1 . “Medicine and technology may fail us at times, but human connection grounded in love and compassion always heals（治愈）.” Those words from Dr. Vivek Murthy are relatable to many of us in the medical community who increasingly encounter individuals suffering from loneliness. There are many complex factors driving loneliness, but it is clear that positive social connections do in fact “heal”.
For more substantial connections, explore activities. with shared interests. Community centers, libraries and online groups are great resources. Community centers organize a wide range of activities for social connections.
Our deepest social connections are provided by those closest to us.
| A．Deep social connections can also come with some drawbacks. |
| B．There may be no quick fixes to a desperate state of loneliness. |
| C．Loneliness ea n lead to feelings of sadness and a lack of purpose. |
| D．Even short, positive interactions may positively impact our health. |
| E．These connections greatly improve our physical and mental well-being. |
| F．Libraries often host book signings and lectures that encourage engagement. |
| G．Intentionally developing these relationships is crucial for strong social support. |
2 . A starfish has five identical arms with a layer of “tube feet” beneath them. Have you ever wondered whether starfish have defined front and back ends—and if they have no heads at all? The answer, suggests new genetic（基因的）research, is the opposite. “It’s as if the starfish is completely missing a trunk,” said Laurent Formery at Stanford University. “And it’s best described as just a head crawling along the seafloor.”
Starfish belong to echinoderms with lines of symmetry（对称）radiating out from a center point, like spokes on a wheel. So the unusual animals have unique body plans（结构）arranged in five equal sections that greatly differ from the bodies of bilateral animals, which have left and right sides mirroring each other.
Starfish begin as fertilized eggs that hatch and become larvae（幼虫）that float in the ocean for weeks to months before settling on the ocean floor. There, they go through a process that transforms a bilateral body into a star shape. “This has been a mystery for centuries,” said Christopher Lowe at Stanford University.
Researchers used new methods of genetic sequencing to create an unprecedented 3D map to determine where genes were expressed as starfish developed and grew. They found that genetic features associated with the development of a head were detected all-over the starfish especially concentrated in the center of the star and the center of each “arm”. Meanwhile, gene expression for trunk sections was largely absent. This suggested that starfish “have the most dramatic example of decoupling of the head and the trunk regions that we are aware of today,” said Formery.
Studying groups like echinoderms could solve some of the most complex mysteries about the evolution of life on Earth. “People are generally not drawn to these animals, and yet they probably represent how much of life got started,” Lowe said. Understanding how animals like starfish have developed could also allow insights into the varied ways that different species remain healthy. Daniel Rokhsar at the University of California said, “If we explore unusual animals that are operating in unusual ways, that means we are broadening our perspective of biology. This is eventually going to help us solve both ecological and biomedical problems.”
1. In what aspect are starfish different?| A．They have no trunks at all. |
| B．They have left and right sides. |
| C．They have a star shape from birth. |
| D．They have unequally stretching arms. |
| A．By creating a seabed map. |
| B．By comparing body plans. |
| C．By locating their gene expressions. |
| D．By tracking their development and growth. |
| A．Forming. | B．Separating. | C．Exchanging. | D．Expanding. |
| A．To reveal the origin of life. |
| B．To improve health of diverse species. |
| C．To promote the research in related fields. |
| D．To raise people’s concern about marine animals. |
3 . It is very likely that you eat three meals a day. Modern life is designed around this way of eating. However, is this the healthiest way to eat? Before considering how frequently we should eat, scientists urge us to consider when we shouldn’t.
Intermittent fasting (间歇性断食), where you restrict your food intake to an eight-hour window, has become a popular area of research. “It allows our digestive system to rest,” says Emily Manoogian at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. Rozalyn Anderson at the University of Wisconsin explains, “Fasting puts the body in a different state, where it’s more ready to clear misfolded proteins.” Misfolded proteins are faulty versions of ordinary proteins, which have been associated with a number of diseases.
