相关试卷

Researchers led by academics at Imperial College London studied data from the UK Biobank study on more than 26, 000 people who had completed intelligence, reasoning, reaction time and memory tests. They then examined how participants' sleep duration, quality, and chronotype affected brain performance. They found that those who stay up late and those classed as "intermediate" had "superior cognitive function", while morning larks had the lowest scores. Going to bed late is strongly associated with creative types. Artists, authors and musicians known to be night owls include James Joyce and Lady Gaga.

But while politicians like Barack Obama famously seemed to thrive on little sleep, the study found that sleep duration is important for brain function, with those getting between seven and nine hours of shut-eye each night performing best in cognitive tests. Prof Daqing Ma, the co-leader of the study, added, "We found that sleep duration has a direct effect on brain function, and we believe that actively managing sleep patterns is really important for boosting and safeguarding the way our brains work. We'd ideally like to see policy interventions to help sleep patterns improve in the general population."

Some experts, however, urged caution in interpreting the findings. Jessica Chelekis, a sleep expert at Brunel University London, said there were "important limitations" to the study as the research did not account for education attainment, or include the time of day the cognitive tests were conducted in the results. The main value of the study was challenging stereotypes around sleep, she added.

With roughly 90% of trade relying on shipping, quieting the ocean through reductions in shipping itself is untenable . While efficiency improvements of shipping may cut noise, experts say more is needed. That is why technologies like modified propellers (螺旋桨) and noise-reducing materials are being developed to help humans and marine life coexist.

Much of the underwater noise a ship produces comes from its propeller. Spinning blades (桨叶) create low pressure, causing the water to boil and produce bubbles, a process known as cavitation (空化现象). When those bubbles collapse, a low-frequency noise is produced, disrupting the movements of marine lives.

One solution, being developed by researchers at the University of British Columbia, integrates flexible polymers (聚合物) into the metal propeller blades, allowing their tips to bend and twist. This movement prevents bubbles from forming and thereby reduces the noise the blades produce. Based on simulations, the design could reduce cavitation noise by 20 decibels. Dr Jaiman says researchers intend to start testing a model next year.

Cavitation can also be reduced by increasing the number of bubbles, rather than reducing them. Researchers at MARIN, a Dutch research institute, have blown bubbles onto a propeller's blades, which can dampen the resulting noise. Model-scale tests of this system showed a 12-decibel decrease in low-frequency noise. But shipping noise does not come only from the propeller, with roughly 20% coming from engines and generators. To reduce this, MARIN researchers have experimented with a bubble screen generated from tubes positioned in belts around the outside of the ship. These bubbles prevent noise from spreading.

Six months earlier, Amina had fled her war-torn homeland. When she finally reached this small town in a country whose language she barely spoke, she felt more out of place than ever. That first week, she had hardly left her tiny apartment. But on the eighth day, driven by a restlessness she couldn't shake, Amina laced up her worn running shoes and stepped outside.

At first, she ran to escape — from the memories, from the pitying looks of her new neighbors. But with each day and each mile, something began to shift. The rhythmic pounding of her feet became a way to process the hurt she'd endured and the challenges that lay ahead. Weeks later, Amina had explored every street of her new town. She started recognizing faces on her runs: the elderly man waving from his porch, the smiling mother pushing a stroller. One day, to her surprise, she found herself waving back.

Now, as Amina pushed up the last hill of her route, she realized how far she'd come. Running had become her lifeline, a way to bridge the gap between her past and her present. When she approached the entrance of her apartment building, she noticed her English teacher, Mrs. Thompson, standing with several other runners from the community. They held a banner reading, "Walnut Grove Running Club."

Mrs. Thompson stepped forward, smiling warmly. "Amina, we've seen you running every day. We wondered if you'd like to join our club."

Amina felt a lump form in her throat. She nodded, a smile spreading across her face. "Yes," she said, her accent still thick but her voice strong. As the group cheered and welcomed her, Amina realized she had been running through more than just physical borders. With each step, she had been crossing the boundaries of fear, isolation, and hurt.

AlITrails

AllTrails is a great exercise app as it encourages you to get out into nature instead of hitting up an overpriced gym. With detailed trail maps that guide you through numerous outdoor activities, you'll be working up a sweat in no time while taking advantage of natural beauty!

Rocket Money

Cutting back on spending is the most popular New Year's resolution globally, every year. This user-friendly app simplifies everything that comes along with budgeting and expense tracking, while also helping you manage subscriptions and bills. With features like automated bill negotiation and credit score monitoring, you can think of Rocket Money as your personal financial assistant.

