1 . My kitchen may be the best kitchen on the planet. That is because when I look out of its window can see the west side of Grandeur Peak. Grandeur Peak is one of the most attractive mountains in central Wasatch, with its animals, trees, morning clouds, evening sunset, and the mountain’s paragliders (滑翔伞运动员).
The number of paragliders flying above Grandeur Peak has grown over the past 15 years, so much so that they have become part of the mountain. But during the past year they have largely disappeared. Some paragliders told me that the wind became too strong to fly in. The wind is too strong! Is this another character of our changing climate (气候)? Will paragliding be a sport affected by a warming planet? Utah has been much windier in the past few years. For me, a scientist who studies living things, it is easy to believe that our future will be windier. This year it’s getting super-hot, and the planet is warming faster than scientists expected. I can’t help but worry that the future of paragliding in Utah is not bright.
I’m writing to the brave people who fly from Grandeur Peak with beautiful wings. I want you to join Clean The Dam Air, a group that’ s working hard to fight climate change and air pollution — I’m part of it too. We are introducing a measure, which aims to remove the state sales tax (税) on grocery store food and put a carbon tax on fossil fuels (化石燃料) in its place: gas, electricity produced from fossil fuels, and natural gas. The goal isn’t to make taxes higher. The idea is to encourage everyone to reduce their use of fossil fuels. So, paragliders, join us. Now is the time to take care of our planet. If we succeed, then Utah can be an example to others in fighting climate change.
1. Why does the author mention his kitchen?| A．To share his love of cooking dishes. |
| B．To bring back his memories of paragliding. |
| C．To introduce Grandeur Peak’s paragliding. |
| D．To describe his adventures around Grandeur Peak. |
| A．The author saw less paragliding. | B．Few people visited Grandeur Peak. |
| C．Air pollution became serious in Utah. | D．Strong winds stopped people going outside. |
| A．Uncaring. | B．Supportive. | C．Positive. | D．Worried. |
| A．Buy those foods that are taxed less. |
| B．Reduce flying with wings in Grandeur Peak. |
| C．Join him to support a program about taxing. |
| D．Join a group to improve their paragliding skills. |
2 . On November 8th, a tornado, the most powerful in the past 70 years, hit Jersey, causing great damages to the area and leaving the residents in great panic.
“Suddenly, the windows of the waiting room exploded in and dragged everything inside. My cars have been completely destroyed by branches and fences, and my garden is completely gone. There’s no furniture, no fence; everything has been thrown everywhere. At first there was lightning but then a strange noise and strange darkness came over the whole house. It was like being in a scary scene in the movie The Wizard of Oz,” Ashleigh Quail-Charleston, a Jersey resident, told the Bailiwick Express after the tornado that struck overnight on November 1—2 during Storm Ciaran.
The consequence looked like a bomb had gone off: cars hit, roofs with holes, windows broken. “A huge tree leans drunkenly against a block of flats. Piles of branches are piled optionally and pavements are covered with pieces,” said Chris Stone at BBC Radio Jersey. The tornado was powerful and exceptionally rare, caused by a severe thunderstorm that had sent out intense lightning and huge hailstones described as “ice bombs”. The Tornado and Storm Research Organization (Torro) and Jersey Met Office revealed the tornado left a trail of damages 8 km long across the island, and rated its intensity as T6 on an international scale of tornado power.
According to Torro records, this was the most powerful tornado to strike anywhere in the British Isles or Channel Islands since December 7th, 1954 when a tornado struck west London, leaving tremendous devastation, with Gunnersbury railway station torn apart, roofs torn off houses and one car even thrown through the air.
Tornados during Storm Ciaran also hit Sompting in West Sussex and Loders in Dorset. One resident in Loders, Sophie van Hensbergen, described the moment, saying, “The tornado struck with a very, very powerful whistling sound and the windows looked as though we were in a car wash.”
