2026 届最新高考模拟三轮冲刺卷 阅读理解之
新闻报道专练
(1)
Seven children line up, awaiting their turn on a slide. As each child rushes down, the ones behind laugh and
cheer. Such scene is rare in Lagos, one of Africa’s fastest-growing cities, with a population of about 17 million. But
on the city’s suburbs, a garbage-site-turned park is providing room for kids to play. The project is the brainchild of
17-year-old Amara Nwuneli, who wants to prove that even in Lagos’ most crowded corners, children can have fun.
For Amara, the path to building parks began when a terrible flood struck her hometown in 2020. Heavy rains
swallowed entire neighborhoods, leaving thousands of families homeless. “People just said it was government
failure or bad luck.” Amara recalls. But, later, she realized it was what was called Nigeria’s “climate apathy”: the
tendency to view floods, heat waves, and droughts as isolated (孤立的) incidents rather than consequences of a
warming planet.
“I wanted to change the mindset,” Amara says. “If people don’t feel connected to nature, they won’t fight to
protect it. And I knew that had to start with creating spaces people could actually see and feel.”
It was no easy task. Amara first approached the Lagos State Government, which offered land but imposed (施
加) restrictions that made long-term construction impossible. After months of dead ends, she shifted strategy and
started looking for alternative spaces that were accessible to high-risk communities. Eventually, Amara secured a
garbage site. She then mobilized a team of artists, volunteers, and small donors to clear the trash and rebuild the site
with recycled materials. Three months later, the park opened.
Amara is now planning two more parks. She says communities from across the country have been reaching
out to her team for advice on how to recycle abandoned spaces for public use. “That creates a kind of cycle,”
Amara reflects. “I take action, others notice, they want to take action, too. And together, it grows.”
1. What might be a problem Lagos is facing?
A. Insufficient public areas.
B. Poor garbage management.
C. Limited recreational (娱乐的) activities.
D. Uncontrolled population growth.
2. What made Amara determined to build parks?
A. Losses from natural disasters.
B. People’s ignorance of climate change.
C. Disappointment in government failure.
D. Nigeria’s inadequacy in public education.
3. What quality does Amara demonstrate when completing the project?
A. Integrity.
B. Optimism.
C. Flexibility.
D. Patience.
4. What does Amara want to convey in the last paragraph?
A. Small steps make a big difference.
B. Every cloud has a silver lining.
C. All roads lead to Rome.
D. It is never too late to act.
(2)
“ARE WE ALONE in the universe?” This question is posed by Meenakshi Wadhwa, a planetary scientist
linked to NASA, to her engaged class at Arizona State University. In this lecture hall, the presence of hearing aids
signals something unique — many of the students are senior citizens.
Mirabella, a 20-storey “university retirement community” on ASU’s campus, is home to over 300 retired
people. Since its opening in 2020 during the pandemic, it has been highly popular. The residents here are having a
wonderful time. They hold university passes, which enable them to participate in classes and cultural events just
like regular students, yet without the burden of exams. Golf buggies are available for transportation, though many
are fit enough for mountain biking.
This is a growing trend. Around 85 colleges in America are affiliated with some form of senior living, a
concept that emerged in the 1980s. Today, universities from Central Florida to Iowa State to Stanford offer senior-
living arrangements. Andrew Carle, at Georgetown University, estimates that as many as 20,000 older Americans
live like this. With more than 10,000 baby-boomers in America turning 65 every day, the opportunity for alternative
forms of retirement is large.
For universities, welcoming the retired can make sense too. Many face an “enrolment cliff”, caused partly by
demographic (人口的) shifts. Nationally, undergraduate enrolment dropped from over 18m in 2010 to below 16m
in 2022. Mr Carle regularly consults with universities who wonder what to do with the extra space. The smartest
ones, he says, provide a series of care even for the very last stage of life. “The charity is the icing on the cake,” he
says of the potential that residents will include universities in their wills.
Bill Gates — not that one, but an 80-year-old former newspaper editor — moved to Mirabella with his wife,
who has a PhD in chemistry, two years ago. They have made friends with both fellow residents and younger
students. “Being among young people is really uplifting,” says Mr Gates. At “pizza and a slice of future”, a
discussion group about AI with pizza served halfway through, one of the topics was whether a lifespan of 200 or
250 years would be desirable. “The 20-year-olds were enthusiastic,” he reflects, but those in their 70s and 80s “had
some reservations”, he chuckles.
