1 . China’s growing excellence in scientific and medical research is playing a major role in the global war on pathogens (病原体) and infectious diseases, according to Alain Merieux, chairman and CEO of French Conglomerate Institute Merieux.
He first visited the country in April 1978, several months before the central government launched its transformative reform and opening-up policy. Since then, he has spent decades dedicated to cooperation in the health sector, eventually leading to the opening of China’s first P4—photolithographic pattern plated probe—laboratory in 2015. The lab, which is based in Wuhan, Hubei Province, has the highest biosafety standards in the world, allowing researchers to study the most dangerous viruses, including Ebola.
“In the health field, which is the one I know best, China has been able to address major issues over the past 40 years,” Merieux said, “providing access to healthcare for everyone in an enormous country; fighting against the major threats represented by pathogens, respiratory diseases and cancer; and preventing food-borne health risks.”
“The country has particularly excelled in terms of infrastructure (基础设施), as the creation of highways, airports and high-speed trains has completely changed the country,” he said.
A.He wants to contribute more to the whole world. |
B.He also praised the overall changes seen in the nation. |
C.This fight must be global, since pathogens cut across borders. |
D.His company was established by his grandfather in Lyon in 1897. |
E.The project has become a symbol of Chinese-French collaboration in public health. |
F.His aim is to improve diagnosis and treatment of major infectious diseases in China. |
G.There has also been remarkable progress in scientific research, as well as academic and science. |
2 . Walking has been considered as one kind of rewarding exercise. For many people, daily walking offers massive and long-term physical and mental benefits.
But the scenery is almost as important as the sweat. Just by going outside, you are stepping out of your habitual surroundings and your comfort zone, which is necessary if you want to open your mind to new possibilities. You can walk through a tree-filled neighborhood.
Walking outside develops our ability to collect new ideas and take in new sights, sounds, smells, and flavors. Shinrin-yoku, a common form of relaxation in Japan, suggests that being in the forest and walking among the trees there can lower your stress levels.
So instead of setting a fitness goal, why not set a creativity goal that starts with walking outdoors?
Walk not just for exercise. Walk for wonder.
A.Unfortunately, you often fail to do it. |
B.Expose yourself more to your surroundings. |
C.The movement during walking is obviously key. |
D.Without enough energy, you cannot wonder or create. |
E.But to receive the benefits, you do not have to live in a forest. |
F.This habit, however, not only benefits well-being but also contributes to innovation. |
G.Wandering around a park and observing people relaxing or birds singing is also a choice. |
3 . The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) facilities have the primary purpose of supporting MIT’s educational and research programs as well as serving the local community, the nation, and the world. Access to and use of the MIT Libraries is a privilege extended to the members of the MIT community of faculty, students, staff and their families. Visitors can access Libraries’ resources for scholarly, research, and educational purposes.
MIT Libraries use policies are consistent with current MIT campus policies.
Principles for Library Use
Library users and staff will interact with mutual respect and consideration. Library users will:
Respect private and Institute property.
Obey all Institute and Libraries’ policies, licensing and contractual agreements.
Show valid identification upon request.
Use MIT Libraries’ resources (content, equipment, or facilities) safely and appropriately.
Prohibited Behaviors
Behaviors that threaten personal safety or the security of personal or Institute property.
Behaviors that disturb the activities of other library users or staff, including excessive (过度的) noise, cell phones, music and rudeness.
Alcohol, drug use and smoking — as detailed in MIT’s Policy on Substance Use.
The MIT Libraries may limit or refuse access to individuals or groups who fail to follow these guidelines. Interpretation of policies or guidelines is at the decision of the MIT Libraries’ staff.
The General Hour Rules
Weekdays: Libraries typically operate from early morning to late evening, with extended hours during examinations.
Weekends: Reduced hours are offered, with generally later opening and earlier closing times.
Special hours may apply during holidays, breaks, and summer. Some libraries may close entirely, while others operate on limited schedules.
Users are advised to consult the library website for the most current information on specific hours, closures, and exceptions.
