湖南长沙市长郡中学2026-2027学年高二上学期期中考试英语试卷

2026 年秋季高二期中考试 英 语 时量：120 分钟 满分：150分 第一部分 听力（共两节，满分30分） 第一节（共5小题；每小题1.5分，满分7.5分） 听下面5段录音。每段录音后有一个小题，从题中所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项。听完每段录音后，你都有10秒钟的时间来回答有关小题和阅读下一小题。每段录音播放两遍。 1. What is the woman doing? A. Selling a car. B. Playing with children. C. Offering payment plans. 2. Where will the speakers meet later? A. In a cafe. B. In a bookstore. C. In a fitting room. 3. What is the total charge for breakfast and lunch now? A. $2. B. $8. C. $11. 4. How does the woman sound? A. Angry. B. Thrilled. C. Apologetic. 5. What does the woman suggest? A. Exercise indoors. B. Continue as planned. C. Watch the weather. 第二节（共15小题；每小题1.5分，满分22.5分） 听下面5段录音。每段录音后有几个小题，从题中所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项。听每段录音前，你将有时间阅读各个小题，每小题5秒钟；听完后，每小题都有5秒钟的作答时间。每段录音播放两遍。 听第6段录音，回答第6、7题。 6. Why can’t Dave find the apartment? A. He’s never been to this area. B. He can’t read an online map. C. He doesn’t know the address. 7. When will some people probably go home? A. At 8:00 p. m. B. At 9:00 p. m. C. At 10:00 p. m. 听第7段录音，回答第8至10题。 8. What career does Jane want to pursue? A. A secretary. B. A truck driver. C. An auto mechanic. 9. What is Ryan’s opinion about nursing? A. It’s a well-paid job. B. It’s suitable for women. C. It requires great patience. 10. What does Jane think of Ryan’s view on jobs? A. Practical. B. Outdated. C. Reasonable. 听第8段录音，回答第11至13题。 11. What may most probably cause online safety problems? A. System failure. B. Password insecurity. C. Repeated information. 12. What should one do first to improve the situation? A. Install antivirus software. B. Change passwords regularly. C. Set double-layered protection. 13. Which of the following deserves people’s caution most? A. Requests from close friends. B. Messages from unfamiliar people. C. Texts from double-checked sources. 听9段录音，回答第14至16题。 14. What point does Dr. Carter make about ancient Rome? A. It produced the world’s first cheese. B. It had a developed street food culture. C. It created the modern fast-food system. 15. What were the ancient shops first believed to be? A. Private homes. B. Cooking schools. C. Storage buildings. 16. What did Dr. Wilson do? A. He confirmed Rossi’s theory. B. He taught archaeology in Italy. C. He first uncovered the shop ruins. 听第10段录音，回答第17至20题。 17. What does the speaker mainly talk about? A. Changes in solar research. B. Advances in solar energy. C. The prospect of solar energy. 18. What has happened to solar cell efficiency? A. It’s ready for commercial use. B. It has reached new records. C. It has nearly doubled. 19. What can the new liquid do? A. Clean solar panels. B. Store solar energy. C. Produce electricity. 20. What is the experts’ attitude towards the future of solar energy? A. Concerned. B. Critical. C. Optimistic. 第二部分 阅读（共两节，满分50分） 第一节（共15小题；每小题2.5分，满分37.5分） 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。 A (★) The Asian Universities Alliance (AUA) is excited to announce the 2026 Asian Diversity Photo Contest. This year, we explore the theme “Future Visions: Technology and Tradition in Asia”. This contest is launched in celebration of Asia’s rich and varied cultural landscapes, serving as a platform to capture the unique moment when Asia’s ancient heritage meets its cutting-edge future. Requirements We are looking for both color and black-and-white photographs that creatively interpret the theme, including: ·The integration of modern technology into daily life and ancient traditions ·Futuristic architecture alongside historical landmarks ·The evolution of traditional festivals, art, or fashion in a modern context ·Innovations in transportation, environmental solutions, or community life across Asia Qualification ·Open to all currently enrolled (注册) students and staff from AUA member universities ·All participants must be at least 18 years old Submission Deadline All entries must be handed in via our digital platform by August 17. The submission link can be found on the official AUA website. Prizes ·1st Prize: a certificate and $ 700 (1 winner) ·2nd Prize: a certificate and $ 550 (2 winners) ·3rd Prize: a certificate and a $ 200 gift card for a platform (4 winners) Winning photographs and selected honorable mentions will be showcased in a virtual exhibition on the AUA website and may be featured in a printed AUA calendar for the upcoming year. Furthermore, student winners will be invited to participate in a special “Future Innovators” summer workshop hosted by a leading AUA member university in Singapore, with expenses for accommodation, meals, and program activities covered. 21. What is the purpose of the photo contest? A. To honor Asian culture. B. To digitize photography. C. To document Asian landscapes. D. To advocate slow life. 22. What are participants required to do? A. Employ the latest photography equipment. B. Submit the work online by August 17. C. Take black-and-white photographs only. D. Register a personal account on the website. 