One dictionary broadly defines the word “crisis” as “a crucial turning point in the progress of an affair or of a series of events, as in politics, business, a story, or play…” This paper will attempt to define a much narrower but extremely significant aspect of crisis: personal crisis.
Sometimes our more or less steady progress through life comes to a jolting halt(止步). Something unexpected, shocking, frightening, threatening, and disastrous happens --- a crisis. Such a development can disturb relationships, interfere with work efficiency, and cause confusion, disorganization, and serious emotional upheaval(剧变). Solutions that have worked for us in solving past problems no longer prove adequate. As anxiety increases, our powers to cope with it correspondingly decrease. The crisis quickly leads to frustration; we feel helpless either to escape from the problem or to resolve it successfully.
Many people think of crisis as being connected only with unhappy or unpleasant events. This is not the case. Crisis can occur as a result of any change, even one that is generally welcomed: marriage, birth of a child, graduation from school or college, or election to public office.
Crises are generally of two types. First, there are the expected, maturational crises we experience at times of life development and change. Examples of this include a child’s first enrollment in school or his transfer at a later age to new school. These events may precipitate(促成) a crisis --- both for the youngster and his parents. Another time when crisis can be expected is during adolescence.
The second type of crisis is the unexpected, accidental kind. This can stem from many sources: becoming involved in a legal suit, having an automobiles crash, being fired from a job, losing a large sum of money, or falling suddenly ill. Severe illness will create a crisis not only for the individual concerned but also for his family. And an illness may itself be caused by an emotional crisis, such as the death of a spouse, offspring, or sibling.
In a recent attitude survey, researchers gathered information to determine which crisis situations in life were most likely to precede(领先于)illness. The study showed that the three most stressful life events were death of a spouse, divorce, and marital separation. Other events that fell toward the top of the crisis scale were a jail term, death of a close family member, personal injury or illness, marriage, losing one’s job, marital resolution, retirement, change in the health of a family member, pregnancy, gain of a new family member, business readjustment, and change in financial state.
1. According to the passage, which of the following is the most proper definition of “crisis”?| A．A point or moment of great danger, difficulty, or uncertainty. |
| B．A crucial turning point in the process of an affair or of a series of events, either expected or unexpected. |
| C．The time in a serious illness at which there is a sudden change for better or worse. |
| D．A result of change. |
| A．pregnancy | B．graduation from high school |
| C．steady progress through life | D．adolescence |
| A．related to growth | B．related to youngsters |
| C．pleasant | D．welcomed |
| A．a cause of | B．a result of |
| C．neither a cause nor a result of | D．either a cause or a result of |
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【推荐1】Getting rid of dirt, in the opinion of most people, is a good thing. However, there is nothing fixed about attitudes to dirt.
In the early 16th century, people thought that dirt on the skin was a means to block out disease, as medical opinion had it that washing off dirt with hot water could open up the skin and let ills in. A particular danger was thought to lie in public baths. By 1538, the French king had closed the bath houses in his kingdom. So did the king of England in 1546. Thus it began a long time when the rich and the poor in Europe lived with dirt in a friendly way. Henry IV, King of France, was famously dirty. Upon learning that a nobleman had taken a bath, the king ordered that, to avoid the attack of disease, the nobleman should not go out.
Though the belief in the merit of dirt was long-lived, dirt has no longer been regarded as a nice neighbor ever since the 18th century. Scientifically speaking, cleaning away dirt is good to health. Clean water supply and hand washing are practical means of preventing disease. Yet, it seems that standards of cleanliness have moved beyond science since World War II. Advertisements repeatedly sell the idea; clothes need to be whiter than white, cloths ever softer, surfaces to shine. Has the hate for dirt, however, gone too far?
Attitudes to dirt still differ hugely nowadays. Many first-time parents nervously try to warn their children of touching dirt, which might be responsible for the spread of disease. On the contrary, Mary Ruebush, an American immunologist(免疫学家), encourages children to play in the dirt to build up a strong immune system. And the latter position is gaining some ground.
