1 . Winners of the Broadcom MASTERS
Girls took the top prizes at the Broadcom MASTERS, a science competition for middle school students.
Alaina Gassler
Alaina won the $25,000 Samueli Foundation Prize for the project of reducing blind spots in cars. She was inspired to solve this issue by her mother who didn’t like driving her vehicle because its large A-pillar (A柱) design made her feel in danger. “I started to think about how blind spots were a huge problem in all cars,” said Alaina. So she worked on and solved it.
Sidor Clare
Sidor won the $10,000 Marconi/Samueli Award for Innovation, an honor made by Samueli’s generous donation of his 2012 Marconi Society Prize Award. She developed bricks that could one day be made on Mars, so that humans wouldn’t be required to carry building materials with them in order to build there.
Alexis MacAvoy
Alexis won the $10,000 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Award for Health Advancement, which recognized the student whose work and performance showed the most promise in health-related fields and demonstrated an understanding of the many social factors that affect health. She designed a water filter (过滤器) by using carbon to remove heavy metals from water.
Rachel Bergey
Rachel won the $10,000 Lemelson Award for Invention, awarded by The Lemelson Foundation to a young inventor creating promising solutions to real-world problems. She developed a trap made of tinfoil (锡纸) and netting for the spotted lanternfly, an invasive species causing damage to trees.
1. What is the purpose of Alaina Gassler’s invention?| A．To beautify vehicles. | B．To improve the safety of driving. |
| C．To decorate the sidewalk for the blind. | D．To reduce the carbon released from cars. |
| A．Alaina Gassler’s. | B．Sidor Clare’s. |
| C．Rachel Bergey’s. | D．Alexis MacAvoy’s. |
| A．Art. | B．Sport. | C．Technology. | D．Education. |
2 . The John Carew Swim School
Tel: (07) 3878 6388
E-mail: admin@carewswim.com.au
The John Carew Swim School has been a family-run business since the early 1960s. John Carew, who coached the Australian Swim Team at the Olympics on three separate occasions, founded his own swim school to pass on his knowledge. His wife and son now carry on his beliefs at the swim school.
We have two pools, which are heated to 31℃ all year round. Sufficient seating is provided around our swimming areas so you can watch your child in comfort.
Programs:
Babies and Toddlers
Classes are divided into three levels based on the child's ability and previous experiences. Your child will learn basic survival skills while improving their balance in the water.
Age: 6 months-3 years old
Duration (持续时间): 30 minutes
Class size: 8 pupils at most
Learn to Swim
After developing water safety skills, the journey of learning the four swimming strokes (游泳姿势) is started. We will take time to ensure the basic skills for each stroke are correct before progressing your child.
Age: 3 years +
Duration: 30 minutes
Class size: 4 pupils at most
Mini Squad (队)
Once your child is trained in all four strokes, they can become a part of our mini squad. We offer beginner and advanced levels in which your child will learn starts, turns and finishes along with basic training skills.
Age: Entry is based on the child's ability
Duration: 60 minutes
Club Night
We offer a family-friendly club night each term. The night is intended to provide feedback ( 反 馈 信 息 ) to parents and teachers in a fun and relaxed atmosphere.
Cost: FREE
Fees (费用):
| Babies and Toddlers | Learn to Swim | Mini Squad | |
| Monthly (4 classes) | $68 | $80 | $90 |
| Term (10 classes) | $155 | $180 | $200 |
| A．It has warm pool water. |
| B．It has three swimming pools. |
| C．It has classes by John Carew. |
| D．It has a history of about 40 years. |
| A．Club Night. |
| B．Mini Squad. |
| C．Learn to Swim. |
| D．Babies and Toddlers. |
| A．$68. |
| B．$90. |
| C．$155. |
| D．$180. |
3 . The computer is a useful machine. It is the most important invention in many years. The oldest kind of computer is the abacus, used in China centuries ago, but the first large, modern computer was built in 1946. A computer then could do maths problems quite fast.
Today computers are used in many ways and can do many kinds of work. In a few years the computer may touch the life of everyone, even people in faraway villages.
In the last few years, there have been great changes in computers. They are getting smaller and smaller, and computing faster and faster. Many scientists agree that computers can now do many things, but they cannot do everything. Who knows what the computers of tomorrow will be like? Will computers bring good things or bad things to people? The scientists of today will have to decide how to use the computers of tomorrow.
1. The computer is a ______ machine.| A．helpful | B．strange | C．large | D．dangerous |
| A．a few | B．forty | C．sixty | D．eighty |
| A．bigger | B．fewer | C．smaller | D．taller |
| A．everything | B．anything | C．nothing | D．lots of things |
| A．may decide | B．must decide | C．can make | D．needn’t make |
4 . Lying in the sun on a rock, the cougar(美洲豹) saw Jeb and his son, Tom, before they saw it. Jeb put his bag down quickly and pulled his jacket open with both hands, making himself look big to the cougar. It worked. This cougar hesitated, ready to attack Jeb, but ready to forget the whole thing, too.
