1 . Anson L. Clark Scholars Program

If you’re a high school student looking for research opportunities, it doesn’t get much better than the Anson L. Clark Scholars Program. This well-known research program has a selection rate of less than 3% and only 12 high school juniors or seniors are selected every summer to join the program.

In this post, we will dive deep into this program to help you understand the structure, the cost, location, research areas available, and reasons why you should apply for this intensive research program.

About Anson L. Clark Scholars Program

The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program was established in 1963 in honor of Anson L. Clark , a former Texas A&M student who proceeded to create a successful business career!

This program is an intensive 7-week comprehensive research program that will allow you to gain hands-on practical research under the mentorship (导师制) of Texas Tech University faculty. Apart from conducting one-on-one research with faculty, you will have additional weekly seminars, discussions and even field visits!

Time

The program is off line and is conducted every summer at Texas Tech University. The current program dates are June 16, 2024 to August 1, 2024.

Cost

There is no program or registration fee, and your on-campus meals, on-campus room and board, and weekend activities will be covered by the program!

Research Areas

While the list of research disciplines for Summer 2024 haven’t been released, some of the general areas (based on the Summer 2023 disciplines) you can expect are biology, chemistry, computer science, economics/business, finance/marketing, electrical engineering & computer engineering, history, and physics.

You can access the specific research topics in 2023 in the attachment!

Qualification

This program is open to high school juniors and seniors who will graduate in either 2024 or 2025. You will have to be at least 17 years of age by the program start date.

1. What do we know about the Anson L. Clark Scholars Program?

A．It’s an annual research program.	B．It is hard to complete the program.
C．It is in honor of a famous scientist.	D．It is open to all high school students.

2. What will students do in the program?

A．Visit Texas Tech University.	B．Create business career.
C．Listen to lectures online.	D．Do practical research.

3. How can you know the research areas for Summer 2024 at present?

A．By searching on the internet.	B．By referring to 2023 disciplines.
C．By paying registration fee.	D．By asking the mentors in college.

2 . “What do you mean by this phrase? It’s incorrect and adds nothing to the sentence. Omit (省略).” Professor Jones’s critical feedback on my paper hurt me when I first read it. I scanned his comments for a “Good job!” or “I love this idea,” but they were nowhere to be found.

Everyone likes warmth and encouragement, but purely positive affirmations (肯定) don’t communicate what can be improved. Research conducted on Character Lab Research Network finds that direct, useful feedback requiring students to revise their own work is more effective. For Professor Jones, this looked like a note at the end of another paper: “I’m sure things will improve as the term and year wear on.” However, feedback that does the work for a student—correcting a misspelled word, rewriting a sentence—can signal a teacher’s low expectations.

When kids see comments that suggest what needs to be changed, they come to realize they can do things on their own and become more independent learners. As a bonus, this kind of feedback lets students know that their teacher believes in them.

As for me, I was benedictory for Professor Jones’s pointed criticism which let me know that he took me seriously. He was expecting me to do better, and the detailed comments scrawled (潦草地写) on every page gave me the tools to improve. Teachers can add affirmations to their feedback as long as it’s not the only thing they’re doing.

Don’t confuse warmth with promoting a growth mindset. Being nice isn’t the same as showing someone you believe they can improve. So give detailed feedback that sets young people up to take charge of their own learning. For example, instead of rewriting a sentence, say: “This is a run-on sentence. Try reading it out loud and add punctuation in places where you naturally take a breath.” Ask worth-exploring questions that inspire students to think about their approach, then let them revise on their own. When it comes to writing, the easiest path isn’t always the best one.

1. How did the author initially feel about Professor Jones’s feedback?

A．Happy and motivated.	B．Upset and disappointed.
C．Indifferent and unconcerned.	D．Confident and encouraged.

2. What is the key aspect of effective feedback mentioned in the article?

A．It should be brief and to the point.	B．It should be warm and encouraging.
C．It should be written at the end of the paper.	D．It should be up to students to fix their own work.

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

A．Responsible.

B．Generous.

C．Regretful.

D．Grateful.

