1 . In today’s not-so-golden time of domestic air travel, checking a suitcase for free is a luxury afforded to few. And those who do check their bags often find themselves stressing out during the whole journey, wondering if their luggage (行李) is actually going to arrive at their destination with them. As a result, more travelers than ever are choosing to bring their belongings into a carry-on bag — many of them big and heavy, with wheels.
The result? A boarding free-for-all (混战), as nervous flyers wait around the gate hoping to be among the first to get on the plane — all to get a tiny piece of overhead space near their seat. Unfortunately, the older versions of those highly desired bins (柜) were not designed with your average carry-on roller suitcase in mind. They must be laid down flat, leaving a small space above them that is of little use, while taking up a good piece of bin space.
Enter French aircraft maker Airbus launches its new “Airspace L Bins” designed to be refitted in only three to five days. These specially shaped overhead compartments (隔层) promise to create 60% more cabin luggage space than traditional systems. How? Simply by allowing travelers to load their carry-on roller bags vertically (垂直地) instead of having to lay them flat. Made of ultra-lightweight composite (复合的) products, the refit reuses many parts of the original bin including the sidewall, ceiling and lighting to cut down on waste.
Flight attendants will likely approve of the new compartments too, knowing they can complete boarding procedures while hearing far fewer complaints from flyers about how they don’t have a place to store their bags.
Luggage has long been a contentious and complicated issue in the aviation world, and that doesn’t appear set to change with or without bigger bins. In the end, regardless of traveler preferences, most would agree that if better-designed bins can speed up the time we spend getting on and off the plane, we’re all for them.
1. Which of the following stops passengers from checking their luggage?| A．Cost and security. | B．Habit and preference. |
| C．Character and personality. | D．Environmental issues and protection. |
| A．To get a convenient luggage holder. |
| B．To occupy the most comfortable seat. |
| C．To check their luggage free of charge. |
| D．To make sure their luggage is safe. |
| A．They are made of a single material. | B．They are all refitted under the seats. |
| C．Their parts are entirely newly made. | D．They allow luggage to be set vertically. |
| A．Bigger bins are not key to flights. | B．The luggage problem has been totally settled. |
| C．New bins can save time for passengers. | D．Travelers will change their preferences. |
2 . Back to School: Tips to Help Students Adjust
Going back to school can be a scary, trying time for some students. Their worries may be related to adjusting to a new school, fear of what this school year will be like, being accepted by classmates or teachers and feeling pressure to get good grades. These tips can help students adjust:
For students attending a new school, visit the school in advance if possible. Many schools will offer student, parent and teacher conferences before school starts.
Review academic expectations. Identify where at home students will sit to do homework each day, such as at their desk or the kitchen table. When are they expected to start their homework? Review expectations for grades and how the family will address academic challenges.
Develop a good life routine for school. Make sure students sleep enough and develop consistent sleep routines, so students are able to mentally and emotionally prepare for bedtime.
There are times when routines and plans aren’t enough. If students don’t think they are adjusting well to school, reach out for additional support.
| A．So everyone can meet |
| B．For example, connect with teachers |
| C．Eat a healthy breakfast each morning |
| D．Try to meet different people at school |
| E．Have a plan for school-related conflicts |
| F．Anxiety or depression may be a contributing factor |
| G．Setting proper goals will help both children and parents |
3 . Because of a record drought, the Amazon River drops to the lowest level ever recorded. Smaller river systems that feed into the Amazon River have been drying up, leaving boats stranded (搁浅) and people in remote villages with very little food and water. The port of Manaus, where the Amazon River meets with the smaller river Rio Negro in Brazil, recorded 13.59 m of water on Monday compared to 17.60 m a year ago. That was the lowest level since records began in 1902. It was said the drought had affected 481,000 people so far.
The Brazilian government has blamed the drought on the El Nino climate pattern, which has brought hotter and drier weather. The government said it was expected the drought would last until at least December, when El Nino’s effects are forecast to reach the highest point.
