1 . Do you know what Mark Zuckerberg, Barack Obama, and Christopher Nolan all have in common? They wear the same kind of clothing every day. The greatest scientist, Albert Ein-stein, had five similar gray suits in his wardrobe (衣柜). What’s with geniuses and their limited clothing choices?

When asked about why they do it, many successful people cite a phenomenon called decision fatigue (疲劳). So, what is decision fatigue and how can we overcome it? Will wearing the same thing every day do the trick?

Like it or not, decision-making is a part of our everyday lives. From the moment we wake up, we deal with an endless stream of choices — when to get up, what to eat, what to wear, and so on. The human brain makes about 35,000 decisions per day, most of which we may not even be aware of.

Decision fatigue is a state when the mind becomes tired after making too many decisions within a short amount of time.

What should you do when you’re tired of making decisions? Einstein himself said that he chose the same gray suit every day, “So that I don’t waste any brainpower in the mornings deciding which set of clothes to wear.”

Please remember: having fewer choices means less time and energy wasted—a simplified life! The best way to achieve this is to stick to regular tasks on a daily basis. That way, your brain doesn’t have to sweat those little decisions every day. While shopping or doing any kind of cognitively demanding activities, try to make a list, and cross things off as you go. This will reduce decision fatigue and help you make choices more rationally (理智地), fairly, and objectively.

1. Why is Albert Einstein mentioned in the first paragraph?

A．To introduce his poor life.	B．To show his preference for black suits.
C．To lead to the topic of decision fatigue.	D．To compare him with other famous people.

2. What do we know about decision fatigue?

A．It can wear people out.	B．It is caused by too few choices.
C．It is put forward by Albert Einstein.	D．It can be effectively solved by a rich life.

3. What is recommended as a good way to overcome decision fatigue?

A．Having a rain plan in advance.	B．Getting up early to get more time.
C．Buying as many clothes as possible.	D．Sticking to regular tasks every day.

4. Which statement will the author probably support?

A．The richer, the more choices.	B．The simpler, the more relaxed.
C．The poorer, the fewer clothes.	D．The busier, the less chances.

2 . Prabodh Malhotra, a retired Melbourne economist, 71, on Wednesday walked the final steps of a 1,000km, 52day hiking between the Melbourne Cricket Ground and the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) to raise funds for the McGrath Foundation.

His “crazy” idea to hike between the two great cricket (板球) grounds came this time last year when he saw a group of men walk 150km between Newcastle and the SCG for the same breast cancer charity. “I thought if they can do it and raise $1,000 per kilometre, I should be able to raise the bar,” he said on Wednesday.

Before the end of January, he signed up. But his friends thought he was crazy, pointing to the lack of footpaths and the danger caused by trucks, buses and cars passing by. But Malhotra was undeterred.

“If something happens in the process of doing something good for the country, I’m more than happy to go,” he said.

With the help of friends, he set a course through Shepparton, Jindabyne, Canberra and Moss Vale, rotating (换穿) through four pairs of shoes, including a nowrundown pair of Hokas.

Malhotra said he was amazed by the generosity of people along the way. Traders and accommodation providers declined payment and often donated to the McGrath Foundation when they discovered his charitable cause.

“To walk 1,000km up from the MCG at the age of 71 just proves you can do anything you want if you put your mind to it,” McGrath said. “It’s an incredible effort. The raised money will help fund nurses for 2,100 families going through breast cancer in 2024”.

1. What inspired Prabodh Malhotra to start his hike?

A．His love for sports.	B．His desire for health.
C．His sight of others hiking.	D．His dream of being famous.

2. Which of the following best explains “undeterred” underlined in Paragraph3?

A．Unshakable.

B．Undesirable.

C．Unavoidable.

D．Understandable.

3. What was people’s reaction to Malhotra’s hike?

A．Conservative.

B．Supportive.

C．Negative.

D．Objective.

4. What does Malhotra think of the 1,000km hike?

A．Easy and worthwhile.	B．Lengthy and thrilling.
C．Comfortable and rewarding.	D．Tough and meaningful.

