1 . As fall approaches, like many of us who either follow an academic calendar for our work or have children in school, I’m preparing for a significant change in my schedule. As I anticipate more demands on my time, I reflect on how to maintain some sense of balance in my life.     1    

First of all, it is sensible to think small. We often feel like our values-based actions need to take a significant amount of time.     2     Look over the areas that you are having trouble fitting into your life. Is there a way to engage in a small part daily or weekly? Maybe instead of 90 minutes of yoga, you can do a few poses in the morning or stretch during work break.

    3     A good friend of mine often sets up calls with me while she is taking her daily walks. She still gets her exercise and her time outside, and we also get to connect. Doing housework as a family can help parents have valued family time while still keeping their homes running smoothly.

As we know, life is messy and ever-changing. It’s also important to pay attention while we are doing the actions that matter to us. It can be easy to think of the areas we aren’t engaged in.     4     Bringing mindfulness to our actions makes them more rewarding.

One more thing that needs to be added is the fact that no matter how much attention we bring to balancing our lives, we will unavoidably fall out of balance again.     5     Please be gentle with ourselves. And it may be helpful to think of the saying, “Fall down seven times; get up eight.”

A．Don’t take it too much to heart

B．We may put meaningful actions together.

C．However, we don’t notice what we are doing.

D．Balancing our lives requires planning and action.

E．I often underestimate how long it takes me to do a task.

F．Hence, I can do what matters to me across many areas of my life.

G．Even small numbers of values-based actions can be meaningful, though.

3 . Humans can make do with scarves, coats and gloves in cold weather. Some animals can hibernate (冬眠) for the winter. A new study finds that reptiles (爬行动物) and birds do something that is similar to hibernation, but a little different. In very cold weather, their body temperatures greatly drop into an energy-saving state in order to survive. The ability to thermoregulation (体温调节) for reptiles and birds is possible.

In Texas, where the city of Beaumont reached a low of 18 degrees Fahrenheit last month, it looked as if alligators (短吻鳄) had died of cold — yet alive in iced-over water. By ensuring their long noses stayed above the water line, the cold-blooded creatures were able to lower their body temperatures to survive the sudden short period of very cold weather. The process, in the case of cold-blooded animals like reptiles, is called brumation — it’s like a short state of hibernating. While in this state, reptiles become sleepy and they can go for a long time without eating or drinking. For example, alligators can be in brumation from just a few hours to months.

Like reptiles and mammals, birds can go into a state called torpor in order to save energy under very cold conditions. “Torpor is somewhere between a short sleep and hibernation,” said Justin Baldwin, a PhD candidate in biology at Washington University in St. Louis. Baldwin studied 29 species of hummingbirds living in Colombia. Researchers found that hummingbirds can enter into deep or shallow torpor, depending on several factors, including their size and weather conditions. In deep torpor, the birds are much more likely to be affected by disease. And what’s more, they would be easily harmed by their enemies.

Some bird lovers want to help the birds when they are in torpor. For example, the Bird Alliance of Oregon offers a few tips on how to keep the birds from danger.

1. What does the new study show?

A．Body temperature is important for animals.

B．Thermoregulation exists in reptiles and birds.

C．Reptiles and birds’ thermoregulation is unusual.

D．Body temperature drops greatly during reptiles and birds’ sleep.

2. What can we learn about alligators in paragraph 2?

A．They are active in brumation.	B．They are dead in cold weather.
C．They face extinction in cold weather.	D．They eat and drink nothing in brumation.

3. What does the author want to say about the birds in deep torpor?

A．They can get enough sleep.	B．They may harm other birds.
C．They may waste plenty of energy.	D．They may be under threat.

4. What might the author continue talking about?

A．Risks of animal hibernation.

B．His opinions of the study about birds.

C．Some detailed measures to protect the birds in torpor.

D．Other problems raised by cold weather.

4 . A kitchen garden produces vegetables for delicious, healthy meals. It doesn’t have to be right outside the kitchen door, but the closer it is, the better.     1    , the more likely it is that you will get tasty things out of it. Just a few steps are needed for what you want.

    2    . The most important recommendation is start with what you like to eat. This may go without saying, but I have seen first-year gardens that don’t reflect the eating habits of their growers. One of the easiest and most rewarding and popular kitchen gardens is a simple salad garden. It can produce multiple harvests in most parts of the country.

Planting a garden: where, when and how. Make a garden plan of what will be planted, where, when and how.     3    . It means you should know what they like in terms of space, water, soil fertility (肥力) and soil temperatures.

