相关试卷

Soon enough, I found myself reading every issue of Skateboarder, a popular magazine back then, and our neighborhood was full of kids skating together. The sense of shared freedom was transformative, especially for someone who never stood out at traditional team sports.

At one point, a friend who was a student at York, north of the city, suggested we try the tunnels at the university. Yet, we found them closed, which only pushed me to explore other places — empty parking lots, quiet office parks, and smooth pathways. The joy I got from these experiences never left me.

As I grew older, my relationship with skateboarding matured. I created a website called SkateGeezer dedicated to skaters who had ridden in the 1960s, 70s and 80s. From there, I eventually built a career in publishing at skateboarding magazines.

Now, with a family of my own, that passion rides on. I introduced all my children to skateboarding almost as soon as they could walk. The full-circle moment of seeing my sons surpass my own ability is a pride unlike any other. I know some journeys, when you stick with them, don't end.

A. I realized I needed much better equipment.

B. They just find new, beautiful paths forward.

C. It inspired me to write a book, The Concrete Wave.

D. That was when I decided to quit and try other sports.

E. Yet, none of that mattered when I felt the freedom of the ride.

F. We built skating tracks and spent hours riding down driveways.

G. In 1983, my skateboard accompanied me to university in Toronto.

Take, for example, the green sawfish living near the mouth of the Ashburton River in Western Australia. In 2017, a large structure was built by the shore, stretching about 550 yards into the sea. As Lear had feared, the construction did harm the critically endangered green sawfish — they were unable to pass around the barrier. To Lear, this discovery supported a surprising new idea that ocean animals, much like land species, need a helping hand getting around human-built structures.

On land, wildlife crossings are becoming more common. Green bridges, for instance, help bears and elk avoid a road in Canada's Banff National Park. In 2022, a wildlife crossing in Washington State was used more than 5,000 times by animals such as deer and coyotes. Although the bridges are already popular on land, Lear says little attention has been paid to the idea of wildlife crossings designed to help ocean animals get around safely.

For ocean animals, too many barriers can cut them off from important feeding sites. Overly limited movement can lead to the development of isolated groups that are more likely to go extinct. With more large structures planned for the Ashburton River area, Lear says the cumulative (累积的) effect of multiple barriers is a real concern for the green sawfish's future.

As the climate continues to change, paying attention to the needs of ocean animals is important. Many are moving farther north, and they need suitable habitats to move through. To address this, we can create crossings through human-built structures or protect habitats along their migration routes. As we continue to engineer the ocean, such efforts could go a long way toward protecting ocean life.

The study found that a drama-based approach to teaching Shakespeare broadened children's vocabulary, improved the quality of their writing, and enhanced their emotional understanding. "The way actors work makes a big difference to how children use language and how they think about themselves," said Jacqui O'Hanlon, lead researcher of the study.

The random trial involved hundreds of Year 5 pupils (aged nine and ten) at 45 state primary schools. The children were divided into a target group and a control group. Both groups read a passage from Romeo and Juliet and were asked to write a letter as Romeo after being separated from Juliet. Before writing, the target group took part in a 30-minute drama-based activity, while the control group did not.

It was shown that pupils in the target group drew on a wider vocabulary, used more complicated or rarer words, and wrote at greater length. They also appeared more comfortable writing in role. While pupils in the control group imagined how they themselves would react to being separated from a loved one, children in the target group put themselves in Romeo's shoes and expressed that character's emotion.

O'Hanlon said she had been most surprised by the emotional understanding evident in the children's writing, and that they showed deeper empathy and expressed emotions more vividly. "It is probably related to the drama-based process, where you are used to trying to think and feel as the character," she added.

But could the results be reproduced with any old dramatists? O'Hanlon said more research would be needed but suggested that Shakespeare's use of 20,000 words, compared with the everyday 2,000 words, gave a massive expansion of language into children's lives, which was combined with children using their whole bodies to bring words to life.

