1 . Enjoyable and immersive hobbies have the power to make us happier and healthier. Hobbies lead to better physical health, more sleep, lower stress, greater life satisfaction, a larger social network and improved work performance.
Be open.
“Keeping an open mind and not dismissing potential hobbies even if they seem out of your wheel-house is key,” says Katina, a clinical psychology researcher. “We’re wired as humans to be curious and open, but in a very burned-out world, we forget that,” she says. “It’s the first thing to go.” So next time someone hands you a flier or invites you to an event, seize the opportunity.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? The answer could point you towards an appealing hobby. If you wanted to be a major league player, what can you do now that fulfills that urge for you? Joining a softball team or coaching some neighborhood kids could inspire a long-dormant passion.
Go back to school.
Consider auditing (旁听) a class at a university or signing up for a lesson to learn more about a potential hobby.
Take an assessment.
Lots of colleges offer career assessments to help students determine what to major in and how to guide their professional lives.
A.Take a trip back in time. |
B.But where do you start? |
C.Turn your dream into a hobby. |
D.Always dreamed of writing a novel? |
E.It could introduce you to something you never guessed you’d love. |
F.You can also use these tools to gather insights about potential hobbies. |
G.If a hobby makes you healthier and happier, everyone around you will benefit. |
Due to temperature rise and safety concerns, the
Since opening on December 19, 2023, the winter wonderland
Crowded with people on the last opening day, the winter wonderland became a paradise where both adults and children were immersed in a
The recent temperature rise and windy weather have worried the park’s management about the safety of tourists. According to videos posted by visitors, some ice sculptures can be scratched and marked by nails. Local residents
The Ice and Snow World
3 . When it comes to what shapes me into who I am today, the first things coming to mind are my experiences as a child of immigrant parents. I was
I remember feeling
Like many people
But alongside that isolation, I usually
A.taken in | B.brought up | C.focused on | D.picked out |
A.proud | B.upset | C.relieved | D.fun |
A.desert | B.remain | C.value | D.balance |
A.characteristics | B.interests | C.strengths | D.feelings |
A.keep | B.stick | C.stretch | D.break |
A.in regard to | B.in charge of | C.in comparison to | D.in company with |
A.torn | B.broken | C.energetic | D.mean |
A.Therefore | B.Otherwise | C.However | D.Besides |
A.straight | B.fine | C.parallel | D.simple |
A.traditional | B.certain | C.special | D.universal |
A.hesitating about | B.deciding on | C.setting about | D.holding on |
A.Sadly | B.Surprisingly | C.Fortunately | D.Hopefully |
A.sorry | B.anxious | C.afraid | D.safe |
A.expose | B.limit | C.reduce | D.commit |
A.inspired | B.attracted | C.shocked | D.surrounded |
A.isolation | B.connection | C.relationship | D.division |
A.doubt | B.admit | C.believe | D.grasp |
A.insist on | B.refer to | C.end up | D.put off |
A.resembles | B.copies | C.dislikes | D.favors |
A.ability | B.right | C.privilege | D.room |
4 . Fingerprints have been used to identify individuals for centuries. But now scientists may have finally figured out how those patterns are formed, according to a paper published in the journal Cell in February.
Previous studies have shown that fingerprints can be influenced by the shape and size of the blood vessels in the skin and how fast the different layers of skin grow. Denis Headon at the University of Edinburgh, UK, and his colleagues started their study from a new viewpoint: how genes affect fingerprint patterns. They identified the genes related to limb (肢体) development, which could serve as the groundwork for print formation, according to their work published in 2022.
However, many genes are not involved in the process. “The key is how they form,” Headon told Nature, a science journal. The team studied the ridges (脊) on mouse toes and human cells grown artificially.
They found two kinds of elements work against each other. A protein called WNT, which is important in skin development, promotes ridge formation. Another molecule (分子), called BMP, impedes the ridges. With the two elements “fighting” each other, they create the patterns of waves. The team also changed the timing and the location of the origins of the waves in experiments. They discovered that the waves would collide in different ways, which helps to create the diversity of print patterns.
