1 . Four Highly-related Books

Anne of Green Gables.

Anne of Green Gables by Canadian author Lucy Mau d Montgomery has been considered as a children’s novel since the mid-20th century. It states how Anne makes her way with the Cuthberts at school and within the town. The novel presents the conflicts between Ann’s more fantastical daily life and that of Marilla, who would rather operate as social convention dictates (规定). Since publication, the book has sold more than 50 million copies and has been translated into 20 languages.

First published: 1908

Original language: English

Pride and prejudice

Pride and Prejudice is a romantic novel of manners by the British author Jane Austen. The story follows the main character, Elizabeth Bennet, as she deals with issues of manners, upbringing, norality, education and marriage in the society of the landed gentry (地主阶层) of England in the early 19th century.

First published: 1813

Original language: English

Treasure Island

Treasure Island is an adventure novel by Scottish author Robert Louis, telling a tale of “pirates (海盗) and buried gold”. The influence of the book on popular perceptions of pirates is huge, including such elements as treasure maps marked with an “X”, sailing ships, tropical islands and one-legged seamen bearing parrots on their shoulders.

First published: 1883

Original language: English

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is a novel written by English author Charles Lutwidge Dodgson under the pen name Lewis Carroll. It tells of a girl named Alice falling through a rabbit hole into a fantasy world populated by unusual and vivid creatures. The tale plays with logic, giving the story lasting popularity with adults as well as with children. It is considered to be one of the best examples of the literary nonsense type.

First published: 1865

Original language: English

1. What do the four books have in common?

A．They are novels written by the authors from the same country.

B．They were first published in the 19th century.

C．They were originally written in English.

D．They are works of children's literature.

2. What can we know about Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland?

A．Its theme is manners, upbringing and marriage.	B．Its main character is an English gentleman.
C．It is suitable for both adults and children.	D．It is based on a true and touching story.

3. Which book is involved with sailors who attack other ships and rob them of property?

A．Treasure Island.	B．Pride and prejudice.
C．Anne of Green Gables.	D．Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

2 . Kevin Mills grew up in Guelph, Ontario. He was athletic. He enjoyed biking, scuba diving, rock climbing, and track. As an adult on vacation in Cuba, he went swimming in the ocean. A wave pounded him to the ocean floor. The accident injured his spine.

Mr. Mills was paralyzed below the neck.     1    . Experts told him this was the best he could hope for. He refused to accept that. “I just wanted to be as active as possible,” he says. Through therapy, Mr. Mills regained shoulder movement and some control of his arms. This changed his life. Eventually, Mr. Mills and his trainer, Nikki Davenport, began biking together, using bikes with a power-assist system.

Ms. Davenport suggested biking across Canada. “It’s something I always wanted to do,” Mr. Mills says. He just didn’t think it was possible On May 24, Mr. Mills dipped (浸一下) his tires in the ocean in St. John’s, Newfoundland.     2    . It was also his 43rd birthday. “I want to dip my tires in both oceans,” Mr. Mills says. Mr. Mills and Ms. Davenport ride their bikes for five to six hours a day. Their route to Victoria, British Columbia, will take four months or more. They often follow the Trans Canada Trail. The trail has been improved in recent years. It is becoming more accessible.

    3    . Ruts and washouts make biking hard. Once, in training, Mr. Mills had an accident. He landed in a ditch with his head under water. That was frightening. In Quebec, one of Mr. Mills’ special bikes was stolen! He switches between two bikes.     4    . Mostly, people have been kind. Some have helped with donations. Some have even done their laundry. A private donor replaced the stolen bicycle.

In his public speaking, Mr. Mills said he had a big fear around the trip — the Rockies. Climbing mountains with his bike was difficult. He was also worried about the descent (下坡). However, he forced himself to overcome the fear. At last, Mr. Mills said modestly, “    5    .”

