1 . Chinese cuisine is widely known and enjoyed all around the world. Who doesn’t long for a favorite Chinese dish? But there is one interesting concept concerning Chinese food which is almost unheard of in the West, and which is becoming increasingly ignored by the youth of the East—the ancient custom of “tonic food”.
Tonic food is food which is consumed to improve one’s well-being or avoid sickness. For instance, it was once the custom for new mothers to eat a sesame oil(麻油) chicken soup every day for the first month after giving birth. It was believed that this dish would benefit the muscles, reduce pain, improve circulation, stimulate sweating, and warm the body. Some foods, such as goat meat and spinach, are seen as “hot”, while others, such as Chinese cabbage and radishes, are seen as “cold”. One should be careful not to eat too much of either “hot” or “cold” food. However, how much “hot” or “cold” food one should eat depends on the time of the year, how the food is prepared and what it is prepared with, and the individual’s health.
The custom of employing tonic food for a healthier life also influences the catering industry. Chinese herbal medicines, such as wolfberry(枸杞子), can be found on many a restaurant menu, either added to fruit tea or as a beneficial addition to a dish. These herbs attract customers, such as overworked office staff, in need of a modest pick-me-up.
So, whether you need to boost your strength with a large helping of chicken soup, or increase your mental powers with a serving of fish soup, you may find that this ancient Chinese custom could be just the tonic you were looking for.
1. What is the present situation of tonic food?A.It is catching less attention. | B.It is enjoyed by many young people. |
C.It is well-known worldwide. | D.It is becoming increasingly popular. |
A.Chinese cabbage. | B.Fruit tea. |
C.Sesame oil chicken soup. | D.Fish soup. |
A.Medicine. | B.Restaurant. | C.Manufacture. | D.Agriculture. |
A.The Charm of Chinese Cuisine | B.The Popularity of Tonic Food |
C.An Introduction of Chinese Tonic Food | D.Differences Between “Hot” Food and “Cold” Food |
The most important thing to keep in mind when going into high school is to be yourself. Besides, I don’t know what your middle school was like, but high school teachers will not care about things such as how much homework you already have for one night. It’s best to just learn to deal with things and manage your time wisely so you can achieve everything you need to do.
David, Aged 19
I’m not going to lie. The first day is kind of frightening. But you’ll get used to it. Don’t be afraid of anyone; Just take it easy. Making some friends and staying with them will greatly help you get used to high school quickly. After the first week it’s really not bad at all. Don’t worry.
Frank, Aged 21
I think almost every kid feels both anxious and excited before their first day. You will probably love it. I know I did. You should join in some sports or activities that will make your high school experience more enjoyable. Good luck!
Eddie, Aged 20
When I started high school I was really nervous and worried too, especially since I had been home schooled all through middle school and didn’t really know anyone. I suppose the best advice would be to just relax. The first couple of days can be a little bit hard, but things will become easier before you know it.
1. What can we infer from Sharon’s words about high school?A.Teachers are quite strict. |
B.Students often stay up at night. |
C.Teachers provide little care for students. |
D.Students should make good use of their time. |
A.David. | B.Frank. | C.Sharon. | D.Eddie. |
A.Excited. | B.Worried. | C.Bored. | D.Relaxed. |
3 . Look for the word “regenerative” at your local grocery store. Chances are that you’ll spot it on boxes of cheese, cartons of milks, or even bags of chips. Regenerative agriculture, also called carbon farming, has become the latest darling of everyone from food companies to universities. But what is regenerative agriculture?
In essence, regenerative agriculture is farming done in a way that helps build soil health, increase organic matter, store water more effectively, and draw carbon out of the atmosphere.
This isn’t exactly a new idea—farming with soil health in mind is a concept nearly as old as agriculture itself. It wasn’t until the 1980s, however, that the Rodale Institute began using the term, and it’s only recently become a buzzword. It’s a farming philosophy focused on healing.
“It’s soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness,” says Birgit Cameron, head of Patagonia Provisions. “It goes together with organic. You can call it regenerative or not, but you can’t have a truly regenerative system if organic isn’t attached to it.”
Patagonia Provisions partners with farmers and producers interested in regenerative agriculture that are already practicing organic farming, and the company has strong animal welfare and social fairness philosophies. While regenerative agriculture is something that many small farmers have long specialized in, that doesn’t necessarily make the practice an easy one.
