1 . For decades, scientists thought of the brain as the most valuable and consequently most closely guarded part of the body. Locked safely behind the blood-brain barrier, it was broadly free of the harm of viruses and the battles started by the immune system (免疫系统). Then, about 20 years ago, some researchers began to wonder: is the brain really so separated from the body? The answer, according to a growing body of evidence, is no.
The list of brain conditions that have been associated with changes elsewhere in the body is long and growing. Changes in the makeup of the microorganisms in the digestive system have been linked to disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. There is also a theory that infection during pregnancy could lead to brain diseases in babies.
The effect is two-way. There is a lengthening list of symptoms not typically viewed as disorders of the nervous system, but the brain plays a large part in them. For example, the development of a fever is influenced by a population of nerve cells that control body temperature and appetite. Evidence is mounting that cancers use nerves to grow and spread.
The interconnection between the brain and body has promising implications for our ability to both understand and treat illnesses. If some brain disorders start outside the brain, then perhaps treatments for them could also reach in from outside. Treatments that take effect through the digestive system, the heart or other organs, would be much easier and less risky than those that must cross the blood-brain barrier.
It also works in the opposite direction. Study shows mice have healthier hearts after receiving stimulation to a brain area involved in positive emotion and motivation. Activation of the brain reward centre — called the ventral tegmental area (VTA) — seems to cause immune changes that contribute to it. Working out how this happens could help to destroy cancers, enhance responses to vaccines and even re-evaluate physical diseases that, for centuries, have not been considered as being psychologically driven.
1. What do the researchers focus on about the brain?| A．Its protecting system. | B．Its exposure to diseases. |
| C．Its controlling function. | D．Its connection to the body. |
| A．By explaining a theory. | B．By providing examples. |
| C．By making comparisons. | D．By presenting cause and effect. |
| A．Cheaper. | B．More specific. |
| C．Safer. | D．More direct. |
| A．Brain health depends on immune changes. |
| B．Brain stimulation leads to negative emotions. |
| C．The brain can help enhance psychological health. |
| D．The brain may be key to treating physical diseases. |
2 . Ariel Procaccia has thought a lot about how to cut a cake over the last 15 years. As the father of three children, he knows how hard it is to divide a birthday cake to everyone’s satisfaction. But it’s also because Procaccia’s work focuses on exploring the mathematical rules for dividing stuff up fairly. One way to do that is to think abstractly about dessert.
For decades, researchers have been asking the seemingly simple question of how to cut a cake fairly. The answer reaches far beyond birthday parties. A mathematical problem at its heart, cake cutting connects strict reasoning to real-world issues of fairness, and so attracts not only mathematicians, but also social scientists, economists and more. “It’s a very elegant model in which you can distill what fairness really is, and reason about it,” Procaccia says.
The simplest approach is called the “divider-chooser” method, where one person cuts the cake into two equal pieces in his view, and the other person picks first. Each receives a piece that they feel is as valuable as the other’s. But when personal preferences are taken into account, even the easiest rule becomes complicated. Suppose Alice and Bob are to divide a cake, and Alice knows Bob prefers chocolate, she may knowingly divide the cake unequally so the smaller piece contains more chocolate. Then Bob will choose according to his preference, and Alice will get the larger piece. Both of them are satisfied with what they get, but the meaning of fairness changes in this situation.
The cake is a symbol for any divisible good. When cake-cutting principles are employed to settle disagreements, they are potentially helping the world find solutions. Procaccia has used fair division algorithms (算法) to model food distribution. Social scientist Haris Aziz is exploring situations ranging from how to divide up daily tasks to how to best schedule doctors’ shifts in hospitals.
Even after decades of investigation, cake cutting isn’t like a simple jigsaw puzzle (拼图) with a well-defined solution. Instead, over time, it has evolved into a kind of mathematical sandbox, a constructive playground that brings together abstract proofs and easy applications. The more researchers explore it, the more there is to explore.
