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.
●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.
●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.
●
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.
| 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 . Given the astonishing potential of AI to transform our lives, we all need to take action to deal with our AI-powered future, and this is where AI by Design: A Plan for Living with Artificial Intelligence comes in. This absorbing new book by Catriona Campbell is a practical roadmap addressing the challenges posed by the forthcoming AI revolution (变革).
In the wrong hands, such a book could prove as complicated to process as the computer code (代码) that powers AI but, thankfully, Campbell has more than two decades’ professional experience translating the heady into the understandable. She writes from the practical angle of a business person rather than as an academic, making for a guide which is highly accessible and informative and which, by the close, will make you feel almost as smart as AI.
As we soon come to learn from AI by Design, AI is already super-smart and will become more capable, moving from the current generation of “narrow-AI” to Artificial General Intelligence. From there, Campbell says, will come Artificial Dominant Intelligence. This is why Campbell has set out to raise awareness of AI and its future now — several decades before these developments are expected to take place. She says it is essential that we keep control of artificial intelligence, or risk being sidelined and perhaps even worse.
Campbell’s point is to wake up those responsible for AI-the technology companies and world leaders—so they are on the same page as all the experts currently developing it. She explains we are at a “tipping point” in history and must act now to prevent an extinction-level event for humanity. We need to consider how we want our future with AI to pan out. Such structured thinking, followed by global regulation, will enable us to achieve greatness rather than our downfall.
AI will affect us all, and if you only read one book on the subject, this is it.
1. What does the phrase “In the wrong hands” in paragraph 2 probably mean?| A．If read by someone poorly educated. | B．If reviewed by someone ill-intentioned. |
| C．If written by someone less competent. | D．If translated by someone unacademic. |
| A．It is packed with complex codes. | B．It adopts a down-to-earth writing style. |
| C．It provides step-by-step instructions. | D．It is intended for AI professionals. |
| A．Observe existing regulations on it. |
| B．Reconsider expert opinions about it. |
| C．Make joint efforts to keep it under control. |
| D．Learn from prior experience to slow it down. |
| A．To recommend a book on AI. | B．To give a brief account of AI history. |
| C．To clarify the definition of AI. | D．To honor an outstanding AI expert. |
3 . We all know fresh is best when it comes to food. However, most produce at the store went through weeks of travel and covered hundreds of miles before reaching the table. While farmer’s markets are a solid choice to reduce the journey, Babylon Micro-Farm (BMF) shortens it even more.
BMF is an indoor garden system. It can be set up for a family. Additionally, it could serve a larger audience such as a hospital, restaurant or school. The innovative design requires little effort to achieve a reliable weekly supply of fresh greens.
Specifically, it’s a farm that relies on new technology. By connecting through the Cloud, BMF is remotely monitored. Also, there is a convenient app that provides growing data in real time. Because the system is automated, it significantly reduces the amount of water needed to grow plants. Rather than watering rows of soil, the system provides just the right amount to each plant. After harvest, users simply replace the plants with a new pre-seeded pod (容器) to get the next growth cycle started.
Moreover, having a system in the same building where it’s eaten means zero emissions (排放) from transporting plants from soil to salad. In addition, there’s no need for pesticides and other chemicals that pollute traditional farms and the surrounding environment.
BMF employees live out sustainability in their everyday lives. About half of them walk or bike to work. Inside the office, they encourage recycling and waste reduction by limiting garbage cans and avoiding single-use plastic. “We are passionate about reducing waste, carbon and chemicals in our environment,” said a BMF employee.
