1 . Alarming levels of dangerous chemicals known as Perfluorinated Alkylated Substances (PFAS) were discovered in food packaging at a number of well-known fast-food restaurants and grocery store chains, a new report found. The report comes more than two years into the Covid-19 pandemic, when the public has relied heavily on takeout and grocery deliveries.

Often called “forever chemicals” because they do not break down in the environment, PFAS are used in food packaging to prevent grease (油脂) and water from soaking through food wrappers and cups. PFAS can also be found in the ink used to print logos and instructions on food containers.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls exposure to PFAS a “public health concern”, citing that the human-made chemicals can harm the immune system and reduce a person’s resistance to infectious diseases.

Regulatory limits for how much PFAS food packaging should contain can vary greatly. For instance, a new law in California set the limit at less than 100 ppm. “Compared to America, Denmark sets a much lower regulatory limit of 20 ppm with great success,” said Xenia Trier, an expert at the European Environment Agency. “It does work to set limits and enforce them. PFAS do migrate from the paper into the food. Even though it was not 100%, we still saw considerable transmission. In general, transmission from packaging to food is increased as the temperature of the food rises. It is the same with the time spent in wrapping materials.” Trier told NBS, one of the major American mass-media companies.

In response to the issue, Whole Foods became the first grocery chain to publicly commit to remove PFAS from takeout containers and bakery paper. Many other companies followed suit. Experts say people who want to avoid PFAS in their takeout and food delivery packaging should favor companies that have promised to remove the chemicals. “As soon as you receive your takeout, you’d better take food out of the container immediately, and never reheat food in its original container. Instead, remove your food and heat it in ceramic (陶瓷的) or glass containers.” Trier said.

1. What can we learn about PFAS in food packaging?

A．They have been used for two years.

B．They do little harm to consumers’ health.

C．They are used to break down the chemicals.

D．They can make wrappers resistant to grease and water.

2. What is Xenia Trier’s attitude to setting a lower limit of PFAS?

A．Favorable.	B．Neutral.
C．Ambiguous.	D．Opposed.

3. What does the underlined word “it” refer to in paragraph 4?

A．Considerable migration of grease and water.

B．PFAS transmission from packaging to food.

C．Wrapper exposure to high food temperature.

D．Regulatory limits concerning food packaging.

4. What is the main idea of the text?

A．Food packaging contains dangerous chemicals.

B．Consumers are recommended to have PFAS-free products.

C．PFAS found in food packaging has become a great concern.

D．The government has taken measures to reduce PFAS exposure.

2 . Family: Poems—by Mr. Keith Keenan

·Kindle $0.00, Hardcover $12.50, Paperback $7.00

The poet describes personal thoughts and feelings in a lyrical journey to understand and celebrate his family. “Family” looks at living honestly in places, not illusions. Figurative language, a love of metaphor and sharp images all make the poems work.

Time to Heal—by Alexandra Vasiliu

·Kindle $9.99, Hardcover $21.94, Paperback $12.64

From the bestselling author comes an inspirational poetry book about love, healing, and growth. It is a reminder to strive to change for the better. Featuring more than 130 uplifting poems and black-and-white illustrations, it’s a great companion when you need to embrace self-love and personal transformation.

Seeds from a Birch Tree —by Clark Strand

·Kindle $9.99, Hardcover $26.80, Paperback $16.95

Seeds From a Birch Tree makes nature into a spiritual path. Its message was simple: Haiku teaches us to return to nature by following the seasons—seventeen syllables at a time. With its mix of poetry and memoir(回忆录), the book guides us to the joy hidden in plain sight, leading us to get into a good state of body and mind.

A Poem for Every Day—by Allie Esiri

·Kindle $9.99, Hardcover $28.05, Audio CD $18.05

This audio book is a collection of 366 poems which link to events on key dates—funny for April Fool’s Day, festive for Christmas. This is the perfect gift for poetry lovers of all ages. These poems are informative, peaceful, and energetic!

There are a large number of poetry collections on Amazon. More information, please click here.

1. How much will you pay if you are to buy a hardcover edition of haiku?

A．$12.50.

B．$21.94.

C．$26.80.

D．$28.05.

2. According to the text, what can we learn about the books?

A．Family: Poems features plain language.

