1 . The biggest criticism (批评) of social networking is that our young people are losing their offline friends to online friends. In fact there is a lot of research that shows these criticisms are generally unfounded. Research by Allen et al. found that people are not replacing offline friends with online companions but are using them to support their offline relationships. They also found that our online friendships actually allow us to have discussions with a much more diverse set of people than in the real world and improve our psychological happiness.
However, there is one part of social networking that is deeply worrying. We find ourselves in a hyper-connected world where people access social media day and night, excited to make announcements about the tiniest details of their lives. Research is starting to show that this culture is negatively affecting not our friendships but our character.
Professor Larry D. Rosen, in his book iDisorder, presents evidence that social networking is turning us into narcissists (自恋者). He says that young people who overuse social networking sites can become vain, aggressive, and show anti-social behavior in their offline lives. But perhaps an even more disturbing effect is that one of our most basic emotions seems to be disappearing—empathy. This is the emotion that bonds us together; it allows us to see the world from our friends’ points of view. Without it, we are far less able to connect and form meaningful adult relationships.
Sherry Turkle, a professor of social sciences at MIT, suggests that people are no longer comfortable being alone. This is something confirmed by a study where 200 university students were asked to go without social media for 24 hours. Many admitted an addiction to their online social network; most complained that they felt cut off from family and friends. But being alone is a time, Turkle argues, when we self-reflect and get in touch with who we really are. It is only when we do this that we can make meaningful friendships with others. She believes, as is the title of her book, that we are simply “Alone Together”.
These potential changes in our characters are rather disturbing. If nothing is done, our young people could well be in trouble. Therefore, suggestions about ways to encourage our young people to avoid the problems of social networking should be made, so they can develop the kinds of friendships that are required to grow into well-adjusted and happy adults.
1. In this passage, the author mainly argues that ________.| A．internet culture causes various problems |
| B．we are losing some most important emotions |
| C．online friendships do good to offline friendships |
| D．social networking affects young people’s personalities |
| A．by getting in touch with online friends |
| B．by avoiding the problems of social networking |
| C．by reflecting and getting in touch with ourselves |
| D．by being alone then having discussions with a much more diverse set of people |
| A．social media have more advantages |
| B．young people will develop offline friendships |
| C．young people can’t go without social media |
| D．we are becoming unable to understand others well |
2 . A video circulated on social media earlier this year, showing a tourist opening the door of a vehicle, reaching out an arm and attempting to stroke a passing lion. The lion shrugged the tourist off, but it could have easily gone horribly wrong.
Reckless behaviour around wildlife risks the safety of both people and animals. People risk being attacked, mauled (撕咬) and possibly killed, while animals can be harmed, removed or even put down, regardless of whether they were only defending themselves. Animal attacks can also cast a destination in a negative light, causing temporary closures or scaring off visitors. All just so someone could boast that they had stroked a lion or captured a moment on a camera phone.
“Tourists are getting more and more reckless around wildlife and the source of the problem is social media.” says wildlife photographer Anette Mosshachers. “People risking their lives or doing stupid things with wildlife are after ‘likes’ and followers, something to show off on social media,” says Mossbacher. “The greater the risk, the more ‘likes’ they get. With some clients, it seems like a sickness or addiction.”
Yet social media is not entirely to blame. People have always taken risks for an experience. Foolish behavior and a tendency to get cocky around dangerous animals must have been around since the dawn of humanity. A hunger for attention online might drive some of the current madness, but some individuals might be trying to recreate a piece of the action they have seen on television. Perhaps the adrenaline (肾上腺激素) rush when close to wild animals causes a disappearance of common sense.
“There’s a worrying lack of awareness that animals several times our size, weight, speed and strength can easily hurt us,” says wildlife photographer David Lloyd. “I don’t think parks are doing enough to raise awareness. Tourists need to know how their presence can affect wildlife. A good example is cheetahs (猎豹) on vehicle rooftops. It may be a thrill for the bystanders, but the consequences if a mother cheetah falls off would be severe. She would no longer be able to hunt, so her cubs could easily starve.”
