1 . Directions: Read the following passage. Summarize the main idea and the main point(s) of the passage in no more than 60 words. Use your own words as far as possible.
Will Plant-based Protein Continue to be an Appetizer in Food World?
A good vegan milk needs to look like milk and taste like milk, whether it’s a fatty version, preferred by bakers, or a skimmed one, favored by the health-conscious. For years, manufacturers of plant-based protein have had trouble hacking this delicate imitation game and it seems that they are winning back a bit. The global revenues (收益) from alternative proteins could reach $290 billion by 2035 and that is a cautious estimate. However, can it last?
Unlike those early products, which were neither terribly tasty nor particularly nutritious, cleaver (剁肉刀) processing improves textures, additives boost taste and a pinch of specially engineered peas and beans adds nutrient in the latest products. Still, ultra-processed substitutes seldom match animal proteins in nutritional value. Animal products, including milk, are better for children’s bone development, though lab- grown versions of meat or dairy are becoming more nutritious. Meanwhile, green-minded consumers are realizing that plant-based does not necessarily mean sustainable in that it still takes a lot to obtain raw materials. Farming almonds (杏仁) to make a milk-like drink, for example, uses huge quantities of water.
Plant-based proteins are also a tough sell in giant markets like India, where diets are already rich in plants and vegetables, or Nigera, where meat-eating is a sign of wealth. That limits their global appeal.
All these suggests that alternative proteins have far to go to replace the animal kind. The limitations may be weighing on the firms involved. Oatly’s market value has fallen by about 80% since its listing, partly because of production difficulties. That of Beyond Meat, whose burgers feature in McDonald’s latest menu, is down by 90% from its peak. Plant-based foods may no longer be only an appetizer in diets, but their maker remain one in food business.
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2 . Directions: Read the following passage. Summarize the main idea and the main point(s) of the passage in no more than 60 words. Use your own words as far as possible.
There are many reasons why some cats are bad-tempered; their temperament can be influenced by their upbringing or they are simply born that way. However, even the sweetest, most affectionate cats can suddenly become bad-tempered and behave out of character. According to veterinarian Dr Katrina Warren, the problem can generally be solved, but you’ll need to look for underlying issues.
Changes in a cat’s behaviour can often be explained by a health problem. Pain can cause cats to behave very differently, and it’s easy to mistake a problem as behavioural, when in fact it is medical. Should you observe a significant change in your cat’s behaviour, then a visit to the vet is the best place to start? Watch out for changes in eating, drinking or litter-box habits. Also hiding and avoiding being touched. Be sure to report all changes to your vet. There are many cat health problems that can be readily treated to ease symptoms and pain for your cat.
It pays to remember that cats don’t like to share or queue. Sharing of ‘resources’ such as litter trays and foodbowls can cause stress and anxiety for many cats. It’s always a good idea to provide each cat with their own litter box, food, water bowls and bed as a minimum. One litter box for each cat plus a spare is even better, as are multiple sleeping spots and extra scratching posts. A lack of space to hide from or avoid other cats, competition for territory and lack of individual attention can also add to household friction. If your cat is feeling anxious, offering it an elevated place to sit, such as a climbing tree, can be helpful.
Moving to a new house, the arrival of a new baby, new pets and other types of change can seriously impact cat behaviour. Cats are creatures of habit and tend to be territorial, so a change in routine may cause them to react in a number of ways, including withdrawal or aggression. Try to keep your cat’s environment as calm as possible and make sure there are places where they feel safe. Sometimes confining them to a single room with a litter box, bedding and home comforts can help them to settle.
Some cats simply do not like being touched and handled. These are often cats that received limited socialisation with humans when they were kittens. These cats do best in a quiet household without children and need understanding and patience to help build their confidence.
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The problem of robocalls has become so bad that we refuse to pick up calls from numbers we don’t know. Nearly half of the calls we receive are scams (欺诈). We’ve realized the severity of the problem by supporting and developing a group of tools, apps and approaches intended to prevent scammers from getting through. Unfortunately, it’s too little. By the time these “solutions” become widely available, scammers will have moved onto cleverer means. In the near future, it’s not just going to be the number you see on your screen that will be in doubt. Soon you will also question whether the voice you’re hearing is actually real.
That’s because there are many powerful voice manipulation (处理) technologies to be available. A company showed a new voice technology able to produce a convincing human-sounding voice able to speak to a receptionist and book a reservation without detection.
These developments are likely to make our current problems with robocalls much worse. The reason that robocalls are a headache has less to do with amount than precision. A decade of data disclosure of personal information has led to a situation where scammers can easily learn your mother’s name, and far more. Armed with this knowledge, they’re able to cheat the targeted people. This means, for example, that a scammer could call you from what looks to be a familiar number and talk to you with a voice sounding exactly like your bank teller’s, misleading you to “confirm” your address and card number. Scammers follow money, so companies will be the worst hit. A lot of business is still done over the phone, and much of it is based on trust and existing relationships. Voice manipulation technologies may weaken that gradually.
