1 . Travelling allows us to see landscapes we wouldn’t be able to explore otherwise. Sometimes, the beauty is so attractive that we’d like to extend our stay to immerse (沉浸) ourselves in it, or simply have a version of it we could carry with us back home. Inspired by questions about personal land preservation and wondering how the hurried pace of travel can be slowed, Kathleen Vance launched her Travelling Landscapes series. With it, she creates miniature (微小的) landscapes inside antique suitcases and trunks.

“In first creating the Travelling Landscapes series, I was thinking about accessibility to nature and exploring the concept of ‘untouched natural sites’,” Vance says. “The perfect landscapes I sculpt are visual connections from my personal memories of travels and focus on waterways as a primary element. I consider these a reminder of how precious our natural resources are, and how necessary it is to protect these vital elements for life.”

The initial pieces of Travelling Landscapes were created in 2005 and each contained soil, water, and grasses native to the area it described. “It was created as a ‘site displacement’ sculpture, in which I removed the soil and plants from a designated stream and transplanted them into a container,” the artist says.

The well-travelled beauty wouldn’t come alive if it weren’t for the use of antique luggage in her work. These additions further the message she’s trying to put out into the world. “I use primarily antique luggage for this series as it denotes not only this concept of containment, but travel, preciousness, and possession,” Vance points out. “I consider each case carefully, investigating its prior history, its owner, and for which type of travel it was designed to be used. All these indicators help to inform the landscape that I create.”

Throughout her expressive body of work, Vance tries to connect people to local aspects of nature that are overlooked or underappreciated, opening new channels to bring nature into our daily lives.

1. What are the main elements in the landscapes sculpted by Kathleen Vance?

A．Waterways.	B．Trees and forests.
C．Mountains and valleys.	D．Grasses native to the area.

2. What is the main message that Kathleen Vance wants to convey?

A．The need to get close to nature.	B．The concept of travel and transport.
C．The importance of protecting nature.	D．The historical value of antique luggage.

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

A．Identifies.

B．Confirms.

C．Requires.

D．Indicates.

4. Which of the following can best describe Kathleen Vance?

A．Noble-minded and brave.	B．Eco-conscious and talented.
C．Hard-working and optimistic.	D．Far-sighted and knowledgeable.

2 . On Inaccessible Island, you hear the sound of the Inaccessible Island rails (秧鸡) everywhere. The small flightless birds move around, feeding on worms and berries. During a trip in 2011, it took days for Stervander, then a doctoral student, to spot one. “Even then, you see something little and dark, running for a second, and that’s about it,” he says. Catching one, though, proved easy. When scientists played a recording of the bird’s call, a male and female ran into the net a few minutes later.

Inaccessible Island rails live only on Inaccessible Island. “No one knew the history,” says Stervander, now a research fellow at the University of Oregon. He aimed to answer the question about these birds: How did they get to Inaccessible Island to begin with?

The first scientist to describe the rail was Percy Lowe. He thought the bird was from Africa and had always been flightless. In his view, it had arrived at the island by walking over land bridges. But now the science of plate tectonics (板块构造论) suggests that’s not the case. In a recent paper, Stervander and his colleagues give evidence for a different version.

After studying the genome (基因组) of the rails, scientists found the Inaccessible Island rail’s closest relative — the crake in Uruguay. Both birds are related to the black rail in America. The finding suggests the ancestors of these birds could fly. That means Inaccessible Island rails flew to their present home, and like many birds living on islands with no predators (捕食者), they gradually lost the ability to fly. Flying takes energy, so if there’s no reason to fly, it’s more practical not to.

On this island, there’s a growing population of rails, but they’re fragile. Should a predator reach the island, it could make quick work of the birds. People on nearby islands are careful to avoid introducing any predators to Inaccessible Island, and the risk is low, given how hard it is to get there. For now, the rails live peacefully in a place where few humans are eager to go.

1. What can we learn about the Inaccessible Island rails?

A．They are hard to trap.	B．They can be seen everywhere.
C．They move around quickly.	D．They are not afraid of humans.

2. What caused the Inaccessible Island rails to become flightless?

A．Their lack of energy.	B．Their living environment.
C．Their way to search for food.	D．Their connection with their ancestors.