When and how much to water your garden. Vegetables are made mostly of water.     4    .You’ll want to water them lightly every day or two. If nature isn’t providing that amount of rain, you’ll need to water by yourself or with a drip irrigation system.

Garden maintenance: keep an eye on it. Sun and rain willing, fast growers such as radishes (萝卜) and salad greens will begin to produce crops as early as 20 to 30 days after planting. Check on them regularly so you get to harvest them before someone else does.     5    .

A．Choosing garden crops

B．Getting ready for garden site

C．The easier it is for you to get into the garden

D．So you need to ensure your plants have enough water

E．You show an interest in how to produce multiple harvests

F．To do this, you need to get familiar with all kinds of crops

G．Besides, protective barriers and organic products can prevent pests and diseases

5 . Traditions are customs and beliefs that form a part of our culture. They are practiced to remind us of our history and are passed down from generation to generation. Some traditions are interesting and widespread, while others are quite strange and practiced only by a small group of people. Continue reading to dig more into some interesting traditions from around the world.

Smigus Dyngus in Poland

Also known as “Wet Monday”, Smigus Dyngus is a unique tradition practiced in Poland, where people throw water at each other. It is celebrated annually on Easter Monday. The traditional way to do it is for boys to throw water at girls, and it is believed that the girl who receives the most water has the greatest chance of getting married.

Hanging coffins (棺椁) in Sagada, the Philippines

There is an old tradition in Sagada where people hang their coffins in stone caves. It was carried out by the Igorot tribe (部落) of Mountain Province. The people there believe this custom prevents large animals from taking the dead bodies, and also purifies or blesses the departed soul.

The Polterabend custom in Germany

Family members and friends of future married couples meet at dinner, and break a lot of porcelain (瓷器). The couple is then asked to clean up the entire mess. This is supposedly to teach them the importance of unity and hard work, and bring good luck. Germans think this tradition is essential in making marriages last a lifetime.

Boryeong Mud Festival in the ROK

The Boryeong Mud Festival in the ROK is a fascinating and unique celebration that draws crowds from around the world. It is a major cultural event, attracting over a million visitors annually. People participate in various mud-related activities, including mud baths, mud wrestling and even a mud marathon. The festival features live music, food stalls, and wonderful street performances.

1. Why are the coffins hung in caves in Sagada?

A．To pray for good luck.

B．To protect the dead bodies.

C．To ensure a future reunion.

D．To conserve more land resources.

2. Which tradition contributes to a lasting marriage?

A．Smigus Dyngus.

B．Hanging coffins in Sagada.

C．The Polterabend custom.

D．Boryeong Mud Festival.

3. What can visitors do during the Boryeong Mud Festival?

A．Throw water at girls.

B．Learn about Igorot culture.

C．Meet famous people.

D．Enjoy mud baths.

6 . A new study finds sales of sugary drinks obviously fell across several US cities, after they carried out soda taxes (汽水税) aiming those drinks — and those changes continued over time. Taxes ranged from 1 to 2 cents. For a 2-liter bottle of soda, that comes out to between 67 cents to $1.30 extra in taxes.

“While prior (先前的) studies have looked at the impact of soda taxes, they usually studied one city at a time. This new study looked at the overall effect of the taxes on several cities to get an idea of what might happen if these taxes were more widespread — or enlarged to the state or national level,” says Scott Kaplan, an economics professor and the study’s lead author.

Kaplan and his co-workers found that prices for sugary drinks went up by 33.1% and purchases (购买量) went down by basically the same amount. So when people had to pay more for sugary drinks, they reduced their purchases — the effect was large and continued.

As Kaplan notes, “Sugary drinks make up a quarter of all the added sugar we see in the average adult American diet. And that’s a really big amount.” Jennifer Pomeranz, a professor at the School of Public Health, says, “Taxes that aim sugary drinks are good public health policy because these drinks have no nutritional (营养的) value, but they are linked with diet-related diseases. Too much added sugar is linked to a host of poor health outcomes, including overweight and heart disease.” Last month, WHO called on countries to increase taxes on sugary drinks as a way to promote healthier diets.

Today, the sugary drink industry’s strategy of offering consumers more choices with less sugar is working, and nearly 60% of drinks sold have zero sugar. The calories that people get from drinks have decreased to the lowest level in decades.

1. What’s the difference between the new study and the prior ones?

A．The range.

B．The challenge.

C．The expense.

D．The benefit.

2. How did the people respond to the rising prices of sugary drinks?

A．They bought them in overseas markets.

B．They turned to the government for help.

C．They cut down the drinks’ consumption.

D．They added sugar to drinks by themselves.

3. Why were soda taxes introduced according to Jennifer Pomeranz?

A．To better protect people’s health.

