1 . As a young music therapist in Colorado, Shannon de L’Etoile saw that when mothers were encouraged to sing to their babies, they were amazed by the positive responses they received. She quickly realized that music could be a powerful tool for helping mothers learn more about their infants (婴儿). Soon, de L’Etoile began researching the practice, called infant-directed singing. She says it helps babies learn to regulate their feelings, which allows them to later behave well in school, and in the social and professional world.
“If a mother can sing in a way that catches the infant’s attention, it can help to promote the development of the infant’s brain,” said de L’Etoile. “Infant-directed singing is a way in which mothers can communicate with their babies that most infants can recognize and respond to. But mothers need to be sensitive to infant cues (提示).”
De L’Etoile is working with people at the Linda Ray Intervention Center to create a coaching program that will guide mothers in the practice. She is now in the process of training workers at the center, who will coach mothers for a month in the most beneficial ways to sing to their infants. The process includes watching and recording mothers as they sing to their infants and then showing these mothers how they can be sensitive to their infants’ feelings while singing. Mothers will be able to notice if the infant is benefiting because the baby will look longer at the mother and reach a happy state.
As part of the study, after each mother completes the training, de L’Etoile will work with a music engineering program to study recordings of the mother’s voice. The study result can show changes over time in the mother’s ability to change her singing according to the infant’s feelings. Videos of the babies will also be studied to discover their connections with their mothers over time. De L’Etoile has been working closely with center workers to develop the program so that it will meet the needs of different families.
1. What does the underlined word “regulate” in paragraph 1 probably mean?| A．Manage. | B．Produce. | C．Hide. | D．Observe. |
| A．Building a positive parent-child relationship is hard. |
| B．Not all mothers’singing helps develop the infant’s brain. |
| C．Mothers can benefit from singing to their babies. |
| D．Singing is the best way to comfort babies. |
| A．To train babies to respond to their mothers. | B．To get babies to reach a happy state. |
| C．To help mothers notice the babies’ feelings. | D．To teach mothers to sing to babies effectively. |
| A．By comparing the effects of family members’ voices on babies. |
| B．By collecting babies’ reactions to videos and voices. |
| C．By observing changes in mothers and infants after training. |
| D．By communicating directly with mothers. |
2 . In November, National Geographic published its “The Cool List for 2024”, a collection of the most exciting destinations worldwide to visit next year.
Europe topped the list, with 13 locations, including traveling the entire continent by train. Six places in North America were named on the list, with three in the United States.
EuropeA standout location in Europe is Tartu, Estonia. According to Nat Geo, Estonians consider the city to be the “country’s cultural and intellectual heart”. Tartu is home to the country’s oldest university, a designated UNESCO City of Literature, and was selected as one of the European Capitals of Culture for 2024.
The AmericasThree places in the U. S. ranked as the most exciting destinations in 2024. Texas stands out among the list because, in 2024, people in central Texas will be able to see the total solar eclipse set for April 8.
AsiaSikkim, India, is one of the smallest states in the country. The area offers visitors the opportunity to go climbing. Over a quarter of Sikkim, India, is covered by Khangchendzonga National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
AfricaAccording to Nat Geo, Sierra Leone is a country to watch in 2024. The international airport in Freetown got a major renovation in 2023 and many roads are also being upgraded. The report mentions that tourism is blossoming in West Africa. Sierra Leone’s first Hilton is set to open its doors next year.
1. Which continent has the highest number of the listed destinations?| A．Europe. | B．The Americas. | C．Asia. | D．Africa. |
| A．Tartu. | B．Texas. | C．Sikkim. | D．Sierra Leone. |
| A．An art magazine. | B．A travel website. | C．A food menu. | D．A book review. |
3 . How many advertisements have you seen in your life?
Advertising makes us associate happiness with consumerism (消费主义). After they’ve achieved to ruin our self-esteem (自尊), advertisements are trying to fool us into thinking that only products and services can make us feel better.
