1 . Scientists say they have created a new method that can turn brain signals into electronic speech. The invention could one day give people who have lost the ability to speak a better way of communicating than current methods.

Brain-computer interfaces (交界面) already exist to help people who cannot speak on their own. Often these systems are trained to follow eye or facial movements of people who have learned to spell out their thoughts letter by letter. But researchers say this method can produce many errors and is very slow, permitting at most about 10 spoken words per minute. This compares to between 100 and 150 words per minute used in natural speech.

For the new method, scientists created a brain-machine interface that is inserted in the brain. It can read and record brain signals that help control the muscles that produce speech, like the lips, the tongue and the jaw. The experiment involved a two-step process. First, the researchers used a “decoder (解码器)” to turn electrical brain signals into representations of human vocal (声音的) movements. An electronic instrument then turns the representations into complete spoken sentences.

The new two-step method actually presents a “proof of principle” with great possibilities for real-time communication in the future. Five volunteer patients who were being treated for epilepsy (a disease of the nervous system) participated in the study. The individuals had the ability to speak and already had interfaces built in their brains. They were asked to read several hundred sentences aloud while the researchers recorded their brain activity.

The researchers then used audio recordings of the voice readings to reproduce the vocal muscle movements needed to produce human speech.

This process made it possible for the scientists to create a realistic “virtual voice” for each individual, controlled by their brain activity.

The study reports the spoken sentences were understandable to hundreds of human listeners later asked to write out what they heard. Scientists say future studies will test the technology on people who are unable to speak.

1. What’s the new method mainly designed to do?

A．To monitor people’s brain and control their speech.

B．To help people improve their communication skills.

C．To turn people’s speaking desire into digital speech.

D．To develop a hand gesture for people unable to speak.

2. What’s the problem with the existing brain-computer interfaces?

A．They are unreliable and inefficient.

B．They ask people to fully concentrate.

C．They require too much body language.

D．They are useless to people unable to speak.

3. What does Paragraph 3 mainly talk about?

A．How to decode brain signals correctly.

B．How the new method works theoretically.

C．How to use your speech muscles effectively.

D．How the brain responds to one’s muscle movements.

4. What will the scientists do next?

A．Ask human listeners for opinions.

B．Bring their products to the market.

C．Invent new tools for those unable to speak.

D．Prove the new method in people unable to speak.

2 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。续写的词数应为150左右。

It was almost New Year’s Eve, and as I made my way home from work, I decided to stop at the neighborhood coffee shop in our town—a town that had previously been busy and wealthy but was now poor and deserted. After parking in a parking lot that was close to the coffee shop, I headed toward the shop door when I spotted trouble.

What lit a warning light in my mind was a group of teenagers—three boys and a girl, each of whom stood on a skateboard. I wasn’t alarmed by the way they were dressed, which showed they seemed to be a group of bad teenagers. Rather, it was the extremely late hour and the fact that they wandered on the sidewalk in a half circle around an elderly man sitting in a chair that raised a red flag in my mind. Wearing only a very worn-out shirt and without shoes on his feet, the old man looked positively cold and probably homeless.

He was in trouble with a capital T. Against my better judgment, I went inside the warm store and ordered nice bread and a cup of coffee while keeping a worried eye on the group outside. Thoughts raced through my mind, and I was wondering what the intentions of these teenagers were. “What do the teenagers want on earth? Do they intend to play a bad trick on the old man, make fun of him, or…?” I wondered, anxious. “Whatever it is, they seem to plan to do something bad to him. Oh, these kids seem to be mean,” I thought and felt upset.

But nothing seemed to be happening. Slightly relieved, I began to enjoy my food. However, minutes after I finished my food and headed toward my car, something indeed was “going down”. I heard one boy say, “Stand up and walk.” “Oh, no,” I thought. “The old man is now in real trouble.”

注意：
1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式作答。

But wait, I had misjudged the situation.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I looked down, finding the teen was wearing nothing on his feet.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

As cities continue expanding, it is becoming more important than ever to find ways to create sustainable and livable cities. Biophilic design (生物亲和设计), an approach that has gained great attention in recent years, is thought to be     1     (work). This approach seeks to incorporate elements of nature into the built environment,     2     aim is to improve the health of citizens and create more sustainable urban spaces.

Biophilic design     3     (root) in the idea that humans have a natural connection to nature and that incorporating natural elements into our surroundings can have     4     positive impact on our health. It recognizes that spending time in nature has been demonstrated     5     (reduce) stress and increase overall happiness.

One way to include biophilic design elements in urban environments is through the use of natural materials. Instead of relying on artificial materials that result     6     various problems, like plastic, biophilic design encourages the use of materials     7     (source) from nature, like wood or stone. These material create a more     8     (visual) attractive environment and produce a sense of connection to the natural world.

Another key element of biophilic design involves adding plants to the built environment     9     by bringing plants into urban spaces, biophilic design establishes a more calming environment. According to many studies, the     10     (expose) to green can increase productivity and promote health.

