1 . Strategically adding weak points along microscopic chains called polymers (高分子聚合物) actually makes them harder to tear, researchers report in the June 23 Science. Polymers are used in car tires, and therefore the findings could help reduce plastic pollution as tires wear down over time.

When tires rub against the road, they drop microplastics of rubber and plastic polymers, which pollute waterways and air. Every year, tires release an estimated 6 million metric tons of these microplastics into environment. Stronger polymers that break apart less easily could limit the amount of particles shed annually.

To make such tough materials, Stephen Craig, a chemist at Duke University, and colleagues added molecules called cross-linkers to the polymers. These cross-linkers connected these polymer chains to their many neighbors, and they were specifically designed to break apart easily. At the microscopic scale, the polymers act like a tangle (乱团) of spaghetti with the cross-linkers holding them all together and helping them keep their shape, says Craig’s collaborator Shu Wang, a chemist at MIT. When the team stretched the polymer spaghetti, the individual cross-linkers broke easily, as expected. But the larger tangle material required more force to break than they expected.

The secret to the increased toughness lies in the path the tear has to take, Craig says. The tear goes through the easy-to-break cross-linkers rather than through the tougher polymer chains. Each broken connection follows the path of least resistance but avoiding the long polymer chains means breaking many cross-linkers, which requires more stretching force overall.

This isn’t the first time researchers have used weak connectors to make polymers stronger. But unlike in similar materials, the increased toughness doesn’t come at the expense of other beneficial properties like stiffness (风度). Craig says he hopes the findings will help extend the lifetimes of car tires and plastics, potentially limiting annual microplastic pollution.

1. What benefit does the new material bring?

A．It meets the road standard.	B．It weakens plastic polymers.
C．It releases less microplastics.	D．It reduces the cost of car tires.

2. What can we know about the tangle material?

A．It follows the pattern of spaghetti.	B．It is designed to fall apart easily.
C．The polymers help keep its shape.	D．The larger tangle is harder to break.

3. What is the primary factor that contributes to the increased toughness?

A．The weakness of the cross-linker.	B．The strength of the polymer chains.
C．The number of the cross-linkers used.	D．The path the tear takes through the material.

4. What can we learn about the finding?

A．It initially uses weak connectors.	B．It sacrifices stiffness for toughness.
C．It lengthens the lifespan of car tires.	D．It removes annual microplastic pollution.

2 . Ever feel disconnected during a stressful event? That could be your brain protecting you. During traumatic (痛苦的) situations, people might experience an unexpected wave of emotional indifference or feel like they’ve separated from reality and are having an out-of-body experience. These symptoms of disconnect describe dissociation, a defense mechanism that separates threatening feelings and ideas from the rest of someone’s mind. But why do our minds sometimes dissociate when we’re experiencing stressful events?

Typically, the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for our “fight or flight” response, activates when a person is in upcoming physical danger. Mammals, including humans, evolved to have this response, as it pushes them to survive by fighting or escaping from danger. Dissociation is another way the nervous system is ready to respond to trauma when fight or flight appears to be too dangerous or impossible.

Dissociation can protect someone in the moment so that they are mentally separated from a situation causing physical pain, emotional pain or both. Oftentimes, victims of abuse report dissociation during the event or having foggy memories of an event after the fact due to dissociation.

Nevertheless, problems can arise if people continue to dissociate even once they’re separated from the intense trauma, as opposed to relying on other coping mechanisms, for example, help from a professional. Many people who continue to dissociate often struggle with daily stress, like meeting work deadlines or speaking with peers. Many feel disconnected in their relationships and may find themselves unconcentrated during what used to be usual interactions or tasks.

But the goal of addressing long-term dissociation isn’t to do away with it. After all, it can be a useful strategy to help survive a dangerous situation. But memories of the traumatic event are often disruptive and painful, so having some distance from that could mean a better quality of life after the trauma.

1. What is the main idea of Paragraph 1?

A．It defines what dissociation is.

B．It emphasizes the value of dissociation.

C．It lists different symptoms of disconnect.

D．It explains why we experience stressful events.

2. How does dissociation work on victims of abuse?

A．By erasing their memories.

B．By getting rid of their emotional pain.

C．By protecting victims from physical pain.

