1 . As the seasons are starting to change around the world, the animal kingdom is on the move. Animal migration is one of nature's great wonders, but how do animals know when it is time to set off on their journey, or where they need to go? Once they've worked out their destination, how do they know how to get there?     1     .

Migration is a behavioral pattern where animals travel from one habitat to another in search of something. It happens seasonally, and usually involves a return journey. These journeys can be by land, sea or air.     2     . Animals like gazelles, wildebeests and zebras migrate in huge herds during dry seasons to look for fresh grass to eat and water to drink.

Animals also migrate because of the weather. Around 50 bird species leave the UK each winter to avoid the cold.     3     . They're either searching for a mate, looking for somewhere to lay their eggs or finding the best place to raise their young. For example, humpback whales travel to warmer waters each winter to raise their calves.

    4     , but how do they know when it is time to head off? For those who migrate to look for something to eat, scientists think shortages of food could be a sign that it's time to begin their journey. Others might be able to recognize when winter is coming because they can see that the days are getting shorter.

So how do they know where to go? Some use the stars and the sun to help them navigate while others rely on landmarks like rivers and mountains to show them where they are.     5     . Wildebeests are thought to follow the smell of rain.

A．Below are some ways they get there

B．Animals have their reasons for migrating

C．Scientists have been puzzled by these questions for many years

D．It's also possible for animals to sniff their way to their destination

E．Some birds travel to the UK to escape extreme cold further north

F．One of the main reasons behind animal migration is the search for food

G．For some animals, it's the need to reproduce that sends them on their journey

2 . Arieh Smith, an American YouTuber with millions of subscribers recently visited the Cree nation in Canada with a big surprise —he speaks their language.

Patrick Mitsuing, a Cree cultural leader, found Smith's channel and saw that he can speak 50 languages to varying degrees of fluency including some indigenous(本土的) ones and invited him to take the Cree course and follow it up with a visit to the nation.

The superpower for Smith's work on YouTube is something he's also used for humanitarian purposes—learning indigenous languages and traveling to where they’re spoken in order to strengthen awareness that some of these timeless tongues, with all their hidden knowledge and poetry, are disappearing.

Cree is extraordinarily difficult even among indigenous North American languages, but in the 23-minute video of his trip to the Cree lands, Smith amazes multiple passers-by with some Cree chit-chat he learned from the course.

“The elders at first were kind of like ‘who is this weirdo(怪人) with the camera?’…”Smith recounted to CBC News. “And then when I started speaking Cree, they were kind of like ‘Oh, OK, that’s pretty cool.’” At the end of the visit, Smith gave a speech to some elders of the Cree race. Just like the strangers on the street, some of the elders thought it was cool and funny, while others were deeply moved.

“From the comments that I’ve seen from his videos, I see a lot of the young indigenous, not just young but even older crowds saying ‘man, if he could learn, I could learn; man, if he’s doing it, I could do it.”Mitsuing added.

Technology is a way that indigenous languages can live on. Most people will choose to learn languages online today, and courses taught through the social media business are a way that not only allows the younger generation to carry on the torch(火炬), but preserves the language, its writing, and its instruction in case of darker days.

1. What can we learn about Smith?

A．He is a native of Cree.	B．He longs to be a leader.
C．He has a strong capacity for speech.	D．He invited Mitsuing to take Cree courses.

2. What is the main purpose of Smith's work on YouTube?

A．To show his incredible talent for languages.

B．To document his trips to different countries.

C．To compose poems to discover hidden knowledge.

D．To make people realize the disappearance of some languages.

3. How did the elders of the Cree race feel when they first saw Smith?

A．Surprised.

B．Moved.

C．Excited.

D．Impressed.

4. What role does social media play?

A．It motivates people to light the torch.	B．It inspires people to run media business.
C．It allows for the preservation of languages.	D．It enables people to travel around the world.

3 . When creative architectural minds are given free reign over their creations, some truly unique buildings are born.

Habitat 67(Montreal, Canada)

Habitat 67's unique architecture was designed by a young Canadian-Israeli immigrant named Moshe Safdie for Montreal's 1967 Universal Exposition (博览会). The building was designed to integrate the advantages of suburban living — namely privacy, gardens and multiple floors — in an urban environment.

Sagrada Familia(Barcelona, Spain)

When modernist architect Antoni Gaudi took the reins in 1883, a year after the construction began, he turned just another church into his masterpiece. Its complex designs and themes make the Sagrada Familia among the most unique architecture in the world. When it's finally finished in 2026, its iconic design will have long since been established as one of the great achievements of architecture.

