1 . Have you ever found yourself having intrusive (侵扰的) thoughts about something you haven’t finished? Maybe a half-done work project is keeping you up at night or the suspenseful plot of a novel you’re reading keeps circling your thoughts. There is a reason why it’s so hard to stop thinking about uncompleted and interrupted tasks, and psychologists called it the Zeigarnik effect (Z-effect).

The Ziegarnik effect was first observed by a Russian psychologist named Bluma Zeigarnik. While sitting in a busy restaurant in Vienna, Ziegarnik noted that the waiters had better memories of unpaid orders. Once the bill was paid, however, the waiters had trouble remembering the exact details of the orders.

Zeigarnik did a series of experiments, in which participants were asked to complete simple tasks such as putting together puzzles, or solving math problems. Half of the participants were interrupted partway through doing these tasks. After an hour-long wait, Zeigarnik asked the participants to describe what they had been working on. She discovered that the people who had been interrupted in their work were twice as likely to remember what they had been doing as the people who had been able to complete the tasks.

We are living in an information explosion era, and we need mental tricks to help us remember a great deal of information. The Zeigarnik effect serves as a prime example. We hold on to information in the short term by constantly pulling it back into our awareness. By thinking of uncompleted tasks often, we’re more likely to keep remembering them until they get done.

The Zeigarnik effect tells us a lot about how memory works and you can use the Zeigarnik effect to your advantage. If you are struggling to memorize something important, momentary interruptions might work to your advantage. Rather than simply repeating the information, review it a few times, and then take a break. Nevertheless, leaving too many tasks unfinished can lead to feelings of overwhelm and anxiety. Therefore, it’s crucial to use this effect wisely in practical applications.

1. What is the typical characteristic of the Z-effect?

A．Tending to memorize unfinished tasks.	B．Trying to finish various tasks at a time.
C．Performing terribly during a task.	D．Suspending an uncompleted task.

2. What is the function of paragraph 3?

A．To classify a concept.	B．To provide further evidence.
C．To stress the experiment’s complexity.	D．To add some background information.

3. Which is a practical application of the Z-effect?

A．Reading a whole story in one breath.

B．Producing a drama with unexpected endings.

C．Keeping several windows open on your computer.

D．Airing ads during the suspenseful moments in a TV series.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．The Z-Effect: How Interruptions Enhance Memory

B．The Z-Effect: How to Boost Recall of Finished Tasks

C．The Power of Completing Tasks Ahead of Schedule

D．The Tricks of Developing Long-term Memory

2 . A new data crowdsourcing platform, an initiative led by Dr. Ioanna Sitaridou at Cambridge University, who has been studying Romeyka for the last 16 years, aims to preserve the sound of Romeyka, an endangered millennia-old variety of Greek. Experts consider the language to be a linguistic (语言的) goldmine and a living bridge to the ancient world.

Romeyka, which does not have a writing system and has been transmitted only in spoken form, is thought to have only a couple of thousand native speakers left in Turkey’s Trabzon region. Extensive contact with Turkish, the absence of support systems to facilitate intergenerational transmission, and migration have all taken their toll on Romeyka. A large majority of native speakers in Trabzon are over 65 years of age and fewer young people are learning the language.

The newly launched Crowdsourcing Romeyka platform invites members of the public from anywhere in the world to upload audio recordings of Romeyka being spoken. “Speech crowdsourcing is a new tool which helps speakers build a database of spoken materials for their endangered languages, allows researchers to document these languages, and motivates speakers to appreciate their own linguistic heritage (遗产). At the same time, by preserving their language, it can help speakers achieve acknowledgement of their identity from people outside of their speech community,” said Dr. Sitaridou.

The innovative tool is designed by a Harvard undergraduate in Computer Science, Mr Matthew Nazari, himself a heritage speaker of Romeyka. Together they hope that this new tool will pave the way for the production of language materials in a naturalistic learning environment away from the classroom, but based instead around everyday use and community.

