1 . Neuroengineer Silvestro Micera develops advanced technological solutions to help people regain sensory and motor functions that have been lost due to injury events or neurological disorders. Until now, he has never before worked on strengthening the human body and cognition with the help of technology.

Now in a study published in Science Robotics, Micera and his team report on how diaphragm (隔膜) movement can be monitored for successful control of an extra arm, essentially augmenting a healthy individual with a third-robotic-arm.

For further exploration, the researchers first built a virtual environment to test a healthy user’s capacity to control a virtual arm using movement of his or her diaphragm. They found that diaphragm control does not interfere with actions like controlling one’s physiological (生理的) arms, one’s speech or gaze.

In this virtual reality setup, the user is equipped with a belt that measures diaphragm movement. Wearing a virtual reality headset, the user sees three arms: the right arm and hand, the left arm and hand, and a third arm between the two with a symmetric (对称), six-fingered hand.

In the virtual environment, the user is then hinted to reach out with either the left hand, the right hand, or in the middle with the symmetric hand. In the real environment, the user holds onto an exoskeleton (外骨骼) with both arms, which allows for control of the virtual left and right arms. Movement detected by the belt around the diaphragm is used for controlling the virtual middle, symmetric arm. The setup was tested on 61 healthy subjects (受试者) in over 150 sessions.

Previous studies regarding the control of robotic arms have been focused on helping the disabled. The latest Science Robotics study is a step beyond repairing the human body towards augmentation. “Our next step is to explore the use of more complex robotic devices using our various control strategies, to perform real-life tasks, both inside and outside of the laboratory. Only then will we be able to grasp the real potential of this approach,” concludes Micera.

1. What does the author intend to do in Paragraph 2?

A．To introduce the topic.	B．To show an evidence.
C．To summarize the general idea.	D．To offer some background.

2. What are the fourth and fifth paragraphs probably about?

A．A virtual reality game.	B．A new medical device.
C．A new treatment method.	D．An experiment on animals.

3. How does the author support the theme of the text?

A．By listing some related data.	B．By offering some examples.
C．By making some comparisons.	D．By describing research processes.

4. What is probably continued with the text?

A．How to expand controllable robotic devices.

B．Where to find new and exciting opportunities.

C．How to further develop the robot market potential.

D．Why to balance inside and outside of the laboratory.

2 . In much of the western United States, drought and access to fresh water is a critical issue. However, recently California came up with a novel solution. The state approved regulations that allow agencies to purify wastewater for drinking. This recycled wastewater may be consumed in homes, schools, and businesses.

As the population in California has exploded in recent decades, the state has struggled to meet demands for fresh water. Recycled wastewater will allow the state to increase access to the precious resource.

Recycled wastewater is not new to the state. It has previously been used in ice hockey rinks (冰球场), for crops, and to generate artificial snow. But now, water agencies will have the option to put recycled wastewater back into pipes for drinking. California is only the second state to allow purified wastewater to be consumed. The first was Colorado in 2022.

While the idea of drinking recycled wastewater may be off-putting, regulators spent more than a decade developing rules and regulations to ensure safety. Independent panels of scientists also reviewed the state’s rules around recycled wastewater consumption. All water will be treated for pathogens (病原体) and viruses before being available for consumption.

So far, the state’s plan has been met with approval from large water agencies. Many of them have plans to construct wastewater recycling plans over the next few years. In Southern California, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California has set a goal aiming to produce 150 million gallons of direct and indirect recycled water per day. This water will be in the pipes of the 19 million people throughout the six counties that the agency serves.

Officials are aware that a certain amount of public convincing may still be necessary. However, they remain optimistic about the future of the project, reminding consumers that the water is safe, and that recycled water is already in use in California.

1. Why does California pass new regulations about recycled wastewater?

A．To ease the pressure of drought.	B．To increase the supply of fresh water.
C．To recycle the wastewater for industry.	D．To reduce the pollution of the wastewater.

2. What does the underlined word “off-putting” mean in paragraph 4?

A．Surprising.

B．Necessary.

C．Funny.

D．Awful.

3. What can we learn from paragraph 5?

A．The goal of wastewater recycling is hard to achieve.

B．The state’s plan will be conducted by water agencies.

C．Southern California will reduce its water production.

D．People in California tend to prefer recycled water.

4. What do the public think of the recycled water project?

A．Many people still disapprove of the project.

B．The public are optimistic about the project.

C．It will never be suitable to use recycled water.

D．The project is the only solution to water shortage.

4 . Certain areas near the moon’s poles stay everlastingly in shadow, never receiving direct sunlight. Recent studies suggest these so-called permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) contain rich ice resource that could show details about the early solar system; they could also help future visitors make fuel and other resources. But these areas are hard to photograph from satellites moving around the moon and thus are a challenge to study. The few photos PSRs reflect are often flooded by camera noise and quantum effects (量子效应).

