1 . Deserts could be the best places on Earth for harvesting solar power. They are spacious, relatively flat, and never short of sunlight. So researchers imagine it might be possible to transform the world’s largest desert, the Sahara, into a large solar farm, capable of meeting four times the world’s current energy demand.

While the black surfaces of solar panels absorb most of the sunlight that reaches them, only around 15% of that incoming energy gets turned into electricity. The rest is returned to the environment as heat, affecting the climate. If these effects were only local, they might not matter in a thinly populated desert. But the area of the installations in the Sahara would be vast, covering thousands of square miles. Heat released from an area this size will be redistributed by the flow of air in the atmosphere, having regional and even global effects on the climate.

A 2018 study used a climate model to assess the effects of building massive solar farms in the Sahara. The model revealed that when the size of the solar farm reaches 20% of the total area of the Sahara, the heat released by the darker solar panels creates a big temperature difference between the land and the surrounding oceans that ultimately lowers surface air pressure and causes wet air to rise and condense (凝结) into raindrops. With more rainfall, plants grow and the desert reflects less of the sun’s energy since vegetation absorbs light better than sand and soil. With more plants present, more water is evaporated (蒸发), creating a better environment that causes vegetation to spread.

So, a large solar farm could generate enough energy and at the same time turn one of the most abominable environments on Earth into a habitable place. Sounds perfect, right? Not quite. In a recent study, we used an advanced Earth system model to closely examine how Saharan solar farms interact with the climate. It showed there could be unintended effects in remote parts of the land and ocean.

We are only beginning to understand the potential consequences of establishing massive solar farms in deserts. Solutions like this may help society reduce the use of fossil energy, but Earth system studies like ours underscore the importance of considering the numerous coupled responses of the atmosphere, oceans, and land surface when examining their benefits and risks.

1. What can be learned about solar farms?

A．They are mainly located in deserts.

B．They can affect the local and even global climate.

C．They can make the best use of incoming energy.

D．They satisfy the world’s current energy demand.

2. What will happen if 20% of the Sahara is covered with solar panels according to the 2018 study?

A．It might become greener.

B．It might reflect more sunlight.

C．Its surface air pressure will increase.

D．Its temperature difference between day and night will decrease.

3. What does the underlined word “abominable” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．Addictive.

B．Dynamic.

C．Sensitive.

D．Unpleasant.

4. What does the author think of turning the Sahara into a solar farm?

A．It is an impossible task.

B．It will do more good than harm.

C．It calls for more consideration.

D．It might be the solution to fossil fuel pollution.

2 . A complete chicken egg estimated to be around 1,700 years old is believed to be the only of its type in the world, after scientists found it still had liquid inside.

It was discovered during a dig in Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire between 2007 and 2016, with researchers saying at the time that it was a “genuinely unique discovery”. During the course of the dig, archaeologists broke three other eggs which released a “terrible smell”, but a fourth egg remained undamaged. It is the only complete egg ever found dating back to the Roman times.

Now, a micro scan has found that the egg still contains the yolk (蛋黄) and egg white, and it is believed to be the only complete egg from that period. The recent work has been carried out by conservator Dana Goodburn-Brown, who took the egg for further analysis at the University of Kent.

Edward Biddulph, senior project manager at Oxford Archaeology, who oversaw the dig, said, “It produced an amazing image that indicated that the egg, apart from being complete — which is incredible enough — also held its liquid inside. We were absolutely blown away when we saw the contents in there, as we might have expected them to have leaked out.”

It has also been taken to London’s Natural History Museum, where Douglas Russell, the senior director of the museum, was consulted about how to conserve the egg. Mr Biddulph said, “As we found out when we visited the Natural History Museum, it appears to be the oldest known example in the world.”

The egg is now being housed at Discover Bucks Museum in Aylesbury while work continues to discover how to extract (提取) the inside without breaking the delicate shell.

“There is huge potential for further research and this is the next stage in the life of this remarkable egg,” Mr Biddulph said.

1. Why was Edward Biddulph shocked at the egg?

A．It was badly preserved.	B．It could be blown away.
C．It kept liquid contents inside.	D．It was still good enough to eat.

2. What can we infer from the last two paragraphs?

A．The egg will be broken for further study.

B．The egg will be on display in the museum.

C．More studies will be carried out about the egg.

D．More efforts will be put into studying the egg shell.

