1 . After a two-hour flight from Shanghai and an hour’s drive, I reached my destination: Jielingkou Village in Qinhuangdao City of Hebei Province, China. The tiny and
In 2018, an anti-poverty project began in the village, with the
But gaining the locals’
Ge said he hopes that as conditions are
A.rich | B.great | C.old | D.nearby |
A.reach | B.significance | C.view | D.control |
A.cost | B.knowledge | C.favor | D.goal |
A.increasing | B.ignoring | C.considering | D.deciding |
A.benefits | B.measures | C.disadvantages | D.conditions |
A.in charge of | B.in response to | C.in sight of | D.in search of |
A.independence | B.weight | C.trust | D.experience |
A.worried | B.curious | C.angry | D.enthusiastic |
A.carry | B.sell | C.boil | D.produce |
A.mistakes | B.apologies | C.improvements | D.documents |
A.hurt | B.helped | C.failed | D.escaped |
A.workers | B.fighters | C.managers | D.supporters |
A.occasionally | B.gradually | C.hardly | D.regularly |
A.clean | B.decorate | C.destroy | D.run |
A.attracted | B.monitored | C.postponed | D.welcomed |
2 . Banff National Park is home to an amazing wildlife population. But the busy Trans Canada Highway that cuts through the park is a hazard to the lovely animals. To address the problem, Banff first put-up wildlife fencing on either side of the highway to discourage animals from entering the busy road. Then, since 1996, they’ve opened six wildlife overpasses and 38 underpasses to help the animals cross the highway in safety. I was fortunate to visit Banff’s Red Earth Overpass with Trevor Kinley, the project manager with Parks Canada. He told me that so far, they have documented 10, 000 safe animal crossings on this overpass alone. “ Some animals have learned how to use the crossings much more quickly than others. Black bears are the fastest learners, followed by deer. Wolves and lions take the longest to work out how to use them, ” Kinley said, laughing. “ But those animals that are slower to adapt are usually more capable and determined at figuring out the safest way to cross those overpasses and underpasses. ”
There is some criticism (批评) that channeling so much wildlife into a few bridges and tunnels is like making a trap for the animals, offering big animals an easy meal on either side. “ But research has shown that this is not the case, ” Kinley assured me. “ There are no more killings around the crossings than there are anywhere else in the park. ”
Walking over the Trans Canada and then walking underneath through one of the tunnels, I was amazed to see the fresh tracks of black bears, wolves, deer and many kinds of smaller animals. Somehow, all these animal footprints made me so happy, knowing that all this wildlife was passing safely under and over the longest road in Canada.
Hopefully, the success of the wildlife crossings in Banff will continue to inspire similar solutions around the world, where human pressure on wildlife continues to grow.
1. Which of the following best explains “ hazard ” underlined in paragraph 1?A.Shelter. | B.Message. | C.Answer. | D.Danger. |
A.They are stupid animals. | B.They are cautious learners. |
C.They are very dangerous. | D.They are good at adapting. |
A.There are too many bridges and tunnels. | B.Many animals will not use the crossings. |
C.More killings might happen at the crossings. | D.Illegal hunting might be encouraged in the park. |
A.Concerned. | B.Disappointed. | C.Shocked. | D.Delighted. |
3 . How to Stop Spam Calls for Good
If you made a list of the little things that bothered you the most, phone call scams would no doubt be at the top. Telemarketers, or more often, automated robot-callers, have tricks for interrupting you at the worst possible moment.
Fact is that robot-callers are never going to stop trying to reach you. Their schemes bring in hundreds of thousands — if not millions — of dollars annually. And unfortunately, older people are more likely to fall prey to these scams.
Sign up for the National Do Not Call Registry
Your first move: Join the Federal Trade Commission’s National Do Not Call Registry. You can get on the list by calling 1-888-382-1222 from the phone number you want to register.
Use spam-filtering apps and tech
You probably know that a caller who insists you owe money to the IRS or says you’ll be arrested if you don’t settle a debt is a scammer. But your 10-year-old kid and your older parents and grandparents may be tricked. And remember: Knowing how to stop spam calls is just one step toward avoiding scams; don’t forget to explain how to stop spam texts to your loved ones, too.
A.Warn family members |
B.Report to the police at once |
C.Follow these steps to pull the plug on them once and for all. |
D.If you have multiple numbers to input, register them at DoNotCall. gov. |
E.Spam calls can reach you anytime and anywhere when you use your smartphone. |
F.They’re annoying, but that’s not the only reason you should know how to stop spam calls. |
G.The National Do Not Call Registry will prevent a lot of unwanted calls, but it won’t stop all of them. |
4 . Different countries celebrate Christmas in different ways. We asked some of our friends to explain what happens in their countries. This is what they told us:
France
In France, Christmas is always called Noël. Everyone has a Christmas tree, sometimes decorated in the old way with red ribbons and real white wax candles. Fir trees in the garden are often decorated too with lights on all night.
