1 . Amid global efforts to replace fossil fuels with clean energy, Chinese scientists and engineers are working on a bright idea — soaking up abundant energy from the sun and then beaming it back to Earth.
Multiple teams in China are currently focused on technologies needed for building and running a space-based solar power facility, which will allow the sun’s energy to be captured nonstop, something that isn’t possible from Earth, said Hou Xinbin, a senior researcher.
After collecting solar energy, the space facility will transform it into electromagnetic radiation, such as microwaves, and laser beams and send it wirelessly back to the Earth’s surface. Receiving stations will, then turn these electromagnetic waves and laser beams into electricity for distribution to power grids (电网).
“As a key step to testing the workability of space-based solar power generation, we want to make and place into orbit a pair of satellites — a large one that will collect solar power and transform it to microwaves and laser beams, and a smaller one responsible for receiving laser beams, Meanwhile, a ground station will be in charge of receiving the microwaves. The two satellites will form an in-orbit testing system for wireless power transfer, ”Hou said.
However, a host of technical issues must be solved before any commercially viable solar power project can take shape in space, Hou said. The challenges include developing high-performance components with acceptable sizes and weights these cannot be too big or too heavy — and integrating them into a satellite; and also ensuring that the power beams reach ground receiving stations with great accuracy, he said.
Hou noted that there is an urgent need in China to develop new sources of clean energy, which are sustainable, affordable and secure, and can be widely used, as China has announced that it aims to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and realize carbon neutrality before 2060. The power generated in this manner will be free of pollution and limitless, and this source of energy could also be used to power any spacecraft within its beaming range.
1. What is the advantage of a space-based solar power facility over an earth-based one?| A．It will capture the sun’s energy continuously. |
| B．It will capture the sun’s energy cheaply. |
| C．It will capture the sun’s energy directly. |
| D．It will capture the sun’s energy conveniently. |
| A．Why the space facility will be built. |
| B．How the space facility will work. |
| C．What parts the space facility will consist of. |
| D．What benefits the space facility will bring. |
| A．The construction of this space facility means a lot in China’s efforts to go green. |
| B．The construction of this space facility will soon become commercially available. |
| C．The construction of this space facility faces both support and protest. |
| D．The construction of this space facility is more of a dream than of a reality. |
| A．China aiming to realize carbon neutrality by promoting clean energy |
| B．China aiming to shine in space-based solar power tech to boost clean energy |
| C．China aiming to take the lead in exploring solar power for clean energy |
| D．China aiming to become a space power by building a space-based facility |
2 . BBYY, as the adult female was known, made a wild dash of more than 388 kilometers in 49 days—the longest distance ever recorded among hares, rabbits or any other relatives—researchers report online December 22 in Ecology.
“To think that such a small animal living under such extreme conditions averaged about eight kilometers per day across seven weeks is truly amazing,” says Joel Berger, a scientist at Colorado State University in Fort Collins.
Arctic hares, also known as North-Pole hares—which weigh more or less the same as house cats, about four kilograms—are desirable targets for foxes and wolves on the tundra (苔原). Given the hares’ important role in the Arctic food chain, scientist Dominique Berteaux wanted to know how the animals move across the dry landscape where very few plants can grow.
In 2019, Berteaux and colleagues fixed satellite tracking rings on 25 hares caught near the northern tip of Ellesmere Island in Nunavut, Canada. As the hares quickly ran away, the researchers had no idea the creatures were beginning a mind-blowing journey across the tundra, Berteaux says. That’s because hares and their relatives, typically spend their lives within a familiar area where food is plentiful and easy to find.
The Arctic hares behaved quite differently, with most traveling anywhere between 113 and 310 kilometers. None came close to BBYY, who died of unknown causes about a month after reaching her final destination.
For a hare to complete such a dangerous journey, it must balance the need to find food without becoming food, says Dennis Murray, a scientist. That makes BBYY’s adventure even more impressive, he says.
Berteaux and colleagues hope data from BBYY and the other hares can help shape conservation strategies for the desert system near the North Pole. But even at this early stage, it’s exciting to find “something unknown in an animal that we thought we knew quite well,” Berteaux says.
