1 . We’ve all been there: in a lift, in line at the bank or on an airplane, surrounded by people who are, like us, deeply focused on their smartphones or, worse, struggling with the uncomfortable silence.
What’s the problem? It’s possible that along with the rapid development of society, we all focus on our phone and desktop, and therefore it results in our compromised conversational intelligence. However, it’s more likely that none of us start a conversation because it’s awkward and challenging, or we think it’s annoying and unnecessary. But the next time you find yourself among strangers, consider that small talk is worth the trouble. Experts say it’s an invaluable social practice that results in big benefits.
Dismissing small talk as unimportant is easy, but we can’t forget that deep relationships wouldn’t even exist if it weren’t for small conversation. “Small talk is the grease (润滑剂) for social communication,” says Bernardo Carducci, director of the Shyness Research Institute at Indiana University Southeast. “Almost every great love story and each big business deal begins with small talk,” he explains. “The key to successful small talk is learning how to connect with others, not just communicate with them.”
In a 2014 study, Elizabeth Dunn, associate professor of psychology at UBC, invited people on their way into a coffee shop. One group was asked to seek out an interaction with its waiter; the other, to speak only when necessary. The results showed that those who chatted with their server reported significantly higher positive feelings and a better coffee shop experience. “It’s not that talking to the waiter is better than talking to your husband,” says Dunn. “But interactions with peripheral (边缘的) members of our social network matter for our well-being also.”
Dunn believes that people who reach out to strangers feel a significantly greater sense of belonging, a bond with others. Carducci believes developing such a sense of belonging starts with small talk. “Small talk is the basis of good manners,” he says.
1. What does the underlined word “compromised” in paragraph 2 mean?| A．Weakened. | B．Enhanced. | C．Secret. | D．Natural. |
| A．Showing good manners. | B．Relating to other people. |
| C．Focusing on a topic. | D．Making business deals. |
| A．It made the coffee taste better. | B．It reduced waiting time in line. |
| C．It improved people’s mood and experience. | D．It helped them bond with the server deeply. |
| A．Elevator manners. | B．The importance of small talk. |
| C．Smartphones and social media. | D．Developing deep relationships. |
2 . Two young Tasmanians have taken out a top national science award for their hi-tech invention, designed to keep the inventors’ great-grandmother safe.
The 18-year-old cousins, Isaac Brain and Mitchell Torok, have won equal first place in the engineering section of the BHP science and engineering awards. The pair, who finished Year 12 last year, created a smartwatch-style device that can detect whether an elderly person has fallen and cause an alarm.
The device will now be showcased on the world stage at a science and engineering fair in Arizona, US, which brings together students from around the world who are first-place science winners.
Mitchell, who went to Rosny College, Hobart, said he dreamt up the idea because he was worried about his 89-year-old great-grandmother Gwen Brook, who lives in an independent apartment next to an aged-care facility in Hobart. “If she falls over and hurts herself, there’s a chance that no one would be able to find her quickly,” Mitchell said. “So we decided to build a cheap and easy device that aged-care residents could wear.”
Called “aWear”, the device can be worn as a watch. It links to a database that can send a real-time text message to nurses. As well as an alert button, the device also features an “accelerometer” that measures the speed of a wearer’s movement to detect a fall.
Isaac, who went to Launceston College, Launceston, developed the software and web development for the device. “The accelerometer measures movement — so when an increase in movement is detected it records that data and it is then analysed to determine whether a fall has occurred,” Isaac said. Isaac will study computer science at Melbourne University this year. He said a key feature of the device was that it caused an alert to staff even if the wearer did not press the alert button.
Mitchell will study mechatronics engineering at the University of NSW. He designed the watch and spent a lot of time testing it. “We have done a lot of test falls — with Mitchell falling onto pillows,” Isaac said.
