2 . 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.

2. Which statement is TRUE according to the article?

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.

3. What does the underlined word “buzzy” mean in the fourth paragraph?

A．Lively.

B．Advanced.

C．Interesting.

D．Quiet.

4. What attitude does McAlpine hold towards the over-dependence on the technology?

A．Negative.

B．Objective.

C．Optimistic.

D．Indifferent.

3 . A group of researchers has come up with a way to make it easier to drive in the snow: by designing tyres(轮胎)based on polar bear paws.

“We had an ongoing project for many years focused on ice,” said Ali Dhinojwala, who took part in the research. “We were looking at the friction(摩擦力)of materials because our national partners need to develop tyres with a strong grip on the road in ice and snow conditions.” The team turned to nature for inspiration, thinking that evolution might have already solved the problem in a way that could be copied with technology. The obvious place to look was polar bears—specifically the tiny bumps(凸块)on the surface of their paw pads—to find out what effect they have on the animals’ ability to move quickly across icy and snowy area.

To do this, the team gathered samples(样本)of polar bear paw pads, as well as samples from brown bears and American black bears(two species closely related to polar bears)and sun bears(a distantly related species, typically found in Asia).

The team imaged the samples using a scanning electron microscope, produced 3D-printed copies and then tested them in snow in the lab. They found that the tiny structures on the polar bear paw pads were taller, which gave them better friction on the snow, even though polar bears have smaller pads compared to other bears.

The team now wants to look into other factors that may have an effect, such as the patterns and shapes of the tiny structures. “If you look at snow tyres you’ll see that they do have some deeper treads(外胎花纹), but this research could also show various ways to design them that could have a larger impact,” said Dhinojwala.

1. What does the underlined word “they” in paragraph 2 refer to?

A．Polar bears.	B．Tiny bumps.
C．Paw pads.	D．Snowy roads.

2. What is paragraph 4 mainly about?

A．The background of the research.	B．The finding of the research.
C．The differences of samples in the lab.	D．The comparison of different bear pads.

3. What can we infer from Dhinojwala’s words in the last paragraph?

A．Different treads might be designed on the snow tyres.

B．Snow tyres that have deeper treads can be safe enough.

C．The design of snow tyres requires no further improvement.

D．The researchers should have turned to other bears for inspiration.

4. Which of the following can be the best title of the passage?

A．An easier way to drive in the snow	B．An ongoing project focused on ice
C．Snow tyres based on polar bear paws	D．A new research on polar bear paw pads

4 . Eleven-year-old Ruby has a unique hobby—making wishes come true for nursing home residents in Harrison, Arkansas. Inspired by her mother’s work as a nurse, Ruby accompanied her mother to the nursing homes during the summer and has developed a close bond with the elderly residents.

One day, Ruby noticed a resident named Pearl looking sad while staring out of a window. When she asked what was wrong, Pearl explained that she had seen her dog being taken away, and she didn’t know when she would see her beloved pet again. It broke Ruby’s heart, and she decided to take action. She began asking the residents what three things they wanted most in the world. To her surprise, their requests were simple—chocolate bars, McDonald’s fries, and pants that fit properly.

Ruby and her mother used their own money to achieve the wishes of around 100 residents within three months. Soon, they started receiving donations from the kind-hearted people of Harrison. Encouraged by the overwhelming response, they set up a GoFundMe page called “Three Wishes for Ruby’s Residents” to collect $5,000. They reached their goal within a month.

When GoFundMe recognized Ruby as a Kid Hero and shared her story worldwide, donations poured in. In just 24 hours, they raised $20,000, and within five months, the total surpassed $250,000. With these funds, they were able to grant(准予)more creative wishes, such as creating a man cave for one resident with a Walkman and snacks, and providing financial assistance for another resident to attend an out-of-state wedding.

Motivated by their success, Three Wishes for Ruby’s Residents became a nonprofit organization and expanded nationwide. Their new goal is to set up a shared laptop in at least one nursing home in each state. Ruby’s passion for kindness drives her to continue her efforts, and her acts of kindness serve as a reminder that even small gestures can make a big difference in someone’s life.

