1 . Having thousands of photographs, songs, and films available at our fingertips would have seemed amazing just a few decades ago.     1     Could the digitalisation of cultural objects put a time limit on our memories?

The materials phones and computers are made of can decay (腐烂) over time, impacting the data that they store.     2     Yet when digital data is destroyed, it can quickly make it impossible to even open a file. Also, as formats and devices become out of date, it may become impossible to read files from previous decades.

    3     Large companies can still lose data. In 2019, social media platform MySpace admitted losing over 12 years’ worth of users’ music uploads. The widespread use of streaming services for music, TV, and film means people no longer own the content that they watch and listen to. They just pay for the right to access it, which is called licensing. If streaming companies decide to remove content, or go out of business, users will lose access.

Licensing rather than purchasing content is an example of how our behavior towards digital content has changed. Another example is that we take far more pictures than people did in the past.     4     And we must also consider what to keep and what to delete.

So, what can we do? Technology writer Jack Schofield said that “data doesn’t exist unless you have at least two copies of it”.     5     Academic Paul Royster suggests that we should all take time to consider what content we personally believe is worth saving. Perhaps the answer is just to avoid digital altogether. Science and Technology writer Chris Baranaiuk calls for a cultural movement towards buying analogue (实体的) copies of cultural content.

A．This adds to the challenge of keeping our data safe.

B．But how long will these files last for and be available?

C．Storing information in the cloud can also help preserve it.

D．Images can still be seen in discolored physical photographs.

E．Storing your uploads on a cloud service can present problems as well.

F．However, it’s common presently thanks to technological advancements.

G．So it’s important that we keep backup copies of what is important to us.

2 . The first transplant surgery to combine a mechanical (机械的) heart pump as well as a gene-edited pig kidney has recently been completed at NYU Langone Health.

The subject, 54-year-old Lisa Pisano of New Jersey, had heart failure and end-stage kidney disease. But she couldn’t have a standard heart or kidney transplant because of certain medical conditions and an overall lack of donor organs in the US. According to the Organ Transplantation Network, roughly 27,000 kidneys were transplanted last year, but nearly 89,000 people were on the waiting list for those organs.

Pisano got the heart pump on April 4 and then, on April 12, received a pig kidney, which was gene-edited to help keep the human body from recognizing the animal’s organ as foreign and rejecting it. “The editing process was to disrupt a gene responsible for the production of a sugar found on the surface of animal cells called alpha-gal, which can be recognized by human antibodies (抗体) and attacked,” said Dr. Robert Montgomery, director of the NYU Langone Transplant Institute, who led the surgery.

Montgomery noted that the gene edits used in the pig in this case are much simpler than those used in other transplants. “We’re going to have an opportunity to really address the problem that we’re trying to address, which is the scarcity of organs, and the more complex the gene edits, the less likely it is that you’ll be able to produce those edits into a pig group. You would have to clone every pig for each organ. That is not something that can be easily achieved. So, we feel like less is more in this case.”

“Pisano has a long way to go and we are watching out for rejections,” he said, “but her kidney is functioning beautifully, and her heart is in much better shape. What previously existed in science fiction is now a reality.” Doctors expect that she might be discharged within a month.

1. What is Paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．The difficulties Pisano encountered.	B．The way of transplanting organs.
C．The significance of human antibodies.	D．The function of gene-editing.

2. What does the underlined word “scarcity” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?

A．Complexity.

B．Expense.

C．Shortage.

D．Simplicity.

3. How did Montgomery feel about the outcome of the surgery?

A．Worried.

B．Grateful.

C．Confused.

D．Optimistic.

4. What type of writing is the text?

A．A news report.	B．An academic paper.
C．A personal story.	D．Science fiction.

3 . You might know what to do if a human needs first aid, but what if your dog gets a bite or your cat eats something poisonous? Dr. Liam Donaldson, clinical director at Greencross Vet (兽医) Hospital at the University of Melbourne, says it’s important that pet owners understand basic first aid. Here, he shares his tips for dealing with common accidents and injuries.

Cuts & wounds

You don’t need to worry about disinfecting the injury site, but you do need to stop the bleeding, says Dr. Donaldson. “If there’s uncontrollable bleeding, apply pressure — even if it’s just using a T-shirt. Once you have applied pressure to reduce bleeding, take your pet immediately to a vet for assessment.” he advises.

