1 . You really can make free phone calls using the Internet.

Google Meet

Google Meet is an app-to-app calling service that works across desktop and mobile platforms. Video meetings are encrypted (加密), it also supports audio calls, and you can form massive group calls with up to 100 people. What’s more appealing is that Google Meet display s real-time captions (字幕) as the other person is speaking.

Signal

Signal lets you send and receive texts, make voice and video calls (including group calls), and share your location and files. It was developed with a focus on privacy and security; it uses end-to-end encryption to protect your messages and calls, so only you and the recipient can see or hear what you’re exchanging.

Google Voice

Google Voice is one of the best ways to make a call over the Internet. You get a real phone number, so you can make free calls to an actual phone number. Free calls you make with Google Voice must be to numbers in the United States or Canada, and they’re limited to three hours. However, you can continue to make a free call to the same number over and over again.

WhatsApp

Meta-owned WhatsApp is a popular texting app with hundreds of millions of users. However, you can also call your WhatsApp friends right from the app using only your Internet connection. You just need to confirm your phone number to get started. Once you’re using the app, you can start a new conversation to clearly see which of your contacts are also using WhatsApp, and then you can call them for free no matter where in the world they’re located. Group calls can include as many as 32 people.

1. What is a feature of Google Meet?

A．You can see what the speaker says.

B．It can be used for free anywhere in the world.

C．No password is needed to attend online meetings.

D．Over 100 people can attend online meetings meantime.

2. Which of the following apps is limited to certain areas?

A．Google Meet.

B．Signal.

C．Google Voice.

D．WhatsApp.

3. In what section of a newspaper will the text probably appear?

A．Health.

B．Environment.

C．Education.

D．Technology.

2 . Carmel, an Uber driver, found a bag full of $8,000 left behind in his car. Carmel knew someone out there was probably very _________ about losing such a large amount of money. He held onto the money, planning to _________ it to its rightful owner.

Meanwhile, Alex was _________ searching for his lost cash. He had saved up the money for months to help his struggling parents _________ their debts and provide a better life for his younger sisters. But now, it seemed as if all their _________ had come to an end.

Both Alex and Carmel _________ the missing bag on the Uber app. This was a smart _________ because it helped them get in touch with each other. Uber _________ them over the phone, and they could finally talk about the lost cash.

Carmel _________ back to give the cash to Alex. Imagine how __________ Alex must have felt seeing Carmel with the money! Alex was so glad that he __________ Carmel $10. It might not seem like a lot compared to $8,000, but it was Alex’s way of saying thank you. Carmel was really touched by this __________. He said he would never __________ it.

Carmel’s act of __________ teaches us a valuable lesson. Doing good things for others can make a big difference in their lives. It’s not just about the money; it’s about __________.

1.

A．awkward

B．upset

C．confused

D．certain

2.

A．return

B．post

C．throw

D．show

3.

A．angrily

B．patiently

C．wildly

D．skillfully

4.

A．pay off

B．pick out

C．break down

D．give up

5.

A．concerns

B．dreams

C．achievements

D．investigations

6.

A．encountered

B．judged

C．recovered

D．reported

7.

A．suggestion

B．reason

C．move

D．view

8.

A．ignored

B．recognized

C．expected

D．connected

9.

A．stepped

B．drove

C．called

D．wandered

10.

A．relaxed

B．amused

C．efficient

D．stressed

11.

A．lent

B．charged

C．saved

D．tipped

12.

A．choice

B．comment

C．gesture

D．promise

13.

A．forget

B．mention

C．mind

D．refuse

14.

A．wisdom

B．honesty

C．calmness

D．effort

15.

A．curiosity

B．appreciation

C．preference

D．kindness

3 . The argument over video games has been ongoing for decades. While some argue that e-sports require skill, there is disagreement over whether they meet the standards of a traditional sport. According to the dictionary, a sport is a physical activity for pleasure. While playing video games requires skill and coordination (协调), it lacks the physicality associated with traditional sports. Strategy is also present in board games like chess or card games like solitaire, but these activities are not classified as sports. Similarly, playing a musical instrument requires practice and training, yet it is not considered a sport.

Sports require full-body movements and coordination while video games mainly involve finger and hand movements. Although it is possible to include physical movement while playing, it is not a requirement for success. Many e-sports enthusiasts sit in front of their screens, filling themselves with snacks while controlling the game. This lack of physicality not only sets video games apart from sports but can also have negative effects on health. Unlike traditional sports, which have been shown to improve well-being, too much video gaming can lead to headaches and anger.