1. Why is The Wizard of Oz mentioned in paragraph 2?| A．To summarize the consequence. | B．To introduce the topic. |
| C．To enrich the readers’ knowledge. | D．To help describe the tornado. |
| A．How tornado was rated. |
| B．What caused the tornado. |
| C．How severe the tornado was. |
| D．What should be done to prevent the tornado. |
| A．Marks. | B．Damages. | C．Memory. | D．Impression. |
| A．A news item. | B．A science report. |
| C．A movie reviewer. | D．A weather forcast. |
3 . A gene variant (变体) that causes the “alcohol flush (脸红)” reaction increases the risk of heart disease by causing inflammation of blood vessels (脉管), especially in drinkers. Around 8 percent of the world’s populations has a gene variant called ALDH2*2 that impairs the body’s ability to break down alcohol and causes unpleasant symptoms such as flushing soon after people drink. Now, researchers have shown why this change also raises the risk of heart disease.
“We are trying to understand why ALDH2*2 is associated with a higher risk of coronary arte (冠状动脉) disease at a cellular (细胞的) level,” says Hongchao Guo at Stanford University in California.
The ALDH2*2 gene encodes one version of the enzyme (酵素) alcohol dehydrogenase (脱氢酶), which breaks down the toxic acetaldehydes (乙醛) produced when alcohol is metabolized (代谢), and also mops up other harmful substances known as free radicals.
The gene variant also impairs the growth of new blood vessels. “That means that when there is a heart attack, when there is a need of blood vessel growth, carriers have less ability to generate new blood vessels,” says Guo.
The team found that an existing diabetes (糖尿病) drug called empagliflozin may reduce these harmful effects in people with ALDH2*2 who drink a lot of alcohol. But for Wu, the take-home message is clear. “If you’re missing this enzyme, try not to drink,” he says. “If you drink consistently, you are at much higher risk of heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and cancer.”
Given its many negative consequences, there has been debate about why this change spread and became common, today being found in more than a third of people of cast Asian origin.
“My only explanation is that if you are missing this enzyme, you tend to drink less and there’s therefore less chance of you becoming alcoholic,” says Wu.
1. Which of the following may be caused by “alcohol flush”?| A．Heart disease and high blood pressure. | B．A gene variant called ALDH2*2. |
| C．Inflammation of blood vessels. | D．Diabetes and cancer. |
| A．Exiting diabetes drug can help people witALDH2*2. |
| B．People with ALDH2*2 shouldn’t drink alcohol. |
| C．People with ALDH2*2 have less chance of becoming alcoholic. |
| D．Drinking alcohol can bring about diabetes and cancer. |
| A．Diabetes drug can free people with ALDH2*2 of alcohol flush. |
| B．If you are missing this enzyme, you will easily become alcoholic. |
| C．People with ALDH2*2 tend to suffer from cancer. |
| D．More than a third of people of cast Asian origin may be affected by ALDH2*2. |
| A．To explain the impact of genetic variant causing the “alcohol flush”. |
| B．To introduce ways to stop drinking alcohol. |
| C．To introduce dangers of drinking alcohol. |
| D．To persuade people to get rid of drinking alcohol. |
4 . In September 2005, the ground suddenly sank 10 feet in a certain area in northern Ethiopia, rapidly separated on both sides, with large holes that could engulf several camels and several goats. In the next three weeks, 160 earthquakes occurred in this area, forming a large crack 25 feet wide and approximately 0.34 miles long.
Tim Wright, a geophysicist at the University of Leeds in England, used satellite radar data to accurately piece together the formation process of this crack. When the African and Arab tectonic plates drift to both sides, the crust between the two plates weakens. Wright said: “The magma (岩浆) formed at the bottom of the crust will drop down regularly, just like the Lava lamp, forming a ‘balloon’, which will gradually expand. When the ‘balloon’ reaches the critical pressure, it will explode.”
According to Wright’s estimate, in the next 1 million years or so, the cracks will continue to expand, and the Horn of Africa will completely detach from the African continent, forming the eighth largest continent on Earth—East Africa. Wright said that this geological process always occurs, but ground separating usually only occur at the bottom of the sea, which is difficult for people to see. He said, “This is the first time we have directly observed this extremely important geological process using modern instruments.”
