1 . As teens spend more time online, there is an old challenge that has taken on a new form: cyberbullying.

Cyberbullying is in some ways worse than traditional bullying because the attacks can live forever on the internet and can reach a much broader audience. And it’s especially urgent to address at a time when teen mental health has already taken such a hit.

But there’s some encouraging news from a new study suggesting that nurturing gratitude in students could reduce this online abuse.

The study included almost 50011-to-17-year-olds from three different schools In Spain. The students participated in either a four-week gratitude program, a four-week cyberbullying education program, or neither.

Across the four one-hour sessions in the gratitude program, the students learned about gratitude, practiced through activities, and role-played scenarios using gratitude to reduce the risk and harm of cyberbullying. For example, teens were asked to think about a difficult experience related to cyberbullying and then think about someone who helped them in one way or another through that experience.

The cyberbullying education program involved discussions about what cyberbullying is, how it is different from traditional bullying, and how the students might be able to prevent or take action during a cyberbullying incident.

All the students took a survey at the beginning and end of their program, as well as three months after ward, which asked them how much they had engaged in cyberbullying in the recent past, including calling someone names via text or online messages and spreading rumors about someone on the internet.

The result suggests that learning about and practicing gratitude may have lasting impacts on an adolescent’s tendency to engage in cyberbullying—after only four hours of lessons. The fact that a decrease in cyberbullying didn’t occur right away for gratitude, as it did with cyberbullying education, suggests that it may have taken time for the young people to think about and incorporate it into their lives. A combination of these two approaches could be most helpful, the authors suggest.

1. Which is the worst situation of bullying according to the text?

A．Jack forced Sam to do homework for him.	B．Julia named Lily a stupid donkey in her vlog.
C．Tina asked classmates not to play with Linda.	D．Tom kicked his classmate hard during a break.

2. What does the underlined word “address” in Paragraph 2 mean?

A．Give up.

B．Find out.

C．Deal with.

D．Bully online.

3. What are Paragraphs 4-7 mainly about?

A．The purpose of the research.	B．The principle of the research.
C．The procedure of the research.	D．The application of the research.

4. What can be the best title for the text?

A．Caber Education: A New Threat to Tradition.

B．Education Program: A New Way of Teaching.

C．Program Survey: A New Approach to Research.

D．Gratitude Education: A New Solution to Online Abuse.

2 . The NCPA (国家大剧院) has accepted more than four million visitors with a series of 284 exhibitions covering oil paintings, music instruments, intangible cultural heritage and more. The NCPA provides you with performances and shows every day. Whenever you see a sunrise or sunset the curtain her never falls down.

Shape of Music

Shape of Music—A Cross-Sense Experience is an art exhibition jointly launched by the NCPA and the Central Academy of Fine Arts. Visual artists will create animated (动画的) works based on the feelings brought by different music pieces.

The Nutcracker

The ballet The Nutcracker is produced by the Harbin Ballet. Zhang Dandan, the famous ballet artist the head and artistic director of the Harbin Ballet, and the chief director, together with the international choreographer Peter Quanz and many other top domestic and foreign artists, create a large-scale ballet. The ballet has now had its first public performance at the Harbin Grand Theater and has achieved complete success.

Xu Li’s Impressionistic Oil Paintings

It is the first exhibition of new oil paintings by Xu Li in recent years, which gives shape to natural mountains and rivers throughout the country. He continuously pours out his appreciation and perception of the beautiful China

Pear Garden Culture-Themed ART Exhibition

About 100 traditional Chinese paintings and oil paintings are displayed under three themes—“Ancient Tone &New Tune”, “Cultural Inheritance” and “Review for More Knowledge” at the exhibition to introduce, present and spread the opera culture in the form of paintings, promoting the expression of the opera culture through the re-creation of painting art.

Booking tickets: please click here.
Working hours: 9:30AM-19:30PM (CST) on performance day

9:30AM-18:00PM (CST) for days without performances

1. If you are interested in dancing, which will you probably go for?

A．The Nutcracker.	B．Shape of Music.
C．Xu Li’s Impressionistic Oil Paintings.	D．Pear Garden Culture-Themed ART Exhibition.

