1 . For eight years, Sophie created realistic-looking limbs (肢) for those who wanted to fit in. But she longed to work on more odd designs that would stand out. Then she met Pollyanna Hope, a young amputee (被截肢者).
“She wanted something a little different on her leg: pictures of a cartoon she loved, Peppa Pig,” said Sophie, who is now based in London. So she designed a unique leg covered in tattoo-like images of Peppa and other pigs riding a bicycle and eating ice cream. Working with Hope made Sophie realize there was a potential market for limbs.
Since then, Sophie founded the Alternative Limb Project (ALP) to make artistic limbs. Her work includes an arm wrapped in sculpted snakes and a leg that looks like porcelain (瓷器) covered in a painted flowery vine. She makes about six limbs per year, always including clients’ ideas so that they receive a personal piece they can celebrate rather than hide.
Of course, a fancy-looking limb won't suit everyone. For Sophie, the basis is that each limb must satisfy a combination of comfort, beauty and functionality, and pushing too hard in one direction can weaken other areas. But for amputees who appreciate novelty, Sophie has some amazing ideas.
“I’d really like to make a candy-dispenser leg with colorful candies inside it” she says. “Or a cuckoo-clock leg with a wooden bird that pops out every hour.” Her goal is to fashion a striking limb.
“It’ll transform the limbs from an elephant in the room into a conversation piece.”
1. Why did Pollyanna Hope come to Sophie?| A．She hoped to have a tailored limb. |
| B．She intended to design a cartoon figure. |
| C．She longed to expand the market for limbs. |
| D．She expected to sell Sophie some odd ideas. |
| A．boost users’ confidence | B．sharpen users’ creativity |
| C．improve Sophie’s sculpture skills | D．extend Sophie’s art business |
| A．The novelty of the pattern tops the list. | B．The balance of multi-needs comes first. |
| C．Fashion is the best policy. | D．Functionality is the key. |
| A．Sophie resolves to lead the fashion of limbs. |
| B．Sophie plans to further transform artistic limbs. |
| C．Amputees will feel at ease to talk about limbs. |
| D．Amputees will have easy access to artistic limbs. |
2 . How to charge an electric vehicle (EV) is one of the biggest concerns people have when working out whether going electric is right for them.
It is true that sometimes gaining access to reliable charging can seem a bit tricky.
First, download an app with a comprehensive map of the public charging points showing their locations, how powerful they are, and whether they’re working. All this is vital information because, even if you have public charging points nearby, you will need alternatives in case they’re in use.
A growing number of property owners are renting out their charging points and drive ways to other local EV drivers when they’re not using them.
For now, if charging access remains difficult for you, it’s still possible to go electric-in part.
| A．But it may be easier than you think. |
| B．It actually worked out much cheaper. |
| C．There are also other innovative ways to get your EV going. |
| D．A plug-in EV combines a petrol engine with a smaller battery. |
| E．A “fast” charger usually takes eight hours to fully charge an EV. |
| F．So you need to get a good feel for where your nearest points are. |
| G．You can find a map of homeowners whose charging points are available. |
3 . Even in the most speculative reaches of science fiction, there is no escaping humanity’s dependence on liquid water. The residents of the desert world Arrakis, accessible to anyone with a copy of Frank Herbert’s novel “Dune”, use windtraps to steal precious liquid from the air.
Collecting water from the air is nothing new. The Inca, who are widely thought to have invented the technique,placed buckets under trees to collect the condensation from heavy fog drifting in off the sea. People dwelling in the arid mountains of Oman have long built cisterns under trees for the same reason.
Instead of using leaves as condensation traps, however, which drip over an impractically large area, modern traps instead consist of sheets of very fine polymer mesh. As fog flows through the sheets, tiny droplets of water stick to the polymer fibres. These droplets grow until gravity pulls them into a compact trough and, thence, a reservoir. While collectors vary in size, a 40-metres-square collector in a reasonably foggy area yields around 200 litres a day, enough to supply 60 people with drinking water.
A team led by Dr Stachewicz found that the sheet could be made even more productive by changing the way in which its polymer threads were manufactured. Dr Stachewicz theorized that careful manufacture via a process known as electrospinning could lend the sheet a slight electrical charge that would prove attractive to water droplets in fog. In experiments conducted in 2021 she and a team of colleagues found that such sheets yielded 50%more water.
This past August, Dr Stachewicz reported further improvements by adding TiO₂ to the mesh. Previous work had shown that TiO₂ could be intensely attractive to water upon exposure to ultraviolet light-a hindrance under extremely foggy conditions, as water would stick to the mesh rather than trickle into the cistern. When fog was light, however, Dr Stachewicz and Mr Parisi found that a TiO₂-enhanced mesh became 30% more effective. Her fog collectors are now being used at sites on three continents.
