1 . For most of history, people lived in small groups of up to 150 people. Then villages and small towns developed, offering safety and support through the sharing of resources. As time passed, urban living brought additional advantages such as better jobs, schools and healthcare. Larger towns also gave people more chances to meet and interact. This is important.     1    

Today, over half of the world’s population currently lives in towns and cities. But this has resulted in a strange paradox (悖论). Although social opportunities are one reason people choose to live in large cities, research suggests that city life can be lonely.     2     People from all over the world can join online communities and make virtual friends without leaving their home.

The development of virtual communities can be traced back to the 1860s. Back then, telegraph operators exchanged messages and gradually formed friendships over long distances.     3    

Later, in the 1960s, radios started to provide a means of short-distance communication and developed communities with their own unique language and usernames.

    4     Computers were not very powerful yet, so people could post messages and share news and stories but not music or photos. Still, people loved being able to make friends online and then hang out with them. As technology became more powerful, online communities for fun, education and business emerged, where people could explore a virtual 3D world, have online lessons, and even buy things with virtual money.

These days, there are thousands of virtual communities and that number keeps growing. Many people believe they will become more important.     5     Particularly, they’re concerned that posting personal information online might lead to a loss of privacy. So perhaps the future will be more like the past. People will spend most of their time in real communities.

A．This trend, however, is not likely to continue.

B．As Aristotle said, the nature of humans is to be social.

C．That may explain why virtual communities are so popular.

D．The first popular online communities developed in the 1980s.

E．Before cell phones existed, radio was an easy way to communicate.

F．Nevertheless, others worry about problems with these communities.

G．This is among the earliest examples of virtual community interactions.

2 . Human history is full of horse stories like guiding cowboys home on foggy nights and taking wounded soldiers through battle zones. Such sensible and highly trained horses made Elina Jatel, a computer scientist and roboticist, think of robots. “A horse that can take a rider home on its own would be the highest level of autonomy,” Jatel says. “You trust them with your life.” She was drawn to learning how such relationships form and if it could help improve human-robot interactions.

For a year, Jatel engaged herself in the horse world. She watched classes in horse training, and she also talked with students, instructors, trainers and horse owners. Along the way, Jatel even learned to ride.

Horses learn signals from their trainers on how to comfortably interact with people. People, too, must learn their part. Riders must learn what a horse wants or feels based on its behavior, and what signals to use to direct horses to perform in desired ways. Jatel found some similarities, here, to working with robots. People must learn how to direct robots to do specific tasks. They also must learn what to do when robots don’t perform as planned. The goal is to program robots that will respond predictably to inputs from people. But like horses, autonomous robots also should be able to respond on their own as conditions change. For example, a self-driving car must stop to avoid hitting something, even if some human mistakenly tells it to keep going.

Trainers and riders work with horses to build respect. Horses show that respect by matching their pace to a human or giving someone who is leading them a safe degree of personal space. Trainers begin their work with a horse by getting them to show signs of respect in basic interactions, Jatel says. Later, trainers will develop more complex interactions. Gradually, a horse’s respect can grow into trust.

But that trust is not given. And there may be a similar limitation with robots. What would it mean for robots and people to respect and trust each other? For now, she adds, this is largely uncharted territory. But she’s looking to build a path.

1. What drew Elina Jatel’s attention to horses?

A．Horses’ amazing performance.	B．Long history of horse training.
C．Horse-human interdependence.	D．Her horse-riding experience.

2. What are the robots of the highest autonomy designed to do?

A．To act like real horses.	B．To show respect to humans.
C．To follow instructions from humans.	D．To make independent and sensible decisions.

3. What will Jatel’s future research most probably focus on?

A．The limitations of robots.	B．Trust between robots and humans.
C．Path toward higher robot efficiency.	D．Similarities between horses and robots.

