1 . Going to the bathroom while floating in space can be tricky. Gravity is very weak in space, meaning toilets cannot flush (冲刷) the same way that they do on Earth. In a new contest, NASA is asking inventors from around the world to develop a new space toilet. The space agency is looking for a design that would work both aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as well as on the moon. NASA plans to use this toilet aboard a future lunar lander as part of the Artemis program, which will send humans to the moon by 2024.

Anyone can apply to this challenge, and the winning design will receive a $20,000 prize. The second-place design will win $10,000, and the third-place winner will win $5,000. The contest includes a “junior” category in which anyone under the age of 18 can apply with their creative space toilet idea. Winners in the junior category will receive public recognition and NASA souvenirs.

Designs should also take up no more than 4.2 cubic feet of space. The toilet itself shouldn’t be louder than 60 decibels, which is about the same volume as a bathroom fan. The space toilet will have to be able to collect both urine (尿液) and fecest (粪便) at the same time. It should be able to hold at least a quarter gallon (1 liter) of liquid waste. It should also be able to hold 17.6 ounces (500 grams) of solid waste. The final requirements are that the system must be able to store or get rid of waste, and it should also be able to be cleaned and maintained in five minutes or less.

Hopefully, this toilet will be an improvement on previous systems for waste removal. A waste removal system is a method of disposing of urine and feces. If you are a creative inventor, come and join us!

1. Which aspect of the design is not required in the contest?

A．Its covering space.

B．Its volume.

C．Its time of cleaning.

D．Its weight.

2. What can you know about this contest?

A．It’s a toilet design contest held by ISS for the American inventors.

B．It has a total prize pool of 45,000 to be shared by winning teams.

C．For the contestants, there are no limits to your age and nationalities.

D．If you are the winner under the age of 18, you will win 5,000.

3. What does the underlined word “disposing” mean?

A．Giving away.

B．Putting off.

C．Getting rid of.

D．Picking out.

4. What is the purpose of writing this text?

A．To introduce a toilet design contest.	B．To attract inventors to take part in the contest.
C．To explain the necessity of a toilet in space.	D．To show the difficulty of living in space.

2 . The vicinity (地区), between southern Angola and northern Namibia, is home to a leafy green plant that can live up to 1,000 years. This “Immortal” plant’s lifespan encourages researchers wondering why, out of all climates the world has to offer, this plant finds itself to thrive in the harsh, dry, and quite unforgiving Namib Desert known to reach less than two inches of rainfall a year.

Welwitschia (千岁兰), meaning “two leaves that cannot die,” in Afrikaans, was discovered by biologists Charles Darwin and the botanist Friedrich Welwitsch, whom the plant was named after in 1859. Andrew Leitch, a plant geneticist at Queen Mary University of London, explains, “Generally speaking, this plant can live thousands of years. When it does stop growing, it’s dead.

Nature Communications, a study published in July, conducted research to discover and identify the magic within Welwitschia’s genetic makeup. Researchers were able to infer, “Approximately 86 million years ago, after a mistake in cell division, the entire Welwitschia genome (基因组) doubled during a time of increased and prolonged drought in the region.” Additional research concluded that repeated genes lost their defining purposes, allowing some to develop new functions. But because DNA reproduction consumes high levels of energy, repeated genes can at times cause more harm than good, especially in severe weather conditions.

This plant also has more magic coming out of its leaves. Unlike most plants, where the leaves grow from the ends of its stem and branches, the Welwitschia’s leaves grow from a “vulnerable” area called the basal meristem (分生组织), which supplies fresh cells to the growing plant. The combination of internal and external factors of the Welwitschia has allowed the plant to continue thriving in extreme temperature conditions. Researchers are hopeful that Welwitschia can also provide insight into the agricultural industry and how we can develop drought tolerant crops.

1. What does the underlined word “thrive” in paragraph 1 mean?

A．Grow well.

B．Fade away.

