1 . For eight years, Sophie created realistic-looking limbs (肢) for those who wanted to fit in. But she longed to work on more odd designs that would stand out. Then she met Pollyanna Hope, a young amputee (被截肢者).
“She wanted something a little different on her leg: pictures of a cartoon she loved, Peppa Pig,” said Sophie, who is now based in London. So she designed a unique leg covered in tattoo-like images of Peppa and other pigs riding a bicycle and eating ice cream. Working with Hope made Sophie realize there was a potential market for limbs.
Since then, Sophie founded the Alternative Limb Project (ALP) to make artistic limbs. Her work includes an arm wrapped in sculpted snakes and a leg that looks like porcelain (瓷器) covered in a painted flowery vine. She makes about six limbs per year, always including clients’ ideas so that they receive a personal piece they can celebrate rather than hide.
Of course, a fancy-looking limb won't suit everyone. For Sophie, the basis is that each limb must satisfy a combination of comfort, beauty and functionality, and pushing too hard in one direction can weaken other areas. But for amputees who appreciate novelty, Sophie has some amazing ideas.
“I’d really like to make a candy-dispenser leg with colorful candies inside it” she says. “Or a cuckoo-clock leg with a wooden bird that pops out every hour.” Her goal is to fashion a striking limb.
“It’ll transform the limbs from an elephant in the room into a conversation piece.”
1. Why did Pollyanna Hope come to Sophie?| A．She hoped to have a tailored limb. |
| B．She intended to design a cartoon figure. |
| C．She longed to expand the market for limbs. |
| D．She expected to sell Sophie some odd ideas. |
| A．boost users’ confidence | B．sharpen users’ creativity |
| C．improve Sophie’s sculpture skills | D．extend Sophie’s art business |
| A．The novelty of the pattern tops the list. | B．The balance of multi-needs comes first. |
| C．Fashion is the best policy. | D．Functionality is the key. |
| A．Sophie resolves to lead the fashion of limbs. |
| B．Sophie plans to further transform artistic limbs. |
| C．Amputees will feel at ease to talk about limbs. |
| D．Amputees will have easy access to artistic limbs. |
2 . Some people today might be early risers because of DNA they take after Neanderthals tens of thousands of years ago, suggests new research.
When early humans migrated from Africa to Eurasia roughly 70,000 years ago, some of them mated with Neanderthals, who had already adapted to the colder, darker climates of the north. The ripple (涟漪) effects of that intermating still exist today: Modern humans of non- African ancestry (血统) have between 1 and 4 percent Neanderthal DNA. Some of that DNA relates to sleep more specifically, the internal body clock known as the circadian rhythm.
For the new study, researchers compared DNA from today’s humans and DNA from Neanderthal fossils (化石). In both groups, they found some of the same genetic variants involved with the circadian rhythm. And they found that modern humans who carry these variants also reported being early risers.
For Neanderthals, being “morning people” might not have been the real benefit of carrying these genes. Instead, scientists suggest, Neanderthals’ DNA gave them faster, more flexible internal body clocks, which allowed them to adjust more easily to annual changes in daylight. This connection makes sense in the context of human history. When early humans moved north out of Africa, they would have experienced variable daylight hours--shorter days in the winter and longer days in the summer-for the first time. The Neanderthals’ circadian rhythm genes likely helped early humans’ offspring (后代) adapt to this new environment.
Notably, the findings do not prove that Neanderthal genes are responsible for the sleep habits of all early risers. Lots of different factors beyond genetics can contribute, including social and environmental influences. The study also only included DNA from a database called the U.K. Biobank-so the findings may not necessarily apply to all modern humans. Next, the research team hopes to study other genetic databases to see if the same link holds true for people of other ancestries. If the findings do apply more broadly, they may one day be useful for improving sleep in the modern world, where circadian rhythms are disturbed by night shifts and glowing smartphones.
1. What does the new research focus on?| A．DNA’s dramatic changes. | B．Genes’ influence on early risers. |
| C．Neanderthals’ sleeping patterns. | D．Ancestors’ environmental adaptability. |
| A．Historical context. | B．Additional proof. |
| C．Sample analysis. | D．Studying process. |
| A．Getting up earlier. | B．Having healthier daily routines. |
| C．Being more flexible in their work. | D．Possessing a better circadian rhythm. |
| A．They get proof from other studies. | B．They are confirmed by early risers. |
| C．They suggest potential applications. | D．They reveal factors in sleeping disorders. |
3 . The backpack you take can make or break your trip when you go traveling. Here are the four best travel backpacks on the market.
