1 . Dave Hall led Surprise Squad, an organization to bring surprise to those in need, on a mission to spread joy at a local Albertsons store. Their _________ was simple yet influential: to pay for the groceries of _________ customers. Among the customers was Stephanie, a disabled veteran(退伍军人)who relied on her wheelchair.

She _________ to Dave that she was shopping for food for herself and her dogs. She was down to her last $50,_________ of how she would manage after that. Dave, thrilled to help, paid for all her groceries, a _________ that left Stephanie extremely grateful.

Dave _________ a man standing beside Stephanie. _________ mistaken for her husband, Larry turned out to be a friend of Stephanie’s husband and a fellow veteran. Despite his own financial _________, Larry was determined to support Stephanie.

He stood in the checkout _________ with just a bottle of dish soap and a piece of candy—all he could afford. Dave, moved by Larry’s situation, __________ buying him groceries. Larry’s eyes were filled with tears as Dave accompanied Larry back into the shelves, filling a __________ with food and toiletries(洗漱用品), far more than Larry had __________that day. As they finished checking out, Larry __________ that he had never spent so much on groceries before. The gratitude and emotion on his face were __________.

He thanked Dave wholeheartedly and left the store, carrying not just groceries but a moment of __________ that would never fade.

1.

A．plan

B．experience

C．style

D．movement

2.

A．regular

B．unique

C．random

D．specific

3.

A．suggested

B．revealed

C．insisted

D．referred

4.

A．afraid

B．confident

C．full

D．uncertain

5.

A．schedule

B．solution

C．gesture

D．strategy

6.

A．felt

B．noticed

C．kept

D．left

7.

A．Initially

B．Hurriedly

C．Excitedly

D．Absolutely

8.

A．adventures

B．investments

C．hesitations

D．struggles

9.

A．path

B．point

C．line

D．corner

10.

A．cared for

B．insisted on

C．thought of

D．gave up

11.

A．basket

B．store

C．vehicle

D．hand

12.

A．needed

B．provided

C．expected

D．ignored

13.

A．remarked

B．regretted

C．judged

D．required

14.

A．creative

B．calm

C．positive

D．evident

15.

A．curiosity

B．kindness

C．generosity

D．ambition

2 . Compared to robots, human bodies are flexible, capable of fine movements, and can change energy efficiently into movement. Drawing inspiration from human gait, researchers from Japan crafted a two-legged biohybrid robot by combining muscle tissues and artificial materials. This method allows the robot to walk and pivot.

“Research on biohybrid robots, which are a mix of biology and mechanics, is recently attracting attention as a new field of robotics featuring biological function,” says corresponding author Shoji Takeuchi of the University of Tokyo, Japan. “Using muscles as actuators allows us to build a compact robot and achieve efficient, silent movements with a soft touch.”

The research team’s two-legged robot, an innovative bipedal design, builds on the legacy of biohybrid robots that take advantage of muscles. Muscle tissues have driven biohybrid robots to crawl and swim straight forward and make turns—but not sharp ones. Yet, being able to pivot and make sharp turns is an essential feature for robots to avoid obstacles.

To build a nimbler robot with fine and delicate movements, the researchers designed a biohybrid robot that copies human gait and operates in water. By alternating the electric stimulation between the left and right leg every 5 seconds, the biohybrid robot successfully “walked” at the speed of 5.4m m/min(0.002 mph). To turn, researchers repeatedly zapped the right leg every 5 seconds while the left leg served as an anchor.

The robot made a 90-degree left turn in 62 seconds. The findings showed that the muscle-driven bipedal robot can walk, stop, and make fine-tuned turning motions.

“Currently, we are manually moving a pair of electrodes to apply an electric field individually to the legs, which takes time,” says Takeuchi. “In the future, by integrating the electrodes into the robot, we expect to increase the speed more efficiently.

The team also plans to give joints and thicker muscle tissues to the bipedal robot to enable more complicated and powerful movements.

1. What is the weakness of a robot?

A．Awkward to move.	B．Complex to operate.
C．Tough to control.	D．Easy to lose energy.

2. What does the underlined word “nimbler” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．More stylish.

B．More flexible.

C．More intelligent.

D．More suitable.

3. What will the team do next?

A．Add more power to the bipedal robot.	B．Expand the use of the bipedal robot.
C．Better the bipedal robot’s movements.	D．Apply an electric field to the bipedal robot.

