1 . We’ve all been there: You check your phone and see over 100 unread texts thanks to a group chat. The more this happens, the more it can start to feel overwhelming. “When we see so much activity happening, it creates a sense of panic and often results in difficulty separating from the phone due to fear of missing out,” said therapist (治疗专家) Becky Stuempfig. But group texts don’t have to be a source of stress.     1    .

Review group chats at set times

“I recommend choosing certain times of the day when you plan to catch up on texts,” Stuempfig said. “    2    , one in the morning, afternoon and evening, where they read and respond to messages. By doing so, you avoid feeling like you spent the entire day trying to keep up. and it decreases anxiety caused by receiving constant alerts (提醒).”

Turn off notifications

“My advice is turning off all notification alerts. No sounds, no vibrating (震动) — nothing.” Stuempfig said. “    3     — all of the necessary positive activities for our mental health.” You can set exceptions for certain contacts and apps, so you don’t have to worry about missing important calls.

Keep group chats small, if possible

    4    . “I recommend minimizing the number of people on group chats so that the notifications are not quite as overwhelming.” Stuempfig said. “Large group chats are extremely hard to manage and create a feeling of constantly needing to check to see what is being discussed.”

Practice mindfulness

Even if you make some changes, you might still find yourself feeling overwhelmed at certain times. It can be helpful to try some mindfulness exercises.     5    . Stuempfig said, “Taking a walk without bringing a phone with you or silencing texts and only allowing calls from emergency contacts can be a great way to refresh ourselves.”

A．They can help you decrease biological stress and improve sleep quality

B．Many people find it helpful to choose three 20-minute windows per day

C．Below, Stuempfig shares his advice for making the experience less tiring

D．They can involve deep breathing, taking a walk, or otherwise shifting your focus

E．If you’re starting a new text chat, really think about how many people you’re inviting

F．Many experts do some corresponding research and give us some suggestions as follows

G．These alerts interrupt our work projects, homework, family time, relaxing time, and sleep

2 . Researchers from University of Southern California (USC) may have found the biggest influencer in the spread of fake news: social platforms’ structure of rewarding users for habitually sharing information. The study involved 2,476 active Facebook users ranging in age from 18 to 89. They were asked to complete a decision-making survey about seven minutes long.

Surprisingly, the researchers found that users’ social media habits are closely related to the amount of fake news they shared. Frequent and habitual users spread six times more fake news than occasional or new users. Just 15% of the most habitual news sharers in the research were responsible for spreading about 30% to 40% of the fake news. Users’ habits were more influential in sharing fake news than other factors, including lack of critical reasoning.

The research team wondered: What motivates these users? As it turns out, much like any video game, social media has a reward system that encourages users to stay on their accounts and keep posting and sharing.

Users who post and share frequently, especially eye-catching information, are likely to attract attention. Due to the reward system of social media, users form habits of sharing information that gets recognition from others automatically, without considering consequences such as spreading misinformation.

Then, the team tested whether social media reward structures could be designed to promote sharing of true over false information. They found that incentives (鼓励) for accuracy rather than popularity doubled the amount of accurate news that users share on social platforms.

“We know from previous research that some people don’t process information critically, which influences their ability to recognize false stories online,” said Gizem Ceylan, who led the team. “However, our new study shows that the reward structure of social media platforms plays a bigger role when it comes to misinformation spread.”

1. What does the USC research mainly focus on concerning social media?

A．Its reward system.	B．The users’ age group.
C．Its attraction to users.	D．The reason fake news spreads on it.

2. Who is more likely to share false information on Facebook?

A．A new user.	B．A heavy user.
C．An occasional user.	D．An uneducated user.

3. What contributes to the habits of social media users?

A．The popularity of their posts.

B．The easy access to information.

C．The encouragement from other users.

D．The immediate money reward from the platform.

4. Which statement will Gizem Ceylan probably agree with?

A．Sharing of misinformation is unavoidable.

B．People shouldn’t use social media frequently.

C．Lack of critical reasoning is a common problem.

D．Social media reward structures should be improved.

3 . These popular children’s stories all have important birthdays this year.