Amazon Basics 70L
It’s much cheaper than many travel bags on the market and does not sacrifice any of the practical uses or space that comes with more expensive bags. The bag may not be as luxury as some of the more high-end bags, but its simple style lets you focus on the main thing you need to focus on when traveling: the moment.
Eurohike Nepal 65L
The Eurohike Backpack is a great choice because of how adaptable it is. Besides having a great amount of storage, it comes with an internal security pocket. It weighs just 1.38kg as opposed to other backpacks, which can weigh up to nearly 2kg. If you’re going to go hiking when you travel, then it is perfect.
Mountain Warehouse Tor 65L
First, its brand is one of the most trusted in the industry, so quality is guaranteed. Second, the backpack’s adjustable back allows you to change how the bag fits according to your needs. Available in both blue and green, this is a great choice if you want a bag that you can depend on.
Osprey Europe Farpoint 70L
Osprey is one of the best brands for backpacks. Its frame (框架) suspension, which can be adjusted to different needs, allows you to travel more comfortably. Whether you’re visiting Switzerland in a thick, wool coat or the south of France in shorts and a T-shirt, the bag will match your look. This bag does say it is marketed for men, but, of course, it can be unisex.
1. What is the selling point of the Amazon Basics?| A．Its luxury style. | B．Its fashionable design. |
| C．Its huge space for use. | D．Its good value for money. |
| A．They are rich in color. | B．They have the same capacity. |
| C．They can be adjusted as needed. | D．They are targeted for male customers. |
| A．Amazon Basics 70L. | B．Eurohike Nepal 65L. |
| C．Mountain Warehouse Tor 65L. | D．Osprey Europe Farpoint 70L. |
4 . In a small wooden sauna (蒸汽浴), a team of 14 people in costumes squeezed in, including one in a Spider-Man suit. Steam hovered overhead. Three minutes were on the clock. At exactly three minutes, everyone rushed out, found their robes and set out in the snow searching for the next stop in the winter race.
At the 13th European Sauna Marathon, teams dragged through ice and snow to clock three minutes in 18 different saunas over one afternoon. Each team is given a map and an electronic tracker to keep everyone honest on their three minutes. Some locations are nearly 30 miles away. At this year’s competition, in early February, I joined a team to complete the circuit, sweating through the steam and jumping into ice holes at top speed.
One of the competition categories is to vote on the best sauna experience. Participants vote by heat, music, snacks and novelty. This year’s winner was a sauna in the sky, equipped with a wood-burning stove lifted 50 feet in the air by an industrial crane while each team sweated inside. When the sauna hit the ground, a charming cowboy handed out ice-cold sweet drinks as a goodbye.
Most of the saunas are run by local enthusiasts, friendly families and businesses giving out pre-sauna beers and grilled meats. One was a hobbit house with a snowy roof slide that ended in an ice hole. Another served as part of the relief effort after this sauna competition.
This year registration sold out within two hours. The entries are capped at 200 teams. But organizers say they hold 40 places for teams from abroad to experience Estonian sauna culture. I made it to all the saunas, and my preference was beekeeper’s sauna with an ice hole. For my part, the whole journey is less marathon and more festival — celebrating all things sauna. It’s definitely worth a try after a whole day’s tiring work.
1. What can we know about the 13th European Sauna Marathon?| A．Participants are supposed to compete at will. |
| B．Participants are not permitted to team up with others. |
| C．Participants experience different saunas within one afternoon. |
| D．Participants wear identical clothes throughout the competition. |
| A．The content of the sauna competition. |
| B．Guidance on how to assess the sauna competition. |
| C．The author’s skills in excelling at the competition. |
| D．The author’s efforts to finish the sauna competition. |
| A．Panicked and frightened. | B．Satisfied and refreshed. |
| C．Astonished and embarrassed. | D．Fearful and sorrowful. |
| A．Life Style | B．Cultural Thinking | C．Sports Club | D．Fashion Costume |
5 . NASA (美国航空航天局) is looking for a new way to get its precious Mars samples back to the earth. Those samples are being collected by the Perseverance rover in Mars’Jezero Crater, which hosted a lake and a river delta billions of years ago. Getting the samples is one of NASA’s top science goals. Studying unspoiled Red Planet material in well-equipped labs around the world could reveal key insights into Mars, including whether it has ever hosted life.