B．Time to Heal features colorful illustrations.

C．Seeds from a Birch Tree focuses on human nature.

D．A Poem for Every Day focuses on festive celebrations.

3. Where is this text probably taken from?

A．A website.	B．A magazine.
C．A book review.	D．A travel brochure.

3 . AirTag, a small Bluetooth-and-GPS-enabled device, was released by Apple in April 2021. This small device aimed at making our lives easier was originally designed to end the trouble of losing keys, wallets or other little objects. However, it may become the “perfect” tracking tool if in the wrong hands. My ex-husband was an early adopter of the AirTag. He and I had a falling out, leading to a divorce battle. In order to win custody battle, he used the little device to track me.

As a tech giant, the Apple company brought great convenience to the users, including me. I had never given a thought to tracking via AirTag until it happened to me. So I started scanning stories about AirTag. I was surprised to find that I was not alone. There were so many people tracked by these seemingly innocent electronic tags in their daily life. AirTag which was originally launched for a better life should have such a dark side in the wrong hands.

People have found that the digital device has the potential for abuse. What matters is how to avoid its danger. Apple has released updates to the AirTag’s functionality very quickly since they hit the market. Meanwhile, Apple has also improved its customer service to deal with the bugs of this kind. If you find an unwanted AirTag following you, don’t panic. Just disable it. You can follow the prompts on your Apple device to learn more about disabling the device. Once you’ve completed the above step, the tag’s original owner can’t keep track of you any more.

Almost every digital technology creates security issues. Nobody can go and live in a cave to remain unaffected. While enjoying its convenience, you need to be aware of the risks it poses, and know how to deal with them. Prevention is more effective in security issues than fixes. After all, a stitch in time saves nine.

1. What is the original function of AirTag?

A．To track one’s location secretly.	B．To help find one’s easily lost items.
C．To locate one’s phone accurately.	D．To ensure the safety of one’s phone.

2. Why did the author scan stories about AirTag?

A．Her ex-husband tracked her via AirTag.

B．Many people suffered from security problem.

C．AirTag was a newly released electronic device.

D．She intended to know about its great convenience.

3. What is advised to do when you are followed by an unwanted AirTag?

A．Have it updated.	B．Make it unable to work.
C．Pay no attention to it.	D．Contact its original owner.

4. What are the last two paragraphs mainly about?

A．People should keep pace with the times.

B．People should use technology in a proper way.

C．People should handle potential digital risks actively.

D．People should bear the responsibility to fix the bugs bravely.

4 . When instant cake mixes first appeared in the 1950s, American housewives were doubtful. These mixes, promising easy cake-baking, felt too easy. The manufacturers discovered that requiring the addition of an egg in the baking process was just enough to make the housewives happy with their work. The greater sense of effort gained from a little extra labor is believed to have been essential to the later success of the cake mix.

This reflects the IKEA effect (宜家效应), which is identified by psychologist Michael I. Norton and his colleagues, suggesting we place greater value on things we have worked to create. They conducted four studies in which they asked participants to fold paper cranes and frogs, assemble IKEA boxes, and build sets of Legos. They then asked the builders to bid (出价) for their creations, and compared the prices with bids from people who hadn’t built them. The builders consistently outbid the non-builders.

Interestingly, the IKEA effect works even when people have no opportunity to fully personalize their creations. While most participants’ folding skills left much to be desired, they loved their imperfectly personalized products all the more. Builders valued their wrinkled crane-like creations nearly five times as much as non-builders. Beauty, it seems, is in the eye of the builder.

Today, as cities are suffering from severe housing crises, the IKEA effect can give us insight into the well-being benefits of a self-building approach to housing development. Projects like WikiHouse and the “half-a-house” approach pioneered by Alejandro Aravena’s architecture company Elemental are working to make housing more affordable and sustainable by making it easier for people to build and personalize their own homes.

“The moment people are involved with their built environment, they have a totally different relationship to it,” WikiHouse co-founder Alastair Parvin explained. “When the roof starts leaking or a door starts creaking, they have the power to fix it themselves.”

1. What brought customers the joy of cake-baking according to paragraph 1?

A．A better taste.	B．An easy approach.
C．A detailed recipe.	D．An additional effort.

