1 . Directions: Complete the following passage by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. army   B. available   C. displayed   D. reserves   E. straight   F. inserted G. additional   H. advocates   I. initiative   J. proven   K. existing

A new way to reduce poaching

Researchers are working on a pilot program backed by Russia’s Rosatom Corp to inject rhino horns (犀牛角) with radioactive material, a strategy that could discourage consumption and make it easier to detect illegal trade.

Poachers (偷猎者) killed 394 rhinos in South Africa for their horns last year, government data shows, with public and private game     1     lacking the resources needed to monitor vast tracts of land and protect the animals that live there. While the toll was a third lower than in 2019 and the sixth     2     drop, illegal hunting remains the biggest threat to about 20,000 of the animals in the country — the world’s biggest population.

Thousands of     3     sensors along international borders could be used to detect a small quantity of radioactive material     4     into the horns, according to James Larkin, a professor at the University of Witswatersrand in Johannesburg, who has a background in radiation protection and nuclear security. “A whole new     5     of people could be able to detect the illegal movement of rhino horn,” he said. Some alternate methods of discouraging poaching, including poisoning, dyeing and removing the horns, have raised a variety of opinions as to their virtue and efficacy.

Known as The Rhisotope Project, the new anti-poaching     6     started earlier this month with the injection of an amino acid (氨基酸) into two rhinos’ horns in order to detect whether the compound will move into the animals’ bodies. Also,     7     studies using computer modeling and a replica rhino head will be done to determine a safe dose of radioactive material. Rhino horn is used in traditional medicine, as it is believed to cure disease such as cancer,     8     as a show of wealth and given as gifts.

“If we make it radioactive, these people will be hesitant to buy it,” Larkin said. “We’re pushing on the whole supply chain.”

Besides Russia’s state-owned nuclear company, the University of Witwatersrand, scientists and private rhino owners are involved in the project. If the method is     9     feasible, it could also be used to curb illegal trade in elephant ivory.

“Once we have developed the whole project and got to the point where we completed the proof of concept, then we will be making this whole idea     10     to whoever wants to use it,” Larkin said.

2 . Directions: Complete the following passage by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. smoothing            B. remain          C. switched        D. likelihood        E. impact            F. tip G. broadly               H. headed          I. booming          J. positioning       K. reliably

Sea-level rise predictions

A team of University of Idaho scientists is studying a fast-moving glacier in Alaska in hopes of developing better predictions on how quickly global sea levels will rise.

Tim Bartholomaus, a professor in the Department of Geography and Geological Sciences, spent several weeks on Turner Glacier in Alaska’s southeastern     1     near Disenchantment Bay. The glacier is unique because, unlike other glaciers, it rises greatly every five to eight years.

A surging glacier is defined,     2    , as one that starts flowing at least 10 times faster than normal. But the how and why of that glacial movement is poorly understood, although recent research suggests that global climate change increases the     3     of glacial surging.

During Turner’s surges, the mass of ice and rock will increase its speed from roughly 3 feet a day to 65 feet per day.

All of that is important because glaciers falling into the ocean are a major contributor to sea level rise, and current climate change models don’t     4     account for these movements. For example, Greenland’s glaciers are one of the leading contributors to global sea-level rise. Since the early 2000s, Greenland     5     from not having any effect on world sea levels, to increasing sea level by about 1 millimeter per year. Half of that yearly increase is due to warmer average temperatures, which leads to more ice melting. The other half, however, is because glaciers in Greenland are, as a whole, moving faster and running into the ocean more frequently.

Glacial movement has something to do with water running underneath the glacier. Glaciers are full of holes, and water runs through those holes. When the water pressure is high underneath a glacier, it starts to move, partly because it’s lifting the mass of ice and rock off the ground and partly because it’s     6     the underside of the glacier.

But how exactly does that water move through the glacier, and how does the movement     7     the glacier’s speed? Those are the questions the scientists hope to answer.

Bartholomaus, some graduate students and researchers from Boise State University,     8     onto the ice in August. They set up a base camp at the toe of the glacier and spent their days flying in on helicopters. They placed roughly 30 instruments, burying them deeply into the glacier and     9     them on rock outcroppings (露岩) alongside the glacier. This summer the team will return to get the instruments and replace batteries. Those instruments will     10     on and around the glacier until the glacier surge stops, providing researchers with before and after data.

