2023届江苏高考英语阅读理解专项训练（含解析）

阅读理解
As any cat owner will tell you, talking to your cat is totally normal. And even though feline(猫) friends may seem distant to these adoring talks, a new study in Animal Cognition suggests they are really listening.
Researchers in France exposed house cats to recordings of their owner or a stranger saying phrases in cat-or human-directed speech. Like baby talk, cat-directed speech is typically higher pitched with short, repetitive phrases. The team found that felines tended to react to their owner speaking in cat-directed speech—but not to their owner speaking in adult tones or to a stranger using either adult-or cat-directed speech.
Previous research had shown similar findings in dogs, but much less is known when it comes to cats. “Some people still consider cats independent—you cannot have a real relationship with cats,” says lead study author Charlotte Mouzon, a cat behaviorist at the University of Paris Nanterre. Some people might be embarrassed about using special vocalizations for cats, she says, but this research shows “people shouldn’t be ashamed.”
Mouzon and her team recorded 16 cat owners saying such as “Do you want to play ” or “Do you want a treat ” in cat-and human-directed speech. Then they filmed each cat before, during and after playing it a series of recordings of its owner and other owners’ speech. The researchers used software to rate the cats’ reactions from multiple dimensions, making the result more convincing.
“Although cats have a reputation for ignoring their owners, a growing body of research indicates that cats pay close attention to humans,” says Kristyn Vitale, a cat behavior scientist at Unity College in Maine, who was not involved in the study. “Cats can learn that specific speech has certain meanings.” But she notes the study is too small and that future work is needed to expand the research to other cat populations.
1．According to paragraph 2, what do house cats respond obviously to
A．The owner’s cat-directed tone. B．A stranger’s human-directed talks.
C．A stranger’s cat-directed recordings. D．The owner’s human-directed speech.
2．What does the underlined word “vocalization” mean in paragraph 3
A．Strategies. B．Trainings. C．Sounds. D．Rhymes.
3．What makes Mouzon’s findings more reliable
A．Continuous filming of cats’ responses. B．Comprehensive analyses backed by software.
C．Multi-dimensional evaluations of cats’ habits. D．Further reference to previous studies on dogs.
4．What is the limitation of Mouzon’s research
A．Lack of sample types. B．Absence of owners’ support.
C．Absence of scientific tools. D．Lack of experts’ involvement.
A study has revealed that renting clothes, long regarded as one of the “answers” to fashion’s sustainability crisis, is worse for the planet than throwing them away.
The study assessed the environmental impact of five different ways of owning and disposing of (处理) clothing, including renting, resale and recycling. It found that renting clothes had the highest climate impact of all. The hidden environmental cost was found to be delivery and packaging costs. Renting involves taking the clothes back and forth between the warehouse and the renter. Dry cleaning is also harmful to the environment.
Renting clothes has been thought of the sustainable alternative to fast fashion, popularised by companies such as Rent the Runway and public figures like Carrie Symonds, who rented her wedding dress and her outfits for the G7 conference.
The growing sector, which according to GlobalData is going to be worth 2.3bn by 2029, has been regarded as a possible solution to fashion’s environmental crisis. A report by the World Economic Forum this year suggested that the industry generates 5% of global emissions.
However instead of solving fashion’s environmental crisis, renting should be recategorised. “We should think of renting like second-hand shopping,” said Dana Thomas, author of the study. “It’s not something we do all the time, instead of buying our clothes and swapping out outfits nonstop, but on occasion, when the need arises, like dances or weddings.”
The study found many rental brands misuse the term “circular economy” — the system where clothes are passed from person to person before being recycled — as a form of greenwashing. “No manager wants to optimize (优化) their business, and that’s what ‘going green’ will require,” said Thomas. “They are too focused on short-term gains to invest in long-term benefits.”
“Only regulation will solve that problem. No company, in any industry, will volunteer to take a loss for the sake of the planet. They’ll do so when it’s the law. The biggest obstacle is greed.”
The new study suggests that if rental companies change their logistics (物流) to make them more climate friendly, renting would, environmentally, be on a level with reselling. It also found that the most sustainable way to consume fashion is to buy fewer high-quality items and to wear them for as long as possible.
5．What makes renting clothes the worst green option for consumers of fashion
A．Storage cost. B．Rising rental price.
C．Complex renting procedures. D．Transportation and dry cleaning.
6．What does the study say concerning renting clothes
A．It serves as a sustainable alternative to fast fashion. B．It is beneficial to the economic development.
C．It is adoptable for some special occasions. D．It saves the need of buying new clothes.
7．How can we force rental companies to optimize their business
A．By reducing their taxes. B．By making up for their losses.
C．By making relevant laws. D．By enhancing their eco-awareness.
8．What’s the most sustainable way to consume fashion
A．Avoid renting fashions. B．Buy less and buy better.
C．Wear second-hand fashions. D．Pick up bargains at sales.
While you might be tempted (诱惑) to gobble up your dinner, researchers say there may be advantages to taking your time over a meal. Eating slowly could help prevent obesity (肥胖), with researchers finding a link to both lower waist line and body mass index (BMI).
The study, published in the journal BMJ Open by researchers in Japan, looked at data collected though health checkups and claims from more than 59,700 individuals as part of health insurance plans, with data from 1998 to mid-2012.
The results reveal that 21.5% of the slow-eating group was obese, compared to almost 30% of the normal-speed group and 45% of the fast-eating group. While the slow eaters had an average BMI of just over 22, the normal eaters had a BMI of 23.5 on average, and the fast eaters had an average BMI of around 25, while waist circumference was also found to increase with faster eating pace.
Further analysis found that slower eating speed, not skipping breakfast regularly and not regularly eating dinner just before bed were all associated with a lower chance of obesity.
With almost a third of participants having had two checkups, the team were also able to look at the impact of changing habits. The results reveal that those who switched to eating more slowly between health checks, not snacking after dinner or eating dinner just before going to bed all showed signs of a reduction in their BMI. Changing breakfast habits, using antidiabetic (抗糖尿病) mediation and stopping regular smoking were not linked to any changes in BMI.
Tam Fry, chairman of the National Obesity Forum, said: “The speed at which a lot of people wolf down their food is undeniably a contributor to obesity. In particular, workers who gobble up their lunch at the desk are doing their health no favours. They should stop what they’re doing, switch off their phones and emails and preferably take a half hour away from the office altogether.”
9．What does the underlined part “gobble up” in Para. 1 mean
A．Cook. B．Skip.
C．Order online. D．Eat quickly.
10．How did the researchers get their findings
A．By analyzing decades’ data. B．By making comparisons.
C．By referring to another study. D．By measuring participants’ waistline.
11．What do we know about the impact of changing habits on BMI
A．It is unrelated. B．It is obvious.
C．It is not confirmed. D．It remains to be seen.
12．What does Tam Fry intend to do in the last paragraph
A．Criticize fast eaters. B．Make a summary.
C．Offer a suggestion. D．Provide evidence.
The best ideas are often so smart, so simple and so clearly needed; it’s strange to discover they don’t already exist. So it is with Farm My School, a program that’s turning underused land at secondary schools into commercially achievable, regenerative market gardens farmed by and for local communities.
