1 . Rising temperatures driven by the climate crisis are cutting the sleep of people across the world, the largest study to date has found.
The researchers used data from sleep-tracking wristbands used by 47,000 people over seven months and across 68 countries. The analysis revealed that because of increasing night-time temperatures, the average global citizen is losing 44 hours of sleep a year.
However, lost sleep affects some groups much more than others. The sleep loss per degree of warming is about a quarter higher for women than men, twice as high for those over 65years old and three times higher for those in less wealthy nations, where people have less access to cooling equipment.
Previous studies have shown that rising temperatures damage health, including increasing heart attacks, mental health crises, and accidents and injuries. Poor sleep has also been shown to have these effects, and the researchers say their new study suggests that disturbed sleep may be a key mechanism (体内机制) by which heat causes these health impacts. The researchers say their data shows no signs of people being able to adapt to hotter nights.
“In this study, we provide the first planetary-scale (世界范围的) evidence that warmer than average temperatures cut human sleep,” said Kelton Minor, who led the research. “It’s very likely the effect is more serious.” Minor added that the research had important implications for policymakers, who need to ensure cities, towns and buildings are well adapted to heat in order to reduce the health impacts.
The data used in the study came mainly from richer nations. The wristbands also tended to be worn by people less prone (易于遭受) to sleep disturbance by warmer temperatures. “Lower-income people are underrepresented in the data and we’re well aware of that,” said Minor. He said more research was needed, particularly in places that are already among the hottest in the world.
1. In Paragraph 2, the author expresses his idea mainly by ______.| A．telling a story | B．giving examples |
| C．using quotes | D．listing figures |
| A．They limit people’s income. |
| B．They improve people’s health. |
| C．They reduce people’s sleep time. |
| D．They lead to poor relationship between people. |
| A．Heat’s impacts may be worse than expected. |
| B．Policymakers have doubts about the study. |
| C．The study adopted a new research method. |
| D．Some cities have taken further action to fight the heat. |
| A．the study is widely applied in the world |
| B．the study is significant in sleeping research |
| C．the study has its limitation in some aspects |
| D．the study can represent the low-income people |
2 . Discovering the beauty of the science and maths that shape our everyday lives, an experience in Wonder Lab will fuel your imagination and inspire you to see the world around you in new and exciting ways. Come and enjoy yourself!
What to see
Spread across seven different zones, there’re loads of opportunities to get hands on with real scientific phenomena. Observe live experiments at our Chemistry Bar, see lightning strike before your eyes, play with forces on giant slides or travel through space under a canopy (苍穹) of stars. You can also take part in explosive (爆炸) science demonstrations led by our talented team of explainers. With 50 mind-blowing wonders of science to enjoy, Wonder Lab is an experience unlike any other. Besides, a selection of shows will be performed daily in Wonder Lab’s beautiful new show space. They are free of charge and last 20 minutes.
Tickets
Day pass: £ 6 per person.
This ticket gives you day-long access to Wonder Lab, perfect whether you’re planning a special trip to the Museum or simply passing through London and want to feed your curiosity.
There is a ten percent discount for groups of twelve or more, and £ 2 off for students.
Annual pass: £ 10 per person.
For less than the price of two visits, give yourself a year packed full of wonder, curiosity and breathtaking experiences.
Opening times
Open seven days a week, 10:00 — 18:00 (last entry 17:15). Wonder Lab will be closed on December 24, 25and 26 and will be open as usual from December 27. During school holidays our opening hours are 10:00 — 19:00 (last entry 18:15).
1. What can you do in Wonder lab?| A．Explore stars. |
| B．Produce lightning. |
| C．Join in explosion shows. |
| D．Conduct chemistry experiments. |
| A．18:30 on December 27 | B．14:00 on November 15 |
| C．18:30 on November 15 | D．14:00 on December 25 |
| A．To attract people to Wonder Lab. |
| B．To raise money for Wonder Lab. |
| C．To guide students to do experiments. |
| D．To call on volunteers for Wonder Lab. |
3 . As we all know, our oceans are filled with garbage. Broken objects, used plastic bottles and so on fill our beaches and cover the ocean floor, doing huge damage to ocean creatures. Many individuals and organizations are working to remove this garbage, and recent technological developments have given them a new tool to do so: the trash-eating robot.
