1 . “Just imagine it, chatting to a chimp in chimpanzee.” Whether portrayed by Rex Harrison, Eddie Murphy or Robert Downey, Jr.,Doctor Dolittle learned to talk to animals.But in reality, science has remained some distance from solving the long-standing question of how we humans learned to talk during our evolution.

Recently,a study by a team of researchers in Great Britain has demonstrated how the rapid succession of opening and closing mouth rhythms by chimpanzees—known as lip-smacking (砸吧嘴)—mimics the natural pace of human mouths talking.This phenomenon has been observed before in other ape species who performed lip-smacking movements at around 5 Hz, which falls within a range of mouth opens and closes characteristic of all spoken languages, namely between2 and 7 Hz.But it wasn’t until now that this lip-smacking timing connection had been made in our closest evolutionary relatives.The last years had seen accumulating evidence that these rhythms from deeper within our primate ancestry, recycled, so to speak,as a cornerstone for speech evolution.

“But the sense of evolutionary continuity towards speech still had a big gap to cross—the African apes.There was no evidence for speech like rhythm neither in gorillas, bonobos,nor chimpanzees”, says Adriano Lameira of the University of Warwick, who led the study. The study followed two domestic populations of chimpanzees, as well as two wild populations in Uganda. Researchers observed lip-smacking at an average of 4.15 Hz. They made all their observations whenever a chimpanzee was grooming(理毛；梳毛) another. Picture a hairdresser engaging in idle chatter with a customer at the beauty salon.

The confirmation of speech like rhythm of the mouth in chimpanzees does not reveal how language came about in our own ancestry, but it offers the final confirmation to scientists that we are looking at the right place, that we are on the right track to unlock this mystery and that great apes in enclosed areas and the wild still have to reveal all their secrets about human nature and human origins.

Lameira also notes that variation in lip-smacking times both between and within the chimp groups do not appear to be hard-wired. Rather, the lip-smacking variability likely reflects how individual differences and environmental factors, and even social conventions, affect how chimpanzees communicate with each other. Even Doctor Dolitle might well be amazed.

1. What does the new study reveal?

A．We humans can talk to chimpanzees.

B．Chimpanzees like imitating humans talking.

C．A new clue of speech evolution has been found.

D．All apes perform the same lip-smacking rhythms as we humans do.

2. What is the significance of this study?

A．Paving way for the following researches.

B．Proving the assumption of the scientists.

C．Confirming how language came into being.

D．Revealing the secrets about human evolution.

3. What does the underlined word “hard-wired” in the last paragraph mean?

A．Tough.

B．Cultivated.

C．Variable.

D．Inborn

4. What can be a suitable title for the passage?

A．Cornerstone for Human Origin.

B．Research Value of Ape Species.

C．Human Speech Evolution Getting Lip-Smacking Evidence.

D．Chimpanzees Performing Speech like Lip-Smacking Movements.

2 . A March 2023 report from Goldman Sachs estimated that AI could do a quarter of all the work currently done by humans.     1     It would not just happen to individuals, but it could be pretty systemic.

    2     There are still things AI isn’t capable of. There are generally three categories that are probably going to be relatively secure in the foreseeable future.     3     That means you’re not doing formulaic work, but generating new ideas. For example, in science, medicine and law, where your job is coming up with a new legal strategy or business strategy, there’s going to continue to be a place for human beings.

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.     4    

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.     5     It’s really hard to automate that job.

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.

3 . 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.

2. What probably caused Faulkner to be hired by Rachele?

A．Good luck.	B．Mutal trust.
C．Common interests.	D．First impression.

3. What can be inferred from paragraphs 3 and 4?

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.

4. Which of the following can best describe Joyce Faulkner?

A．Caring and outgoing.	B．Strict and responsible.
C．Devoted and passionate.	D．Humorous and independent.

4 . 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.

2. Which beach offers some free services to specific visitors?

A．Horseshoe Bay Beach.	B．Budelli Island.
C．Crane Beach.	D．Great Santa Cruz Island.

3. What do the four beaches have in common?

A．They provide water sports.	B．They have beautiful pink sands.
C．They’re equipped with lifeguards.	D．They are located on big islands.