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

A．History of Human-Horse Relationship	B．Secrets of Human-Animal Interactions
C．The Role of Trust in Human-Robot Partnerships	D．Horses as the Inspiration for Autonomous Robots

3 . Some beaches are perfect for relaxing, while others offer activities like hiking and water sports. Visit these beautiful beaches for an unforgettable vacation.

Cannon Beach

If your perfect beach vacation spot features postcard-worthy scenery and peace, look no further than Cannon Beach. In this Pacific Northwest town, you can even build a fire on the beach to relax beside while watching the sun set. When you need a break from the beach, grab a bike and head downtown to explore its art galleries, shops and restaurants.

Horseshoe Bay Beach

For a one-of-a-kind beach experience, head to Horseshoe Bay Beach on Bermuda’s South Shore. Known for its pink sand, this beach is a popular destination for families looking to play in the calm blue-green waters and build blush-colored sandcastles. Adventure seekers can also take part in the self-guided island bicycle tour or engage in exciting water sports.

Mohegan Bluffs

This beach is famous for its natural beauty. Upon arrival, pause to admire your surroundings and learn about its ties to the native people, their ancient traditions, and connection to the land, adding depth to your beach experience. Then, take the 141 steps down to the sand to sunbathe. After that, climb back up to visit the Southeast Light for an up-close view of its 18th-century lighthouse.

South Beach

This tropical district on Florida’s Atlantic Coast is world-renowned for its powdery white sand. Although technically part of the Miami Beach area, South Beach stands out due to its Art Deco architecture seen in everything from the beachfront lifeguard towers to the high-rise buildings along the famed Ocean Drive.

1. What similarity do Cannon Beach and Horseshoe Bay Beach share?

A．The chance to cycle around.	B．Their lively artistic scene.
C．The unique water sports.	D．Their distinctive sand color.

2. Who is most likely attracted to Mohegan Bluffs?

A．Those seeking water sports.	B．Fans of modern lighthouses.
C．Those interested in local culture.	D．Enthusiasts of mountain climbing.

3. What sets South Beach apart from the rest of the Miami Beach area?

A．Its beach sand.	B．Its architectural style.
C．Its ocean drive.	D．Its high-rise buildings.

4 . In Switzerland, an ambitious proposal could see the construction of an expansive underground network through which self-driving pods (吊舱) would transport goods across the country.

The project, called Cargo Sous Terrain (CST), is intended to reduce the reliance on trucks for moving cargo. Global demand for freight (货物) transportation is growing, just as much of the world is seeing a shortage of truck drivers. Meanwhile, higher fuel prices have made road transportation more expensive, while transporting freight by road accounts for around 6% of global carbon dioxide emissions.

If built, the network would stretch roughly 500 kilometers from Geneva in the west of Switzerland to St. Gallen in the northeast, and be completed around 2045. The network of tunnels will be 40 to 80 meters below ground and the autonomous pods will drive along three lanes at around 30 kilometers per hour. And the cargo will be loaded and unloaded at designated hubs (枢纽) employing lifts to take goods to and from the surface.

The project was approved by the Swiss government in 2021. Although there’s a long way to go before construction can begin, earlier in 2023 CST began its preliminary work in the field — exploratory drilling along the Härkingen-Niederbipp route.

The biggest challenge for CST will be the expense. CST estimates that it will cost around 30 billion Swiss Francs ($34 billion) for the entire network. The project will be entirely privately funded, with investors including Credit Suisse, Coop, and Siemens. Although a huge amount of funding still needs to be found, much of the technology for the automation and operation of the network already exists. Another key challenge is working out how to transport freight above ground from the tunnels to stores in cities — without adding to road traffic.

Despite all the hurdles, Patrik Aellig, head of communication for CST, remains optimistic. CST is “at the forefront” of underground freight transport.

1. What mainly led to the project CST?

A．Expensive truck drivers.	B．Serious shortage of fuel.
C．Environmental concern.	D．Heavy freight transportation.

