1 . While some allergies (过敏症) disappear over time or with treatment, others last a lifetime. For decades, scientists have been searching for the source of these lifetime allergies.
Recently, researchers found that memory B cells may be involved. These cells produce a different class of antibodies known as IgG, which ward off viral infections. But no one had identified exactly which of those cells were recalling allergens or how they switched to making the IgE antibodies responsible for allergies. To uncover the mysterious cells, two research teams took a deep dive into the immune (免疫的) cells of people with allergies and some without.
Immunologist Joshua Koenig and colleagues examined more than 90, 000 memory B cells from six people with birch allergies, four people allergic to dust mites and five people with no allergies. Using a technique called RNA sequencing, the team identified specific memory B cells, which they named MBC2s that make antibodies and proteins associated with the immune response that causes allergies.
In another experiment, Koenig and colleagues used a peanut protein to go fishing for memory B cells from people with peanut allergies. The team pulled out the same type of cells found in people with birch and dust mite allergies. In people with peanut allergies, those cells increased in number and produced IgE antibodies as the people started treatment to desensitize them to peanut allergens.
Another group led by Maria Curotto de Lafaille, an immunologist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, also found that similar cells were more plentiful in 58 children allergic to peanuts than in 13 kids without allergies. The team found that the cells are ready to switch from making protective IgG antibodies to allergy-causing IgE antibodies. Even before the switch, the cells were making RNA for IgE but didn’t produce the protein. Making that RNA enables the cells to switch the type of antibodies they make when they encounter allergens. The signal to switch partially depends on a protein called JAK, the group discovered. “Stopping JAK from sending the signal could help prevent the memory cells from switching to IgE production,” Lafaille says. She also predicts that allergists may be able to examine aspects of these memory cells to forecast whether a patient's allergy is likely to last or disappear with time or treatment.
“Knowing which population of cells store allergies in long-term memory may eventually help scientists identify other ways to kill the allergy cells,” says Cecilia Berin, an immunologist at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “You could potentially get rid of not only your peanut allergy but also all of your allergies.”
1. Why did scientists investigate the immune cells of individuals with and without allergies?| A．To explore the distinctions between IgG and IgE. |
| B．To uncover new antibodies known as IgG and IgE. |
| C．To identify cells responsible for defending against allergies. |
| D．To reveal cells associated with the development of allergies. |
| A．Make. . . less destructive. | B．Make. . . less responsive. |
| C．Make. . . less protective. | D．Make. . . less effective. |
| A．MBC2s make antibodies and proteins that prevent allergies. |
| B．Memory B cells generate both RNA for IgE and the corresponding protein. |
| C．JAK plays a role in controlling antibody production when exposed to allergens. |
| D．Allergists are capable of predicting whether an allergy will last or disappear. |
| A．RNA Sequencing Is Applied in Immunology Research |
| B．Specific Cells Related to Peanut Allergies Are Identified |
| C．Unmasking Cells’ Identities Helps Diagnose and Treat Allergies |
| D．Newfound Immune Cells Are Responsible for Long-lasting Allergies |
2 . As this year draws to a close, I still remember the fear I felt on a bright Saturday morning in late September, at a five-kilometer race in Clarkston, Georgia, as I waited for my 11-year-old son at the finish line.
I knew he could run a 5k in about 30 minutes. When I didn't see him at the 35-minute mark, I began to wonder what had gone wrong. Had he gotten lost? Was he hit by a car? About an hour earlier, when we drove into town, my son noticed an insect on my car. It was bright green, no longer than a fingernail. And it was friendly. This little green thing hopped onto my son's finger, where it stayed for a long, long time. It stayed so long that we eventually gave it a name: Little Friend.
A few minutes before the race, Little Friend jumped off my son’s hand and landed on the sidewalk. But pedestrian traffic was heavy and unpredictable. Little Friend was in danger. So my son knelt and reached out his hand. Little Friend came back.
The race was about to start, and the tiny green insect was in for a wild ride. My son would run fast, and the race would be long, and his arms would swing, and Little Friend would eventually be shaken off.
“You will lose Little Friend,” I told him.
My son nodded, treating the moment with appropriate seriousness.
The race began, and I lost sight of him.
The excitement at the finish line gave way to anxiety when my son did not show up.
I kept asking people if they'd seen him. No one had. And beyond the 40-minute mark, I was in a panic.
But there he was, thank goodness, just ahead of the 45-minute mark.
And there was Little Friend, riding on the upper crook of his right thumb like a very small captain on a very tall ship.
