People have many different ways to relax during break time at work or school. Smartphones are probably the number one choice for a quick mental vacation. Although it might seem like a good time, the result is opposite, according to a recent psychological study from Rutgers University.
For the study, more than 400 students were asked to finish a set of 20 words puzzles. Halfway through the task, the students were divided into three groups. One group was allowed to take a break and use cellphones to buy things online. The second group was asked to have a rest and buy things using a computer. The last group didn’t take any break at all.
Surprisingly, the group that used their cellphones during the break went back to work feeling the most tired and least motivated to continue. They also had the hardest time solving the remaining word puzzles.
Terri Kurtzberg, co-author of the study, explained that they assumed looking at cellphones during a break would be no different from any other break — but instead, the phone may cause increasing levels of distraction that make it difficult to return focused attention to work tasks.
“Cellphones may have this effect because even just seeing your phone activates thoughts of checking messages, connecting with people, and more, in ways that are different from how we use other screens like computers, and laptops,” Kurtzberg said.
This is echoed by a recent study from the US University of Chicago. It found that even if cellphones are turned off or turned face down their mere presence has a bad effect on a person’s cognitive (认知的) function.
1. What can we learn from the study?| A．The students were divided into groups at the beginning. |
| B．The last group had the hardest time solving the word puzzles. |
| C．Computers and laptops cause more distraction. |
| D．Cellphones may make people less focused on work. |
| A．Identified. | B．Confirmed. | C．Defined. | D．Ensured. |
| A．Try putting your smartphone away during your next break. |
| B．Using computers to shop online rather than cellphones. |
| C．Stop checking messages and connecting with people by cellphone. |
| D．Turning off your cellphone during work time. |
| A．Ways to relax for students. |
| B．The result from a word-puzzle game. |
| C．A study on using smart-phones to relax. |
| D．Effects brought by the smart-phone. |
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【推荐1】In recent years,stressed-out people living in cities have been seeking protection in green spaces for the proven positive impacts on physical and mental health,but the benefits of"blue space"-the sea and coastline,but also rivers,lakes,canals,waterfalls,even fountains-are less well advertised, yet the science has been consistent for at least a decade:being by water is good for body and mind.
＂Many of the processes are exactly the same as with green space-with some added benefits," says Dr Mathew White,a senior lecturer at the University of Exeter.
White says there are three established pathways by which the presence of water is positively related to health and happiness.First,there are the beneficial environmental factors,such as less polluted air and more sunlight.Second,people who live by water tend to be more physically active. Third-and this is where blue space seems to have an advantage over other natural environments-water has a psychological recovery effect.When you are sailing,surfing or swimming,says White,＂you're really in step with natural forces there."
Catherine Kelly is a wellness practitioner who teaches classes in"mindfulness by the sea”.She says the sea has a quality that can make people thoughtful.
＂To go to the sea means letting go,"says Kelly."It could be lying on a beach or somebody handing you a cocktail.For somebody else,it could be a wild,empty coast.But there is this really human sense of:'Oh, look,there's the sea-and the shoulders drop."
1. Why are blue spaces less popular than green spaces?| A．Because green spaces are good to people's health. |
| B．Because little research has been done on blue spaces. |
| C．Because green spaces have more benefits than blue spaces. |
| D．Because the benefits of green spaces are better advertised. |
| A．Where there's water,there's fresh air. |
| B．People living near water are healthier. |
| C．Water can help people restore mental health. |
| D．The sea can make people lost in deep thought. |
| A．The sea will bring you loneliness. |
| B．The sea will hurt your shoulder. |
| C．The sea will put you at ease. |
| D．The sea will make you feel down. |
| A．People in cities prefer green spaces. |
| B．Blue spaces help both physically and mentally. |
| C．Green spaces have been out of date. |
| D．Ways to keep us healthy. |
【推荐2】Unlike well-trained dogs that are able to distinguish (辨别) between common orders like "sit" and "stay", some "Gifted Word Learner" dogs can associate objects with words.
