1 . How to Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
It can surely be challenging and a little scary to step out of your comfort zone, but facing unfamiliar challenges can help you feel happier and more fulfilled in the long run. How to grow outside your comfort zone?
Regard discomfort as progress.
Reward yourself for trying new things.
Treat yourself to stay motivated and energized. For example, whenever you do something that’s out of your comfort zone, buy yourself a small treat, take yourself out to a nice meal, or spend time doing other activities that you enjoy.
Surround yourself with supportive people.
Ask friends and family for encouragement and support. Tell your closest friends, family members, or partners what you’re trying to do and why.
Get rid of things that’ll give you an excuse not to try something. For example, if your goal is to socialize with more people, turn off your phone when you go to a party or gathering so you won’t be tempted to use it as a distraction. Your environment can block or help your progress, so do what you can to improve it to guarantee success.
| A．Adjust your goals in time |
| B．Your experiences can inspire them |
| C．Change your environment to help you grow |
| D．Overcome fear by adopting a positive mindset |
| E．They’ll be more than happy to get behind you and cheer you on |
| F．This will motivate you to step out and experience different possibilities |
| G．Try new activities and gain wide perspectives by following these strategies |
2 . Over 200 musicians have jointly penned an open letter, urging AI developers not to use AI that infringes (侵犯) upon the rights of human artists, and requesting commitments to stop developing related AI music producing technologies.
The letter stresses the irresponsible use of AI, such as reducing royalties (版税) to artists by employing AI voices and using musical works without permission. Indeed, the problem of copyright infringement in the music industry has caused concerns in many countries, including China. In 2023, a well-known Singaporean singer topped trending lists on Chinese social media after users uploaded AI-produced songs using her voice. This later caused the heated discussion-whether AI music creators should be accused of using other artists’ works without permission.
Compared to the grassroots use of AI technology, the shockwaves caused by large companies are even more significant. In the US, tech giants like YouTube have begun testing AI music production tools. Recently, the AI music producing software Suno released its V3 version and made it available for users to produce songs about two minutes in length simply by providing basic text clues. In China, a domestic AI music producing software business has rapidly emulated them and released its first model “Tiangong Sky Music”, capable of producing 80-second and two-channel songs.
Although tools like Suno lower the barrier for music creation, they are unlikely to entirely replace professional musicians, especially talented ones, as music is an expression of human artistic creation. The value of music lies not only in melody and rhythm but also in the story and emotion behind it, elements that current AI technology struggles to fully copy.
Sacrificing and infringing upon the rights of artists, which leads to the damage of the music ecosystem, is unacceptable. Relevant authorities need to set up regulations to help enhance legal systems.
1. Why was the singer mentioned in paragraph 2?| A．To highlight her popularity. | B．To arouse a heated discussion. |
| C．To display viral AI music works. | D．To show a copyright damage case. |
| A．Followed. | B．Overlooked. | C．Assessed. | D．Criticized. |
| A．Creating human artistic stories. | B．Lacking ability of emotion expression. |
| C．Struggling in melody and rhythm. | D．Clearing barriers for music production. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Optimistic. | C．Unfavorable. | D．Indifferent. |
3 . While bees have a reputation for doing two things well: pollinating(授粉) flowers and making honey, they rarely receive the credit they deserve for their vital role in keeping a healthy grassland and maintaining a stable climate.
A grassland is one type of ecosystem where bees play multiple important roles. These often-ignored habitats are composed not just of grasses but of a broad community of wildflower species. Without the help of bees, flowering plants would no longer be able to reproduce at the same rate, eventually dying out, and we’d lose these species-rich ecosystems.
This would be a big problem for our planet because unlike the grasses that grow in your local park, native grassland plants have very deep roots that reach 15 feet or more into the soil. While a forest stores the majority of its carbon above ground in a tree’s trunks and branches, most grassland carbon is safely held below ground within these roots. Unlike forests, which lose most of their carbon once their trunks have burned, the carbon within a healthy grassland remains beyond the reach of fire, providing a second line of defense against a changing climate.
A bee’s impact below the soil line doesn’t end with carbon storage. Many bees nest within the soil. These gatherings may include thousands of individual bees, whose nests may go many feet into the soil, providing air and opportunities for water conservation. Where they are found, bees play a significant role in ensuring that soils remain healthy.
Sam Droege, a famous wildlife biologist states that bees will go wherever they are called to-the flowers, plants, and grasslands acting as a homing signal guiding them forth. “They will travel impressive distances to feed on specific species of flowering plants,” says Droege. “We’ve seen that even if the climate changes, the bees will still follow where the plants grow.”
