2 . “Eat local.” It's one way to reduce human effect on the planet. Eating local means to try to buy and consume foods that are grown in places close to home. However, most of the food sold at supermarkets is not locally grown or produced. Trucks and planes deliver these foods from hundreds or thousands of miles away. During the transportation, greenhouse (温室) gases are produced, causing global warming. So the shorter the distance your foods must travel, the less harm is done to the environment.

But how do you get local food if you live in a large city, hundreds of miles away from farms? Environmental health scientist Dickson Despommier and his students came up with the idea of a “vertical (垂直的)farm”.

A vertical farm is a glass-walled structure that could be built as tall as a skyscraper (摩天大楼). Since the garden is built upwards, rather than outwards, it requires much less space than an ordinary farm. The world is quickly running out of room for ordinary farming.

Vertical farms could be a key to this situation. Despommier imagines a 30-storey building with a greenhouse on every floor.

The walls of the building would be clear to allow crops to get as much sunlight as possible. Depending on a city's water resources, Despommier thinks hydroponic (水培的) farming is another method for the vertical farm which needs no soil to grow plants.

Despommier says the hydroponic greenhouses would use a system that would use a city's waste water and fill it with nutrition to make the crops grow. If this method works, it would provide food to a city and save millions of tons of water.

The idea of a vertical farm has attracted the attention of government officials around the world. Scott Stringer, a government official from New York City, thinks the city is suitable for the vertical farming. “Obviously we don't have much land left for us,” Stringer said. “But the sky is the limit in Manhattan.”

Despommier admits that there is still a lot of work to do to make vertical farms a reality. “But I think vertical farming is an idea that can work in a big way,” he says.

1. Why are people advised to eat local?

A．Because it means convenience to people.	B．Because it can help people save a lot of money.
C．Because local food has more nutrition.	D．Because it is environmentally friendly.

2. Which is one of the vertical farm's benefits when compared with ordinary farming?

A．It produces healthier food.	B．It does less harm to the cities.
C．It needs more space of the city.	D．It requires less transport costs.

3. By saying “the sky is the limit in Manhattan”, Stringer means ________.

A．people can make full use of vertical space of Manhattan

B．there is a limit for using empty land in Manhattan

C．the height of buildings in Manhattan is limited

D．Manhattan can spread as far as possible

4. What can we learn about the vertical farming in the passage?

A．No soil is needed to grow plants on a vertical farm.

B．It has solved the problem of the food shortage in a big way.

C．The walls of the building would be clear to let people see the plants clearly.

D．Crops are mainly grown in the rainwater on a vertical farm.

3 . Growers around the world are using new methods to grow grapes to make wine. They use natural and organic methods to control harmful insects and weeds instead of using chemicals. Now, a winery in Canada has adopted a natural way to control its grapevines (葡萄藤). The Featherstone Winery is in southern Ontario. The grapevines, like other plants, need to be cut every year.

Cutting grapevines must be done very carefully. Only a targeted area of leaves is removed from the lower part of the vines to help the grapes grow better. But at the Featherstone Winery, no man or machine does the cutting. Instead, the job is done by 40 little wooly lambs.

David Johnson owns the vineyard. He says he learnt about using lambs while visiting wineries in New Zealand. The young lambs are perfectly designed to do the job. They eat the grape leaves on the lower parts of the vine. But they are not tall enough to reach the grapes. They only weigh about 22 kilograms, so they do not beat down the soil. And their waste makes good organic fertiliser (有机肥料). In addition, using the lambs costs much less than hiring workers to cut the vines for seven weeks in summer. And when the cutting is done in August, the lambs become tasty dishes.

Mr Johnson says he had a difficult time finding enough lambs to do the job. There are about 50 million lambs in New Zealand. But there are not nearly as many in Ontario. Also, some organic pesticides are harmful to lambs. And the lambs must be watched to make sure they do not eat too much of the grapevines.

David Johnson says the lambs help him carry out his environmental ideas about farming. They are lovely and peaceful and he likes having them in his vineyard. People visiting the vineyard also enjoy watching the lambs do their job.

