1 . The Canadian town of Churchill is well-known for its arctic (北极的) wilderness. This town of extremes is home to about 900 year-round residents. However, 500, 000 tourists, more or less, flood here throughout the year.
In this setting, there’s a special find in a simple shipping container just outside the town. It’s a new project called Rocket Greens, led by the Churchill Northern Studies Centre(CNSC). Rocket Greens has successfully demonstrated the possibility of planting fresh, leafy produce regardless of seasons or weather conditions.
Erin Greene, a Churchill resident since 2015, became one of the first subscribers to Rocket Greens’s CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program. “When I first moved here, it was very hard to get good-quality fruits and vegetables. We would never get fresh herbs and never see things like Swiss chard or kale,” recalls Greene, who says she now maintains a healthier diet and has become more self-sufficient as a result of the program.
In addition to Rocket Greens, CNSC has set up a seeding project for community garden support. This involves planting seedlings during the late fall and early spring that have been distributed to local community members free of charge in summer. Due to the short growing season and the challenging agricultural conditions, this seeding project offers a head start. “Community members can receive plants at no charge. It’s an educational tool to learn how to seed a field properly and how to grow your own food in your own home,” explains Dylan McCart, director of CNSC. This year’s seeding program will include a variety of crops such as peas, corn and peppers to make up for the traditional vegetables that are typically planted during Churchill summers.
“Considering the challenges of operating in a remote location like Churchill, we were one of the first ones to be able to do it, so it’s great that we were able to have that vision at that time. And it’s still successful today,” McCart says.
1. Why are so many people attracted to Churchill?A.They want to live in the wilds. | B.They like to enjoy the unique scenery. |
C.They can taste fresh produce from the locals. | D.They wish to become members of Rocket Greens. |
A.To advertise the lifestyles of locals. | B.To show the diversity of local food. |
C.To prove the difficulty of living there. | D.To illustrate the effects of the program. |
A.It adds fuel to the fire. | B.It teaches a man to fish. |
C.It pulls a rabbit out of the hat. | D.It kills the goose that lays the golden egg. |
A.Curious. | B.Relieved. | C.Astonished. | D.Proud. |
2 . Caring 17-year-old Lauren Schroeder was inspired to help bring healthy food to needy families in her community. Volunteering at a food shelter helping
Coming from a farming family, Lauren was
Lauren was one determined young
In 2023, Lauren doubled the size of her farm to an acre. Discussing her future
Explaining her
A.compare | B.decorate | C.fill | D.connect |
A.free | B.urgent | C.far | D.missing |
A.demand | B.desire | C.ability | D.failure |
A.tired with | B.scared of | C.familiar with | D.anxious about |
A.realizing | B.improving | C.making | D.imagining |
A.Eventually | B.Unfortunately | C.Generally | D.Initially |
A.thinking | B.worrying | C.arguing | D.talking |
A.care-taker | B.decision-maker | C.change-maker | D.job-seeker |
A.questioning | B.believing | C.indicating | D.checking |
A.required | B.consumed | C.produced | D.recycled |
A.intelligence | B.ambition | C.work | D.courage |
A.measures | B.difficulties | C.tasks | D.plans |
A.handing | B.bringing | C.applying | D.reducing |
A.motivation | B.hobby | C.secret | D.method |
A.progress | B.difference | C.power | D.space |
3 . You might have heard of the expression “a guilty pleasure”—maybe it’s the chocolate bar you buy on the way home from work, or the new clothes that you don’t really need.
Perhaps not. Psychologists have suggested that buying things for yourself can make you feel better as it provides an opportunity to take control of your situation.
Of course, there are also examples of people turning to destructive behaviour when faced with stressful circumstances. People might spend money that they don’t have or turn to dangerous addictions. Psychologist Leon Seltzer considers the difference between self-indulgence and self-nurturing.
