1 . Have you ever imagined an insect-inspired robot, which weighs less than a gram, could one day help out in surgery (外科手术)?
Scientists have designed this small, “insect-bot” called mCLARI that can control and even change its body shape as it travels in different environments to fit through gaps. It’s 2 centimeters long, weighs less than 0.97 grams and can travel at a speed of 6 centimeters per second.It’s the smaller, faster replacement to CLARI, which was designed by the same team.
“Because of the robot’s small size and ability to change shape, we expect usage of this technology in four important areas,” the lead author Kaushik Jayaram said. These include disaster (灾害) response , check on high-value objects, environmental monitoring and medical treatment.
“In the long term, we hope such robots will be used more widely in moving through human bodies and performing surgeries that can’t be easily done at present,” Jayaram said. With mCLARI, Jayaram’s team is moving closer to creating robots that can fit in different environments—just like the insects they’re inspired by.
The mCLARI robot has four legs and can move in narrow spaces by changing between running forward and side-to-side and can use different speeds in human bodies. Its legs are joined to its body through joints (关节), which enables mCLARI to change its body shape based on the environment it is in. For example, its legs can be lengthened up to 50% in certain spaces.
As follow-up work, the scientists want to give mCLARI more power and sensing ability while helping the surgeries. “We are also excited about understanding the effect of shape change on improving functions of robots,” Jayaram said. “And this is sure a great one-step forward of the technology. The robot will have entered the market by 2025 and will bring greater benefits to mankind, especially in medical treatment.”
1. What is paragraph 3 mainly about?| A．Possible application fields of the robot. | B．Different types of the robot. |
| C．Several important features of the robot. | D．Working process of the robot. |
| A．Valuable but uncontrollable. | B．Modern but high-cost. |
| C．Heavy and time-consuming. | D．Advanced and effective. |
| A．Worried. | B．Positive. | C．Doubtful. | D．Uninterested. |
| A．Jayaram: A Scientist Studying Robot Intelligence |
| B．mCLARI Is Already Widely Available in the Market |
| C．CLARI: A Robot Invented by Inspiration from the Insects |
| D．A Tiny Shape-changing Robot Will Help Perform Surgeries |
2 . A new study, led by Dr. Rebecca Stone, has shown that children as young as four years old eat 79% more calories when they are bored, compared to when they are in a normal mood (情绪) .
The researchers have explored the behaviors that make children more likely to eat when they experience negative emotions. Often when children experience bad emotions such as boredom or sadness, caring adults will use food to soothe them. However, this behavior, known as emotional feeding, appears to increase the possibility of children eating more when they are in low spirits. As time passes, too many calories intake will have a significant effect on children’s health both mentally and physically.
Dr. Stone stresses that the experience of boredom is important in the development of children’s sense of self and creativity, so she does not recommend that children should avoid being bored. Instead, she suggests children learn to experience boredom without turning to food. She also suggests that parents turn their children’s attention away from food when they feel bored, or restructure the home food environment to make it less likely that children turn to food in response to being bored.
While there do appear to be individual differences between children in terms of their eating when bored, it is helpful to know that the feeding practices that adults use around food might shape the likelihood of this happening. Although it is attractive to use food as a tool to help children, emotional feeding might lead to greater emotional eating in the future. It is important for parents and caregivers to be aware that this short-term fix could create future problems.
It is hoped that, on the original basis of the study, the team will deeply explore other negative mood states in children and offer advice and support for families to find more effective ways to manage challenges around children eating behavior.
1. What does the research focus on?| A．How children form good living habits. | B．How children face challenges in life. |
| C．How boredom impacts on children eating. | D．How parents bring up their children. |
| A．Ignore. | B．Comfort. | C．Excuse. | D．Control. |
| A．It makes children lose weight quickly. |
| B．It creates a new home food environment. |
| C．It cannot keep children trusting their parents. |
| D．It may not help handle bad moods in the long run. |
| A．Expectations for further studies. |
| B．The importance of going on a diet. |
| C．The necessity of managing moods. |
| D．Ways to strengthen family relationship. |
3 . It all began on a cold, rainy day．
Sarah, a poor single mother, was
Sarah
A man, who saw the heartwarming
Reflecting on this unbelievable journey, we can
| A．helping | B．continuing | C．struggling | D．seeking |
| A．left behind | B．came across | C．looked for | D．turned to |
| A．clean | B．cheap | C．fancy | D．thin |
| A．followed | B．approached | C．respected | D．caught |
| A．complaining | B．staring | C．suffering | D．surviving |
| A．Attracted | B．Confused | C．Moved | D．Shocked |
| A．connection | B．appreciation | C．duty | D．kindness |
| A．exchange | B．invitation | C．option | D．performance |
| A．story | B．symbol | C．chance | D．hit |
| A．generosity | B．courage | C．curiosity | D．patience |
| A．change | B．support | C．direct | D．educate |
| A．creativity | B．strength | C．significance | D．description |
| A．quick | B．main | C．different | D．extra |
| A．recognize | B．expect | C．remember | D．admit |
| A．regularly | B．obviously | C．eventually | D．slightly |
4 . Thousands of books are published daily, and book advertisements play a crucial role in increasing awareness about those books. But it’s too easy to be tricked into bad “advertising opportunities” and make the wrong decisions. Here are several forms of digital advertising proven to work well.