We need to deal with the insecure nature of our telecom networks. Phone carriers and consumers need to work together to find ways of determining and communicating what is real. That might mean either developing a uniform way to mark videos and images, showing when and who they were made by or abandoning phone calls altogether and moving towards data-based communications — using apps like WeChat and Alipay, which can be tied to your identity.
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4 . Directions: Read the following passage. Summarize the main idea and the main point (s) of the passage in no more than 60 words. Use your own words as far as possible.
Emotional Preparedness: Managing Life’s Challenges
Expecting the worst to avoid feeling bad later is known as “bracing”. It may help people prepare for emotionally challenging situations, particularly in the moments before these situations occur. People brace for the worst while waiting for potentially negative outcomes. Someone might also brace for the worst in anticipation of stressful events like giving a presentation at work.
Some psychological theories suggest that bracing should help. For example, “decision affect theory” proposes that how we feel about a situation is determined partly by comparing what actually happened with what could have happened. Based on this, people should be happy when an event goes beyond their expectations, and disappointed when an event falls behind. Therefore, by anticipating the worst, one can safeguard themselves against future disappointment, because any result will likely surpass (优于) expectations.
However, other psychological theories challenge the idea that bracing will be helpful. It has been theorized and scientifically established—that expectations can powerfully influence reality. There are two key ways that expectations can shape reality. First, people may behave in ways that fit with their expectations. If you expect to fail an upcoming test or interview, then you might not invest efforts in preparation, which in turn reduces your chances of doing well. Second, people may interpret a situation in line with their expectations. Imagine you believe you are insufficiently qualified for a job you’ve applied for. During the job interview, you’re likely to interpret blank expressions from the interviewer in line with this belief, which could negatively affect your performance. In fact, the interviewer did not want to give anything away.
Drawing together the scientific studies, it seems that expecting the worst is not a wise way to prepare for upcoming news or results.
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Think about some of the games you played as a young child, such as rope-jumping and hide-and-seek. Such games are entertaining and fun. But perhaps more importantly, they translate life into exciting dramas that teach children some of the basic rules they will be expected to follow the rest of their lives, such as taking turns and cooperating.
Many children’s games have a practical side. Children around the world play games that prepare them for work they will do as grown-ups. For instance, some Saudi Arabian children play a game called bones, which sharpens the hand-eye coordination needed in hunting.
Many sports encourage national or local pride. The most famous games of all, the Olympic Games, bring athletes from around the world together to take part in friendly competition. People who watch the event wave flags, knowing that a gold medal is a win for an entire country, not just the athlete who earned it. For countries experiencing natural disasters or war, an Olympic win can mean so much.
Sports are also an event that unites people. Soccer is the most popular sport in the world. People on all continents play it — some for fun and some for a living. Nicolette Iribarne, a Californian soccer player, has discovered a way to spread hope through soccer. He created a foundation to provide poor children with not only soccer balls but also a promising future.
Next time you play your favorite game or sport, think about why you enjoy it, what skills are needed, and whether these skills will help you in other aspects of your life.
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Why companies are hiring "prompt engineers"?
With the new generative AI tools, like ChatGPT, anyone can put in a prompt—type in a few words and get a result. But that doesn’t mean that the results will be relevant or accurate.
The key is putting in the right prompt. That’s why some businesses are now hiring prompt engineers-people with the skill, background and practice to talk to so-called large-language AI systems effectively and why many people expect prompt engineering to be a desirable skill for many kinds of workers to add to their resumes.
In general, the more detailed the request, the closer the response will come to what the user is looking for. But the most effective prompt engineering goes beyond adding detail.
For one thing, adding the right detail to get the best response is crucial. Also, there are many ways to guide how an AI system presents the information it finds, depending on the goal-tellinlg it to write in a certain style or for a certain audience, for instance. Each tool also has particular capabilities and limitations that users can learn to tackle. And the best results often come from an extended conversation with the AI, reacting to what it produces and asking for refinements.
Even for people applying to jobs that don’t clearly mention prompt engineering, having this skill could become essential for all sorts of roles. Art directors could use generative AI to outline ideas, and marketers could use it to develop new slogans. Software engineers could use it to find problems with their code. Lawyers could use it to research a piece of law. This is going to be a foundational skill that all of us need to know. The through line is when you learn a new skill, you can take it in any direction you like.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Reading Is Important For Your Brain
You can take fish oil pill or go to a language class, puzzle books, or a few hours of exercise every week. There are countless methods to improve your memory and cognitive (认知的) functioning. But the cheapest and easiest way to sharpen your brain is right in front of your face. It’s called reading.
The most basic impact occurs in the area associated with language reception. Processing written material—from the letters to the words to the sentences to the stories themselves—puts our brain to work. That happens when we process spoken language, too, but the very nature of reading encourages the brain to work harder and better. And the benefits of reading continue long after you’ve put down that great book. A small study at Emory University found that some of those benefits lasted for five days. “We call that a shadow activity, almost like a muscle memory,” says Gregory Berns, PhD, director of the Center for Neuro-policy at Emory. In fact, this is how reading in a certain font can improve your memory.
