1 . 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.

2. What does the underlined word “harassment” mean?

A．disturbance	B．preference
C．cancellation	D．division

3. What can we know about Nissin?

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.

4. What is the main purpose of the passage?

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”.

2 . 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

2. What did Larry Crowder think of dynamic ocean management at first?

A．It was unrealistic.

B．It was stupid.

C．It was possible.

D．It was interesting.

3. What does Paragraph 4 mainly tell us?

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.

4. What should be the advantage of using EcoCast?

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.

3 . If you’re reading this, it’s safe to assume you arrived by internet.

Maybe you caught the headline as it raced by on Twitter. Or you might be taking a break from watching a boring movie on Netflix.

It doesn’t matter. Because according to a new study, it all adds up to the same thing: one distraction（分心的事情）after another.

And the thing is, they’re welcome distractions. Because, as the research — published this week in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology — notes, people will do just about anything to avoid being left to their own thoughts.

For their study, researchers designed a sample test for more than 2,557 participants in 11 countries. They divided their test subjects into two groups. In the first group, people were asked to spend 10 to 15 minutes “entertaining themselves with their thoughts as best they could.”

Just sit back and think about things. Sounds good, doesn’t it? Well, not really. The second group — the one where people were told to surf the Net, play a video game, or even read a book — reported having much more fun. They scored more highly on entertainment and lower on boredom. And the preference for distraction seemed to be a global phenomenon, which may come as a surprise to Italians who are famously brilliant at doing nothing.

“The preference for doing external（外部的）activities such as reading, watching TV, or surfing the internet rather than ‘just thinking’ appears to be strong throughout the world,” the researchers note in the study.

But there does seem to be an important thing that hasn’t been included in the study. Shouldn’t the quality of thoughts matter? If you’ve got something positive to think about — say, how you’re going to spend your vacation or the great screenplay you’ve already half-written in your head — why are you reading this?

On the other hand, if you are always bothered by negative thoughts — a sad or painful experience, perhaps — by all means, keep scrolling（翻网页）.

Unfortunately, we won’t be able to take up much of your time here; it’s a short study that gets to the point in a hurry. Don’t worry though. There’s a whole world of distractions out there. Say, have you seen that ship teetering at the brink of Niagara Falls? And how about those charming cows? Bet you didn’t know they could smell you from six miles away.

And that’s something to think about.

1. Why would the Italians be surprised at the phenomenon?

A．They prefer reading books to surfing the Net.

B．They’re convinced that thinking is significant.

C．They are used to being left to their own thoughts.

D．They seldom entertain themselves by surfing the Net.

2. How was the study conducted?

A．By reference research.	B．By comparative study.
C．By theoretical analysis.	D．By experimental study.

3. What seems to have been ignored in the study?

A．The quality of thoughts.	B．The cause of the phenomenon.
C．The solution to the problem.	D．The kinds of distractions.

4. What’s the tone of the passage?

A．Worried.	B．Disappointed.
C．Serious.	D．Humorous.

4 . I once was a follower of cancel culture, enough for it still influences the media I consume today. I don’t listen to my former favorite bands like Pinegrove and Summer Salt anymore and I refuse to watch anything with Louis C.K, and I always look up which Franco brother was accused every time I go to watch something with one of them in it.

These were easy people to “cancel”, because I didn’t have much attachment to them and I could find replacements. But what happens when someone close with you has done something “cancel-worthy”? Something that you would cancel anyone else for, if you had more distance between you?

This dilemma presents two choices.

In the first choice, you could continue your relationship with the “cancelled” person, and live with the guilt. You know they did something that you wouldn’t typically forgive, but you’ve decided to give them a “get out of jail free” card. You continue to be friends with this person, but always feel uneasy because you know somewhere inside that your friend did something bad.

Or there’s option number two: You could completely cut off the person who you once called a friend. You abandon a relationship that you had worked so hard to develop, and you decide to ignore that person. Eventually, you become complete strangers with someone you were once so close with.

No matter what choice you make, you will face significant consequences. This isn’t a black or white issue. This is just one example of the challenges of life that doesn’t have a clear answer. The truth is, this is a lose-lose situation and you’re the loser. You can continue to trust someone who did something bad and live with the guilt. Or, you can stop speaking to them, but still deal with the fact that you once trusted someone who did a very bad thing, and that you had let them into your life. Either way, you end up losing something you didn’t want to.

1. What does the underlined word “them” refer to?

A．Franco brothers.	B．Louis C.K and Franco.
C．Franco’s movies.	D．Pinegrove and Summer Salt.

