1 . Despite an ever-higher bar to grab the attention of students in large lecture hall, Tatiana Erukhimova, who teaches physics at Texas A&M University, has managed to get her students, as well as future generations, excited about the science.

Known as “Dr. Tatiana”, the professor performs physics tricks with boundless energy and enthusiasm in her videos. A range of everyday objects are used in her experiments, from pingpong balls and toilet paper to marshmallows, bicycle wheels and hair dryers. Videos of her dramatic demonstrations have received hundreds of millions of views across social media platforms.

However, things aren’t always easy. When she first started teaching college freshman classes two decades ago, she also struggled to grab the attention of her students. “I did not grab their attention on the first day-that was my mistake.” she says. “I missed this opportunity to bond with them from the very beginning, and then it took me a while to find my voice.”

By the second semester, she found her footing, adjusting her approach to get her students engaged. The key, she says, has been to make herself approachable and her instruction personal. And, of course, add showy demonstrations. “These demonstrations often help students to connect these abstract concepts with real life.” she says.

Physics department head Grigory Rogachev says Erukhimova’s work has helped bring visibility to the department, with about 2. 5 million subscribers on its department’s YouTube page, which has translated to a boost in research funds and physics major applicants.

As a leader in a STEM field in which women are underrepresented, she’s become a role model for some. Afiya Dhanani attended Texas A&M University after seeing Erukhimova’s videos online. “Watching Dr. Tatiana do the experiments online, especially since she was a female leader. Was more inspiring for me to even go into physics.” Dhanani said in an interview with CBS Mornings. That’s all Erakhimova says she can hope for -making physics less forbidding and more exciting.

1. What does Erukhimova’s online videos feature?

A．Rare materials.	B．Energetic presentation.
C．Plain demonstration.	D．Professional explanation.

2. Which saying explains Erukhimova’s initial failure to grab students’ attention 20 years ago?

A．All that glitters is not gold.

B．Sharp tools make good work.

C．First impressions are make or break.

D．A fall into the pit, a gain in your wit.

3. How does Erukhimova’s work contribute to the physics department?

A．It leads more students to change their majors.

B．It makes more people to know about the department.

C．It helps the department translate more research papers.

D．It attracts more physics professors to join the department.

4. Which word best describes Erukhimova as a leader in a STEM field?

A．Inspirational.

B．Underestimated.

C．Cooperative.

D．Ambitious.

2 . A phrase “less screen time and more green time” is popular now. A study from the University of Adelaide found that more time outside and less time spent watching TV is connected with better psychological (心理的) results and school achievements among teenagers. Gardening is a great way to do so.

Jim Carter, a psychologist of America, is asking for teenagers’ return to traditional values of gardening, and thinks that they need to turn off the TV and go outside to do something healthier instead. Carter even considers it important to put gardening as a usual course because it is proven to be good for mental health.

“It’s physical exercise, and it teaches patience,” Carter explains. “The wait for a small sunflower seed (葵花籽) to become a six-foot plant is long.”

“I’m hearing that teenagers are struggling to deal with stress, and every time they open Gardeners’ World, they talk about how gardening helps them deal with stress. They learn so much about life, and so much about themselves through gardening,” said Lee Connelly, a teacher who is carrying out his own green school programme—Gardeners’ World. “The join of gardening into the class course for schools presents a remarkable chance to change education and the benefits are far beyond the classroom, influencing mental health, behavior and developing a lifelong love for horticulture (园艺).”

1. What does Carter suggest teenagers do?

A．Do exercise at home.	B．Go back to gardening.
C．Turn on the TV at night.	D．Pay attention to psychological courses.

2. Why does Carter mention the sunflower seed?

A．To prove gardening is easy.	B．To say dealing with stress is difficult.
C．To show green time is hard to find.	D．To explain gardening develops patience.

3. What can we say about Lee Connelly’s green school programme?

A．It is meaningful.

B．It is useless.

C．It is costly.

D．It is challenging.

4. What is the most suitable title for the text?

A．Time to Get Close to TV

B．Being Sporty, Being Healthy

C．Less Screen Time, Better School Achievements

D．Gardening: A Good Green Moment for Teenagers

3 . Ecofriendly replacement products for single-use plastics are appearing everywhere. But have you heard of edible (可食性的) straws? Now EQUO, a new eco-friendly company in Vietnam has come up with a natural edible solution to plastic or paper straws.