It’s hard to compare the regenerative agriculture products you find at the supermarket because (for the time being) General Mills’ definition will be different from Patagonia’s, whose definition might be different from your local CSA farmer’s.
“If at all possible, see the farm and purchase from them directly,” said Pettinelli. “If you can’t visit, explore their website and ask questions about their practices. It’s challenging to see past the marketing.” You can explore more about the Regenerative Organic Alliance label on their website and shop for certified products there.
1. The author make an assumption at the beginning mainly to show ______.A.the concept of regenerative agriculture |
B.the function of regenerative agriculture |
C.the application of regenerative agriculture |
D.the popularity of regenerative agriculture |
A.It’s a brand-new idea. |
B.It is convenient to practice. |
C.It is environmentally friendly. |
D.It became a buzzword in the 1980s. |
A.unrelated | B.closely linked |
C.opposite | D.cause and effect |
A.Farm direct selling. | B.Street markets. |
C.Grocery stores. | D.Supermarkets. |
4 . A study by a team of Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) psychologists has found a link between extraverts (外向的人) and their word choices. The finding highlights the need for stronger linguistic indicators to be developed for use in online personality prediction tools, which are being rapidly adopted by companies to improve digital marketing strategies.
Today, marketing companies use predictive algorithms (算法) to help them forecast what consumers want based on their online behaviors. For example, an extravert consumer might be attracted to marketing messages that match their personality, and retail brands could then choose to target such consumers by using more extraverted and creative language to advertise their products. However, personality prediction tools available today that are used by marketing firms are not entirely accurate due to a lack of theoretically sound designs. This may lead to a weakness affecting the performance of the machine learning algorithms. This begs the question—how should we create robust and accurate personality predictions?
The study found a correlation between extraverts and their tendency to use certain categories of words. The results showed a small strength of relationship between extraversion and the use of “positive emotion words” and “social process words.”
Positive emotion words are defined as words that describe a pleasant emotional state, such as “love”, ”happy”, or “blessed”, or that indicate positivity or optimism, such as “beautiful” or “nice”. Social process words include words containing personal pronouns except “I”, and words showing social intentions, such as “meet”, “share” and “talk”.
Moving forward, the NTU research team will investigate the relationship between extraversion and other word categories. They hope their work will provide clarity on the types of words that can help guide the development of more accurate machine learning tools for personality prediction.
1. We learn from the passage the findings of the study can be used to help ______.A.observe consumers’ behavior |
B.forecast the need of companies |
C.create practical personality predictions |
D.find correlation between extraverts and ads |
A.Renewable. | B.Forceful. | C.Doubtful. | D.Variable. |
A.Dispute. | B.Interaction. | C.Disaster. | D.Loneliness. |
A.The direction of future research. |
B.The theoretical basis of the study. |
C.The strength of business strategies. |
D.The development of machine learning tools. |
5 . Last year, I found myself in a situation: at a friend’s drinks, speaking to a total stranger. Not long into our conversation, my brain started searching for escape routes. I’m comfortable admitting that, before COVID-19, I didn’t think “meeting new people” was on my list of preferred pastimes. Maintaining relationships takes time, so why open myself up to someone new if there’s no obvious connection?
Then the pandemic hit. Like many people, I was restricted to a year of limited socializing with a very small circle of friends. I’ve met a handful of new colleagues over Zoom in the last 12 months—but I can’t remember one meaningful in-person connection with someone new.
To my surprise, I now have a strong desire for meeting new people. I’d love to connect with a friend-of-a-friend at the pub or a new colleague over a slightly-too-warm white wine after work. I miss having unexpected things in common with people, but also hearing new perspectives on issues outside my own experiences.
The sense of connection with a new person can be thrilling. A 2018 study explored what happened to the brains of young adults when they met new people, and found that even 10 minutes of social interaction with a new person boosts cognitive performance. Other studies have linked new social interaction to better social and emotional wellbeing and improved life satisfaction.
I may not have had a “lockdown glow up” in the aesthetic (美感) sense, but I have learned about myself. Before the pandemic, I hadn’t realized that new people were a vital part of my social ecosystem. As the end of lockdown approaches. I’m prepared to find the courage to show strangers a less guarded version of myself.