This technology suggests a brighter future is possible. Areas so dry as to have gone without rainfall since modern records began may one day yield enough water to sustain settlement. And not just on a fictional planet.
1. Why did the writer mention a copy of Frank Herber’s novel?| A．Because the characters also get water from the air. |
| B．Because people in the novel also live without water. |
| C．Because it sets an opposite example of getting water. |
| D．Because the engineers got the inspiration of inventing traps from the novel. |
| A．Water from leaves drips over a large area. |
| B．Gravity pulls the droplets into a container. |
| C．Fog streams through sheets of polymer mesh and adhere to it. |
| D．Fog flows through sheets of polymer mesh and the polymer fibres. |
| A．It purifies water droplets. |
| B．It appeals to water droplets. |
| C．It fights against water droplets. |
| D．It blocks the fog from flowing. |
| A．How to capture water from the air. |
| B．A solution to relieving water stress. |
| C．Getting water from the air with different methods. |
| D．Using windtraps to steal precious liquid from the air. |
4 . 4 Children’s Museums You Can Visit Virtually
Young learners can explore the subjects of art, history, science, archaeology, and more through children’s museums that offer a virtual window into real-time curiosities via webcams, live streams, computer-generated tours, and 360-degree photographs.
Glazer Children’s Museum
Creating life-long learners has always been the goal at Tampa, Florida’s Glazer Children’s Museum. Make a Rube Goldberg Machine, learn about atmospheric pressure through hands-on experiments, and participate in coloring activities, all from the comfort of your own home.
Children’s Museum of South Dakota
Seize the Play invites kids to pick a topic and then complete the scientific challenge. There are many activities to choose from like making puffy paint, creating fizzy bubbles, building an indoor fort, paper making and more. There’s a special page just for grown-ups where parents can gain access to extra resources like reviews, activity suggestions and more.
Kohl Children’s Museum
You’ll be able to access remote learning opportunities through Kohl Children’s Museum’s Home Zone. Each web series will walk you through science experiments, art projects, music classes, and more, all of which you can complete while at home.
Minnesota Children’s Museum
The Minnesota Children’s Museum has a huge library of videos that families can watch while at home. Kids can learn how to create a time capsule, learn about the color wheel through mixing primary paint colors, and create sensory bins. Read research on the science of play, get helpful tips, and stay informed by subscribing to a newsletter.
1. Which museum offers additional tips for guardians?| A．Kohl Children’s Museum |
| B．Glazer Children’s Museum |
| C．Minnesota Children’s Museum |
| D．Children’s Museum of South Dakota |
| A．By getting helpful tips. |
| B．By subscribing to a newsletter. |
| C．By watching a huge library of videos. |
| D．By reading research on the science of play. |
| A．Creating indoor activities for children. |
| B．Teaching children to create sensory bins. |
| C．Offering children access to scientific experiments. |
| D．Encouraging children to complete the living challenge. |
5 . One of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists Charles Duhigg published a new book, in which he concluded common characteristics of “supercommunicators”— people who are consistently able to create authentic connections with others just by listening and talking.
Prove we’re listening. There are plenty of ways to appear like you’re listening, like making eye contact or nodding intently. But proving to someone that you’re listening is the quickest road to making someone feel heard.
Ask the right questions. Ask follow-up questions that signal to the other person that you’re interested in the conversation, like “So did you make it on time?” or “What happened next?” Ask questions like people’s values, beliefs or experiences and spark an opportunity for emotional connection.
Aim to understand. The goal of a discussion isn’t to impress someone, convince someone or wait for their turn to speak. It’s to genuinely comprehend someone else’s point of view and share your own views accordingly. If people know you want to understand them, they’re going to want to understand you.
| A．Realize what are the real questions. |
| B．Do you want to be a supercommunicator? |
| C．These deep questions get people to open up. |
| D．It is not that easy to be a supercommunicators. |
| E．Know what kind of conversation you’re having. |
| F．That is actually the most magical thing that can happen. |
| G．Ask someone a question first and then listen to their response. |
6 . Sia Godika was 13 when she noticed the barefoot children of construction workers at a building site near her house in the upscale Koramangala district of Bangalore, India.
“Their feet were bare. Cracked. Hard. Dirty. Bleeding,” reflects Sia, now 17. “They were just walking around that construction site like it was an everyday practice for them.” And it was: In that moment, Sia realized the troubling contrast to her own privilege.
