1 . From the concert halls of Europe to the tech industries of the United States, C. J. Santos has created a story across the globe.
Born in Brazil, Santos moved to Switzerland at the age of 18, and earned degrees in both music and business there. During his next 10 years of “challenging” career as a professional musician, he spent most of his time on the road. “I had the honor to perform in the top concert halls in Europe,” Santos said. “It really wore me out to be constantly traveling and performing, but it allowed me to see the world and understand it in its full diversity. This was a unique experience, and I carry its benefits with me to this day.”
Through these experiences, Santos was able to become fluent in six languages. With these skills under his belt, Santos worked with his wife, who is also fluent in four languages, to develop a small translation business.
“Running it with no previous business experience was a challenging but exciting learning-by-doing experience,” Santos said. “In addition, the translation industry experienced a massive digital transformation (变化) in the last ten years.”
This brought Santos to an MBA/M.S. program in business analysis (分析) and information management, where he got rich experience, knowledge and unique understandings in different industries. The program provided him with something he clearly enjoys in life: variety. “It helped me take the most advantage of the translation industry’s digital transformation. What I gained from the program is more than what I managed in the 15 years in Europe,” he added.
As Santos continues to grow his business, he’s also working as an advisor. “The world’s digital transformation has advanced at a high speed,” he said. “To me, it’s very exciting to be a valuable resource to those who need help to jump into the digital journey.”
1. What did Santos think of his career as a musician?| A．Exciting but stressful. | B．Tough and fruitless. |
| C．Unique and enjoyable. | D．Tiring but rewarding. |
| A．His strong desire for a Master’s Degree. |
| B．The challenge from starting a new business. |
| C．His lack of education background in business. |
| D．The demand for a learning-by-doing experience. |
| A．The great variety Santos enjoys in life. |
| B．The application of digital transformation. |
| C．The benefits Santos got from the program. |
| D．Santos’s viewpoint on translation industry. |
| A．Translation skills. | B．Digital solutions. |
| C．Business analysis. | D．Resources management. |
2 . The London Eye remains temporarily closed but we plan to reopen from 17th May. You can pre-book now. Further information can be found here.
What to Expect
The London Eye soars 443 feet into the sky and views stretching 25 miles every direction. Since opening in 2000, it has been used as a setting in countless films and is loved by Britons and visitors alike. This is the UK’s most popular visitor attraction, visited by over 3.5 million people a year.
Each London Eye capsule (坐舱) holds up to 25 passengers comfortably. All capsules are fully air-conditioned and rotate (旋转) on a special device designed to keep everyone upright with a slow but progressive rotation. The full rotation lasts 30 minutes of an ever changing view of this lively city.
Opening Times
■ September to May 10:00 a.m.--8:00 p.m. daily
■ June 10:00 a.m.--9:00 p.m. daily
■ July 10:00 a.m.--9:30 p.m. daily
■ August 10:00 a.m.--8:30 p.m. daily
■ Not open on Christmas Day or during maintenance period.
Ticket Prices
| Adult: January to March £ 15.00 April to December £ 15.50 | Child (5-15years): January to March £ 7.50 April to December £ 7.75 | Child under 5 years: free |
| Senior (60 plus) : £ 12.00 |
Booking line
■ 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday to Sunday
■ Telephone: 0870 5000 600
1. Which of the following does the London Eye ride offer?| A．A 30-minute fast rotation. | B．An insight into its long history. |
| C．An admission free of charge. | D．A 360° moving view of the city. |
| A．10:00 a.m.--9:00 p.m. | B．10:00 a.m.--8:00 p.m. |
| C．10:00 a.m--9:30 p.m. | D．10:00 a.m.--8:30 p.m. |
| A．£30 | B．£31 | C．£37.5 | D．£38.75 |
3 . As a student researcher at UC Irvine, I need to use various software to collect and analyze data.
When l first started doing research, I found the QuPath software very
However, I continued to
The student who helped me was about to
I decided to write a detailed step-by-step guide about how to use QuPath and its different tools so that new students could
Once I graduate, I hope that the guide I wrote will
| A．convenient | B．effortless | C．difficult | D．practical |
| A．significant | B．certain | C．definite | D．small |
| A．into | B．from | C．off | D．through |
| A．software | B．paper | C．project | D．guide |
| A．raise | B．answer | C．issue | D．avoid |
| A．struggle | B．deal | C．work | D．meet |
| A．secure | B．distant | C．immune | D．absent |
| A．money | B．practice | C．space | D．strength |
| A．graduate | B．protest | C．quit | D．retire |
| A．adapt | B．apply | C．turn | D．respond |
| A．refer to | B．put away | C．hit upon | D．take over |
| A．terribly | B．oddly | C．doubtfully | D．pleasantly |
| A．context | B．comment | C．procedure | D．description |
| A．with relief | B．in excitement | C．without effort | D．in person |
| A．mean | B．continue | C．aim | D．deserve |
4 . In the hunt for new materials, scientists have traditionally relied on studying in the lab by trial and error. But now a new battery material has been discovered by integrating two computing superpowers: AI and supercomputing. It’s a discovery that focuses on the potential for using computers to help scientists discover materials suited to specific needs.
