| A．By plane. | B．By bus. | C．By subway. |
| A．A shop assistant. | B．His wife. | C．His co-worker. |
3 . Jokes and humor are often thought of as unimportant. If the lawyer defending you in court couldn’t stop joking, you’d be understandably alarmed.
However, regarding humour as insignificant is a mistake. Humour, jokes and laughter, have a vital role to play in human behaviour and interaction. They are a powerful part of social bonding and are genuinely beneficial for health via their stress-relieving properties.
Why do we respond, in such powerful and rewarding ways, to things that objectively make little sense? A substantial amount of data has been generated regarding how humour works in the brain and on the various types of recognisable jokes that trigger it.
Verbal puns, the most familiar type of joke, involve words that convey two meanings at once. For example, “Why did the golfer wear two pairs of trousers? In case he got a hole in one.” Here “hole in one” has two possible interpretations. Their simplicity and familiarity mean most people recognise the humour in puns. So, the brain’s humour processes are still engaged.
But where does humour arise from in the brain? Considerable research points towards a specific system in the brain for recognizing humour. This system seemingly detects and resolves incongruity (不和谐). Our brains know how things, like language and behaviors, should work. But, in the real world, many things don’t match our expectations. It seems our brains have evolved a system to recognise when this happens.
If normality is subverted, it means we don’t know what’s going to happen, which creates cognitive (认知) tension. However, the system that recognises incongruity seemingly also resolves it, by providing an explanation, or at least a confirmation that the incongruity has no negative consequences. This removes the uncertainty, relieving the tension. So, we experience a rewarding feeling. If the incongruity is not resolved, however, humour is absent. If the answer to “Why did the golfer wear two pairs of trousers?” is “in case the metal owl that lives in his gold bag attacks him”, that’s not funny. There’s unresolved incongruity.
Humour is essentially our brain going, “This isn’t how things usually work... but I’m okay with it!”
1. What does the author say about humor in the first two paragraphs?| A．Its positive role is often underrated. | B．It mainly serves to entertain and amuse. |
| C．Its harmful effects shouldn’t be ignored. | D．It is essential for professional communication. |
| A．To prove a theory. | B．To draw a conclusion. |
| C．To illustrate a concept. | D．To make a comparison. |
| A．Detected. | B．Overturned. | C．Established. | D．Repeated. |
| A．How Jokes Affect Brain Structures | B．Using Humor to Boost Brain Power |
| C．Jokes and the Brain’s Reward System | D．Unlocking Brain Secrets Behind Humor |
4 . Inspired by the medical bay of the USS Enterprise from Star Trek (星际迷航), a research team from the University of Waterloo uses radar technology to monitor people’s health while at the wheel, turning an ordinary car or truck into a mobile medical center.
Dr. George Shaker, a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo, is working with a team of graduate students to combine radar with evolving vehicle technology to make health checks easier. The idea is to use the time people spend in their cars to gather data on their health for accurate analysis and preventative treatment — without the need for any type of wearable.
The radar, smaller than a USB thumb drive, is placed into the vehicle cabin and sends out signals that detect human vibrations (颤动), which are then sent back to the radar. The built-in AI system collects and analyzes the data to build a medical picture and identify any potential conditions. At the end of the driver’s journey, the system sends the report directly to their cell phone for review.
For Shaker and his team, the challenge was evolving the tech to identify changes in breathing patterns or heart rhythms that signify potential health issues related to cardiovascular conditions as well as respiratory system conditions.
“We focused on enhancing data collection for exact information related to people’s respiratory and cardiovascular systems and teaching the AI how to make medical interpretations from this data. Another important consideration was personal privacy and security — no data is stored on the cloud; it is sent to the monitored person’s cellphone only,” said Ali Ghara, the lead Ph. D. student on the project.
The research team is building on this work to expand the radar technology’s capabilities to monitor all vehicle occupants’ overall health and well-being, run diagnostics and generate quality medical reports that flag any issues that need attention, as well as assist with emergency communication in the event of an accident.