D．By distancing the victims mentally from the reality.

3. What might happen if people continue to dissociate?

A．Failing to focus on tasks.

B．Meeting work deadlines.

C．Having a better quality of life.

D．Relying on other coping mechanisms.

4. Which of the following might the author agree with?

A．Traumatic events are avoidable.

B．Dissociation needs to be handled properly.

C．People’s well-being is based on the distance.

D．There’re enough coping strategies for traumas.

3 . Travel Apps That Will Make Your Next Trip Better in Every Way

Kayak

A flight-price search engine, Kayak makes it simple and convenient to price out different flight options heading virtually anywhere in the world. You can filter (筛选) by airline, time of departure or arrival, number of stops and other variables as well. As a flight-comparison engine, it offers a quick way to determine available trip choices. It also helps you find a new flight if you’ve encountered a delay.

TripIt

TripIt is a handy app that helps keep jet-setters more organized by pulling together important information in one spot. Simply forward your trip-related reservations in the form of emails, photos and other media formats to plans@tripit.com. and the service creates a custom route that you can view online, or share with your friends and family. It’s one of the best travel apps for detail-oriented travelers, and it can save you the trouble of having to remember flight times, hotel confirmation numbers and more.

Hotel Tonight

If you’re hunting for a hotel room, Hotel Tonight is one of the best travel apps for you. It doesn’t just offer savings and deals on budget. luxury and vacation properties in thousands of cities, and it also offers steep discounts on rooms that are booked for the very same evening. Whether you’re looking for a motel or hotel, you can quickly search for and select comfortable places to stay on the fly. These features make the app a handy tool to have when you’re feeling adventurous.

If you’re traveling to a new or unfamiliar city, Google Maps can provide an overview or step-by-step directions of your surroundings. There are plenty of Google Maps tricks, but one helpful feature is the ability to download maps and access them offline, always a plus when you’re a tourist who’s out and about exploring overseas with no ready Internet connection. Real-time GPS navigation and traffic updates make it simple to track your movements or route your way to destinations.

1. What do Kayak and TripIt have in common?

A．Providing savings on budget.	B．Helping travelers deal with the delay.
C．Offering available plans for flight.	D．Giving directions of the circumstance.

2. What is a great advantage of Hotel Tonight?

A．A discount for booking online.

B．Finding a hotel room very soon.

C．A handy app for adventurous athletes.

D．To compare thousands of hotels at a time.

3. Which app best favors people who are offline?

A．Kayak.

B．TripIt.

C．Hotel Tonight.

D．Google Maps.

5 . National Geographic Film Concert: Secrets of the Whales

This month, the Jack Singer Concert Hall will invite audiences into the underwater world of legendary photographer Brian Skerry and producer James Cameron in National Geographic Film Concert: Secrets of the Whales on May 26-28. With none other than Jann Arden, celebrated musician, actor and author, as a guest commentator guiding audiences into the complex and fascinating families, culture, and play that reveal the secret lives of whales, the whole experience is brought to life by a full orchestra (管弦乐队) and world-class conductor Anthony Parnther.

Called “visually appealing” by The New York Times, this concert presentation brings the most powerful moments of the Emmy-winning Disney+ series together, transporting audiences into the lives of five different whale families as they adapt to ecological changes to their habitats.

“Secrets of the Whales was the most ambitious project of my career as a photographer. If we could see the ocean and our planet through the lens (镜头) of the culture of another species, that could change our view of the natural world and our relation to it,” says Skerry. “Those connections, the communities and the cultures the whales share all mirror human culture, but sometimes we forget about that.”

Brian Skerry has spent nearly four decades exploring and documenting the world’s oceans. He spent more than three years in 24 locations shooting footage for the four-part series Secrets of the Whales. Now, with the most powerful moments selected, the documentary has been edited for this live, two-hour concert performance. Projected on a high-definition screen, the rich filmography and sweeping score is brought to life by a 40-piece orchestra. Join Arts Commons Presents for this worldwide event, in the Jack Singer Concert Hall al Arts Commons. Get your tickets today at artscommons.ca/whales.

1. What will Jann Arden act as in the film concert?

A．Explainer.

B．Musician.

C．Conductor.

D．Director.

