1 . Tokyo has a great range of cafes (咖啡馆), but many don’t offer free wireless Internet access or power outlets (电源插座). So, for the benefit of those looking for free Wi-Fi, here are our top spots in the Japanese capital.
Coffee Valley
Coffee Valley is a small coffee shop. While the first floor has limited seating, there are outlets for each seat. If you don’t need to charge, the second floor is much more spacious with an area that can accommodate groups of up to four people. They also have a good selection of snacks to accompany your coffee.
Date: Open daily.
Time: 8 A. M.-8 P. M. (From 9 A. M. on weekends).
Location: A five-minute walk from the east exit of Ikebukuro Station.
10° Cafe
10° Cafe is the perfect place for early birds. For some peace and quiet, work on the second floor. At 10° Cafe, each seat has power outlets while their counter seats offer a great view of the surrounding neighborhood. Their menu prices before 11 A.M.offer discounted (打折的) breakfast.
Date: Daily (Closed every third Sunday of the month).
Time: 7:30 A. M.-9 P. M.
Location: A five-minute walk from Takadanobaba Station.
Good Sound Coffee
Come for the coffee, and stay for their music selection. Good Sound Coffee is a friendly neighborhood cafe close to Nakameguro Station. There are indoor and outdoor seats and plenty of outlets. It might get crowded on the weekends, and the cafe offers discounts on food items.
Date: Daily.
Time:8 A. M.-1 1 P. M.
Location: A three-minute walk from the east exit of Nakameguro Station.
Valley Park Stand
Valley Park Stand opens from early in the morning to late in the evening. There are public tables with power outlets. It’s spacious with lots of natural light a few steps away from the Miyashita Park. There is a decently sized menu with tea, coffee and various sandwiches and bites.
Date:Daily.
Time:8A. M.-10 P. M.
Location: A few minutes’ walk from Miyashita Park.
1. What is the special part of 10° Cafe?| A．It opens to the late night. | B．It has one day off each month. |
| C．It offers different delicious snacks. | D．It’s not far from the Ikebukuro Station. |
| A．10° Cafe. | B．Coffee Valley. |
| C．Valley Park Stand. | D．Good Sound Coffee. |
| A．A guide book. | B．A private diary. |
| C．A news report. | D．A short story. |
2 . We all try to spend our days doing engaging things, but the reality is that there’s a lot of boring work which also must be done. Whether it’s washing the dishes, filing papers, entering data, or any of the countless dull yet critical tasks that keep our homes, organizations, and communities running, we all have less-than-exciting tasks we have to do. Of course it’s not always easy to get ourselves to stick to these tasks, even if we know we should. What does it take to persist (坚持) when work is boring?
Researchers have explored this question from many angles and studies have shown that people may persist longer when they monitor their progress, receive rewards, or when a task is made more fun. These findings have direct effects on how we design products and policies. For instance, companies are increasingly offering incentives to encourage employees to get more exercise, and managers are carrying out various game strategies to make employees’ work more fun.
Recent research by Harvard University, however, suggests that for tasks that don’t require a lot of attention, there may be a better approach. Researchers conducted a series of studies with over 2,000 participants and found that in many cases, people stop working on tasks earlier than expected not because they aren’t motivated enough, but because the tasks do not need enough attention.
Often, strategies designed to increase persistence will involve changing something about the work itself — but you can only make washing the dishes so exciting or mentally stimulating (振奋人心的). Rather than endlessly attempting to make boring tasks less boring, it can sometimes be more effective instead to pair these activities with other tasks that require more attention. This concept is called tangential immersion (切入式专注法).
Basically, the mind seeks to be engaged. We experience boredom when doing tasks that require less attention than we have available, and this leads us to quit those tasks too early. But if there is a second activity in which we can involve ourselves at the same time with the low-attention task, it can occupy that extra attention, reducing boredom and thus increasing persistence.
1. In what circumstance may people continue with a boring task?| A．When they feel motivated. | B．When they want to kill time. |
| C．When they are full of energy. | D．When they lack attention. |
| A．Instructions. | B．Rewards. | C．Programmes. | D．Positions. |
| A．The tasks were beyond them. | B．The studies took too much time. |
| C．The tasks demanded less attention. | D．The participants were not devoted. |
| A．By making it more challenging. | B．By checking the progress repeatedly. |
| C．By refreshing the mind regularly. | D．By pairing it with a demanding one. |
3 . Exploring the Azores Islands in Portugal
Cost(£ 2.999)
Highlights
●The exceptional seabird watching at night
●Talks on land and at sea by a local biologist
●A whale-watching activity guided by an expert
Description
You can explore and learn about wildlife through some talks. You can also get an opportunity to watch the whales at the surface and listen to their sounds as they go into the water. On land, you will visit a seabird habitat and discover the attractive villages on these islands. Besides, you can study the islands’ earth and learn how it supports the unique grape planting.