Father Christmas is called Père Noël. The Christmas meal is an important family gathering with good meat and the best wine. Few people send Christmas cards. More people send New Year cards to wish everyone good luck and joy for the New Year. These days Christmas lunch is a starter of foie gras (a strong tasting pate made from goose liver) followed by lunch of seafood — usually including lobsters and oysters.
New Zealand
Christmas starts for us with gifts under the tree, to be opened on Christmas morning. Then it’s onto a Christmas lunch either at home or at one’s parents place. Turkey or chicken with all the trimmings (佐料) is eaten. Then comes tea time. It is a BBQ for friends and family to get together, and have a few beers or wines with the meal!
Russia
In the days of the Soviet Union, Christmas was not celebrated very much. New Year was the important time — when “Father Frost” brought presents to children. With the fall of Communism, Christmas can be openly celebrated either on December 25th; or more often on January 7th. This unusual date is because the Russian Orthodox church uses the old “Julian” calendar for religious celebration days. Special Christmas food includes cakes, pies and “meat dumplings”.
Sweden
The most important day is Christmas Eve. A special Christmas meal is eaten on Christmas Eve — ham (pork), herring fish, and brown beans — and this is the time when families give presents to each other. Many people attend a church meeting early on Christmas Day.
1. Why do people in France send New Year cards?A.To tell their friends the New Year is coming. |
B.To ask for some special presents. |
C.To invite their friends to family gathering. |
D.To send their friends best wishes and happiness for the New Year. |
A.A special meal is prepared. |
B.Everyone has a Christmas tree. |
C.Parents give gifts to their children. |
D.People attend a church gathering. |
A.France. | B.New Zealand. | C.Sweden. | D.Russia. |
When my boys were younger, going out with them was difficult. My heart sank during the holiday season every time I looked at the long line of kids waiting to meet Santa. This was not an activity our family could enjoy. The noise and crowds caused sensory (感官的) overload for my five-year-old son Noah, an autistic (患自闭症的) child. I also had a younger son, Henry, who needed an extra hand. Waiting in line was hardly possible.
I always hoped for the best but planned for the worst when I took the boys out of the house, but I knew that attempting to get a picture with Santa wasn’t worth the risk. If we had attempted to stand in line for even a few minutes, I would have been chasing Noah, and Henry would have experienced an emotional breakdown. It was easier to stay at home.
On the afternoon of Christmas Eve a year ago, the phone rang. The voice on the other end of the line said, “If you’re at home this evening, I’d like to arrange for Santa to stop by.” It was Denny, the friendly owner of a company, who had helped us with our do-it-yourself project. In a short time he was at our home, Denny’s kindness and ability to relate to our kids were evident.
I felt nervous and excited about having Santa come to our home. Denny told me it would be well arranged. Would our kids even notice? Would they be frightened by a stranger in a red suit? Would they cry?
A few minutes before I was planning to cook dinner on Christmas Eve, Santa tapped gently on the living-room window. Noah was speechless, and his jaw dropped. Henry, two years old, waved and said, “Hi, Santa!”
注意:
1. 续写短文的词数应为150左右;
2. 续写部分分为两段,每段的开头语已为你写好。
Paragraph 1:
Excited and nervous, I opened the door and Santa stepped inside.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2:
Santa left after staying for only a few minutes and tears streamed down my face.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
6 . The past few years have been difficult for 13-year-old Adeola Abraham. In 2020, the teen was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder, and he survived a successful bone marrow transplant (骨髓移植) and rounds of chemotherapy (化疗). Thankfully, Adeola is now out of the hospital. During his recovery, he found out that he had qualified for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ask for a dream wish from Make-A-Wish Mississippi. While many teens would choose a memorable Disney trip, meet a favorite figure or get a PlayStation, Abraham instead chose to feed the homeless in his local community.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation is famous for brightening the lives of children suffering from critical illnesses by meeting their wishes. A wish typically falls into three categories: a wish to have something, go somewhere or meet someone. Abraham’s charitable wish to give came as a surprise to the organization. Linda Sermons, a Make-A-Wish Mississippi representative, said that Abraham’s generous wish was the first of its kind in the organization’s 35-year history. She was impressed with the teen’s maturity and sense of sympathy.
