1 . Learning a second language is tricky at any age. Now, in a new study, scientists have worked out the exact age at which your chances of reaching fluency in a second language seem to drop: 10.
The study, published in the journal Cognition, found that it's nearly impossible for language learners to reach native-level fluency if they start learning a second tongue after age 10. But that's not because language skills start to go downhill. "It turns out you're still learning fast, "says study co-author Joshua Hartshorne, an assistant professor of psychology at Boston College. "It's just that you run out of time, because your ability to learn starts dropping at around 17 or 18 years old. People who start a few years after age 10 may still become quite good at a language," the authors say, "but they are unlikely to become fluent." Kids may be better than adults at learning new languages for many reasons. Children's brains are more plastic than those of adults, meaning they're better able to adapt and respond to new information. "All learning involves the brain changing," Hartshorne says, "and children's brains seem to be a lot more skillful at changing. " Kids may also be more willing to try new things and to potentially look foolish in the process than adults are. Their comparatively new grasp on their native tongue may also be advantageous. Unlike adults, who tend to obey the rules and patterns of their first language, kids may be able to approach a new one with a blank page.
These findings might seem discouraging, but it was heartening for scientists to learn that the critical(关键的) period for fluent language acquisition might be longer than previously thought. Some scientists believed that the window began to close shortly after birth, while others extended it to early adolescence. Compared with those estimates (评估), age 17 or 18 — when language-learning ability starts to drop off—may seem relatively old.
1. What is the best period to learn a second language?| A．Before ten. | B．Early adolescence. | C．Age fifteen. | D．Age seventeen or eighteen. |
| A．They're less skillful. | B．They're less interested. |
| C．They're more flexible. | D．They're more stubborn. |
| A．Interest. | B．Chance. | C．Confidence. | D．Motivation. |
| A．It's Never Too late to Learn a Second Language. |
| B．It Takes Time to Be Good at a Second Language. |
| C．Do We Really Need to Learn Foreign Languages? |
| D．Why Kids Learn Languages More Easily than Adults. |
2 . Abandoned around 900 years ago soon after its decoration started, Ta Keo (塔高寺) has been revived by Chinese and Cambodian experts.
The Angkor (吴哥窟) complex spreads over an area of 400 square kilometers. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1992. However, due to heavy rains, stealing and lack of protection for centuries, most temples of Angkor were seriously damaged.
In order to better protect and conserve these pearls of human civilization, China joined ICC-Angkor, an international campaign launched by Cambodia and UNESCO in 1993. From Chausay Tevada to Ta Keo, the Chinese team has earned trust and established a good reputation.
“Its unfinished status shows the construction procedures of temples in Angkor. This gives Ta Keo irreplaceable value in the study of Angkor’s architecture,” said Jin Zhaoyu, an engineer from the CACH (中国文化遗产研究院).
Such uniqueness, however, presented greater challenges. Compared with Chausay Tevada, it covers a larger area and has more risks including unsteady stone structures, a poor drainage system and fallen key parts.
“Because the construction is unfinished, many fallen parts are not carved, leaving little information of its relations with other parts,” said Jin.
Jin showed archives of those fallen parts, each with its ID file, picture and dimensions. He said, “Every stone is unique. If one stone is in the wrong position, the gap will grow wider as you restore it and an accurate restoration will be impossible.”
To better understand the temple’s structure and precisely restore it, the team applied the most advanced technologies, including 3D laser scanning and mapping, structural research and drone recording, to build a complete digital model of Ta Keo.
Jin demonstrated the 3D model system, with which they restored the temple hundreds of times. “I can measure the dimensions of every stone and every gap in computer, and search the right stone that can fit in the gap,” Jin said.
This is much easier said than done. Dozens of Chinese experts from various fields worked together with Cambodian colleagues to overcome a string of obstacles. It took them eight years to restore Ta Keo.
