1 . Here’s a quick quiz. Person A does a favor for you. Person B asks you to do a favor for him. Who do you tend to like more? Surprisingly, the answer is Person B. This quirk (怪癖) of human nature is known as the Ben Franklin Effect.

Benjamin Franklin came across the phenomenon in 1736 when serving as a clerk to the Pennsylvania Assembly. A powerful member didn’t care for Franklin and threatened to make life miserable for him. What to do? Instead of winning him over with sweet talk, Franklin asked if he could borrow a rare and valuable book the man owned. This request altered the man’s attitude and paved the way for their friendship. Franklin’s takeaway: “He that has once done you a kindness will be ready to do you another, than he whom you yourself have obliged.”

Several studies have confirmed this. But how can we explain the Ben Franklin Effect? Some psychologists refer to cognitive dissonance (失调). It’s difficult to hold two contradictory thoughts at the same time. It makes us uncomfortable. We resolve this tension by changing our mind. “I don’t like Joe, but I am doing him a favor,” we might think. “So maybe I do like him.”

While cognitive dissonance explains a lot, it alone doesn’t explain the Ben Franklin Effect. One 2015 study found that it was, rather, the affiliative (亲和的) motive that the requests convey. That is, we humans want to maintain good relations with other humans, and one way to achieve this is by doing favors for others. This explains a lot about altruistic behavior. We like being useful and, by extension, we like those who give us the opportunity to do so. It’s in our genes.

Yet there is much we still don’t know about the Ben Franklin Effect. Does it apply equally across cultures? Is there a point beyond which asking a favor makes you less, not more likable? Asking to borrow a book is one thing; asking to borrow a car is another.

1. Why does the author mention Benjamin Franklin’s experience?

A．To illustrate a dilemma in making choices.	B．To suggest a way of striking up friendships.
C．To stress the importance of strategic requests.	D．To introduce the origin of the Ben Franklin Effect.

2. What is a reason for people’s tendency to like those asking for favors?

A．Reducing the tension caused by social contact.

B．Increasing the chance of getting help in return.

C．Avoiding the discomfort from conflicting thoughts.

D．Establishing a cooperative community of shared trust.

3. What does the underlined word “altruistic” probably mean in paragraph 4?

A．Selfless.

B．Impolite.

C．Aggressive.

D．Responsible.

4. What does the author think of the Ben Franklin Effect?

A．It makes little sense.	B．It applies to most cultures.
C．It has situational limitations.	D．It has great practical significance.

2 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容(1个单词) 或括号内单词的正确形式。

Scientists believe there could be life on the planet Venus (金星), or at least in the clouds above it. They have discovered a mysterious gas there, but they have not been able to provide an     1     (explain) for it. This gas,     2     is commonly found where there is life, can also     3     (produce) in factories. However, there are no factories on Venus. So why is this gas there, 50 kilometers up from the planet’s surface?

Prof. Jane Greaves from Cardiff University, UK, together with other scientists,     4    (try) to solve this mystery at present. They have published a paper     5     (outline) their findings and done some work     6     (determine) the gas doesn’t originate from life. Despite their efforts, they have not yet reached a conclusion.

No one has yet been able to say how the gas can be there without living things to create it. “I have devoted my entire career     7     searching for extraterrestrial (地球外的) life,” said Prof. Greaves, “so     8     idea that we might have found a sign of life on Venus is exciting. But we are encouraging others to contribute their ideas and help us identify     9     we may have missed.”

The scientists are also investigating the possibility that the gas could be a byproduct of geological processes, but further research is needed to confirm this.     10     the mystery remains unsolved, the discovery of this gas has sparked renewed interest in the search for extraterrestrial life.

3 . Why are Police Officers Called Cops?

Police officers are often referred to as cops.     1     Some argue the term is shortened from “copper” and comes from copper badges (徽章) worn by a policeman. Others say that it stands for “Constabulary of Police”.

General agreement on the word origins of “cop”, however, suggests that the term is based more on the policeman’s job than on his clothing or job title. In Latin, the verb capere can be defined as “to capture.” In French, the verb is caper. “To cop” in English is to seize or to take.     2    

Some also believe that the Dutch word kapen, which also loosely translates to “to steal or take”, is related to policemen being called coppers or cops. Essentially, the police force was there to take criminals off the streets.     3     And since American English especially draws from German, French, and Latin, the specific language origin of kapen or capere creates a ready path to the term “cop”.

