L 3 Day Ticket 480
Ticketing Instructions:
• This event adopts electronic tickets with one ticket per person. Children require a full-priced ticket, and children under the age of three are not allowed entry.
• For each session of this event, a maximum of 4 tickets per mobile phone number and 1 ticket per ID card number can be purchased. When purchasing tickets, buyers must provide the audience’s real name, a valid personal ID, and a valid mobile phone number. After a successful purchase, ticket purchasers should retain e-ticket seat information appropriately.
• Ticket refunds can be requested without fees from the date of purchase until 24: 00 on February 29, 2024. From 00:00 on March 1, 2024, to 24: 00 on April 15, 2024, refunds will invite a 10% handling fee. No refunds will be accepted from 00: 00 on April 16, 2024. Returned within 7 working days.
• This event implements real-name verification with ID card and facial recognition for entry.
• The schedule and arrangement of the competition may be subject to changes, and please stay tuned to Formula One Lenovo Chinese Grand Prix official WeChat and Weibo for the latest information.
1. What should be offered to buy a ticket?A.The audience’s nickname. | B.The audience’s e-ticket seat information. |
C.The audience’s WeChat number. | D.The audience’s available phone number. |
A.59 yuan. | B.531 yuan. | C.1, 062 yuan. | D.1, 180 yuan. |
A.It will last 7 days. | B.It will be exciting and noisy. |
C.It doesn’t limit the audience’s age. | D.It will never be postponed or cancelled. |
6 . Scientists have long believed that Mars was wet around three billion years ago and then lost much of its water. But a new study presents evidence of water activity from about 700 million years ago, posing a new puzzle about Mars and its history for scientists to crack in their future studies.
The new study is based on data from China’s Zhurong rover (“祝融号”火星车), part of the Tianwen-1 mission that touched down on the surface of Mars in May 2021. In particular, the scientists used data the rover gathered during its first 92 Martian days, at its landing site in Utopia Planitia. Yang Liu, a researcher from the Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS), and his colleagues analyzed data from three different instruments on Zhurong. Those instruments studied minerals that suggest the presence of a large quantity of liquid water at the site about 700 million years ago, which scientists previously thought was dry.
“This is a very interesting result. We have very little recorded evidence of young liquid water systems on Mars. And for the ones we have, they were usually in the form of salt minerals,” says Dr. Scheller, a scientist at the California Institute of Technology. He explained Zhurong’s instruments spotted water molecules locked away in the rock, which was different from other young liquid water environments that have been observed.
“One of the major things we’ll have to find out and that I look forward to seeing from the Zhurong rover is how extensive these ‘young’ water-bearing minerals are,” Dr. Scheller said. “Are they common or uncommon in these ‘young’ rocks?” Zhurong has now covered about two kilometers during its more than 350 Martian days and has analyzed a range of features on its travels, meaning more new Martian insights are likely still to come from the rover.
NASA has so far sent its Mars rovers to ancient landing sites, dating back to more than 3.7 billion years ago. Zhurong is not just an extra set of wheels on Mars, but a powerful suite of instruments exploring a new, geologically young site to open new windows of opportunity for research on Mars.
1. What does the underlined word “crack” in paragraph 1 mean?A.Keep. | B.Doubt. | C.Solve. | D.Create. |
A.The inaccuracy of data gathered on Mars. |
B.Functional limitations of instruments on Mars. |
C.Main reasons for the failure of the Tianwen-1 mission. |
D.The misconception of past thinking about Martian water. |
A.The result has been recorded by many scientists. |
B.Zhurong’s wide analyses will bring more surprises. |
C.Salt minerals are younger than water-bear ing minerals. |
D.Young water-bearing minerals are common in young rocks. |
A.Ancient. | B.Common. | C.Alarming. | D.Promising. |
7 . Steps Towards Unlocking Your Inner Wisdom
At the core of your life lies sense, a powerful force that exists within. Knowing how to follow your sense can help you guide your life.
●Seek loneliness and stillness. In a world filled with noises, finding inner peace requires silencing the noise around you.
●Develop self-awareness.
●
●Take action with intention. Once your sense gives guidance, trust yourself enough to act on it on purpose.
A.Explore the unknown. |
B.Stay away from unfamiliar paths. |
C.You need to find a place free from any interruption. |
D.It is better to think about high-pressure decisions first. |
E.Learn how to believe in your sense by making small choices. |
F.Raising your sense requires a deep understanding of yourself. |
G.And insights gained from your sense can affect everything you do in life. |
8 . For almost a century, Ecuador’s giant tortoises (陆龟) have been protected. These species are one of the largest living reptiles (爬行动物) on the planet. They live a very long life—the oldest tortoise on record was 175 years old. And, they all live on the Galapagos Islands.
