1 . Ice cream is especially popular in the United States. In fact, Americans eat more ice cream than people in any other country. Ice cream is a frozen treat that comes in hundreds of flavors. What’s your favorite flavor? Is it vanilla? That is the most popular flavor by far. Chocolate ranks second in popularity.

Making ice cream is pretty simple. It’s usually made from milk, cream, sugar, and flavorings (调味品). Mix them all together as you freeze them and you get ice cream. As the mixture begins to freeze you can then add fruit, nuts, or chocolate. Soft ice cream is just the ice cream that isn’t fully frozen yet. Some people make ice cream at home in an ice cream mixer, a special kind of home freezer. But nearly all ice cream produced today is made by machines in ice cream factories.

There are many other popular frozen desserts that are similar to ice cream. Sherbet is made from fruit syrup (糖浆) that has milk or egg white added to it. Spumoni is an ice cream with fruits and nuts. Ice milk, also called low-fat ice cream, is a sweetened frozen food made of skimmed milk.

You can even get ice cream made without milk or cream. Soy ice cream and rice ice cream are made without dairy products. They’re made using soy bean milk or rice milk instead.

Ice cream comes in countless flavors. You’ve probably eaten vanilla and chocolate ice cream. Other favorites include strawberry, cherry, peach, butter pecan, and chocolate mint. But have you ever eaten ice cream flavored with garlic or green tea? Some people do. You can even buy ice cream flavored with rose petals.

1. The underlined word “That” in first paragraph refers to “___________”.

A．any ice cream

B．vanilla

C．flavor

D．frozen treat

2. What can we know from the second paragraph?

A．We should add nuts after we freeze the mixture.

B．Most Americans make their cream at home.

C．Soft ice cream isn’t fully frozen.

D．Making ice cream isn’t considered to be simple.

3. The main idea of the third paragraph is __________.

A．other frozen desserts	B．desserts in America
C．ice cream	D．ice cream with milk

4. What is made of skimmed milk?

A．Sherbet.

B．Spumoni.

C．Soft-serve ice cream.

D．Low-fat ice cream.

2 . A program at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is hoping to fight against loneliness brought on by the pandemic by forming friendships between students and seniors in the community. They’re making it possible through weekly calls.

“It’s been a thing I look forward to every week,” Miranda Savioli, a VCU medical student said.

The program is run by students involved with the American Geriatrics Society and pairs medical and health science students with seniors in the community.

VCU education administrator for the School of Medicine, Chuck Alexander, says it was formed to fight against loneliness and give students valuable interaction with that age group — something that’s been missing since training programs stopped earlier this year. “It’s mostly just social — just chatting,” Alexander said. “A lot of times they just need someone to talk to. A lot of times they feel that they have a connection with someone younger who is just entering a new phase in their career and that they have some wisdom to impart to them — medically and socially as a friend.”

So far, the volunteer program has paired around 40 students with seniors.

Every week, Savioli video calls retiree Joan Kerby, who lives in a retirement community in Henrico.

“It’s a really good connection because in lockdown you really don’t have long conversations with anybody,” Kerby said. Those long conversations soon turned into a visit. The two participants decided to meet in person back in November and Kerby said it was a special moment. “We talked for two hours. We probably could have gone on longer but we had to stop,” Kerby said.

Savioli says they plan to keep the program going, and encourages others to pick up the phone and call a loved one who may be isolated. “It was developed to help seniors with isolation, but mean, we all got isolated during this pandemic,” Savioli said. “It’s been nice to talk to someone every week.” The group has no plans to stop the program. “We’re going to keep the program going and as for Joan and I, we’ve established ourselves as lifelong friends,” Savioli said.

1. What can be learned about the program?

A．It is run by college teachers.	B．It asks students to write to seniors.
C．It charges participants for weekly visits.	D．It connects college students with elderly people.

2. What does Alexander say about the program?

A．It should involve families.	B．It should be more professional.
C．It reduces students’ training time.	D．It benefits both students and seniors.

3. What did Kerby feel about the two-hour talk?

A．It was boring.

B．It was stressful.

C．It was wonderful.

D．It was humorous.

4. What does the group want to do according to the last paragraph?

A．Stop face-to-face visits.	B．Reduce conversation time.
C．Inspire people to talk to each other.	D．Switch from weekly calls to daily visits.

