1 . A new study suggests lightning strikes that hit Earth after its formation may have unlocked a necessary chemical element to support the beginning of life. Researchers say the lightning may have supplied enough phosphorus (磷) to Earth during the first billion years after the planet was formed. Scientists believe life started on Earth about 3.5 to 4.5 billion years ago.
Phosphorus is an important element for the formation of life. It helps form cell structures and supports DNA, the material present in nearly all living organisms. But on early Earth, phosphorus is believed to have been first locked inside minerals that cannot dissolve in water.
Until now, it was widely believed that meteorites (陨石) that struck Earth were mainly responsible for the presence of “bioavailable” phosphorus. Some meteorites contain a phosphorus mineral called “schreibersite”, a highly reactive mineral that can form organic molecules.
But when lightning strikes the ground, it can create glassy rocks called “fulgurites” by super-heating and sometimes vaporizing rocks on the surface. This process frees the phosphorus locked inside. As a result, these “fulgurites” can contain “schreibersite”, which can be dissolved in water, where life is thought to have formed.
The researchers say levels of phosphorus minerals caused by lightning strikes were found to have been higher about 3.5 billion years ago. The researchers think this was about the age of the earliest-known fossils widely accepted to be those of microorganisms. Scientists believe the earliest bacteria-like organisms were formed in Earth’s early waters. But there is a debate over when this happened and whether it happened in warm and shallow waters or in deeper waters.
New research does not completely cancel the theory that meteorites could have been another source of life-giving phosphorus. Meteor (流星) strikes around the time of the appearance of life are far less than thought a decade ago.
1. Where did the phosphorus first exist on early Earth?| A．In meteors. | B．In lightening. | C．In minerals. | D．In water. |
| A．Life is born. | B．Phosphorus is released. |
| C．Rocks become soil. | D．Meteorites are broken. |
| A．The number of lightning strikes. |
| B．The age of the earliest-known fossils. |
| C．The time of the disappearance of life on Earth |
| D．The depth of the earliest lifeforms on Earth in water. |
| A．Life Might Have Begun from Three Sources |
| B．Life Needs an Important Substance to Get Started |
| C．Lightning May Have Helped Life Develop on Earth |
| D．Scientists Have Discovered the Earliest Meteor Strike |
2 . As a student of International Relations and Chinese, I have been living in China for the past three years. Tibet was a region I was eager to travel to but its remoteness and my inability to find the right time to go delayed my journey. After a few e-mails back and forth with my dad in the UK, who doubted my choice, we decided to take a pause in our lives to begin our journey early in the morning of July 3rd.
We started our journey on Saturday morning at the Guangzhou train station. It was a good thing that we had secured a couple of soft seats as we were about to begin the journey. We started the first part of the journey, admiring the mysterious mountains of south China. The next day it changed quite suddenly to the dry landscape of central-west China as we passed through Shaanxi and Gansu Provinces. That evening we arrived in Qinghai Province, where we hoped for the Xining-Lhasa train.
We were greeted on the train with Tibetan yogurt. The following afternoon we arrived in Lhasa. Later that day, we started our journey to the Qomolangma base camp by road from Lhasa. Along the way we stopped to admire the beautiful and large river, the beautiful clouds and huge freshwater lake that is one of the three largest sacred lakes in Tibet. All the beauty contributed to making a picturesque countryside Tibet.
About a week later, we arrived at the Qo olangma basecamp in the afternoon. We were staying in a guesthouse just next to the basecamp and then we headed straight outside to see the wonderful Mt Qomolangma. The tip of the mountain could be seen through clouds, astonishing us with its unbelievable height and wonderful scenery. The clouds cleared away and we watched the sunset over the top of the mountain. Each of us was really impressed by Mt Qomolangma’s magnificence (壮丽) .
1. What made the author start a journey to Tibet?| A．His strong desire to visit it. | B．His father’s encouragement. |
| C．His classmate’s advice. | D．His love for remoteness. |
| A．OnJuly3rd. | B．OnJuly7th. |
| C．On Saturday morning. | D．On Sunday evening. |
| A．Large but unattractive. | B．High but flat. |
| C．Impressive and amazing. | D．Dangerous and scaring |
| A．To describe a high mountain. | B．To introduce a memorable trip. |
| C．To explain a cultural phenomenon. | D．To recommend a travel destination. |
3 . Not every kid can be a professional athlete, but they can learn the great life lessons from the following storybooks about sports.
