Shu embroidery (蜀绣) enjoys a long history in China. As early as the Han Dynasty, Shu embroidery was already famous, enjoying a high reputation as “
Shu embroidery
2 . When you think of a new place for growing food, you might think of Mars. But one Italian family believes one possible place is right here on the Earth: the ocean.
Nemo’s Garden is the world’s first underwater system of land plants. Located off the coast of Noli, Italy, it consists of several greenhouses called biospheres, each of which is attached to the seafloor. “The aim of it is to change agriculture, and add a possibility for growing produce in the ocean,” says co-founder Luca Gamberini.
His father Sergio Gamberini came up with the idea by combining his two passions — diving and gardening. In 2012, the project began with planting basil (罗勒) underwater. Now Nemo’s Garden is growing strong.
“Our limited number of resources can not promise sustainable (可持续的) development,” Luca says, “and we believe that underwater gives us some advantages over traditional agriculture.”
Floating six to ten meters underwater, plants in Nemo’s Garden are separated from any outside pathogens (病原体). Also, the temperature of the ocean water is an ideal environment for plant life. Besides, Nemo’s Garden uses a technique that uses water-based nutrients (养分) instead of soil. “Also, there is little interaction with the underwater environment and related ecosystems, which means no harm is caused to sea creatures,” adds Luca.
Everything is monitored on land through cameras and sensors, and settings can be adjusted. When it’s time to harvest, a diver will cut the vegetation, place it in bags and float them to the surface.
The team at Nemo’s Garden has plans for even bigger biospheres in the future, as well as other locations. Luca believes the future of Nemo’s Garden will be mostly along the coastlines where communities could benefit from the added space it offers.
1. What does the underlined word “it” in paragraph 2 refer to?| A．The greenhouse. | B．The seafloor. | C．Underwater system. | D．Nemo’s Garden. |
| A．To combine his two hobbies. | B．To feed the growing population. |
| C．To seek sustainable farming. | D．To develop healthy ways of life. |
| A．The advantages of Nemo’s Garden. | B．The construction of Nemo’s Garden. |
| C．The structure of Nemo’s Garden. | D．The techniques used in Nemo’s Garden. |
| A．A research paper. | B．A science magazine. | C．A journal entry. | D．A science fiction. |
As the afternoon sun bathed the local beach with its warm, golden rays, four-year-old William sat on the beach with a mix of expectation and confusion. His dad, Steven, sat by his side. They were waiting for William’s friends to arrive and celebrate his long-awaited birthday party. William’s wide eyes, filled with hope and happiness, stared at the shoreline, looking for familiar faces.
He kept asking his dad where everyone was, and Steven just told him “they’re coming soon, ”trying to ease his son’s growing impatience. But the longer they waited, the more hopeless William became. He was extremely disappointed when the two invited families called and said they couldn’t make it to the celebration because of unexpected situations.
Steven watched his son, who had been eagerly expecting his special day for what seemed like ages. This year, William had been more aware than ever of his upcoming birthday, asking throughout the month when his birthday was, eagerly expecting a good time.
Feeling a sense of guilt for his son’s disappointment, Steven decided to turn to social media for help. He posted a lovely picture of him and William on the beach. Their faces were filled with a mix of hope and disappointment. The sincere words with the picture read, “William would love some friends to play with on the beach. To celebrate his fourth birthday, he has Hot Wheels, sand toys, dinosaurs, and we have some snacks and drinks. Any and all welcome. ”
William’s wish for companionship produced a strong response from the local people. They flooded the post with messages of support, birthday wishes, and offers to join the celebration. They were determined to make William’s day special.
“Going there. See you soon, ”one warm-hearted local commented on the post, promising to bring her family along. The message aroused the same feeling from many others, who were quick to follow suit.
注意：1.续写词数应为150左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Soon, the beach was filled with scenes of joy.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________After hours of laughter and games, the sun began to set.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________4 . In a new study, the researchers examined trends in subjective well-being (幸福) over the course of a lifespan based on 443 samples from a total of 460,902 participants. “We focused on changes in three central components of subjective well-being: life satisfaction, positive emotional states and negative emotional states,” explains Professor Susanne Bücker.
The findings show that life satisfaction decreased between the ages of 9 and 16, then increased slightly until the age of 70, and then decreased once again until the age of 96. Positive emotional states showed a general decline from age 9 to age 94, while negative emotional states fluctuated (波动) slightly between ages 9 and 22, then declined until age 60 and then increased once again. The authors identified greater median changes in positive and negative emotional states than in life satisfaction.
“Overall, the study indicated a positive trend over a wide period of life, if we look at life satisfaction and negative emotional states,” Susanne Bücker concludes. The researchers attribute (把……归因于) the slight decline in life satisfaction between the ages of 9 and 16 to, for example, changes to the body and to the social life that take place during puberty. Satisfaction rose again from young adulthood onwards. Positive feelings tended to decrease from childhood to late adulthood. In very late adulthood, all components of subjective well-being tended to worsen rather than improve. “This could be related to the fact that in very old people, physical performance decreases, health often worsens, and social contacts reduce; not least because their peers pass away,” calculates the researcher.
The study highlights the need to consider and promote subjective well-being with its various components across the life, as the authors of the study conclude. Their findings could provide significant guidance for the development of intervention programmes, especially those aimed at maintaining or improving subjective well-being late in life.