The agency has had a Mars sample return (MSR) structure in place for some time now, but repeated delays and cost overruns seem to have made the original plan hard to realize. “The bottom line is that $ 11 billion is too much, and not returning samples until 2040 is unacceptably too long,” NASA chief Bill Nelson said during a call with reporters. That price tag is the upper-end estimate calculated by an independent review board. A team from within NASA analyzed those September results, determining that the agency won’t be able to get Perseverance’s samples back to Earth until 2040 with the established structure.
NASA is now seeking a new way forward in an attempt to cut costs and get the samples here sooner. Saving money will aid other agency science projects, and speeding up the timeline could help the agency plan out manned Mars trips.
The wheels on the new plan are already turning. NASA is asking the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California — its lead facility for robotic planetary exploration — and other agency research centers for innovative MSR ideas. NASA will hold an industry day and accept proposals. The goal is to have enough information on hand by late fall or early winter to begin charting a new path forward on MSR. MSR remains a top priority for NASA, despite the difficulty of the task. After all, no country has ever launched a rocket from the surface of another planet, though three countries have launched from the moon.
“I think it’s fair to say that we are committed to bring back the samples, for this is an important national objective.” Nelson said.
1. What’s the main function of paragraph 2?| A．To draw readers’ attention to this topic. |
| B．To warn the readers of a possible failure. |
| C．To stress the importance of Mars samples. |
| D．To introduce some background information. |
| A．Efficient. | B．Impractical. | C．Sensible. | D．Conservative. |
| A．The current method is costly and takes too long. |
| B．The current method is too risky and unreliable. |
| C．It takes a sophisticated container to convey the samples. |
| D．The samples have been spoiled and need to be handled differently. |
| A．NASA’s huge project |
| B．MSR, a promising plan |
| C．NASA’s Mars sample return plan calls for overall adjustments |
| D．NASA’s campaign to return Mars Samples to Earth is on hold |
6 . Iceberg Water, which is harvested from icebergs off the coast of Newfoundland Canada, is achieving new heights of popularity in North America.
Arthur, Von Wiesenberger who carries the title “Water Master”, is one of the few water critics in North America. As a boy, he spent time in the larger cities of Italy, France and Switzerland, where bottled water is consumed daily. Even then, he kept a water journal, noting the brands he liked best. “My dog could tell the difference between bottled and tap water.” He says.
But is plain tap water all that bad? Not at all. In fact. New York’s tap water for more than a century was called the champagne of tap water and until recently considered among the best in the world in terms of both taste and purity. Similarly, a magazine in England found that tap water from the Thames River tasted better than several leading brands of bottled water that were 400 times more expensive.
Nevertheless, soft-drink companies view bottled water as the next battle-ground for market share — despite the fact that over 25 percent of bottled water comes from tap water: Pepsi Co’s Aquafina and Coca-Cola’s Dasani are both purified tap water rather than spring water.
As diners thirst for leading brands, bottlers and restaurateurs are desperate for the profits. A restaurant’s typical mark-up (加价) on wine is 100 to 150 percent, whereas on bottled water it’s often 300 to 500 percent. But since water is much cheaper than wine, and many of the fancier brands aren’t available in stores, most diners don’t notice or care.
As a result, some restaurants are turning up the pressure to sell bottled water. According to an article in The Street Journal, some of the more shameless methods include placing attractive bottles on the table for a visual sell, listing brands on the menu without prices, and pouring bottled water without even asking the diners if they want it.
Regardless of how it’s sold, the popularity of bottled water taps into our desire for better health. our wish to appear cultivated, and even a longing for lost purity.
1. What is Arthur’s purpose in mentioning his dog in paragraph 2?| A．To indicate his own preference for bottled water. |
| B．To show the importance of bottled water to dogs. |
| C．To clarify the difference between bottled water and tap water. |
| D．To exhibit the large consumption of bottled water in big cities. |
| A．tap water from the Thames River |
| B．famous wines not sold in ordinary stores |
| C．PepsiCo’s Aquafina and Coca-Cola’s Dasani |
| D．pricey bottled water with very impressive names |
| A．Most diners find bottled water affordable. |
| B．Competition from the wine industry is fierce. |
| C．Bottled water can bring in huge profits. |
| D．Bottled water satisfies diners’ desire to be fashionable. |
| A．Tap water: why tastes better? | B．Bottled water: why so popular? |
| C．A new favorite of. restaurants; bottled water | D．A rising star: tap water |
7 . Officials in San Francisco are asking the public to help choose a waste container among several models proposed for mass deployment (部署) in the California city. It is proving to be a costly project. One of the trash cans under consideration cost more than $20,000 and took four years to make.