A．That was the start of his journey

B．He tried to move his arms and shoulders bit by bit

C．I want to raise money and awareness for cancer and other diseases

D．He learned to steer a motorized wheelchair using tiny head movements

E．I want people with disabilities to see me out there biking and maybe get inspired to do something

F．One is a backup in case something breaks down

G．Still, the pair has faced challenges

3 . In summer, Stefano Piraino was stepping along the rocky shoreline, when he spotted a washed-up jellyfish. Later, he tore off a piece and popped it in his mouth. It was salty, crunchy and crispy from the sun. “It was very tasty,” remembers Piraino, a zoologist. After a few days of lying on the shore their stinging (刺) cells are deactivated, Piraino explains. Still, he prevented anyone from eating jellyfish straight out of the sea, because raw jellyfish contains germs that can cause food poisoning.

Recently, there have been numerous reports of jellyfish blooms—seasonal events where there is a large and sudden increase in jellyfish numbers. These population explosions destroy the balance of ocean ecosystems, and have the potential to harm biodiversity and reduce fish stocks.

Some scientists, such as Piraino, believe one solution is broadening our ability to appreciate the taste and flavor. He suggests that since the world is in urgent need of sustainable food resources, one way to achieve this is to attempt to integrate new foods into traditional recipes and local cuisine. Jellyfish is already eaten across Asia. In China, Jellyfish have been eaten for more than 1,000 years, with jellyfish salad a popular delicacy. Not only are they high in protein, but the microalgae (海蜇) inside the cells of some jellyfish are rich in fatty acids.

However, despite their appeal to adventurous Western diners, jellyfish are not a straight substitution for fish, or other sources of protein. For one thing, jellyfish are 95% water, with the remaining 5% containing the nutritious essentials. Their nutrition to mass proportions means they’re a fairly inefficient source of protein. “There is probably more functional in them as a type of collagen (胶原蛋白) rather than protein,” says Jonathan Houghton, a senior lecturer in marine biology. “But certainly not as a replacement for fish, as that is several orders of magnitude greater as a potential food source.” There are a number of companies already using jellyfish as a substitute for cow and pig collagen, which is often used in medical treatments for humans. One British company says collagen from jellyfish offers a better alternative, because their collagen is in harmony with a wide variety of human cell types.

1. Why does Piraino warn people not to eat jellyfish directly from the sea?

A．Because they are too salty to digest.	B．Because their stinging cells are still working.
C．Because they contain harmful bacteria.	D．Because they are tasteless when raw.

2. What does the underlined word “deactivated” refer to?

A．irrelevant

B．ineffective

C．immature

D．unavailable

3. What does Piraino recommend to cope with jellyfish blooms?

A．Reducing the reproduction of jellyfish.

B．Combining the jellyfish food with traditional diet.

C．Substituting for fish or other sources of protein.

D．Limiting urgent need of sustainable food resources.

4. What is the best title of the passage?

A．Having a seafood feast? Here is the recipe.

B．Unhealthy! Raw jellyfish contains bacteria!

C．Crispy and tasty! The jellyfish is a replacement for fish!

D．Solving the world’s jellyfish problem? Just eat them!

4 . Have you ever pressed the pedestrian button at a crosswalk and wondered if it really worked? Or hit the close-door button in an elevator, while suspecting that it may, in fact, have no effect whatever? You’re not alone, and you may be right. The world is full of buttons that don’t actually do anything.

They’re sometimes called “placebo buttons” — buttons that are mechanically sound and can be pushed, but provide no functionality. Like placebo pills, however, these buttons may still serve a purpose, according to Ellen Langer, a Harvard psychologist who pioneered a concept known as the “illusion of control”. “They do have a psychological effect,” she said. “Taking some action leads people to feel a sense of control over a situation, and that feels good, rather than just being a passive bystander.”

In an essay on this topic, the author David McRaney observed: “If you happen to find yourself pressing a nonfunctional close-door button, and later the doors close, you’ll probably never notice because a little surge of happiness will run through your brain once you see what you believe is a response to your action. Your behavior was just restrengthened. You will keep pushing the button in the future.”

