1 . French company Airseas, has promised to help big goods ships reduce their fuel consumption (能源消耗), and cut their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (排放) by 20%. And they’re doing this with the Seawing — a 1,000 square meter kite that will fly 300 meters above the water’s surface. So the shipping industry is rediscovering the joy and efficiency of sails (帆).
The large, ship-sized kite is now being developed, and the company plans to open a factory to produce the Seawing in 2026. Once produced, Airseas has promised that launching and operating a Seawing on a goods ship will be automated (自动化), making it easy for crews (船员) to use. The crew can simply press some buttons and a large kite will rise into the sky. That’s not to say that the goods ships won’t use their engines at all, but the kite will take some pressure off of those engines and will reduce the need for fuel. The wind will move the ship, just like it did for hundreds of years in the old days before industrialization.
Lowering emissions by 20% may not seem like a big deal, but moving large amounts of goods back and forth on the high seas creates 3% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. That’s more than the airline industry, which produced about 2% of the world’s emissions in 2021, according to the International Energy Agency. Shipping is also a massive industry, and one worth focusing on for lowering emissions. About 90% of the world’s traded goods are moved around through ships, according to the International Chamber of Shipping.
Some companies are expecting this new version of sails. Japanese shipping company, “K” Line has placed orders for the Seawing kite, and the European Union has also invested more than $2 million in funding.
1. What is French company Airseas trying to do?| A．Take part in kite-flying competitions. | B．Make sea exploration easy and joyful. |
| C．Produce big kites to be used for sailing. | D．Ship goods with low fuel consumption. |
| A．It will completely replace engines. | B．It will be light in weight. |
| C．It will follow the goods ship at sea. | D．It will be easily operated by crews. |
| A．To stress a problem. | B．To make a comparison. |
| C．To introduce a new topic. | D．To explore a possibility. |
| A．The sail ships are getting popular again. | B．The GHG emissions are a big problem. |
| C．Seawing will be produced in factories. | D．Kites will help cut shipping emissions. |
2 . In one of the more unusual experiments we’ve seen recently, researchers attached a large pair of cartoonish huge eyes to the front of a small, self-driving vehicle — and it turns out that this kind of adaptation could actually improve pedestrian (行人) safety.
A pair of peepers on the front of driverless vehicles could, according to the researchers, give people standing by the road a better idea of whether they’ve been seen. That’s one useful bit of information to have when it comes to determining the perfect moment to cross in front of oncoming traffic. “If the car is not looking at the pedestrian, this implies that the car does not recognize the pedestrian,” said one of the researchers. “Thus, pedestrians can judge that they should not cross the street, thereby avoiding potential traffic accidents.”
For the purposes of this study, the researchers used a car which seemed as if no one was inside. A pair of large, swiveling (旋转的) eyes on the front were controlled by researchers, but in the future could be controlled by the car’s AI on an actual self-driving vehicle.
To keep the 18 participants safe, experiments were conducted in virtual reality. The volunteers — nine men and nine women — were asked to decide whether or not to cross the road as the car approached. Four scenarios (方案) were tested in total; two when the car was fitted with eyes, and two when it wasn’t. The researchers measured how often people hesitated to cross when it was in fact safe to do so, and how often they chose to cross when it was dangerous. Overall, the presence of the eyes led to safer and smoother crossing experiences for the participants.
However, there was a gender split in the results. For men, the eyes only really helped in dangerous situations, warning them to pause when they might otherwise proceed. For women, the eyes boosted confidence by signaling it was safe to cross.
