1 . Overtourism Is For Real: How Can You Help?

Travel promotes understanding, expands our minds, makes us better people, and boosts local economies and communities, but the rapid growth of travel has led to overtourism in certain regions and destinations.     1     Certainly not. The loss of what travel offers would be unacceptable in today’s world. Here are some tips on making wise decisions to minimize pressure on the places we visit and improve our experience.

●Choose mindfully. Overvisited destinations are that way for a reason: they’re special. With so many online posts featuring the same places, it’s easy to feel like you’re missing out. Go somewhere only when the landscape, culture or food deeply draws you.     2    

●Get creative. The best way to ease pressure on over-touristed destinations is to go somewhere else. Though overtourism is described as a problem affecting the entire world, it’s actually concentrated to a small number of extremely popular spots. That means you have tons of less-visited options to choose from.     3     Why not try a regional alternative or check out a popular destination’s lesser-known sights?

●    4     Minimize impact and maximize experience by skipping major holidays or rush hour. You’ll compete with fewer tourists, save money, experience a different side of a popular place, and boost the economy when tourism is traditionally slower.

Visiting a place that others call home is a privilege (荣幸). Do your part to preserve what makes a destination special in the first place.     5     You may be amazed how much closer you’ll feel to the people there.

A．Visit during off-peak times.

B．So, should we stop traveling?

C．Travel for you and no one else.

D．Can overtourism be avoided then?

E．You can still find relatively undiscovered places.

F．You’ll find yourself virtually alone, or close to it.

G．Consider giving back to the communities you’re visiting.

2 . Do you ever get to the train station and realize you forgot to bring something to read? Yes, we all have our phones, but many of us still like to go old school and read something printed.

Well, there’s a kiosk (小亭) for that. In the San Francisco Bay Area, at least.

“You enter the fare gates (检票口) and you’ll see a kiosk that is lit up and it tells you can get a one-minute, a three-minute, or a five-minute story,” says Alicia Trost, the chief communications officer for the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit — known as BART. “You choose which length you want and it gives you a receipt-like short story.”

It’s that simple. Riders have printed nearly 20,000 short stories and poems since the program was launched last March. Some are classic short stories, and some are new original works.

Trost also wants to introduce local writers to local riders. “We wanted to do something where we do a call to artists in the Bay Area to submit stories for a contest,” Trost says. “And as of right now, we’ve received about 120 submissions. The winning stories would go into our kiosk and then you would be a published artist.”

Ridership on transit (交通) systems across the country has been down the past half century, so could short stories save transit?

Trost thinks so.

“At the end of the day all transit agencies right now are doing everything they can to improve the rider experience. So I absolutely think we will get more riders just because of short stories,” she says.

And you’ll never be without something to read.

1. Why did BART start the kiosk program?

A．To promote the local culture.	B．To discourage phone use.
C．To meet passengers’ needs.	D．To reduce its running costs.

2. How are the stories categorized in the kiosk?

A．By popularity.	B．By length.
C．By theme.	D．By language.

3. What has Trost been doing recently?

A．Organizing a story contest.	B．Doing a survey of customers.
C．Choosing a print publisher.	D．Conducting interviews with artists.

4. What is Trost’s opinion about BART’s future?

A．It will close down.	B．Its profits will decline.
C．It will expand nationwide.	D．Its ridership will increase.

3 . Not all great writers are great spellers. If you want to be published, it's vital to submit a perfect, professionally presented manuscript (原稿).     1     No editor is likely to tolerate a writer who does not take the trouble to spell words correctly.

I keep two reference books close-by on my desk: dictionary and thesaurus (同义词词典). I don't trust my laptop's spellchecker.     2     Of course, these days there are plenty of online dictionaries and thesauruses, but I'm old-fashioned enough to prefer a hard cover and pages I can leaf through with my fingers. I use the Concise Oxford Dictionary and the Collins Thesaurus.

    3     It should give you a precise definition of each word, thus differentiating it from other words whose meanings are similar, but not identical. It will also usually show how the word is pronounced.

In addition, I have an old two-volume copy of the Shorter Oxford Dictionary, picked up a few years ago in a bookshop sale for just 99 pence. Of course, with its 2,672 pages, it's not exactly short. It contains around 163,000 words, plus word combinations and idiomatic phrases.     4     However, if I need to check the origin of a word or to look up examples of its usage, there's nothing better.

For well over a hundred years the most influential English dictionary was Samuel Johnson's Dictionary of the English Language published in 1755. "To make dictionaries is dull (乏味) work," wrote Johnson, illustrating one definition of "dull".     5     A few minutes spent casting your eye over a page or two can be a rewarding experience.

