2 . We’re fortunate to have access to the dynamic network technology, which provides rich resources for learning, connecting and entertaining ourselves.     1     The same tool that can enhance our work efficiency also has the power to trap us in a web of distractions (分心之事).

    2     An astonishing 84.4% of us, on average, report being distracted at work. There are some usual suspects. Emails steal the attention of 26%. Phone calls and texts influence a massive 43%. Coworkers shift the attention of 27%. And the Internet, with its infinite source of information and entertainment, distracts 41% of us. What’s more, a survey reveals that an overwhelming 67% of workers say that their work is often affected by the excessive time spent on meetings and calls.

These distractions are more than mere annoyances.     3     It is their lasting impact that makes it impossible for us to focus on any single task. In this way, they greatly reduce our work efficiency.

A study offers more insight into our struggle with distractions. It found that our brain waves pulsate (搏动) at different frequencies depending on the type of external stimuli. The rhythm is faster for automatic stimuli but slows down for tasks we consciously choose to focus on.     4    

Just think about it: You’re involved in a project, and then your phone receives a text message.     5     And regaining your focus might be harder than you anticipate, The same goes for that catchy news headline or an interesting social media post that catches your eye-pulling you away from your task and making you lost in the sea of distractions.

A．But it is double-edged.

B．Some distractions can be avoided.

C．Statistics reveal how common this issue is.

D．They’re also persistent and endless in getting our attention.

E．The sound of it is loud enough to interrupt your concentration.

F．Stimulating our interest and increasing the speed of our work are important.

G．This makes maintaining focus in the noisy world an ever-increasing challenge.

3 . A new study shows homing pigeons (鸽子) combine precise internal compasses and memorized landmarks to retrace a path back to their home—even four years after the previous time when they made the trip.

Testing nonhuman memory keeping is challenging in research studies. “It’s rare that there is a gap of several years between when an animal stores the information and when it is next required to get it back,” says Dora Biro, a zoologist at the University of Oxford. In a recent study, Biro and her colleagues compared domestic homing pigeons’ paths three or four years after the birds established routes back to their home from a farm 8.6 kilometers away. The study built on data from a 2016 experiment in which pigeons learned routes in different social contexts during several flights-on their own or with peers that did or did not know the way.

Using data from GPS devices temporarily attached to the birds’ backs, the researchers compared the flight paths a group of pigeons took in 2016 with many of the same birds’ routes in 2019 or 2020, without the birds visiting the release site in between. Some birds missed a handful of landmarks along the way, but many others took “strikingly similar” routes to those they used in 2016, “It was as if the last time they flew there was just the day before, not four years ago,” says Oxford zoologist and study co-author Julien Collet.

The team found that the pigeons remembered a route just as well if they first flew it alone or with others and performed much better than those that had not made the journey in 2016. “The result is not surprising, but it provides new confirmation of homing pigeons’ remarkable memory. It closes the distance a little bit between our overconfident human cognitive (认知的) abilities and what animals can do,” says Verner Bingman, who studies animal navigation at Bowling Green State University and was not involved in the study.

1. What does paragraph 1 mention about homing pigeons?

A．The time of leaving home.	B．The location of their birth.
C．The ways they navigate home.	D．The reasons for their taking trips.

2. How did Biro and her colleagues conduct the study?

A．Through questionnaires.	B．Through information assumptions.
C．Through lab experiments on animals.	D．Through comparative analysis of data.

3. What did the researchers use to get the pigeons’ flight routes according to paragraph 3?

A．Prediction method.	B．Tracking method.
C．Expert consultation.	D．Literature consultation.

4. What can we learn about animal cognitive abilities from Verner Bingman’s words?

A．They are underestimated.	B．They have been declining.
C．They are much lower than humans’.	D．They have never been confirmed.

4 . Ancient builders across the world created structures that are still standing today, thousands of years later. Roman builders built thick concrete sea barriers against waves. Mayan builders created great sculptures, and Chinese builders constructed walls against foreign enemies.

