Classified TrainingⅠ

分类训练一

阅读理解 + 阅读七选五

（一）

阅读理解

A

There are four fun festivals throughout the year in Brazil.

Festa Junina

Festa Junina is celebrated all over Brazil for the entire month of June as a yearly celebration of Saint John. It celebrates country life with typical clothes， food and dances inside a large tent， with decorations such as colored flags， beautiful table cloths and balloons.

Oktoberfest

The Germanic roots of the south of Brazil brought this traditional German festival to Brazil， where it has become one of the most popular beer festivals. Held in the middle of October every year in Blumenau， it celebrates typical German cuisine and plenty of beer. Therere all kinds of German foods at the festival.

Festival de Cachaca

Every year in the town of Paraty， Festival de Cachaca is held for cachaca， the national alcohol  made from sugarcane （甘蔗）. This festival is held over a long weekend in August and it gives you a chance to try cachaca. There are also shows of samba and food trucks. Its also a great opportunity to get to know the beautiful town of Paraty.

Parintins Folklore Festival

The festival held every year in Parintins is the second largest in Brazil after the carnival. It goes over a period of three days at the end of June and celebrates the Amazonian legend of a resurrected ox （復活的牛）. The main attraction of the festival is the competition between the two teams Garantido and Caprichoso that compete to retell the story of the ox through a mix of dancing and singing.

1. What festival lasts the longest time？

A. Oktoberfest. B. Festa Junina.

C. Festival de Cachaca. D. Parintins Folklore Festival.

2. What can you do if you attend Oktoberfest？

A. Taste German food. B. Watch shows of samba.

C. Drink the national alcohol. D. Listen to the story of the ox.

3. What do the four festivals have in common？

A. They are yearly activities. B. They enjoy global popularity.

C. They focus on food and dancing. D. They are celebrated all over Brazil.

B

“Why？” Its a simple question that people ask Angela Madeline frequently. After all， she began a journey that very few people would ever attempt： walk around the world alone.

The thought of Madelines journey did not start from a place of loss or personal crisis. She said， “I was searching for a deeper interaction with nature and people.” Walking would minimize her carbon footprint， plus the slow pace meant that she could fully immerse herself in nature， and gain insights into other cultures in a unique way.

She left her hometown of Bend， Oregon， on 2 May， 2016 and headed into an adventure. Along the way， Madeline would suffer from heatstroke （中暑） in the Australian desert and hear gunshots while camping in Türkiye. “Still，” she said， “I didnt stop because I was more afraid of not following my heart than I was of losing everything I owned and loved.”

Apart from that， her slow pace allowed her to be drawn deeply into other cultures. She wandered the tiny seaside villages along Italy Tyrthenian Sea， enjoying the lively atmosphere. In Vietnam， she was invited and offered food by an elderly woman to rest in her small wooden house at the peak for the night. She chose an experience of uncertainty and curiosity， in search of something she could never be certain to find： a sense of fulfillment and a deeper connection.

On 16 December， 2022， Madelines pilgrimage （朝圣之旅） ended right where it started. For now， shes working on a book， planning future journeys and creating more effective ways for women to find and express courage in their lives.

Whether a walk leads halfway around the world or just down the road， Madeline has shown the true worth of slowing down and giving more than we receive along the way.

4. Why did Madeline decide to start her journey？

A. To get closer to the world. B. To reduce carbon footprint.

C. To get rid of personal crisis. D. To slow down the pace of life.

5. What can we know about Madeline during the journey？

A. She once wanted to give up. B. She was helped by Italian locals.

C. She experienced various cultures. D. She enjoyed Australian coastal scenery.

6. What words can best describe Madeline？

A. Brave and gentle. B. Strong-hearted and adventurous.

C. Ambitious and generous. D. Open-minded and humorous.

7. What can be the best title for the text？

A. A new way to slow down life. B. A closer connection with the wild.

C. An unforgettable memory of a trip. D. A woman walking around the world.

C

Can a small group of drones guarantee the safety and reliability of railways and， at the same time， help railway operators save billions of euros each year？ That is the very likely future of applying todays “eyes in the sky” technology to make sure that the millions of kilometers of rail tracks and infrastructure （基礎设施） worldwide are safe for trains on a 24/7 basis.

Drones are already being used to examine high-tension electrical lines. They could do precisely the same thing to inspect railway lines and other vital aspects of rail infrastructure such as the correct position of railway tracks and switching points. The more regularly they can be inspected， the more railway safety， reliability and on-time performance will be improved. Costs would be cut and operations would be more efficient （高效） across the board.

That includes huge savings in maintenance costs and better protection of railway personnel safety. It is calculated that European railways alone spend approximately 20 billion euros a year on maintenance， including sending maintenance staff， often at night， to inspect and repair the rail infrastructure. That can be dangerous work that could be avoided with drones assisting the crews efforts.

By using the latest technologies， drones could also start providing higher-value services for railways， detecting faults in the rail or switches， before they can cause any safety problems. To perform these tasks， drones for rail dont need to be flying overhead. Engineers are now working on a new concept： the rail drones of the future. They will be moving on the track ahead of the train， and programmed to run autonomously. Very small drones with advanced sensors and AI and traveling ahead of the train could guide it like a co-pilot. With their ability to see ahead， they could signal any problem， so that fast-moving trains would be able to react in time.

8. What makes the application of drones to rail lines possible？

A. Drones ability to work at high altitudes.

B. The reduction of cost in designing drones.

C. The use of drones in checking on power lines.

D. Drones reliable performance in remote areas.

9. What does the underlined word “maintenance” in Paragraph 3 refer to？

A. Safety. B. Assistance.

C. Inspection and repair. D. Construction of infrastructure.

10. What function is expected of the rail drones？

A. To provide early warning. B. To make trains run automatically.

C. To guide railway personnel. D. To make transportation faster.

11. What can be the best title for the text？

A. What Faults Can Be Detected with Drones

B. How Production of Drones Can Be Expanded

C. What Difficulty Drone Development Will Face

D. How Drones Will Change the Future of Railways

D

I am an active playgoer and play-reader， and perhaps my best reason for editing this book is a hope of sharing my enthusiasm for the theater with others. To do this I have searched through dozens of plays to find the ones that I think best show the power and purpose of the short play.

Each play has a theme or central idea which the playwright （劇作家） hopes to get across through dialogue and action. A few characters are used to create a single impression growing out of the theme. It is not my intention to point out the central theme of each of the plays in this collection， for that would， indeed， ruin the pleasure of reading， discussing， and thinking about the plays and the effectiveness of the playwright. However， a variety of types is represented here. These include comedy， satire， poignant drama， historical and regional drama. To show the versatility （多面性） of the short play， I have included a guidance play， a radio play and a television play.

Among the writers of the plays in this collection， Paul Green， Susan Glaspell， Maxwell Anderson， Thornton Wilder， William Saroyan， and Tennessee Williams have all received Pulitzer Prizes for their contributions to the theater. More information about the playwrights will be found at the end of this book.