1. What benefits do senior residents get from “university retirement community”?
A. They can teach courses.
B. They can get free medical care.
C. They can work part-time on campus.
D. They can enjoy campus resources and facilities.
2. What does the underlined expression “are affiliated with” in Paragraph 3 probably mean?
A. are ignorant of
B. are competent in
C. are separated from
D. are associated with
3. What can be inferred about the trend?
A. It is a sudden success.
B. It is a win-win situation.
C. It causes great anxiety for Carle.
D. It enables baby-boomers to retire later.
4. What does the discussion about lifespan imply?
A. AI has a great impact on people’s view of lifespan.
B. Long lifespan will be a common phenomenon soon.
C. Young people are more concerned about health issues.
D. Different views are likely to appear between two generations.
(3)
Chinese historians have confirmed the identity of the Chinese refugee whom John Rabe helped escort ( 护送)
out of Nanjing, Jiangsu province, in 1938 as Huang Guanghan, a former squadron leader in China’s early air force.
The identification resolves a decades-old question surrounding the name “Kwang Han-Hwang” recorded in The
Diaries of John Rabe.
Researchers announced the conclusion after cross-checking military records, family memoirs (回忆录), and
wartime publications.
Huang, who had shot down several Japanese aircraft during the Battle of Shanghai, was severely injured in
November 1937 and later hid in Nanjing with assistance from George Fitch, who worked at the Safety Zone. He
later moved to Rabe’s place.
Rabe sheltered him before disguising him as a household servant and escorting him out of the city on Feb 23,
1938, to Hong Kong.
For years, “Kwang Han-Hwang” was mistranslated due to confusion over the name’s proper Chinese form.
The breakthrough came when historian Zhang Yuanqing found a 1937 photograph in a collection documenting (记
载) the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-1945), identifying a pilot as “Hwang Kwang-han”,
which matched the diary’s spelling with only the name order reversed (颠倒的).
Huang’s elder brother wrote in his book that after the fall of Nanjing, Huang Guanghan “entered the Nanjing
Safety Zone for refugees” and later “proceeded to Hong Kong for medical treatment”. This aligns ( 吻合，一致)
with relevant details recorded in The Diaries of John Rabe.
Huang Shijun, Huang Guanghan’s son, told Yangtze Evening News his father had told him of the story. His
elder sister also recalled that “our father sent a birthday card to John Rabe every year”.
Zhang Sheng, president of the Research Association for the History of the Nanjing Massacre ( 大屠杀) by
Japanese Invaders, said that the confirmation of Huang Guanghan’s identity highlights Rabe’s extraordinary
courage and humanitarian spirit, demonstrates the fearless protection provided by international friends to Chinese
military personnel and civilians during the Nanjing Massacre, and supplements valuable details of the history of the
Chinese air force’s resistance against Japanese aggression.
1. What was the key breakthrough in confirming Kwang Han-Hwang as Huang Guanghan?
A. A 1937 record of Huang’s birthday cards to Rabe.
B. A photo with a name matching the diary’s (except order).
C. Military records related to Huang Guanghan.
D. Fitch’s memoirs of a pilot in the Safety Zone.
2. What can we infer from the passage about Huang Guanghan and John Rabe?
A. They kept a long grateful relationship.
B. Rabe was Huang’s military comrade.
C. Huang became Rabe’s servant after the war.
D. Rabe helped Huang for military purposes.
3. What does the confirmation of Huang’s identity reflect?
A. Rabe’s support for China’s military resistance.
B. The great value of family memoirs in history research.
C. International humanitarian aid during the Nanjing Massacre.
D. The accuracy of all records in The Diaries of John Rabe.
4. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Rabe’s contributions to saving refugees.
B. Identifying Huang as the refugee in Rabe’s diary.
C. Huang’s heroic deeds as a pilot.
D. The historical value of Rabe’s diaries.
(4)
In the early 1990s, in a small back room of London’s Zoological Society, change was underway. An ecologist
named Georgina Mace had invited a group of her workmates to cooperate on a project. Right there would emerge
what the journal Nature has called “the most used and trusted source for assessing trends in global biodiversity.”
Around the world, it’s known by wildlife advocates simply as the Red List, a detailed list of life on Earth.
Evaluated species receive one of seven color-related labels based on how endangered they are, according to data;
categories range from the green “least concern” through levels of increasing threat to, finally, “extinct,” symbolized
by a black circle. Born in London in 1953, Mace spent much of her career at the Society’s Institute of Zoology,
including a period as its director for six years in the 2000s. But back in the 1980s, she focused on how to manage
small populations of animals both in the wild and in captivity (圈养).
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List started in the mid-1960s. Its nomination
( 提名) process was then highly subjective. Beloved animals like the cheetah ( 猎豹) were more likely to be
nominated than lesser-known species, such as the Andean catfish. In 1991, Mace coauthored a paper with
American biologist Russell Lande, calling for a reworking of the Red List based on evidence-based data. The paper
would become the foundation of the modern Red List.
