1 . Dogs may have earned the title of our best friends through their interactions with humans, but now researchers say these social skills could, be present shortly after birth rather than being learned.

To better understand the role of biology in dogs’ abilities to communicate with humans, the researchers studied 375 eight-week-old service dogs. They looked at how these dogs performed in a series of tasks designed to measure their communication skills. The puppies were still living with their littermates (同窝出生者) and had not been sent to live with a volunteer puppy raiser, making it unlikely that they had learned about his or her behavior.

In the first task, a person hid a treat beneath one of two overturned cups and pointed to it to see if the puppy could follow the gesture. Since dogs are good at using noses to find things a treat was also taped to the insides of, both cups. In the second task, puppies watched as the researchers placed a yellow, block next to the correct cup, instead of pointing to indicate where the puppy should look for the food.

The third task was designed to observe puppies’ tendency to look at human faces. The researchers spoke to the puppy in a voice people sometimes use when talking to a baby. They then measured how long the puppy fixed a stare on the human.

In the last task, researchers sealed a treat inside a closed container and presented it to the puppy. They then measured how often the puppy looked to the human for help in opening the container.

The study found that while many of the puppies were responsive to humans’ physical and verbal cues, very few looked to humans for help with the unsolvable task. Researchers said, “This suggests that while puppies may be born knowing how to respond to human-initiated communication, the ability to initiate communication on their own may come later.” The next step will be to see if specific genes that may contribute to dogs’ abilities to communicate with humans can be identified.

1. Why were eight-week-old service dogs chosen for the study?

A．They were the best age to learn.

B．They were cute and safe to deal with.

C．They were unlikely influenced by their mates.

D．They had had little contact with humans before.

2. What is the researchers’ purpose in taping food to both cups?

A．To provide clues for the puppies’ final decisions.

B．To make comparisons between different conditions.

C．To prevent the puppies from making use of their smell.

D．To check the puppies’ preference for a particular color.

3. What can we know from the study?

A．Puppies can understand our body language.

B．Puppies are good at asking humans for help.

C．Puppies are born to arouse communication with humans.

D．Puppies need specific genes to communicate with humans.

4. What can be the best title for the text?

A．Dogs—talented performers	B．Dogs—humans’ best friends
C．Dogs—born to be able to learn	D．Dogs—born to understand humans

2 . I’ve never had a great sense of direction. And I often wander into shops and, upon coming back out, can’t remember which way I’ve come from — left or right? Many people are like me, and why do some constantly have no idea where they are?

The hippocampus (海马体) is a region of the brain associated with memory and involved in sense of direction. And a nearby region has also been associated with sense of direction. There are four known types of navigation-related neurons (神经元), found in these regions place cells, grid cells, border cells and head direction cells.

In short, you can think of place cells as an internal cognitive (认知的) map; they identify where you are. Grid cells are like a GPS system in our brain; they tell us about the relationship of this place to other places we’ve been to. Border cells respond to the presence of environmental boundaries at a specific direction and distance from us. Lastly, head direction cells are activated when our head faces a specific direction. These cells will fire electrical impulses when we enter familiar locations, with each group of cells relating to a specific place.

Our reliance on GPS and smartphones may have decreased the ability to use our internal maps. Older adults who regularly used GPS had less activity in their hippocampus, compared with those who did not use GPS. They also performed slightly worse in a cognition test. In contrast, a study involving London taxi drivers found they significantly larger hippocampus than ordinary people.

You can improve your way-finding ability specifically by practicing the skill, according to Aziz, PhD of neurology at Temple University School of Medicine. “The more you get out and go to places, the better,” he says. Physical exercise improves the blood flow to the brain, while mental exercise, such as doing puzzles or learning a new language, stimulates the development of new nerve cells and connections in your brain.

1. How does the author introduce the topic of the text?

A．By raising a question.

B．By making a comparison.

C．By stating personal opinions.

D．By referring to scientific research.

2. What can we learn about the four types of navigation-related neurons?

A．They depend closely on each other.

B．They are responsible for different jobs.

C．They will decrease in numbers as one ages.

D．They will fail to function in unfamiliar situations.