1. Why did Berteaux and colleagues do research on Arctic hares?| A．Because of their amazing ability to travel a long distance. |
| B．Because of their weighing more or less the same as house cats. |
| C．Because of their important role in the Arctic food chain. |
| D．Because of their extreme living conditions. |
| A．Amazing. | B．Challenging. | C．Demanding. | D．Upsetting. |
| A．BBYY was an adult male with the longest distance record among hares. |
| B．BBYY died of tiredness from traveling the longest distance. |
| C．BBYY, like other Arctic hares, typically lived within a familiar area. |
| D．BBYY managed to balance the need to find food without becoming food. |
| A．The findings of Berteaux and colleagues are good for nothing. |
| B．The findings of Berteaux and colleagues just confirm what people believe about hares. |
| C．Berteaux and colleagues have discovered an unknown species—Arctic hares. |
| D．Berteaux and colleagues will go on with their research on Arctic hares. |
3 . Not long ago, Linda Khan was sitting by a hospital bed in Houston, feeling ill at ease. Beside her lay her 88-year-old father, who needed surgery.
What troubled her almost as much as his health was the fact that all day the two of them had engaged in nothing but depressing small talk. She and her father had always had good conversations, but now his once wide-ranging interests seemed to have shrunk to the size of the room. He talked about the terrible hospital food, the tests, the doctors, the diagnosis, the potential outcomes. “It is really hard to sit with a person in a hospital,” Khan says. “It feels like there’s nothing to talk about except their medical situation.”
That day in the hospital, her eye fell on a pile of books that people had brought as gifts. Her father had always been a reader, but lately he didn’t have the energy or focus. She picked up Young Titan, Michael Shelden’s biography of Winston Churchill, and started to read it out loud. “Right away it changed the mood and atmosphere,” she says. That afternoon, Khan read to her father for an hour. It was a relief and a pleasure for both of them. Reading gave the daughter a way to connect with her father and help him in a situation that was otherwise out of her hands. Listening allowed the father to travel on the sound of his daughter’s voice, and back into the realm of mature, intellectual engagement, where he felt himself again.
“He’s in and out of the hospital a lot now,” Khan says, “and I always read to him. ”That may be just what the doctor ordered. In a 2010 survey in the United Kingdom, elderly adults who joined weekly read-aloud groups reported better concentration, less anxiety, and an improved ability to socialize. The survey authors believed these improvements were in large part due to the “rich, varied, nonprescriptive diet of serious literature” that group members consumed, with fiction encouraging feelings of relaxation and calm, poetry promoting focused concentration, and narratives of all sorts giving rise to thoughts, feelings, and memories.
1. What do we know about Khan’s father from paragraph 2?| A．He stuck to a wide range of interests. | B．He had no small talk with Khan. |
| C．His mood suffered quite a lot. | D．All his hope was lost. |
| A．Khan got inspiration from Young Titan. |
| B．Khan had specially prepared Young Titan for her father. |
| C．Reading was a win-win way for Khan and her father. |
| D．Khan’s father had had no interest in reading. |
| A．the tolerance of loneliness. | B．the capability of socializing. |
| C．the relieving of anxiety. | D．the promoting of concentration. |
| A．All kinds of literature worked equally. | B．A specific kind of literature worked better. |
| C．It was the amount of reading that counted. | D．It was the variety of reading that counted. |
4 . In Singapore, it seems like art can be seen at every turn. Throughout the year, festivals, live performances, and concerts add to the vibrancy (活力) of the creative community. Here are some of the biggest art festivals.
SINGAPORE ART WEEK
When: January
Over the course of 10 days, this massive visual art celebration organizes more than 130 art events — at museums, galleries, independent art spaces, and public places across Singapore from the city center to the heartland neighborhoods. Visitors can have discussions with artists, and attend art exhibitions and workshops that explore art and culture in Asia. Whether you’re interested in Sudanese architecture or cute Japanese paintings, there’s an event for everyone,
ART SG
When: January
During the biggest art fair in Southeast Asia, more than 150 of the world’s best galleries will showcase their collection of more than 1,000 artists at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Center. From 12-15 January, this large-scale art show highlights paintings, sculptures, and photography from galleries like the influential Gagosian and London’s White Cube.
SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF ARTS
When: May
This annual performance art festival pushes the boundaries of physical and virtual spaces and explores The Anatomy of Performance through music, film, dance, musicals, and plays. The festival’s lineup includes a broad range of programs from local and international artists, ranging from orchestral performances to different styles of modern and traditional dances.
SINGAPORE NIGHT FESTIVAL
When: August
For one week each August, the Bras Basah Bugis district lights up for this multi-dimensional art festival, with more than a dozen light installations (装置), stage shows, and theater performances. The National Museum of Singapore sponsors the event. It also acts as a major venue for various performances and demonstrations along with the Singapore Art Museum and the Peranakan Museum.
1. What can visitors do at SINGAPORE ART WEEK?| A．Watch orchestral performances. |
| B．Appreciate works of photography. |
| C．Discuss with artists. |
| D．Admire Sudanese paintings. |
| A．Three days. | B．Four days. | C．A week. | D．Ten days. |
| A．SINGAPORE ART WEEK |
| B．ART SG |
| C．SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF ARTS |
| D．SINGAPORE NIGHT FESTIVAL |
5 . Encourage Your Teens to Play More
Parents are generally aware of the importance of play for younger kids. But when kids hit the teen stage, it can be confusing to know what play looks like because kids of this age don’t engage in“play“the way younger kids do. Obviously, play changes as kids grow. And parents begin to wonder whether they should continue to encourage their teens to play.
Playfulness doesn’t go away in childhood; creativity is just as important in adolescence. Adolescence is a time of rapid brain development and self-inquiry — a stage where people can figure out who they are and where the opportunity to stretch in different directions really builds intelligence.
How to Encourage Play in Teens? Teens feel the tension of being pulled toward adulthood while also wanting to regress (退回) toward childhood.
| A．Mental health is another benefit of play for teens. |
| B．When engaged in play, teens typically feel joyful. |
| C．In the end, play will look different from teen to teen. |
| D．Sometimes it’s like they need permission to be silly again. |
| E．In addition, parents can offer up raw materials and the time and space to use them. |
| F．During this period, play can help teens grow and discover things about themselves. |
| G．Actually, people of all ages benefit from play, including and especially teenagers. |
6 . In 2019, Wang Jibing, a food delivery rider, had an unpleasant experience due to the wrong address left by a customer. Wang searched three buildings and climbed 18 floors before he finally managed to deliver the food to the customer, who rudely scolded Wang for arriving late. Wang was sad and frustrated. As a husband and father of three children, who shouldered the majority of the financial responsibility in his family, he had to bear all silently. On his way home that day, Wang wrote a poem, Man in a Hurry, expressing his feelings.
Since then, Wang has been writing poems inspired by his daily life, including a poem New Temple, which occurred to him after he delivered food to construction workers repairing an old temple, and Forgive, based on his observation of a young couple fighting.
Wang’s poems, simple yet real, are seen as a tool to process his emotions, especially the personal experiences he has during his work. His heart is healed by writing the poems, and he has shared them with his friends. In 2022, one of his friends posted Man in a Hurry online. It quickly went viral and was viewed for over 20 million times. The same year, Wang published a collection of more than 180 poems, under the same title. So far, Wang has written about 4,000 poems. This April, Wang published his second poetry collection, titled I Love This World Clumsily, featuring about 130 poems he has written since July 2022.
“Poetry is like a distraction from stress and an opportunity to record my life. Whether it’s coping with pain, dealing with stressful situations, or coming to terms with life’s struggles, poetry makes me confident and happy,” says Wang.
“The feedback from the readers is a big encouragement to me. Those poems carne to me naturally and I enjoyed writing them very much. However, the priority is to look after my family, so I will keep my regular job delivering food,” says Wang.
