1 . Picking up after your dog is interesting, but it must be done. Most dog owners understand the importance of picking up their dogs’ waste, so it can be especially frustrating to see dog owners that obviously refuse to perform this duty.     1    , but by asking them the right way, informing them of the risks and consequences of not picking up after their dogs, and providing them with the right collection tools, you may be able to get them to change their ways.

Ask them directly. Talking to another dog owner about picking up their dogs’ waste can be uncomfortable. However, asking the owner directly to pick up after their dog will often work to fix the problem.     2    . Maybe they think no one notices or that their actions don’t directly affect those around them. Asking the person directly lets them know you, and others, have noticed their actions and are being affected negatively by them.

Use a friendly tone. Although you are probably fed up and mad at a dog owner that isn’t cleaning up after their dog, approach them in a friendly manner. Yelling at them may make them defensive and angry.     3    .

Give them a reason. It’s possible this person doesn’t realize how their neglect in picking up after their dog is negatively affecting those around them.     4    , give them a reason why you want them to do so.

    5    . When facing someone on this issue, don’t exaggerate (夸大) the truth or make up reasons they should comply with your request. Be honest with them about why you want them to pick up after their dog and what could happen if they don’t.

A．Be honest

B．Raise some dogs

C．If you want to help them to sweep their waste

D．And they will likely do more harm than good, too

E．When you ask them to pick up their dogs’ waste

F．There are many reasons people don’t pick up after their dogs

G．Figuring out how to convince these owners to change their ways can be difficult

2 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Emotional eating is eating as a way     1    (ease) negative emotions, such as stress, anger, fear, boredom, sadness and loneliness. Major life events or, more     2    (common), the troubles of daily life can arouse negative emotions that lead to emotional eating and disturb your weight-loss     3    (effort).

Although some people eat less in the face     4     strong emotions, if you’re in emotional distress you might turn to impulsive or binge (暴饮暴食) eating, quickly consuming whatever is convenient without     5    (enjoy).

In fact, your emotions can become so tied to your eating habits that you automatically reach for a treat whenever you’re angry or     6    (stress) without thinking about what you’re doing.

Food also     7    (serve) as a distraction. If you’re worried about an upcoming event or     8     conflict, for instance, you may focus on eating comfort food instead of dealing with the painful situation.

Whatever emotions drive you to eat more, the end result is often the same. The effect is temporary, the emotions return     9     you likely then bear the additional burden of guilt about     10     (set) back your weight-loss goal. This can also lead to an unhealthy cycle.

3 . Sometimes science advances at a snail’s pace, but in this case that’s a good thing: researchers have created a soft material that combines polymers with liquid metal, demonstrated in a snail-like robot. Developers say this electrically conductive gel(凝胶) could be used to make self-healing electronic circuits and biological monitors for measuring heart and muscle activity-and maybe even lead to robot nervous systems.

The complex substance can stretch and is soft like living tissue. If it breaks or tears, the edges can be touched together, and the material’s molecular bonds quickly re-form without any additional heat or chemical treatment. And crucially its developers say, it is the first such material that also conducts electricity.

These abilities could lead to wire-free medical monitors as well as fully soft robots. “For my research, one thing that’s really big is, ‘How do you put multiple functions into a single material?’” says Lillian Chin, who develops soft robotic components as part of her own research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Existing soft-bodied robots, she says, often require at least some rigid metals and silicon(硅)components. But soft, flexible living tissues can perform multiple tasks; muscles, Chin notes, both move our bodies and provide electrical feedback about that movement to our brains.

For a recent study in Nature Electronics, the researchers used their new material to connect motors to power sources in two basic machines: a snail-like soft robot and a toy car. The material’s self-healing ability helped these simple circuits(电路) be easily reequipped. For example, the team cut the car’s power-carrying gel “wires” and shifted their connections to power both movement and a small light fixed in the bottom.

1. What’s the function of the conductive gel?

A．To make a soft material.

B．To connect material and metal.

C．To restore robot nervous systems.

D．To produce electronic and biological monitors.

2. What’s the complex substance used for?

A．Being connected.	B．Providing heat.
C．Conducting electricity.	D．Handling chemical.

3. What does Lillian Chin emphasize in the third paragraph?

A．The good benefits of the single material in her study.

B．Multiple functions of the single material.

