1 . BRICS (金砖国家) grouping major emerging (新兴的) economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa is to more than double its members with the admission of six more countries This historic expansion, which was announce data press conference during the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, involves Argentina, Egyptl, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and their membership will take effect from Jan 1.2024.

Observers said that the expansion bears witness to BRICS’ charm and vitality, helps improve the voices of the Global South, and mirrors the resolve of the group and the wider developing world to safeguard global equity (公平) and justice and promote peace and development.

Seventeen years since its establishment, BRICS has witnessed fruitful cooperation results in economic, political and cultural areas, and continues to prosper in a spirit of openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation. The BRICS countries have written a wonderful story of the joint development of countries with different systems, cultures and regions, which has become a flagship of South-South cooperation.

Experts believe the expansion will represent a historic and new starting point for BRICS cooperation.

Mohammad Jamshidi, the Iranian president’s deputy chief of staff for political affairs, posted his celebrations to Iran’s accession to BRICS, calling it a “historic move”.

BRICS’ expansion in a well-studied manner “would increase its strength and effectiveness and improve its regional and international role, in a way that contributes.to achieving greater and faster development rates,” said Abdel-Sattar Eshrah, secretary-general of the Cairo-based Egyptian-Chinese Business Council. “It would create many opportunities for joint cooperation among BRICS members in various fields,” the Egyptian business leader said, adding that BRICS’ expansion is to increase the abilities of its members to address economic, financial and political crises and challenges.

Filipe Porto, a researcher at the Federal University of ABC and a member of the Brazilian Foreign Policy Observatory, said although the five founding member states have very different national conditions, the spirit of win-win cooperation has kept the BRICS mechanism (机制) dynamic and drawn interest from more countries.

The rise of emerging economies, represented by BRICS nations, is fundamentally changing the global landscape. With the historic expansion, the BRICS inechanism will have a greater voice in driving global governance reforms toward a more just an id equitable direction, filling the world with greater certainty and stability, said experts.

1. Which of the following can replace the underlined word “resolve” in paragraph 2?

A．Limitation.

B．Freedom.

C．Determination.

D．Appointment.

2. What does the third paragraph chiefly tell us?

A．The benefits BRICKS has brought.

B．The management of BRICKS.

C．The regulations of BRICKS.

D．The founding of BRICKS.

3. What makes the BRICS mechanism dynamic and appeal to more countries?

A．Exhibiting strong leadership skills,

B．Creating win-win opportunities,

C．Driving global governance reforms.

D．Making the world have greater stability.

4. Which can serve as the best title for the news report?

A．Why BRICS is recovering

B．History of BRICKS’ development

C．BRICS grouping major emerging economies

D．BRICS shines brighter after historic expansion

2 . The concept of universal basic income (UBI) has gained significant attention in recent years as societies grapple with the potential impacts of automation and technological advancements on the job market. UBI is a proposed economic policy in which all citizens or residents of a country receive a regular, unconditional cash payment from the government.

Proponents of UBI argue that it could address issues such as poverty, income inequality, and job displacement caused by automation. By providing a basic income floor, individuals would have financial stability to cover their essential needs, even if traditional employment opportunities diminish. This, in turn, could foster entrepreneurship, creativity, and pursuit of education.

Critics, however, raise several concerns about the feasibility and consequences of UBI. One major concern is the potential cost of implementing such a program. Providing a universal basic income to an entire population would require significant financial resources, which could strain government budgets and lead to increased taxation. Additionally, some worry that UBI might discourage people from actively seeking employment or pursuing career advancement, as they may opt for a guaranteed income without the need for work.

Furthermore, UBI may not fully address the complexities of poverty and inequality. It could overlook the structural factors that contribute to these issues, such as lack of access to quality education and healthcare. Critics argue that a more effective approach would involve targeted social programs that address the root causes of poverty and offer assistance where it is most needed.

As the debate around UBI continues, policymakers and economists grapple with questions about its implementation, impact on work incentives, and potential to reshape social and economic dynamics.

1. What is universal basic income (UBI)?

A．A cash payment for citizens during technological advancements.

B．An unconditional cash payment for government employees.

C．A policy where all citizens receive regular cash from the government.

D．Financial resources for entrepreneurs and creative individuals.

2. According to proponents, how might UBI affect individuals’ pursuit of education?

A．It could discourage education due to guaranteed income.

B．It could increase access to quality education.

C．It could lead to more job opportunities

D．It could support traditional employment opportunities.

3. What is a significant concern raised by critics of UBI?

A．Lack of access to quality education and healthcare.

B．The potential cost and funding of the program.

C．UBI’s impact on social and economic dynamics.

D．UBI’s focus on entrepreneurship over traditional jobs.

4. What is suggested as an alternative approach to addressing poverty and inequality?

A．Providing unconditional cash payments to all citizens.

