3 . If you find yourself embracing the thrilling chaos of completing tasks at the last minute, congratulations — You are not alone! According to a survey, 20% of U.S. adults procrastinate (拖延) at home, at work, in relationships, and more. Another survey found that 88% of people procrastinate at least one hour a day.

Sounds alarming? As it turns out, if you’re feeling stressed, you may be more likely to procrastinate. Essentially, our brains are structured to approach tasks we find enjoyable and avoid those we are afraid of. Our limbic brain (边缘大脑), the emotional part of our brain, is screaming, “Let’s do anything but that stressful thing!” while our prefrontal cortex (前额叶皮层) is the CEO of our brain, setting the goals, making a plan, and ensuring we stay on track. CEO vs. Drama Queen Brain — who will win? Actually, there do exist chances when our limbic brain overrides that prefrontal cortex message.

Then there’s the burst of energy we often get when we’re up against a deadline, which leads to a reward pathway within our brains and sets the foundation for procrastination as a habit. When you race to the end and get to the goal finally, your previous stress is gone and you almost get in that pattern of “See, I work better under pressure!”

So, how to beat procrastination? Well, you need to retrain your brain to cope with the stress. One trick is to take periodic breaks (reward) to refocus your attention on the task. Ever heard of the Promodoro Technique? It’s about working for 25 minutes and resting for 5. During those breaks, forget about brain-burning activities — try relaxing techniques such as meditation or yoga instead. Another trick is to “eat the frog” first thing in the morning, or tackle the most difficult and stressful task of the day, as was once said by Mark Twain.

1. Why are the two surveys mentioned in the first paragraph?

A．To warn the readers.	B．To introduce a concept.
C．To present a phenomenon.	D．To make a comparison.

2. Which of the following statements will the author most probably agree with?

A．We are born to prefer what we like and avoid what we fear.

B．The limbic brain is under the control of the prefrontal cortex.

C．We are more likely to burst when getting close to the deadline.

D．Failing to complete a task can lead to habitual procrastination.

3. What does the author suggest readers do to stop procrastination?

A．Force the brain to focus.	B．Take a break regularly.
C．Solve a tricky math problem.	D．Eat something refreshing first.

4. What is the tone of this text?

A．Humorous.

B．Ironic.

C．Serious.

D．Unclear.

4 . Artificial intelligence(AI)models have long surpassed (超过) just creating text responses and images. Now, with only one sentence, OpenAI’s latest text-to-video model, Sora, can turn your words into video with good visual quality while faithfully following your content instructions.

Sora is said to perform better than many other existing models with similar functions. The Al model can create video at suitable aspect ratios (屏幕高宽比) for different devices, such as both widescreen videos and vertical videos that we usually see on social media. It also lets users quickly test out content in lower quality before making the high-quality version, which helps speed up output.

Aside from this, its ability to present videos in a realistic and smooth manner is amazing. Sora can create detailed scenes with several characters, scientific types of motion, and accurate subject and background details while generating multiple shots with a single video. Beyond the user’s requests, it also understands how these elements exist in the real world. For example, reflections in the water changes as a woman walks by.

Sora’s performance wouldn’t be possible without its helpful assistant, ChatGPT, which transforms simple sentences into detailed descriptions. improving the accuracy of output according to the user’s prompts (提示语).

However, the current model isn’t perfect. It may have trouble accurately showing how things move in a complicated scene and might not get how one action leads to another. For example, if someone eats part of a cookie in a Sora-made video, the cookie might not look like it’s been bitten into. The model might mix up directions like left and right, and find it hard to describe events in the right order.

As of February, Sora is still in the testing stage of development. OpenAI is now inviting cybersecurity professionals to make random attacks on Sora’s system, aiming to test the model’s possible weaknesses and risks. Sora has also been open to some visual artists, designers and filmmakers. Their feedback (反馈) will assist OpenAI in enhancing the model to better serve creative professionals.

