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The core principles of ecotourism include minimizing environmental damage, respecting local cultures, and supporting conservation efforts. Travelers engaging in ecotourism activities typically visit protected areas such as national parks, wildlife reserves, or remote communities. They participate in activities like bird watching, hiking, or learning about traditional crafts from local residents. These experiences not only allow travelers to connect with nature but also contribute to the preservation of fragile ecosystems.

One successful example of ecotourism is the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador. Faced with threats from over-tourism in the 20th century, the government implemented strict regulations to protect the unique wildlife and landscapes. Today, visitors to the Galapagos must follow designated routes, be accompanied by certified guides, and pay a conservation fee that funds environmental protection projects. This approach has helped maintain the islands' biodiversity while providing income for local communities through tourism.

Another example is Costa Rica, often regarded as a leader in ecotourism. The country has transformed its natural resources into a sustainable tourism industry, with over 25% of its land protected in national parks and reserves. Tourists can explore rainforests, observe sea turtles nesting, or stay in eco-lodges that use renewable energy and support local farmers. This model has not only preserved Costa Rica's natural beauty but also reduced poverty in rural areas by creating jobs in tourism.

However, ecotourism is not without challenges. Some destinations market themselves as "eco-friendly" without implementing meaningful conservation measures, a practice known as "greenwashing." Travelers must be cautious and research companies before booking to ensure their tourism dollars support genuine environmental and community initiatives.

Additionally, even well-managed ecotourism can have negative impacts if visitor numbers exceed the carrying capacity of an area, leading to habitat disturbance or increased waste.

To practice responsible ecotourism, experts recommend choosing small-scale, locally owned accommodations, participating in guided tours led by local experts, and following the "leave no trace" principle by taking all trash with you and avoiding damage to plants and wildlife. By making informed choices, travelers can enjoy meaningful experiences while helping to protect the planet for future generations.

One of the most promising applications of AI in healthcare is medical imaging analysis. Machine learning algorithms can now identify patterns in X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans with accuracy comparable to trained radiologists. In a 2023 study published in The Lancet Digital Health, an AI system correctly detected early-stage lung cancer in 94% of cases, outperforming human experts by 8 percentage points. This technology enables faster diagnosis, especially in regions where radiologists are scarce, allowing patients to receive timely treatment.

AI is also accelerating drug discovery. Traditional drug development can take over a decade and cost billions of dollars, with a high failure rate. By analyzing large datasets of molecular structures and biological interactions, AI models can predict how potential drugs will interact with the human body, reducing the need for expensive laboratory experiments. For example, British pharmaceutical company Benevolent AI used AI to identify a potential treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in just 12 months, a process that would typically take five to seven years.

Despite these advancements, several challenges hinder the widespread adoption of AI in healthcare. Data privacy is a major concern. Medical records contain sensitive personal information, and using this data to train AI systems raises risks of breaches or misuse. In 2022, a major healthcare provider suffered a data leak that exposed the medical records of over 1 million patients, many of which were being used to develop AI diagnostic tools.

Another challenge is algorithmic bias. AI systems learn from historical data, which may reflect existing inequalities in healthcare. For instance, an AI tool designed to predict patient risk of heart disease was found to underestimate the risk for female patients because the training data included more male patients. Such biases can lead to incorrect diagnoses or unequal access to treatment.

Additionally, integrating AI into existing healthcare workflows remains difficult. Many hospitals use outdated IT systems that cannot easily connect with AI tools, requiring significant investment in infrastructure. Healthcare professionals also need training to effectively use AI technologies, as over-reliance on algorithms without human oversight could compromise patient safety.

Looking forward, the potential of AI in healthcare is undeniable, but realizing this potential requires collaboration between technologists, healthcare providers, and policymakers. By establishing clear regulations for data privacy, addressing algorithmic bias through diverse training data, and investing in infrastructure and training, we can ensure that AI serves as a tool to enhance, rather than replace, human healthcare expertise.

But at the age of 14, a disaster struck. Lila fell during a practice session and broke her ankle. The doctor told her she might never dance again. Heartbroken, Lila threw away her ballet shoes and stopped attending her dance classes. She spent her days in her room, reading books and avoiding her friends. Her mother tried to encourage her, but Lila refused to talk about dancing.

Two years later, Lila's school announced a talent show. Her best friend, Mia, begged her to participate. "You don't have to dance," Mia said. "You could sing or play the piano." But Lila shook her head. She had lost interest in everything related to performing.

One afternoon, while cleaning out the attic, Lila found an old box of her mother's dance videos. Curious, she put one in the DVD player. There was her mother, young and graceful, performing on a big stage. Lila watched, tears streaming down her face. She remembered how happy dancing used to make her.

The next day, Lila went to see her former dance teacher, Ms. Sandra. "I want to try again," she said nervously. Ms. Sandra smiled. "I've been waiting for you to say that. Your ankle has healed, but we'll take it slow."