23. What benefit will all the student winners receive? A. A finely-printed AUA calendar. B. A cash prize of at least $ 200. C. A summer program invitation. D. Free entry to an art exhibition. B (★) Laurie Horam never thought of himself as musical. At home, his dad never listened to music, and one of his boarding school teachers labelled him tone-deaf. But last month he started to play the harmonica (口琴) on the streets of Bradford. People clapped, danced and threw coins into his case for the local food bank. Horam caught himself thinking, “How, at the age of 79, do I come to be playing music to people on the streets?” The question preoccupied him, because, some years ago at a family gathering, Gavin, his eldest son, said, “You know what, Dad? It can’t be coincidental. We must have got our musical abilities from you.” Horam has three sons and they cover a range of instruments. He was surprised. “There can’t be music in me, because I can’t play!” he said. Eight years ago, Horam, a retired civil servant, was on his way back from a trip with his family. Gavin stopped at a music shop. He walked out and said, “Here you are. I bought this for you, Dad. It’s a harmonica. I’ll try to show you how to play a bit.” They went to a session at their local pub. Gavin played the guitar and Horam sat in the corner with his harmonica, trying to make a sound that no one would hear. After six months, he was invited into the group. He discovered a talent for improvisation (即兴表演), responding to a note within a millisecond without batting an eyelid. “I don’t play by ear. I play by heart.” Actually, Horam says, “My harmonica plays me — how I feel, what I am, and what I’ve been.” Music has enriched life with friendship and made Horam feel “part of something much bigger” than himself. “At a time when the circle of life might be shrinking, mine is expanding,” he says. “Maybe we never know completely who we are or what we can do.” 24. Why did Horam play the harmonica on the streets of Bradford? A. To recall the golden old days. B. To beg passers-by for food. C. To fulfil his childhood dream. D. To raise money for charity. 25. What is Gavin’s attitude to his father’s musical ability? A. Convinced. B. Disapproving. C. Doubtful. D. Unclear. 26. What does Horam think of playing the harmonica? A. An effortless victory. B. A blind practice. C. A way of self-expression. D. A means of livelihood. 27. What does music bring to Horam according to the last paragraph? A. A lost soul. B. A cozy life. C. A wider social circle. D. A perception of family. C For over 150 years, a question that even Charles Darwin couldn’t fully answer has perplexed biologists: Why do some plants spread so fast in a new place, while others hardly survive? In On the Origin of Species, Darwin offered two opposite views on successful invasive (入侵的) plants: they are either similar to native plants and fit local environments well, or different enough to avoid direct competition. For years, facts seemed to support both views, but the broader pattern remained unclear. Tadeo Ramirez-Parada and his team at UC Santa Barbara turned to herbaria, collections of preserved plant specimens (标本) gathered over centuries. Each dried plant comes with valuable information, including where and when it was collected, and whether it was flowering at the time. The team focused on flowering time, a critical factor in plant reproduction. Using specimen records, historical weather data, and advanced statistical methods, the researchers estimated flowering periods for thousands of species. They then compared invasive and native plants across regions. The results of the new study revealed a striking pattern. In regions with harsh (恶劣的) conditions like extreme heat, cold or dryness, successful invasive plants responded to the same environmental signals as established species did. In milder regions with greater biodiversity, invasive species often flowered significantly earlier so they could attract pollinators (传粉者) before natives, and produce seeds sooner and spread them over a longer period. The findings may help land managers identify future threats before they become major problems. In mild climates, evolutionarily distinct invasive plants may deserve closer attention. In harsher climates, introduced species that behave like native plants may pose the greatest risk. The research also highlights concerns about invasive annual grasses, which have transformed many ecosystems. In California, large areas once supported diverse communities of native grasses and wildflowers, but today, many of those landscapes are taken over by fast-growing invasive grasses, which can reduce habitat quality for wildlife, increase wildfire risk, and limit the return of native species. 28. What does the underlined word “perplexed” in paragraph 1 probably mean? A. Impressed. B. Puzzled. C. Inspired. D. Discouraged. 