1 . Reading a new story alone is often a great way to relax. However, sometimes you just want to discuss what you’ve read with another person to bring those ideas off the page and into the world.     1    

First, find members. When you begin searching for your book club members, look in the places in your life that feel most natural to you.     2     Then, maybe it’s posting a notice on the bulletin board of your local library or bookstore. If you’re looking to “get a range of perspectives” from your club, you may want to consider looking for a diverse range of ages and genders. They can bring their varied world views to discussions.

    3     Will your time together be spent largely focusing on the novel at hand, or will refreshments ultimately be the most important? There’s the typical friends gathering at someone’s apartment and having cheese and wine approach. But oftentimes, people will be frustrated because they just turn into a social event rather than focusing on the book. In order to make sure your new group is all on the same page, take the time to discuss what you want to get out of regular club gatherings before your first official meeting.

Picking books may seem like the trickiest part. Books that work really well are ones that allow you to reflect on self. They have a lot of entry points for people so they probably have a good setting. The pacing is solid. There’s great character development and the language doesn’t get in the way of the story.     4    

Before your meetings, list some discussion questions. Remember to come up with questions depending on your book’s genre: romance, mystery, thriller and so on.     5     For example, you may ask which scene has stuck with them the most or whether there are any standout sentences.

A．It is necessary to set some group guidelines.

B．Here’s a look of four of our favorites below.

C．To start, reach out to your friends who love to read.

D．There are also general questions you can start out with.

E．You can never go wrong with the bestseller list to get the ball rolling.

F．Choose something with that criteria and you can please all kinds of readers.

G．If you’ve ever had the urge to start a book club, it’s easier than you might think.

2 . On the streets of Manhattan and Washington, D. C., in neighborhoods in Seoul and parks in Paris, ginkgo (银杏) trees are losing their leaves in reaction to the first gust of cold winter air. This leaf drop, gradual at first, and then sudden, carpets streets with golden, fan-shaped leaves. Scientists are documenting evidence of the event happening later and later, a possible indication of climate change. But the story of ginkgos is not the familiar one of human carelessness with nature.

Thanks to fossils found in North Dakota, scientists found a ginkgo has genetically similar ancestors dating back 170 million years to the Jurassic Period. “It almost went extinct. Then humans rescued it and spread it around the world. It’s such a great evolutionary (进化) and cultural story,” says Peter Crane, a ginkgo expert.

One theory for the decline of the ginkgo species began 130 million years ago, when flowering plants began spreading. They grew faster and attracted more pollinators (传粉者) than ginkgos. “It’s possible that ginkgos were elbowed out of the way,” says Crane. Already competing to survive, ginkgos began to disappear during a time of global cooling that began around 66 million years ago. By the time the last ice age ended 11,000 years ago, the remaining survivors were found in China.

Ginkgo trees are smelly. “My guess is that they were eaten by animals that liked smelly things. They then passed through their body and grew.” Crane says. Those same seeds may have helped ginkgo find favor with humans 1,000 years ago. Once cleaned of their outer layer, ginkgo seeds are safe to eat. It’s then, when the trees had long since disappeared elsewhere, that people in China may have begun planting them and eating their seeds. Then gradually ginkgos spread across the world. Now it’s seemingly naturally resistant to insects and high levels of air pollution.

Crane isn’t worried about its future, though: The popularity of the species will help it survive. “Though its status in the wild may be difficult to access, it’s a plant that’s unlikely to ever go extinct,” he says.

1. What may have caused the further delay of ginkgo’s leaf drop?

A．The colder weather in winter.

B．The protection from city councils.

C．The global warming phenomenon.

D．The careless interaction with humans.

2. What does paragraph 3 mainly talk about?

A．The reasons why ginkgos almost died out.

B．The advantages of ginkgos over other plants.

C．The theories of experts for multiplying ginkgos.

D．The competition between various flowering plants.

3. What might have contributed to ginkgos’ survival?

A．Their eatable seeds.	B．Their unpleasant smell.
C．The natural evolution.	D．The careful planting.

4. How does Crane feel about ginkgos’ future?

A．Worried.

B．Optimistic.

C．Uncertain.

D．Hopeless.

3 . Imagine being able to use energy from the sun all the time, even when it’s night. That’s the idea that scientists at Caltech（California Institute of Technology）are exploring. They’re working on collecting sunlight in space and sending its energy to Earth.