“I went back home, looked at my own feet and thought, Wow, I’m 13 years old. My feet are so tender. ” Then she gave her shoes away to the children. Later that year, with the help of her parents and community volunteers, Sia founded Sole Warriors, a charity dedicated to providing footwear to those in need, epitomized by its motto: “Donate a sole, save a soul.”
The idea, which started as a dinner conversation with her parents, quickly grew. After she spread the word with posters and WhatsApp groups, inquiries from people who wanted to help came flooding in. For months, Sia was juggling schoolwork and her new passion project.
Now in its fifth year, the organization runs distribution drives in which Sole Warriors collects used footwear, refurbishes(整修) it and donates the finished products to people in need. Today Sole Warriors gave out 28,000 pairs of shoes. But the organization’s growth wasn’t without its challenges. When it came to looking for collaborators, such as a company that would do the refurbishments free of charge, Sia faced one obstacle after another before finding a partner in India’s Pressto Cobbler.
In recognition of her impact, in 2021 Sia was given the Diana Award, given to people aged nine to 25 in memory of the late Princess of Wales. Awarded by a U.K. based charity of the same name, it’s one of the most prestigious honours a young person can receive for social action or humanitarian work. But her work isn’t done. “Our goal has always been to touch a million feet,” she says.
1. What inspired Sia to set up Sole Warriors?| A．Sia loved collecting shoes. |
| B．Children didn’t have beautiful shoes. |
| C．Children at the construction site had no shoes. |
| D．Children had to walk around the construction site. |
| A．Uncared | B．Strange | C．Concerned | D．Supportive |
| A．Make more shoes |
| B．Donate more shoes |
| C．Find more co-operation partners |
| D．Set up branches of the organization |
| A．Patient and clever |
| B．Kind and knowledgeable |
| C．Determined and warm-hearted |
| D．Adventurous and hard-working |
7 . 4 Really Strange Beaches
Sandy stretches of gray, brown or even white are the world’s norm. Even rocky beaches or those with sheer cliffs barring passage for everyone save the bravest adventurers are not rare. These unique beaches are some of the best treats nature has to offer.
Papakolea Beach, Hawaii, USA
Papakōlea Beach is a green sand beach located near South Point, in the Ka’ū district of the island of Hawai ’i. One of only two green sand beaches in the World, the other being in Galapagos Islands.
Papakōlea Beach is associated with the southwest rift (裂谷) of Mauna Loa. Since its last eruption, the cinder cone has partially collapsed and been partially swallowed by the ocean.
San Alfonso del Mar Beach, Chile
This beach is located between the largest artificial pool. San Alfonso del Mar Beach is an essential part of the luxurious resort of the same name.
It seems a strange spot for the world’s largest swimming pool. But the pool’s remarkable spaciousness (宽敞) complements the ocean beyond rather effortlessly, and jumping in the pool’s 79℉(26℃) water is a much more attractive prospect than venturing into the 63℉(17℃) seawater nearby.
Maho Beach, Sint Maarten
Maho Beach is a beach on the Dutch side of the Caribbean island of Saint Martin, in the country of Sint Maarten. It is famous for the Princess Juliana International Airport next to the beach.
Arriving aircraft must touch down as close as possible to the beginning of Runway 10 due to the short runway length of 380 metres, resulting in aircraft on their final approach flying over the beach at minimal altitude.
Ocean Dome, Japan
This is an artificial beach constructed in the Seagaia re son along the coastal highway outside the city of Myazaki in Japan it has a fully controlled indoor climate throughout the year.
The Ocean Dome, which was a popular part of the Sheraton Seagaia Resort, measures 300 meters in length and 100 meters in width.
1. What has Papakōlea Beach experienced in Hawaii?| A．One mineral. | B．One connection. |
| C．One fierce rift. | D．One severe outbreak. |
| A．Jumping into the pool’s water |
| B．Learning to jump water in the pool |
| C．Building a spacious swimming pool |
| D．Taking a risk of swimming in the pool |
| A．They lie beside good places built. | B．They both lie on an island. |
| C．They are both artificial beaches. | D．They are both well-known. |
8 . My daughter will turn 17 in three months! As a parent, I feel the urgency (紧迫) to teach her important skills before she goes off to college.
Start the savings habit. Start to set aside money for the future now, while you are young.
Be careful with credit cards. When you go to college, you may find credit card companies often attract you to sign up for their credit cards. They will try to convince you that a credit card is like having free money for you to spend while you only pay the smallest amount each month.
