1 . Nowadays, everyone seems to hope to go into space and live on new planets. Instead of depending on another pre-existing planet, could we make a new planet by ourselves?
First of all, if we were to live on it, we should find a good place in space to put the new planet. We would want it to be in a habitable zone, which means the planet should be at the right distance from its star to make sure there would be perfect temperatures and most importantly, liquid water.
We’d also need the right materials to make the planet. Our Earth is made up of many different elements (元素). If we made our own new planet, we’d probably want it to have similar elements and a similar structure (结构). We’d also want enough water to form some oceans.
But even if we get all of the materials, creating a new planet like Earth could have many troubles. It might be something more like a huge space station. It would be pretty expensive if we wanted it to be super big.
We would probably also need a lot of food because there is going to be many scientists and astronauts out in space working on this project!
According to NASA, each astronaut uses about 0.83 kilograms of food per meal, including 0.12 kilograms of packaging (包装) material. Without the weight of the packaging material, we’d need about 780 kilograms of food just to feed one astronaut for a year.
Putting all these together could make it possible to make our own planet one day! In fact, creating a new planet would probably require a very modern technology and there would be tons of other things to think about. And if this is possible, it won’t likely happen within a very long time.
1. To create a new planet, which of the following should we first do?| A．To collect materials similar to Earth. | B．To prepare plenty of food for astronauts to eat. |
| C．To design its inner structure. | D．To find a proper place to set it. |
| A．About 0.12 kilograms. | B．About 0.71 kilograms. |
| C．About 0.83 kilograms. | D．About 0.95 kilograms. |
| A．It is a waste of time and money. |
| B．It may be a dangerous thing for humans. |
| C．It is impossible to come true in the near future. |
| D．It should be one of NASA’s next plans. |
2 . To raise money for restaurant workers who had to stay at home during COVID-19, two brothers, Aiden and Louis Ardine, decided to walk 3,200 miles across America to raise money.
Having just arrived on the sands of the Pacific Ocean, Aiden and Louis Ardine have now completed their five-month walk which started on the Asbury Park boardwalk in New Jersey. They hoped to raise $30, 000 for some charities (慈善组织) that were helping restaurant workers waiting for lockdown (隔离) to end, but ended up making $70,000 — which they gave away to the COCO Fund and the Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation.
“This would not have been possible without the help of a huge community of people, whether people were donating or helping us guide our way across the United States,” said Aiden Ardine. “This was surely an adventure full of hope, and it proved people are born good and want to help their neighbors.”
Just like cross-country trips in this nation, their journey was characterized by amazing views, long roads, and helpful strangers: like a man who passed them in the extreme heat of summertime Iowa, before doubling back and giving them a cold Gatorade; or a Nevada campground manager who left them stay for free.
In Utah they had what the naturalist John Muir would have described as an “interview” with a black bear, when rounding a corner in the path, they found themselves within a few feet of it.
When they reached San Francisco, their supporters were waiting for them on the beach. Afterwards they flew home along with their mom who had been there to meet them. After their adventurous stay away from home, we can only imagine she was really feeling proud of her sons.
1. What did the two brothers collect money for?| A．Setting up some charities. | B．Helping to end the lockdown. |
| C．Completing their five-month walk. | D．Aiding restaurant workers stuck at home. |
| A．Humorous. | B．Caring. | C．Curious. | D．Honest. |
| A．They met with a bear. | B．They were interviewed. |
| C．They visited a naturalist. | D．They were lost in the path. |
| A．A Long Journey | B．Walk with Love |
| C．A Proud Mother | D．Adventure with Fun |
3 . Is It Worth Buying Organic Food?
Organic food, grown without artificial chemicals, is increasingly popular nowadays. Consumers have been willing to pay up to twice as much for goods with organic labels (标签). However, if you think paying a little more for organic food gets you a more nutritious (有营养的) and safer product, you might want to save your money. A study led by researchers at Stanford University says that organic products aren’t necessarily more nutritious, and they’re no less likely to suffer from disease-causing bacteria, either.