A．I don't often use this dictionary.

B．It takes no account of the context.

C．But I still don't want to replace them.

D．But a dictionary can be a pleasure to read.

E．Of course, a dictionary is not only for spelling.

F．That means good grammar and no spelling mistakes.

G．Dictionaries don't always give you enough information.

4 . In the race to document the species on Earth before they go extinct, researchers and citizen scientists have collected billions of records. Today, most records of biodiversity are often in the form of photos, videos, and other digital records. Though they are useful for detecting shifts in the number and variety of species in an area, a new Stanford study has found that this type of record is not perfect.

“With the rise of technology it is easy for people to make observations of different species with the aid of a mobile application,” said Barnabas Daru, who is lead author of the study and assistant professor of biology in the Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences. “These observations now outnumber the primary data that comes from physical specimens (标本), and since we are increasingly using observational data to investigate how species are responding to global change, I wanted to know: Are they usable?”

Using a global dataset of 1.9 billion records of plants, insects, birds, and animals, Daru and his team tested how well these data represent actual global biodiversity patterns.

“We were particularly interested in exploring the aspects of sampling that tend to bias (使有偏差) data, like the greater likelihood of a citizen scientist to take a picture of a flowering plant instead of the grass right next to it,” said Daru.

Their study revealed that the large number of observation-only records did not lead to better global coverage. Moreover, these data are biased and favor certain regions, time periods, and species. This makes sense because the people who get observational biodiversity data on mobile devices are often citizen scientists recording their encounters with species in areas nearby. These data are also biased toward certain species with attractive or eye-catching features.

What can we do with the imperfect datasets of biodiversity?

“Quite a lot,” Daru explained. “Biodiversity apps can use our study results to inform users of oversampled areas and lead them to places — and even species — that are not well-sampled. To improve the quality of observational data, biodiversity apps can also encourage users to have an expert confirm the identification of their uploaded image.”

1. What do we know about the records of species collected now?

A．They are becoming outdated.	B．They are mostly in electronic form.
C．They are limited in number.	D．They are used for public exhibition.

2. What does Daru’s study focus on?

A．Threatened species.	B．Physical specimens.
C．Observational data.	D．Mobile applications.

3. What has led to the biases according to the study?

A．Mistakes in data analysis.	B．Poor quality of uploaded pictures.
C．Improper way of sampling.	D．Unreliable data collection devices.

4. What is Daru’s suggestion for biodiversity apps?

A．Review data from certain areas.	B．Hire experts to check the records.
C．Confirm the identity of the users.	D．Give guidance to citizen scientists.

5 . “I am not crazy,” says Dr. William Farber, shortly after performing acupuncture (针灸) on a rabbit. “I am ahead of my time.” If he seems a little defensive, it might be because even some of his coworkers occasionally laugh at his unusual methods. But Farber is certain he’ll have the last laugh. He’s one of a small but growing number of American veterinarians (兽医) now practicing “holistic” medicine-combining traditional Western treatments with acupuncture, chiropractic (按摩疗法) and herbal medicine.

Farber, a graduate of Colorado State University, started out as a more conventional veterinarian. He became interested in alternative treatments 20 years ago when he suffered from terrible back pain. He tried muscle-relaxing drugs but found little relief. Then he tried acupuncture, an ancient Chinese practice, and was amazed that he improved after two or three treatments. What worked on a veterinarian seemed likely to work on his patients. So, after studying the techniques for a couple of years, he began offering them to pets.

Leigh Tindale’s dog Charlie had a serious heart condition. After Charlie had a heart attack, Tindale says, she was prepared to put him to sleep, but Farber’s treatments eased her dog’s suffering so much that she was able to keep him alive for an additional five months. And Priscilla Dewing reports that her horse, Nappy, “moves more easily and rides more comfortably” after a chiropractic adjustment.

Farber is certain that the holistic approach will grow more popular with time, and if the past is any indication, he may be right: Since 1982, membership in the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association has grown from 30 to over 700. “Sometimes it surprises me that it works so well,” he says. “I will do anything to help an animal. That’s my job.”

1. What do some of Farber’s coworkers think of him?

A．He’s odd.

B．He’s strict.

C．He’s brave.

D．He’s rude.

2. Why did Farber decide to try acupuncture on pets?

A．He was trained in it at university.	B．He was inspired by another veterinarian.
C．He benefited from it as a patient.	D．He wanted to save money for pet owners.

3. What does paragraph 3 mainly talk about?

A．Steps of a chiropractic treatment.	B．The complexity of veterinarians’ work.
C．Examples of rare animal diseases.	D．The effectiveness of holistic medicine.

