阅读理解

Endangered Species Youth Art Contest

2023 Contest Now Open!

Join us for our 6th annual Endangered Species Youth Art Contest! In celebration of Endangered Species Day (May 19, 2023), Roger Williams Park Zoo is accepting art entries from local K-12 grade students in the New England area showing threatened and endangered species. Together we hope to raise awareness about the importance of saving endangered species and their wild habitats.

Winners will be formally announced by May 2023.

Rules & Art Submission Instructions:

▲All entries are to be submitted electronically. Web form will be made available beginning February 1,2023.

▲Students' artworks must be original. Computer-produced images will NOTbe judged.

▲All artworks must be about threatened/endangered species.

▲Each art entry must also include a short explanation (3-5 sentences) as to why saving your chosen species from extinction is important.

Deadline: Entries must be received by Sunday, April 2, 2023. Late entries will not be judged.

2023 Art Contest Prizes

GRAND PRIZE(Judges Choice)

▲One Family RWPZoo membership (a S149 value; or extra year added to current Zoo membership)

▲An adopt-an-animal package of your choice

▲One $100 gift card

GRADE CATEGORY WINNERS (Grades K-2, Grades 3-12)

Each grade-winner shall receive:

★Six General daytime admission tickets to RWPZoo

★One $25 gift card

HONORABLE MENTIONS (Grades K-2,Grades 3-12)

Each grade-honorable mention shall receive:

·Four General daytime admission tickets to RWPZoo

·An award certificate

All winning artworks will be highlighted on the Zoo's website and social media pages, and in the Zoo's summer WILD Magazine issue.

1. （1） How can you submit your artwork?

   A . By sending it in an envelope. B . By turning it in on the website. C . By handing it to the zoo in person. D . By having it delivered to the judges.
3. （2） What should you explain in your entry?

   A . The habitats of threatened and endangered species. B . The relationship between humans and endangered species. C . The measures to protect endangered species. D . The reason of protecting your targeted species.
5. （3） What award will a grand prize winner get?

   A . A choice to adopt an animal. B . A S25 worth of gift card to the zoo. C . An exhibition of the artwork all year round. D . Six tickets to RWPZoo for general daily time admission.

阅读理解

"You need to sign this," my son Joe informed me. "What is it?" I asked. Rolling his eyes with a sense of impatience, Joe replied," Your permission. And it's due tomorrow!"

I learned that Joe's sixth-grade class would be taking a field trip to the state capital. "That sounds like fun," I said." I've always wanted to go there." "You can't come!" Joe answered. Puzzled, I asked. "Why not?" "Because you always come on field trips!"

Of course, I always joined his class on field trips. Being a chaperone(监护人)on a field trip is one of the advantages that comes with being a mom, a vacation day in a career that offers few opportunities for a change of scenery. "You don't want me to be a chaperone?" "Give someone else's mom a chance," he suggested. What was surprising was how much I minded being so impolitely removed from the short list of willing chaperones by my own son.

When Joe was in kindergarten, his class planned a pretend trip to Norway. The day before the trip, Joe woke up not feeling well.

After learning that he didn't have a fever, I asked, "You don't want to miss getting ready for the trip to Norway, do you?" "I guess not," he said.

But when I picked him up at the end of the day, the teacher whispered, "Joe got a little upset today." "What happened?" "He doesn't want to go to Norway without you." So that was what had been bothering my 5-year-old.He thought his class was really flying to Norway on their wooden chairs in their paper airplane. He believed those passports and tickets he and his classmates had been making were the real deal.

Preadolescence fell upon my family as my husband and I found ourselves preparing for our son's upcoming teen years with the same trepidation as someone about to climb an ice-covered mountain wearing high heels.

Joe needed to take a field trip without me accompanying him. And I needed to let him. I'm glad he doesn't need me all the time.

1. （1） What did the author really mind?

   A . The additional responsibilities as a mom. B . Being asked by her son to sign a permission. C . Having missed the chance to visit the state capital. D . Being denied rudely by her son as a chaperone.
3. （2） What made Joe upset when he was five years old?

   A . His going to Norway without his mom. B . The occurrence of his fever on the journey. C . His fear of the paper airplane's crashing down. D . The loss of his passport and ticket.
5. （3） What does the underlined word "trepidation" in Paragraph 7 probably mean?

   A . Excitement. B . Nervousness. C . Expectation. D . Determination.
7. （4） What did the author realize about Joe at last?

   A . He hated being controlled by parents. B . He was longing for his parents' love. C . He was becoming less dependent. D . He was unwilling to obey rules.

阅读理解

The research company OpenAI has recently released ChatGPT, a language model that can construct remarkably well-structured arguments based on simple cues provided by a user. The system which uses a massive source of online text to predict what words should come next is able to create new stories in the style of famous writers, write news articles about itself and produce essays that could easily receive a passing grade in most English classes.

That last use has raised concern among academics, who worry about the possibility of an easily accessible platform that, in a matter of seconds, can put together essays as good as -- if not better than -- the writing of a typical student.