In short, advertisements promise you happiness, provided that you spend money in return. The result?
| A．Advertising pushes us to make money. |
| B．Advertising makes us feel that we’re not good enough. |
| C．So what exactly are the main problems of advertising on society? |
| D．The average person sees between 280 and 310 advertisements per day. |
| E．Without shopping, advertisements tell you that you can’t find happiness. |
| F．In other words, advertisements create a problem and then offer us a solution to it. |
| G．Consuming stuff you don’t even need and leading to waste that is pollution our planet. |
4 . Things to do this weekend in NYC: April 12-14 2024
Here are some noteworthy events to check out this week in New York City
Josh Wolf
Gramercy Theatre — 127 E. 23rd St., New York, N.Y. 10010
Sat. April 13 at 7:00 p.m.
Josh Wolf of “Chelsea Lately” will bring his brand of humor to Gramercy’s historic music venue. Josh Wolf’s comedy material is heavily inspired by his family. Wolf, 54, is also known to incorporate (融合) music into his performance, as he does when hosting his own comedy show “The Fantastical Jamboree” at Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club in Las Vegas.
Tickets start at $27.50
“Selena Brunch”
Alamo Drafthouse Staten Island — 2636 Hylan Blvd., Suite 230, Staten Island, N.Y. 10306
Sat. April 13 and Sun. April 14 at 11:30 a.m.
The 1997 Gregory Nava film that made Jennifer Lopez a Hollywood star is getting a nice revisit at Alamo Drafthouse with a “Selena Brunch” this weekend. While enjoying a special menu created for the occasion, see Jenny from the Block in her breakthrough role as the late Tejano star who was tragically murdered at 23. Dishes include a breakfast club sandwich, blueberry donut French toast bake and breakfast tacos, in addition to the regular refreshments on offer.
Though the downtown Brooklyn showings are already sold out, there are still tickets at the Staten Island location.
$12 admission. Prices range from $11.95 to $15.95 for food item
I’m Possible
New Victory Theater — 209 W 42nd St., New York, N.Y. 10036
The Brooklyn-based Omnium Circus company, which prides itself in inclusivity and accessibility for both audience and performers, kicks off a two-week run of its latest show this weekend in Times Square.
“I’m Possible” lives up to its goal to make the Big Top experience accessible to audiences of all abilities with a 90-minute show featuring a gymnast who uses a wheelchair, an tennis player born without legs, and a deaf storyteller.
All performances will incorporate audio description, captioning (字幕), sensory-friendly lighting and sound, and a calm environment where movement and vocalization from audience members are welcome.
Tickets start at $28
1. Where does Josh Wolf get his inspiration for his comedy show?| A．From his favourite music. |
| B．From his own working experience. |
| C．From Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club. |
| D．From his experience with family members. |
| A．$ 15.95. | B．$ 23.95. | C．$ 27.95. | D．$ 39.9. |
| A．Entertaining. | B．Encouraging. | C．Terrifying. | D．Puzzling. |
5 . In 2009, when Qatar (卡塔尔) bid to host the 2022 Football World Cup, it promised a carbon-neutral (碳中和) event. Even back then, the prospect of neutralizing the carbon-dioxide emissions (排放) generated by hosting hundreds of thousands of fans in newly constructed stadiums, in a desert state, seemed fanciful. So it is proving. In their greenhouse-gas accounting report, published last year, FIFA (国际足联) and the Qatari organizers estimated that the World Cup would generate 3.6 million tons of CO2 emissions. Estimating emissions for big sporting events is a relatively new practice and methods can vary, but that figure is higher than any recent World Cup or Olympics.
It is also likely to be a significant underestimate. A report in May 2022 by Carbon Market Watch (CMW), a climate watchdog (监督者), found that the official forecast failed to account accurately for the emissions generated from stadiums. FIFA, which insists its method is “best in practice”, reckons that the majority of the emissions (52%) will come from fans and players travelling to Qatar, while less than 25% are from stadium construction. That is because organizers expect these stadiums to be used for years after the World Cup, spreading their carbon footprint way into the future.
CMW believes such an excuse is far from reasonable. Before the World Cup, Qataris were able to get by with only one stadium, it points out. Consequently, it estimates that the emissions from stadium construction for the World Cup are undercounted by a factor of eight. It puts the real figure at 5 million tons. Though it amounts to less than 0.02% of the world’s annual emissions, sports teams and organizations should have set a positive example in this.