29. How did the researchers conduct the new study according to paragraph 2? A. By proving Darwin’s ideas to be outdated. B. By analyzing historical records of plant samples. C. By focusing on the physical features of dried plants. D. By comparing invasive and native plants in harsh regions. 30. Why did invasive species in milder regions flower earlier? A. To respond to extreme heat. B. To escape pollinators’ attack. C. To behave like native species. D. To avoid competition with natives. 31. What does the new research reveal about invasive species? A. They are more adaptive than natives. B. They contribute to local biodiversity. C. They can pose threats to native species. D. They warn people of natural disasters. D Scientists report that Europe’s Euclid space telescope has found a bright circle of light around a nearby galaxy (星系), a phenomenon called an Einstein ring. Astronomers were surprised that this bright ring had not been noticed before around the well-studied galaxy NGC 6505. Einstein rings occur when light from a farther galaxy curves around a closer one, creating the appearance of a circle of light around the nearer galaxy. The ring is named after physicist Albert Einstein, who predicted that light would bend around extremely massive objects in space, a phenomenon known as “gravitational lensing (引力透镜效应)”. The American space agency NASA explains that as light passes through a gravitational lens, it may take different paths, producing multiple images of the same object. In this way, gravity acts as a lens, curving the path of light, making distant objects appear larger and twisted (扭曲的). Gravitational lenses allow telescopes like Euclid to observe more distant and less-bright objects. In the latest project, researchers from Germany’s Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics used data from Euclid to create a computer model to analyze the Einstein ring. The Euclid space telescope, operated by the European Space Agency (ESA), was launched in 2023 on a six-year mission to study the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy across the universe. Astronomers at the Max Planck Institute are leading the research. The first sign of the Einstein ring came during testing right after Euclid was put into use. Bruno Altieri and his team noticed the ring and reported the findings in a study in the publication Astronomy and Astrophysics. Conor O’Riordan, another team member and the lead writer of the study, said this ring is particularly special because it’s close to Earth and has a beautiful arrangement. The researchers used the latest gravitational lensing methods to model the light of the ring and plan to use it to study “dark matter substructures” within the lensing galaxy. O’Riordan predicted that Euclid will revolutionize the field with all the new data. 32. According to paragraph 1, what do we know about the Einstein ring? A. NASA’s space telescope first spotted it. B. It sits right inside the galaxy NGC 6505. C. Einstein observed this ring to support his theory. D. It forms due to the bending of light around galaxies. 33. What can be inferred about gravitational lensing from the passage? A. It relies on dark matter to bend light paths. B. It was first confirmed by the Euclid telescope in 2023. C. It enables the study of otherwise invisible space objects. D. It prevents telescopes from observing distant objects clearly. 34. What is the main idea of the third paragraph? A. The process of discovering the Einstein ring. B. The method of predicting gravitational lensing. C. The role of international teams in the discovery. D. The timeline and significance of Euclid’s mission. 35. Which of the following is the best title for the passage? A. Euclid Telescope: Mapping Dark Energy in the Universe B. Historic Breakthrough: Einstein’s Theory Finally Proven C. New Methods: How Astronomers Study Dark Matter D. Space Surprise: Euclid Discovers Rare Einstein Ring 第二节（共5小题；每小题2.5分，满分12.5分） 阅读下面短文，从短文后的选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。 A lot of people blame their inability to stick to plans on a lack of willpower. 36 People often believe that strong willpower can overcome any difficulty, yet experience suggests otherwise. I once came up with a straightforward yet demanding schedule: get up early every morning and finish daily tasks ahead of time. Confident in my determination, I wrote down my goals in detail. But things never went smoothly. Every time I picked up my phone or lay lazily in bed, my determination faded little by little. 37 For a long time, I owed the failure to my weak willpower. However, I later figured out the real cause behind it. 38 Willpower drives us to make ambitious plans, while self-control helps us stick to them steadily. Human willpower is limited and can be consumed quickly, which explains why people easily give in to temptation (诱惑). 