4. What should teachers do when checking student’s paper according to the text?

A．Give students general praise.	B．Rewrite sentences for students.
C．Provide students critical support.	D．Show students corrected assignments.

3 . The award-winning documentary “Feeding Tomorrow” explores the American food system’s shortcomings and the urgent need for change. Directed by Oliver and Simon English, the film dives deep into the complex web of issues surrounding food, climate change, and agriculture, leaving viewers with a clear realization of the challenges ahead.

At its core, “Feeding Tomorrow” raises fundamental questions about humanity’s relationship with the planet and the consequences of our consumption patterns. As the global population reaches up to 10 billion, the film shows the serious reality that our current methods of food production are unsustainable. With agriculture already occupying half of the habitable land and consuming 70% of freshwater resources, the harm on the environment is reaching critical levels.

The documentary reveals the interconnectedness of food, climate, and health, weaving together narratives from diverse voices in the fields of farming, health, and education. Through the stories of innovators like Mark Shepard, Clare Fox, and Lisa McDowell, “Feeding Tomorrow” highlights the urgent need for systemic change.

One of the central themes of the documentary is the importance of regenerative farming practices. By promoting biodiversity and topsoil growth, regenerative agriculture offers a promising path towards sustainability. The film emphasizes the need to transition from conventional, monoculture (单一) farming to more overall approaches.

Moreover, “Feeding Tomorrow” shows the significance of adopting plant-forward diets and reducing meat consumption. With animal agriculture being a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and environmental degradation (恶化), the documentary advocates for a shift towards more sustainable dietary habits.

Ultimately, “Feeding Tomorrow” serves as a cry for collective action and social change. It challenges viewers to reevaluate their relationship with food and embrace sustainable practices that benefit both people and the planet. The documentary reminds us that the power to shape a better future lies in our hands. In the words of Mark Shepard, “What are you going to eat for dinner tonight? Start asking the questions.”

1. What do we know about our current food production methods?

A．They are suitable to feed the increasing population.

B．They are inefficient and harmful to the environment.

C．They are too focused on producing large quantities of food.

D．They are all outdated and need to be replaced with new ones.

2. Why does “Feeding Tomorrow” tell some innovators’ stories?

A．To praise their achievements.	B．To indicate different opinions.
C．To stress the necessity of change.	D．To give examples of farming methods.

3. What does the documentary appeal people to do in paragraph 4?

A．Keep the balance of nature.	B．Take up sustainable practices.
C．Prioritize economic interests.	D．Invest in agricultural innovations.

4. What is the main purpose of the text?

A．To briefly introduce an award-winning film.	B．To explore American agriculture’s issues.
C．To present new food production methods.	D．To show the impact of climate on agriculture.

4 . Our family was sitting on the porch swing enjoying the summer breeze when my husband pointed to something on the swing’s chain next to him. We _______ forward to see a large praying mantis (螳螂) attaching to the chain. We held our _______ and watched, not wanting to scare it away. We sat and _______ chatted for the next half hour as we watched the insect _______ up and down the chain. It seemed _______ by our presence, and we were _______ to observe its slow, precise movements.

We wouldn’t have _______ it if my husband had not pointed it out. Too often, we move through life, _______ of the beautiful blessings surrounding us each day. The _______ of sitting and watching an insect for half an hour is something I do not want to ________ for granted. Too often, I define myself by my productivity. I start my morning with a checklist and ________ my worth by how much I get done by the day’s end.

I’m learning to ________ my tireless striving for productivity and simply ________ the gifts of this beautiful world when I see them. Each creature displays a small ________. To sit and watch a unique bug like a praying mantis is an act of admiration. I think I’ll ________ and sit for a while in search of another beautiful bug just to appreciate the beauty of nature.

1.

A．struggled

B．put

C．bent

D．dropped

2.

A．breath

B．attention

C．back

D．tool

3.

A．casually

B．quietly

C．happily

D．nervously

4.

A．looking

B．flying

C．climbing

D．falling

5.

A．unbothered

B．undoubted

C．unattractive

D．inaccessible

6.

