1 . Zandra Cunningham is the founder of a skincare brand. She has been recognized by the media as one of the youngest and most successful business owners in America.

When she was a kid, Zandra always loved lip balms (护唇膏) and bought a lot of them. But she found they eventually hurt her lips instead of relieving the dryness because of all the chemicals in them. She then started experimenting with different ingredients (成分) together with her mom. They tried a lot of times until they found the natural and healthy combinations they liked. Slowly, Zandra began selling her products at local farmers’ markets and trade events. Before her 10th birthday, she launched her brand and hoped it would empower other young girls.

Soon, it became a challenge for Zandra to separate her personal interests from what her customers actually wanted. “There are a lot of ideas that I feel are excellent but wouldn’t fit into the market,” she said. Being part of the younger market herself, Zandra recognized the issue and improved her products after truly listening to customers. “There are so many brands doing similar things, but there’s still so much room to grow. Your customers are out there, and you just have to reach out to them. That’s what will set you apart,” the 23-year-old shared.

When asked about her experience as a promising young businesswoman, Zandra said, “It wasn’t frightening. When you’re young, fear doesn’t have a strong hold on your mindset. ‘Maybe it’s not going to work’ never really crossed my mind.”

Characterized by encouraging statements and featuring a playful color combination, the packaging (包装) is a big part of why Zandra’s business has been so impressive. “There are a lot of products on the market that seem natural, but they actually aren’t,” she said. “I make sure my packaging can help people understand what each term means, and how to read and check ingredients.”

1. What pushed Zandra to get into the skincare business?

A．Her desire to create skin-friendly products.

B．Her interest in doing chemical experiments.

C．Her wish to set an example for other young girls.

D．Her goal of providing local people with cheap skin products.

2. How did Zandra deal with the trouble in her business?

A．She cooperated with powerful brands.

B．She stood by her own business decisions.

C．She made an effort to meet real market needs.

D．She took inspiration from successful businesswomen.

3. What plays a role in her business success according to Zandra?

A．Her work experience.	B．Her parents’ support.
C．Her creative thinking.	D．Her youthful positivity.

4. What does Zandra expect to achieve with her packaging?

A．To catch customers’ attention.

B．To collect customers’ opinions on skincare.

C．To educate customers about product knowledge.

D．To encourage environmental awareness in customers.

2 . The walls of ancient Egyptian tombs (坟墓) can teach us much about the ancient Egyptians’ life. However, many paintings in the tombs were damaged by unlawful tomb diggers. Now a new study shows how a technology called portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) can be used to better study the paintings.

Developed in the early 20th century by physicist Henry Moseley, XRF and pXRF can be used to decide materials’ elemental composition (元素组成). Rather than the huge and immovable tool often used to study historical objects in labs, the tool needed in the pXRF study weighs only a few kilograms and can be taken into the field.

The research team headed by Philippe Martinez from Sorbonne University used the new tool to perform chemical imaging on paintings on site, allowing for the study of paint composition. As the ancient Egyptians used paints made from minerals (矿物), the paints have specific chemical markers. By using pXRF, scientists can use the chemical markers to create a map of damaged areas.

The team used the pXRF tool in the study of a painting of Ramesses II found in the tomb of Nakhtamun, which has traditionally been dated at the19th dynasty of ancient Egypt. And they discovered the necklace worn by the king in the painting may have been changed.

The king was first painted to be wearing a shebyu necklace, which was trendy during the 20th dynasty, some years after Ramesses II’s death. And it appears that the necklace was later changed to a wesekh necklace, which usually appears in paintings during his time. This means the tomb painters at first painted this 19th-dynasty ruler wearing a 20th-dynasty necklace, realized their mistake and then corrected it. The technology enabled the team to learn that the tomb owner, Nakhtamun, may actually have lived in the 20th rather than the 19th dynasty, and that the painting is not of a living king, but rather of a former ruler.

According to the researchers, the pXRF technology allows in-depth studies while helping prevent further damage. And it presents important details about the technological and artistic achievements of the ancient Egyptians.

1. What can be learned about the pXRF technology from Paragraph 2?

A．It only works in laboratory settings.

B．It requires a large and fixed tool to operate.

C．It was developed to prevent painting stealing.

D．It is more convenient than the earlier technology.

2. What is Paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．The process of repairing the tombs.

B．The researchers’ working methods.

C．The introduction to the technology’s inventor.

D．The valuable materials of the paints used in the paintings.

3. What does the underlined word “trendy” in Paragraph 5 mean?

A．Confusing.

B．Acceptable.

C．Popular.

