1 . Stress is common in modern society. When you decide to do something about your stress levels it doesn’t necessarily mean you have to turn your whole life upside down — quit your job, file for divorce, move to another country. Among all the stress management strategies out there we are forgetting one essential treatment — taking time for rest.
For a long time, psychology was based on a clear division between body and mind. Psychologists focused almost only on what went on between our ears. The body was the responsibility of medical doctors and gym instructors. Recently, however, there has been a growing realization within psychology circles that the body and mind are closely connected with each other, far more than anyone ever imagined. You suffer more from stress when you are feeling run down or are suffering from a flu. If you have a bad night’s sleep, everything is more stressful the next day.
While you are more likely to suffer from stress when you are feeling poorly, you can alleviate it by looking after your body. Rest is actually good for both body and mind. We all need at least a little time to think, to reflect on life and even just to be bored. Your free time is meant for relaxation and recovery, and that is impossible when you have too much to do.
We need to relearn the art of rest, especially in these busy times. Getting enough rest is not just something we should do when we are exhausted. It is only when we take a good rest that we will be able to take a stand against stress. I like to imagine that in a few years from now it will be entirely acceptable to say, “Given how hard I worked last week on our project, this week I am going to take a day off.”
1. Which statement will the author probably agree with?| A．Only modern people feel stressed. |
| B．Psychologists don’t have to focus on the body. |
| C．Quitting your job is the best way to reduce stress. |
| D．Body and mind are strongly interacted with each other. |
| A．Develop. | B．Increase. | C．Relieve. | D．Maintain. |
| A．Rest contributes to mental relief. | B．Rest will surely make people bored. |
| C．The idea of rest is well accepted now. | D．Rest is needed only when people are tired. |
| A．Physical Health Affects the Mind | B．Rest is the Secret to Stress Relief |
| C．Brain Processes Psychological Pain | D．Good Life Starts with Stress Management |
2 . I’m obsessed (迷恋) with music. As a teenager, I couldn’t leave the house without my
But one day last year something changed. I became aware of a faint tapping sound in my left ear. It wasn’t loud enough to be
I was then sent to see specialists. They said it was the mitochondrial disease that caused the
I was given hearing aids, but they didn’t work. I’ve signed up for a lip-reading course and am
Other deaf people have warned of feeling isolated (孤立) and I’m determined not to make that my
I’ve always preferred to
| A．assignments | B．headphones | C．schoolbags | D．uniforms |
| A．textbooks | B．toys | C．records | D．flowers |
| A．annoying | B．impressive | C．pleasant | D．heartbreaking |
| A．strike | B．clean | C．see | D．hear |
| A．pain | B．deafness | C．awareness | D．anxiety |
| A．technically | B．gradually | C．similarly | D．confidently |
| A．teaching | B．speaking | C．promoting | D．learning |
| A．great | B．curious | C．excited | D．awkward |
| A．withdraw from | B．leave behind | C．break off | D．adapt to |
| A．job | B．hobby | C．life | D．aim |
| A．reward | B．anxiety | C．criticism | D．pleasure |
| A．because | B．if | C．until | D．when |
| A．plan | B．contact | C．depart | D．write |
| A．memory | B．appetite | C．hearing | D．sight |
| A．promising | B．unbelievable | C．predictable | D．uncertain |
3 . Endangered polar bears are breeding (繁殖) with grizzly bears (灰熊), creating “pizzly” bears, which is being driven by climate change, scientists say.
As the world warms and Arctic sea ice thins, starving polar bears are being forced ever further south, where they meet grizzlies, whose ranges are expanding northwards. And with that growing contact between the two come increasing hybrids (杂交种).
With characteristics that could give the hybrids an advantage in warming northern habitats, some scientists guess that they could be here to stay. “Usually, hybrids aren’t better suited to their environments than their parents, but these hybrids are able to search for a broader range of food sources,” Larisa DeSantis, an associate professor of biological sciences at Vanderbilt University, told Live Science.
