1 . A Swedish company training crows to pick up litter in exchange for food, claims that its program could save communities a fortune in cleaning costs.
Teaching humans not to throw cigarette butts on the street has so far proven impossible, but a Swedish company claims it can teach crows to pick up after us and save local communities millions of dollars in cleaning fees every year. It teaches wild crows to do our dirty work through a step-by-step learning process by rewarding the birds with food for every cigarette butt they collect.
“They are easier to teach and there is also a higher chance of them learning from each other. At the same time, there’s a lower risk of them mistakenly eating any rubbish,” company founder, Hanssen, said. “They’re wild birds taking part in on a voluntary basis.”
Crows are among the smartest birds on Earth, and such training programs have proven successful several times in recent years. In fact, the company is so confident it can pull it off that it has expressed interest in testing it in on a larger scale, in the town of Södertälje.
Hanssen believes that the initiative could save the municipality(自治市)at least 75% of the costs involved with picking up cigarette butts, depending on how hard the crows work. If it proves successful, the company hopes that it will provide a permanent cleaning solution that can be used in other parts of the country and eventually nationwide.
The approach to litter cleaning has gotten positive feedback online, but there are those who think the fact that we can train crows to pick up cigarette bults, but we can’t get humans not to throw them away is hard to accept. Plus, there are the health problems of constantly exposing the birds to the cigarette butts.
1. What is the advantage of the program?| A．It can save food. | B．It can save money. |
| C．It helps protect birds. | D．It helps change people’s bad behavior. |
| A．They have a strong ability to learn. | B．They have a strong sense of smell. |
| C．They are good at collecting rubbish. | D．They are in large numbers in Sweden. |
| A．Only a few people support the program. |
| B．The program can do harm to the crows. |
| C．The company can get a fortune from the program. |
| D．The program has served as a cleaning solution nationwide. |
| A．Crows Learn to Exchange Food | B．Crows Are Good at Collecting Litter |
| C．Crows Are Trained to Pick Up Litter | D．Crows Begin to Feed on Cigarette Butts |
2 . One of the benefits of social media is that it allows us to witness little moments of joy all around the world. And this was just the
In a short video on TikTok, in front of
Kamar, who’s played at many well-known concerts,
In this short video, it’s lovely to see the pianist take the
It’s also
| A．principle | B．state | C．argument | D．case |
| A．nervous | B．curious | C．serious | D．anxious |
| A．crowds | B．actors | C．students | D．directors |
| A．quickly | B．silently | C．unstably | D．confidently |
| A．set off | B．get up | C．try on | D．give in |
| A．turn | B．guide | C．lesson | D．look |
| A．unwillingly | B．gladly | C．eagerly | D．cautiously |
| A．shaking | B．placing | C．holding | D．raising |
| A．notes | B．tastes | C．sounds | D．memories |
| A．chance | B．space | C．time | D．gift |
| A．power | B．quality | C．favor | D．practice |
| A．compete | B．complain | C．compare | D．combine |
| A．impossible | B．incredible | C．difficult | D．important |
| A．defend | B．encourage | C．comfort | D．challenge |
| A．wisdom | B．ambition | C．patience | D．kindness |
3 . The global population reached 8 billion on 15 November 2022, and India was estimated to surpass(超过)China as the world’s most populous country in 2023, according to World Population Prospects 2022, released on World Population Day.
“This year’s World Population Day falls during a milestone year, when we anticipate the birth of the Earth’s eight billionth inhabitant. This is an occasion to celebrate our diversity, recognize our common humanity, and marvel at advancements in health that have extended lifespans and dramatically reduced maternal and child mortality rates(死亡率),” said UN Secretary – General António Guterres. “At the same time, it is a reminder of our shared responsibility to care for our planet and a moment to reflect on where we still fall short of our commitments to one another,” he added.
The global population is growing at its slowest rale since 1950. The latest projections by the United Nations suggest that the world’s population could grow to around 8.5 billion in 2030 and 9.7 billion in 2050. It is projected to reach a peak of around 10.4 billion people during the 2080s and to remain at that level until 2100.
“The relationship between population growth and sustainable development is complex” said Liu Zhenmin, an official of the UN. “Rapid population growth makes defeating hunger and increasing the coverage of health and education systems more difficult. Conversely, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, especially those related to health and education, will contribute to reducing fertility(能生育性)levels and slowing global population growth.”