“People aren’t getting the education about why they need to stay away from wildlife, including avoiding diseases, keeping people secure and letting wildlife be wild,” says Philip Muruthi, vice president of species conservation and science for the African Wildlife Foundation. “We need to educate tourists through signs, pamphlets and frontline drivers. We should stick to guidelines, and there needs to be enforcement through the law.”
1. What can we learn about reckless behaviour around wildlife?| A．It may get animals killed for defending themselves. |
| B．It may bring more profits to a tourist destination. |
| C．It enables tourists to get intimate with animals. |
| D．It harms tourists more than animals. |
| A．sympathetic | B．disapproving | C．indifferent | D．doubtful |
| A．over-sensitive. | B．over-confident | C．over-frightened. | D．over-shocked. |
| A．Punishment rather than education can stop people taking silly risks around wildlife. |
| B．Parks are expected to take more responsibilities for educating tourists. |
| C．More regulation of the tourist industry is the key to raising tourists’ awareness. |
| D．Raising tourists’ awareness means stressing the danger of animals to them. |
3 . In 2008, Calvin Lowe’s four-year-old son Tyler needed to have a serious operation.
On the appointed day of the operation, he and his wife brought Tyler to Children’s Hospital Colorado in Denver. “As we sat in the waiting room, waiting for someone to call us back to the operation area, there was a lot of
When a nurse called the family back, Lowe’s fears
After the operation was over, the doctor came back out to the family with a big smile and said, “Our son is just fine, and you can see him here in a few minutes.”
Tyler is now 19 years old and hopes to become a professional photographer. All these years after the operation, Lowe still thinks about the young doctor’s kindness. “I will never forget that,” Lowe said. “Because that was indeed a
| A．shock | B．anxiety | C．sadness | D．anger |
| A．faded | B．grew | C．appeared | D．stopped |
| A．receiving | B．recording | C．performing | D．missing |
| A．learn | B．discover | C．guess | D．explain |
| A．choice | B．reaction | C．way | D．result |
| A．unexpected | B．confusing | C．necessary | D．excellent |
| A．balancing | B．leading | C．comforting | D．directing |
| A．relief | B．reminder | C．secret | D．resource |
| A．eager | B．proud | C．grateful | D．regretful |
| A．helpful | B．successful | C．educational | D．typical |
4 . New research confirms that human footprints found in New Mexico are probably the oldest direct evidence of human presence in the Americas, a finding that upends what many scientists knew about human habitation and migration (迁徙).
The footprints were discovered at the edge of an ancient lakebed in White Sands national park. According to the new paper published in the journal Science, they date back to between 21,000 and 23,000 years ago. Actually, the estimated age of the footprints was first reported in Science in 2021, but some researchers raised concerns about the dates. Questions focused on whether seeds of water plants used for the original dating may have absorbed ancient carbon from the lake — which could, in theory, throw off radiocarbon dating (碳14年代测定) by thousands of years. But the new study presents two additional lines of evidence for the older date range. It uses two entirely different materials found at the site, ancient pollen (花粉) and stone grains.
The reported age of the footprints challenges the once conventional wisdom that humans did not reach the Americas until a few thousand years before rising sea levels covered the Bering land bridge between Russia and Alaska, perhaps about 15,000 years ago. “This is a subject that’s always been controversial (有争议的) because it’s so significant. It’s about how we understand the last chapter of the peopling of the world,” said Thomas Urban, an archaeologist (考古学家) at Cornell University, who was involved in the 2021 study but not the new one.
Thomas Stafford, an independent archaeological geologist in New Mexico, who was not involved in the study, said he “was a bit suspicious (怀疑的) before” but now is convinced. The new study isolated about 75,000 grams of pure pollen from the same stone layer that contained the footprints. “Dating pollen is laborious but worthwhile,” said Kathleen Springer, a research geologist at the US Geological Survey and a co-author of the new paper.
