1 . London native, Bodhana first became interested in chess to beat back boredom. Just five years old at the time, she quickly surpassed (超越) her father’s chess playing ability and began playing, and winning, in online chess games. Three years later, Bodhana made history as the top female chess player in Europe after she defeated grandmasters many times her age at the European Rapid & Blitz Chess Championship in December 2023.

Sivanandan Velayutham, Bodhana’s father, said that his daughter first became fascinated with chess at the age of five, when he brought home a second-hand chess set. Bodhana happened to see the knight (武士) lying around and it caught her interest. “I want the horse,” she told her father.

Bodhana’s father was happy to help and he taught her the chess basics that he’d learned in India. But it didn’t take long for his preschool daughter to beat him. “At the start, I might have won one or two games, but she soon knew the rules better than me and the tables quickly turned,” Velayutham said.

From the beginning, Bodhana strengthened what her father was teaching her with games and methods that she learned from YouTube videos. But when it became clear that she had a lasting interest and an unusual talent, her father enrolled in a local chess club for her, where she soon fell into the habit of practicing daily for an hour or more.

Last year, at one of Bodhana’s first ever tournament experiences, which was hosted by the English Chess Federation, she defeated a number of grandmasters.

A year later, Bodhana won the World Youth Chess Championship in the Under-8 Girls category. After defeating kids at her age, a few months later she went back to beating adults.

BBC shared Bodhana’s win at the European Blitz Chess Championship in December of 2023. There, she earned the title of best female player, scoring8.5/13, and earning widespread praise from other game masters.

1. What can be learned about Bodhana in paragraph 1?

A．Her considerate family.	B．Her amazing chess talent.
C．Her great luck in her career.	D．Her powerful self-study ability.

2. What caused Bodhana’s interest in chess in the first place?

A．Her father’s encouragement.	B．The interesting rules of chess.
C．An animal-shaped chess piece.	D．Education received in preschool.

3. What can we infer from paragraph 3?

A．Bodhana made her father lose face.	B．Bodhana’s father collected used chess.
C．Bodhana was sent to India to learn chess.	D．Bodhana’s father used to live abroad.

4. What made Bodhana start playing chess regularly?

A．Joining a local chess club.	B．Learning chess rules online.
C．Defeating a number of grandmasters.	D．Meeting with a second-hand chess set.

2 . Top Technology Products at CES 2024

One of the world’s largest technology events, CES, is taking place this week in Las Vegas, Nevada. Here is a look at some top products presented at CES 2024.

Robot that adds walking power

WIRobotics introduced a wearable robot that provides walking assistance to users. The company’s WIM model is designed for anyone who needs an extra “push” when walking. An online description explains the robot can help individuals “walk farther, faster and healthier”. The price for such assistance is high, though, with the WIM selling for about $2,500.

Body power to charge a phone

Sports equipment developer LifeSpan introduced an exercise bicycle/desk combination that uses human power to charge phones or other devices. The Ampera bike is designed to be used with a “standing” desk table. LifeSpan says the bike can produce up to 65 watts of electricity per hour.

Home-made ice cream in 2 minutes

The ColdSnap company introduced a machine that can make single servings of ice cream in about two minutes. The machine uses small containers, called pods, just like Keurig coffeemakers. The company points out the pods for its ColdSnap machine can be kept at room temperature, saving energy costs. The machines can be taken anywhere and are simple to operate.

Smart mirror for better mental health

French health product developer Baracoda presented what it described as “the world’s first AI-powered smart mirror for mental wellness.” The company’s BMind model is built to work in any bathroom. The product was designed to use cameras and sensors to collect data on a person's movements , expressions and language. It can identify a user’s moods (心情) and sense other possible mental health issues.

1. What do the first product and the second one have in common?

A．They are expensive.	B．They are related to sports.
C．They can produce power.	D．They can make walking easier.

2. What can you do with AI-powered smart mirror?

A．Maintain a good mood.	B．Make bathing more comfortable.
C．Improve your image gradually.	D．Find your mental health problems.

3. Which product will you choose if you’re interested in cooking?

A．The robot that adds walking power.	B．The Ampera bike.
C．The home-made ice cream machine.	D．The AI-powered smart mirror.

3 . When I was young, my dad would always play music in the house. I’d dance to Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. Whenever he played Tritsch-Tratsch Polka, I’d grab my skipping ropes and skip to the beat. I’d request Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata when I was getting ready for bed. Listening to classical music was part of my daily routine. I eventually learned how to play the piano.

After I had my own daughter, I was excited to introduce her to classical music. However, this excitement soon led to disappointment as no matter what piece I chose, she would not listen.

Then one day in October, everything changed. My daughter came home and announced, “I want to dress up as a bumblebee (大黄蜂) for Halloween. Can you make me a costume, Mom?” Of course, I agreed to sew her a bumblebee costume. But at the same time, the bumblebee gave me an idea.

I worked all week on the costume. On Halloween night, my daughter put the costume on and looked in the mirror. Her eyes lit up.

She began making buzzing noises (嗡嗡声)— and I was ready. “Can you fly like a bumblebee?” I asked. As she began to buzz around the room, I quickly started playing Flight of the Bumblebee.

As the fast-paced violin music began, my daughter buzzed around to the music. She never stopped moving.

When the music came to its final bars, my daughter shouted, “Play it again, Mom!” So I played it again.

Since that night, classical music has become more prevalent (普遍的) in our household. Eventually, she learned how to play the violin and guitar.

I still have that costume stored away in a special box. I hope to pass it on to my grandchildren one day and see what happens.

1. What does the author intend to show by mentioning the music works in paragraph 1?

A．Their impact on her.	B．Their lasting popularity.
C．Her favorite classical music pieces.	D．Her dad’s vast collection of music records.

2. What is the underlined part “an idea” in paragraph 3 about?

A．Teaching my daughter a bumblebee dance.

B．Reintroducing classical music to my daughter.

C．Making my daughter a nice bumblebee costume.

D．Spending a meaningful Halloween with my daughter.

3. How did the daughter respond to Flight of the Bumblebee?

A．Calmly.

B．Hesitantly.

C．Enthusiastically.

D．Halfheartedly.

4. Why does the author keep the bumblebee costume?

A．As evidence of her sewing skills.	B．To let it play its magic on her grand-kids.
C．As a Halloween gift for her future grand-kids.	D．To remind her of a happy holiday experience.

4 . In online meetings, it’s easy to keep people from talking over each other. Someone just hits the mute (静音) button. But for the most part, this ability doesn’t translate easily to recording in-person meetings. In a cafe, there are no buttons to silence the table beside you.

The ability to locate and manage sound —separating one person talking from a specific location in a crowded room, for example — has challenged researchers, especially without the help of cameras.

A team led by researchers at the University of Washington has developed a shape-changing smart speaker, which can divide rooms into speech areas and track the position s of individual speakers. With the help of the team’s deep-learning AI model, the system lets users mute certain areas or separate simultaneous (同时的) conversations, even if two people have similar voices. In a room meeting, such a system might be used instead of a central microphone, allowing better control of in-room sound.

“If I close my eyes and there are10 people talking in a room, I have no idea who’s saying what and where they are in the room exactly. That’s very intractable for the human brain to process. Until now, it’s also been hard for technology,” said co-lead author Malek Itani. “For the first time, we’re able to track the positions of different people talking in a room and separate their speech.” Early research has required using overhead cameras, projectors or special surfaces. The new system is the first to use only sound.

Instead of processing the sound in the cloud, as most smart speakers do, the new system processes all the sound locally. And even though some people’s first thoughts may be about observation, the system can be used for the opposite, the team says.

“It can actually benefit privacy, beyond what current smart speakers allow,” Itani said. “I can say, ‘Don’t record anything around my desk,’ and our system will create a bubble 3 feet around me. Nothing in this bubble would be recorded.”

1. What did the research team focus on?

A．Allowing real-time communication by AI.

B．Developing Al-powered language models.

C．Lowering the background noise of conversations.

D．Tracking and controlling sound in crowded settings.

2. What does the underlined word “intractable” in Paragraph 4 mean?

A．Dangerous.	B．Natural.
C．Difficult.	D．Necessary.

3. Which of the following can best describe the new system?

A．Educational.	B．Influential.
C．Pioneering.	D．Costly.

4. What is the advantage of the new system according to Itani?

A．It records nearby conversations.

B．It offers improved privacy protection.

C．It deadens the noise in a particular space.

D．It includes simultaneous translation service.

5 . Felicia Jackson was certified in CPR, but that didn’t stop her from drawing a blank in the face of a real-life crisis. When her son stopped breathing in the back seat of her car, she froze in panic. Thankfully, her husband remained calm and was able to save their child. However, Felicia was shaken to find that, with all her years of medical experience, she wasn’t able to respond to her son’s emergency under pressure.

This unpleasant situation inspired Felicia to come up with a simple tool to make performing CPR easier, especially in high-risk situation. She created the CPR Wrap, a pocket-sized packaging device that can be laid over the body of the victim to show where the rescuer should put their hands and mouth. Not only does the product provide helpful instructions, but it also includes a face shield (挡板) and a one-way breathing barrier. This cuts down on the transfer of germs while performing mouth-to-mouth.

“Even people experienced in CPR can forget their training in stressful situations,” reads the description on the product’s website. “CPR Wrap makes it possible for those individuals to effectively perform CPR at a moment’s notice.”

Although that CPR Wrap was launched in 2017, one video on the TikTok account has recently gone viral. In the video, Felicia shows viewers the simple process of using her product to perform CPR. She adds that it’s “so easy a child could do it.” The brand now boasts over 100,000 followers and 2 million likes.

Felicia Jackson is the inventor, founder, and CEO of CPR Wrap. Her son’s near-death experience inspired her to become the entrepreneur (企业家) she is today. After receiving her A.A.S in Physical Therapy in 2018, she continued to pursue education. She graduated from Launch of Chattanooga Entrepreneurial Academy in 2020 and established the Colab Accelerator Program in 2021. She and her husband now have three children. Felicia hopes to pass on her entrepreneurial spirit to her children so they may one day start businesses of their own.

1. How did Felicia feel about her reaction to her son’s near-death experience?

A．It’s touching.	B．It’s convincing.
C．It’s shocking.	D．It’s irresponsible.

2. Why did Felicia invent the device CPR Wrap?

A．To establish her own business.

B．To help others be prepared for emergency.

C．To improve professionals’ first aid skills.

D．To rescue her son in a high-risk situation.

3. What is Felicia’ CPR Wrap like?

A．Cheap and flexible.	B．Attractive and accurate.
C．Eco-friendly and simple.	D．Portable and user-friendly.

4. What does the author mainly try to show in the last paragraph?

A．Felicia’s achievements.	B．Felicia’s hope for children.
C．Felicia’s early experience.	D．Felicia’s son’s impact on her.

6 . A man paralyzed (瘫痪的) in 2011 has regained the ability to stand and walk with the help of implants (植入物) placed in his brain and spinal cord.

The patient, Gert-Jan Oskam, was told he would never walk again after a biking accident. Now, using the implants, “we’ve read the thoughts of Oskam and translated these thoughts into stimulation (刺激) of the spinal cord to reestablish voluntary movement,” said Grégoire Courtine, a neuroscientist in Switzerland.

The technology enables natural control over the movements of Oskam’s legs and he can walk and stand without support. “Months ago, I was able, for the first time after over ten years, to stand up and have a beer with my friends,” Oskam says. “That was pretty cool.”

The new technique involved placing two implants in Oskam’s brain. When he wants to move, the implants read his brain signals and send that information to sensors on a device on his head. A computer uses these signals to predict how Oskam intends to move, then turns his intentions into commands and sends these commands to another implant in the spinal cord. Finally, the spinal implant stimulates Oskam’s muscles according to his intended movement. Through this “digital bridge”, the researchers re-opened a line of communication between Oskam’s brain and spinal cord.

For now, the device is still at the experimental stage. Next, the researchers would like to be able to make the device’s hardware, which Oskam carries in a backpack, more compact (小巧). Harvey Sihota, CEO of the U.K. Charity Spinal Research, says the technology still has a long way to go before becoming available to the public, but the results are “very encouraging”.

1. How might Oskam feel after the implants were put in?

A．Cheerful.	B．Secure.
C．Disappointed.	D．Uncomfortable.

2. What provides direct stimulation to Oskam’s muscles in the new technique?

A．The brain implants.	B．Sensors on his head.
C．A computer.	D．The spinal implant.

3. What are the researchers most likely to do next concerning the device?

A．Mass-produce it.	B．Improve its hardware.
C．Explore its other functions.	D．Test it on a larger sample size.

4. What can be the best title for the text?

A．Brain Implants Cure Paralyzed Man Completely

B．Paralyzed Man Walks Again Using His Thoughts

C．Digital Bridge Connects Paralyzed Men Closely

D．New Technology Offers Hope For Biking Accident Victims

7 . Theatre Camps & Classes in Vancouver

Beach House Theatre

We have a group of creative and talented theatre industry members whose productions offer the campers a cultural, artistic experience at Crescent Beach. The purpose of setting the production in the area is to inspire the artistically minded youth and to expose theatre-goers to the special beauty of the beach.

Place des Arts

Classes and private lessons run from September to June or during fall (Sep-Dec), winter (Jan-Mar) and spring(Apr-Jun) sessions for all ages and skill levels. Experience music, visualarts, literary arts and theatre arts with us. We also offer art camps for children during the spring break and over the summer. All classes and lessons are taught by highly skilled working professionals. Class sizes are based on the needs of the content.

CFA

Our goal is to raise joyful children through performing arts. We believe that an actual professional theatre production is the best platform for the children to best experience performing arts. Every year, we produce a grand children’s musical production and we do not charge the children while there’s a huge production cost behind (professional tech, lighting, sound, sets, costumes, make-up, production meetings etc).

H. R. MacMillan Space Centre

We bring the wonders of space to Earth. Through creative programming, exhibits and activities, our goal is to inspire interest in the fields of Earth science and space science. Lean back in your seat and you’ll experience planets, meteor showers, black holes, galaxies and various other wonders. With its shows and content being updated all the time, there is something for everyone in the centre.

1. What can participants do at Beach House Theatre?

A．Give performances with professionals.

B．Appreciate art in the natural environment.

C．Offer advice on the theater’s improvement.

D．Explore Crescent Beach through guided tours.

2. How is Place des Arts different from the other camps?

A．It is free of charge.	B．It hires some famous artists.
C．It has flexible courses.	D．It offers theatre arts experiences.

3. Which one is probably most suitable for an astronomy lover?

A．Beach House Theatre.	B．Place des Arts.
C．CFA.	D．H. R. MacMillan Space Centre.

8 . Scientists are now digging into precisely why exercise holds so many benefits for our mental health and memory. The answer, studies say, lies in our brain chemistry.

Each time you work up a sweat, your body releases feel-good happy hormones (荷尔蒙), including endorphins, dopamine and endocannabinoids, the latter being responsible for the so-called runner’s high. Now researchers are also pointing to myokines (肌肉因子) as an important contributor to the mental health benefits of exercise. When our muscles contract, myokines are released into the bloodstream, helping your muscles and organs communicate. They think this communication increases resilience to stress, reduces symptoms of mental suffering and anxiety and has a direct effect on depression.

A 2021 scientific report published in Neuropharmacology showed evidence that myokines boost brain function, like improving memory and mood. “Myokines reduce systemic inflammation (炎症), which is especially beneficial for people with drug-resistant depression whose low mood is linked to high inflammation,” explains Dr Jennifer Heisz, an expert in brain health and associate professor in the department of kinesiology at McMaster University in Canada.

A recent study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine showed that treatment for depression can be much more effective when physical activity is added to the usual care. Participants found benefits after 12 weeks of exercising for 30 to 60 minutes a day. “While exercise is not a replacement for professional mental health treatment, physical activity can complement and enhance the effects of the treatment,” says lead researcher Ben Singh, a research fellow at the University of South Australia.

“It is amazing to consider how moving our bodies can heal our minds,” says Heisz. Whether you’re cycling, walking around your neighbourhood or doing yoga, getting sweaty is good for your body and mind. To get the biggest overall health boost, the key is to zero in on sports and activities you enjoy, so you’ll keep going back to them.

1. How do myokines boost our mental health?

A．By bonding muscles with organs.

B．By slowing down our bloodstream.

C．By contracting muscles through the body.

D．By releasing happy hormones in our brain.

2. What is Ben Singh’s attitude towards physical activity in treatment for depression?

A．Doubtful.	B．Negative.
C．Uncertain	D．Approving.

3. What does the underlined phrase “zero in on” in the last paragraph mean?

A．Adapt to.	B．Give up.
C．Focus on.	D．Put off.

4. How does the author develop the text?

A．By making comparisons.

B．By presenting research findings.

C．By offering suggestions.

D．By conducting some experiments.

9 . If you decide to see the northern lights, consider heading to Canada, where they fill the sky 300 days a year in certain regions.

Yukon

With its sweeping landscapes and dramatic mountain views, Yukon is an outdoor lover’s dreamland. Take advantage of the brief window between the end of summer and first snowfall in autumn to combine outdoor activities like boating along the storied Yukon River with northern light watching.

Churchill

Home to wolves, foxes, whales, moose and snowy owls, Churchill is well known for its arctic wildlife. It also sees an average of 300 nights of northern light activity every year. With over a week in the wild, there’s a good chance you’ll spot the lights.

Nunavik

Nunavik is Quebec’s northernmost region and one of four areas in Canada. It is home to the country’s Inuit people. By day, travelers canoe or snowmobile to Vieux Fort-Chimo, a 19th-century fur trading post; hear elders tell stories of a nomadic (游牧的) way of life; and listen to traditional throat singing, or katadjak — all led by an Inuit guide. Under inky skies, the guide offers Inuit insights into the meaning of the light.

Jasper

Located in the Rocky Mountains, Jasper is home to the world’s second-largest dark sky preserve, making it one of the best — and most convenient — places to catch northern lights throughout the year.

An especially great time to visit is during the annual Jasper Dark Sky Festival in October when experienced photographers from around the world host workshops to share their best tips and astronomers explain how to interpret space weather data to determine optimal viewing time.

1. When should you go if you want to combine outdoor activities with light shows in Yukon?

A．In late spring.

B．In early summer.

C．In autumn.

D．In winter.

2. Where can tourists have a relatively in-depth experience of Inuit culture?

A．In Yukon.

B．In Nunavik.

C．In Jasper.

D．In Churchill.

3. What is special about the visit to Jasper in October?

A．The rarest show of lights.	B．Interactions with the locals.
C．The diversity of wildlife.	D．The chance to meet professionals.

10 . Each fall, the flu emerges as a terrible force.     1     Influenza viruses cause millions of illnesses and thousands of deaths in the United States each year. So it’s necessary to know more about the flu viruses.

What’s the difference between Type A and Type B?

Influenza A viruses come in many varieties. Four subtypes commonly affect humans. But many more influenza A viruses have been identified in animals, which makes it a potential source of pandemics whenever a new type of influenza A jumps to humans.     2     They are divided into just two lineages (谱系) that cause seasonal outbreaks.

What are symptoms of an influenza infection?

If you do get sick with the flu, you’ll have common symptoms like fever, muscle aches and respiratory ailments. Most otherwise healthy people are sick for three to seven days.     3     The flu can also trigger inflammatory (炎症反应) responses in the body and worsen existing chronic conditions like asthma or heart disease.

    4    

Some rapid tests available at doctors offices can distinguish between influenza A and B, although they tend to have low sensitivity. Doctors can also order more sensitive P. C. R. tests to identify the specific flu virus causing infection.

How do you treat influenza?

To treat the flu, we can take approved antiviral medications that are commonly used to shorten the duration and severity of illness. Stay hydrated, get plenty of rest and use over-the-counter medications to reduce fever as needed. But if you develop a sustained fever of 39℃, you have difficulty breathing or you experience severe chest or stomach pain, it is important to seek medical attention immediately.     5    

A．How do you get tested for influenza?

B．How do you know which type you have?

C．Influenza B viruses, however, only circulate in humans.

D．In some cases, the cough and fatigue can linger for two weeks.

E．These may be signs that you need a stronger influenza treatment.

F．There are two players every flu season: influenza Type A and Type B.

G．Public health officials recommend everyone six months and older get an annual flu shot.