1 . We’ve had weather forecasts for decades. Forecasting our near-term health is far tougher. Yet knowing early that we may be coming down with the flu could be very helpful. The good news is that wearable technology, such as smartwatches, is beginning to provide such information. The smartwatch-like systems contain sensors that collect data.
Jessilyn Dunn is a biomedical engineer at Duke University in Durham. Her team asked 49 volunteers to wear wristbands before and after they received a cold or flu virus. At least once per second, these wristbands recorded heart rates, body movements skin temperatures and more. After analyzing the data, Dunn’s team found that in nine out of very ten volunteers, there were signs of developing illness at least a day before symptoms (症状) appeared.
The early warning, says Dunn, can head off severe symptoms that otherwise would send some people into hospitals. And knowing you’re sick before you have symptoms can warn you to lie low so you can reduce the chance of spreading your disease.
However, these systems aren’t yet ready for the real world, notes virologist Stacey Schultz-Cherry. “This is exciting but also very preliminary (初步的),” says Schultz-Cherry. “Much more work is needed before this approach can be rolled out on a larger scale.” One challenge is that many infections (感染) have analogous symptoms. Actually, besides viruses, many other things also lead to signs of a cold or the flu. Examples, Schultz-Cherry notes, include food poisoning and seasonal allergies (过敏反应). Likewise, heart rates also respond to things that have nothing to do with infections. Examples include exercise and scary movies.
Researchers expect continued improvement in prediction accuracy (准确性). Future models will show signs of developing illness. And researchers will adjust those models by analyzing how well they predict effects on thousands of people.
1. What did the research find out about wearable technology?| A．It tended to give wrong information. |
| B．It helped give early warnings of disease. |
| C．It kept track of people’s use of smartwatches. |
| D．It was likely to make people lead a stressful life. |
| A．They can reduce the harm caused by illness. |
| B．They will remind people to keep away from sick people. |
| C．They can give people the confidence to fight against illness. |
| D．They will encourage people to develop good living habits. |
| A．Clear. | B．Similar. | C．Mental. | D．Serious. |
| A．They can predict disease with high accuracy. |
| B．They can be used for checking various infections. |
| C．They may influence the normal heart rate of people. |
| D．They have a long way to go before being widely applied. |
2 . A key part of protecting endangered species is figuring out where they’re living. Using environmental DNA, or eDNA, to track species isn’t new. For a few years now, researchers have been using DNA in water.
Two teams of scientists — one in Denmark led by Dr Kristine Bohmann and one in the UK led by Dr Elizabeth Clare — came up with the same question at about the same time: Could they identify the animals in an area from DNA that was simply floating in the air? DNA in the air is usually so small that it would take a microscope to see it. “I thought the chances of collecting animal DNA from air would be slim though much time had been spent on it, but we moved on,” said Bohmann who was trying to think of a crazy research idea for a Danish foundation that funds far-out science.
One team collected samples from different locations at Denmark’s Copenhagen Zoo, and the other at Hamerton Zoo Park in the UK. Clearly, they both chose the zoos. “We realized we have the Copenhagen Zoo,” Bohmann recalls. In fact, both the zoos in the UK and Denmark were almost like the zoos that were custom-built for the experiments: The animals in the zoos were non-native, so they really stuck out in DNA analyses. “If we detect a flamingo (火烈鸟), we’re sure it’s not coming from anywhere else but the zoo,” Bohmann says.
In the laboratory, by comparing their samples with examples of DNA from different animals, the scientists succeeded in identifying many different animals at the zoos.
Neither team knew that the other team was working on a similar experiment. The two were nearing submission to a scientific journal when they discovered about the other experiment. Rather than compete to rush out a publication first, they got in touch and decided to publish their findings as a pair. “We both thought the papers are stronger together,” says Clare.
“The next step is to figure out how to take this method into nature to track animals that are hard to spot, including endangered animals,” says Bohmann.
1. What did Bohmann initially think of the experiment?| A．It could be a failure. | B．It wouldn’t take long. | C．It wasn’t original. | D．It would cost much. |
| A．They raised many rare animals there. | B．The zoos were specially built for them. |
| C．They could collect enough animal DNA. | D．They could recognize animals confidently. |
| A．Competitive. | B．Inseparable. | C．Cooperative. | D．Casual. |
| A．Research Teams Test DNA in Nature | B．DNA in the Air Helps identify Animals |
| C．Different Zoos Conduct DNA Studies | D．eDNA Protects Endangered Animals |
3 . Study Abroad Scholarships to Apply for in 2024
Found the perfect study abroad program, but don’t know how to pay for it? Fortunately, here are some study abroad scholarship opportunities for students looking to take their studies overseas!
Trenchard Cox ScholarshipAll you have to do is write two 400-word reasoned descriptions: one on a work of art you love and one that you hate. The scholarship, established in memory of Sir Trenchard Cox, awards the winner an Art History Abroad 2-week summer course in Venice.