1. What does the underlined word “distill” in paragraph 2 mean?| A．Get the essence of. | B．Find the opposite of. |
| C．Keep the focus on. | D．Reduce the impact on. |
| A．Its standard is stable. | B．It prevents unequal division. |
| C．Its concept is complex. | D．It dominates personal preferences. |
| A．The application of its rules. | B．The details of its process. |
| C．The problems it produces. | D．The harmony it symbolizes. |
| A．Who benefits most from fairness? |
| B．How has fairness changed over time? |
| C．What method works best in cake-cutting? |
| D．Why are researchers so interested in cake-cutting? |
3 . “The mountains are calling and I must go” — the famous quote is from John Muir(1838-1914), who is described as “the wilderness poet” and “the citizen of the universe.” He once jokingly referred to himself as a “poet-geologist-botanist and ornithologist (鸟类学家)-naturalist etc. etc.!” He is known as the Father of American National Parks.
Famed documentary filmmaker Ken Burns recently said, “As we got to know him… he was among the highest individuals in America; I’m talking about the level of Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., and Thomas Jefferson— people who have had a transformational effect on who we are.”
So where is the quote from? Well, John Muir was a productive writer. Whether he was writing poetry or simply letters to his family, John Muir was always putting pen to paper. The quote is from within one of his many letters written to his sister:
September 3rd, 1873 Yosemite Valley Dear sister Sarah,I have just returned from the longest and hardest trip I have ever made in the mountains, having been gone over five weeks. I am weary, but resting fast; sleepy, but sleeping deep and fast; hungry, but eating much. For two weeks I explored the glaciers of the summits east of here, sleeping among the snowy mountains without blankets and with little to eat on account of its being so inaccessible. After my icy experiences, it seems strange to be down here in so warm and flowery a climate. I will soon be off again, determined to use all the season in carrying through my work—will go next to Kings River a hundred miles south, then to Lake Tahoe and surrounding mountains, and in winter work in Oakland with my pen. Though slow, someday I will have the results of my mountain studies in a form in which you all will be able to read and judge them. The mountains are calling and I must go, and I will work on while I can, studying incessantly (永不停息地). I will write again when I return from Kings River Canyon. Farewell, with love everlasting. Yours, John |
1. What can we learn from John Muir’s self-description in paragraph 1?
| A．He longed to expand his own career. |
| B．He enjoyed his involvement in nature. |
| C．He wanted to find his real advantage. |
| D．He valued his identity as a poet most. |
| A．Muir’s political influence. | B．A documentary film on Muir. |
| C．Muir’s historic significance. | D．The social circle around Muir. |
| A．Relieved but regretful. | B．Exhausted but content. |
| C．Excited but lonely. | D．Defeated but hopeful. |
| A．To go on with his mountain studies. |
| B．To seek freedom from social connection. |
| C．To attend an appointment in Oakland. |
| D．To experience the hardship of wilderness. |
4 . British cinema boasts a rich diversity of films that weave appealing narratives with stunning landscapes and fascinating characters. These films celebrate the diverse beauty and cultural heritage of Britain.
Local HeroLocal Hero digs into the conflict between a giant US oil company and a remote Scottish village when the former plans to build a refinery (精炼厂). However, the exceptionally beautiful landscapes and the firm attitude of the villagers sway the company’s decision. The story has been a lasting appeal to audiences, even after over four decades.
KesBritish director Ken Loach’s first triumph, Kes, describes the touching narrative of a young Yorkshire boy taking the journey of capturing and training an eagle. The film offers a rare description of Yorkshire, filled with a tender lens that celebrates its essence.
The DigThe delightful counties surrounding London are vividly depicted in The Dig, set against the peaceful countryside of Suffolk before World War II. Ralph Fiennes, a famous actor, plays the role of a self-taught archaeologist unearthing the mysteries of an Anglo-Saxon graveyard, adding to its fun.
CalvaryIrish director Michael McDonagh’s films set in Ireland are undoubtedly attractive, often integrating Ireland’s picturesque scenery into the story. Among these, Calvary, stands out. It records the difficult and tiring journey of a moral priest, dealing with the evil forces within his area.
