2 . Phones, tablets and smart watches will be mostly banned (禁止) from classrooms in the Netherlands from Jan 1, 2024, Sky News reported.

The move is meant to limit distractions from social media, messaging and other sites. Devices will only be allowed if they are needed for the lesson, for medical reasons, or for people with disabilities.

“Scientific research showed that mobile phones are a disturbance (打扰). We need to protect students against this,” said Robbert Dijkgraaf, Minister of Education, Culture and Science of the Netherlands. “Students need to be able to concentrate and need to be given the opportunity to study well.” Dijkgraaf noted that schools could manage the implementation of the ban themselves. However, he added that laws would follow if the results are not good enough.

The United Nations also warned of the risks of smartphones in schools, the BBC reported.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said that too much mobile phone use was linked to reduced educational performance. And high levels of screen time have a bad effect on children’s mind, noted The Guardian.

UNESCO said its call for a smartphone ban sent a clear message that all digital technology including artificial intelligence should always be less important than a human-centered vision of education and can never replace face-to-face interaction with teachers. Based on its analysis of 200 education systems around the world, UNESCO estimate one in four countries and regions had laws or policies banning phones in schools. Besides the Netherlands, France introduced its policy in 2018, and Finland had a similar decision in June. In 2021, the Ministry of Education in China banned mobile phones, tablets, and other digital devices in the classroom, Xinhua reported.

According to the policy, if such devices are brought to school, then they should be stored together in the same place. Meanwhile, the use of the devices for teaching purposes should not be over 30 percent of the total teaching time.

“Our school has strict rules to ban phones in class. Students who break the rules may lose their merit student qualification or admissions eligibility (保送) for college,” Dai Ting, a 17-year-old student from Chengdu, told Teens.

1. Which of the following is true according to the text?

A．Only disabled students are allowed to use smartphones in classrooms.

B．Personal communication with teachers is preferred.

C．30% of the teachers use digital devices in class.

D．Any digital devices found in classrooms will be destroyed.

2. Which the closest in meaning to the underlined word in paragraph 3?

A．Carrying out.

B．Bringing out.

C．Making out.

D．Putting out.

3. What’s the students’ attitude towards the ban?

A．Supportive.

B．Objective.

C．Negative.

D．Not mentioned.

4. What is the best title for this text?

A．Digital products totally banned in Netherlands

B．A ban on digital products in Netherlands schools

C．Digital products is a distraction in Netherlands schools

D．Digital products’ wide use in Netherlands schools

3 . Lights, camera, action! Have you ever dreamed of being a director? At age 29, Di Di already has almost 10 years of directing experience. Through the media company he founded, he makes advertising and promotional videos, including for Tsinghua University, his alma mater (母校).

For Di, becoming a director is an adventure based on interest. Majoring in journalism, he got into directing by chance. “In 2016,I came up with an idea for Tsinghua’s admissions(招生)video but couldn’t find a director,” Di said. “so I decided to be the director myself! I ended up really enjoying the process of being creative and working with a team. That was when I knew I wanted to be a director.”

While many people think that directors are experts at art, Di found that directors are, in fact, experts at management. “Only one-third of my time is spent on set. The rest of the time, I’m doing lots of planning with my clients and co-workers.” he said. This planning process includes working out the video’s theme with the client, creating a play, bringing together the visuals and text content, and also managing logistics (后勤) like where to park the cars and how to bring electricity to the set.

“Filming is an industry of high costs. Even short advertisements cost a lot of money per day. Any incident could result in the failure of the project, such as bad weather or the main character not turning up. You have to be quick to respond to any problems,” Di said. Despite the pressure, Di gets great joy from making an impact through his works. In 2019, he made a film for Tsinghua, which tells the story of a group of first-generation college students-the first to go to university in their families. It was viewed more than 15 million times on social media and became a hot top 20 trending topic on Sina Weibo. Being a first-generation college student himself, Di felt very passionate about the video’s goal of inspiring students to use their education to make a better life for their families. One month before the national college entrance exam in2020, Di released a feature film encouraging high school students to keep working hard after the exam was pushed back by one month.