Be a smart shopper. Plan ahead weekly by making a shopping list and stick to the list. Consider using recipes (食谱) that use low-cost, healthy materials.
| A．Write down your needs and wants |
| B．This idea of money can be very dangerous |
| C．Get a part-time job when you're old enough |
| D．Now put aside some money when you have any income |
| E．Eat before you shop to avoid a sudden wish to buy something |
| F．Few people ever become wealthy based entirely on their earnings |
| G．Money management skills are extremely important for her success and happiness |
9 . How many times have you heard that reducing stress is important for good health? But stress isn’t always the enemy. In fact, research suggests some is actually good for you, with possible benefits ranging from better brain function to healthier aging.
Firstly, it’s ubiquitous: Research suggests people feel at least some stress on 90% of their days. When stress worsens for a long time and can’t be solved, it can cause mental and physical health problems, even raising your risk for conditions like heart disease. But in most cases, a stress response (反应) is important. It can help you get through a hard time or even escape physical danger. And, when stress is managed well, it can lead to better health and happiness in the future.
Stress can be damaging — but proper amount of stress can be helpful, according to Assaf Oshri, a professor at the University of Georgia. Oshri says, “Resilience (适应力) comes from your interactions (相互作用) with the environment. If people don’t experience any stress, they may not build up resilience. If they experience too much, their happiness may suffer. But there seems to be a balance between the two, where stress improves mental health and helps people recover from difficult situations.”
When people face pressure, some approaches can also be taken to deal with it. Playing sports can help to find a balance in the face of stress, according to some experts. Turning to loved ones during tough times is important too. And if you can, remind yourself that stress is a difficult but necessary part of life.
“You can’t choose exactly what happens to you, but you can choose your response in the moment,” Jonathan Rush, a professor at the University of Victoria in Canada, says. “Having the idea that you can overcome things, you can grow from things; whatever happens, you will have a path forward — that’s what matters most.”
1. What does the underlined word “ubiquitous” mean in paragraph 2?| A．Special. | B．Interesting. | C．Popular. | D．Common. |
| A．It can help people know their physical danger. |
| B．It can promote people’s mental health. |
| C．It can help people keep a balance between life and work. |
| D．It can increase people's interactions with each other. |
| A．The ways to deal with stress. | B．The influence of sports on stress. |
| C．The approaches of having a happy life. | D．The key to avoiding challenging times. |
| A．Explaining what happened. | B．Having a positive response. |
| C．Relying on your loved ones. | D．Learning from others' experiences. |
10 . An Inuit-developed app, named SIKU after the Inuktitut for “sea ice”, allows local communities from Alaska to Greenland to connect traditional knowledge with scientific data to track changes in the environment, and make decisions about how to manage wildlife.
A group of Inuit elders and hunters from Sanikiluaq, Nunavut, thought up the idea for SIKU more than ten years ago to document and understand the changing sea ice they were seeing in southeastern Hudson Bay. The group turned to the local non-profit Arctic Eider Society (AES) to develop a web-based platform (平台).
Over the years, SIKU has developed, and recently, the elders saw that the platform could help address a familiar challenge: sharing knowledge with younger people who often have their noses in their phones. In 2019, SIKU was reintroduced as a full-fledged (全面发展的) social network — a platform where members can post photos and notes about wildlife sightings, hunts, sea ice conditions and more. The posts tell stories of hunting and traveling; the impacts of climate change and industrial activity; and the traditions, diets and illnesses of local animals.
Inuit communities are already using the app to inform important decisions. In 2021, for example, elders in Sanikiluaq were worried that the local reindeer (驯鹿) population had reduced, so the Hunters and Trappers Association used SIKU to survey hunters and look at recent reported harvest rates. The information led the association to close the hunt for a short time to reduce pressure on the population and to reintroduce hunting slowly when the number of reindeer increased.
Traditionally, Inuit communities shared this information orally (口头上地). “We have lived in the environment for centuries and know about the wildlife. Now armed with SIKU, information is documented in a way that other people will understand. The advantage of SIKU is that it’s part science and part Inuit knowledge and it supports community-driven research,” says Lucassie Arragutainaq, a co-founder of AES.
1. What was the purpose of developing SIKU in the beginning?| A．To raise money for AES. | B．To pass on Inuit tradition. |
| C．To attract more visitors to Inuit communities. | D．To record and learn about the changing sea ice. |
| A．To further prove the role of SIKU. |
| B．To advise people to pay more attention to SIKU. |
| C．To call on visitors and locals to protect reindeer. |
| D．To tell the benefits of the Hunters and Trappers Association. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Worried. | C．Puzzled. | D．Supportive. |
| A．SIKU: Overcoming Environmental Challenges |
| B．SIKU: Informing Decision Of Local Communities |
| C．SIKU: Joining Traditional Wisdom To Modern Technology |
| D．SIKU: Advantages Over Other Local Social Media Platforms |
