1 . A blue hole is a special kind of underwater cave found inland or in the sea, which forms when the earth above a cave falls in and water fills the space.
An inland blue hole’s water is very still and has different layers. A layer of fresh rainwater floats on top of salt water; the fresh water keeps oxygen from the atmosphere from reaching the salt water; brightly colored bacteria live where the two layers meet.
Diving into blue holes is very dangerous. Near the top of the blue hole, there is a layer of toxic gas, which causes itching, headache, and—in large amounts—death. Divers must also be fast. They have to get in and out of a cave before their oxygen runs out. Additionally, divers have to follow a guideline as they swim through a blue hole because it is very dark inside. Without the guideline, they may get lost.
If blue holes are so dangerous, why do explorers and scientists risk their lives to explore them? The reason is that these underwater caves can provide valuable scientific information. They provide clues about geology, archaeology, and biology. For example, some blue hole creatures probably haven’t changed for millions of years.
The blue holes could even provide clues about astrobiology. For example, divers have found bacteria there that can live without oxygen. Astrobiologist Kevin Hand says the bacteria may be similar to forms of life that might exist on Jupiter’s fourth largest moon, Europa. “Our study of life’s extremes on Earth,” he says, can help increase “our understanding of habitable environments off Earth.”
In addition, the oxygen-free environment of the blue holes preserves bones of humans and animals that fell into the caves long ago. By studying blue holes, we can understand what life was like in prehistoric times. As cave diver Kenny Broad says, “I can think of no other environment on Earth that is so challenging to explore and gives us back so much scientifically.”
1. What’s the main idea of Paragraph 1?| A．The definition of a blue hole. | B．The location of a blue hole. |
| C．The formation of a blue hole. | D．The structure of a blue hole. |
| A．In the saltwater layer. |
| B．In the freshwater layer. |
| C．In between the freshwater and saltwater layers. |
| D．In both of the freshwater and saltwater layers. |
| A．The study of life on Earth. |
| B．The study of life in the universe. |
| C．The study of life in prehistoric times. |
| D．The study of life in oxygen-free environment. |
| A．They’re oxygen-free and lifeless. | B．They’re free of air and light. |
| C．They’re death zones and mysterious. | D．They’re poisonous and dark. |
2 . The second experiment on how to grow crops on Mars and moon soil simulant(模拟装置)has given a surprising outcome. As a result of what the researchers of Wageningen University & Research center in the Netherlands learned from their first experiment, they were able to grow ten different crop species. Tomatoes, peas, rye, garden rocket, radish and garden cress were harvested.
A few improvements have been made since the first experiment. Researcher Wieger Wamelink said, “We used trays instead of original small pots and added organic material (fresh cut grass) to the Mars and moon soil simulant. This solved the problem we had with watering in the first experiment and also added manure(肥料)to the soils.” In particular, the crop growth on the moon soil simulant showed improvement. While in the first moon soil experiment most plants died, in the next round they flourished, and the researchers could harvest from the same species as on the Mars soil simulant and the Earth potting compost(混合肥料)control.
The production of biomass(生物量)on the Mars soil simulant was lower than on Earth control, but it was a minor difference and caused by one of the trays that showed less growth. It was also not statistically different from the Earth control. “That was a real surprise to us,” comments Wamelink. “It shows that the Mars soil simulant has great potential when properly prepared and watered. The biomass growth on the moon soil simulant was less than on both other soils, about half of the biomass. Only the spinach(菠菜)showed poor biomass production.”
Although the researchers harvested several eatable crops, they did not eat them. The soils contain heavy metals like lead, arsenic and mercury and also a lot of iron. If the components become available for the plants, they may be taken up and find their way into the fruits, making them poisonous. Further research on this is necessary and that is one of the reasons why a crowdfunding(众筹)campaign has been started to finance the third experiment that will be all about food safety. If the crops prove to be safe enough to eat, the funders will be invited for dinner where a ‘Martian meal’ will be served that includes the harvested crops; at least for those who dare!