1. What inspired Ruby to achieve nursing home residents’ wishes?

A．Her affection for dogs.	B．Her enthusiasm for fundraising.
C．Pearl’s request for three wishes.	D．Pearl’s story about her pet dog.

2. How did Ruby and her mother firstly get the money to satisfy the residents’ desires?

A．They got the fund.

B．They sold their belongings.

C．They used their personal money.

D．They got donations from the nursing home.

3. What was one of the creative wishes granted by the project?

A．Building a new nursing home.

B．Providing financial assistance for weddings

C．Setting up shared laptops in nursing homes across the country.

D．Establishing a comfortable room for a resident with a music player and snacks.

4. Which word can best describe Ruby’s behavior?

A．Creative.

B．Caring.

C．Confusing.

D．Courageous.

5 . Do you love literature and travel? Then your travels can be an opportunity to visit some of the most beautiful libraries in the world.

The Library of Admont Abbey

The library is located in Austria. Inside this extraordinary place is a superb room housing a rich collection of great works. The ornaments (装饰品) above the shelves, as well as the statues, ceilings, are splendid. The library also has the first edition of The Encyclopedia by Diderot and Alembert. This place was once repaired for four years from 2000 to 2004.

The Library of Congress, Washington

This library was founded in 1800 and was one of the largest libraries in the world. The building is breathtakingly beautiful, with the octagonal Reading Room surrounded by an elevated gallery from which readers can gaze up at the stunning ceilings. The well-carved statues in the Great Hall are another feature not to be missed.

Binhai Library, Tianjin

The Tianjin library is a pure architectural masterpiece. The building is nicknamed “The Eye” because the eye is a recognizable feature of the design visible from inside and outside. This immaculate space has been designed so that visitors can easily move around, stop to read, but also meet and chat. The number of shelves and the height are impressive.

The Library of George Peabody

This is one of the most remarkable university libraries in the world and is named after a famous American philanthropist. The heart of the library is a superb long hall for books, all on five floors. With its 18m high central hall, no wonder the place was called the “cathedral of books”. It has a catalogue of 300,000 books, including the first edition of Charles Darwin’s The Origin of Species.

1. What do the Library of Admont Abbey and the Library of Congress have in common?

A．They both have been rebuilt.	B．They are both private libraries.
C．They each have impressive statues.	D．They are both located in a university.

2. Which library offers a great place for readers to communicate?

A．The library of Admont Abbey.	B．The Library of Congress, Washington.
C．Binhai Library, Tianjin.	D．The library of George Peabody.

3. Where is the text probably from?

A．A science article.	B．A book review.
C．A news report.	D．A travel guide.

7 . Most of us have some sort of bucket list—a checklist of experiences and accomplishments we hope to achieve before our time here on earth is up. When we think of how to improve our lives, our first urge is generally to add things: I’d be happier if my career were going better. Everything would be different if I could find a good relationship. There is only one problem with this approach—science suggests it tends to have the opposite result.

A mountain of researches show that when you reach your goals, they’re likely to only bring you momentary joy. After a brief high, dissatisfaction creeps in and we start to long for the next thing on the list. How do you get off this problem and find lasting peace of mind? Brooks offers a simple, practical suggestion: Swap your traditional bucket list for something he calls a “reverse bucket list.”

“Each year on my birthday, I list my wants and attachments—the stuff that fits under the categories of money, power, pleasure and honor. I try to be completely honest,” he writes. Next, Brooks sits down and lists what his life would be like in five years if he were truly happy and successful—if he were living up to his values and experiencing a sense of psychological peace. The final step is to compare the two lists side by side. Would those things he longs for actually bring him closer to his vision of the good life?

If an item is on your bucket list because it lines up with your deepest desires and values, keep it. If it’s there to impress the neighbors or feed a vague and strong need for “success”, onto the reverse bucket list it goes.

When scientists ask people to solve problems of all kinds, their first urge is to add elements. They think a new feature, additional rule or extra ingredient will improve the final outcome. But recent research shows that subtraction (减法) is often the better one.

1. What is a problem probably caused when you achieve your goals?

A．You will be eaten up with pride.

B．Your confidence will be boosted overly.

C．You will be unwilling to achieve the next goal.

D．Your temporary happiness will give way to discontent.