For months, Lila practiced for hours every day. It was painful at first, and she fell many times. But she refused to quit. Mia came to every practice, cheering her on. Her mother helped her stretch and massaged her ankle after each session.

On the day of the talent show, Lila stood backstage, her hands shaking. When her name was called, she took a deep breath and walked onto the stage. The music started, and she began to dance. At first, she felt nervous, but as she moved, all her fears disappeared. She danced with all her heart, just like she used to.

When the music stopped, the audience erupted in applause. Lila bowed, tears of joy in her eyes. Her mother and Mia were standing at the front, clapping and smiling proudly. After the show, Ms. Sandra hugged her. "You didn't just dance tonight, Lila. You showed everyone what courage looks like."

Lila knew then that some dreams are worth fighting for, no matter how many times life knocks you down.

Ancient Egyptian Treasures

Explore over 50 artifacts from ancient Egypt, including mummy masks and stone carvings. The exhibition runs from October 1st to October 20th. Tickets cost $5 for adults and $8 for students, but you can get a $2 discount if you book online three days in advance. Guided tours are available daily at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm, but tours require booking at least 24 hours ahead at the museum's information desk. Photography is not allowed in this exhibition.

Modern Art Revolution

This exhibition features works by 20th-century artists like Picasso and Dali. It opens on October 5th and ends on November 10th. Admission is free for all visitors, but you must wear a visitor badge which can be collected at the entrance. There will be a workshop on October 15th where participants can try painting in the modern style. The workshop is limited to 20 people, so sign up when you arrive. Cameras are permitted but without flash.

Natural History Wonders

Discover dinosaur fossils, rare minerals, and animal specimens from around the world. The exhibition starts on October 8th and lasts until October 31st. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult, and group visits ( over 10 people) need to be registered a week before. A special "Night at the Museum" event will be held on October 22nd, with tickets available from October 1st.

When my daughters reached the third and fourth grades, I sometimes allowed them to walk to and from school alone if the weather permitted. One warm spring day, a small friend followed them home after school. This friend had short legs and long floppy ears, with a furry coat and tiny spots across her nose. She was the cutest puppy I had ever seen and my girls begged me to keep her.

She was not more than twelve weeks old. She had no identifying marks of any sort. I didn't know what to do. I thought about running an ad in the lost and found but I really didn't want to. It would break the kids' hearts if someone should show up. Besides, her owners should have watched her more closely, I thought.

By the end of the week she was part of our family. She was very clever and good with the girls. The Following week something told me to check the lost and found section in the local paper. One particular ad caught my attention and my heart sank at what I read. Someone was searching for a lost puppy near our grade school. They sounded desperate. My hand shook. I could not ask myself to pick up the phone.

Instead, I pretend I hadn't seen the ad. I quickly put the paper aside and tried to ignore it. I never say anything about it to the kids or my husband.

By now we had named the puppy. She looked like a Molly, so we called her Molly. She followed the girls everywhere they went. When they went outside, she was one step behind them. When they did housework she was there to help.

There was only one problem with this perfect dog: my conscience (良心) was bothering me. I knew in my heart I had to call that number and see if our Molly was the puppy they were desperately looking for.

注意：

1. 所续写短文的词数应为150左右；

2. 续写部分分为两段，每段开头语已为你写好。

Paragraph 1:

With mixed feelings, I finally picked up the phone.

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Paragraph 2:

Opening the door, I saw a woman with a little girl sitting in a small wheelchair.

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1. 时间、地点；

2. 表演形式；

3. 报名方式。

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。

Notice

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The Students'Union

Chinese scientists have recently developed a new form of technology, can quickly and accurately measure the sensory qualities of pumpkins. This achievement, (make) by researchers from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, combines two advanced technologies, Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) and Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI) .

(traditional) , pumpkin quality evaluation proved a slow and subjective process, with farmers often relying on cooking and tasting (measure) sweetness and other relevant factors. new method, however, allows for a more objective evaluation by analyzing critical elements like starch (淀粉) and moisture content.

In their efforts to develop this new type of technology, the team (collect) 97 pumpkin samples from 34 different pumpkins. (use) NIRS and HSI methods, they created predictive models to assess sensory quality based on the starch and moisture content in each pumpkin.

According the researchers, their current experiments are based on sliced pumpkins, while the new technique can also test quality without damaging the pumpkin.

Moreover, a researcher said that this technology could (apply) to other fruits and vegetables as well. "We are currently developing customized solutions based on specific (requirement) . For example, companies could use it to check sugar content in apples or vitamin levels in oranges. "

Her three children, 13-year-old Oliver, ten-year-old Lucie and nine-year-old Jacob,2 their recent CPR training at Southam Fire Station, stayed3, and with the advice of the 999-call operator,4 CPR to keep their mum alive until help arrived.