Caltech’s scientists have created a special tool for this project. They call it MAPLE. MAPLE and two other devices are part of a project that was sent into space in January, 2023. MAPLE’s job is to test the idea of sending energy wirelessly from space to Earth. We’re used to using wires to move electrical energy from one place to another. But sending energy without wires is a lot trickier.

The method used by Caltech’s scientists depends on the way waves act when they meet. Imagine two waves coming together as they travel in the same direction. If the tops of the waves line up, they combine to make a bigger wave. But if the top of one wave lines up with the low point of the other, the waves cancel each other out. The Caltech team has found a way to control the timing of lots of microwaves so that they can combine their power, and focus the energy in one direction. It’s a little like using a magnifying（放大的）glass to focus sunlight into a small, hot point of light.

To prove that the system could work, MAPLE sent energy to two devices just 30 centimeters away in space. This energy was then turned into electricity, which made two small lights light up. Next, MAPLE sent energy all the way down to a lab at Caltech. The scientists were able to detect the energy, proving that it’s possible to send solar energy to Earth from space.

Dr. Hajimiri, one of the project’s leaders, thinks that one day, the system could be extremely useful, bringing energy to places that need it, all over the world. He believes that in the future, we’ll be able to send energy to remote regions and areas destroyed by war or natural disaster.

1. What is the challenge in Caltech’s project with MAPLE?

A．Solar energy detection.

B．Wireless energy delivery.

C．Sending devices into space.

D．Using wires to move electricity.

2. How does the Caltech team concentrate solar power?

A．By changing the way microwaves act.

B．By magnifying waves coming together.

C．By controlling the timing of microwaves.

D．By lining up the waves in opposite directions.

3. What potential benefit could the system bring in the future according to Dr. Hajimiri?

A．Warning people of natural disasters.

B．Turning solar energy into electricity.

C．Providing a solution to energy shortages.

D．Sending energy to regions in urgent need.

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

A．The Use of Solar Energy in Space Exploration

B．The Challenges of Generating Energy Without Wires

C．The Development of a New Tool for Collecting Electricity

D．The Possibility of Sending Energy Wirelessly from Space to Earth

4 . My plan to learn to play the cello (大提琴) was a health y choice. So I took the next innocent step of going to a shop that sells and rents string instruments, especially violins, violas, and cellos. The place was a hole-in-the-wall, up a steep flight of stairs. Instruments left a narrow path to the counter where a woman with grey hair and warm eyes greeted me. Since I couldn’t form a question about what I wanted, I just stood there exploring the scene, which felt immensely pleasurable.

I rented a cello, a bow, and a case to hold them. What attracted me to the cello was its enormous size and its soft, smooth, and memorable sounds. It’s an instrument made of beautifully polished wood that I could wrap my arms around and feel its powerful vibrations when the strings were played. That was a good starting point for me. The only problem was that I didn’t know how to play it.

There’s a popular belief that the cello is a particularly difficult instrument to learn. Another is the admonition, “Don’t bother if you are a beginner over age 10!” Well, I was 70, and what others thought no longer influenced me. And besides, I thought of the words of Dr. Cohen, who suggested that learning causes physical changes in the brain.

So I found a teacher who had respect for older adult beginners and I practiced diligently, daily for years, and sometimes disheartened, but I kept up. I’m happy to report that now, more than a decade later, I can hold my own in a string trio and two quartets （two violins, a viola, and me, the female cello）and even a senior community band. Of course, I’ll never sound like Yo-Yo Ma but you could recognize a Mozart piece if you heard me play it. And, more importantly, I don’t need to please anyone but myself.

Whether it’s a pleasurable pastime or a new career, the starting point is the same: wonder, curiosity, determination, and the desire to keep your brain sharp.

1. How did the writer feel in the shop?

A．Amused by the shop assistant.

B．Anxious for a live performance.

C．Pleased at the nice music atmosphere.

D．Curious about where to find a teacher.

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

A．Approval.	B．Criticism.
C．Puzzlement.	D．Warning.

3. Why does the writer mention Dr. Cohen in paragraph 3?

A．To recommend a reliable doctor.

B．To provide proof for common belief.

C．To add another reason for her decision.

D．To stress the crucial function of the brain.

4. Which of the following can best convey the writer’s idea?

A．Art is man’s second nature.

B．One is never too old to learn.

C．Education is the key to success.

D．Happiness is the best form of health.

5 . Animal volunteering abroad is the perfect opportunity for animal lovers who want to do something good while traveling. Here are several programs.

