1 . Scientists have created the first full-sized digital model of the Titanic. The model will allow scientists to study the Titanic in ways that have never been possible before.
The Titanic sank in the Atlantic Ocean in 1912. It was the largest ship of its time, and was thought to be unable to go down below the surface of water. But four days after it left Southampton, England, the Titanic hit an iceberg (冰山) and sank early the next day, killing some 1,500 people. The sinking is one of the most famous disasters in history.
The Titanic broke into two pieces, and sank to the sea floor, about 3.8 kilometers below the surface of the ocean. The location of the wreck (沉船) wasn’t discovered until 1985. Since then, many research teams have visited the site with undersea robots, whose trips have resulted in lots of pictures and videos of the wreck. But even these only allow scientists to study one area of the wreck at a time.
Now, two companies — an undersea technology company called Magellan and the movie company Atlantic Productions — have created a 3-D model of the Titanic by sending two undersea robots down to the Titanic. The robots recorded both of the main pieces of the Titanic (the front and the back), as well as other hits of the wreck on the sea floor. Over six weeks, they took high-quality videos and over 715,000pictures, based on which scientists created the 3-D model of the Titanic. Using it, users will be able to see the ship from all angles.
The companies say the 3-D model will help scientists, enabling them to study the Titanic in great detail and study how the Titanic broke down, which could help them learn more about thousands of other shipwrecks also lying on the sea floor. And of course, scientists hope the model will help them better understand what happened when the Titanic sank.
1. What does the author say about the Titanic?| A．It was supposedly unsinkable. | B．Its sinking is the best-known disaster. |
| C．Its voyage should last for 4 days. | D．It tops the list of England's ships in size. |
| A．More studies are encouraged on the Titanic. | B．Enthusiasm for the Titanic never fades away. |
| C．The exploration of the Titanic is far from easy. | D．New discoveries have been made about the Titanic. |
| A．The previous findings about the shipwreck. | B．The devotion of the scientists. |
| C．The cooperation between the two companies. | D．The complete picture of the wreck. |
| A．help rebuild other shipwrecks underwater | B．give scientists new insights into the Titanic |
| C．allow the public to fully admire the Titanic | D．reproduce the grandness of the large ship |
2 . A China plane struck a bird after taking off in Chengdu, Sichuan, and had to immediately return to the airport last October, and it wasn’t the first accident between an aircraft and a bird last year.
In fact, more than 20,000 wildlife strikes with aircraft were reported worldwide in 2023 — the vast majority of those animals being birds. The strikes can also include run-ins with bats or creatures on the ground, such as deer or turtles. Expanding wildlife populations, increases in number of aircraft movements, and a trend toward faster and quieter aircraft all have contributed to the increase in wildlife strikes.
Bird strikes are a hazard not just to commercial airplanes, but to all sorts of aircraft. However, historical data shows that damage is reported in a small percentage of incidents. Last year, 95% of the global strikes involved some kind of damage — and only 5% of those caused “substantial” damage.
Some of the most disturbing types of strikes can happen when one or more birds go into a plane’s engine, which might cause a lot of damage to the aircraft. The pilot would need to return to the airport or find a safe place to land.
In last October’s China plane incident, the Beijing-bound flight was able to land normally in Chengdu after taking into account what the airline described as security concerns. Senior captain Chen Jianguo said pilots are trained on how to respond if they have a bird strike in flight. The pilot in this case did exactly what he was trained to do.
“There are lots of things that are being used by airports to try to manage the habitat and birds around the airport,” said Chen Jianguo. Airports need to manage bird habitats to reduce or get rid of trees and plants that shelter birds, or address wetlands that can attract birds. Collecting data on what kinds of birds are involved in strikes is equally important so the risks can better be managed. Many airports also use audible signals to scare birds away, such as the sounds of fireworks.
1. What is a cause of the increase in wildlife strikes?| A．The poorly designed aircraft. |
| B．The growing number of birds. |
| C．The destruction of wildlife habitats. |
| D．The absence of environmental awareness. |
| A．Danger. | B．Delay. | C．Accident. | D．Reminder. |
| A．They are a rare occurrence. |
| B．They usually damage engines. |
| C．Most of them cause slight damage. |
| D．Most of them involve one single bird. |
| A．Ways to study bird behavior. |
| B．Measures to drive birds away. |
| C．Efforts to restore bird habitat. |
| D．Attempts to take care of birds. |
3 . Kellyanne O’Niell had not even completed her first aid course when she was called upon to put her skills into action.
