1 . The e-mail request came into the Ekiben restaurant in Baltimore late on a Thursday afternoon: their special broccoli dish. The man who sent the e-mail didn’t actually
Steve Chu, one of the restaurant’s co-owners, read the e-mail and quickly replied with an alternative
Brandon Jones, the son-in-law, was
“She had always told us, ‘When I’m on my deathbed, I want to have that broccoli,’” recalls Brandon’s wife, Rina Jones.
That Friday after work, a day after receiving Brandon’s
Rina says her mother also
The Joneses invited Chu and his coworkers to
“It was an honor to help fulfill the family’s
A.make | B.want | C.serve | D.fetch |
A.wife | B.aunt | C.friend | D.mother-in-law |
A.trying | B.waiting | C.hoping | D.planning |
A.requirement | B.demand | C.request | D.suggestion |
A.worried | B.surprised | C.confused | D.annoyed |
A.provide | B.serve | C.prepare | D.order |
A.call | B.letter | C.e-mail | D.invitation |
A.dine | B.work | C.shop | D.rest |
A.cooking | B.washing | C.eating | D.searching |
A.noticed | B.impressed | C.recognized | D.doubted |
A.nervous | B.touched | C.embarrassed | D.patient |
A.believe | B.understand | C.accept | D.explain |
A.join | B.leave | C.accompany | D.meet |
A.regretted | B.denied | C.hesitated | D.refused |
A.duties | B.promises | C.wishes | D.tasks |
2 . Scanning an item at checkout is something we take for granted in this age of convenience. We can thank barcodes for that. It’s been 50 years since the beginning of this game-changing technology.
On March 31, 1971, a historic meeting took place in New York City and included executives from some of the top US companies at that time. The meeting agreed to create a system to uniquely identify every single product, calling it the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN), the core of barcodes, according to El Mundo, a Spanish newspaper.
What information does a barcode contain? Where the product comes from, where it has been, its price, expiration (过期时间)... you name it. The first two numbers indicate where that product has been identified (the place), then there is the number that corresponds to the manufacturing company and the rest of the numbers uniquely identify each unit that the manufacturer makes.
Barcodes don’t only identify the category of goods but also manage the number of goods. For example, if there are 10 cartons of milk and a customer takes one, it will be registered when it is scanned at the cash counter, so the store owner knows there are nine cartons left and manages stock accurately.
“Its creation allowed the first digitization in the control of the stock,” José María Bonmatí, general director of AECOC, a Spanish commercial association, told El Mundo. “The unique identification of products at a global level was the key that opened the door to retail as we know it today.”
In the past five decades, barcodes have provided many conveniences for commerce. The next generation of barcodes, such as QR codes, can hold vastly more information. “Their use, for example, can tell consumers if a product contains allergens (过敏原), if it is organic and information on its carbon footprint. Ultimately, this provides consumers with a greater level of trust and loyalty relating to the products they buy,” according to GS 1, the organization that develops and maintains the global barcodes standard.
1. What does the article tell us about barcodes?A.They were first introduced five decades ago. |
B.They were developed by a Spanish executive. |
C.The GTIN was the first version of a barcode. |
D.They are used by some of the top companies worldwide. |
A.A product’s carbon footprint. |
B.A product’s marketing company. |
C.The allergens contained in a product. |
D.The remaining amount of a certain product in stock. |
A.They help improve the quality of goods. |
B.They furthered the development of retail. |
C.They offer consumers a wider choice of products. |
D.They save companies from having to stock products. |
A.To inform readers of a new type of barcode. |
B.To compare barcodes and QR codes. |
C.To introduce how barcodes were put into use. |
D.To describe the development and importance of barcodes. |
3 . Glass marble playing, dating psychology, Harry Potter and genetics, life and death ... Chinese universities have started setting up innovative new courses. In these classes, students are able to learn knowledge through vivid examples and group work, making learning fun.
For example, at Tianjin University, the most popular elective course is dating psychology, which is in high demand all the time. Jin Yangbo, 18, enrolled in the course this school year. “This course is very scientific,” said Jin. “It doesn’t straight away start with techniques on how to date, but instead guide s us to learn more about ourselves, our family and our attachment styles.”
What made Jin impressive was the group discussion on the differences between how men and women think. “I hadn’t realized that there were that many differences between men and women in emotional expression,” Jin said.
Wang Xiaoling, the professor of the course, applied to make dating psychology an elective course in 2019. “I do psychological counseling on campus and have noticed a rising need among students to have professional relationship guidance,” said Wang. “I think theoretical knowledge and practice are both essential in relationships,” Wang said. “Many university students haven’t developed a healthy view toward relationships. When they encounter problems, many of them don’t have a good system for handling consequences.”
