1 . Exploring China is not easy even for experienced travelers, but the history instructor Jessica Gerard from Ozarks Technical Community College (OTC) knows from experience the trip is worth it. Since 2008, she’s led five groups of students across China to study its culture and history.
Gerard often reminds interested students that the trip is not a vacation—it’s an academic (学术的) course. “Anyone interested in the trip must take an online course about the history of China before they can go,” she said. “And, most importantly, students continue to learn while in China. They’re expected to listen to guides, keep a diary and write about their experiences afterward.”
OTC student Ross Weis believed his experiences in China easily transcended (超越) anything he could have learned in the classroom. In fact, it was his long-held interest in China that led him to ask about the trip after seeing a poster in the OTC library. “I’ve always been drawn to China and its rich culture and history,” Weis said. “My dad studied history in college, and I suppose that has some influence on me.”
Of all the cities and historical sites Weis visited, he said nothing could top his experience at the Great Wall. “I’d read about the Great Wall and seen it on TV, but it is so different to go there and actually experience it,” he said. “It wasn’t as worn as I had expected it to be. That was pretty cool.”
Every OTC group Gerard has taken to China has been led by her trusty tourist agent, Jim Lieu. Gerard plans her trips directly through Lieu, who keeps travel costs down for students. “Lieu and I have an excellent relationship with one another. He always knows what I want for my students, and I know what he can do,” said Gerard. “He sincerely believes that in order to build stronger communities and a better world, people around the world should get to know each other through travel.”
1. Why did Gerard organize travel to China for her students?| A．To help students relax after exams. | B．To get students interested in travel. |
| C．To teach history in a productive way. | D．To give an interesting life experience. |
| A．Take a course online. | B．Consult a native guide. |
| C．Show their anxiety. | D．Share their preparation. |
| A．His passion for travel. | B．His interest in China. |
| C．His teacher’s invitation. | D．His father’s inspiration. |
| A．Brave. | B．Patient. | C．Helpful. | D．Humorous. |
2 . Diving in the ocean, marine biologist Erika Woolsey has seen how coral reefs (珊瑚礁) are being damaged by climate change. It has made her decide to find a way to share her experience —including those who can’t easily explore the ocean.
Through her non-profit, The Hydrous, Woolsey is using virtual reality to bring the ocean to everyone. Scientists, filmmakers and divers are taking people on immersive (沉浸式的) virtual dives, attracting attention to reef damage and expecting action to protect our sea. About 25% of marine species depend on coral reefs. However, climate change, pollution and overfishing have done harm to around half the world’s shallow water coral reefs.
Twenty years of underwater exploration has given Woolsey a detailed understanding of the dangerous situations facing reefs. “I’ve seen this first-hand shift. Healthy colourful coral reefs become what look like the moonscape step by step,” Woolsey says.
It is through this experience that The Hydrous team set out to recreate with their award-winning film Immerse. Intended to watch with a VR headset, viewers join Woolsey for a nine-minute guided virtual div e on the coral reefs, immersed in a 360-degree underwater view.
They swim alongside sea turtles and sharks before witnessing the worsening of the reefs. The experience often brings out strong feelings. “As soon as people take off that headset and look me in the eye, they want to tell me a story about their ocean experience,” Woolsey says. “It’s that human connection to our ocean that will solve our ocean problems.”
Woolsey hopes advances in camera technology will allow her team to take more and more people to places in the ocean that are underexplored and places further away from human civilization. They are developing a virtual experience that will put the people in the role of a marine biologist, carrying out biodiversity surveys underwater, and even transporting the viewers to space to monitor global sea surface temperatures.
1. Why did Erika Woolsey set up The Hydrous?| A．To collect money for ocean protection. |
| B．To let the public know about coral reefs better. |
| C．To help people enjoy the ocean’s beauty. |
| D．To encourage people to protect the ocean. |
| A．change. | B．experience. |
| C．material. | D．scene. |
| A．The story about the ocean. | B．The situation of coral reefs. |
| C．The connection with sea life. | D．The way to protect the ocean. |
| A．To bring more fun during the lockdown. |
| B．To train talents for environment protection. |
| C．To help people learn more about the ocean. |
| D．To discover more places that need protection. |
3 . If you’re in search of some botanical inspiration for the summer, just look to the following!
