1 . A few months ago, a friend gifted me a robot sweeper that’s programmed to move around a room and clean as it goes.

When the box arrived, I was afraid the device would detect me and suck up (汲取) data along with the dog hair and dust. But the instructions were easy, and I finally decided not to care.

I powered up the sweeper, watched it leave its docking station to work, and quickly fell in love with my newly shiny floors. I kept shooting its working videos. “I think you’re giving more attention to it than to us,” joked my son.

One day, I returned home and discovered that our front door had blown open and the robot rolled into the yard, trying to clean the flower beds. Even when its brushes were blocked with leaves, bugs and mud, its little wheels bravely kept turning.

The robot acted properly as it was programmed to clean “dirty” things. In a kitchen, dirt can be garden debris (碎片) such as leaves and mud. In a garden, this kind of dirt does not need to be removed. The context is important. The problem for robots is that reading this context is difficult.

This accident inspired me to think more about AI (artificial intelligence). As far as I am concerned, AI is simply well trained and reproduces what it has learned. And it is undeniable that robots are increasingly being given powerful intelligence. Some experts even predict that we will soon see not only AI-enabled robots designed to solve problems according to their instructions, but also those with the ability to judge how they should respond when they are in a different setting.

Maybe this will happen in the near future.

1. What was the author’s concern about the robot sweeper at first?

A．Its after-sales service.	B．Its working efficiency.
C．The privacy of her family.	D．The readability of its instructions.

2. How did the author feel about the robot sweeper after using it?

A．Enthusiastic.

B．Regretful.

C．Uncertain.

D．Cautious.

3. What was the root cause of the accident happening to the robot sweeper?

A．Its program went wrong.	B．It lacked critical thinking.
C．Its wheels were badly designed.	D．It failed to work on rough surfaces.

4. What does the sixth paragraph mainly talk about concerning AI?

A．The accident.	B．Some experts’ thinking.
C．Its appeal to the author.	D．The author’s opinion.

2 . Public Speaking Courses

Complete Public Speaking Masterclass for Every Occasion (Udemy)

If you’re struggling to put yourself out in front of audiences, then joining this Udemy course will be a good decision. In this course, you will be instructed to feel calm and comfortable on stage in front of any number of people while speaking and conveying your message. The comprehensive guide by TJ Walker will help you impress your audience and influence them.

Dynamic Public Speaking Certification (证明) by University of Washington (Coursera)

Available on Coursera, this online course is perfect for people who want to be excellent dynamic speakers. You will be taught by Dr. Matt McGarrity - a principal lecturer at UW Department of Communication. Designed for beginners, it will help you gain many skills, for instance, public speaking, speech, presentation, and communication.

How to Become a World-class Speaker (Mindvalley)

This Mindvalley course is aimed at training people who have no experience of public speaking and just start to set foot in this area. It has already assisted a lot of people in becoming skillful at speaking and spreading their voice. Lisa Nicholas, your communication coach, is regarded as one of the best speechmakers in the world. Within less than two days, you will get insights into how she masters this art.

Effective Communication: Writing, Design, and Presentation (University of Colorado Boulder)

With the help of this course, you can get better at business communication, including presenting your ideas to your coworkers, handling client (客户) calls, and so on. You’ll also learn how to write effective business emails, along with reports and draft presentations. This course is very popular among people who want to quickly fit in with the workplace.

1. How can the Udemy course benefit learners?

A．Allowing them to study at their own pace.

B．Teaching them how to make good life decisions.

C．Helping them overcome the fear of public speaking.

D．Enabling them to hold comprehensive lectures with TJ Walker.

2. What do the Coursera course and the Mindvalley one have in common?

A．They both last for one month.

B．They are targeted at beginners.

C．They are offered by the same university.

D．They train people to be smart speech listeners.

3. Which course will a graduate who is to enter the workplace most probably choose?

A．Dynamic Public Speaking Certification.

B．How to Become a World-class Speaker.

C．Complete Public Speaking Masterclass for Every Occasion.

D．Effective Communication: Writing, Design, and Presentation.

3 . Test anxiety exists and is a common problem among students.     1     . When you’re stressed and anxious during an exam, your mind has a tendency to go completely blank. Here are some tips on how to reduce or overcome test anxiety.

