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A new study focuses on K2-18b, an exoplanet(系外行星) discovered in 2018, which orbits a red dwarf star close enough to receive about the same amount of radiation from its star as Earth does from our sun.

Recently, scientists have discovered gas giants that have water in their atmospheres, but this is the least giant planet ever to have water detected in its atmosphere. "The water detection was quite clear to us relatively early on, "lead author Bjorn Benneke, a professor at the Institute for Research on Exoplanets at the Universite de Montreal, told Space. com in an interview.

"Studies have suggested that planets with hydrogen-rich atmospheres could host certain forms of life. " Benneke said. However, "K2-18b's large atmosphere is extremely thick and creates high-pressure conditions, which likely prevents life as we know it from existing on the planet's surface. " a news release reads. While these researchers found evidence for liquid water clouds on K2-18b, because of its lack of surface, rain wouldn't pool on the planet. Without a real surface, so to speak, landing on the planet would also be nearly impossible to land on, especially because the gas is so thick and has such an incredibly high pressure that any Earth-created spacecraft sent there would be destroyed.

Benneke suggests that, possibly, this planet formed by rock absorbing large amounts of gas, "like a vacuum cleaner, "he said. The gas absorbed would have more than doubled the planet and increased its volume eightfold.

To come to these conclusions, the research team analyzed data from Hubble Space Telescope observations that they made between 2019 and 2020 of the K2-18b planet passing in front of its star eight times. This type of research, Benneke said, is leading toward a final goal of "being able to study real, true earth-like planets". "We are not quite there yet, "he said," but this is really exciting."

1. （1） Why is it impossible to land on the K2-18b?

   A . It has thin gas. B . It doesn't have a real surface. C . It has too much water. D . It is too far from the earth.
3. （2） How does K2-18b expand according to Benneke?

   A . By releasing gas itself. B . By receiving radiation from the sun. C . By taking in much gas by rocks. D . By getting away from the red dwarf star.
5. （3） What can we infer from the last paragraph?

   A . Scientists are making progress in studying real earth-like planets. B . It is impossible for humans to land on other earth-like planets. C . Scientists have succeeded in exploring K2-18b completely. D . The K2-18b planet has passed before its star eight times between 2019 and 2020.

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The first model of Apple's iPhone was launched in June 2007. Since then, many different smartphones have been introduced. The devices now influence our daily lives in many ways. One thing that has changed is that many people now use their phones to easily take pictures without the need for a camera. Not surprisingly, this change has caused major business problems for camera manufacturers.

Of course, the camera built into the first iPhone 15 years ago did not include a high-quality camera able to compete with separate camera models. But over the years, smartphone makers have invested heavily in research and development to change that. Today, many smartphones have high-quality cameras designed to produce better pictures. And most phone devices also offer powerful tools to improve the quality of the pictures we take.

Japan's Camera & Tmaging Products Association (CIPA) said the digital camera market continually expanded starting in 1999. It experienced its first decrease in 2009—and continued to fall thereafter. The biggest change appeared from 2010 to 2020, when worldwide camera shipments fell about 93 percent, CIPA reported. The decreases were mainly caused by drops in shipments of digital cameras that have built-in lenses.

However, camera makers have had more success selling digital cameras with interchangeable lenses. This is because these cameras are generally targeted at professional photographers who demand higher quality. Such cameras can produce "high image quality that distinguishes them from smartphones," CIPA said.

But this does not mean that professional photographers never use smartphones to capture pictures. Brynn Anderson is based with the AP in Atlanta, Georgia. She said: "Sometimes being a photographer with a larger camera can be intimidating to the person being photographed. Using a phone makes it easier for me to get comfortable moments that might not happen otherwise. " Rodrigo Abd, an AP photographer in Buenos Aires, Argentina says using the iPhone makes it easier for him "to always be attentive" to everyday events when not covering a news story. Oded Balilty is based in Tel Aviv, Israel. "It is definitely an alternative tool," he said of the iPhone. But he added: "It's the photographer not the device, that determines the quality of a photo."

1. （1） What is the potential cause of the first decrease of digital cameras in 2009?

   A . Less money was invested to improve digital cameras. B . Cameras had been built into smartphones and improved. C . Fewer digital cameras with built-in lenses were produced D . The digital camera market stopped promoting new products.
3. （2） Why do digital cameras with interchangeable lenses enjoy good sales.

   A . They are more affordable.     B . They have superb shooting quality. C . They offer the power to beautify photos.     D . They are specially designed for professionals.
5. （3） What does the underlined word "intimidating " in the last paragraph probably mean?

   A . Amusing. B . Demanding. C . Rewarding. D . Scaring.
7. （4） What does Oded Balilty mean?

