1 . Today, people use the Internet to shop, play games, make friends and read the news. Many young people can’t imagine life without it.     1     In fact, the Internet has been used for a much longer time than most people think.

In 1957, the United States was in the middle of the Cold War. The Soviet Union (苏联) had sent up the first satellite (卫星), named Sputnik, into space. This meant the Soviets were ahead of the U. S. in technology. Americans were afraid.     2     One of the ideas was a network (网络) that would let people across the country communicate by using computers.

    3     It was first tried out in 1969. For another twenty years, it was used only by scientists who worked with the U. S. government and by some engineers. Then, in 1990, the army of America gave the control of the Internet to the National Science Foundation.     4    

The biggest change in the way that people use the Internet came in 1992. For the first time, the Internet was opened to the general public, creating what is now known as the World Wide Web.     5     Today, no one government controls the Internet and it just gets bigger and bigger. It makes our world different.

A．The network took more than ten years to develop.

B．Soon, people began finding all kinds of different things they could do on the Internet.

C．Most older people, on the other hand, think the Internet is only 10 or 15 years old.

D．People began to be fond of the Internet.

E．They didn’t know what to do.

F．The Internet then became available to colleges all over the United States and to scientists across Europe.

G．Scientists in the army of America started developing ideas for protecting the country.

2 . Atomic shapes are so simple that they can’t be broken down any further. Mathematicians are trying to turn to artificial intelligence (AI) for help to build a periodic table of these shapes, hoping it will assist in finding yet-unknown atomic shapes.

Tom Coates at Imperial College London and his colleagues are working to classify atomic shapes known as Fano varieties, which are so simple that they can’t be broken down into smaller components. Just as chemists arranged element s in the periodic table by their atomic weight and group to reveal new insights, the researchers hope that organizing these atomic shapes by their various properties will help in understanding them.

The team has given each atomic shape a sequence of numbers based on its features such as the number of holes it has or the extent to which it bends around itself. This acts as a bar code (条形码) to identify it. Coates and his colleagues have now created an AI that can predict certain properties of these shapes from their bar code numbers alone, with an accuracy of 98 percent.

The team member Alexander Kasprzyk at the University of Nottingham, UK, says that the AI has let the team organize atomic shapes in a way that begins to follow the periodic table, so that when you read from left to right, or up and down, there seem to be general patterns in the geometry (几何) of the shapes.

Graham Nib lo at the University of Southampton, UK, stresses that humans will still need to understand the results provided by AI and create proofs of these ideas. “AI has definitely got unbelievable abilities. But in the same way that telescopes (望远镜) don’t put astronomers out of work, AI doesn’t put mathematicians out of work,” he says. “It just gives us new backing that allows us to explore parts of the mathematical landscape that are out of reach.”

The team hopes to improve the model to the point where missing spaces in its periodic table could point to the existence of unknown shapes.

1. What is the purpose of building a periodic table of shapes?

A．To gain deeper insights into the atomic shapes.

B．To create an AI to predict the unknown shapes.

C．To break down atomic shapes into smaller parts.

D．To arrange chemical elements in the periodic table.

2. What can the bar code of each atomic shape tell us?

A．Its holes.	B．Its bends.
C．Its atomic weight.	D．Its properties.

3. What does the underlined word “backing” in paragraph 5 mean?

A．Design.

B．Help.

C．Duty.

D．Threat.

4. What is the main idea of the text?

A．Thanks to AI, new atomic shapes have been discovered.

B．Mathematicians turn to AI to create more atomic shapes.

C．AI helps build a relationship between chemistry and maths.

D．A periodic table of shapes can be built with the help of AI.

3 . Doing fitness routines is challenging and sometimes boring. Here is some advice on how to make exercise as fun as video games.

Have an objective

When you’re playing a game, there’s always an objective. It helps us focus on the task at hand and motivates us to keep playing until we win the game.     1     Create a clear fitness goal. Aim to walk 10,000 steps a day, for example, or try to run a total of 6 miles every week.

Compete against others

Adding an element of competition to your exercise routine can actually help you work out harder. If you’re seeking a similar motivation, look into fitness programs that encourage friendly competition. The app Zwift, for example, is a good choice.     2    

Team up with others

Getting a group to work together toward a common goal was also an effective way to increase physical activity. You can try to recreate this dynamic by working toward an exercise goal with other people, particularly those who you have a close relationship to.     3     So grab a close friend or family member and bring them to the gym with you.