C．The movement from human bodies in her study.

D．The massive tasks done in her study.

4. What makes the new material able to help simple circuits?

A．Its soft ability.	B．Its helpful ability
C．Its wireless ability.	D．Its self-healing ability.

4 . Chris Kyle is an entrepreneur(企业家), so he’s always looking for ways to support his fellow small business owners. Chris says he feels fortunate that his work allows him to spend a lot of time at home, so he can be fully present for each stage of his daughter Ava’s life. He was skeptical when his wife purchased Ava a toy kitchen set, but his daughter adores it and has now become a “small business owner” in her very own living room!

“When my wife made the purchase, I was hesitant about spending a few hundred dollars on it,” Chris explained. “It has been worth every penny. Ava is the star of her own little world when she is ready to play.” Chris paid a visit to his daughter’s at-home restaurant and shared his frank but funny “review” on his Instagram page. “So I tried to support another Black Owned Business for lunch today,” he wrote. “It’s called Ava’s Kitchen, just opened the end of April. It’s a very clean kitchenware, but let me tell you about this owner.”

“First of all, I asked why there are balloons on my chair, and it’s not my birthday?” Chris continued. “She said those are Mommy’s.” But Chris didn’t stop there. In addition to the questionable choice of balloons as a decoration, he said the service at Ava’s Kitchen was not exactly putting the establishment anywhere near the Zagat scale. “I have been waiting on my order to get done for 45minutes, and I’m the only customer here,” wrote Chris. “She was making good progress at first, then she stopped for 20 minutes to go to watch Paw Patrol. Overall the customer service could be better, but the cook is lovely. So I’ll give her another chance.”

Chris and Ava are thrilled that their post went viral. I’m glad to see our post shine bright in the lives or people around the world, said the proud dad.

1. Why does Chris mainly think he is lucky?

A．Because he has enough time to work at home.

B．Because he has been looking for some ways.

C．Because he can accompany his daughter.

D．Because he suspects Ava’s mother.

2. What does Chris doubt about?

A．Buying a toy kitchen set.	B．Living in a small room.
C．Supporting another business.	D．Spending too much money.

3. Where is the third paragraph written?

A．On the Internet.	B．In the newspaper.
C．On a travel magazine.	D．In a notice.

4. What’s the best title of the text?

A．Dad Leaves His Review After Visiting Ava’s Kitchen

B．Dad Is Honest And Funny After Talking With His Daughter

C．Dad Helps Ava Get a Good Chance to Surf the Internet

D．Dad Builds a Kitchen For His Own Daughter Happily

5 . Dublin is one of Europe’s smaller capital cities, but it has an outsized number of places to see. Here’s a decent sampling of the great attractions that await when you come to Dublin to play.

National Gallery of Ireland

Ireland is a country known for its literary contributions, but don’t overlook its contributions to the artistic world. It houses a number of works by Rembrandt, Goya and Monet. The collection’s 15,000 Irish and European works date from the 13th to mid-20th centuries and include paintings, prints and national portraits (肖像). Particularly prized is the Yeats Collection, consisting of works and other materials related to Irish painter Jack B. Yeats, brother of poet and playwright W. B. Yeats.

Ha’penny Bridge

This modest cast-iron bridge over the River Liffey has become the symbol of Dublin, with its wonderful design and old-fashioned lampposts. Before it became a tourist attraction,

Ha’Penny Bridge was a welcome addition for local people. Before its construction, most of them had to ferry (摆渡) across the river. When it was built in 1816, Ha’penny Bridge was the first iron bridge across the Liffey.

Dublin Castle

You’re in Europe. It’s hard to resist a good castle. And you have one right in the heart of Dublin. And like all good castles, it has a storied history—from its start in the 1200s on the site of a Viking settlement to 1922, when it was handed over to the new Irish government after independence from the United Kingdom. A fire in 1684 damaged a good bit of the castle, and in reconstruction, parts of it took on the look of a Georgian palace, making for an interesting mix of styles today.

St. Stephen’s Green

As a treasured part of the city for centuries, the park, which is in the heart of Dublin, has important sculptures of major figures in Irish history and well-maintained Victorian grounds in the center. A variety of trees line the perimeter (周边) to help block city noise, and it’s a haven for birds as well as people.

