Shennongjia is
Between 1976 and 1981, the Chinese Academy of Sciences organized three large-scale
Nowadays, Shennongjia’s attraction is not
The “wild man” legend has been passed on for generations by word-of-mouth. In 2016, the legend of “wild man” in Shennongjia
2 . A new study shows that when heavy cognitive (认知的) work is lasted for several hours, it causes potentially poisonous materials to build up in the part of the brain known as the prefrontal cortex (前额叶). This in turn changes your control over decisions, so you shift toward low-cost actions requiring no effort or waiting as cognitive tiredness sets in.
Influential theories suggested that tiredness is a sort of illusion (错觉) cooked up by the brain to make us stop whatever we are doing and turn to a more pleasing activity but new findings show that cognitive work results in a true functional change — accumulation of poisonous materials — so tiredness would indeed be a signal that makes us stop working but for a different aim: to preserve the perfection of brain functioning.
To look for evidence of this, researchers monitored brain chemistry over the course of a workday. They looked at two groups of people: those who needed to think hard and those who had relatively easier cognitive tasks.
They saw signs of tiredness only in the group doing hard work. Those in that group also showed in their choices a shift toward options with rewards at short delay with little effort. Critically, they also had higher levels of poisonous materials in the brain. Together with earlier evidence, the researchers say it supports the concept that poisonous materials accumulation makes further activation of the prefrontal cortex more costly, such that cognitive control is more difficult after a mentally tough workday.
So, is there some way around this limitation of our brain’s ability to think hard? The answer is negative. But there is good evidence that poisonous materials disappear in the brain during rest and sleep. The study result may have other practical uses. For example, the researchers say, monitoring of prefrontal metabolites (前额代谢物) could help to detect severe mental tiredness. Such an ability may help adjust work plans to avoid burnout. They also advise people to avoid making important decisions when they’re tired.
1. What is the purpose of our tiredness according to the new study?| A．To keep our brains in a good condition. | B．To make us stop whatever we are doing. |
| C．To force us to improve our abilities to work. | D．To change brain chemistry over the workday. |
| A．The loss of our abilities to work. | B．The poisoning of our brain tissue. |
| C．The attitude to our responsibilities. | D．The difficulty in cognitive control. |
| A．By summing up the old data. | B．By comparing experiment data. |
| C．By referring to historical reports. | D．By interviewing many scientists. |
| A．They get round the brain’s limitations. | B．They shouldn’t work out key decisions. |
| C．They try to avoid sleeping and resting. | D．They have to leave work for a holiday. |
3 . TEC Community Event Series
Date and time
Thursday, July 13, 11 a.m.—11:45 a.m.
Location: Online
Duration: 45 minutes
Join our monthly community event! At TEC we have found that community increases success and consistency.
Have you ever wondered why the needle does not move, even when you get your 10.000 steps in? Do you still feel overly sore after a weekend full of activities? Or you can’t seem to break the pattern with ongoing injuries?
If this sounds like you, then TEC has you covered! From movement to mindset, we will help you engage your body and give you easy-to-follow movements that you can do from anywhere. This will help you accomplish your fitness goals, feel great in all your summer activities and avoid the roller coaster of injuries!
TEC monthly community event!
Stay active beyond your training for performance, and prioritize your overall health.
Each movement will help you maximize your recovery and avoid any of the bad effects of your workouts, for example, overuse injuries, tightness, range of motion issues, etc.
Have a body and mind ready to interact in all the activities the healthy way!
Connect with other athletes and individuals.
Ask TEC coaches and other athletes questions and collaborate (合作) on best practices to optimize (优化) your mindset!
This event is for you if：
★You desire a community to grow with.
★You have strong feelings of enthusiasm for workouts.
★You enjoy achieving at a high level.
★You are looking for support for your mindset, sport or fitness.
This event is not for you if：
★You are close-minded and are not looking to be challenged or encouraged.
★You don’t value learning from others.
★You are looking for a place to sell your products or services.
