1 . “Anyone knows single parents who can’t afford to get their child’s hair done for school? I will braid (编辫子) it for free!”Brittany Starks wrote on a Facebook post.

She decided to offer her hair braiding services after a family friend delivered backpacks full of school supplies, clothing and shoes for Cayden and Ceniyah in early August. “At the time, I didn’t have anything for my kids to start school,” said Starks, who is in between homes and staying with her mother. “It meant so much to me.”

The unexpected gift made a big difference to Starks and her children, and it motivated her to pay it forward. Starks, who works two receptionist jobs, also braids hair part-time. “The hair-braiding process involves washing, blow-drying, and finally dividing the hair into small sections and braiding it. It also requires multiple supplies — including combs, brushes, hair jam and additional pieces of hair to weave in. It costs anywhere from $150 to $400 at a salon (美发厅), depending on the style,” Stacks explained. “But it can last for months and is a huge timesaver in the mornings.”

When she wrote the Facebook post, she assumed only a handful of people would reach out,but before she knew it, she had 35 appointments booked. Her Facebook inbox was suddenly full of messages from single parents, whose stories of hardship and financial challenges mirrored her own.

“There’s a huge need for this. I could really relate to a lot of the women who reached out, and it made me realize that what I was doing was really important,” said Stacks. “What got me the most was seeing the kids smile.” Given that there was less than two weeks before the start of school, Starks knew she needed to enlist help.

1. What got Brittany Starks to offer her hair braiding service?

A．A post on Facebook.	B．Her friend’s timely help.
C．Her mother’s advice.	D．A trip to her kids’ school.

2. What does Starks say about hair braiding?

A．It’s a bit dear.	B．It’s time-wasting.
C．It’s an easy job.	D．It’s a mother’s duty.

3. How does Starks feel about the response to her Facebook post?

A．Rather disturbing.	B．Beyond expectation.
C．Far from satisfactory.	D．Very disappointing.

4. What can we infer about Brittany Starks from the text?

A．She is single with one child.	B．She is ambitious and arbitrary.
C．She is in need of helping hands.	D．She is free from financial worries.

2 . It’s 1:30 am in Kenya’s populated north, and 50 people are lying on their backs on the shore of a dried-up river, staring up at the night sky. These stargazers have travelled 250 miles to Samburu to witness the Perseid meteor shower(英仙座流星雨). They are not disappointed: Every few minutes, arrows of light shoot across the sky like silent fireworks.

The Star Safari is organised by a Kenyan astronomer, Susan Murabana, who has brought a 50 kg,170 cm-long telescope to allow the group to view Mars and deep-sky objects. But here in Samburu, where light pollution is minimal, the Perseid meteors—visible with the naked eye (裸眼)—steal the show.

Every two months, Murabana and her husband load their telescope on to the roof of their 4×4 and set off to rural communities, where they give up to 300 children a chance to view the planets and learn about constellations (星座) and the basics of astrophysics. They primarily targets schools in remote areas because of her mission to give girls an opportunity that she wishes had been available to her.

“When I started this work, I didn’t see people who looked like me. I was a lone ranger and I wanted to change that.” says Murabana.

“There is a common misconception in Kenya that astronomy in general is hard, boring, and only for boys,” she adds. “I’d like to teach young girls that astronomy is neither of these things and that they, too, can become astronomers,” says Murabana.

Murabana’s passion for astronomy began in her early 20s when her uncle invited her to join a similar outreach session organized by the Cosmos Education. “That was a gamechanger. If an outreach group had come to me when I was a young teenager, my attitude towards a career in astronomy would have been positive. I ended up studying sociology and economics, but maybe I would have desired to be an astronomer,” she says.

Inspired by the Cosmos Education, Murabana completed an online master’s degree in astronomy with the James Cook University in 201l and set up her own outreach programme. She looked to Dr Mae Jemison, the first black woman in space, as a role model. “I hope that one day, through this work, I will spark a chain reaction that leads to the first African woman in space.”

