1 . Laboratory animals are vital in scientific research, enabling breakthroughs in medicine and biology and many other fields.
The World Day for Laboratory Animals, observed on April 24 each year, serves as an important reminder of our ethical obligations toward these animals. Established in 1979 by the UK’s National Anti-Vivisection Society, it advocates the“3R”principle: replacement, reduction, and refinement. Replacement involves using lower-level animals or alternative research methods. Reduction aims to minimize the number of animals used , while refinement focuses on human e practices.
However, ethical questions related to lab animals still raise concerns. For example, in September 2023, Neuralink, the company established by US billionaire Elon Musk, was said to mistreating monkeys during its experiments. After brain-computer chips were implanted in their brains, many of their monkeys suffered from multiple painful symptoms including diarrhea and paralysis, according to the US Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. In the end, there was no choice but to euthanize (使安乐死) the animals due to their suffering. This highlights the ongoing need for human e alternatives to animal experiments.
Thankfully, advancements in science and technology are opening new pathways that could further minimize or even wipe out the need for animal testing. For example, the organs-on-chips technology allows scientists to grow special human cells that act like real organs, on a tiny chip. Scientists use these organ chips to study how medicines or other things might affect the organs, without having to use animals for testing, according to Live Science Intelligence.
Li Yanqing at the Institute of Zoology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences wrote in an article: “How people treat animals not only reflects people’s understanding of the world, but also shows people’s attitude toward life.”
1. What is the purpose of the World Day for Laboratory Animals?| A．To raise awareness of ethical responsibilities. | B．To celebrate the great achievements in research. |
| C．To promote the good use of laboratory animals. | D．To advocate for further research facility expansion. |
| A．Decrease in animal use. | B．Focus on ethical treatment. |
| C．Increase in animal experimentation. | D．Encouragement for humane practices. |
| A．Treating animals ethically matters. |
| B．Lab animals are crucial in research. |
| C．Stricter rules are needed for animal experiments. |
| D．Treatment of animals reflects worldview and attitude. |
| A．A journal on animal research. | B．A website for animal protection. |
| C．A textbook on medical ethics. | D．A magazine on science research. |
2 . It is not hard to learn more about a piece of famous painting, but identifying an unknown painting can be tricky. What do you need to do to get its specific information? Here are tips to identify a painting.
·Use the signature or monogram (字母组合图案) to dig online and find the image. Look in the corners of the painting to see if there is a signature or monogram.
·Turn to an image recognition app to identify the painting immediately. If you’re struggling to remember an artist’s name or you want additional information on a particular painting, download an image recognition app designed specifically for art. There are several apps for both Android and iPhone that allow you to snap a photo of a painting to search through museum catalogues, university databases, and art history texts.
·Ask an expert to identify the era, style, or painter of an image.
·
In a word, the tips above are helpful.
| A．This is the easiest way to find a specific painting. |
| B．Locate its exact location when you appreciate the painting. |
| C．If the name is easy to read, search the artist’s name up online to find it. |
| D．Email or visit an art history professor to ask whether he can look at the image. |
| E．Take advantage of obvious clues in the subject matter to narrow down the date. |
| F．Thus, you’ll find it easier than you think to find the information you’re looking for. |
| G．If the professor mainly focuses on newer artists, a contemporary abstract piece is going to be easier to identify. |
A young boy, named Timmy, lived in a small town. He disliked doing any work; he found it boring and would always come up with a reason to avoid it. His room was always messy with toys thrown everywhere, socks under the bed. Books and clothes piled up like a small mountain. Homework often remained untouched on the desk, buried under comic books and game controllers.
Timmy avoided chores, finding them less exciting than his digital universe. Day and night, Timmy tapped buttons, lost in virtual battles, his eyes glued to the screen. Socializing means chatting with fellow games online rather than meeting friends outside.
One Saturday morning, Timmy’s mom asked him to clean up his room. Timmy frowned and ignored his mom, diving deeper into his video game. His mother sighed and went on with her chores. That afternoon, as Timmy was standing by the window, he noticed his neighbor, Mr. Jenkins, working tirelessly in his garden, repairing the wooden fence (栅栏).
At the sight of Timmy, Mr. Jenkins smiled and called out, “Hey, Timmy, I need a helper to hold the wooden strips (木条). And could you lend me a hand for a moment?” Hesitantly, Timmy walked over. Mr. Jenkins showed him how to do it. He continued to help do gardening work such as watering and weeding(除草) in the garden. As they worked, Mr. Jenkins shared his adventurous stories when he was a soldier, and Timmy listened with respect.
