1 . Salad is good for you, generally speaking, so growing fresh greens in orbit seems like a winning way for space workers to stay healthy. New research suggests that as nutritious as space salad might be, it could pose something of a risk to astronauts.

The problem is growing leafy plants like lettuce (生菜) in space can come with a side dish of bacteria (细菌), according to a new study from a team at the University of Delaware. In tests on plants grown in modeled micro-gravity, they were shown to actually be more sensitive than normal to the Salmonella enterica (SE) (沙门氏菌).

We know that the International Space Station (ISS) is home to a lot of aggressive bacteria, and if these space virus were to cause widespread sickness in an astronaut crew, it would mean lives were at risk. “You don’t want the whole mission to fail just because of a food safety outbreak,” says plant biologist Harsh Bais from the University of Delaware.

Bais and his colleagues used a device to perform some clever rotation tricks in the lab, putting lettuce plants into a similar state as they would be in micro-gravity. They then added SE bacteria to the leaves. What was interesting — and surprising — was that the tiny stomata (气孔) in the lettuce opened up to allow the bacteria to get in. Ordinarily, the job of the stomata is to keep dangerous attackers out, while at the same time helping the plant to breathe.

The researchers then added a more helpful species of bacteria, one that typically protects plants from external stressors. Again, the defense didn’t work in micro-gravity — suggesting there’s something about this state that disables the chemical reactions that the lettuce would normally use to keep itself safe.

Add in what we know about space bacteria being particularly tricky, and this is a potential problem. The team behind the study wants to see a lot more research into making sure our foodstuffs are safe outside of orbit.

1. Why can’t lettuce be grown in ISS?

A．Its leaves takes up too much space.	B．It brings in illness-causing bacteria.
C．It is only a side dish to astronauts.	D．It can’t grow well in micro-gravity.

2. What is Bais’ attitude to growing plants in space?

A．Negative.

B．Sensitive.

C．Enthusiastic.

D．Unconcerned.

3. What did the tiny stomata do in the experiment?

A．They kept lettuce from breathing.	B．They ensure the safety of lettuce.
C．They failed to function as expected.	D．They stopped all bacteria coming in.

4. What is a best tile for the text?

A．SE, the Worst Bacteria in Space	B．Greens for Salad, a Risk in Space
C．Lettuce, Plant Samples Used in Space	D．Food Safety, a Key Problem in Space

2 . Mental health is a growing worldwide problem. Because it can affect people at a young age, they’ll often need treatment for many years. Artificial Intelligence (AI) will surely impact every aspect of modern life and society. Scientists and doctors have already begun to explore its potential for mental health research and treatment. Join us for this year’s conference, where experts will discuss how AI will help people in their mental health therapy (治疗).

Agenda * 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Check In (Continental breakfast will be provided) * 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Lecture’s topic: A Fruitful Reciprocity (互惠): The Neuroscience-AI Connection Speaker: Dr. Dan Yamins, Assistant Professor of Psychology and of Computer Science, Stanford University * 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Lecture’s topic: From AI for mental health to digital therapeutics Speaker: Dr. Aldo Faisal, Professor of AI & Neuroscience, Imperial College London * 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Lunch Break * 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Lecture’s topic: Computational Psychiatry Speaker: Dr. Frederike Petzschner, Assistant Professor of Brain Science, Brown University * 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Lecture’s topic: What can GenAI teach us about the nature of intelligence? Speaker: Dr. Blaise Arcas, Researcher at Google Research * 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Lecture’s topic: Artificial Intelligence in Medical Imaging Speaker: Dr. Hugo Aerts, Associate Professor, Brigham and Women’s Hospital; Full Professor at Maastricht University

1. What is the topic of this year’s conference?

A．AI’s advantage in modern society.	B．AI’s influence on people’s daily life.
C．The difficulty in treating mental health.	D．Applications of AI in treating mental health.

2. How many lectures will be given during the conference?

A．Three.

B．Five.

C．Seven.

D．Nine.

3. Who will talk about the effect of AI on medical imaging?

A．Dr. Hugo Aerts.

B．Dr. Aldo Faisal.

C．Dr. Dan Yamins.

