Nowadays, more and more people are unable to sleep due to various reasons. What will you do if you have trouble going to sleep? Try a glass of warm milk, still no luck? Try counting sheep, "One, two, three" It is late but you are still awake. Are you supposed to take a sleeping pill? No, because if you take it, you will probably depend on the drugs. So you lie awake all night hoping that the new workday will arrive soon.
A new study has found that you might fall asleep quicker and stay asleep longer if you try "cerebral(大脑的)hypothermia(低体温症)." No, cerebral hypothermia is not a complex medical process. It just means cooling down your brain. Eric Nofzinger and Daniel Buysse of the University of Pittsburgh Medical School led the study. They examined 12 people who had insomnia. Twelve others had no sleep problems. Each of them wore a soft plastic cap on their heads at bed time, which had tubes inside filled with water. The first two nights of testing, the patients wore no water caps. During the next two nights, the caps were worn, but the water was not cooled. Then the researchers cooled the water a little for two nights. On the final two nights of the study, the temperature of the water was made much cooler.
The researchers found that the water caps did not help the insomnia patients until the temperature was about 14CC.Most of the patients fell asleep faster and slept better when the coolest water was moving around their heads.
Dr. Nofzinger and Dr. Buysse noted that this was only the beginning of the brain temperature study. But they believe they have discovered something important that needs more research. They presented their test results in June at a meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
1. The underlined word "insomnia" in Paragraph 2 probably means .| A．carelessness | B．sleeplessness |
| C．loneliness | D．sleepiness |
| A．Half of the people studied had trouble in sleeping. |
| B．The researchers wore the cap every night. |
| C．The caps were made of cloth. |
| D．The study lasted six nights. |
| A．people can sleep better by wearing caps |
| B．the water caps worked if the water was frozen |
| C．more research should be done |
| D．the researchers finished the study in June |
| A．Cooling the brain may help people sleep. | B．A new study about how to fall asleep quicker. |
| C．Water helps people get up easily. | D．Many people can't sleep well at night. |
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【推荐1】Noise pollution is one of the serious yet least recognized health threats of our time. Noise increases risks of heart disease, cognitive damage and developmental delays. Now, scientists are revealing that non-humans, too, suffer from noise pollution and that they are far more sensitive than humans. Also, marine animals see and sense the world through sound, which travels farther underwater than light. But scientists are now revealing that a vast range of marine creatures are extremely sensitive to sound. The range of negative effects cause by marine noise pollution is astonishing: delayed development, slow growth, etc.
Aquatic (水生的) plants are highly sensitive to sound. Take marine seagrass for example, just like forests on land, seagrass is a carbon sink (碳汇), contributing to stabilizing our global climate. In the past few decades, seagrass meadows the size of the Amazon have vanished. Climate change, pollution, boat anchors and the building of seawalls and harbors are all likely factors. As researchers at the Technical University of Catalonia have recently discovered, we can now add noise pollution to this list of threats. When the scientists exposed a sample of Mediterranean seagrass to powerful blast-level sound, the seagrass was severely damaged. Their sensitive hearing is an advantage in the dark depths of the ocean, but it makes aquatic organisms very vulnerable. Loud underwater sounds can damage or destroy their hearing ability. These effects occur at much lower intensities (强度) of sound than are known to be damaging to animals on land.
These findings stress the vast threat that marine noise pollution poses to our oceans. As offshore operations — from seabed mining to oil and gas and renewable energy construction — are increasing, little thought has been given to noise pollution. While exposure limitation levels haven’t yet been determined, it is clear that this emerging science will lead to new restrictions on the permitting and operations of marine industrial and shipping activities.