A．grateful

B．anxious

C．impatient

D．responsible

7.

A．selected

B．recognized

C．noticed

D．scolded

8.

A．unfamiliar

B．proud

C．shameful

D．unaware

9.

A．courage

B．wisdom

C．safety

D．reward

10.

A．owe

B．take

C．bring

D．fetch

11.

A．balance

B．measure

C．release

D．promote

12.

A．defend

B．keep

C．imagine

D．stop

13.

A．enjoy

B．deliver

C．produce

D．ignore

14.

A．principle

B．purpose

C．wonder

D．puzzle

15.

A．pull through

B．go out

C．turn up

D．come back

6 . 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。

Lhakpa Dondrub, 22, was born with a genetic disease, which affected his     1     (grow), leaving him about I meter in height, and confined him to a wheelchair, but it hasn’t stopped him     2     (pursue) his dream to become a photographer.

“When I was a child, I liked to observe the change of light through a window. It was     3     (amazing) beautiful. After learning photography, I know it is all about light and     4     to catch it through the lens (镜头),” says the young man. “What’s more, my perspective is lower than others, and I hope     5     (record) the unique light in life from my view,” he adds.

Born into a farming family in a village in Lhasa, Dondrub     6     (adopt) by relatives after his mother died. In 2017, he entered the Lhasa care center for people with physical challenges,     7     he found his passion for photography and video editing. In 2021, he left the care center and found a job in a     8     (profession) enterprise, being responsible for taking photos for customers.

For Dondrub, photography is not only     9     means of making a living, but also a driving force and an expression of life. When he has time, he takes a camera to snap photos of animals and people along the ancient Barkhor Bazaar. He hopes that one day he     10     (be) able to take photos on Beijing’s Tian’anmen Square.

7 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语编写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

Unbreakable

My brother and I were playing a game of tag in the house. “Tag! You’re it!”, shouted Alim and ran as fast as his 5-year-old legs could carry him. I chased closely behind. I watched him jump over the sofa and landed, falling sideways to hit our Mom’s favourite vase, the one late Grandpa gave her on her wedding day, off the side table. SMASH!! Alim burst into tears almost at the same time the vase broke. I was equally alarmed said “Ha! Alim, you are in trouble.” This made Alim cry more, “Mummy is going to beat me!”

He was crying so much that I felt sorry for him. Just then Mom came into the house. I rushed over to Alim’s side. “What is this? Who broke my vase?” My Mom shouted. Her eyes were wide open and bright with terrible anger. Alim tried to say something through his tears but I started to clean his wet face with my hand and I said, “I am so sorry, Mom. I broke the vase and told Alim that I would say it was him.” My Mom pulled me by my left ear and dragged me to our room. Alim followed quietly behind. My Mom said, “That’s it. You are grounded for the rest of the holiday.” As she closed the room door on me, I saw Alim’s face in the corner, his eyes very big, looking straight at me.

The door was shut and I felt very alone in the room as I nursed my painful ear. Why did I do that? I thought. Alim should be the one taking the punishment, not me. Humph. He owes me big time. I fell asleep thinking of the ways I could get back at Alim. I woke up suddenly with the realization that Alim was not in the room with me. He had not come to bed. I tiptoed out of the room to look for him. The house was quiet and dark and I was beginning to worry when I noticed the light through the kitchen door.

注意：
1．续写词数应为150左右;
2．请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
When I got there, Alim was picking out the pieces of the vase from the garbage bag.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The next morning Mum walked into our room and stopped as she saw the “new” vase.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9 . HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF EVERY BOOK YOU READ

Reading books can be one of life’s greatest pleasures and learning experiences.     1    . Especially if you’re reading a book for more than just the pleasure of it, you have to do more than just turn over its pages. Here we will explore actionable ways to maximize the benefits of reading.

Set clear goals before reading

Understanding why you’re reading a book can significantly impact how you approach it. The right goal will help you pay attention to what’s most important. If you’re reading a book about photography, you may want to pay particular attention to the images.     2    .

