1 . It’s no secret that laughter works wonders for us. And much research has been carried out, which shows that laughter is good for our general health and well being. It has been found to release endorphins(释放安多芬), our bodies’ natural “feel-good” chemicals, into our blood. But as we grow older, we are more likely to find fewer things funny. A child will laugh on average 300 times a day. By the time we reach adulthood, this number is around 20. But what’s behind this? One theory suggests that it’s not a problem of losing our sense of humor, but rather, as we grow older, we take things a bit more seriously.
Laughter is very much something we do with others. Studies have shown that we are 30 times more likely to find something funny when we are with others than when we are by ourselves. But to laugh with others, we do need to feel a connection to them. We need to feel comfortable in their company. That’s why it can be difficult to laugh with strangers. Laughter is also very contagious and one person’s laugh can spread quickly through out a group of people. But often what makes us join in is the fear of standing out and being different. We laugh, even if we don’t really get the joke, especially in groups controlled by a powerful person. When the head teacher tells a joke, for example, you laugh, even though later you might wonder if the joke was really that funny at all.
There are many different reasons why we laugh. Here are three widely accepted theories:
The Incongruity Theory: It’s often the unexpected that makes us laugh. When things that we are familiar with suddenly take a turn into the unknown, our expectations are challenged and that often results in laughter.
The Superiority Theory: We often find the mistakes and misfortunes of others funny. This would explain the popularity of online videos showing pranks(恶作剧)
The Relief Theory: Laugh offers light relief. It explains why there are so many jokes about the darker things in life. By being able to laugh at them, we are able to face them more easily.
1. What can we learn from Paragraph 2?| A．More funny things happen when we are with others. |
| B．People feel comfortable in strangers’ company. |
| C．We laugh sometimes because of social needs. |
| D．Powerful people are more likely to be funny. |
| A．有感染力的 | B．有区别的 | C．令人害怕的 | D．令人舒适的 |
| A．The art of laughter. | B．The sign of laughter. |
| C．The power of laughter. | D．The science of laughter. |
2 . Online eating shows or Mukbang shows, come from South Korea, and are well-known all over the world.
Many hosts of such shows become popular for their ability to eat lots of food. But some people think it’s a waste (浪费) of food. While some hosts can eat so much food, some may fake it. They show eating a lot of food in front of the camera, but actually later threw it away.
To stop it, many video and live-streaming platforms (直播平台), including Douyin, Kuaishou and Bilibili, have stopped showing videos about food waste, and promoted (宣传) messages to “stop food waste and eat reasonably”. In June 2020, the United Nations warned that the world is facing the worst food shortage in 50 years. About a third of the world’s food, 1.3 billion tons, is wasted every year. In China alone, 50 million tons of food becomes rubbish every year.
Recently, campaigns (活动) against food waste have been further promoted. In August, President Xi stressed the need for having safe food and stopping food waste. Many restaurants have taken actions to control food waste. In Wuhan, restaurants ask customers to take the “N-1 mode”. For example, a group of ten diners should only order enough for nine people at first. More food is only brought to the table if they really need it. And a nationwide “Clean Your Plate” campaign has been started online. Users of Weibo can share photos or videos of empty plates after finishing their meals.
1. Hosts of Mukbang shows are welcomed by people because _______.| A．they are too hungry | B．they can eat very special food |
| C．they can eat quite a lot of food | D．they can cook delicious food |
| A．消化 | B．坚持 | C．赞扬 | D．伪造 |
| A．Ten people can only order food for nine in restaurants in China. |
| B．Many people around the world may not have enough food according to the UN. |
| C．People must take photos or videos to show their empty plates in Weibo. |
| D．1.3 billion tons of food is wasted in China every year. |
| A．watch online eating shows | B．eat more healthy food |
| C．put an end to food waste | D．spend less money on food |
3 . Have you ever paid for educational podcasts (播客) or live videos? Ask some people and most of them will say yes. “Pay-for-knowledge” has been more and more fashionable these years. The contents of these “pay-for-knowledge” products are from language learning to gardening or baby-caring. Everything you think of can be found online at this moment. “Pay-for-knowledge” is on the rise(兴起).
Why is “pay-for-knowledge” industry developing so rapidly? First, its development is based on the Internet. With a fast network and a smartphone, anyone who has passed the identity (身份) check can be an online teacher, and anyone with an online account (帐户) can buy “pay-for-knowledge” products. Second, people are afraid to miss any information. On one hand, people hope for more useful information. On the other hand, such information is usually at the hands of experts who serve famous companies and universities. Moreover, the need to learn new skills in today’s job market also pushes people to learn on such educational podcasts.
