1 . It has been over 150 years since the Great Chicago Fire. The 1871 fire killed an estimated 300 people. It turned the heart of the city, wood-frame buildings quickly constructed on wooden sidewalks, into ruins, and left 100,000 people homeless. Like the Great Fire of London in 1666, the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906, and Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the Great Chicago Fire reminds us that big cities can still be frail.
But that same night, about 250 miles north of Chicago, more than 1,200 people died in and around Peshtigo. It was the deadliest wildfire in U.S. history. Survivors said the fire moved like a hurricane, jumping across Green Bay to light forests on the opposite shore.
Chicago’s fire came to be seen as a disaster that also led to the invention of steel skyscrapers, raised up on the city’s ashes. It has overshadowed the Peshtigo Fire. And for years, the two were seen as separate disasters. However, many of those houses and sidewalks that burned in Chicago had been built with trees grown around Peshtigo.
Chicago’s fire was long blamed - falsely - on an Irish-immigrant family’s cow kicking over a lantern. Some people thought the Peshtigo Fire started when pieces of a comet (彗星) landed in the forest, which has never been proven.
What we understand better today was that the Midwest was historically dry in the summer of 1871. When a low-pressure front with cooler temperatures rolled in, it produced winds, which can fan sparks (火星) into wildfires. The fires themselves generated more winds. Several parts of nearby Michigan also burned during the same few days ; at least 500 people were killed there.
At present, all of those fires on an autumn night in 1871 might help us see even more clearly how rising global temperatures and severe droughts, from Australia to Algeria to California, have made forests easier to burn, and people more likely to be harmed by the climate changes we’ ve helped create.
1. What does the underlined word “frail” in the first paragraph probably mean ?| A．Regularly enlarged. | B．Heavily populated. |
| C．Safely reached. | D．Easily damaged. |
| A．By presenting research findings. | B．By making comparisons. |
| C．By following time order. | D．By making classifications. |
| A．A careless cow. | B．A passing comet. |
| C．A low-pressure front | D．A paper lantern. |
| A．To warn people of the forest fire threat. | B．To show signs of global warming. |
| C．To attract more tourists to Chicago. | D．To introduce an unknown city. |
2 . Unlike other major destinations, Rome doesn’ t have a huge number of hostels (旅社). In fact, there are less than 40 listed on Hostelworld. So we’ ve analyzed each hostel to bring you detailed information about hostels in Rome.
TYPICAL ROME HOSTEL PRICES
Hostels in Rome are generally reasonably priced. Most hostels, regardless of quality, will start around € 25 -- € 32 / night in the summer. You might be able to find some around € 20 / night but those are tough to snag (抢先获得). The cheapest hostels will cost around € 18 / night -- but don’t expect very good quality.
Check Hostelworld to get exact prices for your dates as prices are always varying.
QUICK FACTS ABOUT ROME HOSTELS
Cheap Beds & Good Hostels Go Early : Hostel prices are fairly standardized but the quality does vary. The best options get booked up quickly (especially in the summer).
Tourism Tax : Rome requires all hotels, hostels and apartment rentals to collect a tourist tax from all guests. It’ s usually € 3.50 / night / person so don’ t be surprised by this extra fee.
Areas & Neighborhoods : Most of Rome’ s hostels are located near Rome’ s Termini train station. It’ s not the best part of town but it’ s not that bad ( just be a little extra careful at night ).
Check the Hostel Type : Every hostel has its own personality so we suggest picking a hostel that matches up to your travel style. For example, some hostels are “party” hostels so these are great for having a fun time but not great for sleeping.
Check-In Times : A lot of hostels have late check-in times ( around 2 pm — 4 pm ) but nearly all will let you store your luggage if you arrive before check-in.