3 . He had run for 208 hours and 35 minutes in ten days. So, when Pan Junfan managed to cross the finish line in Guazhou, Gansu Province, on Sept. 18, the tears began to flow.

The 513 kilometers he had completed over rough terrain (地形)in northwestern China would challenge the greatest athletes in the world. The challenge was all the greater for Pan, who pulled off the remarkable feat (功绩) after having part of his right leg amputated (截肢) following a car accident in 2015.

Pan’s challenge was originally the Ultra Gobi, which is considered a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many marathon runners. Unfortunately, the 400-km race was canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. After careful consideration, Pan contacted the race’s organizers and they agreed to reschedule the route and allow him to undertake solo challenge.

During the challenge through the Gobi Desert and the Altun Mountains, the 40-year-ad faced temperatures ranging from—20℃ at right to 30°C by day, wild animals and even a hurricane. Carrying a backpack containing the hare minimum of equipment he would need, Pan battled sleep deprivation(缺乏) and very low body temperature during the journey.

Beginning from the “Mars Camp”in Qinghai Province, the ultra extreme course was expanded to more than 500 km over sand dunes (沙丘), dry valleys, stony plateaus and snowy mountains, finishing in Guazhou.

“I hope that by completing the challenge I can inspire people and tell them that life has limitless possibilities and not to stop trying,” Pan said.

In the last few years, Pan has established a dozen firsts for below-the-knee amputees (被截肢者). These included completing the 2018Ironman 70. 3 Xiamen’s 113 km triathlon (铁人三项) in 7 hours and 26 minutes, finishing the Gangshika Xtrial’s 100 km race in 27 hours and 40 minutes, and successfully conquering the Ironman Western Australia in 2019 which involves swimming for 3. 8 km, cycling for180 km and running for 42. 2 km.   As a result, he has been dubbed “the Chinese blade runner”.

1. When did Pan Junfan start his 513-kilometer challenging race?

A．On Sept. 3.

B．On Sept. 9.

C．On Sept. 15.

D．On Sept. 19.

2. What happened to Pan Junfan in 2015?

A．He had part of his left leg removed.	B．He established a hi-tech company.
C．He was involved in a traffic accident	D．He participated in the Ironman Australia.

3. Which of the following difficulties did Pan Junfan meet during the journey?

A．Losing touch with his team.	B．Getting lost in the desert.
C．Having a high fever.	D．Lacking enough sleep.

4. Which of the words can be used to best describe Pan Junfan?

A．Strong-willed.

B．Warm-hearted.

C．Quick-minded.

D．Cold-blooded.

4 . Soap (肥皂) might seem like a reasonable way to avoid mosquito bites (蚊子叮) on the basis that if mosquitoes can’t smell you, they can’t bite you. However, a recent study has found that rather than protecting you, certain soaps might actually make you more attractive to mosquitoes.

In the study, conducted at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, four volunteers were asked to wear a sleeve before and after washing with four different brands of soap. The researchers then watched female mosquitoes as only females feed on blood landing on the fabric sample to show their preference. They found that some people washing with some brands of soap, increased their attractiveness to mosquitoes, while washing with other brands of soap tended to repel (驱除) mosquitoes. The repellent effect of some soap may be due to its coconut scent, as coconut oil is known to act as a natural mosquito repellent. The reason behind this attraction is believed to be related to mosquitoes’ sugar intake. When mosquitoes are not feeding on blood, they add their diet with plant juice or sweet water from flowers, “The fact we are taking those flowery and fruity smells and putting them on our bodies means that now the same object smells like a flower and a person at the same time,” said Clément Vinauger, who led the study. It would be like waking up and smelling the smell of coffee and bread, very attractive.

Interestingly, the effects of the soap varied among people, possibly due to the interaction (相互作用) between the soap and each person’s unique body scent. “It’s remarkable that the same person that is extremely attractive to mosquitoes when he is unwashed, but he becomes even more attractive to mosquitoes with one soap, and then become repellent to mosquitoes with another soap,” said Vinauger. Further research is needed to better understand the interaction between different soap and body scents, as well as to develop more effective mosquito repellents.

1. What has the study found?

A．Soap attracts many mosquitoes.	B．Male mosquitoes feed on blood.
C．Some plants drive away mosquitoes.	D．Not all soap can stop mosquito bites.