39 It means controlling our immediate desire for temporary pleasure and focusing on long-term goals. Rather than struggling to resist temptation with all our strength, we can change our surroundings and form good habits. For example, putting our phones aside while studying effectively cuts down unnecessary distractions (分心). Life is full of various distractions. It is self-control rather than willpower that guides us to move forward calmly. True progress never comes from passionate momentary determination. 40 If we can master self-control, we will finally beat laziness and become a better version of ourselves. A. Self-control is essentially different from willpower. B. People usually struggle to tell the two concepts apart. C. This common belief, though, is somewhat misleading. D. Eventually, my well-planned schedule ended in failure. E. Therefore, we should make plans as simple as possible. F. It lies in continuous self-management and self-discipline. G. The real problem was not weak willpower, but poor self-control. 第三部分 语言运用（共三节，满分30分） 第一节（共15小题；每小题1分，满分15分）（★） 阅读下面短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。 I was excited to try Mom’s sewing machine. However, my treasured possession seemed to 41 against me. I played with this dial and that button, tried again and again, and could not get the settings 42 . The stitches (针脚) were too loose or too tight, and the thread became a 43 pile as the needle stayed in the same 44 . I shook my head and returned to another 45 with the buttons and dials. Finally I took a big breath, 46 cautiously on the pedal (踏板), and it started to sing 47 . It even laid down perfect stitches! The room was filled with 48 stitching sounds that used to echo from Mother’s sewing room. Several practice sessions later I felt 49 for my first undertaking, a lap-quilt (盖毯) — the type used in nursing homes. Yet, I had barely started when the layers of fabric began to wrinkle, and more 50 to the machine didn’t make any difference. I pulled out stitches and 51 several times. Finally on the edge of 52 , I called a friend who sews. She quickly 53 my problem. Who knew such work required a special foot for the machine? When finished, the lap-quilt 54 even me! It was for a special lady, who had been my mom’s nursing-home roommate during her final year. She became my friend and was a great 55 of comfort, wisdom, and strength. 41. A. lean B. war C. vote D. discriminate 42. A. accessible B. economical C. successful D. correct 43. A. special B. valuable C. messy D. random 44. A. room B. spot C. machine D. color 45. A. preparation B. struggle C. gathering D. participation 46. A. stepped B. held C. relied D. passed 47. A. wildly B. desperately C. smoothly D. noisily 48. A. weak B. active C. regular D. familiar 49. A. ready B. concerned C. flexible D. grateful 50. A. adjustments B. commitment C. restrictions D. damage 51. A. started over B. got over C. went over D. took over 52. A. jokes B. tears C. laughs D. magics 53. A. approved B. ignored C. decided D. explained 54. A. bothered B. surprised C. exposed D. owed 55. A. warning B. sign C. source D. reminder 第二节（共10小题；每小题1分，满分10分） 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。 The Pulitzer Prizes are a set of awards honoring excellence in journalism and the arts. The prizes were established 56 (large) due to the efforts of Joseph Pulitzer, who 57 (build) his reputation as a newspaper publisher. He left money in his 1904 will to fund the 58 (establish) of the prizes, stating that he wanted four awards in journalism, four in letters and drama, one for education, and five travelling scholarship. Since the first prizes 59 (award) in 1917, there have been many winners and some people have won more than once. Past winners include such famous names as Eugene O’Neill. When O’Neill received the Pulitzer Prize in Drama in 1957, it was the 60 (four) time he had won it. There have been a number of changes to the Pulitzer Prizes over time. Some of these resulted 61 advances in technology. For example, online content from newspaper websites has been allowed in all of 62 journalism categories since 2006. The Pulitzer Prizes have also expanded 63 (include) such categories as photography and music. Nevertheless, journalism is still 64 the Pulitzer Prizes are best known for. Today, 65 (win) the Pulitzer Prizes is considered by many to be the highest achievement possible in journalism — just as Pulitzer had intended. 第三节 课文默写（共5小题；每小题1分，满分5分） 用课文原文填空，每空填入一个单词。 66. You might need _________ _________ _________ _________ to discover its true inner beauty. 67. As long as the journey of poetry reading makes you feel something or lets you _________ another level of meaning, it will have been worth your effort. 68. Equally impressive is Li Bai’s free expression of strong feelings, _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________, and which distinguishes him from other landscape poets. 69. The poem below, written in his fifties, _________ _________ _________ his romantic style. 70. By this time, the fire had _________ to the 15th floor. 第四部分 写作（共两节，满分40分） 第一节（满分15分）（★） 假定你是校学生会成员李华，你校将于下周五在演讲厅举办英文诗歌沙龙（English Poetry Salon）。请你给外教Mr. Smith写一封电子邮件，邀请他参加并作分享。