4 . There are two distinctive types of electric buses making their way along Nanjing Xi Lu, one of Shanghai’s busiest roads. The first is a fleet of blue trolleybuses that serve bus route number 20, a line set up by a British-run transport company in 1928. They use poles to receive electricity from wires overhead and have kept the route running in this way for nearly a century. But while the historic electric buses are a reminder of Europe’s past technological innovation, the new buses traveling alongside them are symbols of China’s contemporary net-zero ambition. These modern electric buses powered by lithium batteries (锂电池) , were introduced in Shanghai in 2014. They offer a smoother ride, especially during starts and stops. Widely used across China, these buses are key to the country’s EV transition and are influencing the global shift towards green transportation.

The most recent data available shows that China in 2018 was still the second largest source of carbon dioxide emissions in the global transport sector, responsible for 11%, and behind only the United States, which accounted for 21%. After around two decades of government support, China now boasts the world’s largest market for e-buses, making up more than 95% of global stock. At the end of 2022, China’s Ministry of Transport announced that more than three-quarters (77% or 542, 600) of all urban buses in the country were new energy vehicles. The speed of this transition was remarkable.

So far, however, the Chinese cities with the most successful e-bus introduction — such as Shenzhen, Beijing and Shanghai — all have moderate weather and are relatively flat. To take its e-bus campaign to the next level, China faces challenges. For one thing, it is difficult to bring fleets to cities such as Hong Kong, which — like London — have double-deckers. These two-storeyed vehicles are “very hard” to electrify, because they are heavier, use more energy, and so need bigger batteries, reducing the number of passengers they can carry. Cold weather is a problem, too, as it can make a battery’s charging time longer and its range shorter. The reason China has not achieved 100% electrification for its buses is its northern regions, which have cold winters, says Xue Lulu, a transportation expert at the World Resources Institute China.

1. How does the author describe the two types of electric buses in the first paragraph?

A．By contrasting their historical significance and technological advancements.

B．By highlighting their roles in protecting the environment and lasting use.

C．By focusing merely on their technical details and performance.

D．By explaining their operational challenges and requirements.

2. What do the numbers in paragraph 2 mainly show?

A．The global impact of carbon dioxide emissions.

B．The progress of China in reducing CO2 emissions.

C．The different emission levels of China and the USA.

D．The need for more government support in e-bus market.

3. What factor contributes to the slow adoption of electric buses in China’s northern regions?

A．Poor winter weather conditions.	B．Lack of transportation experts.
C．Short charging time of the battery.	D．Heavier and bigger bus bodies.

4. Which column is the text most probably taken from?

A．Worklife.

B．Culture.

C．Travel.

D．Earth.

6 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What is not mentioned as a possible mode of transportation in the future?

A．Super-fast trains.

B．Virtual reality glasses.

C．Flying cars.

2. According to the speech, what could super-fast trains do?

A．Connect cities in the blink of an eye.

B．Dive deep into the ocean.

C．Make studying more interesting.

3. How does the speaker describe the future of travel?

A．Boring and slow.

B．A thrilling adventure with new ways to explore.

C．Limited to buses and cars.

4. What does the speaker encourage the audience to do in the future?

A．Stay at home.

B．Fasten seatbelts.

C．Try adventures.

5. What is the main theme of the speech?

A．The future of education.

B．Future travel adventures.

C．Future technology.

9 . The 2023 China-Germany Automobile Conference was held in Jilin, Henan, and Zhejiang recently. At the conference, people discussed plans for new energy vehicles (NEVs) and collaboration (合作) between Germany and China.

China has established a competitive edge in NEVs. In 2022, China’s market share of NEVs accounted for more than 65 percent of the global total, maintaining its position as the world’s leading NEV market for eight years, China Daily reported.

Reflecting on the journey of leading Chinese electric car manufacturer (制造商) BYD, Chairman Wang Chuanfu recalled about 2003 when BYD entered into the NEV industry amid doubts and mockery, as few people back then believed in the future of NEVs. Surprisingly, within a few years, China’s NEV exports increased greatly. In 2022, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers reported an impressive total export volume of 679,000 NEVs.

In the European market, Chinese brands, such as BYD and Hongqi, have entered the top 50 best-selling motor companies across Europe, The Times reported. Shu Youxing, general manager of BYD International Cooperation Division and the European Automobile Sales Division, said that the company’s pure electric buses have now hit the roads of more than 100 major European cities such as Amsterdam, London, and Copenhagen, helping Europeans cut carbon emissions by over 200,000 tons.

NEVs made in China are also popular in Mexico. One local, Israel Aguilar, is deeply impressed. After nearly a year of trying out a Chinese NEV, Aguilar said he may never go back to driving his traditional petrol car, stating that the NEV offers better comfort.

“Technology is truly very important in these times, especially for a vehicle. And it has been truly extraordinary for me to handle these technologies that come from China,” Aguilar told Xinhua.

The thriving global expansion of Chinese NEVs is primarily thanks to the efforts of companies to improve their capability for innovation. One major example of this is China’s drive to become the global leader in making EV batteries, fueled by an advantage in the supply chain and raw materials such as lithium (锂) and cobalt (钴).

1. What can we learn about BYD?

A．BYD always maintains the world’s leading position.

B．BYD lost hope due to doubts and mockery.

C．BYD suffered hardship in its development.

D．BYD exports 679,000 NEVs each year.

2. What can we infer from the fourth paragraph?

A．Only BYD and Hongqi have entered the European market.

B．Chinese NEVs can help protect the environment.

C．Pure electric buses have caused many road accidents.

D．Importing Chinese NEVs is a main task for The Times.

3. What is Aguilar’s attitude to the technology from China?

A．Dismissive.

B．Satisfied.

C．Unclear.

D．Doubtful.

4. What is the key factor for the global expansion of Chinese NEVs?

A．The ability of creation.	B．Cooperation with partners.
C．The big overseas markets.	D．Making EV batteries.

10 . 听下面一段长对话，回答下列各题。
1. How long has the man lived in this area?

A．For 5 years.

B．For 10 years.

C．For 15 years.

2. How far is the gas station from the place where the two speakers are?

A．About half a mile.

B．About two miles.

C．About two and a half miles.

3. What can be known about the gas station?

A．It is very large.

B．It has a red roof.

C．It is very small.