2. What’s the difference between the traditional and the reverse bucket list?

A．Whether the items on the list are listed honestly.

B．Whether the items on the list can bring you glory.

C．Whether the items on the list can be achieved.

D．Whether the items on the list are consistent with your beliefs.

3. According to Brooks, which of the following will be classified into the reverse bucket list?

A．Buying a more luxurious villa than a friend’s.

B．Keeping on working out regularly to keep fit.

C．Serving the community to keep mentally peaceful.

D．Studying abroad for further education to realize self-value.

4. What is a suitable title for the text?

A．The Barrier of Happiness: A Rule of Subtraction

B．The Secret to Happiness: A Reverse Bucket List

C．The Block to Happiness: A Traditional Bucket List

D．The Truth of Happiness: A Checklist of Achievements

8 . It’s not polite to stare, especially in the hospital. But nearly everyone who passes Moxi, the robot at Elmhurst Hospital in Elmhurst, Illinois, can’t help but goggle at it as it slowly rolls through hallways and corridors. The robot is roughly human-shaped, stands about 5 feet tall and perhaps most strikingly, has his big blue eyes that occasionally blink.

For months, Moxi robots have been travelling the halls of Chicago-area hospitals. They deliver medication, supplies and small pieces of equipment across the facilities. “With the staffing shortage, we’re always looking for ways to take no-clinical tasks away from the clinical staff, especially repetitive tasks,” said Dr. Kimberley Darey, Elmhurst chief medical officer. She noted that Moxi does not work with patients. The idea behind the robots is to give nurses more time with patients and perform higher level care.

When nurses want to use Moxi, they can summon (召唤) the robot by entering a request into an app on a tablet, similar to the way a person might request an Uber ride. When the robot arrives, a nurse or worker then holds their badge (工作证) up to a detector, which allows the worker to open any of the three drawers on the robot, and the nurse can place medication, supplies or equipment into a drawer. Moxi then scoots away. When Moxi arrives at its destination, a written message appears on its face screen. A nurse can then flash their badge at Moxi’s detector, prompting the drawer to unlock so the nurse can retrieve the delivery.

Each month, the two Moxi robots at Elmhurst Hospital perform about 1, 800 deliveries. At first, when Moxi arrived at Elmhurst, some of the nurses were nervous, said Heather Johnson, a nurse and clinical leader at the hospital. But after a successful trial run, nurses began to feel more optimistic about the robot’s usefulness. What’s more, at Elmhurst Hospital, patients often grin as Moxi rolls by, and some even stop to take selfies with it.

1. Why do people passing Moxi robot stare at it?

A．Out of interest.

B．Out of mercy.

C．Out of kindness.

D．Out of necessity.

2. What’s the purpose of introducing Moxi robots into hospital?

A．To entertain patients and medical workers.

B．To cut down expense by replacing nurses.

C．To take medical tasks away from medical workers.

D．To free nurses up to spend more time with patients.

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

A．When Moxi robots are wanted.	B．How Moxi robots are operated.
C．How Moxi robots are summoned.	D．Why Moxi robots are needed.

4. What is the author’s attitude towards Moxi robots?

A．Dismissive.

B．Indifferent.

C．Favourable.

D．Suspicious.

9 . Lying in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, the fishing village Huatulco is home to nine bays, 36 beaches and thousands of baby turtles that apparently needed me. I had three open days on my calendar, and a desire to save some turtles. And so, away I went to Huatulco with Wildcoast, a group of champions-for-change who were protecting coastal and marine ecosystem in the U. S. and Mexico.

I was taken to La Escobilla to experience Wildcoast in action. Just one hour north of Huatulco, this protected beach is where mass turtle nesting happens. This natural phenomenon lasts just four days during rainy season, hundreds of thousands of female sea turtles swinging their way ashore to lay their eggs.

Between threats of dogs, crabs, development and oil spills, the little creatures have the whole world against them. As recently as 2002, turtles hunting was not only a common practice, but an important part of the culture and diet in the Oaxaca communities. Luckily, Wildcoast rescues turtle eggs and recreates habitats by monitoring temperatures and humidity. Thanks to their efforts, the sea turtles have made a major comeback, with now over 72 million turtles being born on the beaches that Wildcoast protects.