内容包括： （1）介绍该项活动； （2）告知分享话题。 注意： （1）写作词数应为80个左右； （2）请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。 Dear Mr. Smith, I’m Li Hua from the Student Union. _________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Yours sincerely, Li Hua 第二节（满分25分） 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。 Every afternoon after school, Leo and Ethan pressed their noses against Mr. Smith’s shop window. They stared at the shiny blue bicycle that stood proudly in the middle of the display. For months, they had saved every spare coin, yet the price still seemed far beyond their reach. When the first snowfall of winter covered their town, the brothers saw an opportunity. They grabbed their snow shovels (铲子), determined to turn the snowfall into savings through hard work. They started in their own neighborhood. But many residents had already cleared their walkways, and those who hadn’t only offered a few coins for short paths. After several tiring hours, they had earned just seven dollars — far less than they hoped. Refusing to give up, they headed to Oak Avenue, where the houses were larger and the driveways deeper in snow. Ethan knocked on the door of a beautiful Victorian house. Mrs. Brown answered, looking like she was in a hurry. When Ethan asked if she needed her driveway shoveled, she agreed at once. She took a twenty-dollar bill from her purse and placed it into Ethan’s hand. “I have to rush out,” she said with an encouraging smile. “I’ll leave it in your capable hands.” The boys stared at the bill, amazed. Twenty dollars — more than they had made so far! Laughing in disbelief, they set to work with fresh energy. The initial excitement carried them through the first hour of work. But as the afternoon darkened and the temperature dropped, the work became harder. Their hands grew numb (麻木), their muscles ached, and the long driveway seemed endless. Halfway through, Leo threw down his shovel in frustration. “Let’s just go. She’ll never know we didn’t finish.” 注意： （1）续写词数应为150个左右； （2）请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。 Ethan’s aching hands seemed to agree with his brother’s words. ___________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ As they cleared the final shovel of snow, Mrs. Brown’s car returned. _______________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $ 2026年秋季高二期中考试 英语参考答案 题 序 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 答 案 A B C B A A C C B B B C B B A 题 序 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 答 案 A B B B C A B C D A C C B B D 题 序 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 答 案 C D C A D C D G A F B D C B B 题 序 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 答 案 A C D A A A B D B C 56. largely 57. had built 58. establishment 59. were awarded 60. fourth 61. from 62. the 63. to include 64. what 65. winning 66. to abandon logical thinking 67. perceive 68. which breathes vitality into the lifeless objects he describes 69. is representative of 70. extended 第四部分 第一节 【参考范文】 Dear Mr. Smith, I’m Li Hua from the Student Union. I’m writing to sincerely invite you to the upcoming English Poetry Salon in our school. The salon, aimed at exposing students to the everlasting charm of English poetry across diverse poetic schools and historical phases, is scheduled for next Friday in the lecture hall. During the salon, participants will recite classic English poems and share their interpretations of the emotions behind poetic lines. More importantly, the whole event would be enriched if you could share your profound insights into the differences between English and Chinese poetry. We would greatly appreciate it if you could grace us with your presence before 9:00 a. m. Please let me know your availability at your earliest convenience. Yours sincerely, Li Hua 第二节 【参考范文】 Ethan’s aching hands seemed to agree with his brother’s words. For a moment, he stood frozen, torn between exhaustion and responsibility. Walking away meant warmth and rest, yet Mrs. Brown’s trusting smile appeared in his mind, reminding him of the confidence she had placed in them. He held the shovel tightly, bent down, and continued clearing the snow. Leo watched him quietly and soon joined him without hesitation. Side by side, they worked through the bitter cold. In the fading light, the driveway slowly took shape under their steady effort. As they cleared the final shovel of snow, Mrs. Brown’s car returned. She looked at the perfectly shoveled driveway with pleasant surprise and expressed genuine appreciation, saying that she had known they would keep their promise. A quiet warmth spread inside the boys. On the way home, Ethan touched the twenty-dollar bill in his pocket. Their dream of the blue bicycle felt a little closer, yet he realized that what they earned that day was far more valuable than money. The lesson about honesty would stay with them long after the snow melted. 