1 . It was the most destructive wildfire in California history. It started in Paradise (天堂镇) and caused $16.5 billion in
Grammer, working in Los Angeles, grew up there. When his friend Edwards posted pictures of his white chimney — the only part of his house to survive — he felt
“I’ve got to
Grammer spent three hours painting an image of a woman on the
Grammer posted the image on Instagram. Those who were affected by the fire,
Greatly inspired, Grammer returned eight times. Outside one house, he found a photo of a girl, Eleanor. He painted a picture of her on the wall of her home left
Ironically (讽刺的是) that first painting, on the chimney in Paradise,
A.damage | B.collection | C.debt | D.reserve |
A.basically | B.generally | C.beautifully | D.seriously |
A.disappointed | B.interested | C.helpless | D.fearless |
A.beautify | B.paint | C.build | D.repair |
A.succeed | B.improve | C.practice | D.express |
A.chimney | B.wall | C.window | D.door |
A.art | B.life | C.nature | D.beauty |
A.on average | B.in general | C.on earth | D.in particular |
A.argued | B.insisted | C.posted | D.suggested |
A.standing | B.existing | C.fallen | D.destroyed |
A.pretend | B.afford | C.continue | D.decide |
A.new | B.special | C.practical | D.real |
A.copy | B.handle | C.donate | D.admire |
A.flashed | B.suffered | C.survived | D.waited |
A.spirit | B.size | C.fame | D.power |
2 . Working with a stressed mind is like swimming with a jacket on, while a mind free from work stress is light like the wind and it can help you accomplish your daily tasks easily. To relieve (缓解) stress and lighten your mind, you must first understand the nature of stress and the reasons why it builds up. Then you can easily beat stress.
Talk it out
Talking to others helps relieve work stress especially when you and the person you talk to are in the same boat and under the same work stress. Your worries will be divided! If you are your own boss, you need some good advisers around you, who know your trouble and talk sense. If there is no such persons at your workplace, let there be one at home, who is a friend,a family member or a guide that you can talk to.
Let music calm your mind
Music has the power to take you into a new world, away from your worries. Taking a break to listen to some favorite music is also a great way to relieve stress.
Take a walk
If there is a park around, go and have a walk there. You can eat some snacks sitting on the grass. Move around, look at the world around you and forget your work for a while. Let your body get some exercise. A walk works as it also clears your thoughts. You can listen to music while going on a walk.
Have a life beyond the workplace
If you keep thinking about nothing other than work all the time, there is bound to be stress. So, throw away your thoughts about work after you leave your office and get a life beyond it. Have a life beyond the workplace, and you can relax after work.
1. We, can learn from the first paragraph that to relieve stress, we should ______.A.know what causes stress first | B.swim a lot when we are free |
C.find a good adviser to talk to | D.pay more attention to work |
A.are free of job stress | B.have enough time to talk to you |
C.have the same sufferings | D.can change your job |
A.help you improve your taste of music | B.improve your relationship with others |
C.make you feel more tired of your job | D.let you relax and forget work stress |
A.a researcher who studies music | B.tired of working under pressure |
C.a person who is trying to find a job | D.expert in dealing with work stress |
3 . A recent study has found that using wood for construction instead of concrete and steel can reduce emissions. But Tim Searchinger at Princeton University says many of these studies are based on the false foundation that harvesting wood is carbon neutral (碳中和). “Only a small percentage of the wood gets into a timber (木料) product, and a part of that gets into a timber product that can replace concrete and steel in a building,” he says. Efficiencies vary in different countries, but large amounts of a harvested tree are left to be divided into parts, used in short-lived products like paper or burned for energy, all of which generate emissions.
In a report for the World Resources Institute, Searchinger and his colleagues have modelled how using more wood for construction would affect emissions between 2010 and 2050, accounting for the emissions from harvesting the wood. They considered various types of forests and parts of wood going towards construction. They also factored in the emissions savings from replacing concrete and steel.
Under some circumstances, the researchers found significant emissions reductions. But each case required what they considered an unrealistically high portion (一部分) of the wood going towards construction, as well as rapid growth only seen in warmer places, like Brazil. In general, they found a large increase in global demand for wood would probably lead to rising emissions for decades. Accounting for emissions in this way, the researchers reported in a related paper that increasing forest s between 2010 and 2050 would add emissions equal to roughly 10 percent of total annual emissions.
Ali Amiri at Aalto University in Finland says the report’s conclusions about emissions from rising demand are probably correct, but the story is different for wood we already harvest. “Boosting the efficiency of current harvests and using more wood for longer-lived purposes than paper would cut emissions,” he says. “We cannot just say we should stop using wood.”
