1 . Tasked with photographing one of the world’s most precious big cats, you go deep into the jungle of Southeast Asia and set up a camera trap. Back at base camp, you look through the images it captures, identifying monkeys, otters and finally, what you’ve been searching for: the mysterious clouded leopard.
All this, without having to leave the comfort of your own home. A new mobile game, Unseen Empire, turns one of the largest-ever wildlife camera trap studies into a playable experience. The idea is that by letting players take on the role of a researcher in a real scientific study, the game helps people to better understand wildlife conservation science.
Unseen Empire is based on an ongoing, decade-long camera trap study by professor David Macdonald and his team at the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit at the University of Oxford. The hope is that games can provide new ways for people to engage with endangered animals. “If you don’t have any encounter or experience with elements of nature, then what motivation can you have to take a personal interest in it?” says Macdonald. “I think that detail of understanding brings a greater investment in wanting to see a good outcome.”
The game uses real photographs from the study and allows players to identify species within this rapidly degrading (恶化, 降低) environment. “Of course, everyone loves attractive photography but there’s something just incredibly raw and real about capturing these animals’ entirely candid moments,” says Macdonald.
“I would like to think that engagement with this game will lead to a feeling of value, which will affect how they think about nature,” says Macdonald. “So, in that sense, we’d like to be part of a revolution on how people view the role of humanity, alongside the wider environment.”
1. What is the purpose of the first paragraph?| A．To introduce a camera trap. | B．To lead to the topic. |
| C．To advertise a mobile game. | D．To teach people how to take photos in the wild. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Disapproving. | C．Positive. | D．Uncaring. |
| A．The reason to use real photographs in the game. |
| B．The present situation of the natural environment. |
| C．The way of making the photos more appealing. |
| D．The source of the real photographs. |
| A．To help the public know more about the science of wildlife protection. |
| B．To offer new methods for developing links with endangered species. |
| C．To affect people’s attitude towards man and nature. |
| D．To raise funds from players for the research into wildlife. |
2 . It seems inspiration strikes when you least expect it. This is what happened to Abhiudai Mishra, a
The glass bottle broke into pieces on the floor. As Mishra swept up the glass, he
Mishra started brainstorming how glass could be
The student start-up built a name for itself and grew
| A．professor | B．volunteer | C．teacher | D．student |
| A．established | B．set | C．joined | D．signed |
| A．stirring up | B．showing up | C．cleaning up | D．picking up |
| A．reused | B．dropped | C．opened | D．misused |
| A．wondered | B．heard | C．added | D．asked |
| A．exploring | B．testing | C．thinking | D．researching |
| A．rescued | B．designed | C．prevented | D．packed |
| A．websites | B．ways | C．workers | D．chances |
| A．appreciate | B．remember | C．remind | D．feel |
| A．mastered | B．searched | C．memorized | D．noticed |
| A．unusual | B．positive | C．immediate | D．general |
| A．inspiration | B．package | C．product | D．service |
| A．officially | B．immediately | C．kindly | D．proudly |
| A．in power | B．in popularity | C．on average | D．in size |
| A．emergency | B．failure | C．accident | D．affair |
3 . In his 1936 work How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie wrote: “I have come to the conclusion that there is only one way to get the best of an argument — and that is to avoid it.” This distaste for arguments is common, but it depends on a mistaken view of arguments that causes problems for our personal and social lives — and in many ways misses the point of arguing in the first place.
Carnegie would be right if arguments were fights, which is how we often think of them. Like physical fights, verbal (言语的) fights can leave both sides bloodied. Even when you win, you end up no better off. You would be feeling almost as bad if arguments were even just competitions — like, say, tennis tournaments. Pairs of opponents hit the ball back and forth until one winner comes out from all who entered. Everybody else loses. This kind of thinking explains why so many people try to avoid arguments.