2. What is the project aimed at?

A．Advertising the concert.	B．Researching human culture.
C．Protecting animals’ habitats.	D．Understanding nature better.

3. How long did Skerry spend filming the documentary?

A．Two hours.	B．Four days.
C．Over three years.	D．About four decades.

6 . Have you ever found yourself having intrusive (侵扰的) thoughts about something you haven’t finished? Maybe a half-done work project is keeping you up at night or the suspenseful plot of a novel you’re reading keeps circling your thoughts. There is a reason why it’s so hard to stop thinking about uncompleted and interrupted tasks, and psychologists called it the Zeigarnik effect (Z-effect).

The Ziegarnik effect was first observed by a Russian psychologist named Bluma Zeigarnik. While sitting in a busy restaurant in Vienna, Ziegarnik noted that the waiters had better memories of unpaid orders. Once the bill was paid, however, the waiters had trouble remembering the exact details of the orders.

Zeigarnik did a series of experiments, in which participants were asked to complete simple tasks such as putting together puzzles, or solving math problems. Half of the participants were interrupted partway through doing these tasks. After an hour-long wait, Zeigarnik asked the participants to describe what they had been working on. She discovered that the people who had been interrupted in their work were twice as likely to remember what they had been doing as the people who had been able to complete the tasks.

We are living in an information explosion era, and we need mental tricks to help us remember a great deal of information. The Zeigarnik effect serves as a prime example. We hold on to information in the short term by constantly pulling it back into our awareness. By thinking of uncompleted tasks often, we’re more likely to keep remembering them until they get done.

The Zeigarnik effect tells us a lot about how memory works and you can use the Zeigarnik effect to your advantage. If you are struggling to memorize something important, momentary interruptions might work to your advantage. Rather than simply repeating the information, review it a few times, and then take a break. Nevertheless, leaving too many tasks unfinished can lead to feelings of overwhelm and anxiety. Therefore, it’s crucial to use this effect wisely in practical applications.

1. What is the typical characteristic of the Z-effect?

A．Tending to memorize unfinished tasks.	B．Trying to finish various tasks at a time.
C．Performing terribly during a task.	D．Suspending an uncompleted task.

2. What is the function of paragraph 3?

A．To classify a concept.	B．To provide further evidence.
C．To stress the experiment’s complexity.	D．To add some background information.

3. Which is a practical application of the Z-effect?

A．Reading a whole story in one breath.

B．Producing a drama with unexpected endings.

C．Keeping several windows open on your computer.

D．Airing ads during the suspenseful moments in a TV series.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．The Z-Effect: How Interruptions Enhance Memory

B．The Z-Effect: How to Boost Recall of Finished Tasks

C．The Power of Completing Tasks Ahead of Schedule

D．The Tricks of Developing Long-term Memory

7 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

“This is enough! I cannot stand it anymore!” My owner’s mother shouted at the top of her lungs. “Wolfie has to go! Have a dog that’s so big and eats so much! I cannot stand him urinating (小便) all over the house instead of in the small basin at his kennel (狗窝)!”

“But…” My owner cried.

“No buts, Bob!” His mother shouted. Her cold tone indicated she meant business.

Now think back on your most depressing moment. Then multiply that feeling of depression by a hundred. That was how I felt at that time. I would be separated from my beloved owner, Bob. This was the end and I had no one to blame but myself.

Lowering his head in sadness, Bob dragged himself towards his room and slowly closed the door. With a click, he locked it. I went back to my kennel and lay inside. I sighed deeply, tears welling up in my eyes. Soon, I would have no owner and I would have to find shelter, food and water by myself. Poor me.

After a while, I heard footsteps that were becoming louder by the second. I raised my head and saw Bob walking towards me with a leash (皮带) in his left hand.

“We are going to the market,” Bob told me as he tied one end of the leash around my neck.

A walk would make me feel better. I followed Bob and his mother to the market. Soon, we reached the long road that we had to cross to get to the market. After waiting for ages, the traffic light finally turned green. While crossing the road, Bob walked slowly as he seemed about leaving me. We were soon falling behind his mother.

From the comer of my eye, I saw something moving closer and closer at great speed. It was a red car speeding towards Bob’s mother! Bob also saw it but his mother was unaware of the danger approaching her! I caught a glance of the look of horror on Bob’s face. He had turned white in horror.