3 . In the past generations, our ancestors (祖先) lived with the simplest way. When science and technology materialize, there are various developments in the world that change and improve the way of living of people. As years go by, more and more innovations (创新) were created by applying the ideas of science and technologies. Most of these have positive effects on the society but some of these are harmful in certain ways. However, the importance of science and technology can’t be denied.

Science and innovation have mainly affected society, and their effect is developing. It makes life simpler and makes people more gainful. This change has positive and negative effects. The benefit is making life simpler while the other side is that it makes individuals needy and lazier. By making life simpler, science has allowed man to seek for cultural concerns to improve human conditions.

Science and technology can shape the general public we live in very well and can make us feel simpler, safer and increasingly gainful. However, it also can be used wrongly, which can harm many blameless lives. We must think for our own progress as well as for the improvement of each person of this planet that we call our own home.

In short, science and innovation have made a great contribution to our lives. They may also be related to us greatly. In this way, their effects will depend on how we follow up on them. In addition, if we see the more brilliant side of innovation, it is the foundation of national construction.

1. What does the underlined word “materialize” in paragraph 1 mean?

A．Return.

B．Appear.

C．Stay.

D．go.

2. What is the author’s attitude towards science and technologies?

A．Unclear.

B．Negative.

C．Doubtful.

D．Objective.

3. Which of the following is the effect of science?

A．A better living condition.	B．People becoming less adaptive.
C．People becoming determined.	D．A colorful history.

4. What should we do when using science and technology?

A．Improve studying standard.	B．Help the disabled.
C．Think for other people.	D．Treat wildlife equally.

4 . Traditional Chinese Sports

For thousands of years, sports have played an important role in Chinese culture. Let’s explore some of the most popular traditional sports in China.

Dragon Boat Racing

Originating (起源) from the southern regions of China, dragon boat racing is a thrilling water sport. The races are held during the Dragon Boat Festival, which takes place on the 5th day of the 5th lunar (阴历) month each year. This festival is in memory of the ancient poet Qu Yuan and involves various cultural activities.

Martial Arts

Martial arts(武术) have a rich history in China and are practiced for self-defense, physical fitness, and spiritual growth. Various styles such as Tai Chi, Kung Fu, and Wing Chun have gained worldwide recognition. These practices emphasize discipline, balance, and control of mind and body.

Jianzi(Shuttlecock)

Jianzi is a traditional Chinese game that involves kicking a shuttlecock (毽子) in the air using one’s feet, knees, or other body parts except for hands. It requires agility, coordination, and precision. Jianzi can be played individually or in teams and is a popular pastime in parks and streets across China.

Chinese Chess(Xiangqi)

Similar to the Western game of chess, Xiangqi is a strategic board game played between two players. It originated in ancient China and is often referred to as “Chinese chess.” The game features different pieces, each with unique movements and abilities. Xiangqi requires critical thinking, foresight, and strategic planning.

1. Which poet is the dragon boat festival in memory of?

A．Qu Yuan

B．Li Bai

C．Su Shi

D．Wang Wei

2. What are martial arts practiced for?

A．Breathing, and gentle movements to promote energy as well as improve mood.

B．Relaxation, balance, and meditation.

C．Self-cultivation and meditation.

D．Self-defense, physical fitness, and spiritual growth.

3. Which body parts can be used to kick the shuttlecock in the air?

A．Hands, heads, feet and knees.	B．Feet, knees, or other body parts except for hands.
C．Mind, body, and spirit.	D．Teamwork and strategy

4. What is Xiangqi often referred to as?

A．Chinese chess.	B．Fencing
C．Table tennis	D．Dragon boat racing

6 . Starting in the mid-2010s, the success of streaming services like Spotify, Tencent and Apple Music led the music industry into a period of steady income growth. But the rise of streaming hasn’t just transformed the business of music; it has changed the music as well.

In 1972, the Temptations hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, winning three Grammys, with a seven-minute version of the song “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone”. Before the Temptations sing a word, an instrumental introduction plays for more than four minutes. If the group were in the studio today, the title chorus (副歌) would most likely have been featured much earlier in the song. That’s because music streaming services pay artists based on the number of plays each month, and to count as a play, a user must listen to the song past the 30-second mark. If a song you’ve never heard before takes a long time to get to the hook (旋律最好的部分), there is a good chance that you may simply hit the button to go to the next song. To keep the “skip rate (跳过率)” as low as possible, musical artists are increasingly moving a song’s hook to that initial 30-second sweet spot.

