1 . Directions: Complete the following passages by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. approach B. beneficiaries C. recently D. eliminates   E. nutrients F. practices G. irreparable   H. threat   I. undesirable   J. panic K. naturally

The Beneficial Effects of Forest Fires

Forest fires are undoubtedly a threat. In the mid-1900s, all forest burns were considered     1    , and firefighters responded to all of these fires whether or not they were burning close to where humans lived. This     2     to forest fires was both expensive and risky. However, more     3     forest managers began to see that forest fires did have benefits. Foresters saw that forest fires were beneficial for trees and soil.

Previously, people believed that forest fires caused     4     damage to trees, however, now forest managers know that trees are the major     5     of fires. Many     6     occurring forest fires, often caused by lightning strikes, are surface fires that burn the understory — the shrubs and herbs from the forest — without damaging the trees in the overstory. In this way, the fire     7     competition from the smaller trees, allowing the larger trees to flourish. Once the understory has been burned away, the forest is less likely to burn from high-temperature fires that can do real damage to the tall trees.

In the past, it was not obvious how forest fires enriched the soil. Today, foresters understand that forest fires improve soil quality by changing the ‘litter’ — dead leaves and branches on the forest floor — to nutrient-rich soil. Normally, litter decomposes very slowly. However, fire releases the     8     in the litter immediately. This creates an increase in the amount of phosphorus and potassium which are key elements that promote tree growth.

As forest managers have leared more about the long-term effects of forest fires, they have realized that forest fires can have beneficial effects and have changed their forest management     9     to reflect this new opinion. It is now recognized that forest fires, are a natural part of forest ecosystems and are beneficial to the trees and soil. As long as fires are no     10     to homes and communities, foresters now often choose to do nothing to stop the fires.

2 . Directions: Complete the following passage by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. serve       B. shape       C. sharing     D. released   E. spread F. willingly   G. questioned   H. separately   I. practice   J. preparing K.creating

Communal Eating?

In China, communal eating (合餐共食) is considered very important for forming a close relationship. In the memories of most Chinese, one of the happiest moments in their lives was seated around a table with families or friends,     1     dishes and chatting over wine.

In the campaign against the COVID-19 outbreak, this dining tradition has been greatly     2    . Since each diner picks food out of the communal plates on a bite-by-bite basis with their chopsticks, the virus can be transferred from saliva (唾液) to chopsticks to the dish. What’s worse, diners often     3     others with their own utensils, such as chopsticks or spoons, to express friendliness and care. Several cases of coronavirus are thought to have     4     through families when sharing food during the Chinese New Year period.

Communal eating has thus become a target of both governments and restaurants. Posters have been     5     by local governments to encourage people to use serving utensils. Concerned about customers being very careful about returning to restaurants, the catering industry (餐饮业) has     6     joined the campaign. For example, many restaurants, once allowed to reopen, have immediately sprung into action, particularly offering set meals for one single person.

These changes are likely to continue and could be encouraged by local regulations, as eating together     7     can always protect the public health. The measures will     8     the traditional mealtime manners.

The move away from a traditional cultural     9     is ongoing. But as an expert said, “In modern times to eat individually may lose some tradition, but it can also mean more opportunities for     10     something new in Chinese food and eating habits.”

3 . 请选择合适词, 并用其恰当形式填空, 每个词仅用一次。

promise, foreign, approach, occur, communicate, launch, practice, assume, register

1. According to the witness, the car crash ________ two hours ago.
2. The manager announced that the company ________ a new plan to distribute free books to the children in remote areas.
3. Everything was ________ to me when I explored the city for the first time.
4. She made an effort not to ________ her anxiety to the child, but somehow the little boy still sensed it.
5. It is traditional ________ for all the Chinese to head back home and reunite with family during Spring Festival.
6. The newly developed medicine showed great _________ in preventing infection.
7. Many people _________ that they've done their best, but in fact they still have great potential.

4 . Directions: Fill in each blank with a proper word chosen from the box. Each word can be used only once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. supervising        B. serious        C. hit        D. illustrate        E. transformed F. practiced        G. contrasted        H. landscape        I. comparing        J. critical K. starts

If Stan Lee revolutionized the comic book world in the 1960s, which he did, he left as big a stamp on the even wider pop culture     1     of today.

Mr. Lee was a central player in the creation of all properties of Marvel Comics. Indeed, he was for many the father of Marvel,     2     the company^ emergence as an international media giant. A writer, editor, publisher, Hollywood executive and tireless promoter of Marvel, he played a     3     role in what comics fans call the medium’s silver age.

Stan Lee was born on Dec. 28, 1922, in Manhattan, the older of two sons born to Jack Lieber, and Celia Lieber, both immigrants from Romania. When graduated at 17 from high school, he aspired to be a writer of     4     literature. He was set on the path to becoming a different kind of writer. However, after a few false     5     at other jobs, he was hired at Timely Publications and the comics field.

In 1961, Mr. Lee and Mr. Kirby produced the first issue of The Fantastic Four, about a super-powered team with humanizing dimensions, which was a     6    .

Mr. Lee     7     what he called the Marvel method: Instead of handing artists’ scripts to     8    , he summarized stories and let the artists draw them and fill in a plot details as they chose. He then added sound effects and dialogues.

Under Mr. Lee, Marvel     9     the comic book world by filling its characters with the self-doubts, as well an awareness of trends and a sense of humor. In humanizing his heroes, giving them character flaws that     10     with their supernatural strengths,Mr. Lee tried “to make them real flesh-and-blood characters with personality.”