Make-A-Wish Mississippi approved of the teen’s wish in a big way. They created a service named after the teen, called Abraham’s Table, which would provide free meals to the homeless every month for the next year. Local businesses generously donated food and supplies, and receivers gathered in Jackson’s Poindexter Park for the meals. Abraham and his proud mom personally attended and handed out the food. Abraham’s Table fed more than 80 people at its first event. Abraham said it warmed his heart when the receivers came back to thank him for the meal he provided.
Abraham now wants to inspire other teens to get more involved in local charities. He also wants to continue his mission of helping others by starting his own nonprofit that helps those experiencing food insecurity.
1. What made Abraham a remarkable boy?A.His exceptional choice for a dream wish. | B.His great sufferings from a critical disease. |
C.His special qualifications for a dream wish. | D.His successful survival from a blood disorder. |
A.Eighty people or so benefited from Abraharn’s Table. |
B.Abraham’s act of kindness received positive reaction. |
C.The organization provided financial help for the homeless. |
D.The local businesses were greatly appreciated by the receivers. |
A.Energetic and determined. | B.Mature and intelligent. |
C.Sympathetic and selfless. | D.Generous and cautious. |
A.Hard work always pays off. | B.It’s a blessing to be a giver. |
C.Actions speak louder than words. | D.Miracles often occur in bad luck. |
7 . The Best National Parks to Visit in Winter
While most parks tend to draw families in the summer and fall, there are also ideal spots for adventurous winter trips.
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
The country’s oldest and best-known national park takes on an almost otherworldly atmosphere in winter: the air filled with rolling steam, the strong colors of hot springs, the surrounding white landscapes, let alone the impressive wildlife during this time, like bison, wolves, and playful red foxes. Just book a guided hiking tour to get a ranger’s perspective on the park and local people.
Joshua Tree National Park, California
With its giant red rocks and unique trees, you’ll feel like stepping onto a foreign planet as you spend hours hiking the Panorama Loop or Maze Loop. The park is recognized as an International Dark Sky Park, featuring virtually zero light pollution and the country’s best views of a starry sky.
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
A significantly lower number of visitors in winter means you can take in unblocked views of the South Rim, and get to see the rare beauty of the Grand Canyon dusted with snow. For those adventurous and daring, it is recommended to hike the Bright Angel Trail and take the chance to see the canyon’s wintertime wildlife, including mule deer, elk, and bald eagles.
Virgin Islands National Park, St. John
Surprise! Not all wintertime national park trips need to involve snow. Virgin Islands National Park is most famous for its white-sand beaches. You can also hike inland to visit old sugar plantations, or venture out to the water to swim along with sea turtles and manta rays. You will definitely enjoy a different winter here.
1. Which park will one choose if he/she is interested in stars?A.Yellowstone National Park. | B.Joshua Tree National Park. |
C.Grand Canyon National Park. | D.Virgin Islands National Park. |
A.We can have a poor view of the South Rim there. | B.It lies in an area with rolling steam and hot springs. |
C.There is a slight decline in visitor numbers in winter. | D.The Bright Angel Trail is challenging in cold weather. |
A.Hiking. | B.Skiing. | C.Swimming. | D.Hunting. |
8 . Facial recognition software has found an unlikely new application: scanning the faces of thousands of British children in school canteens.
Nine schools in North Ayrshire will today start taking lunch payments by scanning the faces of pupils, claiming that the new system speeds up queues and is more secure than the card payments and fingerprint scanners they used previously. “It’s the fastest way of recognising someone at the till,” said David Swanston, the managing director of CRB Cunninghams, the company that installed the systems. “In a secondary school you have around a 25-minute period to serve potentially 1,000 pupils. So we need fast productivity at the point of sale.” He said the average transaction time was cut to five seconds per pupil.
However, privacy campaigners say there is little need to spread out facial recognition technology, which has been criticized for often operating without gaining approvals from the owners. Swanston argued that CRB Cunningham’s system, which uses cameras to check against coded face-print modes stored on servers at the schools, was different from live facial recognition systems that scan through crowds to identify faces. Live facial recognition has previously caused debate after being used by schools for security or to monitor attendance.
North Ayrshire committee said that 97 percent of children or their parents had given agreement for the new system. “Pupils often forget their PINs and unfortunately some have also been the victim of PIN cheating, so they are supportive of the planned developments and appreciate the benefits to them,” the council said.
But some parents said they were unsure whether their children had been given enough information to make their decision, and suggested that peer pressure had also played a role.