1. What device did the two young cousins develop?| A．A database system to monitor people’s movements. |
| B．A wearable calculator to measure the speed movements. |
| C．A real-time text messaging system for aged-care facilities. |
| D．A smartwatch-style device to detect falls and alert caregivers. |
| A．To win a national science competition. |
| B．To create a product that could be commercialized. |
| C．To develop a solution to assist their great-grandmother. |
| D．To show their engineering and software development skills. |
| A．Ground-breaking and complicated. | B．Economical and convenient. |
| C．Transformative and clumsy. | D．Costly and profitable. |
| A．Hard work pays off. | B．It’s never too late to learn. |
| C．The simplest way is the best way. | D．Ups and downs make one strong. |
3 . Some mothers and daughters like to go shopping or walking together or picnicking as part of their bonding experience. Others become firefighters together. That’s the route that Montgomery County mother Betsy Gekonge took with her 17-year-old daughter Mokeira. The pair recently graduated from the Montgomery County Fire Academy together and received their Firefighter certificate.
The rising high school senior says she thought she’d be going to the fire academy alone. She never expected to have company. “This is quite out of my expectation because I never expected her to do it with me,” said Mokeira.
“Taking classes with my mom was fun because we could study together but also joke around. We share a lot of funny stories at family events,” Mokeira told the Montgomery County Fire Chiefs Association. “Montgomery County is a great place for new volunteers because you learn a lot from knowledgeable, professional firefighters in a positive environment. It teaches you a lot.”
Mokeira is one of the first individuals to gain her Firefighter certificate at age 17 since Pennsylvania’s law changed, making 17 —the youngest legal age to become certified instead of 18.
The pair will work as volunteer firefighters for Barren Hill Fire Company in Lafayette Hill. According to the Pennsylvania Fire and Emergency Services Institute, there were 300,000 volunteer firefighters across the state in the 1970s. That number dwindled (减少) to 38,000 in 2018.
“It’s really fulfilling to volunteer and learn about fire safety that helps us and others in our daily life,” Betsy added. “I’ve built a lot of relationships in our community through volunteering.” “Our decision was primarily motivated by this, and now I have gained great satisfaction from it. It gives me a sense of purpose and I’m helping to contribute to the solution,” said Mokiera.
1. What did Betsy and Mokeira decide to do bond with each other?| A．Go shopping. | B．Take a walk. |
| C．Become firefighters. | D．Have a picnic. |
| A．Surprised. | B．Annoyed. | C．Confused. | D．Worried. |
| A．To learn fire safety skills. | B．To work as career firefighters. |
| C．To address the shortage of employees. | D．To strengthen ties with their community. |
| A．The importance of fire safety education. |
| B．A serious challenge faced by firefighters. |
| C．An inspiring example of mother-daughter job relation. |
| D．The potential for family members to volunteer together. |
4 . On the bustling streets of Sydney, Australia, Dong Min, a young Chinese woman, dressed in elegant Chinese traditional clothing — hanfu, gracefully holds a dizi, the bamboo flute of China, fascinating passersby with the melodies of traditional Chinese music.
Dong Min, a talented musician was born in 1990. Seeing a female performer playing the bamboo flute on TV fired her interest in this Chinese traditional instrument at the age of 8. Soon her interest blossomed into talent. At the age of 10, winning a provincial-level Chinese musical instrument competition earned her one of only four spots for further studies in Beijing. After graduating from Minzu University of China with a major in Chinese bamboo flute in 2015, she enrolled at the University of New South Wales in Australia to study cultural leadership where she initiated street performances, featuring Chinese traditional instruments. One year later, she formed a band and founded the Sydney Meya Institute of Chinese Music to teach various Chinese traditional instruments to more people.
Apart from street performances and her institution, Dong also offers online dizi lessons to a global audience and organizes online exchange concerts for her students worldwide. “Our students range from 4-year-olds to 80-year-olds, reflecting the timeless appeal of Chinese music across generations,” Dong said.
Her effort paid off eventually. Her performances grew in popularity. Many audiences traveled all the way from cities like Melbourne and Brisbane to Sydney just to attend her performances.” Many music schools now offer courses on Chinese instruments. I hope to create a platform for music enthusiasts to connect and cultivate friendships through their shared love for music. Thus, we can not only raise awareness of Chinese traditional music in Australia but also share the richness of Chinese culture through music with the international audience.” Dong Min said.