Revising the Red List was just one of many projects Mace advocated from the United Nations’ Millennium
Ecological Assessment to campaigning for more cooperation between disciplines, including the integration of
economics into modern ecology. She was named a Fellow of the Royal Society, the highest honor given to British
scientists, and, in 2016, a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
1. What is the primary purpose of the Red List?
A. To document the total number of species on Earth.
B. To track the migration patterns of wildlife globally.
C. To assess a species’ situation based on extinction risk.
D. To promote captive programs for endangered animals.
2. What was the focus of Georgina Mace’s research in the 1980s?
A. Studying the causes of species extinction.
B. Developing the Red List’s classification system.
C. Advocating for global wildlife conservation policies.
D. Managing small animal populations in captivity and the wild.
3. What can be inferred about the cheetah according to paragraph 3?
A. It was endangered in the mid-1960s.
B. It was the first to be on the IUCN Red List.
C. It was lesser known than the Andean catfish.
D. It was more fortunate than the Andean catfish.
4. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. An ecologist made biodiversity count.
B. A list helped categorize newfound species.
C. An incident inspired Mace to pursue zoology.
D. A society brought wildlife advocates together.
(5)
Friend is a new wearable AI companion that you can wear around your neck. The small, white, puck-shaped
device records your every word and interaction and responds accordingly by text. The company says it does not
store your conversations and you can delete its “memories” whenever you want to.
Friend, along with other similar AI companion products, exists at the crossroads of two complex issues: AI and
the loneliness epidemic (流行病). As technology reshapes how we interact with others, more and more people
report feeling socially disconnected. In 2023, the WHO declared loneliness a “global public health concern” that is
as bad for people’s health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
However, people’s responses to this AI companion trend are mixed. While some people argue that it can help
people feel less lonely, others worry that AI companionship might replace real human connections, and thus further
worsen feelings of loneliness.
But so far, research doesn’t seem to support this fear. In 2024, Bethanie Drake-Maples, a researcher in human-
centered AI, and her team investigated more than 1,000 students who used the AI chatbot Replika.These users
reported decreased anxiety and a feeling of social support. Nearly a quarter of those surveyed said Replika had led
to positive changes in their actions and ways of thinking. “I am more able to handle stress in my current
relationship because of Replika’s advice,” one respondent wrote. “These findings, though, are not generalized,”
says Drake-Maples. “It’s not clear that every average Joe is going to experience the same effect.” The studies she
has conducted focus on “students who are pretty lonely”. “But the people who may benefit from AI companionship
are not just those on the fringe (边缘) of society,” she adds.
However, it is still a new field. “I strongly believe that we do need to have ethical guidelines around AI
companions that can push people back, when appropriate, towards human relationships,” Drake-Maples adds.
These could be gentle nudges (劝说) like “Hey, you should go chat with somebody about that.” or “Go practice this
now with a real human.”
1. What is the purpose of paragraph 1?
A. To demonstrate how an AI companion works.
B. To introduce the topic of the impact of AI companionship.
C. To show the rapid development of AI companionship.
D. To promote the AI companion called Friend.
2. What can we learn about AI companionship from Drake-Maples’ investigation?
A. Its effects require further in-depth study.
B. It can equally benefit the general public.
C. Its development prospects are concerning.
D. It should be applied with greater caution.
3. What does Drake-Maples imply by his words in the last paragraph?
A. AI companions deserve wider application.
B. AI can revolutionize how humans connect.
C. AI should ultimately serve human connections.
D. AI companions can learn from human interaction.
4. What is the tone of the whole text?
A. Critical.
B. Humorous.
C. Persuasive.
D. Objective.
(6)
A town in Finland has begun using the world’s largest “sand battery” to help provide heat. The unusual
method of storing energy allows the town to create heat when electricity prices are cheap, and store it for long
periods of time. The heat can then be used whenever it’s needed.
Pornainen is a town in Finland with about 5,000 people. Most of the buildings in the town are heated through
“district heating”. In a district heating system, hot water is piped into the buildings from a central heating plant.
That way, each building doesn’t need to have its own boiler. The central heating system in Pornainen is run by a
company called Loviisan Lämpö.
Until recently, Pornainen’s heat came from burning oil and wood chips. Loviisan Lämpö was looking for ways
to cut the pollution it created. They hired a company called Polar Night to build the world’s largest sand battery. In
2022, Polar Night successfully built a smaller sand battery.
A sand battery works because sand (tiny rocks) can be heated to high temperatures and hold heat long in a
well-insulated container. Pornainen’s battery uses crushed soapstone (滑石) — waste from a Finnish fireplace-
maker — instead of sand. The soapstone can be heated to 750° Fahrenheit and the battery can hold onto this heat
for months.