The latest results, published in the Annuals of Internal Medicine, suggest that buyers may be wasting their money. “We did not find strong evidence that organic food is more nutritious or healthier,” says Dr. Crystal Smith-Spangler from Stanford. “So consumers shouldn’t assume that one type of food has a lower risk or is safer.”
For their new study, Smith-Spangler and her colleagues conducted a review of two categories of research, including 17 studies that compared health outcomes between consumers of organic against traditional food products, and 223 studies that analyzed the nutritional content of the foods, including key vitamins, minerals and fats.
While the researchers found little difference in nutritional content, they did find that organic fruit and vegetables were 20% less likely to have chemicals remaining on the surfaces. Neither organic nor traditional foods showed levels of chemicals high enough to go beyond food safety standards. And both organic and traditional meats, such as chicken and pork, were equally likely to be harmed by bacteria at very low rates. The researchers did find that organic milk and chicken contained higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, a healthy fat also found in fish that can reduce the risk of heart disease. However, these nutritional differences were too small, and the researchers were unwilling to make much of them until further studies confirm the trends.
Organic food is produced with fewer chemicals and more natural-growing practices, but that doesn’t always translate into a more nutritious or healthier product. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) states that “Whether you buy organic or not, finding the freshest foods available may have the biggest effect on taste.” Fresh food is at least as good as anything marketed as organic.
1. The new research questions whether organic food ________.| A．should replace traditional food |
| B．has been overpriced by farmers |
| C．is grown with less harmful chemicals |
| D．is really more nutritious and healthier |
| A．organic food could reduce the risk of heart disease |
| B．traditional food was grown with more natural methods |
| C．both organic and traditional food they examined were safe |
| D．there was not a presence of any forms of bacteria in organic food |
| A．Organic chicken and pork. |
| B．Organic milk and chicken. |
| C．Traditional chicken and pork. |
| D．Traditional fruit and vegetables. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Positive. | C．Unconcerned. | D．Approving. |
4 . Life will probably be very different in 2050. First of all, it seems that TV channels will have vanished by 2050. Instead, people will choose a programme from a “menu” and a computer will send the programme directly to the television. By 2050, music, films, programmes, newspapers and books will come to us in the similar way.
In many places, agriculture is developing quickly and people are growing fruit and vegetables for export. This uses a lot of water. Therefore, there could be serious shortages of water. Some scientist predict that water could be the cause of wars if we don’t act now.
In the future, cars will run on new, clean fuels (燃料) and they will go very fast. Cars will have computers to control the speed and there won’t be any accidents. Today, many cars have computers that tell drivers exactly where they are. By 2050, the computer will control the car and drive it to your destination. Also, by 2050, space planes will fly people from Los Angeles to Tokyo in just two hours.
Some big companies now prefer to use robots that do not ask for pay rises or go on strike, and work 24 hours a day. They are also easy to control. And they never argue with people. They can be easily used in a variety of places — factories, schools, offices, hospitals, shops and homes.
Scientists will have discovered how to control genes (基因). Scientists have already produced clones (克隆) of animals. By 2050, scientists will be able to produce clones of people and decide how they look and how they behave. Scientists will be able to do these things, but should they?
1. Which of the following best explains “vanished” underlined in paragraph 1?| A．Settled. | B．Spread. | C．Disappeared. | D．Decreased. |
| A．Robots can work in different places. |
| B．Robots have much to be improved. |
| C．Robots work for humans for free. |
| D．Robots have many advantages. |
| A．He probably disagrees with the idea of human cloning. |
| B．He is looking forward to using of cloning technology. |
| C．The scientists have already discovered how to control genes. |
| D．The scientists will face many difficulties of controlling genes. |
| A．High-tech Cars | B．Life in the Future |
| C．Is Cloning Really Good? | D．Are You Ready for the Future? |
5 . For people suffering from depression, there’s an all-natural treatment they should use — getting more exercise. It could help fight depression, even if people have a genetic risk, new research shows.
For the study, researchers collected information from nearly 8,000 people and found those with related genes were more likely to have depression over the next two years after examining them. But that was less likely for people who were more active at the study’s start, even if they had a family history of depression. Higher levels of physical activity helped protect even those with the highest genetic risk of depression.