To get the most out of reading these plays， try to picture the play on stage， with you， the reader， in the audience. The houselights dim （變暗）. The curtains are about to open， and in a few minutes the action and dialogue will tell you the story.

12. What do we know about the author from Paragraph 1？

A. He has written dozens of plays. B. He has a deep love for the theater.

C. He is a professional stage actor. D. He likes reading short plays to others.

13. What does the author avoid doing in his work？

A. Stating the plays central ideas. B. Selecting works by famous playwrights.

C. Discussing various types of plays. D. Offering information on the playwrights.

14. What does the author suggest readers do while reading the plays？

A. Control their feelings. B. Apply their acting skills.

C. Use their imagination. D. Keep their audience in mind.

15. What is this text？

A. A short story. B. An introduction to a book.

C. A play review. D. An advertisement for a theater.

阅读七选五

How to Write a News Article

Writing a news article is different from writing other articles or informational pieces. 16

Knowing how to write a news article can help you exercise your writing skills and convey information clearly and briefly.

Gather all your facts. Before you write a news article， make a list or outline of all the connected facts and information that need to be included in the article. 17 It will help you write a clean， brief article.

Start with the lead. 18 This is one of the most important parts of the piece， so start with the leading statement when you write a news article. Your lead should be one sentence which states the topic of the article.

Give all the important details. The next important step to write news articles is including all the relevant facts and details that relate to your lead statement. 19 These details are important， because they are the key point of the article that fully informs the reader.

20 Be sure to double check all the facts in your news article before you contribute it， including names， dates， and contact information or addresses. Writing accurately is the best way to make yourself a suitable news article writer.

A. Check facts before concluding.

B. Follow up main facts with additional information.

C. Include the basics of where， when， who， what and why.

D. A leading sentence is to catch readers attention and interest them.

E. Unlike other articles， news articles present information in a specific way.

F. Avoid any statements or description that could be constructed as support or criticism.

G. This list helps prevent you from leaving out any relevant information about the topic or story！

16.   17.   18.   19.   20.

（二）

閱读理解

A

The puppet shows (木偶剧) presented at Fairyland share that common thread of “Belonging”.

The City Mouse and the Country Mouse—Friday, June 2

Annie, the Country Mouse, is extremely excited that Markie Mouse, her cousin from the City, is paying her a visit. Come and enjoy one of Aesops most famous fables about two mice who step into each others worlds, only to find out that home is where the heart belongs.

Puppets and Scenery by Lewis Mahlmann. Script (剧本) by David C. Jones.

It Could Always Be Worse—Friday, July 14

A funny tale of a family that is unhappy with their living conditions. A family are fed up with their overcrowded, noisy home. They turn to a local wise man, who advises solutions and tells them that it could always be worse. Will this family ever learn to be happy with what they have? Come to Fairyland and find out!

Puppets designed by Elizabeth Luce. Scenery by Lewis Mahlmann. Script by Shana Barchas, inspired by a traditional folk tale.

The Dragon Who Wasnt—Wednesday, August 30

An original tale written by Frank Oz, a great teenage puppeteer at Childrens Fairyland in the 1960s. This funny story is about a magical kingdom in desperate need of its very own fire-breathing dragon.

Puppets by Jesse Vail. Scenery by Annie Wong.

The Velveteen Rabbit—Friday, November 3

Based on Margery Williams great book, How Toys Become Real, this is the heartwarming tale of a special relationship between a young boy and his toy rabbit. Youll be charmed as the Velveteen Rabbit fearlessly stays by the young boys side and is rewarded for her loyalty in the end.

Puppets by Randal Metz. Scenery by Annie Wong. Puppets designed by Kacey OHare.

1. What is the theme of the first puppet show?

A. Home. B. Success. C. Wealth. D. Happiness.

2. What is special about It Could Always Be Worse?

A. It is adapted from a book. B. It is created by Elizabeth Luce.

C. It is one of Aesops famous fables. D. It is based on a traditional folk tale.

3. Who is the writer of The Dragon Who Wasnt?

A. Jesse Vail. B. Randal Metz. C. Frank Oz. D. Annie Wong.

B

Since my son went to college in Chicago, I made quarterly trips there for the next three years. My friend George was a cook there and he knew many outstanding restaurants. One of them was a Chinese restaurant called The Bird. It was owned and operated by Chef Benny Moy who happened to be an old friend of Georges.

The dishes Benny prepared were unique, and everything was in his mind when he was cooking. Just by changing, adding or removing an ingredient or two, he could come up with an entirely new dish.

As a fan of Chinese food, I was always attracted by its recipes. After a year went by, I finally gathered the courage to ask Benny if I could spend a week learning cooking in his restaurant kitchen. To my joy, he agreed readily.

I was very nervous the first day I showed up. But I didnt have to wait long to find out how I would start. “Put on this jacket, go over to the stove and clean the two woks (鍋) there,” he said. I was excited. What a beginning! I was allowed to clean the masters woks.

Then things just seemed to fall into place. Benny was very concentrated when he was doing preparing work or cooking. I would just follow him around, trying very hard not to get in his way. Besides, I would talk into my hand-held recorder to document everything he did; in effect, I had all his recipes. He had a teaching style that was all his own. And I just watched and learned everything he did by heart.

At the end of the week, when my time in the kitchen was over, I came away feeling that I have had the most exciting, unusual, and unique cooking experiences. Plus, now I know how to cook Bennys most-known dish: Moo shu pork.

4. What are Bennys dishes like?

A. Nutritious. B. Conventional. C. Original. D. Special.

5. What can we learn about Benny?

A. He used to live in Chicago. B. He was an old friend of the author.

C. He ran a Chinese food restaurant. D. He liked adding ingredients to dishes.

6. What do the underlined words “fall into place” in Paragraph 5 mean?

A. Work out smoothly. B. Be in chaos. C. Take a downturn. D. Get worse gradually.

7. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A. Creating Innovative Dishes B. Learning to Cook Chinese Dishes

C. Appreciating Favorite Recipes D. Observing Cooking Procedures

C

After being driven to near extinction, wolves are back in Washington state.

Wolf 32M, called The Old Guy by wolf specialist Ben Maletzke, lived some 12 years as the patriarch (族長) of the Teanaway Pack, kicking off the recovery of wolves in Washington. The packs territory was roasted by wildfire in 2014. But wolf 32M and his family remained in existence, bringing the call of the wild back for the first time in a century. These wolves are what Maletzke calls stepping stones in recovery—the animals that could help lead the way to new territory not yet lived by wolves.

Wolves spread to new territory to find mates and begin packs of their own. It is this pack dynamic (动态) that wildlife biologists are counting on, in time, to urge wolves into areas where they do not presently live. “We just need a couple to pick up and go,” Maletzke says.

All along, the Teanaway Pack has stayed mostly out of trouble probably, helped by a lot of range riding (牧区巡逻) intended to help reduce conflicts over wolf recovery by keeping wolves away from cattle. “He is an example of wolves living and doing what they do, even around people,” Maletzke says of wolf 32M.