The frightened fridge is just one example of the creations by engineer-designers who are convinced that seniors like me can't survive without beeping reminders. My car beeps constantly, particularly when I get out. There is simply no way to stop it. At first, I thought the car was just too sad to see me go.

It is not just the fridge and the car. Once I started paying attention, I realized our environment is filled with reminder noises. The stove (炉灶) sings too — leave a burner on and it performs its own little concert. As for my phone, even after turning off every notification I can find, calendar reminders still get through.

So I went online looking for a solution — and found a video of an equally frustrated man taking apart the beeper on the exact same fridge model. I can handle the fix. But now the question is: Do I really want to? What if I leave the fridge door partly open and ruin a costly roast? What if I miss the notification that reminds me of an appointment I may forget? The consequences of an unbeeped life may be too serious to risk.

Finally, tool in hand, I stand before the fridge. If there were a silence option, I might leave it alone. But there isn't — and I've had enough. I'll remove the noise-maker and put a sticky note on the door instead, reminding me to close it. The reward of a successful late-night search for a delicious sandwich is definitely worth it.

The selected residents will receive the device free of charge and will be able to keep it after the trial ends. They will also be compensated $100 for completing a final feedback survey that asks about their experience with the device's features, ease of use, and any suggested improvements. TechForward will provide setup support and technical assistance throughout the testing period, including a one-on-one virtual session to help participants get started. The company will also be available by phone or email to answer any questions during the trial.

Program Timeline

Application Requirements

This program will select 15 full-time participants to use the device in their homes for four weeks. The call is open to residents living within the city area. All applicants are supposed to be at least 18 years old and previous experience with smart devices is a must.

To apply, applicants are required to provide the following information:

● Name and a valid email. This information will only be used for program-related communication.

● A brief description of your experience with smart devices (maximum 100 words). This helps us understand your familiarity level.

Please send the above materials to apply@techforward.com. Any application received after the deadline will not be considered.

As my father grew older, he became increasingly frugal (节俭) — a habit that often annoyed me. He even kept snack wrappers to reuse, and I used to think he was being stingy (小气的). One afternoon at the grocery, as we walked down the cookie aisle, I noticed he lingered before the expensive shortbread (黄油酥饼) he loved, the kind he never bought for himself. So I suggested buying it for him. He nodded but hesitated, then added softly, "Actually, your mom used to buy Nadine's cookies." I'd never heard of this brand and rolled my eyes secretly, yet I agreed to look for them to end his hesitation.

We split up to search: I checked the lower shelves while he scanned the higher ones. I bent down impatiently, glancing carelessly around, but found no sign of Nadine's. After quickly scanning the labels, I told him I couldn't find them, expecting him to give up. But he sighed softly, his face clouded over with a hint of disappointment. Noticing that, I decided to ask the clerk for help.

When I asked the clerk about Nadine's, he looked confused and said they didn't carry it. "We have Sandies," he added casually. Suddenly, my father's eyes lit up with pure joy — he pointed at the Sandies and exclaimed, "That's it!" He then sheepishly explained that he'd named them after his childhood babysitter, Nadine, and had called them "Nadine's" for decades. As I watched him smile softly while picking up the packages, my earlier annoyance faded away, and a faint curiosity took hold. In that moment, I suddenly realized how little I knew about him.

A month later, I saved up my pocket money and bought a tin of authentic UK shortbread as a gift. My father thanked me warmly, but as he set the tin on the coffee table, I heard him mumble to himself, "Why do I need these?" I frowned, confused and a little hurt. Just then, I spotted six unopened packs of Sandies on the table. I began to wonder why these simple cookies mattered more to him than my supposedly expensive gift.

注意：

(1)续写词数应为150个左右;

(2)请按如下格式在答题纸的相应位置作答。

Seeing my mixed expressions, Dad started to explain.

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I held the unopened pack of Sandies tightly.

