1 . There’s a useful concept from psychology that helps explain why good people do things that harm the environment: the false consensus effect. That’s where we overvalue how acceptable and prevalent (普遍的) our own behavior is in society. Put simply, if you’re doing something (even if you secretly know you probably shouldn’t), you’re more likely to think plenty of other people do it too. What’s more, you likely overestimate how much other people think that behavior is broadly OK.
This bias (偏见) allows people to justify socially unacceptable or illegal behaviors. Researchers have observed the false consensus effect in drug use and illegal hunting. More recently, conservationists are beginning to reveal how this effect contributes to environmental damage.
In Australia, people who admitted to poaching (偷猎) thought it was much more prevalent in society than it really was, and had higher estimates than fishers who obeyed the law. They also believed others viewed poaching as socially acceptable; however, in reality, more than 90% of fishers held the opposite view. The false consensus effect has also shown up in studies examining support for nuclear energy and offshore wind farms.
Just as concepts from psychology can help explain some forms of environmental damage, so too can they help address it. For example, research shows people are more likely to litter in areas where there’s already a-lot of trash scattered around; so making sure the ground around a bin is not covered in rubbish may help.
Factual information on how other people think and behave can be very powerful. Energy companies have substantially reduced energy consumption simply by showing people how their electricity use compares to their neighbors. Encouragingly, stimulating people’s natural desire for status has also been successful in getting people to “go green to be seen”, or to publicly buy eco-friendly products.
As the research evidence shows, social norms can be a powerful force in encouraging and popularizing environmentally friendly behaviors. Perhaps you can do your bit by sharing this article!
1. Which example best illustrates the false consensus effect?| A．A student spends long hours surfing the internet. |
| B．A blogger assumes many people dislike his posts. |
| C．A driver frequently parks illegally in public places. |
| D．A smoker believes people generally approve of smoking. |
| A．It is unacceptable. | B．It is widespread. |
| C．It is controversial. | D．It is complex. |
| A．Embrace green habits for better health. |
| B．Make green choices that others can perceive. |
| C．Join green movements for personal fulfillment. |
| D．Choose green items that are easy to spot in stores. |
| A．Understate social norms. | B．Highlight personal responsibilities. |
| C．Publicize sustainable practices. | D．Encourage technological innovations. |
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 MusicShape 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 NutcrackerThe 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 PaintingsIt 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 ExhibitionAbout 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. |
| 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. |
| A．A website. | B．A brochure | C．A newspaper. | D．A magazine. |
3 . Establishing a strong professional image helps individuals maintain positive workplace relationships and present themselves appropriately. In this article, we provide four tips to help you develop your professional image.
To show professionalism when you interact with others, you can use certain verbal (口头的) and nonverbal techniques. Consider using a clear speech pattern to help you convey your purpose and express accurate information. It may be helpful to sustain some eye contact and monitor the volume of your voice.
Use social media thoughtfully
Increase your time management skills
Remain punctual (准时的) when attending meetings, presentations or other events, which can show others your strong sense of professionalism. To increase your chances of starting an event on time, you can prepare your materials beforehand. Consider using a planner or scheduling application to organize events during a workday.
Strengthen your emotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence involves the ability to perceive the moods of others and change your behavior accordingly.
| A．Improve your communication style |
| B．Achieve better communication among friends |
| C．It’s important to be mindful of your online image |
| D．You can also practice active listening during conversations |
| E．Emotional intelligence may serve to point us in the right direction |
| F．You can also set timers to better understand how long each task takes |
| G．It may be helpful to learn about the priorities and motivations of others |
4 . Conventional chemical fertilizers (化肥) aren’t among the most eco-friendly substances in the world. Not only do they pollute the environment if they get into waterways, but they also reduce nutrients in the soil over time. What’s more, they’re relatively expensive.
Seeking a greener and more sustainable alternative, some farmers have started applying nitrogen-fixing bacteria (固氮细菌) to their crops. These bacteria absorb nitrogen gas from the atmosphere and turn it into ammonia in the soil. That ammonia provides the plants with nutrients, restores poor soil, and boosts the plants’ natural defenses against pest insects.
One problem with the bacteria, however, is the fact that they are very sensitive to heat and humidity (湿度). This means they don’t stand up well to being shipped out to farms from a central source.
With these drawbacks in mind, Asst. Prof. Ariel Furst and her colleagues at MIT have created a method of coating the bacteria in tiny “metal-phenol network” (MPN) shells (外壳). The shells contained organic compounds called phenols, which are generally regarded as safe by the Food and Drug Administration.
