1 . 10 January, a wedding ceremony, India
When Nadim invited me to his sister’s wedding, I knew it would be the opportunity of a lifetime. I was definitely not wrong!
The wedding ceremony took place in a brightly decorated hotel room. There were hundreds of guests, all dressed up in formal, colourful clothes. According to tradition, the bride was wearing an eye-catching red silk sari.
I did not understand all of the traditional customs, but a few made a deep impression on me. One was the bridegroom’s entrance on a beautiful white horse. I had never seen that back home! Another was the part when Nadim’s father proudly led his daughter through the rows of seats to her husband. It reminded me of my sister’s wedding. Although our cultures are so different, the smiling faces are the same.
The customs that followed were anything but ordinary. The couple joined hands and walked around a small fire four times. Then they took seven steps together by the fire, and with each step made a different promise about how they were going to support each other and live together happily. It was very romantic!
After ceremony, it was time for the celebrations. That is a story for another day, but let’s just say there was a lot of dancing. Now I know I have two left feet... and both of them hurt!
1. Why did the bride wear red silk sari?| A．because she liked it. | B．Because it was the tradition. |
| C．Because she had no other clothes. | D．Because it was the most expensive. |
| A．Her mother. | B．Her brother. | C．Her father. | D．The bridesmaid. |
| A．He had no right foot. | B．He was born disabled. |
| C．His left foot was very strong. | D．He was not good at dancing. |
2 . Donna Urquhart is an experienced runner. She ran 1,402 kilometers over the course of 28 days in Antarctica (南极洲),
Urquhart spent 10 months training for the
The difficulties that Urquhart faced in Antarctica were
Urquhart launched the Run Antarctica aiming to encourage more women to
“Confidence is a real issue for females,” says Urquhart. “And a sporting environment provides them with a great opportunity to
| A．closing | B．keeping | C．missing | D．setting |
| A．puzzle | B．outcome | C．challenge | D．examination |
| A．painted | B．refrigerated | C．heated | D．crowded |
| A．varied | B．soft | C．smooth | D．high |
| A．purposes | B．messages | C．preparations | D．suggestions |
| A．new | B．tough | C．interesting | D．exciting |
| A．accommodating | B．recovering | C．harvesting | D．complaining |
| A．gentle | B．slight | C．warm | D．wild |
| A．likely | B．significantly | C．hardly | D．really |
| A．noticing | B．taking | C．decreasing | D．forgetting |
| A．refer to | B．apply for | C．carry on | D．take up |
| A．price | B．record | C．target | D．rule |
| A．support | B．trust | C．prevent | D．wait |
| A．inspiration | B．impression | C．symbol | D．adventure |
| A．processes | B．positions | C．schedules | D．limits |
3 . Deep sleep doesn’t just rest your body. Scientists believe it’s also when the brain washes away toxins (毒素), with a new project looking at whether the brain’s self-clean can be boosted.
South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) neuroscientist Dr Tim Sargeant has teamed with Dr Edward Robins from SAHMRI’s Molecular Imaging and Therapy Research Unit to develop a brain scan that shows how well a brain is cleaning itself. Studies have shown that a clean brain would help with memory while fighting dementia (痴呆).
Scientists believe our brains clean themselves out each night when we enter deep sleep. Cerebrospinal fluid (脑脊液) is thought to wash through the brain, cleaning out toxins. Studies have shown a clear link between poor memory and toxins like the buildup of sticky plaques (粘性斑块) in the brains. Scientists believe brains that have a buildup of this plaque over time may not be cleaning themselves properly, putting people at risk of dementia.
Fortunately, the hope is that a clean brain would help with memory while fighting dementia. The brain scan will use special material to track how well the brain can keep itself clean and healthy through the process of removing and recycling its waste. “We’re aiming to catch the signs of the brain struggling to keep itself clean in individuals around the age of 50 or 60, well before the onset of Alzheimer’s disease (老年痴呆症) in most people,” Dr Sargeant said.
This new scan, an exciting imaging technology, will allow scientists to form a picture of a living brain and watch how it’s recycling wasting material in real time. “The scan takes out a lot of the guess work, by allowing scientists to see with their own eyes if they’ve hit the target or not,” Dr Robins said. “Without imaging, a researcher can get all the way up to the trial stage before realising they’re at a dead end.”
1. What is the aim of Dr Sargeant and Dr Robins’ developing the brain scan?| A．To help people enter deep sleep. | B．To reduce memory loss and dementia. |
| C．To research how to remove sticky plaques. | D．To study what the brain uses to clean itself. |
| A．Not enough blood in the brain. | B．Too frequent cleaning of the brain. |
| C．The increase of cerebrospinal fluid. | D．The gradual increase of sticky plaques. |
| A．Beginning. | B．Improvement. | C．Worsening. | D．Disappearance. |
| A．It brings more work. | B．It is just imaginary. |
| C．It is quite effective. | D．It is far from exact. |
4 . Lucy was rescued from a rural farm in New South Wales, Australia, two years ago. She was suffering from chlamydia (衣原体病), a disease widespread among koalas. Today, she is one of “the lucky” living creatures in tree corridors (走廊) that have been created by volunteers to protect koalas and other animals by saving their quickly shrinking habitats, or natural environment.
