1 . Navarre Scott Momaday became the first Native American to win a Pulitzer Prize after publishing his first novel, House Made of Dawn, in 1968.
Momaday didn’t feel that the recognition was as deserving as others thought. The Kiowa writer had always considered himself a poet above all else. “I don’t think of myself as a novelist,” he told the Los Angeles Times’s Edward Iwata. “I still feel poetry is the highest form of literature.” Many years after House Made of Dawn’s publication, he still saw its success as an accident.
Momaday died at age 89, and he left behind an astonishing literary achievement. His barrier-breaking novel paved the way for a new generation of Native American authors, including James Welch, Leslie Marmon Silko, Louise Erdrich and Joy Harjo. His distinctive style and vivid descriptions make the comparison to poetry appropriate. “That’s exactly what it was,” says Kevin Gover, a citizen of the Pawnee Tribe of Oklahoma. “It really reads like poetry. It is quite unique. I’ve seen very little that’s like it before or since.”
Momaday was born on February 27, 1934, in Lawton, Oklahoma. When he was a baby, the family relocated to a reservation in Arizona. They moved once again to Jemez Pueblo, New Mexico, when he was 12. Momaday has said that the main character of his first novel is a combination of the troubled individuals he knew as a child at Jemez Pueblo. After earning a master’s degree and PhD in English from Stanford University, Momaday taught at several institutions. He wrote House Made of Dawn in the mornings before class.
“House Made of Dawn was about what it means to be Native in contemporary circumstances,” says Gover, who remembers following the novel’s publication and rise to literary praise when he was a child. “Momaday was from my part of the country, down in southwest Oklahoma. I remember we were all amazed — not that we could appreciate when we were kids the quality of his work — but just the fact that somebody like us had produced something that was winning such praise.”
1. What did Momaday think of his winning the Pulitzer Prize?| A．It’s rewarding. | B．It’s honorable. |
| C．It’s unexpected. | D．It’s challenging. |
| A．To compare Momaday with them. |
| B．To emphasize Momaday’s influence on them. |
| C．To help readers understand Momaday’s book. |
| D．To tell Momaday’s writing style comes from them. |
| A．Lawton, Oklahoma. | B．Stanford University. |
| C．The reservation in Arizona. | D．Jemez Pueblo, New Mexico. |
| A．It’s hard for Native American authors to succeed. |
| B．Modern society favors the literary creation. |
| C．House Made of Dawn wasn’t a hit at first. |
| D．He has loved literature since childhood. |
2 . It’s fair to say that many parents focus a lot of energy — and worry! — on protecting their small kids from risky situations. But this past weekend, reporter Ellen Barry published a piece about a growing movement in Britain: people are bringing risk into the playground experience.
Controlled risk at play time — where, after all, the children are still under close supervision (监护) — would seem a good addition to the free-range child movement. In that initiative, it’s suggested that free-range kids take walks in nature or ride public transportation on their own.
Besides, considering child development from an evolutionary (进化的) view offers more backing. Our long journey through time and nature has made us who we are today, with behaviors, thoughts and bodies shaped.
| A．Kids learn best while playing. |
| B．More exploration is expected. |
| C．It says it’s okay for kids to take some risks. |
| D．Limited-risk playgrounds begin to catch on. |
| E．The idea is to help kids become tough and strong. |
| F．Generally, they are encouraged to get outside and acquire independent skills. |
| G．It is therefore important to let kids do things that match how they naturally grow. |
3 . One day I typed into ChatGPT all about my upset feelings and it instantly responded, offering a list of practical advice. Nowadays millions of people are already turning to ChatGPT and specialist therapy (治疗) chatbots for convenient and inexpensive mental health support.
Some experts say this is a boon. After all, AI, undisturbed by embarrassment and burnout, might be able to express empathy (同理心) more openly and tirelessly than humans. But others worry about the consequences of people seeking emotional support from machines that can only pretend to care. Some even wonder if the rise of so-called empathetic AI might change the way we interact with one another. Indeed, empathy is one of our species’ defining qualities, developing as it did in pace with social interaction.
