1 . Taylor Hash desired to become a career pilot and she was under training. One day, she had just started building up hours of flight time when a(n)
Taylor was
Therefore, Yates
Despite feeling unsure, Taylor trusted Yates. With palms sweaty and lips
No sooner had Yates extended his arms than Taylor hugged him tightly with tears of
| A．event | B．disaster | C．fantasy | D．idea |
| A．sign | B．slide | C．mission | D．outing |
| A．afraid | B．clear | C．unaware | D．conscious |
| A．process | B．progress | C．show | D．flow |
| A．calm | B．strange | C．experienced | D．warm-hearted |
| A．radioed | B．socialized | C．controlled | D．managed |
| A．panic | B．peace | C．relief | D．delight |
| A．complained | B．claimed | C．realized | D．responded |
| A．changed | B．praised | C．criticized | D．comforted |
| A．wait | B．pause | C．touch | D．circle |
| A．blamed | B．instructed | C．understood | D．appreciated |
| A．aching | B．wiping | C．swinging | D．trembling |
| A．narrowly | B．smoothly | C．basically | D．particularly |
| A．scare | B．regret | C．surprise | D．gratitude |
| A．deal with | B．tear apart | C．take up | D．leave out |
2 . For better or worse, we might be in the Age of the Group Chat. In a recent survey, most people said they felt stressed out by group messages, which can feel like a part-time job.
Connection is wonderful. Grexts, short for group texts, have the feature of imitating (模仿) the casual back-and-forth of a dialogue, and the result can be more dynamic and fun than a two-person thread. Having a chat going also means you have a space to share your updates throughout the day, a reminder that you’re part of something.
Some researchers call this “ambient (周围的) virtual presence”: Even when you’re alone, you’re not alone. One researcher compares this phenomenon to echolocation (回声定位), the process that some animals, such as bats and dolphins, use to locate objects: They produce a continuous sound and use the resulting echo to sense their surroundings. Humans might use technologies such as group chats in a similar way — as a call-and-response, taking in information about their social networks and locating themselves within those webs.
But taking in too many signals can be overwhelming. Professor Bayer argued that group chats can create a “waterfall type of effect”, where messages keep flooding in and adding up. Eventually, you’re underwater. Another researcher suggested that different chat members all bring their own personalities, communication styles, and expectations for group norms. Without a standard etiquette (礼仪), people have varied opinions about what degree of responsiveness is required — which can cause real tension.
Grext anxiety is hard to resolve because it isn’t just about the group-chat or even mobile technology in general; it’s about the tension between being our own person and being responsible to others. Ultimately, most of us do want connection, even if it involves some duties. A general advice is to give up greats that don’t really interest you.
1. What is the feature of Grexts?| A．Being more wonderful than a dialogue. |
| B．Keeping as fun as a two-person thread. |
| C．Sharing your updates throughout the day. |
| D．Imitating the casual back-and-forth of communication. |
| A．By producing a continuous sound. |
| B．By detecting some bats and dolphins. |
| C．By using the resulting echo to sense their surroundings. |
| D．By taking in information about social networks and locating themselves. |
| A．Problems caused by group chats. |
| B．Importance of a standard etiquette. |
| C．Messages keeping flooding in and adding up. |
| D．What degree of responsiveness is required. |
| A．It is a part-time job. |
| B．It is just a way to keep relationship. |
| C．It brings us more fright than pleasure. |
| D．It helps us find true friends. |
1. Where was the Mary Celeste leaving for?
| A．Italy. | B．England. | C．The USA. |
| A．In December 1728. | B．In November 1782. | C．In December 1872. |
| A．It was damaged. |
| B．It was in good condition. |
| C．It was robbed. |
| A．Why the people aboard left it. |
| B．When it started its journey. |
| C．How many people were on it. |
4 . Dulse (掌状红皮藻) grows along northern, rocky coastlines of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. And its colourful, soft leaves hide an amazing taste. “I think it is a food of the future,” says Chris Langdon. He has been studying dulse for more than ten years at Oregon State University in Portland. He has found new ways to grow it faster. It not only grows cheaply and easily, but also is rich in protein (蛋白质). Those qualities allow creative cooks to bring this unlikely treat to our favourite restaurants.