2. What does the underlined sentence in paragraph 3 imply?

A．Creations are based on skills.	B．Extra labor increases perceived value.
C．Beauty is found through contrast.	D．Strict management brings good quality.

3. What is Alastair Parvin’s attitude towards public involvement in housing?

A．Critical.

B．Objective.

C．Doubtful.

D．Supportive.

4. What’s the purpose of this text?

A．To promote a brand.	B．To make a proposal.
C．To explain a concept.	D．To introduce a study.

5 . Hannah, an adventurous girl, lived on a small village in a land far away. All of the villagers were used to their ________ tasks and very few had the will to try something new. Unlike them, Hannah loved to ________ and would spend hours in the woods looking for new things.

One afternoon, she ________ an abandoned cottage. With curiosity she slowly opened the door and was left ________. In front of her was a room full of books glittering in the dust! She gasped as she ________ that she had found a hidden treasure. She ________ two and decided to read them at her home.

From that day on, Hannah ________ read the books, which took her to a world of talking animals, mystical creatures, and daring knights. She read about characters who faced ________ with their determination and characters who bravely ________ for good. She learned the power of love and friendship, and that the true strength lies within one’s own ________!

With the good in heart, Hannah started to ________ the gold from the tales with the people of her village. Soon, the ________ of Hannah’s storytelling spread. People traveled from different places to listen to her stories.________, Hannah started writing stories of her own too!

Hannah’s passion and ________ blew life into the tales and her words breathed new life into countless souls. She became a signal of ________, a reminder for everyone that even in the dustiest comers, there can be a hidden treasure.

1.

A．boring

B．challenging

C．fruitless

D．urgent

2.

A．camp

B．detect

C．explore

D．relax

3.

A．came upon

B．cycled around

C．dropped by

D．stepped into

4.

A．confused

B．amazed

C．disappointed

D．relieved

5.

A．claimed

B．clarified

C．predicted

D．realized

6.

A．bought

B．checked

C．picked

D．searched

7.

A．eagerly

B．cautiously

C．patiently

D．roughly

8.

A．accidents

B．conflicts

C．dangers

D．hardships

9.

A．called

B．prepared

C．struggled

D．waited

10.

A．body

B．brain

C．head

D．heart

11.

A．adapt

B．share

C．read

D．tell

12.

A．ambition

B．benefit

C．evidence

D．word

13.

A．Convinced

B．Entertained

C．Inspired

D．Touched

14.

A．confidence

B．dedication

C．interest

D．patience

15.

A．hope

B．beauty

C．love

D．success

7 . Growing up within the Himalayan abode of snow (喜马拉雅雪屋), Akeisha was dynamic and _________. It was that point of the year when the sky was blue and the sun smiled upon the village. Watching people coming in flocks from near and far made Akeisha _________. Her father explained that they all flooded in to _________ the mountains. “Someday, I will also be able to climb to the highest of these majestic mountains.” Akeisha declared, a burning _________ dancing in her eyes.

But Life had other plans for her. Akeisha _________ one leg at 13. Clouds of _________ overshadowed her world. “I will _________ be ready to climb those mountains,” cried Akeisha. Seeing his little girl in _________ the father too was sorrowful, but he did not _________ and built her a wooden leg. Akeisha was beside herself with ____________ a glimmer of hope regained.

“Never say ‘never’. Start climbing the mountains,” said the ____________ father. Wearing the wooden leg, she walked but fell. She stood up and tried to run, but fell again. But nothing ____________ the father and the daughter even though the entire village laughed at them. Determined to ____________ all adversities, Akeisha kept practicing and ____________ she could run on her own. Five years later, she made it to the highest of the mountains.

Never let words of ____________ drag you down. Never allow anything to steal your dream.

1.

A．creative

B．energetic

C．considerate

D．cautious

2.

A．curious

B．concerned

C．upset

D．annoyed

3.

A．observe

B．conquer

C．preserve

D．photograph

4.

A．fire

B．shame

C．dream

D．question

5.

A．cut

B．lost

C．broke

D．twisted

6.

A．doubt

B．silence

C．despair

D．loneliness

7.

A．never

B．always

C．finally

D．somehow

8.