Get to know the material

First, you need to know the topic of the exam.     2     . Knowing as much as possible about the material can get you ready for the test. As to any exam, learn your material thoroughly. Memorize what needs to be memorized and understand what needs to be understood.

Slow down and calm yourself

    3     . So when the test starts, rather than immediately jumping to answer the questions, relax first to get your mind to work. Wait for the class to settle down before you start answering. Saying a few words of encouragement and conscious breathing can help you calm yourself down.

    4    

If you have an hour for an exam, try to consume every second of that hour in answering the best possible choice. There are no rewards for finishing first!

Silence unwanted pressures

Believe it or not, chances are that other students can be a source of major anxiety during the test. Seeing them cramming (恶补), telling you what you need to remember and what might show up in the exam will affect your preparation. Get past through the negative and unwanted thoughts and remind yourself of how well you know about the topic. Avoid speaking with any fellow classmates who are not prepared and who express negativity.     5     .

A．Dare to be the first

B．Budget and consume your time

C．A sound sleep may help you ease the test anxiety

D．They might destroy all that you have prepared for

E．Anyone taking an exam experiences some level of anxiety

F．Rushing through a test can make you read the questions and choices incorrectly

G．Also, find out how many questions there would be on the test and the required time for it

4 . “Given that signs of Alzheimer’s disease (老年痴呆症) start to accumulate in the brain several decades before the disease begins, understanding the connection between sleep and cognition (认知) earlier in life is critical for understanding the role of sleep problems as a risk factor for the disease,” said study author Yue Leng, PhD, of the University of California, San Francisco.

The study involved 526 people with an average age of 40. They were followed for 11 years. Researchers looked at participants’ sleep duration and quality. Participants wore a wrist activity monitor for three continuous days on two occasions approximately one year apart to calculate their averages. Participants slept for an average of six hours. Participants also reported bedtime and wake-up time in a sleep diary and completed a sleep quality survey with scores ranging from 0 to 21. A total of 239 people reported poor sleep with a score greater than five.

Researchers also looked at sleep fragmentation (碎片化), a measure of restlessness during the sleep period expressed as a percentage. The higher the value, the more sleep is interrupted. Participants were divided into three groups based on their sleep fragmentation score. Of the 175 people with the most interrupted sleep, 44 had poor cognitive performance 10 years later, compared to 10 of the 176 people with the least interrupted sleep.

After adjusting for age, sex, race, and education, people who had the most interrupted sleep had more than twice the possibility of having poor cognitive performance when compared to those with the least interrupted sleep. There was no difference in cognitive performance at midlife for those in the middle group compared to the group with the least interrupted sleep.

However, due to the small sample size, the researchers were unable to fully investigate potential race or sex differences. “More research is needed to assess the link between sleep disturbances and cognition at different life stages and to identify if critical life periods exist when sleep is more strongly associated with cognition,” Leng said.

1. What do we know about Yue Leng’s study?

A．Data collection was an easy process.	B．It aimed to find a cure for Alzheimer’s.
C．The results were far from satisfactory.	D．Higher scores mean poorer sleep quality.

2. What can we learn about sleep fragmentation in the study?

A．It did require outside intervention.	B．It included a series of memory tests.
C．It measured short interruptions of sleep.	D．It determined those participants’ groups.

3. What do the findings indicate according to the text?

A．The quality of sleep may affect cognitive health.

B．Keeping a sleep diary can improve one’s sleep quality.

C．People sleeping well won’t suffer from Alzheimer’s disease.

D．People with interrupted sleep won’t have memory problems.

4. What is the last paragraph mainly about?

A．The major limitation of the study.

B．An explanation of the research method.

C．A possible reason for the study findings.

D．The use of careful investigations in real life.

5 . Loss of slow-wave sleep as you age may increase your risk of developing dementia (痴呆), according to a new study.

“We found that aging was associated with a decline in the amount of the deepest stages of sleep, known as slow-wave sleep. We then found that people with greater declines in slow-wave sleep over time had a higher risk of getting dementia over the next 17 years of follow-up,” said Matthew Pase, senior author of the study.

Slow-wave sleep is the third and fourth stages of sleep, which is important for brain health. During this stage, the body removes unwanted or harmful materials from the brain. “For the brain, this deep sleep is thought to be the most restorative,” said Dr Richard Isaacson, who wasn’t involved in the study.