C．Rise up.

D．Break down.

2. What can we infer from the passage?

A．The Welwitschia must have a life span of several thousand years or more.

B．Copied genes can do more harm than good due to energy consumption.

C．Biologist Charles Darwin named the Welwitschia in 1859.

D．The Welwitschia’s leaves, like most plants, grow from the basal meristem.

3. What can Welwitschia do according to researchers in Paragraph 4?

A．Solve the crisis facing the agricultural industry.

B．Give a deeper understanding of the agricultural industry.

C．Be planted as drought tolerant crops in the future.

D．Not bear extreme temperature conditions.

4. Which can be the best title for the text?

A．Copied Genomes of a Long-lived Plant.

B．Two Leaves That Cannot Die.

C．The “Immortal” Plant Tells Its Tale.

D．Agricultural Development with Welwitschia.

3 . Many Americans suffer from chronic (慢性的) conditions connected to their diets.    1    .

If you are looking for a health super-hero, head to the grocery store.    2    . That is not an exaggeration (夸张). A study found that people of any age who started including healthy foods in their diets improved their chances of living longer. Replacing one serving of red meat a day with one serving of nuts, for instance, was related to an 8-17 percent reduced risk of early death.    3    .

Lentils (扁豆) contain the highest amount of protein of any plant. They also provide excellent amounts of iron, folate (叶酸), and magnesium.    4    . A quarter cup of dry lentils contains about 13 grams of fiber. A quarter cup of kidney beans has about half that. They are consumed in the Blue Zones, areas of the world famous for having the longest-living and healthiest people.

Salmon (鲑鱼) is rich in protein, omega-3s, B vitamins, vitamins D and A.     5    . Specifically, they help protect against age-related brain and eye diseases, reduce the risk of heart disease and depression and maintain healthy skin.

Blueberries have plenty of nutrition carried in such tiny berries!They have plenty of fiber to keep you full and make your colon moving. They have folate which helps make DNA. They also have Vitamins C to help create collagen in your skin and other nutrients which protect our cells from damage.

A．But how do you choose the best options for you?

B．These nutrients are important for good health．

C．However, some nutritious foods can make you healthier with every bite．

D．As a great source of fiber,t hey can also help control blood sugar levels．

E．Studies show that these nutrients in seafood improve babies’s brain development, including an IQ boost．

F．What’s more, belonging to the legume (豆类) family, they have more fiber than beans．

G．Some foods can fight diabetes, heart disease, or cancer-in other words, they can save your life．

4 . After two years of pandemic living, people are collectively ready for a vacation. No matter how much we might like to, though, it’s not always possible to take a vacation from COVID-19. The virus is still circulating widely, including in popular tourist destinations like the U.K., Germany, France, and Italy. That means getting sick while traveling is a real possibility — and one that can turn into an expensive and stressful logistical headache.

What happens if you get COVID-19 while traveling internationally? To enter the U.S., international travelers currently need either a negative COVID-19 test result obtained within one day of their flight or proof that they have recovered from COVID-19 in the last 90 days. (This policy applies to both U.S .citizens and non-citizens, but children younger than 2 are exempt.) Without one of those documents, you cannot board a U.S.-bound flight. If you test positive, you should isolate and delay travel for 10 days, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

But where do you stay if you need to quarantine (隔离) abroad?And who pays for extended accommodations and rescheduled flights?Specifics vary from country to country, but the short answer is that travelers are often on the hook. Exceptions to the test-to-return policy may be granted on an “extremely limited” basis, such as in the event of an emergency medical evacuation or humanitarian crisis, the CDC says-but the average vacationer won’t have many options beyond paying to extend their stay.

A spokesperson for the State Department Jeanna Smialek said travelers who must isolate should contact their hotels and airlines to arrange accommodations and re-book travel, and, if necessary, seek assistance from their nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The spokesperson added that U.S. citizens traveling abroad are subject to local quarantine rules, which may differ from those of the U.S. CDC.

