第一部分阅读，第一节阅读下列短文, 从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。(共15小题;每小题2.5分, 满分37.5分)
The famous magazine, Runner's World, has chosen some of the best, most difficult and enjoyable UK races.
Top of the Wolds 10K Challenge
This 10-km countryside track in Yorkshire is all fun until you take the left turn at Nunburnholme. At this point, you enter a serious uphill part, but thankfully the uphill part only lasts for around 1.5 km. You'll have about a kilometre to enjoy the views before the way takes you downhill again, and back to where you started in Warter — a cute little village.
Scurry2Bridges Run
This 161-km relay race is divided into 16 parts, so you each run 4 separate parts. Over the course of this day-long adventure, you'll each run about marathon distance while the workers will drive around for pick-ups and drop-offs at relay exchange points between the start in Dundee and the finish in Edinburgh.
Scafell Sky Race
Here's a trail run (越野跑) that is not suitable for beginners. With a total of 3, 500 m of ascent (上坡路), this is unquestionably one of the hardest events around. Good thing is that the views are beautiful, and that there's hot food and a bottle of apple juice waiting for you in the end.
Offa's Dyke 15
The traditional 15-mile distance begins at the Clock Tower in Hay-on-Wye and includes a few hard climbs before finishing in Kington. This year the hard event has added a challenging 10 km around Kington.
Dr. Elsa Olivetti has always been interested in how materials science can change the way we store energy. When she started her work at MIT, she was excited about discovering the secrets of sustainable battery production.
During her research, her main focus was on a special kind of battery, called solid-state batteries, and a material named LLZO. She discovered a big challenge: finding and getting a special material called tantalum, which is not easy to find but necessary for the production of LLZO. This inspired her to look at the whole process of making batteries beyond the laboratory, from getting the materials to producing the final product.
Dr. Olivetti and her team looked into how these materials are mined, processed, and turned into batteries. They found that if we want to use more electric cars in the future, we need to get much better at producing and delivering materials like tantalum. Then, Dr. Olivetti aims to figure out a creative solution to the challenge. She worked with industry leaders to develop sustainable mining practices and called on policy changes to support a better supply chain, which proves effective.
Dr. Olivetti stresses that her work is not meant to replace traditional methods. Instead, it's meant to help make the battery production better by looking broadly at the things that could make energy storage efficient. Looking ahead, Dr. Olivetti remains committed to improving sustainable energy storage. She wants to make the production process less wasteful and more cost-effective, creating a future where energy storage is not only good but also kind to our planet.
Reflecting on her work, Dr. Olivetti often says that what she does is more than just science. "Each step we take towards more efficient and environmentally-friendly battery technology is a step towards a better world, " stressing the importance of curiosity and perseverance in the pursuit of scientific exploration.
It's known that reading is good for a child's vocabulary and literacy skills, teaching them math or science concepts and helping them learn history. Apart from those, reading has another benefit. Have you read a story and felt tears well up because of a character's suffering? If so, that is because you have empathy (共鸣) for the character — and empathy can be learned through various fictions. "It's a magic eye that sees into other people's hearts, " explains author Cressida Cowell.
Research shows that human brains react differently to stories and facts. "Many more areas of your brain light up when you're enjoying a story, " explains Miranda McKearney from EmpathyLab, an organization that builds empathy through reading. "Your brain thinks you are in the story… This means you experience the characters' thoughts as if they are real. "
Empathy helps you to read people's emotions and work out the best way to respond. This skill, called emotional intelligence, can make it easier to communicate and connect with people. Research has shown that building empathy can lead to greater kindness and tolerance. One study found that children who read the Harry Potter novels — which tell stories about humans fighting against the evil — were less likely to behave unfairly towards powerless groups including refugees (难民).
This theory has been put into practice by St Michael's Primary School. After reading The Boy at the Back of the Class — a story about a boy who is a refugee escaping from the war — students in that school were inspired to do a 10-mile walk for the non-profit organization Refugee Action. Their empathy also spurred them to raise £1, 000 for people who were forced to leave their homes because of war.
