1 . Gentle sound stimulation, also known as pink noise, may significantly enhance deep sleep in older adults and improve their ability to recall words, a new study has found.

Deep sleep is critical for memory consolidation. However, beginning in middle age, deep sleep decreases substantially, which scientists believe contributes to memory loss in aging. The sound stimulation significantly enhanced deep sleep in participants and their scores on a memory test. “This is an innovative, simple and safe non-medication approach that may help improve brain health,” said Phyllis Zee, professor at Northwestern University in the US. “This is a potential tool for enhancing memory in older populations and attenuating normal age-related memory decline,” said Zee.

Zee and a team of researchers gathered 13 adults, 60 and older, and monitored their sleep in a lab for two nights. On both nights, the participants took a memory test, went to bed while wearing headphones and a special cap, and took another memory test in the morning. But without the participants’ awareness, researchers only played pink noise into the headphones on one night. More specifically, they timed the sounds to match the participants’ slow-wave oscillations. During deep sleep, brain waves slow to about one oscillation per second, compared to about ten oscillations per second during wakefulness. The system they employed in the study allowed the team to deliver a low burst of pink noise at the “precise moment” when the participants’ slow waves rose — a pattern that is unique to each person.

The study found that participants’ slow waves increased after the night of sound stimulation, suggesting that they were getting more deep sleep. And on the morning after hearing pink noise, they performed three times better on memory tests than they did after sleeping without any sound stimulation.

Previous research showed pink noise during deep sleep could improve memory consolidation in young people. But it has not been tested in older adults. The new study targeted older individuals and used a novel sound system that increased the effectiveness of the sound stimulation in older populations.

The study was a relatively small one, so further research is needed to confirm its findings and to study how longer-term use of pink noise affects sleep. But Northwestern has taken steps to patent the researchers’ technology, which seems to have hit upon a way to stimulate slow waves at the right moment. The team hopes to develop an affordable device that people can use at home, from the comfort of their beds.

1. The new study mainly reveals that _____.

A．deep sleep consolidates old adults’ memory

B．pink noise boosts memory among the elderly

C．sleep disorders play a key role in memory loss

D．sound stimulation increases the length of sleep

2. The word “attenuating” in the second paragraph most probably means _____.

A．worsening

B．reversing

C．slowing down

D．bringing about

3. What can be learned about the new study?

A．It employed a sound system programmed in step with brain waves.

B．It compared the effects on older adults and on younger populations.

C．It repeated the experiment several times without the participants’ notice.

D．It adjusted the participants’ slow-wave oscillations to match the stimulations.

4. It can be inferred that the approach used in the study _____.

A．may put old adults in risk in the long run

B．has the potential to be applied in practice

C．requires an innovative and affordable device

D．needs Northwestern’s patent for confirmation

2 . Are you anxious about how to spend your holiday with your kids effectively? Are you at a loss due to not knowing how to stimulate your kids’ interest? Now just satisfy your teens’ desire for the unusual in Bristol with shopping and attractive art.

MAKING THEIR MARK

While it can be tough to persuade some teens to embrace art, you’ll find it easier in Bristol. You won’t have to rack your brains (绞尽脑汁) to encounter the handiwork of the city’s famous one, because there are more than 200-odd street artists in the city where The Wall offers a two-hour tour of the must-see works and Bristol’s 30 years of graffiti history. There are spray-painting workshops too, if your teens want to give it a shot.

A WHOLE NEW WORLD

If all that graffiti leads to a new-found interest in art, then the next step is Wake The Tiger, a new art experience. Through mysterious creative works, hidden forests and secret passageways, you and your family will enter the magic world. It’s perfect for teen fantasy fans.

ON LOCATION

Remember Skins? The 00s drama was a hit with teens for its realistic plot, and now a new one is discovering it on Netflix. Much of the show was filmed in Bristol and the Bristol Film Office has put together a map of all of the key locations. Visit Bristol and the Bristol Film Office have also mapped other hit shows, including Sherlock and Doctor Who.

VINTAGE FINDS

If your teens are keen to develop their vintage (复古的) rock style, take them to Park Street to discover the vintage shops, including Uncle Sam’s Vintage, perfect for everything from American varsity (校队的) jackets to Levi’s jeans, as well as The Vintage Thrift Store, Loot Vintage and Sobeys.

1. Why does the author recommend Bristol?

A．Because it is easier to learn art here.

B．Because artists here are more famous.

C．Because there are numerous great artists and works.

D．Because it has longer graffiti history than other cities.