In the course, Wang has covered topics like “why some people tend to please others in relationships”, “how to handle conflicts” and “how to get over a person after breaking up”. “I also asked them to do group presentations and papers on these topics, so that they can explore themselves in an active way.”
In the future, Wang and the university want to start a video channel on social media so they can help more young people all over China. “We will design the course based on current situations so that the knowledge is more up-to-date,” Wang said.
1. Which of the following best describes the elective courses?A.Easy and fun. | B.Creative and hands-on. |
C.Serious and complicated. | D.Scientific and interesting. |
A.Techniques on how to date. | B.Its emphasis on self-awareness. |
C.The lesson on attachment. | D.A discussion on gender differences. |
A.Wang’s views on relationships. |
B.The origin of the dating psychology course. |
C.The purpose of the dating psychology course. |
D.Problems with how students deal with relationships. |
A.Make the course more accessible. | B.Do counseling on social media. |
C.Include difficult topics in the course. | D.Adapt content for different age groups. |
4 . I had always looked forward to the day when I would finally apply as a delegate at a Model United Nations (MUN) conference. Therefore, you can imagine my excitement when I finally traveled to Belgium to participate in the 2023 MUN conference this March.
The conference was held on March 7-11. Despite the horrible weather throughout our stay, I still found the city extremely attractive due to its cobblestone streets, Gothic monuments and amazing lighting in the evenings. Meanwhile, the delegate’s fee covered lunches for four days, welcoming and closing receptions, a traditional Belgian dinner, a theme party and a gala night.
I was designated to represent Poland in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which turned out to be an unexpectedly unified and efficient committee. We managed to pass the communique to combat hybrid warfare and improve cooperation between NATO allies (盟友).
In the beginning, I felt intimidated by how passionate my fellow delegates were. As a first-timer, I was really confused and felt hesitant to speak up. I only started to enjoy acting my part as a diplomat on the second day. From there, things just got better and better. I got a bit ill at the end of the conference, however, so I couldn’t enjoy the conference to its fullest potential.
Even so, it is without a doubt that those days in Belgium definitely opened a new chapter in my MUN journey! It made me realize how fruitful MUN simulations are. Through the MUN conference, you will surely improve your public speaking skills massively and gain so many good friends, many of whom you will likely stay in touch with for the rest of your life. It is for these reasons that I have fallen in love with Leuven, that magical city.
1. What did the author like about Leuven?A.The streetscape. | B.Delicious food. |
C.Its rich history. | D.The friendly locals. |
A.She helped pass several resolutions. | B.She spent most of her time socializing. |
C.She found the committee productive. | D.She struggled to get her ideas across. |
A.Inspired. | B.Frightened. | C.Touched. | D.Excited. |
A.It is too challenging for first-timers. |
B.It is a good way to improve negotiation skills. |
C.It is a valuable experience for personal growth. |
D.It offers a great chance to learn about other cultures. |
5 . Follow these tips to start a book drive in your neighborhood or school.
Before your book drive
Identify your volunteers. Recruit a committee of volunteers to assist you with planning and pick-ups on collection day.
Determine where to hold the book drive. Good locations include: small retail businesses or local schools. You don’t have to choose just one. You can ask businesses all over your area to collect books for the drive.
Choose an appropriate time to hold the book drive. Join forces with an already-scheduled community event, or take advantage of a national celebration.
Determine what type of books you want to collect and what age group you are targeting. Your range can be as wide or narrow as you like.
Plan a kick-off event. Host a party, and ask each attendee to bring a book.
During your book drive
Motivate. Organize a competition to encourage friends, neighbors, other parents, club members to donate. Keep track of which location and which individual contributes the most books. Recognize the donors with certificates or awards.
Spread the word. The most successful way to gather books is to ask your personal network to contribute. Make these requests in person or by phone. To reach a larger audience: Hang flyers in grocery stores and schools (with permission).
After your book drive
Sort your books. Count the number of books you collected, and sort them by age range or where they will be donated.
Review. Get your committee together to consider what worked and what didn’t. Document changes to make your next book drive even better.
1. When is the best time to hold a book drive in your neighborhood?A.During the weekends. | B.When stores are holding sales. |
C.During the National Day holiday. | D.At the beginning of a new semester. |
A.Hold reading activities. | B.Put on shows during the event. |
C.Reward donors with prizes. | D.Place collection boxes everywhere. |
A.Promote the drive online. | B.Sum up the experience and lessons. |
C.Choose receivers of the books. | D.Set a goal for the next book drive. |
6 . Atmospheric (大气层的) rivers are long and narrow bands of water vapor (水蒸气) in Earth’s atmosphere, which are called “large rivers in the sky”. These rivers form over warm ocean waters. They are huge. They can be 930 miles long and one-third that wide.