2. Why does the author stop listening to his favorite bands?

A．He has found better replacements.	B．He is no longer attached to them.
C．They did something he can’t forgive.	D．They don’t release good works anymore.

3. How would you feel when you keep your relationship with a “cancelled” person?

A．Relaxed.	B．Guilty.
C．Awkward.	D．Refreshed.

4. What does the underlined sentence mean in Paragraph 4?

A．You don’t care what they did at all.

B．You continue your relationship with them.

C．You hope they could be set free from the prison.

D．You don’t think they should receive a punishment.

5 . Earlier this year when the summer heatwave was in full swing, most people were dreaming of the cooler autumn temperatures. But for those who love the summer weather, the winter colder temperatures and dreary weather are anything but welcome. The good news? There are some brilliant winter sun destinations you can escape to for glorious pleasant weather and warm sunshine.

Dubai

During the winter months the city still boasts temperatures around 26°C, perfect if you plan to make the most of the city’s beaches. However, it’s not so hot that you can’t enjoy most of the things to see and do in Dubai, from the theme parks to epic malls such as the Burj Khalifa.

Planning to make the most of the attractions? It’s worth looking into a Dubai Pass where you could save up to 50% off a host of the top must-see sights.

Thailand

The best time to visit Thailand is between November to January when it’s a dry season and the temperatures are pleasant. The country is filled with epic sights and attractions.

Fancy a city break? Head to Bangkok where glorious temples, floating markets and incredible food festivals await. Or of course you could spend a few days making the most of Thailand’s most beautiful sea sands.

Cape Verde

Sal Island is one of the main tourist spots in the country. Cape Verde is well-known for offering up a relaxing holiday; and with 10 islands to explore, there’s still ample opportunity to have an adventure or two.

However, if you only visit one spot, make it the beautiful Sal Island. It tends to be a hit with holidaymakers thanks to the white sand beaches and crystalline waters that make up its shores.

Barbados

If the idea of a snowy Christmas break doesn’t appeal, then Barbados could make for a once-in-a-lifetime festive season.

December temperatures can be around 28°C, meaning you’ll have heaps of hot weather and sunshine and of course Barbados beaches are the ideal spot to enjoy them.

1. What’s the purpose of this passage?

A．To provide warm destinations for winter.	B．To compare four foreign tourist spots.
C．To offer advice on traveling abroad.	D．To help escape from the hot weather.

2. What could be the best choice for food lovers?

A．Dubai.	B．Thailand.
C．Cape Verde.	D．Barbados.

3. What do the attractions have in common?

A．They offer tourists sights on a budget.	B．A variety of food is supplied for tourists.
C．They recommend some shopping centers.	D．Travelers can go for relaxation on seashore.

6 . Scientists say they've developed a system using machine learning to predict when and where lighting will strike. The research was led by engineers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, Switzerland.

European researchers have estimated that between 6,000 and 24,000 people are killed by lightning worldwide each year. The strikes can also cause power outages, destroy property, damage electrical equipment and start forest fires. For these reasons, climate scientists have long sought to develop methods to predict and control lightning. In the United States and other places, ground-based sensing devices are used to identify strikes as they happen. But, no system has been created to effectively predict lightning.

The system tested in the experiments used a combination of data from weather stations and machine learning methods. The researchers developed a prediction model that was trained to recognize weather conditions that were likely to cause lightning.

The model was created with data collected over a 12-year period from 12 Swiss weather stations in cities and mountain areas. The data related to four main surface conditions: air pressure, air temperature, relative humidity and wind speed.

The atmospheric data was placed into a machine learning algorithm（算法）, which compared it to records of lightning strikes. Researchers say the algorithm was then able to learn the conditions under which lightning happens.

Amirhossein Mostajabi is a PhD student at the institute who led the development of the method. He said, “current systems for gathering such data are slow and complex and require costly collection equipment like radar or satellites.”

“Our method uses data that can be obtained from any weather station,” Mostajabi said. “This will improve data collection in very remote areas not covered by radar and satellite or in places where communication systems have been cut,” be added.

The researchers plan to keep developing the technology in partnership with a European effort that aims to create a lightning protection system. The effort is called the European Laser Lightning Rod project.

1. Why have climate scientists tried to predict and control lighting?

A．To collect relative data.

B．To reduce the destruction lightning has been causing.

C．To create a scientific system.

D．To do research in relation to machine learning.

