1 . Flash droughts develop fast, and when they hit at the wrong time, they can ruin a region’s agriculture. They’re also becoming increasingly common as the planet warms. In a study published in the journal Communications Earth& Environment, we found that the risk of flash droughts, which can develop in just a few weeks, is on the rise in every major agricultural region around the world in the coming decades.

In North America and Europe, cropland that had a 32% annual chance of a flash drought a few years ago could have a greater chance of a flash drought by the final decades of this century. That result would put food production, energy, and water supplies under increasing pressure. The cost of change will also rise. A flash drought in the Dakotas and Montana 2017 caused $2.6 billion in agricultural damage in America alone.

All droughts begin when rainfall stops. What’s interesting about flash droughts is how fast they strengthen themselves, with some help from the warming climate. When the weather is hot and dry, soil loses moisture rapidly. Dry air extracts moisture from the land, and rising temperatures can increase this evaporative (蒸发的) demand. The lack of rain during a flash drought can further contribute to the feedback processes. Under these conditions, crops and vegetation begin to die much more quickly than they do during typical long-term droughts.

In our study, we used climate models and data from the past 170 years to assess the drought risks ahead under three conditions for how quickly the world takes action to slow the pace of global warming. If greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, power plants, and other human sources continue at a high rate, we found that cropland in much of North America and Europe would have a 53% annual chance of flash droughts, by the final decades of this century. Globally, the largest increases in flash droughts would be in Europe and the Amazon. Slowing emissions can reduce the risk significantly, but we found flash droughts would still increase by about 6% worldwide under low emission conditions.

1. What is the feature of flash droughts?

A．Seldom happen and greatly beneficial.	B．Frequently happen and low risky.
C．Suddenly happen and highly destructive.	D．Regularly happen and slightly harmful.

2. Which of the following statements may the author agree with?

A．Crops and vegetation die more quickly during long term droughts.

B．Slowing emissions can completely solve the problem of flash droughts.

C．In Europe cropland will suffer from more flash droughts by the end of this century.

D．Flash droughts won’t have any effect on food production, energy, and water supplies.

3. What may be a factor that strengthens flash droughts?

A．Adequate rainfall.	B．The warming climate.
C．The cold and wet weather.	D．Long-term droughts.

4. How can humans help reduce flash droughts?

A．By studying climate models.	B．By speeding up global warming.
C．By changing cropland into forests.	D．By decreasing greenhouse gas emissions.

2 . Top 4 Ecotourism Destinations in the World

Travelling often comes with an environmental cost一but by choosing to travel more responsibly and sustainably, you can help to reduce the negative effects of tourism. Here are four destinations that have already signed up to a more sustainable way of life.

Costa Rica

So, you want to escape? Imagine a country that’s one -quarter national park, a place where you could hike in a rainforest in the morning and surf tropical waves in the afternoon. Imagine an adventure Eden where all kinds of unique animals run before your eyes.

That country is Costa Rica Conservation has been developed here since the 1970s, with measures to protect areas, close z00S and reverse deforestation.

About 80% of the Osa Peninsula is protected; much of it is in Corcovado National Park, where visitors can follow guided trips with local groups. Activity options range from rainforest hikes to whale-watching, diving at Isla del Cano and surfing at Cabo Matapalo.

Finland

It’s a nation where 80 percent of the territory is covered by forests Meanwhile, Finland’s air and water is claimed to be the clearest.

The Finish Tourist Board has launched the Sustainable Finland programme to help visitors plan the most eco-friendly travels and engage with nature and local culture, knowing every step of their trip has been looked at from an economical, ecological, social and cultural perspective.

Bhutan

Until 1974, the Kingdom of Bhutan remained closed to tourism. Then one day, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck declared Bhutan open to visitors. Today, only those who have booked guided tours through approved travel agencies can enter Bhutan. Permits are charged at a peak- season nightly rate of ＄250 per person, which includes a 37 percent tax that goes towards improving infrastructure (基础设施) and strengthening the healthcare and the education systems. This strict policy means tourism is controlled, with local life largely untouched by its impact.

