2026年真题23

Listen to a talk in an art history class (man) When we think of the Renaissance, we often picture grand paintings and sculptures, but a lesser-known art form also flourished during this period, tapestry weaving. Tapestries were not only decorative pieces, but also served practical purposes such as insulating the cold stone walls of castles. Artists of the era used tapestries to depict intricate scenes from mythology, religion, and daily life, often incorporating vibrant colors and rich textures. An advantage of tapestries was their portability. Unlike frescos, which were fixed to walls, tapestries could be rolled up and transported from one location to another, allowing their owners to display their wealth wherever they went. This portability also had a downside, however. Tapestries were susceptible to damage during transit. Even today, museums face challenges preserving these unique artworks due to their fragile nature. The creation of a tapestry was a labor-intensive process requiring collaboraqtion between designers, weavers and dyers. Unlike paintings, which could be completed by a single artist, tapestries were team efforts and it was common for a designer’s sketches to be translated by skilled weavers into woven masterpieces. The intricate craftsmanship required to produce these artworks offers a glimpse into the collaborative spirit of the Renaissance era.

Listen to a talk in a biology class (man) I once saw a video of a lionfish with its intimidating long spikes. Then it suddenly turned into a snake. Well, it turned out I was actually watching a mimic octopus. The mimic octopus lives in relatively shallow ocean water, and it’s the first animal known to show dynamic mimicry, which means it can shift quickly between multiple imitations. Now, other creatures use mimicry. The owl butterfly’s wings have markings resembling an owl’s eye, which may keep the butterfly’s predators away. But that’s how the owl butterfly always looks. With dynamic mimicry, by contrast, an animal can shift its shape in real time. It concocts its body into different formations, often to confuse predators. A mimic octopus can imitate a lionfish or a snake, and it can quickly extend its arms and glide across the sea floor like a flatfish. But what use is changing shape if you can’t also change color to look like a flatfish? Well, this octopus has cells called chromatophores just under its skin. Each chromatophore has a pigment inside it that could be red, yellow, et cetera. Uh, picture thousands of tiny balloons of different colors. If you stretch a balloon, it gets bigger, right? Well, the mimic octopus has muscles surrounding these chromatophores. They tighten to pull the necessary colors bigger and relax to make other colors smaller, making each color more or less visible. While this helps it hide from predators, it also aids in hunting as unsuspecting prey often perceives the octopus as a non-threatening species.

Listen to a talk in an environmental science class (woman) Today, we’re going to talk about the importance of wetlands and their role in ecosystems. Wetlands are areas where water covers the soil, either permanently or seasonally, and include marshes, swamps, and bogs. These are incredibly productive ecosystems that provide numerous benefits to the environment and human society. They serve as critical habitats for a wide variety of wildlife, including birds, fish, and amphibians. And they provide breeding grounds and food sources that are essential for the survival of many species. But wetlands aren’t just waterlogged habitat, they’re biochemical powerhouses. One of their primary functions is to act as natural water filters, breaking down or neutralizing toxic substances like heavy metals and pesticides through the action of specialized microbes. These microbial communities form complex relationships with plants and sediments, creating a natural filtration system that can detoxify pollutants before they reach rivers, lakes, or groundwater. Another significant role of wetlands is their ability to manage floodwaters. During periods of heavy rain, wetlands can absorb and store excess water, reducing the risk of floods in surrounding areas. Furthermore, wetlands are important for carbon sequestration, capturing and storing large amounts of carbon dioxide, which helps mitigate climate change. However, wetlands face numerous threats, including drainage from agriculture, urban development, and pollution. Protecting and restoring wetlands is crucial for maintaining their ecological functions and the benefits they provide. In the next part of our class, we will examine specific efforts to conserve and restore wetlands around the world.

Listen to a talk in an architecture class (man) Construction materials have changed significantly over the centuries. The desire to employ more sustainable, more environmentally-friendly building methods in recent years has led to advances in what we use for construction. For example, there’s actually a new building in Amsterdam in the Netherlands whose structure is made with concrete that captures carbon from the atmosphere. And as you know, capturing atmospheric carbon helps mitigate global warming. However, a building technique doesn’t need to be newly invented to be environmentally friendly. In fact, an ancient building technique involving the use of adobe bricks is making a comeback. So, what’s good about it? Well, for starters, adobe bricks are made from simple natural materials, clay, sand, water, and sometimes organic fibers. They’re shaped and left to dry in the sun, which means we skip the energy-heavy manufacturing process. Pretty efficient, right? Adobe also has an amazing ability to regulate temperature. Its thermal mass absorbs heat during the day and slowly releases it at night. That means less need for air conditioning and more natural comfort. Adobe’s insulation really shines in some places in the southwestern United States, which experience huge temperature fluctuations and where native populations made adobe from local materials and used it thousands of years ago. Today’s builders are rediscovering adobe as it blends tradition with sustainability. Using local materials cuts down on transportation costs and emissions, so less need for transportation is another thing that makes adobe ecofriendly.