One year ago, Shany Dror and her colleagues at Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary discovered that some dogs have an obviously excellent natural ability to acquire object names. To study this further — how many words they can learn in a certain period of time and whether they can still remember the words after an extended period — they looked for more "Gifted Word Learner" dogs online and, in the end, they found six qualified dogs.
The researchers sent each dog's owner six new toys. Owners then had six days to teach their dogs the names of the toys with their usual methods. These generally involved playing with the dog and each toy, often for just half an hour a day. At the end of the six-day learning period, the research team used online video conferencing to test the dogs' abilities to pick out each toy by name from a number of old and new toys. Each owner sat with their dog in one room and told them to fetch a given toy from a second room. All the dogs successfully brought back at least five of the six new toys. The team then sent another 12 new toys and repeated the process. All the dogs successfully brought back at least 11 of the toys.
Afterwards, half the new toys were stored for one month, and the other half for two months, and the dogs were tested again after each storage period. Five of the dogs remembered all the toy names after one month, and four dogs remembered all or almost all of them after two months.
Dror says these dogs, which are raised in the home like human children, provide an excellent animal model (模式) for studying the way humans acquire language. An animal model offers a basis of comparison for understanding which language-learning skills are specific to humans, and which aren't. "We want to understand what makes humans different," says Dror.
1. What is the research mainly about?| A．Dogs' daily behaviors. | B．Dog training methods. |
| C．Dog-human relationship. | D．Dogs' learning ability. |
| A．Their talent for learning object names. |
| B．Their ability to recognize human voice. |
| C．Their tendency to follow human orders. |
| D．Their intelligence to interact with human. |
| A．video games | B．continuous training |
| C．counting toys | D．playing outdoors |
| A．To check their learning progress. | B．To study their long-term memory. |
| C．To confirm the previous assumption. | D．To maintain their interest in learning. |
【推荐3】Everyone likes living in a clean and comforting environment. If the environment are bad, it will affect our body, and make us not feel well. Sometimes we may be terribly ill. At that time we don’t want to work, and we have to stay in bed and rest at home. So the environment is very important to us.
It’s germs that makes us ill. There are germs everywhere, They are very small and you can’t find them with your own eyes, but you can see them with a microscope They are very small and there may be hundreds of them on a very small thing, Germs can always be found in dirty water. When we look at dirty water under the microscope, we shall see them in it. Germs can also be found in air and dust. If you cut your finger, some of the dust from the floor may go into it, and you will have much pain in it. Sometimes the germs will go into all of your body, and you will have pain everywhere.
To keep us healthy, we should try our best to make our environment become cleaner and tidier. This needs us to act together.
1. The writer tells us that________.| A．we like working when we are ill |
| B．we feel well when the environment is good. |
| C．we can’t feel ill if the environment is bad. |
| D．germs can’t live in the water. |
| A．very small things that you can’t see with your eyes. |
| B．the things that are very big. |
| C．the things that you can find with your eyes. |
| D．the things that don’t affect people. |
| A．everywhere | B．in air and dust |
| C．only in dirty water | D．on the small thing |
| A．environment doesn’t affect our life |
| B．we don’t need to improve our environment |
| C．germs may make us ill |
| D．if the environment is better, germs will be more. |
【推荐1】Top Teen Magazines to Follow
Affinity
Affinity is one of the largest teen-ran online magazines in the world, devoted to helping teens get early experience in journalism, learn writing skills and communicate with others. Since its launch in 2013, over 8.5 million people from over 200 countries have benefited from it. It covers topics relating to politics, mental health, entertainment etc.7 posts/week || affinitymagazine. us
TeenZone
First published in 2000, TeenZone is a magazine for the South African teenager. Teens today have voices that we all need to hear. They need to be taken seriously, lo be given the chance to express their views and concerns, to ask questions and receive advice, and in enjoy themselves in a safe environment. TenZone seeks to provide this platform (平台). It is written by teens, for teens.