People need to seek out new foods because the world has so many mouths to feed. As of2015, there are more than seven billion people on Earth, and by 2100 that number may double according to the UN. Feeding all of these people means not only improving the way food is grown, but also finding new foods. If nothing changes, within 35 years, the world’s population will be greater than the amount of food produced according to a report prepared by the Global Harvest Initiative.
Global warming is changing food production. Scientists say that rising temperatures will reduce the growth of important crops (作物) like wheat and corn. Developing countries will be hit the hardest. When crops fall, they will become more expensive. And since those foods are also used to feed animals like cows and pigs, meat prices will also rise.
All over the world, researchers are racing against the clock to work out how to best feed more people in the world. And some surprising ideas have begun to come out. Two years ago, scientists made the first burger from meat grown in a lab, rather than taken from an animal. The project cost more than $300,000, but it's a good start. Other researchers are developing crops that can grow well in the heat. Still others are finding ways to make meat animals produce more meat.
1. What can be known about dulse?| A．It will put other plants in danger. | B．It has been served at restaurants. |
| C．It might be harmful to humans. | D．It can be turned into tasty food. |
| A．Positive. | B．Uncaring. | C．Concerned. | D．Doubtful. |
| A．They will be reduced in production. | B．They will become cheap. |
| C．They will grow much more quickly. | D．They will feed more people. |
| A．A guide book. | B．A science magazine. | C．A children's story. | D．A health report. |
5 . A four-year-old dog named Kob became a hero in its neighborhood by discovering a possibly life-threatening gas leak (泄漏) in its owner’s front yard.
This dog’s actions not only
The story began when Kob,
After
Finding gas coming out of the hole, Bell
“If it wasn’t found, the
During the repairs, workers
Throughout the repairs, the workers
| A．matched | B．beautified | C．saved | D．explored |
| A．admitted | B．owned | C．trained | D．cured |
| A．behavior | B．effort | C．appearance | D．responsibility |
| A．disappointed | B．encouraged | C．confident | D．concerned |
| A．fearing | B．avoiding | C．recording | D．experiencing |
| A．bought | B．repaired | C．shared | D．researched |
| A．decorate | B．mark | C．fill | D．examine |
| A．secretly | B．obviously | C．immediately | D．regularly |
| A．oil | B．gas | C．air | D．water |
| A．serious | B．extra | C．special | D．similar |
| A．injury | B．trouble | C．death | D．failure |
| A．looking into | B．turning on | C．fixing up | D．breaking down |
| A．missed | B．changed | C．doubted | D．discovered |
| A．services | B．design | C．equipment | D．places |
| A．praised | B．inspired | C．held | D．protected |
6 . When the PISA worldwide educational comparisons came out late in 2023, most countries fell to wondering how to do better. Spain had lost ground since the last time the tests were done in 2018. But students in Catalonia lost even more. Besides, native Spanish-speakers did worse than Catalan-speakers, which soon led to the blame on language policy.
In the 1980s Catalonia began a transition to teaching all subjects in Catalan, except Spanish. Several years ago the region’s top court ruled that at least 25% of classes must be given in Spanish. The regional government, led by separatists, then passed a law allowing individual school heads to raise or lower the level of teaching in Spanish, according to their need.
A new report for the Association for Bilingual Schools in Catalonia (AEB), which campaigns for more Spanish, said that hardly any schools have changed their published policies. And so they requested the European Parliament to investigate whether pupils’ basic rights had been violated. The week before Christmas a delegation made a fact-finding trip. The Catalan education secretary says they came having already made up their minds that the region’s language policy harms pupils’ performance.