Every track that is listened to for more than 30 seconds counts as a play, but whether a listener makes it all the way through a song helps to determine whether a streaming service like Spotify will recommend similar songs in the future. For a musician, getting a song on Spotify’s popular Today’s Top Hits playlist means real money. A study by researchers at the University of Minnesota and the European Joint Research Centre found that songs on the list gained an average of 20 million streams, worth up to $163,000 in royalties (版税).

As a result, according to an analysis by blogger Michael Tauberg, the average length of hit songs has dropped by more than 30 seconds since 2000, when it was over four minutes. Nearly two-thirds of the songs that achieved the number one spot in the first half of 2021 were under three minutes long.

1. Why is the Temptations mentioned in paragraph 2?

A．To explain what made a song special in the past.

B．To show admiration for their musical achievements.

C．To illustrate the structure of popular songs in the past.

D．To introduce the changes in song structure brought about by streaming.

2. What is the result of a song taking a long time to get to the hook?

A．The artists will receive higher royalties.

B．The listeners are more likely to skip it.

C．It will be recommended to more users.

D．It will be more popular among listeners.

3. What contributes to the decreasing average length of hit songs?

A．Advance in music production technology.

B．The change in listeners’ musical preference.

C．The desire for higher streaming-based income.

D．Increased competition among streaming platforms.

4. What does the text mainly talk about?

A．How streaming changes the length of music.

B．How streaming services produce hit songs.

C．How streaming promotes the development of music.

D．How streaming influences our preference for music.

7 . Educational authorities have asked schools to make sure students have 10-minute breaks between classes after hearing complaints that some school students are not allowed to leave classrooms during breaks-unless they need to go to the toilet-- to ensure their safety.

Some students said teachers often overrun by a few minutes, and that some start their classes a few minutes before the breaks are scheduled to end. In these cases students do not even have time to go to the toilet.

A mother of a primary school student in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province said her child’s school does not allow students to leave the classroom building during breaks. They are also forbidden to jump, run around or speak loudly.

The issue has caused a heated discussion on social media platforms.

“Teachers do not want to supervise students during class breaks. However, if students have accidents, some parents will still hold schools accountable,” said one netizen in a comment that received more than 10,000 likes. Another said, “Teachers are also tired, but the school makes such a requirement, and they have to follow.”

An official from the Ministry of Education said that it is important for schools to ensure students have time to rest during class breaks, which can help students relax, be healthy and avoid myopia (近视).

The ministry attaches great importance to class breaks, the official said. Apart from breaks between classes, schools should also make sure students have a 30-minute break each day for exercise. The ministry will urge local authorities and schools to implement the policies and prevent the practice of restricting class breaks in the name of “ensuring students safety”, the official said.

1. According to some parents, who is to blame if students have accidents during class breaks?

A．The children.	B．The schools.
C．Educational authorities.	D．The parents.

2. Why are students not allowed to leave classrooms during 10-minute breaks between classes?

A．Because they have a lot of homework to do.

B．Because the teachers often end the classes late than scheduled.

C．Because schools want to ensure the students’ safety.

D．Because the students are told to do so by their parents.

3. What is NOT the advantage of having a rest during classes for the students?

A．relaxation for students.	B．avoid being short-sighted.
C．wellness of the students.	D．playing happily.

4. What can we infer from the passage?

A．Schools will be urged to ensure students to have moderate class breaks.

B．Although tired, teachers are willing to supervise students during class breaks.

C．Students do not have time to go to the toilet because teachers often overrun by a few minutes.

D．Parents are in favor of not allowing the students to leave classrooms.

9 . We all love butterflies. Their beautiful wings attract us, and their presence lights up our garden. Well, that’s our view of butterflies, but have you ever wondered what plants think of them?