B．To encourage research into drinks.

C．To improve the nutrition of drinks.

D．To make more money for the government.

4. What can be inferred about the continuation of the soda tax policy?

A．It is a short-sighted decision.

B．It is a success story.

C．It benefits sugary drinks industry.

D．It upsets customers.

7 . People who visit Huangsiyang village in Huizhou, Guangdong province, are shocked by the grand scale of its ancient residential buildings. Covering an area of 220,000 square meters, the village was named “Huangsiyang” to express gratitude for the emperor’s kindness. With a history of over 500 years, the village’s architecture dates back to the late Ming Dynasty.

As part of a Guangdong provincial project that targets the high-quality rural (乡村的) development, Huangsiyang has made great efforts to promote its heritage protection and cultural tourism, which have breathed new life into the village. Yang Shouqiang, a village official, explained that the ancient village has more than 20 historical sites, making it the most well-preserved and largest ancient residential group in Huidong county. Yang said the village has attached great importance to education and culture, having produced over 20 examinees who passed the provincial-level exams after being invited to sit for the imperial examinations — the ancient form of the gaokao, China’s college entrance exam.

From 2022 to last year, a total of 65million yuan was invested in the protection and development of Huangsiyang ancient village. Recent surveys have shown significant improvements in the village’s surroundings and internal environment after it took measures to restore architecture and rivers, and improve lighting and other basic facilities. At the same time, the village introduced high-quality homestay (民宿) projects. These homestays preserve the original architectural style of the ancient buildings.

The village has attracted many tourists from the Guangdong — Hong Kong — Macao Greater Bay Area, who take part in team building activities and enjoy unique experiences. The increasing number of visitors to the village is also increasing sales of local snacks and agricultural products. Online promotions of these products have also brought in more tourists to nearby villages.

1. What surprises visitors to Huangsiyang village?

A．Tasty local snacks.

B．A history of over 500 years.

C．The rural landscape.

D．A large number of ancient buildings.

2. What does the underlined phrase “sit for” in paragraph 2 mean?

A．Prepare for.

B．Go through.

C．Participate in.

D．Put off.

3. What can we infer about Huangsiyang village?

A．It benefits a lot from tourism.

B．Its education system develops fast.

C．It is famous for agricultural products.

D．Its environment is damaged due to tourists.

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

A．Old village comes to life

B．Old village draws visitors

C．Old village values education

D．Old village shows traditional culture

8 . Mothers who eat apples in early pregnancy could be protecting the brain health of their children and grandchildren. The discovery is part of a project that found a mother’s diet can affect not just her child’s brain but also those of her grandchildren. Published in Nature Cell Biology, the study found that certain foods could help protect against the deterioration (退化) of brain function. More specifically, the study used roundworms as the genetic model because many of their genes are also found conserved in humans, allowing insights into human cells.

The researchers found that a molecule (分子) present in apples helped reduce the breakdown of communication cables needed for the brain to work properly. Senior author Professor Roger Pocock and his team investigated nerve cells in the brain that connect and communicate with each other through about 850, 000 kilometers of cables called axons. Professor Pocock explained that a breakdown that caused the axons to become weak led to brain dysfunction. He said his team used a genetic model with fragile (脆弱的) axons that break as animals age.

“We asked whether natural products found in the diet can stabilize these axons and prevent breakage,” he said. “We identified a molecule found in apples(ursolic acid) that reduces axon fragility. How? We found that ursolic acid causes a gene to turn on that and makes a specific type of fat. This particular fat also prevented axon fragility as animals age.”

Professor Pocock said this type of fat, known as a sphingolipid, had to travel from the mother’s intestine, where food is digested, to eggs in the uterus for it to protect axons in the next generation. “This is the first time that a fat has been shown to be inherited,” he said. “Further, feeding the mother the sphingolipid protects the axons of two subsequent generations. This means a mother’s diet can affect not just their offspring’s brain but potentially subsequent generations.” He said while the results were promising, they still need to be confirmed in humans.

1. What is the finding of the study?

A．Roundworms help understand human cells.

B．What a mother eats decides the child’s future.

C．Roundworms have similar genes with human beings.

D．Some foods taken by the pregnant benefit children ‘s brain.

2. What does “dysfunction” underlined in paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．Quality.

B．Abnormality.

C．Unavoidability.

D．Flexibility.

3. What do the researchers aim to confirm with natural products?

A．Production of ursolic acid.	B．The success of gene therapy.
C．The aging process in roundworms.	D．The connection between diet and axon fragility.

