1 . Scientists in Brazil have developed a vaccine (疫苗) that prevents addicts from feeling pleasure from the illegal drug, cocaine (可卡因), making the addiction stop right away.

The vaccine, Calixcoca, works by stimulating the user’s immune system to produce antibodies (抗体) when cocaine is detected in the body. These antibodies attach themselves to cocaine in the blood, making it physically too large to pass into the brain’s reward system, where it can make the user feel pleasure.

Different from the failed U. S. vaccine, Calixcoca uses artificial components produced in a lab rather than natural ones, which makes it cheaper to produce and easier to store since the vaccine does not need to be stored at low temperatures.

Calixcoca has so far proven effective in testing on animals, producing significant levels of antibodies against cocaine and few side effects. It also protected unborn baby rats against cocaine, researchers found, suggesting it could be used in humans to protect the unborn babies from being damaged by their mother’s addiction. It is hoped that the introduction of such vaccines will be a significant tool in preventing deaths from cocaine use.

The vaccine is now set to enter the final stage of trials: testing on humans. The first tests on humans have had a 72% success rate in clinical settings. Given that the current treatment for cocaine addiction is only effective in 20% of patients, “anything that is more than 20% effective is already a lot,” said Garcia, a mental health doctor. He also emphasized that, while the vaccine shows promising results, it won’t be a cure-all for everyone. It targets people struggling with addiction, especially “those who are just off cocaine and want to stay that way”. Ideally, it would be used for patients during important phases of their recovery, like when they leave the drug addiction treatment centre.

1. How can the vaccine Calixcoca stop cocaine addiction?

A．By locating cocaine in the body.

B．By strengthening the immune system.

C．By increasing the antibodies in the blood.

D．By stopping cocaine going into the brain.

2. How is the Calixcoca vaccine different from the U.S. vaccine?

A．It can be found in nature.	B．It costs less to make.
C．It should be kept in the cold.	D． It has a lower success rate.

3. What does Paragraph 4 tell us about the vaccine?

A．Its side effects.	B．Its possible benefits.
C．Its target users.	D．Its testing process.

4. What could be the best title for the passage?

A．A Universal Cure for Cocaine Addicts

B．A Breakthrough in Vaccine Production

C．A Promising Vaccine for Cocaine Addiction

D．A Treatment of Cocaine Addiction in Brazil

2 . Here are my top choices for the world’s best eco-hotels for holidays. A visit to any of these hotels promises a memorable and fulfilling vacation.

Bambu Indah (Bali)

This small hotel is the exact picture of what it calls “old-school Bali”—a restful and laid-back experience in harmony with nature. Spend your days at Bambu Indah in natural river swimming pools fed by waterfalls, open-air bamboo structures on stilts (高跷) above the rice fields.

Why Book:

● There are only oil lamps in the hotel in an effort to reduce light pollution.

● Mosquito nets around beds catch cool air as part of a cooling solution that avoids traditional air conditioning and lessens the carbon footprint.

● Banana leaves are used as plates and papaya stems as straws as part of the hotel’s no-plastic policy.

The Stanford Inn By The Sea (California)

The Stanford Inn paints a picture of wellness that extends beyond diet and exercise. Private classes and scissions in nutrition and healthy living are provided and a large greenhouse houses a saltwater swimming pool for year-round use.

Why Book:

● The inn hosts students in its Environmental Leadership Field school, providing these students with 4- to 6-week explorations into sustainability.

● The property has been practicing organic farming for more than 30 years.

Soneva Kiri (Thailand)

Just 90 minutes from Bangkok, within a rainforest, guests can enjoy the unspoiled beauty and beaches of Soneye Kiri. Night diving and dining in a mushroom cave are just a couple of the unforgettable activities on offer.

Why Book:

● A 2% environmental tax on all stays goes toward the Soneva Foundation, which invests in various projects.

● Soneva funds the organization Care for Children, which has opened a foster care (寄养) training and resource center in Thailand.

● Partnerships with NGOs and other organizations help protect local marine life.

1. What is special about Bambu Indah?

A．It used to be a school.	B．It prefers non-electrical devices.
C．It charges environmental tax.	D．It has a saltwater swimming pool.