How to Train Your Dragon
by Cressida Cowell
(Hachette Children’s)

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III is a smallish Viking with a longish name. His Hairy Hooligan tribe thinks he’s useless but, with the help of a dragon, can Hiccup prove he’s a hero? Celebrate 20 years of a favourite story with this anniversary edition.

The Sheep-Pig
by Dick King-Smith
(Puffin Books)

When Farmer Hogget brings Babe home, the little orphaned piglet (成为孤儿的小猪) is raised by a kind-hearted sheepdog called Fly. Babe knows he can never be a sheepdog like Fly but could he learn how to be a sheep-pig? Famously made into the film Babe, this much-loved animal story turns 40 this year.

Emily of New Moon
by L. M. Montgomery
(Virago Books)

When Emily is sent to live at New Moon with relatives she’s never met, her imagination and ideas soon cause her to clash (争执) with her Aunt Elizabeth. Will New Moon ever feel like home? Written by the author of Anne of Green Gables, this story was first published in 1923 and is celebrating its 100th birthday this year.

The Dark is Rising
by Susan Cooper
(Puffin Books)

It’s Midwinter’s Eve, the day before Will’s 11th birthday. Strange things are happening in the snowy countryside around him and Will soon realises this will be a birthday like no other. First published 50 years ago, this classic adventure remains as exciting and magical as ever.

1. Whose book was Babe adapted from?

A．Susan Cooper’s.	B．Cressida Cowell’s.
C．Dick King-Smith’s.	D．L. M. Montgomery’s.

2. Which of the following books has been in print for a century?

A．How to Train Your Dragon.	B．Emily of New Moon.
C．The Dark is Rising.	D．The Sheep-Pig.

3. What do we know about The Dark is Rising?

A．It is made up of several stories.

B．It is published by Virago Books.

C．It is set around the character’s birthday.

D．It is based on the author’s personal experience.

4 . Compared with Americans, people in Okinawa, 1, 000 miles south of Tokyo, are three times more likely to become centenarians (百岁老人) , according to professor Dan Buettner’s research. The centenarians garden, sing, laugh and play. For most of the city dwellers (居民) who are busy working, it’s not possible to live like that.     1     Here are some ways that Buettner find those centenarians keep.

    2       

For those who don’t like the gym, you may be inspired by the way the centenarians bring movement into their everyday routines.     3     “A garden pushes you to weed, water and harvest almost every day, which keeps you moving,” Buettner says. “I also talked with a 104-year-old woman who got up and down the floor 30 times, making for better balance and flexibility,” Buettner recalls.

They reduce meat for a plant-forward approach.

The typical diet in America includes 220 pounds of meat per year. per person.     4     “About 1/10th of what we eat,” Buettner says. In Okinawa, tofu is often eaten twice a day, mixed with vegetables. And a key principle of eating there is to stop when you’re 80% full. Mindful eating has been shown to help people have moderate intake.

They give loneliness the boot and become joiners.

Buettner describes a woman named Panchita who was well over 100 years old. She didn’t feel lonely at all because, her 85-year-old son biked to her house to help feed the chickens each day. In return, she cooked him some beans and some rice. They both found happiness in doing so. “There’s this beautiful symbiosis (共生) .     5     ” Buettner says.

A．They depend on each other.

B．They eat as little as they can.

C．They build movement into their days.

D．They plant a garden in their backyard.

E．But we can learn from their simple habits.

F．Those centenarians only consume 20 pounds a year.

G．Much of their intake is from whole plant-based foods.

5 . The “Got Talent” crew is one of the pioneers in finding and publicizing music talents and has been giving the world some of its most favorite artists for almost two decades. This year “Britain’s Got Talent” (BGT) uncovered a musical genius named Malakai Bayoh who amazed the audience with perfect high-note singing. The London-based 13-year-old boy appeared for the show’s audition (试镜) in April, 2023 and was accompanied by his mom and sister. “My big dream is to be a singer. I started singing at 7,” said Bayoh to the BGT team and added jokingly, “My mom made me join the choir (合唱团) because she’s very bossy.” The teenager mentioned she’s his biggest fan.