4. Why does the author mention the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association?

A．To prove Farber’s point.	B．To emphasize its importance.
C．To praise veterinarians.	D．To advocate animal protection.

6 . HABITAT RESTORATION TEAM

Help restore and protect Marin's natural areas from the Marin Headlands to Bolinas Ridge. We'll explore beautiful park sites while conducting invasive (侵入的) plant removal, winter planting, and seed collection. Habitat Restoration Team volunteers play a vital role in restoring sensitive resources and protecting endangered species across the ridges and valleys.

GROUPS

Groups of five or more require special arrangements and must be confirmed in advance. Please review the List of Available Projects and fill out the Group Project Request Form.

AGE, SKILLS, WHAT TO BRING

Volunteers aged 10 and over are welcome. Read our Youth Policy Guidelines for youth under the age of 15.

Bring your completed Volunteer Agreement Form. Volunteers under the age of 18 must have the parent/guardian approval section signed.

We'll be working rain or shine. Wear clothes that can get dirty. Bring layers for changing weather and a raincoat if necessary.

Bring a personal water bottle, sunscreen, and lunch.

No experience necessary. Training and tools will be provided. Fulfills (满足) community service requirements.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Time	Meeting Location
Sunday, Jan. 15   10:00 am — 1:00 pm	Battery Alexander Trailhead
Sunday, Jan. 22   10:00 am — 2:30 pm	Stinson Beach Parking Lot
Sunday, Jan. 29   9:30 am — 2:30 pm	Coyote Ridge Trailhead

1. What is the aim of the Habitat Restoration Team?

A．To discover mineral resources.	B．To develop new wildlife parks.
C．To protect the local ecosystem.	D．To conduct biological research.

2. What is the lower age limit for joining the Habitat Restoration Team?

A．5.

B．10.

C．15.

D．18.

3. What are the volunteers expected to do?

A．Bring their own tools.	B．Work even in bad weather.
C．Wear a team uniform.	D．Do at least three projects.

7 . Is comprehension the same whether a person reads a text onscreen or on paper? And are listening to and viewing content as effective as reading the written word when covering the same material? The answers to both questions are often “no”. The reasons relate to a variety of factors, including reduced concentration, an entertainment mindset (心态) and a tendency to multitask while consuming digital content.

When reading texts of several hundred words or more, learning is generally more successful when it’s on paper than onscreen. A large amount of research confirms this finding. The benefits of print reading particularly shine through when experimenters move from posing simple tasks — like identifying the main idea in a reading passage — to ones that require mental abstraction — such as drawing inferences from a text.

The differences between print and digital reading results are partly related to paper’s physical properties. With paper, there is a literal laying on of hands, along with the visual geography of distinct pages. People often link their memory of what they’ve read to how far into the book it was or where it was on the page.

But equally important is the mental aspect. Reading researchers have proposed a theory called “shallowing hypothesis (假说)”. According to this theory, people approach digital texts with a mindset suited to social media, which are often not so serious, and devote less mental effort than when they are reading print.

Audio (音频) and video can feel more engaging than text, and so university teachers increasingly turn to these technologies — say, assigning an online talk instead of an article by the same person. However, psychologists have demonstrated that when adults read news stories, they remember more of the content than if they listen to or view identical pieces.

Digital texts, audio and video all have educational roles, especially when providing resources not available in print. However, for maximizing learning where mental focus and reflection are called for, educators shouldn’t assume all media are the same, even when they contain identical words.

1. What does the underlined phrase “shine through” in paragraph 2 mean?

A．Seem unlikely to last.	B．Seem hard to explain.
C．Become ready to use.	D．Become easy to notice.

2. What does the shallowing hypothesis assume?

A．Readers treat digital texts lightly.	B．Digital texts are simpler to understand.
C．People select digital texts randomly.	D．Digital texts are suitable for social media.

3. Why are audio and video increasingly used by university teachers?

A．They can hold students' attention.	B．They are more convenient to prepare.
C．They help develop advanced skills.	D．They are more informative than text.

4. What does the author imply in the last paragraph?

A．Students should apply multiple learning techniques.

B．Teachers should produce their own teaching material.

C．Print texts cannot be entirely replaced in education.

D．Education outside the classroom cannot be ignored.

8 . 阅读表达

Students control shadow puppets(皮影木偶) as the singing voice of 71-year-old Liu Aibang echoes(回荡) across the classroom. They use thin straight pieces of wood to make shadow puppets step onto the “stage”—a cloth screen. Those sitting in front of the stage play music on drums, suona horns and other instruments.

This is a Daoqing shadow puppetry class at Longdong University. Except Liu,the other performers of the show are all college students.