D．Expensive.

4. What does the research on the painting of Ramesses II show?

A．Ramesses II paid great attention to his appearance.

B．Ancient Egyptian painters were careless about details.

C．The new tool was important to the dating of historical objects.

D．Technology developed very quickly during Ramesses II’s time.

3 . We live in a world where we are usually exposed to (接触) news on social media that can be scary, upsetting, or confusing.     1     However, as Mr. Rogers, the beloved host of a children’s show, once said, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helpful.’ ”

One of the places where we can look for “the helpers” is on social media platforms.     2     For example, Ryan Kaji is a 9-year-old boy who runs the channel Ryan’s World. He makes videos about science experiments and games that are fun and educational for kids. He also donates to charities and causes that he cares about.

    3     One problem is finding reliable (可靠) and exact sources of information. Not all content on social media platforms is trustworthy. Some content creators may just want to make money from ads. Therefore, it is important to judge the reliability of the sources before we trust their content. Another challenge is keeping a healthy balance between online and offline activities. Spending too much time online can do harm to our physical health, such as causing headaches or sleep problems. Therefore, it is important to limit our screen time by doing other activities.     4    

Looking for helpers on social media can be a valuable way to find hope and comfort in difficulty.    5     Then we will form our own opinions. We can also be helpers ourselves by sharing helpful content on social media that can make a difference in the world.

A．We’d better find some topics to talk about with the helper.

B．Exercising, reading, and learning art are all good choices.

C．Phones and computers have made information easier to gain.

D．They offer a lot of content that can educate or support young viewers.

E．It enables us to see things from different viewpoints and learn new things.

F．However, looking for helpers on social media also comes with some challenges.

G．Sometimes, it can be hard to deal with the negative thoughts that these events cause.

4 . Google Flights reveals new feature to help travelers save money

Regular users of Google Flights might notice a new feature the next time they go to the site to check out airline schedules and compare flight prices.

The new feature officially announced on Monday morning in a news release is Google guidance on the cheapest time to book a flight, which adds price tracking alerts and a price guarantee option already in place.

Cheapest time to book: Google Flights said starting this week, searches that have reliable trend data will let users see in what time frame prices have typically been lowest. Users can then better decide whether to book now or later, Google said in the release.

Take flights from New York to Miami, for example, the cheapest time to book is usually from Sep 13 to Dec 7. Prices during this time are $59 cheaper on average.

Price tracking: Users who want to wait for lower fares before booking can use a price tracking feature that “can do most of the heavy lifting for you,” Google said.

Price guarantee: On some flight results, users might notice a price guarantee badge (标志) pop up (this won’t happen on every use). If you book one of these flights, Google said it will monitor the price every day before takeoff.

“If the price does go down, we’ll pay you back the difference via Google Pay. These price guarantees are part of a pilot program available for select Book on Google itineraries (行程) departing from the U. S.,” Google said in the release.

1. Which is the cheapest time to book a flight from New York to Miami?

A．August 19.

B．September 20.

C．December 8.

D．January 11.

2. What is the function of Google Flights’ new feature?

A．Get your money back.	B．Pay back the difference.
C．Monitor the price before flights take off.	D．Make sure you can get the cheapest flight.

3. In which section of a newspaper may this text appear?

A．Science.

B．Entertainment.

C．Travel.

D．Education.

5 . The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2023 was awarded to three American scientists Moungi G. Bawendi, Louis E. Brus and Alexei I. Ekimov “for the discovery and development of quantum (量子) dots”. They are so tiny that their size determines their properties. These smallest components of nano (纳米) technology now spread their light from televisions and LED lamps, and can also guide surgeons when they remove cancer tissue, among many other things.

Everyone who studies chemistry learns that an element’s properties are governed by how many electrons (电子) it has. However, when matter contracts to nano-dimensions quantum phenomena arise; these are governed by the size of the matter. The Nobel winners in Chemistry 2023 have succeeded in producing particles so small that their properties are determined by quantum phenomena. The particles, which are generally known as quantum dots by scientists, are now of great importance in nanotechnology.

“Quantum dots have many fascinating and unusual properties. Importantly, they have different colours depending on their size,” says Johan Åqvist, Chai r of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry.

Physicists had long known that in theory size-dependent quantum effects could arise in nanoparticles, but at that time it was almost impossible to sculpture in nanodimensions. Therefore, few people believed that this knowledge would be put to practical use.