1. What can we learn about the author before the pandemic?A.He loved being alone. |
B.He was outgoing and sociable. |
C.He enjoyed making new friends. |
D.He had no desire to meet new people. |
A.link new social interaction to better life |
B.show the benefits of meeting new people |
C.imply the anxiety caused by meeting new people |
D.explain how the pandemic affects human brains |
A.It pays to open yourself up to old friends. |
B.It’s vital to guard yourself against strangers. |
C.Meeting new people may bring excitement to life. |
D.Zoom help people build close connections with strangers. |
A.The author didn’t think well of the lockdown. |
B.Lockdown enhanced the author’s aesthetic ability. |
C.The author’s aesthetic ability needed to be improved. |
D.The pandemic helped the author better understand himself. |
6 . If you’re prone to browse through Twitter, or can’t take yet another stressful headline in the news, Oprah Winfrey has some suggestions on what books to read next.
Song of SolomonBy Toni Morrison
American author Toni Morrison was one of Winfrey’s longtime friends. Winfrey described Morison as “a magician with language who understood the power of words” after her death in August 2019. The 1977 novel Song of Solomon tells the story of a fictional man from Michigan named Milkman Dead.
Between the World and MeBy Ta-Nehisi Coates
Winfrey called Ta-Nehisi Coates “a bearer of the torch, who carries on the legacy of our ancestors and is also entirely so original.” This nonfiction book, Between the World and Me, which won the National Book Award in 2015, is formatted as a letter to Coates’ son and grapples with inequality and race in America.
The Soul of AmericaBy Jon Meacham
Winfrey recommends this United States history book, written by Pultizer Prize-winner Jon Meacham, “to guide me and help me understand our current era and reassure that our country can bounce back from dark times.”
This book is especially prescient in light of the upcoming election. “In moments when public life feels unsatisfactory, then, it’s instructive—even necessary—to remember first principles,” writes Meacham.
The Power of NowBy Eckhart Tolle
Winfrey said that The Power of Now by spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle “has changed the way I see life.” The book explores quandaries like: “How do you find peace when everything is in chaos?” Winfrey said.
1. In the eyes of Winfrey, Toni Morrison ______.A.had excellent command of words |
B.was an expert in American History |
C.was spiritual mentor of modern people |
D.inherit and develop the traditional literature |
A.Song of Solomon | B.The Power of Now |
C.The Soul of America | D.Between the World and Me |
A.evaluate and improve oneself |
B.learn to survive in troubled times |
C.show oneself and gain confidence |
D.face the reality and push the limits |
7 . Online courses offer people abundant opportunities to learn. Try some of the Harvard online courses about humanities.
The Path to Happiness
From Confucianism to Daoism, the philosophies developed over two thousand years ago are among the most powerful in human history. This course brings voices from the past into modern contexts to explore the path to a good life today.
Duration: June 16, 2021—June 14, 2022
Fees: Free of charge
Pace: Self-paced
Difficulty: Introductory
Introduction to the Ancient Greek World
This course is about ancient Greece with its unique places, ways of life and historical changes. We survey the most important social institutions and cultural traditions. We also study everyday features such as food and dress.
Duration: June 21—August 6, 2021
Fees: $3400
Pace: Instructor-led
Difficulty: Introductory
Biotechnology and the Human Good
Biotechnology offers exciting and promising prospects for healing the sick and relieving the suffering. In this course we consider possible functions beyond common treatments like making people look younger, perform better and become perfect.
Duration: June 21—August 6, 2021
Fees: $ 3400
Pace: Instructor-led
Difficulty: Intermediate
Superheroes and Power
What makes superheroes popular? How can they help us think about super powers? In this course, we explore those questions in Marvel and DC favorites (especially the X-Men) as well as independent comics novels.
Duration: June 22 —August 6, 2021
Fees: $ 3400
Pace: Instructor-led
Difficulty: Intermediate
1. Which course can you take if you are free in Oct. 2021?A.The Path to Happiness | B.Introduction to the Ancient Greek World |
C.Biotechnology and the Human Good | D.Superheroes and Power |
A.Powers of superheroes. | B.More uses of biotech. |
C.Ways to increase happiness. | D.Clinical practices of biotech. |
A.They are of the same level. | B.They are free of charge. |
C.They belong to the same subject. | D.They are instructor-led. |
Whether you are a beginner or already a regular runner, these apps will come in handy for planning routes that avoid busy places on your next run
Strava
Just put in whether you’re running or cycling, how far you’d like to go and whether you’re keen to avoid hills, the app will then suggest a number of routes near you, based on where other runners have been. It is a good way to see running routes you might not have explored.
Komoot
As you plan the route, it’ll work out the distance of your run and give you the option to input your running speed, allowing the app to work out how long the route shall take you.
