1. Why did the woman choose to be a teacher as a profession?
| A．Because of the pressure from her family. |
| B．Because of the passion for the work. |
| C．Because of a teacher’s encouragement. |
| A．Being with children. |
| B．Winning others’ respect. |
| C．Learning different things. |
| A．Lifelong learners. | B．Creative thinkers. | C．Good communicators. |
| A．A movie show. | B．A birthday party. | C．A sales promotion. |
3 . New research links outdoor air pollution — even at levels considered safe — to an increased risk of diabetes (糖尿病) globally, according to a study from the VA St. Louis Health Care System. The findings raise the possibility that reducing pollution may lead to a drop in diabetes cases in heavily polluted countries such as India and less polluted ones such as the United States.
Diabetes is one of the fastest growing diseases, affecting more than 500 million people worldwide. The main drivers of diabetes include eating an unhealthy diet, having a sedentary lifestyle and obesity, but the new research indicates the extent to which outdoor air pollution plays a role.
“Our research shows a significant link between air pollution and diabetes globally,” said Ziyad Al-Aly, MD, the study’s senior author and an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Washington. “We found an increased risk, even at low levels of air pollution currently considered safe by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the World Health Organization (WHO). This is important because many industry lobbying (游说) groups argue that current levels are too stringent and should be relaxed. Evidence shows that current levels are still not sufficiently safe and need to be tightened.”
While growing evidence has suggested a link between air pollution and diabetes, researchers have not attempted to quantify that burden until now. “Over the past two decades, there have been bits of research about diabetes and pollution,” said Al-Aly. “We wanted to thread together the pieces for a broader, more solid understanding.”
The researchers also found that the overall risk of pollution-related diabetes tilted (倾斜) more toward lower-income countries such as India that lack the resources for environmental mitigation systems and clean-air policies. For instance, poverty-stricken countries facing a higher diabetes-pollution risk include Afghanistan, Papua New Guinea and Guyana, while richer countries such as France, Finland and Iceland experience a lower risk. The US experiences a medium risk of pollution-related diabetes.
1. What does the underlined word “stringent” in paragraph 3 mean?| A．Strict. | B．Slight. |
| C．Bright. | D．Ordinary. |
| A．To identify the causes of diabetes. |
| B．To make better air pollution control policies. |
| C．To lead the study of diabetes and air pollution. |
| D．To figure out the link between pollution and diabetes. |
| A．India. | B．Finland. |
| C．The US. | D．Guyana. |
| A．Current pollution control levels need to be tightened |
| B．Diabetes is one of the fastest growing diseases globally |
| C．Air pollution contributes significantly to diabetes globally |
| D．Poverty-stricken countries face a higher diabetes-pollution risk |
4 . The Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, known as “the third pole”, or “the roof of the world”, is one of the most inhospitable environments on Earth. While biological evolution at several genomic loci (基因组位点) enabled early people in Xizang to better adapt to high altitudes, obtaining sufficient food from the resource-poor highlands would have remained a challenge.
Now, a new study of The British Academy reveals that dairy product was a key component of early human diets on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. The study reports ancient proteins from the dental calculus of 40 human individuals from 15 sites across the inner plateau.
“Our protein evidence shows that dairying was introduced onto the hinterland plateau by at least 3,500 years ago,” states Prof. Hongliang Lu, corresponding author of this study. Ancient protein evidence indicates that dairy products were consumed by diverse populations, including females and males, adults and children, as well as individuals from both upper class and lower class. Additionally, prehistoric Xizang highlanders made use of the dairy products of goats, sheep, and possibly cattle and yak. Early pastoralists (牧民) in western Xizang seemed to have had a preference for goat milk.
“The adoption of pastoralism helped to revolutionize people’s ability to occupy much of the plateau, particularly the vast areas too extreme for crop cultivation,” says Prof. Nicole Boivin, senior author of the study.
Tracing dairying in the deep past has long been a challenge for researchers. Traditionally, archaeologists analyzed the remains of animals and the interiors of food containers for evidence of dairying. However, the ability of these sources to provide direct evidence of milk consumption is often limited.
“Palaeoproteomics (古蛋白质组学) is a new and powerful tool that allows us to investigate Xizang diets in unheard-of detail,” says coauthor Dr. Shevan Wilkin. “The analysis of proteins in ancient human dental calculus not only offers direct evidence of dietary intake, but also allows us to identify which species the milk came from.”