1. What is the function of cartoonish huge eyes?| A．Improving the safety of self-driving vehicles. |
| B．Helping people decide when to cross the road. |
| C．Keeping pedestrians in a complete safe state. |
| D．Promoting the appearance of self-driving vehicles. |
| A．There was a robot in the car. |
| B．The pair of large eyes were controlled by AI. |
| C．The experiments were designed by 18 volunteers. |
| D．Experiments weren’t conducted in real surroundings. |
| A．How researchers did the experiments. | B．Who conducted these experiments. |
| C．What conclusions researchers drew. | D．What scenarios were tested in experiments. |
| A．To advertise a new self-driving technology. |
| B．To enhance pedestrians’ awareness of safety. |
| C．To inform us of a new research of driverless vehicles. |
| D．To introduce the influence of a new type of car. |
3 . A mother of nine who started medical school when her youngest child was 4 years old graduated with her degree and plans to be a neurosurgeon (神经外科医生).
Sarah Merrill, now 41, said her journey to medical school began at age 17. She then met her husband and got married. Merrill first thought about going to school part-time to get a degree, but later she decided to follow her dream of attending medical school. Certainly, it was a challenge. Speaking of her successfully returning to university, Merrill thought it was credited to her family largely. “When I was accepted at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, we moved from Pennsylvania to Arizona,” said Merrill, who is moving to Indiana with her family to begin her residency (实习期) in neurosurgery. “In fact, they volunteered these movements. I know it was tough for all of us.”
Merrill and her children often have “homework parties” where they study for their own courses. Merrill’s choice has given a stimulus to her children. Merrill felt touched knowing her 11-year-old daughter wants to become a surgeon and overhearing her son tell his friends his mom’s going to be a cool brain surgeon, though he doesn’t understand that really.
Merrill’s next step into a neurosurgery residency will take her into a male-dominated field where only 5% of board certified neurosurgeons are women. Dr. Michele Halyard at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine said Merrill was known as a focused student. Halyard said, “If you can deal with nine children and keep your reason, the residency should be a piece of cake because no amount of stress will make you fail.”
Merrill had considered choosing a more family-friendly specialty, but, again, chose to dream big and follow her original pursuit. It’s the same advice she would give to all. “Set the goal that is what you’re really enthusiastic about, and it helps to think small. If you know what your priorities are, focus on the next step. Then you’ll get where you want to go.”
1. Why does Merrill speak of their movements?| A．To show the support of her family. |
| B．To stress her determination to be a doctor. |
| C．To reflect difficulties in attending college. |
| D．To describe the process of pursuing her dream. |
| A．Entertainment. | B．Inspiration. |
| C．Commitment. | D．Confusion. |
| A．Merrill will have more stress to handle. |
| B．Staying focused and sensible is key to success. |
| C．Being Mom makes Merrill a better doctor. |
| D．She is confident of Merrill’s being a neurosurgeon. |
| A．Starting with small things. |
| B．Getting your priorities right. |
| C．Being true to your passion. |
| D．Having the courage to dream big. |
4 . Research on the effects of age on language learning often leads to claims that it’s impossible to learn a language after the age of 18, yet these claims lack scientific evidence. While certain language processing functions peak during childhood, others develop later, with some even experiencing a new growth between the ages of 50 and 75.
The definition of language learning and its goals also play a significant role. If the aim is to participate comfortably in daily social interactions, research suggests that fluency in a new language can be achieved at any age with sufficient study and exposure.
Learning a language at different stages of life comes with advantages and disadvantages. Starting before the age of 10 allows for the potential of acquiring a native-like accent. However, introducing a second language to children late in verbal(言语的)development may pose challenges.
Between the ages of 10 and 18, there is a unique opportunity to intuitively(直觉地)understand grammar and develop a comprehensive and unconscious understanding of a new language’s rules. Language acquisition during this period can also boost confidence and encourage a reflective attitude towards language changes.
Studying an additional language in adulthood involves more translation and a tendency to think in one’s native language first. Language anxiety and hesitation may also arise. However, adulthood offers advantages such as peak communication skills, literary knowledge, and socio-cultural understanding.
Learning a new language at the age of 50 and above may be advantageous in terms of certain mental skills that continue to improve until the mid-to-late 70s. This age group can quickly grasp the basics of a language, although more research is needed to confirm this theory.