Cheating in school is not new, but ChatGPT and other language models are totally different from the hacks(雇佣文人)students have used to take a shortcut in the past. The writing these language models produce is completely original, meaning that it can't be distinguished by even the most advanced plagiarism(剽窃)software. The AI also goes beyond just providing students with information they should be finding themselves. It organizes that information into a complete narrative.

Beyond potential academic honesty issues, some teachers worry that the true value of learning to write -- like analysis, critical thinking, creativity and the ability to structure an argument -- will be lost when AI can do all those complex things in a matter of seconds.

"We might know more things but we never learned how we got there. We've always said that the process is the best part and we know that. The satisfaction is the best part. That might be the thing that's removed from all of this. Actually, I don't know what a person is like if they've never had to struggle through learning. I don't know the behavioral implications of that," said Peter Laffin.

"Whenever there's a new technology, there's a panic around it. It's the responsibility of academics to have a healthy amount of distrust, but I don't feel like this is an undefeatable challenge," Sandra Wachter, technology researcher, said.

1. （1） What is mainly stressed about ChatGPT in the first paragraph?

   A . Its unusual functions. B . Its working process. C . Its promising future. D . Its wide application.
3. （2） What is unique about ChatGPT's writings?

   A . They belong to a new cheating form. B . They are writings of ChatGPT's own. C . They provide students with all needed information. D . They are better than writings from the hacks.
5. （3） What is Peter Laffin concerned about?

   A . AI makes us struggle through learning. B . AI might be improperly used by hacks. C . AI might rob us of the pleasure of learning. D . AI might result in many writers losing their jobs.
7. （4） What can we infer from Sandra Wachter's words?

   A . He is pleased to see the release of ChatGPT. B . He is ready for the challenges from ChatGPT. C . He is in a panic about the use of ChatGPT. D . He has a healthy distrust of ChatGPT.

阅读理解

Online thrift (节俭) store thredUP has released its tenth annual Resale Report. The study, which assesses trends in the secondhand clothing industry, has an obviously positive tone. Resale is booming in the United States, as well as globally, and the secondhand market in the US is expected to more than double by 2026, reaching an impressive valuation of $82 billion.

This is serious growth that indicates a real shift in the way people approach shopping for clothes. For most, it's a way to save money in an inflationary (通货膨胀) economy. Forty-four percent of shoppers say they're cutting back on buying clothing-more than any category apart from restaurants. Some say secondhand is enabling them to keep enjoying the brands they love.

When choosing what to buy, people are increasingly careful about what can be resold. More than one-fifth of Gen Z (网络新生代) shoppers said they'll pay more for an item that they know they can resell, and 36% of Gen Z shoppers stock and clear their closets at the same monthly or weekly rate. More than half resold clothing last year. As resale becomes more accessible thanks to mobile technology and online platforms, increasing numbers of customers are keen to turn over their closets, which fuels the industry and keeps the market full of fresh finds, bringing people back for more.

Secondhand helps to relieve people's climate-related concerns. Thrifting is far better for the environment than buying new. As thredUP reported in 2021,buying used reduces an item's carbon footprint by 82%. Choosing used over new displaces 17.4 pounds of CO2 emissions. It requires far less water and energy to produce, and it spares that item from going to landfill, where it will break down and give off methane, a greenhouse gas more powerful than CO2.

It's great to hear such positive news. Thrifting is a no-brainer, when you stop to think about it-well-made and good-looking fashion that helps the planet while saving us money. The more mainstream it can get, the better off we'll all be.

1. （1） What does the booming of resale mean to most shoppers according to the text?

   A . Reducing expenses. B . Bringing down inflation. C . Focusing less on brands. D . Eating out more in restaurants.
3. （2） What promotes the development of the resale industry?

   A . Scientific development makes resale easier and more convenient. B . Many Gen Z shoppers choose used over new. C . Buying used has become a mainstream. D . Cleaning the closets is more frequent.
5. （3） What's the author's attitude to the resale of secondhand clothing?

   A . Disapproving. B . Objective. C . Doubtful. D . Favorable.
7. （4） What's the best title for the text?

   A . Secondhand Clothing Improves Climate B . Secondhand Market Benefits Americans C . ThredUP Released A New Resale Report D . Secondhand Clothing Is A Hot Market

任务型阅读

Our habits shape our daily existence and our future. Making small happy changes to your habits can be life-changing. Here are some happy habits to try.

People who enjoy learning are more likely to report being satisfied with their lives. Being open to trying new things engages your mind and encourages you to take positive risks. .Something like changing up the route of your morning walk or ordering takeout from a different restaurant on a Friday night can help shake things up and keep life fresh.

Experiment with a new hobby

Having at least one hobby you enjoy doing is linked with feeling happier. It doesn't matter so much what you choose -- be it painting, gardening or ballroom dancing -- as long as you find a new hobby that feels enjoyable. Hobbies often have the added bonus of building and strengthening relationships with others. .