Robots of various shapes have been designed to collect garbage that they find floating in the ocean. For example, the French company IADMEEYS has developed what it calls the jellyfishbot. This small robot gathers up everything it meets, including liquid hydrocarbons (碳氢化合物) such as gasoline and oil. The jellyfishbot is remotely controlled and can clean up to 1,000 square meters per hour. The jellyfishbots’ small size and ability to be easily controlled make them ideal for cleaning up crowded areas such as ports.
For larger, more open areas, a much larger robot called the Interceptor has a similar function. Designed for use on rivers, the Interceptor looks like a boat with a conveyor belt (传送带) that picks up trash. Once a sensor indicates that the rubbish bins are full, the Interceptor automatically sends a text message to onshore operators. These operators collect and empty the rubbish bins, sending the garbage to local waste management facilities.
The Interceptor’s name comes from the verb intercept because its purpose is to prevent trash from getting to the ocean. Most of the garbage in the oceans comes down rivers. Cleaning up trash that litters the ocean is good, but to keep the oceans clean, new garbage must be kept from getting there. Therefore, the Interceptor is used to prevent pollution before it enters the ocean.
The Interceptor is completely solar-powered and operates on its own, which minimizes the need for human involvement.
Robots are able to clean up large amounts of garbage without humans struggling through beach cleanup by hand. Hopefully, they can be a big part of the solution to ocean pollution.
1. The author writes the first paragraph mainly to ______.| A．make a definition | B．explain the argument |
| C．lead in the topic | D．make a comparison |
| A．They are both solar-powered. |
| B．They need no human operation. |
| C．They can only clean up the crowded ports. |
| D．They can play a role in solving ocean pollution. |
| A．Check. | B．Stop. | C．Sort. | D．Collect. |
| A．The Severe Ocean Pollution |
| B．The Development of the Robot |
| C．The Hug e Damage to Ocean Creatures |
| D．The Promising Tool to Ocean Pollution |
4 . During summer vacations, I often went to the Outrigger Canoe Club on Waikiki Beach to swim, because the club was usually empty at that hour. There was one other club member who would turn up early on summer mornings, though.
One morning when I’d arrived at the club earlier than usual, he walked past me on his way to the water. Then he stopped. “How would you like to swim against me? Just for fun, I mean.” he asked. “Now? Against you?” I looked at him in surprise. “It’s just about 200 yards.” He pointed in that direction and smiled at me. “Okay.” I said.
Teenagers are often very competitive, and I was no different. Though I was confident of winning, I started out as fast as I could go. When we reached the beach wall, I was already about three quarters exhausted. But he didn’t look tired at all. By the end of this game, my legs were in knots. My arms and shoulders were numb. I wanted very badly to quit and walk the rest of the way. But I struggled and made it.
Ten minutes later my friend, Sammy Kauua, arrived. I told him some of what had happened. Sammy laughed. “Are you kidding? That’s Matthew Biondi. He won gold medals at the Olympics. I guess he’s pretty good for sure!”
Several days later when I saw Matthew Biondi on the beach, I talked to him and asked how an athlete could become good enough to win in the Olympics. He told me he did most of his swimming at the beach and then added, “I swam because I liked it. It was always fun, and I was pretty good at it. We trained all right, but mostly we just swam. It was natural. I always enjoyed doing it.”
I was disappointed at the time because there was no easy answer there, no secret for success as an athlete. Thinking back on it now, though, I find the answer he gave me very appealing.
1. How did the author feel about beating Matthew Biondi at first?| A．A little afraid. | B．Quite sure. | C．Nervous. | D．Doubtful. |
| A．was an Olympic champion |
| B．was Sammy Kauua’s good friend |
| C．did not spend much time swimming |
| D．did not defeat the author in the competition |
| A．Swimming at the beach. | B．Support from his family. |
| C．A natural swimming ability. | D．Interest in swimming. |
5 . When Emma woke up, she knew it was going to be one of those days. She felt unwell — a cold had taken hold of her. Still, she needed to brave the storm of responsibilities at work. Emma dragged herself out of bed and got ready for work. Then she put on her raincoat and went out into the pouring rain. As she walked, she fought against the bad weather. Emma’s umbrella was almost useless as it was raining cats and dogs. Then like a bolt from the blue, the wind blew it inside out. She was immediately wet from head to toe. She said to herself in a quiet voice. “What a day to forget my rain boots!”