However, there are ways to win an argument every time. When you state your position, formulate (阐述) an argument for what you claim and honestly ask yourself whether your argument is any good. When you talk with someone who takes a stand, ask them to give you a reason for their view and spell out their argument fully. Assess its strength and weakness. Raise objections (异议) and listen carefully to their replies. This method will require effort, but practice will make you better at it.
These tools can help you win every argument — not in the unhelpful sense of beating your opponents but in the better sense of learning about what divides people, learning why they disagree with us and learning to talk and work together with them. If we readjust our view of arguments — from a verbal fight or tennis game to a reasoned exchange through which we all gain respect and understanding from each other — then we change the very nature of what it means to “win” an argument.
1. What is the author’s attitude toward Carnegie’s understanding of argument?| A．Critical. | B．Supportive. | C．Tolerant. | D．Uncertain. |
| A．They lack debating skills. | B．They may feel bad even if they win. |
| C．They fear being ignored. | D．They are not confident in themselves. |
| A．Defend. | B．Explain. | C．Conclude. | D．Repeat. |
| A．Sense of logic. | B．Solid supporting evidence. |
| C．Proper manners. | D．Understanding from both sides. |
4 . Walking in the city is very different from walking in the park. A small psychology study suggests urban(城市的) environments can slow your step and possibly increase your mental load. A walk through nature, on the other hand, appears to ease your mind and quicken your pace. The findings show that natural settings may potentially reduce cognitive (认知的)tiredness and improve reaction times straight away. The study, which includes two experiments with two different approaches, was conducted among 65 university students in the lab.
The first of the two experiments in the new study focused on people’s way of walking and cognitive load. During this trial, participants were fitted with sensors and a dozen motion control cameras were set up to watch them repeatedly walk down a 15-metre room at their natural speed. The wall opposite them showed an image of either a nature scene or a city scene. After each walk, participants were asked to rate their feelings of discomfort in the visual environment. On the whole, when walking in city settings, people reported more discomfort and they walked at a slower pace, indicating a higher cognitive load.
The second experiment dug into some of the higher-level cognitive processes that might be at play. In the trial, participants were asked to distinguish between basic visual shapes on the computer while also in the presence of a natural or urban image(the same ones from the first experiment). Measuring reaction times in both natural and urban settings, the team found results to support their idea. In urban environments, participants were slower in distinguishing between simple shapes. The authors think this is because urban environments are more distracting(令人分心的) for our brains and take longer to process, but more research is needed to prove that idea.
1. How were the experiments conducted mainly?| A．By comparing. | B．By giving data. |
| C．By giving examples. | D．By explaining facts. |
| A．It can make us feel relaxed and react quickly. | B．It can activate our thinking and speed up our step. |
| C．It can make us less tired and improve our memory. | D．It can make us become more focused and creative. |
| A．They had a lower cognitive load. | B．They had to slow down their pace. |
| C．They couldn’t concentrate properly. | D．They felt uncomfortable after walking. |
| A．Urban environment makes us more concentrated. | B．People’s feelings are decided by their pace of walking. |
| C．The result of the experiments is widely appreciated. | D．People tend to get tired more easily walking in the city. |
5 . Opening the pages of Liuba Draws Beijing takes you on a fascinating visual journey through the heart of China’s busy capital city. Within its lively watercolors, traditional hutong, the grand Summer Palace, and the contemporary charm of Beijing’s Sanlitun and 798Art District all come alive through the artistic lens of Liuba Vladimirova, more famously known as Liuba Draws.
Vladimirova’s journey from the icy Siberian city of Irkutsk to the vital Beijing started during her college years, when she commenced with an academic exchange program connecting her Russian university with Liaoning University in Shenyang, in Northeast China’s Liaoning Province. It was during this transformative period that she first set foot in Beijing. Since then, her affection for the city has been undeniable.
Vladimirova’s path as an artist was far from linear (直线的). Since childhood Vladimirova has developed a love for drawing and painting. However, she pursued a different academic and professional route, studying Chinese and international trade in college and later working in trade relations between Russia and China, none of which was directly connected to the world of art. Yet, Vladimirova’s inner artist remained alive.