1. What do you need to enter the US if you get COVID-19 while traveling internationally?

A．A negative COVID-19 test result．

B．A certificate of health recovery in the last 90 days．

C．Two weeks’ travel delay．

D．Extended accommodations and rescheduled flights．

2. What does the underlined phrase “on the hook” in paragraph 3 refer to?

A．Should pay the money．	B．Be pleasant to stay longer．
C．Have no choice but to obey the rule．	D．Be not satisfied with the policy．

3. According to Jeanna Smialek, which one is not true?

A．Accommodations should be booked by travelers themselves．

B．American consulate is accessible to isolated travelers．

C．Travelers who must isolate have certain restrictions．

D．Travelers should obey both local and American quarantine rules．

4. What’s the passage mainly about?

A．How to isolate during the COVID-19．

B．What international travelers should do after test positive．

C．COVID-19 isolation spreads in popular tour destinations．

D．Isolation policies are different among countries．

5 . Puppet Festival Mississauga!

ABOUT THE EVENT

Puppet Festival Mississauga is an annual event for families taking place at March break all across the city of Mississauga.

Treat your family to quality theatre at Puppet Festival Mississauga this March Break. Puppet Festival Mississauga presents live theatre that encourages children to be curious about the world around them.

Featuring：

Choo.Choo.Whistle.Woof!A PUPPET SHOW FROM CZECHIA

A dog overcomes his fear of the unknown and ventures on a great train adventure!A Puppet Show for Kids at Mississauga Puppet Festival this March Break 2023. Great for Kids 2＋.

The Happy Prince-A PUPPET SHOW FROM MEXICO

An unforgettable puppet show filled with magic and friendship. Based on the classic children’s tale by Oscar Wilde. Watch This Puppet Show for Kids in Spanish and English. at Mississauga Puppet Festival this March Break 2023. Great for Ages 3＋.

And more!

Event Location

Maja Prentice Theatre is a 200-seat theatre located at the corner of Dixie and Burnamthorpe Road, which is home to live theatre shows, musicals, dance and community events, all year round.

1. Where is this text probably taken from?

A．A textbook.

B．A research plan.

C．A traveling guide.

D．A news site.

2. What are the puppet shows less likely to help kids?

A．Be dauntless(无畏的)and fearless.	B．Know more about friendship.
C．Get the Oscar statuette.	D．Be curious about the world.

3. What do you prefer to do to go to the Maja Prentice?

A．Have an adventure.	B．Buy a puppet.
C．Do community service.	D．Enjoy a music drama.

6 . Craig Clark is retired from his job in computers. He grew bored in his retirement and wanted to take on a challenging hobby. He decided to continue doing what he does best, which is to fix computers. In his spare time, he helps individuals and families improve their lives by giving them access to technology.

Craig places ads for his donations on the neighborhood community website. Once he fixes the old computers, he then offers them to community members for free. He was aware that many individuals struggled financially and often couldn’t afford to buy a computer due to the expense (费用). He wanted to find a way to help solve this problem. So far, he has given away more than 430 computers.

Melissa, one of Craig’s computer receivers, proves his giving nature. Her daughter needed a computer for school. But as a single mother of four children, buying a new expensive computer was not in her budget. One day she received a free computer from Craig. It was a lifesaver for her family.

A computer can influence people in many ways. It helps the elderly easily connect with health professionals from the comfort of their homes. It also saves them time and money by having their medicine and food delivered and monthly bills paid with the help of their online accounts. Computers have also connected many young students with online educational programs. They have also helped families connect with relatives living far away through email, social media, and video meetings.

Craig is excited that his labor of love is beneficial to those in need. He is known in his Florida community as the Tech Fairy. He uses his IT skills as a unique way to help improve the lives of hundreds of his community members. He now wants to inspire other technicians (技术员) to join him on his mission of kindness and become tech fairies in their own communities. Together they can improve the lives of many.

