阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项 （A 、B 、C  和 D ）中，选出最佳选项。

    It is one of the most annoying words in the English language and it seems there is no escaping it．The word “huh?” is in worldwide use, a study found.

    Researchers discovered that languages spoken in countries from Ghana and Laos to Iceland and Italy all include “huh?”, or something that sounds very like it. They said that while the study may sound silly，the word is an absolutely necessary part of speech. Without it and similar words, it would be impossible to show that we haven't heard or understood what had been said and this would lead to constant misunderstandings.

    But while other words used in the same context, such as “sorry” or “what”, vary widely across languages, “huh?” remains unchanged.

    The Dutch researchers carefully studied ten languages from around the world, including Siwu, which is spoken in Ghana, and an Australian Aboriginal language, as well as Italian, Spanish, Dutch and Mandarin Chinese.

    They analysed tapes of recorded conversations for words that sounded like‘‘huh?”and were used to request that whatever had Just been said be repeated. All contained a version of “huh?” The word was also found in another 21 languages. While there were subtle differences in each country, all sounded basically the same.

    This is surprising because normally unrelated languages will use very different words to describe the same thing. For instance, the Japanese for “dog” is “inu”, while the French is “chien”. It is thought that languages around the world have developed their own version of “huh?” because the sound is quick and simple to form, as well as being easily understood.

    The researchers，said that it might seem unimportant to carry out scientific research into a word like “huh?” but in fact this little word is an essential tool in human communication．They also have an answer for those who claim that “huh?” isn't a word. They say that it qualifies because of the small differences in its pronunciation in different languages. It also can be considered a word because it's something we learn to say, rather than a grunt or cry that we are born knowing how to make.

    A new “smart bin” could spell the end of environment - conscious families spending hours sorting tins, cartons, bottles, and cardboard for recycling. The invention, which automatically sorts rubbish into recycling categories, is being trialed in Poland and is set to go on sale in the UK within a few years.

    The bin, designed by start - up company Bin. E, recognizes different types of waste via a system positioned inside the bin which uses sensors, image recognition and artificial intelligence. Once waste is placed inside, the camera and sensors identify its type and place it in one of the smaller bins. Then it compresses (压缩) the waste so it occupies less space.

    News of the launch showed that more than a million households are being forced to accept bin collections every three or four weeks, because councils are trying to force them to recycle more. Data collected by The Telegraph has showed at least 18 areas have moved or will shortly be moving to three - weekly rubbish collections, while a further three have adopted or are trialing four - weekly collections. While reducing general bin collections, councils are increasing the frequency of recycling collections in a bid to change people's behaviour. It is thought that the bin could be stocked by department stores such as John Lewis, which said it is introducing new hi - tech recycling bins to satisfy increasing customer appetite for them. Matt Thomas, a utility (家用设施) seller at John Lewis, said, “We've recently seen a jump in specialist bins sales, with a 25 percent increase in the last few months alone. We have noticed our customers are becoming more and more sustainability focused, choosing dual compartment (双格) recycling bins that make it far easier to recycle different types of waste. In response to this demand, we are really excited to introduce a new voice and sensor activated smart bin this autumn / winter season — designed to use new technology to make recycling more efficient and functional for the everyday home.”

    One night about nine o'clock, Dr. Eyck, a surgeon, had a phone call from Dr. Haydon at the hospital in Clens Falls. The surgeon was asked to go there at once to operate on a very sick boy who shot himself while playing with a gun.

    The doctor was soon on his way to Clens Falls. It was 60 miles away. And it was snowing heavily in the city. The surgeon thought he could get there before 12 o'clock.

    A few minutes later, the doctor was stopped by a man in an old black coat. Gun in hand, the man ordered the doctor to get out. Then the man drove the car down the road, leaving the doctor in the falling snow.

    It was after 2 o'clock in the morning when the doctor arrived at the hospital in Clens Falls. Dr. Haydon told him that the boy had died an hour before.

    The two doctors walked by the door of the hospital waiting room. There sat the man in the old black coat with his head in his hands.

    "Mr. Cuninghan," said Dr. Haydon to the man, "This is Dr. Eyck. He is the surgeon who walked all the way from Albany to save your boy."

    One early morning, I went into the living room to find my mother reading a thick book called Best Loved Poems to Read Again and Again. My interest was aroused only by the fact that the word "Poems" appeared in big, hot pink letters.