Ancient footprints of any kind can provide archaeologists with a quick look of a moment in time. While some archeological sites in the Americas point to similar date ranges — including necklaces carved from giant animal remains in Brazil — scientists still question whether such objects really indicate human presence. “White Sands is unique because there’s no question these footprints were left by people,” said Jennifer Raff, a scientist at the University of Kansas, who was not involved in the study.
1. The underlined word “upends” (Paragraph 1) is closest in meaning to “________”.| A．supports | B．connects | C．challenges | D．compares |
| A．It shows the footprints were made by the Russians. |
| B．It offers more convincing lines of evidence for dating. |
| C．It confirms that the ancient humans enjoyed living by the lake. |
| D．It reveals the footprints are much younger than previously thought. |
| A．necklaces are valuable objects for archaeologists to date animals |
| B．human footprints are often sure signs of human presence |
| C．ancient objects in Brazil are not included in the study |
| D．White Sands is one important archaeological site |
| A．Humans Reached Americas 15,000 Years Earlier Than Believed |
| B．American Archaeologists Unearthed Valuable Manmade Objects |
| C．New Research Confirms Early Human Presence in Americas |
| D．Scientists Discovers New Species of Humans in Americas |
5 . When you hear “I have a dream…”, one of the most famous speeches in human history, you’ll never have the idea how the audience on the scene were fueled by emotional intelligence. When Martin Luther King. Jr. presented his dream, he chose language that would stir the hearts of his audience. Delivering this electrifying message required emotional intelligence — the ability to recognize, understand, and manage emotions.
Emotional intelligence has been highly recommended by leaders, policymakers, and educators as the solution to a wide range of social problems. Emotional intelligence is important, but the uncontrolled enthusiasm has obscured (掩盖) a dark side. New evidence shows that when people sharpen their emotional skills, they become better at controlling others. When you’re good at controlling your own emotions, you can hide your true feelings. When you know what others are feeling, you can motivate them to act against their own best interests.
Social scientists have begun to document this dark side of emotional intelligence. In a research conducted by Professor Jochen Menges from University of Toronto, when a leader gave an inspiring speech filled with emotion, the audience was less likely to examine the message closely and remember the content. Ironically (讽刺的是), audience members were so moved by the speech that they claimed to recall more of it.
The authors call this the awestruck (敬畏的) effect, but it might just as easily be described as the dumbstruck effect. One observer reflected that Hitler’s persuasive impact came from his ability to strategically express emotions — he would “tear open his heart” — and these emotions affected his followers to the point that they would “stop thinking critically and just emote (激动地表达感情).”
Leaders who master emotions can rob us of our abilities to reason. If their values are out of step with our own, the results can be destructive. New evidence suggests that when people have selfish motives, emotional intelligence becomes a weapon for controlling others.
Throwing light on this dark side of emotional intelligence is one mission of a research team led by University College London professor Martin Kilduff. According to these experts, emotional intelligence helps people disguise (伪装) one set of emotions while expressing another for personal gain. Professor Kilduffs team writes, “The strategic disguise of one’s own emotions and the controlling of others’ emotions for strategic ends are behaviors evident not only on Shakespeare’s stage but also in the offices and corridors where power and influence are traded.”
Of course, people aren’t always using emotional intelligence for evil ends. More often than not, high EQ is helpful in most aspects of our life. Emotional intelligence — like any skill — can be used for good or evil. So whether it is a gift or a curse lies in your hand.