1. What might be the minimum cost if you stay in a Rome hostel for two nights ?| A．€ 18. | B．€ 32. | C．€ 43. | D．€ 47. |
| A．Comfort. | B．Security | C．Price. | D．Transport. |
| A．Quality service. | B．Tourism tax relief |
| C．A quiet sleeping environment. | D．Luggage storage before check-in. |
3 . We’re now witnessing the emergence (出现) of an advanced economy based on information and knowledge. Physical labor, raw materials, and capital (资本) are no longer the key ingredients in the creation of wealth.
In the new world of work, you can look forward to being in constant training to acquire new skills that will help you keep up with improved technologies and procedures.
| A．You have to empower yourself. |
| B．As the saying goes, knowledge is power. |
| C．What does all this mean for you? |
| D．Wealth will be created by people with knowledge |
| E．Now, the vital raw material in our economy is knowledge. |
| F．You can also expect to be taking greater control of your career. |
| G．Knowledge workers get paid for their education and their ability to learn. |
4 . Ben Francis didn’t become wealthy through a family inheritance (遗产). Instead, the CEO and co-founder of Gymshark used his earnings as a Pizza Hut delivery guy to buy a sewing machine and start his fitness apparel (服饰) company at 19.
Eleven years later, his effort paid off. Francis, 30, who has a reported net worth of $1.3 billion, joined Forbes’ billionaires list. He’s in rare company: the list’s average age is 65 years old.
Originally, Francis and co-founder Lewis Morgan launched Gymshark as a website selling fitness products. But after getting bored with his ill-fitting clothes, Francis suggested pivoting the company.
Francis and Morgan bought a sewing machine. The pair brought Gymshark to a bodybuilding exhibition in 2013, but didn’t have any money to spend on advertising. On a whim (一时兴起), they decided to give popular fitness YouTubers free products. “My heroes were on YouTube,” Francis said. “So it would be so cool if my heroes could come to be with Gymshark at this event. I didn’t really think that much about it.” Some of those influencers went on to wear the clothes on their channels, bringing Gymshark’s sales to $45,000 per day, up from just $450.
Francis quit the CEO role in 2017. “CEO was not the right role for me when I was in my early 20s,” Francis said. “That I’d started a business which had grown very quickly didn’t mean I have the full ability to be a good leader.” He spent the next four years supporting leadership roles within Gymshark---including chief product officer and chief marketing officer – to learn more about the ins and outs of the business, before returning as CEO in 2021.
That year, the company was valued at $1.45 billion. Still, the company’s billion-dollar valuation is a small percentage of the market value of competitors like Nike and Lululemon. “I really think Gymshark can be the UK’s answer to those brands,” Francis said. “But that’s not saying that the UK is where it starts and ends for us. We also want to be a truly global brand.”
1. What makes Ben Francis special on Forbes’ billionaires list?| A．His age. | B．His wealth. | C．His talent. | D．His company. |
| A．Taking control of. | B．Making the best of. |
| C．Making changes to. | D．Attaching importance to. |
| A．To win the support of popular YouTubers. |
| B．To advertise their products in a cheap way. |
| C．To build a good relationship with YouTube. |
| D．To get the chance to meet their heroes on YouTube. |
| A．Gymshark: From a website to a big company |
| B．Gymshark: Taking the lead in fitness clothing |
| C．Francis: Starting the UK’s fastest-growing company |
| D．Francis: From a Pizza Hut delivery guy to a billionaire |
5 . For many people, travel is a necessary part of celebrating the holidays with loved ones. This means enduring (忍受) all the troubles that can come with traveling and spending time away from the comforts of your own home. You may face delays, and many hours of sitting that can make you suffer mentally and physically.
Take control of your posture and breathing
Drink enough water
Those muscle pains on the road may have a lot to do with your water intake. Considering that our bodies are mostly water, hydration is important for proper circulation. Your access to drinking water may be limited while traveling, so it’s important to plan ahead.
