1 . One thing that sets humans apart from other members of the animal kingdom is our tendency to develop customs and traditions. Here are some astonishing customs from around the world.

An odd custom associated with the United States is its complicated tipping culture. Unlike many other countries that don’t tip at all or that only tip in small amounts when the food is particularly good, tipping is actually mandatory at most restaurants in the US. To put it another way, customers have a duty to leave between 10-20 percent of the bill in tips. Wait staff rely on these tips for a living because legal wages for waiters are low. Furthermore, there are rules for tipping bartenders, delivery people and other service personnel. While some criticize this practice as irrational, there’s no doubt that tipping culture in the US gives an incentive for waiters and waitresses to provide better service.

Some countries find the act of pointing with the index finger to be rude. While members of most cultures would probably agree that pointing fingers, both literally and figuratively, isn’t exactly the nicest thing in the world, in countries like Malaysia and Indonesia, this gesture can be seen as incredibly offensive. Instead, it is customary to gesture towards things with the thumb as this is seen as a more polite option. In many countries in Africa, pointing is reserved for inanimate objects only, not people.

Most societies around the world have rules about table manners. For western cultures, noisily consuming food is considered rude. In Japan, however, making slurping(啧啧响的)sounds while eating has an entirely different meaning. This might have something to do with the fact that in western countries, noodles are properly consumed by twirling(缠绕)them on a spoon before putting them in the mouth. Meanwhile, the Japanese simply slurp up their noodles without contorting them first, an act that is naturally noisier than the former. Making slurping sounds when eating noodles in Japan is a way of indicating that you’re rely enjoying them. Some scientists even argue slurping invites air into the mouth and actually enhances the noodles’ flavor.

1. What does the underlined word “mandatory” in paragraph2 probably mean?

A．Required by tradition.	B．Highly spoken of.
C．Changeable over time.	D．Popular among people.

2. What does the author think of tipping?

A．It is totally unreasonable.	B．It must follow a fixed standard.
C．It can improve the quality of service.	D．It should only target waiters and waitresses.

3. Which practice is acceptable according to the text?

A．Skipping tipping in the USA.	B．Twirling noodles on a spoon in Africa.
C．Pointing with the index finger in Indonesia.	D．Making sounds while eating noodles in Japan.

4. Where is this text probably taken from?

A．A research paper.	B．A travel brochure.
C．An online advertisement.	D．A popular magazine.

2 . When he was fourteen, his ambition was to run a pub, just like his dad.     1     With a chain of restaurants, a number of popular television series and best-selling cookery books, Jamie Oliver is a well-known name in every UK household. I'm a huge “Jamie fan”. I admire his passion for improving the food we eat and helping people change their lives.

    2     He took fifteen unemployed young people, with no previous experience of cooking, and trained them to be top-class chefs (厨师) in his restaurant, also called Fifteen. I remember one trainee, Lloyd Hayes. He left school with no qualifications and started getting into crime.     3     I think it's this kind of success story that makes Jamie and his projects so special.

Another special project is Jamie's Ministry of Food which he started in 2008. There are two aims: firstly, to teach people how to cook healthy, affordable food instead of eating fast food; secondly, to set up the Pass It On scheme: encouraging each person to pass on a recipe they learned to four other people.     4     Thousands of people have changed their cooking habits as a result — and I'm one of them. I've decided I'm not going to eat fast food anymore.

It's not only adults, but children, too. Jamie's School Dinners, one of Jamie's best-known projects, tried to improve food in schools and encourage children to eat well. It was difficult to convince some of the children, but in the end, many schools improved their menus.     5    

So, what's Jamie going to do next? Well, whatever it is, one thing is for sure, I'm not going to miss it!

A．And my children are going to eat their vegetables now.

B．I heard recently that she is going to teach people to cook.

C．Those four people then teach four more people, and so on.

D．I'm going to cook for my friends and take time to eat good food.

E．Jamie's first project, Fifteen, in 2002, aimed to help young people.

F．But in the last twenty years, chef Jamie Oliver has achieved far more.

G．But the project worked and Lloyd got a job as a chef in a top restaurant.

3 . 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.

2. What do we know about the Grand Canyon 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.

3. Which activity is mentioned in all of the parks?

A．Hiking.

B．Skiing.

C．Swimming.

D．Hunting.