Make summaries for every chapter

After finishing a chapter, take a few minutes to summarize it in your own words.     3    . It also creates a handy reference guide for the future. Summarizing can be a creative process, too. Try using bullet points, mind maps, or one-liners to capture the essence of each chapter.

Apply what you’ve learned

    4    . If a book teaches you a new approach to time management, try implementing it in your daily routine. If a novel provides a moral lesson, reflect on how it applies to your life. This active application ensures that the book leaves a lasting impact.

    5    

The process of reading doesn’t end when you turn the last page. Regularly revisiting your notes, summaries, and reflections keeps the material fresh and relevant. Consider setting aside time each month to review previous reads and reflect how they’ve shaped your thoughts and actions. Not for every book, of course, just for the most impactful ones.

A．Repeat reading for deeper insights

B．Review and reflect

C．You may notice details, themes, or ideas that were hidden during your first reading

D．This exercise deepens your understanding and helps identify the central themes and ideas

E．So spend some time reflecting on what you hope to achieve and let that guide your reading process

F．However, many of us struggle to remember and apply what we’ve read

G．Taking action on what you’ve read transforms theoretical knowledge into practical wisdom

10 . How the economics profession should fix its gender problem

At the heart of economics is a belief in the virtues (好处) of open competition as a way of using the resources you have in the most efficient way you can. Thanks to the power of that insight, economists routinely tell politicians how to run public policy and business people how to run their firms. Yet when it comes to its own house, academic economics could have done more to observe the standards it applies to the rest of the world.

In particular, it recruits (招聘) too few women. Also, many of those who do work in the profession say they are treated unfairly and that their talents are not fully realised. As a result, economics has fewer good ideas than it should and suffers from a skewed (歪曲的) viewpoint. It is time for the dismal science to improve its dismal record on gender.

For decades relatively few women have participated in STEM subjects: science, technology, engineering and maths. Economics belongs in this list. And a survey by the American Economics Association (AEA) this week shows that many women who do become academic economists are treated badly.

To deal with its gender shortfall (缺口), economics needs two tools that it often uses to analyse and solve problems elsewhere: its ability to crunch data and its capacity to experiment. Take data first. The AEA study is commendable, but only a fifth of its 45,000 present and past members replied to its poll. Better data are needed to capture how work by female economists is discriminated against. The more comprehensive (全面的) the picture that emerges, the sooner and more easily action can be taken to change recruitment and to reform professional life.

The other priority is for economists to experiment with new ideas, as the AEA is recommending. For a discipline that values dynamism, academic economics is often conservative, sticking with teaching methods, hiring procedures and social conventions that have been around for decades. The AEA survey reveals (显示) that 46% of women have not asked a question or presented an idea at conferences for fear of being treated unfairly, compared with 18% of men. Seminars could be organised to ensure that all speakers get a fair chance. The way that authors’ names are presented on papers could ensure that it is clear who has done the intellectual heavy lifting.

Instead of moving cautiously, the economics profession should do what it is best at: recognise there is a problem, measure it objectively and find solutions. If the result is more women in economics who are treated better, there will be more competition for ideas and a more efficient use of a scarce (稀缺的) resource. What economist could possibly object to that?

1. Why does economics have fewer excellent ideas than it should?

A．Economical environment isn’t good enough.

B．Professionals in this field are treated unjustly and their gifts are not fully recognized.

C．Too many women are employed.

D．Women do worse in economics than men.

2. What does economics need to handle its gender gap?

A．Data to capture how work by female economists is discriminated against.

B．Its ability to process data quickly and its capacity to experiment.

C．Action to change recruitment and professional life of female economists.

D．Seminars organised to ensure that all speakers get a fair chance.

3. What can we know from the last paragraph?

A．The result of the AEA survey is that there is better treatment to women.

B．More women in economics will bring more competition of scarce resource.

C．A balanced sex ratio will do good to the development of economics.

D．Men in economics can’t make this discipline better.

4. What can we infer about the author’s attitude towards the economics and its recruitment now?

A．Opposed.

B．Positive.

C．Objective.

D．Indifferent.