4. What is a suitable title for the text?

A．Biohybrid robots are a mix of biology and mechanics

B．Human bodies are flexible, capable of fine movements

C．Making sharp turns is essential for robots to avoid obstacles

D．Scientists designed a two-legged robot powered by muscle tissues

3 . Great whites, the largest predatory(捕食性的)sharks in the world with the most fatal attacks on humans, are tough to imagine as newborn babies. That is partially because no one has seen one in the wild, it seems, until now.

Wildlife filmmaker Carlos Gauna and UC Riverside biology doctoral student Phillip Sternes were scanning the waters for sharks on July 9, 2023, near Santa Barbara on California’s central coast. That day, something exciting appeared on the viewfinder of Gauna’s drone camera. It was a shark pup(幼崽)unlike any they’d ever seen.

“We enlarged the images, put them in slow motion, and realized the white layer was being shed(脱落)from the body as it was swimming,” Sternes said. “I believe it was a newborn white shark shedding its embryonic layer.”

These observations are documented in a new paper in the Environmental Biology of Fishes journal. What Gauna and Sternes observed could help solve the longstanding mystery of great white birthing habits. This may well be the first evidence we have of a pup in the wild. Great whites, referred to only as white sharks by scientists, are gray on the top and white on the bottom. But this roughly 5-foot-long shark was pure white.

Though the paper authors acknowledge it is possible that the white layer the shark shed could have been a skin condition, the two believe what they saw was in fact a newborn great white. First, great white females give birth to live pups. A second reason is the presence of large, likely pregnant great whites in this location. Finally, this location off the coast of central California has long been proposed as a birthing location for great whites. Many scholars believe great whites are born farther out at sea.

Great whites are listed as an international endangered species. “Further research is needed to confirm these waters are indeed a great white breeding ground. But if it does, we would want lawmakers to step in and protect these waters to help white sharks keep thriving,” Sternes said.

1. What do we know about what appeared on Carlo s Gauna’s camera?

A．It is rare in the world.	B．It is tough to identify.
C．It is not open to the public.	D．It is unbelievable to scientists.

2. What does the white shark pup look like?

A．Pure gray.	B．White only on the bottom.
C．Gray on the top.	D．Pure white.

3. What is paragraph 5 mainly about?

A．How great white females give birth to pups.

B．How the authors prove they saw a baby shark.

C．Why the authors believe they saw a newborn shark pup.

D．Why the authors think the white layer is a skin condition.

4. What does Sternes hope for if their assumption is confirmed?

A．Helping white sharks to stop breeding.

B．Using laws to protect shark pups and their habitats.

C．Listing white sharks as endangered species.

D．Further study to confirm white sharks breeding waters.

4 . It’s time to put your worries aside and pack your bags for some of the top most relaxing places for holidays for 2024.

Kos

Relaxing holidays in Kos are all about blending soft sand beaches, sparkling water, lush green interiors, and history hunting. The coast is perfect for long leisurely walks on the beach, sunbathing in the Greek sunshine, and wallowing in the warm water. History buffs are in for a treat with some of the best historic architecture in Greece. Kos is home to abundant Roman ruins and a 15th-century castle that is ideal for an afternoon of exploring.

Lanzarote

The vast untouched landscape has made Lanzarote one of the most popular holiday destinations because it is truly somewhere you can relax in peace, with nothing but soft sandy beaches and the ideal water for first-time ocean swimmers. Family holidays to Lanzarote are as accommodating as parents could wish for, offering a host of fantastic family-friendly fun for all ages.

Corfu

As the greenest of the Greek islands, you’re in for a treat with over two million olive trees, rolling green hills, and pine forests that blanket the island in emerald beauty. Finding the perfect mix of history hunting, nature exploration, and relaxation is all within reach on a luxury Corfu holiday. The old towns, harbours, and traditional hostels will have you relax and enjoy the best of the Greek islands in no time.

Rovinj

For a cultural holiday filled with exquisite architecture, national parks with untouched natural wonders, and long stretches of coastline, look no further than holidays in Rovinj. Located in the north of Croatia, Rovinj offers some of the best opportunities to explore the unique and moving culture. The town is home to narrow cobbled streets overlooking the ocean, with shops, galleries, and restaurants dotted throughout, bringing you the best of Croatia.

1. What can visitors do at Kos?

A．Visit art galleries.	B．Enjoy family-friendly fun.
C．Walk in national parks.	D．Admire historic architecture.

2. Which of the following is most suitable for parents with children?

A．Kos.	B．Lanzarote.
C．Corfu.	D．Rovinj.

3. What do the four destinations have in common?

A．They all have sea view.