Add a sense of playfulness

Some people love video games because there’s a lot of unpredictability and surprise.     4     You can recreate this sense of playfulness in your own exercises. For example, you can take photos of at least 5 different flowers on your neighborhood walk. Ride your bike from one friend’s house to another.

    5     If exercise makes you feel slightly happy or adds some kind of meaning to your life, that’s great.

A．Exercise should be no different.

B．Just remember every moment of playful engagement is a victory.

C．But how to apply these techniques to our everyday fitness routines?

D．Similarly, you can do many things to bring back a sense of childlike wonder.

E．It allows you race against others around a virtual world using your own bike.

F．This approach encouraged each member of the group to try to meet the day’s step goal.

G．They can help you hold yourself accountable in a way you might not do with a stranger.

4 . Phones, tablets and smart watches will be mostly banned (禁止) from classrooms in the Netherlands from Jan 1, 2024, Sky News reported.

The move is meant to limit distractions from social media, messaging and other sites. Devices will only be allowed if they are needed for the lesson, for medical reasons, or for people with disabilities.

“Scientific research showed that mobile phones are a disturbance (打扰). We need to protect students against this,” said Robbert Dijkgraaf, Minister of Education, Culture and Science of the Netherlands. “Students need to be able to concentrate and need to be given the opportunity to study well.” Dijkgraaf noted that schools could manage the implementation of the ban themselves. However, he added that laws would follow if the results are not good enough.

The United Nations also warned of the risks of smartphones in schools, the BBC reported.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said that too much mobile phone use was linked to reduced educational performance. And high levels of screen time have a bad effect on children’s mind, noted The Guardian.

UNESCO said its call for a smartphone ban sent a clear message that all digital technology including artificial intelligence should always be less important than a human-centered vision of education and can never replace face-to-face interaction with teachers. Based on its analysis of 200 education systems around the world, UNESCO estimate one in four countries and regions had laws or policies banning phones in schools. Besides the Netherlands, France introduced its policy in 2018, and Finland had a similar decision in June. In 2021, the Ministry of Education in China banned mobile phones, tablets, and other digital devices in the classroom, Xinhua reported.

According to the policy, if such devices are brought to school, then they should be stored together in the same place. Meanwhile, the use of the devices for teaching purposes should not be over 30 percent of the total teaching time.

“Our school has strict rules to ban phones in class. Students who break the rules may lose their merit student qualification or admissions eligibility (保送) for college,” Dai Ting, a 17-year-old student from Chengdu, told Teens.

1. Which of the following is true according to the text?

A．Only disabled students are allowed to use smartphones in classrooms.

B．Personal communication with teachers is preferred.

C．30% of the teachers use digital devices in class.

D．Any digital devices found in classrooms will be destroyed.

2. Which the closest in meaning to the underlined word in paragraph 3?

A．Carrying out.

B．Bringing out.

C．Making out.

D．Putting out.

3. What’s the students’ attitude towards the ban?

A．Supportive.

B．Objective.

C．Negative.

D．Not mentioned.

4. What is the best title for this text?

A．Digital products totally banned in Netherlands

B．A ban on digital products in Netherlands schools

C．Digital products is a distraction in Netherlands schools

D．Digital products’ wide use in Netherlands schools

5 . The AI program ChatGPT might one day be able to help doctors detect (发现) Alzheimer’s disease (a serious illness that especially influences older people) in its early stages, according to new research from Drexel University.

While there is still no effective treatment for the disease, detecting it early can give patients more choices for medical treatment and support. “We know from ongoing research that the harmful results of Alzheimer’s disease can show themselves in language production,” said Hualou Liang, a professor at Drexel University and a co-author of the research. “The most commonly used tests for early detection of Alzheimer’s look at acoustic features (声学特征). We believe the improvement of AI programs provides another way to support early detection. of Alzheimer’s.”