3 posts/week || teenzonemagazine. co. za
The Teenager Today
Named The Teenager at the beginning, it was founded in 1963 with the purpose of uniting young people in a bond of true friendship, understanding and love. The Teenager Today is India’s only magazine intended for teens. It aims to be Indian teens’ high-quality resource for information, practical advice, and answers to all kinds of questions. What’s more, it comes to you with lots of fun!
5 posts/week||theteenagertoday.com
Teenage
Established in 1988, Teenage is Singapore’s first and number one youth publication, and the guide for young adults who want to know the latest in entertainment news, along with fashion, beauty, music trends and lifestyle tips.
24 posts/year || teenage. com.sg
1. On which magazine can we learn how to write a news report?| A．Teenage. | B．Affinity. | C．TeenZone. | D．The Teenager Today. |
| A．Give voice to teens. |
| B．Improve teens’ life skills. |
| C．Make teens’ voices heard. |
| D．Help teens gain friendships. |
| A．It was first published in 1988. |
| B．It is interesting for teens to read. |
| C．It was called Teenage at the beginning. |
| D．It is intended for South African teenagers. |
【推荐2】Waterways have played an important role in transportation throughout the history. The following are three of the most beautiful canal cities in the world.
Cape Coral, Florida, U. S.
Cape Coral city in Florida is known for its 400-mile-long waterfront. It is longer than the canal system of any other city in the world. The city has both freshwater and saltwater lakes. The long waterfront gives a unique look to the city. The man-made canals of Cape Coral were built back in the 1970s. The canal system also provides water for irrigation and protects the city from floods.
Birmingham, England
With 1.9 million residents, Birmingham is the largest city in England next to London. Apart from the busy side of this city, there are 100 miles of pretty, navigable canals.
The first canal in Birmingham city was built in 1769. Back in the 18th century, there were 174 miles of canal in the city. Only 100 miles of navigable canal is left today. A peaceful sail through the canals of Birmingham will bring you a magical view of the city.
Venice, Italy
Venice is a wonderfully unique city that lies on a group of 118 islands separated by canals. The islands of Venice are connected together by bridges. There are 170 canals and more than 400 footbridges in Venice. This geographically unique city can be termed as the most beautiful canal city on the planet.
Venice is the largest car-free city in Europe. The traditional boat is the main way of transportation in Venice. Your visit to Venice will not be complete without a boat ride. The 3,800-meter-long Grand Canal is the main waterway in Venice.
1. Which of the following cities has the longest waterfront?| A．Venice. | B．London. | C．Cape Coral. | D．Birmingham. |
| A．It is famous for boat rides. | B．It is surrounded by 118 islands. |
| C．It is named the most beautiful city on earth. | D．It has the largest number of cars in Europe. |
| A．To tell the history of famous cities. | B．To introduce three canal cities. |
| C．To show development of transportation. | D．To protect the ancient culture. |
【推荐3】Learning English as the second language for nonnative English speakers is not an easy task. It needs to spend a considerable time before you could speak or write the English language. There are only two ways to learn the English language or any other language you prefer.
The first one needs a lot of money because of the requirements needed. If you notice, a person migrated(移民) to another country and stayed there for a couple of years and then going back to his home nonnative speaking country, the person became so familiar in speaking English. This is the most effective way of learning to speak and write a language unfamiliar to you.
The learner learns the language because he/she is forced to do so because there is no other language being used. Not to mention that the learner should adapt to the environment. It is all started from listening. This is the process how language is acquired if you will stay long in a foreign country.
The second one is the traditional way. You go to school or learning center specialized in teaching English as the second language. Obviously, this is cheaper than the first, but it needs a considerable time before you will learn to familiarize the language. Today, there are different language centers offering their services for people to learn the language in your own country. They brought all the materials needed because, compared to the first one, they’re affordable and reasonable.
Nowadays, learning English as the second language is one of the global trends. Since the English language is used in most of the business transactions, you should be on it too. Otherwise you will not go along with the future trends that will arise.
