1 . The only science fiction that ever really caught my attention when I was growing up, besides Star Trek and Robert Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land, was the novel Contact by Carl Sagan. When I was 15, I saw the 1997 film version of this. Later, as a 17-year-old adapting to my first semester (学期) at university, I read the book. Contact eventually became the gateway for me to try more popular science books.
One thing that interested me was the bitter fights the researchers got into with one another about their different ways of measuring the expansion rate of spacetime. On second thoughts, maybe this was a lesson I was supposed to draw from Contact, but, at the time, I didn’t regard such politics as a scientist problem. Instead, what caught my attention was the portrayal of Eleanor “Ellie” Arroway, a scientist who searched for alien intelligence. In the film version, Ellie is seen listening to space using a pair of headphones connected to the Very Large Array (VLA)—a real facility in New Mexico.
Astronomers don’t really do this for the purposes of actual research because there is rarely any point. This is the kind of detail that is unimportant for the film of Contact, but how it portrays radio astronomy is one of the inaccuracies I occasionally hear scientists complain about. I was lucky enough to observe the behaviour of some water molecules (分子) in the Orion nebula (猎户座星云) using the VLA for my thirdyear lab course. We didn’t listen to the data. Instead, we processed it so that we could look at it.
That was probably the only time I ever excelled in the lab, and I was so excited to be a reallife Ellie Arroway. Later, I was forced to think more about the human aspects of my working experience. I witnessed unnecessarily heated arguments between scientists, complete with shouting and chalkboard punching (用拳猛击). But, thankfully, Contact had not only introduced me to the idea of radio astronomy as a possible career path, it had also given me a road map for remaining calm in the confused conflict of astronomical wonder and human politics.
1. What can be learned about the author in his teenage years?| A．He watched Contact’s film version in his freshman year. |
| B．His interest in science was inspired by Contact. |
| C．He read a wide range of science fiction books. |
| D．His favourite science fiction author was Robert Heinlein. |
| A．Detecting the sound of space. | B．Searching for alien intelligence. |
| C．Communicating with nonexperts. | D．Visiting the VLA in New Mexico. |
| A．To demonstrate his strong interest in lab projects. |
| B．To explain why scientists sometimes make complaints. |
| C．To show his observations had achieved positive results. |
| D．To prove the film of Contact presented radio astronomy incorrectly. |
| A．How to grasp career opportunities. |
| B．How to get an excellent score on a lab course. |
| C．How to deal with conflicts between scientists. |
| D．How to explain the science of radio astronomy. |
2 . While they can’t pick out precise numbers, animals can comprehend that more is, well, more. From birds to bees and wolves to frogs, animals use numbers to hunt, find a mate, return to their home, and more. Researchers believe that this ability, known as numerical competence, plays an important role in how animals make these decisions. Andreas Nieder, a biologist at the University of Tübingen, explores the current literature on how different animals comprehend numbers.
Honeybees, for instance, can remember the number of landmarks they pass when searching for food in order to find their way back home. This ability can also be seen in animals choosing a larger amount of food over a smaller amount or in animals forming hunting groups. Wolves are more likely to hunt successfully if they have the right number of wolves in their pack for their prey (猎物) with prey like elk (驼鹿), only around six to eight wolves are needed, while hunting wild pigs requires a pack of nine to thirteen. Their prey also uses this concept to protect themselves—elk tend to live in small groups, which rarely have encounters with wolves, or gather in large groups to reduce the chance of any individual becoming prey. “They are assessing the number of individuals in their groups for their everyday life situations,” Nieder says.
Furthermore, numerical competence also plays a role in attracting a mate. For example, male frogs sing “advertisement” calls to attract females. The females, listening to their complicated calls, choose the males that sing the most “chucks” in their calls.
Now researchers do have some sense of the rules that govern numerical competence in animals. For example, they count approximately (大概) rather than specifically and two numbers need to be more different for them to tell them apart as those numbers get bigger. However, Nieder argues that more research needs to be done. “I hope I can encourage behavioral ecologists to specifically explore numerical competence in the wild, and, in doing so, also open new research fields,” he says.