My predictions had been wrong. My son had not run fast, and he had not lost Little Friend. And these two facts seemed somehow related. He blamed a cold he was getting over. I suspected it was more than that, but I didn’t question him too much about it.
We walked back to the car, smiling, and found some bushes in the parking lot that seemed like a good place for my son to drop off Little Friend.
“Be free,” my son said, and gently put it in the bushes.
My son knew the truth. Sometimes life gives you something beautiful, a fragile, short-lived treasure in your hand. There is no need to rush ahead. Treat it gently. Enjoy each moment. Hold on while you can.
One day my son will leave too, running off on his own adventure.
1. How did the writer probably feel when he finally saw his son appear in sight?| A．Relieved. | B．Depressed. | C．Satisfied. | D．Disappointed. |
| A．he was lost | B．he was recovering from a cold |
| C．he was afraid to lose the tiny insect | D．he was slowed down by the heavy traffic |
| A．indifferent | B．anxious | C．appreciative | D．doubtful |
| A．Treasure every moment he has with his son. |
| B．Encourage his son to take more adventures. |
| C．Tell his son to take races seriously. |
| D．Get more insects for his son. |
3 . The Sydney Opera House has become, with the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney’s best-known landmark and international symbol.
The base for the building was started in 1959 — years before the designs were finished. It took four years to design by Danish architect Jorn Utzon and by 1962 the designs were finalized and construction began. In total, it took 14 years to build and was officially opened on the 20th of October 1973 by Queen Elizabeth II.
The Sydney Opera House is a fascinating building and heart of the city’s cultural scene. It opened with a concert hall, an opera theatre, a drama theatre and a recital (音乐演奏会) hall, as well as restaurants and bars. A fifth theatre was added within the structure in 1998.
The Sydney Opera House cost some $160 million to build and was paid for by the public who bought $10 tickets in a series of lotteries with a first prize of $1million.
More information about the Sydney Opera House:
Conducts 3,000 events each year
Provides guided tours to 200,000 people each year
Has an annual audience of 2 million for its performances
includes 1,000 rooms
Is 185 metres long and 120 metres wide
Has 2.194 pre-cast concrete sections as its roof
Has roof sections weighing up to 15 tons
Has roof sections held together by 350 kms of tensioned steel cable
Has over 1 million tiles on the roof
Uses 6,225 square metres of glass and 645 kilometres of electric cable
1. When were the designs of the Sydney Opera House started?| A．In1960. | B．In1962. | C．In1958. | D．In1973. |
| A．a drama theatre | B．an opera theatre |
| C．a concert hall | D．a reception hall |
| A．The Sydney Opera House has an audience of 2 million per year for its performances. |
| B．There are about 3,000 events held in the Sydney Opera House each year. |
| C．The Sydney Opera House is made up of more than 1,000 rooms. |
| D．The roof of the Sydney Opera House is made of concrete and steel. |
4 . Beyond the classroom, the US provides various job opportunities that allow students to gain practical experience, earn income and enhance their skill sets. Here are some of the diverse employment avenues available for international students while attending university in the US.
On-campus employmentMany US universities offer on-campus employment opportunities for international students, providing a convenient and accessible way to earn income while pursuing their studies. These positions may include roles in libraries, administrative offices, student centers, or even research assistantships within academic departments. On-campus employment is typically limited to 20 hours per week during the academic year, allowing students to balance work and study commitments.
Off-campus employmentOff-campus employment opportunities are also available, although with certain restrictions. The two primary categories of off-campus employment are optional practical training (OPT)and curricular practical training (CPT). OPT allows students to work in their field of study for up to 12 months (or 24 months for STEM fields)after graduation, providing valuable real-world experience. CPT, on the other hand, permits students to engage in practical training directly related to their academic program while still attending their university.
Internships and cooperative programsMany US universities have robust internship and cooperative education programs that connect students with industry partners. These programs offer international students the chance to apply classroom knowledge in professional settings, fostering skill development and industry connections. Internships, whether paid or unpaid, are valuable stepping stones that often lead to full-time employment opportunities after graduation.
Research assistantshipsFor students pursuing advanced degrees, research assistantships provide a unique opportunity to work closely with faculty on cutting-edge research projects. These positions not only contribute to academic and professional growth but also offer financial backing. Research assistantships can be found in various disciplines, including science, engineering, social sciences and humanities.