    4     And it is no longer considered rude. However, certain other terms for police officers are definitely unwelcome. While British Police might not mind being called “bobbies”, no police members like to be referred to as “pigs” or the “fuzz”. Some don’t mind the term the “heat” as applied to the whole police force, but the police force does not generally take kindly to terms given to them by criminals.

The term “cop” is in such common usage now that a show documenting their work on the job is called Cops. Even though J. Edgar Hoover once highly objected to the term, it is now fine to refer to a policeman or a police woman as a cop.     5    

A．The term is slightly less familiar to people.

B．So, the Latin, Dutch, and French terms are all similar.

C．These words define some of what a police officer does.

D．The profession of a police officer was not respected then.

E．But the origins of this nickname are something of a debate.

F．However, the term “police officer” is generally most correct.

G．Today it is appropriate to call members of the police force cops.

4 . Here I was, sitting in the roller coaster (过山车) cart of Kingda Ka in New Jersey, the tallest and second fastest roller coaster on Earth. My friends shouted in excitement, while I shakily _______ my hands on my shorts. “How can you be so excited when...”

My words caught in my throat and melted into screams as the roller coaster suddenly _______ forward. It was the fastest _______ I had ever experienced in my life: 128 miles per hour. I screamed at the top of my _______ as fear froze me up from inside. We rapidly moved up the skinny hump (驼峰) rising into the clouds at a ninety degree angle, having crossed the track bringing us forward in mere _______.

_______, close to the highest part of the hump, I _______ a little. My screams became less terrified and more energetic. Once we reached the _______ of the hump, I could almost touch the sky.

And then we were spiraling (盘旋) downwards, curving and twisting and _______ towards Earth at the same speed. ________ I realized it, we had already met the ground. It was a thirty - second - long ride. I managed to ________ the entire ride without a breakdown.

I gasped in surprise. It was over. I had not only survived the ride—I had ________ it. My friend turned to me, her eyes ________. “Are you ready for the next roller coaster?”

My head felt light as we walked away from the ride spinning with something I didn’t ________ recognize. It took me a few minutes to put a name to it — thrill. “I’m ready for anything.”

Until today, that ________ ride that I went on 20 years ago is still kept alive in my memory.

1.

A．wiped

B．waved

C．joined

D．cleaned

2.

A．removed

B．rocketed

C．struggled

D．marched

3.

A．launch

B．operation

C．ride

D．flight

4.

A．cheeks

B．throat

C．heart

D．lungs

5.

A．minutes

B．hours

C．seconds

D．occasions

6.

A．Instead

B．Meanwhile

C．Therefore

D．However

7.

A．broke down

B．calmed down

C．made up

D．dressed up

8.

A．top

B．point

C．track

D．location

9.

A．swinging

B．escaping

C．shooting

D．roaring

10.

A．After

B．Though

C．Before

D．While

11.

A．take off

B．carry on

C．go through

D．get through

12.

A．enjoyed

B．deserved

C．hated

D．confirmed

13.

A．bright

B．wet

C．closed

D．open

14.

A．gradually

B．absolutely

C．immediately

D．eventually

15.

A．romantic

B．thrilling

C．alarming

D．awkward

5 . On a recent afternoon, dozens of elderly farmers were playing chess in a courtyard, a common scene at the Madongchuan Township Zhaotai Village Mutual Support Nursing Home in Yan’ an, a hilly part of Northwest China’s Shaanxi province.

There are no caregivers in sight. Instead, the residents look after one another at the self-service nursing facility, which was rebuilt from a deserted primary school in Madongchuan township. The younger ones grow vegetables in a small path of land nearby. They cook outdoors using a shared kitchen, and the food is delivered to those with mobility issues. After meals, many play chess or chat at their leisure. Local authorities also hired a retired village doctor to oversee the facility so that the residents no longer have to go to the hospital for less severe health problems such as cold and fever.

