You might see loneliness as someone (usually an old person) sits alone, staring into the distance or out of a window. Such images are deceptive. Researchers have actually found that those who report experiencing loneliness the most are young people, and such images of solitude (孤独) don’t match the experience of loneliness during youth. Those years are typically spent surrounded by other people, at school or at work.
Loneliness during youth can be defined as a negative feeling about a difference between the relationships we have and those we want. This means we might feel lonely in the company of others if we don’t feel they understand us or share common interests with us. Although loneliness is often a difficult experience, it can help us to reconnect and to rethink our relationships so that we can build (or seek out) the ones that mean the most to us.
There are certain features of youth that tend to give rise to loneliness. In youth, our friendships are increasingly important in providing us with emotional support. Research shows that young people have higher expectations of their friendships than adults do; they show a preference for larger friend groups, more companionship and higher frequency of contact with friends. When we consider that loneliness serves the function of keeping us safe within our social world, it makes sense that the feeling like we do not “fit in”, as so many young people feel, gives rise to loneliness. Another reason is our developing sense of self-discovering who we are. That often means changes to values or beliefs. It can be challenging when your friends are going through the same process, but might not follow the same path as you. Young people often report feeling lonely at school, while home is a comfortable space. But when there are difficulties at home — such as arguments or tension with family members and the departure of supportive family members — these can make the feeling of loneliness worse.
If you find yourself feeling lonely and it seems like nothing is helping, do not give up hope. It is likely that you have not yet found the strategy that works for you. Here are some practical steps you can try, starting with what you can do on your own and moving on to ways to connect with others.
1. Which of the following can replace the underlined word “deceptive” in paragraph 1?| A．irrelevant | B．disgraceful | C．misleading | D．unfortunate |
| A．Not having a preference for dealing with tough things alone. |
| B．Not having friends or family for company when in trouble. |
| C．Not having interest in others’ school life within the social world. |
| D．Not having positive attitude to the present relationships with others. |
| A．Discovery of self-identity. | B．Desire for more friends. |
| C．Difficulties at home. | D．Unfamiliar environments. |
| A．Suggestions on how to beat loneliness. |
| B．More reasons that cause the feeling of loneliness. |
| C．Strategies to deal with the arguments or tension in family. |
| D．Ways to face the departure of supportive family members. |
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【推荐1】Some people seem to have great memories. Zheng Aiqiang, a “memory athlete” on TV show Super Brain, can remember 2,660 numbers in just one hour!
You would think people like this have special brains. But according to a recent study by researchers from the US and the Netherlands, the brain structures of ordinary people and 23 of the world’s leading memory athletes show no difference.
That’s because good memories can be trained. New research in the journal Neuron(神经元期刊) suggests that you can become a super memorizer with just six weeks of hard training.
Researchers found that technique(技巧) called loci, invented by ancient Greeks, can greatly help improve memory. By using loci, you are using your imagination to improve the brain’s memory networks. You can link(关联) something you need to remember with a place that you know very well. For example, to remember a list of numbers, imagine yourself walking through your house. Each thing is linked to a number. For example, zero could be handle(把手) on the door and five could be the painting on the wall.
In one study, some ordinary people were given 20 minutes to remember 72 words. First they could only remember 26 of them. But when they were taught loci, they could remember 62 words.
“Not everyone can become a memory champion. But everyone using the technique can improve a lot from the level they’re at,” said Boris Konrad, one of the researchers in the study.
1. According to the study, ________.a. memory athletes have special brains
b. ordinary people and memory athletes have similar brain structures
c. hard training can make a person a super memorizer
d. the ancient Greeks had the most powerful memory at that time
| A．ab | B．cd |
| C．bc | D．ac |
| A．number | B．place |
| C．name | D．painting |
| A．People were given 20 minutes to remember the 72 words. |
| B．They could remember 26 words in their own way. |
| C．They could remember all the words by using loci. |
| D．Loci helped them remember 36 more words. |
【推荐2】With more large solar farms being developed in the sunny southwestern United States, researchers and conservationists alike are beginning to notice surprising environmental effects. While solar energy is known for its positive environmental impacts, officials at the National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory have come to recognize one of its significant downsides: Some specks of birds that live close to large solar plants (太阳能板) are dying off, including endangered birds.
A recent federal investigation recovered 233 birds that had been killed as a direct result of solar plants. Researchers believe that some of the affected birds have mistaken the large, reflective areas of the solar panels for bodies of water. This is a phenomenon referred to by scientists as “lake effect.” The birds are drawn to what they assume to be water. They aim for the area and slam into the panels with great force. It is thought that the insects that birds cat fall victim to “lake effect” as well, leading the birds into the panels.
Researchers figure that between 1,000 and 28,000 birds are killed as a result of harvesting solar energy. The number of birds affected by wind farming is much greater, ranging from 140,000 to 328,000. Coal-fired electricity has the largest negative effect on birds, killing nearly 8 million a year. These numbers make solar farming seem like the best option. However, conservationists are quick to point out that areas where solar is expected to boom between 2015 and 2020 are home to some of the rarest birds in the United States. This could put specific bird species at risk of extinction.