1. What is the setting of the film Local Hero?| A．A Yorkshire village. |
| B．A remote Scottish village. |
| C．The countryside of Suffolk. |
| D．The Anglo-Saxon graveyard. |
| A．Local Hero. | B．Kes. |
| C．Calvary. | D．The Dig. |
| A．The moral dilemma of an Irish priest. |
| B．The national and cultural heritage of Britain. |
| C．The beauty and diversity of British landscapes and characters. |
| D．The adventures of Yorkshire boys capturing and training eagles. |
It’s important to make your big brother angry. As far as Sandy was concerned, that wasn’t just her job, but her calling. Greg was 15 years old, a skinny kid who seemed to get an inch taller every month. What else are little sisters for? She hid his schoolbooks. She flicked rubber bands at him while he was talking on the phone. When his friends came over, she was extremely nice to them, so they always asked her to hang out and play video games. This drove Greg crazier than anything else.
But now that Greg was almost 16. More than anything else, Greg wanted to learn to drive a car. He wanted his driver’s license so badly that the tips of his fingers sometimes hurt from thinking about holding it. Sandy knew how important it was to him, but she worried about Greg never hanging out with her. She was going to make sure he never got it.
He’d just finished Driver’s Ed and got a learner’s permit, but Dad insisted Greg practice driving with him a few times. “Driving with an instructor is one thing,” Dad said, “but until you’re comfortable driving with a few people, I’m never letting you touch my car alone. We’re going to your aunt’s for dinner. Why don’t you drive the whole family?” “Sure thing,” said Greg, his eyes shimmering with anticipation. This would be Sandy’s big chance. She hid Greg’s permit in Greg’s shoe in his bedroom as she knew Greg couldn’t drive without a permit.
After the family climbed into the car, Greg took a few minutes to get ready. He adjusted his seat, fiddled with his mirrors, and familiarized himself with the air-conditioner and windshield wipers, even though it wasn’t hot outside or raining. For all of his confidence, he was starting to look nervous. He was about to turn on the car when Sandy made her attack.
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。
“Do you have your learner’s permit?” she asked from the back seat.
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Greg returned flushed, but smiling, the permit displayed proudly in his hand.
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6 . My name is Annijke Wade, and I am an adaptive athlete.
It was July 17, 2021. I was mountain biking at my favorite downhill mountain on my favorite trail. I hit a barrier and tried to
I could no longer feel or move anything
For the last few years I have enjoyed every aspect of mountain biking. I love being able to take in nature in that particular
The experience of learning how to mountain bike again has been fun and
Each day there are going to be tons of issues. For instance, putting pants on used to be something that took less than 30 seconds, and now it can take ten minutes. Whenever I
Every single day you have the opportunity to decide whether to accept your situation or not. Some days it’s easy. Some days it’s a(n)
| A．Honestly | B．Generally | C．Fortunately | D．Specifically |
| A．maintain | B．reduce | C．change | D．fasten |
| A．wound up | B．blocked up | C．fell behind | D．broke down |
| A．through | B．above | C．beside | D．below |
| A．uncomfortable | B．unhappy | C．unable | D．unwilling |
| A．shape | B．season | C．mode | D．tradition |
| A．reputation | B．discipline | C．fortune | D．identity |
| A．pour | B．waste | C．generate | D．involve |
| A．shallow | B．rewarding | C．wild | D．previous |
| A．familiar | B．fit | C．flexible | D．different |
| A．hike | B．clear | C．lose | D．approach |
| A．take | B．succeed | C．engage | D．give |
| A．extreme | B．frustrating | C．boring | D．extraordinary |
| A．struggle | B．attitude | C．complaint | D．opportunity |
| A．fair | B．critical | C．thorough | D．accurate |
7 . Beeping alarms in hospitals are a life-or-death matter-but with so many going off all the time, medical professionals my experience am fatigue (疲劳) that impairs car. Researchers now report that changing n alarm’s sound to include properties of musical instruments can make it more helpful in the noisy clinics.
Beeping alarms can sound up to 300 times a day per patient in U. S. hospitals, but only a small percentage require immediate action. Data from the U. S. Food and Drug Administration suggest that alarm fatigue (including when clinicians turned off or forgot to restart alarms) and other alarm-related issues were linked to 566 deaths over five and a half years.
In 2015 Doctor Schlesinger and Schutz, a music cognition researcher, began examining musical qualities called timbres (音质) that might let softer sounds command attention from busy clinicians. They found that sounds with a “percussive” timbre, many of which contain short bursts of high-frequency energy — such as wine glasses clinking -stand out even at low volume. In contrast, loud, “flat” tones that lack high-frequency components, like a reversing truck’s beep, get lost.