3. Which best describes the present situation of the Inaccessible Island rails?

A．Safe.

B．Tough.

C．Unexpected.

D．Dangerous.

4. What’s the best title for the text?

A．The Development of Rails on Inaccessible Island

B．The Need to Protect Flightless Inaccessible Island Rails

C．How Did the Flightless Bird Get to Inaccessible Island?

D．Why are Inaccessible Island Rails Limited on the Island?

3 . For the 70 percent of the world’s population without any chance of using electric washing machines, keeping up with laundry takes up a lot of time. And it is often a painful physical task. The task falls unreasonably to women and girls, who can spend 20 hours a week washing clothes, often without electricity or running water. London engineer Navjot Sawhney, however, has come up with an idea: a portable and lightweight washing machine that is similar to a plastic drum. It also does double duty as a dryer, and costs around $60.

31-year-old Sawhney calls it the Divya, after the woman who inspired the project — his former next-door neighbour in South India, where he spent a year volunteering after leaving his job as an engineer at high-end vacuum (真空吸尘器) maker Dyson. “When I got to know Divya, I was so sad about all the unpaid work she needed to do — cleaning clothes,” says Sawhney. In 2018, he returned to the United Kingdom to found “The Washing Machine Project”, which is developing a washing solution that will be affordable, portable and accessible for everyone, everywhere. After a few months of developing a model, he received some money from Oxfam’s Iraq Response Innovation Lab.

Since March 2019, more than 150 Divyas have been given out to refugees (难民) in Iraq through non-profit partners. “The response was great,” Sawhney says. His goal is to deliver 8,000 machines in 10 countries over the next three years. By saving 75 percent of the time and 50 percent of the water required to wash clothes, he says, women and girls will be freer to accept education.

Aside from the Divya, Sawhney has also worked on making fuel-efficient cookstoves, and plans to develop refrigerators, conditioners, and lighting. Sawhney sees the world’s growing refugee crisis as a call for innovation: “There is a huge need for appliances that make life better for people.”

1. What did Navjot Sawhney do to help the women in India?

A．He provided them with free access to education.

B．He volunteered to wash clothes for them.

C．He worked out a solution by inventing a washing machine.

D．He called on people in his community to donate clothes.

2. What inspired Navjot Sawhney to found the project?

A．His previous work in Dyson.	B．His neighbour’s experience.
C．The request of refugees in Iraq.	D．The support of a science lab.

3. What can we infer about the project in Paragraph 3?

A．It focuses on education.	B．It is highly praised.
C．It has earned a lot of money.	D．It has created many jobs.

4. Which of the following can best describe Navjot Sawhney?

A．Helpful and serious.	B．Selfless and honest.
C．Thoughtful and strict.	D．Caring and creative.

4 . Perseverance (毅力) is the secret of success.     1     Even if a person is not very talented, nor highly knowledgeable, but of an average merit (优点), still he can succeed in life simply by his perseverance. Every action has its reaction. So hard labour has no alternative. It must yield (产生) results.

A person who is highly intelligent, and a scholarly genius, but is lethargic (懒散的) by nature, and reluctant to diligence, can hardly prosper in life, because he does not know how to use his brain and labour in the right direction.     2     Say, the lofty monuments, the palaces, the cities, the buildings etc. — all were built only by long and hard labour. “Rome was not built in a day”. It is through perseverance of thousands of diligent men that such magnificent structures can be standing.

    3     Science, architecture, literature, music — in every aspect of life — perseverance is the root cause of success and glory. Shakespeare did not compose such substantial works just in a day. He had to work hard during days and nights with tremendous perseverance to create such great masterpieces.

Modern scientists also work hard for years to succeed.     4     If one looks at his own life, he can very well understand that whatever he has so far gained, he has gained it only by his hard labour, and not by chance or magic, or by someone’s grace.

Therefore, perseverance must be practised from the very childhood so that the noble habit becomes a part and parcel of one’s life. With that great advantage or goodwill, a man can walk easily on the risky road of his life’s journey.     5    

A．It is crucial to keep growing.

B．And success will likely be his and his only.