This new coating technology could make such bacteria more widely available than ever before. On one hand, these coatings don’t block the bacteria’s growth or functions. On the other hand, they do provide protection from heat and humidity. The coated bacteria can even be freeze-dried, then shipped and applied to crops.
Furst’s team created 12 different MPNs which comprised metals such as iron, manganese, aluminum and zinc, all of which are considered safe for use as food additives. When these MPNs were used on nitrogen-fixing bacteria, all of them were found to protect the bacteria from temperatures of up to 50℃ and from relative humidity of up to 48%.
Furst is now commercializing the technology through a company she founded, called Seia Bio. “When we think about developing technology, we need to intentionally design it to be inexpensive and accessible, and that’s what this technology is.” she said.
1. Why are conventional chemical fertilizers mentioned in the first paragraph?| A．To lead in the topic. | B．To show their advantages. |
| C．To provide an example. | D．To explain how to use them. |
| A．They prefer high temperatures. | B．They are insensitive to humidity. |
| C．They reduce nutrients in the soil. | D．They are environmentally friendly. |
| A．MPN shells. | B．The plants. |
| C．Chemical fertilizers. | D．The coated bacteria. |
| A．It may help farmers to ship crops. |
| B．It can be widely applied. |
| C．It might be accessible to more companies. |
| D．It will limit the growth of bacteria. |
5 . The National Heritage Responders is a volunteer network of around 100 experts in cultural heritage conservation from around Puerto Rico. They assist individuals and institutions in figuring out how to save important objects and buildings after disasters. Their crisis hotline has been busier than ever in recent years because of more frequent and severe weather brought on by climate change. In 2023, there have been around 70 calls so far, up from fewer than 10 in 2008, when the hotline first appeared.
Ann Frellsen, the Atlanta-based book and paper conservator, is a longtime heritage responder volunteer with more than three decades of experience in helping out cultural institutions after disasters. She was among those sent to Puerto Rico over several visits starting a couple of months after two hurricanes hit it in 2017.
After providing initial support via the phone, Frellsen and her team came in to help La Casa del Libro and other local institutions in crisis with equipment, supplies and advice. In fact, much of the advice the hotline provides is via phone or video-chat; volunteers are sent out into the field in certain cases, on an as-needed basis.
“There were no stoplights and signs on the highways because they’d all been blown away,” Frellsen said. She added that figuring out how to reach the more than 20 institutions that needed assistance in Puerto Rico was challenging—not to mention the on-the-job hazards.
When Frellsen isn’t heading into disaster zones to help save artifacts (文物) from fires, hurricanes and floods, she trains others in the heritage conservation field to do the same. Some of the participants may eventually take the test to become National Heritage Responders. But at this moment, they are deep in a hands-on training exercise, based on an imaginary situation cooked up by Frellsen and her co-trainers.
1. What can we say about Puerto Rico?| A．It calls on people to keep in contact. | B．Natural disasters are increasing there. |
| C．It works hard to build highways. | D．The weather is really nice there. |
| A．It teaches individuals how to protect themselves. |
| B．New volunteers can join it with no tests required. |
| C．Victims all over the world can contact it by hotline. |
| D．It sends experts to the disaster areas when necessary. |
| A．Dangers. | B．Skills. | C．Trainings. | D．Rights. |
| A．Taking various tests. | B．Entering a new disaster area. |
| C．Conducting a practical exercise. | D．Restoring priceless artifacts. |
6 . If your hearing begins to decline, your risk of falling may rise. Though it’s not exactly clear how hearing loss increases the risk, it’s known that falls are the top cause of death from injury among people 65 and older.
Now, new evidence shows that restoring hearing through the use of hearing aids may be protective, especially when people wear them consistently, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
“We found, quite significantly, that individuals that wore hearing aids compared to those that didn’t, did show a significantly lower prevalence (发生率),” explains Laura Campos, the study’s lead author. “They reported fewer falls, and their scores on a fall’s risk questionnaire showed they were at lower risk.”
As part of the study, Campos and her team surveyed about 300 people with hearing loss about their use of hearing aids and asked about their previous falls. The researchers also accounted for factors that could affect fall risk, such as the use of medication that can cause dizziness.
Overall, people who wore hearing aids had about a 50% reduced odds of experiencing a fall, compared to non-users. And the reduction was even greater among those who wore hearing aids at least four hours per day. “The effect size is pretty significant,” Campos says. “These consistent hearing aid users had even lower odds of falling.”