1. What is the main purpose of the MIT Libraries?A.To promote MIT’s academic pursuit. |
B.To serve as a public library for the nation. |
C.To provide Internet access for MIT students. |
D.To offer a gathering center for the local community. |
A.Using library resources for essays. |
B.Inquiring about checking out books. |
C.Presenting valid identification as required. |
D.Engaging in loud discussions with library users. |
A.Open early on weekends. |
B.Flexible hours on demand. |
C.Closed entirely during the summer. |
D.Longer hours in exam sessions on weekdays. |
4 . My mom is one of the least wasteful people I know. She always brings her own metal containers to buy basic foods like rice and flour.
One effective way is to conduct a review of household rubbish. List the rubbish by room or by activity.
Reyond repurposing food containers, explore ways to save household items before throwing them away. Maybe you can mend an old pair of jeans instead of buying a new pair. Or maybe you can cut up old T-shirts into rags, which is what my mom used to do with my dad’s old T-shirts.
Remember: Lowering the amount of waste you create doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing pursuit.
A.You can try reusing your containers. |
B.You can live a low-waste lifestyle too. |
C.She used to bring reusable bags to the market. |
D.You might write “used wipes and paper towels” under “nursery.” |
E.I do this now too and the rags are perfect for household cleaning. |
F.Find changes that work for you and you’ll be more likely to stick with them. |
G.You can try sourcing your own food by growing a garden in your community. |
5 . Want a relaxing but fun challenge at home?
Puzzles come in a huge range of sizes and difficulty levels. For beginners, a 100-piece puzzle is usually a good starting point.
For a real test, puzzles that have 1,000 pieces or more are a tough task and it’s best to complete them with friends or family if you can. Choosing a scene that interests you, such as a favourite film, sport or location, can help keep you interested and determined to work to the final piece. You can get fun educational puzzles, too.
Some of the best places to pick up puzzles are charity shops. They’re often on sale for less than £5. Once you have completed a puzzle, it’s nice to exchange it with a friend.
A.So others can have a go. |
B.You can’t beat a good puzzle. |
C.Some companies make personalized puzzles. |
D.However, a good start doesn’t always lead to a good result. |
E.Most people like to start by getting the four edges of a puzzle laid out. |
F.It can get you used to sorting out how the shapes, patterns and colors go together. |
G.For example, you may try a map of the world or historical timelines. |
6 . Suppose you’re eager to watch the latest televised sport. Nothing looks more attractive to you than your couch. But you also could use that time to figure out how to complete the home craft project, which will take you at least an hour of watching instructional videos to complete it. You know that you’d feel proud of yourself if you got it done. However, the couch’s attraction becomes too hard to resist.
According to a research, your dilemma is an example of what’s called the “happiness paradox (悖论).” Simply stated, this is the tendency for people to choose a leisure activity that requires very little effort even though they know that a true mood boost would come from sharpening and applying their skills. Prior research showed that when given a choice, people would rather engage in passive rather than active pursuits during their leisure time. However, it’s an unreasonable choice because what will really make you happier is being busy in an activity that allows you to expand and strengthen your skills.
Why would engaging in a more challenging activity increase happiness? The answer lies in the concept of “flow”, that is, when you’re using your abilities at their peak, you experience an uprush of happiness that pushes you through a challenging task. You won’t feel that way if you just do the simple task.
Although the sofa is inviting compared to a halfway-done project, we still have a way to approach it. You can break the activity down into what can be more manageable sections. Looking more realistically at your abilities, and then seeking guidance, you can now feel better about the whole enterprise.
The finding doesn’t mean that you have to abandon your couch all the time when you’ve got a choice about how to use your leisure time. Instead, you could put some variety into your choices. If you had a particularly tough week, either with managing your family or responsibilities at work, it’s fine to take a break. You don’t even need to feel guilty about that occasional use of “me-time.”
1. What is paragraph 1 about?A.Introducing a project. | B.Defining a concept. |
C.Stating a phenomenon. | D.Providing an instruction. |
A.An active pursuit | B.A conflicting mindset. |
C.A leisure activity. | D.An effortless choice. |
A.By breaking the task into small units. |
B.By stepping out of your comfort zone. |
C.By finishing undone project right now. |
D.By reducing the variety of your choice. |
A.The method of improving skills. | B.The management of responsibility. |
C.The happiness from easy activities. | D.The wisdom of using your “me-time”. |
7 . Artificial intelligence (AI) is showing promise in earthquake prediction, challenging the long-held belief that it is impossible. Researchers at the University of Texas, Austin, have developed an AI algorithm (算法) that correctly predicted 70% of earthquakes a week in advance during a trial in China and provided accurate strength calculations for the predicted earthquakes.
