1 . When running through an airport, your luggage becomes a burden for you. A new ride-on suitcase called the Airwheel, currently seeking funding on Kickstarter, can let your luggage carry you around for a change.
Companies like Trunki have been making ride-on suitcases for kids for years, and later involved in adapting them for adults too. And the appeal of the idea is hard to deny—who wouldn’t want to slide to their terminal (航站楼) on top of their luggage, rather than trying to carry it while you’re running?
The Airwheel is designed to make it come true, equipping an electric motor, rechargable battery and a steering (操控) device just like the motorbike handlebars. The accelerator and brake take the form of buttons on the handle, and the 4-in(10-cm) wheels are apparently tough enough to run over rocky roads and cracks. The outer frame is strong enough to support riders weighing up to 130 kg.
At max speed the case can get up to 10 km/h, and the battery will last one hour at that speed. The company says that not only is this faster than other ride-on suitcases, but the more upright sitting position is more comfortable and natural than the bent-over posture of others, which is the riders’ big hit.
For a touch of customization (定制), the Airwheel connects to an app which lets users set up colors and patterns of lights. There’s also a search mode to help you find it on a luggage transfer-belt. That said, making the suitcase transparent is a bit of a unique design choice. Your customized suitcase will draw your attention easily.
The Airwheel has already passed its goal on Kickstarter, with 44 days remaining on the campaign. If all goes to plan, shipping should begin in February 2024.
1. Why does Trunki company try to produce the Airwheel?| A．It is popular with kids. | B．It meets the demands of customers. |
| C．It can raise fund for the local airport. | D．It can help travellers keep their luggage. |
| A．The equipment of the Airwheel. | B．The methods to use the Airwheel. |
| C．The applications of the Airwheel. | D．The process of making the Airwheel. |
| A．Its longer duration of transport. | B．Its popular bent-over posture. |
| C．Its increasing running speed. | D．Its natural sitting position. |
| A．Widely available. | B．Completely controlled. |
| C．Easily recognized. | D．Environmentally friendly. |
2 . A few months ago, a friend gifted me a robot sweeper that’s programmed to move around a room and clean as it goes.
When the box arrived, I was afraid the device would detect me and suck up (汲取) data along with the dog hair and dust. But the instructions were easy, and I finally decided not to care.
I powered up the sweeper, watched it leave its docking station to work, and quickly fell in love with my newly shiny floors. I kept shooting its working videos. “I think you’re giving more attention to it than to us,” joked my son.
One day, I returned home and discovered that our front door had blown open and the robot rolled into the yard, trying to clean the flower beds. Even when its brushes were blocked with leaves, bugs and mud, its little wheels bravely kept turning.
The robot acted properly as it was programmed to clean “dirty” things. In a kitchen, dirt can be garden debris (碎片) such as leaves and mud. In a garden, this kind of dirt does not need to be removed. The context is important. The problem for robots is that reading this context is difficult.
This accident inspired me to think more about AI (artificial intelligence). As far as I am concerned, AI is simply well trained and reproduces what it has learned. And it is undeniable that robots are increasingly being given powerful intelligence. Some experts even predict that we will soon see not only AI-enabled robots designed to solve problems according to their instructions, but also those with the ability to judge how they should respond when they are in a different setting.
Maybe this will happen in the near future.
1. What was the author’s concern about the robot sweeper at first?| A．Its after-sales service. | B．Its working efficiency. |
| C．The privacy of her family. | D．The readability of its instructions. |
| A．Enthusiastic. | B．Regretful. | C．Uncertain. | D．Cautious. |
| A．Its program went wrong. | B．It lacked critical thinking. |
| C．Its wheels were badly designed. | D．It failed to work on rough surfaces. |
| A．The accident. | B．Some experts’ thinking. |
| C．Its appeal to the author. | D．The author’s opinion. |
3 . Students who are better able to understand and manage their emotions effectively, a skill known as emotional intelligence (EI), do better at school than their less-skilled classmates, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
“It’s not enough to be smart and hardworking. Students must also be able to understand and manage their emotions to succeed at school,” said Carolyn MacCann, lead author of the study. MacCann and her colleagues analyzed data from more than 160 studies, representing more than 42,000 students from 27 countries, published between 1998 and 2019. The students ranged in age from primary school to college. The researchers found that students with higher EI tended to get higher grades and better achievement test scores than those with lower EI scores. This finding held true even when controlling for intelligence and personality factors. What was most surprising to the researchers was the association held despite different ages.