The battery took a year to build, standing roughly 42.5 feet tall and almost 50 feet across. It can heat
Pornainen for about a month in summer and a week in winter. Used since early summer, it heats sand when
electricity is cheapest; when heat is needed, air is pushed through the hot sand, heating it and the hot air can then be
used to heat water or turn it into steam, warming up homes, government buildings, a library and a school.
About 43% of Finland’s energy is renewable, but solar and wind only work part-time — creating energy
surpluses (剩余) or shortages. Storing energy solves this. The battery will cut winter wood chip use by 60%, aiding
Loviisan Lämpö’s goal of being climate neutral by 2035. Polar Night is also looking into ways to turn the stored
heat back into electricity.
1. What can the sand battery do for Pornainen?
A. It makes electricity cheap.
B. It cleans waste in time.
C. It stores heat for a long time.
D. It cuts other energy supplies.
2. Why did Loviisan Lämpö build the sand battery?
A. To reduce pollution.
B. To better use electricity.
C. To test new technology.
D. To heat more buildings.
3. What does the underlined word “well-insulated” mean in paragraph 4?
A. Hard to break.
B. Good at keeping heat.
C. Easy to carry.
D. Large in size.
4. Which is the best title for the text?
A. A New Tool Helps Produce Electricity
B. Finland Has a Plan for Clean Energy
C. We Learn How to Store Winter Heat
D. Largest “Sand Battery” Heats Finnish Town
(7)
Much like a nursing home, Redwood Aquarium provides a place where penguins can age with dignity. When
Bennett, a critically endangered African penguin, started losing his vision and slowing down his steps, it became
clear that he needed a safe place to age.
Redwood Aquarium, where the 33-year-old Bennett was born and has lived his entire life, decided in February
to set up a care center for him and its six other aging penguins.
“Initially, we found the idea unconventional,” said Mark Hudson, manager of the aquarium. “But the more we
were looking at what physical limitations they have, the more we started to realize that we had to do something.”
The rocky island near the entrance is set apart from the rest of the aquarium, ensuring that the older penguins
don’t have to compete for territory with their often aggressive, younger peers. The enclosure has some flatter
surface and a carpeted path down to the water, which allows Bennett and the other penguins to better navigate up
and down the island. The aquarium has also built a stand in front of the island, which makes it easier for the
penguins to jump out of the water.
Caring for the aging penguins goes far beyond a safer enclosure. The older birds get more checkups than their
younger counterparts, and doctors offer them treatment for diseases that might be familiar to older humans. There
are also more cameras around the island, so staff can better monitor the birds. Bennett has become more active
since moving to the new island — swimming more with his mate and getting off the island more often.
A crowd of tourists formed around the enclosure to watch, including Helen Stone, a 79-year-old tourist who
was being pushed in a wheelchair by her family. Hearing about Bennett’s age and the care he got, Helen said she
could relate. “That’s wonderful,” Helen said. “All of us older people need extra care as we get older.”
1. Why was a care center opened in Redwood Aquarium?
A. To train penguins for performances.
B. To separate aging penguins from visitors.
C. To study the endangered African penguins.
D. To give elderly penguins a safe place to age.
2. What is paragraph 4 mainly about?
A. Improvement of the aquarium.
B. Competitions among penguins.
C. Introduction of the care program.
D. Convenience of the rocky island.
3. What happens after Bennett has been brought to the care center?
A. Better care is offered.
B. More food is provided.
C. More birds are attracted.
D. Better doctors are assigned.
4. Why does the author mention Helen Stone in the last paragraph?
A. To compare her age with Bennett’s.
B. To recommend Redwood Aquarium.
C. To praise the aquarium’s care program.
D. To show her being cared by her family.
(8)
For centuries, the Rhine River has been celebrated as the lifeline of Europe, a vital waterway for commerce,
culture, and ecology. However, a study published in January 2026 reveals a troubling modern reality: this historic
river now acts as a massive conveyor belt for rubbish, carrying between 3,000 and 4,700 tons of large garbage into
the North Sea every single year.
How could such a vast amount of waste have been missed? The answer lies in a revolutionary new research
method. For an entire year, researchers worked with local citizen scientists to operate a special floating device
called a litter trap. This device filtered (过滤) water from the surface down to 80 centimeters deep. Unlike older
methods that relied on brief visual surveys, this long-term physical collection recorded the true, disorganized flow
of garbage. The data showed enormous changes, with the amount of rubbish collected in a two-week period varying
wildly from as few as 67 pieces to over 2,700, accounting for why short-term observations failed to get the full
picture.