Imprint

Want to cut doom-scrolling but not ready to drop your phone? Imprint is here to help. The app takes big ideas from the world's greatest thinkers and breaks them down into simple, visual snippets that you can actually remember. Whether you want to master essential topics, or just have a few fun facts to throw into your conversations, Imprint makes learning quick, and easy!

Duolingo

This language app really is one of the best for sticking to your goals. From the way it gamifies your progress to the user-friendly interface, Duolingo makes leaning a new language both easy and enjoyable! There's just one major setback for Hong Kongers: the app only offers Cantonese lessons for Mandarin speakers, so if you're hoping to pick up some of the local language, you'll have to look elsewhere.

A team led by researchers at the University of Washington has created a headphone prototype (原型) that allows listeners to create just such a "sound bubble (音泡)". The team's artificial intelligence（AI) combined with a headphone prototype allow the wearer to hear people speaking within a bubble with a programmable radius (半径) of 3 to 6 feet. Voices and sounds outside the bubble are quieted an average of 49 decibels (分贝), even if the distant sounds are louder than those inside the bubble.

"Humans aren't great at perceiving distances through sound, particularly when there are multiple sound sources around them," said senior author Shyam Gollakota, a UW professor in the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering. "Our AI system can actually learn the distance for each sound source in a room, and process this in real time, within 8 milliseconds, on the hearing device itself."

Researchers created the prototype with commercially available noise-canceling headphones. They affixed six small microphones across the headband. The team's neural network - running on a small onboard embedded computer attached to the headphones - tracks when different sounds reach each microphone. The system then lowers the sounds coming from outside the bubble, while playing back and slightly enhancing the sounds inside the bubble.

The system has been trained to work only indoors, because getting clean training audio is more difficult outdoors. Next, the team is working to make the technology function on hearing aids and noise-canceling earbuds, which requires a new strategy for positioning the microphones.

A Fish on the Baseball Field

My parents always hoped I'd play baseball. You would be amazed at how much they loved baseball. They actually met in line to buy hot dogs at a baseball game. Also, my dad was the star pitcher (投掷手) on his high school team, which happened to go all the way to the state championship!

You might think that with a family history like that, baseball would just be in my blood and I'd be naturally talented at it. Unfortunately, you'd be wrong. When I was little, my dad got me a plastic bat and ball and a mini catcher's mitt (棒球手套). I could throw OK, but no matter how much I tried, I could not catch or hit at all!

Last year, my friend Ollie was super excited to join a baseball team. Then my parents decided baseball would be the best thing for me, too. Before I could say "Thanks, but no thanks", they had signed me up!

Don't get me wrong. The experience wasn't terrible. Our coach was nice and the kids were great. Even though I never became good at baseball, I did improve. But the very best part of the whole experience — the silver-lining part — was something completely unexpected.

After every baseball practice, Ollie's grandmother would take us to the community pool on the way home. Ollie was more interested in playing in the pool than swimming. I, on the other hand, could not get enough of swimming.

Ollie usually ended up leaving the water to hang out with his grandmother while I stayed in for a few more minutes with a girl named Isabel, a member of the swim team. We often challenged each other to see who could hold her breath underwater longer or who could get to the other side of the pool faster.

One day, Isabel said, "You are a natural little fish. Do you want to join our swim team?" She looked at me with expectation.

注意：

1.续写词数应为150左右；

2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

I was hesitant (犹豫).

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When I arrived home, I nervously told my parents about the swim team.

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1.讲座内容；

2.讲座反响。

注意：1.写作词数应为80左右。

2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

（参考词汇：校友 alumnus）

An Impressive Lecture on Chinese Cultural Heritage

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We are on a hike on the plains of Tibet to observe Tibetan antelopes, a species once faced serious threats from illegal hunting and habitat (lose). Valued for their fur, they were mercilessly hunted and killed. Besides, some of their habitats gave way new roads and railways. In the 1980s and 1990s, their population dropped sharply by over 50%.

In order to prevent Tibetan antelopes from (die) out, the Chinese government set up the Changtang National Nature Reserve and took a series of measures, such as building bridges and gates on the plains (help) them move freely and safely. Moreover, volunteers like Zhaxi, our local guide, were asked to conduct round-the-clock patrols(巡逻). Zhaxi considers land sacred, believing protecting the wildlife is important not only for the animals but also for the people there.

These efforts proved to be (effect). Starting from 2015, Tibetan antelopes were no longer an(endanger) species. However, the government continues the protection programs, as the species still faces some threats.

We should realize that although great progress (make) in protecting wildlife in the past years, much remains to be done. We must learn to live in harmony with nature if we want to (true) save our planet.