2. What do “Shape of Music” and “Pear Garden Culture-Themed ART Exhibition” have in common?

A．They are available for free.	B．They are exhibition of oil paintings.
C．They are re-creation of performing arts.	D．They are related to traditional Chinese culture.

3. Which is the text most likely to be taken from?

A．A website.

B．A brochure

C．A newspaper.

D．A magazine.

3 . In 2019, after retiring from her career as a social worker, Ane Freed - Kernis decided to build a home workshop and devote all of her free time to stone carving. “I might be covered head to to e in dust but I’m happy — it was something I needed more of in my life when I hit 60,” she says.

This appeal has its origins in Freed - Kernis’ childhood. Growing up on her father’s farm in Denmark, she used to wander through the fields with her eyes fixed on the ground, looking for stones to add to her collection. “I’ve always been drawn to the shapes and textures (质地) of stones,” she says.

After moving to England in 1977 and training as a social worker, Freed - Kernis soon became occupied with her busy career and the demands of raising her son. Stones were the last thing on her mind, until her father died in 2005. “He took a stone carving course in his retirement, and I always thought stone seemed so fun but never had the time to look into it myself,” she says. “After he died, I became determined to learn in his honour.”

Signing up for a week-long stone carving course at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Freed-Kernis began to learn how to turn a block of rock into well-designed shapes. “It was really scary at the start because you would spend hours just hammering (锤打).”

Now 65, Freed-Kernis has a thriving small business built largely through word of mouth. She creates 12 to 15 pieces a year that can take anywhere from a few days to three weeks to complete, while her prices range from £ 200 to £ 3,000. “I’m making smaller ones,” she says. “I don’t have to depend on the money much, so I want to keep prices in the range that people can afford, mainly just covering costs and labour (劳动力).”

1. Freed-Kernis was first attracted by stones when ______.

A．she was 60	B．she was a child
C．her father died	D．she moved to England

2. What can we infer about Freed-Kernis from paragraph 3?

A．She never cared about her father.

B．She led a disappointing life in Denmark.

C．She spent lots of time studying stone carving.

D．She learned stone carving under the influence of her dad.

3. How did Freed-Kernis feel when she started stone carving course?

A．Hopeful and proud.

B．Confident and satisfied.

C．Nervous and frightened.

D．Impatient and unprepared.

4. Why is Freed-Kernis making smaller pieces?

A．They are easier to move by her.

B．They are more affordable to people.

C．She wants to save costs and labour.

D．She is too old to focus on making large ones.

4 . In San Francisco, a large group of sea lions move themselves out of the bay waters and hang out on PIER 39, which is a popular tourist destination. According to dock (码头) officials, this is the most sea lions seen in the region in 15 years.

“Over 1,000 sea lions have been counted this week,” PIER 39 harbormaster Sheila Chandor told many different media. “The surge in sea lions is usually a good sign of their strong population and healthy living environment,” said Adam Ratner, Director of Conservation Engagement at the Marine Mammal (海洋哺乳动物) Center in Sausalito, California.

“California sea lions are sentinels (哨兵) of the ocean,” Ratner said. Their population to some extent reflects the health of the ocean. Therefore, seeing a large number of California sea lions is clearly a good thing.

For nearly 35 years, the slippery (滑的) residents have been a star attraction for tourists. That autumn in 1989, PIER 39 had just been repaired, but the ships had not yet been moved back. At that moment, the sea lions unexpected arrival not only attracted fans but also created enemies. According to a website, some dock residents and workers were scared away by the strong and very unpleasant smell and noise of their new neighbors, while others saw these animals as a bright spot after the destructive Loma Prieta earthquake.

The officials sought help from the Marine Mammal Center to find a way to deal with sea lions. Ratner said that the final decision is to let the sea lions stay and coexist with humans. “The fact proves that this is really a good thing,” he said. “This is just a proof of how we can truly work together and think about how we can share our coasts with marine mammals and other wildlife in a way that benefits all the parties involved.”

1. How does the author start the text?

A．By describing a situation.

B．By answering a question.

C．By holding a conversation.

D．By comparing different opinions.

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

A．Sharp increase.	B．Tight control.
C．Slow development.	D．Sudden movement.