The researchers wanted to know whether chronic (慢性的) reductions in slow-wave sleep over time are linked to dementia risk in humans and whether dementia-related processes in the brain may contribute to getting less of this type of sleep. They studied 346 people with an average age of 69 and completed two overnight sleep studies—one between 1995 and 1998 and the second between 1998 and 2001—during which their sleep was monitored. The researchers also investigated whether any change in the amount of slow-wave sleep that participants got was associated with developing dementia up to 17 years after they completed the sleep studies. By that time, 52 participants had been diagnosed with dementia. Each percentage decrease in slow-wave sleep per year was linked to a 27 percent increased risk of developing dementia. The rate of slow-wave sleep loss accelerated (加速) from age 60, peaked from ages 75 to 80and slowed afterwards.

“This is an important study yet again showing the impact of quality of sleep on a person’s risk of cognitive decline and dementia,” Isaacson said. “It’s important to not only pay attention to the total amount of sleep a person gets each night, but also monitor sleep quality as best as possible.”

1. What can we learn from the new study?

A．The older you are, the less sleep you will have.

B．Slow-wave sleep has been linked to the risk of dementia.

C．The rate of slow-wave sleep loss keeps going up with age.

D．The amount of sleep has an impact on the risk of dementia.

2. How did researchers get what they wanted?

A．By making a comparison.	B．By introducing a concept.
C．By referring to another study.	D．By making a survey.

3. What did Dr Richard Isaacson suggest?

A．Sleep quality needs more attention.

B．We should have enough sleep.

C．The elderly should sleep more than the young.

D．The amount of sleep is more important than sleep quality.

4. In which section of a newspaper may this text appear?

A．Sports.

B．Health.

C．Education.

D．Environment.

6 . In the northernmost edge of Colombia sits the coastal town of Acandí. Access to the town is only by water or air; there is no road that leads there. The residents there are faced with the struggles of balancing livelihoods while protecting biodiversity.

In the past, traditional community fishing methods, passed down by the elders, focused on the reasonable fishing and management of resources. However, the introduction of large-scale trawling vessels(拖网渔船) decades ago gradually depleted the area’s fishing resources, leading to damage to marine(海洋的) life seriously.

Jesús Antonio Julio Cuestas, who serves in the region’s conservation and management of marine resources, stresses the bad impact of these developments and calls for new fishing techniques. “Fishing and conservation co-exist as long as we have good management practices and reasonable use of our fishing resources,” says Cuestas. He and other officials actively monitor fishing activities in Acandí. Each morning, they visit the fish markets to gather data on fishery resources—including prices and sizes—to monitor the state of the local fishing industry.

Along with Cuestas, the fishers work to reduce their impact on the marine ecosystem. By changing fishing methods and adopting new practices, they aim for a more balanced approach to fishing. “This year the local fishermen have not used the trawl net s that were causing the death of the leatherback sea turtles,” explains Cuestas proudly. Changes include the efforts of boats to protect the seagrass that serves as feeding grounds for marine life and an end to fishers throwing net s where turtles lay their eggs.

This marine reserve in Acandí, Cuestas believes, is their greatest treasure. He attaches great importance to working together with local residents to improve the quality of life while preserving the marine ecosystem. By doing so, he imagines a picture where individuals from the fishing community can pursue various careers, such as engineers or lawyers, proudly stating that they are the products of the fishing tradition in Acandí.

1. What does the underlined word “depleted” in paragraph 2 mean?

A．Reused.	B．Restored.
C．Explored.	D．Reduced.

2. Why does Julio Cuestas call for new fishing techniques?

A．To cut down on the costs of fishing.

B．To improve the income of local residents.

C．To promote the well-being of marine wildlife.

D．To spread traditional community fishing methods.

3. What is paragraph 4 mainly about?

A．The aim of the changes to fishing methods.

B．The efforts to preserve marine ecosystem.

C．The results the trawl net s have brought about.

D．The impact of fishers on the local environment.

4. What is Julio Cuestas’s attitude towards Acandí’s future?

A．Confident.	B．Uncaring.
C．Concerned.	D．Doubtful.

7 .    Lots of kids like to talk about sports, but Joseph D’Avirro talks about sports like a professional host in a show called Sliders & Curveballs. The 9-year-old from Newington, Connecticut is a natural at sports talk and has been broadcasting the show—which is about baseball, basketball and other sports—with his dad, Mike D’Avirro, since September 2019.