The edible straws are completely plastic free, nontoxic, chemical free, and 100 percent biodegradable according to a company press release.

“It’s well known that plastic straws are harmful to the environment. Most of the 500 million used every day in America end up in oceans where they pollute water and harm marine life. Currently over eight billion straws pollute the world’s beaches,” said Marina Tran-Vu in the press release. “Although there are some plastic and paper straw alternatives on the market, most are environmentally harmful, and we were also unsatisfied with the quality and lasting of paper straws.”

All of the materials are locally from regions that support sustainable farming according to the company’s website and they struggle to have zero-net influence by” using the power of mother nature”. The name of the company was created by combining “ECO” — meaning environmentally friendly — with “STATUS QUO” — meaning the existent state. EQU stands for creating products that have minimal influence on the environment. The company was first shown on Kickstarter on May 18 and hit their funding goal in only 30 days.

Many countries are banning single-use plastics. The EU banned 10 single-use plastic products including straws that will take effect in 2021. Other items that will no longer be made of plastic include cutlery (餐具), and balloon sticks. These 10 items make up a large percentage of ocean waste that harms marine life.

So do your part, use biodegradable cutlery — you can carry your own , edible straws, and reusable water or coffee cups. These small items can contribute to reducing plastic waste.

1. What is the third paragraph mainly about?

A．The popularity of plastic straws.

B．The harm of plastic straws.

C．The pollution of beaches.

D．The necessity of change.

2. What does ECO stand for?

A．It means the original aim.

B．It means the existent state.

C．It means how to create products.

D．It means being good for the environment.

3. What can we expect in Europe after 2021?

A．Plastic straws will be forbidden.

B．Edible straws will be sold cheaply.

C．Ocean waste can be rid completely.

D．Single-use plastic products will disappear.

4. Which word best describes the author’s attitude to biodegradable cutlery?

A．Skeptical.

B．Objective.

C．Tolerant.

D．Approving.

4 . Seymour Marine Discovery Center

Science Sunday is for everyone interested in the world around them, whose lectures are designed to make science interesting and “user-friendly” for everyone. Lectures are one hour long. Doors open to the lecture hall at 1:00 pm. Lecture passes are available at the admissions counter at 12:30 pm. Seating is limited and first-come, first-served. No late seating. Lectures include time for a few questions at the end.

Life on the Ranch

Celebrate the warmth of the holiday season with crafts, games, music, and enjoyment from the early 20th century. We’ll busy your hands with holiday wreath-making (花冠), invite you to join in an old-fashioned sing-along around the player piano, and provide you with materials to make Victorian and Mexican holiday crafts. Come play games, take a draft-horse carriage ride, decorate the tree, and create decorations to bring home to your own tree.

Open Studios Tour

Explore the hidden world of art! Visit artists in their studios, learn about their processes, purchase original works of art. Free mobile app and printed guide have artist information and maps. Open Studios is a free self-guided tour, produced by Arts Council Santa Cruz County, which invites the public into more than 300 artist studios across Santa Cruz County.

Roaring Camp

Step into the incredible world of steam power at the Steam & Harvest Festival. Welcome Fall with traditional children’s activities like candle making, and gold panning. See a variety of steam and belt-powered equipment on display. Admission is free for the whole family.

1. What can visitors do if they attend Science Sunday lectures?

A．Show up at 2:30 pm.	B．Explore the hidden world of art.
C．Be able to ask questions.	D．Change attitudes to oceans.

2. What can visitors do at Life on the Ranch?

A．Promote wreath-making.	B．Sing to the piano.
C．Make crafts alone.	D．Get close to Victoria.

3. Which of the following highlights art?

A．Roaring Camp	B．Open Studios Tour
C．Life on the Ranch	D．Seymour Marine Discovery Center

5 . Amboseli National Park, Kenya

Getting There

The easiest way to get to Amboseli is by air. Airkenya has daily flights from Wilson Airport in Nairobi and Mombasa Air Safari to Amboseli from Mombasa, Malindi and Diani on the Kenyan Coast. The drive from Nairobi is 4 hours. The road is paved to Namanga but the remaining 75km to Amboseli’s Meshanani Gate is over a rough dirt road. It takes roughly 2.5 hours to cover the 94km between the Chyulu Gate in Tsavo West and Amboseli. The passage on this road should be undertaken only in the presence of an armed convoy. A four-wheel drive vehicle is highly recommended.