1. Why does the author mention Martin Luther King, Jr?| A．To advocate a society with fewer problems. | B．To recommend his speech to other leaders. |
| C．To honor the great leader for his courage. | D．To introduce the major topic to readers. |
| A．His followers would tear open their hearts to him. |
| B．His followers would express emotions strategically. |
| C．His followers would develop the self-serving motives. |
| D．His followers would lose the ability to reason properly. |
| A．They disguise their true emotions and show another one. |
| B．They present their strategic behaviors on the stage. |
| C．They help their colleagues to build up confidence. |
| D．They lower their own dignity to gain popularity. |
| A．The benefits of emotional intelligence. | B．The reasons for using emotional skills. |
| C．The dark side of emotional intelligence. | D．The advantages and disadvantages of emotions. |
6 . Immersive Van Gogh
From the creators of the blockbuster show in Paris seen by over two million visitors and still wowing crowds in Toronto, the west coast premiere (首场) of the Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit will bring the art of Vincent to life in Los Angeles.
Immersive art is not just a technical way to represent video and audio in huge spaces. The word immersive indicates a deep commitment of intentions which connect images and sounds in a way that the audience able to experience a different way of the art.
True to its name, this exhibition transforms the iconic (标志性的) paintings of Vincent Van Gogh into moving, wall-filling projections. “Immersive Van Gogh” promises half-a-million cubic feet of projections that pull from some of the post-impressionist’s most recognizable pieces, including The Bedroom, Sunflowers and, yes, The Starry Night.
You will experience art like never before — lose yourself in entrancing, moving images that highlight brushstrokes, detail, and color — truly illuminating (照亮) the mind of the genius.
LOCATION
The Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit is located at a secret place situated in the heart of Los Angeles. To be announced before the exhibit opens, existing ticket holders will receive an email with the place name and location once it is made public.
TICKET PRICES
| VIP TICKETS—$99.99 ●Priority access ●Van Gogh carpet (a gift for you) ●Limited edition poster | PREMIUM TICKETS—$59.99 ●Van Gogh carpet (rental) ●Limited edition poster |
| BASIC TICKETS—$54.99 ●Admission only | CHILD TICKETS—$29.99 ●Ages 6-16 (children 5 and under do not require a ticket) ●Admission only ●Child tickets are not subject to change of date fees |
Tickets are available online at www.vangoghla.com.
GIFT SHOP
Stop by our Exhibit Gift Shop to take the magic of Van Gogh home with you! From clothing and jewellery to home decor, children’s books, and so much more, you will find unique and thoughtful souvenirs at the Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit. Also be sure to check out at our online store!
Experience the organic landscapes of Van Gogh’s imagination, and journey through his brilliance and madness in a completely new and unforgettable way.
1. According to the passage, the Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit ______.| A．presents Van Gogh’s art in a modern way |
| B．begins a journey to Van Gogh’s hometown |
| C．displays Van Gogh’s paintings on moving walls |
| D．designs projects on Van Gogh’s learning experience |
| A．The gift shop. | B．A website. |
| C．The ticket office. | D．An email. |
| A．$109.98. | B．$154.98. | C．$184.97. | D．$114.98. |
| A．To attract audiences to visit the Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit. |
| B．To introduce the historical significance of Vincent Van Gogh’s art. |
| C．To promote the sale of unique and thoughtful souvenirs to visit. |
| D．To provide a platform for artists to experiment with new technologies. |
7 . Music is a powerful thing. It awakens feelings and has the power to bring people together. But today, artists are not known for their music, but for how flashy their clothing is and how many times their wealthy relatives can get them out of jail(监狱). And thus, their music is lost.
Pop and rap music has developed into a shallow, image-addicted industry that lines up with what the public wants to hear and see, removing the focus on the actual music. Mainstream music is no longer composed of emotion, but instead, themes of money and fame. Photos and rumors fly while the music is ignored.
Not all musical groups or individual artists begin like this. Many of these artists are original and talented, but turn to the money side. Often their songs are written by experts who know what is appealing to a certain age group, and the musicians’ faces can be seen on countless magazine covers. Soon their supposedly new and improved songs can be heard blasting out of car windows. But these songs are totally empty, lacking creativity and the original thirst of the artist to make an impact or convey (传递) a message.