1. Which of the following is true?

A．Di was a student whose major was directing.	B．Di became a director by accident.
C．Little money is needed to make a film.	D．Most of Di’s time is spent on directing.

2. What is paragraph two mainly about?

A．Di’s experience of directing.	B．What it takes to be a director.
C．How Di started to be a director.	D．Di’s views on being a director.

3. Which is not included in Di’s work?

A．Planning the set.	B．Talking about the topic.
C．Putting visuals and texts together.	D．Preparing meals.

4. What can be learned from the last paragraph?

A．Weather decides how well the process goes.	B．Di’s video helps students go to university.
C．Di’s video makes a difference to some students.	D．Directing is a career with little pressure.

5 . Pretending is fun. According to a recent study in the journal Child Development, kids are fond of this trick. Aiming to test the benefits of self-distancing on children’s perseverance (毅力), the researchers asked 180 kids, ages 4 or 6, to do a pretty boring computer task for 10 minutes. Although all the kids had to do was press a key when they saw a certain picture, they were told the task was important and that they had to be “good helpers,” They could take breaks to play a game on an iPad if they wanted.

The researchers divided the kids into three groups, and asked each to think about its performance on the given task from a certain perspective (视角): self-focused, third-person or model. Kids in the self-focused group asked themselves, “Am I working hard?” The third-person group reflected on the task by asking, “Is [the name of kid himself] working hard?” And the model group? Those children imagined they were either Batman, Bob the Builder or Dora the Explorer — well-known characters who are model hard workers — and were given props (小道具) to help them get in character. They were told to ask themselves, “Is [whatever character was chosen] working hard?”

The researchers found that the kids in both age groups who imagined themselves as a character spent a longer time on the task. The 6-year-olds who were asked to reflect in first person spent about 35 percent of the time on the task rather than on break, and the 4-year-olds just over 20 percent. But the 6-year-old children pretending to be fictional heroes spent 55 percent of their time working, while the 4-year-olds in this group spent 32 percent of their time on task.

The researchers believe that when the children used third-person or model characters, the kids distanced themselves from the boring task and tempting game, allowing them to gain more focus and self-control. “Taking an outsider’s perspective on one’s own behavior can improve in the face of entertaining distractions,” the researchers say.

1. What’s the purpose of the research?

A．To confirm.

B．To advertise.

C．To convince.

D．To examine.

2. What did the researchers find about the self-focused 4-year-olds?

A．They spent 20% more time on the task.

B．They asked 3 questions to themselves.

C．They imagined themselves as model characters.

D．They were the least focused group in the experiment.

3. What does the underlined word “tempting” in the last paragraph mean?

A．Dull

B．Inspiring.

C．Attractive.

D．Difficult.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．Pretending Is Fun for Kids	B．The Benefits of Self-distancing
C．The Way to Improve perseverance	D．Pretending Helps Kids Be More Focused

7 . An extreme sport like BMX (Bicycle Motocross) may not be the first thing that comes to mind to help overcome a mental health condition. However, that is _________ what enabled Nikita Ducarroz to fight her fears.

As a child, Ducarroz spent every _________ moment on the soccer field. But at 13, the talented athlete began to suffer from _________ anxiety attacks that made it hard for her to leave home. When her mother told her she had to continue playing a sport, Ducarroz found BMX as a way to _________ that rule. Little did she know that BMX would soon _________ every aspect of her life, and become the reason she would push through her fears one step at a time.

The tale began when a BMX video on YouTube inspired her to try the extreme sport. She saved up for a bike. Then she began practicing _________ in her driveway. Soon, her excellent skills brought her enough _________ to ride at the local skate park. With that confidence, Ducarroz was _________ to ride in the competition in 2016, and she has not looked back since.

“The bike made me get out of the house, go to the skate park, and _________ get on a plane,” said Ducarroz. “It __________ me to overcome all my fears.”