1. What can be learned about BMF from paragraph 1?| A．It guarantees the variety of food. | B．It requires day-to-day care. |
| C．It cuts the farm-to-table distance. | D．It relies on farmer’s markets. |
| A．Real-time weather changes. | B．Current condition of the plants. |
| C．Chemical pollutants in the soil. | D．Availability of pre-seeded pods. |
| A．They have a great passion for sports. |
| B．They are devoted to community service. |
| C．They are fond of sharing daily experiences. |
| D．They have a strong environmental awareness. |
| A．BMF’s major strengths. | B．BMF’s general management. |
| C．BMF’s global influence. | D．BMF’s technical standards. |
4 . Choice of Walks for Beginner and Experienced Walkers
The Carlow Autumn Walking Festival is a great opportunity for the beginner, experienced or advanced walker to enjoy the challenges of Carlow’s mountain hikes or the peace of its woodland walks.
Walk 1 — The Natural WorldWith environmentalist Éanna Lamhna as the guide, this walk promises to be an informative tour. Walkers are sure to learn lots about the habitats and natural world of the Blackstairs.
Date and Time: Saturday, 1st October, at 09:00
Start Point: Scratoes Bridge
Walk Duration: 6 hours
Walk 2 — Introduction to HillwalkingEmmanuel Chappard, an experienced guide, has a passion for making the great outdoors accessible to all. This mountain walk provides an insight into the skills required for hillwalking to ensure you get the most from future walking trips.
Date and Time: Sunday, 2nd October, at 09:00
Start Point: Deerpark Car Park
Walk Duration: 5 hours
Walk 3 — Moonlight Under the StarsWalking at night-time is a great way to step out of your comfort zone. Breathtaking views of the lowlands of Carlow can be enjoyed in the presence of welcoming guides from local walking clubs. A torch (手电筒) along with suitable clothing is essential for walking in the dark. Those who are dressed inappropriately will be refused permission to participate.
Date and Time: Saturday, 1st October, at 18:30
Start Point: The Town Hall
Walk Duration: 3 hours
Walk 4 — Photographic Walk in Kilbrannish ForestThis informative walk led by Richard Smyth introduces you to the basic principles of photography in the wild. Bring along your camera and enjoy the wonderful views along this well-surfaced forest path.
Date and Time: Sunday, 2nd October, at 11:45
Start Point: Kilbrannish Forest Recreation Area
Walk Duration: 1.5 hours
1. Which walk takes the shortest time?| A．The Natural World. | B．Introduction to Hillwalking. |
| C．Moonlight Under the Stars. | D．Photographic Walk in Kilbrannish Forest. |
| A．Wear proper clothes. | B．Join a walking club. |
| C．Get special permits. | D．Bring a survival guide. |
| A．They involve difficult climbing. | B．They are for experienced walkers. |
| C．They share the same start point. | D．They are scheduled for the weekend. |
5 . The teenage years are a transformative period marked by great physical, psychological, and emotional changes.
Understanding and managing social emotions can help develop teenagers’ identities. Teenagers experience a wide range of emotions from social interactions, which significantly influences their self-understanding and social awareness. In the process, they learn to understand, and appropriately respond to both their own emotions and those of others.
In academic settings, social emotional competencies like self-regulation, motivation, and social awareness directly impact a teenager’s ability to learn, participate, and engage in school activities.
Learning social emotions involves a combination of personal experience, guidance, and formal education.
| A．What exactly are social emotions? |
| B．The journey into mature emotion is quite easy. |
| C．Social emotion learning for teenagers is essential. |
| D．Central to this phase is the concept of social emotions. |
| E．This helps shape their own personal principles and beliefs. |
| F．Families play a crucial role in modeling and developing these skills. |
| G．Moreover, social emotional skills are closely linked to mental health. |
6 . One single night every January, volunteers all over America search parks, woodlands and pavements to count those without shelter. After seeing their own figures for homelessness increase by 20%between 2022 and early 2023. Jersey officials were shocked into action. Officials spent more on rental assistance for those at risk of becoming homeless. More services for people living rough have led to a rise in sheltered homelessness. The state also gathers real time data. In November New Jersey’s Office of Homelessness Prevention released its own figures , showing unsheltered homelessness falling across the state by 23% year on year.