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(1)暖心事件；

(2)你的思考。

注意：

(1)写作词数应为100个左右；

(2)请按如下格式在答题纸的相应位置作答。

A Small Act Warms My Heart

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The 2021 list of Best Tourism Villages was released at the 24^th General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization, with Yucun (list) among the 44 outstanding villages. Launched in May 2021, the Best Tourism Villages initiative drew applications from 174 villages worldwide, and the candidates were assessed an independent committee against a set of criteria covering cultural and natural heritage, economic sustainability, and other key dimensions.

(lie) in Anji County, Zhejiang Province, Yucun once relied on mineral resources for its economic growth and became the wealthiest community in the area of Anji. all of this was achieved only at the cost of environmental damage. In 2005, President Xi Jinping visited Yucun, he put forward the concept that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets. Under this vision, Yucun made great efforts to restore its ecological environment and (award) the title of National Ecological Cultural Village in 2021. Blessed with distinctive natural scenery, villagers soon lived (enjoyable) lives, compared with those they had when depending on mining. Today, it has grown into a popular tourist destination, attracting more than 10 million domestic and international visitors annually.

This (transform) of Yucun offers a vivid example. Over the past decades, China has been committed to green and low-carbon development. With Yucun as shining model, the nation has achieved remarkable progress in ecological conservation and adopted effective (strategy) to build a Beautiful China.

One day, I applied for a sales2 at a jewelry company. As the interviewer outlined the daily3 like selling gold and silver items, an inner voice asked me, "Am I really doing what I'm meant to do?" Knowing the answer was "No", I politely4 the job, following my heart and guided by my inner sense of5. In time, I returned to school to6 an education degree and went on to become a teacher, finding7 in helping students learn, grow and chart their own life direction.

Before long, I learned my two sons had autism (自闭症). This led me to8 teaching and I stayed home to look after them. My later life journey was9 — filled with sleepless nights and countless therapy sessions. Yet, challenging as it was,10 my sons brought me unexpected warmth.

I recorded my life11 in writing and sharing my stories far and wide. Finally I came to realize these life experiences led me to live a life that truly suited me.

The12 of that day touches everyone deeply. Each of us has a purpose. Finding it may take a lot of time and lead us down a(n)13 path. Yet it is never too late to make a14: follow your heart, live fully, love deeply and become who you are15 to be.

Verbal intensifiers (强化词) are special function words that enhance the meaning, especially the emotional meaning of the words they are attached to. According to Buzarov (1998), intensification is a stable and vital feature of informal language. Words such as awfully, deeply, tremendously, and truly help speakers strengthen emotional impact and influence listeners' psychological perception.

In English, we often say "I am deeply grateful" or "He is dead tired." Other languages also have similar words: очень in Russian, sehr in German, très in French. Some new intensifiers are even created by combining words, like fantabulous from fantastic and fabulous.

To make the most of intensifiers, we should use them with a clear purpose. Do not use them mindlessly. Connect them with your genuine attitude and focus on conveying precise emotions. This way, appropriate use of intensifiers will make our words more powerful and sincere.

Intensifiers, like any other linguistic tool, work best in the right context. However, overusing them without necessity will only weaken their expressive effect and make our words sound empty. Mastering them wisely helps us become more proficient and persuasive communicators.

A. Proper use is a smart linguistic choice.

B. These function words have great expressive value.

C. You'd better use them to express real ideas and emotions.

D. Using intensifiers at will influences emotional expression.

E. Intensifiers are used to simplify the meaning of other words.

F. This is why verbal intensifiers have emerged in languages worldwide.

G. They are commonly employed across languages and take on diverse forms.

Psychologists John Bargh and Tanya Chartrand proved the Chameleon Effect in a 1999 experiment. They asked 78 participants to talk with experimenters during a personality test. To avoid conscious mimicry, researchers used photos as a distraction during conversations. The results showed participants unconsciously increased face touching by 20% and foot movement by 50% to match the experimenters. Another part found people who were mimicked rated the experimenters more positively, showing mimicry boosts likability. The Chameleon Effect stems from two main reasons. It is rooted in human empathy — people mimic others to share feelings and build emotional bonds. It also evolved as a survival trait: fitting in with a group helps people gain support and avoid danger. In daily life, this explains why couples or close friends gradually adopt similar speech habits or gestures.