2. The four mentioned surface conditions include all the following EXCEPT ________.

A．air pollution	B．wind speed
C．relative humidity	D．air temperature

3. What does the underlined word “it” in paragraph 5 refer to?

A．lighting.	B．the system being tested.
C．the atmospheric data.	D．the machine learning algorithm.

4. What can we learn about Mostajabi from the passage?

A．He developed the method and the system himself.

B．He thinks the current systems are too slow and simple.

C．He is a professor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology.

D．He believes their system does much better in data collection.

7 . I wanted a change of pace, a break from routine. The past few years found me working long hours at my marketing job while my husband, Steven, put in equally full days as a physics tutor. We were both burned out from the constant boredom.

Vacation experiences at first glance seem a little difficult for us. How do you find comfort in an ever-changing environment? And I, someone who enjoys more planned fun, had to adapt.

But I was surprised at how easily I was able to adapt to a new mode of operation, a more relaxed version of myself who wasn’t worried where we’d park and sleep each night. The fact that we both became so accustomed to sleeping in the back of a cargo van is another surprise we experienced on this journey. The van was our main transportation and, with a full-size bed in the back, it also provided us with a bit of comfort that made us continue. At first, every sound outside was foreign, and we both took longer to fall-and stay-asleep. But, after a couple of weeks into van life, we let the sounds fade into soft background music.

Over the course of our seven- month trip, one of our big goals was to come away from each park with one spectacular image. That shared goal placed us on the same team: It brought us together, even more than before, gave us more to talk about, and encouraged us to motivate each other along the way.

By this point, you’re probably wondering how we paid for all of this, or maybe you’re assuming we come from wealthy backgrounds. The truth is, we actually managed this entire adventure on a middle-class budget. Steven did part-time remote work about 10 hours per week for his employer from the road. I ended up finding some temporary jobs through the trip. We also continued our photography business, setting up an online shop to sell our landscapes.

We only visited some parks in the 48 states. And the experience would still be worth every penny. It is really a chance to lose and find ourselves in our nation’s park lands.

1. Why did the author want to change?

A．Because she wanted a rest from daily routine.

B．Because she was interested in travelling.

C．Because she fell ill with long working hours.

D．Because she didn't like her marketing job.

2. What did the author think of the vacation before the journey?

A．Exciting.	B．Helpful.
C．Doubtful.	D．Boring.

3. What can we infer from the last but one paragraph?

A．The couple visited 48 states during the trip.

B．The couple tried different jobs to maintain their trip.

C．The husband worked harder than the wife.

D．The couple came from a middle-class family.

4. What is the passage mainly about?

A．Introducing a couple’s daily life.

B．Sharing a couple’s travel experience.

C．Showing the importance of traveling.

D．Advising some travel plans to readers.

8 . Fashion is a horrible thing. One day you are cool wearing your flared-out jeans and the next one you’re an idiot. You have nothing else to do, but put your favourite jeans in the shelf of out-dated shame. However, now scientists from the University of New South Wales say that your old, worn-out clothes could be turned into building materials-solid panels (嵌板) for floors or walls.

Old, unwanted clothes are actually a huge burden on the environment. They usually end up in a landfill, where they rot away without any use for us, at the same time polluting the environment. Cheap throwaway clothes produce 10 million tonnes of landfill in the US alone each year. However, shredding (撕裂) them we could create new materials. Scientists firstly removed zippers, buttons and other hard pieces, then shredded this old mess of clothing and then added some chemicals to bond these fibers together. The last step was heating and pressing this material to form solid panels. They are strong, water-resistant and not easy to catch fire. Their quality can be further tuned by adding some other materials, such as sawdust, old foam, paper and so on. Different mixtures result in different textures (质地) and colors, some resembling wood, ceramic or stone.

These panels are strong enough to be used on the floor, but their decorative qualities allow them to be used on walls as well. However, scientists still have challenges to overcome before it becomes commercially available. The challenge is consistency—you want your walls to be consistent in colour, which is difficult to achieve when the material is so diverse.

Actually, shredded material could also be used as a heat insulator for walls of the buildings, and it could become filling material for toys or some furniture as well. However, turning old clothing into construction materials could become a business, which would drive this recycling process into a new level.

1. What do we know about old clothes from Paragraph 1?

A．They are cool to wear again.	B．They cost a lot to be recycled.
C．They will be fashionable in time.	D．They can be construction materials.

2. Why should some chemicals be added in making panels?

A．To strengthen the fibers.	B．To make panels water-resistant.
C．To combine the shredded fabrics.	D．To form different texture and colors.