“They were enjoying themselves in the moment, and leading rather independent lives,” Zhao Liwen, secretary-general of Taikang Yicai Foundation, said of her first impression about the residents during a visit in 2019. The Beijing- based charity offered help by donating 1 million yuan to the nursing home. When she arrived, the seniors, all empty-nesters who are either childless or have children working in big cities, were wrapping dumplings together.

The scene was a sharp contrast from life in the area more than a decade ago. Village elders used to live lonely lives, scattered (分散) among the remote area and unable to access hospitals and other public services. Then in 2013, a flood washed their homes away, forcing them to move into the nursing facility.

The nursing home in Yan’ an is one of the best examples of China’s increasing efforts to take advantage of the strength of “relationship - based communities” in rural (乡村的) areas to ensure fast-graying residents are cared for. Compared with a more commercial or rule-based society in cities, rural communities in China are known to operate through personal connections and mutual trust. The self-sufficient, interdependent culture displayed by the nursing home is being supported by authorities to deal with aging in the countryside.

1. What do the elderly residents do in the nursing facility?

A．They use their separate kitchens.	B．They enjoy their leisure activities.
C．They share advanced medical services.	D．They employ caregivers to look after them.

2. What approach does the nursing home in Yan’ an take to deal with the rural aging?

A．Following strict regulations.	B．Developing mutual cooperation.
C．Conducting commercial strategies.	D．Promoting individual independence.

3. What is the author’s attitude to the self- service nursing home?

A．Objective.

B．Indifferent.

C．Favorable.

D．Disapproving.

4. Which is the most suitable title for the text?

A．Rural Revival: China’s Approach to Aging Population

B．Promoting traditional values: A Tale of Aging in Rural China

C．Bridging Generation Gaps: The Story of Yan’ an’s Nursing Home

D．Relationship - Based Community: A Nursing Home in Rural China

6 . A half-century ago, one biologist taught us from a new textbook titled Animal Behavior: An Evolutionary (进化的) Approach. At that time, I was a young assistant professor at Montana State University and I wondered: Doesn’t every biologist think about animal behavior from an evolutionary view?

Later, I met John Alcock, the book’s author, and he told me that most biologists were more concerned with closely related mechanisms (机制) of animal behavior in the immediate environment, and did not normally ask questions about what adaptive function might have been served by engaging in a particular behavior in a particular environment.

When I left Montana to join Arizona State University, one of the students in my lab was crazy about her undergraduate animal behavior class. It turned out that the teacher was John Alcock, who had obtained his Ph. D. from Harvard University.

Alcock authored a number of beautifully written books. His Sonoran Desert Spring is a delightful read, revealing a deep appreciation of all the amazing life forms that have adapted to life in the desert. Another of his books, In a Desert Garden: Love and Death Among the Insects, describes all the amazing aspects of nature that took place in his own garden.

Alcock received a pair of binoculars (双筒望远镜) from his parents at age seven and through it, he discovered the beautiful birds of rural Pennsylvania, where he was raised. I later often had the pleasure of going bird watching with Alcock, and it was amazing that he could spot and recognize bird species by catching sight of them, or even just listening to a small piece of song.

Alcock had rich knowledge and a way with words that allowed him to make up an extremely interesting story about something uninspiring. And given the known psychological benefits of getting out in nature, imagine having a career in which your job is to go out into the wilderness and look at flowers and birds.

1. What does the author want to know about biologists?

A．Their attitudes towards wild animals.

B．Their research on the natural environment.

C．Their opinions on animal behavior.

D．Their concerns about the changing world.

2. Why does the author mention a student in his lab?

A．To stress John Alcock’s influence.	B．To prove John Alcock’s ambition.
C．To show John Alcock’s achievement.	D．To explain John Alcock’s responsibility.

3. What does paragraph 5 mainly show about John Alcock?

A．His discovery of the hidden beauty.

B．His pleasure in exploring nature.

C．His ability to identify different birds.

D．His experience of living in Pennsylvania.

4. Which of the following is the best title for the text?

A．John Alcock: A Pioneer in Animal Behavior Studies

B．Exploring the Sonoran Desert with a Biologist

C．Bird watching Adventures: A Life Inspired by Nature

D．The Impact of Binoculars on a Biologist’s Childhood

7 . Remember the future? From jet packs to artificial intelligence, visions of tomorrow once preoccupied our collective imagination. Lately though, young people are addicted to looking the other way.