    "Is it good?" I asked her. "Yeah," she answered. "There's one I really like and you'll like it, too." I leaned forward." 'Patty Poem,'" she read the title. Who is Patty? I wondered. The poem began:

    She never puts her toys away,

    Just leaves them scattered ⁽散乱的)where they lay,...

    The poem was just three short sections. The final one came quickly:

    When she grows and gathers(稳重的)poise,

    I'll miss her harum-scarum(莽撞的) noise,

    And look in vain for scattered(徒劳地)toys.

    And I'll be sad.

    A terrible sorrow washed over me. Whoever Patty was, she was a mean girl. Then, the shock.

    "It's you, honey," My mother said sadly.

    To my mother, the poem conveyed a parent's affection when her child grows up and leaves. To me, the "she" in the poem was horror. It was my mama who would be sad. It was so terrible. I burst out crying.

    "What's wrong?" my mother asked.

    "Oh Mama," I cried. "I don't want to grow up ever!"

She smiled. "Honey, it's okay. You're not growing up anytime soon. And when you do, I'll still love you, okay?"

    I calmed down. But I could not help thinking about that silly poem. After several years, I read the poem again and was confused. It all fit so well together, like a simple puzzle easy to understand, yet it was still beautiful. I was now attracted by the idea of poetry, words that had the power to make or break a person's world.

    I have since fallen in love with other poems, but "Patty Poem" remains my poem. After all, "Patty Poem" gave me my love for poetry.

Learn to cure cancer

    A vaccine for cancer is in the works.

    Lauren Landry and Chloe Tomblin are the scientists. They look in freezers(冰柜) for bacteria to use in the research. This research has its limitations—mostly because their lab is in a high school.

    But Lauren, 16, and Chloe,17 both students are Western Reserve Academy in the US, aren't put off by the difficulties they face in their cancer immunology(免疫学) class.

    “I hope we get to the point where we can get to a vaccine and write a paper,” Lauren said.

    Both conduct research into how to engage the immune system in stopping cancer from forming.

    Though the lab is in a high school, they don't use textbooks. The aim is to conduct real cancer research, either by testing the effects of substances on cancer cells or developing vaccines to target the growth of those harmful cells.

    The idea for the class came from Robert Aguilar, who has taught at the private school for many years. Students spend the first year learning research techniques. In the second year, students swap(调换) their blue lab coats for white ones. By this stage they are well into their research projects.

    “If first-years need any help, they can feel free to ask second-year students,” Aguilar said.

    Students form groups to conduct their research. One pair of students has researched the effect of capsaicin(辣椒素) on killing cancer cells. Another has tested the effect of caffeine(咖啡因) on the growth rate of breast cancer(乳腺癌) cells.

But few students get to the point in their research of experimentation with mice, Aguilar said. Lauren and Chloe hope that they can make decent progress in their work.

    “We know they're going to be used for good,” Lauren said. “If it does or doesn't work, it still has a huge impact.”

    Aguilar teaches the students that even research that doesn't work still contributes to science in some way. He tells students that “the best part of research is failing a lot”.

The 2024 Peace Poetry Awards

The awards con test is to encourage people to explore peace and the human spirit. There are three age categories（类型）： Adult （19 & over）, Youth （13-18）, and Youth （12 & under）. The yearly con test is open to people worldwide. Your poems must be unpublished , and in English.

Deadline

All entries（参赛作品） must be submitted by July 30, 2024.

Entry Fee

Adults — $ 20

Youth （13-18） —— $ 10

Youth （12 & under） — no fee

Notes

● You may submit up to three unpublished poems. At most 30 lines per poem.

● Include name, address, email, telephone number, and age in the upper right-hand corner of each poem. For the Youth （12 & under） category, please also include your school's name and your teacher's name.

● Title each poem.

● Please keep copies of all entries as we will be unable to return.

● Email your entries to: www. peacepoetryawards. com. By the way, we have no other ways to receive your entry. Please click here to pay your entry fee online.

Awards

Adult Winner — $ 800

Youth （13 -18） Winner — $ 500

Youth （12 & under） Winner — $ 200

Winners will be announced by September 30, 2024 on our website. Winners will be informed by mail. Past years' winning poems can be found here.