This discovery caused a shocking in the scientific community. In 2006, inspection teams from the UK, France, Italy, and the United States came to Afar one after another. After analysis and research, they predicted that a new continent would be formed in one million years, the Great Rift Valley in East Africa would be 10 times longer than it is today, and the Cape of Good Hope in East Africa would be separated from the African continent. In response, American geologist Cindy Ebinger said, “Many people believe that violent geological phenomena only occurred in distant ancient times, but we can now see them happening.”
What is the future of the Great Rift Valley? Perhaps our humans can only wait and see.
1. What is the purpose of the data in the first paragraph?| A．Describe economic losses | B．Illustrate the impact of sinking |
| C．Explain the research results | D．Number of participants named for the study |
| A．To better explain plate splitting | B．Further increase research funny |
| C．Explain satellite radar data | D．Causing a shock in the scientific community |
| A．sink | B．destroy | C．contribute | D．divide |
| A．The ground in Ethiopia sank and swallowed 160 camels. |
| B．Ground cracking rarely occurs on the seabed. |
| C．Teams from four countries predict there will be eight continents in one million years. |
| D．Intense geological phenomena only occur in distant ancient times. |
5 . The Past and Present Lives of Mineral Water
We are not unfamiliar with mineral water, but do you understand its origin?
In 1992, Zhuhai Jialin Co., Ltd. took the lead in producing the first barrel of bottled water in China: Jialin Mountain Barreled Water.
After 2005, the invasion of foreign brand water enterprises, such as Nongfu Spring and Yibao, formed the situation of a hundred flowers blooming in Zhuhai’s drinking water market.
Until May 2010, Jialin Mountain was 100% purchased by China Resources Beverage, which was once a famous enterprise in Guangdong Province, and then withdrew from the market, while Ipoh, who obtained the mining right of Jialin Mountain mineral water, jumped to the first place in Guangdong Province in drinking water.
| A．At this time, Jialin Mountain felt that its country had been seriously threatened |
| B．In 1993, Zhuhai held a series of events but all ended in failure |
| C．At that time, the selling price of bottled water was extremely high, with a barrel of water once selling at a maximum of 120 yuan |
| D．From 1992 to 2001, Jialin Mountain can be said to be a synonym for drinking water |
| E．At the beginning of the 21st century, competition in China’s mineral Fishery industry will continue to intensify |
| F．Until now, Yibao, Nongfu Spring and Wahaha are all the leaders in China’s mineral spring Fishery industry |
| G．In 1994, Zhuhai successively launched multiple major projects |
6 . Metal self-healing refers to the ability of a metal material to recover its original structure and performance after being damaged or destroyed. This self-healing capability can reduce the cost of repairing and replacing metal materials, extend their service life, and improve the sustainability of materials.
In July 20, 2023, scientists have witnessed for the first time that metal fragments rupture without human intervention and then re-melt together. The team found that disappearing cracks are nano-sized, small but important. If the newly discovered phenomenon can be exploited, it may lead to an engineering revolution. In this revolution, self-healing engines, bridges, and aircraft can remove wear and tear damage, making it safer and more durable.
The Sandia National Laboratory and Texas A & M University team described the discovery in Nature on the 20th.
In the science fiction movie “The Terminator 2,” the robot T1000, made of liquid metal, left a deep impression because it could change its shape at will and repair itself after hitting. However, at the 2019 International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems, the JSK Lab at the University of Tokyo showed a prototype of a robotic leg with a tendon “fuse” made of metal that can repair a fracture, and by automatically fusing and transforming into a single part, a movie is about to come true.
Insiders pointed out that if metal self-repairing can be utilized, it will improve the competitiveness of industrial products and promote the development of relevant industries, which is of great significance to achieve the two goals of sustainable human development, energy conservation and environmental protection.
In terms of transportation, the internal wear and fuel consumption rate of engines of vehicles and vessels powered by fuel increase gradually. Self-repair engines can reduce the wear of parts, improve the service life of engines, improve the operation rate, and save huge amounts of funds every year, thus improving the comprehensive benefits.
In addition, self-healing bridges and aircraft eliminate wear and tear damage, making them safer and more durable. The crowd said it was amazing!