Both high-intensity (高强度) exercise and low-intensity activities were associated with a reduced risk of depression. Adding four hours of exercise a week could lower the risk of a new episode (一段经历) of depression by 17%, according to the study. “Our findings strongly suggest that, when it comes to depression, being physically active has the potential to remove the added risk of future episodes in individuals who are genetically risky,” said lead author Karmel Choi. “On average, about 35 additional minutes of physical activity each day may help people to reduce their risk and protect against future depression episodes.”
Depression is a common mental illness globally, with more than 264 million people affected. “Depression is so ubiquitous, and that underlines the need for effective approaches that can impact as many people as possible,” Choi said. And mental health and primary care providers can use the findings to advise patients that there’s something meaningful they can do to lower their risk of depression.
1. How did the researchers reach their conclusion?| A．By analyzing a mass of data. |
| B．By conducting genetic research. |
| C．By comparing various levels of activity. |
| D．By tracking the subjects for many years. |
| A．Physical activity betters medical treatment. |
| B．Exercise is able to decrease and prevent it. |
| C．Different levels of exercise intensity matter the same. |
| D．Exercising 35 minutes daily is the most effective treatment. |
| A．Harmful. | B．Complex. |
| C．Unusual. | D．Common. |
| A．To discuss a disease. |
| B．To introduce a method. |
| C．To analyze a genetic risk. |
| D．To explain a phenomenon. |
6 . Little boys don’t like reading any more and even little girls don’t enjoy it as much as they once did. This is the accepted wisdom inside the book industry —and in many British families, too. Parents and booksellers tend to blame the growing appeal of online entertainment and handheld games, but research from the US is challenging these assumptions.
Michael Norris, an American publishing expert, will release findings in the monthly Book Publishing Report which show that, despite the best intentions, it is well-meaning mothers and fathers who often stop their sons and daughters from picking up the reading habit.
“Parents have too much of a role in deciding which books their children are going to read,” said Norris. “It is turning children off.”
The results of a number of surveys Norris has carried out with hundreds of American book-sellers over the past year have provided the basis for a series of tips for parents designed to help children find enjoyment in books.
One of his tips is to make sure children talk directly to a librarian or a bookseller, while parents stand well back. Parents should allow children to choose their own reading material. “Even if a mother or father is just standing with the child when the bookseller asks them what they like to read, we have found that the child will give an answer they think their parent wants to hear. It will not be the same answer they would give alone,” said Norris.
Norris’s another tip for parents is that they do not attempt to limit books to one age range. ”What we have found is that parents should not worry whether a title looks too young or too old for a child. If a book has caught their attention, then let them take it.“ Children, added Norris, often enjoy reading books that are easy for them to understand. “My father made me read The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy when I was much too young and I have never read another Clancy since,” said Norris.
1. What did Norris think prevents children from enjoying reading?| A．Children’s interest in handheld games. | B．The declining market of the book industry. |
| C．Parents influence on children’s book selection. | D．The growing popularity of online entertainment. |
| A．It’s published to improve book sales. | B．It mainly focuses on British families. |
| C．It involves many years’ efforts. | D．It was conducted by Norris. |
| A．Introduce new books regularly. | B．Let them talk with booksellers alone. |
| C．Discuss popular books with children. | D．Often seek expert advice from booksellers. |
| A．It was totally wrong. | B．It was quite necessary. |
| C．It aroused his interest in reading. | D．It showed parents’ worries about kids. |
7 . Running is often tiring and a lot of hard work, but nothing beats the feeling you get after finishing a long workout around the track.
But while it’s long been believed that endorphins (内啡肽) —chemicals in the body that cause happiness—are behind the so-called “runner’s high”, a study suggested that there may be more to this phenomenon than we previously knew.
According to a recent study published by a group of scientists from several German universities, a group of chemicals called endocannabinoids (内源性大麻素) may actually be responsible for this familiar great feeling.