Studies regarding the health dangers of long-time sitting are beyond count, yet few people seem to make an effort to avoid it while traveling. Break up long hours of sitting by taking advantage of opportunities to stand and walk around whenever possible. When traveling by air, take a walk around your terminal. When traveling by car, find a park or even a mall on your route where you can get out and take a 10-minute walk.
Plan your schedule properly.
During the trip, it is necessary to plan the schedule properly to avoid excessive fatigue (疲劳) and tension.
| A．Do more exercise |
| B．It’s necessary to sleep regularly. |
| C．Stand and walk every opportunity you can |
| D．Most airports have water stations to refill bottles for free. |
| E．You can arrange the time reasonably to avoid a too tight schedule. |
| F．To enjoy the holidays, try these tips below to reduce stress and tension. |
| G．When you sit for long periods while traveling, your posture often suffers. |
6 . In scientific literature, baby talk is called “parentese” and is a unique way of communicating with babies. Classic baby talk will include speaking at a higher pitch, with exaggerated (夸张的) intonation, simplified vocabulary, and repetitive phrases. It has a melodic quality, coupled with exaggerated facial expressions. Adults also tend to speak more slowly and emphasize key words or phrases when engaging in baby talk. What’s the point of using such a ridiculous style of talking with babies? Why not just talk to a baby with normal speech, like we’d talk to another adult?
Primarily, we use baby talk to capture the baby’s attention. The exaggerated vocalizations and facial expressions serve to engage the child’s focus by being distinct from all the other noise and visual stimuli around the baby. Remember, the brain of a newborn baby is still developing and needs different cues to engage and learn something.
Baby talk also helps to establish an emotional connection between the adult and the baby. The melodic and nurturing tone conveys affection, love, and care. As a result, in a way, it reassures the child by giving them a sense of security.
Interestingly, there was a study where researchers tested 2,329 babies from 16 countries on their preference for this high-pitched, animated vocalization... babies love it when adults engage in baby talk. The study also revealed that babies from almost all cultures have an inherent love for baby talk.
Newborns can’t speak, but they come ready to learn. Evidence suggests that human brains are primed to absorb and process linguistic input. The melodic patterns and simplified language of baby talk help infants differentiate speech sounds and identify keywords, facilitating more efficient language development.
However, it’s important to strike a balance between baby talk and normal adult conversation as babies grow older and their language skills develop. As children become more proficient in understanding and producing language, adults should adapt and advance their communication style accordingly.
1. Which of the following is the characteristic of baby talk?| A．Vivid expressions. | B．Rich information. |
| C．Complex grammar. | D．Large vocabulary. |
| A．To entertain adults. | B．To form emotional bond. |
| C．To learn more about babies. | D．To help babies understand the adult world. |
| A．Describing a phenomenon. | B．Offering advice. |
| C．Analyzing causes. | D．Interpreting facts. |
| A．What is baby talk? | B．Why can’t adults talk like babies? |
| C．How do babies talk with adults? | D．Why can’t adults talk normally to babies? |
7 . During that special period, lockdown and homesickness combined to leave me feeling lonely and longing to meet people. So, when I received an email inviting volunteers to join the university’s graduate students’ society, I was mentally disturbed (不安的). While I originally worried that extracurricular activities would take my focus away from my Ph.D. work, my professor considered it a chance to make connections with others and encouraged me to have a try.
I looked through the list of the open volunteer roles. Then a newly developed company matching graduate students with internships (实习职位) caught my eye. The program needed coordinators (协调员) to help bring in industry partners and work with the university administration and student applicants. The opportunity to interact with different groups was inviting to me, so I decided to apply in spite of my lack of relevant experience.
The first few weeks in my new role were challenging. Along with my normal Ph.D.work, I was suddenly managing a team of four volunteers and arranging virtual meetings. Luckily, the director was supportive. It turned out that the interactions became enjoyable and rewarding.