B．Focusing solely on technological advancements.

C．Implementing targeted social programs addressing root causes.

D．Relying on traditional employment opportunities.

4 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Provinces in China are putting efforts into the construction of digital villages. Through e-commerce, the government has taken measures     1     (increase) sales of local agricultural products. The online sales channels have been     2     (effective) expanded through brand recommendations, online and offline agricultural festival     3     (activity). Some farms are equipped with “planting brain”, with the basic conditions of agriculture in the district     4     (display) on the screen. This brings about lower cost and     5     (high) labor efficiency. Xu Yuejin, a 66-year-old grain farmer,     6     (witness) the technological advancement in the past years, and he is now skilled at using not only conventional tools,     7     drones (无人机) and other unmanned machinery to realize automatic farming. Agriculture in the digital village is     8     industry that is more than just     9     (apply) new advanced technology. Villagers’ lives are     10     vital importance as well. Therefore, digital healthcare and digital education have been promoted in villages. Soon digitalization will greatly shape the direction of the rural agriculture and rural modernization.

5 . Humanitarian(人道主义的)groups and lawmakers have criticized Italian authorities for preventing migrants who were not considered to be“vulnerable(脆弱的)”from disembarking(登陆)from rescue ships in Sicily on Sunday.

Charities and politicians blamed the selection process as illegal and regarded the actions of the Italian government as inhumane, reported the Associated Press news service, or AP.   Italy’s new government is reportedly targeting foreign-flagged rescue ships in a new procedure that is part of a regulation brought about by Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi.

Italy allowed a rescue ship carrying 179 refugees and migrants to enter a port in Sicily on Sunday and then later begin disembarking children and sick or“vulnerable”people, but 35 men on board were blocked from getting off the ship, reported the Reuters news agency. Later, agencies reported that 144 people had been allowed to disembark the Humanity 1 rescue ship,which sailed under a German flag. In the afternoon,357 people were allowed off the Geo Barents ship operated by Doctors Without Borders, which sails under a Norwegian flag, but 215 people remained blocked on board.

Authorities continued to refuse safe harbor for hundreds of migrants onboard two other ships in nearby waters, said the AP. Humanity 1’s captain refused to leave the port of Catania “until all survivors rescued from great suffering at sea have been disembarked”, said SOS Humanity, the German-run charity that operates the ship. The charity strongly criticized Piantedosi’s decision to only allow vulnerable people to disembark and on Monday said it would launch legal action against the Italian government,claiming Italy’s actions violate European law and the Geneva Refugee Convention.

The BBC noted that Italy is one of the main entry points into Europe, and, according to the United Nations, 85,000 migrants have arrived there on small,overcrowded boats since the start of the year. Italy’s new prime minister,Giorgia Meloni,has promised to take action to stop those making the hazardous journeys across the Mediterranean.

Nongovernmental organizations say coastal nations are responsible by the law of the sea to rescue people who are suffering and that they are responsible to provide a safe port as soon as possible.

Till Rummenhohl，head of operations at SOS Humanity，said people were being “held hostage (人质)”onboard the Humanity 1 vessel.”“We had health authorities onboard who decided who’s weak enough, who is basically in urgent medical case and who’s not,”Rummenhohl told DW News.“The people are not really sure what’s happening to them. They have an uncertain future. They are afraid of being pushed back from Italy, into international waters or even to Libya. That’s their greatest fear,” he said.

1. Why were 35 of the 179 refugees not allowed to leave the ship to enter Italy in the beginning?

A．They were not weak people.	B．They had no certifications.
C．The ship was in good condition.	D．The ship sailed under a German flag.

2. Which can replace the underlined word “hazardous”in paragraph 5?

A．Comfortable.	B．Thrilling.
C．Long.	D．Dangerous.

3. What is Rummenhohl’s point of view according to the last paragraph?

A．Italy’s actions agreed with European law and the Geneva Refugee Convention.

B．Illegal migrants should be pushed back into international waters.

C．Coastal countries should save people who are suffering at sea.

D．Illegal migrants were supposed to be held hostage onboard.

4. Which can serve as the best title for the news report?

A．Italy provides safe shelters for refugees

B．Italy prevents migrants from leaving ships

C．Humanity 1’s captain refuses to leave the port of Catania

D．Many migrants arrive in Italy on small, overcrowded boats

6 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

More than 300 participants     1     were from international organizations, research institutes, universities and enterprises came together at the 6th International Agricultural Research Conference in Beijing on December 15,2022 to exchange ideas on how to make a     2     (contribute) to global food security, calling for more international cooperation in agriculture.

Themed “strengthening agricultural science and technology cooperation to jointly promote global food security,” the conference was hosted by the Center for International Agricultural Research (CIAR) and the Department of International Cooperation of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS),     3     (adopt) the form of virtual lectures and online broadcast.