Leatherback Turtle Ambassador

Our main mission is to protect endangered sea turtles such as the leatherback sea turtle and the green sea turtle. By working with locals and environmental education programs, we will be able to educate people on the importance of protecting the valuable sea ecosystem.

Location: Limon, Costa Rica

Requirements: Age: 18-50; Language skill: basic English

Fee: 266€ per week

Wildlife Shelter Carer

Every year, hundreds of thousands of native animals are injured or become sick, often because of interaction with people or pets. Our wildlife shelters have rescued sick, injured native wildlife and loved them back to health to be returned to the natural environment. Since we receive no funding from governments, the shelters rely on the donations of volunteers and the public.

Location: New South Wales, Australia

Requirements: Age: 18-50; Language skill: fluent English

Fee: 706€ per week

Thai Elephant Sanctuary

Our program helps domesticated elephants rescued from a life of working on the streets or logging and provides care to rescued elephant population. The program has won numerous awards for its ethical contribution to the assistance of Thai Elephants. The team have rescued dozens of elephants and given them shelters in beautiful, open spaces.

Location: Phetchaburi province, Thailand

Requirements: Age: 18-50; Language skill: fluent English

Fee: 647€ per week

Force-free Horse Sanctuary Assistant

Are you passionate about horses and eager to make a positive impact on horse welfare? Join our incredible Force-Free Horse Sanctuary Program, where you’ll become part of a devoted team caring for our beautiful horses. Through positive reinforcement and force-free horsemanship skills, you’ll help improve the lives of these magnificent animals.

Location: Atajate, Spain

Requirements: Age: 14-50; Language skill: basic English or basic Spanish

Fee: 392€ per week

1. Which program costs least per week?

A．Leatherback Turtle Ambassador.	B．Wildlife Shelter Carer.
C．Thai Elephant Sanctuary.	D．Force-free Horse Sanctuary Assistant.

2. What can you do in the program of Wildlife Shelter Carer?

A．Advocate protecting sea animals.

B．Attend to animals in poor condition.

C．Adopt endangered animals as your pets.

D．Acquire complicated horsemanship skills.

3. Where can you volunteer if you are a 15-year-old English speaker?

A．Limon, Costa Rica.	B．New South Wales, Australia.
C．Phetchaburi province, Thailand.	D．Atajate, Spain.

6 . Learning how to apologize is similar to learning any new behavior. It may feel awkward and may not be polished at first.     1     There are several tips that will help you as you learn how to apologize.

First of all, wait until the right time and you are in the right place. Although public apology is often appropriate, discretion (谨慎) should be used.     2     Remember, you will be raising a topic that may recall a bad experience or bad feelings. Be respectful as you approach this task.

Be direct and brief in your approach. Acknowledge the fact that injury has occurred and then take responsibility for what happened. Be sincere in expressing your regret and demonstrate your willingness to take ownership of the situation.     3    

Even if you follow these steps, be prepared for rejection. Sometimes, the person apologizing has an expectation that the apology will lead to immediate forgiveness and acceptance.     4     If you think of the offense (冒犯) as an emotional bruise (瘀伤), think of the healing process as the color changes we see as a bruise heals.

    5     Knowing when to keep one’s mouth shut is a virtue. Keeping quiet may be very difficult, as post-apology listening is not easy. We may hear unpleasant observations from another about our own shortcomings. We may hear the expression of anger. One of the ways we let others know we are truly responsible and accountable for our mistakes is by listening to the other party pour out the feelings associated with our actions.

A．Forgiveness and acceptance may take time.

B．To give or receive a good apology is an art.

C．But with practice, everyone can learn to do it.

D．Listening to the response to our apologies is important.

E．Most apologies can and should happen in a private setting.

F．In other words, avoid excuses and offer to repair the damage.

G．Taking responsibility doesn’t mean accepting blame for everything.

7 . It was May 1945 when what would become one of America’s most popular home-cooking techniques first entered the English dictionary. In her cookbook, How to Cook and Eat in Chinese, 55-year-old Chinese immigrant (移民) Chao Yang Buwei described a process common in her homeland, where cooks would cut meat and vegetables into small bites and tumble (翻滚) them rapidly together over heat. “The Chinese term for the technique, ch’ao, cannot be accurately translated into English,” Chao complained. For short, she decided, “We shall call it ‘stir-fry.’” The term soon made its way into the American language and has since taken on a life of its own.

Chao came to cooking unexpectedly. A doctor by profession, she gave up her medical career to move to the United States in 1921 after her husband, the famed linguist (语言学家) Chao Yuanren, was offered a job at Harvard. Bored at home and only able to speak a little English, she turned to cooking dishes that reminded her of China: soups with mushrooms and pork flavored with soy sauce.