Now researchers have produced a deep-learning algorithm (算法) to cut through the interruption and to see these dark zones. “Our images enable scientists to identify the features of craters and boulders (陨石坑和巨石),” says Valentin Bickel, a planetary scientist at the Max Planck Institute of Solar System Research in Germany and lead author of a Nature Communications study testing the new algorithm.

The researchers used more than 70,000 images of completely dark lunar areas — with no light signal — together with details about the camera’s temperature and position in orbit to train their algorithm to recognize and remove camera noise. Next they dealt with the rest noise through information learned from millions of sunlit lunar photos, together with copied versions of the same images in shadow. Ignacio Lopez-Francos, a study co-author and engineer at the NASA Ames Research Center, says using such man-made shadow was necessary because sunlit PSR images do not exist. A similar technique is also used in low-light digital camera photography.

The researchers used their algorithm to analyze the size and number of craters and boulders in several PSRs that might be explored by NASA’s Artemis moon program. They also found the likely origins of some boulders and established a potential route for an astronaut through a PSR on the moon, avoiding obstacles and slopes steeper than 10 degrees.

“It’s an interesting application of machine-learning technology, and the noise model seems realistic and useful for this real case,” says computer scientist Chongyi Li, who uses similar strategies to enhance underwater images at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University and was not involved in the study.

1. Why is exploring the PSRs a challenge?

A．Because satellites are remote.	B．Because the solar system is complex.
C．Because the photos are often covered.	D．Because the moon has abundant resources.

2. How did the researchers train their algorithm?

A．They trained it through photos and images.

B．They trained it by cutting through the interruption.

C．They trained it through numerous images of sunlit lunar areas.

D．They trained it by using low-light digital camera photography.

3. What is Chongyi Li’s attitude to this algorithm?

A．Doubtful.

B．Objective.

C．Indifferent.

D．Favorable.

4. What is the author’s purpose in writing this article?

A．To appeal to us to explore lunar areas.	B．To promote our understanding of moon.
C．To introduce an application of technology.	D．To describe the reasons of lunar shadow lands.

5 . Fiji is an island nation with mountains to climb, jungles to explore, vast reefs under the waves to dive, and beaches to walk on. You can go to the open-air souvenir markets to shop for authentic Fijian crafts (工艺品) like wooden kava bowls and visit the Fiji Museum. You can also attend Fire walking ceremony, the traditional practice of fire walking, where men walk barefoot across hot stones.

Best Time to Go

There is no bad time for Fiji vacations. However, November to April is the wet season, when temperatures and humidity (湿度) are higher and there is a greater risk of hurricanes. August and October are some of the most popular months to visit Fiji’s islands, but this also means you will have to deal with high-season crowds and prices. Brave the heavy but short downpours in the wet season if you want to escape the crowds and get some great deals.

Accommodation & Transport & Food

Some restaurants are expensive and attract the world’s rich and famous, but you can find much cheaper options with equally beautiful locations. Budget hotels start at around $30 a night for a double room with sea views.

If you don’t mind getting about on a bus, you will find this is a cheap and efficient form of transport. Traveling from Suva to Nadi, for example, costs around $25 for a four-hour trip.

You can eat for as little as 5insmallrestaurants, and mid—range restaurants start at around 15 for a meal. Many accommodation options include meals, so you can take full advantage of this to save some money.

All up, Fiji is a very reasonably priced destination with priceless experiences on offer. So, what are you waiting for?

1. What can tourists do in Fiji?

A．Witness a special ceremony.	B．Walk on hot stones with shoes.
C．Shop in large indoor souvenir markets.	D．Make wooden kava bowls by themselves.

2. In which month are people more likely to avoid crowds of tourists?

A．May.	B．July.
C．September.	D．December.

3. What can be learned about Fiji?

A．It is friendly to budget tourists.	B．It takes five hours to get there.
C．It can be reached only by bus.	D．It offers free meals in any hotel.

6 . If sales generally feel hard to resist, the sale in front of Arron Schurevich was the ultimate test: a new car just like the one he’d loved. And it was more than a 20% discount. “I figured that I would be a fool not to take advantage of that,” says Schurevich. After he drove the car off the lot, the deal turned sour. The brand-new car quickly needed repairs. Schurevich now jokes that he paid a tax for being a fool.

Why is it so hard for the human brain to resist a discount? Spotting something you’d like to buy activates your brain’s reward circuitry (奖赏回路). It gets especially heightened if it’s something you’ve been fascinated by — say, the same car you’ve enjoyed for years. Additionally, the discount itself often registers as a win, delivering its own kind of joy, says Jorge Barraza, a consumer psychologist at the University of Southern California.

“Not only are we getting the product,” Barraza says, “but we’re also getting that reward that we discovered something; we’ve earned this extra thing.”