Why did Jeb pull his jacket open when he saw the cougar?| A．To get ready to fight. |
| B．To frighten it away |
| C．To protect the boy |
| D．To cool down. |
5 . If you walk through the doors of one of the Smithsonian Institution’s museums in Washington, D.C., you may be greeted by an unusual guide. A Japanese tech company recently sent 25 humanoid robots to the Smithsonian. All of them are named Pepper.
Each Pepper stands 4 feet tall and has a computer screen attached to its body. Built by SoftBank Robotics, the robots are programmed to share information about the museum in which they are based.
“Pepper is basically an experiment,” Goslins, director of the Smithsonian’s Arts and Industries Museum, said. “The idea is to explore and see how a robot performs in this kind of environment.”
Museum visitors communicating with Pepper. The robot can tell stories and answer basic questions. People even take pictures and dance with it.
“The robot draws big crowds,” said Allison Peck, director of marketing at the Hirshhorn. “People just love Pepper.”
According to the Smithsonian Institution’s website: “Pepper gives our museum workers a new way to reach and serve visitors.” For example, Pepper teaches Swahili words to visitors of the “World on the Horizon” exhibit at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art.
Pepper also has the special ability to draw guests to less-visited areas of the Smithsonian’s museum. When Pepper is placed in a spot, crowds are attracted to that place.
When not educating museum visitors, Pepper stays in the Smithsonian offices, getting charged and programmed. After being charged, Pepper can run for about 8 hours at a time.
Pepper plays an important role, but the robot“ is not meant to take away human jobs at the museum, ” Goslins explained. “It is meant to give our visitors a more enjoyable experience while they are here with us.”
1. What do you know about Pepper?| A．It measures 4 feet in width. | B．It serves as a guide. |
| C．It is named after a robot. | D．It is made in the US. |
| A．Draw pictures. | B．Take pictures. |
| C．Ask questions. | D．Tell stories. |
| A．Reasonable cost. | B．Pepper’s appearance. |
| C．Workers’service. | D．Attractive scenery. |
| A．To please visitors. | B．To replace humans. |
| C．To perform programs. | D．To educate visitors |
6 . Spending time outdoors has long been linked (联系) to better health. Gardening goes beyond just beautifying outdoor spaces—it can have a deep effect on our physical and mental (身心上的) health.
Gardening involves physical activity that works all the main muscle (肌肉) groups, which is helpful for overall health. “Activities such as digging, planting, weeding and harvesting require movement and can help to improve strength,” said Clayton, CEO of an online lawn care company. “Performing these activities regularly can help burn calories, and keep a healthy weight.”
Beyond burning calories and building muscle, lots of studies have shown that gardening can improve the immune system (免疫系统). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people get at least 150 minutes of exercise each week, and gardening is listed as a suitable activity. Doing garden work for that time each week can reduce the risk of obesity, high blood pressure and heart disease. Additionally, spending time outdoors makes us get close to natural sunlight, which is important for vitamin D synth.
Gardening provides a chance for social connection, too. It can be a shared activity among family members, friends or neighbors, building relationships and a sense of belonging.
Gardening also offers cognitive (认知的) benefits. It excites the senses, improves focus and encourages problem-solving and creativity. It provides a chance to learn about plants, ecosystems and the environment, developing a deeper understanding and appreciation for nature.
1. What is Clayton’s attitude towards gardening?| A．Supportive. | B．Doubtful. | C．Unclear | D．Uncaring. |
| A．It improves focus. | B．It is a waste of time. |
| C．It can keep a body in shape. | D．It helps to reduce the risk of diseases. |
| A．It contributes to creativity. | B．It encourages problem-solving. |
| C．It builds relationships between people. | D．It improves people’s awareness of safety. |
| A．How to Start a Garden | B．Choose a Garden or Not |
| C．What Plants Grow Best in a Garden | D．Start Gardening and Get the Health Benefits |
Venice is in the northeast of Italy. It was built on small islands in saltwater lakes more than 1,500 years ago. It is a city with no cars and people travel by boat. There are 117 waterways and more than 400 bridges that can guide you to any place you want to go.
Los Angeles
It was founded in 1781. It is now the second largest city in the United States. It is famous for Hollywood, which is the oldest film industry of the world. It is also the home of Disneyland.
Budapest
The population of Budapest is about 1.7 million and the city is a very popular place for tourists. Visitors like to take boat rides along the Danube (多瑙河). Budapest is known for its exciting nightlife. The best time to visit Budapest is summer.