Newark, New Jersey’s largest city and home to the state’s largest homeless population, recorded a 58% reduction in unsheltered homelessness since the start of the year due to the government’s financial support to reduce street homelessness, improve the shelter system and expand housing and prevention services.
Luis Ulerio, the director of Newark’s Office of Homeless Services, says “there’s just been a lot of hard work behind that number.” Mr. Baraka, the mayor (市长)，converted a local primary school into a 166-bed facility. He built temporary housing out of shipping containers. A second cluster (群) of containers with supportive services, called Hope Village II, will open soon. The containers have been altered to look like little cottages. A third cluster is in the works Mr.Baraka wants to create a pipeline from shelters to transitional housing and then to getting long-term homeless people into permanent housing.
More services for people living rough have led to a rise in sheltered homelessness. The city also provides money for overdue rent to prevent homelessness. Beth Shinn of Vanderbilt University points out that it’s cheaper to give $ 200 to help make due rent for the poor than to pay thousands later. The city also relies on data , updated daily by those working with Newark’s homeless people. Real-time data is crucial , he says , in order to carry out interventions in state policy all on the frontline.
1. What can we learn about homelessness in New Jersey from paragraph 1?| A．It has greatly affected people’s lives. | B．Official efforts are lacking to address it. |
| C．Great progress has been made to ease it. | D．It is the most serious all over America. |
| A．He designed and built the Hope Village series for them. |
| B．He turned a school and shipping containers into o homes. |
| C．He joined a permanent pipeline to the homeless houses. |
| D．He led the volunteers to count people without shelter. |
| A．Extended. | B．Donated. | C．Distributed. | D．Changed. |
| A．Rent should be provided for the poor when it’s due. |
| B．No rent should be charged to stop overdue rent. |
| C．Real-time data should be in place to spot overdue rent. |
| D．A limit should be set to avoid large sum of overdue rent. |
7 . Are you an early bird or a night owl? Our activity patterns and sleep cycles could influence our risk of heart disease. New research published in Experimental Physiology found wake/sleep cycles cause metabolic (新陈代谢) differences and change our body’s preference for energy sources.
Researchers from Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA classified participants into two groups(early and late) based on their natural tendency to seek activity and sleep at different times. The participants were monitored for a week to assess their activity patterns across the day. They ate a calorie and nutrition-controlled diet and had to fast overnight to minimize dietary impact on the results. To study fuel preference, they were tested while at rest before completing two 15-minute period of exercise: one moderate and one high intensity session on a running machine. Aerobic fitness levels were tested through an incline challenge where the incline was raised 2.5% every two minutes until the participant reached a point of exhaustion.
The researchers found that those who stay up later have a reduced ability to use fat for energy, meaning fats may build up in the body and increase the risk of heart disease. People who are ‘early birds’ rely more on fat as an energy source and are more active during the day with, higher levels of aerobic fitness than ‘night owls’. On the other hand, ‘night owls’ use less fat for energy at rest and during exercise.
Researchers also found that early birds use more fat for energy at both rest and during exercise than night owls. Professor Steven Malin from Rutgers University said, “We found that early birds are more physically active and have higher fitness levels than night owls. Farther research is needed to examine the link between exercise and metabolic adaptation to identify whether exercising earlier in the day has greater health benefits.”
1. What does the underlined word “fast” in paragraph 2 mean?| A．Move quickly. | B．Go without food. |
| C．Exercise regularly. | D．Fall sound asleep. |
| A．By making a survey. | B．By making contrasts. |
| C．By providing examples. | D．By introducing a concept. |
| A．Having lower fitness level. | B．Using less fat during exercise. |
| C．Consuming more fat at rest. | D．Being more active during the night. |
| A．Tolerant. | B．Pessimistic. | C．Indifferent. | D．Uncertain. |
8 . 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. |
| A．By popularity. | B．By length. |
| C．By theme. | D．By language. |
| A．Organizing a story contest. | B．Doing a survey of customers. |
| C．Choosing a print publisher. | D．Conducting interviews with artists. |
| A．It will close down. | B．Its profits will decline. |
| C．It will expand nationwide. | D．Its ridership will increase. |
9 . An apology tells someone that we’re sorry for the hurt we caused — even if we didn’t do it on purpose. It’s a way of saying we’re aware of what we did and we’ll try to do better in future.