1. What sets On-campus employment apart from other job opportunities?| A．It is available before graduation. |
| B．Its work time is no more than 20 hours every week. |
| C．It can help students earn money and pursue their studies. |
| D．It provides cutting-edge research projects. |
| A．On-campus employment. | B．Off-campus employment. |
| C．Internships. | D．Cooperative programs. |
| A．A university degree. | B．Industry connection. |
| C．Real-world experience. | D．Financial support. |
5 . Not many drinks can offer the health benefits of tea, the strength of coffee, and the joy of chocolate like this super brew, yerba mate. Along with supposed benefits of supporting weight loss, concentration, and better digestion, drinking yerba mate continues to symbolize culture and tradition in South America.
Consumed mostly in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Brazil — as well as in Syria and Lebanon — yerba mate (pronounced MAH-tay)is a hot, bitter, caffeinated tea made by steeping the dried leaves of the yerba mate plant. Containing roughly as much caffeine as coffee, about 80 milligrams per cup, mate has gained global popularity — much so that brands like Perrier, Red Bull, and PepsiCo have launched mate drinks.
But in the last couple of decades, mate started experiencing a boom outside of South America. Karla Johan, a mate sommelier (侍酒师) from Argentina, attributes this partly to football players from Argentina and Uruguay bringing the habit to Europe, where they moved to play for local teams. In fact, one might say that mate is the “beverage of champions”. When Argentina’s national football team travelled to Qatar in December 2022 to play and won the World Cup, they carried 240 kg of yerba mate with them.
Yerba mate, of course, eventually migrated over to the U. S. and in recent years has become a popular ingredient in everything from health elixirs (保健药) to energy drinks. Loose leaves can be purchased at most specialty grocery stores to make the drink at home. And if you want to get the full yerba mate experience, you can even order a cup for drinking mate and bombilla online, gather some friends, and enjoy the beauty of the South American ritual for yourself.
Global messaging platform WhatsApp recently introduced a mate emoji, which points to mate’s growing popularity as people aim for a healthier lifestyle. That’s because mate, said Johan, contains a higher level of antioxidants than green tea or red wine, and a powerful combination of vitamins from the clay soil where it grows. In Argentina, mate is common, a faithful companion for matters great and small. Yet, unlike coffee or tea, it is not consumed in cafes: It’s what you have at home and at work, in the park and on the train, during class or at the gym.
1. Which of the following is not the feature of yerba mate?| A．Its bitter flavor. | B．Its long history. |
| C．Its ingredient of caffeine. | D．Its function of losing weight. |
| A．Its unique coffee taste. |
| B．Its health benefits. |
| C．The support of famous football players. |
| D．The launch of mate drinks by famous brands. |
| A．It can be easily accessible. | B．It can cure some diseases. |
| C．It can be made into energy drinks. | D．It can be purchased online. |
| A．Because it is a faithful companion. |
| B．Because it can be enjoyed everywhere. |
| C．Because it contains some beneficial elements. |
| D．Because it is better than green tea and red wine. |
6 . Smart entertainment is changing how we engage with leisure. By combining cutting-edge technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), augmented reality, and the internet of things with traditional forms of entertainment, this innovation is enhancing users’ experiences.
In 2023, Huawei introduced its Vision Smart TV3, transforming your home into your own amusement park. This innovative technology features groundbreaking AI super-sensing cameras and AI vision chips powered by deep learning and big data. These advanced components see and study your movements, enabling you to control characters through your body gestures. Social media is busy with users sharing their experiences of playing motion-sensing games, which require real-life movements like jumping and squatting instead of simply holding a controller.
The Vision Smart TV is not only cutting-edge but also family-friendly. Turning on the kids mode allows the screen to monitor real-time data, offering suggestions for adjusting a child’s viewing distance and posture. This provides a safe and comfortable entertainment experience for the younger audience. TorieZ, a Huawei Vision Smart TV3 owner and a mother of a 3-year-old daughter, shared her experience on Xiaohongshu. “Thanks to the smart screen, my child maintains good posture without constant supervision because her favorite cartoons stop if she slouches (懒洋洋地坐),” she said. When she’s free, TorieZ and her husband enjoy exercising together under the instructions of the TV.
We can not only play video games merely on the screens; now, with smart entertainment, you can get an immersive experience of Mario Kart, a racing video game, put right into your living room. While playing the game, players can control their karts running in their living rooms. Each kart has an onboard camera on it. The camera can record the layout of where they are and upload it to the Nintendo system. After processing it, some settings, like jungles and snowy landscapes, are created based on the layout and shown on the Switch screen. So, things in your living room, like the sofa and table, your feet or even your cat, can be a part of your game.