Requirement: At least 16 and no older than 18 years of age
Deadline: March 1, 2024
Arcadia Abroad Scholarships & Financial AidDid you know that Arcadia Abroad provides financial aid to around 70% of students who apply for it? It values equity, diversity, and inclusivity when awarding scholarships. Students who apply for scholarships will need to write a 300-word essay.
Requirement: Must be included in an Arcadia Abroad program
Award: $ 500-$ 2,500
Deadline: February 1, 2024
AIFS Study Abroad Scholarships, Grants & Financial SupportWe believe a study abroad experience is an important part of well-rounded university education and we are committed to providing financial help to as many students as possible. AIFS also offers internship (实习期) and study abroad + internship mixed programs to support the development of personal and professional skills.
Award: $ 500- $ 5,000
Deadline: June 1, 2024
American Association of University Women(AAUW) Fellowships & GrantsThe AAUW supports women searching for a variety of graduate academic opportunities. There are no barriers (障碍) to full participation in this organization. Preference is given to those who show great interest in the advancement of girls and women.
Requirement: Women only
Award:$ 2,000- $ 50,000
Deadline: November 15, 2024
1. What is required to apply for Trenchard Cox Scholarship?| A．Being over 18 years of age. | B．Fluency in English and Italian. |
| C．Two 400-word essays on artworks. | D．A member of the Art History Abroad summer course. |
| A．Trenchard Cox Scholarship. |
| B．Arcadia Abroad Scholarships & Financial Aid. |
| C．AIFS Study Abroad Scholarships, Grants & Financial Support. |
| D．American Association of University Women(AAUW)Fellowships & Grants. |
| A．A freshman suffering economically. | B．A graduate needing internship abroad. |
| C．An art student from a developing country. | D．A female student devoted to women education. |
4 . If you are crazy about paintings, you shouldn’t miss the following four famous masterpieces which have stood the test of time.
The Arnolfini Portrait
Jan van Eyck’s Arnolfini Portrait, an oil painting on wood produced in 1434, in which a man and a woman hold hands with a window behind him and a bed behind her, is undoubtedly one of the masterpieces in the National Gallery, London. This painting is as visually interesting as it is famed. It is also an informative document in fifteenth-century society, through Van Eyck’s heavy use of symbolism—while husbands went out to engage in business, wives concerned themselves with domestic duties.
The Starry Night
Vincent van Gogh painted The Starry Night, oil on canvas, a moderately abstract landscape painting of an expressive night sky over a small hillside village, during his 12-month stay at the mental hospital near Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France between 1889 and 1890. When the Museum of Modern Art in New York City purchased the painting from a private collector in 1941, it was not well known, but it has since become one of Van Gogh’s most famous works.
The Harvesters
The Harvesters is an oil painting on wood completed by Pieter Bruegel the Elder in 1565. It depicts the harvest time which most commonly occurs within the months of August and September. Nicolaes Jonghelinck, a merchant banker and art collector from Antwerp, commissioned this painting. The painting has been at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City since 1919.
Guernica
Guernica, a large black-and-white oil painting, was painted by the Cubist Spanish painter, Pablo Picasso in 1937. The title “Guernica” refers to the city that was bombed by Nazi planes during the Spanish Civil War. The painting depicts the horrors of war and as a result, has come to be an anti-war symbol and a reminder of the tragedies of war. Today, the painting is housed at the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofaí in Madrid.
1. Which of the following paintings was produced earliest?| A．The Arnolfini Portrait. | B．The Starry Night. |
| C．The Harvesters. | D．Guernica. |
| A．It was painted on wood in oil. |
| B．It wasn’t widely recognized before 1940s. |
| C．It described the painter’s life in hospital. |
| D．It was given away to the museum by a private collector. |
| A．Pieter Bruegel the Elder. | B．Vincent van Gogh. |
| C．Jan van Eyck. | D．Pablo Picasso. |
5 . A study has found that smiling at London bus drivers increases their happiness. The finding feels obvious and unexpected at the same time. For decades, passengers and drivers in London greet each other in an unfriendly mood; any affection feels disgust. While, the authors of the research, which was conducted by the University of Sussex and others, hope it will lead to “more interaction and kindness on buses”. However, Londoners are sceptical.
It might seem impossible that a report on London’s buses could change behaviour. But it has happened before. London’s buses have an underappreciated role in the history of medical science. In the 1940s, a single study of London’s transport workers transformed epidemiology(流行病学), medicine and the way we live now. Every time you go on a run, check your steps, or take the stairs instead of the lift, you are following a path established by the feet of the workers on London’s buses.