1. What’s the main idea of paragraph 1?| A．Noise pollution is the most serious pollution. |
| B．Noise pollution hardly influences marine creatures. |
| C．Noise pollution is regarded as the cause of diseases. |
| D．Noise pollution harms humans and marine creatures. |
| A．It has high sensitivity to light. | B．It can keep global climate stable. |
| C．It can adjust aquatic organisms. | D．It has weak hearing ability. |
| A．aquatic plants grow rather slowly | B．humans have developed oceans quickly |
| C．there is lacking in light in the deep ocean | D．it’s sensitive to the intensities of underwater sounds |
| A．Marine noise pollution will probably be improved. |
| B．The restrictions on marine noise has been operated. |
| C．Ocean transportation and fishery will be forbidden. |
| D．The ocean will be sharply threatened by noise pollution. |
【推荐2】Gardeners who use pesticides (杀虫剂) are contributing to a smaller number of British songbirds, a study suggests. Scientists have urged people not to spray their gardens with poisons in order to halt bird decrease and adopt wildlife-friendly practices instead. The results of the University of Sussex study, which researchers call the first of its kind, were published in the journal Science of the Total Environment.
The experiment, which surveyed 615 gardens in Britain, found 25% fewer house sparrows when glyphosate (草甘膦) was used regularly. This is an ingredient found in commonly used herbicide (除草剂) brands such as Roundup or Gallup. Slug pellets (鼻涕虫杀虫剂) also seemed to have an effect on bird sightings; in gardens where Slug pellets were used, house sparrow numbers were down by almost 40%.
Prof. Dave Goulson, a scientist at the University of Sussex, said, “The UK has 22 million gardens, which could be a fantastic home for wildlife, but not if they are overly tidy and sprayed with poisons. We just don’t need pesticides in our gardens. Many towns around the world are now pesticide free. We should simply stop the use of these poisons in urban areas, following the example of France.” The Royal Horticultural Society, the UK’s leading gardening charity, said the use of pesticides and herbicides should be avoided if possible and they should only be used, if ever, in small and targeted applications.
The research also found that those who adopted wildlife-friendly practices such as planting native bushes and flowers, or digging a wildlife pond, saw more birds than those who did not. Cannelle Tassin de Montaigu, a PhD researcher within the school of life sciences and an author of the study, said, “It’s encouraging to find that simple measures, such as planting native bushes and trees and creating a pond, together with avoiding the use of pesticides, really make a measurable difference to the number of birds you will see in your garden.”
1. What does the underlined word “halt” in paragraph 1 most probably mean?| A．show. | B．record. | C．stop. | D．mark. |
| A．To compare the effects of two kinds of pesticides. |
| B．To help gardeners choose the proper pesticides. |
| C．To convince readers of the importance of house sparrows. |
| D．To show the huge influence of pesticides on birds. |
| A．Pesticides use should be avoided throughout the UK. |
| B．The gardens in the UK are so tidy that pesticides are not needed. |
| C．Some countries like France have made urban areas pesticide free. |
| D．The extremely tidy gardens are ideal places for wildlife in the UK. |
| A．Effective ways to increase the number of birds. |
| B．Alternative methods to keep gardens tidy. |
| C．Other researchers’ interest in the experiment. |
| D．Gardeners’ attitudes towards the experiment. |
【推荐3】As I write this, a Bob Seger song is stuck in my head. It’s been playing on repeat ever since I heard it in a movie. I hated it a lot when it first came out years ago, and I still really hate it now. Why, oh why, does an earworm happen? This phenomenon, known as an earworm, is both fascinating and annoying. Earworms are a type of auditory imagery, where we perceive a tone without actually hearing it. When a familiar song is heard and suddenly stopped, some areas of the brain become overly activated in expectation of hearing the rest of the song, and then it fills in the missing pieces.
Anyone can experience earworms, but certain personality characteristics, like openness to experience, may increase their frequency. You may have seen a popular TikTok recently of a guy saying earworms aren’t normal but are instead symptoms of ADHD (多动症) or OCD (强迫症). That’s generally not the case. “It is entirely normal to experience earworms: Over 90% of participants in large-scale surveys report having had earworms at least once a week, and they are not a symptom of any other underlying mental condition,” says Jakubowski. Interestingly, earworms aren’t all bad. Research indicates that they can enhance our ability to recall past events, as the repetitive nature of the song strengthens our memory.