Soccer Star
Age:4-8
Young Paulo Marcelo Feliciano dreams of becoming a super soccer player, but his little sister, to whom he teaches soccer moves every day, shines after a key player’s injury. Soccer Star teaches acceptance and celebrates Brazil’s diverse culture and the hope of the poor for a better future.
Tillie the Terrible Swede
Age:5-8
Tillie Anderson tore up her fancy lady’s dress and sewed herself a cycling outfit that had both good form and function. The tight-fitting get up allowed her to become a world champion racer when most women were admired for their graceful dancing, and proved long before Lance Armstrong that you didn’t need to be male to rule the cycling world.
Jim Thorpe’s Bright Path
Age:6-9
Jim Thorpe was a native American who overcame discrimination to become one of America’s best athletes winning gold medals at the 1912 Olympics. He was also all-American and professional football player, and played professional baseball and basketball. So, he deserves to be your kid’s first sport hero.
America’s Champion Swimmer: Gertrude Ederle
Age:4-7
Not only did Trudy Ederle win 3 Olympic medals at age 17, she was also the first woman to swim across the 20-mile English Channel. And she did it in world-record time, challenging 1920s conventions that expected women to stay at home. The next time your kid says that some classmates of theirs shouldn’t be allowed on their team, tell them to talk to Trudy.
1. Which book is related to Brazilian culture?| A．Soccer Star. |
| B．Tillie the Terrible Swede. |
| C．Jim Thorpe’s Bright Path. |
| D．America’s Champion Swimmer: Gertrude Ederle. |
| A．The sister of a super player. |
| B．The life of an American dancer. |
| C．The swimmer’s challenging experiences， |
| D．The story of a woman cyclist’s struggle. |
| A．They are aimed to help the poor. |
| B．They are about Olympic champions. |
| C．They are about world-record players. |
| D．They are intended for children under ten. |
4 . After months of expectation and secrecy, the official mascot (吉祥物) of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games－a giant panda-inspired cartoon character－made its first public debut with cheers at Beijing's Shougang Ice Hockey Arena.
The panda is named “Bing Dwen Dwen” in Chinese. Bing means “ice” in Chinese, while Dwen Dwen suggests “health and cleverness”－characteristics also shared by pandas. Pandas are perhaps the most recognized animal species in China, organizers said.
“Pandas combine China's traditional culture and its modern appearance together with winter sports elements in a fascinating image (形象) that shows our great expectations for the Games and shows that we welcome the world,” said Beijing Mayor Chen Jining, who also serves as an executive president on the organizing committee.
“I have already seen the mascot and from what I've seen, it’s a wonderful choice,” IOC President Thomas Bach said before introducing the character.” “The mascot really takes in the best elements and characteristics of China and the Chinese people. It will be a great ambassador (大使) for the country and the 24th Winter Olympics.”
The ring of light surrounding the mascot’s face is suggestive of ice and snow tracks, as well as the flowing “ribbons” of the National Speed Skating Oval. The oval is one of two new competition sites in downtown Beijing expected to become a landmark of the Games, according to its chief designer Cao Xue.
The introduction of the mascots marks the key point of a journey that began in August 2018, when Beijing organizers started a global design competition for the mascots. A total of 5,816 designs were received from 35 countries, and were reviewed by Chinese and international experts in a comprehensive evaluation and selection process.
The new mascot will serve as spirited symbol of the Games that will take place in the three zones of downtown Beijing, the suburban district of Yanqing and co-host city Zhangjiakou in surrounding Hebei province.
1. What does the underlined word “debut” in paragraph1 mean?| A．Design. | B．Appearance. |
| C．Understanding. | D．Attention. |
| A．Surprising. | B．Entertaining. |
| C．Satisfying | D．Interesting. |
| A．The origin of the mascot image. |
| B．The introduction to the mascot designer. |
| C．The hard work behind the mascot design. |
| D．The hidden meaning of the mascot image. |
| A．The Mascot of the 24th Winter Olympic Games |
| B．A Historical Moment of the Winter Olympic Games |
| C．Bing Dwen Dwen: a Lovely Panda Welcomes the World |
| D．Comments on the Mascot of the 24th Winter Olympics |
5 . New parents who clean their homes very often to protect their babies from bacteria and other organisms might cut back their efforts.
A new study suggests high levels of contact with cleaning products are linked to an increased risk of the childhood breathing condition known as asthma (气喘).
Researchers asked a group of parents how often they used 26 common household cleaners during their babies’ first three to four months of life. By age three, the children who had come in contact with cleaning products the most were more likely to be diagnosed with asthma. The researchers said children who had a lot of contact with cleaners were 37 percent more likely to have asthma than children with the least contact. The study also found a lot of exposure to cleaning products caused children to be 35 percent more likely to have chronic difficulty breathing. In addition, they were 49 percent more likely to have chronic allergies.
