2 . I sat in the corner of my favorite Boston bookstore, opened my laptop and wrote. Ten minutes ago I ordered coffee. The server—a young woman with a broad smile—paused and quietly said, “I just want to tell you how much your TED talk meant to me—how much it inspired me. A couple of years ago my professor showed us the video in a class. Now I’m applying to medical school, and I just want you to know I stood in the bathroom like Wonder Woman before I took my MCAT (Medical College Admission Test), and it really helped. So I just want to say thanks.”

Tears in my eyes, I asked, “What’s your name?” “Fetaine,” she said.

This kind of interaction happens far more frequently than I’d ever have imagined: a stranger warmly greets me, shares a personal story about successfully dealing with a big challenge, and then simply thanks me for my part in it. They’re women and men, old and young, struggling and wealthy. But something connects them: all have felt powerless in the face of great pressure and anxiety, and all have discovered a remarkably simple way to release themselves from that feeling of powerlessness.

For most authors, the book comes first, then the responses. For me, it was the other way around. First, I wrote some scholarly articles, which no one ever read; they inspired a talk I delivered at the TED Global Conference in 2012. In it, I discussed research I had done that yielded an odd and unexpected finding about how our bodies influence our brains. As a result of this research, I was able to describe a technique—that Wonder Woman-in-the-bathroom thing Fetaine mentioned...that can quickly increase our confidence and decrease our anxiety in challenging situations. Immediately after the 21-minute video of the talk was posted on the Internet, I began hearing from people who had seen it.

Of course, my speech didn’t magically give Fetaine the knowledge she needed to do well on the MCAT. But it may have released her from the fear that could have prevented her from expressing the things she knew.

1. What happened in the Boston bookstore?

A．The author encountered a friend.

B．A server inspired the author’s TED talk.

C．A waitress expressed her gratitude to the author.

D．The author waited for the server to share her story.

2. What did those people approaching the author have in common?

A．They were losers in life.

B．They once faced problems and felt helpless.

C．They shared stories of many strangers.

D．They looked forward to interacting with others.

3. What may be the theme of the author’s talk in 2012?

A．How to increase confidence.	B．How to overcome speech anxiety.
C．How to find unexpected things in life.	D．How to conduct scientific experiments.

4. How did the author influence Fetaine in the author’s eyes?

A．She advised Fetaine to take the MCAT.

B．She gave Fetaine the knowledge she needed.

C．She freed Fetaine from the fear of telling the truth.

D．She helped Fetaine gather the courage to present herself.

3 . In today’s classroom, homework is completed not only with the pen and paper, but also with computers and cell phones. How to make the best use of such digital products is an important question for teachers and students. The following top digital portfolio platforms (作品集平台) offer a broad range of functions. Most importantly, they provide a way to share students’ work with pride.

Google Sites

Creating a digital portfolio could not be any easier than Google Sites makes it. It lets students quickly put in contents, such as text, images, videos, maps, and much more. Use one of the provided six themes or create a custom one, and then publish it as a public or restricted-view (限制浏览的) site.

Seesaw for Schools

Designed for education, Seesaw for Schools provides a platform through which students complete and share school projects. By recording the process of gradually improving their schoolwork, kids gain a sense of master y and pride, so it is popular among them. Plus, parents can be involved too—just download the Seesaw Family app.

Artsonia

Artsonia is like a dream come true for art-minded students: a free, safe, educational space through which students show their digital creativity. Friends and family can view, comment on and buy objects. The site also provides a complete teachers’ guide. Just celebrate the artistic skills with Artsonia!

Edublogs

One of the oldest and best-known web platforms for education, Edublogs makes it easy for teachers and students to start building a free WordPress platform. The free plan offers 1 GB of storage space, class management tools, and no advertising. A set of educator guides and community participation is another big plus for Edublogs.

1. What is special about Google Sites?

A．It lets students learn from others’ work.

B．It is controlled by educators for safety.

C．It offers students online publishing rights for free.

D．It allows students to create contents in different forms.

