1 . As a boy, Ramirez Cruz loved hiking with his grandfather up into the mountains of central Mexico. While the old man hunted for wild mushrooms, Ramirez would play among the monarch butterflies that migrated 3,000 miles to this forest each autumn, turning the blue sky into a sea of orange.
Ramirez is 75 now and each winter he still goes looking for butterflies. But these days, he might spend hours searching the forest without catching sight of a single one.
The world is losing monarch butterflies at a surprising rate, as many human activities destroy their natural habitats. But the biggest threat yet has only recently come into focus. Climate change, with its extreme storms, is destroying the forest that serves as the butterfly’s winter home.
To help his beloved butterflies, Ramirez has partnered with scientists on an experiment: They are trying to move an entire forest 1,000 feet up a mountain. He agrees with scientists that it is necessary to create an ecosystem where the butterflies will be able to survive.
Over the last several years, the team of researchers has overseen the relocation (迁移) of about 1,000 trees that were growing at lower altitudes up to higher and cooler areas. Ramirez and the scientists hope to expand the project and establish the trees at even higher altitudes on other nearby mountains if temperatures continue to soar.
After checking on the trees, Ramirez went off to look for the butterflies. He found a few butterflies then a few more. There weren’t as many as he remembered from his childhood, but it was still a sight to see. Ramirez eased himself down to sit on the soft forest floor and watched in silence. The only sound was the whistle of the wind and the gentle flapping (拍打) of their wings.
1. What is the main cause of the decline in monarch butterfly population?| A．Human activities. |
| B．Climate change. |
| C．Scientific experiments. |
| D．Increasingly cold winters. |
| A．By growing more trees. |
| B．By exploring the forest. |
| C．By measuring temperatures. |
| D．By moving the forest higher up. |
| A．Rise sharply. | B．Drop slightly. | C．Vary greatly. | D．Change regularly. |
| A．Ramirez’s efforts have paid off. |
| B．The butterflies are hard to find |
| C．More trees will be relocated at higher altitudes. |
| D．Climate change won’t be a threat to butterflies. |
2 . “You’re not listening!” “Let me finish!” “That’s not what I said!” After “I love you,” these are among the most common words in close relationships. During my two years researching a book on listening, I learned something unbelievable about interpersonal communication: The closer we feel toward someone, the less likely we are to listen carefully to them. It’s called the closeness-communication bias (偏见) and, over time, it can hurt, and even end relationships.
The more you know someone, the more likely you are to ignore him or her because you think you already know what he or she is going to say. It’s kind of like when you’ve traveled a certain route several times and no longer notice signposts and scenery.
Social science researchers have repeatedly proved the closeness-communication bias in the experiments where they paired subjects first with friends or spouses (配偶) and then with strangers. The researchers asked subjects to interpret what their partners were saying. While the subjects predicted they would more exactly understand those who they had close relationships with, they often understood them no better than strangers, and often worse.
The closeness-communication bias not only keeps us from listening to those we love, it can also keep us from allowing our loved ones to listen to us. It may explain why people in close relationships sometimes keep secrets from one another.
Another study shows that people often share their concerns with strangers rather than their spouses, family members or dear friends because they fear judgment.
So what can we do to avoid the closeness-communication bias? The British psychologist Robin Dunbar says the key is to talk with those closest to us every day. That means asking, “How are you?” and actually listening to the answer.
1. Which of the following is an example of closeness-communication bias?| A．Can I talk to you about this? |
| B．How interesting! Tell me more. |
| C．I know exactly what you want to say. |
| D．I feel bad about what you’re suffering. |
| A．They hope to learn more about others. |
| B．They need to build close relationships. |
| C．They fear losing their loved family members. |
| D．They worry about family and friends’ opinions. |
| A．A blog written by a physicist. |
| B．A website recommending books. |
| C．An article about human behavior. |
| D．A report on international relations. |
As a boy, Ramirez Cruz loved hiking with his grandfather up into the mountains of central Mexico. While the old man hunted for wild mushrooms, Ramirez would play among the monarch butterflies that migrated 3,000 miles to this forest each autumn, turning the blue sky into a sea of orange.
