How many phone numbers can you remember by heart? It’s probably fewer than you would like. Actually, you’re not alone. Out of more than 1,000 Americans who were surveyed, more than half said that they couldn’t recall the phone numbers of their friends and neighbors. And 44% said that they couldn’t remember their relatives’ phone numbers. In their eyes, there is no point in filling their heads with phone numbers if they’re all stored in smart phones that are with them almost all the time.
In fact, most people are suffering from a sort of digital amnesia. More than 90% of those surveyed agreed that they used the Internet as an online extension of their brains. Rote memorization was once an important part of modern education, but we just need a click or slide now. That’s making us worse at remembering things.
Researchers found that when people expected to have access to information online, they were less likely to remember actual facts, but more likely to remember how to find them. As a result, we are already becoming one with our computer tools, growing into interconnected systems that remember less by knowing information than by knowing where the information can be found.
However, some believe it isn’t necessarily a bad thing — maybe it gives them more chances to think through things. We certainly have access to more knowledge now than ever, even if it isn’t all stored in our brains.
Even so, I still believe that there are more risks to this new world of memory beyond losing our ability to recall some information such as who the 15th President was. That kind of information may always be a click away, but the important things are personal ones, like the way your parents smiled at your wedding. It’s harder to recall or find online. If you’re relying on yourself to keep track of those memories, they will be much more meaningful.
1. Paragraph 1 is mainly used to________.| A．serve as the background | B．introduce the topic |
| C．explain new research | D．attract readers’ attention |
| A．Dealing with too many things. | B．Seldom thinking about questions. |
| C．Relying on the Internet too much. | D．The changes of their memories. |
| A．People can receive less information using internet. |
| B．People can gain knowledge more easily than before. |
| C．It’s a bad thing to have a chance to think through things. |
| D．People find it hard to remember how to find information. |
| A．Worried. | B．Optimistic. | C．Disappointed. | D．Confident. |
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【推荐1】Teenagers are the most dangerous drivers on the road, and car crashes are the leading cause of death among teens. But there’s one simple way to keep kids safe: Don’t give teens a car they consider their own.
Teenagers who reported that they were the main person driving a vehicle, rather than sharing it with other family members, were more than twice as likely to be involved in a crash. One in four drivers with primary access to a car had had an accident while driving in the past year, compared with 1 in 10 for shared access. That means 25 percent of the kids driving their “own” cars had at least one accident last year! The teens with their own car also were more likely to use a cell phone while driving (78 percent, compared with 55 percent) and to speed (70 percent vs 54 percent). These figures come from a survey of 2167 teenagers by researchers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. It is said to be the first to look at whether having primary access to a car affects safety for teenage drivers.
What makes driving a family car safer? Maybe it’s as simple as knowing that it’s the family’s car. I’m sure the realization that it wasn’t “my” car made me more sorry-and more careful.
Many parents are excited when their teenager is finally driving, and many teens need to drive themselves to school or work. As a result, it’s easy for parents to think that a new driver needs a car. Indeed, the researchers found that 70 percent of the teenagers said that they had their “own” car. This is dangerous, and parents should consider delaying giving a child a car at least until the teenager has been driving for a year.
Children who have strict parents were 50 percent less likely to have had a crash in the past year, compared with parents whose style is permissive. The advice: Don’t be afraid to set rules for safe driving behavior, and take the keys if those rules aren’t followed. In fact, making your teenager say, “Mom, can I have the car keys?” may be one of the simplest and best ways to keep your child safe.
1. The percentage of teenagers who speed while driving a family car is _________.| A．54% | B．70% | C．55% | D．78% |
| A．Their teenager finding a job. | B．Their teenager making friends. |
| C．Their teenager getting a driving license. | D．Their teenager buying their own car. |
| A．By using some examples. | B．By offering some figures. |
| C．By reasoning and concluding. | D．By analyzing causes and effects. |
| A．Teenagers: the most dangerous drivers | B．Keep teens safe-not giving them a car |
| C．Teens driving alone worry parents | D．Family shared cars can avoid car crashes |
【推荐2】Culture is a popular word in sport. Coaches often relate the cause of their success or failure to this word.
The short answer is, while the cultures of some sports teams can create long-term success, others will only deliver success in the short term, if at all. Culture is a key factor in the success of any organized group. So what is a sports team’s culture?
Every team has a culture.
Culture is a measure of the observable behaviors your team promotes and accepts. Basically, culture is best defined simply as “the way we do things around here” or “the way we behave around here”.
Now that we have begun to illustrate the importance of culture, what are the benefits of having a culture that is consistent throughout your organization or at your team level?
