1 . If someone created a flying machine capable of tracking you down by listening for your voice, you might be terrified. But what if you were trapped in ruins after a natural disaster and first responders couldn’t locate you? Maybe then a human-seeking drone (无人机) wouldn’t be such a terrible idea. That concept is the focus for engineers at German’s Fraunhofer FIE Institute, who’ve built a drone to find people by detecting (探测) human screams.
“The human-seeking drone would be ideal for post-disaster situations, such as earthquakes, hurricanes and wildfires”, said Macarena Varela, one of the lead engineers. “They could hover over an area that rescue crews have difficulty getting to and locate exactly where people may be trapped.”
Locating people by sound presents its share of challenges. An auditory (听觉的) system would need to distinguish human cries from sounds that often happen in nature, such as animal calls and wind. It might also need to recognize patterns associated with kicking, clapping or other ways people try to get the attention of rescue teams.
Engineers took those situations into account when building out their concept drone. They recorded themselves screaming, tapping and creating other noises that might be a sign of people in trouble. Then, they analyzed each sound frequency to find common signatures and used those to train artificial intelligence software. They also worked to remove the noise created by the drone and other environmental sounds.
Once the software part was complete, the team placed tiny digital microphones under the drone and used signal processing techniques that enabled them to track where human noises are coming from. The microphones also enhanced the volume and clarity of the speech. So far, they have conducted successful open field experiments, finding that the drone can estimate a victim’s location within a few seconds of picking up sound.
Next, they would like to add a higher frequency microphone to a drone to acquire more audio sound signals. The idea is to pick up noises from hundreds of meters away, Varela said. In the real world, victim's location data might one day be sent wirelessly to emergency crews carrying a tablet.
1. What can the auditory system do?| A．Recognize human cries. | B．Pick up sounds from far away. |
| C．Send victim’s location data to a tablet. | D．Improve the quality of human screams. |
| A．Effects. | B．Symbols. | C．Features. | D．Situations. |
| A．Its high speed of flying. | B．Its long working hours. |
| C．Its quick response to screams. | D．Its easy access to disaster scene. |
| A．AI Enables Drones to Give Better Performance |
| B．Human-seeking Drones Replace Rescue Crews |
| C．Rescuers Use Drones to Locate Disaster Survivors |
| D．Engineers Teach Drones to Hunt Human Screams |
2 . Famous Israeli gastronome (美食家) Michal Ansky is a professional taster and a Master Chef judge. So when she was invited to the world’s first public blind taste test setting lab-grown chicken into competition against a conventionally raised product, she was confident that she would be able to tell the difference.
Surrounded by cameras at a restaurant bar, she tasted from two dishes, labeled A and B. A team of lawyers looked on, tasked with making sure that the tasting truly was blind. Even the chef who sautéed (嫩煎) the meat in sunflower oil—no salt, no seasonings—didn’t know which was which. Both were flavorless, Ansky noted, but she would bet her reputation that sample A was the real thing. It had a richer, more “chickeny” taste.
The tasting was hosted by a meat-tech startup SuperMeat at its in-house restaurant, The Chicken. Ever since 2013, when the first lab-grown hamburger was presented to the public with a $330,000 price tag, alternative-meat companies have been inching closer to a product that is just as tasty and nearly as affordable as the real thing, but without the climate impacts. One new study found high-income countries could cut agricultural emissions (排放物) by almost two-thirds by moving away from animal-based foods.
But one question remains: Would consumers be able to tell the difference? SuperMeat decided to put its product to the test without the deep frying and sauces that are usually used to mask a lack of flavor. Sample B had less flavor, so Ansky reasoned that it had to be the one grown in a lab. She was so convinced of her decision that when SuperMeat founder Ido Savir announced that it was in fact A that was lab-grown, she corrected him. “No,” she said. “A is the real chicken.”
A day later, I spoke to Ansky about the tasting. “It’s one of the only times in my life that I’m really happy that I was wrong,” she admitted.