1. What made early humans in Xizang adapt to high altitudes?| A．Sufficient food. | B．Dairy products. |
| C．Their strong will. | D．Natural selection. |
| A．Their physical age. | B．Their daily diet. |
| C．Their mental health. | D．Their social status. |
| A．Failing to ensure the correctness. |
| B．Taking up too much space and time. |
| C．Lacking remains of ancient animals. |
| D．Demanding too many professional researchers. |
| A．A government work report. | B．A local radio program. |
| C．A science journal. | D．A collection of anecdotes. |
5 . Cheerleading squads (啦啦队) are known for their energy and athleticism, and always add fun and excitement to any event. Most cheerleading groups have young members, so this Arizona cheerleading squad certainly stands out. Sun City Poms, which only recruits (招募) members who are over 55, has distinguished itself as a cheerleading squad that brings joy to seniors and audiences of all ages.
Established in 1979, the team consists of women aged over 55 who live in Sun City, a retirement community in Arizona. This community of active seniors women are passionate about dancing, performing and staying active, and prove that there is no age limit to what you love to do. The team has become increasingly popular, and the members are known for their energetic performances at parades, festivals and events throughout the state.
Despite the demanding schedule, the women remain committed to the team. This cheerleading squad brings joy to seniors by keeping members physically fit, building friendships, and fostering a sense of community. The Sun City Poms currently has 30members and a handful of trainees, who can join after completing a three-month class, learning two routines, and proving they have what it takes.
On March 25, the group successfully held the “Celebrate the Poms” show, which drew a crowd of over 700 people. It even included a special number from “The Flops”, who count the husbands, friends and lovers of the Poms as members.
Zirbel, in her eighties, already has a lot of memories with the group and is ready to make more. She shared that in one event alone. She estimated that she walked about three miles. Despite the tiring schedule and off days, Zirbel is not about to leave the team anytime soon.
1. What made the Sun City Poms special?| A．Its founders. | B．Its members. | C．Its location. | D．Its service. |
| A．Get through qualification training. | B．Demonstrate their advantages. |
| C．Remain committed to the team. | D．Practice 3 routines in 2 months. |
| A．To prove her energetic daily life. | B．To indicate her tiredness of the work. |
| C．To show the effort involved in the event. | D．To complain about the stress of the training. |
| A．No young or old learner is a teacher. |
| B．When is life enough to be idle and idle? |
| C．One year older, one more point of responsibility. |
| D．Although the violin is old, it can still play a good tune. |
6 . A March 2023 report from Goldman Sachs estimated that AI could do a quarter of all the work currently done by humans.
The second category is jobs that require complicated interpersonal relationships like nurses, business consultants and investigative journalists. These are jobs where you need a very deep understanding of people.
The third safe zone are jobs that really require lots of mobility and problem-solving ability in unpredictable environments. Electricians, plumbers, and the like all fall under this umbrella, where you’re dealing with a new situation all the time. They are probably the hardest of anything to automate.
It’s important to note that an advanced education is not a defence against AI takeover. In many cases, more educated workers are going to be more threatened than then even the least educated workers.
In short, seeking roles in dynamic, shifting environments that include unpredictable tasks is good way to avoid job loss to AI.
| A．And that could be terrible. |
| B．Thankfully, it’s not all bad news. |
| C．The robots really are coming for some jobs. |
| D．The first would be jobs that are genuinely creative. |
| E．Think of the person that works cleaning hotel rooms. |
| F．That doesn’t necessarily mean all jobs that are considered ”creative” are safe. |
| G．It’ll be a long time before AI has the ability to really build relationships and interact. |
7 . At 67, Joyce Faulkner thought she was looking for a holiday. Her husband, Jim, had recently died and exploring possible house swaps on the Home Exchange website felt less painful. In the end, it was not a vacation Faulkner found but a job. She left her home in Edinburgh to become mother’s help to seven-year-old twins in Varese, Italy.
“It’s halfway crazy,” she says. A house swap she was interested in didn’t work out, but the owner, Rachele, asked: “‘Do you know anyone who might help me with the children?’ I wrote back and said: ‘Tell me what that involves!’ She wrote me a little list, and I said: ‘I could do that!’ We seemed to believe in each other.”
Two months later, when Faulkner reached Varese, “the dad, Andrea, was walking towards me with the children hiding behind his legs, kind of shy, thinking: ‘Who is this woman in a long black coat?’ I don’t think it was quite Mary Poppins, but the atmosphere was immediately warm and friendly.”
Eighteen months on, Faulkner’s job no longer feels like a job. “I just feel like part of the family.” They joke: “You think you’re going back to Scotland? No, you’re staying here!” She gives English lessons, helps with the housework, meets the children from school, plays chess or table tennis with them, and takes them to the park. “It never feels like work,” she says. “It has been absolutely the perfect match.” Faulkner’s son, Steven, who lives in London, has visited her and they have cycled around the northern Italian lakes. She feels no more distant than when she lived in Edinburgh.
“You have to take the opportunity when it presents itself,” Jim once said.