Unfortunately, there’s not as much research about team culture in a sporting context.
| A．Even if you do not know what yours is, one exists. |
| B．Consistent cultures tend to have more engaged people. |
| C．But why should you care about your sports team’s culture? |
| D．A different and unique culture can be one of your team’s disadvantages. |
| E．Culture is neither what you think nor want to do, but rather what you do. |
| F．The real question here is: what are the reasons for the success of a sports team? |
| G．However, we can draw much from business-focused research, as in the end “people are people”. |
【推荐3】In Chinese cities, people in yellow or blue suits riding e-bikes are easy to see. They rush between traffic from restaurants to homes and businesses, regardless of wind or rain. They are food deliverymen. Although they make our life more convenient, this can come at a cost for them.
“The food deliverymen are trapped in the app," says an article in the Chinese magazine Portrait, which has triggered a discussion. It pointed out that on food delivery service platforms Eleme and Meituan, the time limit and route for each delivery order is calculated by an algorithm （算法），which doesn't consider real-life situations such as red lights, speed limits and fully occupied elevators.
Based on the algorithm, the deadline for a delivery order within 2 kilometers is 30 minutes. Within that time, a deliveryman has to pick up the order and deliver it to the customer. Besides, the time limit has been gradually shortened in recent years. Delay could mean a reduce in pay so deliverymen speed up, often breaking traffic rules and putting people's lives at risk.
Many people criticized the platforms and asked them to improve the regulations applied to the deliverymen. In response, on Sept 9, Eleme announced it would add a button to the app, which allows customers to prolong the time limit for their order, and encouraged customers to show more respect for deliverymen. But this created more heated debate, as some felt the company was dodging the problem and distracting attention.
They commented that the move was illogical, as the deliverymen are following rules made by their employers, and problems should be solved between the two. They felt the company was putting the responsibility on the users rather than solving the problem themselves. Also, even with the ability to allow more time for delivery, it may not fully address the issue. "If I give them five more minutes, they would not use it to ride slowly or obey the traffic rules. They would simply take one more order. This is not the ultimate cure to solve the problem.”
Actually it would be better to improve the platform's system and the delivery mechanism. Besides, market regulatory departments should prohibit companies from setting tight schedules for their deliverymen and keep them safe on the roads.
1. According to the passage, what can we know about the food deliverymen?| A．The algorithm offers them practical choices of time and routes. |
| B．They have difficulty in meeting the time limit requirement. |
| C．They seldom wear uniforms when they are working. |
| D．They had even shorter delivery time limit in the past. |
| A．Solving. | B．Avoiding. | C．Creating. | D．Transforming. |
| A．The company is sparing no effort to address the problem. |
| B．The approach might be the best solution to the problem. |
| C．More potential problems are certain to be brought about. |
| D．Customers shouldn't take responsibility for the problem. |
| A．No Deadlines for Deliverymen |
| B．Deliverymen Break the Rules |
| C．Lightening Deliverymen's Load |
| D．Shortening the Delivery Time |
【推荐1】Many sugar-sweetened beverages (饮料) have little to offer—no nutritional value and lots of calories, and their harmful health effects have been well-documented. Now, a study links drinking too many sugary beverages—and even 100% natural fruit juices—to an increased risk of early death. Specifically, drinking too much fruit juice could lead to an increased risk of early death ranging from 9% to 42%, according to a study.
Overall, the sugars found in orange juice, although naturally occurring, are pretty similar to the sugars added to soda and other sweetened beverages, the study suggests. “Sugary beverages, whether soft drinks or fruit juices, should be limited,” Jean Welsh, a co-author of the study said.
Seven US cities, including New York and most recently Philadelphia, have levied (征收) taxes on sweetened drinks with added sugar in an effort to reduce consumption. The new study defined “sugary beverages” as both sugar-sweetened drinks, like soda and fruit-flavored drinks, and 100% natural fruit juices that have no added sugar. So how does fruit juice compare to soda? “Previous research has shown that high consumption of sugars like those in soft drinks and fruit juices is linked to several cardiovascular (心血管的) disease risk factors,” Welsh explained.
People who consumed 10% or more of their daily calories as sugary beverages had a 44% greater risk of dying due to a heart disease and a 14% greater risk of an early death from any cause compared with people who consumed less than 5% of their daily calories as sugary beverages, the study showed. Each additional 12-ounce (盎司) serving of fruit juice per day was associated with a 24% higher risk of death from any cause, and each additional 12-ounce serving of sugary beverages per day was associated with an 11% higher risk.
This is one of the first studies to examine the relationship between sugary drinks, including 100% fruit juices, and early death, wrote Marta Guasch-Fere and Dr. Frank B.Hu in an editorial published alongside the new study. “Although fruit juices may not be as harmful as sugar-sweetened beverages, their consumption should be moderated in children and adults, especially for individuals who wish to control their body weight,” Guasch-Fere and Hu wrote.
Welsh said we need to consider both fruit juices and sugar-sweetened beverages when we think about how much sugar we consume each day. Between the two, she was in favor of fruit juices: “Given its vitamin and mineral content, fruit juice in small amounts may have a beneficial effect that isn’t seen with sodas and other sugar-sweetened beverages.”