GPT-3 uses a deep learning system (系统) which allows it to produce a human-like answer to any questions that include language. It is extremely good at “zero-data learning” — meaning it can answer questions that would require extra knowledge that has not been-provided. “GPT-3’s systemic method of language learning and production makes it a promising tool for finding certain speech features that may detect the disease,” said Liang.

The researchers carried out a series of experiments to test their ideas. “As we had expected, our test results showed that GPT-3 program can find clues (线索) from its conversations with patients that are 80% accurate (精确的) in the detection. GPT-3 can be a dependable tool,” they wrote.

To build on the promising result, the researchers are planning to develop an APP that could be used at home or in a doctor’s office as a pre-screening tool.

“This could be a simple and accurate tool for community-based testing.” said Felix Agbavor, a doctoral researcher at the University. “It is the latest in a series of efforts to show the effectiveness of AI programs for early detection of Alzheimer’s. It could be very useful for early screening and risk management.”

1. What did the Drexel study look at?

A．Different causes of Alzheimer’s disease.

B．Effective treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.

C．Detecting the use of AI programs in language learning.

D．Finding early signs of Alzheimer’s disease through ChatGPT.

2. What made the researchers choose GPT-3?

A．Its low cost.	B．Its promising future.
C．Its wide popularity.	D．Its working system.

3. How did the study turn out?

A．It achieved the expected results.

B．It was questioned by community doctors.

C．It has driven the development of AI technology.

D．It has changed public opinion on Alzheimer’s disease.

4. What is Felix Agbavor’s attitude to the study?

A．Dissatisfied.

B．Uncaring.

C．Supportive.

D．Curious.

6 . As newer, more advanced technologies come out, huge amounts of electronics (电子产品) are thrown away, instead of being reused. These goods often end up in landfills, where the chemicals inside them may be a danger to the environment. Electronics can contain harmful materials. If these materials get into the ground or water, the pollution can cause serious problems. Most electronics require metals. These metals must be mined from the Earth. Often the mining process creates serious pollution.

A group known as Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Forum is trying to make people more aware of the problems of e-waste. Recently, the WEEE Forum asked researchers from the United Nations (UN) to study a kind of e-waste that’s often not noticed because people don’t consider the goods to be electronics. The WEEE Forum calls this kind “unable-to-be-seen” e-waste.

The UN study shows that about 1/6 of all e-waste is “unable-to-be-seen”. Though it’s “unable-to-be-seen”, it’s certainly not a small amount. The “unable-to-be-seen” e-waste weighs about 9 billion kilograms. The WEEE Forum says that if this e-waste were put into 40-ton trucks and the trucks were then lined up, the line of trucks would be about 5,630 kilometers long.

The surprising kind leading the “unable-to-be-seen” e-waste group was toys. Worldwide, roughly 7.3 billion electronic toys are thrown away each year. These include goods like car racing sets, electric trains, and musical toys. They also include toys with electronic parts, like dolls that speak or games with electronic timers. In all, toys make up about 35% of “unable-to-be-seen” e-waste. But the problem is far larger than just toys. The report also shows that other everyday goods like home alarms, smoke alarms, power tools, and computer cables (电缆) are also big sources of “unable-to-be-seen” e-waste.

The WEEE Forum is hoping that as more people and governments become aware of e-waste, they will make a much greater effort to make sure electronics get reused.

1. What is paragraph 1 mainly about?

A．The amount of electronics.	B．The development of electronics.
C．The ways of reusing electronics.	D．The pollution of electronics.

2. What causes some e-waste often unnoticed?

A．People’s interest in electronics’ character.

B．People’s impression on electronics’ package.

C．People’s misunderstanding of electronics.

D．People’s struggle to adapt to electronics.

3. How does the author support his viewpoint in paragraph 3?

A．By showing numbers.	B．By providing examples.
C．By making a summary.	D．By making a comparison,

4. Which of the following is the WEEE Forum’s solution to e-waste?

A．Designing advanced electronics.	B．Making electronics get reused.
C．Stopping giving away electronics.	D．Reducing electronics’ production.

7 . In the movie “The Wrong Trousers”, a pair of futuristic trousers lets people walk on walls and ceilings. Inspired by the movie, researchers in England created “The Right Trousers”, a set of trousers embedded(嵌入) with electrical pumps to force air into tiny tubes that expand and can help elderly or disabled people with issues like getting up or improving blood flow.   Now, material scientists, computer programmers and fabric designers are working to advance robotic clothing.