Step outside and you can also enjoy smart entertainment experiences. Shanghai Disney Resort uses big data analysis to offer personalized services. In the US and South America, VR World, the largest VR club, gives users super real gaming and travel adventures.
Looking forward, cutting-edge technologies will continue to change how we spend our leisure time.
1. How does Huawei’s Vision Smart TV3 improve user interaction in gaming experiences?| A．Through touch-activated screens. |
| B．Through voice-activated commands. |
| C．Through thought-based gaming controls. |
| D．Through immediate responses to motion gestures. |
| A．By limiting overall screen time. |
| B．By providing exercise instructions. |
| C．By restricting access to certain content. |
| D．By offering real-time posture monitoring. |
| A．The settings are fixed and can’t be changed. |
| B．Physical objects in the room can become part of the game. |
| C．Players wear VR headsets for a more engaging experience. |
| D．Players interact with AI characters in the game. |
| A．Having fun in new ways | B．How to spend our leisure time |
| C．Cutting-edge technologies | D．Innovative video games |
7 . Historical accounts often described the now-extinct California grizzly bears as huge beasts ready to attack humans and livestock at any time. But according to a new paper, scientists say the truth might have been less dramatic: The bears ate a mostly vegetarian diet and were smaller than previously described. California grizzly bears once roamed in the Golden State. But European settlers often hunted, poisoned and trapped the creatures. Over time, because of these human activities, the California grizzly population declined. The last reliable sighting of a California grizzly bear occurred 100 years ago in 1924, and the animals disappeared completely sometime after that.
Researchers wanted to get a better understanding of the factors that accelerated the bears’ extinction. They also hoped to gain more insight into the creatures’ behavior, size and diet. To do so, they turned to documents and California grizzly specimens in natural history collections. They measured the animals’ skulls and teeth and analyzed their bones and pelts. The researchers found that California grizzly bears were much smaller than the 2,000 pounds often reported at the time. Historical accounts might not necessarily have been wrong, but they might have only included the largest bears. In addition, analyses of the animals’ bones and skins suggest the bears were primarily eating plants, which stands in contrast to their fear some hyper carnivorous (超级食肉的) reputation. “The bears likely increased meat consumption due to landscape changes coupled with the arrival of livestock,” says study co-author Alexis Mychajliw. However, researchers found the animals still ate a majority vegetarian diet and killed far less livestock than historical accounts suggested.
By digging beyond the bears’ reputation, the researchers gained a more accurate understanding of the California grizzly’s biology and natural history. And since scientists and land managers often rely on historical accounts when reintroducing animals to their former habitats, the study serves as a reminder that those old newspapers and journals do not tell the whole story.
1. What does the underlined word “roamed” in paragraph 1 mean?| A．Disappeared. | B．Declined. | C．Fought. | D．Wandered. |
| A．They mainly fed on livestock. |
| B．Their diet consisted mostly of plants. |
| C．They ate a balanced diet of plants and meat. |
| D．The absence of livestock changed their dietary habit. |
| A．They are unique. | B．They are one-sided. |
| C．They are accurate. | D．They are comprehensive. |
| A．The natural habitats of California grizzly bears. |
| B．The extinction process of California grizzly bears. |
| C．The reveal of the truth of California grizzly bears. |
| D．The significance of the arrival of California grizzly bears. |
8 . Early on, Sandra Marshall showed a talent and love for art. A New York native, Sandra owes her passion for art, and her thirst for learning, to childhood trips into New York City to visit the museums, and galleries.
After Sandra received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Arizona State University, she worked as a portrait painter and mural (壁画) artist but turned to food art when her daughter declared she would no longer eat meat. Sandra started exploring with fruits and vegetables to make cooking more fun, and was inspired by the colors of nature. She would write stories about her dinnertime art pieces so her children would see the magic in produce.
In 2014, Sandra opened a studio called Be...An Artist Studio, which welcomed artists to come and learn many different types of art. Paint nights, sculpting nights, live entertainment and eventually a cooking school, all came together and helped to bring the community creating together. She was featured on many television networks displaying her passions for the arts. Sandra began posting her creations on social media which led to her first published book One Hot Night at the Veggie Bar.
In 2019, Sandra closed her studio to expand and bring art to more people. This also gave her more time to create and explore he town art, including her food art. Sandra hosted painting events, painting with thousands of people at her large Be...An Artist events, such as the National Football League’s owners meeting in 2019 where she painted with the NFL owners and their families.
