1 . A talented teen painter in Waterbury is helping her very sick father with her love of art. The 15-year-old girl from Waterbury could become a well-known artist one day. For now, though, part of her love for painting is the chance to help her dad, who’s ill. “It’s kind of like an ache-a heartbreak,” she said. “You never want to see one of your loved ones get hurt. ”
Her father is suffering from type-one diabetes (糖尿病) and is having trouble affording his mounting medical bills. “I’m suffering from heart disease, and blindness from my diabetes,” her father said. Angie has decided to put her talent as an artist to good use.
On Saturday, Sept. 23 from noon to 4 p. m., she’s hosting her own one day art exhibition (展览) to sell her paintings and raise money mainly for her father’s medical bills. “Angie’s Art Exhibition” will be at the North End Recreation Centre, located at 262 North Main Street in Waterbury. She’s also using it to help the Fairfield Animal Shelter. Angie loves animals—you see that on many of her paintings.
This isn’t the first time Angie has put her paintbrush to good use helping others. Her mother tells News 8 that Angie has also used her work to help her community: a local family who lost their father, and children who needed school supplies.
“She has an angelic heart. If there were more people like her in the world, there wouldn’t be so much chaos (混乱) and hate. I just look up to her and say ‘I’m very proud of you,’ ”her father said.
“My dad’s a great person. Though he goes through this, he still loves me and supports me in any way he can. It makes me feel important, “she said.
1. What is the main reason why Angie is hosting her own art exhibition?| A．To show her talent as an artist. | B．To raise money to treat her father. |
| C．To sell her paintings to art collectors. | D．To support the Fairfield Animal Shelter. |
| A．He expects her to become a world-famous artist. |
| B．He takes pride in her and considers her to be an angel. |
| C．He is disappointed in her for not concentrating on study. |
| D．He thinks she should focus on helping him instead of others. |
| A．Artistic and caring. | B．Humorous and kind. |
| C．Independent and proud. | D．Knowledgeable and helpful. |
| A．It’s never too late to learn. |
| B．Study first and play afterwards. |
| C．The company of parents is important to children’s development. |
| D．Determination and creativity can be powerful tools to help those in need. |
2 . Caffeine (咖啡因) is linked to lower body mass index (BMI) and reduced risk of type 2 diabetes (糖尿病). Genetic differences in how people metabolise (代谢) caffeine may influence how overweight they are, but this doesn’t mean drinking more coffee will make you slimmer.
Genetic evidence indicates that higher levels of caffeine in a person’s blood may be linked with lower weight. But people shouldn’t assume that drinking more coffee will be a route to weight loss, says Dipender Gill at Imperial College London, who helped carry out the study. Caffeine is the most widely used psychoactive (对精神起作用的) substance, with many people consuming much coffee or caffeinated soft drinks a day.
Numerous studies have previously suggested that caffeine consumption is linked with lower weight. But these were mainly observational studies, which recorded people’s health and their caffeine consumption, making it hard to know if caffeine caused the effects or just correlated with them. Gill’s team used an alternative approach, looking at genetic differences in how quickly people break down caffeine to mimic (模仿) the effects of giving different amounts in a random trial.
There are two genes that affect people’s ability to break down caffeine, meaning that after consuming the same amount of it, people with different variants would have different levels of it in their blood. Gill and his colleagues analysed data from several previous studies that recorded people’s DNA and tracked their health. They included nearly 10,000 people in total, although most included only people of European ancestry.
The studies didn’t analyse blood samples, but previous work has shown that those who break down caffeine more slowly have higher levels of it in their blood on average — even though they tend to drink less coffee. The team found that people genetically predisposed (有倾向的) to have higher caffeine levels had a lower BMI, a measure of a person’s weight in relation to their height; lower fat mass; and a lower likelihood of having type 2 diabetes, a condition linked with being overweight.