1. What do the underlined words “steal the show” in paragraph 2 mean?

A．Ruin the effort.	B．Face the challenge.
C．Attract more attention.	D．Keep the promise.

2. Why does Murabana target girl students in remote areas?

A．To help them out of poverty.	B．To inspire their love of astronomy.
C．To look for assistants for her work.	D．To give them an edge over boys in studies.

3. What can we learn about Murabana from paragraph 6?

A．She enjoyed playing games.

B．She longed to be an astronomer.

C．She is an initiator of Cosmos Education.

D．She regretted not taking astronomy earlier.

4. What’s the passage mainly about?

A．The birth of a Kenyan woman astronomer.

B．The prejudice against girls in rural Kenyan.

C．The Kenyan astronomer bringing astronomy to the people.

D．The Kenyan stargazers watching the Perseid meteors shower.

3 . When Param Jaggi was five years old, he had a passion to take things apart to see what was inside. He started with toys and even broke a computer, which made his parents not too pleased. As he got older, he shifted from breaking things to building things, which greatly comforted his parents. In middle school. he started working on projects in his kitchen laboratory, and his first project was making biofuels.

Although Jaggi’s parents initially thought his experiments were just. a boyhood fancy, he remained determined to make a difference to the environment. Eventually, his parents came around and started supporting his dreams. Jaggi’s interest continued as he grew up, but he focused more on solving real problems, especially those related to the environment.

At 17, Jaggi went beyond his school projects and. co-founded Ecoviate, a company that uses technology to solve everyday energy and environmental problems. He planned to transform people’s idea that going green is expensive, by making available a series of affordable products that are easy to use. Through Ecoviate, he designed products that could contribute to a greener future. One of his notable inventions was the “CO2ube”, a device that could be attached to vehicle tailpipes to reduce carbon emissions, and it’s available to many people at low prices. He also created a smartwatch that changed body heat into energy, which can be used to power up the watch as well as mobile phones.

Young Jaggi, now a third-grade college student studying engineering and economics, has become a famous eco-innovator and his company is developing promisingly. However, Jaggi’s vision to save the environment goes beyond creating products. He plans to launch an online platform through Ecoviate, which will encourage young students interested in science and technology to get actively involved in innovation and invention. Students can submit a science project online, and talk about the help that they need to make the project a reality.

1. What can we learn about Jaggi?

A．He was curious by nature.	B．He dreamed to be an engineer.
C．He always annoyed his parents.	D．He was addicted to playing toys.

2. Which of the following can best replace the underlined part “came around” in Paragraph 2?

A．Won out.	B．Changed their minds.
C．Walked around.	D．Paid a visit.

3. What drove Jaggi to develop affordable and user-friendly products?

A．His love for greener devices.	B．His pursuit of academic career.
C．His desire to make a difference.	D．His hope to boost green industry.

4. Why does Jaggie plan to launch an online platform?

A．To promote smart products.	B．To empower young inventors.
C．To provide eco-themed courses.	D．To offer environmentalists funds.

4 . With a broad smile on her lips, 15-year-old Sirin rushed to her mom to show off her new painting. But her mom raised her eyebrows, and spoke in a hushed tone, “Shh... honey.. don’t shout. I am busy with a(n) ________ talk.”

Holding her oil painting, she ________ and then searched for her dad. “Dad, see what I have done,” Sirin announced aloud in a(n) ________ voice. Her dad smiled and just patted her on back lovingly, saying, “No time, baby. I’m late for work.”

Hearing this, she stormed off to her own bedroom, slammed the door and ________ herself on her bed, sobbing. When her mom was calling her for dinner, Sirin arrived late deliberately. She kept silent, ________ the table mat with her nail. Her mom was puzzled at the ________ behavior. Suddenly, the morning ________ clicked in her mind. Softly, she asked, “Honey, did we do anything wrong?”