Sandra is now working with schools, bringing the joy of creating to children and their families with her “Success For All” painting programs that n re supported by the sales of her food art books and grants given to the schools. Last year alone, she painted with thousands of children and their families over Zoom.
1. For what reason did Sandra change her art theme?| A．She got bored with mural art. |
| B．She was attracted by the colors of nature. |
| C．She wanted to introduce her daughter to art. |
| D．She hoped to make cooking more appealing. |
| A．Sandra’s influence. | B．Sandra’s art styles. |
| C．Sandra’s achievements. | D．Sandra’s future plan. |
| A．She wrote books on art. | B．She held large painting events. |
| C．She opened her own studio. | D．She began to try different types of art. |
| A．The Story behind Food Art |
| B．The Rise of Be...An Artist Studio |
| C．A Trip Shaping Sandra’s Artistic Career |
| D．Sandra Marshall: from a Portrait Painter to an Art Advocate |
9 . Discovery Pass
With a NSW TrainLink Discovery Pass, you can
• get unlimited booked travel to more than 365 destinations on the NSW TrainLink Regional train and coach network
• choose a pass that suits your travel plans: 14 days, one month, three months or six months
• choose a class of travel that suits your style: Economy or First Class (Premium).
Please note that you cannot book a child ticket online with a Discovery Pass. You will instead need to call 13 22 32 or visit a sales agent.
Before purchasing a pass, please read the relevant terms and rules. A NSW TrainLink Discovery Pass is non-refundable and it cannot be assigned to another person.
Prices
Pass type | 14 days | 1 month | 3 months | 6 months |
| Adult Economy | $232 | $275 | $298 | $420 |
| Adult Premium | $300 | $350 | $400 | $550 |
| Child Economy | $121 | $143 | $154 | $220 |
| Child Premium | $154 | $176 | $220 | $275 |
How to purchase a pass and book trips
Step 1: Purchase a Discovery Pass
Choose a time limit and class of travel that suits your needs.
Step 2: Book your trips
After you purchase a Discovery Pass, you have up to one month to book your first trip. The time limit on your pass will start from the departure date of your first booked trip. All trips must be booked and taken before the expiry (到期) date indicated on the pass. You must book each trip before you travel.
Find out more about ways to book your ticket? Visit our website:
https: /transportnsw.info/tickets-opal/regional-tickets-fares/ways-to-book-your-ticket
1. You can use a NSW TrainLink Discovery Pass to ______.| A．book a child ticket online | B．choose a class of travel that suits you |
| C．choose a weekly, monthly or yearly pass | D．get booked travel to unlimited destinations |
| A．$353 | B．$418 | C．$693 | D．$876 |
| A．A pass can be given to another person. |
| B．A pass can be refunded to NSW Trains. |
| C．The time limit on a pass starts from the day of your purchase. |
| D．You should book your first trip within one month after your purchase. |
The first pairs of jeans were designed for blue-collar workers. Over the course of the 20th century, the working-class pants have transformed into fashion icons and become popular around the world. However, each new pair you buy has a much higher cost than you might think.
Every pair of jeans takes about 0.7 kilograms of cotton. Growing this much cotton requires roughly 10,000 liters of water, not to mention various herbicides and pesticides, which can pollute groundwater. Typically, plastic fibers are mixed with cotton threads to increase comfort and flexibility. In order to dye the cloth, chemical sprays and several cycles of acid-washing are adopted, discharging toxic pollutants into rivers and even turn them into indigo-blue. Also, there are the zippers, buttons, and rivets made of copper and other metals, whose mining is yet another source of environmental degradation. All in all, the manufacturing (制造) process for a single pair of jeans emits over 33 kilograms of carbon — the equivalent of driving over 110 kilometers.
Like many globally produced products, jeans are made in poor countries and bought in rich ones. Much of the world’s cotton is grown in developing countries, with poor labor practices and few protections for workers. Cotton here is often picked by children or forced labor. And their health may be threatened by poisonous chemicals during production. Because of the fast-paced and rough manufacturing with unnatural materials, today, most pairs last no longer than a year. Like most waste, discarded jeans end up in landfills, where their decomposition releases greenhouse gas. Some governments are pursuing policies to make companies more responsible for worker pay and welfare, but unsustainable practices still run crazy throughout the fashion industry.
1. Who may be the first consumers of jeans?2. Why are plastic fibers used when pairs of jeans are made?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
Jeans are made in poor countries, where workers’ health is well protected.
4. What suggestions would you give to reduce the damage caused by jeans? (In about 40 words)