A growing number of scientists have been studying materials since a long time ago. They are breaking apart pieces of buildings and reading historical texts hoping to learn how they have stood for thousands of years. The research has turned up a surprising list of materials that were mixed into old buildings. They include tree bark, volcanic ash, rice and beer. These unexpected materials can have the ability to get stronger over time. Figuring out how to copy these features can have real impacts today. While some of our modern concrete has the strength to hold up very tall buildings and heavy structures, it cannot compete with the durability of these ancient materials.

Many scientists have turned to the Romans. Starting around 200 BC, the Roman Empire was building concrete structures that have stood the test of time. Even in places where seawater has been hitting structures for ages, you will find concrete basically the way it was when it was poured 2,000 years ago. They think they have found an important reason why some Roman concrete has held up structures for thousands of years. That the ancient materials have an unusual power to restore themselves and “cure” cracks (裂缝) when they form is the most shocking for them. Exactly how is not yet clear, but scientists are starting to find the reasons.

Today’s builders cannot just copy the ancient processes. Even though Roman concrete lasted a long time, it couldn’t hold up heavy buildings. Instead, researchers are trying to take some of the ancient materials and add them into modern mixes. People don’t need to make things last quite as long as the Romans did. If we add 50 or 100 years to concrete’s lifespan, we’ll surely require less pulling down, less maintenance and less material in the long run.

1. What were the mentioned Roman and Chinese buildings both used for?

A．Travel.

B．Defence.

C．Soldier training.

D．Seawater control.

2. Which word can best describe the ancient buildings?

A．Long-lasting.

B．Energy-efficient.

C．Delicate.

D．Flexible.

3. What surprises the scientists most about the ancient building materials?

A．Their large cracks.	B．Their clear concrete.
C．Their internal structures.	D．Their self-repairing ability.

4. What is the author’s attitude to the future concrete?

A．Tolerant.

B．Expectant.

C．Suspicious.

D．Indifferent.

5 . Competing for a Trip to Soma Bay, Egypt

Soma Bay is a perfect place for sunny relaxation. If you take a trip there, you can also take part in the competition we organize.

The Destination

Lapped by the Red Sea on three sides and with views of sandy beaches and desert mountains, Soma Bay can attract nature lovers most, Spreading across almost 2,500 acres, the Egyptian tourist attraction has an 18-hole golf course designed by Gary Player, a golfing enthusiast, as well as the largest Thalasso spa in Africa. Kiteboarding, diving and horse riding are all on offer, too.

Of Soma Bay’s five accommodation options, a five-star hotel enjoys a fantastic location on the highest point of the Soma Bay peninsula. It has a number of guest rooms and suites with private balconies, as well as four on-site restaurants, You can enjoy beach-side pizza, take afternoon tea, or stop for a drink by the 18th hole. They are all offered by the hotel.

The Prize

With the official permission of Soma Bay, the winner can enjoy a four-night stay in a classic room at the five-star hotel on a half-price basis. The prize includes return economy class flight tickets with overhead cabin luggage from the UK to Hurghada International Airport up to the value of £650 per person, with direct routes available from cities including London, Manchester and Bristol, plus return airport transfers to Soma Bay (UK transfers aren’t included).

To Enter

Answer the following question online at natgeotv,com/uk/competitions:

ON WHICH SEA IS SOMA BAY LOCATED?

Competition closes on 31 October 2023.

The winner must be a UK adult resident, aged 18 or over.

1. What does the five-star hotel offer?

A．Games on a golf course.	B．Tickets for kiteboarding.
C．Something to eat and drink.	D．Accommodation on the beach.

2. What can the winner get?

A．A free stay in the perfect hotel.	B．A return airport transfer to the UK.
C．A possible direct flight ticket from Bristol.	D．A first class flight from the UK to Hurghada

3. What do we know about the competition?

A．It welcomes children.	B．It covers multiple questions.
C．It targets at Egyptian citizens.	D．It ends on the last day of October.