At this very moment, Sirin could no longer ________ her anger. “Why is everybody so busy?” she roared, tears streaming down. She assumed that, ________ ignoring her like others in her school, her mom and dad would appreciate her painting, but they were no ________. Shocked, mom threw her arms around her tightly, announcing ________ and firmly, “Baby, I am so sorry!”

When back from school the next day, Sirin was surprised to see her beautifully-decorated ________ on the wall. It was beautifully framed and just below the painting, it read, “Honey, we are really proud of you!” ________ her parents’ stress from daily routine, she felt sorry about her previous behavior. She ________ her head and apologized.

Though everything came and went, mutual ________ would stay forever in their family.1.

A．important

B．empty

C．pleasant

D．insignificant

2.

A．grinned

B．frowned

C．trembled

D．whistled

3.

A．amused

B．annoyed

C．shocked

D．thrilled

4.

A．hid

B．planted

C．threw

D．settled

5.

A．feeling

B．stroking

C．seizing

D．scratching

6.

A．unusual

B．ridiculous

C．impolite

D．dishonest

7.

A．incident

B．accident

C．anecdote

D．event

8.

A．hold onto

B．hold back

C．throw away

D．pick up

9.

A．in spite of

B．in favor of

C．instead of

D．on account of

10.

A．help

B．match

C．exception

D．luck

11.

A．attentively

B．unwillingly

C．surprisingly

D．regretfully

12.

A．poster

B．painting

C．portrait

D．note

13.

A．Recalling

B．Supposing

C．Declaring

D．Imagining

14.

A．nodded

B．shook

C．cleared

D．ducked

15.

A．trust

B．dependence

C．understanding

D．admiration

5 . In today’s digital era, social media users are increasingly coming across fake news online. This leads to the pressing issue: What causes people to fall for misinformation on the Internet?

According to researchers at the Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology,   users can easily fall into an echo chamber (回声室)—a sort of virtual space where users consume only one-sided news, eventually distrusting any opposing views. “We all tend to agree with the group opinion. Hence, people naturally get together with others who hold the same opinion,” said Dongwon Lee, one of the researchers. “But if you’re not cautious, there is a high risk of falling into an echo chamber.”

To prevent this phenomenon, the researchers have crafted a novel tool, a game named ChamberBreaker, to help players resist echo chambers and reduce the rate of fake news spread. The fundamental approach employed by ChamberBreaker centers around a decision-making procedure that mirrors the creation of echo chambers. In ChamberBreaker, a player is tasked with trying to have community members fall into an echo chamber. To begin, the player is randomly assigned a situation that focuses on a health, political or environmental issue, and is presented with six pieces of news on that topic. Then, the player selects news that could cause the other members to fall into an echo chamber while at the same time maintaining their trust. If successful, the community members will fall into an echo chamber and the player will witness the resulting negative effects on the community.

After developing ChamberBreaker, researchers tested it with over 800 subjects to see if it raised awareness of echo chambers and changed news consumption behaviors. The researchers found that those who played ChamberBreaker were significantly more likely to state their intention to observe online information from more diverse perspectives and showed an increased awareness of the echo chamber phenomenon.

Ultimately, the researchers hope that their methodology can excite a greater interest in the scientific and scholarly study related to information consumption. The application of tools like ChamberBreaker, which focuses on fostering analytical reasoning, may lead us towards a more informed online community.

1. What can be learned about an online echo chamber?

A．It encourages well-judged views.

B．It gathers like-minded individuals.

C．It functions as a virtual reality platform.

D．It serves as a tool for identifying fake information.

2. What is ChamberBreaker’s core method against echo chambers?

A．Assignment of situations.	B．Trust-building exercises.
C．News selection strategy.	D．Community impact assessment.

3. Which of the following can show ChamberBreaker’s effectiveness?

A．The results of scientific testing.

B．The theoretical framework of the game.