2. Who may choose to stay in the Stanford Inn By The Sea?

A．Jack, who loves adventures.	B．Mary, who is active in charity.
C．Tom, who majors in engineering.	D．Kate, who favors organic produce.

3. What do these three hotels have in common?

A．They are friendly to the environment.

B．They are located deep in the rainforest.

C．They support local community projects.

D．They offer luxurious holiday experiences.

3 . Artificial Intelligence (AI) geolocation (互联网定位技术) solutions are changing the way researchers track and monitor wildlife, enabling more powerful conservation efforts. These systems use advanced sensors, satellite imagery, and machine learning algorithms (算法) to gather real-time data on animal movements, habitat preferences, and migration patterns.     1    

Traditional tracking methods often rely on non-automatic tracking or inconvenient necklace-like systems, which may cause stress and discomfort to the animals.     2     The devices can work as tags and the camera traps can be set up remotely, which decreases human impact on wildlife.

In addition, AI-powered devices collect and analyze data precisely. Through their assistance, scientists can gain insights into habitat choices and evaluate the effect of global warming on wild animal locations.     3     For example, by analyzing the collected data, conservationists can promote targeted habitat restoration efforts according to the patterns and connections they discovered with the help of AI geolocation devices.

    4     By monitoring animals’ behavioral changes in real-time, researchers can quickly detect signs of environmental issues. Sudden changes in an animal’s movements could indicate threats or problems. Researchers can then respond immediately, potentially saving the animal’s life.

Sharing geolocation data through online platforms can also help raise awareness about protecting endangered species.     5     This help them feel more connected to the issues wildlife face in habitats. The bond promotes a sense of responsibility among individuals and encourages them to contribute to wildlife conservation efforts through various means, such as donations, volunteer work, and so on.

A．This knowledge enables them to make accurate and efficient decisions.

B．However, AI tracking does not require disturbing contact with the animals.

C．AI monitoring needs fewer battery replacements than the traditional methods.

D．The solutions have offered the following key benefits to wildlife conservation.

E．Directly engaging with conservation efforts gives people a first-hand experience.

F．The AI geolocation technology significantly reduces the need for massive fieldwork.

G．With real-time data, the AI solutions also function as an early warning for wildlife risks.

4 . Hearing live music may be more emotional than listening to a recording of the same tune because it brings about greater activity in the part of the brain linked to processing emotions:

Sascha Frühholz at the University of Zurich in Switzerland and his team composed 12 pieces of music, each lasting 30 seconds. Half were written with the aim of expressing negative emotions, such as sadness and anger. These were slower, less harmonious and included more minor chords (和弦) than the remaining songs, written to arouse positive emotions.

The researchers then employed 27 people who weren’t musically trained, to listen to these 12 pieces twice — once performed by a live pianist, which the participants heard through a speaker, and once as a recording. The order they listened to them was randomly assigned, with 30 seconds of silence in between. People didn’t know when they were hearing a recording or live music.

While listening to the music, the participants lay in an MRI scanner (扫描仪) so the team could monitor their brain activity. The pianist then adapted the volume and speed of the piece according to the brain activity. For example, if someone was showing little activity in response to a positive piece of music, the pianist might play louder.

“Recorded music is not adaptive to now a listener is responding, but live pianists often adapt the music to the audience to get the best response from them,” says Frühholz.

Live performances of both the negative and positive pieces led to increased brain activity in the left amygdala, the region of the brain that is strongly linked to assigning sensory stimuli, such as sounds, to certain emotions.

The recorded tunes caused much less, and more inconsistent, activity in the left amygdala. This matched how emotive the participants rated each piece of music after the experiment.

The findings show that live music strengthens our emotional response, probably due to its free-flowing and active nature.

1. Which aspect of live music does Sascha Frühholz’s research focus on?

A．The technical skill of live musicians.

B．The popularity of live music concerts.

C．Its emotional impact on listeners’ brain

D．Its lack of interaction with the audience

2. What made the audience receive the best response from live musicians?

A．Their harmonious tune.	B．Their emotional performance.
C．Their adjustment to the listeners.	D．Their connection with the audience.

3. How did the researchers conduct the experiment?

A．By analyzing the data.	B．By comparing brain activity.
C．By grouping the participants.	D．By asking certain questions.

4. Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A．What could live music bring us?

B．What emotions could live music express?