Longaberger Basket Building(Newark, America)

There are plenty of buildings out there that reflect their purpose, like the Kansas City library that looks like a row of books. The Longaberger Basket Building is one of this kind. Head office of the Longaberger Company produces baskets which can be found around the world. The Longaberger founder's son wanted all the other Longaberger buildings to look like its products too.

Atomium(Brussels, Belgium)

Another example of an offbeat construction for a World's Fair, the Atomium was built for the 1958 edition of the Universal Exposition held in Brussels, Belgium by André Waterkeyn. Unlike Habitat 67, it wasn't meant to be a residential building. Instead it contains exhibition rooms and public halls. The building itself is designed to be a copy of the structure of iron crystal.

1. Which of the following building hasn't been completed by now?

A．Habitat 67.	B．Sagrada Familia.
C．Longaberger Basket Building.	D．Atomium.

2. What does Longaberger Basket Building look like?

A．A basket.

B．A garden.

C．A row of books.

D．An iron crystal.

3. What do Habitat 67 and Atomium have in common?

A．They are residential buildings.	B．They were built for World's Fairs.
C．They were designed by Moshe Safdie.	D．They contain exhibition rooms and public halls.

5 . Do you have an uncle believing vaccines cause autism (自闭症) but refusing to do further research? What about a friend avoiding information about factory animal farming so he can eat cheap meat guilt-free?

Each is an example of willful ignorance—the intentional act of avoiding information that reveals the negative consequences of one's actions. To find out why people engage in it, a team of researchers performed an analysis on the evidence of willful ignorance, comparing the results of 22 studies with over 6,000 participants.

Participants were randomly assigned the role of decision-makers or recipients (接受者). The decision-makers were given a choice: They could take a $ 5 or $ 6 payout. If they took $ 5, the recipient would also receive $ 5. If they took $ 6, the recipient would receive $ 1. Most decision-makers acted altruistically. They made a slight sacrifice to give the recipient more money. On average, only about a quarter of decision-makers acted selfishly.

In another study, the decision-makers could still choose between the $5 or $6 payouts, but they were not told what the recipient would receive. There was a 50-50 chance the recipient would receive $ 5 or $1. Importantly, the decision-makers could ask the researchers what payout the recipient would receive, and they could do so at no cost to themselves. 44% of decision-makers chose to remain willfully ignorant and took the selfish option.

The researchers assumed two potential motivations for willful ignorance. First, they thought willful ignorance may offer an excuse for not acting generously. If a person doesn't know the consequences of his actions, then he still can consider himself a morally honest individual even if he decides to act selfishly. Willful ignorance serves to protect his self-image.

The second potential motivation is “cognitive inattentiveness.” That is, people dislike thinking more than they have to. It may result from laziness, not paying attention, or not wanting to take the time to learn more. Whatever the case, they favor the quick-and-easy decision.

The researchers conclude “taken together, the evidence suggests ignorance is indeed in part ‘willful’ and driven by excuse-seeking and self-image maintenance motives.” Thanks to them, we are all a little less ignorant about ignorance.

1. Which of the following is most probably considered as willful ignorance?

A．Refusing to purchase a fur coat out of ethical concerns.

B．Stopping smoking in the knowledge of its harm to health.

C．Cheating in the exam for a good grade regardless of its negativity.

D．Engaging in environmental protection activities in the face of global warming.

2. What does the underlined word “altruistically” in paragraph 3 mean?

A．Indifferently.

B．Selflessly.

C．Tolerantly.

D．Proudly.

3. What is the author's tone when researchers' work is commented on?

A．Serious.

B．Ironic.

C．Humorous.

D．Critical.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．What are altruistic behaviors like?	B．How do we avoid willful ignorance?
C．What are effects of willful ignorance?	D．Why do people choose to be ignorant?

6 . It's no secret that mountain climbing comes with various risks, but some are looking toward an unconventional means of reducing the dangers associated with the sport: jetpacks. A company called Gravity Industries designs what they call “Jet Suits”, a wearable technology that allows its users to fly through the air with a pack on their back and arm-based thrusters (助推器).

A recently conducted test flight involved a pilot demonstrating how quickly the jet suit can be used to climb up to a peak. The pilot covered 1.2 miles with 2,200 feet of vertical gain in just 3 minutes, 30 seconds. That's basically equal to the 0.9 mile, 2,000-foot-gain Manitou Incline climb in Colorado, plus a little more.

Though the recreational use of the jet suit to climb popular mountains would surely be met with outrage (愤怒) from the local hiking community, there's one application that might be considered quite a bit more acceptable, even praised: using the suit to speed up search and rescue operations.