Apologies are one of the tools that we use to get along better with other people. Saying that you’re sorry is more than just words.
Everyone needs to apologize when they do something wrong. For example, if someone is irritated because of something you did, you need to apologize. If you say something that hurts someone, even if you don’t mean it, then you should apologize.
When someone apologizes to you, you may welcome it and be ready to forgive.
| A．When you apologize in a caring way |
| B．When you accept an apology in a desirable way |
| C．It’s difficult to mend a relationship if we don’t apologize |
| D．Or you might not feel like being friendly again right away |
| E．It isn’t always easy for us to get along well with everyone all the time |
| F．If you lose or break something belonging to someone else, you should say sorry |
| G．You’re also saying that you respect and care about the other person’s feelings |
10 . When it comes to thriving under pressure, microbes (微生物) have us solidly beat. New research reveals that Carno-bacterium, a genus often associated with spoiled meat, can successfully divide and reproduce across an enormous range of external pressures — from the equivalent of a very thin atmosphere to crushing ocean depths. This adaptability is unknown for any other life-forms on Earth, researchers report in Astrobiology. Such hardiness suggests a single organism could survive in totally different environments throughout the solar system.
Based on previous findings of various Carno-bacterium strains (菌群) growing well at high and low pressures, University of Florida microbiologist Wayne Nicholson and his colleagues systematically examined 14 strains’ responses to a wide span of pressure conditions. The team focused on strains isolated not only from meat (including seafood, chicken, etc.) but also from Siberian permafrost, an Antarctic lake and deep within the North Pacific’s Aleutian Trench.
In the laboratory, Nicholson and his team exposed each strain to pressures ranging from 0.01 to 100 times Earth’s atmospheric pressure at sea level―corresponding to the pressures on the surface of Mars and inside the liquid water ocean of Jupiter’s moon Europa, respectively. The researchers found that 11 strains grew measurably at every pressure tested. Very few past studies focused on how well microbes tolerate a range of pressures, Nicholson says, but these results are nonetheless surprising given that most other organisms seem to be far more pressure-sensitive. “Humans have trouble breathing on Mount Everest,” he notes, “and that’s about 30 percent of sea-level atmospheric pressure.“
Other bacteria have been shown to do well at comparably high pressures, says Felipe Gómez Gómez, an astrobiologist at the National Institute of Aerospace Technology in Madrid, who was not involved in the study. But these results are novel because they show that the same Carno-bacterium strains can endure so much pressure variation, he says: “What’s really challenging is the whole range.” These microbes’ ability means they could, for instance, theoretically survive at various depths in an alien ocean, Gómez Gómez adds.“ This has far-reaching astro-biological implications.”
1. How did Wayne Nicholson and his colleagues carry out their research?| A．Doing a survey. | B．Listing examples. |
| C．Making a model. | D．Doing tests. |
| A．The results were not surprising at all. |
| B．Researchers found that many strains could change during pressures. |
| C．Researchers hardly knew the organism’s toleration on pressure in old days. |
| D．The research showed why man can’t take a breath smoothly on Mount Everest. |
| A．Objective. | B．Positive. | C．Indifferent. | D．Critical. |
| A．Bacteria Can Survive at Different Depths. |
| B．Microbes Withstand the Solar System’s Pressure. |
| C．All Life-forms’ Adaptations in Pressure Are Proved. |
| D．Carno-bacterium Strains Have Thrived at Great Pressures. |
