【推荐1】Advertising uses repetition to increase consumers’preference for brands. Particularly for novel brands, much exposure and repetition is necessary to establish the brand name in the first place. Do you still remember your feeling when you see or hear the names YAHOO or GOOGLE for the first time? Now they are imprinted in your brain. Basic psychological research has already shown that repeatedly perceived (感知) information is easier to be remembered for the brain process.

Recent research has shown that repetition effects actually are originally caused from the mouth. Each time we come across a person’s or product name, the lips and the tongue automatically simulate (模仿) the pronunciation of that name. This happens without our awareness and without actual mouth movements. During inner speech, the brain attempts to say the novel name. When names are presented repeatedly, this simulation happens repeatedly. However, if this inner speech is disturbed, for instance during chewing gum or whispering another word, the repetition effect vanishes.

An interesting experiment was conducted in movie theaters. 96 participants were invited to a real movie theater and were presented a block of commercials and a movie later on. Half of the participants received popcorn to eat. For them, the mouth was occupied with chewing the popcorn so the mouth muscles could not engage in inner speech when watching the ads for the novel brands. The other half of the participants only received a small sugar cube, which dissolved quickly in their mouth so that the mouth muscles were free to simulate the pronunciation of the brand names. The participants were invited to the lab one week after the cinema session. They were presented with images of products. Half of these products had been advertised in the cinema session; the other half were completely novel products. Participants were asked to indicate the products that they liked, and their physiological responses were measured. Those participants who had only received a sugar cube proved that there was a clear advertising effect. They preferred advertised novel products and also showed positive physiological responses of familiarity for advertised products. However, those participants who had eaten popcorn while watching the commercials one week before showed no such advertising effect.

1. Why does the author mention Yahoo and Google in Paragraph One?

A．To remind readers of brand names.

B．To prove the influence of repetition.

C．To compare the effects of two brands.

D．To draw readers’ attention to the research.

2. What does the underlined word “vanish” probably mean?

A．Disappear.

B．Improve.

C．Reduce.

D．Occur.

3. One week after the cinema session,the participants who ate sugar cube ________.

A．held positive attitude toward movies

B．showed preference for advertisements

C．tended to choose the advertised products

D．felt familiar with the commercials and the movies

4. Where is the passage likely to have been taken from?

A．A psychological report.

B．An entertainment website.

C．A commercial advertisement.

D．A popular science magazine.

【推荐2】Let’s say you’re taking a Spanish test when an answer just won’t come to you, even though you saw it on last night’s practice quiz (10 sleepless hours ago). Or maybe you miss every free throw daring your basketball game-and to make things worse, you are not friendly to your teammate on the way to the locker room.

These may seem like unrelated events, but here’s the surprising truth: Each may be a direct consequence of your lack of sleep time. In one study, just an hour less of sleep each night made six-graders perform like fourth-graders on mental tests. Other research shows that sleep loss makes you run slower and miss more shots in sports, while doubling your possibility of injury.

Some experts even argue that teens would be less likely to take risks or suffer from anxiety if they could just get enough sleep. “When you lack sleep and you run into a stressful situation, whether it’s with your friends or something else, you’re going to get angry and upset, ” explains Dr. Kathleen Berchelmann, a doctor in St. Louis, Missouri.“I see a lot of depression and anxiety in teens who aren’t getting enough sleep. ”

It’s surprising to think that by spending more time in bed, you could lift your grade point average, get along with your loved ones, perform better on the field, and feel happier. But scientists say it’s true that many teens are walking around like dead souls without even realizing it.

1. The first paragraph serves as a(n) ___.

A．explanation

B．introduction

C．comment

D．definition

2. What does the underlined word “consequence” in Paragraph 2 mean?

A．Cause.

B．Problem.

C．Result.

D．Experience.

3. If a teenager lacks sleep, he may ___.

A．lose interest in everything

B．get injured when with friends

C．have poor performance in sports

D．feel lonely and disappointed

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．Children’s sleeping habits.

B．Bad results of teens’ sleep loss.

C．Teenagers’ sleep-related diseases.

D．Learning problems and lack of sleep.