1. What do the examples of wolves and elk suggest about numerical competence?| A．It gives animals a reproduction benefit. | B．It affects animals’ chances of survival. |
| C．It is decided by animals’ hunting ability. | D．It develops well in social animals. |
| A．By listing figures. | B．By asking questions. |
| C．By giving examples. | D．By making comparisons. |
| A．Its fundamental rules. | B．Its appeal to behavioral ecologists. |
| C．Researchers in new study fields. | D．Expectations for further studies. |
| A．Animals’ understanding of numbers gives them an advantage |
| B．Numerical competence research achieves a breakthrough |
| C．Animals develop numerical competence? Never |
| D．Can many animals count? Better than you |
3 . As a child, I didn’t enjoy cartoons like other girls my age, but I did love listening to discussions about politics (政治). I was very talkative and asked too many questions, which wore out the patience of my friends and sometimes even the adults around me. My Grade 4 report summarized my social relations with “needs improvement”.
It wasn’t until I turned 46 that I learned my uniqueness has a name — autism (自闭症). My diagnosis (诊断) was like discovering a missing piece of my brain, picking it up, putting it in place and feeling whole for the first time. From then on, I started to fully enjoy life. What I’ve found out since is that there are a number of others like me — people who weren’t diagnosed as having autism until midlife.
In my 20s, I talked with a doctor about my growing anxiety. But autism never entered the conversation. In early 2017, I began a new job in which I was being praised and recognised as never before, so I didn’t know how to deal with it. As I neared the end of my one-year work, all the symptoms (症状) of my undiagnosed condition appeared in my working environment: becoming so stressed out because of overwork. Then, two months later, I received my diagnosis. Finally everything started to make sense.
Today, I have my own company called Liberty Co., which suggests that facing the facts brings us freedom. Our goal is to increase the population of people like me in the workplace. It gives me a chance to be a supporter for women with autism.
1. What do we know about the author as a child?| A．She was patient. | B．She was different. |
| C．She got good grades in school. | D．She tried to stand out from her classmates. |
| A．Thankful. | B．Concerned. |
| C．Doubtful. | D．Dissatisfied. |
| A．No recognition from her co-workers. | B．Not seeing doctors very often. |
| C．The anxiety about her social relations. | D．The stress of her new job. |
| A．To support women’s equal rights. |
| B．To help people in the workplace connect more. |
| C．To include more autistic people at work. |
| D．To teach women with autism survival skills. |
4 . Physical weakness, lack of energy, severe hair loss, and pain in the neck, are more common among young people recently. More people are now turning to TCM for help, which stands for traditional Chinese medicine.
Wang Louda, 30, who works in the social media industry, has gained a new respect for TCM after suffering from cervical(颈椎) pain.
Six months ago, while driving home from work, Wang suddenly felt weakness in his left arm. He thought it was due to the hard work he was doing and that a good rest over the weekend would relieve it.
However, the situation worsened after a week. He had no choice but to go to the hospital for an examination, which showed something wrong with his cervical.
A friend recommended that he try acupuncture(针灸). After over a month of treatment with TCM, his pain had gradually disappeared.
“TCM is relatively gentle and suitable for treating chronic (慢性的) diseases,” Wang says.
Modern people, due to the endless use of mobile phones and computers, spend up to 10 hours a day sitting to study or work. This sedentary lifestyle, lacking in enough physical activity, means that the muscles and bones cannot receive enough relaxation and exercise, gradually leading to damage. Problems such as neck pain, shoulder pain, back pain, and leg pain are becoming increasingly common.
Yao Jingyi, who works at a TCM clinic in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, has been engaged in the clinic for over 30 years. He is skilled in treating sports injuries, cervical pain, and chronic diseases.
“Acupuncture is one of the treasures of traditional Chinese medicine,” Yao explains.
According to him, the ancient practice of acupuncture woks well in treating “modern illnesses”, such as headache, backache and cervical pain.
1. How did Wang Louda recover from cervical pain?| A．By taking enough exercise. |
| B．By visiting clinics of TCM. |
| C．By taking his friend’s medicine. |
| D．By having good rests every day. |
| A．The lack of sleep. |
| B．Endless use of Mobile phones. |
| C．Long hours’ sitting. |
| D．Enough relaxation and exercise. |
| A．Inactive. | B．Unusual. | C．Flexible. | D．Common. |
| A．The history of traditional Chinese medical treatment. |
| B．An advertisement for traditional Chinese medicine. |
| C．The modern popularity of traditional Chinese treatment. |
| D．The future development of Chinese acupuncture. |
5 . Astronomers have discovered an unusual solar system near Earth. It’s made up of six planets orbiting a star. What makes this system special is that the six planets’ orbits appear to be matched. Scientists compare their movement to a perfectly timed symphony.