"I was aware of how5 the media (媒体) are," Fran says, "They can make up stories and directly shape people's6." She7 in a community where the media description did not match what she experienced in her life at all. So she decided to choose journalism (新闻) as her8 at college.

Now a professional and popular journalist, it was the sense of9 for social issues from a young age that led Fran to follow a10 for journalism. Fran has created her own award-winning online opinion and analysis series to help the youth11 present affairs. She's also12 for her work on SBS's The Feed and Channel 10's The Project.

Besides her13, Fran is a14 for giving a voice to those who feel unheard. She's an ambassador (大使) for Plan International, an organization to15 equality for girls around the world.

●Low times matter.

We'd all love to be happy 100% of the time, but that's not realistic. "Let's not forget that if we didn't experience low times, we'd never fully appreciate the highs," says clinical therapist Kate Morris-Bates, the founder of InsideOut Wellness.

●

The University of California's study found that on rainy days, people remembered details better than on sunny days when their memory was less accurate. "People having negative emotions (情绪) are more focused and thoughtful than those having positive ones," explains Kate. "Research shows that we are less likely to make mistakes in our memories when we are in a bad mood."

●Negativity makes us focus.

If we are too optimistic, there's a chance we can leave ourselves open to danger. Kate says that if a situation has a big risk, a pessimist (悲观主义者) is more likely to think about the worst. Then we should think if we are using our optimism or pessimism well.

How can you handle your anger? Rather than refuse it, be open to the emotion. Use it to understand what makes you angry and improve your response. One way of doing this is to keep a journal. Every time you feel angry, write down your feelings in whatever form comes to you — single words, full sentences, or even simple drawings. It will help you to understand them better.

A. Anger leads to action.

B. Sadness improves memory.

C. Here are some tips for you.

D. This allows you to be true to your feelings.

E. What is possible, however, is to rethink negative emotions.

F. She suggests that first we should always check our responses to a situation.

G. Therefore, it's important to recognise and accept your thoughts and feelings.

A student in Rasgon's lab noticed that male mosquitoes would sometimes feed on blood in a tray covered by a thin artificial membrane (人工膜) when researchers took away water. Rasgon wanted to know if thirsty males would try to get blood from a person, so he stuck his hand in cages containing male mosquitoes. Hydrated males mostly ignored him, but dehydrated males would land and examine his skin. One even bit him but hardly got into the first layer of the skin. "I was shocked," says Rasgon.

Male mosquitoes' long, tubelike mouth parts aren't able to bite skin deeply enough to draw blood. But a wound caused by Rasgon's cat allowed him to test whether males could get blood another way. Sure enough, a dehydrated male mosquito drank blood from the open wound.

In another experiment, male mosquitoes that were genetically engineered to be unable to sense wetness didn't take blood meals more often when lacking water. Those findings suggest that males may go for blood to satisfy their thirst.

One earlier research paper showed that blood was harmful to male mosquitoes. Scientists thought all male mosquitoes didn't have the ability to break down blood. But in Rasgon's experiment, male mosquitoes fed only blood lived as long as those that didn't get blood, and even a little bit longer.

The National Health Service suggests that adults should eat no more than 6 grams of salt daily. For children, the amount varies by age. Specifically, kids aged one to three should have 2 grams per day, and older children aged seven to ten can have up to 5 grams. It is important to note that some food packaging only shows the sodium (钠) content. Do not mistake it for the salt content. To get the salt amount, multiply (乘以) the sodium by 2.5. Adults should limit their sodium intake to 2.4 grams a day, which is equal to the recommended 6 grams of salt a day.

Overeating salt can cause high blood pressure. It causes the body to hold water, increasing blood pressure and putting stress on organs. Moreover, it leads to water retention. However, too little salt intake is harmful. A study found that adults who ate less than 2 grams of salt a day were more likely to have heart disease than those who had around the recommended 4 to 5 grams.

Luckily, these days, most pre-packed food has nutrition labels on the back to tell us how much salt is in the product. Besides, many foods also show the salt content on the front of the packaging. The salt content can be different in branded foods such as pizza, bread and soups. Thankfully, the Change4Life Food Scanner can aid you to find out how much salt is in a product by using its app on your smartphone to scan the barcode (条形码). You can also use the traditional method of avoiding adding salt on the dinner table. Always taste a dish first. If necessary, add salt carefully.

Three years after graduating from school, Armand bought his first bakkie (箱式轻便货车), a Toyota Cab. Besides camping, Armand also enjoys driving through scenic landscapes. He doesthis regularly to satisfy his desire to be in nature.