While the technology is still relatively new and access is quite limited, a video of a mountainside test flight, showing the device pushing its pilot up steep terrain (地势) at a height of about 20 feet off the ground, might provide a glimpse at what the future of search and rescue operations in remote areas could look like. Not only could these suits be used to land rescuers in places that might be unsafe for a helicopter, but they could also allow for rapid search of large areas.

All of that sounds great, though the price may still be a bit restrictive for widespread use among Colorado’s search and rescue teams at the moment. While there’s not much information on the Gravity Industries website about the price of a unit, one 2021 article put it at $ 440, 000.

For now, it's extremely unlikely that a jet suit will be spotted rushing to someone's time aid the next time you're out on the trail. But the creation of jet suits seems to reflect another step toward a real-world and life-saving application of what was once thought to be nothing more than a science-fiction device: the jetpack.

1. How did the author clarify the speed of the pilot in the test flight?

A．By giving examples.	B．By making a comparison.
C．By explaining a concept.	D．By analyzing causes and effects.

2. What is the main idea of paragraph 4?

A．The result of a test flight.	B．The danger of a helicopter.
C．The limitation of the jetpack.	D．The potential application of the jetpack.

3. What can we know about the jetpack?

A．It might be unaffordable for a majority of people.

B．It is unsafe to wear the suit to carry out rescue tasks.

C．It could help predict the development of all the rescue jobs.

D．It can push pilots up steep terrain 20 meters off the ground.

4. What is the author's attitude to the future of the jetpack?

A．Doubtful.

B．Unclear.

C．Dismissive.

D．Hopeful.

7 . There is a mountain of great ski opportunities not too far from Boston. Road-trip to one of these fantastic ski mountains this winter.

Blue Hills Ski Area

A ski day trip doesn’t get any easier than the Blue Hills Ski Area. It is the only snow sports facility in the metro area. Skiing and snowboarding are spread over its 60 skiable acres, 90% of which are equipped for snowmaking. The vertical drop is 309 feet and there are four lifts serving the 16 trails, most of which are for advanced skiers. There are lessons for kids and adults to help you get there.

Crochet Mountain Resort

It’s famous for signature “Midnight Madness” events and daily night skiing. It has an 875-foot vertical drop and 23 trails across 75 skiable acres. A great mountain for skiers, half its terrain is graded for intermediates with the rest being split between advanced and beginner terrain.

Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort

It’s the only one of ski resorts to be 100% powered by renewable energy sources. Skiers will find a 1,150-foot vertical drop, 45 trails, 3 terrain parks and 9 lifts across 167 skiable acres. The whole family can take lessons, enjoy dining or buy a ticket and go for a ride on the 3,600-foot Mountain Coaster!

Smugglers’ Notch

Smugglers’ Notch has a 2,564-foot vertical drop, 78 trails, 5 terrain parks and 8 lifts spread across 1,000 skiable acres. Known as a full-service family-oriented resort, it offers plenty to do off mountain like ice skating, arts and crafts workshops and an indoor swimming pool!

1. Which ski resort mainly targets advanced skiers?

A．Blue Hills Ski Area.	B．Crochet Mountain Resort.
C．Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort.	D．Smugglers’ Notch.

2. What’s the highlight of Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort?

A．Its trails.	B．Its location.
C．Its vertical drop.	D．Its green concept.

3. What can skiers do in Smugglers’ Notch?

A．Have a swim.	B．Ski with world champions.
C．Enjoy stone sculptures.	D．Ride a roller coaster.

8 . When attending holiday parties, we are eager to help our hosts in the kitchen, with food and drink service, and with post-party cleanup, which sometimes causes more trouble and stress for a host.     1     Here’s what professional event planners recommend.

Be sure to respond in a timely manner.     2     If the invitation asks you to respond, do so well before the host has to reach out to confirm your attendance. Hosts who don’t want their guests to help out during the party can hint that all has been taken care of right on the invitation.

    3     Asking a host if you can assist on the event date can be overwhelming, but extending that offer while the host is still planning the party and putting the details together may prove more useful. If you are someone who loves to help, contact the host in advance and offer your assistance.     4    

Don’t show up early. Respect the event’s start time and arrive on time or 5 minutes later than the time on the invitation. If the invitation says 7:15 pm, guests should arrive between 7:15 and 7:20.

When the party is over, don’t stay. At the end of the evening, you can make one last offer to help the host tidy up the space. But if they refuse, don’t insist.     5     So it’s the guest’s responsibility to leave at an appropriate hour.

A．Consider offering help to the host ahead of time.

B．So what can you do to really help holiday hosts?

C．Contact the host to know the details about the party.

D．Many hosts are too polite to tell people it’s time to go.

E．Being a good guest begins long before the party begins.

F．This way, the host can know an extra pair of hands is available as needed.