Super charged by social media, nostalgia (怀旧) seems to attract Generation Zconsumers so much. However, this doesn’t mean throwing it back is a cheat code for marketing success with Generation Z. Brands must understand what their audience is looking for in a nostalgia play and then work out how to feed this appetite.

So what’s behind this nostalgia explosion? Having grown up online, where any trend from any era is instantly accessible and social media platforms deliver an unending stream of memories, this generation is hardwired (与生俱来的) for nostalgia. We see this reflected in the big cultural hits of recent years — TV shows and the music of Olivia Rodrigo — where strongly nostalgic elements inspire wild followers.

For nostalgia to work best, something else needs to be going on. The search for connected experiences among Generation Z is also often linked to hype (炒作) culture. Nostalgic launches that connect with hype culture are a great way to create a certain audience, but their success rests on playing into the memories of existing customers as well as the new ones. It’s about tapping into comforting images still fixed in their consciousness.

But Gen Z is about more than online hype and being digitally native. Gen Zers want clarity, credibility, and honesty from their brands. Leaning into nostalgia can help convey this, and when it comes to awakening memories, nothing beats the physical experience. Brands with the vision to bring nostalgia into physical spaces can create an even deeper connection with this audience.

Ultimately, whether online or through brick-and-mortar (实体店),   nostalgia will always be part of the marketing toolkit. To use it most effectively, brands need to become more ambitious yet clever. More culturally savvy (有见识的), but sincere. And most important, they really need to know their audience — otherwise, that audience will start looking in another direction.

1. Which is closest in meaning to “cheat code” in paragraph 2?

A．The secret to success.	B．A way of cheating.
C．A fake password.	D．A wrong number.

2. Why does nostalgia become so popular with the young generation?

A．This generation is born with the love for the Internet.

B．Young children are deeply influenced by adults.

C．There are numerous old TV shows and music works.

D．Online information about the past is easily accessed.

3. Which of the following is the most effective way to use nostalgia?

A．TV advertisements.	B．Online hype.
C．Physical experience.	D．Existing customers.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．Value of memories about the past times.

B．Reasons why nostalgia becomes so popular.

C．Characteristics of the Generation Z consumers.

D．Suggestions on promoting business with nostalgia.

8 . The state of Maine is famous for its delicious wild blueberries. The blueberries grow well on barren mountaintops, in abandoned fields, along rural roadsides or where most other plants don’t. They are also decidedly native as they have been growing in this landscape for more than10,000 years.

At David Dickey’s small farm, farmers harvest blueberries, packing a burst of sweetness into tiny purple package. They’re also harvesting sunshine. A grid (格子) of solar panels stands a few feet above four hectares (10 acres) of the land. The electricity these generate powers a few hundred nearby homes. Under and around these panels are extending fields of the low, thick blueberry bushes.

Solar panels generate electric power without sending out the carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that fossil fuels release as they’re burned. Fixing solar panels on farms helps solve another major problem: finding the space to collect enough sunlight to produce enough supply of electricity.

This concept is called “Agrivoltaics”. The word combines “agriculture” with “photovoltaics (光伏)”. Photovoltaic materials — such as solar panels — generate electric current from sunlight.

Growing crops requires hard work — often generating only a low income. A grivoltaic projects can benefit farmers by giving them a second crop: electric power. Also, farmers can pick up some extra cash by renting their land to power companies that will fix their own solar panel son the site.

At the University of Maine in Orono, Dr. Calderwood focuses on finding ways to grow better berries. Her work includes studying how the bushes can be planted to produce delicious berries despite the shade cast by the solar panels at Dickey’s farm.

“Although the idea behind A grivoltaics has been around for decades, it’s really just exploded over the last few years. Around the world, farmers and solar companies are working together to combine farming with the production of electricity,” Calderwood says.

1. How is the second paragraph developed?

A．By giving descriptions.	B．By making predictions.
C．By making comparisons.	D．By offering suggestions.

