1 . The Mediterranean (地中海的) diet is the No. 1 Best Diet Overall. It’s also a top-rated diet for those looking for a heart-healthy and weight-friendly diet.

Don’t confuse Americanized Mediterranean menus -which often feature too much refined pasta, beef and cheese-with healthy eating. The food and eating habits of the Mediterranean region are undoubtedly both delicious and healthful. However, the “Americanized” version of Mediterranean food, deep-fried cheese and falafel, heavy pasta dishes and a lot of beef and pork is anything but healthy.

Though people living in the diverse Mediterranean region eat different types of food, their diet mainly consists of plant-based foods -whole grains, beans, nuts and unsaturated (不饱和的) fat from olive oil. A small amount of lean poultry (家禽肉) and plenty of seafood is also allowed.

The nutritional value and health benefits of the Mediterranean diet were first documented in the Seven Countries Study, which investigated the relationship between diet and heart diseases among roughly 13,000 men from 1958 to 1999. The study indicated that the type of fat affects cardiovascular (心血管的) health more than total fat intake does. Although standard nutrition advice calls for a 30% limit on total calories from fat, even up to 40% may be heart-friendly, if most of the fats consumed are unsaturated.

Since the Mediterranean diet focuses on nutrient-dense fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds and health y fats, it spares little room for the saturated fat, extra sugars and sodium. As a result, people who eat a Mediterranean-style diet have longer life spans, report a higher life quality and suffer from less chronic diseases, such as cancer and heart disease. Also, Mediterranean diet offers an upper hand in weight loss as a further research suggested.

1. Which food is typically included in the Mediterranean diet?

A．Deep-fried cheese.	B．Heavy pasta dishes.
C．Refined beef.	D．Seafood.

2. What can we learn about fat intake according to the Seven Countries Study?

A．Total fat intake matters more.	B．Type of fat is more significant.
C．We should take in no more than 30% fat.	D．Taking in up to 40% fat is unhealthy.

3. What will the author probably talk about in the following paragraph?

A．The methods researchers conducted the study.

B．Additional benefits of Mediterranean-style diet.

C．Suggestions on weight losing with Mediterranean diet.

D．How the Mediterranean diet promotes weight loss.

4. Where does the passage most possibly come from?

A．A scientific report.	B．A local newspaper.
C．A food fair guidebook.	D．A food magazine.

2 . Coined by domestic (国内的) media as “deliveryman by day, poet by night,” 55-year-old Wang Jibing brings home the bacon by working as a delivery person in Kunshan, Jiangsu Province. Meanwhile, his passion for poetry has driven him to write over 4,000 poems. He also came under the spotlight as his name was on the 2023 list of new members for the Chinese Writers Association.

Born in a rural area, and dropping out of secondary school, Wang tried various jobs, from a construction worker, working on sand mining boats to a garbage collector, yet he never stop reading and writing. While Wang gained likes from readers of the same mind, it wasn’t until ChenZhaohua, the former CEO of sohu. com, shared one of his poems on China’s social media plat form Sina Weibo that he gained wider popularity.

“The ones that race with time don’t have four seasons. They have one station and the next. The world is only the name of a place. Wang Family Village is the same.” read the poem shared by Chen. Titled “People in a Hurry,” it gathered more than 13 million views within a week.

Wang gained inspiration for the poem from an unpleasant food delivery experience in 2019. Due to a wrong address given by the consumer, he had to rush several times to get the food delivered on time, leading to delays with other orders, as well as penalties (处罚) and a decrease in his earnings.

Reflecting memories of his family and hometown, observations of society and life while working as a laborer (劳动者) and conveying simplicity, reality and sincerity, Wang’s poems capture the simple joy and sadness of common people, tugging at the heartstrings of tens of thousands of ordinary people just like him.

1. What is Wang jibing’s job to earn a living?

A．A poet	B．A delivery man
C．A writer	D．An Internet influencer

2. What makes Wang popular overnight?

A．He received a good education.

B．He gained tons of likes from readers.

C．He became a member of the Chinese Writers Association.