1. What do we know about the taste test?| A．It was hosted by a chicken-themed restaurant. |
| B．Food samples were made with different flavors. |
| C．Michal Ansky was invited to the test for her reputation. |
| D．Lawyers were involved to ensure the authority of the activity. |
| A．lab-grown chicken tastes as good as raised chicken |
| B．meat eaters turn a blind eye to the taste of chicken |
| C．even a world-famous gastronome can make mistakes |
| D．chicken should be cooked well to appeal to customers |
| A．More chickeny taste. |
| B．More affordable price. |
| C．Less artificial flavor. |
| D．Less carbon footprint. |
| A．She wanted to ease her embarrassment. |
| B．She saw a milestone in the food industry. |
| C．She changed people’s opinion of her job. |
| D．She believed in the power of making mistakes. |
3 . Pennsylvania is full of mysterious places! One of those is an old turnpike （收费高速公路）
My dad chose a 16-mile
When we
Whenever going through
| A．designed | B．destroyed | C．abandoned | D．locked |
| A．However | B．Otherwise | C．Therefore | D．Meanwhile |
| A．explore | B．construct | C．protect | D．repair |
| A．tunnel | B．section | C．block | D．course |
| A．participate | B．register | C．cooperate | D．prepare |
| A．excited | B．nervous | C．annoyed | D．exhausted |
| A．silent | B．curious | C．cautious | D．positive |
| A．approached | B．observed | C．constructed | D．entered |
| A．covered | B．buried | C．absorbed | D．dressed |
| A．forced | B．watched | C．abused | D．judged |
| A．depending | B．surviving | C．calling | D．focusing |
| A．accidents | B．hardships | C．regulations | D．incidents |
| A．chest | B．trip | C．work | D．heart |
| A．courage | B．pride | C．excitement | D．enthusiasm |
| A．difficult | B．distant | C．dark | D．long |
4 . Today, you can buy a pair of sneakers (运动鞋) partially made from carbon dioxide pulled out of the atmosphere. But measuring the carbon-reduction benefits of making that pair of sneakers with carbon dioxide is complex. There’s the carbon dioxide that stayed in the ground, a definite carbon reduction. But what about the energy cost of cooling the carbon dioxide into liquid form and transporting it to a production facility? And what about when your kid outgrows the shoes in six months and they can’t be recycled into a new product because those systems aren’t in place yet?
Researchers are trying to help companies figure out how to account for each step in a product’s life.
As companies try to reduce their carbon footprint, many are doing life cycle assessments to measure the full carbon cost of products, from the obtaining of materials to energy use in manufacturing, from product transport to users’ behavior and end-of-life disposal (处理). It’s an impressively complex measurement, but such bean-counting is needed to hold the planet to a livable temperature, says low-carbon systems expert Andrea Ramirez Ramirez of the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.
Carbon use can be reduced at many points along the production chain—by using renewable energy in the manufacturing process, for instance, or by adding atmospheric carbon dioxide to the product. But if other points along the chain like transporting consume more energy or give off more carbon dioxide, Andrea notes, the final record may show a decrease rather than a reduction. A product is carbon-reduction only when its production actually removes carbon from the environment, temporarily or permanently.
In the rush to create products that can fight climate change, however, some companies have been charged with “greenwashing”—making products appear more environmentally friendly than they really are. Examples include labeling (用标签表明) plastic garbage bags as recyclable when their whole purpose is to be thrown away; using labels such as “eco-friendly” or “100% Natural” without official certification; and claiming a better carbon footprint without acknowledging the existence of even better choices.
1. How does the author lead in the topic of the text?| A．By listing specific figures. | B．By putting up questions. |
| C．By referring to documents. | D．By offering some solutions. |
| A．Difficult but meaningful. | B．Expensive but promising. |
| C．Energy-saving and affordable. | D．Time-consuming and valueless. |
| A．Using renewable energy in production. |
| B．Changing carbon dioxide into material. |
| C．Reducing carbon footprint in products’ life. |
| D．Cutting down carbon dioxide in transporting. |
| A．Companies are sparing no efforts to reduce carbon use. |
| B．Plastic garbage bags must be labeled as “eco-friendly”. |
| C．Most products are less environmentally friendly than before. |
| D．There is a long way to cut some companies’ ”greenwashing“. |
5 . Measles(麻疹), which once killed 450 children each year and disabled even more, was nearly wiped out in the United States 14 years ago by the universal use of the MMR vaccine(疫苗). But the disease is making a comeback, caused by a growing anti-vaccine movement and misinformation that is spreading quickly. Already this year, 115 measles cases have been reported in the USA, compared with 189 for all of last year.