The industry of “pay-for-knowledge” has proved to be lucrative. It promises possibilities of turning information into money. It is good for the development of our country and it can help sellers make lots of money. Besides, buyers can enjoy self-growth from it. What’s more, this is a reflection(反映)of respect for knowledge and talents.
However, the rapid rise of “pay-for-knowledge” has a few problems. For one thing, the market is full of eye-catching words such as “How to be an Industry’s Expert in 5 Hours” and “15 Classes to Be a Master of Appreciating(欣赏) Classical Music”, which sound like if you pay for it, you are sure to succeed. For another, a large number of customers buy them just for showing off. In fact, those who have really had self-growth after buying online courses may be the kind of people who need them least. In other words, with or without these courses, they can make it anyway, because they are those who have the ability to learn by themselves.
In general, the best is the one that suits you most. “Pay-for-knowledge” may be used as a good start for self-growth. Be careful! Otherwise, your dream of success may not come true.
1. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?| A．“Pay-for-knowledge” products can help all the people succeed. |
| B．“Pay-for-knowledge” products can offer people different kinds of courses. |
| C．People who can teach themselves need “pay-for-knowledge” products most. |
| D．People must learn from experts who serve famous companies and universities. |
| A．The fast network and smartphone make it possible for people to get. |
| B．People are afraid to miss any useful information. |
| C．People need to learn new skills in today’s job market. |
| D．People are forced to pay for educational podcasts or live videos. |
| A．The history of its rise. | B．The problems of its products. |
| C．The advantages of its products. | D．The causes of its rise. |
| A．produce lots of money | B．get much information |
| C．win great respect | D．enjoy self-growth |
| A．recommend the “pay-for-knowledge” products to people |
| B．advise everyone to learn knowledge by themselves online |
| C．remind people to choose “pay-for-knowledge” products wisely |
| D．teach parents how to buy some online courses for their children |
4 . If you are always told you’re a genius, will it have any influence on your work? Will it make you work harder and face the difficulties more bravely because you know your ability, or will it make you become lazier because you know you’re already ahead? In a series of studies, Dweck and her team made experiment on 400 fifth graders from different parts of the United States.
First, participants（参加者）were given a series of puzzles to test their IQ. After they finished their test, they were told their scores and praised in different ways. One group of participants were praised for their intelligence and were told -You got X number correct. That’s really good score. You must be very smart at this. Another group of participants were told, "You must have worked really hard." The students were then given a choice as to what kind of test they would take next. They could either take one that’s harder than the first one, or one that’s just as easy. A majority of the children who were praised for their intelligence chose to take the easy test whereas, 90% of those praised for their efforts chose to do the harder puzzles.
While Dweck’s series of studies centered on children, it’s important to notice how having a particular mindset（心态）can influence you at any age. As someone with a fixed （固执的）mindset, you believe basic qualities—like-intelligence—are unchangeable. Since you are often praised for your intelligence, you want to continue remaining intelligent in the eyes of others so you shy away from challenges.
However, as someone with a growth mindset you believe the harder you try, the more you’ll improve. You are not afraid of taking risks, even if there’s a big chance that you’ll all flat on your face along the way. More and more researches support the growth mindset," Dweck wrote in the journal Educational Leadership.“Basic aspects of intelligence can be strengthened through learning and adventures, and efforts and persistence in the face of challenges are key ingredients in outstanding achievements.”
Dweck’s studies teach us an important lesson about success. A person’s intelligence can only take him or her to certain distance. The rest of the way is paved by bravery and determination.
1. What do Dweck and her team want to find out?| A．The influence of praise on people. | B．The IQ of each participant. |
| C．The best way to achieve success. | D．The positive influence of difficulties. |
| A．Participant received three experiments in total. |
| B．Kids praised for their efforts later chose easier tests. |
| C．One group of participants was smarter than the other group. |
| D．Kids praised for their IQ later became afraid to fail. |
| A．will go through much more failures | B．is more likely to meet with difficulties |
| C．is willing to challenge himself | D．is more likely to become an educational leader |
| A．give the reasons for the studies | B．show the findings of the studies |
| C．describe the weak points of the studies | D．introduce the methods of the studies |
5 . We go to many places every day. How do you travel? Do you usually walk or ride bikes?
In a modern city, there are many ways for you to choose (选择) when you go travelling. If you are busy, you can take a taxi. Taxis don’t need to stop often on the road. And the driver can take you anywhere you want to go, but it is too expensive. Of course you can also choose to take the subway. It is safe and quick and you don’t pay a lot. When you aren’t busy, you can take a bus, so you can enjoy the scenery (风景) of the city on it.