   A . The level of the photographer depends on the iPhone. B . The iPhone completely replaces his professional tool. C . The professional skills of the photographer is crucial. D . The iPhone enables him to work at any time and place.

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The sun is setting, brightening your kids' faces as they play in the waves. You reach for your phone for this perfect moment. But before you do, here's a bit of surprising science: Taking photos is not the perfect way to keep memory as you think.

Taking too many pictures could actually harm the brain's ability to keep memories, says Elizabeth Loftus, a psychology professor at the University of California, Irvine. So we get the photo but kind of lose the memory.

Photography "outsources" memories. It works in two ways: We either shake off the responsibility of remembering moments when taking pictures, or we're so distracted(分散注意力的) by the process that we miss the moment altogether.

The first explanation is the loss of memory. People know that their camera is recording that moment, so they don't try to remember. Similarly, if you write down someone's phone number, you're less likely to remember it offhand because your brain tells you there's just no need. That's all well and good—until that piece of paper goes missing.

The other is distraction. We're distracted by the process of taking a photo—how we hold our phone, composing the photo, such as smiling faces, the background to our liking and clear image, all of which uses up our attention that could otherwise help us memorize.

However, taking photos can benefit memory—when done mindfully. While taking a photo may be distracting, the act of preparation by focusing on visual details around has some upsides. When people take the time to zoom in(拉近镜头) on specific things, memories become strengthened.

Another benefit is that we recall moments more accurately with the photos. Memory has been reshaped with the help of new information and new experiences. Thus, photos or videos help us recall moments as if they really happened.

Memories die away without a visual record backing them up. Therefore, a photo is an excellent tool to help remember when done purposefully, which is worth exploring further.

1. （1） What is the purpose of the first paragraph?

   A . To introduce the topic.     B . To call on readers not to take photos. C . To show the interest in taking photos.     D . To make us think of similar experience.
3. （2） Why does photography "outsource" memories?

   A . Photos are more detailed than memories. B . Taking photos is helpful for us to memorize. C . People depend more on photos to remember than their brains. D . Many sources influence people's memories during photo-taking.
5. （3） What may likely be discussed next?

   A . Situations when taking photos is better.     B . How to stay focused while taking photos. C . When distraction is most likely to happen.     D . How to use photo-taking to memorize better.
7. （4） Which of the following could be the best title for the text?

   A . Photography Does Help to Memories B . Too Many Photos Taken Results in Poor Memories C . Remember the Moment and Take Photos Properly D . The Fewer Photos We Take, the Better We Will Remember

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Living robots can reproduce on their own in a dish. This is not a science-fiction movie, but the result of a new research. The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in the US on Nov 29.

Xenobots, a type of tiny robot, were first created in 2020, using cells taken from the embryo of an African frog species. Under the right lab conditions, the cells formed small structures that could self-assemble, move in groups and react to their environment. Now, the researchers have found that xenobots can also self-replicate(自我复制), according to the journal of New Scientist.

But are they living organisms or robots? They are organisms because they are made of stem cells and can reproduce. And they are also robots because they can move on their own and perform physical labor, co-author Sam Kriegman told The Washington Post.

People have thought for quite a long time that we've worked out all the ways that life can reproduce or replicate. But this is something that's never been observed before," co-author Douglas Blackiston, a senior scientist at Tufts University in the US, told Science Daily website.

The ability to replicate adds a new layer of potential utility to the robots. Kriegman told The Washington Post that while xenobots are not yet commercially useful, they have the potential to provide a number of services, from cleaning up microplastics in the ocean to safely delivering drugs to a specific spot in a person's body.

However, the creation of xenobots comes with concerns. Some think more advanced future xenobots, especially ones that live longer and reproduce, could out-compete other species, according to The Conversation, an Australia news media.

The researchers think these risks are manageable. "If you change the amount of sodium in that water to be too high or too low, they'll die," Kriegman told The Washington Post. "If there's a piece of copper in the dish, they'll all die. It's an extremely controllable and stoppable and safe system."

1. （1） What do we know about xenobots according to the passage?

   A . They should be classified into frog species. B . They can reproduce and replicate themselves. C . They can adapt to the environment anywhere. D . They were created based on science fiction movies.
3. （2） How do scientists feel the way that xenobots reproduce?

   A . Unexpected. B . Predictable. C . Doubted. D . Unaccepted.
5. （3） What effects do xenonots have on humans?

   A . They are expected to replace other species. B . They have been used widely commercially. C . They will serve human beings more extensively. D . They will further explore their own potential ability.
7. （4） What's Kriegman's attitude towards the xenobots' future?

   A . Worried. B . Cautious. C . Neutral. D . Optimistic.