The rise of “pizzly” bears appears with polar bears’ decline: their numbers are estimated to decrease by more than 30% in the next 30 years. This sudden fall is linked partly to “pizzly” bears taking up polar bears’ ranges, where they outcompete them, but also to polar bears’ highly specialized diets.
“Polar bears mainly consumed soft foods even during the Medieval Warm Period, a previous period of rapid warming,” DeSantis said, referring to fat meals such as seals. “Although all of these starving polar bears are trying to find alternative food sources, like seabird eggs, it could be a tipping point for their survival.” Actually, the calories they gain from these sources do not balance out those they burn from searching for them. This could result in a habitat ready for the hybrids to move in and take over, leading to a loss in biodiversity if polar bears are replaced.
“We’re having massive impacts with climate change on species,” DeSantis said. “The polar bear is telling us how bad things are. In some sense, “pizzly” bears could be a sad but necessary compromise given current warming trends.”
1. Why do polar bears move further south?| A．To create hybrids. | B．To expand territory. |
| C．To relieve hunger. | D．To contact grizzlies. |
| A．Broader habitats. | B．More food options. |
| C．Climate preference. | D．Improved breeding ability. |
| A．A rare chance. | B．A critical stage. |
| C．A positive factor. | D．A constant change. |
| A．Polar bears are changing diets for climate change. |
| B．Polar bears have already adjusted to climate change. |
| C．“Pizzly” bears are on the rise because of global warming. |
| D．“Pizzly”bears have replaced polar bears for global warming. |
4 . For people suffering from depression, there’s an all-natural treatment they should use — getting more exercise. It could help fight depression, even if people have a genetic risk, new research shows.
For the study, researchers collected information from nearly 8,000 people and found those with related genes were more likely to have depression over the next two years after examining them. But that was less likely for people who were more active at the study’s start, even if they had a family history of depression. Higher levels of physical activity helped protect even those with the highest genetic risk of depression.
Both high-intensity (高强度) exercise and low-intensity activities were associated with a reduced risk of depression. Adding four hours of exercise a week could lower the risk of a new episode (一段经历) of depression by 17%, according to the study. “Our findings strongly suggest that, when it comes to depression, being physically active has the potential to remove the added risk of future episodes in individuals who are genetically risky,” said lead author Karmel Choi. “On average, about 35 additional minutes of physical activity each day may help people to reduce their risk and protect against future depression episodes.”
Depression is a common mental illness globally, with more than 264 million people affected. “Depression is so ubiquitous, and that underlines the need for effective approaches that can impact as many people as possible,” Choi said. And mental health and primary care providers can use the findings to advise patients that there’s something meaningful they can do to lower their risk of depression.
1. How did the researchers reach their conclusion?| A．By analyzing a mass of data. |
| B．By conducting genetic research. |
| C．By comparing various levels of activity. |
| D．By tracking the subjects for many years. |
| A．Physical activity betters medical treatment. |
| B．Exercise is able to decrease and prevent it. |
| C．Different levels of exercise intensity matter the same. |
| D．Exercising 35 minutes daily is the most effective treatment. |
| A．Harmful. | B．Complex. |
| C．Unusual. | D．Common. |
| A．To discuss a disease. |
| B．To introduce a method. |
| C．To analyze a genetic risk. |
| D．To explain a phenomenon. |
5 . A long walk is a good way to work up an appetite (食欲), but for Emma Reade, who is six years old, it’s also a way to solve hunger.
Emma is taking part in the FareShare FootSteps Challenge, promising to walk 100 km to
“Moving makes you feel happy and
The FootSteps Challenge is run by charity kitchen FareShare and is
A small team off are Share chefs and 1, 500 community volunteers cook home-style meals for hundreds of charities across Australia, including homeless shelters and community food banks.