Just halfway through her course, which was offered by Kilcooley Women’s Education Group, Kellyanne was walking home when she found herself faced with an emergency.
A youngster on the street had fallen onto broken glass. Describing the situation, Kellyanne said, “I noticed she fell onto some glass, and when she got up, I spotted a big wound starting at the thumb (大拇指) and finishing at the ring finger. I started applying pressure to the bleeding wound at once and sent someone to bring my firstaid box from my house.”
She continued, “I phoned for an ambulance and gave the lady every last detail that she wanted to know. I got another person to keep an eye out for the ambulance. The young girl was in great pain so she couldn’t stay still. I was scared she was not going to respond to me. I held her hand above the heart so that the bleeding could at least stop a little bit.”
“Once the person came back with the bandage, the ambulance was there. The nurse got me to hold a flashlight for her while she bandaged the wound. Once the girl was all bandaged up, I helped her onto the seat in the ambulance and she was taken to hospital.”
Margaret Pridgen, the British Red Cross trainer who had been teaching Kellyanne, was full of praise for her swift action. She said: “I think this is quite an achievement for this young girl. I have really seen her confidence grow during the training and I’m delighted she had the poise (镇定) to be able to deal with the situation and put her new skills into practice.”
1. We can learn from the text that .| A．Kellyanne is a firstaid worker |
| B．Kellyanne felt proud of herself |
| C．Margaret is the boss of Kellyanne |
| D．Margaret was satisfied with Kellyanne |
| A．calm | B．hesitant |
| C．hopeless | D．frightened |
a. She called for an ambulance.
b. She took steps to help stop the bleeding.
c. She asked someone to fetch her firstaid box.
d. She helped the nurse put the girl into the ambulance.
e. She got someone to keep an eye out for the ambulance.
| A．b－a－c－e－d | B．b－c－a－e－d |
| C．c－a－e－b－d | D．c－a－b－e－d |
4 . Highaltitude rescue team has set new standards in the Himalayas this season, performing the highest altitude rescue ever completed. On May 19th, a rescue team successfully got a mountaineer from near Camp 3 at 23,000 feet on Everest (珠穆朗玛峰). The climber named Gautam nearly reached the top but became extremely exhausted and seriously dehydrated(脱水的).
After a difficult and dangerous rescue, the team was able to successfully save Gautam’s life.
In an interview with Moro, the pilot of the rescue team, he said, “You have to be prepared, technically, physically, and also mentally.” He added, “The aim wasn’t to set a record but to save someone’s life.”
The team has flown rescue tasks using Nepalese helicopters (直升机) for two years but had the idea to create a team with its own helicopter, which has been able to complete this season. The entire operation is privately financed, and according to Moro, “doesn’t cost the Italian or Nepalese taxpayer a single cent.” Moro also flies tasks for the local population for “free or at extremely reduced prices”.
Moro sees potential for the increasing number of highaltitude Himalayan rescue operations. In the future, he hopes to see more than one team, as well as a specialised team of climbers that would be able to perform rescues at altitudes and in weather conditions that are impossible for helicopters.
1. What can we infer about Gautam?| A．He is a lover for mountaineering. |
| B．He lost his life on Himalayas. |
| C．He ever reached the mountain top once. |
| D．He is a leader of a rescue team. |
| A．He can operate the helicopter technically. |
| B．He is generous and helpful to people. |
| C．He makes good preparations for mountaineering. |
| D．He is potential and wealthy. |
| A．Loved by many people. | B．Managed in a new way. |
| C．Supported with money. | D．Discovered by chance. |
| A．The Future of Highaltitude Rescue Team |
| B．The Successful Flying Task on Himalayas |
| C．An Interview with an Italian Famous Rescue Team Leader |
| D．A Daring Highaltitude Rescue on Everest Sets a Record |
5 . After an evening of overtime work with her colleagues at the office, Jill Bien, 48, boarded a bus bound for Chicago, where she lived. About 35 miles into the 90-mile trip, Jill felt the bus drive away onto the right shoulder(路肩)of 1-94．The bus scraped(擦挂)a concrete barrier，and then turned back into traffic.