5 . Boston Marathon runners in recent years may have seen a smiling furry face around the two-mile mark. It’s Spencer, the therapy (治疗) dog, who became known as an unofficial mascot (吉祥物) for the marathon, He’s shown up on the sidelines every year since 2015—rain or shine.

One particularly rainy marathon catapulted Spencer’s fame, In 2018, his owner, Richard Powers, decided to put a bright yellow rain coat on the dog, making him stand out even more than he usually does. Photos of Spencer, who holds a “Boston Strong” flag in his mouth, went viral, and he became an inspiration to runners and onlookers alike, During the marathon, some runners stop in their tracks to take selfies with the dog-the line sometimes growing to 20 runners long.

But in 2020, Spencer was diagnosed with a tumor (肿瘤). His owner was worried, but Spencer is a fighter. He got the care he needed and survived. In 2021, he was back on the course and it was really kind of a miracle and that really hit home to a lot of people.

Unfortunately, Spencer caught another tumor—this one cancerous—and Spencer began chemotherapy. Powers didn’t think his beloved dog would make it out to the marathon of 2022. “Miraculously, he’s still here with us and an even bigger miracle, he was strong enough to go to the marathon,” he said.

After recovering, Spencer was back to work—not just at the marathon—but as a therapy dog, alongside his companion, Penny, who is also a golden therapy dog. Powers takes his two therapy dogs around to schools, hospitals and senior living centers.

“He’s a gift to us and we’re very lucky to have him. He’s too good so we want to share him with as many people as we possibly can. He does make a difference,” Powers said.

1. Why is Spencer referred to as a mascot for Boston Marathon?

A．He has a smiling furry face.	B．He appears at the event annually.
C．He is not recognized officially.	D．He works as a therapy dog for runners.

2. What does Spencer bring to runners?

A．Motivation.

B．Satisfaction.

C．Fantasy.

D．Barrier.

3. What did Spencer go through in 2020?

A．A failure in the marathon.

B．Caring for his owner.

C．Fighting against a disease.

D．Going viral.

4. What was Powers’ initial attitude towards Spence’s appearing at the marathon of 2022?

A．Confident,

B．Supportive.

C．Objective.

D．Negative.

6 . Mark is leaving, and I’m feeling kind of sad.

You probably don’t know Mark, but you might be _______ enough to know someone just like him. He’s been the heart and soul of the office, combining professional skills with a sweet nature. He’s never been all that interested in getting praise for the _______ work he does.

And now he’s moving on to an exciting new opportunity which sounds like the chance of a lifetime, and we’re _______ pleased for him. But that doesn’t make it any easier to say goodbye to a dear friend and _______ colleague.

Life has a way of throwing these curve balls (曲线球) at us. Just when we start to get comfortable with a person, a place or a situation, something comes along to _______ it.

But how do we deal with change? There’s Chris, who once told me that the answer can be expressed in four words, “Go _______ the flow.”

“It is like surfing,” Chris explained. “You can’t organize the ocean. _______ just happen. You ride them _______ they take you, and then you go back out there and catch the next one. Sure, you’re always hoping for the perfect wave. But _______ you just take them the way they come.”

That doesn’t ________ that you don’t keep trying to make all your dreams come true. It just means that when things that aren’t exactly in your plan ________, you work around them and then you move on. Of course, some barriers (阻碍) along the ________ of life are easier to take than others. A rained-out picnic, for example, is ________ to deal with than the sudden death of a loved one. But the principle is the same.

We’re going to ________ Mark. But rather than on the sadness of our ________, we’ll focus on our hopes for a brighter future.

1.

A．difficult

B．confident

C．silly

D．lucky

2.

A．terrible

B．excellent

C．special

D．exact

3.

A．actually

B．sincerely

C．nearly

D．hardly

4.

A．humorous

B．silent

C．reliable

D．active

5.

A．welcome

B．attack

C．destroy

D．change

6.

A．with

B．below

C．against

D．before

7.

A．Shakes

B．Waves

C．Accidents

D．Disasters

8.

A．what

B．why

C．whether

D．where

9.

A．formally

B．extremely

C．mostly

D．lately

10.

