1 . Things To Remember On Your First Solo Travel Adventure
If you’ve ever thought about just taking a trip yourself instead of waiting for someone to join you, you’re not alone.
Don’t be afraid to talk to random people. Though there is someone who poses a threat, it’s important to remember that not everyone is out to get you.
It’s okay to have bad days.
It’s okay to start small.
| A．You are the boss of your own adventure. |
| B．You need to make an unusual travel choice. |
| C．It’s no secret that solo travel is on the rise. |
| D．Sometimes things can go incredibly wrong. |
| E．People like you simply don’t know how to start. |
| F．Most of the time people are just curious and try to be friendly. |
| G．Remember, your first solo trip doesn’t have to be to a whole other continent. |
2 . Hugging probably isn’t the first thing when thinking about what robots could help humankind with. Alexis E. Block and her colleagues have been involved in the HuggieBot project for years, trying to be trailblazers of a robot that could deliver human-like hugs.
The creators of HuggieBot 3.0 claim that it is “the first fully autonomous human-sized hugging robot”. It features a custom sensing system called “HuggieChest” consisting of two inflated (膨胀的) parts to imitate a soft chest. But there’s a lot more than a soft chest to the HuggieBot 3.0. The advanced robot delivers hugs using a pair of arms mounted to a custom metal frame (框架) that were selected for being human-like, quiet, and safe. As a hug takes place, a pressure sensor and microphone inside the artificial chest detect human touch and begin transmitting data via a board to a Robot Operating System (ROS)-based computer located in the HuggieBot 3.0’s 3D-printed head.
The team used feedback from 512 real people over 32 trials to train a machine learning system. “The HuggieBot 3.0 can stay still, move slightly vertically (垂直地), tap or pat a person’s back and squeeze with-varying degrees of pressure The team wrote in a recent study.
Alexis E. Block started working on the original HuggieBot back in 2016. The first version was built on six “hugging commandments” to autonomously enter into and end a hug. The HuggieBot 2.0 took the project a step further by integrating sensing perception, but the 3.0 version is the most advanced version with five added hugging commandments to deliver a human, like hugging experience.
In a recent test, 12 participants who hugged the robot for longer declared that they felt it was “significantly nicer to hug” than previous ones.
The HuggieBot 3.0 isn’t perfect, and its creators point out that it isn’t quite like hugging a real person just yet, but they are already working on a fourth version that should come with improved hug positioning and techniques. They hope that one day HuggieBot will be able to take the place of the sensation of human bugging to perfection.
1. What does the underlined word “trailblazers” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?| A．Trackers. | B．Protectors. | C．Pioneers. | D．Criticizers. |
| A．Its designing process. | B．Its main function. |
| C．Its working principle. | D．Its practical usage. |
| A．It works fully autonomously. | B．It perceives people’s senses. |
| C．It pats and squeezes a person gently. | D．It offers human life hugging experience. |
| A．Promising. | B．Far-reaching. | C．Profitable. | D．Uncertain. |
3 . How to Learn a New Language From Subtitles (字幕) of Movies
In order to learn a new language, people mostly take a special class.
First watch a video or a movie without subtitles. When you watch any video in your target language, initially, turn off the subtitles if you can.
Turn on the subtitles and watch again. If there are a lot of words and phrases you didn’t get from the video, watch the video with subtitles this time. Focus on the accent, pronunciation of the new words and phrases and how they are used.
Turn the subtitles back off and watch. You have watched the video many times and noted the words and phrases. Now you have been familiar with those words and phrases. Then turn the subtitles back off and watch the video again. Pay attention to the words and phrases you have noted down.
Print out the subtitles, read and record your voice. When listening to any English documentaries, print out the subtitles, then read and record your voice.
| A．You can also record the whole video. |
| B．By doing so, you will be more familiar with them. |
| C．Some resources on video websites give you this option. |
| D．Don’t worry if you don’t comprehend some new words. |
| E．Note down the new words, idioms, phrases and grammar rules. |
| F．Listen back to your recording and compare yours with the main source. |
| G．But there is another method which can help you with the language you learn. |
4 . At just 14 years old, Heman Bekele became the Nicole of the 2023 3M Young Scientist Challenge, standing out among nine other finalists with his creative invention known as the Skin Cancer Treating Soap (肥皂). An recognition of his exceptional achievement, this ninth-grad teenager is set to receive a cash award of $25,000.
