1 . International Day of Education
24 January
Education is a human right, a public good and a public responsibility. The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed (宣布) 24 January as International Day of Education, in celebration of the role of education for peace and development. Today, 250 million children and youth are out of school, and 763 million adults are illiterate (文盲的). Their right to education is being violated (侵犯) and it is unacceptable. It’s time to transform education.
International Day of Clean Energy
26 January
The International Day of Clean Energy on 26 January was declared by the General Assembly as a call to raise awareness and mobilize action for a just and inclusive transition (过渡) to clean energy for the benefit of people and the planet. 26 January is also the founding date of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), a global intergovernmental agency established in 2009 to support countries in their energy transitions.
World Health Day
7 April
It is celebrated annually and each year draws attention to a specific health topic of concern to people all over the world. The date of 7 April marks the anniversary of the founding of WHO in 1948.
The theme for World Health Day 2024 is “My health, my right”, which was chosen to champion the right of everyone, everywhere to have access to quality health services, education and information, as well as safe drinking water, clean air, good nutrition, quality housing, decent working and environmental conditions.
World Environment Day
5 June
World Environment Day, held annually on 5 June, brings together millions of people from across the globe, engaging them in the effort to protect and restore the Earth. People from more than 150 countries participate in this United Nations international day, which celebrates environmental action and the power of governments, businesses and individuals to create a more sustainable world. The event has been led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) since its start in 1973.
1. On what day is the event about world energy marked?| A．24 January. | B．26 January. | C．7 April. | D．5 June. |
| A．International Day of Education. |
| B．International Day of Clean Energy. |
| C．World Health Day. |
| D．World Environment Day. |
| A．They have a common goal. | B．They have a long history. |
| C．They’re international events. | D．They benefit world environment. |
Once upon a time, there lived a very lazy man named Harman. All day long, he would almost lie on his bed in the backyard and would not lift a finger to do any work.
One afternoon, a sage (智者) was meditating (冥想) under a tree near Harman’s home. As usual, Harman was lying on his bed when suddenly he spotted a snake with its head raised at the meditating man. Alarmed, Harman quickly ran over to kill it. The sage was saved and promised, “I will grant you a boon (恩惠), young man. Tell me, what is it that you want?”
Hearing this, Harman expressed his wish to get wealthy within a short time, without having to work much. “Very well,” said the sage. “Beginning from tonight, each night, you shall have a dream describing the troubles of someone, the solution to which will be visible to you alone. If you save the concerned person, I am sure you will be rewarded.” Harman thanked the sage and went home.
He told his wife, Shanta, about what had happened. However, his wife was doubtful. “Come on, dear! The vital way to become rich is through hard work.”
That night Harman dreamt of the King. He saw that his adviser had stolen bags of gold. When Harman woke up in the morning, he immediately set out for the King’s palace and helped the King find the gold. The King rewarded Harman handsomely with a rich sum of money.
Another time Harman dreamt of a rich landlord whose daughter was seriously ill. Harman saw a particular plant in the landlord’s garden, whose leaves would help in curing the girl. The next morning, Harman requested some leaves from the landlord and told him how to use them to cure his daughter. The landlord’s daughter was saved soon with the leaves. Harman was once again given a handsome reward.
Days passed. Harman continued to have dreams every night and act upon them in the morning. Soon, he became a rich man in the village. However, his health worsened and he was in low spirits. Since he dreamed of people’s troubles every night, he didn’t have a sound sleep. Shanta grew worried.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
“Well! Why are you unhappy when you have got what you wanted?” Shanta asked.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Harman learned that the sage had moved to the neighboring village.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________3 . An overall transformation is needed for the planet to adapt people’s pursuit of well-being. A new study by an international team of researchers explores a Theory of Planetary Social Pedagogy as a driver of a transformative process based on a learning society.