1. What can we learn about this event?| A．It takes place every month. |
| B．It offers 45-minute offline training. |
| C．It shows people the secret to success. |
| D．It aims to help measure people’s weight. |
| A．They will recover immediately when injured. |
| B．They will gain permanent free workouts. |
| C．They will get one-to-one guidance from a coach. |
| D．They will learn how to avoid some injuries when exercising. |
| A．Those who hope to enjoy a quiet weekend. |
| B．Those who want to attract potential customers. |
| C．Those who attach importance to an active lifestyle. |
| D．Those who desire good academic performance. |
4 . There are so many fun events happening in the City Beautiful. Enjoy the sunshine at a market, try an art class or explore the foodie scene. You’ll find an ongoing events section for even more ideas.
Harbor Nights Primavera
Time: Friday, April 7 6:30 pm—9:30 pm
Price: $69—$99
Place: Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando
A lively event on the Harbor Piazza featuring wines, chef-inspired food stations and a live band. It’s a truly authentic Italian evening set beside a picturesque harbor that’s perfect for a date night or a fun night out with friends.
2023 DIS CON
Time: Saturday, April 15—Sunday, April 16
Price: $55 and up
Place: Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
A one-of-a-kind expo celebrating Disney, Marvel, Pixar, theme parks, and music. On April 17, join a private after-hours party at EPCOT. All proceeds（收入）benefit Give Kids The World Village.
Open House: OneBeat
Time: Friday, April 28 7:30 pm
Price: Tickets starting at $5 donations
Place: Timucua Arts Foundation Orlando
OneBeat brings musicians（ages 19—35）from around the world to a region of the USA for one month each spring and fall to jointly write, produce, and perform original music, and develop strategies for arts-based social engagement. Feel free to bring a bottle of wine.
Annual Charity Cornhole Tournament
Time: Sunday, May 14 11:00 am
Place: Ace Cafe Orlando
Single elimination bracket（淘汰等级）style cornhole tournament at Ace Café in Orlando, FL featuring a $200 cash prize for the first place team and a prize to be determined for the second place. All proceeds will be used exclusively（专门地）to support families in need. The entry fee is a minimum donation of $50 per team.
1. What can you enjoy at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel on April 7?| A．Free wines. | B．Live music. | C．Big discounts. | D．Food delivery. |
| A．It encourages donations. | B．It offers prizes to the winners. |
| C．It’s designed for the musicians. | D．It creates new music for its audiences. |
| A．2023 DIS CON. | B．Cornhole Tournament. |
| C．Open House: OneBeat. | D．Harbor Nights Primavera. |
The story of Ni Xialian, the 59-year-old member of Luxembourg’s national sports team and the
Born in Shanghai in 1963, Ni Xialian
“I retired from China’s national team in 1986. Since table tennis was not listed as an event at the Olympic Games
Ni attended the Summer Olympics in Sydney
Ni said she believes she stands as a symbol on the field for Chinese everywhere. “I was born in China and received systematic training in Shanghai,
6 . Winnie the Pooh was a source of comfort for me while I was growing up. Not only did he help me get to sleep, he also helped me understand the importance of
I have spent the past five months in isolation (隔离). In that time, I have
Winnie the Pooh’s words have taught me a lot of things. Most
| A．knowledge | B．education | C．technology | D．friendship |
| A．realize | B．wonder | C．doubt | D．expect |
| A．chance | B．wealth | C．comfort | D．detail |
| A．witnessed | B．recorded | C．avoided | D．experienced |
| A．risks | B．surprises | C．projects | D．challenges |
| A．informs | B．convinces | C．warns | D．reminds |
| A．weather | B．distance | C．failure | D．disagreement |
| A．adapt | B．discuss | C．escape | D．communicate |
| A．wasted | B．arrived | C．changed | D．bounced |
| A．trips | B．games | C．trains | D．parties |
| A．abstract | B．obvious | C．childlike | D．accessible |
| A．play | B．wisdom | C．time | D．love |
| A．impression | B．product | C．situation | D．background |
| A．smarter | B．prettier | C．braver | D．greater |
| A．commonly | B．certainly | C．recently | D．importantly |
| A．food | B．support | C．information | D．treatment |
| A．felt | B．missed | C．delayed | D．touched |
| A．picked up | B．put down | C．thought of | D．held onto |
| A．divided | B．placed | C．measured | D．shared |
| A．fresh | B．faraway | C．close | D．valuable |
7 . Growing up, Espino may have been better at sports than he was at graffiti(涂鸦), but his memories of hanging out with graffiti-writer friends and looking through graffiti books have stayed with him. After college, he went into the world of real estate, but continued to collect art.