Sky Garden — London
Situated on the 35th floor of the iconic “Walkie-Talkie” building in central London, this stunning garden consists of over three stories, combining Mediterranean and South African plantings. The garden temperature here is monitored around the clock to mirror the conditions these plants would experience in a warm temperate climate.
Bambalan — Bristol
Bristol’s Bambalan restaurant appeared in 2016. Known for its leisurely atmosphere, it’s located right in the middle of the city centre. Hidden in plain sight above Bristol’s busy and noisy city centre, the roof terrace is a true hidden garden. With Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food on the menu, this is the ideal place to bring a group, and enjoy the views and tasty treats.
Library of Birmingham — Birmingham
Hidden away on the seventh floor of Birmingham’s public library is a scenic rooftop garden offering an extremely quiet spot to enjoy a good book in the sun. Created entirely by volunteers and reached via glass elevator, the bright garden offers visitors spectacular views over the city. 3, 500 varieties of plants in this garden have been carefully selected to ensure the terrace will offer blooms all year round, so that visitors to this unique library can enjoy the inspiring views.
New Lanark Roof Garden — New Lanark
With impressive views from the roof of an old mill (磨坊) building in the heart of the New Lanark World Heritage Site, this garden isn’t one to miss. Created on the 9, 000 square feet roof of our historic mill, the New Lanark Roof Garden is the largest of its kind in Scotland. Imaginatively designed, the garden contains decorative planting with over 70 different plants and shrubs, a water feature and animal sculptures.
1. What can you do in Bambalan?| A．Make special flower gifts. | B．Buy beautiful jewels. |
| C．Walk in the countryside. | D．Enjoy tasty food. |
| A．Sky Garden. | B．Bambalan. |
| C．Library of Birmingham. | D．New Lanark Roof Garden. |
| A．Plants. | B．Food. | C．Books. | D．Animals. |
4 . Of all the Chinese 24 solar terms, Clear and Bright (清明) is the only one whose first day is also a traditional Chinese festival, the Qingming Festival. The words “clear” and “bright” describe the weather during this period. Temperatures begin to rise and rainfall increases, making it an important time for growing crops in the spring. As is known, it is a time to worship ancestors, however, here are several things you may not know about Clear and Bright.
Spring Outings
Not only is it a period to honor the dead, but it is also time for people to go out and enjoy nature. As trees turn green, flowers blossom, and the sun shines brightly, everything returns to life. It is a fine time to appreciate the beauty of nature.
Flying Kites
Flying kites is an activity favored by many Chinese during Tomb-Sweeping Day. Kites are not only flown during the day time but also in the evening. Little lanterns are tied to the kites. And when the kites are flying in the sky, the lanterns look like twinkling stars at night. What makes flying kites during this day special is that people cut the string while the kite is in the sky to let it fly freely. It is said that this brings good luck and that diseases can be chased away by doing this.
Cuju
Cuju is an interesting game played during this period. Ju is a ball made of leather with hairs plugged in it. Legend has it that the Yellow Emperor first invented it for training warriors. Later, Cuju was used by people to build up their bodies when they were unable to eat hot food during the Cold Food Festival.
Feasting on Qingtuan
In the lower parts of the Yangtze River region, qingtuan is very popular on Tomb-Sweeping Day. Qingtuan is a kind of round green cake. In order to make the cakes, people mash (捣碎) barnyard grass (艾草) to squeeze juice from it and mix the flour and juice to a paste. Then they put fillings into the paste and steam them. Pretty and delicate, qingtuan has a special flavor.
1. What is special about flying kites during Clear and Bright?| A．Flying kites with lanterns in the evening. |
| B．Flying kites to bring good luck. |
| C．Cutting the kite string to let it fly freely. |
| D．Flying kites both in the daytime and at night. |
| A．Clear and Bright is an important period for farming. |
| B．Qingtuan is traditionally eaten during the period of Clear and Bright all over China. |
| C．Cuju was invented by the Yellow Emperor to play in the Qingming Festival. |
| D．Clear and Bright is one of the 24 solar terms whose first day is also a traditional Chinese festival. |
| A．How to celebrate the Qingming Festival. |
| B．Flying kites in a special way. |
| C．Ways to have fun during Clear and Bright. |
| D．Some unknown customs about Clear and Bright. |
5 . Bullet comments—comments which fly across the screen on certain video platforms—represent a ·modern approach to communication that young people use in cyberspace to express their ideas, emotions and feelings. When looking back, however, they are a good reminder of what was hot or trending in the past year.