2. Why is Seesaw for Schools popular among kids?

A．It helps check their school work.

B．It can track their progress.

C．It requires teamwork with parents.

D．It protects their personal information well.

3. What do Artsonia and Edublogs have in common?

A．They offer professional advice.

B．They require support from teachers and parents.

C．They remind students to hand in homework on time.

D．They can store large amounts of information.

6 . Every April 22 people come together to take action that will protect the environment. One theme of Earth Day is “Invest (投资) In Our Planet”. So how is investment in eco-innovation helping to deliver a more sustainable future?

When it comes to the environment, it can be argued that the technology industry is both the problem and the solution. Tech is responsible for between 3.5% and 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions (排放物). And the EU believes the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector is responsible for10% of all electricity consumption. On the other hand, we all want a sustainable future for the planet. Yet we also want the convenience and fun of modern living. Obviously, only eco-innovation can deliver the solutions.

Eco-innovation is the key to doing more with less. All over the world, and across many different industries, innovators are working to reduce the human footprint while improving productivity. Innovative farming is a good example.

Until recently, most agricultural improvements focused on the development of machines. Now digital tools are causing a new wave of efficiency. Innovative farming companies look to increase farm efficiency and reduce input waste through farming techniques. And they are using real-time devices located in the field or in equipment. The data collected by these devices help farmers make better decisions about where to provide effort and resources while reducing the environmental footprint.

As people’s awareness of environmental protection continues to increase, the tech industry needs to keep working on the inventions like those described above. These breakthroughs will help us all to do more with less. Also, tech companies are facing calls to keep their own houses in order. Lawmakers and consumers want them to use fewer materials in the production process and rethink their approach to recycling and waste. The good news is that governments and eco-innovative companies have already carried out a major clean-up mission.

1. What can we learn about the technology industry according to paragraph 2?

A．It contributes to saving electricity.

B．It will change our traditional way of life.

C．It benefits and damages the environment.

D．It is a major cause of greenhouse gas emissions.

2. Which of the following plays an important role in agricultural improvement?

A．The use of digital equipment.	B．The training of farmers.
C．The collection of resources.	D．The invention of machines.

3. What are tech companies expected to do?

A．Build more greenhouses.	B．Meet the market requirements.
C．Watch their environmental behavior.	D．Change their management style.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．The long-term goal of Earth Day

B．Modern farming and technological change

C．The key to the development of technology industry

D．Eco-innovation and environmental protection

7 . In an ideal world, we would be able to devote as much time to sports as we feel we need. But in reality, with growing demands in both work and family, we can only jump at the chance for our physical exercise when we can. Making the most of that time to practice Yin Yang yoga, which mixes the dynamic and slow-paced elements of yoga, helps keep you active and relaxed.

Yin and Yang are the Taoist concepts representing a balance of opposite forces which are also interconnected. Yin is inactive, cooling, and negative, associated with the female force. Yang is active, warming, and positive, associated with action and movement. They are complementary to one another, as one cannot exist without the other.

Yin Yang yoga is a combination of high-energy movement which builds energy, increases strength and promotes stamina (耐力), followed by the more restful practice of Yin to give us a deeper stretch (拉伸) and calm the nervous system.

If you have a busy and active life you may feel more in Yang, so taking some cooler, slower Yin yoga practice into your routine may help you feel calmer and more balanced.

If you are practicing for an hour, divide the time in half, Warm up with sun salutations (拜日式瑜伽), continue into a dynamic flow and then move on to some standing postures. After half an hour your heart will be pumping, muscles tighten up and you are hopefully feeling energetic, but ready for a rest. Then pick five Yin postures to hold for 3-5 minutes, or even longer if you are enjoying them!

As ever with yoga, if you are a beginner or have health issues, always attend a class with a trained instructor first to guide you safely through the yoga practice and avoid injury.

1. What can be inferred from paragraph 1?

A．Most of our sports time should be spent on Yin Yang yoga.

B．We’d better devote as much time to physical exercise as we can.