2. What can’t teens do in Bristol?

A．Buy vintage jeans.	B．Be exposed to maps of film.
C．Encounter famous film stars.	D．Pay a visit to the splendid graffiti history.

3. Who is the target of this article?

A．Artists

B．Parents

C．Teenagers

D．Fans of painting

4 . Hidden in the trees, behind the leaves, look closely and you’ll see eyes staring back at you. This is SlothBot, a robot inspired by the famously slow animal-sloth (树獭).

For the next several months, visitors to the Atlanta Botanical Garden will be able to observe the testing of the new high-tech tool in the battle to save some of the world’s most endangered species. Researchers are testing the SlothBot near the Garden’s popular Canopy Walk.

Built to take advantage of the low-energy lifestyle of real sloths, SlothBot demonstrates how being slow can be ideal for certain applications. Powered by solar panels and using innovative power management technology, SlothBot moves along a cable strung between two large trees as it monitors temperature, weather, carbon dioxide levels, and other information in the Garden’s 30-acre midtown Atlanta forest.

“Slowness is a design principle of SlothBot,” says Magnus Egerstedt, professor and chair in the Georgia Institute of Technology’s School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. “That is not how robots are typically designed today, but being slow and energy-efficient will allow SlothBot to stay in the environment to observe things we can only see by being present continuously for months, or even years.”

About three feet long, SlothBot’s imaginative 3D-printed shell helps protect its motors, gearing, batteries and sensing equipment from the weather. The robot is programmed to move only when necessary, and will locate sunlight when its batteries need recharging.

“The most exciting goal we’ll demonstrate with SlothBot is the union of robotics and technology with conservation,” says Emily Coffey, vice president for conservation and research at the Garden. “We do conservation research on endangered plants and ecosystems around the world, and SlothBot will help us find new and exciting ways to advance our research and conservation goals.”

“SlothBot could do some of our research remotely and help us understand what’s happening with pollinators(传粉者), interactions between plants and animals,   and other phenomena that are difficult to observe otherwise," Coffey adds.

1. What do the researchers expect SlothBot to do?

A．Guard the garden.	B．Attract visitors.
C．Protect real sloths.	D．Help endangered species.

2. What does the underlined word “That” in paragraph 4 probably refer to?

A．SlothBot.	B．Slowness
C．A design principle.	D．A low-energy style.

3. What can we know about SlothBot?

A．It always stays still.	B．It can pollinate the plants.
C．Its shell provides protection for itself.	D．Its design will be used to study the ocean.

4. What may be the best title for the text?

A．A Slow-moving Sloth Begins Life in a Garden

B．A New Robot Helps Raise Endangered Animals

C．A New Study Aids Conservation Efforts in Atlanta

D．A Conservation Robot Slowly Monitors Endangered Species

6 . During the early morning journey from the suburbs(郊区), we sat sleepily, with collars standing firm below our ears. Although the group of people are in the same bus every day, we never _______ or talk. Everyone’s face shows the tiredness of waking up early and working.

One July morning, a small grey man, one of the _______ taking the bus to center every morning, loudly greeted good morning to the driver. The driver was _______ and then nodded. _______, then he loudly said to us, “Hello! I’m Charlie, my friends!”

The next day, another old man _______ the bus energetically, smiled and said in a loud voice, “A very good morning to you all!” Some of us looked up, amazed, and murmured “Good morning.” in _______. When Charlie heard the greeting, he came forward with surprise and hugged the _______. Their smiles seemed to _______ the entire bus, sweeping away the cold and awkward atmosphere(氛围) inside. Gradually, we started nodding and _______ to each other.

One morning, Charlie was ________ a large bouquet of flowers in his hand. He turned around with a smile and said to everyone, “Friends, I’m moving next week. I can’t take the same bus ________, and thank you all! The mornings we spent together were ________ experiences!” The other passengers whistled and clapped(鼓掌) at him. Charlie bowed, waved his hand, and then began ________ the flowers to each passenger.

The summer went by, and the ________ was closing in. Although Charlie did not appear on the bus again, the laughter and joy on the bus ________.

1.

A．argue

B．like

C．tend

D．greet

2.

A．passengers

B．drivers

C．colleagues

D．neighbors

3.

A．annoyed

B．surprised

C．mad

D．impatient

4.

A．Unfortunately

B．Unhappily

C．Unexpectedly

D．Unfairly

5.

A．left

B．boarded

C．hit

D．stopped

6.

A．reply

B．advance

C．danger

D．need

7.

A．man

B．driver

C．girl

D．boy

8.

A．destroy

B．track

C．increase

D．affect

9.