1. What can visitors see in National Gallery of Ireland?

A．W. B. Yeats’ collection of poems.

B．Works about painter Jack B. Yeats.

C．Over 15,000 European literary works.

D．Irish paintings dating from the 11th century.

2. What was Ha’penny Bridge originally built for?

A．Attracting foreign visitors.	B．Offering shelter to ferrymen.
C．Replacing a cast-iron bridge.	D．Helping people cross a river.

3. What do the last two attractions have in common?

A．They feature a variety of rare birds.

B．They are not well-maintained at present.

C．They are located in the center of Dublin.

D．They take on the look of a Georgian palace.

6 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Who helped the woman arrange her accommodation?

A．Her father.

B．The man’s relatives.

C．The man’s friends.

2. Which place is the woman’s first destination?

A．Athens.

B．Istanbul.

C．New York.

3. Why does the woman prefer Montreal to New York?

A．It’s more modern.

B．It’s more relaxed.

C．It’s more beautiful.

4. What does the woman say about Mexico City?

A．It is a little noisy.

B．It is very European.

C．It has many museums.

7 . Lexi is just a little girl from Canada who found herself in a heart-stopping situation. It started off as a normal car trip. Angela Shymanski, Lexi’s mom, was at the wheel, navigating the tricky roads of the Rockies with her daughter Lexi and her baby Peter in the car. An unexpected animal ran into the road. Angela swerved (突然转向) to avoid the animal. Unfortunately, their car was off the road, falling down a steep embankment (路堤).

The crash was nothing short of terrifying. Angela ended up with a broken back. She was unconscious, and unable to help her babies. Meanwhile, baby Peter’s cries echoed in the chaos. But Lexi, only five years old, didn’t freeze. Instead, she showed courage that would leave many grown-ups in awe.

She quickly jumped into action. The little girl, without even shoes on her feet, wrestled free from her seatbelt and climbed the 40-foot embankment. Once she reached the top, Lexi did everything she could to flag down a passing car in order to get help for her mom and brother.

Lexi’s insistence finally paid off. A car stopped, and the people inside didn’t hesitate to help her call for emergency services. When the paramedics (护理人员) arrived, they found Angela in a severe state, and her heart had stopped. Thankfully, they managed to bring her back.

Lexi’s dad, reflecting on the incident, couldn’t help but be amazed by his daughter’s bravery. He stressed how important it is for kids to be prepared for emergencies, shocked at how Lexi remembered and acted on what she had been taught. It’s a powerful reminder of what kids can do when push comes to shove.

And Lexi’s heroism didn’t go unnoticed. She was awarded a Bronze Medal for Bravery by the police. But for the Shymanskis, the real prize was being back in each other’s arms, safe and sound.

1. What caused the accident?

A．The tough road.	B．The children’s noise.
C．A car that suddenly swerved.	D．An animal appearing suddenly.

2. What was Lexi’s first move after the accident?

A．Putting on her shoes.	B．Managing to get out of the car.
C．Flagging down a passing car.	D．Scaling the 40-foot embankment.

3. What can we learn about Lexi from paragraph 5?

A．Her heroic action deserved recognition.	B．Her dad knew her daughter well enough.
C．She had learned how to deal with emergencies.	D．It was important for her to face some emergencies.

4. Which of the following can best describe Lexi?

A．Brave and honest.	B．Calm and courageous.
C．Thoughtful but stubborn.	D．Caring but naughty.

8 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

China’s two elite science and technology institutes on Wednesday announced their results for the new academicians, offering 133 top scientists and scholars nationwide the    1    (high) academic title in the country. The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has selected 59 new academicians     2    the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) has selected 74.

The new academicians are from various fields,    3    (cover) subjects from space technologies to geology, and from medical and life sciences to agriculture and petrochemicals. The average age of the 59    4    (new) elected academicians of the CAS is 54.7 years old,    5     90 percent of them below the age of 60. Five of the 59 academicians are female scientists. Among the 74 academician newcomers at the CAE, 81 percent are below the age of 60.

Yan Ning, head of the Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation and a renowned structural biologist     6    works at Tsinghua University’s School of Life Sciences, was selected as    7    CAS academician. Yan, 45, also    8    (write) as Nieng Yan in professional circles,    9    (be) a scientist on the rise in recent years after she left Tsinghua in 2017 to become a professor at Princeton University in the United States where she received her PhD, and returned last year to Tsinghua. She was the youngest professor and PhD     10    (advise)at Tsinghua.

