1 . A recent study has found that using wood for construction instead of concrete (混凝土) and steel can reduce emissions (排放). But Tim Searchinger at Princeton University says many of these studies are based on the false foundation that harvesting wood is carbon neutral (碳中和). “Only a small percentage of the wood gets into a timber (木料) product, and a part of that gets into a timber product that can replace concrete and steel in a building,” he says. Efficiencies vary in different countries, but large amounts of a harvested tree are left to be divided into parts, used in short-lived products like paper or burned for energy, all of which generate emissions.
In a report for the World Resources Institute, Searchinger and his colleagues have modelled (塑造) how using more wood for construction would affect emissions between 2010 and 2050, accounting for the emissions from harvesting the wood. They considered various types of forests and parts of wood going towards construction. They also factored in the emissions savings from replacing concrete and steel.
Under some circumstances, the researchers found significant emissions reductions. But each case required what they considered an unrealistically high portion (份额) of the wood going towards construction, as well as rapid growth only seen in warmer places, like Brazil. In general, they found a large increase in global demand for wood would probably lead to rising emissions for decades. Accounting for emissions in this way, the researchers reported in a related paper that increasing forest harvests between 2010 and 2050 would add emissions equal to roughly 10 percent of total annual emissions.
Ali Amiri at Aalto University in Finland says the report’s conclusions about emissions from rising demand are probably correct, but the story is different for wood we already harvest. “Boosting the efficiency of current harvests and using more wood for longer lived purposes than paper would cut emissions,” he says. “We cannot just say we should stop using wood.”
1. What is wrong with previous researches according to Searchinger?A.They got wrong statistics. | B.They used an incorrect concept. |
C.They included too many factors. | D.They were applied in limited countries. |
A.The process of the new research. | B.The background of the new study. |
C.The challenge of the new research. | D.The achievements of the new study. |
A.Using concrete and steel can reduce emissions. |
B.All of timber product can can take the place of the concrete amd steel. |
C.Only small part of wood can get into timber. |
D.We all should use wood to build our houses. |
A.Favorable. | B.Doubtful. | C.Critical. | D.Objective. |
2 . The Paris Olympics organizers have applied to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to include breakdancing (霹雳舞), which is also called breaking or b-boying/b-girling, after the sport’s success at the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, Argentina last year.
Along with breakdancing, the Paris committee has asked for skateboarding, climbing and surfing to be included as a way of making the 2024 Olympics more urban (城市的), more artistic and more attractive to young people.
Skateboarding, climbing and surfing — but not breakdancing — have already been included in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. The IOC will make a decision on the Paris sports in December 2020, after the Tokyo Olympic Games.
“It is a victory for us. Even if it goes no further, we will still have won,” said Mounir Biba, one of the top breakdancers in France, where there is a strong breakdancing culture. The head of the Paris organizing committee, Tony Estanguet, said the committee’s goal was “to connect the games to their era (时代).”
Organizers explained the four sports have broad appeal to young people and large and active audiences on social media. The IOC is trying to make the Olympics less expensive and wasteful, which advantages (有利于) the four sports as they shouldn’t need large and new stadiums.
1. B-boying or b-girling can also be called ________.A.skateboarding | B.climbing | C.breakdancing | D.surfing |
A.In November, 2020. | B.In December, 2020. |
C.In September, 2024. | D.In October, 2024. |
A.wide | B.little | C.new | D.weak |
A.In a science magazine. | B.In an old textbook. |
C.In a children’s storybook. | D.In a daily newspaper. |
A Big Day for Baseball by Mary Pope Osborne List price: $13. 99 | When Jack and Annie put on the magic baseball hats given to them by Morgan, they find themselves back in 1947 as batboys (球童) . There they learnt a lot about the game. | Drummer Girl by Debbi Michiko Florence List price: $15. 99 | Jasmine Toguchi wants to enter her school’s talent show, but what talent could she show? She knows when she is introduced to the traditional Japanese drums, where she finds a skill. |
A Tale of Two Sloths by Graham Annable List price: $17. 99 | Peter and Ernesto are friends but are very different. Peter is a homeboy while Ernesto wants to explore. However, the separations make their reunion (团聚) all the better. | Dragon Doctor by Patricia Valdez List price: $17. 99 | Unlike other girls her age, who prefer parties and such, Joan Procter is more than interested in visiting the Natural History Museum and enjoys talking about animals. |
1. Which book helps readers learn about a sport?
A.A Big Day for Baseball. | B.Drummer Girl. |
C.A Tale of Two Sloths. | D.Dragon Doctor. |
A.$12. 59. | B.$9. 89. | C.$10. 48. | D.$10. 25. |
A.Jack and Annie. | B.Jasmine Toguchi. | C.Joan Procter. | D.Peter and Ernesto. |
A.Games. | B.A girl’s interest. | C.A talent show. | D.Friendship. |
4 . Campsite Les Genets St. Jean Plage
Les Genets is ideal for a family holiday, which is three quarters of a mile from Merlin Plage, and four miles from St. Jean de Monts.