1. What do the researchers gain from the first experiment?| A．They can harvest ten crop species. |
| B．They learn what the organic material is. |
| C．They’re sure that they will succeed next time. |
| D．They learn they have to change the plant containers. |
| A．The process of how to plant crops on soil simulant in the experiment. |
| B．In spite of some drawbacks, the Mars soil simulant has great potential. |
| C．The reasons why the production of biomass on the Mars soil simulant was lower. |
| D．The production of biomass on the Mars soil simulant is obviously different from that on the Earth control |
| A．What they harvested was not eatable. |
| B．They haven’t got enough funding support. |
| C．The crops may contain various poisonous substances. |
| D．The production of the crops was lower than that on the Earth control. |
| A．Crops Grown on Fake Mars and Moon Soil |
| B．Time to Crowdfund Eatable Crops |
| C．Growing Plants on Mars and the Moon |
| D．Colony in Outer-space Becomes Reality |
3 . Massive snowstorms and a blast of chilly air swept across northern China in the first week of November, leaving many people shaking in the freezing cold. At the same time, a global conference on climate change - COP 26 - was held in Glasgow, Scotland, where the key topic was how to control the trend of global warming.
So why are we experiencing such a freezing winter on a warming planet?
The cold snap (寒潮) and global warming, two seemingly opposing forces, are not contradictory, Zhou Bing, chief expert at the China Meteorological Administration’s National Climate Center, told China Daily.
Global warming does not appear evenly, but causes more extreme heat and cold, Zhou explained. Against the backdrop of a warming planet, China has seen a growing average temperature in winter, which has increased by 0.41℃ every decade since 1961. But in some cases, the country has also experienced freezing cold - for instance, the icy weather that hit the country in early 2008.
Global warming has changed the patterns of Earth’s atmosphere circulation, affecting the local climate via sea-air or land-air interaction. In October, La Nina, the periodic cooling of ocean surface temperatures in the central and east-central equatorial (赤道的) Pacific, started to affect China, bringing more cold air to the country, said the National Climate Center. Between 1951 and 2020, a total of 15 La Nina events occurred in China. Ten of them brought lower-than-average winter temperatures, according to the National Climate Center.
Another reason for the chilly weather is the warming Arctic. The Arctic is warming twice as fast as any other place on Earth, according to NPR. The polar vortex (涡流)- a rotating pool of cold, dense air - weakens as the temperature goes up, pushing the cold Arctic air southward.
So will this winter be particularly cold? Unlike a series of cold waves that cool down the nation gradually, people will experience the quick freeze effects several times, and a cold winter is likely, a Beijing-based climate expert told Global Times.
The official forecast also said that northern China will see more snow than average and southern China less rainfall than average.
1. What does the underlined word “contradictory” in paragraph 3 probably mean?| A．opposite | B．common | C．similar | D．connected |
| A．freezing winters are rare in China |
| B．it is becoming warmer in winter |
| C．global warming is not as serious as we thought |
| D．global warming can cause extreme cold |
| A．A rise in temperature. | B．Less rainfall. |
| C．Colder winters. | D．Big storms. |
| A．To describe the phenomena and causes of La Nina. |
| B．To explain the connection between the cold snap and global warming. |
| C．To predict if this winter will be particularly cold. |
| D．To discuss the importance of stopping global warming. |
4 . Two years ago I was very lonely and didn’t talk with anyone about my feelings. At the time I didn’t have many friends. I wanted someone to share my experiences and secrets with. I wanted someone to understand me. I started to imagine this friend. Often I imagine our conversations and what we would do, but I didn’t give my imagination a face.
Some weeks later I started a new project in school and I was working with one of my schoolmates. We had never worked together before but we got along well. After the project we started to spend some time together in school. One day we decided to take a walk. Ever since that walk we’ve been friends. We listened and really understood each other.
I had wished for a best friend, but the universe gave me so much more. I have met one of my soul mates. We can sense each other, and it just takes one look and we know what the other is thinking. I didn’t think our friendship could grow much stronger. But now we have known each other for two years and our friendship is growing all the time.
It hasn’t only been easy. We have gone through both easy and hard times. But I’m grateful for the hard times, because they have forced me to grow and taught me a lot. My best friend has changed me. She has made me believe in myself. And I am now focusing on achieving one of my biggest dreams. Without her, I wouldn’t even have realized what my biggest dream is.
I know there are soul mates out in the world for you. I am so lucky to have met one of mine. Believe in them, and your paths will cross.
1. What did the author do before meeting her soul mate?| A．She chose to stay alone. |
| B．She spent time with other friends. |
| C．She told others about her feelings. |
| D．She pictured a friend in her mind. |
| A．By taking a walk. |
| B．By attending a party. |
| C．Through a school project. |
| D．Through a friend’s introduction. |
| A．Their friendship is still developing. |
| B．She is the author’s only soul mate. |
| C．They are trying hard to realize their dreams. |
| D．She has little confidence in their friendship. |
| A．Vague. | B．Thankful. | C．Intolerant. | D．Critical. |
5 . SHOULD WE FIGHT NEW TECHNOLOGY?