   The D’Avirro started the broadcast after two former college roommates of Mike died, which made Mike want to spend more time with his son. Then the idea came to him. So far, they have done about 50 programs. Joseph’s favorite is when the father-and-son team interviewed Jim Calhoun, the coach leading the Connecticut Huskies to three national titles. They have also interviewed important sports authors.

   The father and son make about one 30- to 40-minute podcast each month. They prepare for the podcasts by deciding on the questions they want to ask the guest. Joseph asks half of the questions, and Mike handles the other half. Joseph reads his questions again and again to get them in his brain well. It is a lot of work, but Joseph says it is “a lot more fun than homework”. Joseph has also learned to speak up and speak clearly. He has to listen and to go with the flow of the conversation. For example, he said, “If the guest is talking about sports in the 1990s, you have to think about sports in the 1990s.”

When asked how long he and his dad will continue doing the show, he answered, “Until my dad starts growing gray hairs.” Joseph has other ambitions when he grows up—to be a sports player, a sports broadcaster or to own a basketball team. Those are big dreams, but Joseph is already living a dream: talking sports and spending time with his dad.

1. What is Joseph’s show about?

A．Some talk shows on sports.

B．Ways to get along with parents.

C．Stories about famous sports players.

D．Sports that his family loves playing.

2. What inspired Mike to start the show with his son?

A．His son’s talent for sports.

B．His wish to be a host since college.

C．The deaths of his college roommates.

D．The encouragement from his roommates.

3. What does Joseph think of memorizing his questions?

A．It’s as boring as homework.

B．It’s challenging to his brain.

C．It takes a lot of time but means a lot.

D．It’s more interesting than homework.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．A rising sports broadcaster

B．A long road to go to success

C．The father-and-son team hosts

D．Joseph D’Avirro’s big dream

8 . In recent years, studies have suggested how the bisphenol A (BPA) in some food-packaging plastics has been linked to various health problems including heart disease and developmental difficulties in children. Scientists are thus developing a more harmless alternative, and it’s made from tomato waste which would otherwise be got rid of.

However, BPA is still widely used in the plastic coatings which are applied to the inside of metal food packaging such as cans. These smooth waterproof coatings help protect the metal from corrosion (腐蚀), plus they keep the food from sticking to the inside of the container.

Building on previous studies, an international team has researched a type of agricultural waste known as tomato pomace. This material typically consists of tomato skins, seeds and stems, which are left over after the fruits have been processed for use in foods such as sauces or juices. Ordinarily, the pomace is simply dumped in a landfill, burned, or at best composted. It may also be used in animal feed, although it doesn’t have much nutritional value.

The scientists started by drying tomato pomace — first in the sun for three days, then in a 60℃ oven for 16 hours — after which they grounded it into a powder. That powder was subsequently mixed with a sodium hydroxide solution (溶液), which was then heated at 100℃ for four hours. After repeatedly filtering that solution to remove the sodium hydroxide, the researchers were left a lipid. That lipid was then mixed into an ethyl alcohol solution which was sprayed onto samples of some metal. Once the spray had dried and the samples had been heated in a 200℃ oven for 10 to 60 minutes, the result was a polymerized lacquer coating which proved to be very effective at protecting the metal.

The scientists now plan on testing the coating on actual cans. “We would take tomato sauce, and other foods that are usually sold in cans, and we would sterilize them, put them in tins and check if they withstand real conditions,” said a scientist.

1. Which of the following is the most likely to use the plastic coating?

A．A pot full of water.

B．A cup filled with coffee.

C．A tin containing apple juice.

D．An iron box stuffed with packaged food.

2. What do we know about tomato pomace?

A．It’s used as animal’s food with rich nutrition.

B．It has been used in the plastic coatings.

C．People use it to make sauce or juice.

D．People usually treat it in many ways.

3. What is mainly talked about in paragraph 4?

A．How the new coating is created.	B．Why heating is important.
C．Why high temperature is needed.	D．What other materials are included.

4. What is the purpose of the text?

A．To present a scientific study.	B．To introduce a new material.
C．To show a complex process.	D．To teach an actual test.

9 . A new study by researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the University of Victoria has shown that common levels of traffic pollution can damage human brain function in only a matter of hours.