The collected garbage tells a clear story about its origins. Detailed analysis showed that while plastic items
made up about 70% of all pieces, they were mostly lightweight, only 15% of the total weight. More importantly,
over 56% of all rubbish was linked directly to the choices of individual consumers, with items like food wrappers
and beverage (饮料) bottles being most common. Specific activities also left their mark, with litter from fireworks
making up 10.7% of the total and tobacco-related waste like cigarette butts contributing another 6.5%.
This year-long project, powered in part by dedicated volunteers, proves that long-term, hands-on monitoring is
essential to measure environmental challenges accurately. It provides a powerful model for how communities and
scientists can work together to gather the evidence needed for action. The Rhine’s story is no longer just about its
scenic beauty or economic importance; it is an urgent call to address the tide of waste our modern lifestyle creates,
before it all washes out to sea.
1. What is the main finding of the 2026 study on the Rhine River?
A. It has a vital status in history.
B. It flows into the North Sea every year.
C. It becomes a carrier of massive rubbish.
D. It loses the role as a waterway for ecology.
2. Which of the following contributed to old methods’ failure?
A. Not involving local volunteers.
B. Lacking recorded data of advanced tools.
C. Only collecting water from the surface.
D. Missing dramatic changes in short surveys.
3. What can we learn from the figures in paragraph 3?
A. Fireworks were the most polluted activity.
B. Smoking had little effect on the environment.
C. Most rubbish came from personal consumption.
D. Plastics made up most of the weight.
4. What is the primary purpose of the passage?
A. To analyse origins of river garbage.
B. To emphasize pollution and urge action.
C. To explain a new method to clear rubbish.
D. To praise the project led by volunteers.
(9)
On August 28, a group of middle school students gathered outside the Guiyang International Convention and
Exhibition Center in Guizhou Province. Selected by the media center of Guanshanhu District, these students were
about to make their appearance as bilingual reporters at the 2025 China International Big Data Industry Expo,
reporting in both English and Chinese.
Among them was 15-year-old Li Yihan from Zunyi. “I’ve read several journalists’ stories and have always
been fascinated by this profession,” he shared. To prepare, Li and his partners underwent thorough pre-job training:
their English teacher reviewed potential interview questions, and experienced journalists taught them how to
respond flexibly in complex situations. As they entered the exhibition hall, the students were immediately attracted
by the cutting-edge technology on display. Li focused his report on “Wukong”, a cable (电缆) repair robot by China
Southern Power Grid, whose operators can control remotely in real time, removing the need for humans to enter
dangerous areas.
14-year-old Liu Yunyi from Guiyang interviewed a man who’d lost his forearm and had a robotic arm fixed.
The man explained the arm simplified daily tasks — from writing to carrying objects — and boosted his overall
quality of life. “This expo let me see how advanced China’s tech is, things I once only imagined in sci-fi,” Liu said.
Another 14-year-old, Wang Zini, was drawn by drone soccer: quadcopters (四轴飞行器) inside a netted field flown
through hanging circles, which was played in 3×3 or 5×5 styles, and now enters official competitions, She also
spoke with a US exhibitor, shifting to lifestyle topics like Guiyang’s cuisine when technical terms confused her,
overcoming initial nervousness with the exhibitor’s warmth.
Liu opted for video reporting over writing. She faced barriers: some interviewees refused filming, and passers-
by wandered into frames (镜头), making reshoots necessary. Yet she finished four videos, realizing journalists don’t
just share information — they conduct in-depth research to present facts clearly. Li, who’d visited as a viewer
before, noted the difference: as a reporter, he engaged deeply with products and grew to appreciate researchers’
great efforts.
1. What did the students do before the 2025 China International Big Data Industry Expo?
A. They wrote news reports.
B. They got pre-job training.
C. They interviewed exhibitors.
D. They visited exhibition halls.
2. What made “Wukong” special according to Li Yihan?
A. It allows remote real-time control.
B. It looks like the Monkey King.
C. It can repair cables by itself.
D. It is used in sci-fi movies.
3. What did Liu Yunyi learn from video reporting?
A. Sci-fi tech is easy to film.
B. Video is better than writing.
C. Interviewees love being on camera.
D. Reporters need to dig deep for facts.
4. What is the best title for the text?
A. Teens Report on Tech
B. Reporters Advance with Times
C. Cool Tech at the Expo
D. A Big Data Expo in Guiyang
(10)
For the first time ever, a powerful laser (激光) beam from Earth has reportedly hit a target deep in space. It
could be the key to lightning-fast space communication in the future.
Imagine trying to aim at something a distance of a strand (股) of hair from a distance of 10km. That’s roughly
equivalent to what Chinese researchers have achieved, using a laser in space to target a distant satellite orbiting the
Moon.