1. The kings of France and England in the 16th century closed bath houses because________.| A．they lived healthily in a dirty environment. |
| B．they thought bath houses were too dirty to stay in |
| C．they believed disease could be spread in public baths |
| D．they considered bathing as the cause of skin disease |
| A．Afraid | B．Curious | C．Approving | D．Uninterested |
| A．effect | B．advantage | C．damage | D．attitude |
| A．By providing examples. | B．By making comparisons. |
| C．By following the order of time. | D．By following the order of importance. |
| A．To stress the role of dirt. |
| B．To introduce the history of dirt. |
| C．To call attention to the danger of dirt. |
| D．To present the change of views on dirt. |
【推荐2】
Are you sometimes a little tired and sleepy in the early afternoon? Many people feel this way after lunch. They may think that eating lunch is the cause of the sleepiness. Or, in summer, they may think it is the heat. However, the real reason lies inside their bodies. At that time — about eight hours after you wake up — your body temperature goes down. This is what makes you slow down and feel sleepy. Scientists have tested sleep habits in experiments where there was no night or day. The people in these experiments almost always followed a similar sleeping pattern. They slept for one long period and then for one short period about eight hours later.
In many parts of the world, people take naps (小睡) in the middle of the day. This is especially true in warmer climates, where the heat makes work difficult in the early afternoon. Researchers are now saying that naps are good for everyone in any climate. A daily nap gives one a more rested body and mind and therefore is good for health in general. In countries where naps are traditional, people often suffer less from problems such as heart disease. Many working people, unfortunately, have no time to take naps. Though doctors may advise taking naps, employers do not allow it! If you do have the chance, however, here are a few tips about making the most of your nap. Remember that the best time to take a nap is about eight hours after you get up. A short sleep too late in the day may only make you feel more tired and sleepy afterward. This can also happen if you sleep for too long. If you do not have enough time, try a short nap — even ten minutes of sleep can be helpful.
1. Why do you sometimes feel sleepy in the early afternoon?| A．Because you eat too much for lunch. |
| B．Because it’s hot in summer. |
| C．Because your body temperature goes down at that time. |
| D．Because you didn’t have a good sleep last night. |
| A．All the people in warmer climates take naps in the middle of the day. |
| B．Doctors need to take naps while employers don’t. |
| C．If you take naps everyday, you’11 never suffer from heart disease. |
| D．Taking naps regularly is beneficial to people’s health. |
| A．You’ll feel sleepy at regular intervals (间隔). |
| B．Taking a nap whenever you want will do good to your health. |
| C．You will feel less sleepy if you sleep for a long time. |
| D．If you get up at 6:30 am, you’d better take a nap at about 1:30 pm. |
| A．Just for a Rest | B．Better try a Nap | C．A Special Sleep Pattern | D．Taking Naps in Warmer Climate |
【推荐3】If you are ever planning to buy a telescope and want to get yourself involved in astronomy it is always a good idea to know a bit of the sky. Get acquainted with a few constellations(星座) so that it will be easier for you to spot the constellations when you are using your telescope.
It’s a good idea to buy a few magazines on astronomy to help you to get familiar with the constellations in the sky and also read a few reviews on the different types of telescopes in the market. This will help you gather all the information about telescopes and what people have to say about them.
It’s advisable to go in for a pair of binoculars(双筒望远镜) before you buy your first telescope so that you can get used to spotting constellations before your view of the sky is narrowed down. This will also help you know if you really want to get involved in astronomy. Many people buy a costly telescope and then discover that they’re not actually interested in astronomy.
Experience has no substitute, and there certainly is nothing better than using different telescopes before you buy one. This will help you to get the feel of all the types of telescopes and you will know which one is easier for you to use. A large aperture(光圈) refractor(折射) may give you an excellent image but you may not be able to keep a steady hand while using it resulting in an unclear image.