The corridors, planted by the local conservation group Bangalow Koalas, are made up of large systems of plants. They are intended for koalas and other animals like the glossy black cockatoos, possums, and wallabies. All of them are endangered, or at risk of becoming extinct. The corridors provide a safe path across the koala’s increasingly broken habitat. “Our corridors are actually trying to get them away from humans, from cars and from dogs,” said Linda Sparrow, president of Bangalow Koalas. “They can safely move across the landscapes and don’t have to put up with us humans.”
The koala is predicted to be extinct in the wild in New South Wales by 2050. Some of the biggest dangers include wildfires and habitat loss through land clearing for development. Koalas have already been declared endangered in several Australian states. A recent report by the Australian Koala Foundation said the animal was worth an estimated $3.2 billion per year to the tourism industry.
Founded in 2016, Bangalow Koalas has planted over 936,000 trees on 119 properties, helping koala conservation and improving the local ecosystem. The group, which depends on com munity volunteers, aims to plant 500,000 trees by 2025. Volunteer Lindy Stacker, who has been planting trees for over five years, still remains devoted to the cause. She said the activity is good for mental health and has brought the community together. “I can’t imagine a world where there’s no koalas in the wild. We’re going to do everything we can possibly to. make sure that won’t happen,” Lindy said.
1. Who is Lucy?| A．A farmer. | B．A patient. | C．A volunteer. | D．A koala. |
| A．To shelter koalas from human threat. | B．To test the local natural environment. |
| C．To save koalas suffering from chlamydia. | D．To stop koalas’ habitats from being rebuilt. |
| A．The reason for koalas’ extinction. | B．Koalas’ value in tourism industry. |
| C．The necessity of saving koalas. | D．People’s deep love for koalas. |
| A．Bangalow Koalas: A Group Intended For Koalas |
| B．Tree Corridors: A Lifeline For Endangered Koalas |
| C．Bangalow Koalas: Call On Volunteers For Koalas’ Protection |
| D．Tree Corridors: Responsible For The Loss Of Koalas’ Habitats |
5 . Being cut from a school team can be a difficult experience for a kid. But when 13-year-old Emmie Tallent who has Down syndrome (唐氏综合征) didn’t make her school’s cheer squad (啦啦队), she responded in the most impressive way — she cheered anyway. Emmie Tallent, agirl with firm determination, took to the sidelines while her school’s cheer squad performed. She matched the entire routine, moving for moving, in a black dress and tie-dyed shoes.
Her sister, Sydnee, recorded this moment on video, and it’s now capturing hearts worldwide. The video, with over 3 million views and 87,000 likes, shows Emmie facing the official squad and performing the routine alongside them. Her performance is nothing short of inspiring. “Girl didn’t make the cheer team, but she didn’t care,” Sydnee wrote, admiring Emmie’s confidence.
“Emmie may not be on the cheer team this time, but I’m sure her talent and spirit will shine through somewhere in the future,” Sydnee said with a smile. “Right now, she’s satisfied and happy doing what she loves. Thank you all for supporting her. I want to show the world Emmie’s joy from pursuing what she likes and the beauty of diversity.”
The team did not have a lot of spots and even neurotypical (神经正常的) girls who were much better than Emmie didn’t make it to join it. Emmie’s school was giving Emmie help and kept encouraging her, but there are hard decisions that have to be made sometimes. Though Emmie didn’t make the squad, she wasn’t feeling upset at home, and continued to follow cheer squad’s routines and moves to please herself and spread joy to others, even if from the sidelines.
In the face of rejection, this tough 13-year-old chose to dance rather than sit by and let it define her, inspiring us all to embrace our uniqueness and find joy in every moment.
1. What do we know about Emmie from the first two paragraphs?| A．She refused to give up performing. | B．She used to be looked down upon. |
| C．She showed a special talent for cheerleading. | D．She felt down for not joining the cheer squad. |
| A．To show Emmie’s dancing skills. | B．To inspire others with Emmie’s spirit. |
| C．To help Emmie attract people’s attention. | D．To express her gratitude to the cheer squad. |
| A．They told her to quit. | B．They satisfied her need. |
| C．They made an excuse. | D．They offered her support. |
| A．Believe in ourselves. | B．Keep our dreams alive. |
| C．Prepare for the worst. | D．Youth gives us light. |
6 . Family Vacations in Hawaii
Whether your interests are history, native cultures, hiking, water sports, or simply relaxing in the sun, Hawaii has abundant choices to keep you and your family entertained.