At the office, the day was as stormy as the weather. She had a mountain of tasks. Handling endless emails and phone calls should have been a light wind. But before long, she was desperate to take a break so she could get a second wind.
Then, at exactly the moment, her coworker Alex came to her rescue. Alex was not a fair-weather friend but was always ready to lend a hand. With a warm smile, he offered to help Emma. Having Alex assist her was like a ray of sunshine on a rainy day. Their laughter and good-fellowship as they completed their tasks made the hours pass quickly.
On her way home, Emma reflected on the day, which had ended up being surprisingly pleasant. She realized that every cloud did indeed have a silver lining. Today, that silver lining had been her wonderful colleague, Alex.
When Emma arrived home, she decided to send Alex a heartfelt message of appreciation. She wrote, “Thanks for being my ray of sunshine in this rainy day!” It was a simple message, but it carried a lot of meaning.
That night, listening to it rain cats and dogs outside, Emma couldn’t help but smile. She had weathered the storm with Alex’s help.
1. Why did Emma get totally wet?| A．Because she forgot to take her umbrella. |
| B．Because she didn’t wear her raincoat. |
| C．Because her rain boots were broken. |
| D．Because the wind was too strong. |
| A．They finished the assignments with joy. |
| B．They took a break to refresh themselves. |
| C．They talked about the weather while performing tasks. |
| D．Alex came to rescue Emma because she was in danger. |
| A．Grateful and warm. | B．Pleased and amused. |
| C．Shocked and confused. | D．Confident and determined. |
| A．Save for a rainy day. | B．Hard work pays off. |
| C．Actions speak louder than words. | D．A friend in need is a friend indeed. |
6 . Many things come to mind when I think of a great vacation. Impressive scenery and delicious food are certainly on my list. Those two features can’t always be found in the same location. However, amazing views and great food are both on the menu at the following three restaurants.
The Rock. ZanzibarOn an enormous stone off the coast of the East African island of Zanzibar sits The Rock. The freshest seafood, much of it straight from the surrounding ocean, is always available here. Fresh lobster, prawns, octopus salad and calamari are just a few of the appetizing dining options. At low tide, customers can walk out to The Rock. As the water rises, though, customers must take a short boat ride to it. Once they arrive, they’re greeted by friendly staff and 360-degree views of beautiful blue-green water. The Rock, sometimes called the “floating restaurant,” is available for weddings and other small group events.
The Labasin Waterfalls Restaurant, PhilippinesStunning waterfalls sometimes have restaurants at the top. But the Labasin Waterfalls, in San Pablo City, Philippines, are different. A restaurant sits at the bottom of these falls. Guests dine on authentic Filipino meals at bamboo tables that stand right in the water. They cool their feet in the water that flows under their tables. The surrounding jungle makes a perfect background for this one-of-a-kind dining experience.
The Grotto, ThailandThe Grotto Restaurant on Thailand’s Phra Nang Beach offers delicious food and an incredible dining experience. The restaurant is partly positioned inside a cave and partly on the beach. Guests seated toward the front look out at Happy Island in the lovely Andaman Sea. Those seated at the back enjoy an authentic cave-dining experience. Comfortable tables are arranged inside the cave. International food with a Thai influence is featured.
For your next travel-and-dining adventure, why not make a reservation at one of these unique restaurants?
1. What do we know about The Rock?| A．It is located on an enormous ship. |
| B．It is suitable for holding a wedding celebration. |
| C．Customers can walk out to the restaurant all the time. |
| D．The tables stand right in the beautiful blue-green water. |
| A．Customers can enjoy the beautiful views of the sea. |
| B．Short boat rides are needed to get to these restaurants. |
| C．They offer the freshest seafood from the surrounding ocean. |
| D．They integrate delicious food with incredible dining experiences. |
| A．To call on readers to visit the unique restaurants. |
| B．To present available restaurants for readers to work in. |
| C．To introduce the delicious food offered in the restaurants. |
| D．To remind people to take a break from the busy schedules. |
7 . Studying a subject that you feel pointless is never a fun or easy task. If you’re studying history, asking yourself the question “why is history important” is a very good first step. History is an essential part of human civilization. You will find something here that will arouse your interest, or get you thinking about the significance of history.
History grounds us in our roots. History is an important and interesting field of study, and learning the history of our home country can give us a deeper, more meaningful glimpse (一瞥) into our ancestral pasts, and how we got to where we are today. Many people feel like they need a sense of cultural belonging, which is something that studying your roots and being open-minded to the evolution (演变) of your culture can provide.