1. Why are bees crucial to a grassland ecosystem?| A．They provide honey for wild species. | B．They can protect grasses from dying out. |
| C．They change the stability of the climate. | D．They help flowering plants’ reproduction. |
| A．In the trunks of the trees. | B．In the roots of the plants. |
| C．In the surface of the soil. | D．In the flowers above ground. |
| A．Where bees can be found | B．Why bees nest underground. |
| C．How bees help soils stay healthy. | D．Whether bees conserve water. |
| A．Bees are naturally attracted by plants. |
| B．It is difficult for bees to find enough to eat. |
| C．People can guide bees to read certain signals. |
| D．Bees' behaviors change with global warming. |
4 . Arriving in Beijing as a 20-year-old girl from Germany, I found skateboarding to be my compass in exploring this vast and unfamiliar city.
My first impression of Beijing was its combination of ancient buildings and modern, futuristic architecture, which provided a variety of skate spots. From historic landmarks to urban malls in commercial districts, each location offered its own set of challenges and opportunities for creative expression. This contrasted with the skate parks back home in Europe, which, while well-designed and functional, lacked the historical depth and aesthetic (美学的) diversity in Beijing.
The skateboarding community in Beijing has also taken me by surprise. I remember the first time going out on a street skating park. I had some concerns initially, fearing that people might keep me, a foreigner, at a distance. However, with locals happy to communicate with me, my worries turned out to be unnecessary.
The first thing that caught my eye was a beautiful backside flip done by Seven, a Beijing skater who was just as welcoming and free-spirited as any skaters I’d met in Europe. It’s this shared passion for skateboarding that bonds this community together tightly across the globe.
In addition, even those outside the skateboarding community show curiosity and enthusiasm for the sport, which impressed me a lot. Passersby, especially the elders and young children, often stop to watch us skate, with some even daring to try it out for themselves. This openness and eagerness for exploration were refreshing for me, and it provided a wonderful opportunity for cultural exchanges and mutual learning.
My skateboarding journey in China has truly been enlightening, one that bridges the gap between Eastern and Western cultures. As I continue to navigate the streets and skate parks of Beijing, I do so with a deeper appreciation for the culture diversity here and the unifying power of skateboarding, which brings people together in the spirit of joy, freedom, and mutual respect.
1. What is special about skate spots in Beijing?| A．The creative design. | B．The historical depth. |
| C．The modern landmark | D．The commercial function. |
| A．She might be too shy to join others. |
| B．She might feel lonely in a new place. |
| C．Locals could be unwilling to interact with her. |
| D．Locals could be uninterested in skateboarding. |
| A．Seven’s experience in Europe. |
| B．Children’s exploration in cultures. |
| C．The elders’ dangerous movements. |
| D．People’s great passion for skateboarding. |
| A．Skateboarding across cultures. | B．Learning skateboarding in Beijing. |
| C．Exchanging respect among cultures. | D．Making friends in a foreign country. |
5 . Time for International Booker Prize again! The novels on 2024 International Booker Prize shortlist (入围名单) cover cultures, styles and the width of human experience and associate us with new sensations and memories.
Not a River by Selva Almada, translated by Annie
Two men and their friend’s teenage son go on a fishing trip. Frustrated after hours of wrestling with a hooked fish, one of them shoots it with a gun. So begins a tale about perseverance, guilt, desire and outsider suspicion.
The Details by la Genberg, translated by Kira
Genberg said that she began writing The Details, “just like the woman in the novel, in a world health crisis in 2020, when I headed to my bookshelf and randomly picked up a book that fell open in my hands. ”It’s a novel related to relationships, connection, memory and time.
What I’d Rather Ponder by Posthuma, translated by Sarah
The narrator is a twin whose brother has recently passed away. Posthuma said the story was inspired by a personal experience when “the one person that I thought would always be there withdrew from my life”. The novel is praised for its “utter truth” and unique writing style.
Crooked Plow by Viera Junior, translated by Johnny
Two sisters are confused by the powers of a knife beneath their grandmother’s bed. With magical and social realism, it illustrates the story of farmers in Brazil’s poorest region. It speaks to the significance of remembering our histories and preserving the land that sustains us.
The winner will be announced on June 21st, 2024. And £50,000 prize money will be divided equally between the author and the translator. Shortlisted authors and translators will share a prize of £6,000.
1. What do Not a River and The Details have in common?| A．They are written in the same style. | B．They deal with diverse themes. |
| C．They are final winners of Booker Prize. | D．They relate to the author's own life. |
| A．Not a River. | B．The Details. |
| C．What I’d Rather Ponder. | D．Crooked Plow. |
| A．£3,000. | B．£6,000. | C．£25,000. | D．£50,000. |
6 . The health of our oceans is related to the planet’s overall environmental condition, with ocean currents (洋流) playing a key role in reflecting Earth’s climate. A recent study has shed new light on the impact of rising ocean temperatures on one of these vital current systems.
