1 . According to a study published in the June 2023 issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, bottlenose dolphin mothers speak to their calves (幼崽) in higher pitched (高音的) whistles. This communication is similar to the higher pitched speech people use when speaking to babies.
Dolphins use whistles to communicate with other dolphins and researchers have been trying to understand this language for a long time. It was through recordings of dolphins’ communication that researchers found that the whistles were different when mothers were directing them at their calves. They had a higher pitch.
The researchers studied recordings of 19 female dolphins living in the Sarasota Bay area along the western coast of Florida. Microphones were repeatedly placed on the same wild dolphin mothers to capture (捕捉) the recordings.
Every one of the 19 dolphin moms changed the pitch of their whistles when their calves were nearby. At this point researchers don’t know what the higher pitch is used for, it could be a teaching method or just a way to let the calves know that Mom is there. They are studying it now.
“It’s really important for a calf to know ‘Oh, Mum is talking to me now’,” said Janet Mann, a biologist at Georgetown University, who didn’t take part in the study.
Human babies learn to speak by copying their moms, so it’s sound to think that calves in other species do the same. Scientists believe babies pay more attention to speech with a higher pitch.
Still more studies are needed to see if this child-directed speech (CDS) crosses more species. Finding CDS in both humans and dolphins could encourage scientists to study how different species in different geographic locations develop the same features.
It turns out that humans aren’t so unique in terms of language and parenting. Hopefully this knowledge will encourage the protection of species around the globe.
1. What can we learn from the first two paragraphs?| A．Dolphins’ whistles are actually easy to record. |
| B．Dolphins are the smartest animals on the earth. |
| C．Dolphin mothers are gifted at making whistles. |
| D．Dolphin mothers speak to their calves in baby talk. |
| A．To help dolphins communicate with each other. |
| B．To tell different female dolphins apart. |
| C．To help dolphins speak louder. |
| D．To get dolphins’ recordings. |
| A．The calves’ answers to their mothers’ baby talk. |
| B．Dolphin mothers’ way of changing their pitch. |
| C．The purpose of dolphin mothers’ louder whistles. |
| D．Dolphin mothers’ methods of teaching their calves. |
| A．It is shocking. | B．It is meaningful. |
| C．It is upsetting. | D．It is unsatisfactory. |
2 . It’s often said that travel is all about the journey, but it can be almost as exciting to travel the world from the comfort of our homes. Just pick up several travel books that share the extraordinary ability to transport readers through time and space.
The Last Ride of the Pony Express
In 2019, American journalist Will Grant took on a 2,000-mile journey on horseback. Grant describes his 142-day adventure following the Pony Express that operated between April 1860 and October 1861. The Pony Express once used riders who traveled on horseback to deliver mall. While Grant reflects on the West’s modernization over time, it’s his vivid (生动的) descriptions of local residents along the way that make the book a real page-turner.
Unforgettable Journey s Europe
The book shows travel really is all about “getting there”. This inspirational book details 150 of Europe’s best slow adventures, such as kayaking through Lithuania and crossing the Arctic Circle by train. Photos, maps and plenty of information(including start and end points for trails, difficulty ratings and website links) are spread throughout the text, making the book as much colorful reference as it is inspiring to read.
Elixir: In the Valley at the End of Time
After a decade of living in the Scottish Highlands, native Bulgarian Kapka Kassabova returned to her roots (根) in Mesta Valley, a rural region known for its wild crops. The poet and writer set out to study the deep relationship between the area’s people and plants, as well as with the land itself. Her text explorers a lesser-known area filled with nature and traditional customs.
The Life Cycle
British writer and cyclist Kate Rawles took a 13-month journey across the length of the Andes Mountains en a self-built bamboo bicycle. During this journey, the author saw firsthand the harmful impacts of extreme biodiversity loss caused by human activity such as cutting down trees. She shared her concerns and insight in her book, and expected to inspire actions.