While e-sports and competitive gaming may be comparable to activities like chess in terms of competition, they do not possess the physical effort and health benefits associated with traditional sports. However, as the industry continues to develop, the idea of e-sports is evolving. Studies have stressed the demanding motor skills and reaction times required in e-sports. Professor Ingo Frobose conducted a study that demonstrated the impressive motor skills of e-sports “athletes”, with up to 400 movements per minute on the keyboard and mouse. The strategic aspect of e-sports, including team planning, is also often ignored. Games such as League of Legends, Dota 2, and Honor of Kings have attracted large audiences and showed the skills of players.

While some argue against the classification (分类) of e-sports as real sports, evidence suggests that they possess unique skills and abilities. As the industry grows, the understanding and recognition of e-sports as a lawful competitive activity are gradually changing.

1. Why don’t some people think of video games as a sport?

A．They lack full-body movements.	B．They stress teamwork mostly.
C．They have no influence on health.	D．They require no strategy and training.

2. What will be a result of playing video games too much according to the text?

A．Better relationship with friends.	B．Bad performance in study.
C．Poor health condition.	D．Lack of coordination.

3. Which supports the classification of e-sports as real sports?

A．The fast development of traditional sports.

B．The benefits for health brought by video gaming.

C．The comparison of e-sports to chess.

D．The strategic aspect involved in e-sports.

4. Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A．Do e-sports require teamwork and skills?

B．Should video games be considered a sport?

C．Do e-sports have negative effects on health?

D．Should e-sports players concentrate more when playing?

4 . During Thanksgiving dinner, my grandmother would ask us to share a story of a person we were grateful to during the past year. And then she would ask, “Did you ________ that person?” She encouraged us to show our gratitude by our ________.

I will always remember the warm and happy ________ I had as a child, the miracle of being at my grandmother’s Thanksgiving table, eating her food, and listening to those I ________ tell what they were thankful for. I believe it made a big ________ in my life. It helped all of us shift from being ________ focused to being externally focused.

When I got married and Jesselie and I started our own Thanksgiving ________, a few memories ________. We used to live in Piedmont, California when our children were still young. To give Jesselie time to ________ the dinner without ________, I took the children over to San Francisco to look at the beautiful holiday windows. Our children have always remembered that ________, and Jesselie has never ________ that Thanksgiving dinner because as we sat down to a cornucopia (丰富) of ________, including Williamsburg sweet potato pudding and sausage stuffing, our children said, “Can we just go to get a hamburger instead?”

I hope all of us can start a new tradition — a tradition of assessing our lives and actions, ________ our unconscious biases (偏见), and committing to be more ________ and better appreciate our differences.

1.

A．like

B．thank

C．encounter

D．inform

2.

A．support

B．principle

C．actions

D．negotiations

3.

A．feelings

B．vacations

C．parties

D．comments

4.

A．loved

B．greeted

C．invited

D．helped

5.

A．point

B．turn

C．mess

D．difference

6.

A．intentionally

B．entirely

C．internally

D．frequently

7.

A．challenges

B．traditions

C．discussions

D．standards

8.

A．died down

B．got along

C．stood out

D．took off

9.

A．fix

B．enjoy

C．share

D．deliver

10.

A．delay

B．permission

C．hesitation

D．interruption

11.

A．gift

B．reminder

C．discovery

D．experience

12.

A．missed

B．promised

C．touched

D．forgotten

13.

A．purchase

B．food

C．fruits

D．colors

14.

A．removing

B．explaining

C．representing

D．assessing

15.

A．regular

B．influential

C．inclusive

D．relaxing

5 . It is no accident that so many fairy tale characters find themselves having to cross dangerous areas of woodland. In a most practical sense, as the ancients dreamed up those stories and even when the oral traditions were finally written down in the middle ages and later, the lands of northern and western Europe were thick with woodland. The dangers were obvious: from robbers lying in wait for unsuspecting travelers to opportunistic wolves hungry for the kill.

In many cultures, the forest is for god or ancestor worship. In An Illustrated Encyclopaedia Of Traditional Symbols, JC Cooper writes, “Entering the Dark Forest or the Enchanted Forest is a threshold (门槛) symbol: the soul entering the dangers of the unknown; the world of death; the secrets of nature, or the spiritual world which man must go through to find the meaning.”

The forest is a place of magic then, magic that can be dangerous, but also a place of opportunity and transformation. In the tale of Beauty and the Beast, the merchant is directed by invisible forces within the forest to the Beast’s castle, only then to be directed by invisible hands to his fate.

As for Little Red Riding Hood, straying from (偏离) the path and into the woods is similarly dangerous and filled with treachery (背叛). Symbolically, those who lose their way in the uncharted forest are losing their way in life, losing touch with their conscious selves and voyaging into the state of the subconscious.