This morning, I saw the shocking headline: “Passenger Dies When Car Crashes in Driverless Mode”. In the article, a lot of people said that the public should oppose the idea of developing driverless cars. They said that some advances in technology were unnecessary and could even be dangerous. Therefore, we should stop accepting technology just because it is new. The newspaper reported that the car company had already apologized for the accident, but the families of the deceased (死者) said it was not enough. Nevertheless, the company still claimed that most people would be travelling in driverless cars one day soon.
On the one hand, there are many different groups of people around the world who live happily in the absence of technology. Probably the most well-known are the Amish, a group of Christians living in rural America. They do not own or drive cars, watch TV, or use the Internet. They have lived mainly as farmers since the 18th century, and they will probably be living the same way in the distant future. They advocate a simple life with a focus on hard work, family, and community. They think that is better than caring about luxuries or following the lives of the rich and famous. It could even be argued that the Amish’s quality of life is better since they live in and appreciate the natural environment rather than living in large, polluted cities.
On the other hand, new technology has provided people everywhere with many benefits over the years. For example the latest weather-tracking computer programs give people lots of warnings about potential natural disasters, which saves many lives. Moreover, the Internet has made it possible for friends and family to keep in touch easily even if they are on opposite sides of the world. It has also made finding opportunities in life much easier, as it allows people to make larger networks of friends through using social media.
Personally, I have benefited quite a lot from technological advances. I found my career as an Al designer through a social media network. My health monitor, which I wear all the time, has also helped me get into the best shape of my life. Of course, when new technology changes the way we live, it can be a scary prospect. Nevertheless, I will always look on the positive side of change and accept it rather than resist it.
1. What can we learn from the first paragraph?| A．The relatives of the victim would never accept the apology. |
| B．Many people took a negative attitude to this new technology |
| C．A person died in an accident while driving his brand-new car. |
| D．The company was very concerned about the future of this new technology. |
| A．To persuade us to follow their natural living style. |
| B．To tell us the Amish prefer a harmonious and peaceful life. |
| C．To prove people can still live better without new technology. |
| D．To advocate a simple life with family and community by hard work. |
| A．future | B．advance | C．resistance | D．positivity |
| A．The author wanted to praise the advantages of new technology. |
| B．The author wanted to show his supportive idea of new technology. |
| C．The author wanted to criticize the disadvantages of new technology. |
| D．The author wanted to arouse people’s concern about new technology. |
6 . Are we getting more stupid? According to Gerald Crabtree, a scientist at Stanford University in the US, we are.
You may not want to hear this, but Crabtree believes that human intelligence reached its peak more than 2,000 years ago and ever since then has been going downhill. “If an average Greek from 1,000 BC were transported to modern times, he or she would be one of the brightest among us,” Crabtree told The Guardian.
At the heart of Crabtree’s thinking is a simple idea. In the past, intelligence was critical for survival when our ancestors had to avoid dangerous animals and hunt for food. The difference of being smart or stupid is often life or death. However, after the spread of agriculture when our ancestors began to live in dense farming communities, the need to keep their intelligence in peak condition gradually reduced.
This is not hard to understand. Most of the time, pressure is what keeps us going — you need the pressure from your teachers to finish your homework; the pressure of looking pretty encourages you to lose weight when summer comes. And the same is true of our intelligence — if we think less, we become less smart.
These mutations (变异) are harmful to our intelligence and they were all developed in the past 3,000 years. The other evidence that Crabtree holds is in our genes. He found that among the 2,000 to 5,000 genes that we have that determine human intelligence, there are two or more mutations in each of us.
However, Crabtree’s theory has been criticized by some who say that earl humans may have better hunting and surviving abilities, but people today have developed more diverse intelligence. For example, spearing (用矛刺) a tiger doesn’t necessarily require more brainpower than playing chess or writing a poem. Moreover, the power of modern education means a lot more people have the opportunity to learn nowadays.
“You wouldn’t get Stephen Hawking 2, 000 years ago. He just wouldn’t exist,” now Thomas Hills of the University of Warwick, UK, told Live Science. “But now we have people of his intellectual capacity doing things and making insights (洞察力) that we would never have achieved in our environment of evolutionary adaptation (进化适应).”