1. What can we learn about the radar technology?| A．It provides more precise health data than wearables. |
| B．It creates medical pictures to reveal healthy secrets. |
| C．It sends the health report to the driver’s phone for review. |
| D．It combines with vehicle technology to assess the driver’s health. |
| A．The AI needs training to collect health data. | B．AI’s interpretation of medical data is accurate. |
| C．Cellphones monitor personal privacy and security. | D．The team is improving data collection and analysis. |
| A．Ensure the privacy of medical reports. | B．Warn the drivers of potential accidents. |
| C．Enhance health monitoring for all passengers. | D．Apply the radar technology across vehicles. |
| A．Ph. D. Students Build USS Enterprise on Wheels | B．Drivers Beware: Radar Spying on Your Heartbeats |
| C．Healthy Driving: Radar Monitors Health in Vehicles | D．Radars May Know Your Conditions Before You Do |
5 . Consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) has increased over the past 20 years. UPFs (超加工食品) contain few or no whole foods, are industrially produced, are ready-to-eat or ready-to-heat, and include additives (添加剂). The ultra-processing of food reduces its nutritional value. It has been known that higher UPF consumption is associated with overweight and heart disease. Now, research has been extended to examine its impact on mental health.
In a new study, over 72,000 participants who were at least 55 years old and didn’t have dementia (痴呆) at the start of the study were followed for an average of 10 years, during which they filled out questionnaires regarding their diet. By the end of the study, 518 people were diagnosed (诊断) with dementia. After adjusting for other factors that could affect risk of dementia such as age, gender, and heart disease, researchers found every 10 percent increase in daily intake of UPFs was associated with a 25 percent higher risk of dementia. They also found replacing 10percent of UPFs with unprocessed or minimally processed foods was associated with a 19 percent lower risk of dementia.
In another study, researchers found individuals who consumed the most UPFs had significant increases in the symptoms (症状) of mild depression, “mentally unhealthy days”, and “anxious days”. Eric Hecht, Founder and Executive Director of the Institute of Etiological Research, said, “More than 70 percent of packaged foods in the US are classified as UPFs and represent about 60percent of all calories consumed by Americans. Considering the degree of exposure to and effects of UPF consumption, this study has great significance in clinical practice and public health. It might help improve future development of dietary guidelines.”
Facing such alarming data, maybe it’s time for Americans to reconsider their food choices. Researchers recommend taxes on UPFs and carrying out policies to reduce the consumption. They also support programs and policies to increase the availability and affordability of whole foods, especially among disadvantaged populations.
1. What do we know about UPFs?| A．They have no nutritional value. | B．They are ready-made and instant foods. |
| C．They are cheap and mass-produced. | D．They serve as additions to our daily diets. |
| A．Positive. | B．Negative. | C．Ambiguous. | D．Doubtful. |
| A．Collecting higher taxes on UPFs. | B．Decreasing UPFs’ consumption in diet. |
| C．Focusing on the nutrient content of foods. | D．Increasing public awareness of whole foods. |
| A．Public Health Response to UPFs | B．Physical Disorders Linked to UPFs |
| C．Rising Consumption of UPFs in the US | D．Negative Effects of UPFs on Mental Health |
6 . My name is Annijke Wade, and I am an adaptive athlete.
It was July 17, 2021. I was mountain biking at my favorite downhill mountain on my favorite trail. I hit a barrier and tried to
I could no longer feel or move anything
For the last few years I have enjoyed every aspect of mountain biking. I love being able to take in nature in that particular
The experience of learning how to mountain bike again has been fun and
Each day there are going to be tons of issues. For instance, putting pants on used to be something that took less than 30 seconds, and now it can take ten minutes. Whenever I
Every single day you have the opportunity to decide whether to accept your situation or not. Some days it’s easy. Some days it’s a(n)
| A．Honestly | B．Generally | C．Fortunately | D．Specifically |
| A．maintain | B．reduce | C．change | D．fasten |
| A．wound up | B．blocked up | C．fell behind | D．broke down |
| A．through | B．above | C．beside | D．below |
| A．uncomfortable | B．unhappy | C．unable | D．unwilling |
| A．shape | B．season | C．mode | D．tradition |
| A．reputation | B．discipline | C．fortune | D．identity |
| A．pour | B．waste | C．generate | D．involve |
| A．shallow | B．rewarding | C．wild | D．previous |
| A．familiar | B．fit | C．flexible | D．different |
| A．hike | B．clear | C．lose | D．approach |
| A．take | B．succeed | C．engage | D．give |
| A．extreme | B．frustrating | C．boring | D．extraordinary |
| A．struggle | B．attitude | C．complaint | D．opportunity |
| A．fair | B．critical | C．thorough | D．accurate |
7 . As a traveler with a disability, I have always avoided cruises. This expedition-style small-ship cruise changed my mind.