And yet, in legends such as Robin Hood, or the great Hindu love story of Rama and Sita, the forest becomes a hiding place. The forest provides refuge (庇护) for great heroes who after a period of hard time come back to fight for justice. Their time in the forest could perhaps be interpreted as a period of personal development.

Today, still, woodland remains as a refuge from institutional order, from control and limitation of personal freedom. Forests are places full of mystery, where imagination and the subconscious can run free, where we can return to our original selves.

1. What does the author think of the woodland dangers in fairy tales?

A．They are created without reasonable basis.	B．They are a reflection of real-life dangers.
C．They differ greatly from those in real life.	D．They are apparent and can be easily avoided.

2. What does JC Cooper stress with her words in paragraph 2?

A．The hidden dangers in the forest.	B．The symbols in different cultures.
C．The symbolic meaning of the forest.	D．The educational functions of the forest.

3. The woodland plays the role of a shelter for the hero in ______.

A．Rama and Sita

B．Beauty and the Beast

C．Little Red Riding Hood

D．An Illustrated Encyclopaedia Of Traditional Symbols

4. How is the text developed?

A．By following time order.	B．By giving examples.
C．By making comparisons.	D．By explaining a principle.

6 . Events at Olbrich for This Month

Alcohol Inks & Acrylic Bouquets

June 4, 2024, 1: 00 pm

In this workshop, we’ll use alcohol inks and special paint to create two 9 × 12 flower bouquet (花束) paintings. Learn techniques that transform abstract backgrounds and use negative-space painting to create beautiful works of art.

Macro Botanical Photography & Bouque t Making

June 6, 2024, 2: 00 pm

Join us to learn how to make your own bouquet and then gain some tips on how to photograph your flowers to make their beauty last. All levels welcome and no previous photography education necessary. Bring your DSLR camera, and ensure you have its basic working knowledge as we will not be able to help onsite. You will leave with a flower bouquet and macro photography tips booklet to ensure you’ve got the essential knowledge.

Virtual Tai Chi Meditation at Home

June 7, 2024, 6: 00 pm

“Move like a great river; be still like a mountain” instructs the age-old description of the meditative exercise and movement art of Tai Chi Chuan. This class offers standing movements and seated practices rooted within the Chinese tradition of Tai Chi and Chi Kung for the enrichment of body, mind and spirit. All physical abilities welcome, including those in need of chair-based practice.

Bike for Butterflies Virtual Lecture — Sara Dykman

June 9, 2024, 1: 00 pm

Join us for a special virtual lecture by an inspiring professional working hard to bring more attention to butterfly conservation. Learn how he combines long biking journeys with his passion for butterflies.

1. What’s one requirement for you to learn macro photography?

A．Taking good care of your flowers.

B．Bringing a flower bouquet.

C．Being able to operate a DSLR camera.

D．Taking along your previous flower photographs.

2. What’s special about the Tai Chi Meditation class?

A．It is aimed at specific age groups.	B．It offers face-to-face instructions.
C．It is a kind of chair-based exercise.	D．It welcomes even the physically disabled.

3. When can you attend a lecture given by an environmentalist?

A．On June 4, 2024.	B．On June 6, 2024.
C．On June 7, 2024.	D．On June 9, 2024.

7 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What is the speaker mainly talking about?

A．His feeling after receiving an award.

B．His experience about traveling around.

C．His preference for different music types.

2. Where is the speaker from?

A．Ireland.

B．Scotland.

C．England.

3. What did the speaker most recently announce to the public?

A．A single song.

B．A three-song collection.

C．A twelve-song collection.

4. Who will speak next?

A．A young musician.

B．One of the speaker’s fans.

C．The host of the ceremony.

8 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What did Peter learn from his grandfather?

A．How to appreciate art works.

B．How to deal with artists.

C．How to run a museum.

2. What did Peter do in Chicago?

A．He studied at a college.

B．He served in the army.

C．He worked in a gallery.

3. Whose works did Peter like best?

A．Rembrandt’s.

B．Botticelli’s.

C．Rubens’.

9 . That morning in September, at a five-kilometer race, I waited for my 11-year-old son at the finish line. He’d run 30:34 at another 5k in late spring, so I ________ he could run a 5k in about 30 minutes. When I didn’t see him at the 35-minute mark, I began to ________.

It’d already been an ________ morning. About an hour earlier, when we drove into town, my son noticed a lovely tiny green tree cricket in my car. It jumped onto my son’s hand where it stayed so long that we eventually gave it a name: Little Friend.