Story Warren, a student at the University of Montana, was just a girl when she first saw 32Ms tracks in the Teanaway River Valley—an exciting encounter that helped generate a serious interest in wildlife that now fuels her studies. To her, the return of the wolf is about more than the species; it is about recovering something even bigger: hope.

“Growing up in my generation, there is so much bad ecological news, a lot of hopelessness about climate change and loss of biodiversity and extinction,” Warren says. “To have something as wild as wolves coming back to Washington is very encouraging for me—just to know such an amazing and powerful creature exists.”

8. Why does Maletzke call Wolf 32M family “stepping stones”?

A. They are nearly dying out. B. They are victims of wildfire.

C. They are worth protection. D. They are pioneers in wolf recovery.

9. What is the purpose of Paragraph 3?

A. To present a result. B. To clarify a concept.

C. To offer an explanation. D. To make a prediction.

10. What can we learn from the example of the Teanaway Pack?

A. Wolves face a lot of trouble.

B. Wolves can adapt to new environment easily.

C. Measures have been taken to ensure wolf recovery.

D. Wolf recovery counts on a safe living environment.

11. What does Warren think of the coming back of wolves?

A. It inspires more studies on wildlife. B. It clears up bad ecological news.

C. It encourages other species to follow. D. It excites hope for the ecosystem.

D

Mogao Grottoes is located at the western end of the Hexi Corridor along the ancient Silk Road in Dunhuang, China. Until now, most mural paintings at Mogao Grottoes have been dated by directly referring to the mural texts or historical documents. However, some are still left with the creation era uncertain due to the lack of reference materials or the disagreement of art experts.

The drawing style of mural paintings was changing throughout history and can be learned and quantified (量化) through painting data. A new dating method has been developed by encoding (編码) the drawing styles using visual codes learned through deep learning. This new method successfully discovered the creation era of six mural paintings at Mogao Grottoes.

With the help of experts from Dunhuang Academy, seven mural paintings from two grottoes (No. 205 and No. 206) were chosen as subjects for this dating research.

To figure out the creation era of these paintings, Qin Zou, a researcher from Wuhan University, collected 3,860 mural paintings from 194 different grottoes with confirmed creation-era labels. To find the visual codes that can identify the era in these paintings, the authors built a deep convolutional neural network (卷积神经网络) and classified these painting images into the right eras. Based on the classification model, a dating method was built and applied to date the seven paintings.

Six of the new dating results were approved by experts from Dunhuang Academy. “These dating results are correct and the method is great,” said Mr Hui-Min Wang, a distinguished expert from the Archaeological Institute of Dunhuang Academy.

“To the best of our knowledge,” wrote the researchers, “this work represents the first account of a scientific and quantitative manner to support the era prediction and reduce the uncertainties in dating ancient paintings by using deep learning.”

12. What is the reason that some murals remain undated?

A. Variety of the drawing styles. B. Errors of historical documents.

C. Shortage of reference materials. D. Disagreement of historical documents.

13. What can we learn about the new dating method?

A. It requires a large number of visual codes.

B. It dated the seven chosen murals correctly.

C. It was developed by experts in Dunhuang Academy.

D. It involves collecting information from the mural texts.

14. What is Paragraph 4 mainly about?

A. The importance of creation-era labels. B. How the classification model is created.

C. The influence of the new dating research. D. Why the researchers chose 3,860 murals.

15. What do the researchers think of their new method?

A. It brings many uncertainties. B. It classifies drawing styles.

C. It is an important achievement. D. It makes accurate predictions.

閱读七选五

When life is stressful, its very easy to give in to feelings of anger or depression. 16 Here are some ways that can help you better deal with a wide range of negative emotions.

Acknowledge your feelings.

Dealing with negative emotions can be difficult. But its important to allow yourself to experience those emotions. Suppressing (抑制) them can cause stress. 17 For example, if you are feeling nervous, ask yourself, “What am I afraid of?” Acknowledging the issue can help you figure out how to handle it.

Change your environment.

18 Try changing your space to make it a more calming place. For example, if your negative emotions arise from feeling out of control, try organizing your space. Clearing up the mess can make you feel on top of things.

19

When you know that something is causing a negative emotion, try to shift your focus away from that situation. For example, if you are stuck in a traffic jam and running late, listen to your favorite CD. Focusing on something positive can help to calm you down.

Talk about your feelings.

Talking about your negative emotions is very productive. It is a good idea to let your loved ones know your feelings. Try saying, “Ive been really stressed out lately. Do you have time to talk things through with me?” 20 Its fine to express anger or frustration, but do so without shouting.

A. Its time to figure out what causes them.

B. Shift your focus away from the bad thing.

C. Be calm and reasonable while you are talking.

D. You dont have to put too much effort into them.

E. When you experience a negative emotion, acknowledge it.

F. However, you will be more productive if you can handle them.

G. Small changes can have a big impact on your emotional health.

16.   17.   18.   19.   20.

（三）

阅读理解

A

Young Writers Awards

About the Contest

Bennington College has a unique literary tradition. Weve had twelve Pulitzer Prize winners, three US poet laureates (获奖者), four MacArthur Geniuses, and two of Time magazines 100 most influential people. In celebration of this, Bennington launched the Young Writers Awards to promote excellence in writing at the high school level. Students are invited to enter with the following work:

?Poetry: A group of three poems

?Fiction: A short story (1,500 words or fewer) or one-act play

?Nonfiction: A personal or academic essay (1,500 words or fewer)

A first-, second-, and third-place winner is selected in each category. We welcome participation of both US and international students.

Awards & Rules

First-place winners in each category are awarded a prize of $1,000; second-place winners receive $500; third-place winners receive $250.

?Free for entrance.

?All entries must be original work reviewed, approved and guided by a teacher. We will use your teacher as a contact for the competition if we have any questions. For homeschooled students, please contact one to assist in your writing even if you have experience in such competitions.

Young Writers Awards finalists and winners are also qualified for undergraduate scholarships (獎学金) at Bennington. Young Writers Awards finalists who apply and gain admission to Bennington will receive a $10,000 scholarship every year for four years, for a total of $40,000. Young Writers Awards winners reaching the standard will receive $15,000 every year, for a total of $60,000.

1. Why did Bennington launch the Young Writers Awards?

A. To continue the scientific tradition. B. To finance the talented students.

C. To boost students ability in writing. D. To compete with the other schools.

2. What should participants do about the entry?

A. Hand in a personal essay. B. Team up with two partners.

C. Pay an entry fee on time. D. Find a teacher to help with the entry.

3. How much is the scholarship for finalists a year?

A. $60,000. B. 40,000. C. $15,000. D. $10,000.

B

When Paul was a boy growing up in Utah, he happened to live near a copper smelter (炼铜厂), and the chemicals that poured out had made a wasteland out of what used to be a beautiful forest. One day a young visitor looked at this wasteland and called it an awful area. Paul knocked him down. From then on, something happened inside him.

