1 . It takes Sanduk Ruit about five minutes to change someone’s life. The Nepalese doctor can make a small incision (切口) in his patient’s eye, remove the cataract (白内障) damaging the patient’s vision and replace it with an inexpensive artificial lens. He said, “Some of our younger doctors even do it faster than that.”
In the past decades, Ruit has personally restored the sight of more than 100,000 people across Asia and Africa, and taught his rapid-fire technique to countless other eye doctors in parts of the world. His patients suffer from eye conditions that are mostly preventable. But because of poverty and limited access to public health services, they have been unable to seek treatment. Their stories are all too common in the developing world.
Driven by a belief that the world’s poorest people deserve safe, affordable and high-quality eye care just as much as anyone else, Ruit has made it his mission to root out avoidable blindness.
In 1994,he joined the late Australian eye doctor Fred Hollows, who was his mentor and close friend, in establishing Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology-an eye hospital in Kathmandu devoted to providing world-class eyecare for the people of Nepal. The hospital makes the state-of-the-art lens that is commonly used in treating cataracts or myopia, and exports it to more than 30 countries worldwide.
For the patients who cannot reach urban areas, Ruit and his team conduct mobile eye camps in remote parts of Nepal and neighboring countries. They often trek for days to those areas and clean out structures like tents, classrooms or even stables for use as temporary operating rooms. When the eyepatches (眼罩) come off the day after an operation, it’s an extremely moving moment for all relevant persons. Ruit said that he was so grateful that he could make a difference in so many people’s lives.
1. What do we know about Ruit?| A．He refused to do operations for the rich. |
| B．He wasn’t mean with his excellent technique. |
| C．He joined Fred Hollows in the nineteenth century. |
| D．He restored more than a million people’s sight in person. |
| A．Making a lot of money. |
| B．Obtaining relevant data to write scientific papers. |
| C．The desire to make his technique well-known. |
| D．The idea that all sick people should get proper treatment. |
| A．Kind-hearted and responsible. |
| B．Friendly and energetic. |
| C．Open-minded and outgoing. |
| D．Clever and brave. |
| A．Science. | B．Sports. | C．Education. | D．Figures. |
2 . Most people aim to get their recommended seven to nine hours of sleep in one long stretch at night. And the technical term for this is “monotheistic sleep (单向睡眠)”
However, we may not have been programmed to sleep in this way.
Now I’m sure you’ve had that experience of a drop in your concentration in the afternoon, where you start to feel a little sleepy.
What this suggests is that we may have been designed to sleep in a biphasic (双向的) pattern, meaning one longer period of sleep at night, and then a short afternoon nap during the day, very much like the nap cultures around the world.
But is napping always a good thing?
So if you are struggling with sleep at night, the best advice is not to nap during the day. Instead, build up all of that healthy sleepiness so that you give yourself the best chance of falling asleep easily, and then staying asleep soundly across night.
| A．Well, not necessarily. |
| B．And you can also see it in other people as well. |
| C．In other words, a single period of sleep at night. |
| D．It’s a little bit like snacking before your main meal. |
| E．If you are mindful of how often and how long your naps are. |
| F．You may think this drop in your concentration is because of a big lunch. |
| G．But if you’re not struggling with sleep and you can nap regularly during the day. |
3 .
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| A．It is valid only on March 31st. | B．It doesn’t support phone reservation. |
| C．Only new patients can use it. | D．It must be used with insurance fees. |
| A．They cost little money. | B．They preserve the jawbone. |
| C．They can be easily removed. | D．They prevent teeth missing. |
| A．To explain how to implant teeth. | B．To introduce three implant centers. |
| C．To advertise a newly opened dental center. | D．To popularize the knowledge of oral health. |
4 . If you’ve got more than one kid, you’re showing favoritism, whether you know it or not.
“Parents may favor one child over another, for a lot of reasons. The child may have an easy temperament (性情) or might behave particularly well or may look like you,” says Susan Newman, a psychologist. “But regardless of the reason, every child must be made to feel loved and special, in order to fully develop.” Newman warns that favoring one child over their siblings (兄弟姐妹) publicly can have a significantly negative effect.