The drought has made it hard to access food, drinking water and medicines, which are usually transported by river. After months without rain, some rainforest villagers were relieved when a Brazilian charity delivered supplies to their community. Some areas could still be reached by canoe, but many boats hadn’t been able to bring supplies along the river and a lot of supplies were being delivered by tractor. The drought also affected the cleanliness of the village’s drinking water. As a result, many children were getting ill and often having fever. Villagers said it wasn’t very good for them because they were practically isolated (隔绝).
El Nino has also affected the animals of the river. More than 100 endangered river dolphins are thought to have died because of high water temperatures. The Amazon rainforest represents about half of the remaining rainforest left on Earth and is home to more than one million species, or a third of all known land plants, animals and insects. About 150—200 billion tons of carbon is stored in the Amazon rainforest, making it important for the health of the whole planet.
1. What can we learn from paragraph 1?| A．Water level in Manaus hit its lowest in over a century. |
| B．The Amazon River has been drying up and disappearing. |
| C．It is important for the global fight against climate change. |
| D．It forces villagers living in the rainforest to leave their homes. |
| A．Optimistic. | B．Concerned. | C．Content. | D．Uncaring. |
| A．It contains almost all of the world’s fresh， flowing water. |
| B．It will cause the widespread droughts around the world. |
| C．It is important for the global fight against climate change. |
| D．It forces villagers living in the rainforest to leave their homes. |
| A．The Ecosystem of the Amazon Rainforest |
| B．The Importance of the Amazon River |
| C．The Amazon River and Its Rainforest |
| D．The Lowest Level of the Amazon River |
4 . During Brandi Tuck’s junior year at the University of Florida in 2004, her spring break plans fell through and it changed the course of her life.
All of her friends were going on alternative spring break trips, which gave them an opportunity to serve a diverse set of communities and she reluctantly signed up because nobody was going to the beach with her.
There were several trips to choose from, each focused on a cause like AIDs, women’s rights or the environment. But none of them spoke to Tuck. She’ d done community service for years, but more out of just a desire to enrich her resume (简历). “I picked the homelessness and poverty trip. I thought it was the least bad of the choices,” she recalled.
That spring, she and a dozen other students headed to Atlanta, Georgia, to spend a week volunteering at homeless shelters. The experience was eye-opening. At one shelter, one young boy’s request stopped her in her tracks. He said, “Oh, I love you. Can you please not go? Stay with me.” Tuck knew they didn’t have a lot of attention because the moms were so stressed. So she stayed. In that moment, Tuck decided to continue working at the shelter.
In 2008, Tuck started a nonprofit organization, now known as Path Home, which provides shelter, support, and a host of services to families experiencing homelessness in Portland, Oregon. The organization has since helped more than 10,000 parents and children. She also bought an old church to create an environment that would help families recover mentally as well as physically, giving them the sense of emotional, physical, and psychological safety.
Tuck says her wish is a society where every family receives the support and compassion they need to boom, which is all that she needs to continue doing the work.
1. What happened during Tuck’s spring break in 2004?| A．She traveled to the beach by herself. |
| B．She joined in a community service activity. |
| C．She was admitted to the University of Florida. |
| D．She organized a number of holiday study tours. |
| A．Excitedly. | B．Proudly. | C．Unwillingly. | D．Fortunately. |
| A．Tuck’s sympathy for the poor. | B．The effort that Tuck made. |
| C．Tuck’s reason for volunteering. | D．The honor that Tuck received. |
| A．The little boy’s invitation. | B．Her wish to help all the homeless out. |
| C．The challenges from her volunteering. | D．Path Home’s development. |
5 . In the shadow of Kenya’s Mount Kilimanjaro, nine Rothschild giraffes, the rarest giraffes on the planet, are free to wander at the English-style manor (庄园). Every day shortly before 9 a.m., they come up to the house and stick their heads through the windows and doors in search of morning treats. The manor’s owners, Tanya and Mikey Carr-Hartley, share their dining table with them. And now the couple are sharing the fantastic experience with the public by opening the manor gates to guests at the giraffe hotel, the only hotel of its kind in the world. Now, guests can feed the giraffes at breakfast but can also get up close to them from their second- floor bedrooms.