B．They all have old castles.

C．They all belong to the same country.

D．They all have untouched landscape.

5 . When Alex Walker was four, she had to stay in the hospital to get some tests for her epilepsy (癫痫). Her dad had given her a stuffed animal, Sky Bear, which kept her ________. But when she saw other kids in the hospital without stuffed animals, she felt ________.

Alex had ________ up some money that she had ________ to use at Chuck E. Cheese. ________, she used it to buy stuffed animals for the other ________ on her hospital floor. They were so happy to receive the gifts that Alex decided to ________ even more. She called her project Alex’s Fluffy (绒毛的) Buddies and began ________ money by growing and selling tomato plants and flowers. “I love growing things,” she says. “And I know people love to eat tomatoes because they’re really good.”

As people heard about Alex’s Fluffy Buddies, they wanted to ________. They sent her stuffed animals and money to buy more. In the last six years, Alex has ________ almost 8,000 Fluffy Buddies to hospitals, shelters, and other programs. “People are ________ to help so that I can make kids happy,” she explains.

Alex also raises ________ for Canine Assistants, the organization that recently provided her with a service dog. “I want other kids to have a friend to help them through ________ times too,” Alex says. “I still give away Fluffy Buddies and donate to Canine Assistants. I want to help as much as I can! If you want to help others, look for something people ________ but they don’t have, or look for a way to ________ someone’s day. See how you can help.”

1.

A．promise

B．company

C．touch

D．contact

2.

A．annoyed

B．superior

C．upset

D．awkward

3.

A．saved

B．picked

C．used

D．gave

4.

A．performed

B．managed

C．pretended

D．intended

5.

A．Instead

B．Moreover

C．Otherwise

D．Therefore

6.

A．parents

B．volunteers

C．doctors

D．kids

7.

A．give out

B．give in

C．give away

D．give off

8.

A．earning

B．raising

C．spending

D．counting

9.

A．help

B．update

C．bond

D．cover

10.

A．passed

B．donated

C．showed

D．introduced

11.

A．grateful

B．hesitant

C．desperate

D．eager

12.

A．fund

B．responsibility

C．desire

D．awareness

13.

A．limited

B．pleasant

C．tough

D．free

14.

A．compare

B．need

C．consume

D．keep

15.

A．remember

B．celebrate

C．make

D．honor

6 . Aarav Anil, the 17-year-old student With a passion for robotics from Bengraluro, invented a smart spoon that can help people with Parkinson’s disease eat with dignity.

Aarrav’s interest in creating a smart spoon came from seeing his uncle Arjun who has Parkinson’s disease struggling to feed himself. This disease affects the brain and leads to involuntary shaking. Hence, food kept spilling out of his mouth and onto his clothing.Aarrav wanted his uncle to be able to eat by himself with dignity.

Aarrav took to his room with microcontrollers, motors,sensors and a 3-D printer. Not everything went smoothly.“It was frustrating not being able to find the tiny electronics parts I needed here in India. I had to order some from China.but they took ages to arrive.”Aarrav said.Through tireless efforts. Aarrav made a first model but the handle was too slippery for his uncle to use so he had to change it.Then the prototype (维形) went to be tested at the RV College of Physiotherapy in Bengaluru.

“I’ve been fine tuning the design based on the college’s feedback — that it needs to be waterproof so that it can be washed without damaging all the electronics inside; and that it must be detachable (可拆卸的) so it can be cleaned and replaced by a fork.” Aarrav said. The trials being conducted at the college are expected to be completed by early 2024 and the results will be published in a medical journal.

Aarrav hopes that his smart spoon will begin to be manufactured on a small scale when the testing is complete.While other smart spoons already exist and two US companies are already producing their own versions,the cost is too high for most Indians. Aarrav’s version is estimated to cost around 580). His hope is that everyone with Parkinson’s disease will have access to a smart spoon.

1. What can Aarav’s invention help people with Parkinson’s disease do?

A．Maintain their physical balance.

B．Boost their mood and relieve stress.

C．Feed themselves much more easily.

D．Rid them of uncontrollable shaking.

2. What is emphasized about the invention of the smart spoon in Paragraph 3?

A．Its popularity.

B．Its challenges.

C．Its functions.

D．Its application.

3. Which can best replace the underlined word “tuning” in Paragraph 4?

A．Adjusting.

B．Publicizing

C．Outlining.

D．Simplifying

4. Which of the following best describes Aarrav?

A．Industrious and sociable.	B．Intelligent and humble
C．Sensitive and conservative.	D．Ambitious and caring.

