1 . The relationship between Jeffrey Pang and his son, Kevin Pang, was like hot-and-sour soup. It boiled over easily. The Pangs, who moved to the United States in 1988, wanted their son and daughter to know Chinese culture. As a video game-playing American teen, Kevin wasn’t interested.
But when Kevin became a food writer for the Chicago Tribune, he realized he had a valuable resource: his cook-laving dad. “My father and I shared, for the first time, a common interest. I would call to ask about recipes and cooking techniques. He would school me on the world of Chinese food,” Kevin writes in the introduction to the cookbook he has just published.
When it comes to cooking Chinese food, he points out that there is no one definition of Chinese food. “Chinese cooking is not hidebound. For example, consider baked pork chop rice, popularized in Hong Kong. It is a pork chop with egg-fried rice. And then you top it with this thick tomato sauce,” explains Kevin. “And then you top that with some cheese. It’s a very interesting combined dish that has some Western British influences, and it’s altogether very Chinese as well.”
By the time Kevin joined America’s Test Kitchen (ATK) staff in 2020 as its editorial director for digital content, his dad had become an Internet celebrity demonstrating the family’s recipes. Kevin recognized an opportunity not only to share his own family’s food stories but also to apply the ATK method of breaking down recipes into simple steps for the home cook.
“I think this cookbook can teach fathers and sons how to connect, how to find a common interest and improve their relationship, ” Kevin says. That feeling has found an enthusiastic fan base, generating nearly 3 million views, for their online cooking series “Hunger Pangs”, where viewers speak highly of their father-son bond as much as they do of their attractive dishes. Today the Pangs’ relationship is rarely sour or hot.
1. Why would Kevin phone his father after becoming a food writer?A.To publish his Chinese cookbook. | B.To inquire about hot-and-sour soup. |
C.To seek permission for video games. | D.To ask about cooking Chinese food. |
A.Inflexible. | B.Inclusive. | C.Unpleasant. | D.Uncertain. |
A.Their relationship has improved. | B.They run America’s. Test Kitchen. |
C.They do dishes to attract followers. | D.Their cookbook is about low-fat food. |
A.Cooking at home helps you cook well for less. | B.Father and son jointly teach Chinese cooking. |
C.Chinese culture is becoming popular in the us. | D.Recipes and cooking techniques are really easy. |
2 . Imagine Hying over the city in an electric powered aircraft that has no pilot but can take you from point A to point B in minutes. Sounds like science fiction, right? Well, not anymore. China-based Ehang has become the world’s first company to receive official approval to fly passengers in its pilotless air taxis.
Ehang’s EH216-S air taxis are electric vertical (垂直的) takeoff and landing aircraft, also called eVToL for short. The air taris can carry up to wo passengers or about 270kg of goods. They can fly at speeds of up to 130kmb and distances of up to 28km. The air taris are controlled by a central command centre that monitor the light, routes and weather conditions.
Passengers can simply select their destination on a touchscreen inside the cabin and enjoy the ride without worrying about piloting the aircraft. The taxis do not require airports or runways. They can take off and land vertically from any flat surface.
The air taxis use electric power to reduce environmental harm caused by emissions. They can be fully charged in two hours and have bow nose levels. They also have backup batteries and emergency landing systems and parachutes in case anything goes wrong.
They could transform how we travel around big cities —imagine using them to avoid traffic jams, save time on the daily commute (通勤) to work or school, or get to places that are hard to reach by car or public transport. And beyond just moving people, the aircraft can be used for delivering goods, such as packages, medical supplies or food. During natural disasters such as bushfires or foods, air taxis could transport much-needed medical staff, equipment or medicines to the scene quickly and safely.
One big challenge will be gaining the trust of the public and convincing commuters they are safe while flying. To do this, Ehang will educate passengers about the benefits and risks of using its taxis while also addressing potential issues and concerns about noise levels, privacy and the environmental impact.