One recent analysis about empathy looked at 52 studies published between 1980 and 2019, which shows that the empathiser must first be able to recognize how the other person is feeling. They must also be affected by those emotions and differentiate between themselves and the other person, grasping that the other person’s feelings aren’t their own while still being able to imagine their experience.
On the first point, in recent years, Al-powered chatbots have made progress in their ability to read human emotions, most powered by large language models (LLMs) that work by predicting which words are most likely to appear together based on training data. In this way, LLMs like ChatGPT can seemingly identify our feelings and respond appropriately most of the time. But when it comes to the other criteria, AI still misses the mark in many ways. Empathy is interpersonal, with continued feedback helping to perfect the empathiser’s response, which also requires some degree of intuitive (直觉的) awareness of an individual and their situation.
All of this helps to explain conversations like the ones I had with ChatGPT. At the end of the day, despite talking to multiple chatbots online, I did what I knew I had to do all along: I picked up my phone and called a friend.
1. What does the underlined word “boon” in paragraph 2 mean?| A．Trap. | B．Prize. | C．Blessing. | D．Challenge. |
| A．It calls for clear communication. | B．It starts with emotion identification. |
| C．It rules out individual difference. | D．It depends on rich imagination. |
| A．Provide data-driven feedback. | B．Recognize one’s real desire. |
| C．Update large language models. | D．Predict one’s behavior by intuition. |
| A．Its development should be sped up. |
| B．Its intelligence is winning more favor. |
| C．Its application should be strictly managed. |
| D．Its artificial kindness is no match for humans’. |
4 . Quiet Parks International (QPI) have got every reason to award Quiet Trail to the Niobrara National Scenic River this year, making it the other Quiet Trail in the world after Cuifeng Lake Trail, Taiwan. Kalli Kieborz, Director of Niobrara Council, received the award for their assistance in managing and protecting its natural resources, including natural quiet, since 1997.
This Award concluded a two-year process that included exploring the full length of the river to collect qualitative and quantitative acoustic (听觉的) data. Gordon Hempton, cofounder of QPI, stated, “Our testing process is very exact. Beyond collecting standard acoustic data, each team member must agree unhesitatingly that natural quiet existed throughout the testing period. The river’s splendid geologic landscape, unusual atmospheric conditions and outstanding wildlife all contributed to a positive outcome.”
The Niobrara River is notable for its beauty, ecological importance, and recreational appeal in the northern Great Plains, U.S.. Six major ecosystems meet in the Niobrara National Scenic River valley, resulting in a special mix of more than 160 plant and animal species. “It is filled with unique, even one-of-a-kind opportunities for the curious and adventurous visitors,” said John Ricks. Nebraska Tourism director.
“97% of the U.S. population faces noise pollution from sources like flights and highways. In fact, the more quiet we have, the more we can see and hear about the world, so we are thrilled to be able to offer it at Niobrara National Scenic River. From a quiet starry night to peaceful natural escapes, it uncovers what cannot be enjoyed in many other places,” stated Susan Cook, another director.
Areas like the Niobrara National Scenic River offer an opportunity to showcase quiet, unspoiled areas in a noisy world. Today, as people’s life is overloaded with noise, the intentional seeking-out of quiet areas is on the rise and with it, the opportunity to engage new travelers in visiting the beautiful, yet still largely hidden treasure of the wild.
1. Which of the following best describes the testing process?| A．Flexible. | B．Reliable. | C．Simple. | D．Loose. |
| A．Ecology imbalance. | B．Biodiversity enrichment. |
| C．Species competition. | D．Tourism boost. |
| A．The joy of winning the award. | B．The outcome of noise pollution. |
| C．The activities of enjoying quiet. | D．The value of natural quiet. |
| A．To call on efforts to reconnect with nature. |
| B．To inform the recognition of a quiet river. |
| C．To display the challenges of protecting ecosystem. |
| D．To stress the need to escape busyness of modern life. |
5 . When Chui-Lian Lee and Valentina Gomez started on their academic journeys as textile (织物) developing and marketing majors at the Fashion Institute of Technology, they were eager to learn more about the clothing industry. Some of the things they ended up learning shocked them. They found out that roughly 11 million tons of textile waste end up in landfill each year, and the chemicals and gases that emerge during decomposition pollute the earth.