C．Busy schedule makes it impossible for us to do any form of sports.

D．Yin Yang yoga can be a choice of physical exercise when time is tight.

2. What does the underlined word “complementary” in the second paragraph probably mean?

A．Independent from one another.

B．Competitive against one another.

C．Similar to each other but unable to work together as a whole.

D．Different from each other but together making a good combination.

3. Which of the following might be the benefit of Yin postures?

A．Relaxing muscles.	B．Building stamina.
C．Strengthening the body.	D．Quickening the heartbeat.

4. What suggestion does the writer give in the last two paragraphs?

A．Hold each Yin posture for longer than 5 minutes.

B．Do not practice yoga when you are not in good health.

C．Start your yoga practice under the guidance of a trainer.

D．Spare half an hour for five Yin postures in every yoga practice.

8 . It was June 15, and in two days I would be turning thirty. I was insecure about entering a new decade of my life and feared that my best years were now behind me.

My daily routine included going to the gym for a workout before going to work. Every morning I would see my friend Nicholas at the gym. He was seventy-nine years old and in terrific shape. As I greeted Nicholas on this particular day, he noticed I wasn’t full of my usual vitality and asked if there was anything wrong. I told him I was feeling anxious about turning thirty. I wondered how I would look back on my life once I reached Nicholas’ sage, so I asked him, “What was the best time of your life?”

Without hesitation, Nicholas replied, “Well, Joe, this is my philosophical answer to your philosophical question.”

“When I was a child in Austria and everything was taken care of for me and I was nurtured by my parents, that was the best time of my life.”

“When I was going to school and learning the things I know today, that was the best time of my life.”

“When I got my first job and had responsibilities and got paid for my efforts, that was the best time of my life.”

“When I met my wife and fell in love, that was the best time of my life.”

“The Second World War came, and my wife and I had to flee Austria to save our lives. When we were together and safe on a ship bound for North America, that was the best time of my life.”

“When we came to Canada and started a family, that was the best time of my life.”

“When I was a young father, watching my children grow up, that was the best time of my life.”

“And now, Joe, I am seventy-nine years old. I have my health, I feel good and I am in love with my wife just as I was when we first met. This is the best time of my life.”

1. Why did the author feel anxious according to the article?

A．He would be 30 in two days.

B．He was worried about getting old.

C．He didn’t go to the gym to exercise.

D．Nicholas asked questions he didn’t want to answer.

2. What do we know about Nicholas’ life experiences?

A．He spent his childhood with his grandparents in Austria.

B．He dropped out of school, found a job and got paid.

C．He took part in the Second World War and met his wife.

D．He started a family and became a young father in Canada.

3. What do you think of Nicholas’s life?

A．Casual.

B．Anxious.

C．Positive.

D．Negative.

4. What can we learn from Nicholas?

A．Live a day at a time.	B．You get what you pay for.
C．Every man has his price.	D．Strike while the iron is hot.

9 . The climate crisis may lead the human race to decrease in size, as mammals (哺乳动物) with smaller bodies appear better able to deal with rising global temperatures, a leading fossil expert said.

Prof Steve Brusatte, a palaeontologist (古生物学家) at the University of Edinburgh, suggested that the way in which other mammals have previously responded to periods of climate change could offer an insight into humans’ future.

He compared the potential situation of people as similar to that of early horses, which became smaller in body size as temperatures rose around 55m years ago, a period called the Paleocene Eocene Thermal Maximum.

Writing in The Rise and Reign of the Mammals, Brusatte notes that animals in warmer parts of the world today are often smaller than those in colder areas, an ecological principle known as Bergmann’s rule. “The reasons are not entirely understood, but it is probably, in part, because smaller animals have a higher surface area compared to their size than bigger animals and can thus better get rid of extra heat” he writes.

Brusatte said that becoming smaller was “a common way that mammals deal with climate change”. He added, “That’s not to say every species of mammal would get smaller, but it seems to be a common survival trick of mammals when temperatures spike pretty quickly, which does raise the question: if temperatures do spike really quickly, might humans dwarf, might humans get smaller? And I think that’s certainly convincing.”

