1 . I vividly remember the day when my husband and I set off on a new journey to Tanzania. He had been
As we got off the train, however, at six in the morning, a lady came rushing along the
I washed, changed, had a quick bite to eat and was
Though my entry into this
| A．awarded | B．offered | C．allowed | D．presented |
| A．disappointed | B．dissatisfied | C．unconcerned | D．uneasy |
| A．priority | B．worry | C．action | D．response |
| A．river | B．platform | C．sidewalk | D．channel |
| A．probably | B．suddenly | C．desperately | D．occasionally |
| A．longed for | B．waited for | C．heard about | D．worried about |
| A．remark | B．interruption | C．suggestion | D．request |
| A．keep | B．take | C．forget | D．quit |
| A．introduced | B．recommended | C．assigned | D．compared |
| A．colleagues | B．assistants | C．students | D．interviewers |
| A．exactly | B．finally | C．immediately | D．smoothly |
| A．expected | B．regretted | C．delayed | D．dropped |
| A．career | B．country | C．agreement | D．relationship |
| A．value | B．strengthen | C．renew | D．harvest |
| A．comment | B．record | C．impact | D．impression |
2 . You are what you think. Whatever you are doing right now is determined by your thinking. All your emotions and desires are influenced by your thinking. The problem is that when you are not aware of your thinking, you have no chance of correcting it if it is poor. When thinking is subconscious, you are in no position to see any problems in it. And, if you don’t see any problems in it, you won’t be motivated to change it. What’s worse, few people realize the powerful role that thinking plays in their lives, so they don’t gain significant command of it. As a result, most people are in many ways victims of their thinking.
Consider your success as a student. The single most significant variable in determining your success as a student is the quality of your thinking. Your instructors will play a role in your learning, but even the best teachers cannot get into your head and learn for you. If you lack the intellectual skills necessary for thinking well through course content, you will not be successful in school.
Here is the key question we are putting to you in this book. If the quality of a person’s thinking is the single most significant determinant of both happiness and success, why not take the time to learn from the best thinkers?
This book will inform you of the tools that the best thinkers use and will illustrate the activities and practice you can use to begin to emulate them, and take control of your destiny as a thinker. Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of these thinking aids, helping you discover the power of your own mind and of your potential to think systematically about your thinking.
This book, as a whole, introduces you to the tools of mind that will help you reason well through various challenges you face. If you take these ideas seriously and practice using them, you can improve the quality of your thinking and ultimately, the quality of your life.
1. Why do many people lack motivation to change their poor thinking?| A．They are victims of emotions. | B．They are unaware of the need. |
| C．They think highly of themselves. | D．They lack the academic guidance. |
| A．The course content. | B．The school environment. |
| C．The commitment of teachers. | D．The quality of an individual’s thinking. |
| A．Make friends with. | B．Win over. | C．Follow the example of. | D．Look up to. |
| A．types of life challenges | B．varieties of thinking tools |
| C．determinants of life value | D．ideas of different thinkers |
3 . Human history is full of horse stories like guiding cowboys home on foggy nights and taking wounded soldiers through battle zones. Such sensible and highly trained horses made Elina Jatel, a computer scientist and roboticist, think of robots. “A horse that can take a rider home on its own would be the highest level of autonomy,” Jatel says. “You trust them with your life.” She was drawn to learning how such relationships form and if it could help improve human-robot interactions.
For a year, Jatel engaged herself in the horse world. She watched classes in horse training, and she also talked with students, instructors, trainers and horse owners. Along the way, Jatel even learned to ride.
Horses learn signals from their trainers on how to comfortably interact with people. People, too, must learn their part. Riders must learn what a horse wants or feels based on its behavior, and what signals to use to direct horses to perform in desired ways. Jatel found some similarities, here, to working with robots. People must learn how to direct robots to do specific tasks. They also must learn what to do when robots don’t perform as planned. The goal is to program robots that will respond predictably to inputs from people. But like horses, autonomous robots also should be able to respond on their own as conditions change. For example, a self-driving car must stop to avoid hitting something, even if some human mistakenly tells it to keep going.
Trainers and riders work with horses to build respect. Horses show that respect by matching their pace to a human or giving someone who is leading them a safe degree of personal space. Trainers begin their work with a horse by getting them to show signs of respect in basic interactions, Jatel says. Later, trainers will develop more complex interactions. Gradually, a horse’s respect can grow into trust.
But that trust is not given. And there may be a similar limitation with robots. What would it mean for robots and people to respect and trust each other? For now, she adds, this is largely uncharted territory. But she’s looking to build a path.
