1 . A study following nearly 30,000 older adults for more than 10 years has found six key healthy lifestyle factors can significantly reduce memory loss and those adults engaging in between four and six of the healthy lifestyle behaviors could dramatically reduce their risks of developing dementia (痴呆), even when carrying genes that increase their risks of Alzheimer’s disease.

“Six healthy lifestyle aspects were assessed: a healthy diet, regular physical exercise, active social contact, active cognitive (认知的) activity, never smoking, and never drinking alcohol,” the researchers explained in the new study. Participants were classified (分类) into the favorable group if they had four to six healthy lifestyle factors, into the average group for two to three factors, and into the unfavorable group for zero to one factor.

The study found that people with four to six healthy habits had a much slower loss of memory than those with fewer healthy habits. People with these good habits were also much less likely to get dementia than those with one or no healthy habits. Those who had two or three good habits were 30% less likely to get dementia.

The study didn’t figure out which of the six healthy habits is the best for stopping dementia or which combination is the best. However, the information did show that eating healthy seemed to help prevent memory loss the most, with brain exercise and regular physical exercise also very helpful.

About 20% of the people in the study had a gene that makes Alzheimer’s disease more likely. Even so, having several good health habits helped slow down memory loss. This shows that changing how we live can really help.

Even though each health habit helped in a different way, overall, the study found that people with more good health habits had much less memory loss than those with fewer good habits. This suggests that the choices we make in how we live can help protect our memory. The study adds to the evidence that we might be able to change our risk of memory loss.

1. What were the groups categorized based on?

A．The participants’ age.	B．What hobbies the participants got rid of.
C．The healthy lifestyles the participants had.	D．What the participants’ attitudes to factors were.

2. What can we infer from paragraph 3?

A．The favorable group was happier than the other two.

B．More healthy lifestyles were of more benefit to health.

C．Healthy habits had little impact on memory or dementia.

D．People with a healthy diet wouldn’t suffer a loss of memory.

3. Which plays the second greatest role in reducing memory loss?

A．A healthy diet.	B．Active social contact.
C．Active cognitive activities.	D．Never drinking alcohol.

4. What can be the best title for the text?

A．Healthy Lifestyles Slowing Memory Loss	B．A Study Making A Great Breakthrough
C．A Healthy Diet Being The Best Lifestyle	D．Old Adults Suffering From Health Problems

2 . Stress often occurs when humans have too much work or are in immediate danger. We communicate our stress to others through our behavior and physiological changes. Thus, stress can communicate information and even be useful for survival in certain situations. On the other hand, the massive spread of stress frequently leads to dangerous situations in groups, such as mass panic.

However, not only humans, but also animals can experience and spread stress. This is the present research focus of Dr Hanja Brand l from the University of Konstanz.

“It has been repeatedly shown that stress can be spread from one human to another,” Brand l says. “Often, a similarly strong physiological response is triggered, even though you have never experienced the stress yourself.” But what is known about stress among animals? Brand l concludes other animals in the group can be just as stressed as the friend who experienced something bad. Stress is evolutionarily deeply rooted and the process is similar in all vertebrates (脊椎动物).

When are animals stressed? To be mentioned primarily are naturally occurring threats to which they are exposed, such as natural enemies. Human influences raise the level of stress. “Increasing changes in the habitat or noise and light pollution also have an impact as these massively influence the environment of the animals.” Brand l explains. “Animals are flexible and can adapt to situations. But at some point, the stress response—the adaptations that otherwise help animals better escape stressors like enemies—no longer gives them a survival advantage,” she adds.

This not only endangers the animals’ health, but also changes the social structure of groups. “If we know how the underlying mechanisms (机制) work, we can better protect animals,” says Brandl.

For humans, too, insights from the animal world are useful, she says. “With humans, we can’t measure the functionality of groups under stress well in natural scenes.” Therefore, Brandl is now continuing her studies. In the future, this will make it easier to respond to and help with the spread of stress in groups of people.

1. What can we learn about stress from paragraph 1?

A．Stress is both good and bad.

B．Group living. can easily cause stress.

C．Each individual reacts differently to stressful situations.

D．Poor communication is one of the biggest causes of stress.

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

A．Ignored.

B．Eased.

C．Caused.

D．Transformed.