9 . Ask any business leader what big challenges they face and it’s likely that skills and labor shortages will be high on their list. They’re concerned about how to develop the skills they need for the jobs of tomorrow. According to the World Economic Forum’s latest Future of Jobs Report 2023, organizations across all industries identify skills gaps and an inability to attract talent as the key barriers preventing industry transformation.

There’s a potential solution to all of this: a “skills-first” approach. The new report, Putting Skills First: A Framework for Action, launched during the World Economic Forum’s Growth Summit, finds that switching to a skills-first mindset can directly benefit over 100 million people globally who’re currently under-utilizing their existing skills, because they’re under-employed in their current job or because they’re unemployed. The analysis, which covers 18 economies, finds workforce under-utilization ranges from 4% of the working population in Thailand, to 7% in the US, 13% in France, 27% in Brazil and 43% in South Africa.

A skills-first approach focuses on a person’s skills and competencies rather than on their qualifications or job history, so that what someone can do becomes far more important than which university they went to. Crucially, this focus on skills continues long after the worker has been hired, with an emphasis on continually developing their abilities right through their career.

Making skills a priority is fairly advantageous. For businesses, taking a skills-first approach dramatically increases the potential pool of talent from which they can draw on. For individuals, it provides access to good jobs that offer skills building, career progression and higher earning potential which they’d otherwise have been excluded from without the right qualifications.

Delivering such ground-breaking change requires more than simply the involvement of HR teams. It’ll require the commitment of CEOs and policy-makers at the highest level to drive it through. So far a company in UK has introduced a range of degree apprenticeship (学徒制) programs which enable applicants without a degree to gain one while working at the firm. The organization is also developing new career paths to ensure it has the right skills to meet the changing needs of the economy.

1. What plays a key role in industry transformation?

A．Working environment.	B．Employees’ job history.
C．Employees’ competence.	D．Business leaders’ management.

2. What do we know about the new report according to paragraph 2?

A．It was launched by 18 economies.

B．It focuses on a skills-first mindset.

C．It shows the decline of global economy.

D．It points out employment trends.

3. What does the last paragraph convey about the skills-first approach?

A．Further research needs to be done.

B．It depends on global cooperation.

C．Some measures are already underway.

D．It is well accepted around the world.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．A skills-first approach.

B．A more inclusive society.

C．Developing new career paths.

D．Creating a framework for job markets.

10 . Here are some musicals on Broadway.

Back to the Future

When Marty McFly finds himself transported back to 1955 in a time machine built by the eccentric scientist Doc Brown, he accidentally changes the course of history. Now he’s in a race against time to fix the present, escape the past and send himself back to the future. It’s recommended for ages 6 and up.

How to Dance in Ohio

At a group counseling center in Columbus, Ohio, seven autistic(患孤独症的) young adults prepare for a spring formal dance—a rite of passage that breaks open their routines and sets off heartbreaking encounters with love, stress, excitement, and independence. It is a story about people standing at the turning point of the next phase of their lives, facing their hopes and fears, ready to make a very big first move and dance. It’s based on the award-winning documentary.

Mother Play

Outside of D.C., Phyllis is supervising her teenage children, Carl and Martha, as they move into a new apartment. Phyllis has strong ideas about what her children need to do and how to succeed, and troubles the child faces when finding their own path. Combining flares of imaginative theatricality, surreal farce, and deep tenderness, this beautiful rollercoaster ride reveals timeless truths of love, family, and forgiveness.

I Need That

Sam doesn’t get out at all, opting instead for the safety of his house in the company of his many things. But when a notice from the government arrives alerting Sam that he must cleanup hi property or face eviction(驱逐), he’s forced to deal with what’s trash, what’s treasure, and whether we can ever know the difference between the two.

1. What can be learned about Back to the Future?

A．It is kid-friendly.	B．It is based on the history.
C．It explores the value of time.	D．It encourages people to connect more.

2. What does Mother Play focus on?

A．Parenting.	B．Family relationships.
C．Mother’s troubles.	D．Fiction and reality.

3. Which musical is adapted from true stories?

A．Back to the Future.	B．How to Dance in Ohio.
C．Mother Play.	D．I Need That.