Stores, of course, know all this and try to push our buttons. “Limited-quantity, limited-time, scarcity-marketing promotions—they get people’s blood pumping,” says Kelly Goldsmith, who studies this as a marketing professor at Vanderbilt University.

It’s really hard to always approach sales rationally. One buying strategy experts recommend is to make a shopping list in advance and then, stick to it. Another is to research items — beforehand or on the spot, checking online — to weigh whether the sale is really a good deal.

“The human brain has essentially evolved to feel first and think next, which is why you need to give yourself time to cool off from your instant reaction when in front of a sale,” says Goldsmith.

1. What is the purpose of telling Arron Schurevich’s story?

A．To explain the way to promote sale.	B．To inform readers of an important test.
C．To introduce the topic of the passage.	D．To show the advantage of products on sale.

2. What is mainly talked about in Paragraph 2?

A．Brain’s reward circuitry needs activating.	B．It’s hard to resist a discount for some reasons.
C．Buying discounted products has consequences.	D．It’s worthwhile to approach sales rationally.

3. What does the underlined sentence probably mean in Paragraph 4?

A．Stores are good at pushing buttons.	B．Stores tend to affect people’s health.
C．Stores help consumers earn extra things.	D．Stores know how to attract consumers with sales.

4. According to Goldsmith, what can you do when facing a sale?

A．Calm down in front of a sale.	B．Make a shopping list ahead of time.
C．Research items on the spot or online.	D．Avoid buying any discounted items.

7 . Some Best Travel Websites to Check Out in 2023

Traveling is highly addictive! We put together a list of the best travel websites that will help to take the first step and go!

SafetyWing — Best Travel Insurance, Monthly Plans

SafetyWing recently came up with undoubtedly the best travel insurance plan, called Remote Health. It’s a long-term plan that covers you for pre-existing conditions, like cancer, or even in your home country. Ideal for long-term travelers or digital nomads (数字游民), they also offer amazing monthly plans for short-term travel that come with very competitive prices, starting at $40.

Check the full comparison of digital nomad insurance plans!

GetYourGuide — One of the Best Travel Websites for Booking Trips and Tours

GetYourGuide is the perfect way to book tours, airport transfers, ferries, cooking courses, tickets for events, food tours etc. It covers most of the countries in the world. They even have a price match guarantee, so just tell them you can find the activity or tour cheaper somewhere else and they will cover the difference no questions asked. It’s perfect because you can book everything beforehand and then just enjoy the holiday once you arrive.

Skyscanner for Flights

Let us be honest: Amazingly cheap flight tickets are often the first and yet the most important reason we keep on moving ourselves from country to country, even though we promised our inner selves to settle down for a while. Don’t blame yourself. Put the blame on Skyscanner, their mobile app and their delightfully intruding newsletter.

Withlocals — Enjoy Your Trip With Locals

As one of the fastest-growing travel projects of last year that connects travelers with a local community, you can book amazing trips with locals and visit the most authentic places and experience local life. Your guide will help you to get out of tourist traps and find the real spirit of the places you want to visit.

1. What can SafetyWing offer the tourists?

A．Cheap tour events.	B．Free flight tickets.
C．Local life experience.	D．Proper travel insurance.

2. Which website is the best option if tourists want to arrange their holidays in advance?

A．SafetyWing.	B．GetYourGuide.
C．Skyscanner.	D．Withlocals.

3. Where is this text probably taken from?

A．A textbook.	B．A local newspaper.
C．A web page.	D．An academic article.

8 . Brittany, a land of myths and legends, is a region with a true spirit of adventure so there are plenty of attractions for active children, whether they like climbing heights, admiring the world under the sea, or even exploring ancient buildings.

Château de Fougères

Who is the King of the castle? The children’s imaginations can run wild at this medieval enchanted castle. This is one of the largest surviving castles in Europe. There are beautiful views across the Breton countryside as you stroll along the ramparts (城墙). The children will love exploring the many towers and turrets (塔楼) of this magnificent castle.

Forêt Adrénaline Rennes

This is an amazing tree top adventure park located on the outskirts of Rennes. Forêt Adrénaline Rennes is perfect for children that need to burn off lots of energy. There are eight tree top routes intended for ages 2 and over, the Black Panther route, 20 m up in the trees and a kilometer-long route made up of five zip wires. There is something for every daredevil here.

Océanopolis

Children will be in their element by the underwater world of Océanopolis with 77 aquariums filled with 10,000 animals from 1,000 different species across the world. Seals, penguins, sharks, and thousands of fish from the tropical, temperate, and polar oceans all live here in Brest in this amazing sea life park.

Village de Poul-Fetan

If you want to discover Breton life back in the 19th century, then this restored village would be a perfect place to visit. You can watch people in historical costume as they demonstrate traditional crafts and techniques including butter churning, pottery making and wool spinning. You can also watch livestock being milked and there is a chance to join in the demonstrations.

