1 . Childhood can bring a lot of awe (敬畏). Research also suggests that awe is important in promoting well-being beyond our individual lives — it can encourage our children to care for others.

A recent study by researchers Eftychia Stamkou, Keltner, and their colleagues invited children aged 8-13 to take part in an experiment. In the awe group, children were offered a short part of a movie that features a child transformed into a seal (海豹) and exploring the sea while in the joy group, children were offered a short part of another movie where friends were celebrating.

Researchers measured children’s kindness toward poor families by inviting children to support their food drive by spending as much time as they wanted in counting donated things, to make sure the poor got access to the donated food as quickly as possible. They also invited children to donate the reward they earned from taking part in the research (e.g., a snack or a museum ticket) to a poor family.

The results? Children who watched the awe-inspiring video spent more time counting food donations and donated their rewards to poor families more often compared to the children who watched the joy-inspiring video. These findings highlight that awe-inspiring art can motivate children to be sympathetic toward people who have been forcibly displaced (离开家园) from their countries of origin.

As parents, we can also seek out everyday experiences of awe in our communities to share with our children, like wall paintings of the city scenery and folk art. Awe can be inspired by music, like the harmonious sounds of a wooden guitar and the beat of a drum. Awesome architecture, like symphony halls, museums, and even features like staircases, can be a way to experience awe with our children.

1. What does the research find?

A．Awe should be inspired early.	B．Awe helps kids be more generous.
C．Individual lives affect kids’ health.	D．Training awe gives kids excitement.

2. What do we know about the children in the experiment?

A．They watched different movies.	B．They commented on the videos.
C．They were asked some questions.	D．They donated money to poor families.

3. Why did the awe group support the food drive more?

A．They learned this from a video.	B．They were motivated by the movie.
C．They liked to contribute to charity.	D．They were reminded by the homeless.

4. What does the author intend to do in the last paragraph?

A．Give reasons for feeling awe.	B．List experiences of awe.
C．Show benefits of awe to kids.	D．Appeal for developing awe in kids.

2 . ACL 500 Word Story Competition

We are pleased to announce the launch of the ACL 500 Word Story Competition. This time the theme is “Awakening”. We’re looking for our community to pen a story that quickly catches our attention and tells a great tale. You can submit (提交) an entry as an individual achievement or as a team effort — we want to read both kinds! Our judges will include a range of our experienced instructors, staff and local Essex Author Sarah Armstrong.

Sarah Armstrong is the author of three novels, most recently The Wolves of Leninsky Prospekt and The Starlings of Bucharest, the first and second in the Moscow Wolves series. She is also the author of A Summer of Spying, a book mainly about her own experience. Sarah teaches undergraduate and postgraduate creative writing with The Open University, and lives in Essex with her husband and four children.

Rules:
◆ Your story can be a poem, an essay or any other kinds of writing.
◆ Entries will need to be in a Word format. PDF files are unacceptable.
◆ Please ensure your story is suitable for all to read.
◆ Use the given submission form to submit your details and story. The deadline for submissions is 12th April.
Benefits:
◆ Prizes include a book voucher (代金券), a short creative writing course, and your work published.
◆ Discover new and exciting skills at writing while exploring your creative writing and sharing inspirational moments with others. We have a fantastic range of Creative Writing courses for you to choose from.
1. What do we know about the competition?

A．It’s organized in honor of Sarah Armstrong.

B．It looks for both individual and group works.

C．It aims to awaken an interest in writing.

D．It’s targeted at undergraduates and postgraduates.

2. Which is a requirement for the entries?

A．They should be submitted as a Word file.	B．They must be poems or essays.
C．They must be based on personal experience.	D．They should be about life in Essex.

3. What can participants get?

A．A voucher for a course.	B．An expert training class by Sarah.
C．A vast range of courses.	D．An improvement to writing skills.

3 . I was standing in front of a stranger’s house, rescue box in hand, my head full of instructions to follow. It would be my first test as a volunteer wildlife rescuer. A call had come through that afternoon from a man: an unknown bird was attacked by other birds. He saved the victim. Could someone please help to transfer it?