When our expedition leader
In fact, the possibility of
Our visit there wasn’t about what we could do or see. It was an opportunity to just be—to exist in a brief
| A．knew | B．announced | C．remembered | D．replied |
| A．living | B．return | C．landing | D．mark |
| A．failing | B．choosing | C．struggling | D．hoping |
| A．Instead | B．Finally | C．Thus | D．Otherwise |
| A．strategic | B．remote | C．favorable | D．central |
| A．set foot on | B．fell victim to | C．kept track of | D．gained control of |
| A．constructions | B．conditions | C．descriptions | D．distributions |
| A．unwanted | B．unsecured | C．unplanned | D．unauthorized |
| A．mistakenly | B．nervously | C．routinely | D．happily |
| A．walk | B．flight | C．ride | D．path |
| A．dampen | B．share | C．convey | D．fuel |
| A．changed | B．lost | C．fought | D．made |
| A．in response to | B．in view of | C．in contrast to | D．in defense of |
| A．moment | B．experiment | C．glance | D．ceremony |
| A．value | B．need | C．miss | D．experience |
8 . BOLOGNA CHILDREN'S BOOK FAIR ILLUSTRATORS EXHIBITION 2024-58TH EDITION
A BCBF highlight, the Illustrators Exhibition is a unique international showcase for state-of-the-art illustrations for children and young adults.
WHO CAN ENTER
Illustrators, both professionals and beginners, can enter unpublished artwork, or artwork published in the previous 2 years.
Art schools can enter the projects by students who have attended their Institute.
Publishers can enter illustrators they work with.
FEATURES OF THE ILLUSTRATIONS
Illustrators must enter their artworks exclusively online by December 31, 2023.
The 5 artworks must be based on the same theme, and must be numbered, as preferred, from 1 to 5 on the digital format file.
The 5 illustrations—5, no more, no less—may be unpublished artwork or artwork published after 1 January 2022. The work can be in black and white or colour and be produced using any technique.
The digital format must be: jpg or png, maximum size 5 MB, resolution 150 DPI.
SELECTION PROCESS
All works shall be examined by the international Jury comprising five members (from publishing houses, art schools, or illustrators) appointed by BolognaFiere. The Jury's decision shall be final.
WINNERS
Being selected will give illustrators great visibility with the publication of their works in the Illustrators Annual and the 2-year world tour of the exhibition.
Winners under 35 will automatically be shortlisted (入围) for the International Award for Illustration Bologna Children's Book Fair, which consists of a prize of 15,000 Euro and the assignment to illustrate a children's book to be published by Grupo SM, Spain.
Unpublished winners under 30 will also compete for the ARS IN FABULA scholarship, which covers the entire Masters course fee.
CONTACTS
If you have problems or need assistance: bf＠archimedia. it
1. Who can submit entries to the BCBF Illustrators Exhibition 2024?| A．Visitors of the exhibition. | B．Editors of publishers. |
| C．Illustrators of all levels. | D．Authors of children's books. |
| A．Artworks in jpg digital format. | B．Five artworks on diverse themes. |
| C．Physical artworks in black and white. | D．Artworks published over 2 years ago. |
| A．A 2-year global tour. | B．A cash prize of 15,000 Euro. |
| C．A scholarship for further education. | D．A chance to get their works published. |
9 . Marketers are often very conscious of the ways that their advertisements can backfire or “go wrong” in the eyes of their audiences. However, this rarely happens and there are virtually no cases where advertising has resulted in a decline in sales.
A psychological reason can account for the cause. It has to do with the mere exposure effect, which basically means that the more we’re exposed to something, the more we like it. The mere exposure effect is commonly attributed to Robert Zajonc for the important research that he conducted in the 1960s. His research, and the research of many others, shows that we tend to develop a liking or positive feeling for symbols or items that we see repeatedly.