There exists a state order in California that 20 percent of all electricity of all energy sold should be renewable by the year 2017. This has been one driving force behind the rapid development of huge solar farms. The industry, which is expected to boom as a result of this change to renewable energy, is facing newly filed lawsuits (起诉) by conservationist groups. These lawsuits could slow down the approval process for the planned solar development across the Southwest.
1. What can we infer from paragraph 1?| A．Solar farms require a long development period. |
| B．Most people would be shocked by the size of solar farms. |
| C．Solar energy equipment looks strange to most people. |
| D．Most people think that solar energy is very beneficial. |
| A．dash | B．break |
| C．move | D．slide |
| A．Using solar farms is the most practical way to create energy. |
| B．More birds are endangered by solar farms than wind farming. |
| C．Solar farms may not be as friendly to the environment as expected. |
| D．Ways should be found to reduce “lake effect” caused by solar farms. |
【推荐3】No trees are seemingly cut down every time you search something or read a social media post on your phone or laptop. But websites alone do create emissions (排放)—internet usage is responsible for almost four percent of global emissions. That might not seem like a lot, but it is equivalent to about the same emissions caused by global air travel. That percentage is predicted to almost double by 2025 according to a post by Brussels-based energy magazine Energuide. And internet usage is on the rise—as the pandemic pushed many jobs and education online, internet usage went up as high as 40 percent.
The emissions caused by websites come from the hosting company that ensures that websites are up and running when users search for them on their server. By working with an environmentally sound server like Green Geeks, A2 Hosting, and Host Papa that focuses on renewable energy or lowering their energy usage, websites become more sustainable, Wired UK reported. Something as simple as using fewer images on a web page also helps lower emissions. Another way to reduce emissions is to have simply designed websites with little to no moving images like gifts.
Another aspect of creating more sustainable websites means raising awareness, or letting servers or customers in need of new web design know that it’s even an option for them. Some major search engines like Google have promised to reduce their tech centers’ water usage and to rely on more sustainable energy to run their search engines and other online products like Gmail and Google Docs.
Baruch Labunski, CEO of Toronto-based SEO company Rank Secure, explains that when many clients work with the company to have their websites designed, they don’t often think about sustainability. Companies like Rank Secure make a point to have sustainability as part of their process when working with businesses who want help with web design by relying on more sustainable data centers.
Of course, lowering the greenhouse gas footprint of your website is just the start of building up a sustainable company. Just relying on some renewable energy to have an eco-friendly website doesn’t make a company automatically eco-friendly.
“We need to think about the overall impact of our businesses.” says Labunksi. “If your business manufactures or even uses singleuse plastics, then your website’s carbon footprint shouldn’t be your primary concern.”
1. To create more sustainable websites, the hosting company should_________.| A．meet the data needs |
| B．design new websites with more gifs |
| C．work with an eco-friendly server |
| D．improve the education online |
| A．The clients should raise awareness and consider sustainability. |
| B．Rank Secure has no sustainable awareness when working with business. |
| C．Creating more sustainable websites can provide the only option for clients. |
| D．All major search engines promised to reduce their tech center water usage. |
| A．evaluate the methods to reduce emissions |
| B．inform readers the harm of overusing websites |
| C．encourage search engines to lower the energy usage |
| D．call for building up sustainable companies of emission reduction |
【推荐1】Interested in getting ahead over the summer? Then stay on course by taking advantage of Alvernia’s Summer Session. It lets you get ahead with a large selection of undergraduate and graduate courses. You can attend the class in classrooms or online, or you can take mixed courses if you like. We offer several flexible sessions at all three locations in the summer to help move you closer toward graduation. All courses are officially recognized and credits you earn are transferable. You don’t have to be admitted to Alvernia to take classes this summer. Our Summer Session is open to all Alvernia students and to students from other colleges and high schools, as well as adult professionals and lifelong learners.
And if you’re taking a course with us, you’ll have full access to the library, gym, cafes, and computer labs. Alvernia’s Summer Session is a perfect option for students who:
●Want to lighten their course load for coming terms.
●Stay on track to complete their degree on time.
●Plan to earn additional credits now to graduate a term early.
●Had trouble with a course during a past term and need to retake it.
●Just want to take a course for fun.
To find out what financial aid options might be available to you, contact the Office of Student Financial Planning by emailing financialaid@alvernia.edu or calling 610-796-8356.
We offer several flexible sessions to help fit your busy lifestyle. You can take classes and also enjoy your summer!(See courses for specific dates by visiting http://www.alvernia.edu/financialaid.)
1. What do we know about Alvernia’s Summer Session?| A．It’s open to students only. | B．It offers courses in three forms. |
| C．It includes high school courses. | D．It provides financial aid to all the learners. |
| A．You will not fail an exam. | B．You may face no course load. |
| C．You may finish your studies a term early. | D．You can be admitted to Alvernia. |
| A．Check the course schedule. | B．Get financial aid information. |
| C．Apply for courses free of charge. | D．Register for Alvernia’s Summer Session. |
【推荐2】Pack your bags and ask the neighbours to feed the dog: you could be off to a space hotel for a holiday by 2050.