C．The description of the game procedures.

D．The common challenges faced during gameplay.

4. What is the likely long-term effect of playing ChamberBreaker?

A．Reducing news inquiry.	B．Encouraging passive reading.
C．Strengthening prejudiced views.	D．Enhancing critical thinking.

6 . Will the AI chatbots eat search engines’ lunch? For more than 20 years, search engines have been the Internet’s front door. Google has dominated the field in most of the world. But nothing lasts forever, particularly in technology.

Just ask IBM, which once ruled business computing, or Nokia, once the leader in mobile phones. Both fell behind because they didn’t follow big technological transitions. Now another tech innovation might announce a similar shift—and a similar opportunity. ChatGPT has put itself on centre stage, by letting people chat with an AI directly. ChatGPT can write essays in various styles, explain complex concepts, summarize texts and answer questions. And it can collect, process and combine knowledge from the web: for example, listing holiday spots that match certain criteria, or suggesting menus or schedules. If asked, it can explain its reasoning and provide details. Many things that people use search engines for today, in short, can be done better with chatbots.

Will ChatGPT help students cheat better? Yes, but as with many other technology developments, it’s not a simple black and white situation. Decades ago, students could copy encyclopedia entries, and more recently, they’ve been able to search the Internet and explore into Wikipedia entries. ChatGPT offers new abilities for everything from helping with research to doing their homework for them. Many ChatGPT answers already sound like student essays. Ask the new artificial intelligence tool ChatGPT to write an essay about the cause of the American Civil War and you can watch it produce a persuasive term paper in a matter of seconds.

It can even (narrowly) pass a number of exams. It scored 60% on the United States Medical Licensing Examination, 70% on an exam for lawyers, 78% on New York state’s high school chemistry exam’s multiple choice section, and ranked the 40th on the Law School Admission Test.

A high school teacher concluded ChatGPT already writes better than most students today. He’s torn between admiring ChatGPT’s potential usefulness and fearing its harm to human learning: “Is this moment more like the invention of the calculator, saving me from the boredom of long division, or more like the invention of the player piano, robbing us of what can be communicated only through human emotion?”

1. What is the reason why some tech companies fail to develop?

A．The sharp rising market cost.	B．Their shift to other business fields.
C．The negative impact of local economy.	D．Their failure to keep pace with tech changes.

2. What is ChatGPT unable to do according to the text?

A．Play the piano.	B．Write various articles.
C．Schedule a holiday trip.	D．Explain complex concepts.

3. What is the purpose of the percentages mentioned in paragraph 4?

A．To explain a rule.

B．To make a prediction.

C．To illustrate a fact.

D．To clarify a concept.

4. What is the author’s attitude towards ChatGPT?

A．Objective.

B．Positive.

C．Negative.

D．Ambiguous.

7 . I’m in a coffee shop in Manhattan and I’m about to become the most disliked person in the room. First, I’m going to interrupt the man reading quietly near the window and ask for a drink of his latte. Next, I’m going to ask the line of people waiting to pay if I can cut to the front of the queue. This is how I chose to spend my last vacation. Here’s why.

Growing up, all I ever heard about was “EQ.” It was the mid-1990s, and psychologist Daniel Goleman had just popularized the concept of emotional intelligence. Unlike IQ, which tracked conventional measures of intelligence like reasoning and recall, EQ measured the ability to understand other people — to listen, to empathize (共情), and to appreciate.

My mother, an elementary school principal, prized brains and hard work, but she placed a special emphasis on Goleman’s new idea. To her, EQ was the elixir (万能药) that separated the good students from the great after they left school. She was determined to send me into the adult world with as much of this elixir as possible.

But when I finally began my first job, I noticed a second elixir in the pockets of some of my colleagues. It gave their opinions extra weight and their decisions added impact. Strangest of all, it seemed like the anti-EQ: Instead of knowing how to make others feel good, this elixir gave people the courage to do the opposite — to say things others didn’t want to hear.