If you want to get some exercise, travelling on foot or by bike may be good for you. Walking can make you healthy and it is very cheap.
Today, many people have cars. But I think it isn’t a good thing because there are many cars in the street. They have to move (移动) very slowly and it takes more time to get to the places they want to go.
1. Some people choose to take the subway because it’s a/an ________ way to travel.| A．quick | B．relaxing | C．funny | D．quiet |
| A．going on foot | B．taking a taxi |
| C．travelling by car | D．taking the underground |
| A．people never take buses to travel | B．if people are free, they can take taxis |
| C．the writer doesn’t like travelling by car | D．people like to choose the same way to travel |
| A．the cars to choose | B．the ways to travel |
| C．the places to visit | D．the scenery of the city |
6 . Several months after I was badly hurt in a car accident, my father sent me to a blind school.
That morning was the new beginning. I went to this school and I heard lots of children. My new teacher took me to the class where we were taught to write and type in Braille. I found it quite difficult.
“Hi, sweetheart, how is school going?” asked my father.
“Daddy, I can’t do this. I try and try, but I just don’t get it. I don’t know if I am ever going to learn to read Braille. It’s too difficult,” I cried.
Daddy just held me in his arm and said, “Do you remember that we went to the temple which is on the top of a mountain? When we were climbing the mountain, your legs started aching. You sat down and said, ‘I can’t see the temple’. You can’t see it because it is covered with fog. Although you can’t see it, I know it is here. I will make sure you will climb up to it.”
“That day you showed me that just you can’t see anything, it does not mean it is not there. So although climbing the mountain was difficult, I knew I would get to the top.” I was clear what my dad wanted me to understand.
I went back to school and started with new energy. Very soon I could read.
One of my classmates said, “You are lucky, you know. You have at least seen the world. I have just heard it. I have been told there are many colors in this world but I don’t understand what color means.”
After listening to her for the first time in two years, I felt lucky. And on that day I learned that although the light in my eyes is gone, I must see the world with the light in my heart.
1. What can we know about the writer?| A．He was born blind. |
| B．He was sent to a blind school because he wanted to lean braille. |
| C．He couldn’t see anything after a car accident. |
| D．He disliked the new school. |
| A．You can’t see anything, but it doesn’t mean it is not there. |
| B．Climbing the mountain is as easy as learning braille. |
| C．Nothing in the world is difficult for one who sets his mind to it. |
| D．Cheer up! Life is full of choices, so choose to be happy. |
| A．has once seen the world |
| B．spent the least time learning Braille well |
| C．knew the real meaning of colour |
| D．could tell what the world is like without seeing it |
| A．The most beautiful thing in the world must be felt with the heart. |
| B．People can’t live a happy life unless they can see. |
| C．The writer will live a happy life with the light in his heart. |
| D．The writer’s pain will go away in the wind. |
For Julie | |
| MON.~THUR. 7:30-8:00 Breakfast time 8:00-8:20 Go to school 8:30-11:40 Morning lessons Lunch Time 13:10-15:30 Afternoon lessons 15:30-16:00 Go home 16:00-18:30 Do homework Dinner Time 19: 30-21: 00  or  21:30 Go to bed | FRI. 7:30-8:00 Breakfast time 8:00-8:20 Go to school 8:30-11:40 Morning lessons Lunch Time 13:10-14:40 Afternoon lessons 14:40-15:10 Go home 15:30-18:30 Do homework Dinner & Free Time 20:00-21:  21:30 Go to bed |
| SAT. 8:30-9:00 Breakfast time 9:00-11:00 Piano lesson Lunch Time 14:00-16:00 Guitar lesson Free Time Shop 21:30 Go to bed | SUN. 8:30-9:00 Breakfast time 9:00-11:00 Piano lesson Lunch Time Free Time Relax/Watch TV/ Play with friends… 21:30 Go to bed |
1. What is the table (表格) about?
| A．The things Julie does in a week. | B．The lessons Julie takes in a week. | C．The food Julie eats in a week. |
| A．On Thursday. | B．On Friday. | C．On Saturday. |
| A．24 hours and 20 minutes. | B．26 hours and 40 minutes. | C．28 hours and 40 minutes. |
| A．At 15: 30. | B．At 16: 00. | C．At 17: 00. |
| A．Have breakfast at 7: 40. | B．Play the guitar at 20: 00. | C．Go to bed at 21: 30. |
8 . As populations keep increasing in cities, city planners look under their feet for answers. With space in cities so limited, often the only choice for those who can afford to expand their property is to go underground.