By engaging with local communities, particularly female speakers, Sitaridou has gathered the largest collection of audio and video data in existence and amounting to more than 29GB of sourced data, and has authored 21 peer-reviewed publications. A YouTube film about Sitaridou’s fieldwork has received 723,000 views to-date.

1. Why is it necessary to preserve Romeyka?

A．It is a variety of Greek.	B．It has a unique writing system.
C．It can generate commercial value.	D．It can strengthen the bond with the past.

2. Which can replace the underlined phrase “taken their toll on” in paragraph 2?

A．Had a negative influence on.	B．Taken full advantage of.
C．Played a leading role in.	D．Thrown new light on.

3. What does paragraph 3 want to stress about the platform?

A．Its prospect.

B．Its originality.

C．Its significance.

D．Its limitation.

4. Which can best describe Dr. Sitaridou’s work?

A．Conventional.

B．Eventful.

C．Fruitful.

D．Debatable.

3 . Nancy Beiman was 65. When she was considering retirement from her job as a professor of animation, she had no _________ how she would fill her days. _________ this, she woke up one day with the idea for a comic strip (连环画).

Beiman had been doing her animation mostly on computers but for this new idea, she _________ to drawing characters on paper. The _________ was FurBabies, a series about a mixed family of dogs, a cat and a child who can all speak the same language.

Beiman wasn’t planning on _________ with the idea until she showed them to her friend, the cartoonist Lynn Johnston, who thought _________ of the drawings and gave her advice on how to develop little scripts (脚本).

Obviously, as a professional animator, Beiman was no _________ to working with larger-than-life characters. Even so, she says the _________ from animation to comics wasn’t as easy as it sounds. “Comic strips are about illustrating verbal humour while animation _________ moving images and does not depend on dialogue.”

Following her friend’s __________, she wrote 24 mini-scripts. A few months later, she __________ them to the website GoComics and successfully got __________.

One __________ of moving into comics, Beiman believes, is that it offers some protection from “incredibly ageist” animation studios which __________ to develop stories from younger people. __________, even at 90 you can still do comics. The great thing is, if you can keep drawing, you can keep going.

1.

A．clue

B．option

C．luck

D．prediction

2.

A．Dreaming of

B．Insisting on

C．Puzzling over

D．Missing out

3.

A．referred

B．returned

C．objected

D．admitted

4.

A．concept

B．result

C．phenomenon

D．proof

5.

A．agreeing

B．experimenting

C．interacting

D．continuing

6.

A．highly

B．lightly

C．logically

D．curiously

7.

A．joker

B．cheater

C．stranger

D．talker

8.

A．escape

B．separation

C．exchange

D．switch

9.

A．involves

B．avoids

C．risks

D．resists

10.

A．example

B．guidance

C．heart

D．passion

11.

A．gifted

B．saved

C．distributed

D．submitted

12.

A．refused

B．inspired

C．signed

D．promoted

13.

A．challenge

B．upside

C．honor

D．possibility

14.

A．promise

B．tend

C．proceed

D．fail

15.

A．Moreover

B．Therefore

C．Otherwise

D．However

4 . James Rainey reads trees like most people read signposts. The senior ecologist is using a small hand camera to identify a lichen (地衣) that is surrounding the base of wild pines (松树) in a deep narrow valley on the west coast of Scotland. He is looking for ecological clues of species associated with the ancient Caledonian Forest, which once covered most of the Highlands.

Wild pines have been growing in Scotland continuously since the ice age, offering a globally unique ecosystem supporting rare wildlife. But now less than 2% of the original growth survives, with just 14 individual Caledonian pinewood sites now officially recognized. “To meet the demand for more wood, many wild pines in Highlands have been removed to make room for commercial forestry,” says Rainey. “This was often done in ancient woodlands and was really damaging to the remaining trees.”

But restoration is still possible, especially since some old trees still survive along with the ancient woodland soil and seedbank—seeds stored in the soil, which can grow once the heavy shade of commercial conifers (针叶树) is removed.