Countries with ageing populations should take steps to adapt public programmes to the growing numbers of older persons, including by establishing universal health care and long-term care systems.
“Further actions by governments aimed at reducing fertility would have little impact on the pace of population growth between now and mid-century, because of the youthful age structure of today’s global population. Nevertheless, the cumulative(累计的)effect of lower fertility, if maintained over several decades, could slower global population growth greatly in the second half of the century,” added John Wilmoth, an official of the UN.
1. Which of the following statements would António Guterres agree with?| A．We human beings should reflect on our diversity. |
| B．The global population growth goal has been achieved since 2022. |
| C．Governments shall try to keep their promises to population growth. |
| D．It is sure that the world’s population can grow to 9.7 billion in 2050. |
| A．Objective. | B．Satisfied. | C．Doubtful. | D．Puzzled. |
| A．As a result. | B．First of all. | C．On the contrary. | D．Most importantly. |
| A．There are many different debates on them. |
| B．They contribute to population’s structure. |
| C．They ignore world economy’s development. |
| D．There is little influence on population growth. |
4 . Ways to Always Be Yourself and Live Happily
Don’t aim to please others.
Don’t worry about how others view you. Occasionally thinking about how others view you may make you change for the better.
Forgive yourself. Forgive yourself for thinking negatively. Forgive yourself for talking without thinking twice. Don’t think negative thoughts about yourself for taking wrong steps or making wrong decisions. This kind of thinking puts your focus on the problem and not the solution. It’s better to say good thing about yourself than to say negative things.
Strive for what you want to accomplish. Being yourself does not have to mean that you have to be stuck in the status quo(现状).
| A．Learn more about yourself. |
| B．Aim for what you want to achieve. |
| C．Stop being negative about yourself. |
| D．Saying positive things is a sign that you have forgiven yourself. |
| E．Committing to something and working toward it will lead to happiness. |
| F．But you should not be constantly wondering about what others are thinking. |
| G．There is a problem if you are always doing what everyone else wants to do. |
5 . The 2022 Future Science Prize, a privately funded science honor established by a group of famous scientists and entrepreneurs, called “China’s Nobel Prize,” was awarded on Sunday to three Chinese scholars for their outstanding achievement in basic scientific research, an exciting boost to encourage innovation in the country’s basic science.
The Life Science Award, the Physical Science Award, and the Mathematics and Computer Science Award of the 2022 Future Science Prize respectively went to Li Wenhui, Yang Xueming, and Mok Ngai-ming, with each of them winning $ 1 million, the award organizer announced.
Lin Chao, chairman of the scientific committee of the 2022 Future Science Prize, said the winners’ research has achieved great international influence. It is the spirit of exploration and continuous scientific research of these scientists that have broadened human beings’ cognitive boundaries in the macro and micro world, and set the direction for an uncertain future.
The Future Science Prize aims at recognizing scientific successes and innovations in China with long-term significance to the world. Chinese research fellows generally believe the selection of famous scientists will play a positive role in encouraging innovation in basic science in China and inspire scientific eagerness among young people.
Liu Dingzhen, a professor from the College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, said that on Sunday that encouraging China’s basic science is of great significance, because basic science takes a long period of time to harvest achievements but it is one of the key factors for the country to resolve bottlenecks in technology, secure supply chains in global competition and achieve the goal of becoming a powerful nation in science and technology.
The prize committee, composed of 23 outstanding scientists, is at the core of the award selection. The award ceremony of the 2022 Future Science Prize is scheduled to be held in November.
Since 2016, 24 winners have been awarded the Future Science Prize, all of whom have been widely recognized both in scientific circles and in society.
1. What can we learn about the Future Science Prize from the text?| A．It has a history of over a decade. |
| B．It’s established by the government. |
| C．It awards three scientists every year. |
| D．It focuses on basic scientific research. |
| A．It’s full of challenges. | B．It’s greatly influential. |
| C．It needs huge improvement. | D．It should broaden its range. |
| A．Setting the direction for an uncertain future. |
| B．Inspiring scientific eagerness among young people. |
| C．Recognizing scientific successes and innovations in time. |
| D．Helping the nation take the lead in science and technology. |
| A．Society. | B．Finance. | C．Entertainment. | D．Environment. |
6 . Everybody knows that Massachusetts is a great place to see fall leaves. But surely there are other places to catch the leaves turning green to reddish-golden? The short answer is yes.