Hours passed, and to Timmy’s surprise, he enjoyed helping out. His hands were dirty, but he felt delighted and meaningful. As they finished, Mr. Jenkins thanked Timmy and showed him the result of their teamwork: a neat garden full of colorful flowers and fresh greenery. Timmy felt proud and realized that work could be fun and rewarding.
注意：1.续写词数为150 词左右;2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
The next day, Timmy decided to give his own room a change.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Later, when his mother entered his room, she was astonished.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________4 . It is claimed that, on average, one in five of school-aged children in Britain have a first language other than English. These languages are often labelled as “community languages” with some of them identified as the “languages for the future” in terms of supply and demand. For instance, the top five “languages for the future” are Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, French, Arabic and German. Yet, numerous reports point out, support for the community languages in the UK education system, from early years to further and higher education, is seriously lacking.
Part of the problem is the labelling. Languages that are part of the school and university curriculum are usually called “modern languages”. The classification of which language is a modern language for schools, and which is a community language seems somewhat unreasonable and largely a result of the history of language teaching in this country. It is also connected to Britain’s relationship with and attitudes towards the rest of the world. Languages of immigrants from outside Europe are community languages, whereas those from within Europe are modern languages.
It is high time to critically reflect whether it is still necessary and useful to categorize languages. The language curriculum for schools and universities should be broadened to include community languages. We must not forget that many of the so-called community languages in Britain are major national and international languages. We need to have a global perspective on languages. The inclusion of community languages in the education system can also have the added benefits of strengthening community ties by valuing the languages of minority groups.
In the meantime, a word of caution is needed as for the identification of languages “languages for the future”. It is usually done based on the roles specific languages play in the UK’s future prosperity, security and influence in the world. While that maybe an admirable objective, it could potentially lead to a rank of usefulness among different languages, with some being regarded as more useful, and therefore will receive more institutional support than others. However, a Global Britain needs to invest in upgrading and expanding its multilingual capacity. A person who knows more than one language can get more benefits in their future life. And that should begin by showing respect for the multilingual talents in different communities.
1. What can we learn about community languages in Britain?| A．They don’t obtain sufficient support. |
| B．They don’t have distinctive elements. |
| C．They are recognized based on preference. |
| D．They are emphasized in higher education. |
| A．Korean. | B．Arabic. | C．Mandarin Chinese. | D．Danish. |
| A．A Global Britain needs the identification of languages. |
| B．The UK’s future prosperity relies on “languages for the future”. |
| C．Confirming the usefulness of different languages deserves a try. |
| D．Multilingual capacity will likely contribute to one’s future life. |
| A．Disapproving. | B．Indifferent. | C．Tolerant. | D．Favorable. |
5 . In a heartwarming rescue operation off the coast of Houston-Galveston, a U.S. CoastGuard team discovered an unexpected passenger during a routine inspection of shipping containers. The team, led by Petty Officer 2nd Class McMahon, were astonished when they heard barking and scratching coming from one of the containers.
As they cautiously opened the container, they were greeted by the sight of a small, furry face — a dog trapped inside the dark space. The dog seemed remarkably calm and happy to be liberated from her limited quarters.
“As soon as we opened it, we could see the little dog’s face poking out,” McMahon said. “She just seemed happy more than anything, to be out of that dark space and in the arms of people that were going to take care of her.”
Further investigation by Coast Guard officials revealed that Connie had been trapped in the container for at least eight days, deprived of food and water. The container, filled with deserted vehicles intended for overseas sales, had likely originated from a junkyard.
“So based on that, they think that the dog most likely was in a junkyard, in a car. And that how she accidentally got put in the container,” Chief Petty Officer Corinne Zilnicki said.
Grateful for being in the right place at the right time, McMahon expressed the urgency of the situation. “It would take at least another week to get to where she was going and two weeks without food or water. I don’t think she would have made it,” he said.
Forever Changed Animal Rescue has taken her in, diligently working to nurse her back to health and prepare her for adoption.
1. What does the underlined word “liberated” in paragraph 2 mean?| A．Chained. | B．Released. | C．Protected. | D．Inspected. |
| A．At a deserted parking lot. | B．Off the local coast. |
| C．In an unusable vehicle. | D．In a limited container. |
| A．Being sold overseas. | B．Starving to death. |
| C．Living with a family. | D．Being trapped in a junkyard. |
| A．An Unexpected Passenger | B．A Touching Rescue |
| C．An Abandoned Dog | D．A Remarkable Team |
6 . A new study by Park, the UCLA economist, shows that the relationship between heat and human behavior extends well beyond violence.