This was assertiveness (魄力). It boiled down to the command of a single skill: the ability to have uncomfortable conversations. Assertive people — those with high “AQ”— ask for things they want, decline things they don’t, provide constructive feedback, and engage in direct confrontation (对峙) and debate.

A lifetime improving my EQ helped me empathize with others, but it also left me overly sensitive to situations where I had to say or do things that might make others unhappy. While I didn’t avoid conflict, I was always frustrated by my powerlessness when I had to say or do something that could upset someone. This is my problem and I’m working on it.

1. Why did the author act that way in the coffee shop?

A．To improve a skill.	B．To test a concept.
C．To advocate a new idea.	D．To have a unique vacation.

2. What do we know about the author’s mother?

A．She thought little of IQ.

B．She popularized Goleman’s idea.

C．She was a strict mother and principal.

D．She valued EQ as the key to greatness.

3. What does the word “it” underlined in the fourth paragraph refer to?

A．EQ.

B．AQ.

C．Empathy.

D．Courage.

4. According to the passage, those with high EQ but low AQ are likely to be ______.

A．successful leaders	B．people pleasers
C．terrible complainers	D．pleasure seekers

8 . Water poisoning is caused by too much consumption of water during a short period of time. Water in and of itself is not poisonous by any means, but rapid intake of a large quantity of water can break the careful balance of sodium(钠)in the body fluids(体液). This contributes to a swelling of the cells, often in the central nervous system, including the brain.

When the cells can no longer bear the pressure, they can begin to die. This is indicated in serious forms of water poisoning. Symptoms of this condition include vomiting, headache and unresponsiveness. When the sodium in the blood falls to dangerous levels, brain damage and possibly death may occur.

What is a fatal(致命的)amount of water can vary from person to person, depending on one’s state of health, his or her physical activity at the time, the temperature and the amount of time in which the person consumes the water. For some, a one-time consumption of three liters can prove deadly. Although the person consuming the water may lose a lot of fluid during heavy labor or exercise, the electrolytes(电解质)are not replaced fast enough to avoid water poisoning.

Those particularly at risk for water poisoning are athletes engaged in long distance running like a marathon. Due to the need to replace large quantities of lost fluid, runners must drink a lot of water. This can lead to poisoning, so runners must replace their fluids with sports drinks that have added electrolytes. Other factors that contribute to water poisoning include activities that stimulate heavy sweating. The person working under extreme heat or intense humidity(湿气)must be careful when consuming water in order to maintain electrolyte balance. Mental diseases can also lead to water poisoning. Psychogenic polydipsia is a condition in which the affected person feels a need to drink a lot of water for unknown reasons.

1. What harm does water poisoning bring?

A．It can affect brain function.	B．It disturbs the balance of sodium.
C．It causes a drop in blood pressure.	D．It tends to make its victims nervous.

2. What can we know about proper amount of water to drink?

A．Three liters per day is deadly.	B．No single rule fits everyone.
C．It doesn’t bother healthy people.	D．Physical activity is its decisive factor.

3. Who would probably fall victim to water poisoning?

A．A patient suffering from stomachache.

B．A laborer working with heavy sweating.

C．An athlete fond of drinking sports drinks.

D．A teenager doing appropriate exercise daily.

4. What might be discussed in the paragraph that follows?

A．What has been found about sports drinks.

B．What else contributes to water poisoning.

C．What are the symptoms of water poisoning.

D．What can be done to avoid water poisoning.

9 . Temples have long served an important role since the early years of civilization. Whether you are seeking a sense of spiritual enlightenment or looking to learn more about a certain religion, these beautiful temples are worth a stop on your vacation.

Paro Taktsang in the Paro Valley, Bhutan

Situated on a steep cliff in Bhutan’s Paro Valley, the “Tiger’s Nest” earned its nickname from an 18th-century tale detailing Buddhist master Padmasambhava arriving to the site on a flying tiger. The journey to the cliffside is quite the challenge, requiring guests to climb two hours on a steep trail.

