1 . Unlike Special Forces tourism, where the aim is to hit as many famous spots as possible in the _______ amount of time, Citywalk is more about immersing in the atmosphere of the city. By _______ on foot, Citywalkers get away from _______ famous hotspots and commercial hubs, _______, seeking out interactions with locals, authentic snacks, and a deeper appreciation for the history and culture of the city.

In some cases, Citywalk is much like a food tour, with walkers carefully planning out _______ with certain snack spots in mind. Seasoned (资深的) Citywalkers have seized the _______ to share their own recommended routes and snack spots _______ social media, quickly gaining thousands of new subscribers over the past month. The addition of the group chat function to Xiaohongshu (_______ in February) means Citywalk fans can chat with an influencer/ expert in their city and _______ connect with other new Citywalk fans.

On Gen Z trend bible Xiaohongshu, hashtags “Citywalk” and “Day off Citywalk” have 14.2 million and 411.5 million views _______. An official page dedicated to the trend ________ “Strolling the Street to Eat Delicious Food” can also be found when ________ for Citywalk on the platform. The H5 page recommends snack spots on backstreets in Hangzhou, Chongqing, Chengdu, Tianjin, Changsha, Guiyang and more.

While Citywalk can work as an ________ to tourism, most of the trend’s enthusiasts ________ reconnect with the city they live in. This post-reopening trend ________ Gen Z seek pleasure more through connection than consumption and signifies a deep cultural curiosity that goes beyond the Chinese iconography that typifies guochao.

1.

A．largest

B．hugest

C．shortest

D．quickest

2.

A．figuring

B．measuring

C．admiring

D．sensing

3.

A．offline

B．local

C．internet

D．nearby

4.

A．instead

B．however

C．meanwhile

D．furthermore

5.

A．paths

B．routes

C．ways

D．directions

6.

A．trend

B．taste

C．flow

D．trick

7.

A．on

B．at

C．by

D．via

8.

A．installed

B．launched

C．set

D．downloaded

9.

A．easily

B．possibly

C．luckily

D．randomly

10.

A．totally

B．particularly

C．visually

D．respectively

11.

A．read

B．named

C．said

D．noticed

12.

A．searching

B．leaving

C．longing

D．allowing

13.

A．inspiration

B．expression

C．anticipation

D．approach

14.

A．are keen to

B．are approved to

C．are bound to

D．are determined to

15.

A．discovers

B．observes

C．sees

D．views

2 . My son had just got his driving license. On the way home, I pulled the car over and ________ seats with him, making him drive home. “No, I’m not ready,” he took a deep breath, and ________ my father’s words, “Don’t apologize for knowing your ________.” For a brief moment, time froze.

I ________ my family riding the highest roller coaster then at an amusement park one summer. I was secretly terrified of ________. Not wanting to be the only one to stay behind, I ________ to myself, you can do this, you can do this, trying to ________ my nerves.

It was time to step into the waiting area. My body was ________ with fear. At that moment I knew: I just couldn’t do it and finally ________ my fear. Too ________ to face my family, I simply called to Dad that I was leaving.

Soon they showed up. No one looked very thrilled about what they had just experienced. I began to feel ________ relieved when I looked up and ________ Dad’s inquiring eyes. “I was just too chicken. Sorry.” I murmured.

“Don’t ever apologize for knowing your limits. Don’t ever let anyone ________ you do something you’re not comfortable with.” This was the exact ________ of what I expected him to say.

Instantly, I understood how my son felt. Knowing the limits isn’t a(n) ________ of weakness, but a sign of strength.

1.

A．shared

B．found

C．switched

D．reserved

2.

A．informed

B．echoed

C．reminded

D．grasped

3.

A．errors

B．weaknesses

C．highlights

D．limits

4.

A．recalled

B．anticipated

C．imagined

D．caught

5.

A．budget

B．heights

C．failure

D．conflicts

6.

A．repeated

B．yelled

C．turned

D．waved

7.

A．set

B．lose

C．affect

D．calm

8.

A．blank

B．solid

C．rigid

D．flexible

9.

A．face up to

B．give in to

C．come up with

D．reach out for

10.

A．relaxed

B．delighted

C．surprised

D．embarrassed

11.

A．somehow

B．enough

C．little

D．somewhat

12.

A．met

B．locked

C．avoided

D．resisted

13.

A．witness

B．make

C．suggest

D．observe

14.

A．opposite

B．remark

C．explanation

D．objection

15.