1. What can we learn from the first paragraph?| A．Sugar-free drinks basically have no nutritional value. |
| B．Natural fruit juices are usually healthier than sugary beverages. |
| C．Drinking too much fruit juice may not be a healthy option. |
| D．The negative effect of drinking too many beverages remains unknown. |
| A．To increase the government’s income. |
| B．To increase the consumption of natural juice. |
| C．To urge people to turn to sugar-free drinks. |
| D．To let people buy less sweetened beverages. |
| A．By giving examples. | B．By making comparisons. |
| C．By giving advice. | D．By stating the facts. |
| A．sugar is a major cause of cardiovascular disease |
| B．fruit juices are only recommended when consumed in small amounts |
| C．the sugar in juice is different from the sugar in sweetened beverages |
| D．the amount of sugar we consume mainly lies in drinks with added sugar |
【推荐2】Empathy(共情) is one of those strange qualities- -something almost everyone wants, but few know how to truly give or receive it. In a world where self- satisfaction is emphasized, it is in short supply but high demand. This is the reason to teach the next generation what it means to have empathy for those around them.
What is empathy? Many people confuse sympathy and empathy, but they are two distinct values. Empathy is not just the ability to understand someone's feelings; criminals often take advantage of people by appearing to understand their feelings and subsequently gaining their trust. Empathy is more than that. Not only is it the ability to recognize how someone feels, but it also values and respects the feelings of another person. It means treating others with kindness, dignity, and understanding.
Kids need to see adults show empathy. While some children are gifted with naturally kind hearts, in most cases kids need to see empathy modeled by the adults around them. It begins with the way parents relate to their children. Parents who show an interest in the things that matter to their kids and respond to emotions in a positive and caring way are teaching the skill of empathy.
Meet emotional needs. When children have their emotional needs met, two things happen. They learn how to meet the emotional needs of others and they are anchored in what they are receiving, meaning that they are secure enough to give to others when the need arises but first they need to receive. An empty jug cannot fill a cup.
It’s a good idea to talk to kids about emotions and how other people experience them. Give their emotions names (for example, jealousy, anger, and love) and teach them that these are normal. Talk to them about how. to handle emotions in a positive way and point out situations where other people are experiencing emotions. Teach them about respecting the emotions of others and show them how to act in a situation where a response is required.
1. Why is it that the next generation are taught to have empathy?| A．Because people tend to be self-centered. |
| B．Because everyone lacks empathy. |
| C．Because empathy is a strange quality. |
| D．Because it’s better to give than to receive. |
| A．When a mathematician is calculating the area of a farmland. |
| B．When a deaf boy is helping a blind old lady cross the street. |
| C．When a criminal is cheating a victim. |
| D．When a rich man is giving some spare change to a beggar. |
| A．An empty jug is too small to fill a cup. | B．It’s a must to talk to kids about emotions. |
| C．Adults should set an example to kids. | D．Kids give empathy with their emotional needs met first. |
| A．How to train kids to have empathy. | B．How to distinguish sympathy and empathy. |
| C．How to help kids finish empathy-related tasks. | D．Whether kids can be trained to be more empathetic. |
Researchers from Cardiff university examined the lifestyles of more than 200,000 people in Sweden and found that those who lived in urban areas were more at risk from mental illnesses than people who lived in villages.
The experts don’t know exactly why this is but they suggest that town and city residents are more likely to be ostracized(排挤) by those around them. They are more likely to experience discrimination(歧视) if they do not fit in, which can lead to them feeling anxious and even developing mental illnesses.
Dr Stanley Zammit, who led the research said that people living in towns and cities are more likely to develop other mental illnesses that result in personality changes — a condition known as non-affective psychosis(非情感性精神病).
Earlier this year an official report found that village-dwellers live an average of two years longer than those living in towns and cities. According to figures from the Office of National Statistics in the UK, men who live in villages are likely to live for between 78 and 79 years, while those in towns and cities can expect to survive to an age of 76. Women on average survive to their 81st birthday in towns and cities, but live to between 82 and 83 in villages. The small marked town of Wimborne Minster in rural Dorset was named the healthiest place to live in.
1. What is the passage mainly about?
| A．City-dwellers are more likely to develop mental illnesses. |
| B．City-dwellers live longer than country-dwellers. |
| C．Country-dwellers are more likely to develop mental illnesses. |
| D．Country-dwellers live longer than city-dwellers. |
| A．people like living in towns and cities |
| B．city-dwellers enjoy their peaceful city life |
| C．village-dwellers get along better with their neighbors than city-dwellers |
| D．village-dwellers are more likely to be looked down upon by others |
| A．energy weakening | B．temperature rise |
| C．pressure increase | D．character change |
| A．men living in villages live the longest |
| B．women living in cities live the longest |
| C．women living in villages live the longest |
| D．men living in cities live the longest. |