3. What will happen it we rely too much on GPS?

A．We will easily be misled.

B．Our hippocampus will get enlarged.

C．Our cognitive ability will be affected.

D．We will have our hippocampus relaxed.

4. What are we advised to do according to the last paragraph?

A．Build up our body.	B．Take training courses.
C．Try different brain exercises.	D．Get out to connect with people.

3 . In an awe-inspiring incident, a young killer whale recently demonstrated remarkable intelligence by seeking assistance from a group of humans to save its trapped mother, which challenged our conventional understanding of wild predators (食肉动物).

The online viral video, shared by Alvin Foo, began with a young killer whale emitting distressing cries towards a group of people on a boat. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the concerned individuals promptly responded by contacting a rescue team. The young whale’s desperate request for help touched more people’s hearts and set a truly extraordinary chain of events in motion.

As the rescue team arrived, they were amazed to witness the young killer whale’s playful interaction with the humans. The whale appeared elated, seemingly understanding that assistance had finally arrived. This interaction between the mother killer whale and rescuers underlined the potential for mutual understanding beyond the boundary of traditional predator-prey relationships.

The young whale took on the role of a guide, leading the rescue team to its mother trapped in a fishing net. It navigated the water with purpose, as if fully aware that the humans possessed the means to save its mother. This display of intelligence left the rescuers in awe, highlighting the complex cognitive abilities of these magnificent marine creatures. With its guidance, the rescue team swiftly initiated the liberation process, carefully cutting the net to free the trapped whale. Astonishingly, they seemed to understand that the humans were there to help and did as asked.

The instant the mother whale was finally freed, an eruption of joyous cries filled the air. The emotional outpouring conveyed the immense gratitude of both the mother whale and the young whale to the humans who had intervened. As the rescue team made their way back to shore, the two whales swam alongside them. This heart-warming sight emphasized the lasting impact of the rescue. The bond formed through this extraordinary rescue operation was well obvious, proving that the profound connections can be established between various species. The journey back to safety symbolized the victory of compassion over adversity.

1. What can we learn about the video from paragraph 2?

A．It spread widely.

B．It went unnoticed.

C．It documented humans’ requesting help.

D．It recorded passive response to the rescue.

2. What does the underlined word “elated” in paragraph 3 mean?

A．Tired.

B．Excited.

C．Frightened.

D．Confused.

3. What is the young whale like?

A．Wise and cooperative.	B．Complex and mysterious.
C．Curious and careful.	D．Wild and rude.

4. What does the author mainly want to convey in the last paragraph?

A．Adversity is a good discipline.

B．It is urgent to protect wildlife.

C．Different species can coexist in harmony.

D．Human intervention poses a threat to whales.

4 . My parents went shopping at the supermarket and a complete stranger came up and did something that really touched them. He_________ my mum and dad’s entire grocery, which came to $273!

You can _________ the shock and gratitude my parents felt in that _________. It’s not every day that such a selfless act of kindness comes your way, and it _________ recovers your faith in humanity. They were so touched by this stranger’s generosity.

This excellent gesture has _________ my parents to pay it forward in the most amazing way possible. They’ve decided to _________ the love and kindness they received by doing something _________ for someone else. It’s like a positive chain reaction that will keep on _________!

It’s a beautiful reminder that even the smallest acts of kindness can have a _________ effect on others. Together, we can create a __________ filled with sympathy, love, and generosity.

So, let’s take a moment to __________ the incredible stranger who brightened my parents’ day and inspired them to pay it forward. Let’s also remember that we all have the __________ to make someone’s day a little __________, whether it is through a smile, a kind word, or a small act of __________. Together, we can make this world a __________ place.

1.

A．paid for

B．watched over

C．focused on

D．referred to

2.

A．mention

B．guess

C．measure

D．honor

3.

A．activity

B．section

C．standard

D．moment

4.

A．severely

B．really

C．sincerely

D．frequently

5.

A．encouraged

B．persuaded

C．forced

D．warned

6.

A．make

B．enlarge

C．spread

D．pack

7.

A．reliable

B．cheap

C．wonderful

D．random

8.

A．giving

B．remembering

C．receiving

D．shining

9.