“Stop the bus!” Jill yelled to the driver from her seat just behind him. But then she saw his seat was empty. The driver, James Rogers, 68, lay unconscious in the bus’s step. “Call 911!”Jill screamed, and with the bus rushing in and out of traffic at about 60 mph in an uncontrollable way, she leaped into the driver’s seat and grabbed the wheel.
“My life flashed before my eyes,” Jill says now. “Everyone on the bus was bouncing around; they were lying in the aisle (过道).I thought, I don’t want anybody to get hurt.” Jill carefully turned the bus onto the shoulder, bringing it to a stop.
“Thank God she got that bus over to the side“ says Marge Borkowski, who was a passenger that night. “She’s my hero.” Emergency personnel arrived a few minutes later and took11 of the bus’s 34 passengers to the hospital, where doctors treated them for minor injuries. When Jill returned home after the accident, she burst out crying, she says. “I kept visualizing(眼前浮现)it.”
Despite anxiety and injuries, Jill boarded a bus back to the office two days later. “I didn’t want my fear to build up,” she said. Kenosha County policeman Dan Ruth, who was at the scene of the accident, told reporters he hadn’t witnessed an act more heroic than Jill’s in his 18 years on the job. “It could have been much, much worse,” he says.
1. Where was Jill Bien going on the bus after overtime work?| A．To the airport. |
| B．To her home in Chicago. |
| C．To the police station. |
| D．To the hospital in Las Vegas. |
| A．Her own life. |
| B．The bus’s problem. |
| C．The passengers’ safety. |
| D．The driver’s condition. |
| A．She still felt frightened with worry. |
| B．She enjoyed the thrilling experience. |
| C．She was proud of what she had done. |
| D．She was relieved to get minor injuries. |
| A．overreacting to the accident |
| B．lucky to have survived the accident |
| C．a model of courage and selflessness |
| D．a troublemaker and causes the accident |
6 . Schools across the US East Coast canceled outdoor activities, commercial airline traffic was slowed and millions of Americans were urged to stay indoors on Wednesday as smoke from Canadian wildfires drifted south, blanketing cities in thick and yellow smoke.
“It’s critical that Americans experiencing dangerous air pollution, especially those with health conditions, listen to local authorities to protect themselves and their families,” US President Joe Biden said.
New York’s world-famous skyline, usually visible for miles, disappeared because of the smoke, which some residents said made them feel unwell.
“It makes breathing difficult,” Mohammed Abass said as he walked down Broadway in Manhattan. “I’ve been scheduled for a road test for driving, for my driving license today, and it was canceled.”
“It looks like Mars out there,” said Fox Forecast Center meteorologist Brian Mastro just before 2 p.m.
New York Goveror Kathy Hochul called the situation an “emergency crisis,” noting that the air pollution index for parts of her state were eight times above normal.
In Bethesda, Maryland, a high school moved its graduation ceremony indoors, while a Brooklyn, New York, elementary school deferred its “Spring Fling” dance party. A school in Montelair, New Jersey, called off a fifth-grade trip to an amusement park.
The smoke was wafting (飘荡) over the US northern border from Canada, where hundreds of forest fires have burnt 9. 4 million acres and forced 120,000 people from their homes in an unusually early and intense start to Canada’s wildfire season.
Tyrone Sylvester, 66, playing chess outside in Manhattan’s Union Square us he has on most days for 30 years, but wearing a mask, said he had never seen the city’s air quality so bad. “When the sun looks like that,” he said, pointing at the smoky sky, “we know something’s wrong. This is what global warming looks like.”
Poor air quality is likely to continue into the weekend, with a developing storm system expected to shift the smoke westward across the Great Lakes and deeper south through the Ohio Valley and into the mid-Atlantic region, AccuWeather said.
1. What do we know about Mohammed Abass?| A．He took a test for driving. | B．He had no driving license. |
| C．He had some health conditions. | D．He stayed indoors as expected. |
| A．Put off. | B．Took over. | C．Came up with. | D．Did away with. |
| A．Canada’s poor management. | B．The areas affected by wildfires. |
| C．The cause of America’s smoke. | D．The consequences of air pollution. |
| A．New York City smoke situation is not uncomfortable. |
| B．A strong wind will probably relieve the poor air quality. |
| C．Citizens have found new ways to fight climate changes. |
| D．The city’s air pollution doesn’t relate to global warming. |
7 . The dog Pooch Chi Chi managed to open the door and let a fire crew in after his owner collapsed on the kitchen floor.