Years later Paul was back in the area, and he went to the smelter office. He asked if they had any plans or if they would let him try to bring the trees back. The answer from that big industry was “No”. Paul then went to college to study the science of plants. He later got married and had some kids. But his dream would not die. And then one night he did what he could with what he had. Under the cover of darkness, he went secretly into the wasteland and started planting.

And every week, he made his secret journey into the wasteland and planted trees and grass. For fifteen years he did this against the plain common sense. Slowly rabbits appeared. Later, as there was legal pressure to clean up the environment, the company actually hired Paul to do what he had already been doing.

Now the place is fourteen thousand acres of trees and grass and bushes, and Paul has received almost every environmental award Utah has. It took him until his hair turned white, but he managed to keep that impossible vow (誓言) he made to himself as a child.

4. What does the underlined word “something” refer to in Paragraph 1?

A. To stop the chemical pollution. B. To go to college.

C. To ask the industry for help. D. To say sorry to the visitor.

5. What did Paul do after graduating from college for his dream?

A. Raise rabbits in the wasteland. B. Ask the smelter officers for help.

C. Study the knowledge of planting. D. Do the wasteland planting secretly.

6. Why did the company hire Paul to plant trees and grass?

A. They realized the importance of it. B. They were forced to do so.

C. They were moved by Paul. D. They were afraid of Paul.

7. What can be the best title for the text?

A. The Hard Life of Paul B. The Easy Choice of Paul

C. The Wonder of Constant Work D. The Power of Many Hands

C

In the fictional worlds of film and TV, artificial intelligence (AI) has been described as so advanced that it is indistinguishable from humans. But what if were actually getting closer to a world where AI is capable of thinking and feeling?

Tech company UneeQ is heading for its “digital humans”, which appear lifelike on the screen not only in terms of language, but also because of facial movements: raised eyebrows, a smile, even a nod. They look close to a human, but not quite.

Shiwali Mohan, an AI scientist at the Palo Research Center, is skeptical (懷疑的) of these digital beings. “Theyre humanlike in their looks and the way they sound, but that in itself is not being human,” she says. “Human qualities also involve how you think, how you approach problems, and how you break them down; and that takes a lot of algorithmic (算法) design. Designing for human-level intelligence is a different attempt than designing images that behave like humans.” She then continues, “If something looks like a human, we have high expectations of them, but they might behave differently in ways that humans just instinctively know how other humans react.”

Yet the demand is there, with UneeQ seeing high adoption of its digital employees across the financial, health care, and commercial industry. “Unless these industries make their business models much more efficient digitally, they might be left behind,” says Chetan Dube, UneeQs CEO.

Some other companies are taking their digital beings a step further, enabling organizations and individuals to create digital humans themselves using free-access platforms they provide. “The biggest motivation for such platforms is to popularize AI,” says Dube.

Mohan is cautious (谨慎的) about this approach, yet she supports the purpose behind these digital beings and is optimistic about where theyre headed, “As we develop more advanced AI technology, we would then have to use new ways of communicating with that technology,” she says. “Hopefully, all of that is designed to support humans in their goals.”

8. What aspects are UneeQs digital humans similar to real humans according to Paragraph 2?

A. Their thinking and feeling. B. The way they act and react.

C. The way they move around. D. Their speech and facial expressions.

9. What human quality do digital beings lack according to Mohan?

A. Counting ability. B. Language skills.

C. Instinctive judgments. D. Problem-solving ability.

10. Why do many industries employ digital humans?

A. For fear of falling behind. B. For the need for business cooperation.

C. To spread digital technology. D. To move up health care systems.

11. What does Mohan think of the future of digital beings?

A. Terrible. B. Promising. C. Uncertain. D. Hopeless.

D

The sixth mass extinction is not a worry for the future. Its happening now, much faster than previously expected, and its entirely our fault, according to a study.

Humans have already wiped out hundreds of species and pushed many more to the brink of extinction through wildlife trade, pollution, habitat loss and the use of toxic substances. The findings published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences show that the rate at which species are dying out has quickened in recent decades.

Gerardo Ceballos González, a professor of ecology at the National Autonomous University of Mexico and one of the authors of the study, said around 175 species went extinct between 2001 and 2014. “175 species is 25 times more extinct species than you would expect under the normal extinction rate,” he told CNN in an email. He and his team found that in the past 100 years, more than 400 vertebrate (脊椎動物的) species went extinct. In the normal course of evolution, such extinctions would have taken up to 10,000 years, they said.

Mass extinctions are just as severe as their name suggests. There have been five mass extinction events in the Earths history, each wiping out between 70％ and 95％ of the species of plants, animals and microorganisms.

The sixth mass extinction the one happening now is different—scientists say its caused by humans. Peoples recklessness (魯莽) towards nature can seriously hurt themselves. Many endangered species are dying in large numbers due to the trade in wild animals and plants.

12. What does the underlined word “toxic” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?

A. Poisonous. B. Useful. C. Alternative. D. Friendly.

13. How many species might die out at normal extinction rates in 13 years?

A. 175. B. 100. C. 25. D. 7.

14. What can we learn about the sixth mass extinction from the last paragraph?

A. It is the same as the former mass extinction.

B. It is made by humans damage to nature.

C. It mainly arises from the illegal trade.

D. It is not worse than expected.

15. What is the authors main purpose of writing the text?

A. To tell the differences between the fifth and sixth extinction.

B. To call on humans to stop their wrong actions.

C. To show concern about the endangered species.

D. To explain the cause of mass extinctions.

阅读七选五

Why Is Eating Colorful Food Good for You?

Most of us are faced with the same choice numerous times a day: what to eat. Along with price, accessibility and preference, well often use a foods healthfulness to help us make a decision.  16

Its widely accepted by researchers that we need a varied diet. 17 Eating lots of colors may lower your risk of missing out on all vital nutrients. If were missing a color of the rainbow, we may be missing a function of that food. This is because plant foods contain thousands of natural compounds, which have anti-inflammatory (抗炎的) benefits.

18 Blue and purple foods, including blueberries, have a high content of the plant anthocyanin (花青素), which has been linked to lowering the risk of heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. Flavones (黄酮), which give foods a yellow color, may reduce the risk of heart disease.

Research follow at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, says eating a colourful diet can also help people avoid possible side effects of eating too much of one food. “19 For example, research has found that orange juice is associated with a lower risk of cognitive decline, but too much intake is associated with Type 2 diabetes,” she says. However, this is because of its sugar content, not flavones.

Eating a rainbow diet may also be complex. 20 We could tie ourselves in knots. We also need to eat from other food groups to get all the nutrients we need, such as protein.

A. Food is very complex.

B. A varied diet is packed with different vegetables.

C. It could be really hard to get every color every day.

D. Different colored foods come with different benefits.

E. But how do we know were getting enough nutrients?

F. However, is color the best guide to getting all the nutrients?

G. And one way to do this is by eating all the colors of the rainbow.

16.   17.   18.   19.   20.

