2 . Upcoming Events in Essex County Environmental Center

LITTLE EXPLORERS Mondays -May 6, 20, June 3, 17
For ages 2 and 3; 10am to 1lam; For ages 2 and 5; 3pm to 4pm

Join us for explorations of nature as we study plants and animals and observe the colors, shapes, and sounds in the Center’s forest habitat. Please come dressed and prepared for all weather conditions; all classes include an outdoor adventure. All children must be walking and accompanied by an adult. Maximum of two children per adult. All sessions are limited to 10 children. Fee: $15 per child per session.

FOREST FRIENDS CLUB
Thursdays -May 9, June 6, 4pm to 5pm
For children ages 5 through 10

We’ll explore the forest to investigate nature in our wooded wetland habitat. Together we hope to raise our children’s nature responsibilities and offer an opportunity to take part in hands-on conservation projects. Fee: $12 per child per session.

SPRING WILD EDIBLE WALK
Friday, May 10, 6pm to 7:30pm
For families

Take a walk in the forest to identify and discuss the variety of forest groceries available for harvest. You’ll meet Spice Bush, Mountain Mint and others. Learn some folklore (FIA) behind the plants and we’ll discuss proper identification, growing environment and methods of preparation while walking. Fee: $40 per family (up to two adults and two children) or $12 per child, $15 per adult.

4-H YOUNG GARDENERS CLUB
Saturdays -May 4, 18, 25, 10am to 11 am
For children in grades K-12

Have you ever wondered how vegetables and flowers grow? How to find a rainbow in a garden? The 4-H Young Gardener’s Club can guide you to find the answers to these questions and more. Learning and fun happen all the time here. Meet in Garibaldi Hall. Advanced registration required; please call 973 3531337.

1. When can children join in hands-on projects?

A．On May 6.

B．On May 9.

C．On May 10.

D．On May 18.

2. How much should a couple with three kids pay at least for the Spring Wild Edible Walk?

A．$40.

B．$52.

C．$55.

D．$67.

3. What do the four events have in common?

A．They are targeted at families.	B．They focus on theoretical courses.
C．They offer experiences in nature.	D．They present local folk cultures.

3 . Researchers at the Tokyo University of Science (TUS) have developed a groundbreaking sweat biosensor that opens up new possibilities for real-time health monitoring.

Wearable sensors, typically worn directly on the skin, can monitor vital signs such as heart rate, blood pressure, and muscle activity. However, designing chemical sensors for detecting substance in bodily liquid, like sweat, has proven more complex due to issues of skin irritation (刺激) and accuracy when integrated into clothing.

Addressing these challenges, the research team at TUS used a technique called “heat-transfer Printing” to fix a thin, flexible chloride ion (氯离子) sensor onto a clothing base and then integrated it into clothes such as T-shirts. Further, health signs such as chloride ion concentration in sweat can be measured by simply wearing them. By moving the sensor outside of the clothing piece, skin irritation is prevented. The wicking effect (芯吸效应) of fiber helps distributing sweat evenly between the sensor’s electrodes (电极), ensuring stable electrical contact and therefore improving the accuracy.

Additionally, the team carefully selected skin-friendly materials and conducted various experiments using artificial sweat to prove the sensor’s accuracy in measuring chloride ion concentration. To assess its practicality, the team tested the sensor on a volunteer who engaged in a 30-minute exercise on a still bicycle. Measurements of bodily liquid were taken every five minutes and compared with the data collected by the sensor. The wearable sensor reliably measured the concentration of chloride ions in sweat. Moreover, the sensor has the capability to deliver data wirelessly, enabling real-time health monitoring.

This breakthrough can boost the development of advanced healthcare devices that offer precise and convenient monitoring of important health indicators. With the power of these tiny electronics, researchers are pushing the boundaries of healthcare innovation to improve disease prevention and overall well-being.

1. What is paragraph 2 mainly about?

A．Varieties of sweat biosensors.

B．Popularity of wearable equipment.

C．Complexity in monitoring vital body signs.

D．Difficulties in designing chemical sensors.

2. What contributes to the even distribution of sweat between the sensor’s electrodes?

A．The technique of heat-transfer printing.

B．The chloride ion sensor.

C．The wicking effect of fibre.

D．Selected skin-friendly materials.

3. What is the purpose of the test on the volunteer?

A．To evaluate the sensor’s reliability.

B．To improve the volunteer’s performance.

C．To determine the sensor’s duration.

D．To ensure the volunteer’s well-being.

4. What is the author’s attitude toward the new technology?

A．Critical.

B．Expectant.

C．Reserved.

D．Doubtful.

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

For more than 20 years I have been traveling the world, preferring often to spend a year or two in different countries rather than to just visit as a tourist. It has become an important part of my personality as I grew older and shaped the way I saw the world and myself.