2. How do the solar panels make a difference in generating electricity?

A．They take up less space.	B．They produce no pollution.
C．They block out direct sunlight.	D．They avoid the waste of electricity.

3. What is the main advantage of Agrivoltaic projects?

A．Increased agricultural productivity.	B．Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
C．Additional source of income for farmers.	D．Promotion of sustainable farming practices.

4. What can we learn about Agrivoltaic projects?

A．They are a creative idea.	B．They are in a growing trend.
C．They are only useful to farmers.	D．They are a traditional farming.

9 . A Few Tips for Overcoming Differences and Disagreements With Others

We are now living in a world filled with conflicts and different opinions.     1    

Counter anger with sympathy and empathy (同理心). Try to respond to any disharmony with sympathy and patience. Rather than get upset, think about how you can find a solution. Try to empathize with others and work with their shortcomings or issues instead of trying to change them or make them see your viewpoint. Remember different events have different meanings to different people.     2    

Avoid shouting at others. Try not to become angry with others, as this will only make the disagreement worse. If you’re very upset, try stepping away from the situation and returning when you’re calm and relaxed.     3    Acknowledge the other person’s anger and offer to talk about the situation later. Allow you both to cool off a little. Thus, you can have a more productive discussion that isn’t dominated by emotion.

    4     Maintain eye contact with the person when they are speaking even though you disagree with what they’re saying. Keep your arms relaxed and turn your body towards them so they know you’re paying attention. Avoid interrupting them when they’re talking. Instead, wait for them to finish speaking. Then try repeating what they said to them so they know you heard them correctly.

Accept that you may not agree with everyone. You may not be able to be friends with everyone you meet.     5     Acknowledge that you may have to disagree with certain people willingly. Just because you do not agree with someone doesn’t mean you cannot have compassion and empathy for them. You can still connect with people you disagree with and find a sense of harmony with them.

A．Try your best to be an active and positive listener.

B．Take a deep breath and try to respond to others calmly.

C．When you argue with a friend, put yourself in their shoes.

D．Employ body language when communicating with other people.

E．These conflicts and disagreements can bring lots of disharmony to people.

F．Following are some tips for handling disharmony generously and sympathetically.

G．You may have opposing ideas or values and it may be difficult to find common ground.

10 . 5 Best New Books Worth Reading

Flores and Miss Paula, by Melissa Rivero

A bitter mother-daughter relationship and glimpses into Peruvian (秘鲁的) culture shape this quiet novel, which kicks off when a young woman accidentally finds a note in her widowed mother’s handwriting, begging for forgiveness.

Ecco, (Hardcover $28.81)

Baumgartner, by Paul Auster

In Auster’s new novel, an aging philosophy professor struggles to move on after the accidental death of his wife nearly a decade earlier. The book travels between present and past, between a lonely life of writing and a devoted decades-long relationship.

Grove, (Hardcover $18.26)

How to Build a Boat, by Elaine Feeney

This novel, which was long listed for the Booker Prize, follows a boy as he works to build a permanent motion machine, which to him is not just an engineering project, but a way to get closer to the mother he never knew. In his mind, these things are closely linked.

Harvill Secker, (Hardcover $25.76)

Same Bed Different Dreams, by Ed Park

In this new novel, a long-awaited follow-up to Personal Days, Park examines Korean history, pop culture and digital addiction through the eyes of a writer working at a very large tech company.

Random House, (Hardcover $20.11)

The Secret of the Blood-Red Key, by David Farr

In the follow-up to The Book of Stolen Dreams, Rachel must follow the trail of Elsa—a young girl who has been illegally smuggled (偷渡) into remote areas. Can Rachel find Elsa, and use the key to save her? The second adventure in this series is just as exciting and inventive as the first.

Usborne Publishing, (Hardcover $23.04)

1. Which book will attract readers interested in sad love stories?

A．Flores and Miss Paula.

B．Baumgartner.

C．How to Build a Boat.

D．Same Bed Different Dreams.

2. What do the last two books have in common?

A．They are of the same price.

B．They are from the same press.

C．They are continuations of books.

D．They are from the same author.

3. How many books are related to family?

A．One.	B．Two.
C．Three.	D．Four.