There are several strategies to get rid of earworms. Listening to the entire song can help resolve the unfinished loop. Alternatively, distracting yourself with another melody or engaging in activities that require focus can also be effective. Chewing gum or eating something crunchy may interrupt the song playing in your head. Despite these strategies, sometimes the best approach is to simply accept the presence of the earworm and let it fade away naturally. In my case, trying to actively rid myself of the song only made it more persistent. It seems patience is key when dealing with these stubborn musical guests in our minds.
1. What is an earworm?| A．A type of insect that affects hearing. | B．A song that gets stuck in your head. |
| C．A medical condition related to the ears. | D．An element missing in a song. |
| A．They cannot be controlled or stopped. | B．They indicate underlying illness. |
| C．They only occur in certain individuals. | D．They are normal phenomena. |
| A．To enhance memory recall of earlier incidents. |
| B．To increase musical creativity and imagination. |
| C．To expand openness to new experiences. |
| D．To improve focus and concentration. |
| A．Concerned and worried. | B．Scientific but negative. |
| C．Annoyed but accepting. | D．Excited and fascinated. |
【推荐1】As we know, the 2020 Summer Olympic Games is delayed to 2021 for Convid-19.
It's Tokyo's second time hosting a Summer Olympics, 57 years after their first time in the spotlight. These Games will see the introduction of some exciting new sports to the lineup (阵容), too: skate boarding will make its Olympic debut, as well as karate (空手道), surfing and sport climbing.
There will be plenty of classics to watch as well, from the ever — popular swimming and gymnastics (体操) events to track and field (田径) and team sports. And while Olympic trials have yet to take place, we'll most likely be seeing the return of superstars like the 2016 gymnastics standout Simone Bilesimming record — setter Katie Ledecky and track star Sydney McLaughlin, who was just 16 when she competed in the Rio Olympics and has been on the rise ever since.
The 2020 Summer Olympics will begin on July 23, 2021 and run until Aug 8, 2021, with the opening ceremony on July 23 and the closing ceremony on Aug 8. In between, audiences around the world will tune in to two weeks of nonstop sports. Most of the big swimming events will take place over the first week. while the track and field competitions ramp up (进展) in the second half.
For the second time in its history, Tokyo is hosting the summer Olympics they first hosted back in 1964. (Japanhas also been home to two Winter Olympics, at Sapporo in 1972and Nagano in 1998.) Tokyo is the first city in Asia to host an Olympics twice.
There are many changes to the Olympics this year. The biggest change to the Olympics for 2020 is the addition of the five new sports and the return of baseball (absent in 2016), plus a few new events, like the three-on-three basketball competition.
One change sure to receive a lot of attention are the adjusted gymnastics team rules: instead of fielding a team of five athletes, each country will be whittled down to four all-around contestants (参赛者), with two more teammates added to compete only in individual events.
1. How long will the Tokyo Summer Olympic Games last?| A．One week. | B．17 days. |
| C．24 days. | D．One month. |
| A．Gymnastics team rules have been changed. |
| B．Baseball will be absent in the 2020 Summer Olympics |
| C．Four new sports will be added to the 2020 Summer Olympics |
| D．Most of the big swimming events will take place over the second week. |
①swimming ②gymnastics ③surfing ④skateboarding ⑤karate ⑥track and field
| A．①④⑤ | B．④⑤⑥ |
| C．①③⑥ | D．①②⑥ |
| A．be added to | B．be shifted to |
| C．be reduced to | D．be expanded to |
【推荐2】People only contact their insurers when things go wrong and they need to make a claim. This generally means losses for the insurer. It also means stress and troubles for the customer. In order to relieve both problems, insurers increasingly offer extra services alongside their traditional policies.
Aviva, a British insurer, for instance, installs sensors on customers’ water pipes to detect very small leaks, so that these can be repaired before causing greater damage. This spares Aviva the cost of a bigger claim, and the customer the misfortune of a flooded basement.
Life insurers have so far been slower to catch on. But this is changing. Often extra services help people to live more healthily. AXA, a French insurer, gives its customers access to check-ups. Union Life, a Chinese one, guarantees customers a place in an old people's home and advises them on activities in retirement.
