1 . An artificial intelligence (AI) tool of street view could be used to predict the risk of coronary heart disease — a condition where the heart’s arteries (动脉) are blocked, limiting blood flow to the heart by analysing neighbourhood environments, according to research.

A study, published in the European Heart Journal, monitored everyday surroundings, including the quality of roads, buildings, and green spaces, and the role they play in determining heart health. Researchers were able to track the link between these environmental elements, including the presence or absence of pollution, and the risk of coronary heart disease. They found that these neighbourhood characteristics could account for 63% of the differences in heart disease risk from one community to another.

The discovery stems from analysing more than half a million AI street view images across US cities, using computer vision to identify and interpret details that might go unnoticed by the human eye. The data provides urban planners and public health officials with information to design healthier living spaces and neighbourhoods.

“Undoubtedly, there is a vast amount of social, economic and environmental data set,” said one of the study's authors, Prof Sanjay Rajagopalan. “However, there still remain significant gap s in our knowledge regarding unique environmental aspects of data that are currently beyond human comprehension. This is where the use of computer vision approaches may enable unique understanding of the physical and built environment.”

By employing AI, researchers have been able to examine the details of neighbourhoods’ environment. The study employed computer vision technology, including applications used in medical imaging and autonomous driving, to identify details and then interpret them to make predictions or decisions.

“We are getting to a place in human civilization where traditional approaches that have been used are rather limited and the use of AI to enhance human understanding is going to be critically important at solving complex problems,” Prof Rajagopalan said.

1. What is the finding of the study?

A．How people can prevent heart diseases.	B．How environments affect heart health.
C．How AI can reduce heart disease risks.	D．How the heart's arteries are blocked.

2. What can the finding of the study help to do?

A．Promote computer technology.	B．Reduce air and water pollution.
C．Design green neighbourhoods.	D．Advertise for an AI company.

3. Why was computer vision used in the study?

A．The researchers had no environmental data.	B．It had solved some environmental problems.
C．People ignored the environment they live in.	D．It helped people understand the environment.

4. Which of the following is the best title for the text?

A．The development of AI for hospitals	B．The medical use of a street view tool
C．The insight into healthy neighbourhoods	D．The link between the heart and environment

2 . A new study by an international team of experts highlights how global methane (甲烷) emissions have been rising rapidly since 2006, particularly since 2020, a trend that’s expected to continue unless we do something very significant very soon. The study authors have then outlined some strategies countries can use to take action, and developed an online tool to help with this.

This continual climb in methane emissions is largely due to the continued use of fossil (化石) fuels rather than cleaner options, the researchers say. It’s directly produced by oil, gas, and coal drilling and processing. The increasing release of methane from natural wetlands, caused by a hotter climate, is now also contributing. Methane is produced by rubbish sites, thawing permafrost, and animals too. The researchers, led by physicist and climate specialist Drew Shindell of Duke University in the US, suggest these are minor contributors at the moment — although ones that also need to be closely watched.

“Worldwide efforts to limit climate change are rightly focused on carbon dioxide (CO₂), the primary driver,” writes the team in their published paper.

“However, since humanity has failed to properly address climate change for several decades, keeping warming below agreed goals now requires that we address all major climate pollutants.”

There is currently much less methane in our atmosphere than carbon dioxide (CO₂), but methane is a stronger greenhouse gas.

We know that methane is a major contributor to the warming of the world, trapping heat like CO₂ does. It also contributes to the formation of ozone (臭氧) at ground level, increasing the risk of death through respiratory illnesses and cardiovascular diseases.

“Rapid reductions in methane emissions this decade are essential to slowing warming in the near future, limiting overshoot by the middle of the century and keeping low-warming carbon budgets within reach,” write the researchers.

Warnings from scientists about the state of Earth’s climate path are now reaching a deafening level. Humanity should pay close attention to those warnings and take action.

1. What do we know about methane emissions?

A．They are currently a minor concern.

B．They have been going up since 2006.

C．They have decreased steadily since 2020.

D．They are mainly caused by cleaner options.

2. What is the second paragraph mainly about?

A．The continued use of methane emissions.

B．Strategies for reducing methane emissions.