D．Dr. Frederike Petzschner.

3 . Top Scientific Breakthroughs in 2023

The pace of innovation never slows, and the impact of the breakthroughs will redefine the way we live, work and connect with the world.

A New Era for Space Exploration

Space exploration is one of the core missions in many countries. Recently, the newest mission to the moon was launched as NASA’s Artemis Program, which would pave the way for a future mission to Mars. This new era of space exploration will drive technological advancements in fields beyond astronautics and stimulate progress in real-world applications like materials, food science, and modern industry.

A Milestone in AI Predictions

For decades, the scientific community has chased a greater understanding of relationships between protein functions and 3D structures. In July 2023, Deep Mind revealed that the folded 3D structure of a protein molecule (分子), which reduced the number of human proteins with unknown structural data from 4,800 to just 29. While there will always be challenges with AI, the ability to predict protein structures in biology has implications across all life sciences.

Greener Fertilizer Production

Every year, billions of people depend on fertilizers for the ongoing production of food, and reducing the carbon footprint and expenses in fertilizer production would reshape the impact agriculture has on emissions. To reduce energy requirements, researchers from Tokyo Tech have developed a noble-metal-free catalyst (催化剂), which is much more environmentally friendly and safer to the agricultural produces.

Supercomputer—Exascale

Exascale computers, which can perform a mind-boggling quintillion (10¹⁸) mathematical operations per second, finally arrived in 2023. They’ve already helped refine weather forecasts and design new materials, and new ones will be coming online soon. The world’s most powerful supercomputers, operating at the far frontier of speed known as the exascale, have now begun to boom. These results from exascale machines coming online in the next few years promise to open a new window into materials, climate science, and medicine.

To stay ahead of emerging trends, new discoveries and unique perspectives, we invite you to subscribe to CAS Insights!

1. What do the Space Exploration and Fertilizer Production have in common?

A．They take a lot of time.	B．They make influence on the food.
C．They need government cooperation.	D．They cost a big sum of money to maintain.

2. Which aspect has a close connection with biology?

A．A New Era for Space Exploration.	B．A Milestone in AI Predictions.
C．Greener Fertilizer Production.	D．Supercomputers—Exascale.

3. Where is this text probably taken from?

A．A textbook.

B．An exam paper.

C．A magazine.

D．A science fiction.

4 . Animals were the real pioneers of space flight. Let us learn about some animals that have been to space.

A. Fruit flies

On February 20, 1947, the United States sent some fruit flies into space to study the impact that cosmic radiation (宇宙辐射) might potentially have on astronauts in the future. They chose flies because they are genetically similar to humans.

When they returned to Earth, the scientists found the flies alive, with no evidence of the effects of radiation.

B. Mice

Mice have long been used to find out more about how space travel will affect the human body. In fact, NASA has recently published a study of mice housed at the International Space Station. It shows that mice quickly adapt to microgravity (微重力) conditions.

The very first mouse went into space in 1950, reaching an altitude of 137km. However, unlike the fruit flies, the mouse died when the rocket broke into parts due to a parachute (降落伞) failure.

C. Dogs

Laika, a Russian homeless dog, went to space on November 3, 1957. She was picked up on the streets and was thought suitable because she had a gentle temperament (性情) and behaved well. The scientists also believed a homeless dog would be better at dealing with difficult conditions like microgravity than a pet dog.

Laika is famous for being the first animal to orbit (环绕……运行) the Earth. However, she never returned.

D. Spiders

In 1973, two garden spiders called Anita and Arabella were used in an experiment to see if they could still build webs in space.

Both spiders managed to build webs, even though the webs were slightly finer than on Earth. The study showed a great deal about the effects of microgravity on motor response (运动反应).

1. What can we learn about the mouse astronaut?

A．It failed to come back alive.

B．It couldn’t survive in microgravity conditions.

C．Its genes were similar to humans’.

D．It was the first animal to be sent to space.

2. Laika was chosen by the scientists for all the following reasons EXCEPT ________ .

A．her good temperament	B．her identity as a pet dog
C．her ability to deal with microgravity	D．her good behavior

3. What’s the purpose of sending the two spiders to space?

A．To compare the quality of webs they made on Earth and in space.

