1 . Billions of insects are moving together over the sky like a black cloud. It’s a swarm of locusts. Many insects move in huge swarms. They form swarms for different reasons. Some move together to look for food or to find new homes. Sometimes insects swarm for protection. These enormous swarms can destroy food crops and harm other living things.

When something disturbs a red fire ants’ nest, out they will come. Not just one or two, but thousands of them. The fire ants swarm all over their victim. Their stings burn like fire. Each ant in the swarm can sting over and over again. The fire ants hold onto their victim with their mouth parts. Then they inject their prey with poison. Most small animals cannot survive the stings from a swarm of fire ants.

When army ants are on the move, anything in their path is prey. Even snakes can’t escape a swarm of these stinging ants. Army ants move together to look for food. They can’t see their prey, but they use smells and sounds to find their way. If they come to a river, they make a bridge with their bodies. They cling together with their legs. Then the rest of the ants can cross the bridge. There is not much that can stop these fierce and cruel ants from chasing their prey.

Insects are not the only animals that swarm. There are many others that do. Most are not harmful to people. Being close to a huge swarm of animals can be scary and dangerous. Some scientists have studied animal swarms. They have found that many swarms follow simple rules. They work together to solve problems. When they work together they are a very strong team.

1. What does the underlined word “swarm” in Paragraph 1 mean?

A．To force a liquid into something.	B．To hold onto something tightly.
C．To move together in a large group.	D．To watch over something.

2. What can we learn about fire ants from the text?

A．Their stings contain a kind of poison and are deadly to most small animals.

B．They can destroy food crops and are harmful to other living things.

C．When they move together, they are called “a swarm of locusts”.

D．They move in swarms to make new nests in different places.

3. Which of the following can be the proper feature of army ants according to the text?

A．Blind and smelly.	B．Angry and violent.
C．Scary and dangerous.	D．Strong and fast.

4. What is the most suitable title for the text?

A．Moving Nests	B．Stinging Fire Ants
C．A Moving Army	D．Swarms of Animals

2 . It was 6 a.m. as I got on the train, ending my work one cold morning and I was lucky to get a seat. At that time of the morning, my eyes were not fully focused and at times I was half asleep. During that time the train was usually filled with construction workers heading out to start their work. On that particular morning I found myself drawn on the shoes of men sitting about 10 seats across from me.

I sat examining the shoes of men. Men from different walks of life, holding different jobs, thinking different thoughts, living different lives and despite what they did and how they looked, they all had something in common. They were all of the working class trying to achieve their dreams.

One day each of those men has to visit a shoe store to buy a new pair of shoes, a type that fits their working needs. For a short time those shoes look so good. Then one day they lose their shine; they no longer look as good, but guess what? The shoes feel right. Feet have found their own home within the comfort of those shoes.

If those shoes could talk, what kind of a tale do you think they would tell? If your shoes could talk, what do you think they would say about you? Would the story be about a journey filled with joy and fun? Or would the story be one filled with disappointment and regret?

We choose the shoes. Where we take them and when and how we wear them are up to us.

1. What can be inferred from the first paragraph?

A．It was cold that morning.

B．The author went to work by train.

C．The author worked during the night.

D．Construction workers usually began to work at 7 a.m.

2. How did the author draw the conclusion that all of the men were working class?

A．By closely observing their shoes.	B．According to the way they walked.
C．On the basis of the lives they lived.	D．By distinguishing their facial features.

3. What does the author think of the shoes then one day?

A．Fashionable.

B．Good.

C．Shiny.

D．Comfortable.

4. Where can the text probably be found?

A．In a news report.

B．In a magazine.

C．In a biography.

D．In a history book.

3 . A grey-headed flying fox is back gliding through the night after life-saving surgery on a broken wing. The female flying fox’s wing was badly injured when it was twisted in a net placed over fruit trees in Geelong, Victoria. It was rescued and taken to Werribee Open Range Zoo’s veterinary hospital where it needed two operations to repair the wing.

Paul Eden, doctor of the hospital, said, “The flying fox was in a very serious condition when it arrived.” Flying foxes are highly dependent on their wings for many purposes. They can fly an astonishing 6,000 km in a year to search for food and pollinate a wide range of plants. They also use their wings to help capture insects, regulate body temperature and attract other flying foxes during mating season, So, it was extremely important that we did everything we could to help this animal make a full recovery. Vets operated to remove some of the flying fox’s damaged wing tissue and also gave it antibiotics (抗生素) and pain relief medication.

Following the successful procedure, the flying fox was transferred to a wildlife carer to prepare it for release back into where it belonged. Dr Eden said, “It is very rewarding to see the flying fox recover fully and safely return home.” According to researchers from Werribee Open Range Zoo, flying foxes played a critical role in Australia’s ecosystem, not only for the survival of other native animals but also humans. Our ecosystem would be dramatically different without flying foxes.