Singapore City
It is the capital of Singapore. For many tourists, the city is a wonderful place in Southeast Asia. It has a night zoo called “Night Safari”. People can watch lions, tigers and foxes there.
1. How do people travel around in Venice?| A．By boat. | B．By car. | C．By train. | D．By bus. |
| A．Spring. | B．Summer. | C．Autumn. | D．Winter. |
| A．A storybook. | B．A dictionary. |
| C．A travel guidebook. | D．A book review. |
8 . I’m Jason. Here’s what I did from June to August.
 | In June, I went to Grandia, a beach in Valencia. I met a girl called Lara there. She told funny stories to make me laugh (笑). We had a wonderful time. |
 | In July, I went to Villalonga with my sisters. We put up our tents next to the River Serpis in the middle of the mountains. The views(风景) were very beautiful. |
 | In August, my parents and I went to London. I went there to learn English before. But it was my parents’ first time in London. We visited many interesting places. We had afternoon tea. I also visited my teachers when I was there. |
| A．was great fun | B．met Jason in July | C．lived in Valencia |
| A．He went camping. | B．He went to Grandia | C．He visited his sisters. |
| A．To take a vacation. | B．To learn English. | C．To see his teachers. |
9 . The Beatles were a British rock group, led by the song writing team of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. They had a profound (深远的的) effect on the course of popular culture in the1960s, Their innovation (创新) led to revolution in pop music, fashion, and youth culture.
The group came together in Liverpool, England in the late 1950s, and soon found an enthusiastic audience. Then, in Hamburg, Germany, they developed their own song writing style.
In 1962, Ringo Starr joined the Beatles on the drums. They released Please, Please, Me, the first of many number one hits. In 1964. this phenomenon crossed the Atlantic. The Beatles appeared on a popular TV show in the US, and at first only young men watched their performances.
They recorded a variety of different styles of songs, from the simple Yellow Submarine to songs expressing political ideas. In their songs, their political activism and social ideas were reflected. It is said that the US government once sought to have Lennon deported(驱逐出境).
The Beatles made pioneering use of the modern recording studio, and released an album that is considered their best. After this album, however, the members pursued separate interests, and ended in breaking up. The group dissolved (解散) in 1971. John Lennon was murdered by a fan on the street in 1980. Fans around the world mourned his loss.
1. The Beatles had a great effect on the _________ of popular culture in the 1960s.| A．development | B．subject | C．matter | D．idea |
| A．found their sponsor | B．was set up | C．was found | D．was not noticed |
| A．became a hit | B．was enjoyed by both sexes |
| C．appeared | D．began to appear on the stage |
| A．the sadness in their hearts | B．complaints about society |
| C．their happiness | D．their social ideas |
10 . America’s Skies Will Be Filled with Hot Air Balloons
In September hot air balloon festivals are held around the United States. No two are alike.
Hudson Valley Hot-Air Balloon Festival
Union Vale, New York September 2-4
It’s a Labor Day lift-off in the Hudson Valley, with 100 balloon launches (发射) scheduled. Now let’s just hope the weather is good. But even if it doesn’t there are plenty of activities on offerlike helicopter rides. When the sun goes down the balloons light up like fireflies.
Ticket: $15
Great Reno Balloon Race
Reno, Nevada
September 9-11
Some people say the Great Reno Balloon Race is the world’s largest free hot air ballooning event. This year events for the three-day affair include 5 a.m.Glow Shows, where balloons are tethered(拴住) and lit from within. There’s a daily ascension(升空) of 100 balloons and kids can take a $5 tethered ride for charity.
Ticket: Free
Paris Balloon & Music Festival
Paris, Texas
September 9-12
Don’t know what an “Airmadillo”is? Find out at the Paris Balloon & Music Festival.Float (飘) on up yourself for $275, or just watch: the festival also features evening balloon glows and morning launches (balloon volunteers still needed), and, a live painting competition and music from local bands.
Ticket: $5
Lancaster Hot Air Balloon Festival
Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania
September 16-18
Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania, is home to one of the most unique hot air balloon festivals in the country. Here, you can not only see fireworks, watch magic shows, and of course watch the launch of colorful balloons as well as take a ride yourself for $400, but also learn a bit about local culture, with plenty of delicious food.
Ticket:$10-$30
1. When can people attend an event for free?
| A．On September 2. | B．On September 9. |
| C．On September 12. | D．On September 16. |
| A．Hudson Valley Hot-Air Balloon Festival. |
| B．Lancaster Hot Air Balloon Festival. |
| C．Paris Balloon & Music Festival. |
| D．Great Reno Balloon Race. |
| A．It will introduce local culture. | B．It will offer people free rides. |
| C．It will look for volunteers. | D．It will last for four days. |