Tim Takaro, who helped lead the study, suggested that parents should question the belief that their home is clean only if it smells like chemical-based cleaning products. He also advised them to look for products free of substances like chemical colors. Besides, they should consider natural cleaning products instead of chemical ones.
The American lung Association recommends avoiding cleaning products that contain volatile (易挥发的) organic substances and other irritants (刺激物). But companies in Canada and the United States are not required to list all the chemicals in cleaning products. Some products labeled as environmentally friendly, or "green", may contain harmful substances.
Elissa Abrams, a doctor with the University of Manitoba, admitted the effects of cleaning products are not well understood. But she believed these products and the chemicals they contain act as irritants to growing children "The take-home message is that parents should be careful with cleaning products they use in the home", she added.
1. What is the third paragraph mainly about?| A．The suggestions on using cleaning products. |
| B．The parents’ opinions of household cleaners. |
| C．The conduct of the study and the findings. |
| D．The reason for using cleaning products. |
| A．Have a full understanding of cleaning products. |
| B．Keep their home free of all kinds of cleaning products. |
| C．Use natural cleaning products rather than chemical ones. |
| D．Make their homes smell like chemical-based cleaning products. |
| A．They are environmentally friendly without any harm. |
| B．They are asked to list all the chemicals contained. |
| C．They are free of irritants if labeled "green". |
| D．They are not always safe to be used. |
| A．Arts & Culture. | B．Lifestyle & Health. |
| C．Life & Technology. | D．Climate & Environment. |
6 . When it comes to making television historical documentaries, there are few places and periods that British television audiences have not been taken by presenter Michael Wood. Earlier this year he became the first filmmaker from outside China to make a film about the life and work of poet Du Fu. The Du Fu film, featuring famous British actor Ian McKellen reading his poems, was shown on the BBC and China Central Television, and the reaction was instant and positive.
“It created a lot of interest and feedback in China and got a lot of coverage at the time, which was really touching, because when you go into a foreign culture as an outsider, to make a film about something of theirs, you want to make sure you’ve got it right.” Wood said.
As shown in the documentary, Du Fu’s works are learnt by heart by Chinese school students, but outside the country, he is not that well known. So, there is something Wood is keen to put right.
Stephen Owen, one of his leading translators from Harvard says, “Du Fu should be considered alongside Shakespeare and Dante as people who helped compose the emotional vocabulary of their culture.”
For more than 40 years, China has always held the most fascination for Wood. He first got interested in China when he was at school and picked up a book called Poems of the late Tang by AC Graham. “That book opened a window to a world that I never even dreamed.” he said. In the early 80s, it was the first time he had been to China. “I really enjoyed being with the people, who were so friendly and sociable. I remember coming back from my first long trip there feeling genuinely sad to go home.” Wood said.
Opening up discussion and encouraging cultural links is something Wood also does through his involvement. “We believe in dialogue. We try to promote mutual understanding and respect, and we want to help people in the West understand the culture of China better and to get rid of major areas of misunderstanding.” he said. “I did a series called The Story of England years ago, telling the history of the country over the centuries through the life of one village, and I’d love to try something like that in China.”
1. What makes the Du Fu film special?| A．Michael Wood’s making the film. |
| B．Ian Mckellen’s reading Du Fu’s poems. |
| C．Stephen Owen’s translating Du Fu’s poems. |
| D．AC Graham’s writing Poems of the late Tang. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Disappointed. | C．Favorable. | D．Uncaring. |
| A．To highlight Du Fu’s cultural status. | B．To introduce these two poets to people. |
| C．To explain the reason for making the film. | D．To stress these two poets’ cultural position. |
| A．The cultural misunderstanding was removed through the film. |
| B．People outside China know nothing about Chinese poems. |
| C．Wood had a tough time during his first visit to China. |
| D．Wood is likely to make a film telling Chinese history. |
7 . My work started in 2003 at my local animal shelter’s Adoption Department. It seems like such a long time ago. In the 13 years that have passed, more than 50,000 animals have passed the doors of the shelter. Most of them, I do not remember. But occasionally there are animals who stand out. Tabby was one such animal.