This significant research provides the first documented proof of a significant slowdown in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation or AMOC (大西洋经向翻转环流). Alexey Mishonov and his team dive deep into the data in NOAA’s World Ocean Atlas to track down the AMOC’s performance over time. Their findings reveal a change: from 1955 to 1994, the AMOC’s flow remained unchanged. However, starting in the mid-1990s, a marked decline in its strength was observed, with a striking reduction in its speed.
Mishonov explains the signs of weakening circulation in Atlantic ocean currents, stating, “If AMOC slows down, the heat exchange will be reduced, which in turn will affect the climate, causing hot areas to get hotter and cold areas to get colder.” This imbalance could have far-reaching effects on global climate patterns, possibly leading to more extreme weather conditions, rising sea levels, disorders to marine (海洋的) ecosystems, and a mass of other climate feedbacks.
Mishonov’s research also touches on the cultural spirit, referring to the dramatic description of a similar scene in the 2004 disaster movie The Day After Tomorrow. While he stated that the film’s scenes with explosive effects is highly exaggerated and not supported by the scientific community, the hidden message — that a significant slowdown in the AMOC could lead to great and unpredictable climate changes — resonates with (与……共鸣) many experts.
As the scientific community continues to uncover the mysteries of our oceans, the significance of Mishonov and his workmates’ work cannot be overstated. Their research contributes to our understanding of the relationship between ocean currents and global climate.
1. How was the research carried out?| A．By referring to huge data. | B．By recording ocean movements. |
| C．By modeling the ocean currents. | D．By doing practical experiments. |
| A．The increased heat exchange has an impact on the climate. |
| B．Rising sea levels from climate change could be prevented. |
| C．The slowdown of AMOC leads to extreme climate conditions. |
| D．The heated temperature may quicken the movement of the ocean. |
| A．To stress how scientific the story is. |
| B．To warn people of uncertain climate change risks. |
| C．To criticize the exaggerated threat in the movie. |
| D．To draw attention to the explosive effects of the movie. |
| A．The AMOC: A Potential Risk to the Earth |
| B．Ocean Currents: The Very Signals of Our Planet |
| C．Water Temperature: A Lasting Unavoidable Change |
| D．Climate Change: An Increasing Concern Around the World |
7 . How to Improve Your Sense of Self-worth
Self-worth is a key factor when it comes to your mental and physical health. Stress, depression and anger have all been shown to pave the way to illness and disease.
Let yourself off the hook. As the saying goes, it is better to try something and fail than to not try anything. Focus on goals that are linked to activities you are interested in. Don’t care about whether or not you achieve your goal in full, just enjoying the process.
Keep your body healthy. Eat a balanced diet and stay physically active to keep your body in good shape. You will look better, feel better and have more energy for new activities.
Be aware of your advantages.
If you feel good about yourself, have a positive outlook and stay active and involved, you’re more likely to be happy and healthy.
| A．Rebuild your identity. |
| B．Find out your original roles. |
| C．These emotions influence your self-worth. |
| D．You will enjoy a sense of purpose and pleasure from it. |
| E．Remind yourself of your best qualities and make a list of them. |
| F．But a healthy level of self-worth can deal with life’s challenges well. |
| G．Therefore, increasing your self-worth with these methods is necessary. |
8 . With stories about legends, romance and superpowers, Chinese online literary works are gaining a growing global readership.
Online literature, or web literature, refers to a new literary form created and published in a digital format (格式) on the Internet, which can include novels, poetry or prose. It mainly consists of original works which are posted onto a website previous to any type of physical publication in book form. Authors are free to build their stories on online reading platforms, which are usually update d on a daily basis. Fans log on to platforms, reading the latest content and paying for it. On online reading platforms, readers not only rank books based on their plot, word building, translation, but they also interact with the author.
Chinese web novels are popular among young Chinese, who share similar reading preferences with their overseas counterparts (相似的人). Popular Chinese web novels adopt the styles of Western fantasy novels which are familiar to Western readers, who also find freshness with elements from traditional Chinese culture. By the end of 2022, more than 16, 000 Chinese online works of literature had been exported abroad, reaching over 150 million readers outside China.
As a literature scholar who took notice of the phenomenon, Noah Forrin noticed the growing number of local writers overseas on WebNovel. He said they understand the preferences of the locals and are well aware of the taboos of their culture so that they can decide what can be included in their writing and what should be avoided, while having the potential to create popular online works for local readers using the production system of Chinese online literature.