1. What is exactly the subject of the study?| A．Life satisfaction of the elderly. | B．Trends in lifelong subjective well-being. |
| C．Ways to control negative emotional states. | D．Factors affecting positive emotional states. |
| A．During childhood. | B．In late adulthood. | C．At middle age. | D．In young adulthood. |
| A．Teaching to improve physical performance. |
| B．Giving suggestions on the lifetime increase. |
| C．Providing a theoretical basis for healthy growth. |
| D．Guiding to improve the well-being of the elderly. |
| A．When does happiness matter most to us? |
| B．What does subjective well-being consist of? |
| C．Why will we be more positive as we get older? |
| D．How does subjective well-being develop over the lifetime? |
1. What is Michael’s problem?
| A．He’s not sure about his future. |
| B．He has no interest in studying. |
| C．He isn’t allowed to attend a film school until he’s eighteen. |
| A．He plays football. | B．He goes to acting classes. | C．He watches English plays. |
| A．Talking with his friends. |
| B．Performing in the school play. |
| C．Staying at school until he’s eighteen. |
6 . A proposal released in China recently would require all mobile devices, apps and app stores to have a built-in “minor mode” that would restrict daily screen time to two hours a day, depending on the age group. The restrictions, if approved, would mark an expansion of existing measures rolled out in recent years as China aims to limit screen time among kids and reduce their exposure to undesirable information.
Under the draft rules open for public discussion, children and teens using devices in minor mode would automatically see online applications close when respective time limits are up. They would also be offered age-based content.
No one under 18 would be able to access their screens between 10 p. m. and 6 a. m. while using the mode. Children under eight would be able to use their phones for only 40 minutes a day, while those between 8 and 16 would get an hour of screen time. Teenagers over 16 and under 18 would be allowed two hours. All age groups would receive a reminder to rest after using their device for more than 30 minutes. Parents would be able to override time restrictions, and certain educational and emergency services would not be subject to the time limits.
Parents said the proposal can help protect children’s vision as many young kids cannot stop themselves while watching something they like. On the other hand, it’s easier for parents to control their kids’ screen time. Most importantly, the content under the minor mode is more positive and healthier.
The effectiveness of the new proposed measures may depend on parents’ example, according to a father of two in southeastern China’s Zhuhai city, who said children sometimes use their parents’ accounts to play online. “Even we adults need it!” he joked.
1. What is the main purpose of the “minor mode”?| A．To regulate the legality and standard of apps. |
| B．To increase the variety of mobile applications. |
| C．To restrict under-age kids’ screen time and content. |
| D．To improve the convenience of mobile equipment. |
| A．Children under 8 use phones for an hour daily. |
| B．People under 18 can access their screens at 2 a. m. |
| C．10-year-old students get 90 minutes of screen time a day. |
| D．17-year-old teenagers play on phones for 2 hours every day. |
| A．Critical. | B．Doubtful. | C．Supportive. | D．Uncaring. |
| A．Parents’ leading by example. | B．Flexible control of time limits. |
| C．Children’s ability of self-discipline. | D．Diverse outdoor activities after school. |
1. Why does the man give up the tickets in the lower part?
| A．The tickets have been sold out. |
| B．He prefers the seats in the center. |
| C．There are no four seats together. |
| A．He will collect them himself. |
| B．The woman will mail them to him. |
| C．He will ask his friends to pick them up. |
| A．By 6:00. | B．By 7:00. | C．By 8:00. |
1. Why did the man miss the meeting this morning?
| A．He went to see a doctor. | B．He had to pick up Ms. Tan. | C．He had an appointment with Joan. |
| A．Mr. Lee. | B．Lisa. | C．Joan. |
| A．In his office. | B．At the airport. | C．In the meeting room. |
9 . The Biggest National Parks on Continents
North America
Covering nearly half of the world’s largest island, Northeast Greenland National Park is currently the globe’s single largest national park and biggest land-based protected area. It covers 972,000 square kilometers. The vast Greenland Ice Sheet makes up most of the park, but there’s also a long coastline that is home to musk oxen, polar bears and many other Arctic creatures.
Oceania
Covering 36,000 square kilometers, the Munga-Thirri-Simpson Desert National Park was set up in2021 to protect the beautiful desert landscapes of far northern South Australia. It includes one of the world’s largest dune (沙丘) fields. As well as more than 150 bird species, the park provides a habitat for many animals.
Asia
Founded in 2021, China’s Sanjiangyuan National Park is now the largest in Asia, covering 123,100square kilometers of snow-covered Qinghai-Tibet Plateau that provides the headwaters of the Yangtze, Yellow and Lantsang rivers. Rough and remote, the highlands harbor a range of rare, endangered animal species. The park also includes cultural sites.
Africa
Some of the world’s highest and biggest sand dunes are the centerpiece of western Namibia’s Namib-Naukluft National Park, Africa’s largest at 49,768 square kilometers. Easy to explore with your own vehicle, the main park road leads to the vibrant Sossusvlei dunes and photogenic Dead Vlei with its ghostly forest. Hot-air balloon flights offer a bird’s-eye view of the whole park. It is also known for plants and animals that have adapted to one of the Earth’s driest places.
1. On which con tinent is the world’s largest national park located?| A．Asia. | B．Africa. | C．North America. | D．Oceania. |
| A．The large ice sheet. | B．Highest sand dunes. |
| C．Rare Arctic creatures. | D．Cultural scenic spots. |
| A．By driving a car. | B．By flying on a plane. |
| C．By taking a boat. | D．By riding a hot-air balloon. |
1. How long will the cycling holiday last?
| A．Fourteen days. | B．Ten days. | C．Eight days. |
| A．Breakfast. | B．Lunch. | C．Supper. |
| A．Take her own bike. | B．Cycle in the dark. | C．Visit a theater. |