“It’s precise and very orderly,” says Enric Pallé, an astronomer in the Canary Islands.
The discovery was announced on November 29. It’s based on data from two orbiting satellites, NASA’s TESS and the European Space Agency’s Cheops. The newly discovered system is 100 light-years from Earth, or about 600 trillion (万亿) miles. That’s close, in space terms. Astronomers are calling the system a “golden target” for further study. It could offer an example of how systems across the Milky Way were formed.
All solar systems are thought to have started out like this one. But they rarely keep their perfect timing. Giant planets can throw off the orbits of other planets. So can meteor (流星) impact. These things have happened in our solar system.
Hugh Osborn, of the University of Bern, in Switzerland, says his team was “shocked and delighted” by the discovery. “My jaw was on the floor,” he says. “That was a really nice moment.”
1. What is special about the solar system recently discovered?| A．It is made up of six orbiting planets. |
| B．The planets’ orbits are perfectly matched. |
| C．It is located 100 light-years away from Earth. |
| D．The discovery was made using satellite data. |
| A．It is the closest solar system to Earth in the Milky Way. |
| B．It is a clear target for future exploration tasks in space. |
| C．It challenges the common thought about solar system. |
| D．It offers an example of the formation of other systems. |
| A．The impact of meteors. |
| B．The researches of astronomers. |
| C．The formation of the Milky Way. |
| D．The influence of orbiting satellites. |
| A．They were very doubtful and critical. |
| B．They were quite surprised and excited. |
| C．They were confused and disappointed. |
| D．They were indifferent and uninterested. |
6 . As in other countries, road safety is always a concern in America. Studies show that in 2022, 7,485 pedestrians (行人) were killed by vehicles in the U.S. That’s an increase of more than 65% since 2012. Even during COVID-19, when fewer people were driving, more pedestrians were hit and more died.
Researchers found that drivers took advantage of empty streets and pay little attention to traffic rules. Another factor is the increasing popularity of SUVs, pickups (皮卡) and vans. These kinds of vehicles are up to three times more dangerous than smaller cars when hit pedestrians. The more fault drivers believe they could bear for the hitting, the more likely they are to leave without giving any help. Younger male drivers are more likely to run away. So are those who get drunken or lack a driving license. Other factors include the age of the victim, as children and elderly people are less likely to be left alone. Also, with more witnesses around, the drivers are less likely to hit and run.
In the U.S. drivers run away from serious crashes with pedestrians about 20% of the time, and the rate is very different among different states.
In 2020, 6,519 pedestrians were killed in the U.S. Speeding driving were a major cause. While Florida “wins” the least number of deaths caused by speeding. These following states were reported to have the most dangerous road accidents.
Ten most dangerous states for pedestrians
| A．Road security worries Americans. |
| B．Pedestrian are on the rise over time. |
| C．COVID-19 caused more road accidents. |
| D．Vehicles have doubled since 2012. |
| A．Cars. | B．SUVs. | C．Pickups. | D．Vans. |
| A．Young drivers are more likely to be honest. |
| B．Drunken driving is now allowed in America. |
| C．Children and the old are well protected in the U.S. |
| D．Drivers are more honest if witnessed by more people. |
| A．New Mexico. | B．New York. |
| C．Florida. | D．South Carolina. |
7 . Sammie Vance knows it feels bad to be left out. So she has been helping kids who feel lonely make friends.
Sammie is 14. When she was in the third grade, she started the Buddy Bench program. That was at her school, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Anyone who felt lonely could sit on the “buddy bench.” It showed others that someone needed a friend.
The bench brought kids together. “There was one little boy at school, younger than me,” Sammie told TIME for Kids. “He would see me in the hallway and give me a thumbs-up. That told me that what I was doing helped him.”
It costs money to build benches. Sammie decided to make them out of recycled materials. This lowered the cost. And the benches were eco-friendly.