B．To study the impact of cosmic radiation on their survival.

C．To see how fast they could build webs in space.

D．To see whether they could build webs in space.

5 . Developed by US company OpenAI, ChatGPT has got viral, winning 100 million internet users since it came out in November 2022. People can ask the robot to write stories and emails, create instructions for cooking a certain food, translate languages, and answer all kinds of questions. In its own words, it is “a language model trained in a large amount of internet text to help users get human-like text. ”

Compared with Siri or other chatbots, ChatGPT uses a much bigger information center for training. It also uses stronger software and hardware to learn things by itself. For example, if it provides a wrong answer to your question, you can tell it the right one and it will correct itself. “It’s a totally different chatbot,” computer scientist Liu Xiaoguang from Nankai University said. “The knowledge level ChatGPT shows is the same as a university student. That’s why it shocked the world.”

But one big problem with ChatGPT is that it makes mistakes or even gives false information. When Rezza, a 28-year-old from Indonesia, used the robot to write an passage, it “gave out many examples which other writers actually hadn’t mentioned at all”, he told a local newspaper. Since the robot is trained using words from the internet, it can also pick up biases(偏见) about certain groups. These are all things that need to be dealt with.

1. What does the underlined part mean in Paragraph 1?

A．Done harm to the internet.	B．Brought strong wind and heavy rain.
C．Become popular overnight.	D．Caused serious changes of the weather.

2. Why did ChatGPT shock the world?

A．It can find mistakes by itself.

B．It works differently from other chatbots.

C．Its information center is easier to control than Siri’s.

D．Its knowledge level is as high as a university student.

3. What can we learn from the last paragraph?

A．ChatGPT needs improvement.	B．Anybody may give false information.
C．Anybody can make mistakes.	D．ChatGPT can’t get on well with humans.

4. What might be the best title of the text?

A．ChatGPT is Coming!	B．ChatGPT is Catching the World’s Eyes!
C．Can ChatGPT Take the Place of Humans?	D．Can ChatGPT Avoid Biases Properly?

6 . There is a day in the life with AI, who follows your move: the way you travel, the food you eat, how you spend your money, the news you read and your social interactions...

7a.m   You wake up and glance at your iPhone, which unlocks itself using facial recognition

Apple’s Face ID changes your face to a set of numbers that act as your own unique identifier. This biometric portrait is not set in stone-it uses AI to track changes in your appearance, updating its model if you grow a beard, change your makeup style or get older and it also detects whether your eyes are open and your attention is directed at your phone.

8:30a.m   You drive to work in your electric car

Cars such as the Tesla can do most of the ordinary aspects of driving. The vehicle’s AI system collects data from eight cameras, identifies obstacles, lanes, intersections and traffic lights and decides what action to take, whether moving skillfully into an awkward parking spot or overtaking a slow lorry. But self-driving cars know only how to deal with situations they have seen before and an ongoing challenge is how to equip them for rare and unexpected events.

4:30p.m   Your phone rings with a message from your Amazon Ring doorbell-a package has been delivered to your doorstep

Last year, about one in five households in the UK reported having an AI-based home security system. Amazon Ring uses a motion-activated camera, heat sensor and radar and uses computer vision software to make users different when a person, or a package, is outside their property. Humans have a heavy heat signature and with the radar, the object moving in 3D spaces can be detected.

9:30p.m   You scroll (滚动) through a newspaper article that contains a special ad

As you read news articles, scroll through social media, make Google searches and buy things online, you leave a trail of clues about who you are, what you might want to spend your money on-that is incredibly valuable for digital advertisers. AI sift (筛) this data for insights into your age, gender, lifestyle, income and your hobbies. This allows companies such as Google to serve up specific, targeted adverts that pop up as you scroll through a news article.

1. Which of the following is the disadvantage of electric cars?

A．Tendency to cut in.	B．Speeding on the lane.
C．Uncontrolled parking areas.	D．Lack of information about emergencies.

2. What can we learn about AI from the text?

A．Apple’s Face ID may change your facial features.

B．Self-driving vehicles can replace human drivers.

C．About 20% of English homes adopt Amazon Ring.