1. Why does the second paragraph say that this discovery may cause the revolution?| A．Because the structure of metals is very complex. |
| B．Because human intervention makes healing easier. |
| C．Because this repair capability can reduce a lot of costs. |
| D．Because this is the first natural healing discovered. |
| A．Learned metal self-healing | B．It is composed of liquids |
| C．It is highly likely to appear in reality | D．It was made by the University of Tokyo |
| A．Reduce costs and protect energy | B．Make movies come true |
| C．Improve product competitiveness | D．Triggering the Industrial Revolution |
| A．Neutral | B．Approval | C．Dismissive | D．Unclear |
7 . Should we hide in the “Triangle (三角) of Life” when the earthquake comes?
At 1:39 on June 15, a magnitude (里氏) 3.1 earthquake occurred in Qingpu District, Shanghai, with a focal depth of 8 kilometers. Earthquakes are one of the major natural disasters, so how to avoid danger and self rescue during earthquakes has become a topic of great concern.
There has always been a saying on the Internet that when an earthquake comes, collapsed objects and solid large objects will form a triangular space around them(the “Triangle of Life area”), and hiding in this area will have a greater probability of survival, which many people believe deeply.
In this regard, the China Earthquake Administration said that although observing the ruins after the earthquake, we can find that there are similar triangular spaces in some places.
However, when an earthquake occurs, people cannot know in advance the way of the earthquake, the direction of the collapse of buildings or objects, and it is difficult to know where there will be the so-called “Triangle of Life”.
The “Triangle of Life area” was proposed by an American disaster relief worker named Kupp, who believed that traditional self-help methods such as drilling tables were no longer suitable for people living in modern buildings. The collapsed floor structure would crush the tables or beds for refuge, and only hiding in the triangle area could survive.
Although the “Triangle of Life area” self-help method has been popular for more than ten years. However, the American Red Cross, the California State Emergency Service Office and earthquake experts have all pointed out the irrationality of the “Triangle of Life”. The Chinese Ministry of Emergency Management has also provided a refutation explanation.
In fact, after an earthquake, the internationally recognized most reliable method of self rescue is ‘lying on the ground, blocking, and holding onto your hands’. You should lie down, squat down, or sit down, try to lower the center of gravity of the body, and protect important parts such as the head, neck, eyes, and mouth and nose.
1. What information can we learn about the “Triangle of Life” in the first three paragraphs?| A．The Triangle of Life area is an official definition. |
| B．Many people believe in the “Triangle of Life”. |
| C．The earthquake in Shanghai has caused panic among the masses. |
| D．When an earthquake strikes, one should hide in the triangle area. |
| A．To protect himself | B．To overthrow the government |
| C．To avoid earthquakes | D．To attract attention |
| A．Its unpredictability | B．Its out-of-date construction |
| C．Its instability | D．Its illegality |
| A．Newspaper | B．Horror Book | C．History Book | D．Science Magazine |
8 . Enrollment Regulations of Taiyuan University of Science and Technology in 2023
Welcome to apply to our school. In 2023, our school will mainly recruit students majoring in Machinery, Materials, and Computer Science. In addition, we will also recruit new students majoring in English, Engineering, Law, and more. The following is a brief introduction to our school’s characteristic majors.
Mechanical Design, Manufacturing and Automation
This major belongs to the School of Mechanical Engineering and is a characteristic specialty construction point of national higher education institutions. It includes six original major categories (类别) and two new professional directions. Its major courses are Advanced Mathematics, Mechanical Design, etc.
Material Science & Engineering
This major is a major that attaches importance to foundation and is a talent training and scientific research base for China’s heavy machinery industry. Its major courses are Advanced Mathematics, Theoretical Mechanics, etc.
Computer Science and Technology
This major is an advantageous specialty in Shanxi and admits doctoral students. It mainly cultivates (创造) senior specialized talents engaged in the research, design, development, application, and teaching of computer software, hardware, and application systems. The main courses include Advanced Mathematics, C Language, etc.
If you want to learn more, you can go to our school’s official website or call the admissions office for consultation.