The 26-year-old is now one of the world’s best female BMX freestylers. Ducarroz now has her __________ set on the 2024 Paris Olympics. She says, “My goal in Paris is another medal. I can get that done with the training.”

Though she still suffers occasional __________ attacks, Ducarroz now knows how to manage them. To help others with mental health conditions, Ducarroz has started an Instagram page called MindTricks. It is where people discuss their fears __________.

“MindTricks started because of my own __________ that I was making on Instagram about mental health,” she explained. “And I thought, ‘Why don’t we create a place where others can do the same, a central spot where everyone can read about these stories and also feel __________ to share their own stories?’”

1.

A．precisely

B．automatically

C．roughly

D．temporarily

2.

A．expectant

B．boring

C．spare

D．urgent

3.

A．slight

B．mild

C．occasional

D．severe

4.

A．end

B．fulfill

C．measure

D．resist

5.

A．put off

B．ate away

C．took over

D．slowed down

6.

A．concepts

B．tricks

C．facilities

D．models

7.

A．confidence

B．muscle

C．patience

D．fortune

8.

A．likely

B．hesitant

C．ready

D．effortless

9.

A．slowly

B．abruptly

C．swiftly

D．eventually

10.

A．blocked

B．pushed

C．left

D．hooked

11.

A．luck

B．sight

C．standard

D．training

12.

A．panic

B．heart

C．delight

D．annoyance

13.

A．carefully

B．privately

C．safely

D．humbly

14.

A．appearance

B．medals

C．posts

D．choices

15.

A．ashamed

B．reserved

C．collapsed

D．enlightened

8 . Despite being connected online, no matter what state you’re from, each city still retains its own language and slang. At my public high school in Los Angeles, we had our own secret language. A party was a “yart”. A beer was a “brewsky”. If I tried to use these words in front of anyone that didn’t live in Los Angeles, they would have no idea what was going on. When I came to college and used these words around my roommate from the East Coast, she would look at me with a blank stare.

Teenagers are often blamed for pulling apart standard linguistic patterns. The way my parents used to talk isn’t the same way that teenagers talk now. But it reflects the dynamic nature of language, which evolves over time due to various influences, including generational shifts and technological advancements. Teenagers, at an age when they are actively exploring their identity and seeking to differentiate themselves from previous generations, often play a significant role in this evolution.

It’s interesting to note that people around the world all have different terms for everyday things. Last year, I came across a British show called Love Island, which is a reality show that mixes people from different parts of the U. K. in a “villa”(another word Americans don’t typically say) for about eight weeks. As a bystander, the way they talked felt so elegant and fun, but to them, it was just normal.

Whether the way we talk is regional or from online, the soul of communication lies in its power to connect people, foster understanding, and facilitate interactions that shape our personal and social lives. I have often found it’s the way we connect with the people we live around.

1. Why might the roommate not understand the author’s high school language?

A．It is specific to Los Angeles.	B．It is too informal.
C．It is outdated.	D．It is from online.

2. According to the text, how do the teenagers contribute to the evolution of language?

A．By imitating their parents.

B．By applying advanced technology.

C．By following previous language patterns.

D．By finding their own voice.

3. Why does the author mention the British show in paragraph 3?

A．To demonstrate worldwide language diversity.

B．To speak highly of British English.

C．To recommend a reality show.

D．To introduce everyday expressions in Britain.

4. What is mainly talked about in the last paragraph?

A．The means of communication.	B．The nature of communication.
C．The elements of communication.	D．The process of communication.

9 . Homeless Outreach & Mobile Engagement (HOME) Program in Los Angeles

The Homeless Outreach & Mobile Engagement (HOME) program provides field-based outreach, engagement, support, and treatment to individuals with severe and persistent mental illness who are experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Services are provided by addressing basic needs, conducting clinical assessments, providing street medical treatment, and providing access to appropriate services (including mental health services, substance abuse treatment, and shelter).