Mr and Mrs Carr-Hartley, both 38, spent their childhood living close to the house in Nairobi and have always been enthusiastic about the animals. Tanya said, “Mikey and I grew up near this manor house when we were children. We are both the third generation Kenyans and have always wanted to work in conservation. Mikey’s family have been related to the protection of animals for many generations, His grandfather helped the removal of giraffes as far back as the 1930s because the Rothschild giraffes lost much of their natural living space. When the house came up for sale, we jumped at the chance to buy it as we had always dreamed of owning it. Now, we were absolutely overjoyed to do something for the giraffe protection. Having the giraffes so close is very special and something which people can now experience by staying in one of the ten rooms at the hotel.”
A conservation project to save them was started at the manor in 1974 by the previous owners. “The previous owners ran a very successful breeding (繁殖) programme, where many giraffes were set free into the wild and we hope to continue,” said Tanya.
1. Why are the Carr-Hartley family unusual?| A．They’re living on the rarest giraffes. | B．They share their home with giraffes. |
| C．They’re good at making giraffes’ food. | D．They train giraffes to manage the hotel. |
| A．It has had a long connection with giraffes. | B．It used to raise giraffes around the manor. |
| C．It built a new manor for the wild giraffes. | D．It removed giraffes to Mount Kilimanjaro. |
| A．Failed. | B．Energy-saving. | C．Expensive. | D．Successful. |
| A．Giraffes’ Breakfast by Guests | B．Reasons for Giraffe Protection |
| C．The World’s Only Giraffe Hotel | D．History of the Giraffe Manor |
6 . Traveling with family members can not only enhance the parent-child relationship, but also broaden the horizons and share happiness and memories. Take a trip with your family to one of the destinations below!
Yellowstone National Park
Kids will love watching Old Faithful, one of nearly 500 geysers (间歇喷泉) in Yellowstone, erupt, and there’s nothing like a hike for family bonding. Keep an eye out for wild animals, or visit the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center to guarantee some animal interactions. Hotels are expensive, so consider taking advantage of the park’s well-equipped campsites.
Orlando
Appealing, thrilling and fun, Walt Disney World Resort (度假村) is engineered specifically for families. Orlando also has a handful of other theme parks, including Universal Orlando Resort, where you’ll find The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and Discovery Cove, an all-inclusive day resort, where you can swim and dive around the park’s coral reef.
Destin
Big Kahuna’s Water & Adventure Park(open seasonally)features waterslides and a lazy river, while the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park is home to animals kids love, including dolphins and penguins. And if you’re looking for an adventure on the water, consider booking a boat tour at Henderson Beach State Park or Crystal Beach Park. Just don’t forget to pack your beach hat.
Anaheim
Anaheim, California has been home to Disneyland Resort since 1955. After catching up with Mickey and friends, visit Anaheim’s Adventure City Amusement Park or Knott’s Berry Farm Theme Park—another top amusement park in the U.S. And if you’ re in town during baseball season, you can catch a game at Angel Stadium.
1. What can visitors do in Yellowstone National Park?| A．Check into a discounted hotel. | B．Take photos with film characters. |
| C．Watch an ancient volcano erupt. | D．Stay at well-equipped campsites. |
| A．Crystal Beach Park. | B．Henderson Beach State Park. |
| C．Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park. | D．Big Kahuna’s Water & Adventure Park. |
| A．They include lazy rivers. | B．They provide some animal interactions. |
| C．They have Disney-themed resorts. | D．They host professional baseball games. |
7 . A recent report from a higher education advising organization says nearly 40 percent of American employers avoid offering jobs to recent college graduates.
They said members of Generation Z, or “Gen Z”, the group of Americans born between 1997 and 2012, make a lot of mistakes in job interviews. They say they would rather employ older workers who work harder and are dependable.