1. What drew Elina Jatel’s attention to horses?| A．Horses’ amazing performance. | B．Long history of horse training. |
| C．Horse-human interdependence. | D．Her horse-riding experience. |
| A．To act like real horses. | B．To show respect to humans. |
| C．To follow instructions from humans. | D．To make independent and sensible decisions. |
| A．The limitations of robots. | B．Trust between robots and humans. |
| C．Path toward higher robot efficiency. | D．Similarities between horses and robots. |
| A．History of Human-Horse Relationship | B．Secrets of Human-Animal Interactions |
| C．The Role of Trust in Human-Robot Partnerships | D．Horses as the Inspiration for Autonomous Robots |
4 . Some beaches are perfect for relaxing, while others offer activities like hiking and water sports. Visit these beautiful beaches for an unforgettable vacation.
Cannon Beach
If your perfect beach vacation spot features postcard-worthy scenery and peace, look no further than Cannon Beach. In this Pacific Northwest town, you can even build a fire on the beach to relax beside while watching the sun set. When you need a break from the beach, grab a bike and head downtown to explore its art galleries, shops and restaurants.
Horseshoe Bay Beach
For a one-of-a-kind beach experience, head to Horseshoe Bay Beach on Bermuda’s South Shore. Known for its pink sand, this beach is a popular destination for families looking to play in the calm blue-green waters and build blush-colored sandcastles. Adventure seekers can also take part in the self-guided island bicycle tour or engage in exciting water sports.
Mohegan Bluffs
This beach is famous for its natural beauty. Upon arrival, pause to admire your surroundings and learn about its ties to the native people, their ancient traditions, and connection to the land, adding depth to your beach experience. Then, take the 141 steps down to the sand to sunbathe. After that, climb back up to visit the Southeast Light for an up-close view of its 18th-century lighthouse.
South Beach
This tropical district on Florida’s Atlantic Coast is world-renowned for its powdery white sand. Although technically part of the Miami Beach area, South Beach stands out due to its Art Deco architecture seen in everything from the beachfront lifeguard towers to the high-rise buildings along the famed Ocean Drive.
1. What similarity do Cannon Beach and Horseshoe Bay Beach share?| A．The chance to cycle around. | B．Their lively artistic scene. |
| C．The unique water sports. | D．Their distinctive sand color. |
| A．Those seeking water sports. | B．Fans of modern lighthouses. |
| C．Those interested in local culture. | D．Enthusiasts of mountain climbing. |
| A．Its beach sand. | B．Its architectural style. |
| C．Its ocean drive. | D．Its high-rise buildings. |
5 . Brian Peterson had just moved to Santa Ana, California. Outside his apartment, a homeless man was often yelling on the street corner, sometimes keeping him awake at night. Peterson, 28, would pass the guy on his way to his job as a car designer, but they never spoke. What could they possibly have in common?
One day, Peterson was relaxing at home, reading the book Love Does, when his quiet was disturbed by the homeless man. Inspired by the book’s sympathetic message, Peterson made an unexpected decision: to go outside and introduce himself.
Peterson learned that the man’s name was Matt Faris. He’d moved to Southern California from Kentucky to pursue a career in music, but fell on hard times and ended up living on the street for more than a decade. Even though Peterson, a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Art, hadn’t picked up a paint brush in about eight years, he found himself asking if he could paint Faris’ portrait. Faris said yes. “I saw beauty on the face of a man who hadn’t shaved in probably a year, had overgrown finger-nails and probably hadn’t had a shower in close to a year. But his story, the life inside of him, inspired me.” Peterson recalled later.
Peterson’s connection with Faris led to Faces of Santa Ana: a nonprofit organization that befriends and paints portraits of unhoused community members. Using a black-and-white photo taken with his phone, Peterson selects colors based on the subject’s personality and life story, creating powerful portraits.
Peterson sells the 30-by-40-inch canvas — signed by both subject and artist — for a few thousand dollars. Faris used the portrait funds to record an album, fulfilling his musical dreams.
Peterson has discovered that the buyers tend to connect to the story of the person in the painting, finding similarities and often friendship with someone they might have otherwise overlooked. “People often tell me, ‘I was the one that would cross the street. But I see homeless people differently now.’” Peterson says.
1. Why did Peterson speak to Faris?| A．Faris’ yelling disturbed his sleep. | B．He decided to make a new friend. |
| C．The quiet while reading was broken. | D．He felt a drive to practice kindness. |
| A．Faris’ life story. | B．Faris’ beautiful face. |
| C．Desire for art practice. | D．Sympathy for the homeless. |
| A．They reveal the life of poor people. |
| B．They bear delicate signatures from artists. |
| C．They show vivid portraits with rich colors. |
| D．They build bond between people seemingly different. |
| A．Brave and kind. | B．Talkative and considerate. |
| C．Talented and ambitious. | D．Perceptive and sympathetic. |
6 . In Switzerland, an ambitious proposal could see the construction of an expansive underground network through which self-driving pods (吊舱) would transport goods across the country.