1. What does Craig prefer doing in his spare time?

A．Finding solutions to poverty.	B．Selling computers at a low price.
C．Repairing and donating computers.	D．Teaching computer-fixing skills.

2. What words can be used to describe Craig?

A．Wise and independent.	B．Clever and energetic.
C．Brave and determined.	D．Skilled and generous.

3. What does Paragraph 4 focus on?

A．Community members’ gratitude to Craig.

B．Local people’s useful advice on Craig’s business.

C．The common types of online educational programs.

D．The life-changing benefits brought by Craig’s action.

4. What is the best title of the text?

A．A tech fairy connects people with technology

B．A man calls on people to recycle used computers

C．A fun way to improve community relationships

D．A man chooses to be a volunteer in his retirement.

7 . The southwestern United States has experienced drought for more than 20 years. Arizona has increasingly pumped (抽吸) water from underground, but that meets less than half of what the state needs. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of new residents arrive every year, and more communities are built. One report shows that a large area near Phoenix doesn’t have enough groundwater for all the homes that developers want to build there. That means 800,000 people.

Some experts say the solution is to import water from outside the state. One idea is to build a $5.5 billion desalination (脱盐) plant on Mexico’s Sea of Cortez. The plant would remove salt from the water and pump that water to Arizona through a 200-mile pipeline. Supporters say this could provide a water supply for decades.

Environmentalists see a different future. Some of the salt taken out of the Sea of Cortez might end up back in the ocean, harming wildlife. The pipeline would damage land where people and animals live. And the desalination process uses lots of energy. This would create greenhouse gases, the very gases that are causing the conditions that have led to Arizona’s water problems.

Margaret Wilder is a professor at the University of Arizona, in Tucson. She warns that big projects like this one could be used to show much more unsustainable development in the desert in the future. Moreover, desalinating water would likely be a massive expenditure for Arizonans. Cities pay about $50 to $150 for 326,000 gallons. That’s enough for a family of three in Phoenix for a year. Desalinated water could charge 20 times as much.

Environmentalists say the government should focus on cutting the demand for water rather than increasing the supply. That would mean taking water-saving measures and limiting how many homes are built. Thousands of households in Tucson, Arizona, are collecting rainwater and using it for cooking, drinking, and in their gardens. Government leaders have taken notice. Tucson also helps residents pay for equipment that collects rainwater for home use.

1. What is the problem faced by the southwestern United States?

A．A population increase.	B．A serious heatwave.
C．A waste of resources.	D．A water shortage.

2. What do environmentalists probably think of the desalination project?

A．It provides a long-term solution to drought.

B．It would harm the planet from various aspects.

C．It fails to take people’s basic needs into account.

D．It draws people’s attention to environmental destruction.

3. What does the underlined part “a massive expenditure” in Paragraph 4 mean?

A．Affordable.

B．Costly.

C．Unsafe.

D．Beneficial.

4. What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A．People are unsatisfied with the government’s water measures.

B．Collecting rainwater is the key to meeting water demands.

C．People are exploring water resources with official support.

D．Public concern about water safety has increased.

8 . Sometimes in life, we keep making the same mistakes over and over again, without learning a lesson, till reality strikes us. Other times, some decisions are very hard, so we often end up feeling we could have gone the other way.    1     Life is limited, and it is better to learn some life lessons.

Be full of confidence.

Successful people don't just gain confidence after achieving success. Instead, they have made achievements as they always believe in themselves.    2    

    3    

If you agree to do things even if you don't want to, you will welcome more stress in your life. This is why you must be able to and have the courage to turn someone down in a polite way whenever you are not totally ready to do something you are asked to.

Be responsible for your life.

    4     Other people may advise you or influence you but they cannot force you to determine what you should do.

Stay away from people who always drag you down.

We tend to be with people who inspire us or who make us feel better, but sometimes we end up spending time with those who don't appreciate us .    5     Or you will end up feeling worthless for yourself.