“The unfavored child can feel defeated, and unmotivated, as a result of working hard to get parental support, with no success,” says Yelena Gidenko, a licensed counselor. “He orshe may also suffer from depression and become angry, bitter, or jealous,” she adds Children feeling this way may act out, in an effort to get their parent’s attention, making matters worse. They may also behave inappropriately, becoming the black sheep, which they believe their parents already see. “Unfavored children may have a hard time accepting who they are, since they do not feel accepted by their parents,” adds Gidenko.
Favoritism is not exactly a boon for the favored child, either. Kids who feel that they are their parent’s favorite sometimes translate that into a go pass for their behavior in future relationships. “Favored children may feel a sense of entitlement, and that rules do not apply to them,” says Gidenko. This can negatively affect the way they act in school, at work, and in their friendships.
It may seem absurd, but the opposite can also occur. Favored children may experience anxiety and insecurity, resulting from their favorite child status. “Children are observant. They know when they are getting praise for things they have not earned, such as being your favorite. For this reason, they know, and fear, that these things might be taken away fromthem at any time, for any reason,” says Gidenko
Newman urges parents to remember that it’s not possible to treat children equally because they are all different. What parents can, and should do is talk to their kids about how, and why, they treat them the way they do. “According to research, parents don’t talkabout this. They don’t say why one child gets more time than another. If they do, they are preserving their bond with each child,” says Newman
1. What can we learn about unfavored children?| A．They want to please their parents |
| B．They care little about their siblings. |
| C．They tend to lack a sense of identity |
| D．They hope to be the black sheep of the family. |
| A．Blessing. | B．Challenge. | C．Honor. | D．Burden. |
| A．Treat their children equally |
| B．Explain themselves to their children |
| C．Strengthen their bond with their children |
| D．Remove the differences between their children |
| A．The solutions to parental favoritism |
| B．The consequences of parental favoritism |
| C．An analysis of why parents play favorites |
| D．A contrast between favored and unfavored children |
5 . Goldfish may seem like simple creatures swimming in a glass tank, but they possess a rather complicated navigation system, as discovered by researchers at the University of Oxford Led by Dr. Adelaide Sibeaux, the study aims to shed light on our understanding of how fish, and potentially humans, estimate distances using what could be described as an internal GPS.
Writing in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Sibeaux and colleagues report how they created a tank in their experiment with 2cm-wide black and white vertical stripes (条纹) on the walls, connected by similar stripes across the floor. The team trained nine goldfish to swim a set distance of 70cm and then return to their starting point when waved at. The experiment aimed to investigate how the fish would estimate this distance without any gestures, under different patterns.
Over multiple trials, the goldfish averaged a swim distance of 74cm, give or take 17cm, when presented with the vertical 2cm-wide stripes. However, when the stripe pattern was altered to either narrower vertical stripes, checked patterns, or horizontal stripes, the fish’s behavior changed significantly. Narrower vertical stripes led them to overestimating the distance by 36%, while horizontal stripes resulted in highly inconsistent estimations.
According to the researchers, the goldfish appeared to be using an “optic (光学的) flow mechanism” based on the visual density of their environment. They kept track of how frequently the vertical pattern switched between black and white to estimate how far they had traveled. The study suggests that different optic flow mechanisms are used by mammals, including humans, based on angular (有角度的) motion of visual features. The study implies that the use of visually based distance information could have emerged early in the evolutionary timeline.
“This study is novel because, despite knowing that fish respond to geometric information regarding direction and distance, we don’t know how they estimate distances,” Professor Colin Lever, although not involved in the study, said, “it’s exciting to explore fish spatial mapping because fish navigation evolved earlier and better than most mammals.”
1. Why did Dr. Adelaide Sibeaux conduct the study on goldfish?| A．To test the accuracy of goldfish’s internal GPS. |
| B．To create an advanced navigation system for humans |
| C．To uncover how an inbuilt GPS helps calculate distances. |
| D．To explore the relationships between goldfish and humans |
| A．People gestured the goldfish throughout the experiment |
| B．The tank was decorated with colorful background patterns |
| C．Goldfish tended to underestimate distances with horizontal stripes. |
| D．The change in the tank setting led to the goldfish's incorrect judgment. |
| A．optic flow mechanism is unique to humans |
| B．mammals developed flow mechanism long before goldfish |
| C．goldfish evaluated the distance with multidimensional visual information |
| D．visual density of the environment strengthened the locating ability of goldfish |
| A．Neutral. | B．Ambiguous. | C．Disapproving. | D．Favorable. |
6 . The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in educational technology (EdTech) has brought incomparable convenience and efficiency to classrooms worldwide. However, despite these advancements, it is crucial to recognize the challenges these AI-driven tools pose to the autonomy and professional judgment of instructors.