C．The impact of methane emissions on human health.

D．The contributions of sources to methane emissions.

3. Why is reducing methane emissions considered urgent?

A．Methane lessens the amount of ozone.

B．Methane limits climate change effectively.

C．Methane promotes global warming greatly.

D．Methane keeps low-warming carbon budgets.

4. What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?

A．To call on people to handle methane emissions.

B．To introduce the history of methane emissions.

C．To highlight the dangers of methane formation.

D．To advocate for the increased use of fossil fuels.

3 . A New Approach to Learning Languages

The Language Learning Institute (LLI) is excited to announce a series of language workshops designed for beginners and advanced learners alike. These workshops aim to provide a fun and immersive environment for mastering new languages.

Workshop 1—Spanish for Beginners

Join us for an introductory course in Spanish led by native speaker Maria Sanchez. This workshop is perfect for those who have always wanted to learn Spanish but never had the chance. You'll start with the basics and gradually build up to more complex conversations.

Date and Time: Saturday, 15th October, at 10: 00

Location: LLI Main Hall

Duration: 3 hours

Workshop 2—Advanced French

For those who already have a good grasp of French, this advanced workshop with expert tutor Pierre Dupont will take your language skills to the next level. You'll study the origin of the language, idiomatic expressions, and cultural insights.

Date and Time: Sunday, 16th October, at 14: 00

Location: LLI Conference Room

Duration: 4 hours

Workshop 3—German Language and Culture

Experience the richness of German language and culture with Dr Hans Richter. This workshop is designed for intermediate learners who want to deepen their understanding of German and its cultural context.

Date and Time: Saturday, 15th October, at 15: 00

Location: LLI Cultural Center

Duration: 3. 5 hours

Workshop 4—Italian Immersion

Step into the world of Italian with our immersive workshop led by Italian language enthusiast, Sofia Romano. This hands-on experience will help you speak Italian in no time, with a focus on conversational skills and everyday usage.

Date and Time: Sunday, 16th October, at 9: 30

Location: LLI Language Lab

Duration: 2. 5 hours

1. Who is the tutor for the Advanced French workshop?

A．Maria Sanchez.

B．Pierre Dupont.

C．Hans Richter.

D．Sofia Romano.

2. What is the focus of the Italian Immersion workshop?

A．Reading and writing skills.	B．Cultural context.
C．Conversational skills.	D．Business language.

3. What do the four workshops have in common?

A．They involve native speakers.	B．They are suitable for beginners.
C．They are scheduled for the weekday.	D．They aim to enhance language abilities.

4 . How to Boost Self Motivation

Motivation is what drives you to take positive action.     1    . The first is self-motivation, which comes from within ourselves. The second is motivation from external sources. How do we get motivated and more importantly, how do we stay motivated? Here are some tips to help us stay motivated.

Set goals.     2    . The first step to achieving a dream is to turn it into a series of goals. A long-term goal will be the ultimate dream — let’s say, setting up a new business. Short-term and medium-term goals will be the stages on the road to the final goal.

Avoid Loans. Having some money behind you before you set off on your quest for success is good. Do not, however, try to fund your life with loans and credit cards. Avoid them if you can. Worry over debt is another way of destroying self-motivation. If your dream is to set up a business, keep the business finances separate from your personal finances. Do not, for example, be tempted to use your house as security for any business loans you might be arranging.     3    .

Have self-belief. When you are faced with a failure, don’t just let it defeat you. Remember that you have already overcome other blocks.     4    . Trusting your capacity for success is a brilliant motivator. You know you can solve the problem facing you because you have done it before.

    5    . You will already have drawn up your plan of action and the timetable for carrying it out. Keep this in mind at all times, and you will continue to be motivated. Your plan itself is a source of self-motivation. Review your progress from time to time to make sure that you are still on course for success.

A．Stick to the plan

B．Keep your motives in mind

C．Motivation comes in two types

D．Our dreams are usually a bit unclear

E．Believe in yourself and your abilities

F．This is another unavoidable cause of stress

G．It is important not to worry about losing motivation

5 . I’m an Indonesian student and finished my Master’s degree in Sweden.     1     Here are my top four things that I’ve learned from my experience.