A．small

B．silent

C．deep

D．slow

10.

A．dream

B．world

C．chance

D．situation

11.

A．realize

B．remind

C．admit

D．praise

12.

A．root

B．power

C．reward

D．anxiety

13.

A．right

B．timely

C．needy

D．bright

14.

A．success

B．wisdom

C．kindness

D．bravery

15.

A．better

B．riper

C．bigger

D．cleaner

5 . AI is just now starting to go mainstream, but these classic films about AI have been exploring the future of artificial intelligence for decades.

Ex Machina

In Ex Machina, a computer programmer is selected by the genius CEO of the company he works for to take part in an experiment involving the Turing test (图灵测试)with an impressive AI robot named Ava, convincingly played by a real actress.

A. I. Artificial Intelligence

No list on films featuring AI would be complete without A. I. Artificial Intelligence where a young AI boy with human-like feelings is left out by his human mother. As is so often the way, the questions posed by the story make the film way ahead of its time. What responsibility would humanity hold for an artificial intelligence that is advanced enough to actually experience feelings and emotional turmoil (混乱)？

I, Robot

As humans and robots struggle to survive together, and sometimes against each other, on Earth and in space, the future of both hangs in the balance. Here human men and women confront robots gone mad, telepathic robots, robot politicians, and vast robotic intelligence that may already secretly control the world. And both are asking the same questions: What is human? And is humanity out of date?

Brian and Charles

When an inventor in a Welsh village develops an AI being that looks like a mature professor who acts nothing like it, the result is quite possibly the funniest film of the decade so far. This is a film that is the perfect antidote to the apocalyptic threats surrounding modern life in the 21st century.

1. Who took the Turing test in the film Ex Machina?

A．A CEO.	B．An AI boy.
C．An inventor.	D．A programmer.

2. What can we know about the AI boy in A. I. Artificial Intelligence?

A．He is played by Ava.

B．He is experiencing emotional turmoil.

C．He is a life-like robot turning bad.

D．He is an orphan in real world.

3. Which of the following is a comedy film?

A．I, Robot.	B．Ex Machina.
C．Brian and Charles.	D．A. I. Artificial Intelligence.

6 . Each year when the Spring Festival falls, my home becomes a garden. Because beautiful red flowers _________ on the windows of my home. In the cold winter, these wonderful flowers bring _________ to the whole family. Of course, these are not _________ flowers. They are made of _________ by my grandma, who is now aged 70. With a few simple cuts, she can _________ a piece of red paper into a variety of beautiful works of art. There is a story for her special _________

When my grandma was young, she was _________ clumsy in the village. But on a cold winter night, she saw some _________ red paper works on her new neighbor’s windows. She showed great _________ in them at that time. So she decided to __________ from her neighbor. As a green-hand, tons of paper was __________, and her fingers were cut many times. But she __________ practicing. It took 10 years __________ my grandma could make paper art skillfully. The red flowers, blooming like burning fire, light up her life and her world. Now, she is __________ by everyone in the village. And some of the young girls begin to learn this skill too.

How do you think of my grandma’s story? As for me, it has shown me that perseverance is what it takes to __________ one’s dream.

1.

A．disappear

B．grow

C．fade

D．bloom

2.

A．knowledge

B．fame

C．wealth

D．warmth

3.

A．beautiful

B．real

C．fake

D．cute

4.

A．paper

B．iron

C．wood

D．mud

5.

A．hide

B．spread

C．turn

D．add

6.

A．skill

B．culture

C．village

D．level

7.

A．treated

B．understood

C．made

D．considered

8.

A．ugly

B．beautiful

C．tiny

D．huge

9.

A．care

B．attention

C．interest

D．hatred

10.

A．cop

B．benefit

C．learn

D．borrow

11.

A．saved

B．wasted

C．collected

D．sold

12.

A．gave up

B．kept on

C．put off

D．carry on

13.

A．before

B．after

C．when

D．for

14.

A．respected

B．scolded

C．copied

D．discussed

15.