One idea, which hasn’t been realized yet, is the ‘Earthscraper’ mentioned for Mexico City. This 65-storey inverted (倒置的) pyramid has been suggested as a way to provide office, shopping and living space without having to tear down the city’s historic buildings or break its 8-storey height requirement.
Many questions remain to be discussed, however, such as how you provide light, remove waste and protect people from fire or floods. Some of them have been answered with the construction (建设) of the Intercontinental Shanghai Wonderland hotel in China. This 336-room resort was built into the rock face of an 88m-deep, disused quarry (采石场) .
The island city-state of Singapore is also exploring its underground choices. Not only are its Jurong Rock Caverns being turned into an underground storage facility (装备) for the nation’s oil reserves, but there are also plans to build an ‘Underground Science City’ for 4,200 scientists to carry out research.
In New York, the Lowline Project is turning a disused subway station into a park. Expected to open in 2021, it uses a system of above-ground light-collection dishes to provide enough light to grow plants, trees and grass.
1. What’s the reason for people to explore the underground space?| A．People who explore the underground space can afford to expand their property. |
| B．Scientists have new discoveries when they are exploring the underground space. |
| C．The population in cities is growing and the space in cities is too small to live in. |
| D．People explore the underground space because they want new places to live in. |
| A．People cannot tear down the city’s historic buildings. |
| B．People should have enough living space in the city. |
| C．People can have buildings over the height of 65 storeys. |
| D．People should have buildings within the height requirement. |
| A．questions | B．light and waste | C．people | D．fire or floods |
| A．Singapore is building Jurong Rock Caverns and Underground Science City. |
| B．Singapore is planning its underground buildings because of its small size. |
| C．Singaporean scientists like underground buildings very much. |
| D．Jurong Rock Caverns is built to satisfy people’s shopping needs. |
| A．Cities are building wonderful hotels like Shanghai. |
| B．Cities are suffering from many problems. |
| C．Underground cities can grow plants and trees. |
| D．Underground cities will be the choice of future. |
9 . A Gift from the Heart
It was the last day of that term. My classmates were very excited for the coming holiday. But my friend, Mike, looked unhappy because he failed the English test. While thinking about how to cheer him up, I saw my English notebook. Although it was very important for me, I decided to give it to him. He looked at me in surprise. He knew how carefully I took the notes! I told him that I could also help him learn English. Mike has made progress with the help of my gift, the notebook. It’s not expensive but it’s from my heart.
1. Why did Mike look unhappy?| A．Because he did badly in the tests. | B．Because he got bad treatment. |
| C．Because he wasn’t pleased with his test. | D．Because he thought he couldn’t learn well. |
| A．Moved. | B．Negative. | C．Peaceful. | D．Painful（痛苦的）. |
| A．Because the author was outgoing. | B．Because the author and Mike had a friendship. |
| C．Because the author liked helping others. | D．Because the author wasn’t busy. |
| A．It’s the thought that counts. | B．Love me, love my dog. |
| C．Practice makes perfect. | D．The early bus catches the worm. |
10 . Sore necks are very common these days. How to avoid (避免) a sore neck? Here are the things you should know.
Take precautions (预防措施) after an unusual activity. Many people report having a pain in their necks after doing something that they don’t often do, such as a new exercise or packing and moving.
If you know you’ve done something that puts you at risk, massage (按摩) your neck, do it with different exercises and take a warm bath before bed.
Make sure your workstation is correct. If you work long hours at a desk, you may want to make sure that your work environment is set up to be the most relaxing. Make sure that your body is being treated right.
Keep your feet on the floor. This will often depend on how high your chair is, so adjust (调整) it in time to achieve good results.
Change your posture often. Sitting in one position (位置) for long periods of time is not healthy. Sit with your back straight for most of the time. Take a 5-minute break if you can and walk around every hour.
Exercise. Find something-swimming, running or climbing-that makes you excited and feel alive. Make it into a usual way. Your body will feel better and your mind will feel more relaxed.
1. In Paragraph 5, the underlined word “it” refers to(指) ________.| A．the desk | B．the chair | C．your neck | D．your body |
| A．姿势 | B．方向 | C．方式 | D．状态 |
| A．Making your work environment be quiet |
| B．Sitting with back straight for a moment |
| C．Packing and moving for a long time |
| D．Exercising like swimming or running |
| A．how to do exercise well | B．exercising is often good for people |
| C．how to avoid a sore neck | D．being healthy is the most important |