I understand my home country better. Being a local in my home country for almost a lifetime got me thinking that the grass was always greener in other countries.     2     And my country has different positive angles that I’ve learned to see and be proud of.

I get much deeper understanding of other cultures’ perspectives. Studying abroad has changed my perspective and made me shift my beliefs. I’ve learned the issue of privacy. I used to see that the internet is the place where we should talk about our activities and share many parts of ourselves to the world. I used to take everyone’s pictures and share them online.     3    

I see travelling in a new way. What is travelling all about? Why do we need travelling?     4     I learned that by being a tourist, understanding local perspectives and needs is important. And most importantly, I found that you can find a whole new way of life when you really take time to understand the country you’ re in.

    5     When you study abroad, the first thing you might notice are the many differences between people. But you also see that all of these differences are also universal — people in many ways are the same everywhere. Studying abroad gives you the opportunity to really understand people from different culture backgrounds. And when you make friends, you learn to accept their perfections alongside their shortcomings.

A．I learn to accept people’s differences.

B．What should you take while you are travelling?

C．Learning in a foreign country taught me lots of things.

D．I like to make friends from different culture backgrounds.

E．Yet being abroad has given me the chance to see that no country is perfect.

F．By trying answering these questions, I started to understand travelling differently.

G．Now I secure my data, respect people’s privacy, and even remind others to do so.

6 . Recent developments in robotics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning have brought us in the eye of the storm of a new automation age. About half of the work carried out by people was likely to be automated by 2055 with adaption to technology, a McKinsey Global Institute report predicted.

Automation can enable businesses to improve performance by reducing errors and improving quality and speed, and in some cases achieving outcomes that go beyond human capabilities. At a time of weak productivity growth worldwide, automation technologies can provide the much-needed promotion of economic growth, according to the report. Automation could raise productivity growth globally by 0.8 percent to 1.4 percent. At a global level, technically automated activities involved 1.1 billion employees and 11.9 trillion U.S. dollars in wages, the report said.

The report also showed that activities most influenced by automation were physical ones in highly structured and predictable environments, as well as data collection and processing. In the United States, these activities make up 51 percent of activities in the economy, accounting for almost 2.7 trillion dollars in wages. They are most common in production, accommodation and food service, and the retail (零售) trade. And it’s not just low-skill, low-wage work that is likely to be influenced by automation; middle-skill and high-paying, high-skill occupations, too, have a degree of automation potential.

The robots and computers not only can perform a range of routine physical work activities better and more cheaply than humans, but are also increasingly capable of accomplishing activities that require cognitive (认知的) capabilities, such as feeling emotions or driving.

While much of the current debate about automation has focused on the potential that many people may be replaced and therefore lose their financial resources, the analysis shows that humans will still be needed: The total productivity gains will only come about if people work alongside machines.

1. What is the report mainly about?

A．Comparisons of robots with humans.

B．Analysis of automation’s potential in economy.

C．Prediction of the unemployment problem.

D．Explanations of the concept of the automation age.

2. What might happen in 2055 according to the text?

A．Automation will cause weak productivity growth.

B．Automation will reduce employees’ wages.

C．Activities like data collection and processing will disappear.

D．Activities involve feeling emotions can be performed by robots.

3. How does the author feel about human workers?

A．Worried.	B．Mixed.
C．Optimistic.	D．Doubtful.

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

A．Automation: A challenge to all?

B．Automation: Where to go from here?

C．Automation: Who is the eventual winner?

D．Automation: A future replacement for humans?

7 . When my father died last year, I received messages from my friends and family sharing their condolences (吊唁). While I appreciated everyone who reached out, I was especially grateful to two of my roommates who surprised my family with a delivery of bagels (百吉圈) for breakfast. Despite a mix- up in the address and the fact that we never received those bagels, this act of kindness stayed with me. It mattered more than the actual food.

There’s a difference between being nice and being kind. Being nice often involves politeness and the purpose of pleasing others. It can be used as a strategy to leave a good impression, as noted by Dr Manly, a psychologist. Think about the last time you praised someone’s clothes but didn’t actually mean it. If you’ re people- pleasing, you may also expect others to respond in a certain way. But being kind is less self- serving. A kind person tries to really understand what someone else is going through so he could offer assistance. He is acting out of genuine concern for another without expecting anything in return.