As for why EI can affect academic performance, MacCann believes a number of factors may come into play. “Students with higher EI may be better able to manage negative emotions, such as anxiety, boredom and disappointment, which can negatively affect academic performance,” she said. “Also, these students may be better able to manage the social world around them, forming better relationships with teachers, classmates and family, all of which are important to academic success.” Finally, the skills required for EI, such as understanding human motivation and emotion, may overlap with (与……重叠) the skills required to master certain subjects, such as history and language, giving students an advantage in those subject areas, according to MacCann.
However, MacCann cautions against widespread testing of students to identify and target those with low EI as it may stigmatize (给……打上烙印) those students. Instead, she recommends interventions that involve the whole school, including additional teacher training and a focus on teacher well-being and emotional skills. “Programs that integrate emotional skill development into the existing curriculum would be beneficial, as research suggests that training works better when run by teachers rather than external specialists,” she said. “Increasing skills for everyone — not just those with low EI—would benefit everyone.”
1. What surprised the researchers most during MacCann’s study?| A．Intelligence mattered more than EI for academic success. |
| B．EI had an effect on learning for students of all ages. |
| C．College students benefited more from EI than pupils. |
| D．Personality affected academic performance greatly. |
| A．High-EI students hardly experience negative emotions. |
| B．High-EI students seldom develop social relationships. |
| C．High-EI students tend to easily focus on their study. |
| D．High-EI students have helpful skills for certain subjects. |
| A．Equipping teachers with emotional skills. |
| B．Designing tests to identify students with low EI. |
| C．Developing special programs for students with low EI. |
| D．Employing emotional specialists to give training to students. |
| A．Should EI be taught in school? |
| B．How can students develop high EI? |
| C．Students with high EI do better in school |
| D．Good students do better in managing emotions |
To act with honesty and good faith was such a habit with Susan that she had never before thought of examining the Golden Rule:” All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.” But the longer she thought about it, the more seriously she doubted that she did not always obey it. So she asked her mother about its meaning.
“It implies. ”said her mother, “in the first place, a total destruction of all selfishness (自私): for a man who loves himself better than his neighbors, can never do to others as he would have others do to him. We are bound not only to do, but to feel, toward others as we would have others feel toward us. Remember. it is much easier to blame others for their selfishness than to overcome temptation (诱惑) when we face it. ”
Susan thought carefully and seriously about what her mother had said. She told herself that she would remember and follow the Golden Rule.
It was not long after this that an opportunity to test Susan’s principles occurred. One Saturday evening when she went, as usual, to farmer Thompson’s hotel, to bring back the money for her mother’s washing for the boarders, which amounted to five pounds. She found the farmer in the yard.
He was apparently in a terrible rage (勃然大怒) with some horse dealers with whom he had been bargaining (讨价还价). He held in his hand an open handbag, full of banknotes, and didn’t see the child as she made her request, except to blame her, as usual, for troubling him when he was busy. After that, he handed her a banknote. Glad to escape so easily, Susan hurried out of the gate. and then, pausing to put the money safely in her pocket, she discovered that he had given her two banknotes instead of one. She looked around: nobody was around to see her discovery.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150左右;
2. 请按如下格式作答。
“It is mine, all mine.” she said happily to herself. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Suddenly she turned around and rushed along the road with breathless speed. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5 . A program at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is hoping to fight against loneliness brought on by the pandemic by forming friendships between students and seniors in the community. They’re making it possible through weekly calls.