In 2015, Vladimirova began crafting a series of illustrations centered around Beijing, properly named “The Beijing Calendar”. What attracts Vladimirova most is Beijing’s historic hutong. These narrow alleyways, rich in history and culture, serve as a wellspring (源泉) of inspiration for her artistry.
Vladimirova’s ability to catch these hidden small differences likely comes from her unique perspective as an “outsider”— someone who didn’t grow up in Beijing. This fresh perspective allowed her to arrive in the city with fresh eyes and an eager heart, ready to embrace a new culture.
1. What do the underlined words “commenced with” mean in paragraph 2?| A．Improved. | B．Began. | C．Resisted. | D．Assessed. |
| A．She gave up her dream. | B．She won many art prizes several years ago. |
| C．She was hardworking over her childhood. | D．She delayed her artistic career. |
| A．To praise Beijing’s architecture. | B．To show the inspiration of Vladimirova’s art making. |
| C．To state the main contents of an art book. | D．To advise tourists to visit Beijing. |
| A．Curiosity works wonders. | B．Hard work pays off in time. |
| C．The world is diverse and lively. | D．Painting has no national boundaries. |
6 . Recycling is a great way of doing your bit for the environment and helping to protect the earth’s precious resources. However, a new study has revealed that our desire to be sustainable maybe doing more harm than good. According to waste company Biffa, this is because of “wish-cycling” — assuming that items such as disposable coffee cup sand pizza boxes will be recycled if put in the recycling bin. In fact, pollution from those items or other non-recyclables can result in recyclable items that have been put in the correct bin going to landfill. David Heaton, a business director at Biffa, said: “Pollution happens when items are disposed of in the wrong bins or haven’t been cleaned before being recycled.”
Experts at Biffa analyzed the amounts of non-target and non-recyclable materials that entered UK material recycling facilities between 2016 and 2020. It was found that, in 2016, the average pollution rate of recycling waste was 13.4 percent, rising over four years to 17 percent by the end of 2020. This shows that, even as people are becoming more eco-conscious, wish-cycling is increasing both in households and businesses.
The Biffa experts say that one of the best ways to prevent pollution of recycling is to clean recyclable waste before putting it in the bin. They suggest cutting off the top of old pizza boxes and only recycling that part to avoid pollution from the grease (油脂). Check the on-packaging recycling label to check it can actually be recycled When it comes to plastics, Biffa recommends checking the resin code, the number in the plastic triangle, to know whether it should go in the recycling bin. In general, resin codes 1, 2, 4 and 5 are recyclable, while 3, 6 and 7 are not. Larger items, like electronics, furniture and batteries, can also be recycled but often can not go in household recycling bins as they need specialist separating. These will need to be taken to recycling centers or sustainable waste management companies.
“It’s vital as a nation that we get better at effective ‘pre-cycling’— sorting waste correctly before collection to reduce pollution rates,” added Mr. Heaton.
1. What’s the truth of “wish-cycling” according to the first paragraph?| A．The desire to lead a sustainable life. |
| B．The good intention to help recycling. |
| C．The habit of throwing items that end up in landfills. |
| D．The practice of recycling items that can not be recycled. |
| A．People are becoming more eco-conscious. |
| B．Wish-cycling is on the rise in recent years. |
| C．Pollution happens less frequently in recycling facilities. |
| D．People are used to cleaning recyclable waste before putting it in the bin. |
| A．Dispose of electronics together with household waste. |
| B．Skip the step of checking the on-packaging recycling label. |
| C．Check the resin code of plastics to see whether it is recyclable or not. |
| D．Cutoff the top of old pizza box and throw the rest to the recycling bin. |
| A．Recycling: a Big Project | B．Wish-cycling: a New Trend |
| C．Wish-cycling: a Growing Concern | D．Pre-cycling: an Effective Method |
7 . “The Manuscript Writing Cafe only allows in people who have a writing deadline to face!” owner Takuya Kawai tweeted. “It’s in order to maintain a level of focus and tense atmosphere at the cafe! Thank you for your understanding.”