She eventually agreed when a friend begged her to write a cookbook. Chao’s eldest daughter helped her translate recipes from Chinese to English, before her husband put the finishing touches on the language, often adding phrasing that even Chao recognized as awkward. This stylistic conflict resulted in a cookbook that Chao was “ashamed to have written,” as she declared in an author’s note.

The cookbook succeeded, going into multiple printings by the end of 1945, though critics largely overlooked the anger in Chao’s words. English-language Chinese cookbooks had been published as far back as 1911 in the United States, but Chao’s was the first that refused to westernize Chinese cooking. She may have given America a well-worn phrase, but she knew that some aspects of the immigrant experience resist translation. Chao’s contribution to American food culture should have been enough to make her into headlines, but the New York Times did not even honor her with an obituary (讣告) upon her death. How many other cooking pioneers like Chao, immigrants who didn’t silence their difference in order to gain broad approval, still await rediscovery?

1. Which of the following is true about “chao”?

A．It is a cooking technique used only in America.

B．It quickly found a place in the American language.

C．It was accurately translated into “stir-fry” by Chao.

D．It means mixing together small pieces of materials.

2. What made Chao turn to traditional Chinese cooking?

A．Her interest in cooking.

B．Her profession as a doctor.

C．Inadaptability to life in America.

D．Encouragement from her husband.

3. What is most special about Chao’s cookbook?

A．Consistency in writing style.

B．Refusal to westernize Chinese cooking.

C．Success in pleasing the American taste.

D．Reflection of western culture.

4. What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A．Chao’s cookbook was largely overlooked by critics.

B．Chao followed the same trend as other cookbook writers.

C．Chao isn’t the only immigrant that deserves giving credit to.

D．Chao gained popularity for her unwillingness to silence her differences.

8 . Researchers have been aware for an extended period that adequate sleep at night is crucial for maintaining brain health. However, there is now encouraging information for individuals who enjoy taking short naps (小睡) during the day. A recent study found that daytime naps can have positive effects on brain function.

Researchers from the University College London in the UK and the University of the Republic in Uruguay looked at small sections of people’s DNA. There are 97 sections of DNA in humans that can identify whether a person is likely to be a daytime napper or not. The scientists used data from 35,080 people in the UK between the ages of 40 and 69. They identified people in the study whose DNA made them more likely to nap during the day and people whose DNA showed they didn’t need to nap. The team compared brain scans (扫描) of the nappers with scans of the non-nappers and noticed some key differences in their brains.

The results suggested that those who liked to nap had larger brains than those who didn’t. The brain naturally shrinks with age, so this meant that the brains of people who liked to nap aged more slowly than people who didn’t nap. The people who napped had brains that were about 9 cubic (立方的) inches larger than those who didn’t nap, which was equal to slowing down aging by three to six years.

Dr. Victoria Garfield, involved in the study, mentioned that the research could provide insights into maintaining brain health with age. She expressed hope that positive findings, such as the health benefits of daytime napping, would drive any negative impression away about midday naps. While the study lacked specific information on nap duration (持续时间), previous research suggests that around 30-minute naps are most beneficial for the brain. Additionally, taking a nap earlier in the day, as opposed to late afternoon, is less likely to impact nighttime sleep.

1. What does the recent study mentioned in the passage show about daytime naps?

A．They have no impact on brain function.

B．They can positively affect brain function.

C．They have a damaging effect on brain health.

D．They are only beneficial if taken for a long period.

2. How did the researchers identify those who tend to daytime napping?

A．By studying a large population aged 40-69.

B．By analyzing people and animals’ brain scans.

C．By examining small sections of people’s DNA.

D．By conducting surveys on daytime napping habits.

3. What is the likely meaning of the word “shrink” in paragraph 3?

A．To become more natural.	B．To physically reduce in size.
C．To age a little bit quickly.	D．To increase in volume.

4. What does the passage imply about the timing of daytime naps?

A．Late afternoon naps are more beneficial for brain health.

B．Nighttime sleep is unaffected by the timing of daytime naps.

C．The study does not provide information about the timing of naps.

D．Napping earlier in the day has a positive impact on nighttime sleep.

9 . Sonia Kleindorfer was a new director of the Konrad Lorenz Research Center in Austria. At her institute, Konrad Lorenz was a famous Austrian zoologist who could correctly name each kind of goose, which made Kleindorfer feel a certain amount of pressure. “I can do five, but when the next five come, I start to have a mental meltdown,” she says. So she contacted a more technically-minded colleague and asked him: Could he write a program to distinguish these faces?