1. Which of the following is true?| A．Dong Min founded the institution at 26. |
| B．Dong Min taught dizi through street performances. |
| C．Dong Min majored in Chinese bamboo flute in Australia. |
| D．Dong Min wished to gain popularity through her performances. |
| A．By analyzing reasons. | B．By providing examples. |
| C．By making comparisons. | D．By following time order. |
| A．Brave and humorous. | B．Gifted and passionate. |
| C．Creative and stubborn. | D．Patient and experienced. |
| A．Chinese Traditional Music: From China to Australia. |
| B．Bamboo Flute: Chinese Instrument Shared in Australia. |
| C．Dong Min: A Culture Messenger Bridging Cultures through Music. |
| D．Dong Min: A Talented Chinese Girl Spreading Chinese Instruments. |
5 . On 17 September 2023, Senior 1 student Charlie Robson was enjoying his dinner at the stand when there came a sudden scream from the boy next to his table, who accidentally swallowed the plastic wrapper stuck to the bottom of his food.
Seeing him unable to cough it up, the boy’s mother was immediately filled with fear as she stood there, patting his son’s back anxiously. “Somebody help! My son is going to choke with the wrapper in his throat.”
Charlie noticed that the boy’s face had turned complete purple. He knew he must take action immediately. Otherwise, the boy’s life was in great danger. Charlie quickly ran behind the boy and started doing the Heimlich maneuver (海姆立克急救法) whose theory is to push air through the airway to force whatever is in there out. Minutes later, the plastic wrapper was eventually forced out and the boy began to breathe again.
Seeing the boy was safe, Charlie rushed to the school without knowing his act of kindness went viral after someone in the scene posted the video on Tik Tok. Charlie’s father said, “I’m so proud of my son. He is a brave boy with great responsibility. He didn’t tell me what had happened until I saw the video on Tik Tok.”
Plus, the boy’s mother wrote to the headmaster, saying “The student who saved my son’s life the other day is really a hero. We’re so grateful that he stepped in to help when my son was faced with such a dangerous situation. Thanks so much for educating such well-rounded students with good moral virtues.” In response to the letter, Jimmy Mehwish, the headmaster of the school, said, “At the very beginning of the semester, Charlie has set a great example for all the students. His kindness really sets a tone for everyone else.”
1. How did the boy’s mother feel after he ate the plastic wrapper?| A．Concerned. | B．Scared. | C．Upset. | D．Embarrassed. |
| A．Be attacked by viruses on social media. |
| B．Be sold to make a profit on social media. |
| C．Became familiar with fans on social media. |
| D．Spread quickly and widely on social media. |
| A．He is afraid of his father. |
| B．He is a brave boy of few words. |
| C．He dislikes the attention from Tik Tok. |
| D．He thought little about his act of kindness. |
| A．Charlie is a well-rounded student. |
| B．The boy’s mother is grateful to Charlie. |
| C．Other students should learn from Charlie. |
| D．Charlie is responsible for the boy’s safety. |
6 . Fuzhou, 17 April 2024, China will ratchet up (逐渐升高) resources to advance the construction of the 5G network, expand the application of 5G technology in various fields, and promote the research and development of 6G.
“China has built the world’s largest 5G network with the most advanced technologies. The number of the country’s 5G base stations had reached over 2.64 million by the end of March this year and the super-fast 5G wireless technology has been used in 52 of the 97 major economic categories, ranging from mining to electricity.” said Zhao Ce, deputy head of the information and telecommunications development department at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
The ministry will make more efforts to promote the building of the 5G network in an orderly manner and accelerate its industrial applications, push forward the R&D of 6G, and strengthen international exchange and communication in 5G-related technology, standards and application. China is taking the lead in 5G development across the globe, and 5G is expected to play a bigger role in promoting digitalization in a wide range of fields covering intelligent connected vehicles and intelligent transportation.
“Although there is no universally accepted definition of 6G, the technology is predicted to provide faster speeds, lower latency and more bandwidth than 5G,” said Zhao Ce. “Meanwhile, the 6G network will realize the deep integration of physical and virtual worlds, and build a new world featuring the intelligent connection of everything. As the next-generation mobile communication technology, 6G integrates with telecommunication, artificial intelligence, big data and security.”