3. What is the best title for the text?

A．The Secret of an Ancient Egg Has Been Revealed

B．An Ancient Egg Reveals the History of Buckinghamshire

C．An Egg Is Said to Be the Oldest Complete One in the World

D．An Amazing Egg Is Still Full of Liquid 1,700 Years Later

4. What is the text?

A．A news report.	B．A biology essay.
C．A technical invention.	D．A geographical discovery.

3 . Which of these ingredients have you cooked with or eaten, wild rice, rabbits or roses? Actually, they were part of Native American cuisine in the past. Sean Sherman is a chef from the Oglala Lakota tribe, who is attempting something remarkable. Through his company and his restaurant, Sherman is bringing these ingredients back into the public eye.

Sean Sherman grew up on the Pine Ridge Reservation. As a reservation kid, Sherman usually didn’t have access to high-quality or tasty food. His family relied on the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which meant canned goods, tasteless food, and powdered milk. After high school, Sherman started working for the Forest Service. As part of his job, he had to learn the names of the plants, which raised his curiosity about indigenous (本土的) plants and foods.

Sherman started doing lots of research on his own, and he started his company in 2014. A few years later, Sherman opened his restaurant Owamni, where he showed native ingredients and flavors. The most significant feature of the restaurant is the native ingredients, none of which is related to European civilizations.

The vibe in the restaurant is totally unique as well. There, a lot of people are really struck by it, because it’s not typical to be able to go someplace and see their native foods on the menu, see native people cooking the food and listen to native music. Therefore, it’s a wholly unique experience and it’s something that’s really special.

Native cuisine allows native people to explore their histories and cultures. It supports local businesses and comes with a host of health benefits. “We should have native restaurants in every city to show the diversity and flavors of all the different tribes across North America and thus have a future where native cuisine is more widespread, and ingredients are more familiar and well known,” Sherman explains.

1. When did Sean Sherman become interested in native foods?

A．As he was a reservation kid.

B．Before he entered high school.

C．When he worked as a chef in a restaurant.

D．When he was working in the forest department.

2. What is the most important feature of Sherman’s restaurant?

A．The ingredients used are native.

B．Native music is played all the time.

C．Diverse ingredients are combined in each dish.

D．It is a reflection of modern native civilization.

3. What does the underlined word “vibe” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．Service.

B．Decoration.

C．Scenery.

D．Atmosphere.

4. Why does Sherman suggest each city should have native restaurants?

A．To boost the profits of local businesses.

B．To help native people to honor their history.

C．To present and promote the native cuisine.

D．To serve foods with various health benefits.

4 . Li Jing, 29, currently serves as the director assistant to the village secretary of Maotianping Village Committee in Cuijiaba, a town in Hubei province. Li is a native of this village and was one of the first from her community to achieve higher education. She studied hotel management and tourism. After graduation, she started a career in the hotel industry in Wuhan. However, she made a decision last year to return to her village. She wants to be an essential part of her hometown’s development, realizing her own personal value.

When Li returned to her hometown, she received unconditional support from her family, despite some villagers’ questioning her decision. She resolved to prove herself through determination and action.

Her job involves extensive communication with the villagers, with over half of her workload about promoting potato production, the main business of the village. Li and the villagers regularly hold meetings in the village square, where they share insights on potato planting techniques, sales channels, market trends, and more. These gatherings provide her with opportunities to equip the villagers with planting tools and offer a window for them to voice their concerns and experiences.

In her spare time, Li remains closely connected with the villagers through regular conversations. She admits that it demands a considerable investment of time and energy, but it’s all worthwhile.

Li has very fond memories of an incident from last year when one villager had a poor potato crop. Although her potatoes were unimpressive in terms of size and quality, she held faith in Li and worked tirelessly and enthusiastically. Li never forgets the smiles on the villagers’ faces at harvest time, which is the ultimate reward for her.

In the near future, Li hopes to continue helping her fellow villagers raise their potato production and increase their income. Her long-term vision is to promote urban-rural integration (整合).

1. Why did Li Jing desire to start a career in her hometown?

A．She received higher education.	B．What she has learned could help her.
C．She intended to live her dream.	D．She failed to start her own business in Wuhan.

2. Which words can best describe Li Jing?

A．Passionate and hardworking.	B．Strong-willed and competent.
C．Warm-hearted and easy-going.	D．Selfless and thoughtful.

3. Why the incident is mentioned in paragraph 5?

A．To show Li Jing’s inability in potato planting.