In the late 1940s, Britain, like many rich countries, was suffering from an “epidemic” of heart disease and no one knew why. Various hypotheses (猜想), such as stress, were suggested; but no one noticed exercise. The idea that health and exercise were linked “wasn’t the accepted fact that we know today”: Some even felt that “too much physical activity was a bad thing for your health”.
At this time, Jerry Morris started to suspect that the too many deaths from heart disease might be linked to occupation. He began studying the medical records of 31,000 London transport workers. His findings were breathtaking: conductors, who spent their time running up and down stairs, had an approximately 30% lower incidence of disease than drivers. He also looked at postal workers, and found a similar pattern: postmen had far lower rates of disease than telephonists.
Morris’s research was eventually published in 1953, and his work had consequences both big and small. Morris now took up exercise, handing his jacket to his daughter and just running. “People initially thought I went bananas.” But slowly, the rest of the world took off its jacket and followed.
1. What impact did the study of London’s transport workers in the 1940s have on the field of medicine?| A．It led to the discovery of a new virus. |
| B．It proved the main cause of heart disease. |
| C．It showed the relationship between exercise and health. |
| D．It corrected the misunderstanding of London bus drivers. |
| A．By carrying out a survey. | B．By study their occupation. |
| C．By analyzing the medical data. | D．By doing medical examination. |
| A．Falling ill. | B．Saving energy. |
| C．Starting running. | D．Becoming crazy. |
| A．How to Increase Drivers’ Happiness |
| B．How to Transform the Way We Live |
| C．How Exercise Influenced Heart Health |
| D．How London Bus Drivers Led the World to Exercise |
6 . For Caribbean box jellyfish (水母), learning is literally a no-brainer.
In a new experiment, these animals learned to spot and avoid obstacles (障碍物) despite having no central brain, researchers report in Current Biology. This is the first evidence that jellyfish can make mental connections between events and change their behavior accordingly. “Maybe learning doesn’t need a very complex nervous system, but rather, learning is an essential part of nerve cells,” says Jan Bielecki, a neuroethologist at Kiel University in Germany. If so, the new finding could help trace how learning evolved in animals.
Bielecki and his colleagues wondered if Caribbean box jellyfish could learn that low-contrast objects, which might at first seem distant, were actually close by. The team put 12 jellyfish into a round tank surrounded by low-contrast, gray and white stripes. A camera filmed the animals’ behavior for about seven minutes.
At first, the jellyfish seemed to interpret the gray stripes as distant roots and swam into the tank wall. But those collisions (碰撞) seemed to lead the jellyfish to treat the gray stripes more like close roots in dirty water, and the animals started avoiding them. The jellies’ average distance from the tank wall increased from about 2.5 centimeters in the first couple of minutes to about 3.6 centimeters in the final couple of minutes. Their average collisions into the wall dropped from 1.8 per minute to 0.78 per minute.
“I found that really amazing,” says Nagayasu Nakanishi, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, who has studied jellyfish nervous systems but was not involved in the new work. “I never thought jellyfish could really learn.”
Neurobiologist Björn Brembs views the results more cautiously, noting the small number of jellyfish tested and the variability in their performance. “I want this to be true, as it would be very cool,” says Brembs. Experiments with more jellyfish could convince him that the animals really do learn.
1. What can we know about the jellyfish in paragraph 2?| A．They can avoid obstacles with a central brain. |
| B．They can change their behaviour after evolution. |
| C．They may have learning abilities with nerve cells. |
| D．They may develop a very complex nervous system. |
| A．They completely ignored the gray stripes. |
| B．They gradually started avoiding the gray stripes. |
| C．They could avoid collisions if given enough time. |
| D．They increased their collisions with the tank wall. |
| A．Jellyfish preferred the gray stripes over other things. |
| B．Jellyfish were unable to learn from their environment. |
| C．Jellyfish relied on the distant objects to change their behavior. |
| D．Jellyfish showed a learning process and adjusted their behavior. |
| A．He believes more testing is needed to confirm the results. |
| B．He is excited by the potential implications of the findings. |
| C．He dismisses the findings as irrelevant to jellyfish behavior. |
| D．He is doubtful due to the consistent performance of the jellyfish. |
7 . In our family, the presents we gave one another were almost always homemade. I thought that was the definition of a gift: something you made for someone else. We made all our Christmas gifts: piggy banks from old bottles, and puppets from retired socks. It didn’t seem like a hardship to me; it was something special.
My father loves wild strawberries, so for Father’s Day my mother would almost always make him strawberry cakes. While we kids were responsible for the berries, we each got an old jar and spent the Saturday before the celebration in the fields, filling it as more ended up in our mouths. Finally, we returned home and poured them out on the kitchen table to sort out the bugs. I’m sure we missed some, but Dad never mentioned the extra protein.
In fact, he thought that was the best possible present, or so he had us convinced. It was a gift that could never be bought. As children raised by strawberries, we were probably unaware that the gift of berries was from the fields themselves, not from us. Our gift was time, attention, care and “red” fingers.