Co-founded by permaculturist Ben Shaw and regenerative educator James McLennan, Farm My School connects local people and organizations through volunteering that helps establish a school’s market garden. Students learn about community networks, healthy eating, ecological responsibility, waste reduction, and climate relief while helping with food production. Schools integrate all these into their courses while producing vegetable boxes every week that feed local families, supply the school’s food needs and ultimately pay the farmer’s salary.
Farm My School has gained the extraordinary enthusiasm of the locals, who answered an online shout-out to buy tickets to the program’s launch event at Bell Secondary School last October. Called Build A Farm in a Day Festival, the event featured workshops by Ben and James to share the skills required to build what they say is the world’s largest no-dig garden. “It was such a powerful event, and I think that comes down to people wanting to act now,” says James. “We charged for the experience and 600 guys turned up! They didn’t even need free drinks to get excited. We were gardening till midnight. It was amazing. We’ve got true community buy-in.”
Volunteers have since begun beneficial planting throughout the school. Next steps include further discussions with local communities, employing a farmer, and bringing in a teacher to develop courses. “We’ve seen this huge push towards seeing schools as regenerative spaces, not just for planting but for kids to be more connected to the outside world, and really seeing the school in a whole new light,” James says. “For us, the big excitement is that by allowing a professional farmer to take the responsibility of growing food, it’s not only on the school to look after that farm anymore, which eventually makes it much more sustainable,” adds Ben.
13．Why was Farm My School founded
A．To raise the income of the local people.
B．To advocate a commercial farming plan.
C．To provide free food for local communities.
D．To turn underused campus land into market gardens.
14．How do schools involve students into the program
A．By developing program-based courses.
B．By organizing voluntary work in communities.
C．By offering them part-time jobs in the market gardens.
D．By encouraging them to produce daily vegetable boxes.
15．What does the underlined word “buy-in” mean in paragraph 3
A．Competition. B．Investment. C．Support. D．Protection.
16．What is the highlight of the program according to Ben
A．It brings in money to support the school. B．The school farm will be able to last long.
C．The local people will take care of the farm. D．Students connect more with the outside world.
In 1977, Irene Pepperberg, a Harvard graduate, decided to investigate the thought processes of another creature by talking to it. To do this, she would teach a one-year-old African gray parrot (鹦鹉), Alex, to reproduce the sounds of the English language.
Pepperberg bought Alex in a pet store, where she let the store’s assistant choose him because she didn’t want other scientists to say that she bad intentionally chosen an especially smart bird. Given that Alex’s brain was just the size of a walnut, most researchers thought Pepperberg’s communication study would be futile.
But with Pepperberg’s patient teaching, Alex learned how to follow almost 100 English words. He could count to six and had learned the sound for seven and eight. But the point was not to see if Alex could learn words by heart. Pepperberg wanted to get inside his mind and learn more about a bird’s understanding of the world.
In one demonstration, Pepperberg held up a green key and a green cup for him to look at. “What’s the same ” she asked. “Color,” Alex responded without hesitation. “What’s different ” Pepperberg asked. “Shape,” Alex quickly replied. His voice had the sound of a cartoon character. But the words — and what can only be called the thoughts — were entirely his. Many of Alex’s skills, such as his ability to understand the concepts of “same” and “different”, are rare in the animal world. Living in a complex society, parrots like Alex must keep track of changing relationships and environments.
During the demonstration, as if to offer final proof of the mind inside his bird’s brain, Alex spoke up. “Talk clearly!” he commanded, when one of the younger birds Pepperberg was also teaching mispronounced the word “green”.
Alex knew all the answers himself and was getting bored. “He’s moody,” said Pepperberg, “so he interrupts the others, or he gives the wrong answer just to be difficult.” Pepperberg was certainly learning more about the mind of a parrot, but like the parent of a troublesome teenager, she was learning the hard way.
17．Why did Pepperberg let the shop assistant choose the bird
A．A bird with a small brain was needed. B．She wanted a very smart bird for her study.
C．A research subject should be randomly chosen. D．The shop assistant was better at choosing birds.
18．What might most researchers think of Pepperberg’s study at first
A．Innovative. B．Practical. C．Costly. D．Fruitless.
19．Which of the following aspects of Alex’s ability did Pepperberg’s study focus on
A．Understanding concepts. B．Calculating.
C．Recognizing voices. D．Creating English words.
20．What caused Pepperberg’s struggle in her study
A．Her instructions had to be easy for Alex. B．Alex was sometimes too clever to control.
C．Alex would point out other birds’ mistakes. D．She had trouble understanding Alex’s mood.
It goes without saying that sitting at a desk for a majority of the day will hurt our health. But don’t worry because there is a solution! After spending much time investigating the different offers when it comes to exercise equipment suitable for the office, I’d like to reveal some of my top recommendations.
☆ Stability CushionThese cushions are excellent to relieve back pain and shoulder aches, stabilize joints and strengthen muscles. Pros & Cons Small and lightweight .Works well for lower back and posture · Inflating isn’t easy for some ☆ Under-desk EllipticalKeeping your feet in motion while seated can go a long way to keep you happier, reduce stress, and increase your productivity Pros & Cons Easy to carry like a briefcase Whisper quiet and easy to use ·The rubber around the metal bar can wear out over time
☆ Fitness TrackerWhat gets measured gets managed, and one great way to keep track of your fitness data is a fitness tracker. A fitness tracker records your energy levels, steps, distance, hourly activity and more Pros & Cons ·Very comfortable to wear ·Lots of apps can be operated together ·Various customized options ·Sometimes there are connectivity issues ☆ Balance Ball ChairSitting on a balance ball leads to increased energy and productivity. In that way, it’s perfect for completing tasks at home or in the office. This chair promotes micro-movements, core strength, and stimulation Pros & Cons ·Straightforward to build ·A great solution if you experience back pain ·Needs to be reinflated often
21．Who are the intended readers of the text
A．Fitness trainers. B．Recovering patients.
C．Office workers. D．Furniture designers.
22．Which equipment promises to improve work efficiency
A．Stability Cushion and Fitness Tracker.
B．Stability Cushion and Balance Ball Chair.
C．Under-desk Elliptical and Fitness Tracker.
D．Under-desk Elliptical and Balance Ball Chair.
23．What may be the problem of Fitness Tracker
A．It wears out easily over time. B．It may fail to get linked at times.
C．It offers few personalized choices. D．It doesn’t allow the use of other apps.
At an age where many of his contemporaries are winding down, Jo Schoonbroodt is somehow speeding up. On Sunday, the 71-year-old from the Netherlands, ran a marathon in 2hr 54min 19sec to become the fastest septuagenarian (70-90 年龄组) in history.
A few days later, when the Times catches up with him, his achievement is still sinking in. “I only started jogging at 36 because my doctor told me I had high cholesterol (胆固醇),” he says. “But last year I ran 7,242 kilometres, which is more than double what I did in my car.”
But the secrets of his success might surprise you。 “Most runners train too hard. I do a lot of my training with groups who run very slowly. And then I build on these basics with some faster interval training.”