A．helping

B．comparing

C．talking

D．adapting

10.

A．tying

B．lifting

C．biting

D．holding

11.

A．anyway

B．anymore

C．anytime

D．anywhere

12.

A．terrible

B．heavy

C．unforgettable

D．unhappy

13.

A．giving out

B．giving in

C．giving up

D．giving off

14.

A．spring

B．month

C．year

D．autumn

15.

A．disappeared

B．happened

C．began

D．continued

7 . Four Self-Portraits (自画像) by Famous Artists

Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino)—“Self-Portrait”, 1506

One of the beautiful self-portraits by famous artist Raphael was drawn at the age of 23. It measures around 45cm×33cm and is located at the world-famous Uffizi Gallery. The Italian painter used oil on board to draw his self-portrait, which was the clearest and the most recognizable self-portraits of Raphael himself.

Leonardo da Vinci—“Portrait of a Man in Red Chalk”, 1512

“Portrait of a Man in Red Chalk”is a self-portrait of da Vinci at the age of 60 and measures around 33.3cm×21.6cm, which is on display in Biblioteca Reale, Turin, Italy. It is drawn with red chalk on paper and represents the head of an elderly man in a three-quarter view. In the portrait, the length of the hair is uncommon in Renaissance (文艺复兴) portraits.

Rembrandt van Rijn—“Self-Portrait with Beret and Turned-up Collar”, 1659

Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn painted his self-portrait in 1659 when he was 53 years old. It shows his worried expression that clearly portrays the troubled condition of his mind at that point of his life since the year 1659 was a year of anxiety for him. This self-portrait found its place among the Benjamin Altman Collection, which has been exhibited in the Metropolitan Museum of Art since 1913.

Edgar Degas—“Degas Au Porte-Fusain’”, l855

Edgar Degas made this self-portrait only when he was twenty-one years old. It was one of the most remarkable of his fifteen self-portraits. Degas was seated as seemingly without fear and anxiety. The pose in the painting was formal and academic. The painting is located in the musée d’Orsay, Paris, France.

1. Where should visitors go if they want to admire Raphael’s self-portrait in 1506?

A．Uffizi Gallery.	B．Biblioteca Reale.
C．The musée d’Orsay.	D．The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

2. Which aspect of Portrait of a Man in Red Chalk was special during the Renaissance?

A．The red clothing.	B．The formal pose.
C．The long hair.	D．The worried expression.

3. Which painter was the youngest when painting the above-mentioned self-portraits?

A．Raphael.	B．Edgar Degas.
C．Leonardo da Vinci.	D．Rembrandt van Rijn.

8 . The first rule of popular science is to reveal the wonder and mystery of the world. For that reason, Sentient (Picador), written by photographer and wildlife film-maker Jackie Higgins, is my pick of the year. According to my interviews with many readers, I select other four newly-published books in 2022.

Delicious

This book describes how our ancestors hunted and consumed ancient animals such as mammoths, bison, giant camels and many more now-extinct species. The diet of the Clovis peoples of North America was a menu described as “a record of a lost world”. This book explains how our dinners robbed the world of so many large animals. It gives inspiration for how modern humans can be at peace with nature.

The New Climate War

In 1999, Mann published a graph showing the rapid post-industrial rise in global temperatures. Two decades later, his book The New Climate War remains convinced that we can prevent climate change. This book sets out a common-sense approach to carbon pricing and a revision of the Green New Deal. Of course, there are still many people who deny that climate change is even happening.

The Geodesic Dome

Physicist Kate Greene imagines that she spends four months in a geodesic dome in Hawaii, with five other people, to mimic living in a colony on another planet. The story describes the future of our Earth. Kate makes readers cherish the natural environment. “No sunshine on our skin, and no fresh air in our lungs,” Greene turns the frustrations into a moving story.

Florida Scrub-Jay

The birds were once common across the peninsula. But as development over the last 100 years reduced the habitats on which the bird depends, the species became endangered. Mark Walters travels the state to report on the natural history and the current situation of Florida’s flag ship birds. This book can raise people’s awareness of protecting the birds’ habitats.

1. What can we infer about the author from the text?

A．He’s a column journalist.	B．He’s a scientist.
C．He’s a film-maker.	D．He’s a photographer.

2. Which book might be science fiction?

A．Delicious.	B．Florida Scrub-Jay.
C．The Geodesic Dome.	D．The New Climate War.

3. What do the listed books have in common?

A．They have happy endings.	B．They record the natural history.
C．They face doubts from many scientists.	D．They involve the environmental protection.