1. Now an affordable way to learn a foreign language but not to go abroad is to__．| A．go to a foreign language school | B．study in a language center |
| C．communicate with more people | D．invite a foreigner as a teacher |
| A．the global trends of the present world |
| B．the difficulty of learning a second language |
| C．the most important way of learning a second language |
| D．the importance of learning a second language |
| A．learning foreign languages is easy |
| B．there is only one way to learn foreign languages |
| C．family environment is very helpful for learning foreign languages |
| D．learning foreign languages is good for your future career |
【推荐1】The Art Museum of Chicago
•Visiting time
The museum is open daily 10:30 am - 5:00 pm. The museum and its shops are closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
Highlights (亮点）of the Art Museum
•American Art
Discover how artists have expressed many aspects of the American experience through the rich variety of this collection.
•Impressionism: Monet, Degas, Renoir and More
Learn about the color and excitement of late 19th-century life as you view one of the most admired collections of French Impressionism in the world.
•Hidden Histories
Hear stories about artists and their artworks that may be overlooked or under-appreciated for one reason or another.
•For families with children
It is free for kids under 14 and Chicago teens under 18, and the Art Museum is the perfect place for an outing with the whole family. Visit the Family Room in the Ryan Education Center, build architectural wonders with colorful blocks, and learn about art through stories and games.
1. When can you visit the museum?| A．On Thanksgiving Day. | B．On Christmas Day. |
| C．On April Fool’s Day. | D．On New Year’s Day. |
| A．A 19- year-old Chicago student. | B．A 13-year-old girl. |
| C．A 17- year-old Chicago girl. | D．A 9- year-old pupil. |
| A．Tell stories about artists and their artworks. |
| B．Learn about the color and excitement of 18th-century life. |
| C．Discover how artists have expressed the African experience. |
| D．Pay a visit to the Family Room in the Ryan Education Center. |
【推荐2】Jellyfish are unusual creatures. They’re neither fish nor jelly. Some are among the most colourful creatures in the world, but it’s best to look but not touch these invertebrates（无脊椎动物）. Not only are they very fragile creatures, but many give a painful sting, and some are even deadly. Whether you admire them in an aquarium or try to avoid them in the wild, you won’t be able to get these fascinating jellyfish facts out of your head.
Here’s a jellyfish fact that might come in handy: There are several names for a group of jellyfish. They include smack, bloom, and swarm. Choose the word you prefer depending on whether you think the jellyfish pack looks like a garden of blooming flowers or more like a frightening pack of stingers, and whether you’re admiring them at an aquarium or if you and your fellow snorkelers are surrounded.
Jellyfish have two main forms in their life cycle that look quite different from each other. Scientific American explains that an adult jellyfish, called a medusa, has a bell-shaped body with tentacles（触须）flowing down below it. Young jellyfish, called polyps, look more like sea anemones, with shorter tentacles that flow up above the main body. Medusas reproduce by releasing eggs.
Melanie Roberts, Senior Aquarist at SeaWorld Orlando, says that the largest jellyfish in the world is a lion’s mane jellyfish. The body of this beautiful orange jelly can grow up to three feet in diameter. With its 12,000 tentacles that can grow 120 feet long, Oceana.org adds that the lion’s mane jelly compares in size to the planet’s largest animal: the blue whale.
Regardless of their size, jellyfish are mostly made of water. In fact, they’re about 95 per cent water.These creatures don’t have brains, blood, or bones. And most jellyfish don’t have eyes. Jellyfish also use their mouths both for eating and for waste removal.
1. Why can’t we touch jellyfish?| A．Because they may be stung. |
| B．Because they may die easily. |
| C．Because they may feel painful. |
| D．Because they may hurt people. |
| A．Its size. | B．Its color. |
| C．Its appearance. | D．Its lifestyle. |
| A．Mouth is an important organ for jellyfish. |
| B．Polyps can clone themselves by laying eggs. |
| C．The largest jellyfish in the world is 120 feet long. |
| D．Medusas have tentacles flowing up above the body. |
| A．Several facts about jellyfish. |
| B．The two main forms of jellyfish. |
| C．Jellyfish are neither fish nor jelly. |
| D．Jellyfish have many different names. |
【推荐3】A car needs gas to run and your body also needs food to work for you. Eating the right kind of food is very important. It can help your body grow strong, so take care of what you eat.