I was anxious even at the door: would I be able to transfer it neatly into my rescue box? I entered the house, lifted a shoebox and saw a bird standing on thin legs, shaking. Hesitating for quite a while, I decided to transfer the whole shoebox into my rescue box.

Back home, I could see no obvious sign of injury, but it refused to eat the bird food I provided. I phoned a specialist. She told me this species hunts insects on the wing, so keeping it longer than overnight would make it starve. I released it and it flew high immediately. “What would be different for this delicate creature this time around?” I wondered. Nothing. But at least it would win its life again.

That was in 2009. My first rescue was a second chance for the bird as well as for me. Five months earlier, I’d received a cancer diagnosis. After the treatment, I recovered but was told I couldn’t take on my former work, which would worsen my physical condition. I was at the point where I didn’t know how to schedule my days. Then I heard about a wildlife rescue group that was seeking volunteers and holding a course. I’d been attracted by animals ever since I was a young girl but had always thought that I’d missed that boat. Then I found the boat again.

I did the course and acquired qualifications. All I had to do was wait for a rescue call. And it came: it was in a box waiting, just for me.

1. What can we learn about the author in her first wildlife rescue?

A．She forgot rescue instructions.	B．She experienced high pressure.
C．She lacked proper tools for rescue.	D．She was skilled in doing the rescue.

2. What would probably happen to the bird after the release?

A．It would die from the injuries.	B．It would find the food it desired.
C．It would seek someone for adoption.	D．It would be too weak and get starved.

3. Why did the author take on bird rescue?

A．To try a new hobby.	B．To relieve her work stress.
C．To find life’s meaning again.	D．To cure her disease completely.

4. Which is the most suitable title for the text?

A．The Skills of Rescue	B．Wildlife Protection
C．Our Second Chance	D．Thoughts after Cancer

4 . Problem-solving skills are increasingly valuable in the workplace and could help you achieve more in your personal life too. Mastering these skills involves adopting effective approaches that enhance your ability to face challenges and find solutions.     1    

Develop analytical thinking

Analytical thinking is a very important skill. It breaks down big issues into smaller, more manageable components.     2    Begin by clearly defining (定义) the problem at hand, finding out its key components and recognizing the interconnections between them. In the end, individuals can tum challenging problems into manageable insights.

    3    

Clear and simple communication is the key to effective problem-solving. Effective communication begins with clearly defining the problem statement. This involves choosing the right words, structuring information, and being mindful of the audience to ensure that your message is broad. Also, active listening is the skill of receiving information with focus. It involves not just hearing words but understanding the differences, emotions and ultimate messages.

Promote cooperation.

Effective problem solving often develops rapidly in a cooperative environment, where diverse opinions fuel innovation.     4    By acknowledging and valuing the differences, the team can create a cooperative environment. The whole s truly greater than the sum of its parts. Also, the atmosphere is powerful to effective problem-solving.

Stay informed.

    5    Staying informed about current events and relevant information equips individuals with a broader understanding of potential challenges. It requires a sharp eye for credible sources of information. And staying informed involves continuous learning and a devotion to keeping up with developments in your field.

A．Listen to others attentively.

B．Improve communication skills.

C．The following strategies are worth a try.

D．Improving this skill requires a structured approach.

E．Regularly updating your knowledge keeps you sharp.

F．The process will equip you with the skills to succeed.

G．It begins with recognizing the strengths of teammates.

5 . A new study from a team at the University of Pittsburgh has discovered blood-based markers that can reveal someone’s biological age, which could help treat various health problems that can happen as our bodies get older.

We have our actual ages—the number of years we’ve been alive—and then we have biological ages, which is related to the wear and tear on cells and organs. Knowing this biological age can help us work out disease risk, tailor treatments, and better understand the different rates at which our bodies break down.

“Imagine two people aged 65,” says Aditi Gurkar, a scientist at the University of Pittsburgh. “One rides a bike to work and goes skiing on the weekends and the other can’t climb a flight of stairs.”