7 . Scientists have long believed that Mars was wet around three billion years ago and then lost much of its water. But a new study presents evidence of water activity from about 700 million years ago, posing a new puzzle about Mars and its history for scientists to crack in their future studies.

The new study is based on data from China’s Zhurong rover (“祝融号”火星车), part of the Tianwen-1 mission that touched down on the surface of Mars in May 2021. In particular, the scientists used data the rover gathered during its first 92 Martian days, at its landing site in Utopia Planitia. Yang Liu, a researcher from the Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS), and his colleagues analyzed data from three different instruments on Zhurong. Those instruments studied minerals that suggest the presence of a large quantity of liquid water at the site about 700 million years ago, which scientists previously thought was dry.

“This is a very interesting result. We have very little recorded evidence of young liquid water systems on Mars. And for the ones we have, they were usually in the form of salt minerals,” says Dr. Scheller, a scientist at the California Institute of Technology. He explained Zhurong’s instruments spotted water molecules locked away in the rock, which was different from other young liquid water environments that have been observed.

“One of the major things we’ll have to find out and that I look forward to seeing from the Zhurong rover is how extensive these ‘young’ water-bearing minerals are,” Dr. Scheller said. “Are they common or uncommon in these ‘young’ rocks?” Zhurong has now covered about two kilometers during its more than 350 Martian days and has analyzed a range of features on its travels, meaning more new Martian insights are likely still to come from the rover.

NASA has so far sent its Mars rovers to ancient landing sites, dating back to more than 3.7 billion years ago. Zhurong is not just an extra set of wheels on Mars, but a powerful suite of instruments exploring a new, geologically young site to open new windows of opportunity for research on Mars.

1. What does the underlined word “crack” in paragraph 1 mean?

A．Keep.

B．Doubt.

C．Solve.

D．Create.

2. What does the new study show according to paragraph 2?

A．The inaccuracy of data gathered on Mars.

B．Functional limitations of instruments on Mars.

C．Main reasons for the failure of the Tianwen-1 mission.

D．The misconception of past thinking about Martian water.

3. Which of the following does Dr. Scheller convey?

A．The result has been recorded by many scientists.

B．Zhurong’s wide analyses will bring more surprises.

C．Salt minerals are younger than water-bear ing minerals.

D．Young water-bearing minerals are common in young rocks.

4. Which word can best describe Zhurong?

A．Ancient.

B．Common.

C．Alarming.

D．Promising.

8 . Travis Gienger set a record for growing the world’s heaviest pumpkin, which weighed about 1,247 kilograms, in 2023. The middle-aged man was named the winner on Monday of the 50th Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, California. He won the same con test in 2022, whose pumpkin weighed 1,161 kilograms. The past world record for the heaviest pumpkin was set by a grower in Italy who produced a 1,226-kilogram pumpkin in 2021. “I was not expecting that,” Gienger said. He added that it felt good to win the world record.

Gienger is a teacher at Anoka Technical College in Anoka, Minnesota. He teaches agriculture and growing methods. And he has been producing pumpkins for nearly 30 years like his elders, especially his father, who used to raise pumpkins in the home property, which got him interested in planting. Gienger later devoted himself to working the land to plant.

Gienger first competed in Half Moon Bay’s yearly con test in 2020. He won three of the city’s last four pumpkin contests. “I put in the work so that I can put a smile on people’s faces, and it’s just so nice coming out here to see everyone in this town,” Gienger said.

Gienger, who grew the pumpkins on the farm, had given his plants more care. This included watering them up to 12 times a day and feeding or fertilizing them, a little more than usual. Those contributed to his greater success in 2023.

The pumpkin champion won a $30,000 prize for growing the biggest pumpkin and setting a world record. Gienger’s pumpkin would be shown along with the second-place winners at the city’s upcoming Pumpkin Festival. At the event, visitors would be able to look at the pumpkin prize and take pictures with the growers.

In the United States, pumpkins are popular throughout the autumn. During the US holiday Halloween, on October 31, many people turn them into “jack-o’-lanterns”. A jack-o’-lantern is a pumpkin that has been carved, usually to show a frightening or funny face.

1. How did Gienger feel about his winning the world record?

A．Surprised.

B．Suspicious.

C．Expected.

D．Embarrassed.

2. What affected Gienger’s career choice?

A．His family tradition.	B．His love for his farm.
C．His promise to his father.	D．His desire for winning a prize.