Last month, Haven Life, an American life-insurance agency, announced it would include a set of extra services for its customers. That makes it a pioneer on its home market as its new policy fits neatly into the global trend. Its extra services centre on health. For instance, customers also get discounts on family-health services at some clinics, and access to a genetic health test. Now more and more American life insurers have joined it. Ladder, a life-insurance startup, offers some help on financial planning through an online tool. State Farm, a large American insurer, gives customers a discount on in-home sensors that monitor old people’s health.
These services are not in short of demand. A survey by Bain & Company finds that American consumers have very similar preferences to other parts of the world on the sorts of services they want from life insurers. But America is not a friendly place for innovative insurers. New policies must be approved by each of its 50 state authorities. Some states’ laws are too inflexible, and do not allow for such extra benefits. Even when an offering suits insurers and their customers, it can still take time to spread.
1. Why do more and more insurers provide customers with extra services?| A．To help with the repair work. | B．To earn a greater reputation. |
| C．To prevent greater losses. | D．To make customers relaxed. |
| A．To draw people’s attention to keeping healthy. | B．To urge life insurers to provide more services. |
| C．To explain why life insurers develop slowly. | D．To show the changes in life insurers’ services. |
| A．The new trend on its market. | B．The new leader of its industry. |
| C．The quality of its new services. | D．The future of its new policy. |
| A．Consumers’ preferences. | B．Customers’ demands. |
| C．Some states’ rigid laws. | D．Extra services’ quality. |
【推荐3】Many festivals take place in the Caribbean area, and Martinique, an island belonging to France, is no exception. One of the best things about living here is the great number of events and festivals, which take place throughout the year, all over the island. While it s hard to go to every festival, there is one event that you definitely can't miss. As soon as the Christmas festivities draw to a close and decorations are finally taken down, preparations begin for Carnival, the biggest and most exciting event of the year.
Having never experienced Carnival in the Caribbean before, I was excited to see Martinique come alive in Carnival spirit. True to my expectations, the celebrations were loud and had a lot of energy. For five days, the streets of Fort de France were filled with huge crowds, beautiful costumes and exciting music. Daily routines were completely abandoned while everyone took to the streets with crazy dance moves. In Martinique, Carnival is a celebration that brings people together, regardless of their age, race or religion. Everybody is united in this great celebration of life. An interesting aspect of Carnival for me was to see how many different cultural influences there were. The performances of people dancing in the street strongly reflected African dance, while the costumes were European. The music was also a unique mix of West African, Caribbean and European influences.
So, what are the roots of Martinique’s culture? Most of the population of Martinique are of African descent (后裔）.The history dates back to Africans who were brought to the Caribbean as slaves. After the end of slavery, many Caribbean societies welcomed forms of African culture and identity. Once controlled by France, Martinique is also deeply influenced by French culture. This is what makes the island, along with Guadeloupe, different from other Caribbean islands.
1. We can learn from the text that the Carnival ________.| A．lasts for a week every year |
| B．takes place before Christmas |
| C．is the biggest event in Martinique |
| D．is celebrated by young people in Martinique |
| A．The mix of different cultures. | B．The amazing performances. |
| C．The beautiful costumes. | D．The wonderful music. |
| A．the history of slavery in Martinique | B．the origin of Martinique's culture |
| C．the population of Martinique | D．France’s influence on Martinique |
【推荐1】Prairie dogs（草原犬鼠）are native to the prairies of the United States, Canada, and Mexico. They are actually a type of squirrel named for the place where they live and the warning call they give when they are threatened（威胁）, which sounds similar to a dog’s bark. One of the amazing things about prairie dogs is the way that they live in “towns.” These towns can contain many hundreds of prairie dog families.
Prairie dogs like to live with other prairie dogs, so they join together to make prairie dog towns. These are collections of prairie dog families that can cover one or two square kilometers. Prairie dog towns are big because each family lives in their own tunnel（地道）system, which is usually 10-30 meters wide. Families are usually made up of 1 male, 2 to 4 females, and their children. When the young prairie dogs reach three years of age, they leave home to found their own families on the edges（边缘）of the town.