This effect also appears in speech and social settings. People may unconsciously pick up others' accents or phrases after long interactions. For example, a football player once accidentally used a French accent during an interview after living in France for months, a typical display of the effect. However, excessive mimicry may make people lose their sense of self. Such over-mimicry can lead to confusion about one's true personality.

Overall, the Chameleon Effect is a positive social tool that promotes connection and empathy. It helps reduce social tension and build trust between people. While it helps people integrate into groups, balancing mimicry with self-identity is crucial to avoiding losing oneself in social interactions. With this awareness, people can use the effect wisely while preserving their own uniqueness.

Cambridge psychologists found that appreciating artistic beauty at Kettle's Yard Gallery, a Cambridge art museum, frees people from daily mental trappings. Besides, a study by the UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport quantified art's positive effects on physical and mental health, and showed that it brought an annual £ 1,000 per person economic gain from higher productivity and fewer general practitioner visits. Nature noted the role of original art in preventing chronic diseases. And for the first time in its 202-year history, The Lancet featured art's life-enhancing effects in a photo essay, turning art from a leisure choice into a valuable tool for public health.

Art historian Katy Hessel emphasizes that taking time to immerse oneself in art deeply is vital to its therapeutic effect. Galleries' quiet atmosphere stops mindless scrolling and fosters contemplation, bringing "psychological distancing" and a broader perspective — great art liberates people to appreciate things beyond themselves. In an age when creativity is increasingly outsourced to AI, original art connects people with human genius, letting them feel the emotions behind artists' brushstrokes and understand human suffering, which no digital image or AI work can fully copy.

Art's health value raises a question: will doctors soon recommend gallery visits? Amid falling visitors and funding shortages, these studies call for more investment in culture. While the UK government's £ 270 million funding for cultural infrastructure is welcome, greater efforts are needed to ensure universal access to this "cultural workout". Science has proven art is vital not only to a nation's economy but to its public health.

It didn't take me long to figure out where the problem lay. I had stocked my shelves with classic novels and poetry I cherished, yet they failed to meet the needs of local residents. I therefore resolved to make a thorough change. In place of those books, I displayed home-style cookbooks, stories about street food, and food-related picture books for children. I sincerely hoped these new books would win over the locals. I also launched a "Book-for-Veggie Exchange" activity in the store.

The new adjustment turned out to be highly successful. Local people soon took to this creative idea. A young mother came first with a carrot to exchange for a picture book, and before long, my counter was overflowing with fresh vegetables. The tofu vendor's daughter, who had watched silently for weeks on end, finally stepped forward to borrow a comic. Months later, the bookstore became a warm part of market life, with the scent of books blending gently with the fresh aroma of farm produce.

This experience reshaped my understanding of books. I once believed books could only shine in quiet places, but now I have seen their real value. It lies in connecting with people's everyday life: books can blend perfectly into daily routines and warm our hearts. They become meaningful and touching when combined with the hustle and bustle, food and laughter of everyday life.

Quidditch

Inspired by J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, this magical game is now a real international sport. Each team has seven players, and every player must keep a broom between their legs from start to finish. Combining elements of rugby and dodgeball, it's called "Muggle Quidditch" since non-magical folks play it without magic.

Yubi Lakpi

This traditional Indian game resembles football, but with a twist — players use a coconut instead of a ball. Two teams compete to carry the coconut into the opponent's goal area. To make the game more challenging, players apply oil to their bodies, making them slippery and hard to grab. Tough enough? Give it a try!

