1 . International Day of Education
24 January
Education is a human right, a public good and a public responsibility. The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed (宣布) 24 January as International Day of Education, in celebration of the role of education for peace and development. Today, 250 million children and youth are out of school, and 763 million adults are illiterate (文盲的). Their right to education is being violated (侵犯) and it is unacceptable. It’s time to transform education.
International Day of Clean Energy
26 January
The International Day of Clean Energy on 26 January was declared by the General Assembly as a call to raise awareness and mobilize action for a just and inclusive transition (过渡) to clean energy for the benefit of people and the planet. 26 January is also the founding date of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), a global intergovernmental agency established in 2009 to support countries in their energy transitions.
World Health Day
7 April
It is celebrated annually and each year draws attention to a specific health topic of concern to people all over the world. The date of 7 April marks the anniversary of the founding of WHO in 1948.
The theme for World Health Day 2024 is “My health, my right”, which was chosen to champion the right of everyone, everywhere to have access to quality health services, education and information, as well as safe drinking water, clean air, good nutrition, quality housing, decent working and environmental conditions.
World Environment Day
5 June
World Environment Day, held annually on 5 June, brings together millions of people from across the globe, engaging them in the effort to protect and restore the Earth. People from more than 150 countries participate in this United Nations international day, which celebrates environmental action and the power of governments, businesses and individuals to create a more sustainable world. The event has been led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) since its start in 1973.
1. On what day is the event about world energy marked?| A．24 January. | B．26 January. | C．7 April. | D．5 June. |
| A．International Day of Education. |
| B．International Day of Clean Energy. |
| C．World Health Day. |
| D．World Environment Day. |
| A．They have a common goal. | B．They have a long history. |
| C．They’re international events. | D．They benefit world environment. |
2 . Pindar Van Arman is a painter, but he’s also a software designer. He has built some machines and worked on a DARPA challenge team in California to build a self-driving car. His latest project? A robot painter, BitPaintr.
BitPaintr is Van Arman’s fifth robot in 10 years. Earlier versions included devices that produced simpler paintings with algorithms (算法). But the idea for BitPaintr is simple: A user just uploads a picture, and it can paint totally on its own and develop its own style.
Although his friends joke that he has invented a really expensive, slow, bad painter, Van Arman says teaching a machine how to be creative has helped him get to the bottom of what creativity is — and appreciate it.
“When you’re trying to teach a machine to do something that’s easy for humans, it really makes you sit back and see what humans are doing,” he says.
So what is creativity, then, if a robot with a paintbrush can be — or appear to be — just as creative as a human with a paintbrush?
Mark Riedl, a professor at the Georgia Tech School of Interactive Computing, says it depends on how you define creativity. “There is creativity and Creativity,” Riedl says. “Being ‘creative’ usually has something to do with the little things that we do hundreds of times in our daily lives. They could be creative, but usually aren’t. To be ‘Creative’ is to have an imagination that will have a huge impact on a social level — the Picassos and the Mozarts of the world; the people who have produced something that’s taken on this additional level of meaning.”
Riedl admits what robots create is far from human-level quality art, but he sees robots entering the creative process as a positive thing.
“We want the computers to keep up with us,” he says. “And thanks to researchers like Van Arman, it seems like they will, although they will not replace us, but to help us to be more creative.”
1. Which is a new quality of BitPaintr?| A．Simplicity. | B．Creativity. | C．Speed. | D．Profitability. |
| A．Favorable. | B．Doubtful. | C．Unclear. | D．Hopeful. |
| A．They will defeat the greatest artists soon. |
| B．They can produce “Creative” things by themselves. |
| C．They will learn more from the Picassos and the Mozarts. |
| D．They can help us to do daily things in more “creative” ways. |
| A．Can BitPaintr-like Robots Replace Artists in the Future? |
| B．Why Do People Have Sharply Different Views on AI Robots? |
| C．What Is the Difference Between the Two Kinds of Creativity? |
| D．Can BitPaintr Be Considered a “Creative” Painting Software? |
3 . Teachers work hard to care equally about each of the students they teach. For most of us, however, some students stand out because they have greatly influenced our lives. Years ago, I had a young boy named Juan in my first-year class who I will never forget. Our experiences together impressed upon me the huge influence that just a few minutes of kindness can have on a young life.
Juan came from a very poor, single parent home. His mother showed little interest in his education and in his life in general. Throughout the year, I noticed that Juan had an unusual ability to solve questions and he picked up new ideas fast. I was surprised when he approached me to tell me that he did not think he was smart enough to attend college.