The research team adopted a relatively simple machine learning approach. The AI was provided with a set of statistical features based on the team’s knowledge of earthquake physics, and then instructed to train itself using a five-year database of earthquake recordings. Once trained, the AI provided its prediction by listening for signs of incoming earthquakes within the background rumblings (隆隆声) in the Earth.
This work is clearly a milestone in research for AI-driven earthquake prediction. “You don’t see earthquakes coming,” explains Alexandros Savvaidis, a senior research scientist who leads the Texas Seismological Network Program (TexNet). “It’s a matter of milliseconds, and the only thing you can control is how prepared you are. Even with the 70% accuracy, that’s a huge result and could help minimize economic and human losses and has the potential to remarkably improve earthquake preparation worldwide.”
While it is unknown whether the same approach will work at other locations, the researchers are confident that their AI algorithm could produce more accurate predictions if used in areas with reliable earthquake tracking networks. The next step is to test artificial intelligence in Texas, since UT’s Bureau TexNet has 300 earthquake stations and over six years worth of continuous records, making it an ideal location for these purposes.
Eventually, the authors hope to combine the system with physics-based models. This strategy could prove especially important where data is poor or lacking. “That may be a long way off, but many advances such as this one, taken together, are what moves science forward,” concludes Scott Tinker, the bureau’s director.
1. How does the AI predict earthquakes?A.By identifying data from the satellites. |
B.By analyzing background sounds in the Earth. |
C.By modeling data based on earthquake recordings. |
D.By monitoring changes in the Earth’s magnetic field. |
A.The ways to reduce losses in earthquakes. |
B.The importance of preparing for earthquakes. |
C.The significance of developing the AI prediction. |
D.The limitation of AI algorithms in earthquake prediction. |
A.Conducting tests in different locations. |
B.Applying the AI approach to other fields. |
C.Building more earthquake stations in Texas. |
D.Enlarging the database to train the calculation accuracy. |
A.Stable but outdated. | B.Effective but costly. |
C.Potential and economical. | D.Advanced and promising. |
8 . Disney finally has its first young plus-size heroine, and fans across the Internet are in high spirits.
“Reflect” is a short film now on Disney about a young ballet dancer named Bianca who struggles with her body image. In the short (短片), Bianca doesn’t want to but has to look at herself in the mirror, checking her posture. Always feeling depressed to find herself fatty and ugly, she almost gives up dancing ballet. Though body positivity and self-acceptance can be easier said than done, eventually, she overcome her negative feelings and dance freely.
Though the film was first released on the platform in September, many social media users are now celebrating “Reflect” as a win for representation among the young.
“16 year old me needed this Disney short before I quit ballet because I didn’t want to be the fat girl in class anymore,” one user on Twitter said. “I’m glad little ones (小朋友) will have this. 10/10 (10 分满分评级) for Reflect!” “I don’t think you all comprehend, this is my Ariel,” a TikTok user said in a video, titled “Disney, you really got me in my feelings.”
Making the film from the perspective of a dancer, director Hillary Bradfield explained, felt natural. “When people watch the short, I hope that they can feel more positively about themselves and how they look, and feel okay about the tough parts of their journey,” Bradfield said.
1. Which of the following best describes Bianca?A.Sensitive. | B.Ambitious. | C.Warm-hearted. | D.Energetic. |
A.To tell the truth of the short. | B.To show their favor to “Reflect”. |
C.To give an explanation of “Reflect”. | D.To make a comparison with other movies. |
A.Practice makes perfect. | B.Don’t judge a book by its cover. |
C.All that glitters is not gold. | D.It’s self-acceptance that really counts. |
A.Sport and health. | B.Science and technology. |
C.Movie and art. | D.Travel and history. |
9 . As I look up at the hundreds of fireworks in the sky, I hear the bells ringing in a small temple suggesting the coming of the Chinese New Year. Though I may not believe in or understand many of the New Year traditions here, the similarities between the coming of this New Year and the beginning of my new life in China are not lost on me.