Practicing kindness benefits people’s health. When people act kindly, the brain releases a substance called oxytocin, which dampens activity in a region of the brain involved in fear and anxiety. If you have ever felt less stressed from helping others, it’s all thanks to the calming effects of oxytocin. Besides, acts of kindness get your brain to release feel- good chemicals like endorphins. They promote pleasure and act as a natural pain reliever.

Being kind provides the same health benefits, no matter how big or small the gesture is. Below are some good deeds you can do and start right now: pick up litter, be an active listener, cook a meal for someone in need. Initially, acts of kindness might feel unfamiliar and out of character. However, this feeling will go away if you practice more. Soon enough, it will become so familiar and you’ll notice the benefits to yourself and others.

1. What made the author most grateful according to paragraph 1?

A．The support from his family.	B．The present of bagels sent to him.
C．The messages expressing sympathy.	D．The genuine concern from his roommates.

2. Where does the difference between niceness and kindness lie?

A．In people’s intentions.	B．In people’s capabilities.
C．In people’s appearances.	D．In people’s impression on others.

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

A．Reflects

B．Stimulates

C．Weakens

D．Assesses

4. What does the author encourage people to do in the last paragraph?

A．Perform acts of kindness.	B．Acknowledge kind acts in life.
C．Enjoy the benefits of being kind.	D．Value the impact of kindness.

8 . Volunteer Summer Camp for Teens in Costa Rica

Are you 16 or 17 years old and wanting to volunteer abroad this summer? International Volunteer HQ’s Summer Camp for teen volunteers is an awesome way for 16- and 17-year- old volunteers to spend part of their summer holidays contributing towards important community initiatives and learning about Costa Rican culture.

What to expect and how you’ll make an impact:

The Teen Volunteer Summer Camp is an incredible cultural immersion (沉浸) experience available to individual volunteers aged 16 and 17 and it is fully accompanied by adults.

Participants will take part in planned activities including volunteering in local community projects, taking local dance lessons, going on cultural adventures, and joining nature tours led by our professional guides.

The Volunteer Teen Camp has two available start dates in August. The first is available on August 1st, and participants can join for a 1-3 week duration. The second start date is August 15th for a maximum of one week.

Why join the Volunteer Summer Camp in Costa Rica with IVHQ?

When you volunteer as a teen in Costa Rica, you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:

* Contributing to community- driven volunteer projects

* Developing your communication skills

* Learning about Costa Rica’s culture, food and history

* Discovering Costa Rica’s beautiful beaches, national parks and cities

Volunteer requirements:

* Volunteers must provide IVHQ with parental agreement in order to participate on the program.

* Independent volunteers aged 16 and 17 can join this project for 1 -3 weeks.

* Volunteers must provide two character reference letters.

* All volunteers are required to have enough volunteer travel insurance.

* All volunteers must speak fluent English.

1. What will volunteers do in the camp?

A．Instruct dance lessons.	B．Take guided nature tours.
C．Go on outdoor adventures.	D．Visit some community activities.

2. How can participants benefit from this summer camp?

A．They can learn standard English.	B．They can get money for their effort.
C．They can gain rich experience in teaching.	D．They can better their skills in communication.

3. What is needed to apply for the camp?

A．Affording three weeks’ free time.	B．Being accompanied by one parent.
C．Having previous related experience.	D．Offering two letters of recommendation.

9 . Inside Baiduren, which looks by outward appearances like a cafe, relatives of the dead can tell the staff stories that they may not be able to share with friends and family for any number of reasons.

“Our job initially was funeral planning and handling related affairs for customers,” said Shi Xiaolin, leader of what Badiruen calls the “life experiencing project”. “After a few years, we felt that we wanted to make a breakthrough in the industry because there are still so many prejudices about funeral homes,” he explained.

That was obvious from the start. Shi and his team had difficulty finding a landlord willing to rent to a funeral parlor (殡仪馆) . In the end, the site they found was in Hongkou District, a me re 10- minute walk from Baoxing Funeral Parlor, one of the largest undertakers in Shanghai.