But if intermittent fasting is a healthy way to eat, how many meals does this leave room for? Some experts argue that it is best to have one meal a day. Manoogian does not recommend doing this, since it can increase the level of glucose (葡萄糖) in our blood when we are not eating. Keeping blood glucose levels down requires eating more regularly than once a day, as this prevents the body from thinking that it is starving and releasing more glucose when you do eventually eat in response. Instead, she says, two to three meals a day is best — with most of your calories consumed earlier in the day.“ So, your body can use the energy you feed it throughout the day, rather than it being stored in your system as fat.” But eating too early in the morning should be avoided, as this would not give you sufficient time to fast. This does not mean we should skip breakfast altogether, either, but some evidence suggests we should wait an hour or two after waking up before cracking open the eggs.
Is intermittent fasting realistic? Manoogian thinks that it is best not to specify the best time to eat, as this can be difficult for people with responsibilities and irregular time commitments, such as those working night shifts. But whatever changes you make, researchers agree that consistency is crucial.
1. What can we know about intermittent fasting?| A．It focuses on what to eat. |
| B．It cures a number of diseases. |
| C．It keeps the digestive system clean. |
| D．It limits food intake to a fixed duration. |
| A．Calories can be hardly consumed in the evening. |
| B．Frequent meals bring about steady blood glucose. |
| C．Two to three meals in the day reduces storage of fat. |
| D．Early eating is recommended for intermittent fasting. |
| A．How intermittent fasting is tested. |
| B．Whether intermittent fasting is safe. |
| C．How intermittent fasting is practiced. |
| D．When people eat during intermittent fasting. |
| A．Sticking to a routine. |
| B．Defining a best meal time. |
| C．Having regular working hours. |
| D．Maintaining consistent menus. |
4 . Raised in Jacksonville, a small town in North Carolina, Christina Koch always knew she wanted to be an astronaut. This dream began as early as kindergarten, during a time when spaceflight was dominated by men. “Fortunately, when I told my kindergarten teachers that I wanted to be an astronaut they supported me. No one told me that it was unattainable. And whether it was my own hard-headedness or that encouragement, I did go full forward into pursuing my dream to become an astronaut,” she says.
Koch found inspiration in pioneers like Sally Ride and Mae Jemison, but also in everyday heroes — from civil rights activists to her independent grandmother. These examples, along with her family’s emphasis on hard work, instilled in her the courage to chase her dreams.
Koch studied physics and electrical engineering before joining NASA at the Goddard Space Flight Center, where she contributed to the development of scientific instruments on several space missions. Driven by a thirst for adventure, she spent a year in Antarctica’s tough environment and then in other remote locations like Greenland. Unsurprisingly, she cited photography, travel, camping and climbing among her hobbies.
The ultimate fulfillment (实现) of her dream came in 2013, when she was selected as an astronaut, joining a groundbreaking class with an equal number of men and women. Previously, women comprised only 17% of NASA’s astronauts. After completing training in 2015, she was assigned her first long-stay mission on the International Space Station (ISS). Her success is undeniable. As part of the Artemis II mission, scheduled for 2025, she’ll travel further than any human since Apollo, an evidence of her constant ambition.
Koch advocates following passions and embracing challenges. “Do what scares you,” she advises, “because those things often lead to the greatest fulfillment and contributions.”Besides, Koch also says that there’s one that should never be forgotten: “Support the people around you. Make sure that you’re thinking about the success of those around you, that you’re helping them, and together we all will achieve as much as we possibly can.”
1. What initially motivated Koch to become an astronaut?| A．Her desire to push herself to the limit. |
| B．Her early enthusiasm in space exploration. |
| C．Her wish to reward her kindergarten teachers. |
| D．Her ambition to change the position of women astronauts. |
| A．Koch invented some scientific devices. |
| B．Koch set a record for the longest spaceflight. |
| C．Various hobbies prepared Koch for adventure. |
| D．Role models impacted Koch greatly in her life journey. |
| A．Seeking support is crucial for dream chasers. |
| B．Being kind to others is the stepstone to success. |
| C．Welcoming challenges leads to personal growth. |
| D．Working tirelessly is key to overcoming barriers. |
| A．Christina Koch: An Explorer of Nature |
| B．Christina Koch: A Dream Pursuer to Space |
| C．Christina Koch: A Role Model from Jacksonville |
| D．Christina Koch: A Distinguished Female Scientist |
5 . Mosquitoes can carry various diseases and one of the most popular is dengue (登革热). Dengue is caused by any one of the four related viruses spread by mosquitoes, because of which numerous Filipinos died. One of the easiest ways to prevent mosquitoes is to use repellents. In the market, there are many commercial mosquito repellents available. The commonly used repellent in the Philippines is quite unaffordable. Meanwhile, it contains chemicals that may cause irritation (刺激). These account for why researchers seek to develop an alternative mosquito repellent.