3. What can humans do to help animals reduce stress?

A．Supply food to them.

B．Make them live in groups.

C．Protect their habitat from being destroyed.

D．Provide opportunities for them to practice their survival skills.

4. From which is the text probably taken?

A．A pet magazine.	B．A news website.
C．A book review.	D．A technical forum.

3 . A woman about 100 years old just proved that age means nothing by breaking three amateur(业余的) swimming world records.

On Saturday, Jan. 20, Betty Brussels _________ the Victoria Masters Swim Club Meet and beat the rivals in the 50m backstroke, 50m breaststroke, and 400m freestyle in the 100- to 104-year-old age _________.

Betty Brussel didn’t get into _________ swimming until she was in her 60s, and this was the first time she had been able to _________ such an achievement. She was able to break the records despite _________ a pacemaker(心脏起搏器) she received after suffering a heart attack in her 70s.

Betty finished her 50m backstroke in 1:24.91, which was almost five _________ faster than the previous record. She surpassed(超过) the _________ standing 400m freestyle record of 16:36.80 by _________ hers in 12:50.03. Betty set the first record for the 50m breaststroke with a time of 1:56.22.

“I was surprised by my own _________ yesterday,” said Betty. “I gave it my all; I never give up. It was wonderful. I was totally __________ by everybody’s support. I like to win, but __________ have never been the most important thing to me. If somebody else wins, I am __________ for them.”

Even though Betty Brussels only just __________ her own achievements, award-winning filmmakers Hannah Walsh and Emma Puchniak are already talking about a possible __________ that could be released in about a year.

“I live life every day and __________ it,” Betty told the publication. “I feel very fortunate to do what I do.”

1.

A．set aside

B．called on

C．headed for

D．engaged in

2.

A．group

B．court

C．period

D．department

3.

A．challenging

B．demanding

C．appropriate

D．competitive

4.

A．regain

B．reach

C．commit

D．recall

5.

A．building upon

B．carrying out

C．relying on

D．showing off

6.

A．minutes

B．seconds

C．moments

D．meters

7.

A．formerly

B．regularly

C．temporarily

D．interestingly

8.

A．improving

B．completing

C．raising

D．stopping

9.

A．behavior

B．function

C．restriction

D．swim

10.

A．fascinated

B．attracted

C．touched

D．affected

11.

A．records

B．dreams

C．beliefs

D．failures

12.

A．happy

B．anxious

C．sorry

D．thankful

13.

A．declined

B．proved

C．revealed

D．marked

14.

A．novel

B．advertisement

C．documentary

D．interview

15.

A．cue

B．enjoy

C．purchase

D．deserve

4 . With amazing Christmas lights and some very special guests, Pallion Action Group kicked off the festive season in style after another year of giving much-needed support to the Sunderland community.

“We’ve got wreath making, our singers and dancers and, of course, a visit from Santa. This event brings out so much enthusiasm in the community,” said organizer Karen Noble. “We’ll also go and surprise anyone we know who’s going to be lonely at Christmas.”

Pallion has been at the heart of the community here since 1993, but the past couple of years have seen people increasingly struggling financially and feeling lonely. “This time last year, people were in great poverty,” said Karen. “But if we’ve done our job properly, they’ve become more financially resilient (可迅速恢复的) or less lonely and we should be helping different people this year. And a lot of those who were helped last year are volunteering for us now. People are so kind — we get loads of homemade thank-you cards. But I think the biggest thanks we get is knowing we’ve helped somebody to the point where they’re independent and getting on with life.”

Karen and the team organize a wide range of activities, from after-school clubs and cookery sessions to line dancing and computer classes to keep older people connected. But all this wouldn’t be possible without funding from People’s Health Trust, with money raised through The Health Lottery (彩票). Every time you play The Health Lottery, not only could you win up to £100,000, but you’re also helping to raise much-needed funds that go straight to the heart of the community. “So playing The Health Lottery is not just the chance to win a prize. You could be making a real difference,” said Karen.

1. What can we know about Pallion Action Group from the first two paragraphs?

A．It needs much support.

B．Its main task is holding festivals.

C．It cares for the community.

D．It offers a chance to visit Santa.

2. What does Karen think of their job?

A．It is of no use.	B．It has paid off.
C．It needs improving.	D．It is not satisfactory.