Aerospace engineers of the Beijing-based Academy of Sciences have struck a satellite with an infrared (红外)
laser in broad daylight and across a distance of 130,000km. The powerful laser beam hit a reflector on Tiandu-1, a
Chinese lunar navigation and communications test satellite, which was launched in March 2024: The signal was
returned to Earth in less than a second, captured by a telescope in Yunnan in South-Western China.
It is the first time ever that engineers have managed to accurately locate and measure a satellite so far away
and to do so in daylight, when sunlight usually interferes with measurements. In similar earlier efforts, researchers
had been able to collect data for only short periods of time. But by demonstrating that the technology also works in
sunlight, the researchers have now shown that the method could enable much more frequent and accurate
measurements in space.
The method could also be used to revolutionize communications in space. Currently we use radio waves to
send messages to places such as Mars, but lasers could send greatly increased quantities of data in the same time.
The technology could pave the way for lightning-fast contact with future bases on the Moon — and perhaps
one day on Mars. Stable laser links in space can reportedly send data to and from Earth up to 100 times faster than
can radio waves, perhaps an important boost to communication with future astronauts on the Moon and Mars.
1. What did the Chinese researchers successfully make the laser beam reach?
A. A lunar base under construction.
B. A Mars exploration spacecraft.
C. A reflective device on a test satellite.
D. A ground telescope in Yunnan.
2. What makes the Chinese engineers’ achievement particularly remarkable?
A. Locating a so-distant satellite precisely in daylight.
B. Launching a Moon-orbiting satellite 130,000 km away.
C. Getting the signal returned to Earth in a second.
D. Using an infrared laser for the first time successfully.
3. What can be inferred about radio waves in space communication?
A. They are unable to reach Mars from Earth.
B. They will soon be replaced by laser technology.
C. They have lower data transmission capacity than lasers.
D. They are more easily interfered with by sunlight than lasers.
4. Which of the following is the most suitable title for the text?
A. A Historic Laser Strike: Targeting the Moon
B. Tiandu-1 Satellite: Bridging Earth and the Moon
C. Radio Waves: The Future of Space Communication
D. China’s Laser: A Leap for Deep-Space Communication
(11)
Lindsey Vonn concluded her comeback (复出) season at age 40 with a second-place finish in a World Cup
super-G race on March 23, 2025 that was won by Swiss standout Lara Gut-Behrami.
Vonn found her top form while flying down the twisting and steep Challenger course at the World Cup finals.
The American pumped her ski poles after glancing at the scoreboard as the large crowd roared.
This was Vonn’s first World Cup podium (领奖台) spot since March 15, 2018, when she finished third in a
super-G in Are, Sweden. Vonn came out of retirement during the 2024-2025 season after a partial knee
replacement.
“As much as I love skiing, it’s been a hard road,” Vonn said after the race. “I just continue to prove that
anything is possible. I’ve been knocked down so many times in my life, personally, physically, and mentally, but I
always pick myself back up. It’s not always easy. It’s actually really hard work. But that’s what it takes, putting one
foot in front of the other and getting through the hard days. When you keep putting one foot in front of the other, it
leads you to a place like today.”
Vonn becomes the oldest female Alpine ski racer to step on the podium of a World Cup race — by six years. It
was Vonn’s 138th career World Cup podium in her 408th World Cup start. She is within one start of tying the
record for the most starts by a female racer, a mark held by Renate Goetschl of Austria.
The super-G title is awarded to the racer with the most points over the entire season. Before this final race,
Gut-Behrami trailed by five points. Gut-Behrami finished in a time of 1 minute, 12.35 seconds — edging Vonn by
1.29 seconds — to earn the season-long super-G crystal globe by overtaking Brignone. Gut-Behrami found plenty
of speed and took some calculated risks to glide through the course. Brignone finished third, 1.33 seconds behind
Gut-Behrami.
1. What happened to Vonn before her 2025 World Cup return?
A. She piloted a plane.
B. She lost her ski poles.
C. She settled in Sweden.
D. She had a knee surgery.
2. Why were Vonn’s words cited in Paragraph 4?
A. To say she loves skiing most.
B. To explain the hard road of skiing.
C. To tell how she was knocked down.
D. To show her effort behind the success.
3. What do the underlined words “trailed by” in the last paragraph mean?
A. Was worried about.
B. Fell behind.
C. Was chased by.
D. Caught up with.
4. What’s the best title for the text?
A. Gut-Behrami’s Glorious Victory
B. Alpine Skiing: A Competitive Sport
C. The Intense World Cup Super-G Race
D. Vonn: Oldest Alpine Podium, Ends Comeback
(12)
Enric Sala is a former university professor who wrote the obituary (讣告) of ocean life, and quit academia to
become a full-time conservationist.