My first few days in China were a culture shock to say the least. Having arrived late in the term, I immediately had to start my beginners’ Chinese classes, along with the newest class of overseas students. Being surrounded by a language that is not your own is unbelievably frustrating and isolating(孤立的). Due to the picture-based fashion of Chinese writing, it’s not like you can have a guess, or work it out through whatever little knowledge you have other Latin-originated languages. If you don’t know what it says, then that’s it.
However, with time passing, I have found myself progressing, though painfully slowly. The first time I directed a taxi by myself, the driver actually understood where I wanted to go, which was hugely rewarding. Still, it is never long until my lack of language skill is exposed and I come crashing back to earth, usually immediately upon leaving the taxi.
Gaining a language is a huge valuable skill. However, it is not the only thing I will gain in China. After this year of learning Chinese, I aim to gain my Master’s degree here at UJN. Opportunities do just pop up rather occasionally: from being offered jobs teaching English, to being asked to appear on game-shows for Shandong TV. So, for now, I am just looking forward to expanding my cultural horizons and enjoying my time here. Everything takes some time getting used to, but that’s part of the adventure and, most of all, employment. So, much like the Chinese New Year that I was lucky enough to be part of, I am just looking forward to a fresh start and a new journey in China.
1. Why couldn’t the author guess the meaning of the Chinese language?A.Because of his late arrival. |
B.Because of his experience of culture shock. |
C.Because of the unique way of Chinese writing. |
D.Because of his knowing little of the Latin language. |
A.He is poor at using public transport. |
B.He finds it easy to order a taxi in China. |
C.He is good at chatting with the taxi driver. |
D.He is pleased to have made progress in Chinese. |
A.To settle down in China. |
B.To become a host on TV. |
C.To be a teaching assistant. |
D.To take part in more cultural activities. |
A.Studying in China is challenging but rewarding. |
B.Coming to China brings about more opportunities. |
C.Learning Chinese is a good way to get valuable skills. |
D.Communicating in Chinese is an enjoyable experience. |
10 . Toronto Wildlife Centre’s rescue team wants to match their expert skill with the latest technology to help more animals.
The rescue team wants to help animals fast and with an even higher success rate. They are looking at technology ranging from as simple as a quick-firing net gun to as complex as a remotely controlled trail camera that is connected to the network. This would immediately inform them with a photo if an animal has been successfully trapped, or has returned to a site that they are monitoring.
A compact thermal imager (热成像仪) is another piece of equipment that the rescue team is looking at to add to their tool box. The technology would allow the rescuers to see an animal more easily. This would be useful for finding animals hidden in brush, rescuing wildlife stuck inside buildings, or finding animals at night when it’s too dark to see. “Say we know there’s an injured animal in a backyard with many hiding spots. We don’t want to storm there and scare him away. We want to be able to predict this movement and rescue him as effectively as possible and the only way we can do that is by knowing where he is,” the rescue team leader, Andrew Wight said.
The team also has their eye on a camera-equipped drone (无人驾驶飞机). “We want to use drones for sky watching in situations like when we have a baby bird that came from a nest that is difficult to access. If there’s no other baby in the nest, we can build a new nest, and the parents will simply find their baby and relocate to the new nest. If there’s another baby in the nest, we can’t separate the family and will need to return the baby to the original one. If we have a camera-equipped drone, we will easily see if there are any other babies in the original nest and plan accordingly,” Andrew explained.
1. What can be inferred from Paragraph 2?A.The remotely controlled trail camera is used to trap animals. |
B.The remotely controlled trail camera must have Internet access. |
C.The rescuers will receive a photo only when an animal is trapped. |
D.The rescue team aims to simplify the technologies they want to use. |
A.Showing the location of the animal. | B.Giving off heat to warm the animal. |
C.Offering a way to hide the rescuers. | D.Providing the rescuers with enough light at night. |
A.The bird nest would be destroyed. |
B.The baby bird would be forced to leave its parents. |
C.The rescuers would have more trouble finishing their task. |
D.The parents of the bird would have to build another nest. |
A.Toronto Wildlife Centre | B.How to Protect Wildlife |
C.Fast-developing Technology | D.Rescuing Animals with Technology |