1 . Influenced by factors like school funding, sports facilities, teacher resources and safetyconcems, traditional physical education was limited to static (静态的) scenes and closed gymsand playgrounds, which lacked interaction and feedback functions. PE curiculum was also restricted to basic sports like ball games, track and field and gymnastics. However, the emergence and application of new technologies like virtual reality (VR), 3D technology, greatly expand and innovate sports scenes, providing possibilities for the construction of a flexible “on-site, on- campus, online” integrated new sports world.
IT can build online virtual learning environments for students, creating teaching scenes hard to achieve in physical world. Many schools have already partnered with technology companies to create different teaching scenes using digital sports products. The University of South Florida has cooperated with the VR sports training company Sense Arena, allowing students to practice tennis on its globally pioneering VR tennis training platform. Students use the Meta Quest 2 headset and VR touching racket (球拍) which imitates the weight and feel of a real tennis racket. The platform features 35 training modes imitating various scenes in real-life tennis matches, including crowd noise, dazzling sunlight, shadows and wind. Athletes can engage in various forms of training, such as skill practice, technical analysis and match imitation. Such virtual sports teaching space further enhances the experience of PE leaming.
Technology-based physical education not only serves ordinary students’ physical health but also addresses the needs of special groups in sports, especially students who cannot participate in regular PE classes due to physical, psychological or social adaptation issues. Many schools offer specialized sports programs to disabled students, like the “Pathways to Inclusion” program launched by the University of Queensland, which tailors various sports activities to different disabilities, such as blind football and wheelchair hockey. This is made possible with the support of sports technology, as different symptoms require the use of different sports equipment.
Through scientific, healthy and joyful educational concepts, technology-empowered PE classes convey the values of creating and enjoying a personalized experience, developing a sports education where everyone participates and benefits.
1. How do new technologies change traditional PE class according to paragraph 1?| A．By investing more in basic sports. |
| B．By combining it with academic study. |
| C．By making dynamic PE class possible. |
| D．By replacing PE teachers with AI teachers. |
| A．Real-life tennis matches. | B．Virtual headsets and rackets. |
| C．Imitative distracting conditions. | D．Sufficient sports space on campus. |
| A．Professional knowledge about psychology. |
| B．Technology-assisted sports for the disabled. |
| C．Interactive activities with ordinary students. |
| D．Personalized medical treatment for disabilities. |
| A．To advertise a new VR product. |
| B．To raise public awareness of physical education. |
| C．To stress the importance of equality among students. |
| D．To introduce a new application of technology in PE class. |
2 . THIS STREET IS OPEN FOR PLAY
Concerned about outdoor play in crowded cities? Start a play street - a community event where neighbors close their road to traffic, creating a safe space for children to play. This initiative allows kids and adults to explore, create and socialize, which, undoubtedly, will bring the bonds between neighbors to a new height.
Compared to structured plays with strict rules and fixed procedures, a play street allows children to lead, establish rules and get involved in an open-ended activity without specific instructions, methods or goals.
Getting Started:1. Host a meeting to discuss benefits and encourage involvement. Choose an event date and assign tasks to the neighbors.
2. Reach out to city councils for necessary permits to close the road. Ignoring this will lead to the cancellation of the whole plan.
3. Use posters, flyers, and social media to spread the word. Use these promotion means to inform residents of the date, time and activities planned for the play street.
4. Set up barriers for safety, provide equipment and encourage neighbors’’ participation.
What to Expect:●Game Areas: A variety of play equipment tailored for kids, such as jump ropes, balls, chalk for drawing, hula hoops and other outdoor games.
● Swapping Corner: A place where moms can bring unwanted items such as kitchenware, gardening tools or other household goods to exchange with each other.
●Arts and Crafts Seating: Arts and crafts seating with materials like paper, markers, crayons, paints and brushes. Children are encouraged to get creative and express themselves through art.
●Snack and Refreshment Station: Light refreshments like water, juice, fruit and healthy snacks to keep mixed-age participants energized. A potluck to share homemade treats and recipes.
