1 . A cure for the future in the past?

For over fifty years, the people of Britain have relied on the welfare state to make sure they have adequate health services. But now the National Health Service is sick. Government _____ and underfunding are forcing hospitals to close, and waiting lists for treatment are getting longer. Under such circumstances, it is no surprise that more people are turning to private (but expensive) healthcare.

For some, however, there are _____. They are turning their back on modern pills, tablets and resorting to other conventional medicine. It seems paradoxical, but in an age of microchips and high technology, traditional medicine, the old-fashioned cures that our grandparents relied on, is making a _____.

Consider these case studies:

Maude is 76 years old and has been suffering from arthritis for almost ten years. “The pain in my joints was almost _____, and my doctor referred me to a surgeon at the London Hospital. I was told that I needed _____, but would need to wait for at least two years before I could have the operation. In _____, I started having massage sessions. To my surprise, these were very therapeutic, and while they didn’t cure the disorder, they did _____ it to some extent”.

Ron is 46. His high-powered city job was _____ for a series of stress-related illnesses, and the drugs he took didn’t work well on the nervous strain. “I read about _____ which involve the whole person rather than the individual symptoms, but I had always doubted about such kind of medicine for all diseases. However, my friend _____ a dietician who told me that part of my problem was diet-related. Basically, the food I was eating was _____ to my disorder. She gave me a list of foods that would provide the right vitamins and minerals to keep me in good health. At the same time, she advocated a more _____ lifestyle-running, swimming, that kind of thing. I’ m a bit of a couch potato, and this kind of lifestyle I had lived was _____ the problem. Now I feel great!”

So is there still a place in our lives for modern medicine? While it is true that some infections and viruses may be _____ by turning to traditional medicine, more serious illnesses such as cancer need more extreme measures. We do need our health service at these times, and we shouldn’t stop _____ in its future. But we mustn’t forget that for some common illnesses, the cure may lie in the past.

1.

A．support

B．restrictions

C．cutbacks

D．concern

2.

A．programs

B．alternatives

C．measures

D．scales

3.

A．comeback

B．living

C．change

D．mess

4.

A．unique

B．uncertain

C．universal

D．unbearable

5.

A．permission

B．surgery

C．supervision

D．strength

6.

A．condition

B．desperation

C．general

D．particular

7.

A．protect

B．recover

C．relieve

D．treat

8.

A．eager

B．grateful

C．famous

D．responsible

9.

A．treatments

B．sources

C．spirits

D．comments

10.

A．supervised

B．declared

C．recommended

D．tempted

11.

A．contributing

B．adapting

C．subjecting

D．objecting

12.

A．moderate

B．active

C．negative

D．suitable

13.

A．identifying

B．investigating

C．estimating

D．worsening

14.

A．prevented

B．empowered

C．indicated

D．restored

15.

A．undertaking

B．invading

C．investing

D．evolving

2 . The misery of my bike commute in Calgary, Alberta, is the river valley hill. It’s not particularly steep, but at about a mile long, I rarely climbed up without arriving with sweat. Studies have shown the prospect of arriving at work sweaty is one of the biggest _________ to getting would-be bike commuters out of their cars. That’s especially true in a city like Los Angeles, where _________ may face long routes , hills or hot streets with a lack of shade.

“Pedelec”, or pedal electric-assisted bikes like the one I rode, can end that worry. They look and act like traditional bicycles, but their motors make pedaling much easier when required. Sometimes called the most energy-efficient motorized mode of transportation ever built, they’re also incredibly green. The biggest barrier may be the outdated attitude that sees bikes only as a recreational athletic opportunity rather than a practical _________ option.

At a time when cities across North America are struggling to combat crippling traffic and reduce climate emissions, e-bikes have the _________ to ease the both problems. And yet ridership has yet to truly _______.About 152,000 e-bikes were sold last year in the U.S., a figure that would be more than 5 million if Americans used them at the same rate as western Europeans.   

Many of the barriers to e-bike _________in North America are legislative. Patchwork rules treat e-bikes more like mopeds than traditional pedal bikes in some jurisdictions,meaning they are _______from bike lanes and from boarding public transportation.