A．miss

B．forget

C．realize

D．hold

7 . When ice cream maker Adrienne Borlongan first experimented with a White Rabbit flavor, she thought it tasted like “cheap vanilla (香草)”. A few weeks after she added it to her Los Angeles shop, Wanderlust Creamery, visitors showed little interest. But when Borlongan posted a photo of an ice cream cone wrapped in White Rabbit-branded paper, word quickly spread on social media.

The candy, first produced in Shanghai in the 1940s, is known for its red-white-and-blue packaging and is beloved by kids all over China. And when Chinese people began to live in other countries, their love for the white, creamy candy went with them.

Soon after Borlongan posted that photo, people were driving to Wanderlust from all over California. Since then, White Rabbit has been the mainstay of Wanderlust’s ice cream lineup and is regularly sold out in their webshop.

But the story of the ice cream is about way more than taste — it’s about the power of nostalgia (怀旧) and eye-catching branding. White Rabbit’s origins date back to a business called the ABC Company, founded in Shanghai in 1943. It was later sold to the state-owned Guan Sheng Yuan Food Group, which owns it to this day.

The mix of colorful wrappers and the sweet milky taste proved a winner. Kids from Beijing to Hong Kong grew up on the sweets, and it also became a national symbol of the country — most famously, US President Richard Nixon was given some when he made his historic visit to China in 1972.

As for the flavor? The creamy consistency (黏稠度) actually comes from milk, and there’s a piece of rice paper between the candy and the wrapper to prevent melting. Over the years, White Rabbit has tried out other flavors, including red bean and peanut. But it’s the first version that has the most nostalgia connected to it.

1. What can we learn about the White Rabbit ice cream?

A．It used to be popular in China.	B．It is available online.
C．It is shaped like a white rabbit.	D．It was first produced in Shanghai.

2. What does the underlined word “mainstay” in Paragraph 3 mean?

A．Fanciest design.	B．Newest brand.
C．Cheapest goods.	D．Bestselling product.

3. Why is US President Nixon mentioned in Paragraph 5?

A．To look back on the historic visit.

B．To show Chinese people’s hospitality.

C．To prove White Rabbit’s popularity.

D．To indicate Nixon’s interest in White Rabbit.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．The story behind the success of the White Rabbit ice cream.

B．Childhood memories carried with White Rabbit.

C．The international reputation of the ABC Company.

D．The history of the White Rabbit candy.

8 . When my mother took me out of high school, I knew that my life would become   ______. My mother told me when I was 18 I had to leave the house. As I was going to ______ my 18th birthday, I started feeling ______ because I didn’t have an idea on ______ I was going to do.

One night while I was watching TV, an advertisement came on about ______ the military (军队). The next day I ______ the number on the advertisement and set up an ______ to meet the recruiter (招募者). When he heard about me not having a high school diploma (毕业文凭), he knew I had little ______. I explained to him that I was going to be ______ in a few weeks.

About a month later he called me and asked me to come to his office. He told me he would get me in the military but I had to ______ him that I would make the ______ of this chance. In fact, I kept my side of the ______ by doing eight years. Now I am ______ and have the ______ to make my life a little easier with that decision I made and the help I ______.

1.

A．difficult

B．easy

C．simple

D．sad

2.

A．celebrate

B．imagine

C．remember

D．ruin

3.

A．happy

B．hopeless

C．angry

D．satisfied

4.

A．how

B．what

C．who

D．which

5.

A．discussing

B．criticizing

C．joining

D．commanding

6.

A．forgot

B．called

C．read

D．copied

7.

A．advertisement

B．agreement

C．appointment

D．equipment

8.

A．support

B．promise

C．warn

D．chance

9.

A．homeless

B．hopeless

C．helpless

D．careless

10.

A．promise

B．order

C．tell

D．suggest

11.

A．least

B．worst

C．best

D．full

12.

A．program

B．dialogue

C．bargain

D．advertisement

13.

A．lonely

B．ashamed

C．successful

D．fashionable

14.

A．attempt

B．ability

C．desire

D．wish

15.

A．hoped

B．refused

C．organized

D．received

9 . While I was in hospital for back surgery (手术) recently I was looked after by a nurse called Deitrich. She worked the _______ shifts (轮班) and took very good care of me.