“It’s been a thing I look forward to every week,” Miranda Savioli, a VCU medical student said.
The program is run by students involved with the American Geriatrics Society and pairs medical and health science students with seniors in the community.
VCU education administrator for the School of Medicine, Chuck Alexander, says it was formed to fight against loneliness and give students valuable interaction with that age group — something that’s been missing since training programs stopped earlier this year. “It’s mostly just social — just chatting,” Alexander said. “A lot of times they just need someone to talk to. A lot of times they feel that they have a connection with someone younger who is just entering a new phase in their career and that they have some wisdom to impart to them — medically and socially as a friend.”
So far, the volunteer program has paired around 40 students with seniors.
Every week, Savioli video calls retiree Joan Kerby, who lives in a retirement community in Henrico.
“It’s a really good connection because in lockdown you really don’t have long conversations with anybody,” Kerby said. Those long conversations soon turned into a visit. The two participants decided to meet in person back in November and Kerby said it was a special moment. “We talked for two hours. We probably could have gone on longer but we had to stop,” Kerby said.
Savioli says they plan to keep the program going, and encourages others to pick up the phone and call a loved one who may be isolated. “It was developed to help seniors with isolation, but mean, we all got isolated during this pandemic,” Savioli said. “It’s been nice to talk to someone every week.” The group has no plans to stop the program. “We’re going to keep the program going and as for Joan and I, we’ve established ourselves as lifelong friends,” Savioli said.
1. What can be learned about the program?| A．It is run by college teachers. | B．It asks students to write to seniors. |
| C．It charges participants for weekly visits. | D．It connects college students with elderly people. |
| A．It should involve families. | B．It should be more professional. |
| C．It reduces students’ training time. | D．It benefits both students and seniors. |
| A．It was boring. | B．It was stressful. | C．It was wonderful. | D．It was humorous. |
| A．Stop face-to-face visits. | B．Reduce conversation time. |
| C．Inspire people to talk to each other. | D．Switch from weekly calls to daily visits. |
6 . He had run for 208 hours and 35 minutes in ten days. So, when Pan Junfan managed to cross the finish line in Guazhou, Gansu Province, on Sept. 18, the tears began to flow.
The 513 kilometers he had completed over rough terrain (地形)in northwestern China would challenge the greatest athletes in the world. The challenge was all the greater for Pan, who pulled off the remarkable feat (功绩) after having part of his right leg amputated (截肢) following a car accident in 2015.
Pan’s challenge was originally the Ultra Gobi, which is considered a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many marathon runners. Unfortunately, the 400-km race was canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. After careful consideration, Pan contacted the race’s organizers and they agreed to reschedule the route and allow him to undertake solo challenge.
During the challenge through the Gobi Desert and the Altun Mountains, the 40-year-ad faced temperatures ranging from—20℃ at right to 30°C by day, wild animals and even a hurricane. Carrying a backpack containing the hare minimum of equipment he would need, Pan battled sleep deprivation(缺乏) and very low body temperature during the journey.
Beginning from the “Mars Camp”in Qinghai Province, the ultra extreme course was expanded to more than 500 km over sand dunes (沙丘), dry valleys, stony plateaus and snowy mountains, finishing in Guazhou.
“I hope that by completing the challenge I can inspire people and tell them that life has limitless possibilities and not to stop trying,” Pan said.
In the last few years, Pan has established a dozen firsts for below-the-knee amputees (被截肢者). These included completing the 2018Ironman 70. 3 Xiamen’s 113 km triathlon (铁人三项) in 7 hours and 26 minutes, finishing the Gangshika Xtrial’s 100 km race in 27 hours and 40 minutes, and successfully conquering the Ironman Western Australia in 2019 which involves swimming for 3. 8 km, cycling for180 km and running for 42. 2 km. As a result, he has been dubbed “the Chinese blade runner”.
