1 . Soap (肥皂) might seem like a reasonable way to avoid mosquito bites (蚊子叮) on the basis that if mosquitoes can’t smell you, they can’t bite you. However, a recent study has found that rather than protecting you, certain soaps might actually make you more attractive to mosquitoes.

In the study, conducted at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, four volunteers were asked to wear a sleeve before and after washing with four different brands of soap. The researchers then watched female mosquitoes as only females feed on blood landing on the fabric sample to show their preference. They found that some people washing with some brands of soap, increased their attractiveness to mosquitoes, while washing with other brands of soap tended to repel (驱除) mosquitoes. The repellent effect of some soap may be due to its coconut scent, as coconut oil is known to act as a natural mosquito repellent. The reason behind this attraction is believed to be related to mosquitoes’ sugar intake. When mosquitoes are not feeding on blood, they add their diet with plant juice or sweet water from flowers, “The fact we are taking those flowery and fruity smells and putting them on our bodies means that now the same object smells like a flower and a person at the same time,” said Clément Vinauger, who led the study. It would be like waking up and smelling the smell of coffee and bread, very attractive.

Interestingly, the effects of the soap varied among people, possibly due to the interaction (相互作用) between the soap and each person’s unique body scent. “It’s remarkable that the same person that is extremely attractive to mosquitoes when he is unwashed, but he becomes even more attractive to mosquitoes with one soap, and then become repellent to mosquitoes with another soap,” said Vinauger. Further research is needed to better understand the interaction between different soap and body scents, as well as to develop more effective mosquito repellents.

1. What has the study found?

A．Soap attracts many mosquitoes.	B．Male mosquitoes feed on blood.
C．Some plants drive away mosquitoes.	D．Not all soap can stop mosquito bites.

2. How did the researchers conduct the study?

A．By observing the mosquitoes’ behaviour.	B．By exploring the history of mosquitoes.
C．By interviewing a lot of volunteers.	D．By examining old studies.

3. Why did Vinauger mention coffee and bread?

A．To stress the importance of breakfast.

B．To discuss their probable health benefits.

C．To compare the difference of objects used in the study.

D．To prove the attractiveness of some soap to mosquitoes.

4. In which section of a newspaper may the text appear?

A．Health.

B．Chemistry.

C．Sports.

D．Tour.

2 . The design theory behind a pair of tiny robots may one day find its way into environmental monitoring, as well as search and-rescue tasks. Modeled after a water strider (水黾), an insect, the two robots each weigh in at 8 and 55 milligrams, and may mark the smallest, lightest, and fastest fully functional micro-robots in the world, according to Washington State University (WSU).

Developed by a team of WSU researchers, the robots’ tininess largely relies on a material known as a shape memory alloy (合金). Although shape memory alloys change form when heated, they can “remember” their original shapes and return to them after cooling. Because of this, the two micro-robots do not require standard motors, and they use light and small ones instead of bulky moving parts.

Both the robots’ motors are each made up of two shape memory alloys, allowing them to move their fins as fast as 40 times a second while also lifting over 150 times their weight. “They’re very technologically sound. The development of the very lightweight robots opens up new possibilities in micro-robotics,” said Conor Trygstad, a material engineering PhD student and study lead author. “Although the robots are impressive when compared to other robots, the pair still fall behind their biological relatives’,” Trygstad said. They can currently move at a speed of about six millimeters a second; a water strider, by comparison, speeds along at about a meter per second. For now, the robots also require wired (连线的) power sources, thus seriously preventing any real-world applications for the moment.

Going forward, however, the team plans to copy other small insect species while also creating a new water strider robot which can move at a higher speed. Depending on using small batteries could also greatly increase the robots’ areas of use, If the breakthrough designs continue improving, similar micro-robots could one day be employed to monitor hard-to-reachor dangerous environments.

1. What is the inspiration for the two robots?

A．A special monitor.	B．The lightest micro robot.
C．An insect species.	D．A search-and rescue task

2. What does the underlined word “bulky” mean in paragraph 2?

A．Cheap.

B．Huge.

C．Cool

D．Fast.

3. What might Conor Trygstad agree with?

A．Both robots can identify sound.	B．Both robots need wireless power sources.
C．Both robots work better than water striders.	D．Both robots have weaknesses besides strengths.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Robots Are Saving Environment	B．Shape Memory Alloys Are The Key
C．Human Beings Learn From Animals	D．Two Micro robots Can Play A Big Part

3 . 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 team of     1     (expert) at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel, working with a colleague from the National University of Mongolia, conducted a study of the 405-km wall in eastern Mongolia. They used     2     variety of ways in order to learn more about     3     (it) history and purpose. In their published paper, the group     4     (describe) the techniques and technology they used to study the wall.