3. What does the author want to explain in paragraph 4?

A．How many awards Gienger got in 2023.

B．How long Gienger worked a day in 2023.

C．Why Gienger grew pumpkins on the farm.

D．Why Gienger’s pumpkin was heavier than before.

4. What do we know about the award-winning pumpkin in 2023?

A．It would be given to a visitor.

B．It would be made into a lantern.

C．It would be on show at a festival.

D．It would be used to decorate pictures.

9 . Insider Flight Tips for Your Journey

Anyone can book a trip, but not everyone can plan an ultimate adventure that is affordable, accommodating and fun. At www. tripinsiders. org, we aim to provide you with the best insider secrets in the travel business. And on this website, we also offer a state-of-the-art travel comparison tool to make planning easier than ever. Here are some insider tips that we'd like to share with you about flights.

Look for Glitch (小故障) Fares

Online booking systems for airfare don’t come without a pricing mistake every once in a while. Follow deal-minded travel sites and blogs to learn about pricing mistakes that work in your favor. This is the most useful if you live near a major airport and have a flexible schedule.

Consider Alternate Airports

Some major cities have more than one airport, so make sure to check them all for the cheapest fares. For example, if you’re planning to visit the Bay Area of California, check for rates in both San Francisco International Airport and Oakland International Airport.

Cross the Border by Land

Domestic flights are often cheaper than international ones, so if you live near a border and want to fly to a neighboring country, you can save by crossing the border by land and then catching a domestic flight. For example, Toronto residents may save by crossing the American border into Buffalo and then flying to another American city.

Use a Digital Luggage Scale

There’s nothing more frustrating than learning that your bag is too heavy to fly or that it’ll cost you extra when you arrive at the airport. Digital luggage scales are great for making sure that you’re not going over the baggage limit with your new souvenirs.

1. What is the main purpose of www.tripinsiders.org ?

A．To recommend travel websites.	B．To fund the travel business.
C．To advertise a travel agency.	D．To uncover travel business secrets.

2. What is advised for air travel?

A．Selecting airports.	B．Flying the border.
C．Carrying more baggage.	D．Having a fixed schedule.

3. What do the four tips have in common?

A．They cover all aspects of a trip.	B．They help travelers save money.
C．They merely apply to businessmen.	D．They are only for Toronto residents.

10 . Taking between 9,000 and 10,000 steps per day appears to reduce the risk of an early death or heart-related event, adding reason to an idea that has been considered as unscientific.

The exact origin of the commonly held belief that people should aim for 10,000 steps a day is unclear, but it has been linked to a marketing plan promoting pedometers (计步器) in Japan. Now, a study by Matthew Ahmadi at the University of Sydney, Australia, and his colleagues suggests the figure could hold some truth.

The team studied more than 72,000 participants, with an average age of 61, in the UK Biobank study as they wore a movement-tracking accelerometer (加速度计) on their wrists for one week. “We were able to know their daily steps,” says Ahmadi. The participants were then tracked for an average of just under seven years.

During that time period, 1,633 people died and 6,190 heart-related events occurred. After adjusting other factors that could influence the risk of illness or death over that period—such as diet quality, smoking and doing other forms of exercise, the researchers found out that the best number of steps per day appears to be between 9,000-and 10,000, with the benefits then starting to tail off. Doing so was linked to a 39% lower risk of dying during the follow-up period and a 21% lower risk of a heart-related event. “It does appear to support the belief that the originally non-evidence based 10,000 steps target may indeed be about right,” says Dale Esliger at Loughborough University in the UK.

However, while the study was “extremely well designed” with “careful methods and statistical analysis”, Esliger says wrist-worn accelerometers aren’t always the best indicator of step count. The researchers also didn’t consider the number of steps taken per minute. “It’s possible that around 6,000 steps performed at a higher pace may be just as health protective as 10,000 slower steps,” says Esliger.

1. What’s the finding of the study?

A．More than 10,000 steps a day do harm to the body.

B．21% of the participants died of heart-related events.

C．Walking 10,000 steps a day benefits physical health.

D．Hitting the target of 10,000 steps a day makes no sense.

2. What is paragraph 4 mainly about?

A．How the study is carried out.

B．Whether a previous belief is true.

C．What is concluded about the study.

D．Why other factors should be removed.

3. What is Esliger’s attitude towards the study?

A．Objective.

B．Unconcerned.

C．Favorable.

D．Doubtful.

4. Where is the text probably taken from?

A．A science magazine.	B．A technology report.
C．A history book.	D．An educational website.