San Francisco began its search for the perfect public trash can in 2018. Officials decided it was time to replace the more than 3,000 cans that have served the city’s streets for almost 20 years. The current trash cans open too widely, they say, permitting people to reach in. The cans also break a lot, requiring repairs. Sometimes people push them over or mark them with words and pictures. Sometimes, the cans are set on fire.
Last month, the city deployed 15 made-to-order trash cans and 11 off-the-shelf trash cans. Attached to each was a QR code from which people could answer questions about the individual can. The city government project also created interactive maps so people can find the different models to consider. The so-called Soft Square model trash can was priced at $20,900, making it the most expensive model on the streets. It is made of light steel. A press of a pedal opens the can for hands-free operation. It has dividers so waste can be separated from materials for recycling, like aluminum and glass.
City officials say, however, that the government will not pay more than three-thousand per can once a model is chosen for mass production. Beth Rubenstein is a spokeswoman for San Francisco’s Department of Publie Works. “We live in a beautiful city, and we want(the trash can)to be functional and cost-effective, but it needs to be beautiful,” she said.
But the good looks of the shiny new trash cans have not protected them from vandalism and other disrespect. Three weeks after being deployed, several are overflowing, or covered in orange and white graffiti or dirty from coffee spills. Diane Torkelson volunteers on a team that removes trash from the streets near her home. She recently visited three of the proposed trash cans. Two were already full when the group arrived to inspect them, she said. “If the trash can is full, it’s of no use, no matter how well it was designed,” she said.
1. Why did San Francisco decide to replace the existing trash cans?| A．They are damaged beyond repair. | B．They are too small to hold the city's waste. |
| C．They have outlived their useful life. | D．They are difficult to clean and maintain. |
| A．The urban can replacement project. | B．The trash can QR code campaign. |
| C．The city-wide mapping initiative. | D．The pedal-operated container program. |
| A．Destruction of property. | B．Theft. |
| C．Illegal invasion. | D．Tagging. |
| A．Positive. | B．Negative. |
| C．Neutral. | D．Indifferent. |
8 . Late last year, in the days before the Dosakian election, a video featuring a well-known journalist and a key candidate circulated on social networks. However, it was absolutely fake (虚假的). The International Press Institute has called this episode in Dosakia the first time that AI deepfakes — fake images, or videos generated by artificial intelligence — have influenced a national election greatly.
Security experts consider misinformation the biggest global risk recently — more dangerous than war, and extreme weather events. A constant stream of people is wrestling with this issue. Now even economists are joining in.
Economist Iyan Smith, and others conduct a real-world experiment to see whether simple, low-cost nudges, or interventions, can be effective. Instead of focusing on the supply side of misinformation like social media platforms, they pay attention to the demand side: increasing our capacity to identify the fake information.
The economists split participants randomly into four different groups. One group was shown a video demonstrating a convincing journey of two people from two different social groups who, before interacting, express negative stereotypes (刻板印象) about the other’s group, overcoming their differences and ultimately regretting unthinkingly using stereotypes to dehumanize one another. Another group completed a personality test that shows them their cognitive traits (认知特点) causing prejudice, hoping to increase their self-awareness, and decrease their demand for misinformation. A third group did both while a control group did neither.
The economists find the simple intervention of showing the video makes the participants over 30 percent less likely to “consider fake news reliable”. But the personality test has little effect. As for participants doing both, they were about 31 percent less likely to view true headlines as reliable. In other words, they became so skeptical that even the truth became suspect.
Smith and his colleagues are far from the first scholars to fight misinformation by helping people to think more critically. University of Weymouth psychologist Lisa Kindle also advocates similar ways to help reject misinformation in the wild.
