1 . Application and Essays
You can apply to Stanford by submitting online either the Coalition Application or the Common Application.
Both applications include essay prompts for your personal essay. In addition to the personal essay, you also need to reply to the Stanford Questions, which you can access in either application once you add Stanford University to your list of colleges.
When you apply to Stanford, we encourage you to indicate potential majors and career interests in the application, but please know you are not bound by these selections in any way.
Stanford Questions
We ask applicants to choose one of the three topics below and write a short essay.
◆ Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning in Stanford.
◆Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate know you belter.
◆Tell us about something that is meaningful to you, and why? How to Submit Required Materials
◆We suggest using Coalition or Common Application online forms whenever possible to Submit documents, which is the speediest method.
◆If online submission is not possible; school personnel may send materials as an email Attachment to personnel@ stanford.edu.
◆When ordering college transcripts, please use credentials@stanford.edu as the contact email.
◆If your checklist is not complete by the deadline, simply continue to check your Application Status Portal until we have received all items.
1. What is necessarily included in an application?| A．A personal essay. | B．Career interests. |
| C．Personal hobbies. | D．The selected major. |
| A．Writing an essay to include the three topics. |
| B．Writing a note about something that interests you. |
| C．Writing an essay on what inspires your learning in Stanford. |
| D．Writing a note to recommend something meaningful to your roommate. |
| A．personnel@ stanford.edu | B．credentials@ stanford.edu |
| C．Application Status Portal. | D．Coalition or Common Application. |
2 . A new device (设备) works like a solar panel, except it doesn't harvest energy from the sun to produce electricity. Instead, it uses energy from the cold night sky.
In the center of this device is a thermoelectric generator (热电发电机), which uses the temperature difference between Earth and outer space to create electricity.
As long as one side of it is cooler than the other, the generator can produce electricity. The cooler side faces the sky and is attached to an aluminum plate. That plate is sealed under a transparent cover and surrounded with materials that keep heat out. It stays cooler than the surrounding air by getting rid of any heat it absorbs as infrared (红外线的) radiation. That radiation can zip up through the transparent cover and on toward outer space.
The bottom of the generator is attached to an exposed aluminum plate, which is warmed by the local air. At night, the top plate can get several degrees centigrade cooler than the bottom of the generator.
Researchers tested the device one clear December night in Stanford, Calif. The generator produced up to about 25 milliwatts of power per square meter of the device. That was just enough power to light a small electric lamp. Further improvements might develop its production to at least 500 milliwatts per square meter.
"It's a very clever idea," says Yuan Yang, a materials scientist who works at Columbia University in New York City. "The device still needs improving," he notes. "But this new device may be useful for backup power," Yang says. "It might also provide a bit of energy to people living in areas that lack electricity."
"The device could help power remote weather stations or other environmental devices," says Aaswath Raman, a materials scientist who worked on the device at the University of California, Los Angeles. What's more, this may be useful in areas that don't see sunlight for months at a time, Raman adds.
1. How is the device designed?| A．It includes two aluminum plates with different functions. |
| B．It is equipped with a heat resistant generator in the center. |
| C．Its two aluminum plates are exposed to air to keep heat out. |
| D．Its generator is sealed by a transparent cover to remain cool. |
| A．It won't be expanded to be much larger. |
| B．It fails to produce electricity fast enough. |
| C．It is unable to power small electric lamps. |
| D．It produces a limited amount of electricity. |
| A．evaluate the device on a positive basis |
| B．point out the problems with the device |
| C．explain the research work for the device |
| D．comment on Aaswath Raman's prediction |
| A．Lamps Are Powered by the Energy From the Cold Night Sky |
| B．A Generator Producing Electricity Has Been Applied in Many Areas |
| C．Scientists Have Made a Breakthrough in Harvesting Green Energy |
| D．A Device Uses Energy From the Cold Night Sky to Produce Electricity |
3 . Nothing energizes office workers more than complaining about meetings. And it seems some of the world's greatest tech successes agree. Here's some of their advice.
Mark Zuckerberg: A decision or a discussion?