1. What is the purpose of “a play street”?| A．To prevent traffic jams. |
| B．To strengthen community bonds. |
| C．To explore kids’ artistic potential. |
| D．To involve children in structured plays. |
| A．Raising funds |
| B．Announcing instructions. |
| C．Posting the safety regulations. |
| D．Asking for authorities’ approval. |
| A．Game Areas. | B．Arts and Crafts Seating. |
| C．Swapping Comer. | D．Snack and Refreshment Station. |
3 . It was not until photographer Rita Nannini left New York that she grew fascinated by the city’s subways. While living in Manhattan for some 15 years in the 1980s and early 1990s, Nannini only commuted (通勤) on the one train-given the subway system’s bad reputation. But after relocating to New Jersey for several years where subway is not an option, Nannini found that absence did make the heart grow fonder — maybe even for pizza rats. During her visit back to New York, Nannini nodded, noticing improvements in the subway’s facilities.
While Nannini was waiting for a train, a bench on the platform opposite caught her attention due to the ever changing faces and characters. They were people of different accents, colors and beliefs. They were from all walks of life, a diverse mix of New Yorkers all there for their own different reasons. Having learned the teenagers’ popular “End of the Line” challenge — boarding trains at random and riding them until their final destination; Nannini decided to visit every first and last stop across the NY subway’s lines with her beloved camera.
Nannini’s “End of the Line” experience saw her traveling some 665 miles across 26 routes in New York city. She took over 8,000 photos of the final stations, as well as the communities they served. In many cases, she rode the routes two or three times over to ensure she got “the shot”. “The project really shows me how important the subway is, and how sustainable it makes our lives,” she said
“It’s often said that my photos show the end of the lines — the last stops,” she said. “But theend of the line is indeed the start for so many people. That made me think about who the people and the communities that live at the two ends are and what it is that the subway means to them.”
Nannini was proud of her set of images directly challenging the traditions of story telling, which echoed both the boredom and excitement of travel on tracks.
Nannini enjoyed taking her time, starting her challenge in 2013 and only shooting the final photos last year. Her first monograph on the terminal stops of the NY subway was released in April 2023.
“When you drive in the suburbs, you don’t have those encounters,” she continued. “People enter your life on the subway. That’s what strikes me most on my jouney on tracks.”
1. How did Nannini find the New York subway during her revisit?| A．It tumed out fine. |
| B．It was depressing. |
| C．It still held the same bad reputation. |
| D．It would be her only commuting option. |
| A．The diversity of New Yorkers’ daily life. |
| B．The inspiration for Nannini’s subway shots. |
| C．The popularity of “End of the Line” challenge. |
| D．The challenges of Nannini’s job as a photographer. |
| A．Her way of telling stories is traditional. |
| B．She expressed sympathy for the subway riders. |
| C．Her photography is highly expected by the encounters. |
| D．She found life on tracks was more interesting than life on wheels. |
| A．“End of the Line” Challenge: A New Trend in NY Subways |
| B．The Road Home: Rita Nannini’s Record of her Subway Ride |
| C．Last Stop to New Start: A Photographer’s Rediscovery of NY Subways |
| D．New Yorkers’ Routine: A Surprising Mixture of Boredom andExcitement |
4 . Pick up any packaged processed food, and there’s a decent chance that one of its listed ingredients will be “natural flavor”. The ingredient sounds good, particularly in contrast to “artificial flavor”. But what exactly does natural flavor mean? It refers to extracts (提取物) got from natural sources like plants, meat or seafood. When consumers see “natural flavor” on a label, they are unlikely to assume that someone is squeezing the juice from oranges into their bottle. They know even though natural flavor must come from natural sources, it needn’t all come from the plant or meat. For example, orange flavor might contain not only orange extract, but also extracts from bark and grass. Nor is the common belief true that ingredients extracted from nature are necessarily safer than something artificially made.
So if flavors like orange are needed, why not just use oranges? The answer comes down to “availability, cost and sustainability”, according to flavor chemist Gary Reineccius of the University of Minnesota. “If you’re going to use all your grapes on grape soda,” Reineccius says, “you don’t have any grapes for wine making; the products are going to be exorbitant; besides, what do you do with the by-products you create after you’ve squeezed all the juice out of the grape?”