注意:
1. 续写词数应该为150个左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

I needed to do something!

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She looked down at me, feeling touched.

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8 . In today’s fast-paced world, where screen time is a fact of life, the thought of taking your kids to an art gallery — and them actually enjoying the experience — might seem a thankless and impossible challenge.     1     Surely a child won’t have the patience to stare at something outside the screen.

In fact, art galleries serve as invaluable educational and instructional resources. They invite young viewers to interpret and connect with the artwork on a personal level. This exposure not only broadens their artistic horizons but also encourages them to appreciate different ways of seeing the world. So art galleries are packed with nutrition for mind, heart, and soul. But many kids are picky eaters, and take galleries as appetising as yesterday’s porridge (粥).     2    

Allow your children to fit in on their own terms. Who said that walking around a gallery bad to be slow and methodical, stopping to look at every picture?     3     If they want to head straight for a certain display, it’s no big deal. If something catches their eye on the other side of the room, far away from the Picasso or Constable in the spotlight, that’s absolutely fine.

While it might sound like I’m not being an art enthusiast, the particular work of art is simply not important. What really matters is that children build a connection with art.     4     Involve older children, either with or without a reward, in simple quizzes such as, “Who can guess the artist?” or, ”Who can identify the period it was made?”

    5     Ask questions such as, “What exhibit did you find most exciting or boring?” or, “How did that painting make you feel?” and discuss your different impressions of the same works. As an added bonus, it will deepen the connection between you and your children. By taking this approach, art is no longer dull but something alive and relevant to young people, and even a rewarding and fascinating pursuit that will last a lifetime.

A．You can make it into a game.

B．How can they find enjoyment?

C．It always enhances their interest.

D．Instead, let them control the pace.

E．Talk to children in the language of emotions as this also works.

F．Limiting your visit to 45 minutes is perfect for stopping boredom.

G．After all, galleries are for quiet reflection and observation, right?

9 . The color blue is very rare in nature, with fewer than one in 10 plants sporting the common human favorite. To present this color, they have to perform tricks to make themselves blue to the human eyes. In some lowers like bluebells, it primarily occurs when naturally occurring pigments (色素) are mixed the way you can mix different paints to change the color.

For blueberries, the blue comes on the naturally produced thin layer of wax (蜡) on their skin, which often serves as a self-cleaning coating or for added protection in the plant kingdom. “The blue of most fruits is in their pigmented juices. That isn’t the case with blueberries,” says Rox Middleton, co-author of a study published in Science Advances.

In the study, Middleton and his team examined the wax of a blueberry using an electron microscope. They found that the layer of wax is composed of tiny structures that work by scattering (散射) blue and UV light from the sun, while absorbing most of other colors of light. The arrangement makes the berries appear blue to humans and blue-UV to birds and other species that can see UV light, despite not having blue pigments in the waxy skin itself.

To look closer, they removed the outer wax and reshaped it on a black card. They created a new blue-UV coating and removed a very thin substance that creates color called a colorant from the skin. “The colorants scatter blue and UV, letting the other colors pass through without absorption,” says Middleton. “That’s why it’s so important that there are dark pigments underneath to ‘mop up’ the rest of the light. If there was a bright pigment or white scattering material underneath, that light would come through, and the color would look mixed or washed out.”

The study does show that nature has developed a “really neat trick” in the form of a very thin layer for an important colorant. Reproducing this colorant in the lab could make a way for new methods of creating pigments.

1. How do bluebells present blue to humans?

A．By blocking natural light.	B．By combining the pigments.
C．By changing the outer colour.	D．By producing various paints.

2. What did Middleton’s team discover about the wax layer on blueberries?

A．Its colorful pigments.	B．Its internal mechanism.
C．Its chemical changes.	D．Its unique components.

3. Which of the following can replace the underlined phrase “mop up” in paragraph 4?

A．Mix.

B．Reflect.

C．Recognize.

D．Absorb.

4. What is a suitable title for the text?

A．The Science Behind Plant Colors	B．The Invisible Pigments Of Blueberries
C．Technically, Blueberries Aren’t Blue	D．Indeed, Color Blue Is Human Favorite