1 . A Happy Birthday for All
For her ninth birthday, Mary asked for some unusual birthday gifts such as soap, schoolbags and Towels. But Mary didn’t want these
At school, Mary’s teacher
After finding out what supplies the shelter
Mary hopes other children will hear about her
| A．books | B．bikes | C．toys | D．gifts |
| A．knew | B．liked | C．taught | D．punished |
| A．look for | B．laugh at | C．think of | D．keep off |
| A．return | B．collect | C．destroy | D．refuse |
| A．my | B．her | C．your | D．our |
| A．found | B．missed | C．left | D．closed |
| A．wasted | B．exchanged | C．discovered | D．needed |
| A．graduation | B．dress | C．birthday | D．office |
| A．seldom | B．still | C．perhaps | D．never |
| A．cleaned | B．repaired | C．stopped | D．filled |
| A．smile | B．pity | C．sigh | D．lie |
| A．remain | B．increase | C．drop | D．burn |
| A．robots | B．supplies | C．armchairs | D．paintings |
| A．When | B．Before | C．Until | D．Since |
| A．frightened | B．worried | C．surprised | D．remembered |
| A．made | B．sold | C．lent | D．touched |
| A．watch | B．ticket | C．card | D．menu |
| A．unhappy | B．forgotten | C．common | D．special |
| A．good | B．bored | C．afraid | D．hungry |
| A．asking | B．calling | C．visiting | D．helping |
2 . Cities are difficult to navigate (导航) at the best of times, but for people with disabilities they can be like courses with hurdles and bring inconvenience to disabled people.
A UK national travel survey found that adults with mobility difficulties took 39% fewer trips than those with no disability in 2017. Yet that could change as devices and cities grow smarter. Assistive tech is playing a big role in the transformation. The global value of the industry is expected to increase from $14 billion in 2015 to $30.8 billion in 2024, according to Zion Market Research.
One of the things that could transform lives is a smart walking stick designed by engineers from Young Guru Academy (YGA) in Turkey. The WeWalk stick has a sensor that detects hurdles above chest level and uses vibrations (振动) to warn the user. It can be paired with a smartphone to help navigation, and is connected with a voice assistant and Google Maps.
Ceylan, who has been blind since birth, says that connecting the stick to the Internet of Things and smart city solutions makes it user-friendly. “As a blind person, when I am at the Metro station I don’t know which is my exit ... I don’t know which bus is approaching ... which stores are around me. That kind of information can be provided with the WeWalk,” he says.
“The smart walking stick is really an exciting initiative that will make a huge difference to some people,” says Anna Lawson, the director of the Center for Disability Studies at Leeds University in the United Kingdom. “But they are very expensive ... they’re not going to be available to the vast majority of disabled people,” she added.
Bryan Matthews, a lecturer at the Institute for Transport Studies at the University of Leeds, shares the concerns about cost. He says there should also be a focus on inclusive design, and anything that helps people navigate their environment is positive.