1. If you want to study a major with Chinese characteristics, which major should you choose?| A．Mechanical. | B．Computer. | C．Material. | D．English. |
| A．Go to school’s official website. | B．Browse the homepage of the official website. |
| C．Call the admissions office. | D．Send an e-mail to the school. |
| A．This school is located in Shanxi Province. | B．All majors study Advanced Mathematics. |
| C．This school mainly enrolls English. | D．This is an enrollment regulation. |
9 . NY Giants game-by-game predictions for the 2023 NFL season
Week 1:vs Cowboys
Sunday, Sept.10, 8:20 p.m.
At some point, the Giants are going to have to break through and prove they can play at the level of Dallas and Philadelphia in the NFC East. Dak Prescott has had their number for awhile now, too. But let’s just say Big Blue rides the momentum of being at home in the opener.
Prediction: Win
Week 2:at Cardinals
Sunday, Sept.17, 8:05 p.m.
It’s unlikely that Kyler Murray is on the field to face the Giants this early in his ACL recovery. That’s a positive for the defense, and I can see the Cardinals being out manned here as Daniel Jones tests this defense being put together by new head coach Jonathan Gannon.
Prediction: Win
Week 3:at 49ers
Thursday, Sept.21, 8:15 p.m.
This is a tough spot, even if the Giants stay out west and practice in Phoenix in order to cut down on the short-week travel to California for this one. The 49ers are loaded defensively and Christian Mc Caffrey is going to test the Giants’ rebuilt run defense, putting pressure on the revamped middle featuring Bobby Okereke. It’s uncertain which quarterback will be available for San Francisco, and it could be Sam Darnold.
Prediction: Loss
Week 4:vs Seahawks
Monday, Oct.2, 8:20 p.m.
The Giants return home to Met Life for “Monday Night Football” against Geno Smith and his team the Seahawks, who beat Big Blue in their building last year. Let’s say for argument’s sake that the Giants return the favor.
Prediction: Win
1. Which event may see the Giants’ failure?
| A．Week 1:vs Cowboys | B．Week 2:at Cardinals |
| C．Week 3:at 49ers | D．Week 4:vs Seahawks |
| A．A player in the Giants. | B．A coach in Cowboys. |
| C．Manager of Big Blue. | D．An athlete in the Seahawks. |
| A．in the evening. | B．in September. | C．in the same place. | D．by different hosts. |
10 . Depending on your job, you may have the chance to make a kid’s day while at work. Or even better, you may have memories of an adult going the extra mile just to make you smile. For a group of construction workers, the opportunity popped up in the form of a toy truck. Excited to see some building work being done in the area, a small boy paid a visit with his tiny truck as if to join the action. What happened next is something that the little one will surely value forever.
The heart-warming moment was shot in a video that has since gone viral. Wanting to be a part of it all and hoping to see the big excavator at work, the kid placed his wheeled toy under the big metal machine. The machine operator, moved by it all, was grateful and filled the toy truck with earth. With careful precision, as if it were a crucial part of the construction work being done, he made the little boy’s dreams come true. While it’s hard to find the location or the time from the video alone, the excitement of the kid as the machine slowly fills the mini dump truck is universally lovely. Even the other construction workers stop for a while to witness the cute scene. All the while, the kid’s mom holds him firmly to keep everyone safe until the toy truck is full and the machine is still.
While anyone can appreciate the sweetness of a group of adults taking a few minutes to put a smile on a child’s face, the video has had all kinds of positive responses. For some, it brought back memories of seeing construction work and big machines when they were little and being blown away. For others, it allowed them to enjoy the unexpected delicacy of the great machine. If there’s one thing we all can agree on, it’s that the boy wasn’t the only one who benefited from this tiny action. As one editor wrote, “I used to work in the field. I can tell you it made everyone’s day.”
1. Why did the kid come to the construction field?| A．To drive the big excavator alone. | B．To work like a construction worker. |
| C．To get some earth from the field. | D．To see what the construction site is like. |
| A．He held the kid firmly to keep him safe. | B．He stopped for a while to witness the scene. |
| C．He filled the kid’s toy truck with earth. | D．He got off the machine and picked the kid up. |
| A．The video was a great hit. | B．Many adults recalled their bad childhood. |
| C．Only the kid was the winner of the video. | D．People thought the video funny. |
| A．Curious. | B．Amusing. | C．Ambitious. | D．Considerate |