To remove the doubt from outside, Qatar has established the Global Carbon Council (GCC), a dedicated environmental agency. Beyond adjusting for World Cup emissions, the GCC will promote a path to “a low-carbon future”, a great step for a country with the world’s highest emissions per person. Yet the agency is still at its early stage. Only six projects, saving less than 600,000 tons, have been approved so far.
1. What is the main problem Qatar and FIFA are faced with at present?| A．The 2022 World Cup isn’t as successful as it should be. |
| B．They may fail to keep the promise to hold a green event. |
| C．The figure they published is higher than that of other events |
| D．They are unfamiliar with the new practice of the World Cup. |
| A．By insisting on its way of environmental protection. |
| B．By promising to use the new stadiums for more years. |
| C．By blaming the greenhouse-gas emissions on travelers. |
| D．By cooperating with Carbon Market Watch for instructions. |
| A．5 million tons accounts for a little of the annual emissions. |
| B．The stadium construction for the World Cup sets a bad example. |
| C．The method they employed in estimating the emissions is unscientific. |
| D．There will be more stadiums than Qatar actually needs after the World Cup. |
| A．The GCC is an agency specially established for the World Cup |
| B．The Qataris attach great importance to environmental protection. |
| C．The Qataris need to make more efforts to hold a carbon-neutral event. |
| D．The GCC has achieved a lot in cutting down greenhouse-gas emissions. |
6 . The famous magazine, Runner’s World, has chosen some of the best, most difficult and enjoyable UK races.
Top of the Wolds 10K Challenge
This 10-km countryside track in Yorkshire is all fun until you take the left turn at Nunburnholme. At this point, you enter a serious uphill part, but thankfully the uphill part only lasts for around 1.5km. You’ll have about a kilometre to enjoy the views before the way takes you downhill again, and back to where you started in Warter —a cute little village.
Scurry2Bridges Run
This 161-km relay race is divided into 16 parts, so you each run 4 separate parts. Over the course of this day-long adventure, you’ll each run about marathon distance while the workers will drive around for pick-ups and drop-off s at relay exchange points between the start in Dundee and the finish in Edinburgh.
Scafell Sky Race
Here’s a trail run(越野跑) that is not suitable for beginners. With a total of 3,500 m of ascent(上坡路), this is unquestionably one of the hardest events around. Good thing is that the views are beautiful, and that there’s hot food and a bottle of apple juice waiting for you in the end.
Offa’s Dyke 15
The traditional 15-mile distance begins at the Clock Tower in Hay-on-Wye and includes a few hard climbs before finishing in Kington. This year the hard event has added a challenging 10 km around Kington.
1. What do we know about Scurry2Bridges Run?| A．It has an uphill part about 16 km. | B．It is a relay race made up of 16 parts. |
| C．It is a relay race with 161 miles. | D．Runners are forbidden to throw items. |
| A．Scafell Sky Race. | B．Offa’s Dyke 15. |
| C．Top of the Wolds 10K Challenge. | D．Scurry2Bridges Run. |
| A．They are held in the countryside. | B．They ask runners to take part alone. |
| C．They are tough but exciting races. | D．They can provide the runners with food. |
7 . In recent months, the U. S. media and politicians have launched fierce attacks on China’s new energy industry, claiming that China has flooded the world with too many clean products, including solar power, new energy vehicles and lithium-ion batteries, which have lowered market prices and hurt American workers and factories. However, experts’ data and analysis overturned the Western argument about overcapacity (产能过剩).
Exports do not mean overcapacity. In a global economy with a high division of labor and specialization, it is normal for a country’s productive capacity to go beyond its domestic demand. For example, about 80% of the cars produced in Germany are exported. Commercial aircraft giants Airbus and Boeing export most of their planes to other countries. While Chinese clean technology accounts for only a small fraction of China’s exports, about 4.5 percent last year, far less than Germany. In fact, the Global Electric Vehicle Outlook, released last year, claimed that the global demand for new electric vehicles will reach 45 million units, which China’s new energy products do not go beyond.