1. What is wrong with previous researches according to Searchinger?A.They got wrong statistics. | B.They were applied in limited countries. |
C.They included too many factors. | D.They used an incorrect concept. |
A.The process of the new research. | B.The background of the new study. |
C.The challenge of the new research. | D.The achievements of the new study. |
A.When the rising global demand for wood is completely met. |
B.When the increasing forest harvests are widely restricted. |
C.When a high portion of wood is used for global construction. |
D.When wood is fully efficiently employed for lasting purpose. |
A.Favorable. | B.Doubtful. | C.Objective. | D.Critical. |
4 . Climbing, I once thought, was a very manly activity, but as I found my way into this activity, I came to see that something quite different happens on the rock.
Like wild swimming, rock climbing involves you into the landscape. On the rock, I am fully focused. Eyes pay close attention, ears are alert, and hands move across the surface. Unlike walking, where I could happily wander about absent-mindedly, in climbing, attentive observation is essential.
As an arts student studying English literature, I discovered a new type of reading from outdoor climbing. Going out on to the crags (悬崖), I saw how you could learn to read the rocks and develop a vocabulary of physical movements. Good climbers knew how to adjust their bodies on to the stone. Watching them, I wanted to possess that skillful “language”.
My progress happened when I worked for the Caingorms National Park Authority. Guiding my explorations into this strange new landscape was Nan Shepherd, a lady too. Unlike the goal-directed mindset of many mountaineers, she is not concerned with peaks or personal achievement. Shepherd sees the mountain as a total environment and she celebrates the Caingorms as a place alive with plants, rocks, animals and elements. Through her generous spirit and my own curiosity, I saw that rock climbing need not be a process of testing oneself against anything. Rather, the intensity of focus could develop a person into another way of being.
Spending so much time in high and stony places has transformed my view on the world and our place in it. I have come into physical contact with processes that go way beyond the everyday. Working with gravity, geology (地质学), rhythms of weather and deep time, I gain an actual relationship with the earth. This bond lies at the heart of my passion for rock climbing. I return to the rocks, because this is where I feel in contact with our land.
1. Why does the author like rock climbing?A.It challenges her to compete with men. | B.It allows her a unique attitude toward rock. |
C.It teaches her how to possess a new language. | D.It makes her feel connected wth the earth. |
A.Balance. | B.Concentration. |
C.Determination. | D.Perseverance |
A.Climbing goes together with nature. | B.Every mountain top is within reach. |
C.The best climber is the one having fun. | D.You can not achieve high unless you change. |
A.Time. | B.Transformation. | C.The world. | D.My view. |
5 . Watching movies is great for improving your English. And if you choose films that you enjoy watching, you’ll learn English without even realising it! Here are four movies that are perfect for English learners.
Charlotte’s Web (2006)Story: The power of friendship between a pig(Wilbur)and a spider(Charlotte).
The live-action film, a fine adaptation of E. B. White’s book, will entertain the young audience with cute talking animals and easy-to-follow language. Adults will also be charmed by heartwarming good time and learn to look at the world with curiosity and joy.
Toy Story(1995)Story: A cartoon film about toys that come to life when children and adults aren’t around.
The storylines are clear and the characters use simple but useful language. Though it’s mainly for kids, Toy Story doesn’t feel childish. The story and jokes also attracted adults, so parents would be more likely to take their children to see the film.
Charlie & the Chocolate Factory (1971)Story: Things go wrong when a group of kids get a free tour of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory.
This film is also great for English learners as it is generally easy to follow. And you’ll hear some extracts(选段) from English literature because Willy often quotes well-known writers such as Oscar Wilde and Shakespeare.
The Sound of Music(1965)Story: A young woman (Maria) becomes the nanny for seven children in a house in the Austrian Alps.
The Sound of Music is a musical and listening to music is one of the best ways to improve your English. Many of the film’s songs have become classics because they’re so catchy.
1. Which movie attracts cartoon lovers most?A.Charlotte’s Web(2006). | B.Toy Story(1995). |
C.Charlie & the Chocolate Factory(1971). | D.The Sound of Music(1965). |
A.They are preferred by housewives. | B.They are musicals. |
C.They are based on classic works. | D.They have children characters. |
A.A music blog. | B.A language magazine. |
C.A movie poster. | D.A toy advertisement. |
6 . Andy Kong has worked very hard to get to where he is today. He credits becoming a millionaire by 20 to his strict Asian parents who tutored him at a young age by working for the family.