When to Travel

The best time to visit Amboseli National Park is the dry season from January through April and June through October when vegetation is thin and animals congregate at the water holes making them easy to spot. The long rains are in April and May and short rains in November and December.

Health & Safety

Amboseli lies in a malaria risk area and travelers’ diarrhea is a common ailment affecting tourists in Kenya. When packing your suitcase don’t forget to include neutral colored, long-sleeved shirts and trousers, DEET insect repellent and high factor sunscreen. Sleep under a treated mosquito net or in a screened or air conditioned room.

Admission & Fees

An entrance fee is charged and, in general, is included in the rate of the safari lodge or camp.

Things to Keep in Mind

Road transfers should be undertaken during the day rather than at night. Be aware and be weary of both small and large tricks.

1. What may be the best choice if we go to Amboseli National Park by land?

A．Going in a group on foot.	B．Going alone with enough food.
C．Going by car with guards.	D．Going by car with a family.

2. When do we have to avoid going to Amboseli National Park?

A．In February.

B．In May.

C．In July.

D．In October.

3. Which kind of clothes are suitable for visitors when they are in the park?

A．Dark-colored coats.	B．Multicolored sweaters.
C．Light-colored T-shirts.	D．neutral colored, long-sleeved shirts.

6 . It would be difficult to think of a world without colorful clothes. Still, where do those colors come from? The processes that take place before each garment reaches the wearers’ hands are unknown to most consumers. In the fashion industry, it is behind the scenes that fibers and textiles (纺织品) acquire their final colors. But something is about to change drastically.

While the common garment dyeing (染色) processes require large amounts of water, energy and chemicals, now a lab in Australia has developed a cotton that could grow in a range of different colors that may allow them to entirely skip the dyeing process.

The World Bank estimates that 20 percent of industrial water pollution globally comes from the treatment and dyeing of textiles, including the emission of around 72 poisonous chemicals that reach the water supply. It has also estimated that the annual volume of water used worldwide for fabric dyeing alone is 5 trillion liters, enough to fill two million Olympic-sized swimming pools!

While this is still in the early stages, the scientists will be working during the next few months in growing naturally colored cotton plants that will be able to reproduce by developing flowers and seeds. The goal is that they can be used for fibers that will be woven into colorful garments without the need of any dyes.

“Having the cotton produce its own color is a game changer,” MacMillan told ABC News Australia. “This research can really have the potential to transform the global textile industry, because we’re making fibers that are still biodegradable, still renewable, but still have properties that they don’t currently have.”

This new solution is just one way to create a more conscious fashion. The challenge is big but not impossible. The fashion industry has to think outside the box to keep finding ways that reverse the current situation and inspire hope for a sustainable future.

1. What does the underlined word “drastically” in paragraph 1 mean?

A．Thoroughly.

B．Partly.

C．Casually.

D．Urgently.

2. What does the third paragraph mainly tell us?

A．Global water pollution.

B．The seriousness of textiles’ pollution.

C．Water plays a key role in textile industry.

D．The percentage of poisonous chemicals.

3. What will the scientists do next?

A．Raise colored cotton plants.	B．Gather flowers and seeds.
C．Weave colorful garments.	D．Promote their new products.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Colorful Clothes Have a Bright Future

B．Growing Colored Cotton Becomes a Trend

C．New Research about Colored Cotton Shocks the World

D．New Research Discovers How to Grow Colored Cotton

7 . 文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧)，并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线(\)划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词;
2.只允许修改10处，多者(从第11 处起)不计分。
Dear officer,

I am writing to extend my sincerely gratitude to you. Since the middle of August, there have been frequent mountain fires in Chongqing, caused great damage. However, the rescue work is not easy due to the uncertain of the wind.

Fortunately, you come to our rescue immediately. Professional rescue teams, armed police, fire fighting and others rescue forces spared no efforts to put off the fire. What touched me most was that the volunteers joined in the rescue work regardless of the hot weather and burning ground. That occurred to me that but for your help, Chongqing could have returned to normal so soon.

Your commitment really means a lot of to us, and I do hope to have the opportunity to repay your selfish devotion.