1. What can we learn about the Angkor complex from the text?| A．It has the largest size of its kind worldwide |
| B．Its significance has been ignored for a long time |
| C．It is in poor condition due to a variety of reasons |
| D．It was abandoned because of its poor decoration |
| A．It covers a very large area. | B．It has a history of over 900 years. |
| C．It tells how the temple was built. | D．It was on the World Heritage List. |
| A．Knowing little about its structure. | B．Building the 3D model system. |
| C．Serious damage it had suffered. | D．Cooperation with Cambodian colleagues. |
| A．Hi-tech Applied to Restore Ta Keo |
| B．Protecting Pearls of Human Civilization |
| C．International Cooperation and Restoration |
| D．China’s Role in Restoring Cambodian Heritage |
3 . Dreaming of summer picnics filled with family and fun? We’ve come up with 4 of the top picnic areas across the US.
Cumberland Islands, Georgia
A few hours south of Savannah, this national seashore is a picnic paradise. It’s an unspoiled place in the Deep South with over 50 miles of hiking trail. Covered in Spanish moss (苔藓), the trails are lined with trees and since it’s still a rural area, the stars line up for a spectacular show at night and creates the perfect evening starlit picnic opportunity.
Giant Park, Chicago
If you are looking for delicious food in Chicago, go for a taste of a 20-day, lake-front, foodie festival that happens in October each year. Grab a spot near the fountain to enjoy your picnic, appreciate the city scenery and lake views and relax with family and friends. If you are there on July 4th, be sure to plan the day to include the fireworks display at the Navy Pier.
Cranberry Islands, Maine
Here, you’ll enjoy natural picnics with island views. The islands are a delightful group of islands about 20 minutes offshore from Acadia National Park. You can visit the islands by private boat or ferry service. Bring a picnic basket along for the ride as it’s a romantic picnic area to take your special someone or go for a family outing to visit the islands.
Big Sur, California
The Point Lobos State Reserve is a small gem. Besides the coastal wildlife there are rare plant communities, and unique geological (地质的) formations. It’s good to have a picnic there. We recommend bringing a telescope, because much of the wildlife can be seen only at a distance.
1. What do we know about Cumberland Islands?| A．They are just next to Savannah. |
| B．They haven’t lost their naturalness. |
| C．They are almost covered in Spanish moss. |
| D．They have an impressive show every night. |
| A．There is a great trail to hike along. |
| B．They have unique geological formations. |
| C．You can find a quiet place to enjoy fireworks. |
| D．You can enjoy a romantic atmosphere there. |
| A．At the Navy Pier. | B．In the Deep South. |
| C．At the Point Lobos State Reserve. | D．At Acadia National Park. |
4 . As we grow old, we realize that we have so little time to read and there are so many great books that we’ve yet to get around to. Yet rereaders are everywhere around us. For certain fans, re-reading The Lord of the Rings is a traditional practice annually. One friend told me that Jane Austen’s Emma can still surprise him, despite his having read it over 50 times.
New sudden clear understandings can be gained from the process of re-reading. Journalist Rebecca Mead, a long-time English woman in New York, first came across George Eliot’s Middlemarch at 17. Since then, she has read it again every five years. With each rereading, it has opened up further; in each chapter of her life, it has resonated (引起共鸣) differently. Mead evidenced the large number of ways in which really good books not only stand the test of repeated reading, but also offer fresh gifts each time we crack their spines. These kinds of books grow with us.
Scientists have also recognized the mental health benefits of re-reading. Research conducted with readers in the US found that on our first reading, we are concerned with the “what” and the “why”. Second time round, we’re able to better appreciate the emotions that the plot continues to express. As researcher Cristel Russell of the American University explained, returning to a book “brings new or renewed appreciation of both the great book and its readers.”
It’s true that we often find former selves on the pages of old books (if we’re fond of making notes on the pages). These texts can carry us back to a time and place, and remind us of the kind of person that we were then. We’re changed not only by living experience but also by reading experience. More than the movie director, the writer calls upon our imaginations, using words to lead us to experience mixed feelings in literature.
Re-reading a book takes up more time, but as Mead confirms, the rewards make it extremely worthwhile.