On Dec 15,2023, Bilibili, a Chinese video-sharing platform, picked “Ah?” as the Bullet Comment of the Year. In 2023, “Ah?” appeared more than 13.2 million times on Bilibili as a bullet comment, according to Dazhong Daily.
Today, young people in China use “Ah?” to express their surprise and amazement. User Mo Xin filmed himself writing down the ancient Chinese text Hard Is the Road to Shu (《蜀道难》) in one stroke (一笔) and subsequently uploaded the video to Bilibili. This feat (壮举) resulted in the video winning the most “Ah?”bullet comments on the platform.
China’s huge technological advancements have also generated “Ah?” comments from Bilibili users. In August, China made a breakthrough in controllable nuclear fusion (可控核聚变) technology. Its new-generation “artificial sun” Huanliu-3 looks to open new doors in the world of nuclear fusion. Videos announcing this news were inundated (淹没) in “Ah?” comments.
Though simple and easily understandable, “Ah?” provides insights into young people’s interests. Their focus extends beyond mere entertainment, however. They also, use “Ah?” to engage with. commentaries, and scientific discoveries, indicating a deeper, more serious layer of interest. These “Ah?” comments reveal that young people are attentive to the world around them. “Ah?” has become their unique way of responding to contemporary events, using it as a tool to document today’s history.
Every year brings a new bullet comment of the year, but what never changes is how young people want their voices to be heard. Do you still remember which video got you to send an “Ah?” in 2023?
1. What do we know about “Bullet comments” according to the text?| A．They will remind others of your opinions. |
| B．They are an easy way to interact with others. |
| C．They enable us to think about the popular events. |
| D．They are used in young people’s daily communication. |
| A．To prove the function of “Ah?”. | B．To argue for the benefit of “Ah?”. |
| C．To explain the popularity of “Ah?”. | D．To clarify the development of “Ah?”. |
| A．Concrete and modern. | B．Easy and accessible. |
| C．Abstract but popular. | D．Unique but meaningless. |
| A．Huawei made a breakthrough in 5G. |
| B．Southern little potatoes poured in Harbin. |
| C．The Moutai-flavoured coffee came into the market. |
| D．China, Singapore mutual visa-free policies will boost tourism. |
6 . As I write this, a Bob Seger song is stuck in my head. It’s been playing on repeat ever since I heard it in a movie. I hated it a lot when it first came out years ago, and I still really hate it now. Why, oh why, does an earworm happen? This phenomenon, known as an earworm, is both fascinating and annoying. Earworms are a type of auditory imagery, where we perceive a tone without actually hearing it. When a familiar song is heard and suddenly stopped, some areas of the brain become overly activated in expectation of hearing the rest of the song, and then it fills in the missing pieces.
Anyone can experience earworms, but certain personality characteristics, like openness to experience, may increase their frequency. You may have seen a popular TikTok recently of a guy saying earworms aren’t normal but are instead symptoms of ADHD (多动症) or OCD (强迫症). That’s generally not the case. “It is entirely normal to experience earworms: Over 90% of participants in large-scale surveys report having had earworms at least once a week, and they are not a symptom of any other underlying mental condition,” says Jakubowski. Interestingly, earworms aren’t all bad. Research indicates that they can enhance our ability to recall past events, as the repetitive nature of the song strengthens our memory.
There are several strategies to get rid of earworms. Listening to the entire song can help resolve the unfinished loop. Alternatively, distracting yourself with another melody or engaging in activities that require focus can also be effective. Chewing gum or eating something crunchy may interrupt the song playing in your head. Despite these strategies, sometimes the best approach is to simply accept the presence of the earworm and let it fade away naturally. In my case, trying to actively rid myself of the song only made it more persistent. It seems patience is key when dealing with these stubborn musical guests in our minds.
1. What is an earworm?| A．A type of insect that affects hearing. | B．A song that gets stuck in your head. |
| C．A medical condition related to the ears. | D．An element missing in a song. |
| A．They cannot be controlled or stopped. | B．They indicate underlying illness. |
| C．They only occur in certain individuals. | D．They are normal phenomena. |
| A．To enhance memory recall of earlier incidents. |
| B．To increase musical creativity and imagination. |
| C．To expand openness to new experiences. |
| D．To improve focus and concentration. |
| A．Concerned and worried. | B．Scientific but negative. |
| C．Annoyed but accepting. | D．Excited and fascinated. |
7 . There’s an enormous amount of personal health information people now feed or tap into digital monitors, health apps, search engines and other online tools. If the same information were provided in your doctor’s office, your privacy would be safeguarded. But that’s not how the digitized health world works.