2. How did the researchers conduct the study?

A．By observing the mosquitoes’ behaviour.	B．By exploring the history of mosquitoes.
C．By interviewing a lot of volunteers.	D．By examining old studies.

3. Why did Vinauger mention coffee and bread?

A．To stress the importance of breakfast.

B．To discuss their probable health benefits.

C．To compare the difference of objects used in the study.

D．To prove the attractiveness of some soap to mosquitoes.

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

A．Health.

B．Chemistry.

C．Sports.

D．Tour.

5 . A new generation of opioids (阿片类药物) with fewer side effects is being explored by an Australian and Chinese research team.

Professor Maree Smith from the University of Queensland will present research on oliceridine being developed internationally, as well as results of her team’s CYX-6 research project on Saturday at a meeting to be held by Faculty of Pain Medicine (FPM) of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists during October 19-21 in Cairns.

Professor Smith’s laboratory is exploring the new opioid, together with the Chinese researcher, Professor Li Tingyou from Nanjing Medical University. She stressed that while the research project was still in its early stages and would consume much more time and energy, laboratory tests had found that a newly discovered compound (复合物), CYX-6, spared laboratory rats from some of the more common side effects of opioids. Strong opioids that are now used for pain relief can have serious and sometimes deadly side effects, such as breathing problems.

“We’ve seen that in the US there are many people who are dying as a result of taking too many opioids because they stop breathing,” Professor Smith explained. “Though it’s difficult, we are focusing on discovery of new opioid alternatives with a reduced risk of breathing difficulty. It is a hot topic in the research world at present. Our application of the compound would be a very positive step.”

Dr. Meredith Craigie, Dean of FPM, said opioid alternatives with fewer side effects like the one that is being investigated by Professor Smith required thorough study, and research into the possible unknown side effects of new opioids was an especially significant step in the development of potential new treatments for pain.

1. What is oliceridine?

A．An effective treatment.	B．A new opioid.
C．A kind of operation.	D．A piece of equipment.

2. What do we know about CYX-6?

A．It is found in the body of rats.	B．It is a compound used for pain relief.
C．It prevents some side effects of opioids.	D．It is newly invented by Professor Smith.

3. How does Professor Smith find their project?

A．Expensive.

B．Promising.

C．Popular.

D．Risky.

4. What did Dr. Meredith Craigie suggest?

A．Testing the side effects of new opioids.	B．Inventing opioids with better effects.
C．Developing new treatments for pain.	D．Using medicine for breathing difficulty.

6 . People are always living with technology nowadays. Here comes a smart home, which is controlled by the touch of a button.     1     This acts like a remote control to activate household systems and monitor inside temperatures. If done successfully, a smart home system will be integrated so seamlessly that a household will appear to run itself.

Home automation is designed to introduce efficiency to a home.     2     An efficient smart home uses sensors to prevent over watering of outdoor gardens and control room temperatures, all of which can reduce expenses. In addition to cost savings, home automation often provides a sense of security to homeowners.

Families with children or elderly adults in the home may be reassured by some safeguards in smart home security, like fire alarms that alert the appropriate agencies in the event of a problem. Lighting activation runs on timers, which can be a life saver if an oven is left on when someone leaves the home.     3    

Home automation is not just for safety, however.     4     With a centralized control unit, a person does not have to leave the couch to turn down the blinds or even order groceries, which can be automated.

    5     Such a home becomes dependent on technology for routine tasks. If something goes wrong with the central automation unit, it is not just one appliance at risk as malfunctions can disrupt systems that are vital to running a home. As a result, for all people, a home can become a place of technical faults that repeatedly require repair.

A．A smart home doesn’t apply to all family members.

B．It achieves this by saving homeowners time and money.

C．There are some drawbacks with an automated home system.

D．It can also provide convenience for people living in the home.

E．Home automation depends on furniture and home temperatures.

F．Through home automation, an entire house can be connected via a smart controller.

G．Besides protecting people, it also offers security for expensive items inside a residence.

7 . The design theory behind a pair of tiny robots may one day find its way into environmental monitoring, as well as search and-rescue tasks. Modeled after a water strider (水黾), an insect, the two robots each weigh in at 8 and 55 milligrams, and may mark the smallest, lightest, and fastest fully functional micro-robots in the world, according to Washington State University (WSU).