A．outcome

B．display

C．indication

D．admission

3 . Beeping alarms in hospitals are a life-or-death matter — but with so many going off all the time, medical professionals may experience alarm fatigue (疲劳) that impairs (损伤) care. Researchers now report that changing an alarm’s sound to integrate elements of musical instruments can make it more helpful amid the noises.

Auditory alarms can sound up to 300 times a day per patient in U. S. hospitals, but only a small percentage require immediate action. Data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration suggest that alarm fatigue (including when clinicians turned off or forgot to restart alarms) and other alarm-related issues were linked to 566 deaths over five and a half years.

After a typical day at the hospital, “I’d leave with beeping in my ears,” says Vanderbilt University Medical Center anesthesiologist Joseph Schlesinger. He co-worked with Michael Schutz, a music cognition researcher at McMaster University in Ontario, to analyze how musical sounds could improve hospital alarms.

In 2015, the researchers have conducted experiments, finding that sounds of a “percussive” music stand out even at low volume. In contrast, loud, “flat” tones like a reversing truck’s beep, get lost. And the sounds that made these sequences least annoying, with no decrease in recall, featured complex, time-varied harmonic (和声的) overtones (the many components within a single sound) rather than dull mechanical beeps.

The researchers are also drawing inspiration from other musical instruments: the triangle, for example, famously stands out in a crowd of sounds, possibly because it has overtone sequences that deviate from traditional harmonic series.

Such findings could lead to alarms that command attention and fit into current regulatory guidelines. Michael Rayo, who studies cognitive systems design at the Ohio State University, says that the experiment “furthers our understanding of aspects that reliably support strong performance.” Applied psychologist Judy Edworthy, a retired professor of the University of Plymouth in England, says the finding that musical tones can help improve alarms is important for future patient monitoring equipment designs. Still, she warns, “any sound can lead to alarm fatigue if it is constantly false.”

1. What is the problem with the traditional alarms beeping throughout hospitals?

A．Causing disorder of the hospital.	B．Annoying medical professionals.
C．Influencing clinicians’ response to alarms.	D．Damaging people’s hearing in hospitals.

2. What does the underlined word “deviate” in paragraph 5 probably mean?

A．Differ.

B．Separate.

C．Develop.

D．Arise.

3. What is Judy Edworthy’s attitude toward the finding of the research?

A．Critical.

B．Objective.

C．Ambiguous.

D．Supportive.

4. Which of the following is the best title for the text?

A．Music Finds Its Way to Hospitals	B．The Fatigue of Medical Professionals
C．Alarms: The Louder, The Better	D．Musical Alarms Fit Better in Hospitals

4 . A batch of new houses across California is selling unusually fast. In the past two months, 82 have been snapped up, and the waiting list is 1,000 long. That demand should, though, soon be satisfied—for, while it can take weeks to put up a conventional bricks-and-mortar dwelling (砖混住宅), the constructors behind these houses are able to build one in less than 24 hours. They can do it so rapidly because their products are collected from prefabricated (预制的) components printed in a factory.

Three-dimensional printing has been around since the early 1980s, but is now developing fast. It is already employed to make things ranging from orthopaedic (整形外科的) implants to components for aircraft. The details vary according to the products and processes involved, but the underlying principle is the same. A layer of material is laid down and somehow fixed in place. Then another is put on top of it. Then another. By varying the shape and the composition, objects can be crafted that would be difficult or impossible to produce with conventional techniques.

Not only does 3D printing allow greater versatility (用途广泛) and faster construction, it also promises a more environmentally friendly approach. That may make it a useful answer to two challenges now facing the world: a shortage of housing and climate change. More than 20% of Earth’s population lack adequate accommodation. And the construction industry is responsible for 11% of the world’s man-made carbon-dioxide emissions. An important benefit is that there is less need to move lots of heavy stuff. Palari Homes, for instance, estimates that prefabricating its products reduces the number of lorry journeys sufficiently to cut two tonnes off the amount of carbon dioxide released per home. If successful, building by 3D printing is likely to spread beyond housing. Opportunities also exist in warehousing, offices and other commercial buildings.

1. What can be inferred from paragraph one?

A．Houses are selling faster in California than other countries.

B．The demands of houses can make ends meet in California.

C．Traditional house sale in California has been booming recently.

D．Conventional dwellings need more time to complete.

2. What’s paragraph 2 mainly about?

A．Development and definition of Three-dimensional printing.

B．Application and work principles of Three-dimensional printing.

C．Advantages Three-dimensional printing has.

D．Functions and application of Three-dimensional printing.

3. What’s the author’s attitude towards 3D printing?

A．Ambiguous.

B．Indifferent.

C．Favorable.

D．Caring.