There are three types of telescopes that are available in the market. If you want a more elegant looking telescope you can always choose to buy a fine brass telescope. It’s good to become acquainted with each type before going for the plunge of a first telescope. The first type of telescope is the refractor telescope, which uses lenses(镜片) to gather light to a focus at the eye piece. The use of lenses helps the telescope have a superior image. A refracting telescope is not as portable as the other two types of telescopes and so you will have to buy one with a small aperture.
The second type of telescope is the Reflector. This telescope functions by focusing the light back at the front of the tube,which is where the eyepiece sits,by using parabolic(抛物线的) mirrors and another smaller mirror to deflect the light. There is no added colour in the image caused by refraction of light since this telescope does not use lenses. These are the cheapest of all telescopes and are more portable than refractors.
1. According to the text,a telescope is intended to be bought for ________.| A．getting experience | B．watching stars |
| C．studying the climate | D．learning about a bit of the sky |
| A．One must know something about astronomy and telescopes. |
| B．One can’t buy a telescope without buying several astronomy magazines. |
| C．One should check the telescopes in the market and try to find a better one. |
| D．One must be familiar with new information of astronomy and space instruments. |
| A．The telescope is too expensive. |
| B．The binoculars are easier to use. |
| C．You may gain plenty of experience in astronomy. |
| D．Your view will be narrow by using a pair of binoculars. |
| A．It looks very elegant. |
| B．It refracts light by an eye piece. |
| C．It has clear images without any lenses. |
| D．It is not convenient to take along for its size. |
【推荐1】Millions of people suffer from motion sickness (晕动症).They have a lot of activities they fear. They often avoid doing these activities which include long-distance airplane travel, sea-trips, road-trips，even certain movies and video games. However, the French company Boarding Ring promises that it has its way to solve the problem, as long as the users are willing to wear Boarding Glasses!
Why do many people suffer from motion sickness? It is believed that the brain fails to deal with mixed signals from body parts. For example, when you are looking at your phone on a moving bus, your inner ear realizes the move but your eyes, focused on the screen, think you don’t move.
Boarding Glasses tries to ease (减轻)motion sickness by making the user’s eyes and ears transmit the same message. After the brain receives the same message, it will think you are in a moving environment. Though that sounds difficult, the science behind the glasses is surprisingly simple. The plastic frames (框架),made up of two round frames on the front and two on the side, are filled with some blue liquid. Any movement can cause the liquid to flow around the eyes. This allows the eyes to sense the move and send the correct signal to the brain.
According to Antoine Jeannin, CEO of Boarding Ring, Boarding Glasses has been tested. The CEO said that over 95 percent of the users felt better after wearing the glasses. The best part is that Boarding Glasses only has a frame» so a single pair can be worn among a group of friends, or even an entire family!
1. Why do some people suffer from motion sickness according to the passage?| A．Their eyes can’t see the move. |
| B．Their bodies are in a bad condition. |
| C．Their ears can’t hear in a moving environment. |
| D．Their brains can’t deal with mixed signals from body parts. |
| A．The shortcomings of Boarding Glasses. |
| B．The design for Boarding Glasses’ future. |
| C．The working principle of Boarding Glasses. |
| D．The response of people wearing Boarding Glasses. |
| A．Boarding Glasses Promises to Ease Motion Sickness |
| B．Why Do People Dislike Motion Sickness |
| C．Why Do People Suffer from Motion Sickness |
| D．Boarding Glasses Can Make You See the World Clearly |
【推荐2】A walk around the workplace is also a trip back in time. The office is where colleagues meet, work and bond. But it is also a time capsule, a place where the traces of historic patterns of working are visible everywhere. The pandemic has heightened this sense of office as a dig site for corporate archaeologists.