On the site The following facilities ( 设施) are available: . | Activities The following activities are available: | ||
Reception Languages spoken: English and French Other services : Fax, post, currency exchange, laundry tokens. WiFi available. | Water sports Diving lessons Lesson charge: E15. 00 | ||
Dining Restaurant: Small restaurant Location: Near the pool and bar Takeaway: Pizzas, burgers, chips, daily specials | Sports Tennis- one full-size court Table tennis- three tables Badminton- one court Basketball- one court Volleyball- one court | ||
Laundry Washers: 5 x machines E5. 00 per load (每堆待洗衣物) Dryers: 2 x machines 64. 00 per load | Playgrounds One playground | ||
Sanitation Hot showers, baby baths , toilets, children’s toilets. | Cycle hire Adults: €41. 00/week, €l0. 00/day Children: €31. 00/week, €10. 00/day Helmets (头盔) and child seats available. |
1. What does the word “Sanitation” probably mean in Chinese?
A.洗浴设施 | B.卫生设施 | C.娱乐设施 | D.健身设施 |
A.Football. | B.Basketball. | C.Volleyball. | D.Tennis. |
A.€62.00. | B.€72.00. | C.€82.00. | D.€113.00. |
5 . When I think about ducks, I picture my mother’s pets. She saved Lucy and Fran from a very wet area when I was 16 years old. The little ducks were weak and sick. My mother helped them to get healthy.
Lucy and Fran lived in a large box in the garage. They became family pets. They were members of our family. Lucy followed me around. She quacked (嘎嘎叫) and quacked. She liked attention.
My brother Tim read everything he could find about ducks. He learned to care for our pets. He made sure that the box in the garage was fit for our pets. It had a heat lamp and a feeder. He gave them water and fresh straw each day. What a hit! Lucy and Fran loved their house. They quacked to say, “Thank you!”
On a rainy morning, Lucy walked near me to the mailbox. She walked so close that we knocked each other. I fell into a big mud hole. All the letters from the mailbox got wet. They were covered with muddy, brown water.
What’s worse, Tim watched from the window. When I got back into the house, he was on the kitchen floor holding the sides of his stomach. He laughed there.
I stomped (跺脚) my feet and threw up my arms. My mom calmly listened to me shout. “It’s okay, honey. If you prefer to, you can trade beds with the ducks!” she comforted.
With that in mind, I went to the garage and made my peace with the ducks. My own bed looked a lot better than their straw and heat lamp.
1. Where did Lucy and Fran live?A.In the kitchen. | B.In the bedroom. |
C.In the water. | D.In the garage. |
A.To make a box for the ducks. | B.To choose a heat lamp for the ducks. |
C.To learn to care for the ducks. | D.To read stories to the ducks. |
A.The writer fell into a big mud hole. | B.The mailbox got lost. |
C.The ducks both disappeared. | D.Tim picked up some letters. |
A.Two Noisy Ducks for Sale | B.A Family’s Love for Ducks |
C.A Family’s Photo with Ducks | D.Two Boys’ Fight with Ducks |
6 . This is something that all of us have noticed countless times in our daily lives. Whether you’re trying to read the fine print in a commercial or trying to make out a person’s face from a distance — it always helps to see better when you squint (眯起) your eyes.
There’s a common assumption that you’re adding much stress to your eyeballs by squeezing them to make them work better.
The act of squinting, quite obviously, alters the shape of the space through which light passes, which helps us form a clear image on the retina. What’s more, light from different directions enters and is subsequently perceived by the eye.
Squinting does not damage your eyesight.
A.Actually, that’s not exactly the case. |
B.Has it ever occurred to you why this happens? |
C.Squinting does two major things to improve our vision. |
D.However, doing it for long periods of time can lead to dry eyes. |
E.Normally, this is a great thing, as it feeds your situational awareness. |
F.A number of biological components actually constitute the human eye. |
G.Before revealing the secret behind it, let’s learn about how we see things. |
7 . If staying optimistic (乐观) is something you struggle with, you`re certainly not alone. Here are five ways you can frequently practice to be optimistic.
Be present every dayThe majority of negative thoughts are about the past and future, which can`t be changed. To be present, you need to exactly figure out whether they are in the past, present or future and bring them back into the moment.
The thoughts of giving thanks can help improve your body functions and overall happiness. Start by writing down at least three things you`re thankful for each day.
Laughter really is fantastic medicine. Loud laughs can calm the brain`s stress center. Watch one of your favorite TV plays or even try laughter yoga. It might be a good choice to reach out to others for help to laugh out loud.
Acts of kindness can increase your sense of well-being. Even something as simple as giving someone a smile can leave you both feeling happier. Challenge yourself to do at least one kind thing for someone else each day, such as buying a stranger a cup of coffee or donating to a cause that matters to you.
Find time to exerciseExercise produces pleasurable brain chemicals and relieves bad emotions. When you participate in physical activities that bring you joy, your thinking will clear. If it’s hard to find time to get to the gym, there are many exercise videos you can follow online.