D．AI can work out your personal online preference.

3. What information does the text convey?

A．We will live a better life with AI.	B．AI enters many aspects of our life.
C．The smartphone is a necessity for us.	D．Personal information is no longer secure.

7 . Mars rover (火星车) Zhurong, part of China’s Tianwen-1 Mars exploration mission, has provided key observational evidence of liquid water at low Martian latitudes (纬度), the warmest regions on the red planet, according to a new study.

Previous studies found evidence of a large amount of liquid water on early Mars, but climate changes led to very low pressure and water vapor content (水汽含量), making it difficult for liquid water to exist on the present-day planet. Scientists believe that water can now only exist there in solid or gaseous forms.

However, robots on Mars have found that salty liquid water can appear in the summer at high latitudes on Mars. But evidence of liquid water at the planet’s low latitudes, where surface temperatures are highest, is still lacking. Findings from the Zhurong rover, whose landing site was in a low-latitude region of Mars, now fill that gap.

A group of more than 20 researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences has since used data obtained by cameras and detectors on the rover to study the surface features and material compositions of sand hills in the landing area.

Researchers explained that salts in sand hills cause frost and snow to melt at low temperatures to form salty liquid water. When it dries, it leaves trace on the surface of the planet. They also said the sand hills Zhurong found were formed about 400,000 to 1.4 million years ago. The exchange of water vapor between the higher and lower latitudes during this period led to repeated wet environments at low Martian latitudes, followed by the frequent occurrence of salty water when temperatures dropped in the region.

The discovery provides key proof of liquid water at Martian low latitudes, where surface temperatures are relatively warm and more suitable for life than high latitudes. It also provides information for the design of future exploration strategies for Mars rovers to search for existing life on Mars, researchers said in the study.

1. What is the purpose of paragraph 2 and 3?

A．To show the effects of climate changes.

B．To stress the contribution of the discovery.

C．To introduce the findings of previous studies.

D．To present the lack of evidence of water on Mars.

2. Where does the salty liquid water on Mars come from?

A．The exchange of water vapor.

B．Frost and snow melted by salt.

C．Water vapor at lower temperatures.

D．Water collection from the wet environment.

3. What is the main idea for the passage?

A．Zhurong looks for signs of existing life.

B．Zhurong plans to search for signs of water.

C．Zhurong finds new evidence of water on Mars.

D．Zhurong lands its robotic arms on the red planet.

4. What is the significance of the latest study on Mars?

A．It explores Mars landing strategies.

B．It proves the existence of solid water.

C．It finds an environment good for lives.

D．It helps future Mars exploration plans.

8 . Instant Expert: Wonders of Space

Saturday 17th July, 10am - 5pm | Cavendish Conference Centre, London

Join us for a day of exploring the wonders of outer space with six leading scientists. You will start where everything began, at the Big Bang. Throughout the day, you will hear about everything from the exploration to find life on Mars to the discovery of liveable planets outside our solar system.

Who should attend?

Anyone interested in the mysteries of space, whatever your age or background. Whether you’re a scientist, a student or simply an attracted human being, our event offers the chance to learn directly from the experts at our one-day masterclass.

Benefits of attending:

·Open your mind and be inspired.

· Talk with like-minded people through informal set-up.

· Meet our six speakers and ask your burning questions.

What’s included in your ticket:

· In-depth and interesting talks from six leading scientists.

·Buffet lunch, plus morning and afternoon drinks and snacks.

· An Instant Expert certificate provided by event organizers.

Booking information:

We will email you your ticket immediately after purchase. Please remember to bring your ticket with you as you’ll need it to gain entry. We can scan (扫描) tickets from a printout, or off the screen of a phone.

A limited number of discounted early bird tickets priced at £129 will be offered, saving £20. These tickets can be bought by clicking the following green “Buy” button if still available.

1. Who is the event intended for?

A．Science students.	B．Space fans.
C．Leading scientists.	D．Research experts.

2. What can participants expect from the event?

A．Free meals throughout the day.	B．Certificates from famous schools.
C．Gatherings with event organizers.	D．Face-to-face meetings with scientists.