B．To prove Li Jing’s success in gaining villagers trust.

C．To put emphasis on the hardship of potato planting.

D．To give evidence of Li Jing’s efforts.

4. Which of the following can be the best title?

A．No Pain, No Gain	B．East or West, Home Is Best
C．Graduates, Welcome Home	D．From the Village, for the Village

5 . There’s nothing more frightening than feeling adrift (漂浮着) and out of control — now imagine if you were a six-year-old girl in the ocean!

When a little girl recently was swept out to sea on a raft (橡皮艇), her father frantically ( 拼命地) called for a(n) _________ — but there was none to be found. _________ , the four Butler brothers took action, running to the ocean and _________ toward the little girl as fast as they could. The _________ rescue, which took an hour, inspired everyone around them. “I knew the water was getting deep, but I didn’t _________ ,” Declan Butler, who, at age 18, is the youngest brother along with his twin Eoghan, told The Washington Post. “I just didn’t want to _________ her.”

At one point, the little girl appeared to _________ the raft, and the brothers were _________, but then they saw her rise above the water again. From that point, the brothers _________ to swim for another half-hour before getting close enough to call out to the girl to keep her __________.

“It was emotional,” Alex Thomson, brother-in-law to the Butlers, said. “If anything, it was extremely rewarding __________ we got to her.”

In the time it took them to __________ her, the young girl’s father was __________ to carry on swimming and was also in __________ of rescuing. Once the little girl was __________ on the beach, twins Declan and Eoghan swam out to __________ her father too.

“Seeing her jump around and kiss her mom was really __________,” Declan said. Two days after they saved the six-year-old, the brothers were reflecting on the strange __________ of it all. Their grandfather __________ on that same day, decades before their rescue. By saving a young girl, they felt they had __________ their grandfather.

1.

A．shelter

B．lifeguard

C．organizer

D．instructor

2.

A．Still

B．Otherwise

C．Moreover

D．Instead

3.

A．boating

B．surfing

C．swimming

D．walking

4.

A．unpleasant

B．unfortunate

C．successful

D．medical

5.

A．notice

B．care

C．refuse

D．insist

6.

A．give up on

B．break away from

C．get along with

D．stand up for

7.

A．put off

B．switch off

C．show off

D．fall off

8.

A．excited

B．disappointed

C．terrified

D．embarrassed

9.

A．waited

B．continued

C．pretended

D．happened

10.

A．healthy

B．silent

C．modest

D．calm

11.

A．once

B．until

C．because

D．though

12.

A．call

B．reach

C．remind

D．stop

13.

A．hesitating

B．expecting

C．struggling

D．intending

14.

A．celebration

B．search

C．need

D．memory

15.

A．ready

B．found

C．trapped

D．safe

16.

A．recognize

B．assist

C．join

D．welcome

17.

A．shocking

B．confusing

C．amazing

D．challenging

18.

A．symbolism

B．wisdom

C．intention

D．outcome

19.

A．survived

B．drowned

C．volunteered

D．appeared

20.

A．inspired

B．forgiven

C．repaid

D．honored

6 . Now it seems that more and more animals are showing up in cities where we would not expect them to. But scientists have learned that some species do better in cities. Take peregrine falcons (游隼) for example. They use tall city buildings to make homes, man-made lighting to hunt at night, and warm air currents created when the sun beats down on city surfaces to fly with less effort.

Some animals adapt well to city life, and some do not. For example, squirrels (松鼠) do amazingly well living in cities, while wolves have never seemed to get the hang of it. Usually, animals that eat a lot of different things, called generalists, do much better in cities than specialists, which eat one specific kind of food. Smaller animals are also more likely to live in cities than bigger animals. Some people believe animals that do well in cities might be smarter than the ones that do not, but more research is needed on this.

Many animals have even learned cool tricks to live in cities, and these behaviors help them find more food or mates (伴侣), or avoid people. To learn about these behaviors, we use recording devices to spot animals, microphones to record their sounds, and tracking equipment to follow them. Scientists use many different tools to study what animals eat, how healthy they are, how they compete with each other, and more.

Humans are turning the planet into cities and farms, which does not leave many other places for most wildlife to live in. So, what can we do? At home, we can cover our garbage carefully because it is not good for wild animals. We can also plant some native plants that wildlife might like. Seeing animals in a city, we can give them space and watch them from far away. We could also try some creative things like green roofs where birds and insects can live in.