Tabby was one of the many homeless dogs. What’s more, she was blind and deaf. Tabby’s chances at adoption seemed remote at best. But one day a woman named Loretta came to the shelter. Her son, Gary, who suffered from epilepsy (癫痫) had seen Tabby’s picture on the shelter’s website. They were interested in meeting her! Most boys would want a puppy, a dog who could grow with him and run through grassy fields on summer days. Tabby would never be able to do that. But as they say, "love is blind". After meeting her, they decided to adopt Tabby!
If Tabby’s story had simply ended with her successful adoption, it would still have been something very special indeed but it was what happened after her adoption that some might label as "magical" or perhaps even miraculous. As Gary and Tabby did everything together, they became so "in tune" with one another that Tabby began to telegraph Gary’s seizures (疾病发作) before they occurred, giving his family a warning that one was about to strike. What’s more, Gary seemed to be having fewer and fewer seizures since Tabby’s arrival.
How could it be? There are some things that happen in this world that challenge all logic and understanding. Sometimes, the best that we can do is to accept a miraculous thing, which we didn’t attempt to explain. Because when you try to explain it, you lose the beauty and wonder of it all.
1. Which sentence can be used to describe Tabby?| A．She was so lovely that she could be easily adopted. |
| B．She suffered a lot from the disease-epilepsy. |
| C．She was so strong that she could run very fast. |
| D．She was homeless and couldn’t see or hear. |
| A．Amazing. | B．Typical. | C．Interesting. | D．Special. |
| A．Gary learnt about Tabby from a magazine. |
| B．Gary was cured in the company of Tabby. |
| C．Tabby could indicate a seizure before it struck. |
| D．Most boys would have the same decision as Gary. |
| A．Love is Blind: a Miraculous Dog | B．Give Me Food: My Dear Master |
| C．Love is Everywhere: a Poor Dog | D．Take Me Home: My Dear Boy |
8 . For most of us, Sundays are a day of rest—a chance to relax, spend time with our family and friends and step away from work.
By over-sleeping on a Sunday, you often find it difficult to get to sleep Sunday night. Waking up at your normal time maintains regular sleep patterns and this helps to make sure your sleep schedule is consistent throughout the week. When you are in a continuous sleep debt all week, your productivity will sink.
Do some exercise
Our lifestyles today have taken away a lot of natural movement, like those walks to the bus stop and the office. Sundays give you a chance to move.
Make sure you do something different
| A．Take that opportunity |
| B．Wake up at your normal time |
| C．It is just a matter of the way you look at Sundays |
| D．Decide what you want to do with your Sunday morning |
| E．Doing the same things day after day will eventually make our days boring and tiring |
| F．Yet, the thought of having to go back to work the next day creates a dark cloud over it |
| G．Ensuring you have a good night sleep every night keeps you in a highly productive state |
9 . Does your closet need a refresher? Tired of visiting multi-national big box “fast-fashion” stores where they pump out ready-to-wear items? Why not go to some second-hand shops? It’s not only better for the environment but with styles constantly being recycled you’re certain to find something in. Here are several spots to start.
Grand Street Local
Did you wake up today and decide you really need an Air Jordan T-shirt from the late 80s or a legal Bi-State Machinery trucker hat? We thought so. You can find it all at this Williamsburg spot, run by a nice husband-and-wife team. Streetwear is what you’ll find at this spot and it’s one of the best for casual clothes.
154Grand St., Brooklyn
Le Grand Strip
Started in 2006, this amazing clothes shop has a constantly pleasing collection of classic clothes starting in the Victorian era and going all the way up to the end of the 20th century. There’s a focus here on ladies’ clothes, particularly clothes in the French manner.
197 Grand St., Brooklyn
M.A. E.
From Gucci thick high heels to classic Missoni and Helmut Lang dresses, this south Park Slope shop traffics in high-end clothes. If you need a special piece for a special occasion—a wedding or any sort of big celebration — this is the place to find it. You may just end up stealing the show, or at least everyone’s attention.
461 Seventh Ave., Brooklyn
Worship
Based in Bushwick and founded in 2013, Worship has faithful consumers far and wide, thanks to its commitment to its varieties of high-quality clothes. You can find clothing and accessories (配饰) here from the beginning of the 20th century up to the early 90s.
117 Wilson Ave., Brooklyn
1. What kind of clothes can you find in Grand Street Local?| A．Casual wears. | B．Classic clothes. | C．Evening dresses. | D．Formal clothing. |
| A．154Grand St., Brooklyn. | B．197 Grand St., Brooklyn. |
| C．117 Wilson Ave., Brooklyn. | D．461 Seventh Ave., Brooklyn. |
| A．Its convenient location. | B．Its high-quality clothes. |
| C．Its long history. | D．Its special style. |