The Facebook CEO reportedly improved the effectiveness of meetings by asking managers to explain the point of a meeting: to make a decision or to have a discussion.
"If there's no point, then there are no decisions," Microsoft founder Bill Gates might agree. He is supposed to have said, "You have a meeting to make a decision, not to decide on the question."
Elon Musk: It is not rude to leave.
Elon Musk once sent out an email to staff in which he made some "recommendations".
"Walk out of a meeting or drop off a call as soon as it is obvious you aren't adding value," he went on. "It is not rude to leave; it is rude to make someone stay and waste their time."
Jeff Bezos: The "two--pizza rule".
The Amazon founder meets investors for just six hours a year, and tries to avoid early morning meetings.
Business Insider reports that Mr. Bezos also has a strict policy: Never have a meeting in which you couldn't feed the whole group with two pizzas. The businessman believes small groups are far more efficient than large ones, and the "two-pizza rule" helps him prevent large meetings.
Steve Jobs: No need for PowerPoint.
Walter Isaacson's biography of Steve Jobs shows the creative genius behind the iPhone making an attack on slideshow users. "People who know what they are talking about don't need PowerPoint," he said.
"Generally PowerPoint presentations are a great distraction(使人分心的事物), unless it's data or a graph," said Professor Andre Spicer. "Long slides mean no information being conveyed."
1. What did Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates both stress?| A．How to have a meeting. | B．When to have a meeting. |
| C．The purpose of having a meeting. | D．The importance of having a meeting. |
| A．To offer better services for a meeting. | B．To reduce the cost of a meeting. |
| C．To encourage short meetings. | D．To limit the size of a meeting. |
| A．less is more | B．the more the merrier |
| C．something is better than nothing | D．a picture is worth a thousand words |
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1. What is stressed in the ad?
| A．The coin is of high quality and worth collecting. |
| B．The coin can be circulated as a currency. |
| C．Limited supplies guarantee a stable price of the coin. |
| D．Demand for the coin is bound to break records. |
| A．$230.7 | B．$233.7 | C．$240.7 | D．$243.7 |
| A．shopping online |
| B．making a phone call |
| C．lining up in front of the stores |
| D．writing to the company |
5 . Ever wonder how your brain works when making decisions bigger than medium versus spicy salsa, like buying a car or accepting a job offer? Researchers from the University of Dundee in Scotland conducted a study that clarifies why you may want to have a small bite before making that big decision.
Benjamin Vincent from the University of Dundee’s Psychology department and his co-author Jordan Skyrnka tested 50 people two times: once when they followed their normal eating patterns and once when they did not eat anything during the day. Using three different types of rewards (food, money, and song downloads), the team discovered when presented with the choice of receiving the reward now versus double the award at some point in the future, participants would usually volunteer to wait for 35 days to earn a larger bounty, but when they were hungry, they said they would only wait three days.
“We wanted to know whether being in a state of hunger had a specific effect on how you make decisions only relating to food or if it had broader effects, and this research suggests decision-making gets more present-focused when people are hungry,” Vincent said in a story about the study on the university’s website. “You would predict that hunger would impact people’s preferences relating to food, but it is not yet clear why people get more present-focused for completely unrelated rewards. Hunger is so common that it is important to understand the non-obvious ways in which our preferences and decisions may be affected by it,” he said.
In an earlier study of the subject by a team at Cambridge University in England, the researchers noted that serotonin plays a major role in the decision-making process. “Since the raw material for making serotonin—an amino acid called tryptophan — only comes from diet, levels of the chemical decline between meals,” reports a piece in the Telegraph about the study. “This can lead to aggressiveness and impulsiveness,” say the team.
