1 . Going to the bathroom while floating in space can be tricky. Gravity is very weak in space, meaning toilets cannot flush (冲刷) the same way that they do on Earth. In a new contest, NASA is asking inventors from around the world to develop a new space toilet. The space agency is looking for a design that would work both aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as well as on the moon. NASA plans to use this toilet aboard a future lunar lander as part of the Artemis program, which will send humans to the moon by 2024.

Anyone can apply to this challenge, and the winning design will receive a $20,000 prize. The second-place design will win $10,000, and the third-place winner will win $5,000. The contest includes a “junior” category in which anyone under the age of 18 can apply with their creative space toilet idea. Winners in the junior category will receive public recognition and NASA souvenirs.

Designs should also take up no more than 4.2 cubic feet of space. The toilet itself shouldn’t be louder than 60 decibels, which is about the same volume as a bathroom fan. The space toilet will have to be able to collect both urine (尿液) and fecest (粪便) at the same time. It should be able to hold at least a quarter gallon (1 liter) of liquid waste. It should also be able to hold 17.6 ounces (500 grams) of solid waste. The final requirements are that the system must be able to store or get rid of waste, and it should also be able to be cleaned and maintained in five minutes or less.

Hopefully, this toilet will be an improvement on previous systems for waste removal. A waste removal system is a method of disposing of urine and feces. If you are a creative inventor, come and join us!

1. Which aspect of the design is not required in the contest?

A．Its covering space.

B．Its volume.

C．Its time of cleaning.

D．Its weight.

2. What can you know about this contest?

A．It’s a toilet design contest held by ISS for the American inventors.

B．It has a total prize pool of 45,000 to be shared by winning teams.

C．For the contestants, there are no limits to your age and nationalities.

D．If you are the winner under the age of 18, you will win 5,000.

3. What does the underlined word “disposing” mean?

A．Giving away.

B．Putting off.

C．Getting rid of.

D．Picking out.

4. What is the purpose of writing this text?

A．To introduce a toilet design contest.	B．To attract inventors to take part in the contest.
C．To explain the necessity of a toilet in space.	D．To show the difficulty of living in space.

2 . The vicinity (地区), between southern Angola and northern Namibia, is home to a leafy green plant that can live up to 1,000 years. This “Immortal” plant’s lifespan encourages researchers wondering why, out of all climates the world has to offer, this plant finds itself to thrive in the harsh, dry, and quite unforgiving Namib Desert known to reach less than two inches of rainfall a year.

Welwitschia (千岁兰), meaning “two leaves that cannot die,” in Afrikaans, was discovered by biologists Charles Darwin and the botanist Friedrich Welwitsch, whom the plant was named after in 1859. Andrew Leitch, a plant geneticist at Queen Mary University of London, explains, “Generally speaking, this plant can live thousands of years. When it does stop growing, it’s dead.

Nature Communications, a study published in July, conducted research to discover and identify the magic within Welwitschia’s genetic makeup. Researchers were able to infer, “Approximately 86 million years ago, after a mistake in cell division, the entire Welwitschia genome (基因组) doubled during a time of increased and prolonged drought in the region.” Additional research concluded that repeated genes lost their defining purposes, allowing some to develop new functions. But because DNA reproduction consumes high levels of energy, repeated genes can at times cause more harm than good, especially in severe weather conditions.

This plant also has more magic coming out of its leaves. Unlike most plants, where the leaves grow from the ends of its stem and branches, the Welwitschia’s leaves grow from a “vulnerable” area called the basal meristem (分生组织), which supplies fresh cells to the growing plant. The combination of internal and external factors of the Welwitschia has allowed the plant to continue thriving in extreme temperature conditions. Researchers are hopeful that Welwitschia can also provide insight into the agricultural industry and how we can develop drought tolerant crops.

1. What does the underlined word “thrive” in paragraph 1 mean?

A．Grow well.

B．Fade away.

C．Rise up.

D．Break down.

2. What can we infer from the passage?

A．The Welwitschia must have a life span of several thousand years or more.

B．Copied genes can do more harm than good due to energy consumption.

C．Biologist Charles Darwin named the Welwitschia in 1859.

D．The Welwitschia’s leaves, like most plants, grow from the basal meristem.

3. What can Welwitschia do according to researchers in Paragraph 4?

A．Solve the crisis facing the agricultural industry.

B．Give a deeper understanding of the agricultural industry.

C．Be planted as drought tolerant crops in the future.

D．Not bear extreme temperature conditions.

4. Which can be the best title for the text?

A．Copied Genomes of a Long-lived Plant.

B．Two Leaves That Cannot Die.

C．The “Immortal” Plant Tells Its Tale.

D．Agricultural Development with Welwitschia.