The cafe, which only opened a few days ago, charges customers by time used, and is equipped with USB ports, computer stands, and free Wi-Fi. Struggling writers can also bring their own food and drinks, or have it delivered there since coffee and water are the only things that they can get, but it’s pretty strict when it comes to the actual writing.
When entering the cafe, customers must write down at the reception desk(前台) how many words they plan to write and by what time they plan to finish. Every hour, a member of the staff will come by to check on their progress and apply a predetermined pressure level to help move things along.
For example, choosing the “S” level will have the cafe staff pushing you to get the work done more often, while the “M” level includes a more mild way.
However, the craziest rule of the Manuscript Writing Cafe is that writers are not allowed to end their work until reaching their goal or until the place closes down for the day, whichever comes first. It’s not clear how the cafe carries out this rule, but it is meant to keep customers from announcing high targets that they won’t be able to meet.
While some found it interesting, others said that it was too much pressure. “If it were me, I would no longer be able to leave the store and would end up having to live there,” one person said.
1. Which word can best describe the Cafe?| A．Relaxing. | B．Frightening. | C．Unique. | D．Traditional. |
| A．Tom, who is interested in reading some proofs of documents. |
| B．Jenny, whose job is to writing advertising materials. |
| C．Peter, who interprets messages from one language to another. |
| D．Mary, who is used to writing her novels without pressure. |
| A．To present a fact. | B．To make a comparison. |
| C．To identify a concept. | D．To explain a rule. |
| A．Many writers have the problem of finishing writing in time. |
| B．Writers cannot leave the cafe unless they finish writing. |
| C．The rules may be useful for effective writing. |
| D．Food and drinks are not allowed in the cafe. |
8 . Some of the recent scientific studies have found that people who receive higher education live longer than those who do not. According to a new study, reading books extends lifespan (寿命) by up to two years, and the more often you read, the better.
Back in 1975, economists concluded that longer lifespan is linked to the wealth of a person, and that wealth itself increases lifespan. It seemed self-evident: everything people need to be healthy from food to medical care costs money. But soon it was realized that the data didn’t always fit that theory. Economic success didn’t always mean longer lives. In the 1980s, researchers found gaining higher education is connected with a greater increase in lifespan than gains in wealth.
One fact is of teachers and college professors: they live longer than the rest of the population. The reason is that they take part in research most of their lives for teaching or publishing, which increases their lifespan and most importantly also retards their aging process.
Let’s look at what benefits educated people. Educated people get routinely involved in social networks; they get access to information because of their ability to understand information. They can easily make use of the health care system; they have more social support.
Reading helps us understand how other people think and feel. Reading improves our emotional intelligence. This understanding can improve the quality of a person’s life as it would allow the person to act with better judgment and have more insight into the feelings and thought patterns of others. Research has shown that reading changes certain areas of the brain and causes certain other parts to be active. This effect can also be observed in adults who learn to read much later in life. Learning has no age limit. Each and every human is born with the right to be educated. So, don’t hold back your urge to learn. The goal of education is to improve intelligence as well as the lifespan.
1. What conclusion did economists in 1975 draw?| A．People need high-quality food to keep healthy. | B．Medical care costs more money than food. |
| C．Most old people have the habit of reading. | D．Wealthy people tend to live longer. |
| A．Health has nothing to do with wealth. |
| B．Education does affect people’s lifespan. |
| C．Economic success always belongs to professors. |
| D．Children from poor families can rarely gain higher education. |
| A．Speeds up. | B．Turns back. | C．Slows down. | D．Contributes to. |
| A．It can help people understand humans’ brain better. |
| B．It is beneficial to people’s EQ and brain health. |
| C．It can change a person’s lifestyle completely. |
| D．It is effective against cancer. |
9 . Memo
To: All Staff
From: Jakie Mok, Secretary; Sports Development Committee
Date: May 20, 2022
A week ago, “Sports for Life” programme was sent to the parents, requiring them to select a sport they wanted their child to play. Since then, our staff have received lots of calls from parents asking for more information about it. Here is a memo for your reference when you answer the phones.