【推荐2】Leaf peeping (窥叶) is a beloved yearly activity in many parts of the world, including parts of the United States. Leaf peeping is when people travel to see the beautiful colors of fall leaves. However, recent fall leaf peeping seasons have been changed by weather conditions.

A lack of rain causes leaves to turn brown and die before they can reach the best color. Heat waves cause leaves to fall before autumn even arrives. And extreme weather events, like hurricanes, take the leaves off trees altogether. Climate change also creates longer—term threats that could harm leaf peeping. The spread of diseases and insects is also tied to warming temperatures. These are all affecting famous fall colors.

Scientists say that this is likely to continue as the planet warms. Typically, by the end of September, some leaves turn colors throughout the U.S. However, this year, trees in many areas are still green. For example, on September 29^th, Maine forest officials reported less than 40 percent color change of the leaves and only moderate (适度的) leaf drop. By contrast, across Denver and Burlington, high temperatures have left dead, dry edges of leaves early in the season. In some parts of Oregon, the heat wave leads to a condition called “leaf scorch”. Leaf scorch is when leaves brown too early. Leaves lose their color early and then quickly fall to the ground. This leads to a shorter and less beautiful leaf peeping season.

Fall tourism brings billions of dollars into the US every year, which indicates that the economic influence of poor leaf peeping seasons is significant. Conservationists say that is one good reason to work to preserve forests and reduce the use of fossil (化石) fuels. Effective measures should be taken not only for the convenience of leaf peeping but also for the survival of animals. And eventually, for the balance between man and nature, which counts most.

1. What’s the second paragraph mainly about?

A．The influences of global warming.	B．The seriousness of climate change.
C．The causes of poor autumn colors.	D．The consequences of warmer autumn.

2. What can we know from paragraph 3?

A．A majority of the leaves in Maine remain green.

B．The leaves turn colors as usual throughout the U.S.

C．High temperatures in Denver cause the total death of leaves.

D．The heat wave in Burlington leads leaves to brown too early.

3. What is the major concern of conservationists?

A．The survival of animals.	B．The development of economy.
C．The convenience of leaf peeping.	D．The balance between man and nature.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Climate Change Affecting Autumn’s Colors.

B．Global Warming Threatening Forest Trees.

C．Researching Ways to Enjoy Leaf Peeping.

D．Exploring Reasons for the Decrease of Trees.

【推荐3】While the link between sleep and a healthy heart is well established, researchers are still devoted to the details. A new study suggests there might even be the best possible time, within our 24-hour body clock, for falling asleep.

Of course, the reasons for not obtaining the right sleep, whether it’s the best amount or right timing are not always within our control. So anyone struggling with their sleep should seek medical advice and focus on whatever they need to do that works for them—as telling a specific bedtime may have the opposite impact on some. But for the rest of us it may be helpful to know that falling asleep between 10-11 pm seems to hit the sweet spot for a healthy cardiovascular(心血管的) system.

“The body has a 24-hour internal clock, called circadian rhythm, which helps regulate physical and mental functioning.” says University of Exeter psychologist David Plans. “While we cannot conclude causation from our study, the results suggest that early or late bedtimes may be more likely to interrupt the body clock, with harmful consequences for cardiovascular health.”

Analyzing wrist-worn accelerometer data from 88,026 participants in the UK Biobank study, the research team was able to compare sleep timing over a seven-day period with later health outcomes. The dataset included 3, 172 cases of cardiovascular disease, during almost six years of tracking participants.

The team found falling asleep after midnight or before 10 pm was associated with around a 25 percent increase in risk of cardiovascular disease, compared to falling asleep between 10-11 pm. This increase in risk dropped to 12 percent for those who fell asleep between 11-12 pm. “The riskiest time was after midnight, potentially because it may reduce the likelihood of seeing morning light, which resets the body clock.” says Plans.

This sort of study can’t determine if sleep timing itself contributes to heart disease—it may be other behaviors linked to staying up late, like staying out drinking or stress keeping people awake that are causing the problems.

1. What is the author’s attitude to the so-called specific bedtime?

A．Doubtful.

B．Ambiguous.

C．Objective.

D．Uncaring.

