1 . “The opposite of play isn’t work; it’s depression,” says play researcher Stuart Brown. “The adult-play shortage is becoming a public health crisis.” Play may appear insignificant, but recent studies indicate it may be as essential as the need for sleep. Playfulness helps some young animals learn to master their bodies and their environments — and once they do, most stop playing as adults.

“Adult play promotes qualities that we humans could use more of,” says Jeff Harry, a play consultant. Unfortunately, social standards restrain (抑制) our urge to let loose. “Being a playful adult is really disapproved in our society,” he says. “You don’t want people to think that you’re childish.”

“It hasn’t always been this way,” says Peter Gray, a play researcher at Boston University. When Gray reviewed descriptions of the last remaining hunter-gatherer tribes, he noticed that they were often described as “good-humored” and “joyful”. “What we would call work — hunting and gathering — was fun,” he says. “Generally speaking, we like to do the things that are necessary for our survival. Humans took one giant step away from fun when we started planting crops. Then we invented factories and lost sight of play entirely,” Gray adds.

We may be able to reverse this situation, says Harry. As we fully make the transition to a knowledge-based economy, work and play are beginning to merge (合并) again. Some of today’s most successful companies, such as Google and Apple, were started by people tinkering (小修补) in their garages.

“Play is all about looking at a tough world with creativity and optimism,” Brown says. He goes so far as to declare that “adult play is necessary for our survival as a species”.

The next time I’m caught playing, I know exactly what I’ll say, “I am not wasting time, or acting immature. I’m playing for the benefit of all humanity. You’re welcome.”

1. Why does Stuart Brown consider adult play essential?

A．It promotes creativity.	B．It battles depression.
C．It facilitates cooperation.	D．It improves adaptivity.

2. What societal factor restrains adult play according to Jeff Harry?

A．Fear of judgment from others.	B．Lack of sufficient time for leisure.
C．Cultural emphasis on personal values.	D．Pressure from work-related responsibilities

3. Which statement will Peter Gray agree with according to Paragraph 3?

A．Adult play contributes positively to work.

B．Social attitudes toward play regularly shift.

C．Humans initially found joy in survival activities.

D．Industrialization closely connected work and play.

4. What is the purpose of the text?

A．To stress the significance of adult play.	B．To discuss the evolution of work and play.
C．To advocate playfulness in modern businesses.	D．To explore the impact of adult play on depression.

2 . The Music Educator Award, this year, went to Annie Ray, an orchestra(管弦乐队)director at Annandale High School.She was recognized for her efforts to make music accessible to all students, particularly those with disabilities.Ray got to attend the awards ceremony in Los Angeles and bring home a $10,000 prize.

Ray created the Crescendo Orchestra for students with severe intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as a parent orchestra that teaches nearly 200 caregivers a year to play the same instrument as their child.Ray also works with a local charity to give damaged instruments a second life in her classroom.

The orchestra is about much more than just making music.The most important is to give students a chance to develop their cooperation skills, make mistakes and learn the art of refining something.Ray pushes her students to be brave, go outside their comfort zone and realize they have to learn how to make bad sounds before learning how to make good sounds.And they teach her a lot in return.” They changed my educational philosophy.I understand what it truly means to meet a student where they’re at and apply that elsewhere,” she said.

The warm reception on the ceremony was meaningful.Actually, not many people understand what exactly music educators do or how much their work matters.While her administration is supportive, that lack of understanding is a problem facing the profession in general.Another is resources.She says her school “desperately” needs new instruments.She will use some of her prize money to buy more.

Ray also plans to put some of the money towards an ongoing scholarship for students who want to pursue music when they graduate.She knows of several, those particularly interested in music, and aims to offer financial support needed to realize their musical dreams” It is hard but truly satisfying,” Ray said.“And there’s nothing else like it for them.”

1. What can we learn about Ray from the first two paragraphs?

A．She hosted the award ceremony.	B．She brought music to more people.
C．She gave away instruments to the poor.	D．She founded a local charity for children.

2. What do students benefit most from the orchestra?

A．They acquire in-depth musical knowledge.	B．They make friends with the like-minded.
C．They gain personal growth from playing music.	D．They improve their connections with educators.