The ecological investigator uses three clues of evidence to discover where these pinewoods first stood. “First there’s the historical evidence, like old maps and texts. Then comes the landscape context: is the pine associated with planting around a big house, or is the setting more natural? And finally I use the ecological evidence: wild pine usually grow alongside old birch trees, which indicates ecological continuity,” explains Rainey.

Rainey has identified 23 pines in this area, all rooted in places least accessible. Their needles have been taken for genetic testing to confirm their family trees. “This would have been filled with trees but is now empty — these are the most critical areas in need of regeneration and we want the whole of the ancient woodlands to recover, not just the pines,” he said.

1. Why are the wild pines considered to be so significant?

A．They act as a signpost for the highland.	B．They are an indicator of an ancient forest.
C．They are an alternative to commercial forestry.	D．They provide a shelter for certain species of lichen.

2. What is essential for the restoration of ancient pinewoods?

A．The existence of ancient seeds.	B．The presence of commercial conifers.
C．The awareness of the forest protection.	D．The application of the advanced technology.

3. How does Rainey determine the original location of the pinewoods?

A．By locating big houses.	B．By consulting historians.
C．By referring to digital maps.	D．By making the most of surroundings.

4. What is the ultimate Rainey’s goal?

A．To confirm the genes of the pine.	B．To restore the old-growth woodlands.
C．To explore the unfrequented places.	D．To enrich the diversity of the wild pines.

5 . 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。

My Thrilling Getaway

To escape the hustle and bustle of London, my family began     1     remarkable staycation to explore unfamiliar shores of Plymouth in South Devon.

After a scenic drive that left us in awe, we found     2     (our) standing on Mount Batten beach. The vision before us was breathtaking—rocky pools and rough sand, all surrounded by green hills. Walking along the charming pathway, we immersed (沉浸) ourselves in the expansive ocean views and the dynamic atmosphere. That evening, warmth filling the air, we gathered around a crackling bonfire, sharing     3     (heart) laughter with fellow beachgoers.

Eager to explore more of Plymouth’s charm, we set out for West Hoe Park the next day,     4     provided a spacious play area for children, equipped with plentiful     5     (delight). Our children were totally attracted and we had a hard time     6     (tear) them away.

Afterwards, we walked     7     (leisure) along Hoe Promenade towards Hoe Park. Despite the crowds, we enjoyed a peaceful walk, greatly     8     (enhance) by the iconic Smeaton’s Tower lighthouse. Undoubtedly, the highlight of our journey was Bovisand Beach. Our children were in their element, building sandcastles and playing in the water, relaxed     9     joyous.

Plymouth     10     (cast) its spell on us and left us with memories that would stay with us for a lifetime.

6 .

Recently, I carried out an investigation to discover what it was that prevented people from journalling.     1     So, today, I want to introduce a very simple tool—The MicroMOVEment Wheel. It will help you pick up your journal even at times when you really don’t feel like it.

    2     She describes creating this method so she could use it as a creative planning tool for her writing projects and goals. While it was originally aimed at writers, you can use this technique to help you complete any project in a fun and creative way.

    3     Here’s how it works. Take a blank sheet of paper and: draw a large circle, and then another smaller circle in the middle. In the centre circle, write down what you are inspired to achieve. Remember, journalling does not need to feel like a chore in your day. So come up with descriptions for your journalling that are inspiring and energising.     4     These are what SARK refers to as the MicroMOVEments. Each MicroMOVEment is five minutes in length. So, in the case of journalling, that would represent a minimum of up to five minutes of journalling in one sitting, on any given day.

Let’s say you’ re new to journalling. By setting aside five minutes out of your day, you could write one word in your notebook that sums up a feeling or an experience.     5     The idea of the MicroMOVEment is to create easy steps to get your journal writing or writing projects moving. When you keep the steps small, it will become doable and achievable.

A．Next, divide the rest of the circle into eight equal parts.