3 . 假如你是李华，最近收到笔友Nathan发来的邮件，他在邮件中提到他们班里有很多同学的体重超重，而且有些同学体质较差。请你就此给他回一封邮件。
要点包括：
1．列举一些不健康的生活方式；
2．给他们提出建议。
注意：80词左右，可适当增添细节使行文连贯，在答题卡的相应位置作答。
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4 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

“What do you call traditional medicine that works?” “Medicine.” This old joke contains more than a milligram of truth. For example, Tu Youyou,a Chinese chemist,    1    (begin) testing the sweet wormwood used in local herbal remedies    2    a cure for malaria (疟疾). But not every folk cure is so closely examined.

Over 1.7 billion people, most    3    (live) in the world’s poorest countries, are affected by Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDS). These often lead to    4    (disable) and place a heavy burden on health-care systems. They are    5    (bad) equipped to deal with them. They    6    (refer) to as “neglected”. A study published in 2009, in International Health, estimated that they received only 0.6% of the money given by rich countries to poor ones for health purposes.

A team put a crude sample on    7    they were working through two rounds of chromatography. Their analysis revealed (揭示)    8    oil which proved effective at killing trypanosome parasites. For many researchers, that would have been the cue for a trip to the patent office.     9    for Dr Osei-Safo the point is not to make a refined pharmaceutical, but rather    10    (direct) those who are ill towards the best treatments available from herbalists.

5 . The Harrow brewery was losing ground year after year because sales were so low that there was no money to advertise on television. It was a vicious circle.

As a salesman, Andrew ________ suggested that the factory director go to the TV station to make an advertisement, but the factory director ________. Andrew decided to take a risk on “what he wanted to do”. He took out a ________ to do the sales work in the factory. While he was wondering how to make the most economical ________, he wandered into Julen Square in central Brussels. ________ it was late at night, there were still many people in the square. The bronze statue of a boy urinating (撒尿) in the center of the square was Julien, a hero who is ________ for saving the city. Of course, the urine from the statue was tap water. Andrew was ________ by a group of naughty children in the square who used their own empty mineral water bottles to splash each other with tap water from the ________.

The next day, people passing by the square found Julien’s urine ________ a golden “Hello” beer. Next to the statue, a large sign   ________, “Free Tasting of Harrow Beer.” One by one, people all over the city ________ with their own bottles and cups from home to pick up the beer. TV stations, newspapers, and radio stations ________ to write about it. Andrew ________ to get the Harrow beer on TV and in newspapers without spending any money. Sales of Harrow beer ________ 1.8 times that of last year.

Andrew became known as a sales ________ in Brussels, and this was his experience: doing something that no one else has done.

1.

A．instantly

B．repeatedly

C．hurriedly

D．immediately

2.

A．refused

B．accepted

C．admitted

D．permitted

3.

A．donation

B．finance

C．collection

D．loan

4.

A．sale

B．exchange

C．broadcast

D．advertisement

5.

A．Why

B．Although

C．When

D．Since

6.

A．famous

B．designed

C．praised

D．awarded

7.

A．expected

B．impressed

C．accompanied

D．inspired

8.

A．peer

B．portray

C．statue

D．square

9.

A．turned into

B．turned away

C．turned down

D．turned off

10.

A．marks

B．reads

C．writes

D．shines

11.

A．showed up

B．stood up

C．turned up

D．lined up

12.

A．concentrated

B．rushed

C．preserved

D．focused

13.

A．tried

B．affected

C．managed

D．restored

14.

A．jumped

B．reserved

C．addressed

D．struggled

15.

A．professor

B．tutor

C．specialist

D．representative

6 . Many Americans suffer from chronic (慢性的) conditions connected to their diets.    1    .

If you are looking for a health super-hero, head to the grocery store.    2    . That is not an exaggeration (夸张). A study found that people of any age who started including healthy foods in their diets improved their chances of living longer. Replacing one serving of red meat a day with one serving of nuts, for instance, was related to an 8-17 percent reduced risk of early death.    3    .

Lentils (扁豆) contain the highest amount of protein of any plant. They also provide excellent amounts of iron, folate (叶酸), and magnesium.    4    . A quarter cup of dry lentils contains about 13 grams of fiber. A quarter cup of kidney beans has about half that. They are consumed in the Blue Zones, areas of the world famous for having the longest-living and healthiest people.

Salmon (鲑鱼) is rich in protein, omega-3s, B vitamins, vitamins D and A.     5    . Specifically, they help protect against age-related brain and eye diseases, reduce the risk of heart disease and depression and maintain healthy skin.

Blueberries have plenty of nutrition carried in such tiny berries!They have plenty of fiber to keep you full and make your colon moving. They have folate which helps make DNA. They also have Vitamins C to help create collagen in your skin and other nutrients which protect our cells from damage.

A．But how do you choose the best options for you?