3. What is paragraph 4 of the text mainly about?

A．The reception on the ceremony.	B．Importance of music education.
C．Challenges for music educators.	D．Plans to obtain resources.

4. What does Ray find satisfying according to the last paragraph?

A．Winning a scholarship.	B．Developing interest in music.
C．Making musical achievements.	D．Transforming dreams into reality.

3 . When you think of your closest friends, who will come to your mind? Perhaps your college roommates or the neighbor you played with as a child. Regardless of how you met these people, they most likely have one key thing in common:     1     A 2023 study found that, for those aged 21 to 30, over 80 percent in their social circles, were born within five years of them. Moreover, nearly 63 percent of adults have no close friends 15 years older or younger than them.

Spending our time with such a narrow group of people can fuel age segregation and increase our loneliness. These limitations also keep us from other generations’ mindsets and potentially surprising points of connection.     2     Of course, the ones that are older might offer a brief look into the coming years.

A program that runs schools out of senior centers has said a lot about it.     3     Dawn Carr, a sociology professor, said most older people get much from practical help—with new technology, for instance—their younger friends offered.     4     Having fun with someone decades younger definitely takes off their pressure to “act their age”.

    5     Lila, aged 75, was proud that her life experiences prepared her to give advice to her young friend with depression, for which the young was grateful. Also, older friends offer more examples of what growing up can look like. If someone’s parents are the only older people they know well, they might fail to picture other possibilities. A greater pool of older friends can help young people create their own blueprint.

A．You befriend those who live around.

B．They’re all roughly the same age as you.

C．Others might find joy in exposure to new ideas.

D．Brought closer, both see more than one benefit.

E．Younger friends can be a reminder of past selves.

F．Forming these kinds of friendship is particularly hard today.

G．Indeed, intergenerational relationship is never a one-way street.

4 . Monet: The Immersive (沉浸式) Experience

Monet: The Immersive Experience in Liège invites you to step into the world of the French painter Claude Monet, one of the greatest artistic geniuses of the nineteenth century!

Explore some of the most breathtaking paintings by Claude Monet with the help of a digital 360-degree presentation. The unique exhibition concept is staged with state-of-the-art multimedia technology, which shows very large images of Monet’s paintings on the walls and floors of the building. It has music, the smell of flowers, and voice-over in several languages to make the paintings come alive in a way never seen before.

To fully get into the world of the French painter, visitors are guided through three experience rooms. Each room is a highlight on its own and provides visitors not only with an insight, but also with new experiences and new viewpoints on Monet’s life, his work and his masterpieces.

Practical info

·Date: from March 2024

·Opening hours:

Wednesday, Thursday: 10: 00 am-7: 00 pm

Friday: 10: 00 am-8: 00 pm

Saturday: 9: 00 am-8: 00 pm

Sunday: 9: 00 am-7: 00 pm

Monday and Tuesday: Closed

·Duration: the visit will take around 60 to 75 minutes

·Location: Eglise Saint-Pholien, Rue Saint-Pholien, 4020 Liège

·Please consult the FAQs of this experience here

1. How does the exhibition help visitors explore Monet’s paintings?

A．It uses digital technology.	B．It gives lectures on art.
C．It offers stages to visitors.	D．It provides language services.

2. What will visitors experience in the three rooms?

A．An exploration on French art.	B．An introductory tour of painters.
C．A unique journey to Monet’s world.	D．An encounter with Monet-inspired artworks.

3. Which of the following is a recommended visiting time?

A．11: 30 am (Wed, Feb 21).	B．10: 00 am (Tue, Mar 19).
C．6: 30 pm (Thur, Mar 28).	D．4: 00 pm (Sun, Apr 7).

5 . Linda Brown, a real estate agent, believes that when it comes to solving homelessness, it takes a village. She spent nine years supporting homeless people in Springfield, Missouri, through a charitable organization called The Gathering Tree, which welcomed people a few times each week during daylight hours, providing a safe and welcoming place for them to take showers, socialize, or simply rest. But they had to close their doors for the night. “One cold winter night, I watched as my friends walked off into the darkness to a wet, cold camp, while we went home to a warm bed,” Linda said, “I realized I had to do something.”