（四）

閱读理解

A

We have taken some top brands and presented their best advertisements.

COCA COLA—Share a Coke Campaign

“Share a Coke” campaign from Coca Cola that started in 2011 went viral and Coke gained a large fan base due to this particular campaign. Here the customers were allowed to print the desired name on their coke bottle. This is a perfect example of audience participation. Coke let the customers feel that Coke cares for them. This was among the best attention-grabbing campaigns by any brand to date.

Nike—Just Do It Ads

Nike launched this campaign in the 1980s, and its sales increased by more than ﹩8 billion within 10 years. This campaign was to fill the customers with motivation to exercise. Nike did it emotionally, and it was a hit. What Nike wanted to convey with the campaign was simple—If you dont want to exercise—Just Do It. If you dont want to wake up early in the morning—Just Do It.

Google—Year in Search Campaign

Google started its Year in the Search campaign in 2017, which was about the most searched keywords on Google in 12 months. Isnt it interesting? Its a brilliant idea to establish engagement with the audience. It not only revealed (显示) how creative they are but also showed how much they care about what their audience care.

Volkswagen—Think Small Campaign

Think Small campaign of Volkswagen started in 1960 and that was a complete hit. People in America are more intended for buying bigger cars. Volkswagen came with this campaign to aware them of the essence of smaller cars. Yes, it completely changed how the car lovers in America were thinking.

1. Why was Just Do It launched?

A. To improve sales. B. To motivate exercise.

C. To establish engagement. D. To provide help.

2. Which is the earliest campaign of the brands?

A. Share a Coke. B. Just Do It. C. Year in Search. D. Think Small.

3. What do Share a Coke Campaign and Year in Search Campaign have in common?

A. They promote the interaction with consumers. B. They tell the advantage of their products.

C. They try to work on peoples problems. D. They encourage people to be creative.

B

When she worked in banking, Irini Tzortzoglous idea of cooking was to pick up a ready meal from Marks & Spencer on her way home, and put it in the oven. But now, since winning the BBC cooking competition Master Chef at the age of 60, with menus inspired by her Greek heritage, food has become her life and new career.

She had been interested in cooking when she was a child. Food was an important part of her life. Tzortzoglou, 64, was born in Greece, where her grandparents house was always open, and her grandmother would often be cooking for dozens of people. Tzortzoglou would help out, “I loved the smells. I loved the processes.”

Tzortzoglou felt very bored after retiring. Then one day her husband said, “Why dont you try Master Chef because you always love watching it.”

She was a reasonably good cook, who loved entertaining and could put together a decent (體面的) dinner party menu but competing on the show demanded a whole new skill level. “I didnt want to embarrass myself by leaving in round one, so I trained myself for a year,” she said.

She put in time, effort and money. She went to Athens to see what was happening with Greek food today. She ate at Michelin-star restaurants to see what Greek Master Chef and the young chefs were doing. And then she started practicing. She also started physical training because she could see how tough (艰难的) it was to run around the kitchen while filming, or stand for hours.

And then Tzortzoglou has become immersed in (沉浸于) Greek food, and has written a cookery book, Under the Olive Tree. “I dont have free time, but I love it,” she said. “I feel like a child let loose in a sweet shop.”

4. What can we know about Tzortzoglou as a child?

A. She liked watching BBC programs. B. She studied hard to become a banker.

C. She showed interest in cooking. D. She had to cook for the whole family.

5. Why did Tzortzoglou take part in Master Chef?

A. To seek a new career. B. To preserve the heritage.

C. To have a new life. D. To experience a party.

6. What does Paragraph 5 mainly tell us about Tzortzoglou?

A. Her love for Greek food. B. Her effort to win the competition.

C. Her desire to go back to Athens. D. Her performance at the competition.

7. What words can best describe Tzortzoglou?

A. Confident and outgoing. B. Brave and childlike.

C. Generous and creative. D. Active and inspiring.

C

Humans are not the only ones that like gold. Australian scientists have discovered a new fungus (真菌) that decorates its long, thread-like tendrils (卷須) with gold collected from the soil. The experts desperately hope the “gold digger” will provide information on the locations of gold deposits (沉积物) and make searching for the precious metal easier, and more environmental friendly.

The gold-loving fungus was discovered accidentally by a team of researchers led by Dr Tsing Bohu, a scientist at Australia national science agency, when they were examining the microbes (微生物) in the soil at Boddington, a tiny town home to Australias largest gold mine.

A closer analysis suggested that the fungus uses chemical interactions with underground minerals to accumulate gold from its surroundings. Though fungi often interact with other things in nature, the reaction with gold was unexpected. “Fungi are well-known for playing an important role in the recycling of organic materials, such as leaves and bark, as well as for the cycling of other metals,” Dr Bohu explained. “But gold is so chemically inactive that this interaction is both unusual and surprising.”

The fungi are not wearing the gold for beauty. “There is a biological benefit from this reaction,” Dr Bohu said. “Gold-loving fungi can grow faster and bigger compared to other fungi that dont work with gold.”

The researchers still need to conduct further analysis to understand the relationship between the fungi and the precious metal. More importantly, they need to determine if its presence is a sure sign of the existence of large deposits of the metal underground. The scientists also believe the fungi could be used to find the presence of gold in waste products and man-made electronics.

However, those hoping to get free gold from the fungi make you in for a disappointment, for the delicate fungus is hard to see. Also, its gold can only be seen under a microscope.

8. What information are the experts eager for?

A. Sites of gold deposits. B. Species of the microbes.

C. The function of the new fungus. D. Easier ways to find the metal.

9. What can we learn from Bohus words in Paragraph 3?

A. Fungis interaction with gold is beneficial. B. Golds look is identified by fungi.

C. Gold is accumulated by fungis evolution. D. Fungis formation with gold is natural.

10. What are the characteristics of gold-loving fungi?

A. It is easy to see. B. It wears the gold for pretty look.

C. It grows faster. D. It is as common as other fungi.

11. What can be the best title for the text?

A. Beauty-loving Fungi B. Gold-loving Fungi

C. Australias Largest Gold Mineral D. New Discovery of Gold

D

Many of us love July because its the month when natures berries and stone fruits are sufficient. These colorful and sweet jewels from British Columbias fields are little powerhouses of nutritional protection.

Of the common berries, strawberries are highest in vitamin C, although, because of their seeds, raspberries contain a little more protein (蛋白質), iron and zinc (not that fruits have much protein). Blueberries are particularly high in antioxidants (抗氧化物质). The yellow and orange stone fruits such as peaches are high in the carotenoids we turn into vitamin A and which are antioxidants. As for cherries, they are so delicious. And they are rich in vitamin C.

When combined with berries or slices of other fruits, frozen bananas make an excellent base for thick, cooling fruit shakes and low fat “ice cream”. For this purpose, select ripe (成熟的) bananas for freezing as they are much sweeter. Remove the skin and place them in plastic bags or containers and freeze. If you like, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice on the bananas will prevent them turning brown. Frozen bananas will last several weeks, depending on their ripeness and the temperature of the freezer.