They have the same age, but different biological ages. Why do these two people age differently? To help answer this question, the researchers enlisted the help of 196 elderly adults, separated into two groups: one group of volunteers aged 75 or older who were classified as healthy agers, and the other group of volunteers aged 65-75 who were classified as rapid agers. The healthy agers were able to climb a flight of stairs or walk for 15 minutes without resting, while the rapid agers had to take breaks through each activity.

The distinction gave the study team the chance to look at differences between the groups in metabolites（代谢物）: small chemical substances left by biological processes in the body. They can be used as evidence for which processes are happening, and how well they’re running.

“We chose to look at metabolites because they are dynamic,” says Gurkar. “They change in real time to reflect our current health and how we feel, and we have the power to influence them through our lifestyle, diet and environment.”

With more research, it might be possible to develop a blood test for quick and easy biological age judgment. That test could then be run on people at earlier ages, when changes to molecular processes are easier to edit.

1. What do the underlined words “the wear and tear” mean in paragraph 2?

A．The damage.

B．The repair.

C．The examination.

D．The decrease.

2. How did the researchers do the study according to the fourth paragraph?

A．By analysing some figures.	B．By making a comparison.
C．By giving an example.	D．By grouping volunteers randomly.

3. Why did the team do research on metabolites?

A．They can affect our lifestyle and diet.	B．They can reflect our current thoughts.
C．They can be taken out and tested easily.	D．They can show the present body conditions.

4. Which can be a suitable title for the text?

A．A Rare Disease Resulted from Blood

B．A Better Way to Keep Us Younger

C．A Blood Test Indicating Health Problems

D．An Approach to Becoming Stronger

6 . To help you get out and explore, language leaning platform, Preply, has ranked Europe’s walkable cities.

Seville, Spain

Seville in Spain tops the list of Europe’s walkable cities. Visitors to this amazing Spanish city can explore the impressive Plaza de Espana public square, before wandering over to the UNESCO-listed palace of Real Alcazar and Seville Cathedral. With just 20 minutes of walking between these attractions, you can really make the most of your time here.

Venice, Italy

Venice is famous as a port city for walkers. There are endless attractive passages to explore, as well as plenty of extremely impressive bridges over the crossing canals. Just under half an hour of walking here will take you on a tour of the fantastic Grand Canal, Doge’s Palace, St Mark’s Square, Basilica and bell tower, all in only 1.3 miles.

Florence, Italy

Florence secures its place as a walkable city in Europe thanks to its wonderful display of attractions that can be explored on foot. In only 33 minutes, visitors can take in the brilliance of Florence’s top destinations. A 1.6-mile route covers the famous Uffizi Gallery and the Galleria dell’ Accademia, home to Michelangelo’s masterpiece, the Statue of David.

Athens, Greece

Visitors to Athens can begin their journey at the Acropolis, climbing to discover the ancient Parthenon, which stands as evidence for the city’s ancient heritages (遗产). The National Archaeological Museum is also close by, housing a treasure trove (宝库) of artifacts that proudly display Greece’s impressive archaeological heritage.

1. What is special about Seville?

A．It is Europe’s most walkable city.	B．It is famous for impressive canals.
C．Ancient treasures are housed there.	D．There are some wonderful attractions.

2. What can walkers do in Athens?

A．Wander around Seville Cathedral.	B．Visit the Grand Canal.
C．Explore the Uffizi Gallery.	D．Climb the Acropolis.

3. In which city can visitors appreciate the Statue of David?

A．Seville.

B．Venice.

C．Florence.

D．Athens.

7 . Why is a compliment so impactful? One of the most important things to humans is to feel valued and respected by others, says Vanessa Bohns, a social psychologist, who has researched compliments. According to her research, people feel “significantly better” after both giving and receiving a compliment.     1    

“You handled that situation so well.”

Bohns recently used her favorite compliment when she saw a server address a difficult situation with a customer at the bar. “I like it so much because you use it in anxious moments where the other person is often unsure of whether they handled a situation OK,” she says. In situations that call for a compliment, don’t second-guess yourself. Give your compliments generously.     2     That concern is unfounded.