B．It is the brainchild of international bestselling writer SARK.

C．There are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to journalling.

D．Where to start and not having enough time were amongst the top responses.

E．Daily tasks such as sweeping and washing are time-consuming and laborious.

F．Then, list any associated words, images or thoughts that are generated by the word.

G．The medicine with this approach is breaking your actions down into the tiniest steps.

7 .

Young Innovators Programme The Young Innovators Programme aims to promote innovative spirit in the younger generation between 6 and 12 years old and impart innovation and business skills to students. You can register for this 4-session programme at the price of $400. Visit www.cginnovation. om. g/younginnovators to sign up now.
Receive a 20% discount if you are a follower of Great Inventions Magazine Instagram page.	Organiser:                    Sponsor: Great                                CG Innovation                         Innovation Magazine
Innovations Do you already have an invention in mind? You will have the opportunity to make this invention come true! Share with Great Invention Magazine your innovative idea and the inspiration behind it. Email it to brightideas@Glmagazine.com.cg. You may also include a picture of your idea. The top 5 recipients with the most innovative ideas will be able to attend the Young Innovators Programme conducted by Dr. Aaron Ng, the founder of CG Innovation, for free. The programme will guide and sponsor winners to create 30 pieces of goods based on their innovative idea. All entries sent in will be printed in the next issue of Great Invention Magazine.	4 traits to becoming an innovative person #1 Be curious Be curious about looking into people’s needs and motivation. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Try to see things from different angles. #2 Be open-minded Don’t be too quick to fix on one solution. Take time to explore the different ideas before deciding on a single option. #3 Keep a book of ideas Develop the habit of writing down inspiring ideas or interesting concepts. This way, you can refer to them later and use them to generate solutions to problems. #4 Embrace failure Be receptive to negative feedback and if it’s unsuccessful, explore other options.

1. What is the registration fee for a follower of Great Inventions Magazine Instagram page?

A．20.

B．80.

C．320.

D．400.

2. What is certain about the innovative ideas submitted?

A．They will be funded.	B．They will be polished by Dr. Aaron Ng.
C．They will be published.	D．They will be turned into actual products.

3. What is suggested to be an innovative person?

A．Ignoring negative feedback.	B．Borrowing ideas from books.
C．Reacting quickly to the sudden ideas.	D．Being observant of people’s behavior.

8 . My wife and I have always had a non-negotiable when looking for a place to rent: a gas stove. We love cooking together, and countless food shows have impressed upon us that there is nothing more essential to a tasty meal than a flame.

Then came the shift of work forcing us to move into a new apartment with an induction cooker. Past encounters with the slow and inconsistent heating elements of early electric stoves had soured us to the idea of cooking with electricity, but it took only a couple of days for us to realize that our new induction cooker was far superior: Water boiled at lightning speed; I could set a timer and walk away knowing the heat would automatically turn off.

Our belated switch to induction came amid a rise of horrifying stories about the health and climate risks of gas stoves. Studies have found cooking with gas is like having secondhand smoke in the kitchen. Worse still, the primary ingredient that fuels gas stoves are methane, a greenhouse gas 80 times more harmful to the environment than carbon dioxide. That’s why I finally quit using gas stoves and abandoned my prior conviction that I could never live in a home without one.

Don’t get me wrong—there’s still a place for flame, and there’s a reason why barbecued—food is so delicious. Barbecuing food imparts special flavour that you can’t experience with an electric cooker. But dishes that truly require cooking over an open flame are the exception, not the rule.

Changing the fundamentals of our lives is hard. But just as we have stopped commuting by horse, or have replaced a coal fireplace with central heating, it’s time to move gas out of our kitchens. Some might be horrified. The rest of us, though, can step calmly into the future. Hopefully the governments, too, will soon smell the gas.

1. How did the author feel about cooking with early electric stoves?

A．Unpleasant.

B．Concerned.

C．Panicky.

D．Stressed.