However, not all reading is created equal. Results from a study conducted at Stanford University indicate that close literary reading in particular gives your brain a major workout. MRI scans of people who are deep into a Jane Austen novel showed an increase in blood flowing to areas of the brain that control both cognitive and executive function, as opposed to the more limited effects that come from more leisurely reading.
The ability to read closely is something that needs to be cultivated. An author notes that even she, someone who reads for a living, has found her ability to concentrate on the written word fading as more of what we read is on a screen. “Unfortunately, this form of reading is rarely continuous, sustained, or concentrated,” she writes.
Of course, there’s an easy solution: Turn off your phone and your computer, set aside a good hour or two—and just read.
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Communicating science
One of the major problems for scientists lies in communicating the value of research to non-specialists that matter:policymakers and the general public. In recent years, scientific organisations have come a long way in developing ways to make science more accessible to non-specialist groups.
The development of blogs has helped substantially in bringing science closer to the public. According to Wikipedia, the ScienceBlogs network is now ranked 37th among the most authoritative blogs worldwide, with two of its sections having won weblog awards. Released from editorial restrictions, science bloggers generally focus on areas of science that they are both passionate and knowledgeable about. They often write about science in an accessible, lively manner, and it is this that perhaps most attracts members of the public. Ed Yong’s Not Exactly Rocket Science, for instance, is filled with the writer’s enthusiasm and down-to-earth attitude towards the subject. His chatty, youthful style appeals to a wide range of readers.
Television has also boosted the image of science. Early pioneers such as Jacques Cousteau, whose beautifully filmed documentaries opened up the oceans to millions, quickly realised the potential of TV to make science come alive for viewers. Other science disciplines have eagerly followed suit. Entertaining presenters carry out daring experiments or explore amazing scientific phenomena in order to attract attention. Celebrities such as Brian Cox, once famous for playing music in D:Ream, have also been instrumental in bringing science into popular culture. Now working in the field of physics, Brian is presenter of the BBC TV series Wonders of the Solar System. His background means that his face is not only well known to younger viewers but is also considered cool. Other organisations have been using the power of visual media through the internet. For example, SciVee offers scientists video services to create online presentations of their research.
Nevertheless, despite this progress, communication remains one of science’s biggest obstacle. Perhaps it is time that universities addressed this problem, and thought about adding communications training to the curriculum.
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The great teen sleeping crisis?
A recent study found that only around 50% of US teenagers were getting the seven hours of sleep generally considered necessary. The other half were getting on average two hours less. These are worrying figures indeed, especially when you take into consideration latest recommendations from experts that seven to ten hours is best for teenagers.
One thing we all need to do is to stop blaming teenagers for their sleeping habits, since they do have a biological excuse for their behaviour. It’s all the fault of the hormone melatonin. When melatonin increases through the body, it’s telling us that it’s time to go to bed. The problem is that in teenagers, melatonin is released two hours later than in adults, meaning that they get the call to go to bed much later than their parents. Then, when they’re forced to wake up in the morning, their melatonin levels are still high and their bodies are urging them to stay in bed. That’s why they find it such a struggle to drag themselves out from under the covers.
So what can be done to make life easier for everyone? Well, one simple solution would be to start the school day two hours later. In the US, 40% of all teenagers start school before 8 am, which is clearly far too early for the average teenage brain to function properly. If a 10 am start time was implemented, it would give them a much fairer chance.
In addition, teenagers themselves need to take more responsibility for their own sleeping patterns. It’s been proven that people who stick to a regular routine lead far healthier lives. Going to bed and getting up at the same time each day certainly gives your body a head start. Teens can even take a nap in the afternoon if they’re able to make that a regular part of their routine.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________There are a few tips that can make road cycling fun and safe for people of all experience levels. In the United States, riders should usually ride on the right hand side of the road, while they may ride on the left side of the road in other countries. Besides, if the traffic is heavy, cyclists may be required to let other cars pass first in some areas. If bikeways are available (可用的), use the bikeways and know how to do safely. Generally，all road cyelists are required to follow all traffic signs and rules, even if other cars are not present.
Before your cycling, make sure the bike helmet (头盔) fits according to the instructions. If the helmet is too large or too small, it can’t protect the cyclist’s head well. Protective eyewear (护目镜)is also a good idea and must fit so it doesn’t fall off while speeding downhill or cycling uphill. If there are windy conditions, protective eyewear can help prevent dirt (灰尘) from causing the discomfort of eyes which can be a danger to a rider.
In fact, it is also important for riders to learn how to brake (刹车). This is usually done by quickly shaking the front brake. A good tip is to practice using the front brake before heading out on the road. Besides, it is important to learn how to ride in a bike group. It is often taught in a professional training team.Finally, do not forget to plan and prepare for the bike route. For example, consider if road repairing is present on a given route. Besides，it may be more enjoyable to ride during times and on roads that do not have a heavy traffic. Meanwhile, consider whether a dog may be present；an angry dog may try to knock a cyclist over, and it may be best to find another route.
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