One of its primary concerns is the depersonalization of instruction. These tools often rely on pre-packaged digital content and standardized solutions, leaving insufficient room for instructors to tailor their teaching methods. Each student possesses unique characteristics. Instructors, armed with their wealth of experience and knowledge, are best positioned to tailor their approaches to these individual needs. However, AI-driven tools restrict their ability to do so effectively, resulting in a one-size-fits-all approach that fails to inspire students to reach their maximum potential.
EdTech companies offer step-by-step solutions to textbook problems. These are intended to act as study aids. However, some students employ this feature as a means to merely copy solutions without comprehending concepts. Consequently, instances of cheating on assignments and exams become widespread. While these tools may offer convenience, students may use external resources or cooperate with others during quizzes, affecting the honesty of their learning outcomes.
The implications of this depersonalization and the increase in academic dishonesty are far-reaching. By decreasing the role of instructors as facilitators of meaningful educational interactions, we run the risk of preventing the growth of critical thinking and problem-solving skills among students. Education should not only focus on knowledge acquisition, but should also develop the ability to analyze, evaluate, and apply that knowledge in real-world contexts. It should help one’s mind grow, not simply memorize information. Through dynamic classroom discussions, cooperative projects, and hands-on activities, instructors play a crucial role in developing these essential skills.
While AI-driven EdTech tools undeniably have their virtues, we must not lose sight of the importance of preserving instructor autonomy and educational experience. Instead of relying only on pre-packaged content and standardized solutions, these tools should be designed to empower instructors to adapt and customize their approaches while taking full advantage of the benefits of technology.
1. What do the underlined words “the depersonalization of instruction” in paragraph 2 refer to?| A．Tailored methods for individuals. | B．Instructors’ dependence on Al. |
| C．Insufficient resources of Al-driven tools. | D．The one-size-fits-all approach. |
| A．A possible solution. |
| B．A further problem. |
| C．A well-meant intention. |
| D．A suggested application |
| A．Thinking skills. | B．Teamwork building. |
| C．Interest development. | D．Knowledge acquisition. |
| A．They should be used widely. |
| B．Their benefits deserve our attention. |
| C．Their resources need enriching. |
| D．They should support instructor autonomy. |
A lot of digital publishing products
The collection, which
8 . Looking back, Geoff Banks of Devon, England can hardly even remember how he first started writing to his American friend, Celesta Byrne.
Geoff and Celesta were given each other's names and addresses as part of a school pen pal program back in 1938. They're both now 100 years old, and a lot has changed in the past 84 years: their age changed: their appearance changed; but one thing has not—they still use the traditional way to contact.
“I honestly struggle to remember something, but I was talking to Celesta recently and I think it was something to do with an American school's scheme, Geoff said.” They matched us up with Americans for a pen pal relationship, and somehow I ended up with this letter from an American girl, and we've just kept corresponding（通信）ever since. "
Geoff and Celesta's relationship never turned romantic, but they shared a lot over the decades. They kept up their correspondence through World War II, sending updates about their families, friends, and work. In 2002, they finally got a chance to meet in person during a trip to New York City. Two years later, they met up again, but ever since then they've gone back to pen and paper.
Recently, they've switched to digital forms of communication to stay in touch, something that's easier has been easier on their eyes and hands. Their children have helped them set up email accounts.
“I've known this new thing called Zoom, I think, now to chat with her, but I leave all the technology to younger people. Deep down, I refuse to use Zoom. Writing to Celesta has been a source of great satisfaction'for me over the years,” said Geoff.
Celesta says their relationship is “like people who live next door”. “You know how they're doing, you say a few words, and then you both go to work,” she explained. “She's always been there to write to, even if it was just birthday cards and Christmas cards,” Geoff added.
