1 . In September 2005, the ground suddenly sank 10 feet in a certain area in northern Ethiopia, rapidly separated on both sides, with large holes that could engulf several camels and several goats. In the next three weeks, 160 earthquakes occurred in this area, forming a large crack 25 feet wide and approximately 0.34 miles long.

Tim Wright, a geophysicist at the University of Leeds in England, used satellite radar data to accurately piece together the formation process of this crack. When the African and Arab tectonic plates drift to both sides, the crust between the two plates weakens. Wright said: “The magma (岩浆) formed at the bottom of the crust will drop down regularly, just like the Lava lamp, forming a ‘balloon’, which will gradually expand. When the ‘balloon’ reaches the critical pressure, it will explode.”

According to Wright’s estimate, in the next 1 million years or so, the cracks will continue to expand, and the Horn of Africa will completely detach from the African continent, forming the eighth largest continent on Earth—East Africa. Wright said that this geological process always occurs, but ground separating usually only occur at the bottom of the sea, which is difficult for people to see. He said, “This is the first time we have directly observed this extremely important geological process using modern instruments.”

This discovery caused a shocking in the scientific community. In 2006, inspection teams from the UK, France, Italy, and the United States came to Afar one after another. After analysis and research, they predicted that a new continent would be formed in one million years, the Great Rift Valley in East Africa would be 10 times longer than it is today, and the Cape of Good Hope in East Africa would be separated from the African continent. In response, American geologist Cindy Ebinger said, “Many people believe that violent geological phenomena only occurred in distant ancient times, but we can now see them happening.”

What is the future of the Great Rift Valley? Perhaps our humans can only wait and see.

1. What is the purpose of the data in the first paragraph?

A．Describe economic losses	B．Illustrate the impact of sinking
C．Explain the research results	D．Number of participants named for the study

2. Why does the author take the Lava lamp as an example in the second paragraph?

A．To better explain plate splitting	B．Further increase research funny
C．Explain satellite radar data	D．Causing a shock in the scientific community

3. Which of the following may be the best explanation for the underlined word “detach”?

A．sink

B．destroy

C．contribute

D．divide

4. Which of the following statement is true according to the passage?

A．The ground in Ethiopia sank and swallowed 160 camels.

B．Ground cracking rarely occurs on the seabed.

C．Teams from four countries predict there will be eight continents in one million years.

D．Intense geological phenomena only occur in distant ancient times.

2 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

A punctual person is in the habit of doing things at proper time in a     1     (plan) way and is always keeping his appointment. He knows     2     if he wants to succeed in his work and society he must observe regular or appointed time. The     3     (punctual) man, on the contrary, seldom does what he has to do at the set time. If he has made an appointment with someone, he never cares about the appointed time and is     4     (like) to be late for half an hour.

Unpunctuality is very harmful. Friends sometimes grow cold to wards each other, or even become     5     (enemy), because one of them has been remiss in keeping     6     (appoint). Imagine how it would be if those who are     7     (trust) with important tasks failed to be at their proper place at the appointed time. A man who is known to be habitually unpunctual is never trusted by his friends, his     8     (classmate) or colleagues.

There is a proverb which says, “There is a time     9     everything.” This is true. In fact time is life     10     (it), and the man who really has a great deal to do is very careful of his time and is no doubt fond of punctuality.

3 . The Past and Present Lives of Mineral Water

We are not unfamiliar with mineral water, but do you understand its origin?

In 1992, Zhuhai Jialin Co., Ltd. took the lead in producing the first barrel of bottled water in China: Jialin Mountain Barreled Water.     1    , creating a market and driving the industry’s great development.

    2    , such as the Zhuhai Film Festival, Zhuhai Air Show, Zhuhai Racing, National Games, and other major events and activities. Jialin Mountain is the designated only brand of drinking water. Subsequently, it became the official designated only drinking water for the Asian and Provincial Games, and after shouting at the Asian Games, “Give me a chance to return a miracle to the world,” its development became even more rapid, and its popularity was unmatched.

    3    . At that time, there was a saying that national drinking water enterprises looked at Guangdong, Guangdong drinking water enterprises looked at Zhuhai, and Zhuhai drinking water looked at Jialin Mountain. It can be seen how glorious Jialin Mountain was in the 1990s.

After 2005, the invasion of foreign brand water enterprises, such as Nongfu Spring and Yibao, formed the situation of a hundred flowers blooming in Zhuhai’s drinking water market.     4    .