1. What is Crabtree’s recent finding according to the article?
| A．The Greeks from 1,000 BC could have been the smartest in human history. |
| B．Our ancient ancestors had no better surviving abilities than we do nowadays. |
| C．Humans have been getting steadily more intelligent since the invention of farfing. |
| D．Mutations in genes that decide human intelligence have affected the development of intelligence. |
| A．were forced to be smart due to natural selection pressures |
| B．had much more genes that determine human Intelligence |
| C．relied more on group intelligence than individual intelligence |
| D．developed diverse intelligence to adapt to the hard realities |
| A．people today are under much more pressure than early humans |
| B．it’s unreasonable to compare hunter’s and a poet’s intelligence |
| C．modern education is far more advanced than ancient education |
| D．human intelligence nowadays is different from that of the distant past |
| A．He is for Crabtree’s theory. |
| B．He is against Crabtree’s theory |
| C．He is worried about Crabtree’s theory. |
| D．He is confused about Crabtree’s theory. |
7 . “Yes, he must be a poor artist,” thought Miss Martha, a middle-aged single lady who had a bakery. A regular customer attracted her attention. He spoke English witha strong German accent. His clothes were worn and wrinkled in places. But he looked neat, and had very good manners. Once Miss Martha saw a red and brown stain on his fingers.
Every time he bought two loaves of stale(陈旧的) bread. Fresh bread was five cents a loaf. Stale ones were two for five. Never did he call for anything but stale bread.
Genius often has to struggle before it is recognized Her heart ached to add something good to eat to his purchase, but she did not dare offend him. She knew the pride of artists.
One day the customer came in as usual. While Miss Martha was reaching for loaves, there was a fire engine with great noise outside. The customer hurried to the door to look, as any one will. Suddenly inspired, Miss Martha seized the opportunity and quickly inserted a generous quantity of butter into the loaves to do a pleasant favor for him.
Had she been too bold? Would he take offense? She imagined the scene when he should discover her little secret. Would he think of the hand that put the butter? Would he invite her to look at his artwork?
The other day in his friend’s company, the man came, with his face red and hair terribly messy. He clinched his two fists and shook them angrily at Miss Martha,“ Stupid!” he shouted with extreme loudness “You had spoiled it . You are poking your nose into other's business!”
The other man said, “That’s Blumberger, an architectural draftsman. He’s been working hard for three months drawing a plan for a new city hall. He always makes his drawing in pencil first. When it’s done he rubs out the pencil lines with handfuls of stale bread. That’s better than India rubber. Well, until today! That butter isn’t well. Blumberger’s plan isn’t good for anything now.”
1. Miss Martha assumes that the man is .| A．a genius painter who cannot afford fresh bread. |
| B．a talented artist who shows interest in her. |
| C．hardworking architect who is yet to be recognized |
| D．a proud customer who has very good manners. |
| A．pity | B．curiosity | C．love | D．guilt |
| A．Because his friend let out his secret. |
| B．Because the butter interrupted his plan. |
| C．Because the loaves ruined his reputation. |
| D．Because Miss Martha destroyed his draft. |
| A．One Good Act Being Well Awarded |
| B．A Good Deed Coming to No Good |
| C．The Talented Receiving Nothing |
| D．Love Leading to Misunderstanding |
8 . Friends always ask why I, a middle-aged woman with no athletic (运动) talent (天赋), travel to perilous places — the jungles (丛林) of Thailand or Borneo, for example, where the water is often unsafe and the food risky; places with infectious diseases, poisonous snakes and the wildest animals.
I never know how to answer. Nine years ago I suffered a stroke (中风). To prevent another stroke, my doctors told me, I’d have to take dangerously high levels of blood thinner (血液稀释剂) for the rest of my life and any travel would be risky (冒险的).
I had to think about what was important to me: family, of course, and friends. But then what? No matter how many times I thought about it, I could not be happy without travel. Then I had to decide how I might manage the risk.
The first real test of my travel courage came nine months after my stroke when I joined my husband, Jack, on a business trip to China. After we’d toured the remains of a Tang dynasty temple on a high mountain, Jack wanted to ride down on a toboggan (长雪橇).
Before the stroke it would’ve seemed like fun. But now? I hesitated. My mental klaxon (高音喇叭) screamed warnings about the consequences of a cut, a fall, and a crash. Then, gaining confidence from who knew where, I lowered myself carefully into the toboggan, which marked my adventure (冒险) travel come back.
In the years since then, I’ve traveled about twenty-five percent of the time. Through it all, my lucks held out — no deadly falls, no car accidents or serious infections. For me, adventure travel is a risk worth taking. Travel broadens my world and keeps me connected to nature. What’s more, saying “yes” to travel keeps me connected to myself.