1. What is The Last Ride of the Pony Express mainly about?| A．A man’s journey along a historic mail route. |
| B．A comparison of different mail delivery systems. |
| C．A description of the American West’s modernization. |
| D．A man’s reflection on the history of the Pony Express. |
| A．It introduces various wild plants. | B．It offers some practical travel tips. |
| C．It focuses on landscape photography. | D．It shows different traditions in Europe. |
| A．Document cultural diversity. | B．Call on people to protect nature. |
| C．Suggest cycling for human well-being. | D．Promote tourism in the Andes Mountains. |
3 . There are festivals going on somewhere in the world every day of the year. These range from very large events to local celebrations in tiny villages. We have selected a few of the more unusual, colourful festivals from around the world.
Mighty Mud (泥; 泥浆) Mania: Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
Children’s dreams really do come true in the City of Scottsdale. Children aged 1 to 13, get to join in the mud race Mighty Mudway features water and mud games. There are also water slides, sandcastle buildings and fun for all ages. Moms and dads, remember to send your kids out with old clothes and shoes.
Songkran Festival, Thailand
What better way to celebrate the “start of the return of rains” than with a country-wide water fight? Thais celebrate their festival officially from April 13th until April 15th. These three days represent the last day of the old year, the day of transition, and the first day of the New Year. Water battles fought out for days in the streets of every town and city over the country.
The La Tomatina Festival, Spain
On the last Wednesday of every August thousands of Spaniards take part in the La Tomatina Festival in Bunol. Truckloads of tomatoes are pulled in each year and dumped in the city centre. The people throw tomatoes at each other for the whole day, but the only rule is that the tomato must be flattened in the hand first, before being thrown. Even elderly grandmothers have been known to take part.
Canberra Sled Dog Classic: Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Dog sledding is one of the fastest growing sports on the east coast of Australia. As there’s no snow (the trail is earth and sand and is smooth and wide with a few hills and turns) , the sleds have wheels instead of runners, but the excitement is the same.
1. Which festival is most suitable for 10-year-old Jack and his younger brother?| A．Mighty Mud Mania | B．Songkran Festival |
| C．The La Tomatina Festival | D．Canberra Sled Dog Classic |
| A．With a dog sledding race. | B．Through a country-wide water fight. |
| C．By having a nationwide tomato fight. | D．By building sandcastles in a muddy environment. |
| A．They are all for adults. | B．They happen in the same season. |
| C．They all have joyful atmosphere. | D．They all happen in the same country. |
4 . Find your new favorite hobby
Challenging and fun hobbies have the power to make us happier and healthier. They can lead to better physical health, lower stress, greater life satisfaction, a larger social network and improve work performance.
Ask yourself how you want to feel
Hobbies present an escape—they can help you get out of your head and calm down. Ask yourself how you want an activity to make you feel. Mentally engaged? Distracted? Relaxed? Socially connected?
Start small
When people feel guilty about spending time on leisure, they experience increased symptoms of depression and anxiety. Give yourself permission to do something that you like and keep in mind that if a hobby makes you healthier and happier, everyone around you will benefit. Think of discovering new hobbies as a way to add new dimensions to your life, and enjoy the process.
Take a trip back in time
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? The answer could point you toward an appealing hobby. Revisit some activities you loved when you were young, like drawing, putting together model kits, collecting things or building clay figures, which is really helpful to start your new hobbies.
Keep a list
Keep a list on your fridge or other things of all the things that strike you as interesting. Write down potential interests as they come to you, and you’ll have no shortage of options to explore when you’re ready.
| A．Remove guilt. |
| B．Keep optimistic. |
| C．Plus, they often promote connection with others. |
| D．Those childhood delights can easily develop into adult hobbies. |
| E．Don’t invest a ton of time and money in a new hobby immediately. |
| F．You shoud keep an open mind and don’t ignore some potential hobbies. |
| G．It’s also helpful to consider what your life is missing, like creativity or physical activity. |
5 . Houses covered in ivy are an attractive sight to see. But many gardeners fear that ivy causes major structural damage to buildings and long to remove it whenever they can, right? Not so, says James Wong, a botanist and science writer.
“I am always surprised by how often gardening can be so driven by fear.” he says. “The thinking behind this is that climbers harm brickwork and can cause structural damage to buildings.” But few fears are based on any scientific evidence. And frequently, the exact opposite is true.