Developed by a team of WSU researchers, the robots’ tininess largely relies on a material known as a shape memory alloy (合金). Although shape memory alloys change form when heated, they can “remember” their original shapes and return to them after cooling. Because of this, the two micro-robots do not require standard motors, and they use light and small ones instead of bulky moving parts.

Both the robots’ motors are each made up of two shape memory alloys, allowing them to move their fins as fast as 40 times a second while also lifting over 150 times their weight. “They’re very technologically sound. The development of the very lightweight robots opens up new possibilities in micro-robotics,” said Conor Trygstad, a material engineering PhD student and study lead author. “Although the robots are impressive when compared to other robots, the pair still fall behind their biological relatives’,” Trygstad said. They can currently move at a speed of about six millimeters a second; a water strider, by comparison, speeds along at about a meter per second. For now, the robots also require wired (连线的) power sources, thus seriously preventing any real-world applications for the moment.

Going forward, however, the team plans to copy other small insect species while also creating a new water strider robot which can move at a higher speed. Depending on using small batteries could also greatly increase the robots’ areas of use, If the breakthrough designs continue improving, similar micro-robots could one day be employed to monitor hard-to-reachor dangerous environments.

1. What is the inspiration for the two robots?

A．A special monitor.	B．The lightest micro robot.
C．An insect species.	D．A search-and rescue task

2. What does the underlined word “bulky” mean in paragraph 2?

A．Cheap.

B．Huge.

C．Cool

D．Fast.

3. What might Conor Trygstad agree with?

A．Both robots can identify sound.	B．Both robots need wireless power sources.
C．Both robots work better than water striders.	D．Both robots have weaknesses besides strengths.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Robots Are Saving Environment	B．Shape Memory Alloys Are The Key
C．Human Beings Learn From Animals	D．Two Micro robots Can Play A Big Part

8 . On Dec 9, 2021, astronauts Zhai Zhigang, Wang Yaping and Ye Guangfu held their first open class aboard the Tianhe core module of the Chinese space station for pupils.

In the 50-minute online class, the three astronauts explained daily life in space, how to walk in a microgravity environment and showed the children how to recycle water, oxygen and carbon dioxide in their environment. Applause broke out among the 1,420-strong audience at the CSTM when one of the three astronauts poured out water, which formed into a perfect ball. Applause broke out again when they put an effervescent tablet (泡腾片) into the water, which sparked into bubbles (气泡). But the bubbles did not burst and instead stayed complete.

The open science lesson was broadcast live to the nation. On domestic video-sharing website Bilibili alone, the open course was watched at least 6 million times, with more views on other platforms and TV channels.

For Shi Hao, a space specialist at China Acrospace Science and Technology Corporation, the growing desire of school pupils to pursue knowledge about space reflects the growing potential of China in exploring the universe in the future.

“I still remember how impressed I was by the launch of Shenzhou VI in September 2005. From then on, I have carved out the dream of pursuing my career in astronautics from the bottom of my heart.” Shi said. “For many people like me, this is not only a job, but a lifelong addiction and commitment. It is of vital importance to let Chinese youths touch astronautics during their childhood so as to sustain the building of talents.”

He was echoed (回应) by Zhou, who places high hopes on the future of China’s space industry. “We have a population of 1.4 billion, of which more than 200 million are pupils at school. By inspiring their enthusiasm, China will get an abundant supply of talents for the national space research team.” “Chinese people will step further in the universe and the hope lies in our children,” he added.

1. What happened to the bubbles in the experiment?

A．They kept in an original state.

B．They broke all of a sudden.

C．They disappeared completely.

D．They floated in the space craft.

2. What can we learn about Shi Hao?

A．He was born with a talent in astronautics.

B．He is devoted to his career in astronautics.

C．He is an inspiration to many school pupils.

D．He was involved in the launch of Shenzhou VI.

3. Which statement will Zhou probably agree with?

A．It is tough to inspire pupils’ enthusiasm at school.

B．It is essential to expose children to space exploration.

C．It is unlikely to get abundant space research talents.

D．It is challenging to launch space courses among pupils.

4. Why did the author write this passage?

A．To introduce a unique lesson about an experiment in space.

B．To compliment the great achievements of space made in China.

C．To strengthen the importance of space knowledge among pupils.

D．To encourage astronautics staffs to devote themselves to their career.

9 . Students who are better able to understand and manage their emotions effectively, a skill known as emotional intelligence (EI), do better at school than their less-skilled classmates, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.