1. What does the author intend to do in the first two paragraphs?| A．Highlight the risk of AI deepfakes. | B．Discuss the global threat landscape. |
| C．Describe Dosakia’s election outcome. | D．Introduce the concept of misinformation. |
| A．The cognitive trait. | B．The short video. |
| C．The personality test. | D．The negative stereotype. |
| A．Videos reduce misinformation. | B．Deepfakes may discredit truth. |
| C．Misinformation causes dehumanization. | D．Personality tests sharpen thinking skills. |
| A．Battling Fake News | B．Deepfakes in Elections |
| C．The Spread of Misinformation | D．Expanding Thinking Capacity |
9 . Our brains process information differently: It's a good idea to talk to your children about the ways our minds function. Here are some picture books that teach children about neurodiversity(神经多样性).
My Brain is Magic: A Sensory Seeking Celebration
Prasha Sooful(Author), Geeta Ladi(Illustrator) Age: 5-9
A sensory-seeking child describes and celebrates their wonderful life in this book that highlights sensory processing and neurodiversity in a positive way for children to enjoy. Through the power of magic and imagination, different animals and insects represent sensory scenarios. The book includes a note for parents to help make sure their children's sensory needs are met.
Some Brains: A Book Celebrating Neurodiversity
Nelly Thomas(Author), Cat McInnes(Illustrator) Age: 4-8
Let's celebrate neurodiversity! This book does just that. Some Brains encourages readers to examine the strength and power of having a wonderfully unique brain! Additionally, MeInnes filled the pages with vividly inclusive illustrations so that children actually see the beauty of our diverse world.
Too Sticky: Sensory Issues With Autism(自闭症)
Jen Malia(Author), Joanne Lew-Vriethoff(Illustrator) Age: 4-8
Although Holly loves science experiments, she's unsure how she'll feel about making slime(烂泥) because it is sticky! Holly's family and teacher help her find accommodations, and she learns that slime isn't so bad after all. What's great about this book is that the author is a neurodivergent parent of three neurodivergent children, making this an essential "own voices" story to add to your collection.
Brilliant Bea
Shaina Rudolph and Mary Vukadinovich(Authors), Fiona Lee(Illustrator) Age: 4-8
Beatrice uses a tape recorder to tell stories because she can speak her words and say them back. She is dyslexic(读写障碍) and shows her classmates how using a tape recorder helps her learn and keep stories. Brilliant Bea is set in EasyReading, a dyslexia-friendly font.
1. Which book explores the idea of neurodiversity through a sensory seeking child's perspective?| A．Brilliant Bea |
| B．Too Sticky: Sensory Issues With Autism |
| C．Some Brains: A Book Celebrating Neurodiversity |
| D．My Brain is Magic: A Sensory Seeking Celebration |
| A．Ways to deal with different brain conditions. |
| B．The differences between normal brains and unique brains. |
| C．The importance of accepting neurodiversity. |
| D．Techniques for understanding the complexity of the brain. |
| A．Their main characters have a love for science. |
| B．They focus on kids with disabilities. |
| C．They emphasize the power of imagination. |
| D．They tell stories about celebrating neurodiversity. |
10 . Half of all people will have significant amounts of grey hair by the age of 50．If greying occurs before the age of 30, it is known as premature greying. Possible reasons for this happening:
·genetics
·long-term dieting
·lack of protein and nutrients
·extreme mental and emotional stress
·lack of iron, copper, zinc, and Vitamin B12
“If you color your hair too often with strong chemicals and put them on scalps (头皮) that are still growing, the cells in your hair might get damaged. This can change how melanocytes (生黑色素细胞) work. Because of this, they may stop making color earlier than normal,” says Trichologist and Director of Hari and Scalp Clinic, HairMantra, Dr Padmaja Redekar. She recommends yearly scalp check-ups should be as routine as annual medicals.
“At HairMantra, you will receive expert advice with solutions for your whole lifestyle, products and supplements for your hair problems, and a hair care routine to use at home. Call us today and balance your hair health from the inside out,” Padmaja adds.
1. What is considered a possible reason for grey hair showing up early?| A．Occasional dieting. |
| B．Genetic problems. |
| C．Extreme physical stress. |
| D．Insufficient protein and nutrient. |
| A．Coloring your hair as you wish. | B．Changing how melanocytes work. |
| C．Protecting the cells in your hair earlier. | D．Getting your scalp checked every year. |
| A．An encyclopedia. | B．A healthcare report. |
| C．An advertisement. | D．A medical brochure. |
