1 . What is the woman doing?

A．Preparing a party.

B．Planting some trees.

C．Making a cake.

2 . What is the woman’s presentation about?

A．Watches.

B．Channels.

C．Animals.

3 . The Sequoia National Park in California’s southern Sierra Nevada mountains is best known for the Giant Forest, a collection of 2,000 trees that includes half of the Earth’s largest and longest-living trees. This past weekend, the ancient wonders came dangerously close to being burned by the KNP Complex Fire. But thanks to resourceful firefighters, the precious treasure has been saved.

The firefighters had taken the standard measures of clearing brush and setting controlled fires long before the fire began heading toward the Giant Forest. But they knew more needed to be done. On September 17, 2021, they took the unusual step of covering the base of some of the oldest trees with protective aluminum “blankets”. High on the list was General Sherman, the world’s largest tree by volume. The park officials believed the specialized foil(锡纸)would help block some of the heat from the fires and enhance the natural insulation(隔热)provided by the ancient trees’ thick bark. They were right!

On Sunday, September 19, 2021, the officials reported that the extra prevention measures, which also included 24-hour timed sprinklers(洒水装置)on General Sherman and the nearby park buildings, had worked. Jack Owen, a spokesman for the KNP Complex Fire Information Office, said, “There are no trees that have been burned yet, as far as in the Giant Forest. Firefighters are pouring everything they can into it as long as it’s safe. That area is looking good.”

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the rest of the national park. The KNP Complex Fire has burned through 21,777 acres. Meanwhile, the Windy Fire, which started further south on the Sierra slopes on the same night, has burned over21, 598 acres. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate and allow firefighters to gain control of the massive fires, which are now beginning to threaten nearby communities.

1. What did the firefighters first do to protect the Giant Forest from fire?

A．Cover it with specialized foil.

B．Put it on the list of protective steps.

C．Set up a fire prevention belt around it.

D．find out the features of the complex fire.

2. Why was the specialized foil applied?

A．To stop some heat from the fire from developing.

B．To stop the fire from spreading.

C．To keep tree roots from losing water.

D．To test the survival ability of the trees.

3. What can we infer from paragraph 3?

A．Firefighters are ready to leave the area.

B．General Sherman is relatively safe.

C．Nearby buildings have been abandoned.

D．Some trees in the Giant Forest have been cut down.

4. What is the author’s attitude towards the safety of the rest of the national park?

A．Worried.

B．Optimistic.

C．Discouraged.

D．Unconcerned.

4 . In Birmingham, one school is offering its students an education that will change their lives. The unique program is called Build UP, which enables students to earn a high school certificate while working as paid apprentices (学徒) in construction work. As part of their training, they remodel (改造) old and abandoned houses in their neighborhood!

At any school, the burden on students can be heavy, and for those in poor areas, it is much heavier. “The kids that I’ve worked with during my entire career are all from disadvantaged groups with all the challenges that come with poverty,” said educator Mark Martin. So he founded Build UP in 2018 to offer students a different kind of education: real-world training.

As far as real-world issues are concerned, for low-income communities, one of the biggest needs is housing. That’s why Build UP made construction their main focus, offering a combination of regular and specialized classes. That way, instead of hearing the age-old question “When am I ever going to use this?” in a geometry class, their teachers are able to redirect students to a shop class (工艺课). There, students can connect the math theory to the building of a house.

The program hopes to draw in students who are likely to quit school by offering wages for their apprenticeships. Students receive $125 every two weeks when they start out as apprentices and can eventually work up to getting $200 every two weeks. Upon graduation, they have the opportunity to get an interest-free loan to purchase the remodeled homes.

So far, they have been doing a pretty amazing job. And now with the help of a loan company, the program has the opportunity to bring their model to communities everywhere! They plan to first add similar programs in nearby neighborhoods. After that, they hope to train others to start similar schools and expand their network of partners — particularly construction companies that can offer jobs to their students.

1. Why did Mark Martin found Build UP?

A．To help students from poor areas.

B．To lighten students’ academic burden.

C．To reconstruct and reuse unwanted houses.

D．To train students to build homes.

2. What is the feature of Build UP’s classes?

A．They teach knowledge of the bank loan.

B．They combine theory and practice.

C．They center on age-old unsolved questions.

D．They explain math principles in simple words.

3. What does the Build UP program expect to do?

A．Reach out to more students.

B．Offer students more job opportunities.

C．Found more similar schools themselves.

D．Get more funds from construction companies.

4. Which of the following could be the best title for the text?

A．Build UP: A Solution to the Housing Problem

B．Build UP: A Breakthrough in the Construction Industry

C．Build UP: Changing Community Education for the Better

D．Build UP: Giving Students Power Through Home Building

9 . Where does the conversation take place?

A．In a hotel.

B．In a school.

C．In a meeting room.

10 . What is the woman doing now?

A．Eating in a cafe.

B．Cooking her lunch.

C．Studying for an exam.