My little taste of this amazing life was when I was 19 years old. I was selected among a small group of college classmates to spend a year abroad. This was long before people could travel the world through social media like Facebook and Twitter. In order to see a place, you had to go there and experienced it.

I was raised in a middle-class family and couldn’t afford to travel around the world the way I wished I could. The only way I knew about the world outside was through letters I wrote to pen pals from over a dozen countries as a kid, and from television. Growing up, I always loved the very funny British comedies that were shown on local public television every Saturday night. So when I got the chance to apply for a study abroad program, I chose London.

Living abroad can be exciting, scary and challenging. I thought it would be easier because I spoke the same language as the local people did. But I also like to relish (享受) the little differences between the British and American culture and language. I also learned that in England, they spell words differently than in the U. S. In British spelling, they put a “u” in words like favor to make it “favour” and an “s” in words like analyze to make it “analyse”. I was able to adapt quickly to this new way of writing since I was submitting papers all the time for my classes.

Academically, I got to take classes that weren’t offered at my college back home. For example, I had a course in sociology and learned about the native people of Papua New Guinea.

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。

Paragraph 1: But there were also challenges that year too.   

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Paragraph 2: Sometimes the difficult times made me sad and homesick.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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。

“Cold the iron chains spanning over the Dadu River,” Chairman Mao Zedong wrote in a poem, describing the do-or-die battle which took place on the Luding Bridge. The Bridge,     1     (measure) 103.67 meters in length and 3 meters in width, is located in Sichuan Province, which was     2     (original) built in 1705 during the Qing Dynasty. Near the Luding Bridge considered a historical landmark    3     (stand) a museum, in front of which there is a bronze statue of the soldiers whose spirit makes the bridge a household name.

Over 80 years ago, the bridge was crucial to the survival of the CPC-led Red Army during the Long March because if the soldiers had failed to dash through the Luding Bridge then, the Red Army might have been wiped out. Upon their     4     (arrive), the Red Army found only thirteen heavy iron chains    5     (leave) across the river. With no time to waste, one by one the Red soldiers ventured forward to risk their lives and of those who offered    6     (they), thirty were chosen. Though several soldiers fell into     7    fast-flowing river,the others crawled along the wood boards they had laid until they finally took control of the east bank .

Probably never before had people seen fighters like these-men for whom soldiering was not just a rice bowl,     8    a mission. They astonishingly accomplished    9     seemed like a task impossible and their    10    (courage) spirit will always stick in our mind.

8 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入 1 个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

CRRC, a leading manufacturer of railway vehicles globally, has officially unveiled its latest addition to the intercity smart train family — the Cinova 2.0, at    1     event held in Qingdao, China. This significant milestone marks the     2     (begin) of a new era in intercity rail travel, as the train represents a leap forward in terms of technology and passenger comfort.

The train was independently developed and manufactured by CRRC. What sets the Cinova 2.0 apart from its predecessors (前代产品) is the integration of cutting-edge technologies such as advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) and digital twins. These technologies provide intelligent solutions that enhance the safety,     3     (efficient), and promising passenger experience of the train.

The ADAS, for instance,     4     (utility) a suite of sensors and cameras to provide the driver with real-time information about the train's surroundings and operating conditions. This allows for safer and    5     (smooth) navigation, even in complex urban environments. Meanwhile, the digital twins technology creates a virtual replica (复制品) of the train and its operating environment,     6     can be used to simulate various scenarios (情景) and test new operational strategies,    7     affecting the actual train.

The new model is an    8     (upgrade) version of the Cinova 1.0 intercity train, which featured characteristics suited for intercity operations such as fast start and stop times, efficient boarding and a large capacity. The Cinova 2.0 has these same design qualities while also integrating intelligent    9     (technology) like 5G, big data and cloud computing. This intelligent train, with its advanced technologies and exceptional performance, is ready to    10     (revolution) the way people travel between cities, making it safer, more efficient, and more sustainable.

10 . 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.     1     However, do you count yourself among the many who have tried it? If you’re planning your own solo trip, here are four important things to keep in mind.

    2     Since you’re traveling solo, how you choose to explore it is entirely up to you. This is your chance to do whatever you want whenever you want because this time, you’re running the show.

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.     3    That’s because you’re a novelty, a person from another country who is visiting theirs. Therefore, instead of putting on your headphones or instantly seeing them as weirdos, use this spontaneous chat as a chance to meet the locals or get recommendations for things to do during your trip.

It’s okay to have bad days.     4     It happens and it’s completely okay to take some time to process whatever it is you’re feeling. Take yourself to a movie or spend the day dong something relaxing like writing in your journal or reading on the beach.

It’s okay to start small.     5     Start by doing a staycation in another part of town, spending a few days in a new locale a bus or train ride away. Just do whatever you’re comfortable with and see how it all feels for you.

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.