They mapped the wall,     5     stretches (延伸) from the Dornod Province to the Sukhbaatar Province, roughly along the border (国界) between Mongolia and China. They found that it was unclear when the wall was built, estimated to be between the 11th and 13th centuries. The team referred     6     weather records to learn more about what the wall had experienced over the years and satellite imagery to learn more about connections between wall locations and terrain (地形).

The research team found some surprises. The     7     (big) of all surprises was that the wall had large gaps that suggested it was not made to keep out all invaders (侵略者)—it appeared that it was built     8     (quick) to deal with certain invaders. There was also evidence that suggested the wall was built as a means of     9     (control) the movement of people or animals. Though there were many discoveries, the researchers intended     10     (continue) their work, hoping to learn more.

4 . The Norman Bird Sanctuary (禁猎区) provides the perfect environment for a family gathering, a sweet wedding and other small events. With 300 acres of protected open space overlooking beautiful fields and the waterfront beyond, the Norman Bird Sanctuary offers all kinds of choices for your next event.

Mabel’s Studio

Located among the historic farm buildings in the Norman Bird Sanctuary, Mabel’s Studio offers a comfortable space for gatherings of up to 40 people. With its vaulted (拱形的) ceiling, wide floors and beautiful views overlooking stone walls, fields and ocean, this unique environment is ideal for a book signing, a lecture or a small social gathering.

Paradise Farmhouse

The Paradise Farmhouse is the perfect place to bring people together in a unique and private environment. Ideal for family vacations and wedding parties, this house is situated on a broad lawn (草坪) bordered by historic stone walls, with a fantastic view of fields and ocean. From short rests as a family to hosting a wedding of up to 125 people, our Paradise Farmhouse was designed to make new memories.

The Barn

Vaulted wooden ceilings create an attractive space for dancing, lectures, small receptions and educational events for up to 90 people. Accessible (可进入的) on both sides of the building, the Barn also has a small lawn providing additional space for a small tent or outdoor seating.

Mabel’s Garden

Mabel’s Garden is a gathering place for up to 80 people and serves as the best place for photographs. A formal garden with a stone birdbath is bordered by small trees, native plants and a path. Historic stone walls surround the garden, which is accessed by a small wooden gate and is located across from the Paradise Farmhouse.

1. Which place is suitable for a gathering of 110 people?

A．Mabel’s Studio.

B．Paradise Farmhouse.

C．Mabel’s Garden.

D．The Barn.

2. How can you get into Mabel’s Garden?

A．By walking across a large lawn.	B．By walking through a small wooden gate.
C．By walking through both sides of the Barn.	D．By walking through a historic farm building.

3. What is the purpose of the text?

A．To recommend places for events.	B．To encourage people to protect birds.
C．To introduce famous travelling buildings.	D．To tell the history of Norman Bird Sanctuary.

5 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

In a small town, there lived a young elementary school student named Timmy, whose lateness had become his worst trait (特点) in his school.

Every school morning, he struggled to get out of bed, often finding himself rushing through breakfast and forgetting important things like his homework or lunchbox. Meanwhile, his classmates would glance at the empty seat beside them, exchanging knowing looks as the clock ticked pa st the start of the class. When Timmy finally arrived, he would often find himself the center of attention, and his cheeks red with embarrassment as he apologised. Deep down, Timmy felt a growing sense of discomfort and shame about his habitual lateness. His teachers and classmates were concerned about the effect of his constant lateness on his studies.

One day, Timmy’s class teacher, Mrs. Johnson, decided to solve the issue. She approached Timmy with a gentle smile, “Timmy, can we talk about something important?”

Timmy looked up and replied, a bit nervous, “Sure, Mrs. Johnson.”

She crouched (蹲下) down to his level, speaking softly but seriously and sincerely, “I’ve noticed you’ve been late for class quite often. Do you know being on time is very important?”

Timmy lowered his head and said, “Yes, but...”

Mrs. Johnson continued, “Being on time helps you not miss out on your lessons. It’s also about respect for your classmates and me. When you’re late, it can disrupt (打乱) the whole class. We all miss you when you’re not here on time.”