In summary, learning a language is a lifelong process. While certain aspects may become more challenging with age, there is no age limit that makes language learning futile. Achieving an intermediate level in a target language can be rewarding, even if some mistakes are made. Starting early can enhance phonology and grammar skills, but continued exposure and usage throughout life are vital for becoming a comfortable speaker. Ultimately, it’s never too late to start or relearn a language.
1. In which situation can one achieve fluency in a new language at any age?| A．In grammar class. | B．In writing practice. |
| C．In vocabulary research. | D．In everyday communication. |
| A．Early learning delays children’s language development. |
| B．Learning during teenage years helps build up confidence. |
| C．Learners beyond fifty can gain literary knowledge quickly. |
| D．Learning in adulthood helps to acquire peak translation skills. |
| A．Fruitless. | B．Complex. | C．Time-consuming. | D．Painful. |
| A．Why Language Learning Has Age Limits |
| B．Why Age Plays a Vital Role in Language Learning |
| C．How Language Learning Occurs at Different Life Stages |
| D．How Learning a Language Changes Depending on Your Age |
5 . Cultivated (培育) meat, also known as lab-grown meat, has been cleared for sale in the US.
Upside Foods and Good Meat, two companies that make “cultivated chicken”, said that they have gotten approval from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to start producing their cell-based proteins. Good Meat said that production is starting immediately. Cultivated meat is grown in a giant vat (缸), much like what you’d find at a beer factory.
Last week, both companies revealed that the USDA approved labels for their products. In March, Good Meat received a“no questions”letter from the FDA, confirming the product’s safety for sale in the US. Upside Foods also received one in November. Both the USDA and the FDA are overseeing the growing cultivated meat market. CEO of Good Meat, Josh Tetrick, described the approval as a major milestone for the company, the industry, and the food system. Upside founder Uma Valeti called the approval “a giant step forward towards a more sustainable future”.
Good Meat, which has been selling its products in Singapore, advertises its product as “meat without slaughter (屠宰)”, a more humane approach to eating meat. Supporters hope that cultivated meat will help fight climate change by reducing the need for traditional animal agriculture, which emits greenhouse gases. The company previously announced a partnership with chef José Andrés to introduce the product to a Washington DC restaurant, although the launch time remains uncertain. As production increases, Good Meat may explore cooperation with other restaurants or supermarkets.
Upside is planning to introduce its product at Bar Crenn, a San Francisco restaurant, but did not share a launch date yet. Selling at Bar Crenn should help Upside learn more about how chefs and diners feel about the product. Eventually, the company plans to work with other restaurants and make its products available in supermarkets. For now, it is holding a contest to allow curious customers to be among the first to try the product.
1. What is the potential benefit of cultivated meat?| A．Higher safety for eating. |
| B．Lower costs for restaurants. |
| C．Positive impacts on climate change. |
| D．Improvements in traditional animal agriculture. |
| A．Both have partnerships with international chefs. |
| B．Both are involved in producing lab-grown meat. |
| C．Both declared a launch date of their cultivated meat. |
| D．Both received FDA approval for worldwide distribution. |
| A．Diners have access to free products from Upside. |
| B．Curious customers will become the main force of buying. |
| C．Upside will evaluate the responses of chefs and diners to its product. |
| D．Upside will conduct a survey among diners about their paying ability. |
| A．The benefits of cultivated meat. |
| B．The research on cultivated meat. |
| C．The approval and prospect of cultivated meat. |
| D．The history and processing of cultivated meat. |
6 . Exercise and I had never had a good relationship due to my fear of sports. From a young age, my dad
When I entered the University of Regina, my dad
The spring semester came. A friend of mine
I went, and that was it. Zumba became my
| A．expected | B．allowed | C．forced | D．invited |
| A．therefore | B．though | C．instead | D．besides |
| A．avoided | B．risked | C．regretted | D．kept |
| A．in shape | B．for fun | C．at ease | D．on business |
| A．refused | B．happened | C．bothered | D．decided |
| A．hardly | B．merely | C．constantly | D．gradually |
| A．eager | B．content | C．embarrassed | D．disappointed |
| A．cheated | B．comforted | C．asked | D．annoyed |
| A．happy | B．proud | C．careful | D．sure |
| A．cup | B．part | C．share | D．mouth |
| A．curiosity | B．passion | C．fear | D．confidence |
| A．perfect | B．positive | C．adorable | D．official |
| A．accept | B．feel | C．display | D．compare |
| A．witness | B．separate | C．discourage | D．save |
| A．trouble | B．sense | C．peace | D．contact |
7 . Not sleeping enough or getting a bad night’s sleep over and over makes it hard to control your appetite. And that sets you up for all sorts of health problems, including obesity (肥胖) , heart disease and high blood pressure.