However, in the early 1980s, Alexei Ekimov succeeded in creating size-dependent quantum effects in coloured glass. The colour came from nanoparticles of copper chloride (氯化铜) and Ekimov demonstrated that the particle size affected the colour of the glass via quantum effects. A few years later, Louis Brus was the first scientist in the world to prove size-dependent quantum effects in particles floating freely in a liquid. In 1993, Moungi Bawendi revolutionised the chemical production of quantum dots, resulting in almost perfect particles. This high quality was necessary for them to be used in applications.

Quantum dots are thus bringing the greatest benefit to humankind. Researchers believe that in the future they could contribute to flexible electronics, tiny sensors, thinner solar cells and quantum communication — so we have just started exploring the potential of these tiny particles.

1. Why was the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2023 awarded to 3 American scientists?

A．They discovered quantum size.	B．They discovered nanotechnology.
C．They discovered quantum effects.	D．They discovered and improved quantum dots.

2. What does the underlined word “particles” in paragraph 2 probably refer to?

A．Quantum dots.

B．Spots.

C．Atoms.

D．Grains.

3. Who discovered nearly faultless quantum dots?

A．Moungi Bawendi.

B．Louis Brus.

C．Alexei Ekimov.

D．Johan Åqvist.

4. What can we infer from the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2023?

A．Innovation is the most important thing.

B．Practice is the only criterion for testing truth.

C．The development of science and technology is endless.

D．Technology from quantum dots is constantly improving.

6 . Here are some ways to introduce classical music to your children.

●When you read a story to your children, pick out a classical music piece that matches the emotion of the book.     1     After getting used to reading in time with the music, tell your children you have a special surprise for them. Read them the story in the new way, and they will surely be delighted!

●If your kids are always moving around, try introducing classical music to them by dancing. Instruct your children to listen to the music and dance however the music makes them feel. Parents dance with them!     2    

●Before your kids begin playtime, make a list of classical music pieces with the name of the person who wrote it.     3     Tell them something about the person they picked to listen to. Before long, your children will have a basic knowledge of the person who wrote the piece.

●    4     Make sure your children listen to the music and create their picture to however the music makes them feel. Once everyone is finished, listen to the music again and explain your creations.

●You can pick out three pieces of music to play during the week.     5     At the end of the week have a listening game to see who can remember the name of the piece when you play it. Games are always a fun way to introduce learning concepts.

A．Have your children pick one.

B．Practice reading the story out loud with the music.

C．Mix up the music and see how your children react.

D．Classical music can be fun, and not boring to listen to.

E．Tell your children the name of the piece every time you play it.

F．Make sure you tell your children what the piece is and who wrote it.

G．While you and your children paint, play different classical music pieces.

7 . AI Can Bring Great Benefits to Human Beings

The explosion of progress in AI in recent months has surprised even the scientists and engineers who specialize in applying AI to real-life tasks. Several big companies started amazing new programs in a short time, including OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Microsoft’s Bing and Google’s Bard. “A few years ago I never would have imagined we would advance this far this soon,” says Zhe Jiang, a University of Florida researcher who studies applications of AI. Here are some examples of AI applications.

In April, a study published in Nature showed that an AI program was as good as or better than human experts at spotting heart problems in patient ultrasound (超声波) images. That is to say, AI is able to match or go beyond human doctors at catching cancers and other disorders by scanning images and tissue samples.

Some drug companies are already relying heavily on AI to help find promising new drugs. For example, PsychoGenics, a company specializing in drugs for mental disorders, is improving on the inefficient, inexact and costly process of testing new mental drugs on mice, which typically takes five years. By using AI instead of lab staff to observe the effects of new drugs on mice, the company can test more drugs with greater accuracy at a tenth the cost and two years faster.

With 56 million Americans over 65, the high cost and short supply of eldercare workers, eldercare robots have already stepped in. Without using the recent Al advances, robots already watch over seniors with electronic eyes, fetch small items, answer questions. Some of them can already start conversations with seniors, help them recall what happened, and then report the results to family members. Soon, the power of such devices to interact with people will improve greatly. “Caregiving and companion robots equipped with the latest AI can provide ‘empathy’,” says Forrester’s Curran. “They can tell the difference between a senior who is searching through a drawer, and one who is struggling to open a drawer,” he explains.

1. What made scientists surprised according to paragraph 1?

A．AI is applied to real-life tasks.	B．AI has been developing so swiftly.
C．AI can solve some real-life problems.	D．AI has helped launch some famous programs.

2. What can we learn about AI from the study in paragraph 2?

A．AI can settle disorders by scanning images.

B．AI will replace human doctors sooner or later.

C．AI is better than human beings in some aspects.

D．AI can solve problems in patient ultrasound images.