I explained to Juan that he was one of my best students. His face lit up with excitement, and he looked at me delightedly. I went on to explain to him that he could apply for scholarships (奖学金) to pay for college. I continued by telling Juan that it would be a waste of talent if he did not go to college. Juan looked as though he would need to re-think his whole life. It was not surprising that he was finally awarded enough scholarship that he was able to attend the local university.
My love for my students and for the subject I teach has continued to grow over the years. I consider myself lucky to be a teacher, and to have been a part of so many young lives, hopes, and dreams! I may not drive the nicest car on the block, but I am very rich in the things that count the most.
1. Why do some students stand out according to the author?| A．They gain high scores. |
| B．They are from poor families. |
| C．They make a difference in teachers’ lives. |
| D．They work hard to get the attention of the teachers. |
| A．He does very well in studies. | B．He had a quarrel with his mother. |
| C．He was abused (虐待) by his mother as a child. | D．He is not smart enough to catch up with others. |
| A．My encouragement for Juan. | B．Juan’s response to my words. |
| C．The relationship between Juan and me. | D．Juan’s puzzlement of life and stress from studies. |
| A．It is well-paid. | B．It is energy-consuming. |
| C．It saves many young lives. | D．It enriches the spiritual life. |
4 . Accents in English
Accents are fascinating and usually come with kinds of information.
Thanks to the development of technology, various handy accesses are available for people to share and pick up accents. English actor and accent coach Sarah Valentine is an expert in teaching the tones which can change the English language.
Valentine has been working in TV since the 1990s. She appears to have found success coaching other actors to speak in a variety of dialects.
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Everyone has an accent. A dialect coach like Valentine can help one learn to speak differently, for an acting job or for fun.
| A．In fact, all accents are worthy of pride |
| B．One’s birthplace can affect his accent |
| C．However, not all accents are worth learning |
| D．While much work with actors is done in one-on-one coaching |
| E．They can signal one’s living places, education and personality |
| F．On TikTok, she gives examples of simple phrases repeated in over 20 accents |
| G．A region’s location has a direct influence on the development of a local language |
5 . Top 3 Best Museums in the World
Whether you are a fine art or historylover, the following three museums are sure to take your breath away.
Le Louvre, Paris, France
A visit to the Louvre and its collections lets visitors discover Western art from the Middle Ages to 1848 as well as a large number of ancient civilizations. The grand palace that houses the museum. which dates back to the late twelfth century, is a true lesson in architecture: from 1200 to 2011, the most innovative architects have in turn built and developed the Louvre.
●Official website: Louvre
●Highlight: Leonardo da Vinci`s “Mona Lisa.”
The British Museum, London, UK
The British Museum in London was founded in 1753 and opened its doors six years later. It was the first national museum to cover all fields of human knowledge, open to visitors from across the world. No other museum is responsible for collections of the same depth and breadth, beauty and significance.
●Official website: British Museum
●Highlight: the Rosetta Stone.
The State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg, Russia
The second-largest art museum in the world, the State Hermitage Museum was founded in 1764(200 years later than The Uffizi Galleries, Florence, Italy), when Empress Catherine the Great acquired an impressive collection of works from the Berlin merchant Johann Ernst Gotzkowsky. Today, the collection of art works contains paintings, sculptures and so on.
●Official website: State Hermitage Museum
●Highlight: Golden masterpieces from Eurasia.
1. When was the British Museum, London, UK opened to the public?| A．1564. | B．1753. | C．1759. | D．1848. |
| A．They have exhibits from the Middle Ages. | B．They feature exhibits from ancient times. |
| C．They have exhibits concerned with kings. | D．They have both fine art and history exhibits. |
| A．Le Louvre, Paris, France. | B．The State Hermitage Museum, Russia. |
| C．The British Museum, London, UK. | D．The Uffizi Galleries, Florence, Italy. |
6 . There is growing evidence to show that our past knowledge about Mars was not always the case. Now European researchers say they have discovered the first evidence of a huge groundwater system that once existed below the planet’s surface.
A new study was carried out by Francesco Salese and his team, who studied images of 24 deep craters (n.弹坑) in the northern half of the Red Planet. These pictures were captured by ESA’s Mars Express orbiter (n.宇宙飞船), which was launched in 2003. The study provides the first geological proof that Mars once had a “planet-wide groundwater system.”
According to Salese, scientific evidence already suggests Mars was once a watery world. His team says the images showed that large amounts of successive groundwater activity connected the areas they studied. Evidence of basins and coastlines was also found on the surface of Mars, supporting the idea that water was once present. He added that all the basins seemed to reach about the same height.