1. The two books are mentioned in Paragraph 1 mainly to________.| A．attract the attention of readers | B．introduce the topic of the passage |
| C．provide some background information | D．show the similarity between rereaders |
| A．recite them | B．reread them | C．recall them | D．retell them |
| A．reading benefits people both physically and mentally |
| B．readers mainly focus on feelings on their first reading |
| C．we know ourselves better through rereading experience |
| D．writers inspire the same imaginations as film directors do |
| A．call on different understandings of old books |
| B．focus on the mental health benefits of reading |
| C．bring awareness to the significance of rereading |
| D．introduce the effective ways of rereading old books |
5 . Twenty years ago, I became involved in pet therapy (治疗) work. As digging deeper into the job, I had an urge to be a recorder of their daily work to let more and more people know their efforts and contributions. After all, they could not say our languages. It was when I got familiar with the work that I got my golden retriever puppy (金毛寻回犬), whom I named Angel. As she matured and went through obedience training, I realized that she would be a good partner.
Angel is ten now and still works every week. As a rule, she visits two hospitals, a day care for the elderly, and our library’s PAWS for Reading program. Angel has also helped out at a children’s special-needs camp. She is so popular that everywhere we go people recognize her, especially the kids she has worked with.
We have seen some very special things through our pet therapy work. I brought Angel to our local hospital to visit a woman who was completely paralyzed (瘫痪的) on her right side from a stroke. One day, my husband, Jack asked her if she wanted to give Angel a treat. She nodded and gently took the treat, raised her right hand and started petting Angel. Her friend was in the room and said, “She hasn’t been able to move that hand since she had her stroke!”
Somehow it seems appropriate that when Angel visits the hospital, she also performs tricks for the patients with her paws. The best one is when she crouches on the floor and crosses her paws. She stays still and doesn’t move until Jack says “Best wishes”. It’s the best wishes for all the people Angel meets as well as for her.
1. Why does the author want to be a recorder?| A．Pets cannot record themselves. | B．Pets should be highly praised. |
| C．Pets’ labor should be made aware of. | D．Pets daily work is important. |
| A．Busy but rewarding. | B．Interesting but tiring. |
| C．Funny and amusing. | D．Important and demanding. |
| A．She cured her disease. | B．She visited her at times. |
| C．She gave her best wishes. | D．She played tricks on her. |
| A．A loyal dog. | B．Selfless love. |
| C．A silent angel. | D．Great devotion. |
6 . A quarrel at home may result in you falling ill. Don't laugh, it's true. Family matters including living habits and even the way we speak have a big effect on our health, doctors say.
Wang Xiaoyu, a Senior 2 girl from Xichang, Sichuan Province, fainted (晕倒) in class when she heard her classmates quarrel at the top of their voices. Quarrels between her parents also put the girl into a coma. It is because she is suffering from depression , caused by bad relations at home, doctors explained."We don't get sick or stay well by ourselves," says Dr Robert Ferrer from the US. Ferrer shows that family forces may explain up to a quarter of health problems, in his recent research.
The genes you get from your family may cause illness. If one of your parents has a heart attack, your risk of being affected (影响) may double. But effects on health are not only written in our DNA.
Unrelated people who live under the same roof also get similar problems. Diet, lifestyle and environment affect our health, too.
Ferrer's research also found that if teenagers feel they are ignored (忽视) or unimportant at home they are more likely to get sick.
We may never fully understand all the effects that families have on our health. But just as individual problems can have effects on others, a small improvement can have big benefits , Ferrer said.
1. Which of the following can best explain why Wang Xiaoyu fainted in class?| A．Because her classmates often quarreled in class. |
| B．Because her parents used to quarrel. |
| C．Because of her depression caused by bad family relations. |
| D．Because her classmates shouted loudly at her. |
| A．We get sick or stay well by ourselves. |
| B．Only the genes we get from our family have a big effect on our health. |
| C．Our health has nothing to do with diet, life style and environment. |
| D．Teenagers who are ignored at home get sick more easily than those who are not. |
| A．embarrassment | B．faint | C．tiredness | D．sadness |
| A．Family relations. | B．The reasons why we get sick. |
| C．Happy family makes you healthy. | D．A research about teenagers' health. |
7 . Cruise(巡航)lines worldwide suspended sailings March 13 because of the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Now companies such as Carnival and Disney are pushing out their return dates and canceling more trips, meaning passengers can receive full refunds for the price of their trips.