2. What can we learn according to what David says?

A．Circadian rhythm is named a 24-hour internal clock.

B．Early or late bedtimes interrupt cardiovascular health.

C．The body helps control physical and mental functioning.

D．The body clock is less interrupted by early or late bedtimes.

3. What did the team find according to paragraph 5?

A．Sleeping after midnight may cause the worst.

B．Staying up late is likely to reduce the risk of heart disease.

C．Falling asleep between 11-12 pm does more harm to one’s body.

D．Changes of the body clock aren't related to sleeping before 10 pm.

4. What can be concluded from the text?

A．Enough sleep is largely important.

B．Sleep contributes to a healthy heart.

C．Cardiovascular disease leads to heart disease.

D．The best time to fall asleep should be identified.

【推荐1】After tracking flowers on a prairie (草原) in Minnesota for 21 years, scientists reported that the plants reproduce more successfully in the year following a carefully controlled burn. Understanding the relationship between prairie plants and fire is important for preserving this ecosystem which is becoming rapidly smaller, says Stuart Wagenius, a conservation scientist.

Fire provides an additional advantage for the narrow-leaved purple coneflower (紫锥花), as Wagenius and his colleagues say. To really bloom (开花), they need a little help: Enter the fire. Between 1996 and 2016, Wagenius says his team tracked nearly 8,000 purple coneflowers on the Staffanson Prairie Preserve. In 9 of those years, they conducted controlled burns over 400 times. “In the summer after a burn, many more plants flower,” Wagenius says. “It is just a huge flowering festival.”

Purple coneflowers and many other prairie plants were previously known to bloom energetically after fires. However, the researchers said that fire also stimulated purple coneflowers to bloom at the same time in the summer after a burn. This meant that instead of being unconnected, the purple coneflowers were surrounded by potential mates and went on to produce nearly double the number of seeds compared with other years. Wagenius says it’s not yet clear exactly how fires signal the flowers to get busy.

The new findings may help the people who manage prairies to better understand the different ways that fire affects the plants growing in these habitats, said Kathryn Yurkonis, a grassland ecologist who was not involved in the research. However, Yurkonis added, it remains to be shown how the fires influence the purple coneflower population. “This paper implies that making more seeds would mean more seeds would land on the soil and enter the population of plants — but they don’t actually examine that step,” she said. “I’d be curious to see whether this actually translates to more purple coneflowers.”

1. What is the basis for the research?

A．Prairies are easy to disappear.	B．Plants on a prairie are diverse.
C．Fire relates positively to prairie plants.	D．Without fire, flowers won’t bloom.

2. What does the author intend to convey with figures cited in paragraph two?

A．Wagenius’s team was committed indeed.

B．Samples of flowers were rich in number.

C．Time spent on the research was long.

D．The findings were relatively convincing.

3. What is paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．The result of plants being unconnected.

B．The influence of fires on prairie plants.

C．The process of prairie plants’ growing after fires.

D．The reason for plants’ blooming at the same time.

4. What is Kathryn Yurkonis’s attitude to the research finding?

A．Uninterested.

B．Prejudiced.

C．Objective.

D．Opposed.

【推荐2】Grapes are popular fresh fruit, and people also love to make them into wine, jam, juice, various candied fruit, jelly, vinegar, grape seed extract and grape seed oil. Grapes are very useful, and many countries have good growing conditions to grow them.     1     The following are some fascinating facts about one of the most common fruits.

Grapes are used to make synthetic leather.

In order to find more environmentally friendly synthetic leather, Vegea, an Italian company founded in 2018, has developed a product that can be completely recycled from the grape waste left over from winemaking.     2    , including vegan-friendly shoes, bags, and boxing gloves.

    3    

Grapes and their derivatives (raisins, wine, and grape juice)are poisonous to dogs: They can cause kidney (肾脏) failure, which can cause their final death.

The grapes you eat are different from the ones used for making wine.

    4     The seeds and thicker skins on wine grapes add more flavor and color to the wine, while their greater sweetness speeds up fermentation (发酵) process. Table grapes are usually larger and more palatable: juicy with firmer flesh and a less strong taste, with thinner skins and fewer seeds.