1. What can we know from paragraph 1?| A．Wang was in a hurry for the bad weather. |
| B．Wang released his feelings by writing a poem. |
| C．Wang lost his job for an unpleasant experience. |
| D．Wang misunderstood the customer’s need. |
| A．Became a hit. | B．Got updated. |
| C．Disappeared online. | D．Received criticism. |
| A．Talented and generous. | B．Responsible and creative. |
| C．Ambitious and considerate. | D．Intelligent and humorous. |
| A．An unpleasant experience. |
| B．A good way to process emotions. |
| C．A man delivering a feast of poetry. |
| D．A popular collection of poems online. |
7 . If you’re stuck in what seems like an endless cycle of procrastination (拖延), guilt and chaos, you might be wondering “Why am I so lazy?”. Despite that common belief, laziness usually isn’t the reason behind procrastination, said Jenny Yip, a clinical psychologist. “Laziness is like, ‘I have absolutely no desire to even think about this.’ Procrastination is, ‘It troubles me to think about this. And therefore, it’s hard for me to get the job done.’ That’s a big difference.”
Knowing why you procrastinate and learning how to fight against it are the only ways to change your behavior. Psychologist Sapadin sought to help this self-improvement effort with her book How to Beat Procrastination in the Digital Age. You could be the perfectionist, the dreamer, the worrier or the defier (对抗者) — these are all procrastination styles that Sapadin lists in her book. Both perfectionists and worriers might put off starting tasks due to a fear of failure or criticism. And like a perfectionist, a dreamer might always want something better. As for the defier, they tend to view life in terms of what others expect or require them to do, not what they want. This pessimism weakens their motivation to complete tasks.
Procrastination can have practical consequences, such as falling behind at work or failing to achieve personal goals. But there are also emotional or mental impacts. It has been associated with depression, anxiety and stress, poor sleep, inadequate physical activity, loneliness and economic difficulties, according to a January study of more than 3,500 college students.
Knowing why you procrastinate can make you self-aware, but you still need strategies to break the habit. In such cases, “consider contacting a professional, like a psychologist, who might be able to help you,” said Shatz, a creator of the website Solving Procrastination. “Visualization (可视化) works,” Shatz added. “If you can imagine Yourself completing a task, then it becomes more achievable simply because you have an idea that it can be done.” At the end of the day, how you approach life is “all about your belief system”. If you believe you can, you can. Whatever you believe, you’re right.
1. What does Jenny Yip mean according to paragraph 1?| A．Procrastination keeps people in chaos. |
| B．Procrastination is not a result of laziness. |
| C．Lazy people can’t help thinking about the job. |
| D．Lazy people are often stuck in procrastination. |
| A．They long for something better. |
| B．They have a fear of failure or criticism. |
| C．They prioritize others’ expectations. |
| D．They have a pessimistic outlook on life. |
| A．Procrastination has an impact on economics. |
| B．Procrastinstion is connected with mental problems. |
| C．College students have difficulties in achieving goals. |
| D．College students are generally affected by procrastination. |
| A．Procrastination can be resolved. |
| B．Procrastination is due to self-unawareness. |
| C．Knowing your procrastination relieves it. |
| D．Visualization is ineffective against procrastination. |
8 . In a fast-paced world, tasks seem to multiply before your very eyes.
To set up a bullet journal, you start with a blank notebook, typically one with dot grid (网格) pages. You create different sections based on your needs.
There are many benefits to opting for a bullet journal style planner of a typical diary.Purposeful planning and task spaces pave the way for a smoother day and put different appointments, tasks, and ideas under one roof. Your bullet journal is also blank canvas.Add hand-lettering, drawings, and colour-coded sections to melt stress and fuel improvement.
| A．Bullet journals develop with you. |
| B．The beauty of a bullet journal lies in its flexibility. |
| C．Here are the best bullet journals to buy in Australia 2023. |
| D．A bullet journal is essentially a much more creative planner. |
| E．High-quality dotted paper makes it easy to use for quotation. |
| F．Completing endless tasks can feel like a never-ending challenge. |
| G．Create an amazing album of your favorite photos taken that month. |
9 . Dreaming appears to have little connection to work. However, new research shows that when dreams are first recalled, people often draw connections between their dreams and waking lives, and the connections they draw alter how they think, feel and act at work.