2. What does the author intend to do in paragraph 3?

A．To present the way the network will work.	B．To provide a blueprint of the network.
C．To prove the efficiency of the network.	D．To show the advancement of the network.

3. What does the underlined word “preliminary” mean in paragraph 4?

A．Innovative.

B．Significant.

C．Preparatory.

D．Constructive.

4. What is a great challenge for CST?

A．Absence of fund.	B．Lack of technology.
C．Last-mile delivery.	D．Transport safety.

5 . As most Americans spend at least 50% of their food budget dining out, public criticism falls on restaurants to help consumers make healthier food choices. The Menu Labeling Final Rule has come into effect, requiring restaurants with more than 20 locations to show the calories of food on menus.

By representing these values in a discrepant way — using physically larger numbers on the page for lower-calorie options, and smaller numbers for high-calorie foods — businesses can shift customers’ preferences toward healthier food, according to Ruiying Cai from the Washington State University.

In their study, Cai and her colleagues asked participants to choose between a less healthy item and a healthier option after randomly assigning them to two groups. In the first group, calorie counts and font sizes rose and fell together. In the second group, the size became larger as the calorie count fell. Researchers also asked participants questions to assess their health-consciousness.

Results showed participants in the second group, who saw low calorie counts printed in large sizes, were more likely to adopt the healthier option. Moreover, less health- conscious participants were the most affected, while people with more health awareness were less influenced since they already favored healthier food.

This research adjusted customer behaviors by creating a Stroop effect. Named after psychologist J. Ridley Stroop, the Stroop effect refers to a delay in reaction to mismatch in its classic form. For example, if the word “purple” is written in green, it takes respondents longer time to identify the color than if the word and the color match. Similarly, the effect is observed when the physical size of the number does not match its number in this study.

“Restaurants are interested in encouraging customers to make healthier choices,” Cai said. However, simply labeling the food as healthy may not have the intended effect. “Healthy food items could be profitable for restaurants, but whenever a ‘healthy’ label is attached, people may assume it does not taste good,” she explained. “We’re trying to provide restaurants with indirect suggestions, rather than saying it out loud.”

1. What does the underlined word “discrepant” in paragraph 2mean?

A．Creative.

B．Relative

C．Conflicting

D．Misleading

2. Which of the following type of customers would be affected most from the research?

A．Strict diet followers.	B．Convenience food fans.
C．Homema de meal lovers.	D．Health magazine readers.

3. What is paragraph 5 mainly about?

A．The significance of research results.	B．The measurement of response delays.
C．The psychological basis of the study design.	D．The influential variations of the Stroop effect.

4. Which of the following might be Cai’s suggestion for restaurants?

A．Use font magic to drive healthier choices.

B．Pay more attention to the taste of the food.

C．Create a quiet dining atmosphere for customers.

D．Attach “healthy” labels to the food on the menu.

6 . Volunteer Art &Architecture Tour Guide for Boston Public Library, Copley Square

The goal is to generate public interest in the history, art, and architecture of Boston Public Library, including its special collections and exhibitions at the Central Library in Copley Square.

ROLE AND EXPECTATIONS

●To conduct public and private group tours of the Central Library’s art, architecture, and exhibitions, answering questions from groups and recording attendance statistics after tours conclude.

●To continue to inform oneself of the art, architecture, history, holdings, and exhibitions of Boston Public Library.

QUALIFICATIONS

● Interest in history, art, and architecture in general, and of Boston Public Library in particular.

● Confidence in addressing and presenting information to large groups; prior guiding or public speaking experience desirable.

●A strong command of the English language is required, and fluency in other languages is highly preferred.

TRAINING

Accepted candidates will be asked to attend tour guide training meetings. New guides are expected to complete training around four months. Progress evaluations will be ongoing throughout the training period, and continue through the first six months of working as a full guide.

REQUIREMENTS

●Minimum commitment of two tours per month (or 24 tours per year).