In a 2020 study from the Royal Horticultural Society, climbing plants like ivy were found to have a protective effect on model brick buildings constructed for the experiment. The shade by the plants’ leaves cooled the surface of the buildings in summer by as much as 5.7°C. What’s more, ivy didn’t significantly raise humidity levels (湿度) －rather, it helped stabilize them, minimizing the damage to the buildings’ surfaces. The living coating also lowered summer temperatures inside the buildings by up to 7.2°C and reduced heating bills by as much as 20 percent in winter.
What about real-world, well-used buildings, whose outside may have experienced centuries of environmental damage? Another study from 2011 found that in five historic buildings across England, bare walls experienced average maximum temperatures 36 percent higher and minimum temperatures 15 percent lower compared with those coated in ivy. The researchers concluded that the living insulation (隔热) provided by ivy would “reduce the likelihood of frost and salt damage to the building materials, thus contributing to their conservation”. They also found in another study that the leaves’ ability to trap pollution could reduce the damage to historical walls.
Imagine if there was a new material that could cool cities and cut energy bills. The truth is that we have had this miracle material all along, but rather than appreciating it, we have spent huge amounts of time worrying about how to get rid of it.
1. Why do gardeners want to remove the ivy?| A．To get rid of their fear of ivy. |
| B．To make the houses more attractive. |
| C．To confirm previous scientific evidence. |
| D．To protect the brickwork and structure of the building. |
| A．Climbing plants increase heating bills in winter. |
| B．Climbing plants can severely damage brickwork. |
| C．Climbing plants raise humidity levels against brickwork. |
| D．Climbing plants reduce the temperature of buildings in summer. |
| A．It improves the visual appeal of old buildings. |
| B．It removes pollutants from the surroundings. |
| C．It protects building materials from frost and salt damage. |
| D．It promotes the energy efficiency of historical structures. |
| A．Ivy: a troublemaker of preserving the old building |
| B．Ivy: an unexpected helper in buildings conservation |
| C．The environmental impact of ivy on modern architecture |
| D．The need for a new material to cool cities and cut energy bills |
6 . Oxford’s world-class museums house rare treasures from the natural world as well as amazing art and handicrafts. The museums are also a valuable study resource for students and academics.
Ashmolean Museum
Where: Beaumont Street, OX12PH
When: 10:00-17:00
The Ashmolean Museum is home to the university’s collection of art and archaeology. Founded in 1683, it was the first public museum in the UK and is one of the oldest in the world. Particularly relevant to: Ancient and Modern History.
www.ashmolean.org
History of Science Museum
Where: Broad Street,OX13AZ
When: 12:00-17:00
This museum houses an unequaled collection of historic scientific instruments, including Einstein’s blackboard and the first cultures of the lifesaving antibiotic Penicillin.
Particularly relevant to all science and history courses.
www.hsm.ox.ac.uk
Oxford University Museum of Natural History
Where: Parks Road, OX13PW
When: 10:00-17:00
The museum houses an impressive range of scientific collections of zoological and geologicalsamples in a spectacular Victorian building.
Particularly relevant to: Biology; Earth Sciences.
www.oum.ox.ac.uk
Pitt Rivers Museum
Where: Parks Road, OX13PW
When: 10:00-14:00
The Pitt Rivers Museum is home to a remarkable collection of man-made objects from all partsof the world, famous for its celebrated displays and its leading role in contemporary research.
Particularly relevant to: Archaeology and Anthropology; History of Art.
www.prm.ox.ac.uk
1. If you want to know more about Penicillin, which website should you surf?| A．www.hsm.ox.ac.uk. | B．www.oum.ox.ac.uk. |
| C．www.ashmolean.org. | D．www.prm.ox.ac.uk |
| A．Art and archaeology | B．Undergraduates studying. |
| C．Historic scientific instruments. | D．Collections of man-made objects. |
| A．study history | B．preserve heritage |
| C．visit museums | D．appreciate handicrafts |
7 . The backpack you take can make or break your trip when you go traveling. Here are the four best travel backpacks on the market.