Attention
●Upon arrival on Faial Island, you will check into a four-star hotel in Horta.
●Depending on your arrival time. you may have some free time to explore the small town that dates back to the 15th century and has many historic buildings.
●Your tour leader will hold a short welcome meeting in the early evening to go through the plans for the week, and then a biologist will give the first of three talks before joining you for dinner.
●During the tour, the biologist will give a brief introduction to the whale species that you will be viewing.
Just click here instead of calling or emailing us to book your tour.
1. What do we know about the tour?| A．It is free of charge. |
| B．It is in support of foreign biologists. |
| C．It offers bird feeding during the day. |
| D．It offers an expert guide during the whale viewing. |
| A．Explore old cities. | B．Plant unique grapes. |
| C．Listen to the talks on wildlife. | D．Spend a night in a villager’s house. |
| A．By entering the website. | B．By sending an email. |
| C．By contacting the biologist. | D．By making a telephone call. |
4 . Thanks to a generous and kind soul, this winter is not cold any more. A Stockton teen will make sure seniors are staying warm and unforgotten during the holiday season, because dozens of elders across the nation are getting socks for Christmas — they couldn’t be happier about it.
Elle Gianelli, 17, is a student in high school, but most of her friends are elders. She has been making colored socks with silly designs for years, sending them to seniors in nursing and care homes to brighten up their day.
It all started from the closer-than-close friendship she has with her grandmother, which taught the value of spending time with elders. “I’m a grandma’s girl, I love love love my nana,” Gianelli said. On putting forward the idea, she was supported by her family and friends. Later, she was encouraged by her teachers who started the project Socks for Seniors when she was in her 7th grade, and she has so far lighted up 92 care homes in 48 states.
But as Christmas approaches, she’s making efforts to prepare her surprise in order to send boxes of silly socks to elders in all 50 states in time for the big day. “I know most people have toys for babies and things for kids but they always seem to forget about elders,” Gianelli told CBS. “Maybe they don’t have family or maybe they live super far away and they’re only getting something like a postcard.” To make sure that elders’ toes and hearts remain warm this holiday season, Gianelli is hoping to raise $10,000 through GoFundMe for a big sock drive. So far, with still 19 days to go before Christmas, she has received 95% of her total in donations.
1. What’s elders’ feeling on getting the socks?| A．Overjoyed. | B．Embarrassed. | C．Confused. | D．Frightened. |
| A．Teachers’ guidance. | B．Christmas project. |
| C．Love for her grandma. | D．Encouragement from friends. |
| A．She also has toys and things for kids. | B．She will send socks to seniors in 48 states. |
| C．She still has 19 days to prepare the surprise. | D．She has raised $10,000 through GoFundMe. |
| A．Warm Gifts From a Teen. | B．The Wishes of the Elders. |
| C．A Special Relationship. | D．A Wonderful School Project. |
5 . Social distancing is not a new concept in the natural world, where infectious diseases are commonplace. Through specialized senses animals can detect certain diseases and change their behavior to avoid getting ill.
In 1966, while studying chimps (猩猩) in a Tanzanian national park, zoologist Jane Goodall observed a chimp named McGregor who had caught a highly infectious virus. His fellow chimps attacked him and threw him out of the troop. In one instance, McGregor approached chimps in a tree. He reached out a hand in greeting, but the others moved away without a backward glance.
“For a full two minutes, old McGregor sat motionless, staring after them,” Goodall notes in her 1971 book In the Shadow of Man. “It’s really not that different to how some societies react today to such a tragedy.”
Not all animals are so aggressive toward their ailing neighbors. Sometimes it’s as simple as avoiding those who may infect you.
When Kiesecker, a lead scientist in America, studied American bullfrog in the late 1990s, he found that bullfrogs could not only detect a deadly smell of infection in other bullfrogs, but healthy members actively avoided those that were sick. Bullfrogs rely on chemicals signals to determine who is sick or not.
Caribbean lobsters also shun diseased members of their community, well before they become infectious. It takes about eight weeks for lobsters infected with the deadly virus Panulirus argus mininuceovirus to become dangerous to others. Normally social animals, lobsters begin keeping away from the diseased as early as four weeks after infection – once the lobsters can smell certain chemicals released by sick individuals.
Overall, it’s important to note that, unlike us, animals don’t realize if they stay home, they might actually reduce the infection rate,” Kiesecker explains. “As humans, we have that ability. It’s a big difference.”