1. What does “that” in the second paragraph refer to?| A．The survey that compared adults’ mobility. |
| B．The smart industry that is booming. |
| C．The fact that the disabled traveled less. |
| D．The role that the assistive tech plays. |
| A．The working principles of the WeWalk stick. |
| B．The introduction of the WeWalk stick inventors. |
| C．The transformation caused by the WeWalk stick. |
| D．The benefits brought about by the WeWalk stick. |
| A．To show the value of smart tech. |
| B．To urge more attention to the blind. |
| C．To increase the potential market share. |
| D．To encourage tech research and development. |
| A．Confusing instructions. | B．Poor navigation. |
| C．Inclusive designs. | D．High prices. |
3 . Andrew Powell was pulling envelopes from the large mailbox outside his contemporary house when he noticed something
“We’ve decided to live here,” the
Over the next few months, additional items mysteriously
More than a year later, Mary and Shelley are still living rent-free in the mailbox, to the delight of the neighbors who now
“It’s just somebody out there who is having some fun, giving us all a little community
Andrew says he now doesn’t want to know who is
| A．alive | B．unusual | C．important | D．unique |
| A．notice | B．board | C．mail | D．message |
| A．by mistake | B．by chance | C．on purpose | D．on sale |
| A．gifts | B．cards | C．dolls | D．posts |
| A．displayed | B．acquired | C．designed | D．decorated |
| A．came back | B．wandered off | C．showed up | D．broke in |
| A．before | B．since | C．unless | D．when |
| A．follow | B．comment | C．download | D．appreciate |
| A．improvement | B．possibility | C．truth | D．progress |
| A．difficulty | B．conflict | C．case | D．mystery |
| A．care | B．humor | C．blessing | D．support |
| A．artistic | B．academic | C．sympathetic | D．realistic |
| A．suitable | B．eager | C．responsible | D．ambitious |
| A．describing | B．imitating | C．celebrating | D．enjoying |
| A．light | B．camera | C．tent | D．bench |
4 . According to a new study， teens focus on rewards and have a hard time learning to avoid punishment or consider the consequences of alternative actions.
University College London researchers compared how teens and adults learn to make choices based on the available information. They tracked the way in which 18 volunteers aged 12-17 and 20 volunteers aged 18-32 completed tasks in which they had to choose between abstract symbols.
Each symbol was consistently associated with a fixed chance of a reward, punishment, or no outcome. As the trial progressed ， participants learned which symbols were likely to lead to each outcome and adjusted their choices accordingly. Teens and adults were equally good at learning to choose symbols associated with reward， but teens were less good at avoiding symbols associated with punishment. Adults also performed significantly better when they were told what would have happened if they had chosen the other symbol after each choice， while teens did not appear to take this information into account.
“From this experimental lab study we can draw conclusions about learning during the teen years. We find that teens and adults learn in different ways， something that might be relevant to education," said lead author Dr. Stefano Palminteri. " Unlike adults, teens are not so good at learning to adjust their choices to avoid punishment. This suggests that incentive systems based on reward rather than punishment may be more effective for this age group. Additionally, we found that teens did not learn from being shown what would have happened if they made alternative choices."
To interpret the results, the researchers developed computational models of learning and ran simulations （模拟）applying them to the results of the study. The first was a simple model, one that learned from rewards, and the second model added to this by also learning from the option that was not chosen. The third model was the most complete and took the full context into account, with equal weight given to punishment avoidance and reward seeking. For example, obtaining no outcome rather than losing a point is weighted equally to gaining a point rather than having no outcome.
Comparing the experimental data to the models, the team found that teens" behavior followed the simple reward-based model while adults" behavior matched the complete, contextual model. “Our study suggests that teens are more receptive to rewards than they are to punishments of equal value, ” said senior author Dr. Sarah-Jayne Blakemore. “As a result, it may be useful for parents and teachers to frame things in more positive terms.”
1. It can be learned from the study that .| A．adults made choices faster than teens |
| B．adults understood rewards better than teens |
| C．teens reacted better to reward than punishment |
| D．teens were aware of the outcome of each choice |
| A．They reflected people’s strong desire for punishment avoidance. |
| B．They gave circumstances different degrees of consideration. |
| C．They paid equal attention to reward and punishment. |
| D．They shaped the behavior of people at different ages. |
| A．accustomed | B．opposed |
| C．sympathetic | D．responsive |
| A．“If you insist on doing things in this way， you will lose ten points. " |
| B．“If we had talked about this earlier， you wouldn’t have made the mistake. " |
| C．“ If you hand in your assignment ahead of time， you will get an extra bonus." |
| D．“If you want to approach a problem differently ， you can talk to your parents. " |
5 . There are some 7,000 languages spoken worldwide, each unique, using different sounds, vocabularies and structures. Charles the Great said: “To have a second language is to have a second soul.” This begs the question: Does the language we speak shape who we are? As it turns out, yes.