C．Why does live music make us so emotional?

D．Why does live music outweigh recorded music?

5 . Teen volunteer opportunities are the best way to learn the values of responsibility and enhance problem-solving skills. Here are a few volunteer opportunities for you to take up.

Care for pets

Animal shelters and homeless shelters are the best places for animal lovers. A typical day volunteering at an animal shelter would involve helping with the adoption process, feeding animals and cleaning up after animals.

Participate in a beach cleanup

Teens can associate with a local environmental organization for a beach preservation. This is a great way to learn about ecology and contribute to its improvement in a hands-on manner. The opportunity involves outdoor activities and is a good platform to connect with green advocates.

Volunteer at a summer camp

A job as a ‘Counselor-in-Training’ is a great fit for teens. It teaches them organization skills by training under experts. Teenagers can learn communication skills and benefit from the real-time feedback from children and parents. It is also an excellent opportunity to learn outdoor support skills, such as CPR and first aid.

Volunteer at a local hospital

Local hospitals are always on the lookout for a helping hand. Whether it’s chatting with residents, greeting visitors or transporting patients to the cafeteria, a little help goes a long way! A few hospitals may have an age limit and require volunteers to get basic training and commit their time each week.

1. Which volunteer opportunity suits environmentalists best?

A．Care for pets.	B．Volunteer at a local hospital.
C．Participate in a beach cleanup.	D．Volunteer at a summer camp.

2. What can volunteers benefit from a job at a summer camp?

A．They can receive guidance from biologists.

B．They can progress in academic performance.

C．They can gain independence in outdoor activities.

D．They can acquire essential emergency medical skills.

3. What is special about volunteering at a local hospital?

A．It welcomes volunteers of all ages.

B．It may call for weekly time devotion.

C．It may involve interactions with doctors.

D．It demands training before volunteering.

6 . A new trend has popped up in China with many young people abandoning brand (品牌) names to create makeshift handbags out of things like reusable grocery bags and other materials. One example is the Shenzhen bag, which includes canvas (帆布) bags, paper bags, milk tea packages that people carry around in Guangdong Province.

Makeshift handbags like the “Shenzhen bag” are also common among young people in big cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Hangzhou. People find the bags practical, wearable and fashionable, and they can be carried on the shoulder or the back. This emerging trend reveals a new attitude to consumption as young people in China begin to pursue a simple and shared life, with consumers no longer blindly pursuing brand names as a status (身份) symbol, but advocating a simple and low-carbon lifestyle. In addition to the handbags, and regardless of their monthly incomes, many young people are living more casually, in line with a “good enough mentality”. Loose T-shirts, Crocs, and canvas bags are basically standard mode.

“Consumers today are becoming more mature and rational. They are pursuing smarter consumption through careful consideration and calculation to find the cheapest; most practical, cost-effective way of shopping,” says. Wang Ning, a sociology professor at Nanjing’s Southeast University.

Economists believe that China’s Generation Z no longer blindly pursues brands and luxury goods or buys things for brand name and status. Instead, they pay more attention to their actual needs, quality, and experience of buying, and prefer sharing and secondhand purchases. They also advocate environmental protection and sustainable consumption.

Price-aware Chinese consumers have also begun to place a greater emphasis on their inner selves. Driven by rational consumption, many young people no longer save to buy a brand-name bag, but for self-improvement.

The new handbag trend has also created business opportunities. Reusing packaging used for food brands as handbags results in mobile advertising for the associated brands, and the phenomenon of the “Shenzhen Bag” has also benefited paper bag companies.

1. What is the feature of “Shenzhen bag”?

A．A popular luxury brand of handbag.

B．A makeshift handbag symbolizing status.

C．A traditional handbag designed for specific people.

D．A temporary handbag that was once for another use.

2. Which is closest in meaning to the underlined word “rational” in paragraph 3?

A．Conservative.	B．Reliable.
C．Sensible.	D．Considerate.

3. What contributes to the change in consumption habits among China’s Generation Z?

A．A belief for a plain and green lifestyle.

B．A neglect of environmental protection.

C．Blind pursuit of brand names and luxury goods.

D．Focus on outer appearance rather than inner selves.

4. What is the text?

A．A book review.	B．A news report.
C．A business plan.	D．A research article.