In June, researchers in Australia created robotic fibers, which can make fabric move automatically. Last year, scientists at MIT built fiber batteries that could be embedded into clothes and power robotic clothing. In recent years, Google partnered with brands like Levi’s and Adidas to put sensors in jackets, backpacks and shoes, letting users access their phones instantly. Researchers said they could soon unlock an era where clothing will act more like a computer, sensing how your body feels and telling your clothes how to help.

At the University of New South Wales in Australia, researchers are creating fabrics that can shape-shift. Thanh Nho Do, a senior lecturer at the school, said his team has created tiny tubes that can weave into sheets of fabric. These tubes can make fabric take various preprogrammed shapes. But challenges still remain for Do’s team, notably around making these robotic tubes smaller so they can weave easily with other fabrics.

Rebecca Kramer Bottiglio from Yale University agreed that many challenges remain before smart clothing “reaches their full potential.” It will be challenging to make these clothes, equipped with fibers and technology, strong enough to go through multiple cycles in the laundry, she said. Despite that, she says researchers will figure out a way forward. “Recent breakthroughs point toward a not-so-distant future where smart clothing will be a part of our everyday life.” she said.

1. What inspired the researchers to come up with “The Right Trousers”?

A．A film.

B．A blood issue.

C．The way electrical pumps work.

D．The way the elderly and disabled move.

2. What did scientists at MIT do last year?

A．They put sensors in clothes.

B．They created movable robotic fibers.

C．They made batteries for robotic clothing.

D．They released smart clothing connected to cellphones.

3. What does Do’s team find challenging?

A．Making robotic tubes smaller.

B．Keeping robotic tubes properly shaped.

C．Producing stronger robotic tubes.

D．Programming the shape of robotic tubes.

4. What is Rebecca’s attitude toward the future of smart clothing?

A．Doubtful.

B．Indifferent.

C．Worried.

D．Hopeful.

8 . Canada is a vast and diverse country that offers plenty of incredible tourist destinations. From wonderful natural landscapes to lively cities, Canada has something for every traveler. Here’s a guide to some of Canada’s top tourist destinations.

Banff National Park, Alberta

Located in the Canadian Rockies, Banff National Park is a breathtaking destination known for its turquoise (绿松石) lakes, snow-covered mountains, and plentiful wildlife. Explore the landmark-Lake Louise, hike to amazing viewpoints, and spend time in the natural hot springs.

Niagara Falls, Ontario

Niagara Falls is one of the world’s most famous natural attractions. Witness the steep (陡峭的) power and beauty of the grand falls from various viewpoints. Take a boat tour, visit the Butterfly Conservatory, or enjoy the lively atmosphere of Clifton Hill.

Toronto, Ontario

As Canada’s largest city, Toronto offers an impressive experience. Discover the famous CN Tower, explore the busy neighborhoods of Kensington Market and Distillery District, and visit world-class museums such as the Royal Ontario Museum and Art Gallery of Ontario.

Whistler, British Columbia

Whistler is a well-known winter sports destination, famous for its world-class ski slopes and winter activities. In summer, enjoy hiking, mountain biking, and golfing in the impressive mountain scenery.

1. What can visitors do in Banff National Park?

A．Go boating.	B．Go skiing.
C．Appreciate waterfalls.	D．Enjoy hot springs.

2. Which destination offers all experience of lively cultural life?

A．Banff National Park, Alberta.	B．Niagara Falls, Ontario.
C．Toronto, Ontario.	D．Whistler, British Columbia.

3. In which part of a newspaper can we see the text?

A．Tourism.

B．Culture.

C．Fashion.

D．Sport.

9 . An immersive and slow-paced Citywalk is becoming trendy across China. In contrast to rushing past overcrowded tourist landmarks, the new trend has emerged as a popular alternative to explore bustling markets, ancient streets, and charming alleys at a leisurely pace.

The appeal of Citywalk caters particularly to the younger generation often caught up in demanding work schedules. As evidenced by the increasing popularity of hash tags like “City walk for vacation” on lifestyle sharing platform Xiaohong shu, with a staggering 465 million views and nearly 464, 600 engagements, the trend is truly capturing unbelievable attention.