4. What’s the suitable title for the passage?

A．3D printing — application to construction field	B．3D printing — an environmentally friendly tech
C．The promising future of 3D printing industry	D．Novel practice of the familiar 3D printing

5 . SPECIAL ENGLISH

The English language programs of the Voice of America (VOA) can be divided into two types according to the speed of broadcasting: Standard English and Special English.

Special English is a simple and standardized English radio program arranged by VOA for listeners who are beginning to learn English in non-English speaking countries around the world. It officially began broadcasting in October 1959.

The famous American lexicologist S.B. Flexmer identified three criteria for Special English, that is, what makes it “special”:

●It writes and broadcasts in short and clear sentences;
●It broadcasts at a rate of 90 words per minute, or 2/3 of Standard English;
●It is a form of American English composed mainly of the 1500 basic words.

Special English programs can be divided into two categories: news programs and feature programs.

News program

VOA Special English news broadcasts provide listeners with worldwide information on politics, economics, military affairs, diplomacy, international relations, religion, weather, and all kinds of important events and wonders. They are broadcast to Southeast Asia five times a day, twice in the morning and three times in the evening.

Feature Program

From the perspective of time, Special English feature programs can be divided into two categories: one is every five minutes, and the other is every fifteen minutes. The latter consists of seven different sub-features, which are repeated four times a day on a weekly cycle, but the two features on Sunday and Saturday are broadcast only three times a night, each lasting about 10 minutes, followed by each five-minute feature.

1. Which is one of the criteria for Special English?

A．It’s a basic English radio program.	B．It relies on a mere 1500 basic words.
C．It plays at a speed of 90 words per minute.	D．It’s aimed at those starting to learn English.

2. What can we learn about the two programs?

A．Both of them are broadcast repeatedly.

B．They are broadcast almost at the same time.

C．Listeners can listen to news program in the afternoon.

D．Each five-minute program consists of seven sub-features.

3. Who are most likely to listen to Special English?

A．Radio program enthusiasts.	B．Western culture lovers.
C．Language learners.	D．English beginners.

6 . We have all experienced that feeling of mental exhaustion after focusing on a tricky problem. Detailed thinking certainly feels like hard work, but is it? The answer is a touch more subtle than you might suspect. Intriguingly, when it comes to energy use, the brain doesn’t distinguish between tasks that we traditionally regard as “hard” and those that come more naturally. This was first demonstrated in the 1950s in a study showing that the brain’s level of metabolism (新陈代谢) is remarkably constant, regardless of whether we are concentrating on mental math or letting our mind wander.

Your brain assigns resources to its different parts depending on the mental activity being carried out. But there is a trade-off. “When the demand of a mentally challenging task increases, you see increased metabolism in the neurons (神经元) responsible for the task,” says Nilli Lavie at University College London. Meanwhile, you see corresponding decreases in other brain areas. For instance, Lavie and her colleagues measured energy use in the brain region responsible for daydreaming and found that it decreased when volunteers carried out a problem-solving task that required focused attention. So thinking hard does burn more energy in the brain region involved, but this is offset by energy savings in other parts of the brain.

However, your brain doesn’t see it that way. “It worries about an imbalance of supply over demand,” she says. When the brain detects exhaustion of glucose (葡萄糖) — the sugar that fuels the brain — in any region, it perceives it as something bad. This is what gives rise to the feeling of being worn out after continuous focus.

So, after a tough exam, the sensation of having burned through a supercomputer’s worth of energy is real, though your brain has used few or no extra calories overall. “There is a constant rate of neural energy in the brain,” says Lavie. “It is irrelevant whether it is spent on a task requiring concentration or on a distraction.”

1. What is the main idea of paragraph 1?

A．We all get tired after hard focus.

B．Thinking hard doesn’t use more energy.

C．A study shows the brain’s metabolism level.

D．Detailed thinking is considered harder than mind wandering.

2. What will happen to the region for daydreaming when you’re highly focused?

A．It burns an increased rate of calory.

B．It stimulates the neurons for the task.

C．It’s also involved in the task and requires energy.

D．It reduces neural activity and spares more energy.

3. Which of the following best replaces the word “offset” underlined in paragraph 2?

A．Balanced.

B．Absorbed.

C．Dominated.

D．Released.

4. Why does a mentally challenging task lead to more tiredness?

A．The brain detects signals of high energy demand.

B．The brain is punishing you for working too hard.

C．The brain is losing the balance of energy supplying.

D．The brain gets bored easily and refuses to be engaged.

7 . My friend Megan texted about a puppy needing a home, attaching photos. As an animal shelter owner, I am always looking to _________ my family. After buying land in 2017, I opened Charlotte’s Freedom Farm, named after my first _________, a lamb with one ear. With the profits from my four pet supply stores, I have _________ up to 200 animals.