The Theory of Planetary Social Pedagogy is a way of learning applicable to all societal sectors. According to it, people, societies and the world are an interlinked, systemic body. Such a worldview can make life meaningful, increase people’s experiences of belonging and inclusion, expand the scope of care, and help people identify their opportunities to influence.
In a time marked by crises, learning to be one with the world is increasingly essential. In many ways, our everyday lives are linked with all other life on Earth. According to Professor Arto O. Salonen of the University of Eastern Finland, the study’s lead author, the most important reason behind the upgrading (升级) planetary crises is people’s being separated from their surrounding reality.
He says, “As we try for a comprehensive sustainability transition (转变), we need increasingly powerful and more systemic interpretations of reality. ” The current strategy for a sustainable future emphasizes economic and technological progress，but that is not enough. Learning is needed, too. A learning society relies on changes in its citizens’ values, beliefs and worldviews.
“How we become aware of our everyday connection to other people and nature at the level of our emotions, body and mind stands at the core of the sustainability transition,” says Erkka Laininen, a co-author of the study. Having an experience of belonging to and being part of the world strengthens people’s sense of meaningfulness and their agency needed in building a sustainable future.
The transformative power of a learning society can be a key factor in the green transformation going into all society, in which citizens’ consumer behaviour and ways of living, moving and producing food and energy are organized in new ways. Conceptions of work and the economy can be reformed, too.
A sustainable future is not about life becoming more miserable—it’s about life becoming richer and more meaningful as hope for the future grows stronger.
1. Why is Theory of Planetary Social Pedagogy mentioned?| A．To stress learning to be one with the world. |
| B．To suggest reforming citizens’ ways of living. |
| C．To describe how the theory is being improved. |
| D．To tell if a sustainable future is significant. |
| A．The planet is reaching its limits. |
| B．Humans break away from the reality. |
| C．Old ideas of well-being are being questioned. |
| D．Progress in economy and technology is unbalanced. |
| A．A sustainable future is based on a learning society. |
| B．Humans, societies and the world were connected more. |
| C．Ending the present strategy for future is needed. |
| D．Global crises have resulted in wrong worldviews. |
| A．By introducing a theory. | B．By making a comparison. |
| C．By using researchers’ arguments. | D．By providing study processes. |
4 . “How the brain perceives time depends on its expectations. The brain can predict the probability that something is going to occur, given that it hasn’t happened yet,” said Dr. Michael Shadlen, a scientist at Columbia University.
Every thought has various “horizons”, Shadlen told Live Science. In a book, for example, horizons lie at the end of every syllable (音节), the end of every word, the end of the next sentence and so on. Time moves according to how we anticipate these horizons, he said.
When you’re really absorbed in something, the brain anticipates the “big picture”, which makes time seem to fly, Shadlen said. But when you’re bored, you anticipate the closer horizons such as the end of a sentence instead of the end of the story; these horizons aren’t knitted together as a whole, and time slows down.
There isn’t a single spot in the brain that’s responsible for how we perceive time in this way. Rather, any area that gives rise to thought and consciousness is likely involved in this task, Shadlen said. “There are almost certainly a lot of timing mechanisms (机制) in the brain,” added Joe Paton, a scientist at the Champalimaud Foundation in Portugal. One mechanism involves the speed at which brain cells activate one another and form a network when you’re performing an activity. The faster those paths of neurons (神经元) form, the faster we perceive time, Paton and his team have found in some animals, such as rats and squirrels.
Another mechanism involves chemicals in the brain. Again, in rats, Paton and his colleagues found that a set of neurons that releases the neurotransmitter dopamine—an important chemical involved in feeling rewarded—impacts how the brain perceives time. When you’re having fun, these cells are more active. They release a lot of dopamine and your brain judges that less time has passed than actually has. When you’re not having fun, these cells don’t release as much dopamine, and time seems to slow down.
