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. conferencing B. opposed C. concerned D. spread E. valued F. partner G. creating H. communicate I. instruction J. normal K. supervising

Education officials and industry experts are debating the future of online learning. The discussion is important because recently hundreds of universities in the United States have moved classes online because of the     1     of the new coronavirus.

For Asha Choksi, the rise of internet-based or online study programs has led to major improvements in higher education.

“What it’s done is, it’s actually given a lot more power to students in terms of how, when and where they learn,” the head of research for Pearson Education told VOA. Her company is     2     online learning programs.

Colleges and universities worldwide have been looking for ways to provide satisfactory education off campus and outside of     3     business hours. The decision by many schools in the U. S. to suspend in-person classes during the recent coronavirus crisis has shown how important online teaching can be. And demand for such programs is increasing.

The financial advising company Tyton Partners     4     the online program management industry at over $1.5 billion in 2015.

Choksi, however, argues that her company is     5     a path to higher education for people who might not have been able to get a degree otherwise.

Pearson Education is one of a growing number of companies that     6     with schools to create online study aids and full degree programs. Classes meet online through video     7    . In this way, students are able to     8     with each other and their professors even when they are far away from school.

Online learning also permits older students, who work, full-time and support families, to work on their education in their free time. It can be helpful for people who might have difficulty coming to a college campus, such as disabled students or those who live far from any college or university.

However, recent research suggests the majority of college students and professors prefer in-person instruction. In addition, some experts are     9     that companies in charge of online learning programs are not clear about the policies they have with the schools they serve.

Last year, the EDUCAUSE Center for Analysis and Research published two opinion studies on online higher education programs. Researchers asked over 40,000 American undergraduate students and 9,500 professors what they thought about these programs. In both groups, as least 70 percent of people said they prefer in-person     10    .

2 . 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. content B. demands   C. guard     D. depressed   E. prioritized   F. fits G. failure   H. meant   I. competed     J. mere     K. independent

Happiness, as the Brazilian poet Vinicius de Moracs put it, is “like a feather flying in the air. It flies light, but not for very long.”

Humans are not designed to be happy or even     1    . Instead, we are designed primarily to survive and reproduce, like every other creature in the natural world. A state of contentment is discouraged by nature because it would lower your     2     against possible threats to your survival.

Evolution has     3     the development of a big frontal lobe(脑叶)in our brain (which gives us excellent executive and analytical abilities) over a natural ability to be happy. Different geographical locations and circuits in the brain are each associated with certain neurological(神经系统的)and intellectual functions, but happiness, being a(n)     4     idea with no neurological basis, cannot be found in the brain tissue.

In fact, experts in this field argue that nature’s     5     to eliminate depression in the evolutionary process is due precisely to the fact that depression as an adaption plays a useful role in times of difficulty, by helping the     6     individual get away from risky and hopeless situations in which he or she cannot win.

Our emotions are mixed and at times contradictory, like everything else in our lives. Research has shown that positive and negative emotions can coexist in the brain relatively     7     of each other. This models show that the right hemisphere processes negative emotions preferentially, whereas positive emotions are dealt with by the left-sided brain.

It’s worth remembering, then, that we are not designed to be consistently happy. Instead, we are designed to survive and reproduce. These are difficult tasks, so we are     8     to struggle, seek safety, fight off threats and avoid pain. The model of competing emotions offered by coexisting pleasure and pain     9     our reality much better than the unachievable bliss(极乐)that the happiness industry is trying to sell us. In fact, pretending that any degree of pain is abnormal will only develop feelings of inadequacy and frustration.

So, if you are unhappy at times, this is not a shortcoming that     10     urgent repair. Far from it. This fluctuation(波动)is, in fact, what makes you human.

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. spatial   B. specifically   C. deprived       D. seniors       E. basis       F. clinical G. maintaining       H. functioning       I. involved       J. contact       K. separate

Working from home and staying inside has become second nature to many people over the last two years. A new study, however, is warning not to get too comfortable with an inactive social life. Researchers from Penn State report     1     an active social life into old age can help adults improve their mental ability on a day-to-day     2    .

The study concludes that when elderly adults (between 70 and 90 years-old) have more frequent and pleasant social interactions, they also display stronger cognitive     3     over the next few days.

Dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease     4    , is a major problem worldwide, with estimates showing it will only get worse. Worryingly, Alzheimer’s related deaths have increased by 16 percent since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Making matters worse is the fact that modern medicine has yet to develop an effective drug for curing Alzheimer’s. With this in mind, study authors say it’s imperative to find other ways to fight mental decline in old age - especially before it reaches the     5     stage.

The team collected data on 312 older adults over the course of 16 days using their smartphones to reach these findings. Each day, participants reported on how many social interactions they’d had so far, who they interacted with, and whether it was a positive or negative experience. The group did this five    6     times throughout the day. Importantly, researchers counted digital or phone-based interactions as social activity in this experiment.

Additionally, after each prompt     7     also had to complete three cognitive tests. One test assessed processing speed and attention, another measured     8     working memory, and the last exam measured intra-item feature memory binding.

Researchers quickly noted that whenever a person had interacted often with close friends on a given day, they usually scored higher on the cognitive tests than others who interacted less frequently with close friends or family.

Interestingly, whenever an older adult hadn’t experienced a certain type of social interaction for some time, they performed much better on cognitive tests on the days they did socialize. For instance, if one participant hadn’t talked to their family in weeks, they usually scored higher on days they finally made     9    .

“Our findings suggest that the lack of positive social interactions in daily life could be a critical risk factor for declining cognitive function later in life,” Prof. Zhaoyang concludes. “Older adults who are relatively more       10     in certain social interaction experiences could potentially benefit the most from interventions that help to ‘boost’ their usual levels of social interactions in daily life.”

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

A. revolutionize       B. potential       C. unfold       D. convincing       E. handle F.competing       G. individually       H. vertically       I. stuck       J.multiple       K. adjust

How close are we to flying cars?

Even before George Jetson fascinated kids with his cartoon flying car, people dreamed of soaring above traffic congestion. Inventors and entrepreneurs have long tried and failed to make the dream a reality, but that may be changing.

Nearly a dozen companies around the globe, including some with deep pockets such as European aircraft maker to be the first to develop a new kind of aircraft that will enable commuters to glide above Airbus, are     1     crowded roadways. A few of the aircraft under development are cars with wings that     2     for flight, but most aren't cars at all. Typically they take off and land     3    like helicopters. Rather than a single, large main rotor(旋翼), they have     4     small rotors operated by a battery - powered electric motor instead of a conventional aircraft engine.

It's no sure bet that flying-car dreams will turn into reality. There are many obstacles, including     5     regulators that the aircraft are safe, figuring out how to     6     thousands of new low-flying aircraft over cities without collisions and developing batteries that will keep them in the air long enough.

But entrepreneurs are moving forward. They see a vast     7     market for "air taxis" and personally owned small aircraft to transport people from the edges of metropolitan areas to city centers as urban areas grow more congested and people spend more time     8     in traffic. They envision tens of thousands of flying taxis delivering passengers to the rooftops of office buildings in city centers during rush hours.

"In as little as 10 years, products that     9     urban travel for millions of people could be on the market." said Zach Lovering, the leader of Aribus' project to develop an autonomous flying taxi. It's unclear yet how much the aircraft will cost, although prices are likely to vary significantly. Some of the aircraft are designed to be     10     owned, while others are more for commercial use. Designers hope that if demand is high, prices can be kept affordable through economies of mass production.

5 . 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. diagnostic	B. respectively	C. improve	D. update	E. accurately	F. presented
G. practice	H. distinct	I. combined	J. standard	K. disclose

A new study by a team of Stanford University School suggests that the average human body temperature in USA has decreased over the last century. The idea that the normal human body temperature is about 37°C was first     1     by a German physician in 1851. Since then, it’s become so widely accepted that it serves as a(n)     2     tool used by people as a basic indicator if someone is sick.

However, it turns out that this well-established fact is not completely correct– or, to put it more     3    , human beings have been getting cooler. Recent studies have shown that temperature records have tended to run low compared to the accepted     4    , so the Stanford team decided to do a more in-depth study to compare modern measurements with historical records to try to identify body temperature trends and     5     the reason.

The team looked at three     6     databases from three historical periods. One was the records from Union Army veterans (退伍老兵) that were collected from 1862 to 1930. The second was from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey collected between 1971 and 1975, and third from adult patients visiting Stanford Health Care from 2007 to 2017.

By cross-checking the health records, the researchers concluded that the average American’s body temperature is about 0.03°C and 0.6°C lower for women and men,     7    , than it was in the 19th century.Together, this means that human body temperatures have fallen by 0.03°C per decade. However, considering that many factors influence body temperatures, the team says that it is unnecessary to     8     the definition of the average body temperature.