1. How did Benjamin Vincent and Jordan Skyrnka carry out their research?| A．By analyzing reasons. | B．By making comparison. |
| C．By giving examples. | D．By filling questionnaires. |
| A．bonus. | B．quantity. | C．income. | D．fortune. |
| A．It’s common to make a wrong decision if you are hungry. |
| B．Make sure you are not hungry before making a big decision. |
| C．The more hungry you are, the quicker you will make a decision. |
| D．Being hungry drives you to make a decision connected with food. |
| A．What should be eaten to make a wise man. |
| B．How can we get enough serotonin from our diet. |
| C．What other factors will influence one’s decision-making. |
| D．How does a chemical function in the course of making a decision. |
6 . If you’ve ever been annoyed by the sound of someone eating, especially as they noisily slurp(出声地吃) noodles, don’t worry, you’re not alone.
A company has recently designed a fork that connects to an app on your smart phone, which will then play noise cancelling sounds if you happen to slurp your noodles too loudly.
The fork was designed with a microphone in its handle that is trained to recognize the sound of slurping. The microphone will then send a signal to the phone app, setting off the noise cancelling sounds.
The company that designed the fork, called Otohiko fork, was inspired by what is called “ noodle harassment” by social media users, which is running wild in Japan.
“The Japanese, who generally dislike noisy eating, consider it proper and even preferable to suck up one’s noodles with a loud slurping sound.”
Unfortunately for visitors, however, such enthusiastic slurping tends to grate on their nerves, which is what lead to the creation of the phrase “noodle harassment” in the first place.
The company behind the fork, Nissin, is the very same company that invented Cup Noodles, who brought instant noodles to the world nearly 70 years ago, so they are definitely worried about whether or not foreigners are put off by the sound of slurping noodles.
The fork is being sold for a good $ 130, but those bothered enough by noodles slurpers will likely find it well worth the money.
Nissin is only planning a limited run of 5,000 forks for the time being, which can now be pre-ordered only through their website.
The company is planning to begin releasing them just in time for the holidays. Of course, it still remains to be seen if the fork can be programmed to drown out the sound of loud chewers, which is probably of greater concern to sensitive western friends.
1. From the passage we can know that _______.| A．a microphone in the Otohiko fork’s handle is designed to cancel the slurping sound. |
| B．all the Japanese will be encouraged to use the the Otohiko fork. |
| C．the Otohiko fork is not available now in real shops. |
| D．the Otohiko fork will definitely silence the sound of loud chewers. |
| A．disturbance | B．preference |
| C．cancellation | D．division |
| A．Nissin wants to advertise a new kind of Cup Noodles by inventing the new fork. |
| B．Nissin has already produced 5,000 forks for the holidays. |
| C．Nissin was inspired to design the Otohiko fork by the crazy social media users. |
| D．Nissin is concerned western friends will lose interest in its Cup Noodles. |
| A．It tells good news to western visitors. |
| B．It introduces a noise cancelling fork. |
| C．It describes a famous Japanese noodle company. |
| D．It explains a phrase “noodle harassment”. |
7 . Exposing living tissue to subfreezing temperatures for long can cause permanent damage. Microscopic ice crystals (结晶体) cut cells and seize moisture (潮气), making donor organs unsuitable for transplantation. Thus, organs can be made cold for only a few hours ahead of a procedure. But a set of lasting new antifreeze compounds (化合物)—similar to those found in particularly hardy (耐寒的) animals—could lengthen organs’ shelf life.
Scientists at the University of Warwick in England were inspired by proteins in some species of Arctic fish, wood frogs and other organisms that prevent blood from freezing, allowing them to flourish in extreme cold. Previous research had shown these natural antifreeze molecules (分子) could preserve rat hearts at -1.3 degrees Celsius for up to 24 hours. But these proteins are expensive to extract (提取) and highly poisonous to some species. “For a long time everyone assumed you had to make synthetic (人造的) alternatives that looked exactly like antifreeze proteins to solve this problem, ”says Matthew Gibson, a chemist at Warwick who co-authored the new research. “But we found that you can design new molecules that function like antifreeze proteins but do not necessarily look like them. ”
Most natural antifreeze molecules have a mixture of regions that either attract or repel water. Scientists do not know exactly how this process prevents ice crystal formation, but Gibson thinks it might throw water molecules into push-pull chaos that prevents them from tuning into ice. To copy this mechanism, he and his colleagues synthesized spiral-shaped molecules that were mostly water-repellent—but had iron atoms at their centers that made them hydrophilic, or water-loving. The resulting compounds were surprisingly effective at stopping ice crystals from forming. Some were also harmless to the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans, indicating they might be safe for other animals.