1. What can be learned about “horizons” in a book from paragraph 2?| A．They exist throughout. | B．They change our anticipation. |
| C．They are totally invisible. | D．They are very unpredictable. |
| A．our brain anticipates the distant horizons | B．we are engaged in something interesting |
| C．our brain sees the “big picture” of an event | D．we are anxious to see the ending of a sentence |
| A．An unknown chemical in human brain. |
| B．A specific timing mechanism in the brain. |
| C．The speed of brain cells forming a network. |
| D．The function of brain cells activating each other. |
| A．By describing a process. | B．By providing examples. |
| C．By introducing a concept. | D．By listing statistical data. |
5 . Jungle Cruise
Jungle Cruise hits Disney’s streaming service alongside its arrival at cinemas. As such, you’ll have to pay $30 on top of your subscription fee to see it — a high price for a solo viewing, but a great deal for a family session. That’s good news, because this really is a winner of a family movie, thanks to the production values you’d come to expect from a Disney blockbuster (大片) and the chemistry between Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt.
Inside Out
Just when we thought Pixar was on the decline, it released Inside Out, one of its most thoughtful and powerful movies. Featuring the voices of Amy Poehler, Bill Hader and Mindy Kaling, Inside Out made over $850 million at the box office upon its 2015 release. It wasn’t just a commercial success, as it scored 98% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Free Solo
Free Solo is one of the best documentaries ever made. Telling the story of Alex Honnold, the first man to “free solo” El Capitan, it’s a character study of a man who makes the impossible look almost ordinary; an Oscar-winning story that culminates (到达极点) — quite literally — in a close-up view of one of humanity’s wildest achievements.
Aladdin
You can agree or you can disagree, but I believe that Aladdin has the best song lineup of any animated movie that Disney has ever produced. A Whole New World, Prince Ali, Friend Like Me, Arabian Nights — banger after banger (一部接一部). That’s reflected in the critical response: Aladdin is one of the best-rated Disney movies ever, with a 92% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
1. What do we know about the movie Jungle Cruise?| A．It takes a total of $30 to see it. |
| B．It doesn’t require a subscription. |
| C．It is mainly intended for children. |
| D．It stars Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. |
| A．Its music. | B．Its voice actors. |
| C．Its approval rating. | D．Its dialogues. |
| A．Jungle Cruise. | B．Inside Out. | C．Free Solo. | D．Aladdin. |
6 . “Mountain Men” is a reality series that focuses on several odd survivalists who live within the numerous mountain ranges of North America. Many of these survivalists, like its regular Eustace Conway, highlight their commitment to living “off-the-grid” and the show often emphasizes their isolation (隔离) from the traditional society.
While the series has come under scrutiny (监督) for potentially staging aspects of this isolated lifestyle, for “Mountain Men” star Morgan Beasley, it’s truly the only way to live. According to his website, Morgan Beasley has devoted his entire life and career to the outdoors and frequently voices his disapproval of busy city life. Beasley’s refusal of the traditional society led him to a remote home in Alaska about 165 miles from the nearest town, where he still lives to this day alongside his partner Megan Stem. Beasley’s adventurous lifestyle deep within the Alaskan Bush was featured in 78 episodes of “Mountain Men” from 2015 to 2019, though his sudden departure prior to Season 9 is certain to have plenty of fans wondering what actually happened to the odd outdoorsman.
Unfortunately, there is still a considerable amount of mystery surrounding Morgan Beasley’s departure from “Mountain Men”, as both he and Megan Stem suddenly vanished from the series after the Season 8 episode “Seize the Day” — without any clarification as to why. Although there have been no reports about why Beasley decided to leave the series, it’s entirely possible that filming “Mountain Men” was taking too much time out of his already busy schedule.
Although there remains no clear answer as to why Beasley ended up leaving “Mountain Men”, it’s abundantly clear that his passion for the outdoors has remained unchanged long after his departure from the series — and he continues to live as a mountain man to this day.