If you have a juicer, you can simply feed in frozen bananas and some berries or sliced fruit. Out comes a “soft-serve” creamy dessert, to be eaten right away. This makes a fun activity for a childrens party; they love feeding the fruit and frozen bananas into the top of the machine and watching the ice cream come out below.

12. What can we know about cherries according to Paragraph 2?

A. They contain protein. B. They are high in vitamin A.

C. They have a pleasant taste. D. They are rich in antioxidants.

13. Why is fresh lemon juice used to freeze bananas?

A. To keep their color. B. To make them smell better.

C. To speed up their ripening. D. To improve their nutrition.

14. What do the underlined words “a juicer” in the last paragraph refer to?

A. A dessert. B. A drink. C. A container. D. A machine.

15. Where is the text most likely from?

A. A biology textbook. B. A health magazine.

C. A research paper. D. A travel brochure.

阅读七选五

How to Create an Effective Action Plan

Creating a powerful action plan always begins with having a clear purpose or goal in mind. It is designed to take you from wherever you are right now directly to the accomplishment (完成) of your stated goal. 16

Know what you want to do. The less clear you are about what you want to do, the less effective your plan will be. 17 You may figure it out before starting your project.

Work backwards from your end goal. Identify your end goal, and then list everything you need to do to accomplish it. 18 After you know what you need to accomplish, break this down into small steps to help you create a more realistic plan.

Break large tasks down into smaller ones. 19 If youre feeling confused about a large task, what can help ease your anxiety and make it more practical is breaking it down into smaller ones.

20 Without specific time frames (框架) and deadlines, some tasks may never get completed. No matter what action items you choose for which stage of your action plan, it is significant that a time frame should be attached to absolutely everything.

A. Put timelines on everything.

B. Be clear about what you want to achieve.

C. Some tasks may seem more difficult to achieve than others.

D. Try to specifically explain what you want to achieve as early as possible.

E. Keep in mind that you may have to change your plan as you work toward your goal.

F. With a well-designed plan, you can achieve nearly any goal you set out to accomplish.

G. Depending on your goal, you may even consider different ways to reach your goal.

16.   17.   18.   19.   20.

（五）

閱读理解

A

Family-Friendly Events in January

ZooLights: Glow Wild???Jan. 1—19

The Phoenix Zoos yearly holiday light show is on until Jan. 19, allowing families one or more opportunities to enjoy the citys zoo, with millions of lights giving an added dimension (规模) to the festivities.

Glow Wild, 455 N. Galvin Pkwy., Phoenix, phoenixzoo.org, $11.95 members, $13.95 general admission.

Downtown Mesa Festival of the Arts???Jan. 4—18

The Downtown Mesa Festival of the Arts features the work of established and emerging artists, including those who create woodwork, metal crafts, food items, art, photography and gifts.

On Macdonald, off of Main Street in Downtown Mesa, dtmesafest.com, free admission.

Family Fun Winterfest???Jan. 4

OdySea Aquarium in the Desert is hosting the third annual Family Fun Winterfest in its Desert Courtyard, featuring real snow for the kids to play in. This free event features everything from bounce houses to rides, games, snowflake (雪花) crafts and face painting to go with various stands set up by local sellers, with food and other offerings for sale at the event.

9500 E. Via de Ventura, Scottsdale, odyseainthedesert.com, free.

Youth Fine Arts Courses???Jan. 18—Mar. 7

Mesa Arts Center is hosting an eight-week youth arts course on Saturdays to teach artistic skills and knowledge through fun and challenging art classes in a wide variety of art materials, including painting, drawing, mixed media and sculpture, ensuring mentally stimulating sessions for all.

Mesa Art Center, 1 E. Main St, Mesa, mesaartscenter.com, $93.

1. How can you get a discounted ticket to the ZooLights show?

A. Bring a friend. B. Join a tour group. C. Get a membership. D. Book a ticket online.

2. What can kids do at Family Fun Winterfest?

A. Meet local artists. B. Enjoy real snow. C. Take art classes. D. Have free food.

3. Which event lasts the longest?

A. ZooLights: Glow Wild. B. Downtown Mesa Festival of the Arts.

C. Family Fun Winterfest. D. Youth Fine Arts Courses.

B

It has been Wu Rongjins dream to be a positive influence on her students since she started teaching at Luwan No.1 Central Primary School in Shanghai.

The school, near the memorial for the Site of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) (中共一大会址), has rich historical resources to help its students learn about the history of the CPC.

During a visit to the memorial in 2005, Wu noticed some of the students were not interested in the guides description. Later, Wu arranged for the students to revisit the memorial, and write their own tour and narration script (解说词) in simple language. Wu wanted to help the students learn about the revolutionary (革命的) tradition in China, and treasure their happy lives.

A group of the students began working as tour guides, especially for visitors of their own age, at the memorial. The students lively narrations have won high praise from visitors.

During the past 17 years, Wu has worked with the students (tour guides) to organize tours, write narration scripts, and explore new forms of narration in Chinese and English.

Many former members of the teenage narration team have continued taking part in related narration activities, even though many of them are now studying in middle schools or universities, or have even started working life.

Hu, now a middle school student, says he is often stopped on the street and told, “I remember you. You were a member of the teenage narration team at the memorial.” Lin, another former member of the team, is studying abroad. She says she can still remember all of the narration scripts.

4. Why did Wu lead the students to the memorial again?

A. To help them further know about the history. B. To make preparations for a history exam.

C. To collect information to write an article. D. To teach them how to respect others.

5. What can we infer about the students narration as tour guides?

A. It annoys the old. B. It creates new jobs. C. It is a bad decision. D. It is a successful story.

6. What does Lin think about the narration work?

A. It gets her into trouble. B. It puts great pressure on her.

C. It leaves a deep impression on her. D. It wins popularity with foreign students.

7. Which word can best describe Wu as a teacher?

A. Strict. B. Honest. C. Creative. D. Humorous.

C

Every parent wants their children to develop well. Sometimes it seems that a childs game is empty entertainment and it would be better to replace it with something more useful. However, for a child, play is the main way of interacting with the world, mastering new knowledge and skills.

The game forms a unique model of the world, redesigned in accordance with the needs and capabilities of the children. It reflects the real world and helps to master it. That is why it is so important to choose the right toys for your children.

For a child, any game is the same productive activity as work for an adult. And if the result of adult work is the produced “product”, for children, the result of the game is new knowledge about the world and a better understanding of how the world works. Interacting with other children during the game, the child develops his or her own style of behavior and communication. In short, play is critical to development because it is the way a child interacts with the world.