●Commitment to attending tour guide meetings and enrichment programs for continuing education.

REVIEW

Regular assessments and evaluations will be conducted based on the above criteria to ensure that volunteers meet the necessary qualifications.

Interested candidates should complete the application form below and send it to tours@bpl.org.

1. What does a volunteer tour guide need to do after tours?

A．Ensure safety of the artworks.

B．Maintain cleanness of the hall.

C．Document the numbers of visitors.

D．Answer questions about qualifications.

2. How long will the progress evaluations last?

A．4 months.

B．6 months.

C．10 months.

D．12 months.

3. Which will result in a poor review of the position?

A．Insufficient (不足的) working hours.

B．Absence of a second language.

C．Little relevant volunteer experience.

D．Limited knowledge about exhibitions.

7 . When Ryan Boyland graduated from medical school this spring, his parents, Michelle and Roosevelt Boyland, wanted to do something special to mark their son’s achievement as the first person in their family to become a doctor.

Michelle Boyland came up with the brilliant idea of renting out a billboard after seeing a story on TV.

“Everybody knew about it except Ryan. And I told him that I needed to talk to him and we’re going to meet at his older brother’s apartment in the parking lot,” Michelle Boyland explained, adding that the parking lot was near where the billboard was located. “Ryan had tons of questions as usual. ‘Why are we meeting? How come we can’t talk about it right now over the phone?’ I said, ‘This is very important. I need to see your face.’”

When his mother, brother and sister took him to see the billboard in person, Ryan Boyland had no idea what was going to happen until he finally looked up and saw his photo towering above the roadway.

“The first thing I thought was, how long it had been there and how many people had already seen me before I had seen me? A moment of mild panic kind of entered me,” he recalled. “In the past, I have been a little bit hesitant about receiving such attention and seeing my head 20 feet off the ground was a bit of a shock.”

The billboard, which reads, “Congratulations Doctor Ryan Boyland Class of 2023 University of Nebraska Medical Center,” stands tall in front of Bellevue University in Bellevue, Nebraska.

“I chose that location because it’s right down the street from the church that we attend, as wellas right down the street from the high school that Ryan went to 10 years ago,” Michelle Boyland said, adding, “I wanted it to inspire our community. I wanted it to inspire the kids, little kids, middle schoolers that they can be doctors too.”

Ryan Boyland has gotten ready to move to Denver to begin his career as an emergency medicine residency(住院医生) in Denver Health.

“He’s accomplished a lot in a very short period of time and I’m looking forward to many more accomplishments in the future. Hopefully, he’ll start taking credit for it a little bit better,” dad Roosevelt Boyland said.

1. How did Ryan Boyland feel when hearing the meeting place?

A．Nervous.

B．Excited.

C．Confused.

D．Ridiculous.

2. Why did Michelle Boyland choose to rent out the billboard in front of Bellevue University?

A．Because it is where Ryan graduated.

B．Because it is a place with large flow of people.

C．Because it is the most obvious place in the city.

D．Because it is a good place to inspire students in the neighbourhood.

3. What can we infer from Roosevelt Boyland’s words in the last paragraph?

A．He has high hopes for his son.

B．He believes his son will be the best doctor.

C．He believes the billboard will inspire his son.

D．He is not satisfied with what his son has achieved.

8 . Does the sound of rain really help you fall asleep?

You’ve likely heard that the pitter-pattering of raindrops can help people fall asleep. There’s also research that supports the idea that rain sounds are a useful sleep aid. Here’s what to know.

➢       1    

Rain sounds can mask other sharper noises in your environment. Think of a dripping faucet (滴水的龙头), in the other room — in dead silence, it could be very annoying. With a masking background of wind in the leaves or a soft rain, the drip would never be detected.     2    

➢   Rain sounds might hit the right frequencies.