Unplug from social media

Social media can be a good tool for building relationships if you're using it to actively interact with others. Overuse of them, on the other hand, has been shown to increase feelings of depression and anxiety. . Read a book, play board games with your family or take a cat nap -- all things also associated with a happier mood.

Give back to others

. It helps you feel happier and less depressed, reduces blood pressure and improves heart health, teaches you new skills, helps you live longer, protects your brain from cognitive decline and gives you a sense of purpose -- just to name a few benefits.

A. It is better to start small

B. Break out of your comfort zone

C. Making time to volunteer is worth it

D. It is a natural way to lead to happiness

E. Being happy isn't something you achieve and then hold onto

F. Take time every day to turn off all your electronics

G. Actually, doing something you enjoy is the No. 1 guaranteed way to be happier

完形填空

When Brittany McCormick was born, she was diagnosed with a disease. Her parents were told she'd never be able to walk. But Brittany, now 25, has more than1to walk.

"As a young teen I knew I wanted to2 society, and years later I got the opportunity to do so." For Brittany, that opportunity3 itself when her wheelchair needed4 and she was without it for two weeks.

"I felt 5. Not having my wheelchair for two weeks made me think about how6 it must be for people who can't7 wheelchairs or to have their wheelchairs repaired. So I8 I'd walk 100 km to raise funds for kids with disabilities," she says.

She9 set herself the target of walking 100 km in six months and to raise $80,000 for disabled kids like her. So far, however, Brittany has10 her 100 km target and walked 117,77 km, raising R560,000 in the process.

Besides rasing money for disabled kids, Brittany works as a 11 speaker at schools and companies. "I speak on12, not disability," said Brittany. "Basically I use my 13 story to teach people what their inner abilities are and what they believe they can be. It's important for disabled children to know that no matter what, they can do something with their lives and make a(n) 14. It might take years, but they'll15 it in time."

阅读下面短文, 在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Tian Sheng is an inheritor (继承人) of the Jiaonan New Year painting, a city-level intangible cultural heritage (非物质文化遗产) item from Qingdao in east China's Shandong Province. He was pleased to be surrounded by young visitors were admiring his attractive creations at an exhibition recently.

"In recent years, we (include) some of the unique elements from the Jiaonan New Year painting into our products, and they have become instant hit," he said, picking up a porcelain (瓷) tea set showing vivid scenes of sowing seeds and harvesting.

All these characteristic elements come together (create) a fine style of art with lively tones and colorful figures. This distinctive style gives the artworks a touch of elegance, (make) them popular.

"Social media has created a bridge young people and the traditional culture in which they have a strong interest, and intangible cultural heritage can (true) be appreciated and passed down to future generations only when (combine) with modern beauty and people's daily lives," Tian said.

"Innovation is what we focus on to carry forward the technique," said Tian. "In the past, there (be) only, for instance, patterns of feather and flowers. Now, (image) of landscapes, figures, birds and even sport stars can also be seen in the works."

假定你是李华, 你校学生会计划组织一次学生乡村体验活动。请你给你校的交换生Mark写一封信, 邀请他一同前往。内容包括：
1. 活动时间、目的和内容；
2. 注意事项。
注意：
1 .写作词数应为80左右;
2 .请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答

阅读下面材料, 根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段, 使之构成一篇完整的短文。

I'd always loved to sing and had signed up for the school talent show in fourth grade when I started stuttering.

I consulted speech experts but it didn't help. I did everything I could to rid my stutter, but nothing changed. I was very confused. If I couldn't bring myself to speak in class, how would I be able to sing in the school talent show? I decided to practice at home. To my amazement, the words came smoothly when I sang. My stutter disappeared. I felt so free on stage performing in the talent show. After that, I joined my school team and began learning how to play the guitar.

By the summer I was 16, severe anxiety and depression set in. My stutter had become my entire identity, and I was afraid to talk at all. I didn't tell anyone how I was feeling.

One burning hot August afternoon, I went to the basement for the coolness, where I kept my musical equipment. My eyes lit on the guitar I had gotten for my thirteenth birthday. I picked it up and started playing it casually. Then I opened my mouth, and the words came flooding out.

Last year, I started college at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, where I'm majoring in music production. When I saw the America's Got Talent announcement pop up on my computer, I signed up.

A couple of months later, there I was—standing on that huge stage in Pasadena, trying to calm my nerves as I introduced myself to the America's Got Talent judges and audience.

"I have a bit of speech disorder, "I told everyone there. "It was definitely something that caused me to..." I took a long pause to find the words."...to shy away, to hide. But I found that I don't stutter when I sing."

Then I launched into a new song I'd written, titled Back to Life. I tried to focus on the music, not all the eyes on me. And just as I'd said, there was no stutter at all.

注意：1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

When I finished, the whole crowd was on its feet, and so were the judges.

……

Since the show aired, I've been invited to play on different occasions.