“We know that caffeine affects metabolism (新陈代谢) and how energetic someone is. It makes sense that there might be an association,” says Benjamin Woolf at the University of Bristol, UK, who also worked on the study. Gill says people shouldn’t change their drinking habits based on these results — and that people wanting to lose weight should be especially wary of consuming milky and sugary coffee drinks. “A lot of caffeinated drinks are quite calorific,” he says. “Caffeine can have other harmful effects, including effects on sleep and heart function.”
1. What can we learn about caffeine?| A．Caffeine can make you have a slim figure. |
| B．The people thinner may have higher levels of caffeine in their blood. |
| C．Caffeine is the most psychoactive substance in the world. |
| D．Caffeine can be only found in people’s blood. |
| A．By finishing a questionnaire. | B．By doing investigation. |
| C．By analyzing previous data. | D．By collecting blood sample. |
| A．Cautious. | B．Scared. | C．Aware. | D．Doubtful. |
| A．People should drink more coffee to lose weight. |
| B．Europeans are more likely to be affected by coffee. |
| C．Those breaking down caffeine more slowly have higher levels of it in their blood. |
| D．Caffeine may have an impact on your sleep and heart. |
3 . There are hundreds of great national nature reserves in China. Now feast your eyes on the following amazing ones.
Qinghai Lake National Nature ReserveQinghai Lake, China’s largest saltwater lake in Qinghai Province, is a key body of water for lots of animals and birds. As an important stopover, migratory birds (候鸟) would rest in this area during their movement trip every year. The reserve became a national nature reserve in the year of 1997.
Bayanbulak National Nature ReserveThe only Bayanbulak Wetland, in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is at the foot of Tianshan Mountains, which makes itself suitable for migratory birds. Bayanbulak means “rich spring water” in Mongolian, meaning that the area is rich in water. Every year, swans (天鹅) from different places fly here for nesting, which became a national swan reserve in 1986.
Rongcheng Swan National Nature ReserveAs one of the largest wintering places for swans in China, this reserve in Shandong Province mainly protects whooper swans (大天鹅), which make it different from other nature reserves. In 2007, it was changed into a national nature reserve. Now every year, thousands of whooper swans arrive here to spend the winter, making it an important resting and wintering place for themselves.
Sanya Coral Reef (珊瑚礁) National Marine Nature ReserveThis reserve focuses on protecting coral reefs and their living environment in Sanya City, Hainan Province. In 1990, it became a national nature reserve. This reserve is on the coast, so the area of the reserve has good water quality and many kinds of creatures,
1. What do the first reserve and the second reserve have in common?| A．The area of wetland. | B．The geography of them. |
| C．The year of becoming the national reserve. | D．The friendly environment for migratory birds. |
| A．Its saltwater lake. | B．The whooper swans. |
| C．Its rich spring water. | D．The warm climate. |
| A．Bayanbulak National Nature Reserve. | B．Qinghai Lake National Nature Reserve. |
| C．Rongcheng Swan National Nature Reserve. | D．Sanya Coral Reef National Marine Nature Reserve, |
4 . Robert Chmielewski has had quadriplegia (四肢瘫痪) since his teens. Sensors implanted (植入) in his brain read his thoughts to control two robotic arms, which helps him to perform daily tasks. Now he can use one robotic arm to control a knife and the other a fork.
Modern technology can reach inside someone’s head and pull out what he is thinking. Maybe he intends to move a robotic arm or type something on a computer screen. Such thought-controlled devices can help people who aren’t able to move or perform different tasks and promote the well-being of the disabled.
Decoding (解码) thought usually requires placing sensors directly on or in someone’s brain. Those implanted sensors can catch the electrical signals passing between the person’s brain cells, or neurons. Such signals carry messages that allow brains to think, feel and control the body.