1. What can we learn about the chimps from Goodall’s observation?| A．They kept a distance from one another. |
| B．They became aggressive when infected. |
| C．The infected avoided contact with others. |
| D．The infected were forced to leave the group. |
| A．Avoid. | B．Cure. | C．Get rid of. | D．Get along with. |
| A．Humans are more sensitive to virus. |
| B．Humans are less likely to get infected. |
| C．Humans treat infectious diseases in a wiser way. |
| D．Humans can detect chemical signals more quickly. |
| A．Help Me Out |
| B．Leave Me Alone |
| C．Stay Away From Us |
| D．Stay Home Stay Healthy |
6 . If you spend more than a couple of days in the country of Georgia, you are very likely to be invited to a Georgian feast even by complete strangers. The multi-hour, multi-course feast is one of the most important events in Georgian culture.
A popular Georgian story shows the importance of the feast in Georgian culture. When God created the world, He held a meeting to give the different regions of the world to different cultures. But the Georgians arrived late at the meeting. After they apologized and explained that they’d been holding a feast with a stranger the night before and slept later than they’d meant to, God was so touched and impressed by their honesty that He gave the Georgians the best land of all: the part of earth He was saving for himself.
In order to survive the feasts without offending (冒犯) the hosts, it’s important for you to know a few things about it in advance.
A Georgian feast will likely have a seemingly unlimited number of dishes. So avoid fully cleaning your plate unless you want more servings. Don’t fill up on khachapuri-Georgian cheese bread. There are numerous regional varieties of cheese bread, but khachapuri is the most delicious of all. The cheese bread is usually a heavy lunch on its own, but at feasts it’s often considered a side dish or an appetent. Don’t make the mistake of having more than a few bites—only to discover that the main meal is still coming.
When you drink, follow the lead of the toastmaster, who presents a scries of toasts throughout the evening. Traditionally, drinkers would dry their glass (or, if keeping with tradition, drain their deer’s horn) with every toast. This isn’t always done now. Just remember the important rule: say “cheers” after every toast.
Consider bringing a small gift, such as sweets or flowers, as a gesture of thanks. Avoid bringing more fond, however, which might imply that you don’t think there will be enough on offer.
1. What can be most probably inferred from the story?| A．Georgia is short of natural resources |
| B．Most of the Georgians are lazy and wasteful. |
| C．The Georgian people are very honest and friendly. |
| D．It is important to go to a meeting on time in Georgia. |
| A．It is not a main dish at feasts at all. |
| B．Georgians usually have it for breakfast. |
| C．It is one of the unique Georgian drinks. |
| D．Many regional varieties are based on it. |
| A．Drink all the wine every time. |
| B．Take some small gifts with them. |
| C．Clean the plate after each serving. |
| D．Bring some special food to the feast. |
| A．Amazing Food History in Georgia |
| B．Basic Rules of Being a Good Host |
| C．Bad Manners to Be Avoided at the Table |
| D．Things to Be Learned About Georgian Feasts |
7 . We had just completed a unit on heroes, and I had given my kindergarten class a task to draw their favorite hero. Each child was
However, one little boy was having
Finally, it was time for everybody to share their pictures. I listened as each student
When Austin stood up, he proudly held up a picture of Cameron. Austin said that Cameron was his hero because Cameron had the
Cameron immediately stood up, and put his arms up in the air as if he were going to
| A．familiar | B．busy | C．bored | D．satisfied |
| A．patience | B．fun | C．difficulty | D．connection |
| A．judged | B．admired | C．ignored | D．loved |
| A．fight | B．argue | C．agree | D．work |
| A．writing | B．drawing | C．printing | D．reading |
| A．proudly | B．instantly | C．shyly | D．frequently |
| A．indicated | B．described | C．followed | D．compared |
| A．fault | B．duty | C．turn | D．point |
| A．back | B．chest | C．stomach | D．face |
| A．curious | B．certain | C．surprised | D．disappointed |
| A．unwillingly | B．bravely | C．quickly | D．impolitely |
| A．asked | B．prepared | C．blamed | D．excused |
| A．preference | B．habit | C．sickness | D．hobby |
| A．set off | B．back off | C．show off | D．take off |
| A．masters | B．superheroes | C．figures | D．leaders |
8 . My dad loved everything about Northern Soul music. He
At the age of 57, he was diagnosed (诊断) with cancer. When he was
The song
| A．got up | B．grew up | C．hurried up | D．stayed up |
| A．different | B．great | C．common | D．poor |
| A．helped | B．touched | C．treated | D．prevented |
| A．learning | B．escaping | C．suffering | D．recovering |
| A．upset | B．happy | C．puzzled | D．surprised |
| A．desired | B．taught | C．preferred | D．recorded |
| A．ever | B．still | C．just | D．never |
| A．words | B．audiences | C．needs | D．singers |
| A．left | B．lost | C．believed | D．saved |
| A．tells | B．warns | C．reminds | D．informs |
| A．handed | B．broke | C．turned | D．wrote |
| A．important | B．natural | C．possible | D．simple |
| A．creating | B．forgetting | C．playing | D．introducing |
| A．met | B．quarreled | C．united | D．argued |
| A．advance | B．life | C．person | D．hospital |
9 . A few days before New Year 1944, Patricia Krueger received a telegram from the U. S. Army. She hoped it would contain a belated birthday greeting from her husband, an army flight engineer, Charles Krueger, whom she had not heard from for 2 weeks. Instead, the message said he wasn’t coming home: His B-29 had been lost and he was later declared MIA (missing in action). Their son, John Krueger from Middleton, Wisconsin, is still in tears when he recounts this story.