The researchers plan to use natural components. Since the component is natural, the new mosquito repellent to be made from it is effective yet inexpensive and poses no risks to health or environment. One of the major components being explored is from lemongrass.
Lemongrass has natural anti-microbial features, suitable for use on various types of skin infections, usually as a wash, and is especially effective on skin diseases. It has mosquito repelling effects and is used to make a mosquito repellent. In using this product, you will spray it over all exposed skin areas. Contact with eyes should be avoided. If irritation occurs, wash off immediately and discontinue using. The very importance of this product is to prevent the spread of multiple diseases caused by mosquito bites. The new mosquito repellent containing lemongrass extract (提取物) also helps control the outbreak of other insect-borne diseases such as Malaria, Lyme Disease and West Nile Fever. After all, lemongrass is a popular plant found commonly in the country and its extract is used for medicinal and food products.
The new study is significant because there’s an increasing number of deaths concerning mosquitoes. While there are alternative solutions, Filipinos cannot deny their brothers and sisters living in poverty cannot afford to buy repellents. Yet, currently the researchers aim to test how effective their natural product is in repelling mosquitoes within households. This initial study will evaluate the product’s effectiveness before further trials in broader applications.
1. Why do the researchers want to create an alternative repellent?| A．The effect of original products is doubted. |
| B．There are too many mosquitoes to get rid of. |
| C．The providers fail to meet the market demands. |
| D．The existing products are costly and harmful. |
| A．Its unique property. | B．Its distributing style. |
| C．Its easy extracting. | D．Its lower risk on eyes. |
| A．It will be long before being evaluated. |
| B．It is a popular mosquito-proof product. |
| C．Its cheapness is its crucial selling point. |
| D．Its natural makeup often appeal to its users. |
| A．A Therapy Fighting back Mosquitoes |
| B．A Cost-Effective Natural Mosquito Repellent |
| C．Dengue: A common Disease from Mosquitoes |
| D．Lemongrass: A Compound Extract from Nature |
6 . Will Gladstone, an amateur birder, was in his 5th-grade science class when he first heard of the blue-footed booby, a beautiful, eye-catching bird. He learned that the population of this particular bird was in decline. Will decided to raise money to support conservation efforts. As he was brainstorming ideas, he looked down at his feet, and suddenly he had an idea. Feet, he thought, blue feet! He decided to sell bright blue socks and donate the money to environmental organizations trying to help the birds. His younger brother Matty joined him in his effort as his partner. The boys started the Blue Feet Foundation (BFF) in 2016.
In the beginning, it was a challenge for the boys to gather support for their cause. They decided to ask a better-known conservation organization to sponsor them. However, none were willing to do so. “They didn’t agree to it because we were just kids,” says Will.
Although this was discouraging, the two persevered. Finally, they came across an organization they hadn’t heard of before: the Galapagos Conservancy (GC). Its mission was to support conservation in the Galapagos Islands. These islands are home to about half of the world’s blue-footed boobies. They offered to highlight the foundation in the protection’s newsletter. It boosted the BFF’s credibility.
Four years later, their hard work paid off. They amassed over 18,000 Instagram followers and 10,000 Facebook followers. They sold 18,000 pairs of socks, sending them all across the globe. Orders have come from 50 different countries. If you visit the picture gallery on their website, you’ll also see blue socks being modeled by a few famous people, including members of the Blue Man Group and a Boston Bruins hockey player.
Although the population of these birds in the Galapagos has declined significantly over the past 20 years, we have seen some hopeful signs. These include an increase in young birds. However, there is still work to be done. Although the decline in population is slowing, it’s not reversing. Elderly birds are dying faster than chicks are being born.