B．These nutrients are important for good health．

C．However, some nutritious foods can make you healthier with every bite．

D．As a great source of fiber,t hey can also help control blood sugar levels．

E．Studies show that these nutrients in seafood improve babies’s brain development, including an IQ boost．

F．What’s more, belonging to the legume (豆类) family, they have more fiber than beans．

G．Some foods can fight diabetes, heart disease, or cancer-in other words, they can save your life．

7 . After two years of pandemic living, people are collectively ready for a vacation. No matter how much we might like to, though, it’s not always possible to take a vacation from COVID-19. The virus is still circulating widely, including in popular tourist destinations like the U.K., Germany, France, and Italy. That means getting sick while traveling is a real possibility — and one that can turn into an expensive and stressful logistical headache.

What happens if you get COVID-19 while traveling internationally? To enter the U.S., international travelers currently need either a negative COVID-19 test result obtained within one day of their flight or proof that they have recovered from COVID-19 in the last 90 days. (This policy applies to both U.S .citizens and non-citizens, but children younger than 2 are exempt.) Without one of those documents, you cannot board a U.S.-bound flight. If you test positive, you should isolate and delay travel for 10 days, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

But where do you stay if you need to quarantine (隔离) abroad?And who pays for extended accommodations and rescheduled flights?Specifics vary from country to country, but the short answer is that travelers are often on the hook. Exceptions to the test-to-return policy may be granted on an “extremely limited” basis, such as in the event of an emergency medical evacuation or humanitarian crisis, the CDC says-but the average vacationer won’t have many options beyond paying to extend their stay.

A spokesperson for the State Department Jeanna Smialek said travelers who must isolate should contact their hotels and airlines to arrange accommodations and re-book travel, and, if necessary, seek assistance from their nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The spokesperson added that U.S. citizens traveling abroad are subject to local quarantine rules, which may differ from those of the U.S. CDC.

1. What do you need to enter the US if you get COVID-19 while traveling internationally?

A．A negative COVID-19 test result．

B．A certificate of health recovery in the last 90 days．

C．Two weeks’ travel delay．

D．Extended accommodations and rescheduled flights．

2. What does the underlined phrase “on the hook” in paragraph 3 refer to?

A．Should pay the money．	B．Be pleasant to stay longer．
C．Have no choice but to obey the rule．	D．Be not satisfied with the policy．

3. According to Jeanna Smialek, which one is not true?

A．Accommodations should be booked by travelers themselves．

B．American consulate is accessible to isolated travelers．

C．Travelers who must isolate have certain restrictions．

D．Travelers should obey both local and American quarantine rules．

4. What’s the passage mainly about?

A．How to isolate during the COVID-19．

B．What international travelers should do after test positive．

C．COVID-19 isolation spreads in popular tour destinations．

D．Isolation policies are different among countries．

8 . Puppet Festival Mississauga!

ABOUT THE EVENT

Puppet Festival Mississauga is an annual event for families taking place at March break all across the city of Mississauga.

Treat your family to quality theatre at Puppet Festival Mississauga this March Break. Puppet Festival Mississauga presents live theatre that encourages children to be curious about the world around them.

Featuring：

Choo.Choo.Whistle.Woof!A PUPPET SHOW FROM CZECHIA

A dog overcomes his fear of the unknown and ventures on a great train adventure!A Puppet Show for Kids at Mississauga Puppet Festival this March Break 2023. Great for Kids 2＋.

The Happy Prince-A PUPPET SHOW FROM MEXICO

An unforgettable puppet show filled with magic and friendship. Based on the classic children’s tale by Oscar Wilde. Watch This Puppet Show for Kids in Spanish and English. at Mississauga Puppet Festival this March Break 2023. Great for Ages 3＋.

And more!

Event Location

Maja Prentice Theatre is a 200-seat theatre located at the corner of Dixie and Burnamthorpe Road, which is home to live theatre shows, musicals, dance and community events, all year round.

1. Where is this text probably taken from?

A．A textbook.

B．A research plan.

C．A traveling guide.

D．A news site.

2. What are the puppet shows less likely to help kids?

A．Be dauntless(无畏的)and fearless.	B．Know more about friendship.
C．Get the Oscar statuette.	D．Be curious about the world.

3. What do you prefer to do to go to the Maja Prentice?

A．Have an adventure.	B．Buy a puppet.
C．Do community service.	D．Enjoy a music drama.

9 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What’s Friends?

A．A TV play.

B．An English movie.

C．An English news broadcast.

2. How old are the characters?

A．In their 20s.

B．In their 30s.

C．In their 40s.

3. How is Friends organized?

A．By listing examples.

B．By introducing different backgrounds.

C．By making fun of each other’s shortcomings.

4. Where does the speaker’s friend work?

A．In a university.

B．At an educational firm.

C．In a language school.

10 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. When did the man get to Washington, D.C.?

A．At about 8:00.

B．At about 10:00.

C．At about 12:00

2. Who paid the money?

A．The man himself.

B．The Army Band.

C．A private organization.

3. Why did the man go to Washington, D.C.?

A．To take photos.

B．To receive honor.

C．To meet reporters.

4. How does the woman feel?

A．Ashamed.

B．Proud.

C．Content.