Actually, while chemists make natural flavors by extracting chemicals from natural ingredients, artificial flavors are made by creating the same chemicals artificially. The reason why companies bother to use natural flavors rather than artificial flavors is simple: marketing. “Many of these products have health titles,” says Platkin, professor from Hunter College. “Consumers may be talked to believe products with natural flavors are healthier, though they’re nutritionally no different from those with artificial flavors. Natural flavors may involve more forest clear-cutting and carbon emissions from transport than flavors created in the lab.”
Platkin suggests getting more transparent labeling on packaging that describes exactly what the natural or artificial flavors are, so consumers are not misled into buying one product over another because of “natural flavors”. Reineccius also offers some simple guidance: “Don’t buy anything because it says ‘natural flavors’. Buy it because you like it.”
1. Which is a misunderstanding about the “natural flavor” juice according to paragraph 1?| A．It comes from 100% original fruit. | B．It is nothing but advertising tricks. |
| C．It certainly contains extracts made in the lab. | D．It is absolutely safer than juice with artificial flavors |
| A．Popular. | B．Expensive. | C．Durable. | D．Innovative. |
| A．To cut the costs. | B．To promote the sales. |
| C．To advocate a healthy diet. | D．To avoid food safety issues. |
| A．Gary and Platkin hold opposite perspectives. |
| B．Natural flavors are more environmentally-friendly. |
| C．Customers are misled for ignoring labels on packaging. |
| D．Natural and artificial flavors are more alike than you think. |
5 . Pullman is a superb writer and Seagull is a brilliant communicator. They had a debate after Seagull posted a question on his social media platform: “When you were trying to create an environment for learning, what were your best pieces of classical music to listen to?” He received hundreds of suggestions — and one negative reply, from Pullman: “That’s not what classical music is for. Treat it with respect.”
That did it! Everyone — professional musicians, students, teachers — weighed into the argument, and the majority supported Seagull and were criticizing Pullman.
It’s easy to see why people are annoyed. We all want classical music to be as accessible as possible, especially to the young. If some of them are using Bach or Schubert as a tool to help them study, what’s the problem? They may also develop an attachment to classical music.
So is Pullman ridiculous and supercilious by objecting to classical music being used as background music? At first sight, his idea seems stuffy and extreme. By suggesting that classical music should be “treated with respect” and not used as background music, Pullman seems to be closing classical music of to millions of people.
It’s worth pointing out, however, that he isn’t the first to express concerns about classical music being devalued by becoming too commonplace in today’s technologically shaped world. In Benjamin Britten’s 1964 speech, the composer expressed exactly the same worries as Pullman. Britten suggested, “The true musical experience demands some preparation, some effort, a journey to a special place, saving up for a ticket, some homework perhaps”. In short, it demands as much effort from listeners as from composers and performers.
I don’t agree with such an extreme viewpoint, but I do think it touches on a reality. You will never fully grasp the beauty of classical music if you half-hear it only in the background. That doesn’t necessarily matter. Music can be enjoyed on many levels. What Pullman and Britten are really saying is that, in a drive for “accessibility”, we shouldn’t deny the emotional and intellectual complexity underpinning (构成) much classical music.