1. What is the main focus of paragraphs 2-3?

A．Sora’s strengths.	B．Sora’s variety.
C．Sora’s development.	D．Sora’s techniques.

2. How does ChatGPT contributes to Sora’s capabilities?

A．By specifying user input.	B．By providing verbal feedback.
C．By examining sample videos.	D．By improving video quality.

3. Why does the author provide the example in paragraph 5?

A．To stress Sora’s potential safety risks.

B．To illustrate Sora’s existing limitations.

C．To show Sora’s perfect performance.

D．To explain the concept of a space time patch.

4. What can we know about Sora up to now?

A．It has been made available to various industries.

B．Its commercial release has been called off.

C．It has exposed alarming security issues.

D．It is undergoing testing and improvement.

5 . It’s a sunny March afternoon at Winchester Village Elementary School in Indianapolis, and teacher Natasha Cummings is leading her class in a brand new lesson. It’s the first time she’s teaching it and also likely the last. The second graders audibly take a short quick breath when Cummings explains the day’s activity: They’ll be simulating(a total solar eclipse (日全食) using the real sun, an inflatable globe and a moon made out of a play dough ball mounted on a stick.

On April 8, a narrow strip of North America will experience a total solar eclipse, in which the moon entirely covers the sun, darkening the sky so that only the sun’s corona, a ghostly white ring, will be visible. Indianapolis is one of several cities in the path of totality. The last time that happened was over 800 years ago, and it won’t happen again until 2153. For many of Cummings’ students, this event is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Cummings hopes learning about and witnessing the eclipse will inspire her students, and get them excited about science. It’s an experience she expects them to remember for the rest of their lives. “This is a story you’re gonna be able to tell,” she reflects before class.

In a grassy area outside the school, Cummings’ eclipse simulation begins: Students take turns holding the inflatable globes, and casting a shadow with their play dough moons. Cummings directs them to aim the shadow over the spot on the globe where Indianapolis would be. It’s a little chaotic, but the students quickly figure out how to properly position the moon’s shadow over their hometown.

Thomas Hockey, a professor of astronomy at the University of Northern Iowa, says he didn’t learn about solar eclipses when he was in grade school. He thinks the fact that elementary school teachers like Cummings are now teaching about them is an indication that science education has improved since he was a child. "Science is not done by old, gray-haired people in lab coats, necessarily. Citizens can participate in it. It’s not a magic black box; it’s all around us,” Hockey says.

1. How do the students probably feel when told about the new lesson?

A．Frightened.

B．Disappointed.

C．Astonished.

D．Satisfied.

2. Why is Cummings teaching her students about the eclipse?

A．To improve their story-telling skills.	B．To stir up their passion for science.
C．To witness a real total solar eclipse.	D．To seize a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

3. What is paragraph 3 of the text mainly about?

A．The process of the simulation.	B．The direction of Cummings.
C．The position of the moon.	D．The reaction of the students.

4. What does Thomas Hockey suggest people do to learn science?

A．Do experiments in lab coats.	B．Study hard in elementary school.
C．Participate in some magic tricks.	D．Experience scientific phenomena.

6 . The Arab Republic of Egypt covers a land area of approximately 1 million km², with an estimated 106 million people, Egypt accounts for one-fourth of the Arab world’s population. Egypt has long been considered the cradle of civilization and may be the oldest tourist destination on earth.

Cairo

A typical visit to Egypt includes arrival in the capital city of Cairo, one of the largest cities in Africa and the Middle East, with a population of approximately 22 million. Cairo today is a modern, international mix of Arab, African, and European influences. Travelers generally spend at least a few days in Cairo seeing the Egyptian Antiquities Museum, National Museum of Egyptian Civilization and Pyramids at Giza.

Upper Nile River

Most travelers include an Upper Nile River cruise as part of their schedule. Egypt is a beach destination, with thousands of miles of Mediterranean and Red Sea coastlines. Alexandria, Egypt’s second largest city is located on the Mediterranean Sea and has a string of beaches and seafood restaurants. For a truly relaxing beach vacation, travelers can visit one of the many resorts along the North Coast referred to as “Sahel”.