Citywalk, or meandering through the urban landscapes, means the act of walking freely along city streets unburdened by exhaustive plans. It offers people an avenue to intimately experience urban culture and local traditions. Citywalk is not merely about sightseeing. It creates an opportunity for social interactions and deep connections with the cities. Citywalk routes are tailored to the specific interests of both out-of-town tourists and locals. For tourists, the focus is on sharing local customs and traditions, while for locals, discussions revolve around the city’s past, present, and future. The growing trend of Citywalk reflects a changing attitude towards life, embracing a warmer, more relaxed, and slower-paced lifestyle.

As Citywalk expands beyond first-tier cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, to second-and third-tier cities across the county, it brings fresh opportunities for the tourism industry, in such areas as dining, shopping, and accommodation.

Governments in Beijing and Shandong have recognized the potential of Citywalk, incorporating it into their action plans to promote cultural tourism and leisure activities. In Shanghai, public bus lines specially designed have been introduced to elevate the overall Citywalk for participants.

“By slowing down and delving into the narrow alleys, observing the lives of city residents, and immersing oneself in the context of museums and art galleries, one is entitled to embrace the pleasure of life,” said Luo Jun, a cultural tourism enthusiast.

1. What’s the main reason for the popularity of Citywalk among young people?

A．It mainly focuses on urban sightseeing.

B．Social media offer many tempting videos.

C．Busywork schedule limits the choice of people.

D．Conventional tourist landmarks are losing charm.

2. What’s the meaning of underlined word “staggering” in the second paragraph?

A．Astonishing.

B．Rewarding.

C．Embarrassing.

D．Shrinking.

3. Which of the following statements is NOT Citywalk?

A．An immersive route for foreigners to enjoy the alleys in Chengdu.

B．A holiday travel to hurriedly visit crowded landmarks in Shanghai.

C．A free walk including visiting museums and old towns in Qingdao.

D．A leisurely tour along Qiantang River to experience city transformation.

4. What have some governments done to promote Citywalk?

A．Facilities in the museums have been enhanced.

B．Cooperation has been strengthened among cities.

C．Opportunities have been offered to third-tier cities.

D．Specific public transportation routes have been introduced.

10 . It’s often said that we human beings can dream in a foreign language. Could dreaming in a foreign language improve our memory? Does dreaming in a foreign language mean we are making progress in learning that language?

Before we look at multilingual (多语言) dreams, first we need to look at sleep. The connection between sleep and language can be applied to how we learn any language, including our native language. Even adults still learn about one new word every two days in their first language. But, if we are going to remember that new word better, what matters is that we need to connect it with what we have learned. And in order to do that, we “need to have some sleep”, says Gareth Gaskell, a professor at the University of York.

It’s during sleep that the integration (整合) of old and new knowledge happens. At might, one part of our brain — the hippocampus — takes whatever new information it receives during the day and passes it on to other parts of the brain to be stored. The role that dreams play in this night-time learning process is still being studied, but “it’s entirely possible that during multilingual dreams, the brain is trying to connect the two languages”, says Marc, a researcher at a university in Bern, Switzerland.

So having multilingual dreams could mean that our brain is trying to remember a new word or phrase. However, it could also have an emotional (情感) significance. Danuta, a professor of psycholinguistics at the University of Silesia in Poland, suggests that multilingual dreams can express “fears or wishes” around learning a foreign language, including the wish to be a local speaker or to be accepted within a certain community.

We clearly still have a lot to learn about multilingual dreams, but one thing seems certain: if you’re trying to learn a new language, you can sleep on it.

1. Why does the author mention questions in paragraph 1?

A．To compare different ideas.	B．To introduce the main topic.
C．To present different types of dreams.	D．To discuss the human language ability.

2. What is the key element in memorizing a new word according to the text?

A．The other new words.	B．The native language.
C．The gained knowledge.	D．The speaking practice.

3. What can we learn about multilingual dreams?

A．They may influence people’s sleep quality.	B．They can reflect language-learning feelings.
C．They are the best option to learn a language.	D．They help to clear up the useless information.

4. Where is the text most likely from?

A．A novel.

B．A diary.

C．A guidebook.

D．A magazine.