The butterflies’ eggs lie on the underside of the leaves. The eggs themselves don’t damage plants. However, upon coming into contact with the eggs, the plants become oversensitive. It means that once a plant recognizes a pest, it will cause death in the contacted plant part. When these dead leaves or partial leaf parts break away from the plant, the eggs on them fall off. Along with the hypersensitivity response, plants also produce something special, which can attract animals to cat the eggs, thus preventing damage in the future.

After the baby butterflies come out of their eggs, the caterpillar (毛虫) stage begins. Most caterpillars feed on the leaves of the plants, damaging some of the plants in your own garden. Incredibly, they are major plant pests that bring about major losses to farmers. The next stage is pupa (蛹). The caterpillars begin their change into an adult. They don’t depend on the energy that the leaves provide. Finally, they become adult butterflies that have wings and move from one plant to the other. They feed on the sweet liquid produced by flowers.

While on their search for food, the butterflies carry pollen (花粉) on their body. They are key pollinators that place pollen from one flower to another in ecosystem. Plants that have flowers will create some special features to draw these pollinators’ attention. Certain plants have flowers giving off smells that can charm butterflies when they are looking for a mate. Some plants even have flat flowers to assist butterflies when landing.

Butterflies aid in pollination during their final adult stage. Thus, they change into beneficial insects to plants. This change makes butterflies an important friend of plants, despite being a hated enemy in previous life cycle stages!

1. How does a plant respond to butterflies’ eggs?

A．It tries to get rid of them.	B．It tries to appeal to them.
C．It grows a little better with them.	D．It protects them from being eaten.

2. When do butterflies cause the greatest damage to agriculture?

A．In the period of egg-laying.	B．In the period of pupa.
C．In the period of caterpillar.	D．In the period of adult.

3. What does the author intend to do in paragraph 4?

A．Describe the process of pollination.

B．Show how flowers attract butterflies.

C．Stress the importance of pollination.

D．Explore how adult butterflies develop.

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

A．Why do flowers need butterflies’ pollination?

B．How do plants defend themselves from pests?

C．Are butterflies’ life cycles similar to the plants’?

D．Are butterflies beneficial or harmful to plants?

10 . Orla Walsh was not exactly an example of good health. Back in 2014, the 25-year-old then was fully occupied with her work and graduate study in Dublin, mostly eating on the go. “I was feeding on quick, easy food like sandwiches,” she said. “I stayed up a lot and the gym was a foreign concept for me for I did not work out at all.”

That changed the following year when Walsh needed a convenient, reliable and budget-friendly way to get to and from class. “Driving was expensive, and public transportation in the Irish capital left much to be desired,” she said. She turned instead to cycling.

At first, Walsh was doubtful. “I didn’t want to wear the same suits like other riders because it looked strange for me,” she joked. But as soon as she gave it a go, she was spellbound. The six miles she had to cover on her commute (上下班往返) each way didn’t seem like so much. “I can’t believe how quick and easy that was,” Walsh said. “The more I cycled, the easier it got, and I started getting faster. I think what I enjoyed the most was the freedom the bike gave me.”

In early 2016, she took the next step and joined a local cycling club, where she took part in long group rides. But something incredible was happening at the same time. As her weekly mileage (里程数) increased, her unhealthy habits fell by the wayside. She cleaned up her diet and cut back on burning the midnight oil. “I gradually got rid of that bad habit after joining in training,” she said.

Then, thanks to the encouragement of other club members, she tried open road racing. At first, she was overwhelmed by the competition, getting dropped by other members on every climb. Yet she kept pushing and viewing the failures as learning experience. “I was enjoying the challenges and was more confident,” she said.

1. Which of the following can best describe Walsh’s lifestyle in 2014?

A．Simple.

B．Decent.

C．Fashionable.

D．Unhealthy.

2. What made Walsh turn to cycling?

A．Poor means of transportation.	B．Her wish to break bad habits.
C．Her curiosity about cycling.	D．Club members’ encouragement.

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

A．Threatened.

B．Bored.

C．Fascinated.

D．Embarrassed.

4. How did cycling benefit Walsh?

A．By inspiring her to realize her dream.

B．By teaching her to brave challenges.

C．By encouraging her to be competitive.

D．By pushing her to connect with others.