Through the game, children learn new skills and develop speech, thinking and logic (逻辑), memory, attention and other mental functions. In games, children learn to follow the rules, control their behaviors, develop communication skills with peers and adults. Often the game becomes a way for children to cope with their difficult experiences and express their feelings of fear, anger, resentment (愤恨), sadness and shame. The game also will bring pleasure, joy and a lot of other positive emotions to children—and the significance of this cannot be underestimated. Also, through the game, children learn to be proud of their success, which supports their self-esteem (自尊). Enough self-esteem is the key to the full development of the individual.

The role of an adult in play is to support and encourage the child. This helps the child understand that his opinion is valuable, and his ideas and fantasies deserve respect.

8. What does Paragraph 1 mainly tell us about a childs game?

A. Parents think it unnecessary. B. It is troublesome.

C. It is important. D. It can be replaced by other activities.

9. What does the underlined word “product” in Paragraph 3 refer to for children?

A. Reflection of work value. B. Output from hardworking.

C. New knowledge and theory. D. Wonderment from growth stage.

10. What is talked about children playing a game in Paragraph 4?

A. The popularity of it. B. The way of it.

C. The benefit of it. D. The rules of it.

11. What is a suitable title for the text?

A. Test the Importance of Play on Life Skills B. Build Important Life Skills Through Play

C. Change the Ways of Developing Life Skills D. Keep Away from Play to Develop Children

D

Zebrafish, named for their characteristic stripes (条纹), have been a popular test subject for researchers. Only a few centimeters in length, the fish reproduce easily in captivity (圈养), grow quickly, and their transparent body makes it easy to study their organs. Above all, they possess some surprising “self-healing” power. When part of their heart is removed, they can grow it back in a matter of weeks. When blinded, they can quickly regain the ability to see.

Recent studies show that humans and zebrafish have the same major organs and share 70 percent of the genes. Moreover, 84 percent of human genes associated with disease find a counterpart (對应的事物) in zebrafish. Scientists thus hope that understanding the self-healing mystery of the fish may one day allow humans to regenerate such organs as eyes, hearts, and spines.

Researchers at Vanderbilt University are particularly interested in zebrafish retina (視网膜) regeneration. They have learned that damage of retina can cause blindness in zebrafish, yet it only takes about three to four weeks before vision is regained. The structure and cell types of zebrafish retina are almost the same to those of humans. If the process can be copied in humans, it may give rise to new treatments for blindness caused by retinal damage.

In order to know exactly how zebrafsh retina is regenerated, the team looked at the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a chemical messenger in the brain that reduces the activity of neurons. They found that lowering GABA levels in zebrafish can activate retina regeneration, while a high level of GABA concentration will suppress the regeneration process. This suggested that GABA plays an important role in the fishs ability to regain their sight. The result served as a further proof to scientists previous work.

The team is beginning to test the GABA theory on mice. If that works, human trials will be next on the plan. If the research proves successful in humans, some of the nearly 40 million blind people worldwide may one day have a tiny, striped fish to thank.

12. What is the most amazing for zebrafish?

A. Its regeneration ability. B. Its excellent eyesight.

C. Its transparent body. D. Its beautiful stripes.

13. What does the underlined word “suppress” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?

A. Hold back. B. Get over. C. Draw up. D. Add up.

14. What can we learn about the study in Vanderbilt University?

A. It copied its experimental process in humans.

B. Its first experimental subject is mice.

C. It helped researchers get unexpected discoveries.

D. Its results are in line with previous study findings.

15. What does the text mainly talk about?

A. Zebrafish retina is mysterious. B. Zebrafish can heal themselves.

C. Zebrafish may help us cure blindness. D. Zebrafish try to regain its self-healing power.

阅读七选五

ChatGPT, launched in November, 2022, has attracted over 100 million monthly users in just two months, which is considered the fastest-growing consumer app. 16

ChatGPT can write emails, computer code, even academic papers and poems. 17 With various functions, it is suspected to do no good to many areas, especially the higher education.

18

The answers varies greatly across the world. Some universities have banned it due to the warning that it could cause more students to cheat, especially in exams. 19 Andreas Schleicher, director of education and skills of the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development, for instance, said he welcomes ChatGPT because “it gives people a chance” to concentrate less on tasks that technology can perform equally well.

According to a survey covering more than 100 educators and over 1,000 students, one-third of the educators said they believe ChatGPT should be banned in schools and universities, while the rest supported students having access to it. The attitude of most students sees a distinct difference. 20

As a result, the observed value and usefulness of ChatGPT seem to outweigh the risks. What we should focus on has shifted to better deal with the chatbot and its development.

A. So is ChatGPT a benefit or a trouble?

B. It is undoubtedly a shocking achievement.

C. Others regard it as an aid rather than a barrier.

D. Also, it has succeeded in passing different kinds of exams.

E. It is widely discussed whether AI should be involved in a scientific article.

F. The worry is that ChatGPT could change the structure of higher education.

G. They admitted having sought help from ChatGPT to complete their homework.

16.   17.   18.   19.   20.

（六）

閱读理解

A

Positions for You to Choose From

A care worker

Sex: female

Requirements: personal in-home assistance experience with the ability and patience to get along with the senior population, a valid drivers license and a PPD test or a physical exam.

A kitchen helper

Sex: male

Requirements: only 1-year experience with the ability to lift up to 50 pounds, stand for long periods while filling bags or cartons with portions of food, serving meals, transferring supplies, and performing other duties: the ability to multitask, follow basic kitchen duty directions and have an up-to-date drivers license.

An overnight cook

Sex: male

Requirements: minimum of 2-year cooking experience with the ability, to interpret documents and safety rules, multitask in busy kitchens, lift 50 pounds and have an up-to-date drivers license and own transportation.

A kitchen manager

Sex: male and female

Requirements: minimum of 3-year cooking experience with the ability to interpret documents and safety rules, multitask in busy kitchens and lift up to 30 pounds frequently and experience with inventory and ordering.

Visit aquinn@cheerde.com or go to 546 South Bedford St. for more information.

1. Which job is suitable for a woman good at communicating with the elderly?

A. A care worker. B. A kitchen helper. C. An overnight cook. D. A kitchen manager.

2. How should a kitchen helper be?

A. Patient. B. Strong. C. Smart. D. Kind.

3. What do the four jobs have in common?

A. Theyre popular with drivers. B. They require interpreting skills.

C. Theyre related to kitchen safety. D. They require professional experience.

B

As a young girl growing up in France, Sarah Toumi dreamed of becoming a leader who could make the world a better place. Her passion to help others was awakened when, from the age of nine, she accompanied her Tunisian father to his birthplace in the east of the country during holidays. There she organized homework clubs and activities for children.

Toumi witnessed first-hand the destructive effect of desertification (沙漠化). “Within 10 years rich farmers became worse off, and in 10 years from now they will be poor. I wanted to stop the Sahara Desert in its tracks.” A decrease in average rainfall and an increase in the severity of droughts have led to an estimated 75 percent of Tunisias agricultural lands being threatened by desertification.

Toumi recognized that farming practices needed to change. She is confident that small land areas can bring large returns if farmers are able to adapt by planting sustainable crops, using new technologies for water treatment and focusing on natural products and fertilizers (肥料) rather than chemicals.