1. What do we know about EH216-S air taxis?A.They don’t make any noise. | B.They are environment-friendly. |
C.They are controlled by eVTOL. | D.They can carry 270kg of goods and two persons. |
A.A swimming pool. | B.An empty street. |
C.A crowded car park. | D.A woody valley. |
A.Where air taxis can work. | B.When air taxis function well. |
C.Why air taxis are needed. | D.How air taxis can be used. |
A.By providing a free tip for brave passengers. |
B.By rewarding the most reliable passengers. |
C.By explaining is taxis advantages and disadvantages. |
D.By stressing the importance of environmental protection. |
3 . English businessman Richard Branson made history on July 11, 2021 as he and three other crewmates became the world’s first space tourists. The flight was made by a spacecraft named VSS Unity that was built by Branson’s company, Virgin Galactic. The flight lasted slightly more than an hour, and took Branson and crew to an altitude (海拔) of 53.5miles above the Earth, just a little above the boundary (边界) of space which lies 50 miles above the Earth.
At that height, the atmosphere turns into the black of outer space and the Earth becomes a bent ball of blue. Travelers also exhibit weightlessness as there is no gravity, the force that keeps our bodies walking on the Earth’s surface. Therefore, Branson and his fellows were able to float around in VSS Unity while enjoying the views. They were able to do that for three minutes before the spacecraft began its downward journey. It landed back at Virgin Galactic’s space port in New Mexico, United States, which is the same place from where it had taken off 90 minutes before.
On landing back, Branson said, “I have dreamt of this moment since I was a kid but honestly, nothing could prepare you for the view of the Earth from space. It was just magical. I’m just taking it all in, and it’s unreal.”
July 11’s flight is the start of space tourism for one and all. In early 2022, customers who can afford a ticket for a quarter of a million dollars can line up for a seat on a trip to space. And guess what — they will have a choice of spacecraft. Jeff Bezos, who owns a famous company, is all set to launch himself into space on July 20 on board a spacecraft built by his new branch company Blue Origin. Blue Origin will also carry tourists to space.
1. What is Richard Branson famous for?A.His success in tourism. |
B.His company of Virgin Galactic. |
C.His spaceship named VSS Unity. |
D.His first commercial space travel in history. |
A.Unbelievable. | B.Adventurous. | C.Regrettable. | D.Worthless. |
A.Take a spacecraft of Virgin Galactic. |
B.Pay $250,000 for the rocket tour. |
C.Pass the fitness test for astronauts. |
D.Line up for a position in Blue Origin. |
A.Humans will move to other livable planets. |
B.Ordinary people will soon land on the moon. |
C.Private rocket space travel is growing gradually. |
D.Some companies abandon their proper business. |
4 . If you’ve ever seen a sparrow steal your dog food or a crow open a garbage bag, you get a sense of that some birds have learned to take advantage of new feeding opportunities—a clear sign of their intelligence. Scientists have long wondered why certain species of birds are more innovative than others, and whether these capacities stem from larger brains or from a greater number of neurons (神经元) in specific areas of the brain.
It turns out that it’s a bit of both, according to a recent study by an international team that included members from McGill University published in Nature Ecology and Evolution.
The researchers used a new technique to estimate the number of neurons in a specific part of the brain called the pallium in 111 bird species. The pallium in birds is equal to the human cerebral cortex (大脑皮层), which is involved in memory, learning, reasoning, and problem-solving, among other things. When these estimates about neuron numbers in the pallium were combined with information about over 4,000 feeding innovations, the team found that the species with the higher numbers of neurons in the pallium were also likely to be the most innovative.
“The amount of time chicks spend in the nest as their brains develop might also play a crucial role in the evolution of intelligence,” says McGill University Emeritus Professor Louis Lefebvre who spent more than 20 years gathering examples of feeding innovations. “Larger species of crows and parrots, which are known for their intelligence, spend longer in the nest, which allows more time for the brain to grow and accumulate pallial neurons.”
The results of the study help to deal with previously opposed views of the evolution and significance of brain size and show how a life-history perspective helps to understand the evolution of cognition.