Every single class that they joined, they’d go through the impacts and it’d be like, “Okay, cotton has this large of a water footprint and people are turning to organic cotton, but that’s not really a solution because of these reasons.” Or “People are looking at recycled polyester (涤纶) but that’s not great because it still releases microplastics.” As every solution they learned about came with drawbacks, they both wound up feeling really frustrated.
It wasn’t until the two joined a class on the application of biotechnology to the manufacturing of clothing that they realized there could be a more environmentally friendly option for the fashion industry. Lee and Gomez learned that they could use specially engineered proteins to create a fiber that avoids plastics and degrades (分解) naturally, and then the idea for Werewool was born. “By changing how we are creating the fibers that make up our clothing, we can change the entire life cycle of our clothing and their end-of-life impacts on the environment, avoiding pollution from plastics,” Lee explains.
The early-stage biotech company focusing on developing biodegradable fibers for the textile industry initially started as a research project that involved many sleepless nights in the lab. After winning the H&M Global Change Award in 2020, the project launched into a company. Over four years and 4.5 million dollars in funding later, Werewool now has 12 employees and has begun working with brands to develop clothing out of their protein-based fibers, with the hope of launching products in 2025. By 2030, 125,000 tons of fiber is expected to enter the market, which is about 390 million shirts.
“Our goal has always been to make the fashion industry friendly to nature,” says Lee.
1. What surprised Lee and Gomez when they learned about the clothing industry?| A．A wide range of textiles are produced every year. |
| B．There are many poisonous chemicals in clothing. |
| C．Clothing industry brings harm to the environment. |
| D．The textile waste is quite difficult to break down. |
| A．To present features of organic clothing. |
| B．To introduce methods of recycling textile waste. |
| C．To show they’re not good options for sustainability. |
| D．To explain it is essential to reduce the water footprint. |
| A．It has a bright prospect. | B．It funds research on textile waste. |
| C．It proves to be highly profitable. | D．It pioneers in plastics decomposition. |
| A．Werewool Makes Fashion Green |
| B．Breakthroughs in Applied Biotechnology |
| C．Lee and Gomez’s Academic Journeys |
| D．New Protein-based Fibers Hit the Market |
6 . The HSK is a globally-run standardized test of Chinese language ability for non-native speakers. Whether you seek to ensure qualifications for scholarships or gain an advantage in the job market or a related academic field, an HSK pass will serve you well. But, of course, many learners also find an exam to be an excellent source of motivation!
Working with the Chinese Testing Centre, we are delighted to announce that our Institute will continue to offer opportunities for interested candidates to sit 2024 HSK Exams which will be in-person exams only. The next offline exam will take place on Sunday, 19 May.
Please visit HSK Exams Official Page to register. A recent passport photo is required when completing the registration form. A standard 2-inch identification photo no larger than 100kb must be sent to info@confuciusinstitute.ac.uk after you register the exam online.
Your admission ticket can be printed in the exam registration system after the registration closes. On the exam date, you MUST bring your admission ticket and the identification document, or you will not be able to sit the exam on the day.
Examination Fees:
HSK offline | HSK1 | HSK2 | HSK3 | HSK4 | HSK5 | HSK6 |
Standard | £10.00 | £20.00 | £30.00 | £40.00 | £50.00 | £60.00 |
Please note that if you want to book more than one exam level, you need to go through the booking process for each item you wish to book and pay correspondingly. For postage and packing, extra £3.00 is required for each level.
1. What benefit will an HSK pass bring?| A．Qualifying for scholarships. | B．Getting a dream job. |
| C．Having academic exchange. | D．Improving examination skills. |
| A．A recent passport photo. | B．A standard 2-inch ID photo. |
| C．A printed admission ticket. | D．An identification document. |
| A．£33.00. | B．£43.00. | C．£70.00. | D．£76.00. |
7 . It has long been known that dogs can learn commands like “sit,” “stay,” or “fetch” and can respond to these words with learned behaviors, often with the help of a treat or two, but uncovering their understanding of nouns has proven more difficult.