Dr Eden noted that there were some simple actions people could take to keep flying foxes safe, including reducing the risk of twisting by using nets with a size no bigger than 5 mm×5 mm when fully stretched over vegetable gardens or fruit trees. “If you encounter a flying fox that is sick or in distress, for the safety of everyone, don’t attempt to rescue the animal yourself. Instead, contact Wildlife Victoria who will send a trained officer to rescue the animal,” Dr Eden said.

1. How did the flying fox get injured in the wing?

A．It was stuck in the net.	B．It was hit by the fruits.
C．It was hunted while flying.	D．It was twisted in the branches.

2. What is paragraph 2 intended to do?

A．Analyse the reason.	B．Draw a conclusion.
C．Present a problem.	D．Add some backgrounds.

3. How will the flying fox be dealt with after recovery?

A．It will be raised in a reserve.	B．It will be adopted by D Eden.
C．It will be set free back to nature.	D．It will be tended in a wildlife carer.

4. What did Dr Eden advise us to do while coming across an injured flying fox?

A．Rescue it on the spot.	B．Seek professional aid.
C．Send it to Wildlife Victoria in person.	D．Drive it to hospital as soon as possible

4 . When patients are discharged (出院) from the hospital, effective summaries from doctors’ notes are essential to capture their health status in the medical record. Whereas, most are filled with technical languages that are hard to understand and increase patients’ anxiety.

To address the problem, researchers from New York University (NYU) Langone Health have been testing the capabilities of generative artificial intelligence (AI). It tries to develop likely options for the next word in any sentence based on how most people use words in context on the Internet.

NYU Langone Health received access to the latest tool from a famous tech company to explore generative AI. One of the studies by the researchers published in JAMA Network Open, looked at how well the tool could convert (转换) the text in 50 patient discharge notes into patient-friendly language. Specifically, generative AI made the discharge notes drop from 11th-grade reading level on average to a 6th-grade level.

Two physicians were asked to review the AI discharge summary based on a 6th-grade level. The reviewing physicians awarded 54 percent of the AI-generated discharge notes the best-possible accuracy rating. They also found that 56 percent of notes created by AI were entirely complete. The result signified that even at the current performance level, providers of discharge notes would not have to make a single change in more than half of the AI summaries reviewed.

“That more than half of the AI reports generated are accurate and complete is an amazing start,” said Jonah Zaretsky, associate chief of medicine at NYU Langone Hospital — Brooklyn. “Even at the current level of performance, which we expect to improve shortly, the achievement of the AI tool suggests that it can be taught to recognize subtleties (微妙之处).”

Within the following years, the team expects to launch a pilot program to provide lay language discharge summaries that have been generated by AI and reviewed by physicians to patients on a larger scale.

1. What is generative AI used for by the researchers?

A．Submitting discharge summaries.	B．Accessing patients’ health status.
C．Making discharge notes clear to patients.	D．Offering technical languages to doctors.

2. What is generative AI’s function based on?

A．Probable predicting.	B．Actual thinking.
C．Free imagining.	D．Strict instructing.

3. Why were the two physicians asked to review the AI discharge summaries?

A．To correct their mistakes.	B．To measure their accuracy.
C．To compete with the AI tool.	D．To make up the missing parts.

4. How did Jonah Zaretsky find the performance of AI in dealing with discharge summaries?

A．Misleading.

B．Dismissive.

C．Challenging.

D．Promising.

5 . Many factors in our life can lead to anxiety and stress. Luckily, there are several simple ways of relieving stress. Most of these steps are responsible for the improvement of your overall health as well.     1     Physical activity leads to a lowering of the overall stress levels and it also improves your quality of life both physically and mentally.

Any physical activity improves the capability of your body to use oxygen and it also leads to better blood flow.     2     Exercise increases the production of endorphins(内啡肽) in the brain. The endorphins are responsible for the “feel good” effect you feel and they also provide you with the much-desired “runner's high”. In simple terms, it is the sense of wellbeing people receive after performing the exercise.

    3     How do you choose the best physical activity for your exercise? There is no need for you to be an outstanding athlete or a long-distance runner to achieve stress relief. For instance, you can perform some aerobic exercise (有氧运动) such as jogging and dancing.     4     Doctors can help you develop an effective and safe exercise routine while taking into account your fitness level and the conditions you are suffering from.

Keep in mind that any kind of exercise will improve your fitness and reduce stress levels. You can also combine the activities till you have found the most enjoyable one. If you do not enjoy going near the water, never take swimming as a form of exercise. If the thoughts of running result in making you anxious, do not choose to train for a 5-kilometer race.     5    

A．Diet and exercise are proven equally important.