In the Escola San Jaume, a primary school in El Prat de Llobregat, a heavily Spanish-speaking town near Barcelona, all signs are in Catalan. Only about 10% of the pupils are native Catalan-speakers, says the director, Arturo Ramírez. Despite the never-ending discussion across Spain, it is one largely achieved in Catalonia, where over 80% of the population speaks and reads Catalan, and everyone, except some immigrants, speaks Spanish too. Watching the happy students on his playground, Mr Ramírez says “There is no problem here. The problem is outside the building.”
1. What caused the blame on language policy?| A．That the native Catalan-speakers did better than Spanish-speakers in PISA. |
| B．That Spain had lost ground. |
| C．That most countries was wondering how to do better. |
| D．That the PISA worldwide educational comparisons came out. |
| A．At least 25% of classes must be given in Spanish. |
| B．All subjects were taught in Catalan. |
| C．Raise or lower the level in teaching according to need. |
| D．The regional government passed a law. |
| A．100%. | B．50%. | C．75%. | D．1%. |
| A．Indifferent. | B．Neutral. | C．Confident. | D．Unclear. |
7 . The ocean depths contain the metals needed for the widespread use of battery-dependent technologies like electric vehicles, which will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Interested parties see this as a solution to our technological demands and the pressing need for a “green transition”. However, it raises a crucial question: should we mine the deepest stretches of the world’s oceans?
Some scientists and activists warn that seabed mining could cause an irreversible (不可逆的) chain reaction, severely harming the ocean and threatening entire ecosystems on the ocean floor. There are also potential risks to our health, including toxic metals entering the human food chain, and affecting climate change. The most significant direct impact of mining in remote ecosystems is the probable loss of habitat and biodiversity.
Dr Chong Chen is a deep sea biologist at the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC). “There are undoubtedly many undiscovered species with abilities and functions that we cannot even imagine exist,” he says, “and we could lose them without knowing they ever existed.”
The mining process also disturbs seabed sediments (沉积物) and releases them back into the sea, raising additional concerns among scientists. Mining is for metals, whose stability of the construction are unchecked. “Some of those may be broken down and be directly into the water column,” says Jeffrey Drazen, professor of Oceanography with the University of Hawaii at Manoa. “Some of these metals are toxic to life.” says Professor Drazen. At the same time, he acknowledges the core challenge is ensuring whether the benefits of extracting (提取) deep-sea mineral resources outweigh the potential harm to our ecosystem. He notes that it’s a tough choice.
The positive development is that, for the first time, companies, governments, and civil society are actively participating in international discussions to create rules and regulations for the deep-sea mining industry before it begins.
1. What’s the purpose of the last sentence in Paragraph 1?| A．To introduce the topic. | B．To give some evidence. |
| C．To define the phenomenon. | D．To reveal the conception. |
| A．Sediments. | B．Seabed. | C．Metals. | D．Mineral resources. |
| A．The deep-sea mining will not do more harm than good to the people. |
| B．The deep-sea mining has a big impact on ecosystem and human beings. |
| C．A regulatory framework for the deep-sea mining industry has been established. |
| D．Many undiscovered species are bound to extinct according to Dr Chong Chen. |
| A．Skeptical. | B．Objective. | C．Indifferent. | D．Positive. |
8 . Fragile. Oversensitive. Glued to their phones. Is this what comes to mind when we think of the teens of this generation? While there may be a grain of truth to these stereotypical (刻板印象的) characteristics, there might be more to this generation of teens than what is generally regarded.
Never before have the lives of any generation of teens been as strongly affected by mobile technology and social media as the teens of this generation. It follows then that there will be unique mental and emotional problems due to this new age of technology. As compared to their parents or grandparents who were likely less connected and more isolated, these teens are constantly exposed to their social circles and beyond. It is no wonder then that the mental health of this generation’s teens have been badly affected.