Until May 2010, Jialin Mountain was 100% purchased by China Resources Beverage, which was once a famous enterprise in Guangdong Province, and then withdrew from the market, while Ipoh, who obtained the mining right of Jialin Mountain mineral water, jumped to the first place in Guangdong Province in drinking water.

    5    .

A．At this time, Jialin Mountain felt that its country had been seriously threatened

B．In 1993, Zhuhai held a series of events but all ended in failure

C．At that time, the selling price of bottled water was extremely high, with a barrel of water once selling at a maximum of 120 yuan

D．From 1992 to 2001, Jialin Mountain can be said to be a synonym for drinking water

E．At the beginning of the 21st century, competition in China’s mineral Fishery industry will continue to intensify

F．Until now, Yibao, Nongfu Spring and Wahaha are all the leaders in China’s mineral spring Fishery industry

G．In 1994, Zhuhai successively launched multiple major projects

4 . Metal self-healing refers to the ability of a metal material to recover its original structure and performance after being damaged or destroyed. This self-healing capability can reduce the cost of repairing and replacing metal materials, extend their service life, and improve the sustainability of materials.

In July 20, 2023, scientists have witnessed for the first time that metal fragments rupture without human intervention and then re-melt together. The team found that disappearing cracks are nano-sized, small but important. If the newly discovered phenomenon can be exploited, it may lead to an engineering revolution. In this revolution, self-healing engines, bridges, and aircraft can remove wear and tear damage, making it safer and more durable.

The Sandia National Laboratory and Texas A & M University team described the discovery in Nature on the 20th.

In the science fiction movie “The Terminator 2,” the robot T1000, made of liquid metal, left a deep impression because it could change its shape at will and repair itself after hitting. However, at the 2019 International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems, the JSK Lab at the University of Tokyo showed a prototype of a robotic leg with a tendon “fuse” made of metal that can repair a fracture, and by automatically fusing and transforming into a single part, a movie is about to come true.

Insiders pointed out that if metal self-repairing can be utilized, it will improve the competitiveness of industrial products and promote the development of relevant industries, which is of great significance to achieve the two goals of sustainable human development, energy conservation and environmental protection.

In terms of transportation, the internal wear and fuel consumption rate of engines of vehicles and vessels powered by fuel increase gradually. Self-repair engines can reduce the wear of parts, improve the service life of engines, improve the operation rate, and save huge amounts of funds every year, thus improving the comprehensive benefits.

In addition, self-healing bridges and aircraft eliminate wear and tear damage, making them safer and more durable. The crowd said it was amazing!

1. Why does the second paragraph say that this discovery may cause the revolution?

A．Because the structure of metals is very complex.

B．Because human intervention makes healing easier.

C．Because this repair capability can reduce a lot of costs.

D．Because this is the first natural healing discovered.

2. We can learn from the fourth paragraph that the robots in the movie ________.

A．Learned metal self-healing	B．It is composed of liquids
C．It is highly likely to appear in reality	D．It was made by the University of Tokyo

3. According to industry insiders, what are the advantages of this technology?

A．Reduce costs and protect energy	B．Make movies come true
C．Improve product competitiveness	D．Triggering the Industrial Revolution

4. What is the public’s attitude towards this technology according to the passage?

A．Neutral

B．Approval

C．Dismissive

D．Unclear

5 . Should we hide in the “Triangle (三角) of Life” when the earthquake comes?

At 1:39 on June 15, a magnitude (里氏) 3.1 earthquake occurred in Qingpu District, Shanghai, with a focal depth of 8 kilometers. Earthquakes are one of the major natural disasters, so how to avoid danger and self rescue during earthquakes has become a topic of great concern.

There has always been a saying on the Internet that when an earthquake comes, collapsed objects and solid large objects will form a triangular space around them(the “Triangle of Life area”), and hiding in this area will have a greater probability of survival, which many people believe deeply.

In this regard, the China Earthquake Administration said that although observing the ruins after the earthquake, we can find that there are similar triangular spaces in some places.

However, when an earthquake occurs, people cannot know in advance the way of the earthquake, the direction of the collapse of buildings or objects, and it is difficult to know where there will be the so-called “Triangle of Life”.