Zorbing

Imagine rolling downhill inside a giant plastic ball. That's zorbing! It first originated in New Zealand in the 1990s and has grown into a popular outdoor adventure activity around the world. Usually done on gentle slopes or flat ground, it's more about the joy of rolling than competition. Perfect for a fun day out with friends!

Toe Wrestling

Yes, it's real and it even has a World Championship! Similar to arm wrestling, opponents try to pin each other's toes down for three seconds. Matches alternate between left and right feet, with the best of three rounds deciding the winner. So kick off your shoes and socks. It's toe-wrestling time!

"Boo!" Ben jumped out from under his sister's bed, waving the monster hand. "Soooo scary, is that Dad's old work glove?" asked Kyla. Ben grinned. "It was. Now I call it Creepy Claw (令人毛骨悚然的爪子) , an important part of my monster costume. Trick-or-Treat is tonight. Want to help me decorate our car and give out candy? "

Trick-or-Treat is a yearly event in the town. In this event, parents gather their trucks at the town's central park and give out candy while children dress up to win the best costume contest. Their parents were also judges this year.

Kyla shook her head. "Ana and I are going to the Halloween (万圣节) party. Sorry." Ben let out a deep sigh. Ever since Kyla and her best friend Ana turned 13, they had been acting all grown up.

That evening, Kyla ate her dinner quickly, washed her plate hurriedly and headed toward the stairs happily. But Mom reminded her that she still needed to wrap the costume-contest prizes. Knowing that Ana's mom would pick her up in half an hour, Kyla complained that she had to get ready. "Sorry, honey," Mom said apologetically. "You have to finish it before you leave. It's your duty."

Seeing that Kyla was about to cry, Ben volunteered to wrap the prizes for his sister. Kyla thanked Ben, and then danced up the stairs. After wrapping the prizes in paper, Ben set them on the kitchen table next to the Creepy Claw.

After a 20-minute drive, Ben and his parents arrived at the park. Ben began decorating their trunk, hanging white lights on the door. With all the decorations done, there was only ten minutes left before the costume contest started. Ben pulled on his monster costume while his mom made up his monster face. "Honey, where is your Creepy Claw?" Mom asked. Ben's monster face sagged (下垂) .

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。

After thinking hard, Ben told his mom that he had left it home.

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As Ben turned around, he saw Kyla with the Creepy Claw in her hand.

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1. 赞美的意义；

2. 一次被赞美的经历；

3. 你的希望。

注意：

1. 写作词数应为80词左右；

2. 标题和开头已给出，不计入总词数。

3. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

The Power of Praise

Praise is significant.

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"It's Andrew's birthday today. Got our new shoes and now we're off to celebrate with family," I said to the clerks.

"Happy birthday!" they said. "Have fun!"

I4 the letter board and asked Andrew how he'd like to respond. Andrew pointed to each letter, one by one: "Thank you."

Years ago, we5 that Andrew could communicate more than just his basic6 , via a letter board: an alphabet grid with letters he can point to and spell out words, statements and thoughts.

For 10 years, Andrew has used his picture chart to communicate. The7 represent important and common words. Using the letter board requires time and effort for Andrew, but it gives him an opportunity to8 far more of who he is than he can convey through pictures and basic words.

One clerk spoke up: "Um, what is that? What are you using there? Because I have a brother, Jason and he doesn't9."

"Oh! This is a letter board that Andrew uses to communicate, " I reply. "It's quite10 . It has changed everything. "

He told us that Jason could do a lot for himself, but no one really11 him. Then I asked, "Andrew, what do you think?"

Andrew pointed to letters: "Tell Jason he will change everyone's opinion of him in 26 letters." We were all moved and12 . "Thank you!" the clerk says. Andrew smiled. Sometimes I forget how13 the letter board is. "It really does change everything, " I added. Then we left.

I was14 , and Andrew was singing, as he always does.