MTV is not helping. It plays only what the public wants to hear. And unfortunately, the majority seems interested in either sickly sweet, generic pop or stereotypical (刻板的), bleeped-out rap. Kids and teens everywhere are swimming in these songs, which are often degrading to women and minorities, and inappropriate.
Almost all the girls in my dorm are addicted to the same songs. This was the case the previous year, and the year before that. Whenever I try to play music I enjoy, or introduce them to some decent songs, they say that everyone except me likes their music.
Why do most teenagers only listen to pop and rap music when so many other types exist? Maybe it’s because everywhere we look, we are bombarded with(被……轰炸) the same music: on the radio, on TV, on the computer. At school, pop and rap are discussed all the time. Perhaps they have never listened to anything else. Or maybe peer pressure is part of it.
There is no solution to the “pop problem”. It’s called popular for a reason—many people enjoy it. There’s no easy way to change their views. My suggestion is not to buy music like this when you can explore something new. Expand your horizons. Dig up your parents’ old records and CDs. You never know what you might find.
1. The author probably prefers ______.| A．new pop songs meant for girls |
| B．original songs with deep meaning |
| C．catchy songs produced by popular singers |
| D．never-heard-before songs just recently discovered |
| A．Many artists trade creativity for wealth and fame. |
| B．The public is responsible for the existence of music. |
| C．MTV promotes the songs favored by women and minorities. |
| D．Musicians singing about money is an ineffective way to attract fans. |
| A．Try to respect your peers’ music tastes. | B．Deal with the “pop problem” patiently. |
| C．Expose yourself to various music styles. | D．Treasure the music from previous generations. |
| A．The Influence of Pop and Rap Music on Teenagers |
| B．The Decline of Musical Diversity in Youth Culture |
| C．The Impact of Mainstream Music Trends on Society |
| D．The Importance of Exploring Diverse Music Genres |
8 . A Person Who Has Influenced My Life
There is always a time in one’s life when a hero comes along. Someone who has inspired you can really help you learn what life is about.
I remember it as if it was yesterday. I was fifteen years old that year. It was around eight o’clock one evening when my mother
While my aunt was in the hospital with special
Over the two weeks when Mark lived with my family, I probably
Mark was seventeen, but learned on a nine-year-old level. Although his learning ability was slower than most, he could
Mark is my hero, for his disability has forever formed my viewpoint on life.
1.| A．made | B．missed | C．received | D．used |
| A．promised | B．informed | C．showed | D．begged |
| A．worried | B．happy | C．indifferent | D．careless |
| A．care | B．action | C．purpose | D．interest |
| A．mild | B．severe | C．temporary | D．moderate |
| A．believe | B．regret | C．admit | D．decide |
| A．weakness | B．ignorance | C．relief | D．mercy |
| A．forgot | B．heard | C．ignored | D．understood |
| A．anything | B．something | C．nothing | D．everything |
| A．painful | B．brave | C．lucky | D．successful |
| A．seldom | B．still | C．hardly | D．almost |
| A．possibilities | B．functions | C．achievements | D．difficulties |
| A．Naturally | B．Actually | C．Obviously | D．Accidentally |
| A．depended on | B．fought against | C．suffered from | D．focused on |
| A．risk | B．cost | C．pace | D．trial |
9 . Eradajere Oleita thinks she may have a partial solution to two of her country’s problems: garbage and poverty (贫穷). It’s called the Chip Bag Project. The 26-year-old student and environmentalist from Detroit is asking a favor of local snack lovers: Rather than throw your empty chip bags into the bin, donate them so she can turn them into sleeping bags for the homeless.
Chip waters drop off their empty bags from Doritos. Lays. and other favorites at two locations in Detroit: a print shop and a clothing store, where Oleita and her volunteer helpers collect them. After they clean the chip bags in soapy hot water, they slice them open, lay them flat, and iron them together. They use padding (衬垫) and liners (衬里) from old coats to line the insides.