The puppy, Winnie, was deserted for its bad front legs, but instantly _________ my heart with his big brown eyes and floppy ears. His unique appearance _________ me of a kangaroo, so I started an Instagram page for him, @winnie_ theroo.

At Pawsability, Winnie received _________ wheels, allowing him to move freely and merrily. _________ by his journey, I wrote a book, “Winnie’s Warriors,” sharing his story and those of other _________ dogs at the farm. While some people initially _________ him, they quickly realize that Winnie and his friends are living their best lives on the farm. His Instagram following continues to __________, with fans finding inspiration in his __________. He brings joy and laughter into our lives every day.

As Winnie’s family member, I am incredibly __________ of him. He has __________ me so much about love, acceptance and resilience. Animals like Winnie __________ to be celebrated and cherished, as they have displayed the __________ that exists even in the face of hardships.

1.

A．unite

B．comfort

C．expand

D．defend

2.

A．purchase

B．rescue

C．contact

D．search

3.

A．housed

B．listed

C．found

D．reached

4.

A．healed

B．won

C．struck

D．attracted

5.

A．convinced

B．freed

C．reminded

D．informed

6.

A．heart-shaped

B．custom-made

C．hand-picked

D．mass-produced

7.

A．Enriched

B．Relieved

C．Driven

D．Inspired

8.

A．athletic

B．loyal

C．normal

D．disabled

9.

A．pity

B．doubt

C．praise

D．support

10.

A．work

B．update

C．grow

D．count

11.

A．optimism

B．strength

C．bravery

D．excellence

12.

A．patient

B．mindful

C．content

D．proud

13.

A．changed

B．told

C．taught

D．ordered

14.

A．seek

B．dream

C．tend

D．deserve

15.

A．closeness

B．care

C．beauty

D．kindness

8 . To Swedes, the scent of surströmming (鲱鱼罐头) is pleasant, but to most others, it’s sickening. This contrast highlights the role of culture in shaping our perceptions (见解) of scent. However, researchers now suggest that biology might play a more significant role than previously thought.

Artin Arshamian, a neuroscientist at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, and Asifa Majid, a psychologist at the University of Oxford, noticed from their own previous work that people from different cultures described smells differently. They also knew from past experiments by other researchers that culture was important in determining which sorts of faces people found beautiful. Thus, they expected to see a similar phenomenon with smells.

The researchers conducted a study involving nine diverse groups of people, including hunter-gatherers in Mexico, farmers in Ecuador, and residents of cities like Mexico City and Bangkok. They were presented with ten smells, ranging from isovaleric acid to vanilla extract, and asked to rate them according to pleasantness. The results showed high consistency across cultures, with isovaleric acid universally disliked and vanilla extract mostly enjoyed.

Interestingly, the chemical composition of the smells accounted for 41% of the reactions, while cultural factors only explained 6%. It is quite different in the case of visual perception of faces, where a person’s culture makes up 50% of the explanation for which faces they find beautiful. Meanwhile, the researchers identified an “eye of the beholder” effect in our perceptions of scent. This phenomenon, though less obvious than in visual perception, represents the personal preferences that are shaped by influences outside individual culture, accounting for 54% of the differences in which smells people liked.

This study suggests that our sense of smell may be more influenced by biological factors than cultural ones. It challenges the idea that culture alone determines what we find pleasant or unpleasant and opens up new ways of exploring the biological basis of our senses.

1. What is the initial purpose of the research?

A．To explore how culture affects our sense of smell.

B．To prove all people enjoy the scent of surströmming.

C．To examine geography plays a role in scent perception.

D．To confirm biology has an influence on scent perception.

2. How did the researchers conduct the research?

A．By making questionnaire surveys.	B．By recording participants’ reactions.
C．By comparing cultural backgrounds.	D．By referring to previous study reports.

3. The underlined “eye of the beholder” effect mentioned in the research refers to ________.

A．the standard of beauty across different cultures

B．the role of culture in shaping our sense of smell

C．the impact of personal preferences on scent perception

D．the influence of outside factors on our visual preference

4. What can be inferred from the participants’ reactions to isovaleric acid?

A．They were familiar with isovaleric acid beforehand.

B．They hated isovaleric acid all due to its unpleasant smell.

C．Their reactions to the scent of isovaleric acid varied among cultures.

D．Their dislike for isovaleric acid was based more on biological factors.