There are four main food groups altogether. The dairy group has food like milk, cheese and sour milk. The other three groups are the meat and fish group, the fruit and vegetable group, and the bread and rice group. Each meal should have at least one food from all four main groups. With all these food together, you will be given enough energy during the day.
It is easy to get into bad eating habits. You may eat your breakfast in a hurry to get to school on time. Or you may not have time for a good lunch. It may seem easy to finish your supper with fish and chips all the time. But you will find yourself tired these days and you can not think quickly.
Watching what you eat will help your body remain healthy and strong. It is also good to take some exercise. It will help you eat more if you take a walk or play games in the open air. Having a good eating habit with some exercise is the key to your health.
1. Which of the following diets do you think is the best one?| A．Corn, fish, cream and pork | B．Milk, bread, cabbages and beef |
| C．Eggs, tomatoes and chicken | D．Rice, bean curd(豆腐), apples, fish and chicken |
| A．Going to school without any breakfast. |
| B．Eating your lunch in a very short time. |
| C．Eating fish and chips for supper all the time. |
| D．Having at least one food from all four groups in each meal. |
| A．a farm where cows are kept | B．the shop that sells milk and butter |
| C．the food made out of cows such as milk and butter | D．a place where milk products are made |
| A．enough energy helps people think more quickly |
| B．taking exercise can keep your body strong |
| C．every person needs food to grow well |
| D．right kind of food with exercise will keep you healthy |
【推荐1】If you are a recent social science graduate who has had to listen to jokes about unemployment from your computer major classmates, you may have had the last laugh. There are many advantages for the social science major because this high-tech “Information Age” demands people who are flexible and who have good communication skills.
There are many social science majors in large companies who fill important positions. For example, a number of research studies found that social science majors had achieved greater managerial success than those who had technical training or pre-professional courses. Studies show that social science majors are most suited for change, which is the leading feature (特点) of the kind of high speed, high-pressure, high-tech world we now live in.
Social science majors are not only experiencing success in their long-term company jobs, but they are also finding jobs more easily. A study showed that many companies had filled a large percentage of their entry-level positions with social science graduates. The study also showed that the most sought-after quality in a person who was looking for a job was communication skills, noted as “very important” by 92 percent of the companies. Social science majors have these skills, often without knowing how important they are. It is probably due to these skills that they have been offered a wide variety of positions.
Finally, although some social science majors may still find it more difficult than their technically trained classmates to land the first job, recent graduates report that they don’t regret their choice of study.
1. By saying that “you may have had the last laugh” in the first paragraph, the author means that you may have _______.| A．earned as much as computer majors | B．stopped joking about computer majors |
| C．shared the jokes with computer majors | D．found jobs more easily than computer majors |
| A．are likely to give others pressure | B．are equally good at computer skills |
| C．are better able to deal with difficulties | D．are ready to change when situations change |
| A．Social science majors do not know they have had these skills. |
| B．Many companies prefer to employ those with good communication skills. |
| C．These skills have been considered very important by social science majors. |
| D．Computer majors have been offered a wide variety of positions because of these skills. |
| A．Part-time work experience. | B．Skills in expressing themselves. |
| C．Willingness to take low-paid jobs. | D．Readiness to gain high-tech knowledge. |
| A．successfully get | B．lose regretfully | C．immediately start | D．keep for some time |
【推荐2】In July 2017, the American Space Agency（NASA）admitted to not having enough financial means to send man on Mars for the purpose of exploring it. The news had the effect of a bomb after five years of communication and development for this space exploration project. And yet, a few months before this announcement, the two houses of the US Congress voted a law to guide future NASA tasks. Among these tasks was an inhabited trip to Mars in 2033.