“For many decades, scientists thought the brain may be protected from the harmful effects of air pollution,” said senior study author Dr. Chris Carlsten. “This study, which is the first of its kind in the world, provides fresh evidence supporting a connection between air pollution and cognition.”

For the study, the researchers briefly exposed 25 healthy adults to diesel exhaust (柴油废气) and filtered air at different times in a laboratory setting. Brain activity was measured before and after each exposure using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

The researchers analyzed changes in the brain’s default mode network (DMN), a set of inter-connected brain regions that play an important role in memory and internal thought. The fMRI revealed that participants had decreased functional connectivity in widespread regions of the DMN after exposure to diesel exhaust, compared to filtered air.

“We know that altered functional connectivity in the DMN has been associated with reduced cognitive performance and symptoms of depression, so it’s concerning to see traffic pollution interrupting these same networks,” said Dr. Jodie Gawryluk, a psychology professor at the University of Victoria and the study’s first author. “While more research is needed to fully understand the functional impacts of these changes, it’s possible that they may impair (损害) people’s thinking or ability to work.”

Notably, the changes in the brain were temporary and participants’ connectivity returned to normal after the exposure. Dr. Carlsten assumed that the effects could be long lasting where exposure is continuous. He said that people should be mindful of the air they’re breathing and take appropriate steps to minimize their exposure to potentially harmful air pollutants like car exhaust.

1. How does traffic pollution affect people according to the study?

A．Exhausting their body.	B．Decreasing their income.
C．Endangering their safety.	D．Harming their brain function.

2. What may the DMN be responsible for?

A．Growth.

B．Sport.

C．Memory.

D．Behaviour.

3. What can people do to reduce the impact according to Dr. Carlsten?

A．Avoid being exposed to the polluted air constantly.

B．Be mindful of the air quality in a new city.

C．Measure the brain activity in laboratories.

D．Stay inside a house as often as possible.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．A Role Of Brain Will Be Ruined

B．Traffic Pollution May Impair Brain Function

C．A Famous UK University Did A Vital Study

D．A Source Of Pollution Has Drawn People’s Attention

10 . “Will you go on this ride with me? ”my friend’s eleven-year-old daughter Jenny asked. I could have made up an excuse for not wanting to have a go. But earlier that morning, I was ready to push myself out of my comfort zone. Jenny stared at the ride, eager to experience the same excitement as the brave group of riders in front of us. I couldn’t say no.

After climbing into our seats, an attendant reached up, pulled down the bar, and locked it in place. The ride lifted us slowly, then turned us over like the blueberry pancakes I had eaten three hours earlier, and hoped to keep in their proper place. As I stared at the concrete directly below us, I had a sudden feeling of great fear. I wondered if I had replacement coverage for the phone that I was sure would slip out of my pocket and break into a million tiny pieces. I wondered when my new health insurance would kick in.

The ride touched down after twisting and turning our bodies. My friend was waiting for us at the exit. “How was it?” she asked. “Fine. No big deal,” I said, even though my head was spinning(旋转)like one of the other annoying machines dotting the midway.

Jenny walked ahead of us and convinced me to keep taking chances and sample more rides.

“Oh, look at the pirate ship(海盗船)!” she said. “That looks like a calm ride.”

“Let’s go, Auntie!” she said as she rushed to join others in line.

I followed her, confident the ride would be uneventful. When I reached the bottom, I tapped out like a WWF wrestler admitting defeat. Although my body was shaking and my head was still spinning, I felt exhilarated just like I was on cloud nine. That morning, I had set a goal, taken my first step to reach it, and felt the joy of achievement.

Each time you try something for the first time, you will grow—a little piece of the fear of the unknown is removed and replaced with a sense of satisfaction.

1. What made the author decide to try riding with Jenny?

A．The desired look in Jenny’s eyes.	B．The curiosity about the unknown.
C．The encouragement from other riders.	D．The eagerness to experience something exciting.

2. What happened to the author when she was in the high sky?

A．She lost her phone.	B．She got into a panic.
C．She was served pancakes.	D．She almost fell off the seat.

3. What does the underlined word “exhilarated” in paragraph 7 mean?

A．Occupied.

B．Excited.

C．Confused.

D．Disappointed.

4. What message does the story convey?

A．He who hesitates is lost.	B．It’s never too late to learn.
C．One’s potential can’t always be underrated.	D．It’s worthwhile to get out of your comfort zone.