However, new cybersecurity challenges have emerged with the rapid development and application of 5G technology. Qi Xiangdong, chairman of Chinese cybersecurity company Qi-Anxin Technology Group, said the company will strengthen cooperation with the country’s major telecom carriers to help them deal with growing cybersecurity risks.
1. Where is the text most likely to be taken?| A．A magazine. | B．A news report. | C．A travel brochure. | D．A textbook. |
| A．The challenges that 5G is facing. |
| B．The stability and flexibility of 5G. |
| C．The achievements and applications of 5G. |
| D．The most advanced technologies applied in 5G. |
| A．Favorable. | B．Dissatisfied. | C．Indifferent. | D．Doubtful. |
| A．The development of 5G technology. |
| B．The potential risks of developing 6G. |
| C．The approaches to tackling cybersecurity risks. |
| D．The cooperation with the cybersecurity company. |
7 . Summer vacation approaching, want your kids to explore something meaningful rather than being glued to the screens? Bring your kids to the Sarek National Theme Garden which combines a fascinating hike with an amazing opportunity to learn some knowledge about the unique carvings.
The garden, founded in 1979, is famous for its blossoms and the exhibition of rock carvings. Every year, countless visitors come to enjoy the spectacular blossoms, view the unique exhibition and participate in various educational activities.
Now let’s start the journey with admiring the beauty of the local blossoms, ranging from lotuses to Begonia flowers along the paths. Meanwhile, you can enjoy the unique exhibition, featuring a wide range of rock carvings by experienced craftsmen with professionals introducing them in detail.
Rules:
Don’t pick the flowers or shake the trees while enjoying the blossoms.
Pets are not allowed except guided dogs to serve people with disabilities.
Don’t touch the carvings with your hands except the particular ones.
Opening hours:
Tuesday — Sunday: 9 am-5 pm.
Prices:
Adult: ¥75 (a 10% discount before June 16, 2024)
Child (6-18): ¥35
Child under 6: Free
All visitors including children under 6 need tickets to enter the garden. Tickets are available at the Visitors Service Center. Also you can book tickets in advance online.
1. For whom the passage is intended?| A．Parents. | B．Children. | C．Guides. | D．Professionals. |
| A．¥135. | B．¥185. | C．¥205. | D．¥220. |
| A．It opens on weekdays. |
| B．It offers educational activities. |
| C．It has a history of over half a century. |
| D．Children under 6 can enter the garden without a ticket. |
8 . Internet addiction is a common problem that can be just as damaging as any other form of addiction.
Charge devices in another room at night to prevent bedtime browsing. Bedtime browsing can interfere with your sleep due to the blue light your smart phone emits, so stopping bedtime browsing may help you to sleep better. If you often browse the internet on your phone while lying in bed, prevent yourself from doing this by charging your phone in another room of the house.
Remove social media apps from your phone. If you find yourself picking up your phone and going on the internet every time you get a notification, delete the social media apps on your phone.
Reach out to friends and family to build more in-person connections. If you’re longing for social interaction, call up a friend and make plans to do something fun, or arrange a family dinner or game night.
| A．Use relaxation techniques to reduce stress. |
| B．Replace internet use with a healthy activity. |
| C．If you don’t have friends or family who you can turn to, |
| D．When you feel bored and want to do something to kill time, |
| E．Make it a rule that you can only check them on your computer. |
| F．If you rely too much on the internet, the following strategies may help you. |
| G．In this case, read a book or use a relaxation technique to help you wind down. |
9 . Many got sleepless nights after Sora amazed the world with its remarkable ability of creating videos directly from text instructions. Discussions about what the artificial intelligence model can do and make a difference continue.
Some said it could give a huge blow to traditional industries such as film and television making, looking forward to the day when a movie can be created right after a novel is put into the model. But others remain skeptical about how powerful the model can be in changing the landscape of AI application.
Developed by a group of young talent from Microsoft-backed company OpenAI, the text-to-video model can generate videos up to a minute long while maintaining visual quality.