3. What is Ratner’s attitude to the final decision?

A．Doubtful.	B．Uninterested.
C．Supportive.	D．Unclear.

4. What message does the author seem to convey in the text?

A．Sea lions are pretty cool animals.

B．Animals and humans can live in harmony.

C．Watching sea lions might not be a proper action.

D．Sea lions should be driven out of PIER 39.

5 . Hearing loss is a public health concern that deserves global recognition and calls for immediate action. The World Health Organization estimates that over 430 million people worldwide have disabling hearing loss and that the number may almost double if hearing loss prevention is not dealt with immediately.

Recreational noise exposure is a variable risk factor for hearing loss and , in 2015, the WHO estimated that 1.1 billion adolescents and young adults were at potential risk of hearing loss from voluntary recreational noise exposure, referred to as “unsafe listening practices”. This exposure result largely from the use of personal listening devices (PLDs) and /or from attendance at loud entertainment places (eg. bars, clubs). Risk of hearing loss depends on the loudness, duration and frequency of noise exposure.

Previously published research suggests that PLD users often choose volumes as high as 105 dB while average sound levels at entertainment places range from104 to 112 dB, exceeding safe levels even if for very short periods of time. In their systematic review and meta-analysis, Dr. Lauren Dillard from the Medical university of South Carolina and colleagues wanted to measure the commonness of unsafe listening practices among teens and young adults to create a global estimate of the numbers who could therefore be at risk of hearing loss, with the aim of informing evidence-based policy to safeguard aural (听觉的) health.

They searched research databases for relevant studies published in four languages, involving12 - 34-year-olds and reporting on objectively measured device output levels and length of exposure. The pooled data analysis indicates that the unsafe listening practices from PLD use and attendance at loud entertainment places are common worldwide — 24% and 48%, respectively, among teens and young people. Based on these figures, the researchers estimate that the global number of teens and young adults who could potentially beat risk of hearing loss ranges from 0.67 to 1.35 billion. “There is an urgent need for governments, industry, and civil society to act by promoting safe listening practices,” they said.

1. What is mainly discussed in paragraph 2?

A．Estimation of hearing loss.

B．Contributors to hearing loss.

C．Definition of noise exposure.

D．Unsafe places of listening practices.

2. What’s the aim of the research led by Dr. Lauren Dillard?

A．To warn people to take preventive measures.

B．To calculate the numbers losing hearing.

C．To educate people on listening skills.

D．To model safe-listening practices.

3. What do we know about the research?

A．The result is published in four languages.

B．The participants include people of all ages.

C．Young adults are less likely to suffer from hearing loss.

D．The figures of people at risk of hearing loss are alarming.

4. What might the author continue talking about?

A．Measures to prevent noise exposure.

B．Policies to promote hearing abilities.

C．Tips to guide safe listening practices.

D．Guidelines to produce quality devices.

6 . On the Arctic ocean’s edge, polar bears stand on ice thinning from human-caused climate change. Without thick ice from which to powerfully attack seals, many of these symbols of the wild north can’t eat. Should we feed polar bears to right our wrongs? Or should we leave them alone, even if that means they starve to extinction?

Emma Marris’ Wild Souls encourages readers to reflect on this question and more. An absorbing mixture of philosophy and science, the book explores what we owe the nonhuman world. Like her 2011 book Rambunctious Garden, which challenged the idea of “undeveloped wilderness” in a world where humans touch everything, Wild Souls questions the very concepts of wildness and nature. The result challenges readers to reconsider how they relate to nonhuman animals, from caged creatures to polar bears in the warming north.

Marris guides readers through a series of case studies, from native hunting practices to local zoos, all brought to life through attentive on-the-ground reporting. Running through these examples is a central ethical (道德的) tension: How do we weigh the concrete moral value of an individual creature who has feelings and can suffer against the more abstract value of species or ecosystems, which is of course unfeeling but causes such depths of emotion in us when they are threatened or lost?

Marris is frank on where she stands on certain issues, arguing, for example, that zoos are immoral. She also asks whether it’s ever right to save a species like the California condor (秃鹰) — which once flew high above most of North America but dwindled to just a handful of individuals in the 1080s — by caging them for captive breeding (圈养) .