C．Without it, no great achievement is possible.

D．Nothing can stop them from achieving their goals.

E．In human life, perseverance plays a very important role.

F．They carry on their experiments day and night for years together.

G．In this world, all the great things have been made or constructed only by perseverance.

5 . Last Updated: October 26, 2023

Interested in exploring two million years of human history and culture in one place? The British Museum is a good choice. In this guide, find out what you need to know to visit the British Museum. Here’s what we’ll cover:

Pro Tip: Bookmark this post in your browser (浏览器) so you can easily find it when you’re in London.

Opening hours and tickets

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day (to 8:30 p.m. on Fridays). A booked time slot will get you guaranteed entry.

It’s free to visit the British Museum, but there are also priced special exhibitions. For example, “Hieroglyphs: Unlocking Ancient Egypt” is on until February 2023 and tickets cost £18 for adults.

What to see

There are more than 60 galleries exhibiting items. Here are our recommendations on what to see.

The Younger Memnon	（Room 4-Egypt）
Oxus Treasure	（Room 52-Ancient Iran）
Lewis Chessmen	（Room 40-Medieval Europe, 1050-1500）
Royal Game Of Ur	（Room 56-Mesopotamia, 6000-1500 B.C.）
Aztec Serpent	（Room 27-Mexico: 2000 B.C.-A.D.1521）
Ife Head	（Room 25-Africa）

Guided tour options

A knowledgeable guide will cover the exhibits in a more reasonable time so you have a memorable visit.

A variety of themed audio guides in their app are available for anyone interested in self-guided tour.

You can purchase the full bundle per language for £4. 99 (introductory offer) or themed tours per language for£1.99–£2.99.

Places to eat nearby

Great Court Restaurant, Hakkasan and Zeo’s London are museum’s restaurants where you can enjoy delicious food and drinks at a reasonable price. Apart from those above, there are also the Court Café and the Montague Café inside the museum. Also, there are other options not too far beyond the museum gates, in case you are seeking more inspired dining.

1. If interested in Mexico relics, which room will you visit?

A．Room 25.

B．Room 27.

C．Room 40.

D．Room 56.

2. What do Zeo’s London and the Montague Café have in common?

A．Bargains are not allowed there.	B．They both serve a variety of cuisines.
C．Drinks there are welcome by visitors.	D．They are both located in the museum.

3. Where is the text probably taken from?

A．A travel website.	B．A health magazine.
C．A report on heritage.	D．A brochure for tourists.

6 . It’s a struggle for many of us to get out of the sedentary (久坐的) lifestyle, despite our best intentions.     1    , the biggest barriers are mental ones. Maybe it’s a lack of self-confidence that keeps you from taking positive steps, or you get easily discouraged and give up.

You already know there are many ways and great reasons to exercise — from improving mood, sleep, and health to reducing anxiety. But knowing how and why to exercise can’t get you starting and sticking to your exercise plan.     2    , you need to follow these steps which can make exercise less painful and more fun.

● Get rid of the all-or-nothing attitude. You don’t have to spend hours in a gym or force yourself into boring or painful activities you hate to experience the physical and emotional benefits of exercise.     3    . In fact, adding just tiny amounts of physical activity to your weekly routine can have a great effect on your mental and physical health.

● Be kind to yourself. Don’t punish yourself if you miss a workout.     4    . If you miss a day, consider it a rest day, and remember there’s always tomorrow. If you have a hard time sticking with your workout routine, just try something different. There are plenty of ways to stay active, and at the end of the day, you will find an exercise routine that works for you.

●     5    . You are not out of shape overnight, and you’re not going to instantly transform your body either. Demanding too much, too soon only leads to dissatisfaction. Instead of paying attention only to results, focus on consistency (连贯性).

A．Let it go and be patient

B．Share the results with others

C．Have reasonable expectations

D．If you really want to make exercise a habit

E．Remember a little exercise is better than nothing

F．If you are having trouble in finding an exercise to do on a daily basis

G．While practical concerns like a busy schedule can make exercise challenging

7 . In my childhood, my parents would take me to watch games. I loved the excitement I would feel when we went to watch these events, especially when the scores were close until the very end of the game. My meaningful attempt at sports began with T-ball at the age of three, progressed to the basketball court at six, and finally turned into a firm devotion to the game of baseball from the age of eight onward.