The “Triangle of Life area” was proposed by an American disaster relief worker named Kupp, who believed that traditional self-help methods such as drilling tables were no longer suitable for people living in modern buildings. The collapsed floor structure would crush the tables or beds for refuge, and only hiding in the triangle area could survive.

Although the “Triangle of Life area” self-help method has been popular for more than ten years. However, the American Red Cross, the California State Emergency Service Office and earthquake experts have all pointed out the irrationality of the “Triangle of Life”. The Chinese Ministry of Emergency Management has also provided a refutation explanation.

In fact, after an earthquake, the internationally recognized most reliable method of self rescue is ‘lying on the ground, blocking, and holding onto your hands’. You should lie down, squat down, or sit down, try to lower the center of gravity of the body, and protect important parts such as the head, neck, eyes, and mouth and nose.

1. What information can we learn about the “Triangle of Life” in the first three paragraphs?

A．The Triangle of Life area is an official definition.

B．Many people believe in the “Triangle of Life”.

C．The earthquake in Shanghai has caused panic among the masses.

D．When an earthquake strikes, one should hide in the triangle area.

2. Why did disaster relief personnel propose the definition of a triangular area?

A．To protect himself	B．To overthrow the government
C．To avoid earthquakes	D．To attract attention

3. According to the passage, what are the unreasonable aspects of the triangle area?

A．Its unpredictability	B．Its out-of-date construction
C．Its instability	D．Its illegality

4. Where may this article be selected from?

A．Newspaper

B．Horror Book

C．History Book

D．Science Magazine

6 . Enrollment Regulations of Taiyuan University of Science and Technology in 2023

Welcome to apply to our school. In 2023, our school will mainly recruit students majoring in Machinery, Materials, and Computer Science. In addition, we will also recruit new students majoring in English, Engineering, Law, and more. The following is a brief introduction to our school’s characteristic majors.

Mechanical Design, Manufacturing and Automation

This major belongs to the School of Mechanical Engineering and is a characteristic specialty construction point of national higher education institutions. It includes six original major categories (类别) and two new professional directions. Its major courses are Advanced Mathematics, Mechanical Design, etc.

Material Science & Engineering

This major is a major that attaches importance to foundation and is a talent training and scientific research base for China’s heavy machinery industry. Its major courses are Advanced Mathematics, Theoretical Mechanics, etc.

Computer Science and Technology

This major is an advantageous specialty in Shanxi and admits doctoral students. It mainly cultivates (创造) senior specialized talents engaged in the research, design, development, application, and teaching of computer software, hardware, and application systems. The main courses include Advanced Mathematics, C Language, etc.

If you want to learn more, you can go to our school’s official website or call the admissions office for consultation.

1. If you want to study a major with Chinese characteristics, which major should you choose?

A．Mechanical.

B．Computer.

C．Material.

D．English.

2. According to the passage, which of the following ways cannot provide more information?

A．Go to school’s official website.	B．Browse the homepage of the official website.
C．Call the admissions office.	D．Send an e-mail to the school.

3. Which one is the incorrect description of this passage?

A．This school is located in Shanxi Province.	B．All majors study Advanced Mathematics.
C．This school mainly enrolls English.	D．This is an enrollment regulation.

7 . What you can do with FluentU
• Do personalized quizzes with speaking.
• Understand and truly enjoy real-world videos.
• Learn new words in multiple contexts.
Reviews from users

FluentU is a great method to learn a foreign language. We watch videos with subtitles and at any time, we can stop the video if we don’t understand a word or an expression. We click on for additional explanations. Then, we have a quiz to work the vocabulary. I find this method very interesting to improve and stay motivated.

—Estelle Jaouen

I appreciate being able to hear the pronunciation from a male and female voice. I think the mix of characters and pinyin are great and well-balanced. I love the fact that I’ve only been doing this for less than a month and I already know dozens of useful phrases and words!

—Maria van Eeden

I like the fact that it’s very dynamic and not grammar focused. Also, having many videos to learn from makes it even less boring no matter where you are as long as you have a smart phone. I like to just watch each video one time, pause at each sentence and try to remember words and sentences.

—Eduard Marius

The best thing about FluentU is that you have direct context for each new vocabulary that you learn. Repeating the dialogues is the way I learn. Also, that you can bring in your own vocabulary list and that the program searches for videos or material in which the words are included are remarkable!