“These compounds are really cool because they are not proteins—they are other types of molecules that nonetheless can do at least part of what natural antifreeze proteins do, ”says Clara do Amaral, a biologist at Mount St. Joseph University, who was not involved in the research. Gibson’s antifreeze compounds will still need to be tested in humans, however, and may be only part of a solution. “We don’t have the whole picture yet, ”do Amaral adds. “It’s not just one magical compound that helps freeze-tolerant organisms survive. It’s a whole suite of adaptations.
1. What will happen if organs are kept for a long time in temperatures below zero?| A．They will have ice crystal formation inside. |
| B．They will not suffer permanent damage. |
| C．They will have longer shelf life. |
| D．They will be fit for transplantation. |
| A．They look like Gibson’s antifreeze compounds. |
| B．They are composed of antifreeze molecules harmless to other species. |
| C．They are spiral-shaped and have iron atoms at their centers. |
| D．They can be found in organisms living in freezing cold weather. |
| A．By creating compounds both water-repellent and water-loving. |
| B．By extracting the proteins from some hardy animals. |
| C．By making synthetic alternatives like antifreeze proteins. |
| D．By copying spiral-shaped molecules mostly water-resistant. |
| A．Push-pull chaos might prevent water molecules from turning into ice. |
| B．The final solution to preserving donor organs has been found recently. |
| C．Chemicals inspired by Arctic animals could lengthen organs’ shelf life. |
| D．Gibson’s antifreeze compounds can do what natural antifreeze proteins do. |
8 . From 1990 to 2000, fishermen seeking swordfish off the coast of California accidentally caught and killed over 100 sea turtles, and injured many more. In 2001, the federal government established the Pacific Leatherback Conservation Area (PLCA), a region off the coast of California where fishing boats aren’t allowed to enter from August through November. Since then, the number of turtles killed by mistake has fallen rapidly, but a handful of animals still die from being caught in fishing nets each year. And meanwhile, the once $15 million swordfish industry has become a $2 million industry.
Scientists are hoping to find a way to both protect sea turtles and other endangered creatures and help fishermen make a living. For this, many are looking at dynamic (动态的) ocean management to help fishing boats meet fish where they are and avoid catching other fish by mistake.
The first paper to suggest that the fish that live in the open ocean should be guarded with fluid, ever-changing zones of protection, came out in 2000. Larry Crowder, a professor at Hopkins Marine Station, remembers reading it and thinking,“ Cool idea, but it will never work.” In 2000, scientists didn’t have the computer power to cheaply test statistical models or deal with satellite data quickly. They didn’t have enough data dealing with fish or satellite data on ocean conditions, either.
Now scientists can download oceans of satellite data in minutes, and attach satellite archival tags (档案标签) to marine (海洋的) animals to track their movements. They first collect data by marking the creatures, collecting reports from fishing boats, or other tracking methods. Then they compare that data with weather conditions, the time of year, and any other data that can be sensed. Finally, they can forecast where fish are likely to be.
Crowder and his colleagues used the data to develop a tool called EcoCast, which shows fishermen a daily map where there are more fish they desire. According to statistical modeling, if fishers had used EcoCast during the 2012 and 2015 fishing seasons, they could have fished in at least 125,000 more square miles than were open to them, without significant risk of hurting turtles.
1. The federal government hopes the PLCA and its rules can_________.| A．prevent fishing in the PLCA |
| B．help collect data for future researches |
| C．protect the creatures in the area to some degree |
| D．make the public realize the importance of our environment |
| A．It was unrealistic. |
| B．It was stupid. |
| C．It was possible. |
| D．It was interesting. |
| A．An effective way to collect data. |
| B．Some fruits in the related technology. |
| C．A scientific method to find specific species. |
| D．The way dynamic ocean management works. |
| A．It protects the marine environment from pollution. |
| B．It reduces the risk of national economical loss. |
| C．It prevents fishermen from getting lost while fishing. |
| D．It both protects ocean animals and supports fishery. |
9 . Los Angeles is always a popular holiday destination. To fully enjoy your travel there, you should know its food, weather, and also traffic. While driving in L. A. is similar to that in other areas, there are a few specific rules to note.