1. What can we infer from Swanston’s word?A.He speaks highly of the system. |
B.The software is intended to promote the sales. |
C.The technology has previously caused debate. |
D.The system will be helpful when the students forget their PINs. |
A.It speeds up the queues. |
B.It is safer than the previous payments. |
C.It operates without being approved of. |
D.It benefits the pupils who often forget their PINs. |
A.Supportive | B.Disapproved |
C.Objective | D.Critical |
A.Facial recognition has been the best way adopted so far. |
B.Parents disagree with the application of facial recognition system. |
C.The facial recognition system can benefit the pupils who are forgetful. |
D.Schools speed up canteen queues with facial recognition technology. |
9 . A new technology project in southern Greece is helping visitors experience the ancient birthplace of the Olympic Games.
The project used Augmented Reality (AR) to recreate temples and competition areas in the ancient city of Olympia. It was recently launched in the city, one of the world’s major archaeological sites. Augmented Reality is a technology that can project computer-created imagery onto special eyeglasses. Through the eyeglasses, the images appear along with other physical objects in the environment.
The project is a partnership between American software maker Microsoft and Greece’s Ministry of Culture and Sport. The ministry helped Microsoft map and build virtual representations of Olympia. The city was used for nearly a thousand years to host the games in ancient Greece that served as the model for the modern Olympics. The experience provides users the chance to virtually walk through the ruins of Olympia. At the Olympic Museum in Athens, people can also use Microsoft’s AR headsets for a similar experience.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis joined a group of schoolchildren who were using the app for the first time. “I’m absolutely thrilled that we’re able to present to the world a completely new cultural experience utilizing technology to recreate the ancient world of Olympia, ” Mitsotakis told the media.
Students from a local middle school looked at statues and structures that were brought to life on their phones. One of the children, Panagiotis Christopoulos, called the project “impressive”. “I think it can help with teaching in schools, ” the student said. They were able to virtually visit inside and outside settings to explore where ancient Olympians had competed in different sports.
The project began 18 months ago with a series of imaging flights to help map areas across Olympia. Microsoft is to build several data centers in and near Athens as part of a $ 1 billion investment agreement with the Greek government.
1. What can users do with the eyeglasses?A.Move physical objects. |
B.Take photos of the ruins of Olympia. |
C.Take part in the virtual Olympic Games. |
D.Be on a virtual visit to the ruins of Olympia. |
A.Using. | B.Determining. |
C.Replacing | D.Recycling |
A.Develop advanced operating systems. |
B.Help the Greek government plan the city. |
C.Make an agreement with other companies. |
D.Spend lots of money establishing data centers. |
A.Greece Will Open a New Olympic Museum |
B.Digital Project Brings Olympics Birthplace to Life |
C.The AR Glasses Helps You See More about the World |
D.The Olympic Museum in Athens Will Create a Virtual Map |
10 . Here are four destinations that have to be included in any trip to the northeastern city Harbin.
Igloos(冰屋)at Harbin Ice-Snow World
At Harbin Ice-Snow World, you can not only see the world-famous ice architecture, but also have great fun! You can have hotpot at igloo restaurants, enjoying the product of both ice and fire, and go down the world’s longest ice slide.
The Sun Island Snow Expo
The Sun Island Snow Expo is the world’s largest snow sculpture(雕塑)art show. You can play in the snow as well as admire the art made from it. Tourists from the south might be surprised by the bright sunshine reflected in the snow, so don’t forget the sunscreen. This is a good place to toss water into the air and watch it turn into ice immediately. Find a safe place with no one nearby, and enjoy the unique phenomenon.
Yabuli Ski Resort
One place you shouldn’t miss when visiting Harbin is Yabuli Ski Resort, where you can ski down snow-covered mountains. Yabuli Sun Mountain Resort is surrounded by mountains and forests. The snow is thick and moderately hard. There are junior, middle and senior ski runs. Professional staff are available to improve your skiing ability and give you an experience of a lifetime.
The Harbin Grand Theatre
It might not be part of an ordinary tourist plan, but it is worth an extra night in Harbin! The winter is cold and the night is long, so why not go to the theatre? Northerners consider it a romantic thing to do in winter. Harbin was listed by the United Nations as a music city in 2010. Harbin Grand Theater is where artistic souls defrost a little to share their love of art.
1. What can tourists do when they visit the igloos?A.Ski down the mountains. |
B.Eat in a restaurant made of ice. |
C.Enjoy some ancient architecture. |
D.Throw and watch water turn into ice immediately. |
A.Stay in a safe place alone. | B.Make a snow sculpture. |
C.Apply sunscreen. | D.Live in an ice architecture. |
A.Igloos(冰屋)at Harbin Ice-Snow World. | B.The Sun Island Snow Expo. |
C.The Harbin Grand Theatre. | D.Yabuli Ski Resort. |