D．His poem was shared by Chen on Sina Weibo.

3. What does the impact of the order delay imply?

A．There’s unfairness in food delivery industry.	B．The delivery person is irresponsible and slow.
C．The effect of an order delay is severe.	D．The consumer should take the blame.

4. What do the underlined words “tugging at the heartstrings” mean in paragraph 5?

A．Arousing strong feelings.	B．Creating smooth music.
C．Pulling on ordinary people’s hearts.	D．Causing tension among people.

3 . The Academy Awards are fast approaching and we’ve got you covered. Before you head off to an Oscars party, check below for details and coverage of four films nominated (提名).

Past Lives

Celine Song’s film about a woman, played by Greta Lee, who reconnects with her childhood sweetheart and tries to understand both the path she took and the many paths she didn’t.

Nominations: Best picture, original screenplay

Where: In theaters. Rent or buy it on Amazon

Review: Past Lives is the most affecting love story in ages.

Poor Things

Director Yorgos Lanthimos’ dark comedy about a young woman in Victorian London, who is found and experimented upon by a twisted scientist.

Nominations: Best picture, costume design, film editing, makeup and hairstyling

Where: In theaters

Review: Poor Things built its weird, unforgettable world from scratch.

The Color Purple

Blitz Bazawule’s adaptation of the Broadway musical is based on the Alice Walker novel. It tells the story of Celie, who survives the abuse by the men in her life and longs to be reunited with the sister who was taken from her.

Nominations: Supporting actress

Where: In theaters. Rent or buy it on Google Play

Review: The new Color Purple exudes (散发) joy, but dances past some deeper complexities.

Anatomy of a Fall

Directed by Justine Triet, this French drama follows a wife who becomes the chief suspect (嫌疑人) when her husband is found dead, and rifts (关系不和) in their marriage are exposed.

Nominations: Best picture, director, actress, original screenplay

Where: In theaters. Rent or buy it on YouTube

Review: If you love courtroom dramas, this is not to be missed.

1. Which film gets the most nominations?

A．Past Lives.

B．Poor Things.

C．The Color Purple.

D．Anatomy of a Fall.

2. What do the movies have in common?

A．They are tragedies.	B．They are nominated for best picture.
C．They are all lady-related.	D．They can be viewed both in theaters and on media.

3. Who is the passage intended for?

A．Critics who will comment on the films.	B．Movie-goers who are hunting for films.
C．Celebrities who will attend the Oscars.	D．Audience who have watched the films.

4 . The Arctic Could be Practically “ice-free”

The Arctic could have summer days with practically no sea ice within the next decade due to emissions (排放) from fossil fuels (化石燃料), a study has found.

This would transform the unique habitat, home to polar bears, seals and walruses, from a “white Arctic” to a “blue Arctic” during the summer months, scientists said.

The report defined (定义) “ice-free” as less than 1m sq km of ice, in which case the Arctic Ocean would be mostly water.

The findings, published in the journal Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, suggest the first ice-free day in the Arctic could occur more than 10 years earlier than previously predicted.

The authors said continuously ice-free Septembers could be expected by 2035 to 2067, depending on fossil fuel emissions. By the end of the century, there was potential for ice-free conditions between May and January under a high-emission scenario (可能发生的情况), and August to October under a low-emission scenario.

Alexandra Jahn, a lead author of the research, said: “This would transform the Arctic into a completely different environment. But even if ice-free conditions are unavoidable, we still need to keep our emissions as low as possible to avoid prolonged (长期的) ice-free conditions.”

There was, however, potential to fix this issue, she said. “Unlike the ice sheet in Greenland that took thousands of years to build, even if we melt all the Arctic sea ice, if we can then figure out how to take CO₂ back out of the atmosphere in the future to reverse (逆转) warming, sea ice will come back within a decade,” Jahn said.

1. According to the study, when could the Arctic experience its first ice-free summer day?

A．By the end of this decade.	B．Within the next 10 years.
C．From 2035 to 2067.	D．By the end of the century.

2. What would happen if the Arctic became ice-free during summer months?

A．The Arctic habitat would remain unchanged.