In societies such as the United States or Western Europe, self-expression and language precision are valued. Asian cultures, on the other hand, prefer an indirect form of communication. Words like “perhaps” and “maybe” are used more than “yes” or “no”. Americanism takes an informal approach to communication. Therefore, it’s OK to refer to a stranger or the boss as “you”. However, the Thai language has 12 forms of the same pronoun, choosing one depends on status. In this way, languages are essential in leading any culture, be that our own or otherwise.
People who speak different languages notice different things, depending on the constructs of their mother tongue. Take an accident. In English, it’s OK to say: “She broke the glass.” But in a language like Spanish, you’d probably go with: “The glass broke.” The same incident produces two different responses. English speakers will remember who’s at fault, because their language asks them to, while Spanish speakers are more likely to remember it was an accident. This has real consequences, especially when it comes to crime and punishment.
Professor Jim Cummins has written extensively on mother tongues. For Cummins, the stronger our home language, the easier it is for us to learn others. Of course, research also shows that being bilingual gives people many advantages in life. Linguist Julien Leyre writes that learning another language develops our ability to “understand the mental world of another person, based on the language they use, and how that world is different from our own.”
Our mother tongue is central to how we think, what we know and who we are. Like us, languages are living things that change over time and must be cared for to survive. By doing so, we protect not just the linguistic structures or vocabularies we use, but the culture, knowledge and power behind them.
1. Why does the author mention “Americanism” and “the Thai language” in Paragraph 2?| A．To tell the cultural differences between them. |
| B．To indicate a language is a guide to a culture. |
| C．To stress American expressions are informal. |
| D．To reveal a language is associated with status. |
| A．They will seek blame. | B．They will punish others. |
| C．They will avoid responsibility. | D．They will draw a lesson from it. |
| A．They enjoy a more colorful life. | B．They can remain mentally healthy. |
| C．They find it easier to learn a language. | D．They can gain insight into others’ minds. |
| A．How do languages differ? | B．Will your language be extinct? |
| C．Why does our mother tongue matter? | D．Should we speak a second language? |
6 . In 2016, I suffered from Seasonal Affective Disorder(SAD) a form of depression(抑郁症) that is found to make people feel low in the UK between September and April. During that cold and wet period, I got comfort in books.
Books have been used by many to reduce depression. I lose myself into them as thirstily as usually get my morning coffee. Each Christmas, I have a habit of returning to the old favorite books that make up for my emptiness, such as Jane Eyre. Sometimes, to escape from the cold, I run back to the heat that I am used to, so I will read a lot of books set in Africa.
It became important for me to find a way to escape my sadness in the world of books. And isn’t that what art and literature is for? According to JJ Bola, the author of No Place to Call Home, “The world can get you so down that you think you’re the only person going through what you’re going through. But then you read and you realize that you are not alone that if someone else has gone through it and survived, then maybe you can, too.” It is this survival that the reader looks for, that is, the understanding that the winter is not so long after all.
1. What was the possible cause for the author’s illness?| A．His personality. | B．His poor health. |
| C．Sleeplessness. | D．Cold and wet seasons. |
| A．kill time | B．keep warm |
| C．enjoy Christmas time | D．drive away emptiness |
| A．Jane Eyre. | B．Out of Africa. |
| C．Alice in Wonderland. | D．No Place to Call Home. |
| A．finds a way to escape his sadness |
| B．gets along better with others |
| C．leans more about other cultures |
| D．becomes more interested in literature |
| A．Reading Reduces Depression | B．Reading Keeps You Warm |
| C．How to Escape Loneliness | D．How to Survive Winters |
7 . Camp Kinneret
Located in the rolling hills of Agoura, California, Camp Kinneret provides children aged 4-14 with a classic, outdoor day camp experience. Working at camp is an opportunity to be part of an intentional, growth-oriented community as a role model and leader of your campers. Most staff will ride the bus to camp each day with their campers from various Conejo and San Fernando Valley cities. Summer camp jobs include:
• Day Camp Staff assigned to a specific group for the duration of the summer participating in all activities throughout the day.