Amazon Basics 70L
It’s much cheaper than many travel bags on the market and does not sacrifice any of the practical uses or space that comes with more expensive bags. The bag may not be as luxury as some of the more high-end bags, but its simple style lets you focus on the main thing you need to focus on when traveling: the moment.
Eurohike Nepal 65L
The Eurohike Backpack is a great choice because of how adaptable it is. Besides having a great amount of storage, it comes with an internal security pocket. It weighs just 1.38kg as opposed to other backpacks, which can weigh up to nearly 2kg. If you’re going to go hiking when you travel, then it is perfect.
Mountain Warehouse Tor 65L
First, its brand is one of the most trusted in the industry, so quality is guaranteed. Second, the backpack’s adjustable back allows you to change how the bag fits according to your needs. Available in both blue and green, this is a great choice if you want a bag that you can depend on.
Osprey Europe Farpoint 70L
Osprey is one of the best brands for backpacks. Its frame (框架) suspension, which can be adjusted to different needs, allows you to travel more comfortably. Whether you’re visiting Switzerland in a thick, wool coat or the south of France in shorts and a T-shirt, the bag will match your look. This bag does say it is marketed for men, but, of course, it can be unisex.
1. What is the selling point of the Amazon Basics?| A．Its luxury style. | B．Its fashionable design. |
| C．Its huge space for use. | D．Its good value for money. |
| A．They are rich in color. | B．They have the same capacity. |
| C．They can be adjusted as needed. | D．They are targeted for male customers. |
| A．Amazon Basics 70L. | B．Eurohike Nepal 65L. |
| C．Mountain Warehouse Tor 65L. | D．Osprey Europe Farpoint 70L. |
8 . If you’re traveling with your family and looking for great fun in Iceland, check this list of family-friendly tours. These tours help you make the best of your family vacation.
Ice caving tour on Langjokull Glacier (冰川)
On this Langjokull Glacier tour, explore the world’s largest man-made ice cave. A 20-ton monster truck will take you to the entrance of the cave, located close to the top of the glacier. Then hike through the 500m long ice tunnel with separate frozen halls and admire brilliant blue ice formations. You’ll dream about this ice cave experience for years to come!
Whale watching tour from Reykjavik
Hit the high seas on a Dalvik whale watching tour. Witness humpback whales, blue whales, minke whales and even dolphins! In true Icelandic fashion, you will get the chance to try your hand at sea fishing. Your fresh catch will be barbequed Icelandic-style when the tour ends, the perfect way to wrap up the day.
River rafting (漂流) down Gullfoss Canyon.
Whether you’re an expert or beginner, Iceland’s white waters attract people of all skill levels. Your tour begins at Drumboddsstadir, continues down the Hvita River and ends in Bruarhlod Canyon, located at the foothills of Gullfoss Waterfall. The waters will lead you past a water-carved gorge and over a few steep rapids on an unforgettable adventure of a lifetime.
Old farm hike
On this tour we’ll be aiming for the old abandoned farm at Kleif — watching out for the Arctic wildlife that lives in the area, including reindeer and plenty of birds. Upon arrival, we’ll go on a fully guided tour of the farm and hear stories of how Icelanders managed to survive in this unfriendly place. Finally, we’ll enjoy some warming refreshments at the farm after an educational day in the wilderness.
1. What do we know about the ice cave?| A．It is artificial. | B．It has a secret entrance. |
| C．It lies under a glacier. | D．It is the deepest in the world. |
| A．Ice caving tour. | B．Whale watching tour. | C．River rafting. | D．Old farm hike. |
| A．Have a barbecue in the wilderness. | B．Learn farming from local people. |
| C．Practice hunting Arctic animals. | D．Explore the history of the farm. |
9 . In 1776 Thomas Paine, an Englishman, published a book called Common Sense, which became a best-seller. But in a paper, Mark Whiting and Duncan Watts, a pair of computational social scientists, note that the idea has seldom been seriously studied.
The two researchers set out to fix that. They started by noting that the standard concept of common sense has a somewhat circular definition: common sense is a set of claims that sensible (明智的) people agree with, and sensible people are those who possess common sense.