America’s new energy industry falls behind due to underinvestment in green technology and infrastructure (基础设施). Take wind energy for example. A recent report from the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) shows that the United States is struggling in its development of wind energy. Building a wind farm requires huge turbine blades (涡轮叶片) and a lot of custom engineering to produce huge towers and foundations, which makes wind energy difficult to trade between countries, so the supply chain needed to run a wind farm smoothly faces great trouble.
China is the only country with enough supply chains to keep wind energy growing without difficulties. Chinese Vice Finance Minister Liao Min said green technology products in China will help the country meet its carbon emission targets and contribute to the global response to climate change and green development.
1. What does the passage mainly talk about?| A．China’s new energy industry hurt American factories. |
| B．China’s new energy products will bring down market prices. |
| C．Expert’s data and analysis turned over the U. S. media and politicians. |
| D．The argument of China’s new energy industry’s overcapacity is baseless. |
| A．America’s new energy industry falls behind for lacking supply chain. |
| B．To export, China’s new energy industry’s capacity has gone beyond its demand. |
| C．America’s new energy industry falls behind for lacking enough related investment. |
| D．The great global demand for new electric vehicles doesn’t reach China’s capacity. |
| A．Negative. | B．Positive. | C．Objective. | D．Indifferent. |
| A．A research paper. | B．A online conference. |
| C．An official report. | D．A newspaper. |
8 . Robert van Gulik was born on August 9, 1910 in the Netherlands. His mother came from a family of musicians and piano makers, a fact that greatly influenced Robert’s life. His father was a physician in army, a position which required frequent foreign postings (派驻). The family lived in various areas of the East Indies for most of Robert’s youth. This experience contributed to his appreciation for cultures and mastery of several languages.
He was an eager academic, collector of art and manuscripts (手稿), and translator of ancient writings. He studied and trained to become a master musician on the Chinese guqin and eventually wrote two books on the instrument. Similarly, his skills as an artist in the traditional Chinese style and knowledge of calligraphy were extraordinary. He wrote and published a number of non-fiction, scholarly articles and books on Chinese music, art, and literature, as well as Chinese culture and traditions.
Although he also wrote essays and short stories, Robert remained best known for his Chinese mysteries. In 1940, Robert came across an 18th-century Chinese novel that would take his career down an unplanned pathway and result in the public fame he never expected. The novel, titled Four GreatStrange Cases of Empress Wu’s Reign, was a fictional account of the deeds of Judge Dee, one of the heroes of traditional Chinese detective fiction, and was set during the 7th-century Tang Dynasty. Interested, Robert not only translated the novel into English, but he explored the history of Chinese Penal Code (刑法) and other legal literature of the period. It was not until 1949 that Robert was able to publish his translation Dee Goong An (狄公案): Three Murder Cases Solved by Judge Dee. Robert’s Chinese mysteries include over 10 novels and short-story volumes, recording the career of Chinese detective called Di Renjie. Interestingly, the tales first found fame in oriental (东方的) editions, before being translated into English in 1957.
1. What helped Robert develop the ability in several languages?| A．His eagerness for art and ancient writing. |
| B．His mother’s good family background. |
| C．His appreciation for cultures and languages. |
| D．His living in different parts of the East Indies. |
| A．His hobbies. | B．His skills. | C．His books. | D．His achievements. |
| A．To recommend a Chinese mystery fiction to us. |
| B．To show the factor leading to Robert’s great fame. |
| C．To help us learn about the 7th-century Tang Dynasty. |
| D．To value the development of Chinese detective fictions. |
| A．Better late than never. | B．Attitude is everything. |
| C．Practice makes perfect. | D．Rome was not built in a day. |
9 . When did the voice inside your head start talking? I became aware of mine at about the age of 15. At night, I sometimes found it difficult to get to sleep because there was so much “mind chatter” inside my head.
In fact, mind chatter is quite common for human beings. Usually, whenever our attention isn’t focused, a stream of mental activities flows through our minds--thoughts about the future or the past, daydreams about various realities, or friends or other people. We often call this mental activity “thinking”, but this isn’t really so.