Calculations (计算) reduce original 32 million materials to just 23 promising options, researchers from PNNL report in a paper. The team then synthesized (合成) and tested one of those materials and created a working battery model. While scientists have used AI to predict materials’ qualities before, previous studies typically haven’t seen that process through to producing the new material. The nice thing about this paper is that it goes all the way from start to finish.
The researchers targeted a desired type of battery material: a solid electrolyte (电解质). In typical batteries, the electrolyte is a liquid. But that comes with dangers, like causing fires. Developing batteries with solid electrolytes is a major aim of materials scientists.
Sorting through the original 32 million materials with traditional physics calculations would have taken tens of years, but with machine learning techniques, which can make quick predictions based on patterns learned from known materials, the calculation produced results in just 80 hours.
First, the researchers used AI to sort the materials based on stability, which narrowed the list down to fewer than 600,000 options. Further AI analysis selected materials likely to have the electrical and chemical qualities necessary for batteries. That left the researchers with 23 options. Researchers picked a material with suitable stability and conductivity. Then they set to work synthesizing it, eventually making it into a model battery. And it worked.
“That’s when we got very excited,” says materials scientist Vijay. Going from the synthesis stage to the functional battery took about six months. “That is superfast.” The study is one of many efforts to use AI to discover new materials in the future. He says he hopes others will pick up the tool and use it for a variety of scientific efforts.
1. What did researchers from PNNL do?| A．They created a new type of battery. | B．They combined AI and supercomputing. |
| C．They helped scientists meet specific needs. | D．They studied the potential for using computers. |
| A．A paper on producing the new material. | B．The dangers of liquid electrolyte. |
| C．The speed of the research. | D．A new battery material. |
| A．Supporting information of the research results. |
| B．Potential significance of the research methods. |
| C．A further explanation of the research findings. |
| D．A faithful description of the research process. |
| A．Pessimistic. | B．Indifferent. | C．Positive. | D．Unclear. |
5 . A recent citizen science study suggests that eating really wild food could improve gut (消化道) health, blood sugar and BMI.
Richard Mawby, who lived entirely on wild food for three months, lost 20kg in the process. Mawby is one of 26 UK foragers (觅食者) who took part in The Wildbiome Project, which was set up by foraging expert Monica Wilde, who got the idea after surviving on foraged foods for the whole of 2021.
It measured the impact on blood sugar, BMI and gut health — with exhilarating results. Participants of the project who were fat at the beginning lost an average of 5.6kg, and 16% of their body weight. One, foraging teacher Matthew Rooney, said he reduced his blood sugar level from 65 to a normal 40 within 10 days.
Though at least one participant mentioned being more tired than usual while on the diet, generally speaking, the foragers appeared to be healthier, reporting having increased energy and improved mental wellbeing. Gut health also improved. Wilde suggests this is due to the diversity of a wild diet. lt should be pointed out that all participants had food like fruits, seaweed in their freezers. They also added rabbit and fish and organic chicken eggs.
Of course, Wilde doesn’t expect everyone to adopt a 100%-foraged diet. “Even integrating a few wild foods could be beneficial,” she said. Indeed, Wilde points out that wild foods are often more nutritional than farmed ones, which are raised for size rather than nutritional value. “Eating wild also means eating seasonally. Following the advice that nature gives us is bound to be good for us — and the planet.”
Mawby agreed. “The project was a breath of fresh air,” he said. “I felt in harmony with my surroundings, seeing a noticeable improvement. Now, I’m more in tune with my body, and though I’ve reintroduced cacao and spices, really wild diets are still firmly on the menu.”
1. What is the purpose of the project?| A．To ensure foragers’ healthy lifestyle. | B．To provide 100%-foraged diet |
| C．To collect money for foraging research. | D．To promote eating wild food. |
| A．Disappointing. | B．Exciting. | C．Interesting. | D．Disastrous. |
| A．It has serious side effects. |
| B．It needs to be completely adopted. |
| C．It is highly recommended. |
| D．It is produced for size and diversity |
| A．Really wild diets are found to boost foragers’ health. |
| B．Foraged foods are more nutritional than farmed ones. |
| C．A UK foraging expert survive on really wild food. |
| D．Improved wild diets are still firmly on the menu. |
6 . The Best Mountain Bike Trails (小径) in the US
The Tahoe Rim TrailWhere: Lake Tahoe, CA & NV
Distance: about 165 miles
The trail is popular with hikers, backpackers (背包客), and mountain bikers, so don’t expect to have much loneliness. You’ll have views of bright blue Lake Tahoe nearly the entire time. Most mountain bikers do the eight sections (段) of the Rim Trail in separate trips rather than doing the full loop (圈) as it’s too tiring. Also, make sure you’re familiar with the routes because some sections are closed to bikers.