In the end, Marris finds no easy answer to making ethical choices about animals’ fates. Instead, readers may realize something profound: There are no perfect ways to act ethically towards all animals and all species when the values crash. As we try to mend the mess we’ve made of nature, all we can do is act with thoughtful modesty.

1. What is the similarity between Wild Souls and Rambunctious Garden?

A．They seek guidelines to coexist with wildlife.

B．They advocate minimum interaction with animals.

C．They explore right relationships to the nonhuman world.

D．They urge humans to restore nature to its prehuman state.

2. How does Marris make her point in the book?

A．By asking moral questions.

B．By quoting previous studies.

C．By discussing individual cases.

D．By presenting unsolved problems.

3. Which is closest in meaning to “dwindled” in paragraph 4?

A．Changed.

B．Decreased.

C．Restricted.

D．Moved.

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

A．What Do We Owe Animals?

B．Are Wild Animals Really “wild”?

C．What Impact Do We Have on This Planet?

D．How Can We Help Earth’s Wildlife Grow?

7 . Thanks to artificial intelligence, education is more accessible and efficient than ever. To give you an overview of the industry, we round up some AI technology applied in education.

Duolingo

Duolingo provides listening, reading and speaking exercises in dozens of global languages, all the while providing aspects of gamification to keep users coming back. By applying AI, Duolingo’s lessons are paced and leveled specifically for each student according to their performance. It also uses data and machine learning to make course improvements, taking into consideration the differences of various languages.

Amira Learning

Amira Learning is a virtual learning application created to accelerate young students’ reading comprehension. Using AI technology, Amira has students read stories aloud and can assess oral reading fluency as well as identify areas for improvement. For teachers and parents, Amira also provides services such as student progress reports and dyslexia (阅读障碍) risk screening.

Blippar

Blippar’s products combine computer vision intelligence technology and augmented reality to enhance the way students learn in the classroom. The interactive materials bring subjects like geography, biology and physics to a visual space. For example, instead of reading about a volcanic eruption, the system shows students a virtual 3D model of the eruption process.

Nuance

Nuance makes speech-to-text software used by students and faculty to transcribe (转成) up to 160 words per minute. The technology is especially helpful for students who struggle with writing or have limited mobility. It also enhances spelling ability and word identification. Instructors use the software to dictate lectures for later use or quicken repetitive tasks like document and email creation.

1. Which platform uses gamification to engage users in language learning?

A．Amira Learning.	B．Blippar.
C．Nuance.	D．Duolingo.

2. What is the primary focus of Amira Learning?

A．Speech-to-text software.

B．Reading comprehension.

C．Computer vision intelligence technology.

D．Personalized language learning with gamification.

3. What do Blippar and Nuance have in common?

A．They focus on language learning.

B．They specialize in science subjects.

C．They use technology to aid learning.

D．They offer computer programming courses.

8 . From canned tomatoes to frozen pizzas, processed foods have become a regular part of our diet. We’ve gained time and energy as a result of processed foods.     1     Here are the reasons why we should avoid processed foods.

    2     A 2018 study found that ultra-processed (超加工的) foods are linked to an increased risk of cancer. The American Cancer Society reports that at least 18% of cancers are related to excess (过量的) body weight, physician activity, and poor nutrition, which could potentially be prevented by avoiding processed foods.

Processed foods are designed to make you overeat.     3     It has also been found that some processed foods can lead to greater brain activity, which can affect eating behavior.

Processed foods often contain artificial ingredients. If you’re looking at the label on a box of your favorite junk food, there are probably a bunch of ingredients that you can barely pronounce.     4       These ingredients may have a negative effect on your health.

Many processed foods are high in carbohydrates (碳水化合物) and low in nutrients and fiber. Not all carbohydrates are bad, but processed foods are often packed with refined carbohydrates. They can cause your blood sugar to increase very quickly. On top of that, processed foods are typically much lower in nutrients and the fiber is often removed.     5    

A．Processed foods may raise your health risk.

B．Some processed foods aren’t bad for you at all.

C．All processed foods are loaded with added sugar and fat.