1. What may a sparrow be thought of when it steals dog food?A.It is lovely. | B.It is immoral. | C.It is heartbroken. | D.It is intelligent. |
A.Assessed the neurons in their pallium. |
B.Tested a new technology on their brain. |
C.Trained them to learn to feed individually. |
D.Compared their pallium with the human cerebral cortex. |
A.Their large shape. |
B.More time in their nest. |
C.Their learning ability. |
D.More feeding innovations. |
A.Health. | B.Society. | C.Science. | D.Culture. |
5 . More than 400 athletes across a variety of sports, ages and levels of experience were questioned for the study by sports psychology experts from Staffordshire University and Manchester Metropolitan University. The findings reveal that athletes’ belief systems — specifically irrational (非理性) beliefs — are related to poorer self-confidence, and in turn, greater competitive anxiety and depressive symptoms.
“Phrases that reflect self-depreciating (贬低) beliefs such as ‘If I lose, I’m a failure’ or ‘If I face setbacks, it shows how stupid I am’ are warning signs,” said the authors. Paul Mansell, Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Staffordshire University, said, “Despite the psychological benefits of physical activity, studies frequently report poor mental health in athletes, which may be exacerbated by adversities, such as injury, de-selection, and performance pressure. We investigated athletes’ beliefs, how they view stress, their levels of self-confidence and put all this data together to work out what might predict psychological well-being. We found irrational beliefs to be a core reason for symptoms of poor mental health in athletes.”
This is the first known study that has examined irrational beliefs, self-confidence, and the psychological well-being of athletes all together. Irrational beliefs are extreme, rigid, and illogical ideas that people hold. For example, a person might believe that they “must” get what they want, or that just because they have failed, they are a “complete failure”.
“We can all work to help athletes develop mindsets that help them deal with the challenges of sport and life. By encouraging rational and logical beliefs about performance, we can help athletes to stay healthy amidst the high demands of competitive sport,” said Paul Mansell.
The author s propose Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) as an effective tool for protecting self-confidence. REBT helps athletes to challenge these self-depreciating beliefs and develop beliefs that are more helpful and healthy. For example, rather than believe “I am a failure if I fail”, this might be countered with “Failing is not ideal, but it does not mean that I am a failure”.
1. What did the study centre on?A.Physical health of athletes. |
B.The competition state of athletes. |
C.Psychological health of athletes. |
D.Competition habits of athletes. |
A.Worsened. | B.Examined. | C.Promoted. | D.Recognized. |
A.Setbacks won’t stop me. |
B.If I fail, I will lose everything. |
C.It is a world full of competition. |
D.What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger. |
A.Psychological benefits of physical activity |
B.Effective tools for protecting self-confidence |
C.Rational and logical beliefs about performance |
D.Warning signs of poor mental health in athletes |
6 . Antarctica has not always been a land of ice and snow. Earth’s southernmost continent once was home to rivers and forests full of life.
Scientists are using satellite observations and radar imagery to look deep under the ice. The researchers report finding a large ancient landscape buried under the continent’s ice sheet. It is full of valleys and ridges (山脊) , shaped by rivers before being covered by glaciers long ago.
The landscape is located in East Antarctica’s Wilkes Land area bordering the Indian Ocean. The researchers said the landscape appears to date back to at least 14 million years ago and perhaps beyond 34 million years ago, when Antarctica entered its deep freeze.
“It is difficult to know what this lost world might have looked like before the ice came along, but it was certainly warmer back then,” said Stewart Jamieson, a professor at Durham University. “Depending how far back in time you go, you might have had climates that ranged anywhere from the climate of present-day Patagonia through to something more approaching tropical.”
“Such an environment likely would have been populated by wildlife”, Jamieson said. “But the area’s fossil record is too incomplete to know which animals may have lived there.”
The researchers said the surface of the planet Mars is better known than the earth surface below the ice in Antarctica. They said one way to learn more would be to drill through the ice and take a piece of the earth below. This could uncover evidence showing ancient life, as was done with samples taken in Greenland dating back two million years ago.
Jamieson said the researchers think that when Antarctica’s climate was warmer, rivers flowed toward a continental coastline that was created as the other land masses broke away. When the climate cooled, some small glaciers formed on hills next to the rivers. When the climate cooled even more, an ice sheet grew which covered the whole continent, the landscape got preserved, likely for 34 million years.