3. How does Pallion Action Group get the fund?

A．By funding from an organization.

B．By raising money themselves.

C．By receiving donations from different people.

D．By receiving money from the government.

4. Which words can best describe Karen?

A．Sensitive and skeptical.	B．Ambitious and energetic.
C．Talented and intelligent.	D．Caring and enthusiastic.

5 . Several art projects are on show to warn people of the climate change happening around us.

Video on the walls

Photographer Camille Seaman has traveled to both the North Pole and the South Pole, where she has captured the disappearing ice in photographs and video. Camille Seaman made a video with some of her most powerful photos of melting ice for people in four coastal cities to display on their buildings. The video ends with a prediction that sea level will rise by 2050 without relative action.

Mural (壁画)changing color

Temperatures in Austin, Texas, are on the rise, and climate change will put the city at higher risk of extended drought, wildfires, intense rain and flooding. Artist Lope Gutiérrez-Ruiz designed a unique mural that changes color as it gets hotter. This art work calls for people to change the world and change climate change, underlining the importance of individual actions to the collective future.

Public billboard   (广告牌)

Artist Christine Sun Kim released a public billboard on the 710 Freeway called The Sound of Temperature Rising. It points to the reality of climate disaster that has become all too clear on the West Coast and the need for significant change now. The illustration features a graph (图表) of music notes that get progressively longer and redder.

Anti-Extinction Library

Globally, species are disappearing at an unheard-of rate. In response, architect Mitchell Joachim created The Anti-Extinction Library in New York. The sculptural piece is not only beautiful but also functional. Their unique egg-shaped library has a special freezer storing test tubes with the frozen cells and DNA of rare animals and plants. It’s important for people to realize we must quickly work to protect the rights of different species in our area.

1. What is the key feature of the mural?

A．It lights up at night.

B．It moves with the wind.

C．It plays music when it rains.

D．It changes color with temperature.

2. Whose work contains frozen cells?

A．Camille Seaman’s.	B．Lope Gutiérrez-Ruiz’s.
C．Christine Sun Kim's.	D．Mitchel l Joachim’s.

3. What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?

A．To praise artists’ participation.

B．To call for people to take action.

C．To show the severe result of climate change.

D．To facilitate the combination of art and climate.

6 . By keeping a diary, you can create a space for self-reflection. With each word you write, you’re taking a step towards a deeper understanding of yourself and moving closer to well-being.

A tool for self-discovery

A diary acts as a mirror, reflecting your innermost thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.     1    . It can be the first step toward meaningful change and personal growth. Just the act of recognizing how you feel can build self-confidence and improve your mood.

Help recognize sources of stress

    2    . Think of it as a safe space to express how you feel, leading to a significant decrease in stress levels. Keeping a diary gives you a chance to recognize what stresses you out in the first place. Once you notice upsetting situations or people, you can take action and eliminate that source of stress from your life.

    3    

Sometimes people find it challenging to express their emotions verbally (口头上) and tend to block them out. Ignored unexpressed emotions can cause stress and get stored in the body, causing disease and pain. A diary provides a private space to explore and express feelings. This process of externalizing emotions inside can help reduce stress and manage overwhelming emotions.

Encourage solutions to problems and reflection

Facing a challenge that you can’t seem to figure out? Put pen to paper. Writing about challenges can help clarify the issue, explore potential solutions, and reflect on past experiences that may offer insight.    4    .

Even if you’ve never keep a diary before, it’s easy to begin. Persistence (坚持) is key to keeping a diary.    5    . Even just five minutes can help gain some clarity and reflection. Remember, there’s no right or wrong way to keep a diary. When you later take time to read your diaries, you can find your growth over time and how you’ve navigated past challenges.

A．Release and process feelings

B．Keep a diary during the spare time each day

C．Reflection can make you puzzled on your personal journey

D．Writing about worries or challenges every day can be a way out

E．Keeping a diary gives you a way to blame your friends or family

F．This way improves decision-making and encourages a positive attitude towards challenges

G．You can uncover patterns in your thinking or behavior, leading to increased self-awareness

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 vast fields of wheat in Northeast China are no ordinary plants — they were created in outer space. They are a variety known as Luyuan502 and are China’s second most     1     (wide) grown type of wheat. The plants were bred from seeds     2     (fly) into orbit 340 km above the Earth’s surface. In the unique low gravity environment, they picked up subtle (微妙的) changes to DNA that gave them new qualities,    3     made them more tolerant to drought and able to better resist certain diseases.