8 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的单词或括号内单词的适当形式。

Falling on December 7 this year, Major Snow, also known as “Da Xue” in Chinese, is the     1     (three) solar term of winter. As its name implies, Major Snow reflects the phenomenon of precipitation,     2     (indicate) the time and intensity of snowfall.

Plum blossoms usually flower in mid-to-late December in some southern cities of China, and sometimes bloom even     3     (early). The plum blossom, along with the pine and bamboo,     4     (consider) one of the Three Friends of Winter.

In some areas, eating lamb is excellent for nourishing the body, promoting blood circulation and providing protection     5     the cold. In     6     (add), people often eat lotus (莲花) root,     7     can clear away heat in the chest and prevent dryness-heat.

During Major Snow, it is suggested that people     8     (keep) their feet clean and dry, wash and massage their feet every day     9     (stay) healthy, and try to reduce outdoor activities. Also, drinking a bowl of warm porridge in the morning is     10     excellent way to nourish the stomach.

9 . How to Be a Good Athlete

Being a good athlete is about much more than just being great at a sport. The following will do you a favor.

Work with a coach.     1    . Besides, they can stay focused on achieving them, and find ways to help your improve if you fall short. There are a variety of coaches that can work with conditioning, technique, and skill level.

Create an individual program. In order to improve your athleticism, you should focus on improving your particular weaknesses.     2    , but you’ll also want to make sure you set aside time to improve your skills. Mixing up your routine is also a good way to improve your overall performance and decrease the risk of injury.

Show up on time.     3    , whether by yourself or with a team, your coach or trainer has a time set aside to work with you. Maximize your time by making sure you are there when it is time to begin. That usually means that if your practice starts at a certain time, say 9:00 am, you should be dressed and ready to go then, not just arriving.

    4    . It can be easy to let your mind wander when you are doing drills and exercises. It is important, though, that you stay focused on what you are doing.

Cool down after exercising. Once you have finished a workout or practice session, take some time to give your body a physical cool-down period. Some low-intensity (低强度) movements and stretches are good to help restore your muscles.     5    .

A．Coaches are helpful

B．When you are practicing

C．Suppose you’re very interested

D．Keep focused when you practice

E．Practicing with the team is important

F．Coaches can help you set reachable goals

G．It’s also a good way to relax mentally after an intense practice or game

10 . When Michelle Brenner left her retail job in March, she began grocery shopping for the people who are most at risk for contracting COVID-19.

The 45-year-old Gig Harbor, Washington resident was happy to offer her services free of charge. After a few days, Brenner noticed that she was getting a lot of requests for lasagna, a dish she grew up making in her Italian grandmother’s kitchen.

“If any of you wants some fresh homemade, no calorie counting lasagna, please let me know and I will gladly prepare it,” Brenner wrote on her community Facebook page. “Within a day or two, I had a few orders.”

The single mom used her entire $1,200 check to buy ingredients. But a week later, Brenner, who is now known in her town as the “Lasagna Lady,” could barely keep up with the demand. She prepared 60 lasagnas over Easter weekend in her 10-by-10-foot kitchen with no assistance.

Since March, Brenner has whipped up roughly 1,200 lasagnas. The majority of the people Brenner serves are elderly or low-income — but not all.

“It’s everybody and anybody,” she explained. “Some people just don’t want to cook. Some are afraid to leave their house. One man came by who had just lost his father and his young son.”

For the past five weeks, Brenner has been working out of a commercial kitchen at the Gig Harbor Sportsman’s Club. When the club’s president, Le Rodenberg, got word about what Brenner was doing, he offered her the space. Besides, Rodenberg has received over $22,000 in donations.

1. What did Brenner first do for free?

A．Her retail job.	B．Grocery shopping.
C．Buying lasagna.	D．Answering questions.

2. What do we know about the lasagna Brenner provided?

A．It tasted delicious.

B．It was nutritious and free.

C．It was delivered home.

D．It made her famous overnight.

3. What does the phrase “whipped up” in paragraph 5 mean?

A．Made.

B．Posted.

C．Consumed.

D．Sold.

4. What’s the best title for the text?

A．A Lady Comforts Her Community with Free Food

B．Michelle Brenner Becomes Famous Overnight

C．A Dish Makes People Comfortable in Washington

D．People React Well to a Kind Lady’s Behaviour