1 . Currently, it’s the beginning of the rainy season in the heart of Brunei (文莱), and I have never been so sweaty. Last night I was poking at insects larger than I’d ever seen or even, in my worst nightmares, imagined existed, but despite this, I’m still having the time of my life.

I’m on a taxonomy expedition at the Kuala Belalong Field Studies Centre in the Kingdom of Brunei Darussalam with a small group of entomologists (昆虫学家), biotech researchers and laypeople (门外汉) like me. We are searching for new species in the rainforest under the guidance of a research organization. Taxon Expeditions is one of a new crop of private organizations that is tapping into the pockets of people who are science-curious but not science-trained. We help to fund this research, and we get to participate in it.

I can’t emphasise how remarkable this is. I spent a lot of time as a child dozing in my Snoopy sleeping bag under the table in my mother’s lab as she worked on her Ph.D. in development genetics. Sequencing DNA in the 1980s wasn’t something that a person just did in a few hours, and it certainly wasn’t done using a device that fitted in the palm of one’s hand. And the result wasn’t then immediately cross-referenced with an offline version of an online public database of more than 5.3 million “DNA barcodes” to see if the organism being sequenced is a newly discovered species.

And the craziest thing about all of this is that the sequencer costs less than £1,000 from a company based in Oxford. I would recommend pairing up with an actual geneticist, a biotech expert and a real entomologist to make sense of the data, but the implications for the future of access to hands-on science are astonishing. Mark my words: we are less than a generation away from an army of layperson bioprospectors (生物勘探员) working the field using a little bit of scientific training and a lot of YouTube online knowledge.

But if a trip to the rainforest with an organisation like Taxon is out of the question, then you can still do research as close as your back garden. The same group that took me to the rainforest went to the Vondel-park in the centre of Amsterdam and identified a new wasp that had never been recorded by science. And yes, the sequencer — while less expensive than a high-end smart-phone — does require a little more training than a touchscreen. But this kind of science is rapidly trickling down to the rest of us, so getting any science kit or apps in the hands of your kids or grand-kids this holiday season is an investment. Because there’s noting like discovery to fuel the future.

1. What can we learn about the writer of the passage?

A．The writer is a biotech researcher.

B．The writer is interested in science despite not being an expert.

C．The writer had spent a lot of money participating in the expedition.

D．The writer is a staff member at the Kuala Belalong Field Studies Center.

2. The underlined phrase “tapping into the pickets of people” probably means “________”.

A．trying to make money from people.

B．attempting to arouse people’s interest

C．trying to develop the potential of people

D．attempting to boost people’s knowledge

3. Why does the writer say that the implications for the future of access to hands-on science are astonishing?

A．Because teaming up with real experts to work on a project is by no means easy.

B．Because scientific devices like sequencers are affordable for the average person.

C．Because the assistance of non-professional bio prospectors aiding in scientific research is less than a generation away.

D．Because affordable devices, basic scientific training, and online knowledge make it possible for the average person to conduct useful research.

4. We can conclude from the passage that             .

A．scientific research is still restricted to some trained experts

B．devices like sequencers are easier to operate than smart-phone

C．one doesn’t need to be scientifically trained to take part in valuable research

D．doing research in one’s own garden can help promote the development of science

2 . Germany’s top court has ruled that parts of the country’s 2019 climate (气候) action law must be changed because they don’t do a good job of protecting young people. The result is a big victory for the nine young people who started the law suing (诉讼).

The court suing stresses an important part of the climate change: The change will impact greatly on young people far more than the adults. That’s because the effects of earth warming will become more serious over time. As young people become adults, they’ll be left to deal with many problems that today’s adults have ignored. The government’s failure to plan carefully was putting their future lives in danger.

In 2019, Germany passed a new law, promising that the country would be carbon neutral (碳中和) by 2050. The law made a detailed plan of action until 2030. But the law didn’t have any specific rules or plans for climate actions that would be taken between 2031 and 2050.

Last Thursday, the judges of Germany’s highest court agreed with the young people. They said that not taking climate action made the basic rights of young people to a good future in danger.

The young people had challenged the government’s law in four specific areas. The judges didn’t agree with all of the challenges. But having the court support even a part of their case is seen as a big victory. Neubauer is one of the young people who sued. She works with the climate action group Fridays For Future. Ms. Neubauer said, “Climate protection is our basic right. This is a huge win for the climate movement. It changes a lot.”

The court has given the German government until the end of 2022 to fix the law. The climate law will now need to have a much more detailed plan for the actions that will be taken after 2030 to cut Germany’s pollution, allowing it to become carbon neutral by 2050. Germany’s government has said that it will quickly begin working to make the needed changes.

1. Why did the nine young people sue the Germany government?

A．They faced a higher rate of losing jobs.

B．The government refused their law suing.

C．The local court ruled against the climate law.

D．They weren’t satisfied with the climate action law.

2. What does paragraph 2 mainly talk about?

A．The adults nowadays are put under pressure.

B．The climate change will influence the young.

C．Earth warming is becoming out of control.

D．Humans feel uncertain about the future.

3. What is the government required to do about the climate law?

A．Improve the present law.

B．Win people’s wide support.

C．Take strict punishment measures.

D．Achieve carbon neutral in advance.

4. In which section of a newspaper may this text appear?

A．Business.	B．Health.
C．Education.	D．Environment.

3 . Motivation plays a role in almost everything we do. From getting out of bed in the morning to dealing with a chore or going after a new role at work, it's finally the sense of motivation that drives us from beginning to completion of any task that life throws to us.     1     They can complete daily tasks without a second thought and remain efficient from morning to evening. Others, however, may struggle to find a sense of motivation for different reasons. Fortunately, here are a few ways you can introduce motivation into your daily routine.