2. What can be inferred from paragraph 4?

A．The author regrets giving up gas stoves.	B．Barbecued food is tastier and healthier.
C．It is a common practice to cook outdoors.	D．Gas stoves still have a role to play.

3. What does the author want to convey in the last paragraph?

A．Be open to changes.	B．Be brave in the face of uncertainty.
C．The old should give way to the new.	D．Governments should be gas advocates.

4. What’s the best title of the text?

A．Barbecue: Tasty or Risky	B．A New “Flame” Has Come
C．Gas Stoves: To Leave or to Stay	D．Electricity Has Taken the Lead

9 . 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。

Recently, a Chinese college research team has released China’s first large language model (LLM) “Xunzi”,     1     uses deep learning techniques and massively big data sets to help conduct research on ancient Chinese books. With the model, more information hidden in our cultural legacy can     2     (mine) for.

This model, named     3     Xun Zi, one of the most celebrated philosophers in ancient China for his Confucian classic Xunzi,     4     (comprise) the majority of Chinese ancient books and documents.     5     (design) to intelligently process ancient texts, the system aims to promote innovative development in the research and preservation of Chinese ancient books, enhance the efficiency and quality of the legacy of traditional Chinese culture,     6     boost integration between LLM and ancient book processing.

The research on Chinese traditional classics is     7     painstaking and laborious challenge. Since 2013, the team have worked tirelessly to digitize Chinese classics like the Siku Quanshu,     8     (lay) a solid foundation for the large language model. Committed to the philosophy of making their data and model     9     (access) worldwide, the team have a broader perspective targeting global users. To this end, they have     10     (handsome) shared the LLM on the Internet, enabling more individuals to appreciate traditional Chinese culture.

10 . On a Saturday morning, I drove my son Andrew to a shoe store. We ________ the trip to arrive right when the store opens, for Andrew is a nonspeaking autistic (自闭症患者) and prefers to go shopping when it’s not ________ .

After the purchase, I thanked the two clerks and headed toward the door. What came next only ________ when the inner voice told you to do things differently. ________ having Andrew point to the “thank you” symbol on the picture chart he carries with him, I held up his letterboard and asked how he’d like to ________ .

The picture chart only contains images that ________ his most frequently used words. The letterboard, however, ________ an effective tool. He can ________ more through the use of a letterboard—by pointing to individual letters on an alphabet grid (网格). Using it requires ________ time and effort for him, though. He would not ________ use of the letterboard on his own. I need to present it to him and ________ his wishes if he pushes it away.

“Thank you,” Andrew pointed to each letter. The two clerks’ ________ almost dropped as they watched. One spoke up: “My brother Jason doesn’t talk. Can I ask you?” “Andrew, what do you think?” I asked, ________ that his patience might be running out.

Surprisingly, Andrew ________ started pointing to letters: “Tell Jason he will change everyone’s opinion of him in 26 letters.” I immediately ________ . Sometimes I forget just how powerful the 26 letters are. Just how powerful Andrew is.

1.

A．timed

B．started

C．extended

D．expected

2.

A．spacious

B．smelly

C．busy

D．bright

3.

A．changed

B．worked

C．happened

D．mattered

4.

A．Due to

B．As for

C．Apart from

D．Instead of

5.

A．translate

B．respond

C．comment

D．lecture

6.

A．summarize

B．match

C．identify

D．coin

7.

A．proves

B．witnesses

C．claims

D．remains

8.

A．shoulder

B．consume

C．predict

D．communicate

9.

A．significant

B．concrete

C．consistent

D．flexible

10.

A．resist

B．initiate

C．mind

D．promise

11.

A．tolerate

B．guarantee

C．challenge

D．respect

12.

A．hands

B．jaws

C．eyes

D．faces

13.

A．concerned

B．annoyed

C．embarrassed

D．ashamed

14.

A．helplessly

B．tirelessly

C．willingly

D．naturally

15.

A．checked out

B．cheered up

C．bent down

D．choked up