Interestingly, the analysis of the fingerprint patterns supported the Turing reaction-diffusion system. It was first proposed by UK scientist Alan Turing in 1952 to describe a self-organizing system that creates patterns in nature, such as the feather patterns in birds and stripes on zebra. The researchers also built a computer model that can recreate print patterns by following the Turing system.
Based on the new study, it may be possible that the structures of human skin might be all generated by the same mechanism, Sarah Millar, a US biologist, told the website Science News. However, more studies on how the skin matures are needed to solve the mystery.
1. What did Denis Headon and his colleagues focus on in their study?A.The relation between skin growth and fingerprint formation. |
B.The influence of blood vessels on fingerprint patterns. |
C.The impact of genes on fingerprint patterns. |
D.The analysis of mouse toes’ ridges. |
A.They experimented with mouse toes and artificial human cells. |
B.They compared mouse toes with human hands. |
C.They did research on human hand anatomy. |
D.They planted human cells in mouse toes. |
A.Supports. | B.Stops. | C.Generates. | D.Influences. |
A.It uncovers how the skin is generated. | B.It promotes Alan Turing’s theory. |
C.It may further research on skin maturation. | D.It shows the mechanism of skin formation. |
5 . My husband made a little two-story house that mirrored our own in color and design for our Little Free Library, while I carefully selected books from our shelves. The idea resonated (引起共鸣) with us immediately — instead of loading boxes into the car for yet another used book sale, we could simply walk them to the roadside.
Fifteen or so years later, it’s safe to say that thousands of books, as well as the occasional DVDs, CDs and jigsaw puzzles have been shared through our little library. Situated on a busy street just a few blocks from a subway station, our little library sees dozens, perhaps hundreds, of passers-by each day.
Many of those who use our library do not hesitate to share their love of this neighborhood resource. One gentleman regularly stops by to pick up books for a nearby retirement home. At other times, we have received cards and gifts, including chocolates and even a personalized drawing from a local artist.
Like the people who use our library, the books that come and go reflect the broad diversity of our city. Arabic, French and Russian books are staples among the dominant English-language books. I’ve even collected favorite books of mine in languages I don’t understand, simply for the joy of adding another edition to my collection. Surprisingly, our library hasn’t dealt with our book storage problem —if anything, we now have more books than ever before.
I have heard some complaints that Little Free Libraries do not always serve the purpose of building community and may compete with our public libraries and independent bookstores. This has not been our experience. We continue to buy more books than we need and we are fiercely loyal users of the public system. Our Little Free Library has enhanced our love of reading and has connected us to a community of book lovers in the heart of our busy neighborhood.
1. Why did the author and her husband create the Little Free Library?A.To make friends with book lovers. | B.To deal with their unwanted books. |
C.To prepare for used book sales. | D.To make use of community resources. |
A.The multiple resources of the library. |
B.People’s contributions to the library. |
C.The friendships between library users. |
D.The author’s impression of her neighborhood. |
A.Its superiority to public libraries. |
B.Its close distance to a busy street. |
C.Its success in solving book storage. |
D.Its reflecting city diversity through books. |
A.The Cozy Reading Corner: Promoting Reading |
B.The Whispering Pages: Tales from a Shared Library |
C.The Little Free Library: Contributing to Tighter Bonds |
D.The Magic Bookshelf: Account of Neighborhood Harmony |
1.竞赛主题、时间及地点;
2.报名方法;
3.鼓励大家踊跃报名。
注意:1.词数100左右;
2.开头和结尾已为你写好。
Notice
Dear fellow students,____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Students Union
I’ve seen my share of wildfires’
Based in Las Vegas, I’m used to being sent to wildfires in other places. I flew to Hawaii on Wednesday, and by Thursday morning, I was in a helicopter
No plants or signs of life in sight. Just gray. Street after street was nothing but ruins. It was hard
One sight
8 . Ronald Blythe had not expected his book to be such a success. It had been
“Change is not
To this view, Mr Blythe was
Usually, he chose to be
A.forgotten | B.welcomed | C.criticized | D.ignored |
A.book | B.person | C.letter | D.case |
A.office | B.family | C.library | D.hometown |
A.achievements | B.relatives | C.heroes | D.awards |
A.own | B.invent | C.find | D.hide |
A.focused on | B.relied on | C.referred to | D.belonged to |
A.pleasant | B.unacceptable | C.predictable | D.good |
A.accidentally | B.hard | C.fast | D.rarely |
A.angry | B.disapproving | C.uninterested | D.sympathetic |
A.poison | B.ambition | C.agriculture | D.wisdom |
A.refusing | B.seeking | C.creating | D.cutting |
A.living | B.impression | C.fortune | D.appointment |
A.measure | B.manage | C.explore | D.occupy |
A.expecting | B.watching | C.classifying | D.gathering |
A.students | B.activists | C.doctors | D.friends |
A.strengthened | B.satisfied | C.destroyed | D.lost |
A.rich | B.smart | C.local | D.lazy |
A.proud | B.polite | C.natural | D.alone |
A.regular | B.uncomfortable | C.short | D.unrealistic |
A.chatted | B.wandered | C.drew | D.danced |
9 . Creativity is advocated everywhere these days. But most of us don’t know how to set it off. Here are some ways to start the process.