4 . It was a February afternoon in a Brooklyn classroom. Sixteen-year-old Taylor Engler came face to face with a cow. But it was all in her head. She was transported by a virtual reality (VR) headphone. It took the Berkeley Carroll School junior and eight other classmates to a northern New York farm. The farm was 250 miles away. For students, the technology means field trips are no longer kept within the length of a bus ride.

It's unknown how many classrooms have or will use the technology, but experts say few classrooms do or will do. Headphones that require a user's phone can cost as little as $20 or $30, but systems and software for classes run into thousands of dollars. The problem of not having good software is disappearing as more companies enter the market. But the rules for use haven't kept abreast of the development of the technology. In New York, for example, virtual reality lab experiments are not included in the state's hands-on lab time requirements.

Experts say science classes are where virtual reality holds promise for classrooms. “The biggest problem, I think, is going to be how closely it mimics the real world." That's according to David Evans, the director of the National Science Teachers Union. However, he said, “The ability to do dangerous things and to run many, many more cases in a virtual space as opposed to the real physical space stands for a huge learning chance.”

Lamb taught chemistry and he agreed. “Too often in schools, when you do experiments in labs, you mix these together, you mix those together and you get this result. And if you don't get that result, you have done something wrong. But we don't have enough resources for you to redo it, “he said. “In virtual reality, all I do is hit reset on the computer. I don't have to actually use chemicals.”

1. What was Taylor Engler doing?

A．Riding a bus.

B．Giving a lesson.

C．Designing a farm.

D．Experiencing VR.

2. What does the underlined part “kept abreast of" in Paragraph 2 mean?

A．Led to.

B．Focused on.

C．Caught up with.

D．Broken away from.

3. What did Lamb think of the use of VR in the classroom?

A．Helpful.

B．Troublesome.

C．Interesting.

D．Challenging.

4. What is the purpose of the text?

A．To point out the importance of practice.	B．To introduce the use of VR in teaching.
C．To give information about modern schools.	D．To show the appearance of VR technology.

5 . Investigations have indicated that the virus was most likely to o________ (起源)from the seeds. （根据中英文提示填空）

6 . In a weightless, microgravity environment like space, how can someone with sight or mobility problems navigate in the space station? As scientists continue to push the boundaries of spaceflight and the possibility of human life on other planets, how can we build space infrastructure (基础设施) friendly to all humans？

The Mission AstroAccess project aims to answer these questions, starting with a historic parabolic (抛物线的) flight that took off from Long Bench on Oct. 17, 2021. A group of 12 disabled scientists, students, athletes and artists launched into a zero-gravity environment as a first step. To get a better idea of what is needed for more inclusive (包容的) space travel, AstroAccess plans to conduct a series of follow-on parabolic flights after the first launch. On these flights, a plane flies up to an altitude of around 32, 000 feet and then begins a descent at about 4 miles per second. This quick descent creates a microgravity, weightless effect lasting roughly 30 seconds. Afterwards, the plane climbs back up to a stable altitude, and repeats the process again.

The 12 AstroAccess Ambassadors selected for this first microgravity flight included four blind or low-vision Ambassadors; two deaf or hard-of-hearing Ambassadors；and six with mobility disabilities, all carrying out various tasks in the weightless environment. One of the challenges was seeing whether all members could perform basic safety and operational tasks. The crew also tested whether sound beacons (声信标) could be used for blind members to direst themselves, They are also investigating how American Sign Language will be impacted by microgravity.

“My whole career goal is to make the average person able to go to cuter space, where you don’t have to be a crazy trained astronaut with perfect physical abilities and health to visit cuter space,” said Brenda Williamson, head of the AstroAccess logistics committee. “I grew up on Star Trek, so the idea of exploration is really important.”

1. Why is the Mission AstroAccess project carried out？

A．To expose the disabled to zero gravity.

B．To train a group of disabled astronauts.

C．To involve all humans in spaceflight.

D．To build mobile space infrastructure.

2. What does the underlined word “descent” in paragraph 2 mean？

A．Going down.

B．Going up.

C．Taking off.

D．Touching down.

3. What do we know about the 12 selected Ambassadors？

A．They all have mobility problems.

B．They communicate by sign language.

C．They do scientific research in the lab.

D．They perform tasks in weightlessness.