It takes about four hours to sew a sleeping bag and each takes around 150 to 300 chip bags depending on whether they’re single-serve or family size. The result is a sleeping bag that is “waterproof lightweight and easy to carry around”. Oleita told the Detroit News.
Since its start in 2020, the Chip Bag Project has collected more than 800,000 chip bags and, as of last December, created 110 sleeping bags. Sure, it would be simpler to raise the money to buy new sleeping bags. But that’s only half the goal for Oleita — whose family moved to the United States from Nigeria a decade ago with the hope of attaining a better life — and her fellow volunteers. “We are devoted to making an impact not only socially, but environmentally,” she says.
And, of course, there’s the symbolism of rescuing bags that would otherwise land in the trash and using them to help the homeless. It’s a powerful reminder that environmental problem and poverty often go hand in hand. As Oleita told hourdetroit.com, “I think it’s time to show connections between all of these issues.”
1. What did Oleita ask the snack lovers to do with their empty chip bags?| A．To turn them into sleeping bags. | B．To give them away to her. |
| C．To throw them into the bin. | D．To donate them to the homeless directly. |
| A． Its size is adjustable. | B．It is only made of old coats. |
| C．It has the function of heating | D． It is portable. |
| A．Hardworking and loyal. | B．Talented and social. |
| C．Responsible and creative. | D．Selfless and modest. |
10 . Small batteries are big problems, but nobody really pays attention to where they end up. Researchers at the Cellulose & Wood Materials Laboratory are working to address this problem. Their new research paper describes a water-activated paper battery developed from environmentally friendly materials that could eventually present a sustainable alternative to the more harmful batteries common in low-power devices.
The paper battery has the same key components as standard batteries but packages them differently. Like a typical chemical battery, it has a positively charged side called a cathode, a negatively charged side called an anode, and a conductive material called an electrolyte (电解质) between the two. A traditional battery’s components are enclosed in plastic and metal; in the new battery, the anode and cathode are inks printed onto the front and back of a piece of paper. That paper is filled with salt, which dissolves (溶解) when the paper is dampened with water. The resulting saltwater solution acts as the electrolyte.
Sustainable materials were a precondition for the researchers, who considered only safe and plentiful ingredients to create their device. “We were fairly confident that we would have something that would work in the end, but developing these materials and ink systems is challenging,” says Gustav Nyström, senior author of the study.
After trying hundreds of formulations for the battery components, the researchers settled on a graphite ink to make the cathode, a zinc ink for the anode, and salt-filled paper to create the electrolyte.
When the paper is dry, the battery is shelf-stable. Add just a couple of drops of water, however, and the salt dissolves, allowing electrons to flow. Once the paper is dampened, the battery activates within 20 seconds. The new battery’s operating performance declines as the paper dries. When the scientists re-wet the paper during testing, the battery regained functionality and lasted an hour before beginning to dry out again.
Although the researchers demonstrated that their battery could power an alarm clock, the paper batteries are unlikely to replace standard ones on store shelves. Nyström envisions a future where these paper batteries could make their way into products within the next two to five years. “The performance that you see on this device, I think, is enough for a lot of other applications already,” he says. It is mostly a matter of increasing production and integrating the batteries into systems such as diagnostic tests and environmental sensors.”
1. How is the paper battery similar to the standard battery?| A．The key components are environmentally friendly. |
| B．They are both packaged in plastic and metal. |
| C．They both have two charged sides and an electrolyte. |
| D．Both batteries can operate for only an hour. |
| A．Heating the salt | B．Charging the electrons |
| C．Drying out the battery | D．Wetting the paper |
| A．major technological breakthrough will be made in the near future |
| B．all home appliances will be powered by paper batteries |
| C．the future for a wide application of paper batteries is not far off |
| D．paper batteries will have longer shelf life than traditional ones |