Prairie dog tunnels usually have several chambers. These chambers are like rooms in a house. Female prairie dogs use them when they give birth and when they raise their babies. The other chambers are used by the family for sleeping. To make them comfortable, prairie dogs separate the chambers by lining the walls with grass. The tunnels are also used for protection when prairie dogs are threatened by other animals. For this reason they are designed with two or more holes serving as doors.
Prairie dogs like living in towns and they even make social visits to each other. When two friendly prairie dogs meet, they greet each other with a kind of kiss. However, the male prairie dogs defend the borders of the family’s tunnel system against enemies. Prairie dog towns have conflicts, social gatherings, and cooperation just like a human town, which makes them very interesting.
1. What do we know about prairie dogs?| A．They are group animals. | B．They bark like squirrels. |
| C．They are an endangered species. | D．They are wild dogs living on grasslands. |
| A．By giving the meaning of chambers. | B．By describing how chambers are built. |
| C．By classifying the contents of chambers. | D．By comparing chambers to human homes. |
| A．To let in fresh air. | B．To make it comfortable for sleep. |
| C．To run away from dangerous enemies. | D．To avoid being crowded in and out. |
| A．social life | B．social structure | C．hunting habits | D．living environment |
【推荐2】For Deaf People, Face Masks with Windows Mean More Than Smiles
For the last few months, Michael Conley has felt very alone. Conley is a deaf man, and he reads lips to understand what people are saying to him. However, people have been wearing masks to help slow the spread of COVID-19, a new virus that spreads from person to person when infected people breathe out virus particles (颗粒).
People who are deaf and hard of hearing communicate in many different ways. Some might learn to read lips. Many people also use American Sign Language (ASL). It is a way to communicate using gestures and signs for people who are deaf and hard of hearing.
For both reading lips and ASL, being able to see someone's face and facial expressions is critically important. Particularly for ASL, facial expressions play a role in grammar and wording.
Helping Lip Readers See Mouths Move
Conley told his co-worker, Chris LaZich, about his situation. LaZich asked her friend, Helton, for help. Ingrid Helton is a costume designer with the San Diego Opera. She makes masks with plastic windows for hearing people to wear, making it possible for lip readers to see mouths move.
For a long time, lip readers have struggled to understand hospital workers who wear masks. The problem has only gotten worse during COVID- 19. Many interpreters for the deaf have not been able to enter hospitals because they could catch the virus.
More Challenges For Deaf People
Now, more people are wearing masks outside of hospitals, too. This creates even more challenges for deaf people.
When people began wearing masks, Conley felt cut off from the world. Since he could not read lips, he did not know when people were speaking to him or what they were saying.
Conley was nervous to go to the pharmacy or the grocery store. Once, he felt so nervous to enter his favorite restaurant that he waited outside for 45 minutes. He did not know what he would do if a masked worker asked him questions about his order. Luckily, the employee recognized him and pulled down her mask to talk to Conley. Conley was grateful for her action.
Not everyone knows Conley, though, and would not know he is deaf. He carries pieces of paper with him so he can ask people to write what they are saying. This way, other people don't have to remove their mask. However, it also means touching the same paper, Touching common surfaces can spread germs. Spreading germs risks contracting COVID-19. Because of that, Conley was refused service many times.
“It makes you lose your confidence,” said Conley, who has been deaf his entire life. However, Helton's windowed masks helped him get his independence back. Conley and his co-worker, Chris LaZich, tried out the masks and he had no trouble reading LaZich's lips.
1. Where can you probably read the passage?| A．In a newspaper. | B．In a diary. |
| C．In a guidebook. | D．In a medical report. |
| A．He felt the situation couldn't be changed. | B．He felt it difficult to recognize people. |
| C．He felt cut off from the world. | D．He felt lonely and angry. |
| A．To help them meet other deaf people. | B．To keep them safe from COVID-19. |
| C．To comfort them emotionally. | D．To satisfy their social needs. |
| A．Soon she started her company called Happy Laugh Masks. |
| B．The windowed masks helped slow the spread of the virus. |
| C．Through her mask's window, LaZich smiled at him. |
| D．Helton said store owners liked the masks as well. |
Professional courses, such as Masters in International Business or MIB, have been taken by many students in the last two decades. They are choosing new-age non-conventional courses that guarantee a better future. MIB is a specialized course that teaches the international business. There are valid reasons for so much popularity of MIB course.