A few years later, Espino began selling prints and creative objects at local events. In May 2022, he opened a Culture Gallery. “I wanted to see what it’s like to run a gallery and I wanted to help artists learn and make money from their artworks,” he explains.
The space caught the attention of Lou Jiménez, who is now the gallery’s director. Jiménez shares Espino’s vision to support local artists. “He comes from a different background and is leading by example,” she says of his real estate background. “He’s taking a huge risk because it requires a lot of investment and there is no art market here, so I appreciate the fact that we’re trying to expand that.”
Espino admits he initially underestimated how challenging sales can be. Even with this realization, his sights are set on success, and he’s already put himself in a “bigger mindset” to steadily accomplish that.
Espino hopes taking artists to other cities will provide the encouragement they might need to pursue a career in the arts. From his businessman’s perspective, Espino feels people need to be taught on the value of supporting local talent. “A lot of people in the community need to be explained to how much difference it makes to the community to invest in local art and as sad as that is, they just don’t see it or hear it,” he says.
Not one to back down from a challenge, Espino and his team have the passion and determination to construct a platform that will help local artists and, if all goes according to his plan, they hope to have a significant impact on the local arts community and culture for many years to come.
1. What challenge is Espino facing?| A．He has little knowledge of art. | B．He lacks potential customers. |
| C．He can’t afford much investment. | D．He has no access to famous artists. |
| A．Encouraging the locals to work in other cities. | B．Enlarging the space of his gallery. |
| C．Raising people’s awareness of art. | D．Collecting even more funds. |
| A．Talented and patient. | B．Ambitious and helpful. |
| C．Considerate and disciplined. | D．Grateful and creative. |
| A．The extension of a hobby. | B．The future of promising artists. |
| C．The popularity of graffiti. | D．The value of artworks. |
8 . The idea that the standard human body temperature is about 98.6℉ (37℃) was first presented by the German physician Carl Reinhold August Wunderlich in 1851. Since then, it’s become so widely accepted that it serves as a touchstone for health—a diagnostic tool used by physicians and parents as a basic indicator if someone is sick or well.
However, it turns out that this well-established fact isn’t, in fact, correct—or, to put it more accurately, human beings have been getting cooler over the years.
Recent studies have shown that temperature records of groups of people have tended to run low compared to the accepted norm (标准), so the Stanford team, led by Julie Parsonnet, MD, professor of medicine and of health research and policy, decided to do a more in-depth study to compare modern measurements with historical records to try to identify body temperature trends and, perhaps, uncover the reason why this cooling is happening.
For their research, the Stanford team looked at three distinct datasets (数据集) from three historical periods. One was military service records, medical records, and pension records from Union Army veterans of the American Civil War that were compiled from 1862 to 1930. The second was from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Ⅰ collected between 1971 and 1975, and the third from adult patients visiting Stanford Health Care from 2007 to 2017.
In all, the team went through 677,423 temperature measurements, making sure that temperatures recorded were accurate rather than the result of poorly designed thermometers (温度计). They did this by looking at the change in temperature inside each group over time to ensure that the curves (曲线) showing a decrease were consistent between the datasets.
At the end of the day, the team found that men born in the 21st century had an average body temperature of 0.59℃ lower than those born in the early 19th century, while modern women showed an average decrease of 0.32℃ compared to those born in the 1890s. Together, this means that human body temperatures have fallen by 0.03℃ per decade.
1. What is Wunderlich’s achievement?| A．He was the inventor of the thermometer. |
| B．He set up a standard for normal body temperature. |
| C．He discovered humans’ body temperature trends. |
| D．He put forward the theory of normal human body temperature. |
| A．By having interviews. | B．By conducting field research. |
| C．By analyzing historical records. | D．By doing experiments in the lab. |
| A．The quality of thermometers. | B．The backgrounds of the subjects. |
| C．The sorting of the collected datasets. | D．The number of adult patients involved. |
| A．Modern women’s body temperatures have risen over the past century. |
| B．The 19th century saw the greatest increase in men’s body temperatures. |
| C．The 21st century saw the greatest decrease in men’s body temperatures. |
| D．Men’s body temperatures have fallen faster than women’s over the years. |
9 . When hurricanes left a path of destruction in Puerto Rico, Pennsylvania College of Technology student Natascha G. Santaella felt a variety of painful emotions.