4. What does Brenda Williamson think of the project？

A．Meaningful.	B．Successful.
C．Unrealistic.	D．Challenging.

7 . Eye Opener Volunteer

Description

For about 30 years, the Museum of Science Eye Opener Program has been working with the Boston Public Schools to bring the exciting world of science to second grade students from across the city. Each year, about 3, 000 students from over 45 Boston schools visit the museum to explore, ask questions and find answers. Since 1986, funds from the Germeshausen Family Foundation have supported the Eye Opener Program in providing a guided museum experience for second graders.

With the help of a large corps of volunteers, the program introduces these students to the museum and gives them a chance to engage in science. Eye Opener volunteers encourage exploration and the excitement of discovery as they share the museum with the children. They achieve these goals through conversation, hands-on experiments, exploration of exhibits, and Practicing scientific thinking skills with program participants.

Responsibilities

Each Tuesday morning, the students are grouped into sets of 4 to 6 with a pair of volunteers who give them a tour of the museum. Tours last about two hours and are tailored to the interests of the students.

Learn the lay-out of the museum to share and explore with second graders the exhibits which May be interesting to them.

Encourage children to observe, compare, describe, ask questions and share ideas.

Know museum emergence and safety procedures.

Work in close collaboration with a diverse group of volunteers.

Minimum Qualifications

● Patience, sensitivity, and understanding.

● Willingness to work with young children and high school students of all backgrounds and abilities.

● Interest in informal science education.

Additional details

Commitment: Four-to six-month commitment.

Time: Tuesday mornings (9:30-12:30) throughout the school year.

Training: Attendance at the New Volunteer Orientation session is required.

1. The Museum of Science Eye Opener Program aims at ________.

A．encouraging teenagers to visit the museum

B．guiding young girls fall in love with science

C．directing Boston schools to teach science

D．helping kids engage in science in the museum

2. What can students do through the program?

A．Pay a visit to the museum any day they like.

B．Learn about what they are interested in.

C．Take a tour of the museum in a group of two.

D．Look around the museum for 4 hours each time.

3. The Volunteers are required to ________.

A．work on Tuesday mornings	B．get a diploma in science
C．have a sense of humor	D．volunteer for at least one year

8 . I’m an American-born Chinese. I wouldn’t say I’m more American than Chinese or vice versa. My character was equally molded by both cultures. For a long time, I was comfortable with being from two cultures. I was fluent in “Chinglish”.

However, as I grew up, something unexpected rose, causing a parallel tension between the two corresponding cultures. During Chinese events when I was in China, the host would sometimes make fun of America. My relatives would look at me and laugh, asking me how I felt. But how could I respond to a question like that? If I said I was uncomfortable, it would just make me seem even more American in their eyes. But I couldn’t pretend to laugh either. So, I often just stayed quiet and smiled.

Sometimes, I’d leave China feeling less Chinese than when I went in.

This past summer, on my way back to Rochester, a man at the airport kept asking my father and I where we were from. When I told him I was from the United States, he didn’t seem to believe me.

He then went on to ask the terrible question, “But like where are you really from, like, where were you born?” And no matter how specific our answers were, the man still seemed a little doubtful. He then went on to ask us if we knew where Tampa, Florida was and if we knew anything about it. It’s moments like these when I realize that sometimes my appearance makes it hard for me to seem fully American.

These experiences made me question if I was more Chinese or American.

I felt like I was neither. So, if I wasn’t completely one culture or the other, what was I? In China, I would feel more American, while in America, I would feel more Chinese. There was no balance between my two cultures.

But this doesn’t mean that I don’t embrace (拥抱) both my identities. I love both my Chinese cultural identity and my American one. I just need to learn to love them together.

1. How did the author feel about his identity at the very beginning?

A．Special.

B．Confident.

C．Confused.

D．Ridiculous.

2. Why did the author feel less Chinese when he left China?

A．Because he found it hard to remain quiet and have a big smile.

B．Because he was unable to speak fluent Chinese at his hometown.

C．Because he had lost face in front of his relatives and friends.

D．Because he was treated as an American by his Chinese relatives.

3. What made the man at the airport keep questioning where the author was from?

A．His cultures.

B．His experience.

C．His look.

D．His air tickets.