The Gooseberry Mesa South RimWhere: Hurricane, UT
Distance: about 8 miles
There’s a reason why the world-famous Red Bull Rampage mountain bike competition is held here—the land is beautiful and suitable for big jumps and fun rock climbs. However, it’s not for beginners. But if you’re willing to take it on, you’ll be able to enjoy impressive views and a lively trip.
The Sidewinder Mountain Biking TrailWhere: Burke, VT
Distance: about 35 miles
Sidewinder is a small part of the 100 miles of trails within Vermont’s well-known Kingdom Trails system. If you love the feeling of a quick downhill line similar to sitting in the front of a rollercoaster more than actually riding a bike, you’ll love Sidewinder. The trail is a one-way trail made for experienced bikers.
The East Tiger Summit TrailWhere: Issaquah, WA
Distance: 1.5 miles
Tiger Mountain is loaded with mountain bike trails for everyone from beginners to experts, so you can choose the trail if you have a group of bikers of different levels. Almost anyone with basic skills or above should be about to handle this trail, which is good since it’s one of the best trails in the entire PWN.
1. What can bikers do along the Tahoe Rim Trail?| A．Enjoy beautiful lake views. | B．Bike freely in each section. |
| C．Finish a loop easily within a day. | D．Experience the pleasure of biking alone. |
| A．It has the longest distance. |
| B．It provides superfast downhill riding. |
| C．It is suitable for bikers of different levels. |
| D．It offers an impressive landscape along the way. |
| A．The Tahoe Rim Trail. | B．The East Tiger Summit Trail. |
| C．The Gooseberry Mesa South Rim. | D．The Sidewinder Mountain Biking Trail. |
7 . Cats bring bad luck. Cats cannot be trusted. This is what I was taught when I was growing up. I
And then I married a woman who was brought up with cats. So it was unavoidable that she would want us to
We were happy with life. But then, something
| A．hated | B．warned | C．trapped | D．threatened |
| A．contribute | B．borrow | C．get | D．exchange |
| A．unlucky | B．uncomfortable | C．unhealthy | D．unreasonable |
| A．naturally | B．secretly | C．eagerly | D．closely |
| A．harm | B．approach | C．notice | D．impact |
| A．Pressure | B．Dissatisfaction | C．Prevention | D．Encouragement |
| A．failed | B．agreed | C．understood | D．reacted |
| A．stranger | B．visitor | C．resident | D．neighbor |
| A．awkward | B．bored | C．worried | D．surprised |
| A．similar | B．typical | C．wrong | D．awful |
| A．love | B．know | C．help | D．honour |
| A．attention | B．company | C．strength | D．hope |
| A．suffer | B．survive | C．adapt | D．struggle |
| A．impressed | B．protected | C．attracted | D．supported |
| A．come up with | B．make use of | C．give in to | D．get rid of |
8 . As a young music therapist (治疗专家) in Colorado, Shannon de L’Etoile saw that when mothers were encouraged to sing to their babies, they were amazed by the positive reactions they received. She quickly realized that music could be a powerful tool for helping mothers learn more about their infants (婴儿). Soon, de L’Etoile began researching the practice, called infant-directed singing. She says it helps babies learn to regulate their feelings, which allows them to later behave well in school, and in the social and professional world.
“If a mother can sing in a way that catches the infant’s attention, it can help to promote the development of the infant’s brain,” said de L’Etoile. “Infant-directed singing is a way in which mothers can communicate with their babies that most infants can recognize and react to. But mothers need to be sensitive (敏感的) to infants’ feelings.”
De L’Etoile is working with people at the Linda Ray Intervention Center to create a coaching program that will guide mothers in the practice. She is now in the process of training workers at the center, who will coach mothers for a month in the most beneficial ways to sing to their infants. The process includes watching and recording mothers as they sing to their infants and then showing these mothers how they can be sensitive to their infants’ feelings while singing. Mothers will be able to notice if the infant is benefiting because the baby will look longer at the mother and reach a happy state.
As part of the study, after each mother completes the training, de L’Etoile will work with a music engineering program to study recordings of the mother’s voice. The study result can show changes over time in the mother’s ability to change her singing according to the infant’s feelings. Videos of the babies will also be studied to discover their connections with their mothers over time. De L’Etoile has been working closely with center workers to develop the program so that it will meet the needs of different families.