Responders were searching for another entrance when they heard a “click” as the dog managed to unlock the door to let them in. They found the man, named only as Mr Green, collapsed on the floor in the kitchen as the fire took hold on the hob. Firefighters then swiftly put out the fire and carried out first aid until paramedics (急救医士) arrived.
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said “a potential disaster” was avoided with help from the dog. They said they were called to the scene after a smoke detector was activated and a Careline alarm was sounded.
Mr Green initially answered the call but operator at Careline lost communication. Within six minutes, the crew was on scene and investigating. They could hear the alarm but were unable to establish contact with the man inside. With curtains drawn, the crew could not see inside but could hear a dog barking. They tried the front door, but it wouldn’t open. As the crew looked for another entrance, they heard a “click” and the front door opened. The crew went inside to find a man collapsed on the floor in the kitchen when a fire was beginning to take hold on the cooker. They contacted the ambulance service, put out the fire and allowed fresh air in. Firefighters then carried out first aid and established the man until paramedics arrived. It wasn’t until later in the incident that they discovered that Chi Chi had managed to open the front door and let the crew inside.
Ian Bolton, Crew Manager for Home and Partnerships at Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service added: “Having monitored diction in people’s homes means the fire service are only minutes away from providing lifesaving assistance. This is a real success story and highlights the importance of Careline and the fire service. Careline’s system, combined with the speed of our crews getting to the incident, saved Mr Green’s life. The cherry on the cake, however, was Chi Chi letting the crews in before they had to force entry to the property.”
1. How did the firefighters get into the kitchen?| A．They broke the door. | B．They unlocked the door. |
| C．The dog opened the door. | D．They found another entrance. |
| A．The operator lost his senses. | B．The system broke down accidentally. |
| C．The man fell down and couldn’t move. | D．The crew couldn’t see inside. |
| A．The dog unlocking the door. |
| B．The use of the smoke detector. |
| C．The swift reaction of Mr. Green. |
| D．The joint work of Careline and the fire service. |
| A．Discouraging. | B．Competent. |
| C．Considerate. | D．Energetic. |
8 . A new collection of photos brings an unsuccessful Antarctic voyage back to life.
Frank Hurley’s pictures would be outstanding — undoubtedly first-rate photo-journalism — if they had been made last week. In fact, they were shot from 1914 through 1916, most of them after a disastrous shipwreck (海难), by a cameraman who had no reasonable expectation of survival. Many of the images were stored in an ice chest, under freezing water, in the damaged wooden ship.
The ship was the Endurance, a small, tight, Norwegian-built three-master that was intended to take Sir Ernest Shackleton and a small crew of seamen and scientists, 27 men in all, to the southernmost shore of Antarctica’s Weddell Sea. From that point Shackleton wanted to force a passage by dog sled (雪橇) across the continent. The journey was intended to achieve more than what Captain Robert Falcon Scott had done. Captain Scott had reached the South Pole early in 1912 but had died with his four companions on the march back.
As writer Caroline Alexander makes clear in her forceful and well-researched story The Endurance, adventuring was even then a thoroughly commercial effort. Scott’s last journey, completed as he lay in a tent dying of cold and hunger, caught the world’s imagination, and a film made in his honor drew crowds. Shackleton, a onetime British merchant-navy officer who had got to within 100 miles of the South Pole in 1908, started a business before his 1914 voyage to make money from movie and still photography. Frank Hurley, a confident and gifted Australian photographer who knew the Antarctic, was hired to make the images, most of which have never before been published.
1. Who reached the South Pole first according to the text?| A．Frank Hurley. |
| B．Ernest Shackleton. |
| C．Robert Falcon Scott. |
| D．Caroline Alexander. |
| A．Artistic creation. | B．Scientific research. |
| C．Money making. | D．Treasure hunting. |
| A．They were made last week. |
| B．They showed undersea scenery. |
| C．They were found by a cameraman. |
| D．They recorded a disastrous adventure. |
9 . Peter, 60, loved his job as a bus driver. He had been one almost all his life, loving the little children who rode his bus daily. It made him feel much younger. His record was clean, without one accident, which made him a trustworthy driver.