1. What can we learn about the ancient landscape?A.It locates in the center of Antarctica. | B.It’s discovered by drilling through the ice. |
C.It’s once a warmer area than it is now. | D.It has a history of no more than 14 million years. |
A.There is a lack of complete fossil record. |
B.The ice sheet of Antarctica is melting quickly. |
C.Scientists lack enough advanced equipment. |
D.Climate conditions vary greatly from place to place. |
A.To attract more scientists to study Antarctica. |
B.To strengthen the importance of the Mars. |
C.To indicate the complex situations of the Mars. |
D.To show the difficult to know Antarctica’s earth surface. |
A.The colder climate. | B.The protection offered by coastlines. |
C.Other land masses’ reduction. | D.A decrease in the number of wildlife. |
7 . Changi Community Chub Visit
To Green Ark Fish Farm
WHATGreen Ark is one of the fish closed fish farms in the world. It is a floating structure about the size
of the two classrooms.WHERE
Located 5km off Chang Point, the farm can produce 166, 000 kilograms of fish a year. The fish are housed in four enormous tanks. The raised fish include barramundi, red snapper and grouper. They are mainly for local consumption.
HOWThe fish are sale from threat such as all spills (溢油) and other chemicals which could kill them. The aa waler they live in is really clean. Bacteria and viruses are destroyed by ozonation (臭氧化). In this process, oxygen is blown into the tanks every hour. “All these improved conditions ensure that the waler quality remains high. This enables our fish to become healthier,” said Mrs. Linda Tan, spokesperson of Green Ark Fish Farm.
Would you like a glimpse of Green Ark Fish Farm?For the very first time, Changi Community Club is organizing 5 small-group tours (25 persons each) to Green Ark Fish Farm on the following Saturdays: 6, 13, 20, 27 July. You will have first- hand knowledge of how fish is raised there. The highlight of the tour will be tasty meal of fresh fish chosen by the chefs of Changi Cafe.
Time | Schedule | Cost |
1: 00 p. m. | Meet at Changi Ferry Point | $40 per person; Changi Community Club members pay $30 each |
1: 15 p. m. | Depart for Green Arh | |
1: 30 p. m. | Tour of Green Ark | |
2: 30 p. m. | Return to Changi Point | |
2: 45 p. m | Dory Fish &Chips Meal at Changi Cafe |
For enquiries, please visit the website at 222. changicc. com. sg. Registration will be on a. first-come, first-served basis. Book early to avoid disappointment!
1. What can we know about the fish raised by Green Ark Fish Farm?A.They are in danger of oil spills. | B.They can swim freely in the ocean. |
C.They are mainly sold to local buyers. | D.They could be killed by other chemicals. |
A.The water level is high enough for fish. |
B.The water is the same as water from the sea. |
C.The water doesn’t contain viruses or bacteria. |
D.The water has enough space for fish to swim in. |
A.Send an email to the club. | B.Join Changi Community Club. |
C.Pay booking fee ahead of time. | D.Register before the places are filled up. |
8 . Scientists are worried about the future of the axolotl (蝾螈), an unusual Mexican salamander(蜥蜴), and they’re asking for help. A new program lets people “adopt” an axolotl to raise money to support efforts to save the endangered animal.
If an axolotl loses a leg, or even part of its heart, brain, or lungs, it can regrow them. Scientists have long been interested in this. Some people think the information could help solve some human medical problems.
The Mexican axolotl is only found naturally in Lake Xochimilc o near Mexico City. This is not a big and open lake, but a collection of canals and smaller bodies of water. Sadly, axolotls are in trouble. The number of axolotls in Xochimilco has dropped 99.5% in less than 20 years. Scientists used to find thousands of axolotls in a fairly small area. Now, they’re only finding dozens.
There are a number of reasons for the drop in axolotls. One is that the water in the canals has become more and more polluted. Another is that there are invasive fish in the lake which are eating the axolotl’s food and even their babies.
Scientists at Mexico’s National Autonomous University(UNAM) have been working for years to try to protect the axolotls. Last year, the UNAM scientists started a program they called AdoptAxolotl. They asked people to donate money to help pay for efforts to save the axolotl. The program was a big hit, and raised more than $26,000. The money was used to help clean up some of Xochimilco’s canals and for a program to raise axolotls in a safe environment.