Waikiki BeachThis famous two-mile stretch of sand is home to scores of family-friendly beach hotels and all kinds of action-packed excitement. Waikiki Beach is the perfect place to go if you’re looking for warm ocean water and golden beaches. Kids will enjoy walking along the beach, stopping for shaved ice or an ice cream and taking a dip in a safe area of the ocean.
Oahu’s North ShoreSome of the tallest ocean waves in the world are found at Oahu, Hawaii’s North Shore coastline during the winter months. These crashing walls of water are born for surfing and offer one of the best free shows on the islands. The North Shore is home to world-class surf contests, attracting the world’s top surfers.
Polynesian Cultural CenterNothing appeals to the whole family like Hawaiian past coming alive. Besides, the colorful costumes, lively songs, and traditional dances in the Pacific region are presented here. You’ll see customs of Fiji, New Zealand, Marquesas, Samoa, Tahiti, Tonga, and Hawaii all represented in Polynesian Cultural Center’s re-created island villages, which is decorated with palm trees and tropical gardens.
Waimea Canyon (峡谷) State ParkMore than 3,500 feet deep, this landmark on Hawaii’s island of Kauai is the largest canyon in the Pacific. Unlike Grand Canyon, plentiful rain keeps Waimea Canyon and its surrounding area thick with vegetation (植被), and visitors are frequently treated to the sight of vivid rainbows. It offers a great canyon view and a covered picnic area.
1. What makes Oahu’s North Shore known to the world?| A．Its best free cultural shows. | B．Its family-friendly beach hotels. |
| C．Having the tallest coastline. | D．Being a perfect place for surfing. |
| A．Waikiki Beach. | B．Oahu’s North Shore. |
| C．Polynesian Cultural Center. | D．Waimea Canyon State Park. |
| A．It has a covered picnic area. | B．It has a depth of over 3,500 feet. |
| C．It’s rich in plants and rainfall. | D．It owns a unique kind of vegetation. |
7 . There was a time when an event would not begin without a photographer. “I remember the days when event organizers would even delay a show if the photographer was running late,” says Balachandra Raju, a photographer of Sathyam Studio, a still surviving photo studio in India’s southern city of Chennai.
Photo studios are facing extinction in the digital age. But as they struggle to continue doing the business, one research project is looking at ways to preserve their legacy (遗产) by digitizing archival pictures.
The project, funded by the British Library, visited around 100 photo studios across the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu and digitized 10,000 prints. Many of the photos were taken between 1880 and 1980, and they ranged from pictures of families and famous stars to weddings and funerals. “The digital archive will be useful for those interested in history,” said Zoe E. Headley, one of the researchers. Ramesh Kumar, another researcher on the project, called it a “gold mine” for photographers. “The research we’ve done also highlights production techniques used before digital photography arrived in our cities and towns,” he said.
However, the researchers would often find old photos piled on top of one another in the storage room of a studio. “No one had bothered to clean them,” Kumar said, adding that many photos had been damaged due to the hot and wet weather in Tamil Nadu.
The owner of Nallapillai Studio in central Tamil Nadu said he spends about 20,000 rupees (￡230, $310) each month to run the studio that was founded by his great grandfather almost 150 years ago. To survive in this digital age has been a struggle. “Many customers don’t book us for special events anymore,” he said, adding that they have all got smartphones to do the job. “I’m not sure if photo studios will exist five years from now,” he said. But this is why, according to Mr Raju, this archival project is so important.
1. What’s the main purpose of the archival project?| A．To protect the legacy of photo studios. | B．To slow down the extinction of photo studios. |
| C．To search for better ways of taking photos. | D．To visit all the photo studios across the India. |
| A．Photo studios can attract many visitors. |
| B．Photographers can have a good working place. |
| C．Photographers get to learn about old photography techniques. |
| D．Photo studios have the chance to take pictures of famous stars. |
| A．They are operating quite well . | B．They gave old photos little protection. |
| C．Some were protected from hot and wet weather. | D．They were always booked for special events. |
| A．Creative. | B．Fruitless. | C．Meaningful. | D．Unsatisfactory. |
8 . What’s On?
Electric Underground
7:30 pm - 1:00 am Free at the Cyclops Theatre
Do you know who’s playing in your area? We’re bringing you an evening of live rock and pop music from the best local bands. Are you interested in becoming a musician and getting a recording contract (合同)? If so, come early to the talk at 7:30 pm by Jules Skye, a successful record producer. He’s going to talk about how you can find the right person to produce you music.
Gee Whizz
8:30 pm - 10:30 pm Comedy at Kaleidoscope
Come and see Gee Whizz perform. He’s the funniest stand-up comedian on the comedy scene. This joyful show will please everyone, from the youngest to the oldest. Gee Whizz really knows how to make you laugh! Our bar is open from 7:00 pm for drinks and snacks.