Although Kayleigh5 her condition well, she wanted her children to6 the right skills should anything happen to her as a result of her condition.

So last summer she sent them on a first aid7 run by Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service. Little did the family know the skills8 would be put to the test so soon.

Kayleigh said, "I couldn't be9 of my children. They stayed calm. For a ten-year-old to calmly perform CPR, while the other children called 999 in order to save my life is just10. I would like to express my11 to Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service for the training they gave to the children which12 saved my life."

Chief fire officer Kieran Amos said, "As a fire and rescue service, we know how13 it is to have the right skills to save a life. As a service, we are just thankful that we can play a role in the community which14 fighting fires, yet still has a direct15 on keeping people safe and saving lives."

Open your mind

Reading opens your eyes and mind to a world beyond your neighborhood. You can find out about people living different lives to you. . You discover important news stories and how you can make a difference in the world. Reading non-fiction and fiction improves your understanding of people and the world around you. Sarah Driver, a teacher for 25 years, says, "Reading helps you understand how other people feel because you get to see things from their eyes. . "

Inspire your imagination

Your creativity gets improved from reading too. As Driver says, "You begin to picture the story in your head and create your own images. It helps you to think of new ideas and come up with different ways to solve problems. . "

Make new friends

Reading can also bring you closer to your friends. , it can help you to make new friends. Besides, you can create a book club where you take it in turn to choose what to read and talk about it together.

There are times when you may want to escape into another world. You can do that with a book without going anywhere. When you're reading a story that captures your imagination and your attention, you forget everything around you. If you're feeling tired, upset or lonely, getting lost in a story can give you comfort and help you to relax.

A. Escape into another world

B. Make sense of any difficult emotions

C. When you read a book with your friends

D. It's a whole new world to explore in your mind

E. You can learn about amazing facts about the universe

F. As you share books and recommend them to each other

G. It's like stepping into their shoes and seeing the world the way they do

Finns do just that. Half of women and a third of men bike to work. About a fifth of the country belongs to sports clubs. Some people even play sports at work. For example, every Wednesday morning, a group of scientists at the University of Jyväskylä leave their desks to play "futsal", an indoor form of soccer, in a gym across the street. It's one of the most popular team sports in the country, along with floor ball and Finnish baseball. A nearby chocolate factory has a gym and offers aerobics classes.

"Employers started to encourage sports participation about a century ago in the forestry industry," says Hanna Vehmas, a sports scientist at the University of Jyväskylä. "Nowadays, 90% of employers support their employees' physical activities in some way. Each year, they spend an average of about $220 per employee for physical activities."

One reason why employers tend to support their employees' physical activities is due to a tax break. Businesses can deduct (扣除) money spent on employees' physical well-being.

"But there's something else. We have a lot of research showing that spending money on employees' well-being will bring back as much as six times the money spent," says Vehmas. "Because healthy employees do better work. They also don't have as many sick days. And staying fit, especially by playing sports together, could help build company loyalty (忠诚) which is actually even more important than the health side."

Physically active people also save the health care system a lot of money. Data from the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs & Health shows that people who bike and walk save the health care system as much as $5.5 billion each year.

The teamwork has led to the creation of a water-soluble fluorescent spray (水溶性荧光喷雾) that significantly advanced the detection of possible fingerprints. Unlike traditional methods that often involve the use of poisonous or environmentally harmful chemicals, this innovative spray offers a safer and greener choice.

By targeting the invisible prints left behind by sweat or oil on surfaces, the spray quickly makes them visible within seconds, promoting convenience and speed in forensic investigations. According to researchers, its water solubility further improves its applicability, allowing for adaptable use directly at crime scenes.

Detecting latent (hidden) fingerprints (LFPs) is important in forensic science, but their invisible nature poses challenges. Traditional methods like powder dusting and chemicals have limitations in speed and safety. Using the fluorescence properties of Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP), the researchers have developed two distinct dyes (染料) — LFP-Yellow and LFP-Red to address these challenges. These dyes exhibit an "off-on" fluorescence response upon different parts of LFPs, by selectively attaching to small elements present in fingerprints. Under blue light, they give out a soft fluorescent light, enabling easy detection. Developed from jellyfish (水母；海蜇), GFP serves as a biological basis for these dyes, ensuring they do not affect the following DNA analysis of the fingerprints.

According to researchers, applying these dyes involves a fine spray, which prevents damaging spots and offers a cleaner way, compared to traditional methods. It works perfectly even on rough surfaces like brick, where collecting fingerprints can be particularly arduous.

"This system can even be used on fingerprints that are a week old. Having two different colors available means the spray can be used on different colored surfaces. We're hoping to produce more colors in the future. We're looking for cooperation with various companies to bring the dyes to market for wide availability. Additionally, ongoing research and development efforts will be needed to continue to improve their products," said Professor Tony James, from the University of Bath.