Seiganto-ji in Nachikatsuura, Japan

Neighboring the tallest waterfall and set against the lush trees of Nachi, Seiganto-ji dates back to the 4th century. Seiganto-ji is now the first stop on the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage, where individuals travel to 33 Buddhist temples throughout the Kansai region of Japan.

Man Mo Temple in Hong Kong

This Buddhist and Taoist temple was built to honor the god of literature and the god of war, and the inscriptions found in the temple hall imply its construction may have taken place around 1847. It is still highly active and visited by local worshippers, so it’s asked that any visitor coming to the temple is prohibited from taking photos out of respect.

Kek Lok Si Temple, Malaysia

Penang is often touted(吹捧) for its sandy beaches and emerald blue waters, but it’s also home to the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia. A melting pot of cultures, the temple’s architecture showcases Chinese, Thai, and Burmese styles throughout its stunning seven stories. It’s estimated there are 10,000 statues of Buddha depicted throughout its main pagodas(宝塔).

1. If you hope to enjoy a sea view, which temple is the best choice?

A．Paro Taktsang in the Paro Valley, Bhutan.	B．Seiganto-ji in Nachikatsuura, Japan.
C．Man Mo Temple in Hong Kong.	D．Kek Lok Si Temple, Malaysia.

2. What do we know from the text?

A．Kek Lok Si Temple is the largest temple in Malaysia.

B．Paro Taktsang earned its nickname due to its unique location.

C．Seiganto-ji is a time-honored temple with magnificent surroundings.

D．Visitors tend to take photos to show their respect for Man Mo Temple.

3. Where is the text probably taken from?

A．A travel journal.	B．A tourist brochure.
C．A geography textbook.	D．An academic article.

10 . A huge number of exchange programs and summer school programs are offered to international students around foreign universities worldwide. Today we explain the top student exchange programs -and -summer programs offered to foreign students.

Vienna Summer School

Vienna Summer School provides an incredible opportunity for 30 bachelor-level students to research side by side with world top researchers in the field of bioengineering. This paid summer program aims to attract international students and create an excellent research environment. This is a perfect opportunity for those students who are interested in the field of life science. The duration of Vienna Summer School is from Saturday, July 1 to August 28,2023.

SUSI Student Leaders Program

Bachelor-level students in Pakistan who are interested in the topic of public, local, state and federal policy making are invited to study in the USA through the short-tern SUSI student program 2023 held at the University of Massachusetts. This is an exchange program for Pakistani students. All expenses and accommodation costs will be covered by SUSI, so the application period is very short.

Hansen Leadership Exchange Program

The Hansen Summer Institute for Leadership is now open for the summer exchange program 2023. The Hansen summer program offers the opportunity to the USA and international students to build better leadership skills and a cultural understanding environment for the future. This 3-week summer exchange program is open for undergraduate, graduate,and doctoral students with any academic background.

IWP Summer Exchange Program

IWP Summer Exchange Program 2023 is a two-week writing and culture exchange program for Pakistani and Indian students in Iowa City, USA. The applicant from 18 to 22 from these countries with a background in art humanities is welcome to apply. This program will focus on creativity and is free for the selected applicants. The selected candidates will work together on the creation of paintings and sculptures.

1. Which program suits students who like biology?

A．Vienna Summer School.

B．SUSI Student Leaders Program.

C．IWP Summer Exchange Program.

D．Hansen Leadership Exchange Program.

2. Why should students apply for SUSI Student Leaders Program early?

A．It is fully funded.

B．It is a short-term program.

C．It is limited to postgraduates.

D．It is supported by the government.

3. What will students in IWP Summer Exchange Program do?

A．Offer policy advice.	B．Conduct research.
C．Write academic papers.	D．Create artworks.