“    3    ”

This compliment — one of Bohns’ favorites — works well among romantic partners and close family members. “It’s a beautiful way to highlight how their presence turns life into something meaningful, despite boring routines of our everyday lives,” she says. If you’re afraid that giving a compliment like this will feel strange, you’re not alone.     4     If it makes you personally feel like the bar is lowered for you to give a compliment if you write it down, or if you practice saying it out loud or giving your pet cat the compliment first, do that.

“Hey, great dress!”

Feel free to compliment strangers. In Bohns’ research, students on a college campus were told to approach a stranger of the same gender and compliment them-about, for example, their nice shirt. Before heading out, the study participants tended to underestimate their positive effect while overestimating how annoying it would be. Across all contexts, strangers are more likely to be pleased than confused. Plus, who knows?     5    

A．I love the way you bring out the best in people.

B．Respect is essential when you deliver compliments.

C．One way to overcome this fear is to do a practice run.

D．You make even ordinary moments feel extraordinary.

E．You might make a new friend in addition to making someone’s day.

F．With that in mind, we asked her to share some of her favorite compliments.

G．People sometimes worry that they’re going over and will start to sound insincere.

8 . Silent reading is far from silent in your brain. Deep within your head there is a voice reading aloud each word as your eyes pass over it.

Let’s do a seemingly unrelated experiment first. Turn on your television and radio. Try to understand both the words from the television and the radio simultaneously. You might have noticed understanding one source required ignoring the other, and you could feel your attention shifting between the two voices. Although we can listen to multiple people speaking at the same time, we can only truly understand one person speaking at a time.

There are three major areas that allow you to understand spoken word. The first is the Auditory Cortex (听觉皮层), which processes the pure characteristics of incoming sounds. Both sides of your brain contain this region. The next area is the Broca/Wernicke (B/W) network, which makes sense of the spoken word. This network exists in only one side of your brain. This means that, although the sounds of language are initially processed in both sides of the brain, spoken word must eventually be funneled (流经漏斗) into this single network. This quickly leads to a bottleneck, which is controlled by the third area: the left Inferior Frontal Gyrus (IFG, 额下回). When you try to understand two people speaking at the same time, this region effectively blocks one voice while it allows the other to pass through the B/W bottleneck. Any information that does not immediately make it through the B/W network disappears completely — there is no waitlist.

Now, let’s bring all the pieces together to see why it’s related to your silent reading. When you read, the first region to demonstrate activation is the Visual Cortex, which processes the pure visual characteristics of incoming sights. Immediately after the visual cortex activates, the speech areas of the brain fire up because your brain processes your silent reading in a manner almost identical to the way in which it processes an actual, out-loud speaking voice. For this reason, attempting to read while listening to someone speak is the same as trying to understand two people speaking at the same time—it can’t be done!

1. What does the underlined word “simultaneously” in paragraph 2 mean?

A．At the same time.	B．One at a time.
C．On the whole.	D．Through comparison.

2. Which of the following best illustrates paragraph 3?

Note: disappear; wait

A．	B．
C．	D．

3. What may the author agree with?

A．Professors give a speech with a text-heavy PowerPoint slide.

B．Teachers keep silent when students are reading attentively.

C．Students solve math problem when following a lecture.

D．Students practice listening skills while reading novels.

4. Which of the following sentences can best serve as an introduction to the text?

A．The art of conversation lies in listening.

B．What is reading, but a silent conversation.

C．We hear and understand only what we already know half.

D．Once an idea gets into your head, it’s probably going to stay there.

9 . Cordero is the farm manager at Ollin Farms, not far from Boulder, Colorado. The locally grown vegetables on the farm aren’t just pretty. “We play an important role in public health nutrition programs,” says Cordero’s dad, Mark Guttridge, who started this farm with his wife, Kena, 17 years ago.

At a meeting with about a dozen local farmers, two state representatives, and the Colorado officials of agriculture, Guttridge explains how Boulder county has made creative investments in his farm that could be spread to the state or even national level. Before the meeting, Guttridge shows them one of those investments.

A dozen sheep, which Guttridge raises for wool, feed on root vegetables like radishes that have been leftover for them. “So these guys are out fertilizing the vegetable field,” Guttridge laughs. “They’ll be out here a couple more weeks, and then we’ll get our next summer vegetables planted right there.” Around the field is a special moveable type of fencing that Ollin Farms bought using financial aid from the Boulder County Sustainability Office. It allows them to move the sheep from one field to another, fertilizing as they go. The goal of these investments is “really building up our soil health,” he explains. “That relates directly to the nutrient quality of the food-healthy soil grows healthy food.”