Bayoh’s mom was shocked as he was about to perform and said, “It scares me because, on his first show, somebody heckled (对……起哄) him. It was bad to think that someone would boo (喝倒彩) a child on stage because it could’ve knocked his confidence completely.” Contrary to his mom’s fear, Bayoh set the stage on fire singing the song “Pie Jesu” and the entire crowd were struck by his beautiful voice. As he ended his song, the audience and the judges gave him a standing applause. Simon Cowell, a judge, had just one word to say and it was “Golden Buzzer”, sending him straight to the semi-finals of the show.

Cowell and the other judges called Bayoh’s performance “flawless” and “heavenly”. His angelic voice made the audience tear up and the judges thanked the teen for coming on the show. Bayoh went on to become one of the finalists of the show.

Bayoh’s audition at the BGT became popular on social media. People loved the boy’s impeccable singing and some musicians even commented on how perfectly he hit the high notes. “I’m a trained singer and a music teacher by profession, and sang this song as a young performer myself. I can say with absolute certainty that this song is most beautifully sung this time. With proper technique and breathing, this boy sang really well,” posted @mayacorinne878.

1. What can be learned about Bayoh from paragraph 2?

A．He comes from a single-parent family.	B．He is humorous in speech.
C．His dream was inspired by his fans.	D．His mom used to be a singer.

2. What made Bayoh’s mom worried?

A．Bayoh’s difficulty in singing.	B．The judges’ attitudes to his son.
C．Bayoh’s performance on stage.	D．Some audiences’ initial responses.

3. How did the audience probably feel after hearing the boy’s song?

A．Touched.

B．Annoyed.

C．Relieved.

D．Amused.

4. Why does the author mention a music teacher?

A．To uncover more musical geniuses.	B．To show musicians’ ability to sing well.
C．To stress Bayoh’s excellent singing.	D．To contradict some audiences’ comments.

6 . Thanks to the 1999 Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, 26 endangered species in Australia have seen their populations recover.

It seems like that we're always hearing about new animals that have become endangered, but there's some good news in Australia: 26 animal species no longer meet the criteria to be listed as threatened. Australia’s biodiversity has been in decline, with more than 1, 700 species and ecological communities known to be on the line. In 1999, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act was passed to introduce protections for endangered animals. The burrowing bettong is one of 26 Australian species that have returned from the edge of extinction.

Seemingly these are working, as a recent study published in the journal Biological Conservation reviewed the animals that were previously or currently listed as threatened between 2000 and December 2022, and discovered that 26 species had recovered to no longer meet the criteria. Species that have seen improvement include the charmingly named burrowing bettong, the golden bandicoot and the bulloo grey grasswren.

Factors behind this improvement include habitat management, control of introduced predators (捕食者) and translocation of endangered animals to predator-free islands. However, the species have not been officially delisted at this time. The EPBC Act only allows species to be delisted if doing so will not have a negative effect on their survival, and researchers believe that conservation gains could be lost should management efforts be stopped.

Dr Michelle Ward, a conservation scientist at WWF Australia, told The Guardian, “The key problem with delisting species is that then they no longer have monitoring and no longer need certain funding plans.”

However, it is promising that researchers have found signs of improvement. Hopefully this will continue among these and other species!

1. What do the underlined words “on the line” in paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．Out of place.	B．At risk.
C．Under control.	D．On the increase.

2. What did a recent study find?

A．Some animals are facing extinction.

B．Burrowing bettong is a charming species.

C．The criteria to be delisted were hard to meet.

D．26 endangered species’ populations are recovering.

3. The species haven’t been delisted officially because ________.

A．their living situation is severe	B．the delisting consequences are uncertain
C．the conservation gains are short	D．the habitat management level is poor

4. What is the author’s attitude towards the researchers’ discovery?

A．Unconcerned.

B．Doubtful.

C．Positive.

D．Worried.

7 . Robotics/Artificial Intelligence (AI) Competitions for High School Students

Robotics and AI competitions are a great way for high schoolers to dive into modern technologies. Here are four of them.

MATE ROV Competition

Location: Houston, Texas

Awards: VR headsets

Competition Date: March to June

MATE ROV Competition challenges students to design and build remotely operated vehicles, and its purpose is to see who can design a vehicle that will help monitor ocean health, provide clean energy, or just help keep our oceans healthy for the future.