However, one challenge is that many people who get hearing aids don’t use them every day or stop using them altogether. “A lot of people don’t like them,” says Catherine Jewett, 67, who started wearing a hearing aid on one ear about four years ago. “For some people, the sound amplification (放大) can be hard to adjust to, and others are self-conscious of how they will look with hearing aids,” Jewett adds she feels safer when she wears her hearing aid since she can hear the sounds of a car, for instance, when she’s crossing a street.
1. How did the researchers conduct the study?| A．By making observations. | B．By carrying out experiments. |
| C．By asking questions. | D．By referring to previous studies. |
| A．Its purpose. | B．Its process. | C．Its finding. | D．Its subjects. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Positive. | C．Unconcerned. | D．Unknown. |
| A．Selecting Proper Hearing Aids Does Matter |
| B．People With Hearing Loss Need Special Care |
| C．Restoring Hearing Is a Long and Complex Process |
| D．Wearing Hearing Aids May Cut the Risk of Deadly Falls |
7 . New Space Missions in 2024
ESA’s Hera mission
The European Space Agency (ESA) plans to launch its Hera spacecraft in October on a mission to return to an asteroid (小行星) system visited by NASA’s DART spacecraft in 2022. Hera is designed to collect data on the targeted system, called Didymos. The spacecraft is expected to closely examine the physical properties of Didymos and measure detailed effects of DART’s crash.
Europa Clipper
NASA hopes to launch its Europa Clipper mission in October. This orbiter is designed to carry out close examinations of Jupiter’s moon Europa. Specifically, the mission will look for signs that the icy moon might hold the right conditions to support life. NASA says the orbiter will fly in orbit around Jupiter and perform repeated close flybys of the icy moon.
Boeing’s Starliner test flight
NASA and Boeing have said they plan to launch the first crewed test flight of the company’s Starliner spacecraft. NASA says it is targeting May 2024 to have Starliner ready for flight. The launch date is to be set later.
The spacecraft completed its first unscrewed flight test to the International Space Station (ISS) last May. But Boeing has experienced several technical difficulties with Starliner during the mission and has worked with NASA to fix the problems as it prepares for the planned crewed flight.
SpaceX Starship test
SpaceX, another NASA’s partner, has been successfully using its rockets and spacecraft to transport astronauts and materials to the ISS since 2020. But the company will be seeking a successful test flight in 2024 for its super-heavy Starship spacecraft.
SpaceX experienced two failed Starship tests in 2023 — one in April and the other in November — which resulted in explosions. The April explosion caused major damage to the launch structure in the state of Texas. SpaceX has said it has been examining the issues related to the explosions and plans to carry out another test of Starship as soon as possible. But it will have to wait until the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) completes its investigation of the launch site damage and approves a new test.
1. Which of the following plans to collect data about Didymos?| A．NASA. | B．FAA. | C．SpaceX. | D．ESA. |
| A．In April. | B．In May. | C．In October. | D．In November. |
| A．The date for its third test flight is unclear. |
| B．It has succeeded in sending astronauts to the ISS. |
| C．The reason for its first failure has been identified. |
| D．Its second test flight damaged the launch structure. |
8 . Life isn’t fair. Some people just seem blessed with the ability to effortlessly charm anyone they meet. Well, it might seem like a magical power, but in fact there are a number of factors at work.
But first, the bad news. People initially judge each other based purely on physical appearance. With just a glimpse of a face, people make snap judgments about each other’s likeability, trustworthiness and confidence. How should we deal with this?
What other tricks might we have?
So we’ve looked at body language, but of course what you say is hugely important too, unless you want to just stand there grinning foolishly. The golden rule of friendship is if you make people feel good about themselves, they’re going to like you. In other words, you should not talk about yourself and all your wonderful achievements.