One of my most memorable moments was at the World Series when I was eleven and played on the Texas Rattlers. The July heat was unbearable. It was the semi-final game. Sweating like a pig, we ran into the dugout for our last at-bat (上场击球); we were down one run now. I was the second hitter and captain of the team, and I was ready for this moment. In the next few seconds, I had the chance to show my strength as a hitter and my ability to be a leader under pressure by hitting a home run! We carried the day!

As the team captain, I remember the time I had to give a speech to my team because we had lost an important game. I was nervous, but I knew it was my responsibility to cheer my team up when they were cast down. This experience has shaped my mind, making me become more independent, so I’m obtaining the ability to talk like a leader in front of my team and a group. Sports get it through my head that you can’t win at everything in life all the time.

On and of the field, I am more iron-willed, disciplined (遵守纪律的) and respectful, and a better leader. I have had so many awesome experiences through sports, which have taught me much and prepared me for the future. The memories of all the trips and diverse experiences I have had will be with me for a lifetime.

1. What can we learn about the author from the first paragraph?

A．He often switched sports.	B．He was a gifted child in sports.
C．He had a busy childhood.	D．He was fond of sports from childhood.

2. How did the author feel during the semi-final at the World Series?

A．Stressed and tired.	B．Proud and confident.
C．Unbearable and down.	D．Surprised and energetic.

3. What was tough for the author according to paragraph 3?

A．Leading his team to face failure.	B．Giving a speech before the team.
C．Improving his leadership qualities.	D．Overcoming his own nervousness.

4. Which can be a suitable title for the text?

A．Interesting Life of Sports	B．Life Lessons from Sports
C．Deep Affection for Sports	D．Special Moments in Sports

8 . Having been based in Thailand for seven years, I was informed my visa was no longer legally acceptable, which meant that I had to quit the job that I was succeeding in and leave behind this wonderful life I had built. I felt very, very down. Then, a friend, aware of what I was going through, messaged: “I can see you walking around Great Britain and then writing a book on it.”

Three weeks later, I did just that. Another friend suggested that I set up an Instagram account to document my journey, which I did, and so I set off with just a sleeping bag. When I took those first steps, I knew this journey would change my life, but not in the way it did. All of a sudden, I started to feel better, clearer and happier out in nature, walking. I remember what the first days were like. I walked the southwest coastal path for 635 miles. Its rough land and beautiful scenery were in equal measure, and it challenged me every day.

I met so many people who became my friends very quickly and supported me in many ways. Mentally, I felt stronger at this point. Of course, with the enormous amounts of miles walked and the challenging weather conditions that I faced, I had the occasional hesitation. But when this did happen, I’d just remind myself of what I’d achieved and the overwhelming support that I’d had to get me through. Finally, in April, I finished my walk around the UK.

I was cheerful, I felt proud, and I never imagined in my wildest dreams I could do it. But quickly after, I realized I had more in me. The walk had changed my life so much that I wanted to pay it forward and help people like the previous version of me that had been left in the past. So I decided to do it again — this time in 12 months, and for 12 charities. And that’s what I’m doing now.

1. Why did the author walk around the UK?

A．To find inspiration.	B．To remove depression.
C．To meet a friend’s request.	D．To escape from reality.

2. What can we know about the author’s journey from paragraph 2?

A．It was refreshing.	B．It was documented by a friend.
C．It turned out smooth just as expected.	D．It proved more challenging than satisfying.

3. Which word best describes the author?

A．Modest.

B．Outgoing.

C．Smart.

D．Determined.

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

A．Step Out of Your Comfort Zone	B．Something beyond Walking in Life
C．Walk around the UK for Charities	D．A Life-Changing Tour around the UK

9 . The North Atlantic right whale is one of the world’s most endangered large whale species. Its population loss appears to be slowing. But scientists warn that the large sea animals still face threats.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says that by the early 1890s, commercial whalers almost destroyed the species. They got their name from being the “right” whales to hunt because they floated when they were killed. Commercial whale fishing is no longer a threat, but its population has never fully returned. They have been protected for many years now.