History enriches our experience. Reading history is an amazing experience because it enables us to reflect on the social and economic life of the people living long time ago. According to the experts, problems faced by people regardless of the past and present are the same. With the information about the ancestors, one can become more experienced in handling challenges of life.
History makes us more empathetic (具有共情能力的). Studying history can give us insight (洞察力) into why our culture does certain things, and how the past has shaped it into what we know now. It also provides a rather strong foundation for empathy across cultures. Fear and hate for others is usually caused by ignorance (无知). We’re scared of the things that we don’t understand. History has the potential to break down those boundaries by offering us insight into entire worlds that would otherwise be foreign to us.
History can inspire us to learn more. What’s fantastic about history is the way it broadens our horizons. It’s almost impossible to learn about one historical period without having dozens of questions about related concepts. Study the 19re century England, and you might catch a glimpse of Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist. Look up Charles Dickens, and you might learn a thing or two about realism. Or maybe you end up switching your attention away from novels, and discover the history of romantic poets in England. It can go anywhere, and there is something in there for absolutely anybody.
The value of history cannot be underestimated. We don’t have to live in the past, but we can definitely do better by learning from it and using the lessons learnt to lead more meaningful lives.
1. People can get a sense of cultural belonging by studying history and _______.| A．thinking about the meaning of it |
| B．accepting the development of culture |
| C．analyzing how they get to the present state |
| D．reflecting on their social and economic life |
| A．It is difficult to get rid of cultural barriers. |
| B．People are willing to accept foreign cultures. |
| C．Cultural conflicts in history are difficult to ignore. |
| D．History helps us improve our cross-cultural awareness. |
| A．How to Build Cultural Identity | B．Why Studying History Matters |
| C．Know the Past, Know the Present | D．History: a Way to Broaden Horizons |
8 . Will you go on this ride with me? ”my friend’s eleven-year-old daughter Jenny asked. She stared at the ride, eager to experience the same excitement as the brave group of riders in front of us. I couldn’t say no.
After climbing into our seats, an attendant reached up, pulled down the bar, and locked it in place. The ride lifted us slowly, then turned us over like the blueberry pancakes I had eaten three hours earlier, and hoped to keep in their proper place. As I stared at the concrete directly below us, I had a sudden feeling of great fear. I wondered if I had replacement coverage (保险) for the phone that I was sure would slip out of my pocket and break into a million tiny pieces. I wondered when my new health insurance would kick in.
The ride touched down after twisting and turning our bodies. My friend was waiting for us at the exit. “How was it?” she asked. “Fine. No big deal,” I said, even though my head was spinning (旋转) like one of the other annoying machines dotting the midway.
Jenny walked ahead of us and convinced me to keep taking chances and sample more rides
“Oh, look at the pirate ship (海盗船)!” she said. “That looks like a calm ride.”
“Let’s go, Auntie!” she said as she rushed to join others in line.
I followed her, feeling confident the ride would be uneventful. When I reached the bottom, I tapped out like a WWF wrestler admitting defeat. Although my body was shaking and my head was still spinning, I felt exhilarated just like I was on the top of the world. That morning, I set a goal, took my first step to reach it, and felt the joy of achievement.
Each time you try something for the first time, you will grow — a little piece of the fear of the unknown is removed and replaced with a sense of satisfaction.
1. What made the author decide to try riding with Jenny?| A．The eagerness in Jenny’s eyes. |
| B．The curiosity about the unknown. |
| C．The encouragement from other riders. |
| D．The desire to experience something exciting. |
| A．She lost her phone. | B．She got into a panic. |
| C．She was served pancakes. | D．She almost fell off the seat. |
| A．Relaxed. | B．Confused. | C．Excited. | D．Disappointed. |
| A．He who hesitates is lost. |
| B．It’s never too late to learn. |
| C．Life is like riding a pirate ship. |
| D．It’s worthwhile to try something new. |
9 . According to a new Agriculture Department report, U. S. forests could exacerbate global warming because they are being destroyed by natural disasters and are losing their ability to absorb planet-warming gases as they get older. The report predicts that the ability of forests to absorb carbon will start declining after 2025 and that forests could release up to 100 million metric tons of carbon a year as their emissions (排放) from decaying (腐烂的) trees go beyond their carbon absorption. Forests could become a “substantial carbon source” by 2070, the USDA report says.