The county also makes an effort to get that healthy food out to different communities to boost public health. That’s where the Boulder County Public Health department comes in. It created a coupon program to give discounts to people buying fruits and vegetables from Ollin Farms. Nutrition incentive programs, like those public health fruit and vegetable coupons, are spreading all over the country, and most are funded through the federal farm bill. Amy Yaroch, executive director at the Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition, says “It’s a trip le win. It’s basically good for the consumers who live in that particular community because they’re getting the healthy food, it’s good for the farmer, and then it’s good for the economy.”

1. What does Ollin Farms do?

A．It makes public nutrition health plans.

B．It offers financial aid to other farms.

C．It provides cheap food to the local community.

D．It grows fruits and vegetables rich in nutrition.

2. How does Boulder county support sustainable farming practices at Ollin Farms?

A．By raising sheep on radishes.	B．By buying fences for farmhouses.
C．By funding the farm’s soil health.	D．By giving advice about fertilizing fields.

3. What is Amy’s attitude towards “nutrition incentive programs”?

A．Cautious.

B．Dismissive.

C．Unclear.

D．Approving.

4. Which is the most suitable title for the text?

A．Couponing for Health: Stimulating Nutrition Choices

B．Growing Health: Innovations in Farm and Public Health Initiatives

C．Fertile Fields and Furry Friends: A Farming Fairy Tale

D．Local Produce, Global Impact: The Nutrition Choices of Ollin Farms

10 . Creating once-in-a-lifetime moments for you is at the heart of everything we do. The following are some tour suggestions handpicked by the WILDFOOT experts.

ICELANDIC WINTER SELF-DRIVE

September to April|4 Nights; £1,529 per person.

HIGHLIGHTS

· Discover Iceland at your leisure, with included car hire and good standard   accommodation.

· Hunt for the awe-inspiring northern lights.

· Enjoy incredible landscapes, and natural wonders including waterfalls, hot springs and beautiful National Parks.

CLASSIC SPITSBERGEN EXPLORER

May to July |11 Nights; £8,200 per person.

HIGHLIGHTS

· Observe spectacular wildlife, including the iconic polar bears and whales.

· Enjoy amazing polar scenery and midnight sun.

· Experience exciting Zodiac cruises and shore excursions.

10 DAYS PANTANAL AND AMAZON

June to October|9 Nights; £6,256 per person.

HIGHLIGHTS

· Immerse yourself in the birding paradise of the Amazon Rainforest.

· Have a great chance of spotting the majestic jaguar as it patrols the banks of the Cuiaba River.

· Encounter the wonderful wildlife of the Pantanal including the Brazilian tapir, giant anteaters, capybaras, monkeys, giant river otters, caiman, anacondas and much more.

HWANGE & VICTORIA FALLS FAMILY SAFARI

November to March|11 Nights;

Adults: £3,245 per person; Children: £1,064 per person.

HIGHLIGHTS

· Start your Africa experience with a visit to the iconic Victoria Falls.

· Observe an abundance of iconic wildlife including elephants, lions, buffaloes, wild-dogs, cheetahs, a myriad of birds, and much more.

· Visit the Painted Dog Research Centre to learn about the endangered African Wild-Dog and the conservation efforts in place to protect them.

1. What is special about ICELANDIC WINTER SELF-DRIVE?

A．Northern lights.	B．Polar bears and whales.
C．Midnight sun.	D．Victoria Falls.

2. Which option is available for tourists to travel in August?

A．ICELANDIC WINTER SELF-DRIVE.

B．CLASSIC SPITSBERGEN EXPLORER.

C．10 DAYS PANTANAL AND AMAZON.

D．HWANGE & VICTORIA FALLS FAMILY SAFARI.

3. How much does it cost a couple with two children for a Family Safari?

A．£5,373.

B．£6,437.

C．£8,618.

D．£10,799.