1 . What’s new to watch on TV
All Creatures Great and Small Season 4The beloved British TV series, “All Creatures Great and Small”, is set to return for its fourth season on January 7. Executive producer Colin Callender expressed excitement for the new season, promising more heartwarming family stories, community spirit, and of course, delightful animal adventures. The show is based on the best-selling books by Alf Wight, writing under the penname James Herriot, describing the lives of three animal doctors in rural Yorkshire. The upcoming season will be set in 1940, during World War Ⅱ, offering a unique mix of warmth and drama.
Echo“Echo”, the latest Marvel series on Disney+, follows the story of Maya Lopez, a deaf martial (武术的) artist with the ability to copy any move she sees. Played by Alaqua Cox, the character seeks vengeance (复仇) for her father’s murder at the hands of the criminal boss, the Kingpin. The series promises a more mature tone, offering a more grown-up kind of show than what we’ve seen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe before. Cox’s acting of Echo brings diversity and representation to the screen, adding depth to the character’s appealing storyline.
Masters of the AirComing to Apple TV+ on January 26, “Masters of the Air” is a highly anticipated miniseries recording the heroic efforts of the 100th Bomb Group, a US Air Force unit during World War Ⅱ. The show is based on historian Donald L. Miller’s book, displaying the courage, loss, and triumph experienced by the men as they carry out dangerous bombing missions over Nazi Germany. With emotional depth and a strong sense of brotherhood, this series promises a moving portrayal of the human experience during wartime.
1. What is “All Creatures Great and Small Season 4” mainly about?| A．The challenges faced by animals. |
| B．Stories about rural animal doctors in Yorkshire. |
| C．A group of animal doctors living in a city environment. |
| D．A story about the lives of animal trainers in the modern era. |
| A．It is written by Alaqua Cox. | B．It is a movie starring Maya Lopez. |
| C．It is more of a show for kids. | D．It is a story about revenge. |
| A．Both are adapted from books. | B．Both are available on Apple TV+. |
| C．Both are seasonal series. | D．Both are about war stories. |
2 . A Florida police officer is receiving praise for his swift response in rescuing two distressed swimmers caught in a rip current (离岸流) on a Tuesday afternoon.
Brooke Qualls, a witness to the incident, expressed her
Qualls had just
Sean McSweeney, another
“I’d never seen anything like it. It was shocking, yet
The Flagler Beach Police Department shared Qualls’ photos of the
“Serving comes in many different ways, and thanks to Brooke Qualls for
| A．interest | B．amazement | C．panic | D．annoyance |
| A．dangerous | B．strange | C．terrible | D．efficient |
| A．finished | B．assigned | C．evaluated | D．survived |
| A．step | B．rush | C．roll | D．fall |
| A．drop | B．drown | C．dive | D．run |
| A．stuck | B．sunk | C．absorbed | D．risen |
| A．witness | B．swimmer | C．victim | D．officer |
| A．worthy | B．embarrassing | C．heartwarming | D．desperate |
| A．escape | B．react | C．emerge | D．warn |
| A．conflict | B．rescue | C．motion | D．struggle |
| A．collecting | B．delivering | C．capturing | D．admitting |
| A．responded | B．adapted | C．required | D．adjusted |
| A．anticipations | B．inspirations | C．efforts | D．challenges |
| A．home | B．shore | C．hospital | D．office |
| A．safe | B．spectacular | C．famous | D．free |
3 . Many people have long believed that bright lights draw, or attract flying insects. But that is not exactly what is going on, a new study suggests.
Researchers believe that artificial lights at night may cause problems with flying insects’ natural navigation systems. As a result, the creatures fly in confusion around porch lamps, street lights and other artificial lights. “Insects have a navigational problem,” said Tyson Hedrick of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He added, “They’re accustomed to using light as a cue (提示) to know which way is up.”
Insects do not fly directly toward a light source, but actually “tilt their backs toward the light,” said Sam Fabian of Imperial College London. Fabian was a co-writer of the study that appeared recently in Nature Communications. This tilting action would make sense if the strongest light source was in the sky. But in the presence of artificial lights, the result is midair confusion.