She had an idea to create a village of tiny houses to make sure no one slept outside on her watch! Linda started fundraising. She began by appealing to her fellow estate agents in the area before branching out into local businesses.

Using these donations, Linda purchased a nearby abandoned area that already had the infrastructure in place. By February 2019, they’d built 31 tiny homes for their Eden Village and found residents for each one. All the residents must be good neighbors in order to stay in the village, and they certainly are! Linda was happy when she learned that the village actually increased local property values rather than lowering them as some people had feared.

Linda hasn’t stopped working since Eden Village began. A second village opened in the fall of 2020, and there’s a third location in the works as well! She hopes to have five villages across Springfield within the next five years, helping more than 200 homeless people get off the streets and into a new life.

To this day, Linda firmly believes that there are a million reasons someone can become homeless, but each of them can be solved with love and community involvement.

1. What does The Gathering Tree do for the homeless?

A．It raises money for them.	B．It builds tiny houses for them.
C．It helps them find warm camps.	D．It provides them with day shelters.

2. What did some people fear?

A．Their own homes would be lost .

B．Their jobs would be taken over .

C．Their safety would be seriously threatened.

D．Their local property values would be lowered.

3. What does Linda expect to do?

A．Help homeless people find work.

B．Reach out to more homeless people.

C．Build more infrastructure at Eden Village.

D．Get homeless people involved in building Eden Village.

4. Which of the following can best describe Linda?

A．Ambitious and scholarly.	B．Brave and imaginative.
C．Sympathetic and innovative.	D．Generous and independent.

6 . Bruce Campbell, a retired electrical engineer, wanted to change the behavior of mankind by showing how we can recycle old things into new and practical and livable ones.

For about $220,000, he purchased a Greek airliner — a Boeing 727-400 — that logged about 40,000 flights in its peak. Before Campbell got his hands on his Boeing 727 and transformed it into the airplane home he lives in, this aircraft saw regular use as it transported all kinds of people to all sorts of destinations.

After the successful transform, he hosted a big DJ dance party with a couple of friends. The party, called Turbulence: A Dance Party at a 727 in the Woods, happened right on the wing! Guests who attended the party also got the opportunity to take a look at the airplane home. Overall, they got the attention of 14,000 Facebook users who were interested in what sounded like an incredible party.

This talented engineer got another airliner and started on his second airplane home during the beginning of 2018 on the Kyushu Island coast because he wanted it to serve as a safe place for the local community as well. Part of Bruce Campbell’s vision was to make an airliner that doubled as a lifeboat in case tsunami (海啸) threats were issued. He wanted the general public to find out that planes are capable of surviving hundreds of years and the cruelest weather conditions thanks to its sealed pressure technology.

Campbell adored the excitement that he received when he recycled airplanes and hoped that people would seriously consider it after they got the chance to see his home during tours and events. He has posted on his website that it is his goal to “inspire a renaissance (复兴) of thought about how to employ this remarkable resource”.

1. What drew wide public attention to Campbell’s first transformed plane?

A．Its high residential comfort level.	B．Its remarkable transporting capacity.
C．The incredibly high transformation cost.	D．The Facebook post of a party held on it.

2. What did Campbell think the second plane could serve as?

A．A tsunami warning center.	B．A meeting place for local community.
C．A temporary shelter in disasters.	D．An engineering workshop.

3. Why did Campbell transform the planes?

A．To direct attention to housing problems.	B．To satisfy his scientific curiosity.
C．To advocate a greener life style.	D．To call for participation in recycling.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．A former engineer turning retired planes into home.

B．Recent trends of renaissance-themed decoration.

C．A talented home designer receiving online fame.

D．Diverse approaches for sustainable living.

7 . A new study on 26 chimpanzees (黑猩猩) from zoos around the world found that chimpanzees can recognise family members and long lost friends even after decades of separation.

The participating chimpanzees were given juice while staring at a screen flashing side by side photos of other chimps. One animal from each pair of photos had lived with the group for at least a year, while the other was a stranger. An eye-tracking camera recorded where the participants were looking and for how long. Data showed their eyes rested longer on familiar groupmates, suggesting “rich recognition of each other.”