Botswana

As one of the most convenient locations to spot the “Big Five”, Botswana’s infrastructure has long been under pressure to meet the demands of the world’s safari (游猎) market. Thankfully, the team at Great Plains Safari has been taking measures to minimize impact and invest in community-based opportunities to help local villages develop. One such measure is a kids’conservation camp, where children are invited to week-long courses to learn about their surroundings, the value of conservation and the role of environmental tourism.

1. What can tourists do in Costa Rica?

A．Camp and swim.	B．Hike and hunt.
C．Watch and catch whales.	D．Dive and surf.

2. What challenge is Botswana faced with?

A．It is no longer a location to spot the “Big Five”.

B．Children don’t care about environmental tourism.

C．The government invests little in local development

D．Its infrastructure has been impacted by the safari market.

3. Of the four ecotourism destinations, which has a strict tourism policy?

A．Costa Rica

B．Finland

C．Bhutan

D．Botswana

3 . It’s one of Hollywood’s favorite stories: human beings use only 10 percent of their brain, and awakening the remaining 90 percent allows otherwise ordinary human beings to display extraordinary mental abilities. Scarlett Johansson becomes a superpowered Kongfu master in Lucy (2014). And in Limitless (2011) Bradley Cooper writes a novel overnight. But the truth is that we use all of our brain all of the time.

How do we know? For one thing, if we needed only 10 percent of our brain, the majority of brain injuries would have no obvious consequences, since the damage would affect parts of the brain that weren’t doing anything to begin with. We also know that natural selection discourages the development of useless structures. Tougher immune systems, stronger muscles, better looking hair—just about anything would be more useful than having a head full of useless tissue.

We’ve been able to back up these logical conclusions with hard evidence. Imaging techniques allow doctors and scientists to map brain activity in real time. The data clearly shows that large areas of the brain—far more than 10 percent—are used for all sorts of activity, from seemingly simple tasks like resting or looking at pictures to more complex ones like reading or doing math.

So how did we come to believe that 90 percent of our brain is useless? The myth is often incorrectly attributed to (归因于) 19th-century psychologist William James, who proposed that most of our mental potential goes untapped. But he never made clear a percentage. In reality, the concept most likely came from the American self-help industry.

Obviously, this is bad news for anyone hoping to find the secret to becoming a genius overnight. The good news, though, is that hard work still works. There is plenty of reason to believe that you can build brainpower by regularly working at challenging mental tasks, such as playing a musical instrument, doing arithmetic, or reading a novel.

1. What does the author agree with?

A．Hollywood’s superstars are popular.	B．Humans employ all our brain.
C．Only 10 percent of human brain is used.	D．90 percent humans are ordinary.

2. How does the author develop his argument?

A．By telling stories.	B．By making comparison.
C．By reasoning logically.	D．By explaining concepts.

3. What does the underlined word “myth” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．Common sense.

B．Wrong idea.

C．Accurate answer.

D．Abstract theory.

4. What does the author suggest readers do?

A．Work hard constantly.	B．Believe in themselves.
C．Face challenges bravely.	D．Find the secret to success.

4 . It’s possible that Chris Raven is the only person in the UK making baroque flutes (长笛). But far from having a lifetime of making instruments behind him, he started out at 70, after decades working in IT. He turns 80 in a month. Yet, in childhood, he loved woodwork. As he says: “You can plant a seed in a child’s mind. And the seed stays.”

Raven grew up in a musical household, in Chelmsford, Essex. Raven played the flute until he lost interest as a teenager. But he rediscovered his love of the instrument in his 40s when he won lessons at his daughter’s school fundraiser. Twenty years ago, he founded a flute choir.

It was after his mother died that he found his old school reports in his parents’ desk. But when he read his old reports he was taken aback: “The two subjects that I did consistently well at-which nobody seemed to spot at the time-were music and woodwork.” he says. “I made stuff as a child and I was good at it.” Rather than feeling minded to look back and wonder if he might have made different career decisions, Raven’s discovery was more a case of him noticing his gift, he says.

About 10 years ago, Raven signed up for an Irish flute-making workshop, followed by a baroque flute-making workshop. He cleared out the garage of the home, and equipped it with various tools to make flutes. His childhood passion “was revived” in baroque flutes and flute boxes.