Finally, finding common ground is good to form a connection. Charming people are particularly skilled at seeking out shared interests or experiences to bond with others. Simple things like asking where someone’s from really can open up a discussion and allow you to find areas in common. And if all else fails, you can fall back on that most British of topics: the weather.
| A．It can be a nice start of a conversation. |
| B．Instead, you need to show interest in them. |
| C．What tricks can we employ to be charming? |
| D．There’s one incredibly simple tool: your smile. |
| E．So, can we learn to develop superhuman charm? |
| F．Shared interests are the key to developing friendship with others. |
| G．Our brains often survey the environment for friend or enemy signals. |
9 . Upcoming Events in Essex County Environmental Center
LITTLE EXPLORERS Mondays -May 6, 20, June 3, 17For ages 2 and 3; 10am to 1lam; For ages 2 and 5; 3pm to 4pm
Join us for explorations of nature as we study plants and animals and observe the colors, shapes, and sounds in the Center’s forest habitat. Please come dressed and prepared for all weather conditions; all classes include an outdoor adventure. All children must be walking and accompanied by an adult. Maximum of two children per adult. All sessions are limited to 10 children. Fee: $15 per child per session.
FOREST FRIENDS CLUBThursdays -May 9, June 6, 4pm to 5pm
For children ages 5 through 10
We’ll explore the forest to investigate nature in our wooded wetland habitat. Together we hope to raise our children’s nature responsibilities and offer an opportunity to take part in hands-on conservation projects. Fee: $12 per child per session.
SPRING WILD EDIBLE WALKFriday, May 10, 6pm to 7:30pm
For families
Take a walk in the forest to identify and discuss the variety of forest groceries available for harvest. You’ll meet Spice Bush, Mountain Mint and others. Learn some folklore (FIA) behind the plants and we’ll discuss proper identification, growing environment and methods of preparation while walking. Fee: $40 per family (up to two adults and two children) or $12 per child, $15 per adult.
4-H YOUNG GARDENERS CLUBSaturdays -May 4, 18, 25, 10am to 11 am
For children in grades K-12
Have you ever wondered how vegetables and flowers grow? How to find a rainbow in a garden? The 4-H Young Gardener’s Club can guide you to find the answers to these questions and more. Learning and fun happen all the time here. Meet in Garibaldi Hall. Advanced registration required; please call 973 3531337.
1. When can children join in hands-on projects?| A．On May 6. | B．On May 9. | C．On May 10. | D．On May 18. |
| A．$40. | B．$52. | C．$55. | D．$67. |
| A．They are targeted at families. | B．They focus on theoretical courses. |
| C．They offer experiences in nature. | D．They present local folk cultures. |
10 . Researchers at the Tokyo University of Science (TUS) have developed a groundbreaking sweat biosensor that opens up new possibilities for real-time health monitoring.
Wearable sensors, typically worn directly on the skin, can monitor vital signs such as heart rate, blood pressure, and muscle activity. However, designing chemical sensors for detecting substance in bodily liquid, like sweat, has proven more complex due to issues of skin irritation (刺激) and accuracy when integrated into clothing.
Addressing these challenges, the research team at TUS used a technique called “heat-transfer Printing” to fix a thin, flexible chloride ion (氯离子) sensor onto a clothing base and then integrated it into clothes such as T-shirts. Further, health signs such as chloride ion concentration in sweat can be measured by simply wearing them. By moving the sensor outside of the clothing piece, skin irritation is prevented. The wicking effect (芯吸效应) of fiber helps distributing sweat evenly between the sensor’s electrodes (电极), ensuring stable electrical contact and therefore improving the accuracy.
Additionally, the team carefully selected skin-friendly materials and conducted various experiments using artificial sweat to prove the sensor’s accuracy in measuring chloride ion concentration. To assess its practicality, the team tested the sensor on a volunteer who engaged in a 30-minute exercise on a still bicycle. Measurements of bodily liquid were taken every five minutes and compared with the data collected by the sensor. The wearable sensor reliably measured the concentration of chloride ions in sweat. Moreover, the sensor has the capability to deliver data wirelessly, enabling real-time health monitoring.
This breakthrough can boost the development of advanced healthcare devices that offer precise and convenient monitoring of important health indicators. With the power of these tiny electronics, researchers are pushing the boundaries of healthcare innovation to improve disease prevention and overall well-being.
1. What is paragraph 2 mainly about?| A．Varieties of sweat biosensors. |
| B．Popularity of wearable equipment. |
| C．Complexity in monitoring vital body signs. |
| D．Difficulties in designing chemical sensors. |
| A．The technique of heat-transfer printing. |
| B．The chloride ion sensor. |
| C．The wicking effect of fibre. |
| D．Selected skin-friendly materials. |
| A．To evaluate the sensor’s reliability. |
| B．To improve the volunteer’s performance. |
| C．To determine the sensor’s duration. |
| D．To ensure the volunteer’s well-being. |
| A．Critical. | B．Expectant. | C．Reserved. | D．Doubtful. |