1. What did Seagull’s posting result in?| A．Great admiration for Seagull. |
| B．Public criticism of classical music. |
| C．A discussion about learning environments. |
| D．An argument over the role of classical music. |
| A．Self-important. | B．Open-minded. | C．Impatient. | D．Considerate. |
| A．To show his affection for classical music. |
| B．To introduce young people to classical music. |
| C．To demonstrate classical music is demanding. |
| D．To support Pullman’s idea over classical music. |
| A．Favorable. | B．Doubtful. | C．Objective. | D．Uninterested. |
| A．By train. | B．By plane. | C．By car. |
7 . Alia found herself disappointed in the drawing studio after missing out on picking her classes due to illness. She had hoped for Biology, but it was
The first class project was self-portraits (肖像). Some students were drawing self-portraits using
The teacher
Alia was surprised by the structure and discipline involved in drawing a portrait. Measuring, studying details and
| A．full | B．changeable | C．busy | D．tough |
| A．biology | B．art | C．physics | D．medicine |
| A．artbooks | B．glass | C．brushes | D．mirrors |
| A．cared for | B．searched for | C．glanced at | D．get rid of |
| A．punished | B．approached | C．blamed | D．requested |
| A．introduce | B．demonstrate | C．complete | D．promote |
| A．letter | B．square | C．circle | D．dot |
| A．why | B．when | C．how | D．where |
| A．Surprisingly | B．Excitedly | C．Hesitantly | D．Disappointedly |
| A．drew | B．wrote | C．printed | D．typed |
| A．features | B．sizes | C．colors | D．lengths |
| A．accuracy | B．love | C．courage | D．humor |
| A．design | B．paper | C．portrait | D．book |
| A．changing | B．revealing | C．distinguishing | D．understanding |
| A．warned | B．informed | C．suspect | D．reminded |
8 . Humans spend approximately one-third of their lives sleeping, which means that by the time you reach 15 years old, you will have slept for about 5 years! However, the question remains: why do we do it? Sleep has long been a puzzle for people, leading scientists to explore its mysteries. They have found that during sleep, our brains and bodies do not simply shut down; instead, complex processes unfold.
What causes sleepiness? It’s caused by our biological clock releasing a special chemical signal at the same time daily, signaling it’’s time to wind down. The feeling of heaviness comes from the buildup of old nerve messenger chemicals. When the message gets too much, the brain senses that it’s time to sleep. During sleep, the body breaks down and clears away these old messengers, preparing for a fresh start.
As you slip into sleep, your heart and breathing slow down, and your brain ignores the most sounds and surroundings around you. Despite appearances, your brain remains active during sleep, performing essential tasks. Throughout the night, you cycle through light, deep, and REM (rapid eye movement) sleep stages every 90 minutes. Early on, slow-wave sleep is the primary stage, aiding in brain cleaning, while towards morning,REM sleep increases, leading to vivid dreams. During sleep, your body repairs and grows, creating new skin, muscle, and other tissues with released chemicals. It’s also a time for hormone (荷尔蒙) production, aiding growth, and boosting the immune (免疫) system to fight infections.
Scientists still have many questions about sleep, such as why some people need more sleep than others and how certain animals can function with less sleep. They aim to find ways to improve sleep quality. However, one thing is clear: getting enough sleep is vital for health and intelligence. Think of sleep as a free magic potion that strengthens you, aids growth, boosts immunity, and enhances intelligence, happiness, and creativity. Simply lie down and rest to enjoy these benefits.
1. What inference can be drawn from scientists’ findings about sleep?| A．Sleep serves no purpose. | B．Sleep has fundamental processes. |
| C．Sleep involves complex processes. | D．Sleep has minimal impact on brain function. |
| A．Determining the best time for sleep. |
| B．Controlling chemicals within the body. |
| C．Managing eating and digestion patterns. |
| D．Regulating daytime and nighttime activities. |
| A．Describing the different stages and functions of sleep. |
| B．Discussing the benefits of daytime activities for overall health. |
| C．Exploring the effects of inadequate sleep on the body and mind. |
| D．Analyzing the impact of stress on the immune system during sleep. |
| A．Narrative of personal sleep experiences. |
| B．Comparison of human and animal sleep patterns. |
| C．Imaginary stories illustrating the advantages of sleep. |
| D．Explanation of sleep importance, with body processes described. |
9 . Frederick Phiri, known as the junk-art king of Zambia, set out on a remarkable journey at the age of 22 when he began earning an international reputation for being able to make complex and elegant sculptures from deserted metal found in his community.
Phiri’s path to artistic recognition was filled with challenges. His childhood was marked by the loss of his father and his mother leaving him behind, making him under the care of his grandfather. While his grandfather provided for his basic education, Phiri faced financial struggles when he entered secondary school, forcing him to take on various jobs to fund his studies. Yet, despite these obstacles, his passion for art remained growing, and he dedicated his free time to drawing and crafting in the classroom.
Upon completing his education, Phiri sought to support himself by creating wire animal sculptures (雕塑品), which he sold to tourists. It was during this period that his exceptional talent caught the attention of Karen Beattie, the director of Project Luangwa, a nonprofit organization committed to education and economic development in central Africa.