Gifts from the earth or from each other establish a particular relationship, a duty of sorts to give, to receive, and to exchange. The field gave to us, we gave to my dad, and we tried to give back to the strawberries. When the berry season was done, the plants would send out its red runners to make new plants. So I would weed out little fields of ground where the runners touched down. Sure enough, tiny little roots would emerge from the runner and by the end of the season there were even more plants, ready to bloom under the next strawberry season. No person taught us this — the strawberries showed us. Because they had given us a gift, an ongoing relationship opened between us.
1. What is the author’s belief about a gift?| A．It should be practical and valuable. | B．It should be luxurious and special. |
| C．It should be purchased from a store. | D．It should be made with personal effort. |
| A．Making strawberry cakes. | B．Finding the sweetest strawberries. |
| C．Going strawberry picking. | D．Baking strawberry cookies. |
| A．Making homemade gifts for her father. |
| B．Devoting time and attention to the plant. |
| C．Waiting for the strawberries to get ripe again. |
| D．Searching for fields for the plants to take roots. |
| A．How to cook with strawberries. |
| B．The importance of giving and receiving. |
| C．How to cherish homemade gifts. |
| D．The procedure of growing strawberries. |
8 . French parenting isn’t perfect, but there’s a lot we can learn from this kind but no-nonsense style of parenting.
French children are allowed to handle difficult things themselves.
Fearful of hurting feelings, American parents tend to praise every child for everything.
Painful experiences are the best learning opportunities and sheltering children from this fact of life will merely delay their emotional development. French doctors never say “sorry” when giving kids shots. The French believe undergoing hurts, is part of life and that there’s no reason to apologize for that.
Plus, the expectation of eye contact and a polite hello starts from the minute French children can say hello. They know saying “hello” and good manners are non-negotiable. Teaching them about that will benefit them for a lifetime.
All the above feels easier said than done, especially as a tired parent facing an intolerable child.
| A．They mean what they say. |
| B．This isn’t to say it’ll come easily. |
| C．It might save tears in the short term. |
| D．They wish children to suffer sometimes. |
| E．Bearing a few blow-ups is worthwhile, though. |
| F．Parents have to spare them such psychological discomfort. |
| G．“Me do it!” is little kids’ favorite phrase and for good reason. |
9 . There are a lot of strategies for visiting a museum and avoiding “museum tiredness”. Consider what is mentioned below in planning.
Regardless of a museum’s size, you’ll get tired quickly if you try to look closely at every object displayed. Likewise, most museums provide lots of information about the objects on view. So don’t try to read everything.
Some people recommend setting a specific amount of time for your visit (1 or 2 hours).
| A．You’ll likely meet with two types of labels. |
| B．You are sure to make the most of your experience. |
| C．It’s always a good idea to stop by the information desk. |
| D．It would also be wise to plan frequent breaks in the galleries. |
| E．Note that these might not be artworks that you find appealing. |
| F．If you live near, consider frequent visits to the changed exhibitions. |
| G．These aim to give information not always obvious about the artwork. |
10 . If you’re one of those people who like to use apps to kill time, you’re not alone. Here are some apps for you to try out and have fun.
Duolingo
Learning a foreign language doesn’t always mean you have to sit in a class and take endless exams. An app named Duolingo has been designed to help you memorize new words and grammar in creative ways, such as online lessons, games, and interesting exercises. For example, you can practice what you’ve learned by working on translations of real-world texts from other websites. Other Duolingo users can then rate these translations and pick out the best one.
Douban FM
There is no playlist on Douban FM — songs just keep playing one by one. You can use the “heart” “trash” and “skip” buttons to mark the songs you like, don’t like and want to cut short, respectively (分别地). Those marked with a heart will be stored in another list as your favorites for you to tune in to anytime you want.
It is one of the hottest news apps right now. As US TV host Oprah Winfrey explained, with Flipboard, “you can find fresh ideas about living your best life, flip (翻动) through photos, discover a recipe to make tonight, get expert advice, and be inspired by quote collections.”
That might not sound much different from a regular magazine or newspaper. But the difference with Flipboard is that you can make everything personal to you. All you have to do is open up the app, “flip through” to select whatever interests you, and click the “+” button.
At the end you’ll have your own magazine, complete with a front page, news articles, and information.
1. What is Duolingo mainly used for?| A．Playing online games. | B．Body-building exercises. |
| C．Learning foreign languages. | D．Prạcticing translation skills. |
| A．Songs you like. | B．Songs you dislike. |
| C．Songs you want to cut short. | D．Songs you want to keep in the list. |
| A．It provides fresh ideas. | B．It helps discover a good recipe. |
| C．Users can get expert advice from it. | D．Users can make a personal magazine with it. |