Schoonbroodt often runs at 9-or 10-minute mile pace, far slower than the 6.38min / mile he ran for 26.2 miles to set his world record, but he says the crucial thing is that he listens to his body. “A lot of people follow a training plan or coach and push on even when their body is saying: ‘No, this is not a good day to do it.’ But if you go out the door and just do what you feel, it’s easier to keep running and stay injury-free.”
Being a late bloomer (大器晚成), he believes, has actually helped him because his ego (自我意识) never had to worry about chasing faster times of his youth. “Because I started so late, I missed my best years. But that’s no problem. Everything is still new to me.”
Schoonbroodt, meanwhile, has no plans to put his feet up. “My next marathon is in two and a half weeks, on an old Roman road built 2,000 years ago,” he says, the excitement obvious. It will be his third in 2023. And with that he is off. After all, the quest (追求) for another sub-three-hour marathon waits for no man. Not even one who is 71.
24．What message does Schoonbrodt’s story carry
A．It is never too late to run. B．More haste, less speed.
C．Time waits for no man. D．An earlier bird catches the worm.
25．What is the secret behind Schoonbrodt’s success
A．He competed with slower runners.
B．He made full use of the intervals.
C．He trained in line with his condition.
D．He ran faster in the races than in trainings.
26．Why is being a late bloomer helpful to Schoonbrodt
A．He can draw lessons from other runners.
B．He has no youthful success to think back to.
C．He can equip himself with new running skills.
D．He has a strong desire to make up for the lost time.
27．How does Schoonbrodt talk about his next marathon
A．He is unsure of winning it. B．He is eager to participate in it.
C．He has no plan to enter for it. D．He will not run it in three hours.
Summer Programs
ISSOS
The ISSOS summer school program offers high school students the opportunity to combine learning, creative enrichment and action-packed adventure in the historic campus of Yale University. Our three-week program welcomes students from over 60 nationalities, and limits the number of students from one nationality to 10% in order to guarantee a truly international experience.
Students choose from a variety of academic and elective subjects and benefit from full activities, cultural trip and workshop program. In addition, students are supervised(指导)by summer school advisors who make sure the summer school is fun and that all students make friends from around the world.
Summer Institute for the Gifted
The Summer Institute for the Gifted(SIC) is a program of the AlFS Foundation, a not-for-profit organization. At Yale, SIG offers a 3-week summer academic program for gifted and academically talented students aged 13- 17. At SIC students take 4 classes from the subject areas of STEAM, arts, and recreation.
A+Summer Program
Education Unlimited is a privately held California Corporation with the mission of giving every high school student the best possible chance of gaining acceptance into the college of their choice.
Their unique summer offerings include the A + Summer Program hosted at Yale, which is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to be involved in an environment that encourages advanced thinking, creative problem solving, and a lifelong love of learning.
Capitol Debate
The 2023 Summer Debate Camp will be held at Yale University from June 28 to July 9. Students will build public speaking, research, writing, and critical thinking skills, leading to better academic performance. The two-week program will provide students with the proper mindset, skillset, toolset and critical communication skills needed for success in many fields of speech.
28．What can people do in ISSOS summer school program
A．Lear to speak a foreign language.
B．Make friends with native students.
C．Engage in cultural and academic activities.
D．Take elective courses given by supervisors.
29．Which program can help students gain admission into university
A．ISSOS summer school program.
B．A+Summer Program.
C．Summer Institute for the Gifted
D．Capitol Debate.
30．What do the listed summer programs have in common
A．They target at undergraduates.
B．They last for the whole summer.
C．They focus on academic lectures.
D．They are hosted at Yale University.
A promotion offering 98 yuan domestic plane tickets is being advertised by Chinese online travel platform LY. COM. While such a low price sounds amazing, there is just one catch: The purchase is not told where the flight is heading, nor when it will take off.
The promotion has become a trending topic on Chinese social media, as some people have been attempting to book them ahead of the upcoming summer holiday. Labeled as a “destination blind box” on the site, tickets are purchased through a rather simple booking procedure, in which passengers provide their travel information, select a departure airport and then pay their 98 yuan. If the randomly chosen date and destination are unsuitable, users may ask for a refund, but once they “lock in” their tickets, there is no going back.
The “destination blind box” is now a hot topic on China’s online platforms. “I believe young people are a big target demographic (目标群体) for this promotion, because they not only enjoy the thrill of the unknown, but also like to show off their lives through these types of commercial activities. Like this one for instance, it doesn’t matter whether they finally go or not. Booking a ticket and posting about it on social media can still suggest that one has adventurous and life- loving qualities,” said Fan, a marketing expert who has worked with civil aviation clients.
Many people not only shared the screenshots of tickets they drew, but also came up with a tutorial to teach the booking procedure under the free canceling policy. However, some others claimed it is too rare to draw a ticket that is ideal. “If it wants to be a profitable activity, the release of the tickets must have been planned ahead and is not as random as it seems. It will not have popular airlines. The marketing campaign may also be aimed at the fast sale of some tickets from less popular airlines that were originally not that expensive. If they sell a large quantity of tickets, the company may still earn a profit even though the price is 98 yuan,” an expert in tourism suggested.
31．Which of the following best explains “catch” underlined in paragraph 1
A．Benefit. B．Disadvantage. C．Mistake. D．Charm.
32．What is paragraph 2 mainly about
A．The origin of the “destination blind box”.
B．The popularity of the “destination blind box”.
C．The original purpose of the “destination blind box”.
D．The purchase introduction to the “destination blind box”.
33．Why will a “destination blind box” appeal to young people according to Fan
A．It helps them save money on the cost of travel.
B．It allows them to experience various adventures.
C．It satisfies their desire to travel around China.
D．It agrees with their lifestyles and attitudes.
34．What can we infer about the promotion from the last paragraph
A．It facilitates getting an ideal ticket.
B．It will not bring in any profit.
C．It still needs to be improved.
D．It will give a boost to tourism.
Seismometer (地震仪) stations not only sense ground shaking due to earthquakes but alsc signals at the surface of our planet, such as storms and — as the researchers discovered — also floods. For this research, scientists turned an earthquake seismometer station near the town of Ahrweiler in Germany into a flood tracking tool. Using seismological information from the time of the event, they can tell people about the disaster in a timely way.
As the town of Ahrweiler took the full force of a flood, scientists found the seismometer exactly showed the track of the flood for one hour. By comparing mathematical models, the researchers were able to estimate (估算) the speed with which the flood moved. In fact, this was the only systematic source of measurable information about how the flood developed because the three present water level stations in the town were out of service early.
As the research shows, this method can provide information that is valuable to track flood for warning and rescue activities. “If the data from that station is available (可用的) and as our research now shows, real time information on the magnitude and speed of the flood will be available as well, ”says Dr Michael Dietze at the University of Gottingen. “As 10% of Europe’s surface area is likely to suffer from rapid flooding by rivers, we may want to start thinking about new ways of flood early warning. The present network of water level stations is not enough to be fully prepared for future events, ”Dietze adds.