1. In order to help the grapes grow better, growers ________.

A．only have to remove the dead leaves	B．need to remove a specific area of leaves
C．shouldn’t remove any part of the plants	D．should let little lambs do the cutting

2. Paragraph 4 is mainly about ________.

A．the future of getting lambs to do the cutting

B．the worries about using organic pesticides

C．the ways to get lambs to do the cutting

D．the problems related to lambs doing the cutting

3. We can infer from the passage that David Johnson ________.

A．owns several wineries in Canada

B．buys lambs from New Zealand

C．is concerned about protecting the environment

D．loves keeping lambs instead of farming

5 . For your next out-of-this-world vacation, you now have the option of literally going out of this world but it’ll cost you $40 million. Then again, can you really put a price tag on having the time of your life? According to a new report from Popular Mechanics, Russia is looking to build a luxury hotel in outer space. There you will wake up to see a breathtaking blue planet—the earth! The hotel is expected to be stationed on the International Space Station (ISS).

While space tourism itself isn’t exactly a novel idea, the notion of building a hotel out there hasn’t been raised before. Really, other companies are still focused on the transportation part of the puzzle—after all, a trip to space is enough for most folks.

According to Popular Mechanics, the hotel will include a luxury orbital suite with big windows, personal hygiene (卫生) facilities, exercise equipment, and yes, Wi-fi. Because if you can’t share your experience on social media, did it really even happen?

Of course, the reasons behind the hotel aren’t just for fun and games. Apparently, space tourism might be able to help the Russians pay for another module to add to the International Space Station. Russian space contractor RKK Energia is currently building the first such module, which will give scientists a laboratory and power supply station from which to conduct tests.

If any of this is going to happen, however, Russia is going to have to hurry. With the ISS expected to be out of use in 2028, there’s little time to build the hotel and find wealthy tourists to actually pay for a trip into outer space.

So if you’ve recently come into a fortune and are interested in investing in what could be the time of your life, ISS is calling your name.

1. What do we know about the hotel from the first paragraph?

A．It is quite affordable.	B．It will be built in Russia.
C．It will offer an amazing view.	D．It costs $40 million to build.

2. What can be inferred from Paragraph 3?

A．Hotel guests won’t be able to see into space.

B．Visitors are required to take exercise each day.

C．Space travel is not possible without the internet.

D．Tourists tend to share traveling experiences online.

3. The hotel will be built to provide Russian scientists with       .

A．fun and games	B．financial support
C．space contractors	D．more time in space

6 . In a world where nearly 6 million fingerprint records of government employees are stolen in one computer hack, and where millions of people are victims of identity theft every year, the next step in cyber-security may well be mapping your brain.

Researchers at Binghamton University are working on a biometric (生物特征的) system that records how your brain reacts to certain images. With a little more polishing, the scientists’ brainchild could become the way you get into a safe deposit box, your office or past scanners at the airport. It could replace the password for your online banking, your e-mail or your social media accounts.

They started their project by measuring the brain waves of 30 subjects. The subjects were fitted with a cap that had 30 electrodes attached to it, and then shown various images and symbols — celebrity faces, words, pictures of food — on a computer screen in 200-millisecond bursts. The brain’s reaction was recorded.

The idea is that every time a person needs to use a “password”, he or she goes through the same procedure, and the results are matched to their first-time reaction. If the “brainprint” is cracked — like what happened to the fingerprint records — then the system is merely reset by running another set of images and collecting a different set of brain waves.“Even if that was stolen, you could just cancel it and record one to something else”, says professor Laszlo.

Laszlo and her team have shown that their system can be 100 per cent accurate. So one of the most difficult parts of making the system practical already has been overcome. Now, they’re spending much time recording accurate brainprints with as few as three electrodes, which could make recording in the future as easy as wearing a pair of special glasses. They’re also working with cheaper materials and different methods to see if they can bring the cost down.

1. What does the underlined word “brainchild” in Paragraph 2 refer to?

A．The brain function.	B．The biometric system.
C．The fingerprint record.	D．The online password.

2. Why were the images and symbols shown to the subjects?

A．To match brainprints with pictures.	B．To check the brain’s reaction.
C．To create their brainprints.	D．To connect brain waves to electrodes.