The Baiduren salon is decorated in a modern style, with soft lighting that contrasts with traditional funeral homes.

“Apart from those who want to pour their hearts out, we also receive families who want to discuss funeral affairs in a more relaxed, comforting environment,” Shi told Shanghai Daily.

The Baiduren salon looks like a common cafe, but many people come here to pour out their hearts about their perceptions of life and death. The salon has been more popular than the team expected since its soft opening in late February. In the past month, the team has listened to a lot of stories — from survivors who can’t seem to accept the loss of a loved one, to survivors still in shock over a death that occurred by accident. In turn, staff often relate their own stories of sorrow.

The salon, from the standpoint of both staff and customers, points to a change in how people — especially the young — view death and funerals. And Baiduren is not the only example of young people determined to make a difference in the funeral business.

1. What difficulty did Shi Xiaolin meet at first?

A．He couldn’t find employees.	B．No one would rent sites to him.
C．The relatives of the dead doubted him.	D．He lacked money to decorate the parlor.

2. What is people’s attitude toward the Baiduren salon?

A．They accept the new trend.	B．They show no interest in it.
C．They hold a wait- and- see attitude.	D．They feel it shows no respect to the dead.

3. Which words can be used to describe Shi Xiaolin?

A．Honest and reliable.	B．Warm- hearted and humble.
C．Considerate and creative.	D．Diligent and responsible.

4. What will be talked about next?

A．The future of the Baiduren salon.	B．Other people engaging in funeral business.
C．The diverse services the Baiduren salon offers.	D．Young people’s view on funeral business.

10 . The meeting continues, and you feel your eyes getting heavy, your mind drowsy (昏昏欲睡). Suddenly you wake up and get a very attentive wakefulness — did anyone see me doze off (打盹) ? You’ve fallen into a microsleep, a very brief sleep that ends almost as soon as it begins. When you’re trying to be awake and active, these may make you feel anxious or, if they happen behind the wheel, justifiably terrified.

Microsleeps don’t make us feel rested or restored, like longer periods of uninterrupted sleep would. Yet a new study shows that nesting chinstrap penguins (帽带企鹅) sleep just this way more than 10, 000 times a day. Incredibly, our experiments prove that this strange sleep cycle seems to do the birds no obvious harm.

“What is really weird is that the penguin can sustain this in-between wake and sleep state constantly,” explains co-author Paul-Antoine Libourel, who studies the biology of sleep. Simply watching the penguins nod and blink gave the appearance that they were drowsy, he adds, but the extent of their sleeping was a surprise.

To study these penguins, for two weeks, the scientists used some sensors to record data to measure the birds’ sleep-related brain activity. Other sensors recorded the birds’ positions (standing, lying, diving), tracked their location via GPS, and collected environmental data like temperature. The authors also did continuous video monitoring of the same nesting birds so that their observable behaviors could be matched with simultaneous data on their brain activity.

Researchers discovered that the birds nodded off thousands of times per day, engaging in microsleeps that averaged just four seconds each but added up to more than 11 hours of sleep per day.

Why would the birds adopt this fascinating sleep cycle? The need to sleep briefly could simply be a consequence of living in a noisy group where sleep is constantly interrupted. The constant guard also help keep the nests safe from the brown skua bird, which feeds on penguin eggs and chicks. Having only seconds of sleep at a time would allow the birds to react to any possible dangers.

1. How does the author introduce the topic in the first paragraph?

A．By describing a familiar scene.	B．By introducing a sleep pattern.
C．By reminding you of a bad habit.	D．By showing the boredom of meetings.

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

A．Inspiring.

B．Strange.

C．Worrying.

D．Meaningful.

3. What might contribute to chinstrap penguins' sleep pattern?

A．Their unique brain structure.	B．Their years’ of hard training.
C．Their tough living environment.	D．Their special standing position.

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

A．Seconds of Sleep, Lifelong Benefits	B．Awake or Asleep? No One Knows for Sure
C．Falling into Sleep? You Are Completely Wrong	D．Sleeping for Seconds, Thousands of Times a Day