In 2008, he founded National Geographic Pristine Seas, a project that combines exploration, research, public
policy and media to inspire the creation of marine protected areas. The project aims to protect at least 30 percent of
the ocean by 2030 for the benefit of nature and humanity. Less than eight percent is currently protected.
Spending weeks at sea, diving thousands of hours, and seeking out some of the least explored and understood
places in the ocean, Sala leads a team of determined scientists and filmmakers who together work to inspire the
creation of protected areas where marine life can thrive — while ensuring effective management for years to come.
In June 2021, Sala was awarded the National Geographic Society’s Hubbard Medal for his commitment and
dedication to protecting critical areas of the ocean.
“In the last century alone, we have removed over 90 percent of the ocean’s large fish, yet less than eight
percent of the ocean is under some kind of protection. We’re still learning about the damage from destructive
fishing activities,” Sala writes. “But it is possible to restore the ocean’s benefits to people and the planet. All we
must do is rewild the sea. The only catch is that we can’t wait. We have less than a decade to act.”
Sala states that preserving the planet’s wild places, on land and in the ocean, is a matter of human survival and
economic importance in his book, The Nature of Nature: Why We Need the Wild. The process of rewilding “allows
nature to do the hard work for us,” he explains. “It’s not too much to say that if we protect nature, she will protect
us as well.”
1. What do we know about Enric Sala?
A. He still works as a university professor.
B. He works with a team of divers and scientists.
C. He aims to protect half of the ocean by 2030.
D. He was awarded for his efforts to protect the ocean.
2. What can be inferred about the current marine protection efforts?
A. They are effectively protecting marine life.
B. They are not extensive enough to be effective.
C. They have already restored ocean benefits.
D. They are well-managed in most protected areas.
3. Why is the current decade so important to ocean conservation?
A. It’s the last chance to protect 30% of the ocean.
B. We are running out of time to act before it’s too late.
C. The damage from destructive fishing is becoming more apparent.
D. The ocean’s large fish population has almost completely vanished.
4. What is the text most probably taken from?
A. A feature story.
B. A business textbook. C. A leisure magazine. D. A travel website.
(13)
If you’re heading for your nearest branch of Waterstones, the biggest book retailer in the UK, in search of the
Duchess of Sussex’s new children’s book The Bench, you might have to be prepared to hunt around a bit, the same
may be true of The President’s Daughter, the new thriller by Bill Clinton and James Patterson. Both of these books
are published next week by Penguin Random House (PRH), a company currently involved in a stand-off with
Waterstones.
The problem began late last year, when PRH confirmed that it had introduced a credit limit with Waterstones
“at a very significant level”. The trade magazine The Bookseller reported that Waterstones branch managers were
being told to remove PRH books from prominent areas such as tables, display spaces and windows, and were
“quietly retiring them to their relevant sections”.
PRH declined to comment on the issue, but a spokesperson for Waterstones told me: “Waterstones are
currently operating with reduced credit terms from PRH, the only publisher in the UK to place any limitations on
our ability to trade. We are not boycotting PRH titles but we are doing our utmost to ensure that availability for
customers remains good despite the lower overall levels of stock.” “We are hopeful with our shops now open again
that normality will return and that we will be allowed to buy appropriately. Certainly, our shops are exceptionally
busy. The sales for our May Books of the Month surpassed any month since 2018.”
In the meantime, PRH authors have been the losers. Big-name PRH authors may suffer a bit, but it’s those
mid-list authors, who normally rely on Waterstones staff’s passion for promoting books by lesser-known writers,
who will be praying for an end to the dispute.
It comes at a time when authors are already worried about the consequences of the proposed merger between
PRH and another big publisher, Simon & Schuster — the reduction in the number of unaligned UK publishers is
likely to lead to fewer bidding wars, lower advances, and more conformity in terms of what is published. “This is
all part of a wider change towards concentration of power,” says literary agent Andrew Lownie. “The publishing
industry talks about diversity in terms of authors and staff but it also needs a plurality of ways of delivering
intellectual contact, choice and different voices. After all, many of the most interesting books in recent years have
come from small publishers.”
We shall see whether that plurality is a casualty of the current need among publishers to be big enough to take
on all-comers.
1. The author mentions two books in Paragraph 1 to present ________.
A. an ongoing conflict
B. an intellectual concept
C. a prevailing sentiment
D. a literary phenomenon
2. What message does the spokesperson for Waterstones seem to convey?
A. Their stock is underestimated.
B. Their customers remain loyal.
C. The book market is rather slack.
D. The credit limit will be removed.
3. Which of the following statements best represents Lownie’s view?
A. Small publishers ought to stick together.
B. Big publishers will lose their dominance.
C. The publishing industry is having a hard time.
D. The merger of publishers is a worrying trend.
(14)
In an oasis of green space sandwiched among Manhattan skyscrapers, one oddball stood out among the
parkgoers Monday morning. It was a robot mower (割草机) named “Belawncé”. Looking like an oversize Roomba
with heavy-duty wheels, it pilots itself with the help of an artificial intelligence camera system that resembles a pair
of human eyes. After two to four hours of mowing, the robot navigates to a charging station.