Scientists have yet to find out what happened to all that water. And the complex history of water on Mars has linked to whether or not life ever existed on it. During the latest study, researchers also discovered evidence of minerals within some of the identified (adj.被识别的) bodies of water.
The researchers say the findings adds weight to the idea that the water basins on Mars may have once held the materials required to support life. Some of this material could still be buried on Mars, providing possible evidence of life during future exploration. Francesco Salese believes the latest findings could also help us learn new things about our own planet.
1. What can we infer about our past knowledge of Mars?| A．It had no water. |
| B．It had no groundwater. |
| C．It had a great groundwater system. |
| D．It had water on the surface of the planet. |
| A．In paragraph 3. | B．In paragraph 2. |
| C．In paragraph 1. | D．In paragraph 4. |
| A．complicated | B．brilliant | C．continuous | D．incredible |
| A．Evidence of water on Mars enables us learn new things about the earth |
| B．Our past knowledge about Mars was incorrect. |
| C．Evidence of life could be revealed by the discovery of water on Mars. |
| D．The ever existence of groundwater system on Mars was discovered. |
7 . When you have many tasks to accomplish on a given day, there are a few different approaches you can take to kick-start your productivity. You can “eat the frog”, that is, you can get your hardest, most demanding responsibility out of the way before anything else.
When you eat the frog and take on a difficult task right away, you are supposed to focus on it absorbedly and get it all done. The problem with that is the smaller, boring responsibilities are stuck in your head.
In general, the task you’re scared or procrastinating (拖延的) on the most is probably the one that’s going to take the most effort.
| A．But that doesn’t always have to be true. |
| B．On the other hand, you could pick out something especially easy first. |
| C．This always makes it seem like other big tasks you need to handle are simple. |
| D．That feeling of accomplishment can be large and can end your day with an easy win. |
| E．You may not be able to focus if you’re preoccupied with a bunch of other little things. |
| F．And picking something you don’t exactly want to do is an easy way to make sure that happens. |
| G．Beyond that, you should make a habit of sorting your responsibilities by timeliness and importance. |
8 . An overall transformation is needed for the planet to adapt people’s pursuit of well-being. A new study by an international team of researchers explores a Theory of Planetary Social Pedagogy as a driver of a transformative process based on a learning society.
The Theory of Planetary Social Pedagogy is a way of learning applicable to all societal sectors. According to it, people, societies and the world are an interlinked, systemic body. Such a worldview can make life meaningful, increase people’s experiences of belonging and inclusion, expand the scope of care, and help people identify their opportunities to influence.
In a time marked by crises, learning to be one with the world is increasingly essential. In many ways, our everyday lives are linked with all other life on Earth. According to Professor Arto O. Salonen of the University of Eastern Finland, the study’s lead author, the most important reason behind the upgrading (升级) planetary crises is people’s being separated from their surrounding reality.
He says, “As we try for a comprehensive sustainability transition (转变), we need increasingly powerful and more systemic interpretations of reality. ” The current strategy for a sustainable future emphasizes economic and technological progress，but that is not enough. Learning is needed, too. A learning society relies on changes in its citizens’ values, beliefs and worldviews.
“How we become aware of our everyday connection to other people and nature at the level of our emotions, body and mind stands at the core of the sustainability transition,” says Erkka Laininen, a co-author of the study. Having an experience of belonging to and being part of the world strengthens people’s sense of meaningfulness and their agency needed in building a sustainable future.
The transformative power of a learning society can be a key factor in the green transformation going into all society, in which citizens’ consumer behaviour and ways of living, moving and producing food and energy are organized in new ways. Conceptions of work and the economy can be reformed, too.
A sustainable future is not about life becoming more miserable—it’s about life becoming richer and more meaningful as hope for the future grows stronger.
1. Why is Theory of Planetary Social Pedagogy mentioned?| A．To stress learning to be one with the world. |
| B．To suggest reforming citizens’ ways of living. |
| C．To describe how the theory is being improved. |
| D．To tell if a sustainable future is significant. |
| A．The planet is reaching its limits. |
| B．Humans break away from the reality. |
| C．Old ideas of well-being are being questioned. |
| D．Progress in economy and technology is unbalanced. |
| A．A sustainable future is based on a learning society. |
| B．Humans, societies and the world were connected more. |
| C．Ending the present strategy for future is needed. |
| D．Global crises have resulted in wrong worldviews. |
| A．By introducing a theory. | B．By making a comparison. |
| C．By using researchers’ arguments. | D．By providing study processes. |
9 . Valencia lives, for the time being, in a mobile home park.