This year, the scientists are trying AdoptAxolotl again. The program offers several ways for people to support axolotls. For $30, you can virtually “adopt” one of the animals for a month. Smaller donations can help pay for food for an axolotl. Larger donations are aimed at improving areas where axolotls live, and include a visit to the protected area where UNAM is raising axolotls.
1. What have the scientists had an interest in?A.How axolotls cure themselves. | B.Who can address medical problems. |
C.How soon axolotls will go extinct. | D.Why some people focus on axolotls. |
A.To promote axolotl research. | B.To blame the Mexican residents. |
C.To show the severe conditions. | D.To expand the habitat for axolotls. |
A.collected enough money | B.turned out very popular |
C.helped to build new canals | D.moved students at UNAM |
A.New Projects Are Needed to Protect Axolotls |
B.Amazing Axolotls Live in Hash Environment |
C.Everyone Can Help to Stop Adopting Animals |
D.Scientists Work to Save Mexico’s Axolotls |
9 . World’s Best Spicy Foods
When it comes to the world’s best spicy dishes, we have some of the world’s hottest peppers to thank. The following spicy dishes from around the world bring the heat in the most delicious way.
Piri piri chicken, MozambiqueThe Portuguese introduced this spicy dish into Mozambique as far back as the 15th century, when they mixed African peppers with European ingredients. And it’s the red pepper that brings the spiciness to this complex, layered and delicious dish. The dish is also popular in Namibia and South Africa.
Sichuan hot pot, ChinaThe joy of this dish is not only the delightful warming ingredients of the Sichuan peppercorns, but the fact that you can cook exactly what you like in the spicy soup. Duck, seafood, chicken, pork, lamb and seasonal vegetables are all fair game for throwing into the pot to boil in a soup made with Sichuan peppercorns and dried Sichuan peppers.
Som tam, ThailandFrom northeastern Thailand, this fresh and spicy salad is a main dish at Thai restaurants around the world. Som tam turns to green papaya(木瓜) for its main ingredient. The papaya is then put with long beans or green beans and a mix of flavorful Asian essentials that include dried shrimp(虾) and fish sauce among other ingredients. Thai peppers give the salad its necessary kick.
Aguachile, MexicoThis raw marinated(腌制) shrimp dish from the western Mexico tastes as good as it looks. Tiny but powerful peppers, grown throughout Mexico, make the spicy magic happen in the aguachile, which means “pepper water” . Marinate the raw shrimp with ingredients including lime(酸橙) juice, red onion and cucumber and enjoy with fried corn pancakes.
1. How does piri piri chicken differ from the other three foods?A.It goes with vegetables. | B.It uses a variety of ingredients. |
C.It is flavored with red peppers. | D.It originated in another country. |
A.Piri piri chicken, Mozambique. | B.Sichuan hot pot, China. |
C.Som tam, Thailand. | D.Aguachile, Mexico. |
A.They are raw foods. | B.They have a long history. |
C.They are served with pancakes. | D.Shrimp is their main ingredient. |
10 . Loud noise can be very damaging to your hearing, whether it’s a loud burst or years of exposure. Approximately 15 percent of adults 18 years of age or older report some trouble hearing.
Get a baseline hearing test. Most people have never had a hearing test.
Wear protective hearing devices. Think ear protection before you’re exposed to any noisy environment, such as rock concerts or airports. When you are in a noisy environment, wear protective hearing devices such as earplugs or protective earphones.
Have proper earphones. If you often listen to music on earphones using a portable music or video device, it’s a good idea to have earphones that fit the unique shape of your ear canal, and block outside noise.
A.The risk rises as we age. |
B.Monitor the volume of your devices. |
C.However, it benefits you to go against that trend. |
D.Meanwhile, you will find the sound truly superior. |
E.You can find them at your local drugstore or music supply shop. |
F.Think about buying appliances and devices that have low noise ratings. |
G.You must do something to keep age-related hearing loss from getting worse. |