1.| A．raise | B．lose | C．give | D．rise |
| A．giving off | B．paying off | C．turning up | D．holding up |
| A．line | B．head | C．top | D．bottom |
| A．goal | B．task | C．money | D．number |
| A．connecting | B．helping | C．saving | D．influencing |
| A．family | B．school | C．summer | D．winter |
| A．fish | B．meat | C．milk | D．vegetables |
| A．difficulty | B．possibility | C．importance | D．insistence |
| A．young | B．strong | C．happy | D．healthy |
| A．wealth | B．energy | C．power | D．pursuit |
| A．inspired | B．financed | C．demanded | D．produced |
| A．deliver | B．cook | C．turn | D．make |
| A．poor | B．rich | C．adult | D．wise |
| A．cheap | B．delicious | C．instant | D．fresh |
| A．rather | B．however | C．otherwise | D．therefore |
6 . What makes people so special? Tool use, self-consciousness, language, and culture are high on the list, but in fact all of these characteristics can be found elsewhere in the animal kingdom. Humans and apes are close relatives, so it is perhaps not surprising that chimpanzees use tools or that gorillas (大猩猩) have a sense of fair play, even rejecting carrots (which they normally accept) when they see their neighbors getting grapes. But the qualities that we often think of as uniquely human exist not just on land, but in the ocean as well.
Among the invertebrates, octopuses (八爪鱼) are known for their intelligence, even exhibiting evidence of playfulness, tool use, and personality. But these skilled predators live alone and consequently lack culture. Dolphins, on the other hand, are large-brained, long-living, social- group-based predators, and it is here that we find the greatest similarity to human-like culture and awareness.
Culture depends on the ability of animals to pass on things they have learned to others. Many animals have culture in this sense, but what sets dolphins apart is what they pass on. Some bottlenose dolphins hold sponges in their mouths that they use as tools to sweep for fish hiding on the ocean floor. This ability is handed down through generations (especially in females), with some families — grandmother, mother, and daughter — all feeding in this highly specialized way.
Another characteristic that dolphins share with humans is their ability to recognize themselves in a mirror. When facing a mirror, most animals behave as though they are interacting with another individual. Even in humans, the ability to recognize that the image in a mirror is oneself does not occur before the age of 18 months. Dolphins not only recognize themselves, but if a black mark is put on the body of a dolphin, it will spend extra time at the mirror to look at the mark.
1. The example of gorillas rejecting carrots shows they ________.| A．are not easy to fool | B．prefer fruit to vegetables |
| C．have a special taste for food | D．have an awareness of equality |
| A．Cooperation. | B．Intelligence. |
| C．Tool using ability. | D．Fun-loving spirits. |
| A．They tend to hunt in groups. |
| B．Their hunting skills are passed down. |
| C．Their learning environment is favourable. |
| D．Their families are typically female-controlled. |
| A．Dolphins enjoy looking at their own reflection in the mirror. |
| B．Dolphins are as intelligent as a typical 18-month-old human baby. |
| C．Dolphins are generally regarded as the most advanced non-human species. |
| D．Dolphins’ ability to recognize their own reflection is a higher-order mental skill. |
7 . Wang Guilan, a 72-year-old Chinese woman, has been known as “Super Grannie” for her
Wang Guilan’s impressive achievements have attracted attention from runners of all ages. A runner in his twenties expressed his
So how does a 70-year-old stay in such a good
Wang Guilan’s passion for running has also inspired many people in China. She has been invited to give
| A．cost | B．idea | C．love | D．skill |
| A．relax | B．travel | C．learn | D．exercise |
| A．living | B．running | C．working | D．winning |
| A．oldest | B．happiest | C．slowest | D．healthiest |
| A．pride | B．doubt | C．surprise | D．worry |
| A．friends | B．doctors | C．admirers | D．neighbors |
| A．dress up | B．speed up | C．finish up | D．catch up |
| A．cut | B．cross | C．draw | D．form |
| A．once | B．alone | C．indeed | D．altogether |
| A．mood | B．condition | C．place | D．shape |
| A．proof | B．source | C．reason | D．solution |
| A．strict | B．popular | C．traditional | D．delicious |
| A．help | B．examples | C．speeches | D．performances |
| A．mixed | B．bitter | C．hidden | D．simple |
| A．set | B．lose | C．give | D．open |
8 . Many people dream of becoming a programmer for a leading tech company, as such work can secure a high salary that is envied by many. However, it may also mean having routinely to accept overtime work.