The link between poor sleep and a greater body mass index(BMI) has been shown in study after study, but researchers typically relied on the memories of the participants to record how well they slept.
Sleep apps on fitness trackers, smartphones and watches have changed all that. In a new study researchers tracked sleep quality for 120,000 people for up to two years.
The results showed sleep durations (持续时间) and patterns are highly variable between people. Despite that, the study found people with BMIs of 30 or above — which is considered obese by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention－had slightly shorter sleep durations and more variable sleep patterns.
It didn’t take much less sleep to see the effect. People with BMIs over 30 only slept about 15 minutes less than those less weighty people.
There were some limitations to the study, naps(午睡) were not included, other health conditions could not be factored in, and people who use wearable tracking devices are typically younger, healthier and from a higher economic status than those who do not wear trackers.
“These are quite pricey devices, and they are not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. The results would need to be validated (确认) by the appropriate FDA-approved devices, and because the study is likely on younger people who are more economically well off, it needs further study whether that really applies to older folks with poor sleep.” said Dasgupta, the associate program director.
However, Dasgupta added, a major plus for the study is that it did monitor people for over two years, and the results corroborated previous research and were “not surprising.”
While we cannot determine the direction of association from our study result, these findings provide further support to the idea that sleep patterns are associated with weight management and overall health.
1. How does the new study differ from previous studies?| A．It lasts the longest time in history. | B．It uses apps to record participants’ sleep. |
| C．It specially improves participants’ sleep quality. | D．It relied on participants’ memory to record data. |
| A．Doubtful | B．Shocked | C．Cautious | D．Dissatisfied |
| A．limit | B．correct | C．confirm | D．combine |
| A．Sleep Quality Varies from Person to Person |
| B．Sleep Apps Are Widely Used to Monitor Sleep |
| C．Young People Are Paying More Attention to Obesity |
| D．Lack of Sleep May Be Possibly Connected with Obesity |
8 . More than a decade ago, while pursuing a hotel management degree in Switzerland, I had to move to Zurich for a six-month internship(实习). The hotel didn’t offer
It was a difficult task, as Zurich is a(n)
| A．opportunity | B．support | C．training | D．accommodation |
| A．expensive | B．perfect | C．large | D．special |
| A．owners | B．visitors | C．residents | D．managers |
| A．house | B．welcome | C．service | D．feeling |
| A．told | B．warned | C．convinced | D．showed |
| A．groups | B．classes | C．religions | D．countries |
| A．attain | B．hold | C．need | D．love |
| A．reserved | B．shared | C．produced | D．lacked |
| A．save | B．spend | C．make | D．value |
| A．Recently | B．Obviously | C．Unexpectedly | D．Fortunately |
| A．income | B．agreement | C．house | D．fee |
| A．complain | B．hide | C．reason | D．live |
| A．dealt with | B．brought about | C．looked into | D．heard of |
| A．room | B．party | C．interview | D．feast |
| A．regret | B．gratitude | C．curiosity | D．pride |
9 . ChatGPT, designed by OpenAI to carry on conversations just like humans, has become a viral excitement. The AI-powered tool went from zero to a million users in just five days! Its ability to provide in-depth answers to user questions has even drawn the attention of distinguished technology companies.