He said, yes, but he’d need a database of geese photos to work with. Kleindorfer got her team out there, snapping pictures of the geese from every angle. After building the database, they wrote a piece of facial recognition AI that could ID a goose, by looking at specific features of its beak (喙). After a couple of years, the team reports that their goose recognition software is now about 97% accurate.

“Geese have such drama—there are archrivals (劲敌), and jealousy and retribution (报答),” Kleindorfer says. To find out how faces figured into this drama, she presented the geese with full-sized pictures of themselves, their partners, or another member of the flock. She showed evidence that geese seemed to recognize photos of their partners and friends, but not themselves. For further study, Sonia Kleindorfer hopes birdwatchers will someday be able to snap a picture of a goose, ID it, and share its location with scientists. But she adds, just remember, her new research suggests that bird watching goes both ways: Geese can remember faces too. “If you are ever not kind to a goose,” she warns, “that goose may find you again.”

Kleindorfer thinks that facial recognition is going to play a really important role in conservation and ecology. “We need more computer scientists trained in behavioral ecology and we need more conservation scientists trained in computer science,” she says. “But working together, I think we can do this.”

1. What was the problem of Sonia Kleindorfer at work?

A．She was always stressed.	B．She was not able to count the geese.
C．She suffered a mental illness.	D．She couldn’t recognize all the geese.

2. How does the program distinguish the geese?

A．By snapping pictures of the geese.	B．By presenting the full-sized pictures.
C．By identifying the beaks in the photos.	D．By building the database of the geese.

3. What is the finding of the new research?

A．Birdwatching is a dangerous activity.

B．Geese can locate and find human beings.

C．Geese have the ability of facial recognition.

D．Birdwatchers can snap a picture of a goose.

4. What does Kleindorfer stress in the last paragraph?

A．Science training.	B．Computer science.
C．Photo-taking skills.	D．Cross-subject study.

10 . As archaeologists (考古学家) examined ancient tombs in Turfan in western China, they discovered some surprisingly well-preserved and familiar relics. Though hardened from over 1,000 years, there sat little dumplings.

Exactly who invented dumplings remains a mystery. But some scholars suspect they were first spread by nomadic (游牧的) Turkic peoples living in western China and Central Asia. This is thought to be the case because “manti,” meaning “dumpling” or “steamed bun” in many Turkic languages, appears to be the root word for dumpling in several other languages. Ancient Turkic people probably filled their dumplings with meat. But it’s unclear when this practice began, or whether they learned the art of dumpling-making from others. However this happened, dumplings certainly gathered steam in ancient China.

Dumplings continued to take off and diversify in China over the next thousand years. Instead of the traditional meat filling, some communities chose vegetarian (素食) dumplings. People developed new cooking methods. The relationship between Chinese dumplings and those in other areas is tricky to trace, but food historians have made their best guesses based on available clues.

Besides Turkic tribes, some scholars believe that the Mongol Empire also contributed to the spread of dumplings, perhaps introducing them to parts of Eastern Europe. These dumplings could have come by way of China or directly from some of the Turkic peoples the Mongols hired to run their empire. One theory is that this gave rise to dumplings like pelmeni in Russia, pierogi in Poland and vareniki in Ukraine. The Mongol Empire also controlled Korea and might have likewise introduced dumplings there. Later, after Chinese dumpling varieties were introduced to more countries, English speakers began calling them dumplings, which means “little lumps”. During the Second World War, Chinese “jiaozi” were brought to Japan. So what about the Italian dumpling-like pasta? Some historians think it might be brought by Arab conquerors.

It’s unlikely that all dumpling dishes came from the same root tradition. However, we can appreciate the mysterious historical web that made dumplings so various.

1. What made Turkic peoples suspected to first spread dumplings?

A．The languages they used.	B．Their eating habits.
C．Their dumpling-making skills.	D．The newly found tombs.

2. What does the phrase “gathered steam” in paragraph 2 mean?

A．Originated.	B．Stabilized.
C．Got well-cooked.	D．Became popular.

3. What does paragraph 4 focus on?

A．The spreading process of dumplings.

B．The possible origins of dumplings.

C．Differences between various dumplings.

D．Reasons for the popularity of dumplings.

4. Which of the following best describe dumplings according to the passage?

A．Delicious.

B．Diverse.

C．Unusual.

D．Regional.