A.Exams are vital for students. |
B.Self-indulgence can have negative consequences |
C.The difference becomes evident when students manage exam pressure |
D.They also recommend embracing activities that could dampen your spirits |
E.Besides, you should avoid things that may make you feel worse afterwards |
F.It comes from the idea that when we treat ourselves, it can sometimes leave us feeling guilty |
G.It can give you social contact as well as a confidence boost from changes you make to your self-image |
4 . American Unique Buildings
The country’s full of awe—inspiring natural wonders, but those made by man (and woman) are equally impressive. The architect behind a design or the creation’s history or purpose are all elements that may prove particularly attractive. These following buildings are all well worth visiting.
Bradbury Building
Los Angeles
Glancing at the Bradbury Building, built in 1893, the oldest commercial building in L.A., you may say: “OK, it’s a 19th-century relic.” Step inside and you will be surprised by the light-filled Victorian court, a wonder of open—cage elevators, marble stairs, and splendid iron barriers. Its architectural history is debatable — Sumner Hunt’s designs seem to have been completed by George H. Wyman, who monitored the construction.
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
Miami
Built in 1916, the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, formerly Villa Vizcaya, is the one-time winter home of businessman James Deering. On Biscayne Bay in the Coconut Grove neighborhood, the early 20th-century property features Italian Renaissance (文艺复兴) gardens, native woodlands, and a complex of historic outbuildings. The property designed by Paul Chalfin is today operated by Miami-Dade County.
Rogers Building
Orlando
The 132-year-old, Queen Anne-style structure, now housing an art gallery but a one-time home to cocktail-and-gaming clubs, was donated to the City of Orlando in 2018 earlier by Ford Kiene. The restriction that it must remain an arts and culture center for at least 20 years ensures public access for the near future.
Griffith Observatory
Los Angeles
It’s possible to see the stars at this destination that includes sweeping views of the city and the Hollywood sign, and has a planetarium (天文馆) to boot. It’s been a draw for its construction style sign its 1935 opening, with a $93 million expansion completed in 2006.
1. Which of the following places has the shortest history?A.Bradbury Building. | B.Griffith Observatory. |
C.Rogers Building. | D.Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. |
A.It used to be an art gallery. | B.It was expanded in 1892. |
C.It was once privately owned. | D.It has been a culture center for 20 years. |
A.Business. | B.Travel. | C.Science. | D.Education. |
5 . Robotics/Artificial Intelligence (AI) Competitions for High School Students
Robotics and AI competitions are a great way for high schoolers to dive into modern technologies. Here are four of them.
MATE ROV Competition
Location: Houston, Texas
Awards: VR headsets
Competition Date: March to June
MATE ROV Competition challenges students to design and build remotely operated vehicles, and its purpose is to see who can design a vehicle that will help monitor ocean health, provide clean energy, or just help keep our oceans healthy for the future.
RoboRave
Location: Lorrach, Germany
Awards: Small cash prizes
Competition Date: November
RoboRave is a robotics competition that welcomes participants to compete in various challenges like firefighting. The competition’s unique aspect lies in its international reach, bringing together enthusiasts from around the world to celebrate robotics education and hands-on learning.
Agorize AI Challenge
Location: Virtual for initial phases, then in Paris, France for the final award ceremony
Awards: A trip to the destination of your choice, iPad, Apple TV
Competition Date: September
In this project, you can work in teams of 2-5 people to present an idea for how we can use AI-technologies to impact a specific field, like marketing, healthcare, etc. You’ll send in your initial application in a 3-5 slides presentation, and if your team makes it pass this phase, you’ll have the opportunity to include more information about your product features.
OpenCV AI Competition
Location: Online
Awards: Certificates, cash, free courses
Competition Date: December
In your project, you can either work individually or in teams of three using computer vision technologies. OpenCV AI Competition suggests project ideas related to robotics, agriculture or education, but you’re not limited to these areas.