Minutes before the race, it jumped onto the sidewalk. Maybe it wanted to seek freedom, but this wasn’t a safe place due to the ________ pedestrian traffic. So my son knelt and ________ his hand. Little Friend came back. But I told him he would ________ it during the race.

I ran well and felt thrilled at the finish line. However, that ________ gave way to anxiety when my son didn’t show up. I ________ asking people if they’d seen him. No one had. So I returned to the race headquarters. In my confusion, I didn’t even see him ________ the finish line. But there he was, just ahead of the 45-minute mark, with Little Friend ________ on his right thumb.

My ________ were wrong. My son didn’t run fast, and he didn’t lose Little Friend. These two ________ seemed somehow related. He ________ a cold he was getting over, but I knew it was more than that.

Sometimes life gives you something beautiful, but fragile. There’s no need to ________ ahead. Treat it ________ and hold on when you can.

1.

A．indicated

B．knew

C．meant

D．stressed

2.

A．question

B．forgive

C．panic

D．regret

3.

A．average

B．endless

C．unusual

D．original

4.

A．invisible

B．smooth

C．unpredictable

D．easy

5.

A．took out

B．reached out

C．gave away

D．put up

6.

A．lose

B．change

C．train

D．catch

7.

A．eagerness

B．nervousness

C．annoyance

D．excitement

8.

A．enjoyed

B．kept

C．practiced

D．stopped

9.

A．crossing

B．blocking

C．facing

D．touching

10.

A．arguing

B．sighing

C．riding

D．feeding

11.

A．evaluations

B．guesses

C．conclusions

D．comments

12.

A．facts

B．ideas

C．tasks

D．activities

13.

A．overcame

B．treated

C．received

D．blamed

14.

A．move

B．fly

C．struggle

D．rush

15.

A．gently

B．wisely

C．loosely

D．urgently

10 . Anyone who has ever witnessed the miracle in which infants progress from mewling to “Mama” to “Mine!” knows how critical it is for youngsters to hear normally before they speak their first words. _______, many children who don’t talk by age two turn out to be deaf. The sooner their disability is discovered and _______, the less likely they are to fall behind in the development of important language and social skills. That is why a growing number of hearing specialists (audiologists) and parents are campaigning for _______ screening of newborns for hearing loss.

Their _______ has registered in some powerful ears. To date, 22 states have passed legislation requiring at least partial screening programs. Part of the push stems from _______ in technology that, among other things, allow children as young as two months to be _______ hearing aids. But there are limits to the technology. One thing parents should realize before they start is that the screening tests are far from _______. A bad result doesn’t necessarily indicate a problem.

Audiologists estimate that 3 out of every 1,000 babies are born with some kind of hearing loss. Of those three infants, one is profoundly deaf. About half the time, doctors can identify a possible cause, such as a birth weight less than 5 pounds, or a family history of _______. The rest of the time there is simply no _______ as to why a newborn’s hearing may have been affected.

The screening tests work by introducing a sound into a baby’s ear and then measuring either the ________ of the ear’s internal mechanisms or the electrical activity of the auditory portion of the brain (the auditory brain-stem response test). Just because a baby fails either test, ________, does not mean that there is a hearing problem. A temporary buildup of fluid in the ear canal or excessive noise in the nursery can ________ the results. For this reason, experts say, hospitals should ________ the screening tests for any baby who doesn’t pass the first time before telling the parents to consult an audiologist for more thorough testing.

It is at this stage that things get a bit ________. Though 20 of every 1,000 babies fail the two-step screen, most prove on further examination to be just fine. Is it worth ________ 17 families of perfectly normal children - not to mention asking them to spend several hundred dollars on advanced tests — to identify three infants with hearing loss?

1.

A．Indeed

B．Meanwhile

C．Occasionally

D．Surprisingly

2.

A．reported

B．accepted

C．treated

D．tested

3.

A．legal

B．random

C．further

D．compulsory

4.

A．charge

B．complaint

C．appeal

D．pursuit

5.

A．procedures

B．advances

C．practices

D．insights

6.

A．fitted with

B．provided with

C．entitled to

D．attached to

7.

A．reasonable

B．imaginable

C．reliable

D．predictable

8.

A．disorder

B．blindness

C．obesity

D．deafness

9.

A．solution

B．clue

C．reflection

D．doubt

10.

A．response

B．volume

C．capacity

D．activity

11.

A．however

B．therefore

C．for example

D．after all

12.

A．prove

B．produce

C．match

D．affect

13.

A．stop

B．review

C．repeat

D．improve

14.

A．shocking

B．distracting

C．unpredictable

D．complicated

15.

A．worrying

B．classifying

C．engaging

D．prompting