RoboRave

Location: Lorrach, Germany

Awards: Small cash prizes

Competition Date: November

RoboRave is a robotics competition that welcomes participants to compete in various challenges like firefighting. The competition’s unique aspect lies in its international reach, bringing together enthusiasts from around the world to celebrate robotics education and hands-on learning.

Agorize AI Challenge

Location: Virtual for initial phases, then in Paris, France for the final award ceremony

Awards: A trip to the destination of your choice, iPad, Apple TV

Competition Date: September

In this project, you can work in teams of 2-5 people to present an idea for how we can use AI-technologies to impact a specific field, like marketing, healthcare, etc. You’ll send in your initial application in a 3-5 slides presentation, and if your team makes it pass this phase, you’ll have the opportunity to include more information about your product features.

OpenCV AI Competition

Location: Online

Awards: Certificates, cash, free courses

Competition Date: December

In your project, you can either work individually or in teams of three using computer vision technologies. OpenCV AI Competition suggests project ideas related to robotics, agriculture or education, but you’re not limited to these areas.

1. Which of the following mainly welcomes the entries for oceanic conditions?

A．RoboRave.	B．MATE ROV Competition.
C．Agorize AI Challenge.	D．OpenCV AI Competition.

2. What is the unique feature of RoboRave?

A．It is held every month.	B．It offers online training.
C．It is a global competition.	D．It promises a national tour.

3. What do Agorize AI Challenge and OpenCV AI Competition have in common?

A．They allow teamwork.	B．They provide free courses.
C．They fund their winners.	D．They need presentations at first.

8 . A narrow region of the eastern Pacific Ocean has been getting colder for the past 30 years, challenging global trends and confusing many scientists. Over at least three decades, the region has cooled by roughly half a degree, which has been causing scientists to wonder how long that will hold.

The unusual phenomenon, known as the “cold tongue” is affecting a vast area of ocean west of South America. Scientists are not entirely certain what is keeping the “cold tongue” cool. Richard Seager, from the Earth Observatory at Columbia University, said one factor appears to be trade winds in the equatorial (赤道) region, which carry warm water away from the surface, stimulating cooler water to rise. “The trade winds blow from east to west across the tropical Pacific Ocean,” Seager said. “As the waters are driven away from the surface, water flows up from below. And since the waters below the surface are cold, this creates the ‘cold tongue’.”

Yet despite the effect of these winds, the “cold tongue” has puzzled scientists, because advanced climate computer models suggest that the waters should have been warming for decades at a faster rate than the rest of the Pacific due to rising greenhouse gas emissions (排放).

Pedro DiNezio of the University of Colorado Boulder, considers “It’s the most important unanswered question in climate science”. Scientists can’t predict when it will end or start warming since the cause is unknown. According to New Scientist, this has huge worldwide implications, including determining California’s permanent drought and Australia’s wildfires. More profoundly still, “it could even alter the extent of climate change globally”, the site said, “by understanding how sensitive Earth’s atmosphere is to rising greenhouse gas production”.

Despite this, the overall ocean temperatures are rising. Solving the puzzle of the “cold tongue” isn’t about proving climate models wrong. Rather, the “cold tongue” is the last big piece of the puzzle. Fit that in and we can build a more accurate picture of how life will change in a warming world-and how best to prepare for that future.

1. What may be the cause of the “cold tongue”?

A．The arrival of ocean currents.

B．Trade winds in the equatorial regions.

C．The change in the direction of water flow.

D．The temperature differences between sea and land.

2. Why are scientists confused about the “cold tongue” phenomenon?

A．It has lasted for many years.	B．It forms a minor ocean ecosystem.
C．It contradicts the global warming trend.	D．It mirrors increasing carbon emissions.

3. What makes solving the “cold tongue” puzzle important?

A．It can help predict droughts in California.

B．It contributes to adjusting ocean temperatures.

C．It can help improve the accuracy of climate models.

D．It offers insights into dealing with future climate events.

4. What is the purpose of the text?

A．To stress the effect of climate change.

B．To introduce an unusual phenomenon.