Designs have been shown for the Von Braun Rotating Space Station, a hotel for 100 space tourists a week. The orbiting space hotel will have facilities you find in top hotels on Earth, including restaurants and a cinema, even equipment and rooms to play sports. The hotel is one of a series of incredible ideas the Gateway Foundation has, including first figuring out how to build in space and, eventually, a low-orbit space city.
The projects will further develop what we have learned in 20 years of building, operating and maintaining the International Space Station(ISS). However, instead of being used for scientific purposes, the hotel will be more like an orbiting cruise ship. Within the wheel-shaped building will be full of kitchens, restaurants, cafes, and movie screenings.
“Eventually, going to space will be just another option people will pick for their vacation, just like going on a cruise, or going to Disney World,” Tim Alatorre, the senior design architect of the Von Braun, told the design website Dezeen.
The wheel will rotate so it creates its own gravity. Most areas of the hotel will initially have about one sixth of Earth's gravity — similar to the Moon — which means guests will be able to eat regular food, wash and go to the toilet pretty much as they would on Earth. Other parts will have near — zero gravity, where people can play low-gravity basketball or Harry Potter's favourite sport, Quidditch (which requires fight).
The Gateway Foundation's goal is 1o have a second station in orbit by 2030, which would house at least 500 people living in space and I total of 200 visitors weekly — more than 10, 000 space tourists a year. The price of a space hotel visit is not yet known but is likely to be expensive for the firs few years.
1. What can tourists do in the space hotel?| A．Talk to spaceman freely | B．Experience landing on Mars |
| C．Cook their favourite food in the kitchen in person | D．Eat food and drink coffee with their friends |
| A．Encourage designers to compete | B．Explore more knowledge in the universe |
| C．Motivate more tourists to go on a space vacation | D．Inspire people to do scientific research |
| A．Wander | B．Circle | C．Fly | D．Move |
| A．Another station in orbit will hold more tourists |
| B．Another station in orbit is being built |
| C．Two stations in orbit will be completed by 2025 |
| D．Ordinary people can't afford the space hotel visit |
【推荐3】Many Chinese people have awakened their interest in classical Chinese poetry recently thanks to a popular TV show hold by CCTV that aims to “appreciate classical Chinese poetry, explore cultural genes and enjoy the beauty of life” by combining traditional literary form with light-hearted TV quizzes.
The ten-episode “Chinese Poetry Competition”，since its broadcast ，has been praised for injecting vitality (活力) into TV programs with fantastic performances of contestants，impressive comments from judges as well as its innovative interactive mode. In the show, poems can be adapted into songs or depicted (描绘) through artistic pictures. Any contestant who can memorize the latest number of poems may not necessarily be the final winner, while fast reaction and usage of poems matter a lot more in the competition.
Wu Yishu, a 16-year-old student from the High School Attached to Fudan University in Shanghai, is the champion of this season. Her rich knowledge of classical poetry impressed everyone and she rose to become famous online. In an earlier episode, Wu wowed the audience when performing in a section. She amazingly recited lines from the Classic of Poetry（《诗经》），the earliest collection of poems in China.
“Learning poems isn't about winning or losing. The power of poetry lies in shaping one’s view of life and developing one’s inner world.” said Li Bo, an expert guest at the Chinese Poetry Competition's second season.
When it comes to teaching people about poetry, Li Dingguang, the show’s academic advisor, suggested that teachers should explain more about the beauty of the poetry from both the aesthetic (审美的) and emotional sides, and guide students to lose themselves in the poems，rhythmic and rhyming (押韵的) lines.
“Although the proportion (比例) of ancient Chinese poems in the textbooks of primary and secondary schools has increased, many students still learn them for exams.” Li Dingguang said, “Therefore, it’s important to help students truly appreciate the artistry and fun of poetry.”
1. What do we know about the TV show?| A．Fantastic performances of contestants matter most. |
| B．Only by memorizing as many poems as possible can a contestant win the quiz. |
| C．Poems can be adapted into any form of art in the show. |
| D．The TV show has aroused people’s interest in classical Chinese poetry. |
| A．The vitality is injected into TV programmes with performances of contestants. |
| B．There are impressive comments from judge as well as its innovative interactive mode. |
| C．Poems can be adapted into songs or depicted through artistic pictures. |
| D．It was held by CCTV. |
| A．Shape people’s view of life and develop their inner world. |
| B．Appreciate classical Chinese poetry and cherish our traditional culture |
| C．Explore cultural genes and enjoy classical Chinese poetry and life |
| D．Help students learn poems for exams |
| A．The beauty of the poetry should be explained more from the aesthetic and emotional sides. |
| B．Students should memorize the poems’ rhythmic and rhyming lines. |
| C．The aim of learning poetry is to shape one’s view of life and develop one’s inner world. |
| D．There will be more and more ancient Chinese poems in the textbooks of primary and secondary schools. |