Sports 1:Basketball.
We expect that this will be the most popular of the four sports. Therefore, students should be advised to sign up as soon as possible. Students will take a private bus to and from Kwun Tong Sports Park. To cover the cost of hiring a bus, each student will have to pay $10 each time. There will be four basketball courts available for our use with one teacher watching over each game.
Sports 2:Gym
We will be using St. Peter’s Memorial Park. There are two reasons for choosing this park. Frist, it is not very busy and crowded before 6:00 pm. Second, it has lot of trees with plenty of shade. Students must bring along two bottles of water to prevent thirst. Three activities, skipping, jogging, outdoor aerobics, all of which are free of charge, will be arranged. And there will be a teacher on duty for each of the activities.
Sports 3:Hiking
Hiking will take place at Kowloon Peak. The activity will start at 2:30 pm and finish 90 minutes later. Three teachers will accompany the students, and a hiking instructor will accompany each group of 15 hikers. Each instructor will cost $75/hr. Students are advised to bring plenty of water and sunscreen.
Sports 4: Swimming
The Kowloon City Aquatic Centre is a 10-minute walk from our school. Four teachers will go to the pool and conduct the goings-on from the poolside. We will only be able to reserve the pool for one hour (i.e. 2:45pm to 3:45pm). Only students skillful at swimming can take up this activity. The pool will have two lifeguards present. Girls must wear a swimming suit. The cost is $10 per visit.
1. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?| A．Students selecting basketball had better register early. |
| B．Students participating in gym should arrive at 6:00 pm. |
| C．Hiking usually begins at 2:30 pm and lasts 2 hours. |
| D．Students having swimming suits can take up swimming. |
| A．Students taking part in basketball will walk to the courts. |
| B．Every student can gain admission to one of the four sports. |
| C．Hiking students can have a regular rest in the shade of trees. |
| D．Students taking up the four sports should bring bottles of water. |
| A．To attract students’ interest in the programme. |
| B．To require the parents to select a sport for their child. |
| C．To help the staff explain the programme to the parents. |
| D．To remind teachers and lifeguards to be present on time. |
10 . It can be tough to pull kids away from their computers and mobile phones these days. While they’re playing games, wouldn’t it be great if they could be learning at the same time? Good educational apps offer fun challenges that teach specific grade-level skills. Here are four that combine fun and learning.
Understanding Math ($ 3. 99;iOS)
Understanding Math goes beyond basic comprehension to gain a deeper understanding of the whys and hows of math. The app tracks your child’s progress to determine strengths and weaknesses in different skill areas, and you can customize(订制)your child’s learning experience to suit the needs.
Word Creativity Kiti ($2. 99;iOS)
Word Creativity Kit aims not only to make creative writing fun but also build up grammar rules. The app presents a series of words from seven categories, such as space or fantasy. Kids add their own words to finish the complete thoughts that these words have inspired.
Barefoot World Atlas1($ 4. 99;iOS)
Barefoot World Atlas helps kids learn about geography and world cultures with a touch of the screen. Each region features a set of sub-topics, from wildlife and natural features to native people, landmarks, and architecture. These facts and illustrations are delivered in photographs, sounds, and hundreds of mini videos.
My Grades & Homeworki ($0. 99;iOS)
A combination of grades and homework tracker My Grades& Homework can help your child stay organized and on top of the progress in school. A convenient calendar and course list format and offer a glance at your child’s assignment schedule that he or she might not normally get from standard homework planners.
1. Which app is helpful to improve children’s writing skills?| A．Understanding Math. | B．Word Creativity Kit. |
| C．Barefoot World Atlas. | D．My Grades & Homework. |
| A．They help children find jobs. |
| B．They make studies fun for mini videos. |
| C．They need buying when they are used. |
| D．They inform parents of their children’s progress. |
| A．parents | B．engineers | C．friends | D．doctors |