Wu Kongming, president of CAAS, said that CAAS remains committed to providing Chinese     4     (solution) and wisdom to help address global challenges such as food security, poverty reduction and green development, and to do so through multilateral and bilateral international cooperation mechanisms.

According to Carlos Watson, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Representative in China, the conference offered     5     great and timely opportunity to facilitate(使便利)constructive discussion on international joint actions concerning global agricultural development and food security,     6     the face of challenges posed by the pandemic and climate change.

“Given China’s     7     (success) experience in the eradication(消除)of extreme poverty, digital innovations, and agricultural and rural development, China is     8     (unique) positioned to share its innovation experience, innovative technologies, and best practices with the rest of the world,” he said.

During the conference, experts discussed the current situation and future prospects of international cooperation in agricultural science and technology. They also discussed the policy environment, market environment, investment model and service demand for overseas agricultural investment, as well as strategies and measures     9     (ensure) global food security.

The International Agricultural Research Conference     10     (hold) for six consecutive(连续的)years since 2017.

7 . In 1906, Theodore Roosevelt (1858—1919), America’s 26th president, signed the American Antiquities Act. The law ______ him—and future presidents—to take immediate action to protect important cultural or natural ______. During his time ______ (1901-1909), he established five new national parks and 18 national monuments. He became ______ as “the conservationist (环境保护主义者) president”.

Roosevelt’s______ for the land and environment came from the time he spent in the Dakota Territory. In 1883, he came to Dakota in ______ of hunting huge animals called bison and had a great ______ in the Western frontier lifestyle.

Roosevelt soon developed an interest in ______ cattle. He entered the business and ______ $14, 000 to build the Maltese Cross Ranch (牧场). Roosevelt returned to New York while workers constructed the ranch. But, in 1884, he experienced two great ______ losses. His mother and wife ______ illnesses on the same day.

Roosevelt again ______ west and sought to ______ the reminders of his recent losses. Roosevelt ______ between New York and Dakota. In 1885, Roosevelt published his first book about his ______ as a rancher and hunter. In it, he predicted that the cattle industry was not sustainable (可持续性的). In other words, it would not ______.

Roosevelt was right. Severe weather ______ the area in 1886 and 1887. In the winter, a terrible ______ killed many cattle. The animals that survived the cold soon starved. The experience, however, influenced Roosevelt’s beliefs about the need for ______ in America. Those beliefs, in turn, helped ______ his policies as president.

1.

A．permitted

B．expected

C．designed

D．forced

2.

A．materials

B．resources

C．ruins

D．attractions

3.

A．in practice

B．in theory

C．in office

D．in charge

4.

A．devoted

B．impressed

C．addicted

D．known

5.

A．desire

B．promise

C．solution

D．concern

6.

A．behalf

B．favour

C．hope

D．honour

7.

A．advantage

B．interest

C．luck

D．sense

8.

A．raising

B．hunting

C．running

D．providing

9.

A．earned

B．saved

C．spent

D．introduced

10.

A．personal

B．pleasant

C．necessary

D．astonishing

11.

A．went off

B．died of

C．tripped over

D．figured out

12.

A．explored

B．followed

C．headed

D．left

13.

A．escape

B．quit

C．share

D．concentrate

14.

A．rushed

B．travelled

C．survived

D．relaxed

15.

A．adventures

B．encounters

C．experiences

D．decisions

16.

A．last

B．disappear

C．arrive

D．occur

17.

A．involved

B．struck

C．supported

D．removed

18.

A．accident

B．freeze

C．blow

D．criticism

19.

A．conservation

B．presentation

C．preference

D．communication

20.

A．realize

B．accept

C．claim

D．shape

8 . China has released the first national draft guideline on the use of self-driving vehicles for public transport, a key move in speeding up the large-scale commercialization of autonomous driving technology and encouraging local authorities to create the relevant management policies, industry experts said.

The country will encourage the use of self-driving vehicles such as buses in an enclosed Bus Rapid Transit or BRT system, and allow autonomous vehicles to offer taxi services under simple and relatively controllable scenarios(方案)The national draft rules on self-driving vehicles are expected to better regulate the whole industry,   providing a reference and guidance for local authorities that have yet to issue similar guidelines.

The draft regulation classified autonomous vehicles into three types:conditionally,highly and fully autonomous vehicles, depending on the degree of their autonomous capacity.The guideline said the first two types should have human drivers. Remote drivers or safety supervisors are essential for fully autonomous vehicles. In addition, safety should be the top priority in the management of self-driving vehicles. The guideline also requires that the routes of autonomous vehicles should be far away from heavily populated areas such as schools hospitals and large shopping malls.

Since China has taken the lead in the research development and application of autonomous driving technologies, the latest move will encourage self-driving companies to carry out road tests and commercial operations of robotaxi services in more cities, promoting the large-scale commercial use of autonomous vehicles across the nation.