“It’s been all-consuming,” he says. He spends at least four days a week “on my own in the workshop”. “Flute making, and box making, is not a living so much as a hobby,” says Raven. “I feel real passion and more creation about a new design.”

1. How long has Raven been a flute maker?

A．For his whole life.	B．Since ten years ago.
C．Since his childhood.	D．For several decades.

2. How did Raven’s old school reports influence him?

A．They awoke his hidden talent.	B．They led him to a wrong career.
C．They brought back old memories.	D．They made him feel Mom’s love.

3. What can be inferred about Raven from the last two paragraphs?

A．He feels stuck in his career.	B．He works for an Irish workshop.
C．He gets some helpers in his work.	D．He unites his two passions after 70.

4. Which can be the best title for the text?

A．A Popular Flute Maker	B．Raven’s Lifelong Hobbies
C．A New Start after Retirement	D．Music-Raven’s Childhood Love

5 . The best way to find your purpose at any age

Have you been feeling stuck or unsatisfied lately? If so, it may be because you haven’t found your life’s purpose, which can help guide you toward the person you want to be.     1     After all, it can change over time. Check out these easy and efficient ways to find your purpose in life and better yourself.

Trying new things can help you understand what brings you joy.     2     Perhaps you like singing, being in nature, cooking, working out, writing, or performing well at work. The things you love to do are your passions. Diving (浸入) head first into hobbies or other things you enjoy can help you find meaning in life.

Putting yourself out there can help you find a purpose in life. Think about your interests and then join a social club or cause surrounding that activity or thing. For instance, if you’re an animal lover, consider joining a cause to protect forests.     3    

Reading is a great way to discover more about yourself. Reading can also help you explore your curiosities and learn new things. Studies also show that reading improves creative and critical thinking skills.     4     Who knows? You may resonate (共鸣) with a character’s drive and find your own purpose within the pages.

    5     Everyone walks in different shoes. So, look for opportunities in your community to lend a hand to them, which can benefit yourself. Performing acts of kindness also can help you practice gratitude and discover what you want most in life.

A．Ask yourself questions.

B．So, pick up a book and dive in.

C．Think about what you enjoy most.

D．Helping others broadens your view on life.

E．It’s never too late to start looking for a purpose.

F．If you value safety, join the neighborhood watch.

G．Trying to make others happy can affect your purpose.

6 . Group of students is aiming to become the first non-government, non-commercial team to send a rocket to space. The team’s Aurora rocket, set to launch from California this month, is designed to reach a top speed of Mach 5.2 and break through Earth’s atmosphere. If successful, it will be the second student-led team to reach space, and the first to do it with a reusable rocket.

The Karman Space Programme (KSP) was founded by students. They designed the craft, which consists of two separate stages, each with its own engine fuelled (提供燃料) by liquid oxygen and ethanol. Each stage will fire for just over 20 seconds, and the rocket will be travelling at 5522 kilometres an hour at its peak speed. About 100 seconds after launch, it will reach its highest point and then should begin falling back to Earth for a soft landing by parachute (降落伞). KSP’s chairman, Shapol M. says the KSP mission will use multi-stage liquid engines like commercial launchers, recover all sections of the rocket and could, in theory, be turned around for a second launch within 24 hours.

The team is planning to launch Aurora from a site in the Mojave desert in California on 24September. “Launching outside the UK is a huge pain, but there isn’t a place right now to launch up to these altitudes in the UK. It’s a real shame,” says Shapol.

Shapol says it is hard to predict what will happen at launch, but preparations have included tests of many components. The team’s previous rockets include Vega, powered by the same engine as Aurora’s second stage. “We’ve tried to fail as much as possible before, so that we don’t fail on the big one,” says Shapol.

1. What’s special about Aurora rocket?

A．It can be recycled.	B．It is the fastest in the world.
C．It is quite profitable.	D．It belongs to the government.

2. What is paragraph 2 mainly about?

A．The challenge in rocket design.	B．The KSP’s new mission.
C．The expected process of the launch.	D．The first students’ space shot.

3. What can we learn from Shapol’s words in paragraph 3?

A．It is rather difficult to launch the rocket.

B．Launching outside the UK is unacceptable.

C．The launch has to be carried out in the desert.

D．There is no suitable site for this launch in the UK.

4. What’s Shapol’s attitude to the launch?

A．Objective.