4 . After an extremely heavy rain flooded the town of Ruthin, 44-year-old farmer Llyr Derwydd encountered an awful scene that Friday afternoon. As Llyr checked on his sheep, he discovered his three ewes (母羊) ________ on a small, shrinking island surrounded by the rising floodwaters. And the situation grew increasingly ________ as the water levels continued to rise. Llyr knew he had to act quickly to ________ the helpless ewes before the island disappeared into the cruel flood.

Realizing the ________ of single-handedly helping the ewes in such terrible circumstances, Llyr ________ for help from his sheepdog, Patsy. Initially, Llyr wondered whether Patsy could make it, so he ________ for a while. However, under the unspoken ________ of her owner, Patsy immediately accepted the task. She swam through the uncertain depths ________ to reach the ewes. As the water rose gradually, the ewes became more and more ________ and gathered together for safety. Then Patsy’s presence calmed their panic, encouraging them to swim back one by one. Under Patsy’s ________, the ewes overcame their fear and managed to ________ the floodwaters.

Reflecting on the event, Llyr shared, “I know Patsy is a(n) ________ swimmer; otherwise, I wouldn’t have taken the risk. But her bravery and excellent skill were completely ________ what I had expected.”

At the critical moment, Patsy ________ the tough challenge bravely, demonstrating extraordinary courage and ________ to her owner.

1.

A．released

B．trapped

C．stolen

D．tied

2.

A．threatening

B．demanding

C．confusing

D．breathtaking

3.

A．protect

B．raise

C．rescue

D．distract

4.

A．significance

B．satisfaction

C．necessity

D．impossibility

5.

A．applied

B．prepared

C．waited

D．signaled

6.

A．settled

B．recalled

C．hesitated

D．insisted

7.

A．shelter

B．command

C．agreement

D．management

8.

A．delightfully

B．unwillingly

C．intentionally

D．fearlessly

9.

A．relieved

B．energetic

C．frightened

D．scary

10.

A．guidance

B．control

C．authority

D．observation

11.

A．confirm

B．escape

C．approach

D．measure

12.

A．capable

B．competitive

C．professional

D．inexperienced

13.

A．behind

B．within

C．beyond

D．alongside

14.

A．rose to

B．ran into

C．turned to

D．put up

15.

A．confidence

B．generosity

C．loyalty

D．modesty

5 . Managing Pre-Exam Anxiety

Experiencing anxiety before an exam is common.     1    . You can create a study plan, breaking down your revision into small sections. Start preparing early to avoid last-minute cramming and following are the strategies you can apply to cope with the anxiety before the exam.

    2    . Remind yourself of your preparation and abilities. Replace thoughts like “I can’t do this” with “I am prepared and capable.” Avoid comparing yourself to others, as this can increase anxiety. By consistently focusing on the positive aspects and maintaining a hopeful attitude, you can boost your confidence and improve your performance under stress.

Make regular physical activity part of your daily routine to reduce stress and improve your mood. Include relaxation exercises in your routine. Deep breathing exercises can calm you down. Progressive muscle relaxation, where you tense and then slowly release each muscle group, can also relieve tension.     3    .

Use effective study techniques to maximize your learning. Break down complex topics into simpler parts and use mnemonic devices to remember key facts.     4    , as discussing material with peers can enhance understanding and retention. Taking regular practice tests can also help track your progress and identify areas that need more focus.

Talk about your feelings with friends, family, or teachers. They can offer support and advice.     5    . They can provide professional help and coping strategies. By preparing well, maintaining healthy habits, practicing relaxation, thinking positively, managing time wisely, and seeking support, you can manage pre-exam anxiety. Some stress is natural, but with these strategies, you can control it and perform your best on exam day.

A．Challenge negative thoughts

B．Come up with some cheerful ideas

C．Group study sessions can also be helpful

D．Meditation and mindfulness can help you stay focused

E．When you were seized with tension, talk to your parents

F．Managing this stress effectively is crucial for performing well

G．If your anxiety feels overwhelming, consider talking to the counselor

6 . Hummingbirds occupy a unique place in nature: They fly like insects but have the bone and muscles of birds. According to Bo Cheng, a professor in Mechanical Engineering at Penn State, hummingbirds have incredible agility (敏捷) when flying through the air, which is why their flight behavior is often mimicked in the design of drones and other flying vehicles.

Using a new modeling method, Cheng and his team gained new insights into how hummingbirds produce wing movement, which could lead to design improvements in flying robots. “We essentially analyzed how the muscles and skeleton   (骨骼) work in hummingbirds to flap the wings,” said Cheng. “The traditional methods have mostly focused on measuring the activity of a bird or insect during natural flight or in an artificial environment where flight-like conditions are reproduced. But most insects and, among birds specifically, hummingbirds are very small. The data that we can get from those measurements are limited.”

The researchers employed various methods to inform and adjust their model. With this model, they uncovered previously unknown methods of hummingbird wing movement. The discovery was that hummingbirds tighten their shoulder joints in both the up-and-down direction and the twisting direction using various smaller muscles.