To get around such philosophical messes, the researchers recruited 2,046 human participants and asked them to rate 50 statements from a language database of 4,407 claims that might be seen as commonsensical.
As common sense might have predicted, the researchers found that plainly worded claims concerning facts about the real world were the most likely to berated as demonstrating common sense (“triangles have three sides”, for example, which is true by definition, or “avoid close contact with people who are ill”). The more abstract the claims, the less likely participants were to agree that they were common sense (“all human beings are created equal”; “perception is the only source of knowledge”). When they split the claims by subject, the researchers found that those concerning technology and science were the most likely to be rated as commonsensical, while matters of history and philosophy were the least likely.
A respondent’s age, sex, income and personal politics had little effect on what they thought counted as common sense, although psychological measures of social perceptiveness and the ability to reflect on one’s opinions did.
Having investigated individual opinions, the researchers looked at how common sense works across big groups. Here, they found much less agreement than might have been expected: Only around 44% of claims in the language database were rated as commonsensical by at least 75%of respondents.
A stricter definition of common sense, in which everyone has to agree with a claim for it to count,cut that number to just 6.6%. Where exactly a reasonable cut-offices is a matter for debate. But truly “common” sense, it seems, is an unreadable thing.
1. What is the standard idea on common sense?| A．It is what everybody knows. |
| B．It is what we take for granted. |
| C．It is facts about the real world. |
| D．It is agreements of wise people. |
| A．Money is equal to happiness. |
| B．Wash your hands before meals. |
| C．Failure is the mother of success. |
| D．Practice is the only criterion to test truth. |
| A．Mental health. | B．Personal salary. |
| C．Social insight. | D．Others’ comments. |
| A．Common Sense Does Not Really Exist |
| B．Common Sense Works Across Crowds |
| C．Common Sense Originates From The Minority |
| D．Common Sense Is Not Actually Very Common |
10 . Exposure to new technologies including trackers,robots and AI-based software at work is bad for people's quality of life, according to a groundbreaking study from the Institute for the Future of Work.
The authors found that the more workers were exposed to technologies in three of these categories —software based on AI and machine learning; monitor devices such as wearable trackers; and robotics-the worse their health and wellbeing tended to be.
By contrast, use of more long-established information and communication technologies (ICTs)such as laptops, tablets and instant messaging at work tended to have a more positive effect on wellbeing.
Dr Magdalena Soffia,the study's lead author, said it was not necessarily the technologies themselves that are the problem,but the way in which they are adopted."We don't want to claim that there is some sort of determinism in what technology causes,in terms of wellbeing,"she said,“We say it really depends on the context:on lots of structural factors,on environmental conditions,how it is designed and how it is used.So lots of human decisions.”
“We wanted to give a more multidimensional understanding of what was happening in terms of wellbeing.So we used a well-established measure which is a very effective measure, used by the UK public health sector;"Soffia said.
Discussing the promotion to quality of life from ICTs,she suggested"one possible potential mechanism is that actually what they do is to streamline work processes,and they make working life a bit more efficient.And that in turn,gives you kind of a sense of achievement."
By contrast,the findings about trackers and monitor technologies corespond with recent wanings from trades unions and campaigners about the negative impact on workers whose performance is being constantly monitored.
Mary Towers,the TUC's lead on Al,said:"These findings should worry us all.They show that without strong new regulation,Al could make the world of work a cruel and unhealthy place for many.Things don't have to be this way.If we put the proper guardrails in place,AI can be controlled to genuinely enhance productivity and improve working lives."
1. What does the study find about new technologies?| A．They are well received. |
| B．They worsen people's life. |
| C．They consist of three items. |
| D．They are developing rapidly. |
| A．Influence on humans. |
| B．Origin of the problem. |
| C．Solutions to the problem. |
| D．Decisive role of the environment. |
| A．Increase work efficiency. |
| B．Enhance our confidence. |
| C．Ensure our safety at work. |
| D．Improve working conditions. |
| A．Critical. | B．Doubtful. | C．Hopeful. | D．Unclear. |