1. Which of the following mainly welcomes the entries for oceanic conditions?A.RoboRave. | B.MATE ROV Competition. |
C.Agorize AI Challenge. | D.OpenCV AI Competition. |
A.It is held every month. | B.It offers online training. |
C.It is a global competition. | D.It promises a national tour. |
A.They allow teamwork. | B.They provide free courses. |
C.They fund their winners. | D.They need presentations at first. |
6 . The “Got Talent” crew is one of the pioneers in finding and publicizing music talents and has been giving the world some of its most favorite artists for almost two decades. This year “Britain’s Got Talent” (BGT) uncovered a musical genius named Malakai Bayoh who amazed the audience with perfect high-note singing. The London-based 13-year-old boy appeared for the show’s audition (试镜) in April, 2023 and was accompanied by his mom and sister. “My big dream is to be a singer. I started singing at 7,” said Bayoh to the BGT team and added jokingly, “My mom made me join the choir (合唱团) because she’s very bossy.” The teenager mentioned she’s his biggest fan.
Bayoh’s mom was shocked as he was about to perform and said, “It scares me because, on his first show, somebody heckled (对……起哄) him. It was bad to think that someone would boo (喝倒彩) a child on stage because it could’ve knocked his confidence completely.” Contrary to his mom’s fear, Bayoh set the stage on fire singing the song “Pie Jesu” and the entire crowd were struck by his beautiful voice. As he ended his song, the audience and the judges gave him a standing applause. Simon Cowell, a judge, had just one word to say and it was “Golden Buzzer”, sending him straight to the semi-finals of the show.
Cowell and the other judges called Bayoh’s performance “flawless” and “heavenly”. His angelic voice made the audience tear up and the judges thanked the teen for coming on the show. Bayoh went on to become one of the finalists of the show.
Bayoh’s audition at the BGT became popular on social media. People loved the boy’s impeccable singing and some musicians even commented on how perfectly he hit the high notes. “I’m a trained singer and a music teacher by profession, and sang this song as a young performer myself. I can say with absolute certainty that this song is most beautifully sung this time. With proper technique and breathing, this boy sang really well,” posted @mayacorinne878.
1. What can be learned about Bayoh from paragraph 2?A.He comes from a single-parent family. | B.He is humorous in speech. |
C.His dream was inspired by his fans. | D.His mom used to be a singer. |
A.Bayoh’s difficulty in singing. | B.The judges’ attitudes to his son. |
C.Bayoh’s performance on stage. | D.Some audiences’ initial responses. |
A.Touched. | B.Annoyed. | C.Relieved. | D.Amused. |
A.To uncover more musical geniuses. | B.To show musicians’ ability to sing well. |
C.To stress Bayoh’s excellent singing. | D.To contradict some audiences’ comments. |
7 . Baidu, a Chinese search engine and artificial intelligence firm, announced its latest electric autonomous driving vehicle, Apollo RT6, on Thursday. The new vehicle is a fully electric vehicle with a steering wheel (方向盘) that can be removed when not required. It will cost ¥250,000 per unit.
“The steering-wheel-free design allows more space for extra seating or other additions and the massive cost reduction will enable us to put tens of thousands of autonomous vehicles into operation across China,” Robin Li, co-founder and CEO of Baidu, said at the firm's Baidu World Conference Thursday. “We are moving towards a future where taking a robotaxi will be half the cost of taking a taxi today.”
Baidu already runs Apollo Go and Apollo Moon, taxi services using self-driving robotaxis with safety staff seated in the driver or passenger seat. They have been in operation in big cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou, although the service is limited to specific areas. The new vehicle will soon join those robotaxis.
The RT6 has reached the industry's Level 4 out of five possible levels of technology. That means its systems can operate without a driver but must be pre-loaded with a detailed map, thus limiting the areas where the vehicles can operate. Lower levels of self-driving technology have been available for decades. For example, many Level-3 vehicles allow hands-free highway driving. Other kinds of self-driving robot vehicles are already widely used in factories warehouses and other tightly controlled settings.
Compared to previous generations where the technology was mainly used on conventional vehicles, the Apollo RT6 was designed specifically with fully autonomous driving in mind.
Baidu is best known for its search engine and online advertising services, but in recent years it has invested heavily in autonomous driving and artificial intelligence technology, including automated personal assistants and AI chips.