3. What should people do if they want to save money?

A．Buy tickets quickly.	B．Choose digital tickets.
C．Reserve tickets online.	D．Print tickets in advance.

9 . Recycling is good for our planet, but it can be confusing. Can I recycle plastic bags? What about pizza cartons? Toothpaste tubes? Which bin should I use? There are so many questions, and more than half of Americans are unsure about how to recycle.     1     Here’s a handy four-step guide on how to recycle effectively:

Know what to put in the recycling bin. Keep it simple and focus on the most commonly recycled items, such as paper, glass, aluminum and plastic.     2     Don’t use the recycled symbol as a guide. “The number on the container is really for people to identify the type of resin (树脂). That’s not helpful for the common consumer,” said Cody Marshall, a strategist at nonprofit Recycling Partnership.

    3     It is really important to know what you cannot put in your bin. You can always check with your city or at BeRecycled.org. If you live in the US, just plug in your postcode to search. Recycling companies struggle with the same problem items: hoses (软管), cords, needles and clothing, according to Marshall, so don’t put those items in your bin.

Wash or clean items. Do a quick clean to make sure there is no food left in containers before you put them in the bin.     4     Save food for composting (堆肥) in your garden.

Don’t bag it. Unless you live in a place that requires it, like New York City, keep the recyclables lost in the bin. “A lot of the time, it’s not safe for our employees to tear those bags open, or it takes too much time,” said Keller. “    5    ”

A．Know what is not recyclable.

B．The answers are not hard to find.

C．A lot of bagged stuff goes right to the landfill.

D．Plastic bags can be used again or returned to grocery stores.

E．If you really don’t know if an item is recyclable, then just throw it in the garbage.

F．This is really important if you only use one bin because food items could ruin paper.

G．Hard plastics like water and soft drink bottles or anything like these can be recycled.

10 . Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a fashion word in recent years, and its impact on society is growing rapidly. AI refers to the development of computer systems that can perform tasks that would typically require human intelligence, such as learning, problem-solving, and decision-making. This technology is transforming every industry, from healthcare to finance, and is expected to revolutionize the future.

One area where AI is making significant strides is healthcare. AI-powered tools can analyze vast amounts of medical data and help doctors make more informed diagnoses and treatment decisions. This technology is particularly useful in fields such as radiology, where AI algorithms can analyze medical images to detect abnormalities that may be missed by human eyes.

In finance, AI is being used to analyze vast amounts of data to identify patterns and predict market trends. This technology can help traders make more informed decisions and reduce the risks of financial losses. Similarly, AI -powered chatbots are being used in customer service, helping to improve response times and provide personalized support.

As the use of AI grows, concerns about job displacement have also arisen. Some fear that AI-powered machines and robots will replace human workers, leading to mass unemployment. While this is a possibility, it is also important to note that AI will create new jobs in fields such as data analysis, software development, and robotics.

Another major concern about Al is the potential for bias and discrimination. AI algorithms are only as good as the data they are trained on, and if that data contains biases, the algorithms will also be biased. This issue is particularly concerning in fields such as criminal justice, where AI-powered systems are being used to make decisions about sentencing. If these algorithms are biased, they could make existing inequalities continue in the criminal justice system.

Despite these concerns, the benefits of AI are numerous and undeniable. However, to ensure that these benefits are accessible to all and to address concerns about bias and discrimination, it is crucial to continue researching and developing moral AI.

1. Al outweighs humans in healthcare in that it          .

A．stops financial risks.	B．ensures precise judgement.
C．recognizes market tendency.	D．offers personalized services.

2. What is one of the major concerns of AI?

A．New jobs will be unavailable.	B．Algorithms will be out of date.
C．Unfairness may arise in criminal justice system.	D．A large number of human workers will be laid off.

3. How does the writer mainly develop this text?

A．By stating facts and citing quotes.

B．By showing different ideas and giving reasons.

C．By presenting influences and listing examples.

D．By comparing research results and offering suggestions.

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

A．Artificial Intelligence: Becoming a Fashion Word

B．Artificial Intelligence: Revolutionizing the Future

C．Artificial Intelligence: Bettering Decision Making

D．Artificial Intelligence: Improving Human Abilities