Simon’s Workshop
5:00 pm - 7:30 pm Wednesdays at Victoria Stage
This is a good chance for anyone who wants to learn how to do comedy. The workshop looks at every kind of comedy, and practices many different ways of making people laugh. Simon is a comedian and actor who has 10 years’ experience of teaching comedy. His workshops are exciting and fun. An evening with Simon will give you the confidence to be funny.
Charlotte Stone
8:00 pm - 11:00 pm Pizza World
Fine food with beautiful jazz music; this is a great evening out. Charlotte Stone will perform songs from her new best-selling CD, with James Pickering on the piano. The menu is Italian, with excellent meat and fresh fish, pizzas and pasta (面食). Book early to get a table. Our bar is open all day, and serves cocktails, coffee, beer, and white wine.
1. Who can help you if you want to have your music produced?| A．Jules Skye. | B．Gee Whizz. | C．Charlotte Stone. | D．James Pickering. |
| A．It requires membership status. | B．It lasts three hours each time. |
| C．It is run by a comedy club. | D．It is held every Wednesday. |
| A．The Cyclops Theatre. | B．Kaleidoscope. | C．Victoria Stage. | D．Pizza World. |
9 . Growing up in Mauritius, I love nature. Behind my house, there is a mountain named Le Pouce, where I spent much time
When I was about 10, this started to change. I began learning about the
Gradually, I realized how much humans
Diving plays a big part in my life now, and I work to
Protecting the ocean is very
| A．exploring | B．transforming | C．extending | D．constructing |
| A．shifted | B．appeared | C．stretched | D．stopped |
| A．destroyed | B．surrounded | C．covered | D．represented |
| A．scared | B．excited | C．addicted | D．disappointed |
| A．progress | B．threat | C．opportunity | D．image |
| A．avoiding | B．counting | C．highlighting | D．considering |
| A．then | B．yet | C．thus | D．moreover |
| A．lead | B．follow | C．recognize | D．prevent |
| A．efficiency | B．awareness | C．memory | D．confidence |
| A．paid back | B．adapted to | C．depended on | D．kept up |
| A．mood | B．imagination | C．hobby | D．experience |
| A．turn down | B．hold back | C．add up | D．contribute to |
| A．introduction | B．influence | C．advertisement | D．prediction |
| A．risky | B．impractical | C．shocking | D．crucial |
| A．join | B．respect | C．teach | D．guide |
10 . The innovation is part of research into brain-computer interfaces (接口) to help improve the lives of people with motor disabilities. The researchers included machine learning capabilities with their brain-computer interface, making it a one-size-fits-all solution.
Typically, these devices require extensive adjustment for each user- every brain is different, both for healthy and disabled users- and that has been a major hurdle to mainstream adoption. This new solution can quickly understand the needs of an individual subject and self-adjust through repetition. That means multiple patients could use the device without needing to tune it to the individual.
In a clinical setting, the subjects wear a cap packed with electrodes (电极) that is connected to a computer. The electrodes gather data by measuring electrical signals from the brain, and the decoder translates the brain signals into commands, which are used to control devices or applications. In this case, the decoded signals are translated into actions in a car racing game and a simpler task involving balancing a digital bar. Subjects were trained simultaneously for both the simpler bar game and the more complex car racing game, thus improving their brain function.
The researchers call this work foundational, in that it sets the stage for further brain-computer interface innovation. This project used 18 subjects with no motor disabilities. As they continue down this road, they will test this on people with motor disabilities to apply it to larger groups in clinical settings. “To achieve this, we need to improve our technology to make it easier to use,’ Millan. a professor in the University of Texas says.
On the side of translating the research, Millan and his team continue to work on a wheelchair that users can drive with the brain- computer interface. At the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals this month, the researchers showed off another potential use of the technology. controlling two rehabilitation (康复) robots for the hand and arm. This was not part of the new paper but a sign of where this technology could go in the future. “We’ll continue down this path wherever it takes us in the pursuit of helping people.” Millan says.
1. Who will benefit the most from the Brain-Computer Interface innovation?| A．People with physical disabilities. | B．Businessmen selling wheelchairs. |
| C．Students seeking academic improvement. | D．Athletes seeking performance enhancement. |
| A．Faster adjustment process. | B．Decreased need for tuning. |
| C．Improved mainstream adoption. | D．Quick understanding of commands. |
| A．Translating signals. | B．Measuring brain signals. |
| C．Controlling devices. | D．Enhancing brain function. |
| A．Exploring hand and arm rehabilitation. |
| B．Showcasing technology at conferences. |
| C．Translating and publishing research papers. |
| D．Enhancing brain- computer interface technology. |