The numbers might sound small, but they are the leading edge of a dangerous trend. When vaccination rates are very high, as they still are in the nation as a whole, everyone is protected. This is called “herd immunity”, which protects the people who get hurt easily, including those who can’t be vaccinated for medical reasons, babies too young to get vaccinated and people on whom the vaccine doesn’t work.
But herd immunity works only when nearly the whole herd joins in. When some refuse vaccination and seek a free ride, immunity breaks down and everyone is in even bigger danger.
That’s exactly what is happening in small neighborhoods around the country from Orange County, California, where 22 measles cases were reported this month, to Brooklyn, N.Y., where a 17-year-old caused an outbreak last year.
The resistance to vaccine has continued for decades, and it is driven by a real but very small risk. Those who refuse to take that risk selfishly make others suffer.
Making things worse are state laws that make it too easy to opt out(决定不参加) of what are supposed to be required vaccines for all children entering kindergarten. Seventeen states allow parents to get an exemption（豁免), sometimes just by signing a paper saying they personally object to a vaccine.
Now, several states are moving to tighten laws by adding new regulations for opting out. But no one does enough to limit exemptions.
Parents ought to be able to opt out only for limited medical or religious reasons. But personal opinions? Not good enough. Everyone enjoys the life-saving benefits vaccines provide, but they’ll exist only as long as everyone shares in the risks.
1. The first two paragraphs suggest that ____________.| A．a small number of measles cases can start a dangerous trend |
| B．the outbreak of measles attracts the public attention |
| C．anti-vaccine movement has its medical reasons |
| D．information about measles spreads quickly |
| A．exemptions are allowed |
| B．several vaccines are used together |
| C．the whole neighborhood is involved in |
| D．new regulations are added to the state laws |
| A．The overuse of vaccine. |
| B．The lack of medical care. |
| C．The features of measles itself. |
| D．The vaccine opt-outs of some people. |
| A．To introduce the idea of exemption. |
| B．To discuss methods to cure measles. |
| C．To stress the importance of vaccination. |
| D．To appeal for equal rights in medical treatment. |
6 . Friendships can hold an exceptional place in our life stories. What is it about the s connections that make them so unique? Before we dive into the science, let’s first observe on in action.
If I could somehow design a best friend, you know, put together all the ideal qualities of my perfect match, that person would pale in comparison to Priya. She’s always there for me. Last year after I failed my important exam, it felt like my whole world was crashing down. Priya was at my door at the news. I was a wreck, but she sat there with me and listened. We were on the same page!
Early childhood, adolescent, and adult friendships are all a little different in part because the brain works in different ways at those stages of life. Adolescence is a unique time when peer relationships take focus, and thanks to the developing brain, there are changes in the way you value, understand, and connect to friends. Teenage friends can seem attached at the hip.
Scientists describe adolescence as a social re adaption as teenagers begin to spend as much or more time with their friends than with their parents. This drive to hang with pals maybe due to changes in the brain’s reward centre. Its activation makes hanging out with others enjoyable and motivates you to spend more time with them. Neuroimaging(神经成像) studies show that this region is highly reactive during your teenage years, which may explain why adolescents seem to place a higher value on social interactions than children or adults.
Teenage friendships can also feel closer than the friendships of your childhood. This deeper connection is possible thanks to improvements in what scientists call Theory-of Mind the ability to understand others’ emotions, thoughts, motivations, and points of view. Babies begin to develop Theory of Mind around 18 months or so. And scientists know that it continues to improve and mature well into your teenage years and beyond. Likewise, regions within the social brain show increased connectivity during adolescence compared with childhood.