Hunting the tortoises is illegal under Ecuador’s laws, but now the Attorney General’s office has opened an investigation into the remains of four tortoises that were found in the park. Tortoise meat is considered delicious, meaning there can be large financial gains made by wildlife hunters. “This is not an isolated incident,” said the Galápagos Conservancy, a US-based conservation organization in a statement. “In September 2021, the remains of 15 critically endangered giant tortoises from the subspecies Chelonoidisguntheri were found on Isabela. Evidence from the investigation showed that the reptiles had likely been hunted for consumption.”
The islands are considered one of the world’s best places to see wildlife, and they’re home to animal and plant species that are found nowhere else in the world. The famously fearless wildlife is believed to have been a source of inspiration for Darwin’s theory of evolution, following his visit to the islands in 1835. The islands were actually discovered by accident in 1535, when a Spanish ship was blown off course while sailing from Panama to Peru. Ridiculously enough, the ship’s captain was unimpressed by the islands, writing to the king that they were “worthless”.
In late August, a special unit for environmental crime traveled to the Galápagos Islands to investigate and interview park keepers about the incident. And when the keepers discovered four animal bodies on Isabela Island, just a few months after the discovery of 15 dead tortoises, environmentalists were shocked. There were once at least 250,000 tortoises on the islands. But now there are only fewer than 15,000 in the wild today, and two subspecies are already extinct. “Evidence from the 2021 investigation showed that the reptiles had likely been hunted for consumption,” Galapagos Conservancy continued. “Therefore, it comes as no surprise that many are worried that their population will continue to decrease if serious action isn’t taken soon.”
1. What does the underlined word “This” in paragraph 2 refer to?A.The long life of the giant tortoises. | B.The hunting of the tortoises in the park. |
C.The food consumption of the tortoises. | D.The investigation into the remains of the tortoises. |
A.To show the value of the islands. | B.To criticize the captain’s ignorance. |
C.To present Darwin’s great achievements. | D.To raise people’s awareness of protecting the islands. |
A.It is not surprising that they are dying out. | B.The population of them is on the sharp decline. |
C.Strict measures have been taken to protect them. | D.They have been so popular because of their meat. |
A.Reptiles Face Extinction in a Park of Ecuador |
B.How Are Galápagos Giant Tortoises Well Protected? |
C.Hunting Threatens Galápagos Giant Tortoises’ Survival |
D.Why Are Galápagos Giant Tortoises Called Fearless Reptiles? |
9 . Insider Flight Tips for Your Journey
Anyone can book a trip, but not everyone can plan an ultimate adventure that is affordable, accommodating and fun. At www. tripinsiders. org, we aim to provide you with the best insider secrets in the travel business. And on this website, we also offer a state-of-the-art travel comparison tool to make planning easier than ever. Here are some insider tips that we'd like to share with you about flights.
Look for Glitch (小故障) Fares
Online booking systems for airfare don’t come without a pricing mistake every once in a while. Follow deal-minded travel sites and blogs to learn about pricing mistakes that work in your favor. This is the most useful if you live near a major airport and have a flexible schedule.
Consider Alternate Airports
Some major cities have more than one airport, so make sure to check them all for the cheapest fares. For example, if you’re planning to visit the Bay Area of California, check for rates in both San Francisco International Airport and Oakland International Airport.
Cross the Border by Land
Domestic flights are often cheaper than international ones, so if you live near a border and want to fly to a neighboring country, you can save by crossing the border by land and then catching a domestic flight. For example, Toronto residents may save by crossing the American border into Buffalo and then flying to another American city.
Use a Digital Luggage Scale
There’s nothing more frustrating than learning that your bag is too heavy to fly or that it’ll cost you extra when you arrive at the airport. Digital luggage scales are great for making sure that you’re not going over the baggage limit with your new souvenirs.
1. What is the main purpose of www.tripinsiders.org ?A.To recommend travel websites. | B.To fund the travel business. |
C.To advertise a travel agency. | D.To uncover travel business secrets. |
A.Selecting airports. | B.Flying the border. |
C.Carrying more baggage. | D.Having a fixed schedule. |
A.They cover all aspects of a trip. | B.They help travelers save money. |
C.They merely apply to businessmen. | D.They are only for Toronto residents. |