Using brain implants, researchers have picked up electrical signals in the brain linked to certain words or letters. This has allowed brain implants to transform thoughts into text or speech on a computer. Likewise, brain implants have transformed imagined handwriting into text on a screen. Implanted sensors have even allowed scientists to turn the signals they caught that are associated with a song in someone’s head into real music.
In a recent study, scientists decoded full stories from people’s brains using MRI scans (磁共振成像扫描). This did not require any brain implants. But building the thought decoder did require many hours of brain scans for each person. What’s more, the system only worked on the person whose brain scans helped build it and only when that person was willing to have their mind read.
So devices that might let someone secretly read your mind from across the room are still a long, long way off. Still, it’s clear that mind-reading tech is getting more advanced. As it does, scientists are thinking hard about what it would mean to live in a world where not even the inside of your head is completely private.
1. What does the text begin with?| A．A suggestion. | B．A comparison. | C．An argument. | D．An example. |
| A．What principles a thought decoder should follow. |
| B．How MRI monitors the work of the implanted sensors. |
| C．What’s used to catch signals passing through the brain. |
| D．How robotic arms are designed to satisfy different needs. |
| A．Concerned. | B．Confident. | C．Doubtful. | D．Indifferent. |
| A．Mind Reading is Stealing Our Privacy | B．Mind Reading is Hard, but not Impossible |
| C．Mind Reading—Good News for Musicians | D．Mind Reading—a Brain-scanning Technology |
5 . When I was a child, there was nothing I loved more than painting. It was my.
However, after graduating from college, the
One sunny day I found myself
Painting has become a way to
| A．price | B．source | C．flash | D．result |
| A．imagination | B．homework | C．fear | D．confusion |
| A．excitement | B．power | C．pressure | D．expectation |
| A．gradually | B．probably | C．wildly | D．hopefully |
| A．chatting | B．sweating | C．cheating | D．walking |
| A．taught | B．noticed | C．recognized | D．remembered |
| A．waiting for | B．begging for | C．filled with | D．alarmed with |
| A．paper | B．wood | C．books | D．novels |
| A．Watching | B．Holding | C．Helping | D．Checking |
| A．architect | B．soldier | C．adult | D．artist |
| A．free | B．quiet | C．busy | D．boring |
| A．agree | B．adapt | C．refer | D．return |
| A．plan | B．record | C．face | D．recover |
| A．reduce | B．balance | C．relive | D．destroy |
| A．trap | B．appreciate | C．expect | D．hide |
6 . A new song by the famous band The Beatles has been released despite half of the band members no longer being alive, thanks to the help of AI.
The Beatles was a legendary British rock band that remained second to Elvis Presley from the 1960s. It was made up of four musicians—John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. The new song, titled Now and Then, is unique because it combined the singing of McCartney and Starr with Lennon, who passed away in 1980, and the guitar skills of Harrison, who passed away in 2001.
The song was initially written and partly recorded by Lennon in the late 1970s and further developed by band mates years later but as technology then was limited, they didn’t release it due to the sound quality not being satisfying.
Peter Jackson, most famous for directing The Lord of the Rings, directed the music video for Norw and Then and it can be watched now online. It was thanks to new Al audio restoration (音频修复) technology that Peter Jackson allowed the four band members to “come together” one last time.
Since its release last week, the song has been well received in the UK. Beatles fans around the world favoured this historic musical event.
”Now and Then is an absolutely heart-warming piece of work, “posted Liam Gallagher, whose hits were affected by The Beatles’ musical style.
Of course, there are those who are not totally interested in the song. ”Now and Then is not terrible. But honestly, it’s kind of boring, “Geoff Edgers wrote in The Washington Post.
The Times in the UK said the song showed Al being used to its best advantage.