Bekele’s revolutionary concept, presented through a brief two-minute video, centers on the development of a soap that is not only affordable, priced at less than $10 per bar, but also has the potential to reactivate (重新激活) dendritic cells—the body’s natural defenders of the skin—to fight against skin cancer.
In Bekele’s own words, “Curing cancer, one bar of soap at a time.” is passion for biology and technology was the driving force behind this ingenious creation, and the 3M Young Scientist Challenge provided him with the perfect platform to showcase his visionary ideas.
Reflecting on his inspiration, Bekele shared that his childhood in Ethiopia played a significant role in shaping his creative thinking. Having witnessed people work tirelessly under the burning sun, he couldn’t help but wonder how many were aware of the risks associated with prolonged sun exposure.
“I wanted to make my idea not only scientifically exceptional but also accessible to a broad audience,” Bekele expressed during an interview with The Washington Post. To aid him in realizing his big plans, he received invaluable guidance from Deborah Isabelle, a product engineering specialist at 3M,who connected him with other scientists. Eventually, the path forward for Bekele’s creation includes obtaining FDA approval.
During his presentation at the 3M global headquarters in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Bekele passionately articulated his vision of turning the soap into a “symbol of hope, accessibility, and a world where skin cancer treatment is within reach for all”.
Over the coming five years, Bekele longs to perfect his invention and establish a non-profit organization dedicated to distributing his innovative creation to under-served communities, offering hope and a practical solution in the fight against skin cancer.
1. What does the underlined word “Nicole” mean in paragraph 1?| A．Hero | B．Winner. | C．Example. | D．Specialist. |
| A．He was guided by relevant experts. | B．He watched a video about science. |
| C．He saw people work in the hot sun | D．He dealt with scientists in the field. |
| A．Gifted and reliable | B．Creative and adaptable. |
| C．Humble and enthusiastic | D．Caring and ambitious |
| A．A children’s story. | B．A medical paper. | C．A news report. | D．A diary entry. |
5 . Have you ever left the house without a jacket on a warm day, only to regret overestimating your freezing weather tolerance? Instead of dashing back home for your coat, there may come time in the near future when you simply use an app to control your clothing’s level of insulation (隔热).
Created by researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). FibeRobo is cheap, programmable, shape-changing smart fiber reliant on a liquid crystal elastomer (LCE). Among the uses, clothing filed with the new LCE fiber could adjust the structure to become more insulated in colder temperatures, and vice versa for warmer weather. With an additional ability to combine with electrically conductive threads, a wearer could directly control their FibeRobo clothing or medical wearables like compression clothing via wireless inputs from a controller or smart phone.
As detailed in a recent institute profile, LCEs are composed of molecules (分子) possessing liquid-like properties that can also arrange into periodic crystal formations once cool. Importantly, the team’s new LCE can be flexible between its phases at safe, comfortable temperature levels — an industry first.
The result is a fiber capable of contracting when exposed to heat, and self-reversing as temperatures drop without any external sensors or interwoven components. What’s more, FibeRobo is flexible and strong enough to use within traditional manufacturing methods like embroidery, weaving looms, and knitting machines.
“At the end of the day, you don’t want a top-class fiber.” Jack Forman, an MIT graduate student and paper lead author, said in a statement. “You want a fiber that, when you are working with it, falls into the gathering of materials — one that you can work with just like any other fiber material, but then it has a lot of exciting new capabilities.”
While many current smart textile (纺织品) projects are trying to reinvent how a person can interact with their clothing, these clothing enterprises perhaps may one day expand the number of clothes in your closet. Meanwhile, this newest version may actually downsize your wardrobe.