Facebook advertising: Facebook provides the perfect advertising platform for authors because it allows targeting very specific categories of people. The other advantage is that it’s easy to test. You can start with a budget as low as $5 and gradually increase your monetary (货币的) commitment if your return on investment is positive.
Amazon advertising: Amazon allows you to show ads about your book directly on other book pages and search result pages. Since their main US rollout in 2017, they’ve become the most effective advertising place for authors.
Bookbub advertising: Bookbub rolled out a self-serve ad platform in 2016, which they’ve greatly improved since. It’s a less competitive playing field than Facebook or Amazon, but it does have its features.
Discount/promotion advertising: If you’re running a discount or free promotion on one of your books, you can apply to have it advertised in the newsletters of platforms such as Freebooksy, Bargainbooksy, etc.
Other types of advertising include search advertising, Goodreads advertising, banner ads on websites, etc. These haven’t produced the same effective results for most authors yet, but they could be just as effective (or more) if you write in a certain field.
1. What is special about the Facebook advertising?| A．It is easy for authors to access. |
| B．It aims at saving money for readers. |
| C．It allows adjusting investment by profit. |
| D．It includes different categories of information. |
| A．Facebook. | B．Amazon. | C．Bookbub. | D．Freebooksy. |
| A．To get readers to buy more books. |
| B．To raise people’s reading awareness. |
| C．To offer authors advertising platforms. |
| D．To help publishers communicate with readers. |
5 . As we all know, swimming is great fun. But it often comes with
Griffin Emerson, a 6-year-old child, swam in an apartment block’s pool. He enjoyed the pool’s
All that came about as no one else, including his mother, seemed to
However, one young man, Noah, did find Griffin in the pool. He told his friend Weston to call 911 at once. And Noah
Noah made it to Griffin, caught him and
Griffin’s mother was
| A．difference | B．attention | C．danger | D．limitation |
| A．curious | B．ordinary | C．relaxed | D．experienced |
| A．prevent | B．identify | C．watch | D．suffer |
| A．quiet | B．common | C．shallow | D．separate |
| A．run | B．move | C．jump | D．climb |
| A．recognize | B．notice | C．consider | D．persuade |
| A．struggle | B．complaint | C．speed | D．escape |
| A．side | B．center | C．bottom | D．corner |
| A．hurried | B．regretted | C．continued | D．waited |
| A．catch up with | B．keep track of | C．drive away | D．check on |
| A．tied | B．directed | C．dropped | D．pulled |
| A．recall | B．describe | C．perform | D．explain |
| A．Sadly | B．Luckily | C．Obviously | D．Surprisingly |
| A．familiar | B．patient | C．generous | D．grateful |
| A．paid forward | B．brought in | C．taken over | D．looked into |
6 . Mathea Allansmith isn’t your typical grandmother. She’s the oldest woman in the world to have completed a marathon. She was 92 years 194 days old when she crossed the finish line at the 2022 Honolulu Marathon, setting the record for the oldest female to complete a marathon.
Mathea, now 94, of Koloa, Hawaii, USA, stays in shape all year round by running seven days a week, no matter what the weather is. Come rain or shine, she covers 36 miles every week, even when she’s on holiday. The retired doctor didn’t take up running until she was 46 years old —after a friend suggested running two miles per day.
“The Honolulu Marathon is my favorite marathon mainly because it doesn’t close the gate at a certain time, which allows even the slowest runner to finish the race,” she said. “It’s one of the best races. Fantastic registration (注册), set-up and management make it a joy to run the race.”
Mathea, who doesn’t allow her age to slow her down, thinks she is the happiest person when she’s on the road. She enjoys running for miles and waving and saying hello to the people she passes. To stay in shape, Mathea keeps a steady training routine (惯例) . “I train all year round but increase the mileage 18 weeks before a marathon,” she said.