Red Sea coast

Egypt’s Red Sea coast has reefs offshore, with diving and snorkeling traditionally centered in Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh. Visits to Mount Sinai and Saint Catherine’s Monastery in the mountainous interior are popular destinations, especially with religious pilgrims. Adventure travelers favor desert jeep safaris and camel treks to remote oases and spectacular wadis.

1. What do we know about Egypt?

A．Egypt makes up 25% of the world’s population.

B．Cairo today is a mix of modern and traditional elements.

C．Visitors can enjoy their beach vacations in Cairo.

D．Egypt has been considered as the oldest tourist destination.

2. Which place is most attractive to people with religious faith?

A．Mediterranean.	B．Alexandria.
C．Sharm El Sheikh.	D．Saint Catherine’s Monastery.

3. This text is most likely taken from ______.

A．A travel guide.	B．A geography book.
C．An Egyptian newspaper.	D．A historical magazine.

7 . Flowers have a longstanding tradition as a means of emotional expression. When we wish to convey our affection, joy or condolences (哀悼), and words won’t work, we rely on the beauty of the flowers.

One of the most famous examples of floriography (花艺) is King Charles’ choice of funeral wreath for his mother, the late Queen. He expressed his sense of loss through his choice of blooms: Myrtle (香桃木) for love and prosperity, paired with English oak to represent strength.

How floriography influences our decisions has led florists to make some interesting observations. First, they documented that 29 percent of people chose flowers based on the color of the bouquet, with red being the most popular choice. Red is the color of passion and is widely regarded as an expression of love. However, pink has sumless meanings, depending on where you live: in Thailand, it symbolizes trust, while in Japan, it is considered a sign of good health. However, this only begins to scratch the surface of floriography.

But like all things in the world, there are good and bad, and some flowers are used to represent negative feelings toward the recipient. You might think yellow carnations are pretty, but they’ve been a symbol of defiance (蔑视) throughout history. Another flower best avoided is buttercup, whose yellow petals symbolize childishness.

By welcoming the tradition of floriography back into wider culture, we can explore the depth of our emotions in unique ways. Take a look at our beloved emojis — we can talk without typing a single word. Sending a heart here and a fire icon emojis there speaks through their aesthetics, a secret language all their own. Flowers are no different. They were merely the emojis of the19th Century, still filtering through after all this time.

1. What is the author’s purpose in referring to the example of King Charles?

A．To prove flowers to be expressive.	B．To introduce the topic of the passage.
C．To arouse the readers’ interest in flowers.	D．To present some knowledge of flowers.

2. What can be inferred from Paragraph 4?

A．Sending flowers was historically disapproved of.

B．Buttercup was suitable flowers for giving to children.

C．Giving flowers often leads to some misunderstandings.

D．A second thought should be given to flowers to be sent.

3. How does the author make his point about flowers in the last paragraph?

A．By listing some representative emojis.	B．By recognizing the popularity of emojis.
C．By borrowing the similar features of emojis.	D．By mentioning the similar history of emojis.

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

A．The Traditional Art of Giving Flowers	B．The Emotional Expression in Flowers
C．Social Functions of Some Flowers	D．Interesting Observation of Flowers

8 . Learned helplessness occurs when a person who has experienced repeated challenges comes to believe they have no control over their situation. They then give up trying to make changes and accept their fate.

Everyone can struggle at times, especially when coping with adversity and setbacks. Learned helplessness is characterized by more lasting symptoms such as: avoiding decisions, bad attitude, giving up quickly, inability to tolerate frustration, lack of effort, low motivation, passive behavior, poor self-esteem, refusing to try and so on. Learned helplessness is not a mental health problem, but it can sometimes be a sign of a mental disorder such as depression or anxiety.