Right whales primarily occur in Atlantic coastal waters on the continental shelf, although they also are known to travel far offshore, over deep water. They migrate seasonally and may travel alone or in small groups. In the spring, summer, and into fall, many of these whales can be found in waters off New England and further north into Canadian waters, where they feed and mate.

Recently, the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium (NARWC) said the population decrease appears to have leveled off. A strong birthing year in 2021, when 18 baby whales, or calves, were born, kept whale population numbers up. However, the organization warned that the high number of deaths faced by whales from getting caught in fishing equipment or struck by ships remains a major problem for the whales.

“The news is less bad than it has been. My heart is a little less heavy, but certainly not light or hopeful,” said Philip Hamilton. “It shouldn’t be dependent on the whales to give birth to enough calves to reverse what we’re doing to them.”

Scientists say as waters have warmed, the whales must travel outside of protected areas of the ocean in search of food. That has left them open to strikes with large ships and getting trapped in commercial fishing equipment. Those are the biggest causes of early death.

Many fishermen have opposed proposed fishing restrictions that they fear would hurt their business. But environmental groups want new rules to save the species, including one to make ships slow down for whales.

1. What do we know about the North Atlantic right whales?

A．They regard humans as their friends.	B．They are easy to catch when they die.
C．Their population has fully returned recently.	D．They are the largest sea animals in the world.

2. The third paragraph mainly tells us right whales’ ___________.

A．habitats

B．hobbies

C．behavior

D．reproduction

3. What’s Philip Hamilton’s attitude to the news of strong birthing year in 2021?

A．Favorable.

B．Intolerant.

C．Satisfied.

D．Complex.

4. What does the text mainly talk about?

A．Insufficient reproduction of right whales doesn’t matter.

B．Fishing restrictions are in great need to be established.

C．New findings of right whales bring hope for scientists.

D．Threats remain though right whale number decrease slows.

10 . The biggest risk to UK forests over the next 50 years is a “catastrophic” collapse of their ecosystems, according to a group of experts. The group of 42 researchers were asked to identify the issues that would have the greatest impact on UK forests in the next half-century. The list was topped by “catastrophic forest ecosystem collapse”, the prospect of a number of risks, from droughts and floods to storms and pests. If action is not taken, the ecosystem will no longer function effectively.

This is the first “horizon scanning” exercise — a technique to identify relatively unknown threats, opportunities, and new trends — of UK forests. The aim is to help researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and society in general, better prepare for the future and address threats before they become critical.

Experts define such a collapse as a “sudden, long-lasting and widespread change in ecosystem state that has major negative impacts on biodiversity and key ecosystem services”. Those ecosystem services include clean air and water. Some species could be pushed to extinction. “Forest collapse will have significant short-and long-term influences on the forest, and wider environment, economy and society,” the researchers said.

The UK is one of the least forested countries in Europe, with 13 percent of land being forested, compared with a European average of 46 percent. The government has a UK tree-planting goal of 30,000 hectares by 2025, but is widely expected to miss it.

A spokesman for the Department for Environment said,“ We will continue to work with partners to tackle the challenges and opportunities raised in today’s report to ensure our trees and woodlands remain healthy, so they can support habitats and a range of wider environmental benefits.”

The Times revealed this year that more than 400,000 trees planted in England to make up for road projects had died since 2018. Experts think an increase in dry spring s and hot summers has made tree aftercare harder.

1. What’s the purpose of the researchers’ making the list?

A．To apply more serious laws.	B．To search for potential opportunities.
C．To learn about the overall situation.	D．To get an insight into natural disasters.

2. What does paragraph 3 tell us about the collapse of forest ecosystem in the UK?

A．Its definition.

B．Its process.

C．Its consequences.

D．Its causes.

3. What is the UK tree-planting goal like?

A．Short-sighted.

B．Time-consuming.

C．Intolerable.

D．Impractical.

4. What can we infer about keeping UK forests healthy from the last paragraph?

A．It depends on climate.	B．It has a long way to go.
C．It is bound to be a failure.	D．It needs support from all over the world.