Reading encourages children to empathise with others, which could potentially lead to several beneficial learning outcomes, new research suggests. For society to develop, creative, communicative and empathetic individuals really matter.
While conducting a survey by airplane of northern Guatemala, researchers detected an ancient Maya site. "We can now see the entire landscape of the Maya region" in this section of Guatemala, said Carlos Morales-Aguilar, one of the researchers from the Department of Geography and the Environment at the University of Texas.
The findings were the result of the survey using lidar (雷达), or light detection and ranging, which has been revolutionary for studying historic sites. In lidar, lasers are sent out and the reflected light is used to create imagery of a landscape. The technology is particularly beneficial in areas with limited visibility such as the rainforest in maya site, as lasers can enter the heavy tree canopy, the thick cover formed by the leafy upper branches in a forest.
The lidar data showed "for the first time an area that was integrated politically and economically, and never seen before in other places in the Western Hemisphere (西半球), " Carlos wrote in the study. Using data from the scans, the team identified more than 1, 000 settlements dotting the region. They were interconnected by 100 miles of causeways that the Maya likely traveled on foot. They also detected the remains of several large platforms and pyramids, along with canals and reservoirs used for water collection.
So what made this region so attractive that the Maya would want to settle there in the first place?
"For the Maya the Mirador-Calakmul Karst Basin was the ‘Goldilocks Zone', " Ross Ensley wrote, partner of Carlos, a geologist from the Institute for Geological Study of the Maya Lowlands in Houston, Texas. "The Maya settled in this region because it had the right mix of uplands for settlement and lowlands for agriculture. " Uplands lie above the level where flooding occurs. They provided a source for limestone, their primary building material, and dry land to live on. The lowlands are mostly seasonal swamps (沼泽), which provided space for wetland agriculture as well as organic-rich soil for use in terraced agriculture.
Researchers hope lidar technology will help them explore sections of Guatemala that have remained a mystery for centuries.
第一部分阅读，第二节任务型阅读(共5小题;每小题2.5分, 满分12.5分)
Beach is a relaxing place to catch waves, get some sun, enjoy picnic, spot wildlife and go exploring. Here are tips from experts on how to be a better beachgoer, so future generations of sea lovers can get their beach therapy(疗法) when they need it.
Use safer sunblock
Many sunblocks advertise that they are "reef-friendly", which has no firm definitions, and their usage isn't regulated by governmental bodies. . Only purchase mineral-based sunscreens so that it won't do harm to reefs.
Get involved
If you forget to bring one, find an abandoned bag at the beach. It may seem a little gesture, but it will help remove rubbish. By working together people can really make a difference.
Thoughtful toys for kids
It's fun for your little ones to play with plastic toys in the sand. . They end up polluting the environment and can be accidentally eaten by animals, causing them serious harm on even killing them. Pack metal or wooden toys instead.
Read the signs
Signs at the beach aren't optional reading. They tell you where you can't go and what you can't do, so you don't mess with the local ecosystem. . They are storm barriers and home to many animals.
Destroy what you build
It doesn't matter how much time and effort your children spent building sand castles or digging tunnels: if you are on a beach marked as a sea turtle habitat, fill in the trench and knock down the structure. Sea turtles have heavy bodies and they can die if they fall into a hole and get trapped. .
A. So it's best to read the fine print carefully
B. Beach-goers are generally advised to stay off sand hills
C. Thus, try your best to be a considerate eco-friendly tourist
D. However, plastic toys break easily, leaving behind bits and pieces
E. Sand structures also can prevent them from reaching birthing areas
F. Bring a reusable bag to clean up while you're walking the shoreline
G. Have your children pick up trash with you when walking on the beach
第二部分语言运用，第一节完形填空(共15小题：每小题1分, 满分15分)
Everyone could use a little sunshine in their life right now, so a Wisconsin farmer 1 to plant more than two million sunflowers in his fields. Scott Thompson's family has been 2 in Kenosha County for more than 70 years, and this is the first year that 3 have decorated the landscape. Usually, the pick-your-own farm 4 strawberries in summer and pumpkins in the fall.