1. Why was the song “Now and Then” not released at first?| A．The song was not completed. | B．The sound quality was not good enough. |
| C．The band members did not like the song. | D．The song was let out before its official release. |
| A．He wrote and recorded the song. |
| B．He invented new audio restoration technology. |
| C．He restored the band members’ sound using AI. |
| D．He played the guitar on the recording. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Curious. | C．Unfavourable. | D．Unclear. |
| A．The Beatles Remains Second to Elvis Presley |
| B．Beatles Fans Welcome the New Song of The Beatles |
| C．Peter Jnckson Directed the Music Video for The Beatles |
| D．The Beatles Released a New Song with the Help of Al |
7 . Sierra Leone Tour
Sierra Leone is a country on the rise, with new flights, a first-ever ecotourism journey, and national park accommodations coming in 2024. Visit before everyone else you know catches on. Perhaps the most exciting development is Sierra Leone’s push to protect and show its wildlife, with new experiences for travellers.
It will offer first-ever accommodations at two important sites: A pair of lake hotels have opened at southeastern river island of Jaibui; you can also choose tent stay at Loma Mountains National Park.
Single 1 room | 2 people 1 room | |
Lake hotel | $350/per room | $550/per room |
Tent stay | $200/per room | $400/per room |
The sun shines down on Sierra Leone throughout the year! Set in the southern hemisphere (南半球), Sierra Leone can be quite cold in the dry winter months, with temperatures often dropping below the freezing point (冰点). The time between June and October is best for Sierra Leone.
Sierra Leone is home to Mount Bintumani, the tallest peak (顶峰) in West Africa west of Mount Cameroon with a great number of endangered animal and bird species like the bizarre-looking White-necked Rockfowl, perfect for birdwatchers. But please note that there is no way for you to request changes to the accommodations. And tourists must be above 3 years old.
1. How much shall a person pay for one room in the Lake hotel?| A．$200. | B．$350. | C．$400. | D．$550. |
| A．April. | B．May. | C．September. | D．November. |
| A．It accepts tourists of any age. |
| B．It is suitable for observing birds. |
| C．Tourists can request changes to the accommodations. |
| D．Tourists have a chance to admire the tallest mountain in Africa. |
8 . Scientists have reported that the sea ice in Antarctica (南极) is at a record low level. Antarctica is a great, icy land, surrounded (围绕) by the huge Southern Ocean. The ice in Antarctica doesn’t just cover the land. There’s also a large area of sea ice on the ocean’s surface.
Every year, the sea ice at the South Pole goes through a cycle. In the summer, the huge sea ice melts (融化) to its smallest point. Over the colder winter months, the sea ice grows and grows until it covers a wide area. Usually, the sea ice covers the greatest area around September 23, as winter ends at the South Pole.
Scientists have been measuring the area of the sea ice in Antarctica since 1979. For most of this time, Antarctica has seemed to be almost unaffected by the changing weather conditions experienced in other parts of the globe. That began to change around 2016. Now, for several years, the area of Antartica’s sea ice has been shrinking.
This year, the US National Snow and Ice Data Centre (NSIDC) reported that Antartica’s sea ice covered its greatest area on September 10 — almost two weeks earlier than normal. And the sea ice was at a new record low-not just by a little bit, but by a lot.
The last time Antartica’s low sea ice set a record at the end of winter was in 1986. And this year, there’s about 398, 000 square miles less sea ice than in 1986.
Scientists are still trying to understand what is driving the change in Antarctica. One likely direct cause for the change is the rising temperatures of the world’s oceans. Ted Scambos, a research scientist at the University of Colorado, says Antarctica’s ice levels have always changed some, but the sharp loss this year is “pointing towards warmer ocean conditions around the continent.”
The new low record has concerned the scientists. Scientists are working hard to better understand Antarctica. They don’t know yet if this is just a short-term problem, or part of a long-term shift (转变) towards less sea ice in Antarctica.