Snake bites

Snakes have very small teeth, so their bite marks can be difficult to spot — and you might not see the bite happen. But if your pet shows signs of snake bite poisoning — sudden weakness and collapse, dilated pupils, vomiting, paralysis and shaking or twitching of muscles — get them to a vet without delay.

Tick bites

It’s a good idea to have a pair of tick-removal tweezers (镊子) on hand in case you need to remove a tick from your pet. “There’s often a lot of concern about whether you have to get all of the tick or not, but as long as you get the body of the tick off, generally the head will just remove itself over time,” says Dr. Donaldson. He recommends keeping the tick so that if your pet becomes ill, your vet can identify whether they were bitten by a paralysis tick (the type that can be deadly).

Poisoning

Cats eating ivy and dogs eating sago palm or macadamia nuts are some of the most common poisonings Dr. Donaldson sees. “If it’s a macadamia nut, I would just keep a very close eye on them. If they start to show any gastrointestinal signs — if they go off their food, if they become sore in any of their legs — get them checked over by a vet,” he says. “If it was lilies or sago palm, I would recommend getting them to a vet, even if they’re not showing signs of illness, just because that can typically be life-threatening.”

1. If your pet dog gets seriously injured, what is the best solution?

A．To seek medical assistance.	B．To disinfect the injury site.​
C．To apply pressure to reduce bleeding.​	D．To use a T-shirt to stop bleeding.

2. A cat or dog should be sent to hospital immediately it eats _________.

A．Ivy.	B．Sago palm.​
C．A macadamia nut.	D．A common poisoning.

3. Where is this text probably taken from?

A．A medical journal.              ​	B．A biology textbook.​
C．A hospital advertisement.	D．An animal care guide.​

4 . 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。

Spring rolls, those crispy delights of golden pastry (油酥面团), featuring a mix     1     finely chopped vegetables like cabbage, carrots, and sometimes meat, are among the most popular     2     (choice) for a quick and tasty snack. The rolls are fried to a perfect crunch and are     3     (typical) eaten when hot. To eat one, you have to decide     4     to dip it in a sweet and sour sauce first, adding an extra layer of flavor, or to enjoy it on     5     (it) own, letting the roll’s own taste shine through. While spring rolls     6     (serve) in many places, the classic version can be found in the busy street markets,     7     they are made fresh on the spot and provided straight from the fryer. Good spring rolls have a light crust, allowing them     8     (pick) up easily without breaking or becoming unpleasantly wet. The filling is carefully seasoned     9     (guarantee) a harmonious blend of tastes and textures (口感).

No matter where I get them, one is rarely enough, but two or three might be too much, so I am always left     10     (look) forward to my next spring roll experience.

5 . On the morning of Jan. 21st, 2023, I was taking the subway to work as usual. A quiet subway ride felt like a mini ________ from my busy life. Yet I found myself spending that ________ time browsing my endless messages on the phone.

One day, I put down my phone and started writing ________ notes to people who had contributed to a donation activity I had ________. When I got off the train, I was in a noticeably ________ mood. Then an idea struck me that I could write one for every day of that year. As an organizer and consultant, I had no ________ of people I could write to, so I picked out a different ________ for each month to keep on task. January was “charity”, February was …, and I thought of ________ names right away.

In July, my “________” month, I had become good at getting my memories back and ________ people to send my notes to. On the top of the list was Jenny, a(n) ________ chef. She had cooked at my favorite restaurant (It is now closed down). I thanked her and specially mentioned her biscuits ________ into the Roman number Ⅵ for our sixth wedding anniversary.

________, I received a note back from her, ________ “I have never received such a touching letter before. It was ________ expectation and unbelievably thoughtful. And so needed at a time when I’m ________ professionally. Your letter was a fantastic reminder that ________ back is a good motivation for moving forward.”

Part of the ________ of what I did was ________ with people like Jenny — people, who weren’t ________visitors in my life but made a lasting impact. And I wouldn’t have known if I had not reached out.

1.

A．activity

B．carriage

C．adventure

D．vacation

2.

A．nervous

B．temporary

C．precious

D．unforgettable

3.

A．apology

B．invitation

C．cheer-up

D．thank-you

4.

A．hosted

B．witnessed

C．attended

D．missed

5.

A．better

B．calmer

C．funnier

D．heavier

6.