A．Be brave and willing to say “No”.

B．Then what we are left with is regret.

C．Accomplish the more urgent tasks-first.

D．It is time to cut those people out of your life.

E．Avoid things that prevent your concentration.

F．It's your responsibility to take charge of your life, so don't always rely on others to determine what your life will be like.

G．To overcome all the obstacles in your way, you need to trust yourself to get out of your comfort zone and that requires confidence.

9 . I know that some of you are still adjusting to being back at school. But I’m here today because I have something important to discuss with you. I’m here because I want to talk with you about your education and what’s expected of all of you in this new school year.

And this isn’t just important for your own life and your own future. What you make of your education will decide nothing less than the future of this country. The future of our country depends on you. What you’re learning in school today will determine whether we as a nation can meet our greatest challenges in the future.

You’ll need the knowledge and problem-solving skills you learn in science and math to cure diseases like cancer and to develop new energy technologies and protect our environment. You’ll need the insights and critical-thinking skills you gain in history and social studies to build our country. You’ll need the creativity and ingenuity you develop in all your classes to build new companies that will create new jobs and boost our economy. We need every single one of you to develop your talents and your skills and your intellect so you can help us old folks solve our most difficult problems.

The circumstances of your life — what you look like, where you come from, how much money you have, what you’ve got going on at home — none of that is an excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude in school. That’s no excuse for talking back to your teacher, or cutting class, or dropping out of school. There is no excuse for not trying.

Where you are right now doesn’t have to determine where you’ll end up. No one’s written your future for you, because here in our country, you write your own future. You make your own future. Whatever you resolve to do, I want you to commit to it. I want you to really work at it.

1. What can we learn from the first two paragraphs?

A．Students adjust to their new schools easily.

B．Students wish they could be still on holiday.

C．Students decide to live up to their expectations.

D．Students influence the future of the whole country.

2. Which skill should students have is not mentioned in paragraph 3?

A．Problem solving.	B．Creativity.
C．Critical thinking.	D．Independent thinking.

3. What does the speech mainly focus on?

A．Opportunities in creating new jobs.

B．Great challenges in this new school year.

C．The strategies of protecting environment.

D．The responsibilities for students’ own education.

4. What should you do in your new school year according to the speaker?

A．Talk back to our teachers at all time.

B．Have a negative attitude in school occasionally.

C．Devote ourselves to whatever we are intended to do.

D．Make excuses for neglecting homework if necessary.

10 . You’re chatting with a friend and want to recommend a good book.     1     It feels like it’s on the tip of your tongue, but the harder you try to remember, the more you can’t. We’ve all been there, and everyone knows how hard it is to remember all of that information in your head. Luckily, there are some things you can do to improve your memory.

·Repeat important information out loud.     2     When you repeat something out loud, you aren’t technically memorizing it. You’re actually creating a pattern and sound that will make the information easier to remember in the future.

·    3     Turn the TV off while you study and get off the phone while you’re driving. When you do different activities at the same time, your attention is divided, which will make it hard to process the information necessary to remember what you’re doing.

·Take notes and write things down. Taking notes will help you memorize the information, even if you never look at your notes again!     4     So you’re better off sticking to pen and paper if you really want to remember your friend’s birthday or an important meeting.

·Take a short walk. There’s a lot of scientific evidence that taking a walk will jog your memory. If you are trying to remember something, spend a few minutes walking around your neighborhood to see if it helps.     5     At best, you’ll remember the name of that life-changing book from grade school!

A．Focus on one thing at a time.

B．All of a sudden, you can’t remember the title!

C．At worst, you’ll get some exercise and relax a little.

D．Change your way of memorizing important information.

E．Say that address phone number, or date over and over again.

F．Remember something once makes it easier for you to remember it in the future.

G．Research shows that it’s hard to achieve the same effect by typing something on your phone.