“It’s like when we do fitness training and a trainer asks us to tighten our core to be more agile,” Cheng said. “We found that hummingbirds are using a similar kind of procedure.” They tighten their wings in the twisting and up-and-down directions but keep the wings loose along the back- and-forth direction. So their wings appear to be flapping back and forth only while their power muscles, or their flight engines, are actually pulling the wings in all three directions. In this way, the wings have very good agility in their motion.

While Cheng stressed that the results from the new model are predictions that will need confirmation, he said that it has suggestions for technological development of flying vehicles. “Even though the technology is not there yet to fully mimic hummingbird flight, our work provides essential methods for informed mimicry of hummingbirds hopefully for the next generation of agile flight systems.”

1. What’s the limitation of previous studies on hummingbird flight?

A．Insufficient records.

B．Inaccurate measurements.

C．Few bird species for research.

D．Lack of suitable test environments.

2. What has the research discovered about hummingbirds’ agile winging?

A．They tighten their wings for balance in flight.

B．They use twisting motions to get flight power.

C．They keep straight flight by controlling small muscles.

D．They flexibly adjust wing movements in different directions.

3. What is Cheng’s attitude towards the research findings?

A．Unclear.

B．Approving.

C．Doubtful.

D．Negative.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．The impact of drones on hummingbirds’ survival

B．Identifying hummingbird species through flying patterns

C．A new approach to studying hummingbirds’ muscle system

D．Studying hummingbirds to advance future flying vehicles

7 . Trans-Siberian Railway

About the tour

Board our private train, the Zarengold, and start a 15-day journey from Beijing to Moscow via Ulaanbaatar on the world’s most famous railroad. An unforgettable adventure will wait for you. Set this dream of a lifetime on the tracks with our private train and experience Russia, Mongolia and China in the safest and most comfortable manner.

The historic route between Beijing and Moscow is the central part of the trip. The exciting days of your journey are delivering three of the world’s largest countries directly to your compartment (车厢). Sit back to fully enjoy the great changes of scenery and Europe’s and Asia’s most excellent landscapes!

Highlights

● Visits to the Great Wall of China and Ming Tombs

● Traditional Mini-Naadam celebrations, including Mongolian horse-riding shows

● Rides on the panoramic (全景的) railway tracks along Lake Baikal with photo stops

● Traditional Russian welcome ceremonies

● Moscow city tours including a guided visit to the Kremlin

● Professional tour guides offering a special understanding of Russian, Mongolian and Chinese culture

View Dates

15 May 2022 - 29 May 2022 (15 days)

12 Jun. 2022 - 26 Jun. 2022 (15 days)

31 Jul. 2022 - 14 Aug. 2022 (15 days)

26 Aug. 2022 - 09 Sept. 2022 (15 days)

18 Sept. 2022 - 02 Oct. 2022 (15 days)

What’s included

TRANS	●   Overnight private train ●   Transfers in Moscow and Beijing
ACCOMMODATION	●   Overnight private train accommodations for 9 nights ●   Hotel accommodations for 5 nights
LUGGAGE	●   Luggage service at train stations
FOOD & DRINKS	●   All meals on the train except meals at hotels

What’s not included

● Cancellation and travel insurance are not included in the price of the tour but can be organized

● Airport transfers

1. What can we know about the tour?

A．It covers places outside Europe and Asia.

B．It’s a year-round trip popular with Asians.

C．It’s a cross-border trip with impressive scenery.

D．It can be adjusted according to tourists’ requests.

2. What can tourists do during the trip?

A．Visit the Kremlin.	B．Clean the Ming Tombs.
C．Walk along Lake Baikal.	D．Ride a horse in Mongolia.

3. What does the tour include?

A．Airport transfers.	B．Luggage storage.
C．Private tour guides.	D．All meals in the tour.

8 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What is the speaker talking about at first?

A．A phenomenon.

B．Her favorite icy drink.

C．A piece of good news.

2. What does Jorge Serrador say about brain freeze?

A．It can last for two minutes.

B．It is impossible to prevent.

C．The cause of it is unknown yet.

3. What does Elizabeth Loder think of studying brain freeze?

A．Extremely silly.

B．Very interesting.

C．Quite surprising.

9 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. How many job offers did the woman get?

A．Three.

B．Two.

C．One.

2. Why did the man fail the third interview?

A．He was very late for it.

B．He lacked work experience.

C．His degree dissatisfied the interviewers.

3. Where is the man’s hometown?

A．In Detroit.

B．In Chicago.

C．In Boston.

4. What is probably the man’s plan for next year?

A．To pursue further studies.

B．To travel around the country.

C．To move out of his parents’ house.

10 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Which quality does the man’s sister find the most important?

A．Kindness.

B．Honesty.

C．Bravery.

2. What is the man’s attitude towards the woman’s behavior yesterday?

A．Forgiving.

B．Supportive.

C．Critical.

3. What does the man regret doing?

A．Failing to do his homework.

B．Giving in to some other kids.

C．Losing his temper with Louis.

4. What does the woman advise the man to do?

A．Talk with his teacher.

B．Write to Louis.

C．Make a phone call.