Timmy nodded and said, a look of understanding on his face, “I didn’t realize it was affecting everyone. I’ll try to be better, Mrs. Johnson. But I have difficulty waking up and getting out of bed. Every morning when my alarm clock sounded, I hit the snooze (小睡) button, just 10 more minutes. Then 10 minutes later, another 10 minutes. That’s why I am always late for school.”

“Don’t worry. We’re all here to help you,” Mrs. Johnson said, offering a comforting smile.

注意：
1.续写词数应为 150 左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
After the talk, Mrs. Johnson, along with Timmy’s classmates, came up with a plan to help him.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Soon Timmy’s change was obvious.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6 . It was July 2019 and Mum had taken me on a 120-km mother-and-son walking holiday as a treat for my birthday. Although I was still on my first special ________, I’d love to see some ancient civilisation.

“Why don’t we go to Egypt?” I said. “It sounds ________, but I’m not paying for it,” Mum smiled and replied.

“I’ll save up my pocket money, and get a ________,” I said. I started saving my $10-a-week pocket money and washed my parents’ car for ________ cash.

In 2020, we moved to Perth. One day, I ________ a brochure in the letter box which was advertising a job delivering catalogues (目录). I applied for the job, and ________ I got it a week later.

On a Monday, a mountain of catalogues were ________ at our house. It took me nine hours to sort through them, and then I ________ them to 430 houses. At first, I used my bike and ________ the catalogues in my backpack, but this wasn’t very ________ so I bought a trolley (手推车) which improved my speed. As time went by, people started ________ me and saying hello on my rounds.

After three and half years, I’d ________ a massive $6,500, and in January this year I flew to Egypt. I had a good time visiting the powerful pyramids at Giza, ________ local food and sailing down a river. I fully ________ that nothing can stop a person from following his ________.

1.

A．solution

B．topic

C．experiment

D．trip

2.

A．fantastic

B．terrible

C．anxious

D．confusing

3.

A．toy

B．summary

C．poster

D．job

4.

A．important

B．extra

C．unusual

D．formal

5.

A．saw

B．borrowed

C．published

D．exchanged

6.

A．slowly

B．secretly

C．finally

D．curiously

7.

A．cut off

B．given back

C．paid back

D．dropped off

8.

A．threw

B．delivered

C．applied

D．sold

9.

A．designed

B．carried

C．shared

D．trapped

10.

A．free

B．amazing

C．effective

D．common

11.

A．recognising

B．preventing

C．interviewing

D．investigating

12.

A．afforded

B．selected

C．donated

D．saved

13.

A．explaining

B．enjoying

C．testing

D．replacing

14.

A．believe

B．pretend

C．regret

D．worry

15.

A．system

B．supply

C．dream

D．duty

7 . Why is it important to learn a foreign language? Basically, the advantages of learning foreign languages have the ability to set you up for success in many aspects of your life.     1    .

It opens up a world of job opportunities

We all know the business world is developing fast.     2    . They can’t do it without hiring people who have a grasp on at least one foreign language. Even in small and local companies, chances are that the ability to speak a second language will set you apart from other applicants.

It grows your brain

Studies have proved the cognitive (认知的) benefits of learning another language, no matter how old you are. They have shown that people who can speak two languages tend to have bigger brains and better memories.     3    . Not only do these advantages make it easier to learn yet more languages, they also make it easier to learn something well.

It makes you more open-minded

    4    . To educate is to lead out of confinement (禁闭), narrowness and darkness. Learning a foreign language and getting into an entirely new culture and worldview is a great way to become an open-minded, understanding and tolerant individual.

It helps you better understand your own language and culture

Learning a foreign language can actually bring you an opposite psychology. You will have a better understanding of your cultural customs. Besides, you’ll pay more attention to the grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation patterns of your first language.     5    .

A．Check out these reasons to study a foreign language

B．It is all about learning how to truly connect with others

C．Foreign language study is simply part of a very basic education

D．More companies than ever are doing business in many countries

E．Those people are usually more creative and better problem solvers

F．Speaking a foreign language can open up a number of probable friends

G．This possibly explains the reasons of your improvements in language skills

8 . Dallas-based Knit Wits is made up of a group of grandmothers with a strong love for knitting (编织) who tum their love for crafting into a purposeful attempt. Meeting regularly, they pour their collective love into every stitch (针法) they make. The group has been working for over ten years, meeting every Friday, to support organizations that help others, locally and around the world. Over the years, they’ve crafted thousands of items insupport of the important things.