1. What does the underlined word “regulate” in paragraph 1 probably mean?| A．Hide. | B．Manage. | C．Produce. | D．Forget. |
| A．Mothers’ singing can help with infant development. |
| B．Building a positive parent-child relationship is hard. |
| C．Mothers can benefit from singing to their babies. |
| D．Singing is the best way to comfort babies. |
| A．To educate babies in fun ways. | B．To help mothers reduce their stress. |
| C．To get kids better prepared for school. | D．To teach mothers to sing to babies properly. |
| A．By comparing the effects of family members’ voices on babies. |
| B．By observing changes in mothers and infants after training. |
| C．By collecting babies’ reactions to videos and voices. |
| D．By communicating directly with mothers. |
9 . Some educators are trying to draw students’ attention with technology, such as educational videos, computer gaming and AI, just to name a few. However, teachers using these tools often struggle to keep students focusing on the materials, competing with the latest social media phenomenon, and can feel limited by using them to get some knowledge across.
Graphic novels (图画小说) offering graphic information married with text provide a means of attracting students in the classroom. Educators have used this method in their teaching. For example, instead of filling out problem sheets, students in a math class were asked to read a story called Who Killed Professor X?. In this story, all of the suspects (嫌疑人) are famous mathematicians. As they tried to figure out the connections between the suspects, students often forgot that they were doing math — focusing instead on finding secret details to solve the problem. Although this is just one experience for these students, it improves their confidence and shows them how math can be fun.
Jason Ho, a professor at Marian University, uses Max the Demon Vs Entropy of Doom to teach his physics students about a topic. This topic can be particularly difficult for some students because they can’t physically touch something. Ho said graphic novels can create an attractive learning environment. Most of his students now understand the subject by getting clear explanations for some ideas.
Although the Internet offers a lot of math and physics resources (资源), it can be tiring to search through many hours of videos to find the perfect one to get the “aha!” moment in learning. Graphic novels provide a starting point with different specific topics. Want to learn about programming? Try the Secret Coders series. Need more female role models in science? Astronauts: Women on the Final Frontier could be just what you’re looking for.
With all that graphic novels offer, we believe that the right set of graphic novels can inspire future scientists as much as any single person can.
1. What problem are some teachers faced with?| A．Teaching students to learn self-control. |
| B．Helping students master high-tech knowledge. |
| C．Ensuring the teaching effectiveness of using technology. |
| D．Making all the students take an active part in learning. |
| A．They can make learning more enjoyable. |
| B．They serve the field of math the best. |
| C．They require students to learn through performance. |
| D．They lead students to work hard on problem sheets. |
| A．Surprised. | B．Doubtful. | C．Supportive. | D．Concerned. |
| A．Graphic novels suitable for students |
| B．The great popularity of graphic novels |
| C．How technology influences students’ learning |
| D．Why we should use graphic novels in teaching |
10 . Gina Kiroff was a very creative child. “I loved helping my mom create dishes and the process of cooking with her, seasoning, changing the form of ingredients (原料) and using different skills. All ended up with a finished dish,” says Kiroff.
Kiroff took that creation into her job. She joined Unilever leading marketing of many different foods and other products. Now, her focus is to help to take steps towards carrying out regenerative (再生的) practices for the ingredients used in their products.
The importance of creating and keeping healthy soil has taken a leading position. In 2013 the United Nations General Assembly recognized World Soil Day, which is celebrated yearly on December 5th. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 95% of our food comes from soil. However, 33% of soils’ quality has been reduced. And over the last 70 years, the quantity of nutrients (营养物的量) in food has greatly dropped off.
In honor of World Soil Day and to know about what the food industry can do to help keep healthy agricultural practices to improve food safety, Kiroff was joined by former White House cook Sam Kass at a special dinner to show the power of regenerative agriculture. “The dinner you are about to eat costs $72 tonight. In 2050, this exact same meal will cost $566 as there will not be enough of the ingredients that we can depend on, which makes me worried,” said Kass.
Kass and Kiroff explained how rice and other key ingredients would likely become rarities (稀缺品), if we continued to carry out today’s traditional agricultural practices. “If we stay on our existing path, our kids and grandkids won’t be able to enjoy what we’re eating here,” said Kass. “Our duty is to make nutritious food accessible to everyone, everywhere.”
1. What do we know about Gina Kiroff?| A．She had to help her mother cook. | B．She showed a strong love of food. |
| C．She was very particular about dishes. | D．She used regenerative practices as a child. |
| A．How World Soil Day came into being. |
| B．Humans face serious food shortage issues. |
| C．How soil plays a key role in food quality. |
| D．Healthy agricultural practices are necessary. |
| A．Food safety doesn’t get attention. | B．Dinners will taste worse than now. |
| C．Food ingredients will be in short supply. | D．The food industry is slow to change. |
| A．Rice will disappear in the coming future. |
| B．Present agricultural practices should be changed. |
| C．Many kids will have no access to nutritious food. |
| D．Next generations dislike what we are eating now |