Map my run
Map my run gives runners the option to plan their own route, or the ability to search through popular running routes near you, which is even more helpful for beginners. The app gives you the option of saving your favourite routes and accessing them on the app if you get lost mid-run.
OS Maps
Another hugely popular map-building platform, OS Maps is pretty high tech when it comes to planning a running route. You’ll need a subscription to get some of the features, but using the free app you can find local running routes. There are almost two million routes stored in the routes database, and many of them are free.
1. What is special about Strava?A.It can be used to play music. | B.It is pretty high technology. |
C.It can plan cycling routes. | D.It works out the running distance. |
A.Map my run | B.Komoot |
C.Strava | D.OS maps |
A.To teach running skills to users. |
B.To share running experience online |
C.To introduce four apps about running. |
D.To show the increasing popularity of running. |
9 . The recent few weeks have been the perfect time for a good book and here are some good ones that allow readers to get completely lost in another world.
Watch Me Disappear
If you like mysteries with the family drama, Janelle Brown’s bestselling thriller is for you. The story follows a wealthy wife and mom who goes on a hike and never returns. Her lonely husband and teenage daughter, Olive(who’s dealing with her own problems), are confused with sorrow while trying to find out what happens.
The Boy from the Woods
If you pick up one of Harlan Coben’s books, you won’t be able to put it down. His mystery stories keep readers fascinated. The Boy from the Woods is sure to satisfy fans by its twisty, heartracing plots filled with interesting and exciting atmosphere. This is the book to read if you love masterful surprises.
How to Walk Away
Katherine Center’s bestselling novel follows a young woman, Margaret, with her perfect fiancé, a pilot who takes her on an upsetting flight that changes her life forever. Readers adore Margaret’s wisdom and humor as she faces a changed world and figures out what love really looks like.
The Last One Left
This novel, first published in 1967, still attracts readers decades later. Novelist Dean Koontz wrote the introduction to the recent edition, where he describes reading each of John D. MacDonald’s novels “at least three times, some of them twice”, This is your next read if you want to be swept away by a masterpiece of the mystery and excitement.
1. What is Watch Me Disappear probably about?A.Mysterious disappearance of a woman. |
B.Sorrow at a dead mom. |
C.Teenager problems. |
D.A family outing. |
A.Dean Koontz. | B.Harlan Coben. |
C.Katherine Center. | D.John D. MacDonald. |
A.Watch Me Disappear. | B.The Boy from the Woods. |
C.How to Walk Away. | D.The Last One Left. |
10 . Like any new ninth-grader on the first day of school, Joemar Class had ninth-grader- emotion (情绪). He’s not used to school in Hartford. He’s used to going to school in his home town of Florida, used to seeing his friends, used to having class in Spanish.
“Nervioso,” he said in Spanish.
We first met Joemar in mid-October in the San Juan Airport. His father, Guillermo Class, had sold his car to buy plane tickets to get his kids and fly them up from Puerto Rico. The island was almost destroyed (毁坏) by the deadly storm—Hurricane Maria.
Now, they are settling into their new home in Hartford’s South End. A week later, using his wife’s car, Class drove 16-year-old Joemar to his first day at Bulkeley High School. After a short ride, he got out in front of his new school. Inside, he met Gretchen Levitz—the school’s program director.
“I see you have new uniform,” Levitz said. “You look great. Are you ready for a good first day? ”
Then he met couple of teachers.
“Hello” they each said in Spanish. They asked where he was from, and told him they were happy to see him. Then Levitz took him on a quick tour of the school before classes began — to her office, the school store, the library, and the dining hall.
A total of 19 languages are spoken in Bulkeley High School. “We have so many new students coming here from other countries every single day,” Levitz said. “So it’s not like he’s the only one who has that feeling.”
“You could tell he’s little worried,” Guillermo said as we left. “But, at the same time, he’s expecting it.”
1. What kind of feeling did Joemar have on his first day of school?A.Nervous | B.Excited | C.Annoyed | D.Amazed |
A.His old school closed down. |
B.He wanted to see his mother. |
C.He expected to have a new life. |
D.His town was hit by a terrible storm. |
A.He had a long talk with his father. |
B.He said hello to some of his classmates. |
C.He learned some simple Spanish words. |
D.He had a short look around his new school. |
A.It has no library. |
B.It is an international school. |
C.It plans to open Spanish classes. |
D.It requires all students to wear uniforms. |