Langer called it the “illusion of control”. Langer described the effect as a positive thing. “Feeling you have control over your world is a desirable state,” she explained. When it comes to those deceptive traffic light buttons, Langer said there could be a whole host of reasons why the placebo effect might be counted as a good thing. “Doing something is better than doing nothing, so people believe,” she said. “And when you go to press the button, your attention is on the activity at hand.”

Placebo buttons are a lot like superstitions, or ancient rituals (宗教仪式) . You do something in the hopes of an outcome if you get the outcome, you keep the superstition. Dancing to the sky brings the rain, sacrificing a goat to get the sun to rise—it turns out these are a lot like pressing the close-door button in the elevator over and over again. Your brain doesn’t like randomness, and so it tries to connect a cause to every effect; when it can’t, you make one up.

1. What might be the function of “placebo buttons” according to Ellen Langer?

A．Providing comfort.	B．Generating sound.
C．Adding decorations.	D．Saving time.

2. Why does the author mention “placebo pills” in paragraph 2?

A．To make comparisons between placebo pills and placebo buttons.

B．To illustrate the presence of the placebo buttons has a similar effect.

C．To point out that they provide no functionality but still exist.

D．To describe how they make people feel a sense of control over a situation.

3. Which of the following is not an example of “illusion of control”?

A．Having the rain-seeking ritual.

B．Pressing the pedestrian button.

C．Pounding on the keyboard when playing computer games.

D．Reading the books on ancient rituals.

4. What is the author’s attitude towards “illusion of control”?

A．Ironic.

B．Appreciative.

C．Critical.

D．Objective.

5 . Upon first listening, Laufey’s smooth jazz music might sound nostalgic (怀旧的), but without doubt: The Icelandic 24-year-old isn’t some retro-revivalist (复古主义者) who was born in the wrong era. She’s a musician who could only exist in this generation. The 24-year-old just took home her first Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

Born in Reykjavik to Chinese mother who played the violin in the local symphony, Laufey was raised on a rich musical diet. By age four she was playing the piano, soon preparing days and nights for cello band camp in Beijing. “I’m so grateful that my mom pushed me to practice and taught me that kind of discipline.” she says.

Her parents gifted her a violin practically as soon as she could walk, but Laufey says she didn’t discover her distinctive voice until she was around 12 years old. “I already had quite a low tone in my voice at that age, and I remember feeling a little off about it,” she says. Despite her affection for singers of a past era, Laufey’s approach to jazz — not to mention her millions of TikTok followers — has helped draw younger audiences to the jazz.

Laufey’s nostalgic sound combined with her off-hand (即兴的) phrasing gives her a charming character. She throws in modern-day expressions such as “awkward silence” and “blah blah blah” on her most-streamed song. From the start. “My songs are old sounds with modern lyrics,” she says. “At the end of the day. I’m making music for Gen Z. A lot of jazz standards have very casual language of that day, and I write with the casual language of my day.”

There is something rather significant about what Laufey represents. “How many mainstream artists play the cello?” asks Derrick Gee, a Chinese-Australian radio host. “The fact that she can stand in front of a microphone with a guitar wearing a formal dress and making young people cheering for old songs like Misty is already a minor miracle,” he says. “Whether she’s plucking a cello or playing a guitar, she has a multidimensional and visual appeal that extends beyond the tradition.”

1. What can we learn about Laufey?

A．She was born in the wrong era.	B．She is in favor of retro-revivalists.
C．She was greatly influenced by her mother.	D．She only wins an award for her music.

2. Which of the following best describes Laufey’s early experience?

A．Her parents discouraged her from pursuing music.

B．Her passion for jazz music made her famous on TikTok.

C．She has been a natural singer since she was 12 years old.

D．She discovered her unique singing voice during adolescence.