Decades later, the military continues to work to bring back the remains of soldiers like Charles Krueger. The job of finding them falls to DPAA (Defense POW/ MIA Accounting Agency), created in 2015 after critics charged that the previous MIA search process was slow, and behind on innovations in science and technology. Between 1973 and 2014, the remains of only 1,849 missing service member s were returned to their families; in 2021, the agency accounted for the remains of 141 MIAs; according to DPAA figures.
To accelerate the work, Congress gave DPAA the authority to develop public-private partnerships with scientists and groups outside the government. “Teaming up with academic scientists introduces new ways of thinking,” says military historian Michael Dolski. “Working with partners allows us to tap into their technologies and capabilities in ways that we just can’t maintain.”
For scientists, the work is more than technically satisfying. “It’s the most rewarding aspect of my career,” says Mires, a scientist working with the agency. “In other archaeology sites I’ve worked on, the history is remote,” he says. “Here, you’re doing something not for a thing, but for a person, and all the people they touched.”
1. What was the telegram about in paragraph 1?| A．A New Year dinner. | B．Krueger’s disappearance. |
| C．A birthday greeting. | D．John Krueger’s memory. |
| A．Because DPAA wants to continue the search. |
| B．Because it took long and lacked creativeness. |
| C．Because the work was stopped by the military. |
| D．Because 141 MIAs’ remains were found in 2021. |
| A．Patient. | B．Critical. | C．Doubtful. | D．Approving. |
| A．A long search for MIAs. | B．Achievements of DPAA. |
| C．Assistance from science. | D．Consequences of wars. |
10 . From grand museum openings to music, art and theatre, these are the coolest new things happening anywhere this year.
Look around an odd star's living room
Paris, France
This townhouse, where the controversial French singer Serge Gainsbourg spent the last 20 years of his life, has been completely closed off to the public since Gainsbourg's death in 1991, but next spring it'll finally open as a museum. The main attraction will be Serge's famously odd living area, with its huge collection of sculptures.
Get lost in the world of Hans Christian Andersen
Odense, Denmark
Just 90 minutes by train from Copenhagen, Odense is best known as the birthplace of Christian Andersen, and it's now home to the new HCA Museum. With its biographical exhibits and inanimate projects that come alive, this thoroughly fun museum would have delighted the “Little Mermaid” and “Snow Queen” author himself.
Check out King Tut's enormous new pad
Giza, Egypt
When it finally opens in November 2022, the Grand Egypt Museum will be the biggest museum in the world for a single civilization. Costing $1 billion, this museum will be about the size of the Louvre in Paris. Most importantly, this will be the first time that all 5,000 pieces of King Tut's treasure will be displayed in the same place.
Discover a cultural jewel at the heart of Europe
Novi Sad, Serbia
Serbia's second-largest city will wear the crown of European Capital of Culture for the year. Ever fancied checking out of an exhibition in an abandoned pasta factory? The Mlin Cultural Station awaits. Novi Sad's unique architecture and history have long made it a major destination.
1. Which place can you go to take a dip into literature?| A．Paris in France. | B．Giza in Egypt. |
| C．Odense in Denmark. | D．Novi Sad in Serbia. |
| A．It will be the biggest museum worldwide. |
| B．It will be bigger than the Louvre in France. |
| C．It will be open again since its close in 1991. |
| D．It will exhibit 5,000 pieces of King Tut's wealth. |
| A．The Mlin Cultural Station. | B．The HCA Museum. |
| C．The Grand Egypt Museum. | D．Serge Gainsbourg's Museum. |