The course content and teaching methods of MIB are quite different from a normal MBA or Master of Business Administration. It has been designed with the sole objective of developing professionals with an in-depth understanding and knowledge of the international trade. The course offers various advantages over the conventional MBA degree course.
The massive increase in the international business and foreign trade gives excellent job prospects(前景) to the new generation. Acquiring a degree of MIB offers outstanding growth of job opportunities. Those who want to pursue in the field of marketing also have a good future after completing the degree from a reputed MIB college. Big multinational organizations look for talented people who can handle the job profile of International Marketing Manage, and people with MIB degrees are preferred. The profile needs an in-depth understanding of the overseas markets, because it is the strategic post from the perspective of company’s international business growth.
Since business finance and economics are covered at length in the curriculum of MIB, students have great job offers in the field of finance as well. Typically, organizations offer the profile of international finance controllers to those who complete MIB with the specialization of finance. The specialization covers aspects of international taxes, accounts, budgeting and so on. People in this field are well-paid, and growth prospects are unlimited. After completing degree course from a reputed MIB college, there is a good scope in the banking and finance sector as well. International banks appoint people who have an excellent grasp over the international banking policies, currency exchange, and international policies. Thus, MIB is the golden key to success with brilliant job opportunities in national and multinational sectors.
1. The second paragraph is mainly developed by _______.
| A．analyzing causes | B．listing figures |
| C．making comparisons | D．proving definition |
| A．it is a compulsory course in the colleges |
| B．it offers them conventional economic knowledge |
| C．it offers them opportunities to do small businesses |
| D．it helps them get good jobs in some organizations |
| A．The international finance controller is a high-quality job. |
| B．People get higher salary in business field than in finance field. |
| C．MIB holders are more promising in all careers than others. |
| D．International banks only accept employees from MIB colleges. |
| A．To make an advertisement for the MIB course. |
| B．To analyze the disadvantages of the MIB course. |
| C．To explain why the MIB course is getting popular. |
| D．To predict the development trend of the MIB course. |
【推荐1】The Japanese have always been at the forefront at deploying robots to perform jobs that are traditionally done by humans. Over the past year, humanoid robots have been seen helping customers at the Mitsubishi Bank and even filling in for human science communicators at museums. Therefore, it is not surprising to hear that the country has the world's first hotel that is staffed almost entirely by the Androids!
The aptly(巧妙地)named Henn-na ("strange" in Japanese)Hotel which opened its doors on July 17 is located at Nagasaki's Huis Ten Bosch theme park. It is the idea of Hideo Sawada, a Japanese businessman who is fascinated by the possibility of replacing humans with robots. His aim is to have this futuristic hotel be run mainly by the intelligent humanoids .
Guests checking-in are welcomed by a family friendly English-speaking robot wearing a bow tie and bell-hop(侍者)hat. Though experienced at his job, he does request guests not to ask him "a difficult question" since he is after all, "just a robot! " Those seeking a more "regular" experience, can approach the human-like Japanese-speaking robot.
When ready, visitors can request the robot "porters" to help carry belongings to their room. Those that need to stow away valuables can hand them to a helpful robot who will place them inside an individual safe box in exchange for a small fee. A one-foot-high concierge is available to provide information about the hotel's amenities, nearby attractions, and even order a taxi if needed.
So how much does it cost to live in this crazy cool hotel? It depends on when you decide to go. During the low season, guests can get away with paying as little $ 60 a night for a basic room. However, during the peak season when rates are determined by an online auction, the price can get as high as $153.