The project, called Cargo Sous Terrain (CST), is intended to reduce the reliance on trucks for moving cargo. Global demand for freight (货物) transportation is growing, just as much of the world is seeing a shortage of truck drivers. Meanwhile, higher fuel prices have made road transportation more expensive, while transporting freight by road accounts for around 6% of global carbon dioxide emissions.
If built, the network would stretch roughly 500 kilometers from Geneva in the west of Switzerland to St. Gallen in the northeast, and be completed around 2045. The network of tunnels will be 40 to 80 meters below ground and the autonomous pods will drive along three lanes at around 30 kilometers per hour. And the cargo will be loaded and unloaded at designated hubs (枢纽) employing lifts to take goods to and from the surface.
The project was approved by the Swiss government in 2021. Although there’s a long way to go before construction can begin, earlier in 2023 CST began its preliminary work in the field — exploratory drilling along the Härkingen-Niederbipp route.
The biggest challenge for CST will be the expense. CST estimates that it will cost around 30 billion Swiss Francs ($34 billion) for the entire network. The project will be entirely privately funded, with investors including Credit Suisse, Coop, and Siemens. Although a huge amount of funding still needs to be found, much of the technology for the automation and operation of the network already exists. Another key challenge is working out how to transport freight above ground from the tunnels to stores in cities — without adding to road traffic.
Despite all the hurdles, Patrik Aellig, head of communication for CST, remains optimistic. CST is “at the forefront” of underground freight transport.
1. What mainly led to the project CST?| A．Expensive truck drivers. | B．Serious shortage of fuel. |
| C．Environmental concern. | D．Heavy freight transportation. |
| A．To present the way the network will work. | B．To provide a blueprint of the network. |
| C．To prove the efficiency of the network. | D．To show the advancement of the network. |
| A．Innovative. | B．Significant. | C．Preparatory. | D．Constructive. |
| A．Absence of fund. | B．Lack of technology. |
| C．Last-mile delivery. | D．Transport safety. |
7 . What’s the point of studying? It’s something you might ask yourself if you’re
Many of us choose to go to university as a first step towards a good
But if you still don’t feel university delivers the best work opportunities, there are
| A．planning | B．struggling | C．trying | D．hoping |
| A．actually | B．usually | C．especially | D．generally |
| A．working | B．studying | C．wandering | D．living |
| A．education | B．life | C．marriage | D．career |
| A．degree | B．major | C．skill | D．patent |
| A．changes | B．difficulties | C．improvements | D．differences |
| A．Then | B．Therefore | C．Moreover | D．Instead |
| A．involve in | B．contribute to | C．consist of | D．result from |
| A．happen | B．tend | C．long | D．manage |
| A．exists | B．disappears | C．widens | D．varies |
| A．religious | B．historical | C．educational | D．social |
| A．big | B．good | C．popular | D．public |
| A．encouraging | B．amazing | C．sincere | D．scientific |
| A．disrespected | B．distrusted | C．unemployed | D．unpaid |
| A．reliable | B．favorable | C．interesting | D．rewarding |
8 . There is a mountain of great ski opportunities not too far from Boston. Road-trip to one of these fantastic ski mountains this winter.
Blue Hills Ski Area
A ski day trip doesn’t get any easier than the Blue Hills Ski Area. It is the only snow sports facility in the metro area. Skiing and snowboarding are spread over its 60 skiable acres, 90% of which are equipped for snowmaking. The vertical drop is 309 feet and there are four lifts serving the 16 trails, most of which are for advanced skiers. There are lessons for kids and adults to help you get there.
Crochet Mountain Resort
It’s famous for signature “Midnight Madness” events and daily night skiing. It has an 875-foot vertical drop and 23 trails across 75 skiable acres. A great mountain for skiers, half its terrain is graded for intermediates with the rest being split between advanced and beginner terrain.
Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort
It’s the only one of ski resorts to be 100% powered by renewable energy sources. Skiers will find a 1,150-foot vertical drop, 45 trails, 3 terrain parks and 9 lifts across 167 skiable acres. The whole family can take lessons, enjoy dining or buy a ticket and go for a ride on the 3,600-foot Mountain Coaster!