This is how we15 another person's life in a split second. Later, I returned to the shoe store and learned that Jason now has a letter board.

The current method of assessing damage involves people going door-to-door to check every building. While DamageMap is not intended to replace in-person damage assessment, it could be used as a supplementary tool by offering immediate results and providing the exact locations of the affected buildings. The researchers tested it using a variety of satellite and aerial photography with at least 92 percent accuracy.

Most computational systems now cannot efficiently classify building damage because the AI compares post-disaster photos with pre-disaster images that must use the same satellite, camera angle and lighting conditions, which can be expensive to obtain or unavailable. Therefore, DamageMap first uses pre-fire photos to map the area and confirm building locations. Then, the program analyzes post-wildfire images to identify damage through features like blackened surfaces, collapsed roofs or the absence of structures.

Structural damage from wildfires in California is typically divided into four categories: almost no damage, minor damage, major damage or destroyed. Because DamageMap is based on aerial images, the researchers quickly realized the system could not make such detailed assessments and trained the machine to simply determine if there was a fire damage or not.

Because the team used a deep learning technique, their model can continue to be improved by feeding it more data. The researchers said the tool can be applied to any area suffering from wildfires and hope it could also be trained to classify damages from other disasters, such as floods or hurricanes. "So far our results suggest that this can be generalized, and we can keep improving it," said lead study author Marios Galanis, a graduate student at Stanford's School of Engineering.

The term was introduced in 2011 by researcher David Levy from the University of Washington. It describes a mental state where attention wanders, and thoughts jump quickly from one topic to another — just like popcorn popping rapidly in a hot pan.

People with popcorn brain find it hard to concentrate or maintain a clear line of thinking. University of California Researcher Gloria Mark tracked 2,000 American office workers and students in her two-decade study on attention with silent screen recorders and heart-rate belts. In 2004 people stayed on one task for 2.5 minutes on average; by 2020 the figure had fallen to 47 seconds. Heart-rate data showed that every extra switch raised a stress hormone (荷尔蒙) by about 7 %.

Studies show that digital technology, especially social media, worsens this condition. Data Reportal's 2024 report pooled screen-time records from 1.3 million users in 40 countries and found further proof. For instance, people in America aged 16–24 averaged 7 hours 3 minutes online per day, equaling roughly 17 years of adult life. Such constant digital exposure trains the brain to prefer short bursts of information. As a result, focusing on one task becomes harder. Information overload also affects memory, decision-making, and emotional control.

The cure, tested in follow-up trials, is brief: set clear tech boundaries. Recommended strategies include limiting daily screen time, turning off non-essential notification, and creating tech-free periods or spaces. Building a structured daily routine is also advised: individuals can begin by measuring their current focus duration, then set realistic goals and stick to a fixed schedule for important tasks. This consistent practice strengthens habits and prepares your mind and body to focus on the task for a longer period without getting popcorn brain.

Key Activities:

— Workshops: Learn screenwriting, cinematography, and virtual production techniques from experts. A highlight is the Pixar Masterclass with Ronaldo del Carmen, focusing on storytelling in animation.

— Competitions: Submit short films (under 30 minutes) for the New Visions Award, where winners receive £1,500 in equipment voucher (代金券) and a screening at the festival.

— Networking: Attend group discussions with Oscar-nominated cinematographers like Seamus McGarvey and meet representatives from major film studios.

How to Apply:

Applications open on April 1 and close on May 31. Submit your film or workshop registration via www.eiff.co.uk/youthhub. Successful applicants will be informed by June.

Special Offer:

Students from low-income backgrounds can apply for bursaries (补助金) covering travel and accommodation costs. Email youthhub@eiff.co.uk for details.

"Film is a universal language, and we want to give young people the tools to tell their stories," says EIFF director Mark Adams. "Last year, 85% of Youth Hub participants went on to pursue film-related careers."

Don't miss this opportunity to turn your passion into a profession. Join us in Edinburgh this August!