Few places on the continent, _________, are better poised to break through barriers than California. Legislation was approved last year to encourage e-bike use, by legally differentiating the cycles from mopeds. In an attempt to head off worries about turbocharged machines flying down sidewalks and bike lanes at unsafe speeds, the law classifies bikes into different tiers to _______ lower-speed e-bikes, which top out at 20 mph, from faster-moving “speed pedelecs”, which are restricted from protected bike paths.

Amid these legislative ________, e-bikes have become more accessible to consumer. Finding them in bike shops isn’t as __________ as it once was, and their cost has fallen as the price of lithium-ion batteries has dropped. Today, a decent e-bike, while still __________, is comparable in price to a high-end mountain bike. After years of ____________over mixing pedal and motor power, cycling advocacy organizations also are finally throwing their support behind e-bikes. Dave Snyder, the executive director of the California Bicycle Coalition, __________ the state’s new legislation based partly on the __________that e-bikes help out those who“just can’t ride as far or as fast as they need to”.

1.

A．advantages

B．processes

C．barriers

D．complements

2.

A．riders

B．builders

C．customers

D．volunteers

3.

A．production

B．communication

C．facilities

D．transportation

4.

A．routine

B．potential

C．temporary

D．major

5.

A．make of

B．carry on

C．bring up

D．take off

6.

A．adaptation

B．adoption

C．adjustment

D．justification

7.

A．proved

B．alerted

C．banned

D．authorized

8.

A．however

B．unless

C．meanwhile

D．anyway

9.

A．originate

B．combine

C．separate

D．satisfy

10.

A．factors

B．benefits

C．limits

D．damages

11.

A．proper

B．critical

C．sensational

D．difficult

12.

A．expensive

B．distinctive

C．sensitive

D．intensive

13.

A．trouble

B．concern

C．power

D．scale

14.

A．favored

B．folded

C．referred

D．gifted

15.

A．appeal

B．address

C．amount

D．advocate

3 . Artificially sweetened diet drinks make no difference to weight gain and should not be seen as healthier than their sugar-laden counterparts, according to a team of experts. A review of research evidence concludes there is nothing to support claims that sugar free versions of popular soft drinks can help _________obesity and related diseases such as Type 2 diabetes. Industry sponsored studies reporting “favourable” associations between diet drinks and weight loss may be biased, it claims.

There have been concerns that diet drinks, known as artificially sweetened beverages (ASBs), might lead people to consume more calories by ___________sweet flavour taste buds. The new study found that evidence ___________the healthiness of ASBs was inconclusive with randomized controlled trials (RCTs) producing mixed results. Senor investigator Professor Christopher Millett said: “A common perception, which may be influenced by industry marketing, is that because ‘diet’ drinks have no sugar, they must be healthier and aid weight loss when used as a(n) _________ for full sugar versions.” However, we found no solid evidence to support this.

The researchers pointed out that research supported by food or beverage companies was more likely to find no evidence of links between sugary drink ___________ and obesity than non-industry sponsored research. Similarly, ASB industry-sponsored research was “more likely to report favourable results and _________ regarding ASB effects on weight control”.

In many cases, researchers had failed to disclose ___________of interest relating to links with the food industry, it was claimed. Coauthor Dr Marin Carolina Borges said: “The lack of solid evidence on the health effects of ASBs and the potential influence of bias from industry funded studies should be taken seriously when discussing whether ASBs are ___________ alternatives to SSBs (sugar-sweetened beverages).”

Leading British nutritionist Professor Susan Jebb said despite the mixed evidence, there was no reason to believe that replacing sugary drinks with artificially sweetened ___________ did any harm. She said, “For people seeking to manage their weight, tap water is ______________the best drink to choose, for health and the environment, but for many people who are used to drinking sugary drinks, this will be loo hard a change to ____________. Artificially sweetened drinks are a step in the __________ direction to cut calories.” Dietitian Professor Tom Sanders, was also critical of the research, calling it “an opinion piece rather than a(n) ____________review of the evidence”. He ____________: “The conclusion that reduced sugar or sugar-free drinks should not be promoted or seen as part of a healthy diet seems unwarranted and likely to add to public ____________.”

1.

A．relieve

B．oppose

C．prevent

D．bother

2.