Located just 10 miles from Kenosha, Wisconsin, Thompson Strawberry Farm is 5 people to a simpler family outing where they can picnic and take home a dozen sunflowers. Thompson and his wife thought it would be 6 to spread a little happiness to their 7 .
Thompson 8 more than 22 acres of flowers. The flowers are planted in more than 15 fields to provide 9 for social distance and spread out. Word of the sunshine oasis (绿洲) has spread 10 through word of mouth as people come to enjoy a small 11 from reality. "Everyone is so 12 " Thompson said. "We've got all these 13 on the NET. If I'm out in the field, everybody is like ‘Thanks for doing this, ' (and) ‘This is what I need. ' "
In addition to sunflowers, Thompson also planted a field of wildflowers, and Mexican sunflowers that are known for 14 butterflies. Thompson said the sunflowers will be a 15 thing at the farm, even without a pandemic.
第二部分语言运用，第二节(共10小题：每小题1.5分, 满分15分)
Xuan paper is known as the "Paper of Ages" for its many unique qualities. The term Xuan paper first appeared in a book written by Tang Dynasty scholar Zhang Yanyuan, in he described Xuan paper as ideal carrier for calligraphy and painting.
The traditional craft of making Xuan paper is (extreme) demanding. Sandalwood bark(檀香树皮), a plant native to southern China, goes through 108 procedures together with rice straw over the course of three years it can transform into a batch of fine Xuan paper. The entire procedure is so complex that even the most skilled craftsman can only master (limit) steps.
The flow of ink, both guided and resisted by water, (determine) the output of Chinese art, and Xuan paper outshines others with (it) excellent ability to give full play to ink. Different rates of bark to straw during the paper-making process can create different paper best suited artistic expression in freehand ink paintings or calligraphy.
Xuan paper (accompany) the passionate brushstrokes of the Chinese artists for thousands of years. Unlike other forms of paper, it is very resistant to damage brought by time, which has made it possible (preserve) many valuable works from ancient China.
Paper-making is a wisdom of the ancient Chinese, and Xuan paper is the peak of paper-making.
第三部分写作(共两节, 满分40分)
注意：1. 写作词数应为80左右；2. 请在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Dear Hans,
I am Li Hua, a student from class 5.
Yours,
Li Hua
When Mrs. Russell finished one of her lessons, she was out of breath. A sudden burning stomachache started but she hoped her students wouldn't notice.
"You look pale, Mrs. Russell, are you alright?" a kid, Tony, asked. Mrs. Russell tried to explain everything was alright, but the words just wouldn't come out. She became unconscious and fell down in front of her class, and there were red and blue lights, many adults, and the sounds of children crying. An oxygen mask was then put on her.
"We'll see what we can do for Mrs. Russell. Now all of you have to go back to class and listen to whatever Ms. Hanson tells you, " Mr. Roberts, the headmaster, tried to ask Mrs. Russell' students to leave the office, but they wouldn't move. Tony and Hannah were at the front of the pack. They were told Mrs. Russell needed surgery, and hospitals cost money.
"We want to have Mrs. Russell come back! She's the best teacher ever. Please help us, Ms. Hanson, " Hannah said, and all the kids nodded. "Kids, let's go back to the classroom and brainstorm together about helping Mrs. Russell, " Ms. Hanson guided them back to the classroom and she instructed them to write a greeting card to Mrs. Russell.
"A card is not enough to save Mrs. Russell. She needs money to afford the surgery. We need a grown-up to help. "Tony told his classmates at break. All the kids were thinking hard, and suddenly, Asher spoke up. "My big sister is a senior in high school. Well, I think she can make a link on a website or something. Then we can raise the money needed and help Mrs Russell!"
All the classmates agreed and went home to tell their elder brothers or sisters about this idea. Asher's big sister, Dianne, started an online group, and she made an internet link immediately with her parents' approval.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150左右；2. 请按如下格式在答题卡
相应位置作答。
The link and the group were shared throughout the community quickly.
Mrs. Russell was back at school two months later.