1. Which of the following can best define the boys?| A．Ambitious daydreamers. | B．Active bird researchers. |
| C．Good problem solvers. | D．Passionate science fans. |
| A．Their consistent goals. |
| B．Their accidental meet. |
| C．Their equal credibility. |
| D．Their financial strength. |
| A．To promote the fame of the Foundation. |
| B．To show the popularity of the boys’ socks. |
| C．To highlight the impact of the Foundation. |
| D．To demonstrate the diversity of the customer base. |
| A．It remains stable. | B．It remains declining. |
| C．It is increasing shockingly. | D．It is undergoing ups and downs. |
7 . Is It OK to Be Unhappy?
Many people might say that you should always be happy, but is it okay to allow yourself time when sadness may prevail over happiness? We’ll explore how sadness offers people opportunities for self-reflection and why people should appreciate their sorrow.
What is unhappiness?
Many words are used to express sadness: suffering, misery, sorrow, pain, and more. It often results from other feelings like guilt, grief, anxiety, hopelessness, or anger.
Lots of people are growing unhappy due to mental health issues. Here are lists of situations: having problems with relationships, having trouble at home(eg. violence or financial issues), having trouble at school or work, comparing self to others, losing a loved one and being self-critical.
Is it OK for a person to be unhappy?
Everyone has different emotions: some are good while others can be negative. In other words, all people have feelings that are always changing in some way—and they happen for a reason! So is it OK to feel sadness?
Sadness is a natural part of life.
It is okay to be unhappy. Being sad doesn’t mean you are not coping with the situation.
Things will eventually get better.
Keep in mind your problems will not last forever and will eventually pass too! There is no right way to let go of sadness but what is not a secret is that the first step is the acknowledgment and acceptance of the pain you are feeling. It could be a lot but talking to someone you trust can be helpful.
| A．Why are people sad? |
| B．Take good care of yourself. |
| C．The answer is a definite yes. |
| D．So what does it feel like to be sad? |
| E．How can people get rid of sadness? |
| F．There are also a lot of other effective solutions. |
| G．Rather it helps you accept your problems and move on. |
8 . Unretirement: older people return to paid employment
The disappearance of 565,000 mostly older people from the UK’s labour force was one of the problematic effects of Covid. In other countries, employment levels recovered more quickly to pre-2020 levels, making the UK exceptional. But while evidence in the past few months points to a change of this trend — the rise of “unretirement” — there is no room for relief.
Government initiatives to address the issue have achieved little. The Treasury came up with the idea of “returnerships”, a variant of the skills training aimed at persuading mature people back to workplaces. But in reality this is not much more than a new label for existing training. Meanwhile, fewer than one in 20 of participants in the government’s “skills training camps” — courses intended to equip jobseekers for the opportunities in their area — are aged over 55.
Mel Stride, the work and pensions secretary, championed the idea of over-50s delivering takeaways, and doing other jobs more readily associated with younger workers.Age should not be a barrier to anyone willing and able to do this kind of work. But more importantly, government ministers should extend employment beyond low-wage private sector vacancies(空缺) to labour shortages in health, education and social care — where umemployment problem is serious.
Revealed in one survey, descriptions of returning to employment are highly variable.Some did so because they were struggling with the rising cost of living. Others found that they missed the company of co-workers, wanted to make a contribution to family finances or needed“a purpose in life”.
The 26.5% of adults aged 50 to 64 who are economically inactive — neither working nor seeking work — is still too high. The coexistence of high levels of economic inactivity with key worker shortages in vital areas such as teaching remains hugely problematic. But rising employment levels can be seen as part of a delayed return to normality. And Ministers still need to better target policies to encourage economically inactive 50–to 64-year-olds back to work.
1. Why do the UK government plans have little effect?| A．Mature people are unwilling to retire. |
| B．The government lacks related equipment. |
| C．The skills training isn’t essentially changed. |
| D．The government doesn’t provide professional training. |
| A．Strengthen association with younger workers. |
| B．Widen employment opportunities. |
| C．Offer diverse training courses. |
| D．Predict the potential problems. |
| A．Financial struggle. | B．Contribution to society. |
| C．Family’s expectations. | D．Co-workers’ encouragement. |
| A．A news report. | B．A book review. |
| C．A scientific report. | D．A diary entry. |
9 . Vocal cords (声带) can easily get damaged by stress, infections, or overuse. It is not just overenthusiastic performers who are at risk of injuring their voice-boxes — according to a study, 30% of the population will experience a voice disorder at some point in their life.