Kong, of Danville, Virginia, started working when he was only nine. English wasn’t a strong suit for Andy’s parents, and that’s where he was able to assist his family the most. After school and on weekends he would help out at their family-owned restaurant and nail salons. Not only did he do the labor work, but he was also involved in creating online ads. This was his introduction to the world of online business.
Andy started his Amazon business in the eighth grade. When he learned about Amazon Dropshipping (代发货模式) from a kid he saw on Instagram, he got inspired and decided to give it a try. Unfortunately, the store eventually got shut down because he was impatient with the growth. Instead of considering it a failure, he viewed this experience as a life lesson and learned from his mistakes. Meanwhile, his parents never stopped trying to talk him into focusing on school and their retail business.
“The biggest challenge when starting a business is getting someone to believe in you,” Andy says. He pushed through and did things for himself even when his loved ones discouraged it.
In 2019, Andy met his now business partners, and together, they created an Amazon management company called Project WiFi. This Project has proven to be extremely successful. They currently help over 55 clients run their online businesses, and plan to help many more in the future.
When asked about the secret to his success, Andy says, “Learning to sacrifice whether that’s family, friends, or soccer game for a single goal is the only way to succeed, rather than attempting multiple things. If it’s worth doing then it’s worth doing well with no shortcuts.”
1. Why did Andy work in his parents’ shops at a young age?A.Because he could earn some pocket money. |
B.Because his parents weren’t fluent in English. |
C.Because his parents could help with his study. |
D.Because he could get access to the Internet. |
A.A new online business model. | B.Results of working impatiently. |
C.Difficulties in Andy’s career. | D.Andy’s tense family relationship. |
A.His early working experiences. | B.Lessons learned from his failures. |
C.Gaining other people’s trust. | D.Focusing on the thing you choose. |
A.Committed and generous. | B.Open-minded and motivated. |
C.Creative and faithful. | D.Hard-working and sociable. |
7 . This page provides information and guidance about hands-only CPR and CPR with rescue breaths for children over one year old.
Hands-only CPR
To carry out a chest compression (压缩):
Place the heel of your hand on the breastbone at the centre of the person’s chest.
Place your other hand on top of your first hand and interlock your fingers.
Position yourself with your shoulders above your hands.
Using your body weight (not just your arms), press straight down by 5-6cm (2-2.5 inches) on their chest.
Keeping your hands on their chest, release the compression and allow the chest to return to its original position.
Repeat these compressions at a rate of 100 to 120 times per minute until an ambulance arrives or you become exhausted.
CPR with rescue breaths
For children over one year old:
Open the child’s airway by placing one hand on the child’s forehead and gently tilting their head back and lifting the chin. Remove any visible obstructions from the mouth and nose.
Pinch their nose. Seal your mouth over their mouth and blow steadily and firmly into their mouth, checking that their chest rises. Give five initial rescue breaths.
Place the heel of one hand on the center of their chest and push down by 5cm(about two inches), which is approximately one-third of the chest diameter. The quality (depth)of chest compressions is very important. Use two hands if you can’t achieve a depth of 5cmusing one hand.
After every 30 chest compressions at a rate of 100 to 120 per minute, give two breaths.
Continue with cycles of 30 chest compressions and two rescue breaths until they begin to recover or emergency help arrives.
1. What’s the first step of CPR with rescue breaths for children?A.To blow into their mouth. | B.To do 30 chest compressions. |
C.To clear something blocking the airway. | D.To push hands down on the chest by 5cm. |
A.To apply chest compressions properly. |
B.To call an ambulance for treatment. |
C.To put oneself in a particular position. |
D.To blow steadily and firmly into the mouth. |
A.A business report. | B.A fashion magazine. |
C.An emergency brochure. | D.A travel journal. |
8 . When Shakespeare called a good night’s rest the “cure of hurt minds,” he was really onto something. According to a recent survey, “Most days or every day” in 2020, nearly 15 percent of American adults had trouble falling asleep in the previous month. So you’re a little sleepy — no big deal, right? Wrong. A 1999 article in the medical journal The Lancet showed and decades of research suggest that “sleep debt” can have significant harmful effects on your health.
Happiness is the first to suffer. Everyone knows what it feels like to run on insufficient (不足的) sleep — you can be foggy, inattentive, and bad-tempered. A paper published in the journal Health Psychology in 2020 found that the participants without enough sleep experienced a less positive mood when they came across quite ordinary stress, and smaller increases in positive mood from pleasant events. When lacking sleep, people felt annoyed more and easier, and things feel less fun.
More seriously, sleep loss can cause clinical depression and anxiety. In 2014, Australian scholars studying young women found that a year of frequent sleep difficulties predicted the onset of depression and anxiety in later years.