For the study, researchers attached very small sensors to moths and dragonflies in a laboratory. They then filmed “motion-capture” video of flight — similar to how filmmakers attach sensors to actors to follow their movements. Researchers also used high-resolution cameras to film insects flying around lights at a field in Costa Rica. Such films permitted researchers to study in detail how dragonflies circle endlessly around light sources, positioning themselves with their backs facing the light. Researchers also documented that some insects fly upside down — and often crash land — in the presence of lights that shine straight upward like search lights. Insect flight was least disrupted by bright lights that shine straight downward, the researchers found.
“For millions of years, insects oriented themselves by sensing that the sky is light, the ground is dark — until people invented artificial lights”, said Avalon Owens of Harvard University.
1. What can we learn from the study?| A．Insects have a navigational problem. |
| B．Artificial lights will make insects confused. |
| C．Not all insects do fly directly toward a light source. |
| D．Small sensors are used to film an insect documentary. |
| A．Insects are unlikely to fly upside down. |
| B．Insects can position themselves facing the light. |
| C．Insects failed to orient themselves because of artificial lights. |
| D．Insect flight was interrupted by downward-shining bright lights. |
| A．Ambiguous. | B．Objective. | C．Optimistic. | D．Indifferent. |
| A．In an advertisement. | B．In a science textbook. |
| C．In a nature magazine. | D．In a news report. |
4 . A man may usually be known by the books he reads as well as by the company he keeps; for there is a companionship of books as well as of men; and one should always live in the best company, whether it is of books or of men.
A good book may be among the best of friends. It is the most patient and cheerful companions. It does not turn its back upon us in times of adversity or distress. It always receives us with the same kindness, amusing and instructing us in youth, and comforting and consoling us in age.
There is an old proverb, “Love me, love my dog.” But there is more wisdom in this: “Love me, love my book.” The book is a truer and higher bond of union. Men can think, feel, and sympathize with each other through their favorite author. They live in him together, and he in them. The best books are treasuries of good words, the golden thoughts, which, remembered and cherished, become our constant companions and comforters.
Books possess an essence of immortality. They are by far the most lasting products of human effort. Temples and statues decay, but books survive. Time is of no account with great thoughts, which are as fresh today as when they first passed through their author’s minds, ages ago. What was then said and thought still speaks to us as vividly as ever from the printed page. The only effect of time has been to sift out the bad products, for nothing in literature can long survive but what is really good.
Books introduce us into the best society; they bring us into the presence of the greatest minds that have ever lived. We hear what they said and did; we see them as if they were really alive; we sympathize with them, enjoy with them and grieve with them. The great and good do not die, even in this world. Embalmed in books, people’s spirits walk abroad. The book is a living voice. It is an intellect to which one still listens.
1. According to the author, what is the difference between our books and our friends?| A．Books remain patient and cheerful for a longer time. |
| B．Books provide comfort in old age, unlike our friends. |
| C．Friends can sometimes disappoint us, similar to our books. |
| D．Books reflect a person’s character more than their friends do. |
| A．To prove the value of time. | B．To highlight the longevity of books. |
| C．To show people’s preference for literature. | D．To emphasize the importance of ancient architecture. |
| A．Become a wise man by reading. |
| B．Read as many classic books as we can. |
| C．Cherish the company of our books just like our friends. |
| D．Sympathize with your friends through your favorite author. |
| A．Companionship of Books | B．Long Live Books |
| C．Our Best friends | D．Love Me, Love My Book |
5 . Colorado’s grays peak rises 14,278 feet above sea level, high enough that trees can’t grow toward the top, though there are plenty of shrubs and rocks. It was in this unforgiving landform that Bev Wedelstedt was unlucky enough to get seriously injured in her left knee.
It was August 2018, and Wedelstedt, 56, was on her way back down the trail with three friends. A storm was brewing, and they were anxious to get off the mountain. When they approached a rocky drop of a couple of feet, Wedelstedt decided to leap. She landed on her left leg. Then she heard the snap. Every step after that was agony (剧痛). Before long, she had to stop. As one friend ran down to get help, a number of other hikers, all strangers, attempted to help Wedelstedt down the narrow trail by walking on either side of her to support her weight, but that proved slow and dangerous. “One man was so close to the edge that I could see rocks falling down from where he stepped on them.” Wedelstedt says.