3. Why does the author take PsychoGenics as an example?

A．To explain the difficulty in finding new drugs.

B．To show the significance of finding new drugs.

C．To draw a comparison between AI and lab staff.

D．To convey the importance of AI to drug companies.

4. What does the author most possibly talk about next?

A．Some negative effects caused by AI.	B．Different opinions about AI application.
C．Other aspects of AI application in real-life.	D．Some examples of AI helping spot cancer.

8 . 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.

2. What should the students do before their trip to China?

A．Take a course online.	B．Consult a native guide.
C．Show their anxiety.	D．Share their preparation.

3. What made Ross Weis take the trip to China?

A．His passion for travel.	B．His interest in China.
C．His teacher’s invitation.	D．His father’s inspiration.

4. Which of the following best describes Jim Lieu?

A．Brave.

B．Patient.

C．Helpful.

D．Humorous.

9 . Being healthy is important. Often, we’re crazy about articles in health magazines talking about the latest popular diets, or advertisements that offer cures (疗法) for fatness that are often too good to be true. One of the latest crazy phenomena (现象) is intermittent fasting (间歇性禁食).     1    

There are different ways of intermittent fasting.     2     Another common way is choosing a diet that sees people only eating during a limited part of the day, for example, over eight hours.

    3     A study suggests intermittent fasting may help control blood sugar and reduce the possibility of suffering related disease. Other studies have shown intermittent fasting may help slow the ageing process, support brain function, lose weight, etc.

Some people try intermittent fasting for weight management, and others use the method to deal with some conditions such as high cholesterol or arthritis.     4     Fasting might not suit those who are underweight or with a long-term medical condition. Fasting may cause some people to experience symptoms (症状) such as headaches or make them easily suffer from overeating after a reduced calorie intake (热量摄入) day.

As with many diets, it’s always wise to speak to your doctor or weight-loss professional before changing your eating habits. And, at the end of the day, it could just come down to what lifestyle choice suits you.     5     If not, your health may suffer.

A．But what is intermittent fasting?

B．However, this diet isn’t for everyone.

C．Intermittent fasting has two main origins.

D．Let’s look at some of the possible benefits.

E．The idea of this is to reduce calories over a period.

F．In a word, you should avoid turning to intermittent fasting blindly.

G．You can eat normally on five days of a week and reduce calorie intake on the other two.

10 . Taking exercise in a crowded, noisy gym will improve your muscle but may not make much difference in your stress level. By contrast, hiking improves not only your physical fitness level, but your mental health as well. “I hike with friends every week. Whether I am wandering down a flat path along a river or climbing a rock y mountain in the wilderness, hiking can be beneficial to me because it exposes (使接触) me to outdoor scenes such as mountain s and rivers, which can always offer me good ideas about paintings and music,” Marry Copper, a hiker said.

Experts agree that hiking reduces stress. According to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA), hiking increases the body’s production of endorphins, a type of chemical that improves mood (情绪). Endorphins also help you sleep more soundly, which will lower your stress level. However, not all scientists agree that hiking raises your endorphin level. Instead, some researchers believe that hiking causes the release of the chemical norepinephrine, which helps make you less excited or upset.

The controversy (争议) is ongoing, but it is clear that however it happens, hiking is useful when you are feeling anxious. Hiking can also help improve your confidence. Walking down a path is a repetitive motion, which can lead your brain into relaxing; you may “zone out” to the point where you won’t be thinking about anything in particular. Being outside in the open air may also help you exercise better because most people do indoors; getting out from under a roof can lift your spirits.

Hiking may improve your mood more than a gym workout will, but your risks are also greater. People sometimes try to make their own way rather than stick to established paths. They are proud to say they like to have an adventure. However, people who try to do something new could be attacked by wildlife and get hurt and lost. So stick to the known roads and bring a cellphone with you, and always tell someone where and when you are going hiking, even if you have a partner going with you.

1. Why does Marry Copper like hiking?

A．She dislikes exercising in the gym.	B．She can meet new friends when hiking.
C．She can draw inspiration from nature.	D．She has the spirit of adventure in the wilderness.

2. What do we know about the study of hiking?

A．Scientists have reached an agreement.

B．Sound sleep can increase the body’s endorphin level.

C．Stress is caused by the body’s production of endorphin.

D．The chemical norepinephrine could make people calm.

3. What is the author’s attitude towards exploring new roads during hiking?

A．Negative

B．Positive

C．Objective

D．Unclear

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．How can hiking cause controversy?	B．Why do people like exercising outdoors?
C．What do hikers like to do in the wilderness?	D．What benefits can hiking bring to people?