“I spent around six days stressing and having a very hard time with me having all the luxuries I currently do and my family not having any,” the Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, resident said. Santaella said that her hometown is without power and water, and people there are scared of what is to come.
To reduce her stress, Santaella, who is studying for an associate degree in baking and pastry arts, immersed (沉浸) herself in what she knows best: baking. “It started out as just baking bread and shipping it to the island to then be dispersed to the people, but I found that was very expensive for me to do alone, so I spoke with Chef Charles Niedermyer, our instructor of baking and pastry arts about a sale of baked goods in the college’s Bush Campus Center.”
“Natascha is a bright, energetic young lady with a big heart,” Niedermyer said. “I was not surprised to find her in my office, looking for ways to help the people of Puerto Rico.”
To prepare, Santaella had multiple meetings with Niedermyer, spent hours finalizing recipes, designed signage (标志) and decorations, and got friends to staff the sale table with her. And then there was the baking: Santaella and two friends in the baking and pastry arts major spent six hours baking 90 loaves of bread, 24 dozen dinner rolls and 30 cheesecakes in a variety of flavors.
During the six-hour sale, Santaella and her friends raised more than $1,000 for United for Puerto Rico, an initiative designed to provide aid and support to those affected in Puerto Rico by the passage of Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria.
“I hope to mainly increase awareness of what has happened, and to show people that there are Puerto Rican students at this school,” Santaella said. “I hope that others had the great experience I had with all my teachers and how understanding they were with me.”
1. Why did Santaella feel very stressed?| A．Because a big hurricane was approaching. |
| B．Because she was left without power and water. |
| C．Because her folks were suffering due to hurricanes. |
| D．Because she lost all her belongings in the hurricane. |
| A．Exposed. | B．Connected. | C．Distributed. | D．Contributed. |
| A．Puerto Rico might be stricken by hurricanes frequently. |
| B．Niedermyer responded to Santaella’s ideas coldly. |
| C．Santaella organized the sale at her college all alone. |
| D．Pennsylvania College has few students from Puerto Rico. |
| A．Hurricane Causes Huge Losses to Puerto Rico |
| B．Student Puts Skills to Use to Help Her Hometown |
| C．College Student Shows Baking Skills Through Sales |
| D．Teacher and Students Work Together in Fund Raising |
For years, Jessie, a 15-year-old senior high school girl, has been a holiday fixed visitor in a kindergarten in Los Angèles County. As an experíenced volunteer in a severely poor neighborhood, Jessie knew those young students had it rough——some were homeless, many were in foster care(家庭寄养), and the others were crammed into garages or single rooms with eight to ten family members. So she made up her mind to visit them with gifts every holiday season.
It was hard for Jessie to do this on a little girl's part-time job salary, but every holiday from Thanksgiving to the Christmas break, Jessie managed to bring the kids some little gifts of holiday magic——a pack of crayons(蜡笔), pencils, toys and so on. No matter how small the gifts are, Levinson’s students were always grateful. And there was a good chance that it would outshine whatever their families could afford to give them. Despite being surrounded by wealthy neighborhoods, their community was so poor that when it rained, kids came to school wearing trash bags. Some didn’t brush their teeth because they didn’t own a toothbrush. But Jessie never despised(轻视) them and were always devoted to improving their conditions.
That day was the day before Thanksgiving, she brought gifts to the kindergarten again, and the children’s excited expressions were the same as before. The children eagerly shared happy stories with her and showcased their latest achievements, such as height and various plants they planted. Looking at the happy smiling faces of the children, she hesitated several times before speaking. She didn't have the courage to tell them that she was going to study in a far country, which they had never heard of before. This was the exam and admission she had put in countless days and nights to pass, but at this moment she hesitated and didn't know how to say it. She couldn't even imagine how disappointed and sad they would be since she could not come here again, at least 3 years. Thinking of these, her heart became very heavy.
注意：
1.续写词数应为150左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
A little girl noticed her worried expression and asked,“Do you have any worries?”
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To her surprise, the children listened attentively.
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