Dietze and his team are working on a plan to discover further areas at risk of flooding and provide them with low cost “watch tower” scismometer pairs — an effort to cut the losses caused by future floods. Dietze says, “The deadly July flood that hit the Ahrweiler in Germany in July 2021 gave a warning to the locals, the government, emergency services and scientists — how much we need to learn to improve the present flood warning systems. ”
35．What can be known about Ahrweiler
A．It saw an earthquake. B．It’s turned into a station.
C．It’s hard hit by a flood D．It praised these scientists.
36．What do the researchers expect of the seismometer
A．It’ll speed up water supply. B．It’ll stop rapid flooding.
C．It’ll be a tool for a family. D．It’ll provide early warning.
37．What can we infer from the last paragraph
A．People will cut the cost of public services. B．Efforts should be put into flood control.
C．The government must save its spending. D．The locals have made a plan of action.
38．Where is this text most likely from
A．A health report. B．A guidebook. C．A short story. D．A science magazine.
Gracing every continent of the Earth, wetlands are essential to the planet’s health, often compared to its vital organs， acting as arteries (动脉)that carry water and as kidneys(肾脏)that filter(过滤)harmful substances.
Wetlands serve as protectors: they form protective barriers against tsunamis and absorb the excess rainfall. During the dry season in dry climates, wetlands release the stored water which helps delay the attack of drought and reduce water shortages. They also store vast quantities of carbon, helping ease climate change. Home to some of the most diverse and rich ecosystems, wetlands support one billion people.40 percent of all plant and animal species live or breed in wetlands.
World Wetlands Day is observed each year on 2 February to increase people’s understanding ofthe importance of wetlands and raise awareness of the urgent need to protect the threatened natural treasure.
“We are proud to join in this celebration and recognize the unique and valuable ecosystemservices provided by wetlands. We are committed to doing our part to conserve and protect wetlands,and we are calling on all of you to join us in this vital cause,” said UNCCD (The United NationsConvention to Combat Desertification) Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw.
To date, nearly 90 percent of the world’s wetlands have been degraded or lost,with 35 percentin the last 5O years alone. That is why on this World Wetlands Day,UNCCD is joining the RamsarConvention on Wetlands and other partners to highlight the examples of countries and communities making strides in wetland restoration.
As stressed by the UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw, successful wetland restoration requires a joint effort from governments, civil society and the private sector. Investments in science for technology innovation, infrastructure for effective management and financial mechanisms for project implementation(实施)can turn the tide toward a better futurefor wetlands.
39．Why are wetlands essential to us
A．They help fight against viruses.
B．They offer clean drinking water.
C．They maintain ecological balance.
D．They prevent the natural disasters.
40．How does the author present the current situation of wetlands in paragraph 5
A．By giving examples.
B．By listing figures.
C．By making comparisons.
D．By analyzing causes.
41．What do the underlined words “turn the tide” mean in paragraph 6
A．Follow the trend. B．Break the ice.
C．Run the risk. D．Change the game.
42．What is the text mainly about
A．Wetland ecosystem.
B．Wetland restoration.
C．Wetland exploration.
D．Wetland biodiversity.
In Japan’s northeast Miyagi county, residents can find life partners via a government-sponsored, Artificial Intelligence-driven matchmaking service. Throughout the land, there are public and company-sponsored singles parties and “life design workshops” meant to urge young adults to make a concrete timeline for marriage and family. The city of Tokyo even teaches basic dating skills, such as the art of conversation.
Japan has the fastest-aging population of any post-industrial nation on earth. The current total birth rate -- the average number of children that would be born to a woman over her lifetime -- is1.3, well below the “replacement level” of 2.1 kids per woman, which is broadly accepted as the rate needed to ensure a stable population.
A periodic survey by the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research found close to a fifth of men and about 15% of women expressing disinterest in marriage. Almost a third of men and a fifth of women in their fifties in Japan have never been married.
The country’s leadership is convinced that more marriages are the answer, so Japan’s new Children and Families Agency set to launch in April, will offer “marriage support service” in each of Japan’s 47 counties.
But many experts say the only way Japan can really save itself is by getting rid of the “male breadwinner, female carer” norms (准则) that continue to support policymaking and corporate management. “Post-industrial countries(like Sweden) that made it possible to balance work and family have not suffered large declines in birth rates,” Harvard sociologist Mary Brinton noted in arecent presentation.
Professor Masahiro Yamada, a sociologist at Chuo University, is doubtful whether Japan will escape its existential crisis. “It’s not a problem of matchmaking. It’s an issue of more men with unstable incomes,” he said. “Even among regular workers, relative incomes are falling.”
Lower incomes are far more of a discouragement to marriage in East Asia than in the U.S. or Europe, Yamada says, as Asian men put more emphasis on unilaterally(单方面)earning enough to support children. A truly effective policy, he argues, would double or triple investment in families instead of seniors. “Japan is going to sink, right along with its birth rate,” he warned. “And South Korea and China will be right behind us.”
43．What’s the function of AI-driven matchmaking service
A．To offer a platform for seeking life partners.
B．To update the country’s basic dating service.
C．To sponsor residents to attend singles parties.
D．To teach young Japanese how to go on dates.
44．What can we learn from paragraphs 2 and 3
A．Birth rate in Japan is higher than aging rate.
B．Japan’s population structure is out of balance.
C．Most of the Japanese dislike children or seniors.
D．Women are less likely to marry than men in Japan.
45．What does Masahiro Yamada think of the matchmaking service
A．It leads to an increase of income.
B．It touches the surface of the issue.
C．It saves Japan from the present crisis.
D．It departs from Japan’s existing norm.
46．What can be a suitable title for the text
A．Can Japan increase its birth rate
B．Will the service catch on in Japan
C．Will Japanese men’s incomes rise
D．Can Japanese balance work and family
Five-year-old Willard struggled to tell the difference between an M and a W or a 6 and a 9. Unfortunately, his school teacher knew nothing about dyslexia(阅读障碍). She didn’t try to help him. Not surprisingly, Willard didn’t like school. Usually, his mind drifted-to playing outside, to his dog Maxie, or to the ants that lived near his family’s garden shed. Willard was especially curious about those ants. He felt like them-small and insignificant. Thus, one day, noticing that some ants were trying to build a house, he decided to help them and constructed a little building. Then he put sugar inside to encourage the ants to move in. When they did, Willard built more houses. He even built an ant school, with tiny swings, ladders and a merry-go-round. With the passage of time, a love for little things began to grow in his heart.
At school, Willard still struggled, but now he knew he could do something special. Maybe he wasn’t a failure after all.
When he quit school at age 15 and decided to pursue his dream of becoming one of the best artists in the world, his mother advised him, “The smaller you carve, the bigger your name will become.” So using a powerful microscope, he began to carve grains of sand, bits of fiber, and even specks(小颗粒)of dust.
Willard works best at night when there are few disturbances. He calms his body and, holding his breath, he carves between heart beats when blood is not pulsing through his fingertips. He often works for months to complete a sculpture. Then he paints it with bits of acrylics(丙烯画). Willard’s favorite paintbrush is one hair from the back of a dead housefly!