His love of nature means he avoids busy places and settles down in quieter places. However, he doesn't mind if he comes across someone out in the middle of nowhere; they're likely to share the same interests.

Verneukpan, now one of Armand's favourite camping sites, was next on the schedule — a route that would finally take him past Augrabies, Vioolsdrif, the Richtersveld and Port Nolloth. Armand's journeys aren't carefully planned. He simply sets daily goals and refuses the usual routes. "Nothing stops you from hitting the road nice and early. Explore the world and enrich your journey instead of following a preplanned route."

Although Armand mostly camps alone, he's not completely alone. His sheepdog, Buks, goes along. Buks, Armand's campsite commander, has a specially-fitted seat on the back seat of the bakkie. When Armand arrives at his destination for the day, he grabs a beer and takes a walk with Buks to explore the surroundings. The camping chairs follow, and then Armand takes in the scenery. "Camping in nature is the perfect escape because it provides peace while refreshing your soul," says Armand.

Long-billed Bush Warbler

Lost: 1977| Found: 2022

This songbird once existed in such large numbers in the river valleys of Kashmir that some said it could be heard all day long — until changing agricultural practices threatened its habitats. After 45 years of secret, in 2022, the birdwatcher James Eaton found a warbler in a potato field.

Black-naped Pheasant-pigeon

Lost: 1896| Found: 2022

For 126 years, this pheasant-like bird was considered all but lost on its homeland of Fergusson Island, a mountainous land off Papua New Guinea. Recently, an international team of scientists, guided by local hunters, finally took a photo of the pigeon.

Dusky Tetraka

Lost: 1999| Found: 2022/2023

In late 2022, researchers returned to the same location in the rainforest of Madagascar, where the dusky tetraka had last been seen in 1999. Going down in the rainforest, they finally tracked the songbird hunting in the thick undergrowth along a river.

Urich's Tyrannulet

Lost: 2005| Found: 2021

This flycatcher, observed only three times since its discovery in Venezuela in 1899, seemed to disappear completely after 2005. However, in 2021, a team led by the bird expert David Ascanio took unique photos and the first recording of its call.

If you had asked teenage me about exercise, I would have rolled my eyes while holding my untouched gym membership card. Sweating for fun? Unthinkable.

However, everything changed three years ago when life's pressure became unbearable. Eager for relief, I recalled reading about exercise releasing endorphins, a chemical within your body that reduces pain and can make you feel happier. This time, I knew I needed more than willpower — I needed an accountability partner who could hold me accountable for my exercise routine.

The moment I walked into Adria's circuit training studio, her warm smile disarmed me. "Accountability partner" proved not enough to describe this force of nature. Though we quickly became friends, her determination shone through every time I tried canceling sessions. "What's your workout plan this week?" her texts would arrive whenever I skipped two days. Gradually, my baggy sweatshirts tightened around newly toned arms, and genuine laughter started replacing my gloomy sighs.

One rainy Thursday, Adria leaned against the gym mirrors. "I have run solo operations for three years. I need a day off," she sighed. My comforting nod froze when she suddenly locked eyes with me. "You should get certified — maybe start with the American Council on Exercise (ACE) test. You're the only one I'd trust with these keys."

Nervous laughter escaped me. "Me? A trainer?" The idea seemed as ridiculous as teaching rocket science. It was so good that she trusted me but there was no way! I hadn't studied for anything in years, not to mention that a large portion of my "day job" was reading as a full-time editor. Could I really read about fitness in the evenings?

For days following our conversation, every time the thought popped into my head, I heard the words "No way!" Yet her words planted persistent seeds in my mind. I decided to do some research to understand what it would take to be a Group Fitness Instructor. I learned it would take three to six months of reading text, analyzing charts, watching videos and listening to the provided podcasts. Though hesitant, I finally signed up for the ACE course.

注意：1.续写词数应为150个左右；

2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

There were many times when I wanted to give up.

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The test day came, and it was no joke.

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1.个人基本信息；

2.申请理由。

注意：1.写作词数应为80个左右；

2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

Dear Sir or Madam,

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Yours,

Li Hua

After decades of dominating China's high-performance car market with precision engineering, German automakers are losing to Chinese (competitor) that have redefined luxury vehicles as electric, smart, and (afford).

Many new Chinese vehicles resemble those of Germany, like the (incredible) popular Xiaomi SU7, which mimics (模仿) Porsche's Taycan. Xiaomi SU7 can not only be comparable to the Taycan in power and braking, but it also features integrated artificial intelligence can help with parking the car and even greet drivers with their favorite song. Most importantly, it sells for roughly half the price of a Taycan.