B．The Arctic would still be friendly to polar animals.

C．The Arctic would be a “blue Arctic” in summer.

D．The Arctic would remain frozen throughout the year.

3. What would Alexandra Jahn probably agree with?

A．Ice-free conditions are avoidable.

B．The Arctic would under go no transformation.

C．Emissions ought to be reduced.

D．Prolonged ice-free conditions are certain to occur.

4. How does Alexandra Jahn feel about dealing with the Arctic warming?

A．Hopeful.

B．Indifferent.

C．Pessimistic.

D．Uninterested.

5 . Most people fail to achieve their goals because somewhere along the line, they lose focus.     1     And eventually, they give up on their goals. Does this sound familiar to you? Don’t worry. Here are 3 simple techniques you can use to prevent yourself from losing focus on your goals.

    2     All too often, many people make the mistake and believe that the more goals they have, the better. This is wrong. Once, researchers conducted an experiment about the choices of jams and the number of sales. They discovered that the more choices of jams they provided for shoppers, the fewer sales they got. The more options you have, the less likely you can focus better. Therefore, focus on just ONE.

The second technique you can use is this - commit to taking small steps. Success isn’t going to happen overnight. Success is the accumulation of many small steps.     3     It will only make you suffer. Instead, commit to doing a minimum number such as 30 push-ups every day, and then increase gradually.     4     it lowers the resistance, and you are more likely to take action.

The third method is to focus on progress, not results. This is one of the most important distinctions between someone successful and someone who is not. Successful people understand that progress is key, not results.     5     On the contrary, unsuccessful people focus only on getting the result. Whenever they don’t get the result they want, they feel bad, frustrated, and lose their motivation, which eventually makes them give up on their goals.

If you apply these methods, you too, can maintain your focus and reach your goals, slowly, but surely.

A．Dream big and set big goals to inspire you.

B．They get distracted and then they stop taking action.

C．Make sure you focus fully on just ONE goal at a time.

D．They just want to get the work done and push forward.

E．When you make an effort to develop your ability to focus,

F．When you focus on getting started and taking small steps,

G．You don’t have to commit to doing 100 push-ups every day.

6 . A television writer is responsible for writing scripts (剧本) for television shows. There are numerous types of shows to which a TV writer can contribute his or her talents.     1     A scriptwriter often writes stories for television dramas, comedies, and soap operas.

Some television writers start out as assistants before working their way up to filling writing positions on shows.     2     As a television writer, success requires a combination of talent, hard work, and determination.

    3     Depending on their role and the show they are working on, they might work individually in the writers’ room or other remote locations. They also spend time on the set, working closely with the production team and actors to ensure the scripts are brought to life as intended.

A television writer might develop their material using a variety of methods. This involves researching and gathering information to ensure the show is accurate and true. A piece of advice given by professionals is to watch all kinds of TV shows. TV writers should note which ones are successful.     4    

A formal college degree is usually not required to be a television writer as educational requirements vary by positions. Writing talent and practical work experience are generally considered just as valuable as a college degree. There are numerous opportunities to learn how to be a TV writer.     5     Continuing education opportunities are also suggested as well as reading reviews and comments.

A．Job titles of a TV writer can change.

B．The workplace of a TV writer can vary.

C．So they learn from them and accept suggestions to create better work.

D．It’s helpful to be located in cities known for their television production.

E．Many TV writers read books and begin self-study to improve their skills.

F．For instance, a TV writer can be a journalist, focusing on news programs.

G．Others may work in other areas, such as film or theater, before turning to television.

7 . Australian bioacoustics (生物声学) expert Brian Miller’s work focuses on identifying and understanding the behaviours of Antarctic marine mammals by listening to underwater audio recordings. However, sorting through it is a massive task. “We’ve now amassed a collection of more than 100,000 hours of recordings from the Antarctic, but we’ve always been constrained by our ability to process these data efficiently,” he says. Listening to all these recordings would take decades. As well as being boring to do, that’s simply too slow for the conservation action needed to save threatened species.