Mathea said it was her career as a doctor that allowed her to understand how her body and mind respond to diet and exercise. “I see the direct relation between moving and health,” she said. “It is important to reduce stress rather than ignoring it without a plan on how to do so. Of course, exercise of any kind is a natural stress reducer.”
Mathea thought getting through the finish line and winning a Guinness World Record title was the excitement of her life. “My family completely surprised me after the 2022 Honolulu Marathon, in which I achieved the world record, by wearing matching T-shirts stating my achievements,” she said.
1. What do we know about Mathea from the first two paragraphs?| A．She used to be in poor health． |
| B．She is the oldest to win a marathon． |
| C．She runs daily regardless of the weather． |
| D．She was encouraged by her patient to run． |
| A．It gives winners the best awards． |
| B．It provides runners with quality service．． |
| C．It has no time limit for runners to finish． |
| D．It allows runners to set a world record easily． |
| A．Her professional experience． | B．Her training courses． |
| C．Her views on stress in life． | D．Her hobby from young． |
| A．Practice makes perfect． |
| B．Interest is the best teacher． |
| C．Age is no barrier to success． |
| D．Ups and downs make one strong． |
7 . UC Berkeley Youth Summer Camps
UC Berkeley Youth Summer Camps will provide a wide variety of one-week outdoor experiences and activities for young people on summer camps 2024. Here are four best summer camps.
Afternoon Adventures CampAfternoon Adventures Camp offers many adventurous activities around the Berkeley Marina. Campers must be aged 8-10 to sign up. They will explore the ocean plants and join in other activities such as doing outdoor exploration, playing outdoor group games and going skateboarding. This camp provides an opportunity for younger campers to develop lasting friendship through outdoor games.
Blue CampBlue Camp grew from the idea that all children need opportunities to take part in regular physical activities to support their mental health. This camp for children aged 7-12 includes art trainings, swimming lessons, free play and group games to create a fun and well-rounded camp experience. The camp is made up of three age groups to ensure safety.
Eco(生态)Adventures CampEco Adventures Camp allows campers to have the chance to explore various environments around Berkeley. Campers will practice observing through their senses and record their findings while they use scientific methods to explore various creatures of the Bay Area.
Discovery CampDiscovery Camp is designed specifically with the 10-12 year-old in mind, with challenging new ways to explore the Bay Area. Activities may include hikes(徒步旅行)to regional waterfalls, cycling to a beach picnic lunch and rock climbing. The full day course covers a series of regional adventures, often with several stops in a day. All campers can enjoy the bus service to and from the campsites.
1. What can a camper do in Afternoon Adventures Camp?| A．Play indoor group games. |
| B．Watch the nearby waterfalls. |
| C．Keep records of unique animals. |
| D．Participate in skateboarding activities. |
| A．Afternoon Adventures Camp. | B．Blue Camp. |
| C．Eco Adventures Camp. | D．Discovery Camp. |
| A．Campers can enjoy free beach lunch. |
| B．Campers are offered public transportation. |
| C．Campers can observe various sea creatures. |
| D．Campers are divided into different age groups. |
8 . It’s clear that following a plant-based diet is connected with a lower risk of heart disease. There are many types of plant-based diets, and they are all related to certain foods connected with heart benefits, such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and healthy oils. The diets have been most studied for their impact on heart health. These diets are rich in vitamins and minerals that help lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of diabetes (糖尿病) and keep a healthy weight, all of which can lower your risk of heart disease.
Yet, the types of plant foods and their sources are also important. For example, white rice and white bread are plant-based foods, so you would think they’re good to eat. But they are highly processed, and so are depleted of many heart-healthy nutrients (营养) and have enough sugar, which means they can make blood sugar levels rise sharply and increase hunger, leading to overeating. Drinking 100% fruit juice is not the same as eating the whole fruit, since juices can be high in sugar.
Do you really have to cut out all meat for your heart’s health? Which animal foods could have an impact on heart health? Some research has shown that the type and amount matter most. A 2014 study showed that men aged 45 to 79 who ate 75 grams or more per day of processed red meat, like cold cuts, sausage, bacon and hot dogs, had a 28% higher risk of heart failure than those who ate less than 25 grams. However, a study in the January 2017 found that eating 85 grams of unprocessed red meat, three times per week, did not worsen blood pressure.
What is the right plant-based diet for you? “For many men, this may be a matter of bettering their current foods,” says Dr. Satija, a researcher from American College of Cardiology.