3. What will happen when a brainprint fails?

A．A new one will be set again.	B．A spare one will be ready beforehand.
C．The users’ security will be threatened.	D．The fingerprint record will replace it.

4. What are the researchers doing with the programme now?

A．Improving its accuracy.	B．Making it user-friendly.
C．Recording more brainprints.	D．Increasing the number of electrodes.

7 . How to Organize a Music Festival

You love music and you always have it. You want to carry out a music festival designed to attract music fans of all ages. Follow the steps and you'll organize a successful one.

▲Start by making a list of the local bands and artists that you like. You've taken this job because you love music, so use your taste to work for you. If you like these musicians, many of the local residents will also like them.      1     You need to have many kinds of music for all age groups.

▲Find a great location that has much open space for outdoor festivals. You need to build a stage so the musicians can be seen from a distance.      2     Not all towns need such license but it is a good idea to check before you start building. For an indoor location, you need to find a theater whose owner is willing to give you enough space.     3    

▲Hire sound and engineering people to give the musicians all the help they need.      4     You can’t expect the musicians to handle these problems because they are playing. Your sound and engineering experts will allow your stars to keep the music playing.

▲    5     If you are planning your festival for families, the last thing you want is a beer-swilling crowd starting a huge brawl (斗殴). Security people need to be present to make sure that nobody gets the idea that they want to start any kind of ruckus (骚乱).

A．You need to find security people.

B．Bigger sports stadiums will be perfect as well.

C．We can find enough songs to get a lot of money.

D．People should have practiced many different songs.

E．But remember, you are trying to attract fans of all ages.

F．The last thing you want is that a musician is on stage but the speakers don’t work.

G．You can find a location by going to the local government and asking for permission.

8 . Harbin has witnessed a significant boom that has caused it to trend on social media this winter. By December 20, 2023, the city airport’s annual passenger throughput had gone beyond 20 million. According to a new report, during the three-day New Year holiday, Harbin received 3.05 million tourists and made income of 5.91 billion yuan, both of which reached record highs.

Harbin, also known as China’s “ice city”, is famous for its ice and snow culture. For over 60 years, the city has had a tradition of holding an annual ice lantern exhibition, presenting the creativity and skill of its artists. Recently, the Ice and Snow World, recognized by the Guinness World Records as the largest ice and snow park, is just one of many attractions in the city. It features amazing ice and snow sculptures, including replicas (复制品) of famous landmarks, animals, and cartoon characters. In addition, visitors can also enjoy different kinds of snow sports, such as ice skating, ice fishing, and sledding.

Harbin spared no effort to show its sincerity and hospitality to tourists. At the Ice and Snow World, a lot of new experiences have been provided, such as hovercrafts and bicycles on ice, Ferris wheels, and hot air balloons. Tourists were welcomed with live performances at the airport, and dressing rooms were set up for them to change into warm clothing. Local residents supported by traveling during off-peak hours to reduce traffic and offering tourists free rides. For those unable to book hotels, the government opened the Provincial People’s Congress Service Center for low-cost stays.

“For individual travelers, a city’s infrastructure (基础设施) and public services form the foundation of tourism competitiveness. It is only when tourists feel the warmth of the city and the goodwill of its citizens that they fit into the lives of a travel destination nicely,” said Dai Bin, president of China Tourism Academy.

1. The figures in paragraph 1 show that __________.

A．The growth in Harbin’s tourism industry

B．The popularity of Harbin’s new attractions

C．People’s interest in traveling in icy places

D．People’s great passion for the New Year holiday

2. What do we know about the Ice and Snow World from paragraph 2?

A．It is famous for its annual ice lantern exhibition.

B．It is the first ice and snow park in the world.

C．It offers various snow-related activities for visitors.

D．It holds various snow sports competitions for visitors.

3. What is paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．New equipment added in the Ice and Snow World.

B．The measures to ensure tourists’ safety in Harbin.

C．Local people’s support for relieving traffic pressure.

D．The efforts to improve tourists’ travel experiences.

4. Where does this text probably come from?

A．A diary of cultural tours.

B．A news report on tourism.

C．An advertisement for scenic spots.