But with new technologies doing the “thinking” for us, that could be about to change. A time-saving solution has been for Brian’s team to apply AI algorithms to the task.

Using computers to process data isn’t new to conservation research, but in the past, they’ve been limited in what they can accomplish. They start to struggle when the data gets more complicated. In comparison, AI programs can learn and improve their ability to interpret data. They can process data that would take a research team months to finish, in a matter of hours. In some cases, they are more accurate than their human counterparts, and the algorithms only improve with time as they gather more and more training data.

Of course, the human element can never be entirely removed from research. “It’s people who can work closely with people who have AI experience, and have the ability to make the algorithm smarter…I think that’s a pretty good recipe for success,” Brian says.

Perhaps the best thing about the use of AI in conservation is that it lets researchers focus on what’s important. “This frees us up to think about the bigger picture problems. It frees us up to think about designing better studies to focus on the analysis, to focus on the gaps… it really is a revolution,” Brian says. “My prediction would be that this is going to become much more widespread across science in general.”

1. Why does the author mention Brian Miller in the first paragraph?

A．To explain the importance of protecting endangered species.

B．To introduce the new technologies applied in his research team.

C．To emphasize the inefficiency of the current data processing ability.

D．To show the difficulty in identifying the behaviors of marine mammals.

2. What was the disadvantage of computers used in the previous research?

A．They were totally inaccurate.

B．They failed to interact with people.

C．They were unable to interpret data.

D．They failed to process complex data efficiently.

3. What does the underlined word “recipe” in Paragraph 4 refer to?

A．Guide.

B．Chance.

C．Moment.

D．Strategy.

4. What can we learn from the last paragraph?

A．AI programs are to gain more popularity in science.

B．Researchers focus on unimportant problems currently.

C．Better studies need to be designed to ensure efficiency.

D．Human elements will be entirely removed from research.

8 . The first model of Apple’s iPhone was launched 15 years ago. Since then, many different smartphones have been introduced. The devices now influence our daily lives in many ways.

One thing that has changed is that many people now use their phones to easily take pictures anywhere, anytime, without the need for a camera. Not surprisingly, this change has caused major business problems for camera manufacturers.

Today, many smartphones have high-quality cameras designed to produce better pictures than the ones most people used in the past for personal photographs. And some news photographers, for example, have found advantages in using them in their work. The Associated Press recently asked some of its photographers who use iPhones to describe how they use the devices.

Brynn Anderson is based in the AP in Atlanta, Georgia. She said: “Sometimes being a photographer with a larger camera can be intimidating to the person being photographed. Using a phone makes it easier for me to get intimate (亲密的) moments that might not happen.”

Dita Alangkara covers Jakarta, Indonesia for the AP. He said shooting with a smartphone opens up more possibilities on the streets of Jakarta. “People are so used to seeing others taking photos with their gadgets that they just ignore me. This gives me a whole new perspective to explore ...”

Khalil Hamra is an AP photographer in Istanbul, Turkey. He said: “Truth be told, every time I take a nice picture with my phone, I feel that something is missing and could have been better if I took it with my professional camera.”

Oded Balilty is based in Tel Aviv, Israel. “It is a different tool that definitely has changed what we do,” he said of the iPhone. But, he added: “It’s the photographer, not the device, that determines the quality of a photo.”

1. What has caused major business problems for camera industry?

A．Higher production cost.	B．Lack of technical progress.
C．Fewer news photographers.	D．Decrease in market demand.

2. Which of the following most probably likes seeking perfection?

A．Brynn Anderson.	B．Dita Alangkara.
C．Khalil Hamra.	D．Oded Balilty.

3. How does the author develop the passage?

A．By offering some reasons.	B．By giving some examples.
C．By analyzing some facts.	D．By making some comparisons.

4. What’s the best title of the passage?

A．A New “Camera” Has Come	B．Smartphone: The Best Choice for You
C．Smartphone: To Use or to Drop	D．Camera: The Last Choice for You

9 . I had always struggled with my body weight since my childhood. Though I was the one who wore a women’s size 16 dress. I had never been teased or bullied (欺凌) in my school thanks to the help of my best friends.