C．To explain reasons for strange natural disasters.

D．To appeal to people to pay more attention to the ocean.

9 . Reasons why you should learn how to surf

It gives you an exciting experience.

The feeling of riding the waves is one you can never describe until you have experienced it. While surfing, you’ll be in a peaceful state as you wait for the next big wave. It can be difficult to explain why, but the whole experience is indeed calm and exciting at the same time.    1    , as if you’re running away from all your worries in life.

It’s good exercise.

Surfing is a physically challenging sport that requires you to use your entire body, making it almost an extreme fitness activity. Every surfing session will certainly make you exercise your whole body. So, expect to have aching muscles after your first surfing session.     2    

It helps build your confidence.

There is no denying the fact that healthy and fit people are confident with their bodies.    3    Nevertheless, surfing promotes confidence that isn’t necessarily rooted in how you look or boost your ego (自我). It takes time to learn and even master.

    4    

Learning a new skill with a group leads to a sense of accomplishment, and learning how to surf is no different. Although it’s natural to go surfing alone at times, no surfer has surfed without acquaintances (熟人), friends, or club mates. It’s a given for people who surf to share experiences with others, both locally and globally.

It gives you moments with nature.

Like some other sports, surfing allows you to have time with nature.    5    With surfing, you’re able to observe nature from a different viewpoint. This is an ideal time to be one with nature, so grab the chance to broaden your horizons (视野) as a part of this beautiful planet we live on.

A．These two qualities come hand in hand

B．It allows you to grow your social circle

C．Surfing also gives you a sense of freedom

D．Don’t worry, though, as this feeling is entirely natural

E．It has a rich and varied history and contemporary culture

F．That will translate to how you handle your personal and professional life

G．When people learn to surf, they become more connected with the natural environment

10 . A dog’s behavior is far more influenced by environment and upbringing, according to a new study published in the journal Science.

Lead author Kathleen Morrill, a Ph. D. candidate at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and her numerous co-researchers surveyed owners of 18,385 dogs and examined 2,155 dogs’ DNA as part of the citizen science project Darwin’s Ark.

For the project, participants were given a battery of surveys to fill out about their dogs. They then received a DNA kit to collect their dogs’ saliva (唾液) and send it back to the lab for DNA testing. The information was stored in a large database that was freely shared with researchers around the world. In return, curious dog owners were sent a DNA and breed (品种) profile of their dogs.

With the data provided to them by citizen scientists, Morrill and her team presented a number of interesting findings, but the biggest was this: Breeds offer little predictive value for individuals, explaining just 9% of variation in behavior.

The researchers broke down dog behavior into eight categories: comfort level around humans, case of stimulation or excitement, affinity (喜爱) toward toys, biddability (also known as response to human training), how easily the dog is affected by a frightening stimulus, comfort level around other dogs, engagement with the environment, and desire to be close to humans. Of these behavioral characteristics, biddability and toy affinity were most linked with breeds, but the associations were slight.

The study’s findings call into question laws that target specific, supposedly “dangerous”, breeds. More than 900 cities in the U.S. currently have some breed-specific laws.

“We now have demonstrated that breed-specific laws are ineffective at protecting the public or reducing dog attacks,” Elinor Karlsson, a senior author of the study, said. “Any dog has the potential to be dangerous, regardless of its size or breed background. Because of this, dogs should not be declared dangerous based on their appearance. Instead, they should be assessed as individuals based on their behavior.”

1. How did the researchers carry out the project?

A．By using survey responses.

B．By interviewing dog owners face to face.

C．By analyzing the data offered by the university.

D．By comparing breed profiles of different dogs.

2. Which of the following is most related to breeds?

A．Engagement with the environment.	B．Response to human training.
C．Ease of stimulation or excitement.	D．Comfort level around humans.

3. Which statement did Karlsson agree with?

A．A dog’s behavior is more individualistic.

B．Breed-specific laws should be carried out effectively.

C．Dog attacks have posed a deadly threat to humans.

D．Categorizing dogs should be based on their appearance.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Don’t ignore your dogs	B．Don’t raise dangerous dogs
C．Don’t judge a dog by its breed	D．Don’t evaluate a dog by its behavior