In 2012, Toumi consolidated (鞏固) her dream of fighting the desert. She moved to Tunisia, and set up a program named Acacias for All to put her sustainable farming philosophy into action. “I want to show young people in rural areas that they can create opportunities where they are. Nobody is better able to understand the impact of desertification and climate change than somebody who is living with no access to water.”

By September 2016, more than 130,000 acacia trees had been planted on 20 pilot farms, with farmers recording a 60 percent survival rate. Toumi estimates that some 3 million acacia trees are needed to protect Tunisias farmland. She expects to plant 1 million trees by 2018. In the next couple of years, Toumi hopes to extend the program to Algeria and Morocco.

4. What did Toumi want to do after her trips to Tunisia?

A. Leave the country. B. Become a teacher.

C. Help the local people. D. Know more about her father.

5. What is the main cause of the desertification of Tunisias farmland?

A. Low rainfall. B. Cold weather. C. Soil pollution. D. Forest damage.

6. Why did Toumi set up Acacias for All in Tunisia?

A. To stop using fertilizers. B. To protect Tunisians farmland.

C. To create more job opportunities. D. To make the children better educated.

7. What can be the best title for the text?

A. Saving Water in Tunisia B. Holding Back the Sahara

C. Planting Trees of Native Species D. Fighting Poverty in North Africa

C

Gardeners who claim that talking to plants encourages them to grow have long been seen as a little silly. But scientists have discovered evidence which suggests the gardeners may actually be right and plants could be listening to them. Biologists at Tel Aviv University in Israel have found that flowers can act as a plants “ears” to help them detect the sound of approaching insects.

When the researchers played recordings of flying bees to evening primrose flowers, within three minutes the sugar concentrations in the nectar (花蜜) of its flowers increased. The liquid, produced to attract pollinating (授粉) insects, was on average 20 percent higher in flowers exposed to the buzz (嗡嗡聲) compared to those left in silence or exposed to higher pitched sounds. Professor Lilach Hadany, who led the study, said, “Our results document for the first time that plants can rapidly respond to pollinator sounds in an ecologically relevant way.”

However, Prof Hadany said a plants ability to respond to pollinators may be weakened in city environments or beside a busy road. While plants require water, sunlight and the right temperature to grow, it is widely believed they do not have senses in the way animals do.

But the study, published on the open-science website BioRxiv, suggests the efforts of gardeners who talk to their plants may not be in vain. “Plants ability to hear has indirect meanings well beyond pollination—plants could potentially hear and respond to herbivores, other animals, the elements, and possibly other plants,” Prof Hadany added.

A month-long experiment conducted by the Royal Horticultural Society found female voices appear to speed up the growth of tomatoes. The research offers a possible explanation—womens voices were at the right frequency for the plants to hear.

8. What is evening primrose flowers response to bees buzz?

A. Sweeter nectar. B. Brighter color. C. Longer bloom. D. Less liquid.

9. Where can plants grow better according to Hadany?

A. On a square. B. In the woods. C. Along the street. D. Beside a highway.

10. What can we infer from the research?

A. Plant gardeners prove kind of stupid.

B. Plants can only potentially hear animals.

C. Plants respond to sounds slowly and ecologically.

D. Plants gardeners talk to frequently develop well.

11. What does the text mainly talk about?

A. Womens voices improve plants growth. B. Plants cant grow well without sound.

C. Bees are the best pollinators. D. Plants can hear.

D

Do our musical preferences say something about our personality or how we view relationships? According to new research, they just may.

In the study, 469 participants listed 7—15 of their favorite songs about something related to relationships. Then, they filled out questionnaires that measured their attachment style in relationships. People with an anxious attachment style fear being abandoned while people with an avoidant attachment (逃避依附) style dislike connecting with others. Those with a secure attachment style see themselves as worthy of love and enjoy being close to others.

Research assistants read the lyrics (歌詞) of the songs people chose and rated how much those lyrics reflected different attachment styles. According to the analysis, those who were more avoidant preferred songs with avoidant themes, while people who scored high in neuroticism (神经质) preferred songs expressing more anxious themes.

According to the lead author, Ravin Alaei of the University of Toronto, this is the first study that examines how song lyrics play a role in music preferences. “One reason people turn to music is that it can validate what they think, feel, and do in relationships and lyrics matter for that,” he says. “People enjoy having their feelings and thoughts spoken back to them.”

Next, the researchers pulled together 823 popular songs. After rating how much these songs lyrics reflected different attachment themes, they compared songs from 1946—1965 to those from 1990—2015. They found more recent popular songs were likelier to have avoidant attachment themes and less secure lyrics than older popular songs.

Alaei believes this could be because people are less connected than they used to be. “Weve become more individualistic, and we feel lonelier these days than people used to several decades ago. Social media may make people feel less connected,” he says.

12. What do those with avoidant attachment style tend to do?

A. Worry about their future. B. Keep close to their friends.

C. Enjoy songs full of anxiety. D. Stay away from the outside.

13. What does the underlined word “validate” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?

A. Improve. B. Imagine. C. Prove. D. Steal.

14. What can we infer about the researchers finding in the study?

A. Older popular songs had more secure lyrics.

B. Lyrics hardly affected participants attachment.

C. Songs with more anxious themes were more popular.

D. People fond of recent popular songs got angry easily.

15. What can we learn about music preferences from the text?

A. They are opposite to personalities. B. They are reliant on social media.

C. They can impact life satisfaction. D. They may reflect our personal lives.

閱读七选五

People love to sing! Whether you sing in the shower or with a chorus, raising your voice in song comes with some very surprising benefits. From improving your mood to making you healthier, there is scientific evidence that singing is good for your body and your mind. 16

It helps relieve stress.

Singing can help relieve stress by reducing cortisol (皮质醇), a hormone that is known as the “stress hormone”. 17 Too much cortisol is very bad for your health. A study measured the amount of cortisol in the participants before and after singing. The researchers found that cortisol levels were lower after singing.

18

People who sing use deep breathing and control the use of the muscles in their breathing systems. While singing cannot treat lung diseases, anything that helps to strengthen the throat muscles could help people breathe easier.

It helps you have a sound sleep.

If your sleep is interrupted by snoring (打鼾), try singing. 19 A 2008 UK study about the effect of singing on snoring compared singers with non-singers. The researchers found that far fewer singers snored, and they recommend singing as a potential treatment for snoring.

It may improve memory.

20 A study found that besides remembering the lyrics, singing brought back other memories too. The researchers found that singing songs that were learned in childhood actually caused a return of very specific memories and that gave the participants a feeling of hope and positivity.

A. It helps improve mood.

B. It may improve lung function.

C. It is naturally produced by your body.

D. So go ahead and sing to your hearts content.

E. Older people with memory loss can often recall song lyrics.

F. It makes no difference whether they sing alone or in a group.

G. Thats because singing strengthens throat muscles, which in turn reduces snoring.

16.   17.   18.   19.   20.