根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。

Over the past ten months of pandemic life, cooking has become a shelter for me. New York Times food editor Sam Sifton referred to Korean fried rice and said it "improves moods, atmospheres and weeks alike". I'd argue it improves physical health, finances and skills, and reduces stress. Really, cooking is a rewarding thing you should do these days.

Cooking food for yourself is beneficial to your physical health. When you cook your own food, you control exactly what goes into your body. It's the best possible way to "dial in" or clean up your diet. A recent survey has found that twice as many Americans are cooking at home than a year ago, and that nearly a quarter are doing so in an effort to eat healthier.

It's considerably cheaper than ordering from restaurants, or buying prepared food from supermarkets. It's found that ordering takeout is five times more expensive. The difference is more obvious if you're cooking for a family.

In terms of improving cooking skill, you can't help but improve if you do it over and over again. With so many other outlets for hobbies shut down right now, why not view your kitchen as a mini universe to be explored? You've got the tools, not to mention the human requirement to eat. I can't think of another hobby where your body physically requires you to practice several times daily.

How does cooking relieve stress, you might be wondering? If you're organized enough to cook meals in advance, you end the weeknight dilemma of "what's for dinner?" Furthermore, as you get better at cooking, you will spare the need to order food.

A. Cooking helps kids develop many hobbies.

B. Actually, cooking can bring more benefits.

C. The act itself can be calming to some people.

D. From a financial aspect, cooking cannot be beaten.

E. You can save money as well as improve your mental health.

F. If improving health is your main reason for cooking, you're not alone.

G. You're likely to improve your cooking skills and they will stick with you for life.

阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

If a person only has an arm, how could he or she play basketball? How could he or she even dribble(运球) like a 1 player? Zhang Jiacheng, a Chinese boy, has made it and 2 everyone who knows his story from the Internet.

After a short 3 of the teenage basketball player playing a competition was recently 4 online. Zhang soon became an Internet focus and was highly 5 for his strong will and extraordinary skills. In the video, Zhang showed his dribbling abilities and 6 skills in front of a defence made up of several professional basketball players, and received a loud 7 from the audience watching on 8. "It is the power of basketball, so impressive and 9!" A netizen who saw this video 10 on Sina Weibo.

Born in Guangdong, China, Zhang 11 his right arm in an accident when he was only five, which was very 12 for a little kid. But Zhang hasn't let that misfortune discourage him from pursuing his 13, and he has never given in to his fate as his love and passion for basketball 14 stronger. Basketball is by no means just a 15 for this one-armed teenager. 16, he dreams of being a professional athlete!

"Your heart is always the 17 part of your body," said Yi Jianlian, after watching the teenager's short video.

    "Your right hand has been 18 in a cruel way, but you have the best left hand. You are the real 19 in this game," former CBA player Wang Jing 20 highly of Zhang's performance.

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。

A Chinese space company has designed a machine can catch waste materials left behind by spaceships in outer space with a big net.

The 30-kilogram machine, called NEO-01, (make) by Origin Space last year. The company says the machine will lead the way for future technologies able to develop asteroids(小行星).

Usually, space cleanup technology lets magnets(磁铁) gather up space waste. But a report on the Origin Space website says NE0-01 will use a net (catch) waste and then burn it.

(thousand) of spaceships have been sent up worldwide. As time goes on, many end up as waste and put other operating spaceships risk.

Su Meng is the founder of Origin Space. He said the company plans to send up many space telescopes and more spaceships to begin the (develop) of asteroids by 2045.

is reported by Xinhua News that China is increasing efforts to land a spaceship on a near-Earth asteroid to collect materials. China is also 48 (clear) speeding up a plan to send up spaceships to stop near-Earth asteroids from (harm) the Earth.

The country aims to follow other space powers such as Russia in becoming main space power by 2030.

假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。

增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧)，并在其下面写出该加的词。

删除：把多余的词用斜线(\)划掉。

修改：在错的词下画一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。

注意：1．每处错误及其修改均仅限一词;

2．只允许修改10处，多者(从第11处起)不计分。

It's time to say goodbye. I can't help recalling those beautiful days we spent them together. You are the very person who gives me the hand when I need help. You are the more considerate person who knows exactly that I need. Do you still remember that night two years ago? When I suddenly fall ill, it was you who carried me on your back to the hospital. You took well care of me when I was in hospital. Later, you managed help me with my lessons. With your help, I would have failing in the exams. I still have hundreds of story to share with you. I still have thousands of blessing for you. May all your dreams come true! May our friendship last forever!

推行垃圾分类，提倡低碳生活是全民活动，你班英语课堂将举行主题为"Let's Go Green Now"的英语演讲比赛。请你写一篇演讲稿。内容包括：

1）倡导绿色生活的原因；

2）实践途径(至少两点)。

注意：

1）词数80左右(首尾已给出，不计入词数)；

2）可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

Boys and girls,