Park’s research involved students in New York City sitting for standardized subject-specific high school exams at the temperatures varying from 15℃ to almost 37℃. Then, the research team looked at scores for almost 1 million students and about 4.5 million exams from 1999 to 2011.The analysis of the scores confirmed that students who take the exam on an approximately 32℃ day are 10 percent less likely to pass a given subject than if they had taken that exam on a 24℃ day.
Park and colleagues also looked at how hot temperatures might affect students’ performance across the country. This time, they zoomed in on the PSAT, a standardized exam administered to high schoolers in October that measures college readiness and provides a pathway to scholarships. They evaluated 21 million scores from nearly 10 million students who took the exam at least twice from 1998 to 2012.That way, the researchers could compare how students performed relative to themselves. The team also related exam scores with daily temperature data from around 3, 000weather stations across the country, as well as information about each student’s access to air conditioning. They found students in schools without air conditioning scored lower than would have been expected.
That sort of performance decline doesn’t just happen in academic settings; it extends to the workforce too. Tewari, whole d another team, observed workers from roughly one to nine years, depending on the industry. They discovered when temperatures climbed beyond 35℃, average daily production in the weaving factory dropped by about 2 percent and in the garment sewing factory by as much as 8 percent, compared with days under 30℃.
Based on Tewari’s discovery, the Park’s team scaled up to industries across America. By observing workers in different factories and analyzing national survey data, they found that productivity started dropping when average daily maximum temperatures rose above 20℃.The researchers’ calculations suggest that average annual output will decrease by 2.1 percent if average daily temperatures warm by 1℃ overcurrent conditions; annual gross domestic product, or the value of goods and services produced in a single year, would drop by 3 percent
1. What are the Park’s research findings mainly based on?| A．Data analysis. | B．In-depth interviews. | C．Case study. | D．Literature review. |
| A．They evaluated how hard students prepared for the PSAT. |
| B．They provided a pathway for 10 million students to scholarships. |
| C．They considered the factor of students’ access to air conditioning. |
| D．They compared the performances of students across the world. |
| A．To conduct a comparative experiment. |
| B．To give more theoretical foundation. |
| C．To argue against the existing research. |
| D．To further support the study findings. |
| A．The impact of heal on students’ exam scores. |
| B．The effect of temperature on human behavior. |
| C．The influence of heat on a declining workforce. |
| D．The link between heat and industry production. |
7 . Composting At Home
Any gardener can benefit from adding nutrients and organic matter to the soil to help plants grow strongly and vigorously.
●Combine green and brown materials
●Water your compost pile
Usually rainfall is enough to keep it damp, but in a dry summer you might have to spray it with water. Don’t add too much water or the microorganisms in your compost pile will become waterlogged and be drowned.
●
Air is vital to the composting process, so it’s important to mix the ingredients in together, and never press them flat. You should turn the pile periodically with a garden fork and keep it damp. This step provides oxygen, and the dampness assures the survival of the microorganisms, which need moisture to live.
●Feed your garden with compost
When the compost pile no longer gives off heat and becomes dry, brown, and crumbly, it’s fully cooked and ready to feed to the garden. Add about 4 to 6 inches of compost to your flower beds and a thick layer to the top of pots at the beginning of each planting season.
Composting at home is easy and environmentally friendly.
| A．Stir your compost pile regularly |
| B．Harvest your finished compost |
| C．Plus, it’s a treat for your garden |
| D．If this happens, your pile will breakdown instead of compost |
| E．Almost anything you chop in the kitchen can go in the compost bin |
| F．One of the most popular and beneficial substances to add is compost |
| G．Once your pile is setup, maintaining it takes just a few minutes each week |
8 . Four Brilliant Art and Craft Books
If you are into art and craft, there are four brilliant books for you to choose from. Practise your artistic skills, whether you want to draw comics or sew a cushion.
Make Art With Nature by Pippa PixleyThis book is packed with inspiring and exciting ideas for using nature in your artwork.
Discover how earth can be used to make paints and how flowers can create ink. You can also find out ways to add natural materials into your artistic creations using print-making. This Book Will Make You an Artist by Ruth Millington.
Take inspiration from artistic masters like Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso and Yayoi Kusama with this fun book, which introduces you to 25 different artistic techniques inspired by the work of world-famous artists. Full of information and ideas, it’s a great way to learn more about a wide range of different artists and their styles.
How to Draw a Graphic Novel by Balthazar PaganiIf you love comic books, then why not try creating one of your own? This guide to creating a vivid novel combines technical advice with creative inspiration. Plus you’ll find interview s with famous comic creators.
A Beginner’s Guide to Needlecraft by Jane BullTry your hand at simple sewing projects, such as felt flowers or a patchwork cushion. Step-by-step instructions and photographs make it easy to learn a whole range of different techniques, including crochet and embroidery (刺绣).