In the meantime, NASA is focusing on the Mars 2020 mission by building its rover （漫游者）, which will be equipped with a series of new scientific instruments. This new machine will also look a lot like Curiosity which landed on the red planet in 2012. The mission Mars 2020 aims to assess the livability of the planet and possibly identify potential tracks of life yesterday and today.
At a recent press conference, former US astronaut Tom Jones announced that NASA’s current budget could not solve some technical problems for 25 years. Thus, it postpones the first inhabited mission of the agency to Mars in 2043. The subject concerned mainly mentioned many damages that will affect the body of astronauts.
Indeed, the trip to Mars could be completed in nine months by considering the current technologies and the moment when the planets are closer to each other. However, periods of weightlessness that are too long may, in particular, cause a lack of calcium. In fact, it influences the bones of astronauts. In addition, this can lead to significant damage of vision.
A quarter of a century is needed to develop new technologies to solve these problems. For example, there is the question of developing nuclear propulsion（推进）systems. Indeed, it could reduce travel times. Finally, there is also the idea of designing something to allow astronauts to hibernate（冬眠） during the trip!
1. What made NASA put off its inhabited mission?| A．Objection of scientists. | B．The living conditions. |
| C．The damage to health. | D．A shortage of funds. |
| A．It has been put off. |
| B．It is to evaluate the possibility for our living. |
| C．Its aim is to send man to Mars. |
| D．Its purpose is for man to walk on Mars. |
| A．The problems existing nowadays. | B．The accuracy of travel times. |
| C．The time to develop technologies. | D．The update of new devices. |
【推荐3】I had always heard that North Americans value independence, and that Europeans value, togetherness. But I never fully understood it until 2 months ago, when I left my Ph.D. lab in Canada for a 4-month research in a lab in France. On my first day, Pierre — a Ph.D. student whose desk is across from mine — tapped me on the shoulder and asked: "Coffee?" I nodded and followed him down the hallway to the common room, where other grad students were filing in. I sat there, cautiously sipping the bitter liquid five times stronger than my normal Americano and trying hard not to reveal my uncultured tastes, while lab chatter（闲聊）filled the air.
Coffee breaks are a routine part of work life here. The chatter sometimes turns to serious scientific topics. But mostly, the meetups offer a chance to unwind — to share stories about life inside and outside the lab and to connect with people who understand what you're going through.
The lighthearted atmosphere and sense of community is a welcome contrast to my life in Canada, where I spent most of my workdays all alone. I went into the lab each morning with set goals for my day. At lunch, I'd keep my eyes glued to my computer while I shoveled（大量送入）forkfuls of salad into my mouth, trying to power through my to-do list.
Our lab held weekly meetings where we'd take turns presenting our latest, work and getting feedback from colleagues. But we didn't take daily coffee breaks. My labmates and I were too busy collecting data and publishing papers.
Looking back now, I realize how much we were missing. Researchers need community because good ideas don't just come from reading literature and thinking deep thoughts; it's helpful to bounce ideas off others, particularly in a nonthreatening environment. It's also helpful to have a spot to share the day-to-day ups and downs of life as a grad student. How else are you supposed to know that you're not the only one suffering from challenges like anxiety?
1. What can we learn about the author from the first paragraph?| A．He has a European dependent personality. |
| B．He was ill at ease in the new environment. |
| C．He was ashamed of his uncultured background. |
| D．He is too vain to work with other grad students. |
| A．break away from his work life in Canada. |
| B．get involved in serious scientific topics. |
| C．relax and exchange ideas with people. |
| D．collecting data from his colleagues. |
| A．Demanding but satisfactory. |
| B．Impersonal but efficient. |
| C．Challenging and tiresome. |
| D．Stressful and independent. |
| A．Why Scientists Should Take Coffee breaks? |
| B．Coffee Inspires Creativity in Scientists |
| C．Lighthearted Atmosphere Counts |
| D．North American Life VS. European Life |