1. What does the author intend to do in paragraph 1?| A．Offer some examples to prove. |
| B．Lead the readers to the topic. |
| C．Provide background information |
| D．Summarize the main idea of the text. |
| A．It is shape-changing. |
| B．It contains liquid. |
| C．It is wearable. |
| D．It is cheap. |
| A．Unconcerned. |
| B．Doubtful |
| C．Opposed. |
| D．Hopeful. |
| A．FibeRobo: a Smart Fiber |
| B．LCEs: Unique Molecules |
| C．A Creative Application |
| D．A New-Style Enterprise |
6 . Every weekend my parents give me $100. I bet you think I’m really spoiled (宠坏的). Think again!
It all started when I wanted a really cool
They
One way was to allow me to
My parent’s clever plan has turned me into a
| A．book | B．jacket | C．bicycle | D．toy |
| A．complained | B．apologized | C．calculated | D．lied |
| A．implied | B．predicted | C．announced | D．admitted |
| A．arranged | B．concluded | C．attended | D．started |
| A．freedom | B．say | C．trust | D．support |
| A．cook | B．pay | C．care | D．shop |
| A．list | B．basket | C．center | D．guide |
| A．brought in | B．set aside | C．left over | D．handed over |
| A．exchange | B．spend | C．donate | D．invest |
| A．excuse | B．challenge | C．motivation | D．advantage |
| A．compare | B．charge | C．cut | D．quote |
| A．agree | B．decide | C．explain | D．recognize |
| A．popular | B．wise | C．dependent | D．brave |
| A．represent | B．affect | C．delay | D．replace |
| A．ready-made | B．last-minute | C．short-term | D．hard-earned |
7 . New research suggests tea might help those who drink it live longer than those who do not. Past studies in China and Japan, where green tea is popular, have suggested several health benefits. Now, scientists say black tea may show similar benefits.
Scientists from the United States National Cancer Institute carried out the study. They examined years of data gathered about the tea drinking behavior of almost 500,000 adults in Britain for as many as 14 years. Black tea is the most common kind of tea in Britain.
The study found that high tea intake — two or more cups a day — was linked to a moderate benefit: a 9 to 13 percent lower risk of death from any cause than non-tea drinkers.
The research was published in Annals of Internal Medicine. The scientists say the lowered risk of death held true for study subjects with heart disease. However, researchers said there was no clear finding in connection with deaths from cancer. Researchers were not sure why. “It is possible that there were too few confirmed cancer deaths to measure,” said Maki Inoue-Choi, who led the study.
Tea contains various elements, including polyphenols, which are thought to be responsible for the health benefits that have traditionally been linked to tea, especially green tea. Green tea is reported to improve mental ability, ease digestive problems and head pain, and help people with weight loss. Green tea has also been studied for possible protective effects against heart disease and cancer.
The study of British tea drinkers was based on observing people’s behaviors and health.
This kind of methodology cannot prove cause and effect.
“Observational studies like this always raise the question: Is there something else about tea drinkers that makes them healthier?” said Marion Nestle. She is a professor of food studies at New York University.
“The study does not offer enough evidence to advise people to change their tea behaviors,” said Inoue-Choi.
1. How is the result of the study presented?| A．By analyzing cause and effect. | B．By giving definitions. |
| C．By listing numbers. | D．By presenting examples. |
| A．Fewer and fewer people are dying of cancer. |
| B．Drinking tea has no effect on cancer patients. |
| C．We can’t confirm the leading cause of cancer deaths. |
| D．Drinking tea can lessen the risk of death from heart disease. |
| A．This method has its limitations. | B．This is an easy and effective method. |
| C．They don’t need to be proved. | D．Behaviors and health are closely connected. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Objective. | C．Negative. | D．Indifferent. |
8 . “Renewable energy development is a critically important component of the transition away from fossil fuels, making our air cleaner. However, bird death has become an unintended consequence of renewable energy development,” said Hannah Vander Zanden, an assistant professor of biology at the University of Florida. Birds can be killed when they hit wind turbines (涡轮机), fly into solar panels they mistake for bodies of water or get burned by the intense heat from concentrating solar power plants. While the death rate of birds due to these energy facilities is far less than deaths due to domestic cats and crashes with buildings, efforts to deal with this new problem are important, scientists say.