A．inserting

B．stimulating

C．enhancing

D．securing

3.

A．resulting from

B．referring to

C．depending on

D．relating to

4.

A．substitute

B．proposal

C．suspect

D．implication

5.

A．efficiency

B．consumption

C．distribution

D．modernization

6.

A．appointments

B．instructions

C．performances

D．conclusions

7.

A．threats

B．matters

C．conflicts

D．appeals

8.

A．adequate

B．essential

C．available

D．deliberate

9.

A．initiatives

B．alternatives

C．objectives

D．representatives

10.

A．without question

B．beyond description

C．around the corner

D．in consequence

11.

A．settle

B．route

C．mend

D．make

12.

A．wrong

B．right

C．proper

D．opposite

13.

A．democratic

B．automatic

C．systematic

D．dramatic

14.

A．transferred

B．ranged

C．accessed

D．added

15.

A．fascination

B．ambition

C．confusion

D．isolation

4 . History has not yet _______ what we will definitively call the postmillennial cohort (2000年后出生的人) that now _______ more than 60 million people in the U.S. These kids and _______ with no concept of life _______ the Internet have so far been called the App Generation and Generation Z. They’ve been referred to as Homelanders, having grown up under the ghost of terorism. They’ve also been _______ the Plurals, for their historic diversity, as well as the Founders, at least by MTV.

Whatever we _______ naming them, marketers and academies are turning their attention to this group, which has billions in _______ and is already shaping the culture. This generation is growing up “totally and utterly connected,” says California State University psychologist Larry Rosen. Experts like Rosen have concerns about these kids’ Google-inspired expectations that everything be _______. They worry about their inability to _______ even five seconds of boredom. And they worry about the demands that come with ________ several identities online, from Facebook to Twitter to Snapchat. “There’s so much pressure on young people, who are still ________ their identities, to present this crystallized, idealized identity online,” says the University of Washington’s Katie Davis.

Historian Neil Howe sees ________ with the Silent Generation, the spoilt, risk-avoiding, “nice” generation of kids who grew up during the Great Depression and World War II, although some marked differences are found. Today’s youths are also coming of age among geopolitical trouble and fears about the economy, he says, ________ schools emphasize an intense far-reaching sensitivity to other kids. He suspects this ________ will be known for being well behaved and perhaps boring the culture by playing it safe. “There are typical examples that occur repeatedly,” Howe says, “even if they go by different ________.”

1.

A．remarked

B．convinced

C．guaranteed

D．revealed

2.

A．numbers

B．houses

C．accommodates

D．contains

3.

A．peers

B．adolescents

C．folks

D．guys

4.

A．over

B．without

C．besides

D．beyond

5.

A．diagnosed

B．dismissed

C．labeled

D．coined

6.

A．end up

B．consider about

C．appeal for

D．approve of

7.

A．distribution force

B．purchasing power

C．global view

D．unique outlooks

8.

A．vivid

B．instructive

C．instant

D．profitable

9.

A．feed up with

B．put up with

C．make up for

D．identify with

10.

A．faking

B．revising

C．illustrating

D．maintaining

11.

A．supervising

B．forming

C．representing

D．promoting

12.

A．parallels

B．contrasts

C．comparisons

D．reservations

13.

A．because

B．although

C．while

D．when

14.

A．emphasis

B．generation

C．intensity

D．cultivation

15.

A．routes

B．schemes

C．names

D．definitions

5 . Today’s youth will drive tomorrow’s growth. Young people have always confused their elders. Today’s youngsters are no different. They have thin wallets but ________ tastes. They long for authenticity while being constantly immersed in an artificial digital world. They ________ convenience and abundance. As they start spending in earnest, brands are trying to understand what these walking paradoxes (悖论) ________ and how they shop. The answers will define the next era of consumerism.

A good place to start analyzing the psyche of young consumer is to consider the ________ that has shaped them. At one end of the scale, today’s 30-somethings came of age in the midst of the global financial crisis of 2007-2009. Their younger peers were slightly ________, beginning their careers in years when tightening labour markets had pushed up wages until the covid-19 pandemic turned many of their lives upside down.