7 . As a child, John always wondered how the human body worked and how he could keep it healthy. His interest in medicine grew stronger when he volunteered at a children’s hospital during high school. The never-give-up spirit of young patients battling against various illnesses massively affected him. Initially, he chose nursing in college, believing it would lead him to work closely with children. But after his first half year, he recognized nursing wasn’t fit for him.

Switching to biology helped him discover his passion for learning about the complexities of human body and using that knowledge to help children. Although the thought of the lengthy education and residency required for pediatrics (儿科学) made him hesitant, a heart-to-heart conversation with his brother changed his mind. His brother convinced John that his passion should motivate him rather than scare him. It was then that John decided to become a pediatrician because of the simple fact that he would work with children every day, and would make a positive impact on their lives and their families.

Pediatrics is not just about regular check-ups, it also includes making sick kids feel better and helping them heal. This brings so much joy to John’s heart. To him, he is not only a doctor but also a teacher, offering a safe space for the little ones to open up and share their fears or concerns. Plus, he really enjoys being a friendly and easy-to-talk-to person in their lives.

Being a pediatrician gives John the rewarding experience of helping and interacting with children daily and making those little ones’ tough times easier. Also, the changing world of healthcare means he’ll always be learning new things and facing exciting challenges. With his future plans, he wants to get into the field of being a physician assistant — a stepping stone that keeps him involved in pediatric care while still engaged in direct interaction with young patients. It allows him to do lots of the same things as a pediatrician, as well as helps him improve skills that are vital for making kids healthier.

1. What can we learn about John from the first paragraph?

A．He began to have an interest in medicine during high school.

B．He decided to work on nursing after graduation from college.

C．He got inspired by young patients when volunteering at a hospital.

D．He was curious about how the doctors work to keep people healthy.

2. Why did John choose the career as a pediatrician?

A．To learn about the complexities of human body.

B．To bring about improvements in children’s lives.

C．To get rewarding experience of helping children.

D．To face the challenges making him hesitant and scared.

3. Which of the following best describes John’s feeling towards being a pediatrician?

A．Excited but tired.	B．Worthy but stressful.
C．Proud and delighted.	D．Concerned and moved.

4. What’s the text mainly about?

A．John’s journey of pursuing a career in pediatrics.

B．John’s challenges and rewards as a pediatrician.

C．A comparison between pediatricians and nurses.

D．The importance of improving the health of children.

8 . Virtual Field Trips are designed for small groups of students, including school groups, homeschool students, and afterschool settings.

Stick the Landing: Engineering Series

Over the course of 3 sessions, use the steps of the engineering design process to build, test and refine your own model of a Mars lander in your learning space. Learn how engineers are just one of the many careers that contribute to complex solar system missions.

Maximum Number of Participants: 180

Instructor: Estelle

Ecosystem Investigators

Work together to create a virtual ecosystem model revealing how living and non-living parts connect and interact in an aquatic (水生的) environment. Using your new knowledge about ecosystem interactions, you can be a wetland scientist and explore the relationship between organisms in a real pond sample. Can you help us determine if the wetland ecosystem is in balance?

Maximum Number of Participants: 350

Instructor: Josephine

Piece of Mind

Be awe-inspired by the power of the brain as students learn how it controls memory, movement, and sight. Discover how the brain functions through live activities and fun puzzles, and see a real human brain specimen!

Maximum Number of Participants: 250

Instructor: Lorraine

Wetland Wonders

Join us on a virtual hike to learn how a wetland habitat provides food, water and shelter to the animals that call it home. Practice your nature observation skills by exploring live aquatic organisms from a wetland pond and discover how these animals survive in their watery environment.

Maximum Number of Participants: 50

Instructor: Claudia

Costs & Booking（charged according to the groups）

1-99 participants	$200	100-199 participants	$300
200-299 participants	$400	300+ participants	$500

Cancellation Policy

You will be invoiced for 50% of the program cost if you need to cancel within four weeks and 100% of the program cost within two weeks of the program date. If you need to reschedule your program, a rescheduling fee in the amount of 15% of your program fee will be added to your reservation.

1. Which activity can help participants learn more about Mars landers?

A．Piece of Mind.	B．Wetland Wonders.
C．Ecosystem Investigators.	D．Stick the Landing: Engineering Series.