Ramirez is 75 now and each winter he still goes looking for butterflies. But these days, he might spend hours searching the forest without catching sight of a single one.
The world is losing monarch butterflies at a surprising rate, as many human activities destroy their natural habitats. But the biggest threat yet has only recently come into focus. Climate change, with its extreme storms, is destroying the forest that serves as the butterfly’s winter home.
To help his beloved butterflies, Ramirez has partnered with scientists on an experiment: They are trying to move an entire forest 1,000 feet up a mountain. He agrees with scientists that it is necessary to create an ecosystem where the butterflies will be able to survive.
Over the last several years, the team of researchers has overseen the relocation(迁移) of about 1,000 trees that were growing at lower altitudes up to higher and cooler areas. Ramirez and the scientists hope to expand the project and establish the trees at even higher altitudes on other nearby mountains if temperatures continue to soar.
After checking on the trees, Ramirez went off to look for the butterflies. He found a few butterflies then a few more. There weren’t as many as he remembered from his childhood, but it was still a sight to see. Ramirez eased himself down to sit on the soft forest floor and watched in silence. The only sound was the whistle of the wind and the gentle flapping(拍打) of their wings.
1. What does “sea of orange” refer to in paragraph 1?2. Why is the forest important to the monarch butterflies according to paragraph 3?
3. What is the project Ramirez has been working on in paragraph 5?
4. How did Ramirez probably feel when he sat on the soft forest floor?
4 . Family Travel: On the Road Again
The classic road trip is more popular than ever. Here are few places to visit.
Colo Roads
The Colorado Tourism Office has made it easy for road-trippers to explore the state’s 24 Scenic &Historic Byways. A new microsite includes an interactive map that lets travelers explore options by region, interest or season. Travelers seeking inspiration can also get trip suggestions within more than 150 Colo-Road Trip plans. The plans offer suggestions for historic attractions, active adventures and cultural opportunities.
The Beartooth Highway
Visitors who travel his amazing road experience the beautiful scenery (风景) of Montana, Wyoming and Yellowstone Park, home to the Absaroka and Beartooth mountains. The 68-mile highway introduces road explorers to one of the most different ecosystems reachable by car. Extremely beautiful, the road shows wide plateaus (高原) painted with blue icy lakes, forested valleys, waterfalls and wildlife.
California Dreaming
For impressive coastal scenery and seaside breezes, drive the car for a trip up or down our western shore. Begin in Santa Monica, California, and wind your way past the Hearst Castle. Other road trip options include a tour which features the best surf spots, or uncover the strange attractions you’ll find in the California desert.
The Lighthouse Trail
Travel the 375 miles between Kittery and Calais, Maine, visit lighthouses along the way, and learn about the dangers that sea-going ships and seamen experienced along the Northeastern coast. Hear stories of the difficult and lonely life led by those who kept the lights burning brightly. If possible, visit the Maine Lighthouse Museum, where hands-on exhibits for children provide a good break.
1. How can travellers get trip suggestions about Colo Roads?| A．By drawing an interactive map. |
| B．By searching on a new microsite. |
| C．By attending Colorado cultural events. |
| D．By calling the Maine Tourism Office. |
| A．Colo Roads. | B．The Beartooth Highway. |
| C．Califoria Dreaming. | D．The Lighthouse Trail. |
| A．It ends at a lighthouse museum. |
| B．It is a lighthouse-themed journey. |
| C．It involves many strange attractions. |
| D．It offers experienced seamen as tour guides. |
This popular vacuum claims strong suction (吸力) and an extended run time of 10 hours before it needs to be recharged. It is complete with a washable bowl. Plus, the dirt bowl is translucent (半透明), so you can always see what's inside and know when it needs to be emptied. It only needs $42.99 (orig. $50.99) now.
Roborock E4 Robot Vacuum
The vacuum (orig. $299.99) is on sale on Amazon thanks to a double discount you can take advantage of right now. Not only is it marked down $30 on the site, but you can clip a coupon (优惠券) to save an additional $70 at checkout. With a run time of over three hours, it can clean up to 2,152 square feet, and can self-charge if its battery is running low.