They are an example of a growing number     4     important food crops that are being bred on spacecraft and space stations while orbiting our planet.     5     some of the mutations (突变) leave the plants unable to grow, others can be advantageous. Some plants become     6     (strong) than previous ones. Besides, they are able to resist more extreme growing conditions, but others produce more foods from a single plant or grow faster or require less water.

China     7     (experiment) with space mutagenesis since 1987. Since then it has conducted dozens of missions     8     (carry) crop seeds into orbit. “We benefit from China’s strong space programme,” says one of the     9     (expert) in China’s space mutagenesis project. “We can use recoverable satellites, high-altitude platforms and manned spacecraft to send our seeds to space up to     10     (two) a year and use those space utilities for crop improvement.”

8 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. Who is Wang Ming?

A．A student.

B．An employer.

C．An engineer.

2. What does the speaker say about the college job market this year?

A．It’s unpredictable.

B．It’s quite stable.

C．It’s not optimistic.

3. What percentage of student job seekers have found a job by now?

A．20%.

B．22%.

C．50%.

4. Why are engineering graduates more likely to accept a job?

A．They need more work experience.

B．The salary is usually good.

C．Their choice is limited.

9 . 听下面一段对话，回答以下小题。
1. What does the man want to do this summer?

A．Sit around.

B．Earn some money.

C．Take a vacation.

2. Who is Jane?

A．The man’s sister.

B．Mr Smith’s neighbor.

C．The woman’s classmate.

3. What should Jane do when house-sitting?

A．Take care of the pets.

B．Get rid of the houseplants.

C．Empty the house.

4. What can we learn from the conversation?

A．The man took care of kids last summer.

B．The woman called the student employment office.

C．The man doesn’t have a lot of friends.

10 . One Saturday in June, I got off the train from Vienna at Altenberg station, in the midst of a gathering of bathers, such as often flock to our village at fine weekends.

I had gone only a few steps along the street and the crowd had not yet scattered when, high above me in the air, I saw a bird whose species I could not at first determine. It flew with slow, measured wing-beats, varied at set intervals by longer periods of gliding. It seemed too heavy to be a hawk; for a stork (鹳), it was not big enough and, even at that height, neck and feet should have been visible. Then the bird made a sudden turn so that the setting sun shone for a second full on the underside of the great wings which lit up like stars in the blue of the skies. The bird was white. By Heaven, it was my cockatoo (凤头鹦鹉)! The steady movements of his wings clearly indicated that he was setting out on a long-distance flight.

“What should I do? Should I call to the bird?” Well, have you ever heard the flight-call of the greater cockatoo? No? But you have probably heard pig-killing in the traditional method. Imagine the loudest long cry a pig could make, picked up by a microphone and amplified many times over by a powerful speaker. A man can imitate it quite successfully, though somewhat weak, by shouting at the top of his voice “O-ah”. I had already proved that the cockatoo understood this imitation and promptly “came to heel”. But would it work at such a height? A bird always has great difficulty in making the decision to fly downwards at a steep angle. To yell, or not to yell, that was the question. If I yelled and the bird came down, all would be well, but what if it sailed calmly on through the clouds? How would I then explain my song to the crowd of people?

Finally, I did yell. The people around me stood still, rooted to the spot. The bird hesitated for a moment on outstretched wings, and then, folding them, it descended in one dive and landed upon my outstretched arm. Once again I was master of the situation.

1. What was the author’s cockatoo like?

A．It looked like a hawk.	B．It was blue and shiny.
C．Its neck and feet were long.	D．It was white with great wings.

2. How did the author signal to his cockatoo?

A．By waving at it quickly.	B．By singing a song loudly.
C．By screaming his head off.	D．By using a powerful loudspeaker.

3. What does the underlined part “came to heel” in paragraph 3 mean?

A．Flew about.

B．Came back.

C．Came around.

D．Landed on the ground.

4. Which can be inferred about the author from the text?

A．He knew birds very well.	B．He could speak with his bird.
C．He liked showing off in public.	D．He often surprised people around him.