By masking background sounds, rain tacks might seem like they’re just ordinary white noise — but they aren’t.     3     which are named after colors. Rain sounds are considered pink noise, which is characterized by louder sounds at a low frequency and softer sounds at high frequencies. Research suggests that pink noise can improve seep in healthy individuals.

➢   Research suggests that nature has a calming effect.

In addition to helping people fall asleep, rain sounds can be simply relaxing.     4     as evidence points to their psychological benefits, including increased cognitive (认知的) capacity and reduced anxiety and stress. According to a study last year, people exposed to nature sounds have the calming part of their nervous system activated by these racks.

➢   Should you try rain sounds?

Rain sounds might help some people, but they’re not for everyone.     5     One person’s gentle rain is another’s food worry or need to go to the bathroom. Similarly, gentle rain with distant thunder is calming for some and arming for others. Will they work for you? There’s only one way to find out!

A．Rain noise hides other sounds.

B．Rain noises sometimes disturb sleep.

C．This may be because they’re a natural sound.

D．So rain sounds can create a calming background noise.

E．White noise is a technical term for a variety of sounds.

F．It is worth experimenting with the frequency to see if it works for you.

G．Different sounds bring out different responses depending on the individual.

9 . The process of sorting through my childhood stuff started out easy. At first, I was excited to toss everything out. But as the bedroom emptied out, I felt a creeping sense of sadness. My childhood was over, and I entered full-fledged (成熟的) adulthood. And I wondered:     1     In short, yes.

    2     That’s because going through your old stuff can possibly stir up difficult emotions or sweet memories. Whatever emotions pop up, accept them, and it will help you process it faster.

Before you start sorting, determine how much storage space you’re willing to devote to your childhood items.    3     You may have limited space for old stuff. But listen to your heart. If you’re sentimental and you want to hold on to stuff, hold on to it. You canal ways get rid of it later.

During this process, it can be useful to have someone you trust by your side. They can help you honor the memories associated with each object and let go.     4     They know which life experiences mean the most to you.

And you don’t have to pile your childhood stuff in the attic (阁楼).     5     You can take photos, which you can revisit any time on your phone or computer. Or you can turn them into an art project and display it in a shadow box.

Remember, there is someone who care enough to hold on all old stuff for you. This is a value of all of the time and effort and money your parents have poured into you. This has been saved in love.

A．Get creative and think outside the box.

B．Could my childhood memories be regained?

C．You can find meaning in your life experiences.

D．Loved ones can also help you decide what to save.

E．But it will probably still be a bittersweet experience.

F．That will help you figure out how much stuff you can keep.

G．Was there a less heartbreaking, more strategic way to do this?

10 . Lessons to Learn from Nature

As we become more and more separated from nature, we start to realize how much we depend on it. People often seek for wisdom, experience, and knowledge. Guess who’s been around in this world longer than mother nature? The followings are the lessons nature can teach us.

    1     As the daily, monthly, and yearly cycles change, everything in nature changes, too. Leaves change their color, flowers turn into fruits, some animals sleep throughout the whole winter, and when they wake up, it’s spring again — a new beginning. What we need to learn is that change is a good thing.     2    

Nature is flexible. Flexibility is what helps a leaf endure. If there’s a lot of sun in the area, the leaves of a particular plant will be smaller, thicker, and will change their color. Leaves growing in the shade, on the other hand, will be larger, greener, and thinner, so they could absorb more sunlight.     3    

    4     When you spend time in nature, by the sea, in the forest, or in the desert, you’ll notice nothing really happens hurriedly.     5     We overload ourselves with work that we can’t fit into 24 hours and then we get stressed out. Stop for a moment. Breathe. Set your priorities and change your life’s tempo.

A．Nature is never in a rush.

B．Nature is ever-changing.

C．Nature always has its own pace.

D．The ability to adapt quickly is an important ability.

E．On the other hand, human beings are always in a hurry.

F．Accepting change makes us more adaptable, and that sets us free.

G．It’s important for the leaves to know how to adapt to the environment.