I also learned a lot from my members. One day, a member came to me, feeling upset that I wasn’t including her more fully in decision-making. I was upset too; didn’t she trust my leadership? After calming down, I saw that she had a point. I reached out to other team members, getting a similar reply. Then I began to ask them to lead some meetings and encouraged them to express their views. This new approach allowed us to meet our targets while keeping everyone happy.
Besides, my work with the graduate students’ society unexpectedly broadened my mind. Before I joined, I only knew about academic career paths, and I assumed that was my future. But when one professional asked me what I would like to achieve, I began to think about what is the most important thing. I now know I want to make a direct, measurable impact. Getting closer to completing my Ph.D., I’m approaching job searches, clear about my expectations.
1. How did the author feel about the volunteer invitation at first?| A．Excited. | B．Hesitant. |
| C．Hopeful. | D．Uninterested. |
| A．Explaining her idea to the director. |
| B．Communicating with the university students. |
| C．Handling relationships with her team members. |
| D．Balancing her academic tasks and volunteer work. |
| A．She realized her disadvantages in leadership. |
| B．She expressed her complaint to other members. |
| C．She had to face competition in team management. |
| D．She persuaded her team members to change their views. |
| A．Wise and humorous. | B．Confident and generous. |
| C．Caring and easy-going. | D．Competitive and self-centered. |
8 . In an awe-inspiring incident, a young killer whale recently demonstrated remarkable intelligence by seeking assistance from a group of humans to save its trapped mother, which challenged our conventional understanding of wild predators (食肉动物).
The online viral video, shared by Alvin Foo, began with a young killer whale emitting distressing cries towards a group of people on a boat. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the concerned individuals promptly responded by contacting a rescue team. The young whale’s desperate request for help touched more people’s hearts and set a truly extraordinary chain of events in motion.
As the rescue team arrived, they were amazed to witness the young killer whale’s playful interaction with the humans. The whale appeared elated, seemingly understanding that assistance had finally arrived. This interaction between the mother killer whale and rescuers underlined the potential for mutual understanding beyond the boundary of traditional predator-prey relationships.
The young whale took on the role of a guide, leading the rescue team to its mother trapped in a fishing net. It navigated the water with purpose, as if fully aware that the humans possessed the means to save its mother. This display of intelligence left the rescuers in awe, highlighting the complex cognitive abilities of these magnificent marine creatures. With its guidance, the rescue team swiftly initiated the liberation process, carefully cutting the net to free the trapped whale. Astonishingly, they seemed to understand that the humans were there to help and did as asked.
The instant the mother whale was finally freed, an eruption of joyous cries filled the air. The emotional outpouring conveyed the immense gratitude of both the mother whale and the young whale to the humans who had intervened. As the rescue team made their way back to shore, the two whales swam alongside them. This heart-warming sight emphasized the lasting impact of the rescue. The bond formed through this extraordinary rescue operation was well obvious, proving that the profound connections can be established between various species. The journey back to safety symbolized the victory of compassion over adversity.
1. What can we learn about the video from paragraph 2?| A．It spread widely. |
| B．It went unnoticed. |
| C．It documented humans’ requesting help. |
| D．It recorded passive response to the rescue. |
| A．Tired. | B．Excited. | C．Frightened. | D．Confused. |
| A．Wise and cooperative. | B．Complex and mysterious. |
| C．Curious and careful. | D．Wild and rude. |
| A．Adversity is a good discipline. |
| B．It is urgent to protect wildlife. |
| C．Different species can coexist in harmony. |
| D．Human intervention poses a threat to whales. |
9 . Meteorites (陨石) can offer clues about what the early solar system was like. But finding them is far from difficult. Now, some scientists are turning to drones (无人机) and machine learning to help spot freshly fallen meteorites much more efficiently. “A team of six people on a meteorite-hunting expedition can search about 200,000 square meters per day,” says Seamus Anderson, a planetary scientist in Australia.