The report came out in December and noted that, of 800 directors, managers and executives asked questions, 38 percent said they favor older workers. About 20 percent of employers said young people brought a parent with them to a job interview. Almost 60 percent of those surveyed said recent college graduates are unprepared for work and about half said they had to dismiss, or fire, a recent college graduate. Others said the young workers do not take criticism well.
Because of bad experiences with younger workers, more than half of the business leaders said they are putting policies in place that older workers want. For example, they are offering benefits that are important to older workers, paying higher salaries and permitting older workers to work from home.
One respondent gave an example of a Gen Z job seeker who refused to turn on their camera during a video interview. Michael Connors is a recruiter in the Washington, D. C. area. He said he has not had a job candidate saying they will not use their camera for interviews. However, he has had some candidates choosing noisy places for calls.
Adam Capozzi is the career services director at Syracuse University in New York State. He said while many students are very good about online communication, and data management and have experience with spreadsheets, they need help with the “soft skills”. “You could be in an elevator at a specific office building or at a different establishment and bump into someone and strike up a 30-second conversation and not know who they are associated with and a positive first impression can lead to further conversation.”
1. Which of the following about some American employers’ opinions on Gen Z members is NOT true?| A．They don’t work as diligently as older employees. |
| B．They are less reliable than older employees. |
| C．They are not fully prepared in job interviews. |
| D．They make many errors in the workplace. |
| A．Of 496 directors, managers and executives are in favor of younger workers. |
| B．More than half of the business leaders are implementing policies older workers want. |
| C．Strange behavior of Gen Z job candidates in the interview s has dissatisfied recruiters. |
| D．Michael Connors doesn’t mind whether job seekers turn on their cameras. |
| A．Because there are many occasions where we need to use the skills. |
| B．Because the skills can help workers get promoted quickly. |
| C．Because the skills can establish a good relationship between you and others. |
| D．Because the skills can improve the workers’ experience in the workplace. |
| A．US Businesses Are Concerned about Hiring Young, “Gen Z” Workers. |
| B．“Gen Z” Workers’ Different Personalities in the Workplace. |
| C．Why Old Workers Are More Welcomed than “Gen Z” Workers? |
| D．American “Gen Z” Members Are Facing Unemployment Nowadays. |
8 . During the 2020-2021 school year, due to a special event, I was one of two fully remote fourth-grade teachers in my school. We each taught the required disciplines: English language arts, math, social studies, and science. Given the reduced distribution time on camera with students, the flexibility of focusing on additional topics was almost impossible. Yet, while I was virtually teaching a life sciences unit, a “teachable moment” on news literacy came up.
The skill being taught was supposed to be to compare and contrast, a requirement in fiction and nonfiction texts — a lesson that all literacy educators are familiar with and have tools in their toolboxes to address. My students were intrigued by a sidebar (侧边栏) that said the crabs have a plant-based diet, eating such items as leaves, fruits, and flowers. One of the kids — an experienced social media user — then said something wild: crabs eat their babies.
They all perked up (活跃起来). Suddenly it seemed everyone was interested in the lesson. I hadn’t planned on teaching news literacy skills, but it became clear that we needed to take that detour (绕道而行). It was almost time for a break, so I asked my students to see if they could figure out what red crabs eat.
When we returned, we started a list of what we’d found. The first few students said it was true: red crabs do eat their babies. One especially thoughtful student found a video with over 600,000 views that seemed to corroborate the notion that crabs eat their babies. During the break, however, I found a website disagreeing with the exact video my student had shared. Like so much misinformation, there was some truth to the video, but it was highly misleading.
Rather than teach another lesson on comparing and contrasting, I engaged my students in a discussion about sourcing and how to know what to trust. We focused on famous news organizations and how to spot signs of bias. We engaged in “lateral reading”: a method of going to other sites to learn about those sources that we weren’t sure about.