After I started to work, I decided to join the gym with my colleague. At the gym, I stepped on the scale to weigh myself. and when 170 pounds hit on the scale, it was the most terrifying moment. I thought after a few months of going to the gym and doing rigorous (严格的) works I would come down to 150 pounds. However, owing to the work stress and lack of time. I had to drop out of my journey.

In 2015, I went to a gym again and began my weight loss journey — one that lasted for 12 months and concluded with me losing 20 more pounds so that I could be a bridesmaid (伴娘) of my best friend. I could hit 130 pounds on the scale. Sure I lost some pounds in the journey, however, when I again went to my old habits. I regained all the weight that I had lost.

The day I reached my weight back to 150 pounds thanks to all the pizzas, sodas and junk foods. I was set on fire with motivation to change my life. Just as I’d done for the past few years. I again started to go back to the gym this time with determination and healthier eating.

A little over a year after I’d started. I stepped on the same scale I’d first weighed myself on. I hit 110 pounds on the scale. It was the most transformative experience of my life — and not simply in the ways one might expect.

Even now, when I feel my confidence flagging (衰落) or self-doubt creeping in, I think back to having successfully finished that, and I can draw strength.

1. Why did the author stop going to the gym for the first time?

A．She was already satisfied with her weight.	B．She had to devote her time to her work.
C．She didn’t experience any weight loss.	D．She was laughed at by others.

2. What problem did the author face after managing to lose some weight?

A．She lost confidence in herself	B．She became too busy to work out.
C．She developed some new bad habits.	D．She had difficulty keeping weight off.

3. What can we learn about the author after her weight loss experience?

A．She could be at self-doubt.	B．She expected to help others.
C．She lost interest in going to the gym.	D．She cared more about her appearance.

4. What message does the author’s story want to tell us?

A．It’s important to live a full life.	B．We should always focus on our weight.
C．We should try our best to change our life.	D．It requires determination to keep a healthy lifestyle.

10 . 阅读下面的短文和问题，根据短文内容，在相应题号后的横线上写下相关信息，完成对该问题的回答。答语要结构正确，书写工整，字迹清楚。

AI art, aka (又名) computation art or generative art, refers to the creation of any artwork through the use of artificial intelligence programs. This can include art forms like music, photography and video, but in this article we’ll focus on 2D and 3D illustrative art.

AI art should not be confused with digital art, which refers to artworks created using any type of digital software. Typically, with digital art, the creator has to employ some level of artistic skill and technique, and understand how to use tools such as Adobe Illustrator.

With AI art, in contrast, you typically only have to type in a text prompt (提示词). A finished artwork is then created by generative AI algorithms without any further input needed.

AI art is controversial (有争议的) within the art and design professions for two main reasons. Firstly, and most obviously, allowing people to generate art through software means they’re less likely to pay someone to create it by hand. And that’s inevitably (不可避免的) going to lead to job losses and the loss of freelance work to professional artists. The second reason is that AI art generators are trained on art made by humans. Yet in most cases, these artists have not been paid for this sampling of their work. And by copying their style, which they may have taken decades of hard work to develop, AI art generators are arguably carrying out the biggest copyright theft in history.

It all reminds us of the story of how an aging Pablo Picasso was one day sketching (素描) in a park. A woman approached him and asked him to sketch her. The famous artist took one look at her, and dashed off an abstract likeness in seconds. She loved it, and asked how much she should pay. “5,000 francs,” he replied. “Why so expensive?” she cried in shock. “It took you less than a minute!” He replied: “No, Madame, it took me a lifetime.”

The artist community is now in a similar position, on a massive scale. AI art generators are taking out the equivalent of 5,000 francs of value multiple times a second, and yet artists aren’t getting a penny. A number of court cases are testing out this argument in court.

1. What is AI art?
___________________________________________________________
2. With digital art, what does the creator have to do?
___________________________________________________________
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
➢The author tells the story of Pablo Picasso to show that he is a very great artist
___________________________________________________________
4. Are you a supporter of AI art? Why or why not? (In about 40 words)
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