To look into the mystery, Boros from Eötvös Lorán d University in Hungary and her colleagues, inspired by studies investigating the comprehension of babies before they can speak, decided to mimic (模仿) these experiments with dogs.
They invited 18 dog owners to bring their pets to the lab along with five objects the animals knew well. These included balls, slippers, Frisbees, rubber toys, leads and other items. At the lab, the owners were instructed to say words for objects their dogs already knew. Then, the owners held up either the matching object or a different one while small metal disc s harmlessly attached to the dogs’ heads measured brain activity in a process known as electroencephalography (EEG).
Using EEG, the researchers aimed to observe any variances in brain activity when the dog’s owner mentioned a specific object, such as a “ball”, but displayed a different item, like a stick, as opposed to when both the spoken word and the presented object matched. This was indeed the case, with the results being strongest when the object was very familiar to the dog. That’s similar to what researchers have seen in humans and is widely accepted as evidence that they understand the words.
Writing in Current Biology, the scientists say the results “provide the first neural evidence for object word knowledge in a non-human animal”.
But the true extent of the dogs’ comprehension is still unknown, even by the study’s authors, since the dogs were responding to their own toys and objects that the owners brought to the lab.
The researchers are now curious to know if this ability to understand referential language is specific to dogs or might be present in other mammals as well. Either way, they want to learn more about how this ability emerged and whether it depends on dogs’ unique experience of living with people.
1. Which aspect of dogs did Boros’s research focus on?| A．Their speed of learning actions. | B．Their willingness to follow orders. |
| C．Their responses to training treats. | D．Their capacity of understanding nouns. |
| A．The result of human-dog interactions. | B．The process of Boros’s experiment. |
| C．The logic of pattern matching. | D．The theory of EEG analysis. |
| A．pet owners showed more objects than usual |
| B．dogs had a larger vocabulary of object words |
| C．the experiment was conducted in a new environment |
| D．the spoken word and the presented object mismatched |
| A．Conclusions from the experiment. | B．Insights into dogs’ experiences. |
| C．Expectations for future studies. | D．Applications of the discovery. |
8 . The language of Gaelic has been spoken in Scotland since at least the 10th century and was at one time the country’s main language, widespread in towns and cities across the nation. Since the union of Scotland and England in the early 18th century, though, it has been in decline. These days you are most likely to find native Gaelic speakers in the Highlands of Scotland, with concerns having been raised about the future of the language.
Now, a new initiative from Community cafe and Gaelic cultural centre seeks to turn the tide with the release of the first Gaelic edition of the board game Scrabble.
Titled Scrabble Gàidhlig, it contains only the 18 letters found in the Gaelic alphabet and includes the grave accent on vowels À È Ì Ò and Ù. The frequency with which each letter appears has been reconsidered to reflect its usage in Gaelic, and scoring has been reformulated (重新设定) to reflect the respective ease and difficulty of using different letters in the language.
“We worked closely on the development of the new game with the team at An Taigh Cèilidh, who have done a fantastic job of localizing the material and ensuring that the game plays really well,” said CEO Jim Harrison. “I hope everyone enjoys playing it as much as we enjoyed making it.”
“It will help people improve their oral skills and the range of their vocabulary in Gaelic,” said McLeod, professor of Gaelic at the University of Edinburgh. “In particular, many Gaelic speakers are not very confident with their written Gaelic and Gaelic Scrabble could give them a valuable boost. It will be very helpful for Gaelic learners too. Gaelic spelling is very logical once you are familiar with the system, but it does take time to master it.”
Scrabble was invented in 1948 and has been common in UK homes ever since, with about half of all households owning at least one set. It is sold in more than 120 countries and available in 28 languages and counting.
1. Why was Scrabble Gàidhlig invented?| A．To help keep a declining language alive. | B．To add a new type to board games. |
| C．To help reunite the two countries. | D．To promote a language game. |
| A．Its origin. | B．Its feature. | C．Its advantage. | D．Its function. |
| A．It will improve their language competence. | B．It will boost their confidence in socializing. |
| C．It will raise their interest in the board game. | D．It will enhance their hands-on ability. |
| A．Add some background information. | B．Make some further predictions. |
| C．Raise a reasonable doubt. | D．Introduce a global trend. |
9 . York Minster—The Best Cathedral in England
Commonly known as York Minster, the Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Saint Peter in York is one of the finest old-fashioned buildings in Europe and was completed in 1472.