The researchers have since continued to conduct experiments in which participants evaluate different sounds and melodies for annoyance, detectability and recognizability. For a recent study they played participants the same sets of notes with varying timbres. They found the sounds that made these sets least annoying. with no decrease in recall, were percussive and had complex, time-varied harmonic overtones (the many components within a single sound) like a xylophone’s ping (木琴声). The researchers now are drawing inspiration from the timbres of other instruments: the triangle, for example, famously stands out in a crowd of sounds possibly because it has overtones that depart from traditional harmonic series. Such findings could lead to alarms that command attention and fit into current regulatory guidelines. Michael Rayo, who studies cognitive systems design at the Ohio State University, says that complex sounds like those instruments in the study avoid trading detectability for recognition. Experimenting with timbre, he says, “furthers our understanding of aspects that can improve performance in hospital alarms. ”
1. What is the point of changing an alarm’s sound in hospitals?| A．Curing more patients. | B．Making alarms more effective. |
| C．Reducing the going off of alarms. | D．Including features of musical instruments. |
| A．The roll of a distant thunder. | B．The beep of a reversing truck. |
| C．The ringing sound of a wind-bell. | D．The sound of a working air-conditioner. |
| A．Researching timbre ensures perfect performance of alarms. |
| B．Percussive sounds alone made the sets of notes least annoying. |
| C．Triangles stand out because of their traditional harmonic series. |
| D．Alarms with instrumental sounds are probably detectable and recognizable. |
| A．Hospital Issues | B．Musical Instruments | C．Percussive Timbre | D．Musical Alarms |
8 . What are your strongest memories of reading and writing? These stories, otherwise known as “literacy narratives,” allow writers to talk through and discover their relationships with reading, writing, and speaking in all its forms. Narrowing in on specific moments reveals the significance of literacy’s impact on our lives, bringing buried emotions tied to the power of language, communication, and expression. To be “literate” implies the ability to decode language on its most basic terms, but literacy also expands to one’s ability to “read and write” the world-to find and make meaning out of our relationships with texts, ourselves, and the world around us.
Everyone has their own story to tell about their relationships with reading and writing. Even famous writers like Annie Dillard, author of “The Writing Life,” and Anne Lammot, “Bird by Bird,” have penned literacy narratives to reveal the highs and lows of language learning, literacies, and the written word.
Ready to write your own literacy narrative assignment but don’t know where to begin? Think of a story linked to your personal history of reading and writing. Perhaps you want to write about your favorite author or book and its impact on your life. Wherever you begin, picture the first scene that comes to mind in relation to this story, using descriptive details. Continue from there to explore the ways in which this experience had meaning for you. What other memories are triggered in the telling of this first scene?
Writing literacy narratives can be a joyful process, but it can also trigger untapped feelings about the complexities of literacy. Many of us carry scars and wounds from early literacy experiences. Writing it down can help us explore and make peace with these feelings in order to strengthen our relationship with reading and writing. Writing literacy narratives can also help us learn about ourselves as consumers and producers of words, revealing the complexities of knowledge, culture, and power connected with language and literacies. Ultimately, telling our literacy stories brings us closer to ourselves and each other in our collective desire to express and communicate a shared humanity.
1. A literacy narrative serves to ___.| A．illustrate basic terms of a native language |
| B．discover emotional ties to different readers |
| C．share memories of learning powerful lessons |
| D．reflect on personal experiences with language |
| A．To praise their writing literacy skills. |
| B．Ta encourage writing literacy memories. |
| C．To help. readers relate to their feelings. |
| D．To introduce the twists of language learning. |
| A．It helps us live with painful feelings with literacy. |
| B．It enables us to complicate languages and literacies. |
| C．It allows us to communicate and create a shared future. |
| D．It reminds us to explore more about the world literature. |
| A．Fun and games. | B．History and culture. |
| C．Admissions. | D．Homework help. |
1.栏目介绍；
2.稿件要求。
注意：
1.写作词数应为80词左右；
2.请在答题卡上的相应位置作答。
Dear Tom,
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Yours,
Li Hua
Everybody dreams, but different cultures have different theories about what dreams are and how they should
Dreaming of a baby, on the one hand, can indicate your own
Dreams have unstable