Starting in the Han Dynasty, Daoqing shadow puppetry has been included in the national intangible cultural heritage list(国家非物质文化遗产名录) since 2006. For years, shadow plays were welcomed by people of all ages. and were often performed during the festivals. However, with films and TV series becoming popular in the late1980s,many performers moved on to other jobs. Faced with the choice between protecting this art and making a good living, Liu chose to stay on.

One day in 2020, Liu received a phone call from Zhao Zhixue, head of the music school at Longdong University. Zhao told him that the school planned to introduce Daoqing shadow puppetry into college classrooms and develop young students’ long-term interest in intangible cultural heritage. Excited by the news. Liu dropped his farmwork and became a part-time teacher at the college.

Liu hopes to train more young people. “Just as true love is not a one-man show the learning and keeping of cultural heritage needs efforts(努力）from both the old and the young,” Liu said.

1. Where do music performers sit during the shadow puppetry class?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
2. When was Daoqing shadow puppetry included in the national intangible cultural heritage list?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
3. What did many performers do when films and TV series became popular in the late 1980s?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
4. How did Liu feel on hearing about the news from Zhao Zhixue?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
5. What’s the meaning of Liu’s words in the last paragraph?
_________________________________________________________________________________________

9 . What is moderation (适度)? Basically, it means eating only as much food as your body needs. You should feel satisfied at the end of a meal, but not too full.     1     But it doesn't mean saying goodbye to the foods you love.

Take your time. It's important to slow down and think about food as something nutritious rather than just something to eat in between meetings.     2     It actually takes a few minutes for your brain to tell your body that it has had enough food, so eat slowly and stop eating before you feel full.

Eat with others whenever possible. Eating alone, “specially in front of the TV or computer, often leads to mindless overeating. And be careful about the foods you keep at hand. It's more challenging to eat in moderation if you have unhealthy snacks at the ready, like cookies.     3    

Control emotional (情绪的) eating.     4     Many of us also turn to food to deal with unpleasant emotions such as sadness, loneliness, or boredom. But by learning healthier ways to manage emotions, you can regain control over the food you eat and your feelings.

    5     A healthy breakfast can start your metabolism (新陈代谢), while eating small, healthy meals keeps your energy up all day. Avoid eating late at night. Try to eat dinner earlier and fast for 14 — 16 hours until breakfast the next morning. Studies suggest that eating only when you're most active and giving your digestive system a long break each day may help to regulate weight.

A．Eat properly throughout the day.

B．We don't always eat just to satisfy hunger.

C．Don't swallow a meal on the way to work.

D．Most of us need to double the amount we eat.

E．Instead, surround yourself with healthy choices.

F．For many of us, moderation means eating less than we do now.

G．That won't lead to cheating or giving up on your new eating plan.

10 . Each ARTS FIRST festival is a unique annual celebration of the Harvard community's artistic creativity. We invite you to join us for the coming ARTS FIRST. We look forward to welcoming you as we showcase the creativity of the Harvard arts community through performances, art exhibitions and art-making activities. The festival is a public event for Harvard and community members of all ages.

Light Awash in Watercolor

Learn about the materials and qualities of watercolor paint with experts from the Harvard Art Museums Materials Lab. Try your hand at some of the painting tricks used by artists whose works will be in the upcoming exhibition of American Watercolors 1880-1990: Into the Light.

Spineless Artists: Invertebrate Creativity

From webs to cocoons, invertebrates (无脊椎动物) create some of nature's most delicate and beautiful designs. Join Javier Marin from the Harvard Museum of Natural History to learn how insects and other invertebrates dance, inspire fashion and create art, while making your own spineless artists out of craft (手工艺) materials.

Wheel Throwing

Join instructors from the Ceramics Program and great potters from Quincy, Cabot and Mather Houses for demonstrations using the potter's wheel. Then create your own masterpiece!

Knitting and Pom-Pom Making

Join the Harvard Undergraduate Knitting Circle to make pom-poms and tassels out of thread, or pick up a pair of needles and learn to knit (编织).

1. What do we know about ARTS FIRST?

A．It is an exhibition of oil paintings.	B．It offers art courses for all ages.
C．It presents recreational activities.	D．It is a major tourist attraction.

2. Which program will you join if you're interested in drawing pictures?

A．Light Awash in Watercolor.	B．Spineless Artists: Invertebrate Creativity.
C．Wheel Throwing.	D．Knitting and Pom-Pom Making.

3. What can you do together with Javier Marin?

A．Practice a traditional dance.	B．Make handcrafts.
C．Visit a local museum.	D．Feed invertebrates.