Aspen, Colorado
Aspen—as its name suggests—doesn’t fail to impress with its backdrop of majestic snow-capped mountains. Head to the Maroon Bells to look into mirror-like lakes to see double: on a calm day, the mountains and trees are reflected in the still waters.
Bavaria, Germany
Take a trip into a Brothers Grimm fairytale. Not only can you catch breathtaking views—such as castles emerging from red, green and golden trees—but you can experience the region’s fall traditions, such as the “Almabtrieb” event, bringing in the cattle from the grasslands, and local parish (教区) fairs, called “Kirchweih-Feste” where beer is everywhere.
Catskills, Upstate New York
If spotting fall in one state isn’t enough, head to the Catskills, where you can see five states at once. Head to the Northern Catskills of Greene County, to the “Five State Lookout” in Windham, where you can view treetops in New York, Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, as well as beautiful scenery of the Hudson River Valley.
Edinburgh, Scotland
This city is made for fall with its tree-lined streets and big open parks. Head to Princes Street Gardens, which is home to some of the city’s most typical monuments, such as the storybook-style Gardeners’ Cottage and the Scott Monument, or take a hike through Holyrood Park, marveling as the russet tones (红褐色) cover the rolling hills which climb up to the famed Arthurs Seat offering full views of the city and beyond.
1. What is a special view of the Maroon Bells?| A．Typical monuments in Scottish style. |
| B．Beautiful castles among golden trees. |
| C．Clear lakes with reflections of surroundings. |
| D．Mountains completely covered with snow. |
| A．Aspen, Colorado. | B．Catskills, Upstate New York. |
| C．Bavaria, Germany. | D．Edinburgh, Scotland. |
| A．To explain how to develop hobbies in the fall. |
| B．To stress the importance of traveling in the fall. |
| C．To introduce some places to appreciate fall leaves. |
| D．To describe how lo enjoy fall leaves with your own eyes. |
7 . The list of music festivals seems to double each year, so we think we’d save you some time by presenting our picks that reflect a deep sense of place.
New Orleans Jazz Festival
This week-long festival was established in New Orleans, America in 1970 to celebrate the city’s status as the birthplace of jazz. Headliners that attended the first celebration included singer Mahalia Jackson and pianist Duke Ellington. Over the years, this festival has grown to showcase much more than jazz. Attendees have long enjoyed the latest hit-makers alongside booths and exhibits featuring Louisiana’s native cuisine, arts, and crafts.
Newport Folk Festival
Founded by George Wein in 1959 and best known for introducing the world to the likes of Joan Baez and Bob Dylan, Newport Folk Festival is one of the oldest music festivals in America. Like New Orleans Jazz Festival, this Rhode Island event gives a false impression about the types of music one can expect to find, although it has been remaining true to its roots.
Interceltic Festival
When most people hear the word “Celtic”, they think of Ireland. But this festival takes place each summer in the heart of the seaport town of Lorient in northwestern France. While emphasizing music and dance, the ten-day festival also provides a platform for colorful expressions of Celtic art, food and drink, theater, literature, and sports.
Roskilde Music Festival
England’s Glastonbury, Hungary’s Sziget, and Denmark’s Roskilde are Europe’s three biggest music festivals. Roskilde stands out not only for its impressive and eclectic music, but for its nonprofit approach. All concert incomes are donated to support charities, music and cultural programs since its founding in 1971. With lake swimming, an on-site skate park, and an annual “naked run”, the event has earned a name for being a week-long summer camp for adults.
1. Which festival is held in Louisiana?| A．Interceltic Festival. | B．Roskilde Music Festival. |
| C．Newport Folk Festival. | D．New Orleans Jazz Festival. |
| A．Joan Baez. | B．Bob Dylan. | C．George Wein. | D．Mahalia Jackson. |
| A．They include some sports. | B．They emphasize one type of music. |
| C．They donate all their profits. | D．They last for the same period of time. |
8 . In the US, there is an old joke: “Tie an Italian’s hands behind his back and he’ll be speechless.” However, Susan Goldin-Meadowin, author of the book Thinking With Your Hands, has a rather different view.