听力材料 Text 1 W: Our vehicle’s seats are made of quality leather. Please, sit in the driver’s seat and experience this comfort. M: I love the backseat space too. My children would love this. W: Whenever you’re ready, let’s discuss your payment plans for this new car. Text 2 M: Why don’t you go and get yourself a drink while I try on these shirts? W: Actually, I want to see if I can find the new book in the series I’m reading. I’ll wait for you there when you’re done. M: OK. Then we’ll go for coffee together. Text 3 M: Do the charges for meals stay the same? W: No. Lunch and dinner are unchanged, still $8. But we’ve had to increase the charge for breakfast by $50%. It used to be $2. Text 4 W: Why didn’t you tell me it was today, Tony? I would have gone to the airport to pick you up if I had known. M: I didn’t want to trouble you, Aunt May. W: Give me a hug! It’s been so many years. Text 5 W: John, have you heard the weather report? Heavy rain is expected this afternoon. M: Really? I’m going cycling with my roommates by the lake. W: Why not try the gym instead? It’s just as good. Text 6 W: Hello? M: Hey, it’s Dave. Sorry, I’m late. I had to pick up things. But now I’m lost. W: Dave! We already have plenty of drinks and food, so you don’t have to bring anything! M: I wanted to introduce the group to some games, so I brought card games. Anyway, I have your location on my map app. But still, I can’t find your street or building. W: Just like you, many people got lost the first time they came to my apartment. M: OK, the second time coming here will be easier. I’m near a Starbucks now. W: Great. Take a right on Front Street. It’ll take five minutes to walk here. Most people just arrived at 8:00 p. m. So, you won’t be late. M: Hopefully, everyone will at least stay past 9:00 p. m. W: No one will leave until 10:00 at the earliest! Text 7 W: Ryan, I’m going to school to be an auto mechanic. M: Do your parents know, Jane? Auto mechanics are usually men’s jobs. W: They are in favor of my career goals. I love working on cars. My friend James is majoring in nursing, by the way. M: Nursing? That’s a woman’s job. W: Men can be good nurses too, caring for the sick and elderly. Are you saying women can’t be carpenters or truck drivers? M: I just think women are better suited to secretarial or waitress jobs. W: You must have been stuck in the 18th century with that mindset. Text 8 W: Good morning, David. Thank you for joining us. To begin with, what do you think is the most common mistake people make with their online safety? M: The most common mistake is using simple, repeated passwords. W: That’s an important point. So, what should everyone do first to improve their personal online security? M: The very first step is to turn on two-step confirmation. This adds an extra layer of protection besides just a password. W: Finally, what is your most important advice? M: Stay alert and cautious. Double-check any unexpected messages or requests, even if they seem to come from someone you know. W: Thank you so much for sharing these helpful insights, David. M: You’re welcome. Text 9 M: Dr. Carter, your new book is about fast food in Ancient Rome. That sounds surprising. Can you tell us more? W: Well, most people think fast food is a modern invention, but actually, ancient Romans had street food stands everywhere. In fact, many common foods we enjoy today — like bread, cheese, and even early forms of hamburgers — were sold on Pompeii streets 2,000 years ago. M: Why did it take so long for scholars to recognize this? W: These shops were first uncovered in the 1860s, but researchers back then believed they were just ordinary homes. In the 1930s, Italian archaeologist Professor Rossi suggested they were actually food shops. But this wasn’t accepted until the 1950s, when British historian Dr. Wilson found cooking pots and food remains inside, proving Rossi had been right all along. Text 10 Welcome to our Science Talk. Today we’re looking at solar energy. And guess what? This year has been a game changer for solar research. Scientists have achieved new records in solar cell efficiency. One team reported an energy efficiency of over 35 percent for a new solar cell. This high efficiency is only reached in small laboratory samples, not in commercial solar panels. Meanwhile, the cost of solar power continues to drop. Since 2010, setup costs have fallen by nearly 90 percent. In some countries solar energy with battery storage is now cheaper than electricity from traditional fuels. Storage technology is also improving. Researchers have created a liquid that can hold solar energy for years and release it as heat when needed. While it cannot produce electricity directly, this technology could help solve a big problem: what to do when the sun doesn’t shine. Experts believe these advances will make solar energy more accessible to homes and businesses around the world. With better efficiency, lower costs and smarter storage, solar power is becoming a reliable energy source for the future. 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $