1 . Polly Arrowsmith is a clever bargain shopper, and knows exactly when her three local supermarkets make their daily price down. She estimates that hunting out food with yellow discounted labels saves her hundreds of pounds a year. But all this could soon be coming to an end. That’s because supermarkets are adopting dynamic pricing, controlled by artificial intelligence (AI) software.

It involves digital price tags that are displayed either on the shelf below the food items, or on high-tech labels attached the product itself. These prices are automatically, and wirelessly, updated by the AI when a particular item approaches its sell-by date. The AI also examines how much stock (库存) the store is holding of that item and makes the decision as to whether a markdown is requiredor not. Besides, it can help supermarkets better understand how to manage stock supply and avoid over-ordering. So we’re actually turning the current food waste problem into an opportunity and can help cut supermarkets’ food waste by more than a third.

Matt Wills, the co-founder of a firm called Acumen, warns that there are potential disadvantages to dynamic pricing. “Not knowing what the reference price is, consumers might not realise they are getting a deal at all,” he says. “This could also cause added complications for people who retired, if items are seen to be continually changing in price.”

The key, Mr. Wills believes, will be for supermarkets to have strict guidelines to ensure they can offer the benefits that dynamic pricing can bring, while ensuring AI doesn’t create unintended negative consequences for shoppers. Whether shoppers will welcome the change is another question, but Mr. Wills believes they’ll be won over by the price reductions they receive.

Ms. Arrowsmith admits she will miss the yellow discount stickers that have become part of her shopping routine. However, she also says she wants to see less food going to waste. “I’m happy to forgo really cheap pricing,” she says.

1. Why are yellow discount labels disappearing?

A．They are easy to hunt out.

B．They expose some safety issues.

C．They cause great damage to shoppers.

D．They are replaced with digital pricing.

2. What is mainly discussed in paragraph 2?

A．The advantages of using the AI.

B．The display of digital price tags.

C．The management of stock supply.

D．The problem of current food waste.

3. What can we learn about AI-driven pricing according to Matt Wills?

A．It offers the cheapest price.	B．It greatly reduces food stock.
C．It has side effect on retirees.	D．It gives rise to legal problems.

4. What does the underlined word “forgo” in the last paragraph mean?

A．Pay off.

B．Give up.

C．Agree on.

D．Cut down.

2 . Mr. Riccardi was working for an Italian university at the time, 10 years ago, and had to go to the city of Potenza in the south of the country for a conference. He wanted to book an environmentally-friendly hotel, but it was not so easy to find one online and book.

So it gave him the idea for a business — a website called Ecobnb, where people can search for sustainable accommodation. When someone finds a place that they would like to book, Ecobn b does not take the payment. Rather it contacts the property, which then emails the person directly. Ecobnb makes its money by charging the accommodation providers a monthly subscription to list on its website.

Today Ecobnb, based in Trento, in northern Italy, lists more than 3,000 properties worldwide, from an organic farmhouse in Tuscany, to an eco-mountain cottage in Costa Rica. 2.8 million travellers now use Ecobnb per year, up from 780,000 in 2018. Mr. Riccardi says the number is still rising. Some accommodation providers offer discounts for guests arriving by bicycle, or those not using a car during the trip.

“Holidaymakers are rethinking their relationship with planet Earth,” Mr. Riccardi says. “Thereis a new awareness, especially in young people, about our responsibility for our future and for the planet.” Statistics appear to back this up. A study has found that 69% of travellers are now actively seeking sustainable travel options.

Although Ecobnb is focused on sustainability, how sustainable is it when many people might be flying to arrive at the accommodations it lists? “The impact of the travel of the flights is very big,” agrees Mr. Riccardi. “We are pushing the staycation (就近旅游) model a lot, inviting people to discover their own countries and to avoid the flights when it’s possible.”

“More people are interested in green lifestyles every day,” he says. “And now they are looking for the same green choices also during their holidays. These little choices can come together, and we can change things and make something different. We can be the change we want to see in the world.”

1. What inspired Mr. Riccardi to start the website Ecobnb?

A．His pursuit for a better future.	B．His motivation to find a green hotel.
C．His teaching experience in an university.	D．His desire to invest in sustainable tourism.

2. What can we infer about Ecobnb from the third paragraph?

A．It enjoys great popularity.	B．It owns 3,000 properties in Italy.
C．It offers discounts to all visitors.	D．It charges payment from customers.

3. Why is Ecobnb pushing the stay cation model?

A．To promote sustainable travel.	B．To attract more young travelers.
C．To reduce the accommodation list.	D．To make flights available for others.

4. How does Mr. Riccardi feel about the future of green travel?

A．Discouraged.

B．Tolerant.

C．Uncertain.

D．Optimistic.

3 . It’s Community Day again!

The event that Map le Estate residents are eagerly looking forward to is just around the corner! As usual, the Map le Residents’ Committee has planned a programme that is designed to promote community spirit. Maple Estate has been celebrating Community Day every month for more than a year. By now, we hope all our residents understand the importance of forming strong bonds with our neighbours. If you have just moved to our lovely estate and have not had the opportunity to know your neighbours, you can do so by joining at Community Day!

August Highlight: Map le Estate Chefs Call all residents who are keen to practice your cooking skills and let your neighbours sample your cooking! You will be the stars of the upcoming event! Visit www.maplerc.sg for more information and to register for this activity. Kitchen equipment and basic ingredients will be provided. You will receive a $50 shopping voucher that you can use to purchase other ingredients from MapleMart the day before the event. Remember to register before 21 July, 2024! We are sure everyone will enjoy the delicious dishes! Time: From 10 a.m.to 6 p.m,6 Aug.,2024 Place: Maple Community Club Entry: Flash your Maple Resident Card

“My wife and I moved to Maple Estate when we got married. For a few months, we spent all our free time after work doing up our house. Even though we knew that our neighbours were friendly and would sometimes invite us for their gatherings, we were occupied with getting things ready. However, it wasn’t long before we grew curious about the Community Day celebrations. After we started attending them regularly, we met many neighbours. The first time we invited some of them over, we played games that helped us to get to know one another better!”

—Mr. Wang, a Maple Estate resident since 2022

1. What do the Community Day events aim to do?

A．To teach how to cook meals.	B．To develop community spirit.
C．To meet diverse needs of neighbours.	D．To make the community cleaner.

2. What do you have to do if you want to take part in the Maple Estate Chefs?

A．To sign up before 21 July , 2024.	B．To provide basic ingredients.
C．To use your own kitchen equipment.	D．To pay a registration fee of $50.

3. Mr. and Mrs. Wang didn’t socialize with their neighbours much at first because ______.

A．they spent all their time at work

B．they weren’t invited for the gatherings

C．they were busy beautifying their home

D．they lacked information about the community

4 . Throughout history, remarkable leaders have started to appear, leaving an indelible mark on their civilizations and shaping the course of human history. Here are some historical leaders whose impact reverberated far beyond their lifetimes, leaving a lasting legacy that transformed the civilizations they led.

Julius Caesar

As a brilliant military strategist and charming statesman, Caesar played a vital role in the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire. His military conquests, including the famous crossing of the Rubicon, expanded the Roman territories and altered the political landscape, Caesar's vision for a centralized and stable Rome laid the groundwork for the imperial era, shaping the development of Western civilization.

Queen Elizabeth l

Queen Elizabeth I became the English throne in the 16th century and entered a period of cultural flourishing known as the Elizabethan Era. Under her rule, England saw remarkable achievements in literature, exploration and the arts, with master minds like William Shakespeare contributing to the cultural renaissance. Elizabeth's reign not only strengthened England's status as a global power but also left an enduring legacy of artistic and intellectual brilliance.

Nelson Mandela

South Africa in the 20th century bore witness to the transformative leadership of Nelson Mandela, A symbol of resistance against apartheid(种族隔离), Mandela spent 27 years in prison before emerging as a unifying figure in seeking for racial equality. Elected as South Africa's first Black president in 1994. Mandela made efforts to unify a divided nation. promoting forgiveness and inclusivity.

Emperor Qin Shi Huang

In ancient China, the remarkable leadership of Emperor Qin Shi Huang laid the groundwork for a unified and centralised state. As the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty, Qin Shi Huang standardised writing systems, currencies and measurements, fostering unity across diverse regions. Perhaps most famously, he initiated the construction of the Great Wall of China as a defence against invasions.

1. What was Julius Caesar's major influence?

A．The vision for a military Rome.

B．The impact on Western civilization.

C．The foundation of Roman Republic.

D．The expansion of the Roman landscape.

2. What did Nelson Mandela fight for?

A．Personal right.	B．Economic boom.
C．National power.	D．Racial equality.

3. Who unified the weights and measures?

A．Qin Shi Huang.	B．Queen Elizabeth I.
C．Nelson Mandela.	D．Julius Caesar.

5 . A team of scientists from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) has demonstrated that communication among memory-coding neurons (神经元) — nerve cells in the brain responsible for maintaining working memory — is disrupted with ageing and that this can begin in middle age.

Findings from the study provide new insights into the ageing process of the human mind. and pave the way for therapies (治疗方法) to maintain the mental well-being of an ageing individual.

Scientists have long studied the impact of ageing on the brain’s executive functions, such as poorer self-control and working memory. While it is well established that memory can worsen as people age, it has not been clear what changes occur at the individual brain neuron level to cause this—until now.

In lab experiments, the NTU scientists investigated how neurons in mice of three different age groups — young, middle age and old age — responded to tasks that required memory.

The researchers showed that compared to young mice, middle — aged and old mice required more training sessions to learn new tasks, indicating some decline in memory and learning abilities from middle age. But beyond that, they also found changes in the nerve cells of older mice.

Using advanced optical techniques that allow researchers to observe multiple individual neurons and control their activity, the NTU team discovered that neurons in one part of the brain, the prefrontal cortex, showed strong memory coding ability in young mice. However this ability to hold memory diminishes in middle — aged and old mice due to weakening connections among the neurons, which causes the mice to take longer to recall and perform tasks.

Dr Jun Nishiyama, Assistant Professor in the Neuroscience and Behavioural Disorders programme at Duke-NUS Medical School said. “This research emphasises the importance of early, strategic interventions (干预) to cope with cognitive decline, providing a vital framework for future ageing research and brain health maintenance.”

1. What is unknown to scientists now?

A．When memory begins to decrease.

B．How aging influences mental health

C．What causes memory loss as people age.

D．Whether memory may decrease with age.

2. Which can best replace the underlined word “diminishes” in paragraph 6?

A．stands out	B．goes down
C．comes true	D．dies out

3. According to the research, what is key to fighting against cognitive decline?

A．Strategic diet habit,

B．Healthy living condition.

C．Early scientific prevention.

D．Strengthening ageing research.

4. What is a suitable title for the text?

A．Experiments conducted to test cognitive decline.

B．Neurons that are responsible for the aging process.

C．The importance of assessing the degree of memory loss.

D．The way aging weakens brain cells’ ability to maintain memory.

6 . People may form inaccurate impressions about us from our social media posts, finds new Cornell University research that is the first to examine perceptions (认知) of our personalities based on online posts.

An analysis of online status updates found great difference between how viewers saw the authors across a range of personality traits, and the authors’ self-perceptions.

Viewers rated the Internet users on average as having lower self-esteem and being more self-revealing, for example, than the users rated themselves, Status updates containing photos, videos or links in addition to text facilitated more accurate assessments than those with just text the researchers found.

Overall, they said, the study sheds light on the dynamic process by which a cyber audience tries to make sense of who we are from isolated fragments (碎片) of shared information, jointly constructing our digital identity.

“The impression people form about us on social media based on what we post can differ from the way we view ourselves.” said Qi Wang, professor of psychology and director of the Culture &. Cognition Lab. “A mismatch between who we are and how people perceive us could influence our ability to feel connected online and the benefits of engaging in social media interaction.”

The Cornell researchers believe their study is the first to investigate audience perceptions of social media users through their posts, On platforms, users often share fragmentary personal narratives while interacting with “friends” they may know only a little or sometimes not at all.

Interestingly, the study found that online status updates generated perceptions of users that were consistent with cultural standards in offline contexts concerning gender and ethnicity—even though viewers were blind to their identities.

Wang said the findings could help developers design interfaces that allow people to express themselves most authentically.

“If people’s view of us is very different from who we actually are, or how we would like to be perceived.” Wang said, “it could harm our social life and well-being.”

1. What may your online posts lead to?

A．Authentic digital identity.	B．Viewer’s misjudgment of you.
C．Less social media interaction.	D．Making more online friends.

2. Which of the following will least reveal your personality?

A．A link with text

B．A pure video post.

C．A plain text post.

D．A text post with photos.

3. Who will be most interested in these findings?

A．Online web viewers.	B．Internet bloggers.
C．Computer repairmen.	D．Social media developers.

4. What does Wang think of the result of the research?

A．Profitable.

B．Meaningless.

C．Useful.

D．Unpractical.

7 . Total solar eclipses (日食) have scared people since time out of mind. The first record of one, preserved on a clay tablet found at Ugarit, once a trade city but destroyed later in Syria, is believed from its age and location to describe either an eclipse that happened in 1375 BC or one in 1223 BC. Legendary explanations for eclipses include the Sun being eaten by dogs, frogs or dragons. The reality is not romantic. Why are total ones, like the one coming on April 8, so rare?

Solar eclipses are a special case of phenomena called transits and occultations, in which an intervening (介于中间的) heavenly body stops light from a star reaching an observer. If the blocking body appears smaller in the sky than the star, the result is called a transit and looks like a dark spot crossing the star’s surface. If the blocking object appears larger than the star, the star disappears completely—an occultation. A total eclipse is an occultation.

Solar eclipses may be either of these things, since the apparent sizes in the sky of the Sun and the Moon, viewed from Earth, are almost identical. If the Moon orbited Earth in the same plane as Earth orbits the Sun, eclipses would happen every month, but would be total only in the tropics (热带地区). In reality, the average interval between total eclipses is 18 months, and they may be seen from time to time all over the world. The path of totality across Earth’s surface is narrow and the period short (a maximum of just over seven and a half minutes). Outside these boundaries, the Sun will appear partially eclipsed, looking like a pie that something has taken a bite from.

The Great North American Eclipse, as it has been called, will be a sight to be hold on April 8. But it should also be cherished, because total eclipses of the Sun will not happen for ever. Tidal friction (潮汐摩擦) causes the Moon to move away from Earth at 3.8 cm a year, making it appear smaller and smaller in the sky. In 600 million years or so the last, short totality will occur.

1. What does the clay tablet of Ugarit represent?

A．Some figures of ancient animals.

B．The Sun being eaten by some animals.

C．Ancient people who were hunting for animals.

D．The earliest total solar eclipse recorded.

2. How does the author develop paragraph 2?

A．By listing statistics.	B．By giving definitions.
C．By giving examples.	D．By analyzing cause and effect.

3. What can we learn about total solar eclipses from paragraph 3?

A．Their duration is relatively longer.	B．They take place every month actually.
C．They are visible only from a narrow path.	D．They look like a bite taken out of the Sun.

4. What makes total solar eclipses so rare?

A．The moving-away Moon.

B．The stronger tide on Earth.

C．The smaller attraction of the Moon for Earth.

D．The changing distance between the Sun and Earth.

8 . Imagine a world where nothing ends up in landfill. Instead, everything can be reused and recycled, creating products that never reach their “end of life”. According to a recent report by the Circle Economy Foundation, only 7.2% of all used materials are being cycled back to be reused and recycled without creating waste.

An Italian company aims to change this by creating furniture products made from a plastic-like biomaterial, which is fully organic and biodegradable (可生物降解的), and can be used over and over again. Using fruit peel, orange seeds and coffee grounds collected from businesses in Italy, the company can redistribute products to the same businesses for use in their offices, instead of furniture made from common plastic. If, by mistake, any of the material ends up in the ocean, it doesn’t produce any microplastics.

Each product is made through a four-step process. First, the food waste is dried and crushed into a very fine powder. Then, the powder is mixed with a biodegradable plastic alternative known as polyhydroxybutyrat (PHB), with the fruit waste making the PHB more study (坚固的). The material is then turned into a filament (细丝) and, using a spool, put into a 3D printer.

Because a lot of food waste would be buried and incinerated in the landfill, which would produce lots of carbon dioxide, Reusing fruit peel and coffee grounds decrease carbon dioxide from the production of plastic, according to the director of operations in the company. He adds that the biomaterial is as sturdy as wood, and won’t begin to break down unless it’s touched by water, bacteria or acidity.

Despite its eco-friendly benefits, the biomaterial is expensive. It costs probably six times more than common plastic, and it is a very difficult and expensive process, so this is why many companies aren’t doing it.

However, the director is hopeful that in a few years, as-more consumers and businesses are forced to face the damage that unsustainable plastic is doing to the planet, the biomaterial will be much more widely used. “We really believe this is the material of the future,” says the director. “Little by little, a step at a time.”

1. What is a problem faced by the current world according to paragraph 1?

A．Pollution is becoming milder.

B．The rate of recycling is too low.

C．Plastic poses a threat to the ocean.

D．New material needs to be improved.

2. What do we know about the biomaterial?

A．It is of benefit to the environment.

B．It is cheaper than common plastic.

C．It is given a welcome by businesses.

D．It has gradually replaced common plastic.

3. What does the underlined word “incinerated” in paragraph 4 refer to?

A．Damaged.

B．Burned.

C．Selected.

D．Recovered.

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

A．New Material: One Way To Regain Fruit Peel

B．From Landfill To Furniture: The Journey Of Furniture

C．Sustainable Material: The Future Of Eco-Friendly Furniture

D．Italian Businesses Using New Strategies To Manage Industrial Waste

9 . Are aliens trying to contact the Earth? Six new mysterious blasts of radio energy are detected from deep space. While the source of the waves remains unknown, some suggest the mysterious bursts of energy could be a sign of alien life trying to contact us. The waves were detected by researchers from McGill University in Montreal.

The detection follows 11 previously recorded fast radio bursts (FRBs) from the same location, called FRB121102. This is the only known repeater of FRBs. Although there have been a number of FRBs from the site, the origin of the radio bursts remains a puzzle to researchers.

But the researchers say that the repeated FRBs imply that whatever is causing the FRBs is not a one-time event, such as an explosion or a collision. Instead, they say that flares (耀斑) from a young neutron star (中子星) are a promising candidate.

Previously when waves have been detected, astronomers have also asked Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) to take a closer look at whether they could be a message from aliens. But it is unclear whether the researchers will ask SETI to help this time.

If there were any intelligent alien life forms out there, in Stephen Hawking’s opinion, we were playing a dangerous game by trying to contact them. If alien s discovered the Earth, they would likely want to conquer and colonize our planet.

But the co-founder and former director of the SETI Institute, Jill Tarter, doesn’t think this will be the case. She argues any alien s who have managed to travel across the universe may be friendly and peaceful. “The idea of a civilization which has managed to survive far longer than we have... and the fact that the technology remains an aggressive one, to me, doesn’t make sense,” she said.

1. What is the purpose of the question in paragraph 1?

A．To draw readers’ attention.

B．To indicate commonality in astronomy.

C．To emphasize the mystery of the source.

D．To highlight the discovery’s significance.

2. What is the most likely cause of the FRBs according to the text?

A．Messages from aliens.

B．The explosion of a star.

C．Flares from a neutron star.

D．A collision between two stars.

3. Which might agree with Stephen Hawking’s view?

A．We should try to find the aliens.

B．The aliens may conquer the Earth.

C．We can play games with the aliens.

D．The aliens may live with us one day.

4. What is Jill Tarter’s attitude to contact with the aliens?

A．Doubtful.

B．Critical.

C．Indifferent.

D．Supportive.

10 . Welcome to the California Science Center

Here is a guide to the California Science Center.

Accessibility Services & Facilities

We are committed to breaking down any barrier to access. If you have questions about accessibility, please call us at (213) 744-2019 or contact us online or stop by our Information Desk just inside the main entrance.

Sensory & Mobility Considerations

Light, noise and crowds vary widely throughout the building. Please feel free to bring your own noise-canceling headphones or other calming items. All spaces in the center are wheelchair accessible. All floors are accessible by elevator or stairs.

● Parking & Restrooms

Accessible parking spaces are available on the three floors of the Science Center parking lot. Accessible parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Parking is $15 per vehicle.

All the restrooms here are wheelchair accessible. Private family style restrooms are available upon request, please see any Guest Services Host.

● Wheelchairs & Service Animals

Standard manual wheelchairs are available for free at the Information Desk, used inside the California Science Center.

Service dogs trained to do work or perform specific tasks for a guest with a disability are welcome in all of the Science Center spaces. Emotional animals and pets are not permitted.

Language & Communication Considerations
● Language Assistance

Our Bilingual (双语的) Guest Services and Education staff members wear buttons indicating languages in which they are fluent. In addition, the Information Desk offers maps in six different languages.

● Audio Guides

Audio guides in both English and Spanish are often available for special exhibits. For special exhibits with audio guides, transcripts are available at the entrance to the exhibit upon request.

Click here for more information about the center. We want every guest to participate equally in the excitement of experiencing science!

1. How many ways to inquire about accessibility in the California Science Center are mentioned?

A．3.

B．4.

C．5.

D．6.

2. What do we know about the California Science Center?

A．It is unfriendly to the disabled.	B．Its parking spaces vary in price.
C．It offers multi-language service	D．It allows emotional pets to enter.

3. From which is the text probably taken?

A．A web page.	B．A news report.
C．A science textbook.	D．An academic paper.