As for the reasons, the researchers say that the most likely one is a decline in the human metabolic rate (人体代谢速率) due to environmental factors. One possibility is that improvements in public health have reduced the incidence of inflammations (炎症感染率), which     9     metabolism. This,     10     with the fact that people live more comfortable lives in more stable environments means that the body doesn’t have to work as hard to stay warm, so the average temperature falls.

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. accounts       B. determine       C. sites            D. halves               AB. handy       AC. processing AD. simply       BC. statues        BD. pouring       CD. confusing       ABC. case

Egyptian Pyramids

Researchers have uncovered one of the key methods the Egyptians used to build the pyramids. They have long been confused by exactly how workers were able to transport large blocks of stone of construction    1    . Now, they say the key was simple-wet sand.

“For the construction of the Pyramids,the ancient Egyptians had to transport heavy stone blocks and large    2    across the desert.” researchers at the University of Amsterdam said. The team tried to repeat this—and found wet sand was the key. The Egyptians therefore placed the heavy objects on a sledge(雪橇) that workers pulled over the sand.

Research from the University of Amsterdam has now revealed that the Egyptians probably made the desert sand in front of the sledge wet. Experiments have demonstrated that the correct amount of wetness in the sand    3    the pulling force required. To test the theory. the physicists placed a laboratory version of the Egyptian sledge in a tray of sand. They decided both the required pulling force and the stiffness(硬度) of the sand as a function of the quantity of water in the sand. To    4    the stiffness, they used a rheometer, which shows how much force is needed to deform a certain volume of sand. Experiments revealed that the required pulling force decreased proportional to the firmness of the sand. “In the presence of the correct quantity of water. wet desert sand is about twice as firm as dry sand.” the team said. A sledge glides far more easily over firm desert sand    5    because the sand does not pile up in front of the sledge as it does in the    6    of dry sand. They also believe a painting reveals the trick. “The Egyptians were probably aware of this    7    trick.” they said. “A wall painting in the tomb of Djehutihotep clearly shows a person standing on the front of the pulled sledge and    8    water over the sand just in front of it.”

The research results could therefore be useful for examining how to make full use of the transport and    9    of grand material,which at present    10    for about ten percent of the worldwide energy consumption.

7 . 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. instinct；B. confidence；C. outlined；D. slogans AB. spin；AC. lists；AD. illustrated；BC. conviction BD. contrast；CD. practice；ABC. demonstrate

The success of a speech is often attributed to the skill of the speaker, with merit being given to speakers who are confident, articulate, knowledgeable and able to deliver a speech with     1    .

But often it is not the speakers who write these moving speeches, it is a speechwriter. And one industry in which this     2     is common is that of politics. So what does it take to be a political speechwriter?

Well, according to a recent job advertisement from the US Embassy in Britain, a political speechwriter needs to have exceptional interpersonal skills, be detail-oriented and able to     3     a deep knowledge of their subject. They must also work closely with speakers and be able to relate to their style.

Some believe that the best speechwriters have an inherent talent, a natural creative     4    , and that speechwriting is an art form. So what about those of us who do not possess such genius? Can we still produce successful speeches?

In an interview with the BBC, Dr. Max Atkinson (a communications specialist)     5     a number of speechwriting techniques. He also     6     how these techniques have been used in historic speeches.

One such technique is introducing     7    . This is extremely useful when presenting a positive     8     on a negative issue. One of the most famous examples of this can be seen in a speech given by former American President John F Kennedy: “Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country.”

Another technique is the use of three-part     9    . Dr. Atkinson explains that this can be an excellent way of adding finality or confirming a statement. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair was a fan of this technique. One of his most famous campaign     10     was “education, education, education.”

So next time you have to prepare a speech or presentation, try applying one or more of these techniques and see it you have what it takes to be a winning speechwriter.

8 . 选择正确的短语填空。

as if        a number of        lose heart        turn to        think highly of in return        as well        be/get familiar with        in a way        die out

1. They are not ______ charity work, which is still at an early stage in China.
2. No one has come up with a convincing explanation of why dinosaurs ______.
3. ______, I’m a little surprised when she accepted the offer to work in such a badly managed company.
4. Often life is much slower outside the big cities, as is true in other countries ______.
5. I still remember my first trip to the Taishan Mountain ______ it were yesterday
6. As China develops fast and steadily, ______ foreigners are learning Chinese as a second language.
7. We ______ their research in this field.
8. ______, the Czar sent him a troop of his best soldiers.
9. At last, I will be on my own, but I still want to have my parents to ______ whenever I need help.
10. She said that we shouldn’t ______ in times of difficulties and that we should be hopeful.