Smugglers’ Notch
Smugglers’ Notch has a 2,564-foot vertical drop, 78 trails, 5 terrain parks and 8 lifts spread across 1,000 skiable acres. Known as a full-service family-oriented resort, it offers plenty to do off mountain like ice skating, arts and crafts workshops and an indoor swimming pool!
1. Which ski resort mainly targets advanced skiers?| A．Blue Hills Ski Area. | B．Crochet Mountain Resort. |
| C．Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort. | D．Smugglers’ Notch. |
| A．Its trails. | B．Its location. |
| C．Its vertical drop. | D．Its green concept. |
| A．Have a swim. | B．Ski with world champions. |
| C．Enjoy stone sculptures. | D．Ride a roller coaster. |
9 . 2024 Western Colorado Elementary Science Fair
EUREKA! and D51 are partnering to host our annual elementary (小学的) science fair! Here’s your chance to apply your love of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) by conducting your own scientific investigation.
Participation is open to all 3-5th graders living in Wester Colorado, and students can either enter as an individual or as a team of no more than 3 members. Judging will be based on grade, and a team composed of students from multiple grades will be judged in the grade category of the oldest participant’s grade.
Project Submission
All participants must complete all of the following by March 7, 2024:
●Complete the registration form (one per team)
●Create a display poster (either physical or electronic) summarizing their project and email the file or a clear photo of it to the science fair committee
● Create a video presentation (less than 5 minutes) explaining their project to the judges, and submit it to the science fair committee
Public Viewing
Date: Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Location: EUREKA! McConnell Science Museum
Participants can display their posters and present their projects to the public (optional) .
Safety Regulations
It is important to wear proper protective gear (装备) when necessary in addition to disposing of (处理) waste properly when conducting a scientific investigation. We strongly recommend that guardians look up and study Safety Data Sheets for any chemicals that their students use and have responsibility for not allowing students to experiment with dangerous chemicals. EUREKA! holds the right to not display projects if they believe the components break our safety regulations.
1. What is an entry requirement for the science fair?| A．A team must consist of three members. |
| B．A team must be led by-the oldest participant. |
| C．All participants must be from Western Colorado. |
| D．Teams must be formed by students in the same grade. |
| A．Submit a display poster. | B．Video the investigation process. |
| C．Present their project to the public. | D．Fill in the registration form individually. |
| A．Disposing of waste improperly. |
| B．Performing experiments without a guardian. |
| C．Involving harmful chemicals in your project. |
| D．Conducting your investigation without protective gear. |
10 . Scientists looking to uncover the mysteries of the underwater world have more valuable information thanks to an international team that has produced a list of species confirmed or expected to produce sounds underwater.
Led by Audrey Looby from the University of Florida, the Global Library of Underwater Biological Sounds working group collaborated with the World Register of Marine Species to document 729 mammals (哺乳动物), fishes, and invertebrates (无脊椎动物) that produce active or passive sounds. In addition, the list includes another 21,911 species that are considered to likely produce sounds.
“With more than 70% of the Earth’s surface covered by water, most of the planet’s habitats are aquatic, and there is a misconception that most aquatic organisms are silent. The newly published comprehensive digital database on what animals are known to make sounds is the first of its kind and can revolutionize marine and aquatic science,” the researchers said.
“Listening to underwater sounds can reveal a lot of information about the species that produce them and is useful for a variety of applications, ranging from fisheries management, invasive species detection to assessing human environmental impacts,” said Looby, who also co-created FishSounds, which offers a collection of fish sound production research records.
The team’s research was published in Scientific Data and involved 19 authors from six countries. “Understanding how marine species interact with their environments is of global importance, and this data being freely available is a major step toward that goal,” said Kieran Cox, a member of the research team.
“Most people are familiar with whale or dolphin sounds but are often surprised to learn that many fishes and invertebrates use sounds to communicate, too,” Looby said. “Our database helps demonstrate how widespread underwater sound production really is across a variety of animals, but we still have a lot to learn.”
1. Why is the data listed in paragraph 2?| A．To show the types of biological sounds. |
| B．To show the sum of documents on animals. |
| C．To show the species of underwater animals. |
| D．To show the number of the sound-producing species. |
| A．Many mammals can live in water. | B．Most fishes cannot make sounds. |
| C．Different species can communicate. | D．Ocean animals can’t get onto the land. |
| A．To document ocean animals’ sounds. |
| B．To set up a free database for scientists. |
| C．To learn how ocean animals communicate. |
| D．To publish the team’s research in Scientific Data. |
| A．To call on people to protect ocean animals. |
| B．To introduce the finding of a research team. |
| C．To list the animals that can produce sounds. |
| D．To describe the mysterious underwater world. |