To do that, we need to know what kind of habitats different species need, and how to prevent human-wildlife conflicts. We still have a lot to learn.

1. How does the author develop paragraph 1?

A．By providing statistical data.	B．By making a comparison.
C．By giving an example.	D．By stating arguments.

2. What kind of animals survive better in cities according to the author?

A．Those with close mates.	B．Those with long diet lists.
C．Those with fast movement.	D．Those with high intelligence.

3. What does the author suggest we do in paragraph 4?

A．Restrict urban and agricultural development.

B．Make our cities wildlife-friendly.

C．Plant new varieties of plants.

D．Sort our garbage carefully.

4. Where can the text be found?

A．In a short story.	B．In a health journal.
C．In a business report.	D．In a science magazine.

7 . 你校学生李华在上学路上做了一件好事。为了弘扬社会正气、树立助人为乐的社会风尚，你校决定在下周一的升旗仪式上宣读此事。请你结合下列要点写一篇表扬稿。
1. 时间、地点；
2. 事情的经过；
3. 向他学习。
注意：1. 词数100左右：
2. 开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数。
Dear fellow students,
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

That’s all. Thank you.

8 . In the late 19th century, there was a poor farmer in Scotland named Fleming. He was ________ and always ready to help others. One day when he was ________ in the field, he suddenly heard a cry for help in the wetland nearby. It ________ that a boy was trapped in the wetland. Seeing the mud up to his ________, Fleming immediately jumped into the wetland and ________ to save the boy. The next day, a brand-new ________ from a distant place stopped at the farmer’s door. An elegant gentleman got off the carriage and ________himself as the boy’s father. The gentleman brought the farmer many precious gifts ________saving his son, but the farmer refused. He ________ that saving others was what he should do. It ________ that the gentleman saw the farmer’s son playing in a dirty suit. He thought about it and said to the ________, “In this case, I have a ________. You saved my son’s life and I want him to ________ the best education in Britain.”The farmer agreed ________. Later, the farmer’s son graduated from St. Mary’s Medical School in England and became the ________ Sir Fleming Alexander. He is the inventor of penicillin (青霉素), which has saved ________ lives. Years later, the gentleman’s son caught pneumonia. What saved his life? Penicillin. Who was the gentleman’s son? Churchill, the prime minister of Britain during World War II.

This story tells us that the simple and kind Scottish farmer’s ________ in saving others without ________ any return, brought his own child a good opportunity. And because of his child’s achievement, he ________ the gentleman’s child, who became British prime minister of World War II. The kindness of an ordinary farmer ________ changed the whole world.

1.

A．determined

B．kind

C．anxious

D．disappointed

2.

A．working

B．drinking

C．regretting

D．weeping

3.

A．figured out

B．pointed out

C．worked out

D．turned out

4.

A．leg

B．ankle

C．chest

D．foot

5.

A．managed

B．tried

C．decided

D．hoped

6.

A．bicycle

B．car

C．carriage

D．truck

7.

A．recommended

B．introduced

C．treated

D．served

8.

A．in honor of

B．in favor of

C．in exchange for

D．in return for

9.

A．felt

B．announced

C．declared

D．sworn

10.

A．happened

B．seemed

C．followed

D．appeared

11.

A．son

B．farmer

C．parent

D．witness

12.

A．demand

B．suggestion

C．decision

D．plan

13.

A．spread

B．promote

C．obtain

D．continue

14.

A．clearly

B．eventually

C．interestingly

D．unexpectedly

15.

A．world-famous

B．good-looking

C．easy-going

D．hard-working

16.

A．energetic

B．extraordinary

C．countless

D．unbelievable

17.

A．approach

B．behavior

C．anecdote

D．manner

18.

A．receiving

B．sending

C．reporting

D．seeking

19.

A．defeated

B．recognized

C．cured

D．adopted

20.

A．commonly

B．necessarily

C．especially

D．actually

9 . Brewing Up the Best Cup of Coffee

Editor’s note: In the world of coffee, there is a hierarchy (等级) based on brewing (酿制) methods and coffee bean quality. Manual brewing is superior to machine brewing. Italian-style coffee is usually preferred over the American style. At the top of this world, it is specialty coffee (精品咖啡). And becoming a specialty coffee barista (咖啡师) requires specific training. Let’s go to the story of one such barista.