1. When did Pan Junfan start his 513-kilometer challenging race?| A．On Sept. 3. | B．On Sept. 9. | C．On Sept. 15. | D．On Sept. 19. |
| A．He had part of his left leg removed. | B．He established a hi-tech company. |
| C．He was involved in a traffic accident | D．He participated in the Ironman Australia. |
| A．Losing touch with his team. | B．Getting lost in the desert. |
| C．Having a high fever. | D．Lacking enough sleep. |
| A．Strong-willed. | B．Warm-hearted. | C．Quick-minded. | D．Cold-blooded. |
7 . If you spend more than a couple of days in the country of Georgia, you are very likely to be invited to a Georgian feast even by complete strangers. The multi-hour, multi-course feast is one of the most important events in Georgian culture.
A popular Georgian story shows the importance of the feast in Georgian culture. When God created the world, He held a meeting to give the different regions of the world to different cultures. But the Georgians arrived late at the meeting. After they apologized and explained that they’d been holding a feast with a stranger the night before and slept later than they’d meant to, God was so touched and impressed by their honesty that He gave the Georgians the best land of all: the part of earth He was saving for himself.
In order to survive the feasts without offending (冒犯) the hosts, it’s important for you to know a few things about it in advance.
A Georgian feast will likely have a seemingly unlimited number of dishes. So avoid fully cleaning your plate unless you want more servings. Don’t fill up on khachapuri-Georgian cheese bread. There are numerous regional varieties of cheese bread, but khachapuri is the most delicious of all. The cheese bread is usually a heavy lunch on its own, but at feasts it’s often considered a side dish or an appetent. Don’t make the mistake of having more than a few bites—only to discover that the main meal is still coming.
When you drink, follow the lead of the toastmaster, who presents a scries of toasts throughout the evening. Traditionally, drinkers would dry their glass (or, if keeping with tradition, drain their deer’s horn) with every toast. This isn’t always done now. Just remember the important rule: say “cheers” after every toast.
Consider bringing a small gift, such as sweets or flowers, as a gesture of thanks. Avoid bringing more fond, however, which might imply that you don’t think there will be enough on offer.
1. What can be most probably inferred from the story?| A．Georgia is short of natural resources |
| B．Most of the Georgians are lazy and wasteful. |
| C．The Georgian people are very honest and friendly. |
| D．It is important to go to a meeting on time in Georgia. |
| A．It is not a main dish at feasts at all. |
| B．Georgians usually have it for breakfast. |
| C．It is one of the unique Georgian drinks. |
| D．Many regional varieties are based on it. |
| A．Drink all the wine every time. |
| B．Take some small gifts with them. |
| C．Clean the plate after each serving. |
| D．Bring some special food to the feast. |
| A．Amazing Food History in Georgia |
| B．Basic Rules of Being a Good Host |
| C．Bad Manners to Be Avoided at the Table |
| D．Things to Be Learned About Georgian Feasts |
1. Who use camels in their sports?
| A．Americans. | B．The Arabs. | C．Chinese people. |
| A．Baseball. | B．Basketball. | C．Running. |
| A．Below 200 years. | B．About 300 years. | C．Over 1, 000 years. |
| A．War. | B．Pride. | C．Friendship. |
1. In which place did Lisa find the wallet?
| A．A park. | B．A parking lot. | C．A shopping mall. |
| A．A photo of a person. | B．Some paper and an ID card. | C．Some money and business cards. |
| A．A businessman. | B．An old lady. | C．A school boy. |
| A．By making a telephone call. |
| B．By asking the police for help. |
| C．By waiting where she found the wallet. |
1. Where are the speakers?
| A．In a car. | B．At home. | C．At Grandma’s house. |
| A．Roast chicken. | B．Apple pie. | C．Fried fish. |
| A．Excited. | B．Surprised. | C．Calm. |
| A．He will go to Grandma’s house by himself. |
| B．He made some cornbread for Thanksgiving. |
| C．He has just finished a business trip. |