1. What is Hideo Sawada interested in?| A．Making different kinds of robots. | B．Taking the place of humans with robots. |
| C．Setting up more hotels run by robots. | D．Making robots more intelligent. |
| A．purchase | B．change | C．store | D．replace |
| A．World's first robot-staffed hotel is open for business. |
| B．Japanese tops the first in making robots. |
| C．Robots can replace humans in Japanese hotels. |
| D．The aptly named Henn-na Hotel at a theme park. |
【推荐2】Britain's streets are becoming increasingly crowded with throwaway facemasks and protective gloves, a survey has found, as councils warn that they are battling with a mountain of personal protective equipment (PPE) litter.
Four in ten councils have identified throwaway masks, gloves and other forms of PPE as a problem in their area, and warned that it could pose an infection risk.
The District Councils' Network (DCN) represents 187 regional authorities, covering waste collection for 22 million people. “As well as being potentially dangerous for pets and wildlife, there is a risk that they could spread infection,” it said. “The World Health Organization has warned that appropriate handling is essential to avoid any increase in the spread of disease.”
Councils are already struggling with waste collection during the pandemic as residents are creating more rubbish while spending longer periods at home. The DCN said some weeks this summer had been like “Christmas collections", referring to the larger amounts of rubbish over the festive period.
Dan Humphreys, the DCN's chief for enhancing quality of life, said: “Facemasks, gloves and other forms of PPE are designed to protect people but poor handling risks doing the opposite. We would remind residents to think about how they deal with their waste.”
Scientists, however, have warned that even if masks are dealt with properly, 124,000 tons of single-use facemasks could end up in landfill if people do not switch to reusable coverings.
1. What is DCN's attitude towards PPE litter?| A．Worried. | B．Tolerant. | C．Skeptical. | D．Approving. |
| A．To recall the festival. | B．To admire the atmosphere. |
| C．To advocate the collection. | D．To criticize the phenomenon. |
| A．It is better to produce multiple-use equipment. | B．It is better to use reusable equipment. |
| C．More rubbish will be produced. | D．More landfills will be built. |
| A．The benefits of wearing facemasks. | B．The ways of dealing with rubbish. |
| C．The problem of handling PPE litter. | D．The importance of protecting individuals. |
【推荐3】Imagine that you’re the creator and show runner of the newest comedy show on television. Only it isn’t so popular yet, and your live Studio audience isn’t giving you the big laughs the show deserves. Do you film the show all over again, hoping that this time the audience will laugh? Or is there another option for making a joke sound funnier than it was received?
Sweeten(改善) the sound by adding a laugh track! “Sweetening,” or the addition of sound effects such as laughs, screams, and other audience-produced noises to the audio track of a TV show, has been used since the 1940s to produce the appearance, or rather the sound, of an engaged and entertained response to a show’s comedy. Laugh tracks came into existence as not only a solution, and sometimes replacement, for an unengaged live audience but also as a way to engage an at-home audience into a more-traditional, public, and theaterlike experience. Adding a laugh track to a television show makes the viewers at home feel much less like they’re sitting on a couch staring at the television screen and much more like they’re in a room full of laughing happy people to varying degrees of success.
Though the art of sweetening has risen and fallen in popularity over the past 60 years, credit for its creation and continued use is owed to laugh-track pioneer and sound engineer Charles Douglass. Douglass was the first to develop, in 1953, a machine for producing “canned laughter”, accessible at the push of a button or pull of a lever (操纵杆). Despite being artificial, sensibly edited laugh tracks are found by television studios to bring about a positive audience response, as their use is usually accompanied by higher ratings and increased audience memory. Though some television audiences may disagree with the value of the laugh track, the cheerful and repetitive sound holds a permanent place in the history and future of television comedy.
1. The author uses the first paragraph to .| A．introduce the topic “sweetening” |
| B．seek solutions for the problem |
| C．point out a way of making comedies |
| D．arouse readers’ interest in comedies |
| A．The creation of a show. |
| B．Funnier sound in a show, |
| C．More engaged live audience |
| D．Communication among TV viewers. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Positive. |
| C．Neutral (中立的). | D．Uncertain, |
| A．The reason for using laugh tracks. |
| B．The brief history of laugh tracks. |
| C．The development of TV comedies. |
| D．The way to improve television shows. |