Finally, one hiker, Matt, asked her, “How do you feel about a fireman’s carry?” Before she knew it, he had lifted her over his shoulder. “Now, I’m not tiny,” says Wedelstedt, a former college basketball star. Matt clearly couldn’t carry her all the way down by himself. So six hikers and one of her friends took turns carrying her while she tried to make light of a difficult situation: “I told them I wanted to meet a lot of guys, but this isn’t the way I wanted to do it.” Three hours and two rock-strewn miles later, this human conveyor belt finally met the medics, who took Wedelstedt to the hospital.
She stayed in hospital for a period time. Now she has mostly recovered from her ill-fated hike, but Wedelstedt knows she’ll never shake one thing from that day: the memory of the band of strangers who came to her rescue. “I’m still in awe.”
1. What made it difficult for Wedelstedt to go downhill?| A．The changing weather. | B．The rocky path. |
| C．The thick bushes. | D．Her broken leg. |
| A．Advancing. | B．Transforming. | C．Freezing. | D．Weakening. |
| A．Only one hiker had firefighting experience. | B．Wedelstedt refused help from the rescuers. |
| C．The medics were unwilling to provide help. | D．The narrow trail slowed down the rescuers. |
| A．Wedelstedt has got a complete recovery. | B．All Wedelstedt’ rescuers were strangers. |
| C．Wedelstedt’s rescue left a deep impression on her. | D．Wedelstedt has benefited a lot from her experience. |
6 . “Is there anything you want from Grandma’s flat?” My uncle, texting me, last week.
His mum had passed away. He’d begun the painful yet necessary task of sorting through her belongings. I required zero thinking time. Yes, I would like her aloe vera (芦荟) plant, please.
Here’s why. Sometime around 1975, Grandma received this plant as a gift. It came courtesy (礼仪) of the local butcher in recognition of her loyal custom. It could, I suppose, just as likely have been a calendar, or a fountain pen, or a box of biscuits. But it just happened to be a pot plant, which Grandma, who always had green fingers, appreciated and placed in her doorway. Five years later, my mum married the butcher’s son. And had me.
When my father’s mother died in 1993, Grandma revealed to me how this particular plant was different to the dozens of others she had in her home. This one had history. It was, she suggested, a living, blooming representation of the relationship that existed between the two sides of my family. As, indeed, was I.
Aloe vera is reasonably hardy, but, as I’ve learned, if you put it above a radiator, it dies. If you under-water it, it dies. If you over-water it, it dies. In short, with my awful agricultural skills, I’m better off with a plastic one. So, straight after I asked my uncle for this treasure, I put in place an insurance policy: the plant will go and live with Ann, my mother-in-law.
Ann, is a genius with a greenhouse. The plan is for Ann to keep hold of the original plant. In time, she can teach me how to care for its cuttings properly. Meantime, Ann will spread cuttings and clippings among her own family. My wife’s two sisters, for example, are both far better at tending plants than I am, so it is quite conceivable that they, too, will spread cuttings of the plant around their partners’ families; that this humble plant might yet spread across my entire extended family. What an amazing outcome!
1. Why did the butcher give my Grandma the aloe vera plant?| A．To contribute to the marriage. |
| B．To observe a specific custom. |
| C．To show the butcher’s loyalty. |
| D．To appreciate her regular visits. |
| A．She is a garden enthusiast. | B．She is loyal to her friends. |
| C．She is a local shop keeper. | D．She is ready to help others. |
| A．He is skilled at agricultural planting. |
| B．He has a preference for plastic plants |
| C．He is confident in feeding the plant himself. |
| D．He is anxious to keep the plant alive. |
| A．An amazing outcome | B．A family tree |
| C．A family history | D．Green fingers |
7 . As Hallee McCoombes approaches the finish line of the 800-metre run for kids with disability in the 2022 School Sport Australia Track & Field Championships in Brisbane, the crowd is cheering wildly and chanting her name. With only ten metres to go, Hallee tunes out all the noise and pushes forward with every ounce of her strength. She doesn’t have any feeling in her waist or below her knees, but pain burns her upper legs. When Hallee crosses the finish line and collapses into an exhausted heap, her twin, Jada, scoops her up in her arms. “You came in third!” she whispers to Hallee.