Aposen H250 Cordless Vacuum
The vacuums in particular has been praised for its powerful suction and fashionable appearance. It has an adjustable tube and run time of up to 30 minutes after a full charge, and it can even be attached to a handheld vacuum to access those hard-to-reach areas. It only needs $146 (orig. $78) now.
Shark ION Robot Vacuum AV752
The vacuum claims three brushes that can handle dirt on all types of surfaces, including carpet and wood. The powerful suction pulls in dirt from corners and edges. Plus, pet waste is no problem: The vacuum sucks up fur of all lengths, thanks to the multi-surface brushroll. Moreover, you can operate it remotely. Wi-Fi-enabling allows the robot to be controlled from anywhere with the SharkClean app. It only needs $150 (orig. $220) now.
1. Which vacuum can be bought at double discounts？| A．Black+Decker Handheld Vacuum. |
| B．Roborock E4 Robot Vacuum. |
| C．Aposen H250 Cordless Vacuum. |
| D．Shark ION Robot Vacuum AV752. |
①.friendly to various surfaces
②.good at sucking pet fur
③. easy to monitor inside
④.convenient to operate on mobile phone
| A．①②③. | B．②③④. |
| C．①②④. | D．①③④. |
| A．A magazine. | B．A textbook. |
| C．A website. | D．A poster. |
6 . Everyone may face difficult circumstances.
Be Flexible.
When you are pursuing your goals, you may suddenly hit a roadblock and all movement comes to a standstill. When you hit a roadblock, don’t throw out your entire plan. Take a moment to step back from the situation and figure out how to adapt your plan to handle the roadblock. Be flexible in your approach.
Build Support.
Long before you encounter any obstacles, it is important that you are always building your network of support.
During times of adversity, it’s important that you don’t focus on negative emotions. Rather than dwelling on events and mistakes that you may have just made, leave them in your past. You can learn lessons from those mistakes and then let them go. Move on by focusing on the future and what your life will be like when you achieve your goals.
It’s the Small Things that Matter.
When hardships occur, and threaten to permanently spoil your plans, it can make you desperate. At these times, it’s especially important to positive emotions to give you the ability to persist and improve performance.
| A．Focus on the Future. |
| B．Learn to ignore mistakes. |
| C．Look for people who believe in you and your vision. |
| D．Remember that small accomplishments add up to greater successes. |
| E．The difficult circumstances manage to force you to give up your goals. |
| F．In these situations, courage is a must if you want to achieve your goals. |
| G．You never know what good things this unexpected roadblock might uncover. |
7 . Give with Love
Choosing a charity to support isn't as easy as picking one out of a hat.
What cause do you want to support?
Typically, the first thing that people think about when choosing a charity to support is the cause. There are children’s charities, animal charities and charities that raise money and awareness for a wide range of illnesses, disabilities and issues.
Do you want to support a large or small charity?
There are big name charities such as the Red Cross, SPCA and Barnardos.
Find your reason
Once you have decided that you would like to give some of your time or money to help others, you need to make some decisions. For instance, volunteering.
Think about your existing skills: do you prefer hands-on work, are you good with people, do you have a background in administration or secretarial work? Charities need a wide variety of skills, such as working in shops, organising fundraising events, driving vehicles or. in the case of animal charities, walking dogs or checking out foster homes.
| A．Location is important |
| B．Decide on the kind of work |
| C．There are also many smaller charities |
| D．Some people want to give something back |
| E．Think about which organisation’s cause is dear to your heart |
| F．Larger charities will advertise vacant positions on their website |
| G．Your choice should be personal and your reasons unique to you |
8 . The world’s first urban airport specifically for flying cars and drones(无人机) will be developed under government-backed plans to cut road congestion(拥堵)and pollution. The zero-emission airport, to be called Air One, will be built in Coventry later this year to allow small electric passenger-carrying aircraft to operate in an urban area. It will initially open in November in a month-long demonstration a part of events to mark Coventry’s year as UK City of Culture.
Urban- Air Port, the London-based aerospace company which is behind the facility, said it planned to eventually build more than 200 airports in cities around the world, with rooftops and floating platforms being used to locate them as close to urban centres as possible. Flying cars-effectively large. passenger - carrying drones- are not currently permitted to operate in UK airspace. However, the European Aviation Safety Agency has started a consultation on the issue and hopes that permission will be given in a few years to allow" electric vertical lake -off and landing vehicles"to operate commercially.