• Swim Instructors working in a team of 4-6 to ensure the safety of campers of all ages and abilities at the pool.
• Activity Instructors leading campers at activity areas that include horse riding, animal care, nature ecology, wilderness play, farming & gardening, performing arts and more!
• Resident Camp Staff spending each week guiding kids through a variety of on-site and off-site adventure-based activities including backpacking, mountain biking, climbing and more!
Camp Kinneret allows you to gain a summer’s worth of leadership development that you won’t find elsewhere! Salaries are based on position and previous experience. The range for a first-year staff member is $5, 100-$7, 000 for a 10-week summer. Applicants must be college-aged or older, have summer housing available in the Greater Los Angeles Area and be able to make a commitment from Jun. 6th to Aug. 6th, 2022 (Mon. -Fri. , 8:30 am-4:30 pm).
If you are passionate about personal growth and development (for yourself and for others), fill out the online application and select a group interview to attend virtually or in person.
1. Who will be responsible for weekly adventure-based activities?| A．Day Camp Staff. | B．Swim Instructors. | C．Activity Instructors. | D．Resident Camp Staff. |
| A．They must be college students. |
| B．They must have enough camp experience. |
| C．They must work for two months at camp. |
| D．They must have jobs in the Los Angeles area. |
| A．A tourist guide. |
| B．A campaign poster. |
| C．A notice of job openings. |
| D．A survey on camp marketing. |
8 . Los Angeles residents Joe Blackstone and Jamie Mohn have long recognized the lasting impact storytelling can have on a child’s life. Shortly after getting married, the couple began volunteering to read books to elementary school kids. Then, when they became parents themselves, they created the J3 Foundation to help organizations devoted to children’s growth. But after learning two-thirds of fourth graders who cannot read effectively end up on welfare, Blackstone and Mohn decided to take a more hands-on approach: in 2018, they launched J3’s Cozy Reading Club.
Each session of the two-hour, after-school program is free and includes outdoor activities and a healthy snack. Then, it’s time for some comfortable reading. After teachers read a book aloud and the group talks about the storyline freely, the kids find a spot to sit while grabbing a book of their choice to look through. In the end, they get to choose two books to borrow and take home.
In its first year, J3’s Cozy Reading Club served 15 students in one L. A.-area classroom. As of 2022, it had expanded to 17 schools across four different districts, impacting a total of at least 400 students, the vast majority of whom live in underserved communities. With impressive statistics backing it up 90% of the students have significantly improved their reading scores, and 95% say they’ve started reading for fun since taking part in the program——its founders have much to celebrate.
“Having more than 5,000 culturally relevant books available to them is so exciting. I love it when our students can see themselves and their classmates’ lives reflected in the books they are reading. The hope of changing one kid at a time makes all the work worthwhile,” Blackstone said.
Currently, J3 is in the process of raising $864,000, so the Cozy Reading Club can expand to an additional 24 Los Angeles schools and double its book collection to 10,000. This is worthwhile. The National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) reported that 68% of U. S. fourth graders weren’t skilled at reading in 2022, up from 66% in 2019.
1. What can be inferred about Blackstone and Mohn?| A．They are children’s writers. | B．They teach reading in a school. |
| C．They value kids’ development. | D．They’ve donated much to charities. |
| A．Learn the history of books. | B．Discuss a book’s plot. |
| C．Cook and have snacks. | D．Buy interesting books. |
| A．Its great achievements. | B．Its various services. |
| C．Its long-term goals. | D．Its current programs. |
| A．To state reading is significant. | B．To show J3 is a necessary cause. |
| C．To assess J3’s potential abilities. | D．To criticize America’s education. |
9 . At 5:13 on the morning of April 18th 1906, the city of San Francisco was shaken by a terrible earthquake. A great part of the city was destroyed and a large number of buildings were burnt. The number of people who lost homes reached as many as 250, 000. About 700 people died in the earthquake and the fires.