1. What’s “Mountain Men”?| A．A TV show. | B．A survival story. | C．An adventure film. | D．A fiction book. |
| A．He prefers to lead an isolated lifestyle. | B．He is totally cut off from social media. |
| C．He lives alone in a remote area of America. | D．He feels satisfied to live in the traditional society. |
| A．Arose. | B．Returned. | C．Suffered. | D．Disappeared. |
| A．He wasn’t content with his reward. | B．He could hardly spare any time for it. |
| C．He was tired of facing the camera. | D．He lost his passion for living outdoors. |
7 . One of the world’s largest technology events, Consumer Electronics Show (CES), is taking place in Las Vegas, Nevada. CES presents the latest technology offerings from companies across the world. Here is a look at some of the top products presented at the show this year.
Transparent televisionsLG and Samsung brought televisions that have a transparent (透明的) screen design to CES. The TVs use OLED technology. They’re designed to be hidden in a room when not in use. The companies presenting the TVs haven’t provided pricing information, but experts say the transparent models are likely to cost tens of thousands of dollars.
Robot pet sitterRobotics developer Ogmen presented a new machine designed to assist pets. The ORo robot is equipped with a food container to feed animals. It can also play with pets, record health details and take photos and videos of animals’ daily activities.
Body power to charge a phoneSports equipment developer LifeSpan introduced an exercise bicycle/desk combination that uses human power to charge phones or other devices. The Ampera bike is designed to be used with a “standing” desk table. LifeSpan says at a speed of 60 rpms, the bike can produce up to 65 watts of electricity per hour.
Home-made ice cream in 2 minutesThe ColdSnap company introduced a machine that can make single servings of ice cream in about two minutes. The machine uses small containers, called pods, just like Keurig coffeemakers. The pods for the ColdSnap machine can be kept at room temperature, saving energy costs. The machines can be taken anywhere and are simple to operate.
1. What can be known from the text?| A．The ORo robot is a perfect pet. |
| B．The ColdSnap specializes in soft drinks. |
| C．The price of transparent TVs is still a secret. |
| D．The Ampera bike can finish charging a phone hourly. |
| A．They are quite easy to carry. | B．They are environmentally-friendly. |
| C．They are equipped with little containers. | D．They are developed by the same company. |
| A．To show the wide popularity of CES. |
| B．To advertise a global show called CES. |
| C．To predict some next-generation technology products. |
| D．To introduce some top technology products from CES 2024. |
8 . All families experience conflict from time to time. Disagreeing with others — even those you love — is generally a part of all types of close relationships.
Emotions can be powerful.
Sometimes, arguments between people escalate (加剧) when one or all parties interpret that they’re not being heard. Making a conscious effort to invite each family involved in a conflict to tell their side can help de-escalate emotions and move participants in the direction of a resolution.
● Explore different formats of conflict resolution.According to research, even a two-second interruption is enough to make us lose the thread of what we’re saying. An interruption can make us lose our focus and even the potential to feel satisfied at having fully expressed ourselves. Avoid interrupting family when they’re explaining their side of a conflict.
| A．Let others speak. |
| B．Communicate directly. |
| C．Not every human is born to handle conflict in the same way. |
| D．The way in which families handle conflict is the most important. |
| E．And remaining perfectly in control of them in every situation isn’t always easy. |
| F．It can help ensure they can express themselves fully and feel heard and understood. |
| G．And you may be able to influence how others in your family handle conflict over time. |
9 . Casey McIntyre, who was 38, worked as a publisher in New York City. In 2019, doctors told her that she had a serious kind of cancer that’s usually found in women much older than her. Though doctors treated her for the cancer, Ms. McIntyre’s health got worse.
But she realized that in a way, she was luckier than some other people. She had insurance to help pay for her medical care. That means she didn’t owe money for her medical care. But she and her husband knew many people with cancer face tough decisions because of the costs of medical care. Soon, she and her husband began donating money to a group called RIP Medical Debt, which works to pay off the unpaid medical debt s of others. Usually, for every $ 100 donated, the group can pay off $ 10,000 in unpaid medical bills.