As a result, teens can better understand their friend’s perspectives, allowing for deeper connections to develop. The ability to connect with others somewhat depends on the coordination of actions, emotions, physiology, and thoughts. This is what psychologists call interpersonal synchrony.
1. Why did the author mention the exam in paragraph 2?| A．To introduce an exam. | B．To show their close relationship. |
| C．To serve a favorable example. | D．To argue against the opinion. |
| A．Adult friends are attached at the hip. |
| B．Teenagers’ value stay the same. |
| C．The brain is inactive during teenage years. |
| D．Peer relationships play a key role in the life. |
| A．It becomes better developed in adolescence. |
| B．It refers to regions within the social brain. |
| C．Babies begin to develop it around 8 months. |
| D．It refers to the ability to understand our own emotions. |
| A．Are friendships different? |
| B．Are friendships connected with your brain? |
| C．Do friendships matter? |
| D．How do adolescent friendships develop? |
7 . Extremely energetic light from space is an unexplained wonder. Scientists don’t know where that light comes from, exactly. And now astronomers have spotted this light, called gamma (伽马) rays, at higher energies than ever before.
You can’t see gamma rays with your eyes. They are much more energetic than the light that we can see. So you need a fancy detector to spot them. The Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory, LHAASO, is an experiment in China. It searches for extremely high energy gamma rays.
Scientists have spotted 12 gamma-ray hot spots. These are parts of the sky from which the gamma rays are sent out. Those hot spots show that our galaxy, the Milky Way, has powerful particle accelerators (加速器). But those particle accelerators aren’t made by humans. Instead, they come from violent events in the universe. They might be exploding stars, for example. Such violent events make electric and magnetic fields, which can speed up protons (质子) and electrons. Those fast particles can then produce gamma rays with a lot of energy. That can happen when protons interact with other matter in space, for example.
Scientists aren’t sure what could produce gamma rays with the extreme energies observed. But the new observations point to two possibilities. One hot spot was associated with the Crab Nebula. That’s the remains of an exploded star. Another possible source was the Cygnus Cocoon. That's a region where massive stars are forming. The stars send out intense winds in the process.
LHAASO is located on Haizi Mountain in China’s Sichuan province. It is not yet fully operational. It's due to be completed later this year. Then, it could find even more gamma rays.
1. What can we learn about gamma rays?| A．They are invisible. | B．They are often ignored. |
| C．They contain little energy. | D．They are used to explore universe. |
| A．To make the explanation lively. | B．To help understand the Milky Way. |
| C．To illustrate the universe is expanding. | D．To show how gamma rays might be produced. |
| A．Disappointing. | B．Exciting. | C．Accurate. | D．Unconfirmed. |
| A．Gamma Rays Come from Multiple Sources | B．The Universe Is Exploding with Great Energy |
| C．Light from Space Has Recorded-Breaking Energy | D．Gamma Rays Can Only Be Seen by Astronauts |
8 . This past summer, I applied for my very first job at a small bakery in my neighborhood. I knew that if I were
On my first day of work in late August, one of the employees quickly explained the
As I
Gradually I began to realize that I should not be
| A．impressed | B．hired | C．kept | D．promoted |
| A．fill | B．cancel | C．place | D．take |
| A．identifying | B．memorizing | C．guiding | D．serving |
| A．friend | B．wish | C．challenge | D．hobby |
| A．process | B．meaning | C．puzzle | D．theory |
| A．sent | B．weighed | C．applied | D．repeated |
| A．possible | B．clear | C．funny | D．interesting |
| A．rushed | B．deserved | C．offered | D．requested |
| A．believe | B．wonder | C．admit | D．recognize |
| A．Until | B．Before | C．Once | D．As |
| A．wanted | B．recognized | C．forgiven | D．treasured |
| A．young | B．lazy | C．new | D．talented |
| A．sympathetic | B．ashamed | C．unsatisfied | D．relaxed |
| A．handed | B．turned | C．started | D．took |
| A．showing up | B．giving up | C．bringing up | D．taking up |
9 . Almost everyone who has studied English has been warned about the way Brits love their manners. It is part of our national identity, as much as fish and chips or complaining about the weather. Recently I have been wondering where this comes from and I read online that we say sorry up to eight times a day. Probably the same amount of times that any other person says “hello” or “how are you”. It is almost like greetings to us! It was only when I was explaining how there are five steps of saying thank you when you buy something from a shop to a Mexican friend of mine that I realised how mad it sounded.