Teaming up with local welder (焊接工) Moses Mbewe in 2017, Phiri contributed to the creation of a complex set of doors for Project Luangwa during the rainy season. Impressed by his work, Beattie presented Phiri with a challenge: to create art from abandoned waste metal. Undiscouraged, Phiri embraced the opportunity, transforming forgotten keys, broken bike chains, and old metal bottles into attracting abstract animal sculptures, including elephants, cranes, giraffes, and monkeys.
Today, Phiri’s artistic pursuits continue to flourish as he transforms deserted junk into striking sculptures showcased at the Project Luangwa headquarters. His talent has earned recognition and admiration from the community, fueling his dreams of pursuing formal art education at the Evelyn Hone College in Lusaka and creating even more magnificent sculptures in the future. Through creativity and determination, Phiri has turned adversity (逆境) into artistic success, leaving a lasting impact on Zambia’s art scene.
1. What is Phiri distinguished for?| A．Serving his community. | B．Collecting works of art. |
| C．Being the king of Zambia. | D．Turning trash into treasure. |
| A．His struggle to pay for primary schooling by himself. |
| B．The loss of his father and abandonment by his mother. |
| C．His dedication to part-time jobs while attending school. |
| D．His responsibility to support his grandfather financially. |
| A．To create sculptures from wire. |
| B．To sell his sculptures internationally. |
| C．To create art from deserted waste metal. |
| D．To design a complex set of doors for Project Luangwa. |
| A．Uncertain. | B．Confident. | C．Depressed. | D．Confused. |
10 . In a groundbreaking achievement, a rhino has successfully undergone embryo (胚胎) transfer, marking the first successful use of a method that holds promise for saving the nearly extinct northern white rhino subspecies.
The experiment, conducted with the less endangered southern white rhino subspecies, involved creating an embryo in a lab using eggs and sperm (精子) collected from other rhinos. This embryo was then transferred into a southern white rhino alternative mother in Kenya. Despite the unfortunate death of the alternative mother due to an infection in November 2023, researchers praised the successful embryo transfer and pregnancy (怀孕) as a proof of concept. They are now ready to proceed to the next stage of the project: transferring northern white rhinoembryos.
Professor Thomas Hildebrandt expressed optimism about the findings, highlighting the significance of the successful embryo transfer in demonstrating that frozen and defrosted embryos produced in a lab can survive. This development offers hope for the revival of the northern white rhino population.
However, challenges facing rhino conservation remain significant. While the southern white rhino subspecies and the black rhino species have shown signs of recovery from population declines due to illegal hunting for their horns (牛角), the northern white rhino subspecies is on the edge of extinction. With only two known members left in the world, Najin and her daughter Fatu, both unable to reproduce naturally, and the recent death of the last male white rhino, Sudan, in 2018, urgent action is needed to prevent the extinction of this subspecies. Dr. Jo Shaw, CEO of Save the Rhino International, emphasized the importance of addressing the primary threats facing rhinos worldwide: illegal hunting for their horns and habitat loss due to development. She stressed the need to provide rhinos with the space and security they need to succeed in their natural environment.
While the successful embryo transfer representsa significant advancement in rhino conservation efforts, organized action is required to address the main challenges facing rhino populations worldwide.
1. What is the purpose of the experiment mentioned in the text?| A．To evaluate the efficiency of a new rhino birth program. |
| B．To observe the behavior of rhinos in a controlled environment. |
| C．To assess the effects of climate change on the southem rhino habitats. |
| D．To develop a way of rescuing the endangered northern white rhinos subspecies. |
| A．Rebirth. | B．Decline. | C．Stability. | D．Decrease. |
| A．Facing extinction. | B．Showing signs of recovery. |
| C．Developing in their natural habitat. | D．Recovering from population declines |
| A．Dr. Jo Shaw’s Call to Action: Addressing Threats to Rhino Survival |
| B．Challenges Facing Rhino Conservation Efforts: Urgent Action Needed |
| C．The Successful Embryo Transfer: A Breakthrough in Rhino Conservation |
| D．Professor Thomas Hildebrandt’s Optimism: Hope for Rhino Population Revival |