Instead, we have an ecosystem of abuse in which health technology companies operate largely outside the law that requires doctors and other medical personnel, hospitals and insurers to protect an individual’s health information.
That means technology companies can — and do — dig your digital data for clues about your health status, accessing information like prescriptions you have purchased and other health services you might have sought, and potentially link this information to your name, address, email address and other personally identifying information. The data can then be used by platforms including Facebook and Google to help advertisers target promotions or other communications to you.
It’s a gaping hole in health privacy protections that comes from the privacy law, which protects interactions between patients, medical professionals and insurers but does not, in most cases, protect patient health data that is recorded on new technologies.
Closing the patient privacy gap can- and should -be a priority for lawmakers. The consequences of digital exposure for those seeking reproductive services have drawn significant concern and attention. These worries are reasonable. But reproductive care is only one area of health services where private patient information is digitally disclosed.
Therefore, lawmakers must take action to protect the privacy of people who are now online for all manners of personal, professional and other reasons. Until then, a narrowly targeted approach that protects health privacy may be politically easier to come into effect. The explosion of digital health technology and the dramatic increase in its use in the past few years require it greatly.
1. What can we learn about the present situation of the digitized health world?| A．Personal health data is used for other purposes. |
| B．Personal health information is difficult to identify. |
| C．Targeted promotions are used to improve people’s health. |
| D．Medical personnel protect the personal health information well. |
| A．Approving. | B．Critical. | C．Cautious. | D．Ambiguous. |
| A．The spread of health service. |
| B．People’s privacy. |
| C．A narrowly targeted approach. |
| D．The explosion of digital technology. |
| A．To advocate improvement in the privacy law. |
| B．To report cases of illegal information exposure. |
| C．To explain how the digitized health world works. |
| D．To introduce a debate on the effect of technology. |
8 . The world awaits. Where will you go next? The following are among the most exciting destinations to visit. Grab your bags and go!
Puebla, MexicoFounded in 1931, the Mexico’s fourth-largest city is a stronghold of Baroque architecture. In Puebla’s citycenter, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, there are a large number of gorgeous 17th- and 18th-century Baroque buildings. Many are decorated with colored titles, the use of which illustrates the combination of Puebla’s local and European colonial styles. In 2017, an earthquake shook the area, leading to restorations of facilities throughout the city afterward. Despite that, Puebla remains rooted in tradition.
Telč, Czech RepublicThe storybook town was probably founded in the mid-14th century. Stone walls and a system of man-madeponds help protect Telč historic town center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The triangular market square is bordered by a rainbow of light-colored houses, which were originally built of wood and rebuilt in stone after a fire in the late 14th century.
Göbekli Tepe, TurkeyEstimated to date back to the 10th-9th millennia B.C.E, the monumental limestone pillars at Göbekli Tepe had been hiding in plain sight for several thousand years. The detailed exploration of these giant stones only began in the 1990s. What have been revealed — primarily massive stones decorated with bas-reliefs (浅浮雕) of animal — comprise the world’s oldest known temple complex. The extraordinary discoveries made here have rewritten the story of how the first civilizations began.
GuatemalaArchaeologists have found long-hidden ruins of an extensive pre-Columbian civilization here, confirming that Guatemala is the place to dive into Mayan culture, then and now. Ancient roots run particularly deep in the northernmost Peten region. In modern, multicultural Guatemala, people with Mayan origin make up about half the population, making the country the only one in Central America with a native cultural majority.
1. Where can tourists enjoy architecture exhibiting a combination of native and foreign styles?| A．Guatemala. | B．Göbekli Tepe, Turkey. |
| C．Puebla, Mexico. | D．Telč, Czech Republic. |
| A．The long-hidden ruins. |
| B．The deeply rooted Mayan culture. |
| C．The modern and multicultural society. |
| D．The only Central American country with Mayan population. |
| A．They have historic sites. | B．They are in Central America. |
| C．They were once destroyed by fire. | D．They were discovered in recent decades. |
9 . The first person to receive a brain-monitoring device from neurotechnology company Neuralink can control a computer cursor(光标) with his mind, Elon Musk, the firm’s founder, revealed this week. But researchers say that this is not a major feat — and they are concerned about the secrecy around the device’s safety and performance.