HOV lanes (车道)
On many L. A. freeways, one or more lanes at the far left are used as high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes. They usually have limited access and you can only enter or exit where there is a break in the double yellow line. Most HOV lanes require a minimum of two people in the car; some require three. Vehicles towing trailers (拖车) are NOT allowed in the HOV lane, regardless of how many people are in them.
Toll (收费) lanes
On certain freeways, the HOV lanes are double-purposed as toll lanes for people driving alone who have a FasTrak, an electronic toll collection system. Therefore, you also have to have one in that lane as a HOV, which is inconvenient if you’re just visiting. FasTrak is in effect on parts of the 110 freeway between the 405 and 10 freeways, and on parts of the 10 freeway east of Downtown L. A.
Cell phones
It is against the law to talk on a cell phone while driving without using a hands-free device. Holding a cell phone to your ear while driving will land you with a ticket.
Alcohol
Driving under the influence is taken seriously in L.A. The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.08%, but you can be charged with lower levels if they show you can’t function normally. Placing an opened bottle of alcohol in the passenger area while driving (or sitting) is illegal. Any opened container of alcohol has to be transported in the trunk.
1. What do you know about HOV lanes?| A．They encourage people to share cars. |
| B．They are on the far right of freeways. |
| C．They are intended for larger vehicles. |
| D．They allow cars to enter over the double yellow line. |
| A．Driving on the 110 freeway with a FasTrak. |
| B．Putting the cell phone in the car while driving. |
| C．Riding with an opened bottle of alcohol in back seats. |
| D．Going below the blood alcohol limit of 0. 08%. |
| A．A traffic law. | B．A road map. |
| C．A guidebook. | D．A report. |
10 . Enter the 17th Annual Kids’ Fish Art Contest
Each fall, Ontario students are invited to enter the Kids’ Fish Art Contest．This free annual contest lets you show off your artistic talents and learn about Ontario’s native fish and their habitats．
The contest is open to all students：
●who are residents of Ontario
●currently attending elementary or secondary school(or homeschooled)
●between the grades of 4-12
Children of Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry’s Fish and Wildlife Services Branch employees are not permitted．
Prizes
There is 1 winner for each of the 3 categories：
●grades of 4-6 ●grades of 7-9 ●grades of 10-12
This year’s prizes include：
●a fishing trip at Brennan Harbour Resort
●a day of fishing with Canadian Sport fishing Television Show Host, Italo Labignan
●the winning designs advance to an international competition
Key dates
Opens: September 30,2019
Closes: December 6,2019
Announcement of winners: March 2020
How to enter
1.Prepare your entry：
●original artwork ●a short essay
2.Download and complete the entry form．
3.Mail your entry, postmarked no later than December 6,2019
To: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
Kids’Fish Art Contest
Peter borough ON K9J 3C7
Do：
●provide your artistic interpretation of the fish in its habitat
●submit your original, hand-done creation
Do not：
●use photographs, tracings, computer-generated artwork
●submit freehand copies of other people’s work
●put any lettering, signatures or initials on the front of the design
Essay
Write a 1-page essay about：
●your fish ●its habitat ●how to protect it for future generations
Include your name and address on your essay．
1. Who can sigh up for the contest?
| A．Julie, a 3 grader from Ontario | B．Ian, whose father works with the contest |
| C．Brian, a 6-grade homeschooler | D．Olivia, who lives outside of Ontario |
| A．September 30,2019 | B．December 6,2019． |
| C．March 2020 | D．December 31,2019． |
| A．mail the entry form to the contest holder |
| B．put their names on their artworks |
| C．ensure their entries are received by December 6,2019 |
| D．create their artworks by hand |