However, Mr. Clark, Peter’s boss, was worried and thought that it was time for him to retire (退休). “You don’t have a choice here, Peter.” he said seriously. “We don’t want to invite any risk to the children.”
“But I have a perfect record,” reasoned Peter. “You know, for an elderly man like me, my job is the only thing that keeps me alive. I want to keep my job.”
“Would you take responsibility if something bad happened to those children?” Mr. Clark said.
Peter thought it over, and very reluctantly, he gave in to Mr. Clark’s request. Peter decided to retire a week later.
The day before his last day, Peter was dropping of the kids at his first stop when he looked out of the window and saw a lady who had passed out. He asked the kids not to leave the bus and got down to help the woman.
Just when he finished, he heard cries behind him. The children were looking out of the window and shouting. “Fire! Fire! Help!” “How could that have happened?” Peter was shaking in fear. With shaking hands, Peter dialed 911 and rushed to help the children. Covering himself with his jacket, Peter rushed into the burning car and took the children out one by one. Thankfully, the firefighters arrived soon and helped Peter, saving all students.
The next day, Peter found the whole school standing in front of his home. When Peter got close to them, Mr. Clark started clapping and everyone joined him. “You are a hero, Peter! You saved the lives of those young children.” he said. “You are the best driver. We hope you can keep the job!”
1. What made Mr. Clark worried?| A．He couldn’t talk Peter into retiring. |
| B．Taking school bus was unsafe for children. |
| C．Peter was too old to be a school bus driver. |
| D．The school bus driver must be changed actually. |
| A．Angrily. | B．Unwillingly. | C．Doubtfully. | D．Cheerfully. |
| A．They were caught in the burning bus. |
| B．They couldn’t find Peter on the bus. |
| C．They were frightened by the woman. |
| D．They didn’t want a new school bus driver. |
| A．Putting Out the Fire | B．A Dangerous Bus Journey |
| C．Working After Retirement | D．An Old Hero Driver |
10 . Do you know what to do when there is an emergency? By calling the police, you can protect yourself and those around you.
Call the police in all of the following emergencies:
◆ A crime, such as a theft, especially if it is still in progress.
◆ A car accident, especially if someone is injured.
◆ Domestic violence, such as a child being mistreated.
◆ Anything else that seems like an emergency.
You may also call the police when you see something suspicious(可疑的)in your neighborhood:
◆ Someone you don’t know is frequently walking around in your neighborhood. This could be a sign that the person is trying to break into a house.
◆ Someone is trying to open the doors of a car. This could be a sign that the person is trying to steal the car.
When you see something suspicious, do not suppose someone else has already called the police. People often hesitate to call the police for fear of danger. However, the police want to help prevent crime.
What should you do when you call the police?
◆ Dial 911 (the U.S. emergency number; the number varies from one country to another—in China, you dial 110 to call the police). Stay calm when calling and give your name, address and phone number. Then, tell the person why you are calling (What happened? Where did it happen? When did it happen? Is it still in progress?). Follow any instructions you are given. For example, the dispatcher (调度员) might say, “Stay on the line,” or “Leave the building.”
◆ If you dial the emergency number by mistake.do not hang up. Doing so could make the dispatcher think an emergency really exists. Instead，just tell the person that you called by mistake.
Most police departments have a communication center. The communication center staff reach police officers by radio. Police officers carry headsets. like earphones, to stay in touch with the communication center.
1. When calling the police, you DON’T need to give ______ to the dispatcher.| A．your name | B．your phone number |
| C．your ID card number | D．some details of the emergency |
| A．Power off your smartphone. | B．Hang up your phone at once. |
| C．Tell the dispatcher you called by mistake. | D．Go to a police station to explain your mistake. |
| A．Monitor police officers. | B．Answer emergency calls. |
| C．Tell people what to do in an emergency. | D．Reach police officers when there is an emergency. |
| A．To tell people when and how to call the police. |
| B．To introduce a police officer’s general duties. |
| C．To share the author’s experience of calling the police. |
| D．To thank the police for trying to prevent crimes. |