1. How did the special event have an effect on the author’s teaching?| A．He was the only one to teach disciplines online in the school. |
| B．The length of an online course was reduced. |
| C．He was not allowed to talk about additional topics. |
| D．The disciplines he taught became fewer. |
| A．Interesting and open. | B．Relaxing and noisy. |
| C．Serious and quiet. | D．Lively and competitive. |
| A．Oppose. | B．Doubt. | C．Ignore. | D．Prove. |
| A．The ability to compare and contrast is valuable. |
| B．A teacher should be knowledgeable enough to answer questions from students. |
| C．Gather more information when we have no idea of what to trust. |
| D．Critical thinking and the courage to question are key to finding the truth. |
9 . In the campus bookstore, I shop for the items on Morrie’s reading list. I purchase books that I never knew existed, titles such as Youth: Identity and Crisis, I and Thou, The Divided Self.
Before college I did not know the study of human relations could be considered scholarly. Until I met Morrie, I did not believe it.
But his passion for books is real and contagious. We begin to talk seriously sometimes, after class when the room has emptied. He asks me questions about my life, then quotes lines from Erich Fromm. Martin Buber, Erik Erikson. Often he defers to their words, footnoting his own advice, even though he obviously thought the same things himself. It is at these times that I realize he is indeed a professor, not an uncle. One afternoon, I am complaining about the confusion of my age, what is expected of me versus what I want for myself.
“Have I told you about the tension of opposites?” he says.
The tension of opposites?
“Life is a series of pulls back and forth. You want to do one thing, but you are bound to do something else. Something hurts you, yet you know it shouldn’t. You take certain things for granted, even when you know you should never take anything for granted.”
“A tension of opposites, like a pull on a rubber band. And most of us live somewhere in the middle.”
“Sounds like a wrestling match,” I say.
“A wrestling match.” He laughs. “Yes, you could describe life that way.”
“So which side wins,” I ask?
“Which side wins?”
He smiles at me, the crinkled eyes, the crooked teeth.
“Love wins. Love always wins.”
1. Which of the following is the relationship between the author and Morrie?| A．Uncle and nephew. | B．Teacher and student. |
| C．Friends. | D．Classmates. |
| A．The author’s college time is amazing. |
| B．We should love everyone in life. |
| C．Morrie is a senior full of wisdom. |
| D．There is always surprise in the campus bookstore. |
| A．To express that Morrie is unreliable. |
| B．To show the confidence and pride of Morrie. |
| C．To show how funny the author’s question is. |
| D．To contrast with the author’s disappointment. |
| A．Two forces in life limit our development. |
| B．We need to take anything for granted if we want to go on. |
| C．We are sandwiched between two forces in our lives. |
| D．Sincere and loving heart can heal the life. |
10 . Some of the oldest living things on our remarkable planet are trees. The record holders are bristlecone pines (狐尾松) of the western United States, quite a few of which are known to be more than 3,000 years old. One individual, discovered in 2012, is estimated to be more than 5,060 years old, making it the oldest known non-clonal tree in the world!
So, how do trees survive for thousands of years?
The other part of the answer has to do with how trees age. In fact, there is quite a debate about whether ancient trees can be considered “immortal (永生的)”. That is, will such trees ever die if they are not killed by an outside force? We may never know the answer to that, but, at the very least,
Older trees benefit greatly from having bodies made mostly of dead woody tissue. In fact, an old tree might be as much as 95 percent dead tissue! Given that it isn’t alive, wood does not require metabolic (新陈代谢的) activity to maintain it,
| A．so an old tree doesn’t really need to do much to keep living |
| B．This is a question that has something to do with the good luck of trees |
| C．However, bristlecones are certainly not alone in terms of the oldest creatures |
| D．This is a fascinating question for biologists that does not yet have a settled answer |
| E．What’s more, some ancient trees have superior chemical defenses against pests and diseases |
| F．which means that trees can survive everywhere without being limited by external and internal conditions |
| G．we know that ancient trees age in ways that are dramatically different from the ways that most animals and even other plants age |