3. What is the main idea of the fourth paragraph?

A．Laufey’s representative works.	B．The musical characteristics of Laufey.
C．The music styles of Generation Z.	D．The standard of jazz music.

4. What can be inferred from Derrick Gee’s words?

A．Laufey focused on traditional music without the influence of the modern era.

B．Derrick Gee was attracted by Laufey’s multidimensional opinions.

C．Derrick Gee highly recognized Laufey’s talent and performance.

D．Many artists prefer to perform with instrumental accompaniment.

6 . Harvard’s Pre-College Program for high school students is an intensive two-week summer program designed to give you a glimpse of college life. You will live on the Harvard campus during your two-week session while taking a college-level course with other Pre-College Program students. The application for Summer 2024 is now open.

Who Can Participate in the Pre-College Program?

Harvard’s Pre-College Program is designed for mature, academically motivated students who are interested in exploring a potential major or simply finding out what college is really like.

To be eligible for Summer 2024, you must meet both of the following criteria:
*Will graduate from high school and enter college in 2025 or 2026
*Are at least 16 years old by June 22, 2024, and will not turn 19 years old before July 31, 2024.
Important Deadlines:
*Early Application and Priority Financial Aid Deadline — January 10, 2024
*Regular Application and Financial Aid Deadline — February 14, 2024
*Late Application Deadline — April 10, 2024
Courses at Harvard’s Pre-College Program:

With almost 30 courses to choose from in each session, you’re sure to find a topic that arouses your interest. You take one course during a session, and although courses are non-credit, they are thorough and strict. At the end of the program, you’ll receive a written evaluation from your instructor, as well as a Harvard transcript with a grade of AR or NM (“requirements met” or “requirements not met”). This is a great way to supplement your college application. Please note: You need to attend every class in its entirety to receive a passing grade of “Met All Requirements.”

The total fee for a 2024 Harvard Pre-College Program session is $5,550. The program fee includes tuition, room and meal plan, activity costs, and an accident and sickness insurance plan for the full two weeks. There is also a non-refundable $75 application fee per person.

A limited number of scholarships are available to assist eligible students who demonstrate financial need. Awards vary based on need, and a typical award covers a portion of the tuition.

1. Which of the following statement is True?

A．The students will take a college-level course with college students.

B．The program is intended for mature and talented students.

C．The application must be submitted by April 10, 2024.

D．The scholarships are available to a majority of students.

2. What will happen to the student if he participates in the program?

A．He will choose 30 courses.

B．He will fail to get a passing grade if he misses any class.

C．He will earn credits before college.

D．He will receive an oral evaluation from instructors.

3. How much should a pair of twins pay if they attend the two-week Pre-College Program?

A．$11175

B．$5,625

C．$11150

D．$11250

7 . European shepherds (牧羊人) and ranchers (大牧场主) are taking the lead in forest fire prevention, by leading their animals to clear away underbrush that allows fires to grow too big, a new study shows.

In thinner forested areas, large herbivores (食草动物) were found in a study to be greatly effective in reducing forest fire risk. “In general terms, it is clear that wild and semi-wild herbivores like horses can reduce wildfire risk through their eating grass,” says Julia Rouet-Leduc, lead author of the study. “Such herbivores can be particularly effective in remote areas, where careful management can prevent wildfire and benefit wild nature in other ways.”

Smaller animals like goats and sheep are ideal for areas that lack natural predators (捕食者). There are no large predators in all of Italy, and without the risk of losing an expensive animal, the eating habits of these smaller animals kept on a farm make them perfect for clearing underbrush and things which larger herbivores can’t stomach.

But there were laws that prevent goats and sheep from entering woods in order to protect them. Since natural numbers of red deer, and other native herbivores have long since disappeared from European forests, the loss of sheep and goats meant that nothing prevented grass from spreading in forests, turning brushfires into dangerous disasters.