3. What’s the problem of solid panels made from clothes?

A．They can hardly be decorated on walls.

B．It is hard to produce them in the same color.

C．It is difficult for them to achieve different colors.

D．They are not easy to be promoted commercially.

4. What may drive people to improve the recycling of old clothing?

A．Its out-dated recycling process.	B．Its potential commercial value.
C．The curiosity to find more usage.	D．The urge to protect the environment.

9 . Isabel Allende doesn’t take anything for granted. The celebrated author grew up moving from place to place as the child of a diplomat; as an adult, she was forced out of her native Chile by political upheaval (动乱). Recently, Allende was honored by the National Book Foundation for her distinguished contribution to American letters—the first such award given to a Spanish-language writer.

Allende’s story is typically American: She came to the U.S. for a new start after living for more than a decade for political shelter in Venezuela. By that time, Allende had already gained international fame for The House of the Spirits, a novel inspired by her family history. Actually, most of her writing comes from the “incurable desire to belong to a place”. Moving from place to place, and surrounded by people with varied lives, she realized that writers need not feel the pressure of making up stories. After all, Allende asks, “What is writing if it’s not an attempt to sort out the confusion of life?”

In her acceptance speech, she said, “As a stranger, I observe and listen carefully. I ask questions, and I question everything. For my writing, I don’t need to invent much; I look around and take notes. I’m a collector of experiences.”

All of this is hardly new advice, but it’s advice that, deserves repeating and listening to. Because in this way, writers and readers can turn weak and uncertain connections into strong and secure ones. “If we listen to another person’s story, if we tell our own story, we realize that the similarities that bring us together are more than the differences that separate us.”

1. Where was Isabel Allende born?

A．Chile.

B．Spain.

C．America.

D．Venezuela.

2. What is writing, according to Isabel Allende?

A．A need to live a different life.	B．A desire to belong to a place.
C．A wish to move constantly.	D．An effort to solve puzzles of life.

3. What do we know about Isabel Allende from Paragraph 3?

A．She enjoys inventing.	B．She has accumulated much before writing.
C．She likes collecting notes.	D．She has experienced all kinds of life.

4. How does Allende’s advice benefit people?

A．It encourages people to follow others.

B．It inspires people to question their stories.

C．It makes people find differences between each other.

D．It helps people build close connections with others.

10 . Some of the best cycling routes in the world pass through its most beautiful scenery. Here are some of world’s best bike routes for cyclists who either are up for breaking a good sweat or simply seeing the world without leaving an ugly carbon footprint behind.

The Great Windy Road, Victoria, Australia

If you like a challenge, take on this 243-kilometer windy road along Australia’s south-eastern coast. If a day is all you’ve got, take the 60-kilometer route from Torquay to Bells Beach. There you’ll cycle through rural farmland, enjoy the sweeping ocean views from cliff tops, and snake past the wetlands around Lake Connewarre.

Udaipur City Tour, Rajasthan, India

Biking is arguably the best way to explore Udaipur, Venice of the East.

Cyclists often need to cycle past herdsmen and their goats and camels, sharing narrow, old pavements in this romantic place. But surrounded by ancient castles, temples and grand palaces, Udaipur brings about one of the best biking experiences, allowing cyclists to truly discover rural India.

The Karakoram Highway, China-Pakistan

The Karakoram Highway is the highest international road in the world, reaching an altitude of 4,700 meters at the Khunjerab Pass. Starting in Kashgar, China, cyclists can travel up to 1,200 kilometers on mostly unpaved roads, but the views are as breathtaking as the riding.

Route of the Hiawatha, Idaho-Montana, United States

Take your family out to Montana this summer and cycle along the most scenic disused railroad in the country. The railroad turned bike trail turns into 24 kilometers of leisure biking that takes you over seven trestles(高架桥) and through 10 tunnels, with the longest one, the Taft Tunnel, stretching for 2.7 kilometers.

1. In which tour can you enjoy the seaside scenery?

A．The Great Windy Road.	B．Udaipr City Tour.
C．The Karakoram Highway.	D．Route of the Hiawatha.

2. What can you do on the Udaipur city tour?

A．Go to Venice.	B．Feed wild animals.
C．Visit cultural relics.	D．Enjoy modern architectures.

3. What’s special about the Karakoram Highway?

A．It is a totally undeveloped route.	B．It goes along an abandoned railway.
C．It owns the longest tunnel in the world.	D．It lies higher than other international roads.