To test this theory, the scientists turned to mice. Both mice and humans release high levels of endorphins and endocannabinoids after exercise. After exercising on running wheels, the mice seemed happy and relaxed and displayed no signs of anxiety. But after being given a drug to block their endorphins, the mice’s behavior didn’t seem to change. However, when their endocannabinoids were blocked with a different drug, their runners’ high symptoms seemed to fade.
“The long-held notion of endorphins being responsible for the runner’s high is false. Endorphins are effective pain relievers, but only when it comes to the pain in your body and muscles you feel after working out,” Patrick Lucas Austin wrote on science blog Lifchacker.
Similar studies are yet to be carried out on humans, but it’s already known that exercise is a highly effective way to get rid of stress or anxiety. The UK’s National Health Service even prescribes (开药 方) exercise to patients who are suffering from depression. “Being depressed can leave you feeling low in energy, which might put you off being more active. Regular exercise can improve your mood if you have depression, and its especially useful for people with mild to moderate (中等的) depression,” it wrote on its website.
It seems like nothing can beat that feeling we get after a good workout, even if we don’t fully understand where it comes from. At least if we’re feeling down, we know that all we have to do is to put on our running shoes.
1. What did scientists from German universities recently discover?| A．Working out is a highly effective way to treat depression. |
| B．The runner’s high could be caused by endocannabinoids. |
| C．Endorphins may contribute to one’s high spirits after running. |
| D．The level of endorphins and endocannabinoids could affect one’s mood. |
| A．To find what reduces the runner’s high symptoms. |
| B．To see the specific symptoms of the runner’s high. |
| C．To identify what is responsible for the runner’s high. |
| D．To test what influences the level of endocannabinoids released. |
| A．Effect. | B．Goal. | C．Opinion. | D．Question |
| A．They can help ease depression symptoms. |
| B．They are the best way to treat depression. |
| C．They only work for those with serious depression. |
| D．They can help people completely recover from depression. |
8 . On February 6, 2020, American astronaut Christina Koch arrived back on Earth after 328 days in space. Her time in space is just one of the records set by herself. That’s the longest spaceflight ever made by a woman, and just one of the many things Ms. Koch achieved in space.
Ms. Koch took off from Earth for the International Space Station (ISS) on March 12, 2019. While in space, she made 5, 248 trips around the Earth, travelling 2, 237 million kilometers, which is roughly the same as 291 trips to the Moon and back. During her 11 months on the ISS, Ms. Koch took part in six spacewalks, spending over 42 hours in all outside the station. In October of 2019, Ms. Koch led the first ever all-female spacewalk with Jessica Meir.
But for most astronauts, space travel isn’t about setting records. It’s about doing science. Ms. Koch took part in a wide variety of special experiments, including studying how crystals grow in space, how atoms behave in extreme cold and learning more about growing plants in low gravity. Growing plants in space could be an important way to provide food on future trips. She also tested a new way of separating liquids from gases. This experiment could lead to simple methods of cleaning water and air in space, which could be very important for future space travel.
Ms. Koch isn’t just a scientist and an astronaut. She is also being studied. She’s part of a NASA program studying how astronauts are affected by being in space for long periods of time. Her trip was only 12 days shorter than the American record set by Scott Kelly in 2016. As they did with Mr. Kelly, NASA scientists are looking carefully at ways Ms. Koch’s body has been affected by her time in space. That research is important for the longer space trips NASA hopes to make in the future, such as for a base on the moon or a trip to Mars.
1. Which of the following is an achievement Ms. Koch has made?| A．Making the longest spaceflight by herself. | B．Leading the first women-only spacewalk. |
| C．Cleaning water and air successfully in space. | D．Staying outside the ISS continuously for 42 hours. |
| A．Koch made historic breakthroughs in space. | B．Koch went through a life-threatening space trip. |
| C．Koch completed admirable tasks in the space travel. | D．Koch is the most experienced astronaut in NASA. |
| A．Astronauts are competing to set new records. | B．Koch’s team produced their own food in space. |
| C．NASA has founded a scientific base on the moon. | D．Koch’s research is significant for space exploration. |
| A．Record-Setting Astronaut Koch Returns to Earth | B．US Astronauts Carried out Experiments in Space |
| C．Spacewalks Have Successfully Been Done on the ISS | D．NASA is Studying Astronauts for Longer Space Trips |
9 . Istanbul & Faces
Titled “Timeless City: Istanbul & Faces”, the Turkey photography exhibition celebrates the 30th anniversary of Istanbul and Shanghai’s sistership. The 42yearold photographer focuses on the distinctive (独特的) historical quarters and the atmosphere that spreads in Istanbul. His work also pays respects to its people as well, with welldefined portraits.