There is also evidence that they became more intent when shown a picture of a chimpanzee with whom they’d had more positive interactions, compared with conflicting relationships.

In the most impressive case, a 46-year-old chimpanzee named Louise repeatedly demonstrated “intense” attention upon seeing photographs of her sister Loretta and nephew Erin, whom she hadn’t seen in more than 26 years. The team said Louise’s results represent the longest-lasting social memory documented in any non-human animal to date.

“We tend to see ourselves as unique special creatures with incredible intellectual (智力的) capacities that are very different from other animals on earth,” said Laura Simone Lewis, a postdoctoral fellow in Berkeley’s psychology department and lead author of the study. “This study is showing us how similar we are to chimpanzees.” She noted that the findings support the theory that long-term social memory in humans and modern day chimps has come from “our last common ancestor that lived somewhere between 5 to 7 million years ago” who also likely had long-term social memory.

Now that they have definitive evidence that these endangered species possess long-term social memories, researchers have more questions, including whether chimpanzees miss the individuals they’re no longer with, especially their friends and family. “Our study doesn’t determine they are doing this, but it raises questions about the possibility that they may have the ability to do so,” Lewis said.

1. What is paragraph 2 mainly about?

A．The nature of chimps.	B．The method of the study.
C．The analysis of the recorded data.	D．The layout of experimental equipment.

2. What does the underlined word “intent” in paragraph 3 mean?

A．Attentive.

B．Doubtful.

C．Hesitant.

D．Emotional.

3. Why is the example of Louise in paragraph 4 mentioned?

A．To stress chimps are as intelligent as human beings.

B．To explain where chimps’ social memory comes from.

C．To better demonstrate the chimps’ memory length.

D．To further prove the existence of chimps’ social memory.

4. What will the research team most probably continue to explore?

A．Whether chimps feel strong emotions to their long lost friends.

B．How to strengthen chimps’ long-term social memories.

C．How chimps recognised their close contacts after long separation.

D．Why chimps possess the amazing social memories.

8 . Napping during the day is an ancient custom that is practiced worldwide. Short naps, which last from 20 to 30 minutes at the right time, can benefit vitality and overall health in countless ways.

Short naps can boost mental functioning and memory, as well as improve vitality, attention and reaction time.     1     Because napping seems to improve creative thinking, some companies have attempted to introduce napping rooms.

What’s more, it appears the brain uses nap time to process information gathered throughout the day.     2     A study revealed that short naps also helped people become more confident and sensible, which resulted in better focus and efficiency at work. Napping may also lead to an improved ability to learn new skills, such as a golf swing. This is because these memories or skills are strengthened in the brain during sleep.

    3     Studies show that more consistent sleep will help lower “fight or flight” chemicals in our bodies. As a result, our blood pressure and heart rates are normalized. Napping appears to help this process for some people.

    4     One condition associated with napping longer than 30 minutes is sleep inertia (睡后迟钝). This can harm cognitive function from several minutes up to half an hour. Long or late afternoon naps can lead to difficulties falling asleep during the night.     5    

So, to maximize benefits while reducing risks, please keep naps short in the early afternoon to avoid sleep inertia and nighttime sleep disruptions.

A．But napping can come with drawbacks as well.

B．The reason for this phenomenon is mostly unknown.

C．Therefore, that appears to enhance problem-solving abilities.

D．Short naps are also linked to increased productivity and creativity.

E．Napping can also be associated with a reduced risk of heart diseases.

F．Napping should not serve as an alternative for enough nighttime rest.

G．Besides, for those aged 60 and up, longer naps may increase the risk for heart diseases.

9 . Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL)

For this program, you’ll need to apply to the Faculty of Education of McGill University.