Those who want to take their chances and postpone — even though there’s no firm date when this pandemic will end — can choose to receive a credit for a future cruise. Just remember: If you choose a credit, you have given up your refund. Cruise companies want you to stick with them, and are offering extra perks(津贴) and credits to keep you on board.
Carnival Cruises
On Wednesday, Carnival Cruises announced it would suspend Alaska sailings through June 30 and scrap all San Francisco cruises for the rest of the year. Typical five-day cruises along the California coast called at Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico, before returning to the Bay Area.
The company also canceled cruises aboard Carnival Radiance (an upgrade of the Carnival Victory) through Nov. 1, and Carnival Legend, through Oct. 30. Carnival Legend typically sails from Seattle to Alaska in summer months.
Passengers whose trips have been canceled may opt for a refund or a future cruise credit.
Disney Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line on Monday extended its suspension for sailings departing in April. Passengers who had tickets on any of its four ships through April 28 may receive a refund or a cruise credit for a trip within 15 months of their original departure date, according to the company’s website.
Disney also warned passengers about sailings aboard the Disney Wonder that are scheduled to resume April 29. The itinerary(行程) calls for a stop in Vancouver, Canada, but Canada has closed its ports at least through July 1.
1. What can the passengers select if they want to cruise later?| A．Refunds | B．Credits | C．Perks | D．Chances. |
| A．Carnival Legend typically sails from Seattle to Alaska in winter months. |
| B．Passengers whose trips have been canceled only choose a future cruise credit. |
| C．Carnival Radiance is canceled through Oct.30. |
| D．San Francisco cruises will be canceled for the rest of the year. |
| A．You will receive refunds before April 28. |
| B．Your trip will be delayed till June. |
| C．You will receive a cruise credit for a trip. |
| D．You will receive refunds on April 29. |
8 . Olympic host cities are generally considered to be equipped with advanced technology and expensive facilities. Now, people can just go there for a little Olympic-level entertainment.
Athens, Greece (1896 and 2004)
Home to the first modern Olympic games in 1896, Athens' history of the Olympic tradition dates back several thousand years. Every four years, the Olympic torch is lit at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens before beginning its long journey to the new host city. Visitors can walk through the Olympic Velodrome in the Olympic Sports Complex and step back in time at the 50,000-seat stadium.
Barcelona, Spain(1992)
These days Barcelona is among the world's most visitable cities even without Olympic fame, but that isn't always the case. The telecommunications tower built for the games by Spanish architect Calatrava is also an iconic(图像的） device of the city's skyline, and its Olympics stadium- Montjuic Stadium is regularly used to host A-list musical performances like The Rolling Stones, Madonna, and Beyonce.
St Moritz, Switzerland(1924 and 1948)
Appropriately, the town that invented Alpine tourism has hosted the Winter Olympics twice, and continues to make use of its many sports facilities-if you can afford to get there. Stay at the Kulm Hotel for the easiest access to the Kulm Country Club, where guests can skate on the same lake used by mid-century Olympians, or test your courage on the Olympia Bob Run, one of the few places where you can ride a full-speed Olympic bobsled(双人雪橇） on a run constructed entirely of ice.
Sydney, Australia (2000)
The turn-of-the-century Sydney Summer Olympics were named the "Green Games" by the International Olympic Committee (10C) and were designed to introduce a more environmentally conscious way of hosting the event. The structure that best shows Sydney's efforts to be an example of continuing Olympic development is the ANZ Stadium.