Vander Zanden and her colleagues performed geospatial (地理空间的) analyses of stable hydrogen isotope (氢同位素) data obtained from feathers of 871 individual birds found dead at these renewable energy facilities in California, which represented 24 species. Results from the study show that the birds killed at the facilities were from a broad area across the continent. Their geographical origins varied among species and included a mix of local and nonlocal birds. Researchers found most birds killed at solar facilities were nonlocal and peaked during the migratory periods of April and September through October. The percentage of migratory birds found at wind facilities nearly matched that of local birds, at 51%.
“The data can help inform us about the best strategies to use to minimize the deaths,”Vander Zanden said. “For example, facilities management could work with conservationists to improve the local habitat to help protect local birds or improve other parts of the species’ range where the migratory birds originate.” The results also illustrate the power of stable isotope data to assess future population growth or decline patterns for birds due to a variety of reasons.
“Studying the remains of animals like what we did is a noninvasive approach to get information that is otherwise hard to track and apply to conservation,” Vander Zanden said. “It’s a great way to understand the mysteries about animals.”
1. What is the new threat to birds according to Vander Zanden?| A．The high-rise buildings. | B．The loss of natural habitats. |
| C．The devastating climate change. | D．The rise of renewable energy facilities. |
| A．Solar facilities were primarily responsible for bird death. |
| B．Non-migratory birds faced a greater death risk at wind facilities. |
| C．Migratory birds were more affected by solar facilities than local ones. |
| D．The bird death rate was closely associated with migration patterns. |
| A．Animals hold many mysteries to humans. |
| B．The research possesses scientific significance. |
| C．Keeping track of and analyzing birds is challenging. |
| D．The remains of dead birds should be well conserved. |
| A．Renewable energy is a two-edged sword. |
| B．Solar energy is a major cause of birds’ death. |
| C．Studying birds promotes energy development. |
| D．Birds are threatened by renewable energy facilities. |
9 . It felt as if we had been climbing for hours. I stopped to catch my breath as a wave of dizziness swept over me in the thin mountain air. I was on an amazing trip with my family to experience the festival of Qoyllur Riti, which takes place at 4,300 meters high in the southern Andes of Peru.
As I looked back down the trail we had climbed, and up towards where we had to go, the colorful sight struck me a lot. Entire families wearing local costumes were travelling to this unique festival from all over Peru. Among them were old men, mothers with small babies and children all following the same route. Many of them had horses and donkeys carry their food, blankets, cooking pots and tents. Others had made their way on foot through the mountains for days to attend this remarkable event.
We continued climbing upward for another hour and a half before reaching the Sinakara Valley. Right across this flat piece of ground people were putting up shelters and tents to protect themselves from the freezing mist and rain. It was clear, however, from the sound of the drums and singing rising from the campsite that the weather was not going to weaken the festival spirit. The air of excitement, even from our place more than a mile away, was palpable.
After dinner, we went to bed fully clothed inside our sleeping bags. We were up early the next morning, the main day of the festival, despite having slept badly on the frozen ground. The ukukus, men wearing black masks and costumes, had left the campsite in the early hours to climb the nearest mountain by the light of the full moon.
From time to time during the procession, they stopped to dance on the glaciers, believing this would bring luck to their villages for the year to come. In the dawn light, we watched them winding their way back down like a large black snake. As they descended, they were joined by groups of dancers in bright traditional costumes. They performed wherever there was space. Although there did not seem to be anyone organizing them or any timetable, the whole festival had become a huge harmonious celebration.
1. What do we know about family’s climb up and down the trail?| A．They were too tired to enjoy the sight. |
| B．They regretted extremely taking the trip. |
| C．They were fascinated by the scenes there. |
| D．They were greeted warmly by local people. |
| A．suitable | B．endurable | C．noticeable | D．understandable |
| A．They were all dressed in plain clothes. |
| B．They were determined to reach the festival. |
| C．They only continued their journey during daylight hours. |
| D．They performed dances to demonstrate their traditional costumes. |
| A．A health report. | B．A sports newspaper. |
| C．A fashion forum. | D．A culture magazine. |
| A．Putting up notices. | B．Placing more bins. | C．Picking up the rubbish. |