These two big ________ have contributed to pessimism among the young people who experienced them. A study found a widespread ________ among Gen Zs that they would be able to afford to retire. Less than half believed they would ever own a home.

In many ways youngsters’ shopping habits, like their lives, are defined by the “________ economy”. The popularity of social media means there are many new ways of attracting consumers’ eyeballs. Most young shoppers never knew a world without smartphones. More than two-thirds of 18- to 34-year-old Americans spend four hours or more on their devices each day.

These “always-on purchasers” often avoid a weekly shop so that they can have quicker ________ of everything from fashion to furniture. They like subscriptions, often favoring shared access to products over outright ownership, which has ________ online-rental sites and streaming services.

The internet has also changed how the young discover brands. Print, billboard or TV advertising has ________ social media. Instagram and TikTok are where the young look for inspiration, particularly for goods where ________ matter, such as beauty, fashion, and sportswear. ________ physical shops are not entirely out of favor. They can be successful as long as the experience feels personal and, ideally, integrates virtual and physical worlds.

How the young shop is clearly shifting. What they buy, too, is changing. What older generations consider optional, such as wellness and luxury, has become ________ for the young.

More broadly, young consumers claim to be more ________ than previous generations. Some of these values are centered around identity (race, gender and so on). Others stem from things the young care about, such as climate change.

1.

A．pleasant

B．expensive

C．mild

D．refreshing

2.

A．prize

B．boast

C．mix

D．challenge

3.

A．recycle

B．desire

C．deliver

D．package

4.

A．education

B．institution

C．family

D．economy

5.

A．busier

B．luckier

C．stronger

D．calmer

6.

A．reforms

B．ends

C．trends

D．shocks

7.

A．doubt

B．opposition

C．criticism

D．ignorance

8.

A．bubble

B．attention

C．knowledge

D．green

9.

A．refunds

B．possessions

C．fixes

D．trials

10.

A．approved

B．facilitated

C．reversed

D．updated

11.

A．made peace with

B．made up for

C．run parallel to

D．given way to

12.

A．looks

B．scents

C．textures

D．atmospheres

13.

A．However

B．Hence

C．Apparently

D．Otherwise

14.

A．souvenirs

B．essentials

C．memories

D．treasures

15.

A．dream-connected

B．hobbies-motivated

C．values-driven

D．money-focused

6 . “So …tell me about yourself. ”
     The toughest job interview question may seem like a softball from the interviewer’s perspective: It seems________because it feels like a free pass: no request for real-life examples, no technical challenge, not even the feared “What’s your biggest fault? ”Just…tell me anything.
     Receiving such an open invitation invites more ________than opportunities, because you’re given no framework for your response —just a blank, clue-free paper. I often see this________situation in my point-making workshops: communicating without a point.
What your prospective employer most needs from you is a point (“I am an important asset (资产) to the company”), not a________ (“All about me”). But how do you get from the interviewer’s broad question to a specific and________point?
     Start with realizing that your interviewer already knows your job history thanks to your resume (简历). So you should be more than your________. Remember that interviews are more about making strong________than proving qualifications. This is a two-step process that will require some homework. First, identify what the organization specifically needs from this role. Second, ________your response to position yourself as the best person to fill that need.
       Identifying the organization’s need means examining the job description like a treasure map. Phrases like “required, ”“must have, ”and “highly desired” mean what they say, so________those in your planning. Items further down the list or labeled “preferred” may be less important, even if you meet those standards. The________of a job description can be telling as well. Descriptions that sound personal, or come right out and say “sense of humor preferred” indicate a workplace where people like to have fun. ________, a very formal job posting might indicate a conservative workplace where people are expected to be serious about the work.
       Pulling from these soures, write down the three personal qualities they’re most looking for like “self-starter, ” “team player, ”or “interest in healthcare”. Now change the________slightly to “I’m a self-starter” or “At work, my approach is ... ” Then pick a story from your professional life that________you filling that particular need of the job. Feel free to add details, but don’t_________the primary elements. Assume they can smell a lie from a mile away, whether they can or can’t.
     In this way, you should do more than just widen eyes in the room. Why? Because you’ve matched who you are and your personal story with the company’s brand and primary need. You didn’t just tell them about you;you pointed out why you________to them.1.