D．At the same time, we have also gained a host of health issues.

E．In fact, your body just needs the two substances to digest food properly.

F．In this case, there are man-made colors, flavors, and additives in your food.

G．Studies show the “reward system” in our brain can allow us to consume more.

9 . The year 2023 saw a wide variety of TV and Internet variety shows in China, offering amazing entertainment to audiences. Here are some popular variety shows of the year. It’s never too late to start enjoying them.

 Become a Farmer

The farming-themed show took Chinese social media by storm in the first half of the year, shining a spotlight on farming — a crucial part of Chinese culture. The word “farming”, however, may be unfamiliar to many young urban Chinese citizens.

In an effort to connect these individuals with the industry, the show tries to deal with the topic by inviting 10 men to experience life.

 Divas Hit The Road-Silk Road 

The fifth season of the reality show, featuring popular celebrities traveling to various destinations, has been airing since October 2023.

This season saw Chinese actresses start a journey to Saudi Arabia, Croatia and Iceland. They explored the beautiful landscapes and diverse cultures of these countries and learned about the Belt and Road Initiative.

Infinity and Beyond 2023

With an amazing viewership, the music cultural program emerged as a success in the first half of this year. The show was broadcast from March to June, generating massive online attention with 8.9 billion views of topics related to the show.

Featuring a star-studded cast, the show brings about cross-Strait (海峡两岸) connection and classic and popular songs dating back to the 1970s.

Riding the Wind 2023 

Singers from various backgrounds at home and abroad tune into one another during hit reality show.

Starting its latest season this year, the program seeks to expand cross-cultural cooperation and mutual support among women, regardless of their different languages, ages or personality traits. To achieve this, the show has invited female celebrities from diverse cultural backgrounds to participate in group performances throughout the rounds of competition.

1. What can audiences experience in Become a Farmer?

A．Social media’s impact.	B．The countryside life.
C．Young citizens’ growth.	D．The challenge from the reality.

2. What do Infinity and Beyond 2023 and Riding the Wind 2023 feature?

A．Music shows.	B．Four months’ broadcast.
C．Academic competitions.	D．Women’s contributions.

3. In which section of a website may the passage appear?

A．Lifestyle.

B．Business.

C．Travel.

D．Culture.

10 . The most-visited museums in the United States

The National Museum of Natural History

It is free of charge and is open 364 days a y year. Opening its doors in 1910, the museum has a collection of over 14646 million specimens (标本) of plants, animals, rocks, human remains, and human cultural artifacts, the largest natural history collection in the world. It is also home to about 180 professional natural history scientists who focus on the study of natural and cultural history in the world.

The National Callery of Art

Open to the public and free of charge, the museum was privately established in 1937. Its collection includes many donated works of art. The Gallery’s collection of paintings, drawings, sprints, photographs, medals, and decorative arts traces (追溯) the development of Western art from the Middle Ages to the present, including the only painting by Leonardo da Vinci in the Americas and the largest mobile created by Alexander Calder.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

It is the largest art museum in America. It was s founded in 1870 with its mission to bring art and art education to Americans. The museum’s collection contains works of art dating back to the ancient Near East and ancient Egypt. It includes works of art from many European Old Masters as well as many collections of American art. The museum is home to collection of musical instruments, costumes, and decorative arts.

The Museum of Modern Art

It is an art museum located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. The institution was conceived (构想) in 1929. It moved to several locations in its early years, and John D. Rockefeller Jr. finally donated the land for its permanent (永久的) site. The collection includes architecture, drawings, paintings, photographs, prints, artists’ books, films, and electronic media.

1. Which museum would you go to if you are curious about Western art history?

A．The National Gallery of Art.	B．The Museum of Modern Art.
C．The Metropolitan Museum of Art.	D．The National Museum of Natural History.

2. Why did people build the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1870?

A．To store works of art of different countries.	B．To satisfy people’s thirst for museums.
C．To make Americans learn about art.	D．To document American history.

3. What do we know about the Museum of Modern Art?

A．It once changed locations for several times.	B．It was recommended by John D. Rockefeller
C．It has historical and natural collections.	D．It was founded in Midtown Manhattan in 1929.