To customers, specialty coffee may be just a simple drink, but for specialty coffee baristas, it is a demanding science. Fei Teng, a 35-year-old barista with 10 years of experience, considers various factors like altitude, climate and grinding (研磨) when making specialty coffee. Fei also has his own principle of developing creative coffee. The Salty Mocha, created by Fei, gained popularity among coffee enthusiasts. “The sea salt neutralizes the sweetness of the mocha, adding layers of flavor to the taste. By introducing innovative changes to classic coffee, it can bring new and wonderful experiences to the taste buds,” Fei told Teens.

Fei majored in fine arts in college but chose to become a coffee apprentice (学徒) after graduation. He began by learning the basics of coffee, including its varieties and roasting levels. Through training and participating in competitions, Fei improved his barista skills, like grinding beans and frothing milk (打奶沫). “Becoming a barista is easy to get started, but difficult to master,” said Fei. To enhance his sensitivity to the quality of coffee beans, Fei tasted a wide variety of coffee, often drinking more than 20 cups a day. That led to diarrhea (腹泻)at times.

“In addition to coffee knowledge, service skills are crucial but often overlooked by baristas,” Fei said. Baristas need to patiently address customer questions and convey the concept behind their coffee in an attractive manner. “Some baristas even create music introductions for their coffee and share them with customers,” added Fei.

“Many view being a barista as a cool job, but actually, it is quite hard and there is a lot of physical labor, like cleaning the cafe,” Fei said. However, despite the challenges, career prospects are promising. A 2023 report reveals that Chinas coffee industry reached 200.7 billion yuan in 2022.

Having dedicated a decade to the coffee industry, Fei plans to continue focusing on specialty coffee and further contribute to the growth of the Chinese coffee sector.

1. What sets the Salty Mocha invented by Fei apart?

A．Its flavor.

B．Its popularity.

C．Its aroma.

D．Its price.

2. What is paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．Why Fei chose to be a barista.	B．What Fei learned about coffee.
C．How Fei understood his career.	D．How Fei upgraded his skills.

3. What does Fei think of baristas service skills?

A．They determine a baristas success.	B．They are more important than basic skills.
C．They require creativity and talent.	D．They are frequently ignored.

4. What does Fei want to do?

A．Promote Chinese coffee overseas.	B．Establish his own unique cafe.
C．Continue pursuing his barista career.	D．Teach people how to make coffee.

10 . How to Start Applying for Colleges

Most U. S. universities follow the same standard application process. If possible, begin the following approach several months before the submission deadline.

Get Informed.

Colleges want to know the real you. When applying, don’t try to make yourself look better by listing the accomplishments or writing the essay you think they want to see. Be honest and you’re more likely to end up at a college that’s a good fit for you. Here’s how you can prepare to apply to colleges:

● Understand the common terms you’ll see during the application process. Have a good grasp of such things as frequently used acronyms, supporting documents, and government departments.

● Review the appropriate application timeline you should follow when signing up for college. Every school has its own deadlines, but you may have certain milestones to hit during your senior or even junior year.

● Discover the individual components of a complete application. For example, schools usually ask for supplemental application materials like letters of recommendation, transcripts, and written essays.

Get Organized.

How do you apply for colleges efficiently? If you can keep track of everything you need and get organized, you’ll be ahead of the game. For each college you’re applying to:

● Create a real and a virtual folder for storing documents.

● Print a checklist to track your progress on each part of the application.

● Build a spreadsheet to stay on top of submission deadlines.

Gather the Necessary Documents.

● Your Social Security number.

● Your high school code.

● A copy of your high school transcript.

● Your score report from a college admission test.

Review Your Application Before Hitting the Submit Button.

● Make sure you’ve included all required information and that the information filled out on the forms is accurate and spelled correctly.

● Confirm that any required attachments are the correct files and have been properly uploaded.

● Double-check that you filled out all fields and followed all instructions.

● Take a deep breath. Click submit!

1. How many parts will you generally go through before applying to the college?

A．One.

B．Two.

C．Three.

D．Four.

2. Which of the following is helpful for the application?

A．Show a perfect you so that you will get more qualified.

B．Discover the individuals who also apply to the same college.

C．Get fully prepared in the second or third year of school in case of some specific deadlines.

D．Figure out every single technical term to better understand the application process.

3. At the very last minute before submitting the application, you’d better __________.

A．check whether you have filled out all the forms and followed all instructions

B．gather all the necessary documents like your high school transcript

C．create a physical and virtual folder for all the documents

D．confirm the submission deadline