A．hard

B．easy

C．huge

D．small

2.

A．missions

B．joys

C．comments

D．risks

3.

A．unlikely

B．favourable.

C．problematic

D．competent

4.

A．book report

B．phone call

C．desk lamp

D．lunch break

5.

A．declared

B．tailored.

C．rejected

D．assessed

6.

A．profile

B．criterion

C．dimension

D．nickname

7.

A．transitions

B．judgments

C．matches

D．distributions

8.

A．stabilize

B．customize

C．memorize

D．authorize

9.

A．diversify

B．approve

C．delete

D．highlight

10.

A．tone

B．format

C．picture

D．length

11.

A．For instance

B．By contrast

C．After all

D．In addition

12.

A．blogging

B．networking

C．messaging

D．wording

13.

A．illustrates

B．suspends

C．dismisses

D．circulates

14.

A．make up

B．put off

C．break down

D．get through

15.

A．submitted

B．extended

C．mattered

D．shifted

7 . I’m pretty good at sticking with things even when they get hard. Bad relationships, unpleasant workplaces, ______ sports — I’ve hung on for months and even years longer than I should have, convinced the situation would ______ if I refused to give up.

After all, isn’t every success story littered with ______? Didn’t Beyoncé lose Star Search, and didn’t Oprah get fired from her first TV job? Quitting is a sign that you lack patience and strong will, or so I was raised to believe.

______, if I look back on all the things I eventually quit, my only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner. I’ve wasted immeasurable time and energy dragging my heels, determined that I could ______ everyone if I just kept going.

All of us are constantly making tricky choices between going further into familiar territory and ______ to expand our horizons. This is known as the exploration-exploitation trade-off. When we are younger, it’s advantageous to go far on the side of exploration, trying lots of new things because we have plenty of time to ______ later. But as we age, it’s often smarter to double down.

Of course, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t quit something just because you’ve put a lot of time into it. Economists call this the sunk cost fallacy (谬误): People are more likely to ______ something if they’ve invested a lot of money or effort into it, even when it’s clear that they should ______ their losses and jump ship. This practice is normal and ______, but it’s also unreasonable. If an activity or relationship is making you miserable, that’s important information you shouldn’t ignore.

If you don’t get energy out of doing something, it can be a(n) ______ that this is not for you or that there’s something better you could be doing. Or it could be a sign that you should ______ your goals. Maybe your yogurt startup might not win over investors, but you could still make and sell yogurt at the farmers’ market on weekends.

In fact, dogged persistence in the face of energy-sucking disappointment can ______ depression, and then make you suffer from diseases in the long run.

But the good news is that people can learn to pay better attention to these moments when they’re happening and make ______. The art of quitting isn’t about just letting go whenever there’s an obstacle. It’s about being able to let go when there’s no ______ to success anymore.

1.

A．engaging

B．demanding

C．inevitable

D．leisure

2.

A．worsen

B．occur

C．improve

D．continue

3.

A．frustrations

B．determinations

C．attempts

D．inspirations

4.

A．Therefore

B．Additionally

C．For example

D．However

5.

A．amaze

B．scare

C．distress

D．compliment

6.

A．breaking up

B．looking up

C．standing up

D．backing up

7.

A．venture

B．specialize

C．explore

D．relax

8.

A．benefit from

B．approve of

C．stick with

D．withdraw from

9.

A．evaluate

B．avoid

C．overlook

D．cut

10.

A．human

B．crazy

C．sensible

D．tricky

11.

A．indication

B．desire

C．occasion

D．recognition

12.

A．accomplish

B．upgrade

C．modify

D．maintain

13.

A．prevent

B．trigger

C．relieve

D．contract

14.

A．researches

B．choices

C．changes

D．resolutions

15.

A．shortcut

B．barrier

C．guarantee

D．pathway

8 . Ideally, childhood is a time of growth and learning, preparing for adulthood and also having fun. But for many children around the world, this time is cut short when they are forced to work, sometimes in dangerous conditions. _______, the United Nations (U.N.), some national governments and other organizations _______ June 12 as the annual World Day Against Child Labor.