Another earthquake shook San Francisco on October 17th, 1989. It was America’s second strongest earthquake and about 100 people were killed. It happened in the evening as people were travelling home. A wide and busy road which was built like a bridge over another road fell onto the one below. Many people were killed in their cars, but a few lucky ones were not hurt.
Luckily the 1989 earthquake did not happen in the centre of town but about 50 kilometres away. In one part of the town a great many buildings were destroyed. These buildings were over 50 years old, so they were not strong enough. There were a lot of fires all over the city. The electricity was cut off for several days too.
Why do earthquakes happen? Scientists explain that the outside of the earth is made of a number of different plates. At San Francisco the Pacific plate which is moving towards the northwest meets the North American plate. The Pacific plate is moving very slowly—at 5.3 centimetres a year. Sometimes these two plates stop and do not move for years. Then suddenly, they jump and an earthquake is felt. As a result of the movement of these plates, west America near the sea has always been a bad place for earthquakes. When the 1906 earthquake happened, the Pacific plate jumped 5-6 metres to the north.
Scientists are afraid that one day an even bigger earthquake will hit the area around San Francisco. They call it “The Big One”. However, people today are still building more houses. The population in and around San Francisco is now ten times more than it was in 1906. This means that if there is another big earthquake, a great many houses and buildings will be destroyed.
1. Fewer people were killed in the 1989 San Francisco earthquake because the earthquake happened_______.| A．in the centre of the city | B．in the daytime |
| C．outside the city | D．in the evening |
| A．The 1906 earthquake. | B．The 1976 earthquake. |
| C．The 1989 earthquake. | D．Both A and C. |
| A．Because the surface of the earth is too thin. |
| B．Because some plates of the earth move suddenly. |
| C．Because the houses built on the earth are not strong. |
| D．Because the plates are moving slowly. |
| A．We should learn how to predict earthquakes and stop them. |
| B．We should stop building new houses. |
| C．We should build strong buildings in the right places. |
| D．We should try our best to stop earthquakes. |
| A．Bridge. | B．Road. |
| C．Car. | D．Street. |
10 . Tokyo University laboratory has developed a robot that never loses at the game of Rock Paper Scissors. That is because its visual processing abilities and fingers work together faster than any human brain. A video of the robot has been watched by more than 3 million viewers on YouTube since going online at the end of June.
Tokyo University engineering professor Masatoshi Ishikawa has a good-natured response to frustrated human losers who accuse him of essentially creating a robot that cheats. “It is not cheating. Every one millisecond (千分之一秒) the image processor decides and recognizes the shape the human hand is going to make. And then the robot can make a winnable shape one millisecond later than a human being. Only one millisecond, but a human cannot see this difference because the human eye is very slow,” explained Ishikawa.
At the Ishikawa Oku Laboratory there has been amazing progress which shows the near perfect accuracy of robotics, such as a robot that can catch a falling egg without breaking it, another one that can tie a knot, and a robot that may not be quite ready for the NBA, but is able to dribble (运球) a ball.
In sports such as baseball and cricket, the misses outnumber (比......多) successes for even the most skilled athletes. That is not so in this award-winning school laboratory. For instance, an intelligent robot is the result of five years of research and a lot of trial and error. And the cost of just one finger on the robot is equal to that of a mini car.
The technology obviously has uses beyond fun and games. Corporations are eager to take advantage of the lab’s technology for industrial and other practical uses. And there is talk of applying it to assisting disabled people and improving human capabilities.
1. What brings the robot so much attention on the YouTube?| A．It plays online games much better than any human. |
| B．Its eyes and fingers can work at the same time. |
| C．It can do whatever people tell it to do. |
| D．It never loses in the game against humans. |
| A．proves to be dishonest | B．responds faster than humans |
| C．works slower sometimes | D．is lucky to win the game |
| A．performing an experiment | B．telling an interesting story |
| C．offering some practical examples | D．ordering it to do something hard |
| A．Science and technology. | B．Human and society. |
| C．Sports and games. | D．Relaxation and entertainment. |