I got to hold 50 of the tiny creatures in a bowl. Despite an average laying of 100 eggs, just one in 1, 000 baby turtles will make it to adulthood. Gazing into the bowl, I so badly wanted them to taste the sea and find shelter somewhere deep in the ocean. Finally, it was time to liberate those little creatures. Out spilled the creatures, some moving full steam ahead while others barely paddled in place. Literally, hundreds of them began to spread out across the beach.

With each set of waves, we witnessed the survival of the fittest, some pushing past the whitewash while others crashed back to shore. Their fight for life made my eyes wet. A flock of birds were ready to dive into the sea for their moving targets. “One in 1, 000.” Nature was cruel and compassionate at the same time. After 30 long minutes, the last creature made his way to the sea.

1. The baby turtles are threatened by various factors except ________.

A．the cruel hunters	B．the rapid development
C．the extreme weather	D．the oil-polluted ocean

2. What do the underlined words “full steam ahead” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．With slow pace and fear.	B．With all energy and enthusiasm.
C．With full caution and curiosity.	D．With great satisfaction and responsibility.

3. What does the author indicate by mentioning “One in 1,000” in the last paragraph?

A．One baby turtle in 1,000 can make his way to the sea.

B．Thousands of baby turtles were crashed back to shore.

C．The struggle of baby turtles for life touched the author.

D．Baby turtles can hardly survive the harsh living conditions.

4. What can we learn from the author’s experience in saving baby turtles?

A．Think twice before you leap.	B．God helps those who help themselves.
C．Cease to struggle and you cease to live.	D．When the buying stops, the killing can too.

10 . I recently visited California’s most-visited national park—Yosemite. Turns out, there is a lot you can do and see over a couple days. Here’s my suggested route, if you decide to make a quick weekend trip to see Yosemite’s wonders.

Day 1, Saturday

6 a. m. : Hike the Four Mile Trail to Glacier Point. The 9. 6-mile round trip will take six to eight hours with rest stops, so plan accordingly. Leave early to beat the heat and enjoy the sunrise.

Pro tip: Don’t forget to look down-the view of the valley is truly jaw-dropping.

1 p. m. : Hike to Vernal Fall. If you’re looking for lunch, a tasty and efficient spot is Curry Village Pizza Deck. Plus, your next adventure is on the Mist Trail from nearby Happy Isles for a quick 1. 6-mile round-trip visit to Vemal Fall. It’s a nice cool-down hike after your morning workout and offers easy access to year-round falls.

4 p. m. : Learn some history at Yosemite Valley Visitor Center. Every national park visit requires a stop at the visitor center to learn about park’s history and main features. Here, you can check out the Yosemite Village as well, but the real secret is the free bike share program. Download the app and grab a pair of wheels here for your evening exploration.

Day 2, Sunday

6 a. m. : Drive up the picturesque Tioga Road. While your feet are recovering from yesterday’s mileage, take a leisurely drive up Tioga Road. Along the 45 miles to Tenaya Lake, take photos at the many viewpoints, but especially at Olmsted Point, which has a less-visited but very cool perspective on Half Dome. Have breakfast or lunch alongside the blue waters of Yosemite’s largest lake before heading back toward the valley.

3 p. m. : Complete your trip with a visit to Yosemite Climbing Museum in Mariposa. At a last stop, visit the charming historical town of Mariposa to check out the long-overdue Yosemite Climbing Museum opened in 2021. The famous climbing history displayed in the museum gave me a new appreciation for Yosemite, a place I can’t wait to return to.

1. Which of the following does the author suggest visiting in the morning?

A．Vernal Fall.

B．Yosemite Village.

C．Tenaya Lake.

D．Climbing Museum.

2. According to the author, the best thing to do at Yosemite Valley Visitor Center is __________.

A．cycling for evening exploration	B．learning about park’s history
C．going around the Yosemite Village	D．downloading the free bike share app

3. Why is Olmsted Point a good place to take photos?

A．Because it’s a less-visited place but with picturesque scenery.

B．Because it’s a place offering a better view of Half Dome.

C．Because it’s a rest stop for visitors to have breakfast or lunch.

D．Because it’s not such a place that is flooded with visitors taking photos.