Like real rivers, they carry huge amounts of water. These large streams of small water drops are blown by wind over land. When that happens, the water vapor cools down and condenses (凝结). Atmospheric rivers can be good. They bring water to dry areas. However, they can cause huge, fast-moving storms. Some cause snowfalls that bury towns. They are also the main cause of floods on the U.S. West Coast.
Atmospheric rivers are hard to predict. But scientists are working to change that. Marty Ralph, a scientist who works at the University of California, directs the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes (CW3E). They created the first computer model to predict atmospheric rivers on the U.S. West Coast. This model uses a program that runs on a computer to create a model of a real-world event. CW3E also studies atmospheric rivers using planes. Pilots drop instruments into atmospheric rivers to collect information like temperature and wind speed, which helps with forecasting.
Will climate change affect atmospheric rivers? Climate change happens naturally over a long period of time. But today, it is largely caused by human activities and is causing the Earth to warm, which affects atmospheric rivers.
Atmospheric rivers are pushed by the wind. Those winds are driven by the temperature differences between the poles and the equator (赤道). But the poles are also warming faster than areas near the equator. That makes the temperature difference between the areas smaller. This can make winds weaker.
Climate change might not cause more atmospheric rivers. But there may be very, very wet seasons and very, very dry seasons. Such a seesaw in rainfall could make it harder to manage what water there is.
1. What can we learn about atmospheric rivers?A.They can be 930 miles long and 465 miles wide. |
B.They are easy to predict as scientists are working on it. |
C.They are bands of water vapor forming over warm ocean waters. |
D.They are the main cause of floods in the U.S. |
A.Why it is hard to predict atmospheric rivers. |
B.Whether scientists can predict atmospheric rivers. |
C.How technology helps the prediction of atmospheric rivers. |
D.How scientists are working on the forecasts of atmospheric rivers. |
A.Growth. | B.Drop. | C.Prediction. | D.Change. |
A.A textbook. | B.A science magazine. | C.An academic article. | D.A news report. |
7 . Pack the car and explore what New York State has to offer. Here are four family-friendly destinations where you and the kids can play, learn and have endless amounts of fun.
Sullivan Catskills
This year-round water park features 11 attractions, including an activity pool, a rope bridge challenge and slides. The room is kept at 84 degrees, which prevents any outside Cats-kill cold. It opens from Thursday to Sunday.
Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
It’s a nonprofit organization located at the historic 1969 Woodstock Music Festival site. Guests are welcome to explore the preserved site that held the famous festival. The center also has a museum that features artifacts from Woodstock.
Thomas Cole National Historic Site
The site has been additionally fitted with digital storytelling equipment intended to engage people of all ages, and while original artworks are on display, there are also things to touch and explore.
Vidbel Mountain Homestead
This fifth-generation nonprofit farm cares for several animals, many of which are rescued. The farm works to teach children to care for the resident horses, goats, pigs and dogs. This season, the farm is open to anyone who would like to see the animals, with a special focus on child and adult visitors with special needs or dealing with illness. No admission fee.
1. What’s special about Sullivan Catskills?A.You can enjoy the beautiful attractions. | B.It’s always warm there. |
C.People can enjoy some artworks. | D.The park is open seasonally. |
A.Buy a pet. | B.See a doctor. | C.Enjoy some artworks. | D.Visit some animals. |
A.History. | B.Art. | C.Geography. | D.Travelling. |
8 . Students who are better able to understand and manage their emotions effectively, a skill known as emotional intelligence (EI), do better at school than their less-skilled classmates, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
“It’s not enough to be smart and hardworking. Students must also be able to understand and manage their emotions to succeed at school,” said Carolyn MacCann, lead author of the study. MacCann and her colleagues analyzed data from more than 160 studies, representing more than 42,000 students from 27 countries, published between 1998 and 2019. The students ranged in age from primary school to college. The researchers found that students with higher EI tended to get higher grades and better achievement test scores than those with lower EI scores. This finding held true even when controlling for intelligence and personality factors. What was most surprising to the researchers was the association held despite different ages.
As for why EI can affect academic performance, MacCann believes a number of factors may come into play. “Students with higher EI may be better able to manage negative emotions, such as anxiety, boredom and disappointment, which can negatively affect academic performance,” she said. “Also, these students may be better able to manage the social world around them, forming better relationships with teachers, classmates and family, all of which are important to academic success.” Finally, the skills required for EI, such as understanding human motivation and emotion, may overlap with (与……重叠) the skills required to master certain subjects, such as history and language, giving students an advantage in those subject areas, according to MacCann.