1. Where does the host city get the Olympic torch lit?| A．At the Panathenaic Stadium. |
| B．At the Olympic Sports Complex. |
| C．At the Montjuic Stadium. |
| D．At the ANZ Stadium. |
| A．Those fond of ice-sports. |
| B．Those fond of listening to opera. |
| C．Those interested in popular music. |
| D．Those interested in Olympic history. |
| A．Their designers are from Spain. |
| B．They are thought poorly of by the IOC. |
| C．They are hosted in an environmentally friendly way. |
| D．Their design intention is proposed by Sydney authority. |
9 . Reducing plastic waste isn't easy because the cheap material is found in almost every household item. Now, a delicious and nutritious solution has come up to help reduce our dependence on this environmental hazard.
David Christian, the co-founder of Evoware, says the idea of creating the biodegradable (生物降解的) products came from concern at the country’s high pollution rate. Indonesia is home to four of the world's worst polluted rivers. Since single-use packaging is a large contributor to the problem, Evoware decided to deal with that first.
After investigating various materials, the company settled on seaweed. Unlike corn, commonly used for biodegradable containers, seaweed does not require resources like water or large amounts of space. Since Indonesian farmers already harvest more seaweed than they can sell, it's easy for the company to find the material.
Though they will not reveal their production process, Evoware says the seaweed packaging contains no chemicals and is safe to consume. The company has also invented single-use cups, which can break down 30 days after they're thrown away.
While replacing plastic with the seaweed products may seem appealing to most of us, it is a hard-sell in Indonesia. According to Christian, ''The awareness to reduce single-use plastic is still very low. This makes our bioplastic unnecessary.” Also a factor is the cost, which is higher than using plastic. Hopefully, Evoware will succeed in convincing Indonesians and people worldwide that switching to their products will be helpful to protecting our beautiful planet.
1. What problem did Evoware decide to deal with first?| A．Ways to clean the four worst polluted rivers. |
| B．What nutritious materials for people to use. |
| C．How to deal with single-use packaging. |
| D．Means to contribute to the country's economy. |
| A．It didn't require much space and was easy to get. |
| B．It could be found everywhere in his country. |
| C．It was most commonly used for packaging. |
| D．It grew thickly in most of the polluted rivers. |
| A．Their seaweed products have won government support. |
| B．Sometimes it's hard to get people to reduce the use of plastics. |
| C．Their new products have received worldwide popularity. |
| D．The cost of making seaweed products will be lowered soon. |
| A．Something lasting long. | B．Something hard to accept. |
| C．Something easy to get. | D．Something commonly seen. |
10 . Essay Competition
The aim of this contest is to encourage great student writers and to give them a leg-up in their studies.
Prizes
One Grand Prize winner will receive: $1,000 in cash; the essay published in our magazine’s May 2021 issue; an interview with our magazine’s author.
Ten First Place winners will receive: $500 in cash; their names and essay titles listed in our magazine’s May 2021 issue.
Fifty Honorable Mention Winners will receive:a$50 gift card to our online shop.
Requirements
＊The length of the essay should be between 500-700 words.
＊Write an essay on the topic of: How Food Affects Our Mood.
＊Please write about three reasons for believing in your thesis (论点) statement in the form of body paragraphs and back up your reasons with practical evidence from respected sources.
＊Do not write about yourself and don’t explain why you deserve to win the prizes.
Deadlines
Early-Bird Deadline: May 4,2020-Free for the entry.
Deadline: June 5,2020-$5 for the entry.
Extended Deadline: July 22,2020-$10 for the entry.
1. What will the First Place winners be rewarded with?| A．Getting their essays published in the magazine. |
| B．Having their essay titles listed in the magazine. |
| C．Receiving a gift card to the particular online shop. |
| D．Gaining an opportunity to meet the magazine’s author. |
| A．Writing an essay of more than 800 words. |
| B．Submitting an essay about food nutrition. |
| C．Expressing your strong desire to get the award. |
| D．Supporting your reasons with credible evidence. |
| A．April 30,2020. | B．May 20. 2020. | C．June 10. 2020. | D．July 25,2020. |