His sculptures have made Willard a wealthy man. But he says,“Success isn’t about material things like an expensive watch or a costly ring; it’s about persevering and achieving your dreams.”
47．Why does the author mention Willard’s struggles early on in school
A．To express sympathy for Willard’s misfortune.
B．To show the teacher’s ignorance about dyslexia.
C．To state why Willard developed interest in little things.
D．To describe how Willard felt about insignificant things.
48．What can we infer from his mother’s advice in paragraph 3
A．Best artists center on small carvings.
B．It calls for patience to become famous.
C．Carving small is a strategy for success.
D．Achieving big names makes a difference.
49．How have the tiny sculptures affected Willard
A．He has become a millionaire.
B．He has learnt to usemicroscopes well.
C．He has recovered from dyslexia.
D．He has gained a sense of achievement.
50．What mainly contributes to Willard’s success
A．Enough time and others’ recognition.
B．Material pursuit and great enthusiasm.
C．Specific goals and great concentration.
D．Powerful instruments and proper instructions.
Looking for a big-leafed houseplant that will make a statement in your room and decorate yourhome If so, then you’ve come to the right place!
Peace Lily
Extremely easy to look after, this popular, flowering plant is very tolerant and undemanding. It is a beloved houseplant for its large, glossy oval leaves and unusual white spoon-shaped flowers. Typically blooming in the spring, this lovely plant can effectively brighten up a living space.
African Mask Plant
This indoor plant is a smaller plant with large dark green leaves that are shaped like a heart. Native to tropical (热带的) parts of Africa, it prefers high heat and high humidity. That can be somewhat a tricky task for the average plant owner to achieve in their home, who is likely to have trouble duplicating (复制) these steamy conditions.
Snake plant
Commonly referred to as mother-in-law’s tongue, it is one of the easiest houseplants to take care of. With tall, twisting sword-shaped leaves that grow upright, it has air-purifying capabilities and can merrily grow in almost dark corners of the house. But the plant is poisonous to dogs and cats, so it’s wise to keep this plant away from them, if your pets are plant chewers.
Kentia Palm
Caring for the Kentia Palm plant is very straightforward, which can be neglected for weeks at a time. Quite enjoying a bit of shade, it has big leaves that grow from a narrow base and is great for filling a corner without taking up much floor-space. Place it in front of a blank wall, and its archingfronds (大型复叶) will cast beautiful shadows.
51．Which of the following requires an experienced plant owner
A．Peace Lily.
B．African Mask Plant.
C．Snake plant.
D．Kentia Palm.
52．What do we know about the Snake Plant
A．It poses little danger to dogs and cats.
B．It is better for purifying air than others.
C．It gets its name from a poisonous snake.
D．It grows well in shady areas of the house.
53．What feature do the listed household plants share
A．Distinctive leaves.
B．Flowering season.
C．Growth temperature.
D．Striking size.
An artificial skin is even better than human skin at sensing objects, because it can detect and identify items that it hasn’t touched yet.
Even without touching an object, Wang and his colleagues’ artificial skin can sense if it is close by and can also figure out some clues about the type of material it is made of.
The skin is made up of two outer layers of conductive fabric(导电织物) covered with nickel(镍) to serve as electrodes(电极). These surround a porous sponge(多空海绵), soaked(浸泡) in ionic(离子) liquid, which acts as a conduit(导管) for electricity. The two layers act as a capacitor(电容器), storing electrical energy in an electric field.
The sensing performance of the capacitor, which W ang claims is between 10 and 100 times more sensitive than a standard capacitor, means it is also able to detect very minor changes in the electric field around the skin, allowing it to sense when objects are near. What’s more, those subtle changes can help it identify what type of material a nearby object is made of.
“The process is relatively simple. As the component comes close to contact, it enters the edges of the electric field of the capacitive structure,” says Jonathan Aitken at the University of Sheffield, UK. “There are several interesting future routes,” he says, but at present the skin relies on machine learning techniques to identify how the object it detects compared with data on known materials.
Wang thinks the skin could work on a robotic finger to allow factory robots to better understand which objects to pick up and which to leave without having to grasp them, as well as being useful for prostheses(假体).
54．What might be the function of the artificial skin
A．It can tell the color of an object.
B．It can figure out the material of an object.
C．It is far better than the human skin in every way.
D．It can only detect and identify items that it has touched.
55．What do you know about the sensing performance of the capacitor
A．It can tell the exact distance of an object.
B．It can sense the object even it is not near.
C．It is much more sensitive than a standard capacitor.
D．It can sense very big changes in the electric field around the skin.
56．What can you infer from Jonathan Aitken’s words
A．The future routes of the skin is limited.
B．The skin will be applied to various fields.
C．The artificial skin still has room for improvement.
D．At present the skin relies on itself to identify how the object it detects.
57．What might be the best title of the passage
A．Artificial skin: the future skin of robots.
B．Artificial skin: a new breakthrough in space.
C．Artificial skin: a perfect alternative to human skin.
D．Artificial skin: detect nearby objects without even touching them.
Spring is here. From vibrant tulips(郁金香) to delicate cherry blossoms(樱花) to surprisingly hardy orchids(兰花), flowering plants cover the planet. Here are some places to celebrate abundance and beauty in the natural world.
Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina
Travellers can find a wealth of plant species in North Carolina’s mountains—the most in any similarly sized area in North America. The most famed may be the rosy rhododendrons(杜鹃花) that blanket the slopes(斜坡) of the Blue Ridge Mountains in summer. Numerous hiking trails leading to floral sights are just 30 miles from downtown Asheville, via the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway.
Lisse, Netherlands
The Netherlands produces nearly 90 percent of the world’ s tulips, making it the ultimate destination for a typical spring experience. Cycle along the 25-mile Bollenstreek Route (also known as the Bloeman Route, or Flower Route), where flower fields paint the countryside in dazzling colour. Travellers can also visit Keukenhof Gardens, a 79-acre stretch located 16 miles southwest of Amsterdam.
Akureyri, Iceland
Just 50 miles outside of the Arctic Circle, this town in northern Iceland is home to the Arctic Botanical Gardens, one of the world’s northernmost botanic gardens. Nearby, travellers find short hiking trails and bird watching sites in the Kjarnaskógur Forest, daring ski slopes, and a local obsession with junk food. The most popular is a massive burger stuffed with French fries, called the Akureyringur.
Carmona, Spain
Carmona is one of many pueblos blancos(白色村庄), villages painted with whitewash made of slaked lime(熟石灰), that cap hilltops in Andalusia(安达卢西亚), in southern Spain. During spring, sunflowers bloom across more than 74,000 acres around the city. The best time to see them is from May to June, and you don’t need a car to get there. Buses from Seville take 40 minutes.
58．Which destination is a great place to enjoy tulips
A．Carmona, Spain. B．Lisse, Netherlands.
C．Akureyri, Iceland. D．Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina.
59．What can travellers do in Akureyri, Iceland
A．Watch birds. B．Go cycling.
C．Visit Keukenhof Gardens. D．Take part in a great night sky program.
60．Which column of a website is the text most probably taken from
A．Travel. B．Science. C．Environment. D．Entertainment.