HOME serves the youth aged 16 to 21 who are experiencing chronic (长期的) unsheltered homelessness and who have profound mental health needs and associated impairments. These vulnerable individuals struggle with securing appropriate food, clothing, and shelter due to their mental illness. In addition, they may have critical shortage in communication, and are generally highly avoidant of medical services. They are unable to live safely in the community and require specialized mental health services to secure and sustain housing.

Most referrals (移交) are submitted by homeless outreach program staff members who identify individuals with severe impairments that require specialized and intensive support and engagement.

The general public may initiate a referral to a homeless outreach team through the Los Angeles Homeless Outreach Portal at www. LA-HOP. org. Individuals will be assigned to a HOME team if the person meets the criteria.

Homeless outreach providers should complete the form below and email it to HOME@dmh.lacounty.gov.

Press coverage about HOME:

●Los Angeles Times “LA’s first street psychologist makes his sidewalk rounds, transforming homeless lives”

●KPCC-FM “How LA’s ‘Street Psychology’ Program Works To Treat People Who Are Unhoused”

1. How does the HOME program offer help?

A．By conducting scientific research.

B．By providing accessible medical care.

C．By recommending useful websites.

D．By finding hosting families.

2. Which of the following youth groups is most likely to benefit from the HOME program?

A．The temporarily unsheltered.	B．The well-off but troubled.
C．The homeless mentally ill.	D．The physically challenged.

3. What should one do to help his friend get help from the HOME program?

A．Apply on the website.	B．Contact local media.
C．Visit its employees.	D．Write a letter of reference.

10 . When Eugenie George first heard that her friend passed an exam, her heart sank. She’d failed that test weeks earlier, and needed more work to advance her own career. But instead of anxiety, she called her friend. “I congratulated her and told her she inspired me,” she says. She was surprised when it changed her attitude, so she could share her friend’s happiness and experience her own, in turn.

Finding pleasure in another person’s good fortune is what social scientists call freudenfreude, a term that describes the joy we feel when someone else succeeds, even if it isn’t directly connected with us. Freudenfreude is like social glue, says Catherine Chambliss, a professor of psychology at Ursinus College in Pennsylvania. It makes relationships “closer and more enjoyable”. Sharing in someone else’s joy can also improve life satisfaction and resilience(适应力) and help people cooperate during a disagreement.

While the benefits of freudenfreude are plentiful, it doesn’t always come easily. Sometimes, your loss might last, making freudenfreude feel out of reach. If you were raised in a family that paired winning with self-worth, Chambliss says, you might misread someone else’s victory as your own personal shortcoming. And factors such as mental health and overall wellbeing(幸福) can also affect your ability to participate in someone else’s joy. Still, freudenfreude is worthwhile and there are ways to encourage the feeling.

Instead of an automatic response, freudenfreude is often an active process. To help people strengthen joy-sharing muscles, Chambliss and her colleagues developed a programme called FreudenfreudeEnhancement Training (FET). They found that depressed people who used the practices for two weeks had an easier time expressing freudenfreude, which built up their relationships and improved their mood.

Jean Grae, an artist, supports friends in this mindset. When someone gets a new opportunity or reaches a milestone, she makes sure to celebrate. Grae says she’s especially moved when anyone considered ‘other’ succeeds. “It’s truly inspirational,” she says, “because it lifts us all up and makes us shine.”

1. What do we know about Eugenie George?

A．She took pride in passing her exam.	B．She shared her success with her friend.
C．She was pleased with her friend’s success.	D．She was annoyed at her failure in an exam.

2. What does paragraph 3 mainly focus on about freudenfreude?

A．Its great benefits.	B．Its disadvantages.
C．Reasons for its absence.	D．Ways of improving it.

3. Why is Freudenfreude Enhancement Training (FET) held?

A．To test the effect of freudenfreude.	B．To help people apply freudenfreude.
C．To get people to know freudenfreude.	D．To show the advantages of freudenfreude.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．How to experience freudenfreude?

B．Let’s share what leads to freudenfreude.

C．Freudenfreude: View others’ success as our own.

D．A win-win: Freudenfreude brings our own pleasure.