B．There are many ways to meet your exercise target.

C．One of the best strategies to reduce stress is exercise.

D．Both these things lead to a direct good effect on the brain.

E．Besides, it is also a good idea to consult your doctor for guidance.

F．It is necessary for you to make plans to form a healthy exercise habit.

G．Therefore, be sure to select an activity that you enjoy rather than fear.

6 . Wealthy nations need to give as much as ten times current levels of funding to help developing countries adapt to climate change, the United Nations said in a report.

If developing nations can’t adjust to climate change, rich countries will also feel the consequences, says Inger Andersen, executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which prepared the report. “The idea that you can have a wall around your state and somehow protect yourself is simply unrealistic,” Andersen says. The report comes as world leaders prepare to gather for a climate conference. Organizers hope to make people realize the growing gap between current levels of aid for climate adaptation and what they say is required as climate shocks get worse.

Climate adaptation refers to steps to better protect people against the consequences of climate change— for example, moving communities away from coastlines and other areas. But much of the climate focus from rich countries’ leaders has been on limiting global warming by encouraging countries to burn less coal, oil and gas to reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

At the United Nations climate meeting in Glasgow, countries promised to double the amount of funding available for adaptation to developing countries by 2025. But even if nations succeed in that, it’d still be insufficient for the need. Besides, it’s often spent in ways that aren’t likely to be effective over time, the report said. Adaptation efforts tend to be narrow, focus on short-term needs and fail to take future risks into account, it said.

The risk is that countries will soon experience climate shocks to which they simply can’t adapt, Andersen says. Relocation (搬迁), arguably the most extreme and expensive form of adaptation, will soon become vital, according to Andersen. “In most low-lying coastal areas, planned relocation is the last strategy,” Andersen says. “The longer wealthy countries kick this can down the road, the higher the price in human lives.”

1. Why did the UNEP prepare the report?

A．To plan for the upcoming meeting.	B．To raise money for climate change.
C．To draw attention to climate adaptation.	D．To call on poor countries to build walls.

2. What is the main concern of rich countries about climate change?

A．Taking measures to reduce it.	B．Dealing with its consequences.
C．Funding developing countries.	D．Protecting people in poor countries.

3. What is the report’s attitude to the present use of the adaptation funding?

A．Positive.

B．Tolerant.

C．Indifferent.

D．Disapproving.

4. What do Andersen’s words mean in the last paragraph?

A．Rich countries will suffer more.	B．Humans will face a hard choice.
C．More people will have to relocate.	D．Living expenses will rise dramatically.

7 . Over the decades, computers have affected our lives to an astonishing degree. When the first modern computer was conceptualized and built in the 20th century, it was so large that it took up a whole room. Over time, the technology shrank. First, computers became small enough to sit on a desk and be brought into the home. Then, they were made lightweight and portable, giving us the laptop. Today, most people have something even smaller: a smartphone that can fit into a pocket.

Though that's as compact as most people are used to, computers and technology are getting even tinier! One of the tiniest forms of technology available today is the microbot. A microbot is a very tiny robot -a machine programmable by a computer—that is built to perform specific tasks. You might tend to refer to this as just a small robot, but the size and dimensions of microbots are actually quite precise. A microbot is less than one millimeter in width, approximately the size of the tip of a pencil. In comparison, a small robot, which can be up to 100 centimeters in width, would be absolutely large. If you think that microbots are as small as you can get, think again. Nanobots smaller than one micrometer exist, but these are so small that they aren't visible to the naked eye(肉眼).

Since microbots are so small, they are potentially very cheap. Scientists and engineers working to develop these microbots believe that they could be used to explore environments or areas that are too small or dangerous for people.

Because the computing power of one single microbot isn't that large, microbots could be moved and used in large groups. At the moment, the biggest barrier to the development of these tiny machines is figuring out how to power a robot that can only contain an extremely small battery.

1. What does the underlined word “shrank” in Paragraph I probably mean?

A．got more Automatic.	B．became smaller.
C．got wiser.	D．became larger.

2. What can we know about microbots?

A．They can be used to do risky tasks.	B．They are relatively expensive.
C．They can't be seen by the human eyes.	D．They aren't as precise as expected.

3. What is the key to the future development of the tiny robots?

A．Its function.	B．Its material.
C．Its battery power.	D．Its maintenance cost.

4. Which is the most suitable title for the text?

A．How Small the Technology Can Get	B．How Robots Change Our Future Lives
C．Why Human Beings Prefer Tiny Technology	D．Why Microbots Are Widely Used Worldwide

8 . I got a volunteer job to teach computer skills in a library after many failures in applications and interviews. It’s an ideal opportunity to try something new and break away from the feeling of _______ .

Pretty soon after I entered the main library, I was _______ to work. There were too many learners and not enough teachers.