4. What could be the best title of the passage?

A．Being Culturally Homeless	B．A Boy with Two Identities
C．A Chinese Boy Born in American	D．Better Chinese than American

9 . According to the US economist Robert Gordon, all the “impressive stuff” has been created; we have run out of the big, life-changing ideas needed to encourage rapid economic growth and engineers are now only just making slight changes. Inventions such as mobile phones, Gordon says, have had less impact than, for example, the invention of indoor plumbing (管道系统).

But this is a misunderstanding of how engineers work. There is no “Wow!” moment. The development of new technology happens little by little. You build upon the work of those before you, thinking about what could be done better and what could be improved. It’s an unending task. Michael Faraday invented the first electric motor. But Faraday’s breakthrough followed William Sturgeon’s invention of the electromagnet (电磁铁), and Alessandro Volta’s invention of the battery before that. Faraday would have expected future engineers to pick up the baton (接力棒) later down the line.

Reduced energy supplies, increasing populations and mass urbanization keep clever young engineers awake at night. Those, for example, who enter the yearly James Dyson Award invent things that solve these problems and more. The 2012 winner Dan Watson designed a clever system of escape rings for fishing boat nets that deals with the issue of overfishing — not an exciting topic, but his invention is exceptional. Human inventiveness remains unreduced in the face of new global challenges.

Our problem is patience. We expect new technology at a rate like never before. I can’t tell you the world’s next big invention. Last week brought news that we’ve invented a new way to deal with antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Next week may bring a major development in another field. The biggest thing holding invention back is our impatience. With enough time and support, bright young engineers will develop exciting new technology to solve the world’s trickiest problems. Many have already begun.

1. Why does the author mention what Robert Gordon says?

A．To introduce the topic.	B．To illustrate a new invention.
C．To provide background information.	D．To express his opinion about the topic.

2. What can we infer from Michael Faraday’s example?

A．New technology has been developing step by step.

B．New inventions fail to deal with new global challenges.

C．Michael Faraday set a good model for William Sturgeon.

D．Technology helps future engineers achieve success smoothly.

3. What makes Dan Watson’s invention excellent?

A．His young age.	B．His patience with technology.
C．His effort to solve real world problems.	D．His wish to win the James Dyson Award.

4. Which word best describes the author’s attitude to technological development nowadays?

A．Doubtful.

B．Uncaring.

C．Disapproving.

D．Optimistic.

10 . Table tennis may not seem a reasonable option for someone with no arms — but Ibrahim Hamadtou doesn't believe in limits. The 48-year-old Egyptian Paralympian breaks the barrier by holding the paddle (球拍) in his mouth and using his right foot to serve the ball.

Hamadtou, who lost his arms in a train accident at the age of ten, was drawn to table tennis after being challenged by a friend. "I was once watching a match between two of my friends," Hamadtou explains. "They disagreed on a point, When I counted the point in favor of one of them, the other player told me, 'Mind your own business as you will never be able to play.' It was that statement that fired me up to decide to play table tennis."

It took Hamadtou three years to master the sport. He says the biggest challenge was figuring out the best way to control his body. "I was trying first to use the bat under the arm, and I also tried using other things, which weren't working so well. Finally, I tried using my mouth. It took me nearly a year of practice to get used to holding the paddle with my mouth and making the serve. With practice and playing regularly, this skill was improved."

The Egyptian's incredible talent came to light in 2014 when he was awarded the best Arab Athlete of the year. He won a silver medal at the 2016 African Championships, qualified for his first Paralympics in 2016 at 43, and then again for the 2020 Tokyo Games at 48.

The inspiring athlete says, "The disability is not in arms or legs but to give up in whatever you would like to do."

1. What made Hamadtou take up table tennis?

A．His passion for table-tennis.	B．His ambition to prove himself.
C．His willingness to inspire others.	D．His suffering in a train accident.

2. What was the most difficult for Hamadtou to play table tennis?

A．Serving the ball with his mouth.	B．Holding the paddle under his arm.
C．Practicing strengthening his muscles.	D．Playing the game with the right body parts.

3. What can we learn about Hamadtou from the text?

A．He was recognized as a gifted player at 41.

B．He was awarded the best athlete in Africa.

C．He won a medal in the 2020 Tokyo Games.

D．He realized his dream of winning a gold medal.

4. What message does the story convey?

A．Well begun is half done.	B．Love breaks down barriers.
C．Success gives people delight.	D．Nothing is impossible to a willing heart.