4. What might the follow-up study focus on?

A．Clinic trials.	B．Benefits of ursolic acid.
C．Functions of sphingolipids.	D．Specific brain-influencing foods.

9 . A couple has recently placed their garbage can out for collection for the first time in 14 months, all thanks to their recycling skills. Richard and Louise Arnold have established such an effective routine that they only need to put their garbage can on the side of the street once a year.

Louise explained that making small monthly changes in her life has resulted in her family producing very little waste. She said, “It’s not as difficult as you might think if you start with small steps. We began with soap, switching from bath cream to natural soap without packaging. These bars are large enough that we cut them in half, using one for the sink and the other half for the shower. It’s both cost-effective and environmentally friendly.”

“So it’s actually quite easy. Just go around your house and think of little things you can do gradually, and you’ll start noticing the difference,” Louise added. Currently, the couple takes recyclable waste to the tip, donates clothes to charity shops, and brings soft plastics and batteries to a shop that accepts them.

In 2017, the couple established No Waste Living, which initially started as a weekend stall at the local market and has since developed into a website. Louise regularly writes a newsletter for her hundreds of subscribers. They also started selling eco-friendly products, ranging from non-chemical household cleaning and washing solutions for a “less toxic home” to bamboo washing-up brushes. Louise mentioned, “I started No Waste Living because I wanted to show our achievement s and lead by example.”

Although the family occasionally faces criticism, Louise remains determined. She said, “The main point of contention(争论) for people regarding new waste rules is having to drive their waste to a recycling center, which adds to their already busy lives. However, in the long run, you will create more space in your home, save money, and spend less time dealing with garbage cans.”

1. How did the couple start their waste reduction journey?

A．By replacing small soaps with large ones.	B．By using a small amount of bath cream.
C．By using unpackaged soap bars.	D．By recycling soft plastics and batteries.

2. Why did the couple found No Waste Living?

A．To bring eco-products to market.	B．To inspire others to follow in their footsteps.
C．To treat recyclable waste from the neighborhood.	D．To answer the call of their subscribers.

3. Why do some people dislike new waste rules?

A．They mean more work to deal with garbage.

B．They increase the cost of garbage collection.

C．They establish a set time for waste management.

D．They limit the daily amount of garbage for collection.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．A business - minded couple.	B．The “less poisonous home” concept.
C．The global trend in recycling.	D．A planet- friendly lifestyle.

10 . Most air conditioners and fridges rely on contracting and expanding a liquid to either absorb or release large quantities of heat. While these systems are relatively cheap and simple to produce, they aren’t very efficient and require lots of energy. Besides, many of the coolants used are environmentally harmful.

Now, Emmanuel Defay at the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology and his colleagues have developed a coolant-free refrigeration device made from the metals lead, scandium (钪) and tantalum (钼). It can reach maximum efficiencies of more than 60%, almost double that of typical single-room air conditioning units. The technology is based on a principle called electrocaloric cooling, in which an electric field applied across a material changes the direction of electric charges, causing a temporary increase in temperature and a succeeding decrease when the electric field is removed.

To make their cooling system, Defay and his colleagues piled up eight strips of the material known as lead scandium tantalate, which is electrocaloric, on top of one another and dipped them in a heat-carrying liquid, silicone oil. When an electric field is switched on and the strips heat up, the liquid moves to the right, and when it cools down, it moves to the left, creating permanent regions of hot and cold of about 20℃difference. These regions can be used as hot and cold reservoirs from which the oil can be circulated through pipes to cool or heat rooms or objects as desired.

“Although the efficiency of the device is theoretically 67%, the efficiency of the current design is around 12%. This could be improved if a better conductor of heat than the lead scandium tantalate were found,” said Defay.

“A highest performance has been achieved by combining known elements,” said NeilMathur at the University of Cambridge. However, he added, the team only looked at the cooling power of the pile of metal strips themselves, while it would be interesting to see how the entire device performs together.

1. What does the author think of the system of traditional air conditioners?

A．Efficient.	B．Expensive.
C．Highly energy-consuming.	D．Environmentally-friendly.

2. What is the third paragraph mainly about?

A．The aim of Defay and his colleagues.	B．The material of the new cooling system.
C．The proposal of Defay and his colleagues.	D．The working principle of the new cooling system.

3. What matters in the current efficiency of the device researched by Defay’s team?

A．The extensive experiments.	B．The proper equipment.
C．The ideal temperature.	D．The appropriate materials.

4. What’s the author likely to talk about next?

A．The performance of the new cooling system.	B．The research team’s next arrangement.
C．The sales promotion of the new device.	D．Neil Mathur’s comments on the device.