Around 2016, Anderson began toying with the concept of using drones to take pictures of the g round to look for meteorites. That idea blossomed into a Ph.D. project. In 2022, he and his colleagues reported their first successful recovery of a meteorite spotted with a drone. They’ve since found four more meteorites at a different site. Drone-based searches are much faster than the standard search way. “You’re going from about 300 days of human effort down to about a dozen or so,” he says.
Anderson and his workmates have used drones to search for meteorites in remote parts of Western Australia and South Australia. The team is tipped off about a fall site by networks of ground-based cameras that track meteoroids flashing through the Earth’s atmosphere. The researchers have to do a series of fun but difficult work before the hunt. They pack a four-wheel drive vehicle with drone and computer equipment, battery charging stations, generators, fuel, food, camping equipment, tables, chairs and much more. The drive to the fall site can take more than a day, often on rough or nonexistent roads. Anderson says, “You hope you don’t pop a tire.”
After arriving, the team flies its primary drone at an altitude of about 20 meters. Its camera takes an image of the ground once every second, and the scientists download the data every 40 minutes or so when the drone lands to receive fresh batteries. A typical day of flying can net over 10,000 images, which are then divided digitally into 100 million or so smaller sections. Those “tiles”, each 2 meters on a side, are fed into a machine learning algorithm (算法) that has been trained to recognize meteorites based on images of real land rocks which are spray-painted black.
1. Why do the scientists study meteorites?| A．To spot the planetary course. | B．To promote machine learning. |
| C．To test the functions of drones. | D．To explore the past of solar system. |
| A．Their barriers. | B．Their causes. |
| C．Their efficiency. | D．Their concept. |
| A．Fun and light. | B．Smooth and flexible. |
| C．Difficult and unpleasant. | D．Complicated and tough. |
| A．By dividing them in half. | B．By storing them for analysis. |
| C．By combining them into a picture. | D．By linking them with a digital printer. |
10 . Recent research confirms what our farming ancestors have known for centuries about hedges (树篱). They conserve precious soil by acting as windbreaks and absorbing rainwater that would otherwise wash it from the fields. And hedges store carbon, putting them in the front line of our bi d to tackle the climate crisis.
However, hedges have had a tough time in the poor countryside, with farmers encouraged to tear them down in pursuit of maximum production and larger field s to accommodate ever-larger machinery. What’s more, some hedges have been ignored. If left to their own devices, they’ll eventually become a line of trees. Some hedges each year lose their structures and fail to fulfil the primary duty as a barrier. Around a half of the nation’s hedges have disappeared in the past century.
There are signs that “the tide is turning”. The search for net zero has aroused many organizations’ interest in the humble hedge’s role as a carbon sink. The Climate Change Committee is recommending a 40 percent increase in hedges: an additional 200,000 km. Such recommendations are starting to drive policy. Cash-pressed farmers will be encouraged to create new hedges and improve their management of existing ones under the new Environmental Land Management Schemes, which will replace many of the existing agricultural support payments in coming years. Meanwhile, initiatives such as Close the Gap, led by the Tree Council, is providing funding and support to plug the gaps in existing hedges with new planting. There’s even an app to help time-pressed farmers do a quick survey to spot where their hedges need some help.
This is a good time for hedges. Take some of the most pressing challenges facing the countryside, and indeed, the world as a whole — the climate crisis, soil erosion (侵蚀), insect attack and wider biodiversity loss — and hedges are part of the solution.
1. What does recent research show about hedges?| A．They are unique landscapes in the rain. |
| B．They act as dividing lines between fields. |
| C．They have long been helpful to agriculture. |
| D．They are frequently washed away from the fields. |
| A．Their suffering. | B．Their production. |
| C．Their duties. | D．Their structures. |
| A．Puzzled. | B．Concerned. | C．Humble. | D．Indifferent. |
| A．Hedges: Ancient Resources |
| B．Hedges: Official Recommendations |
| C．Restoring Hedges: Bringing Benefits to the Environment |
| D．Researching Hedges: Originating from Farmers’ Request |