9 . It had already been more than the critical 72 hours seen as a cutoff point for finding Turkish earthquake survivors.

But over 80 hours later, 16-year-old Melda Adtas was pulled out alive, leaving her overjoyed father in tears and the grieving nation cheering a rare piece of good news after Monday’s magnitude —7.8 tremor, which has now left more than 22,000 dead across Turkey and Syria.

Melda’s father felt nothing but relief, as rescuers pulled the teen out of the rubble (碎石). “My dear, my dear!“ he called out, as the watching crowd broke into applause. It took rescue workers five painstaking hours to save her life after neighbors raised the alarm. They had heard sounds from the splintered walls. For Melda and others in Antakya, the biting cold worsened an already desolate situation.

Hopes rose after rescuers found three people alive in the same building, only a floor above Melda. So the rescuers and her panicked father went looking, determined to find the missing girl. When rescuers discovered Melda, she was stuck under a wall that had collapsed.

Suleyman, the man leading her rescue effort, is one of a group of Black Sea miners who headed south to help. Without him, the operation could not have been carried out, his co-workers said. He knows his way around dark, narrow spaces.

Working in silence to maintain contact with Melda, the rescuers removed one obstacle after another, as onlookers watched anxiously. Then all of a sudden, they reached the cold, bruised young girl who was very much alive, and gently brought her to a waiting ambulance.

Several rescuers, wearing helmets, covered in dust and with tired faces, held the stretcher, protecting Melda with a blanket against the cold and prying eyes. Once Melda was safely in the ambulance, many hugged, kissed and congratulated the rescuers. Several could not hold back tears.

“We haven’t worked for nothing. We have pulled a girl from the rubble,” one said.

“God bless you ll!” her father shouted.

1. What can we learn about the earthquake in Turkey?

A．It has resulted in 22,000 deaths.

B．It was Suleyman who located Melda first.

C．The citizens worked in silence in order to locate Melda.

D．There’s little hope for survivors to be found 72 hours after the earthquake.

2. What factors added to the difficulty of saving Melda after the earthquake according to the text?
①Lack of professional rescue teams.          ②Low temperature.
③Power cuts and disrupted transportation.     ④Ruined buildings.

A．①②④

B．①③

C．②④

D．②③④

3. How did the rescuers behave in the operation?

A．Skillfully and considerately.	B．Affectionately and naturally.
C．Sympathetically and independently.	D．Awkwardly and cooperatively.

4. What’s the best title for the text?

A．Powerful Earthquake Hits Turkey

B．Joy After Girl Pulled Out Alive from Rubble

C．Brave Father Saves His Daughter in Earthquake

D．Rescue Work in Progress After a Deadly Earthquake

10 . Four European Festivals You Don’t Want to Miss in 2023

Berck-sur-Mer Kite Festival

For over two decades,more than half a million visitors have come to watch the splendid display of kites flying over the seaside town of Berck-sur-Mer. Taking place every March or April,the festival sees giant dragons, whales, and various cartoon characters in the skies over the sandy beach. The festival also plays host to the International Kite Championships of the World every two years. During this time, experts from all over the world compete against the wind and each other.

Cannes Film Festival

Film lovers will no doubt want to head to the world’s most famous movie festival, the Cannes Film Festival. The red-carpet event was created by a French Minister of Education and Fine Arts. He wanted to establish an international cultural event in France to rival(与……抗衡)the Venice Film Festival. And it’s safe to say, he succeeded. More than 30, 000 professionals, such as directors, actors and actresses from all over the world attend the annual festival.

Menton Lemon Festival

Held over two weeks in February, the Lemon Festival celebrates all things concerning lemons in the city of Menton. More than 200. 000 visitors come to watch the colorful floats(花车)and sculptures created from lemons and oranges. During the daytime, parades of fruit-covered floats make their way through the streets as wind musicians and drummers entertain the crowd.

Nice Carnival

Taking place every February, the famous Nice Carnival is one of the largest carnivals in the world. It is also the most important event on the French Riviera. Over a million people take to the streets of Nice during the day and night. More than 1, 000 dancers and musicians from around the world perform at the magnificent carnival.
1. What is Berck-sur-Mer famous for?

A．Kites.

B．Beaches.

C．Whales.

D．Cartoons.

2. Who created the Cannes Film Festival?

A．A director.

B．An actor.

C．A French artist.

D．A French official.

3. What do the Menton Lemon Festival and the Nice Carnival have in common?

A．Both feature folk songs.	B．Both are held in February.
C．Both attract people at night.	D．Both have high sculptures.