A．promise

B．seem

C．explain

D．mean

11.

A．make up

B．break down

C．come up

D．slow down

12.

A．scene

B．road

C．strategy

D．lecture

13.

A．harder

B．better

C．worse

D．easier

14.

A．forget

B．love

C．miss

D．remind

15.

A．parting

B．meeting

C．organizing

D．suffering

7 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

The sheepskin raft (羊皮筏), the oldest means of transportation along the Yellow River, has a history of nearly 2,000 years. The airbag of the raft is made of     1     whole sheepskin and goes through many processes including heating to remove hair, soaking in salty oil, sewing, drying     2     blowing. Then the airbags     3     (fasten) to a wooden stand, enabling its use for transporting people and goods across the water.

It is said that the largest sheepskin raft in old times     4     (consist) of more than 600 sheepskin airbags, with an impressive length of 22 meters and a     5     (wide) of 7 meters. It was capable of carrying around 30 tons of goods and drifting over 200 kilometers in one day.

In the early 20th century, before the 1950s,     6     railways were not yet in operation and road traffic was     7    (convenient), the sheepskin raft served as the most important means of transportation for residents     8     (live) along the Yellow River.

However, with the rapid development of society, the sheepskin raft has largely played its historical role     9     transporting people and goods. Nowadays, it can only be found along the banks of the Yellow River in some cities in Gansu province. It has become a tool for people     10     (do) some sightseeing on the Yellow River.

8 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. Who is probably the speaker?

A．A reporter.

B．A teacher.

C．A writer.

2. What did the coachman do outside the theater?

A．He read a book.

B．He looked after the horse.

C．He enjoyed the snow.

3. How did the young lady feel about the coachman’s situation?

A．Sad.

B．Moved.

C．Casual.

4. What does the speaker want to tell us?

A．Help those around us as much as we can.

B．Read as many books as we can.

C．Be grateful for what we have.

9 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What did Susan want to do after supper?

A．Get her car with her friends.

B．Wait till the rain stopped.

C．Walk to her car alone.

2. What was Susan like?

A．She was brave but careless.

B．She was rude and self-centered.

C．She was independent and confident.

3. Who did Susan meet at the crossroads?

A．Her husband.

B．A taxi driver.

C．A strange passenger.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．An unforgettable experience.

B．Some reliable friends.

C．An exciting party

10 . Impressive World Heritage Sites in Germany

Museum Island, Berlin

Located in Berlin’s historical centre, Museum Island houses treasures of human history in its five beautifully reconstructed museums, which delight visitors with ancient Egyptian relics. The entire complex was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1999.

Sanssouci Park, Potsdam

Built in the 1740s as a summer retreat for the Prussian King Frederick the Great, the palace consists of ten beautifully decorated rooms with charming gardens. A mix of truly European architecture and surroundings, Sanssouci Park was listed as UNESCO World Heritage in 1990.

Cologne Cathedral, Cologne

One of Germany’s most fascinating and extensive cathedrals, Cologne Cathedral is Germany’s most visited landmark. Due to the building’s impressive Gothic (哥特式)architecture, the shrine of the Three Wise Men, and the outstanding stained-glass windows, UNESCO declared Cologne Cathedral a World Heritage Site in 1996.

Rhine Gorge, Koblenz and Bingen

Rhine Gorge is a 65-kilometre stretch of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley. Dotted with castles, historic towns and wine-making farms, the breathtaking views and architecture, it attracts numerous visitors. In 2002 the region was added to the UNESCO list of Word Heritage Sites for its unique blend of geological, historical, and cultural elements.

1. Which of the following highlights Cologne Cathedral?

A．Fully-decorated rooms.

B．Several charming gardens.

C．Attractive Gothic building.

D．Many wine-making farms.

2. What can you probably do in Rhine Gorge?

A．Appreciate ancient Egyptian relics.

B．Hang out in the impressive gardens.

C．Admire the stained-glass windows.

D．Have a taste of the German wine.

3. Which site was first added to the UNESCO’s list?

A．Museum Island.	B．Sanssouci Park.
C．Cologne Cathedral.	D．Rhine Gorge.