That’s why shepherds on Sardinia have written a letter to the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, asking not only to allow their animals to eat grass within the woods, but to create a restoration project of rural areas in Montiferru, where Italy’s worst wildfire in 40 years recently burned its way from the mountain tops to the sea.

Their plan is to bring in more shepherds to better control the fires, and encourage eco-tourism in the area, to incentivize the shepherds to stay. This is already seeing success through both private and public inspiring measures in Catalunya, Spain.

1. What do Julia Rouet-Leduc’s words mainly show?

A．Shepherds should keep large herbivores.

B．Herbivores can greatly help reduce wildfires.

C．Better management is needed to protect forests.

D．Wild and semi-wild herbivores lack natural predators.

2. Why were there not sheep and goats in woods in the past?

A．They were not allowed by law.

B．They couldn’t feed well there.

C．They had been killed by hunters.

D．They had been eaten up by predators.

3. What was the purpose of shepherds on Sardinia in writing the letter?

A．To ask permission to raise more sheep.

B．To protect woods from hungry goats and sheep.

C．To offer a way of protecting forests from wildfires.

D．To draw attention to Italy’s worst wildfire in 40 years.

4. What does the underlined word “incentivize” in the last paragraph mean?

A．Pay.

B．Prove.

C．Remind.

D．Encourage.

8 . When I was 12 years old, I spent most of my free time reading. But sadly, not everyone around me enjoyed reading as much as I did, and not being able to talk about my favorite hobby with my friends made my reading a lonely experience.

In my senior year of high school, I came across a channel, “Clau Reads Books” run by Claudia Ramirez Lomeli, who makes book-related content in Spanish, and was introduced to the book world of social media. I could finally hear someone else’s reaction to the stories I like. I love her videos because we prefer the same kind of books. Eventually, I followed her on another social networking site, and I learned about the community on it where users blog about their favorite books. I really wanted to be part of this space and seeing others being so interactive and supportive made it seem like an acceptable community. However, I doubted my ability to express my thoughts well because I was unfamiliar with creating content to engage other readers.

Therefore, I started reading blogs on how to start a new account for guidance and after weeks of researching, I learned about the necessary social media skills. I had to spend time designing small sets and finding natural lighting and household items for photo shoots, and learn how to write engaging reviews while using hashtags (主题标签) in posts to attract other users.

My first post was a photo of my favorite book, Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, with my hand’s shadow cast on a page. I also took pictures of several of my favorite sentences from the book and included a few hashtags to increase interaction. Attracting people with similar interest was hard at first. But gradually, it became kid’s stuff. The community quickly became a good place for me to talk about my favorite books with people having the same interest.

1. Why did the 12-year-old author feel upset?

A．She couldn’t spare time for play.	B．No one around her liked reading.
C．She couldn’t share her love of reading.	D．No friend was fond of her favorite book.

2. What can we learn about Claudia Ramirez Lomeli?

A．She comes from Spain.	B．She hosts a TV program.
C．She taught the author how to blog.	D．She led the author to a new book world.

3. What is mainly talked about in paragraph 3?

A．Skills of choosing suitable hashtags.	B．The author’s efforts to attract viewers.
C．Guidance on registering new accounts.	D．The author’s techniques for creating content.

4. What does the author think of attracting people with similar interest now?

A．It is easily done.	B．It faces new challenges.
C．It is mentally demanding.	D．It needs topics related to kids.

9 . Chinese scientists have collected seeds of several plants at a height of about 6,200 meters above sea level on the world's highest peak—Mount Qomolangma and will permanently preserve them in a place where seeds can be kept alive for as long as thousands of years.

The seed haven, namely the Germplasm (种质) Bank of Wild Species (GBWS), is located in an ordinary four-story building in a research institute in Kunming, Yunnan Province.

As the genes of most plants are contained in their seeds, germplasm resources have become the carriers of plants' genetic information. A seed bank serves as the most important facility for preserving such resources.