In late June, 2023, doctors told Ms. McIntyre that she probably had about a month to live. Though her health was failing, Ms. McIntyre lived for about six months. She had many difficult days, but she also spent some wonderful days with her family. In that time, she also thought about what she wanted to happen after she died. She decided to make an effort to pay off the medical debts of as many people as she possibly could.
On November 12, 2023, Ms. McIntyre passed away. Her husband posted a message for her on her social media accounts. “If you’re reading this, I have passed away. To celebrate my life, I’ve arranged to buy up others’ medical debts and then destroy the debts,” the post said.
The couple had set up a page on a website to raise money for this purpose. They’d hoped to raise about $ 20,000. That would have been enough to pay off about $ 2 million worth of medical bills. But the donations on her web page quickly passed the original goal. In less than a week, the site had raised 10 times more than expected. And the donations are still coming in.
1. What conclusion can be drawn about Casey McIntyre from paragraph 1?| A．She caught the cancer far earlier than average. |
| B．The treatment she received worked well on her. |
| C．Her cancer was too serious to be worth treating. |
| D．She was found to have cancer in her late thirties. |
| A．Because she was able to make proper decisions. |
| B．Because she was able to afford her medical bills. |
| C．Because she was accompanied during treatment. |
| D．Because she could receive the best medical care. |
| A．People enjoyed donating through the Internet. |
| B．People felt very sorry for the loss of Casey McIntyre. |
| C．People were generally concerned about cancer patients. |
| D．People showed great support for Casey McIntyre’s behavior. |
| A．Smart and strong-willed. | B．Proud but single-minded. |
| C．Unfortunate but kind-hearted. | D．Ambitious and easy-going. |
10 . When you try a new restaurant or book a hotel, do you consider the online reviews? Do you submit online reviews yourself? Do you pay attention if they are filtered (过滤) and moderated? Does that influence your own online review submissions? A team examined these in recently published research.
In a world where businesses thrive or die by online reviews, it’s important to consider the meaning of a platform’s review moderation policies, the transparency (透明度) of those policies, and how that affects the submitted reviews.
In 2010, Yelp showed a video for the first time to help users understand how its review filter works and why it is necessary. Then, Yelp added a section to show filtered reviews. Previously, Yelp didn’t unveil information about its review filter. This change presented the perfect opportunity to examine the effect of policy transparency on submitted reviews.
The team compared reviews of over 1,000 restaurants on Yelp to those of the same restaurants on TripAdvisor, which wasn’t transparent about its review filter with its practices unchanged. They used a difference-in-difference (DID) approach. They found the number of reviews submitted to Yelp decreased. Those submitted were increasingly negative and shorter in length compared to TripAdvisor. Also, the more positive a review, the shorter it was.
Platforms are pressured to have content guidelines and take measures to prevent fraud (欺诈) and ensure that reviews are legal and helpful. However, most platforms aren’t transparent about their policies, leading consumers to suspect that reviews are handled to increase profits. Whether or not to be transparent about review filters is an important decision for platforms with many considerations.
Users may put less time and effort into their reviews if they suspect that they have a significant chance of being filtered, or they may do the opposite to make their review s less likely to be filtered. Since most fake (假的) reviews are overly positive, users may assume that positive review s are most likely to be filtered and act accordingly.
However, with a transparent policy, those who submit fake reviews may be incentivized (激励) to change their ways.
1. How does the author lead in the topic?| A．By describing a phenomenon. | B．By putting forward questions. |
| C．By comparing online reviews. | D．By mentioning recent research. |
| A．make something public | B．consider something practical |
| C．make something perfect | D．consider something important |
| A．Their number was on the rise. | B．Their length was increasing. |
| C．Longer ones meant less positivity. | D．More positive ones were submitted. |
| A．Purposes of applying online review filters. |
| B．Suggestions on how to treat online reviews. |
| C．Methods of preventing review s from being filtered. |
| D．Effects of review filters without transparent policy. |