—Jan Rehmer

1. What is included in FluentU?

A．Lots of videos.	B．Many language tutors.
C．Varieties of educational websites.	D．Much advice on grammar learning.

2. Who is most likely to be learning Chinese now?

A．Estelle Jaouen.

B．Maria van Eeden.

C．Eduard Marius.

D．Jan Rehmer.

3. What is this text?

A．An English brochure.	B．A language textbook.
C．An interview about AI.	D．An introduction to an App.

8 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

South Koreans have enjoyed their first close-up look of new baby giant pandas at a name-revealing ceremony that is also     1     early celebration of the 100 days since the twins’ birth.

What to name the twin sisters was widely discussed among netizens after they were born on July 7 in theme park Everland. The names were     2     (ultimate) decided on through two public voting     3     (procedure). One is named Rui Bao, which means wise treasure, and the other is Hui Bao or shining treasure. Half a million panda lovers helped choose their names with a handful of lucky fans     4     (invite) to the ceremony. “They are even     5     (cute) in real life than they appear on screen,” said a college student in attendance.

The baby pandas,     6     have just begun teething and crawling, are very healthy. Everland has shared videos documenting the pandas’ growth online. The twins’ birth has gained 640,000 views since it     7     (upload). “This feels like a great opportunity to call for better     8     (preserve) of pandas,” said Donghee Chung, head of the park’s zoo. Chung noted that between 40% and 50% of panda births result     9     twins.

Everland said it would monitor the twins’ health     10     (determine) when the twins are ready to be open to the public.

9 . Scientists have been experimenting with playing sounds to plants since at least the 1960s, during which time they have been exposed to everything from Beethoven to Michael Jackson. Over the years, evidence that this sort of thing can have an effect has been growing. One paper, published in 2018, claimed that an Asian shrub known as the telegraph plant grew substantially larger leaves when exposed to 56 days of Buddhist music — but not if it was exposed to Western pop music or silence. Another, published last year, found that marigolds and sage plants exposed to the noise of traffic from a busy motorway suffered growth difficulty.

Plants have been evolving (进化) alongside the insects that eat them for hundreds of millions of years. With that in mind, Heidi Appel, a botanist now at the University of Houston, and Reginald Cocroft, a biologist at the University of Missouri, wondered if plants might be sensitive to the sounds made by the animals with which they most often interact. They recorded the vibrations made by certain species of caterpillars (毛毛虫) as they chewed on leaves. These vibrations are not powerful enough to produce sound waves in the air. But they are able to travel across leaves and branches, and even to neighbouring plants if their leaves touch.

They then exposed tobacco plant — the plant biologist’s version of the laboratory mouse — to the recorded vibrations while no caterpillars were actually present. Later, they put real caterpillars on the plants to see if exposure had led them to prepare for an insect attack. The results were striking. Leaves that had been exposed had significantly higher levels of defensive chemicals, making them much harder for the caterpillars to eat. Leaves that had not been exposed to vibrations showed no such response. Other sorts of vibration — caused by the wind, for instance, or other insects that do not eat leaves — had no effect.

“Now speakers with the right audio files are more often being used to warn crops to act when insects are detected but not yet widespread,” says Dr. Cocroft. “Unlike chemical pesticides, sound waves leave no dangerous chemicals.”

1. What can we learn about plants from the first paragraph?

A．They may enjoy Western music.	B．They can’t stand Buddhist music.
C．They can react to different sounds.	D．They can make different sounds.

2. What’s the basis for Appel and Cocroft’s research?

A．Plants can make a cry for help.	B．Plants evolve alongside insects.
C．Plants are sensitive to the sounds.	D．Plants have been studied for years.

3. What can we infer about plants from Paragraph 3?

A．They can recongnize harmful vibrations.	B．They look like laboratory mice.
C．They can threaten the caterpillars.	D．They can release poisonous chemicals.

4. What does the last paragraph mainly talk about?

A．Disadvantages of chemical pesticides.	B．Application of the experimental results.
C．Interaction between plants and insects.	D．Warning system of widespread insects.

10 . 假定你是李华，你所参与的英语社团(Lemon Tree)要筹办本社团的英文公众号。你作为社团负责人，拟在学校用英文发布一则启事，号召同学们群策群力，为公众号的建立提供建议。内容包括：
1.公众号简介;
2.寻求建议。
注意：
1.写作词数应为80左右;
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

Tips Needed for Lemon Tree’s WeChat Public Account

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