B．Optimistic.

C．Critical.

D．Doubtful.

7 . Welcome to Gemini, an advanced application that leads the art of AI painting and portraiture! We combine AI technology with art to provide you with an extraordinary creative experience. Whether you’re an artist, photographer, or just someone who loves creating, Gemini will be your creative partner.

Feature Highlights:

1. AI painting tools: Let AI become your creative partner. Use Gemini’s AI painting tools to easily create fascinating works of art. Choose a style, color, theme, and let the magic of AI begin!

2. AI photo editing: Gemini’s AI photo editing function can make your photos more eye-catching. Beautify, filter (滤镜), style switch -all in one click to bring your photos to life.

3. Creative Toolbox: Explore a wealth of creative tools, including brushes, color adjustments, layer management, and more, to launch your creativity, whether you’re a beginner or a professional.

4. Multi-platform sharing: Share your artwork with the world, or use it as a social media cover, wallpaper or business card background.

5. Privacy and security: We value your privacy. Your artwork is only stored on your device and is not uploaded to the cloud or third-party servers.

Gemini is an app designed for creators, artists, and art lovers to offer endless creative possibilities. Release your creativity and turn ordinary photos into masterpieces (杰作), or explore new areas of painting with the power of AI.

Other information:

Support URL: https://civitai.com/                            Category: Utilities E-mail: geminisupport@gmail.com                           Size: 99.3 MB Language: English                                                Age Rating: 4+ Price: Free

1. What is Gemini?

A．A free AI chatting tool.	B．An advanced camera.
C．An eye-catching project.	D．An AI-based application.

2. Which is the characteristic of Gemini?

A．Helping make artworks.	B．Designing an online platform.
C．Creating individual courses.	D．Uploading pictures to the cloud.

3. Who is Gemini intended for?

A．Working partners.	B．Children of all ages.
C．Application designers.	D．Painters loving creating.

8 . Selecting gifts for your beloved ones can be one of the most difficult parts. But don’t worry! We can help! Here are some gift ideas to suit all pockets.

Air purifier

Do you have a loved one who suffers from allergies (过敏) or other skin diseases? Why not gift him or her an air cleaner? Research has shown that air purifiers can help reduce allergy reactions, remove asthma (哮喘) causes such as dust by improving air quality in your home. Look for purifiers with more than one filter and, especially, a high efficiency air filter.

Electric toothbrush

One review of 56 studies has found that a powered toothbrush resulted in a 21 per cent reduction of plaque and an 11 per cent reduction in gingivitis (牙龈炎) after three months, compared with a manual toothbrush. It’s also a fun way for children to look after their dental hygiene.

Dark chocolate

Nothing screams a gift quite like chocolate. Good news is that dark chocolate is associated with several health benefits. Small amounts of this sweet treat may lower the risk of heart disease, improve brain function and give your immune system a boost, potentially reducing infection.

Your time

Quality time spent with your nearest and dearest is completely free, but is the most precious gift you could give them. If you’ve been too preoccupied of late, determine to put aside more hours to do fun things together, or if you have time to devote to others outside your immediate circle, consider volunteering with Age UK as a friend to an elderly person.

1. Which of the following is suitable for someone with a dental problem?

A．Air purifier.	B．Electric toothbrush.
C．Dark chocolate.	D．Your time.

2. What do the first three presents have in common?

A．They belong to tech presents.	B．They are non-physical objects.
C．They are intended for the elderly.	D．They help promote healthy living.

3. What is special about the last present?

A．It is priceless.	B．It is worthless.
C．It is physical.	D．It is rare.

9 . A working semiconductor (半导体) has been created from graphene(石墨烯), potentially laying the foundation for a new type of computer with greater speed and efficiency than today’s silicon chips(硅基芯片) allow.

Graphene, a material made from a single layer of carbon atoms, is a good electrical conductor resistant to heat and acids. But a working graphene semiconductor which can be controlled to conduct or separate electricity at will, has evaded scientists. Such semiconductors are key to creating the logic chips that power computers.

The problem has been the lack of what is known as a bandgap. Semiconductors have bands of higher and lower energies and a point—the bandgap—at which excited electrons can jump from one to the other. This effectively allows the flow of current to be switched on and off, so it is either conducting or not conducting, creating the binary system of zeroes and ones used in digital computers.