As of 2020, around 160 million children worked as child laborers, which means that one child in 10 was a child laborer. _______, child labor has decreased over the past 20 years, but in recent years, this progress has stopped. Child labor is _______ from ordinary housework, helping with a family business or (for older children) working to earn pocket money when not in school. Work done by children is _______ as child labor when it harms the child physically, mentally, socially or _______, or when it prevents the child’s education.

About 79 million children are engaged in hazardous child labor. Sometimes this means the work itself is dangerous because of heavy machinery or exposure to _______. Hazardous child labor can also involve harsh conditions, long hours, or _______ to various kinds of abuse.

The primary goal of the World Day Against Child Labor is raising _______ of the issue and encouraging individuals, organizations and governments to ________. Combating (打击) child labor is a complex task. It involves social workers who identify child laborers and take action to provide these children and their families with other ________. But it also involves change in communities as a whole, ________ the social regulations that can lead adults to make their children work.

Child labor and poverty often go hand in hand as parents feel removing their children from school is necessary to earn money for their survival. So, measures meant to fight ________ are also tied to preventing child labor. Ensuring that children have quality educational opportunities is also important. If more opportunities were ________, more parents might give up the immediate benefit of a child’s paycheck to give that child an education.

Child labor is harmful to children and to communities, since it prevents children from growing into healthy, educated citizens who could make a(n) ________ in society. By highlighting the problem and offering a variety of solutions, the World Day Against Child Labor can make the situation a bit better.

1.

A．In addition

B．As a result

C．Above all

D．After all

2.

A．recognize

B．discover

C．choose

D．consider

3.

A．Nevertheless

B．Therefore

C．Overall

D．Moreover

4.

A．distinguished

B．transferred

C．ranged

D．evolved

5.

A．evaluated

B．classified

C．combined

D．separated

6.

A．sincerely

B．negatively

C．positively

D．morally

7.

A．chemicals

B．lights

C．wastes

D．gases

8.

A．harm

B．pollution

C．exposure

D．danger

9.

A．value

B．awareness

C．status

D．significance

10.

A．take place

B．take care

C．take over

D．take action

11.

A．options

B．questions

C．elements

D．examples

12.

A．promoting

B．urging

C．challenging

D．adjusting

13.

A．disease

B．disaster

C．survival

D．poverty

14.

A．available

B．sustainable

C．accessible

D．advisable

15.

A．choice

B．difference

C．effort

D．decision

9 . Often, we know what makes us happy... but, despite this, often we don’t put the theory into action. Why do I (the person who tells you that taking breaks _________ stress and makes you more efficient) sit at my computer eating my lunch? I know this is unhelpful for me, so what on earth is going on? It all started at a time of huge pressure when I was training, and I began eating my lunch at my desk to _________ time. I did it over and over again until it became   _________ to my brain.

My brain will choose this route by default (默认情况下), because it is the most learned behaviour. Something in my office _________ (probably my stomach rumbling (发咕咕声) will send a signal to my brain that it’s lunchtime, and I will pick up my sandwich and eat it with very little   _________. It is a no-brainer to my brain; it’s just what it does.

Habits don’t _________ new learning from the brain; they are stored as a sequence of activities in the brain. The brain adds a routine of behaviours together so they all happen _________ in sequence when activated by a signal (that rumbling stomach) to get us to a reward (my lunch), which _________ strengthens that learned behaviour. Your brain uses habits to _________ effort and save energy, and will default to these behaviours when signalled. How can we build happiness habits into our lives?

Step 1: What is it that you want to do

Decide what you want to __________ as small daily habits. Next, think about how and when you will do this. __________, consider the habits that affect happiness negatively and that you want to break. Like me, do you want to __________ eating lunch at your desk and get outside instead?

Step 2: Be __________ about your why

What will you gain from this new happiness habit? Why is it important to you? This helps you to want to make the effort to break your default habits.

Step 3: Be specific

Decide when specifically you will __________ your new habit and what you will do — for example, “I want to go for a walk to connect with nature at lunchtime.” Start as small as you can, because this is more likely to be achievable, repeatable and rewarding — three things we need to happen to shift from a(n) __________ new behaviour to a habit.

1.

A．increases

B．reduces

C．suggests

D．excludes

2.

A．kill

B．spend

C．save

D．make

3.