After some research online I have not been able to find any specific reasons why we are the way we are. I suppose for centuries manners and how we eat at the table and talk to other people have been the barriers between the lower and upper classes and represent your social status. Britain has traditionally been a quite conservative country. There are many articles suggesting that this seemingly polite attitude of always saying please and thank you is quite false because it is impossible to always feel that you want to thank someone or say please.
Maybe it is for this reason that people are going one of two ways: they are incredibly polite and hold back on their feelings or not polite at all, and express their true feelings. Some Brits are fed up of pretending that they are always content and having to please people. Sometimes because we feel we have to be polite, we are prevented from saying what we truly think. Do you think it is better to not hurt people’s feelings and be polite or to let people know the truth? In your country what is the custom? I know in some countries if someone is considered to be doing their job, the clients think that they do not need to be thanked.
1. What does the author think of the British way of saying “Thank you”?| A．Normal. | B．Surprising. | C．Exciting. | D．Pleasing. |
| A．Why the British like to complain about the weather. |
| B．Why the British love their way of showing manners. |
| C．Why the British are fond of fish and chips so much. |
| D．Why the British have five steps of saying thank you. |
| A．Wealth and health. | B．Social status. | C．Politeness. | D．Attitudes. |
| A．They want to express their true feelings. |
| B．They want to let people know the truth. |
| C．They are kept from saying what they think. |
| D．They want to represent their social status. |
10 . China's teen diving sensation (轰动性人物） Quan Hongchan's family and neighbours have been disturbed by tourists hoping to get social media “likes”， local media say. Ever since the 14-year-old won the Olympic gold after delivering three perfect-10 dives, fans have rushed to her Maihe village home to take videos and photos. Some persistent fans are even climbing trees for a better view.
Quan has received massive support online after she said she took up diving to pay her sick mother's bills. Her story touched many people when she told reporters that she dedicated her Olympic win to her mother, who has been admitted to hospital many times after getting into a traffic accident years ago. “I want to make enough money to support her," Quan had said in Tokyo.
On China's Twitter-like platform Weibo, the hashtag(标签）“how to view Quan Hongchan's home becoming an internet photo hotspot” was viewed more than 25 million times.There was criticism over the actions of these influencers, who reportedly staked out the rural village in Guangdong province to livestream videos even after midnight. Others knocked on the door to take selfies with her family members, while some tried to steal jackfruit from her home as gifts, local media said. “If people are going to her house just to get followers, that's unacceptable. Her mother is sick. She shouldn't be disturbed,” one Weibo comment read.
The village has now been closed to visitors as the large crowds didn't follow Covid control measures, reports say. Due to her years of training, the farmer's daughter said she had never been to a zoo or amusement park. Her comments made a safari and amusement park in Guangzhou decide to announce free annual membership cards to all Chinese diving team members. Other businesses and donors have come forth offering cash and gifts, including her favourite spicy street snack latiao-made from flour that is cooked and seasoned. Her father has reportedly declined cash gifts, and thanked donors for their “kind hearts”。
1. Why is Quan Hongchan committed to winning the Olympic gold?| A．Her love for the diving team and country. |
| B．Her pursuit for the fame and wealth. |
| C．Her desire to pay for her mother's medical bills. |
| D．Her gratitude for the support of fans. |
| A．Monitor. |
| B．Strike. |
| C．Squeeze. |
| D．Cater. |
| A．Businesses and donors have their own calculation. |
| B．The intention of influencers and tourists varies. |
| C．The closure of Quan's village is due to the online viewers' concern. |
| D．The privacy of Quan's family and villagers hasn't been fully respected. |
| A．Quan Hongchan's inspiring story catches on throughout the country |
| B．Social media is a double-edged sword for Quan |
| C．The teen diving star won the Olympic gold |
| D．The teen diving star's village was jam-packed by fans |