D．A review of newly emerging cities.

9 . If you have a chance to go to Finland, you will probably be surprised to find how “foolish” the Finnish people are.

Take the taxi drivers for example. Taxis in Finland are mostly high-class Benz with a fare of two US dollars a kilometer. You can go anywhere in one, tell the driver to drop you at any place, say that you have some business to attend to, and then walk off without paying your fare. The driver would not show the least sign of being annoyed and worried.

The dining rooms in all big hotels not only serve their guests, but also serve outside diners. Hotel guests have their meals free, so they naturally go to the free dining rooms to have their meals. The most they would do to show their good faith is to wave their registration card to the waiter. With such a loose check, you can easily use any old registration card to take a couple of friends to dine free of charge.   

The Finnish workers are paid by the hour. They are very much on their own as soon as they have agreed with the boss on the pay. From then on, they just say how many hours they have worked and they will be paid accordingly.

With so much carelessness in everyday life, surely Finland must be a heaven to those who love to take “petty advantages” (小便宜). But the strange thing is, all the taxi passengers would always come back to pay their fare after they have attended to their business; not a single outsider has ever been found in the free hotel dining rooms. And workers always give an honest account of the exact hours they put in.

As the Finns always act on good faith in everything they do, living in such a society has turned everyone into a real “gentleman”. In a society of such high moral practice, what need is there for people to be on guard against others?

1. What might happen when taking a taxi in Finland?

A．Taxis can be stopped at any time midway.

B．The cost of a Benz is higher than other taxis.

C．The driver will feel angry if unpaid on time.

D．Only Benz can be used as common taxis.

2. What allows you to enjoy free meals in a hotel?

A．Your friend’s invitation.

B．Your registration card.

C．Your identity information.

D．Your good behaviour.

3. Which of the following is true according to this text?

A．Finns love to take “pretty advantages”.

B．Taxi drivers can get paid after constantly asking.

C．Outsiders are often invited to have a free meal.

D．Finnish workers keep very honest records of their working hours.

4. How to understand the underlined sentence in the last paragraph?

A．Practice makes perfect.

B．High effort always lead to great gains.

C．Honesty is a good principle of society.

D．Nothing is impossible to a willing heart.

10 . Living in a foreign culture can be exciting, but it can also be confusing. A group of Americans who taught English in other countries recently discussed their experiences. They found that miscommunication was always possible even over something as simple as “yes” and “no”.

On her first day in Micronesia, an island in the Pacific, Lisa thought people weren’t paying any attention to her. The day was hot. She went into a store and asked, “Do you have cold drinks?” The woman there didn’t say anything. Lisa repeated the question. Still the woman said nothing. She later learned that the woman had answered her. She had raised her eyebrows (眉毛) , which in Micronesia means “yes”.

Jan remembered an experience she had in Bulgaria, a country in Europe. She went to a restaurant that was famous for its cabbage. She asked the waiter, “Do you have cabbage today?” He nodded his head. Jan waited, but the cabbage never came. In that country, a nod means “no”.

Tom had a similar problem when he arrived in India. After explaining something in class, he asked his students if they understood. They answered with many different nods and shakes of the head. He thought some people had not understood, so he explained again. When he asked again, they did the same thing. He soon found out that his students did understand. In India, people nod and shake their heads in different ways depending on where they come from. You have to know where a person is from to understand whether they mean “yes” or “no”.

1. The Americans teaching English in other countries found that they __________.

A．should go abroad for vacations

B．needed to learn foreign languages

C．should often discuss their experiences

D．had problems with communication

2. People in Micronesia show “yes” by __________.

A．saying “no”	B．raising eyebrows
C．shaking heads	D．nodding heads

3. Which of the following is TRUE according to this passage?

A．In Bulgaria, nodding heads means “no”.

B．Jan taught English on a Pacific island.

C．Lisa was trying to buy some cabbage.

D．In India, only shaking heads means “yes”.

4. Tom misunderstood his class at first because __________.

A．he didn’t know a nod means “no” in Indian.

B．he didn’t explain everything clearly enough

C．some students didn’t understand his questions

D．he did not know much about Indian culture