The young scholar has full confidence for the future of online literature, since both the literary circle and readers are pushing authors to write better works. He believes adaptations to films, TV dramas, and games will also boost (促进) the development of online literature. “For now, Chinese online literature is seizing the moment, but other countries and cultural circles will join in, bringing about changes worldwide,” said the young scholar.
1. What can we learn about online literature?| A．Its off-line version is published earlier. | B．The authors usually update their works weekly. |
| C．It is a digital literary form with various types. | D．The readers can give comments and adapt the works. |
| A．Western literature is gradually losing its freshness. |
| B．Westerners are crazy about traditional Chinese culture. |
| C．The novels combine Western styles and Chinese elements. |
| D．Readers overseas have the same reading habits as Chinese readers. |
| A．Something unacceptable. | B．Something hidden. |
| C．Something unnoticed. | D．Something available. |
| A．To explain the features of online literature. |
| B．To show the popularity of Chinese online literature. |
| C．To introduce different attitudes to Chinese online literature. |
| D．To compare Chinese online literature with that of Western countries. |
9 . Fu Zai, a lovely corgi only six months old who has been trained to be China’s first corgi police dog, made his debut (亮相) during the opening day of a police camp in Weifang, Shandon g Province.
His debut once again hit people’s fixed idea that “little short legs” cannot join the police force. Unlike those long-limbed dogs full of strength and energy, Fu Zai quickly went viral online thanks to his symbolic smile, special short legs and excellent explosion device-seeking abilities.
As a reserve police dog, Fu Zai faces a “heavy workload”: training is scheduled for every morning and afternoon, involving a variety of subjects, such as obedience (服从) exercising, bomb search, sniffing techniques and so on. Throughout the whole process, Fu Zai stood out and outperformed many of his peers at two months old.
However, some have doubted whether this adorable police dog can actually be qualified. In the face of questioning, Fu Zai performed well thanks to its unique advantages in the training. “His strong environmental adaptability, his desire for possession (拥有) of items and his fondness of food are particularly beneficial to our training,” said Wang Yanan, head of the police dog base of the Weifang Public Security Bureau.
“Police dogs are cute, but trainers have done a lot of work and effort to train them,” said Wang. “After a period of further training to adapt to the complex environment, Fu Zai is sure to be appointed and given missions.”
Following four months of training, Fu Zai now can take advantage of his short legs to directly search beneath the car and easily search narrow spaces. He can also improve interactions between police dogs and the public because of his appearance.
1. What should police dogs be like in people’s mind?| A．Energetic and fierce. | B．Smart and cute. |
| C．Devoted and calm. | D．Long-legged and strong. |
| A．He has become a qualified police dog. | B．He can adapt to the surroundings easily. |
| C．He performed best in the training process. | D．He met some problems due to his short legs. |
| A．Confident. | B．Serious. | C．Interested. | D．Concerned. |
| A．Every man has his faults. | B．A good dog deserves a good bone. |
| C．Good things come to those who wait. | D．Never judge a book by its cover. |
10 . If you’re searching for a new way to work, we’ve put together a list of some great options for you to look into.
SANODESK QS+ electric standing desk www.sanodeskqs.co.uk
This desk is made from maple wood and primarily designed to be used as a computer desk. It has a white frame and a base made from alloy steel (合金钢) that can hold up to 60kg. This model also has a control button, for adjusting the direction and height of the desk itself, whether you prefer to stand or sit.
YITAHOME electric standing desk www.yitahome.co.uk
Primarily designed as a computer desk, this model comes with a firm black frame, with more than enough room for a monitor, keyboard and other items. It also includes step-by-step instructions and a toolkit (工具箱) for easy installation (安装). Also featured is an intelligent keypad for height adjustment, which has anti-collision (防冲撞的) technology.
TRIUMPHKEY electric standing desk www.triumphkey.co.uk
This desk is two-double, with a main desk and an attached monitor shelf. It is designed to have at least 60kg capacity, with an industrial grade steel frame keeping it in place. Also featured are two preset adjustable height settings, ranging from 72cm to 117cm, depending on your preferred working height.
PANANA electric standing desk www.panana.co.uk
Great for home office use, this electric desk comes in a brown finish, with its top material made from firm iron, with engineered wood as the base material. The desk also has an adjustable height feature and an extra installation instructions, which will let you install it easily.
1. Which brand will you choose if you need to control the direction of the desk?| A．SANODESK QS+. | B．YITAHOME. | C．TRIUMPHKEY. | D．PANANA. |
| A．www.sanodeskqs.co.uk. | B．www.yitahome.co.uk. |
| C．www.triumphkey.co.uk. | D．www.panana.co.uk. |
| A．They are made of steel. | B．They hold at most 60kg. |
| C．They provide installation instructions. | D．They are adjustable in height. |