A．habitual

B．continual

C．relevant

D．remote

4.

A．context

B．council

C．entry

D．format

5.

A．assistance

B．appreciation

C．appetite

D．awareness

6.

A．regulate

B．require

C．comprise

D．consume

7.

A．subsequently

B．collectively

C．automatically

D．individually

8.

A．in turn

B．in return

C．by far

D．by contrast

9.

A．enhance

B．attain

C．reverse

D．minimize

10.

A．bury

B．change

C．add

D．delete

11.

A．Generally

B．Alternatively

C．Eventually

D．Initially

12.

A．enjoy

B．imagine

C．delay

D．stop

13.

A．crazy

B．calm

C．clear

D．curious

14.

A．engage in

B．call for

C．appeal to

D．give up

15.

A．hopeful

B．hopeless

C．effortful

D．effortless

10 . Paris has long been at the heart of the history of flight. It is where the Montgolfier brothers went up in the first hot-air balloon in 1783, and where Charles Lindbergh completed the first one-person transatlantic areophane journey in 1927. Next year, if all goes to plan, Paris will witness the birth of another industry________, when Volocopter, a German maker of electric aircraft, launches a flying-taxi service during the Olympic Games. At the Paris Airshow in June, Volocopter and some of its competitors displayed a new generation of________flying machines designed for urban transport.

The electrification of aviation (航空) has often been dismissed as a pipe dream, with batteries assumed too heavy a______for traditional fuel in an airborne vehicle. For longer journeys, that may well be true. Yet upstarts like Volocopter are betting that electrification can________a boom in demand for clean and quick air journeys over shorter distances.

The main form of a flying taxi under________, called an electric vertical (垂直的) take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, is expected to carry up to four passengers plus a pilot. Powered by batteries, it is predicted to be both quiet enough to reduce complaints in crowded cities, and fast: capable of up to 300kph, enough to comfortably________a car, especially the one stuck in traffic. And optimists believe the absence of traffic in the sky will also make eVTOLs well-suited to ________ operation. They could prove handy for transporting goods, too. That vision has inspired________predictions. For example, Morgan Stanley, an investment bank, estimates global spending on eVTOLs could hit $1,000 billion by 2040!

Regardless of the above________expectations, challenges remain. One problem is technical certification, which is turning out to be a(n)________process as aviation regulators work on an entirely new form of aircraft. Late last year, due to regulatory delays and some other factors, Joby, a Silicon Valley startup, was forced to________its launch by one more year until 2025. Many have even longer to go. The bigger question is — is the business of flying taxis_______practicable? EVTOLs currently range in price from $1 million to $ 4 million. Some believe that their cost may come down as the industry develops. Brian Yutko of Wisk, a maker backed by Boeing, says that flying-taxi rides will be accessible to________in the near future. And Joby promises that its fares will be comparable to catching a common taxi. ________, there is an opposite belief that eVTOLs are likely to remain expensive. Some studies suggest the cost could end up as high as $7 per kilometer, many times a regular taxi fare. That means, even without a pilot, flying taxis may remain a convenience________only to a lucky few.

Let’s expect plenty more experiments with electric aircraft in the years ahead.

1.

A．cooperator

B．competitor

C．observer

D．pioneer

2.

A．wind-driven

B．battery-driven

C．gas-driven

D．solar-driven

3.

A．substitute

B．shelter

C．treatment

D．desire

4.

A．regulate

B．maintain

C．unlock

D．reverse

5.

A．pressure

B．attack

C．development

D．repair

6.

A．underestimate

B．update

C．outpace

D．overdo

7.

A．rigid

B．autonomous

C．attentive

D．illegal

8.

A．daring

B．discouraging

C．unclear

D．ordinary

9.

A．technological

B．unrealistic

C．rewarding

D．enthusiastic

10.

A．efficient

B．simple

C．lengthy

D．intelligent

11.

A．put off

B．speed up

C．object to

D．approve of

12.

A．historically

B．technically

C．theoretically

D．economically

13.

A．the learned

B．the disabled

C．the seniors

D．the masses

14.

A．Furthermore

B．However

C．Fortunately

D．Consequently

15.

A．affordable

B．valuable

C．unbelievable

D．unsuitable