9 . It is now possible to generate fake but realistic content with little more than the click of a mouse. This can be fun: a TikTok account on which an artificial Tom Cruise wearing a purple robe sings Tiny Dancer of Paris Hilton holding a toy dog has attracted 5.1 million followers. However, this technology also causes challenges. Cheaters can copy loved ones’ voices with just ten seconds, and AI-generated celebrities advertise questionable products online. Fake videos of politicians are also spreading rapidly.

The fundamental problem is an old one. From the printing press to the internet, new technologies have often made it easier to spread untruths or pretend to be the trustworthy. While humans have traditionally relied on shortcuts to detect fakes, such as spelling mistakes or strangely rendered (渲染的) hands in AI-generated images, these signs are becoming less reliable as AI continues to improve. The arms race between generating and detecting fakes currently favors the former, and it seems that eventually, AI models will be able to produce perfect fakes.

This rapid advancement in AI technology raises serious concerns. For example, it could lead to a world where any photograph of a person can be used for blackmail (敲诈). Additionally, anyone could create a video of a political leader announcing a nuclear first strike, causing widespread panic.

Despite these awful possibilities, societies will adapt to the rise of fake content. People will learn to distrust images, audio, or video as proof of events, similar to how they view drawings. Instead, the focus will shift to identifying the source of content, with reliable sources becoming increasingly important.

It may sound strange, but this was true for most of history. While AI technology presents significant challenges, it is not the end of the marketplace of ideas. Over time, the fakes that rise will mostly be the funny ones.

1. What is the main concern over the ability of AI to generate realistic fake content?

A．It makes people pretend to be someone else.

B．It enables cheaters to promote fake products online.

C．It causes arms race between generating and detecting fakes.

D．It makes it difficult to distinguish the real content from the fake.

2. What are people advised to focus on when ensuring the reliability of content?

A．Its source.

B．Its visual quality.

C．Its popularity.

D．Its emotional impact.

3. What does the author convey in the last paragraph?

A．Funny fakes will be the only one that rise in the future.

B．The rise of fakes content will not destroy the exchange of ideas.

C．People will find it necessary to distinguish AI-made content from reality.

D．People will no longer trust any form of media owing to the flood of fakes.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Fun and Fear of Videos: AI is Changing Our World

B．AI-Generated Fakes: A Challenge to Truth and Trust

C．From Laughs to Lies: The Impact of AI-Created Videos

D．Dawn for Digital Art: Welcoming the Era of AI-Made Content

10 . My biggest regret of 2023 was the relationship to my smartphone. I spent the equal of January, February and March looking at that tiny screen. While some of that time was necessary for work, or staying connected with family, I became glued to it. This habit started to make me feel uneasy.

So, in December, I made a big change. I swapped my expensive iPhone for a basic flip phone (翻盖手机), which only cost $108. This decision was met with disbelief, especially from my seven-year-old daughter who couldn’t understand why I chose such a device. However, I was determined to reduce my screen time and take back control of my life.

Making the switch was neither easy nor fast. I had to adjust to its limited functions and learn to live without the convenience of having everything at my fingertips. There were moments when I felt frustrated, like when I couldn’t use a smartphone app to charge my electric car or navigate without Google Maps. Despite these challenges, I survived, and even progressed during the month.

It was a relief to disconnect my brain from the internet regularly and for hours at a time. I read four books. I even did a magic jigsaw puzzle. After two weeks, I noticed I’d lost my thumb twitch — physical desire to check my phone in the morning, at red lights, waiting for an elevator or at any other moment when my mind had a brief opportunity to wander.

“Our health is struggling against many of these services and companies that are competing for our time and our energy and our attention,” said Matthew Buman, a professor of movement sciences at Arizona State University. I told him about my own strategy — the flip phone. He said it probably made my mind feel more free and feel as if I had more time (both true), but that in our society, it’s hard to maintain that in the long term.

1. What made the author change her relationship with her smartphone?

A．Her intention to work harder.	B．Her desire to contact her family.
C．Her decision to try something new.	D．Her guilt about overuse of the phone.

2. How did the author’s daughter respond to the new flip phone?

A．Proud of the wise choice.	B．Astonished at the low price.
C．Confused by the unexpected switch.	D．Delighted at the new device.

3. What was the benefit the author noticed after switching to a flip phone?

A．Efficiency in navigating.	B．Control over her life.
C．Convenience to charge her car.	D．Desire to check her phone.

4. Why did Matthew Buman think it difficult to maintain the author’s strategy in the long term?

A．The author might find it hard to disconnect from the internet.

B．The author’s health might suffer due to the lack of connectivity.

C．The author might miss the convenience of having a smartphone.

D．The author might struggle to adapt to the limited functions of a flip phone.