Shen Yang, a professor at the School of Journalism and Communication, Tsinghua University, said, “Sora represents a revolutionary leap in the field of AI-generated content (AIGC).”
As one of the leading scholars in AI research in China, Shen leads a team that studies the philosophy of AI. Until he learned about Sora, Shen was quite satisfied with his team’s AI-generated videos. A two-minute video on the Spring Festival produced by Shen’s team have recently won many likes on social media platforms. “Compared with the new model Sora, what we used are tools of the previous generation. There’s a huge gap in between,” said Shen.
As a frequent user of AI, Shen said the technology not only helps improve his productivity, but also benefits his daily life. His wife was suffering from cancer, and he used AI to assist in finding treatment, which has remarkably prolonged her life. He even wrote an award-winning science fiction novel using A.
However, new technologies do not mean good news to everyone. Many also concern about AI models’ safety issues since related regulations are lagging behind.
Sora is going to bring changes in many fields, including short video, film and television, news, games, advertising, education, and even industrial manufacturing, according to Shen. There is still much room to improve AI models. For instance, current AI models are not capable of drawing characters accurately and quickly. Shop signs lack meaning in Sora’s demo video showing a woman walking down a street in Tokyo. But these problems are believed to be solved as models update.
1. Which of the following might replace the underlined word in Paragraph 2?| A．Push. | B．Strike. |
| C．Warning. | D．Bonus. |
| A．All people cannot benefit from the new AI technologies. |
| B．AI model’s safety isn’t concerning despite lagging legal restrictions. |
| C．The AI-generated videos by Shen Yang’s team were better than those created by Sora. |
| D．The text-to-video model was developed by a group of young talent from Tsinghua University. |
| A．Reserved. | B．Objective. |
| C．Unconcerned. | D．Approving. |
| A．Sora: An AI video. | B．Video Making: AI Models. |
| C．Sora: A Powerful AI Tool. | D．Video Making: Future of AI. |
10 . While there are many milk substitutes (替代品) on the market, most fall short of imitating dairy milk. And while vegetarians around the world have grown accustomed to these substitutes, millions of milk drinkers are unsatisfied with these options, which don’t often taste, look, and blend like dairy milk. That accuracy is exactly what Impossible Foods has set out to develop. “We want milk that a dairy milk consumer will choose” said CEO Pat Brown at a virtual conference call.
Like the famous Impossible Burger which tastes, cooks, and bleeds like real meat, Impossible Milk will also most likely be soy-based, giving it a protein profile (外形) like dairy milk. While the product is still in development for at least another year, Brown said in the conference call that soy is a very good choice from a nutritional standpoint and a supply chain standpoint, and for those reasons he thinks there’s a great chance that it will be the base protein for their product.
Plant-based milk, meats, and other products have been rising over the past several years as environmental and health concerns have grown, especially among millennials (千禧一代). According to a study by YouGov, approximately 55 percent of millennials surveyed agree with the statement “I am open to substituting meat or dairy products with healthy substitutes”.
And the market is seeing this preference take shape. According to the Dairy Farmers of America, milk sales dropped by $1.1 billion between 2017 and 2018. While at the same time, the Plant-Based Food Association revealed that the sales of plant-based milk increased a lot, making up 15 percent of the total milk market.
As the trend towards choosing plant-based substitutes grows, so do the products, which can now be found in supermarkets throughout the world. With no plans of slowing down, plant-based food substitutes are a micro revolution that is changing the very culture of our food consumption from the bottom all the way to the top.
1. What is the target of Impossible Foods?| A．To satisfy the increasing demand for milk. | B．To attract more vegetarians to buy milk. |
| C．To make its milk more similar to dairy milk. | D．To develop more nutritional milk substitutes. |
| A．Intolerant. | B．Unclear. | C．Impartial. | D．Favorable. |
| A．The poor sales of milk substitutes. | B．The success of Impossible Foods’s milk. |
| C．The booming market for plant-based milk. | D．The competition among plant-based products. |
| A．They will change vegetarians’ diets. | B．They are only sold in supermarkets. |
| C．They are expensive for most consumers. | D．They have a strong effect on food culture. |