1. What do Geoff and Celesta insist on doing over the 80 years?| A．Enjoying telling jokes. | B．Writing to each other. |
| C．Creating a program. | D．Keeping a secret. |
| A．How they got in touch. | B．Why they liked writing. |
| C．What they both liked to do. | D．When they ran a scheme. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Unclear. | C．Doubtful. | D．Disapproving. |
| A．To introduce a way to make friends. | B．To teach us skills of writing letters. |
| C．To tell us a tale of lifelong friends. | D．To stress the power of technology. |
9 . Cactus (仙人掌) leather is a bio-based material famous for its breathability, an area in which other vegan leathers fall short. This unique material has been used for handbags, shoes, clothes, and furniture. Even car companies are following the trend.
Cactus leather is made from the nopal cactus, which is harvested twice a year by cutting off only mature leaves so that the cactus can continue to grow. The leaves are then cleaned, broken into smaller pieces, and left out in the sun to dry. Fibers are separated from the dried pieces. Then, a powdered protein is extracted (提取), taken to a laboratory, and mixed with varying materials that include colorants to form a liquid substance, which is then poured on top of a carrier material to form cactus leather.
The nopal cactus used to make cactus leather is a fast-growing plant that doesn’t need much water. It is easily grown in dry conditions and is considered drought tolerant, an important quality for water conservation. Its hardiness also make it ideal in an industry that is reliant on whether and climate conditions, creating a good income source for farmers. The most promising part of cactus farming is the plant’s ability to store carbon in the soil, allowing it to play a part in dealing with climate change.
Leather has a long and troubled past. The poisonous substances used to make leather are often under fire as well as the treatment of animals. The cactus avoids these problems and also reduces carbon from the atmosphere. As the fabric is a relatively new, it is not known exactly how long it will last. That said, there is a study that shows the performance of the fabric is comparable to conventional leather.
Cactus leather appears to have a bright future ahead. Its adaptability and ability to draw in carbon are ideal features among the growing concerns for climate change and greenhouse gases.
1. What is the second paragraph mainly about?| A．Why the nopal cactus is perfect for making leather. |
| B．Why cactus leather is setting new trends. |
| C．What cactus leather is used for? |
| D．How cactus leather is made? |
| A．It can keep carbon in the soil. | B．It can store much water in its roots. |
| C．It grows slowly in wet conditions. | D．It is low in protein. |
| A．It is softer. | B．It is more durable. |
| C．It is cruelty-free. | D．It is low in protein. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Positive. | C．Disapproving. | D．Sympathetic. |
10 . Short Story Competitions.
The V.S. Pritchett Short Story Prize
The V.S. Pritchett Short Story Prize held by the Royal Society of Literature (RSL) annually is currently open for entries. Entries from those over 18 years old who are residents in the UK are welcome.
Closes: 20 August
Word limit: 2,000 -- 4,000 words
Entry fee: Free
Prize: £1,000 and publication in prospect online
The Tasmanian Writers' Prize
Since 2009, Forty Source Publishing has awarded writers the Tasmanian Writers’ Prize for the most outstanding short story submitted into this competition. Entries from Australian and New Zealand residents are welcome.
Closes: 15 February
Word limit: 3,000 -- 4,000 words
Entry fee: $20
Prize: $500 and publication in Forty South
The Nature Writing Prize
Created by the Nature Conservancy Australia, the Nature Writing Prize is open for submissions. Writers, 18 years and older are invited to write an essay to explore their relationship and interaction with the Australian landscape.
Closes: 19 February
Word limit: 3,000 -- 5,000 words
Entry fee: $25
Prize: $7,500 dollars and publication in Griffith Review online
The Stringybark Open Short Story Award
Stringybark Publishing is asking writers to enter a short story into the Stringybark Open Short Story Award. The judges are looking for a story written for an audience of 16 years and older. Closes: 31 January
Word limit: 1,500 -- 1,800 words
Entry fee: $14 for 1 story, $26 for two stories, $36 for six stories (max)
Prize: Over $1,000 in cash and books
1. What do we know about the competition held by the RSL?| A．It is free for participants. | B．Its deadline is 19 February. |
| C．It is open for writers across the world. | D．Its entries are for readers of 18 years or older. |
| A．1,500 --1,800 words. | B．2,000 -- 4,000 words. |
| C．3,000 -- 4,000 words. | D．3,000 -- 5,000words |
| A．The Nature Writing Prize. | B．The Tasmanian Writers’ Prize. |
| C．The V.S. Pritchett Short Story Prize. | D．The Stringybark Open Short Story Award. |