A．grief

B．danger

C．trouble

D．confusion

9.

A．take risks

B．take measures

C．lose temper

D．lose heart

10.

A．awe

B．fear

C．delight

D．anxiety

11.

A．stubborn

B．sorrowful

C．dedicated

D．determined

12.

A．puzzled

B．impressed

C．frustrated

D．accompanied

13.

A．live with

B．win against

C．let go of

D．make use of

14.

A．gradually

B．constantly

C．frequently

D．temporarily

15.

A．comfort

B．criticism

C．complaint

D．discouragement

8 . The engineer’s motto is: “Keep it simple and serious.” But Dr. Arnold, though the fifth woman engineer in history to win the Nobel Prize, is somewhat ________. She always seems to meet something unexpected or have the talent to make things ________.

Here’s a picture of a beaming President Obama, ________ her for winning the National Medal. That should have been a moment of ________. But you can never imagine what happened to her. The minibus that ________ the medal receivers should catch fire at the White House door. The bus filled with smoke, passengers within were gasping and crying and staggering toward the ________, the younger ones carrying the older ones — and all were greeted by a team of Secret Service agents, ________ aimed at the medalists’ heads. They were amusingly ________ as terrorists. What a joke!

Another ________ story! When Dr. Arnold and her little son, landed in London, the border agent asked what brought them to the UK. Feeling very proud and hot-stuff, Dr. Arnold ________ she was going to a reception to meet the Queen. She then ________ shot her mouth off about her next award ceremony at the palace in Italy. The agent skeptically ________ her slightly disheveled (凌乱的) clothes and demanded the invitation letter. But she said it was in her suitcase. Without more ________, she, along with her son, was grabbed to the detention room (拘留室). They spent the next two and a half hours there ________ their story was verified (证实), and ________ made it to meet the Queen. Once again, the should-be ________ engineer was mistaken. Afterwards, she ________, “We should have been simple, sensed the environment and then respond.” Her son replied, “Mom, next time why don’t you keep your mouth ________.”

See what the engineer has ________ ! Yes, indeed we can never tell one’s experiences from their ________.

1.

A．different

B．popular

C．ordinary

D．difficult

2.

A．back to normal

B．off course

C．to the point

D．beyond perfection

3.

A．instructing

B．calling

C．thanking

D．congratulating

4.

A．shame

B．honor

C．relief

D．fear

5.

A．delivered

B．guided

C．separated

D．sheltered

6.

A．agency

B．exit

C．bus

D．house

7.

A．guns

B．fingers

C．sticks

D．arrows

8.

A．awarded

B．rescued

C．mistaken

D．teased

9.

A．familiar

B．great

C．frightening

D．fun

10.

A．pretended

B．agreed

C．announced

D．proved

11.

A．still

B．only

C．thus

D．even

12.

A．touched

B．cleaned

C．eyed

D．removed

13.

A．inquiry

B．request

C．greeting

D．comfort

14.

A．or

B．before

C．once

D．if

15.

A．gradually

B．suddenly

C．surely

D．barely

16.

A．serious

B．talkative

C．careless

D．dishonest

17.

A．doubted

B．regretted

C．insisted

D．argued

18.

A．wide

B．sweet

C．shut

D．open

19.

A．looked into

B．showed off

C．gone through

D．played with

20.

A．talents

B．appearances

C．stories

D．professions

9 . Two women in their 50s stand beholding in front of Guanyin of the South China Sea, an ancient Chinese sculpture in the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri. Over the past 20 years, they have been visiting the museum, describing the “mother Buddha” as “beautiful and tranquil, a symbol of religious traditions in China”. Measuring 2.4 meters high, 1.68 meters wide and 1.1 meters thick, the larger-than-life sculpture was carved from the trunk of a single poplar tree, which has created a sense of calm and warmth in the hall.

Since its launch in 1933, the museum has been actively collecting, preserving, studying and exhibiting works of Chinese art, ranging from ceramics to furniture, and from paintings to sculptures. And its Chinese art collection contains masterpieces in various historical stages.

An exhibition on the theme of Lively Creatures—Animals in Chinese Art was held at the museum, displaying tens of Chinese ancient paintings with images of animals in many art forms. The creatures on the paintings represented celebration, personal messages, and even political and religious agendas.