When we take the mere exposure effect into account, it becomes clear why advertising rarely has a negative impact. Advertising helps to put brand assets (资产), like your logo and color and product and brand characters, in front of people, and the more these assets get in front of people, the more likely people are to develop positive feelings toward these assets and your brand. In fact, the impact of the mere exposure effect has been shown specifically in studies using advertisements, and they have found that students rated a banner ad more favorably when they had previously appeared as a pop up on their computer.
In order to fully take advantage of the mere exposure effect in marketing, marketers should make sure to use recognizable elements within their advertising. In addition, they should make sure that these elements align with what the customers see when they see the product. This will ensure that your customers will have an easier time noticing the product on the store shelves or on the computer screen and that they will have some familiarity with the brand.
The mere exposure effect is just one of many psychological biases that people use to simplify how they go about the world. Feel free to contact us or sign up for our newsletter to stay in touch with the latest insights in marketing psychology.
1. Which statement will Robert Zajonc probably agree with?| A．A familiar song becomes more appealing. |
| B．We often follow trends to make daily purchases. |
| C．People are often drawn to something unfamiliar. |
| D．Advertising with celebrities can increase product sales. |
| A．Advertisement creates instant brand love. |
| B．Logos seen often in advertisements are rarely liked. |
| C．The banner ad has a significant attraction for consumers. |
| D．Advertisement uses exposure to develop brand appreciation. |
| A．Contribute to. | B．Correspond to. | C．Differ from. | D．Depend on. |
| A．A business webpage. | B．A news report. | C．A psychology textbook. | D．A marketer’s diary. |
10 . Welcome to SLC CLUBS 2024!
We are thrilled to welcome you to another exciting school year filled with opportunities through our SLC Clubs!
Preview of this year’s available clubs:
Arts Crafts (Thursdays): Is your child crafty? If scissors and glue are their thing, then this is the club for them! This afternoon club provides plenty of time for students to create their own works of art. We will dismiss by car line at the SLC patio at 4: 15 p. m. 25 seats are available per session.
Session 1 Thursdays 1/11, 1/18, 1/25, 2/1
Session 2 Thursdays 2/15, 2/22, 2/29, 3/7
Legos (Mondays): Are you a master builder? This club offers opportunities to work on Lego building, spatial skills, and patterns within a collaborative group. We will dismiss by car line at the SLC patio at 4: 15 p. m. 20 seats are available per session.
Session 1 Mondays 1/8, 1/22, 1/29, 2/5
Session 2 Mondays 2/12, 2/26, 3/4, 3/11
Science: Exploding volcanos, homemade slime...the same things that inspired you as a child could light a. fire to get your child interested in science. We will dismiss by car line at the SLC patio at 4: 15 p. m. 15 seats are available per session.
Session 1 Mondays 1/8, 1/22, 1/29, 2/5
Session 2 Mondays 2/12, 2/26, 3/4, 3/11
Snack Club: Get the munchies after school? Come learn how to create fun snacks that use age-appropriate food handling skills. We will dismiss by car line at the SLC patio at 4: 15 p. m. 30 seats are available per session.
Session 1 Tuesdays 1/9, 1/16, 1/23, 1/30
Session 2 Tuesdays 2/13, 2/20, 2/27, 3/5
This year, we’re introducing a new and innovative approach to club enrollment—a lottery system. All families will fill out one Google Form with their child’s club choices to enter the lottery.
To Register:
Fill in all of the required information. Please take your time to complete the information correctly!
Select “Submit.”
To be entered into the lottery, please fill out the form no later than December 13th.
If you have multiple children attending the SLC, please fill out a separate form for each child.
Families will be notified about their child’s club enrollment by December 18th.
1. Which club best suits children who enjoy building with blocks?| A．Arts Crafts. | B．Legos. | C．Science. | D．Snack Club. |
| A．15. | B．25. | C．30. | D．20. |
| A．A Google Form should be completed with all the information. |
| B．The closing date for children’s sign-up is December 18th. |
| C．Lottery assigns clubs randomly regardless of children’s choices. |
| D．Parents with multiple kids complete one form per child. |