The fast loss of biodiversity and germplasm resources is the main reason for the establishment of seed banks around the world. Construction of the germplasm bank in Kunming started in 2004, and it was put into operation three years later.

“Wildlife germplasm resources have great application potential in the biological industry, attracting global attention, especially for the collection and preservation of wild plants,” said a researcher. Currently, seeds can only be accepted by the GBWS if they tick at least one of the three boxes: endangered, endemic (特有的) or “of economic importance”.

The long-term conservation of a seed is a complex procedure, involving more than 70steps, at the end of which the seed will be stored at -20℃. If properly stored, the seed could theoretically stay alive for decades or even thousands of years.

“When a species is destroyed by natural disasters, we will activate these seeds and bring the species to life,” said Li Dezhu, director of the seed bank.

1. What does the text say about the GBWS in Kunming?

A．It has been in use since 2004.	B．It lies in a four-story building.
C．It is the largest of its kind in the world.	D．It stores the most seeds from Mount Qomolangma.

2. What's the main purpose in establishing the seed bank?

A．To develop high-quality seeds.	B．To store worldwide seed data.
C．To guide modern agriculture.	D．To conserve biodiversity.

3. Which of the following can be accepted by the GBWS?

A．Seeds that can grow in extreme weather.	B．Seeds that have some medical effect.
C．Seeds with high economic value.	D．Seeds widely grown by farmers.

4. Why is the text written?

A．Mainly to amuse readers.	B．Mainly to solve a problem.
C．Mainly to introduce some plants.	D．Mainly to persuade consumers.

10 . For those in search of safe, non-medicine sleep aids (助手), sound machines are a popular choice. The National Sleep Foundation recently found that 5% of Americans sleep with a “sound conditioner”. It can be a fan, phone app, or other noise-producing machines.

Michael Grandner, director of the Sleep and Health Research Program at the University of Arizona, says a sound conditioner is a lifesaver if you live where loud nighttime noise is common. But even if your bedroom is very quiet, sound machines can still be helpful if you’re the type of person unsettled by a total absence of noise, or if you’re a light sleeper who wakes from even the softest sound.

Research supports the idea that a little background sound can help people fall asleep. For a study in the journal Sleep Medicine, the researchers asked sleepers to listen to recorded hospital sounds either with or without a white noise machine. They found that those who slept with the white noise machine were hardly affected by the hospital sounds, while others who slept without white noise were easily awakened.

There’s also so-called “pink noise” and “brown noise”, which can sound similar to white noise. “I don’t think there’s enough evidence yet to say one type is better than another,” says Michelle Drerup, a sleep psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic. “I know from talking with my patients that some people prefer natural sounds, like a rainstorm. But others don’t want a sound at all when they sleep,” she says. “It all comes down to the individual (个人).”

For some, the best sound might be none. “Biologically (生物学上), you don’t need this sound to sleep,” says Michael Grandner, “and if you use it every night, you can get so used to it that you can’t sleep without it.” Most sleep experts agree. “I wouldn’t suggest people use sound machines to sleep unless they’re reporting difficulties with outside noises,” an expert says.

1. According to the text, who should sleep with a sound conditioner?

A．Those who fall asleep fast.

B．Those who wake up easily.

C．Those who live in a quiet street.

D．Those who are afraid to sleep alone.

2. What does Michelle Drerup think of the best type of sound for sleep?

A．Pink noise and brown noise are better.

B．Sleeping without any noise is the best.

C．It all depends on personal preferences.

D．Natural sounds are the best for people.

3. What is most experts’ suggestion?

A．To use sound machines as little as possible.

B．To see a doctor with your sleeping problems.

C．To find a very quiet place to treat sleeping problems.

D．To break the habits of sleeping with sound machines.

4. What’s the main idea of the text?

A．Most Americans have a bad sleep.

B．White noises are good for humans.

C．Sound conditioners are a safe, non-medicine sleep aid.

D．Not everyone should sleep with white noise machine.