In 2016, Luncz and her colleagues realized that Brazilian capuchins (卷尾猴) produced stone flakes (小薄片) from the rocks they used to pound (击打) food and dig without necessarily meaning to. It made the team wonder whether the artefacts (人工制品) really reflected any technical planning by those early humans.
Since then, Luncz and her colleagues have been studying tool use in long-tailed macaques (猕猴) on the islands of Phang Nga Bay in Thailand (泰国的攀牙湾). The team set up motion-activated cameras (动作感应摄像头) to study the behaviour of the wild macaques. During 100 hours of footage (镜头)，the team witnessed monkeys accidentally creating flakes as they struck nuts between two stones and then leaving the broken stones to find new, whole stones.
This is almost exactly what the capuchins did in the earlier study. The team then compared 1119 stone flakes from the macaques’ nut-cracking sites with artefacts found at hominin (古人类) sites in Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania. The monkeys’ thin, flat, wide stone flakes—ranging from 1.3 to 7.9 centimetres in length—were “almost the same” with flakes that were associated with ancient humans up to 3.3 million years ago, says Tomos Proffitt, another member of the research team at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.
The findings could challenge the current understanding of early stone technology, says Proffitt. “I wouldn’t go so far as to say that all of the old material is not intentional,” he says. “But what our study shows is that we can’t be 100 per cent certain that every single flake in the early Stone Age archaeological record was intentionally made. There may be a component within that record that’s unintentional.”
61．What did Luncz and her colleagues realize in 2016
A．Brazilian capuchins used the stone flakes to cook food.
B．Brazilian capuchins could make artefacts like humans.
C．Brazilian capuchins didn’t produce stone flakes from the rocks on purpose.
D．Brazilian capuchins were more capable of producing stone flakes than early humans.
62．What might capuchins do in the earlier study
A．They kept the broken stones for future use.
B．They created flakes when they searched for food.
C．They were desperate to find new, whole stones to make stone tools.
D．They accidentally created flakes as they struck nuts between two stones.
63．What did the team find out after they made the comparison in Paragraph 3
A．The monkeys’ flakes were associated with ancient humans.
B．The flakes used by hominins were actually made by monkeys.
C．The monkeys’ stone flakes ranged from 1.3 to 7.9 centimetres in width.
D．The monkeys’ stone flakes were quite similar to those from early humans.
64．What do you know from the last paragraph
A．All of the old stone material was unintentional.
B．We could be sure to say all the flakes were made out of purpose.
C．The findings confirmed the current understanding of early stone technology.
D．Some flakes in the early Stone Age archaeological record might be unintentional.
The time a person spends on different smartphone apps is enough to identify them from a larger group in more than one in three cases, say researchers.
Researchers analyzed smartphone data from 780 people. They fed 4,680 days of app usage data into statistical models. Each of these days was paired with one of the 780 users so that the models learned people’s daily app use patterns.
The researchers then tested whether models could identify an individual when provided with only a single day of smartphone activity that was anonymous (匿名的). The models, which were trained on only six days of app usage data per person, could identify the correct person from a day of anonymous data one third of the time.
That might not sound like much, but when the models predict who the data belonged to, it could also provide a list of the most to the least likely candidates. It was possible to view the top 10 most likely individuals that a specific day of data belonged to. Around 75% of the time, the correct user would be among the top 10 most likely individuals.
In practical terms, a law enforcement (执法机构) investigation seeking to identify a criminal’s new phone with these models could reduce a candidate pool of approximately 1,000 phones to 10 phones, with a 25% risk of missing them.
Consequently, the researchers warn that software given access to a smartphone’s standard activity logging could make a reasonable prediction about a user’s identity even when they were logged-out of their account. An identification is possible without monitoring conversations or behaviors within apps themselves.
Therefore, it is important to acknowledge that app usage data alone, which is often collected by a smartphone automatically, can potentially reveal a person’s identity. While providing new opportunities for law enforcement, it also poses risks to privacy if this type of data is misused.
65．What is the purpose of the passage
A．To explain an development.
B．To present a research finding.
C．To show a research process.
D．To confirm an assumption.
66．How did the researchers reach their conclusion
A．By recording app use time.
B．By comparing different apps.
C．By studying app usage data.
D．By changing app use patterns.
67．What is the function of the statistical models
A．Locating criminals.
B．Tracking usage of apps.
C．Predicting trends of apps.
D．Recognizing phone users.
68．What is the author’s attitude towards app usage data
A．Supportive B．Cautious. C．Doubtful. D．Uninterested.
Do you play video games If so, you aren’t alone. Video games are becoming more common and are increasingly enjoyed by adults. The average age of gamers has been increasing and was estimated to be 35 in 2016. Changing technology also means that more people are exposed to video games. A new breed of casual gamers has come, who play on smart phones and tablets at spare moments throughout the day. But do they have any effect on our brains and behavior
Over the years, the media have made various claims about video games and their effect on our health and happiness. “Games have sometimes been praised or demonized, often without real data backing up those claims. Moreover, gaming is a popular activity, so everyone seems to have strong opinions on the topic,” says Marc Palaus, who with his colleagues wanted to see if any trends had appeared from the research to date concerning how video games affect the structure and activity of our brains. They collected the results from 116 scientific studies, 22 of which looked at structural changes in the brain and 100 of which looked at changes in brain functionality and behavior.
The studies show that paying video games can change how our brains perform, and even their structure. For example, playing video games affects our attention, and some studies found that gamers show improvements in several types of attention, such as sustained attention or selective attention. Video games can also be addictive, and this kind of addiction is called “Internet gaming disorder”. Researchers have found functional and structural changes in the neural reward system in gaming addicts. These neural changes are basically the same as those seen in other addictive disorders.
So, what do all these brain changes mean “We focused on how the brain reacts to video game exposure, but these effects do not always translate to real-life changes,” says Palaus. As video games are still quite new, the research into their effects is still in its babyhood.
69．What factor causes a new breed of casual gamers to appear
A．Video games become more and more attractive.
B．The pressure from work becomes bigger and bigger.
C．Modern adults are usually very curious about new things.
D．The advanced technology makes games easily accessible.
70．What does Palaus’s research mainly focus on
A．What effects video games have on gamers’ brains.
B．Which brain regions are affected by video games.
C．How video games affect health and happiness.
D．Why video games influence gamers’ brains.
71．According to the research, why do some gamers get addicted to video games
A．Because their memory systems are disturbed.
B．Because their sustained attention is improved.
C．Because their neural reward systems are changed.
D．Because the inner structure of their brain is changed.
72．What can we learn from the last paragraph
A．Addiction to video games will effect our daily life.
B．The influence of video games needs a further study.
C．There should be certain laws to regulate video games.
D．Video game exposure brings harm instead of benefits.
The rapid pace of global warming and its effect on habitats raise the question of whether species are able to keep up so that they remain in suitable living conditions. Some animals can move fast to adjust to a quickly changing climate. Plants, being less mobile, rely on means such as seed dispersal (传播) by animals, wind or water to move to new areas, but this redistribution typically occurs within one kilometer of the original plant. Writing in Nature, Juan P. Gonzalez-Varo sheds light on the potential capacity of migratory birds to aid seed dispersal.