Recently, a programmer created a project called “996.ICU” on github.com, the well-known code-sharing website. The project criticized the “996 work schedule” where employees work from 9 am to 9 pm, 6 days a week, with the prospect of ending up in an intensive care unit (ICU).
The work schedule is common among Chinese tech companies. On the website, many programmers working for China’s tech companies shared evidence showing that their companies asked them to work the long hours. Among them were major names like e-commerce leaders Alibaba and JD.com, as well as telecoms equipment manufacturer Huawei.
Several bosses of tech companies have defended “996” as a kind of work culture. Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba, said it’s “a huge blessing” for young workers to work “996”. “If you don’t do ‘996’ when you’re young, when will you?” Ma said, according to a post on Alibaba’s WeChat account. “If you don’t invest more time and energy than others, how will you achieve the success you want?”
However, People’s Daily said that those who questioned “996” should not be labeled. “Valuing hard work does not equal forcing employees to work overtime,” commented the newspaper. “One should not attach the moral labels of ‘slackers’ or ‘not willing to strive’ to employees who are against ‘996’.”
Meanwhile, Cui Zhendong, a lawyer with the Yiqian Law Firm, said that it is illegal for a company to introduce a compulsory “996” work schedule for employees, since the Labor Law clearly states that the working hours of an employee should not exceed an average of eight hours daily, or 44 hours a week. Employers may extend working hours after consultation with an employee, but shall not exceed three hours a day or 36 hours a month.
A senior developer with the e-commerce giant Alibaba, who asked not to be named to protect his career, said employers seldom say the schedule is compulsory, but failure to follow the rules could lead to low performance scores and layoffs. “Refusal to overwork can also lead to losing your annual bonus, which is a lot of money,” he said.
“When resorting to the legal system for protection, there is a price to pay: time, money and the risk of losing your job, therefore they turn to cyberspace,” Jiang Ying, a professor of law said.
To better protect workers from harsh treatment, Jiang suggested that the systems for appealing to the court of law should be beefed up.
1. What can we infer from the passage?| A．The “996”work schedule is merely a rare case among companies. |
| B．The “996” work schedule is a newly invented system that is unique to China. |
| C．People’s Daily thinks it forgivable to criticize those who challenge the “996” work schedule. |
| D．In reality it’s so difficult for employees to defend their right against overwork through law. |
| A．3. | B．8. | C．9. | D．11. |
| A．Improved. | B．Banned. | C．Exposed. | D．Encouraged. |
| A．A government report. | B．A newspaper. |
| C．A scientific essay. | D．A code-sharing website. |
9 . Since App Store was set up, it has been selling consumers one simple thing: choice. Whether you wanted to play games, read the news, or do a thousand other things, there was something for whatever you desired.
Then something funny happened. Logging into the App Store today is like going into a shopping mall with only a coupon (优惠券) for one thing: There’s so much choice; it might be easier to give up than to choose.
It isn’t just consumers who are burdened, though. Too much content of all kinds also has economic effects. When countless choices are available, it causes pressure, pushing prices down and driving us a bit crazy.
So what is the way forward? Less choice itself may be a sensible strategy. There are already signs that this is happening. Firstly content companies are looking to prevent their offerings from getting lost in the tons of stuff. Most obvious is Disney, which is planning to open its own streaming service next year. The point is to narrow the focus so that those seeking Disney cartoons will have one place to go, rather than being around various services.
Yet if that represents a careful first step, there are more extreme options too. Consider the idea of a wine club: from tens of thousands of bottles each year, subscribers pay someone to select the most interesting ones. Perhaps what comes next for digital content is similar — carefully selected offerings from trusted sources that put choices in the hands of customers in order to get rid of the anxiety of choosing.