A．resource

B．shortage

C．idea

D．awareness

7.

A．person

B．colour

C．theme

D．letter

8.

A．seven

B．twelve

C．thirty

D．thirty-one

9.

A．neighbour

B．family

C．trip

D．food

10.

A．requiring

B．identifying

C．encouraging

D．contacting

11.

A．gentle

B．responsible

C．considerate

D．honest

12.

A．shaped

B．filled

C．drawn

D．developed

13.

A．Luckily

B．Surprisingly

C．Finally

D．Hopefully

14.

A．writing

B．addressing

C．printing

D．reading

15.

A．out of

B．owing to

C．free from

D．up to

16.

A．struggling

B．thinking

C．hesitating

D．progressing

17.

A．moving

B．calling

C．stepping

D．looking

18.

A．task

B．magic

C．concept

D．praise

19.

A．reuniting

B．fighting

C．reconnecting

D．exchanging

20.

A．useful

B．important

C．frequent

D．necessary

6 . 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。

Atule’er village in southwest China’s Sichuan province, known     1     a “cliff village”, has become an Internet-famous tourist attraction.

In the past, villagers used handmade ladders     2     (climb) the cliff when they returned from the outside. According to locals, about eight people died on the “road” while there were more people who fell and     3     (injure). Among those who climbed the high handmade ladders almost every day were 15village children     4     attend the primary school on the lower mountain. Life was     5     (extreme) hard for the village’s 84 needy households.

Chen Jie, a photographer and a     6     (journal), released the report, A Village on a Cliff on May 24, 2016, which revealed the unsafe situation. This aroused concern from the     7     (centre) government and the local government. At the end of 2016, the local government invested over one million yuan in building a 2,556-step and nearly 3-km-long steel ladder,     8     (improve) the travel conditions for locals significantly. Since then, the “cliff village”     9     (witness) steady improvement in its infrastructure (基础设施).

After being covered by5G signals, Atuleer village has become more widely known through live-streaming shows and seen a growing number of tourists. Even the steel ladder becomes     10     must-see tourist spot. In the future, the “cliff village” will become more famous with the help of the government.

7 . 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。

In February 2022, I began learning Chinese with the     1     (intend) of enjoying Chinese culture. Almost a year later, I found myself in Beijing, the capital of China. Before coming here, I     2     (attend) Chinese classes, and I could sense my progress in the language. As     3     matter of fact, studying for just one year wasn’t enough to claim fluency. But full proficiency in the language is not necessary to lose     4     (you) in and enjoy many attractions of life in China.

The one thing that truly makes me feel comfortable is making friends and engaging     5     conversation. At Tsinghua University,     6     I pursued my studies in China, I made friends with many Chinese young people. I often     7     (invite) to have meals or leisure activities with them, such as going to KTV, which is a popular entertainment among Chinese youth. I felt that connecting with my Chinese peers through a shared passion, such as singing, was     8     (incredible) enjoyable and beautiful.

During breaks from study, I frequently travels across China. I’ve explored cities like Shanghai, Chongqing, and Changsha in Hunan province, among others. Though I have experienced traveling on overnight trains for over 12 hours several times and explored     9     (familiar) cities, I never felt fearful or unwelcome as a foreigner. Chinese people are warm and welcoming to foreigners, and eager     10     (offer) help.

8 . 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。

Mind reading is hard. But not impossible. Modern technology can reach inside someone’s head and pull out their     1     (intend).

Decoding (破解) thought usually requires placing sensors directly on or in someone’s brain. Using brain implants, researchers so far     2     (pick) up electrical signals in the brain linked to certain words or letters. This has allowed brain implants to transform thoughts     3     text or speech on a computer. Brain implants have even enabled scientists     4     (turn) the neural firings (神经网络滤镜) associated with a song in someone’s head into real music.

In a recent study, scientists decoded full stories from people’s brains     5     (use) MRI scans. This did not require any brain implants. But building the thought decoder     6     (definite) required many hours of brain scans for each person. What’s more, the system only worked on the persons     7     were willing to have their minds read.

Devices that might let someone secretly read your mind from across the room     8     (be) still a long, long way off Still, it’s clear that mind-reading tech is getting more and more     9     (advance). As it does, scientists are thinking hard about what it would mean to live in     10     world where not even the inside of your head is completely private.