Born with spina bifida, Hallee underwent immediate surgery to repair her spinal cord and close her back. As months passed, the McCoombes were surprised to see Hallee hitting her developmental milestones shortly after Jada did: talking, rolling over, crawling. “Her only big delay was walking.” says Gavin, her father. But Hallee had a secret weapon: a twin sister she was desperate to keep up with. “Jada definitely helped her with her disability.” Once Hallee started walking on her own at age three, her determination to keep up with Jada only grew stronger.
Shortly after the McCoombes moved to Elliott Heads, Jada declared that she wanted to be a runner. After watching Jada’s first training session of Little Athletics, Hallee turned to her parents and said, “I can do that, too. Sign me up.”
Would she even be able to run? “She has issues with her balance and her muscle power.” explains Gavin, “which means she had to work hard to maintain upper leg muscle and core support.” But Hallee’s parents had such strong belief in her that they signed her up. Sure enough, soon she was running with Jada.
Hallee’s passion for athletics has been transformative, helping her both physically and mentally. When asked what she would say to other children with disability, Hallee offers two powerful pieces of advice: “Don’t listen when people say you can’t do something. And, try your best.”
1. What can we learn about Hallee McCoombes from the first two paragraphs?| A．She made it to the finish line aching all over. |
| B．She won third place carried by her twin sister Jada. |
| C．To catch up with Jada motivated her to overcome her disability. |
| D．The milestones of her growth like talking and walking amazed her parents. |
| A．Her father’s doubt. | B．Her lack of confidence. |
| C．Training with her sister. | D．Maintaining her core strength. |
| A．Positive and patient. | B．Determined and persistent. |
| C．Courageous and humble. | D．Stubborn and hard-working. |
| A．The Great Family of Hallee McCoombes |
| B．Hallee McCoombes: A Race to Remember |
| C．Breaking Barriers: Hallee McCoombes’ Story |
| D．Hallee McCoombes Competing for the Disabled |
8 . Akira Toriyama, one of Japan’s leading comics authors, whose manga (漫画) cartoon “Dragon Ball” achieved worldwide success with its mix of comedic characters and exciting martial arts battles, died on March 1, 2024. He was 68. His death was confirmed on Friday in a statement by his manga and design production company, Bird Studio, and Capsule Corporation Tokyo. The statement said the cause was acute subdural hematoma, a condition in which blood collects between the skull and brain. It did not say where Mr. Toriyama died.
Mr. Toriyama’s body of work, which also includes “Dr. Slump” and “Sand Land,” is recognizable far beyond Japan’s borders, having influenced generations of manga artists and cartoonists. The studio said he had several projects in the works at his death. His best-known work, “Dragon Ball,” follows a young boy named Son Goku who embarks on a journey to collect the seven magical balls that summon (召唤) a wish- granting dragon. Since its creation in the 1980s, it has spanned 42 volumes, sold millions of copies worldwide and become one of the most famous manga, inspiring television, film and video game adaptations.
Throughout his career, Mr. Toriyama said in a 2013 interview with the Japanese newspaper The Asahi Shimbun, he did not care if his work did anything besides entertaining its readers. He was, he said, unlike “other manga artists concerned about conveying didactic (说教的) messages.” “The role of my manga,” he said, “is to be a pure work of entertainment.”
“Thanks to the support of so many people around the world, he has been able to continue his creative activities for over 45 years,” his studio’s statement said. “We hope that Akira Toriyama’s unique world of creation continues to be loved by everyone for a long time to come.”
1. What information can be found in the text about Akira Toriyama?| A．He died of an unknown psychological illness in Tokyo. |
| B．He worked for Bird Studio and Capsule Corporation Kyoto. |
| C．He gained worldwide recognition and admiration with his works. |
| D．He adapted his best-known work into TV series, films and games. |
| A．Akira Toriyama’s role in manga cartoon. | B．Akira Toriyama’s understanding of manga. |
| C．Akira Toriyama’s advice for cartoonists. | D．Akira Toriyama’s past career as a manga artist. |
| A．He had finished all his work before death. |
| B．He started working on “Dragon Ball” in the 1990s. |
| C．His fans’ support and recognition inspired him to continue his work. |
| D．His studio decided to carry on his wonderful manga works in the future. |
| A．A news report. | B．A biography. | C．An interview. | D．A book review. |
9 . Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD,创伤后应激障碍) is a mental disorder that develops among people who have experienced or observed traumatic things such as wars, disasters or other violent events. At the heart of PTSD is a memory that can not be controlled. It can affect the everyday lives of its sufferers in forms such as flashbacks, nightmares and anxiety.