Now, Walter de Heer at the Georgia Institute of Technology and his colleagues have created graphene with a bandgap and demonstrated a working transistor, an on/off switch that either prevents or allows current to flow through it. De Heer said the electrical properties of a graphene semiconductor were far better than those of silicon chips. “It’s like driving on a rocky road versus driving on a freeway,” he said.

Silicon chips are cheap to make and backed by extensive production facilities, but we are reaching their limits. Moore’s law states the number of transistors in a circuit will double roughly every two years, but the rate of downsizing has slowed recently as engineers reach circuit concentration beyond which electrons can’t be reliably controlled.

“You can use all the technology the whole semiconductor industry is totally comfortable with to scale up this process,” says David Carey at the University of Surrey, UK. But he suspects the world will soon shift to graphene chips, because silicon has such a head start. “Most people working on silicon are bombed daily by new, wonderful materials that are about to replace it and none of it’s ever happened,” he says.

1. What does the underlined word “evaded” probably mean in paragraph 2?

A．Surprised.

B．Attracted.

C．Annoyed.

D．Puzzled.

2. Why is a bandgap crucial?

A．It excites the jump of electrons.	B．It creates the system of zero s and ones.
C．It balances the higher and lower energies.	D．It allows the on and off of the current flow.

3. What advantage might graphene semiconductor have over silicon chips?

A．Superior electrical characteristics.	B．Stronger production support.
C．Lower development cost.	D．Slower downsizing rate.

4. What may be David’s attitude to graphene chips’ application in the near future?

A．Uncaring.

B．Favorable.

C．Doubtful.

D．Disapproving.

10 . Science fiction has long entertained the idea of artificial intelligence becoming conscious (有意识的). Many researchers say that AI systems aren’t yet at the point of consciousness, but the pace of AI evolution (发展) has got them considering: how would we know if they were?

To answer this, a group of 19 neuroscientists (神经系统科学家), philosophers and computer scientists have come up with a checklist of standards that, if met, would indicate whether a system has a high chance of being conscious. The authors made the effort because “it seemed like there was a real lack of detailed, thoughtful discussion of AI consciousness,” says co-author Robert Long, a philosopher at the Center for AI Safety.

The team says that a failure to identify whether an AI system has become conscious has important moral implications. If something has been labelled “conscious”, according to co-author Megan Peters, a neuroscientist at the University of California, “that changes a lot about how we as human beings feel that entity (独立存在的个体) should be treated”. Long adds that, as far as he can tell, not enough effort has been made by the companies building advanced AI systems to evaluate the models for consciousness and make plans for what to do if that happens.

One of the challenges in studying consciousness in AI is defining what it means to be conscious. Peters says that for the report, the researchers focused on “phenomenal consciousness”.

Many neuroscience-based theories describe the biological basis of consciousness. But there is no agreement on which is the right one. To create their framework, the authors therefore used a range of these theories. The idea is that if an AI system functions in a way that matches aspects of many of these theories, then there is a greater likelihood that it is conscious.

They argue that this is a better approach to assessing consciousness than simply putting a system through a behavioural test — say, asking ChatGPT whether it is conscious, or challenging it and seeing how it responds. That’s because AI systems have become remarkably good at mimicking (模仿) humans.

1. What does Robert Long say about present research on AI consciousness?

A．It is far from enough.

B．It is progressing rapidly.

C．It has shown promising insights into it.

D．It has learnt a lot from previous research.

2. What would change if AI systems became conscious according to Megan Peters?

A．Their final applications.

B．How humans treat them.

C．Their moral responsibilities.

D．How humans make future; plans.

3. What is a challenge of studying AI consciousness?

A．Providing a definition of it.

B．Uncovering the reason behind it.

C．Measuring AI’s ability to mimic humans.

D．Comparing AI consciousness and human consciousness.

4. How do the researchers identify whether an AI system is conscious?

A．By observing its responses to digital signals and online questions.

B．By checking its understanding of some neuroscience-based theories.

C．By comparing its functional patterns with neuroscience-based theories.

D．By conducting experiments and tests to measure its level of self-awareness.