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. approved       B. violated       C. existing       D. drawn E. criticized       F. strengthening       G. going       H. improved I. aroused       J. concerns       K. promoted

Many people honor Guan Yu (or Guan Gong), a hero during the Three Kingdoms period. But recently, a statue of the ancient general has     1     criticism from authorities and the public.

In October, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development said on its website that the construction of the Guan Yu statue in Jingzhou, Hubei province,     2     local regulations.

The monumental(极大的) statue, built in a Guan Yu-themed park, covers an area of 152,000 square meters and weighs more than 5,000 tons. At about 58 meters tall, the statue surpassed the 24-meter limit on structures in local areas, according to CCTV News.

Even the cost of building the statue, about 170 million yuan, far exceeds the     3     budget. Worse, the park     4     the structure as the world's tallest bronze statue to attract tourists, but has only brought a revenue of less than 13 million yuan in the past four years, China Daily reported.

Due to recent media reports, the issue caught the public’s attention and     5     criticism for its waste of resources. Also, there are     6     over its safety risks and legality.

On Nov 17, the local authorities responded that experts have been organized to make a plan to relocate the statue. This announcement once again stirred discussion online.

Many asked to keep the statue, considering the cost and effort that had gone into the project. One internet user commented that “relocation would cost a lot of money. Why not just keep it and explore further development using     7     resources?” Still others questioned why there was no supervision from local authorities since the beginning of construction to ensure that rules were being followed.

According to Hui Ming, from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, this should be a lesson for local decision-makers. Before     8     about building statues, there should be adequate research and work. Also, public money and resources should not be wasted in this fashion.

This is not the only case of such an extravagant landmark. The Shuisi Tower project in Dushan county, Guizhou province, was also     9     by the MOHURD as a “cultural landmark" that was built indiscriminately(盲目地) and divorced from reality, and could damage the natural landscape.

Limit size of structures

The MOHURD has issued a notice on     10    the management of large-scale urban statue construction, which says that large statues with a height of more than 10 meters or a width of more than 30 meters must be managed as important urban construction projects.

To protect historical and traditional buildings, the MOHURD announced in April that urban architectures cannot be built taller than 500 meters unless their plans are approved.

10 . 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. confused       B. adaptable       C floating       D. decaying       E. attempts F. imitated       G. attached       H. signs       I. samples       J. relatively       K. steady

Though it is not unusual to find marine animals under the Antarctica seafloor, researchers had always assumed that there would be few     1     of life farther away from open water and sunlight. However, the discovery of filter-feeding (滤食的) organisms— 160 miles away from the open ocean, with temperatures of -2.2℃ and under complete darkness— suggests that life in the world’s harshest environment may be more     2     than previously thought.

In 2017, BAS geologist James Smith and his colleagues conducted a three-month expedition to the middle of Antarctica’s Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf, to collect     3     of the seafloor deposits. The team drilled through the half-mile of ice by pumping almost 20,000 liters of hot water through a pipe. After about 20 hours of painstaking work, they were finally able to reach the seabed underneath.

However, when the scientists lowered the instrument, along with a camera, to collect the soil, it came up empty. After multiple failed     4    — each round trip taking about an hour— the researchers took a closer look at the footage and noticed a massive stone sitting amid the     5     flat seabed. Even more surprisingly, the rock was covered with stationary animals, like sponges (海绵) and potentially unknown species.

The finding has     6     many scientists given that certain organisms, such as sponges and coral polyps (珊瑚虫), which live their entire lives     7     to rocks, or other hard surfaces, need food supplies. In the open water, the “marine snow,” as the food is called, comes from     8     organic matter, which drifts down from the upper waters to the deep ocean. However, the species in such depth are too far from the open sea to receive     9     supplies of nutrients. To make matters worse, due to the area’s strong ocean currents, the food has to travel anywhere from 370 to 930 miles to get to them.

“This is by far the furthest under an ice shelf that we’ve seen any of these filter-feeding animals,” said Smith. “These things are stuck on a rock and only get fed if something comes     10     along.”