Organizers of the exhibition produced a set of cards, with images of animals on one side and their cultural meanings in Chinese artistic tradition on the other. The cards are provided for visitors for free.

“I find it very interesting, and the way that the things are drawn is very cool,” says 17-year-old high school student Camden Lombard after visiting the exhibition. “I want to go to China someday to find more,” he adds.

“It’s kind of eye-opening and we’re bringing the world together,” says Makar, an educator with the school outreach and education programs of the museum. “There are so many similarities as well as beautiful differences, and we are just trying to understand and appreciate one another.”

“We’re in a moment when it’s sometimes hard to look outside of your own personal viewpoints,” says Howard, manager of volunteer engagement at the museum. “I think having access to seeing what other cultures have created, what they valued and appreciated, and what was important to them, is really important in building that understanding about all the people we share this planet with.”

1. The two women kept visiting the Nelson-Atkins Museum for ________.

A．the grand appearance of the exhibition hall

B．their affection for Chinese religious traditions

C．the great size of the ancient Chinese sculpture

D．their curiosity about the delicate artistic carving

2. What can we learn about the exhibition Lively Creatures?

A．The organizers gained a handsome profit.

B．The cards reflected multinational cultures.

C．The visitors had rich travel experiences in China.

D．The paintings displayed the charm of Chinese culture.

3. How does Makar describe the visit to the museum?

A．Instructive and romantic.	B．Imaginary and fascinating.
C．Informative and multicultural.	D．Educational and entertaining.

4. What’s the purpose of setting up the museum according to Howard?

A．To bridge different cultures.	B．To popularize religious symbols.
C．To exchange personal viewpoints.	D．To demonstrate Chinese paintings.

10 . Lifestyle creep, sometimes called lifestyle inflation, is when living expenses and non-essential expenditures grow with income. In bad cases of lifestyle creep, this unnecessary spending can cut into savings.

Lifestyle creep is most visible among high earners, but anyone can fall into this trap. Who hasn’t justified eating out more often every week after receiving a 1 or 2 percent raise? The temptation of a more costly lifestyle is difficult to resist. If you’re making enough money to afford a larger apartment, shouldn’t you move to a larger apartment?

Improving your standard of living as your income increases isn’t an objectively bad thing, but when that habit cuts into your savings efforts, it can be a major financial risk. As Katie Waters, a financial planner at Stable Waters Financial, says, “Something’s got to give.”

Then how to avoid lifestyle creep? It just takes the same moderation and planning you used when you had a smaller income. If you can, head off lifestyle creep from the beginning by giving your raise or bonus money a purpose immediately. This can be to pay down debt, save for a house, or add to retirement accounts. This way, you won’t be tempted to spend it on a non-necessity. If you fear you’ve already fallen victim to lifestyle inflation at any level, you can still turn your spending around. If you are putting all your expenses on your credit card, Waters recommends rearranging so only routine, fixed monthly expenses are on the card. “The monthly variable costs—food, clothing, personal care, purchases for the home, the list goes on—are where your money slips away easily.” Waters says, “Calculate your possible savings each pay period and put that money into a separate checking account.”

“As with all things, the secret to managing your finances like an adult is a constant strive for balance,” Waters says. “Have fun along the way, but don’t let the tail wag the dog.”

1. What can we learn about lifestyle creep?

A．It contributes to a pay raise.	B．It refers to a high living standard,
C．It sometimes affects a person’s savings.	D．It only traps people with a high income.

2. Why does the author quote Katie Waters’ words in paragraph 3?

A．To list the bad consequences of lifestyle creep.

B．To stress the importance of giving in one’s life.

C．To show that lifestyle creep is quite understandable.

D．To support that lifestyle creep can cause financial problems.

3. What can be done to avoid lifestyle creep?

A．Put all the expenses on a credit card.	B．Save the bonus money for a non-necessity.
C．Increase the monthly costs on food and clothing.	D．Set different checking accounts for specific purposes.

4. What do the underlined words “don’t let the tail wag the dog” in the last paragraph mean?

A．Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.	B．Don’t put the cart before the horse.
C．Don’t do one thing under the cover of another	D．Don’t count the chicken before they are hatched.