The intelligent robot understands what the user says or types and then responds in a way that makes sense. Its vast body of knowledge has been gathered from the internet and archived books. It is further trained by humans. This makes ChatGPT a useful tool for researching almost any topic.
“We have a lot of information on the internet, but you normally have to Google it, then read it and then do something with it,” says Ricardo, chief science officer and co-founder of AI company Erudit. “Now you’ll have this resource that can process the whole internet and all of the information it contains for you to answer your question.”
ChatGPT cannot think on its own. It depends on the information that it has been trained on. As a result, the AI tool works well for things that have accurate data available. However, when unsure, ChatGPT can get creative and flow out incorrect responses. OpenAI cautions users to check the information no matter how logical it sounds. Also, ChatGPT has only been trained with information till 2021. Hence, it cannot be relied upon for anything that happened after that.
Experts believe ChatGPT has limitless potential to solve real-world problems. It can translate long texts into different languages, create content on almost any topic, and even summarize books.
However, ChatGPT has received mixed reactions from educators. Some believe it could serve as a valuable tool to help build literacy skills in the classroom. It could also be used to teach students difficult science or math concepts. But other educators think ChatGPT will encourage students to cheat. They fear this will prevent them from building critical thinking and problem-solving skills. As a result, many districts are starting to ban its use in schools.
1. What is the unique feature of ChatGPT?| A．It has artificial intelligence. | B．It can answer users’ questions. |
| C．It has the largest number of users. | D．It can engage in meaningful conversations. |
| A．Its capability of information processing. | B．Its accurate information. |
| C．Its availability of up-to-date data. | D．Its vast body of questions. |
| A．ChatGPT is unable to think itself. | B．ChatGPT lacks creativity. |
| C．ChatGPT offers illogical information. | D．ChatGPT is not properly trained. |
| A．Favorable. | B．Disapproving. | C．Objective. | D．Intolerant. |
10 . China is recognized as a world leader in the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and facial recognition systems. A Chinese company says it has created a new facial recognition system that can identify people even if they are wearing masks (口罩). Engineers at the Beijing-based company say their system is the first to be created to effectively identify people wearing face masks.
The company told a news agency that a team of 20 people built the system in about a month. The system is based on existing technologies developed over the past 10 years. The process involved adding a collection of about 6 million unmasked faces and a much smaller collection of masked faces, the company said.
The company is now selling two main kinds of products that use the new technology. One performs “single channel” recognition, which is designed to be used at the entrances to buildings. The other product is a “multi-channel” recognition system that uses groups of surveillance (监视) cameras. It can identify individuals in a crowd of up to 30 people within a second.
“When people are wearing a mask that covers the mouth and the nose, the recognition rate can reach about 95%, which can ensure that most people can be identified,” said Huang, vice president of the company. He added that the system’s success rate for people not wearing a mask is about 99.5%.
However, the new system struggles to identify people wearing both a mask and sunglasses. “In this situation, all of the key facial information is lost. In such cases recognition is graunchy,” Huang said.
People react to the new technology differently. While some citizens have been against using such tools, the majority have accepted the technology as an effective way to reduce crime and catch criminals.
1. What did the company do to build the system?| A．It gathered many face images. | B．It used the latest technology. |
| C．It added a collection of masks. | D．It employed hundreds of people. |
| A．Its success rate is affected by cameras. |
| B．It recognizes groups of people in seconds. |
| C．Its performance changes with the location. |
| D．It does better in identifying unmasked faces. |
| A．Tough. | B．Specific. | C．Normal. | D．Different. |
| A．Uncaring. | B．Doubtful. | C．Objective. | D．Supportive. |