China leads the way in table grape production and consumption.

Thanks to its favorable climate and growing conditions, China has been growing grapes for more than 2000 years. Consumption is expected to increase from 11. 8 million metric tons in 2021-2022 to 12. 4 million metric tons in 2022-2023, making China the world’s largest consumer.

    5     The country’s table grape production in 2022-2023 is expected to reach 12. 6 million tons—more than half of the world’s grape production-making it the world’s top grape producer as well.

Grapes were probably the first fruit domesticated by humans.

In 2023, researchers published genetic evidence that grape vines (藤) were domesticated around 11, 000 years ago. As the scientists pointed out, “The grapevine was probably the first fruit crop domesticated by humans …It was one of the first globally traded goods.”

A．Grapes can be deadly to your pet.

B．Grapes can be unfriendly to your animals.

C．China doesn’t just consume a lot of grapes.

D．Therefore, grapes are one of the world’s most economically important crops.

E．The quality requirements of the ones you eat (table grapes) differ greatly from those required for wine production.

F．Grape leather is being used to produce a variety of products.

G．Grape leather is very useful.

【推荐3】Suzanne Simard, a professor of forest ecology who called herself a “forest detective”, was raised in mountains in Canada. Few scientists make much impact with their PhD thesis, but, in 1997, she did just that. Her research on the “wood wide web” made the cover of Nature and transformed our understanding of forests. What was then a challenge to traditional ideas is today widely accepted.

A mushroom is the part of a fungus (真菌) that sticks up above the ground. Thin, white threads grow from its stem deep into the soil. These threads are called hyphae (菌丝). Hyphae connect themselves to tree roots. They also stretch from root system to root system, like an underground network. This network may go for miles. Hyphae pick up nutrients and water from soil. The fungus threads that connect to tree roots share their nutrients and water with the trees. In return, they sip a bit of the sugar the trees make. Sharing helps both trees and mushrooms live. It’s also how trees communicate.

When a tree is being eaten by bugs, it makes chemicals to shoo them away, sort of like bug repellent (驱虫剂). The chemicals travel through the tree, down its roots, and into the hyphae network. Other trees connected to the network taste the chemicals. That tells them a nearby tree is under attack, so they start to make their own bug repellent. Trees do more than share warnings through the hyphae. They also help each other. In the fall, paper birch trees drop their leaves and can no longer make sugar. So, a fir tree that stays green all winter uses the network to send extra sugar to the birch until spring comes again. This system of sharing information and nutrients through the hyphae is sometimes called the “wood wide web”, because it works a bit like the Internet.

Local climate sets the stage for the wood wide web, researchers say. In cool temperature and boreal forests, where wood and organic matter decay slowly, network-building EM fungi rule. By contrast, in the warmer tropics where wood and organic matter decay quickly, AM fungi dominate. These fungi form smaller webs and do less intertree swapping, meaning the tropical wood wide web is likely more localized.

Ecologist Thomas Crowther’s results suggest that as the planet warms, about 10% of EM-associated trees could be replaced by AM-associated trees. Microbes in forests dominated by AM fungi deal with carbon-containing organic matter faster, so they could liberate lots of heat-trapping carbon dioxide quickly, potentially accelerating a climate change process that is already happening at a frightening pace.

1. What do we know about Suzanne Simard?

A．She was a professor and a forest detective.

B．Growing up in the countryside, she made the cover of Nature.

C．Like many other scientists, she made big influence on her PhD thesis.

D．Her idea of the “wood wide web” used to challenge people’s thoughts.

2. Which of the following is not hyphae’s role in the forest ecosystem?

A．They facilitate tree communication.	B．They form an underground network.
C．They produce sugar and share it with trees.	D．They share nutrients and water with the trees.

3. How do trees use the “wood wide web” to deal with insect attacks?

A．They release warning signals through leaves.

B．They produce real bug repellent to kill insects.

C．They make use of hyphae to produce chemicals.

D．They send chemical signals through the network.

4. What might be the impact of replacing EM-associated trees with AM-associated trees?

A．It might slow down carbon release.	B．It would break down organic matter.
C．It might speed up climate change.	D．It might lead to faster tree growth.