3 . Directions: Fill in each blank with a proper word chosen from the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. disadvantage B. notably     C. energetic   D. insufficient   E. alternate F. evolved     G. contribution   H. periodic   I. withdrawal   J. coexist     K. adjusted

The degree to which seasonal changes affect mood, energy, sleep, appetite, food preference, or the wish to socialize with other people has been called seasonality. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a condition where depressions in fall and winter     1     with non-depression periods in spring and summer, is the most marked form of seasonality.

The typical symptoms of     2     winter depression include lowered mood, social     3    , increased appetite and weight gain. Mild or no symptoms often occur in spring and summer. It is argued that such pattern of depression occurrence forms an adaptive mechanism which enhances the likelihood of reproductive success, most     4     for females, among populations living at temperate latitudes(纬度). Women are more likely to become pregnant in the summer and thus to give birth at a time of year when their babies have a higher chance of survival. Low chance of summer depression also indicates     5     individuals and promotes healthier pregnancies, which increase the survival chances of both mothers and babies. In the modern era, it is probable that repeated winter depression is becoming a reproductive     6    .

Several lines of evidence also suggest that genetic factors play an important role in the seasonality and SAD. Millions of years of evolution had     7     human biochemical systems for survival under equatorial(赤道的) environmental conditions. Modern humans began to move out of Africa only about 150,000 years ago. Little change in our ‘equatorial’systems might have been expected over this relatively short evolutionary span. And a genetic defenselessness against seasonal changes in mood and behavior is out of     8     adaptation to the new living conditions.

Today, more studies of SAD and seasonality are receiving considerable attention. Studies on relatives of patients with SAD also suggested a familial     9     to the development of SAD. Researchers are trying to find out whether SAD and seasonality are acquired at birth as a composite entity(实体) or whether the two are separate acquired traits that happen to     10     in certain individuals.

4 . Directions: Fill in each blank with a proper word chosen from the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. favor        B. contained        C. unseasonable        D. consistency        E. shifts F. upset        G. contradictory        H. air   I. torn        J. loosely        K. stretched

The party may actually be the last stronghold of the dress code, a tradition that is increasingly falling out of     1     everywhere, from the workplace to the school. As the power of choice     2     away from the institution and toward the individual, the idea of any establishment deciding what is and is not appropriate dress, when dress is so deeply mixed with personal identity, seems increasingly     3    .

So why do so many hosts think a dress code is a good idea?

On the one hand, it does help reduce guests’ confusion and insecurity about what to wear to a special event. And it can help give a party a festive     4    . There’s something very fun about fancy dresses of a theme. Also, if there are photos involved, a certain     5     in dress can create a clear visual effect for the photos.

On the other hand, if the dress code is too unspecific, it only adds to the general what-to-wear confusion, with “dress to impress” being a case in point. Sometimes it involves dresses that seem     6     to an individual’s sense of style. Either way, you will feel     7     between pleasing your host and pleasing yourself.

When I asked the designer Ulla Johnson about the issue, she admitted that she demanded a dress code at her wedding: everyone in white. But she also said she wasn’t     8     at all when some guests asked to be an exception to the rule.

“At this point, I would say dress codes can be     9     interpreted,” she said. “Putting on something you don’t love because it obeys a code should be off the table.”

In other words, a party dress code is not the same as a school uniform. It can be     10     to fit each individual. Honey Dijon, the D.J. and musician, likewise believes that open interpretations of dress codes are generally expected, though she has her own solution to the dress code issue.

“Choose something that is related to the theme, such as a shoe or a bag,” she said. “That way, the host is satisfied and you still feel confident.”

5 . 选词填空

assumed        streamed       persist     consist       deprived        stuck        conduct

1. To our astonishment, that young man shamed himself and his family by breaking codes of ________ in the community.
2. From my perspective, true education does not ________ in simply being taught facts, instead, it aims to develop students’ ability in lifelong learning.
3. The busy schedule of the newly-promoted sales manager ________ him of opportunities to have meals with his family.
4. With more and more variety shows emerging, such programs have been popular with contemporary urban youth since it was ________ online in 2017.
5. Some volunteers just ________ that what they valued and enjoyed would also be cherished by others.

6 . Directions: Fill in each blank with a proper word chosen from the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. associated       B. dominant        C. frequent        D. implications       E. inferiority F. interpreted       G. physically       H. predicted       I. potentially        J. seconds       K. vitality

Most people do not realize that dreams take up about 25% of the night’s sleep, and each dream period lasts from five to 20 minutes. These is no doubt that dreams play an important role in our lives. If they can be correctly     1     — and that is a big “if” — we can come to understand ourselves better. Here, we look at three common dreams and what they     2     symbolize.

Dream 1: I can see their laughing faces. laughing at me. But they aren’t as smart. If they were, they’d be up here flying with me!

This dream has both positive and negative     3     . On the positive side, the dream may express a strong desire to travel and get away from everyday routine. It may also symbolize a powerful desire to achieve. On the other hand, this dream can mean the person has a problem or is afraid of something and they wish to escape. The dream could represent a(n)     4     complex, which the dreamer attempts to escape from by literally and     5     putting themselves up above others.

Dream 2: I’m moving fast now, but it’s still behind me. Doesn’t matter how fast I go, I still can’t escape.

Although this is a traditional symbol of health and     6     like the first one, it too can suggest the dreamer is trying to escape from danger. Usually, fear is the     7     emotion. By running hard, the dreamer can possibly escape the threat. However, they can also stop moving. This makes the fear even more terrifying. One possible interpretation suggests that the person is under pressure in their everyday life.

Dream 3: I’m sweating and my heart is beating. I’m trapped, trapped in my own bed.

This symbol is     8     with fear and embarrassment: suddenly the dreamer loses all power of movement. They try hard to move their arms and legs, but they simply cannot. Frozen in a terrifying situation with no escape, they become more and more terrified as the     9     go by. Another     10     context for this dream is failing to do something in public, often something that you are normally very good at, such as your job. Not only is this extremely embarrassing, but it also shows a deep-seated fear of losing a job and a livelihood.

7 . Directions: Fill in each blank with a proper word chosen from the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. prediction          B. automates          C. resemble          D. images            E. diverse F. cooperate             G. sourced            H. rough             I. crucial             J. patented             K. streams

Fashion has always been at the forefront of innovation—from the invention of the sewing machine to the rise of e-commerce. Like tech, fashion is forward-looking and cyclical.

And today, fashion technology is growing at a faster pace than ever.

Robots that sew and cut, AI algorithms (算法) that forecast style trends, clothes that are worn in virtual reality—a collection of innovations show how technology     1     the fashion design process.

To seize the opportunity to produce more income     2     and business models, fashion companies try to     3     with technology providers, grab startups, and even build their own tech.

Meanwhile, as the industry faces an overdue count of its environmental and social impacts, it is reexamining processes across the value chain in an attempt to reinvent itself.

For example, artificial intelligence will reshape brands’ approach to product design and development, with a focus on the     4     of what customers will want to wear next. But algorithms aren’t taking the place of human designers any time soon. If there’s anything that fashion houses’ experiments have shown, it’s that human involvement is     5     to commanding the new ideas provided by AI and translating them into appealing, wearable clothes for now.

Tech companies are pouring in. One IT giant has already tested the water of user-driven AI fashion design with Project Muze. The project trained a system to understand     6     colors and style preferences, based on trend data     7     from an online fashion platform. From there, Project Muze used an algorithm to create designs to tailor to customers’ real needs.

As a new player, another e-commerce giant, with the project Lab 126, is trying to learn about a particular fashion style and then create similar     8     . Without designers or past experiences, it’s like creating from scratch. If that sounds like “fast fashion for sale,” it’s because it probably is. The company has already     9     a manufacturing system to make on-demand clothes-making a reality.

Of course, the outcomes of these AI designs aren’t always runway-ready. Many designs created for users of Project Muze were unwearable drafts and some people consider the designs of the Lab 126     10     .

8 . Directions: Complete the following passage by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. control            B. annual               C. step          D. share        E. doubled        F. shy G. abroad            H. hit            I. freely            J. satisfy            K. different

Duty-free shopping in China is encouraging consumer spending and industry players are not     1     when forecasting more growth in the future.

Brands from home and     2     are gathering to introduce new products for travel retailers during the China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, where zero import taxes and shorter negative lists are promoting business growth.

“The event and policies to drive offshore duty-free shopping further show China’s determination of opening wider to the outside world to     3     development opportunities,” said a Japanese businessman.

The construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port represents a big     4     of China to further advance opening-up, according to another foreign businessman.

“It offers a fantastic opportunity to     5     consumers’ needs for quality products and we, as a company, are able to communicate with them     6    ,” said Megarbane, whose company has shown several Hainan — only duty-free packages under multiple brands.

Last year, China raised the     7     cap on zero import duty to 100,000 yuan ($15,548) for each traveler departing from the tropical island. This policy has encouraged travelers from Hainan to spend more when they travel.

Duty-free spending     8     in Hainan last year. In the first quarter of this year, duty-free sales in Hainan     9     15 billion yuan, and an upward trend is expected to extend into the year and beyond.

“We believe customers want     10     experiences, to see more high-end fashion brands and explore excellent customer service, so it’s about mixed factors,” a senior manager said, adding that DFS is looking to build four new duty-free stores in Hainan within the next three to five year.

9 . Directions: Complete the following passage by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. remained     B. cast     C. violent     D. familiar     E. classified     F. creativity G. overcoming     H. maintained     I. domestic     J. justice     K. originating

For as long as we have been able to stand upright and speak, we have told stories. They explained the mysteries of the world: birth, death, the seasons, day and night.

As humanity progressed, other types of stories developed. These were not concerned with the mysteries of the meaning of life but with everyday       1     matters. While they were more mundane (平淡的) in the issues they explored, such tales were no less impressive in their     2     of the supernatural.

These smaller, everyday stories, combining the world of humans with fantastical creatures and seemingly impossible plots are now     3     as fairy tales or folk tales. Such tales,     4    in pre-literate societies and told by the folk, capture the hopes and dreams of humanity. They convey messages of     5    difficulties, rising from rags to riches, and the benefits of courage.

Fairy tales are also extremely moral in their distinction between god and evil, right and wrong. Their     6     reflects the ancient tradition of an eye for an eye, and their punishments are ruthless and complete. Originally for adults, fairy tales can be     7    and filled with taboos. When the earliest recorded versions were made by collectors such as the Brothers Grimm, the adult content was     8    . But as Christian morality intervened (介入), the tales became child-friendly.

Despite these changes, it is apparent that fairy tales are still needed today, even for grown-ups. We consciously and unconsciously continue to tell them, despite advances in logic, science and technology.

The 20th anniversary of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, for example, has been     9    like her life — as a fairy tale. Throughout the year, she has been commemorated (纪念) in articles with headings such as “a troubled fairy tale”, “beyond a fairy tale”, and “just another fairy tale.” While these articles have tried hard to deconstruct the     10     narrative, they have not been entirely successful.

10 . Directions: Complete the following passage by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. predicts             B. operation       C. employ       D. limited       E. studies F. environmentally     G. willing       H. similar       I. typically     J. necessary     K. estimate

We’re waiting to take trips to outer space. When will it happen? According to individuals in the growing field of space tourism, it may be in five or fifty years.

Space Adventures is taking reservations for the flights,     1     to the first manned spaceflights. The trip will cost $90,000, with a $6,000 deposit required. More than 200 people have made reservations, said Sarah, Dalton, the company spokeswoman.

John Spencer of the Space Tourism Society says that a more realistic     2     for regular space travel is 50 years. Issues of expense, difficulty, and danger must still be solved. Oh yes — a reusable vehicle must also be invented. He adds, however, that ten years from now, a     3     number of people may be able to visit a space station. He says he expects a fleet of private space vehicles to be in     4     in 20 to 25 years. After that, there will be cruise lines, like those that travel the Earth’s oceans, as well as space hotels and resorts.

There have been only a few     5     to determine the public’s interest in space tourism, but they all conclude that most people would like to visit space and would be     6     to pay good money for it. According to expert Patrick Collins, between 5 million and 20 million people will head for space by 2030. He also     7     100 flights a day leaving Earth. It would be     8     to have more than 100 hotels in Earth’s orbit, a few more orbiting the moon, and a few on the moon’s surface. These hotels would     9     more than 100,000 people, who would work month-long shifts. Each hotel would have a service station. Such service stations would provide oxygen, water, and hydrogen. They might also ship     10     safe electric power back to Earth.

If all the issues can be solved, Collins says that space tourism could one day become a $1 trillion.