The technology is seen as quieter, lighter, cheaper and more environmentally friendly than helicopters, allowing people to take short journeys between city centres rather than relying on the increasingly congested road network.
Ricky Sandhu, founder and executive chairman of Urban - Air Port, said the new facility would give flying cars a place to land, take-off and charge their batteries. "It will bring clean urban air transport of zero emission to the masses, " he added . " Most of our cities are crowded urban centres where space is limited and you may not find sufficient space on the ground so rooftops can be important. " The ultimate aim was to build the airports on rooftops and on offshore platforms.
1. Why will Air One be constructed?| A．To celebrate Coventry’s year. |
| B．To encourage people to buy flying cars. |
| C．To reduce air pollution and traffic jams. |
| D．To promote the development of urban areas. |
| A．They are intended for distant journeys. |
| B．They are mainly produced by Urban-Air Port. |
| C．They are allowed to operate commercially now. |
| D．They are great options for future travellers. |
| A．Optimistic. | B．Objective. |
| C．Worried. | D．Unconcerned. |
| A．A research paper. | B．A news report. |
| C．A travel brochure. | D．An online advertisement. |
9 . The suspension monorail（单轨列车）, which winds its way through Wuppertal（a city of Germany）"like a steely dragon " , is the prime tourist attraction. More than 1.5 thousand million people have travelled through Wuppertal on it in the course of its 110-year history.
With its swift train service, it is not only a landmark and historical monument but has been Wuppertal’s essential means of transport since its operation in 1901. 85.000 passengers use it daily to travel through the city without the problems of junctions or traffic jams. With a top speed of 60 kph, the whole airy ride takes almost 35 minutes.
Tickets
The fare for a single trip with the Wuppertal Suspension Railway is as follows for:
Adults: 2.90 €
Children: 1.70 €
24-and 48-HourTicket
You get full flexibility with the 24- and 48- Hour Ticket. Using that you and even additional persons can lake the ride for 24 or 48 hours. Perfect for a daytrip or a visit to the city. Kids under six years go free.
| 24 – Hour Ticket: | 7.20€ |
| Fare for every additional person: | 3.50€ |
| 48 – Hour Ticket: | 13.70€ |
| Fare for every additional person: | 6.60€ |
Attention
In connection with the compulsory wearing of medical masks ordered by the government, the WSW urgently requests its passengers to obey the new regulation. Anyone not wearing an surgical mask. KN95/N95 mask or FFP2 mask will not be allowed to use the monorail. Neither cloth masks nor makeshift masks such an scarves are sufficient to fulfill the mask requirement on the monorail.
1. Why is the suspension railway a major tourist attraction?| A．Because it is shaped like a dragon. |
| B．Because it is the fastest transport in the city. |
| C．Because it is of historical and practical value. |
| D．Because it is an operating train powered by steam. |
| A．€7.5. | B．€10.7. |
| C．€20.3. | D．€22.5. |
| A．Medical masks. | B．Scarves. |
| C．Cloth masks. | D．Makeshift masks. |
10 . Another term is underway.
Turn off social media notifications（通知）. Social media is great for connecting with your friends and the world around you, but it can be a serious distraction（分心）when you're trying to get into the zone: Turn them off. Put your phone into Do Not Disturb pattern.
Figure out when you do your best work. Some people are energized first thing in the morning. Others thrive（活跃）when they're burning the midnight oil. If you don't really know when you're at your best, try keeping a time journal for a couple of weeks.
Skip the to-do lists. Create a schedule, instead. Some people thrive on to-do lists. If that's you, then move along. If not, abandon the lists in favor of time blocking.
| A．How will you make the most of it? |
| B．Do you arrive at the final determination? |
| C．Break complex tasks into more manageable ones. |
| D．Note how you felt and how well you stayed on task. |
| E．Plan work and study sessions then whenever possible. |
| F．Facing down a lengthy to-do list can make people discouraged. |
| G．You'll get that paper written a lot faster without the interruptions. |