1. From the first two paragraphs, we know that plant-based diets ________.| A．benefit heart health | B．increase hunger | C．lead to overweight | D．contain enough sugar |
| A．Added to. | B．Short of. | C．Filled with. | D．Rooted in. |
| A．To prove the result believable. | B．To attract readers’ attention. |
| C．To show the process clearly. | D．To make the study popular. |
| A．Risks of animal foods. | B．Disadvantages of plant-based diets. |
| C．Changes of eating habits. | D．Effects of heart-healthy diets. |
9 . While screen time is known to affect sleep, new research suggests that interactive (互动的) activities, such as texting friends or playing video games, put off and reduce the time spent asleep to a greater degree than passive (被动的) screen time like watching television, especially for teens.
The team studied the daytime screen-based activities of 475 teenagers using daily surveys. They asked the teens how many hours they had spent that day communicating with friends through social media and how many hours they spent playing video games, surfing the internet and watching television or videos. Finally, the researchers asked if they had joined in any of these activities in the hour before bed.
Next, the team measured their sleep time for one week. The researchers found that the teens spent an average of two hours per day communicating with friends via social media, about 1.3 hours playing video games, less than an hour surfing the internet and about 1.7 hours watching television or videos. For every hour throughout the day that they used screens to communicate with friends, they fell asleep about 11 minutes later averagely. For every hour to play video games, they fell asleep about 9 minutes later. Those who talked, texted or played games in the hour before bed lost the most sleep: about 30 minutes later.
Interestingly, David, lead author of the study, said the team found no obvious relations between passive screen-based activities and sleep. “It could be that passive activities are less mentally exciting than interactive activities,” said Anne, co-author of the study. “It’s a tricky situation,” she said. “These screen tools are really important to everyone nowadays, so it’s hard to put a limit on them, but if you’re really looking out for a teenager’s health and well-being, you might consider limiting the more interactive activities, especially in the hour before bed.”
1. Which of the following belongs to interactive screen activities?| A．Seeing movies. | B．Watching videos. |
| C．Texting friends. | D．Surfing the internet. |
| A．Lucy who watched a three-hour movie before going to bed. |
| B．Jack who had a 30-minute video chat with his brother before bed. |
| C．Sam who played computer games for two hours throughout the day. |
| D．Amy who chatted with her friends on WeChat for one hour in the morning. |
| A．Frightening. | B．Awkward. | C．Hopeless. | D．Encouraging. |
| A．Screen time activities cut down our sleep hours |
| B．Interactive screen use reduces sleep time in teenagers |
| C．Passive screen use is better than interactive screen use |
| D．Parents should prevent children from using social media |
10 . A few days before New Year 1944, Patricia Krueger received a telegram from the U. S. Army. She hoped it would contain a belated birthday greeting from her husband, an army flight engineer, Charles Krueger, whom she had not heard from for 2 weeks. Instead, the message said he wasn’t coming home: His B-29 had been lost and he was later declared MIA (missing in action). Their son, John Krueger from Middleton, Wisconsin, is still in tears when he recounts this story.
Decades later, the military continues to work to bring back the remains of soldiers like Charles Krueger. The job of finding them falls to DPAA (Defense POW/ MIA Accounting Agency), created in 2015 after critics charged that the previous MIA search process was slow, and behind on innovations in science and technology. Between 1973 and 2014, the remains of only 1,849 missing service member s were returned to their families; in 2021, the agency accounted for the remains of 141 MIAs; according to DPAA figures.
To accelerate the work, Congress gave DPAA the authority to develop public-private partnerships with scientists and groups outside the government. “Teaming up with academic scientists introduces new ways of thinking,” says military historian Michael Dolski. “Working with partners allows us to tap into their technologies and capabilities in ways that we just can’t maintain.”
For scientists, the work is more than technically satisfying. “It’s the most rewarding aspect of my career,” says Mires, a scientist working with the agency. “In other archaeology sites I’ve worked on, the history is remote,” he says. “Here, you’re doing something not for a thing, but for a person, and all the people they touched.”
1. What was the telegram about in paragraph 1?| A．A New Year dinner. | B．Krueger’s disappearance. |
| C．A birthday greeting. | D．John Krueger’s memory. |
| A．Because DPAA wants to continue the search. |
| B．Because it took long and lacked creativeness. |
| C．Because the work was stopped by the military. |
| D．Because 141 MIAs’ remains were found in 2021. |
| A．Patient. | B．Critical. | C．Doubtful. | D．Approving. |
| A．A long search for MIAs. | B．Achievements of DPAA. |
| C．Assistance from science. | D．Consequences of wars. |