A.Pay it forward. |
B.Acquire spiritual strength. |
C.Try to focus on what’s in front of you. |
D.The main goal is to break a sweat and do it regularly. |
E.It’s unavoidable to feel unhappy with ups and downs all the time. |
F.Doing that helps you recognize the little good things surrounding you. |
G.Having a positive network of friends or family can really make a difference. |
8 . In my early teens, I was once given a film camera as a gift . On receiving it, I jumped on my bike, headed to Wimbledon Common and took photos, just for me: photos of trees and wildlife. I was out all day. On my way home I spotted a tree lit up by street lighting and tried to capture its beauty. Rushing home, I put the spent film in a special little envelope and sent it off to a photography store, desperate to see how it would come out. I took many photos then and loved the fact that when you processed your film you got back colour photos which froze the precious moments, gently encouraging the hobby and the payments for processing.
As I grew into adulthood, that simple, deep happiness gradually faded away. One weekend when I was busy answering the work calls, my eyes caught a box in the corner of the room. I suddenly felt a sense of sadness. The stress growing over these years had pushed the camera from beside my pillow to the box in the corner. I thought I needed a change.
I took out the camera and dusted it down. It was a great joy that it still worked. I bought new film and took the camera everywhere I went. Now it is always on hand to accompany me on journeys, to allow me time to myself. Even if the day is full and busy, I can seize some moments for myself to take photos, to observe the world around me.
The wall of my room now holds all my camera equipment on display, along with photos I've taken. To me, the room represents how I’ve found happiness: by reconnecting to the younger part of myself I laid aside, by allowing room in my life for pleasure to exist, and by creating an environment that allows opportunities for delight.
1. What did the author think of taking photos as a young boy?A.Inspiring and practical. | B.Tiring yet delightful. |
C.Exciting and worthwhile. | D.Difficult yet engaging. |
A.He wanted to focus on his work. | B.He was struck by sudden sorrow. |
C.He attempted to behave like an adult. | D.He was faced with increasing pressure. |
A.More fun in the daily routine. | B.New journeys in the wild. |
C.Better skills of observation. | D.Different styles of photography. |
A.Revisiting Lost Childhood Memories | B.Appreciating Beauty Behind the Lens |
C.Escaping Teenage Sadness with Camera | D.Regaining Pleasure Through Photography |
9 . As a high school student, you’re likely used to learning through reading textbooks.
To practice experiential appreciation, you can start by getting involved in hands-on activities related to your subjects. They will provide a firsthand understanding of the concepts you’re studying, making learning active and meaningful. So, try joining a sports team, picking up a paintbrush, or taking part in a local charity event.
As you dive deeper, immerse (沉浸) yourself fully in the surroundings and activities. When you’re in nature, don’t just look around.
Experiential appreciation transforms learning from a task to be completed into a journey to be treasured.
A.Now consider expanding your learning from just reading to actively participating. |
B.It extends learning far beyond textbooks. |
C.Instead, activate your senses for a stronger tie with it. |
D.Mind the impact of your actions on the environment. |
E.Take your experiences further by reflecting on them. |
F.Textbooks offer a systematic introduction to essential concepts and principles. |
G.These activities bring learning to life. |
10 . 2024 Youth Design Challenge (YDC) saw remarkable participation from across the world. The winners have offered unique, nature-inspired ideas to solve local design challenges.
Green Buoy (浮标)
Oyster farming in South Korea is an industry that contributes to microplastic pollution in the ocean through the breakdown of buoys. Team Design Matter from Seoul created Green Buoy, which is made from a material that breaks down naturally, removing the risk of microplastic pollution and promoting sustainable marine farming. The team took inspiration from a water plant, mimicking its dome-shaped air pockets to provide buoyancy. They designed the buoy connector modules by studying the way that seahorses use their tails to hold firmly onto coral reefs.
The Beenard’s Canopy
Access to clean and affordable drinking water is still not a universal reality, particularly in South Sudan. Team A Squared from Beijing designed the Beenard’s Canopy. Inspired by the Namib Beetle, Moloch Lizard, and the Desert Rattlesnake, their device gathers the dew in the air, channels the collected water through a filter (过滤器) , and stores the water in a container for drinking purpose. The idea addresses the problem of lack of access to clean water by providing an economically practical solution.
Rain Net
In recent years, extreme weather has caused severe flooding in California, and yet, for most of this team’s life, California has been in a drought. Addressing both problems at once, the team designed a rain catchment device, Rain Net. Inspired by how plants move water and the patterns of leaf veins, the Rain Net has got inspiration from the xylem (木质部) in plants, in its design of tubes that guide, collect, and filter rainwater. The invention could be adapted to fit various roofs and the design makes it possible to connect various “nets,” allowing for more than one drainage (排水) system.
1. What problem did Team Design Matter intend to solve?A.Coral reef damage. | B.Microplastic pollution. |
C.Marine diversity loss. | D.Low oyster production. |
A.Desert creatures. | B.The shapes of leaves. |
C.Water movement in plants. | D.The network of plant roots. |
A.To promote YDC program. | B.To introduce the 2024 YDC winners. |
C.To advertise nature-inspired designs. | D.To explain the concept of biomimicry. |