Gonzalez- Varo and colleagues report how plants might be able to keep pace with rapid climate change through the help of migrating birds. They analyzed an impressive data set of 949 different seed-dispersal interactions between bird and plant communities, together with data on entire fruiting times and migratory patterns of birds across Europe.
The authors hypothesized (假定) that the direction of seed migration depends on how the plants interact with migratory birds, the frequency of these interactions or the number of bird species that might transport seeds from each plant species.
Perhaps the most striking feature of these inferred seed movements is the observation that 35 percent of plant species across European communities, which are closely related on the phylogenetic tree (系统进化树), might benefit from long distance dispersal by the northward journey of migratory birds. This particular subset (小组) of plants tends to fruit over a long period of time, or has fruits that persist over the winter. This means that the ability of plants to keep up with climate change could be shaped by their evolutionary history — implying that future plant communities in the Northern Hemisphere will probably come from plant species that are phylogenetically closely related and that have migrated from the south.
This study provides a great example of how migratory birds might assist plant redistribution to new locations that would normally be difficult for them to reach on their own, and which might offer a suitable climate.
73．Why are the rapid pace of global warming and its effect mentioned in Paragraph 1
A．To call on the public to help with seed dispersal.
B．To show the threat of climate change on our nature.
C．To provide the background of Gonzalez-Varo’s research.
D．To explain why some animals can adapt to climate change.
74．How did Gonzalez-Varo and his colleagues conduct the research
A．By analyzing related data. B．By conducting field research.
C．By observing migrating birds. D．By reviewing previous findings.
75．What can be inferred from Paragraph 4
A．The evolutionary history of different plants proves to be similar.
B．Almost all plant species gain benefits from long-distance dispersal.
C．Plants with longer fruiting times adapt better when transported farther.
D．Plant communities in different hemispheres will be less and less related.
76．What is the passage mainly about
A．Different ways to redistribute plants to new climates.
B．Impacts of climate change on migratory birds and plants.
C．Plants are struggling to keep pace with the climate change.
D．Migratory birds aid redistribution of plants to new climates.
参考答案：
1．A 2．C 3．B 4．A
【导语】这是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了一项法国研究，认为和宠物猫用特殊语调说话是有效的，受到宠物猫关注。以往研究只曾在狗身上展示出类似结果，这是首次在猫身上进行，具有里程碑意义，并需要进一步从其他角度进行扩展。
1．细节理解题。根据文章第二段中“The team found that felines tended to react to their owner speaking in cat-directed speech—but not to their owner speaking in adult tones or to a stranger using either adult-or cat-directed speech. (研究小组发现，猫倾向于对它们的主人用猫的语气说话做出反应，但对它们的主人用成人语气说话或对陌生人用成人或猫的语气说话却没有反应。)”可知宠物猫明显对主人的主人的猫式语气反应明显。故选A项。
2．词义猜测题。根据第三段中“Some people might be embarrassed about using special vocalizations for cats, she says, but this research shows “people shouldn’t be ashamed.” (她说，有些人可能会对猫使用特殊的……感到尴尬，但这项研究表明“人们不应该感到羞耻”。)”可知划线单词的意思为“声音”，有些人可能会对猫使用特殊的声音感到尴尬。故选C项。
3．细节理解题。根据文章第四段中“Then they filmed each cat before, during and after playing it a series of recordings of its owner and other owners’ speech. The researchers used software to rate the cats’ reactions from multiple dimensions, making the result more convincing. (然后，他们给每只猫播放一系列主人和其他主人讲话的录音之前、期间和之后，对它们进行了拍摄。研究人员使用软件从多个维度对猫的反应进行评分，使结果更有说服力)”可知该研究有计算机软件支持，从多方面对猫的反应进行了综合分析使得Mouzon的研究更加可靠，故选B项。
4．推理判断题。根据最后一段中“But she notes the study is too small and that future work is needed to expand the research to other cat populations. (但她指出，这项研究规模太小，未来的工作需要扩大)”可知虽然试验对猫有一定参考意义，但未来的研究还需要拓宽样本的数量和种类，故选A项。
5．D 6．C 7．C 8．B
【导语】这是一篇说明文。一项研究显示，长期以来被视为解决时尚界可持续危机的“答案”之一的租用衣服，对地球的影响比扔掉衣服更大。
5．细节理解题。根据第二段“Renting involves taking the clothes back and forth between the warehouse and the renter. Dry cleaning is also harmful to the environment.(租赁包括在仓库和出租者之间来回运送衣服。干洗也对环境有害)”可知，对时尚消费者来说，租衣服是最不环保的选择是因为需要运输和干洗。故选D。
6．细节理解题。根据倒数第四段““It’s not something we do all the time, instead of buying our clothes and swapping out outfits nonstop, but on occasion, when the need arises, like dances or weddings.(这不是我们一直在做的事情，不是不停地买衣服和换衣服，而是偶尔在需要的时候做，比如跳舞或婚礼)”可知，租衣服在某些特殊场合可以使用。故选C。
7．细节理解题。根据倒数第二段“Only regulation will solve that problem. No company, in any industry, will volunteer to take a loss for the sake of the planet. They’ll do so when it’s the law.(只有监管才能解决这个问题。在任何行业，没有一家公司会为了地球的利益而自愿承担损失。当这是法律时，他们会这么做的)”可知，我们可以制定相关法律迫使租赁公司优化他们的业务。故选C。
8．细节理解题。根据最后一段“It also found that the most sustainable way to consume fashion is to buy fewer high-quality items and to wear them for as long as possible.(研究还发现，最可持续的时尚消费方式是少买高质量的商品，并尽可能长时间地穿着它们)”可知，“买得少，买得好”是最可持续的时尚消费方式。故选B。
9．D 10．A 11．B 12．C
【导语】这是一篇说明文。文章介绍了研究发现减慢用餐速度，改变用餐习惯有助于预防肥胖，对健康有益。
9．词句猜测题。根据画线短语句中“While”（虽然）和“researchers say there may be advantages to taking your time over a meal”（研究人员表示，在用餐时慢慢来可能有好处）可知，句子为让步状语从句，句中表示虽然你可能会忍不住狼吞虎咽地吃晚饭，但研究人员表示，慢慢用餐可能更好，“gobble up your dinner”和“taking your time over a meal”形成对比，“Eat quickly”意为“吃得快”，选项能够表达画线短语在句中所要表达的意思。故选D项。