He greeted me when I arrived and poured me a cup of coffee. He told me that his dad had worked at a brick-manufacturing plant. His mother worked at home. Most of his seven brothers and sisters didn’t go to college.
Valencia was determined to be the first, despite his late start. He said he was an average student struggling with math and went to community college a year after graduating from high school but decided quickly it was not for him.
He got into construction and then the insurance industry, but he’d always liked to write and do crossword puzzles. “And I loved to read. A lot,” he said. And he joked with his mother that if he won the lottery, he’d use the winnings for college.
It was around 2007. Valencia got tired of telling himself he was going to go back to school. He told his mother it was finally for real. She said, “I hope you make it, Jerry.” And I told her, “I’m going to make it, Mom. Surely!”
The plan was to capitalize on his former construction experience to study civil engineering—the design, building and repair of roads, bridges, etc. But he discovered other interests.
“He was not the youngest student,” says Grant Tovmasian, coach of the forensics debate team Valencia joined. “But he was the most motivated and dedicated, encouraging fellow students and inspiring them to live a more satisfying life?”
Valencia’s sister Sindi Majors says her brother was always bright, but he went through a couple of rough experiences in his life.
Because Valencia has nearly always been homeless, she bought him a motor home, where he lived from 2009 to 2018.
There is something splendidly irrational about Valencia’s determination to get a four-year degree and then a master’s. At his current pace, he’ll be 90 when he finally achieves his goals.
But that doesn’t influence him. He’s found all the youthful energy and academic opportunity stimulating.
“Valencia’s grade in my class this semester will not show up on his transcripts (大学生的成绩单). But I’m giving him an A and in the most important ways, it counts.” says Tovmasian.
1. What does the underlined phrase “capitalize on” in paragraph 6 probably mean?| A．Make use of. | B．Get rid of. | C．Break down. | D．Appeal to. |
a. Valencia joined the debate team.
b. He went to a community college.
c. He got into construction industry.
d. He planned to study civil engineering.
| A．b-d-c-a | B．b-c-d-a. | C．c-a-d-b | D．d-c-b-a |
| A．Caring and ambitious. | B．Devoted and modest. |
| C．Positive and generous. | D．Determined and motivated. |
| A．Because he hopes to see Valencia graduate as soon as possible. |
| B．Because he admires Valencia for his good quality and performance. |
| C． Because Valencia has done extra work to perform the best in the class. |
| D．Because Valencia has reached his goals earlier inspired by Tovmasian |
10 . “How the brain perceives time depends on its expectations. The brain can predict the probability that something is going to occur, given that it hasn’t happened yet,” said Dr. Michael Shadlen, a scientist at Columbia University.
Every thought has various “horizons”, Shadlen told Live Science. In a book, for example, horizons lie at the end of every syllable (音节), the end of every word, the end of the next sentence and so on. Time moves according to how we anticipate these horizons, he said.
When you’re really absorbed in something, the brain anticipates the “big picture”, which makes time seem to fly, Shadlen said. But when you’re bored, you anticipate the closer horizons such as the end of a sentence instead of the end of the story; these horizons aren’t knitted together as a whole, and time slows down.
There isn’t a single spot in the brain that’s responsible for how we perceive time in this way. Rather, any area that gives rise to thought and consciousness is likely involved in this task, Shadlen said. “There are almost certainly a lot of timing mechanisms (机制) in the brain,” added Joe Paton, a scientist at the Champalimaud Foundation in Portugal. One mechanism involves the speed at which brain cells activate one another and form a network when you’re performing an activity. The faster those paths of neurons (神经元) form, the faster we perceive time, Paton and his team have found in some animals, such as rats and squirrels.
Another mechanism involves chemicals in the brain. Again, in rats, Paton and his colleagues found that a set of neurons that releases the neurotransmitter dopamine—an important chemical involved in feeling rewarded—impacts how the brain perceives time. When you’re having fun, these cells are more active. They release a lot of dopamine and your brain judges that less time has passed than actually has. When you’re not having fun, these cells don’t release as much dopamine, and time seems to slow down.
1. What can be learned about “horizons” in a book from paragraph 2?| A．They exist throughout. | B．They change our anticipation. |
| C．They are totally invisible. | D．They are very unpredictable. |
| A．our brain anticipates the distant horizons | B．we are engaged in something interesting |
| C．our brain sees the “big picture” of an event | D．we are anxious to see the ending of a sentence |
| A．An unknown chemical in human brain. |
| B．A specific timing mechanism in the brain. |
| C．The speed of brain cells forming a network. |
| D．The function of brain cells activating each other. |
| A．By describing a process. | B．By providing examples. |
| C．By introducing a concept. | D．By listing statistical data. |