Up to now, too much choice in digital media has only one solution: the algorithm (运算法则). But we’ve seen the trouble with algorithms on You Tube. They feed you only what you’ve already said you like, not things you may not know you’re into. Worse, they have a tendency to serve up disturbing content. The way forward can’t simply be more or better algorithms.
Instead, it’s time for digital companies to start thinking about how to put limits on things: on how much we can use a device, or what we are available to choose from. As we move further into the digital revolution, what people ask for is clear: Less.
1. Faced with too much choice, consumers are more likely to__________.| A．choose carefully | B．feel anxious | C．use a coupon | D．push down prices |
| A．To teach customers how to choose a bottle of wine wisely. |
| B．To show digital companies how to narrow customers’ focus. |
| C．To demonstrate what some customers’ extreme options are. |
| D．To save customers from getting lost in the choice of the APP Store. |
| A．In order to sell choice better, digital companies should offer less. |
| B．You Tube tends to feed people what they are possibly interested in. |
| C．Algorithms can help consumers and companies make better choices. |
| D．Those seeking Disney cartoons have easy and quick access to them. |
| A．It manages to offer what consumers will possibly like |
| B．It helps to remove disturbing content from digital media |
| C．It offers consumers things based on what they’ve said they like |
| D．It’ll solve the problem of having too much choice |
10 . Several studies in recent years have suggested that ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft can worsen traffic problems in cities, which continue to have high rates of private vehicle ownership.
Recently, a new study has found that ride-sharing services result in much more pollution than other kinds of private and public transportation. Ride-sharing trips also draw passengers away from more environment-friendly methods of travel, like public transportation, walking or biking, the study found.
The new study, carried out by the not-for-profit group Union of Concerned Scientists, represents an attempt to center on how ride-sharing services affect pollution. The research examined the effects of ride-sharing services on seven of America’s largest cities.
Overall, the researchers reported that ride-sharing trips now “result in an estimated 69 percent more climate pollution on average than the trips they displace.” The study notes that the same passengers could have chosen to travel by bus, train, bike, scooter or on foot.
One of the big reasons they give for this result is that ride-sharing vehicles are often driven with no passengers in the car. This happens when drivers are either waiting for rider requests, are on the way to pick up passengers or are driving in between pickups. This situation, known as “deadheading”, takes up about 42 percent of all ride-sharing driving activity, the study found. The researchers said that deadheading results in about 50 percent more carbon dioxide than one person driving in a private vehicle. Both Uber and Lyft do offer a choice of a “pooled” ride, which involves drivers picking up additional riders during the same trip.
The study urges services like Uber and Lyft to work to increase the number of pooled rides. It also urges the two companies to increase the number of electric vehicles on the road and to improve connections to public transportation centers.
Both Uber and Lyft have said in the past that most studies on the subject overstate the effects of their services on pollution. They have noted that the majority of vehicles on the road belong to private individuals or companies. Uber told Reuters news agency in a statement it had no comment on the latest report. But the company said it aims to be part of the solution to address climate change by working directly with cities. The statement added that Uber would continue to promote pooled trips and other means of transportation.
1. What does the underlined word “they” in Para. 4 refer to?| A．The researchers. | B．Ride-sharing trips. |
| C．The same passengers. | D．Environment-friendly methods of travel. |
| A．Most studies have overstated the effects of Uber’s and Lyft’s services on pollution. |
| B．Ride-sharing services are playing an active role in dealing with climate change. |
| C．People may be discouraged from taking public transportation due to ride-sharing services. |
| D．Climate pollution resulting from ride-sharing trips has increased by 69 percent on average. |
| A．Ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft can worsen traffic problems in cities. |
| B．The reasons for more pollution caused by ride-sharing services have been found. |
| C．Ride-sharing trips lead to more pollution than other kinds of private and public transportation. |
| D．The disadvantages of ride-sharing trips outweigh the advantages they have brought to people. |