Date: Till Jan. 18, 10 a.m.—4 p.m. Venue: Shanghai Art Collection Museum.
Knitted Works
The knitted (编织的) show is aimed at raising awareness of post natal depression. The works were created by more than 20 mothers from different cities. All the knitted dolls and other works will be sold with the profits (利益) going to charity when the exhibition ends. If you are interested in the knitted works, you can order a special piece.
Date: Till Jan. 1, 7 a.m.—9 p.m. Venue: B1 Jinxiu Fun.
Old Shanghai Teahouse
The newlyopened zone at Shanghai Dungeon features nostalgic sets and experiences for visitors to have “scary fun”. Visitors can wear traditional Chinese costumes and take photos with the performers.
Date: Daily, 11 a.m.—8 p.m. Venue: Mosaic Shanghai Mail.
Musical Titanic
The Tony Awards winning musical “Titanic” is in Shanghai with more than 100 characters cast. The impressive stage effects promise to take the audience to the bottom of the ocean.
Date: Till Jan. 22, 2 p.m.—7:30 p.m. Venue：SAIC Shanghai Culture Square.
1. Where should you go if you want to learn more about Turkey’s history?| A．B1 Jinxiu Fun. |
| B．Mosaic Shanghai Mail. |
| C．Shanghai Art Collection Museum. |
| D．SAIC Shanghai Culture Square. |
| A．People can have a talk with the creators. |
| B．All the works can be sold when the show begins. |
| C．They were made by people from different places. |
| D．The show offers people chances to learn how to make one. |
| A．Its opening time is the longest. |
| B．It raises money for a special purpose. |
| C．It allows interacting with performers. |
| D．It offers a lifelike experience under water. |
10 . Book Express
About the translator (翻译家)
Xu Yuanchong (1921—2021) was a professor of literary translation at Peking University. In 1994, British publishing company Penguin published his 300 Tang Poems.
Drinking Wine
Tao Qian, more widely known for his other name Tao Yuanming (陶渊明), was a Chinese poet (诗人) of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (东晋) (317—420). The poet lived a peaceful life, and is known to have enjoyed country life, farming, reading and drinking wine.
Golden Treasury of Chinese Poetry in Han, Wei and Six Dynasties/Translated by Xu Yuanchong/Published by China Intercontinental Press
Mooring by Maple Bridge at Night
Zhang Ji, a Chinese poet who was born during the Tang Dynasty (唐朝) (618—907). Zhang’s poem Mooring by Maple Bridge at Night was one of his most famous poems and is still known to many readers today.
300 Tang Poems/Translated by Xu Yuanchong/Published by China Intercontinental Press
On the Height
Du Fu, a Chinese poet of the Tang Dynasty. The poet was a good friend with another famous poet of the same time who was called Li Bai.
300 Tang Poems/Translated by Xu Yuanchong/Published by China Intercontinental Press
Lake Dongting Viewed from Afar
Liu Yuxi, a well-known Chinese poet during the Tang Dynasty. The poet was especially interested in writing poetry that reflected (反映) real social problems in common people’s everyday lives.
300 Tang Poems/Translated by Xu Yuanchong/Published by China Intercontinental Press
1. Who enjoyed the country life best?| A．Tao Qian. | B．Zhang Ji. | C．Du Fu. | D．Liu Yuxi. |
| A．Its poet was born in the Tang Dynasty. | B．It is unknown to young readers. |
| C．It was born earliest of the four poems. | D．It is the most popular in China. |
| A．Interesting. | B．Real. | C．Creative. | D．Relaxing. |