A new study done by researchers from Yale University and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City suggests that patients with PTSD process their traumatic memories differently than regular memories.
The researchers did brain scans of 28 PTSD patients. They asked the patients to listen to recorded narrations of their own memories. Some of the recorded memories were neutral, some were simply “sad”, and some were traumatic.
They found that when the patients listened to the “sad” memories, the hippocampus (海马体), which is responsible for forming memories, was activated. But when they listened to the traumatic memories, a different area, called the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC,后扣带回皮质), was engaged. The PCC is not a memory region. Instead, it regulates internal experiences, such as daydreaming.
The more severe PTSD symptoms are, the more active the PCC is. “The brain doesn’t look like it is in a state of memory; it looks like it is in a state of present experience,” Daniela Schiller, one of the authors of the study, told The New York Times. That means people with PTSD feel as though they’re experiencing the traumatic event again in the present moment, rather than thinking back on it like a typical memory.
The new finding might hold hope for new PTSD therapies (治疗). Future therapies are expected to focus on helping PTSD patients return their traumatic memories to the hippocampus so that they can treat them as regular and non-disruptive (非破坏性的) memories. Changing the ways of thinking could help the brain reduce the feeling of immediate threat caused by trauma, according to Ilan Harpaz-Rotem, one of the paper’s authors.
1. What does the underlined word “flashbacks” in paragraph 1 mean?| A．Rapid movements of eyes. | B．Loud sound in the distance. |
| C．Repeated upsetting memories. | D．Bright lights suddenly appearing. |
| A．They treat them as regular memories. |
| B．They can easily control these memories. |
| C．They struggle to remember traumatic events clearly. |
| D．They vividly relive traumatic events as if they are happening at present. |
| A．Positive. | B．Negative. | C．Unclear. | D．Doubtful. |
| A．To analyze the reasons for traumatic events. |
| B．To inform readers of the symptoms of PTSD patients. |
| C．To advocate patients’ participation in future therapies. |
| D．To present a research finding and its potential application. |
10 . Considering studying in the US? Concerned about expense? Let’s explore strategies for reducing economic pressure.
Finding scholarships
Explore university websites, as many US institutions offer scholarships to international students. Make use of search engines like Fastweb or Scholarship.com for comprehensive scholarship searches. Scholarships can be competitive due to high demand. However, a large number of opportunities exist.
Tips for securing scholarships:
● Academic excellence: Strong academic performance is highly regarded by universities
● Extracurricular involvement: Participation in sports, music or community service distinguishes applicants.
● Seek guidance: Teachers or advisers can offer valuable advice.
Alternative cost-reduction measures
● On-campus employment: International students can work on campus, providing both income and networking opportunities.
● Community colleges: Start studies at a community college, which is often more affordable, before transferring to a university for degree completion.
● Host family accommodation: Living with a US family can be a cost-effective alternative to university housing.
Financial options: loans and aid
● Loans (贷款): Some financial institutions loans to international students.
● Financial aid: Certain universities provide financial assistance to international students.
Practical budgeting
● Home cooking: Preparing meals at home is more economical than dining out.
● Second-hand purchases: Choose used books and furniture to save on expenses.
● Public transportation: Take buses and trains instead of owning a car for more cost-effective travel.
1. What is an advantage in guaranteeing scholarships?| A．A great gift in art. |
| B．Excellent academic performance. |
| C．Active participation in class activities. |
| D．A good command of using search engines. |
| A．Community college fees are relatively high. |
| B．Owning a car is the cheapest way to get around. |
| C．International students have access to financial aid in some universities. |
| D．On-campus accommodation costs much less than living with a host family. |
| A．Education. | B．Economy. | C．Transportation. | D．Travel. |