For the past few months, the electric robot mower has taken over grass-clipping duties on the main lawn of
Bryant Park, a small but heavily used public park. Toshi Yano, director of the park, said in an interview that the
robot mower has proved effective, safe and more environmentally friendly than gas-powered, human-operated
mowers.
Belawncé is a glimpse at the promise and the problems of using robots for tasks such as yard work. Bryant
Park previously tried a couple of other robot mowers that were finicky. The prior robots would get stuck in certain
parts of the park. To connect to satellites for navigation, at times the park needed one receiver on-site and another
on a nearby office tower. Starting this spring, Bryant Park picked a model made by a company called Sunseeker. It
has required less human intervention over time.
Unlike its pop star namesake, Belawncé and its fellow robot mowers aren’t beloved by all. Nanci Fioravanti,
landscape manager for Green-Wood, a popular green space in Brooklyn that uses two robot mowers, has had to
reassure staff worried about job losses from automation. Fioravanti also said that the robot mowers aren’t suited to
steep areas of Green-Wood or where tree cover makes them lose signal.
Park officials made sure Belawncé navigated around or stopped for humans and wildlife. “Either the birds or
the AI or some combination of both are doing what they’re supposed to do and avoiding one another,” Yano said.
1. What is a key feature of Belawncé?
A. It is gas-powered.
B. It looks human-like. C. It is uniquely shaped.D. It operates autonomously.
2. What does the underlined word “finicky” in paragraph 3 probably mean?
A. Efficient.
B. Demanding.
C. Independent.
D. Conventional.
3. What aspect concerning robot mowers was mentioned in paragraph 4?
A. Their adaptability.
B. Their limitations.
C. Their environmental value.
D. Their maintenance costs.
4. What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?
A. To promote the use of robot mowers.
B. To call for a review of robot mowers.
C. To report on the adoption of a robot mower.
D. To present the development of a robot mower.
(15)
In the heart of the Kanien’keha Nation (卡尼恩克哈部族) in Canada, McComber, a native language teacher
reflected on a question raised by Maori (毛利) language advocate Sir Karetu: what was his dream for the future of
his language?
Kanien’keha, the Mohawk language, is endangered, and for decades, McComber has worked hard to operate a
native language school. At the turn of the century, as it encountered more barriers, McComber looked around the
world for help and inspiration, and Karetu was the answer. “Don’t wait for money or approval; just do the work,”
Karetu told him. It’s the same message Karetu carried with him decades ago, when te reo Maori, the Maori
language, was also on the line.
In the early 1970s, young Maori advocates in New Zealand marched to the government, demanding Maori be
taught in all public schools. In 1982, Dame Iritana Tawhiwhirangi established Kohanga Reo, an engaging language
program where Maori was the only language taught, spoken and used both in the classroom and at home, and the
courses focused on their history and culture. “Grandparents became teachers,” she says. “The difference-maker was
that the Kohanga Reo was entirely community-led. Families raised the money to rent classroom spaces, and
volunteers planned and taught classes.”
Translated in English as “language nest”, the Kohanga Reo model quickly became an important cultural export
and inspired other minority communities worldwide. “Our parents ruled,” a student of McComber’s nest school
says, “They wanted to teach us the beauty of our language, our culture, and who we are. And it has given me the
confidence to speak and read with ease in both English and Kanien’keha.”
The model helped communities view the world through their ancestors’ eyes, ensuring the survival of their
way of life. “It’s not just about language,” McComber can now answer that question. “It’s everything.”
1. Why did McComber turn to Karetu for help?
A. Karetu also spoke Kanien’keha.
B. Karetu once faced a similar crisis.
C. He needed his financial support.
D. He desired his tips on language learning.
2. What contributed to the success of Kohanga Reo?
A. Expansion of public schools.
B. Flexibility of the courses.
C. Rule of the students’ parents.
D. Support from the community.
3. What does paragraph 4 mainly talk about?
A. The impact of the Kohanga Reo model.
B. The importance of parents’ involvement.
C. The procedure for building the nest school.
D. The case of a student finding his real identity.
4. By saying “It’s everything”, McComber suggests ______.
A. guaranteeing the survival of their own schools
B. keeping their culture for future generations
C. purifying their unique minority language
D. practicing the tradition of their ancestors