The team performed the studies that collectively captured approximately 5,000 morning reports of dream recall among full-time employees. The researchers issued morning field study, a single-day morning-to-afternoon study, and a twoweek experience sampling study.
“An awe-inspiring dream is highly impactful and memorable, often involving extraordinary experiences or interactions. For example, we arrive at work shortly after interacting with deceased (逝去的) loved ones, narrowly escaping or performing arts of immeasurable ability,” Belinda, the chief of the study, said. “Regardless of our personal beliefs about dreams, these experiences bleed into and affect our waking lives, including how productive we are at work.”
Say you recall an awe-inspiring dream in the morning, and, then later in the afternoon, your boss tells you to conduct 10 more interviews than you were expecting to do. You might now think that it’s not that big a deal because your awe-inspiring dream just put everything into perspective. You have a greater realization that there’s a bigger world out there and you’re just part of it or that you’re connected to everything.
“So, get a good night’s sleep for waking wonder!” Belinda added. Studies show that dreams occur in all stages of sleep and are impactful regardless of sleep habits. However, the most vivid dreams — those most likely to have meaning and create waking wander — occur during REM sleep. Because REM sleep takes place late in a given sleep cycle, getting sufficient, high-quality sleep will help you get the most out of your dreams. Sleep tracking devices can indicate when and how much time you spend in REM sleep, which help improve sleep schedules to increase the chance of having awe-inspiring dreams. For both managers and employees, how much or how well people slept really means a lot, which can increase productivity at work.
1. What is paragraph 2 intended to explain?| A．Why a dream is recorded. | B．How the study is conducted. |
| C．What the study revealed. | D．Who joined in the research. |
| A．Failing a tough test. | B．Meeting with strangers. |
| C．Being stuck in a traffic accident. | D．Saving people like a superman. |
| A．Productive sleep. | B．Sleep-tracking study. |
| C．Good REM sleep. | D．Healthy living habits. |
| A．Dreams impact all sleep stages. |
| B．Dreams can be channeled for productivity. |
| C．Dreams contribute to one’s mental health. |
| D．Dreams are attracting greater attention worldwide. |
10 . Wanting to take a break from big city life? These hidden gems (宝石)provide a chance to escape the hustle and bustle of big cities and immerse oneself in the beauty of these lesser-known destinations.
Shirakawa-go, Japan
This picturesque village is located in the Gifu Prefecture and is known for its traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses. These unique buildings feature steep roofs that resemble hands in prayer, which is why Shirakawa-go was included in the UNESCO World Heritage list. During wintertime, the village transforms into a winter wonderland, with the snow-covered thatched roofs creating a magical atmosphere.
Paraty, Brazil
Situated on Brazil’s Costa Verde, Paraty is a charming bayside town that offers a relaxing and laid-back atmosphere. The town is renowned for its well-preserved colonial architecture, which is beautifully complemented by palm trees and colorful boats in the harbor. Paraty is also a gateway to nearby deserted island beaches, making it a perfect destination for beach lovers and nature enthusiasts.
Old San Juan, US
As the historic heart of Puerto Rico’s capital city, Old San Juan is a treasure trove of rich history and cultural heritage. The entire area is a National Heritage Site, with its colorful buildings, cobblestone streets, and Spanish colonial architecture adding to its charm. Visitors can explore historic forts, stroll along the city walls, and indulge in delicious Puerto Rican cuisine.
Sakrisoy & Reine, Norway
These remote fishing villages are located in the Lofoten archipelago in northern Norway. Although reaching them may require some effort, the journey is worth it for the breathtaking scenery. Surrounded by majestic mountains and pristine fjords, Sakrisoy and Reine offer opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking, and even witnessing the mesmerizing Northern Lights.
1. For what was Shirakawa-go selected a UNESCO World Heritage site?| A．Its rich history. | B．Its magic scent. |
| C．Its ideal community, | D．Its unique architecture. |
| A．Being the capital city. | B．Lying in the United States. |
| C．Having colonial buildings. | D．Owning industrial landscapes. |
| A．Shirakawa-go, Japan | B．Paraty, Brazil |
| C．Old San Juan, US | D．Sakrisoy &Reine, Norway |