9 . After a heavy snowstorm, I ran outside excitedly to build a snowman. No matter how I rolled my snowball, it refused to grow. After resting for a while, I restarted the job. Then I noticed I had an audience-a prim-looking (古板的) couple with obvious disapproval. My face turned red as I tried to answer their unspoken question: Don’t you have anything better to do?

An adult playing by herself seems strange, but’ maybe it shouldn’t. New research suggests that modern adults have ignored their play instinct (本能). Most animals stop playing as adults. However, there are a handful of animals that never stop.

One possibility is’ that adult play is important and beneficial, -a theory supported by a study. Researcher Camilla Cenni from the University of Lethbridge left some puzzle boxes for some monkeys to solve. To get the food inside, they had to drop a rock into the container. The monkeys that previously had dropped rocks for fun were more likely to solve the puzzle. This finding also suggests somewhere in our evolutionary history—a playful human invented stone tools. Even today, the urge to play accounts for some of humans’ greatest inventions. Adult play is also about preparing for the unexpected. And biologists found its most important function is improving relationships and helping individuals get along.

Adult play promotes inclusivity, cooperation and creativity—all qualities that we humans could use. Unfortunately, social norms hold back our urge to let loose. “Generally speaking, we like to do the things that are necessary for our survival,” says Peter Gray, a play researcher at Boston University, Humans took one giant step away from fun when we started planting crops. Plowing (耕) fields is hard and boring. Then we invented factories and lost sight of play.”

With threats like climate change, it’s easy to get into seriousness. But we should understand the value of encouraging adult play. The next time I’m caught playing. I know what to say, “I’m playing for the benefit of all humankind. You’ re welcome.”

1. Why did the author’s face turn red?

A．She was considered too old to play.

B．She was ignored by a prim-looking couple.

C．She had difficulty making a snowman.

D．She couldn’t answer the couple’s question.

2. What can be inferred about adult play from Paragraph 3?

A．It is the natural need of humans.	B．It has slowed down human evolution.
C．It can contribute to useful creations.	D．It is particularly noticeable in animals.

3. What got humans to lose the fun of playing according to Peter Gray?

A．Climate change.	B．Modern science.
C．The arrival of agriculture.	D．The need to prepare for the unexpected.

4. Which of the following serves as the best title?

A．How adults can be more playful

B．Why adults need to make time for playtime

C．How to add more play to your grown-up life

D．What differences exist between human and animals’ play

10 . Our National Public Radio staff and trusted crities have made some recommendations about must-reads.

Rough Sleepers    Tracy Kidder

This uplifting book is about Dr. Jim O’Connell’s work of bringing health care to unhoused people for more than three decades, first in Boston and now in nearly every American city. His work might be a band-aid on the bigger problem of homelessness, but as he said, “This is what we do while waiting for the world to change.”

The Right Call       Sally Jenkins

Sally Jenkins has had a superb career recording the highest achievements in sports by individuals and by teams. With The Right Call, she captures what makes some athletes and coaches reach their peak. Whatever part of life you want to excel in, this book will have you rethinking what you do and how you might do it differently.

The Secret of Cooking       Bee Wilson

More than a cookbook, this is a guide to how to make cooking work for you — and even become a joy. What if you have picky eaters, a full time job and a kitchen with only half the ingredients the recipe calls for? This book has the answers, explaining everything from how to figure out what flavors go together, to how to get easy when everything goes wrong.

Land of Milk and Honey       C Pam Zhang

Set in a future where a mysterious smog has swallowed Earth, causing widespread crop failures and food shortages, the story follows an unnamed chef who finds herself in a world of cooking delights and unequalled sensory experiences among a landscape of despair (绝望). It’s an exploration of human nature, and the choices we make in the face of difficulties.

1. How does Dr. Jim O’Connell view his own work?

A．It doesn't help in solving the housing problem.

B．It shows a way to be excellent in life differently.

C．It will make a difference in caring about the homeless.

D．It offers a way to get food in times of shortage.

2. Whose book can get readers to think about how to be excellent in life?

A．Tracy Kidder.	B．Sally Jenkins.
C．Bee Wilson.	D．C Pam Zhang.

3. What do Bee Wilson’s and C Pam Zhang’s works have in common?

A．They tell readers how to reduce food waste.	B．They provide personal cooking experience.
C．They both have something to do with cooking.	D．They try to cover some aspects of family life.