10．推理判断题。根据第二段内容“The study, published in the journal BMJ Open by researchers in Japan, looked at data collected though health checkups and claims from more than 59,700 individuals as part of health insurance plans, with data from 1998 to mid-2012.”（这项研究由日本研究人员发表在BMJ Open杂志上，研究了作为健康保险计划一部分的59700多人通过健康检查和索赔收集的数据，数据来自1998年至2012年年中。）可知，研究人员通过分析自1998年至2012年年中收集的数据得出了发现，由此可知，研究人员是通过分析几十年的数据得出了他们的发现。故选A项。
11．细节理解题。根据第五段关键句“The results reveal that those who switched to eating more slowly between health checks, not snacking after dinner or eating dinner just before going to bed all showed signs of a reduction in their BMI.”（研究结果显示，那些在健康检查之间改为吃得更慢、晚饭后不吃零食或睡前不吃晚饭的人，他们的BMI都有下降的迹象。）可知，改变饮食习惯的人的BMI都有下降的迹象，由此可知，改变习惯对BMI的影响是显而易见的。故选B项。
12．推理判断题。根据最后一段关键句“In particular, workers who gobble up their lunch at the desk are doing their health no favours. They should stop what they’re doing, switch off their phones and emails and preferably take a half hour away from the office altogether.”（尤其是那些在办公桌前狼吞虎咽地吃午饭的员工，对他们的健康没有任何好处。他们应该停止正在做的事情，关掉手机和电子邮件，最好离开办公室半个小时。）可知，Tam Fry在最后一段中建议公司员工不要在办公桌前狼吞虎咽地吃午饭，应该停止正在做的事情，关掉手机和电子邮件，延长用餐时间，减慢用餐速度，由此可知，Tam Fry在最后一段中打算提出建议。故选C项。
13．D 14．A 15．C 16．B
【导语】这是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了一个名为Farm My School的项目，未充分利用的校园土地变成市场花园。学校通过开发基于项目的课程让学生参与这个项目，大家都很支持。
13．细节理解题。根据第一段“So it is with Farm My School, a program that’s turning underused land at secondary schools into commercially achievable, regenerative market gardens farmed by and for local communities.(Farm My School项目也是如此，该项目将中学未充分利用的土地转变为可商业化的、可再生的市场花园，由当地社区耕种)”可知，成立Farm My School是为了将未充分利用的校园土地变成市场花园。故选D。
14．细节理解题。根据第二段“Schools integrate all these into their courses while producing vegetable boxes every week that feed local families, supply the school’s food needs and ultimately pay the farmer’s salary. (学校把这些都融入到他们的课程中，同时每周生产蔬菜盒，供当地家庭食用，满足学校的食物需求，并最终支付农民的工资)”可知，学校通过开发基于项目的课程让学生参与这个项目。故选A。
15．词句猜测题。根据画线词上文“We charged for the experience and 600 guys turned up! They didn’t even need free drinks to get excited. We were gardening till midnight. (我们为这次体验收费，结果有600个人来了!他们甚至不需要免费饮料就能兴奋起来。我们做园艺一直干到半夜)”可知，社区的人都来支持他们的活动。由此猜测，画线词意思是“支持”，故选C。
16．细节理解题。根据最后一段““For us, the big excitement is that by allowing a professional farmer to take the responsibility of growing food, it’s not only on the school to look after that farm anymore, which eventually makes it much more sustainable,” adds Ben.(Ben补充说：“对我们来说，最大的兴奋是，通过允许职业农民承担种植粮食的责任，不再只有学校来照看农场，这最终使它更可持续。”)”可知，Ben认为这个项目的亮点是学校农场将能够持续很长时间。故选B。
17．C 18．D 19．A 20．B
【导语】这是一篇说明文。文章主要说明了1977年，哈佛大学毕业生Irene Pepperberg决定通过与另一种生物交谈来研究它的思维过程。文章介绍了她研究鹦鹉的过程和遇到的困难。
17．细节理解题。根据第二段“Pepperberg bought Alex in a pet store, where she let the store’s assistant choose him because she didn’t want other scientists to say that she bad intentionally chosen an especially smart bird.( Pepperberg在一家宠物店买了Alex，她让店员挑选它，因为她不想让其他科学家说她故意选了一只特别聪明的鸟)”可知，Pepperberg让店员选鸟因为要随机选择研究对象。故选C。
18．推理判断题。根据第二段“Given that Alex’s brain was just the size of a walnut, most researchers thought Pepperberg’s communication study would be futile.(考虑到Alex的大脑只有核桃那么大，大多数研究人员认为Pepperberg的交流研究是徒劳的)”可推知，大多数研究人员一开始认为Pepperberg的研究不会成功。故选D。
19．细节理解题。根据第三段“Pepperberg wanted to get inside his mind and learn more about a bird’s understanding of the world.(Pepperberg想深入他的思想，了解更多关于鸟对世界的理解)”和第四段的“Many of Alex’s skills, such as his ability to understand the concepts of “same” and “different”, are rare in the animal world.(Alex的许多技能，比如他理解“相同”和“不同”概念的能力，在动物界是罕见的)”可知，Pepperberg的研究关注的是Alex理解概念的能力。故选A。
20．细节理解题。根据最后一段““He’s moody,” said Pepperberg, “so he interrupts the others, or he gives the wrong answer just to be difficult.”(“他很情绪化，” Pepperberg说，“所以他会打断别人，或者他只是为了刁难别人而给出错误的答案。”)”可知，Alex有时太聪明了，无法控制导致Pepperberg在她的研究中陷入困境。故选B。
21．C 22．D 23．B
【导语】这是一篇应用文。文章主要介绍了四个办公室可用的锻炼设备。
21．推理判断题。根据第一段“It goes without saying that sitting at a desk for a majority of the day will hurt our health. But don’t worry because there is a solution! After spending much time investigating the different offers when it comes to exercise equipment suitable for the office, I’d like to reveal some of my top recommendations.(不用说，大部分时间坐在办公桌前会损害我们的健康。但不要担心，因为有一个解决方案！在花了很多时间调查了各种适合办公室锻炼的设备后，我想透露一些我的最佳建议)”结合全文内容可知，文章主要介绍了四个办公室可用的锻炼设备。可推知，文章针对的是办公室白领。故选C。
22．细节理解题。根据☆ Under-desk Elliptical部分中“Keeping your feet in motion while seated can go a long way to keep you happier, reduce stress, and increase your productivity(坐着的时候保持双脚的运动可以让你更快乐，减轻压力，提高工作效率)”以及☆Balance Ball Chair部分“Sitting on a balance ball leads to increased energy and productivity.(坐在平衡球上可以提高精力和工作效率)”可知，Under-desk Elliptical和Balance Ball Chair有望提高工作效率。故选D。
23．细节理解题。根据☆ Fitness Tracker部分中“·Sometimes there are connectivity issues(·有时会有连接问题)”可知，健身追踪器的问题是有时可能无法连接。故选B。
24．A 25．C 26．B 27．B
【导语】本文是篇记叙文。来自荷兰的71岁老人Jo Schoonbroodt以2小时54分19秒的成绩跑完了马拉松，成为历史上跑得最快的七旬老人(70-90)，并且还将继续进行他对马拉松的追求，通过文章，我们能够了解他成功的秘密。
24．推理判断题。根据第一段“On Sunday, the 71-year-old from the Netherlands, ran a marathon in 2hr 54min 19sec to become the fastest septuagenarian (70-90 年龄组) in history.”（上周日，这位来自荷兰的71岁老人以2小时54分19秒的成绩跑完了马拉松，成为历史上跑得最快的七旬老人(70-90)。）和最后一段“Schoonb