Market experts say that advanced software, automatic driving remote-control features have become standard in Chinese electric cars, putting pressure on European automakers who previously used brand strength (promote) their competitiveness. The SU7, for example, comes equipped automatic parking and remote temperature control—features that are winning over consumers. "When choosing my new car, I didn't even consider (purchase) another German car," one customer admitted.

Xiaomi has also been testing its pared-down version SU7 Ultra, which (release) in China in March 2024, on Germany's storied racetrack, the Nurburgring. A few months later, the car set a record for the "fastest four-door sedan," outpacing Porsche's Taycan—an achievement (celebrate) by industry media and car enthusiasts alike.

My beloved niece, Cassy, was diagnosed (诊断) with bone cancer, and her time with us was2. However, she handled those numerous doctor's appointments and hospital stays with a positive attitude that3 everyone around her.

When it was time to tell Cassy that4 were being discontinued, we explained we'd focus on helping her5 any wish over the next several months. She made a "list" of things she wanted to do.6, we were amazed by her positive attitude and her7 of this unfair fate. Her8 were so typical of a teenager that they made us smile when we read them. We had lots of photos9 this last chapter in her life. It was a very special time, and we are10 for those memories.

It can be difficult to look back but there are life lessons learned. We are11 not to take the small things in life for granted. Everyone can12 people and leave a mark on them even if they are only here for a short while, and memories provide strength to keep13.

Today we continue to14 the loss of our precious Cassy, but we know her spirit is strong and her15 is felt daily through the unobvious messages.

Stick to integrity.

Integrity forms the foundation of strong character. This way, you can stay faithful to your core values. For instance, if integrity matters to you, resist the temptation to cheat during exams despite peer influence. Consistency between principles and behavior promotes self-respect and stability.

Embrace strategic risks rather than make impulsive (冲动的) decisions. Suppose you've dreamed of starting your own photography business. It probably doesn't make sense to suddenly quit your job and depend on a brand new business. Don't dive headfirst into something before weighing the risks and the benefits. Try booking photography jobs on the weekend first.

Practice empathy and gratitude.

Put yourself in someone else's shoes. When a roommate struggles with homesickness, reflect: "How would I feel in their position?" Gratitude naturally accompanies empathy. Don't hesitate to acknowledge others' kindness. For example, "I really appreciate that you brought me some chicken soup when I was sick." What's more, maintaining a gratitude diary can enhance emotional awareness and strengthen relationships.

Take on leadership roles.

You can build your character by taking on more responsibility. It will help expand your knowledge and give you a new perspective. Begin with self-reflection: examine how you currently communicate. On the contrary, actively listen and thoughtfully respond if you are typically vocal. Being open-minded allows you to gain new knowledge and perspective. Make sure that you actively communicate with your team, and value everyone's contributions. Good leaders know that empowering others is a great way to uplift everyone.

Building your character is a lifelong journey. Commit to the principles above, and watch your influence — and inner peace — flourish.

A. Take calculated risks.

B. Avoid any risk to stay safe.

C. Match your actions with your words.

D. Good communication skills can set you apart.

E. You can write down things you're thankful for each day.

F. You can strengthen your character by attempting to relate to others.

G. If you are typically afraid to speak out, try to let your voice be heard.

Until now, when people enable robots that can move many parts of their face, like androids, to generate facial expressions for extended periods, a "patchwork method" has been used. This method involves preparing multiple pre-arranged action scenarios (设想) to ensure that unnatural facial movements are not included when the androids switch between these scenarios as needed. However, this poses practical challenges, such as preparing complex action scenarios beforehand, minimizing noticeable unnatural movements during transitions, and fine-tuning movements to subtly control the expressions conveyed.

A research group led by Osaka University has developed a dynamic facial expression synthesis (合成) technology using "waveform movements," which creates real-time, complex expressions without unnatural transitions. The system reflects internal states, enhancing emotional communication between robots and humans, potentially making androids feel more humanlike. This method obviates the need for the preparation of complex and diverse action data while avoiding noticeable movement transitions.

"Advancing this research in dynamic facial expression synthesis will enable robots capable of complex facial movements to display more lively expressions and convey mood changes that respond to their surrounding circumstances, including interactions with humans," says senior author Koichi Osuka. "This could greatly enrich emotional communication between humans and robots."

Ishihara, the lead author of the research, adds, "Rather than creating superficial movements, further development of a system in which internal emotions are reflected in every detail of an android's actions could lead to the creation of androids perceived as having a heart."

By realizing the function to adaptively adjust and express emotions, this technology is expected to significantly enhance the value of communication robots, allowing them to exchange information with humans in a more natural, humanlike manner.