2. Who will introduce the function of our brains?

A．Estelle.

B．Josephine.

C．Lorraine.

D．Claudia.

3. How much will you pay if you rearrange your participation in Wetland Wonders?

A．$230.

B．$345.

C．$460.

D．$500.

9 . Picky eater? Tips to get them eating out of your hands

There’s nothing more disappointing than putting time and thought into a delicious dinner for your family, then having a certain picky eater turn their nose up at it and refuse to eat it. We’ve all been there. But what is the solution? Here comes good advice.    1    

Try something new.

    2     For example, if spaghetti is a favourite, try making a simple switch from beef mince (肉末) to pork mince to introduce new flavors carefully.

Prepare easy meals.

Take the pressure off mid-week meals by planning and preparing meals ahead of time or using your slow cooker.    3    . Simply pop a boneless pork shoulder in your slow cooker in the morning with some spices and you’ll have a mouth-watering recipe base that can be transformed into a range of delicious dishes.

    4    

Making your children take part in prepping, cooking and even serving dinner is a great way to get them excited about trying new foods. Make Tuesday taco (墨西哥卷) night a tradition and let the kids prepare the ingredients, set the table, and build their own tacos.

Keep it simple.

Most kids prefer plain and simple dishes, so don’t overdo it on spices, exotic ingredients or unfamiliar textures.     5     A subtle twist on classic dish, like substituting beef mince for pulled pork when making shepherd’s pies is an easy way to add variety to your mid-week meals.

By carrying out these strategies, families can create a more enjoyable dinner experience and encourage picky eaters to be more open to trying new foods.

A．Get the kids involved.

B．Ask the kids to have meals together.

C．Pulled pork is an easy and multipurpose dinner.

D．Attempt to make small changes to familiar dishes.

E．Prepare useful ingredients to encourage picky eaters.

F．That’s not to say these simple dishes can’t be full of flavour!

G．We share some tips and recipes to satisfy the pickiest eaters.

10 . An atmospheric researcher Lubna Dada, who is part of an international project called CLOUD, and her team conducted a new study. The study looks at the role of trees and the natural compounds (混合物) they release into the atmosphere in cloud formation. The goal is to more precisely understand the climate before the Industrial Revolution — and how it’s changed since.

Clouds are not only important for the weather — they also help shape the climate. Some clouds act as a layer of protection between incoming solar radiation and Earth, cooling the atmosphere. Other clouds do the opposite: they act like a blanket and trap heat.

“But many current climate models don’t account for either the warming or cooling effects of clouds, or the role aerosols play in cloud formation. That is the biggest uncertainty in climate science at present.” Dada says.

Dada and the team are trying to figure it out using a steel, cylindrical room that roughly recreates the atmosphere. To do that, the team covers the room with tape. It has lights that seem like different layers of the atmosphere, and the researchers can change the humidity and temperature levels to create a given geographic location. Then, Dada and her team can add specific vapors into the room to study their effects. Dada says that previous research has looked at the effects of two kinds of organic emissions released by plants: monoterpenes and isoprene. But another kind of compound, sesquiterpenes (倍半萜烯), has largely been ignored.

In a recent study from the CLOUD project, scientists tested the effects of sesquiterpenes on cloud formation. They added all three compounds — monoterpenes, isoprene and sesquiterpenes — into the CLOUD room to see how many new particles (微粒) formed. They found that sesquiterpenes formed ten times more particles than the other two substances at the same concentrations.

Dada says this finding will help scientists understand the role natural emissions played in the preindustrial climate and how much humans have changed that.

1. Why did the researchers conduct the study?

A．To recreate the preindustrial climate.

B．To explore the warming effects of clouds.

C．To understand cloud formation and climate changes better.

D．To access the impact of trees on weather patterns more precisely.

2. What does the underlined word “That” in paragraph 3 refer to?

A．Climate model.	B．Cloud formation.
C．The cooling effect of clouds.	D．The warming effect of clouds.

3. What can be inferred about the compound — sesquiterpene?

A．It plays a significant role in cloud formation.

B．It is more important than the other two compounds.

C．It has been largely ignored in the previous research.

D．It forms less particles than the other two compounds.

4. In which section of a magazine can readers find this text?

A．Entertainment.

B．Finance.

C．Culture.

D．Environment.