One night things were _______ and when Deitrich came in to take my blood pressure we started to talk about our family situation. Then she asked what I enjoyed doing most. I _______ that I liked helping people and doing _______ work. Deitrich said she thought she would _______ doing that kind of thing too, perhaps with her church.

The day I was discharged (出院) we _______ and she gave me a kiss on the cheek. In _______ I gave her a smile card and ten dollars. She didn’t want the _______ but I told her to read the card and _______ her the money was from my heart.“Now you have the ________ to do something for yourself or make a(n) ________ for someone else,” I said. She paused and ________ the offer in the end. We hugged and she told me she ________ give the money to a woman she knew from ________ who was having medical problems.

Deitrich gladly thanked me for my ________ and with that ten dollars bought five lottery tickets in her church’s name. As ________ would have it one of the tickets won a hundred and fifty dollars which she ________ to the church’s food pantry. She ________ me a week later and told me what had happened. She ________ asked if I had my more smile cards! The people in her church all ________ one!

God bless Deitrich and her church and all the people who want to make a difference for the better in this world!

1.

A．day

B．morning

C．night

D．afternoon

2.

A．quiet

B．noisy

C．terrible

D．lost

3.

A．supposed

B．replied

C．expected

D．intended

4.

A．house

B．office

C．writing

D．charity

5.

A．enjoy

B．continue

C．stop

D．remember

6.

A．parted

B．walked

C．cried

D．waved

7.

A．fact

B．return

C．brief

D．total

8.

A．card

B．pay

C．feeling

D．money

9.

A．assured

B．asked

C．demanded

D．advised

10.

A．choice

B．time

C．power

D．decision

11.

A．profit

B．difference

C．appointment

D．trip

12.

A．refused

B．gave

C．missed

D．accepted

13.

A．would

B．should

C．must

D．can

14.

A．church

B．childhood

C．countryside

D．work

15.

A．help

B．care

C．support

D．kindness

16.

A．words

B．luck

C．wishes

D．chances

17.

A．lent

B．delivered

C．donated

D．passed

18.

A．called

B．left

C．asked

D．informed

19.

A．ever

B．therefore

C．once

D．also

20.

A．received

B．wanted

C．kept

D．saw

10 . You may know about “junk food” like French fries. But do you know about “junk sleep”? Recently, a British survey(调查)shows that there are many electronic products in teenagers’ bedrooms. They are influencing teenagers’ sleep badly.

The survey was done among 1,000 British kids from 12 to 16. It found that 50% of them got just 4 to 7 hours’ sleep every day. But doctors say they need 8 to 9 hours.

Almost 25% of the kids said they often fell asleep while they were watching TV, listening to music or using other electronic products.

“This is very worrying,” said Dr. Chris, a British professor(教授). “We call it ‘junk sleep’. It means you don’t get enough sleep and the quality(质量)of the sleep is low, too. If you don’t get a good rest, you won’t do well in school the next day.”

The survey found that quite a few of the kids felt tired each day because of the junk sleep, especially girls between 13 and 16 feeling the worst. Nearly all the teenagers have a phone, MP5 or TV in their bedrooms. And lots of them even have all the three.

Dr. Chris suggested that parents should help their children keep away from electronic products, and teenagers should spend less time on the electronic products.

1. What does this passage mainly talk about?

A．Junk food.	B．Junk sleep.
C．Electronic products.	D．The importance of sleep.

2. How many of the children sleep only 4 to 7 hours a day in the survey?

A．200.

B．250.

C．500.

D．1000.

3. “Junk food” and “junk sleep” are similar to each other because ________.

A．they are both low in quality	B．they are both needed in our life
C．they are both enjoyed at weekends	D．they are both necessary for people’s health

4. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A．Teenagers of 12 to 16 only need 4 to 7 hours’ sleep each day.

B．Few of the teenagers have electronic products in their bedrooms.

C．Teenagers spend too much time on electronic products.

D．Girls between 13 and 16 spend the least time on electronic products.

5. Which of the following should be the best way to solve the problem?

A．Parents must take the electronic products away from their children.

B．Parents stop the teenagers from using any electronic product.

C．Teenagers should decide not to use the electronic products.

D．Teenagers should spend less time on the electronic products.