Work in a blue room. As we grow up, colors take on specific associations. Red means danger, and blue relates to peace.
Why the difference?
Sleep on it. Sleep helps generate new ideas in several ways. During sleep, the brain strengthens memories. That act of strengthening actually reorganizes thoughts, much like reorganizing books on a shelf.
Live in a foreign land. People who had lived abroad performed better on creative problems and tasks. A week in Paris isn’t enough to light the creative spark, delightful though that trip may be.
A.Watch a funny video |
B.Such associations affect how we think |
C.However, don’t expect this to work every time |
D.Red makes us anxious, and anxiety causes us to focus |
E.The new arrangement can help generate new associations |
F.If we can let our mind wander, we are more likely to solve the problem |
G.It has to be long enough to challenge our habitual ways of thinking and living |
10 . The Zero Energy Building in Singapore, which has been entirely powered by sunlight since it began operating in 2009, is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia. Transformed from a former workshop, the three- story building may hold the key to the island’s effort to reduce its dependence on imported fuel.
Generally, green building strategies can be categorized into passive and active solutions. Active solutions involve improving lighting and the HVAC(Heating, Ventilation (通风) and Air-conditioning)systems that consume most of the energy in buildings. Passive solutions aim to provide more energy-efficient architectural improvements (such as building envelopes and roofs) to reduce the reliance on active solutions. Research has shown that passive strategies are much less costly compared to active solutions. Therefore, passive design is recommended in many green and sustainable design guidelines.
“However, passive solutions, such as daylight and natural ventilation, are sensitive to climatic and outdoor conditions and therefore have their limitations of application,” said project officer Letchimi Palanisamy. “For example, buildings in the tropics (热带) usually have a North-South direction to avoid facing the sun directly. But the Zero Energy Building has an East-West orientation, which made the task more challenging.”
Innovations that are being tested at the Zero Energy Building include personalized ventilation and a new air-conditioning system patented by the National University of Singapore (NUS). Different plants have also been planted on the roofs and along the walls of the building to reduce heat absorption, yet allow maximum natural ventilation and daylight into the building to lower the need for air-conditioning and artificial lighting. The biggest improvement is the addition of a new roof that can turn sunlight into 500,000KWH of electricity each year.
“The Zero Energy Building is a test bed for the green building technologies in the tropics,” Letchimi Palanisamy said. “If they are successfully commercialized, they will help Singapore cut its energy consumption in the buildings by 50%.”
1. What does the second paragraph mainly focus on?A.Methods to improve the HVAC systems. |
B.Ways to classify green building strategies. |
C.Major innovations adopted in green buildings. |
D.The benefits and limitations of green technologies. |
A.Buildings in the tropics usually face the sun directly. |
B.Passive designs depend heavily on the natural conditions. |
C.Active strategies are much less expensive than passive solutions. |
D.The energy consumption in the Zero Energy Building is cut by 50%. |
A.Natural ventilation. | B.Plants grown along the walls. |
C.Innovations for maximum daylight. | D.NUS’s air-conditioning system. |
A.A project profile. | B.An on-site test. | C.An advertisement. | D.A government plan. |