The concept of learned helplessness was discovered accidentally by psychologists Martin Seligman and Steven F. Maier. They had initially observed helpless behavior in dogs that were classically conditioned to expect an electrical shock after hearing a tone. Later, the dogs were placed in a shuttle box that contained two chambers (室) separated by a low barrier. The floor was electrified on one side, and not on the other. The dogs previously subjected to the classical conditioning made no attempts to escape, even though avoiding the shock simply involved jumping over a small barrier.

Learned helplessness is frequently the result of experiencing stress or pain. People may feel that they have little to no control over the situation. Because of the lack of control, people may feel helpless and unmotivated to take action. Common causes that can lead to learned helplessness include: abuse, childhood neglect, domestic violence, natural disasters, etc.

Over-parenting can also contribute to the development of learned helplessness in children. When children are not allowed to try things independently, they may develop a poor sense of personal agency. Instead of trying, they believe that they are unable to do things and do not put forth any effort.

So what can people do to overcome learned helplessness? Learned helplessness can often be successfully decreased, particularly if intervention occurs during the early stages. Long-term learned helplessness can also be reduced, although it may require longer-term effort. Strategies that can help include: psychotherapy, self-care strategies, and getting social support.

1. Who is most likely to suffer from learned helplessness?

A．A person willing to accept help.	B．A person lacking discipline and energy.
C．A person encountering failures repeatedly.	D．A person desiring to succeed on their own.

2. What is mainly discussed about learned helplessness in the second paragraph?

A．Types.

B．Cures.

C．Causes.

D．Symptoms.

3. What do the underlined words “subjected to” mean in paragraph 3?

A．Receiving.

B．Rejecting.

C．Enjoying.

D．Fearing.

4. Which of the following is most likely to be a follow-up to this text?

A．Predicting the extension of the concept of learned helplessness.

B．Explaining the ways of beating learned helplessness separately.

C．Describing the discovery of the concept of learned helplessness.

D．Summarizing the causes and consequences of learned helplessness.

9 . Over 30 years ago, I stood in the front row of a kindergarten performance, singing to all the parents of the elementary school. At the end of the performance, Mrs. Summers, whom I always tried to impress, made a statement that would impact me for nearly a lifetime. She walked up to my mom and stated, “She certainly was the most excited and eager student I had this year, but she couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket.”

From that day on, I was always insecure about my singing. Singing became an embarrassment for me and I didn’t want anyone to hear me. When I was home alone, I would belt out (大声唱) songs as if I was singing on the stage. Though I felt insecure, it made my heart dance and my soul get free.

When I started attending church regularly, a woman came up to me and asked why I didn’t join the choir. She stated that I had a beautiful singing voice and appeared to greatly enjoy singing. I laughed and said she must have been joking. With a look of surprise, she simply suggested that I should think about it because I would be a nice addition to the choir.

Why did I have such a hard time allowing others to hear me sing? It was because I had believed some words that came out of my teacher’s mouth as a child. Mrs. Summers was probably trying to be humorous, but as a child, her comment truly hurt me. So I made a decision to stop believing the words I held on to for so many years. The following week, I joined the choir, and I began to feel better. Now I sing in the streets, and I sing in the gym. It doesn’t matter if I can carry a tune in a basket; I carry it on my heart.

1. How did Mrs. Summers think of the author’s performance in the kindergarten?

A．She had a great talent for singing.	B．She was too nervous to sing well.
C．Her singing voice was distinctive.	D．Her singing was rather out of tune.

2. How did the author feel when she heard Mrs. Summers’ words?

A．Annoyed.

B．Abandoned.

C．Discouraged.

D．Wronged.

3. What can we learn about the woman the author met in the church?

A．She played a joke on the author.

B．She knew the author’s problem.

C．She wanted to sing like the author.

D．She appreciated the author’s voice.

4. What does the author intend to tell us in the text?

A．Don’t act for others’ judgement.	B．Love whatever you want to do.
C．Learn from your past mistakes.	D．Hard work will finally pay off.