1. What can you find in Pippa Pixley’s book?| A．25 different artistic techniques. |
| B．Interviews with famous comic creators. |
| C．Step-by-step instructions and photographs. |
| D．Ways to add natural materials into artistic creations. |
| A．Make Art With Nature. | B．How to Draw a Graphic Novel. |
| C．This Book Will Make You an Artist. | D．A Beginner’s Guide to Needlecraft. |
| A．How to make paints. | B．How to draw comics. |
| C．How to sew a cushion. | D．How to become an artist. |
9 . Thanks to researchers from Northwestern Polytechnical University, robot guide dogs that use an artificial intelligence language model may soon be accessible to 17 million people with visual problems in China. The AI guide dog, developed by the university, can assist with tasks like crossing streets, using elevators, and navigating (导航) indoor spaces without being connected to the Internet.
Robot guide dog is an intelligent machine with a physical form. It can interact with the environment in real-time using sensors to execute instructions or make decisions. “Though in recent years there have been some electronic navigation aids, such as electronic navigation helmets, and electronic guide dogs, they cannot engage in conversations with people or fully understand human instructions,” said Sun Zhe, an associate professor at the university.
“They can only carry out tasks according to pre-set programs. They are just cold machines. That’s not enough. The research makes it possible to provide better guidance services for people with visual problems, especially for emotional companionship, ” Sun said.
“People with visual problems face numerous challenges in daily life, including navigation difficulties and safety threats,” Sun said. “Smart guide dogs using the language model can offer them more convenient and safe navigation, effectively improving their quality of life.”
Training a traditional guide dog can cost as much as 200,000 yuan ($ 28,000), and there are fewer than 200 guide dogs in China. Therefore, the research team began developing the smart guide dog based on the AI model, which is much more affordable for people with visual problems. Its findings have been published in the Communications of the Chinese Computer Society.
“The current results prove the possibility of this approach, but there is still some wayto go before it can be put into practical application,” Sun said. “We will put more effort into it and make it available for those in need as soon as possible.”
1. What can the AI guide dog do?| A．Send out all instructions. | B．Navigate without Internet. |
| C．Improve the AI technology. | D．Imitate human conversations. |
| A．Change. | B．Guide. | C．Conduct. | D．Explain. |
| A．To analyze AI guide dogs. | B．To use sensors to carry out tasks. |
| C．To compare different AI guide dogs. | D．To offer better guidance for those in need. |
| A．AI Guide Dogs May Offer Visual Aid | B．AI Guide Dogs Will Reduce the Cost |
| C．AI Guide Dogs May Navigate Indoor Spaces | D．AI Guide Dogs Will Replace Traditional Dogs |
10 . Do you know how to cycle? It is a skill that, once learned, is never forgotten. For the majority of us, the art of balancing on two wheels was mastered during our childhood. Many still wear helmets, put feet on the pedals, and take a ride around the streets. And in recent years, cycling has become more and more popular. What attracts people to ride their bikes once again?
Cycling offers a lot of advantages that affect both our physical and mental health. For example, regular cycling can improve the function of our cardiovascular (心血管的)system, assist in the burning of extra body fat and strengthen our leg muscles. A long ride in the countryside helps us to clear our mind easily.
Riding a bike is a smart choice for getting to work, shopping, or sightseeing. You can save money that you would otherwise spend on fuels and fares. Unlike cars that struggle with parking, bikes can be easily locked up. Then, on the train, there are chances at stations and other people speaking loudly on their phones. Cyclists face neither of these problems. And if we’re worried about safety, there are cycle lanes in many cities, or we can wear light-colored clothes to improve our safety when cycling on the roads.
Cycling can also be good for the environment. It cuts our carbon footprint, which means we make less pollution. It’s great for our planet and keeps the air clean around us. When we ride bikes, we don’t use fuel like cars do, and that’s really good for our environment.
Therefore, more and more people choose to ride for many benefits such as improving their health, easily going to work, saving money, protecting the environment, or a combination of these factors.
1. When do most people learn to ride?| A．In their free time. | B．After their retirement. |
| C．At their young ages. | D．During their adulthood. |
| A．It is a good way to save money. |
| B．It is a great idea to relax cyclists. |
| C．It is dangerous to cycle on the roads. |
| D．It is difficult to find a place park the bike. |
| A．Consumes more fuels. | B．Increases air pollution. |
| C．Causes fewer accidents. | D．Reduces carbon footprint. |
| A．Sports & Health. | B．Travel & Culture. |
| C．Science & Technology. | D．Animals & Environment. |