“I’ll be 70 in January, but in my head, I’m 30. I still feel the same person, I have the same enthusiasm for life, the same interest in people and things. In that sense, I wish I had another 70,” Faulkner jokes.
1. Why did Joyce Faulkner search the Home Exchange website?| A．To hunt for a job. | B．To buy a house in Italy. |
| C．To explore holiday resorts. | D．To find a holiday home for exchange. |
| A．Good luck. | B．Mutal trust. |
| C．Common interests. | D．First impression. |
| A．Faulkner feels less close to her son |
| B．Faulkner feels quite at home while babysitting in Italy. |
| C．Faulkner returned to her old business despite her advanced years. |
| D．Faulkner was thought of as a typical baby-sitter at the first meeting. |
| A．Caring and outgoing. | B．Strict and responsible. |
| C．Devoted and passionate. | D．Humorous and independent. |
1. In what way was the handshake impressing?
| A．Flexi shook hands with a human for the first time. |
| B．Flexi offered to shake hands with the woman. |
| C．Flexi moved his hand just as the woman did. |
| A．In his head. | B．In his hands. | C．In his chest. |
| A．In 1993. | B．In 2000. | C．In 2023. |
| A．He is used in special situations. |
| B．He is controlled by a computer system. |
| C．He doesn’t need human intervention at all. |
9 . You may have heard of white and black sand beaches, but what about shores with pink sands? Now let’s take a look.
Horseshoe Bay Beach, Bermuda
One of the most famous and photographed beaches in Bermuda is Horseshoe Bay Beach. Located in South Shore Park, this pink beach features a coastal trail that connects it to other area beaches, plus limestone rocks and cliffs that add to its beauty. Beachgoers can play a game of volleyball or attend one of several annual festivals hosted on-site.
Budelli Island, Italy
Known locally as “Spiaggia Rosa,” this beach gets its pink color from a mixture of coral (珊瑚) and shells. The pink shore sits on Budelli Island, an isle north of Sardinia in the Maddalena Archipelago. The beach offers a variety of services, such as stands, lifeguards and beach and water sports equipment rentals like surfboards.
Crane Beach, Barbados
At The Crane Resort, visitors can directly access the pink sand beach by riding in the glass-front beach elevator. To keep beachgoers safe, there are two lifeguards on duty most days. Resort visitors also have access to free beach umbrellas, towels and chairs, plus several pools, a hot spring and a fitness center.
Great Santa Cruz Island, Philippines
The pink sand beach on Great Santa Cruz Island gets its color from red organ pipe coral. Many divers gather here to take advantage of the beach’s clear water and excellent visibility, though much of the area’s sea life has been destroyed due to illegal coral mining. You’ll also find a small village on the island.
1. What can you do on Horseshoe Bay Beach?| A．Ride on a horse. | B．Surf on the sea. |
| C．Climb up a rock. | D．Play beach volleyball. |
| A．Horseshoe Bay Beach. | B．Budelli Island. |
| C．Crane Beach. | D．Great Santa Cruz Island. |
| A．They provide water sports. | B．They have beautiful pink sands. |
| C．They’re equipped with lifeguards. | D．They are located on big islands. |
Catherine was a mother of three and after her husband died three years ago, she had to step out and earn money to make ends meet.
In the beginning, she worked as a sales clerk at a store. But as her children grew older, she knew she must find a new job which could pay a higher salary (薪水). One day, Catherine was walking home after her shift (轮班) at the store when she spotted a construction site. Realizing that the money she would make by working there was more than her current salary, she thought she might be able to work there. She then approached the manager. After learning about her circumstances, the manager hired her on the spot. Then she left her job at the store and worked full-time at the construction site.
However, Catherine kept her new job a secret from her children. She thought they would feel embarrassed after learning their mother worked at a construction site. Every morning, Catherine would wake up and make breakfast for her children before dropping them at school. Then, she would go to the construction site and work until her shift ended. She would pick up heavy bricks on her shoulder to transport them from one part of the site to the other. One weekend, Catherine’s son, Peter, told her about an upcoming contest in school that required mothers to participate. In the competition, students would wear blindfolds (眼罩) and have to recognize their mothers without looking at them. “That sounds like such a cool event, Peter!” Catherine said. “I won’t go there with you, Mom,” Peter replied. When asked why, Peter said that he would have to touch Catherine’s hands to recognize her. “Everyone would look at them, but your hands are so ugly. They’re so hard and rough,” he added. Catherine felt terrible after hearing her son’s excuse for not participating in the competition, but couldn’t say anything in her defense. She had to stay quiet and keep working at the construction site to make ends meet.
Paragraph 1: A few weeks later, when Peter was returning home earlier one day, something unexpected caught his attention.
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Paragraph 2: Later that night, Peter decided to apologize to his mother.
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