In a study published in the journal Nature Communications, a team of UCLA engineers have invented a patch-like (片状) device that can be worn on the skin outside the throat to help people with voice disorders speak.
Even though the team’s device is an early prototype, it has the potential to offer a substantial improvement on current alternatives. When a person loses his voice today, the easiest fix is to resort to typing, texting, or writing notes to communicate. Typing can be slow and inconvenient, and writing notes is only possible in good lighting. More advanced solutions require special training to use, and surgical interventions are often invasive. A patch would theoretically be able to clear all these hurdles.
The tiny patch consists of a self-powered sensing component, which detects and changes signals generated by the throat muscle movements into high-accuracy, analyzable electrical signals, which are then translated into speech signals using a machine-learning algorithm, and an actuation component, which turns those signals into voice expression. The patch was tested on eight healthy adults who pronounced five sentences (including: “Hope your experiments are going well!”, “Merry Christmas!” and “I love you!”) aloud or in silence, and its accuracy was more than 90%.
There is a way to go yet. For now the device can only recognise the five phrases it was trained on. Plus, individual differences in vocal cords means the algorithm has to be personalised to each user. To make it practical at scale, the researchers will need to collect a lot more data.
1. What can be inferred from the first two paragraphs?| A．The device can be fixed in a person's body. |
| B．The device may be a fix to voice disorders. |
| C．Most people are influenced by voice injury. |
| D．Performers have a high risk of voice disorders. |
| A．By listing data. |
| B．By giving examples. |
| C．By making comparison. |
| D．By analyzing causes and effects. |
| A．Its application. | B．Its principle. |
| C．Its challenge. | D．Its purpose. |
| A．Unclear. | B．Dismissive. | C．Doubtful. | D．Supportive. |
10 . In 2023, the UK SpoGomi competition was scheduled for August, with the world cup in Tokyo in November. I formed my team with Alex Winship, and my brother Jonny.
SpoGomi is a sport involving litter-picking by teams of three. Teams collect litter in given areas within a strict time limit, scoring point s for the weight of collected items, with some items awarded more points than others. One gram of cigarette butts is worth three points versus only 0.1 per gram for burnable rubbish. The team with the most point s wins.
Initially we were drawn to taking part because of the prize of a trip to Japan. There were about 20 teams in the UK competition, which took place in London’s Hackney marshes. We won by only 33 points, which is equivalent to just one glass bottle.
We were then heading for the world cup. The competition was intense. After the first half, Japan came top and we were second. My muscles were aching and I felt completely worn out from the heat of Tokyo on a sunny day. I didn’t have much more energy, and Iremember Alex and Jonny saying the same, but we had this feeling of being on the edge of something amazing. We had to just keep pushing. We pulled ahead in the second half while carrying several kilos of litter over two miles at a time. We ended up coming first,ahead of Japan, with 57 kg of rubbish collected.
I wouldn’t have been someone who would have picked up litter off the street. At the early stages of our training, we were so bad at finding litter. Then, just after the London competition, on the way home, we saw so much. We were just much more aware of it.Once you’re drawn into SpoGomi, your attitude towards litter and how you contribute completely changes — it certainly has for us.
1. What can we learn about SpoComi?| A．It is a sport to pick up rubbish. | B．It has particularly strict rules. |
| C．It is a team consisting of 3. | D．It sets limits to collected items. |
| A．The result was controversial. |
| B．No team entered the world cup. |
| C．The author’s team had a narrow victory. |
| D．The author’s team had an absolute advantage. |
| A．Nervous but hopeful. | B．Indifferent and bored. |
| C．Exhausted but determined. | D．Discouraged and uninterested. |
| A．Providing tips on picking litter. |
| B．Showing desire for SpoGomi training. |
| C．Advocating devotion to the world cup. |
| D．Encouraging engagement in SpoGomi. |