1. What does the underlined word “perilous” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?| A．Energetic. | B．Dangerous. | C．Romantic | D．Famous. |
| A．Do proper exercise. | B．Enjoy the rest of her life. |
| C．Spend more time with her family | D．Keep away (远离) from traveling |
| A．It was her last adventure. | B．She recovered (恢复) her courage (勇气) through it. |
| C．She liked the beautiful scenery in China. | D．It was the most dangerous experience in her life. |
| A．A business trip to China | B．Stroke, a dangerous disease |
| C．How I overcame the fear of disease | D．Why I still travel to the wild |
9 . What makes people so special? Tool use, self-consciousness, language, and culture are high on the list, but in fact all of these characteristics can be found elsewhere in the animal kingdom. Humans and apes are close relatives, so it is perhaps not surprising that chimpanzees use tools or that gorillas (大猩猩) have a sense of fair play, even rejecting carrots (which they normally accept) when they see their neighbors getting grapes. But the qualities that we often think of as uniquely human exist not just on land, but in the ocean as well.
Among the invertebrates, octopuses (八爪鱼) are known for their intelligence, even exhibiting evidence of playfulness, tool use, and personality. But these skilled predators live alone and consequently lack culture. Dolphins, on the other hand, are large-brained, long-living, social- group-based predators, and it is here that we find the greatest similarity to human-like culture and awareness.
Culture depends on the ability of animals to pass on things they have learned to others. Many animals have culture in this sense, but what sets dolphins apart is what they pass on. Some bottlenose dolphins hold sponges in their mouths that they use as tools to sweep for fish hiding on the ocean floor. This ability is handed down through generations (especially in females), with some families — grandmother, mother, and daughter — all feeding in this highly specialized way.
Another characteristic that dolphins share with humans is their ability to recognize themselves in a mirror. When facing a mirror, most animals behave as though they are interacting with another individual. Even in humans, the ability to recognize that the image in a mirror is oneself does not occur before the age of 18 months. Dolphins not only recognize themselves, but if a black mark is put on the body of a dolphin, it will spend extra time at the mirror to look at the mark.
1. The example of gorillas rejecting carrots shows they ________.| A．are not easy to fool | B．prefer fruit to vegetables |
| C．have a special taste for food | D．have an awareness of equality |
| A．Cooperation. | B．Intelligence. |
| C．Tool using ability. | D．Fun-loving spirits. |
| A．They tend to hunt in groups. |
| B．Their hunting skills are passed down. |
| C．Their learning environment is favourable. |
| D．Their families are typically female-controlled. |
| A．Dolphins enjoy looking at their own reflection in the mirror. |
| B．Dolphins are as intelligent as a typical 18-month-old human baby. |
| C．Dolphins are generally regarded as the most advanced non-human species. |
| D．Dolphins’ ability to recognize their own reflection is a higher-order mental skill. |
10 . As you grow rapidly through your teenage years, you will experience a lot of changes. The changes may seem difficult and they may seem to happen quickly. Don’t panic! You will deal successfully with them! You are a young adult now!
With more responsibility, you will find more freedom to make your own choices. This is a time to be well informed about your choices so that you can make healthy balanced decisions that will help shape your future. You may already know your career path or you may have no idea at all what you want to do. Both situations are fine! Work hard and the right opportunity will present itself to you.
Young adulthood means greater freedom and more choices. You will probably want to be independent. But try not to shut your family out of your life. You should learn to think of others even though you are old enough to look after yourself. Your family have been with you since you came into this world.
It is also perfectly natural in this time for you to spend more time with your friends than your family. Choose your friends wisely. A true friend will stand by you no matter what happens.
This period is part of the life cycle. There are some people who will be with you throughout life’s journey and there will be some people with whom you part and go separate ways. Leaving school can be hard. The reality is that you may not ever see all of your classmates again.
You are a young adult. It is your life. No one can live it for you. The choices that you make from now on will be your choices. So making the right choices will be important to you. Life is for living. Enjoy your life wisely!
1. The best title for this passage would be ________.| A．The Choices in Life | B．The Key to Success |
| C．Say Goodbye to the Past | D．Becoming a Young Adult |
| A．your parents. | B．your deskmates. |
| C．true friends. | D．your relatives. |
| A．a period of complete freedom |
| B．too hard for young people to get through |
| C．an important time for the young to make the right choices |
| D．a very important period for young students to leave their parents |
| A．Teenagers. | B．Teachers. | C．Young parents. | D．Adults. |