Sammie gathered friends in her community. They collected 1,200 pounds of bottle caps. A company called Green Tree Plastics made three benches with the bottle caps.
Sammie has helped communities all over the country set up buddy benches. And she is spreading kindness around the world. “We recently got a bench in Ghana, Africa,” she says. “That was cool.”
Sammie reminds us that kids can help their community. Even small acts of kindness can be powerful. “You don’t have to be an adult to make a difference,” she says.
Sammie wrote a book. It is called Inspire the World: A Kid’s Journey to Making a Difference. It tells the story of her buddy benches. Sammie hopes her example will inspire others. “I used to be really, really shy,” she says. Building buddy benches gave her confidence. “I’m definitely more outgoing now.”
1. When did Sammie start the Buddy Bench program?| A．In the third grade. | B．In the fourth grade. |
| C．In the fifth grade. | D．In the sixth grade. |
| A．She helps them find a new hobby. |
| B．She introduces them to her friends. |
| C．She starts a program to help them make friends. |
| D．She gives them a thumbs-up to make them happy. |
| A．She raised money herself. | B．She cycled to find materials. |
| C．She turned to her parents. | D．She used recycled materials. |
| A．To inspire children to make differences. |
| B．To raise more money for her journey. |
| C．To build more benches for children. |
| D．To remind children to act like adults. |
8 . On May 4, Fan Jinshi donated 10 million yuan to set up the Fan Jinshi Education Fund. Fan is
All people present were
Fan used
Today, Fan is still trying to promote talks and
Fan said, “Though now I work, I am a student of Peking University, and I was able to
The fund
Fan Jinshi’s speech
| A．organized | B．considered | C．frightened | D．encouraged |
| A．wish | B．respect | C．opinion | D．donation |
| A．moved | B．thanked | C．connected | D．explained |
| A．known | B．informed | C．allowed | D．sent |
| A．admired | B．expected | C．explained | D．graduated |
| A．set up | B．break out | C．set off | D．break down |
| A．applied | B．replied | C．supplied | D．relied |
| A．delicious | B．unique | C．false | D．dizzy |
| A．affects | B．welcomes | C．offers | D．shares |
| A．description | B．definition | C．responsibility | D．exchanges |
| A．lead | B．owe | C．contribute | D．stick |
| A．improve | B．rise | C．dream | D．devote |
| A．shows up | B．consists of | C．takes off | D．stands out |
| A．final | B．lucky | C．wise | D．simple |
| A．included | B．reminded | C．cared | D．inspired |
9 . Women’s Poetry Competition 2024
Welcome to Mslexia, the only magazine where every reader is a potential contributor too. Almost every part of the magazine is open to submission by any woman writer. Our competition is open to unpublished poems of any length. Your £10 entry fee allows you to submit up to three poems. The judge this year is the outstanding and award-winning writer Pascale Petit.
Prizes
1st: £2,000; 2nd: £500; 3rd: £250 (Each prize goes for one person.)
Unpublished Poetry Prize for the best poem by a previously unknown poet: £250.
The four winners, plus sixteen additional finalists will have their poems published in the May issue of Mslexia.
Results
The deadline for all entries is 23:59 GMT, 6 March, 2024
The winners and finalists will be announced on 1 April, 2024
How to enter
Add the entry fee to your basket and go to the checkout. Once the order is completed, you’ll be taken to a submit page where the entry form is located. Click the “Enter Now” button. You can submit at a later date by typing into your Mslexia online account and going to the “competitions” bill.
Visit our Entry Instructions for a more comprehensive guide on how to enter, and be sure to read our Rules before submitting your entries.
Frequently-asked questions
Have a question about formatting, eligibility(资格), or anything else?
Ready to enter? Please see our Entry Instructions. For any further information, call us at 0191 204 8860 or email competitions@mslexia.co.uk.
1. How many winners will get prize money?| A．Three. | B．Four. | C．Sixteen. | D．Twenty. |
| A．Submitting two poems. | B．Visiting Entry Instructions. |
| C．Writing a poem of 120 words. | D．Mailing your entry on April 1. |
| A．In a textbook. | B．In an art magazine. | C．On a website. | D．In a local newspaper. |
10 . 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. |