1. What can we know about Apollo RT6?A.It is free to run in any area. | B.It has to operate with a driver. |
C.It will be cheaper to operate. | D.It can work without a detailed map. |
A.Level 2 | B.Level 3 | C.Level 4 | D.Level 5 |
A.A personal assistant. | B.A company. |
C.A search engine. | D.A fully autonomous car. |
A.An Introduction to Baidu's Latest Vehicle: Apollo RT6 |
B.Baidu's Future Plan for Its Electric Vehicle: Apollo RT6 |
C.Limitations of the Level-4 Self-driving Electric Vehicles |
D.The Great Market Potential for Fully Autonomous Vehicles |
8 . Here are the Disney movies recommended by Brandon Dammit for this weekend.
Fantasia 2000
Budget: $80 million
Score: 75%
I remember disliking Fantasia 2000 in theaters as a young child, but I have developed a much deeper appreciation for the fantastic music as an adult. Disney has employed advanced sound tools to produce a movie that was under-appreciated at its first appearance.
Pete’s Dragon
Budget: $65 million
Score: 60%
I love Disney as much as the younger generation. But it’s disappointing to see flavorless remakes like The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast harvest billions at the box office while more soulful remakes like Pete’s Dragon is largely ignored.
The Rescuers Down Under
Budget: $38 million
Score: 70%
I won’t lie to you, kind reader. The Rescuers Down Under is the only movie that I’ve never seen here and my honor won’t allow me to pretend otherwise. According to Disney, it’s about the world’s bravest mice, Bernard and Bianca, who race to Australia to save a boy and a rare golden eagle from a cruel hunter. So, you know, normal Disney stuff.
The Great Mouse Detective
Budget: $14 million
Score: 72%
Picture this: a young mouse named Olivia is committed to discovering the truth of her father’s disappearance in 1897 London, and she got the help from his friends, Dr. Dawson and Toby. It’s basically Disney’s Sherlock Holmes.
1. What does Brandon Dammit like about Fantasia 2000?A.The plot. | B.The dialogue. | C.The music. | D.The actors. |
A.The Lion King. | B.Pete’s Dragon. |
C.Beauty and the Beast. | D.The Rescuers Down Under. |
A.$14 million. | B.$ 38 million. | C.$ 65 million. | D.$80 million. |
1. What is the ideal working time per week for brain functioning?
A.25 hours. | B.30 hours. | C.40 hours. |
A.Memory. | B.Ability to use knowledge. | C.Information processing. |
A.Pains caused by diseases. | B.Care-taking of the family. | C.The intake of nutrition. |
A.Male. | B.Female. | C.Both genders. |
Leo and Alex were close friends. They had been friends since childhood, sharing countless memories, and growing up side by side. They were as close as siblings, sharing countless happy moments and supporting each other through thick and thin. However, one fateful day, a misunderstanding tore them apart, leaving their friendship in shreds.
Leo was a die-hard fan of the local football team, the Metropolis Eagles, while Alex was passionate about the city’s rival team, the Metrostars. Their differing loyalties often led to lively debates and friendly jokes, but it never affected their friendship. Until one fateful game day.
The Metropolis Eagles were playing against the Metrostars, and Leo and Alex were both determined to watch the game together. However, when the game got intense and the score was tied, Leo’s and Alex’s passions boiled over. Leo accused Alex of favoring the other team, while Alex felt Leo was being unreasonably stubborn. The argument escalated (升级) quickly, and words were exchanged that neither of them would soon forget. “You’ve gone too far. I don’t want to see you again,” thundered Leo. Both friends were left feeling hurt and disappointed.
The next day, there were heated discussions about the game, but Leo and Alex avoided each other like the plague (瘟疫). Leo deeply regretted what he had said and wanted to apologize, but pride got in the way. Weeks passed, and the silence between them grew deafening.
One day, while walking home from school, Leo came across a lost dog. He couldn’t help but notice the collar around the dog’s neck, with a tag that read “Alex’s Best Friend.” Leo realized this dog was Alex’s.
注意:1.续写词数应为150左右;
2.请按如下格式在答题卡上相应位置作答。
At that moment, Leo was in a difficult position.
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With a deep breath, Leo knocked on Alex’s door.
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