Musk announced on 29 January that Neuralink had implanted a brain–computer interface (BCI) into a human for the first time. Neuralink, which is headquartered in Fremont, California, is the third company to start long-term trials in humans.
The Neuralink chip contains 64 flexible polymer threads, providing 1,024 sites for recording brain activity according to the company’s study brochure. That is considerably more than Blackrock Neurotech’s BCIs, the only other single-neuron recording system to have been implanted long-term in humans. So the Neuralink device can improve brain–machine communication.
The company has also produced a surgical robot for inserting its device. But it has not confirmed whether that system was used for the first human implant. Details about the first recipient are also scarce, although Neuralink’s volunteer recruitment brochure says that people with quadriplegia(四肢瘫痪者) stemming from certain conditions “may qualify”.
This week, Musk said on Spaces — an audio component of his social-media platform X — that the volunteer “seems to have made a full recovery, with no ill effects that we are aware of” and “is able to move a mouse around the screen by just thinking”.
To researchers working on implanted neurotechnologies, this achievement is underwhelming. Controlling a computer mouse with one’s thoughts could enable people living with paralysis to regain some independence and functionality. But it is a far cry from Musk’s ambitions for the Neuralink device. “Imagine if Stephen Hawking could communicate faster than a speed typist or auctioneer,” Musk wrote last month on X. “That is the goal.”
However, even more important at this stage, researchers say, is safety — of both the device and the surgery. Sheth says he and other researchers are in the dark about the system’s first application in the clinic.
1. Which one is right about Neuralink?| A．The researchers in Neuralink can control a computer cursor with their mind. |
| B．Neuralink is the first company to start long-term trials in humans. |
| C．Neuralink used a surgical robot to insert its device for the first human implant. |
| D．Neuralink has successfully implanted a BCI into a human. |
| A．indifferent | B．inadequate | C．obvious | D．enough |
| A．He is technologically competent. |
| B．He provides insights into promoting neurotechnology. |
| C．He has an ambitious goal for the Neuralink device. |
| D．He holds a firm belief that Stephen Hawking could speak faster. |
| A．Mind-reading devices are coming |
| B．Mind-reading devices are revealing the brain’s secrets |
| C．Neuralink brain chip: what scientists think of first human trial |
| D．Neuralink brain chip: advance sparks safety and secrecy concerns |
10 . Beaumont Hospital is proud of its reputation nationally and internationally as an academic teaching hospital providing excellence in patient care, medical education, innovation and research. Our aim is to deliver the highest quality of care to our patients, excellent training to our students and a friendly and professional environment for our staff.
Position Summary
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is responsible for driving the overall strategic direction, operations and performance of Beaumont Hospital, and its related services and resources, within policy directions laid down by the Hospital Board and the Department of Health/HSE to deliver effective and efficient patient care.
This is a crucial leadership role responsible for driving strategic growth initiatives and providing strategic oversight, support and clear leadership to the Executive Management Team within Beaumont Hospital. The Hospital is in the process of developing a new 5-Year Strategic Plan. The successful candidate will carry out the agreed vision for the future of Beaumont Hospital, maintain the Hospital’s commitment to delivering patient-centred care to the highest standards of clinical practice, healthcare education, research, and innovation, and promote an organizational culture that is open to, and empowers innovation, creativity and learning in a clinical setting.
Informal Confidential inquiries to:
Ms Pauline Philip, Chair, Beaumont Hospital Board
Tel: ＋353 (1) 7974260
Interested candidates should apply by sending their CV and cover letter to:
Mr John Pepper, Human Resources Department
Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9 Ireland
Email: hrdirector@beaumont.ie
For a more detailed job description brochure please access www.beaumont.ie/careers
Closing date: 4th December 2023.
Interviews will be held before the end of December, 2023.
1. What is the CEO of Beaumont Hospital primarily in charge of?| A．Making a new 5-Year Plan. | B．Managing the Hospital Board. |
| C．Guiding the strategic direction. | D．Laying down policy directions. |
| A．Ms Pauline Philip. | B．The HR director. | C．Mr John Pepper. | D．The Chief Executive Officer. |
| A．Cloud Hospital Services. | B．Medical Guidance. |
| C．Medical Expert Column. | D．Career Opportunities. |