Recently the Knit Wits member Mary Ann Stover was inspired to have the group knit hats for infant (婴儿) patients with heart disease at Children’s Health Hospital. The hats, each a unique work of art, designed with holiday themes, reflect the skill of the Knit Wits. More importantly, the special of Knit Wits is its understanding of the emotional effect these small objects can have on the infants experiencing medical treatments.

Bealle, a certified child life specialist at Children’s Health Hospital, explained how the hats are making a difference to the tiny patients and their families. “Caregivers are able to wear the hats on their body to move their smells before placing the hats back on the infants, encouraging connecting and making the infants less stressful,” he said.

Throughout the infants’ admission, many holidays are celebrated. At times, some infants are seriously ill and unable to dress up for holiday photos the families have planned. Thanks to the donations from Knit Wits, the hospital team is able to prove the family with a suitable themed infant hat the family can use for their photos and holiday celebrations.

1. What do we know about the hats from paragraph 2?

A．They centre on spiritual comfort.

B．They have holiday food subjects.

C．They are knitted by the caregivers

D．They are worn on child parents’ birthdays.

2. Why do the caregivers wear the hats first?

A．To hold an artistic activity.

B．To see off the recovered patients.

C．To relax the infants for treatments

D．To welcome the arrival of various holidays.

3. What is the last paragraph mainly about?

A．Why some holiday celebrations are held.

B．What the hats can be used as on holidays.

C．Why some special photos are important.

D．What the hats can be matched with.

4. Which of the following can best describe the members of Knit Wits?

A．Unsuccessful

B．Impractical.

C．Warm-hearted

D．Dishonest.

9 . Ms. McIntyre, 38, worked as a publisher. She suffered brain cancer and her health got worse despite some medical treatment. But she realized that in a way, she was luckier than some other people. She had insurance to help pay for her medical care. But Ms. McIntyre and her husband, Mr. Gregory, knew that many people with cancer face tough decisions because of the costs of medical care and wind up owing far more than they can pay.

Though her health was failing, Ms. McIntyre decided to help pay off the medical debts of as many people as she possibly could. The couple began donating money to a group called RIP Medical Debt, which is committed to working to pay off the unpaid medical debts of others. The group can pay off medical bills for about 100 times less money than they cost. In other words, for every 100 donated, the group can pay off 10,000 in unpaid medical bills.

Unfortunately, Ms. McIntyre passed away before long. Mr. Gregory posted a message for Ms. McIntyre on her social media accounts. “If you’re reading this, I have passed away,” the post began. Then the post explained, “To celebrate my life, I’ve arranged to buy up others’ medical debts and then destroy the debts.”

The couple had set up a page on a website to raise money for this purpose. They had hoped to raise about $20,000. Nevertheless, Ms. McIntyre’s last post attracted a lot of attention. The donations on her web page quickly passed the total goal. In less than a week, the site had raised 10 times more than expected and the donations are still coming in. By November 22, 2023, Ms. McIntyre’s web page had raised over $627,000, or enough money to pay off about $60 million in medical debts.

Mr. Gregory planned a special event in December to celebrate Ms. McIntyre’s life and to announce how many millions of dollars of medical debts her efforts had paid for.

1. Why did Ms. McIntyre feel luckier than some other people?

A．The doctors eventually cured her.	B．Her disease didn’t become worse.
C．She had a decent job before being ill.	D．She had security about medical care.

2. How did Ms. McIntyre and her husband help others?

A．By paying for their daily debts.	B．By giving away money to them.
C．By ridding them of debts from treatments.	D．By purchasing medical insurance for them.

3. What is paragraph 4 mainly about?

A．The public involvement.	B．The couple’s commitment.
C．The operation of a website.	D．The increase of medical debts.

4. Which of the following words can best describe Ms. McIntyre?

A．Humorous and elegant.	B．Influential and understanding.
C．Cautious and promising.	D．Enthusiastic and adaptable.

10 . 假定你是校报记者李华，你校高一年级上周三在城市公园组织了一次跑步捡垃圾(plogging)志愿活动。请你以“Plogging — A Win-Win Activity”为题，并用英文写一篇新闻报道，简要介绍此次活动。内容包括：
1.活动目的；
2.活动过程；
3.活动反响。
注意：可适当增加细节，使行文连贯；字数100左右。

Plogging — A Win-Win Activity

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