Overview This enriching program (Bachelor of Education, or B. Ed.) will prepare you to become a specialist educator of English as a Second Language (ESL) at both the elementary and secondary school levels. You will graduate with the theoretical and practical experience necessary in your future career.		Program Requirements This program requires 120 credits and leads to teacher certification. Students normally complete 30 credits in their Freshman (U0) year. In consultation with the Program Adviser, students may select courses from the recommended course list or other courses.
Courses As a TESL student, you can take courses like: EDEM 220 - Contemporary Issues in Education (3 credits) EDFE 209 - First Field Experience (TESL) (2 credits) EDFE 359 - Third Field Experience (TESL) (8 credits) EDFE 459 - Fourth Field Experience (TESL) (7 credits) To learn more about the courses, click here.		Careers Once you complete this undergraduate degree, you will be qualified to teach in ESL in elementary and secondary schools or work in occupations that focus on education, community programming, educational technology, curriculum (课程) development, and administration. You could become a professional: ESL Teacher, Elementary or Secondary School Adult Literacy Instructor Educational Technology Developer Curriculum Specialist
Annual fees for (CAN$) 30 credits for 2023-2024
Tuition Fee (学费)	25484.70		Copyright Fee	32.70
Society & Other Fees	591.58		Information Technology Charge	279.60
Student Services/Athletics & Recreation	715.82		SSMU Dental Insurance*	150.00
Registration / Transcripts & Diploma/ General Administrative Charges	393.98		International Health Insurance*	951.00
Total Fees: 28599.38 * SSMU Dental Insurance and International Health Insurance charged once a year.

1. Which course provides the highest credit score?

A．EDEM 220.

B．EDFE 209.

C．EDFE 359.

D．EDFE 459.

2. How much should a freshman pay for the tuition?

A．CAN$849.49.

B．CAN$3114.68.

C．CAN$25484.70.

D．CAN$28599.38.

3. Who can be the most potential applicant of this program?

A．A student seeking for a degree in Kindergarten Education.

B．A student expecting to teach English in primary school.

C．A student hoping for a career as a health instructor.

D．A student planning to specialise in science exploration.

10 . Five times stronger than steel, spider silk’s unique qualities were recognised by the Ancient Greeks-and more recently, scientists have looked at applications from medicine to engineering.

Now, one Japanese startup, Spiber, is exploring how spider web s could transform the clothing industry. The biotech company started by making a spider-silk-like material in the lab and has since expanded its fabric range to include more sustainable alternatives to wool and cashmere, says Kenji Higashi, head of business development at Spiber.

Spiders create web s by giving out liquid protein that will later change into silk. Kazuhide Sekiyama and Junichi Sugahara, Spiber’s founders, decided to create a material that is identical to spider silk. They studied “thousands of different spider species,” as well as other silk-producing species, and collected a database of silk varieties.

Having successfully produced the spider silk alternative, the team went on to develop a range of fabrics by changing the protein order. Spiber’s fibers are made by fermenting(发酵) water, sugar and nutrients with specially modified microbes (改良微生物) in steel tanks to produce protein polymers to be made into a fiber. Later, the team discovered that the spider silk alternative shrinks(收缩) when wet, so they modified the protein to get a fiber with desirable properties, such as water proof and increased strength, which is suitable for an outdoor jacket.

Fashion is one of the most polluting industries in the world. It produces around 2.1 billion metric tons of CO₂ every year. Higashi says Spiber’s biodegradable products are predicted to generate just one-fifth of the carbon emissions of animal-based fibers once they are in mass production. And it is now developing a process that will transform abandoned clothes made from natural materials like cotton into the sugars needed for fermentation.

Currently trying to expand its production and getting ready for a full commercial launch of its products, Spiber hopes its technology will help to “solve some of the big global challenges that we’re facing,” says Higashi.

1. What is a primary purpose of Spiber’s research in the lab?

A．To develop new applications of spider silk.	B．To invent a replacement for spider silk.
C．To transform the structure of spider silk.	D．To study silk-producing spider species.

2. How did the team address the shrinking problem?

A．By adapting the protein.	B．By diversifying microbes.
C．By wetting the fiber.	D．By lengthening fermenting time.

3. What can best describe Spiber’s products?

A．Fancy and stylish.	B．Costly yet profitable.
C．Strong and sustainable.	D．Lightweight yet resource-consuming.

4. What are the last two paragraphs mainly about?

A．The practical application of Spiber’s products.	B．The environmental value of Spiber’s products.
C．The technical challenges of Spiber’s products.	D．The potential markets of Spiber’s products.