I was led to Jenna, who had been out of work for seven months. She was _______ back tears of frustration while trying to attach her CV(简历) to an e-mail. When we had finally sent out three _______ , she sat back. Ray, an _______ gentleman, did not know how to open and watch the video of his grandson _______ in an e-mail. A few quick clicks of the mouse and Ray was _______ playing and replaying the video.

When I left the library I had a new sense of purpose and a different way of _______ . Later that evening, I thought a lot about the persons I _______ today. But what I thought about most was how ________ we all were—just people ________ together in taking those first steps to make a ________ to our lives. That day, through ________ , I had realized the fact that to struggle ________ through life’s challenges is a lonely process, but to make that journey with others can make facing even the hardest challenges ________ .

1.

A．comfort

B．awkwardness

C．depression

D．guilt

2.

A．assigned

B．invited

C．chosen

D．forced

3.

A．bringing

B．calling

C．putting

D．fighting

4.

A．signals

B．offers

C．applications

D．messages

5.

A．elderly

B．awesome

C．ambitious

D．honest

6.

A．abandoned

B．replaced

C．attached

D．translated

7.

A．curiously

B．joyfully

C．willingly

D．gratefully

8.

A．relaxing

B．thinking

C．working

D．entertaining

9.

A．served

B．described

C．visited

D．recommended

10.

A．unhappy

B．similar

C．difficult

D．unfortunate

11.

A．prayed

B．taught

C．traveled

D．joined

12.

A．difference

B．promise

C．commitment

D．contribution

13.

A．efforts

B．goals

C．changing

D．volunteering

14.

A．aloud

B．along

C．alone

D．again

15.

A．reasonable

B．important

C．surprising

D．rewarding

9 . 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。

Have you ever wondered how people type Chinese characters? The answer lies in the wonderfully useful phonetic system     1     (call) pinyin. It's the most commonly used system for spelling out the Chinese sounds, and it uses the letters in the Latin alphabet that you are already familiar       2     .

Pinyin is     3     extremely useful tool and should be the foundation of your Chinese learning. Besides, it's not just for Chinese learners like yourself.     4     (actual), all native Chinese speakers know pinyin,     5     is the first thing Chinese children learn at school before learning characters. So even if you don't know Chinese characters, you can type in pinyin and make     6     (you)understood.

Every single sound that exists in Chinese can     7     (display) easily in a pinyin chart. Once you master these 409 sounds along with the tones, you'll have practically mastered the pronunciation of every single word in the Chinese language. We've also created a series of video     8     (lesson)with practice tools that enable you to record yourself and listen back to it to     9     (sure) that your pronunciation matches the examples. Combined with our Tone Pairs practice tool, you now have everything you need     10     (master)pinyin, tones, and Chinese pronunciation.

10 . The road trip is an iconic (标志性的) American family vacation experience. Here are some road trips you can enjoy.

College Tours

If you are mapping out a college tour road trip with your teen, pick a region like the Boston area. There you can visit a mix of options that are large and small, public and private, and a mix of easy-to-get-into and reach-for-the-stars schools. Make the most of your visits by researching hotel stays that give you a taste of campus culture.

Road to Hana

To do this trip right you'll need 10 to 12 hours. The Hana Highway runs along a winding road dotted with 59 (mostly one-way) bridges and there are often a lot of crowds. But patience is rewarded with a large number of Mother Nature's finest offerings. Remember to stop at the roadside stands selling fresh fruit and banana bread.

Mount Washington Auto Road

Little kids get a kick out of the simple pleasures of leaf-looking, making a fall road trip through New Englanda perfect choice for this age. Add a little extra fun for the grown-ups by planning a side trip for this scenic drive in New Hampshire. Less than eight miles long, the road climbs 4, 600 feet above sea level along narrow mountain roads.

Pacific Coast Highway

This one is for you, tired parents. This stretch of Highway I running up and down the California coastline is an incredibly popular road trip for its breathtaking scenery —just the thing to relax your tired selves while your little ones sleep lightly in the back seat. From late October through February, you can also take your kids to the Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove, where more than 10, 000 of the butterflies migrate (迁徙) each year.

1. What can a family do on a college tour?

A．Visit the area with many colleges.	B．Stay in the student dormitories.
C．Taste delicious food on campus.	D．Explore the college with a guide.

2. What may happen if a family takes a Road to Hana trip?

A．Be caught in a traffic jam.	B．Take a long time to prepare.
C．Finish the trip in two days.	D．Sell their home-made snacks.

3. What do Mount Washington Auto Road and Pacific Coast Highway have in common?

A．People can enjoy butterflies along the way.

B．People can appreciate beautiful sea scenery.

C．They are suitable for parents with little kids.

D．They are perfect choices for trips in summer.