The most obvious object is the landline phone(固定电话), a reminder of the days when mobility meant being able to stand up and keep talking. Long after people have junked them in their personal lives - less than 15% of Americans aged between 25 and 34 had one at home in the second half of 2021- landline phones survive in offices.
There might be good reasons for its persistence: they offer a more secure and stable connection than mobile phones, and no one worries that they are about to run out of battery. In practice, the habit of using them was definitely lost during the pandemic. Now they sit on desk after desk, rows of buttons unpressed, ring tones unheard.
Landline phones were already well on their way out before covid-19 struck. Whiteboard charts have suffered a swifter reverse. These objects signal a particular type of pain- people physically crowded together into a room while a manager sketches a graph with a marker pen and points meaningfully to the top-right-hand corner, giving requirements never to be satisfied. This manager is still making graphs but is now much more likely to use a PowerPoint. The crowd is still being tortured but is now much more likely to be watching on the screen. The office still has whiteboards, but they are left in corners and the charts on them are slowly yellowing.
Real archaeologists need tools and time to do their painstaking work: brushes, shovels and picks. Corporate archaeology is easier: you just need eyes and a memory of how things used to be. But you also need to be quick as more and more work places are revamped for the post-pandemic era. Now its time to take a careful look around the office: you may see something that will soon seem outdated.
1. Why does the author refer to the office as a time capsule?| A．You can travel back in time in the office. |
| B．You can dig out what has been buried for years in the office. |
| C．You can easily find some old-fashioned practices in the office. |
| D．You can work with archaeologists to study the history in the office. |
| A．Whiteboard charts went useless due to new technologies. |
| B．More employees prefer online meetings to physical gatherings. |
| C．Landline phones still exist in offices because they don’t need batteries. |
| D．Many employees show a negative attitude to some routine work in companies. |
| A．Transformed. | B．Abandoned. |
| C．Discovered. | D．Reserved. |
| A．The Impact of Pandemic on Workplace | B．The Archaeology of the Office |
| C．Why Landline Phones Went Outdated? | D．The History of Old-fashioned Objects |
【推荐3】Goffin’s cockatoos, a kind of small parrot native to Australasia, have been shown to have similar shape-recognition abilities to a human two-year-old. Though not known to use tools in the wild, the birds have proved skilful at tool use while kept in the cage. In a recent experiment, cockatoos were presented with a box with a nut inside it. The clear front of the box had a “keyhole” in a geometric shape, and the birds were given five differently shaped “keys” to choose from. Inserting the correct “key” would let out the nut.
In humans, babies can put a round shape in a round hole from around one year of age, but it will be another year before they are able to do the same with less symmetrical (对称的) shapes. This ability to recognize that a shape will need to be turned in a specific direction before it will fit is called an “allocentric frame of reference”. In the experiment, Goffin’s cockatoos were able to select the right tool for the job, in most cases, by visual recognition alone. Where trial-and-error was used, the cockatoos did better than monkeys in similar tests. This indicates that Goffin’s cockatoos do indeed possess an allocentric frame of reference when moving objects in space, similar to two-year-old babies.
The next step, according to the researchers, is to try and work out whether the cockatoos rely entirely on visual clues (线索), or also use a sense of touch in making their shape selections.
1. How did the cockatoos get the nut from the box in the experiment?| A．By following instructions. | B．By using a tool. |
| C．By turning the box around. | D．By removing the lid. |
| A．Using a key to unlock a door. | B．Telling parrots from other birds. |
| C．Putting a ball into a round hole. | D．Grouping toys of different shapes. |
| A．How far they are able to see. |
| B．How they track moving objects. |
| C．Whether they are smarter than monkeys. |
| D．Whether they use a sense of touch in the test. |
| A．Cockatoos: Quick Error Checkers | B．Cockatoos: Independent Learners |
| C．Cockatoos: Clever Signal-Readers | D．Cockatoos: Skillful Shape-Sorters |