Moreover, as many of the older generations complain, the teens today are more individualistic in contrast to the more community-centered attitude of their parents and grandparents. Gone is the closeness among neighbors who are friendly with one another and quick to offer a helping hand when they see another in need. In its place, we have teens who may not even have a clue as to who lives in the unit next to theirs, much less offer a friendly no d or wave when they happen to cross paths with a neighbour.
However, the effects of technology on this generation of teens are not all bad. Actually, the very connectedness that social media brings about has led to an opening of minds and a flowering of dialogue among people of diverse cultures and backgrounds. In comparison, the parents or grandparents of this generation of teens probably did not have the same opportunity to get to know people outside of their social circles at their age, and are thus more likely to have fixed stereotypical opinions of people different from them.
To conclude, the teens of this generation differ in many ways from their past generations, in some ways more positive than others. Every generation is a product of the cultural, political and economic events of their time.
1. What might cause damage to the mental health of the teens now?| A．High pressure from their academic demands. |
| B．Great distance from their family and relatives. |
| C．Too much time spent on social networking online. |
| D．Hug e influence from their parents and grandparents. |
| A．They enjoy the closeness with their neighbors. | B．They are open-minded and positive. |
| C．They are a mentally-healthy generation. | D．They dislike people different from themselves. |
| A．The recognition of the community-centered attitude. | B．The digital divide that is hard to be bridged. |
| C．The sharp difference between generations. | D．The great benefits modern technology has brought. |
| A．Indifferent. | B．Concerned. | C．Approving. | D．Objective. |
9 . Gather together a couple of good friends and take a leisurely stroll through the streets—this is what many youngsters in China enjoy doing when they visit a new city.
To them, Citywalk means “roaming around the city” on foot. Participants can follow a distinctive urban route, soaking up the atmosphere, exploring old buildings, browsing boutique shops, sipping a cup of coffee, or indulging in authentic (正宗的) local snacks.
In China, the Citywalk trend is spreading from first-tier cities like Beijing and Shanghai to second and third-tier cities, encouraging more participants and event organizers to get involved. Some organizers invite folk culture researchers and enthusiasts (爱好者) to act as tour guides. A young entrepreneur (主办者) based in Changsha exploring new possibilities in the tourism sector launched six Citywalk routes in different cities on her social media account recently, with the aim of providing experiences for visitors to “walk in open-air museums”.
Some regions, such as Beijing and Shandong, have included Citywalk in their plans to promote cultural tourism and leisure tours. Shanghai has established Citywalk routes using public bus routes to help day-trippers reach more far-flung districts by public transport and continue on foot.
Even though Citywalk is a relatively niche and new phenomenon, industry insiders say that its potential is huge. Zhang Zhi, a tour guide from Beijing said tourists nowadays are paying more attention to personalized travel services. Many tour guides also try to expand their influence online, sharing their experiences in a bid to attract potential customers.
Citywalk is offering a positive change to urban travelers as they can better choose the experiences that align with their interests and needs. At the same time, Citywalk represents an opportunity for tour guides and travel service providers to offer a more tailored, professional service to meet with ever-changing market demands. (CGTN)
1. What is the main concept of Citywalk as described in the text?| A．Exploring cities through virtual reality. | B．Guided tours centred on history. |
| C．Leisurely urban strolls with diverse exploration. | D．A competitive challenge to visit landmarks. |
| A．To free outdoor museums for visitors. | B．To engage more enthusiastic tour guides. |
| C．To promote urban folk culture research. | D．To offer distinctive city exploration experiences. |
| A．Specialized. | B．Pricey. | C．Adventurous. | D．Demanding. |
| A．Cautious. | B．Indifferent. | C．Neutral. | D．Optimistic. |
注意:1.词数80左右; 2.可适当增加细节,以使行文连贯。
Should mobile phones be allowed at school?
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