“It’s not enough to be smart and hardworking. Students must also be able to understand and manage their emotions to succeed at school,” said Carolyn MacCann, lead author of the study. MacCann and her colleagues analyzed data from more than 160 studies, representing more than 42,000 students from 27 countries, published between 1998 and 2019. The students ranged in age from primary school to college. The researchers found that students with higher EI tended to get higher grades and better achievement test scores than those with lower EI scores. This finding held true even when controlling for intelligence and personality factors. What was most surprising to the researchers was the association held despite different ages.

As for why EI can affect academic performance, MacCann believes a number of factors may come into play. “Students with higher EI may be better able to manage negative emotions, such as anxiety, boredom and disappointment, which can negatively affect academic performance,” she said. “Also, these students may be better able to manage the social world around them, forming better relationships with teachers, classmates and family, all of which are important to academic success.” Finally, the skills required for EI, such as understanding human motivation and emotion, may overlap with (与……重叠) the skills required to master certain subjects, such as history and language, giving students an advantage in those subject areas, according to MacCann.

However, MacCann cautions against widespread testing of students to identify and target those with low EI as it may stigmatize (给……打上烙印) those students. Instead, she recommends interventions that involve the whole school, including additional teacher training and a focus on teacher well-being and emotional skills. “Programs that integrate emotional skill development into the existing curriculum would be beneficial, as research suggests that training works better when run by teachers rather than external specialists,” she said. “Increasing skills for everyone — not just those with low EI—would benefit everyone.”

1. What surprised the researchers most during MacCann’s study?

A．Intelligence mattered more than EI for academic success.

B．EI had an effect on learning for students of all ages.

C．College students benefited more from EI than pupils.

D．Personality affected academic performance greatly.

2. What can be a reason for the conclusion of MacCann’s study?

A．High-EI students hardly experience negative emotions.

B．High-EI students seldom develop social relationships.

C．High-EI students tend to easily focus on their study.

D．High-EI students have helpful skills for certain subjects.

3. What does MacCann suggest in the last paragraph?

A．Equipping teachers with emotional skills.

B．Designing tests to identify students with low EI.

C．Developing special programs for students with low EI.

D．Employing emotional specialists to give training to students.

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

A．Should EI be taught in school?

B．How can students develop high EI?

C．Students with high EI do better in school

D．Good students do better in managing emotions

10 . Born in 1873 in an old town, the Carival of Viareggio now is one of the most popular events held in Vareggio, Italy. Some of the biggest carnival floats (彩车) in Viareggio are known to the whole world, turning into a kind of symbol (象征) showing peace, unity and love.

The Location And Transportation

The huge street parades (游行) take place on the seaside walkway of Vareggio. To get to Viareggio before the parades, visitors can easily arrive here by direct trains from Florence, Pisa, Lucca and Cinque Terre. The train station is only 10-15 minutes walk from the seaside walkway.

The 2024 Time Plan Of The Carnival

2023 was special because it was the 150th birthday of the Carnival of Viareggio. All stories and cultures of the carnival come from different corners of the world. This is why people call it “a common carnival”. Only a few days after the end of the 2023 carnival, its organization already worked out the dates of the 2024 carnival’s parades, The following is the schedule of the 2024 carnival’s parades.

Date	Time	Event
Saturday, Feb 3	4 pm	First floats parade
Thursday, Feb 8	6 pm	Second floats parade
Sunday, Feb 11	3 pm	Third floats parade
Tuesday, Feb 13	5 pm	Fourth floats parade
Sunday, Feb 18	3 pm	Fifth floats parade
Saturday, Feb 24	5 pm	Sixth and final floats parade

The winners will be showed and there will be fireworks at the end of the parades.

1. What is the Carnival of Viareggio famous for?

A．Its carnival floats.	B．Its long history.
C．Its famous stories.	D．Its seaside walkway.

2. What may be the best way for visitors to reach Viareggio for the carnival?

A．By boat                    B By plane                    C.By railway.                    D. By subway.

3. When will the third floats parade of the 2024 Carnival of Viareggio take place?

A．On Tuesday, February 13, at 6 pm.

B．On Sunday, February 11, at 3 pm.

C．On Sunday, February 1l, at 5 pm.

D．D.On Tuesday,February 13,at 3 pm.