1. What is special about Château de Fougères?

A．Its high cost.

B．Its large size.

C．Its long history.

D．Its tall towers.

2. Where should a tourist go if his kid loves sea animals?

A．Océanopolis.	B．Forêt Adrénaline Rennes.
C．Château de Fougères.	D．Village de Poul-Fetan.

3. What can tourists do in Village de Poul-Fetan?

A．Make pottery and spin wood.	B．Demonstrate traditional crafts.
C．Milk the livestock.	D．Watch livestock performance.

9 . While Industry 5.0 is believed to have started in 2020, the rise of AI in recent years has led experts to say it is now coming. Imagine AI-powered robots that see, hear, touch and more, pooling fresh data from across those groups of sensors to create that data with the vast ranges of digital data stored elsewhere online. The age is a major leap from the First Industrial Revolution, when steam engine started to achieve widespread commercial use.

Professor John Nosta says, “The integration of sensory capabilities into AI models is not merely a technological leap. It represents a shift in our philosophical understanding of artificial and human intelligence.”

He has also referred to the new era as “the Cognitive (认知) Age,” which will completely change how humans live, work, and think about themselves. According to Nosta, humans don’t typically think of computers as “experiencing” the world themselves. But that assumption will be challenged as more advanced AI systems are hooked up to ever more and ever greater sensors. The machines won’t just be logic boxes that humans input data and commands for processing. The AI will collect that data more and more on its own, experiencing the world for itself.

“This is not just about understanding words, but also about grasping the tone, pitch (音高), and emphasis, which add layers of meaning often absent in written text. Image recognition adds another layer of complexity,” he added. “For example, it can analyze photographs, identify objects, and even understand the emotional content of facial expressions.”

The Johannesburg-based business school is just one of many college-level programs attempting to investigate and teach its students about the still-emerging IR 5.0. Seton Hall in New Jersey offers a three-credit course on this latest age in human technology and trade; MIT has brought in guest speakers to lecture on the concept, and many other research institutions are following suit.

1. Where does IR 5.0 differ from previous industrial revolution?

A．It processes data and commands.	B．It interacts with humans through texts.
C．It enhances human sensory capabilities.	D．It employs more senses in its application.

2. Why is IR 5. 0 called the Cognitive age?

A．AI collects and interprets data itself.	B．AI turns written texts into voice.
C．AI understands written language well.	D．AI has an ability of expressing emotions

3. How do some colleges address IR 5.0?

A．By offering related courses.	B．By expecting more industrial revolution.
C．By applying AI to the technological trade.	D．By preparing for the rapid economic changes.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Al Is Approaching Us Gradually	B．A New IR Is About Machine Learning
C．AI Has Developed Its Own Senses	D．We Are Entering IR 5.0 Now

10 . There’re around 50 countries in Europe so you’ll have plenty of options for where to visit. And, with such a diverse set of cultures, it’s impossible to give specific tips for everything in one guide. This Europe guide will give you an overview of Europe and has general tips and tricks you need to start planning your trip around the continent.

Tour the Greek islands

These islands are the mecca of summer beach fun. The island of Ios is party central, Kos and Crete are popular destinations for Brits, Santorini has history, Mykonos has luxurious hotels and yachts, and Naxos is quiet. With hundreds of islands, you can always find what you are looking for!

Ride the rails

Europe is famous for its international rail system. Rail passes like the Eurail Pass make it easy to get from country to country on a relatively small budget (and with lots of flexibility). The Eurail Global Pass covers travel in 33 countries around Europe, including night trains, making it entirely possible to travel all of Europe without a single flight. Riding the European rails is one of the best ways to get around and see the continent on a budget.

Get lost in Paris

The city of lights is everything people say it is. Poets, artists, playwrights, writers, journalists, and more have all written about their love of this city. It’s a place that exudes culture, sophistication, class, and style. The food, the wine, the atmosphere, the history; it’s hard not to see the magic. It would take years to see everything here, but you can get a good feel of the city in a few days.

Hit the Alps

Whether you go skiing in winter or hiking in summer, the Alps hold some of the most breathtaking views in the world. For a popular multi-day hike, check out the Tour du Mont Blanc, an epic 7—11 day hike through France, Italy, and Switzerland. For winter visits, expect to pay at least 75 EUR per day for a lift pass to ski/snowboard.

1. Which island will you choose if you have adequate budget?

A．Mykonos.

B．Santorini.

C．Kos.

D．Naxos.

2. Which is the best way to get around Europe for a tourist on a budget?

A．By bus.

B．By train.

C．By air.

D．By car.

3. What can a tourist do in the Alps?

A．Hike in winter.	B．Hunt in the forest.
C．Climb over the rocks.	D．Enjoy the beautiful view.