In addition to daily services, there are many features to discover. York Minster has one of Europe’s biggest collections of stained glass, with 128 windows made from approximately 2 million individual pieces of stained glass. In the interactive underground chambers, you can discover the 2000-year-old history of York Minster. In the grounds outside the Minster, the Old Palace houses famous historical treasures, collections and a library.
For the best view in York, climb the Tower for a splendid view of the surrounding Yorkshire countryside. All year round there are special events, including performances by the York Minster Choir.
OPENING TIMESMon to Sat: 9:30am—4:00pm
Sun: 12:45pm—2:15pm
TICKET INFORMATION
MINSTER ONLY | MINSTER AND CENTRAL TOWER |
| Adult/Senior: £18 Child (17 and under)*: free with a paying adult *Up to four children with one paying adult | Adult/Senior: £24 Child (8-17): £6 To climb the tower you must be aged 8* |
It costs £30,000 a day to run York Minster and your admission fee directly supports the future of the cathedral. We never charge for people to enter the cathedral to pray, light a candle or attend a service.
BOOKINGAs a working church, we do need to close from time to time at short notice so we strongly recommend booking in advance so we can keep you informed of any changes in opening times.
For more information or to book, please contact our team using the details below or complete our enquiry form.
T: 01904 557275E: bookings@yorkminster.org
1. What can visitors do in York Minster?
| A．Stay in the Old Palace. | B．Explore its rich history. |
| C．Make windows from stained glass. | D．Climb the Tower to watch performances. |
| A．Ƶ24. | B．Ƶ36. | C．Ƶ42. | D．Ƶ48. |
| A．It takes on a modern style. | B．It bans climbing of the Tower. |
| C．It may have temporary closures. | D．It charges people attending services. |
10 . The sun is about to set when we reach our destination, the home of a nomadic (游牧的) herder (牧民) family. My host, Batbayer, has a cheerful face, with deep wrinkles and a color from long hours working outdoors, giving him the look of a sailor from an Ernest Hemingway novel. We have pre-arranged our visit but travellers in Mongolia can drive up to pretty much any ger and feel welcomed to stay. You don’t knock on the door: when you approach a nomadic family, a customary greeting is to say a kindly “Hold your dog,” even if you don’t see a dog.
We feast at the family home on one of the country’s most distinct and tasty dishes: khorkhog, or mutton cooked using hot rocks. This comes served with onions, a variety of berries, and milk—besides more plates of meat, all from the family’s own livestock (家畜).
Mongolia is home to one of the world’s few remaining truly nomadic cultures. About a fifth of the population are herders, and nomadism is complicatedly woven into the country’s spirit. But modern life is catching up with the people on the grassland at rapid speed. This is in large part what my book is about: an outsider’s exploration of a society undergoing modernisation while trying to hold fast to its deeply rooted traditional values.
Many of the livestock here, especially the more valuable breeds such as horses, camels and cattle, are implanted with microchips that can be monitored via satellite-based services. “I would like to use the internet more because it’s fun and useful; but the animals like it here. This is a good place for them,” Batbayer says when I ask if better internet connectivity might influence where to move his livestock next. “I would never choose Facebook over the wellbeing of the animals.”
1. Which aspect of the herders does the author focus on in paragraph 1?| A．Living conditions. | B．Pet preference. | C．Reading habits. | D．Friendliness. |
| A．Herders’ life is being modernized. |
| B．It is the world’s dominant culture. |
| C．The majority of Mongolians are herders. |
| D．Herders have no access to fruits and vegetables |
| A．He refuses to use social media. | B．He will no longer employ microchips. |
| C．He will introduce more valuable breeds. | D．He prioritizes the welfare of livestock. |
| A．A travel journal. | B．A folk tale. | C．A book review. | D．A field report. |