Real thinking suggests something active over which we have conscious (有意识的) control. It happens when we consciously use powers of reason and logic to evaluate different choices, make decisions and plans, organize our lives, solve problems and so on. But mind chatter isn’t like this. It’s purposeless, running through our heads no matter what our desires are and disturbing us.
For example, imagine you’re thinking about what courses to take for the next school year. As you are considering them, thoughts about your favorite subjects flood in, reminding you of a project that you really like. This makes you remember chatting with friends about a fascinating article on climate change. Suddenly, you remember the upcoming science fair and you worry about managing your time. All these thoughts leave you struggling to focus, and you end up seeking advice from classmates.
However, it’s unrealistic to expect to silence our mind chatter altogether. It’s such a natural part of our minds that it’s unlikely to disappear. We should accept it and treat it as a kind of physiological (生理的) process that takes place inside us but is not part of our identity. We should treat it in the same way that we treat the process like eating and the flow of our blood. We don’t get our sense of identity from them, so why should we identify with the voice inside our head?
1. How is real thinking different from mind chatter?| A．It is illogical. | B．It is related to active reasoning. |
| C．It lacks a clear purpose. | D．It is driven by desires. |
| A．Its inability to give advice. | B．Its connection to our memories. |
| C．Its impact on our concentration. | D．Its common presence in our mind. |
| A．It’s normal. | B．It’s unusual. | C．It’s beneficial. | D．It’s harmful. |
| A．To stress the importance of mind chatter. |
| B．To show mind chatter cannot define who we are. |
| C．To explain the link between mental and physical health. |
| D．To prove the human body’s physiological effect. |
10 . An increase in a country’s working-age population is a blessing. Lots of workers support relatively few children and retired people. So long as the labor market can absorb an increasing number of job-seekers, output per head will rise. That can boost savings and investment, leading to higher economic growth, more productivity gains and developmental speed-up. Yet for countries that fail to seize this opportunity, the results can be tough.
Consider Thailand. It is rapidly aging. In 2021, the share of Thais aged 65 or over hit 14%, a figure that is often used to define an aged society Soon Thailand will, like Japan, South Korea and most Western countries, see a decreasing supply of workers and flagging productivity and growth without extraordinary measures. Yet unlike Japan and the rest. Thailand is not a developed country. It has got old before it has got rich.
This is a big barrier to Thailand’s future development. To protect its aging citizens, many of whom are poor, Thailand’s government will have to spend more on health care and pensions (养老金). This will make it harder to invest in productivity-boosting skills and infrastructure (基础设施). And where Thailand goes, many developing countries will follow.
One conclusion is that countries with a working-age burst need seeking more economic growth out of it. India may never have a better chance than the present. It is widely accepted that privatization and looser foreign-investment rules could raise its growth rate.
Another conclusion is that developing countries need to start planning for old age earlier. They should reform their pension systems, including by raising retirement ages. They should encourage financial markets, providing options for long-term saving and health insurance. And they should try harder to increase female participation in the labor force. Getting more women into jobs would help deal with the fact that women live longer than men, but tend to have less savings and pensions, leaving them in difficult situations in old age.
1. What does “opportunity” in the first paragraph refer to?| A．Providing more jobs for working-age laborers. |
| B．Reducing support for children and the elderly. |
| C．Encouraging investment for economic growth. |
| D．Increasing economic output and labor productivity. |
| A．It causes a shortage of young workers. |
| B．It forces the country to invest in infrastructure. |
| C．It leads to less investment in economic development. |
| D．It increases the burden on the working-age population. |
| A．To extend women’s retirement ages. |
| B．To encourage women to be included in health insurance. |
| C．To equalize the number of men and women in the workplace. |
| D．To settle the conflict between women’s long lifespan and small pension. |
| A．Aging Problems in Developing Countries. |
| B．Planning Ahead for Aging Societies. |
| C．Challenges and Opportunities of Aging Societies. |
| D．The Role of Female Labors in Addressing the Aging Issue. |