In a recent study, researchers studying human remains over the past million years have also suggested that temperature is a major predictor of body size variation, while scientists studying red deer have said that warmer winters in northern Europe and Scandinavia may lead to the body size of these animals becoming smaller.

However, not all experts agree that rising temperature causes mammals to decease. Prof Adrian Lister, of the Natural History Museum in London, said the relationship shown by the recent human remains study is weak, while the strong relationship between temperature and mammal body size may often result from the availability of food and resources.

Lister doubts whether humans will shrink as the climate heats. “We are not really controlled by natural selection,” he said. “If that was going to happen, you’d need to find large people dying before they could reproduce because of climate warming. That is not happening in today’s world. We wear clothes, we have got heating, we have got air conditioning if it is too hot.”

1. According to the passage, the early horses got smaller in body size         .

A．to keep cool	B．to save food
C．to keep warm	D．to avoid being killed

2. What does the underlined word “spike” in the 5th paragraph mean?

A．Rise

B．Drop

C．Balance

D．Change

3. What is Brusatte most likely to agree with?

A．Every species of mammal would get smaller as the temperature goes up.

B．Animals in warmer areas are definitely smaller than those in colder areas.

C．Smaller animals have a higher surface area and so they can cool down quickly.

D．The change of Mammals’ body size is closely related to their food and other resources.

4. What’s the best title of the passage?

A．Climate Change Causes Natural Disasters.	B．Climate Change Leads to Heated Discussions.
C．Climate Change Causes Changes in Body Size.	D．Climate Change Leads to Changed Lifestyle.

10 . China’s generation-Z is not “lying flat”, an expression forgiving upon hard work, as is often claimed, and making an effort is still the mainstream of a group who believes success should be achieved by solid effort, Chinese officials said at a press conference on Thursday, in response to a question on how younger generations should achieve balance between a lifestyle of “lying flat” in face of great pressure and “involution,” which refers to severe internal competition that does not lead to productivity gains.

“Most Chinese youth hold an optimistic view on the future, and the saying’ lying flat’ is more of a joke to release pressure and express their feelings,” He Junke, a government official said at a press conference on Thursday.

At the press conference, China released the first nationwide whitepaper on youth development titled “Youth of China in the New Era,” which showcased achievements linked to the country’s youth development in the newer a and reflected the spirit of younger generation. The whitepaper was also released ahead of the 100th anniversary of the founding of CYLC (共青团).

He said China has attached great importance to deeper issues reflected by talk of “lying flat”, which emerged as young generation is subject to increasing pressure across work, study and life amid China’s unique demographic (人口统计学的，人口学的) structure and highly competitive labor market.

“Some in the younger generation feel cofused or lost. In response, authorities have scaled up the amount of support available to help solve their issues in education, employment, marriage and child raising,” He noted, while urging the whole society to support the mental development and psychology of generation-Z.

He pointed out that it is also important for certain young people to realize that it is unrealistic to build a career without taking responsibility and making endeavor. “All happiness is achieved through devoted effort, and making endeavor itself is also a kind of happiness,” He stressed.

1. What is He Junke’s attitude towards “lying flat”?

A．Objective.

B．Subjective.

C．Opposed.

D．Favorable.

2. Why do young people adopt the attitude of “lying flat”?

A．More and more young people choose to lie flat in China,

B．Young people face great pressure in their study, work and life.

C．China’s population structure affects the supply of labor market.

D．The government needs to celebrate the 100th anniversary of CYLC.

3. How can the problem of “lying flat” be rid of?

A．Young people should take responsibility and make efforts to achieve success.

B．The whole society should care about young people’s physical and mental health.

C．Authorities should help young people and give them support in many aspects of life.

D．All of the above.

4. What is the purpose of writing this passage?

A．To call on a low carbon lifestyle.

B．To inform the latest research on the social development.

C．To set a goal for the young people who are under pressure on study.

D．To address a social problem among young generations in the newer era.