However, MacCann cautions against widespread testing of students to identify and target those with low EI as it may stigmatize (给……打上烙印) those students. Instead, she recommends interventions that involve the whole school, including additional teacher training and a focus on teacher well-being and emotional skills. “Programs that integrate emotional skill development into the existing curriculum would be beneficial, as research suggests that training works better when run by teachers rather than external specialists,” she said. “Increasing skills for everyone — not just those with low EI—would benefit everyone.”
1. What surprised the researchers most during MacCann’s study?A.Intelligence mattered more than EI for academic success. |
B.EI had an effect on learning for students of all ages. |
C.College students benefited more from EI than pupils. |
D.Personality affected academic performance greatly. |
A.High-EI students hardly experience negative emotions. |
B.High-EI students seldom develop social relationships. |
C.High-EI students tend to easily focus on their study. |
D.High-EI students have helpful skills for certain subjects. |
A.Equipping teachers with emotional skills. |
B.Designing tests to identify students with low EI. |
C.Developing special programs for students with low EI. |
D.Employing emotional specialists to give training to students. |
A.Should EI be taught in school? |
B.How can students develop high EI? |
C.Students with high EI do better in school |
D.Good students do better in managing emotions |
9 . As I walked to the market this morning, I saw an old man in dirty and shabby clothes sitting in front of a shop. I thought he was a beggar and made a
A few feet away was a young man
As I stood there, proud of my great
The old man noticed that I was still standing there so he
A.difference | B.choice | C.request | D.decision |
A.help | B.advice | C.change | D.money |
A.lying | B.sitting | C.walking | D.pacing |
A.used | B.wasted | C.donated | D.saved |
A.Before | B.Because | C.If | D.Although |
A.major | B.great | C.left | D.plain |
A.angrily | B.directly | C.calmly | D.hardly |
A.pushed | B.brought | C.checked | D.kept |
A.goal | B.issue | C.job | D.act |
A.shook | B.touched | C.kicked | D.frightened |
A.delight | B.anxiety | C.annoyance | D.amazement |
A.exchanged | B.supplied | C.collected | D.demanded |
A.sat up | B.looked up | C.woke up | D.showed up |
A.great | B.small | C.proud | D.confused |
A.responsibility | B.wisdom | C.generosity | D.positivity |
10 . Everywhere you go, it seems like people are using something to reduce the noise in their lives. They wear over-ear headphones on public transportation, during long flights, or in open-plan offices, or use colored earplugs (耳塞) at concerts. Silence is now big business, with the global market for noise-cancelling headphones bringing $13.1 billion in 2021. Experts predict that this figure will triple by 2031. While these market-based solutions are becoming popular, they raise a question: Are there physical and social effects to shutting out the world around us?
Noise-cancelling technology was first developed in the 1950s to reduce cockpit noise for pilots. The headphones today use technology known as active noise control. However, too much of a good thing also has its downsides. Many studies have shown that constant earplug wearing, day and night, over just one week can lead to a condition known as tinnitus (耳鸣). “When you stop listening to outside sounds, your brain starts to turn up its ‘internal volume’ so that it can still pick up on things.” McAlpine says. “If you stop the sound going into your ears, it’s like messing with how your brain is supposed to work naturally.”
When it comes to distraction (干扰), the type of noise may matter as much as volume. Moderate (适中的) background noise, around 70dB, has been found to advance performance on creative tasks, for example. “Some people can work really effectively in buzzy cafes and even airports, and yet they can’t focus in the same way in an office. Even if it isn’t as noisy,” McAlpine says. “Your brain in the office is automatically paying attention to all those other conversations — because they might be about something you need to know.”
How, then, can we deal with all the loud distractions in our modern lives? An over-dependence on noise-cancelling technology is not necessarily the solution, says McAlpine. “We have given more control to outside sources over our sound environment compared to our visual environment,” he says. If people started wearing AR/VR goggles and living in their own virtual worlds instead of focusing on improving the physical environment, “And that’s problematic.”
1. What is the purpose of noise-cancelling headphones?A.To pick up the sounds. |
B.To reduce the rate of tinnitus. |
C.To improve performance on creative tasks. |
D.To create a sense of silence in noisy environments. |
A.Wearing noise-cancelling headphones has no physical or social costs. |
B.Creative task performance can be improved by the moderate background noise. |
C.Noise-cancelling technology was first developed in the 1950s for concertgoers. |
D.The global market for noise-cancelling headphones is believed to drop by 2031. |
A.Lively. | B.Advanced. | C.Interesting. | D.Quiet. |
A.Negative. | B.Objective. | C.Optimistic. | D.Indifferent. |