G．The invitation phase serves as a prime opportunity to clarify the event’s tone.

9 . Increased involvement from grandparents can be crucial in a child’s development. From helping children navigate stressful situations to giving kids that little extra bit of love and care, grandparents play an important role in the well-being of a child. Now, there’s scientific data to back this up.

According to a study of over 1,500 children, conducted by Professor Ann Buchanan from the Department of Social Policy and Intervention at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, children who have tight-knit relationships with their grandparents tend to have fewer problems, both emotionally and when it comes to their behavior. Besides, children also have less difficulty when interacting and maintaining relationships with others.

Kimberly Agresta, the co-founder of Englewood’s Agresta Psychotherapy Group, has also noticed in a study the significant benefits of allowing grandparents to be more involved in children’s lives. “If parents regularly involve grandparents in their child’s life early on, a child can develop real emotional closeness to their grandparents and begin to see them as a source of strong social support,” she stated in an interview. “So a child will feel they have other adults, aside from their parents, who care about them in the same way, and this adds to their sense of stability and security.”

She continued, “Stressful situations are less impactful to such children because they have other people in their lives who they have these attachments to and support from.” This is because grandparents are generally not responsible for disciplining or raising the child, and they’re able to love the child a little more freely and unconditionally than a parent, Agresta explained.

“Grandparents are a wealth of knowledge and information, and not only can they pass on valuable skills from real-life experience, but they can also share the past with their grandchildren,” added Agresta. “They can serve as historians, sharing various traditions and stories about when their own children were growing up, which create s a sense of continuity for a child.” So it looks like it may be time to set up a play date for your kids with their grandparents!

1. What is the impact of children spending time with grandparents according to Buchanan’s study?

A．Improved social skills.	B．Lower intelligence level.
C．Better academic performance.	D．Increased behavioral problems.

2. How does Agresta probably describe grandparents’ treating their children?

A．More critical.	B．More positive.
C．Less supportive.	D．Less judgmental.

3. What does Agresta talk about in the last paragraph?

A．The features of grandparents’ love.

B．Various roles grandparents take on.

C．The typical qualities of grandparents.

D．Grandparents’ advantages over parents.

4. How does the author mainly organize the text?

A．By quoting a few people’ opinions.

B．By analyzing two scientific surveys.

C．By giving the findings of two studies.

D．By making comparisons between studies.

10 . A new study shows that female academics are significantly underrepresented in winning academic prizes and having awards named after them. Analysis of nearly 9,000 awardees and 346 scientific prizes and medals published in Nature Human Behaviour has found that men win eight prizes for every one won by a woman if the award is named after a man. These awards represent almost two-thirds of all scientific prizes. Female academics are, however, more likely to win awards that have been named after other notable female scientists, with 47% of those awards going to women and 53% to men.

Dr Katja Gehmlich, Associate Professor in the Institute of Cardiovascular Science at the University of Birmingham and joint lead author of the study, said, “The gender gap between awardees in scientific prizes is sadly a product of a long, systematic issue of poor representation of women in sciences. Despite decades of efforts to rebalance this issue, our study shows that women are still poorly recognized for their scientific contributions, and men are far more likely to win prizes and awards, in particular, if those awards are named after other men.

“It seems particularly shocking to me that awards named after women still see more than half of prizes going to men. We further propose a list of actions to address and overcome these issues but are aware this will be a long process. The Nominate Her movement is one way that the scientific community can begin to address this,” said Dr Gehmlich.

Prof Stefan Krause from the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Birmingham and joint lead author of the study said, “Our data is indicative of much wider issues of gender inequality within sciences. Our current publication is an initial attempt to understand the causes of such striking gender inequality and to promote discussion on the subject within our scientific communities.”

“Research culture has a lot to do to improve the gender prize gap, as well as efforts to address the inequality that sees almost two-thirds of prizes currently named after men. More pathways may also be needed, such as renaming or getting rid of gender names associated with some awards,” added Prof Krause.

1. How are awards named after female scientists distributed between genders?

A．Males are in the majority.

B．Females take up a bit more than half.

C．They are almost entirely awarded to females.

D．They are evenly distributed between males and females.

2. What’s Dr Gehmlich’s attitude toward gender inequality in scientific prizes?

A．Doubtful.	B．Tolerant.
C．Uncaring.	D．Disappointed.

3. What suggestion does Prof Krause offer to narrow the gender gap?

A．Establishing gender rates for awards.

B．Increasing the number of female judges.

C．Encouraging more women to enter scientific fields.

D．Renaming or removing gender names from awards.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Achievements of women in science

B．The role of men in the scientific world

C．Gender inequality in scientific awards

D．Future of gender equality in academia