●Create attainable goals. Feeling stressed because of a goal or a project is normal. Even if the task is a big one, you can break it down into small goals to work your way to the finish line. For example, if you have a difficult project coming up, don't wait until the last minute to begin.     2     This will make you feel challenged, while also allowing you to feel as if you've completed important activities.

●    3     By rewarding yourself one thing at a time or at the end of the day, you can also teach yourself to be a more motivated person. This is about treating yourself for good work! Every time you complete a task, you know you're going to get a reward. Likewise, if you don't complete any task, you won't get a reward.     4    

●Create positive habits over time.     5     In order to make motivation a positive habit, a person needs to try and start completing activities every single day. Of course, it is fine to miss a day here and there but that should be done cautiously.

A．Reward yourself.

B．Assess rewards for different achievements.

C．Some people find motivation easy to come by.

D．Instead, make a list of achievable goals for each day.

E．It usually takes around two months to develop a habit.

F．So, over time, you associate rewards with being motivated.

G．It is not difficult to develop a positive habit related to motivation.

4 . China's teen diving sensation (轰动性人物） Quan Hongchan's family and neighbours have been disturbed by tourists hoping to get social media “likes”， local media say. Ever since the 14-year-old won the Olympic gold after delivering three perfect-10 dives, fans have rushed to her Maihe village home to take videos and photos. Some persistent fans are even climbing trees for a better view.

Quan has received massive support online after she said she took up diving to pay her sick mother's bills. Her story touched many people when she told reporters that she dedicated her Olympic win to her mother, who has been admitted to hospital many times after getting into a traffic accident years ago. “I want to make enough money to support her," Quan had said in Tokyo.

On China's Twitter-like platform Weibo, the hashtag(标签）“how to view Quan Hongchan's home becoming an internet photo hotspot” was viewed more than 25 million times.There was criticism over the actions of these influencers, who reportedly staked out the rural village in Guangdong province to livestream videos even after midnight. Others knocked on the door to take selfies with her family members, while some tried to steal jackfruit from her home as gifts, local media said. “If people are going to her house just to get followers, that's unacceptable. Her mother is sick. She shouldn't be disturbed,” one Weibo comment read.

The village has now been closed to visitors as the large crowds didn't follow Covid control measures, reports say. Due to her years of training, the farmer's daughter said she had never been to a zoo or amusement park. Her comments made a safari and amusement park in Guangzhou decide to announce free annual membership cards to all Chinese diving team members. Other businesses and donors have come forth offering cash and gifts, including her favourite spicy street snack latiao-made from flour that is cooked and seasoned. Her father has reportedly declined cash gifts, and thanked donors for their “kind hearts”。

1. Why is Quan Hongchan committed to winning the Olympic gold?

A．Her love for the diving team and country.

B．Her pursuit for the fame and wealth.

C．Her desire to pay for her mother's medical bills.

D．Her gratitude for the support of fans.

2. What does the underlined phrase “staked out” in Paragraph 3 refer to?

A．Monitor.

B．Strike.

C．Squeeze.

D．Cater.

3. What can we infer from the text?

A．Businesses and donors have their own calculation.

B．The intention of influencers and tourists varies.

C．The closure of Quan's village is due to the online viewers' concern.

D．The privacy of Quan's family and villagers hasn't been fully respected.

4. Which of the following can be the best title of the text?

A．Quan Hongchan's inspiring story catches on throughout the country

B．Social media is a double-edged sword for Quan

C．The teen diving star won the Olympic gold

D．The teen diving star's village was jam-packed by fans

5 . A Russian natural gas tanker has completed an experimental round trip along the Northern Sea Route (NSR)— the first time the path across the Arctic has been made at this time of year. It returned to the Russian gas station at Sabetta on February 19. The voyage by the Christophe de Margerie tanker through the ice is the latest visual indicator of climate change in the cold region.

The tanker set out from a Chinese port on January 27 after delivering its cargo. It entered the Northern Sea Route, which traverses(横越) Russia's north coast. A few days later near Cape Dezhnev, it was met by the Russian nuclear icebreaker 50 Let Pobedy (50 Years of Victory). Together they completed the 2, 500-nautical-mile voyage through the ice in l I days and 10 hours.

The ship managed-to complete the first leg of the trip from Russia to China without an icebreaker. Both of the journeys broke records for winter navigation(航行) due to the changing climate in the Arctic allowing passage through thinner ice. Using the Northern Sea Route lets shippers in Russia and other countries avoid a much longer southern journey around Europe, the Middle East and all of southern Asia, saving millions of dollars.

The ships encountered no multi-year buildup of old ice on the route, and the deepest ice was about 5 feet thick. However, meteorologist and journalist Eric Holthaus called that a clear indicator of "a climate emergency".

Last May, Christophe de Margerie became the first large-capacity cargo ship to complete an eastbound transit of the Northern Sea Route, two months earlier in the year than the journey traditionally made.

"As a result of the early Northern Sea Route voyage completed by Christophe de Margerie in May 2020, as well as the current NSR voyage, the navigation in the Eastern part of the Arctic was practically doubled," Eric Holthaus said. He noted that for decades the transit route along that part of the NSR had typically remained closed by ice from November until July.

1. Which factor contributed most to Christophe de Margerie's successful trip?

A．The ideal equipment.	B．The ocean current.
C．The nuclear power.	D．The climate change.

2. What’s Eric Holthaus' attitude to the gas tanker’s trip across the Arctic?

A．Skeptical.

B．Concerned.

C．Critical.

D．Tolerant.

3. What does the underlined word "encountered" in paragraph 4 mean?

A．Picked up.

B．Prepared for.

C．Came across.

D．Depended on.

4. How long can the NSR route be used by cargo ships now?

A．2 months.

B．3 months.

C．4 months.

D．6 months.