“Almost everyone gestures, not just Italians,” she laughs. “Conference interpreters gesture in their little rooms, though no one is looking at them. Even people born blind gesture when they speak, including to each other. In the TV series, The Crown, Lady Diana is warned that her hands may reveal her real emotions, which could be dangerous and that they have to be tied together so she can learn to speak without gesturing.”
The gesture under discussion is the so-called “co-speech gesture”. It is much more abstract than such symbolic gestures like a finger over the lips for “Silence!” or raising a finger to mean “Great!”. Like words, such symbolic gestures are fixed within cultures (but vary between them). Instead, co-speech gestures that accompany speech are another channel of information and emotion. For example, subjects are asked to watch a film in which a cat runs, but they are told to lie and say it jumped. They may do so in words—while their hands will make a running movement. The co-speech gesture is not sign languages, either. They have clearly defined words and grammar.
And the co-speech gestures have great potential for practical applications. For example, some students who fail at a tricky mathematics problem may gesture in a way that indicates they understand it. Then they should be taught differently from the ones whose gestures suggest that they really understand it.
“Children with language delays caused by brain injuries at or around birth are likely to catch up verbally by the age of about 30 months, if they gesture as much as their peers (同龄人). Those who gesture less are more likely to need intensive early intervention,” Susan Goldin-Meadowin adds. “Co-speech gesturing is not just about a lack of control. It is about thinking and communication, and is an aid to both.”
1. What does Susan Goldin-Meadowin really want to tell us in paragraph 2?| A．Lady Diana is probably an emotional woman. |
| B．Italians are very talkative and gesture too much. |
| C．It is unnatural for the blind to gesture to each other. |
| D．Co-speech gestures are used by all of us unknowingly. |
| A．They are as abstract as co-speech gestures. |
| B．They have clearly defined words and grammar. |
| C．They are usually learned by human beings naturally. |
| D．They vary from culture to culture and person to person. |
| A．Put enough trust in students. |
| B．Encourage students to tell the truth. |
| C．Observe the co-speech gestures carefully. |
| D．Teach the tricky problems in different ways. |
| A．Co-speech Gestures Are a Vital Part of Communication |
| B．Symbolic Gestures Differ Greatly From Co-speech Gestures |
| C．Co-speech Gestures Are More Difficult Than Sign Languages |
| D．Symbolic Gestures Have Great Potential for Practical Applications |
Boxing Day, also known
First, volunteer for the church. Find out if your church
10 . Several years ago, I went to see an advanced cartoon 3D movie Frankenweenie at the Walt Disney Studios, in California. A few days later, our chief editor gave me a new task and then I sat down for interviews with the film’ s director, Tim Burton, and some of the actors.
As for the movie, I had a lot to talk about as an audience. It was one of the most alluring movies I’d ever seen. Even though it was made in black and white, it was so lively that my mind seemed to fill in color in every scene (场景). Burton talked to me about why he chose to use black and white and 3D technology for Frankenweenie. “I like the depth and shadows (阴影) that you can get with black and white,” he said. “And I just thought the 3D technology would be really fun to see.”
He’s right. The whole movie is a lot of fun. A school student Victor Frankenstein lives in a small town, whose dog Sparky is hit by a car one day. Victor is very sad and lonely until he brings the dog back to life inspired by an experiment of his science teacher about the power of electricity. Victor’s classmates learn what happens and also try to bring their pets back from the dead. These creatures end up with causing widespread damage throughout the town. Finally, the dog gives up its own life to save Victor.
My favorite part is the moment when Victor brings Sparky back to life, because I have a very strong love for animals. This scene isn’t the funniest, but it is really heart-warming to me.
I’d like to recommend this movie to kids because of the unusual and lively characters. And it does attract those who are interested in cartoon techniques to see this film. The effects will blow your mind out of the water. Be sure to check out this exciting movie in theaters.
1. What does the author probably do?| A．An actor. | B．A director. |
| C．A theater worker. | D．A reporter. |
| A．Attractive. | B．Boring. | C．Cruel. | D．Serious. |
| A．It is especially attractive for the old. |
| B．It is probably a science fiction movie. |
| C．It partly uses the color of black and white. |
| D．It is the funniest one the author has ever seen. |
| A．To recommend a movie to people. |
| B．To introduce how a movie is made. |
| C．To tell a story about Victor and his dog. |
| D．To introduce how to bring a dog to life. |
