4 . Humans have been living and working on the space station for 20 years. Their meals are packaged, though sometimes astronauts receive fresh treats from resupply missions. The longer that packaged food is stored, the more it loses nutrients like vitamin C and vitamin K.

Astronauts have successfully grown 10 different crops on the space station since 2015 and had the chance to sample each one. The International Space Station hosted a party for astronauts on Friday as they celebrated the harvest of the first Chili (辣椒) grown in space. The crew finally had a chance to taste the peppers after initially kicking off the plant experiment on the space station in July.

Plant Habitat-04 is one of the most complex plant experiments on the orbiting laboratory to date because peppers take much longer to grow than the previous experiment plants. After growing for four months, the peppers were harvested on Friday.

Peppers provide a great source of vitamin C, as well as other key nutrients. Pepper plants self-pollinate, so they are easy to grow, and they are a pick-and-eat crop that doesn’t have to be cooked. They are also safe to eat raw.

A side effect of life in zero gravity is that astronauts often lose some of their taste and smell, so spicy or well-seasoned foods are a favorite. Adding fresh greens or peppers to the menu allows astronauts to liven up their regular meals. But growing and tending to the plants can also produce other benefits.

Astronauts have described the joy from seeing—as well as smelling and caring for—leafy green plants on the space station that remind them of Earth.

“Growing colorful vegetables in space can have long-term benefits for physical and psychological health,” said Matt Romeyn, principal investigator for the experiment.” We are discovering that growing plants and vegetables with colors and smells helps to improve astronauts’ well-being.”

1. What does underlined “kicking off” in the 2nd paragraph mean?

A．Launch.

B．Complete.

C．Quit.

D．Announce.

2. What makes Plant Habitat-04 one of the most complex plant experiments?

A．The technology.	B．Growing process.
C．The varieties of plants.	D．Growing time required.

3. Why are peppers added to the menu for astronauts?

A．They are delicious.	B．They restore their appetite.
C．They help kill diseases.	D．They improve their memory.

4. What is the suitable title for the text ?

A．The Fun in the Space Life

B．The Common Goal in the Space Mission

C．The First Chili Peppers Grown in Space

D．A Research Finding from the Space Mission

9 . For many, Labor Day weekend signals the end of summer and an opportunity to host a socially-distanced barbecue (an outdoor meal). But this national holiday—celebrated every year in the United States and Canada on the first Monday in September—has revolutionary (革命性的) origins.

By the late 19th century, the Industrial Revolution had made working life miserable for people around the world. In many places, workers toiled for at least 12 hours a day six days a week in mines, factories, railroads, and mills. This holiday actually originated in the US on May 1, 1866, in what came to be known as the Haymarket Riot, workers flooded Chicago streets to demand an eight-hour workday.

It would take another conflict in the American Midwest to make Labor Day a national holiday. On May 11, 1894, workers at the Pullman Palace Car Company, a railroad car manufacturer near Chicago, went on strike to protest their low wages and 16-hour workdays. In August 1893, James Kyle introduced federal legislation (立法) to make Labor Day a public holiday, but for ten months the legislation was put on hold. To quiet the strikers and their supporters, the Senate quickly passed the bill on June 22. The bill passed the House four days later and President Grover Cleveland signed it into law on June 28, 1894.

The holiday is more information May Day labor celebrations. Many observers relax at home or head to outdoor recreational activities, such as boating, barbecues, and camping. It may also be marked with fireworks shows and other events. Labor Day has also become associated with retail sales, as many shop owners try to take advantage of the customers’ day off. It is one of the largest sales events of the year. meaning retail employees actually have to work more on this day. Parades are the most common model of celebration, which often feature processions of labor groups.

1. What do we know about the workers in the late 19th century?

A．They were paid well.	B．They had long workdays.
C．They often had a barbecue.	D．Their contributions were recognized.

2. Which can replace the underlined words “put on hold” in paragraph 3?

A．Put off.

B．Introduced.

C．Got through.

D．Protected.

3. When did Labor Day become an official holiday throughout America?

A．On May 1, 1886.

B．On August 22, 1893.

C．On May 11, 1894.

D．On June 28, 1894.

4. What’s the last paragraph mainly about?

A．The origins of Labor Day.	B．The labor groups achievements.
C．The ways to celebrate Labor Day.	D．The official activities on Labor Day.