Some researchers have identified long-time sleep debt as a disease — insufficient sleep syndrome (ISS). Given the reported evidence for how widespread the syndrome is, it might even be classed as an epidemic. Although no study has yet established a connection, it seems reasonable to think about whether the long-term declines in American happiness and increases in social conflicts may be connected to loss of sleep.
Whether you are a sleep-deprived student, or workaholic, or just an old-fashioned insomniac (失眠症患者), attending to sleep is a critical strategy for health and happiness. And adjusting this aspect of your life could be one of the best things you do all year.
1. Why does the author mention Shakespeare?A.To show Shakespeare’s wisdom. |
B.To introduce the topic of sleep loss. |
C.To highlight a serious health problem. |
D.To give reported evidence of sleep debt. |
A.It made people feel negative. | B.It led to poor eyesight. |
C.It caused depression and anxiety. | D.It was not worth much concern. |
A.Reduction of happiness is linked to sleep loss. |
B.Long-term lack of sleep is not a disease. |
C.Sleep debt might affect both individuals and the society. |
D.Insufficient sleep syndrome is a recognized epidemic. |
A.To confirm sleep loss is a disease. |
B.To advocate getting sufficient sleep. |
C.To tackle widespread sleep problem. |
D.To prove happiness suffers from sleep debt. |
9 . What goes on in our brains when we decide to hit the share button, and what makes something go viral? Since the dawn of the Internet, businesses, media outlets and influencers alike have been trying to answer these questions. Now, researchers have come one step closer to cracking this mysterious model by shining a light on the neuroscience (神经科学) of viral content.
“Our study finds a way to obtain brain signals that would predict how much information gets shared.” said Emily Falk, professor of communication, psychology and marketing and Hang-Yee Chan, a lecturer of communication.
Their new study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on October 23, investigated both the U. S. and the Netherlands using a broader range of news categories—including health and climate change.
“When we see greater activation of regions that track self-relevance (Is it important to me) and social-relevance (Is it important to people I know), the news articles are more likely to be shared widely,” Falk and Chan said. By studying these brain responses, the team managed to build a value-based model to accurately predict how widely the articles would be shared online. This link between brain activity and sharing was seen in both the American and Dutch participants, suggesting that this model is accurate across cultures.
“Seeing how people’s brains react inside the scanner gives us insight into why people ultimately share information nowadays,” Chan said. “If we understand these signals, we might be able to use that knowledge to help important news get shared and stop misinformation from going viral.” It is also helpful for content creators to maximize their reach. “Our current study demonstrates how tapping into the brain would help content creators optimize their messages’ influence,” Falk and Chan said. “We are interested in building on these results to develop ways to counter harmful information and false news, in addition to spreading high-quality content.” “A lot of our most pressing problems in society are influenced by the decisions people make, and the decisions we make are influenced by the news. What you share matters, and so understanding why you share it matters, too.”
1. What do researchers intend to do in their study?A.To find a way to get brain signals. |
B.To work out a mysterious model. |
C.To use a broad range of news categories. |
D.To predict how much information get shared. |
A.The basis and process of the study. |
B.The way to predict brain activation. |
C.The pattern of a value-based model. |
D.The reason why certain news is shared. |
A.To solve most urgent problems. |
B.To understand why viral news matter. |
C.To influence the decisions people will make. |
D.To better the efficiency of positive publicity. |
A.How to Share a Viral News |
B.How to Obtain Brain Signals |
C.How Certain Studies Get Shared |
D.How Brain Identifies Viral Content |
10 . I’ve always been creative since I was a little girl. Every day was an exciting adventure of
At 21, upon graduation, I
As I dreamt bigger, later I
The last few years witnessed my success in what I love. Today I am living a creative life as the
A.learning | B.creation | C.imagination | D.amusement |
A.Besides | B.Therefore | C.However | D.Otherwise |
A.landed | B.desired | C.shifted | D.handled |
A.boring | B.interesting | C.rewarding | D.challenging |
A.survey | B.change | C.commitment | D.preparation |
A.taught | B.passed | C.attended | D.designed |
A.maintained | B.increased | C.awakened | D.protected |
A.benefited from | B.tried out for | C.came up with | D.signed up for |
A.passion | B.recognition | C.curiosity | D.innovation |
A.arts | B.crafts | C.fashion | D.adventure |
A.promotion | B.vacation | C.business | D.motivation |
A.Initially | B.Instantly | C.Gradually | D.Eventually |
A.job | B.dream | C.interest | D.decision |
A.teacher | B.designer | C.inventor | D.musician |
A.inspired | B.blessed | C.relieved | D.impressed |