1. What does the underlined word “shrinking” mean in Paragraph 3?| A．Getting smaller. | B．Being flat. | C．Observed. | D．Measured. |
| A．To give an example. | B．To make a comparison. |
| C．To make a summary. | D．To offer an argument. |
| A．The changing weather conditions. | B．Human activities in Antarctica. |
| C．Increased volcanic activities in the area. | D．The increasing temperatures of the global oceans. |
| A．Worried. | B．Annoyed. | C．Excited. | D．Satisfied. |
9 . In the past few weeks, Richard Eckersley has noticed a change in the type of people who come into his shop. In 2017, the former Manchester United footballer set up Earth. Food. Love in Tones, Devon, with his wife, Nicola. It’s the UK’s first “zero waste” store—the food is in big jars and boxes and people bring their own containers. “A lot of new people are coming in-people who have not necessarily been interested in environmental issues before”, he says.
Recently, the government called for supermarkets to introduce plastic-free passageways. But Eckersley says many customers are already way ahead of politicians. He and Nicola have helped people set up similar stores in Wales, Birmingham, and Bristol. Ingrid Caldironi had a similar idea. She set up a plastic-free shop in London last year, which has been so popular that it is soon moving to a bigger site.
Eckersley and Caldironi are members of an anti-plastics movement in the UK that has been growing as a result of the BBC’s Blue Planet series and a general worry about the damage plastic is doing to the environment. But big supermarkets have so far not tried very hard to reduce their plastic waste. Sian Sutherland, founder of the movement “A Plastic Planet”, says, “The most exciting thing is that politicians and industry are no longer saying that recycling will solve the problem. Banning the use of plastic packaging for food and drink products is the only answer.” Walking down the passageways of the supermarket where everything from pizza to fresh fruit and vegetables is covered in plastic. Sutherland says immediate action is needed.
Plastic pollution is causing widespread global damage. More than one million plastic bottles are bought around the world every minute, and most end up in landfill or the sea. The contamination is so wide that tap water around the world also contains plastic.
1. What is special about Earth. Food. Love?| A．It gives away boxes of food. | B．It is a store without plastic bags. |
| C．It has few new customers. | D．It is the UK’s first supermarket. |
| A．Its popularity. | B．Its products. | C．Its profits. | D．Its similarity. |
| A．Pollution. | B．Acceptance. | C．Influence. | D．Application. |
| A．The impact of BBC’s Blue Planet series on anti-plastics movements. |
| B．Rising anti-plastics movement alongside increasing environmental concerns. |
| C．A guide to setting up plastic-free stores to promote recycling in the whole UK. |
| D．Richard Eckersley’s personal journey in waste reduction and pollution prevention. |
10 . Vel Scott is known for creating a bustling (热闹的) nightlife for Black Clevelanders in the 1960s. But now this grandmother has changed her life’s work into helping others change their eating habits and creating a(n)
In 1963, Vel and her husband Don Scott
Vel took it upon herself to
Dionne Thomas-Carmichael, a friend of Vel who suffered from cancer, said, “Vel has really helped to
Vel brings the farm to the
“The Black community has the highest rates of cancer and the highest rates of diabetes (糖尿病). It’s up to us to change our
Like Carmichael, many people have
| A．active | B．healthy | C．unique | D．green |
| A．visited | B．dreamed of | C．passed by | D．opened |
| A．entertain | B．educate | C．promote | D．contact |
| A．advantageous | B．flexible | C．energetic | D．anxious |
| A．culturally | B．technologically | C．academically | D．professionally |
| A．efforts | B．comments | C．changes | D．demands |
| A．trade in | B．care for | C．experiment with | D．cut off |
| A．needs | B．challenges | C．benefit | D．guidance |
| A．museum | B．road | C．club | D．farm |
| A．options | B．donations | C．collections | D．adaptations |
| A．force | B．permit | C．require | D．inspire |
| A．stage | B．table | C．hospital | D．garden |
| A．attitude | B．schedule | C．goal | D．circumstance |
| A．credited | B．charged | C．occupied | D．satisfied |
| A．working | B．staring | C．starting | D．communicating |