The loss of carbon absorption is driven in part by natural disasters such as wildfires, tornadoes and hurricanes, which are increasing in frequency and strength as global temperatures rise. The disasters destroy forestland, destroying their ecosystem and decreasing their ability to absorb carbon, according to Lynn Riley, a senior manager of climate science at the American Forest Foundation. Aging forests also contribute. The report found that older, mature trees absorb less carbon than younger trees of the same species, and U. S. forests are rapidly aging.
This trend is likely to continue, as forests come under increasing threat from climate change and exploitation (开采). The typical tropical (热带的) forest may become a carbon source by the 2060s, according to Simon Lewis, professor in the school of geography at Leeds University. “Humans have been lucky so far, as tropical forests are cleaning up lots of our pollution, but they can’t keep doing that indefinitely,” he said. “We need to cut down fossil fuel emissions before the global carbon cycle starts working against us.”
U. S. forests currently absorb 11 percent of U. S. carbon emissions, or 150 million metric tons of carbon a year, equal to the combined emissions from 40 coal power plants, according to the report. The loss of forests as natural carbon absorbers will require the U. S. to cut emissions more rapidly to reach net zero. “As we work to decarbonize (碳减排), forests are one of the greatest tools at our handling. If we were to lose that, it means we will contribute that much more in emissions.” Riley said.
1. What does the underlined word “exacerbate” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?| A．Relieve. | B．Worsen. | C．Address. | D．Measure. |
| A．The key role of forests in the ecosystem. |
| B．The consequences of frequent natural disasters. |
| C．The impact of rising global temperatures on forests. |
| D．The reasons for forests’ declining ability to absorb carbon. |
| A．Reducing fossil fuel emissions. | B．Dealing with decaying trees in time. |
| C．Planting younger trees on a large scale. | D．Limiting the exploitation of forest resources. |
| A．To stress the significance of forests. |
| B．To offer suggestions on forest management. |
| C．To present the efforts the U. S. has made to reach net zero. |
| D．To show the increasing carbon emissions from coal power plants. |
10 . In this age of social media, everyone has followed the review trend. Nearly every business or website persuades customers to leave reviews as they can drive traffic to the site or business. The online business directory Yelp, which gets 178 million monthly visitors, invites anyone with a cellphone to leave a review of a business or restaurant. But by no means are negative reviews always honest. Some people threaten to give a bad review to extort (敲诈) discounted or free food from a restaurant. Some then follow through when their demands are not met.
But there are two sides to every story. One Denver chef decided to respond to bad reviews at his restaurant. As it turned out, some customers who left bad review s deserved bad reviews themselves. One customer’s terrible review claimed that the food at the restaurant was so awful that he didn’t eat a single bite. The chef looked through the monitor and found clear evidence that he had eaten every bite! In response, the chef called out the dissatisfied customer in his own negative review. Since the chef started responding to all his negative reviews, business at his restaurant has nearly doubled.
Telling people what you think of them as the result of a bad review can backfire on you, especially when a bad review is justified. Reviews are important because 94 percent of diners read online review s before they decide where to eat.
But bad reviews appear for many reasons. The reviewer may be having a bad day, or the chef may be sick and the substitute (代替者) couldn’t fill his shoes, so the cuisine suffered. Or perhaps the service wasn’t as good as usual. The worst-case scene is that the reviewer wants to punish the restaurant on purpose for some slight, real or imagined. So one or two bad reviews need to be taken with a grain of salt. Many negative reviews, however, indicate a problem.
So what is a restauranteur to do? First give an honest assessment of any negative reviews. Take a step back and ask if the writer has made any valid points. Are there areas for improvement? If the answer is yes, make adjustments. Reviewers themselves need to be honest and constructive. The goal should be to improve the situation, not just blow off steam.
1. The author mentions Yelp in Paragraph 1 to ______.| A．introduce the topic | B．predict the ending |
| C．evaluate an argument | D．support a statement |
| A．positive | B．objective | C．negative | D．doubtful |
| A．Philosophical. | B．Identical. | C．Reasonable. | D．Legal. |
| A．Who to Be Responsible for Bad Reviews? | B．When to Respond to Bad Reviews? |
| C．How to Criticise Bad Reviews? | D．What to Do with Bad Reviews? |