Some local governments have already rolled out a series of supportive policies to promote the commercialization of autonomous driving technology. For instance in July, Beijing launched China’s first pilot area for commercial autonomous driving vehicle services. However, a supervisor will still sit in the front passenger seat to ensure safety

"Currently, only a few countries have rolled out policies at the national level that support the development of autonomous vehicles,”said Lyu Jinghong an intelligent-mobility analyst, Lyu added that clear regulations at the national level will encourage local governments and autonomous driving companies to speed up the application of self-driving technology.

1. What is the significance of the national draft guideline of self-driving vehicles?

A．It sets a good example for many other countries.

B．It serves as a good reference for local guidelines

C．It ensures the safety awareness of remote drivers.

D．It encourages the use of household self-driving vehicles.

2. What is the classification of self-driving vehicles based on?

A．The limit of their speed.	B．The level of automation.
C．The presence of drivers.	D．The range of travel route

3. Which word can best describe Lyu’s attitude towards the national guideline?

A．Favourable.

B．Pessimistic.

C．Critical.

D．Conservative

4. Which is the most suitable title for the text?

A．China launches the first pilot area for self-driving

B．Companies carry out road tests of robotaxi services

C．China’s first self-driving vehicles guideline released

D．A breakthrough in commercialization of new technology

9 . On October 12,2021,China officially announced its first five national parks, which are homes to endangered species ranging from the Siberian tigers on the Russian border to the world’s last 30 Hainan black crested gibbons(黑冠长臂猿)in southern China’s tropical rainforest.

By uniting hundreds of protected areas managed by various provinces, the new national park system’s goal is to strengthen conservation under the central authority of the new National Forestry and Grassland Administration(NFGA)

These five parks cover an area two-third the size of the US national park system. The largest, Sanjiangyuan National Park in Qinghai Province, is almost the size of Mississippi.

With such an ambitious plan, there are bound to be challenges. For one the government has to balance the need for the livelihoods of the locals with wildlife conservation. It has not announced a plan to create a permitting system that would regulate how people enjoy nature. What’s more,ecotourism-which is defined as tourism that benefits both locals and their environment-only exists in a fifth of China’s nature reserves.

But there’s hope that the existing ecotourism projects in such nature reserves as Sanjiangyuan National Park and Wolong Nature Reserve will inspire efforts elsewhere in the new park system. Since 2018, Sanjiangyuan National Park has run a community-led tourism program that benefits both locals and snow leopards(豹), the park’s main tourist draw. For $43 a day, visitors can stay with local families, who act as guides to spot these rare “cats” in the wild.

“The community has made all the major decisions, and 100 percent of the income stays in the community. It’s been incredibly successful,” says Marc Brody, who has worked in China since 1994.

NFGA agrees that well-designed ecotourism can improve local ecosystems. It says that a core mission(核心使命)of China’s national parks is to promote eco-civilizationa mission that can be advanced by involving visitors Written into China’s constitution(宪法)in 2012, eco-civilization means scientifically balancing the economic development and the environmental protection.

1. Which park is home to the thirty endangered gibbons?

A．Hainan National Park.	B．Wolong Nature Reserve.
C．Northeast National Park.	D．Sanjiangyuan National Park.

2. What can be learned about Sanjiangyuan National Park?

A．It is bigger than Mississippi.	B．It sits on the Russian border.
C．It is a pioneer in ecotourism.	D．It has a mature permitting system.

3. Which word best describes Marc Brody’s attitude to ecotourism?

A．Skeptical.

B．Unconcerned

C．Disapproving

D．Positive

4. What is the main purpose of China’s national parks?

A．To protect the endangered animals.

B．To help the local people out of poverty.

C．To balance the economy and the environment.

D．To set a better development example for the world.

10 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式（不多于3个单词)。

In December, 2021, a draft revision (修正草案) to the Law on the Protection of Women’s Rights and Interests     1     (submit) to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC)for the first review.

Over the past 30 years, the law,     2     (mark) the first major revision to the law since 1992, has played a big role in helping ensure equality between women and men nationwide. “But women’s rights in some areas haven’t been     3     (effect) guaranteed, and some old problems still exist,’’ said He Yiting,     4     official from the NPC’s Social Development Affairs Committee, when explaining the draft to lawmakers.

The revision adds a definition of “discrimination (歧视)     5     women” and stipulates (规定) that the country shall take necessary measures gradually     6     (improve) the protection of their rights and interests. One of the     7     (propose) is to ask local governments at all levels to ensure that public spots have more women’s toilets than men’s,     8     has led to heated online discussion on Sina Weibo. Studies show that women use the restroom for 249 seconds on average, far     9     (many) than the 170 seconds     10     (spend) by men. Yet the square footage (建筑面积) of men’s and women’s public restrooms is the same, the Beijing News reported.